What's New in Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley?

The Longwood Gardens major transformation will be complete in fall 2024. It is called Longwood Reimagined. One of the centerpieces is the new West Conservatory. It will appear to rise from a pool on which the entire building will seem to float. It will also have three Mediterranean-inspired “island” gardens in the midst of pools, canals and fountains.

There’s lots going on in Middletown. New restaurants. New hotels. In 2023, its First State Brewing Company was voted #1 new brewery in the U.S. in the U.S.A. Today Reader’s Choice Awards. And there’s also Birdie’s Links and Drinks. It is 30,000 square feet and indoors – housing two entire mini-golf courses. If you prefer “real golf,” there are HD golf simulator bays where you can also virtually play other sports like soccer and archery. The menu is comfort food, and they have a full bar.

Hagley Museum has added to its historic car collection. They renovated the barn where this small collection is kept and added three vehicles that were once used by the du Pont family. One of these is a 1941 Indian Motorcycle. It belonged to E. Paul du Pont, who orchestrated a merger between DuPont Motors and Indian Motorcycle. That merger is credited with saving the motorcycle company from financial ruin during the Great Depression. Mt. Cuba is putting the finishing touches on a project that will double the portion of its grounds that are accessible to people of all mobility levels, including those in wheelchairs. Paths that were once mulch are now made of a cushiony material made partially from recycled rubber. More than 23,000 pounds of recycled tires were used to create it.  

In addition, the Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau  (GWCVB) has a new visitor center! It is on the Wilmington Riverfront next to the Homewood Suites. Visitor counselors with extensive local knowledge are on hand to give you one-on-one travel advice. We are open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also pick up Greater Wilmington merch – t-shirts, magnets are for sale here as well as our Brandywine Valley Treasure Trail Passport. $49 for an individual and $99 for a family passport – good for two adults and three kids 17 and under. It includes 12 attractions. The passport is good from Memorial Day through Halloween weekend. 

We have three new dining spots: 

Bar Reverie in Greenville. It is right next to long-time locals favorite BBC Tavern and is under the same owner. It has an exceptional wine list for a café-sized restaurant. The food is excellent but the house-made pastries they serve in the morning are divine! They also rotate old films on the wall adjacent to the bar.  Their CineMondays are really popular – you get a glass of sparkling wine, popcorn and a custom-made grazing board tailored to what you like best – and a take home sweet. It includes a voucher for coffee (Felix Roasting Co. coffee out of NYC) for the next morning too. 

The Brandywine. Food is a modern twist on Continental cuisine. Think Crab Louie. Think Beef Wellington. Think Baked Alaska. The design of the space is gorgeous. When you walk through the door it is as if you’ve been transported into a hip brasserie in Naples, Florida. It’s brought to you by Bill Irwin, the same restauranteur who brought us Snuff Mill.  

The Garden. This casual and seasonal outdoor space connects Bardea Food & Drink and Bardea Steak. All are helmed by James Beard Award-nominated chef Antimo Dimeo. The menu is small plates. On it, you’ll find favorites from or inspired by both of the anchor restaurants. It’s a fun spot to gather with friends. The cocktails and mocktails are excellent. They regularly feature live music. There are fire pits and heaters to keep you toasty on cool nights.  

Last but not least – there is Simmer Down!, Wilmington's first rooftop lounge and the most recent addition to the Quoin Hotel. Look for their gorgeous brick ceiling! Guests love cozying up to this fireplace with a Manhattan in hand on chilly evenings. This was known as the Money Room when the Quoin was a bank – imagine being surrounded by gold bars and coins! 

Photo: The Quion Hotel by Matthew Williams