Back-to-back restaurant weeks hit Northern Delaware

Rise and shine, 302. Coffee tastes better when you didn’t make it. Same with sandwiches. Maybe it’s the effort. Maybe it’s the mystery. Either way, let someone else be the hero today.

Your 302 Rundown:

• Two restaurant weeks start this month

• Pups take over the pool this Saturday

• Delaware adds DMV fees for EV and hybrid cars

Let’s get to it

QUICK POLL

NEWS YOU CAN USE

🍴 Two restaurant weeks you won’t want to miss

September is shaping up to be delicious. Brandywine Restaurant Week runs September 15 to 21 with $20 lunches and $35 or $55 dinners at more than two dozen locally owned spots across Wilmington, Hockessin, and nearby Pennsylvania. No chains allowed, just neighborhood gems from steakhouses to taquerias.

Then Wilmington Black Restaurant Week picks up the flavor from September 28 to October 5, ending with the Black Food Festival at The Queen. Last year’s lineup brought out some of the best soul food, Caribbean dishes, and food trucks in town.

If you're always saying “we should try that place,” now’s your chance.

🐾 Walk your way to 26.2 (with or without a leash)

PAWS for People is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a twist on the traditional marathon. Their Wag and Walkathon lets participants log 26.2 miles at their own pace between September 18 and October 18, whether solo, with friends, or alongside a four-legged companion.

The month-long event wraps up with the PAWS Furry Fall Festival at Delcastle Park, featuring food, vendors, and doggie games. Registration is $25 for adults and $10 for kids, with proceeds supporting pet therapy visits for more than 60,000 people each year.

It’s a feel-good way to get moving, support a great cause, and maybe tire out your dog.

🐶 Pool party just for pups!

Maple Valley Swim Club is going to the dogs. On Saturday, September 13, they’re hosting a Soggy Doggy Splash just for your four-legged best friend.

Small pups (under 60 lbs) take the plunge from 11–12, and the big dogs rule from 12:30–1:30. It's $10 per dog, and yes, there’s a photo booth for maximum cuteness. Humans stay dry, but there’ll be plenty of tail wags, splashy zoomies, and even a wash station.

This is the last pool hurrah of the season, so let your dog cannonball into fall.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

🚗 DMV fees coming for EV and hybrid drivers

Heads up, green drivers. Delaware's DMV is rolling out new annual fees for electric and hybrid vehicles starting October 1. Bills are hitting mailboxes now, and payments are due by November 1.

Fees start at $60 for lighter hybrids and go up to $110 for fully electric cars, added on top of the standard $40 registration. The idea is to help make up for lost gas tax revenue since EVs and hybrids don’t fuel up as much. DelDOT also points to the extra wear from heavier vehicle weights.

It’s a statewide shift that could catch some by surprise.

🎶 Free concerts coming back to Wilmington

Cityfest just secured another round of Levitt AMP grant funding to bring free concerts to Wilmington’s east side through 2028. The nonprofit will get up to $40,000 a year in matching funds to host 7 to 10 shows annually at the Tina Betz Urban Artist Exchange Amphitheater.

This is Cityfest’s fourth consecutive grant since 2021, awarded for its strong community partnerships, inclusive programming, and creative reuse of public space. Each concert aims to reflect Wilmington’s diverse music scene while making live performances accessible for all.

Music, community, and a revitalized outdoor stage? It’s a solid mix.

🏘️ $1.6 million investment targets local neighborhoods

Healthy Communities Delaware is investing $1.6 million in nine neighborhoods across Wilmington, Dover, Laurel, and Milford. The funding will support home repairs, community planning, and resource hubs focused on improving local conditions like housing, transportation, and access to work.

The initiative is led by the Delaware Community Foundation in partnership with the University of Delaware and the Division of Public Health, with additional support from Nemours. Each project is designed around resident priorities and long-term neighborhood goals.

It’s a focused effort to support local solutions and strengthen communities from within.

🏗️ 64 new apartments proposed for Capitol Trail

A new housing proposal could bring 64 apartments to Capitol Trail, just east of downtown Newark. The plan includes four three-story buildings with parking underneath, mostly one-bedroom units, and enough parking to meet code. It replaces a smaller 48-unit proposal filed last year.

The developer is asking for rezoning and a few code exceptions, including taller buildings and more units per building. If approved, it would add market-rate housing to a largely residential area not typically targeted for student apartments.

The project still needs a thumbs-up from the planning commission and city council, so there’s time for public input.

🎨 Delaware explores new career pathways in the arts

The State Board of Education is reviewing how to better integrate arts-related careers into Delaware’s high school pathways. The move follows a General Assembly resolution urging more options for students interested in creative fields like digital media, visual arts, fashion, and entertainment.

Currently, most arts programs aren’t recognized under Career and Technical Education (CTE) guidelines because many creative careers are self-employed or don’t meet traditional job demand metrics. Officials say that could change with more flexible standards and updated pathways.

The goal is to give students more choices that align with their interests, whether those fit into CTE or not.

SPONSORED BY SENTMAN DISTRIBUTORS AND THE 12^th ANNUAL CRAB CRAWL

Crab Crawl 2025: A strolling feast for a good cause

The Crab Crawl returns to downtown North East on Saturday, September 13. From 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., stroll between local restaurants and sample crab-inspired small plates. VIP tickets include an extra tasting at Casa Mezcal, and all ticket holders get a buy-one-get-one drink special at the North East River Yacht Club, valid on event day or any Friday or Saturday in September.

Enter the Super Mega Jumbo Lump Crab Raffle for a chance to win one of ten prizes. Proceeds benefit youth literacy programs through the Friends Foundation. Learn more and get tickets at crabcrawl.org.

DOG OF THE WEEK

Say hello to Queen Sectonia🐾

Every queen deserves her crown, and Queen Sectonia is ready to rule, not over a kingdom but over your heart. This 3-year-old beauty is full of love and playfulness, the perfect mix of regal charm and down-to-earth sweetness.

Currently enjoying the comforts of a foster home, Queen Sectonia has shown she thrives in a cozy environment where she can be spoiled like the royalty she is. She’ll gladly shower her forever family with affection and loyalty in return.

If you’re ready to treat her like the queen she is, reach out to Sandra at [email protected] to set up a meet-and-greet through the Brandywine Valley SPCA’s New Castle campus. She’s spayed, microchipped, and ready to begin her reign in a loving home.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget that the BVSPCA’s annual 2026 Picture PAWfect Calendar Contest is underway. It’s the perfect chance for your own furry sidekick to shine. The 1st place winner will star on the 2026 cover and choose their featured month, and the next 11 winners will each claim a month inside the calendar. Enter today and let your pet’s personality steal the spotlight.

THE HAPPENINGS

Tuesday

Cole Brothers at Brandywine Mills Plaza – This high-energy trio blends funk, blues, rock, and a touch of jazz for a soulful sound that’s anything but ordinary. Tuesday, September 9 at 5 PM

Wednesday

Lunchtime Concert on the Arts Center Patio at Bellevue State Park Unwind midweek with a free performance by Peter McCarthy during this mellow outdoor concert. Wednesday, September 10 at 12 PM.

Levitt AMP Wilmington Concert with Kyaira at Clifford Brown Walk A jam-packed night of bubbles, laughs, and live music kicks off with the All That Shimmers Bubble Party and comedian GDash Jones before R&B songstress Kyaira takes the stage. Wednesday, September 10. Festivities start at 6 PM, concert at 7 PM.

Thursday

September Maker's Market at Greenbank Mills & Philips Farm – Browse handmade treasures, gourmet treats, and artisan goods from local vendors at this open-air evening market. Thursday, September 11 from 3–7 PM.

Sculpture Garden Happy Hour: Thank You First Responders Night at Delaware Art Museum Honor our everyday heroes with live music by James Spadola & Friends, lawn games, art vendors, and bites from Shugar Shack Soulfood and Dark Star BBQ. Thursday, September 11 from 5–7:30 PM. Free admission, cash bar, and a free drink for first responders with ID.

FORECAST AT A GLANCE

Monday

74 🌡️ 52 | ☀️ Sunny | 3% | 💨 NNE 8 mph

Tuesday

76 🌡️ 56 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 4% | 💨 ENE 10 mph

Wednesday

73 🌡️ 56 | ☁️ Cloudy | 9% | 💨 NE 9 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 74ºF
Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

THE NOT SO SHORTLIST

Now on Their Own Pages

• 🧘 Health & Wellness

• 🎭 Theatre/Arts 

• 🥳 Casual Plans 

• 🎶 Live Music

• 🌽 Farmers Markets

• 🧒 For the Kids (coming soon)

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