10 things I hate about Northern Delaware!!! (Wilmington, Dover: public school, shopping center, buses)

[travric]

That comment is exactly why we Delaware locals look at NY'ers sideways. I can count on one hand the NY'ers I've met who are calm, friendly, and without attitudes.

Well, being a native New Yorker for many moons, I sure can understand that comment. This place can get to you and you don't even realize it. The reality of a New Yorker's existence can only be explained when in the context of another environment notably one a bit different than the one is in constantly day to day hour to hour and second to second. That's why I'm going to be pretty curious and conscious about my attitudes when I go no doubt checking back to many of the comments here about what kind of a place DE is... north an south. Now I sure hope all the 'baggage' I have can stay in my luggage rack..;-).

[Kellz0427]

Ugh....what to say about Delaware....

We have nice carnivals (the best was the Italian Festival & even though it ALWAYS that seemed to get shot up, you still can't beat passing St. Francis hospital (NEVER GO THERE!) for 8th Street Pizza Place (A Double Slice & a Water Ice)--that made it ALL WORTH IT!)

The BEST HOSPITALS are Christiana Care in Newark, DE, Wilmington Hospital, & A.I. DuPont for Children. St. Francis is old, non-renovated, & if you're having a kid the father is not allowed to sign the BC unless you are married & YES THEY NEED TO SEE THE LICENSE!

The BEST MALLS are Concord & Christiana (Personally, I hate going there. Or maybe its because I'm still shocked by the horrible occurrence that went down there when I was with my lil sister (4yrs old then) & crowds of young kids decided to skip school & go to the mall to fight in the middle of the courtyard! Needless to say, the mall was shutdown & when it reopened you had to have ID to enter if you looked too young, I was 23yrs old still getting ID-ed. Now its much better. Redone with expensive stores. I still only go there for Target. Anything else is pointless & a waste of my time & money. CONCORD ALL THE WAY! BETTER STORES & MORE TO CHOOSE FROM!

HOTELS & MOTELS...hmmm, all I can say is STAY AWAY FROM NEW CASTLE BLVD if you don't want bedbugs or roaches. Everywhere else is okay.

BEST Restaurants...Famous Dave's(both), Olive Garden (both), Bertucci's, Bob Evan's(both), Firebirds, Boston Market, Texas Roadhouse, Dover Down's Festival Buffet *1 of my personal favorites*-the best nights are when u sit by the window & see the horse races!*

I'm moving in a month so yea, I'm ready to see more than what this state has to offer. More later...

[newmassphd]

Originally Posted by Joe84323

I'll give you an accurate top 10 you've been wanting.


10. Meanness - not to be confused with unfriendly, because people in the area will say hi, but people can be very belligerant once provoked, road rage is pretty present, and lots of people try to be badassess and rep whatever development in New Castle they're from (come on, it's New Castle... not Al Qaeda.. stop being such a badass gangster)

While I have nothing really to add to this conversation, I have to say that your point #10 concerning
meanness had me laughing hysterically. I love it "come on, it's New Castle..not Al Qaeda"

I've always been curious about a few things that I hope long time or multi-generational Delaware
residents can answer.

1) when did the whole idea of low numbered license gain popularity?

2) when and why did the capital city move to Dover?

3) why do people leave a towel or t-shirt wedged in the car window if it is broken down
on the side of the highway?

4) Why do people speak derogatively about Central/Southern Delaware as "slower lower?"
In my experience these areas are absolutely beautiful, plenty of natural beauty, greenspace, old
architecture, small towns, and friendly people. So-called slower lower is reachable
in 45 minutes. In many areas of the country that 45 minutes would bring you cross town,
so its not like its a remote area such as the Alaskan wilderness.

[longnecker]

Originally Posted by newmassphd

4) Why do people speak derogatively about Central/Southern Delaware as "slower lower?"

What is derogative about slower lower? We have a much slower pace and are VERY HAPPY with that.

[rdlr]

newmassphd asks:

I've always been curious about a few things that I hope long time or multi-generational Delaware
residents can answer.

1) when did the whole idea of low numbered license gain popularity?
Over a century ago
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-675000-license-plate/

2) when and why did the capital city move to Dover?
Dover was established in 1683. The city of Dover became the capital of Delaware in 1777, when the capital was moved from New Castle.
http://www.delaware.gov/facts/gov.shtml

3) why do people leave a towel or t-shirt wedged in the car window if it is broken down
on the side of the highway?
Because it makes good sense. It sends a message to the police that the car is disabled. Within the next few days, police check on the car, leaving a dated sticker on the back window that it has been checked. After so-many days, the car is towed.

4) Why do people speak derogatively about Central/Southern Delaware as "slower lower?"
In my experience these areas are absolutely beautiful, plenty of natural beauty, greenspace, old
architecture, small towns, and friendly people. So-called slower lower is reachable
in 45 minutes. In many areas of the country that 45 minutes would bring you cross town,
so its not like its a remote area such as the Alaskan wilderness.[/quote]
Nobody I know speaks derogatively about the term Slower-Lower Delaware. We use that term respectfully and consider it a badge of honor. (which is the exact reason we don't bristle at being called Rednecks).

[just_visiting 9]

Been here for over 3 years now and moving soon. Here's what sticks out:

1. Let's address food since everyone eats: There's a lack of quality and choice compared to similar high population areas in other states. Not many good restaurants outside of a narrow band around Concord Pike. An absence of convenience stores & specialty food stores. What's considered good is due to being compared to the mediocre competition. Bars, taverns & eateries are few and far between. This is so strange because of the high population density. I guess people don't expect much and that's exactly what they get.

2. Wilmington north to Philly resembles a post industrial wasteland. Old factories and chemical plants sit vacant and a lot of residual pollution is still in the ground (check the EPA website!!).

3. A lot of violence, poverty and drugs, Wilmington is among the top 5 in the country for homicides. Have you ever seen downtown Chester, omg!

4. I must say the people that live here are actually quite nice overall.

5. Too much traffic, the lights are too long causing excessive back ups.

6. They say DE is good because "it's so close to other places". Umm, my opinion is why not be in those other places instead of just being close to them? The closest are Baltimore and Philly, both on the downward slide.

7. Farmers Markets in New Castle & Neward are not what you might expect, no freshly grown local produce.

Of course, there is no perfect place. Outside of New Castle county it's very nice. Rolling hills in Amish country, Chesapeake Bay is scenic, southern Delaware is nicely rural and laid back. I think it's time to really kick it up a notch in northern DE!

[travric]

You know I noticed this thread really goes back a few years. Lots of water under the Delaware 'bridge'. Curious where perhaps some of the posters are with respect to their opinions today after a number of years of so-called 'growth'.

All in all I'd say that for long time residents of the state if they still have the positive approach to their life in Del after all the years well that says something. It shows they made the right choice and understood how to handle changes.

[James420]

While northern DE hasn't had the growth like the rest of the State, except for the Riverfront, I see something I predicted years ago is coming true.

Christiana and Colonial are out for city schools or soon to be, Brandywine and Red Clay will be taking over the city schools.... Basically the main reason I moved to lower Delaware.

[youngprodigy21]

Even if I won the lottery tomorrow, I would have zero interest in paying thousands of dollars for an black and white license plate. You must have to be from Delaware to want to spend that much money on a freaking license plate.

[Mimidae]

It was over a year ago, but Kellz at the top of this page said: "We have nice carnivals (the best was the Italian Festival & even though it ALWAYS that seemed to get shot up"

The Italian Festival still very much exists and was never once "shot up". The person who built up that festival over the decades was a very close friend of my family. More Wilmington scare-mongering by an outsider...who considers Olive Garden to be one of Delaware's best restaurants.

Looking forward to the festival in a couple of months. There's also the Greek Festival, the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, the Arden Fair, and all of the Sussex County festivals.