The Delaware College of Art & Design is offering a series of one day courses, open to the public.

http://www.dcad.edu/site/continuing_education/course_listing/special_events

"Arts & Crafternoons: Sundays at DCAD

Join artists and designers to take part in fun make-and-take

activities that get you out and into an artistic environment

where you will be inspired to create. All makers, creators,

crafters and those who wish to take a few hours to learn

something new are welcome. Come prepared to experiment

and have fun!

Session hours and tuition may vary by project. Basic materials

are included in tuition and participants are welcome to bring

their own materials to further personalize each project.

No registration fee is required to attend these workshops.

Sign up for the entire series and save 10% on tuition."

Free and public talk on Iceland's culture and landscape at the Delaware Center for Horticulture, Wed. afternoon

[From theDCH.org]

Iceland’s Culture & Landscape

Join TheDCH staffer Joe Matassino for a presentation about Iceland’s unique cultural landscape including his February 2011 visit to the Icelandic Horticultural College, or Landbúnaðarháskóli Íslands Reykjum and the Reykjavik Botanical Garden.  Bring a bag lunch.  Icelandic water will be served.

Supported by the Nancy Corroon Travel Scholarship Fund.

Date	Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Time	12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location	Event held at TheDCH
Registration cost	Free and Open to the public
Contact	Joe Matassino

Free talk today on Salesianum's early history on Quaker Hill and as the first voluntarily integrated school in DE.

Who knew?  Sallies opened its doors to all races years before a court case forced all other schools to.  And it started on Quaker Hill, in downtown Wilmington.  From Quaker Hill Historic Preservation Foundation:

"The QHHPF is sponsoring a talk on the history of the Salesianum School's history in Quaker Hill on 11 October 2011. Hope you can come! Feel free to share this with Salesianum alumni and families who might be interested. Details:

The Quaker Hill Historic Preservation Foundation is presenting a free talk on the history of Salesianum School on Quaker Hill at the Wilmington Friends Meeting House, ...401 North West Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 on Tuesday, October 11, 2011, from 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Salesianum School was founded on Quaker Hill in 1903 by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. While there, it was the first school in Delaware to voluntarily racially integrate its student body, 4 years before the landmark case in the U.S. Supreme Court brought about mandatory integration.

Salesianum School President Brendan Kennealey will show a video about this special achievement as well as speak about other aspects of Salesianum’s illustrious history.

This event, sponsored by the Quaker Hill Historic Preservation Foundation, is free and open to the public. For more information, call Mary Starkweather-White at 302-299-5600."

UDel to host free entrepreneurship seminars through the fall. The first takes place tomorrow.

From UD:

The Entrepreneurial Studies Program and the Entrepreneurship Club are continuing their successful and informative Free Lunch Friday series.

Each Friday at 12:30 p.m., students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the University are welcome to attend a 15- to 20-minute presentation on an aspect of entrepreneurship, followed by a 30-minute Q&A session. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis; pizza and refreshments are free to attendees.

Sept. 23: Successful entrepreneurship

The Entrepreneurial Studies Program and the Entrepreneurship Club are continuing their successful and informative Free Lunch Friday series this fall.

The next Free Lunch Friday event is Friday, Sept. 23, and will feature a presentation on "Habits of Highly Successful Entrepreneurs" by J. Anthony Miguez, Entrepreneur in Residence, JW Rollins & Associates. 

Miguez focuses on driving growth for companies through personal performance, talent management, business strategies and innovation. His wide array of work experience in technology, hospitality and financial services has led him to become a successful entrepreneur and an interesting and engaging presenter.

Free Lunch Friday workshops are hosted at the Venture Development Center, located at 196 South College Ave. Anyone interested in entrepreneurship is encouraged to attend.

For more information about entrepreneurship-related events, please see the calendar on the E-Studies website. Questions should be directed to the e-studies program at e-studies@udel.edu.

Two quick notices:

Today (Monday) is the last day to nominate someone for a Governor's Outstanding Volunteer award.

The nomination must be post-marked by today, so you can still get it in by taking it to a post office today.  Click here for full details on how and who to nominate: http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/vc/62505/2011%20Nomination%20Form.pdf

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Upcoming business / resume-building classes for women, via the YWCA:

"Upcoming DCWEdge workshops have been scheduled in all three counties! Topics/dates are September: Quickbooks; October: eMarketing; and November: Websites. There is a small fee of $15.00. Please contact us at dcwe@ywcade.com for details and to register."

Delaware Greenways unveils historic farm near old New Castle.

The Penn Farm, a 112 acre farm that is one of the oldest active farms in the country, is owned by the Trustees of the New Castle Commons.  However, Delaware Greenways have taken over the management of the farm and turned it into an education resource to teach Delawareans about healthy and local eating.  Why is it called The Penn Farm?  Because it's the last remaining of the farms that was originally laid out as a tenant farm by William Penn himself.  As such it's an important piece of Delaware history, so it only makes sense for it to be open to the public.

The Penn Farm, located on Frenchtown Rd (273), won't just be frozen in time and used for education, however.  It will continue to operate as a farm, with produce available at a local market called Tract 6.

Read more at Delaware Greenway's website: http://www.delawaregreenways.org/pennfarm.html

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)

Summer studio art classes start Monday at the Delaware Art Museum.

Classes are for adults only.  Full course catalogue can be found here: http://www.delart.org/education/studio_program/schedule_at_a_glance.html

Budding designers: come to a meeting at DCAD to learn about the American Batik Design Competition

It's being held Thursday at 2pm, at the Delaware College of Art & Design on lower Market St.  I would assume admission is free, and it's open to the public.  DCAD's blurb:

"You are invited to learn about the American Batik Design Competition. Meet representatives from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia and learn more about the competition and prizes. The competition is open to all designers and artists ages 16 and older!"

For more info about the competition:
http://americanbatik.embassyofindonesia.org/

For more info about DCAD: http://www.dcad.edu/

Female entrepreneurs, or potential entrepreneurs: YWCA would like your input

The YWCA's Delaware Center for Women's Entrepreneurship intends to put together programming, but would like input on what times of day work best for workshops, what types of workshops would be of the most interest, etc.  They've put together a survey to  help answer these questions, so please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3NRPKNY  if that's something that interests you.

Delaware College of Art & Design continuing ed. classes start June 6th - spots still open

DCAD summer courses are open to the general public.  Offerings are in: Computer Graphics, Fine Arts, Interior Design, Jewelry Design, and Photography.  There are also courses specifically for high school students looking to get college credit. 

For more info or to register online:

http://www.dcad.edu/site/continuing_education/course_listing/overview

For those looking to get into a culinary career: Dine Safe course at UD on Tuesday evening.

The cost is $25, the location is the UD Cooperative Extension Office at 461 Wyoming Rd, Newark.  Register by calling 831-2506. 

Participants will learn safe food handling practices.   Such a course seems like a no-brainer, but will look good on your resume if you're looking to get into the culinary world.   It's even a requirement with some work places.   I know that a lot of people my age are looking into new careers these days, and this is a good first step for anyone thinking restaurant work, food production, etc.

Delaware College of Art & Design has released its continuing education summer catalogue.

Maybe you just want to take a refresher on computer graphics or photography.  Maybe you're interested in learning a little jewelry design to add to your Etsy listings.  Or maybe you're an old lech who is hoping to see some nudes in a figure drawing class.  DCAD, located on lower Market street next to the new Queen Theatre, has your needs covered with their summer continuing ed. classes.

To view catalogue:
http://www.dcad.edu/site/continuing_education/course_listing/overview

Wilmington Trail Club offers a kayak training class through late spring. Register by end of April.

From the WTC site:

"Each year the Wilmington Trail Club offers kayak training programs for those interested in exploring the sport. While we welcome you to join the trail club, it is not a requirement to participate in the training. Courses have been developed over a number of years to slowly and safely progress each student from novice to a confident and capable paddler.  Two separate programs are offered for those 12 and over; one for recreational / touring / flat-water kayaking and the other for whitewater kayaking.  You will find the training progression for both courses  fully detailed in this website."

Registration ends on the last day of April.  The classes will take place over several sessions in May and June.  To find out more or to register, visit:
http://www.wtckayak.com/blog/

In addition to participants, the WTC is looking for volunteers to help with the classes.

This weekend, 4/15 - 4/18:

UPDATE:  Any outdoor event on my weekend lists will probably have been rescheduled due to the rain.  But there's still plenty to do.

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"Get Outside" is hosting Kite Day tomorrow, 4/16, 1pm-3pm. Make and fly your own kite for $3! Call 655-5740 to register.
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Record Store Day is tomorrow, 4/16.  Rainbow Records has some beautiful t-shirts for sale to commemorate the day.  Now that their store is half the size it was, it's too small a space to host an in-store performance.  However, they will be giving away tickets to future WCL at the Queen Theatre concerts, plus releases of recordings that were made only for Record Store Day.  If you're passing by the store tomorrow, stop in - it's the last Rainbow Records in the state, and they could use some love (and I'm telling you, those blue t-shirts are great).  They're also holding sales all weekend.

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Brandywine Village's "Taste Of Brandywine" event has been rescheduled for May 14, due to weather concerns.

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In Philly this weekend, The Mountain Goats are at the TLA and Yoni Wolf is at the First Unitarian Church.

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Admission is free at the Brandywine River Museum on Sundays from 9:30 am to noon.  I did not know this!  Will definitely be going down there some Sundays from now on, with picnic blanket, lunch, and sweetheart.

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A Civil Unions bill was just approved in Delaware.  Will write more about this later.

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For prospective students at DCAD, today is preview day.  Stop in for tours of the campus.

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For a dose of nonrelevance: Wilmingtonic is bummed that she missed the O'Death show at Kung Fu Necktie this week.  Didn't even know about it, but was out of town anyway.  Saw them open for Dr. Dog in New York a few years ago, and they're pretty amazing.

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Okay, gotta run to work.  But I'm finding quite a few good things to blog about in the next few days.  Stay tuned!

Quick notes: New Delaware Theatre Co. play, the endless hilarity of college paper writing, "curriculum-based" pole dancing

Paramount Records was an early blues, jazz, and spiritual label out of the midwest that put out recordings by Blind Lemon Jefferson, Louis Armstrong, and Lawrence Welk, among others.  Such recordings were, according to the Paramount website, early inspiration for Elvis Presley, Muddy Waters,  B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Bob Dylan, and Eric Clapton.   Delaware's own Kevin Ramsey, who has also written musicals about Sam Cooke and the Louisiana Bayou, has put this history to song.

"Chasin' Dem Blues", the story of paramount records, is debuting today at 8pm at Delaware Theatre Company, on Water Street.  Tickets are $35-$49, with discounts for students and seniors.

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Light mockery warning:  I giggled my way through an article (I won't say where) this morning about a benefit concert for WVUD that occurred recently.  The best part:

"Some performers who gained popularity after participating in the concert in the past were Dr. Dog, whose music was featured on a Fox TV show, and The Walkmen, who were featured on the Spiderman 3 soundtrack."

You know, Dr. Dog - you may know them from that Fox TV show that featured their song!  Or how about The Walkmen - you know, from the Spiderman 3 soundtrack?

The author knew she had to emphasize these bands' successes, and of all the examples she could have given (regulars on the late-night talk show circuit, Coachella and Bonnaroo, world tours), she settled on "music featured on a tv show" and "music featured in a movie".   Because, you know, there is no  pinnacle for a band like ... Spiderman 3. 
Alright, enough ribbing.   Congrats to local bands The Common Room, Stallions, and Lower Case Blues, who played this benefit concert.  May their futures be filled with Fox TV placements that'll make the hometown proud.
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And for ladies needing a brush up on pole dancing skills: there's a "Flirt Level Pole Class", just in case you were afraid of becoming too putan about it ("it's not about gyrating your body for money and/or narcotics - it's just flirting!"), and a "Pole Fusion Class", which is being advertised as a curriculum-based program.  Curriculum-based!  I love it.  Who gets together to create this curriculum?  What does such a conference of pole experts look like?  Both classes are on Thursdays at Physique Pole Studio in Pike Creek.  Bedroom community, indeed.