Free music festival announced for September 10th, in Maryland.

Complimentary passes to the Virgin Mobile FreeFestival will be available starting this Friday.  The festival will take place at the Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, MD, on September 10th, and the line-up will include Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Black Keys, Cee Lo, Patti Smith, TV on the Radio, Deadmau5 (who are also playing the Philly F/M Festival in late September), Okkervil River, Two Door Cinema Club, Ghostland Observatory, and many more. 

Details from WXPN's blog, "The Key":
http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/07/virgin-mobile-freefest-announces-2011-date-lineup-tickets-to-be-released-this-friday/

By the way - to get the free tickets, you have to 'like' Virgin Mobile's Facebook page, here: http://www.facebook.com/VirginMobileLive?sk=app_174402785926020

People who are already Virgin Mobile customers, or who attended this festival in the past 5 years, will be eligible for a "pre-free-sale" on Thursday.

Fan of The Best Show on WFMU?

Then you should hear about The Best Show on WFMU -  Live Listener Party happening tonight.  For those unfamiliar, The Best Show is a New Jersey radio comedy show.  It's hard to describe, but it's a fake call-in show where one guy always plays the radio host and the other guy plays a variety of oddball characters who call in (such as "Philly Boy Roy").  Their largely-unscripted on-air conversations are drawn out over the space of 45 minutes or so and reveal a humor so subtle that you almost have to listen to each episode (available on podcasts) twice.   Probably the most accessible installment I've heard is the one where the caller is supposed to be Pat Sajak's brother - here's a free podcast of that show:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mike-sajak-originally-aired/id306300026?i=81730543. 

The listener party will take place tonight, Tuesday, at The 700 Club in Northern Liberties, 8pm-2am.  The social media page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117106751710996

Free admission to the Brandywine River Museum today, Tuesday.

The reason?  Today is Andrew Wyeth's birthday.  The museum will be open until 4:30pm today.  Oh, and there will be cake.  (In the shape of a yellow lab?  A white barn?  Helga's braids?  Who knows).

Note to middle-aged and late-middle-aged male rock concert goers in Wilmington:

Do try not to wear your golf outfit to the concert.  I understand - it fell on a Saturday after a round at the club with your buddies, and you didn't have time to go home and change.  But isn't that what locker rooms are for?  You're really going to show up to a concert in a nice joint and give Todd Rundgren fist pumps while wearing golf cleats and shirts that were only designed to be worn on the course? 

And I'm not talking about one or two guys - I'm talking about half the audience.  Come on guys - I'm not saying you  have to try to dress like hipsters 20 years your junior.  Wear clothes you're comfortable in.  But come on; hi-tech micro-weave golf gear?   I keep wondering - is it because these guys work so much that those are the only casual clothes they own?

Delaware Center for Horticulture designs storm-water runoff system for Trolley Square's ACME.

There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony this Friday, July 15th, at 11:30 am.

From DCH:

Major greening renovations completed in ACME parking lot

Installed by the Delaware Center for Horticulture

Project will save ACME $1,500 per year

Wilmington, Del. – The Delaware Center for Horticulture (TheDCH) announces completion of a stormwater mitigation project at the ACME grocery store in Wilmington’s Trolley Square neighborhood. A ribbon cutting ceremony and luncheon will be held on July 15 at 11:30 AM. The event will be attended by city, state and federal officials; ACME executives; major media and numerous stakeholders.

The 9,000 square foot system captures an estimated 70 percent of the site’s annual rainfall, providing relief to the city’s combined stormwater and sewer system and helping to preserve the integrity of the region’s drinking water. The landscaping and engineering system is designed to filter, slow and absorb rain that falls on the roof of ACME’s building and 1.42 acre parking lot. It includes 19 large shade trees, more than 2,800 shrubs and smaller perennial plants, a rain garden, and a series of underground holding tanks – while maintaining almost the same number of the parking spaces.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin in the Trolley Square ACME parking lot, on the corner of Delaware Avenue and North Dupont Street. The event will be followed immediately by a luncheon at TheDCH at 1810 North Dupont Street.

Editor's note: we're not big fans of ACME in my household - they're overpriced.  Especially that location.  But I consider this to be a beautification coup for Trolley Square, and an essential water-saving device for the city that will hopefully be followed by more such projects.  Congrats to the DCH on seeing this project through.

Weekday events of note:

Reminder: see post below about Wilmington Beer Week.

Monday:

Groove Night at The Queen. 7pm, $5 at the door.

Eleanor Friedburger (of The Fiery Furnaces) at Kung Fu Necktie. 21+, doors at 8, $10.

Screening of "Sucker Punch" at the Trocadero (I don't get it, but I'm not going to judge).  21+, doors at 6:30, show at 8, $3.  Arrive before 7pm and get a free beer and bag of popcorn.  (See, that's nice.  Delaware liquor laws prevent venues from advertising free alcohol.   Oh look - something I remember from ABC class).

Tuesday:

Harvest To Home Mobile Pantry at UD.  Volunteers will load a Food Bank of Delaware vehicle with vegetables harvested from UD's "Garden for the Community", located behind the Girl Scouts facililty on 896.  Starts at 8am, no end time given.  http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2012/jul/mobile-pantry-070611.html

Urge Overkill, with local band The Cocks, at the North Star Bar. 21+, doors at 8, $15.

Kuf Knotz presents The Boombox Collective, at WCL Philly.  8pm.  Free (I think you're supposed to reserve a seat, though): http://tickets.worldcafelive.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=3912

Wednesday:

Showing of "Pedal Driven: A Bike-umentary" at Theatre N.  7pm, $10. Description: http://www.theatern.org/Films/2011/July/Pedal-Driven--a-bike-umentary

Free Show Wednesdays at Mojo Main, with Green Eggs and Jam, and Codee Bee & The Crooks.  9pm, free for 21+.

4W5 Blues Jam at The Queen.  7pm.  Free.

The Bouncing Souls at First Unitarian Church. Whoops, SOLD OUT.  And that goes for all 4 of their Philly performances this week.

Thursday:

(Because this is my favorite saying - does not this saying apply to most situations?  So good for getting past situations that are slightly embarrassing or otherwise unfortunate.  'Yeah, I've been working out for 45 minutes and I really stink right now.  [enter saying]'): "It Is What It Is" at Mojo Main. 21+, 9pm, $5.

Original music night at Logan House, 9pm.

Wilmington Beer Week is happening now through the 16th.

There are so many events happening throughout the city, including tastings, meet and greets with area brewers, and demonstrations, that you should just visit the official page, linked below.  The 'events' link will take you to the full calendar:

http://www.wilmingtonbeerweek.com/

Today, there are events at Domaine Hudson, Union City Grille, and Columbus Inn.  Monday there's a 16 Mile Brewery event at Piccolina Toscana.  The rest of the week includes 3-5 events each evening at other noteable eateries such as: Deep Blue, Vinoteca 902, Washington Street Alehouse, Chelsea Tavern, the Queen Theatre, and Harry's Seafood Grill.

Participating breweries include: 16 Mile, Dogfish Head, Old Dominion, Fordham, Twin Lakes, Yards, Sam Adams, Victory, Evolution, Clipper City, Harpoon, Flying Fish, (we like our nautical themes here on the Mid-Atlantic seaboard...), Sam Adams, and Saranac.

Wait, NO LANCASTER?   But they're local and their Milk Stout and Strawberry Wheat are so goo-oo-ood!  Screw that overly-hoppy Philly noise (ever tried to get a drinkable beer at Johnny Brenda's, unless Milk Stout is on the menu?  GOOD LUCK).  Also, let's have some Leinenkugel's next time, dear organizers.  It ain't summer if I can't get my hands on some Summer Shandy.  Until then, that plinking sound you hear is me shedding a tear in my ... beer.

One last note: the can't-miss event of the week for true beer aficionados (I know, I know - revealing that I like fruity beers makes me not one) is the "American Craft Beer Tasting. More than a Dozen U.S. Craft Breweries at World Cafe Live at the Queen".  This will take place Friday from 5:30-9:30.

Happy Drinking!

You're killin' me, Piccolina Toscana. Killin' me.

So, my man and I joined a gym for the first time a few months ago, and we've turned into regular little gym rats, and as such are way cutting back on previous habits such as 1/2 price burger nights all over the county (the favorite being Shellhammer's in New Castle - if you can get past the humble surroundings, you will find their burgers to be so much better than most pub burgers).

And then today I see this:

You gotta be kidding me, Dan Butler.  On a Saturday night, no less, a night when you almost never see decent food and drink deals (people come out to restaurants of their own volition on Saturdays - why offer incentives?).  Ugh: more conflict in mah brains between food indulgences and that rock hard body I'm working towards...

This weekend, July 8 - 11:

Non-music events (almost everything is happening on Saturday):

Friday:

• Art on the Town / First Friday Art Loop in Wilmington.  5:30-8pm, "re:fresh" afterparty at the Queen from 8-11pm. (It was postponed from 7/1 so it didn't conflict with the holiday weekend).  http://wilmingtonde.gov/artloop/

Saturday:

• Pirate Day at Tubman-Garrett Park at the Wilmington riverfront.  Sponsored by our own replica tall ship, the Kalmar Nyckel.  11am-5pm, with live music by New Sweden (kind of fitting, given their name) at 3pm.  For full event line-up, visit: http://www.kalmarnyckel.org/wilmingtonpirateday/html/

• The start of Wilmington Beer Week (with a citywide toast at 9pm at all participating locations).   http://www.wilmingtonbeerweek.com/

• Archeology Day in Old New Castle, at the Dutch House (off of the main green), 10-3. 

• (A little far, but I love this dude): Jim Gaffigan at The Borgata. 

• Mid-Summer Meadow Studies at Mt. Cuba. "Investigate the diverse palette of meadow plants that paint new pictures as the season unfolds. Dave Korbonits will share his 20 years of experience in meadow gardening and introduce you to his favorite picks."  10am-noon, $10.  http://www.museumtix.com/program/program.aspx?vid=827&pid=482561&pvt=mcc

• Cat & Dog Adopt-a-thon at Wild Birds Unlimited in Hockessin.  10am-2pm.  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177854748937645

• Delaware Humane Associations's monthly traveling "Wellness Clinic".  Discounted shots and microchips for cats and dogs, as well as licensing.  10am-noon at the Shops at Graylyn, North Wilmington.  http://www.dehumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wellnessclinics

Sunday:

• What's doing on Sunday, you say?  Beats me.  Sounds like a good day for the beach.

--------------------------------------------------

Music events (conversely, almost all of these are happening on Friday):

Friday:

• Free at noon show at the Queen Theatre: Aaron Nathans.

• Todd Rundgren at the Grand Opera House.  8pm.  $$$.

• Tribute to IRS records at Mojo Main, with an REM tribute band and a Go-Gos tribute band.  21+, doors at 9, $7.

• The Revelations featuring Tre Williams at the Queen.  Part of the Firsty Friday Art Loop.  8pm, $9.

• Israeli music at the Philadelphia Museum of Art's "Art After 5" concert.  5pm, discounted admission, cash bar.

• Philly Bloco at World Cafe Live Philly.  9pm, $12.

Saturday:

• Peek-A-Boo Revue at World Cafe Live Philly.  Two shows: 7pm and 10pm.  $24.

Sunday:

• Omar Souleyman (Middle-Eastern funk/soul) at Johnny Brenda's.  21+, doors at 8, $20.

• Dear Darkhead opening for The Bitterness Theory at the North Star Bar.  I include this one only because I'm shocked that Dear Darkhead are still around.  An old band of mine played with them at the Khyber over 10 years ago.  10 years!  I had assumed they were long gone.  Pretty decent shoegaze.  21+, doors at 8, $8.

Delaware Local Food Exchange's newsletter.

Delaware Local Food Exchange is a store within a store:  it's open 3 days a week, out of a health food store in Elsmere / Prices Corner (it's the first shopping center on the left if you're heading into Elsmere coming from Prices Corner).  See the hours at the very bottom of this newsletter.  I have not managed to check it out yet, but I really want to go today after reading this.  There's just something about fresh food in the summertime:

By: Delaware Local Food Exchange

‎"You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces--just good food from ...fresh ingredients"--Julia Child

More summer fruits have arrived! Two bushels of peaches, big beautiful blackberries and loads of big, juicy blueberries are in this week. We'll have the first garlic of the year along with green peppers and red cabbage. I have some baby bok choy coming along with sweet corn, green beans, cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, red, white and yellow onions, green cabbage, beets. We'll have blue potatoes for the first time along with yukon golds,baby reds and more of the Beauregard sweets. There will be plenty of hearty greens, salad greens, arugula, and the ever popular butterhead lettuce as well. Fresh herbs this week include basil, thai basil, thyme, mint, lemonbalm, dill, tarragon, chives, citrus, kafir lime and bay leaves. Certified organic Portobello mushrooms are back, too (we miss you Erika and David).


The Leraysville cheese will be restocked this week with all the favorites including the fabulous 5X cheddar, garlic cheddar, jalapeno cheddar, cheese curds, and for the first time udder delight....the non-smokey version of smokey delight. I also have in Oak View Organics blueberry jam made with this seasons organic blueberries and sweetened with agave nectar...yum!

Grass fed meats will be in abundance this week with ground turkey and pork chops in the fridge and keilbasa sausage, lamb loin chops, t-bone and sirloin steaks in the freezer.

Big Sky bread and granola are in and if the stars are aligned my order of Menta Stracciatella
(Mint Chocolate Chip), Cappuccino, and Thai Coconut Gelato will be in from Capogiro Gelato in Philly http://www.capogirogelato.com/​main.html. The mint is local, the espresso roasted locally, and the milk in all the gelato is from grass fed Lancaster County cows...cool!

For these and all of your local organic & grass fed staples come by the Exchange this week :)

In case you missed the news about the food preservation basics class coming up here is the link http://ag.udel.edu/extension/n​cc/Food%20Preservation%20Basic​s%20101%20flyer%202011.pdf.

We are here Thursdays 1-6, Fridays 1-7 and Saturdays 10-5. We are cash, check and kid friendly. Don't forget your bags (including small produce bags) and bottles but if you do...we've got you covered.

peace out,
Karen

This week at Theatre N:

The Trip

Picture the movie Sideways, then set it in Britain and make it about a grand tour of restaurants rather than wineries.  "An acerbically witty, largely improvised ride through the English countryside."
Friday at 2, Saturday at 8, Sunday at 6:30.  $5 & $7.

Page One: Inside the New York Times

Documentary chronicling the inner workings of a changing New York Times at the juncture when the rise of internet news threatens to fell the newspaper industry.
Friday at 8, Saturday at 2 & 5, Sunday at 12:30pm.  $5 & $7.

A Boy Called Dad

One showing only, followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.  Part of the "From Britain With Love" series. 
"A BOY CALLED DAD tells the story of Robbie – a 14 year old boy who has just become a father. Abandoned by his own dad Joe, Robbie snatches his baby son and goes on the run. As Joe joins the search for Robbie, they are each forced to face up to the past and what it really means to be a father."
Saturday at  11am, $5, followed by Q&A session.

Opera in Cinema: Aida

Sung in Italian with English subtitles.  Opera in four acts from the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.  Aida is the only major opera set in Egypt, making it unique among the cannon of well-known operas.
Sunday at 2:30 (with 2 intermissions), $20. 

For list of upcoming films, and more info about the theatre:  http://www.theatern.org/Films

As always, street parking is free and abundant on weekends (and weekdays after 6pm), or you can park in the Community parking lot across 11th street and get $1 validated parking at any time.  Beer (good beer too, like local microbrews.  And only $2-$3 a bottle), wine, and cheap popcorn and candy are available at the concession table inside the theatre, though get it as soon as you come in because the volunteers who man the table close up shop just before the previews start to roll.

Heard it on the grapevine: 2 new job openings.

1) A free-range farm in kind-of-nearby Ephrata PA is looking for a marketing coordinator.  Sweet Stem Farm in Ephrata, PA, specializes in humanely raised pork, beef and lamb.  They sell to socially-conscious restaurants in Delaware, including Fresh Thymes Cafe.  Read more:

"As our business evolves and our market grows, we’ve developed the need for someone to join our team and run the marketing of our farm.    This job... is perfect for someone who is passionate about the local, sustainable, humane food movement.    Daily tasks will include (but of course, are not limited to): Social Media (building and maintaining pages, keeping up with correspondence from these pages, etc.)Sales:  We are looking to expand our wholesale market (including restaurants, food co-ops, specialty stores, etc.) and you will need to make initial contacts with these customers and then follow through to turning these potential customers into customers.  This may include travel to Southeast PA, Philadelphia, and if you build a big enough customer base, throughout the Northeast.Web stuff: basic web design and maintenance; regular web searches to keep up with Sweet Stem’s media, etc.Farm Tours: All parts of organizing and executing farm tours for potential customers.  Presentations: Some of our wholesale customers request presentations in their stores.  You would organize these and then actually do the presentations.  So, being comfortable with public speaking is a must!As needed, you may be involved in other business activities on the farm.   Ideally the right person will:Have a passion for what we do!  We want someone to become a part of our farm family and our dedication to making changes in the food industry.Be very self-directed.  You’ll have basic guidelines but not a day-to-day to do list.Be organized.  There are a lot of facets of marketing our business and you’ll need to keep up with all of them.Access to a reliable vehicle.  Some travel will be required.Strong computer skills including: web, social media, MS Office programs   Let me know if you have:Food industry experience (farms, stores, restaurants, etc.)Farm experienceMarketing experiencePublic Speaking/Presentation Experience   Please send:ResumeBrief cover letter telling us why you want to join our farmSalary History or Requirements Reply to marketing@sweetstemfarm.com ."

-------------------------------------------

2) Armor Graphics is looking for a business to business account executive. 

"The position will require working within a sales team and coordinating with other internal departments. The right candidate will be comfortable in prospecting, closing and processing orders. Print Industry and/or B to B sales experience is a plus, but not required.

Email interested resumes to jobs@armorgraphicsinc.com. Please no calls. "

Unbelievably, The Grand Opera House has scored the Pixies.

They'll play on November 6th.  Tickets go on sale Friday, July 15th.  They will *definitely* sell out, considering the band usually plays much, much larger places.

This has to be one of those "let's play in all 50 states" deals, right?  Otherwise, why would the Pixies  go from playing arenas to an opera house in Delaware?  Whatever the reason, good for The Grand.  They don't book many rock shows, but they book good ones. 

The Queen Theatre, meanwhile, is disappointing me with their bookings.  I recently learned that they're working with a promoter who is running an almost pay-to-play deal with local bands.  As long as the local band doesn't completely suck, the promoter promises to put them on a bill, with the caveat that they have to try to sell tickets themselves to friends and family.  Oh, and these tickets are only $16-$20 a pop.  Sorry, that qualifies as a scheme in my book. 

Know anyone who's a superstar volunteer who deserves to be recognized?

Volunteer Delaware is currently accepting nominations for the 2011 Governor's Outstanding Volunteer Awards.  So if you have a crazy aunt who volunteers 6 days a week, and you're constantly telling her she's running herself into the ground, but she just won't give any of it up, now's your chance to do something nice for the crazy old lady.

The nomination deadline is Monday, August 22.  http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/vc/62505/2011%20Nomination%20Form.pdf

Weekday shows of note:

Tuesday:

• Geology (member of mewithoutYou) at Kung Fu Necktie. 21+, doors at 8, $5.

• Detox time.  Put away that laundry that's been sitting on your bedroom floor all weekend.  Sure, you've had success grabbing socks out of that pile as the need has arisen, but you can't live like that forever.

Wednesday:

• Free show at Mojo Main: Dividing the Skyline, The Early Nasa, and Fueled By Mary.  21+, doors at 9, free.

Thursday:

• The Young Friends of the Brandywine are hosting a pre-"Tip-A-Canoe" (their big yearly benefit on the Brandywine) happy hour at BBC Tavern, 6-10pm. 

• Shipyard concert series kicks off with "Voodoo Deville", at Dravo Plaza  (under the cranes at the riverfront), 7pm.  Bring a lawn chair.

• FelixHunger, Mad Sweet Pangs, and Modern Exile at The Queen Theatre (Spark Summer Music Series).  9:30pm, free.

• Bela Fleck and The Original Fleck-Tones at Rams Head Live in Baltimore. 

• Screening of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure at the Trocadero.  All profits, including bartender tips, benefit the MS "City To Shore" Troc Crew.  21+, doors at 6/show at 8, $5 donation (or more). 

• Original music at Logan House. 

Two items for bicyclists, from the Bike Delaware blog:

1) UD police are looking for the public's help in identifying this man, wanted for questioning in the recent disappearance of several bikes from the campus:

He is suspected of taking at least 6 bikes, and in one video is seen slowly cruising downtown Newark on a bike, apparently looking for suitable wheels to steal.  "He is described as 30 to 40 years old, heavy set, with tan skin, dark hair and facial hair."  http://bikedel.blogspot.com/2011/06/ud-police-seek-help-in-identifying-bike.html


2) The Delaware general assembly has just passed a bill earmarking 5 million dollars for bicycling.  This will mean more bike lanes, and generally making the state a better place to take your Schwinn for a spin.

What I'd like to see, actually, is a crackdown on adolescent boys who purposefully dart into traffic on their bikes or razor scooters.  I know kids always did risky things at that age, but I don't remember seeing this particular behavior much until the past couple of years.  Now I see it at least once a week: a group of 3 to 5 boys, 11-14 years old, who ride in circles from one side of the street to the other, darting into the street repeatedly; not to get from point A to point B, but to show off their bravado.  The last time I saw it happen was at a busy Kirkwood highway intersection, at rush hour.  4 boys were taking turns literally dodging cars to get to the thin median strip, and back.   A few times a year we hear that a kid was killed on a bike at a busy intersection, and there's a public outcry about the safety of those intersections.  Maybe the cases are unrelated, but I am not surprised it happens when I see kids more and more often doing these daredevil moves.  If there is any law enforcement reading this and wondering where this is happening frequently, watch the intersection of Kirkwood Highway and Milltown Rd in the afternoon. 

That said, am I complaining about this out of a deep sense of concern for the adolescent boys of Delaware?  Not at all.  Not to be cold-hearted, but such behavior is how most species rid their gene pools of overly-risky rogue members.  But when it puts other people at risk of an accident, and possibly means some poor shmo having to live with a child's death on his conscience when he was just trying to get home from his 9-5, then yes, I wish a cop would drive by and talk to these kids when this is going on.  /old person rant.


http://bikedel.blogspot.com/2011/07/delaware-general-assembly-votes.html

Mr. Smith goes to... Tilton Park, Delaware?

According to the Cool Spring / Tilton Park Historic District group, Wilmington's Tilton Park was once under consideration to be the Capitol of the yet-to-be-formed United States, at the time of the 13 colonies.  That sounds really hard to believe, but apparently there's a plaque on the Broom Street side of the park that backs up the claim.  Who knew?  We, too, could have all been living on streets that are named after letters and are a bitch to navigate.  Happy Independence Day!

Registration deadline is Wednesday for a July 14th biking class in N. Wilm.

Happy 4th of July, all!

Copied from Bike Delaware's blog:

3 hour League of American Bicyclists (LAB) course:Classroom Instruction and night ride. Will include route selection, bicycle safety, clothing, how to carry gear, etc.

WHERE: Bellevue Corporate Center, Bldg. 200, Suite 250
(Ameriprise Financial)

WHEN: Thursday, July 14, 2011, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
(come at 5:30 PM with dinner, get acquainted, sign in, etc.)

WHO: Registered Participants. To register contact The McCormicks: j.c.mccormick@verizon.net, 302-761-9066

Registration deadline: July 6th.

COST: $20.00 per participant. Payable when signing in on July 14th.

PRESENTERS: John & Cecilia McCormick, Paul Hess
- WCBC (White Clay Bicycle Club) Members
- LCI (League Cycling Instructors)

Quick July 4th options round-up:

Happy Independence Day (weekend), all.
Wilmington itself will not be having an official July 4th celebration.  The mayor canceled it in March due to budget constraints.  (Which, frankly, I agree with - people will always have something to see on July 4th.  I'd rather keep more police units on the street).  Here are some places where you can see concerts, parades, or fireworks on Monday.

North of Wilmington:

• Conclusion of Welcome America Fest in Philly, featuring The Roots, Earth Wind & Fire, and Michael McDonald: http://www.welcomeamerica.com/concert-fireworks/

South of Wilmington:

• Newark/UD fireworks, 6-9 out of the Bob Carpenter Center.  You can see them from several blocks around.  There will also be live music (for middle-agers and older, mostly) in the Bob.
• Hockessin: parade at 3, fireworks at 6. 
• Dover 4th of July celebrations: http://www.dover4thofjuly.com/

Delaware beaches:

• Rehoboth fireworks and concert:  http://www.delmarvabeachguide.com/events/rehoboth-beach-fireworks-july-4th-2011_1364
• Lewes boat parade and 'doo-dah' parade in Lewes (no fireworks.  I remember seeing official fireworks in Lewes as a kid - and someone's house caught on fire.  Maybe that's why):  http://www.ci.lewes.de.us/
• Bethany parade and fireworks: http://www.delmarvabeachguide.com/events/bethany-beach-4th-of-july-parade-fireworks-2011_1390
• Ocean City, MD, concert and fireworks: http://oceancitymd.gov/Recreation_and_Parks/specialevents.html

This weekend, 7/1-7/4: Well, actually...

There's really not enough going on concert wise this weekend to warrant a whole post, and I have a feeling you know exactly how you'll be spending your weekend, so I'm going to skip it this week.  One noteworthy event I found before giving up on this post is that New Sweden is headlining the North Star Bar (Philly) on Friday.  Good for them. 

I do have a July 4th events post to roll out over the weekend.