June 14th, 2015
Miles of beach, up and down the Delaware Coast, the surfmen were the keepers of our shores. They patrolled the desolate and dangerous beaches, looking for shipwrecks and warning vessels of the imminent dangers along the coastline.
The years were 1876 – 1915.
The Indian River Life Saving Station is located south of Dewey Beach, Delaware, and a mile north of the Indian River Inlet.
Built in 1876, it is the only station in Delaware still standing in its original location.
The U.S. Flag flew over the station and this particular flag has 38 stars and was the official Flag of the U.S. from 1877 – 1890.
Today is Flag Day, dedicated to celebrating the adoption of the American Flag by the Second Continental Congress in 1777.
It is believed Flag Day originated in 1885. More info.? Please visit http://www.usflag.org/flag.day.html.
The Indian River Lifesaving Station has many fun and educational programs throughout the year. When visiting us, here, in Southern Delaware, it is definitely a must stop. More info? Please visit http://www.destateparks.org.
Have a great day!!
March 25th, 2015
 
The Edmondston-Alston House was the first house museum we visited in rainy Historic Charleston the last week of February. It is called Edmondston-Alston because Edmondston was the first owner who built this beautiful home in East Battery. He was a successful merchant. Financial depressions got the best of him and he had to sell….the new buyer was Alston, who was a member of one of the wealthiest rice-planting families in South Carolina. The house is very open and, definitely worth seeing. This house museum is administered by the Middleton Place Foundation who also owns and operates the Gardens, House and Plantation Stableyards at Middleton Place.
In the back of the Edmondston-Alston House there is a privately-owned luxury bed and breakfast. These were the servants’ quarters. Guests of 21 East Battery Bed and Breakfast enjoy a complimentary tour of the Edmondston-Alston House museum. For more information, please visit http://www.21eastbattery.com. Tel. 843-556-0500
Historic Charleston is full of antique wrought iron. There are accents pieces and intriguing openings.
My cousin, Maru, her husband, and I were standing at the Concierge Desk talking to our favorite concierge, Carrie. She loved us because we did what she told us to do. So, now we were telling her we wanted to visit Middleton Place. This plantation has the oldest landscaped gardens in America…plus there was the connection to the Edmondston-Alston House, which we had earlier in the week visited. How could you visit Charleston and not go to a plantation?
 
We told Carrie that we did not want to go in a bus full of people. We were tourists but we would only go so far. We wanted a private guide. No hesitation, Ian Sanchez, would be the one. Carrie went on and on about how good of a guide he was and how good looking….OMG she said “You are going to love him”. During this conversation, Maru’s husband was like….”I don’t care if he is good looking.” Maru and I were like…We do! He was quickly outnumbered. We even had to wait an extra day to go with Good Looking Guide Ian. We hoped he was worth the wait…and not like the coconut cake; they told us so much how good the coconut cake was that once we tried it, was not a big deal…it was okay, though.
We finally met with Ian Sanchez….he was good looking but not drop dead gorgeous as we were expecting. He spoke Spanish. I believe one of the parents was from the Dominican Republic and the other from one of the islands. Needless to say…Latin looks and southern charm work every time; we liked that! And so we took off with him. He was a really good guide. He took his time in explaining Charleston and its history, knowledgeable, very friendly and easy to understand.
To escape the summer’s heat, the wealthy left their stately homes in Charleston and retreated to their plantation houses. These plantations had formal gardens backed by rivers and woodlands.
Middleton Place is located at 4300 Ashley River Rd., Charleston, SC 29414. Tel. 843-556-6020 Website? http://www.middletonplace.org. Please visit the website for events happening at Middleton Place. We arrived late in the afternoon, so one of our first stops was to tour the only building that is still in operation as a museum. There were 3 residences at one time. The original residence was circa 1705 and the north flanker was circa 1755…these were burned by Union troops in 1865, and then leveled by the 1886 earthquake. The house museum was a gentlemen’s guest wing in 1755. It contains family furniture, silver, paintings, china, books and documents.
I think you should give yourselves more than a few hours to tour the plantation….there is much to see and much to learn.
 
Eliza’s House dates to 1870 and its 2 family vernacular dwelling provides information regarding the conditions of the African American community at Middleton Place before and after the Civil War.
We stopped at the Blacksmith Shop, where iron was being heated, forged and shaped. Middleton Place had both, free and enslaved workers performing different tasks.
Carpentry and Coopering …building and repairing, the coopers made barrels for storage and shipment of rice.
Free range…animals were mingling with the guests.
The Spring House and Plantation Chapel were beautiful. On the lower level, the spring waters provided the perfect place to store dairy and other foods. The upper floor was, apparently, added in 1851 and was used as a chapel for the Middletons’ slaves until the Civil War.
The Mill…It was before the Civil War that the mill was built. Built both as a garden folly and for practical use.
The gardens have rational order, geometry, symmetry, balance, vistas, focal points and surprises.
After the Civil War and the Earthquake of 1886 these gardens were overgrown and neglected. Early in the 20th century restoration began and in 1941 the Garden Club of America gave its highest award by recognizing them as “the most interesting and important gardens in America”.
It is a little unkempt, and a little wild, when looking at the rest of the formal gardens…family tomb and burial sites. The last resting place of generations of the Middleton family…the garden called Bosquet and Tomb.
Notes: Ian Sanchez can be contacted by calling 843-276-4601. You may also email him at iansanchez4@gmail.com. Do you prefer your tour in English, or Spanish? You pick because he can do both. His pledge: “Guaranteed phenomenal tour every time or you don’t pay!!
Information for this post was taken from Middleton Place tour guide info.
Have a good one!! Talk to you later…
December 8th, 2014
“A good photo is a good photo regardless of the gear used to take it. A person’s skill, knowledge, and eye is what will make photos worth looking at.”
I love taking photos and I used them on my posts constantly. I am by no means a professional photographer. I am one of those “point and shoot” ones. Photos create memories, they tell a story and at times words are really not necessary.
Every second Saturday of the month MOSAIC, sponsors the self guided art and gallery tour from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. It is a time to visit and mingle with participating artists, get to know them up close and personal, and enjoy a culinary treat. It is an art stroll.
MOSAIC”s mission is to promote art awareness in the Rehoboth Beach Area. For more info. and to check the map, please visit http://www.mosaicrehoboth.com.
This coming Saturday, December 13th, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., the Rehoboth Beach Museum joins MOSAIC ARTwalk, hosting an opening reception for Delaware Beach Life Magazine 2014 Photography Contest Winners. This is an exhibit of the winners for 2014 photo contest. Delaware Beach Life magazine opens this photography contest annually to all amateur photographers. The contest for 2015 will have a due date for entries of July 1, 2015. For more info., please visit http://www.delawarebeachlife.com/photography/photography-contest.html. Remember that the photos must capture life, here, at the Delaware coast.
The exhibit will run through February 23, 2015. The Rehoboth Beach Museum, http://www.rehobothbeachmuseum.org, is located at 511 Rehoboth Ave., right past the canal bridge, when entering Rehoboth Beach. It is also next door to the Visitor Center. The Museum is open Monday and Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Admission is by donation. More info? Please call 302-227-7310.
The exhibit is small but strong. The 13 award-winning photographs were chose from among more than 300 entries. Their images captured the many forms of life on Coastal Delaware. The judges referred to the contestants’ photographs as creations of vivid moments.
Terry Plowman, the Editor and Publisher of Delaware Beach Magazine stated: “This year our entrants captured a variety of compelling views, as they skillfully combined color, composition and creativity.”
So if you live in the area, or are visiting, stop by the Rehoboth Beach Museum, to see how this popular beach resort started and how far it has come.
Have a great day…..too chilly for shopping!
October 15th, 2014
The Second Season is one of the most beautiful ones at the Delaware Beaches. Even though these coastal resorts are now considered year round, they are a little bit more quiet…the perfect time to discover them!!
Friday, October, 17th – CAPE HENLOPEN STATE PARK – NO ENTRANCE FEE – The Park celebrates its 50th anniversary and wants you to enjoy everything they offer for free….the beach, trails, its beauty. 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. So, have fun!
Friday, October, 17th – “THE HISTORY OF DELAWARE LICENSE PLATES” A First State Culture! – Lewes Historical Society Speaker Series will present this event at the Lewes Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Enter the parking lot from Franklin Street. The programs are free and open to the public. This particular evening should be of interest to so many that value their Delaware license plates. In most states the license tag on their cars is just that, a tag, but for some states like Delaware vehicle owners have embraced license plate ownership as a status symbol and a connection to their past. Mike Williams, Chief of Communications for the Delaware State Division of Motor Vehicles will be the speaker on this evening.
Mr. Williams, is a native of Delaware. He will include in his discussion the desirable black and white procelain sets from the 1940s, the black stainless steel tags from the 1950s, and the story behind the controversial front style changes in the early 1990s.
Light refreshments will be served follwoing the presentation. More info. on the Lewes Historical Society? Please visit http://www.historiclewes.org.
Saturday, October 18th – HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS MARKET – Saturdays from 9 a.m. until Noon at Shields Elementary School Parking Lot on Savannah Rd. A producer only farmers market and a place for the community and visitors to gather every week. Celebrating Jazz Festival at the Market, special guest Everett Spells will be present entertaining the crowds. For more information of Historic Lewes Farmers Market, including recipes and events, please visit http://www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org.
Saturday, October 18th – BATTERY 519 OPEN HOUSE – Fort Miles was a key part of the nation’s coastal defense during and after WWII. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Fort Miles Historic Site is at 15099 Henlopen Drive, in Lewes. Call 302-645-6852 for more info. and to register.
Docents from the Fort Miles Historic Association will be on hand to answer your questions as you tour Battery 519. $3 per person.
Saturday, October 18th – 9th ANNUAL ” WINE, BEER & CHEESE TASTING” – At Cape Henlopen State Park Officer’s Club from 4 to 6 p.m. Admission is $20 in advance and $24 at the door. Tickets are available at the Park Office, Lewes Chamber of Commerce, and R & L Liquors in Lewes. Call 302-858-6127. Please note that your ticket will be your entrance to the Park.
Saturday, October 18th – COASTAL CONCERTS PRESENTS LEON BATES & PORTLAND STRING QUARTET – Location? Bethel Uniqued Methodist Church Hall on Fourth & Market Streets in Lewes. Famed pianist Leon Bates will join talents with the Portland String Quartet, a group admired for its many years of excellent music making. This promises to be a remarkable evening of music. For tickets please visit http://www.coastalconcerts.org.
Have a great time!!
 
October 7th, 2014
I believe the photo is circa 1906 on Rehoboth Beach, Delaware….an award winning Boardwalk. Since those times it has been the life of the town, strolling the boards with the Atlantic Ocean as the view!!
We have come a long way, but still the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk offers its visitors and residents a relaxing gathering place. Some walk it, jog it, or even bring their dogs to it.
In the evenings, summer visitors gather at the Boardwalk for rides, games, and favorite Boardwalk Grub!!
WALKING TOUR; A GENTLE STROLL
Thursday, October 9th – Last walking tour…A 45 minute gentle stroll around Downtown Rehoboth Beach. It starts at 9 a.m. at the Bandstand. The cost? Only $10. Reservations are required and you may do so by calling the Rehoboth Beach Museum at 302-227-7310. The tour provides general information about the history of Rehoboth Beach, while touching on several of the storms that have shaped the coastline and this beachfront town. Walkers will be led from the Bandstand along Rehoboth Avenue, pointing out landmarks and providing photos of historical sites and events.
So, look for the lady with the PINK Parasol at the Bandstand. You can bring your own too, if you have one to show it off!! They think they have to most awesome one…..they are just sayin’.
JOLLY TROLLEY HISTORY TOURS
Just like they have been doing for the past few years, The Jolly Trolley joined forces this summer and fall with the Rehoboth Beach Museum to offer special tours of the Downtown area. From the comfort of the inside of The Jolly Trolley you explore the town. The cost is $10, cash only, please.
Two tours will be taking place on Friday, October 24th, which is the beginning of the Sea Witch Festival. One tour will start at 9 a.m. and another will start at 10 a.m. Reservations are required. Please do so by calling 302-227-7310.
NOTE: The Rehoboth Beach Museum is located at 511 Rehoboth Avenue in Downtown Rehoboth Beach, by the roundabout. Tel. 302-227-7310. Website? http://www.rehobothbeachmuseum.org. The Rehoboth Beach Historical Society makes its home inside the Rehoboth Beach Museum.
Currently the exhibit called Cruisin’ is on display and celebrates the history of self-propelled vehicles and toys in motion.
Saturday, October 25th – “Love, Honor or Murder, presented by the Ad Hoc Radio Mystery Company….at 7 p.m. at the Museum on 511 Rehoboth Avenue. Players will take the audience back to a time when people gathered around the radio and listened to mysteries and other programs loved by many. The cost is $10 for everyone and reservations are required. Please call 302-227-7310.
Have a great day!!
July 21st, 2014
A new exhbit at The Rehoboth Beach Museum features items that illustrate the history of the organization known as CAMP Rehoboth. With this exhibit Rehoboth Beach Museum honors the history of CAMP Rehoboth.
The organization, whose name is an acronym for Create a More Positive Rehoboth, was founded 24 years ago. CAMP Rehoboth is a LGBT community service organization that has grown from its original small office on Baltimore Avenue, publishing a 4-page newsletter to a nationally-known organization with a long list of services, activities, events and programs.
The once modest Letters from CAMP Rehoboth newsletter now runs anywhere from 88 to 120 pages an issue.
Visitors are invited to visit the Rehoboth Beach Museum to view past issues of the newsletter, photos and t-shirts from the early days of the organization.
The shovel used to break ground for the new community center is on display, as is a bumper sticker stating “Keep Rehoboth a Family Town”, a tangible example of the tensions in the community that led to the founding of CAMP Rehoboth. Also on display is a framed ceremonial copy of SB121 which added the words “sexual orientation” as a protected class under Delaware’s non-discrimination laws.
The Rehoboth Beach Museum is open 10 – 4 from Monday through Friday, 11 – 3 Saturday and Sunday. It is located at 511 Rehoboth Avenue by the Rehoboth Beach Visitor’s Center and by the Roundabout. Admission is by donation. Call 302-227-7310 for more information. And, please visit http://www.rehobothbeachmuseum.org
February 22nd, 2014
Whether you like to visit the Delaware Beaches at the height of the season or during their Second Season, you have to admit that it is great to get out of town and from the routines of our daily lives. For many this year is shoveling snow. Guess what? There is no snow at the Delaware Beaches, and I am writing this post from Rehoboth Beach.
You can walk the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk while breathing in the ocean air and taking in the gorgeous scenery.
You might have to walk it a few times if you are like me…..taking my friend, Ron, to eat his first pizza at Nicola Pizza the other day. I told them that Ron knew how to make pizza. He says he can make a Chicago pizza on the grill that it is to die for. I said to the server…make it a large, half sweet peppers and mushrooms; the other half sausage and onions….well done, please. I think Ron liked it!!
If you are looking for something to do today….Hot Off The Press Exhibit at the Rehobothy Art League located at 12 Doods Lane. Tel. 227-8408. Website? http://www.rehobothartleague.org.
This exhibit is the first ever at the Rehoboth Art League of student work from various colleges and universities in Delaware and Maryland. Delaware State University, Salisbury University and Washington College will be represented. This exhibition gives these students a unique opportunity to exhibit their artwork in a professional setting, and learn valuable skills important to an artist, such as submitting, preparing, and displaying their work.
The Rehoboth Art League is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday from Noon until 4 p.m. This particular exhibit will be displayed until March 2nd.
If you are traveling to Georgetown, Delaware……you might be coming to the Delaware Beaches, leaving town or just doing some business in Georgetown…The Brick Hotel is a great place to have lunch or dinner. Please check their website, http://thebrickhotel.com. It was a half point place to meet a friend….and this is what we had for lunch, which takes place daily from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The Oyster Po Boy…fried oysters on a torpedo roll with chipotle mayo and a side green salad.
Marci got the Daily Quiche accompanied with a green salad, topped with blackberries and a sweet mustard dressing.
Shops are open at the Delaware Beaches…along with all the outlets. Great sales going on! Talk to you later.
February 15th, 2014
A Black Box Theater or experimental theater contains a simple, unadorned performance space. It is new in theater; just a large room with black walls and a flat floor. It uses limited sets, simple lighting effects, and a cozy focus on the story, writing, and performances. The venues are considered by many where more “pure” theatre can be enjoyed and explored.
All of the above is true, except that on Friday, February 14th, when Brown Box Theatre Project opened its 2014 Season, the venue was the modern and beautiful Ocean City Center for the Arts, located at 502 94th St. in Ocean City, Maryland. This is the home of the Art League of Ocean City. Website? http://www.artleagueofoceancity.org.
 
John, Susan, Shelley and I were looking forward to seeing once again its Director, Kyler Taustin, who founded Brown Box Theatre Project in 2009. Congratulations to him and his actors and staff for a beautiful evening. The audience was thrilled and you could see it and feel it, as well.
Brown Box Theatre Project is a non-profit theatre collaborative dedicated to bringing live theatre to schools and communities that ordinarily lack easy access to the performing arts. Previous performances have been A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Nina Variations, Romeo & Juliet, and a Feeble Mind. Not only does Kyle bring threatre to Ocean City, Maryland, but he is also bringing it to the Delaware Beaches. He will be back in September. Please check out their website by visiting http://www.brownboxtheatre.org. On Facebook as Brown Box Theatre Project, as well.
“Two Wrongs” was written by Scott Caan of Hawaii Five-O. It is a contemporary comedy and presents the story of Shelly, played by Chelsea Schmidt, and Terry played by Alex Marz, a pair of neurotics whose love lives become entangled due to the unethical meddling of their therapist, Julian, played by Brooks Reeves. It has a sharp dialogue, humor, love and deception. It was an hour long without intermission and the audience, laughed, clapped, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
It will be playing at the Ocean City Center for the Arts through February 17th. For tickets, please visit http://www.brownboxtheatre.org.
The Ocean Center for the Arts is offering a wide range of classes and events, including, pottery classes, pasta and pottery, painting, drawing, photography, kids classes, workshops and a few that caught my attention were: Cookies and Canvas, and Brushes and Bubbly. To know more, please visit http://www.artleagueofoceancity.org, or call 410-524-9433.
A stop at the Skye Bar located at Galaxy 66 in Ocean City for some small plates. The Galaxy 66 is located at 66th St. in Ocean City. Website? http://www.galaxy66barandgrille.com.
On the table…
Tenderloin tips…Italian marinade with truffle parmesan cheese fries. Tender and delicious “fries”.
Seared Rare Tuna with fresh Wasabi.
Tempura Chicken Bites…they were tempura battered and tossed in a choice of sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, or curry mustard sauce….all of them were served. I really like them; crispy and well seasoned.
Have a Good One!!
|
Comments Off on Flag Day, June 14, Indian River Life Saving Station, Delaware Beaches, Southern Delaware, Sussex County