150+ Artisans Return to Winterthur

TOGETHER WITH

☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. The secret to a life well-lived is letting every moment be what it is.

Your 302 Rundown:

Let’s get to it

Winterthur presents Artisan Market, a weekend of remarkable makers, thoughtful collecting, garden strolls, and the thrill of finding something you didn't know you were looking for.

Shop the wares of more than 150 regional artisans. Indulge in a carefully curated selection of culinary offerings. Enjoy wine and chocolate tastings and crafting workshops. Take a house tour and explore the galleries, garden, and estate. 

Get your ticket today!

Advance sales only. Reserve early, sell out likely!

Delaware has no shortage of historical firsts. This university has been educating students since before there was a United States to educate them in.

Source: WDEL

The Delaware Lottery rolled out new self-service sports betting kiosks on Monday across the state. The machines were installed at all 89 participating retailers and the three local casinos, including Delaware Park Casino, Bally's Dover, and Harrington Raceway and Casino.

Powered by Caesars Sportsbook, the kiosks offer an alternative to clerk-assisted wagering. Players can now place prop bets, live in-game wagers, and multisport parlays on a single ticket. The machines also feature a QR code scanner for checking ticket results and a Bet Ahead option.

This feature allows users to build a wager online, receive a code, and complete the transaction at a kiosk. A full list of participating retail locations is available on the state lottery website.

Source: WDEL

The Delaware Department of Education rolled out a new online portal on Tuesday to help families navigate their local public school options across the state. The platform, called Explore Delaware Schools, gathers scattered education data into one central hub.

The site features interactive mapping tools and specific details on local attendance boundaries. Users can also look up individual school profiles, check available programs, and review recent performance metrics in a single place. The department designed the platform to make public education data more accessible and easier to use for residents.

The free portal is now live and available for anyone researching local school districts.

Source: Delaware Online 🔒 PAYWALLED

A longtime restaurant in the Trolley Square shopping center has officially served its last slice. Cafe Verdi permanently shut down its operations on July 1, ending a nearly 36-year run in the neighborhood.

The Italian restaurant was a regular stop for locals picking up a quick lunch or a casual dinner over the last three decades. Co-owner Silvio Garbati, who ran the business alongside his partner Carlo Botta, said the closure happened because he is retiring.

The departure leaves a prominent vacant storefront in the busy retail complex. Property managers have not yet announced what business might take over the space next.

Source: Delaware Online 🔒 PAYWALLED

Fusco's Original Italian Ice has opened a trailer in Hockessin, bringing its longtime Delaware frozen treats to Old Lancaster Pike. The trailer is parked at the former George & Sons seafood market near the Hockessin Corner shopping center.

The move gives Hockessin another easy stop for Italian ice, especially as summer heat settles in. Fusco's has been part of Delaware's warm-weather routine for nearly 70 years, so this is the kind of arrival that may feel familiar even before the first spoonful.

Source: WDEL

Earlier this week, Wilmington stylist Abbey Jae Rogers detailed her expanded sensory-affirming services at Sola Salons. Her practice accommodates clients with autism, ADHD, and trauma who might struggle with standard salon environments.

To help clients adjust, Rogers offers brief consultation appointments before scheduling a full haircut. During these visits, she introduces potential triggers, like the sound of a hairdryer or the feeling of a cape, at a comfortable distance. This gradual approach allows clients to familiarize themselves with the space and the equipment.

Rogers also founded the Sensory Chair Project to train cosmetology students in these techniques. She plans to make these accommodations a standard part of everyday practice for new stylists entering the industry.

Source: WHYY

Local musician Juan Zacheas Leonard walked into New Number One Chinese in Newark for a delivery pickup and noticed an aging piano in the corner. After getting permission from the owner, he sat down to play the older instrument while waiting for the food.

Those initial songs quickly evolved into a regular community jam session. Leonard began posting videos of his performances online, which attracted other regional musicians to the New London Road restaurant. Drummers, bassists, and singers started showing up to collaborate in the dining area.

The impromptu concerts transformed the neighborhood takeout spot into a public studio. Leonard planned to continue curating these musical spaces for the local community.

Escape the daily routine and enjoy an evening of timeless Sinatra classics, Italian cuisine, and classic supper club charm. Put on that special dress you've been waiting for an excuse to wear, press the suit, and dust off the fedora for a night to remember.

Your evening includes a three-course Italian dinner. The bar opens at 4 PM for cocktails, dinner seatings are at 5:30 PM and 6 PM, and the live performance begins at 7:30 PM.

Reservations are required in advance, and this event is expected to sell out.

Reserve your seats today!

La Fête Restaurant
2530 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE 19803
302.374.0779
lafetedelaware.com

Source: Delaware Business Now

New Castle County officials increased the assessed values of three major commercial properties by nearly $346 million following a recent review. The properties include an Amazon warehouse near Newport, a downtown Wilmington apartment complex, and a parking garage owned by JPMorganChase.

The valuation changes came after state legislation passed in January allowed the county to reexamine specific commercial assessments. The Amazon facility saw the largest jump, rising to more than $372 million, while the downtown apartment complex increased to over $61 million after its completed building was factored into the total.

Local school district officials noted that the additional commercial tax revenue could be offset by ongoing residential assessment appeals.

Source: Delaware Public Media

The planned Port of Wilmington expansion hit another legal roadblock this week when Philadelphia port operators filed a complaint to halt the project. The lawsuit argued the United States Army Corps of Engineers improperly reissued construction permits for the Delaware facility in April.

A federal judge previously revoked the project's permits in 2024 over concerns about Delaware River navigation. The new filing claimed updated traffic studies from the Diamond State Port Corporation still failed to address safety issues, specifically regarding a planned turning basin that could block the main shipping channel.

The plaintiffs asked the court to invalidate the permits and stop all construction activity.

Source: Spotlight Delaware

Wilmington officials lost $1.6 million in federal relief funding after missing a state deadline to finalize plans for a tiny home village. The city partnered with the nonprofit Springboard Delaware to build the project, but failed to secure a location and land use approvals by the required date.

City leaders requested an extension, citing a need for more time to build community support after residents pushed back against several proposed sites. The Delaware Department of Finance denied the request, pointing to strict federal requirements for the funds.

State officials planned to redirect the money to another organization. Springboard Delaware leaders indicated they would look for alternative financing to eventually bring a project to the city.

22nd Annual Summerfest | Holy Family Catholic Church. A festival featuring amusement rides, games, a beer garden, nightly raffles, and food. Live music runs each evening from 6-9:30 PM, with performances by Ride the Goat on Thursday and The Boomers on Friday. Thursday and Friday 5:30-10 PM, Saturday and Sunday 1-10 PM.

Sculpture Garden Happy Hours: Ice Cream Social featuring Benjamin Wagner | Delaware Art Museum. An evening in the sculpture garden featuring local ice cream, food trucks, lawn games, and a cash bar. Indie singer-songwriter Benjamin Wagner performs a set blending Americana and acoustic rock. Thursday at 5 PM.

Third Thursday | Nemours Estate. Live music on the front steps of the Mansion, with food trucks, beer, and wine. Thursday at 5 PM.

Third Thursdays on State Street | Kennett Square. An alfresco dining and family event featuring outdoor restaurant seating, extended shopping hours, and activities along a closed-off State Street. Parking is free in the E. Linden Street garage, and restaurant reservations are recommended for outdoor tables. Thursday 5:30-10 PM.

Summer Concert Series: Gunpowder Lane | Bellevue State Park. A live performance by local artists at the Bellevue Bandshell for the 39th annual Summer Concert Series. Attendees can pack a picnic or purchase meals from locally owned food trucks. Thursday at 6:30 PM.

Bellefonte Arts Summer Shop and Stroll | Bellefonte Arts. An evening shopping experience featuring a mini market of handmade and vintage vendors along Brandywine Boulevard. Free. Friday 5-8 PM.

Twilight on the Terrace: Katie Henry Band | Mt. Cuba Center. A live blues and roots rock set by the Katie Henry Band, featuring evening garden access and free tours. Visitors can bring a picnic or purchase beer, wine, and fare from local food trucks. Friday 5-8 PM.

Outdoor Concert: Wilmington Community Orchestra | Rockwood Park & Museum. An outdoor fundraiser concert featuring the Wilmington Community Orchestra performing symphonic works, including selections from Gustav Holst's The Planets. Attendees can bring a picnic dinner or purchase snacks, beer, wine, and ice cream from on-site vendors. Friday 7-9 PM.

Music at the Market | Wilmington Riverfront. A live performance by saxophonist Vernon James Jr. at the Riverfront Market. Saturday 11 AM - 1 PM.

Sug Daniels | Chapel Street Players. An afternoon concert featuring Delaware-born ukulele player and singer-songwriter Sug Daniels and her band. The performance blends folk and rock with storytelling and tracks from her debut studio album. Free. Saturday at 2 PM.

National Ice Cream Day Celebration | Woodside Farm Creamery. An afternoon of farm tours, new ice cream flavor sampling, and an ice cream eating contest. Activities include face painting, games, and food from 2 Fat Guys and Pizza Cones, with contest entry fees and non-perishable food donations benefiting the Food Bank of Delaware. Sunday 12-4 PM.

World Cup Watch Party | Bob Carpenter Center. A viewing party for the FIFA World Cup Final, featuring a pre-game Fan Fest with food trucks, a 21+ tented bar, inflatables, and live music from Maxima FM. Sunday 1-5 PM.

Summer Concert Series: Spokey Speaky | Bellevue State Park. An outdoor performance by Spokey Speaky as part of the 39th annual Summer Concert Series at the Bellevue Bandshell. Attendees can bring a picnic or purchase meals from local food trucks. Sunday at 6:30 PM.

More happenings we couldn’t fit in the newsletter.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. Just things worth knowing. I’ll always flag sponsors clearly.

Thursday

96 🌡️ 73 | Smoke | 13% | 💨 W 0 to 10 mph

Friday

91 🌡️ 71 | Areas Of Smoke | 0% | 💨 N 0 to 5 mph

Saturday

87 🌡️ 72 | ⛈️ Showers And Thunderstorms | 80% | 💨 S 0 to 10 mph

Sunday

87 🌡️ 67 | ⛈️ Chance Showers And Thunderstorms | 54% | 💨 W 5 to 10 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 75ºF Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

The full events calendar includes live music, festivals, classes, markets, family activities, community gatherings, and dozens more happenings across Northern Delaware.

Submit an event →

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