Popping The Cork!

The Wild Waypoints of Route One (Part 3)

Area Chefs Say, Fire It Up!

Music A Family Affair for Bassist Pete Wiedmann

Popping the Cork!

Legendary Dewey Beach nightclub celebrates 90 years

AUGUST 2026

COMPLIMENTARY

All

Gerald duPhily • jduphily@tsnpub.com

Jim Miller • jmiller@tsnpub.com

CONTRIBUTING

Bob Yearick • ryearick@comcast.net

CREATIVE

Matthew Loeb, Catalyst Visuals, LLC

DIGITAL

At The Beach

Bottle & Cork. The iconic Dewey Beach nightclub

Photo by John Mollura

October

22

The Brandywine Zoo invites you to Sip & Stroll through the zoo and enjoy a laid-back evening at our Thursday night happy hour series. Craft beer will be available from Bellefonte Brewing and Apothecary Brewing, in addition to wine. Each Sip will feature a local food vendor and live music. PLUS... our concession stand will be open with snacks and soft drinks. This family friendly event is fun for all ages! Limited number of tickets will be sold. Drink and food purchases sold separately.

Special Thanks to Dogfish Head Beer & Benevolence for their generous donation!.

Check out our web site for more fun-filled events!

Here’s To The One And Only . . .

Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Bar in the World — what a bold boast. Could’ve gone with Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Bar in Delaware. Even Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Bar in the U.S. But the world? That takes big . . .

But it’s genius, really. The ambitious claim almost dares you to go see for yourself. Greatest rock ’n’ roll bar . . . yeah, we’ll see about that.”

Credit the decision to trademark that phrase, then plaster it loud and proud on the stage backdrop of the Bottle & Cork, to Alex Pires. He was once the managing partner of Highway One Ltd., which purchased this iconic Dewey Beach nightclub in 1989. Pires is now the owner.

Like anyone who has spent time at the Delaware beaches, I have my own Tales From The Cork. As for its place in the pantheon of nightspots . . . let me put in this way: When you’re at The Cork and it’s playing its A-Game, you’re not wishing you were anywhere else.

Which takes me back to a Saturday Jam Session in the early 1990s. Our group had arrived early to beat the line, and because we had connections, we owned a strategic people-watching position on the patio while being served beers via the forward pass. Errant pass? They threw you another. Fumble it, that was on you.

We didn’t fumble on this day. We were playing our A-Game, too.

DJ Joe Bak was a big draw then, and he was in his usual Jam Session glory, stimulating the crowd with offcolor jokes, bad guest dancers, and his uncanny sense for spinning the right tune at just the right moment.

This day’s moment had arrived, and Bak threw on Bruce Springsteen’s “Badlands.” Within seconds we were a chorus of hundreds, singing at the top of our lungs and doing our best to shake the patio’s concrete floor.

Badlands, you gotta live it everyday

Let the broken hearts stand As the price you've gotta pay Keep pushin' 'til it's understood These badlands start treating us good Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa badlands

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa badlands . . .

At one point, I stopped singing and just watched the crowd. There was enough energy in the place to launch a rocket.

It was an energy I’ve felt few other times — in the Lake Placid arena when the U.S. beat the Soviets in the Miracle on Ice game in 1980; in the stands when the Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2008 World Series; and in the crowd at a Springsteen concert at the Spectrum in the mid-2000s.

Electric is the term often used. But this was beyond electric — it was collective adrenalin so powerful it was almost kinetic.

I would have other magic Cork moments — watching Robert Palmer perform with his full ensemble dressed in a three-piece suit in the dead of summer; sharing a toast to my 40th birthday with The Fabulous Thunderbird’s Kim Wilson; grabbing a photo in the parking lot with one of my longtime favorites, Dave Mason.

But that summer afternoon 36 years ago, that crowd rendition of “Badlands,” I remember it like it was yesterday. And it was awesome.

So, Happy 90th Birthday, Bottle & Cork. You truly are a special place.

As for the claim, Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Bar in the World . . . sure, why not?

THE WAR On Words

A monthly column in which we attempt, however futilely, to defend the English language

WHERE ARE THE EDITORS?

• “Breaking the stigma of adult literacy in Delaware” was a recent Sunday News Journal headline that caught the eye of reader Larry Hamermesh, who predicted that I would get many messages about it. Sadly, Larry’s was the only one. Maybe Delaware adult literacy does have a stigma.

• Becca O’Reilly, writing about ultramarathoner Bud Wilson in The Philadelphia Inquirer, was caught with her modifier dangling: “As a father of three, the organization (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital) is an important motivator for Wilson as he runs.” Wilson is a father, not St. Jude Hospital.

• A reader spotted this from Lauren Lingle’s story in The News Journal: “In Delaware, Breyers is the most-searched ice cream brand, along with New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina.” No such ice cream brands exist. This is another example of a misplaced modifier, but this one occurs at the end of the sentence.

• USA Today gifted us with this headline about soccer players going prone to defend against free kicks: “Laying down on the job.” They were lying down.

• Wilmington’s radio station WDEL, reporting on California Gov. Gavin Newsom: “Newsom says Trump has sent the Justice Department to investigate he and his wife.” Oof! That’s him — object of the verb investigate.

• John Stoehr on the website Alternet, writing about the war in Iran: “The only way to end the war was through dealmaking. However, given that Trump is the world’s worse dealmaker, despite a reputation to the contrary, . . .” That’s worst. I’m once again amazed that a professional writer would make this mistake.

• Reader Greg Lane spotted this in a USA Today article about the Artemis II space flight: “At 7 p.m., Orion reached its closest approach to the moon at about 4,067 miles above the lunar surface, traveling at a distance of about 3,139 miles per hour relative to the moon and 60,863 miles per hour relative to Earth.” Distance, as Greg points out, is not measured in mph.

• And finally, reader Larry Kerchner reports that, at a recent Carnegie Hall performance, there were containers of cough drops, apparently meant to help audience members ward off coughing during the performance. “A great idea,” says Larry, “but posted over the display was a sign that read, ‘Complimentary throat lozengers.’ In Carnegie-friggin’-Hall!” (There is no r in lozenges. But hey, they got complimentary right.)

Word of the Month

sequelae

Pronounced see- kwell-ah, it’s a noun meaning an aftereffect of a disease, condition, or injury; a secondary result.

MOST BEAUTIFUL

By Bob Yearick

According to the Poetry Society of America, the most beautiful word in the English language is diaphanous — meaning transparent, sheer, translucent. Closely behind, according to the poets, is ethereal, which means light and airy, otherworldly. Rounding out the top three of pleasantsounding words is mellifluous, which happens to mean pleasant-sounding.

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

Channel 10 in Philadelphia is becoming a regular here with its chyrons (text crawling across the bottom of the TV screen). Two recent examples:

• “Report finds less kids are reading for fun.” As we all know, plurals (e.g., “kids”) are fewer, not less.

• And one that falls under Department of Redundancies Dept.: “Heavy Rain Falls During Storm.” Gee, ya think?

PET PEEVE

I’ve recently noticed a perversion of the phrase “eke (not eek) out” — namely, the omission of the traditional preposition out. Here’s an example from The Inquirer’s Scott Lauber: “OK, so Marsh’s leadoff homer in the third inning did eke over the fence.” Bryan A. Garner, in Garner's Modern American Usage , calls this tendency of sportswriters to “use eke without its inseparable companion out , as if it meant something like squeak ,” unfortunate. Eke never means overflow , spill , or go beyond . Better that Lauber had chosen “sneaked over” or “barely cleared.”

DEPARTMENT OF REDUNDANCIES DEPT.

• Dan DeLuca, in The Inky, writing about Adam Weiner of Low-Cut Connie and their new album, Livin’ in the USA: “As he explains in an explanatory note that accompanies the album, . . .”

• Dan’s colleague, Brooke Schultz, gives us this: “For Deepak Gupta, playing Ping Pong is something of living out a childhood dream for him.” Also, it’s “something like living out a childhood dream.”

• From Reuters.com: “Investors remain cautiously optimistic for the future ahead .” As opposed to the future behind ?

NEED A SPEAKER FOR YOUR GROUP?

Contact me at ryearick@comcast.net for a fun and informative discussion of grammar.

Buy The War on Words book at the Hockessin BookShelf, at Huxley & Hiro Booksellers on Market Street, or on Amazon.

11th Annual

LUNCH:

$35 $55 or $20 Two- or Three-Course DINNER: Experience the best in

Participating restaurants as of July 24 (visit website for latest additions):

d Banks’ Seafood Kitchen & Raw Bar

d Brandywine Prime

d Cafe Mezzanotte

d Casa Nonna

d Columbus Inn

d Del Pez (Wilmington)

d Dorcea

d Eclipse Bistro

d El Camino Mexican Kitchen

d Harry’s Savoy Grill

d La Fia Bistro

d Market Kitchen + Bar

d Noble Goat (Downingtown)

d Piccolina Toscana

d Roost Pub & Kitchen

d Santa Fe Mexican Grill (Wilm)

d Taverna Rustic Italian (Wilm)

d The Post

d Tonic Seafood & Steak

d Walter’s Steakhouse

d Wilma’s

Click, Treat, Repeat:

A Beginner’s Guide to Clicker Training

By Brianna Hansen

If you read our January article on positive reinforcement training, you may remember the basic idea: reward the behaviors you want to see more often. Instead of waiting for your pet to get something wrong, positive reinforcement helps create a clear understanding of when they get it right. And now, we take it to the next level … with clicker training! A simple way to make that message even clearer.

A clicker is precisely what it sounds like: a handheld tool that makes a consistent sound. The click itself isn’t the reward, but it marks the exact moment your pet does what you’re looking for. And since treats can take a second or two to deliver, the click bridges the gap and tells your pet, “Yes! That right there earned this delicious snack.”

Before teaching a new skill, you’ll need to help your pet understand what the sound means. Start somewhere quiet, click once, and offer a treat. Repeat this several times… click, treat; click, treat. You aren’t asking for any behavior yet. You’re building an association between the sound and something wonderful. This is called “charging” or “loading” the clicker.

Once your pet begins looking for a treat after hearing the click, you’re ready to practice. Start with a behavior they know, like sit. Ask for the sit, click the instant their rear touches the floor, then give the treat. Timing matters: click too early or too late, and you may accidentally mark standing, jumping, or popping back up instead.

A few ground rules will help. Always follow a click with a reward, even if you clicked by mistake. Click once for each successful behavior, and use better treats, not louder or repeated clicks, to celebrate an exceptional effort. Most importantly, don’t use the clicker to call your pet, interrupt unwanted behavior, or get their attention. It is a marker, not a remote.

Keep training sessions short, upbeat, and easy to win … just three to five minutes at a time does the trick. Beyond basics like sit and down, try clicking when your pet looks at you after hearing their name, touches their nose to your hand, steps onto a mat, enters a carrier, or calmly allows their paws or ears to be handled. The best part about this method? Clickers can work for dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals, too!

Eventually, once a behavior is reliable, you can fade out the clicker while continuing to reward your pet in other ways. The goal isn’t lifelong clicking. It’s lifelong communication with a learner who feels confident, curious, and excited to work with you.

Looking for support on your training journey? Local shelters like Humane Animal Partners offer affordable oneon-one and small-group training for pets and their people!

— Visit HAPDe.org for more details.

FYI Things Worth Knowing

A CORK-Y KIND OF QUEST

The champagne will undoubtedly be flowing at this month's Bottle & Cork 90th Anniversary Party. As a tribute to that milestone, we've opened a few bottles here, but left the corks rolling around in this month's issue. Tell us the four pages (excluding this one) that you spot a cork. Please email your answers using the subject line: I Found the Corks to Contact@TSNPub.com by August 17. Last month's winners: Marty Budd, Phee Price, Jack Jones. The liberty bells were on pages 17, 29, 39, 63.

A NEW INNING BEGINS FOR THE BLUE ROCKS

The Wilmington Blue Rocks have a new owner. OnDeck Partners has acquired the High-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, marking a new chapter for the longtime Wilmington team. The new ownership group plans to build on the Blue Rocks’ more than 30-year history by investing in Frawley Stadium, creating new fan experiences, and continuing the team’s role as a community gathering place. OnDeck Partners will host a free Fan Fest on Tuesday, Aug. 4 ahead of the Blue Rocks’ game against the Brooklyn Cyclones. More at BlueRocks.com.

Wilmington's newest library is offering an early look before its official debut. The NOMA Library, the newest branch of the Wilmington Public Library system, joins the Wilmington and North Wilmington Libraries in expanding access to library services across the city. The NOMA Library is hosting Saturday soft openings through Aug. 22 at its new home, 3905 N. Market St. The 24,000-square-foot branch goes well beyond books, featuring a maker space with 3D printers and laser cutters, spaces for technology, creativity, wellness, and community gatherings. Visitors can also enjoy cooking demonstrations, technology showcases, tours of the second floor, sign up for library cards, and check out books before the grand opening celebration on Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More at Wilmington.lib.de.us/noma.

SEMILLA BREAD RISES ON CONCORD PIKE

Semilla Bread has opened in Independence Mall at 1601 Concord Pike, bringing artisan breads, handcrafted pastries, and coffee drinks to North Wilmington. Founded by Hector Pulido after discovering the craft of sourdough baking in Colombia, the bakery specializes in naturally leavened breads and pastries, with offerings including sourdough loaves, baguettes, croissants, and signature items like guava empanadas and Tuscan bread with cheese and pepperoni. Semilla Bread is open daily from 8am to 4 pm. Visit SemillaBreadUSA.com

COME TOGETHER: A WEEK OF THE BEATLES

The Rock Orchestra (TRO) returns to Delaware Theatre Company (200 Water St., Wilmington) Aug. 10–15 with All Together Now, a six-night celebration of The Beatles’ recorded works. The ninth annual event features all 217 Beatles songs performed as originally recorded, taking audiences through the band’s evolution from early pop hits to psychedelic experiments and later classics. Each night will feature a different collection of albums, including Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles (White Album), Abbey Road, and Let It Be. Tickets available at DelawareTheatre.org/all-together-now.

ENTREPRENEURS INVITED TO SWIM WITH THE SHARKS

The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce's Emerging Enterprise Center is now accepting applications for the 14th Annual Swim with the Sharks Pitch Competition. New Castle County entrepreneurs have until Aug. 10 to apply for the Shark Tank-style competition, which awards a grant of $25,000 as grand prize along with additional cash awards and business services. The competition finale will take place Sept. 16 at Penn Cinema on the Wilmington Riverfront. Since its launch, Swim with the Sharks has helped more than 100 local startups compete for funding, provided pitch training to more than 350 founders, and awarded more than $130,000 in cash prizes. More at EECIncubator.com/swim-with-the-sharks.

CELEBRATING

THROUGH POETRY

Delaware Poets Inc., a newly formed nonprofit, is promoting poetry and literary engagement across the First State through its flagship publication, The Delaware Poets Almanac. As part of Delaware's 250th anniversary, the organization is presenting the Voices of Wilmington series in partnership with the City of Wilmington and the Wilmington Public Library, culminating with a celebration on Friday, Aug. 21. Other initiatives include a statewide poetry time capsule highlighting 250 years of Delaware voices, with a commemorative anthology planned for release in November, along with upcoming programs at Rockwood Park & Museum on Saturday, Sept. 5. More at TheDelawarePoetsAlmanac.org.

On Saturday, Sept. 12, cyclists can visit four historic river towns during a one-of-a-kind bike ride. The 13th annual River Towns Ride challenges you to ride for a gold medal by visiting all four river towns (62 miles) or take one of the event’s shorter routes and earn a bronze or silver medal for distance completed. Stops include historic Chesapeake City, Historic Delaware City, Historic New Castle and Wilmington Riverfront. Visit RiverTownsRide.com.

IRISH WEEKEND RETURNS TO THE RIVERFRONT

The Irish Culture Club of Delaware will celebrate its 46th Annual Feis & Festival with a weekend of Irish dance, music, food, and culture Aug. 7–9 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington. Open to the public with free admission, the celebration kicks off Friday with live music from Seven Rings, followed by a full day of dancing and live Irish music Saturday, including McMark & Co., Gerry Timlin, and Benny Preston. The weekend includes the Diamond State Feis and Delaware Feis, where dancers from across the country will compete, along with vendors, food, and refreshments. More at IrishCultureClubDe.com.

BRANDYWINE VALLEY RESTAURANT WEEK OFFERS APPETIZING OPTIONS

More than two dozen of the area’s premier restaurants in Greater Wilmington will offer special menus and discounted pricing during the 12th annual Brandywine Valley Restaurant Week Sept. 14-20. Two-course lunches will be offered for $20; three-course dinners are $35 or $55. For a list of participating restaurants, visit BrandywineTaste.com.

RIVERFRONT

The Delaware Contemporary 200 S. Madison Street 656-6466

DeContemporary.org

Exhibits: Our Sun Is Rising—Our Sun Is Setting and We Were Always Here group show; We Can Use The Rain by Larissa Ranbom; and Passing Each

Other by John Breakey

DOWNTOWN

Chris White Gallery

701 N. Shipley Street 475-0998

ChrisWhiteGallery.com

Exhibits: Shadow Work group show

Create Magic Studio 419 N. Market Street 439-0805

Exhibit: Delaware Music History Archive Inaugural Expo

Gallery at Grace Church 900 N. Washington Street 570-412-1832

Exhibit: Beyond The Silhouette by Ciera Suragh

Huxley & Hiro Booksellers 601 N. Market Street 439-0805 • HuxleyAndHiro.com

Exhibit: Clay and Color by Jessica Rodgers

MANE Gallery at the Tina Betz Urban Artist Exchange 1509 Clifford Brown Walk, Studio #1 576-2100

cityfestwilm.com/ uae-amphitheater

Artist: Desi Steele

Mezzanine Gallery 820 N. French Street 577-8278 • Arts.Delaware.gov

Exhibit: Shifting Grounds by Teddy Osei

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7

5pm Start

Next Art Loop: SEPTEMBER 11

WEST SIDE

Delaware Center for Horticulture

1810 N. Dupont Street

658-6262 • TheDCH.org

Artist: The Art of Nature by Contemporary Botanical Artists

BEYOND THE CITY

Bellefonte Arts

803-C Brandywine Blvd 547-2573 • BellefonteArts.com

Exhibit: Sunset Blvd. by Gary White

Bellefonte Cafe

804 Brandywine Blvd 562-1436

TheBellefonteCafe.com

Exhibit: Art Battle Group Show

Finist & The Owl 811 Brandywine Blvd 786-228-6638

FinistAndTheOwl.com

Exhibit: Alphabet Atelier

Jester Art Space 2818 Grubb Road 484-947-8191

JesterArtSpace.org

Exhibit: Nature in Miniature

Mid Century Collections 803D Brandywine Blvd 734-658-3308

Artist: Brittany Glover (aka Queen Picasso)

Rockwood Park & Museum 4651 Washington Street Ext. 761-4240

presented by

Exhibit: We the People… 5 Contemporary Artists. 1 Historic House. cityfest

3 Nights

One Stage Countless dancers

Dozens of performances Pure movement Nonstop Energy

The 3rd Annual Cityfest Dance Jubilee is where Delaware shows out. The state’s hottest dance crews, studios, and performers take over the stage with nonstop energy, bold moves, and unforgettable performances. Hip hop? Of course. Cultural dance? Absolutely. Original choreography? All night. Every routine brings its own style, swagger, and story—proving Delaware’s dance scene is next level. Whether you’re there for the battles, the beats, the talent, or just the vibe, Cityfest Dance Jubilee is more than a performance—it’s a celebration of community, culture, and movement. Come catch the energy.

Family friendly. Lawn chairs & blankets encouraged.

Our Clifford Brown

A Wilmingtonian who changed the face of jazz

By Jonathan Whitney

We can’t have a discussion about America’s 250 anniversary and not celebrate one of the most influential Delawareans in the arts — Clifford Brown. In the short 25 years he spent on this earth, “Brownie,” as he was known, had an outsized impact on one of our nation’s greatest exports, jazz.

He is celebrated in Wilmington, Delaware, with a listening garden, a statue, and a marker where his house once stood. By far the greatest celebration of Brownie is the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, the largest free jazz festival on the East Coast, presented each year by the City of Wilmington.

Historic People & Places That Help Tell Delaware's Story

In celebration of Delaware 250, this monthly series will spotlight historic people and sites unique to our state.

Although Brown is best known for the recordings of his legendary quintet with Max Roach, his story doesn’t start there. It starts with his participation in his school band program, which led to his father buying him a trumpet at age 13. That is when he began taking lessons with Robert “Boysie” Lowery, a multi-instrumentalist who had developed a unique approach to teaching jazz improvisation.

This method can still be heard today in the playing of Gerald Chavis and Ernie Watts. Vibraphonist Lem Winchester and woodwind specialist Vernon James, Sr. (Gil Scott Herring) — both Wilmingtonians — were also pupils.

Brown attended the prestigious Howard High School and was famously featured at his graduation playing the technically advanced “Carnival of Venice” with Howard’s symphonic band. After stints at Delaware State College (now University) and Maryland State College, Brownie began his professional career playing with the who’s who of jazz — Tadd Dameron, J.J. Johnson, and Lionel Hampton, to name a few. He was also a founding member of the legendary ensemble Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Young Brownie toured the United States and Europe and became known for living a life as clean as his playing, shunning the temptation of drugs and alcohol.

At top: an overview of the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival held annually in Rodney Square. This year's festival is Aug. 2-8.

At right: A rate performance photo of Clifford Brown O&A Archive photos (top photo by Joe del Tufo)

Round Out Your Summer at Hagley Museum!

SUMMER NIGHTS AT HAGLEY

PRESENTED BY DOGFISH HEAD CRAFT BREWERY

AUGUST 5, 12, & 19 • 5 to 8pm

Unwind by the Brandywine with live music, food trucks, and riverfront views.

ADMISSION $5 • FREE FOR HAGLEY MEMBERS AND CHILDREN 5 AND UNDER HAGLEY.ORG/SNAH

HAGLEY 250

Celebrating our country’s 250th anniversary goes beyond one day. Uncover stories of Hagley’s connection to pivotal moments in American history with new tours and special programs. HAGLEY.ORG/250

HAGLEY CAR SHOW

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 • 10am to 3pm

Don’t miss Delaware’s best car show with more than 500 classic cars on display in a historic setting with a spotlight on American Independent Automakers.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN AND SPECTATOR PASSES ARE ON SALE NOW!

HAGLEY.ORG/CARSHOW

200 HAGLEY CREEK ROAD

WILMINGTON, DE 19807

WWW.HAGLEY.ORG

In 1954, he formed a band with drummer Max Roach that would take the jazz universe by storm. The Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet recorded seven albums between 1954 and 1956, producing several jazz standards still performed worldwide today. They include “Sandu,” “Joy Spring,” “Daahoud,” “Jurdu,” and “Blues Walk.” Their fresh take on hard bop brought together blistering tempos and immaculate cleanliness at a level never heard before.

During this time, Brownie continued to record with artists like Sarah Vaughn and Dinah Washington. All of this was accomplished before he completed his 25th rotation around the sun.

On June 25, 1956, Clifford Brown’s life was tragically cut short in a car accident while traveling from Philadelphia to a gig in Chicago. In true Brownie fashion, he and pianist Richie Powell stayed in Philadelphia to play a jam session for a friend. They left Philadelphia after midnight to make the drive to Chicago in the rain. Near West Bedford, Pa., Powell's girlfriend lost control of the vehicle and it flew over an embankment, killing all three passengers.

Brownie’s melodic approach to improvisation continues to enthrall generations of new jazz artists. During his brief professional career, he brought together the teachings of Robert “Boysie” Lowery and the great classroom that is the bandstand. He showed the world that one could take the range and technical facility of Dizzy and produce long, clean melodic lines in a way that hadn’t been heard before. Through Clifford Brown, Delaware made an indelible mark on our nation’s classical music — jazz.

— The 39th Annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival will be held August 2-8 in Rodney Square, Wilmington. To learn about upcoming DE250 events, visit Delaware250.org.

HAGLEY

Clifford Brown (center) had a prolific run in the mid 1950s, recording seven albums in a two-year span as the Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet.

O&A Archives photo

Write On

Wordsmith Weldon Burge likes to write, edit, publish and nurture up-and-coming authors

NBy Ken Mammarella

ewark resident Weldon Burge calls himself “a born writer.” He was writing creatively by age 16. Editing came later, then publishing. And since 2024, he has been helping other writers through programs he plans at the Kirkwood Library.

“I enjoy working with other writers, giving a voice to new writers and introducing readers to new writers,” he said, referring to the eight anthologies that he’s published. >

Burge was born in Middletown and earned an English degree from Bob Jones University. His first job was proofreading patents, and he devoted 35 years of his career to Independent School Management, a North Wilmington company that reaches 7,000 private schools worldwide.

Along the way, he devoted his free time to telling stories. Many were journalistic, including features for various gardening magazines, Delaware Today, Out & About, and The News Journal. Many were short stories, mostly horror and suspense, but also a few fantasy and science fiction. (On his business card, he calls himself a suspense/thriller writer.)

In 2021, he expanded into longer fiction and published his first novel, Harvester of Sorrow: An Ezekiel Marrs Thriller, which features a series of vicious crimes involving murder, kidnapping, tainted cocaine, and voodoo.

It’s set in the fictional town of New Warfield, which some Delawareans might find suspiciously familiar. That’s because Burge took maps of Wilmington and renamed streets and landmarks. “That way, I know where all those things are, such as hospitals, schools, police stations, etc.,” he said. “I have that continuity.”

Harvester of Sorrow is intended to be the first in a series of police procedurals starring detective Ezekiel Marrs (the name evokes both the Bible and something otherworldly), his wife Nikki, fellow detective Gordon O’Daniel, and two voodoo villains, Edouard LeBorg and Joy Moonjean. Most of it is set in 1993, before DNA analysis and other modern forensic techniques. Setting it in a fictional location also allows him to follow his own set of laws and procedures, partly built on what he learned at the Newark Police Department’s citizens police academy.

Smart Rhino Publications

In 2012, Burge founded Smart Rhino Publications. The name comes from a long-ago dream involving “The Thinker,” that famous Auguste Rodin statue of a guy on a

Burge adapted maps of Wilmington to create New Warfield, the setting for Harvester of Sorrow: An Ezekiel Marrs Thriller, his debut novel and what he plans to lead into a series of police procedurals.

large rock. “I had a dream that Rodin’s statue had the head of a rhino. And I said to myself ‘That must have been a smart rhino.’”

Smart Rhino’s first book was an anthology titled Zippered Flesh: Tales of Body Enhancements Gone Bad. Two stories were nominated for the Bram Stoker Award, from the Horror Writers Association, and he later published a novella that was nominated for that award as well. None won, but he was very honored for earning the nominations so early in his publishing career. Smart Rhino has so far published 17 books. There are two Zippered Flesh sequels.

He worked with Joanne Reinbold, founder of the Written Remains Writers Guild, to create two Smart Rhino anthologies. Someone Wicked: A Written Remains Antholog y and A Plague of Shadows: A Written Remains Anthology both featured fantasy, horror and suspense stories. “Weldon and I met many years ago at a Rehoboth Beach Writers Conference,” she said. “We shared a belief that Delaware writers deserved more exposure both in our state and nationally. We decided to publish our own anthologies featuring local writers along with a few invited guest authors. Weldon and I shared acquisition and editing duties.”

A Home for Writers

Beth Borene, manager of the Kirkwood Library, asked him to restart the library’s Delaware Writers Studio. The program, now branded the Delaware Authors Forum, usually runs the third Saturday of the month.

“He is well connected within the local author community, which both first got him on my radar and has greatly helped us restart and grow the program within the community — of established local authors, as well as of people who are interested in becoming newly published authors,” she said.

“Our meeting room seats up to 50. Attendance at the forum’s first panel session in April 2024 was almost standing room only at 43,” she said. Since then, lectures on freelance writing and how to find an illustrator have been the most popular. In November, the forum hosted its first holiday book fair, with 24 authors and two publishers. A second holiday book fair is planned for Nov. 28 (11am3pm). And on Nov. 14 (3pm), the Kirkwood Library hosts an hourlong meet-and-greet to launch Enter Vengeance, which Burge plans to be the first novel in a paranormal thriller series.

Writing Advice

Being a publisher is demanding work. For another anthology of 24 stories, Burge received more than 120 submissions. “I read every story,” he told author Dana King on his blog, One Bite at a Time. “I also edit and format each book. (I do, however, rely on a cover artist, cover designer and proofreader for each book.) So, yep, time is always an issue. But I love doing it, so I make the time.”

The Writer’s Process

Writing is also demanding. Burge doesn’t have a set routine, but he does favor certain elements: A fountain pen for the first draft, instrumental heavy metal music to “get my brain going,” and notebooks all over the house for whenever ideas strike. “I drive my wife nuts, because there’s so much clutter,” he said about Cindy, a retired occupational therapist. “And sometimes I can’t find things.”

He has also conducted his own workshops, mostly at libraries, but also at conferences and other events. His diverse experiences enable him to quickly answer writers’ common questions:

• Can I make it as a writer? “Probably not,” he said. “You should write for love.”

• How do I appeal to an editor or a publisher? “Proof it,” he said. “They’re looking for something that they can immediately use.”

“I used to keep a notebook right next to the bed, and the problem with that was I’d wake up, write something quick and then fall back asleep,” he told writer Debbi Mack on her Crime Cafe podcast. “And then in the morning I look at the notebook, and it’s gibberish.”

• Where do I get ideas? One good way is called a prompt, which is an image, some words or a scenario to spark the imagination for something different. “Editors [of anthologies] are looking for something unique,” he said. Something such as “A Day at the Beach with the Gramthrottlemax Family,” one of the stories in his personal anthology, Toxic Candy: Tales of Suspense, Fantasy & Horror. The prompt: “What if a sea monster came up onto the shore with the family to have some fun, which included eating lifeguards and that sort of thing?” In Rehoboth Beach.

— To explore Burge’s books and upcoming events, visit WeldonBurge.com

Burge keeps notebooks all over his house, for wherever — and whenever — inspiration strikes.

Burge with his first novel and an anthology of his stories — Harvester of Sorrow: An Ezekiel Marrs Thriller and ToxicCandy:Talesof Suspense,Fantasy&Horror

A Family Affair

Barry Schlecker works everyone into his arts-and-culture ventures

By Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald

By some accounts, Barry Schlecker should be enjoying retirement — golf, travel, family, the “usual plan.” Instead, the arts advocate, local mover-and-shaker, and entrepreneur is up to his elbows in logistics for September’s annual Brandywine Festival of the Arts, and neither shows signs of stopping.

A Tireless Entrepreneur

A Delaware native, Schlecker, 86, has been a local community connector since the late 1970s. His previous businesses, Barry Companies and Network Personnel/The Network Group, were both successful personnel/placement agencies and recruitment firms often catering to local banks and corporation needs.

Throughout that time, he began tapping his vast connections and producing events for non-profit organizations. First, he oversaw the Wilmington Antiques Show as a fundraiser for the Wilmington Library and then

the Annual Art Auction, raising funds for the (former) Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts.

In 2004, Schlecker embarked on his newest venture, Barry’s Events. He began by founding the Newark Film Festival and continued on to create the (now defunct) WilmFilm Festival and OUTflix, a gay and lesbian film festival.

His biggest, and perhaps most notable, project came in 2010, when Barry’s Events successfully resurrected the Brandywine Arts Festival. Schlecker insists that starting the event business wasn’t his idea, but after the Division of

and revitalize the troubled festival.

Schlecker connected (as he does) with several prominent local artists — including Mitch Lyons, Larry Anderson, and Olga Ganoudis — talked about what the festival could and should change, and reshaped it as the Brandywine Festival of the Arts (BFA).

This fall, the festival that began in 1961 will celebrate its 65th anniversary, thanks to Schlecker’s resolute efforts.

Schleckler acknowledges his greatest strength is in revitalizing festivals that have lost their luster, such as the Newark Film Festival, the Rockwood Ice Cream Festival and Hockessin’s 4th of July Fireworks and Parade.

Today, Barry’s Events also provides production support for the Rockwood Ice Cream Festival; produces the Brandywine Holiday Festival of the Arts each December at the Chase Center on the Riverfront; and debuted their newest event — the Brandywine Spring Festival of the Arts — this past May at the Siegel JCC.

“Barry's passion has always been helping people build better lives,” says Ginger Weiss, his partner of 25 years. “[As a business owner], he connected people with meaningful, well-paying jobs. Today, that same commitment drives his arts events.”

“The thing that makes these [events] rewarding and special is that it's in my ‘wheelhouse,’” Schlecker says. “The BFA has allowed me to help artists expand their reach and make a living. Some are now creating art full time.”

Weiss adds: “Barry has always said, ‘The artist is my customer,’ and he works tirelessly to promote artists and help them succeed. And, the events he has created have become cherished community traditions.”

Family Affair

As Barry’s Events grew steadily busier, Schlecker acknowledged the need to bring in additional hands.

“My son, David, was involved from the beginning; he was my right arm,” Schlecker recalls. After David’s tragic passing

Team Schlecker takes a moment from event management to toast David Schlecker, who passed in 2012. Dr. Pepper was his favorite drink.

passing in 2012, Scheckler’s son Rob joined him, bringing in his family and friends. Rob's son, Lou; daughter, Elizabeth (Beth); and wife, Kathy, all play integral parts on the team as do his nieces, nephews, and professional colleagues.

“I started getting involved in the festivals only after my brother passed,” Rob says. “[David was] the natural guide for these events. He was smart, possessed forethought, had a very specific sense of humor, and is greatly missed.”

Rob, whose background is in policing, serves as Operations Manager for Barry’s Events and describes his approach as more linear and strategic.

“I gathered our version of ‘The Avengers’ — my son and his friends, my daughter, my nieces and nephews, and their friends all came together,” he says. “I also brought in my friend from work, Jim Hoban; his wife, Colleen; and their kids. Each possesses skills that make this team successful.”

Schlecker’s other half, Weiss, works directly with him to secure sponsorships, write press releases, and help with marketing and promotion of all Barry’s Events happenings.

Although team members’ roles have varied over the years, their mission remains focused. “We’ve developed a loyal artist base that offers guidance and experience from the ‘other side’; that can’t be forgotten,” Rob says.

The elder Schlecker is grateful for his family’s commitment. “I would never have considered [the Spring Festival] if they weren't all on board,” he says.

An Event Milestone . . . and Beyond?

As Barry’s Events team prepares to dive headfirst into BFA’s 65th year, we asked how Schlecker feels about the

anniversary of the event he calls his favorite. It's clear he’s both proud of what his team has accomplished and is deeply appreciative for the community support that surrounds their work.

“We’re continuing an incredible tradition, begun in 1961, that Delawareans look forward each September (always the weekend after Labor Day),” he says.

As a result of this dedicated and industrious family team, the BFA has grown to include more than 260 artists and vendors, a curated food court featuring local restaurants and food trucks, a variety of family-friendly activities, and even pet adoptions from local shelters.

Are there any plans for the family to take over and Barry Schlecker to (finally) retire?

“First of all, I have no plans to retire,” he emphasizes. “We’ll continue to grow our newest events, as we’re inspired by the encouragement and participation of our artists and the support of our fans.”

Schlecker maintains that he’ll continue as an active producer on the Barrys Events team, “until he's gone.” “Ginger won't let me stop!” he laughs.

While there are no imminent plans for another event or festival, Schlecker doesn’t seem to rule it out, either. "I could be convinced to start one in Middletown,” he muses. “That's something we've been kicking around for a while.”

However, he says, his son and family team may come up with some new ideas, so stay tuned!

— The Brandywine Festival of the Arts will take place Sept. 12-13 at Brandywine Park. Visit BrandwineArts.com

Still Jamming

Dewey Beach’s one-and-only Bottle & Cork celebrates 90 years

By Roger Hillis

Nightclubs come and nightclubs go, but the venerable Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach is still going strong as it celebrates its 90th anniversary. That it has survived is remarkable enough; the fact that it is thriving is equally impressive.

The 1,200-capacity Cork has a tavern license and only offers live music and alcohol. National acts perform in concert Sundays through Fridays, while Saturdays are reserved for the cover-band fiesta known as the Saturday Afternoon Jam Session.

“The jam is bigger than ever, and no one knows why,” says owner Alex Pires. “Maybe the bands have gotten better? There’s a $10 cover charge and people are lined up at the door before we even open at 5 p.m.”

This year is also the 53rd anniversary of the jam session. The sound of the bar’s vintage World War II air siren can be heard throughout the town as the doormen and bouncers open the doors. The crowd is a mix of 20-somethings in bathing suits, aging hipsters, locals, tourists and everything in-between. Pires can almost always be seen standing on stage right by the DJ booth, handing complimentary cans of beer to select patrons up front. The last several summers have been hugely successful, with 2022 setting all-time sales records. >

Taking Back Sunday performs to a sold-out Bottle & Cork crowd in 2024.

Photo by John Mollura

The Bacon Brothers

John Favreau, Alex Pires and Vince Vaughan

Morgan Wallen

Brothers Osborne

Billy Bob Thornton

Miranda Lambert & Band

Photo by John Mollura

Photo by Vikki Walls

Photo by Vikki Walls

The outdoor wall of fame next to the DJ booth lists national act who have played through the years, including Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees such as Blondie, The Zombies, Cyndi Lauper, Cheap Trick, Buddy Guy, Joan Jett, George Clinton & ParliamentFunkadelic and the Dave Matthews Band.

“I get ‘em on the way up, and I get ‘em on the way down,” says Pires.

Though the Cork, which benefits from its large outdoor patio, is only open May through September, it manages to squeeze a lot of music in. Managing that is a full-time job for entertainment director/ booking agent Vikki Walls.

“I booked 53 concerts this year,” says Walls. The official anniversary party will take place Aug. 14 with a Mr. Greengenes reunion — it’s been sold out since April. Other headliners this month include The Wallflowers (Aug. 11), the BoDeans (Aug. 12); and a sold-out performance by country star Niko Moon (Aug. 20).

In recent years, Pires has remodeled the Cork so much that its capacity slowly crept from 700 to 1,200. The stage, sound system and lighting system have all been expanded and tweaked.

focus to rock ’n’ roll. The jam was started in 1973 by disc jockey Joe Bak and his cohorts from the Washington, D.C. booking agency Nard’s Rock ’n’ Roll Review. It eventually became a tradition that whichever late-night band was scheduled that Saturday, it would arrive early and play a preview happy-hour set from 5 to 6 p.m.

Shockley says he first played the Cork “in 1975 or 1976” with Jack of Diamonds. The quartet witnessed a fair bit of debauchery during countless bookings in the ‘70s and ‘80s — and even wrote a song called “Johnny One-Way” about the upstairs dressing rooms (which eventually popped up on their live album recorded in Newark at the Stone Balloon).

The Cork opened way back in 1936 — and the building has an even longer history, as it was originally called Jack’s Place. In its early decades under owners Harry and Virginia “Ginger” Shaud (who were also the founders of a successful real estate company), the Cork had a kitchen, pool table and tables and chairs. Servers would bring patrons hamburgers. And Dixieland and swing were the sounds of the day.

Lewes native Ed Shockley can remember when his parents would go to the Cork when he was a youngster in the ’50s and ‘60s, back when it would stay open though the winter.

“It was a whole different scene back then,” says Shockley, the drummer-vocalist for local favorites including The Funsters and Jack of Diamonds. “They would get all dressed up to go there.”

There have been multiple owners through the years, sometimes with groups that have included silent partners such as politicians. A group led by businessman Jim Lavelle bought the club in 1969 and turned the

Bassist Andy King introduces the tune by asking the crowd, “How many people like sex? How many people like the Bottle & Cork? Well, this song is about sex at the Bottle & Cork.”

“The memories of that event come back pretty quickly — man, what a time,” says King, who recalls being up on the roof of the building with several people and “giggling like idiots” at what was transpiring through a wide-open window.

After Jack of Diamonds disbanded, King spent several years playing bass with another Cork alumni, The Hooters (including their legendary set opening the Philadelphia portion of Live-Aid in 1985). King says young musicians who play the Cork these days are lucky.

“I’m jealous when I see the current pictures of the stage with all that room to jump around,” he says. “I always loved the Cork, but it was a tight space. I blame the eight-foot stage ceiling with 1,000-watt lights inches from my head for my hair loss; the follicles got fried.”

Pires and his partners in the Highway One Ltd. group — most of whom were summer roommates in group houses — bought the Cork in 1989 for $2.3 million. While the Cork had usually hosted one big rock concert each summer, Pires began booking dozens of touring acts. He also obtained the official trademark for The Greatest Rock ’n’ Roll Bar In the World, which is emblazoned on the wall behind the stage.

In 2025, Out & About spoke to Chris Maliszewski (alias DJ Chris Mal), who witnessed the jam’s metamorphosis in the ’90s and 2000s. He deejayed, >

Advertisements for two memorable shows at the Cork in 1993.

Top 10 Concerts at The Cork

Morgan Wallen

Robert Palmer

Dave Matthews

Eric Church

Miranda Lambert

Old Dominon

Weezer (Canceled)

Halestorm

Matchbox 20 Jake Owen

mixed the bands, and now oversees the sound systems for Highway One’s various businesses.

“It’s more of a controlled chaos these days,” said Maliszewski. “The DJs used to have a lot of contests and games that were politically incorrect to say the least. It was a different time. It’ll never be like that again.”

Pires is a Boston native, and bought a Slingerland drum kit in high school at the height of Beatlemania. When he realized he couldn’t keep a beat, he became a teen concert promoter and rented halls to stage rock concerts.

Fast-forward to Dewey Beach, 1993. On July 9 of that year, Hootie & the Blowfish played for their last time (with free admission) after a melee took place between band members and the club’s bouncers; those details are perhaps best left to time, Pires said.

On August 26 of that year, a fledgling Goo Goo Dolls played to a sparse crowd, and acted as their own roadies; tickets were $5 in advance, $7 at the door.

On July 29, 1994, the Dave Matthews Band previewed songs from their forthcoming album Under the Table and Dreaming (with some customers complaining about having to pay a $5 cover on a Friday night, which was usually free).

On August 16, 1997, the Cork landed a show by an up-and-coming Matchbox Twenty, which was riding high on the Billboard charts with its debut single “Push.” The catch was that frontman Rob Thomas and his band insisted the Saturday jam be canceled so that they could set up their equipment and do a soundcheck in an empty room.

Pires vowed not to host any more Saturday concerts, but made a notable exception on Memorial Day weekend of 2004. That was when he was approached about hosting a comedy fundraiser for the military that

Vince Vaughan and Jon Favreau were the ringleaders, and took the stage to reenact scenes from their previous movie Swingers .

“They rolled into town in a huge bus, and everyone was drinking,” says Pires. “Owen Wilson and Bradley Cooper stayed upstairs the whole time and didn’t come on stage.”

In the early 2000s, the Greatest Rock ’n’ Roll Bar in the World reached out to the booking agency representing the greatest rock ’n’ roll band in the world, and Pires found out you can’t always get what you want. The Rolling Stones are famous for finishing pre-tour rehearsals by playing surprise club shows, such as the 1,000-capacity Toad’s Place in New Haven, Conn. Pires offered the Stones a cool $1 million; their agent said Mick Jagger personally examined the bid — yet politely declined.

Last month movie star Kevin Bacon and his musician brother Michael Bacon played the Cork for what Michael playfully called “the millionth time.” The Bacon Brothers have made semi-annual appearances there for the past 26 years, often letting local singer-songwriters open the shows.

Another act that has become a fixture in recent years is the young British hard-rock quartet The Struts. Its performance in June which was its sixth since 2016. The group was in the midst of a lengthy hiatus to write and record a new album, but acquiesced and flew in to honor the 90th anniversary. (They added a pair of shows in New Jersey and Pennsylvania to sweeten the occasion, and Struts fans traveled from around the country for the shows.)

Walls and Pires let one of their regular weekend

acts, the female-fronted Gab Cinque Band, open up and showcase their heavy original material.

“It was literally a dream come true; ever since we started playing the Cork we’ve heard about how Greta Van Fleet opened for The Struts there,” says Gabby Cinque. “It was definitely one of my favorite shows we’ve ever done, if not my favorite.”

There are pop acts, jam bands and yacht rock revues at the Cork these days. “But country still dominates,” says Pires. Walls has added a huge country presence, including shows by Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen, Old Dominion and LeAnn Rimes.

“Being in the business for such a long time, I always tried to keep abreast of trends,” says Walls, who booked clubs in the ‘80s including Tapworks in Dover and the Coyote Club in Wilmington. “Once I saw country turning towards a younger audience, it just made sense to go after that market because I didn’t see many country artists coming to Delaware. It wouldn’t have happened if Alex hadn’t trusted me and been open to bringing this genre to the venue.”

“I study the charts and take advice from agents on who is up and coming. And most instinctively, once I hear a song I think might be a hit, I find out who handles that act and go from there,” says Walls. “Like with Morgan Wallen, as soon as I heard ‘Up Down,’ I knew that song would blow up, or Miranda Lambert’s single ‘Kerosene.’”

Pires said his attitude toward the business is no different than when he was promoting concerts in high school.

“It wasn’t about making money,” he says. “The excitement of a show is unbeatable.”

At left, the Bottle & Cork as it appeared in 1957. At right, the Dewey Beach live music mecca as it appears today. Photo at left courtesy Shaud Family

We are almost there…

As we cross the border from Kent into Sussex, we can practically smell the beach from here as the distinct scent of salt floats in the comforting breeze. Although we are closer to our destination, we still have a number of miles ahead — as well as a number of good stories. While the drive to the beach can be beautiful at times, it can also become mind-numbingly boring. Particularly while sitting in traffic. Hopefully, these stories that follow will serve as a healthy distraction.

With that, strap yourselves in for the final leg of our trip…

FROM SCHOONERS TO SUBCHASERS

As we cross the Mispillion River in Milford, and drive into Sussex County, we realize that the town straddles two counties, Kent and Sussex.

It’s poetic that the Mispillion River splits Milford the way it does considering the area’s log-splitting roots. Settled in 1680, this area was eventually built upon the success of sawmills constructed along the river’s shores and powered by its flowing waters. Hence the town’s name: Mill-ford.

With a river-born timber industry established, it was just a matter of time before someone thought about starting a boat-building business, particularly one just a few miles from the Delaware Bay. That person was John Draper, who built Milford’s first shipyard in 1782 with the help of his son, Alexander.

In addition to constructing 22 wooden ships over 27 years, the Drapers built a proven business model. Between 1782 and 1927, more than 300 wooden ships

would be crafted in Milford. At one point, more than seven shipyards employed three-quarters of Milford’s population.

But the rising popularity of both steel and steam brought a sea change. By 1930, the Vinyard Shipbuilding Company was the town’s sole survivor. In fact, Vinyard was the last wooden-ship builder in Delaware.

Thirteen years earlier, at the height of World War I, Vinyard became one of 30 wooden-ship builders in the country to be commissioned by the U.S. Navy to help counter an enemy lurking in the deep. Germany’s elite fleet of U-boats had become a dangerous threat and would end up killing more than 15,000 Allied sailors and sinking 5,700 merchant ships.

The U.S. Navy’s response in 1917? Subchasers.

Yacht designer A. Loring Swasey was hired to develop the first subchaser: a 110-foot-long, woodenhulled vessels created to drop depth charges

“The Wild Waypoints of Route 1” series is brought to you by

loaded with 400 pounds of TNT onto German U-boats.

Vinyard completed three boats by March 1918. But by November the war was over, and Vinyard went back to making yachts. Twenty-three years later, when German U-boats returned as a prime menace, the navy turned to Vinyard again. The second time around, they managed to complete 14 boats in just 27 months.

Of the 44 wooden-ship builders across the country charged with the task of building the subchasers for WWII, only 11 produced more than Vinyard, according to the Naval Marine Archive.

Although Vinyard went out of business in 1973, Sudler and Joan Lofland bought what was left of the

abandoned shipyard in 1995. In the three decades since, the Loflands have renovated the shipyard, restored three of Vinland’s original ships, and created a small museum honoring Milford’s lost tradition — and the story of Delaware’s last wooden shipbuilder.

CAPTAIN KIDD COMES TO LEWES

South of Milford and its country cousin, Milton, Route 1 passes over Red Mill Pond. At the top of the next overpass, we see it coming: the shops, restaurants, and strip malls. And, naturally, the crowds. We are entering the western edge of Lewes

Going east down Savannah Road from Route 1, we meet the historic downtown area of Lewes, where it seems like a super-dense amount of history is packed into every corner of every quaint block. Yet, among all the thousands of characters who have inhabited this town — whether for a day or a lifetime — few deliver the color or drama that comes with Captain Kidd.

By the time William Kidd was 45, he had become captain of his own ship, the Blessed William, and was fighting the French in the colonies of the Caribbean, where he served the English as one of many privateers — mercenaries commissioned by sovereign governments to raid enemy ships.

Years afterward, in 1696, Kidd partnered with Richard Coote, the newly appointed governor of New York and Massachusetts. With Kidd’s success as a privateer and Coote’s clout, they got the backing of a group of anonymous investors in London — including some high-ranking British officials — who saw the economic and political upside to Kidd battling French and pirate ships in the Indian Ocean.

But things did not go well for Kidd’s expedition. Author and Kidd’s ninth-great-grandson, Samuel Marquis, writes about the challenges his ancestor faced in his book, Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal.

“He and his small band of loyalists had managed to survive two Royal Navy impressment attempts; raging

Outboard profile design of the subchasers that Milford’s Vinyard built in WWI and WWII. Image: National Archives

storms; a tropical disease outbreak; repeated attacks by the Portuguese and Moors; severe thirst and near starvation; and a full-scale mutiny,” Marquis writes.

Two years of misfortune came to a crescendo when Kidd and his crew plundered the Quedah Merchant off the coast of India. The ship’s capture would end up putting Kidd at odds with an insurmountable enemy: The British East India Company. The resulting trade disputes and negative political ramifications would become too much for Kidd’s investors. They began cutting ties with the privateer, whom they now viewed as a liability.

Library of Congress

Kidd was soon labeled a pirate, and a warrant was issued by the British government for his arrest.

When he learned of the warrant, Kidd thought of his partner, Gov. Coote, who he believed could issue him a pardon. Sailing back to the colonies and up the Atlantic Coast, he anchored off the coast of Lewes. According to Michael Morgan’s Hidden History of Lewes, Kidd spent at

Kidd’s dead body was strung up at the mouth of the Thames River to serve as a warning to sailors. Image:

least 10 days there, entertaining select townsfolk on his ship and selling cargo to some local merchants.

“George Thompson, Peter Lewis and William Orr were among the Lewes residents who boarded the pirate ship, where they were dazzled by the calico, muslin, sugar and other goods,” Morgan writes. “In addition, they reported there were tons of gold aboard the ship.”

With the help of the research team at the Lewes History Museum & Archives, we found a copy of William Penn’s arrest orders for the three merchants on the grounds of doing business with a known pirate — all of which helps verify that the three were indeed aboard Kidd’s ship.

Yet the men’s testimony brings up a vital question: If a vast amount of Kidd’s gold existed aboard that ship, where did it go?

We do know that Kidd was one of the few pirates to actually bury treasure, which he did after departing Lewes. Believing it might come to his aid later — as a bribe or insurance — he famously buried treasure on Gardiner Island on his route north. In fact, the later reports of Kidd burying the treasure would serve as inspiration for Robert Lewis Stevenson’s

But even when Kidd did offer up the location of that treasure to Coote, the political pressures were too much for the governor to grant his pardon.

Marquis and other historians offer evidence that Kidd was the victim of a sham trial, citing shoddy lawyers, abrupt changes in witness testimonies, and the fact that the former privateer served six months in jail without the privilege of visitation.

Regardless, Kidd was found guilty and sent to London where he was hanged.

“After his execution, Kidd’s body was encased in an iron giblet cage and strung up at the mouth of the Thames River to serve as a warning to sailors,” writes Marquis.

And what of all the gold?

If there was as much gold on Kidd’s ship as the three Lewes merchants claimed, it’s hard to account for it all. Certainly, some could have ended up in Coote’s pocket after authorities dug up Kidd’s stash on Gardiner’s Island. But could that have really been all of it?

Maybe, just maybe, a secret stash of gold sits in a tightly-sealed wooden chest somewhere long concealed by the windblown sand dunes of Cape Henlopen — the lost buried treasure.

Cover for the Armour’s 1899 souvenir calendar honoring Admiral Dewey. Image: Library of Congress

THE LEGEND OF ADMIRAL DEWEY

Our journey nears its end as we arrive in Dewey. Though small, the town’s reputation as a party destination is, of course, legendary.

As it turns out, the town’s namesake also had a legendary reputation, albeit for much bigger feats: Admiral George Dewey was a celebrated war hero, a close friend of Theodore Roosevelt, and, for a brief moment, a candidate for President of the United States.

That said, a young George Dewey might have been a perfect fit in the town that bears his name. After two years at Vermont’s Norwich University, 17-year-old Dewey was expelled for drunkenness and herding sheep into the barracks. As a result, his father sent him to the United States Naval Academy.

After graduation, Dewey served as executive lieutenant aboard the USS Mississippi during the Civil War. He participated in the capture of New Orleans and helped secure victory in the Siege of Port Hudson.

But Dewey’s greatest feat was his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay, which would come 33 years after the end of the Civil War.

In April 1898, then-Commodore Dewey led a squadron of U.S. warships to the coast of the Philippines and, within six hours, pounded the occupying Spanish forces into surrender. According to U.S. figures, Dewey’s forces suffered only seven casualties and one fatality — a chief engineer who suffered a heart attack.

Today, Dewey’s victory is considered one of the most decisive battles in naval history.

It certainly was celebrated back then, too. Dewey was promoted to rear admiral the following month and was given a hero’s welcome when he returned to the states in 1899 with a two-day parade in New York City. Medals, awards, honors, and more parades followed. Soon afterward came rumors of a presidential run.

“If the American people want me for this high office,” Dewey said in 1900, “I shall be only too willing to serve them.”

However, it was not meant to be. Dewey withdrew in May that same year. [Note: Some readers may remember George Dewey’s distant cousin Thomas E. Dewey, the governor of New York from 1943 to 1954, who also had an unsuccessful run for president of the United States —twice! (1944 and 1948)]

Although his name is not nearly as well-known as his friend Roosevelt, George Dewey left a legacy to be admired: To this day, he is the only person to have attained the rank of Admiral of the Navy.

And, of course, he’s the only admiral to have a lively little Delaware beach town bear his name.

On that high note, this series comes to an end. I hope these stories have brought you a smile or at least offered something to ponder the next time you are heading down Route 1 on the way to Dewey or elsewhere…

Cheers and Safe Travels!

Beach Happenings

Summer may be winding down, but the fun at the Delaware beaches is far from over. From concerts and art shows to festivals and family fun, there's still plenty of season left to enjoy.

53rd Annual Outdoor Fine Art & Fine Craft Show

August 1 & 2 and August 8 & 9

Henlopen Acres, Rehoboth Beach

The Rehoboth Art League's signature summer event features more than 125 artists from around the country, plus live music, artist demonstrations, gallery exhibits, food, gardens, a Dogfish Head Beer Garden, and more.

— Visit RehobothArtLeague.org

44th Annual ZAP Pro/Am

World Championship of Skimboarding

August 7-9 | McKinley Street, Dewey Beach

Dewey Beach Restaurant Olympics

Tuesday, August 11 | 10am-2pm

Bay Beach at Van Dyke Street, Dewey Beach

Dewey’s restaurant crews trade aprons for athletic glory in a playful bayfront competition featuring beach and water challenges. Cheer on bartenders, servers, and kitchen staff as they battle for bragging rights in this fun-filled summer tradition.

— Visit DeweyBusinessPartnership.com

The Wallflowers

Tuesday, August 11 | 7pm | Bottle & Cork, Dewey Beach

Watch top skimboarders from around the world compete, then stick around for live music, food, art, and familyfriendly fun.

— Visit AlleyOopSkim.com

31st Annual Eastern Shore AFRAM Festival

Saturday, August 8 | 310 Virgina Avenue, Seaford

This free outdoor festival celebrates African American and Pan-African arts, history, and culture through live music, food, exhibits, and special presentations.

— For more, call 302.228.5636

The Wallflowers celebrate the 30th anniversary of Bringing Down the Horse , performing the album in full, plus a special tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ Long After Dark in its entirety.

— Visit BottleAndCork.com

Rocking the Docks presents: Summer Blues Fest

Saturday, August 15 | 4pm | Lewes Ferry Grounds, Lewes

A blues-focused night of live music on the Lewes waterfront, featuring the Grammy-nominated blues rock band The Record Company, along with Lower Case Blues and Sweet Leda.

— Visit RockingTheDocksLewes.com

48th Annual Bethany Beach

Boardwalk Arts Festival

September 12 & 13 | 10am-4pm

Downtown Bethany Beach

Soak up the last of bits of summer on Bethany’s boardwalk at this annual show featuring jewelry, glass, pottery, paintings, photography, woodworking and more by over 100 juried artists.

— Visit BethanyBeachArtsFestival.com

Polkamotion by the Ocean

September 17-19

Rehoboth Convention Center, Rehoboth Beach

Founded in 1980, this multiday festival brings polka fans from across the country to Rehoboth to enjoy the sounds of the nation's top polka bands, dancing, and authentic Polish delights.

— Visit Polkamotion.com

3rd Annual Delaware Seafood Festival

Saturday, September 19 | 11am-5pm Schellville, Rehoboth Beach

Indulge in steamed seafood while enjoying live music, craft vendors, shrimp eating contest, kids zone and more. Proceeds support the Stevenson Foundation, supporting local small businesses, culinary scholarships, and Center for the Inland Bays.

— Visit DelawareSeafoodFestival.com

9th Annual History Book Festival

September 25-27 | Downtown Lewes

Discover historical fiction and nonfiction at this annual festival

— the first and only in the country solely devoted to history — featuring presentations and discussions by well-known and emerging authors, book sales and signings and more.

— Visit HistoryBookFestival.org

19th Annual Dogfish Dash

September 27 | 9-11am

Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton

This fun-filled race includes a Recycled Costume Contest, dog walk, and post-run party. Proceeds benefit Sussex County Land Trust.

— Visit Dogfish.com/dash

Lobster rolls are just one of the many seafood favorites served at the Delaware Seafood Festival in Rehoboth.

Photo courtesy Delaware Seafood Festival

Fire it Up Fire it Up

Local chef and culinary experts share their best grilling

tips

GBy Pam George

iven the record-breaking temperatures this summer, it’s not surprising the outdoor grill has become a home chef’s best friend. It keeps the heat outside and adds smoky flavor to food.

But grilling can be unforgiving. A few extra minutes can make a chicken breast taste like dust. Fish can stick to the grate or fall through it. Sugary barbecue sauce can go from glossy to scorched.

Here are some tips from industry experts.

Get to Know Your Grill

There is no universal winner in the gas-versus-charcoal debate. Joseph Tis, the executive chef and culinary director for Harry’s Hospitality Group, uses both, but for different purposes. He likes charcoal for slower cooking, such as a whole chicken. Gas wins on convenience.

“Gas is great when you need a quick meal on the table in the middle of the week and simply don't have time to build a fire and wait,” Tis says.

Charcoal requires more planning, but it offers

opportunities to adjust the coals and airflow and add wood for more flavor.

One of the easiest ways to gain control over any grill is to stop treating the entire grate as one cooking surface, says Antimo DiMeo, executive chef and partner with Bardea Restaurant Group, which owns Bardea Steak. “Create a hot side for searing and a cooler side for finishing,” he suggests. “Two-zone cooking gives you far more control and almost always produces juicier, more evenly cooked food.”

You can sear a steak or chicken over direct heat and then move it to the cooler side to finish without burning the exterior. It also gives you somewhere to move food when flareups occur.

Know Your Beef

Although steak is one of the most popular grilling meats, not every cut is at its best after a visit to the grill. For instance, because filet mignon is so lean and flat, it shines after contact with a hot pan, which helps it develop a good crust, explains Max Kaklins, executive chef at La Fête.

Cuts with more fat, particularly ribeye, benefit more from the grill, he says. Indeed, marbling is “king,” Tis says. The ivory streaks of intramuscular fat melt during cooking, contributing flavor and moisture.

Along with marbling, DiMeo looks for thickness and quality. “Good marbling equals flavor. A steak at least 1½ inches thick is much easier to cook evenly, and buying the best quality beef your budget allows will always make a difference,” he says.

Tis recommends getting to know the person behind the meat counter. “They’ll let you know where the product is coming from and more than likely tell you what the best item in the case is,” he says. “After all, who knows better than the person cutting it?”

"Good marbling equals flavor," says Antimo DiMeo, executive chef/owner at Bardea Group.

Photo courtesy Bardea Restaurant Group

For a thinner, faster-cooking option, Jordan Carfagno, executive chef for Food Away From Home at McCormick & Company, favors skirt steak. Its loose grain readily absorbs a marinade, and the thin cut cooks quickly over high heat. Because it cooks so fast, however, it requires close attention.

Give Chicken Some TLC

Chicken thighs, drumsticks and whole legs are forgiving choices for the grill because dark meat contains more fat than breast meat. Kaklins particularly likes bone-in, skin-on chicken legs cooked over a smoky grill at a moderate temperature. “They retain all that moisture,” he says. “They’re smoky. They’re flavorful. They pick up a char well.”

Keeping the bone and skin intact gives the chicken additional protection from the heat and allows it to stay on the grill longer.

Boneless, skinless breasts require greater care. Salt them and let them sit for at least an hour or brine them overnight to help them retain the moisture, Kaklins says. Then pay close attention to temperature and avoid overcooking. Save sugary barbecue sauce for the end. Sugar burns

quickly over high heat. Cook the chicken nearly through before applying the sauce so it has just enough time to glaze and caramelize.

Pick a Fish That Can Take the Heat

Firm fish are the easiest candidates for grilling, says David Leo Banks, executive chef and owner of Banks’ Seafood Kitchen & Raw Bar on the Wilmington Riverfront. He recommends tuna, swordfish and halibut. Salmon also performs well, particularly with the skin intact. DiMeo likes to grill branzino.

Flaky fish, such as cod and flounder, are more challenging because the flesh can break apart. Put delicate fillets in foil or use a grill basket. Banks says another restaurant technique is to briefly grill the fish on both sides to give it grill marks, then place it in a pan and finish it in the oven.

Practice Patience

According to DiMeo, too many people flip and move food around the grill too frequently. Fish requires a deft touch. Put the skin side down first and wait, Banks says. If the fish resists when you try to flip it, it’s not ready, he notes. >

Firm fish are best for grilling, says David Leo Banks, executive chef and owner at Banks' Seafood.

Photo courtesy Bank's' Seafood

Once it’s properly seared, it should release more easily.

Kaklins, who likes to grill whole fish, squid and shrimp, offers another piece of seafood advice. “A lot of home cooks overcook seafood,” he says. He suggests pulling seafood off the grill on the earlier side. You can always put it back over the flame.

Season For Success

What happens before food hits the grate can be just as important as what happens once it gets there. Using a marinade or rub may depend on the protein, cut and quality.

“For larger cuts like steaks, I prefer seasoning the night before,” DiMeo says. “The salt has time to penetrate the meat, improving flavor and helping it retain moisture during cooking. If you don’t have that much time, season at least 30-60 minutes before grilling rather than right before it hits the grate.”

Leaner cuts will benefit from a marinade that adds flavor. Kaklins recommends incorporating fat, acid, salt and spices. The fat adds flavor and helps reduce sticking, while acid provides brightness.

There is, however, such a thing as too much acid — or too much marinating time. Citrus juice and vinegar can alter the texture of seafood if it sits too long, he says. Pineapple and Asian pear contain enzymes that can also break down proteins.

“If you want to make a nice acidic, bright marinade, just be mindful that maybe you don’t let your stuff sit in it for 24 hours,” Kaklins says. “Maybe it’s 40 minutes before you cook it.”

A dry rub is another option. Typically, a rub is a mixture of salt, herbs and spices — and sometimes sugar — worked onto the food before grilling. Carfagno suggests pairing the seasoning with the protein. For instance, choose robust spices for beef, garlic and herbs for chicken and smoky or slightly sweet profiles for pork.

For cooks who don’t want to mix their own, McCormick’s Grill Mates line includes blends designed specifically for grilling, such as Signature Blend Seasoning, made with sea salt, garlic, black pepper and celery seed.

Think Outside the Box

Protein isn’t the only food that benefits from the grill. Vegetables may be supporting players at many cookouts, but live fire can turn them into a highlight. DiMeo recommends cabbage, carrots, onions, asparagus, zucchini, peppers and corn. Use large pieces so they don’t fall through the grate, coat them lightly with oil and season simply. Finish with fresh herbs, citrus or flavored butter.

Tis cuts broccoli in half, lightly oils it, seasons it with salt and grills until it develops some char. “The light char transforms the flavor profile and is delicious when you add fresh lemon and parmesan after it comes off the grill,” he says.

Banks is partial to eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash and tomatoes. Halved plum tomatoes can be grilled cutside down until they pick up color and flavor.

Meanwhile, pineapple is a natural candidate because its firm texture stands up to the heat and its sugars caramelize beautifully. Peaches, nectarines and plums are also good choices.

Use slightly underripe fruit, Tis says. It’s less likely to become mushy or fall apart while grilling. The grill will bring out the fruit’s natural sweetness.

Banks is another fan of grilled pineapple, particularly with a contrasting seasoning. Even grapes can go on the grill briefly — just long enough to blister and acquire a bit of char.

Grill Lighter

Grilling can deliver enough flavor that food doesn’t necessarily require a heavy sauce. If you’re watching your weight, pay particular attention to sauces and processed meats.

“It’s best to stick to lean proteins like chicken, pork tenderloin and seafood,” says Sherry Rujikarn, WeightWatchers coach and head of recipe innovation.

For a healthy swap, pick pork tenderloin instead of pork shoulder or trimmed strip steak instead of ribeye. A burger made with 95% lean ground beef instead of 80% is a small change that can make a big difference, Rujikarn says.

“The grill imparts so much flavor on its own, you don’t need a lot of high-point sauces or ingredients to make them delicious,” Rujikarn says.

Calories can also add up quickly in sausages, hot dogs, heavy sauces and mayonnaise-based potato and macaroni salads. Her strategy is to fill up first on lean proteins, grilled vegetables and salad. Decide whether you still want the heavier picnic sides when you go back for seconds.

Let It Rest

Don’t slice into a steak the second it leaves the grill. “Resting is just as important as cooking,” DiMeo says. “As meat cooks, the juices move toward the center. Giving it 5-10 minutes to rest allows those juices to redistribute throughout the meat instead of running onto the cutting board, resulting in a juicier, more tender bite.”

Use those few minutes to finish the vegetables, pour the drinks and call everyone to the table for the feast.

Many area chefs say preparing the meat before grilling — even the night before — is as important as the grilling itself. Photo by Rebecca Lennon

Love Seed & Sons

For bassist Pete Wiedmann, Love Seed Mama Jump has become a family bond in more ways than one

IBy Mark Rogers

f you’ve visited the Delaware beaches since the early ‘90s, there’s a good chance you’ve been to a Love Seed Mama Jump show. The Dewey Beach-based band has become a household name for beach goers despite — or maybe because of — the fact that its name doesn’t necessarily roll off one’s tongue.

Perhaps that’s why most locals commonly refer to the band as simply Love Seed.

“We would have picked a better name if we had known we were going to be around for so long,” says bass player and co-founding member Pete Wiedmann, half-jokingly. When Love Seed formed, it did so “sort of informally,” Wiedmann admits, explaining that the band members “thought we were only going to be together for like a summer.” >

Photos by Tiffany Caldwell Photography

Love Seed Mama Jump bass player Pete Wiedmann (center) and his two sons, Conor (left) and Liam (right), who are also musicians.

“Wiedmann says theories and legends about the origins of the band’s name are “probably a lot more interesting than the actual story about it.”

“Will thought of it while he was sitting on a lifeguard stand,” Wiedmann reveals, referencing guitarist and fellow band co-founder Will Stack. “We just needed a name to put on a marquee because we didn’t want to be just like ‘Will, Rick, Pete, and Brian.’”

It was “just kind of a jokey name,” he says, explaining that the rest of the band’s reaction was simply, “yeah, sure, whatever.”

Despite the lack of long-term planning at the start of it all, Love Seed is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, demonstrating a longevity that eludes most bands.

“It has oddly worked out for us,” the bass player quips.

Another thing that’s worked out well for Wiedmann is raising two sons, Liam and Conor, both of whom are musicians. In fact, Liam is now playing guitar with his father in Love Seed, having joined the band just over a year ago when it was looking for a guitarist.

“Luckily for me, I grew a guitar player,” Wiedmann says, adding that the 23-year-old guitarist has helped give the band “a shot in the arm” going into this anniversary

year. And while Wiedmann says he has no plans to retire from the band anytime soon, he nods toward Conor and admits to “gearing him up to replace me eventually.”

Although Conor is not presently a member of Love Seed, the 20-yearold bass player sometimes sits in. Meanwhile, he keeps busy majoring in music at the University of Delaware and playing upright bass in the university’s jazz ensemble. Conor also serves as music director for the children’s program at the Milton Theatre.

There’s a fitting kind of magic when all three Wiedmanns get a chance to play on the same stage — particularly for a Love Seed show.

“Both of these kids wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the band,” Wiedmann says, elaborating that he met their mother at a Love Seed show.

Punk Rock Roots

When Love Seed Mama Jump first played, the line-up was Wiedmann on bass and vocals, Rick Arzt on vocals, Stack on rhythm guitar, Brian Gore on lead guitar, Paul Voshell on drums, and David James on percussion.

Before that, Wiedmann and Stack got their start in the late ‘80s playing original music in Newark punk band

Pete Wiedmann and Love Seed Mama Jump are celebrating 35 years this summer.

FVK/emg, which gained “some local notoriety” because of its fans’ practice of spray-painting “FVK” all across the state. This led to a small USA Today article, which Wiedmann says the band “proudly put in our press kit.”

FVK evolved into Carnal Ghia. The post-hardcore band recorded an EP with legendary producer Steve Albini, who worked with bands like Nirvana, The Pixies, and The Jesus Lizard. Although the EP was never released, Carnal Ghia's song “Raymond Listen” can be found on YouTube.

Around this time, Stack and Arzt were in an acoustic band in which they played “unorthodox” covers of songs by alternative bands like New Order and The Smiths. Thus, when Love Seed formed, its members were accustomed to playing both covers and originals.

The band had a rule: “If you do covers, you have to do your own spin on them,” Wiedmann says.

Many classic rock songs got the Love Seed treatment, but the band also played covers from more esoteric bands (Camper van Beethoven, anyone?). Despite the obscurity of some of their song choices, the fans loved the shows.

Drunk at the Stone Balloon

As the band grew in popularity, it decided to “work in a couple originals.” Wiedmann says that Love Seed slipped its songs “She Likes the Dead” and “Free” into the mix, without mentioning that they were originals. These songs quickly became fan favorites and staples in the band’s live shows.

“There’s a rush about taking a song from its acoustic, stripped-down beginning [to] a fully fleshed out song and then getting a positive response from the audience when you play it for them,” Wiedmann says, acknowledging that he sometimes misses playing Love Seed’s originals. Wiedmann is particularly fond of the band’s first album, Drunk at the Stone Balloon, which was recorded live at the former Newark music venue and released in 1994.

“It absolutely captures the electricity and energy of the band and the audience in the early days,” Wiedmann says, calling it “a great time capsule of that period.”

The Liam Wiedmann Band perform at Rehoboth’s Dockside Marina Bar & Grill.

The band got a chance to revisit the electricity and energy of that era at a sold-out April 2025 “Drunk at the Stone Balloon” showcase at The Queen in Wilmington.

“That was a great feeling playing those old songs for people who were totally psyched to hear them,” Wiedmann says. “It was also Liam’s first show as an official member of the band, so I find that to be a little fitting.”

The Next Generation

Liam came by his love of music naturally.

“[I remember] always having guitars around the house,” Liam says, recounting that he began to take music seriously after hearing a family friend play one of those guitars. He jokes that “it’s been downhill ever since.”

In addition to Love Seed, Liam also has his own cover band, the Liam Wiedmann Group, which, appropriately enough, is booked to play Wednesday nights at the Rudder this summer. He and his father also play with Brad Newsom and the Jagermintz the last Friday of every month at Coastal Taproom in Rehoboth.

If that’s not enough, Liam also fronts an original psychedelic funk band called Trouble at the Doormat, which sometimes features his brother, Conor.

Besides his “celebrity appearances” in Love Seed, Conor sometimes fills in with his father’s other band, Lyric Drive. Conor reveals that the bass was not always his instrument of choice. His father made him take piano lessons for a year, after which Conor would be permitted to play the drums. The younger Wiedmann matter-offactly states “and now I’m a bass player.”

Last but not least, all three Wiedmanns have played with Electric Smoke, a band fronted by Pete’s brother Luke.

Wiedmann is clearly proud of his boys and their musical prowess, noting that both of them write and perform. He says it’s cool to see his sons growing as musicians, claiming their respective talents exceed his own. Returning the compliment, Liam calls his father “definitely the most energetic and full-sounding bassist I’ve ever played with.”

All the family connections prompt Wiedmann to describe Love Seed as “a legacy band.” He notes that Voshell’s father, Honey Voshell (a member of the 1950s rock 'n' roll band The Honeycombs) has made guest appearances with Love Seed. Voshell’s son, Jackson, has done the same, following in his father’s footsteps as a drummer.

The Long Road

With the 35th anniversary fast approaching, Wiedmann considers himself “truly blessed” that Love Seed has been playing “for as long as we have [and that] people still enjoy seeing the band.”

“In all seriousness, we didn’t know where this thing was going and I don't think any of us figured it would last this long,” Wiedmann explains. “The band has always had a life of its own and we're just following wherever it leads us because it has led us down a lot of extraordinary paths.”

What’s been the secret to Love Seed’s longevity?

“Driving in separate cars to the gigs,” Wiedmann half jokes, adding that doing so does give band members “time to decompress and not be so reactionary [to any] drama that may have happened during the show.”

Wiedmann also credits the band’s first manager, Elvin Steinberg, with keeping the band going in the early days. And kudos are due for past Love Seed members, including Cliff Hillis, Mike Curry, and Montana Wildaxe’s Tim Kelly.

He also gives props to the Rusty Rudder:

“[It’s been] the keystone to our history and longevity.” Wiedmann says. “There’s just something special about coming to see us on the Rudder deck in the summer.”

Love Seed Mama Jump plays The Rusty Rudder on the deck most Thursday nights during the summer. They will also perform Saturday, August 1 at The Bottle & Cork and Saturday, August 15 at The Rudder.

Fresh Beats and Fresh Produce

A popular New Castle Latino market adds a musical twist

By Ryan Neave

On your next trip to Fiesta Fresh Market for Latin inspired ingredients, you may discover you’ve stepped into Delaware’s hottest new live-music hub.

The market, on Dupont Highway in New Castle, specializes in affordable, locally grown produce and Latin groceries. Owned and operated by Jose Aguilar and his family — his father, Silvino; his mother, Alejandra; and his sister, Maria — it opened in 2024. Since May of 2025, the store has also served as a venue for The Mercadito concert series, bringing Aguilar’s background in the music business into the aisles of Fiesta Fresh.

Inspiration for the series came from NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. Aguilar, who also manages the record label VPS, was inspired while attending a Tiny Desk recording session in September 2023 with his label’s artist, Danny Lux. The session gave him the idea to use his New Castle market to highlight up-and-coming Latin artists with intimate, acoustic concerts.

Fiesta Fresh Market team members (l-r): Stephanie, Luz, Marie and Angie. Photo by Justin Heyes/Moonloop Photography

That first official concert at Fiesta Fresh last year featured artist Julio Caesar after Aguilar got word that Caesar would be traveling from a gig in NYC to one in Florida. He arranged through Caesar’s manager for his band to stop in at the market for a quick performance. They agreed, and the event was promoted on the store’s social media. The band brought in 30-50 people.

Momentum for the performances picked up after Fernando Hurtado, an independent journalist, covered the series in his newsletter and on his social media channels. Other outlets then started touting the series, including NPR, CNN, The Washington Post, the Associated Press, Univision, and Telemundo, among others.

The publicity prompted Aguilar to start filming and uploading the performances to social media platforms. As a result, the Mercadito concerts have become a hit on Facebook and Instagram, garnering thousands of views.

Artists who have performed at Fiesta Fresh include Games We Play, Luna Luna Band, Selines, and Fukada. Community Chapstick, a local rock band who performed at Fiesta Fresh this year, not only enjoyed the experience but benefitted from it. “When Jose asked us to perform, it was a no-brainer,” says Donovan Burt, lead singer for Community Chapstick. “The market itself is beautiful for the cameras, and the community there is wonderful. We gave out several autographs. It was an absolute gamechanger and magnificent opportunity.

Viva Fiesta Fresh!”

Since performing at the market, Community Chapstick booked shows across the country with acts like Me First and The Gimme Gimmes. Additionally, the band and Aguilar have recently collaborated on a benefit show to help families affected by ICE.

AN UNPREDICTABLE SCHEDULE

“We've started seeing the series get popular and hope for it to keep growing,” Aguilar says. “Major record labels like Universal, Sony, and Warner have reached out to make Mercadito part of their release rollouts, similar to platforms like Tiny Desk, or even a Colours show.”

The music schedule at Fiesta Fresh is sporadic because most of the acts are on tour. “Sometimes they are in the middle of the week at 11 a.m.,” Aguilar says. “We're trying to schedule one a month that we advertise to the public, and they are very much random.”

He says this unpredictable aspect adds to the novelty of coming to the market and randomly catching a show.

Live at Fiesta Fresh Market. Recent performers to appear at the market include (from top): Games We Play, Operativo JT and Alta Elegancia. Photos courtesy Jose Luis Aguilar

JESSE MALIN, CRAIG FINN & TOMMY STINSON MARK THE RETURN OF QUEEN JEANS BALL

Rock music phenomenon Jesse Malin headlines the Queen Jeans Ball, which returns Saturday, August 29.

Dubbed “a gritty troubadour of the streets” by Rolling Stone, Malin has crafted songs that have been covered by the best artists of our times: Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams, Elvis Costello, Counting Crows, Green Day, and the list goes on …

Malin is also a rock and roll survivor — in more ways than one. In 2023, the musician suffered a rare spinal stoke that left him paralyzed from the waist down. But that didn’t stop him. Instead, he came back like a champ, and, at the end of the following year, sold out two nights at NYC’s Beacon Theatre, then did the same at London’s Islington Assembly Hall.

Malin will be joined at by Craig Finn of The Hold Steady and Tommy Stinson of The Replacements, two rock heavyweights by any measure of the term.

WXPN listeners are sure to be familiar with music from The Hold Steady as well as tunes from Finn’s most recent solo record, Always Been. And as for Stinson, if there was a Mount Rushmore of '80s College Rock, The Replacements would be up there, surely, carved in stone.

The Queen Jeans Ball will benefit Donate Delaware, a local charity founded by boxing champion Dave Tiberi, which provides medical supplies and equipment at no cost.

— More at TheQueenWilmington.com

TRAVELIN’ MCCOURYS & KATHY MATTEA HEADLINE

DELAWARE VALLEY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

It’s a festival that The Philadelphia Inquirer has dubbed “The all killer, no filler festival” and it’s coming back Labor Day weekend, September 4-6.

Yes, the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival marks its 54th year this year, and has been running so strong for so long, that it now showcases the second generation of past headliners.

Featuring Ronnie and Rob McCoury, the talented sons of international bluegrass star Del McCoury, the Travelin’ McCourys mark their sophomore return to the festival. They have a bit of catching up to do: Their father has played the festival 24 times — more than any other artist.

Jam-band fans take notice: The Travelin’ McCourys have recorded with Keller Williams and are renowned for their interpretations of Grateful Dead tunes.

The Travelin’ McCourys will be followed Friday night, Sept. 4, by Kathy Mattea, who has charted more than 30 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The Washington Post has called her, “one of Nashville’s finest song interpreters.”

— More at DelawareValleyBluegrass.org

Photo by Mark Seliger

Photo by Tim Hawk

Marcus Miller Clifford Brown Jazz Festival

Photo by Jayne Toohey

DUTCHMAN CONNECTS WITH SUGARLOAF FOR

UPCOMING MUSIC

BIO I GOT A SONG

There simply is no hiding Dutchman’s love of classic ‘70s rock — you can feel it in their music. And pretty soon, that love of theirs is going to be felt in movie theaters, too.

Shortly after the Delaware original rock quartet released their songs “In Your Heart” and “I Need You Now” at the end of 2024, the members of Dutchman were contacted by Stacy Raymond, the producer of the upcoming music bio I Got a Song — The Story of Sugarloaf, which details the story of the ‘70s band Sugarloaf.

“She shared her love for the new tracks and asked us if we were interested in having a meeting about possible involvement in the film, which soon grew into contributing to the soundtrack of the film,” says Dutchman’s lead singer and guitarist Connor Johnson.

The conversation led to Dutchman recording a song with Sugarloaf guitarist Bob Webber. The collaboration, “Papa Fronc,” was released earlier this year.

“It was very surreal being able to work with somebody who is such a big part of my musical background,” Johnson adds.

Sugarloaf had two Top 10 hits in the ‘70s including the trippy and jazzy rocker “Green Eyed Lady,” which still receives significant airplay 56 years after it was released.

In addition to having their music in the upcoming Sugarloaf bio, Dutchman was invited to Englewood, Colorado to play a March show with Sugarloaf Take 2, a group that features the film’s performers. Those recordings will be released in November as Dutchman Live in Colorado.

Until then, Dutchman has two upcoming shows at the NJMP Raceway in Millville, N.J. on Aug. 22 and Sept. 19. — More at DutchmanNow.com

Photo

The City

CLIFFORD BROWN JAZZ FESTIVAL RETURNS

WITH A WEEK-LONG DE250 CELEBRATION

One of Wilmington's signature summer traditions is returning in a bigger way this year. As part of Wilmington's DE250 commemoration of America's 250th anniversary, the 39th Clifford Brown Jazz Festival will expand into a week-long celebration from August 2-8 , bringing world-class music and thousands of visitors to Rodney Square.

Named in honor of Wilmington-born jazz legend Clifford Brown, the festival has become the East Coast's largest free jazz festival and one of the city's most anticipated annual events. For nearly four decades, it has celebrated Brown's lasting influence on jazz while showcasing internationally acclaimed artists alongside outstanding local and regional performers.

This year's headliners include multi-Grammy Award winner Marcus Miller, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Ledisi, international sensation KES the Band, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Nicholas Payton, Grammy Award nominee Jonathan Butler, and the legendary Sheila E. and the E-Train. Local and regional artists, including Matt La Von, E. Shawn Qaissaunee, and Mike Boone, will also take the stage throughout the week.

Beyond the music, festivalgoers can enjoy food trucks, merchandise vendors, live painting inspired by the performances, and interactive experiences from the Jersey Surf Mobile Music Lab before each Main Stage performance. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and settle in for an unforgettable week of entertainment in the heart of downtown Wilmington.

Admission is free, making the festival accessible to everyone while celebrating the rich musical legacy of Clifford Brown and the vibrant arts and culture that continue to define Wilmington. Whether you're a longtime jazz enthusiast or discovering the festival for the first time, this year's expanded celebration promises something for every music lover.

For the full performance schedule and artist lineup, visit CliffordBrownJazzFest.org.

FIND YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY WITH THE CITY OF WILMINGTON

Looking for a career where your work truly makes a difference? The City of Wilmington offers more than just a job. It offers the chance to serve your community and grow professionally, while being part of a team that helps keep our city moving.

Whether your interests are in public safety, public works, finance, administration, recreation, engineering, communications, or countless other fields, there's a place for people with a wide range of skills and experience. Every role plays a part in making Wilmington a better place to live, work, and visit.

The City also offers competitive pay, excellent benefits, and opportunities for career advancement, making it a great place to build your future.

Ready to take the next step? Explore current job openings and apply online at WilmingtonDE.gov/Jobs.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL RESOURCE FAIR

HELPS WILMINGTON FAMILIES PREPARE FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR

As the new school year approaches, Wilmington families are invited to take advantage of a free community event designed to help students start the school year with confidence.

The Back-to-School Resource Fair will take place on Thursday, August 20, from 12 to 3 p.m. at Helen Chambers Park (709 W. 6th Street). Hosted by the Delaware Department of Justice, GVI Delaware, and the City of Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation, the event will connect families with valuable resources while offering a fun afternoon for children.

Parents can pick up free backpacks and school supplies while supplies last, helping ease the cost of preparing for the new school year. Children can also enjoy free haircuts, nail painting, games, music, a moon bounce, and food, making it a celebration the whole family can enjoy.

Community organizations will also be on hand to share information about programs and services available to Wilmington families throughout the year.

Everything at the event is free, and all families are encouraged to attend. It's a great opportunity to get schoolready and connect with community partners. Let's enjoy an afternoon of family-friendly fun before students head back to the classroom.

NEW PILOT PROGRAMS HELP WILMINGTON HOMEOWNERS

ADDRESS TREE AND ALLEYWAY CONCERNS

The City of Wilmington is making it easier for qualifying homeowners to tackle two common property challenges through new pilot programs focused on tree removal and trimming and private alleyway cleaning

Maintaining trees and shared alleyways can be costly, especially for homeowners on a fixed income. These programs are designed to provide assistance to eligible residents by helping cover the cost of necessary work that improves safety, accessibility, and neighborhood appearance. Funds are limited and applications will be reviewed on a firstcome, first-served basis, with priority given to certain qualifying applicants.

The Tree Removal and Trimming Pilot Program assists eligible homeowners with the removal of dead trees and trimming of hazardous branches on private property after an inspection by the City Arborist determines the work is necessary. The Alleyway Cleaning Pilot Program helps qualified homeowners remove junk, debris, and overgrown vegetation from privately owned alleyways through a City-contracted service. Both programs are available to income-qualified homeowners and require proof of ownership and residency.

Residents interested in learning more about eligibility requirements or submitting an application can visit WilmingtonDE.gov/treeandalleyway for complete program details and application information.

ExploretheRiverfront

Celebrating 30 Years on the Riverfront This Summer Celebrating30YearsontheRiverfrontThisSummer

open

riverfront market Restaurants & More

Big Fish Grill

Banks’ Seafood Kitchen & Raw Bar

mon-fri:9AM-6PM

mon-fri: 9AM-6PM

sat: 9AM-4PM

Stop in and enjoy fresh produce, made-to-order salads and sandwiches, Mexican and Thai favorites, Indian, Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken, Pizza, Coffee, Pastries, Breakfast Sandwiches, and so much more all under one roof!

Bernie’s Espresso OPEN EARLY!

MON-FRI: 7AM-5PM Sat: 8AM-4PM

Constitution Yards Beer Garden

Delaware Duck Café & Catering

Del Pez

Docklands

Iron Hill Brewery

Riverfront Bakery

River Rock Kitchen

Taco Grande

The Riverfront Asian Cuisine & Bar

Timothy’s on the Riverfront

outdoor adventures in every season

YourDream Destinations 02.

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