Out & About Magazine - January 2020

Habitat Helping Dreams Come True

Five Food Trends You'll See in 2020

The Best Area Gym for You

TRYING

ISSUE

10th Annual

We heard it from a bird that you should check out the stuff inside

JANUARY 2020 COMPLIMENTARY

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“TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!” – New York Post 3 SHOWS ONLY!

Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre SAT | JAN 18 | 3PM | $19Child/$22Adult

WXPN Welcomes Richard Thompson FRI | JAN 24 | 8PM | $38-$44

Rescued house pets perform crazy stunts and show off their spectacular talents

One of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” see Grammy Award®-nominated legend LIVE!

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Classic Albums Live - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Damn The Torpedoes SAT | FEB 1 | 8PM | $34

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Retired four-star general shares his unique leadership perspective

Hear his third studio album and other hits note for note, cut for cut!

Deadpan comedian delivers satire to the masses, Comedy Central favorite!

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Valentine’s Day with The Manhattan Transfer FRI | FEB 14 | 8PM | $39-$47

Jay and Silent Bob’s Reboot Roadshow with Kevin Smith FRI | FEB 14 | 8PM | $46-$53

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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.

4 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

2 INSIDE 2

13 23 Out & About Magazine Vol. 32 | No. 11

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

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

39

Director of Publications Jim Hunter Miller • jmiller@tsnpub.com Contributing Editor Bob Yearick • ryearick@comcast.net

59

Production Manager Matthew Loeb, Catalyst Visuals, LLC Creative Director Tyler Mitchell, Catalyst Visuals, LLC Digital Services Director Michael O’Brian Contributing Designers David Hallberg, Catalyst Visuals, LLC Blair Lindley, Catalyst Visuals, LLC Contributing Writers Danielle Bouchat-Friedman Adriana Camacho-Church, Cindy Cavett, David Ferguson, Mark Fields, Pam George, Lauren Golt, Jordan Howell, Rob Kalesse, Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald, Dillon McLaughlin, Ken Mammarella, John Murray, Larry Nagengast, Kevin Noonan, Leeann Wallett Contributing Photographers Jim Coarse, Justin Heyes and Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography, Butch Comegys, Lindsay duPhily, Anthony Santoro, Matt Urban Distribution David Hazardous Special Projects Sarah Green, Bev Zimmermann

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WILMINGTON

7 From The Publisher 8 Worth Recognizing 9 War On Words 10 By The Numbers 11 FYI 12 What Readers Are Saying 13 Habitat For Humanity

45 On The Riverfront 48 In The City 50 Art Loop

FOCUS 18 Worth Trying 2020 23 Getting Fit

EAT 27 Five New Food Trends 32 Worth Trying 35 The Whole 30 Diet

DRINK

WATCH 53 2019 Movies Of Worth 57 Indie Films Worth Seeing 59 New Light Theatre

LISTEN 63 Ha Ha Charade 67 Worth Trying

PLAY 69 Worth Trying 71 Snap Shots Ugly Sweater Crawl

39 Bell’s Brewery 42 Sips 43 Worth Trying

FEATURES 13 East Side Makeover Habitat For Humanity creating pride in ownership for city residents.

By Larry Nagengast

18 Worth Trying 2020 We heard it from a bird that you should check out these suggestions.

O&A Staff & Contributors

23 How & Where To Get Fit Make it a healthy 2020 with an exercise regimen right for you.

By Danielle Bouchat-Friedman

27 Five Food Trends For 2020 Our fearless forecaster offers his thoughts for the New Year.

By Matt Sullivan

35 The Whole30 Is starting the New Year with an elimination diet the right plan?

Printed on recycled paper.

By Pam George

Editorial & advertising info: 302.655.6483 • Fax 302.654.0569 outandaboutnow.com • contact@tsnpub.com JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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THE BLACK IRIS PROJECT

A MOTHER’S RITE A thought-provoking ballet about how a mother copes with the loss of her child to a racially-motivated murder.

Thursday, January 23 6 pm – 8 pm

$20 Members $25 Non-Members $10 Students T I C K E T S AT D E L A R T. O R G 2301 Kentmere Parkway | Wilmington, DE 19806 302.571.9590 | delart.org

This engagement of Black Iris Project is made possible through the Special Presenter Initiatives program of the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Delaware Division of the Arts.

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From The Publisher

AN IDEA WORTH TRYING

I

n 1988, Out & About’s original tagline was “A Guide to Then there’s the argument that the electoral college Good Times.” Though we let it fade as our editorial wasn’t designed to accommodate a third-party candidacy. focus expanded, for the most part that’s still who we are: Rethink that, too.

Optimists highlighting the positive in our community.

I’m tired of being forced into a binary choice when Which makes the current national tone such a challenge. the world isn’t that simple. I have conservative leanings Tough to be Team Smiley Face in this divisive climate. and liberal leanings. I don’t fit easily into a Democrat or Singing in the rain is one thing, but this is like singing Republican box, especially with extremists controlling both through a mudslide. parties. I’m not seeing a cooperative effort to get things It’s pick a side, vilify the other, and agree on nothing to done. I’m seeing self-absorbed ideologues more intent on avoid appearing weak. Compromise is anathema, respectful ensuring that the other side fails. disagreement not an option, and social media bullying is the Turns out, I’m not alone. In a recent NBC/WSJ poll, only go-to tactic when things don’t go your way. one in 10 adults felt the two-party system was working well.

Yep, that was our president, the one with the itchy Twitter And 38 percent indicated they were open to a third party— finger, attacking a the highest polling 16-year-old social percentage for that activist because she question in more than Yep, that was our president, the beat him out for two decades. What do Time’s Person of the those two statistics one with the itchy Twitter finger, Year (How many tell me? We’re ready attacking a 16-year-old social times over the past for options. few years have you “A third party activist because she beat him out said to yourself: could fill this void,” Never thought I’d see a stated S.E. Cupp, in for Time’s Person of the Year.

U.S. president do that?) a recent essay for But that’s the CNN. “This party new normal. The _____ (Insert the public official of your wouldn't be ideological in nature, as those already exist. It choice) didn’t lie, you misunderstood. The tape recording wouldn't take this position or that one, and it wouldn't have was doctored. And by the way, when’s the last time you had a charter or a platform committing to a fixed value set. Its your hearing checked? only commitment would be to represent and support the Watching this incessant Democrat-Republican gaslighting majority of moderates and independents on every issue, is uncomfortable, makes you uncertain of certainties, and wherever they are.” leaves one yearning for the simplest of all virtues—honesty.

Of course, such a movement would have significant Which brings me to my hope for 2020. An idea—in challenges. The two parties currently hold three high cards: keeping with the theme of this issue—that is worth trying. the money, the debates and media coverage. But with 40 Time for a legitimate third party. percent of voters identifying as Independents, we have I don’t care what we name it. And enough with the strength in numbers. punditry about how all a third-party candidate does is It’s time we use that strength to force a redeal. Or even compromise chances for one of the two main candidates better, demand a new game. (isn’t that the point?).

— Jerry duPhily

JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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WORTH RECOGNIZING

Community Members Who Go Above & Beyond

VARI PARTHIBAN: Working for an Alzheimer’s cure

— Adriana Camacho-Church 8 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

Photo courtesy of Vari Parthiban

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Science Olympiad competitor in elementary school, Vari Parthiban, 17, says human anatomy and physiology have been long-time interests of hers.

But not until she started volunteering at Compassionate Care Hospice in Wilmington as a freshman in high school did her exposure to Alzheimer’s patients spark an interest in pursuing a career in neurology. She aims to help find a cure for the disease.

“Witnessing the behavior of Alzheimer’s patients and the effects it had on their families made me realize not only how severe this disease Vari Parthiban can be, but also just how common it is,” says the Charter School of Wilmington student. “Millions of families across the U.S. are affected by it, and this really opened my eyes and helped me realize how important it is for each and every one of us to advocate for its cure.”

To raise awareness and money for the fight against Alzheimer’s, the Newark resident three years ago started an Alzheimer’s Club at school, probably the only such club in the state. She and its 30 members hold school bake sales and organize fundraisers at local restaurants. Parthiban also volunteers for the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter, where she is a team captain and a member of the Walk Committee. The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for this disease. Last October, Parthiban and 15 of her team members raised $1,545.

In three years, Parthiban has raised $3,000 for the association. Money raised goes toward care for Alzheimer’s patients, research, and further advocacy.

An Alzheimer’s Association 2019 Facts and Figures report estimates that last year 19,000 Delawareans age 65 and older had the disease. Currently more than 5 million people of all ages in the U.S. live with it, and every 65 seconds someone in this country develops Alzheimer’s. It is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. “To have a high school student with a vision to help find a cure is very unusual,” says Jody Trinsey, Walk manager for Delaware and South Jersey. “She understands the gravity of this disease and what we are doing.”

Last May, Parthiban received a President’s Volunteer Service Award for her work with Compassionate Care Hospice.

To help speed up Alzheimer’s research, she volunteers for an online crowdsourcing project called Stall Catchers. Scientists at Cornell University have found connections between “stalls” (clogged blood vessels in the brain) and Alzheimer’s, and through crowdsourcing projects like Stall Catchers they are collecting data about these blood clots.

Last summer, Parthiban participated in a research internship at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Magnetic Resonance and Optical Imaging, where she was tasked with finding patterns in images from scans of the brains of aging subjects, many of whom had mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s.

To join Stall Catchers crowdsourcing project, visit stallcatchers.com/main For more information about the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter, visit alz.org/delval or call the 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900.

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

Compiled from the popular column in Out & About Magazine

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

Media Watch • Using of is superfluous and slipshod in phrases like “big of a”; nevertheless, it seems to be rampant. In The Philadelphia Inquirer, Erin McCarthy wrote: “She doesn’t have any idea how big of an NFL star her ‘Dada’ is.” Also in the Inky, Penn State football Coach James Franklin was quoted as saying, “He’s as impressive of a player as there is in the country.” Thankfully, two paragraphs later, writer Joe Juliano came along to salvage some respect for his paper: “The 6-foot-5, 265-pound junior is having as good a season as any player in the country.”

• Larry Nagengast, an O&A contributing writer, submits this from a column by Max Boot in The Washington Post: “House Republicans are now desperate to out the whistleblower so they can put this truth-teller through the ringer, too . . .” No bells are ringing here; that should be wringer—something that causes pain, hardship, or exertion.

• Mark Medina in USA TODAY: “[LeBron] James joked that those that doubt his acumen should ‘meet me at the cleaners.’” Medina was referring to LeBron’s physical abilities, not his “keenness and depth of perception or discernment, especially in practical matters,” which is the definition of acumen. Also, the careful writer would have made it “those who doubt.”

• Also in the sports pages of USA Today (a particularly fetid region of ungrammatical prose), we have this from Paul Myerberg: “Even still, the NCAA at first stone-walled . . .” Even still is a wordy construction; even is superfluous.

• Keith Pompey, in the Inky: “Thybulle is ahead of the learning curve, defensively, in regards to most rookies Brown has coached.”

This is just sloppy writing. The phrase is in regard to, but Pompey really means “compared to.”

• Mike Kelly, guest columnist in the The News Journal: “Clinton is still a lightening rod.” That’s lightning. Many writers insist on adding an e in the middle. The same writers probably spell judgment judgement.

• An email from an organization named Retired in America had this egregious double superlative in the subject line: “12 of the Most Fanciest Retirement Home Communities and Their Rent Prices.”

• And finally, reader Mike Dinsmore caught The Washington Post in this blunder in an article on British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn: “The 70-year-old European-style socialist, who quotes Franklin Delano Roosevelt and used to peddle his bicycle to Parliament, is one of Britain's least popular politicians." You pedal your bike and peddle your wears.

Word of the Month

contretemps Pronounced kan-trah-ta, it’s a noun meaning a dispute or argument, or an inopportune or embarrassing occurrence or situation.

By Bob Yearick

Mix-Ups A couple of words that seem to give writers trouble: foreword, denoting the short introduction to a book, is often written forward. And wary, which turns up as weary in sentences like this from Matt Breen of The Inquirer: “. . . Klentak, who is weary about signing pitchers to long-term deals . . .”

How Long, Oh Lord, How Long (In which we point out the continued abuse of that most misused punctuation mark, the apostrophe) A reader submits this from the Williamsport (Pa.) Sun Gazette, in a story about the proposed city budget, which reported that two police officers will be added, but “That is fewer than in some recent year’s past.” Oh, and past is redundant.

In Related News . . .

Here’s a bit of grammar/sports trivia from George Wills’ book about Wrigley Field, A Nice Little Place on the North Side: When the statue of Ernie Banks was unveiled on March 31, 2008, the inscription read: “Lets play two” (Banks' famous quote about playing doubleheaders). Two days later, the sculptor came to Wrigley early in the morning and added an apostrophe to “Lets.”

Literally of the Month Hallie Jackson, MSNBC: “The other story that is quite literally brewing . .” I guess a broadcasting rule of thumb is, when literally isn’t enough, go with “quite literally.”

Just Wondering . . .

Once again, I heard a Philly TV on-camera talent pronounce “street” SH-treet. Why?

Follow me on Twitter: @thewaronwords

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

Seen a good (bad) one lately?

Send your candidates to ryearick@comcast.net

Buy The War on Words book at the Hockessin Book Shelf or by calling Out & About at 655-6483.

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by the numbers A few facts about New Year’s resolutions

80 12

Percentage of people who have dropped the resolution by the end of February.

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www.RockfordTavern.com 10 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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The year in which medieval knights began making the "peacock vow" at the end of the Christmas season to reaffirm their commitment to chivalry. (They would place their hands on a peacock, either alive or cooked, but always with its plumage, while taking the vow). No word on how many knights kept that vow.

The day in January when most people report they start to fail on their New Year’s resolution, usually made 13 days prior.

66

The average number of days it takes to change a habit, which in most cases is what a New Year’s resolution is.

23 Percentage of people who say they forgot they made a resolution (Sure they did).

START CELEBRATIONS OF 100 YEARS OF 19TH AMENDMENT

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F.Y.I. Things worth knowing

GRANT TIME AT DIVISION OF THE ARTS

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he Delaware Division of the Arts has opened its annual online application process for grants for arts programming and projects taking place during fiscal year 2021 (September 2020-August 2021). Applications must be submitted through the smARTDE online system and are due by March 2. Guidelines for all grant programs are available online at arts.delaware.gov/grant-overview. Past and new applicants should read the guidelines carefully and call Division staff with any questions (577-8278).

SEAN FAUST IS ‘IN FLUX’ AT MEZZANINE GALLERY

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uriosity and Flux, an exhibition of abstract paintings by Shawn Faust, will be on view in the Mezzanine Gallery through Jan. 10. The work in this exhibition represents a shift for Faust, a resident of Bear, who is best known for his award-winning representational equestrian paintings. For these abstract works, he merges pictorial elements of representation with non-objective forms as a response to memories and the ephemeral qualities of life. Faust compares himself to a chef who is changing the menu by using the same ingredients, tools, and techniques but with differing results. He explains, "I grant myself permission to diverge and pivot from one medium to another, experimenting with process and mark-making in search of my unknown. As a result, I am in a constant state of flux and possibility."

The Mezzanine Gallery, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is on the second floor of the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French St., Wilmington.

DELAWARE NATURE SOCIETY: FOUR FOR FOUR

D

elaware Nature Society (DelNature) again earned the coveted four-star rating for the fourth consecutive year from Charity Navigator for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. This is Charity Navigator’s highest possible rating and an indication that DelNature adheres to sector best practices and executes its mission in a financially efficient way. Only 20 percent of the charities evaluated have received at least four consecutive four-star evaluations.

“We are proud of again earning Charity Navigator’s four-star rating,” says Joanne McGeoch, DelNature Deputy Director.

“Donors can feel certain that any gift made to Delaware Nature Society will be spent to advance our important work to improve the environment through education, conservation and advocacy.”

BRANDYWINE YMCA: PEDIATRIC EXERCISE FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

T

he Brandywine YMCA has launched a pilot program for cancer survivors between 10-17 years of age. The 12-week program, which runs Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30-6 p.m., helps young survivors increase strength and cardiovascular health while improving flexibility and endurance. Participants work with staff trained in supportive cancer care that focuses on the whole person rather than the disease.

The initial cohort was recently completed, and a second will be offered in the spring. Interested participants can get more information or register for the spring group by contacting Terri Borkland at tborkland@ymcade.org, or 510-1176.

he Brandywine River Museum of Art and The Delaware Contemporary will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote.

The Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, Pa., will present Votes for Women: A Visual History, an exhibition that rediscovers the visual language of the women’s suffrage movement, from Feb. 1 to June 7. The long road to women’s suffrage, spanning the 19th and early-20th centuries, played out very differently from political movements today. In the absence of televised and digital media, the suffragists spread their message through magazines, political cartoons, posters, plays, parades and even through fashion. Focusing on the decade prior to ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, the exhibition examines the compelling imagery of the suffrage movement, revealing how the “look” of women’s rights developed and deciphering the important visual strategies that propelled it.

Focal Points: Women Advancing the Aperture, running from Feb. 7 to April 24 at DuPont II Gallery at the Delaware Contemporary, showcases contemporary female photographers against the backdrop of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment. With predominantly black-and-white photography, the exhibition presents a convergence of imagery that pushes the boundaries of photo-imaging and technique. The Delaware Contemporary is located at 200 S. Madison St., Wilmington.

BRANDYWINE CREEK: PA.’S ‘RIVER OF THE YEAR’?

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he Brandywine Creek, which winds through northern New Castle County as well as Chester and Delaware Counties in Pennsylvania, has been named a finalist for 2020 Pennsylvania River of the Year. The other finalists are the Lackawanna and Ohio Rivers and Buffalo and Connosquenessing Creeks. Candidates were chosen by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers.

JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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WHAT READERS RESTON K & WINE

SPIRITS

Celebrating 87 Years

We wish you a

Happy & Healthy New Year!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS!

ARE SAYING

About Community Change, Through Art As she prepares to move on, Raye Jones Avery looks back at her nearly three decades of transformational leadership at CCAC

By Jordan Howell, November 2019 Raye is indeed a leader who inspires the best in those she encounters and brings so much depth to her interest and her ventures. They will always be a part of her legacy. All the best Raye!

— Anne Oldach I had my first voice lessons at Christina also as an adult learner and enjoyed dance classes, too. Great experiences with Big Band there and made many new friends in the music community. Great place for me and am proud of all Raye has accomplished for us (the community) there. Best Wishes Raye in all your future endeavors.

— Sylvia Jackson A face for cultural enrichment in Wilmington for as long as I can remember and won't change no matter where she is. Keep doing your thing. Please & thank you.

— Ed Heed About The War On Words

By Bob Yearick, November 2019 Bob, I used your contest as a warm-up activity in my AP class today. The seniors loved it and want more. We had fun debates about some of sentences and phrases, especially the tie-breaker.

— Mark Mervine [teacher at Charter School of Wilmington]

ALWAYS SOMETHING WORTH TRYING! EXPERIENCE THE KRESTON DIFFERENCE: Wine, Spirits, Beer, Craft Spirits & So Much More Always Coming!

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www.KrestonWines.com 12 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

About Making the Arts Accessible For three decades, the DDOA has reached into every corner of Delaware by funding innumerable programs, institutions, and individual artists

By Adriana Camacho-Church, September 2019 Adriana, we can’t thank you enough for composing to pen such a beautifully written article. Haley and Arts Therapy Express have had so many people come up to them asking about her art and adaptations since your article. This especially since ATE just was awarded the Governor’s Art Award for Community Engagement.

Also, fellow members at the YMCA where she works out have all asked her about it as they read the edition.

Haley spoke at the awards, telling of her experiences. Fellow artists came to her quoting parts of your article noting to her that she was the artist in the pictures... She “ feels famous” in a sense, but at the same time [it] shows that people from all abilities can create art. Another feeling, she says, is proud: “ I feel proud.”

— Debbie and Haley Shiber

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

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Antonia Burruss, a Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County prospective homeowner, tours a future home under construction on the 800 block of Bennett Street.

EAST SIDE MAKEOVER Habitat for Humanity is building houses and creating pride in ownership for some first-time Wilmington homeowners

By Larry Nagengast Photos by Butch Comegys

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ntonia Burruss won’t be moving into her new house until 12 months from now, but she already knows—and likes—her new neighbors.

“They’re great ladies,” she says. “They have small families. We work together. We partner with each other. We’re going to keep our neighborhood safe and protect one another.”

Burruss, 39, has been chosen as one of the residents of Amala Way, a group of five townhouses to be built by Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County in the 800 block of Bennett Street on Wilmington’s East Side.

Following a groundbreaking ceremony in December, construction should begin this month. With Burruss and her

new neighbors providing plenty of sweat equity, plus hundreds of volunteers wielding hammers and saws, the five new homes should be ready for occupancy by the end of the year.

And that’s not the only transformation under way on the block.

Across the street from Amala Way stands a row of seven partiallybuilt townhouses started in 2015 by the Wilmington Housing Partnership. Construction of these townhouses, and other Partnership projects, stalled following disclosures that the Partnership’s former leaders misused hundreds of thousands of dollars of city funds. The Partnership’s board of directors has since been reconstituted and the city government is working with the Partnership to transfer title for the properties to Habitat for Humanity, which will complete the work. ► JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Buy a plate, CLEAN UP OUR STATE.

EAST SIDE MAKEOVER continued from previous page

Marlese Carr, a Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County prospective homeowner, sheds a few happy tears while embraced by her long-time friend Michelle Reaves as they take a tour inside one of several homes under construction on Bennett Street.

Bill Freeborn, a Habitat board member and director of the Wilmington Land Bank, which is helping with the title transfer, says he expects work on the seven started townhouses to be completed by September.

The two projects on Bennett Street are just part of Habitat’s efforts to improve housing opportunities—and the overall appearance of neighborhoods—on the East Side. Just a block and a half away, in the 900 block of Church Street, sits Hope Run, a group of four townhouses completed last June that includes the 250th home that the county’s Habitat organization has completed since its launch in 1986. The homes in Amala Way will closely resemble those in Hope Run, but they will be framed with 2X6-inch studs, permitting better insulation, and the two three-bedroom units will also have front porches, says Kevin Smith, Habitat executive director.

Smith says that Habitat, whose work in the county has focused on Wilmington, the Route 9 corridor between Wilmington and New Castle, and Middletown, does more than build homes and find qualified buyers to live in them. “We aim to change neighborhoods, to create and sustain home ownership,” he says.

Through a grant from JPMorgan Chase, he says, Habitat has been able to expand its home repair services, helping to fix up 20 to 25 homes a year in the city, many of them owned by senior citizens or individuals with limited means.

ROCK THE BLOCK

MORE INFO:

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Neighborhoods in which at least half the homes are owner-occupied are the best candidates for stabilization and revitalization, and helping homeowners make needed repairs is an effective means of achieving and maintaining that ratio, Smith says.

In addition, Habitat works to engage residents in beautification projects. Through its Rock the Block initiative, Habitat helps homeowners with exterior and façade repairs as well as with planting shrubs and installing fencing to create pocket parks or mini-gardens in a neighborhood’s common areas.

“Unkempt lots create negative feelings about a neighborhood,” Smith says. “If you clean them out and fence them in, it gives the impression that people care.”

Habitat has “created a lot of stability” in the neighborhoods where it concentrates its efforts, he says.

The international Habitat organization, founded in 1976 and propelled into the national limelight through the support of former President Jimmy Carter, now operates in all 50 states and more than 70 countries and has helped some 29 million people achieve strength, stability and independence through safe, decent and affordable shelter.

The prospective residents of Amala Way—Burruss, Nema Bass, Marlise Carr, and Ursula Gonzalez and her partner Westley Scott, hope to be among the next to achieve those goals.

“Next to my baby, this is the most important thing that has ever happened to me,” says Bass, a 37-year-old budget analyst for Wilmington University who will be moving into Amala Way with her 15-year-old daughter, Nevaeh. “I’m going from renter to homeowner, a major change. Life is good,” she says.

QUALIFYING FOR HABITAT HELP

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Life may be good, but the path to homeownership is not necessarily easy.

Candidates for Habitat homes must have an income that falls within 30 to 60 percent of the median for New Castle County, roughly $22,000 to $55,000, depending on family size, Smith says.

Other requirements include having a credit score of 600 or higher, no more than $1,500 in delinquent debt and total debt that is less than or equal to 20 percent of gross income. Applicants who don’t meet those standards can receive credit counseling through the state-supported Stand By Me program and often are approved on their second or third try, he says.

Additional requirements for homeownership include putting in 300 hours of “sweat equity,” achieved through working on their own homes or others in the area; putting in time at ReStore, Habitat’s outlet for building supplies and used furniture; and participating at Habitat promotional and marketing events. An important part of those 300 hours is coaching and counseling, Smith says, designed to make sure that prospective homeowners understand their financial responsibilities, how to care for their properties and, perhaps most important, how to get along with their neighbors.

The houses being built in Amala Way will probably be valued at $130,000 to $140,000, but could be sold for $200,000 or

more if they were located in a better neighborhood, Smith says.

Homeowners receive an interest-free mortgage, but must promise to live in their new home for at least 10 years. (For a home valued at $140,000, monthly payments for mortgage, taxes and insurance would total about $550.)

The new homeowners won’t know final costs until the project is completed.

But that’s not a big concern for Ursula Gonzalez, a 55-year-old Wilmingtonian who works on a mushroom farm in Avondale, Pa. She’s just thrilled by the opportunity. “I never thought that I could own a house. I never thought that my credit would be good enough to even try,” she says.

Gonzalez learned about Habitat from a relative who entered the homeownership program but dropped out before qualifying for a home. “I’m surprised that I made it through,” she says.

Enrolling in Habitat’s program helped Carr, a 31-year-old research coordinator for AmeriHealth Caritas of Delaware, become more financially literate and set better priorities, an important consideration for the single mother of a teenaged boy and two younger girls. Owning a home will provide the stability that they have been seeking for years.

“The biggest thing is that this is for my children, to have a place they can really call home, where they can express themselves, and paint and decorate their own rooms,” she says.

The New Castle County Habitat unit runs on an operating budget of about $3.5 million, with about 70 percent of the revenue coming from corporate, foundation and government grants. The rest of the income is derived from mortgage payments, proceeds from ReStore sales and individual contributions. ►

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START EAST SIDE MAKEOVER continued from previous page

Newly built homes from Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County located on the 900 block of Church Street in East Side of Wilmington.

HABITAT AS A CONTRACTOR

Constructing a Habitat home involves a mix of professional and volunteer labor, Smith says. Building plans are available through Habitat’s headquarters in Atlanta, but are frequently modified to meet local conditions. Homeowners get to make some choices too—like picking the color of their carpeting or flooring, or the style of countertops in the kitchen and bath.

“We’re a small to mid-sized general contractor,” Smith says, explaining that Habitat hires professionals to pour the concrete footers and foundation, install the heating and cooling systems, the electrical wiring, the drywall and the roofing, and the external connections for sewer and water lines.

Construction supervisors on the Habitat staff oversee the work of both the professionals and the volunteers, who include not only prospective homeowners but also groups organized through businesses, schools, churches and other community organizations. The volunteers handle interior framing, insulation, painting, installation of vinyl siding, finishing carpentry and landscaping.

“Five houses will take us a year, working five days a week with 15 volunteers a day,” Smith says.

Habitat averages 20,000 volunteer hours a year in New Castle County. Some have construction experience, but many do not, but the organization’s supervisors provide on-site training and instruction and carefully monitor the work.

Volunteers come from all over the county and sometimes from out of state. Two years ago, a group of college students flew in from California to spend their one-week spring break working on Habitat houses in Wilmington and Middletown.

“We’re getting volunteers to come to parts of the community that they’ve never been to,” Smith says. “This has a positive effect. It helps change attitudes. They see that it’s not as bad or as scary as they might have believed.”

Homeownership itself can be a scary proposition, the prospective Amala Way residents acknowledge, and that’s why they’re glad they will have the opportunity to work together and get to know each other better before they move in.

“You get to know the area, you get to know your neighbors and develop the friendships,” Gonzalez says. “Everybody here is working for the same thing.”

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Worth TRYING

Welcome to our 10th annual Worth Trying Issue. Though we feature Worth Trying suggestions monthly, each January we devote much of the magazine to personal recommendations from staff, contributors and friends of Out & About. These suggestions on where and what to eat, drink, see and do are scattered throughout these pages, interspersed with our usual assortment of feature stories, news items and other fun stuff.

Enjoy, and have a very happy New Year!

GET YOUR ‘PUPPY FILL’ Over the past year, my father has volunteered to take care of and walk current trainees at Canine Partners for Life, a non-profit organization that breeds, raises and trains service and companion dogs located in Cochranville, Pa. We’ve discovered that it’s a great way to get your “puppy fill” and not have to commit to all the responsibilities that full dog ownership entails.

It's a great experience to help contribute to the dog’s training and watch it grow into a superior service and companion dog. k94life.org.

— Jim Coarse, Contributing Photographer

LOOK (AND FEEL) GOOD IN ROTHY'S FLATS & SNEAKERS On a tip from one of my girlie pals, I just ordered my first pair of these eco-friendly, machine-washable sneakers. Their sustainable flats and sneaks come in a variety of styles and patterns, and they're super comfy.

According to the website, Rothy's has upcycled more than 30 million plastic water bottles into fashionable footwear for women and children. To me, that's a (ahem!) step in the right direction. rothys.com.

— Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald, Contributing Writer

18 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

A NEW WAY TO GET BROADCAST TV A young nonprofit called Locast.org offers an economical way to get local broadcast channels for families who stream their television. Sign up online, give your name and email and certify that you’re in the Philadelphia market or the other 15 areas it covers, and you can watch local channels.

Sample it for free, or donations start at $5 a month. It’s particularly helpful for WPVI/6 and WHYY/12, which are hard to get with many antennas.

— Ken Mammarella, Contributing Writer

TOP SPOTS FOR ATTIC TREASURES

CAN YOU HANDLE THE TRUTH? Tired of the fake news, misinformation, disinformation —from both the right and left? Then go to Snopes.com.

You’ll find thoroughly researched, factual information on almost any topic, with documented sources. Submit a topic and get the latest scoop. Started in 1994 to investigate urban legends, hoaxes and folklore, it’s now the oldest and largest fact-checking site online. And it’s free—although it gladly accepts donations. So go to Snopes.com—but be ready for the truth!

— Bob Yearick, Contributing Editor

The best places to procure interesting preowned items is in markets organized by local houses of worship. The time you spend is less than you would chasing after garage sales, since the goodies are all in one place. Prices are usually cheaper than antiques stores and flea markets, since everything is donated. The gratification is faster than shopping online, since you’re returning with your new finds in just minutes. Of course, they’re also great for revealing cool things you didn’t know you wanted. In North Wilmington, worthy markets are run at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Congregation Beth Emeth (twice a year), St. David’s Episcopal Church, St. Helena’s Church (so much it takes two days and several buildings) and Trinity Presbyterian Church.

— Ken Mammarella, Contributing Writer

ACUPUNCTURE FOR WELLNESS My wife has been regularly trying acupuncture for wellness for the past few months, and when I mentioned that I had some back pain and stress, she recommended that I give it a try. I’ve only had a few sessions, but it has me convinced of its therapeutic benefits. One of the biggest benefits from acupuncture has been reducing my stress level and anxiety, and making me feel calmer.

After a session, I feel clear-headed and calm for a few days afterward, not to mention the relief from back pain. There is a list of other ailments that can benefit from acupuncture, so research it and give it a try.

— Tyler Mitchell, Creative Director

HOW DID THIS GET MADE? Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael and Jason Mantzoukas (three comedians you've most likely seen but don’t know their names) discuss movies you hate to love and love to hate on this podcast. Listening to them banter and break down movies like Con-Air, Grease 2, Burlesque and Road House is a laughout-loud treat. earwolf.com/show/how-did-this-get-made.

— Lauren Golt, Contributing Writer

ENHANCE YOUR RELIGIOUS LIFE You don’t have to be Catholic to shop at Angel Crossing Catholic Books and Gifts Store, but it obviously helps. This store, which has been open since 1998, has everything you need to enhance your religious life, including holy cards, medals, statues, rosary beads, religious books and magazines, as well as First Communion suits and dresses. Located at 550 S. Colonial Ave., Wilmington.

— Kevin Noonan, Contributing Writer

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TRY SOME OLD MOVIES By old, I don’t mean Casablanca or Citizen Kane old; I’m talking about quality cinema of more recent vintage—most of it available now on Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streaming services. Many of these films hold up well, and it’s fascinating to spot some supporting actors whose careers are now flourishing (Bobby Cannavale in The Bone Collector), or who found some success and then almost disappeared (Cary Elwes in The Princess Bride). Some other suggestions: The Usual Suspects, Glengarry Glen Ross, Boys Don’t Cry, American Beauty, The Ice Storm, Election. Grab some popcorn, sit back and enjoy.

LEARN A NEW SKILL ONLINE Being a designer means there's always something new to learn in my field. But with a full-time job and daily life, getting to a classroom or even taking an online class through a university can be a bit challenging. However, I've found that you can learn a new skill (or design a program for that matter) from a host of websites that offer courses you can complete on your own time. The sites I've found most helpful have been Lynda.com and Udemy.com. So make 2020 the year of gaining knowledge!

— Tyler Mitchell, Creative Director

— Bob Yearick, Contributing Editor

RESTORE THOSE OLD SHOES We live in a disposable age, but John’s Shoe and Luggage Repair, across the street from the Shoppes of Graylyn on Marsh Road, is still here after 30 years to serve people who would rather repair than replace. Not only do they repair shoes and luggage, but also purses and handbags, and they can handle your dry cleaning—usually sameday service. So, don’t chuck those beloved old loafers after all—just get them fixed.

— Kevin Noonan, Contributing Writer

GRAB A PIZZA Conveniently located next to Wilmington Brew Works, La Pizzeria Metro has some of the best pies around. Consider the Wawaset Park with chorizo chicken sausage, spinach, grape tomatoes, red onion, fontina and mozzarella for $14 (It also comes with bacon, but we went pork-free). The restaurant has a diverse menu—try the wings—and a full bar. lapizzeriametro.com, 761-9199.

— Pam George, Contributing Writer

BALANCED ATHLETE CLASSES AT EMPOWERED YOGA If you're looking to start a new fitness routine and work off those extra holiday calories, Balanced Athlete at Empowered Yoga is definitely worth trying. Each 60-minute class, performed barefoot, combines weight-lifting, core-strengthening, and plyometric exercises. The combination of fun music, encouraging instructors, and varying routines makes the hour fly by. empoweredyoga.com/balanced-athlete.

— Lauren Golt, Contributing Writer

20 JANUARY DECEMBER2020 2019 | | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

BOIE ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS We should all be trying in some way to help our environment. NYC-based start-up company Boie USA makes simple, sustainable personal care products. The products available currently are minimal but they are growing. Some eyeopening facts: loofahs and washcloths can harbor a ton of bacteria and almost every toothbrush you've thrown away is still sitting in a landfill or in the ocean. Boie makes a body scrubber, facial scrubber and toothbrush ($5 replacement toothbrush heads, too) that are naturally antimicrobial, BPA-free and recyclable. Best of all, the body scrubber suctions to your shower wall. Easy on your wallet, this is a great way to make a positive impact on the environment by purchasing one of their eco-friendly products. boieusa.com.

— Blair Lindley, Contributing Designer

THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW Let’s face it: Jimmy Kimmel is decidedly not funny, Jimmy Fallon is silly, and Stephen Colbert is not nearly as good at playing himself as he was as his alter ego on The Colbert Report. So give Graham Norton a try. The Irish comedian/ actor/author starts his show with a very brief monologue, then brings out three guests, who sit on a couch together, have a little wine or other adult beverage, view videos of some of their performances, and engage in generally witty, entertaining, sometimes outrageous chatter.

Except for a few English celebrities, they’re all A-listers who are well-known to American audiences. On BBC America.

— Bob Yearick, Contributing Editor

CHARRITY & JOHN AT LOCAL VENUES Charrity & John, a local duet who perform classic rock, pop, country and other modern tunes, appear frequently at Greater Wilmington bars and restaurants. Both are classically and formally educated, and they offer a combined 30 years of performing experience. Their easy-going, easyplaying, laid back and sometimes improvisational style will get your feet tapping and hips swaying, and they often take requests. To find out more about Charrity & John and their whereabouts, “like” them on Facebook or visit their website: charrityandjohn.com.

— Michael O’Brian, Director of Digital Services

JANSSEN’S DERBY-STYLE PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD Move over queso, there’s a new snack in town. Pimento cheese, which is often referred to as “the pâté of the south,” is a cheesy, tangy and mildly spicy munchie that tastes divine on just about anything. I’ve tried many variations, but none have left my taste buds in a tizzy more than Janssen’s Derbystyle cheese spread, which is hidden in the back of the store, after the deli case. The spread is substantial and a bit lumpy, allowing the flavorful cheeses and spices to really shine. It may not look like much, but you’ll quickly get over that after your first bite. $9.95/pound at Janssen’s Market, Greenville. janssensfinefoods.com.

— Danielle Bouchat-Friedman, Contributing Writer

SAVE $ WITH DIGIT Saving money can be tough. Maybe you forget to set aside a certain amount from each paycheck, or you're not even sure how much you should save or how often. An app that is available for iPhone & Android, Digit does all of that for you.

Sign up and its algorithms learn your spending habits and then it saves accordingly (at an FDIC-insured bank). It could save $1.50 one day, skip a few days and save $230 the next week. Don't panic, though; you can set limits, make unlimited withdrawals, set up overdraft protection to transfer to your checking and set a savings goal for a rainy day. It also sends you a text message every day with your checking account balance, so there are no surprises. With no account minimums and a $5/month service fee, I must say this app is worth every penny. I am amazed at how much I've saved using Digit over the last year or so. (Free for 30 days, then $5/mo.) digit.co.

— Blair Lindley, Contributing Designer

Look for more Worth Trying suggestions throughout this issue!

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WHERE (AND HOW) TO GET FIT Make it a healthy 2020 with exercise that fits your requirements

CoreTen Fitness, shown here, offers CrossFit, which involves constantly varied, high intensity, functional movement. Photo Jim Coarse

By Danielle Bouchat-Friedman

S

o, you made the mistake of stepping on the scale New Year’s Day and the results are alarming: All that stuffing, eggnog and apple pie you inhaled over the holidays took its toll on your waistline and now you want to look svelte—the sooner the better. So, where to start?

Turns out there are plenty of gyms offering classes and workouts for all kinds of fitness levels and interests, so pick one you think you can stick with. (Be sure to consult your doctor before beginning a fitness regimen of any kind.)

GROUP CLASSES 1. Aquatic Fitness

The health benefits of aquatic fitness should outweigh any bathing suit-averseness you may be suffering at this time of year.

And if you’re searching for a pain-free workout or are new to exercise, the pool might be the place for you.

The Hockessin Athletic Club (HAC) has an aquatics complex that includes an indoor lap pool, heated therapy pool, whirlpool, leisure pool and a six-lane heated outdoor lap pool. Members have access to several classes at no extra charge, including Aqua Tude—a high-energy workout with stretching, warm up, abs work, strength training, cardio work and deep-water work—and Aqua Zumba.

Lisa Maguire, the HAC’s marketing manager, says that exercising in the pool is a great way to achieve overall health.

“The pool is low-resistance and is the complete opposite of weight training or running, but you still get a full body workout,” she says.

Classes typically include up to 20 participants and are taught by certified instructors. Looking for something more intimate?

The HAC offers small group personal training classes in the pool at $25 per class or $264 for 12 classes. These are limited to a dozen participants and are taught by certified personal trainers.

100 Fitness Way, Hockessin 766-7482; hachealthclub.com 2. Ballet

When your mother dragged you to ballet class, you probably never realized the health benefits you were reaping. Now you’re much older and wiser, but also a bit rounder. Step into FIT, a boutique fitness studio that has been in business for 26 years.

“A lot of people who come in here have never been in a gym before,” says Manager Al Russell.

The class selection is varied at FIT, ranging from ballet, to tai chi, to boxing. “We really try to accommodate people and give them what they need and what they want,” says Russell. ► JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Marsha Borin, an attorney by trade and the former director WHERE (AND HOW) of The Russian Ballet Theater of TO GET FIT continued from previous page Delaware, brought ballet to FIT less than a year ago. The hour-long class is held every Tuesday at 10 a.m. and is limited to eight people.

“It has a lot to do with coordination, flexibility and agility,” says Russell. “It’s slower-paced, but also has a calming effect.”

You do not need to be a member to take classes at FIT, and the first class is always free. After that, you can take eight ballet classes for $104.

62 Rockford Rd., Wilmington 777-4348; fitdelaware.com 3. CrossFit

Looking for an intense, full-body workout that will make you sweat? Here it is: CrossFit, which involves constantly varied, highintensity, functional movement.

Matt DiStefano runs CoreTen Fitness in downtown Wilmington and encourages anyone to at least try CrossFit. “The workout is designed for all levels, and all movements can be scaled.

It’s much more accessible than people realize,” he says.

Class sizes at CoreTen Fitness are capped at 10, so newbies won’t get lost in the shuffle.

“Our classes are smaller and offer more hands-on attention,” says DiStefano. “This helps people improve faster and prevent injury.

Doing any exercise without the right supervision can get you injured.”

There are four CrossFit classes offered each day and DiStefano says that if you stick with it, you should notice a change in your body within the first month. “You will be feeling a little bit better.

The scale might not change that much, but the composition of your body will,” he says.

You don’t need to be a member to take classes at CoreTen; you can pay per class or purchase a package of classes. One CrossFit class is $18, or purchase a package of 10 for $15. A membership is $139 a month but includes unlimited CrossFit classes and access to CoreTen’s full fitness facility.

1007 N. Orange St., Wilmington 777-7539; coretenfitness.com 4. Yoga

If it’s been a long time since you’ve seen the inside of a gym, consider easing back into it with yoga. Meredith McFadden, who runs Pure Yoga Pilates Studio in Trolley Square, says the discipline involves much more than just breathing and meditating.

“People don’t realize how active it is,” she says. “I have weightlifters come and they’re surprised how hard it is. It’s a great complement to cycling and weights.”

The studio, which just celebrated 12 years in business, offers 35 classes a week, plus Pilates and Barre. Classes include beginner yoga, gentle flow and Vinyasa, which is suitable for those who are more advanced.

And while yoga will burn calories and help tone your muscles, McFadden believes an underlying benefit is that it helps with mindfulness. “Yoga helps connect your mind and body. It helps with mindful eating and how you are going to treat yourself,” she says.

McFadden says evening classes tend to be the most crowded, ranging from 10-25 people. The early morning classes typically draw half a dozen people, while the 9 and 10 a.m. classes entice about 10.

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Photo courtesy of The YMCA

Spinning is a popular group exercise at area YMCAs.

“Pretty much anyone can do some form of yoga; I have people who are 75 years old who do it,” she says.

The drop-in rate for yoga is $16, or you can purchase a fiveclass package for $75 or a 10-class package for $135. Mats are available to rent for $1 or you can purchase an eco-friendly one at the studio. Discounts are offered to seniors, students, educators and members of the military.

14A Trolley Square, Wilmington 225-YOGA; pureyogapilatesstudio.com 5. Spinning

Spinning has been around since the early 1990s and has remained popular because it’s low-impact and not complicated.

The YMCA offers a number of these indoor stationary cycling classes each day (schedules vary by branch), and despite what many people think, it isn’t just a lower-body workout.

“You do work your entire body. It’s a cardiovascular and muscle endurance workout,” says Megin Hewes, wellness director at the Central Y in downtown Wilmington. “You will burn a lot of calories and fat, build lean muscle and muscular endurance.”

The Y recently began offering Myzone technology, a heart rate system that projects participants’ heart rates on a TV screen. The monitor is available for $79 and is a great way to gage how hard you’re working during a 45-minute class.

“You can see what color zone you’re in. If I am in the yellow zone, I know I can push a little bit harder,” says Hewes.

Class sizes typically top out around 35 at the Central Y and classes are included in your membership.

501 W. 11th St., Wilmington 254-9622; ymcade.org

RACQUETBALL

Racquetball hit its stride in the ‘70s and ‘80s and has experienced a resurgence in the last few years. The indoor racquet sport draws players of all ages who often play for hours at Kirkwood Fitness and Racquetball Club and the Central Y in Wilmington.

“People come from down south on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and will play from 9 a.m.-noon,” says Kirkwood Fitness Manager Doug Cooper.

Kirkwood Fitness has four courts onsite and players can book a court up to two days in advance. The Central Y also offers racquetball to its members. It’s best to reserve one of the five courts ahead of time, but members can show up and use the court if no one has reserved it. ►

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“Prime time here is from 4-7 or 8 p.m.,” Cooper says.

“We do have a challenge court for beginners. Someone may WHERE (AND HOW) see them and offer to teach them. We do try and situate TO GET FIT continued from previous page beginners with other beginners.”

You must bring your own racquet, ball and eyewear. And Cooper recommends a court shoe—like a basketball shoe—which offers more ankle support.

“It’s a great alternative to tennis. It’s a real active game and you get a real great workout.

It’s a fun game, that’s the main thing,” promises Cooper.

Kirkwood Fitness is a membership-based facility but does offer complimentary guest passes.

1800 Naamans Rd., Wilmington 529-1865; kirkwoodfitness.com

Studies have shown that weightlifting helps control your weight, keeps your muscles strong and can even decrease your risk of getting dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

What’s more, muscle uses more calories than fat. So why do so many people still avoid this exercise?

“People think that you will instantaneously look like Arnold Schwarzenegger or that you will get insanely muscular,” says Scott McCarthy, who owns Balance Scott McCarthy, owner of at Balance Strength & Fitness Center.

Strength & Fitness Center.

McCarthy advises anyone who wants to start lifting weights to start slow.

“Start with two to three days a week. You’re going to be sore in the beginning, but you should start to see change in your body in three to four weeks,” he says.

Balance Strength & Fitness Center has equipment to suit everyone from cardio junkies, to athletes, to boxers and more. A standard membership runs $29 a month; personal training sessions are available at an additional cost. McCarthy is a certified personal trainer who trains everyone from older women to young athletes.

“Middle-aged women who lift weights have a lower risk of osteoporosis,” he says. “It also helps lower the severity of injury if you fall and helps maintain the musculature in your legs and hips. Many people have weakened hips and backs from sitting all day.”

2801 Lancaster Ave., Suite H, Wilmington 658-5077; balancefitnesstraining.com

NUTRITION

Do you constantly feel tired, bloated and uncomfortable? Perhaps your diet needs a makeover. Don’t jump on the fad diet bandwagon; Arianne Missimer, who holds a doctorate in physical therapy, recommends following a practical and sustainable method.

Missimer runs The Movement Paradigm in Downingtown, Pa. She is a registered dietician and says many of her patients are referred to her due to their chronic pain, digestive issues and autoimmune issues.

“I focus on finding the root of the problem,” she says.

She typically starts her patients on an elimination diet, which helps her determine what foods they are sensitive to or intolerant of.

“I follow the 5 R Approach to help them reboot, which includes removing any irritants, replacing any deficiencies, repopulating/reintroducing foods, repairing the digestive tract and rebalancing their lifestyle.”

She says patients will typically see her for three to six months and will often lose weight just by eating a more balanced diet.

“I try to educate people and help them find the right nutritional plan,” she says.

“Everyone is different and everyone needs something different. Just because something worked for your neighbor doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you.”

The initial consultation runs $175 and one-hour follow up appointments cost $145.

101 Manor Ave., Downingtown (302) 373-2394; themovementparadigm.com 26 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

Photo Jim Coarse

WEIGHTLIFTING

EAT

Five Food Trends for

Buoyed by his excellent 2019 score, our fearless forecaster offers his thoughts on the New Year

By Matt Sullivan

L

ast year, in the very first words of the 2019 Delaware Dining Trends report, I made fun of the idea that “milk” could ever come from oats.

Consider me chagrined. Today, as I pour myself a cold glass of pulverized oats, I am reminded of two things: One, your daily lactose intake is something you worry about a lot more in your 40s; and two, the future is hard to predict.

(Side note: If you haven’t yet had the pleasure, oat milk tastes exactly like milk if that milk had been poured into a bowl of oatmeal and drained a couple of hours later. But if you drink it with Oreos, it’s … fine.)

I failed to predict a few other things too: The seemingly limitless supply (and, I guess, demand?) of CBD edibles and the stores that will sell them. The explosion of Vietnamese joints on the Concord Pike. Pop-up Christmas bars. Fried-chicken sandwich wars.

So as I point the crystal ball toward 2020, I do so with great humility and, yes, a few wins in my back pocket. (Check the 2019 scorecard at the end of the story.) As usual, I’ve noted the national trends, chatted with the culinary cognoscenti, and ignored everything Whole Foods has to say about the shape of things to come. (Stop trying to make watermelon-seed butter happen, Bezos. It’s not happening.)

My thanks to a motley crew of chefs and restaurateurs, bartenders and baristas, who patiently put up with my questions, as well as the dynamic duo of Carrie Leishman and Karen Stauffer from the Delaware Restaurant Association for their thoughts and insights. Any missed guesses are mine alone.

TREND: Lunchtime Veganism

There’s a story that comedian Wyatt Cenac told on the podcast “The Nod” last year: “I was in Austin, Texas. I wasn’t feeling particularly well, probably because I had eaten a lot of barbecue. A friend took me to a Chinese restaurant, and there was broccoli. I had never had broccoli in my life. But you know how when a dog has been sick, they’ll just start eating leaves?

It’s instinctual. The dog is, like, ‘This is going to help me deal with some stuff.’ In a similar way, I was, like, ‘I think I need that broccoli. Am I going to do this? Yeah … I’m going to eat that broccoli.’ And I ate that broccoli. And I did feel better. And I celebrated by eating more barbecue.”

More and more, people are realizing we are Cenac, and it’s time to eat that broccoli.

Whether you’re thinking about the earth or thinking about your body, it’s clear that eating less meat is a good idea. I’m no big fan of nutritional science—my kids are members of a generation of Americans who have a higher incidence of life-threatening food allergies thanks to “expert” advice—so I tend to believe the best diet advice is still the simplest, from Michael Pollen: “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.”

Vegetarianism is healthy and sustainable and unlikely to become truly mainstream anytime soon, because meat still tastes great. And yet, a meatless burger was the second most popular fast-food introduction of 2019. (Restaurant Brands International reported a 5 percent increase in same-store sales at Burger Kings thanks to the Impossible Whopper.) ► JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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EAT FIVE FOOD TRENDS FOR 2020 continued from previous page

A growing number of local restaurants are all-vegan. Check out Green Box Kitchen on Market Street, V-Trap on Lincoln, and cult favorite Drop Squad Kitchen on the Riverfront. They serve food that is inviting, soulful, and a far cry from the meager rations that constituted a vegan diet 20 years ago. And these places are not catering solely to a meatfree crowd. They’re full of lunchtime vegans, trying to live a little better.

I’ll be back to Green Box soon for falafel waffle and a chopped Thai salad.

And I will feel better. And then I will celebrate with some barbecue.

Prediction #1: At least three highprofile vegan eateries open in Delaware in 2020, including one at the beach, for vegancurious vacationers.

TREND: Dewey Diamonds

I was at the Delaware Restaurant Association’s annual Cornerstone Awards when I ate my first oyster grown in Delaware’s Inland Bays. Plump and delicious, the oyster had been cultivated less than a mile from where I was standing, and it competed well against all the other shellfish at the event, with a bit of hometown pride mixed in.

“The flavor is there for sure,” says Leishman. “They’re salty and delicious.”

They’re also locally sourced, sustainably grown and … get this … actually improve the water quality around them by their very presence. What more could you want?

Cultivators like the Delaware Oyster Co. are using available technology to bring a better and better product to market—at this point, mostly focused on creating shells that will look cool on a fine-dining restaurant platter, Leishman says.

But shell appeal (or lack thereof) hasn’t stopped the Dewey Diamonds from moving fast at George & Sons’ Seafood Market and Oyster House in Hockessin. On a recent Thursday night, shuckers stayed busy keeping up with a full bar of slurpers, and a waitress was happy to talk about how much she enjoys these Delaware-born-and-raised beauties. George & Sons has been a pioneer in this area, but expect to see them on more menus, and watch for more varieties in 2020.

Prediction #2: Delaware oysters knock some random Canadian oysters off menus, as soon as supply allows. We’ll see three varieties in regular rotation by the end of the year.

28 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

TREND: Market on Market

Ask 10 people what they think downtown Wilmington needs, and you’re likely to hear the same thing 10 times over: a supermarket.

You would have gotten the same answer 10 years ago, probably. And still, no supermarket. Why? It’s all metrics. A retailer like Trader Joe’s makes decisions based on how many people live within walking distance, how many live within a mile, and many other data points. In the past, the metrics for Wilmington just haven’t been appealing enough.

The residential boom in downtown Wilmington has absolutely changed that math. Has it changed the math enough? Maybe.

The following is based 100 percent on supposition and no insider knowledge, but is prompted by a curious story in The News Journal in late November which revealed that the city planned to use $1 million in state funds—money that had apparently been appropriated explicitly for this purpose—to purchase 801 N. Market St., the building on the corner where Rite Aid used to be. Why? No one would say, at least not to the reporter at the time.

The 6,600-square-foot space is small by modern retail standards—way smaller than the average Trader Joe’s. But small-format grocery stores in urban settings are a hot growth area in that sector. Would city/state incentives be enough to lure one of them to Wilmington? Dare to dream.

Prediction #3: A brand-name market with hipster cred opens (or is at least announced) on Market Street—and if it’s not Trader Joe’s, it’s a close cousin.

TREND: Wine, Naturally

Organic. Biodynamic. Raw. Naked. Natural. Call it what you will, but low-intervention wines aren’t just having a moment— they’re on their way to becoming the new normal.

“It’s probably the biggest thing to change the landscape of how people shop for wine since the advent of the point system,” says David Govatos, owner of Swigg in Independence Mall.

Govatos has built a reputation as a purveyor of “natural wines,” a term that’s already loaded with such baggage that The New York Times is asking whether the natural wine movement is “dead.” (Answer: No.) David himself prefers the term “lowintervention wines,” meaning wines made from grapes that usually start in organic vineyards and become wine with very few, if any, additives in the process.

While Robert Parker’s point system gave a generation of non-expert wine drinkers a way to evaluate what was being sold in local stores, it also incentivized winemakers to use a variety of not-so-natural techniques to make sure every vintage appealed to the venerable Mr. Parker’s specific taste buds. Now, a new generation cares more about what’s going into their glass than how it scores.

Low-intervention wines tend to be lower in alcohol (but not always), more expressive of terroir (but not always), and more interesting than Yellow Tail (always). The way craft beer drinkers pushed brewers to make more interesting beers, natural wine drinkers should push restaurants to offer more interesting wine lists.

Prediction #4: Orange wines (yep, orange wines) pop up in fine-dining establishments in Delaware, and at least one restaurant adds a “natural wine” section to their wine list. ►

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Photo Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com

FIVE FOOD TRENDS FOR 2020 continued from previous page

DoorDash's first shared commissary kitchen, in Redwood City, Calif., part of a trend of companies opening shared kitchens that allow restaurant partners to expand their delivery footprint without dealing with the expenses of opening a new location.

TREND: Ghost Kitchens

“I wonder if we’ll see our first ghost kitchen in Delaware this year,” asks Leishman.

I wonder, too. I’ve been ghost hunting for months now.

Last year, we predicted fine-dining delivery would take off. Score one for us. Virtually all experts now predict that off-premises dining is where most restaurant industry growth will come from over the next decade, and driving that growth are restaurants that exist nowhere but on UberEats.

What would it take to get you to order from a “ghost kitchen” that you can’t see or visit?

Maybe a familiar chef with local credibility, launching a new concept? Maybe a cuisine that’s otherwise unavailable in Delaware? (Ethiopian? Please?) Or most likely: A chain that doesn’t yet exist in Delaware, but is dipping its toe into the market without the cost of setting up a storefront. Look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn’t order a Double Double Animal Style if an In-N-Out Burger appeared on your Door Dash app tomorrow.

Prediction #5: We’ll be able to find at least one restaurant you can’t actually visit on a dining app by the end of the year.

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30 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

LAST YEAR’S SCORECARD

Let’s see how last year’s predictions stacked up: 1. Asian Beyond Sushi: When the DE.CO food hall opens, expect at least one stall – or possibly even two – offering Asian street food.

Nailed it. DE.CO opened with Phubs serving Vietnamese pho and banh mi, and The Verandah serving Indian samosas and tikki chaat. Bao also went mainstream, showing up on the opening menu at Maker’s Alley.

2. Fine Dining, At Home: Better coordination leads to more local restaurants joining forces with delivery services. You’ll be able to order your favorites from your couch by the end of next year.

As I sit here in my office in Wilmington, I’m only 35 minutes away from having a bowl of PEI Mussels Diablo from Big Fish at my desk, courtesy of Uber Eats.

3. More Breweries: Forget the naysayers. Delaware’s thirst for local suds does not dry up, and at least three more breweries open in 2019.

This prediction went against the grain to bet on hops—and hops won. Crooked Hammock in Middletown. Autumn Arch in Glasgow. Brick Works in Long Neck.

Thompson Island in Rehoboth Beach. Bellefonte Brewing to Brandywine Hundred.

Coming soon: Hangman Brewing in Claymont, and First State Brewing in Middletown.

And, likely, more.

4. American Regionalism: “American” cuisine becomes more dominant on local menus, and at least one restaurant opens with a very tight regional focus.

Ehhh, let’s call this a miss. People were too busy opening brewpubs.

5. Better Ways to Keto: Hummus checks a lot of boxes. Look for more than one fast casual restaurant to open with an Israeli/hummus theme.

You can maintain your ketosis at Naw Naf Grill, which brought shawarma and hummus bowls to Christiana. And hummus, still having a moment, appears on many upscale appetizer lists.

OCTOBER 2019 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Worth TRYING PICKS OF THE FOOD VARIETY

A TOUCH OF FRANCE A compact little restaurant and bakery in Trolley Square, De La Coeur has a way with simple but delicious French breads and baked goods. You may have to wait for one of the few tables, especially in the colder months when outdoor seating isn't available, but it's worth the wait. You can always get a loaf or a few pastries to go. delacoeurcafe.com.

— Mark Fields, Contributing Writer

BACKFIN BLUES BAR & GRILL

FRESHNESS AT HIGHLAND ORCHARDS Healthy, fresh, and clean come to mind when I bite into a crispy, sweet apple from this market on Foulk Road in North Wilmington. The family-run farm grows pesticide-free fruits and vegetables sold in the big red barn, which was built in the 1840s. On the shelves you’ll find reasonably priced products – chestnuts, herbs, honey, jams and jellies, and delicious baked goods made at the farm. They also sell great apple cider and the freshest eggs.

Some of the produce comes from other local farms; some are gluten- and dairyfree. The farm also runs a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

For details and holiday hours go to highlandorchardsfarmmarket.com or call 478-4042.

— Adriana Camacho-Church, Contributing Writer

Located in Port Deposit, Md., this place offers a menu loaded with amazing seafood options.

Great for a date night, but reservations are recommended. The kitchen is wide open, and you are very much part of the atmosphere and can chat with the chef and bartenders like old friends as they cook and prepare. Some nights they even offer live music and open mic. backfinbluesgroup.com.

— Jim Coarse, Contributing Photographer

BRUNCH AT DEAD PRESIDENT’S PUB & RESTAURANT Scoring a deal might be more important than ever this month—especially if you overindulged over the holidays. But the good thing is, you don’t have to give up all of life’s little treasures, like your beloved brunch habit. I met some friends at Dead President’s Pub & Restaurant on Union Street for brunch a few Sundays ago, and was pleasantly surprised at the affordability. Mimosas start at just $3.50 and a Bloody Mary is $4. Eggs Benedict is the real star of the menu, however. Try the filet Benedict, a lightly toasted English muffin topped with two poached eggs, grilled petit filet and a chipotle hollandaise sauce for only $11.

Brunch is served from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays as well, but at these prices you can afford to treat yourself—and with zero guilt. deadpresidentspub.com.

— Danielle Bouchat-Friedman, Contributing Writer

32 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

TRY SOME CAJUN

A CENTREVILLE TRADITION Buckley’s Tavern is no revelation to locals, but if you’re new to Greater Wilmington and looking for a sophisticated yet country casual place for a meal and a drink, this Centreville landmark is your ticket.

Former Hotel Du Pont executive chef Tom Hannum is part of an ownership team that took over in 2012, and since then the food has been consistently good, something you couldn’t previously say about Buckley’s. The large rectangular bar draws an eclectic mix of patrons—from regulars to visitors in after a day at one of the half-dozen cultural attractions just minutes away. In the summer, Buckley’s offers rooftop dining and relaxing patios in the front and rear of the restaurant. But any time of year it’s a great place to visit. Since it was first established in the 1950s, Buckley’s charm remains.

— Jerry duPhily, Publisher

It seems as if there’s no middle ground when it comes to Cajun/creole cooking—either you love it, or it gives you heartburn.

If you’re the former, check out Cajun Kate’s on Philly Pike (they also have a booth at the Boothwyn Farmer’s Market). Chefs Don and Kate Applebaum are from Southeastern Pennsylvania, but both spent many years working in New Orleans, so they know the real deal. They serve the usual suspects—gumbo, red beans and rice, jambalaya, po’ boy sandwiches—and add some interesting twists, like catfish fingers served with homemade tartar sauce ($8) and gator on a stick served with creole honey mustard ($6). cajunkates.com.

— Kevin Noonan, Contributing Writer

STEAK-OUT AT SULLIVAN’S Sullivan’s is known for a steak house menu that still thrills execs with an expense account. But if you want all the flavor in a more casual environment, sit at the bar—or outside when the weather is nice—and try the bar menu.

I recommend the prime-aged beef burger with cheddar, arugula, sweet pickle dressing and tomato jam on a brioche bun with fries for just $14. sullivanssteakhouse.com, 308-4933.

— Pam George, Contributing Writer

LIMESTONE BBQ AND BOURBON It took several months, but I finally convinced one of my friends, an astute BBQ connoisseur, to try Limestone BBQ and Bourbon. During a late lunch, I watched him as he took his first bites into the beef brisket, and it was like a hundred jackpot lights blazed in his eyes all at once.

From then on, he couldn’t stop talking about how good it was. It was enjoyable to watch, and also a confirmation of what I already knew: The team at Limestone did their homework, putting a lot of time and research into creating a quality product long before they first opened the doors. If you like BBQ, you’ll find plenty of options here. Even the collard greens are top-shelf.

— Jim Miller, Director of Publications

DINER WITH A SOUTHERN VIBE Metro Diner, located near the Pennsylvania border on Concord Pike, is part of a chain of restaurants with a Southern vibe. If you’re interested in breakfast, their bacon and hash browns are the best around. Also recommended are the fried chicken and waffle ($15.49), biscuits and sausage gravy and huevos rancheros ($11.49). For lunch, try Big Mike’s BLT ($9.49), which, of course, includes plenty of that terrific bacon. Dinner entrees include shepherd’s pie ($10.49), chicken pot pie ($9.49) and country fried steak ($13.49). metrodiner.com.

— Kevin Noonan, Contributing Writer

JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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H A PPY

2 2

May this new year bring plenty of hope, happiness & pizza!

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EAT

The Whole30 diet allows plenty of vegetables,fruit, grass-fed meat, seafood, and unprocessed ingredients.

Time for a 30-Day Diet?

Starting the New Year with an elimination diet is all the rage. Some personal experiences.

By Pam George

N

ever mind what you see at the top of your calendar. For some people, it’s not January. It’s Veganuary or Dryuary.

For others, it’s Whole30 month. These initiatives feature some sort of elimination diet, and this is typically the month when people try them.

“I think there is always a focus on healthier dining in January,” says Robbie Jester, culinary director of High Five Hospitality, a restaurant group, and partner of Full Circle Food, which delivers chef-prepared meals to customers’ doors.

Many people are looking for a reprieve after the excesses of the holidays. “The beginning of the year seemed like a good time to slow down, spend quiet time at home, and get back into the habit of cooking and eating healthy meals,” says Francine Stone, who with husband Matt has done the Whole30 diet each year.

“It’s just a good time to reset.”

Cutting Back. Tuning In. The Whole30 plan is a diet made famous by Melissa Hartwig Urban, who in 2009 blogged about her 30-day dining experiment.

It was so popular that she wrote a book and started a business.

More books have followed.

Those on the Whole30 plan eliminate gluten, dairy, added sugar (real or artificial), grains, legumes, baked goods, soy, carrageen, MSG, sulfites, and alcohol in any form. What’s allowed? Plenty of vegetables, fruit, grass-fed meat, seafood, and unprocessed ingredients.

A consummate researcher, Stone investigated the plan before January. She first reviewed the website whole30.com. But there is a host of other sites. Google Whole30, and you’ll get nearly 24 million results, including recipes. (If you want a break from meal prep, Full Circle features several Whole30 meals a week for home delivery.) ►

JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Feeling they needed more guidance and tips, Stone bought Urban’s books—initially published TIME FOR A 30-DAY DIET? continued from previous page under Melissa Hartwig—and subscribed to a daily email program that offers advice and lets you know what to expect physically and emotionally.

The popular plan is not the only monthlong initiative that involves changing your diet. A British-based program, Veganuary, promotes a vegan diet in January. The website, us.veganuary.com, features recipes and a blog.

Eileen Dallabrida was inspired by the Veganuary movement, as well as Dryuary (dryuary.org), which encourages consumers to take a break from alcohol in January. She decided to go one step further: She gave up sweets. “The trifecta,” she quips.

The Angel and the Devil Of course, you don’t need to begin a diet program in January. Late last year, Jester committed to a 75-day diet called 75Hard, which incorporates two workouts and a gallon of water a day. He lost 40 pounds. He plans to follow up with three complementary 30-day courses.

But if you want to try one of these programs, it can be easier to do in January. Most people are partied-out by New Year’s Day, so there’s less temptation to cheat, notes Dallabrida. That said, she still faced enticements. A few tongue-in-cheek friends invited her out for red wine and rare burgers.

More than once, a friend or two would tell the Stones: “You can have just one” of whatever food was verboten. The couple stood firm, and during January, they ate the majority of meals at home. It

helped that they both were on the diet, Stone acknowledges.

Most friends were supportive. Dallabrida recalls the good pal who reminded her that “it is good for us to take on challenges, to do the things we think we cannot do.”

The cravings for everything else—sugar, carbs—fell away.

— Francine Stone

What was the hardest thing to give up? Stone and Dallabrida both missed wine. Stone also longed for fine cheeses. “The cravings for everything else—sugar, carbs—fell away,” she says.

Dallabrida was surprised that she didn’t miss meat and seafood as much as she’d anticipated. She made do with plantbased meals, including dishes with lentils. However, she was not a fan of tofu, which is “loathsome stuff,” she says.

Results and Rewards So, do the diets work? On the Whole30, many people feel better initially because they’ve eliminated processed foods and increased their consumption of nutrient-dense fruit, vegetables and lean proteins, says Kate Mackie, a personal trainer, nurse coach, and the owner of Kate Mackie Wellness.

Dallabrida experienced a spike in productivity. Instead of settling in for a night of TV with a pinot noir, she practiced piano and tidied the house. Stone also had more energy. She slept better and lost weight. But it took patience. They did not see benefits until the third week.

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One Whole30 buff, who preferred not to have her name in print, lost 5 pounds. To be sure, most diets limited to certain food groups lead to weight loss— even if the diet isn’t marketed as such, Mackie says. The pounds often come back when you return to your normal eating pattern.

That said, some people do make changes that last beyond 30 days. Stone now drinks her coffee black rather than with cream and a touch of sugar. She grew to love coconut milk and regularly uses coconut oil, both of which are staples of the Whole30 plan. Today, the Stones have three of Urban’s cookbooks and use many of her recipes throughout the year.

Jester has become a devotee of drinking lots of water. “It helps relieve inflammation, keeps me full between meals, and helps to lubricate the joints,” he maintains. One of his two daily workouts had to be outside. He still follows that approach whenever possible. “I found a lot of peace in that outdoor workout.”

With any diet, there’s something to learn, Mackie says. You might find that you enjoy eating more vegetables, for instance. “You can’t go wrong with increasing your intake of nutrient-dense foods,” she says. You may also learn that a restrictive diet, such as the low-carb keto plan, brings nothing to your table.

Unless there is a medical condition behind the change, most people on restrictive diets can’t maintain the changes for more than a year, Mackie says. “It either doesn’t fit in with their lifestyle or their likes or dislikes,” she says. “Or, it’s made their health worse.”

For example, if you don’t need to be on a gluten-free diet, you’re missing the vitamins, minerals, and fiber in whole grains, she says. Gluten-free products are also pricier. “Why cut out so many foods if you can manage to cut back on calories but still eat the things you like?”

Mackie asks.

For some, it’s not all about calories.

The Whole30 devotee likes the discipline that a 30-day diet imposes. Dallabrida treats her January diet as a form of mindfulness or conscious eating.

For Jester, following a plan, even for a scheduled amount of days, puts the focus on self-care. “Chefs are bad at the healthy lifestyle thing, and we give everything to those around us,” Jester says. “But you can’t give from an empty cup.”

His continued New Year’s resolution?

“Fill your own cup.”

A Whole30 Recipe Restricting your diet doesn’t mean you’re deprived. Take a look at this recipe from the Whole30 website. (It originally appeared in The Defined Dish: Healthy and Wholesome Weeknight Recipes by Alex Snodgrass.)

Lemony Greek Potatoes with Crispy Greek Chicken Thighs (serves 4-6) For the Greek Potatoes • 1 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes (4 medium potatoes), halved lengthwise & sliced into ¼-inch wedges • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (2 lemons) • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil • 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt • 1 teaspoon dried oregano • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper For the Chicken • 2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper INSTRUCTIONS • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the potato wedges in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Add lemon juice, olive oil, broth, salt, oregano, and pepper and mix until evenly combined. Spread the potatoes into a single, even layer and bake, gently tossing every 20 minutes, until tender and golden brown, about an hour total.

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. While the potatoes bake, arrange the chicken thighs on the baking sheet in a single even layer. Make sure they are not touching. Pat dry the tops of the chicken thighs, then drizzle each thigh with olive oil to coat. In a small bowl, mix the paprika, salt, oregano, and pepper until well combined, then sprinkle evenly over the chicken.

• Bake the chicken until it is cooked through and the skin is crispy and golden brown, 35-to-45 minutes, depending on the size. Let the chicken cool for 10 minutes before serving.

For a list of vegan recipes, visit us.veganuary.com/recipes.

A Drink for Dryuary If January has become Dryuary, you can still clink glasses with friends. Mocktails are just as pretty as the real deal. Start with sparkling water, seltzer or club soda.

(Note that tonic water has sugar in it.) Add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice.

Or, muddle fresh or frozen berries or melon. Garnish with mint or other herbs.

Here’s a recipe to try at home.

Lemon-Lime Zinger • Juice of ½ lime and ½ lemon • 1 teaspoon zested ginger • Sparkling water • Squeeze the juice into a glass. Add ginger and top with sparkling water. Add ice JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

37

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DRINK

Bell's Brewery's Two-Hearted Ale, voted the No. 1 Beer in America by the American Homebrewers Association. Photo courtesy of Bell's Brewery

RINGING THE BELL IN KALAMAZOO This failed jazz drummer began making craft beer—and a fortune—35 years ago

By Kevin Noonan

L

arry Bell has become one of the most successful craft brewers in the country, producing America’s top beer three years running. And he’s done it all in Kalamazoo, a town in western Michigan that’s about the size of Wilmington and far from Chicago and other big-market Midwestern cities.

Bell attended Kalamazoo College in the late 1970s and afterward tried his hand at various things, including baking, drumming and teaching, but he couldn’t see turning any of those pursuits into a career.

“For one thing, I wasn’t very good at any of them,” the 61-yearold says with a laugh. “I knew I needed to go in a different direction, although I wasn’t sure what that was at the time.”

He had also become an avid home brewer and decided to give that a shot. He traveled around the Midwest, visiting various breweries and picking the brains of their brewmasters, and then, in 1985, decided it was time to open his own operation back in his college town.

Bell’s first small batches of beer were made in a 15-gallon soup kettle and the ingredients were fermented in plastic garbage pails. Now, Bell’s Brewery employs more than 550 people and produces more than 400,000 barrels of beer a year. Its brands are sold in 41 states (including Delaware) and Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale has been voted the best beer in America the last three years by the American Homebrewers Association.

Bell’s has expanded since then, including the addition of a stateof-the-art brewery in nearby Comstock.

And Bell has done things his way, which isn’t always the normal way. His first real success, Oberon Ale, got its name because he played the part of Oberon, the king of the fairies, in a sixth-grade play. And every year, Bell’s Brewery celebrates Eccentric Day— filled with music, food and, of course, beer—when employees are encouraged to “showcase your alter ego” and dress and display sides of themselves they don’t bring to work. ► JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

39

RINGING THE BELL IN KALAMAZOO continued from previous page

Photo courtesy of Bell's Brewery

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Larry Bell, whose first small batches were made in a 15-gallon soup kettle.

In fact, when Bell opened a tavern/restaurant at his brewery in 1993, he named it the Eccentric Café.

He lives with his wife and three children in Kalamazoo, which is where we recently caught up to him for a telephone interview.

O&A: You went to college as a history and political science major and you also worked in a bakery and considered a teaching career.

So, when you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Bell: Actually, I wanted to be a jazz drummer in downtown Chicago. I was in a small group when I was in high school and I also did some radio work—I had my own jazz show on public radio, a 50,000-watt station. I love jazz, but, thankfully, beer pays a lot better than jazz.

O&A: And it certainly pays better than teaching.

Bell: I actually [student] taught school in central Mississippi for a quarter in a pretty poor area of the state. That cured me of wanting to be a teacher.

O&A: It’s become part of craft-brewery folklore how you started out by brewing your first beer in a 15-gallon soup kettle. Did you envision the success you’ve had, and what were your initial goals?

Bell: My original goal was to get to 30,000 barrels a year and make $100,000 a year. That would have been perfect and it certainly sounded reasonable at the time. But at first, we were just trying to stay alive—just making payroll and keeping the heat on and staying alive.

O&A: At what point did you realize you were a success and paying the heating bill was no longer a problem?

Bell: We probably turned the corner and were profitable by 1991, ’92. At that point, we were confident that we were going to make it.

But the first five or six years were pretty lame, and there wasn’t the market out there for craft beers that we have today. And then, in ’93 we opened the first craft beer bar in Michigan where you could buy beer by the glass. That really started to change things for us and that’s when things really took off.

O&A: You’ve stayed in Kalamazoo and even expanded your business there. Was there ever a temptation to move to a bigger city with a larger market for your product?

Bell: Actually, the original plan was for us to travel north to an even smaller town, Traverse City, but my life changed a little bit and we ended up staying in Kalamazoo. And it really doesn’t matter where you’re located as long as you have a good plan and a good product. And I think most craft breweries have one thing in common—we’re all active and have pride in our communities, whether it’s a big city or small town.

O&A: You have an annual “Eccentric Day” at your brewery, when employees are encouraged to dress, well, eccentrically, and you even named your in-house restaurant the Eccentric Café.

Are you eccentric?

Bell: [Laughs]. I’ll let others be the judge of that. My first wife named the café and I guess it was what she thought of my personality. I guess we’re all eccentric in our own ways and we celebrate the diversity of the individual here. Everybody is different and everybody has something different to contribute and we encourage that. People can’t grow unless you give them the room to do it.

O&A: You’ve obviously had a lot of successful beers. Has there ever been a time when you were wrong about a beer that you thought was going to be successful?

Bell: [Laughs again] Everybody in the beer industry is wrong at some point—we’re probably wrong more times than we are right.

And sometimes it’s a good beer that just doesn’t hit the public’s fancy. But then you hit that glorious one…

Q&A: You hit it really big with Two-Hearted Ale. Did you have any idea it would become so popular?

Bell: Absolutely not. We didn’t think it was going to get embraced like it has. We knew it was a good beer and we really liked it, but there’s no way to predict how well a beer will sell until we sell it.

And this one has really sold well.

O&A: Two-Hearted Ale was voted the second-best craft beer in America seven years in a row before it was named the best, and now you’ve been No. 1 for three straight years. What was it like to finally get over the hump and become No. 1?

Bell: I have no idea why that change in voting happened, but we’re obviously honored to win three years in a row—if we were a sports team, we’d be a dynasty. The biggest thing is that it’s really important for the employees to get that sort of recognition. It gives them an affirmation of what a good job they’re doing. We’ve never really tooted our horn about that [being No. 1] before, but after a third year in a row the wholesalers are begging us to do it.

O&A: Like all craft breweries, especially successful ones like yours, you have to balance growth and diversity with staying true to your roots. How have you managed that?

Bell: In the late ‘90s, when there was a big proliferation [of craft brews], we saw a lot of customer confusion. Beer drinkers are pretty promiscuous—they’re often looking for new experiences.

On the other hand, they also like to know what they can trust, from a quality standpoint. And that’s where a brewery like ours does really well. We have a great team that likes popular trends and likes to try new things, as long as it fits in with our ethos and our culture. People know they can count on us.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! The Place For All College Bowl & Pro Football Playoffs!

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www.mcglynnspub.com JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

41

DRINK

SIPS

Here's what's pouring

SAINT ARCHER COMES TO DELAWARE

T

he active-lifestyle category has been one of the growth areas in national beer sales. This month, MillerCoors is introducing what it feels will be a worthy challenger to Anheuser-Busch’s Michelob Ultra brand (Ultra is currently the third bestselling beer in the U.S.) with Saint Archer Gold. The launch is the first Saint Archer product MillerCoors has taken national since acquiring the San Diego brewery in 2015.

Saint Archer is a 95-calorie light lager and after being test marketed in Arizona, Texas, North Carolina and Indiana it will now be available in Delaware.

ANOTHER JUICY OFFERING

N

ew Belgium continues to crank out new varieties under its Voodoo Ranger umbrella. The latest offering is American Haze, a session IPA (ABV 5 percent) with four hop varieties.

New Belgium promotes American Haze as a “supremely drinkable, juicy and unfiltered IPA brewed with all-American hops.” It’s available in the Delaware market now.

NEW FROM YARDS

P

hilly-based Yards Brewing Co. has two new releases hitting the area market. Chocolate Love Stout was brewed with more than 300 pounds of Belgian dark chocolate and is available now throughout Delaware. This smooth, dark stout also offers hints of vanilla and sports an ABV of 6.9 percent. Golden Hop IPA is set for a February release. It’s a bright and floral IPA with “hoppy notes through every sip.” It’s ABV is 6 percent.

42 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

HEAVY SEAS HOPS IT UP

T

he Baltimore-based craft brewer will introduce Hydra’s Haze in Delaware this month. The beer is brewed with a significant amount of Citra, Galaxy and Enigma hops to create a strong citrus finish with an ABV of 6 percent. "This beer is a bit hazy from heavy use of wheat and oats," says Heavy Seas Brewmaster Christopher Leonard. "It has an incredible, explosive juicy, fruity, citrus aroma from employing almost three pounds per barrel of Citra, Galaxy, and Enigma hops. It is soft on the palette, with a subtle bitterness but a very high hop flavor. The finish is on the dry side, with a slight lingering sweetness and floral, grapefruit trail.”

DELAWARE ON TAP EXPANDS

T

he Delaware Tourism Office’s Delaware On Tap mobile app is expanding to 36 destinations with the addition of four new breweries: Autumn Arch Beer Project (Newark), Brick Works Long Neck (Millsboro), Crooked Hammock Brewery (Middletown), and Thompson Island Brewing Company (Rehoboth Beach).

The app includes Delaware’s craft breweries, wineries, cideries and meaderies, with each location offering a unique atmosphere and special take on the brewmaster’s art.

In addition to helping you plan your visit, the DE on Tap app provides tips on events, tours and transportation options.

The app even lets you keep track of the number of places you’ve visited through a virtual pint glass that fills as you check in at each location. Visit 10 stops, and you’ll get a free, commemorative pint glass.

For more information, visit the official Delaware Tourism website at visitdelaware. com or call toll-free (866) 284-7483.

DRINK

Worth TRYING PICKS OF THE DRINK VARIETY

CHEERS TO CRAFT COCKTAILS AT CROW BAR Wilmington is full of new and fun places to see and be seen, and each has elevated the culinary scene. La Fia/Merchant Bar owners Bryan and Andrea Sikora have given us yet another venue to revel in. This one, in Trolley Square, is complete with an impressive list of craft cocktails. My favorite is the "Other Side of the Tracks"—a blend of Jack Daniels, Cointreau, Grapefruit Honey and Yuzu. It's as tasty as it is snazzy, smooth and citrusy.

— Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald, Contributing Writer

SLATE FARM BREWERY

FOR THE OENOPHILE With an unassuming storefront in Trolley Square, Moore Brothers Wine Co. houses an impressive collection of exceptional wines from select small-batch vineyards in Europe and the U.S. Started by Greg and David Moore (the former sommelier from Philadelphia's Le Bec Fin and his wine-retailing brother), the company has developed personal relationships with all the winemakers represented in their inventory. The frequent e-newsletter describes the wines in such tantalizing detail that one wishes to buy them all. store.moorebrothers.com.

Located in Whiteford, Md., this small brew pub is loaded with lots of very different craft brews to try. Completely off the beaten path but very much worth the effort. slatefarmbrewery.com.

— Jim Coarse, Contributing Photographer

— Mark Fields, Contributing Writer

BREWED IN WILMINGTON

HAPPY HOUR AT DE.CO The newest and most generous happy hour in Wilmington has to belong to DE.CO—the food hall on the corner of 10th & Orange streets downtown. This windfall of happy hourness can be found at the massive, bright white, marbletopped bar seven days a week from 3 to 7 p.m. It includes specials on wine, beer and select cocktails, and the nosh menu features a rotating list of small plates, perfect for sharing with pals after a hard day's work...or a little before quittin' time. decowilmington.com.

For ages, Iron Hill Brewery stood on the Riverfront as Wilmington’s only bastion for locally crafted beers. And they continue to make great local favorites like the Philly Special and, in warmer months, the Crusher IPA and Maholo Apollo Summer Wheat Ale. But thankfully, the craft scene has expanded with the Market Street addition of Stitch House Brewery and their excellent Rye Not IPA and Ladybug Rose Lager, which celebrates the annual Ladybug Festival. The craft trifecta became complete in the summer of 2018 when Wilmington Brew Works opened on Miller Road. In addition to steady-pours like its Superfluous Nomenclature, WBW recently released the Delabear Double IPA to commemorate Northern New Castle County’s December brush with nature.

— Jim Miller, Director of Publications

— Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald, Contributing Writer

JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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r o t c u d n co within Unleashthe

Find Your Next Event #inWilm:

inWilmDE.com

David Amado

Delaware Symphony Orchestra

Now Open Daily! riverfrontrink.com

308 Justison Street

302-650-2336

Wilmington, DE 19801

NOW OPEN! riverfrontrink.com

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1. Amtrak Station 2. Opera Delaware Studios 3. Wilmington Youth Rowing Assn., WYRA.ORG 4. Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park 5. Residences at Christina Landing 6. Bank’s Seafood Kitchen & Raw Bar / Riverfront Market, BANKSSEAFOODKITCHEN.COM 7. Delaware Theatre Co., DELAWARETHEATRE.ORG 8. Docklands Riverfront, DOCKLANDSRIVERFRONT.COM 9. Cosi at the Barclays Crescent Building, GETCOSI.COM 10. Hare Pavilion/Riverwalk 11. AAA Mid-Atlantic Travel Center, AAAMIDATLANTIC.COM 12. The Delaware Contemporary, DECONTEMPORARY.ORG

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

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Visit RiverfrontWilm.com for info on events happening at the Riverfront! Photo by Joe del Tufo 20. Frawley Stadium, BLUEROCKS.COM Delaware Sports Museum & Hall of Fame 21. Chase Center on the Riverfront, CENTERONTHERIVERFRONT.COM 22. Dravo Plaza & Dock 23. Shipyard Center Planet Fitness, PLANETFITNESS.COM 24. Timothy’s Restaurant, TIMOTHYSONTHERIVERFRONT.COM Molly’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream, MOLLYSICECREAM.COM Drop Squad Kitchen Ubon Thai Restaurant 25. Wilmington Rowing Center, WILMINGTONROWING.ORG 26. Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge/ DuPont Environmental Education Center, DUPONTEEC.ORG

27 Riverfront Commuter Lot, RIVERFRONTWILM.COM/PARKING 28. Penn Cinema Riverfront IMAX, PENNCINEMARIVERFRONT.COM 29. CrossFit Riverfront, CFRIVERFRONT.COM 30. The Residences at Harlan Flats, HARLANFLATS.THERESIDENCES.NET 31. Altitude Trampoline Park, ALTITUDEWILMINGTON.COM 32. The Westin Wilmington, WESTINWILMINGTON.COM River Rock Kitchen, RIVERROCKKITCHEN.COM 33. Delaware Humane Association, DELAWAREHUMANE.ORG 34. Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard / Fort Christina Park, KALMARNYCKEL.ORG 35. Jack A. Markell Bike Trail 36. Constitution Yards Beer Garden, CONSTITUTIONYARDS.COM 37. 76ers Fieldhouse, BLUECOATS.GLEAGUE.NBA.COM

THE CITY Rendering of Amala Way on Bennett St.

BEAUTIFUL CITY CAMPAIGN CONTINUES

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PLANS TO COMPLETE BENNETT ST. PROJECT

Trash & Recycling Collection Days Switch Starting January 13, New Trash Bins Pending

M

ayor Purzycki says 2020 will bring renewed efforts to keep City neighborhoods and streets clean as his Beautiful City campaign continues. The campaign, begun in 2017, has produced a much cleaner City as local residents have been hired periodically as daytime street cleaners to complement the outstanding work of the Public Works street cleaning teams.

More residents will be hired beginning in March to help keep the City even cleaner.

City residents are reminded that the current trash and recycling collection program will change on Monday, January 13, when trash will be collected on Mondays east of I-95 and Tuesdays west of I-95, and recyclables will be collected on Thursdays east of I-95 and Fridays west of the interstate. Wednesdays and Saturdays remain as back-up collection days. The City is making the collection day switch so trash can be collected and disposed of earlier in the week.

Mayor Purzycki also said that as an incentive to encourage residents to place their trash inside a receptable instead of on the street and curb, the City will distribute new gray-colored trash bins to the City’s 21,000 residential properties beginning in March. The new bins, similar to the City’s maroon recycle bins except in color, are equipped with lift bars, making it easier and more efficient for the City’s sanitation crews to collect trash.

48 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

I

n addition to five homes it will build in the 800 block of Bennett St. on the City’s East Side (Amala Way), Habitat for Humanity of New Castle Co. joined Mayor Purzycki in December to announce it will add to that project by completing seven more homes across the street, begun in 2015 but left uncompleted by the Wilm. Housing Partnership (WHP).

“This new development expands Amala Way from five to 12 units and presents us with more opportunities to make the dream of homeownership a reality for hard-working families,” said Kevin L. Smith, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of NCCo. “Taking on this project puts us further down the road toward revitalization and improving the quality of life for the people who live in this city.”

Mayor Purzycki said the City is working to transfer the properties to Habitat for Humanity. “As I’ve said, it’s always been the City’s goal to see that both of the unfinished WHP housing projects—Bennett St. and Walt’s Way on Vandever Ave.—be completed as soon as possible and made available to families for home ownership,” said the Mayor. “I am most grateful to Kevin Smith and the staff and volunteers of Habitat for Humanity for helping us revive this entire block as we strengthen and revive the neighborhood.”

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO OUT & ABOUT MAGAZINE

NEWS YOU CAN USE!

Mayor Purzycki joins on the Dec. 3 ribbon-cutting for the WIN Factory.

MAYOR PURZYCKI WELCOMES WIN TO WILMINGTON

M

ayor Purzycki joined Tamara Varella, Newdy Felton, Malcolm Coley, Linda Watson and others in December for the grand opening of The WIN Factory, a collaborative working space business that offers support and access for today’s up-and-coming entrepreneurs as they strive for commercial success in the City of Wilmington. Delaware’s first African American-owned co-working business, located on M.L.K. Jr. Boulevard, provides affordable workspace and access to information and opportunities to more than 15 Wilmington-based businesses.

WILMINGTON WORKS Looking for general job information and resources? Visit https://www.wilmingtonde. gov/government/employment to learn about education and training, labor laws and regulations, how to apply for government jobs, as well as other employment-related information.

CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS Looking for a community organization or civic association in your area? Visit: http://bit.ly/WilmDECivicAssoc.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR JAN 1

NEW YEAR’S DAY HOLIDAY

JAN 9

LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY

JAN 10

Mike Rossi, WSTW Program Dir.; John Wilson; John Rago, Mayor’s Office; Robin Bryson, TrafficWatch reporter; John McClement, sales representative.

MAYOR PROCLAIMS ‘JOHN WILSON DAY’ TO HONOR LEGENDARY BROADCASTER

T

o honor Wilmington-area native and long-time broadcaster John Wilson for a memorable 39-year career in local radio, Mayor Mike Purzycki proclaimed December 7, 2019 “John Wilson Day.” The Mayor thanked John for nearly 40 years of fond memories and wished “Mrs. Wilson’s favorite son” well in his retirement from 93.7 FM (WSTW).

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO OUT & ABOUT MAGAZINE

JAN 13-17 JAN 20

(CITY OFFICES CLOSED)

ART LOOP WILMINGTON, 5-8 P.M.

NEW TRASH AND RECYCLING COLLECTION DAYS BEGIN REV. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY HOLIDAY (CITY OFFICES CLOSED)

MLK JR. NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE

For more meetings and events in the month of January, visit: www.wilmingtonde.gov.

JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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January 10 5pm Start Complimentary Shuttle Service Most exhibitions listed here continue through this month

cityfest

A program of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs

Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery

baby grand gallery

Delaware Center for Horticulture

The Sold Firm

The Delaware Contemporary

COCA Pop-Up Gallery

RIVERFRONT The Delaware Contemporary 200 S. Madison Street 656-6466 • decontemporary.org Artists: Natalie Hutchings, Haeley Kyong, Hugh Atkins and Jenna Lucente DOWNTOWN Toni & Stuart B. Young Gallery at Delaware College of Art + Design (DCAD) 600 N. Market Street 622-2900 • dcad.edu Artists: DCAD’s Drawing Marathon 2020- January 18th Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery 820 N. French Street 577-8278 • arts.delaware.gov Artist: “Spring Must Come,” Terron Mitchell Girard Craft & Cork 5 W. Girard Street 402-9463 • girardcraftandcork.com Artist: Mary Targonski and John T. Holton

The Grand Opera House 818 N. Market Street 658-7897 • thegrandwilmington.org Grand Opera: “Best of Show: The Wilmington International Exhibition of Photography” baby grand: “Pacem in Terris Traveling Peace Youth Art Exhibition “ The Sold Firm 800-B N. Tatnall Street 689-3237 Artist: Emma’s Legacy: Flower Child WEST END & WEST SIDE Delaware Center for Horticulture 1810 N. Dupont Street 658-6262 • thedch.org Artist: Two Shows in One! Gerald W. Harris II & Fouryouth Production Students BEYOND THE CITY COCA Pop-Up Gallery 3829 Kennett Pike, Powder Mill Square 218-4411 Artists: Kathy Ruck, Marty Barnes, Shirley Rigby and Catherine Bosk, Betsy Greer, Max Savaiko, Mario Lenin, Leslie Hubbard

Next Art Loop Wilmington: February 7, 2020

ArtLoopWilmington.org

WATCH

19 MOVIES OF WORTH FROM 2019 10 Worth Trying, 3 Worth Repeating, 3 Worth Waiting For, and 3 Worth Avoiding

By Mark Fields

WORTH TRYING The Farewell Awkwafina has a break-out performance as a Chinese-American woman resisting the norms of her traditional family when they decide to keep her grandmother’s terminal illness from her.

A glimpse into Asian family dynamics turns out to be rather universal.

The Irishman We’ve seen this story of violent but supposedly honorable wise guys before; in fact, we’ve seen it in a Martin Scorsese film with Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci in the cast. Nevertheless, as a valedictory meditation on thug life, The Irishman reminds us all of the consummate storytelling gifts of the celebrated director and the melancholic lived-in performances of its stars. In essence, it’s a gangland Twilight of the Gods.

Harriet An earnest and well-made film biography of abolitionist/ advocate Harriet Tubman didn’t get the audience it deserved.

Beautifully photographed with a solid cast, the movie fleshes out an important American icon as a living person, as portrayed

by Cynthia Erivo. Leslie Odom Jr. and Janelle Monae provide excellent support.

Knives Out Headed by Daniel Craig and Jamie Lee Curtis, the all-star cast—also featuring Michael Shannon, Toni Collette and Chris Evans—has a ball chewing up the scenery in Rian Johnson’s homage/spoof of hoary parlor whodunits. Cleverly scripted and tautly directed, Knives Out manages to evoke a few genuinely surprising twists amid the guffaws and winks.

Honeyland Quiet and low-key, this sumptuous documentary about a Macedonian beekeeper is surprisingly mesmerizing. Hatidze’s spartan life and livelihood are profoundly threatened when a loud and chaotic family take up residence next door. Taut with drama and consequence, Honeyland plays like a scripted film even though it’s real life.

The Lighthouse Director/co-writer Robert Eggers demonstrated his way with historical psychological thrillers in The Witch (2015). In his newest film, two taciturn, emotionally stunted men struggle to maintain their sanity in an isolated, mysterious lighthouse in 1890 New England. Their conclusion: nothing supernatural is nearly as inscrutable and therefore terrifying as a fellow human being. ► JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

53

WATCH 19 MOVIES OF WORTH FROM 2019 continued from previous page

Marriage Story Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver dazzle in this searingly honest depiction of the decay of a once-solid marriage.

Written and directed by Noah Baumbach (Frances Ha), the film avoids the easy villainizing of either party in this painful but ultimately compassionate story.

Instead, we share, rather than merely observe, the excruciating challenge of ending a marriage while attempting to preserve a family.

Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood The first two-thirds of this movie is a loving if laconic fairy tale of late ‘60s Hollywood, as evoked by fading matinee idol Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stalwart stuntman and errand boy Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt).

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BASE BASE BASE Brown Brown Rice Brown Rice | Spring Rice | Spring Mix | Spring Mix | White |Mix White Rice | White Rice Rice

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MARINATING MARINATING MARINATING SAUCES SAUCES SAUCES

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Uncut Gems Who could believe that one of the most compelling and self-deprecating film performances of the year would come from Adam Sandler? But it does. Sandler POKE P OK O POKE P KO OK EK POKE P BOWLS BO BOW B E OK O K BOWLS BO BOW B WLS W WL ELS LWL WLS W BOWLS BO BOW B SLS LWL WLS W S LS LS plays Howard Ratner, a charismatic but Remachine Script restless New York jeweler on the verge SPICY SPICY TUNA SPICY TUNA TUNA SALMON SALMON SALMON OG OG sauce, sauce, OG edamame, sauce, edamame, edamame, cucumber cucumber cucumber & & & Ponzu Ponzu sauce, Ponzu sauce, sauce, cucumber, cucumber, transaction. But in of acucumber, career-making avocado avocado avocado topped topped with topped with togarashi togarashi with togarashi sauce. sauce. sauce. edamame, edamame, edamame, seaweed seaweed seaweed & avocado. & avocado. & avocado. closing the deal, he must first overcome TRADITIONAL TRADITIONAL TRADITIONAL TUNA TUNA TUNA VEGETABLE VEGETABLE VEGETABLE POKE POKE POKE all the unpulled threads of his personal Shoyu Shoyu sauce, Shoyu sauce, sea sauce, sea salt,salt, sea salt, Ponzu Ponzu sauce, Ponzu sauce, edamame, sauce, edamame, edamame, corn, corn, avocado, corn, avocado, avocado, and professional maui maui onions maui onions & onions seaweed. & seaweed. & seaweed. cucumber cucumber cucumber & jalapeno. & jalapeno. & jalapeno.life. It’s directed with jittery bravado by independent film Dole Dole Whip Dole Whip Whip Drinks Drinks Drinks darlings Josh and Benny Safdie.

CupCup Cup Soda Soda | Hawaiian Soda | Hawaiian | Hawaiian SunSun Sun Other worthy films from 2019: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood; The Last Black *Consum *Cmi ing n *mi C ra raw iow nnsum ng or ra raw mi un wn nde ing norerc raw ra un co n nde ook werc ke or ed co un ook n nde mke me eat ed erc co t,me m ook se seat eaf ke ed t, foo se sod, ome m eaf eat , foo sh shellfish he t,od, oellf se seaf ,fis sh shellfish sh he foo ellf od, oofis r,sh eggs sh shellfish he o ellf rs fis eggs may mshysoincrease in rmay m nc eggs crea y as increase in snc smay m crea e yo y your yas our sincrease in e nc r crea ri risk yo y your isk our kas rsori risk efisk yo y your kour o rf ri risk isk k of Man in San Francisco; Midsommar; Pain 1604-1608 Delaware Avenue -onsum Wilmington fo oo od d bor b fo oo od rne debor biilln fo oo rne nes od edss. iilln bor b. nes E Esp rne ss. p pe eec .iilln E Esp ia nes ally p pe ss. ec y .in ia E Esp ally ca p pe yase as a ec se inia ally ca of oase as a y se certain ce er in rtai of o ca certain ce iase as a er se rtai mof oedi i certain ce ic m era al rtai edi co conditions c iic ond al a m diitio edi co conditions c ond on ic ndi al a sitio . co conditions c on ond nsdi . itio on ns. and Glory: Peterloo, and Waves.

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54 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

WORTH REPEATING Booksmart The characterization of this bawdy coming-of-age story as a distaff Superbad is unfairly reductive. Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein rollick through an incredible and entertaining night of pre-graduation hijinks under the direction of actress Olivia Wilde.

Dolemite Is My Name Eddie Murphy embodies the on-the-nose title role with relish in a comedy about a performer chafing for movie stardom, even if it means making a profane and improbable martial arts thriller on the ultra cheap. Welcome back, Wesley Snipes!

JANUARY 17

Ford v Ferrari A high-octane thriller starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon as a driver and auto designer fighting the odds to build a new race car to challenge Ferrari at the 1966 race at Le Mans.

WORTH WAITING FOR (opening after deadline) Little Women Actress-director Greta Gerwig, who garnered attention with her debut Lady Bird, puts her interpretation on the classic Alcott story. With Saoirse Ronan and Emma Watson.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker The ninth and final chapter of the colossal sci-fi saga with reboot master J.J. Abrams back in the director’s chair…will the conclusion live up to impossibly high expectations?

The Two Popes Two lions of the acting world—Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce—play outgoing Pope Benedict and incoming Pope Francis in a thoughtful drama of faith and politics.

WORTH AVOIDING

Ad Astra Astronaut Brad Pitt undertakes a long (and tedious) space mission to find his enigmatic father in this credibility-straining drama.

Some saw gravity and introspection here; I saw only pretension.

Dark Phoenix One of the most acclaimed twists in the X-Men comic-book mythology was turned into a tiresome film with Sophie Turner as an uncontrollable (and surprisingly unsympathetic) mutant.

Penn Cinema

RIVERFRONT Escape to the movies R E S E R V E Y O U R S E AT S AT

ON THE

+

The Goldfinch Proof that acclaimed novels don’t always make equally worthy films. Despite a solid cast, this cinematic translation is disappointingly torpid.

Recline PENNCINEMA.COM JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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WATCH

WORTH TRYING

INDIE FILMS Soon-to-be released picks

By Beverly Zimmermann

Les Misérables (Jan. 10 limited release) — Not based on the Victor Hugo novel, this takes place in the slum where he grew up—the 93rd district of Paris. A young police officer, new to the area, joins two hardened, streetwise cops (reminded me of the characters on the TV show The Shield) on those mean streets where a drug lord nicknamed “The Mayor” rules.

The Traitor (Jan. 31 release) – Would you like a shorter Mafia tale than The Irishman? Here it is. The Traitor is based on the real-life story of Tommaso Buscetta, the so-called “boss of the two worlds,” who became the first Mafia informant in 1980s Sicily.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Feb. 14 release) – Nominated for the Palme d’Or (Cannes Film Festival top prize), Golden Globe and Independent Film Spirit awards, this takes place in 18th century France, where a young painter, Marianne, is commissioned to do the wedding portrait of Héloïse without her knowing. Therefore, Marianne must observe her model by day to paint her portrait at night. Day by day, the two women become closer as they share Héloïse's last moments of freedom before the impending wedding.

My Boyfriend’s Meds (Feb. 21 release) – The brief description, “A woman's island getaway with her boyfriend is thrown for a loop when he forgets to take his prescription medications along,” doesn’t begin to do justice to the nutty trailer that I saw. It’s in Spanish and English with cameo appearances by Jason Alexander, Brooke Shields and Brian Baumgartner (Kevin from The Office).

The Whistlers (Feb. 20 release) – A.O. Scott of The New York Times said of this film, “If the Coen brothers were Romanian, they may have made this.” That’s all I needed to hear.

It Must Be Heaven (Feb. 8 limited release) – Official submission of Palestine in the Best International Feature Film category for the 92nd Academy Awards this year. Again, just watching the trailer interested me enough to put it on the list.

The Climb (March 20 release) – Real-life best friends turn the story of their relationship, at times strained but frequently uproarious, into a film about the boundaries (or lack thereof) in all close friendships.

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WATCH

Company Shines a New Light on

Othello Music, theater and more start arty new decade

By Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald

New Light Theatre co-founders Newton Buchanan and Lena Mucchetti star as Othello and Desdemona in the upcoming production of the Shakespeare classic.

Photo Lena Mucchetti Photography

W

ilmington’s New Light Theatre—launched in 2018 by Lena Mucchetti, Tom Mucchetti and Newton Buchanan—will present its first production in Delaware with William Shakespeare’s Othello, Jan. 29 through Feb. 2 at the Delaware Historical Society in downtown Wilmington.

So, why is this their first production staged in Delaware?

“We’re a Delaware-based theater company, and we’ve very much wanted to perform here,” says Artistic Director Lena Mucchetti.

“But performance space in Delaware has been hard to come by, particularly the size and scale we need to accommodate a musical.”

Buchanan, who also plays the lead role of Othello, agrees. “Finding space that not only fits our production and technical needs, but also is cost effective, is a challenge. We found it particularly difficult to find capable and affordable venues in Wilmington, leading us to have our shows and fundraisers outside of Delaware.”

But Othello, Mucchetti notes, is more flexible in terms of production elements, and the Delaware Historical Society’s (DHS) space affords them the intimacy they were seeking.

“That [the production’s flexibility] stoked our creativity and resourcefulness and we landed in DHS,” Buchanan says. “As a co-founder, I hope we can facilitate a larger movement for the

performing arts in Wilmington or at least start the discussion about making it easier for any company to produce here while making it accessible to everyone.”

For the production, New Light is occupying DHS’ second floor Copeland Room, and Mucchetti says they’re excited to explore ways to turn a “found space” into a theatrical space.

“We’ve used DHS in the past to host theater education workshops, and we were struck by the interesting architecture in the room and cultural significance of the museum itself,” Mucchetti says.

She is also thrilled that (finally) performing in Wilmington brings the production closer to its beneficiary, the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCADV), which is based downtown.

New Light Theatre’s mission is to use each production to raise awareness and support for thematically connected charities that bring light to the darkness of the world. The theater’s inaugural production was Next to Normal, which ran for one weekend in August 2018 at the Limelight Performing Arts Center in West Chester, Pa. The sold-out run enabled the organization to provide funds for The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation as well as focus future work on that model of giving back. ► JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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“Our Othello—set in an intimate venue, with a small cast and strippeddown production elements—will more deeply explore themes of domestic abuse and toxic masculinity in the play that are still incredibly relevant in present day, while we raise support and awareness for DCADV and the resources they can provide for victims of domestic violence,” Mucchetti says.

“We’re so fortunate to partner with DCADV,” says Othello Director Allen Radway, himself a Philly-based director New Light Theatre's August 2019 production of Dogfight featured actors Jessie Gray and Josh O'Donnell as Rose and actor. “Their work lends a gravity and Birdlace. that will help guide ours, as we find our footing in a story that serves as a virtual roadmap of toxic masculinity.”

As one of Shakespeare’s most notable works, this tragedy of passion and poison finds one of his greatest romances crossing paths with one of his ultimate villains.

A victorious General Othello discovers that those who have lauded his military triumph might not approve of his marriage to a white senator’s daughter. Believing he can win over his adopted homeland through dutiful service and the love of his wife Desdemona, they depart for Cyprus. Unfortunately, this is the precise opportunity the malicious Iago needs to destroy them all.

“I’m really interested in exploring the area between absolutes in our production,” says Radway. “Shakespeare gives us so many contrasting lenses through which to view the story—light and dark, love and fear, otherness and ‘us’-ness, power and vulnerability, gender, race, moral distinctions, truth…the list goes on.

“It’s so easy to forget, in our polarized political landscape, that we do most of our living in between such absolutes.”

Othello features a cast of 11 actors from the Philadelphia and Delaware areas, including Fred Andersen, Megan Bellwoar, Newton Buchanan, Cameron DelGrosso, Elsa Kegelman, Sol Madariaga, Kevin McCann, Ryan Mikles, Lena Mucchetti, Edward Snyder and Yannick Trapman-O’Brien.

This will be Buchanan’s second time stepping into the role of Othello. “My first time around I was arguably too young to portray the general. Having lived a bit more life since then, I can already sense a difference in my interpretation,” he says.

“The Moor of Venice is a strong, complex character,” Buchanan says. “Not perfect by any means, yet important in the story of human nature, reputation, and bias/ prejudice. Taking on this role is intimidating and exciting all at once—I’m honored to help tell this story.”

New Light Theatre also provides opportunities for students and emerging artists to work alongside professionals. As such, they’ve welcomed Ryan Mikles, a junior Theater major at Temple University, who is composing an original soundscape for the production.

Othello will be presented at the Delaware Historical Society, 504 N. Market St. Tickets, ranging from $15-$20, are available at newlighttheatre.com.

Honoring a Music Lover’s Life

On Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m., The Music School of Delaware hosts a special evening of music, celebrating the life of an equally special member of the Music School “family”— Dr. William J. Stegeman—who passed away in October.

The concert, Serafin Ensemble & Friends: Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary—Honoring the Memory of Bill Stegeman, will feature Serafin current and former members, noted Music School faculty and guest artists. Included in that artist roster are Amos Fayette and Kate Ransom, violins; Luke Fleming, viola; Jacques-Pierre Malan, cello; and Victor Asuncion, piano.

60 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

Photo Lena Mucchetti Photography

COMPANY SHINES A NEW LIGHT ON OTHELLO continued from previous page

While the repertoire will certainly focus on the work of Beethoven, it will also feature a tribute selection performed by current and former Serafins in memory of Dr. Stegeman.

“Clearly, the Music School was very special to him,” says Music School President & CEO Kate Ransom. “His belief was that every child should have access to an excellent music experience, and he trusted our ability to deliver that. We carry the torch forward in his memory, to see that his legacy lives on.”

The Music School’s Board of Directors is also honoring Stegeman, launching a donation match campaign in his name.

The Board has pledged to match up to $15,000 in donations made in memory of Bill Stegeman through June 30.

“Our task as a board is to do our best to maintain and grow the financial strength of The Music School of Delaware so it can better fulfill its mission of providing musical excellence to everyone,” says Music School Board Chair Larry Hamermesh.

They chose to introduce this match first and foremost, Hamermesh says, because the board is thankful for Stegeman's bountiful charity, which made financial stewardship efforts much smoother. This campaign will, at least in part, help fill the fundraising gap left by his passing.

“We mourn the loss of an extraordinary friend and colleague, and are grateful that his generosity and passion for music continue to inspire us,” says Hamermesh.

Stegeman, founder of Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, Inc. in West Grove, Pa., passed away on Oct. 13. He was the single largest individual donor in the Music School’s history, also taking violin lessons and serving on its Board of Directors. In 2015, Stegeman made a sizable gift to the school. At the time, he said, “My gift…is important because, for me, the school is all about the kids. Music education has such a profound influence on young people’s brains and their education in general.”

Tickets for the memorial concert are $10 or $5 for students and seniors and are available at brownpapertickets.com.

Other Arts News

Delaware Symphony Orchestra’s first Classics Concert of the New Year opens with the theme “False Starts” on Friday, Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in Copeland Hall at The Grand. As Maestro David Amado describes, the performance features two works that have become standards after quite “difficult” premieres.

One, Rachmaninoff’s First Symphony, premieres in Delaware more than a century after its disastrous initial performance.

The next, Elgar’s Cello Concerto, was also initially unsuccessful until cellist Jacqueline du Pre “revived” it into a staple of the repertoire in the 1960s. The DSO is joined by French cellist Camille Thomas for the Elgar piece.

Rainbow Chorale of Delaware, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is holding an open call for singers on Monday, Jan. 6 and Monday, Jan. 13 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1502 W. 13th St. in Wilmington. The ensemble is seeking basses, tenors, sopranos and altos. While there is no “formal” audition, the ability for singers to read music is helpful but not required. Candidates will meet with the chorale director for a voice placement discussion, and each open call session will be followed by a regular rehearsal attended by the entire chorale. For more information, visit therainbowchorale.org. ► JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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WATCH

Photo Joe del Tufo

COMPANY SHINES A NEW LIGHT ON OTHELLO continued from previous page

Artist Terrance Vann has played a pivotal role in many public art works around Wilmington, including the United Bridge mural and his Divine Mind mural in the Creative District.

Wilmington visual artist Terrance Vann is moving on to a new artistic journey. He and fiancée Keyanna Mozie are heading to Ithaca, N.Y., to start work on their newly launched company, VIBEPRO, where they will be facilitating several art programs. Afterward, Vann says, they’ll do some traveling and “…see a bit of this big world. The next leg of the journey is already shaping up to be quite the adventure!”

Vann has been an active talent (and voice) in the local art scene for some time, being named a 2017 Individual Artist Fellowship Recipient by the Delaware Division of the Arts, and serving as the creator of a number of striking murals and public art works in and around the city. I asked, as he leaves, does he have any favorite projects he’s worked on in Wilmington?

“Ah…it’s super-hard to choose,” he says.

“The United Bridge mural (located on the 7th Street bridge over I-95) that I most recently collaborated on with Westside Grows Together is definitely up there; and I’d absolutely have to say The Divine Mind Mural (at the intersection of 7th & Windsor Streets in the Creative District) that I did [in 2016].”

Since being involved in the Delaware arts scene, Vann says he sees more diversity and variety as well as increased opportunity to show work, especially for local black artists.

“I can say I was involved in a great movement in my hometown that has produced some truly amazing artists,” he says.

“I pray the work that I’ve done has contributed to that, and one day I see us returning to build on that in a much grander scale!”

You can follow Vann’s new adventures on Instagram @terranceism or at their website vibepro.co.

62 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

LISTEN

No Joke

HaHa Charade’s popularity is growing as it prepares to release a debut album this month (L-R) Bassist Matt Bowe, vocalists and guitarists Justin Lefler and Alex Wade, and drummer Brendan McBride have “come into their own” as HaHa Charade, says producer Nick Holmes of Newark’s Occupy Studio. Photo courtesy of Haha Charade

By David Ferguson

B

eer. Beer. Beer. Rum and Coke.

That’s what the four members of the Newark-based band HaHa Charade ordered when they sat down with me at Iron Hill Brewery one night last month. There were smiles all around, and no wonder; 2019 had been good to them, and with the upcoming release of their first full-length album, this one self-titled, on Jan. 17, they’re confident that the New Year will be even better.

Their producer, Nick Holmes, of Occupy Studio in Newark, shares that confidence. Holmes has been working with the band since they came on the scene in March of 2019, and his praise for them is almost rhapsodic. “They’ve come into their own,” he says.

“They’re making a name that will become known nationwide, if not worldwide someday. They just have to keep putting in the work.”

HaHa Charade, which evolved from a cover band by the name of Eleanor and The Roosevelts, consists of guitarists and vocalists Justin Lefler and Alex Wade, drummer Brendan McBride, and bassist Matt Bowe. They attribute their growing success to a "collaborative artistic approach," and while admitting that being in a cover band was fun, having creative control over the music they put out now is much more enjoyable.

The band’s four-track EP, from March of 2019, titled We Are The Wolves, is proof of their collaborative approach. Wolves featured a uniquely diverse sound that left listeners guessing at the exact genre of the music while craving more.

Bowe says that the band’s sound comes from sitting in a room with his bandmates, sometimes all day long, and exchanging ideas. ► JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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LISTEN NO JOKE continued from previous page

"Justin, Alex, and myself all write songs,” says Bowe, pausing to take a sip of his rum and coke. “We have sessions where we sit for seven or eight hours and hammer out lyrics and chords that we think could go somewhere. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. That's part of the game, right? You’ve got to work at it."

With three writers in the band, each creating his own music, creative disputes would seem inevitable. But the four debunk that idea and explain that the differences in tastes actually benefit the group dynamic.

Wade, for example, tends to have more of a reggae style in his writing and taste; Lefler is influenced by indie-rock and bands such as The Local Natives, while Bowe reflects his roots in hip-hop and pop. The result is a unique experience that is HaHa Charade.

Making A Name

With each show, the band pushes to expand their fan base, hoping eventually to play to sold-out dates.

"We've played shows that had 15 people in the crowd and that was a bummer," says Wade. “Now, we tend to draw larger crowds, especially in this area, but we're branching out to other cities as well."

They regularly play at bars and other venues in Wilmington and Newark, including such hot spots as Tonic, Oddity Bar, and The Queen, and have also performed in New York and Philadelphia.

A goal with the upcoming album is to stretch out even further, play shows around the country, and make HaHa Charade their full-time occupation. For each, the band is an escape from their nine-to-five jobs.

"I work at a desk for eight hours a day," says Lefler. “Writing, recording, and playing music is my outlet and I love it."

Bowe, perhaps the most vocal about making it big as a band, believes their energy will fuel its success. They dance, they wear colorful outfits, they head-bang and they jump around on stage and in their music videos. Even sitting with them at a bar, you get a sense of the electric energy they give off when they perform.

"When we get on stage and we see people singing and dancing to our music," says Wade, "there's nothing like that in the world. It'll never be a (real) job to us, even when we begin to make a living from it."

JANUARY MUSIC at Kelly’s Logan House Look for these great bands upstairs!

Photo courtesy of Haha Charade

FRIDAY, 1/03 Common Courtesy - 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, 1/04 “Writing, recording, and playing music is my outlet and I love it," says Lefler (far left).

Eight New Songs

Wade proudly notes that the group has roughly four hours of music recorded between rough cuts, demos, and finished songs, but the new album will only include eight of those songs.

Besides the eight new songs, the album will include four tracks from Wolves, Bowe explains. “Three of the new tracks have already been released as singles to our site and streaming services. So, look for a few unheard tracks on the album."

“Yeah, we were making music in my basement before we could afford studio time,” adds Lefler. “We’ve been doing this for a while.”

With hours of songs to their credit, it’s a wonder why the band waited almost a year to put out a full-length album. The consensus of the members, however, has always been the same.

They strive to create something memorable and it happened to be in the form of a complete, and carefully produced album— one that was cared for by the folks at Occupy Studio, who have become friends.

HaHa Charade is quick to credit Occupy, especially Holmes.

“Nick has been a blessing," says Wade. "He's a genius. He's worked with us through and through and even when we are a pain in the ass, he rides it out with us.”

Adds Bowe: “Yeah, we're a family now. He's not just a producer, but a friend. He's just randomly shown up at our shows without telling us. His support has been awesome.”

The self-titled album will set the tone for the future of the band and each member knows that. They’ve worked hard at creating their band, their sound, and their relationships in the music industry. What they need to do now is continue putting in the work to create their future.

We finish our drinks and the server brings the tab. I give him my credit card, look around the table, and ask, “Anything else to add, fellas?”

Bowe speaks up. “We want it all. We're already in the process of working on a second album that we plan to have out by the end of 2020. All great bands release their first two albums in the same year. Why should we be any different?"

The full-length album HaHa Charade will be available on Spotify and Apple Music on Friday, Jan. 17, with an album release party hosted

by Oddity Bar on Friday, Jan. 24. For information on upcoming shows, or to listen to other music by HaHa Charade, visit hahacharade.com

DJ Andrew Hugh - 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, 1/10

Radio Halo - 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, 1/11 DJ - 10 p.m.

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JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Live Bands Every Saturday!

During every football game,enjoy:

1/4-As If (90’s Tribute) 1/18-Bye Felicia 1/11-Sonic Daze 1/25-Chorduroy

$7.99 Buffalo Wings • $7.99 Nachos • $5.99 Tater Tots $8.99 Pitchers of Coors Light and Yuengling • $12.99 Pitchers of Blue Moon MONDAYS ½ Price Appetizers ALL DAY!

TUESDAYS ½ Price Burgers ALL DAY! $400 Double LITs

WEDNESDAYS $5 Off All Pizzas ALL DAY! $2 Keystone Lt. Pints & $3 Keystone Lt. Mini Pitchers $1599 9oz. NY Strip Steak All Day $4 Glasses of All House Wines

THURSDAYS ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT Wings (5pm-Close) ½ Price Burgers (11:30am-3pm) • $325 Rail Drinks

Next time you stop in, don’t forget to sign up for our Ashby Hospitality Groups VIP Loyalty Program!

302.369.9414 | 108 West Main Street Newark, DE | www.deerparktavern.com 66 JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Worth TRYING PICKS OF THE MUSIC VARIETY

GET WRECKED Heading into 2020, it’s reassuring to see more bands in the area releasing their own material—and, in this case, time-tested veterans who refuse to stop rocking.

Some musicians seek to reinvent the wheel, others are more than happy just to keep that wheel rolling forward with speed and spirit for new generations to enjoy. Wrecking Ball proudly fits that category. A friend of mine described their music as “a mix of Rolling Stones and Tom Petty,” and that’s a fair assessment.

Wrecking Ball came swinging in at the tail end of last year with their 12-track album, Kiss It Away. With the album and the release itself came a sense of youthful energy and gleeful momentum. It’s just another example that rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t have an age, it simply has a primal purpose.

Wrecking Ball’s Kiss It Away is available locally on CD, or online on iTunes, Spotify and Pandora. But do local music a favor and buy a copy.

— Jim Miller, Director of Publications

LIVE MUSIC AT BLUE EARL Blue Earl Brewing Co.’s tagline is “Brew for your soul,” but the Smyrna brewery also provides music for the soul. A few times each month, Blue Earl opens its side stage to local musicians. Everyone from up-and-coming blues artists to individuals with an instrument are invited to jam out. The brewery even hosts events dedicated to the music it brings in, such as the Shazzizle music fest, held in October. On these occasions, the place feels more like a music hall than a brewery that’s tucked away in a business park.

— Lanna Peck, Graphic Design intern

MIKEY MIKE I grew up with him in Salisbury, Md., but you likely don’t know his name although you've probably heard some of his music. He's got a Grammy for producing the music to Rihanna's "Jump" (it's a crazy story on how he got the chance and he's not responsible for the weird dubstep part). His viral debut single "Doin’ Me" was produced by hip-hop legend Rick Rubin, and got picked up for a Canon commercial. And he released a full EP of original songs, Life on Earth, in November. His songs are "alt-pop," I guess you could say, but they're also a bit funny and a bit introspective. So give him a listen and a follow on social media. He's always up to something.

— Tyler Mitchell, Creative Director

LOCAL RECORD SHOPS Those who can remember Jeremiah’s Record Exchange—which closed its Philly Pike location in the ‘90s—hopefully also remember the sense of sonic discovery and musical adventure that place offered to anyone who walked through its doors.

Interesting how, like a spinning record, certain trends come back around. Last year vinyl records outsold CDs for the first time since 1986. This is a positive sign not just to listeners who prefer the format over other alternatives, but also to musicians, who have the opportunity to actually make money off the format—much more so than the micro-fractions of pennies offered by streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, or Apple Music.

Stores like Rainbow Records in Newark and Squeezebox in Wilmington not only function as places to search for new and old records, they are sacred spaces with a reverence for the concept of making and sharing music. Like the vinyl itself, it’s tangible—and it’s something you’ll never find online.

— Jim Miller, Director of Publications

JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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“Tipsy” takes on a whole new meaning when you drink and drive.

And after you’re busted, you’ll get a suspended driver’s license, pay thousands of dollars in fines and receive possible jail time.

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

Don’t let a DUI redefine you.

Find a safe ride home.

ArriveAliveDE.com/DriveSober

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Worth TRYING PICKS OF THE PLAY VARIETY

GET A DELAWARE STATE PARK PASSPORT As a long-time resident but non-native to Delaware, I have always admired the state’s commitment to open space, best showcased in many wonderful state parks. The Passport program encourages the outdoorsy set to visit all 19 locations statewide and capture the experience in words and photos. Visit them all and get a free park pass for the next season. destateparks.com/Passport.

— Mark Fields, Contributing Writer

MORE THAN MUSHROOMS The quaint Southern Chester County borough of Kennett Square may be known as the “Mushroom Capital of the World,” but its proximity to Hockessin, Newark and Wilmington makes it an ideal destination to experience a different vibe. State Street is idyllic and a great place to stroll, shop, dine or catch live music courtesy of Kennett Flash and Kennett Brewing Co. The Creamery and Victory Brewing Co. have expanded the footprint of gathering places beyond State Street (Kennett’s main street). And the non-profit Historic Kennett Square has done a fantastic job of planning community events year-round—from art strolls to dining in the streets. Visit HistoricKennettSquare.com.

EAGLES AT THE CONOWINGO DAM Take a day trip to the Conowingo Dam to watch the eagles soar. More than 300 eagles and 100 species of birds were spotted there last year. The dam, on Route 1 over the Susquehanna River, is a mecca for true bird watching. It’s just a short drive from Newark and Wilmington and has plenty of parking available.

— John Murray, Contributing Writer

— Jerry duPhily, Publisher

HAPPY TREKKING

HISTORIC MOUNT HARMON Historic Mount Harmon is a restored 18th century manor house and plantation in Earlville, Md., on the Sassafras River. The surrounding land is 200 acres of nature trails and game preserve. This tidewater Plantation has a smoke house, colonial kitchen, carriage house, tobacco barn and beautiful gardens. mountharmon.org.

— John Murray, Contributing Writer

Looking for a new trail to try in the New Year? How about the new Tri-Valley Trail just outside of Newark? In the works for years, this paved trail links Newark and Pike Creek and is the first continuous trail that allows visitors with mobility challenges to enjoy the opportunity to hunt, fish, and participate in accessible hay wagon rides. At 2.8-miles, it runs between Thompson Station Road and Smith Mill Road, with an additional spur going to the intersection of Paper Mill and Polly Drummond roads. It offers connections to Newark’s Redd Park and New Castle County’s Paper Mill Park and Middle Run Valley Natural Area Park. The $2.3 million trail project also includes a parking area and bathrooms off Smith Mill Road.

— Julie Miro Wenger, Event Allies JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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BIG THINGS HAPPENING IN 2020!

Join Out & About Magazine/Event Allies and Our Partners at These Upcoming Events:

BIMONTHLY BEGINNING FEBRUARY 21 Movies On Tap

APRIL 20-25 14th City Restaurant Week

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 Taste of Delaware

FIRST FRIDAY (except Jan. 10 & July 10) Art Loop Wilmington

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 15-17 14th Annual Wilmington Grand Prix

SEPTEMBER 14-19 Brandywine Valley Restaurant Week

SATURDAY, MARCH 14 St Patrick’s Day Parade & Loop

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, JUNE 12-13 Separation Day Celebration

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 6th Taste of Trolley Square

SATURDAY, APRIL 18 It’s Back…The ‘80s Loop

SATURDAY, JULY 25 17th Newark Food & Brew Festival

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 8th River Towns Ride & Festival

OutAndAboutNow.com

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UGLY SWEATER CRAWL 2019 1. Justin Malkoski (left) of Wilmington and Brad Thompson (Garnet Valley, Pa.) showed up in their holiday best. Photo Butch Comegys

4. Sara Paczok of Bear spruced up her ugly sweater. Photo Butch Comegys 5. Brice Brown IV of Wilmington came “Lited up.” Photo Butch Comegys

2. From left: Wilmingtonians Michele Milburn, Keith Soreghan, Heather Phillips and Jennifer Pettyjohn at Kelly’s Logan House. Photo Butch Comegys

6. From left: Erin Connelly, Greg Young, Melanie Young, Emily Cole and Dan Elder helped Makers Alley celebrate its first Ugly Sweater Crawl. Photo Gregory Young

3. Beca Sanchez came from Newark to enjoy the festivities. Photo Butch Comegys

JANUARY 2020 | OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM

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Dirty containers end up in the trash.Learn ways to recycle right at RecycleRightDE.org.

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3/15/18 3:06 PM

Shine a Light on

Delaware’s # 1 Fundraiser Feb. 29, 2020 at THE QUEEN Wilmington, DE

Doors open at 7pm Concert starts at 8pm

For tickets, visit: lightupthequeen.org/shinealight THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

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FIND YOUR LIGHT