Wilmington, Delaware?

Old Jul 9th, 2013, 09:43 AM
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Wilmington, Delaware?

In a couple weeks, we'll be joining some friends at Rehoboth on Friday and Saturday, but our plan is to leave there on Saturday afternoon and drive to Wilmington for the night. Then on Sunday, we'd like to visit Wintertur before heading back up to Lambertville, NJ (home) later Sunday.

So what's in Wilmington? Should we stay downtown for the evening? Nice for a stroll? A good restaurant? Or should we go on to Brandywine or somewhere and stay in one of the inns (somehow that isn't enticing us). Mainly looking for a nice restaurant suggestion for the evening -- open to anything interesting and price isn't really much of a consideration (but not looking for THE 5 star gourmet dining spot of the region. Something with a view or nice atmosphere is good. Hopefully walking distance from a hotel -- Courtyard or Doubletree or similar.
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Old Jul 9th, 2013, 03:08 PM
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DH and I stayed at the downtown Courtyard a few years ago only because we couldn't get accommodations closer to UDel on parents' weekend. There was nothing in Wilmington that would entice me to return. Granted, I wasn't actively looking for fun and I may have completely missed the more happening parts of the city but it seemed pretty dullsville to me.

It sounds like you want a different experience but I can't think of anything in that area besides the usual suburban chain hotels. A nice inn may be your best option.

If you would rather stay in a chain, look in the outskirts of Wilmington. You can also use the college town of Newark as your base. It's close to the Brandywine valley and the campus is pretty but there aren't any neat inns there either that I can think of.

I do like this restaurant a lot:

http://www.williamandmerry.com/Home.html

I'm sorry I couldn't couldn't give you more help.
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Old Jul 9th, 2013, 03:29 PM
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Not crazy about Wilmington at night. Suggest you head over to Longwood Gardens area. There's a restaurant at LG, and you could tour the gardens (check out the back of the organ). Lots of hotels and B&Bs on routes 1 & 52. I recommend the hotel and restaurant at the Mendenhall.
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Old Jul 9th, 2013, 04:06 PM
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Go to West Chester (tons of restaurants) or Kennet Square (recommend Sovana Bistro) instead.
If you do go to Wilmington, try the Columbus Inn
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Old Jul 9th, 2013, 04:18 PM
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Have been tooling wood several times. This time it's Wintertur, so it seems krdto backtrack, coming up from the south.
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Old Jul 9th, 2013, 04:43 PM
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hey - we're neighbors! I live in Lambertville too....Delaware Ave.
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Old Jul 10th, 2013, 03:35 AM
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Hey, NJriverchick. We're up at Lambert's Hill.

What was that IPad auto correct last night? Have been to Longwood several times became "tooling wood". And "backward to" became what?
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Old Jul 10th, 2013, 04:38 AM
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In the Brandywine Valley area:
Krazy Kats in Montchanin, DE – haven’t been there for a while but it has fabulous food and the eggs benedict for breakfast/brunch are wonderful.
http://www.krazykatsrestaurant.com/

Mendenhall Inn, Mendenhall PA – great food here too
http://www.mendenhallinn.com/mendenhall/menus.asp

both are within driving distance to Winterthur and Longwood Gardens

Wilmington:
Deep Blue (in the downtown area) walking distance to Courtyard on 12th St Wilmington
Hotel DuPont Green Room (in the downtown area) walking distance to Courtyard
They also have a Theatre Prix Fixe Menu if you’re going out at night.
Hotel DuPont has been described as a 4* hotel in a 2* town. I agree with Vincenzo about Wilmington at night.
Harry’s Seafood (on the waterfront) you’ll need a car.
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Old Jul 10th, 2013, 05:06 AM
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GBelle, interesting. For some reason the downtown Marriott Courtyard is only 10,000 points, so I can get a FREE room easily. And Deep Blue looks very interesting, especially their $29.95 three lobster courses Saturday night dinners! We'll probably arrive just in time to have dinner then crash for the night, and out the next morning to head to Winterthur, so how much nightime activity downtown do we need? And yes, I see the restaurant is just about 2 blocks from the Courtyard, so this sounds good. Krazy Kats looks great for breakfast -- and it appears to be almost right there (by Winterthur)? Need to check my maps a little more.

Thanks.
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Old Jul 10th, 2013, 05:17 AM
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Krazy Kats & Winterthur should be less than 10 minutes apart.
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Old Jul 10th, 2013, 05:19 AM
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Wilmington is usually not a destination for us, but I'd be willing to take a detour to try Bryan Sikora's newest venture, La Fia. He built an impressive resume in Philadelphia and Kennett Square--Django, Talula's Table, a. Kitchen...

The bistro side of La Fia was launching last night. Read more about it from Michael Klein at philly.com

http://tinyurl.com/q7yu574
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Old Jul 10th, 2013, 05:38 AM
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kmbp, I'll do my best to ignore that recommendation -- LOL. I just booked the Courtyard and booked Deep Blue with Open Table. LaFia sounds like a great breakfast place, but alas they aren't open on Sunday.

But I may need to check out other Sikora restaurants in Philly.
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Old Jul 10th, 2013, 05:53 AM
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Oh, Sikora has left those restaurants--Django is no more; his former wife Aimee Olexy continues the remarkable Talula's Table in Kennett Square; a. kitchen has a new chef.

I'll be watching for reviews of the bistro at La Fia.
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Old Jul 10th, 2013, 05:59 AM
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Ah, OK. I read it better. So he set up a.kitchen, but doesn't own it, and his ex wife is the owner of Talula's Garden in Philly and a "forthcoming" Talula's Daily.
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Old Jul 27th, 2013, 05:41 PM
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I'll check with my cousin and wife, since they live in Wilmington and are both foodies and love to drink. Interestingly, they bought a beach house some years back in Rehoboth (weird, first I've ever heard of this area, and now you mention it!), and especially in summer, spend most of their time there -- on the beach, bar hopping, and eating well. His job allows him to work from the beach house rather than commute, and cousin plans to retire in February.

I'm interested in this thread, mainly because I'm planning on taking my mom there mid-September to visit her 90 year old cousin (my cousin is the son). It will probably be their last visit together. So I was looking for hotels in the unlikely event they won't let us stay at their house.

On "things to do" -- I highly recommend the not particularly well known Delaware Art Museum that has a fine collection of American art -- in particular an exquisite collection of John Sloan etchings and other materials by him that his surviving spouse (Helen) has generously donated and/or sold. He's one of the founders of the Ashcan school of art.
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Old Jul 28th, 2013, 02:36 PM
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The night was last night. Free night and unexpected free parking at Marriott Courtyard and a really good dinner at Deep Blue. This morning espresso drinks and great bagels with lox at Presto. Did Winterthur and Brandywine River museums before heading home.
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