FYI

Things worth knowing

The campsite at Operation Warm Newport.

THE GIFT OF WARMTH

Since 2017, the Delaware KIDS Fund’s Camping Out for Coats campaign has raised enough money to purchase more than 10,000 coats for 10,000 elementary students at 18 different schools. This year marks the sixth year of the fundraiser and on Nov. 11 a Camp Kick-off will take place from 5-9pm at Operation Warm Newport Headquarters (10 S. James St., Newport). Those interested in supporting this effort to provide kids in need of a brand-new coat can camp overnight at Operation Warm Newport, camp at home and make an online donation, or attend the Camp Kickoff and provide a $10 minimum donation. The Camp Kick-off will feature bonfires, food and drink, live music, a silent auction and fire-side chats with local community leaders. Visit CampingForCoats.com.

DELAWARE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES ANNUAL AWARDS

The Delaware Restaurant Association (DRA) honored Robert Lhulier and Bill Irvin of Wilmington’s Snuff Mill Restaurant, Butchery & Wine Bar as Restaurateurs of the Year during its 20th annual Cornerstone Awards last month in Dewey Beach. Each year, the DRA celebrates and honors the contributions of Delaware’s restaurant industry and the ways restaurants enrich and serve their communities.

Dennis & Carolyn Forbes of Cool Springs Fish Bar & Restaurant in Dover received The Cornerstone Award, given to restaurateurs who embody the spirit of hospitality and have become integral members of their communities. Michelle Souza of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and Ryan Ennis of Beyond the Bar United received Industry Impact Awards.

For more, visit DelawareRestaurant.org.

FOOD BANK OF DELAWARE’S THANKSGIVING DRIVE

The Food Bank of Delaware’s annual Thanksgiving Drive began Oct. 10 and continues into this year’s holiday on Nov. 24. You can help the more than 100,000 Delawareans who have difficulty affording food by hosting an in-person food drive, conducting an online fundraiser, or simply donating food or money. Some of the organization’s most-needed items are instant mashed potatoes, canned gravy, pie filling and crust, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, stuffing and frozen turkeys. Visit FBD.org.

HANDBELL ENSEMBLE RINGING IN THE YEARS

The Wilmington Handbell Ensemble, the only community-based handbell ensemble in the Wilmington area, will celebrate its 23rd season with a series of December performances. The ensemble, led by artistic director Kerry Dietz, is a sponsored ministry of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Membership is by audition or invitation and the group draws from various church bell choirs in New Castle County.

Performances include Dec. 4 at Ebenezer United Methodist Church (Newark), Dec. 8 at First & Central Presbyterian Church (Wilm.), Dec. 10 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church (Wilm.) and Dec. 17 at Westminster Presbyterian Church (Wilm.). Performances will be livestreamed at WPC.org. For performance times and other performances, visit WilmingtonHandbellEnsemble.org.

FREE HOLIDAY SHIPPING COURTESY DOWNTOWN VISIONS

Those who shop online at select downtown Wilmington retailers will receive free shipping on items purchased through Dec. 31, 2022 courtesy of Downtown Visions. At press time, participating retailers include Al’s Sporting Goods, LaFate Gallery, Morgan’s of Delaware, Poppycock Tattoo, Shoe Tech Shoe Repair, Spaceboy Clothing, Three Kings Kustoms and Town & Shore Handcrafted. For a current retailers list, visit DowntownWilmingtonDe.com.

First State Ballet (FSBT), Delaware’s only professional ballet company, will present its 20th production of The Nutcracker at The Grand Dec. 16-18. The company’s first performance of this Tchaikovsky holiday classic in 2002 featured two professional guest artists. This year’s production will feature FSBT’s company of 21 professional artists from around the world who live, work and dance in Delaware. More than 35 students from The School of First State Ballet Theatre will round out the cast.

Tickets range from $20-$57 with a Sugar Plum Tea set for Sunday, Dec. 18 (12:30-1:30) before the 2pm matinee. For showtimes and tickets, visit TheGrandWilmington.org.

A scene from FSBT's The Nutcracker.

FALL FUN AT MOUNT CUBA CENTER

Mount Cuba Center, the renowned botanical garden located in Hockessin, will offer two unique opportunities to engage with nature on the center’s bucolic rolling grounds. Nature Play Day on Saturday, Nov. 5 (10am-4pm) allows guests to participate in a variety of outdoor activities including kite-flying, navigating a nature obstacle course and touch-a-truck and tractor. Nature As Therapy on Saturday, Nov. 12 (10am-noon) is a workshop in which participants learn about the history and numerous benefits that result from engaging with nature. Certified horticulture therapist Kathy Andrzejewski will share information about horticulture therapy and will provide participants with a take-home took kit containing a variety of interactive horticulture-based activities to use on their own. This class will include a lecture and outside activities. Visit MtCubaCenter.org.

Attendance at August’s BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club surpassed 126,000 over four days, according to event organizer Western Golf Association. The tournament also reached an international television audience of 16 million people, delivering a welcome lift to Delaware businesses and boosting the state’s profile as a place to stay and play. “An event of this magnitude is good for the many businesses that benefit, but it also helps boost Delaware’s image in the minds of so many people around the world,” said Jessica Welch, director of the Delaware Tourism Office. “The people who came to Delaware not only got to see great golf, but they also saw that Wilmington is a great place to visit and explore and can be a world-class setting for major sports events like the BMW Championship.”

BMW players, VIPs, staff, and volunteers accounted for close to 1,500 room nights during their stay, and countless other fans also poured into town to patronize hotels, restaurants and shops in and around the city.

“We saw how excited the fans were this week. They were amazing,” tournament winner Patrick Cantlay said at a press conference after his victory. “And this golf course provided great theater, especially coming to the last hole. And it was a great feel and great energy all week.”

NATION OF INVENTORS EXHIBITION AT HAGLEY

Though the damage to Hagley Museum’s Visitor Center caused by Hurricane Ida delayed its opening, the much-awaited Nation of Inventors Exhibition opened in October and now is ongoing as part of regular Hagley Museum admission. The exhibition celebrates the spirit of ingenuity by taking visitors on a journey from the early years of the patent system (1790s) through the “golden age” of American invention (late 1800s). The exhibition features more than 120 patent models from Hagley’s unique collection highlighting the diverse stories of inventors from all walks of life. Hagley is open year-round except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. For hours and admission fees, visit Hagley.org.

An 1878 caddy for baking powder.

BMW CHAMPIONSHIP DELIVERS A WINNING WEEK FOR DELAWARE

Photo by Lindsay Rudney duPhily Patrick Cantlay at Wilmington Country Club.

IT’S BACK! CITY LOOP SERIES RESUMES DECEMBER 10 A SWEET CIDER RETURNS FOR DESSERT

The City Loop Series resumes with the Ugly Sweater Santa Crawl set for Saturday, Dec. 10 (8pm start). The 41-year-old Loop Series is a collection of costumed bar crawls that has become one of Wilmington’s most-enduring nightlife traditions.

This year, the non-profit group Motorcycle Santas is teaming with Loop organizer Out & About Magazine for the Ugly Sweater Santa Crawl. Partial proceeds from the event will benefit Ronald McDonald House.

The 2022-23 Loop Series will also include the 34th annual St. Paddy’s Loop on Sat., March 11 and a Feb. 2023 Loop with a theme to be determined by online vote. For participating venues and other details, visit OutAndAboutNow.com. I f you love apple pie and are a fan of hard cider, have we got good news for you…

Wilmington Brew Works is teaming up once again with “That Pie Girl” Amy Watson Bish for — you guessed it — That Pie Girl’s apple-pied-flavored cider.

The hard cider was such a sell-out success after its debut last year, that the WBW team was intent on bringing it back. Its initial run went on tap last month at the brewery last month. It will go back on draft this month (before Thanksgiving) with another 144 bottles on sale to go.

“Every sip of That Pie Girl’s Apple Pie cider tastes as if you’re eating the pie of its namesake,” says John Fusco, WBW’s vice-president of creative and brand marketing. “Cinnamon, allspice, and cloves greet you on the aroma and through the finish, as a touch of caramel and vanilla add a touch of sweetness.

“Thanksgiving is one of the biggest holidays for enjoying cider. While a dry cider pairs very well with the main course, we set out to craft a cider that would pair wonderfully with dessert, with help from Wilmington's Favorite Pie Girl, Amy Bish!”

Visit WilmingtonBrewWorks.com.

Winter Arts Festival

Saturday, December 10 10 am – 4 pm

Join us for shopping and seasonal festivities at the Delaware Art Museum. $5, Free for Members. Tickets at delart.org.

2301 Kentmere Pkwy | Wilmington, DE 19806 | 302.571.9590 | delart.org

Images provided by East Coast Sweets, The Fairy Potter, and Anna Biggs.

BROADWAY’S TONY AWARD-WINNING BEST MUSICAL IS BACK

YOU CAN’T STOP THE BEAT

December 1-4

Photo: Norma Jean Roy

DECEMBER 10-DECEMBER 11

THE PLAYHOUSE ON RODNEY SQUARE

BUY NOW: 302.888.0200 | BroadwayInWilmington.org

Additional Support

This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.