By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Easter is almost here.
For some, it’s an important religious holiday.
For many, it’s just a commercial holiday focusing on Easter baskets, chocolate candy, decorated hard-boiled eggs and the Easter Bunny.
No matter how you look at Easter, reality is that it’s just a week away and special Easter activities are popping up (and hopping up) all over.
Highland Orchards (1000 Marshallton-Thorndale Road, West Chester, www.highlandorchards.net) is presenting “Hayrides to Easter Bunny” on April 9, 10, 14, 15 and 16.
Participants can enjoy a leisurely hayride to visit the Easter Bunny, hear a story about spring and receive an egg with a coupon for a treat to be redeemed back in the Market.
The event takes about half an hour and wagons leave about every half hour. No reservation is required, and tickets can be purchased in the Farm Market on the day or in advance. The cost is $9 per person.
Norristown Farm Park (West Germantown Pike and Barley Sheaf Drive, 2500 Upper Farm Road, Norristown, 610-270-0215, http://www.montcopa.org/874/Norristown-Farm-Park) is hosting an “Easter Bunny Search” on April 9.
Norristown Farm Park
Participants can take a hike around the park searching for the hidden Easter bunnies. They will also have the opportunity to take a fun Easter craft home and get some surprise eggs.
They can get a family photo done by Photo by Jolo, with a live bunny and receive an edited family photo within 48 hours via email.
The event will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and admission is $10 (all ages).
Another special Easter event is scheduled to be held in the county seat of Montgomery County.
“Easter Brunch at Elmwood Park Zoo” (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) kicks off this weekend and runs through April 17.
Participants can enjoy a delicious breakfast, participate in Easter activities, and meet one of the zoo’s beloved education animals. They can also take a picture with the Easter Bunny and then enjoy exploring the Zoo.
There are three brunch sessions each day – 10 and 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tickets include admission to the Zoo, brunch, a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny and more.
The Easter menu features Roast Top Round, Baked Ham, Carved Turkey, Sausage, Turkey Sausage, Red bliss Potatoes, Waffle Bar with Fried Chicken, Pasta Dish, Mac and Cheese Shells, Omelette Bar, Scrambled eggs, Quiche Danish, Cinnamon Buns, Dessert Cart, and various beverages.
Prices start at $94.95 for a table of two.
The Zoo is hosting several of its ultra-popular “Dog Days” over the next week.
The Zoo’s “Dog Days” event will be held on April 8, 10 and 13 from noon-4 p.m. each day.
All guests visiting the zoo with a furry friend must complete an online waiver and submit required documents before visiting the zoo. You must upload a copy of your most recent veterinary visit, including proof of vaccine and heartworm test here. All items will be required for you to attend “Dog Days.”
Pricing is $10.95 per dog with each additional dog at $9.95. Regular zoo admission is required for all humans.
If you’re looking for a fun family activity, Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com) has something just for you – “Hayrides to Bunnyland.”
Kids who have experienced it know that there’s no place quite like Bunnyland at Linvilla Orchards.
Guests can hop aboard a hayride as it carries them through the woods to visit the Easter Bunny’s house. Once there, they will have the opportunity to meet Linvilla’s Easter Bunny.
During the visit, one of the Bunny’s friends will tell a magical story. And everyone will receive a special treat.
As an added attraction, the Easter Bunny likes to take pictures with all special guests.
This hayride lasts approximately 15-20 minutes.
Easter celebrations are in full swing at Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) with “Elmo’s Eggstravaganza Easter Celebration.” The popular annual event is happening every weekend now through April 18.
Special attractions include “Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt,” which is an interactive scavenger hunt for six giant Easter Eggs hidden throughout the park; “Furry Friends Bunny Hop Dance Party,” where kids can jump, bounce and hop along with their Sesame Street friends; and “Sesame Street Party Parade,” which is an energetic neighborhood block party on iconic Sesame Street with Elmo, Count Von Count, Bert, Ernie, Abby Cadabby, Zoe, Cookie Monster, Rosita, Big Bird, and Telly.
There is the “Easter Bunny Picture Patch” where kids can meet and take photos with the Easter Bunny. Once visitors pass through the Easter Bunny’s Art Studio, they’ll enter a delightful Carrot Patch where they will be greeted by Peter Cottontail himself.
“Dine with Easter Bunny” is also very popular — a special Easter Dine with Elmo, Abby, and the Easter Bunny. Guests can enjoy a delicious buffet meal, photo opportunities with favorite Sesame Street friends, and a special Easter story time.
Another special attraction is “Magic of Art.” Abby Cadabby is preparing for Sesame Street’s big Art Show but isn’t quite sure what to create. With help from her friends Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover and Telly she learns that art comes in all shapes and sizes! From paintings to stories and even sculptures, Abby’s friends inspire her to use her imagination to create her own magical masterpiece.
The park will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays now through April 3 and then daily beginning April 8.
Admission tickets start at $39.99.
The Easter Bunny is known for hopping around — but not always. Sometimes, instead of bouncing along the ground, Peter Cottontail opts to ride a train. The holiday bunny has already embarked on his holiday spree of riding trains all around the area.
West Chester Railroad
The West Chester Railroad (610-430-2233, www.westchesterrr.net) is running its Easter Bunny Express on April 9, 10, 16 and 17 with trains at noon and 2 p.m. each day.
On the 90-minute round trip along the beautiful Chester Creek from West Chester to the historic Glen Mills village, the Easter Bunny will be on board handing out treats to all passengers.
During the 20-minute stop at the historic Glen Mills station there will be plenty of opportunities for riders to take photos with the Easter Bunny. Additionally, Greg Wright and Friends will be playing live music and singing favorite Easter songs.
Tickets are $27 for adults, $20 for children (ages 2-12) and $8 for toddlers.
The Easter Bunny will also be down in Delaware for trips on the Wilmington and Western Railroad (Greenbank Station, 2201 Newport-Gap Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-998-1930,www.wwrr.com) on April 9, 10, 15 and 16.
On the special trains, the big bunny with the big ears will visit with all passengers and pose for pictures. Departure times are 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
The Easter Bunny hops aboard the and fares are $19 for adults, $18 for seniors (ages 60 and older) and $17 for children (ages 2-12).
train for a 1½-hour round-trip ride to Ashland, and all kids will get a special treat. Bring your camera and have the Easter Bunny pose for a picture with your child. This is a great way to welcome Spring and bring the family out for a fun time on the rails.
This event is powered by one of our historic first-generation diesel locomotives.
Fares are $22 for adults, $21 for seniors (ages 60 and older) and $20 for children (ages 2-12).
The Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad (717-944-4435, www.mhrailroad.com) will be running its Easter Bunny Express on April 9, 10 and 16 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each day.
The Easter Bunny will join riders for an approximate 1.5-hour train ride handing out treats to all children under age 12, visiting and posing playfully for pictures and selfies. There will be live accordion music along the way and affordable snacks and cold drinks available on board.
Fares for the ride are $19 (ages 12 and older), $15 (ages 2-11) and $ (under age 2 and on lap).
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Eggspecially Fun Bunny Run!” on April 9, 10, 15 and 16.
The special excursion will take passengers to Glen Rock and back – allowing them to take in views of the scenic Heritage Rail Trail County Park. The Easter Bunny’s Helper will be on the train for photo ops.
After returning to New Freedom, children can participate in an egg hunt (weather permitting). Each child will receive a free treat bag, including a bunny pretzel donated by Smittie’s Soft Pretzels.
Tickets prices are — Adults (13 and older), $25; Children (3-13), $15; Toddler (in lap), $5.
The coaches are pushed and pulled by the rail line’s vintage PRR GP9 Diesel Locomotive, built-in 1959.
This is a 1-hour excursion. Tickets will be printed and available for pick up at the ticket booth on the day of the excursion.
The New Hope and Ivyland Railroad (32 West Bridge Street, New Hope, 215-862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its annual Easter Bunny Express on April 9 and 10 and again on April 15 and 16 with departures at starting at 10 a.m.
The Easter Bunny is going to ride onboard the train where he will visit with each child, hand out special treats and pose for pictures. Coach tickets are $77.49 for adults, $74.07 for children (ages 12-plus) and $11.38 for toddlers (under 2).
The train ride departs from and returns to the New Hope Train Station. Riders can take in the sights of early spring as the Easter Bunny visits with all of the children handing out special candy treats and posing for photos taken by the railroad staff.
For almost two decades (2001-2019), collectors of comics, toys, gaming or non-sport trading cards made an annual pilgrimage to Philadelphia to attend the Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, 215-418-4700).
One of the country’s top pop culture conventions, the annual event was the largest event of its type on the East Coast.
It was so successful that it appeared nothing would be able to stop its evolution and growth.
Then came COVID-19 and the pandemic wiped out Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con in 2020 and 2021.
Wizard World is now back in Philadelphia but with a new name — FAN EXPO Philadelphia. The event is running now through April 10 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
William Shatner
FAN EXPO Philadelphia will feature movies, comics, toys, video gaming, television, anime, manga, horror, sports, original art, collectibles, contests and movie screenings — along with more than 150 celebrities who will be greeting fans and autographing items and industry professionals representing the best in today’s pop culture.
Some of the top names on the long list of special guests are William Shatner (“Star Trek,” “Boston Legal”), David Tennant (“Doctor Who”), Catharine Tate (“Doctor Who”, “The Office”), Kevin Smith (Clerks), Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy, Suicide Squad), Carl Weathers (Rocky, “The Mandalorian”), James Marsters (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Smallville”) and Ming-Na Wen (“The Mandalorian”).
Other special attractions include comics-themed panels, portfolio reviews, costume contests and “Kids Day” on Sunday with an array of panels and events designed especially for children. Children and adult attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite villain, superhero or pop culture personality for the chance to win special prizes in daily costume contests.
The show also will host hundreds of exhibitors who will be displaying and selling action figures, Anime, movie posters, trading cards, clothing, memorabilia, original artwork and comics.
Show hours are Friday, April 8, 4-9 p.m.; Saturday, April 9, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, April 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Ticket prices start at $47.
If you’re looking to physically challenge yourself this weekend, there’s an event in Philly waiting for your participation – the 12th Annual Philadelphia “Fight for Air Climb.”
The race is scheduled for April 9 at 7:30 a.m. at Three Logan Square (1717 Arch Street, Philadelphia, http://action.lung.org, 610-941-9595).
Standing 739 Feet, Three Logan Square is one of Philadelphia’s landmark skyscrapers. The 57-story red granite tower is located in the heart of Philadelphia’s Central Business District and boasts a significant skyline presence.
“Fight for Air Climb” participants will race up 50 of the 57 floors. When they finish the uphill run over 1,088 steps, they will experience what it is like to live with lung disease. “Century Climbers” are even bold enough to take on the stair climb twice!
Participation in the event will raise lifesaving funds to provide education, research and advocacy to our community.
Participants are required to pay a registration fee and raise a minimum of $100. If you can’t climb but want to participate, you can register as a virtual climber.
Money raised at the Climb allows the American Lung Association to fund lung research, programs for lung disease for adults and children, tobacco prevention and cessation programs, advocate for clean and healthy air (indoors and outdoors), and more.
After the climb, friends, family, participants and sponsors are invited to the City Tap House (3925 Walnut Street) for awards and celebration. Participants will receive complimentary food and drink specials.
Winterthur
Guided tours are back at Winterthur (5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org) – and so is “Daffodil Day.”
On April 9, Winterthur will present the April edition of its “Garden Director’s Walks” from 1-2:30 p.m.
Guests will join Winterthur’s director, Chris Strand, on a special walk highlighting interesting and seldom seen parts of the landscape.
Participants should dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. Each walk lasts approximately 90 minutes.
The theme for April is “Winterhazels and Early Rhododendrons,”
The next installment, which is scheduled for May 14, will be “Azaleas and Spring Wildflowers.”
In May, the “Introductory Tour” will change to “Walking in the Footsteps of Jacqueline Kennedy” with the opening of the exhibition, “Jacqueline Kennedy and Henry Francis du Pont: From Winterthur to the White House”
The tour is a look at the spaces the First Lady explored during her visit to Winterthur while working on her historic restoration of the White House with H. F. du Pont, chair of her Fine Arts Committee. Self-paced and guided options are available.
April 9 is also the day of Winterthur’s “Daffodil Day and Daffodil Dash.”
The event, which starts at 10 a.m., will celebrate the beauty of the daffodil.
Henry Francis du Pont used his designer’s eye when arranging his collection of hundreds of heirloom daffodil bulbs in cloud-like drifts on Sycamore Hill. The day’s events will include a children’s daffodil show and tours of the daffodils, both guided and self-guided. Included with admission.
The “Daffodil Dash” will run from 9-10 a.m.
Participants can use a bike, scooter, stroller, roller blades or sneakers, decorate them with spring-inspired items and join in for a family-friendly parade through the garden.
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, www.longwoodgardens.org) is inviting visitors to “step into spring.”
From April 2-May 1, guests at the colorful site can take in the sights and scents of spring at Longwood Gardens with fields of tulips, azaleas, wisteria and more during the annual Spring Blooms event.
The season of renewal and growth has started. Millions of tiny geophytes begin the season, blanketing Longwood’s vistas with sweeps of spring-has-sprung color.
As the season unfolds, flowering trees delightfully punctuate the landscape, radiant tulips stretch toward the sun, and the delicious fragrance of wisteria floats along the breeze.
Beginning April 23, Longwood Gardens’ Open Air Theatre and Italian Water Garden fountains springs to life, as does the Square Fountain, Round Fountain (Flower Garden Walk), Sylvan Fountain (Peirce’s Park), and Children’s Corner fountains.
Visitors can also enjoy special exhibits at the Orchid House.
After a major restoration project, the Orchid House has reopened at Longwood Gardens.
The Orchid House, which has a history dating back more than a century, has come back to life with a brand-new glass roof and reimagined gallery-inspired space.
If you’ve been to Longwood Gardens before you’ve probably seen the historic Orchid House. But if you come to see it once it has reopened on February 26 as the first expression of “Longwood Reimagined,” it will be an experience like never before.
The Orchid House has been completely restored in the same way founder Pierre S. du Pont would have done it himself — with excellence.
The original concrete aggregate was matched so well that you’d never even know it wasn’t the original. The bronze window framing was cleaned, repaired, and replaced. The tunnels below the space were reworked and a brand-new floor poured.
The historic bronze cases, first added in 1929 and then restored in 1966 to display the orchid collection, have been returned to their original position at the north end of the house. Before they existed, there was a glass wall in their place, which has now been added to the top of the cases to create a vestibule on the north side of the house, creating the perfect transition from the Acacia Passage now, and the Waterlily Court and West Conservatory in the future.
The cases themselves have had all of their original pieces restored and are now double-sided. You’re now able to see orchids on both sides of the gates — from the main view inside the Orchid House, and from the vestibule. The same wrought iron gates that have always been there stand in the middle of the cases, yet they’ve been completely restored, and their intricate details, once hidden under layers of paint, are appreciable once more.
Brand new gravity rings now hold our orchids in place, allowing the plants to be admired as always, but with better functionality and structural integrity.
Admission to Longwood Gardens is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and college students, $18 for active military and $13 for youth.
April 1 was a no joke in northern Delaware because it was the “Opening Day 2022” for Nemours Estate (850 Alapocas Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, www.nemoursestate.org).
Nemours Estate is a masterpiece of Gilded Age design with a 77-room Mansion, 200 acres of formal French gardens and grounds, and a Chauffeur’s Garage housing vintage automobiles.
Originally constructed in 1910, Nemours Mansion is one of Delaware’s grandest buildings and includes the largest formal French garden in North America.
Tickets can be purchased at the Estate, but no reservations are needed and there is no timed entry. Last tickets are sold at 4 p.m.
Chanticleer (786 Church Street, Wayne, www.chanticleergarden.org) is also open for its 2022 season.
The Chanticleer estate dates from the early 20th-century, when land along the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was developed for summer homes to escape the heat of Philadelphia. Adolph Rosengarten, Sr., and his wife Christine chose the Wayne-St. Davids area to build their country retreat. The family’s pharmaceutical firm eventually became part of Merck & Company in the 1920s.
The garden has evolved greatly since the death of the owner in 1990. As the home of the Rosengartens, Chanticleer was beautiful and green with impressive trees and lawns. Most of the floral and garden development you see today has occurred since 1990 — designed by Chanticleer staff and consultants.
There are seven horticulturists, each responsible for the design, planting, and maintenance of an area. The areas are continually evolving, each with its own feel, yet joined together as one complete unit. The Teacup Garden and Chanticleer Terraces feature seasonal plants and bold-textured tropical and subtropical plants. These areas change greatly from year to year. Non-hardy plants overwinter in greenhouses and basements.
The Tennis Court, Ruin, Gravel Garden, and Pond Garden focus on hardy perennials, both woody and herbaceous. The Tennis Court builds on the idea of foliar display introduced in the Teacup. The Ruin is a folly, built on the foundation of Adolph Rosengarten, Jr.’s home. It is meant to look as if the house fell into disrepair. The Gravel Garden is hot and dry, a touch of the Mediterranean in Pennsylvania. The Pond area is exuberantly floriferous.
Asian Woods and Bell’s Woodland are shady areas. The former features natives of China, Korea, and Japan; the latter, plants of eastern North America. The Serpentine celebrates the beauty of agricultural crops. The cut flower and vegetable gardens produce flowers for arrangements and food for the table.
Admission to Chanticleer is $12 for adults and free for pre-teen children (12 years and under).
Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum (1237 State Road, Andalusia, www.andalusia house.org) had its “Season Opening” on April 2 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Located on a wooded promontory overlooking the Delaware River, Andalusia has been a stately presence on this stretch of water, just north of Philadelphia, for more than 200 years. The ancestral home of the Biddle family, Andalusia is also a natural paradise of native woodlands and spectacular gardens that have evolved over time.
Placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 1966, the Big House — one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States — provides an unparalleled look into our nation’s past, while also offering a glimpse into the life of a family that helped to shape its future.
Its surrounding gardens delight the senses all through the year, from the tumbling, brightly colored leaves of fall to the floral extravaganza of spring and the abundance and scent of summer.
Self-Guided Garden Tours will be available Mondays through Wednesdays from April 4-November 2 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.
Visitors can stroll the spectacular formal gardens and native woodlands during a self-guided garden tour at their leisure and enjoy sweeping views from the banks of the Delaware River. Picnics are allowed on the grounds (with have a “carry-in, carry-out” policy).
Access to the Big House is not included with this tour which is $20 per person. There is no charge for children 12 and under.
Big House Tours with Garden Access will be available Mondays through Wednesdays from April 4-November 2 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.
Guests are asked to wear masks inside the historic house. Tickets are $30 per person. There is no charge for children 12 and under.
The Morris Arboretum (100 East Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-247-5777, http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/index.shtml) will host its “Spring Buds & Blooms Tour” on April 9 at 11 a.m.
Participants can join an experienced guide for Morris Arboretum’s featured tour of the month. They will be able to celebrate spring and discover flowering trees and colorful blooms. Tour begins at Widener Visitor Center.
Some of the featured buds and blooms are yoshino cherry (Cherry Allée), Mertensia virginica (Out on a Limb), Camellia japonica “Berenice Boddy” (Visitor Center), Cercis canadensis (Oak Allée), Magnolia ‘Sayonara’ (English Park) and saucer magnolia (Magnolia Slope).
Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-343-0965, http://www.ushistory.org/hope/) will be presenting a “Guided Mansion Tour” on April 10.
Hope Lodge was built between 1743 and 1748 by Samuel Morris, a prosperous Quaker entrepreneur. Morris acted as a farmer, shipowner, miller, iron master, shop owner, and owner of the mill now known as Mather Mill. Hope Lodge is an excellent example of early Georgian architecture, and it is possible that Edmund Woolley, architect of Independence Hall, offered advice in building. Samuel Morris owned the estate until his death in 1770.
Visitors can participate by watching a short film and then taking a tour. Guided tours of the mansion will depart at 1 and 2:30 p.m. all three days.
Tour admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (age 65+) and for youth age 6-17, and fee for children under 5. Hope Lodge is a Blue Star Museum which means that active-duty military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve and their families, are admitted free for regular tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, www.chaddsford.com) will host “Reserve Tastings – Spring Sippers” on Saturdays and Sundays in April.
Visitors can welcome the warm weather and sunshine with an intimate, 60-minute classroom-style tasting in the winery’s Barrel Room.
The site’s trained staff will guide guests through a pre-selected tasting of five widely diverse and award-winning wines from across its portfolio. The selections will be paired alongside a unique offering from local artisans to enhance your tasting experience.
The staff will also discuss topics such as grape growing conditions at partner vineyards and the onsite winemaking process from production to aging and bottling.
Reserve Tastings are $35/person and offered only on select Saturdays and Sundays. There are three seatings per day – noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Advanced reservations are required and are non-refundable.
Guests under 21 years old are not permitted to attend a Reserve Tasting. Outside food is not permitted during this program.
The “Pairing Line Up” is — Greeting Wine: 2019 Sparkling White; 2021 Vidal Blanc with Birchrun Farm’s Fat Cat; 2021 Dry Rosé: Redux with prosciutto; 2020 The Red Standard with Birchrun Farm’s Equinox; and 2021 Vignoles with OsoSweet cookie.
Penns Wood Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, http://www.pennswoodsevents.com) will present “Live Music on the Lawn” every weekend in April.
The schedule for this month features Neil McGettigan on April 1, Greg Jones on April 2, Paul Wilkinson on April 3, Jason Ager on April 9, and Ashley Sweetman Duo on April 10.
The line-up also includes Amanda & Teddy on April 16, Jerry Lee Watkins on April 23, Bill Hake on April 24, and Hailey & Nero on April 20.
The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running a special train on April 1 and 2 – the “Wine & Cheese Train.”
Passengers can enjoy the luxurious, climate-controlled first-class accommodations and a tasting of select wine, cheese, and crackers as they travel in style down the tracks from Strasburg to Paradise and back. The train departs at 6 p.m. and the total trip time is 45 minutes.
“Wine & Cheese Train” boarding is 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. Riders must be 21 or older and have their photo ID ready when they board.
Featured wines are carefully selected from Waltz Vineyards, and cheeses are paired accordingly. Beer and select non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase upon request. Riders can purchase a souvenir wine glass on board the train if desired. Glasses are $7 each.
In accordance with Pennsylvania law, alcohol is only served during the train ride. We are not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages while the train is berthed in the station.
This popular train is available on select Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the season. Tickets are $50.
On April 9, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (300 Gap Road, Strasburg, 717-687-8628, www.rrmuseumpa.org) is presenting a special event called “Rails &Ales,” a craft beer tasting event that will take place among the museum’s amazing historic trains.
Participants are invited to enjoy an evening of responsible adult fun, featuring breweries, food trucks and live music.
The “Fifth Annual Rails & Ales” will be held among the world-class collection of historic trains inside the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania’s 100,000 square foot Rolling Stock Hall. The event features craft breweries and food vendors
“Rails & Ales” will run from 5:30-9 p.m. Tickets are $40 and designated driver tickets are available for $15.
“Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection” will be on exhibition at the Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, delart.org) now through June 5.
A celebration of beauty, “Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection” features more than 60 objects, spanning over 30 years of Tiffany’s prolific career. The exhibition showcases Tiffany’s innovative work in leaded and blown glass, including stellar examples of his famous windows, lamps, and vases.
His work was enthusiastically collected by art museums and private collectors throughout his lifetime and continues to be highly sought after today. This exhibition revels in the artistry and craftsmanship of the Tiffany artworks from Chicago’s distinguished Richard H. Driehaus Collection, highlighting masterworks in a comprehensive exhibition.
One of America’s most renowned artists, Louis Comfort Tiffany worked in nearly all of the media available to artists and designers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries — glass, ceramic, metalwork, jewelry, and painting. His love of the natural world inspired floral-themed vases and lamps, delicate vegetal candlesticks, and dramatic landscape windows.
Tiffany earned international acclaim, receiving prestigious awards in exhibitions across Europe and the United States, and his busy studios produced a range of objects, from common household items to one-of-a-kind masterpieces. His work was enthusiastically collected by art museums and private collectors throughout his lifetime and continues to be highly sought after today.
This Saturday and every Saturday during the winter, the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard (1124 East Seventh Street, Wilmington, Delaware, www.kalmarrnyckel.org) is hosting “Winter Ship Tours” of the Kalmar Nyckel.
Kalmar Nyckel deck tours are open during the winter “maintenance season” on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The $10 admission includes a self-guided tour of the Copeland Maritime Center.
Ship tours will cancel for inclement weather and safety issues due to heavy maintenance work.
The ship is a beautiful recreation of the original Kalmar Nyckel, which was built in Holland in the 1620s. Her mainmast is taller than a 10-story building, and she carries 7,600 square feet of sail area and six miles of rigging.
The original Kalmar Nyckel was a Swedish-owned, three-masted armed pinnace that sailed from Goteborg, Sweden in November of 1637 and brought the first permanent European settlers to the Delaware Valley.
In 1986 a group of citizens established the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation to design, build and launch a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel at a shipyard adjacent to the original landing site.
The new Kalmar Nyckel was constructed there and was launched on September 28, 1997. She was commissioned on May 9, 1998, and now serves as Delaware’s sea-going Ambassador of Good Will. She is a fully functional sail training vessel and has represented Delaware all over the country.
