The Brandywine Zoo invites you to Sip & Stroll through the zoo and enjoy a laid-back evening at our Thursday night happy hour series Craft beer will be available from Bellefonte Brewing and Dogfish Head Each Sip will feature a local food vendor and live music, Plus, our concession stand will be open with snacks and soft drinks This family friendly event is fun for all ages!
Limited number of tickets will be sold.
Drink and food purchases sold separately.
Special Thanks to Dogfish Head Beer & Benevolence for their generous donation!
Check out our web site for more fun-filled events!
Published each month by TSN Media, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Contact@TSNPub.com
Wilmington, DE 19801
PUBLISHER
Gerald duPhily • jduphily@tsnpub.com
DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS
Jim Miller • jmiller@tsnpub.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Bob Yearick • ryearick@comcast.net
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & PRODUCTION MANAGER
Matthew Loeb, Catalyst Visuals, LLC
DIGITAL SERVICES DIRECTOR Michael O’Brian
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS Amy Watson Bish
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Adriana Camacho-Church, Mark Fields, Pam George, Roger Hillis, Catherine Kempista, Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald, Ken Mammarella, Mary Ellen Mitchell, Matt Morrissette, Kevin Noonan, Andrea Smith, Bob Yearick
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jim Coarse, Justin Heyes and Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography, Ashley Craven, Lindsay duPhily, Joe Hoddinott
SPECIAL
Paul Bauer, John D. Holton, Bev Zimmermann
At The Beach
Pictured from left: Mike Contreras, Michael Stiglitz, Mike Petrilla, Ben Muse, Bob Barrar, Andrew Rubenstein
Photo by Joe del Tufo
THE WAR On Words
A monthly column in which we attempt, however futilely, to defend the English language
MEDIA WATCH
• Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, writing about Jordy Bahl, a Nebraska University softball player: “The former Oklahoma transfer hit four home runs in the Baton Rouge regional to give her 23 on the year, . . .” She is still an Oklahoma transfer. She’s a former Oklahoma player.
• Nate File, in The Philadelphia Inquirer: “The younger sister had her own room where the victim was allowed to sleep for awhile.” The two-word form a while is used when following a preposition or with ago or back (“a while ago/back”). Awhile is an adverb that means “for a while,” so eliminating for in this sentence would make it correct.
• Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY: “McAfee went to Irsay’s office to inform him of his decision to retire, and the 2-½-hour conversation ended with Irsay ensuring him that there was always a place for him with the Colts.” That would be assuring — removing all doubt. Ensuring means to make sure something happens — to guarantee it. Ensure is sometimes confused with insure, which means to cover something or someone with an insurance policy.
• Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, writing about former NBC Today host Hoda Kotb: “She’d recently began a breath work practice . . .” Began is the simple past tense of begin. Begun is the past participle, and the correct word here. If Jensen had written, “She recently began a breath work practice,” it would be correct. Also, She’d is a clumsy contraction, and a careful writer would have made it She had.
• Bedatri D. Choudhury, Inky: “Naaman’s unnamed wife’s unnamed young maid, captured from Israel by the Syrians, implored that Naaman seek healing from the prophet Elisha.” Implore requires an object, as in “She implored her master to seek healing from Elisha.”
• Michael Merot, of the Associated Press, writing about what the Indiana Pacers must fix in order to win the NBA Championship: “. . . the litany of bad passes that resulted in 20 turnovers . . .” Writers have developed a fondness for the word litany, because it sounds sophisticated. But they should keep in mind that it means “a tedious recital or repetitive series,” and is not just a synonym for a large quantity of something.
• A Facebook friend who is a former Inky sportswriter noted that ABC News Anchor George Stephanopoulos “was in high dungeon over presidential corruption.” The word is dudgeon — a feeling of offense or deep resentment.
Word of the Month
ÉCLAIRCISSEMENT
A noun meaning the clearing up of something obscure; enlightenment. The word that won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee for 13-year-old Faizan Zaki of Texas, it’s pronounced a-clair-sis-a-mah
LITERALLY OF THE MONTH
By Bob Yearick
Deborah Norville, after hosting her last Inside Edition: “I am literally swimming in gratitude.” Glug, glug, Deborah.
DEPARTMENT OF REDUNDANCIES DEPT.
• A PBS News announcer: “Alvarado had been using the drug for weight loss reduction.” Wait, was he using it to lose weight or to reduce weight loss?
• The Inky reported that Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto said he felt “nauseous” and “like I was going to throw up.” Nauseous: “a stomach distress with distaste for food and an urge to vomit.” (Also “extreme disgust.”)
• WDEL traffic reporter: “You have traffic merging together at . . .” As opposed to merging apart?
• A reader found this, unbelievably, in The New York Times: “Teams of masked agents in masks have approached foreign students, zip-tied them and bundled them into unmarked vehicles.”
ADD-ON PREPOSITIONS
The media seems intent on adding prepositions to verbs that don’t need them. Have you noticed, for instance, that add now must be followed by in . E.g., “Don’t forget to add in the tip”?
The play-by-play announcer for a recent WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty took it to another level by noting that the Indiana Pacers head coach was in the stands: “As Rick Carlisle watches on . . .” Watches requires a direct object but no preposition, since a preposition is part of the definition: “looks at something for a period of time.” Looks on is the accepted term.
SOCIAL MEDIA WORD OF THE MONTH
Phubbing, a portmanteau of phone and snubbing, is the now common act of ignoring immediate social interactions in favor of your smartphone.
NEED A SPEAKER FOR YOUR GROUP?
Contact me at ryearick@comcast.net for a fun and informative discussion on grammar.
Buy The War on Words book at the Hockessin BookShelf, at Huxley & Hiro Booksellers on Market Street, or on Amazon.
PETS OF THE MONTH
JACKSON
Beat the Heat:
Preparing Pets for a Sweltering Summer
By Brianna Hansen
Summer’s here, and while we reach for iced coffee and the A/C, our pets rely on us to help them stay cool and safe. Whether you’ve got a sunbathing cat or an energetic pup, a little planning goes a long way. Here are a few tips to keep your pets cool this summer.
Hydration helps, but moderation matters. Fresh, cool water should always be available, indoors and out. But if your dog’s been panting hard or just came in from the heat, don’t let them gulp down an entire bowl. Drinking too much water too quickly, especially in large, deep-chested dogs, can lead to a dangerous, and often fatal, condition called bloat (GDV). Offer small amounts at a time and avoid intense play right before or after eating or drinking.
Some pets are more heat-sensitive than others. Dogs with thick fur, young puppies, seniors, and flat-faced breeds such as Frenchies and Boston Terriers are especially vulnerable. Cats aren’t off the hook either; Persians and other flat-faced breeds can struggle in the heat too. Even heat-loving breeds need access to cool, shaded areas and plenty of fresh water.
MARGIE
Watch for signs of heat stress including excessive panting or drooling, abnormal gum color (bright red, blue, or purple instead of pink), vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, or confusion. Bloat presents itself in similar ways too, accompanied by (you guessed it!) a bloated stomach. If anything seems off, get your pet to a cooler space and contact a vet immediately.
Paws off the pavement! Hot sidewalks can burn sensitive paws. Do a quick test by placing the back of your hand on the pavement for five seconds…if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for them. Aim for early morning or late evening walks and stick to grassy areas when possible. If you have an indoor/outdoor cat, consider keeping them inside during the hottest times of the day.
Create a chill zone. Indoors with fans or A/C is best during extreme heat, but if your pet needs outdoor time, provide shady spots, cooling mats, or even a kiddie pool. Frozen treats made from broth, pumpkin, or pet-safe fruit can add a refreshing touch for both dogs and cats.
Groom wisely, but skip the shave. Brushing helps remove excess fur and supports airflow, but a pet’s coat actually helps regulate body temperature and provides sun protection, so don’t let them go bare!
Finally, never leave your pet in a parked car, not even for a single minute. Heat builds fast and can quickly become deadly.
So, adjust your routine, know your pet’s limits, and let’s keep things chill this summer!
FYI Things Worth Knowing
CAN YOU FIND THE CAN?
As a toast to 2SP Brewing’s 10th anniversary as well as our annual Sipping Through Summer edition, we’ve hidden a few cold beers (yes, we just took them out of the fridge) in this month’s issue. Tell us the four pages you find the beer and you could win a cool prize. Email your answer by July 20 to Contact@TSNPub.com with the subject line: I Found the Beer. We will choose three winners from correct submissions. Congrats to Delores Boatwright, Cal Worthington and Nikkila Black, who found the pizza on pages 16, 29, 52 and 57 of our June edition.
CELEBRATION
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION ON RODNEY SQUARE
The City of Wilmington is shifting gears on its annual Independence Day celebration. Instead of festivities at the Riverfront, a daytime Independence Day Celebration will be held at Rodney Square on July 5 from noon-3pm. Out & About Magazine is partnering with the City to present an afternoon of “free fun for all” including three live bands (lower case blues band, Richard Raw & Word Warrior Band and What The Funk). The celebration will also feature hot-air balloon rides, water slides, a rock wall, a trackless train, face painting, interactive games and more. Food trucks and vendors will provide refreshments. Visit OutAndAboutNow.com.
Food Trucks & Vendors
SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS
Delaware Shakespeare will present Twelfth Night, O Lo Que Quieras at Rockwood Park from July 17 to August 3, its first-ever musical production in 23 years of producing its annual summer festival. This lively bilingual adaptation of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, created by Liz Filios and Tanaquil Márquez, follows Venezuelan twins shipwrecked on the politically divided island of Illyria.
Wednesdays are Pay What You Will and Sundays are Family Night (children under age 12 are free with a paid adult). DelShakes will also host LGBTQIA+ and BILAM+ Night on July 23, and a Relaxed Performance (a friendly, “shush-free” environment) on July 27. Visit DelShakes.org.
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO LEAD THE DELAWARE CONTEMPORARY
The Delaware Contemporary has announced that Brett John Johnson has been appointed as its new executive director, succeeding Leslie Shaffer who had led the museum since 2019. Johnson is a seasoned arts leader, curator, and cultural strategist with more than 15 years of experience in museums and public institutions, including the Torpedo Factory Art Center and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Having begun his career at the Delaware Art Museum, he now returns to Wilmington with a vision to position The Delaware Contemporary as “a creative engine for the region.” Visit DeContemporary.org.
SWIM WITH THE SHARKS PITCH COMPETITION
Applications are open for the Emerging Enterprise Centers Shark Tank-style 13th Annual Swim with the Sharks Pitch Competition. New Castle County entrepreneurs can compete for a $10,000 grand prize and additional cash and prizes to help them launch and grow their business. The competition finals will take place on October 1 at Penn Cinema. Apply by August 4 at 11:59pm. Visit EECIncubator.com/ sharks-application.
HUXLEY & HIRO TO HOST
ACCLAIMED AUTHOR
to be an evening of storytelling, insight, and inspiration. Following the discussion, Holsinger will take audience questions and sign books, which will be available for purchase. Admission is free and open to all ages, but registration is required. Visit HuxleyAndHiro.com.
THE 4TH ANNUAL DIRTY POPCORN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL
Get out your popcorn! The Dirty Popcorn Black Film Festival returns for its fourth year, celebrating and elevating filmmakers of color from Delaware and the surrounding region. Presented by Jet Phynx and hosted by the Delaware Art Museum, this two-day event (August 9 & 10) features short film screenings across drama, documentary, and experimental genres, meetand-greets with local filmmakers, and Q&A panels. Saturday’s event will also include a red-carpet awards ceremony. Visit DelArt.org.
FIRST STATE BALLET THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2025-26 SEASON
Tickets are now on sale for First State Ballet Theatre’s new season, which includes the gothic thriller Dracula (Oct. 25 & 26), the 25th anniversary production of The Nutcracker (Dec. 13, 14, 20 & 21), and the tragic classic Giselle (Apr. 5 & 6), all performed in Copeland Hall at The Grand. Delaware's only professional ballet company also presents Up Front on Market (Nov. 14 & 17), a mixed program of classical and contemporary work in the intimate Studio One at The Grand, and Dreams in Motion (Feb. 21-22), which revives two works from FSBT’s repertoire by choreographer Viktor Plotnikov performed in The Baby Grand. Visit FirstStateBallet.org.
FRIDAY, JULY 11
5pm Start
DOWNTOWN
The Art O Mat
501 W. 7th Street wilmingtonalliance.org
Exhibit: Resetting The Culture –A Brian Mills Art Experience
Bridge Art Gallery 213 N. Market Street 353-4527 • bridgeartgallery.net
Exhibit: Ancestral Echoes: Masks We Wear by Troy Jones
Chris White Gallery
701 N. Shipley Street 475-0998 • chriswhitegallery.com
Exhibit: HERE&QUEER Group Show
City of Wilmington’s Redding Gallery
800 N. French Street 576-2100
cityfestwilm.com/redding-gallery
Exhibit: City of Wilmington Juried Art Show
Gallery at 919 at Citizens Bank Center 919 N. Market Street 856-220-4236
Exhibit: Delaware Photographic Society
Gallery at Grace Church
900 N. Washington Street 655-8847 • gracechurchum.com
Artist: Slow Hope by Regina Matos Katz
Huxley & Hiro
419 N. Market Street 439-0805
Artist: Water Women by Diane Crossan
LaFate Gallery 227 N. Market Street 753-5789
Exhibit: Diverse Patriotic Art Series by Eunice LaFate
Mezzanine Gallery
820 N. French Street 577-8278 • arts.delaware.gov
Artist: Seeds of Life by Jen Hintz Eggers
MKT Gallery
200 W. 9th Street 289-6772
Artists: Spaces That Speak by DOT & Smashed Label
The Queen 500 N. Market Street 981-9816 • thequeenwilmington.com
Artist: TBA
The Sold Firm
800-B N. Tatnall Street 689-3237
Exhibit: FIERCE: The Beyoncé Experience by y.it (James Wyatt)
Wilma’s
900 N. Market Street 761-0564
Exhibit: Rays group exhibition
WEST SIDE
Blue Streak Gallery 1721 Delaware Avenue 429-0506
Exhibit: National League of American Pen Women
BEYOND THE CITY
Bellefonte Arts
803-C Bellefonte Blvd 547-2573
Exhibit: Ocean and Beyond by Svetlana Smorodinova
Finist & The Owl 811 Brandywine Boulevard 786-228-6638
Artist: Christina Klein
cityfest presented by
Photo credit: Matthew Murphy.
Tailored Approach
Wilmington’s Wright & Simon has been a destination for quality men’s clothing for nearly a century
By Ken Mammarella
Leonard Simon tears up talking about rioting after the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
His father had called from Las Vegas and asked him to drive from his University of Delaware dorm to Wright & Simon, a Wilmington fixture specializing in men’s clothing since 1935. “I want someone from the family to be there,” he recalls his father saying.
So, he drove through the smoke of whatever was burning and met with the employees. After locking up the store — “this door with this key,” he emphasizes, pointing to the door at 911 N. Market St. and the key ring in his hand — he tells his father: “The store’s going to be fine.”
Wright & Simon was born during the Depression. Current owner Leonard Simon plans to continue on "as long as my health permits." Photo by Justin Heyes
The store is indeed doing fine. It had been born during the Depression and survived World War II, and it would later survive a 2½-month closure during the pandemic. “Business is stable,” Simon says in an interview, adding that “it’s in a healthier situation” than 15 or 20 years ago.
That said, the store’s approach has changed from appealing to businessmen working nearby to becoming a “destination” business, he says, noting that customers on just one recent Saturday had driven from Dover, Milton, Lewes and Mullica Hill, N.J. “They’re basically sold when they walk in.”
“Customers come to me because of my reputation and long standing in the community,” he says. “I deliver a high-end product, and I service it. And my demographic appreciates what I do.
Racks of suits, sports coats and dress pants (mostly blue, black and gray) dominate the sales floor. Also for sale are stacks of dress shirts (mostly pale pastels and subtle checks) and items to complete an outfit for an office, a wedding or even a garden party, such as belts, neckties, pocket squares and socks. There are also sweaters and casual shirts.
“Nobody else does what we do,” he adds, referring to how customers can choose among inventory hanging in the store (with hems and other adjustments made as needed upstairs), special orders from suppliers and made-tomeasure items (such as custom shirts from Individualized Shirts in Perth Amboy, N.J.). Many suppliers are in Quebec, which maintains a tradition of making fine menswear, with brands like Jack Victor, Ballin, Hart Schaffmer Marx, Samuelsohn and John Forsyth.
“We don’t manufacture these sorts of the products in the U.S.,” he says, noting that no suppliers are from Asia.
Many styles have come and gone since the early 1970s, when Simon started at the store full time, after earning his business degree. “I sell classic clothing,” he says. “There are tweaks of fashion involved in it all the time, but what we sell is an investment. You buy a nice garment, and it’s styled properly. You can wear it for many, many years, and it’ll still going to look fashionable.”
With more than 100 degree, diploma, and certificate programs, Delaware Tech will lift you up to high-demand jobs.
A customer receiving Wright & Simon's signature service, 1953.
Photo courtesy Leonard Simon
A key strategy involved emphasizing made to measure. “It was a transition that I was fortunate enough to embrace,” he says on WrightAndSimon.com.
“It is the main reason we still exist in the apparel industry today. With the changes from professional dress to sloppy casual as I call it, we became a niche and destination retailer for those still [wanting] to dress and look professional. We still sell a lot from stock, but that growth is flat while made-to-measure continues to grow.”
Wright and Simon began when Leonard’s father Morris connected to retired retailer James H. Wright, who agreed to teach Morris the business, which began on W. Ninth St. In 1952, it moved to its current site, a two-story building Simon owns, squeezed between two taller buildings. Along the way, Leonard’s uncle J. Louis also worked there. Today’s staff numbers five, down from as many as 19.
Leonard is unmarried, without another generation to take over.
“I want to keep doing this as long as my health permits,” he says, noting the exercise he gets by often scaling the 22 steps between the two floors. “I work hard, but I like working hard. As long as I can be relevant, I’ll do it. The people I have met in this business are just incredible, heartwarming and loyal. I could never give this up.”
Leonard Simon at the entrance of the current Wright & Simon.
Right: store founder James Wright.
Photo by Justin Heyes (Photo at right courtesy Leonard Simon)
West Side Pride
Sarah Lester loves Wilmington, especially the community she has helped develop in her own backyard
Economic and community development work is complex, involving ongoing communication with local, state, and federal government agencies, legislators, funding providers and partner organizations. But for Sarah Lester, president and CEO of Cornerstone West Community Development Corporation (CDC), the most important voice is that of the residents.
To help ensure sustainable progress, Lester and her seven Cornerstone West colleagues employ a strategy known as asset-based planning. “It’s about trying to listen to folks’ ideas and understand where they're coming from, which allows us to start from a position of strength,” she says.
By Mary Ellen Mitchell >
The diversity of Wilington is one of its great appeals, says Cornerstone West's Sarah Lester. Photo by Joe del Tufo
Lester brings “the ability to connect with all kinds of people and an uncanny knack for remembering details they’ve shared with her,” says her West Side neighbor and friend, Kevin Melloy. “Whether Sarah is on her bike, running errands or walking to a meeting, she interacts with everyone along the way. She maintains a multitude of diverse relationships and friendships, because she’s genuinely interested in others,” Melloy says.
“I love Wilmington, especially the diverse community on the West Side,” Lester says. “The residents on my block are of all different ages and ethnicities and come from a variety of backgrounds, and there are so many great spaces for us to interact.”
Grass Roots
Lester grew up on her family’s farm in Saint Georges along the C&D Canal and attended Wilmington Friends School. “My desire to give back stems from my Quaker education,” she says. After graduation in 2004, she attended Brown University in Providence, R.I.
She remained in Providence for four more years, first volunteering for AmeriCorps, where she provided youth services. She then moved on to coordinating farmers markets for Farm Fresh RI, a Providence nonprofit aimed at improving food distribution systems and providing fresh food to those in need. Some of the farmers she worked with transitioned their stands to brick-and-mortar
THURSDAYS
GLASGOW, 3-7PM, US 40 & DE 896, BEAR/GLASGOW
BELLEVUE, 3-7PM, 510 DUNCAN RD, N WILMINGTON, AT BELLEVUE COMMUNITY CENTER CAROUSEL, 2-6PM, 3700 LIMESTONE RD, PIKE CREEK FRIDAYS
SATURDAYS
MIDDLETOWN, 9AM-12PM, 204 EAST MAIN ST, MIDDLETOWN, APPOQUINIMINK LIBRARY
Providing fresh, local, seasonal, produce and artisan food across New Castle County now through October. Rain or shine!
Lester (2nd from right) and Kevin Melloy (right) at the Hispanic Parade.
Photo courtesy Sarah Lester
While finishing her graduate studies in 2016, Lester attended a conference at the Wilmington Riverfront where she met Christian Willauer, the economic director of Cornerstone West at the time. Lester was curious about job opportunities in Delaware, and when a management position at Cornerstone West caught her eye, she wasted no time applying. “I competed against incredibly talented candidates,” she says.
“I was an outsider because I didn’t live in Wilmington, so I appreciate the chance they took on hiring me,” Lester says.
In just nine months, she was promoted to president and CEO, responsible for overseeing affordable housing development and the West Side Grows Together neighborhood revitalization plan, which was founded by Willauer to support small business development, improve housing choice and engage residents in community planning.
Restoring Hope & Pride
Cornerstone West, a division of West End Neighborhood House (WENH), was established in 1999 through a partnership with St. Francis Hospital to provide affordable housing on the West Side of Wilmington, one of several areas that fell behind economically when construction of I-95 in the 1960s displaced residents and businesses.
To make room for the concrete intrusion, 25 blocks of homes, businesses, churches, green gathering spaces and entertainment venues were demolished, leading to less livable and walkable neighborhoods on both sides of the highway, especially for those without a car.
This unfortunate outcome, combined with policy decisions and housing marketplace changes, led to steep and lasting population decline in the city overall, as many white residents relocated to the suburbs. Blocks with the most concentrated populations suffered from insufficient investment.
Many such blocks are on the West Side, an area which, for purposes of Cornerstone West’s economic development focus, includes the neighborhoods bounded by Pennsylvania Avenue to the north, Lancaster Avenue to the south, Jackson Street to the east and Union Street to the west.
For the past 25 years, with help from its partners, Cornerstone West has been revitalizing the West Side: from renovating vacant houses and building new ones — including special needs homes for young adults aging out of foster care — to renovations for senior citizens that enable them to stay in their homes.
In addition, Cornerstone West has built hundreds of affordable housing units for first-time homebuyers and helped create the Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank, an organization whose mission is to return blighted properties back to productive use. Many more projects are in the works.
Growing Together
Cornerstone West also provides financial and human capital to West Side Grows Together, a neighborhood coalition created to assist small businesses, establish and revitalize parks, playgrounds, and gardens, enhance public safety and create opportunities for placemaking and public art on the West Side.
Starr Wilson, real estate and housing manager at Cornerstone West, says, “There’s no formula for this kind of work, but Sarah is determined to bring people together to create sustainable solutions.”
A recent example of such effective collaboration is a project initiated with United Neighbors, an organization striving to reconnect the communities divided by I-95.
“Residents expressed a need for beautification, so Sarah brought in local artists and found the money, which is how the murals on the bridges across the highway came about,” Wilson says. “Neighbors say the art reminds them to focus on the positive aspects of their community.”
Lester’s background in agriculture lends itself to Cornerstone West’s support for the West Side Farmers Market, a joyful gathering where residents can purchase fresh, locally grown produce and products such as honey, herbs and tea, every Wednesday afternoon from June through October in Cool Spring Park.
Cornerstone West board member David Kim says, “One of Sarah’s strengths is that she puts the goals of others ahead of her own, which is rare in leadership. She gets things done.”
Lester says she owes much of her success to Willauer, now a city council member, and Paul Calistro, president and CEO of WENH, who have been supportive mentors.
“I’ve learned so much about community development from Christian, and I have great respect for Paul and the entire WENH organization. We’re all working together to provide affordable, necessary services to the West Side community.”
A Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at a United Neighbors bridge mural.
Photoby Rob Pfeiffer
Unwind by the Brandywine.
Enjoy live music, food trucks, beer & canned cocktails on Wednesday evenings June through August. Dog-friendly.
HAGLEY.ORG/NIGHTS
Bringing It All Back Home
When not at work, Lester is frequently outdoors, whether sailing in Lewes, gardening at home, or riding her bike with friends around Wilmington or in Old New Castle’s Battery Park and beyond.
One of her favorite personal pursuits is a storytelling initiative she created in 2018, called Wilmington Tales, a monthly gathering of friends, family, and associates.
“We rotate among different establishments in the city to promote small businesses while we’re at it,” she says. Each participant has six minutes to tell a story based on a monthly theme. “We have fun practicing the art of storytelling as we become more comfortable speaking in public,” Lester says.
More than nine years after joining Cornerstone West, Lester has lost none of her enthusiasm for the job, and for her adopted city. “I understand my privilege, and I often think about how fortunate I am to be on the path that I am, and that it led me back to Delaware is pretty cool.
“I’m dedicated to supporting Wilmington to make it that much more of a fun and attractive place where people want to live, visit and vacation,” she says. “To me, the most profound aspect of this work is that we can help others see what’s possible.”
— To learn more about WENH and the positive impact that Cornerstone West and West Side Grows Together are making, visit: WestEndNJH.org
Governor Matt Meyer and his wife Lauren (5th & 4th from right) celebrate MLK Jr. Day with Lester and members of the West Side Grows team.
PRESENTED BY DOGFISH HEAD CRAFT BREWERY
HAGLEY MUSEUM AND LIBRARY
Photo courtesy Sarah Lester
Tappin' 10
2SP Brewery marks a decade of success in shifting marketplace
By Pam George
Mike Stiglitz has been married for nearly four years, but he’s had a love affair that’s lasted much longer. The chef has been passionate about craft beer since 2003 when he met beer geek Ben Muse at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant. One sip of Samuel Adams’ bracing Triple Bock and Stiglitz was hooked.
The romance — and the bromance between the coworkers — led to the founding of several beer-oriented restaurants, including Two Stones Pub, which started in Newark, Delaware, and quickly expanded.
But it wasn’t enough.
In 2015, Stiglitz, Muse and their team unveiled 2SP Brewing Company. Owning a hospitality group isn’t easy. Managing a brewery presents its own set of challenges. But 10 years after opening, 2SP has absorbed the scrappy, tenacious attitude of its home base, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, commonly known as Delco.
Nothing is off limits. Put Vincent Van Gogh on a beer can? Why not. Make a seltzer with Delta-9 THC? Sure, no problem. Collaborate with Wawa? Winter Reserve Coffee Stout was such a hit, the duo followed it up with Sunfest, a strawberry-lemonade shandy.
Most breweries would crow about these achievements. In typical Delco style, 2SP lets its product do the talking. “Everything those guys do in that building is top shelf,” Stiglitz says of his brewers. “I know because I pay the bills, right? They spare no expense. We use the same malt we’ve used since the beginning, which is not the cheapest by far.”
The cost pays off. In the past 10 years, 2SP has proven its mettle with medals and creative thinking.
“They continue to produce some of the finest craft beer in the region and have found a way to successfully navigate market and legislative challenges thrown their way,” says John Medkeff, author of Brewing in Delaware.
Photos by Joe del Tufo
Hops Wishes and Malt-Laced Dreams
Flash back to 2015, when 2SP was born. Stiglitz and Muse had found success with Two Stones Pub, which opened in 2011. Initially, Stiglitz, who graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, was the chef, and Muse was the general manager. Chris Meyer, who’d also worked at Iron Hill, came aboard as corporate chef. A North Wilmington location opened in 2012, and Kennett Square soon followed.
Stiglitz and Muse had talked about opening a brewery since they’d been part of The Pickled Pig Pub in the Rehoboth Beach area. But that location was too small. Stiglitz sold his shares and moved north to open Two Stones, which quickly became known for its food and curated craft beer list.
The brew selection is a hop-head’s dream. But the products weren’t Two Stones’ beers. “We thought, ‘This is silly. Why can’t we do this?’” Stiglitz recalls. “We’d always dreamed of it. We wanted to have something at the core of our company to build a culture around. It seemed like a natural fit.”
The plan hinged on one man: Bob Barrar. “Dubbed the “Medal Machine,” the award-winning brewer spent more than a decade with Iron Hill.
“We weren’t going to do it without Bob,” Stiglitz says. Equally important was the addition of Mike Contreras, who’d worked for Rogue and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. He became director of sales and marketing.
Welcome To Delco
Barrar is a Delco “lifer.” But that’s not the only reason 2SP is headquartered in Aston, Pennsylvania. The Keystone State allows breweries to self-distribute their beer. In contrast, Delaware requires producers to adhere to a three-tiered system: the producer goes through a distributor, which sells to retailers or restaurants.
Barrar found an affordable 10,000-square-foot space in Aston with room for a 20-barrel brewhouse and 200 barrels of cellaring space. His first beer was Delco Lager, an American Amber lager with a 4% ABV appealing to a bluecollar crowd weaned on Genesee Light and Yuengling.
Michael Stiglitz (l) with head brewer Bob Barrar.
BOoK O NLINE!
TWISTED IRONSCBC
GOLF SI MULATOR
“This was a gateway beer for a lot of his friends,” Contreras says. “We thought we could take it up a notch.”
In 2015, Muse told a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter that Barrar “wanted it to be the beer you take to an Eagles tailgate.” Most of the lager would be available in Delco, but if it “catches fire, that’s great,” Muse said. The beer, featuring a cartoon man with a “beer beard” on the can, remains a top seller.
Since opening, the brewery has added another 10,000 square feet, and Stiglitz is determined to hold tight. The more space you have, the more stuff you put in it,
he explains. The barrel room, which holds beers aged wine, tequila and other spirits casks, is in the back; a 2,000-square-foot tasting room is in the front.
Brewing Up 2SP
The brewery’s name, 2SP, is an acronym for Two Stones Pub. Stiglitz didn’t want to use the pub name because he felt it implied a neighborly, local vibe. And despite 2SP’s numerous nods to Delco, the beer had regional and national potential. Plus, 2SP said a lot in a few letters, especially when it came to decorative tap handles. “We just wanted a big symbol,” he says.
Nevertheless, the restaurants gave 2SP an advantage; there were five Two Stones by 2016. Each location features 20 taps, with half dedicated to 2SP beers.
Barrar’s reputation helped get 2SP on the shelves of Delaware and Pennsylvania liquor stores, Contreras says. However, Delaware bars were hesitant to offer a product linked to Two Stones — the competition for customers.
“It’s faded, but it hasn’t completely gone away,” Contreras says.
The brewing industry, however, was supportive, especially Evolution Craft Brewing Co. The Salisbury, Maryland, brewery agreed to a collaboration before 2SP’s facilities were operating. The local industry offered tips and advice.
“We’ve returned the favor,” Contreras says.
Says Stiglitz: “You want to know how to open a brewery? I’ll tell you tomorrow. The first thing I’ll tell you is don’t do it right now. Beers are a little off kilter right now.”
Stiglitz says 2SP spares no expense in creating its products.
Winds Of Change
To be sure, things have changed since Stiglitz first appreciated his sip of Samuel Adams Triple Bock, then considered one of the world’s strongest beers. The increase in breweries has led to a series of trends.
“All of a sudden, it was about every kind of stout you could think of — peanut butter, vanilla, marshmallow,” Stiglitz says. “Then it was about fruit beers. How much fruit can you put in a beer? New England IPAs took off like wildfire. You have giant hazy IPAs with 400 calories a can and amazing flavor.
Breweries who follow the styles are doing so to survive, he notes. In 2015, when 2SP opened, there were 4,847 breweries in the United States, according to the Brewers Association. In 2024, there were 9,922.
These breweries are facing a shift in consumer preferences. “The OG craft beer drinker is aging out,” Muse explains. “There’s no more, ‘Hey, let’s have a bunch of 8% beers.’ Now it’s like, ‘Hey, let’s take it easy because we have stuff to do tomorrow.’” At 4% ABV, Delco Lager is a case of what’s old is new again.
Breweries aren’t just competing against each other. Today, there are hard ciders and lemonades. During the COVID-19 pandemic, canned cocktails hit the shelves at a low ABV. Couple all that with legal marijuana and THC beverages.
Enter Shady’s, a 2SP collaboration with Endo Café in Lancaster. The beverages contain Delta-9 THC, and flavors include Anytime Lemon-Lime, Spa Day Cucumber Mint and Cranberry Crush. A QR code on the can provides customers with information on the chemical makeup.
The team has also collaborated with Knob Creek Bourbon Whiskey and Elijah Craig to create proprietary spirits. A collaboration with a tequila company resulted in excess inventory.
When the añejo and rosa blanco arrived, Stiglitz called Muse, who was getting his son ready for school. “Did you spend $40,000 on tequila?” he asked Muse. The harried dad said no, and he’d call back.
Stiglitz replied: “Let me take the question mark off. I’m looking at the invoice.”
They didn’t realize how much tequila was in three casks. The brewery’s storage space came in handy.
Despite the math error, the product diversity demonstrates that 2SP is a beverage company, not just a brewery. Contreras agrees. While beer is 2SP’s priority, the company is responding to changing tastes, alternative options and consumer demands.
An Emphasis on Innovation
In the end, innovation is essential, Stiglitz says. “If you’re not first, you’re last.” The need for creativity extends to the packaging.
“There is a lot of pressure to have fun, inventive names,” says Contreras, whose sister, Mazie, is the brewery’s graphic artist.
When 2SP collaborated with the Audubon Center for Circadian IPA, the team requested permission to use John Audubon’s artwork. As it turns out, Audubon’s art is now in the public domain — no consent is required. (The public domain means the copyright to the art has expired.)
Contreras, whose mother volunteers with the non-profit Art Goes to School, got the idea for the Public Domain collection, which features art from local museums. Consider “The Postman” by Vincent Van Gogh, which is on Letters from Aston, an IPA. The original is at the Barnes Foundation’s Museum.
The After Hours Black & Tan includes Edouard Manet’s “Le Bon Bock,” which is on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Each beer names the artist, the painting’s name, and the local museum or nonprofit where the sipper can see it. The label also promotes Art Goes to School.
The series is clever, but it wouldn’t work without Barrar and the brewers, whom Stiglitz and Contreras call “all-stars.”
While 2SP and Two Stones Pub are separate entities, the synergy behooves them both.
“What’s unique about Two Stones?” Stiglitz says. “People love the food, but we also have our own beer. It’s different. You can go all over Delaware and get wings, a burger or an entrée. But you can’t just walk into a place where the staff can tell you what’s in the beer. We wanted to have something that we’re proud of.”
Most would agree they’ve succeeded.
Summer Sippin'
Summer Sips is back — your go-to roundup for seasonal drinks, breezy events, and refreshing ways to celebrate summer around town. From patio happy hours and cocktail classes to brewery releases and tastings, there’s no shortage of ways to raise a glass this season. Whether you’re into craft beer, colorful cocktails, or chilled wine under the stars, these happenings are sure to keep your calendar (and your glass) full all summer long. Cheers!
Music on Tap
Summer Nights Along the Brandywine
Wednesdays through August 27, 5-8pm at Hagley Museum & Library
Relax with family and friends (and Fido, too!) along the Brandywine on Hagley Museum & Library’s 235-acre property on Wednesday evenings through August. Pack a picnic or pick up a bite to eat from the featured food truck and enjoy craft beer by Dogfish Head and ice cream from Woodside Farm Creamery, plus live music and lawn games round out the fun.
— More at Hagley.org
Fridays & Saturdays, 6-8:30pm at Wilmington Brew Works
Enjoy cold beer and cool vibes at Wilmington Brew Works every weekend this summer. The Queen presents “Live & Local” on Friday nights featuring intimate sets in the taproom. Saturdays bring “Bands in the Garden,” a lively outdoor showcase of full bands. Sip, relax, and let the music pour.
— More at WilmingtonBrewWorks.com
Unwind on the Patio
Fridays & Saturdays at The Chancery Market
Spend your summer nights on the patio at The Chancery with live music Fridays (5:30-7:30pm) and Saturdays (7-9pm), oversized lawn games, and creative cocktails such as “It’s Summertime Mule” or “Summer Sky Fall.” Relax outdoors, sip something fun, and enjoy the perfect mix of music, drinks, and laid-back weekend energy.
More at TheChanceryMarket.com
Fridays at the Farm
July 11, August 8 and September 12, 5-7:30pm at Coverdale Farm Preserve
Join Delaware Nature Society throughout the summer at Coverdale Farm Preserve. Sip, snack and shop local while enjoying live music, lawn games, farm animals, and scenic views. Beer, wine and soft drinks are available for purchase, as well as a selection of food from local vendors. All ages are welcome, and don’t forget to bring a blanket or chair to unwind.
— More at DelawareNatureSociety.org
Gilded Age Garden Gatherings
July 17 & August 21, 5-8pm at Nemours Estate
If you haven’t yet experienced the Nemours Estate’s stunning French-style gardens and grounds, summer is the time to do so. At these Third Thursday events, be transported back to the Gilded Age as you picnic in the garden and frolic on the lawn. You’ll not only enjoy discounted admission, but also live music, food trucks, and beer from Wilmington Brew Works and wine.
— More at NemoursEstate.org.
Sip & Stroll at the Zoo
July 24, August 21, and September 25, 5-7:30pm at Brandywine Zoo
Enjoy a relaxed evening at the zoo at this family-friendly happy hour series featuring brews, food, live music, and animal encounters. Each event features a local food vendor and adult beverages, including wine and craft brews by Dogfish Head and Bellefonte Brewing. The Zoo’s concession stand is also open with snacks and soft drinks.
— More at at BrandywineZoo.org
Sip n’ Sail
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays through September on the Wilmington Riverfront
Cruise the Christina River aboard a party boat featuring a fully stocked tiki bar serving tropical cocktails and soft drinks. From now through September, you can choose from one of several different boating experiences by Delaware Cruises & Events including Scenic River Cruises and Evening & Sunset Cruises, Mimosa Brunch Cruises, Rum & Reggae Cruises, and more.
— More at DelawareCruises.com
Craft Your Own Cocktails
July 19 & August 23, 3:30–5:30pm at Mt. Cuba Center
Elevate your cocktail game with one (or both!) of Mt. Cuba’s classes, led by master mixologist Diane Keesee. In “Go Native with Infused Vodkas” on July 19, learn to create infused vodkas using native plants; and in “Shrubs Aren’t Just for the Garden” on August 23, explore creating infused vinegar-based syrups to give your beverages a boost.
— More at MtCubaCenter.org
Delaware Whiskey Fest
Saturday, August 16, 4-7pm at The Dahlia
This upscale tasting event will feature 50+ premium whiskeys, bourbons, and Scotches. Sip curated samples, enjoy live music, and witness (or compete in) the Whiskey Cocktail Showdown. Perfect for the connoisseurs and curious sippers alike.
— More at at DelawareWhiskeyFest.eventbrite.com
Taste of Terrior: An Italian Wine & Cheese Experience
August 21, 3pm & 6pm at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Explore how Italy’s diverse terroirs—from Tuscany’s hills to Sicily’s volcanic soil—shape its renowned wines and artisanal cheeses. This curated tasting pairs Italian wines with authentic cheeses such as Piave, Pecorino, and La Tur. Celebrate the connection between land, flavor, and tradition. Ticket includes three wine and cheese pairings.
— More at Winterthur.org
Historic Odessa Brewfest
September 6, 2024, 12:30-5:30pm
Each year on the first Saturday after Labor Day, attendees enjoy some of the best regional and national craft beers, along with locally produced wine and spirits, plus food and live music.
— More at OdessaBrewfest.com
Summer Sips
Looking for something new to sip on this summer? Glad you asked… Here are some choice selections from our staff — from canned cannabis cocktails to un-"bee"-lievable honey ales on tap.
2SP Celebrate Two 10th Anniversaries with Tall Bois
We always knew the gang at 2SP Brewery were party animals, but the point was proven once again with their recent Tall Boi collaboration with Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, Pa.
Both organizations are celebrating 10 years this year. Last month, 2SP helped the zoo celebrate their special occasion with a special brew, the Tall Boi, which features the zoo’s three giraffes — Mokolo, Dhoruba, and Gerald — on the can’s artwork.
Tall Boi is a medium-bodied IPA that has three stars of its own: Idaho 7, El Dorado and Citra hops. 2SP’s 10th Anniversary will be celebrated at their brewery in Aston, Pa., on Saturday, August 23.
— For more info, see our full story on page 26 and visit 2SPBrewing.com
Autumn Arch “Czechs” into Summer with New Look
Back in April, Autumn Arch Beer Project kicked off its sixth year in business with a refreshed look: its iconic leaf given more ink-sketched depth and its name a bolder font. Subtle tweaks, but substantial.
Also of notable substance is the Autumn Arch’s new Czech pilsner, which the brewery developed exclusively with noble Saaz hops. [Note: The name Saaz comes from the German pronunciation of the Czech town of Žatec, which has a 700-year-long tradition of growing the distinctive variety of hops.]
Autumn Arch’s 4.5% pilsner has the addition of Czech malt as well, to bring a “sweet doughy flavor that ties it all together in perfect balance,” the brewers say.
— More at AutumArch.com
Bellefonte Brewing Offers a Taste of Honey with B. Hive
Have you heard the latest buzz?
Bellefonte Brewing's B. Hive Honey Ale is not only available on tap at the brewery, it’s also now available in cans. Brewed with real local honey, this golden ale comes with a smooth, slightly sweet finish that’s gives it a distinctive flavor. According to the brewers, “B. Hive brings the perfect balance of light and floral honey notes in every sip.” It all sounds like a fitting addition to any summer cooler, whether it be (or bee) for a picnic, outdoor BBQ or for a trip to the beach.
— More at BellefonteBrewingCompany.com
Big Oyster’s Pillars of Dankness Help Lift 10th Anniversary Party
Big Oyster is another local brewery celebrating 10 years of producing delicious brew. On Sunday, June 22, the brewery celebrated with a birthday party featuring live music, limited-edition swag, and DJ Cotti spinning the hits from 10 years ago.
Amid the festivities, a new member of the Big Oyster family could be seen (and tasted): this year’s version of their annual Pillars of Dankness release. Triple dry-hopped with Superdelic, Nelson Sauvin, and Strata hops, the dank concoction is completed with the addition of Blue Dream terps.
The result? The brewers promise “a wild ride of tropical candy, sweet berries and straight up dankness.”
— More at BigOysterBrewery.com
Dew Point Welcomes THE BIG IF to its Taps
Released in May, THE BIG IF is a new West Coast-style IPA offered at Dew Point Brewing Co. Brewed with Krush hops and sitting at 75 IBU and 7% ABV, this beer is unquestionably another great reason to get out to the brewery in Yorklyn.
Other reasons include $1 slices from Primas Pizza on Wednesday nights starting at 5pm, and $5 burgers from Bucky’s BBQ on Thursday nights, with trivia starting at 6:30pm.
Then, of course, you’ve got fun live bands on the weekends — like Delta Cosmonauts and Too Tall Slim — which help make the “big if” proposition much more like “why the heck not.”
— More at DewPointBrewing.com
High Steaks Brings It on Home… and Elsewhere
Located at Delaware Park, High Steaks Brewery isn’t afraid to take some chances when it comes to its beer selection.
The variety of the menu speaks for itself: a nitro dry Irish stout, a Belgian dubbel, a Japanese rice lager, a watermelon-flavored gose, and a cream ale made with real pineapple and Madagascar vanilla beans.
If that feels too internationally cosmopolitan for anyone’s particular tastes, High Steaks offers the Hometown Hero, a 5.2% ABV session IPA that is brewed with locally grown malt and fresh-picked hops from Delaware and Pennsylvania. The Hero is flavored primarily by Comet hops, which — as the menu states — “promotes wild American citrus aromas and flavors.”
— More at DelawarePark.com/dining/brewing.
New Levitate THC Cocktails Now Available in Delaware
Hemp-derived THC cocktails have begun to become more ubiquitous in Delaware liquor stores and bars this year — an indication of their growing popularity with consumers looking for other means of relaxation and/or mood enhancement.
New to the market, Levitate beverages take the concept to another level in a manner of speaking. In addition to offering Delta 9 THC and CBD, the beverage mixes in functional ingredients like L-theanine and Cordyceps to support relaxation, focus, and balance.
Makers call it a “better-for-you beverage crafted with a purpose,” noting that each serving is only 30 calories.
— More at GetLevitate.co
Nowadays
THC
Drink Allows You to Mix Your Own
Nowadays advertises itself as “the drink for social drinkers” with the caveat “because hanging out with friends shouldn’t have to end in a hangover.”
The cannabis-infused drink is available in 750ml bottles at three different price points and levels of THC — high dose (10mg THC), low dose (5mg THC) and microdose (2mg THC) — with each bottle containing about 16 servings.
The advantage to other options? You add the drink to any other beverage and mix to your specific tastes and tolerance. That said, Nowadays also offers pre-mixed canned cocktails in flavors of citrus, berry, tropical and spicy lime.
— More at TryNowadays.com
Tröegs Brings Back the Sunshine This Summer
Famous for their winter classics, Mad Elf and Nugget Nectar, Tröegs Independent Brewing now has a summer beer that has earned a spot in brewery’s once-a-year series.
The Sunshine Salt + Lime Lager was introduced last year as an exclusive beer in Troegs’ Summer of Sunshine variety 15-pack, where it will be available again. However, after fans called it “the standout beer,” the Sunshine Salt + Lime goes solo as well, available this summer on draft and as 12-ounce six-packs.
The 4.3% ABV lager is balanced with German Hallertau Tradition hops, while getting flavors from lime zest oil and kosher salt.
— More at Troegs.com
Twisted Irons Adds Hard Seltzers to Their List
A brewery that seems to be able to deliver on almost every beer-style imaginable, Twisted Irons officially has now entered the realm of Hard Selzers.
As the brewery promises: “You asked for it—you got it. Our vodka-based seltzer is just the thing if beer, wine, mead, or cider is not for you.
“Grab a pint and mix with a variety of fruit flavors to create dozens of yummy combinations. A perfect and light summer crusher.”
— More at TwistedIronsBrewery.com
Un Per Due: A Refreshing Cocktail for the Beach or Brunch
It’s bubbly like champagne, and it’s fruity like a radler or shandy — but yet different from all three in its own way.
Un Per Due is actually an Italian Friuli-inspired aperitif. The beverage made a big splash at a recent Movies on Tap event in April with the movie Bridesmaids with guests raving about the taste. With flavors of grapefruit, citrus and ginger, it’s got both zest and some bite, but yet it’s also sweet; and at 6.5%, has a decent kick to it.
Its makers — all Delaware natives — promise that with one sip, “you’ll be whisked away to an Italian sidewalk café.”
— More at UnPerDue.com
Shooting for the Moon
Lisa and Carl Georigi put everything on the line to open Eclipse. Nearly 30 years later, the reward was worth the risk.
By Pam George
Photos by Joe del Tufo
On Dec. 16, 1996, Lisa and Carl Georigi had a 2-year-old son, and Lisa was eight months pregnant with their daughter. But on that day, the couple also gave birth to the first of a brood of businesses. Eclipse Bistro debuted in a former fried chicken restaurant on the edge of Little Italy.
Nearly 30 years later, Eclipse is the flagship restaurant in Platinum Dining Group’s collection. Siblings include RedFire Grill & Steakhouse (formerly Dome) in Hockessin, Capers & Lemons in Greenville, Taverna in Newark and Talleyville, El Camino Mexican Kitchen in Talleyville, and Hearth Kitchen in Kennett Square.
Eclipse remains the couple’s “baby.” “It’s where we started,” Lisa says. “It’s just a special place.”
Bryan Jariwala never worked at Eclipse, but he would agree. “This place has such a unique history and such a place in all our hearts,” says Jariwala, a director of operations, who began his career as a Dome barback. “It all started within these four walls.”
Seizing An Opportunity
The Georigis met in 1992 when Carl managed Café Bellissimo near Price’s Corner, where Lisa frequently dined. At the time, Lisa handled interior design for her father, Joseph Fragomele, the owner of Colonial Construction, and her skill would prove to be an asset to Platinum Dining.
Carl, a New Jersey native, had been in the hospitality business since age 16, and by the time he was 23, he managed Sfuzzi’s Philadelphia location. Although Carl had earned a degree from LaSalle University, he was entrenched in the restaurant world. Before opening Eclipse, he worked at the University of Delaware’s Blue & Gold Club.
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The Platinum Dining Group management team at the place it all started —Eclipse Bistro.
From left: Lisa Georigi, Nick Georigi, Kelly Connell, Carl Georigi, M. Bryan Jariwala.
On his days off, the couple scouted locations for a restaurant. They looked at what some remember as Cynthia’s, which shared building space with Michael Christopher Salon & Day Spa and Stuart Kingston. The structure was razed to make room for 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Georigis also toured the site of a former Italian restaurant, now Mexican Post, as well as the 3,000-square-foot Catholic Charities building. Then one day a “For Lease” sign in a Little Italy window caught Carl’s eye. It was the former home of Miz Walt’s.
His father-in-law was dubious. The 1,700-square-foot space was too small to be a restaurant, he maintained. To convince “Pop,” Carl drew the layout on graph paper one evening and woke Fragomele at midnight to show him the plans. He needed his family’s support.
“We were young and didn’t have any money,” Carl explains. “We leaned heavily on Lisa’s dad.”
From Fried Chicken to Foie Gras
The layout wasn’t the only issue. The walk-in, which had been turned off, was full of one-year-old chickens. “It was nasty,” Carl says. Nevertheless, he signed the lease and gave his 90-day notice to UD. For the next three months, he worked full time at the Blue & Gold Club then went to the restaurant, where he often stayed until 2 a.m.
“We had no idea if it would work,” Carl acknowledges. “I was 29 years old, and we were scared as hell. There was no parachute.”
Today, developers woo restaurateurs with deals to create activities for residents. That wasn’t the case in the mid-1990s.
But Carl was hungry for the opportunity, and his hand was steady as he drew the layout on the floor in chalk. Lisa handled the décor, which included peach-hued vinyl floors, green fabric chairs and white tablecloths. They brought window boxes from their Trolley Square home.
In 1996, most of the dining activity was in Trolley Square. Toscana, the Silk Purse, Black Trumpet, Constantinou’s House of Beef and Kid Shelleen’s Charcoal House & Saloon were alive and well. However, Walter’s Steakhouse and Luigi Vitrone’s Pastabilities were elevating Little Italy. So, there was hope.
Patrick D’Amico, who’d been working at Ristorante Carruci in Wawaset, was the Georigis’ first hire. The Culinary Institute of America graduate rose to local fame at Positano, formerly in The Devon.
News Journal critic Al Mascitti was impressed with D’Amico’s cobia in a reduced plum wine sauce, quail stuffed with foie gras, raw oysters with carpaccio., and a dessert tower of white and dark chocolate. “Such creations promise that Eclipse will continue to rise — and its neighborhood will rise with it,” Mascitti wrote.
Advertising taglines promised that Eclipse was “Shining Nightly,” and there was a yellow moon behind the bar. However, the name Eclipse referred to the restaurant’s ability to surpass the competition — not to become obscured. From the start, the team hit the mark.
A Few Good Men
D’Amico, who earned a James Beard Award nomination, stayed with Eclipse for eight years. Meanwhile, Carl’s brother, Nick, joined the team in the fall of 1997. After getting his college degree, Nick entered Marriott’s training program. The restaurant world fascinated him. The hotel industry? Not so much.
Carl offered him a job as a server. “He sat me down and said, ‘You’re an employee here, and you’re going to be treated as such,’” Nick recalls. “I respected the hell out of that.”
The polished Eclipse staff impressed him. “We were tight. We were professionals. We shared a love of food and wine,” Nick says.
In 1999, News Journal reporter Eric Ruth wrote that maître d’ Nick Georigi “dotes and fusses over guests like a mother hen.” The bartender, meanwhile, “shakes up martinis so cold they shiver.”
Servers and bartenders wore black pants, a crisp white shirt and a long white apron. They had to wear ties, but color was encouraged. “We wanted them to show their personality,” Carl explains. Kelly Connell, who came aboard in 1998, gravitated toward Jerry Garcia’s tie collection.
Carl and Connell formed a bond. “We connected almost instantaneously,” Carl says. “We have a lot of the same values and character.”
When Black Trumpet offered Connell a management position, Carl supported it. Connell returned to the fold when Platinum Dining Group opened Dome, now RedFire. He is now a director of operations.
Today, the executive team are all veterans who started as servers and managers. “You can’t be successful in this business if you don’t have confidence that they can handle it,” Carl says. “The best results come from collaboration.”
That trust led to the opening of more restaurants.
Taking It Down a Notch
Ruth’s four-star review was published after the Georigis announced Dome, Platinum’s second establishment. “Winter isn’t even here yet, and already I can’t wait until spring,” Ruth wrote about the new location.
Dome was vibrant and casual — the Georigis clearly knew the tide was turning. Eclipse’s tablecloths, quiet music, innovative food and lack of TVs made it fine dining. But Carl wanted “fun dining.” Weekends were busy, but traffic was slower early in the week. Carl and Lisa removed the tablecloths, turned up the volume and hung a TV behind the bar.
Eclipse was now Eclipse Bistro, and there was a burger on the revamped menu. Not everyone approved. The sous chef stated that he didn’t go to culinary school to flip burgers.
“He left,” Nick recalls. “A month later, he [became] a good regular who sat at table eight and drank a $95 bottle of wine and ate a burger.”
The DuPont executive who visited up to four times a week was also disgruntled. He looked Carl in the eye and said: “You’re making a big mistake. This is going to fail.”
He was wrong. The bistro was packed for weekday lunch, dinner and happy hour. Suddenly, people wanted to sit at the bar, which wasn’t the case before the reset. The customer was a good sport. When he returned, “it was high fives all around,” Carl says.
In all, there have been three renovations, and each made the dining room more approachable and modern. “You have to make it fresh,” Lisa says. “You can’t just leave the interior stagnant. People want to see you reinvesting in the restaurant.”
Carl agrees. “When they see you investing in the space they love so much, they appreciate it.”
While some may quibble about the definition of a bistro, Eclipse’s evolution turned the special occasion spot into a neighborhood hub.
Carl Georigi (center) shares his thoughts on the evolution of Eclipse with writer Pam George as Lisa Georigi and Kelly Connell look on.
“As a new transplant in Wilmington in the early aughts, the bar scene there made me feel like I had finally come home,” Alicia Sheerin says.
Gentleman-about-town Roi Barnard has been a customer since Eclipse opened. “I have written two books at the bar and starting my third,” he says. “Eclipse has everything you need for a one-stop evening.”
Ellen Kurtz loves the “buzz. “Very few places in Wilmington have that,” she notes.
Aging Like Fine Wine
Eclipse has outlasted many of the area’s premier restaurants: Black Trumpet, Michele’s, Sow’s Ear, Silk Purse, Sal’s — they’re all gone. Even The Green Room expired.
The restaurant has also outlived some memorable characters. Steve Lewis was one of them. The bike-riding server with the enviable curly mane spent 25 years working at Tiffin and Eclipse. Lewis refused to work weekends despite ribbing from his colleagues.
“I’m way too old to miss any more Saturday nights,” he told Connell. Carl let the avid Phillies fan keep a transistor radio in the kitchen so he could keep up with the score. He died of cancer in 2006, a few days after telling Nick he might be available for a few shifts.
Fortunately, Eclipse has no shortage of familiar faces. Consider bartender Andrew Charlton. “Andrew makes the best espresso martini around, and that’s hard for me to admit,” says fellow bartender Emily Ford, who works at Corner Bistro. Renata Kowalczyk loves the Italian with Negroni foam, and Darren Dowell orders the J&J Bomber, an oversized martini named for regulars Jim and Jame Erisman.
Customer Ed Dwornik sums it up: “They really do everything right — the service, food and atmosphere are welcoming and exquisite at the same time,” he says. “When dining at Eclipse, I feel like I’m somewhere special, and at the same time, it feels like home.”
Eclipse has been a star in Wilmington's upscale dining scene since 1996.
Bites
RAMSEY’S FARM STEPS INTO CONTINUE SIW LEGACY
HG Haskell III built quite a following at his SIW Vegetables produce-and-more stand on Route 100 in Chadds Ford, Pa. So when word got out this spring that HG was retiring and the stand would close, panic ensued — in the community and among area restaurateurs.
After all, you don’t find farm stands like SIW much anymore.
Not to worry, that’s what neighbors are for — especially ones with roots in local agriculture dating back to the 1860s. So on June 4, Ramsey’s Farm, led by Stewart and his son Carl (5th and 6th generation Ramseys), took over. The stand now operates as New Roots by Ramsey’s Farm.
New Roots plans to be open seven days a week (9am-6pm) and will continue to grow in many of the same fields as HG. In addition to fresh, seasonal vegetables and local favorites, New Roots will also be selling its own American Wagyu beef.
“We really didn’t know what to expect the first week we opened,” says Stewart Ramsey. “But it’s been steady. Things are off to a good start.”
The stand is located at 4336 South Creek Road in Chadds Ford.
NEW RESTAURANT COMES TO 'ROOST' ON MARKET STREET
Bardea Restaurant Group has opened Roost Pub & Kitchen at 829 N. Market Street in downtown Wilmington. The new concept from Chef Anitmor DiMeo, a two-time James Beard nominee, offers a menu of elevated comfort food such as Gochujang
Miso BBQ wings, Short Rib Grilled Cheese, and Wagyu Pastrami Reuben, alongside an extensive craft beer list and creative cocktails.
Designed as a casual gathering place, Roost features multiple TVs, booth seating, and a warm, relaxed atmosphere. Dinner is served Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 4pm.
— Visit RoostWilmington.com
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— Visit NewRootsByRamseys.com
CHELSEA TAVERN HOSTS CINEMA-INSPIRED CIGAR DINNERS
Joe Van Horn’s long running Smokin’ Joe’s Cigars Under the Stars series has found a home at Chelsea Tavern after stops from his time with Columbus Inn, Shaggy’s On Main, CW Harborside, and Ernest & Scott Taproom. Held the third Thursday of each month from 6-10pm, this summer’s Menus from the Movies theme has featured dishes influenced by Rataouille and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. On July 17, the menu takes a creative turn with an Asian-Soulfood fusion inspired by the Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker buddy cop film Rush Hour. Call (302) 482-3333 to reserve your ashtray.
NEWARK FOOD AND BREW FEST COMES OF AGE
Newark's summer tradition turns 21 on Saturday, July 26, with 10 restaurants offering craft beer paired with small-plate menus from noon-7pm. Retailers get in on the act with Hops & Shops sidewalk sales. No cost to attend; it's a pay-as-you go event.
Stewart (l) and Carl Ramsey at their new venture.
Photo
Lindsay duPhily
Riding High
How Dewey Beach became a skimboarding mecca. This summer, it will once again host the sport’s world championship.
By Mary Ellen Mitchell
Dewey Beach is home to the World Championship of Skimboarding held every August since 1982, sponsored by Zap Skimboards. From August 8-10, amateurs will compete for awards and notoriety, while pros compete for the same — plus cash prizes. As one of the longest running skimboard competitions in the world, this highly anticipated throwdown boasts a $15,000 pro purse, the largest in skimboarding history. By way of illustration, skimboarding, a.k.a., skimming, is an extreme sport that combines elements of surfing and skateboarding. In one fell swoop, skimmers sprint from the beach, drop their board on the slip of water left by the receding wave, jump on their board with both feet, and hydroplane out to the face of the next wave, where they perform twists, flips and jumps, before surfing back to the shoreline. >
UNLEASH YOUR SUMMER FUN
AT THE YMCA
Indoor & outdoor pools, pickleball, full-size basketball courts, sports, group exercise classes, state-of-the-art fitness centers and so much more!
Skimtown, USA
The sport was nonexistent on the East Coast until 1979, when Dewey Beach native Harry Wilson, the enterprising 13-year-old owner of Dewey Surf & Sport, discovered that Bon-Aire Industries had discontinued their popular Sandpiper skimboard. Wilson bought the company’s molding equipment and became the manufacturer and distributor, while selling the Sandpiper at his surf shop
Wilson went on to innovate, creating the Sandblaster, a more streamlined, oval-shaped skimboard with pointed ends, made of polyurethane foam and fiberglass to enable a faster ride and greater buoyancy for performing dynamic moves.
To help grow the sport while promoting his Sandblaster, Wilson sponsored the first professional skimboarders of Dewey Beach in 1981. One of his pros was Skimboarding Hall of Fame great, Dave Crowley. “We nicknamed Dave, ‘D.C. Air,’ for his acrobatic double- and triple-flips off the board, performed just like a diver,” Wilson says.
Crowley recalls the turn of events that led to a watershed moment in skimboarding history: “In the summer of 1979, there was a group of us in Dewey who wanted to learn how to skimboard, but we had to teach ourselves, because hardly anybody was skimming on the East Coast yet. When we discovered the Sandblaster at Harry Wilson’s surf shop in 1981, it was a game-changer.”
The following year, “Harry invited a group of California skimmers to Dewey to compete against us,” Crowley says. “That was the beginning of what became the annual world championship that put Dewey on the map as the skimboarding capital of the East Coast. And then we went west, and soon everybody started skimming, all around the world.”
“Additionally — and I’ve competed all over — to me, Dewey has always had the most fun shore break on the East Coast,” he says.
Years later, Wilson brought his innovation and passion to Zap Skimboards, a family-owned, Florida-based brand that has sponsored the world championship in Dewey Beach ever since.
Harry Wilson in 1990 with the Sandpiper skimboard he invented.
Fast Forward
Although Wilson remains active in the skimboarding community of Dewey Beach and beyond, his son Jason picked up where he left-off, organizing and running the world championships for the past 10 years. Not surprisingly, the younger Wilson started skimming when he was 6 years old and turned pro when Zap sponsored him at age 15. Today he travels the world with Zap as an ambassador of the sport, noting trends along the way.
One observation Wilson has made is that skimboarding has grown immensely in popularity over the past 40 years, “especially over the past 10 years or so, as many top skimmers have become social media influencers,” he says. “Enthusiasm for the sport has recently exploded on a global scale.”
“What’s more, this year’s world championship is at maximum registry, with over 200 skimmers, the highest we’ve ever had,” Wilson says.
As if he’s not busy enough, Wilson also runs Alley Oop, a skimboarding camp in Dewey Beach that will co-present the world championship with Skim USA, the organization that promotes the sport to amateurs nationwide.
“This competition is a stop on the Skim USA tour for amateurs, and the United Skim tour for pros,” he says.
“Additionally, interest in Alley Oop programs has increased substantially, especially among girls, who comprise the largest growth sector in skimboarding right now,” he says. “Locally too, there are a couple of great, upand-coming skimmers.”
If You Go
Wilson is expecting around 20 vendors and 1,000 spectators on the beach for each of the three days, which will get rolling at 9 a.m.
“We’ll have great music and a variety of food for purchase featuring some local chefs, as well as drinks, merchandise, and promotional sampling,” he says. “It’ll be very much a beach festival.”
Accordingly, a key aspect to the fun is that spectators on the beach are close to the action, and there’s great camaraderie among the athletes, who are accessible, humble, and excited to meet fans.
And that's not all. The kind, community vibe spills over into the Art of Skimboarding fundraiser on the evening of Saturday, August 9, at 6 p.m., at the Creative Market in West Rehoboth. Mini decorative skimboards painted by local artists will be auctioned, with proceeds benefiting Skim USA. An awards ceremony will conclude the event on Sunday, August 10, from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by an after-party at Nalu Surf Bar & Grill in Dewey Beach, starting at 9 p.m.
Last, but not least, those planning to join the skimmers for fun in the sun should arrive early to find a good spot to take in the action, which is centered on the McKinley Street beach.
“Parking will be attainable, but it’s going to be a hot, busy weekend in town, so come early, and bring your sunscreen,” Wilson says.
— For more information, visit AlleyOopSkim.com
Competitors says Dewey's shore break is one of the best on the East Coast.
Delaware's Dave Crowley works his magic during the 1990 Skimboarding Championships in Dewey Beach. Crowley was later inducted into the national Skimboarding Hall of Fame.
SRENT
Beach Events
Beach Events
The summer fun continues
By Amy Watson Bish
ummer’s in full swing with the upcoming weeks bringing even more beachside fun. From concerts under the stars to skimboarding in the sea, there’s plenty of events to dive into all summer long.
July 2 - August 26
Clear Space Theatre Company, Rehoboth
Jonathan Larson’s RENT is the Tony Award-winning iconic rock musical about love, loss, and the power of community that changed the face of musical theater forever. Set in New York’s East Village, it follows a group of struggling artists living life to the fullest against the backdrop of the HIV/ AIDS crisis. Their dreams, their loves, and their losses remind audiences all that there is no day but today.
— Visit ClearSpaceTheatre.org.
Rocking the Docks Music Series presents Bruce in the USA
Wednesday, July 2 | Lewes Ferry Grounds, Lewes
More than just another tribute, this high-energy musical experience is a note-perfect and visually accurate recreation of a Bruce Springsteen & The E St. Band show. This unforgettable night ends with a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the sky.
— Visit RockingTheDocksLewes.com.
Independence Day Celebrations
Friday, July 4 | Delaware beaches
From parades to fireworks, each of the beaches — from Lewes to Bethany — will have events for you to celebrate the red, white and blue. (Rehoboth Beach will launch their display on July 5.)
— Visit VisitSouthernDelaware.com.
45th Annual Sandcastle Contest
Saturday, July 5 | Towers Road Ocean Beach, Dewey
From mermaids and dolphins, to pyramids and traditional castles, admire sand creations by teams and individuals at this annual event held by Delaware Seashore State Park.
— Visit DeStateParks.com
St. Peter’s 59th Annual Art Show
Saturday, July 5 | St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Lewes
St. Peter’s annual art show fills the streets surrounding the historic church with paintings, ceramics, jewelry,
glass, and more. Proceeds support local nonprofits, making art accessible while strengthening and giving back to the community.
— Visit StPetersLewes.org/art-show.
75th Annual Cottage Tour
July 8 & 9 | Select homes around Rehoboth Beach
The Rehoboth Art League’s popular self-paced tour features select homes in the Rehoboth Beach area with a variety of landscapes, interior and architectural designs, ranging from historically significant to contemporary and sleek. Some homes have quite an evolving history and many homeowners showcase memories, artwork, and collections in creative ways. As parking can be limited, the Art League provides a shuttle service to each location for ticket holders.
— Visit RehobothArtLeague.org.
The Struts
Friday, July 18 | Bottle & Cork, Dewey Beach
Platinum-selling Brit glam rockers The Struts return
52nd Annual Outdoor Fine Art & Fine Craft Show
August 2 & 3 and August 9 & 10 | Henlopen Acres, Rehoboth Beach
The Rehoboth Art League’s signature summer event features more than 100 artists and artisans from around the country displaying and selling their fine art and fine crafts. This unforgettable event is full of activities, including food, live music, artist demonstrations, gallery exhibits, beautiful gardens, the historic Peter Marsh Homestead, and a Dogfish Head Beer Garden.
— Visit RehobothArtLeague.org.
Lyle Lovett and his Large Band
Thursday, August 6 | Freeman Arts Pavillion, Selbyville
Blending country, jazz, folk, swing, gospel and blues, four-time Grammy winner Lyle Lovett defies genre. With captivating live shows and rich storytelling, he remains one of music’s most iconic, eclectic, and influential performers.
— Visit FreemanArts.org.
43rd Annual ZAP Pro/Am World Championship of Skimboarding
August 8-10 | McKinley Street, Dewey Beach
DART TO THE BEACH
Beaches Shopping Nightlife Work
With frequent daily bus service, from early morning to late night, it’s easy to DART everywhere this summer.
Known as the skimboarding capital of the East Coast, Dewey Beach has hosted one of the longest running skimboarding competitions for over four decades. Watch and cheer on top skimboarders from around the globe as they compete to earn the title of the best in the world. Presented by AlleyOop & Skim USA, this three-day, all-ages event also features live music, food, art, and giveaways.
— Visit AlleyOopSkim.com.
28th Annual Eastern Shore AFRAM Festival
Saturday, August 9 | Ross Mansion, Seaford
This free, outdoor multicultural festival celebrates AfricanAmerican and Pan-African arts, history, and culture in a family-friendly atmosphere and includes live music, cultural foods, exhibits, special presentations and more.
— Visit VisitSouthernDelaware.com .
Bargarins on the Broadkill
Saturday, August 30 | Milton Memorial Park, Milton
A trifecta of annual events the whole family will enjoy! Shop from over 35 local vendors selling art, crafts, and food at Bargains on the Broadkill; cheer on the canoe and kayak teams in the Irish Eyes Broadkill River Race; and buy a numbered duck and vie for cash prizes in the Great Rubber Duck Race.
— Visit HistoricMilton.com.
GRACE VONDERKUHN HEADLINES SHADY GROVE MUSIC FEST ON JULY 12
Grace Vonderkuhn will bring her punk-rock power trio to the stage at Arden’s Shady Grove Music Fest on Sat. July 12, closing the night after eight other bands perform.
Death by Indie, Cherry Park, Kilynn Lunsford and more will join Vonderkuhn’s band for the daylong, all-ages event, which starts at noon.
Food trucks along with beer and wine will be available. Show organizers suggest guests bring chairs or blankets, but leave pets at home.
—More at ArdenConcerts.com
TRO BRINGS BACK THE BEATLES WITH ‘ALL TOGETHER NOW’ AT DTC
From Please Please Me to Let It Be, the many members of The Rock Orchestra will perform every album and each of the 216 songs that The Beatles ever released in chronological order over the course of six nights.
There may not be any other band in the world as bold or bananas enough to attempt to do this — and certainly not one that would do it every year.
Entitled All Together Now the six-night series runs July 21-26 at the Delaware Theatre Company.
—More at DelawareTheatre.org
GRATEFUL DEAD’S TOM CONSTANTEN RETURNS FOR WEEKEND AT BERTHA’S
Akeyboardist for The Grateful Dead during the band’s early days, Tom Constanten will bring his trippy, psychedelic sounds to Weekend at Bertha’s, which will take place July 25-27 at Fire Base Lloyd in Townsend.
It’s a welcomed return for the artist, who played the outdoor festival two years ago with Bob Bralove as Dose Hermanos. In a 2023 Out & About interview, Constanten described the shows with Bralove as “not so much a composition that is performed, but a performance that is composed.”
In describing his days with the Dead and the San Francisco scene in the late ‘60s, Constanten said, “[music] seemed like it wasn’t something that you made happen, but you let happen.”
Constanten is joined on the bill with Jynx of Diamonds, Indro RoyChowdhury, Sqwerv, Juggling Suns, Stackabones, and more than 15 other acts.
—More at WeekendAtBerthas.com
Photo by Joe del Tufo
Photo by
Brad Billet
CITY LAUNCHES NEW, USER-FRIENDLY BILLING SYSTEM
The City of Wilmington is proud to announce the launch of a new billing system this month, which will manage utility, property tax, and code enforcement fee payments. The new platform, Enquesta , replaces an outdated system that has been in use since 2006.
Highly automated and user friendly, Enquesta is designed to reduce billing errors and improve overall efficiency . The City recognized the need to modernize its billing operations to provide more accurate, transparent, and convenient service to residents.
Key customer benefits include a new secure online portal that will:
• Consolidate all accounts and bills in one central location
• Enable text and email notifications about account activity
• Provide detailed explanations of how the bills are calculated
• Allow customers to pay one or all bills from a single location
• Offer Autopay options and secure storage of payment methods
• Enable online applications for payment plans and charge disputes
• Supply geographic and property-specific information
Enquesta also provides transparent insights into water consumption, charges, property valuations, payment histories, and balances.
For most customers, the physical bill will remain largely unchanged. Beginning in July, customers who currently pay by check and/or mail will be encouraged to enroll in the new Enquesta online system.
For more information, please visit: wilmingtonde.gov/government/city-departments/finance/new-citywater-utility-billing-portal
STAY COOL IN THE CITY'S POOLS THIS SUMMER
As temperatures rise, the City of Wilmington is helping residents beat the heat with the official opening of City Pools for Summer from June 16 through August 15 and refreshing option for families and youth to enjoy the summer season.
In partnership with the Department of Parks & Recreation, Mayor John Carney and Acting Director Dr. Melody Phillips encourage summer camps and community organizations to schedule swim times or request the full pool schedule by contacting at Lnhutt@WilmingtonDE.gov or Andavis@WilmingtonDE.gov.
In addition to pool access, the City of Wilmington and New Castle County will once again provide designated cooling stations to offer relief from extreme heat. These safe, air-conditioned spaces are available to the public throughout the hottest days of the season.
To find a full list of cooling station locations , pool hours, and important heat safety tips, please visit the official city website: WilmingtonDE.gov.
Let’s make this a safe, cool, and connected summer for all.
CITY FAN DRIVE HELPS SENIORS BEAT THE HEAT
To help our older residents stay safe during the summer heat, the City of Wilmington is hosting its annual Senior Fan Drive . Seniors can pick up a free electric fan on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11am to 2pm at the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services , located on the 7th Floor of the City County Building (800 N. French Street).
Important Eligibility Requirements:
• Must be 65 years of age or older
• Must live within the City of Wilmington limits
• Must show valid ID for age and address verification
• Must not have received a fan in 2024
• One fan per household while supplies last
This program is specifically for Wilmington residents and is part of the City’s continued commitment to support vulnerable populations through seasonal health and safety initiatives.
For more information on the Senior Fan Drive and other heat-relief efforts, please visit: Fans are ready for seniors to pick up at the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services.
City residents enjoy cooling off at Eden Park Pool located on New Castle Ave.
Explore the Riverfront
Restaurants & More riverfront market
open
mon-fri: 9AM-6PM sat: 9AM-4PM
Stop in and enjoy fresh produce, salads, sandwiches, Mexican, Thai cuisine, Peruvian rotisserie, and much more!
Bernie’s Espresso is NOW OPEN!
MON-FRI: 7AM-5PM SAT: 8AM-4PM
Banks’ Seafood Kitchen & Raw Bar
Big Fish Grill
Ciro Food & Drink
Constitution Yards Beer Garden
Delaware Duck Café & Catering
Del Pez
01.
Docklands
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Riverfront Bakery
River Rock Kitchen
Starbucks
Taco Grande
The Riverfront Asian Cuisine & Bar
Timothy’s on the Riverfront
outdoor adventures in every season
ADVERTISE HYPER-LOCAL
Located at 1700 Augustine Cutoff, bordering the Highlands and Lovering Avenue Communities; locally-owned Big Red's Sky Board operates as the ONLY digital billboard in the City of Wilmington. We advertise campaigns to a Daily Effective Circulation of 15,000+ people age 18+
Easterly facing, Big Red’s endorses to westerly-driving Residential, Commercial, and Corporate Travel into the City of Wilmington + points beyond. Augustine Cutoff is a direct route to I95, Rt. 141, Trolley Square Community, Wilmington Riverfront, The City’s Business Center, Restaurants & Bars, Cultural Institutions, Sporting Venues, and the 52 Corridor extending into PA. We are also a direct route to the Southern Corridor to beach points, MD, DC, and VA
