It's my job to party

It wasn't that long ago that people used to complain about Wilmington/Northern Delaware being boring.  (Stay with me here, I have a point.)  It didn't matter that Kahunaville offered 7-day-a-week events, The Grand was thriving with performances of all sorts, there was always some kind of theater to be had, that we had many, many great restaurants in town, or that half the county went to Trolley Square (which apparently isn't Wilmington?) every weekend anyway.  The same "Wilmington is boring" comments would show up on discussion boards all the time.

 

Now with Wilco/White Stripes type of offerings, Trombone Shorty/Cyril Neville and the like headlining modestly priced fundraisers, arts venues welcoming burlesque, dubstep and roller derby--in permanent facilities or empty storefronts, restaurants (with the coolest young chefs ever) that regularly book jam bands and reggae artists, original hip-hop and spoken word events, festivals (ie, Wilmington Grand Prix, Fall Festival and CityLife block parties) which book local talent, community-wide promos like Wilmington After Work and City Restaurant Week, and DJ events popping up everywhere, it's not just un-boring, there is actually more to do than a person can keep up with.  (And it's very hard to show love to all the community organizations and artists by supporting each event.  Every event has competition now!) 

 

So the last time I heard tell of someone making a "boring" comment about Wilmington, my first reaction was not to get defensive.  I just laughed.  So it's not just people's attitudes that have changed, it's me too that has changed.

"Yay" doesn't quite describe it.

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Soap box descension complete.  Now on to business:

 

You may have wondered why these emails have become so few and far between.  I just don't have the ability to capture all the great things that are going on without (A) worrying I am going to overlook something and (B) taking the focus away from my bailiwick, which is DJ parties.  (Plus, I can't tear myself away from Facebook.)  So I hope to give you a monthly update, focusing on the next month or so's worth of DJ Zip events, and sprinkled with other community events and just plain good times.

 

Therefore, chronology be damned, here's what's going on in and around Wilmo:

 

Today (Friday, May 1^st)

 

1. ‘Heal Delaware’ a brand new event at Rodney Square will take place all afternoon and continue during the city organized “Art Loop.”  It’s a gathering of artists, musicians, community activists, teachers, students, and businesspersons looking to express what Heal Delaware means to them.  It’s a come one, come all event with no charge that will take place from Noon-8:00pm, and ends just in time for re:fresh.  So bring your blankets, chairs, strollers, and open minds to Rodney Square for an afternoon & evening of visual & verbal entertainment.  (Hip hop, ska, and soul = the musical entertainment.)

 

2.  Art on the Town aka the Art Loop.  5-8pm. 35+ venues.  Always free.  Many venues have snackies!  http://ci.wilmington.de.us/artloop/

 

3.  re:Fresh - art loop after party at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art.  Zip is on the decks this month with special guest DJ LuVitt (Mech returns next month).

 

Weds, May 6 - Zip's back in the rotation at Deep Blue for Wilmington After Work. (If you are a planner, he's booked for every other Wednesday.)  5-7pm there are the $5-4-3-2 specials, and after 7, sit back and enjoy the tunes.

 

Frid, May 15th - Unicity Festival in Salisbury.  Remember the big hubbub last year about John Waters and Sandra Bernhard in Middletown?

 

Frid, May 15^th – 16^th ~ Wilmington Grand Prix weekend. WGP kickoff party will be held in Willingtown Square on Friday night from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Live music, food and drink. On Saturday, the day will be full of professional and amateur races, junior race and street festival with fun for the entire family. AND DJ ZIP, SKINNY WHITE, LUVITT AND JNH... For more information, visit www.wilmgrandprix.com.

 

Saturday, May 16: Saturday Night Supper Club at Deep Blue Bar and Grill.  A monthly event/all-in-one destination (cocktails, dinner and dancing) for a night on the town.  Dinner: $35 prix fixe menu gets you 3 courses + complimentary glass of bubbly; seatings begin at 7pm.  Dance party: no cover; retro drink specials (think Tom Collins/Mai Tai style); upscale DJ entertainment by Wilmington's own DJ Zip; music begins at 10pm.  Dress is retro or sexy with monthly retro-attire themes.  May 16th theme is Elvis movies - cruisewear, safari and Hawaiian shirts, Vegas-chic.  Valet available. Third Saturday of every month at Deep Blue, 111 W. 11th Street, Wilmington.  302-777-2040.

NOTE: This month's retro theme is Elvis movies: think Fun in Acapulco (Ursula Andress, plus Elvis in speedos), Blue Hawaii, Viva Las Vegas (Ann-Margret).

 

Other DJ offerings:

 

DJ Bis' Remix Disco(tech) -- every Wednesday at Pat's MVP in Newark

DJ LuVitt's Miami Thursdays -- weekly at Metro (lower level of McKenzies Brew Pub on 202)

DJ JNH's monthly International Night -- fourth Thursday of the month at Pat's MVP

 

 

Et cetera:

 

Saturday, May 2, the Delaware Sports League presents the Riverfront Games & Music Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grass by Justison Landing on the riverfront. The day will feature music, food, drinks and kickball games. Part of the proceeds will benefit Best Buddies.  For more information, visit www.delawaresportsleague.com.

 

Til May 16th:  http://city-theater.org/the-beard-of-avon/

 

 

Oct 1st-4th ~ Wilmington Fringe Festival.  If you have an unnatural talent, we want to see you perform it.   http://fringewilmingtonde.com/