Striped bass swim the waters of Chesapeake Bay! Barb found one for dinner!
APtravelnews–Wilmington, Del (February 2, 2016)…The arrival of spring signals the beginning of the festival season in Greater Wilmington & the Brandywine Valley. There’s a lot to enjoy including a brand new OperaDelaware festival and three special events on Mother’s Day Weekend. Here’s a list of several festivals that warrant serious attention:
WilmFilm Festival (March 10-13) The city’s annual film festival showcases “movies that matter” with more than 30 screenings of independent, foreign and documentary films as well as “Delaware shorts” over four days at Penn Cinema IMAX Riverfront. www.wilmfilm.com
Celebrity Chefs’ Brunch (April 17) World renowned and award-winning chefs alongside local favorites demonstrate their culinary talents during the annual Celebrity Chefs’ Brunch. This popular event is held in the prestigious Hercules Plaza, a 12-story high-rise building in Downtown Wilmington overlooking beautiful Brandywine Park. From 11 AM until 2 PM on Sunday, enjoy exquisite cuisine complimented by fine wines and brunch cocktails and an exciting silent auction. Proceeds from this event benefit Meals on Wheels Delaware. www.mealsonwheelsde.org/celebrity-chefs-brunch/
Wildflower Celebration at Mt. Cuba Center (April 24) Mt. Cuba Center is one of the country’s premier native plant gardens and the annual Wildflower Celebration is an opportunity to experience the Mt. Cuba Center at its seasonal peak. Spectacular vistas, formal gardens, woodland paths, meadows and tranquil ponds grace this 600-acre property. On Sunday, April 24th, admission is free and visitors are treated to live music, family-friendly programming and a variety of informative gardening demonstrations from 10 AM to 4 PM. www.mtcubacenter.org
Wilmington Flower Market in Rockford Park (May 5-7) Highlights of this three-day event in Rockford Park include expansive plant sales, many of which are donations from local gardens, colorful hanging flower baskets, crafts, vendors, games, carnival rides, mouth-watering foods and plenty of live entertainment. Proceeds from the Flower Market have been supporting Delaware’s children for over 95 years. www.wilmingtonflowermarket.org
Wilmington Garden Day (May 7) Held rain or shine, Wilmington Garden Day is a one day, self-guided tour of some of the Brandywine Valley’s most distinctive homes and gardens. It’s the perfect way to get new decorating ideas—both inside and outside. www.wilmingtongardenday.org
Point-to-Point Steeplechase Races at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library(May 8) This annual event features exciting horse races, an antique carriage parade, lavish tailgate picnics, special demonstrations, pony rides and a variety of children’s games all in the setting of an American country estate. www.winterthur.org
2016 OperaDelaware Festival (May 14-May 22) OperaDelaware’s 72nd season culminates in a festival on consecutive weekends in May when OperaDelaware brings two full-scale productions to the stage at The Grand Opera House in Downtown Wilmington. The East Coast premiere of Franco Faccio’s lost opera Amleto(“Hamlet”), painstakingly reconstructed by Anthony Barrese after 145 years anddirected by E. Loren Meeker, is scheduled on May 14, May 20 and May 22. Verdi’s timeless Falstaff, conducted by Maestro Giovanni Reggioli and featuring baritone Steven Condy and internationally acclaimed sopranos Victoria Cannizzo and Sharin Apostolou, is scheduled on May 15 and May 21. www.operadelaware.org
Gran Fondo (May 17) Cycling enthusiasts return to Wilmington for the annual Gran Fondo. Both amateurs and professionals participate in Sunday’s Gran Fondo, Medio Fondo or Governor’s Ride over spectacular 62-, 30- or 15-mile courses mapped through the Brandywine Valley’s glorious chateau country. The Gran Fondo starts and finishes at the Delaware Art Museum where the after-party is held. www.wilmgrandprix.com
A Day in Old New Castle (May 21) This is the nation’s oldest, continuously running house and garden tour. Residents in the charming 350+-year-old town along the Delaware River open their homes and carefully tended gardens to the public. There’s also a full complement of historical re-enactments, military maneuvers and encampments, craft demonstrations, storytelling, period games, colonial dancing, music and even a beer garden. www.dayinoldnewcastle.org/
The Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau is a non-profit organization founded in 1978, chartered by the Governor of Delaware, the New Castle County Executive and the Mayor of Wilmington. Its mission is to serve as the community’s customer-focused destination marketing organization, generating economic growth through leisure travel and meetings development by aggressively marketing attractions, facilities, amenities and services for visitors. Lyn Lewis LynLewis@VisitWilmingtonDE.com
100 West 10th Street, Suite 20
Wilmington, DE 19801
P: 302-295-2212
F: 302-652-4726
VisitWilmingtonDE.com
5 -Generations of this family have been in the coffee business with Cafe Lareno coffee. We made sure to take some home too!Just served Puerto Rican style beef stew and a pork specialty platter. Rice beans, plantains-a hearty delicious set of dishes!
APtravelnews-April 8th, Rustico in Port St. Lucie, West, FL.–Cuisine, authentic cuisine of every country is definitely a treat to me and Barb! Flavors (sabors) of often unique spices, seafood’s, fish and preparations of “everything island” is what we just found at Rustico.
This is a nice and airy, restaurant with lots of smiling wait staff and dishes you most definitely would have to boat or fly to Puerto Rico to experience. WOW! what a great luncheon meal! a pork platter, a platter of beef stew, both with perfect rice, sweet plantains, red beans with potatoes, and both dishes enough for an extra meal tomorrow! We also had a real Puerto Rican Flan dessert made with Guava flavor and very interestingly different from our regular Cuban Flan-we loved it too! We found out that the family of Umberto Torres, his wife and mom are from a 5th generation family in the coffee business called Cafe Lareno. We took some home too! Rustico Chef Steve Beerly did a fine job of laying out our lunch feast that everyone that visits Rustico will enjoy. They are open for Breakfast and Lunch from 7 am to 3 pm every day. Rustico is located next door to Berry Fresh on Port St. Lucie West Blvd. at 1724 SW St. Lucie, West Port St. Lucie. Phone them at 772- 333-0776
Recommended by Bob and Barb, food-o-philes, yet still able to fit in our clothes!
Supremely excellent coffee and a Pina Colada that was quite delicious!Rustico Barrista presents us with a Cappuccino and a Pina Colada-umm, umm, good!These two lovely local women love this place, “great meals, great coffees, and terrific desserts” they said!
