This opportunity is for anyone who might want a foot in the door of the wine / vineyard industry.

"Looking to get a little bit closer to your wine? Kreutz Creek Vineyards is looking for some volunteers. Call Carole: (610) 869-4412"

Kreutz Creek Vineyards is in West Grove, PA.  Their website: http://www.kreutzcreekvineyards.com/

Today (Thursday) is International IPA Day.

And the blogosphere is telling me that there are unspecified celebratory events and sales going on at Dogfish Head today, as well as a plethora of IPAs to choose from at Wilmington's Chelsea Tavern, Iron Hill Brewery, and Rehoboth's Pickled Pig Pub. 

Here's more on International IPA Day from Dogfish Head's newsletter:  http://www.dogfish.com/community/news/press-releases/celebrate-international-ipaday.htm

And don't forget that Twin Lakes Brewery out of Greenville, 16 Mile Brewery out of southern Delaware, and Fordham Brewery out of Dover also make great IPAs.

Bottoms up.

Job openings with Dogfish Head Brewery.

Interested in the microbrew industry?  Live or have the means to live in Sussex County?  Dogfish Head Brewery is searching for two people to work in the packaging department for their web operations. 

The job descriptions are here, as well as some earlier job openings that may or may not still exist:

http://www.dogfish.com/company/jobs/index.htm

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!

Heads up about Friday "Art Is Social" event at the Delaware Art Museum

I've included this as a top pick in my weekend listings, which will come out on Friday morning, but there's been a new development that warrants advance notice.   In a nutshell, there's a billboard, in Trolley Square, for the Art Is Social night.  If you take a picture of this billboard and post it on the Facebook wall of the Delaware Art Museum, you'll get free entry into the event.  Admission is only $5 anyway, but free is free.

The Art Is Social event will run from 8-10 pm this Friday night, at the art museum, and will feature DJs, exhibition tours, dollar bottles of beer and glasses of wine, and free wine tastings.  Sounds like a pretty awesome alternative to the bar scene.   The Greek Festival will be going strong only a few blocks away on Friday, until 11pm, so you could work in a visit there before or after.   And remember, it's $5 admission, or free if you get a chance to take a picture of that billboard and post it to http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/pages/Delaware-Art-Museum/43136174600 .

More details about this event:  http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/event.php?eid=159336257463107

For the oenophiles: Delaware considers bill to lift ban on wine shipments.

Currently, it is unlawful to have a case of wine shipped to your house in Delaware.  If you're a serious wine-lover, you're stuck buying what's available at local wine stores, or what you transport over state lines yourself (and if you're in PA, you can't even legally do that).  You cannot go on the internet, find a boutique vineyard in California that you remember from your honeymoon, and order a case of pinot. 

Now, for the 2nd year in a row, State Representative Deborah Hudson (R-Fairthorne) has introduced a bill that would make it legal for of-age residents to have up to 12 cases of wine shipped to them per year.    The same bill was struck down in committee last year, felled by heavy opposition from liquor retailers and liquor-transport teamsters who say it would cost them income.  It's expected to face the same opposition this year.

Delawarefirst.org has the complete story:

http://www.delawarefirst.org/1_government_and_politics/bill-seeks-uncork-wine-delivery-delaware/

Charity happy hour tonight (Tuesday) at Vinoteca 902

5-7pm.  Donate a $10 gas card (or cash) at the door, and it will go directly to local Meals On Wheels drivers.  There will be a special happy hour food and drinks menu, plus a surprise guest bartender.   Vinoteca 902 is on Market Street, close to Rodney Square.

Update: On Thursday, 5/26, the same charity happy hour will happen at Fish On.  

Blimey! No open container laws on Market Street today.

No, it's not because City Council bought into the end-of-the-world hoopla (I think?  We do have some pretty kooky council people). It's because of the Wilmington Grand Prix street fair being held up and down Market Street today.  My info comes by way of Chelsea Tavern, which is hosting one of the after-parties.

Hey, even if you don't care for bike races, this street fair business is starting to sound like a pretty sweet party.  Festivities are starting now.  After-parties start at 6:30pm. 

http://www.wilmgrandprix.com/Timeline.aspx

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Also remember that the Bellefonte Arts Festival is happening today from 10-6, with a Tric-Town-curated after-party at Mojo 13.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bellefonte-Arts-Festival/254602526310

Guest bartenders needed for a West End Neighborhood House fundraiser in mid-May

I will be posting something about the Taste of Little Italy benefit later in the month, but in the meantime, guest bartenders are being sought for two Little Italy bars.  From West End Neighborhood House:

"GUEST BARTENDERS NEEDED: No experience necessary!

Opportunities are available to sling some drinks, have some fun, and support one of Delaware's most well-respected and innovative social service agencies. Show your friends and families what you can do behind the bar, instead of in front of it! As part of a Taste of Little Italy, guest bartending slots are open at Dead Presidents and Blue Parrot from 6:00 p.m.  through midnight (May 17-May 20).
Contact Hayley at 302.658.4171 x-181 or at hschmittinger@westendnh.org
for more details!"

Into home brewing? There's a home brewer's contest at the DE State Fair this year.

It will take place on July 23rd, at noon, at the fair in Harrington.  Registration ($5) is open between April 1st and June 1st.  As Delaware is becoming a hub of microbrew activity in the region, it might be interesting to see what inspired local home brewers have been coming up with.  For more info:

http://battleofthebrews.webs.com/

Tonight: Twin Lakes Brewery celebrates its 5th anniversary at Buckley's Tavern

Buckley's Tavern, Thursday April 21, 4:30-7:30pm.  From their Facebook event page:

"Hey all you Twin Lakes fans! We are celebrating our fifth anniversary - can you believe it? It will be at Buckley's Tavern in Centreville, DE, on Thursday, April 21, 2011, starting at 4:30 p.m. We hope you can come out and celebrate with us and see our new can (yes, I said CAN) design - we are in the process of installing a canner so you can enjoy our FRESH LOCAL DELICIOUS beer in cans in YOUR HOME! It will be widely available in liquor stores throughout Delaware! VERY EXCITING! Thank you for supporting us throughout the years and PLEASE come out and see us on April 21st!"

Show some support for a Delaware micro-brewery that's NOT that big one downstate whose owner is featured in Spark or Out & About literally every single publication (just kidding Dogfish Head - love you).  But seriously, the incessant coverage of DFH is another manifestation of the myopic reporting that goes on in Delaware.  The local media chooses one entity in a genre and then reports on it to death, sometimes for years.  Other names in the genre aren't completely excluded, but there always seems to be a very heavy bias towards one brewery, one band, one music venue, etc.  Sure, every publication has its favorites, including this one, but the Delaware entertainment rags sometimes way overdo it.

Wilmingtonic is not a fan of Wilmington's "Loops" (organized pub crawls, for out-of-staters)

Just too many off-putting experiences in years past.  Call me totally over the Loop concept.

However, not everyone is a curmudgeon / has the same problem I have with hordes of drunks, putans dressed in indistinguishable "sexy" costumes, and bus drivers that try to extort money out of you to drive their assigned bus routes.  So if you insist on your Loops, at least the newest one to hit the schedule, the "Bunny Hop", will benefit something besides the Jagermeister brand.   The $5 cover fee, which gets you access to 21 clubs and more cliche Playboy Bunny sightings than you can shake a VD test at, will benefit the Delaware Humane Association, Delaware SPCA, and Faithful Friends.   The loop is on Saturday, in the usual Wilmington locations, from 8 to drunk-o-clock.