Delaware Memorial Bridge Spans Generations
The History Behind Our Thanksgiving Menu
10 Ways to Start Your Holiday Celebration
Providing A Hand Up! Habitat for Humanity’s mission to assist with affordable housing
NOVEMBER 2026 COMPLIMENTARY
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2026
Scan QR Code for Tickets or Visit www.TheGrandWilmington.org/Gala
SATURDAY DECEMBER TICKETS ON SALE NOW! 4 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
Scan QR Code for Tickets or Visit www.TheGrandWilmington.org/Gala InWilmDE.com
FOR THE LOVE OF KIDS ’ HEALTH CHOP NOW at ChristianaCare! There is a love that watches every breath, listens no matter what, hopes through every heartbeat, and wants nothing more than a future full of bright, ordinary days. For that love, expert care should never feel far away. ChristianaCare and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have come together so world‑class pediatric care can live closer to the moments that matter — in the neighborhoods where children grow, in the arms that hold them, and in the place your family calls home. Because when it comes to your child’s health, love deserves the very best. And now, the best is right here.
Together, for the love of every child. ChristianaCare.org/CHOP
ORIGINAL TOUR CAST OF SIX PHOTOS BY ANDREW ECCLES
NOVEMBER 27-NOVEMBER 29 BROADWAYINWILMINGTON.ORG | 302.888.0200
Season Support
This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
Inside
Out & About Magazine November 2026 Vol. 38 | No. 9
Published each month by TSN Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact@TSNPub.com Wilmington, DE 19801
Start 9
From the Publisher
11
War on Words
12
Crossword Puzzle
14
Pets of the Month
15
FYI
19
Art Loop Wilmington
21
A World Preview of The Beatles
23
My Country, ‘Tis of Thee
29
Our Community 27
Lions Club Provides A Vision of Hope
29
Reeds Refuge Takes it to the Streets
Focus
32
32 De. Memorial Bridge Spans Generations 38 Holiday Happenings 41 A Hand Up in Affordable Housing
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
Eat 47
Traditions on the Table
52
Bites
Listen 54
5 Questions with UFO’s Reid Kelley
57
Tuned In
38
Wilmington 58
In the City
60
On the Riverfront
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, Ryan Neave, Kevin Noonan, Mark Rogers, Andrea Smith, Bob Yearick
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jim Coarse, Justin Heyes and Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography, Tiffany Caldwell, Lindsay duPhily, Joe Hoddinott, Andrea Smith
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Paul Bauer, Bev Zimmermann
EVENTS CALENDAR
All new inWilmDE.com coming this month.
All new inWilmDE.com coming this month.
41
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Digital Subscription Printed on recycled paper.
Editorial & advertising info: 302.655.6483 • Fax 302.654.0569 outandaboutnow.com • contact@tsnpub.com
On the Cover: Summer interns (front) and volunteers pause for a group photo during one of the many home builds Habitat for Humanity conducts throughout New Castle County. Photo courtesy Habitat for Humanity
November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 7
mington’s
VENTS NDAR
From The Publisher
Start
Think Outside The Bot (WARNING: THIS COLUMN WAS WRITTEN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AI)
T
technological advance is a fool’s game; history shows hanksgiving is just around the corner. Enjoy this one innovation is inevitable. — could be the last Turkey Day before your chatbot Furthermore, being faced with such an existential takes over the food prep. moment could be the wakeup call we so desperately “Hallelujah!” say the many who spend countless hours need. A moment of societal cooking — only to see us devour introspection: What is the human the feast in minutes. “Where’s my condition in the age of AI? chatbot?” say those of us relegated For those interested, this is to clean-up duty. how AI currently defines the OK, I dramatize, a little. Which makes human condition: The shared However, I’ll bet Kalshi is experience of being human: our offering shorts odds on AI being Thanksgiving the struggle to find meaning, our a conversational topic this Thanksgiving. From careers to desire to belong, our awareness perfect time to of mortality, and our capacity to companionship, AI anxiety is discuss the elephant love, suffer, create and hope despite everywhere. Which makes Thanksgiving uncertainty. invading everyone’s Amen to all of that! Let’s go the perfect time to discuss the with that definition — until elephant invading everyone’s dining room. someone, likely AI, discovers dining room. Think about it: immortality. Discussing a technological I’m aware artificial threat to humanity on the most intelligence could render Out humanity-driven day of the year. & About’s 38-year raison d’être A paradox within a riddle. — encouraging people to get out and about in their And not a moment too soon. The fact that AI creators community — obsolete. But until then, we’re doubling such as OpenAI and Anthropic are pleading for someone down on telling human-interest stories like this month’s to save them from themselves is stunning, and somewhat cover feature on Habitat For Humanity; doubling down terrifying. Talk about a Frankenstein moment. on human interaction. I encourage you to do the same. So, let’s answer the call for help coming from inside the Here’s a thought: Train AI to help enhance human house. Our current strategy of letting AI companies selfmonitor is the equivalent of a pinky swear. Government interaction. After all, we humans did create this thing. must regulate it — vigorously. In the meantime, please pass the stuffing. It’s the prudent decision. Attempting to stop — Jerry duPhily
Wilmington’s
EVENTS CALENDAR November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 9
It’s all about NOT GIVING UP ON
A writer/editor’s slightly snarky and relentless crusade to eliminate grammatical gaffes from our everyday communications
Compiled from the popular column in Out & About Magazine
THE WAR On Words A monthly column in which we attempt, however futilely, to defend the English language
MEDIA WATCH • Erin Jensen, of USA Today, is among the many writers who don’t know how to spell the past tense of “to lead,” which is led. In a story on Hoda Kotb, she got it wrong twice: “The next month Kotb lead a tearful interview, in which Guthrie spoke about the family’s nightmare.” Later in the story: “Looking ahead, Kotb has an interview with retired NFL quarterback Drew Brees — who lead the New Orleans Saints to their sole Super Bowl victory in 2010.” • Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, quoting Judge Judy: “I think in the middle of the country, there are more people who long for the 1950s then long for the 2030s.” This is on the writer; I’m pretty sure the judge knows the difference between then and than. • Jon Hoefling, USA Today, describing the Milwaukee Brewers’ MLB-best 74-46 record. “Yet despite their impeccable record going into Aug. 12, . . .” A team that loses 46 games does not have an impeccable (perfect) record. • Andrew Egger on the Bulwark blog, courtesy of reader Larry Hamermesh: “It would be easy to laugh all this off as just desserts for venal Senate Republicans and the latest demonstration of the president’s incredible vanity.” Egger seems to be referring to an after dinner treat, instead of what he feels the Republicans deserve — just deserts (with two, not three, s’s). • Joseph Santoloquito, in The Philadelphia Inquirer, writing about high school football: “Here’s a look at what has happened so far, including a peak at what is ahead for two major programs.” Joseph obviously hasn’t reached his peak as a writer. He meant peek — a quick look, or glance. • Headline in the Lock Haven (Pa.) Express: “CMHS alum graduates from Marine Corp training.” That’s Corps — a main subdivision of an army in the field, consisting of two or more divisions. “Corp.” is an abbreviation for corporation. • NFL analyst Troy Aikman recently committed the dreaded double comparative by opining that tight end Zach Ertz “couldn’t be more happier to join his old team,” the Philadelphia Eagles.
Word of the Month Cromulent
Pronounced krom-u-lent, it’s an adjective meaning acceptable, adequate, or satisfactory; often used humorously or ironically, as in “The movie was a perfectly cromulent way to spend a rainy afternoon.”
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By Bob Yearick
PLAYING FAST AND LOOSE WITH THE LANGUAGE Journalists seem to be on a campaign to stretch the language, giving new meaning to words and phrases that have been around forever. Some of these forays into the linguistic netherworld are more successful than others. Here are a few recent examples: • Vaunt —This usually appears as “vaunted,” an adjective meaning “praised or publicized”; e.g., “the vaunted Notre Dame football team.” That’s why I noticed when Patrick Ryan, in USA Today, used it as a verb: “[Actor Josh] Hartnett isn’t one to vaunt about his acting process, and he detests the idea of Method actors.” Using it to mean “to make a vain display of one’s worth or attainments,” Ryan was correct — except that there is no need for “about” in that sentence. • Litany — Too often, writers use it to mean simply “many,” when its actual meaning is “a prolonged or tedious account or list.” Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes went to it twice in a recent column. I have a problem with the first one: “[Saquon Barkley] dashed up the middle for 42 yards, forcing a litany of missed tackles along the way.” This doesn’t convey the sense of “prolonged or tedious.” Later in the column he wrote: “ [Landon Dickerson] exited college with a litany of surgeries.” This fits the way it’s usually employed, to give a sense of a long, repetitive list of complaints, problems, or grievances. • Shunned — I question this use of the word by Ralphie Aversa (again), in a review of Sylvester Stallone’s book, The Steps: “Stallone is shunned from agency after agency.” He may have been shunned by agency after agency, but more accurately, he was shunted (turned off to one side) from agency to agency. • Fastidious — Pat Forde, writing in Sports Illustrated about the Indiana football coach: “Consider the office desk of Curt Cignetti: organized, fastidious and, . . . clearly the domain of a pre-internet mind.” A desk cannot literally be fastidious (extremely or excessively careful or detailed ); only a person (or, maybe, an animal) can. Forde may be taking literary license by transferring the human trait to the object, but it’s stylistically jarring and debatable.
NEED A SPEAKER FOR YOUR GROUP?
Contact me at ryearick@comcast.net for a fun and informative discussion of grammar.
Buy The War on Words book at the Hockessin BookShelf, at Huxley & Hiro Booksellers on Market Street, or on Amazon.
Start
A Themeless Crossword Feast By Joe O’Brien
ACROSS 1 Vet's affliction 5 ___ de menthe (liqueur) 10 String not found on Crocs 11 Pals in your posse 13 Obsessively orderly 14 Ill-fated first planned American mission to the Moon 16 Fans of Beanie Babies, Pogs, and Tamagotchis, say 18 Certain home run celebration 19 Breakfast, e.g. 20 Before, poetically 21 Large handbag you might buy at Peter Kate 22 Set ___ (save for later) 25 Year divs. 26 Notes between fas and las 27 Professional with an opening to fill in their schedule? 31 Its choreography includes opening and closing hands like beaks, and 'flapping' elbows like wings 33 Floated 34 Covered in (as a ship with iron, perhaps) 35 Professor's pursuit 36 Group of cattle 37 Faked, in hockey 38 Crafter's website with recent influx of AI ‘slop’ images
DOWN 1 Fallback strategy 2 Anagram of Anita that is another woman's name 3 Almost negligible 4 Common Blu-ray extra 5 ___ lounge 6 Wrestling ring boundary 7 Some punk music fans 8 Facial feature sported by Naomi Campbell, Austin Powers, and Taylor Swift in a famous marketing campaign 9 More slippery 12 Poppi and Pepsi, for two 15 Tiny land offshore 17 Ripped 21 Lily pad locale 22 Novelist Sholem whose name can appropriately be found in “Polonia Restituta scholar"
Complete puzzle, take a photo, send to: Contact@TSNPub.com. Subject line: November Puzzle. Deadline: November 17. Two correct puzzles will win a cool prize! Last month's winners: Anne Kisielewski, Karl Kohler 23 “That Hansel's ___ right now” (Zoolander quote-turned-internet meme) 24 “It wasn't that bad” 25 Opposite of 17-Down 27 John ___ (farm equipment company) 28 Small cove or bay 29 Surgery 'souvenirs' 30 Stuffed bear, say 32 Phillies Wall of Famer and color commentator John
Wilmington’s
EVENTS CALENDAR 12 Novemb er 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
InWilmDE.com
–– A non-profit arts organization ––
THE ROBERT CRAY BAND
GCS FEATURING ERIC GALES, DENNIS CHAMBERS & BILLY SHEEHAN
THERESA CAPUTO LIVE!
SAT | NOV 7 | 8PM
SUN | NOV 8 | 7PM
THUR | NOV 12 | 7:30PM
THE EXPERIENCE
INCLUDING A 40TH ANNIVERSARY PERFORMANCE OF “SO”
EDDIE GRIFFIN
THE ROCK ORCHESTRA
GEOFF TATE’S OPERATION:
FRI | NOV 13 | 8PM
SAT | NOV 14 | 8PM
THUR | NOV 19 | 8PM
LUNASA AN IRISH SOLSTICE CELEBRATION
TED VIGIL’S ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS: A TRIBUTE TO JOHN DENVER
OUT OF NOWHERE TOUR
WED | DEC 2 | 8PM
FRI | DEC 11 | 8PM
THUR | DEC 17 | 8PM
WITH SPECIAL GUEST VOCALIST DAVE CURLEY
AN EVENING OF PETER GABRIEL
MINDCRIME - THE FINAL CHAPTER
TIG NOTARO
SCAN THE QR CODE TO START YOUR GRAND EXPERIENCE
BILL CHARLAP TRIO
JIM BREUER
FRI | DEC 18 | 8PM
SAT | DEC 19 | 8PM
FIND THE FUNNY
TheGrandWilmington.org | 302.652.5577 | 302.888.0200 818 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
All tickets subject to box office service charges. Artists, dates, times and programs are subject to change.
Start
On the Menu:
Safe (Human) Snacks for Pets By Brianna Hansen
PETS OF THE MONTH Meet this month’s adorable adoptables sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
DANTE
SHY BUT SWEET 4 YRS | MALE | 25 LBS
Silly & Quirky House-Trained Food Motivated to Learn Affectionate w/ His People
HAP WILMINGTON
LORA
VOCAL LADY 8 YRS | FEMALE | 8.5 LBS
Affectionate Couch Potato Enjoys Watching TV Loves Bird Watching
HAP STANTON
PEACH
WIGGLY PITTIE 1 YRS | FEMALE | 55 LBS
Goofy Girl Fetch Fanatic Zoomie Queen Super Affectionate
HAP STANTON
Learn More + Apply for Adoption: HUMANEANIMALPARTNERS.ORG sponsored by
14 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
I
’m not sure if it’s because I skipped breakfast or because I just finished making the food selections for Humane Animal Partners’ Brunch in the Ballroom on November 8, but I cannot stop thinking about food! So, let’s focus this month’s column on just that! We all know that hopeful face that appears the second you sit down with something delicious ... The one that says, “Surely that sandwich is for both of us.” Good news: sometimes, sharing is perfectly fine! Plenty of human foods can make perfectly healthy treats for our pets, provided we skip the seasonings, watch the portions, and know what’s safe. For dogs, start in the produce aisle. Crunchy carrots, cucumber, celery, green beans, zucchini, and bell peppers (without their seeds) can all be dog-friendly snacks. Broccoli and cauliflower are fine in small amounts too, though too much can cause an impressively stinky afternoon. Plain cooked sweet potato and pumpkin (not pie filling!) are additional favorites, but again, watch the portions or they might make a rather speedy exit out the other end! Sweet tooth? Offer a few blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries, or a slice of banana, apple, or pear (without cores or seeds). Seedless watermelon (no rind!), deseeded cantaloupe, and peeled, cored pineapple can also make refreshing rewards. But the menu doesn’t end at fruits and vegetables. Dogs can enjoy small bites of plain, fully cooked chicken, turkey, lean beef, eggs, or boneless fish. A little cooked rice or oatmeal works, too. But skip the seasoning, butter, sauces, and surprise ingredients to keep your pet safe. Cat parents, I haven’t forgotten you. Felines are obligate carnivores, so animal protein is the top priority. Though if your cat is anything like mine, it just may try to steal your fruits and veggies too! Everything we listed above is safe in small amounts, but cook those crunchy vegetables to soften and avoid choking. Of course, “safe” doesn’t mean unlimited. Introduce new foods gradually and keep treats under 10 percent of daily calories. It’s snack time, not second breakfast. Special diets? Ask your veterinarian. Now, back to why I’m so hungry … On Sunday, November 8, join HAP in the Gold Ballroom of Wilmington’s Hotel du Pont for Brunch in the Ballroom, where your dog can actually be your date! Enjoy brunch, cocktails, entertainment, auctions, and more while your canine cutie samples a pup charcuterie board stocked with dog treats and safe peoplefood favorites! How often can you dress up, spoil your dog, and support homeless animals in need in one delicious fell swoop? Grab tickets at HumaneAnimalPartners.org. Your pup deserves a little luxury, too! InWilmDE.com
FYI Things Worth
Knowing
TALKING TURKEY
T
hink you know Thanksgiving tradition? Prove it. In a feature story in this month’s issue, we discuss the origins of our “traditional” Thanksgiving meal. Correctly answer the two questions below and you could win a cool prize. Email your answers by November 17 to Contact@ TSNPub.com with the subject line: Talking Turkey! We will choose three winners from correct submissions. 1. Who is the author of the 1827 novel Northwood? 2. Who is the Campbell Soup employee credited with creating what we know now as green bean casserole? Last month's winners: Pamela Draper, Joseph Jullian, Sam Shovelton. Answers: 1. Bam Beatzz. 2. Juan “Zeek” Leonard
Start LUNCHEON HONORS UNDERGROUND RAILROAD HERO
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he Quaker Hill Historic Preservation Foundation will honor abolitionist Thomas Garrett at a luncheon Friday, Nov. 6, from noon–1:30pm at Delaware Tech's Wilmington campus. Featuring presentations by local historians, Thomas Garrett the event will include the unveiling of a wayside panel and plaque commemorating Garrett’s Underground Railroad efforts. More at QuakerHillHistoric.org.
NEWARK SYMPHONY HONORS 9/11
T
he Newark Symphony Orchestra and Music With A Mission will present Requiem for 9/11 Nov. 8 at 3pm at The Independence School in Newark. Composed by Delaware musician Wilson Gault Somers following the September 11 attacks, the work honors victims while offering hope and healing. Conducted by Simeone Tartaglione, the concert marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11, with proceeds benefiting Delaware’s Guardian of Defenders 9/11 Memorial. More at NewarkSymphony.org.
10TH ANNUAL CAMPING FOR COATS
C
amping for Coats returns to Frawley Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14, celebrating 10 years of providing more than 17,000 coats to children at over 30 schools. Participants can register to camp overnight in the stadium’s outfield, while those who prefer not to camp can visit for food, live music, bonfires, and more. Proceeds support the purchase of new coats through Operation Warm. More at CampingForCoats.com.
FILLING BUSES, FILLING TABLES
H
elp neighbors facing food insecurity this Thanksgiving by supporting the Food Bank of Delaware. DART’s 29th annual “Stuff the Bus” food drive runs Nov. 2–7, collecting nonperishable food at six locations statewide, including Stanton, Rodney Square, North Wilmington, and Newark. The goal is 15,000 pounds. Details at DartFirstState.com. Donations can also be made directly to the Food Bank, which is collecting Thanksgiving staples, including stuffing, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, and instant mashed potatoes. Donations, including frozen turkeys, can be dropped off at its Newark and Milford facilities by noon Nov. 13. More at FBD.org.
LOCAL JOURNALIST PUBLISHES FIRST BOOK
A
ward-winning journalist and playwright Richard L. Gaw reflects on his 25-year career in Remembering Aidan Quill, a collection of personal essays published in regional outlets, including Out & About. Subjects range from football coach Tubby Raymond to Gaw’s Montessori school experiences, plus two new essays about an encounter with Keith Richards and a tribute to close friend. His first book is available in hardcover and Kindle editions on Amazon. November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 15
FYI URSULINE ANNOUNCES $2.5 MILLION GIFT FOR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
U
rsuline Academy has received a $2.5 million gift from Delaware philanthropists Paul and Linda McConnell to transform a historic 124-yearold building on Van Buren Street into the McConnell Center for the Performing Arts. Developed in partnership with The Brandywiners, who will serve as artists-in-residence, the center will provide space for student and community performances, arts education and cultural programming. The project, which has $2.7 million left to raise, is expected to break ground in early 2027, with an opening planned for spring 2028. More at Ursuline.org.
NEW POTTERY STUDIO OPENS IN DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON
S
olid Earth Studio celebrated its opening with an Oct. 23 ribbon cutting at 225 N. Market St. in Wilmington. The studio, founded by local artists Samara Weaver and David MacNeill, offers memberships for experienced ceramic artists and hands-on workshops for beginners. The studio also plans to offer eight-week beginner and intermediate wheel-throwing classes. More at SolidEarthStudio.com.
KENTMERE INVESTS IN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP
A
trio of technology upgrades is bringing new approaches to rehabilitation, wound care and resident engagement at Kentmere Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing in Wilmington. Under new Executive Director Leslie Johnson, the 125-year-old facility has invested in the Solo-Step Track System, which supports patients during physical therapy; Vaporox Hyperoxia Therapy, designed to promote healing of chronic wounds; and Tovertafel 3, an interactive gaming system that encourages cognitive, physical and social engagement. The investments reflect Kentmere’s focus on improving resident care, mobility and quality of life. More at KentmereNursing.com. 16 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
InWilmDE.com
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DELAWARE FAMILY RELEASES NEW CAT-INSPIRED BOOK
The professional theatre company in residence at the University of Delaware.
D
elaware author John Riddle and his grandsons, Alex and Gavin Podgorski, have released their third book inspired by the family’s tuxedo cat. The Pawsitive Thinking Handbook: Naps, Purrs & Cat-titude! blends feline humor with lessons on confidence, kindness and finding joy in everyday life. Featuring 12 illustrated chapters, the book follows Life Advice From Mr. Dill Pickles and A Cat’s Guide To Surviving The Holidays. All three are available on Amazon.
WEST SIDE CELEBRATION SPOTLIGHTS LOCAL BUSINESSES
W
ilmington’s West Side takes the spotlight Nov. 7, from 10am-8pm, with a neighborhoodwide celebration of local businesses, food, art and community. Visitors can spend the day exploring neighborhood shops, enjoying food specials and discovering what the area has to offer. The celebration continues from 5-8pm at the West Side Creative Hub, 610 N. Union St., with a special evening experience. More at WestSideGrows.org.
By Matthew Barber From the novel Eleanor and Abel by Annette Sanford
“Fireflies is FUNNY, HEART-WARMING, and makes for an ENCHANTING evening!” — ShowRiz OCT. 29 - NOV.15 A warmhearted comedy about second chances, Fireflies proves it’s never too late to find joy, companionship, and love.
Order Tickets Now
WWW.REP.UDEL.EDU ROSELLE CENTER FOR THE ARTS NEWARK, DE | 302-831-2204
Sponsored in part by
November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 17
Do Delaware
SCAN TO LAUNCH
Arts events and opportunities for (f)all!
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Next Art Loop:
5pm Start
DECEMBER 4, 2026 A program of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural A program of theAffairs Mayor’s
Office of Cultural Affairs
RIVERFRONT The Delaware Contemporary 200 S. Madison Street 656-6466 • DeContemporary.org Exhibitions: Waveforms by Kate Stewart; Beyond the Perspective of What You See, group photography show Delaware Theatre Company 200 Water Street 594-1104 • delawaretheatre.org Exhibition: Sam Kissajukian’s 300 Paintings
DOWNTOWN Brandywine Village Welcome/ Education Center 1883 Superfine Lane 438-3305 Exhibition: The Gifts of Quiet Thunder
Grace United Methodist Church 900 N. Washington Street 388-8813 Exhibition: Impressions of Visual Grace by Carol Mangano The Grand Opera House 818 N. Market Street 658-7897 • TheGrandWilmington.org Grand Gallery: Color Me Glad by JaQuanne LeRoy baby grand Gallery: Memories in Wilmington by Jimmy Thompson Huxley & Hiro Booksellers 601 N. Market Street 439-0805 • HuxleyAndHiro.com Exhibition: SlowDrift Ceramics by Shannon and Dave Mele
Chris White Gallery 701 N. Shipley Street 475-0998 • ChrisWhiteGallery.com Exhibition: The Art of Becoming by Marie Carmel; Otherworldly Dreams by David Warren Norbut
John William Gallery 1313 N Market Street 585-317-5409 Exhibition: Life In Still: Zoe Elwood Sidney vanNeerden
Christina Cultural Arts Center Edward Loper, Sr. Gallery 705 N. Market Street 652-0101 • CCACDe.org Exhibition: Soft Things, Sharp Edges
LaFate Gallery 227 N. Market Street 753-5789 Exhibition: HeArt of Caregiving & Coping with Loss
City of Wilmington’s Redding Gallery 800 N. French Street 576-2100 CityfestWilm.com/Redding-gallery Artist: Jessica Graae
Mezzanine Gallery 820 N. French Street 577-8278 • Arts.Delaware.gov Exhibition: Interference by Catharine Fichtner
Create Magic Studio 419 N. Market Street 439-0805 Exhibition: Remixing Americana Gallery 919 919 N. Market Street 856-983-8359 Exhibition: FORM & FEELING by Megan Ambroch
presented by
cityfest
Spaceboy 205 N. Market Street 225-9781 • SpaceboyClothing.com Artist: Deconstructing Sneaker Culture
WEST SIDE Blue Streak Gallery 1721 Delaware Avenue 429-0506 Exhibition: Oil and Water: Carol Slocumb Strukelj & Carolyn Anderson
Howard Pyle Studio 1305 N. Franklin Street 656-7304 Exhibition: Group show by the Studio Artists
BEYOND THE CITY Arden Buzz Ware Village Center 2119 The Highway, Arden 981-4811 Exhibition: Hinterglasmalerei by Monika Bullette Arsht Hall @ U of D 2700 Pennsylvania Avenue 480-4008 Exhibition: The Art Girls+Bruce Bellefonte Café 804 Brandywine Blvd 562-1436 • TheBellefonteCafe.com Artist: Keziah Soto Finist & The Owl 811 Brandywine Blvd, Bellefonte 786-228-6638 • FinistAndTheOwl.com Exhibition: Flights of Fancy by Hugh Atkins Jester Art Space 2818 Grubb Road 334-5524 Exhibition: Connected featuring Jester Artspace Member Artists Lumen Studio & Gallery 1601 Concord Pike Suite 89 545-3204 Exhibition: Painting With Mylar 1983-2026 by Rebecca Raubacher Mid Century Collections 803D Brandywine Blvd 734-658-3308 Exhibition: From Rittenhouse to Bellefonte, The Bracey Exhibit The Station Gallery 3922 Kennett Pike 654-8638 • StationGallery.net Exhibition: “Where Wings Meet” by Rinal Parikh & Annie Patrizi
ArtLoopWilmington.org
Start
These Boys Have Potential Arden resident Irene O’Connor knew The Beatles before most of the world By Kevin Noonan
I
rene O’Connor was living in post-war England, in the port city of Liverpool, and after six years of the most brutal and destructive war in history, and the painful reconstruction that followed, she and other teen-agers were ready to party.
One of the places they partied was a hole-in-the-wall called The Cavern Club, where local musicians played the latest music. And one of those bands was an unknown group of Liverpool lads who went by the strange name of The Beatles. “We just loved them,” says O’Connor, who is now in her 80s. “But even though we loved who they were back then, we had no idea what they would become.” What they became, of course, is the most influential band of all time. And O’Connor is one of the few people on earth who can say she knew them before they achieved fame and fortune. > The famed Beatles statue in Liverpool. At right, Irene O'Connor. November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 21
continued from previous page THESE BOYS HAVE POTENTIAL
O’Connor now lives in the village of Arden, where she’s resided since 1970. She loves her current life and has no desire to live in the past, but when people find out about her history with the Beatles, well, they just have to know more. “I get that all of the time,” she says, “but the fact of the matter is that I had no idea what this little band in this little club would become. We would go to the Cavern, usually on Tuesday nights, and we loved to listen to the music — usually skiffle — and dance.” She certainly got plenty of opportunities to see The Beatles there — from 1961-63 the group appeared at The Cavern Club 292 times. “We loved their music, but there were a lot of good music groups around Liverpool at the time,” she says, “so even though they were as good as anybody, there was nothing to suggest how famous they would become.” And when did O’Connor realize that The Beatles were famous? Pretty much the same time the rest of the world did. “Tell the truth, it was The Ed Sullivan Show [in 1964], like a lot of people,” she says. “When Ed Sullivan said ‘Here come The Beatles…’ I thought, ‘Well, I’ll be buggered…’ “I had no idea.” Of all the Beatles, her favorite back in the Cavern days was the drummer. “For some reason, I focused a lot on Ringo,” she says. “He just always seemed to be having fun, so we had fun, also.”
22 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
But the Beatle she ended up having the closest connection with was John Lennon. She lived in New York when Lennon was staying at the now infamous Dakota, the apartment complex where he was murdered in 1980, and she would run into him at Central Park or on the sidewalk somewhere on the Upper West Side. “I had the good fortune to meet up with John and just say hello,” she says. “It’s not like I saw him a lot or talked to him a lot, but when I did, he was always very, very friendly. It’s so sad to think about would happen to him later.” O’Connor traveled the world with her ex-husband, an American she met in England and married in Dublin, Ireland. He served in the U.S. Air Force, which took the couple to Paris and then to several locations in America, including Texas, Michigan, Chicago and New York. He eventually took a job as a buyer for the John Wanamaker department store chain, which indirectly led Irene O’Connor to Delaware and, more specifically, Arden. Paul Nolan is O’Connor’s neighbor — he and his wife, Stevie, front the band Stevie and the Bluescasters — and he was floored when he first heard of O’Connor’s connection with the early Beatles. “It’s fascinating to hear her stories about life in Liverpool and her experiences with the music scene back then,” Nolan says. “I mean, how many people do you know who can say they saw The Beatles before they became The Beatles?”
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Historic People & Places That Help Tell Delaware's Story In celebration of Delaware 250, this monthly series will spotlight historic people and sites unique to our state.
My Country, 'Tis of Thee: Reflections of Freedom and Liberty through Song, Poetry and Storytelling By Cheryl Renée Gooch
F
rom Revolutionary patriots to generations of community activists, Wilmington residents have carried the pursuit of freedom through every chapter of our shared history. On February 17, 1875, the Fisk University Jubilee Singers performed at the Grand Opera House, linking the legacy of slavery and emancipation to liberty’s promise. Many of these students were descendants of onceenslaved people who transformed spirituals such as “Steal Away,” “Lord’s Prayer,” and “The Gospel Train” into powerful expressions of faith, hope, perseverance, and freedom that resonated with their audiences. Their performances here in Wilmington and Europe showed that freedom was not merely a legal condition but an aspiration carried through voice, memory, education, and song. The Jubilee Singers turned memory into songs of freedom and liberty, inspiring later educators and writers to use art to define national belonging. One such figure was Alice Dunbar-Nelson, whose teaching and writing extended this tradition of shaping American identity through voice and history. Dunbar-Nelson, who taught at Wilmington’s Howard High School from 1902 to 1920, was a prolific writer and poet. Her brief yet compelling poem “I Am an American” expresses personal and communal patriotism: “My forefathers were brought to this country three hundred years ago ... My fathers and mothers toiled to make an economic foundation for me! Every drop of my blood holds a heritage of patriotism. I am proud of my past; I hold faith in my future! I am an American!” > Above: Fisk University Jubilee Singers, 1875. At right: Alice Dunbar Nelson. Public Domain photos November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 23
continued from previous page MY COUNTRY, 'TIS OF THEE
Dunbar-Nelson’s former husband, poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, wrote “Black Samson of Brandywine” to restore the overlooked role of Black soldiers in the American Revolution and argue that Black Americans — enslaved, free, military, and civilian — deserve a place in our country’s heroic memory. For decades during the early to mid-20th century, Delaware schoolchildren recited the poem, which includes these lines:
Was he a freeman or bondman? Was he a man or a thing? What does it matter? His brav'ry Renders him royal — a king. If he was only a chattel, Honor the ransom may pay Of the royal, the loyal black giant Who fought for his country that day. Noble and bright is the story, Worthy the touch of the lyre, Sculptor or poet should find it Full of the stuff to inspire. Beat it in brass and in copper, Tell it in storied line, So that the world may remember Black Samson of Brandywine. Like America’s story, Delaware history is far more complex than commemorations can capture. When President Gerald Ford proclaimed February as Black History Month in 1976, he urged Americans to honor the achievements of Black citizens. The link between the bicentennial, Black History Month, and the 250th anniversary underscores a crucial truth: Black history is not separate from American history but woven into the nation’s narrative from the very beginning. That interwoven history comes into sharper focus through the work of Delaware historian Syl Woolford, 82, who devotes his work to tracing the intersections of American, Delaware, and Black history. A descendant of Black families from the Cooch’s Bridge area, he says he is committed to uncovering the history he never learned and sharing it widely. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Woolford urges reflection on “what we should celebrate, what we should protest, and what we still have the ability to change,” noting that history’s true value lies in helping us avoid past mistakes and build a better future. Wilmington’s Black history is not a separate chapter but a defining thread in America’s shared story — a truth Delaware’s 250th anniversary calls us to recognize and remember. 24 Novemb er 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
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One ticket includes holiday house tours, entertainment, rides and activities. Adults $20 | Children $15 Family Package $60 HOF Member Family Pkg $50 (Family packages include two adults and two children. Marketplace purchases are additional. Food and merchandise purchases not included with admission.)
Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 1:00-5:30pm | Historic Odessa, DE
A litt le history. A lot of Holiday Magic. Celebrate the season with holiday house tours, a Christmas Marketplace with 45+ vendors, Santa and Mrs. Claus, live entertainment, children’s activities, hay wagon and pony rides, a petting zoo and much more! Stay for the sparkle and watch Historic Odessa’s buildings light up at dusk — a magical finale to an afternoon of holiday fun!
Scan the QR code for tickets or visit historicodessa.org
Presented by the Historic Odessa Foundation. Proceeds support its preservation and education mission. OdessaXmas26_OutAboutAd.indd 1
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Our Community
A Vision of Hope Area Lions Club members collaborate to prevent blindness in Dominican Republic by Jim Miller
E
ven in today’s technology-driven world, preventable blindness remains a significant challenge, particularly in low-income populations. In the Dominican Republic — just a little more than 800 miles southeast of Key West, Florida — thousands of individuals suffer vision loss due to an eye disease that effects the cornea. While this corneal disease isn’t health problem that most citizens in the United States deal with on a personal level, American members of the Lions Club have joined an international effort to address the problem facing less fortunate countries like the Dominican Republic. >
In the Dominican Republic, hundreds of children receive the gift of vision thanks to an international collaboration in which the Christiana Lions Club takes part. Photo provided by the Christiana Lions Club. November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 27
continued from previous page A VISION OF HOPE
The effort includes members of the Christiana Lions Club in Delaware. “It’s an honor to support a mission that gives people not only the gift of sight but also renewed independence and hope,” says Lidia Vela, treasurer of the Christiana Lions Club. In supporting this mission, the Christiana Lions Club is collaborating with the International Vision Institute (INVIS), AltruVision, a Lions Eye Bank in Philadelphia, and the Dr. Zato Center for the Fight Against Blindness in the Dominican Republic. Together the group is providing donated corneal tissue to support sight-restoring surgeries for lowincome patients living in the Dominican Republic. The corneal tissue used in the surgeries is recovered through ethical donation processes in the United States and made available to qualified
medical partners abroad. The Dr. Zaro Center and INVIS ensure that the tissue reaches patients who otherwise would have no access to corneal transplants, offering them the possibility of restored vision and improved quality of life. This work offers an important reminder of the impact of organ and tissue donation. Registering as a donor is a simple act that can save lives, restore sight, and bring hope to families here in the U.S. and across borders. “Every story of restored vision reminds us why we became Lions,” Vela says. “Whether we’re cleaning our communities, conducting vision screenings in Delaware, or partnering to restore sight in the Dominican Republic, we are united by one purpose: serving others and improving lives.” — More at E-Clubhouse.org/ Sites/Christiana
Holidays at Hagley Time-Honored Traditions Make holiday memories with festive family fun all season long. Kids 14 and younger visit free!
November 27 to January 3 HAGLEY.ORG/HOLIDAYS
200 HAGLEY CREEK ROAD WILMINGTON, DE 19807
28 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
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Our Community
Taking It to the Streets Utilizing the arts to promote positive messaging among youth, Reed’s Refuge Center looks to expand its footprint in one of Wilmington’s toughest neighborhoods By Jim Miller
W
hile there is wisdom in the age-old saying “it takes a village to raise a child,” Reed’s Refuge Center (RRC) is showing that the reverse may also be true — it takes children to help raise a village. In an East Side community that has for years been held hostage by the specters of gang violence and drug dealing, RRC uses the power of collaborative arts to inspire kids in the community to make better choices.
For the past four years, students enrolled in RRC’s Young Professionals program have studied music, studio recording, and video production under the tutelage of local professionals and staff members. Classes culminate with a professional studio recording of an original song as well as an accompanying music video. The results of the program’s artistic collaborations have been surprising: In addition to helping elevate the knowledge base and aspirations of RRC’s students, the messages of the songs and music videos have been lifting the spirits of a larger audience in the surrounding neighborhoods — and beyond. “To me, Reed’s Refuge Center is more than an
organization — it’s a movement of love, hope, unity, and purpose,” says Elder Tyrone Johnson, the founder of Churches Take a Corner, a street-level ministry that regularly organizes peace rallies and unity gatherings to address gun violence and uplift at-risk youth. Johnson was prominently featured with inspiring words at the start of an RRC music video that the students helped create called “I’m Different.” The song promotes the value of human diversity. Johnson attended the music video’s premiere at Penn Cinema on the Wilmington Riverfront two years ago — an event that brought students, teachers, funders, and community leaders together. He says he was overwhelmed by the experience. >
Reed’s Refuge Center (RRC) offers music classes and studio experiences to at-risk youth living in Wilmington’s East Side, resulting in some uplifting artistic collaborations and meaningful community engagement. Photo provided November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 29
continued from previous page TAKING IT TO THE STREETS
“I believe in the power of sound, music, and meaningful messages that uplift, inspire, and unite communities,” Johnson says. “Through every melody and every message, I am reminded that our voices matter, our lives have value, and every one of us has something meaningful to give.”
A NEW WAY TO TRAIN. Experience the new Hyrox-inspired Performance Studio at the Central YMCA! Stop in today for a tour!
JOIN TODAY! Central YMCA
501 West Eleventh St., Wilmington, DE 19801 www.ymcade.org 30 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
BREATHING LIFE INTO THE PROGRAM While song and music-video production have been part of RRC’s youth programming for more than eight years, in 2020, it was the organization’s artistic response to a national tragedy that began bringing considerable attention to its programs. After the widely publicized murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minnesota police officer, staff and students came together to develop a song called “Breathe,” which addresses racial injustice. When it was posted to YouTube, the music video for “Breathe” began drawing attention beyond the students’ families and friends. It has since attracted more than 100,000 viewers on the platform. “Breathe” also helped provide the much-needed support for Reed’s ongoing proof-of-concept: With the right motivations, kids can be inspired to produce music with positive messages. Furthermore, an encouraging kind of alchemy is created when students’ enthusiasm and idealism is paired with their teachers’ technical know-how and experiences. Since “Breathe,” RRC programs have created “I’m Different” as well as “Dream,” a song about the power of believing in yourself, and “Back to School,” an upbeat ode to the importance of education. Without funding from agencies such as the Delaware Division of the Arts and the Delaware Criminal Justice Council as well as nonprofit organizations such as Light Up the Queen Foundation, this kind of innovation programming would be nearly impossible to implement, admits Fred Reed, RRC’s co-founder and program director. “This kind of support helps us give our young people the opportunity to create music, tell their stories, and see something in themselves they may not have seen before,” Reed says. “When somebody invests in that, they’re helping us show these children that their voices matter and that they have something valuable to offer.” MUSIC WITH A MESSAGE RRC’s latest creation, “Giving It Up,” is a song that tackles the subject of mental health. Reed says he has found the process of creating this one particularly impactful. The song will be released on Thursday, Nov. 12. “Working with our youth on ‘Giving It Up’ reminds me why I do this work,” Reed says. “And it inspires me to keep writing songs with our students that uplift our community and bring us together.” Reed, who grew up in the very East Side neighborhood in which he now serves, lived his organization’s mission firsthand. As a teenager, he escaped the pressures to join gangs or deal drugs by pursuing a career in singing. He says he understands InWilmDE.com
all too well how growing up in impoverished surroundings can create unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors. “What makes ‘Giving It Up’ special to me is that it speaks to real life,” Reed says. “At RRC, we see children and families carrying so much, and sometimes the person smiling the most is dealing with something nobody knows about. “As an artist and someone who works with our youth every day, I want to use this music to reach people, open up those conversations, and remind them that there is still hope.” Reed also hopes the release of “Giving It Up” will help bring more awareness to mental wellness statewide — a subject he feels deserves more attention. Data compiled by the University of Delaware shows that 45.5% of the state’s youth ages 12-17 who have depression do not have any healthcare to address the problem. Similarly, a 2022 study conducted by Nemours Children’s Health found that 44.3% of children who need mental or behavior health treatment currently go unserved in Delaware. “Sometimes children are going through things they don’t know how to explain, and it comes out in their behavior,” says Reed’s wife and fellow RRC co-founder, Cora. “I want our children to know they can talk to us without being judged, and that they don’t have to keep everything bottled up inside. At Reed’s Refuge, we want them to know they’re loved, we’re listening, and asking for help is okay.” The Nemours study also found that residents in the City of Wilmington and City of Dover are “some of the most adversely affected,” and that two areas of focus that could help mitigate mental illness among youth are violence prevention and food insecurity. BUILDING A BIGGER REFUGE It just so happens that violence prevention and food insecurity have been two of the major points of focus of RRC’s programming since it started in 2012. And the National Jefferson Award-Winning organization will look to address those subjects even more as it expands its services to its students’ parents over the next few years. During the past two years, RRC has raised more than $ 1.5 million towards an expansion that will triple the organization’s physical footprint, allowing it to serve up to three times as many students before and after school as well as during the summer. This means more students will be able to access RRC’S music and video production programs, as well as its culinary programs, dance classes, and design tutorials. Students also receive essential tutoring in school subjects like reading, math, and science. The expansion will also help RRC serve the students’ parents, which will be a new component to the organization’s mission. “We’ve been doing this work since 2012, and we know that supporting a child also means supporting the family around them,” Cora Reed says. “Parents and caregivers need somewhere they can turn, too — a place where they feel heard, supported, and connected to opportunities. “We’ve accomplished so much so far with a small budget. When it’s completed, our new Reed’s Refuge Developmental Center will give us room to offer more services for the whole family, including education, workforce development, and spaces for counseling and family support. “We want children to have room to grow and dream, and families to have the support they need to move forward together.” —Interested in helping RRC expand its programming in Wilmington’s East Side community? Find out more at ReedRefugeCenter.org
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November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 31
Spanning Generations From its hard-fought beginnings to new defenses against ship collisions, the Delaware Memorial Bridge celebrates 75 years as a vital East Coast link By Kevin Noonan
Demand for a bridge connecting New Jersey and Delaware grew after World War II. So, in 1945 authorization was given to build what we now know as the Delaware Memorial Bridge. This photo was taken in November, 1950. Photos courtesy Delaware River & Bay Authority
32 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
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Focus
F
irst, they had to build it. Then they had to expand it. And now they have to protect it. The Delaware Memorial Bridge recently celebrated its 75th birthday, and even though most people take the bridge for granted as a familiar landmark they’ve known their entire lives, the DMB had a difficult birth and has dealt with many challenges as it aged.
“That’s true of a lot of traffic infrastructure,” says Vince Meconi, the CEO of the Delaware River and Bay Authority. “You might use it on a daily basis and just accept that it’s there. If it’s not working, that’s when it gets your attention.” Few people today know the history of the bridge and all the hurdles that had to be cleared before it opened for traffic in 1951. Before there was a bridge, ferry services connected Delaware and New Jersey. Prior to the dawn of the automobile those ferries carried
people, horses, and livestock, and in Delaware they would continue their journey by stagecoach and, later, the New Castle-Frenchtown railroad. That changed in the early part of the 20th century, when horsepower replaced horse power. With the advent of the automobile era in the 1920s — along with more and better roads — there were two ferry services linking the two states. On the Delaware side, both were located in New Castle — the White Line terminal was at the end of Delaware Avenue; the Wilson Line at the end >
November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 33
continued from previous page SPANNING GENERATIONS
Building the Delaware Memorial Bridge was a tall task for construction workers. Nine men lost their lives while working on this massive project.
of Chestnut Street. The ferries became an important stage for Americans motoring up and down the East Coast and cars lined up on Route 40 to board the ferries and continue their way through New Jersey. Many New Castle businesses took advantage of the growing influx of car traffic, including a local meat market that sold millions of hot dogs to ferry customers. Still, the ferry service was time consuming and only a certain number of cars could make the passage each day. And stormy weather could shut it down completely. So, public demand increased for a bridge that could handle more daily traffic and do it much quicker. But if history had been written differently, cars today would travel under the Delaware River instead
34 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
of over it. In 1926, the Wilmington Deepwater Tunnel Company proposed a two-lane tunnel under the river. But studies showed that a four-lane bridge would cost about the same as a two-lane tunnel, so eventually the bridge option was chosen.
Build It and They Will Come
Various studies were conducted regarding the feasibility of building a bridge, and even though most people wanted it, there was opposition from a couple of powerful groups. One was the Port of Philadelphia, which was concerned that construction of the bridge and then the bridge itself could impact navigation on the river. The other opposition came from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. They believed the bridge could be the target of an enemy attack, which
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potentially could cause the bridge to collapse and block ships’ access to and from the Philadelphia Naval Yard. But the demand for a bridge grew after World War II, when it was obvious that Germany and Japan weren’t going to be invading America. So, in 1945, the Delaware State Highway Department was authorized to build and operate a bridge across the Delaware River, and it continued to run bridge operations until 1962, when the Delaware River and Bay Authority was created to oversee both bridge and ferry services (Cape May-Lewes and Fort Delaware) in the state. That didn’t end debate and dispute about the bridge. William J. Miller Jr., who served as executive director of the DRBA from 1964-2019, wrote a book about the project, Crossing the Delaware, and he says politics, as usual, was the reason. “The General Assembly decided to select a name for the crossing,” Miller writes. “It was suggested that the crossing be named for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died in 1945 at about the time the legislation was approved. But the Republican governor of Delaware, Walter W. Bacon, firmly objected to the idea.
The Governors of Delaware and New Jersey headed the procession of cars across the new bridge, at that time the 6th largest in the world. The first paying customer, Omero C. Catan of Teaneck, NJ, paid his one-way 75 cent toll on August 16, 1951.
“A reasonable compromise was quickly agreed upon. It would honor the men and women from Delaware and New Jersey who gave their lives in World War II.” Finally, in 1948, construction of the Delaware Memorial Bridge began. It took two years and $44 million to complete, and at the time was the sixth longest suspension bridge in the world. It opened to traffic on Aug. 16, 1951, at 12:01 a.m. — with a toll of 75 cents — and was an immediate success. “It was a day for governors to make speeches, for politicians to shake hands, for engineers to sigh in relief, and for bystanders to applaud,” Miller says. By 1955, nearly eight million vehicles crossed the bridge annually, which was almost double the original projection, and by 1960 that increased to more than 15 million and it > November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 35
36 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
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SPANNING GENERATIONS continued from previous page
became apparent that one span wasn’t enough. So, in 1964, construction began on a second span, approximately 250 feet from the first. It cost $77 million and opened on Sept. 12, 1968, 21 years after work began on the original bridge. And whereas the first span was dedicated to the men and women who lost their lives in World War II, the second span was dedicated to Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Korean War and Vietnam War. Also remembered are the nine men who lost their lives during the bridge’s construction — six died while building the first span and three died on the second span.
Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Building the bridge was one challenge. Protecting it is another and the DRBA has had to deal with many challenges over the years, including one they’ve recently addressed. In July of 2023, the DRBA began the installation of a ship collision system that was completed in August, which coincided with the 75th anniversary of the opening of the bridge. Protection was installed around each of the support towers, at a cost of $93 million, with $22.25 million coming from the federal government.
BRIDGING THE DECADES 1945-47 Authorization from Delaware
and New Jersey for construction of bridge.
1948 Construction begins
1951 Bridge opened to traffic
1958-63 Feasibility studies begin for second bridge; authorization obtained
1962 Delaware River and Bay Authority created
1963 DRBA approves financing and The bridge today after the completion of its Ship Collision Protection System.
The wisdom and value of that decision was tragically highlighted in March of 2024, when a ship lost power and without steering control it rammed into highly trafficked Francis Scott Key Bridge that crosses the Patapsco River leading into Baltimore. The bridge collapsed and six lives were lost — putting the spotlight on bridge safety and what could be done to avoid another tragedy. “This has been in the planning for quite a few years [since 2016] when we put it on our capital improvement program,” Meconi says. “It takes a long time to a) get the funding, b) get the permits and, c) construct it. In fact, it was under construction when the [Key] bridge collapsed. “Obviously, it was very expensive,” Meconi adds. “We had to make a major commitment to this and it’s the most expensive project we’ve ever done on the bridge.” Today, more than 100,000 cars travel across the Delaware Memorial Bridge daily and more than 36 million annually. It took a long time to plan and build the bridge, and 75 years later it’s still a vital link for motorists as they travel along the East Coast.
construction of twin span 250 feet north of existing bridge
1964 Construction of second bridge begins
1968 Second span opens to traffic
1968-69 Modification and repairs of first bridge
1969 Twin bridges both open to traffic – original bridge carries traffic into New Jersey and new span carries traffic into Delaware
2003-08 $13 million project to resurface bridge, upgrade electrical system and replace elevators in the four towers
2026 Ship Collision Protection System completed at cost of $93 million
November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 37
Focus
Here Come the Holidays
R
eady or not, the holidays are almost here. From sparkling light displays and lively parades to holiday markets and seasonal traditions, here are 10 ways to get the celebrations started (In December, we will be doing our comprehensive Holiday Happenings overview.)
Historic Odessa’s Twinklefest and 40th Anniversary Holiday House Tours Tours: Nov. 10 – Dec. 31; Twinklefest: Nov. 21 Main Street, Odessa Historic Odessa’s 40th anniversary Holiday House tours begin Nov. 10, featuring An American Colonial Revival Christmas, inspired by the American Girl character Felicity, and Storybook Trees, celebrating children’s literature. On Nov. 21, the second annual Twinklefest will offer a Christmas Marketplace with more than 45 vendors, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, live entertainment, crafts, and hay wagon and pony rides, culminating with the lighting of the historic buildings at dusk. Tours continue through Dec. 31. — Visit HistoricOdessa.org
Scrooge The Musical November 14 – December 21 The Candlelight Theatre, Ardentown Bah, humbug! What better way to get into the holiday spirit than with Ebenezer Scrooge and a few ghostly visitors? Based on the 1970 film starring Albert Finney, this musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol features a book, music, and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. Follow the miserly Scrooge as three spirits whisk him through Christmas past, present, and future, revisiting old memories, confronting his mistakes, and discovering that it’s never too late to change his ways in this Christmas classic with a musical twist. — Visit CandlelightTheatreDelaware.org
Children’s crafts, visits with Santa, live entertainment, and more will be part of Historic Odessa’s Twinklefest on Nov. 21. Photo by Gabriella Heald 38 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
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Yuletide at Winterthur November 21 – January 3 Winterthur Museum & Gardens, Greenville Christmas trees, candlelit tours, and holiday traditions galore are headed to Winterthur. Yuletide at Winterthur will feature more than a dozen decorated trees and seasonal displays throughout the mansion. Special programming includes a new production of A Christmas Carol, performances by OperaDelaware and the Cartoon Christmas Trio, hands-on workshops, and a holiday toy train display. Launching the season Nov. 21, Winterthur’s outdoor Holiday Market will feature more than 70 regional artisans, live music, seasonal treats, ice carving demonstrations, and a visit from Santa. — Visit Winterthur.org
Noël at Nemours Estate November 24 – December 30 Nemours Estate, Wilmington Towering Christmas trees, lavish decorations, and Gilded Age grandeur will fill Nemours Estate this holiday season. The 77-room mansion, once home to Alfred I. du Pont, will be decked out with greenery and seasonal displays. Visitors can explore the estate’s ornate interiors, admire holiday displays in the Chauffeur’s Garage, and stroll through decorated gardens. — Visit NemoursEstate.org
Holidays at Hagley November 27 – January 1 Hagley Museum & Library, Greenville Step back in time for a Victorian Christmas at Hagley Museum. Tour Eleutherian Mills, the du Pont family’s historic home, decorated in 19th-century style, then head to Workers’ Hill to make holiday cards, collages, and ornaments. Sample gingerbread cookies baked in a woodburning oven, and on Dec. 5, children can visit Santa and pose for holiday photos. — Visit Hagley.org
Holiday Train Experiences Beginning November 27 Wilmington & Western Railroad, Wilmington All aboard for two holiday adventures through the Red Clay Valley. Beginning Nov. 27, Wilmington & Western Railroad’s Santa Claus Special will feature visits with Santa, photos, and treats for children. Starting Dec. 3, the Holiday Lights Express will brighten winter evenings with thousands of lights covering century-old coaches, plus decorated homes along the hour-long route. — Visit WWRR.com >
IN THE MIDWINTER LIGHT This December, settle into the peaceful celebration of centuries past. Dec. 6 Westminster Presbyterian Church November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 39
continued from previous page HERE COME THE HOLIDAYS
Holiday Magic at Riverbright Wilmington November 27 – January 3 | Wilmington Riverfront
Celebrate at Candlelight
Wilmington’s Riverwalk will glow with more than 300,000 holiday lights stretching two miles along the waterfront, beginning Nov. 27 with a drone light show. Additional drone shows will follow in December, along with free community events, including Santa’s Workshop, Little Farm Petting Zoo, and live music. Visitors can also enjoy hot drinks at Riverwalk Mini Golf and a holiday brunch at the Chase Center. The lights will shine nightly through Jan. 3. — Visit RiverfrontWilm.com/holiday-magic
Opening November 14
Festival of Lights Friday & Saturdays, November 27 – December 19 Delaware Park Casino, Wilmington Delaware Park Casino will turn up the holiday cheer beginning Nov. 27 with its free Festival of Lights. The expanded outdoor display will feature more lights, a holiday market, visits with Santa, and photo opportunities. New this year, a heated party tent will offer a warm spot to enjoy live entertainment. — Visit LightsAtDelPark.com
Opening January 16
62nd Annual Wilmington Jaycees Christmas Parade Saturday, November 28 2nd & Market to 11th & Market, Wilmington Here comes Santa Claus — and a whole parade of holiday excitement. Marching bands, colorful floats, antique cars, and costumed characters will make their way along Market Street, with children encouraged to bring their letters for Santa. Coinciding with Small Business Saturday, the parade offers a chance to make a day of it downtown, browsing local shops, enjoying a meal at one of the city's restaurants, and getting a head start on holiday shopping. — Visit WilmingtonJaycees.org
Jingle Bell Jamboree Sunday, November 29 The Grand Opera House, Wilmington
302-475-2313 www.candlelighttheatredelaware.com 40 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
Cue the carols and let the holiday music begin! The Delaware Symphony Orchestra will fill The Grand with seasonal favorites, from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Featuring timeless carols, spirited melodies, and beloved Christmas classics, this afternoon concert will offer a lively celebration for music lovers of all ages, with plenty of familiar tunes to enjoy. — Visit DelawareSymphony.org InWilmDE.com
Focus
A Hand Up in Affordable Housing For 40 years, Habitat for Humanity New Castle County has helped Delawareans realize their dream of homeownership. Today, it is uniquely positioned to respond to the affordable housing crisis with a broad range of programs to help a growing number of people in need. By Catherine Kempista
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hen Miketia Edmond heard about Habitat for Humanity New Castle County (Habitat NCC), she lived in a one-room apartment in a house in Newark with her two dogs, Ollie and Pumpkin. She commuted to her job in Wilmington, shared a kitchen with college students, and yearned for more space for her and her pets in increasingly tight living quarters. Today, Edmond is the proud owner of a new 4-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom townhome with a backyard and a garden on Bennett Street in Wilmington’s East Side neighborhood through Habitat NCC’s Homebuyers Program. > New homebuyers Patrice Patterson, Dennis Gonzalez and Yamaris Fajardo-Torres at GracePoint III. Photos courtesy Habitat for Humanity NCC November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 41
continued from previous page A HAND UP IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
“It's just amazing, and I just feel so happy because for the longest time, I was in a room with my dogs,” says Edmond. “What I was paying there in rent was more than what I pay for my principal on this house. Working with Habitat was the best decision ever.” Edmond, who works full-time as a street supervisor for DART First State, is one of thousands of Delawareans who are a part of the new wave of those affected by the nation’s affordable housing crisis. And Habitat NCC wants people to know they are here to help. “Who we serve in affordable housing has blown up,” says Kevin Smith, CEO of Habitat NCC. “Our clients are nurses, teachers, work in customer service, work in local governments.” “Part of the challenge in New Castle County is there are people we could be serving who think we only serve those who are really struggling,” says Smith. “So, it's like, no, you could qualify and get a zero-interest mortgage to buy a house from us.”
Affordability Crisis
Housing affordability is top of mind for any individual or family looking to find a safe place to live, improve their current living situation, or purchase a home, especially for the first time. With 30-year interest rates exceeding 7 percent and the median existing-home price at $417,500, according to the National Association of Realtors, homeownership feels out of reach for people
in the median income bracket and impossible for lowincome households. Compounding the issue, rents nationwide are also exceedingly high as the demand of housing is outpacing availability. According to Harvard University’s The State of the Nation’s Housing 2026 report, a median asking rent of $1,900 for new multifamily units puts medianincome households outside the standard affordability threshold of 30 percent of income and beyond for lowincome households. “The need for affordability has just skyrocketed,” says Smith. “We're short about 20,000 units of affordable housing in Delaware, so a lot more people are paying upwards of 30 to 50 percent of their income just on rent.” Exceeding a person’s standard affordability by that margin often has downstream effects on their financial health, ability to pay for necessities, and credit usage. Given this economic reality for millions nationwide and tens of thousands in Delaware, Habitat NCC is uniquely positioned to respond to this ongoing crisis. Founded in 1986 as a volunteer-run, local affiliate, Habitat NCC has built or renovated more than 340 homes and provided over 1,150 repairs for low-moderate income homeowners over 40 years. As the needs of New Castle County residents have evolved, so have the programs Habitat NCC offers to address the growing need for safe, affordable housing. “It's about economics,” says Smith. “There's just a huge percentage of the population who economically cannot
A festive family concert for all ages! Sunday, November 29 • 2:30pm The Grand Opera House • Wilmington TICKETS @ DELAWARESYMPHONY.ORG • 302-656-7442 42 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
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find affordable housing. So, it's about how can we get you qualified to buy your first house, regardless of your living situation.”
“They may not quite be ready for our Homebuyers Program, but they want to be a homeowner,” says Robert Redden-Huff, director of programs for Habitat NCC. Responding to “Our goal is to partner them with our Almost Home case manager the Current Need While Habitat NCC may be and have her work with them best known for its Homebuyers for up to two years to help get Program, it offers other clienttheir delinquent debt down, to based programs, that target some of get their credit score up, to help the affordable housing crisis’ most them navigate job transitions or Habitat NCC staff from left: Kevin L. Smith, Tara Quinn, critical drivers: debt, its impact on Keilah Hanley, Gina Bradson, Francisco Zambrano, whatever they have going on to get credit ratings, and the increased Robert Redden-Huff, Jason Williams. them ready.” costs of maintaining aging homes. Conversely, Habitat NCC’s Launched in 2023, Almost Home is a rent-to-own Home Repair Program addresses the needs on the other program aimed at helping individuals who applied but side of the affordable housing spectrum — fixing critical infrastructure at no cost to keep people in their current didn’t qualify for its Homebuyers Program with their homes. Started in 2008, the grant-funded program has initial application. grown from a completion rate of 5-10 repairs a year to “We don't want people to get discouraged,” says now 250-300 repairs annually. While the program is not Smith. “We want them to see there is a chance to become new, it’s not as known as Habitat’s other offerings, and a homeowner.” the free repairs can make a huge difference for those who Almost Home participants rent a fully rehabbed need the help. home for a fixed amount of $850 per month for up to two “There's a growing number of people in Wilmington years. Each month, $100 of their rent is set aside into an who know about it but not as many across the county, and escrow savings account, and they receive one-on-one case we don't want it to be a secret,” says Smith. management and financial literacy training while they The program repairs structural conditions that > work toward qualifying for the Homebuyers Program.
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DISPOSE OF CIGARETTE BUTTS SAFELY IN PROPER RECEPTACLES www.KeepDelawareBeautiful.com November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 43
continued from previous page A HAND UP IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Atiah Abdullah cuts the ribbon on her new home.
prevent homeowners from being safe, warm, and dry, including roof replacements, furnace and water heater repairs and replacements, trip and fall mitigation, grab bar installations, and electrical and plumbing repairs. Because suboptimal housing environments can lead to or exacerbate health issues, each home assessment also includes a health assessment for individuals living in the home. “You may have a leak in a roof,” says Redden-Huff. “You may have a draft coming in. It may be impacting your asthma in the home. So, when we come in with the community health worker, she's asking those health questions, and we're looking at the condition of the home.” Eligibility requirements are available on Habitat NCC’s website for both programs, and applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
A Built Community
Habitat for Humanity is best known for its Homebuyers Program, which has been the hallmark of its national office’s public work for 50 years. Fueled by a massive volunteer base, sweat equity, and staff hours, the program creates an opportunity for individuals who qualify to purchase a home at zero percent financing from a local Habitat affiliate after completing program requirements. The key here is clients buy the home from Habitat; homes are not given away. “People think we give houses 44 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
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away, which we've never been able to really straighten out from a marketing standpoint,” says Smith. To qualify for Habitat NCC’s Homebuyers Program, applicants must be 21 or older, live or work in New Castle County consecutively within the past calendar year, show a source of income for the last year, have a minimum credit score of 620, and meet HUD’s household income guidelines. Applicants are also required to have the ability to pay for the home and a willingness to complete the program’s Sweat Equity hours. Once an applicant is chosen, they begin the months-long process of attending financial literacy and homeownership classes, completing their 300 hours of Sweat Equity, and engaging with Habitat staff, volunteers, and other homebuyers. Desiree Castro, a resident service coordinator with the Wilmington Housing Authority, found out about the Homebuyers Program through her personal financial coach at Stand By Me, a free program that offers one-on-one personal financial coaching and education to Delaware residents. When she was accepted into the Homebuyers Program, she and her three children were living in Newport in a trailer that was becoming more unsafe by the day. Today, she owns a 3-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom new construction home on Bennett Street right next door to Edmond. Because the houses were part of a phased construction project on the East Side of Wilmington, they built their houses with the volunteers at the same time and got to know each other through the process. “We knew who was gonna be our neighbor,” says Castro. “And my neighbors are good people. We communicate everything. We share stuff. We share stories. We build together. For me, it's empowerment.” Oftentimes, working side by side with fellow clients and Habitat NCC’s dedicated volunteer corps creates a new community for them and their families. Each year, approximately 1,000 volunteers support Habitat NCC’s programs, including many of whom are corporate volunteers who partner with the organization on Team Builds and about 50 regular volunteers who give their time on an ongoing basis. As Edmond and Castro’s homes were being built, they worked closely with Steve Pebly, one of the “regulars” who has volunteered with Habitat NCC for nearly 40 years and served as the president of the Board of Directors when Smith was hired as CEO 30 years ago. Edmond built a strong bond with Pebly by working together on Tuesdays throughout the build process. “Steve would say, ‘Oh, this is Tia's home. Let's make sure the paint is extra fresh, and the nails are extra tight,’” says Edmond. “He was just so amazing because even when I wasn't on site because I had to work, I just felt really confident they were taking care of the house as if I was there myself.” Forming relationships with residents through the build process is nothing new for Pebly, as it is human connection in his decades-long volunteer role with Habitat that makes the experience so transformative and life affirming. “It's a hand up and literally changes that family's trajectory in terms of stability and creates a generational effect because now kids are going to college, they have a home — a home that will get passed down,” says Pebly. “Whole communities have been transformed, and the relationships that you build with staff, other volunteers and homeowners make it especially impactful and precious.” — To learn more about Habitat NCC, its programs, and its volunteer opportunities, visit HabitatNCC.org.
Homes Are Where His Heart Is H
ired as Habitat NCC’s first fulltime employee 30 years ago, CEO Kevin Smith is among a small cadre of the longest tenured Habitat employees from across the country and was recently recognized for his dedicated service at its national convention in Atlanta. After graduating from UD and working in the IT sector for a few years, Smith felt called to a new mission and found an opportunity with Habitat for Humanity in California. After a year, he returned to Delaware and began Habitat NCC’s transition from a volunteer-run organization to one of the top three Habitat affiliates in the northeast. Under his leadership, Habitat NCC has grown its Homebuyer Program exponentially, introduced new programs, like Almost Home and Home Repairs, to help reach more people, and has become a highly regarded, corporate and nonprofit collaborative partner. “When you see homeowners and their children thrive and when they tell us how this has changed their lives, it’s incredibly gratifying because that's what we're all after,” says Smith. November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 45
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Eat
Tradition on the Table The surprising history behind the Thanksgiving menu
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By Pam George
n Thursday, Nov. 26, many Delawareans will gather around the dining room table to tuck into a traditional Thanksgiving feast: roast turkey, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. And for dessert? Pumpkin pie, of course. Few will stop to wonder why these dishes are served year after year. Some may assume the Plymouth colonists were the first to celebrate Thanksgiving and that turkey was on the menu. However, an eyewitness account mentions only fowl — possibly swan, duck or goose — and venison. What’s more, the Pilgrims were not the first to hold a thanksgiving observance. Indigenous peoples and Europeans had traditions of giving thanks long before the English settlers at Plymouth gathered for what would become a famous feast. >
There's a story behind every dish in what has become our "traditional" Thanksgiving meal. November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 47
continued from previous page TRADITION ON THE TABLE
Photo courtesy Library of Congress
The meal we now consider a classic Thanksgiving dinner evolved over centuries. Regional customers, changing tastes, influential writers and more than a little commercial marketing helped shape it.
The first Thanksgiving 1621, J.L.G. Ferris.
In the Beginning
The 1621 gathering was a harvest celebration. The Plymouth colonists had completed their first successful harvest after surviving a grueling first year in the New World. Edward Winslow, one of the English colonists who arrived aboard the Mayflower in 1620, wrote that the celebration lasted three days. Winslow served as an important liaison between the settlers and the Wampanoag, the Indigenous people who lived in southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and parts of Rhode Island. Ousamequin, the Wampanoag leader whom the English called Massasoit, attended the feast with about 90 Wampanoag men. Earlier that year, Ousamequin and the Plymouth colonists had agreed to mutual protection. Foods at the celebration may have included corn prepared as porridge or bread, along with the deer the Wampanoag contributed and the fowl that Winslow noted. The gathering did not immediately become an annual event. New England colonies and, later, states observed thanksgiving on varying dates. These were primarily religious observances devoted to gratitude to God rather than annual holidays centered on a particular meal. 48 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
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incorporated rice, sausage, giblets, apples, celery or nuts. Oysters were historically abundant and inexpensive in the Mid-Atlantic, so they also made their way into stuffing and dressing, as well as scalloped oyster dishes and sauces. In Delaware, Maryland, and the broader Chesapeake region, oyster dressing also has deep regional roots. People often use the “stuffing” and “dressing” interchangeably, and the preferred term varies by region. Technically, however, stuffing is cooked inside the bird; dressing is baked separately.
Before Ocean Spray
Cranberries, which grew abundantly in New England in the 17th century, are native to North America, and Indigenous peoples ate them long before Europeans arrived. The combination of cranberries and poultry became established relatively early. However, the Pilgrims didn’t The Main Attraction serve sweet cranberry sauce in 1621. Sugar was scarce. In Hale’s 1827 novel, Northwood, she described a Amelia Simmons’ 1796 American Cookery, the first Thanksgiving dinner centered on a roast turkey with American-authored cookbook published in the United stuffing, surrounded by vegetables, gravies, and pies, States, included cranberry preparations and helped including pumpkin pie. document a distinctly American style of cooking built Through Godey’s Lady’s Book, she around native ingredients. promoted Thanksgiving menus and By the 19th century, cranberry recipes, helping to establish certain sauce was firmly established as foods as holiday standards. turkey’s companion. Hale’s holiday Turkey was a natural centerpiece. material reinforced the pairing. The bird was already associated In 1912, Massachusetts with celebratory New England lawyer-turned-cranberry grower meals before Thanksgiving became Marcus L. Urann began canning a national observance, and wild cranberries. Fresh cranberries had a short selling season, so canning turkeys were native to the region. preserved the fruit, reduced waste Europeans had also been eating and created a product that could be domesticated turkeys since the A butcher shop window at Thanksgiving time. 16th century. sold year-round. Norwich, Connecticut Another practical advantage: Smithsonian magazine reports that Ocean Spray began producing A large turkey could feed a crowd. the recognizable canned jellied version nationally in 1941. Turkey still shared the 19th-century Thanksgiving table Its long shelf life and convenience turned something with chicken, goose, duck, venison, and other meats. But as Thanksgiving became a national holiday, magazines, families once had to cook from fresh berries into an cookbooks, illustrations, and advertising increasingly effortless side dish — and, eventually, the butt of jokes. portrayed roast turkey as its centerpiece. By the early 20th century, the bird was becoming An American Pie inseparable from the holiday. Like cranberries, pumpkins and other squashes are native to the Americas and had been cultivated Stuffing or Dressing? by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years before Stuffing poultry is far older than Thanksgiving, but Europeans arrived. English colonists readily adopted the Plymouth colonists probably used onions, herbs or pumpkin because it grew well in New England and could chestnuts rather than the bread-based mixture familiar be stored through the winter. today. Wheat bread was not plentiful. Modern pumpkin pie, however, was not part of the 1621 By the 19th century, stuffed turkey had become part feast. The Plymouth settlers did not have the wheat flour, of the Thanksgiving repertoire. Regional cooks adapted butter and sugar needed to produce the familiar pastry. the dish to ingredients that were on hand. New England Over the following generations, colonists adapted versions might include bread, herbs, chestnuts or oysters. European pie-making techniques to pumpkins. Early Cornbread became common farther south. Other versions pumpkin pies would look very different from today’s > Photo courtesy Library of Congress
Photo courtesy Library of Congress
Sarah Josepha Hale helped change that. Born in New Hampshire in 1788, Hale edited Ladies’ Magazine and, beginning in 1837, Godey’s Lady’s Book, one of the country’s most influential women’s publications. She viewed Thanksgiving as a family homecoming with moral and civic value and spent decades campaigning for a national observance. Beginning in 1846, she mounted a sustained letter-writing campaign to political leaders. In September 1863, during the Civil War, Hale wrote President Abraham Lincoln and argued that a common Thanksgiving could help foster national unity. On Oct. 3, Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November a national day of thanksgiving and praise. Hale also helped shape the Thanksgiving menu. The Library of Congress notes that her Thanksgiving editorials and recipes featured turkey, oysters, potatoes, cranberries and pie.
November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 49
continued from previous page TRADITION ON THE TABLE
version. They often incorporated sliced pumpkin rather than a smooth custard filling. By 1796, the resemblance to modern pumpkin pie had become stronger. Simmons’ American Cookery included “pompkin pudding” baked in a crust. The Library of Congress calls the recipe the basis for the classic American pumpkin pie. Hale further cemented pumpkin pie’s Thanksgiving status in the 19th century by describing it as an indispensable part of the feast.
One Potato, Two Potato
Neither white potatoes nor sweet potatoes were part of the Plymouth feast. Both joined the Thanksgiving table later. White potatoes became increasingly common in American cooking during the 18th and early 19th centuries, and by the mid-1800s, they were part of the Thanksgiving menu. An 1845 Thanksgiving menu in The New England Economical Housekeeper, and Family Receipt Book included potatoes along with roast turkey, squash, onions, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. In 1857, Philadelphia cookbook author Eliza Leslie offered instructions for mashed potatoes enriched with butter and cream or rich milk. By 1870, Jennie June’s American Cookery Book included “mashed potatoes browned” on a Thanksgiving menu with roast turkey, cranberry sauce, chicken pie, sweet potatoes, onions, and
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pumpkin and mince pies. Mashed potatoes didn’t arrive on the Thanksgiving table through a single recipe or promoter. They were viewed as inexpensive, widely available staples. Plus, they played well with roast turkey and gravy. Sweet potatoes followed a different path. Originally cultivated in Central and South America, they became part of North American cooking by the late 18th century. Many people served them at holiday meals in the 19th century. Recipes for candied and glazed sweet potatoes appeared as cooks combined their natural sweetness with butter, sugar, molasses, and spices. Then came the marshmallows. In 1917, the Angelus Marshmallows company wanted Americans to find more uses for commercially manufactured marshmallows. Angelus hired cookbook author Janet McKenzie Hill, founder of Boston CookingSchool Magazine, to develop recipes. The resulting promotional cookbook included what Smithsonian magazine has identified as the first documented recipe pairing mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallows. What now seems like a time-honored Thanksgiving tradition was, at least in part, a successful marketing campaign.
From Test Kitchen to Tradition
Green bean casserole is a more recent addition. Campbell Soup Co. home economist Dorcas Reilly created the dish in 1955 in the company’s test kitchen in
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Camden, New Jersey. Originally called Green Bean Bake, it was designed as an everyday side dish using ingredients readily available in American kitchens. The short recipe calls for green beans, Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper and Frenchfried onions. Campbell’s says the casserole did not become a holiday favorite until the 1960s, when the company put the recipe on its Cream of Mushroom soup label. Convenience, affordability and promotion did the rest. Campbell’s now says green bean casserole appears on more than half of American Thanksgiving tables. Fifty percent of the company’s Cream of Mushroom soup sales occur from November through January. So on Nov. 26, the food on your Thanksgiving plate represents a culinary timeline—Indigenous ingredients, European cooking traditions, New England customs, 19th-century publishing and 20thcentury food marketing.
Thanksgiving Shopping Guide From farm-fresh turkeys and seasonal produce to breads, pies and ready-made sides, these local places can help fill your Thanksgiving table. Bachetti Bros. Meats, Market & Catering 4723 B Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington Bachettis.com Fresh meats, prepared holiday dinners, prepared dishes and catering.
Harvest Market 7417 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin | HarvestMarketDe.com Organic produce, locally sourced meats, cheeses, prepared foods, and specialty dietary options.
Bing’s Bakery 253 E. Main St., Newark | BingsBakery.com Breads, pumpkin rolls, pies, cakes and cookies.
Highland Orchards 1431 Foulk Road, Wilmington HighlandOrchardsFarmMarket.com Farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, pies, and apple cider donuts.
Brandywine Bakery 1006 N. Union St., Wilmington BrandywineBakery.net Pies, cheesecakes, cookies, cupcakes, and other sweet treats. Coverdale Farm Preserve 543 Way Road, Greenville DelawareNatureSociety.org Pasture-raised turkeys, seasonal produce, and locally sourced specialty foods. Haldas Market & Catering 2201 Silverside Road, Wilmington HaldasMarket.com Fresh turkeys, specialty meats, prepared sides, and gourmet cheeses.
Janssen’s Market 3801 Kennett Pike, Greenville JanssensFineFoods.com Holiday entrées, prepared sides, appetizers, gourmet groceries, and desserts. Newark Natural Foods 209 Newark Shopping Center, Newark Newark.coop Locally raised turkeys, organic produce, and gluten-free and vegan options. Serpe & Sons Bakery 1411 Kirkwood Highway, Elsmere SerpesBakery.com Pies, cookies, Italian pastries, and tomato pie.
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Bites PLATE & SOCIAL OPENS IN WILMINGTON
Plate & Social serves creative comfort food, such as peach cobbler French toast.
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omfort food gets a creative makeover at Plate & Social, which celebrated its grand opening Oct. 17 at 504 Greenhill Ave. in Wilmington. The menu features dishes like peach cobbler French toast, Biscoff chicken and waffles, and shrimp hushpuppies, along with cocktails and shareable appetizers. Founded by local owners Jon-Christopher and Andrea Webb and Lamar and Christina Waples, the restaurant also plans to host live music, DJs, comedy nights, themed events, and networking mixers. Hours are Thursday, 4-9pm, and Friday through Sunday, 10am-9pm. — Visit PlateAndSocial.com
OLD NAME, NEW GATHERING PLACE
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new Wilmington beer garden is raising a glass to the city's brewing past. Hartmann & Fehrenbach Brew House & Beer Garden is now open at 115 Innovation Blvd. on the CRISP Campus, paying tribute to the historic Hartmann & Fehrenbach Brewing Company, which began brewing in the city in the 1860s. The restaurant features an open-air garden with communal seating and a central hearth. The Bavarian-inspired menu includes giant pretzels with smoked beer cheese, IPAbrined wings, bratwurst, and burgers. Draft beer, build-your-own flights, cocktails and wine round out the offerings. — Visit HFBrewhouse.com
WALKING TOUR CELEBRATES NEW CASTLE’S BREWING HISTORY
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istory and beer come together Nov. 15 for Buried Brew: A Tour of New Amstel's Forgotten Beer History, celebrating New Castle's 375th anniversary. The one-mile walking tour explores the role brewers and tavernkeepers played in shaping the Dutch colonial settlement, followed by a beer tasting accompanied by period-inspired light fare at Jessop's Tavern. Running from 11:30am–2:30pm, the event benefits Restore the King, a campaign to restore Wilmington's historic King Gambrinus statue. Space is limited to 24 guests, and advance reservations are required. — Register at Zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/buried-brew—2026
KALUP TAKES THE KITCHEN AT KRAZY KAT'S
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here's a familiar face in the kitchen at Krazy Kat's. Chef Dwain Kalup, a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist formerly of Wilmington's La Fia, is now executive chef and director of food and beverage at the Inn at Montchanin Village & Spa. His arrival follows the September purchase of the historic property by Derek and Allison Vucich. Kalup's menu emphasizes seasonal ingredients, creative preparations, and unexpected flavor combinations. The restaurant will remain open during the planned renovations of the Inn. — Visit Montchanin.com/dine 52 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
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COTERIE ADDS CULINARY TALENT
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wo accomplished chefs are bringing fresh ideas to Coterie Cafe + Kitchen in Wilmington. Andrew Cini, formerly of Domaine Hudson and Terrain, will oversee menu development, private dining and catering, while Taylor Payton, whose experience includes Eclipse Bistro, Redfire, and Trattoria Carina, will lead kitchen operations. Along with a new fall menu, Coterie is offering private dinners and off-site catering, with limited dinner service planned. Just in time for the holidays, Coterie is also taking orders for Thanksgiving takeout packages through Nov. 18, with pickup Nov. 25. — Visit CoterieCK.com
ALL OF YOUR FAVORITES
ARE NOW
ONLINE! A SWEET SPOT FOR SPARK’D
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park’d Creative Pastry has expanded its Wilmington presence with a second location just off the lobby of the historic HOTEL DU PONT. The bakery, designed by Philadelphia-based Stokes Architecture & Design, serves pastries, coffee, and sweet treats, giving downtown workers and visitors another spot for a morning pickme-up. Spark’d's original location remains open at 1105 N. Market St. The new shop is open Monday through Friday, 7am-2pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 7am-noon. — Visit SparkdCreativePastry.com
WHAT'S BREWING AT WBW
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ilmington Brew Works has a lineup of seasonal beers to carry drinkers from fall into the holidays. Already on tap are Experimental Station #21, a Thanksgiving-inspired Czech-style amber lager, and der Kürbis, a pumpkin Festbier that will also be poured at Happy Hour at the Tower in Rockford Park on Nov. 7. Coming soon is Shadow Figures, a dark lager, followed by Can't Catch Me, a gingerbread lager expected in late November or early December. — Visit WilmingtonBrewWorks.com
CURBSIDE AVAILABLE
GROCERIES: shop.janssensfinefoods.com
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cafe CAFÉ: JanssensFineFoods.com www.janssensfinefoods.com 3801 KENNETT PIKE, GREENVILLE, DE • 302.654.9941 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 53
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Reid Kelley
Universal Funk Order frontman and co-founder talks about the band’s roots, its upcoming Funksgiving show, and his solo project Landhoppa
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By Mark Rogers
rmed with a trumpet, a lively voice, and lots of energy, Reid Kelley has been fronting the band Universal Funk Order (UFO) for 15 years. On the heels of releasing the first album by Landhoppa, his solo project, Kelley and UFO are gearing up for the annual Funksgiving show at The Queen in Wilmington on Thanksgiving Eve. By day, Kelley is a special education teacher at Odyssey Charter School in Wilmington. Kelley’s introduction to music came from listening to Top 40 radio and his sisters’ favorite artists. Kelley says his musical worldview expanded in middle school, thanks to a Tony Hawk video game, which exposed him to punk rock, hip-hop, and ska. Soon thereafter, Kelley took up the trumpet, then later joined his high school’s chorus. After graduation, Kelley studied music at York College and the University of Delaware. He credits artists such as Parliament and Fred Wesley and the J.B.’s for steering his musical tastes towards funk. While playing for The Bullbuckers, Kelley met musician Jared Obstfeld, who formed a band that ultimately became UFO. Kelley and guitarist Jason Brown are the only original members remaining. Out & About recently spoke with Kelley about UFO, Funksgiving, and Landhoppa.
Universal Funk Order (l-r): Kristin Monroe, Larry Scotton, Andrew Bedell, Reid Kelley, Blayne Salerni, Jason Brown, Chuck Finney. Photo by Jonathan Pearson 54 November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com
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O&A: To what do you attribute UFO’s longevity? Kelley: The band has always prioritized fun — both for ourselves and our audience. Obviously, there is the business side of being in a band, because musicians want to get paid for their performances. But, typically, when we’re on stage, we have big smiles because we’re having a good time. And that spirit translates to the audience. I hope UFO is around for a long time. The toughest part is figuring out the schedules of seven or eight musicians to get everyone in the same room to practice and write. But we’re still having a great amount of fun; and as long as we are, we’re going to keep on going. O&A: What’s your favorite part about performing? Kelley: I like the collaborative nature of playing with the rest of the band members. There’s a well-known saying in jazz that you always want to play with people who are better than you. You’re not going to learn if you’re the best in the band. I’m very happy to say that I think everyone in the band is stronger musically than I am. I have a blast listening to the things that these guys come up with. O&A: In June you released the Landhoppa album I Do This with Love. What inspired you to work on a solo project? Kelley: I’ve had all these tunes that I’ve been working on for several years, which I wanted to share. I don’t really play guitar. So, it is harder for me to write funk songs, which are generally guitar-based. It was always my dream to release an album where I wrote all the parts and took control of the entire thing, even though I’m not really a control person. It was an interesting process for me to create in a non-collaborative way. And I got to explore some musical styles that I enjoy, which don't necessarily fit with UFO’s funk focus. It was awesome working with a lot of great local musicians on the album. Each of them played the parts I’d written in their own way, kind of adding a new layer. Brown helped a lot with production and mixing, as well as guitar. John Dickinson and Jason Keenan of Spokey Speaky provided percussion and bass, respectively. James McLaughlin of The Sermon contributed keyboard solos and tracks. And good friend Jeremy Carlson played drums. The name “Landhoppa” came from combining the names of a Star Wars ship and a character from The Dark Crystal. Presently, Landhoppa is a studio project. But it could possibly be a live band in the future. O&A: What can people expect at Funksgiving? Kelley: I think the big thing is music that makes you want to move: high energy, danceable, hopefully recognizable tunes. While a typical UFO gig also includes our original songs, you can bring friends and family members to Funksgiving and everyone will have a good time — even if they don't know our original music. We’ll be playing funk songs that people will know, from artists such >
A Local Favorite for
103 YEARS! Home-Cooked Breakfast & Lunch
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continued from previous page 5 QUESTIONS W/ REID KELLEY
as Michael Jackson, James Brown, Prince, and Stevie Wonder. It’s for people who like live music, funk, improvisation, brass horns, and dance music. Inspiration for Funksgiving came from the band MadSweet Pangs’ former Pangsgiving shows. The band will feature myself on vocals, Brown on guitar, Larry Scotton on drums, Chuck Finney on bass, Donte Johnson on keyboards, Kristin Monroe on trombone, and Blayne Salerni on trumpet. O&A: What are UFO’s future plans? It’s been 10 years since UFO’s album This Is We Do was released. Can we expect new music and more gigs? Kelley: New music is a priority, especially after working on the Landhoppa album. I just love the studio recording process. We want to release some new songs that represent the band’s current lineup, which has changed since This Is We Do. UFO is more selective about our gigs these days. Ten years ago, we played a lot more bar gigs at places like Deer Park and Home Grown. A lot of the crowds at those shows were there to hang out and socialize. Now we book shows where people are specifically coming out to see us at venues like The Queen and the Milton Theatre. — Reid Kelley will be performing with Universal Funk Order on Wednesday, November 25 for their annual Funksgiving show at The Queen. More at TheQueenWilmington.com
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50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAST WALTZ TO BE CELEBRATED AT ARDEN GILD HALL
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he 50th anniversary of one of the greatest rock concerts ever documented on film will be celebrated locally in grand fashion when the members of the Brandywine Valley Musicians Guild (BVMG) take stage at Arden Gild Hall on November 27. Yes, the soundtrack for The Last Waltz will be recreated, song for song, by the dozens of musicians comprising the BVMG. Who is the BVMG, exactly? “The Guild is made up of the same folks that created Deadfest and Shine A Light,” says Rob Grant, the show’s head organizer and co-founder of the BVMG. “There will be a revolving cast of musicians, performing the music that made up the Band’s final concert on Thanksgiving 1976.” The Last Waltz was filmed by Martin Scorsese with scenes alternating between live performances on stage and behind-the-scenes interviews. It documents the Band’s final show at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom on November 25, 1976, which featured several prominent guest performers including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, and Neil Young. — More at ArdenConcerts.com
BLACK FRIDAY RECORD STORE DAY COMES TO LOCAL RECORDS SHOPS
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t’s one of the biggest shopping days of the year, and when it comes to browsing for vinyl records, it’s not much different. Black Friday Record Store Day (RSD) arrive November 27 and with it some rare and exclusive vinyl records available only in participating stores. In Wilmington, Squeezebox Records will be open from 9am-8pm, and will feature select RSD products as well as special offers. In Newark, exclusive releases will also be available at Rainbow Records, which opens at 8am that day. Their custom-made RSD poster this year will be designed by local tattoo artist and art teacher, Ray Reinsfelder. Posters, stickers, and shirts of the design — as well as swag bags — will be given out for free with different levels of purchases (while supplies last).
GRETO, FOX, AND MOORE TEAM UP FOR HOMETOWN HEROES SERIES SHOW
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t’s been a good year for Mikeal Anthony Greto. Before a summer packed with performances in the Philadelphia area, he won Song of the Year at the Homey Awards, the annual awards show presented by the area radio program known as Hometown Heroes. It’s been a good year for Evan Fox, too, who released his first full-length album, Where You’re Living, in June, then followed it up with a run of shows in Delaware, Philly, and New York City. So, it’s probably no big surprise that when Mark Rogers, the host of Hometown Heroes, decided to present a series of shows at The Queen, Greto and Fox were among the first to be called. Also featuring Kirby Moore of TreeWalker, the show will take place in The Queen’s Crown Room on Thursday, November 12. — More at TheQueenWilmington.com
— More at RecordStoreDay.com November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 57
The City A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO OUT & ABOUT MAGAZINE
CITY LAUNCHES HOMEOWNER REPAIR PROGRAM TO HELP RESIDENTS MAKE NEEDED REPAIRS
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ilmington homeowners now have a new resource to help address needed repairs and maintain their homes. The City of Wilmington’s Department of Real Estate and Housing, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, has launched a Homeowner Repair Program offering eligible residents up to $10,000 in assistance for home repairs. Funded through the City’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget, the program has a total allocation of $500,000. It was developed in response to community feedback about the former Home Repair Lottery program, moving away from a randomized selection process to a first-come, first-served application system. To qualify, applicants must own a home located within Wilmington city limits and have a household income at or below 80% of the Area The City's new Homeowner Repair Program offers Median Income (AMI). Applications will be accepted until all available eligible residents up to $10,000 for home repairs. funding has been allocated. The program is intended to help eligible homeowners address necessary repairs and support the long-term upkeep of their properties. Residents interested in applying can find additional information about eligibility requirements, the application process, and program details on the City’s website at WilmingtonDE.gov. Residents with questions may also contact the City’s 311 helpline for assistance.
2026 LEAF COLLECTION
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he City of Wilmington’s 2026 Leaf Collection Schedule is now available. Residents are encouraged to review the schedule to find their neighborhood’s designated collection dates and plan accordingly. Staying informed about pickup dates helps ensure a smooth collection season and keeps Wilmington’s neighborhoods clean as leaves begin to fall.
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PROPERTY ASSESSMENT APPEAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
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he City of Wilmington has launched the Property Assessment Appeal Assistance Program to help eligible homeowners prepare for New Castle County’s annual property assessment appeals process. The program is designed to assist residents who may not be able to afford a certified appraiser but need professional support in preparing their appeal submissions. Through a partnership with First State Community Action Agency, the City is working to make the appeals process more accessible to homeowners who need assistance challenging their property assessments. Funding is limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Homeowners interested in participating are encouraged to seek assistance early. All appeals must be submitted to New Castle County by March 14, 2027. Visit WilmingtonDE.gov for more information.
THANKSGIVING TRASH SCHEDULE
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ilmington City government offices will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, and Friday, Nov. 27, 2026 for Thanksgiving. As aresult, the Department of Public Works’ Sanitation Division will collect trash on a modified holiday schedule: • Monday, Nov. 23: East of I-95 trash collection • Tuesday, Nov. 24: West of I-95 trash collection • Wednesday, Nov. 25: East of I-95 recyclables collection • Thursday, Nov. 26: CITY HOLIDAY/NO collection • Friday, Nov. 27: CITY HOLIDAY/NO collection • Saturday, Nov. 28: West of I-95 recyclables collection For more information about trash and recycling in the City, please visit our website at: WilmingtonDE.gov. To report issues about trash and recycling collection, please dial 3-1-1 or visit WilmingtonDE.gov/311.
November 2026 | OutAndAboutNow.com 59
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JUNE 2023 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM
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Saturday, Dec 12 8PM Start $5 Cover
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Downtown YMCA Youth Programs
INSTANT PRIZES! FOR THE UGLIEST SWEATERS!
PARTICIPATING VENUES:
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Blitzen • Catherine Rooney’s • Chelsea Tavern • Kelly’s Logan House • Makers Alley Roost Pub & Kitchen • Skratch Bar • Timothy’s Riverfront • Trolley Oyster House • Trolley Tap House
Polar Express
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Enjoy Holiday Nights on select Friday and Saturday evenings, with candlit tours, cozy firepits, and more! Photos, Holden Barnes
Come home for the holidays at Winterthur NOVEMBER 21, 2026 – JANUARY 3, 2027 Explore the many ways we seek comfort, belonging, and tradition at home during this year’s Yuletide at Winterthur. Annual favorites, such as the Dried-Flower Tree, original gingerbread display, and grand dollhouse combine with a house tour, special library events, workshops, holiday shopping, and more to get you into the spirit of the season.
Reserve your ticket at winterthur.org/Yuletide.
800.448.3883 • winterthur.org Nestled in the beautiful Brandywine Valley, less than 45 minutes from Philadelphia.