Hi everyone! Well…..we came….we saw…..we rented!!! Before I give my take on Wilmington, I just want to thank everyone who posted their opinions and advice in "Wilmington questions". It made getting around Wilmington much easier, and it was fun to see the places discussed in the post first hand.
We arrived around 10:00pm and stopped at a convenience store for some water. The customer in line ahead of us turned around and said, “So, where youz guys from and what hotel ya staying at?” I was a little freaked out until he started laughing and told us he was from Long Island and was practicing his southern hospitality. We all had a good laugh and chatted for a bit. This was our first encounter in Wilmington.
We were only there for 3 days but managed to find a house, visit the beach, see downtown and Mayfaire, and eat some great food. Here’s what I found…….
The Traffic: We drove around during rush hour on a Friday and the traffic was moving at a steady pace with no unusually long stops. If you are coming from a major city, chances are you won’t think there’s a problem. I will state however that if Wilmington continues to grow, I could see it becoming difficult in the next 5 to 7 years.
The Beach: Clean and Beautiful! Waves were chest to head high. If you surf you will love it! The houses in the area are cute but several look like they are rented to college kids so I’m sure it can get pretty crazy. It’s a small strip of land so parking will be tight during season…….but heck, just park and walk….it’s gorgeous!
Northerners: I just don’t understand why everyone says they’re taking over!
Restaurants: There’s a line at the end of the movie Goodfellas, where Ray Liotta goes into witness protection in a small town and says, “Everybody had their hands out. Everything was for the taking. And now it's all over...After I got here I ordered spaghetti with marina sauce and I got egg noodles with ketchup....I get to live the rest of my life like a schnook!” After living in Manhattan, I have to admit I was expecting something similar……boy was I wrong!!!! I had, hands down, the best meatball sub in years, at Martino’s deli. They have everything there made fresh!
We also ate at a place called Sweet and Savory. Fabulous! There are several other Italian delis which we didn’t have time to try, and also David’s, which looks like a Jewish deli. I guess we’ll have our bagels and eat ‘em too!
Here's a pic of a restaurant at the Cotton Exchange. The food was good. The shops there were cheesy but fun!
Downtown: We loved it! There were more cool shops and things to look at than I expected. Some of my favorites were 008, Edge of Urge (think Urban Outfitters type stuff but smaller) and Flashback which was an amazing vintage clothing shop. There’s a used CD shop that made us feel like we time traveled back to the 90’s, which was fun. They have a section of punk/hardcore 45’s from the 80’s and some classic rock vinyl as well.
I did not see anyone selling crack on the street, as mentioned in the first Wilmington questions post……..however, as you wander away from the main strip of shops and restaurants, it becomes somewhat desolate and I would not walk around alone at night. It’s not like NYC or Miami where there’s people everywhere, so best to stay alert.
The Gay Scene: Having just come from South Beach, we are used to seeing openly gay couples everywhere. I only saw a few couples in Wilmington, but did not get the sense that anyone thought it was an issue. We saw one coffee shop and one club downtown that caters to a gay clientele, but I’m sure there’s probably more.
Dogs: I had asked in my previous post if Wilmington is a dog friendly town…….the answer is YES! It was wonderful to see so many people out with their furry friends. They were at the beach, walking around downtown, inside coffee shops, and sitting at outdoor restaurants.
So, we love it and we’ll be Wilmington residents very soon. My first purchase is going to be a long board so I can surf with my husband…..my second purchase will be one of those meatball subs……I’m sure I’ll work up an appetite!
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