March 10th, 2010
Once again, I am realizing that even though writing this blog gives me an opportunity to share my views and opinions; likes and dislikes, I am also learning a lot.
For example, you already know I like to eat and experience new foods; I am not scared to taste something that I have not eaten before. That is something I have shared with my family.
So, yesterday, Tuesday, I wanted something different. And, I can tell you that I was so surprised to find out that there is a restaurant in Rehoboth Beach called Lily. It is Thai Cuisine. I am also surprised that Sharon (one of my friends) has not told me about this restaurant. I wonder if she even knows. She is a local and a native. You know, the ones that were borned and raised in Rehoboth Beach. And, the ones that would know that Lily is located where the Canyon once called that space home, probably 30 years ago.
What is the essence of Thai cooking? Its characteristics depend on who cooks it, for whom it is cooked, for what occasion, and where it is cooked. Its dishes can be refined and adjusted for all different tastes.
Thai cooking is unique. It differs from Chinese and Indian cuisine even though they have greatly influenced Thai cooking. You can identify it because it incorporates all 5 tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and spicy.
Basically Thai food should be thought of as a blending of tastes and textures within each individual dish and the whole meal.
Lily is located on 10 N. 1st Street, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Tel. is 302-227-3348. E-mail is Lilythaicuisine@gmail.com. There is take-out available. Hours of operation are: Mondays through Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Sundays 11:30 until 9:00 p.m.
The restaurant is between Nicola Pizza and Adriatico. If you have been to Rehoboth or live here you know where these places are. Lily is small and comfortable, but most of all, casual. The tables are very well spaced. There is a bar but at present they do not have a liquor license. Probably by the summer. You may bring your own bottles of wine, beer, liquor. They cannot open them for you but they have openers and wine glasses available. Of course, there is no corking fee.
Lily opened a little over a year ago. Lily, the owner, was the main chef at another Thai restaurant in Rehoboth. There is also Chef Jason. I did not meet either one of them. My main contact was Alex, my waiter. When I called, I asked if they were aware of gluten allergies and Alex said they were; to come in and they would point out the dishes my husband could eat.
Alex was very attentive. His background is Ukranian and Polish but grew up in Belarus. He has been here for 4 years and goes to school. He made suggestions and told us that the heat level in the dishes could be adjusted. Some dishes were not spicy, at all.
The first dish that attracted my attention was an appetizer called Larb Gai. It was ground chicken breast tossed in lime juice, red onions, Thai herbs and fresh mint. It was refreshing, right amount of heat and pefect for sharing.
For a small restaurant, they have quite a variety of dishes on their menu, including dinner specials.
I decided to have the Roasted Duck Curry. This dish was spicy and I thoroughly enjoyed. It was slow roasted honey boneless duck, pineapple chunks, tomatoes, young bamboo strips, hot peppers in red coconut curry and basil. It came in a bowl with a side dish of white rice. Very well seasoned and beautiful colors. Immediately, your senses are revived; spice and color.
If you like Curry then Lily has seven of them. Coconut, Panang, Green, Red, Yellow, Masaman and Wild.
My husband had the Pad Thai. There was a choice of chicken or shrimp. He chose shrimp. This is Thailand’s Signature Dish. Pan fried noodles, bean sprouts, red tofu, eggs and ground peanuts. We asked to take the peanuts out; some times, believe it or not, they have a dusting of flour. This dish is not spicy at all so he requested some of their hot spices. Alex pointed out the 2 hotest ones and they were hot. My husband enjoyed his food, as well.
Sorry, but I forgot to take pictures of the entrees; their presentations were worthy or a photo or 2.
Lily has desserts but I will have to come back for the Sweet Mango and Sticky Rice, topped with coconut cream. Mangoes are not good this time of the year. You want juicy and sweet ones for this dish.
And for all, who like to introduce children to new things, Lily has a kids menu for children under 10; crispy chicken, fried crispy shrimp, beach fries (never leave those if you are at the beach) and kiddy fried rice.
I really enjoyed Lily, saw a friend there that had heard about it, as well, and I am definitely going back. There are too many dishes to try.
Talk to you later….
Please note that information on Thai Cuisine was taken from www.templeofthai.com and from http://thaigrocer.com/aboutthaifood.html.
March 9th, 2010
It was a beautiful day in the Delmarva Peninsula. You forget about the snow and ice, well, maybe not, when a gorgeous day shows its face. Blue sky, gentle breezes and just cool.
Just as I mentioned on my post of March 5th, Dogfish Head went into a framing frenzy in order to frame a home for Sussex County Habitat for Humanity and to finish the framing by 5 p.m. on Monday, the 8th. I went to their parking lot, which is where all this was taking place, about noon, and they were making a lot of progress. My pictures are from that time of the day. I went again around 4:30 p.m. and they were completely finished and the framed home was taken away to eventually be allocated to a family.
Dogfish Head shut down business operations so that the employees could participate. Their restaurant ’s location is 320 Rehoboth Ave., Tel. 302-286-Brew. The website is www.dogfishhead.com.
Sussex County Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian housing ministry committed to building single, decent, and affordable homes in partnership with low-income families. Their location is on 206 Academy St., Georgetown, DE 19947. Tel. 302-855-1153. Website is www.sussexcountyhabitat.org.
As I saw them working away I started working up an appetite; I found the perfect, easy recipe.
Greek Lemon Chicken
6 boneless chicken breasts or thighs
2-3 lemons, sliced thin
calamata olives, pitted and chopped coarsely
feta cheese, crumbled
salt (optional) and pepper to taste
olive oil
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
I used both chicken breasts and thighs in the same dish. Some people like dark meat; some white meat.
The other thing to have in mind is that no specific amounts were given, so just wing it with the feta and the olives.
Place lemon slices in the bottom of a 7″ x 9″ baking pan. Place chicken pieces on top of them, salt and pepper to taste and cover chicken with more lemon slices.
Sprinkle top with crumbled feta cheese and calamata olives.
Drizzle olive oil over all.
Bake for about 45 minutes to an hour. I like my chicken well done.
The juice produced by this dish is quite good. The lemons and the olive oil make a great pair.
Regarding the calamata olives and feta, if you like a lot of them, be my guest. My husband thought he would like it better with the Spanish olives. I thought it was great this way.
So, like I always say, just enjoy it and make it your own.
This recipe could be served over rice or couscous. Or, you could cook Quinoa. I buy the Eden Organic Quinoa. This is a whole grain. They call it the mother of all grains. It is like a rice. It has the best amino acid profile of all grain. It is Gluten Free, Heart Healthy and Rich in Fiber. You can get it at Giant Super Markets and I am sure in a lot of other places, as well.
Enjoy!!
 Silver Lake in the late afternoon on Monday in Rehoboth Beach  Silver Lake - Beautiful
March 7th, 2010
Tonight, the event on television will be the Academy Awards; many communities hold events that are worthy of a few nods. Following are a couple of them.
As I was leaving Florida, a free newspaper was delivered. Now I had something to read on the airplane. The Coastal Star is in its 3rd issue and in its 3rd volume. The newspaper serves the communities of Hypoloxu Island, South Palm Beach, Manalapan, Briny Breezes, Guf Stream and Coastal Delray Beach. If you are in these South Florida areas, I think you will enjoy this local newspaper a lot. The paper that is written on is thick and it feels like you are holding something. The articles are interesting; issues that affect the area, restaurants, community news, advertising, excellent quality photos. Take a look at it. I think you will be impressed.
Delray Beach, Florida
Thursday, March 11th – The Delray Beach Home Tour – 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. - 6 spectacular homes, varying design styles, valet service, trolly service between homes and a luncheon. Sound good? Keep reading…
Delray Beach is the site for the 2010 Delray Beach Home Tour. This event is hosted by the Achievement Centers for Children & Families Foundation. The Home Tour is the Achievement Center’s signature fundraising event. It has become an attraction and guests from all over South Florida usually attend.
While I was in Florida I attended a book signing event at one of the houses that will be featured in the Home Tour. It is located on Andrews Ave.; a beautiful Mediterranean style home. So, if this is an example of what other houses will look like, it should be an interesting one.
Tickets are $100 but they include a lot. You will get for that price parking with continuous trolley service between the homes and a “Taste of Delray” catered luncheon provided by The Falcon House, Cafe de France, Boheme Bistro, Old Calypso and Cookbook Cafe at the Delray Beach Public Library.
An extensive raffle featuring prizes from spa services to fine jewelry will also be available. Reservations are required. Please call 561-266-0003.
The Achievement Centers for Children & Families Foundation is an organization whose vision is ” to break the cycle of poverty and help families realize economic self-sufficiency while preparing their children for academic success”.
They are located on 555 NW 4th St., Delray Beach, FL 33444. The tel. is 561-276-0520. The website is www.delraychild.org. You can also find information on Facebook.
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Sunday, March 14th – Lewes Polar Bear Plunge – 1:00 p.m. - Headquarters will be at the Atlantic Sands Hotel located on Baltimore Ave. and the Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach. More info? Please call 302-831-4653. This event benefits the Special Olympics Delaware. In its 19th year, it had to be rescheduled due to the many winter storms the Delaware Beaches have endured. It is an event that transcend all genders; age, income levels; participation even beyond our State.
It will be St. Patrick’s Day week-end so please add The Plunge to your activities.
Even though the actual Polar Bear Plunge is on Sunday, the 14th, starting on Friday, the 12th, there will be all kinds of activities ranging from registrations, Runs and culminating in the actual Plunge.
For more information, please visit www.plungede.org. You will find all sorts of information from what this organization is about, who it benefits, history, anniversary bears, prizes and awards. You will also find the schedule of events for the entire week-end.
Please remember that The Plunge benefits our athletes and everyone involved. “Special Olympics Delaware changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. We build sports skills, confidence, strength, motivation and self-esteem, not just for the 3,300 athletes , but for everyone involved.”
This is definitely a worthy cause with 17 states conducting a Polar Bear Plunge. And, hopefully, it will be warmer on Sunday, the 14th.
Writing from home, the Delaware Beaches. “When you’re safe at home you wish you were having an adventure; when you’re having an adventure you wish you were safe at home.” By Thorton Wilder
Crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, again, gave me the feeling of home. My husband’s answer was “you are home”. That’s all…see you later…
March 5th, 2010
Rehoboth Beach is busy this week-end. So check out what’s coming your way.
Friday, 3/5 – Cinema Cabaret: Like Water for Chocolate. Dinner at 6:30 P.M. Location is Ovations Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach. Admission is $30 and includes film and dinner.
Menu: Roasted corn and fresh mixed greens salad with citrus vinaigrette. Sage lime butter roasted quail with chorizo stuffing. Or, vegetarian empanadas, with rice pilaf, asparagus with roasted garlic, chocolate mousse parfait, coffee, tea or soda. More info? Go to http://www.rehobothfilm.com/film_events_cinema_cabaret.html.
Please note that the Film Society is seeking creative art for the 2010 Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival. The submissions are due March 10th.
Saturday, 3/6 – Is the 20th Annual Rehoboth Beach, DE Chocolate Festival. Location: Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. The theme this year is: “A Day For Chocolate Lovers”. The baking contest will feature more restaurant entries than ever. There will be chocolate tastings, vendors, a raffle, kids games and more.
The tastings start at 11:30 a.m. until the chocolate runs out or 3:30 p.m. $2.00 admission payable at the door. You can buy as many tastes as you like for $.50 each. No carry out is permitted. Children under 5 are free. The festival is sponsored by Rehoboth Beach Main Street and the Rehoboth Beach Public Library. Main Street will provide all-American hot dogs and drinks. Please go to www.downtownrehoboth.com where you will find the vendors, kids games, and baking contest information.
Saturday, 3/6 until 3/19 – Young at Art – Rehoboth Art League – Children’s art from Sussex County. Opening reception will be on March 6th from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Please visit www.rehobothartleague.org for more info.
Sunday, 3/7 and Monday, 3/8 – The Cultured Pearl will be holding their 18th Annual Buffet Extravaganza – Sunday seatings are 4-5-6-7-8, Monday seatings are 5-6-7-8-9. Reservations are required. $38 for adults and kids are 1/2 off. Location: 301 Rehoboth Ave. Tel. is 302-227-8493.
Cafe Sole - March Specials – Every Friday is Prime Rib Dinner for $20.10. Every Saturday is Steak & Cake Dinner (a steak and a crabcake) for $20.10. Every Sunday there is Brunch from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The restaurant will be open on Fridays and Saturdays for lunch and dinner. Starting on March 18th, Cafe Sole will be open for lunch every Thursday and will be offering lunch specials. If you are in Rehoboth during the week-end’s Chocolate Festival please visit Cafe Sole, on 44 Baltimore Ave., and try the luscious Chocolate Cake. Tel. 302-227-7107.
Another “Must Visit” place is the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society. Right now there is the Sand Pail Exhibit. If you want to remember a time when playing on the sand was so simple, please catch this exhibit before it officially closes on March 14th. The Sand Pail Exhibit features more than 100 vintage sand pails and a number of beach toys, including sand sifters and wind-up boats. Some of the pails are over 100 years old. Decorations on the pails range from the Queen Mary and Mickey Mouse to cowboys and Indians, astronauts and clowns.
 The Sand Pail Exhibit (picture, courtesy of the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society) During the Chocolate Festival the museum is offering a two for one admission on Friday 3/5 and Saturday 3/6.
The other exhibit worth seeing is the Vintage Bathing Suits. You will not be complaining anymore about the perfect suit. The fabric of the times was wool!! Can you believe it?
 Bathing Suit Exhibit (picture, courtesy of the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society) The Museum is located on 511 Rehoboth Ave., next to the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, near the Lighthouse on the traffic circle. I wrote a post on joining the Chamber of Commer and included the Museum. I wrote it on February 19th and in case you would like to see it, all you have to do is click on the month of February below the Archives located on the left hand side of the blog and scroll down to the date.
If you have not visited the Museum, you really should; more so if you are a frequent visitor to the Delaware Beaches. You will see the evolution of a town to what it is today; a very popular beach resort.
Monday, 3/8 – Dogfish Head to Build Habitat Home in the Rehoboth Brewpub Parking Lot – Location: 320 Rehoboth Ave., Tel. 302-286-Brew. Since 1995 “brewing, cooking, selling and talking everything beer”. For more information about what this very popular company please visit their website www.dogfishhead.com.
“In a Framing Frenzy Dogfish Head co-workers will begin building a home at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 8th, in the company’s downtown Rehoboth Beach restaurant parking lot and they will finish it up by 5:00 p.m.
The company has shut down business operations in Milton, DE brewery and the Rehoboth Beach restaurant for the day to allow co-workers to frame the home for Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. 80 Dogfish Head workers will be broken into 4 building teams for the Framing Frenzy. After the entire home is framed, it will then be loaded into flatbed trucks and taken away to eventually house a local family.”
So, if you are visiting the area or are a resident, please stop by and cheer them on.
Sussex County Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit Christian housing ministry committed to building simple, decent, and affordable homes in partnership with low-income families. It is located on 206 Academy St., Georgetown, DE 19947. Mailing address is P.O. Box 759, Georgetown, DE 19947. Tel. is 302-855-1153 and the website is www.sussexcountyhabitat.org.
Have a great week-end and until next time…see you…
February 22nd, 2010
Bored and don’t know what to make this week for dinner? Sometimes it is such a chore. Believe me, I like to cook but plenty of times I really don’t make up my mind until the last minute. Some people don’t give it another thought; they figure it is just another meal. But to me it is the experience of making something from scratch; not opening another package loaded with salt, fat and “seasonings”. I like to see what I am chopping. I like to smell my food cooking and the combinations of foods on my plate.
Keeping it simple is the best way to go about it. So, the following recipes are easy and I think you might like them.
Baked Chicken Breasts With Parmesan Garlic Crust
1 cup breadcrums, fresh are the best
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese (grate it yourself, it is better)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
pepper to taste
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 6-7 oz. each
1/4 cup minced fresh basil
1/4 mayonnaise
lemon wedges for serving
Adjust oven rack to upper middle position. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Combine first 6 ingredients in a bowl.
Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Place in a 9″ x 13″ baking dish.
Combine mayonnaise and basil in a small bowl and spread evenly over chicken.
Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture over mayonnaise, pressing lightly.
Bake for about 1/2 hour until the crust gets a nice brown color. Since you are cooking on a higher heat, please make sure you check them so they don’t burn.
Serve it with a nice salad. This recipe is good at any time of the year.
Shrimp and Tomato Chowder
2 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 13.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, undrained
8 ouces medium and peeled, cooked shrimp
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup water
ground pepper
slivered fresh basil
In a large saucepan, cook celery and onion in hot oil until just tender.
Stir in tomatoes; heat through.
Add shrimp, cream and water. Cook over medium heat until hot.
Season to taste with pepper.
Ladle chowder into bowls; garnish with basil.
Makes 2 to 4 four servings depending how hungry you are or if you are serving as a main meal. You can easily double this recipe.
Note: If you can get foccacia wedges from the grocery store or an Italian market, it would really complement the chowder.
Smithfield Ham and Potato Casserole
8 large potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/8″ thick
1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup mayonnaise
2 cups diced Smithfield ham
1 small onion, minced
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Cook the potatoes in slightly salted (optional) water until barely tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and put in a large bowl.
Add remaining ingredients and mix together.
Place in a well greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Watch closely so the cheese does not burn. You may choose to cover the dish for the last 15 minutes of baking.
Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Makies 8 to 10 servings.
Again, this is one of those dishes you might want to adjust to your tasting. You may even substitute the Smithfield ham but that its up to you.
You can use this dish as a side dish or for breakfast with fresh fruit. It could be served at dinner time with fresh asparagus and a salad.
Make it your own and enjoy….See you soon…
February 21st, 2010
I have been thinking about Second Street Grille for a few days. I have been wondering why is it that I never, at least, in my circle of friends, hear anyone say “Let’s go to Second Street Grille”. Really, I never do. So, I decided to find out for myself. Believe me, Second Street Grille has been in the center of Historic Lewes for many years and I think the last time I might have been there was maybe 2 or 3 years ago.
Second Street Grille is located on 115 Second Street. The tel. is 302-644-4121. The website is www.secondstreetgrille.com. Please check the website because you will be able to see the menu on-line. The restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. During the rest of the week they have lunch from 11:30 until 3:00 p.m., lite fare from 3:00 until 10:00 p.m. and dinner from 5:00 until 10:00 p.m. The Sunday Brunch is from 11:00 until 2:00 p.m. The happy hour starts at Noon.
Lewes looked really pretty on Saturday. It was crowded too. I think people have cabin fever and are ready to just walk and enjoy a sunny day.
I came through the side door of Second Street Grille which is the entrance to the bar area. As I came in, there was a step-down and I did not see it, but I also did not see a sign warning patrons about it. Probably the locals already know that is there, though.
This corner of the restaurant where the bar is located also has about 7 tables, all of them with crisp white tablecloths. It is decorated with French posters and the walls are red and yellow so I imagine the look is more like a bistro. The music was good oldies.
It was lunch time and there were plenty of specials available. It seemed the waitress knew a lot of the people coming in so I figure that they must have been regulars; a mature crowd.
Second Street Grille is known for their crabcakes but I really was not in the mood for them so I decided to have the Second Street Grille Salad with fried oysters on top with their balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The salad was loaded with fresh veggies. I never think to put radishes in my salad, but these ones were very good; crunchy and sweet. The rest of the veggies were yellow squash, broccolini, cucumber and watercress. It had a very nice presentation.
In regards to the fried oysters, I will have to tell you that I was somewhat disappointed. I like the breading of fried oysters lite because when you bite into a fried oyster you want it to be moist and salty; you want to taste the oyster and not the breading. What I tasted the most was a thick breading that covered the oyster. There is no other way to say it.
I like a balsamic vinaigrette dressing with a bit more substance than the one I was served at Second Street Grille. There was something missing. More of an aged balsamic; a bolder taste. It was o.k. but not my favorite.
After paying my check I decided to walk to the main dining room. The way I feel about the restaurant is that, granted, they do not have the best view in town but also I found that there was a lack of atmosphere and not just today, but I remembered thinking about that years ago as well. I don’t know if it is the way the tables are placed on that long hall or that maybe the bar area needs to be more casual and lively.
Second Street Grille definitely has a following and I understand that Sunday Brunch is a favorite.
I had a decent lunch, but there is room for improvement. I will go back and check it again in the summer.
Until then….talk to you later…
February 20th, 2010
Short Notice, but if you don’t know what to do this week-end, following are a few events that might peak your interest:
Rehoboth Beach
Saturday, February 20th – Merchant’s Attic And Garage Sale. It is one of the beaches largest indoor garage sales which help local merchants clean out their inventories and people like you an I can clean out our attics. It is a free admission, but donations are appreciated. Location: Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, located right on Rehoboth Avenue.
Sunday, February 21st – Confucius is celebrating with their Annual Chinese New Year Buffet. Back on 12/21/09 I posted a blog on this Chinese restaurant that is located on 57 Wilmington Ave. E-mail xiongztat@comcast.net and website is www.confuciusrehobothbeach.com. If you would like to see my post just go to Archives on the left hand side of this blog and click on the month of December and scroll to the date.
The buffet will start at 12:00 Noon until 9:30 p.m. Price $30 and since it is a pretty popular event, reservations are recommended. There are so many things on the menu like the Crispy Alaskan Halibut, Salt and Pepper Shrimp, Cumin Beef, General Tso’s Chicken, Fried Dumplings, Singapore Curry Rice Noodles and many more.
Lewes - Next Saturday
Saturday, February 27th – 9th Annual Autism Ball & Auction For Hope sponsored by the Lower Delaware Autism Foundation, 1800 Bay Ave., Lewes, DE 19958. Tel. 302-644-3410. Website is www.ldaf.com.
This event will be held at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, right on Rehoboth Ave. and it will have a Mardi Gras Theme. It will be catered by Nage, there will be silent and live auctions and the music will be by Big City Band. $125.00 per ticket. For ticket information please call 302-644-3410. You are able to purchase tickets on-line, so please visit the above mentioned website.
Ocean City, Maryland
Saturday, February 20th and Sunday, February 21st – It is the 4th Annual Ocean City Car Show. Saturday’s previewing starts at 9 a.m. with live auction starting at 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Suday’s previewing starts at 10 a.m. and the auction starts at 12 Noon until 4 p.m.
This car show will be held at the Ocean City Convention Center located on 40th Street and Coastal Highway. For more information please call Meredith Hennen at 410-798-6304. Better yet, visit the website www.occollectorscars.com.
This year they will be bringing back again the Car Corral; direct selling between sellers and buyers. Check the info. on the website.
This is the premiere indoor collector’s car auction, featuring hot rods, classics, muscle cars and more, crossing the auction block.
There is a list of the cars available for auction on the website but here is a sample:
1934 Ford Coupe – 350 LT1, 9 inch Ford Rear
1971 Morris Minor Traveller – Very rare wood station wagon
1957 For Thunderbird
2000 Chevy Corvette Convertible
Have a great week-end!! Thank God the snow is melting slowly. Talk to you later…..
February 19th, 2010
I have been meaning to apply for membership to the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce (RBDBCC) for some time. Thursday would be the day. And, I decided to go in person. I think its better when introducing yourself, a person sees you face to face.
A Chamber of Commerce is also referred to as a Board of Trade. It is a form of business network. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community.
The first chambers were founded in 1599 in France and Belgium. But, the world’s oldest English speaking Chamber of Commerce is in N.Y. and was established in 1768.
The RBDBCC and the Visitor Center are right at the entrance of Rehoboth Avenue, just before the roundabout (lighthouse circle), depending which way you are coming or going. In the complex you will find the Visitor Center and on the corner of the property there is a separate building that houses the actual administrative offices. Also in this complex you will find the Rehoboth Beach Museum.
I met with Carol Everhart and she is the President/CEO of the RBDBCC. The Chamber’s address is P.O. Box 216, 501 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Email address is carol@beach-fun.com, and the website is www.beach-fun-com. Tels. are 302-227-2233, Ext. 13 or 800-441-1329, Ext. 13. Fax # 302-227-8351.
Carol was very nice in explaing everything the Chamber has to offer. I was at the right place at the right time because they were running a special; it was even a better deal as they are getting ready to finish all their directories for the upcoming season, as well. So, take notice, because it could be a good opportunity to join now and get your business on the books.
I did not know in what category my blog would fall into, but I found out that, pending my approval, I will be under services and computers. The majority of the members are in this category also.
So, with my membership application in place and my check made for the year, I felt good. Afterall, we are all trying to connect in some way and I feel that AboutMyBeaches is doing its job by informing visitors and residents alike about our beaches’ events, activities, restaurants, what to cook for dinner, where to find that good summer corn or the best crabs. Really, how lucky are we to experience “Life Along the Coast”.
I said my farewell and off I went next door to the Rehoboth Beach Museum. I am just telling you a bit about it because I really would like to go back and spend more time.
The Rehoboth Beach Museum is really worth it. You will be able to go back in time and if you are a long time visitor or resident you will really relish the memories of times gone by. It is also the home of the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society.
The Museum is in the Old Ice House. In the late 19th century businesses and residents began to use ice to preserve the foods and to cool drinks. The ice was cut from Silver Lake. I wrote a post on Silver Lake on January 30th and if you would like to see it just go on the Archives on the left hand side of this blog and click on the month of January and scroll to the date. When the ice was cut from Silver Lake during winter then it was stored in small, wooden buildings that were heavily insulated with sawdust. The ice would be available from May through October. Later on it was shipped by railroad.
The Museum is just over a year old. Today, the Museum Docent was Pattie Gause and she was geat. She explained everything with detail. Pattie took me to see enlarged photographs of old Rehoboth Beach. They are available for purchase. Some showed the train coming through the middle of the Avenue. The Boardwalk looked so high.
The Rehoboth Museum is filled with memorabilia from residents and visitors. One section has old postcards and you can read what people are saying about Rehoboth Beach.
There is the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse Replica which was originally built for the Wyeth family who had a house in Rehoboth. N.C. Wyeth, famous illustrator and Andrew Wyeth, famous painter.
You will also find Commemorative Plates, milk bottles from the Rehoboth Dairy, and all kinds of information about Rehoboth Beach.
At present there is a Beach Pail Exhibit. There are so many, in all sizes, all catalogued and not one is made out of plastic. This is not a permanent exhibit, so if you are interested, take the opportunity and visit the museum soon.
The corner with the Bathing Suit Exhibit will make you realize that even in those times they were still looking for the right bathing suit. When it was all said and done the bathing suit was of about 10 yards of fabric; pantaloons, blouse, skirt made out of wool, black stockings, canvass slippers and the total weight was 30 lbs. No wonder they needed ropes to hang on to. Swimming was only permitted from 11 until 2 p.m.
The Museum is small but very well represented. Souvenirs are available for purchase.
For more information, please stop by and pay them a visit.
Nancy Alexander is the Director of the Museum.
In the Fall and Winter they are closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The address is: 511 Rehoboth Ave., tel. is 302-227-7310 and the email is rbhistoricalsociety@verizon.net.
Note: Information on Chambers of Commerce was taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamber_of_Commerce. Information on the History of the Old Ice House was taken from a brochure at the Museum.
So, I guess I will talk to you later…..
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