Delawander

Like Pat’s and Geno’s in Philly, such is the case with Capriotti’s. This classic Delaware eatery is popular and has been around for years and some still don’t know that a Bobbie® is nothing but a Thanksgiving meal on a roll. It’s arguably the most famous sandwich shop to come out of Delaware. It consists of turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce all slammed together on fresh bread.  It tastes great and Cap’s is also famous for its Capistrami®, which is if  pastrami and reuben sandwiches did a high five, but nothing compares to Casapulla’s tuna fish wraps. Feast your mind’s eye on the creamy, juicy and rich distinction that this seafood delight elicits. Bite into the decadent, luxurious flavors that delight the tongue and drive the mind. Welcome to Newark, Delaware.

Wander with me to some of the haunts that make this little city that always can stand for the tiny powerhouse it has always been. Let’s go into Newark proper. With a population of about 30,000, it makes up for in people with ideas. Some of the most mighty minds come here to study at the University of Delaware (UD). A favorite place to visit on campus for students and the rest of the residents is the Green. This is the place where the students frequent with plans to study and relax. It is a haven for the wandering spirits to learn more, grow more, and become more in tune with the beautiful foliage which at the end of August still holds onto its verdant splendor. This shady little place populated by lush vegetation exemplifies the place where anyone can page through a tome or just revitalize and engage in nephelococcygia. Huge, unfamiliar word alert, I know, it just means interpreting the shapes of clouds. You can do this all day, but we’ve got more food to eat.

Since we’ve already had lunch, now it’s time for dessert. A staple in Delaware for decades, Bing’s Bakery is the go-to destination for all things sweet. Boasting the best hamantaschen and raisin squares anywhere, Bing’s also showcases a wide array of pastries and other goodies not of the cloying sort. The triangles with cherry filling will be like tiny sugar ballerinas on the taste buds mixing the flaky crust as well. This is a favorite stop for my father and I and has provided a way for us to bond over our bites. We usually box up the hamantaschen and just eat the raisin squares in the store after we pay. We’re going to need to digest that food so we will continue to walk down Main Street, the central nervous system of Newark. By taking on the night, it’s important to have saved room for even more food. We have to go across town, however, to more Italian cuisine at La Casa Pasta. As the name implies everything from penne to spaghetti can twirl on your plate and if you choose to imbibe the finest of wines, you can dine on some to wash it all down your gullet. Just imagine pushing your fork to nab those tiny grape and cherry tomatoes around your plate and taking best vino. I don’t drive so we’re going to have to call an Uber and bring you back to your hotel. I’ll allow you to get your rest, you’re going to need it.

We’ve gotta get up early to (what else?) eat. We can journey to Malin’s Deli for a bacon egg and cheese sandwich. If you’re adventurous and want to challenge your taste buds and remain unaccustomed to it, you can chomp on a scrapple sandwich. Now, if you have never heard of or tasted scrapple, which is as its name implies scraps of ears, snouts, feet, and other portions of the pig, you can get a flavor for it here. The saltiness and the smoky notes of the meat pair well with the fluffiness of the egg and the creaminess of the cheese. I will understand if you refuse politely. The dish isn’t for everyone.

So, we’ve been eating a lot. For lunch today, we can head to Aunt Vonda’s Kitchen Table restaurant. This soul food establishment has everything from oxtails to lemon pepper wings…wet! Or to the uninitiated, wings that forgo the dry rub and are doused in sauce to enhance the sumptuous nature of the entrée. But we’ve been eating so much. Let’s turn our attention to the parks and recreation system in Newark, Delaware.

Some of the best ways to work off all of those calories is to walk in Glasgow Park. This plot of land provides even more greenery than the Green. And you’ve got space to stretch out your legs and work those arms in a thorough and robust exercise. By working out, we can play basketball, tennis, let your kids play on the equipment, or we can all walk along the paved pathway. We can go through like gazelles on the Serengeti right here in the US in the First State. This is the simple elegance of this micro, magnificent city and state.

Once we’ve heard calories screaming out of our pores as they burn away, we can change clothes and embrace the way of history and visit the Iron Hill Museum. This little nook is a gem of a locale which is small and wondrous and simple and true. It features exhibits on insects and bones. Everything from dinosaur fossils to lantern flies offer something interesting to ponder right here in Newark, Delaware. 

What makes all of this sometimes is not even the destinations. I recall thousands of trips with my dad throughout Newark that allowed my mind to expand and evolve. Just passing by the places where he grew up and how it has changed in the decades to incorporate more UD property fascinates. A point of contention here, there should still be a way for the residents to keep going with their little section of the Earth and allow the University to be concerned with bringing more minds to the Diamond State. 

On this tour through the day, we can better understand the legacy of Foundational Black Americans (FBA) by traveling to the George Wilson Center. This space has been revered for being a cultural center amongst the blacks who live there. We can walk the space where numerous birthdays and celebrations have been held. There is a park outside and a swimming pool. This should be a great way to cool off and bring this day to a close. 

After all of this gallivanting around Newark, we can track all of the places we’ve gone. It shouldn’t take long, but it’s still something to behold. This gem of a city in this tiny state offers so much for the mind to explore and the soul to remain nourished. And there’s still one other place that I’d like to take you….

According to legend, Edgar Allen Poe delivered an impassioned speech on the status of poetry in America in 1843. It has been said that arrived in Newark,Delaware on a particularly rainy and muddy night and slipped. He cursed the building where he offered his vocal jewels then sped off into the night in his carriage. The celebrated writer inspired the Raven themes on the walls of this old place. While you drink a little more beer or have a cocktail, I’ll be observing the fact that the place had been a hub for fraternities and sororities, a hotel, and a stop on the Underground Railroad for slaves. When it comes to that dark period of American history I can just hear the raven bellow, “Nevermore! Nevermore!”