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.

October 26th, 2012

Rehoboth Beach, Magical History Tour, Rehoboth Beach Museum, The Jolly Trolley, The Bake Shoppe, Kicking Off Sea Witch Festival, Downtown Rehoboth Beach, Delaware Beaches

What a difference!!  The weather today in Rehoboth Beach is like night and day.  Gorgeous to say the least.  It was also the perfect day to kick off the Sea Witch festivities. I was going to do so with a “Magical History Tour” of downtown Rehoboth Beach.

First things first.  A stop at The Bake Shoppe, located on Rehoboth Ave. A little coffee and a most delicious pumpkin muffin.  If you are in Rehoboth, please stop by.  This particular one was crunchy on top and so warm, moist and full of flavor.  Coffee was great too.

I was waiting outside with the others, when the Jolly Trolley Bus arrived.  The Jolly Trolley originated in 1970.  It celebrates and shares the sights, smells, colors and characteristics of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach resort area.  The Jolly Trolley is also a year round charter service.  Please call 302-227-1197, and 302-249-1605 for information.  You can also visit http://www.jollytrolley.com.

Christine Hastings, Jolly Trolley, Vice President, and I believe part owner, was going to be our Driver.  George Palmer was going to be our Tour Guide.

I went into the bus last and, of course, a picture was taken of my fellow Jolly Riders!!  Guess what?  I did not know one single person.

Since I started my blog over 3 years ago, I have learned so much about our area.  Believe me, Rehoboth Beach and the Delaware Beaches, in general, are a great place to live.  That’s why they are so easy to promote.  I don’t take them for granted.

In order to know how far Rehoboth Beach has come, you need to unlock that past.  The Rehoboth Beach Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated “to encouraging and promoting public knowledge of and participation in the preservation of the history, culture, architecture and special character of Rehoboth Beach”.  It is not a big museum but the information will show you the progression of a town that is also known as the Nation’s Summer Capital.

The Rehoboth Beach Museum is located by the roundabout, adjacent to the Visitors Center and the Chamber of Commerce, at 511 Rehoboth Avenue. Website?  http://www.rehobothbeachmuseum.org.  Exhibits, programs and entertainment are part of the Museum, as well.  Check the website for upcoming events.

George Palmer was the perfect Tour Guide.  His information was full of history given in a simple way and adding local color.

We stopped at the Anna Hazzard Museum.  This is one of the original “tent” buildings dating to the 1870s.  It reflects the early history of Rehoboth Beach.

Mr. Palmer told us that we used to grow a lot of peaches in Delaware.  Delaware, afterall, is an agricultural state.  Chickens?  Well, he told us that Delaware sells more chickens than anyone in the world.

The magnolia trees are beautiful in this area.  This is the farthest north they grow.

And, we started laughing when he asked if anyone had worn wool bathing suits?  Well, he had.  They were itchy too.  There was a time that men had to wear tops too at the beach.

Also, funny was when he mentioned that residents in Lewes consider Lewes with history, but Rehoboth Beach?  Oh well, they just have a past.

A drive by parallel to the beach.  I took this picture from the inside of the bus.  The ocean looked so pretty with the sun’s reflection.

We went by the Village Improvement Association of Rehoboth Beach.  At present, it is being rebuilt.  This association, also known as the VIA is a”charitable, non-profit organization, founded in 1909.  It promotes the interests, improvements and progress of the Rehoboth Beach community.  They perform charitable and civic work in and around the Rehoboth Beach area.  Its member are women of diverse interests, talents and backgrounds.  And, Mr. Palmer said that if you want to have something done in Rehoboth Beach, these are the women that can make it happen.  Hmmm…by the way, his wife belongs to it.  For more information, please visit http://www.rehobothbeachvia.org.

I recommend this tour to anyone visiting or to some of our locals and natives that might need a refresher course on Downtown Rehoboth Beach.  It is only 40 minutes long; you’ll still have time for the beach, shopping and eating.

After the tour I continued walking around Downtown Rehoboth Beach.  The shops were getting ready for a busy week-end….I hope Sandy lets visitors enjoy Sea Witch.

A stop at the Rehoboth Beach Post Office…the postal workers were ready!!

The beach looked gorgeous.  A sunny and clear day.

The Boardwalk was again, filling up with people soaking up the sun.

And, then my last stop was Lake Gerar.  Autumn at its best!!  Lake Gerar, along with Silver Lake and Lake Comegys, is one of the 3 fresh water lakes closest to the ocean than anywhere in the country.  These lakes are the jewels of Rehoboth Beach!!

I almost forgot…thanks for the water, Jolly Trolley!!  Have a great week-end!!