Out & About -- January 2011 -- Worth Trying

VOL. 23 NO. 11

JANUARY 2011

OutAndAboutNow.Com

COMPLIMENTARY

Inside

New Etiquette Column pg 8

PLUS:

>>> Exploring the small-plates trend >>> The Queen: A photo history

HO

SP

I TA

>>> Jon Conner’s second chance

Tu LIT Y es T De d a ECH ta y ils , J NO on a n LO pg . 2 GY 36 5 EX

PO

>>> A new face in Riverfront dining

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de.quitnet.com • Quitline(1.866.409.1858)

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2 . Inside

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UD is for you.

You need knowledge that will make a difference in the real world— and you need it fast.

UD certificates deliver practical, use-it-the-next-day skills in a short time.

The programs are scheduled to suit working professionals like you.

And that credential on your resume couldn’t hurt.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSION

Thursday, January 27 5:30 p.m. (program begins at 6:00 p.m.)

Doubletree Hotel 700 N. King Street, Wilmington (Call 302-831-7600 to register.)

Financial Planning Certificate Information Session: Feb. 3 on the Newark campus.

•

Bring a friend!

•

Visit www.pcs.udel.edu/certificate/, or contact us at continuing-ed@udel.edu or 302-831-7600 for a list of programs.

The University of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity University.

www.out-and-about.com

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©2010 COORS BREWING COMPANY GOLDEN, COLORADO 80401 • BEER • CCL02529509

4 . Inside

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INSIDE

Published each month by TSN Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing & business address: 307 A Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

O&ACONTENTS January 2011 | Vol. 23, No. 11 | www.outandaboutnow.com

FEATURES Publisher Gerald DuPhily Editor-in-Chief Michael Pollock Director of Publications Jim Hunter Miller Director of Sales Marie Graham Creative/Production Manager Matthew Loeb

12 UP CLOSE: WORTH TRYING Start the New Year fresh with a look at 25 things—all handpicked by the O&A staff—worth your time.

19 THE QUEEN THEATRE: A PICTORIAL HISTORY As Wilmington’s Queen Theatre prepares for its unveiling in April, we kick off a four-part series that examines its history as well as the new energy driving its return.

24 FOOD & DRINK: A LITTLE OF A LOT The small-plates trend grows large in appeal. By Pam George

47 MUSIC: WHAT HAPPENED TO JON CONNER? After a record deal fell through, the Newark hip-hop artist almost became a footnote. How he escaped his certain fate. By Michael Pollock

Art Director Joy Smoker

DEPARTMENTS Senior Graphic Designer Shawna Sneath Contributing Editor Bob Yearick

7

Out Front

20 Food & Drink 41 Movies

Contributing Writers Mark Fields, Richard L. Gaw, Pam George Carol Kipp, Robert Lhulier J. Burke Morrison, Larry Nagengast

54 Nightlife 59 Flip Page

Contributing Photographers Joe del Tufo, Dennis Dischler Tim Hawk, Les Kipp, Matt Urban

For editorial and advertising information: (302) 655-6483 • Fax (302) 654-0569 Website: www.outandaboutnow.com Email: contact@tsnpub.com

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DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles is now issuing more secure, federally compliant driver licenses and identification cards.

In order to obtain your new driver license or ID card, you will need to collect and bring a few important source documents to provide proof of: s Identity (Name and Date of Birth) s U.S. citizenship/Legal presence s Social Security Number s 2 proofs of Delaware residency s Name change documents (if applicable) You can find everything you need to know at

SecureID.dmv.de.gov or call toll free

877-477-7117

Editor’s Note

E

ach issue, we aim to offer a wide selection of things worth trying—new food trends, music to check out, movies to watch, books to read, events to attend.

We even have a section dedicated to our more unique finds—called, of course, “Worth Trying”—in Out Front.

This month, however, we’re extending that idea: a whole issue dedicated to things we think are worth trying. From Sharon Jones and the Central Y to Haagen Daz and Ten Thousand Villages, each staff member came up with a list to reflect his or her personality. Read them all. We think you’ll find plenty of fresh ways to start 2011.

Fresh is definitely a theme this month. There’s Pam George’s profile of Eric Sugrue (pg. 20), who’s leaving quite an impression on the Wilmington Riverfront’s dining scene with his two latest restaurants. We also catch up with Newark hip-hop artist Jon Conner (pg. 47), who’s carving out a new identity for himself in the music world.

And on the flipside, Wilmington Magazine looks at the energy brewing at Second & LOMA (that’s Lower Market Street, which starts on Market below Fourth Street). Why all the buzz? Hint: It’s in the coffee.

Enjoy. And thanks for reading.

Michael Pollock Editor-in-Chief 6 . Out Front

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OUTFRONT

The War

ON WORDS

By Bob Yearick

A monthly column in which we attempt, however futilely, to correct some of the most common mistakes Americans make in both the written and spoken word.

WORD OF THE MONTH

tmesis

Pronounced tuh-MEE-sis, it’s a noun describing the separation of the parts of a word by another word, as in abso-bloody-lutely. (“War” had a drill sergeant who was adept at this, but his words cannot be printed here.)

Department of Redundancies Dept.

The funeral industry apparently finds the word “planning” inadequate. “War” has previously pointed out said industry’s fondness for “preplanning” funerals. Now, in a column in a local periodical, an executive with a Wilmington funeral home advises that “A personalized funeral is more involved than a standard service, and requires prior planning.”

The author’s title ties the bow on this run of redundancy: Advance Planning Coordinator.

Our editor-in-chief, the estimable Michael M. Pollock, is always happy and proud when he can contribute to “War.” Having recently heard a caller to WYSP’s Danny Bonaduce refer to “the first pilot episode” of a TV show, Mike hastens to point out that, “In TV talk, first and pilot mean the same thing.”

And regular contributor Debbie Layton tattles on the TV announcer who repeatedly uttered the phrase “reverting back.”

Media Watch A couple of items from the News Journal sports pages: •“The recent tradition of holding football playoff games at neutral sites.” We wonder when a tradition stops being recent and just becomes a regular tradition. “Recent practice” would’ve been a better choice.

• “Potential Super Bowl contender…” Maybe this should’ve appeared under Department of Redundancies Dept.

Truckin’ along In USA Today, “Game On!” blogger Reid Cherner wrote, “I have no truck with George Steinbrenner being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.” Cherner explained that he had no objection to the late Yankee boss being elected to the Hall. “Having no truck with” is an oldfashioned expression that contemporary writers like Cherner should probably avoid. To have no truck with someone or something is a pejorative, and means avoiding any dealings with that person or thing—which is sort of the opposite of what Cherner meant to say.

BONUS

WORD OF THE MONTH stentorian Pronounced sten-TOR-ee-uhn, it means loud and powerful.

How long, oh lord, how long?

Here’s a headline from Coatings World, a publication in the automotive-finishes industry: “Sherwin Williams Protect’s Brazil’s Oil Tankers.”

This may be the first time we’ve seen a verb as the victim of apostrophe abuse.

Oxymorons …are, as you know, self-contradictory terms.

A reader sent us a list of the top 45. Some of our faves: • Genuine imitation • Good grief • Same difference • Almost exactly • Sanitary landfill • Small crowd • “Now, then…”

• Clearly misunderstood • Peace force

• Computer jock • Terribly pleased • Tight slacks • Pretty ugly • Diet ice cream • Working vacation • Passive aggression • Taped live • Plastic glasses

Heard or seen a good

(bad) one lately?

Drop us a line at allwriter@ comcast.net.

And another “Redundancies” candidate from the usually impeccable Charles Osgood, on CBS’s “Sunday Morning,” calling comedian/actor/ author/musician Steve Martin “an all-around Renaissance man.” www.out-and-about.com

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OUTFRONT

That Is Not OK! ’Tis the season to be rude, according to our new etiquette columnist

T

he holidays seem to bring out the best in people, but also the he worst. on with You’ve most likely sent or received a holiday card this season on be something along the lines of, “May the spirit of the season bug!” with you now and throughout the New Year.” To this I say, “Humbug!” son How about: “May you be able to put the stress of the holiday season behind you quickly and remember to treat strangers with a little tle s. respect.” Here are some of my worst holiday-behavior observations.

Although spotted throughout the year, these behaviors seem to be magnified around the holidays. ’Tis the season to be rude!

Behavior #1: The fight for the closer parking spot. I remember being little and having to circle the mall parking lot for what seemed like an eternity just to find an open spot. I haven’t experienced this problem recently, but I still see people fighting for parking spots like there aren’t any left. If you want to catch a piece of this action, head to the Brandywine Town Center on a Saturday afternoon. Get a grip, people. The next open spot is just a few car lengths away.

Behavior #2: When I stop my car to let you cross the street, just shoot me a courtesy wave. I’m all for the pedestrian having the right of way, but a simple thank-you is really not all that difficult. And, as Shawna Sneath, our senior graphic designer points out, it’s also a matter of safety. The courtesy wave suggests that we are both aware of each other, so no one’s going to get hit by the other car.

What’s worse than a failure to wave (or even a simple head nod)? The lack of wave, followed by the lack of any sense of urgency while crossing the street. That’s definitely not OK. Pick up the pace—we all have somewhere to be. (Disclaimer: this does not apply to handicapped or pregnant people.)

Marie Graham is the sales director at Out & About. An otherwise happy-go-lucky new mom, she uses this space to vent her frustrations with the world around her. If you’ve got an etiquette violation she should know about, email mgraham@tsnpub.com.

Behavior #3: Door-holding etiquette. This one will never cease to amaze me.

Don’t let the door slam in someone’s face. I’m not suggesting you need to hold the door for a person who’s 25 yards away—in fact, sometimes that creates an unwanted pressure to jog to the door. But if someone is right behind you, hold the door open. On the other hand, when someone holds the door for you, say thank you. And if you’re feeling crazy, you might even consider making eye contact and smiling as you say it.

Behavior #4: Line-butting. I don’t have to say much about this one. It’s just completely self-centered. And it doesn’t make it better if you pretend you didn’t do it on purpose. You did. A line butter silently states, “I am in a hurry and my time is far more valuable than yours.”

If you don’t think the behaviors above are offensive, then it’s possible you’re an offender. Don’t panic! Identifying the conduct is half the battle. Once you’re conscious of your actions, I think you’ll find that correcting yourself takes very little effort.

Now it’s your turn to vent. Were there any common-courtesy behaviors I overlooked? Let me know. My February issue gripes will be about rude, everyday driving behaviors. Feel free to send me your biggest grievances about your fellow drivers, and let Out & About readers know it’s simply not OK.

8 . Out Front

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Attention, Writers!

Short-story contest now open

W

riters, warm up your pens, notepads, computers, whatever.

The Out & About short-story contest is back, and this time, the competition is co-sponsored by the Delaware Literary Connection, a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging and supporting Delaware writers.

Contest entries must be no more than 1,500 words, may be fiction or nonfiction, and must address the theme of turning points: marriage, the birth of a child, a career path, etc.

Previously published pieces are not eligible. Entry deadline is Feb. 15.

First-, second-, and third-place winners will be announced in the April issue of Out & About and will be published in subsequent issues.

All entries must be typewritten (12-point type, preferably Times New Roman) and must be available in electronic form.

Entries will be judged by the DLC board of directors, who are not eligible to enter, and should be sent to: Delaware Literary Connection, 237 Cayman Ct., Wilmington, DE 19808.

The grand-prize winner will receive an “Escape to the Brandywine Valley” package, courtesy of Hilton Christiana/Wilmington, which includes room accommodations, tickets to a Brandywine Valley attraction, and a buffet breakfast, all for you and a guest.

New website.

Same great magazine.

OutAndAboutNow.com

HAPPY

NEW YEAR! 1240 Old Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707 | 302.234.9144 | essenciasalon.com

Hair • Skin • Nails • Massage • Makeup • Waxing • Boutique www.out-and-about.com

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KEEPING WARM The winter chill couldn’t freeze the fun. At top, Buckley’s Tavern hosted a toast for December Day (Dec. 7), which brought out Twin Lakes’ Matt Day (center) and our beer columnist J. Burke Morrison (right). At Del Rose Cafe, meanwhile, the facial hair was in full effect for the Stache Bash (Dec. 15), which raised $30,000 for Supporting Kidds.

10 . Out Front

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Saturday Feb 12th Baycenter Dewey Beach Live music by Leroy Hawkes & the Hipnotics, Jimi Smooth & HitTime, The Flamin’ Caucasians and Comfort Zone.

Two Floors of Excitement, Open Bar and Chef prepared Hors d’oeuvres.

$85

per person

Benefits the Dewey Beach Police and Lifeguards.

BaycenterDewey.com or 302-226-1680 ext 101 for tickets.

Must be 21 to enter. Black tie optional formal attire is suggested. www.out-and-about.com

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WORTH TRYING

Holding the door for the stranger behind you. See pg. 8.

– Marie Graham, director of sales

25

ways to freshen up the New Year. That’s how we’re kicking off 2011.

Over the following pages, you’ll get our recommendations for all things worth trying—from Jay-Z’s new book to workshops hosted by Terrain, from local art to beer made in New York. While we like to think each issue of Out & About has plenty of ways to make the most of your month, this month’s ‘Worth Trying’ package goes off the beaten path while staying relevant to the stuff we care about: good food and drink, great shopping finds, and serious entertainment.

Go ahead. We dare you not to try a few.

Haagen Daz Green Tea Ice Cream. The next time you visit the ice cream cooler, give this culinary masterpiece a try. It’s perfectly creamy, sweet but not too sweet, and the color will make you happy. Plus, it’s made simply from cream, milk, sugar, eggs, and green tea, without any extra stuff.

— Shawna Sneath, senior graphic designer

Workshops at Terrain. Get your creative juices flowing at one of Terrain at Styer’s crafty workshops.

They offer a wide range of monthly happenings relating to horticulture, DIY arts projects (like these felt coasters I stenciled), events for foodies, and more. (styers.shopterrain. com/events) — Joy Smoker, art director

Sharon Jones.

The funk/soul singer and her backing band, the Dap-Kings, released one of my favorite albums of 2010, I Learned the Hard Way, which is catchy without being kitschy. Catch the whole gang live at the Grand Opera House on Jan. 28. (thegrandwilmington.org.) — Michael Pollock, editor-in-chief

12 . UpClose

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WORTH TRYING

LOMA Coffee. I stopped by because there wasn’t any parking near my local shop of choice, and I was pleasantly surprised. They make a great cup of coffee, serve breakfast and lunch, and the staff is really friendly. I’ve been back multiple times.

(Third & Market sts., Wilm.; lomacoffee.com) — MG

Saranac’s 12 Beers of Winter.

I’ve looked forward to the unveiling of the Utica, N.Y.-based brewery’s seasonal sampler for the last couple of years, as there’s hardly a bad one in the batch. This year’s bottles include Vanilla Stout (my favorite), India Brown Ale (new), Bohemian Pilsener (also new), Extra Special Bitter, Season’s Best, and Belgian Ale. (saranac.com; try your local liquorr store) — MP

The Central YMCA. This time of year, we all make resolutions to get in better shape. If joining a fitness center is in your plans, pay a visit to the Central YMCA. Though the facility has been serving the Wilmington community since 1929, the fitness center is state-of-the-art, offering 96 high-end workout machines in an invigorating setting accented by a giant glass wall that overlooks 12th Street. But what’s truly unique about the Central Y is its egalitarian feel.

One day you’ll be working out next to a U.S. Senator, the next day you’ll be sweating it out with your mailman.

— Jerry DuPhily, publisher

Theatre N. Wilmington’s indiemovie theater shows great movies at a competitive seven bucks a pop. Beers are $3 and snacks are a dollar. And it’s a heck of a lot closer than driving to a Philly art house-style theater. (theatren.com) — JS

Decoded.

Jay-Z, author? The rapper who prides himself on not writing down his lyrics has plenty to say about the stories that inspired them, as well as the art of songwriting, in his new memoir. (Ninth Street Book Shop, 104 W. Ninth St., Wilm.; 652-3315) — MP

Inside Musicast. If you enjoy listening to interviews with musicians on the radio or via podcasts, check out Inside Musicast.

It’s obvious the interviewers have taken the time to research their subjects—from legendary drummer Bernard Purdie to monster bass player Victor Wooten—asking questions that inspire insightful conversation. (insidemusicast.com) — Jim Miller, director of publications www.out-and-about.com

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WORTH TRYING

Exit Through the Gift Shop. A camera-happy clothing seller stumbles upon the underworld of street art and meets some of its more notorious members—Shepard Fairey, Banksy—in this loose documentary. In a twist, the filmmaker becomes an artist himself. Catch it at the Trabant Center on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. as part of UD’s Winter Film Series. (831-1296; udel.edu/student-centers/indie) — MP

Re-upholstering your old chairs. If you have diningroom chairs that you’ve shunned to hiding places, bring them back to life! Cover up the old, ugly material with whatever suits your fancy, and celebrate your forgotten furniture.

It’s super easy; all you need is a screwdriver, new fabric, scissors, and a staple gun. If you need stepby-step instructions, wikihow.com/ reupholster-a-dining-chair-seat is a good resource. — SS

The Paper Market in Kennett Square. I had the h pleasure pl off strolling State Street in Kennett Squa Sq uare re to to do some s Square holiday shopping, and this was th the firstt pl l place I stopped. I was immediately welc we lcom lc om by store owner Doug Harris. welcomed His colorful personality, combined with the atmosphere of the place, m made for a great experience. His ecoeco-boutique philosophy focuses on havi ha ving vi ng a low impact on the environment having whil wh ilee fi fin n while nding little ways to give back; TOMS TO MS sh h shoes is just one of the products sold so ld tthere. here he re. In aaddition to carrying unique and b be auti tifu f ll llyy ha h n beautifully handcrafted stationary, the boutique is packed pac acke ked d wi with th fair-trade items from around the worl wo rld. d (t (the hepa pap p — SS world. (thepapermarket.com)

NotCot. As the tagline suggests, NotCot.org is a digital bulletin board of Ideas+Aesthetics+Amusement supplying creatives and non-creatives with a fresh rotation of daily inspiration from the worlds of art, fashion, technology, food, video, and more. (notcot.org) — JS 14 . UpClose

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WORTH TRYING

Fine Cooking. Hands down the best cooking magazine I’ve ever subscribed to. Every recipe I’ve tried has been a success and makes this otherwise inept cook look like I actually know what I’m doing. See pg. 34 for their Hot Buttered Rum recipe. (finecooking.com) — JS

Ultra-Realistic Sculpture by Marc Sijan at the Delaware Art Museum.

Sijan leaves out the physical nature of the bodies he sculpts so that we might see something deeper connecting them. The results are disturbingly lifelike but definitely worth a look. (Now thru Jan. 16; delart.org) — MP

Longwood Gardens. Although it’s only a few miles away, this former Pierre du Pont estate possesses the potential to transport you to another time and place, and most likely a better state of mind. Where else, locally, can you take a walk in the park and be exposed to more than 11,000 types of plants indoors and outdoors? Considering it almost never came to be (du Pont purchased the land shortly before it was to be developed for other purposes), the marvel that is Longwood makes a statement about preservation and sustainability simply in its being. (longwoodgardens.org) — JM

Ten Thousand Villages. This shop is located in Greenville, and everything they sell is fair trade from artisans all over the globe. I found some really beautiful ornaments that I gave as Christmas gifts, and while I was there I spotted lots of beautiful things I would love for my own house.

Great accessories, and everything was reasonably priced. — MG

www.out-and-about.com

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Breakfast at Hank’s Place.

There are not many things I’d wait in line for. Breakfast at Hank’s Place is one of them. This folksy Chadds Ford eatery, located at the intersection of Route 1 and Route 100, is nearly as famous as the Wyeth family. And wouldn’t you know it, Hank’s is one of the Wyeths’ favorite breakfast spots. The French toast is great, the omelettes are even better, and the corned-beef hash is a must-try. One piece of advice: If you venture there on the weekends, prepare for a wait.

— JD

Kennett Flash. I’ve only had the pleasure of going once, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself and plan to return. It’s a BYO, live original-music venue. What more could you want? — MG 15

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WORTH TRYING

Local, original music. Dare it be said that local, original music is making a comeback? Thanks to the ongoing efforts of many relentless artists, die-hard fans, and music mavens (such as our own Mike Pollock), the pool of original talent continues to grow at a welcomed and encouraging pace. Two new albums from Musikarmageddon finalists Jackets and Villains Like You hit the street this month, followed by a video from 2010 Musikarmageddon champs New Sweden. And that’s just the start to what could be the best year for local original music in well more than a decade. — JM

El Diablo Burritos.

The folks at El Diablo can fix up a burrito that’s hot as hell. But for any fan of Mexican fare, this place is heaven.

Former 821 sous chef Roger Andrews and his crew create a masterpiece burrito, stuffing as much deliciousness and fun as you can fit in a warm tortilla. (Trolley Square; eldiabloburritos.com. See pg. 33 for details on El Diablo’s Hot Sauce Superbowl.)

— JM

Talking to the person at the wine shop. I buy a bottle of wine about once a week and rarely spend more than $15. When I choose a bottle myself, it’s always hit or miss, but I’ve never been steered wrong by the guy who tastes wine for a living.

Addendum: You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a great wine.

I went to Frank’s on Union Street recently and they recommended a great Malbec and a really nice Chianti. Each were $12. — MG

Twin Lakes Brewery. Yes, Sam Calagione at Dogfish Head is doing Delaware more than small wonders with a gangbusters brew business that continues to help put the First State on the map. Meanwhile, the brewers at Twin Lakes continue to make a consistent, authentic ale that, like Dogfish, utilizes the best ingredients available and takes no shortcuts in the brewing process. The Greenville Pale Ale is a beverage that, as Delawareans, we all can be more than proud to pour in our pint glasses. — JM

Bloom. Bloom is the best gift store in Delaware.

There, I said it. Owner Mimi Sparks has a great eye for stylish clothes, house wears, bath and body products, and accessories. It’s my go-to shop whenever I need a gift for someone…or myself. (bloomfolly.com) — JS

www.out-and-about.com

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18 . The Queen

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THE QUEEN

The Queen Theatre: A pictorial history As construction on the revived Queen Theatre at the corner of Fifth and Market streets in downtown Wilmington reaches its pivotal stages, we’re kicking off a series to celebrate the Queen’s scheduled opening in April. This month, we present several historic photos from the Queen’s earliest days. In the late 1800s, the Queen was set to become a bank headquarters but instead became a hotel, the Clayton House. The Queen also hosted conventions (top left, from 1899), retail shops on the ground floor (top right), and a movie theater (bottom, shown here in 1915 under construction). Next month, we dig up some of the forgotten stories that have played out on the Queen’s former stage and screen. photos provided by the Delaware Historical Society 19

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FOOD&DRINK

Eric (left) and Norman Sugrue. photo by Kevin Fleming

20 . Food & Drink

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FOOD&DRINK

Having conquered the beach, Eric Sugrue is tackling Wilmington’s Riverfront

I

n the crowded Rehoboth Beach restaurant market, Big Fish Grill is aptly named. Since opening in 1997, the restaurant has hooked readers’ and critics’ choice awards from local and state publications. On summer weekends, customers crowd the waiting area for a table, and the adjoining market does a brisk takeout business.

Big Fish, it seems, truly is a big fish in a small pond. So when brothers Eric and Norman (Jr.) Sugrue decided to open a Wilmington Riverfront location in July 2009, some wondered how the beach-area restaurateurs would fare in a new environment.

The answer: swimmingly. “We’ve had a very successful year,” says Eric Sugrue, sitting in the Riverfront restaurant.

Apparently so. It is just after the lunch hour on a Tuesday, and a party of six, wearing office attire, requests a table. Diners are still sipping chowder and tucking into salads topped with the fresh fish of the day, as Top 40 music spills from overhead speakers.

Blond hair neatly combed and wearing casual but cool sportswear, Sugrue looks like an outdoorsy Rehoboth Beach native. (The family moved there from Kensington, Md. when Eric was 7.) But it’s a mistake to assume he has a small-town mentality. Sugrue spent years in big-name restaurant groups, learning, watching and waiting to put best practices into play.

“Eric is a first-rate operator,” says Michael Purzycki, executive director of the Riverfront Development Corp. “He has a great eye for creating an appealing environment, and he delivers a great product for the money.”

Sugrue is the third of four children. (His brother, Norman Jr., is the eldest.) When their father sold his car dealership in College Park, the family moved to Rehoboth, where Norman Sr.’s parents had a house. Norman Sr. went into real estate.

Eric was 13 when he took a job as a busboy in Rehoboth.

A series of restaurant jobs followed for both brothers—not unusual considering they lived in a resort town. However, both studied business in college. Norman Jr. went to the College of Boca Raton; Eric at the University of Delaware.

The hospitality industry, however, has a powerful pull.

While Norman Jr. polished his skills in restaurants, doing everything from working on the line to managing staff, Eric, in 2003, started working for family friend Mike Chase, who owned the Copper Cellar Restaurant Corp. in Knoxville, Tenn.

“From the time I met him, he’s been my mentor,” Eric says.

“He told me to go work for certain companies; what to do and what not to do.” Those companies operated such popular chains as Cheesecake Factory and Houston’s.

When the Sugrues learned that the Crab House’s space on Rt. 1 in Rehoboth was available, they pooled their money, borrowed from family, and finally, landed a loan from Baltimore Trust to modernize the old building.

www.out-and-about.com

1_FoodDrink.indd 3

Big Fish opened in 1997. Initially, Eric ran the front of the house while his brother ran the kitchen. Today, Holly Jackson runs dining operations and Ryan Parrill handles food operations. Sugrue is managing partner.

When demand for carryout exceeded the kitchen’s capabilities, Big Fish took over adjoining space for a market and takeout location. Outfitted with its own kitchen, the market now accounts for 20 percent of the Rehoboth operation’s business. Along with fresh fish and meat, the market sells Big Fish’s proprietary sauces, spice mixes, and salad dressings.

In 2006, the Big Fish Restaurant Group purchased the Summer House, where Eric had once worked. Opened in 1977, the landmark Rehoboth Avenue restaurant had moved from blue blazers to blue jeans over the years. The once high-end bar became a hangout. Now, the Summer House is again targeting a 30-to-50-year-old customer looking for a casual but pleasant restaurant and bar. “Now it’s rolling,” Eric says of the effort.

He looked to Wilmington to provide income to offset the slow winter months. Since the Wilmington site was built from the ground up, Big Fish could offer a larger waiting area than the one in Rehoboth, as well as a separate bar, so parents with children needn’t mingle with a bar crowd.

But Sugrue has been surprised at the traffic pattern. “Our busiest months are March through August,” he says of the Wilmington restaurant. The heightened summer business might spring from the river-view location and outdoor seating.

Regardless, Sugrue is now doubly busy in the summer season.

When the old CW Harborside (formerly Conley Ward Steakhouse) space opened up, the Big Fish Restaurant Group filled it with FireStone. Down came the wine wall; up went the open-air pizza kitchen. Since the nightlife scene has always been strong in this spot—no doubt due to the spacious patio— the menu highlights noshy pizza, burgers, and sandwiches.

Roasted and grilled entrees punctuate the concept.

Big Fish can capably handle four restaurants in two counties.

Credit a commissary, where sauces, desserts, dressings, and other specialty items are made. The operation is so large that Big Fish buys its seafood direct, picks up the product, and cuts it in the commissary. So why not sell it?

Big Fish Wholesale now counts numerous Ocean City, Md., restaurants as customers. Rehoboth Beach eateries have been more prickly about giving money to the “competition.” That’s not the case for Salt Air on Wilmington Avenue.

“These guys take service to the next level,” says Nino Mancari, executive chef of Salt Air. “Bob Moyer [of Big Fish Wholesale] is a huge asset. In a pinch, for a friend doing a catered event, Bob loaned my buddy the Big Fish delivery truck. Who does that?

The quality of their product blew me away. We have become converted, loyal, and exclusive buyers of their goods.”

Sugrue is fishing in new ponds these days, with thoughts of opening another restaurant in the Wilmington area. “Am I stressed?” he asks. “Yeah. It keeps me up at night.” But those same ideas keep reeling him in. “I love working,” he says.

21

12/22/2010 5:18:41 PM

FOOD&DRINK

Singular Sensation There’s no one way to enjoy Scotch whisky

By Chip Owens

F

ew spirited beverages have as distinctive a name, or conjure up as vivid an image of its native homeland, as Scotch. (Yes, the capital “S” is required.) Sure, there’s Champagne, for instance, and Cognac. But these are just regional varieties of wine, really, and not representative of an entire country’s culture; bottle them elsewhere and they may be called something else, but they will taste the same.

On the other hand, Scotch whisky (and yes, the “e” is conspicuous in its absence) is different. The kinds of whiskies produced in Scotland—I’m talking about single malts, in particular—are as varied, variable, and unique as their craggy, foggy, mysterious country of origin. They are indigenous to, and evocative of, the island nation that gave the world bagpipes, boiled haggis, and Susan Boyle.

You cannot create, or recreate them, in any other way, in any other place.

There are as many different distilleries in Scotland as there are islands and sheep, or so the saying goes. In truth, there are more than 100 single-malt whisky makers in operation today, spread across several regions. And many factors play a role in creating each label’s unique qualities

and flavors, from the sea salt found in the peat moss—used as fuel to roast the malted grains—to the mineral content of the water and the remnants of sherry left in the aging barrel.

I know what you’re wondering: With so many different whiskies, and so little time to try them all, where do you start?

First, you need to figure out what you’re looking for. As the award-winning drinks and spirits writer Michael Jackson described in his Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch, what he seeks is a whisky that finishes with “a crescendo, followed by a series of echoes. When I leave the bottle, I like to be whistling the tune.” (His book, by the way, a lively guide to more than 800 single malts, with A-Z tasting notes from the famous to the hardto-find, is an ideal companion for anyone interested in exploring Scotch whiskies, both amateur and connoisseur alike.)

Following are several single-malts I’ve tasted recently and think are outstanding.

Hailing from the Speyside region of northeast Scotland, which houses more than half of the distilleries in the country, Aberlour A’bunadh ($64.99) decants in a deep, rich, amber color, offering aromas of mixed spices, nuts, and citrus, with a hint of Oloroso sherry. The palate exhibits orange, black cherries, dried fruit, and ginger, along with some dark chocolate. The body is full and creamy and the finish is robust and intense, with bitter-sweet notes of exotic spices, dark chocolate, and oak.

Also from Speyside comes Balvenie 15 Year Single Barrel ($59.99), which opens with a nose of vanilla, honey, and hints of heather. Like that region’s scenic vistas, which rock and roll from red-stone cliffs to sandy beaches, the Balvenie 15 Year’s taste is rich and inviting, revealing a malty-sweet center with light vanilla, oak, and delicate spice notes. The finish is long and complex with a touch of licorice.

As its name implies, the Highland Park 12 Year ($43.99) is produced in the Highlands, the largest and most famous of Scotland’s whisky-making regions. It fills the glass with a glowing amber color and enticing aromas of heather and honey. Moreover, the Highland Park’s rounded palate revels in its region’s peaty, smoky sweetness. The finish is a full malt delivery that is layered and lingering.

Like sunsets on Islay, the fifth-largest island in western Scotland, Lagavulin 16 Year ($77.99) is infused with a golden amber hue. Its nose is rich and marked by smoky barley with traces of creamy peat and a hint of vanilla. Hints of sea salt on a licorice background, and a smoky finish revealing some fine woody notes, only add to the complex allure of this mature teenager.

On the outer edge of the West Highland region you’ll find the Oban distillery, whose Oban 14 Year ($58.99) appears olive-gold and offers a nose rich in fruity sweetness (orange, lemon, and pear) layered with sea salt and peaty smokiness.

The body is full and rich, and the palate shows more fruit, some spice notes, followed by a malty dryness. The finish is long, smooth, sweet, and oaky.

Scotch is traditionally sipped “neat,” or without ice, with a splash of cool spring water to awaken the aromas and flavors. But who needs tradition? These days, with its variety of complex flavors, Scotch whisky can and should be enjoyed before, during, and after dinner, with everything from chips and salsa to sushi and shortbread cookies.

Chip Owens is the general manager of Premier Wine & Spirits and has more than 30 years of retail experience.

22 . Food & Drink

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12/22/2010 5:19:36 PM

Higos con Cabrales

FOOD&DRINK

Bacon-wrapped figs with cabrales cheese from Ole Tapas

A Little V of a Lot The small-plates trend grows large in appeal

By Pam George

isitors to the revamped Moro and Piccolina Toscana may have noticed some downsizing. The space is still the same, although both Trolley Square eateries received a makeover. The menus, however, feature small-portion options.

At Moro, for instance, tuck into a half portion of red wine-braised duck leg with fresh pappardelle ($11). Over at Piccolina Toscana, nearly the entire menu is available in half- and full-size portions, from butternut squash soup ($5/$9) to roasted pork loin stuffed with fresh herbs and garlic ($14/$24).

Welcome to the trend tapas started. Born in Spanish bars, tapas is made up of small dishes that appease the appetite after siesta.

(In Spain, it is common to eat dinner at 10 p.m. or later.)

In America, tapas is an eating style that encourages diners to sample a little of a lot.

Chefs appreciate the concept. “Chefs like to go out to eat and try everything,” says Robbie Jester, executive chef at Piccolina Toscana. “But they don’t have the opportunity to because, traditionally, the menu is all large portions.

We wanted to create an environment where people can try a lot of things.”

There are other reasons why small plates make a big splash. Lower prices are walletfriendly. People can also indulge without guilt.

“If you feel hungry, you get two plates or a full plate, and if you’re not, you get a half portion,” says Tom Hudson, owner of Domaine Hudson Wine Bar & Eatery in Wilmington.

As it does with a wine bar, small plates suit certain concepts. “You think of tapas as being small plates that complement cocktails,” says Xavier Teixido, owner of Harry’s Seafood Grill on the Wilmington Riverfront, which in midsummer added a tapas menu to its bar menu.

Traditional tapas is on tap at Orillas Tapas Bar and Restaurant on Market Street in downtown Wilmington and Ole Tapas Lounge & Restaurant, where you can find classics such as grilled octopus, Serrano ham croquettes, and sautéed shrimp. Menu items may include chorizo, smoked paprika, piquilla peppers, and Manchego cheese.

A few tapas-style dishes have wandered over to mainstream menus. Harry’s Seafood offers Serrano ham-and-Manchego cheese sandwiches. Aqua Sol in Bear serves empanadas with beef and chorizo on its smallplate menu. Indeed, the word “tapas” has become interchangeable with “small plate.”

Curt Busz, owner/operator of Aqua Sol, has featured half-portions on the menu from the start. “Most people think it’s a fun way to eat,” says Busz, whose sister, Jessica, is the chef. “You can get smaller things and pass them around—you don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

The restaurant features half portions of such dishes as ancho-rubbed short ribs ($14) and slow-roasted pork tacos ($6). Only the filet mignon is limited to a full portion.

Giving guests options makes food more approachable, says Greg Abbott, a chef at continued on page 28

24 . Food & Drink

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January  | O&A

12/22/2010 5:20:49 PM

>>>SUDS

Happy New Bier

Our columnist runs down his 2011 worth-trying list

By J. Burke Morrison

FOOD&DRINK

same old thing, spice things up once in a while. Invite the gang over for a bier dinner. How you structure it is, of course, up to you, but some ideas include: a. Have everyone bring a food course matched with their favorite malty libation. b. Advise everyone in advance of the menu and challenge them to bring an appropriate accompaniment. c. You buy the bier and invite your guests to put together the menu. By sharing the responsibilities, you diffuse the burden of entertaining and simultaneously empower the people you want to spend time with. Family. Friends. Bier. Now that’s a trinity worth resolving to foster in the New Year.

3. And still, take a break from all the time you’ve devoted to family and friends this holiday season. Set aside a little “you time,” a little bier time. Resolve to keep more time to yourself—reflecting on friends and family but not necessarily with them. One idea:

Merry New Year!

W

ith that comes time to make those all-important, there’s-something-wrong-with-you-that-must-befixed, life-changing resolutions.

But let not your heart be troubled, folks. Like a modernday, mask-wearing, cape-donning superhero, your friendlyneighborhood, lederhosen-decked, kilt-flipping Delaware Bier Guy is here to save the day.

That’s right.

The Delaware Bier Guy’s Resolutions Worth Trying:

Buy yourself a couple of nice Belgian Tripels (I sell, recommend, and genuinely enjoy Affligem Tripel and SteenBruge Tripel), a box of “gourmet” microwave popcorn, and the extended DVD version of The Hangover. Turn down the lights, turn up the volume and, in a completely empty home, stand steadfast in your belief that, no matter how absurd it is to think that a group of drugged-up miscreants could get a tiger into a Vegas hotel room, it is eerily plausible, so long as you don’t have to admit it to your friends and family.

4. Totally blow off all your friends and family and resolve to do something truly worth trying: Learn to homebrew. While the Dr. Frankenstein-style laboratory set may get in the way and totally irritate your significant other, the payoff is your very own bier, made by you and for you. (You’re allowed to share, but a little selfishness is certainly understandable in a situation like this.)

In truth, while dancing through the minefield of homebrewing again for the first time since getting married and having kids, I definitely think brewing up my own batch of Burke-and-Stock Doppelbock may just be worth trying.

1. Instead of the tired old “quit smoking” resolution, well, no one’s arguing with you on this one. It’s actually a good idea. You should quit smoking. Let’s move on.

2. Resolve to get together more often with friends and family. Face it, we’re all so busy with the trials and tribulations of everyday life that, all too often, we take for granted the people around us. Do something a little different. Instead of doing the www.out-and-about.com

1_FoodDrink.indd 9

J. Burke Morrison, a.k.a. the Delaware Bier Guy, is a 20-plusyear veteran of the Delaware alcoholic-beverage industry and a certified cicerone (beer sommelier).

27

12/22/2010 5:21:07 PM

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continued from page 24

Moro. “The trend is leaning toward casual dining, and due to the economy, we’re trying to oer some lower prices.â€?

Teixido would agree. “People today still want to go to the places they want to go to, but they want what they want, how they want it, and at a value price,� he says. “Tapas allows us to do that without getting into discounts. It allows people to have a drink, one or two small plates, and have a good time.�

The concept is well-suited to bar areas, where people can keep their own tab yet still be social. “They love the social aspect of it,� Teixido says. “And it’s experimental.�

Harry’s tapas menu is divided into four sections: seafood tapas (king salmon crudo, $7.50), tapas (imported Spanish cheese plate, $5), sashimi and ceviche (ahi tuna sushi, $9.95), and sharing options (stone crab claws with key lime mustard, $18.95 a half pound).

At Domaine Hudson, small plates pair well with wines by the glass, which come in 1.5-, 3-, and 5-ounce pours. Guests can sip red with a half portion of at-iron steak ($14) then switch to white for a half of steamed mussels with saron cream ($8).

The same is true at Stone Balloon Winehouse in Newark, which also oers varying pour sizes. You can move from quail under brick ($12) to brown butterbasted deckle steak ($9) with ease.

So, how do you order? “Have a cheese ight with wine, then switch to small plates,â€? suggests Rich Garrahan, manager at the Stone Balloon. Moro and Piccolina Toscana also oer pick-your-own cheese ights. Mix and match with salumi, if available. Then order a ďŹ rst round of tapas/ small plates. “For the kitchen, these are designed to be executed fairly quickly,â€? Jester says of half portions and tapas. “It’s not a pacing issue from there.â€? Consequently, you can enjoy the ďŹ rst round, then order a second without worrying about a long wait.

While the small sizes are ideal for sharing, ask the server how many an item will feed. Judge wrong and by the time Toscana’s veal-and-pork meatballs get to you, the plate may hold nothing but a smear of sweet onion demi-glace.

Just remember, a small plate should still pack some big avor. Says Moro’s Abbott: “We’re oering the same quality that’s always been there.â€?

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January  | O&A

12/22/2010 5:23:34 PM

Restaurant Life

FOOD&DRINK

What’s in a Name?

A restaurateur struggles with branding

By Dan Butler

Y

ou can’t judge a book by its cover (contrary to what most book-cover designers will tell you). But you can certainly tell something about it from its title.

Possibly one of the most important decisions a restaurateur can make is the name of his or her restaurant.

Several years ago, I was well into plans for a new seafood restaurant in downtown Wilmington, called AquaGrill. Opening day was just a few weeks away and construction was moving fast.

At a wine tasting for the new list, I was excited about telling a purveyor visiting from New York about the details of my vision for this new place—cutting-edge fish preparations, an exciting wine list, raw bar with eight different oysters. To which he exclaimed, “Sounds like a cool new restaurant in SoHo called”— wait for it—“AquaGrill.”

As I lifted myself from the floor, I thought about how many things I’d had printed with the words ‘AquaGrill’ and my nifty new logo on them. I realized I couldn’t start all over searching for the right name.

I swear that I’d never heard of AquaGrill before (although who knows if I’d subconsciously poached the name) and I had no intention of growing AquaGrill into a chain or moving into bigger-city territory. Perhaps the owner of this restaurant in New York won’t have any objection to my using the name as well, I thought.

I wrote a very polite note and mailed it off to Jeremy Marshall of AquaGrill in New York. Three days later, I received a call from Jeremy stating politely but in no uncertain terms that, no, it was not all right for me to use his name. But he was sympathetic to my troubles because he too had to change the name of his restaurant when he discovered one similarly named in Florida. “I came up with a name that’s way cooler and I’m sure you’ll do the same,” he said. A few years ago, I stopped in AquaGrill and left a business card, along with a short note for Jeremy that said, “You were right. Deep Blue is way cooler!”

A restaurant’s name is really the first opportunity to make an impression on customers. Before a guest steps foot in a new restaurant, the name evokes an image of what might be in store.

Columbus Inn, the Green Room, Washington Street Ale House, and Big Fish Grill are aptly named restaurants because they sound like the kind of places they are. There’s a reason that Vincente’s isn’t Vinny’s and Five Guys isn’t Cinq Freres. The restaurant experience is so visceral, so personal, that impressions are everything. And a name is so intertwined with that impression.

So if a restaurant’s name is so important, what bonehead (me) would work so hard for years to build his name, only to change it three times in the course of 20 successful years?

I can explain.

Toscana Kitchen + Bar was the third iteration of my restaurant in Trolley Square. The restaurant was originally named Griglia Toscana when it first opened in 1991. The mellifluous Italian

www.out-and-about.com

1_FoodDrink.indd 13

name meaning the Tuscan Grill was routinely butchered by well-intentioned but decidedly American guests (owing, most certainly to the restaurant’s location: America). The de facto name of the restaurant became simply Toscana (which was also butchered into Toscano’s, Tuscanny’s, etc.).

Upon the first renovation, one of the simplest goals I set for the new restaurant (in addition to scrapping the entire menu, format, and design) was to rename it something simpler for the indigenous Americans to pronounce. Tavola Toscana, ‘the Tuscan Table,’ failed at that goal miserably. Toscana and its close approximations remained the everyday name of the restaurant.

Toscana Kitchen + Bar followed. It was not only successful as a restaurant, the title was four simple words, at least three of which my customers could really embrace. But by then the “Kitchen + Bar” part became superfluous.

Each name, with its varying degrees of “pronouncability,” referred to aspects within the restaurant. Griglia featured mostly grilled items with a Tuscan slant. Tavola had a large antipasto display greeting guests as they entered, while Kitchen + Bar had a more mainstream, approachable menu with a happening bar.

So this year, as we turn 20, Toscana gets another new name: Piccolina Toscana, which literally means little, Tuscan girl. But it can also be construed to mean “cute little Toscana.” It really refers to our new small-plate menu, but I found the imagery of an innocent country girl holding a flower (our new logo) to be very appealing.

I should’ve known better. In our very first focus group meeting to discuss this and numerous other decisions, one of the participants asked, quite seriously, “So, what does the new restaurant have to do with pickles?”

Dan Butler is the owner of Piccolina Toscana as well as Deep Blue and Brandywine Prime. Learn more about his restaurants at bigchefguy.com.

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January  | O&A

12/22/2010 5:26:47 PM

FOOD&DRINK

SMALL BITES El Diablo’s Hot Sauce Superbowl lights up the month A rookie upstart in Trolley Square, the culinary team at El Diablo Burritos has already established an impressive record for creating downright delicious Mexican fare.

But just as the demands of coaching legend Vince Lombardi helped promote a legacy of winning, the burrito stars at El Diablo refuse to rest on their laurels.

While other South-of-the-Border organizations strike in the warmth of spring—closer to Cinco de Mayo —El Diablo chef Roger Andrews drives his crew across the figurative frozen tundra of winter, pushing them to aim higher and chop faster.

And for good reason. “Our coaching staff and players have been hard at work in the kitchen, striving to create and perfect our first signature hot sauce,” Andrews says, tongue firmly in cheek. “To all of our fans, young and old, we look to you to help us make hot sauce history.”

In the spirit of great competitions, Andrews and company will be hosting a Hot Sauce Super Bowl from Monday, Jan. 3 to Friday, Feb. 4. During the 33-day promotion, El Diablo customers will be encouraged to taste two of the venue’s own competing concoctions and vote for their favorite. The fiery sauce that scores the most votes and emerges victorious from the battle will rise to ultimate glory, taking a permanent place on the El Diablo menu. www.out-and-about.com

1_FoodDrink.indd 15

“Our team knows the cookbook, and they’ve been practicing for this pretty much their entire lives,” Andrews says. “It’s gonna get intense: This match-up is already heating up.”

El Diablo will announce the winning hot sauce on Feb. 6: Super Bowl Sunday.

Local chef aims to be ‘Next Great Baker’ Dana Herbert, of Bear, who owns Delaware’s Desserts by Dana, can now call himself a reality-show contestant. Herbert is competing on TLC’s eight-episode Next Great Baker, hosted

by Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro. The grand prize, besides TV fame? Fifty-thousand bucks and a chance to work with Valastro himself at Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, N.J. Good news so far: three episodes into the show and Herbert had yet to be eliminated. Tune in Mondays at 9 p.m. to see if he makes the final cut.

Downtown Newark hosts Restaurant Week Sample the best dining Main Street and beyond have to offer during Newark’s fifth annual Restaurant Week, held Jan. 24 to 30. Promotions, cooking demonstrations, tastings, and retail specials will be offered throughout the week. For more, go to eatdowntownnewark.com.

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12/23/2010 12:13:29 PM

FOOD&DRINK 3/4 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar 1/2 cup (8 tbs.) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground cloves 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg 1/4 tsp. ground allspice 2-1/2 to 3 cups high-quality dark rum, preferably Gosling's Whipped heavy cream for garnish (optional)

Hot Buttered Rum Courtesy of Fine Cooking magazine Yields about 3/4 cup butter, enough for 10 to 12 drinks.

Fine Cooking’s version of this classic winter beverage is the best we’ve tried. Dark brown sugar gives the standard drink a much needed sweet and rich dimension.

r e a V nda a L Monday

Kids eight-and-under eat free from children’s menu.

(One with purchase of each entree)

In a small bowl, mash the sugar, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice with a fork until wellcombined. The spiced butter can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to three weeks. Bring butter to room temperature before using.

Bring a kettle of water to a boil; you'll need 1/2 cup of water for each drink. Fill mugs or heatproof glasses with hot tap water to warm them. Once the water in the kettle boils, empty the warm mugs and ďŹ ll each with 1/2 cup boiling water and 1/4 cup rum. Stir a generous tablespoon of the spiced butter into each mug until melted.

Garnish with a small dollop of whipped cream.

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Tuesday

Half-price wine by the bottle.

Wednesday

Buy one entree, get second half-price (Seafood not included)

Thursday

Half-price appetizers. (From 4pm–7pm)

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M rday Every Sahtut!

Nig 34 . Food & Drink

1_FoodDrink.indd 16

HAPPY HOUR in DINING ROOM Monday-Thursday, 5-7pm -BOUBOB 4RVBSF )PDLFTTJO t

OUTANDABOUTNOW.com January ď™…ď™ƒď™„ď™„ | O&A

12/23/2010 9:46:50 AM

The ULTIMATE

Chocolate Chip Cookies

“Best Greenville Classic” – Delaware Today, 2010

3 COURSE DINNERS $19.95 Soup or Salad / Entree / Dessert

Friday & Saturday Nights Courtesy of John Cherney, principal at Wealth Transfer Alliance, cookie guru

Makes 2 dozen (24) big cookies.

Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 11-14 minutes.

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (Pillsbury or Gold Medal, measured by “dip & sweep”) 1 tsp. baking soda (Must be fresh—not past expiration date) 1 tsp. salt (Kosher or sea) 1 c melted butter (2 sticks, unsalted) ¾ c dark-brown sugar (packed) ¾ c granulated sugar (white) 1 package Jello’s Instant Vanilla Pudding & pie-filling powder (3.4-oz. box) 2 large eggs 2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 ½ tsp. instant espresso coffee powder (enhances chocolate flavors) 2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips (alt. blend in Ghiradelli’s 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chips)

2 heath bars, crushed (optional) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together warm melted butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until completely blended. Blend in instant pudding, espresso powder, eggs, and vanilla extract until completely combined. Gently blend in flour mixture (careful not to over-mix).

Fold in chocolate chips and heath bar pieces. Refrigerate dough mixture until cool and firm.

Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls (or, use 1.5-inch-diameter ice cream scooper) onto a room-temperature, nongreased cookie sheet. Bake for 11 to 14 minutes in preheated oven. Remove when outside edges of cookies begin to change color to a very light golden brown. www.out-and-about.com

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$1 HOUSE MARTINIS $1 HOUSE WINE Thursday Nights (w/ purchase of entrée) HALF PRICE HALF-POUND ANGUS BURGERS Sunday 4pm-close HALF PRICE WINE BY THE GLASS OR BOTTLE Monday Nights

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12/22/2010 5:29:39 PM

Hospitality Technology Expo Offers Promising New Solutions

H

Something For Everyone.

WVUD.ORG 36 . Food & Drink

1_FoodDrink.indd 18

ungarian mathematician Paul Erdos once said, “A mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems.”

Using similar logic, the technology experts at Delaware Business Systems (DBS) believe their products are devices for turning coffee into serious bread. In other words, the technology they offer can help you make money and save money.

And they’re willing to prove it.

Those in the business of selling coffee— or burgers or beers or banana shakes— as well as other members of the local hospitality industry should be well-aware of DBS’s Hospitality Technology Expo at the Chase Center on the Riverfront on Tuesday, Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Local venue owners, managers, and staffers looking to maximize profits in 2011 will be able to attend the expo for free simply by pre-registering at the DBS website: dbs4pos.com/expo2011.

“We use this expo to help educate our clients—and potential clients—on the new and exciting programs that are available to them, such as virtual gift cards, tablet point-of-sale terminals, and developments in online reservations,” says DBS operations manager Brian Zack. “It’s all about taking your business to the cloud.”

The event will also include workshops covering topics such web-based reporting, the use of social media in marketing, and advances in network protection. In addition, attendees will be able to find out how they can benefit from the extension of the Bush-era tax cuts, Zack says.

“The bill includes several businessfriendly provisions, including rules that would allow businesses to write off 100 percent of their investments in purchasing equipment and many other types of capital expenses through 2011,” he says. “For sites that have been on the fence about replacing or upgrading their POS systems, there hasn’t been a better time.”

January  | O&A

12/23/2010 12:14:36 PM

CAFÉ RÊVE Formally Over Coffee Café

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12/22/2010 5:57:33 PM

Y A D Y R E V E Y A D L L A NTS

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12/22/2010 2:57:35 PM

DAILY SPECIALS Monday

Half-Price Burgers Tuesday

Mexican Night $5 Quesadillas & Nachos Wednesday

1/2 Price Roast Beef and Team Trivia at 9pm Thursday

All-You-Can-Eat Wings, Poker, and Karaoke Friday

Live Bands Saturday

Live Bands and DJs Poker Tournament at 2pm Sunday

$5 Wings and Free Poker Centerspread_jan11.indd 3

12/22/2010 2:58:37 PM

age s s e M om fr ...

D y Bobb

DELAWARESPORTSLEAGUE.COM D E L AWA R E S P O R T S L E AG U E . C O M

We miss you, Roxie! (Aug. 2005 — Dec. 2008)

T

his is a new year full of new possibilities. Everyone has their resolutions to do our best to stick to. 2011 will show that our focus is creating as much fun stuff to do off the field as we do on the field. Together we are going to make 2011 a year full of memories of getting out, playing sports, trying new things, and most of all making friends. These are the things that make memories. That is what we hope that you will take from DSL. You won’t remember the score of a game, but you will remember who you were with and the time that you had with them. Our resolution for 2011 is to help each and every one of you make a memory that you will take with you for a lifetime, starting with the ROXIE Awards January 21st where we will celebrate all the memories we created in 2010.

Here’s to 2011 everyone! Let’s make it a fun, healthy and friendly year!

Monthly Highlights...

WILMINGTON DODGEBALL: Congratulations to Daisies & Butterflies, The Untouchables, and Slingin Smack Rocks our Wilmington 2010 Fall Dodgeball Champions! Thank you everyone for one of the best seasons of DSL Dodgeball yet! It was full of fun and we had the best attendance back at the bars for Games After The Games Presented By Delaware Lottery and DSL Bud Light Giveaways of any season yet!

BEACH DODGEBALL: Jacki Cervon’s Dirt Balls are at the top of the league at the time this was written but it is Dodge These lead by Joanna Kolar that is nipping at their heels. We can’t wait to see how the rest of the season plays out!

Upcoming Events & Outings: HAPPENING IN JANUARY: •The Roxie Awards January 21st •Cocktail Class January 13th at Logan House •Mystery Wine Game January 27th at Grotto Pizza Penn Ave

DSL MONDAY BOWLING: Congratulations to Playin With Our Balls who beat Leiner and the Wolfpack for taking the Fall Title.

The Winter Season begins January 24th with a brand new season of Bowling action at AMF Price Lanes!

DSL CO-ED FLAG FOOTBALL: The Winter Season starts this January 8th…we know that all the teams will have ice in their veins… but which of the teams will take the title? Show Me Your TD’s won the FIRST EVER DSL Coed Flag Football Fall title lead by Captain Jackie Stein. CONGRATULATIONS to one of the best new DSL teams out there!! DSL Members get 10% off at Al’s Sporting Goods to gear up for the Winter!

XX . MUSIC

1_OAC2_WILMC3.indd 5

DelawareSportsLeague.com

It is the policy of Delaware Sports League that all members and/or those participating in Delaware Sports League games, events and/or outings must be 21 years of age or older. Neither athletic ability nor the consumption of alcohol is a requirement to participate in Delaware Sports League games, events, or outings. This is about the people, not the party. The only MAY 2008 | O&A XX requirement is that you are open to all people, treat them well, be safe with yourself and others, and have fun!

12/22/2010 2:46:41 PM

MOVIES

New Grit

TR

U E G R IT

4

STARS

The Coen Brothers remake a Western classic

By Mark Fields am a dedicated fan of the Western genre, but having always found John Wayne’s personal politics a little too reactionary for me, I never managed to see the original 1969 version of True Grit. Such a critical lapse gives me a leg up in reviewing the 2010 remake, since I’m free of the temptation to compare it to the original.

On its own merits, the redux True Grit, directed and written

by Ethan and Joel Coen (Fargo, Miller’s Crossing), stands well on its own two boot-shod feet. Though it breaks little new ground as a Western, it has a drawling, sprawling appeal, mostly from the engaging performances of its three lead actors (two established stars and one in the making).

Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) is a precocious 13-year-old frontier adolescent whose circumstances have required her to grow up faster then usual. Her father murdered by a shifty hired hand, Mattie must shoulder adult responsibilities to settle her father’s affairs and seek vengeance on his killer. She engages a tough but squirrelly U.S. Marshall, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), to pursue the killer into Indian territory. Along the way, they encounter a Texas Ranger named LeBoeuf (Matt Damon), who warily joins their pursuit.

I

www.out-and-about.com

1_Movies.indd 3

The three actors perform their roles with conviction and verve, none more so than Bridges. He embodies the reprobate Marshall Cogburn’s persona like a well-worn saddle, and convincingly portrays both the law-abiding and hard-living sides of the character. Damon, who has more recently been the central focus of his films, takes on the sidekick role with relish and a certain overblown dignity. But Steinfeld as Mattie is the revelation here. Plucky, clear-eyed, and stubborn, she demonstrates that it’s she, and not her adult male counterparts, who genuinely possesses true grit.

This quirky trio plays out their intertwining relationships against a fittingly beautiful background, rife with austere landscapes and colorful minor characters.

But True Grit benefits most from the hyper-literate patina of its script. The dialogue is simultaneously rough-hewn and sophisticated with a rhythm and a rhyme all its own. Though it’s hard to imagine actual frontier folk speaking with such complex language, within the context of the film, it has the resonance and charm of sun-baked poetry.

41

12/22/2010 3:47:11 PM

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January  | O&A

12/22/2010 3:47:55 PM

MOVIES

of Broken Dreams

www.out-and-about.com

1_Movies.indd 5

By Mark Fields unconvincing acting exercises: see Nicole BI T H O L be sad, see Nicole be angry, see Nicole AB be redeemed.

The only bright spot in the film is STARS young Miles Teller, who plays a teenager to whom Becca gravitates in the midst of her grief. Teller achieves a genuineness in his portrayal of unexpected loss and guilt that Kidman can only hope for.

I’ve driven down this suburban boulevard of broken dreams at least a few times before, and appreciated those rides far more than this one. Despite its pretensions toward something truly profound, Rabbit Hole ends up stuck in a cul-de-sac.

2

E

R

abbit Hole surely intends to be a serious exploration of a married couple whose life is slowly unraveled by the accidental death of their four-year-old son. And indeed, all the familiar pieces of such a domestic tragedy are in place: impossibly beautiful leads (Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart); a suburban landscape of well-appointed but spiritually bereft homes; gauzy and subdued cinematography. All of it is played out over a soulful (read: ponderous), piano-heavy score.

There is a certain poetic rightness in Kidman’s performance here, but where does the porcelain brittleness and icy demeanor of the character end and those self-same qualities of the actress begin? We never get a sense that there is a real person inside her character Becca. The whole film plays like a series of

Kidman-led Rabbit Hole falls into familiar territory

R

Boulevard

43

12/22/2010 3:48:52 PM

GA L L E RY

1901

Artist Thomas Del Porte invites you to visit his gallery, an artistic destination in Trolley Square.

A Worth-Trying G Guide to the Upcoming Oscars U

W

e asked Bev Zimmerman, project manager for Theatre N, the city of Wilmington’s independent-film theater, what she could recommend in the way of movies. She clued us in to the upcoming Oscar nominations on Jan. 25 (the ceremony is Feb. 25). Bev, take it away.

“James Franco and Anne Hathaway are the co-hosts. You could try their current films: 127 Hours and Love and Other Drugs. We recently showed Franco’s Howl, about Allen Ginsberg’s obscenity trial. And Rachel Getting Married is a good one to rent, with Hathaway going against type as the screwed-up sister of the bride.”

A list of the expected Oscar contenders:

GRA N D OPE N I N G FRIDAY JANUARY 14, 6pm Come join Thomas Del Porte, and Philadelphia based artist Christine Dreyfus for the Grand Opening Party.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Food & Drinks Available Shows will change every two weeks.

With guest appearances by Edward Loper Sr. and others

302 743 5577 call for schedule of events and appearances 1901 Delaware Avenue Trolley Square, Wilmington

The King’s Speech The Social Network Inception Black Swan 127 Hours Never Let Me Go The Kids Are All Right Toy Story 3 Rabbit Hole

Long shots: Winter’s Bone Blue Valentine “We’ll be showing the Oscar-nominated short films the weekend of Feb. 11. The categories we show are Animated and Live Action, which means it’s just a regular short film rather than a documentary. If people haven’t seen them before, it’s probably the only local chance to see these films. So if you watch the Oscars, you’ll have seen the nominees beforehand.”

44 . Movies

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12/22/2010 8:07:11 PM

4 I I I I I 4IFÂľT JO UIF MJCSBSZ Look what your Delaware Library Card can do now!

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These ďŹ lms didn’t linger long in the cineplex, but now on DVD, they’re worth checking out at home Winter’s Bone. A bleak drama set among the clannish folk of the rural Ozarks who have substituted crystal meth labs for their whisky stills. Young Ree (in a stunning performance by Jennifer Lawrence) must ďŹ nd her ne-erdo-well father or have her hardscrabble family turned out of their home. Ree is undaunted by the unspoken (and threatening) code of the mountains in this stark meditation on family, loyalty, and personal courage.

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Kick-Ass. An awkward teenage boy attempts to reinvent himself as a superhero, only to ďŹ nd that reality is far more painful and humiliating than the pages of a graphic novel. Chloe Grace Moretz is startlingly good as Hit Girl, a foul-mouthed, gun-toting terror of an adolescent avenger. Both bullets and expletives y freely, so this comic thriller is not for the squeamish.

Cairo Time. A lonely diplomat’s wife is introduced to the fabled Egyptian city by a friend of her husband but ďŹ nds her time with him more engaging than the sights.

A relatively chaste romance provides a satisfactory excuse for devoting several hours of time to watching Patricia Clarkson, one of the most subtle and luminous actresses currently onscreen.

And though not from 2010, I recommend another look at The Prestige, which I watched again after experiencing Christopher Nolan’s brain-bending Inception. This taut period thriller, ďŹ rst released in 2006, springs from the same demented sensibility. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale play two rival illusionists who are wiling to go to incredible lengths to outdo each other’s tricks. Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, and yes, David Bowie, co-star.

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12/22/2010 6:14:57 PM

The Deer Park Tavern

Come and Try our Seasonal Additions

THURSDAYS Jan 6: Chorduroy Jan 13: Life Speed

Jan 20: Element K Jan 27: Ballyhoo!

Oyster Stew 10 oz NY Strip PEI Mussels Grogenator

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Served with a pint of our exclusively brewed Taylor’s Grog

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1_Music.indd 2

January ď™…ď™ƒď™„ď™„ | O&A

12/22/2010 3:30:43 PM

MUSIC

What Happened to Jon Conner?

Seven years after a record deal had him poised for a breakthrough, the Newark rapper is now a producer, a film scorer, a songwriter, and—most important—a businessman

By Michael Pollock

T

he economic situation facing the music industry has been called many things: meltdown, collapse, paradigm shift, massive overhaul. One word that comes to my mind is aftermath. It might be dramatic to think of the sharp revenue declines and continual restructuring that have taken place over the last 10 or 11 years as an apocalypse, but we’re no doubt living in a new era of commercialism in the music industry. In hiphop, where sales and wealth are a huge part of the measuring stick for success, this floodgate premise has felt like a personal attack. If you’re a rapper trying to make it big these days, you might want to redefine what it means to be big.

But where there’s failure, there’s opportunity, and a funny thing has happened in the midst of bad news: Artists are free to walk, and they’re not feeling institutionalized by the old system.

It’s an exciting time to be, say, Jon Conner. In 2004, Conner was an anomaly—a white, battle-ready rapper from Newark who had a deal with Go-Ya Records, a label backed by a local entrepreneur. He had checks coming in, a big promo van to drive, and a world of promise. Then he learned why it’s called the music business.

“I always focused on the music,” Conner says now from his home studio on Kirkwood Highway. “I was operating under the assumption that it was 90 percent talent and 10 percent business. But it’s the other way around. I was so wrapped up in going to the studio, making music with other artists, learning, getting better. I thought the business would take care of itself.”

Conner’s mistake, ironically, was that he cared too much about his art. “I thought I didn’t even deserve to make money continued on next page

www.out-and-about.com

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47

12/22/2010 3:29:43 PM

Every Monday @ 7pm!

Prizes & Giveaways!

A DELAW LANDMA ARE RK!

We’re Back

at the

Logan House on Monday’s Talkin sports like these five games!

Jan 3rd | The Orange Bowl Virginia Tech Hokies vs Stanford Cardinal Cardinal is singular because it’s the color—and the mascot is a dude wearing a tree costume. Why not just skip college and apply at Fridays; you’ll still look like an idiot but you save your folks 60 grand.

Hokies 37 | Stanford 21

Jan 10th | The BCS Championship Oregon faces the best QB money can buy in Auburn’s Cam Newton. Expect a shootout with two great offenses facing two defenses that resemble a single mom whose dating again—they come out tired, flat and begging to be scored on.

Oregon 48 | Auburn 37

Jan 17th | Syracuse at Pitt (NCAA) Jim Boheim’s Orangemen should again finish among the elite unlike Kentucky who lost all five starters to the NBA. Sad as those five guys were a mere 18 combined years from getting a diploma.

Syracuse 67 | Pitt 55

Jan 24th | NY Rangers at Washington Capitals (NHL) Alex Ovechkin’s Caps just get better while the Rangers keep looking for faster guys with stick handling skills. Last time someone tested this many legs and pieces of wood, Madame Tussauds was making a Rodney King figure.

Caps 5 | Rangers 2

Jan 31st | Cleveland at Miami (NBA) Miami’s back on track and Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert needs to get over it. If you never read his letter to fans after LeBron left, just read the last letter your ex wrote replacing your name with “LeBron� and your high school with “Cleveland.�

Heat 122 | Cavs 108

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What Happened to Jon Conner? continued from previous page

o this for the ďŹ rst four or ďŹ ve years I was doing it. I didn’t think I was good enough. I’d do free shows. I’d do anything to learn how to get better.â€?

That mindset carried over to the GoYa deal. After a while, Conner realized he might end up “the best rapper nobody’s ever heard.â€? His relationship with Go-Ya began running out of steam as well, and ďŹ nally ended in 2006. The album he’d completed, Game of Life, got shelved.

Some lessons endured. “It’s not just a product you’re selling,� Conner says. “I am the product. It’s my life. Every decision around the product affects me personally.�

One of the decisions the label made was to change the rapper’s name to Jon Conners, thereby avoiding a potential lawsuit with the Terminator movie franchise. “It interrupted the buzz,�

Conner says. He was told the name Jon Conner was already trademarked; years later, he found out it wasn’t. (Conner then trademarked it.) “I was so hungry to take this to the next level, I took the ďŹ rst deal that came my way,â€? he says. “I kept making the best of a bad situation. I realized early on that the label didn’t know how to sell what I was doing. They were coming to me for advice, but I signed to them thinking they knew the way.â€?

Conner pinned the trouble on marketing. “I felt that, with the amount of time I spent working on my craft, I knew the problem wasn’t the talent or my skills,� he says. “It was, ‘I’m everywhere.’ Nothing was centralized. There was no structure to anything I was doing. It was just, ‘Go here. Go here.’�

It was a dark but necessary time. “I got to a certain point where I started to become Jon Conner, and what I thought Jon Conner should be. You get a little introspective; things slow down in your life. You start to see who your real friends are. And it’s usually when you fail. I had a lot of people around me when I signed the Go-Ya deal. But the minute the hype goes away, the people go away.

Opportunities go away.�

Except they didn’t. And that’s where Jon Conner’s second life began.

CONNER GOT INVOLVED IN HIP-HOP, as an MC, around 1996. It was a golden time for the genre, propelled

48 . Music

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January ď™…ď™ƒď™„ď™„ | O&A

12/23/2010 1:22:26 PM

throughout the country by any number of artists still around today—Nas, Snoop, Jay-Z, Bun B, the Roots, Wu-Tang. “That was part of it,” Conner says, “but coming from a sports background”—Conner played quarterback for Dickinson’s undefeated state-championship football team in 1992—“hip-hop also had that competitive edge. It had swagger. It had battling. I just pushed myself, constantly, to be better.”

After breaking away from Go-Ya, Conner spent a year learning music production with Street Flavor Records in Nashville. He returned to Delaware in 2008 and formed, with partner Bentley Charlemagne, Big Boyz Beatz, a production company that supplies many local rappers with industry-quality beats at budget prices. (“Jon’s worked with pretty much everybody out here,” laughs Sam Vaughn, who owns Sam’s Music Connection in Bear.) Conner’s tracks have also ended up in the hands of Yo Gotti, Tech N9ne, Paul Wall, and Nicki Minaj, as well as regional success story Haystak, out of Nashville. “Eighty percent of the work I do is for people outof-state,” Conner says. (As a producer, the records he’s worked on have sold more than 100,000 copies.)

Big Boyz Beatz has led Conner to other creative avenues: a record label (BG Music Group, with Charlemagne), commercials (“One client said the piece we did made them want to throw away the last 30 years of material they’d had done,”), film-scoring (local director Ross Hockrow’s 2008 film Detox), a rock band (Curiosity Killz), and a marketing platform (QME Media, an online outlet for videographers, photographers, graphic designers, and other artists selling music-related services).

These ventures might be more about opening doors than bringing in revenue.

But in this new world of making money in the music industry—in today’s aftermath—a centralized brand that’s willing to sell something other than records is becoming the norm. It’s why Jay-Z is now an author. It’s why you can find hip-hop legend Kool G Rap on Facebook, plugging collaborative and booking availabilities. It’s why Dr. Dre, whose own record label is called Aftermath, seems more concerned with his patented headphones than with finishing a record he’s been working

www.out-and-about.com

1_Music.indd 5

on for nearly 10 years. Ninety percent business, 10 percent music. Jon Conner finally has the equation right.

CONNER’S APPROACH TO BEAT-MAKING, and his return to the mic, are documented on a recent pair of excellent mixtapes: Man vs.

Beast and Man vs. the Elements. Both prominently feature Conner’s best friend and local rap veteran J. Hollett, who Conner says is “absolutely insane” when it comes to freestyle rhyming.

“That’s his thing,” Conner says about Hollett. “He’s so entertaining. He made me better at freestyling, because I was always more of a writer. The chemistry— all the jokes, the humor we put in there, trying to make people laugh—that’s us being us. We wanted to show people how we really are.”

Conner’s style as a rapper finds ground between the nasal-voiced conversation of Cypress Hill’s B-Real and the sober honesty of Atmosphere’s Slug, a hand-inglove fit for his elastic beats, which lean continued on next page

49

12/22/2010 3:41:26 PM

What Happened to Jon Conner?

continued from previous page

on sharp snares, lonely piano notes, and grimy guitars. Once a hardened battle rapper, Conner is still full of punch lines and light-hearted insults. But he’s also capable of going deeper— writing songs about his struggles with the industry, his fans, or his high school-sweetheart wife, who is recovering from breast cancer.

In another interesting twist, Conner is more diverse, and more introspective, than ever. The man who once prided himself on spending every waking hour on his craft became a better rapper by doing something else besides rapping.

“Rapping is something I do,” he says. “But it doesn’t encompass who I am. I might be singing. It might be a rock song, or an R&B song. One thing isn’t the full spectrum of what you get on a Jon Conner project.”

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Monday

Tuesday

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Wednesday

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Sunday

All you can eat wings $9.99 Oldies DJ Dance Party at Polly Drummond and Peoples Plaza locations

All you can eat shrimp $10.99 Prime Rib $15.99 while supplies last

Beef & Beer $6

Friday Night Oldies DJ Dance Party at Polly Drummond and Peoples Plaza Locations

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50 . Music

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12/23/2010 1:25:18 PM

DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles is now issuing more secure, federally compliant driver licenses and identification cards.

In order to obtain your new driver license or ID card, you will need to collect and bring a few important source documents to provide proof of: s Identity (Name and Date of Birth)

Return of the Buffalo A promising band reunites, with some help from its friends

I

t made sense at the time. A story in our November 2009 issue proudly claimed that 2010 would be the “Year of the Buffalo”—a response to the reverb-heavy rock band American Buffalo winning that year’s Musikarmageddon competition and the great future that was no doubt ahead.

Granted, we added a question mark to the headline, as if to pad our statement with some insurance, in case things didn’t work out. Sure enough, as 2010 rolled on and the band went on hiatus, that was appearing more and more to be the case. The momentum was gone.

As lead singer and guitarist Zach Thomas put it recently, friction centered on the completion of a sinceshelved full-length album, Western Approaches, which had sucked up most of the band’s time, money, and energy.

With sessions recorded and mixed in different states, the band got caught in a holding pattern before finding out the master recordings were lost. By early 2010, the four members were burnt out. “It kind of became a metaphor for everything wrong with the band,” Thomas says of Western Approaches, seated in front of a cup of coffee at the Bellefonte Café. “We felt like we’d wasted all this time on something that was never coming out. We started questioning why we were doing this anymore.”

But through it all, the four—Thomas, guitarist Andrew Price, bassist Brett Askin, and drummer Pete Daly—kept their friendship intact, and they’re now plotting a return.

Sort of.

On Friday, Jan. 7, American Buffalo is back for a oneoff reunion show at Mojo on Main in Newark, scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m. They’ll be joined by a community of friends and musicians: Dyev; local buzz band Diego Paulo; and Surfwitch, whose Delaware members are now living in L.A. There’s no promise of a full-blown return for American Buffalo, but Thomas says he isn’t done with Western Approaches. “I still want to release those songs some day, whether it’s by myself or with a band.”

— Michael Pollock

1_Music.indd 7

s U.S. citizenship/Legal presence s Social Security Number s 2 proofs of Delaware residency s Name change documents (if applicable) You can find everything you need to know at

SecureID.dmv.de.gov or call toll free

877-477-7117

51

12/23/2010 12:17:59 PM

capture the moment.

DISCHLER Wilmington, DE | 302-420-8513 www.DischlerPhotography.com PORTFOLIO-HEADSHOTS-FASHION

STAFF PICKS Forest Swords Dagger Paths Agalloch Marrow of the Spirit Indian The Unquiet Sky Curren$y Pilot Talk 2 — Michael Pollock, O&A editor-in-chief

Matthew Dear Black City Robyn Body Talk Flying Lotus Cosmogramma Kanye West “Monster” — Joy Smoker, O&A art director

Discovery LP French Kicks Swimming Songs: Ohia The Lionness — Matt Loeb, O&A creeper

52 . Music

1_Music.indd 8

12/23/2010 12:32:13 PM

GIGS

Every Sunday Open Mic Hosted by Butch Zito

Doors open at 6 p.m; show starts at 7 p.m.

Every Monday Blue Monday Jam Hosted by Rob Mastrippolito

Robyn Feb 3 Electric Factory

Doors open at 7 p.m; show starts at 8 p.m.

Jan 7, 8pm: Raymond the Amish Comic Jan 8, 3pm & 8pm: Memories of Elvis Jan 14, 8pm: Sharon Little Jan 15, 8pm: XPN Welcomes Jim Boggia Jan 21, 8pm: Live at the Filmore Jan 28, 8pm: Chris Bruni Jan 29, 3pm: Billy Kelly & the Blah Blah Blahs Kids’ Show Jan 29, 8pm: Earl Pickens and Family - Americana

American Buffalo (reverb-heavy rock) Jan. 7: Mojo on Main w/Dyev, Diego Paulo & Surfwitch The 2009 Musikarmageddon winner plays a reunion show.

See pg. 51 for more.

The Bullbuckers (ska/funk) Jan. 22: Deer Park Tavern myspace.com/bullbuckers The Hold-Up (roots rock) Tuesdays @ Blue Parrot myspace.com/thebigholdup Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (soul/funk) Jan. 28: Grand Opera House Fresh off the well-received I Learned the Hard Way, the spirited revivalists bring their take on James Brown et al to the Grand for the first time.

Kennett Flash (select shows) Jan. 3: Blue Monday blues jam Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Open-mic nights w/Butch Zito Jan. 14: Sharon Little The Philadelphia songwriter supports her new Don Wasproduced album, Paper Doll Jan. 29: Earl Pickens & Family A bluegrass tribute to U2’s classic Joshua Tree album kennettflash.org

Little Dragon (electronic pop) Jan. 23: Johnny Brenda’s The Swedish scene-stealers from Gorillaz’ Plastic Beach come through Philly in support of their latest, Machine Dreams.

Mojo 13 (select events) Jan. 15: Tric Town (indie-music showcase) Tuesdays @ 9pm: Karaoke Champs Hosted by Gentle Jones & featuring a trophy prize myspace.com/mojothirteen

484.732.8295 • Complete Calendar at www.kennettflash.org for concert details and tickets, and to become an annual member

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FITNESS SHOWCASE

Robyn (dance pop) Feb. 3: Electric Factory, Phila.

The Swedish disco queen had a banner year in 2010, courtesy of her Body Talk series and the hits, “Dancing on My Own� and “Hang with Me.�

Spokey Speaky (reggae rock) Thursdays @ D&H Jamaican Cuisine spokeyspeaky.com World CafĂŠ Live (select shows) Jan. 14: The Smithereens Jan. 24: Evan Dando & Juliana Hatfield Jan. 30: Shawn Colvin worldcafelive.com

A fitness fundraiser with Barbara & Joanie Sample the variety of ways to get in shape in 2011.

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53

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12/22/2010 6:18:59 PM

Geno Says…

In keeping with this month’s theme, our comedian-columnist offers a few things worth trying this year

W

ow. It’s 2011 and we’ve come so far in our 335 years as a country: We have a black president, green energy, and Pinkberry’s. So what more could we possibly try that’s new? After much thought, here are three things I bet have never occurred to you to try in the upcoming year.

Read a book. Yes, a book. Not a blog, a book on tape, or the Kindle download of Oprah’s Book Club pick, which, if you know is Wuthering Heights, gives you until the end of this month to make good on that “coming out” resolution. Seriously, though, please do grab a book and let the pages run over your fingers, so you can feel that rough texture that reminds you of when you were a child, dying for your father to read to you and—if for only a moment—feel a calming peace in your soul no podcast could ever provide.

Write a letter. Not an email or a tweet or a text, but a handwritten letter. Grab a piece of paper, a card or a postcard, and a stamp—I bet you have no idea what the current cost of a stamp is, do you?—and mail it to a loved one. Feel the 54 . Nightlife

1_NightLife.indd 2

exhilaration of creation as the words flow to the paper from your brain to your hand and know that they most certainly passed though your heart in between. Believe me, it will mean volumes more to them than your Facebook status (“Lunch at the Olive Garden…yummm”), which says nothing about you— nor does the fact that seven of your friends “like this.” (The only reason they do is because they’re envisioning the look on your face when you went to compliment the old Italian chef and were greeted by a Latino man wearing a Napa hat.)

Go outside and play. Not on your Wii or your iPad or your cell phone. Get up, go outside, and play. I don’t care how you define “play”—whether it’s a run, a game of catch with your kid, or a six-month backpack trek through the Himalayas. We’ve gotten so confused that we forget “wee” is something we used to gleefully do outside as a kid (or a few times in our living room in college). Just do anything to remind yourself, as Kahlil Gibran says, to “forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the wind longs to play with your hair.”

We have a multitude of new things we can try every day, but maybe these new things have made us forget that we’re all just chasing the same thing—each other. Happy 2011, and here’s to trying the old to makes us feel new.

Get more Geno at genobisconte.com.

January  | O&A

12/22/2010 7:53:17 PM

NIGHTLIFE

GA L L E RY

1901 WHERE TO WATCH THE PLAYOFFS Buffalo Wild Wings Bear, Dover, Limestone Rd., Middletown, Newark Number of TVs: 33+ w/NFL package Beers on tap: 20-24; bottled beers: 35 NFL specials: $3 Tall Miller Lites during all pro games; daily bottle and drink specials buffalowildwings.com

Kid Shelleen’s 14th & Scott sts., Wilmington; 658-4600 Number of TVs: 6 w/NFL package Beers on tap: 10; bottled beers: 33 NFL specials: Special Touchdown Menu at bar (all items $6 or less); beer & Bloody Mary specials kidshelleens.com

Chelsea Tavern 821 N. Market St., Wilmington Number of TVs: 2 (47” and 55”) Beers on tap: 22 craft brews, plus daily cask-conditioned beer NFL specials: Half-price wings and $2 PBR Drafts chelseatavern.com

Mexican Post 3100 Naamans Rd. Wilmington; 478-3939 Number of TVs: 5 Beers on tap: 5; bottled beers: 21 NFL specials: $3 Corona, $3 Blue Moon drafts, half-price Nachos Grande, half-price wings mexicanpost.com

Cromwell’s Tavern 3858 Kennett Pike, Greenville Number of TVs: 2, plus 1 large 92-inch projection screen Beer on tap: 7; bottled beers: 17 NFL specials: Daily specials cromwellstavern.com Deer Park Tavern 108 W. Main St., Newark; 369-9414 Number of TVs: 24 w/NFL package Beers on tap: 12; bottled beers: 39 NFL specials: Half-price wings deerparktavern.com James Street Tavern 2 W. Market St., Newport Beers on tap: 7; bottled beers: 40+ NFL specials: Beer & wings $5; beer & burger $6; beer & cheesesteak $6 jstavern.com Kelly’s Logan House 1701 Delaware Ave., Trolley Square; 65-LOGAN Number of TVs: 8 plus one 10-foot big screen; NFL package Beers on tap: 10; bottled beers: 33 NFL specials: $2 Miller Lite and Coors Light bottles; $5 Absolut Bloody Marys; $5 Wings loganhouse.com

www.out-and-about.com

1_NightLife.indd 3

McGlynns Pub Polly Drummond, Peoples Plaza Number of TVs: 17 w/NFL package Beers on tap: 12-15; bottled beers: 45-50 NFL specials: Half-price pitchers of Miller Lite and Coors Light; half-price wings; half-price nachos mcglynnspub.com Stanley’s Tavern 2038 Foulk Rd., Wilmington; 475-1887 Number of TVs: 30 w/NFL package Beers on tap: 18; bottled beers: 58 NFL Specials: Half-price wings, $2.50 Miller Lite pints stanleys-tavern.com Washington Street Ale House 1206 Washington St., Wilmington; 658-2537 Number of TVs: 8, plus 10-inch HD big screen upstairs for private parties; NFL package Beers on tap: 24; bottled beers: 8 NFL specials: $2 Amstel Light and Yuengling drafts; $2 chili cheese dogs; $3 pretzels sticks; $5 pulled-pork nachos on Sat and Sun during games at the bar; 50¢ Wings wsalehouse.com

Creative Community Gallery 1901 aims to be Trolley Square’s new arts hangout

A

n artist’s vantage point offers many possibilities. For Thomas Del Porte, who launches Gallery 1901 in Trolley Square this month, the new vantage point brings bold new changes and at least one return to a cherished tradition.

When the painter opens his gallery doors to the Wilmington public, he will also be welcoming his former teacher, groundbreaking artist Edward Loper Sr., who will paint in the gallery during the day.

“It’s an honor to have my very good friend come in,” Del Porte says. “I’m looking forward to painting alongside him from our storefront window.”

An open and creative thinker, Del Porte sees Gallery 1901 not only as a home to his and Loper’s artwork, but for local and visiting artists as well. Likewise, it will serve as a meeting house for other cultural endeavors, such as poetry nights and discussion groups.

“We have a group interested in creating a two-month-long conversation on ‘art as an access to the eternal,’ [which] is an amazing thing they’re suggesting,” Del Porte says.

Del Porte and friends will be celebrating the grand opening of 1901 (located at 1901 Delaware Ave.) on Friday, Jan. 14, starting at 6 p.m. The event is open to the public. Go to outandaboutnow. com for details. For more on the gallery, call 743-5577.

55

12/23/2010 1:19:13 PM

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12/23/2010 12:27:53 PM

$3 TALL

MILLER LITES

DURING ALL PRO GAMES

THE PLACE TO CATCH ALL PLAYOFF

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1_OAC2_WILMC3.indd 3

12/22/2010 5:58:26 PM

January 21st, 8pm @ the Baby Grand Red Carpet Black Tie Event

Beer, Wine, and hors d’oeuvres Pre-Party Starts at 6:30pm Presented by Chelsea Tavern.

CELEBRATE THE YEAR IN DSL AND OUR FINEST MOMENTS AS WE HONOR OUR 2011 ROXIE AWARD WINNERS FOR:

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-FBSO NPSF BCPVU UIF 309*&4 BU %FMBXBSF4QPSUT-FBHVF DPN 1_NightLife.indd 6

12/22/2010 8:00:16 PM

1_FlipPageCalendar.indd 1

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Biden Bre east Health Initia ative fundraiser @ FIT

@ the Grand Opera House

TRAVIS TRITT

WJJBR W BR Bri rid da al Sh Sho ow w @ Cl Clay Clay aytto on Ha Hall ll

10

HOT SAUCE SUPER BOWL begins @ El Diablo

(Hug a hobbit)

J.R.R. Tolkien’s birthday!

Monday

January

SUNDAY

Hospitality Technology Expo @ Chase Center, Riverfront

Tuesday

ITALIAN WINE DINNER @ the Back Burner

Thursday

SHARON JONES 28 and the DAP-KINGS @ the Grand Opera House

TH THE ALUMINUM SHOW @DuPont Theatre

ART LOOP & re:Fresh After Party

Friday

1

12/23/2010 1:16:26 PM

SKINNY GIRL NIGHT OUT @ DuPont Theatre

(and don’t forget Rubber Duckie Day on the 14th!)

NAT’L BUBBLE BATH DAY!

Happy New Year!

Saturday

R e s t a u r a n t We e k : Ja n u a r y 2 4 -3 0

@ Delaware Theatre Co. - Feb 9th

LUCY

The Magic of MENDELSSOH HN @ the Music Schoool of DE

Wednesday

magazine January 2011 | Vol. 2 | Issue 8

How one block in the city made revitalization a reality

Barista Keith Hartman of LOMA Coffee

in

E THIS ISSU

1_Wilmington_Cover.indd 1

Eat downtown! A lunch guide A historic neighborhood gets saved Sharon Jones at the Grand & more events

12/22/2010 5:46:39 PM

g tin r a t ts S 600 n e R at $

ONLY A FEW UNITS AVAILABLE! APPLY TODAY ONLINE AT INGERMAN.COM

SHIPLEY LOFTS Affordable

Find our community on Facebook

1_OAC2_WILMC3.indd 6

Community

302 654 9113 / www.ingerman.com

12/22/2010 2:45:16 PM

START THE YEAR FRESH NO JOINING FEE IN JANUARY • State-of-the-art fitness/wellness centers • Tons of different classes including yoga, pilates, Zumba®, spinning & body pump!

• Indoor pools • Personal trainers • On-site babysitting • Financial assistance

Plus programs for the kids!

Bear-Glasgow Family YMCA – Bear – 302-836-YMCA Brandywine YMCA – Talleyville – 302-478-YMCA Central YMCA – Downtown Wilmington – 302-254-YMCA Central Delaware YMCA – Dover – 302-346-YMCA Sussex Family YMCA – Rehoboth Beach – 302-296-YMCA Western Family YMCA – Kirkwood Hwy. – 302-709-YMCA

www.ymcade.org 1_Wilmington_Inside.indd 1

12/22/2010 4:13:35 PM

WHY DRIVE TO PHILLY?

The Grand offers world-class entertainers right here, plus...afforable tickets, cheap parking & terrific nearby restaurants.

in W il m in gt o n

LIVE IS BETTER!

Dailey & V incent $3

Jan 27 | 8 pm | $28 -

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings Jan 28 | 8pm | $31 - $46

o Fred Galreb Theater Co. r adults Inflatab M | $21 fo P Jan 30 | 3 ren d il h $16 for c

5

The John Scofield & Joe Lovano Quartet Jan 29 | 8PM | $25-$33

Presented as part of Clifford Brown Year Round in partnership with Christina Cultural Arts Center and the City of Wilmington’s DuPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival

David Broza

Dec 22 | 8pm | $27 - $36

Presented in patnership with the Jewish Federation of Delaware and the Consulate General of Israel in Philadelphia

TicketsAtTheGrand.org | 302-652-5577 | 800-37-GR 800-37-GRAND 00 37 GR RAND | 818 N N. M Market k t Wil Wilmington i t

THEGRAND

All tickets subject to Box Office service charges.

Artists, dates, times and programs are subject to change.

THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF THE ARTS, A STATE AGENCY DEDICATED TO NURTURING AND SUPPORTING THE ARTS IN DELAWARE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.

2 . Inside magazine

1_Wilmington_Inside.indd 2

12/22/2010 4:14:34 PM

Produced by magazine

all rights reserved

TSN Publishing, Inc. President Gerald DuPhily

January 2011 volume 2, issue 8

6 Cover Story Life in LOMA

For one block in the city, a little effort has gone a long way.

Editor-in-Chief

By Michael Pollock

Michael Pollock

Art Director Joy Smoker Production Manager Matt Loeb Senior Graphic Designer Shawna Sneath

9

Dining

Power Lunches

A guide to eating downtown.

11 In This Together Change from the Inside

Advertising Sales Jim Hunter Miller Marie Graham Project Manager Christine Serio

With the community effort to revitalize Brandywine Village, the city moves closer to neighborhood stabilization.

4

“in” Calendar

12

Riverfront

Contributing Writers

18

City Notes

Josephine Eccel, Carol Kipp Larry Nagengast, Bob Yearick

19

Wilmington Renaissance

Contributing Photographers Joe del Tufo, Tim Hawk Les Kipp, Matt Urban

For editorial and advertising information: p (302) 655-6483 f (302) 654-0569

TSN Media, Inc. 307 A Street Wilmington, DE 19801

ON THE COVER: Keith Hartman at LOMA Coffee. photo by Dennis Dischler

ABOUT THE “IN” CAMPAIGN Wilmington is truly in the middle of it all, and the “in” campaign is a celebration of the accomplishments we continue to achieve as a community to make our city stronger and more attractive. From neighborhood and business development to our arts and cultural scene, the people of Wilmington are working together to support our city’s ongoing growth and prosperity.

ABOUT WILMINGTON MAGAZINE The mission of Wilmington Magazine is to capture, through stories and images, the ongoing energy present in the city. We aim to inform readers, both inside and outside Wilmington, of the city’s residential, financial, and cultural progress while remaining entertaining and vibrant.

JANUARY 2011 | 3

1_Wilmington_Inside.indd 3

12/22/2010 6:18:01 PM

In Calendar

The Aluminum Show at DuPont Theatre, Jan. 14–16 photo by Eyal Landesman

DON’T MISS 1/7

1/14-16

@ Various downtown venues

@ DuPont Theatre

wilmingtonde.gov/artloop

duponttheatre.com

Art Loop & re:Fresh After Party

‘The Aluminum Show’

1/28

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings @ Grand Opera House

thegrandwilmington.org

Saturday, January 1

Monday, January 3

Sunday, January 9

• Painters of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Thru January 23 Delaware Art Museum 571-9590; delart.org • ‘Ultra-Realistic Sculpture’ by Marc Sijan Thru January 16 Delaware Art Museum 571-9590; delart.org • DEEC Amphibian Fun Thru January 8 Delaware Children’s Museum 654-2340; delawarechildrensmuseum.org

• ‘On Assignment: American Illustration 1850-1950’ Thru February 20 Delaware Art Museum 571-9590; delart.org

• ‘Pippi Longstocking’ January 9 - 30 Delaware Children’s Theatre 655-1014; dechildrenstheatre.org

Friday, January 7 • Art Loop & re:Fresh After Party The city’s monthly art loop, held at various downtown locations and featuring an afterparty with DJ wilmingtonde.gov/artloop

Friday, January 14 • ‘The Aluminum Show’ January 14 - 16 DuPont Theatre 656-4401; duponttheatre.com • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., & Black History Tribute The Music School of Delaware 762-1132; musicschoolofdelaware.org

4 . In Calendar magazine

1_Wilmington_InCalendar.indd 2

12/22/2010 4:49:28 PM

Wednesday, January 19 • ‘The Magic of Mendelssohn’ The Music School of Delaware, 7pm-9pm 4101 Washington Street; 762-1132; www.musicschoolofdelaware.org • ‘Lucy’ January 19 - February 6 Delaware Theatre Company 4101 Washington Street; 762-1132; www.musicschoolofdelaware.org

Saturday, January 22 • ‘Skinny Girl Night Out’ DuPont Theatre 656-4401; duponttheatre.com • Family Music Celebration The Music School of Delaware 762-1132; musicschoolofdelaware.org

Sunday, January 23 • Travis Tritt Grand Opera House 652-5577; thegrandwilmington.org • ‘Discovering the New World’ The Music School of Delaware 762-1132; musicschoolofdelaware.org

Friday, January 28 • Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings The funk/soul band brings its faithful sound to the Grand for the first time Grand Opera House 652-5577; thegrandwilmington.org • ‘All Good Things’ Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst star in this fact-based drama about suspected murderer Robert Durst Theatre N January 28 - 30 576-2135; theatren.org

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings at the Grand, Jan. 28.

Sponsors (as of 12/14/10): Runway Sponsor

Bank of America Designer Sponsor

Barclays Bank The Sallie Mae Fund

Presents:

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Red Ribbon Runway one fierce fundraiser!

February 26, 2011

fashionmplete The fabulous silent auction and fashionand themed cocktail reception, complete efit with a red carpet, paparazzi, and grams.

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Out & About

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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, Miller & Shook Cos, and Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. Trendy Sponsors

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Currie Hair Skin Nails, EmmEmminence Front Hair Salon & Day Spa, M Michael Christopher, Morgan's of Delaware Avenue, Mystique Fashion Boutique, NV Boutique, S Sherif Zaki Salon & The Oasis Spa, University of Delaware, and White House / Black Market.

JANUARY 2011 | 5

magazine

1_Wilmington_InCalendar.indd 3

12/22/2010 5:01:05 PM

LOMA

Life in

LOMA For one block in the city, a little effort has gone a long way

By Michael Pollock

LOOKING UP The storefronts in Second & LOMA have seen a turnaround since new efforts to fill them began last April. above photo by Matt Loeb photo on right by Dennis Dischler

W

e often hear of people finding the perfect home. Off the beaten path, semi-remote and quiet, lots of land or a big yard for the kids or dogs (or both). It’s a house, no doubt, spacious but charming. The kind of thing that can be fallen in love with on sight alone—you needn’t step a foot inside to know it’s for you.

Marcie Kierpiec has found the perfect home. But it’s an apartment, not a house, in a busy part of the city, not on the countryside. And it might be more a case of wanting what you have, rather than having what you want.

Kierpiec lives in a two-bedroom studio at the Lofts at LOMA (formerly Ships Tavern Mews) on the 200 block of Market Street. She’s been there for nearly eight years, and she can easily reel off a list of features and amenities she’s now come to treasure: a 16-foot ceiling; 1,300 square feet of space; peace and quiet (she’s never had to complain about noise); the ability to park on the street and not have her car bothered; safety and cleanliness throughout the surrounding blocks. There’s also convenient access to 95 and a nearby grocery store—ShopRite—which Kierpiec calls a “key addition” to the area.

Like anyone who pays rent, Kierpiec also values the deal she’s getting. “I’d pay twice as much for a place like this if I was living in Philly. Maybe four times if it were Manhattan.”

Kierpiec has found a sense of coziness not uncommon for people who’ve realized their residential dream. But the fact that she’s talking about a studio apartment in an area of the city still undergoing a transformation is surprising. “My dad comes to visit, and he doesn’t get restless. He doesn’t want to leave the apartment. He says he feels right at home.”

6 . LOMA magazine

1_Wilmington_CoverPackage.indd 2

12/22/2010 5:34:46 PM

THE LOFTS AT LOMA—86 units total, all of which are currently occupied—is only a small part of what’s happening on the block, which encompasses Second to Third streets and Market to Shipley. Last April, Chris Winburn, of Preservation Initiatives, joined forces with entrepreneur Mike Schwartz—the Mike behind Mike’s Famous Harley-Davidson—to begin revitalization efforts.

You could say, “to begin revitalization efforts again,” actually, because Lower Market Street (where LOMA gets its name; it’s also been christened “Life on Market”) has had its share of rebuilding and rebranding through the years.

Winburn has been on board since the mid-2000s. During that time, Baltimore-based Struever Brothers owned the 26 buildings on the block. When Struever defaulted on the nearly $28 million bank loan, held by the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Winburn and Schwartz saw an opportunity to save the project.

“Working in the city, Chris has a good pulse for what’s going on,” Schwartz says of Winburn. In recent years, Preservation Initiatives has done work on the 300 block of Market as well as the 200 block of West Ninth Street.

“What was interesting about this block is that driving by, you would see a lot of vacant storefronts on the street level,” Schwartz says. “But upstairs”—what was formerly known as Ships Tavern Mews—“was filled. That was doing extraordinarily well.”

Winburn and Schwartz decided to capitalize on having the best of both worlds. “We had these beautiful facades that had been meticulously maintained in keeping with their original, intended purpose. It’s maybe the only continuous, contiguous block left in the city,” Schwartz says. “But the insides had been totally redone, and were only a few years old. So you had gorgeous architecture for brand-new commercial space.”

That realization alone wasn’t enough. But having a dedicated team within the city—answering phones, actively trying to fill properties—was. Such lack of attention, Winburn and Schwartz say, was Struever’s downfall.

“They had properties elsewhere, so they weren’t all the way committed to this market,” Winburn says. “The half measures weren’t enough.”

Winburn and Schwartz played up the block’s convenient location—something Kierpiec has long appreciated—and discounted rent, made affordable through tax credits.

Tenants came in quickly; there are now more than 100 of them upstairs and downstairs. Five out of the 20 storefronts were occupied when Winburn and Schwartz started in April. They’re now up to 16. Less than a year later, space at Second & LOMA, both commercially and residentially, is almost sold out.

“We engaged new tenants, but I don’t think we did anything extraordinary,” Schwartz says. “We’ve just been there to communicate the message that we’re open for business. Somebody just needed to come in here and make it happen.” continued on next page

JANUARY 2011 | 7 magazine

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LOMA

WINDOW HOPPING Film Brothers Movie Co-Op is a multi-purpose space for local filmmakers that keeps LOMA’s reputation as a design district alive.

Life in LOMA continued from previous page

LOMA HAS AN UNDERLINING REPUTATION as a design district. Boosted, a block away, by the successful web-marketing firm the Archer Group, and anchored by Trellist, a long-standing marketing and technology company, LOMA has always wanted to be a place where creativity thrives, in every sense of the word.

It’s becoming more of a reality.

Among the recent tenants to move in: 2 Fish Group (graphic and web design, marketing), Element Design Group (land planning, engineering, architecture), Vultran Creative Marketing Group (graphic design, web applications, marketing), and Film Brothers Movie Co-Op, a multipurpose space where local filmmakers can network.

These businesses mesh well with LOMA Coffee, the block’s official coffee shop. In a fitting symbol of rebirth in the area, LOMA Coffee opened its doors shortly after Winburn and Schwartz started building momentum with their revitalization efforts.

A community/outreach program of Hockessin Baptist Church, which is active in Wilmington through its work with Sunday Breakfast Mission, LOMA Coffee was opened by Pastors Jon Boulet and Terry Foester with the intention of having a presence downtown. “They had a vision for the city,” LOMA Coffee general manager Ben Cordova says, evident in the language on the T-shirts that hang in the shop: the LOMA Coffee logo on front, “We’re on a Mission” on the back. “They’ve been really connected here through their ministries.” Cordova previously ran a coffee shop in Hockessin, where the pastors and other church members would gather. Approached

by Boulet and Foester about coming downtown, he, like Winburn and Schwartz, saw an opportunity to be part of something new and exciting. “I saw the space here, and I loved it,” Cordova says. “I wanted in.”

As LOMA Coffee sits on one corner, another new lunch option, Extreme Pizza, sits at another. “We saw the turnaround,” co-owner James Baker

(not to be confused with the mayor) says about the pizzeria’s first Delaware location. “Mike and Chris have done a great job filling up the retail units.

Plus, you’ve got the Queen up the street and a new movie theater”—a proposed 14-theater complex on the Riverfront, including a four-story IMAX—“at the other end.”

Winburn echoes those sentiments.

They help answer the question, ‘Why this time?’ What about now makes the prospect of a successful LOMA more believable?

“There are more people working to make it happen now than there were before,” Winburn says. The city’s performing-arts venues, for example.

“The Queen has had a big psychological impact on the city. There’s a Philly operation controlling things there, so it has more credibility. People are giving it another look. And the Grand has really stepped things up under Steve Bailey.

“It’s like the ’04 Red Sox—you know, why not us? Everyone is starting to believe it a little more.” in

8 . LOMA magazine

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The LOMA sandwich from LOMA Coffee photo by Dennis Dischler

Power LUNCHES

A guide to eating downtown

L

ast month, Extreme Pizza opened its first Delaware location, right on the corner of Second and Market streets in LOMA. Fresh dough, creative concoctions (pizzas named Peace in the Middle East and Screaming Tomato), and gluten-free options highlight the offerings.

“We wanted a soft opening to feel things out,” co-owner James (not the mayor) Baker says. “But we’ve been slammed for lunch so far.”

Add Extreme Pizza to the long list of lunch spots in the city. Just up the block, at 239 Market St., is LOMA Coffee.

Open since last April, LOMA Coffee has plenty of breakfast options (bagels, scrambled eggs), but lunch is a priority, too. Choose from freshly made sandwiches that include the Arizona (ham and Swiss on a Kaiser roll), the LOMA (turkey, sprouts, tomato, and cucumber on multi-grain toast with an avocado spread), and, of course, Veggies on a Roll (you guessed it). Salads, wraps, and soups also feature prominently on the menu.

But LOMA isn’t the only hotspot for lunch. Trek to the nearby Riverfront Market for Harry’s Fish Market + Grill, adjacent to Harry’s Seafood. Fish and chips, burgers and hand-cut fries, and fresh seafood selections (tuna, salmon, scallops) are always in healthy supply. Also new to the market is BellaVista, an authentic pizzeria based on Limestone Road that now sports a convenient Riverfront location. (Don’t overlook Riverfront Market mainstays like Jeenwong Thai Cuisine, eeffoc’s Café, Jonas Miller’s Bake & Butcher Shop, Tokyo Sushi, and Olde World Cheese Steak Factory.)

Plenty of lunch spots in the city are great for running in and grabbing a bite to eat. (See the accompanying directory for a more extensive list.) But what about a sit-down or an

office lunch? Iron Hill’s Riverfront location, with its view and brewpub atmosphere, is perfect for a break away from the cubicle. (Even if you’re not having one of the fine craft beers.) And Washington Street Ale House, Mikimotos, Deep Blue, Café Mezzanotte, Chelsea Tavern, and Public House Wilmington aren’t just open for dinner—lunch is a great (and quieter) time to discover what these sophisticated staples have to offer.

Here are some other options worth considering: Bean Bag Café (913 N. Market St.)

Olympic Subs (813 N. Market St.)

Benjamin’s on 10th

Qdoba Mexican Grill

(deli/diner) (204 W. 10th St.)

(837 N. Market St.)

Big Fish Grill (seafood)

Paradise Palms

(720 Justison St.)

(Caribbean cuisine) (901 N. King St.)

B-N-E City Subs (206 ½ W. 10th St.)

Presto (coffee bar/bistro) (1206 N. Washington St.)

Brew Ha Ha (sandwiches, soups) (835 N. Market St.)

Cavanaugh’s Restaurant (703 N. Market St.)

Domaine Hudson (wine bar) (1314 N. Washington St.)

FireStone (hand-crafted pizza) (110 S. West St.)

Hotel du Pont Green Room, Grill

Primo Hoagies (823 N. Market St.)

Pure Bread Deli (500 Delaware Ave.)

Quiznos (subs, soups) (824 N. Market St.)

Shenanigans Irish Pub & Grill (125 Market St.)

(11th & Market sts.)

Sterling Grille (919 N. Orange St.)

J Farmers Deli & Salad Bar

Steve’s Deli (218 Market St.)

(809 N. Market St.)

Kooma (Asian cuisine)

Subway (225 N. Market St. & 222 Delaware Ave.)

(400 Justison St.)

Timothy’s on the Riverfront

Leo & Jimmy’s (diner)

(American cuisine) (930 Justison St.)

(728 N. Market St.)

Molly’s (deli) (900 Justison St.)

in JANUARY 2011 | 9

magazine

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Finally ready to re-design that web site?

.com 302-655-9949 10 . In This Together magazine

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12/22/2010 5:44:32 PM

In This Together

Change from the Inside

With the community effort to revitalize Brandywine Village, the city moves closer to neighborhood stabilization n mid-October, Mayor Baker, joined by the nonprofit communitydevelopment corporation Greater Brandywine Village Revitalization, unveiled the latest in a series of projects aimed at stabilizing and strengthening the city’s neighborhoods.

The renovated townhouses, located at E. 22 nd Street on Wilmington’s East Side, had stood vacant for many years, and during that time, had become a haven for illegal activity. In 2007, GBVR acquired the properties with $93,000 in financial assistance from the Wilmington Housing Partnership, the nonprofit organization established by the City of Wilmington in 1989 to create affordable homeownership opportunities by acquiring vacant and/ or blighted properties.

In another show of partnership, the two-story properties were rebuilt almost

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entirely by the Challenge Program, a nonprofit based on the East Side that provides out-of-school youth ages 18 to 21 with construction training. In addition, WSFS Bank provided the lending for the construction, while the Delaware Community Foundation and Habitat for Humanity provided addition funding and technical support, respectively.

Now complete, the three-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath units feature off-street parking, energy-efficient appliances, ceramic tile, hardwood floors, and more than 1,300 square feet of living space, as well as a geo-thermal climate-control system.

The two new homes are only a piece of the revitalization efforts that have been underway in Brandywine Village—from the Brandywine River through the intersection of Concord and Vandever Avenue to 23rd Street— for the last decade. Nine vacant and deteriorated houses on Carter Street were recently demolished, to be replaced with seven new homes constructed by Habitat for Humanity. The city also recently demolished four buildings on Lamotte Street, which were replaced with a green space managed by the Delaware Center for Horticulture. On the opposite corner, 10 properties have

been replaced with Miller’s Row, a seven-unit housing community built by Habitat. In all, 31 new homeownership opportunities have been created or are now underway in Brandywine Village.

The seeds for such work were planted back in 1996, when GBVR was formed as an alliance of three key neighborhood associations: the Junior League of Wilmington, the Cathedral Church of St. John, and the Wilmington Senior Center. Armed with a revitalization plan approved by City Council and Mayor Baker in 2002, GBVR set out to restore a historic part of the city that had come under neglect. The immediate neighborhoods to the east—at 104 E. 22nd St.—and west were also cited for rehabilitation.

“Neighborhoods cannot be saved without active support from the entire community,” Mayor Baker says. One new Brandywine Village resident would agree. “I was impressed by the comprehensive nature of the revitalization plan and the commitment that has been expended thus far to attain that vision,” the resident, a D.C. transplant and Vietnam War veteran, says. “It’s a place of great potential, and I wanted to be part of that.” in JANUARY 2011 | 11

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Riverfront

RE T A E H T E R A W DELA

At Delaware Theatre, a different kind of mother-daughter relationship ivian is a brilliant scientist, but when she’s suddenly forced to care for her 13-year-old autistic daughter, her life takes on new meanings. Lucy tackles motherhood and evolution in fresh, honest ways. Due to mature themes, it’s best suitable for audiences ages 15 and older. Jan. 19 through Feb. 6. (delawaretheatre.org)

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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE A gathering of the business and political worlds, over dinner ore than 1,000 members of the state’s business and political communities are expected to fill the Chase Center on Monday, Jan. 10 as the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce hosts its 174th annual dinner. Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America, will be the keynote speaker. The prestigious Josiah Marvel Cup Award will also be presented.

For registration and more info, go to dscc.com.

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wilm.com

magazine

KALMAR NYCKEL Kalmar Nyckel explores ships that ‘changed the world’ he Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is sending out an S.O.S. “Save Our Ships,” that is. The foundation recently announced its three-part lecture series for 2011, which begins on Sunday, Jan. 9 at the Chase Center with an examination of the “Ghost Ship” that sank in the Baltic Sea in the 1630s. (The Kalmar Nyckel is used as a representation of the ship.) Parts two and three take place on March 24 and April 20, respectively. Go to kalmarnyckel.org for more info and to register.

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Kooma

DINE OUT Riverfront restaurants are on the rise he Wilmington Riverfront is where you’ll find some of the best and newest restaurants in the city. Choose from Harry’s Seafood, Kooma, Big Fish, Iron Hill, FireStone, Timothy’s, or Joe’s Crab Shack for a taste of waterfront dining. Coming soon, you’ll have a chance to try them all, as the Riverfront works to plan a special restaurant promotion.

Check riverfrontwilm.com for details in the days and weeks to come.

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on the riverfront

Riverfront

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Amtrak Station Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park Residences at Christina Landing Harry’s Seafood Grill Riverfront Market Delaware Theatre Company FireStone (coming April) Justison Landing Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts Joe’s Crab Shack Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant Frawley Stadium & Delaware Sports Hall of Fame Chase Center on the Riverfront Dravo Plaza & Dock Shipyard Shops Timothy’s Restaurant Molly’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Wilmington Rowing Center Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge/Dupont Environmental Education Center Wilmington Youth Rowing Assoc.

Cosi @ the Barclays Crescent Building ThoroBreads at Christina Landing Opera Delaware Studios/ City Theater Co. Hare Pavilion/Riverwalk Public Docks AAA Mid-Atlantic Kooma Big Fish Grill

F O R M O R E O N T H E R I V E R F R O N T, V I S I T:

RIVERFRONTWILM.COM 10

JAN 5, 19

12

M U G C L U B A P P R E C I AT I O N N I G H T @ IRON HILL Features Iron Hill reserve beers 710 Justison St. 6 – 8pm 12

JAN 9 K A L M A R N YC K E L L E C T U R E S E R I E S Exploring ships that changed the world Dravo Auditorium @ Chase Center Pt. 2: March 24; Pt. 3: April 20 4 – 6:30pm

JAN 10 DSCC’S 174TH ANNUAL DINNER More than 1,000 members of Delaware’s political and business communities expected to attend Chase Center 4:30 – 8:30pm

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JAN 19 – FEB 6 ‘ L U C Y ’ @ D E L A W A R E T H E AT R E C O M PA N Y A woman reunites with her 13-year-old autistic daughter 200 Water St. Select days & times

14 . Riverfront magazine

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JANUARY 2011 | 15 magazine

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Haynes Park City Notes

Haynes Park gets a makeover Visitors to Haynes Park, located between 30th and 32nd streets and between Miller Road and Harrison Street, will notice a refurbished playground. The nearly $226,000 renovation project, funded in part through a Delaware Land and Water Conservation Funds grant, has many great new features, including multi-purpose climbers designed by Game Time (funded through a Fight for Obesity Matching Play Grant for PowerScape Plus System), which allow children to incrementally grow their abilities to traverse overhead components.

Every element of the system provides play opportunities, incorporating balance, upper-body development, and cardiovascular conditioning. The playground also includes traditional slides and platforms.

Parents can watch their children from one of nine new playground benches made from recycled plastics, four new picnic tables, and a new playground surface that was poured in place using recycled plastics.

City’s recycling program now allows more to recycle

RecycleBank has become a part of most Wilmington resident’s recycling routines for some time now. And the free recycling service, which rewards residents, is now picking up even more items.

Mayor Baker, public-works commissioner Kash Srinivasan, RecycleBank, and the Clean Wilmington Committee recently announced an expanded list of items that can be recycled as part of the city’s residential curbside-recycling program.

These items include: • All coated-paper cartons and aseptic packaging (juice boxes, gable-top milk and juice containers).

• All food and beverage containers marked #1 to #7 but no PVC or Styrofoam (yogurt containers, margarine tubs, lotion and sunscreen tubes, ketchup bottles, microwave trays).

The new recyclable items were not previously collected as part of the RecycleBank program because there was no economically feasible way for the Blue Mountain Recycling facility in Philadelphia (the processing facility for Wilmington’s recyclables) to process and reuse the raw materials. Recent advances have now created long-term, sustainable markets for the newly accepted items.

Wilmington diverts nearly 35 percent of its total waste stream to recycling, instead of to a landfill. The city’s curbside recycling program, which serves more than 21,000 households, was launched citywide in August 2007, creating Delaware’s first curbside, single-stream recycling program.

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downtownwilmington.com

Trash pick-up schedule now online

Wilmington Renaissance Corporation

The city’s RecycleBank program is only a part of the city’s greening efforts. City residents are now encouraged to download a paperless copy of the new trash- and recycling-collection schedules for 2011 at wilmingtonde. gov/cleanwilmington/trashschedule.htm.

The online format not only helps the environment, it helps the city’s economy, Mayor Baker says. “We need to reduce Wilmington’s carbon footprint and we need to cut costs to ease a budget crisis,” the mayor noted. In addition to the collection schedules, the online brochure provides instructions on what can and cannot be recycled.

Music School of Delaware students strut their stuff

The Music School of Delaware, the only nationally accredited, statewide community music school, is located on Washington Street and includes many students who have recently made great musical achievements.

Here are just a few of the recent ones.

• The Music School of Delaware’s student ensembles Brandywine Fiddlers, led by faculty Shelley Beard Schleigh, and Matson Run Pickers, led by faculty Chris Braddock, placed first in the 2010 Delaware State Bluegrass Championship at the Rehoboth Beach Sea Witch Festival on Oct. 30.

• In individual competitions at the Sea Witch Festival, Suzuki Academy students Conor McAvinue and Andrew Vogts placed first and second, respectively, in the solo fiddle division.

• Nathan Lowman of Wilmington, a violin student of Kate Ransom, placed first in the high school division of the Newark Symphony Orchestra concerto competition.

Extreme lunch now on Market

The lower end of Market Street—also known as LOMA—is now home to another lunch spot with the opening last month of Extreme Pizza at 201 Market St. The lunch and dinner spot offers personal and largersized, specialty pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and more. The venue also has a full bar and will soon be able to serve gluten-free beer.

For more, call 384-8012. For more on lunch downtown or the LOMA movement, go to pg. 6.

•

WRC News

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s we end one year and move into another, WRC takes a moment to look back on 2010 and look ahead to another great year to come. Our tagline—A Partnership for Progress—reenforces how our small staff values our many partners that help us accomplish our goals. We are truly privileged to work with so many amazing people and organizations on the many projects, events, and programs that are continuing to make Wilmington a wonderful city in which to live, play, and prosper. The future is bright, not only for WRC, but for downtown as a whole. And as we look forward to 2011, we are in awe of all of the exciting projects and plans that will come to fruition.

The Queen Theatre at Fifth and Market streets is sure to bring additional excitement when it opens on April 1. Keep your eyes peeled for the first acts to perform at this new arts venue.

One of the city’s signature events returns as WRC presents the Wilmington Grand Prix on May 20-22. This national cycling event and street festival will be expanded in 2011 to include a Friday night Time Trial at Monkey Hill, a Sunday race, and a ride to Dover and back on Sunday. Make sure you don’t miss the action!

In addition to the existing Downtown News e-newsletter that keeps you up to date on all the fun events and happenings in the city, WRC will launch a new e-newsletter early in 2011, focusing on the great businesses downtown and all they have to offer you as a consumer.

Our organization will strengthen and bring back two initiatives started in 2010. The Downtown Marketplace will continue to bring downtown merchants into downtown office buildings. And Graduate to Wilmington will help summer interns working at our downtown corporations and businesses find places to live in the city, introduce them to city life, and encourage them to return after they graduate.

WRC will also be in new office space for the New Year! You can find us at the Community Service Building, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 206.

We look forward to being neighbors with so many of Wilmington’s outstanding nonprofit organizations!

There’s much more planned for 2011, so stay tuned for all the great news, programs, and projects! For more information, call us at 425-5500 or visit downtownwilmington.com.

WRC’s Favorites

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very month, we feature a few of the staff ’s favorite things happening in the city. Our favorites for January include, in no particular order:

• Extreme Pizza is open at 201 Market St. • Brew HaHa is opening soon in the PNC Building at 222 Delaware Ave.

• Chelsea Tavern is set to unveil a new look and host live music.

• The Shops at Second & LOMA are filling up with many great retail and business offerings. in

DowntownWilmington.com

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