March 3rd, 2013
Destination, Dowtown Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Shop Local, Eat Local, Out & About in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware Beaches, Southern Delaware, Sussex County….Visit Rehoboth Beach, A Year-Round Vacation Destination
Destination…downtown Rehoboth Beach. It is only about a mile from my house. After an early Zumba class, it was time to hit the 23rd Annual Rehoboth Beach Chocolate Festival. I was not going to be tempted, I promised myself.
What? No parking already. It was early afternoon and I kid you not, there was no parking on Rehoboth Avenue. It looked like summer, but I knew it felt like March. Oh well, I drove around and decided to go on Wilmington Avenue which is a parallel street to Rehoboth Avenue on the south side .
Love the new signs downtown.
Surprise, surprise, Gus & Gus, an “iconic” institution on the Boardwalk was open. This first week-end in March gets a lot of the established that had closed for a well deserved rest, a time to open and start getting ready for the season ahead. Gus & Gus are on Facebook.
You know you are out and about in Downtown Rehoboth Beach when you see some of the pooches eating Thrasher’s French fries, another institution at the Delaware Beaches, serving some of the favorite Boardwalk grub.
We all had our coats on but that did not matter, some were on the beach.
And, some were being warmed in a completely different way.
I am getting there; be patient…I finally arrived at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. I was hoping there was still chocolate left.
The Rehoboth Beach Convention Center holds so many events…it is a very good size for a town that is only one square mile.
The 23rd Rehoboth Beach Chocolate Festival brings people from all over. It is sponsored by Rehoboth Beach Main Street and also by the Friends of the Rehoboth Beach Library.
Since 1996 Rehoboth Beach Main Street has been an award winning Main Street Program. They encourage preservation, restoration, and can even help businesses with attractive storefronts. They have done an excellent job in Downtown Rehoboth Beach and they are keeping it alive. More info? Please visit http://www.downtownrehoboth.com.
Friends of the Rehoboth Beach Library was established in 1991 and offer support for the Rehoboth Beach Public Library in a number of ways. They promote awareness of the functions, resources, services and needs of the library. More info? Please visit http://www.rehobothlibrary.org/About-Us/friends-of-library.html.
Totally packed…..admission was $2 and that gave you one tasting. You could then buy as many tastings as you wanted for 50 cents each.
Tables were lined up with all kinds of baked goods. Put a ticket in the jar for each tasting.
Positioned by the stage were two very good representatives for the chocolate festival:
Kilwins is located at 140 Rehoboth Avenue. Fudge, peanut brittle, caramel apples, chocolate dipped treats are all made fresh daily. They also have ice cream. Until March 31st you can stop by and buy 1 get one free fudge. There is a coupon to be presented but I think they have them at the store. Tel. 302-227-3611.
Cake Break had a tower of minis, representing some of their best flavors. Located at 7 S. First Street they are making a statement in Rehoboth Beach when it comes to cupcakes. Website? http://www.cakebreakrehoboth.com.
I had not seen a friend or anyone I knew….oh, just hold it right there. I looked around and I spotted a few; all of them were working the chocolate festival in some capacity.
Gene & Genevieve….she owns Ocean Travel. Website? http://www.oceantravelinc.com.
My next door neighbor, Sharon. She is an accomplished baker herself.
The Village Improvement Association of Rehoboth Beach, (VIA), is an organization whose members are of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs from the Rehoboth Beach area. They promote the interests, improvements and progress of Rehoboth Beach, perform charitable and civic work. Interested in knowing more about them? Please visit http://www.rehobothbeachvia.org. They are events coming up soon, which are already on their website.
At the chocolate festival, VIA, had a table full of baked goods.
Other neighbors of mine working the VIA booth were:
Sherrie, she is a basket weaver (left), and Debbie is an artist (right.
People were lining up and Diane, another of my neighbors, was cutting and serving, as well.
One of the baked goods that caught my attention was a chocolate cake with a bread pudding filling made out of croissants, chocolate and raspberry. It looked delicious.
Is this what a baker supposed to look like?
Meet Nolan. His cake won the children’s division and it was all edible. Looks like this young baker has a promising future.
In the adult division the following cakes won first, second, and third prize.
These other cakes did not place, but I thought they looked pretty good too.
I did not win the 50/50 raffle but I got to talk to Ed, who told me he thought there were even more people than last year. It was nice meeting you, Ed.
So, I think it was a success….talk to you later.
Tags: Delaware, Delaware Beaches, Destination Rehoboth Beach, downtown Rehoboth Beach, Events, Friends of Rehoboth Beach Library, rehoboth beach, Rehoboth Beach Main, Rehoboth Beach Main Street, Shop Local in Downtown Rehoboth Beach, Southern Delaware, The Nation's Summer Capital, Things to do at the beach, VIA, Village Improvement Association of Rehoboth Beach, Visit Delaware Beaches, Visit Downtown Rehoboth Beach, Visit Rehoboth Beach, Visit Southern Delaware, Visiting Rehoboth Beach
