MAGAZINE
Stepping Up Mayor-elect Dennis P. Williams is undaunted by the significant challenges that lie ahead
this issue
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• The Arts: Worth Trying in 2013 • Project Pop-Up Gaining Steam • This Month on the Riverfront
JANUARY 2013 Vol. 4 ISSUE 7
12/24/12 10:50 AM
Boeing Boeing January 23-February 23-February 10, 10, 2013 2013 January by Marc Camoletti translated from the French by Beverley Cross & Francis Evans
directed by Steve Tague Laughter takes off in the 2008 Tony Award® Winner the New York Times calls “pure pleasure.”
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12/21/12 1:43 PM
Produced by
all rights reserved
TSN Publishing, Inc. President Gerald duPhily
Contributing Editor Bob Yearick
Art Director Shawna Sneath
Production Manager Matt Loeb
Advertising Sales
January 2013 volume 4, issue 7
4 Cover Story
Stepping Up
Mayor-elect Dennis P. Williams discusses his life and his plans for the city. By Larry Nagengast
11 The Arts Worth Trying in 2013 Looking for something different in the new year? Here are a few creative suggestions. By Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald
Jim Hunter Miller Marie Graham
Contributing Writers Barb Bullock, Krista Connor, Josephine Eccel, Christine Facciolo, Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald, Larry Nagengast, Scott Pruden
Contributing Photographers Joe del Tufo, Tim Hawk Les Kipp, Matt Urban
For editorial and advertising information: p (302) 655-6483 f (302) 654-0569
TSN Media, Inc. 307 A Street Wilmington, DE 19801
11 City Notes Project Pop-Up giving budding entrepreneurs a chance to hit the ground running. By Alexandra Davis
Departments 2
“in” Calendar
8
On the Riverfront
11
Wilmington Renaissance News
ABOUT THE “IN” CAMPAIGN
Wilmington is truly in the middle of it all, and the “in” campaign is a celebration of the accomplishments we continue to achieve as a community to make our city stronger and more attractive. From neighborhood and business development to our arts and cultural scene, the people of Wilmington are working together to support our city’s ongoing growth and prosperity.
ABOUT WILMINGTON MAGAZINE
The mission of Wilmington Magazine is to capture, through stories and images, the ongoing energy present in the city. We aim to inform readers, both inside and outside Wilmington, of the city’s residential, financial, and cultural progress while remaining entertaining and vibrant. 1
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12/24/2012 10:54:48 AM
WHAT’S ‘IN’ FOR WHAT’S ‘IN’ FOR JANUARY
DECEMBER 2012
MUSIC MUSIC
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
FOOD & DRINK FOOD & DRINK
NOW - SAT, JANUARY 12 NOW - SUNDAY, JANUARY 6
NOW - SAT, JANUARY 5 SAT, DECEMBER 1, 3PM & 7:30PM
FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 8PM TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 7PM
THURS, JANUARY 10, 1:30PM TUES, DEC 4 - SUN, DEC 9
Centennial Exhibition Yuletide atJuried Winterthur: A
Robert Horan Stained Jim Brickman: "On A Glass Artwork Winter's Night"
Garland Hagley's Jeffreys Home for the World Cafe Live at the Queen Holidays
Naturethe Explorers’ Shrek Musical Club
FRIDAY, JANUARY 8PM WED, DEC 5 - SUN,11, DEC 30
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 7PM FRI, DECEMBER 7, 3:30-9:30PM
SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 13,7PM 1PM FRIDAY, DECEMBER
A Fiddler’s Feast Alternatives Holiday Craft
Children’s Concert Clifford Brown Yearw/ Round: John FlynnQaissaunee E. Shawn
Delaware Feast Art forMuseum the Eyes 2301 Kentmere Pkwy • 302.571.9590 5105 Kennett Pike • 800.448.3883 bitly.com/TbfDSz bitly.com/T7tCGD
FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 8PM5, 6PM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER
Kathleen Madigan Chef Tasting Series Finale
Delaware Museum of Natural History DuPont Theatre • 11th & Market Streets 4840 Kennett Pike • 302.658.9111 302.656.4401 • bitly.com/T7tDun bit.ly/VcbYmC
Art is Social Carol A Christmas
500 North Market Street • 302.994.1400 200 Hagley Road • 302.658.2400 bitly.com/Y0b95G bitly.com/Sxq0iL
Brandywine Creek State Park Streets DuPont Theatre • 11th & Market 41 Adams Dam • 302.577.3534 302.656.4401 • Rd bitly.com/Sxq1mM bit.ly/YfRgHS
The Grandby Opera presented Out &House About and Premier Wine 818 N. Market • 302.658.7897 & Spirits • TheSt. Queen • 500 N. Market St. bitly.com/Y0b95I 302.994.1400 • bitly.com/T7tCGO
Delaware Museum DelawareArt Theatre Company 2301 Kentmere • 302.571.9590 200 Water St. • Pkwy 302.594.1100 bit.ly/YfTxTs bitly.com/Sxq0iN
The Grand Opera House Show 2012 818 N. Market St.for • 302.658.7897 Delaware Center the Contemporary Arts bit.ly/RoZbzz 200 S. Madison St • bitly.com/T7tCX4
Bellevue• 705 StateN.Park • 800 Road CCAC Market St •Carr 302.652.0101 302.220.8285 • bit.ly/TysL3T bitly.com/T7tCX6
FRIDAY, JANUARY8,18, 7PM SAT, DECEMBER 7:30PM
SATURDAY, 19, 1PM THURSDAY,JANUARY DECEMBER 13, 6PM
SATURDAY, JANUARY DECEMBER19, 15,8PM 7PM
SUNDAY, JANUARY 4PM WED, DECEMBER 19,20, 8PM
Handel's JudasKing, Maccabaeus Martin Luther Jr. & Saints Andrew & Matthew Church Black History Tribute
Share ATracking Night 101 Winter
Loudon Wainwright III Melomanie Wilmington World CafeJanuary Live at the Queen Series: Concert
Sweet Honey in the Rock: Copeland String Quartet Celebrating Church of the HolyThe City Holydays
FRI, DEC 21 - SUN, DEC 23 TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 8PM
719Music N. Shipley Street • 302.656.6628 The School of Delaware bitly.com/T7tDKN 4101 Washington St. • 302.762.1132 bit.ly/WtuZzV
TheDement Nutcracker Iris
The Grand Opera House World Cafe Live at the Queen 818North N Market Street • 302.658.7897 500 Market Street • 302.994.1400 bitly.com/T7tDKR bit.ly/Ug8P4d
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benefitting Ronald Bellevue State ParkMcDonald • 800 CarrHouse Road of Delaware • 1901 Rockford Road 302.220.8285 • bit.ly/TwW9oT 302.656.HUGS • bitly.com/Sxq1mQ
500 N.Episcopal Market St.Church • 302.994.1400 Grace bitly.com/T7tCXd 4900 Concord Pike • 302.764.6338 bit.ly/Vbu3ot
The Opera House • 818 N. Market 1118Grand N. Broom Street • bit.ly/Uq4GwN St • 302.658.7897 • bitly.com/Sxq0iP
MON, DEC 24 & TUES, DEC 25 FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 7:30PM
MON, DECEMBER 31, 11AM-1PM SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 8PM
MONDAY, 31, 9PM TUES, JANDECEMBER 29 - SUN, FEB 3
Christmas DSO’s New Dining World at the
Noon New Year's Eve Party James Galea: Australia’s Brandywine Zoo • 1001 North Park Drive Number 1 Magician 302.577.7020 • bitly.com/Sxq1mS
Hotel du Pont The Grand Opera House 11thN.&Market MarketSt. Streets • 302.594.3154 818 • 302.658.7897 bitly.com/Sxq0iR bit.ly/U18uAg
The Grand • 818 N. Market Street 302.658.7897 • bit.ly/RgA6XF
NYE with Rusted Root Flashdance
World Cafe Live at The & Queen DuPont Theatre • 11th Market Streets 500 N. Market •St.bit.ly/U9ZRWf • 302.994.1400 302.656.4401 bit.ly/T7tFSJ
12/21/12 1:53 PM
ART IS IN - EXHIBITS OPENING & CLOSING THIS MONTH Delaware Art Museum
• So Beautifully Illustrated: Katharine Richardson Wireman and the Arts of Illustration th thru Jan 12 302.571.9590 • 2301 Kentmere Pkwy
Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts
FRIDAY, JANUARY 4TH
Delaware Children’s Museum 550 S. Justison St. • 302.654.2340
Brandywine Creek State Park 41 Adams Dam Rd. • 302.577.3534
Peanut Butter & Jams: Alex + Kaleidoscope • World Cafe Live at the
Hike & Hot Chocolate & Jan 19
Pinocchio thru Feb 10
TUESDAY, JANUARY 1
ST
Winter Games thru Jan 3
Delaware Children’s Museum 550 S. Justison St. • 302.654.2340
DelawareToday, Delaware
Yesterday daily thru March 30 Delaware History Museum 505 N. Market Street • 302.655.7161 A Lasting Legacy daily thru Jan 5 Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library 5105 Kennett Pike • 800.448.3883
Delaware Children’s Theatre 1014 Delaware Ave. • 302.655.1014
Blood, Sweat & Tears
The Grand • 818 N. Market • 800.37.GRAND
Silver Screen Sundays: Hamlet & Jan 27
Delaware Art Museum 2301 Kentmere Pkwy • 302.571.9590
Splintered Sunlight
World Cafe Live at the Queen 500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
MONDAY, JANUARY 7TH
Vinyl Shockley - Album Release Show • World Cafe Live at the Queen
Walk it Off 9am every Mon • Bellevue State Park • 800 Carr Road • 302.761.6963
500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
Stroller Rollers 11am every Mon • Bellevue
SUNDAY, JANUARY 20 TH
State Park • 800 Carr Rd • 302.761.6963
Brandywine Baroque: Harpsichord Concert & Masterclass w/ Arthur Haas • Barn at Flintwoods • 877.594.4546
TUESDAY, JANUARY 8TH Mobile Photography Workshop w/ David Norbut every Tues in Jan • Cab
We Three King: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. • The Grand
Calloway • 100 N. DuPont Rd. • 302.651.2700
818 N. Market • 800.37.GRAND
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9 TH
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23RD
Gluten Free Cooking at Home w/ Jennifer Adams of Fresh Thymes
Boeing, Boeing thru Feb 10 Delaware Theatre Company 200 Water Street • 302.594.1100
Woodlawn Library • 2020 W. 9th Street 302.571.7425
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10 TH
Make a Journal
Woodlawn Library 2020 W. 9th Street • 302.571.7425
Pegasus ArtWorks, Boys & Girls Clubs of DE Local Fine Arts Exhibition 500 Darley Rd. • 302.792.1882
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25TH Sound Memory Mystery Game
Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band
thru Jan 31 • Delaware Children’s Museum 550 S. Justison St. • 302.654.2340
World Cafe Live at the Queen 500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
Rainforest Adventure daily thru Jan 5 Delaware Museum of Natural History 4840 Kennett Pike • 302.658.9111
Queen • 500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
SUNDAY, JANUARY 6TH
• Nikon's Small World thru January 5 302.658.9111 • 4840 Kennett Pike
• Painted Rooms: An Artist’s Vision of Winterthur thru January 6 800.448.3883 • 5105 Kennett Pike
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19 TH
500 N. Market St. • 302.944.1400
Delaware Museum of Natural History
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Sound Wave Science thru Jan 24 Delaware Children’s Museum 550 S. Justison St. • 302.654.2340
Liquid Noise thru Jan 10
Delaware Center For Horticulture
• Photo-Lettering: Fanatically Fabricated Alphabets for the Future thru January 10 302.622.8000 • 600 N. Market Street
World Cafe Live at the Queen 500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5TH
Peanut Butter & Jams: The Uncle Devin Show • World Cafe Live at The Queen
Delaware College of Art & Design
Go Girls Music Showcase: Female Acts for a Great Cause
Jack Deesl, Architekt, Glitchsquid & DJ EA • World Cafe Live at the Queen
• The Brothers Quay: Through the Weeping Glass thru January 30 • Nicholas Kripal: New Work thru January 5 • Young Country: Rural Themes in Art thru January 26 302.656.6466 • 200 South Madison Street • TheDCH Staff Art Show: “We Don’t Just Work, Ya Know” opens January 11 302.658.6262 • 1810 N. DuPont St.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18TH
FRIDAY, JANUARY 11TH
Clay Date
Uncorked! Wine, Objects & Tradition daily thru Jan 5 • Winterthur
Garbage Band thru Jan 17
Delaware Art Museum 2301 Kentmere Pkwy • 302.571.9590
5105 Kennett Pike • 800.448.3883
Delaware Children’s Museum 550 S. Justison St. • 302.654.2340
Winter Wonderland thru Jan 3
Stephane Wrembel
Back to the Eighties Show - The Ultimate 80’s Tribute
Yuletide at Winterthur: A Feast for the Eyes daily thru Jan 6 • Winterthur
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12TH
Chelsea Tavern • 821 N. Market Street
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2 ND
Monthly Birdwalk
Universal Funk Order
Peanut Butter & Jams: The Cat’s Pajamas • World Cafe Live at the Queen
Brandywine Creek State Park 41 Adams Dam Rd. • 302.577.3534
500 N. Market Street • 302.994.1400
TUESDAY, JANUARY 15TH
Praying Mantis Showcase w/ Sledgehammer • World Cafe Live at the
Grilled Cheese & Craft Beer Tasting
Queen • 500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
World Cafe Live at the Queen 500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
All You Need for a Snowman
Tracy Grammer
World Cafe Live at the Queen 500 N. Market Street • 302.994.1400
Insight
Delaware Children’s Museum 550 S. Justison St. • 302.654.2340
Theatre N at Nemours 11th & Tatnall Streets • 302.571.4699
SUNDAY, JANUARY 27TH
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16 TH
Bellevue Hall Tour
800 Carr Road • 302.761.6963
$2 Night
Delaware Children’s Museum 550 S. Justison St. • 302.654.2340
1st Annual Inner City Fest
World Cafe Live at The Queen 500 N. Market St. • 302.944.1400
Praying Mantis Showcase w/ The Chicago School World Cafe Live at the
World Cafe Live at the Queen 500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3RD
Delaware Children’s Museum 550 S. Justison St. • 302.654.2340
SATURDAY, JANUARY 26TH
Queen • 500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
Walk & History 9am every Wed Bellevue State Park 800 Carr Road • 302.761.6963
Winter Break Camp & Jan 4
World Cafe Live at the Queen 500 N. Market Street • 302.994.1400
World Cafe Live at the Queen 500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
Flight Club every Tuesday 5:30-7:30
7pm every Wed • Shenanigans 125 N. Market St. • 302.691.8090
Riley Road and the Districts
Born Sisters Album Release Show
5105 Kennett Pike • 800.448.3883
Open Mic Night w/ Mason Dunn
World Cafe Live at the Queen 500 N. Market Street • 302.994.1400
World Cafe Live at the Queen 500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
Delaware Children’s Museum 550 S. Justison St. • 302.654.2340
An Evening w/ Jesse Cook
The Grand • 818 N. Market • 800.37.GRAND
THURSDAY, JANUARY 17TH
Our Journey: A II Extreme Story
Badfish - A Tribute to Sublime
World Cafe Live at The Queen 500 N. Market St. • 302.944.1400
World Cafe Live at the Queen 500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
Wee Have Fun Club alternates Weds &
Lake Street Drive
Thurs at 10am & 1pm • Bellevue State Park 800 Carr Road • 302.761.6963
WXPN Welcomes Citizen Cope
World Cafe Live at the Queen • 500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30 TH Music Masters: A Century of Musical Mastery - Chopin to Debussy • Music School of Delaware
World Cafe Live at the Queen 500 N. Market St. • 302.994.1400
4101 Washington Street • 302.762.1132
find more at { inWilmingtonDE.com }
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MUSIC
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
FOOD & DRINK
12/21/12 1:54 PM
Stepping Up Mayor-elect Dennis P. Williams discusses his life and his plans for the city
By Larry Nagengast photo by Joe del Tufo
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12/24/2012 10:50:48 AM
O
n Jan. 8—his 60th birthday—Dennis P. Williams will be sworn in as mayor of Wilmington. A graduate of P.S. du Pont High School, a retired Wilmington police detective and a state representative for 17 years, Williams is taking on a challenging task. Violent crime has been on the increase for the past 16 years, businesses are reluctant to locate in the city and government finances are stretched thin. Just before he embarked on his four-year term, Williams sat down with Wilmington Magazine to discuss his life and his hopes for the city.
Where did you grow up? What was your childhood like? I started out in the 1400 block of French Street. My parents moved to Riverside. I lived at 2906 N. Claymont St. I went to Northeast Elementary School (now East Side Charter School). I remember the first day school opened. It was a rainy day, but we were so proud…. It was a wonderful time. That community was phenomenal. Working class people, people who were trying to get ahead. People had flowers in the yard, the grass was green. There was no violence. You could leave your doors and windows open. People took care of one another. My grandfather and four uncles worked at the DuPont pigment plant (in Edgemoor). My great grandparents, my grandparents, my parents always shared. We always had more than enough. My father was the man I looked up to. He worked in the post office, as manager of the registry department. He spoke French and Spanish fluently. He felt if people came into the building, someone should be able to understand them, and that compelled him to learn the languages. We used to call my grandmother “The General.” She was only about five feet tall, but when Charlotte said “jump,” everybody would jump…. Everybody had a right to an opinion, but when my grandmother drew the line, that was it.
“We’re
Why did you decide to become a police officer? My brother and I were coming from a movie at the Grand Theater [now the Grand Opera House]. I couldn’t have been more than 7 or 8, and I saw two police officers push a gentleman down the steps. I said, “I’m going to be a policeman someday and I’m going to make it right.” My brother thought I was nuts. He still can’t believe I would have said that when I was only 8 years old. That was what I wanted to do. Well, I really wanted to be a professional baseball player, but I didn’t have the arm.
You ran for the General Assembly in 1995, for Lonnie George’s old seat. How did that happen? When the [city] Democratic Committee found out I had left the police department, they approached me, and Lonnie said, “You have good record, I’m going to be retiring [to become president of Delaware Technical Community College], so why don’t you run?” I had a long talk with Leo Marshall, former city chairman, a brief conversation with Lonnie, and with Gary Hindes, who was state chairman at the time…. I gave it my all, and here I am. I had worked on campaigns before. I worked on the [John F.] Kennedy campaign [in 1960]. My brothers and I, we were little. I had a Flexible Flyer wagon; I dropped more literature than they did.
working
with
the U.S. Department of Justice and the National
Police Institute to help us reconfigure the police department.
We’re
not
going to just respond to calls; we’re going to be out
What have you learned from your 17 years in Dover that will help you as mayor?
It taught me consensus building, how to work with people. I led the charge to solve the $800 million state deficit, and preserve the AAA bond rating, with my other colleagues on the Joint Finance Committee. We had to make some serious cuts. An election year was coming up. I had to explain to my colleagues that we either do it now or the state’s going to go belly up. If that happens, nobody’s going to be here anyway. You have to make decisions out of pain. That’s one thing Dover taught me, which I think I’m walking into now. There’s always a tomorrow. As long as I’ve got good people around me, and my faith, I think I will be fine.
there looking for crime.”
Who were some of your role models and mentors? Well, there was Ernest Webster, we called him Mr. Kingswood. He retired from the Air Force, he devoted his life to helping kids in the city. My English teacher at P.S., Karen Denton [Johnson]. And Mr. [Guy] Molock, my third-grade teacher at Northeast. He ran the FAME program [Forum to Advance Minorities in Engineering]. And to this day I still call him Mister.
There’s a difference between making the laws and making sure the laws are followed. How would you describe your management style? Well, I read “The One-Minute Manager” and I read “The 12-Minute CEO” and they didn’t help me at all. But the former speaker of the house, Robert Gilligan, sat me down, and told me ► 5
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Introducing Dennis P. Williams continued from previous page
when I left Dover, “Dennis, you’re going to win. When you’re in office, don’t micromanage your departments. Put good people around you and you’ll be fine.” So I’m bringing in the pros to handle departments that I know nothing about. I can’t say I’m a pro on public works. I can’t say I’m the pro on licensing and inspections. But I can give some expertise to the police department, and some to finance. Being chair of the Joint Finance Committee, being on money committees for 14 years in Dover, is really going to help me in dealing with finances.
On the crime front, you promised to be more proactive. How will the police department operate? We’re working with the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Police Institute to help us reconfigure the police department. We’re not going to just respond to calls; we’re going to be out there looking for crime. You don’t become a detective by riding around in a car with the windows up. You’ve got to look for things. We’re also going to reward officers for good work — have a reception and give commendations for stopping a robbery in progress, things like that.
What are your plans for working with businesses in the city? When we did surveys, 98 percent of the businesses said their main concern was public safety. Some businesses haven’t located here because of the crime problem. We will plow the snow off the streets so people can get to work, we will make sure there are no panhandlers bothering folks when they get off of work, we’ll make sure cars don’t get broken into. This is what they want to hear. We’re not going to be hiding behind bushes giving people $40 [parking] tickets. We’re going to look at L&I (Licenses and Inspection) and try to make it a one-stop shop, where [businesses] can get a permit for everything they do. We know they’re our lifeblood. If we lose that, we’re finished. That’s why we have to jump for businesses. If I have a CEO who calls and says, “My side street is iced in,” we’ll take care of it. I’m not going to say, “Sorry, wait until the sun comes out.” I want to keep their 500, 600 people in the city.
What is the outlook for city spending? Sometimes you may have to do more with less. Some positions may be open right now, and they will have to stay [vacant]. We will look at outside vendors, look at bringing things back in that are now under contract, and we’re going to look at items in contracts that were signed at the last minute. I have several areas to target [for spending cuts]. I don’t want to say what they are right now but three that I am targeting would save $1.4 million. We’re also going to look at duplication of services, possibly consolidating some departments, not filling some positions after people retire. There may be some things we’re just not going to be able to do anymore.
What’s your approach with the neighborhoods, making residents feel that City Hall cares about them? We’re going to hire a new planning director [Sophia Hanson]. We’re going to strengthen the eight planning districts…. Once we get a strong planning council together, with the community picking their own people to represent them, we will help with their agendas. All agendas are not the same. We will not dictate to communities what we think they need. When people tell us what they need, we will take it from there. Also, we’re going to have dedicated [police] officers and they’re not going to be rotated out. They’re going to be real community police officers, there for 13, 14, 15 months, not for six weeks or two months anymore.
During the campaign, you allied yourself with Tom Gordon and Chris Bullock, who won their races for New Castle County executive and County Council president. How do you see that alliance evolving? I believe my relationship with Tom Gordon and Chris Bullock will help the city and the county. When you have a large contingent of police officers getting trained, the price goes down. We can share these expenses. We are looking at a 911 center where calls would go strictly to police. That would save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars. I want to make Wilmington the best, Delaware the best, New Castle County the best. The only way we can do that is to work with one another, and to trust one another.
Are there any services that might be consolidated or merged? Parks and Recreation is the only department where I can see us consolidating or working together, but I would want to retain the bulk of (city parks) employees. We’re looking at saving money, not wasting money.
What do you want people to say about Dennis Williams four years from now? I want people to say he kept his word, that he did what he said he would do during the campaign, and he worked as hard as he could to bring about some changes. And I want them to say he had a great team around him, a team of dedicated, hardworking people. And maybe they’ll give us a second term.
Is there something that people still don’t know about Dennis Williams? I play Play Station. And I’m just as good as the young kids are. When my wife bought it for me, I was in the family room Christmas morning. I started at 9 in the morning and didn’t stop until 9 at night. I love it.
JANUARY 2013
6 . COVER STORY
By Matt Amis Photo by Shawna Sneath 1_Wilmington_CoverPackage.indd 4
12/21/12 1:58 PM
START 2013 WITH SOME ‘WORTH TRYING’ ARTS
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he New Year is the perfect time to start fresh, aim high, set goals and yes, try something new. Nothing dangerous, mind you. I’ll start you off with a quick Worth Trying tour of early 2013 “ArtStuff” to broaden your horizons, impress your pals and give you even more reasons to love this town.
Art From Philly, via Artpratique Start off the New Year’s first Friday by welcoming an arts newcomer to town. Artists Jennifer Park and Roldan West relocated their gallery from Philly’s South Street to Wilmo’s 9th Street. Artpratique (302 W. 9th) features Roldan’s modern artwork and Jen’s stone and metalwork jewelry. The gallery celebrates its Grand Opening on Friday, Jan. 4, and I have to say I’m thrilled to have another lively gallery inhabiting the 9th Street corridor. Music From Rio, via Mélomanie Mélomanie is an ensemble known for brilliantly melding early and modern musical repertoire in an informal and intimate way. They’ll deliver that and more at their Saturday, Jan. 19 performance at Grace Church in Wilmington. Composer Sergio Roberto de Oliveira—a Rio de Janeiro native and frequent Mélomanie collaborator (yes…an international composer is writing regularly for a Delaware ensemble)—will unveil his World Premiere, Dreams, for flute and cello. The piece musically depicts the mind’s “travel” during the night. His style of writing, like many Brazilian composers, combines popular and classical music. Mélomanie Artistic Director Tracy Richardson describes Sergio’s compositions as “… rhythmically dynamic, dreamy and full of poetry.” The performance also will feature guest artist and Philadelphia flutist Eve Friedman as well as Philadelphia composer Roberto Pace and another original work, his Fantasie: Mélomanie, also written specifically for the ensemble. Get tickets at melomanie.org, and our readers can get a special discount. Use code “INWILM” when purchasing online. Radio From NYC, via City Theater Company CTC’s next wacky staging is another World Premiere for us, written by local rock musician Joe Trainor (Joe Trainor Trio) and writer/director Kevin Regan (the genius behind CTC’s October hit event Murder at the Mansion). The premise: When a radio show based out of the Big Apple is slated to leap into the television age of Hollywood, comic hijinks and killer songs ensue. Hilarity, outrageous CTC “stage favorites” and great music? Don’t miss this production, running Feb. 22 through March 2 at The Black Box at OperaDelaware. Get tickets at citytheater.org. If you buy now through Jan. 15, you can get an “IN” discount here too, using the code “INWILM” when purchasing online. That’s not all CTC’s up to, either. Need something still hilarious, but with a bit less structure, more unpredictability and audience participation? Welcome to CTC’s Fearless Improv, which regularly takes over the space of the Chris White Gallery at Shipley Artists Lofts. For $5 admission, you get interactive games, songs, skits, dirty words, compromising positions…and you may even get pulled into the action. Go Fearless on Friday, Feb. 15, at 6:30 p. m. A Musical “Loan” from the Art Museum, via Market Street Music Compelling, engaging, and informative, Pyxis Piano Quartet’s performances have become some of the most sought-after concerts in the Delaware arts scene (the ensemble is in residence at the Delaware Art Museum, and those tickets are harder to score than a $500 million lottery ticket). Members Meredith Amado (violin), Amy Leonard (viola), Jie Jin (cello) and Hiroko Yamazaki (piano) have wowed audiences all along the East Coast. Now Market Street Music has “borrowed” them for a stellar Festival Concert at First & Central Church on Saturday, March 2. Pyxis’ music includes works from the sonata, duo, and trio repertoire as well as traditional and contemporary pieces. Tickets are $15 online; $20 at the door. Visit marketstreetmusicde.org to purchase. Want more info on ArtStuff? Follow me @ArtsinMedia!
— Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald
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CITY NOTES Shops Are Popping Up All Over
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ledgling businesspeople, take heart. A new trend is sweeping the globe: the pop-up shop. Temporary projects that provide capital and training, pop-up shops are generating opportunities and investment for entrepreneurs. They’re happening in England, Malaysia and South Africa—and now right here in Wilmington. While programs vary from city to city, the pop-up model usually draws from a pool of aspiring entrepreneurs, enabling them to start businesses in vacant storefronts. Each is granted three-to-12 months of rent and related capital, plus skill training, and paired with a mentor to get the business off the ground. The initiative helps draw people to the new shops and stores and also generates customers for surrounding businesses. It enables people who may be strong on ideas but short on capital to try their hand in the retail scene. In mid-October—just in time for the 2012 holiday season—Wilmington’s Project Pop-Up began opening up commercial space for entrepreneurs, providing three months of free rent in hopes of securing commitment to a long-term lease at the project’s completion. The city’s initiative is part of the Downtown Delaware program run by the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO). The program also is running in Dover, Middletown and Milford. According to DEDO, “Entrepreneurial activity and financial business prosperity are key drivers of economic growth in Delaware. That is why today entrepreneurs and business owners are more vital than ever to Delaware’s economic future.” Wilmington’s first pop-up shop--YoYo Joe’s Toys & Fun-- opened on Nov. 13 on Market Street. On Nov. 10, a different kind of pop-up garnered a lot of attention citywide. A oneday sneaker expo, Kicks and Sole, popped up in the LOMA district, at 312 N. Market St. Kicks and Sole was the first sneaker event in the state of Delaware that allowed connoisseurs to buy, sell, and trade some of the hottest footwear and clothing on the market. For $10, sneaker freaks gained admission to this exclusive marketplace, allowing them to participate in an art show and even visit a “sneaker museum.” Not only did the expo generate revenue for vendors and the venue, it also showcased the property and LOMA to hundreds of people. Whether they last seven hours or three months, pop-ups provide great opportunities for local entrepreneurs and allow the city to reap benefits. If the national trend is any indicator, Project Pop-Up could be a driving force in Downtown Wilmington’s entrepreneurial growth. — Alexandra Davis
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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. Asnan Sushi Bar & Asian Cuisine, ASNANRESTAURANTS.COM 7. Harry’s Seafood Grill / Riverfront Market, HARRYS-SAVOY.COM 8. Delaware Theatre Co., DELAWARETHEATRE.ORG 9. FireStone Roasting House, FIRESTONERIVERFRONT.COM 10. Cosi at the Barclays Crescent Building, GETCOSI.COM
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11. Hare Pavilion/Riverwalk 12. AAA Mid-Atlantic Travel Center, AAAMIDATLANTIC.COM 13. Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, THEDCCA.ORG 14. Justison Landing, Currie Hair, Skin & Nails, CURRIEDAYSPA.COM Veritas Wine & Spirits, VERITASWINESHOP.COM 15. Kooma, KOOMASUSHI.COM CrossFit Riverfront, CFRIVERFRONT.COM 16. Delaware Children’s Museum, DELAWARECHILDRENSMUSEUM.ORG
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Delaware State Chamber of Commerce-176th Annual Dinner
January 14 Chase Center on the Riverfront
DBS 30th Anniversary Hospitality Technology Expo
January 23-February 10 Delaware Theatre Company
January 22 Chase Center on the Riverfront
17. Joe’s Crab Shack, JOESCRABSHACK.COM 18. Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, IRONHILLBREWERY.COM 19. Public Docks 20. Big Fish Grill, BIGFISHRIVERFRONT.COM 21. Frawley Stadium, BLUEROCKS.COM Delaware Sports Museum & Hall of Fame 22. Chase Center on the Riverfront, CENTERONTHERIVERFRONT.COM 23. Dravo Plaza & Dock 24. Shipyard Center Planet Fitness, PLANETFITNESS.COM
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Boeing Boeing
25. Timothy’s Restaurant, TIMOTHYSONTHERIVERFRONT.COM Molly’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream, MOLLYSICECREAM.COM Ubon Thai Restaurant 26. Wilmington Rowing Center, WILMINGTONROWING.ORG 27. Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge/ DuPont Environmental Education Center, DUPONTEEC.ORG 28. DART Park-n-Ride Lot
Photo by Dick Dubroff of Final Focus Photography
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NOW OPEN!
Delaware’s First and Only IMAX Theater • All digital sound and projection High-back, leather stadium seating • Full list of alternative content
JANUARY RIVERFRONT EVENTS WHERE DID THEY GO? January 10, 10-11:30am Under the mud, into a burrow, or out of town…where do your favorite marsh animals spend the winter? DuPont Environmental Education Center DuPonteec.org DELAWARE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE-176TH ANNUAL DINNER January 14, 4:45pm Join the Chamber, elected officials and hundreds of business leaders from Delaware for the largest networking event of the year! You won’t want to miss the 176th Annual Dinner and presentation of the prestigious Josiah Marvel Cup Award. The keynote speaker will be William Winkenwerder, JR., MD, MBA President and CEO of Highmark Inc. Chase Center on the Riverfront Dscc.com
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DBS 30TH ANNIVERSARY HOSPITALITY TECHNOLOGY EXPO January 22, 10-4pm Come celebrate DBS’s 30th Anniversary and our 5th Hospitality Technology Expo! We will be featuring more partners than ever this year! Some old, some new. All of them geared to get the most out of your Point of Sale system. Chase Center on the Riverfront DBS4POS.com BOEING BOEING January 23-February 10, Show times vary By Marc Camoletti translated from the French by Beverley Cross & Francis Evans Fasten your seat belts for high-flying hijinks when Boeing Boeing comes in for a landing on DTC’s stage! In this first-class 1960s French farce, Parisian playboy Bernard juggles the arrivals and departures of his three flight attendant fiancées, each unaware of the other… until an old friend’s surprise visit causes turbulence. Laughter takes off in the 2008 Tony Award® winner The New York Times calls “pure pleasure.” Delaware Theatre Company Delawaretheatre.org
DEEC COFFEE HOUSE LECTURE: BUILDING INNOVATIONS FOR ZERO LANDFILL January 23, 6-8pm Enjoy an evening of fantastic views, and coffee and refreshment while learning how industries and corporations can and are moving to a zero landfill policy with Dave Walter, leader of DuPont Building Innovations that went from 81 million pounds of landfill in 2008 to zero landfill by the end of 2011. DuPont Environmental Education Center Duponteec.org TIDES AND TRAILS January 26, 10-12pm Take a hike and explore the furthest reaches of the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge. Pass the osprey nest and get a closer look. Hike through the area restored by DNREC and search for an active beaver lodge and signs of wildlife. Use binoculars, a spotting scope and field guides to catalog our finds! DuPont Environmental Education Center Duponteec.org
JANUARY 2013
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WRC News DowntownWilmington.com
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appy New Year! 2013 marks Wilmington Renaissance Corporation’s 20th anniversary as a privately funded, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. Its mission is to develop and implement strategies that increase the economic vitality of Downtown Wilmington, strengthen its role as a center of educational, cultural and social activity, and enhance its reputation as an exciting place to live and visit by marketing the city’s history and character. We value the many partners who help accomplish these goals and are privileged to work with amazing people and organizations on the many projects, events and programs that continue to make Wilmington a strong and vibrant city. Some of WRC’s accomplishments over the past 20 years include: • Creating Downtown Visions and the Downtown Wilmington Business Improvement District • Creating the Delaware College of Art & Design • Encouraging growth of the downtown workforce by 8,000 employees • Initiating redevelopment of the LOMA District. • Creating a four-year-long temporary public art program • Partnering to establish the city’s branding campaign— “Wilmington: In the Middle of it All” • Establishing a crosswalk improvement program in partnership with the city and DelDOT • Creating the Wilmington Grand Prix, Delaware’s premier three-day cycling event • Conceiving and advocating for creation of an artist live/work homeownership program. We’re partners, advocates and facilitators—opening doors and loosening logjams, pulling strings and cutting red tape. We direct our energies toward stimulating the city’s economy, attracting new residents and holding events that enrich our culture. We enthusiastically support the city’s diverse attractions and history, as well as its entertainment, lifestyle and development offerings. We see ourselves as true transformers, working with investors, local citizens and government to accomplish big ideas. We’re a sounding board and a test kitchen. We put the “life” in city life. We’re in tune, in touch—and always in town. There is much planned for 2013 and we want and need your participation, so please stay tuned for our great new programs and projects. For more information, call us at 425-5500 or visit downtownwilmington.com.
Staff Picks
Every month we highlight a few happenings in the city. Our favorites for January:
Art is Social at the Delaware Art Museum, Friday, Jan. 11 Come in out of the cold and celebrate the final days of the exciting Centennial Juried Exhibition while listening to the sounds of JD3, a Wilmington-based keyboard trio with deep roots in Philadelphia jazz. For more information: delart.org/prog_events/adult_prog/ artissocial.html.
Cultural Crossroads: Martin Luther King, Jr. & Black History Tribute at the Music School of Delaware, Friday, Jan. 18 Celebrate the musical diversity of our world and our community through concerts and workshops that integrate a variety of art forms. The audience will participate in a ring shout—an African-American religious tradition that can be traced to West Africa. The concert also will feature a 40th anniversary celebration of Herbie Hancock’s landmark jazz-funk album, Headhunters, and excerpts from The Meeting, Jeff Stetson’s play about a fictional meeting between Dr. King and Malcolm X. For more information: musicschoolofdelaware.org/ourevents.html.
Electric Ladyland at World Cafe Live at The Queen, Friday, Jan. 18 The Ladybug Festival and Gable Music Ventures presents four talented female-fronted bands—Noelle Picara, Sylvan Wolfe, Sweet Leda and Lovebettie—for a night of original music. For more information: gablemusicventures.com/allshows.
Boeing Boeing by Marc Camoletti (translated from the French by Beverley Cross and Francis Evans) at the Delaware Theatre Company, Jan. 23–Feb. 10 In this first-class 1960s French farce, Parisian playboy Bernard juggles the arrivals and departures of his three flight attendant fiancées, each unaware of the other…until an old friend’s surprise visit causes turbulence. Laughter takes off in the 2008 Tony Award winner The New York Times calls “pure pleasure.” For more information: delawaretheatre. org/node/13.
Delaware Symphony Orchestra at the Grand Opera House, Friday, Jan. 25, and Sunday, Jan. 27 Program: Humperdinck: Prelude to Hänsel und Gretel, Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra, op. 1, and Dvořák: Symphony No. 9, op. 95, E-minor “From the New World.” For more information: delawaresymphony.org/classic_newworld.html.
James Galea at the Grand Opera House, Saturday, Jan. 26 Australia’s number one magician and global YouTube sensation, James Galea, injects new life into the art of magic with his unique style fused with a wicked sense of humor. For more information: thegrandwilmington.org/Productions/12-13-Season/James-Galea. — Barb Bullock
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