Annual Manual 2011 by Drink Magazine

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The New TIFFANY Wing at the

Morse

Now Open The Morse Museum’s new galleries feature the recently restored Daffodil Terrace and 250 art and architectural objects from Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Long Island estate, Laurelton Hall. PUBLIC HOURS 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday Closed Monday ADDITIONAL FRIDAY HOURS November through April, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

445 north park avenue winter park, ﬂorida 32789 (407) 645-5311 www.morsemuseum.org

ANNUAL MANUAL

2011

iving in Orlando is not an easy proposition, never has been. For every bout of rollercoaster whiplash or sack of oranges indelibly printed on our cultural postcard there are hundreds of real stories, real attractions, real businesses (and real problems) percolating underneath. We’re a scrappy town of post-amusement urbanism, a strip-mall paradise dotted with viable reasons to take strip malls seriously (or at least give them a chance). In short, Orlando is a conundrum of quizzical development that still houses immeasurable heart – if you can find it. That’s where we come in. In this, Orlando Weekly’s second go at an Annual Manual, we’ll help you look beyond the town’s brass and cultural engineering with which outsiders have long attempted to brand the City Beautiful. We’ll be that old friend whose couch you’ve been bothering, the one who wants to show you the best place to grab a sandwich or score a boozy lost weekend. The best part? We won’t even kick you out. It’s all OK by us. You can get us back next year.

Community Attractions Dining Nightlife & Music Sports & Recreation Shopping Arts & Culture Events

6 10 17 22 30 37 42 48

PUBLISHER Rick Schreiber EDITOR Erin Sullivan ART DIRECTOR Shan Stumpf PHOTOGRAPHERS Aldrin Capulong, Jason Greene CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jeff Gore, Seth Kubersky, Billy Manes,

Caitlin McGill, Aimee Shea, Justin Strout, Erin Sullivan, Katie Westfall, Jessica Bryce Young INTERNS Caitlin McGill, Valeri Walsh RESEARCH ASSISTANT Tyler King BUSINESS Karen Waeiss, manager; Amanda Self, administrative assistant ADVERTISING Graham Jarrett, director; Tara Centeno, Jonathan Risteen, Lindsay Tabora, Shelly Vincent, Dan Winkler, account executives; Mike Mundrick, junior account executive; Hollie Ann Mahadeo, coordinator PRODUCTION Rick Andrews, production supervisor; Sabrina Arbona, graphic designer CIRCULATION Pierre Rene, manager WEB ADMINISTRATOR Justin Hacker NATIONAL ADVERTISING: Voice Media Group, 1-800-278-9866 TIMES-SHAMROCK: DON FARLEY, group publisher; JENNIFER MARSH, general sales manager. Copyright © 2011 Orlando Weekly Inc., all rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Free, one copy per reader. Annual Manual may be distributed only by its distributors. ORLANDO WEEKLY INC. 1505 E. Colonial Drive, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32803; (407) 377-0400, (407) 377-0415 classified, (407) 377-0420 fax • orlandoweekly.com

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espite frequent forays into dress-up and overstatement that may lead you to believe otherwise, Central Florida remains a community in its relative infancy. Lawyers, real estate agents and various other young professionals may cluster around infrastructural hotspots – as they do – but the real Orlando still exists as a hodgepodge of influences, ranging from scrappy ambition to good ol’ boy entitlement, sunburns to suits – a gulf of potential with

STATE HOUSE DISTRICTS

plenty of room for improvement should you give a damn to make a mark here. Want to know a little more about this bizarre place where you’ve ended up? Here is a handydandy political directory to aid you in finding just which politician deserves your pestering, some tips on how to survive Central Florida’s own amplified recession and some fun facts to help you while away your hours. You’re not in the middle of nowhere; you are here.

STATE SENATE DISTRICTS

Orlando by the numbers

38 35

Downtown Orlando

● Year Orlando incorporated as a city: 1875

● Population of Orange County in 1870: 2,212

Downtown

36 Orlando 40 49

District 40 State Rep. Eric Eisnaugle (R) 2212 Curry Ford Road Orlando, FL 32806 407-893-3141 myﬂoridahouse.gov

State Senate

State House

District 9

District 35

District 49

Sen. Andy Gardiner (R) 1013 E. Michigan St. Orlando, FL 32806 407-428-5800 gardiner.andy. web@ﬂsenate.gov

House Speaker Dean Cannon (R) 1992 Mizell Ave., Suite 200 Winter Park, FL 32792 407-623-5740 myﬂoridahouse.gov

State Rep. Darren Soto (D) 5425 S. Semoran Blvd., Suite 1-B Orlando, FL 32822 407-249-4743 myﬂoridahouse.gov

District 19

District 36

Sen. Gary Siplin (D) 1436 N. Pine Hills Road Orlando, FL 32808 407-297-2071 siplin.gary.web @ﬂsenate.gov

State Rep. Scott Randolph (D) 701 E. South St., Suite 100 Orlando, FL 32801 407-893-3084 myﬂoridahouse.gov

District 22

District 38

Sen. David Simmons (R) 251 Maitland Ave., Suite 304 Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 407-262-7578 simmons.david. web@ﬂsenate.gov

Sate Rep. Bryan Nelson (R) 409 S. Park Ave. Apopka, FL 32703 407-884-2023 myﬂoridahouse.gov

District 24 Sen. Thad Altman (R) 6767 N. Wickham Road, Suite 211 Melbourne, FL 32940 321-752-3138 altman.thad.web@ ﬂsenate.gov

District 39 State Rep. Geraldine Thompson (D) 511 W. South St. Orlando, FL 32805 407-245-1511 myﬂoridahouse.gov

● Estimated population of Orange County in 2009: 1,086,480

District 24 U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams (R) 2461 W. SR 426, Suite 1041 Oviedo, FL 32765 adams.house.gov

U.S. Senators Sen. Bill Nelson

U.S. Reps District 3 U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown (D) 219 Lime Ave. Orlando, FL 32805 407-872-0656 house.gov/corrinebrown

District 7 U.S. Rep. John Mica (R) 100 E. Sybelia Ave., Suite 340 Maitland, FL 32751 407-657-8080 mica.house.gov

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● Total housing units in Orlando, 2008: 113,850 ● Percentage of those that are occupied: 81.4

225 E. Robinson St., Suite 140 Orlando, FL 32801 407-872-7161 billnelson.senate.gov

● Number of owneroccupied homes, 2008:

Sen. Marco Rubio

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Median family income:

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Average home cost: $235,300

U.S. HOUSE DISTRICTS

39,119

● Percentage of those homes worth more than $1 million: 1.4

201 S. Orange Ave., Suite 350 Orlando, FL 32801 407-254-2573 rubio.senate.gov

$40,143

Number of foreclosure ﬁlings in Orlando/Kissimmee area, 2010:

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61,674

Daytona

● Likelihood your house is in foreclosure: 1 in 15 ● Number of homeless on any given day in 2009: 3,970 ● Number of adult businesses in Orlando, 1977: 40

3 7

District 8 U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster (R) 300 W. Plant St. Winter Garden, FL 34787 407-654-5705 webster.house.gov

● Number of adult businesses in Orlando, 2009: 1 ● Number of pain clinics in Orlando, 2010: 23

24 Orlando

● Estimated population of Orlando in 2010: 267,050

● Number of pain clinics in Orange County, 2010: 61 ● Number of Floridians on Medicaid, 2010: 2.8 million

Steal this city

● Number of murders in Orlando, 2010: 16 ● Number of murders in Orlando, 2008: 43 ● Total violent crimes in Orlando, 2010: 2,481 ● Average temperature in Orlando: 72 degrees ● Average annual high temperature in Orlando:

82 degrees ● Percentage of Floridians who believe in some kind of global warming: 81 ● Acreage of citrus groves in Florida, 1972: 878,000 ● Acreage

of citrus groves in Florida, 2010: 554,037

veryone knows it’s been a tough couple of years for Central Florida. Orlando and its environs have been named in every Top 10 list of places the economy has vomited for almost as long as we can remember. Which means that many of you, friends, may be looking at some hard times right about now. But don’t fret – those of use who’ve lived through it before have scouted out all the ways to get by in Orlando on the cheap. Following is our short list of resources in and around the region that’ll help you cut costs and get by for less – or, if you play your cards right, maybe even free. For food, start shopping at one of the many Aldi supermarkets (aldifoods.com) locations around the city, which sell produce and other items at rockbottom prices. If you want to retain your buy-local integrity and don’t mind buying dented cans, check out Sacks Grocery Outlet (6013 Edgewater Drive; 407-447-4497; sacksoutlets.com) for super-cheap discount groceries. For serious bargains on clothing, check out the Goodwill Clearance Center (7531 S. Orange Blossom Trail; 407-859-4750; goodwillcfl.org), which sells the leftovers of the leftovers for 99 cents a pound; shoes run $2 a pair. Tell your kids they’ll be trendsetters. Speaking of kids, fire that overpriced babysitter. Call Community Coordinated Care for Children (3500 W. Colonial Drive; 407-522-2252; 4cflorida.org), give them the scoop on your situation and they’ll refer you to the caretaker most appropriate for both your child and your wallet. Need inexpensive health care? The nonprofit Central Florida Family Health Center (407-322-8645; cffhc.org) features a sliding-scale pricing system and has four locations east of I-4 and one in Sanford. If you’re not bothered by religious overtones and need a no-frills checkup, Shepherd’s Hope (multiple locations; 407-876-6699; shepherdshope.org) provides free basic medical care for those making less than twice the federal poverty level. For miscellaneous freebies, join Orlando Freecycle (groups.freecycle.org/FreecycleOrlando), where people give away stuff they no longer need. Maybe one person’s trash really is your treasure. Hopefully shaving down all those living expenses helps you eke out the mortgage payments, but if not,

Reliable Business Solutions (106 S. Semoran Blvd.; 407-482-2908; reliablebusinesssolutions.org) and InCharge Debt Solutions (2101 Park Center Drive, Suite 320; 407-532-5647; incharge.org) are federally recognized nonprofits that offer counseling on refinancing and other repayment options. If you’re a renter having trouble paying the landlord, dial 211, a service operated by the Heart of Florida United Way. Helpful operators will refer you to one of the plethora of organizations that offer emergency rent, mortgage, utility and cash assistance, such as Jewish Family Services, the Christian Service Center and Catholic Charities of Orlando. (You needn’t convert to any religion to get these services, though we suppose it wouldn’t hurt as a sign of gratitude.) If tightening your belt to squeeze out some extra cash isn’t enough to keep away the bank’s lawyers, call the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association (100 E. Robinson St.; 407-841-8310; legalaidocba.org) which offers help in staving off foreclosure, securing unemployment benefits and, if necessary, declaring bankruptcy. También habla español. Tried your best but still facing a stint on the streets? Call the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida (2828 Edgewater Drive; 407-893-0133; hsncfl.org), which not only knows of all the emergency shelters, but the long-term supportive housing programs in the area as well. Check out the Community Food and Outreach Center (150 W. Michigan St., 407-841-2144, communityfoodoutreach.org) for free canned goods. And homeless or not, the free vegetarian meal served by Food Not Bombs at Lake Eola Park at 5 p.m. is a respectable offering, with a side of radical politics available upon request. For additional tips on getting more bang for your buck, search orlandoweekly.com for “Work those dollars!” our Sept. 3, 2009 article on ways to survive in Orlando for less.

Acreage of abandoned citrus groves, 2010: 138,516

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Acreage of Walt Disney World Resort: 30,080

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2010 revenue for the Walt Disney Company: $38 billion

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Property taxes paid to Orange County by Disney World: $76 million

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● 2008

revenue for the Holy Land Experience:

$6.4 million ● Amount

of Holy Land revenue paid in property taxes: $0

(Sources: City of Orlando, U.S. Census, Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, Walt Disney Company, Internal Revenue Service, RealtyTrac, Woods Institute for the Environment) orlandoweekly.com

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Need to know information WHO: The mayor of Orange County is Teresa Jacobs (mayor@ocfl.net), and the mayor of Orlando is Buddy Dyer (buddy.dyer@cityoforlando.net). WHAT: Orlando (cityoforlando.net) is a city located in Orange County, Fla., (ocfl.net) one of seven counties that make up Central Florida. The other counties are: Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia. WHEN: The Orange County Board of County Commissioners meets most Tuesdays at 9 a.m., and Orlando’s City Council meets every other Monday at 2 p.m. Meetings of both government bodies are televised live on public-access Orange TV (channel 199 on Brighthouse, 9 on Comcast). WHERE: Approximately 3 hours, 45 minutes from Miami, 2 hours and 40 minutes to Tallahassee, 2 and a half hours from Jacksonville and 1 hour and 45 minutes from Tampa. WHY: In 1838, during the Second Seminole War, the U.S. Army built Fort Gatlin just south of the present location of the city of Orlando, and in 1840, a community known as Jernigan grew up around that fort. In 1857 the settlement officially renamed itself the town of Orlando. The town evolved as a cow town, producing cattle and citrus, but started evolving as a tourist destination in the

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1930s when Cypress Gardens Adventure Park opened its doors. Walt Disney World cemented that reputation when it opened in 1971, followed by SeaWorld Orlando in 1973; Universal Orlando opened in 1990. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal in 2010. (Visit thehistorycenter.org for more information.) HOW: You can ﬂy here, of course. The region has two main airports: The Orlando International Airport (orlandoairports.net), on the city’s east side, and the smaller Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford (orlandosanfordairport.com), about half an hour northwest of the city. You can take a train – Amtrak offers train service all around the region, and even offers an AutoTrain (as in, you can take your car on the train with you) that travels between Sanford and Lorton, Va. Once you’re here, though, public transportation is pretty much limited to the Central Florida Transportation Authority, aka Lynx (golynx.com), which runs buses that’ll serve your basic needs. If you need to go someplace a bus doesn’t serve, try Mears Transportation (mearstransportation.com, 407-422-2222), which offers taxi, shuttle and sedan service all over town. Need more info? Dial 311 for more county services and information.

Wet n’ Wild

Parks & Gardens Bok Tower Gardens 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales 863-676-1408 boktowergardens.org A botanical and historical masterpiece designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. Open daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. $10 for adults, $3 for children.

Harry P. Leu Gardens 1920 N. Forest Ave. 407-246-2620 leugardens.org Three miles of paved paths wind through botanical displays, including the largest formal rose garden in Florida. You can also visit the historic on-site house museum. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $7 for adults, $2 for children.

Mead Botanical Garden 1500 S. Denning Drive Winter Park 407-599-2800 meadgarden.org This green oasis features bike paths, boardwalks and picnic areas, as well as restored wetlands and riparian forests. Open daily, 8 a.m. to dusk, free.

Museums Central Florida Railroad Museum 101 S. Boyd St., Winter Garden 407-656-0559 wghf.org A cool little museum that features the

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ﬁnest collection of Florida railroad memorabilia in the state, housed in the former Tavares & Gulf railroad depot. Free.

Fort Christmas Historical Park and Museum 1300 Fort Christmas Road Christmas 407-568-4149 orangecountyﬂ.net A regional history museum housed in a replica Seminole War-era log structure. You’ll also ﬁnd seven restored Florida cracker-style homes, as well as picnic pavilions, playgrounds and basketball courts. Free.

Fantasy of Flight 1400 Broadway Blvd. S.E. Polk City 863-984-3500 fantasyofﬂight.com See how old planes are restored, tour hangars holding more than 40 airplanes and watch occasional ﬂying demonstrations. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $28.95 for adults, $14.95 for children.

Florida Air Museum 4075 Doolittle Road, Lakeland 863-644-0741 sun-n-fun.org This museum, adjacent to the Lakeland Regional Airport, is worth a visit if only for the collection of Howard Hughes memorabilia on permanent display. $10 for adults, $8 seniors 55+ and active military personnel, $6 kids 8-12, children 5 and under are free.

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Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex State Road 405 east of Titusville 321-449-4444 kennedyspacecenter.com Take guided tours of launch areas, see historic rockets, ride the Shuttle Launch Experience, watch an IMAX space ﬁlm and see the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. $41 adults, $31 children. Don’t forget: Your tickets are good for two days, and you’ll need the extra time to see everything at the center.

Kissimmee Air Museum and Warbird Adventures 233 N. Hoagland Blvd., Kissimmee 407-870-7366 kissimeeairumuseum.com warbirdadventures.com See classic planes from the early days of ﬂight to the height of the Cold War. Then ﬂy a real World War II-era trainer plane, with an instructor in the rear seat. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MondaySaturday. Closed Sundays from July to October. Museum tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for children. Flights cost $240 for 15 minutes of airtime.

Orange County Regional History Center 65 East Central Blvd. 407-836-8500 thehistorycenter.org The 1927 county courthouse includes permanent exhibits from natural Florida through Disney’s coming. Traveling exhibits broaden its appeal, and a local history archive awaits scholars. Open 10 a.m. to 5

p.m. daily. $12 for adults, less for seniors and children.

Orlando Science Center 777 East Princeton St. 407-514-2000 osc.org How can you not love a museum that’s home to SimMan, a life-sized simulated sick person whose vital signs you can follow until he ﬂat lines? The science center also has Florida’s largest refractor telescope and all sorts of hands-on learning experiences that’ll appeal to kids and adults alike. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed most Wednesdays. $17.00 for adults, $16 for seniors and $12 for children.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! 8201 International Drive 407-354-0501 orlando.ripleys.com You’ve probably seen Ripley’s “odditoriums” at pretty much every tourist trap you’ve ever visited; this one is home to a full-sized car made out of matchsticks, a portrait of Beyonce made out of candy and an actual human shrunken head, all housed inside a building that looks like it’s falling into a sinkhole. Open 9:30 a.m. to midnight. $18.99 for adults ($15.99 if you buy your tickets online), $11.99 for children ($9.99 online).

Titanic The Experience 7324 International Drive 407-248-1168 titanictheexperience.com This huge interactive museum offers guided tours of Titanic artifacts led

by costumed actors portraying the famous passengers and crew of the “unsinknable” ship. Tours being at 10 a.m. Open to 9 p.m. Adults for $21.95, Children for $12.95.

Rides & Adventures *For information on the theme parks, see page 15.

iFly Orlando 6805 Visitors Circle, Orlando 407-903-1150 iﬂyorlando.com Skydive without a plane. The vertical wind tunnel will cost $49.95 for an hour’s training and a minute or two in the air. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. SundayThursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Reservations are suggested.

Air Florida Helicopter Charters 8990 International Drive 407-354-1400 airﬂoridahelicopter.com Open 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. A

variety of tours run $25 to $335.

buses as they go ﬂat-out. Street drags every Wednesday and Friday night. Check the schedule online for events.

International HeliTours 12651 International Drive 407-239-8687 internationalhelitours.com Tours run 9 a.m. to sunset daily, ranging from $30 to $400.

Wet ’n Wild water park

Old Town 5770 Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee 407-396-4888 old-town.com A pay-as-you-ride amusement park set in an Old Florida-style downtown setting. From bumper cars to roller coasters to ferris wheels, Old Town has rides suitable for all ages. Shopping, dining, music and special events, too. Hours vary, so check the website for details.

6200 International Drive 407-351-1800 wetnwild.com The water-park person’s water park: Experience thrill rides with vertical drops, multi-person tubing rides, toboggan slides and more. If you like your water rides on the milder side, ﬂoat along the lazy river or splash in the wave pool. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days, depending on weather. $47.95 for adults, children and seniors $41.95. Half price after 2 p.m. on speciﬁed days.

WonderWorks 9067 International Drive 407-351-8800 wonderworksonline.com Housed in an upside-down building, this attraction has high-tech effects that simulate earthquakes, hurricanes and a hang-

Speed World Dragway 19442 E. Colonial Drive 407-568-2717 speedworlddragway.com If you’re into drag racing, this is the place to be. Check out street dragsters, motorcycles, old hot rods and even school

Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour

continued on page 12

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2530 Aloma Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789 alomabowlingcenters.com

190 E. Airport Blvd. Sanford, FL alomabowlingcenters.com

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Black Hammock Adventures 2356 Black Hammock Fish Camp Road, Oviedo 407-365-1244 theblackhammock.com Airboat tours of gator-choked Lake Jessup run 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with other times available. Tours start at $24.95. There’s a ﬁsh restaurant on premises that serves fried seafood (and gator), and there are a few caged gators for tourists to gawk at.

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Central Florida Zoo

continued from page 11

gliding experience. Plus indoor zip lines, a 4D extreme motion ride and more. Open 9 a.m. to midnight. Base price is $24.99 for adults, $19.99 for children.

3755 N.W. Highway 17-92 Sanford 407-323-4450 centralﬂoridazoo.org Home to more than 400 animals, not counting the Insect Zoo. They also have a couple of zip lines (check the sports and recreation section for details). Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $11.95 for adults.

Discovery Cove 6000 Discovery Cove Way 407-370-1280 discoverycove.com Across the street from SeaWorld, this place will actually let you swim with ﬁsh and dolphins. Packages start at $129. Reservations are required.

Forever Florida

2001 E. Southport Road Kissimmee 407-344-9550 bcairboats.com Thirty-minute tours start at $25.95, with others available, day and night.

4755 N. Kenansville Road St. Cloud 407-957-9794 foreverﬂorida.com Eco-safaris of a 4,700-acre Florida nature preserve by horseback, open-air coach or zipline offer views of a traditional cracker-style ranch, gators, black bears and other wildlife. Overnight horseback tours available. Safaris start at $28 (open-air coach) to $85 (zipline).

Air Boat Rides At MidWay

Gatorland

28501 E. Colonial Drive, Christmas 407-568-6790 airboatridesatmidway.com Open 9 a.m. daily, night tours available. Tours start at $23 for 30 minutes.

14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail 407-855-5496 gatorland.com 1950s-era roadside attraction turned eco-preserve. Get up close and personal with gators; watch trainers wrestle with them and encourage them to jump up for, um, treats. When you’re done, watch cute baby animals frolick at the new “Critters on the go” kid-friendly interactive section of the park. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $22.99 for adults, $14.99 for children.

Outdoor Encounters Airboat Rides at Boggy Creek

AM-10

Audobon Center for Birds of Prey 1101 Audubon Way, Maitland 407-644-0190 ﬂ.audubon.org This rehab center for birds of prey is located in a 1920s bungalow set on Lake Sybelia. There’s a walking trail and aviaries where you can view injured birds that can’t be released back into the wild.

Jungle Adventures Nature Park 26205 State Road 50, Christmas 407-568-2885 jungleadventures.com continued on page 14

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7275 Estapona Circle, Fern Park, FL 32730

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continued from page 12

Kind of like a low-rent Gatorland, Jungle Adventures is smaller and more kitschy. See Swampy, the “largest gator in Florida,” a 200-foot cement gator that used to double as the home of the park’s original owner. Inside, you’ll see rarities such as a Florida panther and gray wolves.

Kissimmee Swamp Tours 4500 Joe Overstreet Road Kenansville 407-436-1059 kissimmeeswamptours.com Sixty- to 90-minute tours on Lake Kissimmee start at $47.

Old Fashioned Airboat Rides Christmas 407-568-4307 airboatrides.com Look for gators and otters and spoonbills on this 90-minute ride through the marshes of the St. John’s River in a six-person airboat. Reservations only. $45 per person, $35 for kids 12 and under.

Orlando Airboats

Reptile World Serpentarium 5705 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, St. Cloud 407-892-6905 reptileworldserpentarium.com Founded in 1972 as a research facility for the production of venom, this working snake farm opened to tourists in 1976.

Rivership Romance 433 N. Palmetto Ave., Sanford 407-321-5091 rivershipromance.com Cruise on Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River. 11 a.m. lunch cruises start at $38 most days, and a 7:30 p.m. Saturday moonlight dining and dancing cruise starts at $53.75.

Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour 312 E. Morse Blvd., Winter Park 407-644-4056 scenicboattours.com This 12-mile pontoon boat ride takes you on three lakes and two canals winding through the city. You’ll skim by Rollins College to see how the tony half lives – or

at least how they landscape their backyards. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Tours leave hourly. $12 for adults, $6 for children.

Family Dinosaur World 5145 Harvey Tew Road, Plant City 813-717-9865 dinosaurworld.com More than 150 life-size outdoor models of dinosaurs rule over a fossil dig, museum and paleontologicalthemed activities. Open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. $12.75 for adults, $9.75 for children.

Downtown Disney Walt Disney World Resort 1590 E. Lake Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista 407-828-8300 disneyworld.disney.go/destinations/downtown-disney Downtown Disney is on the Walt Disney World campus, it’s got Disneyrelated décor that changes with the seasons and it’s got fun stuff for kids to look at, and cool stores and restaurants that’ll make them think they’re actually at Disney. Best part: Admission to Downtown Disney is completely free. Open daily.

AM-11

4245 13th St., St. Cloud 407-572-5391

aorlandoairboats.com Times are ﬂexible. Lake Toho tours start at $49.95 for one hour.

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Green Meadows Petting Farm 1368 S. Poinciana Blvd., Kissimmee 407-846-0770 greenmeadowsfarm.com Get your shoes dirty with 300 farm animals, petting them and learning how to do a variety of farm tasks. Tours run 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prices for most adults and children start at $17 for locals.

Holy Land Experience 4655 Vineland Road 407-872-2272 holylandexperience.com Stories from the Bible reenacted in a high-tech mock-up of ancient Jerusalem. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. $35 for adults, $20 for children.

Pinocchio’s Marionette Theater Altamonte Mall 451 E. Altamonte Drive Altamonte Springs 407-834-8757 pinocchios.net A full-time marionette theater offering daily shows great for kids ages 3 through 10, but still good, clean fun for kids of all ages. Showtimes vary. $5 for adults and kids age 2 and up.

Theme Park Survival Guide

t doesn’t matter whether you moved to Central Florida from across the country just to be closer to your favorite cartoon character, or if you’d rather spend a spa weekend in Dachau than stand in line for five minutes for a roller coaster. Everyone who lives in Orlando inevitably gets sucked into the local mega-attractions, even if only to appease out-of-town guests. Before you end up in 33rd Street Jail for breaking some Brazilian tourist’s neck, use this list of timetested tips and tricks to tackle the theme parks like a local.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Know When To Go The difference between visiting the theme parks during peak and slow season is paradise vs. purgatory. Christmas and summer are always insane, but you’d have to be a statistics savant to foresee every attendance spike. Luckily, TouringPlans. com provides a crowd calendar with accurate projections of how busy Disney will be on any given day. Check it out, along with its companion iPhone app, Lines, before planning your next assault.

Never Pay Full Price With gate prices for one-day park passes exceeding the $80 mark, discounts are essential. If you have an acquaintance employed by the Mouse or his rivals, try to make friends because cast members receive complimentary tickets for companions. If you can’t ﬁnd freebies, forage on websites like mousesavers.com for special Florida-resident rates, which you’ll need a local ID to redeem.

Spring for Special Events Most of the parks sponsor seasonal afterhours events that offer exclusive entertainment at reduced rates, along with most of the usual attractions. Disney’s Very Merry Christmas and Not-So-Scary Halloween

parties, for instance, feature ﬁrst-class ﬁreworks and minimal ride queues for less than a regular ticket, while Universal’s Mardi Gras and Halloween events are awesome opportunities for Orlandoans to get drunk and stupid.

Analyze an Annual Pass If you plan to visit a park three or more times in the course of a year, an Annual Pass is almost always your best bet. SeaWorld often offers 12-month Fun Cards for the price of a regular one-day ticket, while Universal and Disney both have a range of yearly rates. Just beware of buying any annual pass without free parking included; at about $15 per day, paying for parking could quickly eat up your savings.

Drink Smart, Eat Cheap There’s no free lunch in Orlando, nor free beer since Anheuser-Busch was bought out. But there are still some sipping bargains: our favorites are the free foreign sodas in Epcot’s “Club Cool”, and the generous happy hours at Universal’s bars (Finnegan’s and Backwater Bar at Islands of Adventure) and hotels (The Palm at Hard Rock Hotel and Tchoup Chop at Royal Paciﬁc).

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Disney’s Magic Kingdom

6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando 407-363-8000 1180 Seven Seas Drive Lake Buena Vista Universal Studios 407-939-MAGIC Orlando

Disney’s Hollywood Studios 351 S. Studio Drive Lake Buena Vista 407- 939-MAGIC

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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6200 International Drive, Orlando 407-351-1800

Disney’s EPCOT 200 Epcot Center Drive Lake Buena Vista 407-939-MAGIC 535

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Wet n’ Wild

6000 Universal Studios Plaza Orlando 407-224-2224

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ticated menus and well-executed plates.

Best of British Pub

Virgin Olive Market 807 N. Orange Ave. 407-601-7848 virginolivemarket.com The tried-and-true sandwich spot serves a surprisingly great weekend brunch, including some off-thebeaten-path choices like burritos, tater tots and a peanut butter-andpickle sandwich (really).

LUNCH Arepas and More 207 N. Bumby Ave. 407-894-5262 arepasandmore.com Longtime cheap-eats favorite of the graphic artists and sneaker merchants of Robinson Street, serving the widest array of arepas in Central Orlando and a huge $5 lunch special.

his year, rather than break out the city by neighborhood, we’ve divided your day into meals. Wherever you are in the Orlando area, you gotta eat, and we’re here with picks for crack-of-daylight breakfasts, leisurely brunches, power lunches, tea with Grandma, out-of-the-box (not literally) dinners and late-night munchies. See our comprehensive list of restaurant reviews at orlandoweekly.com/dining.

BREAKFAST Babycakes Downtown Disney Marketplace 1674 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista 407-938-9044 babycakesnyc.com Orlando-area outpost of the venerated NYC vegan bakeshop serves a selection of dairy-free and gluten-free mufﬁns, scones, cinnamon buns and doughnuts in addition to the brownies for which they’re justiﬁably famous.

Best of British Pub 8324 International Drive 407-264-9189 bestofbritishpub.com One of the only places in town for a proper British fry-up with back bacon, Heinz beans, grilled mushrooms and tomatoes. Arteries beware.

Breakfast Club 63 E. Pine St. 407-843-1559 breakfastcluboforlando.com An inventive assortment of omelets, pancakes and skillets to start your business day downtown.

Christo’s Café 1815 Edgewater Drive 407-425-8136 christoscafe.com Venerable College Park diner dishes out hangover-killers: the lamb-andfeta-ﬁlled Greek omelet, deep-fried French toast and bottomless coffee.

La Coquina 1 Grand Cypress Blvd. 407-239-1234 grandcypress.com/villas/dining/ la_coquina A festive brunch with an over-the-top collation that might include pheas-

Brandywine’s Delicatessen ant, caviar, crab, duck, European cheeses and macarons along with the usual brunch fare. Unlimited champagne is a nice touch, too. It doesn’t come cheap, but you won’t feel cheated.

Stardust Video & Coffee 1842 E. Winter Park Road 407-623-3393 stardustie.com Far be it from this crew to make their efforts public beyond their circle of friends, but Sunday brunch, launched late last year, offsets lackadaisical service with sophis-

505 N. Park Ave., Winter Park 407-647-0055 O.G. Winter Park, and the perfect place to take your mom or your grandma to lunch after a trip to the Morse Museum or a shopping stroll up Park Avenue. It’s not so much about the food as the pleasant patio and the location.

Citrus 821 N. Orange Ave. 407-373-0622 citrusorlando.com continued on page 18

Farmers Markets Orlando Farmers Market at Lake Eola Park Sundays, 10-4 p.m. Lake Eola Park on the corners of E. Central Boulevard and N. Eola Drive orlandofarmersmarket.com The granddaddy of Orlando farmers markets is as much about the socializing as it is shopping. Market is dog friendly and offers produce, crafts, live music, a wine and beer garden and outdoor dining area. If free on-street parking gets scarce, head to the not-free parking garages nearby.

Audubon Park Community Market Mondays, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Stardust Video & Coffee 1842 E. Winter Park Road 407-623-3393 audubonparkmarket.com This all-local market is in a cozy neighborhood at a coffee shop/venue where you can enjoy live music and a pint or glass of wine while shopping. Market offers cow and goat’s milk, pasta, bread, honey, tea, seafood, grass-fed beef and lamb, free-range chicken,

vegan desserts and more. Some vendors accept credit cards. Free on-street parking.

College Park Farmers Market Thursdays, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. 1600 Edgewater Drive All-local and all-homemade market features local chefs and producers. Fill your basket with produce, edible ﬂowers, healthy dog treats, eggs, raw goat’s milk, and a few non-edibles such as soaps, jewelry and candles. Don’t leave without a whiskey trufﬂe from Bee’s Knees Cupcakes. Free parking.

Winter Park Farmers Market Saturdays, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. 200 W. New England Ave., Winter Park 407-599-3397 cityofwinterpark.org Indoor-outdoor market held at a historic train depot with many locally produced products. A varied selection of produce and plants keeps regulars coming back each week. Have a breakfast of bagels, pastries, chocolate, organic coffee, honey and kettle corn, then walk it off while browsing the upscale boutiques on Park Avenue.

Waterford Lakes Farmers Market Sand Lake Farmers Market Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Dr. Phillips Marketplace at the intersection of Sand Lake Road and Dr. Phillips Boulevard sandlakefarmersmarket.com Dog- and family-friendly market in a commercial shopping area near the Doctor Phillips neighborhood’s restaurant row. Fresh fruits, vegetables, bakery products and handmade crafts. Free parking.

Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Waterford Lakes Town Center 514 N. Alafaya Trail waterfordlakesfarmersmarket.com This market doesn’t have the outdoorsy ﬂavor of its park-based brethren (it’s in a shopping mall parking lot), but after you play some corn hole, munch some funnel cakes, purchase local produce and get some arty-crafty gifts (stained glass, pottery, handbags), you can wallow in non-local consumerism. Pet friendly. Free parking.

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Power lunch central, or as close to it as you’ll get in Orlando: Strong-jawed men and women in business attire cut deals here over the crab cakes and shrimp pappardelle. The roomful of politicians, developers, attorneys and reporters makes for great eavesdropping.

Dandelion Communitea Café 618 N. Thornton Ave. 407-362-1864 dandelioncommunitea.com If food is your medicine, this is the lunch spot for you: vegetarian and vegan salads and sandwiches accompanied by a line of herbal elixirs and teas. A vegan ﬂuffernutter is as close as they get to junk food.

K Restaurant Wine Bar 1710 Edgewater Drive 407-872-2332 kwinebar.com A trip to Beard Award nominee Kevin Fonzo’s dining room is a special treat, especially in the middle of the day. Lunch is served weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the menu changes daily, but recent choices include a Kumamoto oyster po’boy and a haute take on chicken and wafﬂes. Don’t plan on getting much work done after lunch.

Mama Millie’s 12273 University Blvd. 407-382-3570 mamamillies.com Real Jamaican jerk, roti and bashy wraps in the UCF area, cooked with love. Goat and oxtail are front and center, but there are plenty of vegan selections, too.

Sleeping Moon Café 495 N. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park 321-295-7844 facebook.com/sleepingmooncafe Tucked away in a shopping center and next door to a Little Caesar’s, Sleeping Moon can be hard to ﬁnd, but the homemade soups and grilled panini (some vegan) and Italian sodas are good incentive for the search. The art-crammed space plays host to live music of the acoustic hip-hop sort some nights.

Sundial Café Premium Outlets 8200 Vineland Ave. 407-927-9758 Sandwich stand hidden at the back of the consumer maze (not in the food court) is a godsend on a long shopping day, serving gourmet paninis, beer and wine. Grab a bar stool in the sun and congratulate yourself for avoiding the A&W/TCBY trap inside.

Wrap Planet 127 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park 407-790-4859 wrapplanet.com Healthy, hearty wraps, tacos and smoothies – all delicious, many bigger than your head. We hope the owners are able to keep their current commitment to from-scratch sauces and house-cooked proteins; it may be difﬁcult to sustain within the narrow proﬁt margins of the lunch counter.

Yellow Dog Eats 1236 Hempel Ave., Windermere 407-296-0609 yellowdogeats.com The term “laid-back” might have been invented for YDE. A drive out to quaint Gotha (snuggled up with the ritzier Windermere neighborhood) and an afternoon in the picturesque back garden would unwind anyone, even without one of the best pulledpork sandwiches in Orlando.

DINNER Boma – Flavors of Africa Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge 2901 Osceola Parkway Lake Buena Vista 407-938-4722 disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/ boma-ﬂavors-of-africagiraffes/ viewing nooks Buffets – and Disney – aren’t usually our thing, but the food really is magical (sorry) and the chance to see a giraffe or okapi at one of the viewing nooks scattered throughout the hotel make it worth the drive.

Café 118 153 E. Morse Blvd., Winter Park 407-389-2233 cafe118.com The raw food movement sprouts here: no meat or dairy allowed, and nothing is heated over 118 degrees. Despite what would seem to be a severe restriction, elegant and creatively plated dishes emerge from the kitchen. Think gourmet experience, not health food.

Go Hyang Gip 1400 W. Oak Ridge Road 407-856-4242 Grill-topped tables allow you to DIY your BBQ – the kitchen sends out marinated bulgogi meat (beef, pork, even gator) and you do the rest. Those who go to restaurants so that they don’t have to cook can enjoy galbi, spicy ﬁshcakes and stone-pot bibimbap. Korean satellite TV sets the ambience.

Korean BBQ Taco Truck 2705 E. Colonial Drive (in the Citgo parking lot) continued on page 20

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THE HEART AND SOUL OF REAL. GOOD. FOOD.

THE HEART OF A DELI

Sushi Pop continued from page 18

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THE SOUL OF A RESTAURANT

407-844-3990 Orlando ﬁnally jumped on the Korean taco trend: bulgogi-marinated beef tacos, Korean fried chicken, galbi and daikon kimchi are dished out quickly from a bright-yellow truck. Be sure to buy a drink from the gas station to keep it worth their while to host the truck.

Luma on Park ORLANDO Colonial Marketplaza (407) 894-1718 SOUTHWEST ORLANDO The Marketplace at Dr. Phillips (407) 355-0340 OCOEE Shoppes of Ocoee (407) 798-2000 EAST ORLANDO Waterford Lakes Town Center (407) 249 9475 ALTAMONTE SPRINGS Palm Springs Shopping Center (407) 830-1770 LAKE MARY Lake Mary Centre (407) 833-0848

290 S. Park Ave., Winter Park 407-599-4111 lumaonpark.com Snagging the chef’s table in the open kitchen is the status badge here, and it’ll make your visit more special than sitting in the crowded main room, where service can be spotty at peak hours. The food and wine are impressive, with prices to match.

McCormick & Schmick’s 4200 Conroy Road 407-226-6515 mccormickandschmicks.com Yes, it’s in the Mall at Millenia, but you’ll forget that once you’re seated in a private, heavy-curtained booth (a “snug”). The menu is simple: only the best seafood, ﬂown in daily. The oyster sampler is the kind of plate you pair with champagne, not a bucket of beer.

Melting Pot

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Nile Ethiopian Restaurant 7040 International Drive 407-354-0026 nile07.com Scoop up succulent tibs (various types of meat stew) with tangy, spongy injera bread – no utensils here, you eat with your hands. The special coffee service – beans are toasted, ground and brewed in a clay pot at the table – is a festive mealender worth the extra dollars.

Sushi Pop 310 W. Mitchell Hammock Road, Oviedo 407-542-5975 sushipoprestaurant.com There are plenty of fun rolls (Yee-Haw, Low Rider, Hot Mess) at this mangathemed Japanese restaurant, along with a nice range of kitchen dishes. But dessert is where they really work out the whimsy, with, among other offerings, a liquid nitrogen grape sorbet topped with peanut-butter powder and a bubble tea sprinkled with Pop Rocks and “caramelized ginger air.”

LATE-NIGHT

7549 W. Sand Lake Road 407-903-1100 1200 Douglas Avenue, Longwood 407-862-8773 themeltingpot.com Like all restaurants where you cook your own (see Go Hyang Gip, above), this is a good place to dine if you fear the conversation won’t sparkle – playing with your food, especially when a pot of boiling cheese or oil is involved, is bound to keep you busy.

B-Line Diner

Nelore Churrascaria

924 N. Mills Ave. 407-480-2200 bananasdiner.com Drag queens, sake shooters and fried pickles: You may regret it the next morning, but this is the spot for late-night raucous fun (and plenty of

115 E. Lyman Ave., Winter Park 407-645-1112 nelorechurrascaria.com Meat madness: Blade after blade of beef (and lamb and pork and chicken and sausages) is brought to your table

by waiters dressed as gauchos, until you say uncle. The salad bar – which is really more of a buffet, bearing soup, vegetable dishes, pasta, shrimp and more – is just as excessive.

9801 International Drive 407-345-4460 peabodyorlando.com/ dining/dining.cfm Should you ﬁnd yourself down in Touristan, the B-Line in the Peabody Hotel is a 24-hour source of decent diner food and stellar sweets: pies, cakes and milkshakes.

Bananas: A Modern American Diner

California Burrito Express 3922 E. Colonial Drive 407-894-8250 946 W. State Road 436 Altamonte Springs 407-682-4215 californiaburritoexpress.net The best part about this 24-7 joint is that if you sit inside the restaurant after midnight, you can hear the drunken drive-through orders. Oh, and the carne asada-topped “super fries” … those are good, too.

Lazy Moon Pizza 12269 University Blvd. 407-658-2396 eatdrinkandbelazy.com Crazy-huge slices, great combo specials (like the Box Car Willy: a slice and a pint of PBR for $3.50) and an adventurous beer menu that runs the gamut from Miller Lite to inky-black Yeti Imperial Stout. Open until 11 p.m Sunday through Thursday, 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Pita Pit 11798 E. Colonial Drive 407-608-7482 12140 Collegiate Way, Suite 105 407-380-2333 140 W. Fairbanks, Winter Park 407-478-8688 1 S. Orange Ave. 101, 407-447-7482 pitapitusa.com/home.php Hours vary slightly at the four (soon to be ﬁve) Orlando-area Pita Pits, but they’re mostly open until 3 a.m. daily (the website lists hours for each location). For those who count calories, full nutritional info for the veggie-heavy wraps is available online as well – though if you’re eating at 3 a.m., you probably don’t care.

Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria 67 N. Bumby Ave. 407-894-0865 pompomsteahouse.com Pom keeps her doors open until 5 a.m. Thursday and round the clock from 11 a.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday. Some of the tastiest sandwiches in town alongside Blue Bird Bake Shop cupcakes, a wide selection of teas and a groovy arty vibe keep the tables crammed at all hours with ﬁercely devoted fans.

AM-11

cheese). Paradoxically, service is better when it’s packed. Open 7 a.m. until midnight Monday through Thursday, 24 hours Friday and Saturday.

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Amway Center

he opportunities for drink, merriment, sweaty grinding and sweatier rocking in Orlando are as vast and varied as the city itself. If you have a type, we have an establishment that caters to it. But that kind of diversity can be hard to corral, so we’ve picked out the live venues, watering holes and dance clubs you should probably know about. We start with music festivals, followed by the bars in which to whet your whistle, as well as the nightclubs where, depending upon the night and the celebrity, you could either land yourself a hottie or land yourself on TMZ. Check orlandoweekly.com for more music and nightlife.

ering of Orlando’s most powerful female musicians. Transcendence is on tap during this weekend, which is organized by local singer-songwriter Robert Johnson as an expression of gender togetherness.

The ﬁreworks can be found onstage at this annual Independence Day festival featuring local indie-rock acts of all stripes in the parking lot of this über-cool coffeehouse.

The Fest

Festivals

Florida Music Festival

August, Audubon Park Indie Summer Fest, despite occasional rain showers, last-minute venue changes and some just ﬂatout improvised stages, carried the torch for the anything-can-happen festival vibe. Anchored by regional heavyweights in hip-hop, electronic and indie rock, Indie Summer Fest found its third-space niche outside of clubs and ﬁelds and inside coffee shops and steakhouses. The result was electric, a feat hoped to be repeated again this year.

DeLand Original Music Festival November, various venues ssa.cc/deland.htm This festival in downtown DeLand (about a 45-minute drive from Orlando) features up-and-comers of the Central Florida music scene. The best reason to go, however, is the atmosphere, a specialty of tight-knit DeLand.

ELLA Fest September, TBA myspace.com/ellamusicfest It’s ladies ﬁrst at this intimate gath-

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October, various venues thefestﬂ.com Celebrating its 10th year in 2011, Gainesville’s Fest, put on by the area’s No Idea Records punk imprint, has slowly grown into a behemoth in the punk world, meriting coverage from the genre’s national media and even setting the scene for events in hipster novellas. Last year boasted a lineup of more than 300 bands. April, various venues ﬂoridamusicfestival.com Entering its 11th year, FMF is the longest-running music fest in Orlando, and it’s also the most industry-minded. Featuring conferences with music-biz professionals and performances by radio-rock mainstays like Filter, Third Eye Blind and Taylor Swift, it’s all about the pros at FMF.

I-4 Fest July, Austin’s Coffee 929 W. Fairbanks Ave. Winter Park 407-975-3364 austinscoffee.com

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Indie Summer Fest

Orange You Glad Music Fest May, various venues orangeyougladfest.tumblr.com Last summer was the inaugural kickoff of this locally organized, grassroots indie-rock answer to the nationally minded Anti-Pop, which proved that Orlando could cheer for (and actually attend en masse) a well-curated fest no matter how big or small. The economy’s the economy, however, and the city didn’t get either last year. OYG bounced back in December, though, with an enthusiastically received mini-fest/pub crawl dubbed “The Orange You Glad Sleigh Ride.”

Organizers are hopeful for a 2011 return.

Orlando Calling November, Florida Citrus Bowl orlandocalling.com On the ﬁrst working day of the New Year, Melvin Benn of Festival Republic, event promoters who put on the Reading and Leeds festivals in the U.K., announced that he was bringing a three-day, big-deal music festival to the Florida Citrus Bowl in November. He promised no big names or gave any specifics, but said those would come in the spring. Therefore, this year could be a seismic one in terms of local festivals, though it hardly bodes well that if you watch Benn’s press conference on YouTube, the website also suggests watching the “Monorail” song from an episode of The Simpsons where the town gets duped by a greedy fraud. Let’s hope that’s an unfortunate coincidence.

Rock For Hunger Festival November, Florida Citrus Bowl rockforhunger.org Ostensibly a fundraising event to help Orlando’s homeless population (who haven’t historically been treated with the most respect by ofﬁcials), Rock For Hunger, now in its sixth year, features local acts of all stripes, from funk to ska to country, and last year it expanded to the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Now Open

Bars, Clubs, Venues Amway Center 400 W. Church St. 800-745-3000 amwaycenter.com This year, Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos ﬁnally got his Golden Pleasure Dome™ (taxpayer cost: $480 million), and it’s a beaut. In addition to hosting home games for the Magic, the center has a heavyhitting concert lineup for 2011 that includes shows by Lil’ Wayne, Lady Gaga, Tim McGraw and Bon Jovi.

Austin’s Coffee 929 West Fairbanks Ave. Winter Park 407-975-3364 austinscoffee.com This is where to go if you’re a fan of open-mic nights, as the couchand-chairs, laid-back atmosphere complements the amateur-night cheerfulness well. Austin’s also stocks some terriﬁc organic, fairtrade coffee. continued on page 24

Beacham Theater 46. N. Orange Ave. 407-246-1419 thebeacham.com From vaudeville to Cinerama to house music, the Beacham Theater has seen Orlando through all of its incarnations and college phases. Its walls safeguard our stories and secrets and it sees us for who we’ve always been: a town in need of good entertainment. In 1921 (the year the Beacham Theater opened its doors), that came in the form of onstage follies and silent shorts. By the 1990s, the Beacham was the center of the mega-hyped Orlando rave scene, and in the new millennium, it served as the house nightclub, Tabu. But it’s a new decade, and with it comes a new/old phase for the Beacham: live music venue. Michael McRaney, co-owner of the adjacent live venue the Social – and now coowner of the Beacham – has worked for years to shore up

this valuable piece of the city’s legacy. “We’ve worked on this venture for a while now, and the excitement and anticipation, we felt, was difﬁcult to suppress,” McRaney says. “Basically, it’s an extension of what we do at the Social. We’re now able to promote larger shows right next door, providing easier access for music fans and creating an even richer music scene in the downtown area. Bringing the [Beacham] name back was important to us as well, due to the history of the building.” McRaney’s moving fast, too: In addition to the March 11 grand opening show featuring G. Love & Special Sauce, the Beacham has conﬁrmed dates for acts as diverse as Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, House of Pain and the Alternative Press Tour. “We’re not trying to create a [niche] vibe for the space,” McRaney says. “We’d ultimately like the venue to be appealing to lovers of all genres of music. Time will tell.”

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Back Booth 37 W. Pine St. 407-999-2570 backbooth.com Sometimes sleazy, other times legendary, Back Booth’s personality comes from its wildly varying atmosphere. Hipsters pack it in for the weekly club nights, while chin-strokers can ﬁnd bliss with acts like Yeasayer and Monotonix – even the frat boys end up here occasionally for the club’s more mainstream selections. Every night offers a different vibe altogether, but the common denominator is that it’s always interesting.

Bar-BQ-Bar 64 N. Orange Ave. 407-648-5441 There’s intimacy and then there’s Bar-BQ-Bar, a liquor-drenched, compact-to-say-the-least space where the closeness promotes a kind of fevered pitch of conversation and laughter.

Blue Martini 4200 Conroy Road 407-447-2583 bluemartinilounge.com One of Tiger Woods’ alleged prowling spots, this ultra lounge located at the Mall at Millenia is exactly what one would expect from that dubious claim to fame: swanky and a little bit sexy.

Church Street Station 129 W. Church St. 407-649-4270 churchstreetbars.com Originally an outpost for the South Florida Railroad in 1889, Church Street Station has undergone numerous changes since its horse-andbuggy days – and many closings and reopenings. Now enjoying spillover from the nearby Amway Center, the plaza has seen a tentative revival of late, from the sexy Antigua nightclub to the upscale ultra lounge, Rok Room. Your postMagic afterparty is probably already waiting for you here.

CityWalk at Universal 1000 Universal Studios Plaza 407-363-8000 universalorlando.com “Inclusive” is the keyword when it comes to this tourist-heavy nightlife staple: Come as you are, however sunburned you may be, because there is something for everyone. From the mellow, Rastafarian vibe of Bob Marley: A Tribute to Freedom to pina coladas at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville – not to mention dining, live-band karaoke, a movie multiplex and the Blue Man Group

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– CityWalk is the kind of good time you’ll crave after the burn cream dries.

Copper Rocket Pub 106 Lake Ave., Maitland 407-645-0069 copperrocketpub.com Home-cooked munchies, live local music and the occasional well-known (to those in the know, at least) national musicians. What more could you ask for?

Firestone Live 578 N. Orange Ave. 407-872-0066 firestonelive.net The largest music venue on Orange Avenue, Firestone Live has the acoustics to fill your night with good vibes. Its club-night focus has shifted recently to quality live bookings, and it’s the only place in town where you can see Wu-Tang one night and the Misfits on another.

Hard Rock Live 6050 Universal Blvd. 407-351-5483 hardrock.com Another venue that brings together varied acts such as Snoop Dogg one week and Bob Saget the next, Hard Rock Live is notable for its world-class “Classic Albums Live” series, where musicians and an orchestra recreate famous albums like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band note-for-note in their entirety. It’s much better than it sounds.

Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Cafe 205 East 1st St., Sanford 407-321-2204 willowtreecafe.com If Little Fish Huge Pond isn’t quirky enough for you, hop over to German bierhaus Hollerbach’s for accordion weirdness and the group drinking experience of Das Boot, which comes with an owner-enforced rule book of responsible chugging. That’s a recipe for a good time if we’ve ever heard one.

House of Blues 1490 E. Buena Vista Drive Lake Buena Vista 407-934-2583 hob.com This Downtown Disney venue is where you’ll ﬁnd your mascaracaked pop-punk acts, as well as the occasional ’80s reunion act. But enough good can’t be said about the venue itself, which is cozy, inviting and offers great vantage points. continued on page 27

boot. You don’t want to be anywhere else for St. Patrick’s Day.

art shows and movie nights.

The Lodge

Park Ave CDs

49 N. Orange Ave. 407-650-8786 downtownlodge.com Set up like a log cabin with attitude, the Lodge features raucous country-music nights and an upstairs bar-and-bench area that’s downright frisky at times.

McRaney’s Tavern Back Booth

Independent Bar 70 N. Orange Ave. 407-839-0457 independentbar.net I-Bar is hipster central; there’s no other way to put it, which makes it a target for teasing, sure, but it also means that you always have a story to tell after a night there.

Little Fish Huge Pond 309 E. 1st St., Sanford 321-230-8535 littleﬁsh-hugepond.com You never know quite what you’ll

ﬁnd going on at this trippy hangout: intimate soul performances, pirate parties, hookah-passing, maybe even cheese-inspired art shows or Mexican holiday movies. End your all-nighter here and you’ll swear the whole thing was a dream the next morning.

Lizzy McCormack’s 55 N. Orange Ave. 407-426-8007 lizzymccormacks.com Drunken camaraderie marks this Irish pub with one of the longest happy hours in downtown Orlando and one of the best atmospheres to

The Milk Bar 2424 E. Robinson St. 407-896-4954 themilkbarorlando.com This craft-beer bar is an anchor of the city’s newest hotspot, the Milk District (so named due to its proximity to the T.G. Lee Milk Factory). In addition to beer, this venue offers

Plaza Theatre 425 N. Bumby Ave. 407-228-1220 theplazatheatre.com Approaching 50 years in business, the Plaza is home to artsier fare than the average Orlando venue, hosting everything from traveling off-Broadway shows to classy artists like Bela Fleck and Neko Case.

Redlight Redlight 745 Bennett Road 407-893-9832 myspace.com/theredlightredlight Voted one of the best places for beer in the world by the people who vote on those things, there’s no betcontinued on page 29

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1566 W. Fairbanks Ave. Winter Park, 407-622-4474 mcraneystavern.com There’s just something about a dive vibe, when done right, that always feels like home, and McRaney’s specializes in that kind of familiarity. It’s nothing fancy – pool tables, dart boards, reasonably priced booze – but it gets the job done.

2916 Corrine Drive 407-447-7275 parkavecds.com One of the handful of remaining independent record stores, Park Ave is also host to the best in-store performances in town. Artists like Snow Patrol and the Gaslight Anthem have released live CDs recorded there.

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ter selection for personal imbibing in Orlando, and its bookers know a thing or two about music, as well. Some of the best acoustic acts in Orlando consider Redlight Redlight a must to play.

The Social 54 N. Orange Ave. 407-246-1419 thesocial.org Perennially a major-market competitor, this intimate venue boasts pit stops by national acts in all genres (mainly pop-punk) and has long been considered the proving ground for local acts.

Stardust Video & Coffee 1842 E.Winter Park Road 407-623-3393 stardustrules.com Once a haven for indie-minded ﬁlm buffs, the mood has shifted recently toward that of a chilledout lounge for freaky experimental music acts.

Timucua White House 2000 S. Summerlin Ave. 407-595-2713 timucua.com The family home of Cirque du Soleil conductor Benoit Glazer is also home to stellar jazz and world artists, as Glazer opens the doors of his self-made venue for free, once-in-a-lifetime shows.

UCF Arena Gemini Boulevard North & West Plaza Drive or Bldg. 50 North Gemini Blvd. 407-823-6006 ucfarena.com Still in its infancy, UCF Arena has come on strong with excellent seating and swanky VIP sections. The heavy presence of boomer-aged acts and right-wing talking heads on tour leaves some booking taste to be desired, but they’ve ﬂirted with world-famous acts.

Underground Bluz 12261 University Blvd. 407-482-4141 ucf.undergroundbluz.com It doesn’t look like much (and it isn’t), but this starting point for student bands has also helped spring forth some great local bands with their generous time slots on amateur nights.

Wall St. Plaza 19 N. Orange Ave. 407-849-0471 wallstplaza.net Special occasions, from New Year’s Eve to Oktoberfest, belong to this cantina-themed meeting place for the masses. Located at the epicenter of downtown Orlando, and always throbbing with music, booze and vitality, Wall St. Plaza and its eight venues take up an entire city block, but it’s easy to navigate, heavy on the drink specials and stocked with eye candy for all. It ain’t exactly upscale, but it gets the job done – speciﬁcally laughter, karaoke and a hangover souvenir.

Wally’s Mills Avenue Liquors 1001 Mills Ave. 407-896-6975 wallysonmills.com As its website notes, Wally’s “was here when Orlando was nothing more than a stop on your way from one coast to the other.” An old-school dive bar offering strong drinks, low prices, friendly ambience. Bonus: naked-lady wallpaper.

Will’s Pub 1042 N. Mills Ave. 407-898-5070 myspace.com/willspub Owner Will Walker spent a tortuous few years rebuilding after his old location shut down, and it was worth the long wait. Picking up right where it left off, Will’s can still claim its spot as the favored watering hole for music fans and an Orlando tradition.

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Wekiwa Springs State Park

rlando is, for all intents and purposes, landlocked (you can’t swim in most of our city’s lakes, and gators make water sports in our immediate vicinity a dicey proposition). Fortunately, we’re ridiculously close to plenty of freshwater springs and salty beaches where you can dip your feet – or your paddle or your snorkle or your board – into the water.

Closest Springs Alexander Springs Recreation Area 49525 County Road 445, Altoona 352-669-3522 This spot is considered a scubadiving haven, but the recreation area also offers an interpretive trail that highlights the plants used by Timucuan Indians, canoe rentals and primitive camping.

Blue Spring State Park 2100 W. French Ave. Orange City 386-775-3663 If you want up-close manatee encounters, this is the place to go. When the weather gets cold, docile manatees ﬂock here to take advantage of the warmer waters, which stay at a pretty constant 73 degrees year-

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round. You can’t swim in the waters during manatee season (winter), but when the weather is warmer, this is a popular spot for swimming and snorkeling.

De Leon Springs State Park 601 Ponce De Leon Blvd. De Leon Springs 386-985-4212 Explore this park’s 18,000 acres of waterways by canoe or kayak, then curb your hunger by cooking up a batch of homemade pancakes at the park’s Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant, located onsite.

Wekiwa Springs State Park 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka 407-884-2008 This is your all-in-one freshwater springs destination: It’s got hiking and bicycling trails, canoe and kayak rentals, a grassy picnic area and a sandy, beach-like swimming area. It’s also located just 20 minutes north of downtown Orlando, which means it can get extremely crowded in the summertime. If you plan to visit on a hot day, arrive early because when the parking lots are full, nobody else gets in.

Closest Beaches Canaveral National Seashore Appollo Beach, S. Atlantic Ave.,

New Smyrna or Playalinda Beach, FL 406/402, Titusville If you’re looking for a beach experience that’s about as far from spring break as you could imagine, the Canaveral National Seashore offers 24 miles of pristine, undeveloped seashore. Despite the signs insisting that you keep your clothes on, Playalinda Beach is known for attracting the nudist set, who populate the beaches near the furthest parking area from the entrance gate. Beach admission is $3 per person.

Cocoa Beach One hour east of Orlando, multiple beach access points along S. Atlantic Avenue This lively, family-friendly beach boasts sand volleyball courts, attractions such as the “world famous” Ron Jon Surf Shop and a large oceanfront pier with souvenir shops, bars and restaurants. Metered parking is available along side streets, as well as pay lots near the pier.

Daytona Beach One hour northeast of Orlando, beach access points along S. Atlantic Avenue Expansive, trafﬁc-bustling beach lined with casual restaurants, tropicalthemed watering holes and hotels.

New Smyrna Beach One hour and 15 minutes northeast of Orlando, beach access at end of Flagler Avenue This is an easygoing seashore town full of locally owned gift shops and restaurants along Flagler Avenue. The beach itself features surging swells for surfers and fish-laden waters for surf fisherman. The beaches right off Flagler Avenue are open to vehicle traffic, but if you’re willing to drive a couple of miles off the beaten path, you’ll find plenty of car-free beaches nearby.

Yoga

eeling bogged down or stressed out? Maybe you need to ﬁnd a local yoga studio to help you focus on calming the mind and body. Here are a few of our favorites.

Bikram Yoga Orlando 3218-B E. Colonial Drive 407-896-2530 bikramorlando.com Invigorating 90-minute Hot Yoga classes are this studio’s forte. Practice hatha, vinyasa and other yoga styles in a heated facility. The ﬁrst continued on page 32

Biking

iven that car culture dominates here in Central Florida, you wouldn’t think of this as a particularly bicycle-friendly place to live. But cyclists are a hardy sort – if there are roadways, they will find a way to ride them – and we do have the right climate for year-round cycling. Add to that a growing interest in making our cities and towns more bike friendly and the more than 250 miles of urban bike trails in the region, and you’ve got a recipe for a pretty active bike culture. Thinking of hopping on that old Huffy you’ve got in the garage (or better yet, trading it in for something that’s a little easier on the ass)? Here are some things you might want to know before you get on the road. ● Metropolitan Orlando has a cool online bike-mapping application that lets you lay out your route. Find paved bike paths, avoid traffic overpasses and busy intersections, and discover short connector paths that can help you get from point A to point B in one piece. Map your trip at bikemapping.edats.com. ● Commute Orlando is a great resource for cyclists who want to know the local bike laws, learn about cycling events and stay on top of bicycling advocacy in the state. Visit commuteorlando.com. ● If you’re looking for people to bike with, check out the Florida Freewheelers, a loose organization of cycling enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels. They organize group rides all over Central Florida. For more information, visit floridafreewheelers.com

Bike Shops Ace Metric

Mr. Bikes n Boards

1018 N. Mills Ave. 407-286-0417 acemetric.blogspot.com This bike shop rallies cycle enthusiasts from all around and carries cool gear for those on the go.

950 W. State Road 434, Longwood 407-790-4964 mrbikesnboards.com This is the former Mesh Skatepark owner’s new store. It leaves the park behind and goes heavy into skateboard and cycle culture. Mr.’s repairs old bikes and sells new ones.

Kyle’s Bike Shop 203 N. Primrose Drive 407-228-7088 kylesbikeshop.net Bicycle sales and service, including repairs and custom wheels. Kyle’s also has a parts junkyard. If something’s broken on your bike, they might be able to save you some money on the repair by using a part from the junkyard rather than ordering new.

Loco Motion Bikes 1776 Jake St. 407-898-6411 1030 Orange Ave., Winter Park 407-629-2680 locomotionbikes.com This bike shop has two locations, and in addition to sales and demos, it offers rentals for $35 per day, a service that’s particularly appealing if you visit the Baldwin Park location, which is just a leisurely ride away from a paved bike path that winds around Lake Baldwin.

Orange Cycle 2204 Edgewater Drive 407-422-5552 orangecycleorlando.com This is the area’s largest bike store, and it not only carries cycles, clothing and gear – it’s also a hub for the cycling community. This shop offers bicycling events and repair clinics, and its website is full of useful information if you’re looking for bike paths or trails.

Retro City Cycles 1806 N. Orange Ave. 407-895-2700 retrocitycycles.com Cool-looking cycles are popular with the trendy set. This shop reaches out to women, in particular, with its “Wine Down” clinics and cool accessories like bicycle necklaces.

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Attitude is Everything! Improve Your Mood

College Park Yoga

AM-11

When you feel better about yourself, everyday life can be easier. You might find that with relief from mood swings, sleep problems, irritability, anxiety and stress, your energy may increase and your attitude improves. Call today to schedule a free assessment to learn more about you. You might even qualify to participate in a research study.

Make an appointment today at 407-425-5100 Linda Harper, MD Robert Molpus, MD Patricia Brown, PhD, ARNP

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class is $10 and the second class (within 7 days of ﬁrst) is free. A plus: Saturday morning babysitting ($4 per child, 2 hours max).

College Park Yoga 3029 Edgewater Drive 407-999-7871 collegeparkyoga.com This studio is known for its ashtanga, vinyasa and power yoga classes, but also offers a yoga-for-wimps beginner class. For those on a tight budget, “community yoga” is offered every Saturday at 9 a.m. for $5. All other single classes are $15.

Full Circle Yoga 972B Orange Ave., Winter Park 407-644-3288 fullcircleyoga.com This busy studio offers classes from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, and drop-in classes are $14 each. Full Circle has spacious studios and variations on traditional yoga styles, including a mom-and-baby class for expecting and new mothers.

Orlando Power Yoga 2415 E. South St. 407-719-0101 orlandopoweryoga.com The Baron Baptiste style of power yoga takes the spotlight at this recently remodeled yoga sanctuary. Don’t be surprised if the air conditioning’s not on; to raise students’ internal heat, the studio stays ablaze at 85-90 degrees. Saturday donation days reward participants with 80-minute classes at a great rate: Pay what you can (suggested donation is $5).

Shine on Yoga and Healing Center 619 N. Thornton Ave. 407-601-4394 shineonyoga.com This haven offers yoga and medita-

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tion classes. From yoga fundamentals to zen meditation, restoration and relaxation is the goal here. Single classes are $15.

Extreme Sports

drenaline junkies, rejoice: Central Florida is home to more than just pretty springs, placid parks and paved bike paths. Below is but a sampling of activities you can hurt yourself at.

Hang Gliding Wallaby Ranch

1805 Deen Still Road, Davenport 800-925-5229 wallaby.com No mountains, no problem: An airplane will tow you and an instructor into a glide for $120. If you’re a more serious hang glider, you can book up to seven days to hone your skills and network with other gliders, including owner Malcolm Jones, who invented the tandem ﬂying concept.

Quest Air

6548 Groveland Airport Road Groveland 352-429-0213 questairforce.com Like Wallaby, Quest Air features a $125 tandem ﬂight at 2,500 feet, but it also offers a 10,000-foot ﬂight for $400. That lasts about an hour, but luckily, the roar of the wind will kill the awkward silence.

Hot Air Balloons

Orange Blossom Balloons Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort 6375 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee 407-894-5040 continued on page 34

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For Upcoming Events...

CaddyShanks.com

Orlando Skate Park

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Real Race Golf Ind Ping Car Sim oors ula Po Priva ng Poo tors l te Pa rty R Wii oom Spor ts on HDT Over V 100 B e ers & Mi crob , Crafts, rews ! Join us fo rH EVE RYD appy Ho AY 3 -7 pm ur !

orangeblossomballoons.com Board the basket in the morning darkness, then watch the sun rise over Disney or the Florida swamps, depending on where the wind takes you. Upon landing, enjoy champagne and a breakfast buffet. Flights are $165 when you book online.

Thompson Aire

Best Western Lakeside 7769 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee 407-421-9322 thompsonaire.com Also taking off from Kissimmee at sunrise with post-landing champagne and breakfast, Thompson is slightly pricier ($185 for adults) than its competition, but it offers a discounted rate of $105 for kids ages 10-15.

Laser Tag Battlefield Live Orlando 3755 NW Highway 17-92, Sanford 407-547-8188 battleﬁeldliveorlando.com Outdoor laser tag at the Central Florida Zoo. Play for 30 minutes for $12 or $20 for an hour.

Hard Knocks

4882 New Broad Street Baldwin Park 407.574.6570

5707 Dot Com Court, Oviedo 407-359-9091 hardknocksorlando.com Ever wanted to turn combat into a good time? That’s what Hard Knocks, a laser-tag arena convenient to UCF, specializes in. Urban-themed adventures allow players to defuse bombs, rescue hostages and, well, shoot each other up. Combat time costs 60 cents per minute; all-day gaming packages are available.

Paintball Exclusive Specials for Our “Fans” CaddyShanks Orlando CaddyShanksOrlando 34

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Orlando Paintball 7215 Rose Ave. 407-294-0694 orlandopaintball.com

Six ﬁelds, both indoor and outdoor, mean you can play paintball here even during a torrential summer downpour. Open noon to midnight seven days a week. Admission is $10.95, and equipment rental packages, which include all-day admission, start at $30.95.

Paintball World Sports Complex 4801 W. Colonial Drive (at the Central Florida Fairgrounds) 407-218-9490 paintballworldorlando.com Five huge ﬁelds to play on during weekends; weekdays by appointment only. Junior paintball leagues, paintball parties and holiday specials available. Admission is $15.95, and rental packages with admission are $19.95.

Xtreme Paintball Xperience 1300 S. Poinciana Blvd. Kissimmee, 407-873-9793 xtremepaintballxperience.com This facility calls itself a “theme park for paintball” and boasts the largest playing ﬁelds in Central Florida, offering woods, themed ﬁelds and more. Admission is $10 per individual player and rental packages start at $15.

Skateboarding Orlando Skate Park 400 Festival Way 407-898-9600 skateosp.com This outdoor concrete park is located near the Fashion Square Mall. You’ll get half off the regular $8 admission on Tuesday nights with college ID; same for Thursday nights if you’re over 25. Women skate free anytime.

Vans Skate Park 5220 International Drive 407-351-3881 vans.com/skateparks/Orlando This massive skatepark, located near the attractions, features a 25,000-square-foot indoor street course with ramps, rails and obstacles,

a 15,000-square-foot concrete outdoor course, a bowl, a vert ramp, an arcade and more. Skate all day for $12 ($15 on weekends). Lessons and equipment rental available, too.

Skydiving

Skydive DeLand 1600 Flightline Blvd., DeLand 386-738-3539 skydivedeland.com DeLand is the skydiving training capital of the world, and this full-service facility caters to both the quivering newbie and the grizzled veteran. There’s also a bar where both can pound beers after landing.

Skydive Space Center

476 N. Williams Ave., Titusville 800-823-0016 skydivespacecenter.com Do a tandem jump from 18,000 feet – one of the highest dives in the world – over the Space Coast. You can also enroll in “accelerated freefall training” to hone your mid-air acrobatics.

Wakeboarding Orlando Watersports Complex 8615 Florida Rock Road 407-251-3100

Spectator Sports

orlandowatersports.com A motorized suspended cable system pulls you on your board (or skis) through the water and, if you dare, onto ramps and other obstacles. Check the website for the variety of lessons and camps available.

Zip Lines

Winter

ot everyone likes to play sports. Some of us just like to watch. As the seasons change, so do the opportunities to see both resident and visiting sports teams in action. Catch a game while you can.

ZOOm Air

Orlando Magic

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens 3755 N.W. Highway 17-92, Sanford 407-330-0767 zoomair.us/index.html Channel your inner Tarzan on a combination of zip lines and obstacle courses in the canopy of the forest overlooking the Central Florida Zoo. There are two courses for adults and two for kids; prices range from $15-$23.

NBA Team Playing October-April Amway Center 400 W. Church St. Tickets: $5-$295 800-745-3000 nba.com/magic

Zipline Safari Forever Florida 4755 N. Kenansville Road, St. Cloud 866-854-3837 foreverﬂorida.com Take two and a half hours to glide above the forested wetlands and pine ﬂatwoods bordering St. Cloud. Keep an eye out for alligators, bears and deer; if you want a shot at seeing the nocturnal Florida panther, try a “moonlight safari.”

Spring Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball Spring Training Playing February-March ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex 700 S. Victory Way, Kissimmee Tickets: $10-$495 407-939-4263 espnwwos.disney.go.com

Orlando Predators Arena Football League Team Playing March-July

Amway Center 400 W. Church St. Tickets: $10-$1,890 407-648-4444 orlandopredators.com

Summer Florida League Collegiate Wood Bat Baseball League Six Teams in Central Florida Playing June-August Various ﬁelds Tickets: $2-$175 321-206-9174 ﬂoridaleague.com

Fall UCF Knights NCAA College Football Team Playing September-December Bright House Networks Stadium University of Central Florida Tickets: $25-$40 407-823-1000 ucfathletics.cstv.com

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Rock & Roll Heaven they’ll help guide you to a pick that’ll please your palate.

Knightly Spirits 2603 S. Hiawassee Road 407-298-1515 5448 Central Florida Parkway 407-239-8979 13512 Summerport Village Parkway, Windermere 407-877-9333 knightlyspirits.com This family-owned and run liquor store features all sorts of hard-to-ﬁnd items, like world-class Scotch and ﬁne wines. But don’t be afraid to pick up your regular old hooch here as well.

Total Wine & More 2712 E. Colonial Drive 407-894-6553 totalwine.com Everything you’ve ever wanted to drink, in a well-stocked warehouse full of reasonably priced wine, beer and spirits. If you can’t ﬁnd it here, you’re probably going to have a problem ﬁnding it anywhere else.

rom outlets to mega-malls, boutiques to secondhand stores, Central Florida is disproportionately blessed when it comes to shopping. Following is a list of retail establishments that are on heavy rotation in our lives. It covers the essentials, plus a number of specialty shops and niche stores to spice up the shopping experience. Do your part to stimulate the local economy – get shopping.

Books, CDs, DVDs A Comic Shop 114 S. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park 407-332-9636 acomicshop.com In addition to books and comics, this eclectic little shop is home to the Geek Easy, a regular gathering at which geeks can get their ﬁll of ﬁlm screenings, discussions and book signings.

Barnes & Noble Multiple locations barnesandnoble.com We’re sad to say there just aren’t many good, indie bookstores in this area. There are, however, plenty of monolithic bookselling giants to serve your reading needs: free Wi-Fi and a cafe in which to ﬂip through the books you probably won’t buy.

Fairvilla Megastore 1740 N. Orange Blossom Trail

407-425-6005 fairvilla.com When you think of Fairvilla you probably think of sex toys and French maid costumes. Or of Gallery Luxuria, the upscale adult showroom that raises the lowly sex toy to an art form. But Fairvilla also has a ﬁne selection of adult DVDs, books and publications.

Park Ave CDs 2916 Corrine Drive 407-447-7275 parkavecds.com Shop new and used CDs and vinyl, bring old stuff in for trade or hang around for in-store performances and signings. If you’re lucky, you might score a couple of tickets to a local show. Park Ave also carries novelties, gifts and a small but eclectic selection of books.

Rock & Roll Heaven

pretty vast collection of VHS tapes, used books and DVDs. Also: A great place to hang out with your laptop with a coffee or a Dale’s pale ale.

Fashion & Accessories

Booze

941 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park 407-810-4144 coolkarmastuff.com Like your fashion crunchy? You’ll like this place, then: tie dye, nag champa incense, bubble wands and more.

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Multiple locations abcfws.com You don’t have to go too far to fulﬁll your drinking needs – ABC has locations all over the region, and it’s pretty much a supermarket for alcoholic beverages.

Cavanaugh’s Fine Wines 1215 Edgewater Drive 407-426-7510 If you love wine this is where you’ll want to shop. Even if you’re not exactly sure what you like, check this place out – the owners are knowledgeable and friendly, and

Cool Karma Stuff

Dechoes Resale Emporium 2525 E. Colonial Drive 407-894-6622 2110 Edgewater Drive 407-648-7480 dechoes.shoprw.com A unique re-sale shop stocked with high-quality, gently used items. Dechoes only accepts stylish clothing in wearable condition, so you won’t continued on page 38

1814 N. Orange Ave. 407-896-1952 rock-n-rollheaven.com Vinyl collectors: You must visit this store. It’s like traveling back in time to the decades when record collecting was the only game in town when it came to music, not just a hip diversion from your iPod.

Stardust Video & Coffee 1842 E. Winter Park Road 407-623-3393 stardustrules.com In addition to the bohemian atmosphere of this coffeehouse/bar/artsy hangout space, Stardust contains a

Fairvilla Megastore

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SEE Eyewear

have to wade through mountains of ratty T-shirts to ﬁnd something you want to buy. In fact, ﬁnding stuff you don’t want might be the challenge.

342 S. Park Ave., Winter Park 407-599-5455 seeeyewear.com Competitive prices, stylish frames – you’ve got no excuse to keep wearing those outdated, geeky specs.

Etoile Boutique 2424 E. Robinson St. 407-895-6363 etoileboutique.com New clothing by local designers and a hodgepodge of vintage items are on offer in this one-of-a-kind boutique.

Kathmandu/Tribalasia 352 N. Park Ave., Winter Park 407-647-7071 23 S. Court Ave. 407-316-0026 tribalasia.com Tribal jewelry, handcrafted textiles, beads and clothing from around the world are this store’s specialty. Incense, pipes and Buddhist ritual items for sale, too.

Mother Falcon Clothing 817 E. Washington St. 407-423-3060 motherfalconclothing.com Choose your T-shirt, choose the art you want on it and pick it up in as little as 20 minutes. This Thornton Park shop carries American Apparel stock and has a creative array of designs to choose from, including works by local artists.

Orlando Vintage Clothing Co. 2117 W. Fairbanks Ave. Winter Park 407-599-7225 orlandovintage.com Shop by decade, gender or style – this place sells clothing for men and women that dates as far back as 1890.

Static 7628 University Blvd., Winter Park 407-862-2000 shopstatic.com This punk-inﬂuenced pop-culture boutique sells everything from accessories – belts, buttons, hats, hair dye – to novelty items such as toys, incense, posters and the like.

Zou Zou 2 N. Summerlin Ave. 407-843-3373 7988 Via Dellagio Way 407-601-7727 zouzouboutique.com Super-cute dresses, jeans, handbags and denim from designers you love – Free People, Juicy, Seven for all Mankind – as well as fashion-world up-and-comers you’ll want to get to know better.

Furnishings IKEA 4092 Eastgate Drive 407-355-3155 ikea.com We probably don’t really need to tell you about Ikea. All you need to know is that, yes, we do have one in Orlando and it’s conveniently located near the Mall at Millenia.

Scan Design of South Orlando 4045 S. Kirkman Road 407-992-7777 scandesign.com You know all that stuff you like to continued on page 40

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Be a Mall Rat continued from pag 38

look at in Ikea? You can get the grown-up (and more expensive) version of it here. Contemporary, cool furnishings for your happening home.

Something Different 1618 N. Orange Ave. 407-897-6707 This vintage-furnishings shop on Ivanhoe Row features a snazzy showroom that could be mistaken for a Mad Men set.

Shoes & Kicks Covert Skate Shop 2428 E. Robinson St. 407-228-0804 thinklivecovert.com Endless supply of skateboards and trendy tees, plus tons of one-of-a-kind sneakers. Adidas, Nike, Huf, plus hats, decks, accessories and more.

Galactic G Skateshop 334 E. Harvard St. 407-895-0410 galacticg.com

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Skate gear, kicks and clothes for the skate-obsessed.

Off Broadway Shoes 4664 Millenia Plaza Way 407-248-2155 offbroadwayshoes.com Grab a pair of Steve Maddens, Jessica Simpsons or Nikes at this stylish outlet. Think DSW, but a little less intimidating.

Track Shack 1104 N. Mills Ave. 407-898-1313 trackshack.com A crack team of running and walking experts will help you ﬁnd the shoe that ﬁts your needs.

Tattoos & Piercings Ascension Custom Dermagraphics 832 N. Mills Ave. 407-898-2013 114 Semoran Blvd. Winter Park 321-972-8930 ascensiontattoo.com Custom-designed tattoos by award-winning artists. Take a

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peek at the gallery inside and sit down with an artist who’ll indulge your vision.

Axiom Tattoo and Body Piercing 813 E. Colonial Drive 407-893-4259 myspace.com/axiomtattoo Custom tattoos, body piercings, microdermal piercings and more.

Black Chapel Tattoo Studio 693 N. Orange Ave. 407-420-9636 facebook.com/ blackchapeltattoostudio This popular tattoo and piercing studio stays open until midnight seven days a week.

Inkredible Ink 1 S. Orange Ave. 407-843-3666 7215 International Drive 407-370-3101 inkredibleink.com Trophies crowd the interior of this seasoned ink parlor. Regulars count on the store’s professionalism and quality.

Festival Bay Mall at International Drive

Orlando Fashion Square Mall

5250 International Drive 407-351-7718 shopfestivalbaymall.com In addition to your Nine West Outlet, your Burlington Coat Factory and your Fuddruckers, this mall contains a Vans Skatepark, a Ron Jon Surf Shop and a Universal Orlando store.

Corner of East Colonial Drive and Maguire 407-896-1131 orlandofashionsquare.com You won’t ﬁnd all the stuff you’ve come to expect from the usual suburban mall – there is no Gap or Banana Republic – but this urban shopping hub will meet your needs without forcing you to make the trek down I-4 to one of the larger malls. All the anchor stores are here – Macy’s, Sears, JC Penney and Dillard’s – and a movie theater, too.

The Florida Mall 8001 S. Orange Blossom Trail 407-851-7234 simon.com A basic but sizeable shopping mall with everything you’d expect: JC Penney, Sephora, Hollister and more.

The Mall at Millenia 4200 Conroy Road 407-362-3555 mallatmillenia.com High-end destination shopping mall with everything ranging from Louis Vuitton to Pottery Barn to L’Occitane.

Orlando Premium Outlets 8200 Vineland Ave. 407-238-7787 4951 International Drive 407-352-9600 premiumoutlets.com It only takes one trip to cover the essentials. Browse endless selections at Adidas, Aldo, Diesel, Banana Republic, Nine West, Puma, Reebok, Steve Madden and more – way more – at two locations right off I-4.

Enzian Theater

This museum features an astounding collection of the works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, including a recently opened wing dedicated to recreating the essence of Laurelton Hall, Tiffany’s Long Island, N.Y., estate.

CityArts Factory 29 S. Orange Ave. 407-648-7060 cityartsfactory.com This downtown arts space is the center of Orlando’s Third Thursday art strolls. It hosts shows that change monthly, and it’s home to a number of independent galleries and arts spaces.

Cornell Fine Arts Museum Rollins College 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park 407-646-2526 rollins.edu/cfam Tucked away on the campus of Rollins College, this museum hosts thoughtprovoking guest exhibitions, as well as a formidable permanent collection.

ext time someone tells you there’s no culture in Central Florida, outside of fish camps and state parks, refer them to this list. We have an impressive number of theaters, art galleries and performing arts centers that host a dizzying array of community to professional performances, seashell artists your grandma loves to hotshot poster designers your kids are friending on Facebook. For more arts venues and events in the region, visit orlandoweekly.com.

atlanticcenterforthearts.org The residency program, which draws renowned visual artists, writers, musicians and poets, concludes with exhibits and performances.

Blank Space Art Gallery & Lounge

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art

201 E. Central Blvd. 407-481-9001 blankspaceorlando.com

445 N. Park Ave., Winter Park 407-445-5311 morsemuseum.org

Galleries & Museums Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens 633 Osceola Ave., Winter Park 407-647-6294 polasek.org The former residence of the Czech artist serves as a gallery, and the grounds feature gorgeous lakeside gardens populated by his bronze sculptures.

Amway Center 400 W. Church St. 407-440-7000 amwaycenter.com This super-shiny, brand-new downtown behemoth is home to the Orlando Magic, but it also houses an eclectic art collection.

Atlantic Center for the Arts 1414 Art Center Ave. New Smyrna Beach 386-427-6975

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It’s a gallery, it’s a performance space, it’s coffeehouse and bar – from spoken-word readings to art shows, this little space has a lot going on.

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Crealdé School of Art 600 St. Andrews Blvd., Winter Park 407-671-1886 crealde.org The school, set in lakeside bungalows with a sculpture garden, is known for creative classes as well as everchanging gallery shows.

Comma Gallery 813 Virginia Drive

On Screens

ooking for a film culture that The Geek Easy 114 S. Semoran Blvd. embraces more than the typical Hollywood fare? Check out the 407-332-9636 mygeekeasy.com offerings at the following venues The Geek Easy, a new hangout space and see if they suit your taste.

Athens Theatre 124 N. Florida Ave., DeLand 386-736-7456 athenstheatre.org This beautiful, spacious theater, restored from its origins as a vaudeville house in the 1920s, is one of the area’s most luxurious spots to watch a movie. Their well-curated, artsy “Independent Film” series, features everything from the Stieg Larssen Millennium trilogy to recent titles by Zhang Yimou. Make the drive.

Enzian Theater 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland 407-629-0054 enzian.org The Enzian is the city’s only independent, nonproﬁt non-multiplex. The home of the Florida Film Festival, the longtime staple of the ﬁlm community regularly programs new indies, as well as specialty screenings, like mind-bending midnight shows, breezy screenings in Central Park and cult classics.

inside A Comic Shop, is by far the most racous, least quiet and respectful venue to watch a ﬁlm – and that’s why it’s so much fun. Their screenings are geektastic, BYOB and a total blast.

Little Fish Huge Pond 309 E. First St., Sanford 407-920-1321 littlefish-hugepond.com This hippie-influenced, acid-trip-decorated Sanford bar is home to the “WTF Theater” screening series, an eyebrow-cocking yet tastefully chosen free weekly show of some of the weirdest films of all time, from Darren Aronofsky’s Pi to the Mexican holiday classic, Santa Claus, featuring the jolly elf doing battle with the devil.

Orlando Science Center CineDome 777 E. Princeton St. 407-514-2044 osc.org Both educational in nature and mindblowing in execution, the OSC’s very own IMAX theater is the perfect environment for

regularly programmed, see-it-on-a-biggerscreen fare like Disney’s Oceans and James Cameron’s Aliens of the Deep.

Stardust Video & Coffee 1842 E. Winter Park Rd. 407-623-3393 stardustrules.com Orlando artists Pat Greene and Greg Liebowitz host occasional free screenings of ﬁlms “about contemporary art, architecture, design” and more under the banner of “The Creationist Film Series.”

Touchstar Southchase 7 12441 S. Orange Blossom Trail 407-888-2025 dattanientertainment.com Also known as the only place in town to watch a Bollywood ﬁlm, Southchase is pretty far out of the way and not exactly the most upscale in terms of accommodations. But their South Asian programming is top-notch and, well, all alone.

UCF Arena University of Central Florida 407-823-6006 ucfarena.com UCF’s “Movies on the Plaza” series keeps things lowbrow, broad and somewhat current.

407-894-4505 commagallery.com This storefront gallery is ﬁlled ﬂoorto-ceiling with works from some of the area’s most established and celebrated artists.

Museum of Florida Art 600 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand 386-734-4371 museumofﬂoridaart.org Smart decisions and passionate board members have led to incredible in-house exhibitions by Florida artists that travel the circuit.

Dandelion Communitea Café 618 N. Thornton Ave. 407-362-1864 dandelioncommunitea.com Ever-changing art exhibits are on display in this little hub for social awareness, activism and vegan food.

Maitland Art Center

Mad Cow Theatre

Gallery at Avalon Island 39 S. Magnolia Ave. 407-312-0708 galleryatavalonisland.com The historic building recalls Orlando’s past; the sophisticated exhibits within feature local, national and international artists.

Grand Bohemian Gallery 325 S. Orange Ave. 407-581-4801 grandbohemiangallery.com Contemporary painting, art glass, jewelry and sculpture dress this gallery, as well as the rest of this luxurious downtown hotel.

Harry P. Leu Gardens 1920 N. Forest Ave. 407-246-2620 leugardens.org Citrus magnate Harry and his wife once homesteaded on the 50-acre site, which is now city-owned with gardens and paths winding around the lake. The house also features a gallery that’s home to permanent exhibits and changing shows by Florida artists.

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida 851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland

CORNELL FINE ARTS MUSEUM

ANNIE RUSSELL THEATRE

231 W. Packwood Ave., Maitland 407-539-2181 maitlandartcenter.org A unique bit of Old Florida, this center was founded in the 1920s as an experimental art haven by Jules André Smith. His spirit still lingers over the galleries and grounds, which he designed and decorated with Mayan relief-style sculptures and architectural embellishments.

Photo by Tom Hurst

407-628-0555 holocaustedu.org The tiny gallery within the Jewish Community Center hosts rotating exhibits that challenge the viewer and speak to the horrors that took place during World War II.

The Mennello Museum of American Art

Jeanine Taylor Folk Art 211 E. First St., Sanford 407-323-2774 jtfolkart.com With its serious folk art devotee owner, this gallery in downtown Sanford promotes contemporary artists such as Purvis Young and Mary Proctor.

MUSIC AT ROLLINS COLLEGE

900 E. Princeton St. 407-246-4278 mennellomuseum.com The space is tiny, but it packs a lot of punch. It’s a showcase for works by folk artist Earl Cunningham and hosts an eclectic mix of traveling exhibitions. continued on page 44

WINTER WINTER PARK WITH THE INSTITUTE WRITERS

Welcome to the arts at Rollins where our calendar— and your calendar—is ﬁlled with events that feed your mind, lift your spirits, and expand your world. Walk on campus and you’re surrounded by a special community—gifted faculty and students, famous visiting performers, and art lovers from near and far.

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The HEART OF THE ARTS in the HEART OF FLORIDA FOR FULL SCHEDULE/TICKETS

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Orlando Museum of Art 2416 N. Mills Ave. 407-896-4231 omart.org Nestled into Loch Haven Park, OMA features a private collection of contemporary pieces, as well as traveling exhibits of national caliber.

Realm 54 54 W. Illiana St. realm54.com One of the newest galleries in the city, this space in SoDo features contemporary art in a warehouse gallery/arts space. Regular hours are limited to Saturdays noon to 6 p.m., all others by appointment.

Southeast Museum of Photography Daytona State College 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Building 1200 Daytona Beach 386-506-4475 smponline.org Photography lovers know it’s worth the hour-long drive to the coast to visit this space: Just about every angle of photography gets explored in the expansive institution with multiple galleries of national and international works.

Center for Emerging Media 500 W. Livingston St. 407-235-3616 cem.ucf.edu UCF’s Center for Emerging Media is a satellite campus located downtown. It’s not a gallery, per se, but the space often hosts unique art exhibits and events that feature ﬁlm, photography, painting, illustration and ﬁne-art printmaking.

The Terrace Gallery Orlando City Hall 400 S. Orange Ave. 407-246-4279 cityoforlando.net/arts This gallery showcases some of the works that are part of the City of Orlando’s Public Art Program collection, as well as nationally touring and locally curated exhibitions.

Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts 227 E. Kennedy Blvd., Eatonville 407-647-3307 zoranealehurstonmuseum.com This little gallery is devoted to AfricanAmerican history and culture and features the work of artists of African descent. It’s celebrating 20 years of operation in Eatonville, the oldest African-American incorporated municipality in the United States.

Theater & Performing Arts Annie Russell Theatre Rollins College 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park 407-646-2145 tars.rollins.edu/theatre Red curtains, cushy seats and hauntings by the namesake actress accentuate the dramatic at this theater, which presents both student and visiting-artist productions.

Blue Man Group 1000 Universal Studios Plaza 888-340-5476 bluemangroup.com/tickets/orlando The bombastic schtick of the three guys in blueface is good, clean, familyfriendly fun.

Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre 401 W. Livingston St. 407-849-2577 orlandovenues.net The space may be dated and the sound system could use some work, but this old standby is home to all manner of popular performances, from concerts to touring Broadway shows.

Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park 419A W. Fairbanks Ave. Winter Park 407-920-4034 breakthroughtheatre.com Non-equity community theater features dance, theater and musical events.

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1.) Freegal: MP3’s are mpFREE using Freegal. Download popular music right to your computer or mp3 player and do it free and legal. www.ocls.info/freegal

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6.) Programs & Events: Learn how to grow your own garden,cook Vietnamese cuisine, travel the world on a shoestring or even attend live concerts–all at the library! www.ocls.info/Programs

7.) Computer Classes: Take a class on software like Microsoft Word, 2.) New Releases: You can check out the newest DVDs Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, Quickbooks, or even classes to improve your job searching for free on the day the DVD is released. Check our and resume writing skills. listing of the newest and www.ocls.info/Programs/ComputerClasses most popular items. www.ocls.info/fil 8.) OverDrive: Download eBooks and audiobooks for your PC, Mac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, Sony Reader, Kobo or Nook. www.ocls.info/downloadables 3.) Language Learning: Access language learning software like Mango Languages featuring more than 9.) OCLS Mobile: You can sign up for 20 languages to choose from as well as 15 English your card with your phone right now! lessons. www.ocls.info/language Visit m.ocls.info and you can also view your account, get directions, request items and more! 4.) Materials Access to Your Library: (M.A.Y.L.): 10.) All of these are You can have books, CDs and including your Orange County Library Card! educational DVDs delivered FREE right to your home. www.ocls.info/delivery

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THE MENNELLO MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

Earl Cunningham (1893-1977), American Sanctuary, c. 1934, oil on Masonite, 21.25 26 inches Gift of The Hon. Marilyn Logsdon Mennello and Michael A. Mennello.

Albert Paley (1844- ), American Interlace, 2005, formed and fabricated steel, 12 18.5 4 feet Gift of the Friends of The Mennello Museum of American Art.

Deborah Butterﬁeld, American (1949 ) Big Thurnder, 1994, bronze, 92 134 48 inches On loan from the collection of Michael A. Mennello

Earl Cunningham (1893-1977), American Tranquil Forrest, c. 1933, oil on Masonite, 22 26 inches Gift of The Hon. Marilyn Logsdon Mennello and Michael A. Mennello.

900 E. Princeton Street • Orlando, Florida • www.mennellomuseum.com The Mennello Museum is owned and operated by the City of Orlando.

Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba 1478 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista 407-939-7328 cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/ lanouba Orlando is home to its own Cirque du Soleil troupe located in Downtown Disney. Tickets are pricey, but check the website, which often offers specials for Florida residents.

Footlight Theatre & Cabaret Lounge at the Parliament House 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail 407-425-7571 footlighttheatre.com The legendary gay resort is home to this theater, which thrills audiences with drag delights and original comedies, musicals and guest productions.

Garden Theatre 160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden 407-877-4736 gardentheatre.org This historic theater in quaint downtown Winter Garden, about 25 minutes west of Orlando, hosts ﬁne theater and family shows.

Greater Orlando Actors Theatre 407-872-8451 goatgroup.com This passionate troupe lost its permanent home in 2010, but that won’t stop them from staging performances: Look for GOAT shows at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, which is hosting the troupe until it ﬁnds a space of its own.

Mad Cow Theatre 105 S. Magnolia Ave. 407-297-8788 madcowtheatre.com The established and well-regarded Mad Cow Theatre features regular productions as well as classes, workshops and socials.

Orlando Ballet 1111 N. Orange Ave. 407-426-1733 orlandoballet.org Orlando’s professional ballet company performs its major productions –The Nutcracker included – at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre.

Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival 398 W. Amelia St. 407-648-0077 orlandofringe.org

This renowned 12-day celebration of experimental stage performances takes place beginning May 18 in Loch Haven Park, though fundraisers and special events are held yearround.

showcases new works.

SAK Comedy Lab 29 S. Orange Ave. 407-648-0001 sak.com Need a laugh? Check out SAK, a comedy venue downtown that features top-notch improv shows.

Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra 812 E. Rollins St., Suite 300 407-770-0071 orlandophil.org Wider fare than classical music keeps Orlando’s only professional orchestra in action: pops, swing, opera and distinguished guest artists.

Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows 8267 International Drive 407-363-1985 sleuths.com In addition to the tourist-geared whodunits, there’s a lineup of contemporary comedies, dramas and musicals acted by stellar locals.

Orlando Repertory Theatre 1001 E. Princeton St. 407-896-7365 orlandorep.com Professional family theater productions have become the domain of Orlando Rep, which also presents shows from its Youth Academy.

Theatre Downtown 2113 N. Orange Ave. 407-841-0083 theatredowntown.net This cozy professional theater produces both classics and new works.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater

The Winter Park Playhouse

812 E. Rollins St. 407-447-1700 orlandoshakes.org One of the top Shakespeare companies in the country, OST produces a regular season and PlayFest, which

711 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park 407-645-0145 winterparkplayhouse.org Cabarets, musicals and holiday fare – this little community theater offers a busy theatrical calendar all year round.

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EVENTS 12 Things You Don’t Want to Miss This Year

here’s plenty to do in Central Florida – don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. There’s so much, in fact, that we agonized over creating a short list of events we think are worth checking out. From arts festivals to Halloween spectacles, there’s something for everyone here, but if you don’t see anything that appeals to you, don’t fret: Check out our website at orlandoweekly.com for the complete compendium of fairs, festivals, galas, plays, celebrations and more.

Headdress Ball

Florida Film Festival

1. ZORA NEALE HURSTON FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES

January 21-29, 2012, various venues 407-647-3307, zorafestival.com The town of Eatonville and surrounding areas host seminars, Haitian cultural events and an outdoor art festival in honor of the African-American author.

2. PLAYFEST April 8-17, Lowndes Shakespeare Center 812 E. Rollins St., 407-447-1700 orlandoshakes.org The theater stirs up drama with workshops, staged readings, playwright panels, noted theater-related guests and the world premiere of a new play by a nationally acclaimed playwright.

3. FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL April 8-17, Enzian Theater 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland, 407-629-1088 floridafilmfestival.com This year marks the 20th anniversary of the festival, and the “Fresh Squeezed Indies” theme celebrates all things Florida with screenings, celebrity appearances and special events surrounding our state’s film industry.

4. ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL May 19-30, Loch Haven Park 900 E. Princeton St., 407-648-0077 orlandofringe.org Theatrical and performing arts groups present their most original or offbeat plays, and 100 percent of ticket sales are given back to the artists.

Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend

5. GAYDAYS

9. COME OUT WITH PRIDE

May 31-June 6, various venues, gaydays.com One of the biggest LGBT gatherings in the country with a literary festival, ﬁlm screenings, visits to Disney and pool parties.

October 8, Lake Eola Park comeoutwithpride.com Community celebration of equality boasts a massive, colorful parade on the streets of downtown, ending with a rally and live music concerts at Lake Eola.

6. NKF PRO-AM SURF FESTIVAL September 2-5, Cocoa Beach Pier 401 Meade Ave., Cocoa Beach 800-927-9659, nkfsurf.com Boarders from all over the world compete in stunt shows while surﬁng legends, bikini contests and live music concerts inundate the beach during Labor Day weekend to beneﬁt the National Kidney Foundation.

10. ORLANDO FILM FESTIVAL

7. HEADDRESS BALL

November 19, Florida Citrus Bowl, 1610 W. Church St., 407-423-2476, ﬂoridaclassic.org College football tradition continues as historic crossstate rivals the Florida A&M Rattlers and BethuneCookman Wildcats take to the turf. Be sure not to miss the half-time battle of the bands entertainment spectacular.

September 17, Hilton Orlando 6001 Destination Parkway, 407-645-2577 hopeandhelp.org Black-tie evening with gourmet food, female-impersonation shows and a larger-than-life headdress competition (think Carmen Miranda), all to beneﬁt the Hope and Help Center’s work in the HIV/AIDS community.

8. SPOOKY EMPIRE’S ULTIMATE HORROR WEEKEND October 7-9, Wyndham Orlando Resort 8001 International Drive, spookyempire.com Bloodthirsty gorehounds ﬂock to meet horror-movie icons, watch independent ﬁlm screenings, listen to live bands and march in the zombie walk.

October 19-23, Plaza Cinema Café 155 S. Orange Ave., orlandoﬁlmfestival.com More than the numerous independent ﬁlm screenings, OFF is known for its VIP parties, industry panels, comedy showcases and concerts.

11. FLORIDA CLASSIC

12. CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK December 1, Central Park, Winter Park 407-645-5311, morsemuseum.org The Morse Museum, which holds the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, kicks off the holiday season by lighting up its glass Tiffany windows as the Bach Festival Choir performs a free outdoor concert.

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teaching

g n i c Dan since 1962

407.234.1329 whirlandtwirl.org

Whirll and Whi dT Twirl i l

publicity@whirlandtwirl.org Square and Round Dance Club 6949 Venture Cir Orlando

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Come watch us dance! free balcony viewing Wed and Fri 8-10pm

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LIVE MUSIC

EVERY NIGHT! Visit our live music calendar online.

for or 2 1 DRINKS ee

FRIED DILL PICKLES WITH PURCHASE OF AN ENTREE.

One offer/coupon per person per visit. Applies to 2 for 1 house wine, well brands and draft beer. Not valid for special/private events. Expires 3/1/12. Management reserves all rights.

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