The New Castle Historical Society announces “Hauntings in History”  walking tours October 18, 19, 25, & 26 at 7, 7:30, and 8:30 p.m. at the Amstel House in Old New Castle.  The original spooky tours are back again this year with new stories and new artifacts to see.  Space is limited and these tours will sell out so get your tickets soon! Tickets: $12 adults, $8 children (12 and under); $35 Family of Four (2 adults 2 children) with additional children's tickets available for $6 each. Call 302-322-2794 for tickets.                                   Haunted?                                           Chester County Day Welcome 2012 It only happens once a year--Chester County Day, this year on October 5, 2013. Date: Saturday, October 5, 2013. Every year includes homes and historic sites in... 10/01/2013

The original Kalmar Nyckel served as Governor Peter Minuit’s flagship for the 1638 expedition that founded the colony of New Sweden, establishing the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley, Fort Christina in present-day Wilmington, Delaware.  She would make a total of four roundtrip crossings of the Atlantic, more than any other documented ship of the American colonial era. In select locations, join the crew for a memorable deck tour of this modern reproduction of the Kalmar Nyckel.  The crew will talk with guests about the ship, its special place in history and what made it unique in 1638 and today.  Kids can ring the ship's bell, march around the capstan, and steer the ship using the whipstaff (1630's helm technology predating the wheel).  Check out her carvings f... 09/23/2013

Thursday, September 19th 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm Chase Center, 815 Justison St., Wilmington DE Riverfront It's the 6th annual homegrown cook-off where you get to be the judge!  Local farmers and area chefs whip up the tastiest competition of the year.   Attendees will also be able to cast their vote for their favorite dish.  Included in the evenings festivities are silent and basket auctions. The premise of the event is simple, pair local farmers with local chefs. While the event is a fundraiser for the March of Dimes, we are also helping to create sustainable relationships between local farmers and chefs, while reinforcing the movement of eating healthy which is something the March of Dimes believes in and promotes to women who are considering pregnancy. For more information and tickets, cli... 09/10/2013

           Please join The Friends of the Furness Railroad District, Hagley Museum and Library, Delaware Historical Society, and Winterthur Museum on September 16, 2013 at 6:00 pm in the Winterthur Copeland Auditorium for an evening with Anthony W. Robins, author of Grand Central Terminal: 100 Years of a New York Landmark. This is an exciting opportunity to hear this established author and historian. Do not miss out! To register call 302-888-4600 or go to https://secure.winterthur.org/ecommerce. Reservations are filling up fast for this talk, so be sure to let us know you will be there.   On a personal note, I serve on the Board of the Friends of Furness, and am so proud that we were able to get Tony Robins to speak next Monday. I took the picture a couple of months ago at a celebration... 09/10/2013

  The “Wharf Dance,” an annual event in Old New Castle, is scheduled for  7 to 11 p.m., Saturday, September 7, at the end of Delaware Street and the River. Pack a picnic basket and be prepared to dance the night away under the stars. There will be music and a cash bar, all to benefit the New Castle Senior Center and the New Castle Historical Society. For tickets and reservations, click link or call 302-322-2794. As a personal note, after Hurricane Sandy destroyed the pier on the waterfront, I took this picture, but the wharf is still there!! Rockwood Museum and Park in Wilmington is hosting a 1920’s Fashion Show and Tea on Sunday, September 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. This is the period when women abandoned restricting fashions and began to wear more comfortable and sometimes daring fashions. S... 09/02/2013

I got a call from a disabled veteran the other day. He was so excited. He was ready to buy a house because he had the “Golden Ticket.”  He had his VA Certificate of Eligibility for up to $36,000. He wanted to start looking at houses.  I advised him to first speak to one of my trusted loan officer connections, which he did. Then the good news/bad news came back to me that this gentleman had NO CREDIT.  That’s right, no credit cards, loans, rent records (living with his mother). He was given information about attending a local class for home buyers about establishing credit. With his next paycheck, he was to get a  prepaid credit card and start to use it wisely. More good news for him (in my opinion) was that he didn’t have internet, so he was not going to buy merchandise on the net, and... 08/15/2013

                                  Come to Wilmington, Delaware and enjoy the Nations Oldest African American Festival celebrating religious freedom, freedom of speech and the right of assembly,     The festival is held August 18-25 at the Harriet-Tubman Riverfront Park in downtown Wilmington, DE with activities for children and adults with music, vendors and fun for all!     Celebrate the  heritage, music, crafts, singing, stage performances, children events, storytelling, vendors, food arts, African clothing, books and  nationally known gospel recording artists (click above link for schedule). The August Quarterly Festival, also called the Big Quarterly, is an annual celebration to commemorate the founding of the Union Church of Africans, the first African American Church, independentl... 08/14/2013

It looks like the market is continuing to improve in New Castle County. This is great news for sellers, but buyers are finding themselves up a tree!  If they are looking for fresh and well-priced homes, there are many others doing the same thing, and there are many disappointed buyers out there. I had a buyer last week look at a house that was on the market less than a week. We wrote an offer, only to find out that the listing agent had just gotten signatures on another offer. Frustrated, the buyer said that maybe she should move to another state. But that was just an emotional reaction, since I know her grown children and grandchildren want her close-by.                  Above, you see the July Market Report for New Castle County, Delaware. Here you can see that sales and new listings ... 08/13/2013

Come Ride the River on the Wilmington River Taxi!      Enjoy the natural beauty and tranquil waters of Wilmington's scenic Riverfront with a river taxi ride along the Christina. Bring the entire family on a fun-filled cruise, or hop on board at one of the convenient stops for a quick trip to your favorite restaurant or shopping destination.   Family Night Cruises   Bring the kids down to the Riverfront every Tuesday and Thursday night in June, July & August for a 45 minute ride on the Christina River.  Cruise times are 5:00, 6:00, and 7:00 p.m. $15 per family of 4. Receive a coupon for 10% off at Molly's Ice Cream + Deli after your ride!                 Wednesdays on the Water Wine Cruises Enjoy a wine tasting on the Christina River every Wednesday in July & August. Perfect for happy ho... 08/08/2013

  The New Castle Historical Society invites you to “Paranormal Investigations with Delmarva Historic Haunts” on Saturday, August 24 at 8:30 and 11:30 p.m.  This will take place in Historic Old New Castle at 3 of the town’s most historic and "active" buildings: The Amstel and Dutch Houses, and the Old Library. Here’s your chance to meet some “previous residents”!  All tickets $25, call 302-322-2794. Now, do you suppose this woman will be waiting for you at the Amstel House?   On Friday, August 2 at 6 p.m., Historic Kennett Square will bring to life an interactive murder mystery in the center of town. "The Snow White Family Reunion" gives you the chance to try and solve a family tragedy by the end of the evening. This is an annual event and I never have been able to solve the mystery and ... 07/30/2013

First of all, you are probably saying, “What in the world is Brandywine Hundred?”  Historic writings say that the State of Delaware is divided into geographic areas called “Hundreds” based on an English model of areas able to raise 100 soldiers to fight for the king. Since George Washington refused to be crowned a king, all we have left is a system of law based on English law and improved by the far-sighted improvements added by William Penn. (Penn didn't believe starving children should be hung out to die for stealing bread). Oh, and Masterpiece Theater!          What we have here is a mash-up of locations across the street from one another on Foulk Road. Highland Orchards, the organic farm selling produce and home to a small menagerie, is across the street from the Talley Day Park, h... 07/24/2013

 A recent question from a South Graylyn Crest resident brought the latest figures on activity in the neighborhood for the last six months. The good news is that sale prices are up over 10% over 2012. And if you are wondering how to be the homeowner who gets the highest price but don't feel you are ready to sell, I have two words of advice, "Enjoy yourself!" So often I find sellers don't add updates like "sexy" kitchens and baths until they are thinking of moving. PEOPLE: do it now and enjoy it! You deserve to enjoy a new kitchen and baths more than any buyer who has never seen your home before and doesn't know how dated your house was. The Mid-Century Modern split levels of South Graylyn Crest adapt well to modern lifestyles and a downsized economy. Interested in seeing what is for sale... 07/20/2013

Delaware Real Estate Moving Clean Up Help Delaware Junk Removal Today Delaware Junk Removal helped a new home owner clean up dozens of boxes left over after their move.  The new home owners filled up their screened in porch with the boxes it was stacked pretty high as you can see in the photo below. A few hours later the mess was gone! Delaware Junk Removal Removes Anything From Anywhere! 07/11/2013

Estate Clean Out Wilmington Delaware New Castle County Fast Dependable   07/07/2013

              Today I am going to compare the nearby markets of New Castle County, Delaware, and Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, for June, 2013.  As you can see above, there has been little change in the number of new listings in New Castle County over the same period last year. For the year to date, the number of closed sales was down slightly, while since May, closed sales have been down 7%. The best part of the report for sellers is that the last month has brought a 10% rise in prices. So, inventory is still down but sellers should get those houses on the market because prices in general are rising. However, don't take this to mean that buyers are throwing caution to the winds. They are not. My experience has shown that they are still being particular about condition and ameni... 07/06/2013

Join the Delaware Historical Society and John Medkeff, beer historian, on Saturday, July 20 at 9:45 a.m. for a special bus, walking, and Riverview Cemetery tour (rain or shine!) exploring Wilmington's rich brewing past. Travel throughout Wilmington to exhume this buried beer history from the colonial era. Explore historic taverns, commercial bottlers, and survivors of Prohibition, to the present-day microbrewery revolution! This first-of-its-kind tour concludes with a beer sampling at the Riverfront Iron Hill Brewery where the tour begins and ends. Reserve your spot online here or call (302) 295-3284 Space is limited -  R.S.V.P. required.$30/members   $45/non-members - includes beer sampling.    Town Tours and Village Walks update:West Chester Kick-off and Tour which was originally sch... 07/02/2013

           I had my hopes up to hear the Delaware Symphony in Wilmington on July 4, as they have been performing this concert, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture included, for over 20 years, by my accounting. My hopes were up until this morning, when I read in the news that there would be a more "modern, updated, younger demographic" catered to by singer Macy Gray (who I am unfamiliar with).   Update: A News-Journal poll showed that 27% want to hear the Delaware Symphony, 5% want Macy Gray, and 68% would rather have a good fireworks show (a strange choice laid out by the newspaper, since I am assuming either choice would have fireworks but since Gray costs more, maybe not as good fireworks?)   What about all the thousands who showed up in the past for the Symphony? They are a great group of mu... 06/27/2013

Wilmington Renaissance has finally announced that, yes, Virginia, there will be a July 4 celebration in Wilmington, Delaware!            The announcement: July 4th, Tubman Garrett Park, Wilmington 2:00 pm - 10:15 pm Admission: free Celebrate the 4th at this festival which will include musical entertainment, family activities, a marine event, food vendors and more. Sponsored by the City of Wimington and Cityfest, Inc. Update: Bad news about music for this event     Photos above from a past July 4 in Tubman-Garrett Park which is next to the Wilmington AmtrakTrain Station on the Riverfront. Looking for homes for sale in Wilmington, Delaware? Contact Carolyn! 06/26/2013

  I’m not sure what the crowd count was, but for the 3 nights I attended the 25th Clifford Brown Jazz Festival which was held from June 18-22, the crowds filled Rodney Square and spilled out onto the surrounding sidewalks. Down on the grass, one had to shoehorn in a lawn chair to find a place to sit. The first night started with saxophonist Benny Golson (center), who frequently played with trumpeter Brown, who died in an accident at 25 in 1956. From top center clockwise, Rick Braun, vibrophonist Stefon Harris, jazz DJ Bob Perkins of WRTI, United Trumpet Summit, Rick Braun wanders into crowd, fab singer Vanesia (Wilmington gal who has been performing at the Fest for years) with To The Maxx, Jessy J, the crowd. The largest free jazz festival on the East Coast, it draws people from all ove... 06/24/2013

Tonight is the first of four days of the 25th Annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival on Rodney Square in Wilmington, Delaware.   This picture is from the 2012 Festival (Steve Wilson group with Strings). I have been attending this great gathering from the beginning, when it was held on the riverfront behind the Hercules Building, and when Brown’s widow attended. This year they have shortened it from Monday to Saturday to Wednesday to Saturday. With a new mayor in office, it will be interesting to see if the City will take that money they saved by shortening the Festival and put it to good use. They will be off to a good start tonight by presenting the Benny Golson Quartet at 6 PM. Golson composed “I Remember Clifford,” which is played by various trumpeters every year in memory of the late g... 06/19/2013