The Local: Winter Garden—March 2023

C⚫ ntents

Home Again

Stasha Boyd & Mike Lutz transform a 1927 home into a historically relevant showpiece.

The Accidental Gardener

Andre Baptiste has a ourishing garden (and a social following).

In Style

Kelli Ca ey’s home looks like it stepped o the cover of a magazine—because it has.

The Lo’Down

my front door, there’s a huge, glorious angel trumpet. For the last several months, the buds had been tightly wrapped around themselves, but this week, this showstopper unfurled its beauty— lush blooms arching wide like ballerinas doing backbends, a perfect purple fading to snow white at the stem—stunning me into stillness.

The tabebuia tree is further in its cycle; gorgeous blossoms drift like fat raindrops, saturating the ground in precious pink. The Tibouchina tree is also owering, as is the peach tree and several of the desert roses. I’m counting the weeks until the rst confederate jasmine adds its distinct perfume to the air surrounding my home within the bloom.

Spring is a reminder of the beauty, of course, but also of the ephemerality of the place we call home. It’s when the rst owers are coming alive, maybe more than any other time of year, that I crave inspiration in my living space, the kind that makes me want to strip my walls bare and start from scratch. It feels like an invitation to join the blossoms in starting fresh, in soaking my senses in vibrance, volume, color and texture. I love to put a good playlist on shu e, light a new scented candle, and start looking for the places in my home where I can clear clutter, swap accents, and add life.

This issue is lled with inspiration to do just that. Kelli Ca ey’s home is a marvel of light and comfort—and genuinely beautiful design, all of it self-taught. (That kitchen backsplash of hers has had me trolling tile sites for days!) For Andre Baptiste, what started with a single mango tree turned into ourishing garden of food and a 450K social media following. “Just get it in the ground,” will be my motto during my next garden project. And if you’ve ever approached a project with the words, “How hard can it be?” you’ll nd kindred spirits among Stasha Boyd and Mike Lutz, who have been renovating their 1927 Spanish Eclectic home one project at a time since 1999. A veritable labor of love. Even Ashley Rogers’ achingly raw story of postpartum depression is one of renewal and rebirth—the very epitome of spring.

Spring is also a reminder to bring the outdoors in. My windows are lined with tulips in a dizzying array of colors. I love how the tender stalks reach for the light,bending, as the angel trumpets do, like ballerinas. For me, these are visual reminders that the world—and our home in it—is still good, still beautiful, still dazzling and captivating and worthy of savoring, for however long we have the pleasure of dwelling here.

FIND US ONLINE

FIND US IRL

Abbott’s Frozen Custard

AntiquiTeas @Plant St Market

Axiom Bank Hamlin

Cariera’s Fresh Italian

Foxtail Co ee Co.

Je ’s Bagel Run

Main House Market

Orange County Public

Library, Winter Garden

Pammie’s Sammies

Pearle Vision Ocoee

Poke by Gochi

Polka Dotz

Puppy Dreams

Rita’s Italian Ice

Rosallie Le French Cafe

Seacoast Bank

Sweet Dee’s Cupcakery

Thai Blossom

The French Cafe

Three Birds Cafe

Tres Amigos

WG Heritage Museum

Wheel Works E-Bikes

Winter Garden Pizza Co.

Writer’s Block Bookstore and more!

407-573-6061 @EMagencyinc

Heather Anne Lee Editor heather@emagency.com

SMITH SMITH SMITH

After three decades spent restoring movement to thousands of bodies, Dr. Richard Smith is a true master of his craft. His head-to-toe experience treating musculoskeletal conditions equips him and his team with skills that reforge limbs, It’s what a Smith does.

Dr. Kim Dawson

Healthcare entrepreneur and owner of Pearle Vision in Ocoee and Hamlin. Kim has been passionate about health and wellness for over 20 years. She received her doctorate in Health Science at MUSC in South Carolina. Kim has lived in Winter Garden for 10 years and is inspired daily by her two children, Symone and Desiree. In her free time, Kim likes to cook, travel, and read novels.

Ralph Disciullo

Founder of Beacon Mortgage, setting the highest standards in the industry by putting people first. Prior to the mortgage industry Ralph played a key role in the startup of several businesses. Originally from Emerson, NJ, Ralph attended USF in Tampa and now resides in Winter Garden with his wife of 17 years, Sandi, and their two daughters Daniella and Avery.

Becca

Lanterman

Bradford Owner of Winter Garden Senior Home Care. Becca is a second-generation Winter Garden resident, and her local roots run deep. She is the true embodiment of joy, and loves living the “bubble life,” where her golf cart is her primary mode of transportation. She has dedicated her life to tending to the special needs of our local senior adults.

Pam Thomas

Owner of Pammie’s Sammies, a “thoughtfully sourced, tastefully adventurous” restaurant in the heart of downtown. She is a passionate foodie with a degree in Wine, Spirits, and Beverage Management at the International Culinary School in Tampa. Pam is a staple of the Central Florida community, having operated in Universal Orlando, Dr. Phillips, and now Winter Garden.

Mark Schmidt

Mark has been a resident of Central Florida for 34 years. He spent over 30 years in the Radio and Television industry and currently works for Boyer Building Corp. as the New Business Development Manager. Interests include cheering on the Bu alo Bills, golf and enjoying the next great glass of wine. He is married to his wife, Gina, and has a “Morkie” named Finley!

March 2023 Vol. 2 No. 06

JOIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Showcasing the community with award-winning writing, design, and photography. We are read, saved, shared, displayed, and embraced.

ADVERTISING

Jamie Ezra Mark Publisher jamie@emagency.com 352-425-6400

Tracey is a community advocate helping individuals, families and small business owners gain access to a ordable legal coverage with LegalShield, as well as help protect against identity theft through IDShield. She has been a resident of Horizon West since 2007 with her beautiful teenage girls, Averie and Bryce. Cofounder of Horizon West Professionals and founding member of the Rotary Club of Horizon West, Tracey believes lasting relationships start with community.

Bryan

Local agent with State Farm Insurance. Bryan is a Central Florida native, Founding President of the Rotary Club of Horizon West, Horizon West Who’s Who Award Winner, and Team Captain for All-Pro Dad. He is married to his beautiful wife Angie and they have two wonderful children. Bryan is highly invested in making Horizon West the best place to work, live, and play.

Angie Layfield

NHA/CDAL

Executive Director at Westminister, a senior living and memory care community in Winter Park. Angie has been in the senior housing industry for over 20 years and brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and insight to local seniors and their families. Though originally from Maryland, she has called Horizon West home since 2016. Angie and her family reside in Village F’s Watermark.

Iliana Ramos

Jones Family, faith, and passion are the three major pillars of Iliana’s life. She and her brothers own Empire Finish Systems, of which she is the active CFO. A retired marathon runner, she has transitioned to the more tranquil pastime of acquiring house plants. When not working, she loves spending time with her amazing husband, Charlie, discovering new food, traveling and quiet evenings on Lake Apopka.

Kirsten Harrington

Kirsten is a freelance magazine writer who just returned to Winter Garden after two years of living in China. She loves to travel and explore new places, especially where food is concerned. You can often find her out on the bike trail, in the kitchen with her family, or checking out the local food scene and sharing her finds on Instagram, @ wintergardenfoodie.

Nicole Spooner Account Executive nicole@mpactorlando.com 407-595-4793

EDITORIAL

Heather Anne Lee Editor heather@emagency.com

Rheya Tanner Art Director

Josh Clark Designer

Wendy Mak Designer

Andrew Ontko Designer

Evan Miklosey Web

Fred Lopez Chief Photographer

Heather Luxemburg Writer/Liaison

Tarin Scarbrough Writer

Mark McWaters Writer

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©2023 Em Agency. All rights reserved. Published monthly. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Em Agency. Reader submissions have been edited for length or clarity. Advertising of products does not imply endorsement. Em Agency can not be held liable for the business practices of these companies.

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Written by Heather Luxemburg

Wood Works

It’s early Monday morning, and Brady Beahler is preparing for his upcoming week. For this aspiring West Orange junior, every day mimics the last—go to school, get as much done as possible, come home, work on a client’s project for a couple hours, skip over to lacrosse practice— and then do it all again the next day. We know we’d be exhausted, but if you asked Brady, he’d say he doesn’t mind the daily bustle. In fact, he prefers it. Founder of BB Woodworking, Brady is learning what it takes to run a local business, all while navigating the

throes of being a teen. “It all started my freshman year of high school when I took a woodworking class. I learned the basics there— how to use the tools and how to pay attention to the details in making a quality piece,” he says. “During Thanksgiving break, I got bored and decided to make a serving tray for my grandma. She loved it, and it came naturally to me.”

It wasn’t long before Brady began honing his skills on more challenging pieces. “I learned pretty much everything from YouTube,” he laughs. “I think that’s how my generation is.”

What sets Brady apart from his generation, however, is relentless ambition; with every new project,

Brady strives to weave his passion into something worthwhile. The best part? “I don’t have to get a minimum wage job like a lot of other kids my age. Instead, I’m doing something I love.”

Between pressing school assignments, a demanding lacrosse schedule, and expectant clients, Brady’s free time is nonexistent. Maximizing his time, Brady still nds relaxation pushed to the side. “I try to stay involved; I’m part of my school’s student government and National Honor Society. I de nitely have to make some sacri ces, though. There are times where I’ll have to pick between hanging out with my friends on a Friday night or nishing a client’s project.”

Stepping Into History

But Brady knows that this dedicated attitude is exactly what will get him through the rest of high school and after that, college—and he is already looking into pursuing business and entrepreneurship. “I’ve learned so much about building and running a business; it’s great to have this knowledge that I can apply to any business in the future, woodworking or not. It’s rewarding to know that somebody likes your work enough to pay for it. I spent a lot of time learning the art of woodworking, and I work hard to make the products the best they can be, so it always feels good to know they enjoy what I’ve crafted.”

Winter Garden is often referred to as a “charming town with a juicy past.” So, it is no surprise when relics from the past pop up, sparking intriguing conversations about the town’s heritage. Recently, when a set of stairs was revealed behind overgrown brush on the corner of Avalon and Highway 50, Winter Garden locals began to question its origin. According to information provided by the Heritage Foundation, these mystery steps were likely one of many in a neighborhood that was built for citrus grove laborers, established in the early 20th century. Set in motion by Mabel McKinnon, daughter of Charles Tilden, these dwellings were built along the east shore of John’s Lake in the 1930s. During this time, an African American settlement surfaced here: a set of independent farmers and citrus packers that would come to help Florida’s citrus industry prosper. While a lot of these houses have since been torn down, many of them still reside near the intersection of Avalon Road and Highway 50. Even today, this isolated staircase serves as a reminder of the considerable influence citrus packers have had on shaping the Florida citrus industry and, more specifically, the place we call home.

Garden Variety

Fola 40

Build it and they will ride. Okay. That’s not really how the saying goes, but as Lake Apopka continues to fluorish, so do the trails surrounding it. Which is exactly why Friends of Lake Apopka will host its sixth annual FOLA 40 bike ride around the lake Sunday, April 16.

“Friends of Lake Apopka started the FOLA 40 in 2017 to raise awareness about the restoration of Florida’s fourth-largest lake, raise awareness about the amazing network of cycling trails around our lake and raise awareness about the need to connect those trails into a 42mile safe cycling path all the way around Lake Apopka,” said Joe Dunn, FOLA board member and event chair. All of which are in progress. In fact, the project completion date for the 42-mile connection is 2024!!

Participants can register for one of four rides from 8 to 40 miles at bit.ly/3Sfu5ew

Knotty by Nature

Whether you boast a green or black thumb, this quirky booth has ‘plantcentric’ goodies for everyone. From intricate knotted jewelry to handmade plant pots and macrame hangers, Knotty by Nature Co. strives to include the beauty of nature in each elaborate design. A newer vendor at the market, founder Lisania Cruz weaves her goofy personality into every product she crafts. “I think a lot of my inspiration comes from humor. I’m very punny; I nd humor in everything. I love when people come to my booth and they’re looking at my pots and they’re just standing there laughing for 5 minutes.”

But for Lisania, it’s not just about the laughs—her goal is to provide her customers with something even more valuable. “We have a natural innate connection to nature; it’s calming, it’s soothing. When you put plants in your home, it brings a di erent type of value. It’s something that helps your mental state; it helps you create an environment. It’s self care when you look at it.” This is certainly exempli ed in her craft; her products demonstrate

colorful individualism. Between Lisania’s bright demeanor and inherent geniality, you’ll leave her booth with more value than you came with, even without making a purchase. “I just love the connections I make at the market; a lot of people come to talk plants with me and ask for advice. I’m able to encourage people to continue learning and asking questions, and at the same time, ll their houses with something that bene ts them.”

MARKET WATCH

EASTER BASKET!

Yes, we know. Many other businesses have likely opened their doors since January. But we can’t be everywhere, people. Tell us about them! Meanwhile, we are clearly motivated by food, so let’s dig right in! This editor is currently sipping Filigree Coffee ’s (@filigreeco eeco) Lavendar Buzz. You had me at Toasted Honey Nut Cheerio infused oat milk. Haven’t been yet? They’re open every day inside of HomeState Brewing tatebrewingco). Word on Plant Street is that Bagel Deli & Pizza (@realnybagel) will become a full-service restaurant in the next month or so. Stay tuned for more on that development. Winter Park Village is on fire with two new openings. We will be first in line when Volcano Hot Pot (@volcanohotpotbbq) opens this month. And you can bet that we are happily munching our way through the entire justsalad) menu during working lunch. We were sad to see The Big Easy in Stoneybrook close, but are axious to bite into Beth’s Burger Bar wintergarden). Speaking of “big” news, shout out to our good friend and supporter Pam Thomas Pammies Sammies for her second place chili cooko win. By now, everyone has probably heard the news that Crooked Can (@crookedcanbrewingcompany) is planning to open a 40,000-square-foot destination brewery in Minneola. Cheers to Andy Sheeter team! Ashley Rogers (see page 64) has joined with Jessica Villegas and Shweta Patel

Bloom . “Disrupting the industry with an innovative approach to women’s wellness.” Color us intrigued!

Bloom and Grow Garden Society

For 25 years, the Bloom and Grow Garden Society has literally dug roots into the grounds of our city. Of course, that’s not all they’ve been planting. Every September through April, fellow gardeners and horticulturists meet, coaxing the community to flourish in many ways. With an overarching goal to preserve the natural environment as well as bring forth awareness and education, Bloom and Grow continues to

maintain the area’s luster. A non-profit 501(c)3 group, Bloom and Grow conducts various ongoing projects during the year. Co-chairs Ann Blastic and Joyce Carcara illuminate the impact these projects have. “Just last year we started Plant It Pink. We are turning the Winter Garden area into a ‘pink cloud’, or a pink tree community; we want to see a cloud of flowers in the early spring when they bloom. We bought 250 pink trumpet trees for the community, which we gave away for free, as well as 30 big ones that we put in the schools.”

Bloom and Grow is no stranger to long hours and physical labor; it’s this hard work that cultivates character—and results. All of which will be on display this April, during their annual Spring Fever in the Garden.

An ode to spring, not only is Spring Fever this group’s primary fundraiser, it also helps fund scholarships for local horticulture students. Still, for this ambitious group, seeing the community flourish is more than enough reason to keep up with their projects, and even better when people get involved! “Being environmentally conscientious is something that a lot of people want to do, and it’s not hard to achieve. Whether it be helping the butterflies or simply o ering support, everyone can make some change. It’s our goal to educate the upcoming generations on the importance of this, and to keep moving forward with our mission.”

Tails to Tell The Wonderful Thing About Toygers

Wash, 7 months

Don’t be jealous. I know I’m really, really ridiculously good looking. I get my exotic features and adventuorus personality from my Bengal tiger ancestry. It’s no wonder my parents named me Wash, after the pilot from Firefly. Bold, into everything and a bouncy disposition. Also, I’m not scared of anything. When my mom took me to see a white tiger, I looked him right in the eye and said, Rawr. My twin brother, Amos, isn’t as brave. He’s a cuddler, not a fighter. Where’s the fun is that?

Does your pet have a tail to tell? in.thelocalwg.com/tell-tails

STEP INTO THE STUDIO AT VIEWPOINT DESIGN & INSTALLATION AND HAND THEM YOUR DREAMS — JOHN RIED WILL BRING THEM TO LIFE.

The six-foot-four former athlete cuts a reassuring figure—both a able and professional. He brings nearly three decades of experience to the proverbial table, having handled multi-million dollar accounts for American Woodmark and home pro behemoths Home Depot and Lowe’s. Indeed, his storied career spans from coast to coast, delivering design solutions to homeowners and commercial projects alike.

And yet, after moving his family four times in seven years, and traveling more than 70% of the calendar year, John knew it was time to lay some roots.

“We have four kids,” John says. “My wife, Melissa, and I have Ryley, Hannah, and Reagan, 16, 14, and 11, and I have a 24-year-old daughter, Lexi. The younger kids could never really get settled into school or with friends because we were always moving. It just wasn’t working for us anymore.”

So John made one of the toughest decisions he would ever make—leaving the corporate world and its really good salary, stocks, and bonus packages to

reconnect with his family. In 2018, John joined Ally Building Solutions in Orlando, and the seeds for a bigger, brighter future were born.

“Ally had been in flooring for 30 years, but they wanted to start a cabinet and countertop division. That’s where I came in.”

John launched the cabinet division with great success. “We were in hyper growth mode,” John remembers. “More work than we could handle, so when smaller jobs came our way, we diverted them to another company.”

Long story short, that smaller company eventually came to John with an opportunity he couldn’t resist: the option to buy the business. And with it, the chance to settle down permanently. After six months of negotiating, in August 2021, Viewpoint Design & Installation was born.

Home Sweet Home

The promise to plant roots was one both John and Melissa took seriously. As the business began to take shape, they knew they needed to find the right place for a showroom and

the right place to call home. Turns out, both were in Winter Garden.

“More than anything else, we wanted a sense of community,” says John. “We had promised the kids for so long that we were going to stop moving, so it was important to find the right place. We looked at Oviedo and other parts of Central Florida, but it wasn’t until we found Winter Garden

that we really felt like we found our place.”

Melissa agrees. “From the first moment we visited, Winter Garden felt like home. There’s just such a sense of community here. Neighbors care about neighbors. The schools are fantastic. The city leadership is strong, and the downtown is vibrant and charming. We just fell in love with it.”

“Even from a professional standpoint, Winter Garden was a great fit,” John continues. “We chose it first for our family, but I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say that the growth projections didn’t play a role. There’s 60,000

homes within Winter Garden, and that doesn’t include the vast amount new construction and a diverse array of home ages that make many ready for remodel. There is so much potential here for business. It was a win-win for our family all together,” John says with a smile.

And win they have.

Melissa manages the bookkeeping for Viewpoint while juggling a rapidly expanding calendar of events. Ryley and Hannah are busy playing volleyball and soccer, and Reagan is excelling in school. Their home is a rotating door (and driveway) of friends and

carpools, dirty cleats and snack packs. Melissa tears up, just thinking about it.

“We’re so busy now,” she says, with a smile. “We are putting down roots here, and the kids are thriving. They love making friends and getting involved, and it’s so great to see them really settle in. And having John around more, not traveling as much, it’s such a blessing.”

Meanwhile, Viewpoint is carving a unique niche of its own. John always believed that when it came to breathing new life into a kitchen or bath, there had to be a better option than dealing with the chaos of a big box DIY store, or paying the big ticket of a high-end custom design firm.

Indeed, from his viewpoint, there had to be a middle ground, to deliver a design and installation experience

without compromise, without compare, and without the high price tag. And that’s exactly what Viewpoint excels in.

More than just cabinets, Viewpoint o ers a whole home solution, bringing its design and installation services to every room in the house. And it all starts with a simple assumption: Better service delivers a better result, period.

It’s as true for hardwood cabinets as it is for quartz countertops. That is why the product options in every Viewpoint Design category—cabinetry, countertops, floor coverings, and backsplashes—are carefully sourced only from the major brands and styles that deliver superior performance and value for virtually any budget.

John says, “It’s easier to design for your dream, and

if you say, ‘Hey, it’s not in my budget,’ then I can find other solutions that keep the essence of your dream intact. That’s the fun of it!”

“Our business is not just about selling cabinetry,” he continues. “It is about long-term commitments and relationships. With Viewpoint, we take pride in pleasing our customers not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because we consider them to be a part of our family. Our purpose is to make this community a better place, one relationship, one project at a time.”

That’s a strong statement to make, especially in the cut-throat world of business. But for John, it’s all about family, nurturing his family and yours.

“A rising tide lifts all boats, right?” John says. “When you work with a community

MORE THAN JUST CABINETS, WE ARE A WHOLE HOME SOLUTION.

mindset, you are making choices to benefit more than yourself. Sure, I want my family to be successful, but I want yours to be as well. We hire locally, and we partner with other local businesses. In fact, other local small businesses helped us get started, and we don’t forget that. We are investing in the community, this place we are so proud to call home. And

in 2023, we are hoping to do more by partnering with local charities such as Habitat for Humanity. By working with a community of partners, your business succeeds and so does theirs—you all come up together. So, you’re not only growing your businesses, but you’re growing each other as well. That’s the power of community … That’s the power of home.”

What is Concierge Complete?

“Experience shows us that remodels and upgrades can be complicated for customers who are unfamiliar with the construction and installation process,” says John. “It’s very likely you will have questions, get new ideas, lose track of scheduling, wonder what next steps are, and generally feel overwhelmed. And that’s why we’re here. Our Concierge Complete program provides you with a dedicated Viewpoint contact to guide you through the entire project. No project is too small or too large; and it’s yours from Inspiration to Installation and every step in between.”

At Viewpoint, inspiration starts with family— John and Melissa Ried with Ryley, Hannah, and Reagan.

VALUED BRAND PARTNERS INCLUDE

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Thinking about renting your house, but don’t want the hassles? We find you the right residents, handle all maintenance, inspections, accounting and compliance requirements. We manage the lease so you can enjoy the experience.

— Francisco Nieves-Taranto Owner

A pair of creative homeowners with diverse cultural interests transform a 1920s Spanish eclectic home into a historically relevant showpiece.

Home Again

HEATHER ANNE LEE FRED LOPEZ

Mike Lutz and Stasha Boyd may very well be Winter Garden’s most interesting couple. Professionally speaking their award-winning work with well-known museums and attractions

such as Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Kennedy Space Center is in high demand. A new side project will bring audio descriptions to local live performing arts centers, including Dr. Phillips Center for.

the Performing Arts and Garden Theatre. Invitations to their intimate, yet always entertaining dinner gatherings are highly sought after a airs. And for architecture bu s, their home is an elegant homage to a pioneering female architect and Spanish eclectic design.

And almost every single one of those started with these ve words: How. Hard. Can. It Be.

Stasha laughs. “That literally de nes our entire lives our marriage, our career, our home.”

“How hard can it be?” is what Stasha thought when she and her mom rst stumbled upon the for sale by owner sign at 541 N. Boyd Street in 1999. After years of neglect, the home was in serious need of some love and care.

“It was a mess, but it was gorgeous. Even run-down,

I could see the potential” Stasha recalls. Mike was less enthusiastic at rst. “The bones were there, but what did we know about renovating a house? Nothing! We were in our early 30s and married less than four months, but Stasha absolutely fell in love. But when her father, who was a builder in Ocala, gave his stamp of approval—and agreed to help with the renovations—it was a

done deal I just rolled up my sleeves and got to work.”

In April 1999, Stasha and Mike moved into the house, sans air conditioning. and began the necessary repairs to make the main house habitable. “At some point in the past, the front windows had rotted out of their sills, “Stasha recalls. “The previous owners had just glued panes of glass in the frames, so you couldn’t even open the windows. The plaster

For Mike Lutz and Stasha Boyd, every good project starts with, “How hard can it be?” including renovating their 1927 Boyd Street home, starting their business, and adding the back patio, pictured here.

“Houses with charm don’t say ‘Look at me!’ They say, ‘Live in me. Sit down, have a drink, stay a while.’”

was damaged: the electric was suspect and every room was lled, oor to ceiling, with a wide array of unusual items, to put it mildly.

It took four months of cleaning, painting, xing the electricity and plumbing, and adding AC to make the house fully functional It would be another six years before the couple would begin further renovations in earnest.

How hard can it be?

No Place Like It

Enveloped in rich hues of red and sage, the home issues a full-throated rebuke to the current trend of neutral beige and open oor plans. Instead, Stasha and Mike are connoisseurs of historically accurate, yet daringly beautiful

design. An eclectic mix of furnishings and family heirlooms lends interest to every corner. In short, it’s a knockout.

As is the conversation. Indeed, two hours with Stasha and Mike weaves frenetically between colorful anecdotes, historical facts, and delightful memories. Their animated banter is a pantomime of love, laughter, and dizzying detail; what bubbles forth is a passionate story of a home—and life— well-loved.

“The house was originally designed by Ida Annah Ryan, and what a story she has,” says Stasha “She was the rst woman to receive a Master of Science in Architecture from MIT and the rst American female architect and yet, after

graduating, she couldn’t get a job in Massachusetts because women weren’t allowed to have a business license at that time. She eventually moved to Central Florida, becoming Orlando’s rst female architect, and went on to form Central Florida’s rst female-owned architecture practice with Isabel Roberts. What’s interesting about Isabel is that she was one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s draftspeople. These two women… they’re just so fascinating.”

Indeed, Ida Ryan’s indelible footprint is all over Central Florida. Ryan is best known for designing the original Lake Eola Bandshell and the Amherst Apartments, and the Lutz- Boyd house is a hallmark of her design aesthetic. Unique to

the area, the Spanish eclectic beauty was commissioned and built by Lester Austin, Sr., one of Winter Garden’s original produce farming families.

Stasha and Mike’s enthusiasm extends far beyond pioneering female architects, however. There isn’t a single nook in the home that doesn’t have a colorful backstory.

Take, for example, the light xtures in the entryway and living room. “These three light xtures are all original to the house. When we rst bought the house, I thought they were brown, but during the renovation, we took them down to be rewired and cleaned, and they’re an absolutely stunning mix of metal and glass.”

Other original details include the ooring, the replaces, and the crown molding. “Real plaster molding.” Mike says. “You don’t see that anymore; they’re virtually irreplaceable. That’s one of the challenges of an older home. Finding contractors who still work with plaster and lath, it’s almost impossible. Which is why it’s so important to maintain them as best as we can.” In the dining room is a framed sketch by local artist Rod Reeves, who also happened to be a close friend of Neil Austin, one of Lester’s two sons. Originally drawn in 1983, even the print uncovers clues to the home’s lively past.

“As you can see, when Rod drew this picture, it still had the original casement

windows in it. So, at some point between 1983 and when we bought it in ‘99 is when they took those windows out and glued the replacements into the holes. Oh! And another clue that we can see from this print is the stained glass. We have gorgeous stained glass windows in the bedroom and in the stairwell, and those aren’t in Rod’s drawing, so those were added some time between ‘83 and 99.”

And then there’s the story of the broken doorknob. “This door is original to the house, and so is the doorknob. It has been broken forever, and we never xed it. We won’t actually because it reminds us of It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s one of our favorite movies; we watch it every Christmas.

But in the movie, every time George is running up and down that stairwell the banister knob always comes o . All the years they worked on that banister and it never gets xed. That’s our doorknob. We can absolutely x it, but it’s a reminder of what the house was like when we moved in. It’s quirky and not everyone gets it, but it means something to us,” Stasha says.

Indeed, there are hundreds of other details that bear signi cance to Stasha and Mike In the kitchen hang citrus labels from the Austin family’s produce farm that Stasha got from the Heritage Museum. The bathtub they salvaged from the house that was torn down to build city hall. The bar on the back patio was

An eclectic mix of furnishings and heirlooms lend interest to every corner of the living room (left) and dining room (bottom right), including the original door knob. The knob is broken, but that’s purposeful. “It’s quirky and not everyone gets it, but it means something to us.”

built by Matthew’s Hope. The piano belonged to Stasha’s mother. The antique radio is her grandfather’s. The guitars are Mike’s, collected over a lifetime, a proverbial nod to his passion for music.

Mike adds, “There’s another little oddity in the house that you’ll notice—all the doors are two inches short. At some point in the 1970s, they had covered all

the oors with green shag carpet. We found remnants during the renovation, and you can still see tack marks along the edges of the oor. Somebody obviously couldn’t stand the doors brushing on that shag carpet, so they cut two inches o the bottom of all the doors. We could replace them, but why? It just adds the house just feels like it to the charm.”

“About charm,” Stasha segues. “I sort of de ne charm by what it is not. Charm is not about impressing. Houses with charm don’t say, ‘Look at me!’ They say, ‘Live in me. Sit down, have a drink, stay a while.’ That’s what we wanted this house to be: a place to gather and linger. It’s what we love most about living here… the house just feels like it was built for entertaining.”

Stasha says with a smile. “People always tell us, ‘Oh, your home feels so warm and welcoming.’ And that’s by design. It works because of the choices we made. Each room has its own vibe, but they ow organically from one room to the next. It doesn’t feel disconnected. It feels like a hug from a friend. Warm, welcoming. It’s the way home should feel.”

ARTIFACTS: A framed sketch by local artist Rod Reeves, Originally drawn in 1983 (left) illustrates the modifications to the original artist’s rendering (right). Historically relevent pieces like a Roman Eagle wood stove (below) provide interest and storage throughout the home.

Gardener

Gardener The Accidental

Andre Baptiste on cultivating a farm, a following, and a food forest.

On an early March morning, long before the sun digs its heels into the day, Andre Baptiste pulls a bright banana o the newly ripened stalk, a cascade of brush surrounding him. This is his happy place, and it is entirely his creation.

HEATHER LUXEMBURG FRED LOPEZ

If you had told him 10 years ago that he’d be spending his days in a haven of foliage, Andre would have laughed. “I had never gardened before. Never even crossed my mind. But when we moved here about seven years ago, the land was all brush. We didn’t even know if we would be able to carve a pathway to get to the lake, but we knew we wanted to try. About six months after that, I planted a mango tree. I can’t tell you why exactly, except that I liked mangos. After a few years, I got a mango from it, and it was probably the best mango that I’ve ever had. So I thought, I might as well plant another mango tree and get twice as many mangos!”

What followed borders on obsession, albeit a healthy one. “After the

mango trees, I planted an avocado tree, then a lychee tree, then a Barbados cherry, then more mangos, and eventually I got to this point, where now I have more than 100 fruit trees,” he says with a broad smile.

Before he knew it, Andre cultivated an entirely new hobby—one that was beginning to plant opportunities right in front of him. “I would research gardening tips on TikTok, and I learned so much.Eventually, I got to the point where I was like, I could be doing this, helping other people that are just starting out.” With his knowledge and a able demeanor, it’s no surprise that Andre has cultivated a dedicated following of 450,000 on TikTok as @andrethefarmer.

Although he does it effortlessly, maintaining this

account is not as easy as it looks—in fact, he might even call it more di cult than gardening. Andre devotes much of his time to creating informational videos and answering numerous farming questions. “Every single morning, I wake up early and host a live video on TikTok. I have a bunch of regular followers, and we get together on the live and just walk through the garden. I might do a little work if it needs to be done, or teach my viewers something. It’s something to look forward to; I go to bed excited to get up the next day and see what’s new.”

As Andre’s enthusiasm for the hobby has grown, so has his reach. Outside of social media, Andre volunteers his time and talents at Oak Hill Ele-

Every single morning, I wake up early and host a live video on TikTok … I go to bed excited to get up the next day and see what’s new in the garden.

a community garden for the kids there. They have a garden club, and I run it. About three to four times a month I’ll go to the school to work on the garden. It’s so much fun to see the kids get excited about the things they are growing!”

And because the orthodontist-turned-gardener is also a serial entrepreneur, Andre also has another company called Permaculture Life, creating sustainably sourced apparel. “The shirt I’m wearing is made

100% from plastic bottles. The hat, from bamboo. And one dollar from every sale goes toward building community gardens.”

Whether it’s tending his own garden, helping friends and followers with their gardens, or working in community gardens, Andre easily spends four to six hours a day with his hands in the dirt. And every day he learns something new. “I’m de nitely not an expert,” he says. “There’s

my philosophy is ‘get it in the ground.’ Get it in the ground, then learn about it as you go. A lot of the time, people want to plan and research before they do anything, and they end up spending all their time planning when they could just be getting the experience. These trees take years to grow and mature and become fruitful. Get it in the ground; you can move it, you can learn from it. Even if it dies, you learn something in the process.”

to killing more than his fair share of plants, but that’s hardly any reason to give up. As he puts it, “I learned most of this from trial and error, a lot from friends, social media. When I have my lives and make my posts, I learn as much from my followers as I do teaching them.”

Plus, now Andre’s followers are able to share his gardening achievements with him, and with Andre’s sage advice, they even experience their own

achievements. “Having this connection on TikTok has de nitely helped to hone my passion further. Getting that positive feedback makes me want to do it more. I get people that tell me all the time that I’ve inspired them to start their own gardens. That really inspires me to keep going.”

As Andre’s love for gardening continues to bloom, so does his crop. According to this accidental farmer, each new fruit he produces is an exciting experience. “The rst product of every plant is always a milestone for me. So many exciting things have happened; that’s part of why I grow so much. Every time I come down, something new will be here.”

And even with hundreds of varieties in his own

garden, Andre still nds new things to cultivate.

“Coconuts are next. I’m not sure if it’s the climate or the soil, but I have had a couple of them die. Right now, I have three coconut trees that have made it through a couple of winters, so I’m hoping I get coconuts this year. That would be amazing!”

By far, his favorite thing to grow is bananas.

“They’re not my favorite thing to eat out of the garden, but to me, the whole growth cycle of bananas is fascinating. When the banana owers and produces fruit, you have to chop the whole thing down, because each stalk only produces one rack of

bananas. One!! I think the whole concept of growing an entire plant for just one rack of bananas is cool.”

Bananas aside, the fruits of his labor, pun intended, are well worth the toil. “Growing the fruit changes the taste of it,” Andre says. “Some of it is psychological. It’s more special because I grew it, so, of course, it will taste better. Plus, I’m picking food at its optimal ripeness. When you buy a mango in the store, that mango has been picked way before it’s ripe; it has been shipped, and has been sitting in refrigeration for weeks, if not longer. But I can pluck a mango from the yard, and within a day or two, it’s perfectly ripe, juicy, and sweet. It’s just so much

better than anything you buy in the store.”

From just one mango seed, Andre has permanently planted his roots into the world of gardening, and with a hobby that will ever sprout new seeds of passion, Andre is exactly where he belongs. “This entire experience has been so enlightening; gardening is something I should have always been doing. It’s so cool, and the thing is that anyone can do this. When I started, I had zero experience. But now, I feel like gardening just ts into my personality. I’ve always been pretty laid back and mellow, and this is just a way for me to re ne that side of myself, to keep learning and keep growing.”

Kelli

HEATHER LUXEMBURG FRED LOPEZ

In Style

Ca ey’s home looks like it stepped o the cover of a magazine— because it has.

When Kelli became a stay-at-home mother, and home became her full-time job, her interest in interior design was piqued. “It wasn’t just about taking care of the kids, it was about creating a space where they could feel loved, safe, welcome, warm. That’s really when I started developing my interest.”

With zero knowledge about design of any kind,

let alone how to create a space, Kelli fervently dove into the ins and outs of interior design. Turning to magazines, YouTube, and Pinterest, Kelli gathered the knowledge and inspiration that would eventually hone her taste and guide the ultimate vision for her house.

“I had to teach myself how to build things for di erent projects. When I began, I didn’t even know

how to use a drill, but now I can use every power tool.” From refurbished dressers to built-in bunk beds, Kelli’s innovative projects can be found in every room. Aspiring to include both functionality and form into her designs (though she prefers the latter), the truth is that Kelli most often creates to solve a particular problem. Consider, for example, the music room. “We’re all musicians, so I built a stage in my son’s old bedroom. Then, when my son came home from college and found that he had lost his bedroom, we decided we had to make the room work as a game room,

Kelli Ca ey didn’t mean to fall into interior design; it just happened. She’ll tell you it has been one of the best journeys in her life—aside from raising her kids, of course. And they’re the very reason for this.

Feautring a pantry door from an old farmhouse in France and patterned concrete tile backsplash, Kelli’s kitchen is a popular setting for guests and clients alike. A stunning transformation indeed.

a guest room, a room to play music, and a room for my oldest son when he was home—all in one space.”

And like most families, she’s doing it all on a budget.“I’m a big bargain hunter, but I think that just forces me to be more creative,” she says. “That’s one of the main things I love about decoration. I’m forced to think outside the box, and say, ‘How can I make this in a way that’s functional, but still unique?’ This way, it doesn’t look like any cookie-cutter home, where everybody just goes

to Rooms To Go and picks the same bedroom set. It becomes my own, and this feels like me.”

That feeling is one of warmth and welcome. An extension of her personality, Kelli’s home only emphasizes her amiable demeanor, with warm neutrals and comforting elements deliberately arranged to invite lingering. “I noticed that there were certain styles and colors that I was drawn to, and things that gave me that feeling of home. I want my home to be a peaceful place,

away from the stress of the outside world. Your house is your sanctuary, and so because of that, I started to take notice to which styles gave me this feeling.” A mixture of boho, modern traditional, and California casual, Kelli’s home delivers magazine-worthy inspiration wrapped in a welcoming hug.

Faithful by Nature

Kelli knows better than anyone that inspiration can be found anywhere, if you know where to look, and she nds hers in a special

A before image of Kelli’s living room turned dining area. Here, you can see Kelli’s roadside foragings, delicately placed where the family comes together. “We ripped out the shelves, and redid the brick and mantle, which really brightened this up.”

place. “Faith is such a big part of my life, and just looking at the details of the world and its beauty—I just want my life, my home, to be a re ection of God’s grace and beauty.”

Known for foraging the side of the road for branches and owers to ll vases, Kelli’s graceful gaze allows her to notice every opportunity to incorporate elements of creation and faith into her home. It takes a special eye to appreciate the beauty in the world around us, and this is something that makes Kelli’s vision stand out.

“Nature is a huge inspiration to my design. Once I found an entire fallen tree, and I dragged it home; it was hanging entirely out of the back of my car. We used it as a display, removing the branches and leaves from it, replacing them with autumn leaves and candles to create a more cozy look.”

While cozy neutrals and natural elements certainly de ne Kelli’s aesthetic, she also fervently believes there is nothing wrong with mixing a bunch of di erent styles—even if they don’t seem like they’ll work. “I don’t believe in being locked into one single style; I think it’s important to just use what you love, and it will all come together.”

If you asked Kelli to describe her style in one word, she’d say she

“My style is very much a mix of di erent things I love. I used to love the rustic, farmhouse look, but now I am drawn to California casual, modern traditional, boho and so much more. I think it is important to use what you love, and it will all come together.” couldn’t, and she prefers it that way. “Cozy, comfortable, peaceful, neutral. Which some may say is boring, but I love it. Any time I try to bring in pops of color, it normally doesn’t work out. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like it in somebody else’s space. I appreciate every kind of design out there. Design is personal. You have to pick

something that is ‘you’ and will make you smile.”

Sense-ability

A cultivated blend of individuality, originality, and the inherent beauty of nature, Kelli’s home has evolved to become so much more than a living space; it’s experiential. Her secret? It’s all in the ambiance.

“I think it’s important to

Try to discover your personal style. It’s okay to be inspired by everyone else, but try to zero in on what makes your style unique to you.

bring all ve senses into the elements of design; this can take any atmosphere and make it welcoming.” Having scents like candles or fresh-baked goods is essential, as is the lighting. “Sense of touch is important too, like having blankets and other cozy elements. And don’t forget to have music playing; it’ll lift your spirits.”

Certainly, Kelli’s space has become a showpiece of sorts. Friends and neighbors often stop by to see what she’s working on or to ask for her help solving their own design woes. Always happy to help, it wasn’t long before Kelli’s reputation spilled beyond her own four walls and transitioned into a creative side hustle. Some days, Kelli can be found

transforming her family home into a showcase for design, which she allows people to rent for whatever they need. “I’ve been blown away—we’ve had pharmaceutical companies, a sugar commercial, a lot of realtors, content creators, even some TV producers. There is just a wide range of uses that people need a home space for. Ours has

really good lighting, that’s the main thing.”

With nearly 25 years of interior design to look back on, innumerable DIY projects, and a small business on the side, Kelli is already looking forward to her next project—and this one is slightly di erent than the rest. “I’d love to nd a piece of property somewhere that I can design and build mul-

tiple structures, whether it may be modern cabins or little cottages. Several of those on a property that I could use as AirBnb shortterm rentals, but then also use this as a ministry retreat space for people to use.”

It certainly seems as though Kelli has found her niche, layering both her values and aesthetic for the perfect blend of serenity

in her home. “Design sometimes feels shallow, but I don’t think it has to be. People are drawn to the love that you put into it, and there are many di erent motivations behind design. Sometimes it is just to impress, and that’s not me. I like the creation process and the design process, but I say the motivation behind this

is my desire for hospitality. It’s all about loving people; it’s not just about design. I never want anything I do to be about me. I want it to be about creating my home to share with others. I always want people to leave feeling better about themselves, because they felt loved and welcome and were in a space that made them feel at home.”

Voted Best Outdoor Kitchen by Della Torre Tile, Kelli’s outdoor space is one of the coziest rooms in the house! Bright tiles replace carpet, and the eclectic backsplash adds visual interest. Complete with twinkle lights, the perfect evening is always readily available.

Caring for your biggest investment deserves the best. Meet 11 local pros ready to go the extra mile.

Home Pros

Home Pros

How does a designer with a 20-year background in architecture transition to closets? If you’re Kat Coleman, you approach it with the same attention to meticulous detail and quality.

For the past few years, Kat has applied her professional training and expertise to California Closets Orlando. “It’s so much more than closets,” she explains. “We custom design highly personalized spaces that address the way our clients live and accommodate the storage they need. Our work marries function and beauty and makes room for what belongs. We like to call it practical magic.”

California Closets has built a reputation as the leader and design authority in premium space management, delivering customdesigned organizational solutions and exceptional service. As Kat says, “We listen to our clients’ individual needs to provide a design that truly serves their specific storage needs, personal style, and budget.”

California Closets makes it seamless to coordinate a complimentary design consultation, and customers and design consultants can collaborate on every detail. “We’ll create a virtual model of your custom

Home Pros

closet or organization system using our proprietary 3-D software, and together, we’ll make changes until the design is exactly what the client wants,” says Kat. “This is a great opportunity to explore our exceptional finishes palette or distinctive design features, such as lighting.”

Your home is an investment, and it should evolve with you to reflect your needs. California Closets understands that a well-ordered life grounds you, calms you, and inspires you. From beautiful walk-in closets and entertainment centers to versatile pantries and home o ices, the company’s skilled designers and installers deliver custom organizational solutions that provide timeless value.

California Closets

7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd

The Marketplace at Dr. Phillips 146 Orlando, FL 32819

orlando@calclosets.com

407-865-5440

Home Pros

Kent & Penny Keoppel

Meet the Keoppels whose ‘secret sauce’ will floor you.

“Our design associates carry our 3,000-sample showroom right to a prospective customer’s home. No paying for samples. No taking samples home and trading them in for new ones. No

wasting time and money,” says Penny. “Floor Coverings International is a 40-year franchise operation—there are over 250 of us in the US and Canada— and we come with all the benefits and none of the headaches! Our five-star customer service sets us apart—you can count on our local team for consistent comunication and relentless focus on customer satisfaction.

“But more importantly, we deliver on our promises. There are no secret

upcharges, no surprises. If I come into your home and say your new floor will be $8,000, that is what you’ll pay.”

Floor Coverings International

1285 Winter Garden Vineland Rd #120 Winter Garden, FL 34787

wintergarden.floorcoveringsinternational.com 407-287-4088

Home Pros

Chris Sorg

“No one wants to buy a new roof. I understand that, and that’s exactly why we created Ridge Masters—to provide reliable service, and to make roofing as painless as possible.” So says Chris Sorg, owner of Ridge Masters Roofing. “We are a full service roofing company. We repair roofs and install new ones. When a Ridge Masters team member inspects your

roof and finds that a simple repair will su ice, we can do that.”

Since 2015, Sorg has grown his business organically, one referral at a time, something Chris is very proud of. His secret? “Communication and reliability. When we set an appointment, we show up. The rest is easy because our team has many years of combined experience.”

Sorg is quick to point out that he’s fully licensed and insured. “Our roof replacements are built to the highest building code standards in the state

of Florida, and when a storm comes through, that is the kind of protection you want.” If you are looking for over-the-top service and quality in a roofing company, we have you covered. Call Chris Sorg for a FREE roof inspection.

Ridge Masters Roofing

ridgemastersroofing.com 407-565-2210

Home Pros

Marilou Stones

For Marilou Stones, interior design is in her blood. Literally. “I come from a family of designers. My mother was a designer. Two of my siblings are designers. I grew up with it. Design is all I know.”

And with more than 35 years behind her measuring tape, Marilou knows good design. “Successful design is really all about function, lifestyle, and value. I don’t like to clutter up space, but otherwise, I’m good with all styles. My job is to learn about a client’s own, unique style. I listen with my ears and my heart, and we work together to create the vision. Ultimately, the best outcome is seeing the look on my client’s face when it all comes together.”

The best way to make that happen is to book a design consultation. “It’s where all goods things start. No idea or project is too big or too small! Let’s find a way to turn your vision into reality.”

Home Pros

Shelley Dawson

A Realtor with ReMax Prime Properties, Shelley Dawson describes herself as an upfront, candid person. “I’m an excellent negotiator and I’m nice. I was raised in the South where being nice is an art form, but I’m also a fierce advocate on behalf of my clients. I’m a good Realtor because I am a good listener.”

Shelley sells homes from $400,000 to $4 million, “But it doesn’t matter what the home is like or its price tag. I provide a luxury experience to every one of my clients.” As such, this Certified Luxury Specialist is recognized as one of Orlando’s Top 400 Realtors by Orlando Real Producers. She has the education—an A.A. from University of Florida, a B.A. from UCF, and a masters from Rollins College—and she has the drive. “I run my business like an intimate boutique. I put in the time. I get to know my clients, and it pays o for both of us.”

ReMax Prime Properties

13848 Tilden Rd Ste 148 Winter Garden, FL 34787 shelleydawson.com

407-492-1900

Home Pros

(Pictured left to right) Tony & Charlie VanOre with Steve Schindehette

Steve Schindehette

Like many great ideas, ARackAbove was born of necessity. Owner and designer Steve Schindehette explains: “My wife and I moved from our 3/2 home with a 2-car garage, and a 12x20 shed - into a 2/2 condo with no garage. We were forced to rent a storage unit for our motorcycles, bicycles, work bench, etc. I quickly grew frustrated having to move the same items back and forth while trying to access my vehicles.

“I needed a fix. But what? Shelves & cabinets would not work. These solutions consume large amounts of floor space. I wouldn’t be able to get past the motorcycles.

One day, I looked up at the wasted space above me and asked, ‘What if?’ However, drilling into the walls or ceiling was not an option; it simply is not allowed. After some thought and a short trip to the home improvement store, I built a freestanding rack out of 2 X 4’s that took up no floor space & stood strong. It worked!! I did not drill or screw into a wall or ceiling. I remember how happy I was when the items I had been moving for six months were finally o of the floor & overhead. My happiness inspired me to search the internet to find something like I just created. There was nothing. I created an animated video, and I played it for every stranger I saw so I could get feedback. People liked the idea so much I started the patented process and began further development on ARackAbove.”

Two years later, ARackAbove is the only freestanding, portable overhead garage storage solution on the market.

It holds two patents. It is made of strong architectural aluminum. An adjustable, forty-eight inch shelf is accessible from both sides and is designed to adjust to the height of the tallest person in the home, allowing them to simply reach up and grab items. This simplicity reduces ladder falls and injuries.

ARackAbove utilizes telescoping tubing to adjust to ceiling heights up to 11 feet and 22.5 feet wide. ARackAbove is manufactured for single-car garages

Home Pros

ARackAbove does not attach to your walls or ceiling; therefore, it is going with you when you move. It is going to fit your next garage. Guaranteed!

Not only can ARackAbove get your cars back in the garage, but it can get you out of a storage rental. ARackAbove will certainly keep you out of the attic by getting your valuable items out of the intense heat!

“I have a customer who felt ‘crowded’ in her new home. It was cluttered & had little storage. They purchased ARackAbove and she later told me, ‘I finally fell in love with my home.’ Another client told me, ‘I no longer have to drive to the storage unit.’ It doesn’t

(holds 1,000 pounds) and double-car garages (hold 1,760 pounds). Three car configurations are available if necessary. A local engineering firm that designs and builds Orlando’s theme parks & rollercoasters did the strength calculations for ARackAbove.

Hanging items like brooms, vacuums, mops, blowers etc in the garage frees up valuable laundry room space. Steve realized this too. ARackAbove has integrated metal pegboard built into its supports. Pegboard hooks can support an additional 300 pounds of vertical storage space on either end of the rack.

ARackAbove is THE safest system on the market. No longer will you need to be on a ladder wrestling to get items o of those ceiling racks. No ladders and no ceiling supports makes accessing your items safe and convenient.

Unlike the typical ceiling racks,

matter if you have a refrigerator, freezer, solar controls, breaker box, water heater and/or furnace concerns; ARackAbove easily adjusts to accommodate them all. I have not come across a garage yet that ARackAbove didn’t fit.” Steve says. “It is so nice to have my customers thanking me for making a great product. ARackAbove may not change your life, but it will certainly change your energy, make you happier and lower your stress.” With only a couple of wrenches, ARackAbove assembles in a minimum amount of time.

“Moving & working in & around my garage has never been more enjoyable … thank you Steve!”

— Tony & Charlie VanOre

Home Pros Michael & Katerina Weinstein

Winter Garden’s newest homebuilder, OLO Builders, is raising the bar on the home building experience. “The clue is in our name,” say Michael and Katerina Weinstein. “OLO derives from ‘you only live once’ and it fits. OLO Builders’ homes are highly-personalized, with the value benefits of a production homebuilder and the fit and finish options of a custom homebuilder. Start with one of our 25 di erent models, then roll your sleeves up— we’ll let you move everything but the walls. Get the home you really want—with all the features and all the style—at a production home price. The colors, cabinets, flooring, appliances, window treatments, and more are your choice.”

Whether you already own a lot or are still searching for the perfect site, come see Michael at the OLO Builders showroom in Winter Garden and see what OLO Builders can do for you.

855 East Plant Street Suite 200, Winter Garden, Florida 34787 olobuilders.com 407-904-7288

Home Pros

Kurt Kramer

They say the devil is in the details, and Kurt Kramer certainly agrees. As ACE Relocation’s Global Relocation Specialist, he has to be very detail oriented.

“Moving a family is a complicated a air with so many steps to it. Miss one or two of them and the result could be catastrophic.”

ACE Relocation is a full-service moving and storage company that doesn’t miss steps. They got into moving almost 40 years ago and, as one of the top agents for Atlas Van Lines, average more than 20,000 moves per year!

“Last year, we completed 21,490 moves. We’re Atlas’s Number One Hauling Agent, and we’re also Atlas’s Number Two Booking Agent. We move people anywhere in the world—no one moves more families than Ace.”

“I’ve been in the business more than 26 years, and I’m still amazed. I get invited into people’s homes, I tell them what ACE o ers. They trust me to move their precious belongings. It is a privilege.”

Ace Relocation

8695 Transport Dr Orlando, FL 32832

acerelocation.com/locations

/orlando-area

407-855-9922

Home Pros

Matt Kester

“I go to a restaurant and I look at the building before I look at the menu.”

That’s how invested Matt Kester is. As a Realtor with The Real Estate Collection in Winter Garden, Matt not only loves what he does, he also lives it. “I love real estate. I love people. I’m relentless, and trust me, you want that in a Realtor.”

Last year Matt sold $22+ million in homes. With all the turbulence in the market and people worried about interest rates and all that, this year may be a bit more challenging, but Matt isn’t worried. “The market today is more balanced. It’s better for sellers and buyers, and there are more products to choose from out there than there have been. I’ve even seen sellers o ering concessions, better pricing, buy-downs for a year or two.”

It all comes down to finding the right Realtor. “What homebuyers should want is a full-time Realtor. Not a part-timer trying to earn extra cash on the side. So, ask. Where is their focus? My focus is in Winter Garden and Windermere. 90% of my business comes from those two zip codes, and I live right downtown on Plant Street. I know this market like the back of my hand and I deal with everything from first-time buyer homes to luxury waterfront properties. The right Realtor is not a cost, it’s an investment made on the biggest sale or purchase of your life.”

Jo Barsh

“I have more than 25 years with State Farm, nine of those as an agent. My job, in a nutshell, is to protect your assets—especially your home; to prepare you if something unfortunate should happen. My mother raised me as a single parent, and she instilled in me a love of helping people, because people helped us when we needed it. My career with State Farm helps me do just that.

“People always ask me why State Farm is more expensive than other insurance companies. The short answer is—we’re not. We save money for people every day. Our home insurance policies are superior. We’ve been in business over a century and we’re solid. State Farm is here and we’re going to stay here.”

Don’t just assume you can’t a ord State Farm insurance. Give Jo a call first. “Talk to me. Give me a chance, and I’ll prove to you why State Farm is the best, most secure coverage for your home.”

State Farm Insurance 317 West Road Ocoee, FL 34761 jobarsh.com 407-299-0301

Andrew Wilburn

“Traditional pressure wash roof cleaners can’t touch us for e ectiveness, safety, and our fiveyear guarantee!”

Andrew Wilburn should know. He started Safely Softwash with his father in 2018 and the business just keeps on growing. In more ways than one—Andrew and his wife just welcomed their third child.

What’s the Safely Softwash secret to success? “It’s the soaps and chemicals we use—harmless to your home and landscape when used correctly—but dirt, algae, and mildew can’t escape. Plus, we use nothing with more pressure than a garden hose. Regular pressure

washers often do real damage to a roof. ”

Here’s the best part—every Safely Softwash roof treatment comes with a five-year warranty. If that pesky mildew comes back any time in the next five years, they’ll fix it. Now, that’s a warranty that goes above and beyond!

Safely Softwash safelysoftwash.com 407-755-8540

Many people would assume that having a baby is the happiest time in a woman’s life, but for some, it may be the darkest.

Ashley Rogers knows that all too well. The vivacious young mom, community activist, and tness enthusiast wanted to die.

“Every day I thought about suicide. I knew how it would happen, where it would happen, even when it would happen,” Ashley shares. “And yet, at the same time, what right did I have to feel this way? I had just had a beautiful

healthy baby boy with no complications other than an uneventful c-section.

I had a loving,supporting family helping to take care of me and the baby. I had two intelligent, kind, and strong older children. My husband adored me and was in awe of everything I was able to accomplish. And yet it wasn’t enough.

“Every waking hour was lled with crippling and obsessive anxiety. I

Postpartum depression is never your fault — and it is treatable.

Ashley Rogers shares her message of hope and healing.

HEATHER ANNE LEE FRED LOPEZ

thought for sure my baby was going to die from SIDS. My other kids were going to die because I couldn’t take care of them. My parents were going to be tragically killed in a car crash. My husband was going to leave me. My brain was a constant loop of feeling worthless, and fat, and ugly, and a terrible mother, and that the entire world was better o without me.”

Ashley leans forward in the chair, her earnest bluegreen eyes welling at the memory.“It’s only because I have experienced major depression during my life, and have been diagnosed as bipolar, that I knew things weren’t right. That these thoughts weren’t normal.

“If you have been through this before, you know in hindsight that this is all a lie being whispered

constantly in your ear by postpartum depression. But when you are in the thick of it, it is very, very real. I can’t stress that enough. Postpartum depression is very real, and it’s a huge problem that we aren’t addressing. And by ‘we,’ I mean we as a community; as mental health professionals; as doctors and OBGYNs and clinicians; as women, as friends, as moms. That’s why I’m choosing to be so vocal about it. If sharing my story helps even one mom, if it saves even one life, then it’s worth it.”

The reality is that parents of new babies often have a lot of questions. Am I doing this right? What have I gotten myself into? How many diapers can one baby really use in a day? Is it normal to be this tired? Is it OK to feel sad even though I have a beautiful, healthy new baby? Am I enough? Am I even capable of doing this?

For up to 80% of moms, these questions are part of the “baby blues” – mild sadness, crying, or anxiety that usually wears o a week or two after delivery. But for up to 15% of new moms, these emotions spiral into postpartum depression (PPD), a persistent, serious condition characterized by feelings of sadness, worthlessness,

and anxiety. In severe cases, moms have violent thoughts toward their babies or themselves.

Ashley experienced both postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. “With my third baby, I recognized the signs earlier, so I was able to get help faster. But with my second child … that was a completely di erent story. You read these stories about moms who harm or even kill their babies and don’t remember how or why. It’s awful, but having gone through postpartum psychosis myself, I empathize with those women. It’s not right, but I get it. It really is a complete and total mental breakdown, completely driven by hormones and/or other mental health issues.

Being bipolar and having experienced postpartum psychosis, Ashley was more aware of the risks the third time around. Still, being aware didn’t stop PPD from happening. “I was just able to recognize the symptoms earlier, and I knew I needed to reach out for help.”

What were those symptoms, exactly? “At rst it was constant anxiety, worry, and a state of despair and hopelessness. I was crying all the time, but I didn’t know why.”

She continues: “I tried all the traditional things I already knew how to do: I exercised, made plans with friends, and tried to get enough sleep. But none of it worked. Slowly, I stopped showering. I stopped answering the phone. I kept the shades drawn all

WELLNESS COUNTS

12.8% of U.S. moms reported experiencing postpartum depression in 2018.

SOURCE: NIH.gov

66% of PPD cases go undiagnosed. It is the most under-diagnosed obstetrical complication in the United States.

SOURCE: Serenityhw.com

54% of women experiencing PPD have been diagnosed with depression previously, either earlier in pregnancy or earlier in their lifetime.

SOURCE: Serenityhw.com

50% of moms who have already experienced PPD have a chance of experiencing it again in future pregnancies.

SOURCE: Serenityhw.com

47% of young moms (19 or younger) are more likely to experience postpartum depression than moms older than 25.

SOURCE: NIH.gov

hurt myself and end my life, mapping out in my head exactly how it would happen. I never acted on those thoughts, but I felt insane.

I was yelling at my family, crying, and at one point I started to pound my head against the wall. That was the day I called my psychiatrist, my therapist, and my tness coach to help me put the pieces back together.

“First, I got back on my medications from before pregnancy. And let me tell you, there is nothing wrong with some store-bought serotonin! Medication has saved my life. Period. We, as a society, need to remove the stigma around anti-depressants and medication. I’ll be on medication for my entire life and that’s OK because it’s keeping me healthy and sane. It literally gave me my life back.”

Ashley also sought out a Women’s Specialist Therapist to talk through the suicidal ideation, and she started with a strength and nutrition coach. “What moms don’t realize is that they need to take care of themselves rst. You can’t take care of a baby or a family if you’re not healthy. So I put the work into myself and got stronger and healed my relationship with food. I lost the 50 pounds that I had gained during my Covid pregnancy. And after about a year of hard work on my-

self, I nally started feeling like myself again.”

Indeed, if there is one thing Ashley wants to drive home, it is that recovering from postpartum depression takes time. There is no overnight x. “But when you walk through it and come out the other side, you appreciate what you’ve done. You know the saying that you can’t pour from an empty cup? Well, postpartum emptied my cup. I couldn’t give to my husband and my kids because there was nothing left to give. I needed to focus on myself rst. Therapy and exercise and medication re lled my cup, and only then did I realize it was not the same cup as before. There were cracks and scars where it had been molded back together, but it was beautiful in its own way. And a hell of a lot stronger! I’m so much stronger now than I ever was during my last two pregnancies, and I’m a better mom because of it. Which is why I want to talk about it. Talking about postpartum depression normalizes what is typically a lonely, isolating experience. It gives other women hope. And hopefully, it encourages other moms to reach out for help if things don’t feel normal.”

Ashley has since turned her mess in her message.

“Because of what I went through, I’ve realized my true life calling is to help other women put themselves back together. To help moms realize that they are strong and capable and do not have to continuously attempt to pour from an empty cup.” In 2022 she launched Level Up Strength and Nutrition, helping moms prioritize their health without giving up family time. And she remains vocal about postpartum depression on social media, o ering both a lifeline and a message of hope for other moms in postpartum crisis.

“PPD doesn’t always mean you hate your life or don’t want your baby. Sometimes it looks like screaming uncontrollably and then sinking into a sobbing heap on the ground, or throwing your phone at the wall because you’re so angry at life, without understanding why. PPD and other postpartum mood disorders look di erent for every person, but one thing is true: it won’t last forever. That’s the ultimate message: It won’t last forever, and there is hope. We just need to be more supportive and more compassionate with each other, and please ask for help. There’s no shame in asking for help.”

It’s

to not feel OK

Yes, becoming a mother can be one of the greatest joys of life. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. No one’s a perfect parent. And it’s healthy to acknowledge that parenting is also one of life’s toughest jobs.

Here’s how to recognize the symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety:

Can you sleep when the baby is sleeping?

And are you having any scary thoughts?

These are the two questions most professionals ask new moms who may or may not be experiencing postpartum depression. Other major symptoms of postpartum depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include:

• Feeling sad, hopeless, overwhelmed, guilty, or angry

• Crying often

• Feeling numb or disconnected from your baby, not wanting to be around your baby, or being worried you will hurt your baby

• Feeling incapable of or incompetent at caring for your baby, including feeling guilty about not being “good enough”

• Unexplained physical symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, and stomachaches

• Being unable to find pleasure in any activities or withdrawing from others

• Having no energy and having trouble focusing

• Experiencing di iculties with sleeping, including being unable to fall asleep

• Lack of self-care, i.e. not showering or dressing for days, lack of appetite, general disinterest in daily life

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Dr. Fabian Garcia M.D.

Blaine & Simple

Blaine Nelson is not a chef. Sure, he worked in professional restaurants for decades. Yes, he now collects blue ribbons at chili cook-o s throughout central Florida. But to Blaine, “chef” is a job, and “cooking” is a joy.

“I’m just a guy who likes to cook,” he says. “Feeding people is always an act of love, whether you do it in a restaurant or at home.”

What Blaine is, is a wine shop owner—who also happens to be a former musician and budding artist who just nished his rst commissioned piece. Really, he’s a Renaissance man.

But food is his rst love, and it keeps drawing him back in—these days, in

the form of award-winning chili. “I rst did the cook-o because it sounded fun, and I had a recipe that wasn’t ground beef or beans,” he said. “I wanted to be outside, meeting people and cooking good food. Food is just fun.”

Recipe for Success

His childhood home in Massachusetts is where Blaine rst felt love baked into the act of cooking. “My mom was a great cook... a really great cook. She was from Casablanca, so I grew up eating wonderful, weird Mediterranean food. My friends would kill to eat at my house... they’d brag about how my mom made them squid with legs and stu . So that’s really where

it began, my genuine love of food.”

Coincidentally, his cooking education also began at home, when his brother took him under his wing. “He was the real chef in the family,” says Blaine. “We worked together for eight years. They say don’t work with family, but he’s the best.”

By all accounts, not-achef Blaine had a very successful career, starting “way back” in 1978 with his rst executive chef job on Cape Cod. “I loved the job, but I hated the cold. I just hated it. So as soon as that was over, I moved to Florida.”

After a few years working the music scene — “It was fun, but it wasn’t a lifestyle to keep up. At least not if

you wanted to live.”—he found himself at Park Plaza Gardens, where he rst met famed chef Mike Orr. “His style of cooking was so cool. It was like an amalgam of American, French, continental and everything. I just wanted to learn from this guy; he knew so much. So he gave me a line cook job to start, and eventually, I became the chef there.”

The ’80s consisted of stints at high-caliber restaurants throughout central Florida (with one year in between spent in Switzerland as an apprentice at the Palace Hotel). He even opened his own restaurant, Big Sur, in the Winter Park Mall. Ultimately, that venture failed, but it wasn’t long before

The culinary career and award-winning chili of the best cook you’ve never heard of.

HEATHER ANNE LEE FRED LOPEZ

circumstances led Blaine to the Las Vegas strip—and an executive chef position at Bertolini’s at Caesar’s Palace. “That was a wild ride,” he says. “1,500 covers a day. Boom, boom, boom, the ticket machine never stopped. It was bonkers.”

But with four kids and a challenging divorce, Blaine left Bertolini’s in search of something that gave him more time with family. Before he ultimately returned to central Florida in 2012, he worked a variety of ventures in Vegas, including a catering gig at the Liberace House, and an old-fashioned casino called Westward Ho. “I was at Westward for eight years; I never wanted to leave that job,” Blaine remembers. “For the rst time, it wasn’t about the food. I mean, it was meatloaf, mashed potatoes, pot roast. But the culture was so, so good. They truly loved their people.”

Chili-ing Out

These days, Blaine cooks purely for pleasure, not pay. The closest he gets to reliving his high-octane restaurant days is when he prepares gallons upon gallons of his signature brisket hominy chili for the next cook-o .

“The rst year, I made my chili for an event in Clermont and won that. Then, last year, I did the Legacy

Events for Education Chili Cook-O and won People’s Choice there,” he says. “But it was never about winning. There’s no ego here. I’m too old to care!”

Instead, it’s about being around people who share his passion. “It’s fun when you get to show people a new ingredient like hominy, which so few people

know about,” he says. “I only really learned about it from the Mexican line cooks in Vegas. That’s the beauty about food: every day, you can learn something new.”

Blaine says he’s often chided for being modest. But he doesn’t consider “chef” and “home cook” value judgments. In fact,if

anything, Blaine relishes home cooking for its spontaneity and freedom, far greater than he’d had at any restaurant. “I think home cooking is more comforting and creative. It’s certainly more enjoyable. Being ‘just a home cook’ is something to be proud of—with no ‘just’ necessary.”

I n s p i r e d b y t h e m a n y f l a v o r s o f t h e A m e r i c a s , d i s c o v e r a M i c h e l i n - r e c o m m e n d e d d i n i n g e x p e r i e n c e t h a t ’ s d i s t i n c t l y e l e v a t e d a n d u n i q u e l y L a k e N o n a .

Ingredients

14 lb Brisket—Full

1 lb Bacon

1 head Garlic, minced

2 large Onions, diced

4 Poblanos, peeled

4 Jalapenos, peeled

6 Hatch chilies, peeled

2 Chipotle peppers in adobe, peeled

3 Guajillos

3 Ancho chilis

3 29oz cans White

Hominy, not drained

1/4 cup Chicken Base

1 can Tomato Paste

3 tbsp Basil, dry

1 tbsp Oregano, dry

2 tbsp Cumin

3 tbsp Coriander

2 cans Refried Beans

Salt & Pepper as needed

Prep

Brisket: Smoke for 4 hours. Cover and put in oven at 300ºF for 4 more hours. Cool, remove fat to your taste, cut in 1-inch cubes. Try not to eat all.

Poblanos, jalapeños, hatch chilis, and chipotle peppers: remove seeds and stems. (Leaving the seeds makes the chili way too hot. You can always add heat later* to get it where you want.) Char slightly in a pan before chopping.

Guajillos and Ancho chilis: Remove seeds and stems. Put in small saucepan, just cover with water, cook until completely soft. Blend until smooth.

Blaine’s Brisket & Hominy Chili

Cook

In a large pot (really large) render bacon, add onions and garlic, cook until soft. Add the remaining ingredients, except brisket and refried beans. Cook slowly for at least 1 hour. (You will get liquid from the hominy, but add more as needed. It should be soupy.)

Add the refried beans and cook 1 more hour to thicken. Taste, season. (*Now is the time to add more spice.)

Add brisket, cook until soft, about an hour. Re-season. Enjoy with some cast iron cornbread.

Pair

People don’t usually think of champagne when they’re eating chili, but sparkling wine helps cut through the fattiness of the brisket. Laurent-Perrier La Cuvee Brut has enough structure to keep the pairing interesting, but it won’t overpower the chili. You also can’t go wrong with the Pinot Line Pinot Noir—but a more traditional pinot noir wouldn’t work. You need the dark fruit of Sonoma to support the meatiness of the chili.

Yes, there’s a science to pairing—and when it’s done right, it’s transcendental. But what’s more important is that you like it.

Mayson’s Eight

Blaine was enjoying wine in his Winter Garden backyard with his wife, Lisa, and his in-laws, Susan and Jason Maynard, when Mayson’s Wine Shop bubbled into being. We asked Mayson’s (@maysonswineshop) to help create a spring-ready wine list that both enlightens wine noobs and impresses wine snobs. Here are 8 great bottles every home should have.

“Every journey needs a sendo , so begin with Champagne. Its long aging process gives this brioche-scented bubbly a mousse-like richness.”

“It’s a Pinot Grigio with hidden depths. Elegant, sophisticated, and versatile, Gorgo is excellent for poolside sipping or for pairing with food.”

“You know that wine you get at a local bistro in Italy? The one you’ll never have again, but you can’t stop thinking about? That’s Côté Est, a blend of Grenache Blanc, Chardonnay, and Roussanne that’s easy to drink and highly a ordable.”

“Light, fun, and fresh, with just a touch of citrus acidity, this is the ultimate Florida summer wine. Next time you want Sauvignon Blanc, reach for this instead.”

“Dark, complex, and a little bassy, this is the Pinot Noir you give to Cab lovers. But it’s better because you can just open and pour.”

“When people ask what we drink at home, this is what we give them. If you’re a wine geek, all you need to know is that it’s made by Chimney Rock, and is identical in every way but price.”

“Dark and fleshy with a savory hint of beef jus. (So yes, go ahead and pair with chili.) Like Iconoclast, this should be open or decanted for at least an hour before pouring.”

“Sure, Argentina and Chile are doing malbec, but this one blows them out of the water. Lush, dark fruit; all the complexity without the overbearing tannins. This is the miracle red wine—literally open and drink. What’s not to love?”

1 LaurentPerrier La Cuvee Brut

2 Gorgo Pinot Grigio Delle Venezia

3 Domaine Lafage Côté Est

4 Paco & Lola Albarino

5 Pinot Line Pinot Noir

6 Iconoclast Cabernet Sauvignon

7 Matthews Cabernet Sauvignon

8 Opaque Malbec

Cariera’s Fresh Italian

1041 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden / 407-554-3622

carierasfreshitalian.com

If there’s two things most people can agree on, it’s that a hearty plate of pasta is always a good choice, and the best place to get that fix is Cariera’s. Heavy with Italian tradition, Cariera’s features timeless favorites, such as spaghetti and meatballs to chicken Saltembocca, white Cacciatore to Eggplant Parmigiana. There’s even a lite menu featuring Keto versions of your Italian favorites! Whether celebrating a special occasion or simply feeding the family, Cariera’s strives to make every guest feel comfortable enough to laugh out loud, reminisce, and indulge.

The French Café

WINTER GARDEN 16412 New Independence Pkwy / 407-500-4050 thefrenchcafe.com

CELEBRATEWITH CATERING TRAYS

Wish you were in a cozy neighborhood café in Paris, sipping a French co ee while the smell of fresh pastries fills the air? You can be there without ever leaving Winter Garden when you dine at The French Café. Try our one-of-a-kind pastries baked fresh daily by our acclaimed chef. Join us for a relaxing breakfast on the weekend or stop in before that evening movie for a delightful dinner. We can’t wait to say bienvenue to you! DELICIOUS CRÊPES

10% OFF

Gochi Japanese Kitchen

14195 W. Colonial Dr., Winter Garden / 407-877-0050

gochijapanesekitchen.com

Since 2007, Gochi Japanese Kitchen has been providing Winter Garden with the highest-quality Japanese favorites. Raw a la carte options like nigiri, sashimi, and rolls, plus uniquely crafted noodles, yakiniku and yakiyasai bbq grill options. Need space for a special event? Ask about our private dining room and catering options!

Sun-Wed 11am–10pm

Thu-Sat 11am-12am

HANGRY HOUR

Mon-Thu 4–7pm Fri 4-6pm

TRYOURNEW

BISON STRIPLOIN

The Hangry Bison

250 W Plant St, Winter Garden / 407-347-9099

thehangrybison.com / Reservations Available

The ultimate build-your-own-burger experience has landed in the heart of Winter Garden! The Hangry Bison is known for quality bourbon, craft beer and cocktails, and award-winning bison burgers, but our vast menu has a little something for even the hangriest appetites. Check us out on weekday evenings for discounted selections of drinks and small plates. Your parents did happy hour; we do Hangry Hour!

Naan Stopp Indian Restaurant

HOURS

Every day 11am-3pm 5pm-10pm

5845 Winter Garden Vineland Rd., Windermere / 407-347-5487

naanstopp.com

If you haven’t soaked warm garlic naan in velvety butter chicken sauce or scooped chana masala with tandoor roti, get ready to be delighted. Fresh, flavorful modern Indian cuisine is finally here! Naan Stopp glimmers with its roster of succulent tandoori, rice dishes, and fragrant curries—a world of vegetarian and non-vegetarian delights imbued with vivid seasonings that never lose their spark.

Pammie’s Sammies

121 S. Boyd St / 407-730-3212 / pammiesammies.com

HOURS

Mon-Thu 11am-7pm Fri 11am-8pm Sat 10am-7pm

Feed the Soul. Craft with Love. Serve from the Heart. That’s the record-setting recipe behind Pammie’s Sammies, a fun sandwich space with funk woven into its atmosphere and baked into every dish. With food that is thoughtfully sourced, earth-friendly, and tastefully adventurous, our menu pairs old family recipes with tasty trends, all to the soundtrack of classic tunes and conversation among friends.

Pilars Martini and Loft

146 W Plant St., Winter Garden / 407-369-8900 pilarsmartini.com

Pilars brings to life martinis, mixology, music and more. Drop in for our wide selection of beer, wine and spirits, or try one of our specialty mixed cocktails. Pilars is a comfortable blend of ’30s deco décor, surrounded by the arts. Then wander upstairs to enjoy Pilars Loft, equal parts entertainment and inspiration. Because when it comes to putting on a good show on Plant Street, things are looking up.

Poke by Gochi

13770 W. Colonial Dr., Winter Garden / 407-347-5091 pokebygochi.com

Poke (pronounced poh-kay) is the bowl of the moment, and no one does it better than Gochi. This fast casual concept by the owners of Gochi Japanese Kitchen uses all the same, high quality ingredients as its sister location, only in a one-bowl concept. Choose from chef crafted options or customize your own with a variety of colorful sauces, piles of crunchy toppings, and a white rice, brown rice, or lettuce base. Always fresh, always your way.

LIVE MUSIC

Mon-Sat 11:30AM-7:30PM

3x REWARD POINTS

STK Steakhouse

ORLANDO 1580 Buena Vista Drive / 407-917-7440

stksteakhouse.com/venues/orlando/

STK is “not your daddy’s steakhouse”—it’s high-energy dining, combining the quality of a traditional steakhouse with a Vibe Dining atmosphere. Delectable cuisine and upscale cocktails meet chic décor and an in-house DJ to create a memorable fine dining experience. The menu features reimagined classic American cuisine for lunch, brunch and dinner, with traceable, ethically sourced beef that produces the highest quality craveable steaks.

MENU HOURS

Mon-Fri

11am-3pm & 5-9pm

Sat 11am-9pm Sun 12-8pm

Thai Blossom

99 W. Plant St. Winter Garden / 407-905-9917 / mythaiblossom.com

Your love of Thai will blossom among fragrant curries, silky noodles, stir fries, and grilled meats. Authentic, flavorful and always cooked to order Thai Blossom o ers some of the tastiest cuisine in central Florida, right on Plant Street. And plenty of options for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals make it the perfect choice for workday lunch, dinner dates, and special celebrations.

Tres Amigos Grill

HOURS

Mon-Sat 11 am-8 pm Sun Closed

TACO TUESDAYS

1025 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden / 407-614-3975 tresamigosgrill.com

Born in faith. Created with love. That’s how John “The Take Home Chef” Kresl crafted Tres Amigos. The brand that started with salsa has evolved into an entire menu of Tex Mex-inspired platters, bowls and tacos. Choose your protein (from authentic carnitas, and Certified Angus beef skirt steak to seasoned local vegetables) and enjoy it with homemade corn or flour tortillas, pico de gallo, guacamole, black beans and rice.

Volcano Hot Pot and BBQ

3279 Daniels Rd, #120, Winter Garden / 407-614-8200 hotpotvolcano.com/winter-garden

Bottomless Chinese hot pot and Korean BBQ has arrived in Winter Garden! If you’ve never had hot pot before, think of it as a build-your-own stew. Start with one of a variety of soup bases, including spicy, miso, and Tom Yum. Next, head to the bu et bar and add any ingredient your heart desires. Then toss it all in the pot to soak in that soupy goodness—and check out our signature dipping sauces (or create your own) while it cooks.

RECOGNIZED FOR DELICIOUS, A-GRADE THAI CUISINE.

Long-Term Infestment

Bugging out about everyone’s least favorite houseguest.

Few things on this beautiful gross Earth can make my skin crawl at the mere thought. One of those things is roommates. As an introvert who places a high value (the full price of rent) on having my own space to do weird annoying stu and not wear pants while I do it, the idea of another being living where I live sounds like a living nightmare.

Perhaps that’s why I feel such a visceral ick toward nature’s worst roommate, the one that makes me instinctively clutch my security can of Raid. It’s God’s little freeloader: the cockroach.

Now, that’s a bold claim, because nature’s got some terrible roommates. There’s the cuckoo bird, which kills its roommates for their parents’ insurance money; there’s the cordyceps fungus, which bodysnatches ants and makes them explode; there’s, uh, tapeworm.

Roach roommates (roachmates?) are worse than all that. Roaches aren’t rare or easy to deal with. They are inevitable. They are legion. They are pound-for-pound three times faster than cheetahs (true facts, I looked it up), so you have to reenact a whole Tom and Jerry episode to catch them. And then the post-kill paranoia kicks in, and suddenly every speck of dust and tickle in your shirtsleeve has six thorny limbs and a grudge.

Needless to say, I speak from experience. Like all Florida natives, I have a history with roaches, particularly our regional brand of Deluxe Roach—excuse me, “palmetto bug”—which has all the features of the Original Roach with the bonus of being actual Alien facehuggers that could wrestle your cat.

But if all my years of roach wrangling taught me one terrifying thing, it’s that roaches are never “just passing through.” I don’t call them bad roommates because they’re lthy, or they steal your food, or they die in your bathtub without asking. I call them bad roommates because they are roommates.

Think about it: when’s the last time you saw a roach outside? Never, because they don’t come from outside. They may not even know an “outside” exists. They live with us. And they have the audacity to think we’re the bad roommates. If you ask them, they were just chilling at home when their giant, loud roommate barged in without knocking and rudely Raided the shit out of them.

Sorry, roomie; you’re not on the lease.

Bugs in Your Rugs

Rheya’s extended guide to this dumb pests-asguests metaphor.

Roaches: Garbage roommates. Literally just wrote a whole big thing about it.

Snakes, (evil) Spiders: Armed Intruders. Call the cops.

Ants: Party Crashers. Snuck in to raid the hors d’oeuvres and judge your decor. Can be ousted easily— once you spot them.

Lizards, Frogs, (nice) Spiders: Housekeeping. Just stopped over to pick up any bugs you weren’t using. Escort politely in a little cup.

Termites, Rats: Hooligans. Brought their friends over to ruin your stu for a laugh. Call the cops and probably your insurance agent.

Possums, Racoons, Misc. Vermin: Drunk Trespassers. Have no idea how they got here and are just as surprised as you about the whole predicament. Whack with broom.

Bedbugs: It’s over. Burn your house down.

Pammie Parody of Billy Joel’s Glass Houses (1981)

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