When Matt Kern was growing up in the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, area, he often felt like he didn’t belong. That changed when he was 14 and started working in a restaurant kitchen. “I immediately felt comfortable,” recalled Kern, who couldn’t afford culinary school tuition. His sense of belonging has reached a new level. This morning, the James Beard Foundation released the Restaurant and …
April 8 solar eclipse: visibility, safety and watch parties
A university expert on astronomy has had an upcoming phenomenon circled on his calendar since the last time it happened in 2017, which garnered widespread public interest. “These are really dramatic events because the sun touches every part of our life, it really does,” said Bennett Maruca, an associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Delaware. On …
Plant shoots through the roof of Longwood conservatory
A plant that’s towering over its landscape as it’s flowering has made Longwood Gardens remove a pane of glass from the conservatory roof of its Silver Garden to give it room to grow – and grow and grow. It’s called the century plant (Agave americana). Though once believed a century-long wait was needed for flowering, Agave americana typically blooms after …
Delaware Theatre Co. unveils fun, thoughtful ’24-25 season
The 2024-25 Delaware Theatre Company season features a world premiere musical, a Tony-winning musical, a play produced by DTC in 2005 but is newly relevant, a one-man show and a new holiday revue – plus multiple ways to create conversations and connect with the community. The season includes “Kinky Boots,” “Every Brilliant Thing,” “Home for the Holidays in the 302,” …
How Candlelight prepares for all those endings of ‘Drood’
“The Mystery Edwin Drood” poses an unusual mystery. It’s not because the musical has a complex plot that challenges the audience to outwit the playwright. It’s because the audience decides the ending. Director Jeff Reim figures there are about 480 endings, and each one deserved time and attention during rehearsals for the production, at The Candlelight Theatre in Ardentown through …
Exclusive: 30-acre park off Hercules Road in the works
New Castle County is on its way to being given 30 acres for a park in the Mill Creek area. The land is part of a country club known as Hercules when it opened in 1937 (that’s why the road it’s on is called Hercules Road) and then Delaware National before being sold, with housing planned. “The project was approved …
Taste & Sea’s superb menu stresses seafood first, then steak
Christina “Chrissy” Villare-Talbot and her husband, John, shared the dream of owning a restaurant together. Most would agree that John has the pedigree for it. A graduate of The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, he’d worked at Creed’s Seafood & Steaks in King of Prussia since 2000, when he was hired as a sous chef. He later became executive …
Great Oaks students forego day off to clean up community
The streets of Wilmington are cleaner this weekend thanks to Great Oaks Charter School. “We decided today to help out the community a little bit by picking up the trash,” said Amir Phillips, a sophomore at the charter, who’s spending the Friday of his Spring Break giving back. In the school’s first city cleanup, a few dozen showed up to …
ChaddsFord Winery is seeking a buyer for 42-year-old business
It’s been 12 years since Eric and Lee Miller retired from the ChaddsFord Winery. Now, the Petrillo family of New York, the remaining founders and owners, are looking to sell. The asking price for the 5-acre property on Route 1 in Pennsylvania is $4.5 million. The property is just over the state line from New Castle County. If — when …
Your guide to Easter in Delaware
From a Bunny Bonanza in Lewes to egg hunts and special brunches up-and-down the First State, there’s plenty to do this weekend to celebrate the day commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While Easter is the holiest day in the Christian calendar, it’s also the unofficial embrace of spring form much of the community. Here’s what to expect: Weather Beautiful …