VAF 2025 Annual Meeting

May 14-17, 2025
Wilmington, Delaware

To view pertinent information directly, use the following links:

About the Conference

Conference Schedule

Lodging & Travel

Paper Sessions

Conference Costs

Registration

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Delaware 2025
Delaware Lodging & Travel Information

Conference Lodging

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Downtown Wilmington-Legal District

700 North King Street

Wilmington, DE 19801

VAF has secured a block of rooms for Monday, May 12 - Sunday, May 18. To make reservations please contact the hotel directly via phone, (302) 351-0401. Use code word VAF to access our block of rooms.

Hotel room rates quoted below are per room, per night, and subject to prevailing city, county, and state taxes, fees and assessments. Rates are guaranteed until Monday, APRIL 21, 2025.

Standard and Double rooms are $169/$189. Parking is $17/day.

METHOD OF RESERVATION

You may register online. The link will take you to our conference hotel landing page with all needed prompts for our discount.

Check-in is at 3 pm and checkout is at 11 am.

Travel & Transportation

Locality

Downtown Wilmington is rather compact and resides on a rocky hill between the confluence of the Christiana and the Brandywine Rivers just west of the much larger Delaware River. Wilmington has a rectilinear street plan with (mostly) alternating one-way streets. East/West streets are numbered and tend to be small, while North/South streets are named. The hotel lobby and small carport are on the left side of King Street (a major southbound street) at the corner of 8^th (a small westbound street). Best to approach the hotel by car from the north on King Street. Market Street, the main commercial street with many restaurants and bars, is one block west and parallel to King Street.

By Train

The Wilmington Train station is on French Street (one block east of King Street) and Front Street (aka 1^st Street). This station is “on” the Amtrak Northeast Corridor and is served by Amtrak regional and ACELA trains from all along the East Coast. One should book tickets in advance or purchase at the station (Amtrak tickets). The Wilmington station is also on Philadelphia’s SEPTA system with ticket machines at the station, or one can pay the conductor on the train. One-way tickets cost approximately $10-15 from Philly to Wilmington. The hotel is eight blocks up the hill on King Street from the station.

By Car Overview

I-95 is only 24.5 miles long in Delaware and passes through downtown Wilmington, while I-495 is a north/south bypass around Wilmington, and I-295 is an east/west connection between I-95 just south of Wilmington, crossing the Delaware River, and the south end of the New Jersey Turnpike (NJT).

From Philadelphia on I-95: Exit 7B for Delaware Avenue, take a left at first light onto Delaware Avenue (major east bound, two-way traffic) and keep left onto 11^th Street and continue to King Street, turn right. If you miss Exit 7B, the next Exit 7A will put you directly on 11^th Street (major east bound, one-way traffic), continue straight to King Street, turn right.

From further North: I-95 and the NJT are the same road leaving New York City but split south of Trenton, NJ. I-95 passes into PA and then south through Philadelphia. To avoid Philadelphia traffic, take the NJT all the way south onto I-295 west and then a short stretch of I-95 heading north into Wilmington. Take Exit 7 as if coming from the south.

From the South on I-95 (also from NJT / I-295): Exit 7 puts you at the corner of N. Adams Street (northbound alongside I-95) and 9^th Street (east bound, small street, many stop signs). Best to go two blocks north to Delaware Avenue and turn right at traffic light, continue straight to King Street and turn right again.

By Plane (PHL)

The closest major airport to Wilmington is Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) which is served by many airlines. The airport is on the south side of the city, directly on I-95 (toll-free) and approximately 23 miles from Wilmington. An Uber ride to Wilmington is ~$60 one way, airport shuttles are generally more expensive than Uber.

Note that PHL airport has a SEPTA train station with trains leaving every 30 minutes for downtown Philly (airport line). Take the SEPTA airport train two stops to Penn Medicine and change for the generally hourly southbound Wilmington SEPTA train (WIL schedule), approximately $14 but no late-night service. It is possible to take the SEPTA train one stop further to the 30^th Street Amtrak station and change to a southbound Amtrak train, occasionally faster but requires two separate tickets, ~$10 + ~$20.

By Plane (BWI)

The Thurgood Marshall (Baltimore airport, BWI) is approximately 80 miles south of Wilmington (with tolls). The airport is on the south side of the city and one can connect to I-95 northbound via I-895.

Note that BWI also has an Amtrak station on the Northeast Corridor. There is a shuttle bus from the airport to the train station followed by a ~one hour ride to the Wilmington station, approximately $20 depending on time of day.

Only on American Airlines (ILG): American Airlines has been offering connections to New Castle County airport (ILG). Travel is to PHL by air and then by bus to ILG which is ~12 miles south of Wilmington. However, you will have to Uber / rideshare to the conference hotel. Not clear that this is advantageous.

Contact Michelle Jones, VAF Conference Coordinator with questions about the conference conference@vafweb.org.

Dining Guide

Wilmington, DE Local Dining, significant establishments:

Downtown Area (easy walk): Restaurants and Bars (alphabetical)

Be sure to check opening hours as many places are only five days a week since COVID.

Bardea Restaurant (original) and Bardea Steakhouse, top end restaurants for fine dining. Reservations are required (it might be too late already) with CC guarantee.

Chelsea Tavern – medium sized restaurant with above average tavern food. Relatively small bar in front part of restaurant with high end craft beer usually including Belgian beers on tap.

Farmer and Cow – small, unassuming but high end “burger bar” with large whiskey shelf. Towards the bottom of Market Street and easy to bypass, so turn around if you get to 2^nd Street.

La Fia – small Italian bistro with intimate vibe. Check hours and reservations due to limited size.

Le Cavalier – reservations required, high end French cuisine in the historic Hotel Dupont. Not for the faint of heart or poorly dressed.

Makers Alley – indoor/outdoor beer garden vibe with permanent food truck featuring award winning burgers. Usually, 20 taps of high end craft beer, cans, and cocktails.

Merchant Bar – corner bar across the street from The Queen, generally upscale cocktail-orientated bar with eats.

Mikimotos – the place for sushi and other Japanese fare in Wilmington. Hip and modern with daily specials.

The Knight's Bar / The Queen– check venue program, next to The Queen Theater (generally music and comedy acts in historic building)

The Nomad – hole-in-the-wall place for live Jazz, check their lineup.

The Quoin: Simmer Down – reservations recommended, high end

cocktail bar The Quoin. Speak easy vibe in the basement of a gentrified bank. Or Rooftop – high end and only rooftop bar in Wilmington, and leather sofas weather permitting.

Torbert Street Social – true speak easy vibe in a historic building, reservations recommended and “proper attire” is required – no scrubs and you will see why if you go there.

Washington Street Tavern – informal atmosphere but above average expectations for tavern. Large craft beer tap list.

Food Courts (walkable, bespoke food, not chains)

Chancery Market – a food hall and bar. Check out the bespoke food venders and scheduled entertainment on weekends.

DECO Food Hall– not your average food court with Bardea Pizza and Cassa Nanna (by Bardea) and sushi, taqueria, mediteranian food, coffee and liquor bar.

Riverfront Market – longer walk, mom-and-pop vibe, right at the foot of Market Street on the river.

Riverfront (20 min. walk downhill but uphill coming back, lots of free parking):

Big Fish Grill and Raw Bar – quality seafood restaurant further along the river walk with patio dining and sea going motif.

Banks Seafood and Raw Bar – right on the river, high end seafood, always busy and patio dining.

Del Pez – “upscale” Mexican restaurant, the place for Margaritas and happy hour. Off the river front. Reservations are good but not generally necessary.

Docklands – highly social moderate sized restaurant and bar right on the river with a patio, they say “relaxed atmosphere” with American fare.

Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant – local brewery with chain of restaurants. Their craft beer on tap, American fare. On the river with open garage doors during nice weather and upstairs patio with a view.

The Riverfront Asian Cuisine and Bar – small place with high quality and spicy Asian food worth searching out. Small patio on the River Walk.

Frawley Blue Rocks Stadium – grab a hot dog at the ballpark for minor league baseball fun. Walk-up tickets are always available for about $15. They are playing at home all week during the conference ;-)

Coffee/Cafes

Bean by Bardea – Part of DECO food hall, pastries and coffee in the food hall.

BlueBird Café – casual breakfast and lunch café, further along Delaware Ave. than DECO from hotel. On the corner with ample seating. Next to the USPS office so you can send that postcard home.

Brew Ha Ha – Delaware Ave, small shop for local coffee roaster, highly recommended, drink local. On Delaware Ave. across from DECO. A larger store is on Rt. 202 on your way to those chain restaurants.

Dunkin Donuts – chain outlet on Market at 7^th expect a more “casual” but less expensive experience than at Starbucks across the street. ;-)

Starbucks – yes we have them, on Market at 7^th plus one on the Riverfront but off the River Walk.

Trolly Square area: (30 walk, easy street parking) – busy area with many bars and casual restaurants.

Route 202 North: (not walkable, 10-15 min. drive north on 95 then first exit) every chain restaurant you have ever heard of, plus some you haven’t. E.g., a local chain The Charcoal Pit – one time hangout of Joe Biden, and totally retro.

For more information or questions contact
the secretary or the webmaster.