RES T
T N S A R U A o the
E U C S RE
t
Local eateries have become hospitality heroes
JUNE 2020 COMPLIMENTARY
Shredded paper is too small to sort. Learn ways to recycle right at RecycleRightDE.org. XX OCTOBER 2013 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
DNREC25275_RecyclingCampaign_PrintAd_8x10.5_v2.indd 6
8/15/18 10:18 AM
Get takeout.
Ways to help #inWilm during the COVID-19 outbreak:
Buy a membership. Advocate for the arts and small business. De-clutter your house and collect donations for local charities. Watch live streams and tip artists and musicians virtually. Buy restaurant gift cards.
More on these ideas, plus ways to keep the family entertained as we’re stuck INside at inWilmDE.com.
Hire a neighbor.
JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
3
Worth TRYING CREATIVE COPING
VIRTUAL LIBRARY EVENTS Want to learn easy ways to eat healthier, save save money on groceries, and cook food safely? Or sharpen your Spanish or Italian speaking skills? How about a story time for the kids? Or join a game of Dungeons & Dragons? New Castle County Public libraries offer these and other programs for free. Their calendar of events has something for everyone, including a senior virtual coffee group, and for those who enjoy debating philosophical questions about life, the Socrates Café Virtual Discussion Group, may be for you. Check out their Virtual Library Events calendar at DelawareLibraries. libcal.com/calendar or find them on Facebook. — Adriana Camacho-Church, Contributing Writer
CROWDSOURCE YOUR VIEWING Here's a solution to the too-familiar problem today of having more free time and less money: YouTube. Seriously. (And humorously.) Instead of forking over as much as $15.99 for a month of streaming for just one service, try videos the site recommends from your search history or search for something you like. My current favorite phrase to search is "short film," and I rely on the wisdom of the crowds, meaning at least 100,000 views before I start watching. Many such shorts are Hollywoodquality (in fact, some have won Oscars) in their look, content and impact. — Ken Mammarella , Contributing Writer
PRODUCE JUNCTION It’s just over the Delaware border in Boothwyn, at the intersection of Meetinghouse Road and Chichester Avenue. It’s a short drive and more than worth it considering the bargains you can get on fresh produce, plants and flowers. A bag full of lemons or apples will cost less than just a couple of the same fruits at a regular supermarket and they have fruits and veggies you won’t find at most local markets. But make sure you bring cash, because they don’t take checks or credit cards – there is an ATM machine on premise. Open daily until 6 p.m. Call 610-497-3075. — Kevin Noonan, Contributing Writer
DONATE A BIKE Wilmington-based Urban Bike Project is currently planning to distribute 200 bikes over the next month. The initiative is in response to an unprecedented level of requests for free or inexpensive bikes due to the pandemic and Delaware’s emergency restrictions. So, create some space in the garage while supporting a worthy cause by donating that bike you don’t ride (or start riding it). The better shape the bike is in the better, but UBP will take all conditions. Call (302) 3004323 or visit urbanbikeproject@gmail.com — Jerry duPhily, Publisher
4 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
LEAVE IT TO LEGO Take a walk down memory lane or build one with LEGO! Dig through the multicolor memories of your youth while passing hours of quaran-time. Whether you're building with family or solo (we won't judge), the effects of these small plastic pieces are anything but. Increased brain function, better motor skills, cooperative play and relieving stress are a few benefits. But none compared to the hours of fun and satisfaction clicking pieces together escaping from the day-to-day stressors to a simpler time. — Michael O’Brian, Social Media Manager
THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA This six-part HBO series is based on Philip Roth’s 2004 novel of the same. It’s a dystopian re-imagining of history in in which xenophobic aviator-hero Charles Lindbergh becomes president of the U.S. instead of FDR and our country slowly (but not that slowly) moves toward fascism. Viewed in relationship to our current polarized times, The Plot Against America is as unsettling as it is captivating. — Jerry duPhily, Publisher
FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE Has sheltering in place exhausted all your TV/online options? Try these new offerings (with a tip of the hat to Entertainment Weekly): • Space Force: No, not the Trump pipe dream of a new branch of the military, but the Netflix comedy starring Steve Carell as the Air Force general in charge of the nascent enterprise. Lisa Kudrow plays the general’s wife and the incomparable John Malkovich is Space Force’s head scientist. • Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story: Season 2 of this truecrime anthology on USA Network stars Amanda Peet as the titular SoCal super wife embroiled in a divorce nightmare in the mid-‘80s. (Meredith Baxter played BB in the original 1992 CBS movie). Christian Slater is her hotshot malpractice attorney husband. •The Lovebirds is a Netflix rom-com that follows a couple who go on the run after witnessing a murder. I’m recommending this largely on the merits of its stars, Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani –two very funny people.
READ ABOUT WINE Justin Meyer, the legendary winemaker from Silver Oak Winery, wrote an easy read on the entire process of wine making. Meyer provides an easy-to-follow explanation from growing to the finished product. The forward was written by Robert Mondavi. — John Murray, Contributing Writer
— Robert Yearick, Contributing Editor
THUNDERCAT
HANGMAN BREWING Hangman Brewing in Claymont must be a top contender for brewery with the most-challenging start. Its grand opening was March 13—the last weekend that socializing resembled anything close to normal. Hangman closed for a few weeks, focused on brewing, then decided to do what so many other businesses were doing and open for growlers. Good thing they did, because their beers are excellent additions to the Delaware scene. So far, I've had their light and dark ales and their blackberry sour. All three are as near to perfect as I could want my session beers to be and the sour is a delicious example of why the style is growing in popularity. When you go, help them out by bringing your own growler if you have one. As you can imagine, growlers are growing scarce, and Hangman had to go Bring-Your-Own-Growler for a little while. BYOG's fine, though. Beer tastes the same no matter what glass it comes out of.
Over the past 10 years, Tame Impala has earned a worldwide reputation by bringing psychedelic overtones to pop and rock music. During that same time, Thundercat has followed a similar cosmic mindset with his approach to funk, jazz, soul, and hip-hop. Unfortunately for Thundercat, the similarities end when it comes to popularity and record sales—which is a shame, because the L.A. bassist and vocalist deserves to sell hundreds of thousands of records, too. Co-produced by Flying Lotus, Thundercat’s most recent album, It Is What It Is, sounds like the result of Pharrell Williams, Philip Bailey of EWF, Todd Rundgren and Stanley Clarke getting together for an acid-laced jam session aboard the starship Enterprise. It’s sometimes too much at once, but when it hits, it’s like discovering a new world. — Jim Miller, Director of Publications
— Dillon McLaughlin, Contributing Writer JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
5
START
WORTH RECOGNIZING Community Members Who Go Above & Beyond
TERRY CASSANELLI:
F
LET US CATER TO YOU. From dinner parties to office get-togethers to weddings, let Janssen’s make your event special. We offer full-service catering, event planning, party rentals, floral arrangements, and more. Contact our catering director today at (302) 654-9941 x3.
or the past 19 years, Terry Cassanelli has done the same thing every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon. She and her friends gather amid needles, pins, fabrics, and other tools and materials to create cozy, colorful quilts to give to the needy and the infirmed. Since 2001, the group of nine women has donated 4,500 quilts to shelters, hospitals, and other institutions throughout Sussex and Terry Cassanelli Kent Counties. A resident of Rehoboth Beach, Cassanelli started The Glade Quilters after participating in a quilting bee. “We enjoyed it so much we started our own group,” she says. She and Maureen Burridge were the first members, then the other women joined. Their ages range from 60 to 98. At first, the group decided to give their quilts to adults and children with AIDS. But what started as an impromptu effort to contribute to their community evolved over time to year-round quilt making and distribution while the quilters formed partnerships with nearby organizations. Hospitals usually get 12-15 quilts and each homeless shelter about 20, Cassanelli says. The group’s logo, an iron-on heart, is on the back of each one. The women make between 25 and 30 quilts a month. Cassanelli says the process has been streamlined because the women have developed an efficient procedure based on each member’s particular talent. The quilts are made at The Glade Clubhouse, a building in the residential development where Cassanelli lives. Members’ husbands have built worktables for the women, and Cassanelli’s husband, Bob, also helps deliver quilts to the various institutions. The quilters’ partners include Ronald McDonald House in Dover; Sussex County Women’s Shelter; the Retired Veterans’ Home; Little Sisters of the Poor; Harbor Healthcare; the Cancer Support Community; Cape Henlopen Senior Center; Rehoboth Community Center’s Baby Pantry. The Glade Quilters also donate to victims of natural disasters as well as neighbors who are ill, have experienced a death in the family, or have recently given birth. They make quilts for nonprofits such as Stockings for Soldiers to auction them at fundraising events. In 2019, The Glade Quilters received a Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award. “What they’re doing shows kids there are people out there who care about them and are thinking of them,” said Philip Brown, founder of Kody’s Kids, a non-profit that promotes reading and supports children with cancer. “We hear of kids who take the quilts with them into surgery.” Kody’s Kids also distributes the quilts to local schools and to children being treated at Nemours DuPont Pediatrics in Milford and A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington. As the group enters its 20th year, Cassanelli says she has no intention of slowing down. “I love helping and giving to others, and I love the comradery, getting together with these kind ladies who care about each other. I hope to continue doing this for as long as we can.” A $2 weekly membership fee helps pay for materials, but the group is happy to accept monetary and fabric donations. For more information, find The Glade Quilters on Facebook. — Adriana Camacho-Church
WWW.JANSSENSMARKET.COM 3801 KENNETT PIKE, GREENVILLE, DE 302.654.9941
6 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
Photo courtesy of ????
Creating Quilts of Love
MANGO COCONUT corriander
cucumber mint limeade HOUSE MADE LEMONADE
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SUMMER WITH WILMU Our summer term courses bring your educational goals a step closer.
Y
our higher education doesn't have to be on hold. Wilmington University's online courses enable you to start your education, retool your skills or complete your degree or certificate program, from the safety and comfort of your home. Summer courses provide the perfect opportunity to:
• Check off prerequisites or intro courses from your program’s curriculum • Boost your career prospects by starting a resumé-building certificate • Increase your tech skills through a specialized course • Explore new subjects and personal enrichment through electives Right now, more than 15,000 students count on Wilmington University for top-quality online education. Since 2007, WilmU has been a local leader in online learning. In fact, four times more Delawareans choose WilmU for online learning than any other college or university in the nation*.
Online learners receive student-centered instruction delivered by readily accessible faculty—real-world experienced professionals who are trained in the intricacies of online teaching. Affordability is important, and WilmU is the #1 most affordable private, nonprofit university in the Mid-Atlantic region. In addition, scholarship opportunities help many minimize tuition and bring education dreams into reach. Simply put, WilmU is higher education without the higher cost.
Ready When You Are
WilmU classes start every eight weeks, and admission is very straightforward. No SAT or other standardized test scores are required, and admission is guaranteed to most academic programs. You can register for courses now, and start as soon as July 6. Visit wilmu.edu for more information and to apply, or contact a WilmU Admissions Specialist by phone at 877.967.5464, by text at 302.212.0837, or by e-mail at admissions@wilmu.edu. Make summer work for you and take the next step toward your educational goals at WilmU. Source: National Council of State Authorization of Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) 2018-19 enrollment data.
*
Keep your education plans on track.
Now more than ever, WilmU works.
Find out how at wilmu.edu/WilmUWorks 8 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
And The Winners Are... Top entries from our kids writing and photography/art contest Contest Theme: What I Learned from the Covid-19 Crisis Covid -19 Crisis 2020 Covid -19 Crisis 2020 By: Edwin “Quade” Gray, IV
T
Essay Winner: (Age 8-10 Category) By: Edwin “Quade” Gray, IV
he invisible monster snuck into America, no one even knew it was there. It was making plans to attack in it’s new destination. The invisible monster snuck into America, no one even knew it was there. It It’s goal was to spread and get inside of unsuspecting people. We don’t really know where this monster came from. We aren’t was making plans to how attack in it’s goal spread and get sure to stop it. new Here destination. is the story ofIt’s how onewas boy to defends himself from this evil being, Corona. While the boy was busy nside of unsuspecting people. We really know where this monster came from. learning, playing, anddon’t spending time with friends Corona jumped from person to person until he found someone We aren’t sure how to stop it. Here the story how one boy defends he wished to attack. Theisstrange thing of about Corona is that unlike himself other monsters he only attacks some people, but we don't know rom this evil being, whyCorona he chooses specific victims. Is it because they are ill, is it because he doesn’t like healthy people? Is it because he just wants to bewas a bigbusy jerk? No one really knows.and spending time with friends While the boy learning, playing, Once Corona spread and started to strike, schools had to close person to stop him from repopulating. Once the boy’s school closed to attack. orona jumped from to person until he found someone he wished other things closed down too. He could no longer see friends, his was Corona cancelled,ishethat couldn’t go out to the movie theater to see he strange thingplay about unlike other monsters he only attacks some a show, his favorite restaurant shut down, sports teams ended their seasons early, he had no more practice! The Governor even eople, but we don't know why he chooses specific victims. Is it because they are ill, made an announcement that citizens of the state had to stay home unless they were essential workers. Only people whose jobs helped s it because he doesn’t like healthy people? Is it because he just wants to be a big everyone survive were still going to work. Before Corona could grow inside a person there were some erk? No one really knows. things that could stop him. The boy made sure to eat healthy foods to keep his body strong. He kept clean so tiny Corona attackers Once Coronawould spread to soap, strike,theschools had to close to stop him slipand rightstarted off with ultimate weapon against Corona. It was also necessary to stay away from others so that the rom repopulating. Once monster the boy’s schooljump closed other things closed down too. He invisible couldn’t on without being noticed. Currently, there still is no cure. Scientists are working to create one.cancelled, People arehe sheltering this to evilthe movie ould no longer see friends, his play was couldn’tfrom go out monster as he creeps around our towns attacking boy ended their heater to see a show, his favorite restaurant shut down, people. sports The teams is doing all he can to stay healthy and keep his family safe. an Corona easons early, he had no more practice! The Governor even made announcement is still out there trying to attack his friends, family,essential neighbors,workers. hat citizens of the state had to stay home unless they were classmates, maybe even you!
monster snuck into America, no one even knew it was there. It
s to attack in it’s new destination. It’s goal was to spread and get
cting people. We don’t really know where this monster came from. Illustration Winner: Trutulescu Maia (Age 8-10 Category)
ow to stop it. Here is the story of how one boy defends himself
ng, Corona
oy was busy learning, playing, and spending time with friends
om person to person until he found someone he wished to attack. Illustration: Leo Loeb
about Corona is that unlike other monsters he only attacks some
n't know why he chooses specific victims. Is it because they are ill,
oesn’t like healthy people? Is it because he just wants to be a big
Only people whose jobs helped everyone survive were still going to work.
y knows.
Photography Winner: Sigbjorn Toyberg-Frandzen (Age 8-10 Category)
Congrats! These will receive a prize package (to use when conditions permit) that a spread and started to strike, schools had to close towinners stop him includes: Free ice cream, movie tickets, mini golf, bike rentals, lunch & baseball tickets.
g. Once the boy’s school closed other things closed down too. He
ee friends, his play was cancelled, he couldn’t go out to the movie
JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
9
RES T
1
2
T N SS N T A A R R U A the
E U C S RE
to
Local eateries are finding ways to feed essential workers on the front lines, furthering the definition of what it means to work in the hospitality industry By Jim Miller
6 10 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
7
3
E
arly in the COVID-19 crisis, Delaware restaurants were faced with just two options: close fully or open partially for take-out and/or delivery. But, as the saying goes, “When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade.” For some local restaurant operators, when life handed them a pandemic, they made meals. Lots of meals…to-go. “Everything in the world seemed uncertain,” says Sasha Aber of Home Grown Cafe in Newark, as she thinks back to March. “People were in isolation. Healthcare workers were going to work and working harder than usual in an environment they weren’t used to. People were scared. Businesses were closing or working in a minimal capacity.” Aber decided to take action. On March 30, she announced she was starting a GoFundMe page for an effort called “Adopt-A-Unit,” a concept that would utilize Home Grown Cafe to prepare meals then deliver them to essential workers at Christiana Hospital. Her initial goal was to raise $5,000 to make it happen. Less than two months later [as of press deadline], Adopt-AUnit has raised in the neighborhood of $24,000 from 432 donors and delivered more than 2,000 meals to the hospital.
8
4
5
“The extent of this campaign has surpassed anything I thought possible,” Aber says. “We have had general contributions, as well as people sponsoring whole units because they have friends working there, or they received healthcare from that unit, or they had a loved one in that unit.” Aber sees the effort as a win-win-win situation for three reasons. First, she has seen for herself how the meals are valued by staff members at Christiana Hospital. “Healthcare workers are risking their lives for us,” Aber says. “They are going to work every day in an unsure environment, taking care of our friends and family when we cannot, then returning to their homes, hoping that their families stay healthy. “Yes, they are in the healthcare industry, but I bet they never imagined this scenario.” Second, Aber says, so many people are “feeling helpless.” Contributing meals to essential workers offers a way to do something positive. “The Adopt-A-Unit program gives people a direct line to telling our healthcare workers they care—that we, as the public, are behind them,” Aber says. “It’s a way for the public to be involved in lightening our healthcare worker’s day.” ►
9
10 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
11
KRESTON WINE & SPIRITS
THANK YOU For the support you have shown our Kreston Wine & Spirits Family in both Wilmington & Middletown. As a responsible and essential business, we are doing our best to keep the shopping experience as normal and safe as possible. Things do look a little different lately with cashier shields, masks, gloves and keeping six feet apart, but we are still providing the same great level of service we have for 87 years. We encourage you to place an order online or call ahead for curbside pick-up or to limit your time in store. We are here to help and still happy to recommend anything you are looking for. We are cleaning and stocking every day. Thank You & Be Well. The Kreston Wine & Spirits Family
MON-SAT: 10AM – 7PM SUNDAY: 11AM – 6PM MIDDLETOWN 448 E. Main Street Middletown, DE 19709 Tel: (302) 376-6123
WILMINGTON 904 Concord Avenue Wilmington, DE 19802 Tel: (302) 652-3792
KRESTONWINES.COM 12 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
Third, Aber says the program has helped keep some of her RESTAURANTS employees working, which is why TO THE RESCUE continued from page 11 she has been careful to use the word “contribution” as opposed to “donation.” “We have been able to bring a few additional staff members back to work on this,” Aber says. Residents who are interested in contributing to Adopt-AUnit can go to www.homegrowncafe.com or contact sasha@ homegrowncafe.com to sponsor a whole unit. Contributions are also being taken through GrubHub.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
For Javier Acuna, being successful in the restaurant business has always meant more than a simple transaction of goods and services—or “just putting food on a table,” as he puts it. “It’s called the hospitality industry for a reason,” Acuna says. “We do more than just serve meals, we participate in people’s lives. “We are usually part of people’s most important events: from graduations to birthdays to job advancements and things like that. So, it is in our nature to provide a positive experience and a service.” In 2014, Acuna was awarded “Restaurateur of the Year,” by the Delaware Restaurant Association for his work with his Hakuna Hospitality Group, an organization that has since grown to six area restaurants, four of which focus on various aspects of Mexican cuisine. However, when the pandemic struck, Acuna, like other restaurateurs, was presented with an unsettling paradox. Restaurants are exactly the kind of hospitable places people often go to find solace during stressful experiences. With the crisis preventing that kind of social activity, what could he do to improve the overall situation? “In these times where a lot of people are going to struggle with [getting] food, and a lot of organizations don’t have the time to provide quality meals, the first thing that came to our minds was to continue to do the work that we have been doing,” says Acuna. His answer became “Food First Delaware,” an initiative he helped create to put unemployed restaurant staffers back to work by fixing and delivering meals to essential workers on the frontlines. He started at square one, working with what he knew best: his own restaurants. “We didn’t have a strong delivery business at that point,” Acuna admits. “We did some catering. But the thing that we did have was management and, to a certain extent, the employee manpower to implement something that could grow beyond our walls. “One of the reasons why we did [it this way was] because we wanted to allow other restaurants to participate in this initiative.” Since its start on April 1, Food First has prepared and delivered more than 1200 meals to essential workers by utilizing Hakuna’s resources and partnering with restaurants like La Casa Pasta and specialists like Have Your Cake Desserts, both in Newark. “We can work with pretty much anybody who wants to work with us and can provide a level of safety that complies with all the standards and the safety precautions that allows us to serve hospitals and [related] organizations,” Acuna says. On the Food First website (www.foodfirstde.com), visitors can purchase various meal options, which will be delivered to a local hospital or to one of the organizations that Food First serves, such as Westside Family Healthcare. Acuna says customers can also pick an organization of their choice, if they so wish.
Feeling Lucky's livestream benefit performance on May 9 raised money for the High 5 Hospitality's program "Feed the Frontline."
“We connect with workers on the front lines such as hospitals, police stations, fire stations and anywhere else there are essential workers,” Acuna says. “We’re just trying to bring a smile on a daily basis as much as possible.”
DINNER AND A SHOW
Other restaurant groups have had similar success with more recent programs. Along with three restaurants in New Castle County, High 5 Hospitality Group owns and operates six Buffalo Wild Wings locations throughout Delaware, an advantage that helps them provide meals to hospitals up and down the state. Starting in late April, High 5’s “Feed the Frontline” program has contributed more than 260 meals to essential workplaces such as Christiana Hospital, Bayhealth Outpatient in Smyrna, and the Respiratory Department at Bayhealth Hosptial in Dover. Currently the company is working with the State Police, a local fire department, and other groups of healthcare professionals, says High 5 marketing manager Lori Ewald. “For these frontline workers, the core of their being is helping others,” Ewald says. “They don’t complain. They don’t expect special treatment. They just do. “When we show up with the food, they are over the top appreciative of us, but in the end, it is us who is appreciative of them. They are the real heroes.” High 5’s Feed the Frontline got a fortunate boost of help from the Northern Delaware band Feeling Lucky, whose livestream benefit performance on May 9 raised money for the program, $700 solely through the band’s Venmo account. Residents can support Feed the Frontline program through High 5’s website: www.high5hospitality.com.
A NEED TO HELP
If there is someone who knows something about boosting moods and energy levels, it’s Greg Vogeley, who runs his famed Drip Café coffee-and-brunch shops in Hockessin and Newark. He feels his “Donate A Meal” program has helped his customers feel more positively connected to their community. “Our customers really want to help, but they didn’t know how to while quarantined at home,” Vogeley says. “They wanted to find a way to support their favorite restaurants and the people that serve their communities. ► JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
13
“The response has been truly amazing. Many of the people who donated initially were family, friends and close customers. But, the more we delivered, our reach for the program grew as well.” Vogeley started Donate A Meal in late March when a customer asked to purchase 250 meals for local healthcare workers. “After his initial contribution, we quickly received more requests to help and financially donate to the program. We then created a link on our website [www.dripcafede.com ] that would allow customers to donate directly to the fund.”
THE VALUE OF A MEAL
Acuna sees programs like Vogeley’s Donate A Meal and Hakuna’s Food First as both a human necessity and an economic response.
RESTAURANTS TO THE RESCUE continued from page 13
“As entrepreneurs, we are always looking for ways to move forward into a way to serve a bigger purpose,” Acuna says. “If you really think about it, feeding and eating is a basic need. It’s something that it is extremely important not only for us as individuals, but as for us as a society. People need to interact. We’re social animals pretty much, and in that there is a dynamic that is extremely necessary for our own survival. “So, I think that the restaurants facilitating a good meal goes a long way. We’re touching people’s lives every day with every meal.”
Credits from pages 10-11: Photos 1, 9, 10 : Home Grown Cafe's Adopt-A-Unit; Photos 2, 5: Drip Café’s Donate A Meal; Photos 3, 6, 8: Hakuna Hospitality’s Food First; Photos 4, 7: High 5 Hospitality’s Feed the Frontline. ON THE COVER: Out & About file photo at Homegrown Café (March 2019) Justin Heyes, Moonloop Photography
14 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
Bicycle sales are soaring across the U.S. during the Covid-19 crisis. Above, a rider takes advantage of the wide shoulder of Rt. 52 just north of Greenville. Photo by Butch Comegys
PEDAL POWER
In these uncertain times, local bike shops are surviving, thanks to dependable service and customer loyalty By Kevin Noonan
S
pring is always the busiest time of the year for local shops that sell and repair bicycles, as people emerge from their winter hibernations and look to get some fresh air and exercise. This spring, of course, has been unlike any other we’ve known, but that hasn’t stopped biking enthusiasts from enjoying their passion. “Actually, [the coronavirus] has affected business in a positive way, in that people are coming in and purchasing bikes like crazy, getting ready for being self-quarantined,” says John Strojny, owner of Brandywine Bikes in Branmar Plaza in Brandywine Hundred. “We’re making sure we’re very careful and keep our social distance from our customers and each other, and even though we’re selling plenty of bikes, we’re not doing any service now [on bikes the shop doesn’t sell].” Bike shops have been judged to be essential businesses in Delaware for two reasons—they’re used for transportation and many people depend on their bikes to get to work or the grocery store, and riding bikes is a form or exercise and entertainment where it’s easy to keep the proper social distance even if you’re riding in a group. “I’ve been riding with my guys and we’re usually at least six-toeight feet away from each other anyway, and now we’re even more conscious of it,” says Matt Holloway, owner of Henry’s Bicycle Shop in the Poly Drummond Shopping Center in Newark. “I think people understand that biking is a good, healthy activity where they can go outside and not endanger themselves or anybody else, and that’s something we really need right now.”
Wooden Wheels in Newark isn’t exactly a mom-and-pop operation, but it is as much a locally-owned operation as any. It originally was located on Main Street and was owned by Tom Harvey. When he decided to get out of the business, three of his employees—David Ferguson, Chris Denney and Robbie Downward—got together and bought the company. They relocated to the Fairfield Shopping Center off New London Road, and business is still booming despite the concern over COVID-19. “The current pandemic is absolutely pushing people to get outside and get moving,” Ferguson says.
OTHER BUMPS IN THE ROAD
COVID-19 has been a new challenge for bike shops owners as well as all businesses, large and small, but that’s not the only challenge in owning a bike store. One factor affecting the business over the last few years—like it has just about all businesses—is online shopping. More and more people just stay home and shop on their favorite device, which adversely affects local dealers. “That’s the world we live in today and a lot of people like the convenience of shopping on-line and that’s something we all have to deal with,” Holloway says. “You especially see that in the younger generation, because they’ve basically grown up with that and it’s natural for them. “But we still have our loyal customers who want the kind of individualized service that they simply can’t get from an online dealer. And the more hard-core a rider is, the more they want that ► JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
15
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!
Call Ahead for Your Curbside Order!
(302) 658-WINE WINE | SPIRITS CRAFT BEER
WineAndSpiritCo.com Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm • Sunday 12-5pm 4025 Kennett Pike, Wilmington Delaware 19807
16 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
personal service with somebody they know and trust. That’s PEDAL POWER more important to them than a continued from page 15 perceived convenience.” Ferguson also acknowledges that on-line shopping has made an impact on his business, but he agrees that customer loyalty is the biggest reason local shops can stay viable in this era. “Fortunately, Delaware has a tight-knit cycling community, with a lot of riders who like to support their local shops,” he says. “I think of it as a compliment when someone comes into our store and says, ‘I bought my first bike from this shop’ and they’re there to buy their grandson or granddaughter their first bike. It speaks to the loyalty that cyclists have to their specific shop.” Plus, many online customers discover they didn’t get exactly what they wanted, and that starts a process where they have to return things and hope they eventually get what they want, which can take weeks. And bikes purchased via the internet come disassembled, which isn’t a problem for some buyers, but can be a major problem for others. And when they discover they’re in over their heads, they call their local bike shop for help. Rob Garrison, owner of Garrison’s Cyclery in Greenville, says he doesn’t work on bikes that weren’t purchased at his store, even though he gets plenty of calls from distraught riders who want his help. “With so many people shopping online, they’re cutting out the local bike shops,” he says. “And we’re not able to be the service for the competition. So, people can sit at home and click and have the bike show up at their door, but if something is wrong with the bike, they show up at our doorstep and want to take advantage of our expertise. But we have to put our focus on our own customers.” “A lot of people want to test-ride a bike before the buy it, and that makes sense since many bikes cost $1,000 or more,” Garrison adds. “And that’s what we and other local shops give them. They get a chance to physically handle the bike before they buy it and make sure it’s exactly what they want, and they have experts to help and advise them. “So, it might be easier to shop on-line, but that doesn’t mean it’s better.”
BATTLING THE BIG BOYS
There’s something else that can make life difficult for small shop owners—big shop owners. Just like local hardware stores have to compete with big box stores like Home Depot and Lowes, small bike shops have to deal with corporate and manufacturing entities like Trek, which buy out the small, local shops. “At least 10 bike shops around here have closed in the last 10 years,” Garrison says. “They’ve gone belly-up, whether by corporate takeover or poor management, and it’s running small businesses out of the business. They cut out the middleman and the middleman can’t make any money. “That’s why it’s so important to have loyal customers who appreciate what we do and how we do it. They know we will never steer them wrong and, for them, it’s a win-win. It’s like having a good plumber that you trust. You value that.” That smaller-is-better philosophy is a common thread with local bike shops in Delaware, which is why Ferguson says he and his partners aren’t concerned about the big, bad corporations running them out of business. “On thing I think that sets the local shops—Henry’s, Garrison’s, Wooden Wheels, etc.—apart from the larger corporations is this: We are all business people, but while the larger corporations look at numbers, we are looking at our customer base as friends and as cyclists,” Ferguson says.
DIFFERENT SPOKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS
There are four main kinds of bikes: road, mountain, gravel and e-bikes. The most familiar is the road bike, which people have been riding for more than 100 years. But road bikes aren’t as popular as they once were, simply because riding them has become more dangerous in the 21st century. “People who ride road bikes are scared of drivers,” Garrison says. “A lot of people used to [ride bikes] to commute to work or just for general transportation, but there are a lot more cars on the road now and a lot of those people in cars aren’t even looking at the road— they’re just staring [at their cell phones] with their heads down. “So, you have to ride much more defensively these days. A lot of roadies have had close calls or even been hit by inattentive drivers, and that’s why a lot of them are switching to gravel bikes.” Gravel bikes are a happy medium between road and mountain bikes, and by merely changing tires they can be used for either one. That gives them a special allure and, right now, they’re the most popular bikes on the market. “A lot of people want to avoid roads because of the traffic and potential danger that traffic causes,” Strojny says. “And a lot of people don’t like the mountain bikes because it can be too difficult unless you’re an experienced rider and you’re in good shape. So, for those people, it’s the best of both worlds.” Says Ferguson: “Road riding is huge, but we’ve seen a swing to where cyclists want more options. So, gravel bikes offer the ability to do the road miles that a cyclist may want, and at the same time opening the door to endless miles of trail riding.” Mountain bikes are for the more adventurous and the more fit, simply because it’s harder work and obstacles—whether they be rocks, roots or gavel—are a constant threat.
Jonathan Smith (14) with his parents, Sue and Mark Smith, receive instructions about their new bike from Garrison's mechanic Joe Zimmerman. Photo by Lindsay duPhily
“They’re really for people who like more of a challenge,” Holloway says. “It’s more physically demanding, but the rewards are greater, too, because you get to go where most people don’t. And that holds a lot of appeal for a lot of people.” The newest craze in biking is the e-bike, which has a small electric motor that allows the rider to pedal or just sit back and let technology do the work. “They’ve been selling extremely well,” Strojny says. “They’re very popular with commuters and people who aren’t necessarily hard-core riders, especially if they want to ride through the Brandywine Valley and are a little nervous about the hills. You can go 99 miles on a charge, and people just find them fun to ride. So, you can [pedal] and work as hard as you want, or you can sit back and let the motor do the work.” Ferguson says e-bikes are most popular with novices and older riders, but they’re not the only ones buying them. ►
30
on Thursday
Many area clean-up events are cancelled. We can continue to keep our communities clean – while maintaining social distancing.
PLEASE SPEND 30 MINUTES EVERY THURSDAY TO BEAUTIFY YOUR AREA!
KeepDelawareBeautiful.com KeepDel JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
17
“Even the die-hard athletes have to admit that e-bikes are fun to ride,” he says.
PEDAL POWER continued from page 17
A PRICEY PASTIME
Bike riding is fun and healthy and it’s an activity you can do your entire life, but it ain’t cheap. These aren’t the bikes of your youth, when a one-speed Huffy cost $50 (and baseball cards in the spokes were optional). The cost of bikes today varies wildly, depending on the make, model, size and brand. The prices listed below are ranges culled from various bike web sites.
Road bikes: $200 to $12,000. — — Mountain bikes: $460 to $12,000. — Gravel bikes: $450 to $5,400. — E-Bikes: $2,000 to $10,000. — Hybrid bikes: $400 to $3,500. — Kid’s bikes: $140 to $2,100. And, of course, no self-respecting rider buys just the bike. There are plenty of extras that have to factor into your budget, including: shoes ($160-$385); bib shorts ($89-$210); performance shorts ($168-$200); helmet ($60-$170); jersey ($140-$160); rain jacket ($130-$160); rain pants ($130-$160); gloves ($35-$50) and the allimportant knee warmer ($25-$45). Plus, you will probably need service at one time or another, and that’s not free. Ball-park figures: minor tune-up ($50); basic tune-up ($70); major tune-up ($125); tube installation ($16); tire installation ($10); chain installation ($20) and pedal installation ($15). And that’s just for parts—labor can run from $50 to $75 an hour. “There’s really something for everybody and every age and every wallet,” says Holloway. “Most people start small and work their way up to the more expensive bikes, but some people jump right in. Sometimes that can be a good thing, and sometimes that can be a bad thing. It really depends on the individual and how much money they want to spend and how much effort they want to put into riding. “But, like with anything else, you end up getting what you pay for.”
The Wooden Wheels crew at their Newark shop (l-r): John Mester, Robbie Downward, Alex Musemecci, Chris Dennie, David Ferguson. 18 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
Kristin Barnekov-Short and Kerry Kristine McElrone of Help for Healthcare Workers Delaware. Photo: Courtesy of Barnekov-Short.
THE WOMEN BEHIND
THE MASKS
Through coordinating 2,373 volunteers, Help for Healthcare Workers Delaware has created and delivered more than 33,000 facemasks to essential workers
I
n mid-March, it became apparent to Kristin Barnekov-Short that there might be a need for protective masks at the hospital where her daughter works as an ICU nurse. “I honestly thought it would be a very small effort to make some masks for Beebe Hospital,” Barnekov-Short says. “I had no idea it would turn into such a large group and make the sizable impact that it has.” To get things off the ground, Barnekov-Short turned to her friend, Kerry Kristine McElrone, and by March 20, the two had formed a Facebook group called “Help for Healthcare Workers Delaware.” Kerry and I worked together on a previous Facebook group effort so I knew we would be able to manage it well together,” Barnekov-Short says. Back in 2017, Barnekov-Short and McElrone co-founded a local effort called “Operation Pussy Hat,” which McElrone describes as “a Facebook group that connected ‘hats with heads’ while raising
money for Planned Parenthood of Delaware during the time of the 2017 Women’s March movements.” By replacing hat-knitters with sewing enthusiasts, the two used the 2017 project as a blueprint for the mask effort. “We wondered if we could harness similar energy for home sewists to make DIY face masks,” McElrone says. “The community response has been incredible.” In just ten weeks, the group’s 2,373 members have created and delivered more than 33,000 masks to 171 healthcare and socialservice facilities throughout the state. McElrone believes the number of masks produced is likely closer to 34,000 because the group didn’t start tracking until its second week of operation. “It’s a bit overwhelming to realize what we have been able to accomplish as a group in such a short time,” McElrone says. “It’s wonderful to meet so many Delawareans who are willing to work so hard to provide for our frontline workers. continued on page 22 ► JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
19
LISTEN
FIREFLY THROUGH T Twenty One Pilots
Reflections on the annual happening in Dover by someone who has been there for almost all of them
Maggie Rogers Foo Fighters Trombone Shorty
Text and Photos by Joe del Tufo In more than 30 years of publishing this magazine, I feel Firefly is one of the best special events to take place in Delaware. Though this year’s event is cancelled (scheduled for June 18-21), we certainly hope it returns in 2021 as Firefly organizers have indicated. In the meantime, I thought we’d share this unique perspective of the festival that appeared in Out & About’s June 2018 issue. —Jerry duPhily
I
remember laughing to myself when the first rumors surfaced about a music festival in Dover. In the town that I grew up in that had 1.5 malls, a shopping center to cruise around, a whole lot of NASCAR, and not much else? But there it was, at first as a chaos of traffic and then instantly a game-changer. An actual “scene” in the middle of the same forest I used to wander as a kid. It became its own space with its own culture that extended beyond the music—a temporary camp town with great food, fun, Dogfish, arcade games and leisure sports, those messy, delicious Island noodles and dance parties that went deep into the night. Trying to collect the memories I gathered over the years there is not a simple task. As a concert photographer, much of it does revolve around the music. But I know that for many of my friends and family, the music was the framework for an almost utopian experience in the Woodlands of Firefly. For me, some of the best moments were new discoveries. In 2013, I’d never heard of Twenty One Pilots, but I’ll never forget their stageclimbing, crowd-surfing drummer theatrics. Beyond the circus act, their songs were catchy and made people rabid, in the best of ways. Other relatively unknown acts gracing the Firefly stage included Courtney Barnett, Sturgill Simpson, Run The Jewels and Imagine Dragons—whose debut album would then go platinum many times over. One of my favorite sets at Firefly, and one of the few I watched entirely, was (the then unknown to me) San Fermin playing the now-retired Forest Stage, awash in colored lights that framed the woodlands canopy.
Kendrick Lamar
Citizen Cope Cage The Elephant
M83
H THE CAMERA’S EYE Paul McCartney
And there was also Eden, an incredible blend of traditional singer-songwriter and EDM artist, with his infectious down-beat anthems. And the delightful Maggie Rogers, who lived in Delaware for a time. And Mondo Cozmo. Even Kendrick Lamar (one of the 2018 headliners) and Ellie Goulding played on smaller stages at Firefly. Also Snoop Dogg in a haze of pot smoke and bobbing heads on the smaller Porch stage. There have been many other highlights: Cage the Elephant, both times—that is what a rock band should sound like and its frontman should exude; Citizen Cope playing an acoustic Treehouse session in the forest that I will never forget; Vita and the Woolf, who played the most remote stage in the fest, only to have it filled by lead vocalist Jen Pague’s otherworldly voice summoning people from every corner; Tom Petty, whose hits just kept coming; Trombone Shorty and Childish Gambino, who brought everything they had; Matt & Kim, unpredictable and entertaining, and of course catchy as hell; Steve Aoki playing a midday set after being rained out the previous night, chucking massive sheet cakes into the crowd, and honorary Delawarean Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters blistering their way through all their hits before covering Alice Cooper, The Stones, Van Halen and Queen in their encore. And the crazy stuff. Like the WTF moments of pure insanity that were the 30 Seconds To Mars set. Fetty Wap’s set was so bad it’s now legendary. And the massive three hours of perfection above 90,000 sets of eyes that was Paul McCartney’s set. Honestly, those goosebumps are still on call. But I admit that the one memory that stands out at Firefly is idiosyncratic: the glorious M83 set in 2016, and walking through it after shooting from the pit, glowing in the reflected colors from the stage. It was an elemental music that drifted like a soundtrack over the tens of thousands blissfully singular within its spell. And that is what Firefly is to me, an experience of people connecting, awash in a haze of light and color and motion, celebrating something that I suspect even they do not understand. This year we’ll get Eminem, Kendrick’s return, Killers and Arctic Monkeys again. And Mike D from the Beastie Boys! But also the surprises. What shape will they take in the sounds and colors of the woodland night? Childish Gambino
Steve Aoki Courtney Barnett
Matt And Kim
Imagine Dragons
Tom Petty
ww wwz
BachettiBros. BachettiBros. BachettiBros. BachettiBros. BachettiBros. Curbside Grocery Pick-Up Available - Call Ahead! Quality Since Since 1934 1934
Price Quality Service Price Service
Gourmet Gourmet Meats, Meats, Market Market &Catering Catering Gourmet Meats, Market &&Catering
THE WOMEN BEHIND THE MASKS continued from page 19
GourmetMeats, Meats,Market Market&&Catering Catering Gourmet Quality Quality • Price • Price • Service • Service Quality • Price • Service
“Women and men from all walks of life have joined to sew masks; cut fabric; donate materials and money for supplies; Since 1934 Since 1934 and distribute finished products.” Like many of the other volunteers who compose Help for Healthcare Workers, both Barnekov-Short and McElrone additionally hold down paying jobs. “It has been a bit of a challenge managing my day job with the mask group,” says Barnekov-Short. “There were a few weeks where I thought it would be unsustainable.” McElrone, who works full-time from home as an Interlibrary Loan Specialist for Swarthmore College Library, compares Bachetti’s is Your for the Freshest Meats the extra workload as a “second full-time Easy Grab & GoPlace to Observe Social Distancing Bachetti’s is Your Place the Freshest Meats Bachetti’s is Your Place forfor the Freshest Meats job for both of us to manage.” and the Best Marinades, Steak Sauces and Rubs! “Luckily at this point, most of our and the Best Sauces and Rubs! and the Best Marinades, and Rubs! Bachetti’s isMarinades, Your Place Steak forSteak the Sauces Freshest Meats Yes, we’ll cater your summer picnic! members know the drill and are fantastic at and the Best Marinades, Steak Sauces and Rubs! we’ll cater your summer picnic! Yes,Yes, we’ll cater your summer picnic! self-moderating each other and supporting everyone’s efforts, so we can focus on the overall mission,” McElrone adds. “The 302.994.4467 | 4723 Kirkwood Hwy. Midway Plaza thank-you notes, photos, and videos we 302.994.4467 | 4723 Kirkwood Hwy. Midway Plaza 302.994.4467 | 4723 Kirkwood Hwy. Midway Plaza receive from facilities are amazing and 302.994.4467 302.994.4467 | www.Bachettis.com 4723 | 4723 Kirkwood Kirkwood Hwy. Hwy. Midway Midway Plaza Plaza 302.994.4467 | 4723 Kirkwood Hwy. Midway Plaza www.Bachettis.com | www.ChocolateWaterfall.com www.Bachettis.com | www.ChocolateWaterfall.com 12 12 12help us know that we are helping.” www.Bachettis.com www.Bachettis.com | www.ChocolateWaterfall.com | www.ChocolateWaterfall.com www.Bachettis.com | www.ChocolateWaterfall.com That said, both McElrone and BarnkovShort believe that as demands grows, so does the need for more volunteers. “Some of our hardest workers are getting fatigued so it would be great for more people to join the cause and give them some relief,” McElrone says. “Our nursing homes and assisted living facilities have been hit hard by this crisis,” she adds. “Many of their employees Visit Website had inadequate PPE [personal protective for Current Hours & equipment] to begin with, so in some cases Shopping Family owned & operated we are literally their sole supplier for face Guidelines masks of any sort.” Since 1933 — 4 Generations!
Quality • Price • Service Quality • Price • 1934 Service Since Since 1934 Since 1934
OFFERINGBBQ BOX LUNCHES NATIONAL MONTH! NATIONAL BBQ MONTH! NATIONAL BBQ MONTH! & INDIVIDUAL MEALS!
BBQ BBQTIME! TIME! TIME! BBQ
Bachetti’s Bachetti’s is Your Your Place Place for the the Freshest Freshest Meats Meats Bachetti’s is is Your Place forfor the Freshest Meats and and the the Best Best Marinades, Marinades, Steak Steak Sauces Sauces and and Rubs! Rubs! and the Best Marinades, Steak Sauces and Rubs! THE REAL
State Line Liquors State Line Liquors Great selection Family ownedof...well... & operated just about Since 1933 —everything! 4 Generations! —Yelp
TTHHEERREAEALL
THE REAL
Interested in volunteering? Help for Healthcare Workers Delaware could use more help. Contact Kerry Kristine McElrone for more info at kristineker@yahoo.com
Great selection of...well... Over 3,000 Different Beers
just about everything! —Yelp Growler Bar with 35 Taps Wine, Spirits & Beer Tastings Wine, Spirits & Beer Tastings Gourmet Food & Cheeses Over 3,000 Different Beers 1610 ELKTON RD, Route 279 . ELKTON, MD • WWW.STATELINELIQUORS.COM Growler Bar with Taps IN MARYLAND (410) 398-3838 OUTSIDE MD. (800)35 446-WINE,
Gourmet Food & Cheeses
22 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
1610 ELKTON RD, Route 279 . ELKTON, MD
Matthew Hathaway Morris, courtesy of Help for Healthcare Workers Delaware.
SUPPORT OUR LOCAL RESTAURANT
PARTNERS Some of our restaurant partners will be open for dine-in with reservations and masks beginning June 1. Check their websites for updates. For take-out and delivery options, see below for venue, hours and payment info.
BUFFALO WILD WINGS - Takeout. Delivery through DoorDash. Mon-Sun 11-10pm at all Delaware locations. www. buffalowildwings.com. CAFE MEZZANOTTE - Takeout Monday-Friday 11-7pm. (Wilmington) Family-size specials available. Weekly wine, beer, and cocktail specials. Delivery via GrubHub. www. cafemezzanotte.net. (302) 658-7050.
COLUMBUS INN – Dine-in with reservations only. Take-out with curbside pick-up. Delivery via UberEats and DoorDash. (Wilmington) Mon-Sat 4-9pm; Sunday Brunch 9am-1pm. collumbusinn.net (302) 571-1492. DEER PARK TAVERN – Take-out with curbside pick-up, delivery, and dine-in with reservation only. (Newark) www.deerparktavern. com (302) 369-9414.
CANTWELL’S TAVERN - Take-out with curbside pick-up and delivery. Dine-in with reservation only. (Odessa) Open 7 days 11:30am-8pm. www.cantwells-tavern.com (302) 376-0600.
DRIP CAFE – Take-out with modified menu available for both individual and family-style meals. Open 7 days 7am-4pm. www. dripcafede.com Hockessin (302) 234-4430.
CASAPULLA’S ELSMERE – Take-out 7 days a week with regular hours. www.restaurantji.com/de/wilmington/casapullas(302) 994-5934.
EGGSPECTATION – Takeout and Brunch Box combos. Delivery through DoorDash. Offering $5 Bloody Mary or Mimosa pouches to-go. Open daily, 9am-3pm www. eggspectation.com (302) 842-2515. ►
CHELSEA TAVERN – Dine-in with reservations only. Take-out with curbside pick-up for pre-pay and Grubhub delivery. (Wilmington) Open Mon-Fri, 11am-10pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-10pm (with brunch service). www.chelseatavern.com (302) 482-3333.
JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
23
Mother's Day Brunch 10:00am - 3:00pm & Dinner 5:30pm - 8:30pm Treat Mom to a breakfast feast or a la carte dinner Sunday, May 10th Reservations Required 302-571-1492
tSPRING akeout &HOLIDAYS Delivery aARE vailHERE! able
302-571-1492 | COLUMBUSINN.NET 302-571-1492 | columbusinn.net
2216 Pennsylv Pennsylvania Wilmington, DE 19806 2216 ania Avenue Avenue || Wilmington, DE 19806
24 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
EL DIABLO BURRITOS— Take-out with curbside pick-up options at all five locations: Market Street, Wilmington; Main Street, Newark; Pike Creek; N. Wilmington; and Trolley Square. 11am-9pm, daily, all locations except Market Street (Mon-Fri, noon-6pm) www.eldiabloburritos.com. EL TORO — Take-out and delivery. (Wilmington) 11am-8pm www. eltorode.com (302) 777-4417 or Cantina: (302) 543-5621. GALLUCIO’S — Take-out and delivery via phone, Slice, or DoorDash. Daily specials available. (Wilmington) 11am- 9pm. www.gallucios-de.com (302) 655-3689. GRAIN CRAFT BAR + KITCHEN — Take-out and delivery at all three locations; featuring 32oz crowlers of beer, crowler cocktails and bottled wine (pickup only). Dine-in with reservation and masks. Kennett (484) 886-4154; Newark (302) 444-8646; H2O (302) 440-4404. meetatgrain.com. GROTTO PIZZA — Curbside pick-up and delivery at all Delaware locations. Buy any large pizza, get 2nd half off. 11am10pm. www.grottopizza.com. HARRY’S SAVOY GRILL — Open for take-out and offering togo wines at half price daily. Currently featuring ready-to-cook protein packages to-go. Order online through Menufy. (N. Wilmington) Wed-Sun 4-8pm. Dine-in option starting June 1: W-Su 4-9pm. www.harryshospitalitygroup.com (302) 475-3000. HOME GROWN CAFÉ — Take-out with curbside pick-up or delivery. Full bar menu available. Open daily, 11am-8pm. Free parking. Family meals/weekly specials available plus halfprice bottles of wine. (Newark) www.homegrowncafe.com (302) 266-6993 Purchase a meal for Christiana Care healthcare workers for delivery at hospitals: gf.me/u/xt6rn9. IRON HILL BREWERY — (Newark & Riverfront) Takeout or curbside on a limited to-go menu. Growlers/cans of beer and bottles of wine to-go. Daily specials. Kids eat free Mondays and Tuesdays. order.ironhillbrewery.com/ Riverfront (302 ) 4722739 and Newark (302) 266-9000. ISLAND FIN POKE — Take-out with curbside pick-up or delivery through Uber Eats. Download the Toast app for 10% off each order at www.toasttab.com/island-fin-poke-wilmington. (Open daily noon-8pm, open to 9pm starting June 1st. Online ordering: www.islandfinpoke.com (302) 654-8793. JANSSEN’S MARKET & CAFÉ — Café open for take-out. All regular offerings. Offering Meals-To-Go for 2, 4, and 6. Curbside grocery pick-up for vulnerable populations. (Greenville) MonSat 7am-7pm; Sunday 8am-6pm. www.janssensmarket.com (302) 654-9941. KID SHELLEEN’S — Take-out with curbside pick-up available Tu-Th, Sun 12-8pm and F, Sa 12-9pm. Dine-in options will begin June 1: Tu-Th, Su 4-8pm and F, Sa 4-9pm. Online ordering available at www.harryshospitalitygroup.com (302) 475-3000.
LIMESTONE BBQ AND BOURBON — Takeout with new online ordering. Delivery through DoorDash. Wed-Sun 11am-8pm www.limestonebbqandbourbon.com (302) 274-2085. LOCALE BBQ POST — Take-out with full menu plus breakfast. (Wilmington) 10am-6pm www.localbbqpost.com (302) 655-1880. MCGLYNNS PUB — Take-out with curbside pick-up. Dine-in with reservation only. Open 7 days 11am-8pm. www.mcglynnspub. com Pike Creek (302) 738-7814; Glasgow (302) 834-6661. MEXICAN POST — Take-out, curbside or delivery with full menu. (N. Wilmington) Open 7 days/week 11am-9pm. www. mexicanpost.com/ (302) 478-3939. MIKIMOTOS – Carry-out from 11:30am-7pm in Wilmington. Sushi and limited dinner menu. UberEats delivery available. Dine-in options beginning June 2 by reservation: Tu-Th 11am9pm, F 11am-10pm, Sa, 2-10 and Su 2-9pm. Online ordering available: mikimotos.com. (302) 656-8638. PIZZA BY ELIZABETHS — Takeout with curbside pick-up. (Greenville) M-Th 4-8pm and F-Su 12-8pm. Dine-in option available June 1: Su, M 11:30am-9pm, W-Th 11:30am-10pm and F, Sa 11:30am-11pm. Weekly cocktail, wine, and dessert specials. www.pizzabyelizabeths.com (302) 654-4478. STEWART’S BREWING COMPANY — Curbside pick-up. Carryout specials at 10% off. Take-out growlers available at $5 off. Offering online ordering and Grubhub delivery. Tues-Sat 12-8pm. www.stewartsbrewingcompany.com (302) 836-2739. STITCH HOUSE BREWERY — Take-out with daily specials, plus to-go wine and beer or cocktail crowlers. Order online on website. Delivery through Grubhub. (Wilmington) Takeout and Dine-in by reservation Mon-Sat 11am-8pm. www. stitchhousebrewery.com (302) 250-4280. STONE BALLOON — Takeout available and Delivery through DoorDash. Cheap Date Night specials and $5 cocktail pouches. Brunch menu available on Saturday and Sunday. Wed-Thurs 4-8pm, Fri-Sat 11am-8pm, and Sun 11am-3pm www. stoneballoon.com 302-266-8111. TED’S MONTANA GRILL — Curbside pick-up, plus select bottles of wine and beer to-go, and dine-in options available after June 1 (Christiana) Mon-Sun 11:30am-8pm. Order online at www.tedsonlineorder.com then call on arrival at (302) 366-1601. TONIC BAR & GRILL — Take-out and delivery available through UberEats and DoorDash with menu updates on social media. Beer, wine and cocktails to-go. Dine-in options available beginning June 1. (Wilmington) Mon-Sat 11:30am7pm. www.tonicbargrille.com (302) 777-2040. UBON THAI CUISINE — Take-out via phone or Grubhub or Postmates for delivery. (Wilmington) Tues-Sa 12-7:30pm , Su 12-6:30pm. www.ubonthaicuisine.com (302) 656-1706.
JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
25
THE CITY
First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney (right, front) joins Mayor Purzycki in thanking City food service staff and volunteers at a meal preparation event on May 11, 2020.
WILMINGTON’S 200,000TH MEAL SERVED IN MAY
T
he City’s special COVID-19 citywide meal distribution system, which began March 17, delivered its 200,000th meal in mid-May. Mayor Purzycki and Parks Director Kevin Kelley credited the Parks Department’s food service and delivery staff along with community volunteers for conducting such an important program in this period of uncertainty for many families. The vital program continues to distribute about 5,000 meals daily—mostly breakfast and lunch—at more than two dozen sites around the City. “Parks Director Kelley, his food service teams from the Municipal Complex and the Hicks Anderson Community Center, and even some of our Parking Enforcement Officers have worked very hard these past two months to ensure that every young person who needs a meal can get one within a reasonable distance from his or her home.” Through this program, City youths 17 and under can receive a combined breakfast and lunch meal, and in some cases a dinner, at so-called “grab and go” meal sites around Wilmington in addition to the regular after-school food sites.
.
26 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
VISIT CITY’S COVID-19 WEB PAGE FOR REGULAR UPDATES
M
ayor Purzycki urges everyone to continue to follow the recommendations from the CDC as well as the directives of Gov. John Carney as they relate to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. We are now moving into a period where we need to re-start the economy, but do it in a way that does not endanger our health. We will need to practice social distancing and wear masks. We can’t let up. Visit the City of Wilmington COVID-19 web page at https:// bit.ly/covid19-info-wilmde for information from City, state and federal governments regarding health, housing, food distribution, benefits for businesses and non-profits, unemployment, education, and more. You can access important telephone numbers and websites and keep up with the latest news about the virus. For the latest on the State of Delaware’s response, visit de.gov/coronavirus. Stay informed and protect yourself!
A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO OUT & ABOUT MAGAZINE
CITY MOURNS LOSS OF DR. JOSEPH E. JOHNSON (1934-2020)
M
CITY DRIVE-THRU PET FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES SUPPLIES FOR 230 FAMILIES
T
he City of Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley SPCA (BVSPCA), together with Downingtown, Pa.-based Terra Technical Services, the Wilmington Blue Rocks and the Riverfront Development Corp., sponsored a FREE drive-thru pantry event on May 14 in the parking lot at Frawley Stadium. Food for cats and dogs was given out to 230 families in need. “Wilmington cares very much about animals and their owners, so we were very happy to co-sponsor this free drive-thru pantry event to help make sure that everyone’s companion animal can be properly fed during the current COVID-19 crisis,” said Mayor Purzycki. “This is a difficult time for everyone, but we want to make sure that our pets don’t get overlooked in the daily struggle to adjust to the changes we’ve had to make in our daily routines. The Brandywine Valley SPCA does a tremendous amount of work for our pets and I hope everyone continues supporting their efforts.” In addition to drive-thru pantries, the BVSPCA has expanded its standard pet food pantry to be accessible anytime during shelter open hours: Tuesday-Friday, 12-6 p.m., and Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Donations to BVSPCA continue can be made at BVSPCA.org/covidresponse.
A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO OUT & ABOUT MAGAZINE
ayor Mike Purzycki honored the memory of former Red Clay School District Superintendent Dr. Joseph E. Johnson, who passed away at his Wilmington home on April 21st at the age of 85, calling Dr. Johnson one of Wilmington’s “most caring, effective, forward-thinking, dedicated and memorable residents whose work influenced the lives of countless people.” “A beloved educator and advocate, his profound impact on the lives of so many will be his lasting legacy to a grateful City,” said the mayor.
JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
27
SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY! During this difficult time, there are numerous options on the Riverfront to get out, enjoy nature, and dine from some of your favorite restaurants! While many area public attractions are temporarily closed, the Riverfront is a perfect venue to enjoy the outdoors and walk our 1.75 mile Riverwalk along the beautiful Christina River! Additionally, while DuPont Environmental Education Center is closed, DEEC’s nature trails, including the eight-mile Jack A. Markell Trail is available! Get out and enjoy some quality time in nature!
28 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
TAKE-OUT & DELIVERY OPTIONS Don’t let these difficult times stop you from enjoying all of your favorite restaurants! Many Riverfront establishments are offering carryout and delivery offers and specials: BANKS SEAFOOD KITCHEN & RAW BAR – Offering carryout for lunch and dinner, as well as a free $20 gift card for every $100 gift card purchased. Can be purchased in-store, online or mailed. 302-777-1500. BIG FISH GRILL – Now open for limited carryout. Offering a limited, rotating menu WednesdaySunday from 4:00-8:00pm. 302-652-FISH. CIRO FOOD & DRINK – Offering takeout specials daily. COSI – Open Monday-Friday from 8:00am-2:00pm for carryout or delivery through DoorDash. 302-652-8800. DEL PEZ – Offering 10% off takeout orders for call-in at 302-691-7974, taking credit cards over the phone and providing curbside pick-up. DOCKLANDS – Offering delivery of food, including beer, wine, and cocktails! Call 302-658-6626. DocklandsRiverfront.com DROP SQUAD KITCHEN – Open weekdays until 8pm and Friday and Saturday until 9pm for carryout and delivery options for vegan cuisine. Call 302-984-2773. DropSquadKitchen.com IRON HILL BREWERY & RESTAURANT – Open daily for takeout and curbside pickup, for both food & beer. Can order online or by calling 302-472-2739. STARBUCKS - Open 7:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday and 8:00am-2:00pm on weekends. Carryout only. 302-407-6207. TIMOTHY’S ON THE RIVERFRONT – Offering takeout and delivery daily 11:30am-8:00pm. Delivery options through DoorDash, UberEats, and ChowNow. Also offering a free roll of toilet paper with orders of $20 or more, while supplies last! 302-429-7427. UBON THAI – Open Tuesday Thursday from 12:00-8:00pm, and Friday-Saturday from 12:00-9:00pm for takeout and delivery. Delivery offered through PostMates and GrubHub.
JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
29
FOR KIDS! HOME WITH LITTLE ONES? The Delaware Children’s Museum will be posting at-home children’s activities on their Facebook page until they re-open! Just search Delaware Children’s Museum on Facebook!
30 JUNE 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
OPEN MONDAY JUNE 1ST! We Look Forward to Being Able to Serve You Again!
M ade With
LOV E
And Only the Freshest Ingredients!
302.654.4478 | 3801 Kennett Pike Greenville, DE | pizzabyelizabeths.com
c es.
t ly.
n ts ds
or.
s