On Sunday evening, November 16th, 2008, Public Radio Delmarva hosted an evening with Neal Conan, host of Talk of the Nation, and Liane Hansen, host of Weekend Edition for the past 18 years.

Have you noticed what great radio voices inhabit NPR? As soon as I entered the room, I recognized Liane’s voice and we struck up a conversation. Along with an audience full of public radio supporters and fans, we had an opportunity to talk with Liane and Neal over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and then gathered in the Theatre of the Arts for an hour of stories, experiences and predictions for the future of public radio.

Bill and I went to two films on Opening Night of the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival and the movies we selected really illustrate the diversity of films you can see at this annual event. First we saw “The Lantern” which was filmed in Ellendale, Delaware, right behind our offices located on Main Street. The director, Gustave Rehnstrom, grew up in Ellendale and his family still lives in town. The audience was full of local residents and many of the actors and crew that worked on this film for the past three years.

The second film was Captain Abu Raed, the first independent film to come out of Jordan. This is a definite must see for everyone who enjoys independent and foreign film. It’s one of those films you never want to end and so far this one is a candidate for our favorite flm of the year. This film has already won many awards at Film Festivals around the country and here it is featured in Rehoboth Beach!

Today is the beginning of the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival. If you enjoy independent film, you really should head to Rehoboth Beach over the next 5 days. There is a great choice of films, great food and comraderie in the tent behind the Midway Theater on Route 1 between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. I’m going to pick up out tickets this afternoon and our first movie is tonight – The Lantern, filmed locally in Ellendale, Delaware, where Bill and I have our business office and headquarters for Real Living Homes and Gotcha Covered. Bill remembers seeing all the activity right behind our office when they were filming this past summer.

For more about the Film Festival visit www.RehobothFilm.com or call 302-645-9095.

This year was the 8th anniversary of our meeting at Jazz Festival 2000! We celebrated in front row seats and you’ll see some of the great photos I was able to get below.

We heard a lot of good music the past few days, but this afternoon we heard great JAZZ! My favorite saxophone player Kirk Whalum with Rick Braun on the trumpet, both of whom we have seen many times in Rehoboth Beach and other jazz festivals. Then there was Eric Darius and Bob Baldwin who we saw for the first time today. What an afternoon to bring this 19th Annual Jazz Festival to an end for us.

Here’s a few scenes of this afternoon’s concert for you. Hope you see you at next year’s event -

Rehoboth’s Secret:  Ed Shockley, Doug James, Keith Mack performed Saturday afternoon at the new Rehoboth Beach Theater of the Arts and it was a great venue for live music. This theater used to be a Methodist Church so the acoustics were great. We look forward to many future events here.

Then, Saturday evening was Joe Piscopo’s Tribute to Sinatra and much more. He treated us  to some old Saturday Night Live bits, sang some favorite Sinatra tunes and played the keyboards, sax, flute, drums and did them all well.

The 19th Annual Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival takes place this week! More than any other event, this is one of the reasons Bill and I moved to Coastal Delaware. This year, we have bought tickets to The Neville Brothers on Thursday evening, October 16th as well as Joe Piscopo’s “Tribute to Sinatra”. Aaron Neville is one of Bill’s favorite singers and this is our first chance to see the Neville Brothers with Aaron in person.

Part of the fun is to catch the local acts at restaurants throughout town. We always try to catch Vessa at Cloud 9 and Pam Miller over at the Cultured Pearl, one of our very favorite restaurants. Back in 2000, Bill and I met at Sir Guy’s, now Fins, where Alfie Moss and Dexter Koonce were performing. In fact, when we were married in January 2003, Alfie and Dexter performed at our wedding! We consider this Jazz Festival our 8th Anniversary and we hope to see you there.

Time permitting, we are hoping to get tickets to see “To Grover with Love” including one of my favorite Saxophone players Kim Waters and “The New Urban Jazz Party” with my all time favorite Saxophone player Kirk Whalum.

Come back for some pictures and updates on this year’s event.