Out & About Magazine June 2017

Christiana Hilton Gets a Makeover

Serving Up Sustainability

of Generosity

Under-the-Radar Acts to Catch at Firefly

What's Happening on the Riverfront

G R E AT E R W I L M I N G T O N

Patios With Personality These are 18 of our area favorites

JUNE 2017 COMPLIMENTARY

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AT T E N T I O N !

A R E A B A N D S & LO C A L M U S I C FA N S !

IT’S BACK!

Delaware’s Biggest Original Band Competition

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11 “This One Goes To Eleven!”

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THE SUSQUEHANNA FLOODS Pictured with a Magic Hat Guitar

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• 12 Bands Chosen to Compete • Live Competitions Held at Area Venues in August • Finals: Saturday, October 14, live @ the baby grand

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SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL FRIDAY, JUNE 9 | 6 PM – 10 PM $5 FOR MEMBERS | $10 FOR NON-MEMBERS

JEA STREET DANZA AZTECA BALLET FOLKLORICO HOCKADAY GINGER COYLE SPOKEY SPEAKY FOOD TRUCKS ART ACTIVITIES CRAFT VENDORS AND MORE!

In partnership with the People’s Festival, the Museum is hosting an outdoor summer music festival with live reggae, Latin, hip hop, and special dance performances. Get your tickets in advance to avoid entrance lines. Check delart.org for details and updates.

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2 INSIDE 2

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Out & About Magazine

21

Vol. 30 | No. 4

Published each month by TSN Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Mailing & business address: 307 A Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 Publisher Gerald duPhily • jduphily@tsnpub.com

31

Director of Publications Jim Hunter Miller • jmiller@tsnpub.com Contributing Editor Bob Yearick • ryearick@comcast.net Associate Editor Krista Connor • kconnor@tsnpub.com Director of Digital Media & Distribution Marie Graham Poot • mgraham@tsnpub.com Creative Director & Production Manager Matthew Loeb, Catalyst Visuals, LLC. matt@catvis.biz Graphic Designer Tyler Mitchell, Catalyst Visuals, LLC. tyler@catvis.biz Contributing Designer Ryan Alexander, Catalyst Visuals, LLC

Contributing Writers JulieAnne Cross, Mark Fields, Pam George, Rob Kalesse, Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald, Leeann Wallett, Robert Lhulier, Mike Little, Allan McKinley, John Murray, Larry Nagengast, Kevin Noonan, Scott Pruden, Matt Sullivan Contributing Photographers Jim Coarse and Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography, Tim Hawk, Anthony Santoro, Matt Urban Special Projects Sarah Green, David Hallberg, John Holton Intern David Ferguson

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WILMINGTON

7 The War on Words 9 From the Publisher’s Daughter 11 F.Y.I. 12 By the Numbers 13 What Readers Are Saying 14 Photo Contest Winners 15 Worth Trying 16 40 Years for Bellevue 17 Fly Fishing at White Clay 21 Fine Dining at Christiana Hilton

37 On the Riverfront 45 Art on the Town

EAT

17 No Boots? No Fish? No Problem.

Even an expert’s guidance doesn’t always guarantee success in fly fishing. Still, it was a great day on the water.

49 Three and Counting 55 Bites

By Bob Yearick

DRINK 57 Sips

26 Patios With Personality These 18 spots are worth trying.

LISTEN

10 The Right Thing to Do

59 On the Rise at Firefly 63 Welcome to Wilmington 66 Tuned In

FOCUS

WATCH

26 Patios With Personality 31 It’s Festival Time!

69 Reviews 71 Six-pack Cinema

LEARN

FEATURES

PLAY

O&A Staff

31 It’s Festival Time!

Here’s a quick guide to help you plan your festive tour through the summer.

By Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald

49 Three and Counting Lee Mikles and Jim O’Donoghue, owners of Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen, are on an ambitious growth track.

73 Oddball Art Hall 76 Snap Shots On the cover: Rebecca Simeone, left, and Jenni Kaper, on the patio at the Gables at Chadds Ford.

Photo by Jim Coarse/Moonloop Photography

By Pam George

Editorial & advertising info: 302.655.6483 • Fax 302.654.0569 Website: outandaboutnow.com Email: contact@tsnpub.com JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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6 JUNE 2016 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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A writer/editor’s slightly snarky and relentless crusade to eliminate grammatical gaffes from our everyday communications

Compiled from the popular column in Out & About Magazine

THE WAR ON WORDS A monthly column in which we attempt, however futilely, to defend the English language against misuse and abuse

Media Watch • Harry Smith, on Sunday Today with Willie Geist, interviewing an old woman: “Born about the time women got the right to vote, I was curious, so I asked her . . .” He was clearly speaking of her, but the dangler made it sound as if he was referring to himself.

• From the Wilmington News Journal sports pages: “There are a litany of teams that have tried to address the quarterback position.” Litany is one of those words that sportswriters in particular seem to think will make their copy more sophisticated.

But using it to simply mean a list is wrong. A litany is “a tedious recital or repetitive series,” as in “a litany of complaints.”

• Two more from TNJ, with corrections in parentheses: 1. “Video footage from a DART bus at the scene showed Cottingham step in to try to diffuse (defuse) the situation . . .” 2. “Neither were (was) seriously hurt” (in a story on a tree totaling Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn’s car, in which he was riding with his son).

• Robert Bianco, TV reviewer in USA Today, who is usually immune to the semi-literacy plaguing that newspaper, in a review of Imaginary Mary: “Jenna Elfman . . . is cast as a tightly-wound, kid-adverse executive.” He meant averse (opposed, antagonistic).

Adverse means contrary, hostile, bad; as in adverse weather.

• Commentator Geoff Mosher on 97.5 The Fan: “Getting to the Super Bowl is a long road to hoe.” You hoe a row, as in a crop like corn or tobacco. A road can’t be hoed. Common mistake.

• Host Mike Missanelli on 97.5: “Where are you getting your information from?” As I’ve said many times, there’s no rule against ending a sentence in a preposition, but this sentence should have ended with information.

• A WDEL reporter used the term “wrecking havoc.” It’s wreaking havoc.

• Most news outlets got it right in referring to Aaron Hernandez, the former NFL player who hanged himself in jail. But a few said he hung himself. Hung is the correct past tense in most senses: “I hung a picture; I hung a left turn.” The exception comes where hang means to put to death by hanging.

Literally of the Month: ESPN’s Matt Hasselbeck, assessing Kansas City’s pick of quarterback Patrick Mahomes: “He is literally everything that Alex Smith (the current Chiefs qb) is not.” Wrong—on so many levels. For starters, they’re both quarterbacks. And right-handed.

And human beings.

Word of the Month

sybaritic Pronounced sib-uh-RIT-ik, it’s an adjective meaning devoted to or relating to luxury and pleasure.

By Bob Yearick

The DP Dept.

It’s getting so we need a separate department for The Dan Patrick Show.

Some gaffes from the sports talk host and his minions: • Dan: “My wife is encouraging me to cook more meals while she cooks less meals.” It’s fewer, since meals is plural.

• Dan: “Not that big of a deal.” Patick is one of the countless commentators who add this uncecessary word. And while I’m at it, can we eliminate the wordy “based off of” and revert to the more traditional and succinct “based on”?

• One of the “Dannettes,” commenting on Sergio Garcia celebrating his victory in The Masters: “I can only imagine how much wine was drank.” That would be drunk, a word many people view as only an adjective or a noun.

A Hollywood Moment Like most people, actor Richard Gere can’t bring himself to use objective pronouns. Joking about his relationship with co-star Rebecca Hall in The Dinner, the graying Gere referred to “. . . the sexual tension between she and I.” Admittedly, her and me sounds much less elegant, but the preposition between demands it.

Department of Redundancies Dept.

“The bridge spans over the creek”—a sentence that popped up in a piece of copy I edited. Spans, in this sense, means to extend across.

Follow me on Twitter: @thewaronwords

Seen a good (bad) one lately?

Send your candidates to ryearick@comcast.net

NEED A SPEAKER FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION? Contact me for a fun PowerPoint presentation on grammar: ryearick@comcast.net.

Quotation of the Month “The fewer the words that can be made to convey an idea, the clearer and the more forceful that idea.”

—David Lambuth et al.

Buy The War on Words paperback at Ninth Street Books in Wilmington, the Hockessin Book Shelf, on Amazon, or by calling Out & About at 302-655-6483.

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“Hammered” takes on a whole new meaning when you drink and drive. And the headache doesn’t stop there. You’ll get jail time, a suspended driver’s license and thousands of dollars in fines.

A DUI will always cost you. It’s not worth it.

Don’t let a DUI redefine you.

Make sure you have a safe ride. For a list of ride options near you, text SafeRide to 99000.

ArriveAliveDE.com/DriveSober

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Photo Frank Tirrell

From The Publisher('s Daughter)

The crowd cheers home two-time Olympian Marlies Mejias of Cuba as she wins the Women’s Pro Race at this year’s Wilmington Grand Prix.

A GRAND EFFORT M aybe I’m feeling nostalgic because I just graduated from college. Or maybe the 11th annual Wilmington Grand Prix just feels extra special. Either way, I want to write about an event that in my view, for the last decade, has brought together the city of Wilmington in a way not many people would have expected.

It’s an event that has taught me lessons and skills I doubt I would have acquired even at demanding internships. It’s an event that is miraculously strung together each year by a group of driven, passionate, focused, altruistic people. It’s an event that makes me proud to be referred to as “Jerry’s daughter.”

The first-ever Wilmington Grand Prix, a three-day national cycling event, took place in 2007. I was 11 years old and enthused by the chance to drive the golf carts up and down Market Street. Now, at 22, I rushed home from graduation in Ann Arbor, Mich., to assist with the pre-Grand Prix madness. I spent the weeks leading up to Grand Prix weekend in the Event Allies office, privy to the countless conversations between my Dad and his fellow event coordinator, Julie Miro Wenger.

“Have we finished assembling sponsorship packets or can I get Sophie to do that?” Dad asks. “How did your conversation with the mayor's office go?” “What supplies do we have left to buy?” “Have we confirmed the pace car pickup?”

No one can understand the scope of an event like this until they immerse themselves in it. Julie and Dad bear most of the weight, but they tackle the challenge in a way that makes people want to help. My Dad is passionate about creating positive news for a city constantly portrayed in a negative light.

I hear his conversations with sponsors and watch him and Julie respectfully interact with vendors. Ultimately, Dad's genuine enthusiasm is hard to ignore. In fact, it’s contagious. In essence, he and Julie have created a collective conviction to have these three days in May reveal the best attributes of the city.

The event could easily be moved to a setting with less baggage and draw greater attendance, but that defeats the purpose. It has never been about looking for the greenest pastures. Instead, the focus has always been about showcasing Wilmington.

If you listen to the cyclists, most whom travel from other countries and all over the U.S. to compete in this event, the Wilmington Grand Prix is one of their favorite destinations.

They think Wilmington is a great place to visit, and they love the city's hospitality. For my Dad, that's exactly the point.

— Sophie duPhily

JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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LEARN

Wilmington Firefighter Griff Jordan is ready to initiate the opening tip-off between WilmU’s Tajee Almon (left) and Goldey-Beacom’s Dante Thompson (right).

THE RIGHT THING TO DO Local basketball rivals honor fallen firefighters

A

ll of Delaware was shaken after a series of tragic events resulted in the loss of four courageous firefighters. Tim McClanahan, a Lewes firefighter, died on July 11, 2016, during a joint training exercise with the Delaware State Police Air Rescue Team. Then, on Sept. 24, Wilmington firefighters Capt.

Christopher Leach and Lt. Jerry Fickes lost their lives battling a row house fire. Comrades Brad Speakman and Ardythe Hope were critically injured in the blaze, and Hope succumbed to her injuries on Dec. 1.

The fallen heroes were honored later that month through the joint efforts of the men’s and women’s basketball teams of Delaware’s two NCAA Division II rivals—Wilmington University and GoldeyBeacom College. At all of their December 2016 games, the squads collected donations, sold t-shirts and hosted charitable events that raised money for the firefighters’ families. Through this collaborative effort, spearheaded by WilmU Women’s Basketball coach Rob Miller, the teams met their goal of raising $5,000. A check for that amount was presented to the Wilmington Firefighters Association between games of a doubleheader at the WilmU Athletics Complex on Dec. 18.

Firefighters from the affected departments performed a ceremonial tip-off and posed for pictures with the team captains, as well as with Goldey-Beacom President Dr. Gary Wirt and Wilmington University Executive Vice President Dr. LaVerne Harmon.

According to Miller, the charity games were “the right thing to do, to help, to give back” to the families of those who have given so much. He adds: “First responders are the people we call in an emergency, and they come running.”

Talking about the doubleheader, Miller notes, “It’s the biggest game of the year and it’s a big rivalry, but while WilmU and Goldey-Beacom may be rivals on the floor, this is bigger than all of us.”

WilmU is honored to be the education choice of many of Delaware’s public service professionals and first responders.

And WilmU’s hallmark flexibility and acclaimed online programs make higher education accessible for working adults with non-traditional schedules, such as evening and weekend shift work. Discover our difference at wilmu.edu.

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10 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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F.Y.I. Things worth knowing Compiled by David Ferguson

VETERAN’S CUP 2017

O

n Sunday, June 25, Delaware American Legion Baseball is hosting its seventh Veteran’s Cup Baseball Game. The event honors past and present members of the armed services. This year it will focus on Jack Houck, Delaware Veterans Post No. 1 member and World War II veteran.

The 98-year-old, who was born in Maryland, fought in Europe in the war, and has been an active and contributing member of Post No. 1 in Wilmington since 1946.

The game, at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, will begin at noon with opening ceremonies starting at 11:40 a.m.

It’s free and a post game pool party is being held at Veteran’s Post No. 1, 2535 Veterans Dr., Wilmington. For more information, visit delegion.org/debaseball/index.html.

DELAWARE ART MUSEUM DIGITAL ARCHIVES

T

he Delaware Art Museum recently released more than 500 archives online, with more items being added daily. The release allows art and archival material from the museum to be viewed anywhere in the world via its online Digital Collections Portal. The archives include work from John Sloan, Howard Pyle, and Samuel and Mary R. Bancroft, Jr., and more.

The release of work will pave the way for extensive research into the various works that are found in the museum without having to physically visit the museum. The digital portal acts as an online library of information and makes it easier for scholars and people from around the world to conduct research and view specific objects, images, and manuscripts from the comfort of their homes and places of work. More information and the entire archive can be found at delart.org.

RUN THE MILL 5K

T

he Delaware Nature Society will host a 5K run and walk on Saturday, June 3, at Abbot’s Mill Nature Center in Milford.

Packet pickup is at 8 a.m. and the race will begin at 9, rain or shine. Participants will get the opportunity to run or walk the more than three miles of streamside trails, paths, and planked boardwalks of the beautiful nature center. Racers are encouraged to stick around after they cross the finish line for beverages from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, food from Arena Deli, music, kayak rentals and more.

Awards will be presented to the overall top male and female finishers, top three male and female finishers of varying age groups, and the top five walkers. The first 250 racers will receive an event t-shirt.

Registration is $30 and proceeds will benefit Abbot’s Mill Nature Center. For more information and to register for the race, check out delnature.org.

DAY OF ART!

T

he Quaker Hill Preservation Foundation is proud to present its Third Annual Friends of the Arts Festival on Sunday, June 4, at Cathedral of St. Peter's in Wilmington. The festival provides a fun environment for family and friends with a day of music, food, games, and (of course) beautiful art. Children will be able to dive into the fun with a folk art project hosted by local artist Eunice LaFate.

There also will be an auction for a limited edition print of LaFate’s famous work, “Tubman & Garrett…Road to Freedom.” The festival is 1 to 4 p.m. and will conclude with a concert by the Wilmington Concert Opera.

The Cathedral of St. Peter's is located at 500 N. West St., Wilmington.

DELAWARE’S CLEAN WATER RALLY

O

n March 14, 2015, the Delaware Nature Society and its partners launched a statewide cleanup of Delaware’s water in the hope that it would lead to a cleaner environment, healthier crops, an improved economy and an increase in tourism. A result of the campaign is the Clean Water rally that is now in its third year and will take place on Tuesday, June 6, at Legislative Mall in Dover. The rally will start at 10:30 a.m. and continue until noon. At 12:30 p.m. optional legislative meetings will be held and supporters will get the opportunity to speak with State Representatives and Senators about the importance of clean water in Delaware. Those who show up to support clean water and celebrate all things water will receive a free t-shirt and free food from local food trucks. For more information and to register for the event, visit www.delawarenaturesociety.org.

HOW TO WRITE A MEMOIR

O

n the third Sunday of every month the Delaware Writers Studio holds workshops in the Kirkwood Library at 6000 Kirkwood Highway. Each workshop aims to tackle various aspects of writing, including niche writing, submitting work, publishing, selling your work, and more.

Delaware writer Billie Travalini will host the workshop on Sunday, June 18, and will focus on memoir writing with examples from her book Blood Sisters. The workshops are free but seating is limited. To find more information on upcoming workshops and to register, visit dewritersstudio.org.

JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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by the numbers A few facts about June worth knowing

6/28/1971 Spend your weekend like this...

NOT like this

241

The day Gov. Russell Peterson signed the Delaware Coastal Zone Act. The law helps protect the state’s river and bay areas from the impact of heavy industrialization and promotes recreation and tourism in Delaware’s coastal regions.

Number of years ago, on June 15, that Delaware declared its independence from Great Britain, at the same time separating from Pennsylvania, with which it was connected beginning in 1682.

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6/21 The first day of summer.

Maximum of 100 Linear feet. Gutter guards or gutters above 2 stories could require additional charges. Expires 06/30/17. Not valid on previously contracted work.

6/18 Father’s Day. Spend some time with your dad.

WINDOWS • SIDING • ROOFING • DOORS • BATHS

302-482-4055 www.trustpj.com NJ Lic. #13VH01142000 DE Lic. #2009603070 PA Lic. #PA011323 MD Lic. #130457 Bath: PA# 107078 DE# 2013601085 NJ# 13VH08201500 *For complete details see www.trustpj.com/specials

140+ The number of bands set to perform at the Firefly Music Festival in The Woodlands at Dover Downs from June 15-18.

82 The average high temperature in Wilmington during June.

12 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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WHAT READERS ARE SAYING About Reconsidering Marijuana What’s the legalization status in Delaware?

(By Jim Miller, May 2017) I prefer to not alter the state of my mind or body by drugs unless there is great pain or needed repair. And that includes alcohol.

— Leo Strine Sr., Hockessin I support legalization.

— Jude Mcdonald, Wilmington About Readers Photo Contest An outdoor and wildlife competition (By O&A Staff, May 2017)

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Hoo is that?! (See what we did there?) Awesome photo.

— Westside Health, Wilmington About The Mothers’ Space A profile of local perinatal support group (By Krista Connor, May 2017) This journalist captured the essence of The Mothers' Space just perfectly! Read!

— Katie Madden, Balanced Breastfeeding with Katie Madden, Boothwyn, Pa.

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HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? SEND US A MESSAGE! contact@tsnpub.com • OutAndAboutNow.com

NJ Lic. #13VH01142000 DE Lic. #2009603070 PA Lic. #PA011323 MD Lic. #130457 Bath: PA# 107078 DE# 2013601085 NJ# 13VH08201500 *For complete details see www.trustpj.com/specials

JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Thanks to everyone who submitted photos for our inaugural Instagram contest. Dozens of you shared fantastic shots of Delaware’s beaches, sunsets, wildlife, landmarks and more. The decision was tough, but here are the three photos we felt best reflected the contest guidelines. Congratulations, winners!

And while the contest is over, keep tagging your favorite parks, restaurants, independent shops, etc. with #IamOandA for a chance to be regularly featured.

◄ FIRST PLACE: BLUE JAY AT ASHLAND NATURE CENTER Spenser Warren, Hockessin Exspense “I enjoy exploring and I'm often traveling somewhere or doing something new. I decided to take up photography as a new hobby as a way to document my adventures and share them with friends. So after some research, I bought a Canon Rebel T6i. The blue jay was actually the first picture I took with my new camera.”

SECOND PLACE ►: DOGWOOD TREE AT WHITE CLAY CREEK STATE PARK Leilah Connor, Newark leilah_nicole “I enjoy walking around White Clay whenever I get the chance—especially when I happen to find a field with the most beautiful dogwood trees blooming!”

◄ THIRD PLACE:

BACKYARD SIGHTING OF RED-WINGED BLACK BIRDS Brad Wenger, Newark brad.wenger

“I'm captivated by bird migration season more and more each year. The tight formations which red-winged blackbirds fly is fascinating to me. I'd witnessed several of these examples and thought it was time to get the lens pointed in the right direction. I was lucky enough to catch the crowd movement and the essence of how fast they were moving.”

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Worth Trying Suggestions from our staff, contributors and readers

Don’t Think Twice

Double Spiral Chocolate

I am really impressed with Mike Birbiglia’s sophomore film effort, Don’t Think Twice. When a member of a popular New York City improv troupe gets cast on a hit TV show, the rest of the group —all best friends—start to realize that not everyone is going to make it after all.

Birbiglia does an amazing job in creating characters that will make you laugh and cry. The cast features some serious talent: Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele), Gillian Jacobs (Community), Kate Micucci (Garfunkel & Oates). Released last year, it’s now available on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Dark chocolate lovers: may I have your attention please? Stuart and Mhairi Craig, originally from Scotland, live in The Ardens and make really delicious chocolate bars. They focus on ethically and sustainably sourced, minimally processed ingredients, and the results are worth trying. You can buy their bars locally at Delaware Local Food Exchange, Newark Natural Foods, Swigg, or online at doublespiralchocolate.com.

— Ryan Alexander, Contributing Designer

— Marie Graham Poot, Director of Digital Media and Distribution

Philippine Smoked BBQ & Grill

Dew Point Brewing

My wife and I probably had passed this place in Elsmere a hundred times before we noticed it, across from the VA Hospital. Wish we had noticed it sooner, because the barbecue is top notch. Not really knowing what Filipino barbecue tasted like, we gave it a shot and got a platter of a few different things to try. Everything was amazing: smoky, sweet and a little spicy. I recommend the beef brisket and the pork kabobs, with a side of "Omy Fingers" (mini pork egg rolls).

The owners of this microbrewery, formerly historic Garrett Snuff Mill, in Yorklyn, have done a fantastic job renovating the building while keeping its original character intact. The brewery features an outdoor green space and upstairs tasting room. With its beamed ceilings and—dare I say— rustic yet perfectly minimal design, the intimate tasting room is fun for a quiet night with a small group of friends.

There’s even Jenga. Check the site to see what’s on tap. Dew Point only serves beer, so you’ll have to pack a picnic or check the schedule for regular food truck visits.

— Tyler Mitchell, Graphic Designer

— Krista Connor, Associate Editor

Have something you think is worth trying?

Send your suggestion to Jim at jmiller@tsnpub.com.

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3 0 2 - 5 7 1 - 1492

Photo courtesy of Delaware State Parks

2216 Pennsylvania Ave Wilmington, DE 19806 www.ColumbusInn.net

Bellevue Hall mansion will be open for tours during the anniversary event.

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS Our Summer Menu Has Arrived come innjoy our patio seating • •

Friday Bucket Beers Happy Hour Saturdays 5pm - 7pm

-June 18thLast Brunch of the Season & Father’s Day Linner 10-3pm

BBQ & Boil Crab Feast last Thursday of every month $50 per person on the patio

(starting 6/29)

For all your catering needs!

302.658.8406 | tastecicatering.com info@tastecicatering.com

July 2 brings free entertainment, food trucks, a beer garden and more, in honor of Bellevue State Park’s anniversary

O

n Sunday, July 2, Bellevue State Park celebrates its 40th anniversary with a full day of entertainment and fun, an entirely free event except for food and drinks.

Wilma Yu, president of Friends of Bellevue State Park, the volunteer group organizing the event, says hundreds of hours have already gone into making the day possible—and free—for guests.

The Friends Group has even convinced the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation to waive the standard entrance fee for that day.

“We want the community to come to Bellevue that day,” says Yu. After the 85-member Chester County Concert Band kicks off the celebration with a 12-1 p.m. concert, the day will be filled with food trucks, face painting, a scavenger hunt, and vendors.

Representatives from the Brandywine Zoo, Tri-State Bird Rescue, local bicycle outfitters and groups like the Wilmington Trail Club, disc golf and tennis professionals and more will be available to chat and perform demonstrations. These strategically selected representatives offer examples of activities available at the park on any given day: walking, jogging and cycling are popular activities any time of the year, and tennis and disc golf are other recreation options at Bellevue.

Guests will be invited to tour Bellevue Hall mansion, which is usually closed or accessible only for private events. The mansion commands a view of the historic estate, and its present form reflects alterations made by William du Pont, Jr., who surrounded his home with the finest facilities, including tennis courts, equestrian stables, gardens, and a picturesque pond, amid woodlands and fields overlooking the Delaware River.

By evening, local party band Kategory 5 will take the stage, and a beer garden will be open. After dusk, guests can explore the night sky with professional astronomers who will provide guided walking tours through meadows while identifying the constellations with telescopes.

The event is made possible by volunteers—even members of 99.5 WJBR radio station are donating their time to cover the celebration. A 50/50 raffle will take place strictly to pay for some of the event’s expenses. For more information, visit destateparks.com/park/Bellevue.

— O&A

16 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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START

NO BOOTS? NO FISH?

NO PROBLEM Sans boots, the intrepid author fishes a stretch of White Clay Creek under the tutelage of Tim O'Neill.

Even an expert’s guidance doesn’t always guarantee success in fly fishing. Still, it was a great day on the water.

By Bob Yearick Photos by Anthony Santoro

hen you go fly fishing for trout, it’s never a good idea to forget your waders or hips boots. But that’s exactly what I did on a warm April afternoon a few days after Delaware’s freshwater trout season opened.

Fortunately, I was wearing old jeans and sneakers. So, remembering the heroic and also-bootless Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It, I decided I would boldly wade into the only mildly chilly waters of White Clay Creek. (Unlike Pitt, however, I was without the fly-festooned floppy hat he wore in that 1992 film, not to mention his prepossessing visage.)

Joining me was Tim O’Neill, fly fishing expert, professional fly tier and lecturer. We were on the fly-fishing-only stretch of White Clay, which begins just above Thompson Bridge at Chambers Rock Road and extends to the Pennsylvania state line. O’Neill was to demonstrate his angling techniques and tools, then I was to try my luck at this demanding, frustrating, beautiful sport that I have pursued casually most of my life.

W

The first part went well.

From the parking lot off Chambers Rock Road, O’Neill led the way to a nearby spot he had previously fished that featured gently moving water just downstream from some riffles. Surprisingly, we were the only ones at the hole, although we could see other fishermen above and below us.

We would be “nymphing,” he announced, meaning we would use tiny flies—creations of fur and feather wrapped around a hook—designed to resemble immature forms of aquatic insects and small crustaceans. Nymphs are “wet flies,” fished below the surface.

Dry fly fishing, where the fly floats on top of the water, is far more dramatic—when the fisherman is successful—because the fish must break the surface to take the fly. But, O’Neill explained, trout strike a “dry” only about 20 percent of the time. They’re usually feeding lower, sometimes at or near the bottom, facing upstream, looking for anything edible that might happen by. ► JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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START NO BOOTS? NO FISH? NO PROBLEM continued from previous page

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He wielded a 10 1/2-foot rod with a line on which he had attached three flies: the dropper (a soft hackle), the anchor (his own O’Neill Nuclear Caddis), and the trailer (a pheasant tail nymph).

This immediately established his bona fides for me. Most fishermen use a single fly, while a few fish a tandem rig.

O’Neill is the first person I have known to fish three flies at once.

“The idea,” he explained, “is to use something bright—the Nuclear Caddis —to grab their attention and trail a small natural behind that. The bright fly gets their attention and they see the natural and eat it.”

I noted that he did not attempt to “match the hatch”—determine what insects are currently on the water, then search his fly box for a pattern that approximates the appearance of the resident insect.

“Presentation (the cast, the way the fly enters the water) is 10 times more important than the fly,” he explained, although he did spend a minute turning over creekside rocks to check for evidence of insects. Finding none, he stepped a few feet into the water (he remembered to bring his boots), and cast about 15 yards into the darker, deeper water.

The Nuclear Caddis was a beadhead, and he had put a split shot on the line to give it weight, explaining that the line needed to get to the bottom, where the fish were feeding.

18 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Fifteen minutes in, O'Neill landed this 14-incher, which he immediately released.

For the next few minutes he repeated the cast, always starting upstream, then letting the line drift below him until it swung nearly parallel to the shore, watching his strike indicator (a fly fisherman’s bobber) the whole way.

Like most expert anglers, O’Neill rarely “gets skunked.” It’s his theory that trout are “eating all the time.” So, the old “they weren’t biting today” excuse is lame, at best.

And that held true on this day. It wasn’t long before he hooked a beautiful 14-inch rainbow. He brought it to hand, gently removed the hook, held it a moment for the photographer, Anthony Santoro, then released it. A catch-and-release advocate, O’Neill says it’s best to avoid removing fish from the water. “Get it into clean water, hold it upstream, and let it go, so somebody else can catch it.”

THE SECOND PART

Five minutes later he landed another beauty of similar size, again releasing it—gently.

Now it was my turn. Remember how I said “the first part went well”? This is the second part.

O’Neill had rigged a 9-foot rod with a tandem rig for me—a swimming nymph followed by a soft hackle. I waded into the water and stood in the same spot he had been fishing, and, for more than an hour, attempted to duplicate his technique, moving a few feet upstream, or out farther into the creek, adjusting my casting motion as he instructed. The water was only mildly chilly—unlike the reception I got from the fish.

I missed one that hit the soft hackle fairly hard, and I’m sure there were two or three others I might have snagged had I been quicker, but at last it came time for both Santoro and me to leave for other commitments. Tim had taken the day off, so he stayed, and no doubt landed two or three more nice browns or rainbows.

I thanked him for the lesson because, despite failing to hook a fish, I had learned a few things that might help the next time I try to fool a trout with something that vaguely resembles an insect.

Besides, it had been an enjoyable afternoon on a beautiful stretch of water, much like most days I have spent pursuing this demanding, frustrating, beautiful sport.

Did I mention frustrating?

JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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20 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Christiana Hilton's newly renovated and rebranded Market Kitchen & Bar.

FINE DINING AT THE CHRISTIANA HILTON The hotel’s $8 million facelift includes a new restaurant with a distinct culinary presence

By Rob Kalesse Photos by Matt Urban

B

ased on a very unscientific poll of some Wilmington area foodies, there seems to be a feeling that dining at hotel restaurants and bars is reserved strictly for the travelers staying at those establishments. These locals opt instead for the familiarity of a favorite brewpub or family restaurant, and leave hotel dining to the out-of-towners.

The folks behind the scenes at the Christiana Hilton hope to change that mentality with an $8 million renovation of the 32-year-old hotel near the Christiana Mall. What began with an aesthetic and technological upgrade of the guest rooms and front lobby has spilled over into a new gastropub, called the Market Kitchen & Bar. The Market’s menu boasts farm-to-table dishes and cocktails featuring ingredients that are about as locally sourced as you

can get, thanks to a new herb and vegetable garden in the hotel’s courtyard. Gone is the old-school steakhouse feel, and in its place is a new dining destination worth your attention.

Twelve years after the last significant renovation, the Christiana Hilton is halfway through a complete makeover that will touch every inch of the 164,000-square-foot hotel, according to General Manager Brad Wenger. Construction began last October and should be finished late this summer, but the new restaurant is already open for business.

“When you look at the market, there aren’t many examples of hotels that are truly full service and good at food and beverage,” says Wenger. “We feel that everything we’re doing makes us different, whether you’re traveling or live locally. This hotel does a creative job with culinary and beverage efforts.” ► JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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The

FINE DINING AT THE CHRISTIANA HILTON continued from previous page

Experience The trinity of elegant dining: exceptional food, award-winning wines, superior service.

1314 North Washington St. Wilmington 302.655.9463 domainehudson.com

The 270 guest rooms have been updated with a new silver/purple/blue color scheme, smart TVs that allow guests to access their personal Netflix accounts while traveling, and a new, high-tech door lock system that allows guests to access room keys from their phones.

“Through the Hilton Honors app, guests can log on, make their reservation, select their room, and even check in, without ever having to go to the front desk,” says Wenger. “This new technology, called Quantum RFID, even works as a key access. Through Bluetooth technology, you can open the door to your room while walking down the hall, or even while lying in bed awaiting room service.”

Hilton Honors members staying at the hotel also have exclusive access to Club 4, the newly redesigned lounge on the fourth floor. On Tuesday nights, Executive Chef Robert Fratticcioli gives cooking demonstrations, and on Wednesday nights, Beverage Director Pete Lynch provides mixology instruction. Downstairs on the patio, rotating acoustic musicians play midweek from 6-9 p.m.

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“A hotel should be a bustling hub of activity, and there should be excitement in the air when you arrive, whether it’s for business or pleasure,” says Wenger.

“That’s our goal here and we think the programs we’re rolling out, along with the food, drink and entertainment, will create a fun environment.”

The Market Kitchen & Bar’s menu reads like a who’s who of local purveyors: Dogfish Head fondue, Maiale specialty sausages, Kennett Square mushrooms, Firefly Farm and Calkins Creamery cheeses, LeBus brioche rolls, and Woodside Farm Creamery ice cream. Fratticcioli says the rollout menu took a lot of time and research, and though he’s happy with it, things will certainly change.

“You’ve got to stay fresh in this business, and I mean that in two ways; your food has to be fresh, and the menu has to be fresh, or people will go elsewhere,” he says. “We’ll be changing things up periodically, but always getting our ingredients from vendors within 100 miles of the hotel.”

22 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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302.654.8001 PiccolinaToscana.com 1412 n. dupont st., wilmington

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The Market's Tuna Poke and sesame crisps with a handcrafted cocktail.

Though the restaurant is essentially in the same place, just to the left of the main lobby, the décor is completely different. Again, silver and purple dominate, and the newly renovated bar sparkles from a distance. Tiny lamps light up the 12-seat bar, which features a $35,000 zinc surface.

“This was a spare-no-expense type of project, and we’re really happy that the owners continue to give this place the attention it deserves,” says Wenger. This particular Hilton, like 90 percent of the chain’s hotels, is franchised by Meyer Jabara Hotels, which owns more than 25 lodgings throughout the U. S. The current menu features appetizers like the tuna poké ($14), with chunks of ruby red ahi tuna, onions and cucumbers tossed in soy sauce, sesame oil, served with sesame crisps. Entrees like the pork and beans ($24), featuring braised pork belly served with Applewood smoked bacon, a bean cassoulet and garlic crostini, as well as the flat iron steak ($29), served with Kennett Square mushrooms, grilled asparagus, horseradish cauliflower mashed potatoes and a mushroom demi-glace, fill out a menu that has more than 30 items.

As for the bar menu, small plates are discounted during happy hour (Monday through Thursday, 4-6 p.m.), and there are myriad craft beer options. Additionally, handcrafted cocktails like the Queen’s Park Swizzle ($13) features a delicious blend of light rum from Seacrets Distilling Company in Ocean City, Md., along with fresh lime, simple syrup and hand-picked mint, the last ingredient harvested by Food & Beverage Director Keith Davis.

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Davis, a dedicated gardener, is essentially the leader of the farming program at the Christiana Hilton. He began with a small herb garden three years ago, and has since raised his output to more than 15 beds of peppers, tomatoes and other veggies and herbs, all grown in the Hilton’s patio area. ► JUNE MAY 2017 2015 || OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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START FINE DINING AT THE CHRISTIANA HILTON continued from previous page

A portion of Christiana Hilton's herb garden.

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“I’m pretty passionate about gardening at home―I go out and forage for mushrooms all the time―so when the opportunity to do some planting here came up, I jumped on it,” says Davis.

“We’ve multiplied the output by about five times since we started, and we not only use the ingredients in our cooking, but the different plants really add to the overall appeal of the hotel.”

Davis says he brought in mushroom soil from Chester County, Pa., to make sure he had the right nutrients for planting and growing. He’s harvested elderberries, sriracha peppers, lavender baby tomatoes, chives, rosemary and thyme, and he finds a way to use it all in the dishes and drinks.

“The fact that the garden is contained here on the grounds and not outside of the hotel near the sidewalk or parking lot makes it easier for us to tend to,” he says. “Although we have had some issues with guests and kids accidentally stepping on the flowerbeds, it’s been a real success so far.”

With all the renovations, the room prices naturally have gone up, but Wenger says the Hilton is still incredibly competitive for what it offers.

“Obviously, a big focus is return on investment,” he says, “but I think these upgrades will appeal to the right traveler and guest we’re looking to have here.

The next few months should be really exciting as we get up and running.”

For a full look at the dinner, lunch and cocktail menu, go to hiltonchristiana.com.

There you will also find sample menus for the Chef’s Table program, which is open for reservations and offers a full-service experience with Chef Fratticcioli.

24 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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FOCUS

Patios With Personality These 18 spots are worth trying

BELLEFONTE CAFÉ, BELLEFONTE Walk through a shed to the right of the entrance of this funky Bellefonte landmark and you enter the backyard patio. With eight tables, a chimera and a garden of herbs and vegetables, it’s intimate and homey. On chilly nights, fleece blankets are available to keep you warm. The diverse menu features homemade ingredients and beacoup choices of sandwiches, paninis, soups and salads. Try the Grilled Cheese of the Week, and, if you wish, an adult beverage. Live music every night.

— Bob Yearick, Contributing Editor

KELLY’S LOGAN HOUSE, TROLLEY SQUARE The patio at Kelly’s Logan House is one of the most enjoyable in Trolley Square—perhaps in all of Wilmington. Located at the corner of Delaware Avenue and North DuPont Street, it offers plenty of outdoor seating and large umbrellas, which provide ample cover from the midsummer sun. The patio also doubles as a great people-watching location and gives off an “in the middle of it all” feel because of its position in the Square. More information on Kelly’s Logan House can be found at loganhouse.com.

— David Ferguson, Intern

The Gables at Chadds Ford's patio. Photo Jim Coarse 26 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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THE GABLES AT CHADDS FORD There are few al fresco settings better than the patio at The Gables at Chadds Ford. Though the restaurant is located on busy Route 1, the patio is at the rear of the restaurant and is enclosed with a spectacular stone wall. An abundance of plantings and cascading water enhance the setting and create a stimulating yet relaxing setting. You forget all about Route 1—nor do you hear it. The restaurant is situated on land originally owned by William Penn, and the home that now operates as The Gables was one of the first built in the area, around 1745.

Ambience abounds inside and out at this destination restaurant, but when the weather turns friendly most patrons opt for the spectacular patio.

— Jerry duPhily, Publisher

THE SECRET GARDEN AT PENN’S PLACE, NEW CASTLE Tucked behind Penn’s Place—the 17th century building where William Penn allegedly spent his first night when he landed in New Castle —this small patio half hidden by delightfully dominant shrubs is a cozy place for a glass of wine, beer or sandwiches and desserts from adjacent Traders Cove Coffee Shop. The space is appropriately titled The Secret Garden, and on summer Saturdays from 6-8 p.m., it’s home to live entertainment such as jazz, comedy nights, acoustic performances and more.

— Krista Connor, Associate Editor

CHESAPEAKE INN, CHESAPEAKE CITY During boating season, there is nowhere in the area quite like the Chesapeake Inn in terms of sights, sounds and tastes. Located on the south side of the canal in Chesapeake City, the Inn’s back patio overlooks its sizeable marina and features vast seating space, plus a band stage and multiple bars (including a tiki bar). The kitchen satisfies a variety of tastes with offerings such as crab cake sandwiches, brick-oven pizza, rockfish burritos and sushi—which is good since it’s not uncommon to see yacht owners, tourists, band groupies and recent college graduates all getting down on the dance floor on a summer night.

— Jim Miller, Director of Publications

CONTINUED ►

JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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FOCUS PATIOS WITH PERSONALITY continued from previous page

CANTWELL’S TAVERN, ODESSA If you find yourself passing through Odessa with an appetite on a beautiful day, Cantwell’s should be part of your itinerary. This historic tavern takes you back in time and the surrounding tree-lined streets offer a peaceful feeling. With a menu to please kids and adults alike, it’s a win-win. You may even catch some live music if you visit on a summer Saturday.

ERNEST & SCOTT TAPROOM, DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON Ernest & Scott’s patio offers a unique vantage point, whether you’re watching the cyclists speed by during the Wilmington Grand Prix or participating in the venue’s Cinco de Mayo street party. It’s also the setting for the successful Smokin’ Joe’s Cigars Under the Stars series and a convenient place to grab dinner before a show at the Playhouse or The Grand.

— Jim Miller, Director of Publications

— Matthew Loeb, Creative Director & Production Manager

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UBON THAI CUISINE, WILMINGTON RIVERFRONT In Wilmington, I don't think there's a better spot to have a meal outside than on the Riverfront. Couple that with fantastic Thai food, and you have a knockout. Ubon's patio space in front of the restaurant is great, not only because of the view overlooking the Christina River, but the wood tables and chairs, with comfy cushions, make the experience super enjoyable and relaxing.

— Tyler Mitchell, Graphic Designer

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THE WHIP TAVERN, COATESVILLE, PA. If you’re up for a country joy ride, The Whip Tavern in Coatesville is a destination worth your time. It’s an English-style pub located kind of in the middle of nowhere that offers the classics you’d expect, like fishn-chips, Welsh rarebit, and bangers and mash, as well as locally influenced specials. The back patio overlooks the woods and a creek, and it’s a pleasant spot to pick a beverage from an extensive beer and cider list and some mussels on a warm day. Before making the trip, check thewhiptavern.com.

— Marie Graham Poot, Director of Digital Media & Distribution

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TROLLEY SQUARE OYSTER HOUSE The folks at the oyster house have managed to maximize this limited space for pleasurable activities.

The patio bar offers a plentiful assortment of craft beer, creative cocktails, wine and, of course, oyster shooters. Guests can enjoy a match of giant Jenga while listening to live solo performers and musical duos Wednesday through Saturday nights.

— Jim Miller, Director of Publications

COLUMBUS INN, WILMINGTON For decades, the covered patio at Columbus Inn has been synonymous with high-profile power lunches and warmweather happy hours, making its Pennsylvania Avenue location an after-work stop for Greenville and Centreville commuters. It recently has doubled down on the fun by adding a Saturday Happy Hour (5-7 p.m.) and a BBQ & Boil Crab Feast on the last Thursday of the month.

Hot fun in the summertime, indeed!

— Jim Miller, Director of Publications

36 OCTOBER | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM 28 JUNE 20172015 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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BREW HAHA!, TROLLEY SQUARE Great coffee and enjoyable times go hand-in-hand at Brew HaHa! in Trolley Square. The patio space offers the perfect setting to either catch up with friends or get a jump-start on the next week’s work. Thanks to the fantasy lights and decorative plants in the seating area, the space removes guests from the usual busy energy of Trolley. And thanks to outdoor Wi-Fi and tables big enough for five, it’s the perfect environment to focus on work dates with your colleagues or brunch with friends.

— Tess Beardell, Senior, Wilmington Friends School

FIRESTONE ROASTING HOUSE, WILMINGTON RIVERFRONT We’ve had visitors from out of town tell us this patio’s views made them feel as though they were in a different part of the world. It’s true, the views of the Christina and the surrounding Riverfront attractions set the mood, while the cuisine consistently delivers smiles. Do yourself a favor...go during sunset.

— Matthew Loeb, Creative Director & Production Manager

THE FOUR DOGS TAVERN, MARSHALLTON, PA. This may be a half-hour drive for those in Hockessin or Wilmington, but The Four Dog Tavern’s large outdoor patio, overlooking rolling Brandywine Valley countryside, is well worth the effort. In fact, getting there can be part of the charm if you take the route that passes Longwood Gardens and Northbrook Canoes Co. and empties you into the historic village of Marshallton. As the name suggests, dogs are allowed on the patio and many patrons take the restaurant up on this offer.

The food is locally sourced, the menu is American brasserie, and the atmosphere is enhanced with live acoustic music on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Food for thought: Make The Four Dogs the ending destination for a bike ride – just arrange for someone to meet you there with a car so you can enjoy the ambience with a beer and not have to ride home.

— Jerry duPhily, Publisher

PICCOLINA TOSCANA, TROLLEY SQUARE Half covered, half-exposed, the patio at Toscana, 1412 N. Dupont St., offers a convenient place to have a business lunch on a sunny day and an inviting setting to eat with family and friends at the $20 Sunday brunch. The patio fountain and thriving plants nearby have a calming effect, if you’re into feng shui or if you’re simply looking for a place to enjoy some coffee and a quick bite at the neighboring To-Go section.

HARRY’S SEAFOOD, WILMINGTON RIVERFRONT The patio at Harry’s is one of my favorite places to dine on a beautiful day. The large outdoor area has both covered and uncovered options, and all seats offer a view of the Christina River and the Riverwalk. Add a glass of champagne and some oysters and you’re in for a lovely experience.

— Jim Miller, Director of Publications

— Marie Graham Poot, Director of Digital Media & Distribution

GRAIN, MAIN STREET, NEWARK Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen has recently sprouted new locations (See pg. 49), but the flagship location at 270 E. Main, which has an amazing patio, will always be a favorite of mine. It’s covered year-round and enclosed during the winter, and heaters and a fire pit centerpiece keep guests warm on chilly nights. During the summer the center of the tables can be removed to reveal an ice chest, which keeps beverages cold while guests indulge in conversation and tasty items from the Grain menu. For more information, go to grainonmain.com.

GALLUCIO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT, WILMINGTON This spring, changing tides brought significant changes to Gallucio’s secluded back patio, now dubbed the Backyard Surf Bar. To reimagine the space on Lovering Avenue, the restaurant turned to Shannon Stevens, a partner and creative director for both Shiny Advertising and El Diablo Burritos. He brought both bright beach colors and a comfortable, well-worn look to the patio. Look for a totally separate menu from Gallucio’s with offerings like conch fritters and jerk chicken. It’s a taste of the islands in Trolley Square.

— Jim Miller, Director of Publications

— David Ferguson, Intern

JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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delnature.org/FoodtruCk Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge at sunset. Photo Joe del Tufo 34 MAY 30 JUNE2017 2017 | | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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FOCUS

IT'S FESTIVAL TIME! St. John the Beloved's Carnival kicks off the season. Photo Greg Boulden

The festival season gets off to a fast start this month, then kicks into high gear in July and continues into August and even September. Here’s a quick guide to help you plan your festive tour through the summer.

By Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald

JUNE ST. JOHN’S CARNIVAL, JUNE 5-10 MILLTOWN ROAD, PIKE CREEK This summer marks St. John the Beloved’s 51st carnival—the longest running carnival in the state, with more than 20 rides and games, carnival-style food and drinks (including beer and wine for the adults), and nightly live music by the Juveniles, The Unforgiven, Chalice, Best Kept Secret, Secret Sauce and HELIXX. Family Night is Tuesday, June 6, and Alumni Night is June 8. The Hall offers poker and blackjack Thursday through Saturday, a $3,000 raffle on Saturday, June 10, and silent auction items available for bidding every night. The grounds are open 6 to10 p.m. during the week and 5-11 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free. For details, visit sjbde.org.

GREEK FESTIVAL, JUNE 6-10 HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH, WILMINGTON The 42nd annual Holy Trinity Greek Festival heralds the arrival of Wilmington’s “festival season,” and it’s one of the city’s most popular outdoor parties. For five days, Wilmingtonians fill up on authentic food, ethnic music and lively dance from the Greek Terpsichorean Youth Folk group. Festival bonuses include a free lunchtime shuttle from 9th and Market Streets, running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the online order/curbside pickup running simultaneously. For details, visit greekfestde.com.

SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL, JUNE 9 DELAWARE ART MUSEUM, WILMINGTON The art museum’s outdoor Copeland Sculpture Garden comes alive from 6 to 10 p.m. as it welcomes the sights and sounds of a partnership with the People’s Festival that will feature live reggae, Latin, hip hop and special dance performances from Ginger Coyle, Spokey Speaky, Hockaday and Danza Azteca. Throw in food trucks, cocktails, live artist demonstrations and an army of vendors, and it’s a family-friendly party at a very affordable price. Tickets are $5 for museum members and $10 for non-members; free for youth members and $5 for youth non-members. For details, visit delart.org.

DELAWARE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL, JUNE 16, 18, 23 & 25 WILMINGTON FRIENDS SCHOOL For its 32nd season, the region’s premier chamber music celebration brings you Strings & Keys: A Brahms Mini-Celebration.

As the title suggests, each concert includes a master work from Johannes Brahms, as well as works from Schubert, Mozart, Stravinsky and more sprinkled throughout the four-performance series. This year, the festival moves to a new venue at Wilmington Friends Lower School and adds a free jazz-themed performance at the Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew in downtown Wilmington. The jazz concert features guest artists Julie Nishimura, piano; Douglas Mapp, bass; Tina Betz, soprano, and the young musicians/composers of the Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency Program, directed by Jonathan Whitney. For details and tickets, visit dcmf.org. ► JUNE MAY 2017 2017 || OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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DELAWARE SEPARATION DAY, JUNE 9 & 10, NEW CASTLE A full weekend (Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) celebrates our 241st year of independence from Pennsylvania and the British Crown. Historic New Castle will be bursting at its colonial seams with food trucks and craft beer stations, an arts and crafts fair, amusement rides like the Coconut Tree and Flying Dragon, as well as pony rides and a petting zoo. A parade down Delaware Street begins Saturday at 11 a.m. And don’t forget about the Beautiful Baby Pageant and live music and entertainment from the likes of the 1st Delaware Regiment, Big Package Band and DJ American Pie Entertainment. A fireworks display closes out the celebration on Saturday night. Details: sepdayde.com.

Every Saturday:

Live Music on the Patio!

(5-8pm)

6/3 Atiba 6/10 Tony Mowen 6/17 Bob Stretch 6/24 Mixx Unplugged

Check Out Our Outdoor Summer Series Events!

ST. ANTHONY’S ITALIAN FESTIVAL, JUNE 11-18, WILMINGTON This year's festival-goers will experience the charm of Sicily.

Italy's semi-tropical island paradise will be the theme, with accents of lush foliage, volcanic soil surrounding a Mt. Etna volcano, and vibrant artisanal traditions throughout the grounds. The Il Mercato marketplace will feature a variety of Sicilian items, and vendors will include Sicilian specialties such as arancini, a fried rice treat native to the island. The opening Gala concert will fill the air with classical Italian musical selections and a performance by four youth orchestras from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

In front of St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church patrons can enjoy a captivating light installation provided in partnership with LightAction, Inc. Admission for ages 14-61 is $5; patrons under age 14 (accompanied by parent or guardian 18 or older) and over age 61 are admitted free. For details, visit stanthonysfestival.com.

DUPONT CLIFFORD BROWN JAZZ FESTIVAL, JUNE 21-24 RODNEY SQUARE, WILMINGTON Named in honor of Wilmington’s own Clifford Brown—a brilliant trumpet player, unforgettable composer and dynamic entertainer—the first festival was held in 1988 and has since grown into the largest free jazz festival on the East Coast. The multi-day celebration of the music, culture and art of jazz features artists from all over the world in addition to regional and local talent on the dazzling Rodney Square stage. Details: cliffordbrownjazzfest.org.

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Photo Javy Diaz

Mon: 11:30am-9pm • Tues - Thurs: 11:30am-10pm Fri-Sat:11:30am-11pm • Sun: 10am-9pm Last year's DuPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival.

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AROUND TOWN SMYRNA AT NIGHT, JUNE 23 Smyrna at Night is returning to light up the downtown. This free, all-ages celebration kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with live music across multiple stages, including artists Big Ric Rising, Bryan Russo, Lauren & Tinto, Trap Rabbit and Megan Knight; restaurant specials and 16 food trucks (including 302 BBQ, The Plum Pit, Mojo Loco, Benson, Rebel Cove and more); craft vendors and familyfriendly fun. For details, visit facebook.com/smyrnaatnight.

NEW CASTLE COUNTY ICE CREAM FESTIVAL, JUNE 24-25 ROCKWOOD PARK, WILMINGTON Billed as Delaware’s “largest family picnic,” this festival allows you to get your scoop of fun for children of all ages along with samples of some of the best frozen treats in the state. It features a variety of vendors, live music, local restaurant samples, crafters and local creameries. Details: rockwoodicecream.com.

JULY PIRATE FESTIVAL, JULY 8 KALMAR NYCKEL SHIPYARD, WILMINGTON RIVERFRONT Ever wonder what it was like to sail the high seas pirating and smuggling, braving dangerous storms and strong currents? Climb aboard the Kalmar Nyckel and learn the real history of pirate life, enjoy re-enactments from the ship’s crews, enter the costume contest or check out model shipbuilding while taking in live music and tasty treats in the park. For details, visit kalmarnyckel.org.

FREE REIGN HIP HOP FESTIVAL, JULY 14-16 RODNEY SQUARE, WILMINGTON Formed around the arts education offerings of Street Xpressions, an organization that empowers and educates our community through hip hop culture, music, visual art and dance, this fourth annual event will host daily giveaways, art and dance workshops, group mural painting, emcee and breakdance battles, concerts and more, honoring the legacy of hip hop, the culture that contributed to its rise and the artists it has influenced. It’s free to attend, but donations are appreciated. Proceeds will benefit the Street Xpressions scholarship fund. For details, visit streetxpressions.org.

DELAWARE SHAKESPEARE, JULY 14-20 ROCKWOOD PARK, WILMINGTON “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!” “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers!” The Bard’s most thrilling speeches will fill the “wooden O” of Rockwood Park this July, as Delaware Shakespeare presents its 15th summer festival with Henry V. Featuring some of the most famous and glorious language in all of Shakespeare, this vigorous examination of leadership tells the ultimate againstall-odds victory story. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and active military, and $14 for students. Sundays at DelsShakes are Family Nights, where children 12 and under are admitted free. In addition, a fine selection of wines by the bottle will be available for purchase during the festival. For details and tickets, visit delshakes.org. ►

SATURDAY, JUNE 24TH • 4 P.M.

CHURCH OF SAINTS ANDREW AND MATTHEW (719 N SHIPLEY ST. WILMINGTON, DE 19801) Join us for a free concert featuring members of the DCMF joining the young musicians of the Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency Program Presented by Delaware Chamber Music Festival www.dcmf.org/2017-season

SUNDAY, JUNE 25TH • 3 P.M.

THE FINAL CONCERT OF THE 2017 BOYSIE LOWERY LIVING JAZZ RESIDENCY Presented by Light Up The Queen The Queen Theater (500 N Market St. Wilmington, DE 19801) boysieloweryjazzresidency.com

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JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Saturday, July 22, Noon-7pm Special Menus Tailored to

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Photo Joe del Tufo

SHADY GROVE MUSIC FESTIVAL, JULY 15, ARDEN Get shady in the cozy, leafy Village of Arden at the area’s premier festival of local and original music. It began in 2002 as the Arden Music Fest, and has evolved into the first Delaware event to solely promote original talent from the tri-state area.

One of the headliners this year is Dover’s Hoochi Coochi. The daylong (noon to 9 p.m.), family-friendly, rain or shine festival is great for kiddos (but, sorry, leave pups at home). Bring a lawn chair or blanket and settle in. Tickets are $20 in advance or at the gate, and children under 12 are admitted free.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Proceeds benefit the Arden Club’s Gild Hall Restoration Fund. For details and tickets, visit shadygrovemusicfest.com.

THE LADYBUG FESTIVAL, JULY 20 & 21, DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON This is how Gable Music gets big things started. One year, it’s a one-night showcase of undiscovered talent. Suddenly, it’s a full-blown, two-day festival, taking over LOMA and the 800 block of Market Street, transforming our city into a legitimate summer music festival destination. This year’s lineup includes heavy-hitters and audience favorites Nadjah Nicole, Angela Sheik, Sweet Leda and Nalani & Sarina, with more exciting artist reveals to come. For details and tickets, visit theladybugfestival.com.

NEWARK FOOD & BREW FEST, JULY 22, DOWNTOWN NEWARK This fest is all about celebrating the relationship between culinary arts and brewing sciences. The noon to 7 p.m. event showcases more than 40 craft beers— Flying Dog, Heavy Seas, Troegs, Dogfish Head, Oskar Blues and more—paired with creative offerings from 18 Newark restaurants. Patrons travel from restaurant to restaurant sampling dishes designed to complement featured brews. Music includes performances by two Philadelphia acts—Jason Ager and the Steve Oakley Band—and Elkton’s TreeWalker. Details: visit newarkfoodandbrewfest.com.

AUGUST RIVERFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL, AUG. 4-6 TUBMAN-GARRETT RIVERFRONT PARK, WILMINGTON This annual affair returns to the Riverfront for its 17th year with three glorious evenings of music spread across two stages. At press time, this year’s lineup hadn’t been released, but we assure you, it’s always incredible. And no matter what, there will be all the delicious barbecue you can possibly digest. Details: riverfrontbluesfestde.com.

AUGUST QUARTERLY FESTIVAL, AUG. 20-27 TUBMAN-GARRETT PARK Wilmington’s August Quarterly is the nation’s oldest African-American festival, celebrating more than 200 years of religious freedom, freedom of speech and the right of assembly. This year’s festival begins on Sunday, Aug. 20, with opening church services and continues throughout the week with multiple revival services and a Children & Youth Day and Gospel Explosion on Saturday, Aug. 26. Culminating with “The Big Quarterly” on Aug. 27—commemorating the 1813 founding of the Union Church of Africans, the first African-American Church independently incorporated in the United States—the celebration features the August Quarterly Festival Celebration Choir directed by Wayne Carter, as well as local and regional gospel artists. The evening closes with a performance by the Gospel Music Workshop of America. For details, visit augustquarterly.org. ► JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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MUSIC PERFORMANCES MULTIPLE STAGES FOOD TRUCKS CRAFT VENDORS BIERGARTEN FAMILY FUN

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SEPTEMBER

POLISH FESTIVAL, SEPT. 18-23 WILMINGTON RIVERFRONT Count us in when the 61st annual St. Hedwig’s Polish Festival hits the Riverfront in mid-September. It’s a fun-filled week of music, dancing, rides, belly-busting food and drink, crafters and more. Who doesn’t enjoy a heaping plate of pierogi, golobki and kielbasa topped off with chocolate babka and chrusciki? For complete info, visit sthedwigde.org.

FOURTH ANNUAL ODESSA BREWFEST, SEPT. 9 HISTORIC ODESSA Just south of the canal, a fundraising event for the Historic Odessa Foundation fills the town’s streets on the first Saturday after Labor Day. Crowds enjoy an unlimited sampling of regional and national craft beers as well as locally produced wine and spirits, a variety of food and merchandise vendors, live bands including Spokey Speaky, and more. Festival gates open at noon for the VIP tasting and the regular fest begins at 2 p.m. For more info, visit odessabrewfest.com.

TASTE OF TROLLEY SQUARE, SEPT. 30, TROLLEY SQUARE This annual trip invites you to "sip, savor, shop and stroll" your way through one of Wilmington's busiest neighborhoods and nightspots. From 1 to 5 p.m., guests can sample food and drink pairings at nearly every Trolley-centric venue. From Featuring Two Roads & Scotch at Kid Shelleen's to Oskar Blues, Twin Lakes, Weyerbacher, 20+ Craft Spirits and 30+ Wines at Frank's Wine to 16 Mile at Trolley Oyster House, there's surely something to please every food and drink palate. When you've had your fill, spend some time (and money) at one of the participating Trolley retailers like Petal Pushers, Bloom or Fabrizio Salon. Admission is free, but you must be 21 or older for alcohol-related tastings. For details, visit tasteoftrolley.com.

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B S A ’ C E K! H S

THURSDAY DINNER CRUISES, SUNDAY

BRUNCHES, & PRIVATE CHARTERS.

RiveRboatQueenWilm.com

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1. Amtrak Station 2. Opera Delaware Studios/City Theater Co. 3. Wilmington Youth Rowing Assn., WYRA.ORG 4. Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park 5. Residences at Christina Landing 6. Harry’s Seafood Grill / Riverfront Market, HARRYS-SAVOY.COM 7. Delaware Theatre Co., DELAWARETHEATRE.ORG 8. FireStone Roasting House, FIRESTONERIVERFRONT.COM 9. Cosi at the Barclays Crescent Building, GETCOSI.COM 10. Hare Pavilion/Riverwalk 11. AAA Mid-Atlantic Travel Center, AAAMIDATLANTIC.COM 12. The Delaware Contemporary, DECONTEMPORARY.ORG

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13. Justison Landing, Currie Hair, Skin & Nails, CURRIEDAYSPA.COM Veritas Wine & Spirits, VERITASWINESHOP.COM Starbucks on the Riverfront 14. Del Pez Mexican Gastropub, DELPEZMEXICANPUB.COM Goju Training Center, GOJUROBICS.COM 15. Delaware Children’s Museum, DELAWARECHILDRENSMUSEUM.ORG Riverwalk Mini Golf, RIVERWALKMINIGOLF.COM 16. Joe’s Crab Shack, JOESCRABSHACK.COM 17. Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, IRONHILLBREWERY.COM 18. Public Docks 19. Big Fish Grill, BIGFISHRIVERFRONT.COM

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20. Frawley Stadium, BLUEROCKS.COM Delaware Sports Museum & Hall of Fame 21. Chase Center on the Riverfront, CENTERONTHERIVERFRONT.COM 22. Dravo Plaza & Dock 23. Shipyard Center Planet Fitness, PLANETFITNESS.COM 24. Timothy’s Restaurant, TIMOTHYSONTHERIVERFRONT.COM Molly’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream, MOLLYSICECREAM.COM Ubon Thai Restaurant 25. Wilmington Rowing Center, WILMINGTONROWING.ORG 26. Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge/ DuPont Environmental Education Center, DUPONTEEC.ORG

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27 Riverfront Commuter Lot, RIVERFRONTWILM.COM/PARKING 28. Penn Cinema Riverfront IMAX, PENNCINEMARIVERFRONT.COM 29. CrossFit Riverfront, CFRIVERFRONT.COM 30. The Residences at Harlan Flats, HARLANFLATS.THERESIDENCES.NET 31. Stratosphere Trampoline Park, WILMINGTONTRAMPOLINEPARK.COM 32. The Westin Wilmington, WESTINWILMINGTON.COM River Rock Kitchen, RIVERROCKKITCHEN.COM 33. Delaware Humane Association, DEHUMANE.ORG 34. Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard/Fort Christina Park, KALMARNYCKEL.ORG Photo by Joe del Tufo

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NEW TO BLUE ROCKS EXHIBIT AT DELAWARE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 550 Justison St. 650-2336 DelawareChildrensMuseum.org Hours: Monday – Closed Tuesday thru Thursday – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Friday – 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Delaware Children’s Museum is an educational and interactive destination for a day of family fun. This summer the DCM is introducing an exhibit that showcases the home of the Wilmington Blue Rocks, Frawley Stadium. A mini-replica of the inside of Frawley Stadium will include a bullpen area where kids can throw soft baseballs to an image of a catcher and hitter. A radar gun used by professional teams will track the speed of the balls and will display the speed on a scoreboard above the kids. Three seats from the actual stadium will be available for families to watch their baseball stars in the making.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND THE RIVERBOAT QUEEN RETURNS! 700 Justison St. Located on the dock just behind Iron Hill Brewery along the Riverwalk 827-3344 WilmWaterAttractions.com Experience wining and dining on the water! The Riverboat Queen offers weekly scenic Sunday brunch and Thursday dinner cruises. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy the outstanding cuisine, professional and friendly crew, and comfortable ambiance aboard this wonderful cruise. Enjoying brunch, lunch or dinner is the perfect way to entertain. With a wide array of on-board features to choose from (various meals/outing types), it’s easy to find a cruise to suit your dining needs. Choose from amenities that may include: plated dishes, buffet spreads, public seating arrangements, private tables, upgrade packages, fullservice cash bars, brunch, spacious observation deck, with a rooftop lounge, DJ entertainment, live bands, casual atmospheres, and more formal atmospheres. Cruises can accommodate individuals, families, small and large groups for any special event!

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Other Developments & Updates On The Riverfront In addition to the new Blue Rocks Exhibit at The Delaware Children’s Museum and dinner cruises on the Riverboat Queen, here are some important Riverfront happenings and updates.

Shipyard Summer Concert Series The Shipyard Summer Concert Series has been a staple on the Riverfront since 2000, and each year it has grown. This year the series moves to Tubman-Garrett Park to accommodate larger crowds. It will take place every Thursday in July and August for a total of nine events. Since the series offers a wide variety of performers, there’s sure to be a concert for every musical taste.

Riverfrontwilm.com

Constitution Yards Beer Garden The Riverfront’s 30,000-square-foot beer garden is back for another summer. Located at Justison Landing along the Riverwalk, Constitution Yards features a diverse selection of beer and cocktail options, backyard BBQ fare, and tons of space for games and fun, including Big Jenga, corn-hole and badminton.

308 Justison St. 407-5192 • constitutionyards.com Hours: Monday - Closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Friday – 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Saturday – 12 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Sunday – 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Del Pez Gastro-Pub Open since December, Del Pez Mexican Gastro-Pub adds a flavorful Latin kick to traditional pub options, including tacos and enchiladas. In addition, the drink menu has more than 60 craft beers to choose from and more than 40 tequilas.

400 Justison St. 691-7974 • delpezmexicanpub.com/wilmington Hours: Monday thru Wednesday – 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Thursday and Friday – 11:30 a.m. – midnight Saturday – 10 a.m. – midnight Sunday – 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Riverwalk Mini Golf Riverwalk Mini Golf is back again this year, offering a fun time for family, friends, and business teams—or a place to simply practice your short game. This year the snack shack will feature water ice, soft pretzels, eight flavors of soft-serve ice cream, and more. Golf is open seven days a week—weather permitting— for $8 per person and free for kids 3 and under.

550 Justison St. 425 - 4890 • riverwalkminigolf.com Hours: Monday thru Thursday – 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Friday and Saturday – 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday – 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

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Ongoing Events Family Night on the River Taxi

FAMILY NIGHT 7/2/2013, 5pm/6pm/7pm Bring the kidsTAXI down to the Riverfront ON THE RIVER every Tuesday and Thursday night in

June, July & August for a 45 minute ride

TUESDAYS THURSDAYS THROUGH Starting June 13 on&the Christina River. $15 AUGUST per family• of 4. Receive a coupon for 10% off at Molly’s

Ice Cream Family night cruises +onDeli the after Riveryour Taxi ride! returns this summer on Tuesdays riverfrontwilm.com and Thursdays. Tuesday will feature a nature tour from the Delaware Dravo Plaza Dock Environmental Education Center, and Thursday will include a karaoke cruise. Guests for both Tuesday and Thursday night cruises will receive 10% off their food at the Riverwalk Mini Golf’s Snack Shack.

530-5069 • riverfrontwilm.com Dravo Plaza Dock

MOVIES ON TAP AT PENN CINEMA Movies on Tap is a monthly event at Penn Cinema that offers guests the unique opportunity to hang out with local brewers, sample and learn about their beer, and view a classic film—of the brewer’s choosing—on the big screen. Tickets are $20, which includes beer samples, movie ticket and popcorn. All proceeds benefit the brewer’s charity of choice. Friday, June 9, Dazed and Confused will be presented by Tröegs Brewing Co. It will benefit The Creative District of Wilmington.

656-4314 • penncinema.com 401 S. Madison St.

KALMAR NYCKEL SAILS Sailing dates: Wilmington Riverfront: July 28 (tentative)- Aug. 6/ Oct. 7-14 Lewes: Aug. 10-16/ and 23-29 Historic New Castle: Aug. 19-20/ Sept. 2-4 This season will be the first time The Kalmar Nyckel has made port in New Castle in more than 10 years. In addition, the ship will be reviving its popular Wilmington Pirate Festival on Saturday, July 8. The festival includes a day of maritime fun on land at the Kalmar Nyckel’s Shipyard and Fort Christina as well as on the ship itself. Activities include a ship tour, pirate history lesson, scavenger hunts, food and drinks, and more.

429-7447 • kalmarnyckel.org Copeland Maritime Museum, 1124 East 7th Street

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THE DELAWARE CONTEMPORARY ART LOOP WILMINGTON 1st Friday of Every Month 5:00pm The Delaware Contemporary, a non-collecting museum, participates in The Art Loop on the first Friday of every month. Guests can view the exhibitions in the Contemporary’s galleries during the extended hours – 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

200 S. Madison St. Phone: 656 - 6466 Web: decontemporary.org Hours: Monday – Closed Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (first Friday of the month: 9 p.m.)

Wednesday and Sunday – 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

FOR A FULL LISTING OF EVENTS, PLEASE LOG ON TO:

WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS FRAWLEY STADIUM HOME GAMES Bluerocks.com

JUNE Blue Rocks vs. Buies Creek (June 8-11) Blue Rocks vs. Salem Red Sox (June 15-18) Blue Rocks vs. Salem Red Sox (June 30) JULY Blue Rocks vs. Salem Red Sox (July 1-3) Blue Rocks vs. Lynchburg Hillcats (July 12-15) Blue Rocks vs. Potomac Nationals (July 16-18) Blue Rocks vs. Salem Red Sox (July 24-26) Blue Rocks vs. Buies Creek (July 31) AUGUST Blue Rocks vs. Buies Creek (Aug. 1-2) Blue Rocks vs. Frederick Keys (Aug. 3-6) Blue Rocks vs. Frederick Keys (Aug. 14-17) Blue Rocks vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Aug. 18-20) Blue Rocks vs. Down East (Aug. 29-31)

RIVERFRONTWILM.COM JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Unleash

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within within

What does Wilmington unleash within you?

Ivan Thomas WITN22

#UnleashWithin Photo Challenge Now-August 6 • inWilmDE.com

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CITY OF WILMINGTON

Healing Hearts Through the Arts 70th Anniversary Student Art Exhibit, at the Christina Cultural Arts Center.

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ART LOOP WILMINGTON FRIDAY, JUNE 2 5 - 9 p.m. artloopwilm.org

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Downtown Loop

artloopwilm.org

Delaware History Museum 504 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE www.dehistory.org

Delaware: One State, Many Stories, a comprehensive exhibition presented in a complementary dual format. Discover Delaware introduces a general overview of the state’s history from the 1600’s. Medical, Dental and Nursing Memorabilia, 1817-1967 chronicles the history of medicine and the Delaware Academy of Medicine. (Curated by the Delaware Academy of Medicine) Art loop reception 5:00 – 7:00 PM. On view 11 AM – 4 PM through June 30th, 2017.

ART LOOP WILMINGTON

FRIDAY, JUNE 2 5 - 9 p.m.

cityfestwilm.com/artloopwilmington

Chris White Gallery 701 Shipley Street Wilmington, DE www.chriswhitecdc.org Elusive Structure, Ben Weaver. Multidimensional forms seek resolution through bold color and line. Art loop reception 5- 8 PM. On view through June 28th, 2017.

cityfest 2nd & LOMA 211 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE www.2ndandloma.com Nathan Paul Smith’s 20th Anniversary Show.

“I was trying to do a sci-fi comic but I started to a slice of life stuff with fantasy and human characters with animals just hanging out, like it was nothing. Kinda like different cultures.” Art loop reception 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM. On view Mon – Fri 9:00 – 5:00 PM through June 23rd.

Studio on Market 219 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE www.studioonmarket.com

Redding Gallery 800 N. French Street Wilmington, DE cityfestwilm.com

The World Without Us, Album release by local piano rocker Noelle Picara, featuring a photography exhibit by Joe del Tufo.”The World Without Us” is a collaborative project that considers the fragility of human life and the importance of “us” in a world divided. Art loop reception 5 – 8 PM. On view through June 30th.

Memorabilia Jux-t58, Sports figures brought to life with juxtaposed collage and mixed media with action painting to enhance reality. Images include authenticated autograph of the depicted athlete, including legends Steve Carlton, Allen Iverson and Pete Rose. Art loop reception 5:30 – 7:30 PM. On view Mon – Fri 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM through June 30th.

LaFate Gallery 227 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE www.lafategallery.com

Mezzanine Gallery 820 N. French Street Wilmington, DE www.artsdel.org

Far East Coast is a Tokyo, Japan inspired art exhibit. Visual artists Jo Red Bird, and Marcus “Marchitect” Watkins share their unique art captured and influenced from their adventures in Japan. Redbird will be painting live, and “Marchitect” will give a piano performance, inspired by the Far East. Don’t miss this must see exhibit, that brings the far east, to the east coast. Art loop reception 5 – 8 PM. Tuesday – Saturday 11 AM - 4 PM through June 30th.

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Christina Cultural Arts Center 705 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE Healing Hearts Through the Arts 70th Anniversary Student Art Exhibit, Student images are depictions of various genre of styles including the Art of 1947.

Instructor Milton Downing challenges his students to develop their own unique style featuring the work of :Susan Thomas Holder, Charissa Foreman ,Geneva Barnes, Dorian Knorr. Art loop reception 5:30 – 8 PM. On view 9 AM – 5 PM through June 30th.

Altervatively True Facts, Colette Gaiter.

The Delaware Division of the Arts is pleased to present, Alternatively True Facts, an exhibition of mixed media work

by Colette Gaiter. Art loop reception 5 – 7 PM. On view 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM through June 30th.

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO OUT & ABOUT MAGAZINE

5/24/17 4:17 PM

Downtown Loop

Grand Opera House – Mainstage Gallery 818 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE www.thegrandwilmington.org/grand-galleries

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church 1301 N. Broom Street Wilmington, DE www.ststeph.org Children’s Peace Exhibition, The Pacem in Terris Traveling Peace Exhibition, This exhibition was conceived as a dialogue between our younger citizens and us, understanding their vision. A Moment in Time by Linda Gunderson. Each painting is an expression of a moment experience.

Paintings include images from Italy, the Midwest, Arizona and Maryland/Delaware.

Grand Opera House – Baby Grand Gallery 818 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE www.thegrandwilmington.org/grand-galleries

Howard Pyle Studio 1305 N. Franklin Street Wilmington, DE www.howardpylestudio.org Anything Goes, Paintings done

by Studio members based on the theme “Anything Goes”. Plus a live painting demonstration! Painting. “Red Poppies in Green Vase” by Kathleen Moore. Art loop reception 5:30 – 8:00 PM. On view by appointment through the summer. To schedule a private tour of the Studios, where Howard Pyle painted, wrote, and taught from 1883-1911, call 302.656.7304.

Gallery 801 801 N. West Street Wilmington, DE

The 3rd Place Gallery 1139 West 7th Street, side entrance Wilmington, DE www.3rdplacewilm.org

Colorful Creatures, Artwork of Stephanie Przybylek. A show featuring acrylic paintings inspired by nature’s endless variety and color, with a focus on coastal creatures and marine life. My goal? To speak appreciate and wonder about the world and animals of all kinds around us. Art loop reception 5 PM – 8 PM. On view Mon – Fri 10 AM to 5 PM through July 5th.

DANCE4LIFE, hailing out of Claymont, DE returns for another feature. This display will showcase the beauty, grace and strength of a dancer’s body. Under the direction of Chauntee D. Andrews, and shot by international photographer Brian Mengini. Art loop reception 5 PM – 8 PM. On view Mon – Fri 10 AM to 5 PM through July 5th. Nights and weekends subject to staff availability.

HELPliveArtTheShow, Willie Streets.

An initiative whose mission is through creative expression brings solace to those affected by traumatic experiences. Art loop reception 5 – 8 PM. On view 8 AM – 4 PM through June 30th.

University and Whist Club 805 N. Broom Street Wilmington, DE universitywhist.com Painter C. Phillip Wikoff will be signing limited edition watercolor prints along with works by award-winning sculptress Olga Nielsen. Art loop reception 6 – 8 PM. On view Tuesday – Friday 11:45 – 2 PM, 5:30 – 9 PM.

Colourworks Photo/ ArtSpace 1902 Superfine Lane Wilmington, DE www.colourworks.com Cecil College Staff and Alumnae Exhibit, Join Cecil College Staff and Alumnae Mary Johnson, Kyle Wofford, Adam Jacono, Jessica Berry, Laura Marziano, Barry Gorrell and Mary Targonski for our 4th Colourworks Show. Art loop reception 5:30 – 8:30 PM. On view 8:30 – 5:30 PM through August.

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO OUT & ABOUT MAGAZINE

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West End Loop

artloopwilm.org

The Neighborhood, A group show displaying the works of visual artists living in Cool Spring/Tilton Park neighborhood.

Art loop reception 6 – 8:30 PM. On view Wed 2 – 6 PM, Thurs/Fri 9 AM – 1 PM, Sat 10 AM – 2 PM through July 15, 2017.

Oldbanks Café Bistro 1711 Delaware Avenue Wilmington, DE Margaret “Margie” Sklut, Being a self taught abstract, mulri-media artist, the two student tours to Western and Eastern Europe were the art education. Deep emotion emits through the colors directly to the subconscious, tempered by being a Wilmington native. Art loop reception 5:00 – 8:00 PM. On view 11:00 – 1:00 AM through June 27th.

Blue Streak Gallery 1721 Delaware Ave Wilmington, DE 302.429.0506 Something’s Afoot, Works by John Baker, Belle Hollon, Nancy Rumfield, Gus Sermas, Sally Van Orden. 5 artists create 12” x 12” works in a variety of medium: paintings, photographs and painting on silk. Art loop reception 5 – 8 PM. On view Tues – Fri 10:00 – 5:00 PM; Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM through July 15th.

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ART LOOP 2017 SCHEDULE JUN

AUG

SEP

2

4

8

OCT

NOV

DEC

6

3

8

visit our website for additional schedule and exhibit information !

cityfestwilm.com VISIT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

West End & North Wilmington Loop

artloopwilm.org

FIT FITNESS curated by Blue Streak Gallery 62 Rockford Road Wilmington, DE Paintings from the Heart, Craig Hable.

Selected pieces completed in the past 18 months representing the artists passion to create art trough the lens of personal discovery. Art loop reception 5 – 7 PM. On view Mon – Fri, 6 AM – 9 PM, Sat 7:30 AM – 5 PM and 9:30 – 5 PM through June 30th.

The Delaware Center for Horticulture 1810 N. Dupont Street Wilmington, DE www.thedch.org Carla Pastore features assymetrical design that is compositionally balanced through rhythm and movement. Overture to Summer showcases arrangements based on the design philosophies of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana in Tokyo, Japan. Art loop reception 5:30 – 8:00 PM. On view Mon – Fri 9 AM – 5 PM through July 28th.

The Station Gallery 3922 Kennett Pike Greenville, DE www.stationgallery.net Spring into Summer, Jim Barwick, Ed Bronstein, Gay Freeborn, Bhavisha Patel. A Group Show with a warm seasonal theme includes Philadelphia city scenes, still lifes, figures in interiors, and animal paintings. Art loop reception 5 PM – 8 PM. On view Mon – Fri 9 A – 5P; Sat 10 AM – 3 PM through June 30th.

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Hardcastle Gallery 5714 Kennett Pike Centreville, DE www.hardcastlegallery.com Please join Jim Graham and Hardcastle Gallery for “Selected Works.” This exhibit will feature selected work from the past 25 years of Graham’s 41 year photographic career. Reception 5:30 – 8:30 PM. On view Tuesday to Friday, 10 AM – 5 PM and Saturday, 10 AM – 4 PM through June 29th.

Arden’s Buzz Ware Village Center 2119 the Highway Arden, DE www.ardenbuzz.com Marjorie Roberts: a Retrospective. Marjorie has resided in Arden since the 1950s; during which time she studied extensively under Tom Bostelle. She taught at the Academy of Lifelong Learning at the University of DE, and still paints regularly with her original group. Art Loop reception 5:30 to 8:30PM. On view One night only.

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO OUT & ABOUT MAGAZINE

5/24/17 4:19 PM

EAT

Three And Counting Jim O'Donoghue and Lee Mikles behind the bar at the new Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen in Kennett Square. Photo Jim Coarse

Lee Mikles and Jim O’Donoghue, owners of Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen, are on an ambitious growth track

By Pam George

W

hen Lee Mikles sold his share of The Archer Group, a Wilmington-based digital marketing firm, his sister predicted that he would either go into politics or open a bar.

“A bar,” Mikles says, “seems safer these days.”

Early indications are that he made the right choice.

Most observers would agree that Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen—the downtown Newark restaurant Mikles and friend Jim O’Donoghue opened in July 2015—has been successful. What’s more, in the past few months, the partners have gone from one to three establishments.

As this magazine hits the streets, the partners should have opened Grain H2O in the former Aqua Sol at Summit North Marina in Bear and a second Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen in the old Half Moon Saloon & Restaurant in downtown Kennett Square.

That might seem risky, but growing Grain has been part of the plan from day one. “We always knew that to achieve our goals, we needed to scale up,” Mikles says.

Two restaurants in the same month, however, is a different story, particularly when you consider that the partners had never owned a restaurant before opening Grain.

Still, Mikles and O’Donoghue are no strangers to the world of business, and it is their experience combined with their ability to spot— and seize—opportunities that seems to be their recipe for success.

Growing up, neither Mikles nor O’Donoghue had any idea they would wind up in the restaurant business. Mikles, who grew up in North Wilmington, graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in electrical engineering and an MBA. His interest in advertising started at an early age. His father was head of marketing for a division of the DuPont Co. that made golf balls. “I got to read his advertising magazines, and we never ran out of golf balls,” he says.

He and Patrick Callahan started The Archer Group in 2003 in Mikles’ basement. By the time they sold it to other partners, the firm had 60 people and counted Wawa and Chase Bank among its clients. ► JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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JOIN US FOR GOOD OL’ AMERCIAN FUN

TUESDAY, JULY 4TH!

EAT THREE AND COUNTING continued from previous page

Dreaming of a Restaurant

SUPPORT THE FOURTH VOLUNTEER

SPONSOR

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TAx-deductible DONATIONS CAN BE MADE THROUGH:

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O’Donoghue’s father was an accountant for Hercules, and his mother was a hospice nurse. “They wanted me to be an accountant,” he recalls. After graduating from UD with a degree in business and political science, he went into finance. He was a first vice president at MBNA, a senior vice president at Bank of America, and the director of the retail segment at Barclaycard. With MBNA, he worked in sports marketing.

The partners-to-be and their families lived across from each other for more than a decade. “We would get together and talk about our shared dreams of opening a restaurant,” Mikles says. “But one drink would lead to another, and we would move on to something else.”

They weren’t total novices. Mikles had worked in Pike Creek pizza shops as a delivery driver and pizza maker. He’d also been a restaurant manager. In high school and college, O’Donoghue worked at such restaurants as the Down Under, Bennigan’s and the Waterfront in Dewey Beach.

In 2015, the timing was right for the friends and their wives, Catie Mahoney O’Donoghue and Kathy Malone Mikles, to realize their dream. “As we continued to flesh out our vision for a restaurant, we felt increasingly confident we could be successful,” Mikles says.

A location became available on Main Street, a stretch that the partners knew well. It was the former site of Mojo Main and East End Cafe on East Main. They took the plunge.

The name Grain was inspired by Oliver Evans, who was born in Newport in the 1750s. Mikles learned about Evans when he was president of Start Up Delaware, which seeks to increase tech entrepreneurship in Delaware, and he was impressed. It’s easy to see why. Evans developed an automated flour mill that revolutionized the industry. It was just one of his inventions.

The name also refers to the restaurant’s large craft beer selection. But while it appeals to hop heads on the cutting edge, Grain is also a family-friendly place. And it’s a spot where coworkers can meet after work. In short, there’s something for everyone. “We wanted it to be a melding of good food, good drink and good times,” Mikles says.

“Live music was always in the plan, but it’s continued to expand.”

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graDuation Day celbrations!

Photo Matt Urban

our multiple event spaces are FlexiBle, we can serve anD accommoDate: 100+ For maJor occasions up to 60 seateD small groups

Grain's chicken and waffles dish, from their brunch menu. Grain was named Top 50 Best Brunch Resturants in America by Elle Decor Magazine.

As with the Newark site, timing and availability also came into play with Grain’s new locations. Aqua Sol, they maintain, was a hidden gem on the canal in Bear. “We loved the seasonal potential of the huge deck outside, and the year-round potential of the inside,” Mikles says. “We felt we could successfully bring the Grain brand to the area, with the craft drinks, good food and live music.”

They saw parallels between Half Moon’s location in Kennett Square and Grain’s Newark site. Both are in established communities with people who long to be regulars at a cool-butcasual neighborhood restaurant.

The Importance of Branding

Although the locations are different, they boast the Grain name. Certainly, Mikles, the digital marketing maven, and O’Donoghue, the savvy credit card pro, know more than a little about branding. The three restaurants share the same core menu, which gives the company greater buying power when it comes to ingredients. It also helps with cross-training and moving staff from location to location.

As the partners at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant can attest, having multiple restaurants is a boon for hiring, retaining and promoting. All of which is critical considering the industry is facing labor shortages in the kitchen. Grain has hired people even before certain jobs were available just so they would not lose them to another restaurant. The company also offers benefits and paid days off.

Despite the same name and core menu, the partners are keen on keeping each site’s local flavor, which is in line with their “neighborhood” philosophy. No doubt, that approach will filter into each restaurant’s approach to philanthropy. ►

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EAT

Photo Matt Urban

THREE AND COUNTING continued from previous page

Lee Mikles and Jim O'Donoghue at the first Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen in Newark.

For instance, Grain in Newark has focused on local first responders, including the employees of the police and fire departments. In the restaurant’s First Responder Wing-Eating Championship, policemen compete against firemen to benefit Preston’s Playground, an allinclusive park that will be on a Newark site.

(Organizers are seeking to raise $500,000.)

Grain donates $1 for every wing consumed by the contestants or the guests, along with proceeds from T-shirt sales. In April, the police nabbed the championship for the second year in a row. This year they won by just two wings.

What does the future hold for these ambitious restaurateurs? Both Mikles and O’Donoghue admire Iron Hill for its “operational excellence,” Mikles says.

The locally based chain has taken the brewpub concept to 13 locations and counting. Although all Iron Hill brands, they are in different building footprints and diverse areas, including Lancaster to Center City Philadelphia.

They also admire Rehoboth Beachbased SoDel Concepts, which has a variety of themes, such as Latin, Italian and seafood, at locations along the Delaware beaches.

“We respect them and want to follow in their footsteps,” Mikles says. “We like the idea of applying operational excellence to different concepts in a certain geographical area. We want to expand the Grain brand and other concepts.”

As the partners run between the restaurants—they call visiting all three in one day “running the gauntlet”—they have yet to consider a limit on their growth.

“Right now the great team we’ve got with us is continuing to allow us to grow,” O’Donoghue notes. All options, Mikles agrees, are possible.

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TROLLEY SQ. • BRANMAR PLAZA • MAIN ST. NEWARK APRIL 2017 |

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EAT SUMMER SPLASH AT MT. CUBA

BITES Tasty things worth knowing Compiled by David Ferguson

GREENE TURTLE CATERING SERVICE

T

he Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille recently debuted its catering service, which will be available at all its restaurants. The menu will offer many standard Greene Turtle meals, including Cajun pasta, crab dip, barbecue chicken wraps and more. A kid’s menu is also available and will include a bag of chips, cookie, and an apple with the child’s choice of entrée. Ordering options accommodate small or large parties, and boxed lunches will be available for parties of less than 10 people, platters for parties between 12 - 15 people, and a house specialty serving station for parties of more than 30, with prices depending on the dishes ordered.

For more information and for the full catering menu, check out thegreeneturtle.com.

A TRIP TO THE MARKET

L

ast month started the 2017 season for Newark Natural Foods Co-Op Weekly Farmer’s Market. The market meets every Sunday, May to November, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (rain or shine) in the parking lot of Newark Natural Foods, 230 E. Main St. The market, which started in 2000, provides customers an opportunity to buy local produce and support farm families, agriculture, and environment through community gathering. Many of the vendors are farmers from Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Other vendors include artists and craft jewelers, bakers, designers, and potters, making the Weekly Farmer’s Market a diverse and entertaining experience. To stay up to date with this season's farmers market, visit newarknaturalfoods.com.

T FARM TO FOOD TRUCK

S

aturday, June 10, is the date of the second annual Farm to Food Tuck evening at Coverdale Farm Preserve in Wilmington. Presented by the Young Friends of Coverdale, the evening will consist of local food, music, and fun on the gorgeous Coverdale Farm. With a variety of local food trucks—I Don’t Give A Fork, Mama Mia, Cajun-Sno Maile, and Kapow Outlandish—guests should have no problem finding the perfect meal for their appetite. Other attractions include a live musical performance by Lion Powda Sound System, a Dogfish Head Craft Brewery beer garden, a tractor photo booth, hayrides, and lawn games.

The adult only event will run from 5-9 pm.

A limited number of tickets are available for $25 and are running out fast. Coverdale Farm Preserve is located at 543 Way Rd., Greenville.

More information and to purchase tickets visit delawarenaturesociety.ejoinme.org/foodtruck.

his summer the Mt. Cuba Center in Hockessin will celebrate its first annual Summer Splash event. On Sunday, July 23, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., join the fun at Mt. Cuba’s garden with educational and interactive activities that focus on how nature captures, stores and uses water. Summer Splash will feature a dragonfly discovery station, scavenger hunts and watershed demonstration models. Horticultural experts from Mt. Cuba will be on hand and ready to answer any questions about water management at home and in the garden. The event is free with general admission to the center and the first 100 families will get to take home a free plant native to our area. The Mt. Cuba Center is at 3120 Barley Mill Rd., Hockessin.

For more information on the Summer Splash, check out mtcubacenter.org.

DELAWARE LOCAL FOOD EXCHANGE HAPPENINGS

T

he Delaware Local Food Exchange (DLFE), which recently displayed a new banner, “Local Organic Food,” over its existing business sign in Trolley Square, never had a grand opening celebration. However, this month the DLFE will be celebrating its second anniversary on Sunday, June 11, between 1 and 3 p.m. with its Grand Introduction event. It will highlight the DLFE’s endeavors to promote food security for the Wilmington area with an afternoon of family fun, music, art, and (of course) local food. Product vendors will include Summer J Artisan Fruit Pops, Baba’s Bucha, Awesome Raw Vegan Foods and more. There will be live music from Ed Dwornik, free samples from vendors, and prizes. The free event will take place in Trolley Square. Check out delocalfoodexchange.com for more information.

UDAIRY COMES TO WILMINGTON

T

he University of Delaware-owned UDairy Creamery opened a second location in Wilmington last month at 815 N. Market St. UDairy Creamery Market offers customers a vast selection of house-made ice cream flavors as well as some tasty burger, grilled cheese and salad options. The creamery aims to use ingredients from its Newark farm to create high quality, delicious treats straight from the cow to the cone. For more information on UDairy Creamery Market, check out canr.udel.edu/udairycreamery.

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DRINK

DELAWARE TAP TAKEOVER AT HOMEGROWN CAFÉ

O

SIPS

Here's what's pouring Compiled by David Ferguson

DOGFISH HEAD BREWINGS & EATS

O

n May 19, Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats in Rehoboth opened its doors to the public. The new establishment is located next door to the original brewpub at 320 Rehoboth Ave., and offers a dining and drinking experience that is familiar to Dogfish Head fans but with more room for entertainment and fun. A massive stage —for musicians and all variations of live performances—acts as the centerpiece of the main dining room while an upstairs loft provides additional seating and a great view of the stage. The interior design and decorations inspired by punk rock, hiphop and craft brewing aim to highlight the off-centeredness that Dogfish is known for. The menu offers pub fare such as fish and chips, crab corn chowder, seafood tacos and more. And of course, there is a diverse selection of beer and cocktail options to choose from.

The original brewpub will remain open all summer for guests to purchase Dogfish Head merchandise and memorabilia, and to fill growlers. Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats is open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and serves brunch on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more information check out dogfish.com.

CAN YOU DEW IT 5K AT DEW POINT CO.

n Friday, June 2, and Saturday, June 3, some of Delaware’s most famous breweries will take over the taps at one of Newark’s favorite watering holes and eateries—Homegrown Café.

From open until close guests can choose beer from breweries such as Dogfish Head, Crooked Hammock, 16 Mile, Twin Lakes, Iron Hill and more. The hearty Homegrown food menu also will be available, of course. In the evening, live music will keep the party going.

For more information on Homegrown Café visit homegrowncafe.com.

D

elaware’s newest microbrewery, Dew Point Brewing Co., will host the the second race in its 5K Summer Happy Hour Series on Thursday, June 15, between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.

Details of the race and its course will remain a secret until race day, but runners are warned that the race will cover just less than 1,000 feet of elevation change on the 3.1-mile course, most of which will not be a paved road. After the race, finishers are encouraged to stick around and enjoy some of the Dew Point beers on tap and food from a local food truck. Tickets are $25 and will include a beer and sandwich after the race. The race will start and finish at Dew Point Brewing Co., 2878 Creek Rd., Yorklyn. To find out more on the Can You Dew It race series and to purchase tickets visit facebook.com/DewPointBrewing.

MT. CUBA SUMMER NIGHTS

E

ach Friday night in June, the lush property of the Mt. Cuba Center in Hockessin will extend its hours from 4 to 8 p.m. for the center’s Summer Nights event. Guests will get to unwind and relax, play some casual lawn games, and listen to music as they roam the gardens in the early evening. Food, beer, and wine will be available for purchase.

The Summer Nights activities will be included in the price of general admission.

Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Rd., is open Wednesday—Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information about the center and its upcoming events can be found at mtcubacenter.org.

SCISSION ESPRESSO TRUCK

S

cission Espresso Truck aims to separate itself from the generic coffee shop scene by being different, and it has chosen Wilmington as the place to do that.

Scission owner Zach DeLong has converted an old ice cream truck into a mobile espresso bar and started selling homemade espresso drinks around the city. You won't find drip coffee on the menu at Scission, and with drink options that include a chocolate orange mocha and an iced blueberry and vanilla latte, it’s clear that Scission is succeeding in being different. Aside from its original drinks, the espresso truck also sells pastries, pop tarts, doughnuts and oatmeal cream pie from De La Coeur Café in Wilmington.

Scission can be found at several locations during the week, including a spot on the corner across the street from 1201 N. Market on Wednesdays and Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., at The Delaware Contemporary on Thursdays between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and at the Cool Springs Farmers Market on Thursday between 3 and 7 p.m.

To find out where and when Scission will be, check Instagram @scission.espresso.

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LISTEN

on the rise at firefly With the state’s foremost annual musical event set for June 15-18, we’ve spotted some under-the-radar acts you need to know about

By Matt Moore

S

panning four days, nine stages and more than 150 artists, Firefly Music Festival returns to Dover International Speedway for its seventh year.

While many might be familiar with headliners like Bob Dylan, The Weeknd, Muse, Twenty One Pilots and Chance the Rapper, this year’s lineup also features a list of virtually unknown, up-and-coming artists poised to become top-billed acts.

Here are our top to picks among the emerging artists who will be performing in the Woodlands. ►

Photo Joe del Tufo

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Join Us AFTER the Festivals for Late-Night Specials and Live Music!

Half-Price Happy Hour 4-7, 11-12pm

HALF-PRICE HAPPY HOUR

Monday-Saturday 4-7pm & 11pm-Midnight

LISTEN ON THE RISE AT FIREFLY continued from previous page

Join Us For Brunch

Saturdays and Sundays As featured in

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Stocking over 1500 different beers • Singles, packs & cases

Maggie Rogers: A songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, she gained popularity last year after a video of Pharrell Williams hearing her song “Alaska” went viral. During Williams’ Masterclass at New York University, Rogers played the song, eliciting praise and a look of awe from the Grammy-award-winning producer. From there, her career was launched.

Her performance at Firefly will be somewhat of a homecoming—she studied at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown.

She sounds like: Joni Mitchell’s sober folk instrumentation and breathy vocals over subtle, hip-hop-influenced production.

Souvenirs: The California-based group will return to the East Coast with their brand of melodic punk and emo—a loud, unyielding sound driven by multipart guitars and minimalist melodies that serves as a heavy acknowledgement to post-hardcore and shoegaze.

They sound like: The dry and deliberate songwriting style of Pavement mixed with the meticulous guitarwork and stalwart emotion of bands like American Football and Mineral.

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MUNA (above): Coming off the strength of their inaugural album About U, this Los Angeles trio will make their First State debut on Saturday, backed with an arsenal of hits centering on love, loss and gender identity—all tightly compacted into infectious pop jams.

60 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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They sound like: An extension of the avant-garde pop sound and aesthetic founded by Kate Bush and reiterated by contemporary acts like Haim and Jessie Ware—complete with shimmering guitars, glossy synths and anthemic singalongs.

catchy indie pop trademarked by The Walkmen and Vampire Weekend, combined with the loose sway and swagger present in early Frank Valli & The Four Seasons singles.

Sunflower Bean: Blending themes of psychedelic rock, dream pop and grunge, they balance call-and-response male and female vocals with moody instrumentation ranging from blistering to calming. The result is an assiduous sound from a group deemed 2014’s “Hardest-Working Band” by indie music blog Oh My Rockness.

They sound like: The unhinged fuzz and unconventional arrangements of Sonic Youth and Dungen, with the light touch of synth and chorus unique to acts like The Wake.

Warm Brew: Hailing from Santa Monica and Venice, Calif., Ray Wright, M.C.s Serk Spliff and Manu Li are the three vital and talented elements making up this young hip-hop collective that pushes G-funk-era rhymes and beats into modern rap. Their rhyme schemes and deliveries are dynamic, juggling storytelling, hooks and boasts with bravado.

They sound like: Early Warren G and DJ Quik production merged with the cool, collected timbre of verses from L.A.-based artists Snoop Dogg and YG.

Hamilton Leithauser: Best known as the former frontman of famed indie trailblazers The Walkmen, Leithauser has been touring and releasing music since the band’s hiatus in 2014. His most recent endeavor is a collaboration with ex-Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmanglij titled “I Had a Dream That You Were Mine.” The record garnered critical acclaim with a sound that sits at the intersection of traditional folk songwriting and early-aughts indie, with elements of doo-wop and rock and roll.

He sounds like: An intentional nod to the driving rock and

New Madrid: The Southern rock band will stop by while in the midst of a national tour, carrying with them the no-holdsbarred and high-energy live show that makes them a must-see this year. Their latest album, magnetkingmagnetqueen, is an amiable and ambitious take on indie rock.

They sound like: All the freewheeling energy found on Johnny Cash’s “Orange Blossom Special,” with a slight lean toward the psych and Southern rock sound of the 13th Floor Elevators— masterfully translated into accessible indie rock. ►

JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Your dog’s life just got better!

LISTEN

Louie Louie: Just off a national tour in support of Beach House, this Philadelphia four-piece have become ON THE RISE AT FIREFLY known for delivering loud, tight and animated sets, all continued from previous page while sporting handmade costumes stitched by drummer Jenna Robb.

They sound like: The style of lo-fi, garage-rock forged by the Sonics and the Kinks, merged with the punk mentality of Chastity Belt and surf-rock slant of La Luz. HDBeenDope: With a flow demonstrating methodical skill, conveyed with fineness and unaffectedness, this Brooklyn M.C. has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in hiphop. HDBeenDope’s lyrics feel like a manifesto, highlighting the nuanced highs and lows of life in a city where, if you don’t shift the narrative, one will be forced on you.

He sounds like: Nas and Mos Def at their most measured and raw, delivered with the foul playfulness of Foxy Brown and early Chance the Rapper.

daycare • boarding • spa

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Joie Kathos: At a time where the neo-soul and R&B field is crowded with new acts that appear to be indistinguishable from the last, Joie Kathos stands cool, composed, and backed with a SoundCloud catalog full of sleeper hits. The Philadelphia native’s bass-heavy grooves and resolute instrumentation provide her with room to also assert herself as a lyricist and trained dancer.

She sounds like: The inventive aptitude of Erykah Badu and Frank Ocean, mixed with the fit-for-dance production of FKA Twigs and Syd Tha Kyd.

The The Deer Deer Park Park Tavern Tavern

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JUNE

Entertainment Schedule

EVERY MONDAY: Showtime Trivia EVERY TUESDAY: DJ Willoughby EVERY THURSDAY: Karaoke w/ The Vigilantes

FRIDAYS:

SATURDAYS:

6/2-Feeling Lucky 6/9 BullBuckers 6/16John Handy Band 6/23 Big Rumble Twist 6/30 Face Down

Brunch!

6/3 Chorduroy 6/10 Radio Halo 6/17 Click 6/24 Tweed

SUNDAY NIGHT: Chorduroy

Sun @ 9am-2pm / Sat @ 10am-2pm - Newark’s Largest Bloody Mary Bar & Breakfast Specials!

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THURSDAYS ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT Wings (5pm-Close) ½ Price Burgers (11:30am-3pm) • $2 Rail Drinks Be our friend on Facebook!

62 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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LISTEN

A BIG WELCOME TO WILMINGTON Singer-songwriter Kaloni Baylor, performing at Musikarmageddon Solo at the baby grand. Photo Nancy JL Powel

Merging classical, soul and jazz, newcomer Kaloni Baylor took home the title at Musikarmageddon Solo competition on April 1. Now she’s ready to hit the local circuit.

By Krista Connor

T

he young woman seated at the grand piano sang and played with poise, channeling vulnerable emotion tempered by her commanding presence. The woman, Kaloni Baylor, was one of 16 contestants vying for the top spot at singer-songwriter contest Musikarmageddon Solo at the baby grand on April 1.

A few hours and two more rounds of fast-paced eliminations later, it came as no surprise when 25-year-old Baylor was named winner of the third annual competition. The judges voted unanimously for her, and guitarist Joe Campbell was runner-up.

Baylor’s composure cracked when she walked back on stage for her $200 prize—her eyes were watering and she was visibly shaking.

“I was so surprised,” she says a few weeks later while sipping juice at a Market street café. “My nerves skyrocketed that day for some reason, but being the only person on stage…it’s kind of freeing. It seems like it would be scary, but to have that time to speak or sing, it’s a release.”

The petite Baylor is unsure at first what made her stand out among the other singer-songwriters, including one or two other pianists. Finally, she says she hopes it was her songwriting—and her experiential▲method of sharing lyrics Hot Breakfast!

Photo Joe del Tufo with the audience—

that set her apart. On stage, she centers herself by visualizing her lyrics and their role in the music. From there, she tries to create a story and visuals for her audience. The tactic seems to work—the audience was enthralled.

Her songs usually are based on relationships, experiences or encounters, though typically written long after those events. “Later on, the memory comes back up, which makes the song come out easier,” she says.

One song she performed at Musikarmageddon Solo, “Big Wave,” was based on a dream she had during college. “It didn’t come out for a couple years,” she says. In the dream, she stood on a shoreline staring at the ocean until a tidal wave rushed toward her.

“The dream ends there. So it was good to get that out—to see something and put it on paper. I was really surprised and proud of myself for that one, too, because I didn’t realize how much of an impact a dream could make.”

Originally from Philadelphia, Baylor moved to Wilmington a year ago after graduating in 2015 with an environmental health degree from West Chester University. She’s now part-time at the Trolley Square Brew Ha Ha! and, of course, working on her music. ► JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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She began playing piano when she was 5, and as she grew up, her supportive mother drove her to piano A BIG WELCOME recitals, school theater practice, church choir and more.

TO WILMINGTON Still, back then, music was more of a hobby. Her college continued from previous page years were catalyst for change. She became more serious about playing shows and developing her style—one she says is always evolving.

“There’s soul in it,” she says. “Right now, I’m trying to develop my piano playing and vocals more to get more on the jazz side of things.”

Baylor says she has come up with her own sound because of her varied musical background. The jazz and soul styles she’s currently working on are influenced by gospel from church choir and classical and baroque romantic pieces she grew up playing. She also has always been drawn to singer-songwriters like Carol King and the vinyl of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

She currently has a nine-song album, Soul, on Soundcloud, and promises another recording by the end of the year.

Otherwise, she’ll be doing what she seems to do best: growing, and playing.

“Musikarmageddon Solo has helped me with this: being sure of myself,” she says.

“I’ve always questioned, ‘Is this okay? Am I doing this right?’ But I’m feeling sure of myself and getting better and will continue working on being my own personal best.”

See Baylor perform at the Berry Festival in Wilmington between noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 4. Find her music at Baylor has a nine-song album, Soul, on Soundcloud. soundcloud.com/kb_sunshine.

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64 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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n a i c i s u m

Unleashthe

within

Jea Street

INdependent Musician #inWilm

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JUNE MUSIC at Kelly’s Logan House

Look for these great bands upstairs!

FRIDAY, 6/02

Jake Kaiser - 6-9 p.m. (Tiki Bar) Xtra Alltra - 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, 6/03 Crisbie - 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, 6/09

Matt & James - 6-9 p.m. (Tiki Bar) Tree Walker - 9 p.m.

SATURDAY, 6/10

Cherry Crush - 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, 6/16

Kalai King - 6-9 p.m. (Tiki Bar) Pet Cheetah - 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, 6/17

Feeling Lucky - 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, 6/23

Cherry Crush Duo - 6-9 p.m. (Tiki Bar) Weekday Warriors - 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, 6/24

88 M.P.H. - 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, 6/30

Matt & James - 6-9 p.m. (Tiki Bar) Cadillac Riot - 10 p.m.

Now featuring live acoustic music on the Tiki Bar, Saturdays from 3-6 p.m.

1701 Delaware Ave. Wilmington, DE 19806 (302) 652-9493

LOGANHOUSE.COM Bands and times subject to change.

LISTEN

TUNED IN Not-to-be-missed music news LIVE NATION TAKEOVER

Global company Live Nation Entertainment is replacing World Cafe Live and taking over Wilmington’s Queen Theatre this summer. World Cafe Live left the theater on May 25 after six years of bringing top musical acts and local artists to Market Street.

Live Nation Entertainment, a merger between Ticket Master and Live Nation, signed a 10-year lease with owners Buccini/ Pollin Group for the building, which will retain its name.

Currently, three shows are slated for summer, with a full schedule out by the grand opening after Labor Day. New Found Glory will bring their pop punk sound on Wednesday, July 12; Ween singer Gene Ween will perform on Wednesday, Aug. 9, and power pop singer/songwriter Matthew Sweet will appear on Thursday, Sept. 21.

For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.

SUMMER PERFORMANCES AT THE FLASH

The Kennett Flash venue, at 102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, Pa., is host to several concerts this summer. Saturday, June 3, brings Mark Unruh, a Kennett Square native and active player in the local music scene. This award-winning multi-instrumentalist will appear for a night of blues, folk, bluegrass, originals, classical, a few tales of history and adventure and more. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets start at $20.

Friday, June 9, brings Craig Bickhardt, featuring Michael G. Ronstadt and Beaucoup Blue. A singer-songwriter, Bickhardt has worked in the music industry since 1974. He has performed at the Grand Ol’ Opry, Austin City Limits, The Bitter End, The Main Point, and numerous other venues. His new CD, The More I Wonder, was released in May, and is receiving critical acclaim.

Beaucoup Blue is the Philadelphia-based father and son duo David and Adrian Mowry. From blues to bluegrass, their soulful tradition and contemporary styles mesh into an innovative and authentic Americana sound.

Doors open at 7 p.m.; tickets start at $20. For more, visit kennettflash.org.

RHETT MILLER IN ARDEN

On Friday, Oct. 6, Rhett Miller, and Kalai King will take the stage at Arden Gild Hall. Lead singer of alternative country band The Old 97’s, Miller released his latest solo album, The Traveler, in 2015, his sixth solo record. The album features the instrumentation of Black Prairie (members of The Decemberists), Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey (members of REM).

The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets start at $20. Visit ardenconcerts.com for more.

66 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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ALBUM AND A TOUR

Grace Vonderkuhn, the Wilmington-based garage-psych pop trio made up of guitarist and vocalist Grace Koon, drummer Dave McGrory and bassist Brian Bartling, have finished recording their first full length album, due out this fall. The title is TBA. Matt Morrissette—owner of Wilmington’s barcade venue 1984—recorded and mixed the album using an eight-track cassette recorder. Koon, a longtime member of the Delaware music community, says the album resembles—except for the use of a computer for final touches—the All Wave movement named and used by Kim Deal (formerly of the Pixies) and audio engineer Steve Albini. The All Wave philosophy is a return to organic, analog sound, where no contemporary production methods are used.

“I am a huge fan of Deal and I am so proud of how we recorded,” says Koon.

The record is currently being mastered by Carl Saff, of Baltimore, who also does mastering for the Seattle label Sub Pop. Meanwhile, Vonderkuhn is planning a five-day tour at the end of June with fellow Delaware natives Gozer. They’ll hit venues and house shows in Newark, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Brooklyn and Boston. The Philly segment includes Century Bar with Tremellow and King Azaz on Wednesday, June 21.

For album updates and more, visit GraceVonderkuhn.com.

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uors.com 302.764.0377 - pecosliq JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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P L AYI N G THIS MONTH Nemours Building 1007 N. Orange Street

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June 2 - 5

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Fri 5:30 Sat 1 & 7:30 | Sun 3

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June 9 - 12

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Fri 2, 8:30 | Sat 4 | Sun 3

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June 16 - 19

The Last Days of Louis XIV

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Fri 2 & 8:30 Sat 4 | Sun 6

Fri 5:30 | Sat 1, 7:30 Sun 12, 3 | Mon 7

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Rocky Horror Picture Show Sat 11 pm

June 23 - 26

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Fri 2, 8:30 | Sat 4 | Sun 12, 6

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June 30 - 3

Mission Control

Fri 2 & 8:30 Sat 4 | Sun 6

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Paris Can Wait

Fri 5:30 | Sat 1, 7:30 Sun 12, 3 | Mon 7

your choice: Pasta & Meatballs, Cheese Ravioli, Baked Ziti, Pasta Pomodoro, Chicken Parmesan & Pasta, Linguini w/ White Clam Sauce

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Rocky Horror Picture Show Sat 11 pm

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68 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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WATCH

Paris Can Wait

2

STARS µµµµµ Diane Lane as Anne and Arnaud Viard as Jacques in Paris Can Wait. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

PARIS TRAVELOGUE Awkward, slight romance takes backseat to bucolic France

By Mark Fields

I

n the midst of the relentless summer blockbusters about superheroes and aliens and pirates, the beleaguered film critic can be forgiven for seeking out a movie about normal adult humans having realistic interactions. Perhaps that’s what the team responsible for Paris Can Wait aspired to create, and maybe they even decided to up the appeal by making those humans movie-star attractive, then placing them against the gorgeous background of bucolic France. Unfortunately, it would appear this was the only reason for the film.

Anne (played by lovely, winsome Diane Lane) is a married woman at a crossroads in her life. Comfortable but unfulfilled in a long-term marriage to Michael (Alec Baldwin), a successful but neglectful movie producer, Anne is emotionally shut down, dreading the life ahead of her now that her daughter has left for college. She tags along on her husband’s business trips to romantic European locales, but it’s clear that the romance does not truly stir her.

Thanks to a convenient plot device, Anne is unable to fly to their next stop, and so Jacques (Arnaud Viard), a French movie colleague of Michael’s, offers to drive her from Cannes to Paris. Of course, being French, Jacques is a consummate roué and gourmand, with

a lunch reservation and a liaison in every stop along the way. A day trip turns into several days, chock full of impromptu picnics, sumptuous meals in luxurious inns and restaurants, and serious talk about life, love and food.

The plot points of Paris Can Wait are predominantly predictable, creaky even. The screenplay makes no real effort to explain or justify various characters’ motivations. We’re meant to accept it on the surface, and ultimately, that’s what this film is really about: beautiful superficialities.

Directed and written by Eleanor Coppola, wife of Francis Ford Coppola, in her feature film debut, Paris Can Wait is essentially an exceeding handsome food and scenery tour. It’s pretty for the viewer to look at, and perhaps to wistfully aspire to such a bon vivant lifestyle. But we get no truly genuine glimpses into these characters' interior lives. Even the teasing chemistry between the two leads is unconvincing and awkward.

Paris Can Wait is certainly appealing in a straightforward sensory way, but it has very little on its mind, and by the end of this culinary travelogue, I found myself regrettably longing for the more conventional summer movie pleasures of talking raccoons, menacing space bugs or a certain roguish sea captain. Sigh! ► JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Photo Mark Rogers, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

PARIS TRAVELOGUE continued from previoius page

Katherine Waterston as Daniels in Alien: Covenant.

ALIEN: COVENANT 2 STARS µ µ µ µ µ

Rhetorical question for Hollywood producers: how many times can you essentially make the same film over and over again before audiences stop giving you their money?

I saw the original Alien in 1979, and it remains one of the most terrifying moviegoing experiences I have ever had.

Alien: Covenant is now the sixth return to that well, and the thrill is gone. Since the film is helmed by Ridley Scott, the director that started it all, the viewer hopes for the implied fresh take or a deeper exploration of the mythology, but those promises are left largely unfilled.

This iteration is too reminiscent of its forebears in terms of plotting, yet it lacks the original’s existential dread. Beyond the truly remarkable creature design (inspired by the art of H.R. Giger), what made Alien so effective was its carefullypaced, deliberate picking off of characters by a monster who was revealed slowly. All the subsequent films have become bigger and gorier and more effects-driven, without re-capturing the unrelenting terror of the first.

The only real interest in this version is the doppelganger androids, David (left over from Prometheus) and Walter, both played by Michael Fassbender. There is a curiosity factor as the newer model faces off against the older one, but even that appeal collapses in a plot step that a seasoned moviegoer could see coming up the Milky Way. When one of the scariest movie monsters ever imagined fails to generate a thrill, I think it’s time to hang up the spacesuits.

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CINEMA SIX-PACK...

WATCH

and a shoT

LONG AND WINDING ROADS Six movies that take you on a trip

By Mark Fields

It Happened One Night

(1934)

This classic, directed by Frank Capra, launched the quirky subgenre known as screwball comedy, epitomized by mismatched romantic couples firing off pithy, slyly suggestive dialogue between pratfalls and mix-ups. Clark Gable plays a soused freelance reporter tailing Claudette Colbert’s flighty society girl as she makes her way home to New York…by bus. It was the first film to win Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Actress Academy Awards. Be sure to stay through the end to see the ultimate fate of the Walls of Jericho.

Easy Rider (1969)

Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper) are two counterculture cowboys discovering America by motorcycle, from Los Angles to New Orleans. Along the way, they visit quintessentially ‘60s sites: the farm of a mixed race couple, a hippy commune, a small-town jail, and a campsite in Monument Valley. Their adventures briefly include a young Jack Nicholson, who scored his first Academy Award nomination—for Best Supporting Actor. The action is accompanied by an evocative soundtrack featuring Steppenwolf, The Band, the Byrds and Jimi Hendrix. Hopper directed and they both co-wrote the screenplay with Terry Southern.

Midnight Run

(1988)

Anyone who has been surprised by Robert De Niro’s comedy chops in recent years clearly never saw this mismatched buddy comedy from the 1980s. He plays an ex-cop bounty hunter taking embezzler Charles Grodin back to his unhappy bail bondsman. Along the way, as they develop an unlikely rapport, the two must fend off the FBI, the mob, and a rival bounty hunter. The brisk direction by Martin Brest and George Gallo’s funny screenplay help the movie transcend its basic formula.

Also helpful is a large and talented cast, almost entirely male, including Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton, Dennis Farina and Joe Pantoliano, a veritable wise-guy Hall of Fame.

Thelma and Louise (1991)

An unfortunate rarity, this female road movie starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis still resonates more than 25 years later. One a frustrated, demeaned housewife, the other a trapped waitress, these two acquaintances take off for a bit of fun, and end up shooting and killing their attempted rapist. As they flee the authorities, certain they will not be believed, they discover a deep friendship and personal resources they never knew they had. Confidently directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Callie Khouri, this movie is a modern masterpiece.

Into The Wild (2007)

Directed by Sean Penn with a screenplay he adapted from Jon Krakauer’s acclaimed book, Into The Wild tells the story of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), a bright college student who gives away his money and chucks a promising future for a hitchhiking odyssey to Alaska to find his true self. Along the way, Chris encounters a number of eccentric characters that profoundly affect his point of view. The stellar supporting cast includes Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt as his parents, as well as Catherine Keener, Hal Holbrook, Vince Vaughn and Kristen Stewart.

The Trip (2010)

Two familiar British comic actors (Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon) play variations of themselves as two friends who embark on a posh restaurant tour of Northern England for a magazine story that Coogan has been engaged to write. Though friends, they both have the capacity to get on each other’s nerves as they argue about the haute cuisine and trade comic impressions and sarcastic jabs at one another. Their dueling Michael Caine routines is one of many hilarious moments in the film. Based on a popular British TV series, Coogan and Brydon’s gastronomic adventures have spawned two sequels: The Trip to Italy and The Trip to Spain (scheduled for later this year).

And a shot…

Obit (2016)

Screening June 2 - 4 at Theatre N.

This wry documentary by Vanessa Gould focuses on the staff of the Obituary Department of The New York Times. Exploring both the process of distilling the lives of the famous and important into a readable article and the personalities of the writers who have made this beat their career, Obit finds abundant vitality and humor in an unusual pursuit. For a full schedule and more information, go to theatren.com.

JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Spring & Summer Specials Monday

Tuesday

1/2 PRICE BURGERS YUENGLING: $3

FULL RACK of RIBS: $18.99 RIB COMBO: $18.99 BUD LIGHT: $2.75

Wednesday

2 CRAB CAKE DINNER: $15.99 1/2 PRICE BOTTLE OF WINE COORS LIGHT: $2.75 * Spring & summer Specials In House Only & End at 10pm

Sunday

Thursday

CRAFT YOUR OWN PIZZA: $5 SAM SEASONAL: $5 Friday

ORANGE CRUSH: $5

Sun Night “IN THE BIZ”

$1 OFF ALL CRAFT BEER PINTS AFTER 9PM

Happy Hour mon-fri * Bars only

FULL RACK of RIBS: $18.99 RIB COMBO: $18.99 MILLER LITE: $2.75 2 for 1 WINGS

* 8 pm until Closing Bars Only

$1 Off Draft Beer, House Wine & Well Liquor Drinks

Drink Specials 11am-7pm Food Specials 3-7pm

2038 Foulk Rd, Wilmington, DE 19810 • (302) 475-1887 • www.stanleys-tavern.com

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302.478.3939 | 3100 Naamans road | MexicanPost.com | facebook.com/Mex.Post 72 JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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PLAY

Oddball Art Hall co-founder Pat Higgins and his wife, April Silvers, and a display table for The Oddporium. Photo courtesy of Oddball Art Hall

OFF-THE-WALL ART ON THE WALL ...at Oddball Art Hall, that is, where ‘unique’ is the operative description

By Kevin Francis

M

ost people would take umbrage at being called an oddball, but there is a thriving community of local artists who not only accept the term, but embrace it.

Welcome to the Oddball Art Hall, a celebration of art and artists that takes place the third Friday of every month at—where else?—Oddity Bar in Wilmington.

“I suppose I’m a bit different,” says illustrator Kristen Margiotta, one of the founders of the event, when asked how she is an “oddball.” She describes her paintings as “whimsical, dark and dramatic, which keeps people on their toes.”

Margiotta encourages the uninitiated to come experience it in person. “It’s unusual and not traditional,” she says. “The works speak for themselves.”

Walk into the Oddball Art Hall at 500 Greenhill Ave., between West Fifth Street and West Sixth Street, and you will encounter unique paintings, cutting edge photography, bizarre sculptures and much more; or, as photographer/artist Joe Hoddinott says, “a visual buffet of eclectic artwork.”

The concept had its beginning in late 2014, when Pat McCutcheon, the owner of Oddity Bar, approached Margiotta and illustrator Pat Higgins about doing a “drink and draw night” at his establishment. Higgins, who describes his art as a mixture of “Harvey Kurtzman (Mad magazine), John Kricfalusi (Ren & Stimpy) and Chuck Jones (Looney Tunes) stuffed inside a blender with punk rock and craft beer,” quickly bought in. He and Margiotta sketched out their ideas, and the OAH was born.

Artists line the main room with their works while a DJ spins records and avant-garde videos play on the multiple television screens. Live model sketching takes place on stage next to the DJ, with the models often adorned in themed costumes, such as those

by Ellen Durkan, who creates forged fashions from metal.

The venue itself is part of the attraction. Festooned in a palate of vibrant red and shadowy black, Oddity Bar would not look out of place in David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, and many works from Oddball artists over the years decorate its walls. Photographer David Heitur sums up the event this way: “There is so much different and unique art going on in one spot,” he says, “There’s no need to go anywhere else.” ► JUNE 2017 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Gus Fink is an artist who says, “I never thought of myself as an oddball, but clearly I am.” Fink, like all OAH artists, is as much an attendee as a participant. With his wife, Emi Boz, they create paintings, plush toys, video games, apparel and comic books, among other works. Last year, they began making short films, thanks to the contacts and friendships they forged at the OAH. Fink has lived in several major cities, including Chicago, Atlanta and Philadelphia, and has been living off his art for 20 years. “I love Delaware more than any other place,” he says. “The people here care and give.”

“Classic and surreal” photographer Tom Newforge is an artist whose work has sent him around the globe, including Iceland and the Vatican. Asked to provide one word to describe the third Friday event, his response is immediate: “Family. Everyone is extremely supportive of one another and I’ve never felt unwanted or not good enough.” He says this is in stark contrast to the ultracompetitive world of professional photography, where “one false step can lead to being ostracized.”

Mimi Sullivan, owner of the women’s boutique Bloom, is not an exhibiting artist but attends regularly. She sees the OAH as a vital cog in Wilmington’s cultural footprint. “It takes everyone’s effort to keep the local art scene alive and thriving,” she says.

To that end, one of the most enticing elements of the event is being able to see familiar local artists exhibiting new pieces as well as new artists sharing their work. “The Oddball Art Hall is an everchanging collection of visual artists, photographers and designers,” says Sullivan.

Ric Frane, co-owner of the Talleyville Frame Shop and selfdescribed “horror/monster/pinup artist,” says the OAH “is a great (event) for new artists who may not be ready for a gallery show” that showcases “outsider and lowbrow art.”

Many of the regular exhibitors at the OAH have received local, national and even international recognition. Newforge has won several “Best in Show” awards for his conceptual photography; Margiotta, along with illustrating the international Gustav Gloom children’s book series, has been featured in several art publications; Heitur’s work is hanging in Delaware’s Superior Court House and he has designed the cover of guitar virtuoso Vinnie Moore’s album, Ariel Visions; Higgins recently won a Silver Medallion for Digital Illustration and a Bronze Medallion for Poster Design from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations; Fink and Boz design apparel for Hot Topic and create toys for Toys “R” Us; they also released a video game last year, Fright Show Fighter, which received positive reviews from the gaming community; Hoddinott won the Wilmington News Journal’s “Best Wedding Photographer” two years in a row and recently had a solo exhibit at the Delaware Contemporary; Durkan has staged and participated in numerous runway shows and her fashions have made the catwalk and display cases as far away as Paris, Australia and South Korea; Frane has illustrated many books, magazines, games and comics and has been featured in publications domestically and abroad, and he’s currently finishing work on the feature film Pale Horse.

These artists wear the oddball badge proudly. In fact, call them “normal” and they might be insulted. Expressing the spirit of OAH, Heitur says, “Normal (stuff) is boring.”

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Photo Jim Coarse

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Photo Frank Tirrell

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