Model train layouts in private homes are highlighted in a month-long event running from October 30 to November 30. What is possibly the largest event of its kind covers Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. Complete information is on the Model Train website http://www.modelrailroadopenhouse.com/ The picture here is one I took at a celebration in Ellicott City, Maryland.  The B&O Railroad Museum: Ellicott City Station is the oldest surviving railroad station in America, and was the original terminus of the first 13 miles of commercial railroad in the country.  See my previous post on the Frank Furness designed Baltimore and Ohio Water St. station in Wilmington, Delaware, which recently hosted a group from the B&O RR Historical Society.  Who knew that my love of architectural ... 10/28/2010

     Last week, I walked up the Christina River Riverwalk towards the Amtrak station and downtown Wilmington. It was a big day for our Friends of the Furness Railroad District. We were hosting the Baltimore and Ohio RR Historical Society, which brought 2 busloads of conventioneers from Baltimore to visit the Wilmington & Western RR steam train, and the waterfront turn of the 20th century B&O Water St. station, which has been restored by ING (which explains the big orange ball)      The restoration of this building (which is part of the Furness RR District which also includes  the Pennsylvania RR station (now Amtrak), and the Pennsylvania RR office building) was quite extensive, and involved raising it a couple of feet to meet new street levels, and repairing all the rot and abuse it had... 10/26/2010

The Grand Opera House has been booking major talent. Pianist Chucho Valdes plays October 18, and the Indigo Girls hit Wilmington October 20.But on October 19, singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant rocks (or should we say, caresses)  the stage for what promises to be an evening of seriously easy listening.Merchant, who first hit the scene as the voice of 10,000 Maniacs, helped the band turn tunes like “These are Days” and “Trouble Me” into mega-hits. She began her solo career in 1994 with the self-produced album “Tigerlily,” which did pretty well. It sold about four million copies. For this show—part of her first tour in seven years—Merchant will perform music enhanced by symphonic arrangements, which should add extra lushness and dimension to already beautifully melodic music. Players from... 10/13/2010

Green Acres is a great community of single family homes located just northeast of downtown Wilmington off Silverside Road. ==== Note: OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY 1-3 ======== 1330 Tulane Road, Green Acres, 19803 ==== Green Acres is located on the south side of Silverside Road just west of the I-95 Freeway.  It is about halfway between Marsh Road and Philadelphia Pike providing multiple commuting options both into Wilmington and throughout the area.  I-95 is just minutes away with the ramps on Marsh Road affording quick access north or south toward Philadelphia/New York and the Baltimore/Washington DC areas. Green Acres contains over 350 homes and was largely built between 1955 and 1958 although some construction continued into the early 1960s.  The community contains a great variety of contempo... 10/05/2010

Restaurant Riff: The Green Room The great thing about The Green Room is its ability to reduce any stone-faced, unaffected foodie into a kid who's about to meet Mickey Mouse (or Justin Bieber). Eyes simply light up when they gaze upon the 100-year old, former Main Dining Room. The history! The art! The drapes! The chandeliers! The Four-Diamond awards! The china! If you're the type of person who isn't used to such opulence (*raises hand sheepishly*), the whole experience is pretty incredible.  So for one night, my dining group sat up a little bit straighter in our chairs, spoke a bit softer, and wondered aloud whether we were using the right utensils. Big ups to Delaware Dines Out for making it all affordable. The opening table-setting featured a colorful, ornate Versace plate in front of... 10/05/2010

  Come share the peace, love and yappiness at Woofstock as DHA hosts its 20th Annual Walk for the Animals – a real reason to celebrate. Join in the fun and wear your best tie dye, headband, love beads, and granny glasses, all for a great cause. It’ll be groovy! Pre-Walk activities begin at 10 amRegistration & Check In begin at 10:30 amOne Mile Fun Walk begins at 11:30 am Bring your dog(s), family, and friends to help support the animals at our biggest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds from the Walk support DHA’s mission as it is carried out throughout the tri-state area. Walk as an individual, or gather your friends, family and coworkers to form a team! In addition to the Walk, spend the day enjoying musical entertainment from WSTW, canine games, photo booth, and cool raffle items. Vendo... 09/29/2010

Fringe Wilmington returns September 29-October 3. If you missed its inaugural event last year, you missed a lot, but this year’s fest should be even better. Essentially, Fringe takes over downtown Wilmington—in a good way—by scoring every available space to showcase unconventional and experimental art. As cliché as it may sound, the five-day fest truly offers something for everyone, since artists of all creative disciplines (visual, performing, film) showcase their work the way they believe it should be showcased—not the way they are told to showcase it. This year’s gig, called “The Deliciously Different Arts Festival,” is aptly named. “Different” is what you get at a fringe fest. And when you buy a ticket to a Fringe Wilmington performance, 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to th... 09/29/2010

     This week, Preservation Delaware held a tour of Wilmington's University and Whist Club, a building whose nucleus started when Dr. James Tilton, a Revolutionary War hero, built a home in 1802 on a site he called Federal Hill (hoping the National Capital might be constructed here). One major element remaining from this time is the concrete slab where he performed autopsies located in the basement (a truly gruesome room with the slab slanted enough for blood to run off. I know, gory way to start this blog)     Here you see the original conservatory, now a lounge, and the next room is set up for a whist tournament with antique wooden game boards. I was told whist is similar to bridge, but not as many rules to remember. The house underwent many changes and additions, and in 1935, Franci... 09/19/2010

         There's not much to say about the great day for the return of the Brandywine Festival of the Arts (slightly changed name) on the Brandywine River Sept. 11-12. If you look carefully through the colorful stained glass by Kris Kraft of Gainesville, VA., you can see the rock-studded water in the background. And ever-popular local artist Larry Anderson always draws a crowd.     The beautiful pastels of Madeleine Kelly of nearby Pennsylvania certainly attracted my attention, and well-established local icon, Mitch Lyons attracted his loyal followers with his unique clay monoprints.        Local watercolorist Sarah Yeoman showed how she lays down her colors, while nearby, buses loaded and unloaded those who had parked at the remote lots. Here you can see the wooded setting and the ston... 09/11/2010

Union Park Gardens Event-A John Nolen historic neighborhood which was built for Wilmington's shipworkers is to be celebrated Friday September 17, 2010 5:30 - 8:30 pm at Zion Lutheran Church, 2101 Lancaster Ave, Wilmington, Delaware 19805.  Please stop by to view over 30 displays and learn about the fascinating history of Union Park Gardens and much more - A brief history of the Wilmington's shipbuilding industry, WW I posters and memorabilia, what things cost in 1918 - 1919, the property ‘before' the Union Park Gardens homes were built - baseball fields, fairgrounds and trolleys. Ties to Letchworth, England, the First ‘Garden City',and the architect John Nolen's work and the design of the community and his ideas are topics to be examined, as well as a glimpse of other John Nolen towns. ... 08/29/2010

The First Around the Fountain Festival will be held in the Cool Spring Reservoir Park this Sunday from 12:00-5:00. The Wilmington Renaissance Corporation (WRC) and Christiana Care are presenting the first Around the Fountain Festival.  The event will be held at the Cool Spring Reservoir Park just west of I-95 and south of Pennsylvania Avenue on Van Buren Street.   The festival will include live music, artist exhibitions, games, improv games, food, ice cream, and demonstrations.  The musical lineup includes the Born Sisters from 12:00-1:00, Sean Dougherty from 1:15-2:00, and Chip Porter and Friends from 2:15-5:00.   The park itself is in a great area in the Cool Springs/Tilton Neighborhood with an amphitheater and some park seating.  The neighborhood is a creative enclave near downtown W... 08/27/2010

         Ever since the Delaware Children's Museum opened this past April, it has been a busy place, with parents, grandparents, and summer camps and day cares introducing their excited little charges to a totally transformed building on the riverfront of Wilmington, Delaware, which once housed the Kahunaville nightclub and restaurant and a Chucky Cheese-type game center. Out with the outside volcano (which had to be turned off to keep from distracting drivers on nearby I-95) and in with the Stratosphere (for just plain climbing fun--elevator for handicap accessibility). Exhibits include The Power of Me (the human body) Structures (the who, what, where, and how behind building structures), ECOnnect (environment hands on activities means a popular stream table you can get your hands in),... 08/24/2010

Larry Hultberg | EXiT Central Realty | (302) 530-9186 413 Brighton Rd, Wilmington, DE North Hills Stunner, updates everywhere, very clean with 2 car garage on quiet dead end street 3BR/1+1BA Single Family House offered at $319,900 Year Built 1958 Sq Footage 1,500 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 1 full, 1 partial Floors 1 Parking 4+ Car garage Lot Size 11,325 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION North Hills Stunner! One floor living in this renovated North Hills Beauty. From the time you walk to the door you will see how well cared for this home is. Hardwood floors throughout the 1st floor, fresh tasteful paint with 3 bedrooms and expertly remodeled baths. The attic has very high ceilings that makes it perfect for a finished space. The kitchen is a chefs dream with new flooring, stove, counter ... 08/18/2010

 Richardson Park Area Wilmington Delaware Crime Stats - Low Cost Home Alarms Central Monitoring Crime Stats for the past 3 months  Criminal Mischief - 9Theft - 23Burglary - 6Vehicle Theft - 2Robbery - 0Murder - 0 National Security, a Guardian Protection Services Authorized Dealer will install a alarm system for the home or business for just a $49.95 install fee. (compare at $99.99)  Call today for a special offer from National Security. The package includes: Keypad Motion Detector Key fob with alarm panic button 4 door contacts Easy to use Alarm panel 24 Hour Professional Monitoring Monthly monitoring fee only $31.95 (compare at $39.00) and includes maintenance and repair of system.  This is a limited time offer call today and get protected this week! 08/10/2010

                                        While strolling through the weekly Farmer's Market in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, I was impressed by this enterprising architect, Will Hurd, of Footprint Architecture and Design p.a. in nearby Newark, Delaware, and his neatly lettered sign, "Architectural Help 25¢". His idea is that if you stop by his booth and briefly describe an architectural problem to him--maybe sketch something on a scrap of paper, he can give you some ideas, add a few pencil strokes, and point you in the right direction, for only 25¢.  Of course, if you like his idea, he is available at his regular rate. So should I try "Real Estate Help 25¢"?  Sort of like Lucy in "Peanuts" with her "Psychiatric Help, 5¢"? It's not that people don't want to talk about real estate.  Everyo... 08/07/2010

       Talk about the last rose of summer!  Well, maybe a few roses are trying to survive the heat, but they are the hardy ones! But the birds can't take a break in the air conditioned confines of my house, so this robin is looking at me from my arbor as if to say, "Well, aren't you lucky!!" Temps in the 90's have not been usual for Wilmington, as a matter of fact, this is the hottest month since records have been kept 100 years ago. The hottest month in U.S. history came during the Dust Bowl in July 1936, when the national average temperature hit 77.43 degrees, according to the National Climatic Data Center.  Take that, climate change doubters! And for extra measure, turn off those air conditioners! 08/06/2010

The Bike Boutique just opened up in the Nemours building next to the Plexus downtown location in Wilmingto, Delaware and what a concept! . The Bike Boutique provides bike lodging, sales, repair and spin classes. They are pioneers of bikelodgingTM, a unique bike storage and service concept. Based in the central business districts of many Asian cities, bikelodgingTM is a secure bike storage facility with showers and lockers available for rental. If you bike into the city from home, then you can get ready for work in a great environment, walk to the office feeling fit and refreshed. At day's end, your bike is ready for you to pick up and ride home. Boutiques are all over  major Asian cities. A Bike Boutique looks a bit like a gallery and feels like a clubhouse - a friendly, no-pressure env... 08/04/2010

Wilmington's Bayard Marin, the founder of the Quaker Hill Historic Preservation Foundation, has received the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Historic Preservation Medal. They honored him for advocating the restoration and preservation of "buildings of historic cultural significance, including the former home of Elwood Garrett, the son of the great abolitionist, Thomas Garrett."                                  The Thomas West House (no longer extant) on Quaker Hill was built 2 years before the founding of the City of Wilmington.(photo courtesy of the Delaware Historical Society) Wilmington Friends Meeting, at the heart of Quaker Hill, is the burial site of Thomas Garrett and John Dickinson, a Delaware signer of the U.S. Constitution.  The hill also is a landm... 08/04/2010

Union Park Gardens, a community established in 1918 for shipyard workers on the nearby waterfront in Wilmington, Delaware, is still a great place to live.(see Part I of Union Park at CarolynRolandsBlog.com) As a matter of fact, this list was put together by my client, Betsy, who is selling her home in Union Park Gardens, and it is so comprehensive, I just had to share it!        Great Food and Drink in the Area Little Italy (within walking distance) Attilio's - Casual Italian Mrs. Robino's - Casual Italian Bangkok House - Thai Eclipse - American Bistro Walters - Upscale Steak House Union City Grille - American Pomodoro - Upscale Italian Mona Lisa - Upscale Italian The Dumpling House - A Local Secret Scalesca's - Italian and Martini Bar Tijuana Taco - Authentic Mexican Blue Parrot - New ... 07/14/2010

      Union Park Gardens, in Wilmington, Delaware, is an insiders "secret" hidden in plain sight, but within walking distance of numerous restaurants and pubs in "Little Italy" and minutes from sophisticated restaurants and fun places on the Riverfront. Not many realize that it is one of a number of turn of the 20th Century versions of the English Garden Suburb movement built in this country. Rather than building standard rigid row houses, it was designed to be reminiscent of a village. Houses were built of slightly different sizes, styles, and materials. Architects Ballinger and Perrot and town planner John Nolen planned 500 homes on a 50 acre site convenient to trolley lines. And what was the impetus for all this housing? It was WWI, the shipbuilding industry in Wilmington, and worker... 07/13/2010