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28 PHOTOS: (LEFT) HARVEY SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY; (CENTER RIGHT, BOTTOM RIGHT) GREG JOHNSTON; TOP RIGHT, RAFAEL TONGOL
FEATURES: OCTOBER 2011
30 2011 HOME OF THE YEAR
Despite the sour economy, homebuilders and remodelers in the upper price ranges remain busy, as evidenced by the response to our 2011 Home of the Year competition. After evaluating more than 40 entries, our panel of experts has chosen new and remodeled homes that best exemplify artistry, inventiveness and functionality. by Randy Noles
ON THE COVER: A French West Indies-inspired home with contemporary interiors by Phil Kean Designs is our 2011 Home of the Year. “Beautiful, inventive and thoughtful, this house does not depend on ‘wow’ factors to impress,” wrote one contest judge. Photograph by Harvey Smith Photography. 2
ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
OCTOBER 2011
DEPARTMENTS 8
JAY BOYAR’S AGENDA Feminist crusader Gloria Steinem brings her passion and her humor to Rollins College; comedian John Oliver arrives at Hard Rock Live with his snooty Brit persona in tow; the Orlando Symphony Orchestra goes Hollywood at the Bob Carr; and cool ghouls go high-end Halloweening all over town.
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18 PAGES: DAVID McCULLOUGH Heralded writer David McCullough, who will appear at Rollins College this month, chats about his fondness of American history and Florida warmth. by Harry Wessel
22 STYLE: 4 FOR FALL The four trends for autumn are big fur, heavy metal, cool jewel tones and back to black and white. by Marianne Ilunga t QIPUPHSBQIT CZ 3BGBFM 5POHPM
26 DESIGN FINDS: LOCAL COLOR You can think globally but buy locally for exotic accents that can transform the look of a room. by Marianne Ilunga
66 SCOTT JOSEPH’S FLAVOR A review of Finesse, a round-up of great Italian restaurants and Scott’s selected listings.
74 WELLNESS: BOUTIQUES FOR LIFE Two specialty boutiques in Orlando specialize in products and services to bolster the spirits of breast cancer patients. by Harry 8FTTFM t QIPUPHSBQIT CZ (SFH +PIOTUPO
80 OTHER ORLANDO
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ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
A personal remembrance of civil rights crusader Stetson Kennedy. CZ 3BOEZ /PMFT
SPECIAL SECTION 49 HARRIET’S PARK AVENUE FASHION WEEK Winter Park boutiques come alive with a series of trunk shows, designer displays and special events, culminating in a glamorous runway show. Here’s your official guide to the festivities.
WWW.OHLMAG.COM
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3
FIRST
Stranger in a Strange Land Of the lessons I have learned in the gender-specific enclaves I have known.
I
Take Note
HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY WOMEN ALL
my life; more so, I think, than most males. It’s got nothing to do with hunkiness – note photo on right – it’s circumstances, mainly. Pure chance. Or … is it? Anyway: All three of my siblings were girls. I was so flaky as a young man that for college my parents sent me to my mother’s alma mater, a women’s academy that had just begun to admit male students and where the ratio in favor of females was roughly five to one. I chose professions – first acting, then writing – in which women are better represented than in most others. Now I not only edit a magazine that is directed more toward women than men, but for the past year I have co-owned a tanning, waxing and nail salon in Winter Park whose clientele is similarly skewed. At first I thought of the salon as a superficial enterprise. But as my wife and I have gotten to know our customers and employees, the place has become a source of gender-specific enlightenment. I have been schooled as never before about the dangers of anorexia, the joys and tribulations of childbearing, the demeaning and destructive effects of pornography, the various inconveniences presented by having to walk around with a womb all your life. I had a conversation along those lines with a young woman who remembered suffering through her first period with a sketchy understanding of the biology involved, and announcing afterward to her mother: “I am so glad I’ll never have to go through that again!” The lessons I have learned here at the magazine, where we pride ourselves in our focus on fashion and design, are a bit different. Collaborating on stories and fashion shoots with our stylist, Marianne Ilunga, has meant developing a whole new vocabulary. I know what a peep-toe wedge is. I can distinguish between a 4
ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
What’s ONLINE Check out our new website, ohlmag.com for the finest in local entertainment and lifestyle news, plus video highlights of galas and events. Follow us on Twitter at orlandohlmag.
clutch and an evening bag, between a bangle and a bracelet. I wonder how I could possibly have gotten this far along in my life without knowing that you are much more likely to find someone in grosgrain leather in Soho than in Manhattan. For all the teaching moments I have been exposed to in regard to the opposite sex, I remain on shaky ground. In general, when it comes to women, I do great on the quizzes and tank the finals. But there is still time to learn. Not too long ago, having written a fashion story I was particularly proud of, I asked my boss, our publisher, Randy Noles, what he thought of it. “Well, you sounded like a girl,” he said. It’s just that kind of positive feedback that a guy like me needs to hear.
Michael McLeod Editor in Chief mmcleod@ohlmag.com
What you CAN DO Check out the second annual Food and Wine Classic, featuring celebrity chef Todd English, at the Swan & Dolphin Hotel, Oct. 7 and 8. What you CAN WIN A closet makeover valued at $500 from The Closet Factory. See page 17. What’s ON DECK Our annual Silver Spoon awards recognizing excellence in Orlando restaurants. What’s ON FACEBOOK and YouTube LIKE us on Facebook and check out our YouTube channel at http:// www.youtube.com/user/OrlandoHomeLeisure. Correction: Orlando actor Philip Nolen’s name was misspelled in our story about his appearance in The Importance of Being Earnest.
OCTOBER 2011
& MICHAEL MCLEOD Editor in Chief HARRY WESSEL Managing Editor SCOTT JOSEPH Editor at Large LAURA BLUHM Art & Production Director NATALIE COSTA, BAILEIGH JOHNSON, REBEKAH KUBIK, JENNIFER PRITCHARD Editorial Interns JAY BOYAR, MARIANNE ILUNGA, RANDY NOLES Contributors ERIC CUCCIAIONI, GREG JOHNSTON, ALLAN SALTMAN, RAFAEL TONGOL Contributing Photographers s &ULL 3ERVICE )NTERIOR $ECORATION s #OLOR 3ELECTION s &URNITURE &LOOR 0LANNING s 2EDECORATING s 7INDOW 4REATMENTS For a Consultation Call Today 407-492-7895 www.allin1decorating &RANCIA &USIK # ) $ â&#x20AC;&#x153;All in One Decorating is recognized for unique, exclusive #ERTIlED )NTERIOR $ECORATOR and distinctive designs that stand the test of time.â&#x20AC;?
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Copyright 2011 by Florida Home Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited without written permission of the copyright holder. ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE (USPS 000-140) (Vol. 12/Issue No. 10) is published monthly by Florida Home Media LLC, 2301 Lucien Way, Ste 190, Maitland, FL 32751. Periodicals Postage Paid at Maitland FL and at additional mailing ofďŹ ces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Orlando Home & Leisure Magazine, PO Box 5586, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310-5586 6
ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
OCTOBER 2011
AGENDA s
Gloria Steinem at the Ms. Foun-
dation for Women’s 23rd annual Gloria Awards earlier this year.
The Funny Feminist: Standing up to Sexism with a Smile Q: How many feminists does it take to screw in a light bulb? A: That’s not funny! LIKE A LOT OF JOKES, THIS ONE IS BASED ON A STEREO-
type – namely, in this case, that feminists have no sense of humor. It’s an assumption that clearly doesn’t apply to Gloria Steinem, a founder of the modern feminist movement and, not incidentally, Ms. magazine. When I spoke recently with Steinem, who’ll make a series of
Plan On It 8
ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
Bok Tower Gardens: Fall Film Series Oct. 6-Oct.20 Bok Tower Gardens Butterflies, hummingbirds and reptiles will be not only in the park but on the big screen this fall in a series of stunningly photographed nature films. boktowergardens.org
public appearances at Rollins College this month, I encountered a woman with a soft, rumbling laugh, a knack for irony and a keen appreciation of life’s absurdities. We got to talking about the progressive workplace policies that many companies adopted after Anita Hill’s famous testimony at the 1991 Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Clarence Thomas. “That has turned out, in the long term, to be a plus for con-
A Wrinkle in Time Oct. 6-Nov. 6 Orlando Repertory Theatre The play, based on Madeleine L’Engle’s classic fantasy novel, begins on a proverbial dark and stormy night and follows three children on a journey through time and space to rescue their father. orlandorep.com
Ruthless! The Musical Oct. 7-Oct. 29 Winter Park Playhouse Any musical that combines such classics as The Bad Seed , All About Eve, Gypsy and The Valley of the Dolls has to be worth seeing. winterparkplayhouse.org
OCTOBER 2011
PHOTOS: (LEFT) MS. FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN’S PHOTOSTREAM; (RIGHT) HARDROCK LIVE
BY JAY BOYAR sciousness-raising, because those hearings were a giant national tutorial on the fact that sexual harassment was illegal,” Steinem explained. Then, with a mischievous chuckle, she added, “The penalty is that he’s on the Court.” Her humorous side unexpectedly emerged again when our talk turned to abortion rights. She remembered a late 1960s’ hearing on the subject, held in the New York State legislature before the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. “They invited to testify 14 men and one nun,” said Steinem, unable to suppress a laugh. “You can’t make this stuff up, right?” A group of women held their own counter-hearing, which Steinem, then a young journalist, covered for New York magazine. The experience inspired her to join the nascent women’s movement, in which she soon took a leadership role. Perhaps it’s only fitting that Steinem, who can see the funny side of a situation, had a major impact on at least one funny film. That would be Legally Blonde, in which Reese Witherspoon played the smart (if underestimated), pretty-in-pink law student, Elle Woods. After the film came out, Steinem, who didn’t know Witherspoon, found herself seated next to the actress at a luncheon. “She said that she had done the film Legally Blonde because of me,” Steinem recalled. “I said, ‘Really? That’s great. Why?’ And she said because she’d heard me say that we should be able to wear anything we [expletive] pleased and be taken seriously. She [Elle Woods] never was made to give up the way she wanted to present herself, and I think that’s exactly right.” It’s been a long road for the 77-year-old activist icon, whose journey was recently chronicled in HBO’s Gloria: In Her Own Words. So I had to wonder if there had been any significant issues or obstacles to her cause that she hadn’t foreseen back in the early days of the movement. Without missing a beat, she answered, “Fox News.” Gloria Steinem will give a talk and participate in other events at Rollins College Oct. 28 and 29, through the school’s Winter Park Institute. Visit rollins.edu/wpi for more information.
God of Carnage
Vampire’s Ball
Oct. 12-Nov. 13 Orlando Shakespeare Theater A dark comedy about the failed effort of two upscale couples to have a civilized discussion regarding a playground fight between their respective children. orlandoshakes.org
Oct. 21-Oct. 23 Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre Orlando Ballet director Robert Hill explores the fear, lust and mystery that surround vampires through a series of vignettes set to both classical and pop music. orlandoballet.org
WWW.OHLMAG.COM
John Oliver, Master of Mock HAVING WATCHED COMEDIAN
John Oliver on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the NBC sitcom Community (as Prof. Ian Duncan), I know he can be very funny in a hostile yet affable way. “The world needs idiots,” Oliver once said in his standup comedy routine. “Idiots get things done. They don’t waste time over-thinking things.” Wherever he appears, the bespectacled Brit affects an expression that’s midway between the befuddled stare of an absent-minded professor and the unforgiving glare of an inveterate snob – only he’s often more intense and agitated. Oliver, who will bring his standup act to Hard Rock Live Oct. 14, can assume a superior attitude to practically anyone or anything. But at no time does his particular style of genial condescension make me laugh harder than when he’s discussing the United States. “You don’t need books here,” he has said about America, speaking in a fussy voice that almost turns being articulate into a joke in itself. “There are plenty of books in the world and plenty of people who’ve read them. It’s not your area of expertise.” Visit hardrock.com for more information.
ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
9
AGENDA
For the Cooler Ghouls, Enjoy a High-End Halloween HAUNTED HOUSE TOURS, PLASTIC
PHANTASMAGORIA II
vampire teeth and tacky supermarket costumes are so passé. Celebrate Halloween in style at these upscale, but suitably spooky, events.
If you’re a fan of the classic tales of Edgar Allan Poe, Oscar Wilde and Lewis Carroll, then this show is an opportunity to satisfy your literary appetite while enjoying a spine-tingling shiver worthy of the holiday. From Oct. 14-30, vampires will take the stage at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center for the Empty Space Theatre’s production of a spooky adult storytelling pageant. For more information visit redchairproject.com.
SPIRITS IN SANFORD
Every year, the Jeanine Taylor Folk Art gallery features the work of artisans from around the country who specialize in Halloween themes. The creepy creations, which are more charming and nostalgic than gory, will be on display and available for purchase Oct. 8 in the historic downtown Sanford gallery. On Oct. 29, Melissa Menzer, one of the artists, will be on hand to offer a tutorial on creating your own altar to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican festival to honor the dead. Visit jtfolkart.com for more information.
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ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
VAMPIRE’S BALL
Director Robert Hill’s original choreography highlights Orlando Ballet’s Vampire’s Ball, during which the blood-sucking children of the night unleash their vengeance on patrons of the arts at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre. Perfor-
mances will take place Oct. 21-23. Visit orlandoballet.org for more information. GHOSTS IN THE GARDEN
If you’ve forgotten what it’s like to sit around a campfire and scare the dickens out of each other with spooky stories, then check out Ghosts in the Garden, slated for Oct. 28 on the lawn fronting the historic Leu House at Harry P. Leu Gardens. This year, the annual event is themed “Something Wicked This Way Comes.” Gates creak open at 6 p.m. and seasoned storytellers begin to spin their yarns as night falls. Children 15 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Visit leugardens.org for more information. – Jennifer Pritchard
OCTOBER 2011
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ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
OCTOBER 2011
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CEILING FANS
lando Philharmonic Orchestraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance this month of A Night at the Oscars sounds like a throwback to the silent ďŹ lm era, when movie theater organists pumped out dramatic chords as soundless celluloid heroes, villains and lovers emoted on screen. But thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big difference, at least in the mind of the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creator, producer John Goberman, the Emmy Award-winning producer of Live From Lincoln Center. The program, slated for Oct. 15 at the OCTOBER 2011
PHOTO: COURTESY ORLANDO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Orchestra Takes on a Cinematic Star Turn
Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, will couple live music with classic ďŹ lm clips. While key moments from Oscar-winning ďŹ lms such as Ben Hur, The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and Citizen Kane are shown, minus the musical sound track, the orchestra will perform the scenesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; original, accompanying scores. The organist played second ďŹ ddle to the on-screen pantomime in the silent ďŹ lm era, but Goberman likes to think that this modern production, which has been performed by orchestras across the country, works the other way around. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You really are at a performance, and you get a sense of the energy coming out of the musicians,â&#x20AC;? he said in a telephone interview. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You see how hard they have to work. This is powerful music. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not easily played.â&#x20AC;? A Night at the Oscars isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the only ďŹ lm/ live orchestra program that Goberman has designed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done one that consists entirely of clips and music from Alfred Hitchcock movies,â&#x20AC;? he says. In another Goberman project, to be presented later this month by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, musicians will perform the score of the 1935 camp classic The Bride of Frankenstein. When that ďŹ&#x201A;ick ends, in true late-night, double-feature tradition, the orchestra will retire and the audience will enjoy Young Frankenstein, the hilarious horror movie sendup by Mel Brooks. The Phil is the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resident professional orchestra and appears in more than 125 performances each year. Its Super Series is performed at the Bob Carr while its Sounds of Summer Series and Focus Series are performed at the Margeson Theater, located in the John & Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center. Goberman will be in Orlando as a guest during A Night at the Oscars. For more information visit orlandophil.org. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Michael McLeod WWW.OHLMAG.COM
B
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Wardrobe styling â&#x20AC;˘ Travel packing â&#x20AC;˘ Fashion production Closet assessment â&#x20AC;˘ Personal shopping
Stylissima F ASHION C ONSULTING
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AGENDA
ONE THING YOU CAN COUNT ON
when Tim Peters and his wife, Erika, set up their tent alongside the scores of other artists at the 38th annual Winter Park Autumn Art Festival this month: They know the routine. The Winter Haven duo’s painstakingly crafted ceramic pots, plates and tiles have been on display at the festival for 27 years. The popular fall event, which runs Oct. 8-9 this year, was still being held on the Rollins College campus when the couple first began showing their work. There were no shelters, so artists and their creations had to withstand the still-blistering autumn sun and all-toofrequent afternoon rain showers. “Something as simple as canopies
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ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
made our lives so much easier,” Tim Peters says. By the time the event moved to downtown Winter Park years later, ceramics had become more than a hobby for the pair. “Artists were starting to realize they could make a living from these shows,” Peters says. “It was a new idea at the time.” Their creations are a team effort. Tim flattens porcelain clay into a tile with a rolling pin or shapes vases and bowls on a potter’s wheel. Erika then sculpts original designs into the pieces using scalpels. Some are so delicate that they resemble origami or finely woven lace.
The work is done in a home studio, allowing the couple to keep an eye on their two dogs and 13 cats. They display their work in festivals all over the country, often winning awards and, just as important, making sales. The Winter Park Autumn Art Festival is the only juried art show to feature Florida artists exclusively. This community-oriented sidewalk event presents intriguing visual art, live entertainment, children’s activities and more. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, and admission is free. Visit winterpark.org for more information. – Jennifer Pritchard
OCTOBER 2011
PHOTO: COURTESY WINTER PARK SIDEWALK ART FESTIVAL
Familiar Artists on the Avenue: It’s Not Autumn Without Them
Win a Messy Closet Makeover DO YOU HAVE A MESSY CLOSET THAT YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D LIKE TO ORGANIZE?
Of course you do. We all do. So, enter to win our â&#x20AC;&#x153;Messiest Closetâ&#x20AC;? contest, sponsored by Closet Factory. The winner will receive a closet makeover from the experts at Closet Factory. So, email the following information to press@ohlmag.com on or before Oct. 31, 2011: s ! PHOTO OF YOUR MESSY CLOSET s !N EXPLANATION OF WHY YOU SHOULD WIN WORDS OR LESS s 9OUR NAME ADDRESS PHONE AND EMAIL Entries must be complete and contain all of the requested information in ORDER TO BE VALID ! WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY THE STAFFERS OF #LOSET &ACTORY and Orlando Home & Leisure editors.
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Celebrating Fine Art from 150 Outstanding Florida Artists
Winter Park
38th Annual
Autumn Art Festival
presented by:
Artist Displays Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Activities Live Entertainment Park Avenue Sidewalk Sale Saturday, October 8 & Sunday, October 9, 2011 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Central Park in Downtown Winter Park
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Learn more at www.autumnartfestival.com or call (407) 644-8281. WWW.OHLMAG.COM
ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
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PA G E S
David McCullough: An Anachronism in Paradise way, that I chose this for a subject. OR MOST OF THE YEAR, DAVID The bestselling Q: Is it because of your interest in McCullough lives in Martha’s Vineauthor visits art and painting? yard with his wife of 56 years, Rosalee. But the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Rollins to cheerlead A: I would say that’s primary, but I also have been fascinated by France, and by best-selling historian, amateur painter for history Paris in particular, for 40, 50 years. I’m not and grandfather (with 18 grandchildren!) was and education. a Francophile in the sense that I love and at a second home in Camden, Maine, when approve everything French; I don’t. But the point with my book Orlando Home & Leisure reached him for a telephone interview. is that these particular Americans were experiencing something McCullough, 78, is scheduled to discuss his latest book, The at that time that was of very great importance to them and to Greater Journey, when he visits Rollins College Nov. 4 as part of our country. And it was a segment of the a fall speaker series presented by the school’s American experience about which almost Winter Park Institute. The book profiles a nothing had been written. number of gifted American artists, authors, Q: What’s your next project? diplomats, scientists and doctors who made A: I’m not settled in on a new undertakthe often arduous Atlantic crossing to study ing as yet. I’m thinking about a number and learn in 19th-century Paris. of ideas. I’m enjoying a little bit of what If you don’t know McCullough through might be called “normal life.” I put four his books, then you’ve likely heard his disyears into that book and worked as hard as tinctive voice as narrator of numerous docuI ever have in my life. mentaries, most notably The Civil War, Ken Q: But you’re still coming to FloriBurns’ acclaimed PBS documentary. da next month? A: You bet I am. I’ve spent a lot of time in Q: Your current book centers on Florida. In fact, part of the [Greater Journey] Paris. It wasn’t long ago that many Americans were complaining about book was written in Florida. We spent the anything French. Are you getting winter before last in Naples, and I wrote a much flak about your choice of subchapter or more while there. jects? Q: Your recent books have been A: I’ve received none – no hate mail, no letsteeped in the 18th and 19th centuries. You’ll be visiting Orlando, ters to the editor, nothing. I have had some where ancient history is anything people express surprise, but not in a critical
by Harry Wessel
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ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
OCTOBER 2011
PHOTOS: COURTESY SIMON & SCHUSTER
F
before the 1971 opening of Disney World. Can a historian take Orlando seriously? A: (Laughs) Well, sure. I grew up in the Northeast, in Pittsburgh, where there was plenty of history of all kinds. I went to Yale, where there was plenty of history, to say the least. I’ve spent the better part of my working life living in New England, and one gets very accustomed to the surrounding historic background, architecture, culture and all the rest. But come winter, I can forgo the charm of history quite readily. Q: Don’t you still use a typewriter? A: In many ways I’m a living anachronism. Yes, I still write on a Royal Standard typewriter, which I bought secondhand in 1965. It was built in 1940. I’ve written everything I’ve had published on that typewriter, and there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s a magnificent example of superb American manufacturing. Imagine! Truly, there’s nothing wrong with it. I have to change the ribbons; that’s just about all. Q: Can you get it fixed and cleaned? A: I can. There’s a fellow on the Vineyard who looks after it for me, every 500,000 miles. Q: Does he deal with anybody besides you? A: It’s surprising how many people still use typewriters. My friend and colleague in the production of the John Adams miniseries, Tom Hanks, is an avid typewriter man. In fact, he has one of the greatest collections of typewriters of anybody anywhere. Q: What will be the format for your Rollins appearance? A: I usually talk for about 45 minutes and then take questions. I’m going to be talking about history and the love of learning, and I’ll be using my present book as an example. I’ll talk with some emphasis about the need to do a much better job of educating our children in American history. We’ve really fallen down on that. I think it’s a serious problem. Q: But American history is so dull in school. A: It’s often made exceedingly dull, unbearably dull. And the textbooks are often dreary in the extreme. It’s all unnecessary, because it’s the most fascinating subject of all: It’s about human beings; it’s about life. I’ve lectured at well over 100 colleges and universities in every part of the country, and I know from experience how relatively little students in even the very best universities know about American history. I stress that it’s not their fault. It’s our fault, and we need to do something about it.
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FIVE MCCULLOUGH MUST-READS JOHN ADAMS. McCullough’s biggest seller and the basis for the award-winning HBO series of the same name. It’s not just fascinating history; it’s a great love story between a fascinating man and his politically savvy wife. TRUMAN. A particular treat for baby-boomers, most of whom were born during or just after Harry Truman’s action-packed presidency, the first of the Atomic Age. 1776. A detailed look at what McCullough has called “the most difficult year in our history,” during which the fledgling Continental Army suffered defeat after defeat but somehow survived. THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS. McCullough chronicles the long and winding creation of the Panama Canal. President Carter called the book critical to the U.S. Senate’s passage of the controversial treaty giving Panama control of the U.S.-built waterway. THE GREAT BRIDGE. The Brooklyn Bridge was perhaps the 19th century’s crowning engineering achievement, and in connecting Brooklyn to Manhattan, modern New York City was created. This book tells the exciting story of how the iconic bridge came to be.
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PA G E S
Q: There’s some history at the theme parks, like the Hall of Presidents. Have you been to any of Central Florida’s theme parks? A: Yes, I’ve been to the one – I’ve forgotten what it’s called – where there’s the feeling that you’re in places like Venice? Q: Epcot? A: Yes. That was some years ago. I have not been to Disneyland or Disney World. Q: So you don’t take your grandchildren to theme parks. Do you read them history books? A: I tell them about books I’ve loved. I give them those books, and I encourage them to read. Q: Books such as? A: Ben and Me, by Robert Lawson. A wonderful book for children about a
mouse that lived in Ben Franklin’s hat. It’s been in print for probably 50 years or more. It’s just as refreshing and entertaining as when it was first published, and very accurate in its research. For older children I recommend books like The Killer Angels, a novel about the battle of Gettysburg. And the books about the Civil War by people like Shelby Foote and Bruce Catton. History can be literature, and more of that ought to be read – fewer textbooks and more literature. I taught a term at Cornell, and I never had them open a textbook. I wouldn’t inflict that on a decent, law-abiding citizen. Q: Your books rely heavily on letters, diaries and other written documents from the past. What will historians 100 years from now
have to work with? A: They’re going to have almost nothing to write about. We don’t write letters; we don’t keep diaries. Nobody in public life today would dare keep a diary, because it can be subpoenaed and used against you in a court of law. There was a time – and I’m old enough to remember this way of thinking – when writing letters was part of life. You were expected to write letters if you went away from home or if you were maintaining a friendship with someone who was no longer living near you. It was just something you did; it wasn’t something that you felt you had to do, unless it was thanking some maiden aunt for a Christmas present. What’s so remarkable – and it was particularly vivid with my experience with this current book – is how well written
FESTIVAL of the M ASTERS Put a new perspective on your weekend. Check out the 36th Festival of the Masters. It’s the perfect blend of art, Disney, music and more—featuring over 150 of the country’s best artists and their creations. You’ll also enjoy children’s activities, live entertainment and some of the funkiest art around at the House of Blues® Folk Art Festival. Approach your weekend from a whole new angle. For more information, visit disneyworld.com/art.
®
NOVEMBER 11, 12 & 13 Festival of the Masters hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. No admission required. Self-parking is complimentary.
MICASSO ©Disney WDWDTD-10-17876
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the letters are from people who had little or no formal education. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unsettling to realize how well they wrote when you hear that our business schools are requiring students who have graduated from college to take a course in writing, because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re incapable of writing an acceptable letter or report. Q: Is there any hope? A: Oh, sure. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a short-range pessimist and a long-range optimist. I think a sense of history helps maintain that outlook. Somebody said that history is an aid to navigation in troublesome times, and it truly is. It helps you keep things in perspective. It helps to remind you that how ever tough you think you have it, people before you had it much worse. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just important that people get the idea that a hell of a lot went on before
we appeared on the scene. But that we, too, are part of history, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to be judged by history. What do we want our descendants and their descendents to think mattered to us? What message do we want to pass on to them? Q: Sounds like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be bringing a message on your visit to Orlando. A: I feel all of this very strongly, and I love to talk with people about it. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m warmly encouraged by the response I receive and by the number of people who feel exactly the same way and are very concerned about any downgrading, any erosion, of the quality of education in our country. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re being very shortsighted and very unrealistic if we do anything to make the jobs of our teachers even harder than they already are. I think our teachers are the
most important people in our society. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing the work that matters the most and that will have the greatest effect on the future. Q: Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you feel like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a teacher? A: Yes, I do. I hope I am. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just paid me a very high compliment. â&#x2014;?
IN BRIEF What: David McCullough: â&#x20AC;&#x153;History and the Love of Learningâ&#x20AC;? When: Friday, Nov. 4, 8 p.m. Where: Knowles Memorial Chapel, Rollins College For more: rollins.edu/wpi
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STYLE
COOL JEWELS
Trending for autumn: fur, metal, jewel tones and perennial black and white. by Marianne Ilunga photographs by Rafael Tongol
CREDITS: PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANT KEN LOPEZ
Clockwise from top: Grace Hats burgundy floppy fedora with grosgrain trim, $78, Jimmy Choo green suede pump, $695, Ippolita silver and green quartz bangle, $575, and Ippolita silver and green quartz teardrop necklace, $550, all at Saks Fifth Avenue-Florida Mall; Coralia Leets ruby and purple stone earrings, $348, and Coralia Leets pink agate and purple necklace, $300, both at Coralia Leets Boutique, Park Avenue, Winter Park; Pour La Victoire plum high-heel loafer, $262, at Tuni’s, Park Avenue, Winter Park; Gucci teal top-handle flap bag, $2,100, and Prada burgundy tone handbag, $1,560, both at Saks Fifth Avenue-Florida Mall.
4 for Fall
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STYLE
BIG FUR Clockwise from top: Elizabeth and James fur-lined ankle boots, $398, at Tuni’s, Park Avenue, Winter Park; Sam Edelman black-dyed calfskin loafers, $130, and Tory Burch leopard-print fur messenger bag, $450, both at Bloomingdale’s, The Mall at Millenia; High Fashion fur handbag, $125, at Tuni’s, Park Avenue, Winter Park; Prada black fur wristlet, $715, and Prada leopard-print fur peep-toe wedge, $950, both at Saks Fifth Avenue-Florida Mall.
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STYLE
BLACK MEETS WHITE Clockwise, from left: Coach Equestrian flat boots, $398, Salvatore Ferragamo herringbone peep-toe pump, $575, Salvatore Ferragamo shoulder bag, $1,190, all at Bloomingdale’s, The Mall at Millenia; Rough Roses black leather studded belt, $115, at Thread Park Avenue, Winter Park; Ippolita black and white resin bangle with silver details, $195, at Saks Fifth Avenue, Florida Mall; and Aqua leather and cashmere gloves, $88, at Bloomingdale’s, The Mall at Millenia.
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STYLE
HEAVY METAL Clockwise from top: Calvin Klein metallic pump, $109, at Bloomingdale’s, The Mall at Millenia; Bourne sparkle stiletto, $228, at Tuni’s, Park Avenue, Winter Park; Tory Burch Metallic Hobo bag, $495, RJ Graziano silver goddess necklace, $55, and Aqua silver cuff, $25, all at Bloomingdale’s, The Mall at Millenia; Gracewear silver cuff, $85, at Thread Park Avenue, Winter Park; Ippolita silver drop earrings, $495, at Saks Fifth Avenue-Florida Mall; Salvatore Ferragamo sparkle ballet flat, $395, at Bloomingdale’s, The Mall at Millenia; and Prada chain crossbody metallic clutch, $995, at Saks Fifth AvenueFlorida Mall.
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DESIGN FINDS
White “pop art” bowl, $99, Euro Living Furniture in Colonialtown. Set of four ceramic balls, designer’s own.
Mounted swordfish snouts, $245 to $325, and African head rest, $125, Elephant Walk Interiors & Antiques, Lake Ivanhoe area.
Local Color When exotic accents are closer to home than you think. by Marianne Ilunga photographs by Rafael Tongol
U
PDATING THE LOOK OF A
Marguerite tealight holders, $4.95 each, are from Z Gallerie, Millenia Crossings.
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room to take advantage of the latest interior design trends doesn’t have to involve either heavy lifting or longdistance excursions. We challenged interior designer Catherine Sands of Blue Daze Design (bluedazedesigns.com) to transform a room relying mainly on small accent pieces foraged from Orlando artisans and retailers. She jumped at the chance. “I’m passionate about local resources,” she says. If you share that passion, check out these tips from Sands on how to give your home’s interior more fun and flair. OCTOBER 2011
Turquoise and white Vivian print chair, reďŹ nished and reupholstered by the designer, $2,200, Elephant Walk Interiors & Antiques, Lake Ivanhoe area. Lamb wool Ikat rug, $5,467, Addison/ Dicus Co., Orlando, Zebra pillow, $39, West Elm at Millenia Crossings.
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DESIGN FINDS
Antlers, $150 each, Elephant Walk Interiors & Antiques, Lake Ivanhoe area. Glass candleholders, $59 to $99, Crate and Barrel, crateandbarrel.com.
GLOBAL DESIGN: Items collected from around the world add interest. Use ethnic accents and cultural prints, such as Ikats printed on pillows. Also try rugs as upholstery on ottomans. ANIMALS: As whimsical accents, think tongue-in-cheek moose heads, animal wallpaper and accessories. BOLD COLORS Plums, peacocks and greens are back. Reds are also seeing a resurgence, particularly as an accent color on lamps, pillows and accessories. RETRO: Designers are using more retro furnishings and accents that arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily true reproductions but fun, slightly off-kilter nods to the past. Mid-century upholstery is always fun. METAL: Chrome on furniture, burnished warm tones and silvery accessories are showing up in designer showrooms. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleek and lively, especially in a contempory setting.
Green chair by Grako, $139, Euro Living Furniture, Colonialtown. 28
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Mobile dining room table, $680, Design Within Reach, dwr.com. Diptych acrylic abstract wall art, Saturday with Audrey, $2,900, by Martha Jo Mahoney, available at McRae Studios, Winter Park, or at marthajomahoney.com.
OCTOBER 2011
Somalian wood milk bowls, $225 and $245, Elephant Walk Interiors & Antiques, Lake Ivanhoe area.
Aqua blue garden bench, $795, white flower pillow by Que, $49, Elephant Walk Interiors & Antiques, Lake Ivanhoe area. Painting at top, designer’s own. Painting at bottom by Victor Borkas, price available on request by calling 407-247-0674.
White flower pillow by Que, $49, Elephant Walk Interiors & Antiques, Lake Ivanhoe area.
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2011 HOME OF THE YEAR SURE, THE ECONOMY REMAINS MIRED IN A SLUMP. BUT IN THE UPPER PRICE RANGES, BUILDERS ARE STILL SELLING SIZZLE. by Randy Noles 30
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HOTY 2011 WINNERS HOME OF THE YEAR Phil Kean Designs
LANDSCAPE OF THE YEAR Redmon Design Company
KITCHEN OF THE YEAR Phil Kean Designs
BEDROOM OF THE YEAR Masterpiece Design Group
SPECIALTY ROOM OF THE YEAR Phil Kean Designs
REMODEL OF THE YEAR R. Nursey Development
BATH OF THE YEAR (TIE) CL Studio Lamar Design
LIVING ROOM OF THE YEAR Phil Kean Designs
OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE OF THE YEAR Phil Kean Designs
C
ONSIDERING THE ECONOMY,
Indoors and outdoors become a single living space in LaBelle, by Phil Kean Designs. Concealed, retractable screens ward off insects and maintain air conditioning. WWW.OHLMAG.COM
we didn’t know what to expect when the call for entries went out for Orlando Home & Leisure’s 2011 Home of the Year competition. After all, the real estate market has remained stuck in low gear as a toxic combination of job worries, tight lending policies and a glut of foreclosures takes its toll. Would anyone even bother to enter? Indeed they did. In fact, there were more than 40 entries in a variety of categories. In addition to Home of the Year, a distinguished panel of judges selected the winners in a variety of sub-categories. It appears that there’s still plenty of building and remodeling activity in the higher price ranges, where qualifying for a mortgage isn’t an issue. On the following pages are the winners in each category. Enjoy the tour. ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
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HOME OF THE YEAR LaBelle Entered by Phil Kean Designs Team members: architect, Architecture by Phil Kean; builder, Phil Kean Designs; landscape designer, Kelly Outdoor; interior designer, CRT Studio; kitchen cabinets, Cabinetry Creations; pool designer, Phil Bowles Pools; pool contractor, Phil Kean Designs; photography, Harvey Smith Photography
LaBelle’s exterior features French West Indies influences, while the interiors are clean and contemporary.
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The LaBelle, the 2011 Home of the Year, is a French West Indies-inspired design with contemporary interiors. The floorplan provides lake views from every living area, excluding the media room and second-story, street-facing bedroom. With a nod toward aging-in-place, there are master suites on both levels as well as an elevator and a garage entrance. The family business is operated out of the home, so a separate entrance to the office/conference room OCTOBER 2011
is located off the front courtyard. The home also boasts indoor/outdoor living spaces on both levels, and uses retractable screens concealed in the first-floor lanai and the second-floor master bedroom. The screens hold up to 90 percent of the home’s conditioned air while keeping out insects. FROM THE JUDGES
Elegant ... the designers achieved all this with restraint and at a modest scale ... doesn’t rely on gimmicks, wow factors or any other nonsense to impress ... on what appears to be a relatively tight lot, the designers have managed to accommodate aging-in-place and live-work uses ... views captured of the lake, the connections between spaces, all are well done ... simple and easygoing.
RUNNERS-UP Phil Kean Designs, Miwa; Masterpiece Homes, Casa Cortile
LANDSCAPE OF THE YEAR New American Home Entered by Redmon Design Company Team members: architect: Michael Curtis, The Studio, Alexandria, Va.; landscape architect / designer, Redmon Design Company; pool designer, Redmon Design Company; builder, Continental Homes & Interiors; interior designer, Continental Homes & Interiors; pool contractor, Southern Pools; photography, James F. Wilson
The landscape for the New American Home 2011 – a show home built in conjuction with the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders Show held earlier this year – had to exemplify the latest trends while appealing to a variety of tastes. So the team emphasized privacy through tall garden walls and large specimen trees. Artificial turf allows grass to tuck up tightly to the edge of the pool and around the foxtail palms, while a secret garden features herbs and an overhead pergola and provides a long view across the entire backyard. In the front yard is a wide suspended walkway to the front door. Rainwater is harvested using cisterns, and water-wise plants limit the need for heavy water use. FROM THE JUDGES
While I disagree with the use of artificial turf, the underlying structure of the garden, its correspondence to the house’s architecture and its formal clarity make this garden a winner ... the use of pergolas, pools and paved surfaces enhance the underlying order and create lovely vignettes ... clean and classic.
Judges didn’t like the artificial turf around the New American Home’s pool, but they loved the hidden gardens and tall specimen trees. WWW.OHLMAG.COM
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LaBelleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen is highlighted by ebony mahogany Shaker cabinetry and contrasting white quartz countertops.
KITCHEN OF THE YEAR LaBelle Entered by Phil Kean Designs Team members: architect, Architecture by Phil Kean; builder, Phil Kean Designs; interior designer, CRT Studio; kitchen cabinets, Cabinetry Creations; photography, Harvey Smith Photography
This transitional kitchen boasts contrasting ebony mahogany Shaker cabinetry and snow-white quartz countertops as well as a white lacquered tongue-and-groove ceiling with beams. Finishes include a custom stainless hood, vintage light ďŹ xtures and white Italian leather stools. There are two islands, one created for bar seating and the other for cleanup. Appliances include a 48-inch professional range, a built-in microwave drawer and an electric warming drawer. The toaster, the coffeemaker and other small appliances are inside a large service pantry with a hidden entry to the right of the range. The kitchen opens onto the great room, and a spacious breakfast nook opens onto the lanai via sliding glass doors. The lanai encompasses a summer kitchen and outdoor dining area. FROM THE JUDGES
Well organized ... the high contrast between the dark wood and white countertops and walls creates a crisp, clean feel ... the axial alignment of the stovetop, sink, island and bar order the space symmetrically ... all the functional requirements are met perfectly ... a little sterile, but well laid out.
RUNNERS-UP CL Studio, Windermere; CL Studio, Lake Sarah 34
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The baseball-themed toddler’s room has its own “dugout.”
BEDROOM OF THE YEAR Boy’s Baseball Room Entered by Masterpiece Design Group Team members: architect, Bob Morales; builder, Silliman Homes; building designer, Bob Morales; interior designer, Masterpiece Design Group; photography, Studio KW
This room was designed for a toddler who also happens to be the son of a Major League Baseball player. The focal point is the bed, with its glove-inspired, leatherstitched headboard and awning reminiscent of a dugout. The walls, appropriately painted turf green with gloss white trim, feature hand-painted signs indicating
“home” and “visitor.” The storage area is actually a functional locker system beneath which sits a dugout bench. Framed baseball memorabilia and baseball-inspired bedding complete the theme. FROM THE JUDGES
Charming, fun, imaginative, delightful ... makes me wish I were a kid again ... nice to see a themed room that isn’t trite ... beautifully executed theme showing design consistency, creativity and playfulness.
RUNNER-UP Lamar Design, Chantilly Avenue
SPECIALTY ROOM OF THE YEAR LaBelle Entered by Phil Kean Designs Team members: architect, Architecture by Phil Kean; builder, Phil Kean Designs; interior designer, CRT Studio; kitchen cabinets, Cabinetry Creations; photography, Harvey Smith Photography
The owner, who operates a business out of the home, required an office with a separate entrance and a sound barrier from the living areas. The office also needed a sitting area, a conference table, computer desks, ample room for storage and plenty of natural light. The challenge was creating an office entrance that wasn’t confusing to visiting clients and that didn’t detract visually from the home. The solution was to design a front door that opened onto a courtyard where there were two entrances: one to the foyer and the other to the office. For soundproofing, a halfpound spray foam was used. Corner pocketing sliders allow the owner to step outside of the sitting area and enjoy a spectacular lake view. FROM THE JUDGES
From the courtyard, LaBelle has separate entrances to the foyer and the home office.
Adjacency to the courtyard, with its pleasant fountain, makes it a desirable space in which to work ... built-in desk and storage space defines the separate work and conference spaces ... a well-appointed office with excellent access to the adjacent courtyard and fountain ... well-lit with ample room to spread out.
RUNNERS-UP Saxon Clark, Tuscan di Amore; Closet Factory, New American Home
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A new porch with an arched focal point adds visual interest to this remodeled home.
REMODEL OF THE YEAR
BATHROOM OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Richbourg Residence Entered by R. Nursey Development
Chantilly Avenue Entered by Lamar Design
Team members: architect/structural engineers, FDS & Associates; builder, R. Nursey Development; building designer, Karen Kassik; landscape designer, Joe Brooks; interior designer, KJR Interiors; kitchen cabinets, IAS Kitchen & Bath; pool designer, T. DeSilva; pool contractor, Seven Seas Pools
Team members: building designer, Thomas R. Lamar; bathroom designer, Steve Garrison, Lamar Design
FROM THE JUDGES
The designers have managed to take a house that felt small, dark and overgrown and create a house that looks well-maintained, bright and cheery ... connections between the interior spaces and the view to the lake beyond are very well captured ... reconfigurations were well-considered ... beautiful materials assembled in an elegant manner ... an overall quality job yielding a pleasant atmosphere. 36
ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
CL Studio team members: builder, Sunscape Homes; interior designer, Jose J. Cabrera, CL Studio
Lamar Design. The owners loved their home but didn’t love the small masterbath and its inadequate closet space. Now there’s a large master closet with a marble-topped island and window seat off the luxurious new bathroom, with a large soaking tub, a separate toilet room, clerestory windows and a generous shower. CL Studio. Hand-painted cabinetry with striae glazing and leaf accents add drama to this master bath. Rock crystal hardware and chrome-capped legs give the furniture a luxurious look while customcut Italian marble tiles with a scroll detail pattern unify the space. Glass-beaded wallpaper frames the zebra wood-frame mirrors. FROM THE JUDGES
Lamar Design. The simplicity of the bathroom design, the layout of the fixtures, the use of the soaking tub as a focal point and the symmetrical balance are all fine details. CL Studio. What a dramatic transformation ... to take a plain, small, tight bathroom of nondescript design and turn it into a bathing retreat is no small achievement.
RUNNER UP CL Studio, Lake Sarah OCTOBER 2011
PHOTOS: (LEFT) COURTESY R. NURSEY DEVELOPMENT; (UPPER RIGHT) COURTESY LAMAR DESIGN; (LOWER RIGHT) COURTESY CL STUDIOS
The owners originally bought this property not for the home, but for its location on a lakefront lot within a prestigious golf community. The owners considered tearing it down before settling on a renovation and an addition. At the entry, visual interest was enhanced with a porch featuring an arched focal point. The second-floor addition encompassed two new bedrooms while the garage was expanded. At the rear, a wall was removed and new roof trusses were installed, increasing the height of the great room and the porch. A kitchen wall was also removed and rebuilt to accommodate an 8-foot door and a slide window system. The addition of a summer kitchen and a second-floor open patio provided additional gathering and recreation space, as did the remodeled boathouse.
Windermere Entered by CL Studio
A large soaking tub is the focal point of the Lamar Design bathroom, while custom-cut Italian marble tile highlights the CL Studio entry (below).
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HOTY JUDGES CHRISTINE G.H. FRANCK, G.H. Franck Inc., New York, N.Y. Franck is a designer and educator whose work includes award-winning residential design and decorative projects. She is a frequently published author and a leader in classical architectural education. Franck also serves on the board of directors of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America (ICA&CA), the leading nonprofit organization, represented by 14 chapters nationwide, dedicated to advancing the classical tradition in architecture, urbanism and the allied arts.
Miwa’s living room opens onto the lanai and courtyard, and offers such focal points as a
RICHARD FRANKLIN SAMMONS, Fairfax & Sammons Architecture, New York, N.Y.; Palm Beach, Fla.; Charleston, S.C. Sammons is a founding partner of his nationally known firm and an internationally recognized expert in the field of architectural proportion. Sammons is also a founding director of the ICA&CA. GREGORY F. SHUE, Shue Design Associates, Sullivan’s Island, S.C. Shue, who began his architectural career after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1997, has experience with the spectrum of residential work, including primary residences, seasonal and vacation homes. His commentaries have been published in magazines and books, and he has been a fellow of the the ICA&CA since 2005.
vent-free fireplace. In its outdoor living space (below), a floating step walkway connects the main house and the guesthouse.
LIVING ROOM OF THE YEAR Miwa Entered by Phil Kean Designs Team members: architect, Architecture by Phil Kean; builder, Phil Kean Designs; interior designer, CRT Studio; photography, Harvey Smith Photography
This contemporary living room features clean lines, extensive details and attractive focal points. The open architectural style and large windows provide plenty of daylight, while large overhangs and low-E windows keep out heat. The room is open to the home’s foyer, dining area/kitchen and lanai. LED backlit floating ceilings provide drama and absorb sound while a slightly curved sculptural wall element serves as both an art niche and a setting for the television. The left wall features a wine cooler, glass shelving and a hidden wet bar behind center sliding panels. A vent-free modern fireplace is built into the corner between the living room and dining area. A retractable screen, which is built into the lanai, can be lowered when needed. FROM THE JUDGES
With its tightly controlled color palatte, angular lines and floating planes on walls, ceilings and even in the furniture, this modernist living room achieves a refined state of serenity ... carefully chosen focal points - such as the television, the floor lamp, the artwork and the view to the outdoors - work off the canvas of grays and whites in a very sophisticated way.
RUNNER-UP Phil Kean Designs, Lake Catherine 38
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OCTOBER 2011
OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE OF THE YEAR Miwa Entered by Phil Kean Designs Team members: architect, Architecture by Phil Kean; builder, Phil Kean Designs; landscape designer, CRT Studio; photography, Harvey Smith Photography
The objective was to connect the main structure to the existing guest house. This was accomplished with a center garden and a floating step walkway that mimics the main home’s entrance. The back garden features fire and water with a pool, a fountain and a fire pit. Various seating areas are arranged around the walkway, including the orchid garden, which is off the master suite. Non-spreading bamboo plants define the property line and will eventually provide complete privacy. The home’s great room, dining area and kitchen all open onto the lanai and summer kitchen via sliding and folding glass doors. A retractable screen is built into the lanai. The “wow” factor is the LED lighting under the floating steps, which is complemented with groupings of garden lanterns. FROM THE JUDGES
The design language is consistent with that of the house, with the addition of beautiful paving materials, lush vegetation and elegant lighting around the pool.
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Kitchen
&Bath
Resource Guide
The kitchen is, of course, the heart of the home. And that’s never been more true than in the past decade or so. Modern kitchens are bright, welcoming spaces that facilitate socializing as well preparing meals. In addition, today’s appliances, surfaces, fixtures and cabinets are better than ever, using state-of-the-art technology for durability and energy efficiency. If you’re looking to completely remodel your kitchen or to simply freshen it up, then check with the professionals listed on the following pages. They’re among the very best at what they do, and can help you make your vision a reality.
AGGRESSIVE APPLIANCES 617 Mercy Dr. Orlando, FL 32805 407.295.4489 aggressiveappliances.com
after aisle of boxed products trying to imagine how they’d look in your home. Instead, you experience every appliance in the company’s working kitchen showroom. You’ll also collaborate with a team of experienced appliance experts — not part-timers working second jobs — who’ll demonstrate the latest offerings from the world’s top manufacturers and explain the latest time-saving, trend-setting features.
BUSBY CABINETS Your appliances are more than just kitchen equipment — they’re an investment, often lasting longer than the family car. And since you’d never buy a car without first taking it for a drive, the same should hold true for appliances. At Aggressive Appliances, you don’t simply walk up and down aisle 40
ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
Orlando Showroom 1711 33rd St., Suite104 Orlando, FL 32839 800.654.7090 busbycabinets.com
Busby Cabinets, a family owned company, has been creating beautifully hand-crafted custom cabinetry for more than 30 years. Every project is uniquely designed to suit each client’s lifestyle and to SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
blend seamlessly with the home’s architectural style. Busby’s skilled craftspeople produce everything the company installs at its own factory in nearby Alachua. That kind of internal control and commitment to quality is one reason the company’s work has been honored in more than 15 national design competitions. The professionals at Busby Cabinets invite you to schedule a personal design consultation in one of the company’s elegantly designed showrooms in Alachua, Orlando, Naples or Tampa. OCTOBER 2011
Let us orchestrate your dream. For the perfect products for your kitchen or bath, stop by a Ferguson showroom. It’s where you’ll find the largest range of quality brands, a symphony of ideas, and trained consultants to help orchestrate your dream. With showrooms from coast to coast, come see why Ferguson is recommended by professional contractors and designers everywhere.
APPLIANCES
PLUMBING
Orlando:
©2011 Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
WWW.OHLMAG.COM
PASSIONATE PEOPLE
1200 Alden Road
CEILING FANS
LIGHTING
(407) 893-5452
FERGUSON.COM ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
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Cabinetry Creations 538 Virginia Dr. Orlando, FL 32803 407.897.8988 cabinetrycreationsinc.com
Founded in 2003, Cabinetry Creations is a highly respected, award-winning cabinet provider. Whether you’re building a new multi-million dollar estate or remodeling the kitchen in a 50-yearold Florida classic, you’ll appreciate the one-on-one attention you’ll receive from the company’s design and installation teams. In fact, that commitment to personal service is why clients are seen by appointment only. Cabinetry Creations has the expertise and the commitment to help you achieve a perfect balance between your wish list and your budget. The company’s design studio is centrally located near the Lake Ivanhoe District in downtown Orlando.
C L Studio, Inc. 407.896.9192 clstudioinc.com
C L Studio, Inc. is a full-service company that specializes in all aspects of interior design. WWW.OHLMAG.COM
Principal Jose J. Cabrera is known for his attention to detail and his distinct aesthetic, which pairs casual elegance with modern sensibilities. That combination has earned him countless awards and a loyal clientele. His work has been featured in national and international publications, and this fall he’ll introduce several pieces from his new custom furniture line, (CL)assics, at the LEVEL Taking It To New Heights Designer Showcase 2011. During this event, a luxury penthouse condominium atop the VUE in downtown Orlando will be transformed by C L Studio and other top interior designers, with proceeds benefitting Hope & Help Center of Central Florida.
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
Farina & Sons
Whether you’re remodeling a tired kitchen or bathroom or creating your ultimate dream home, at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery you’ll find an unparalleled selection of high-quality plumbing, lighting and appliances from today’s most respected manufacturers. Ferguson’s showrooms offer an array of luxurious and functional options to suit any taste or budget. Schedule an appointment today with a friendly and knowledgeable consultant or visit the company’s Orlando showroom. Homeowners as well as builders, contractors, engineers and other trade professionals trust Ferguson to provide exceptional service, quality products and the expertise required to make their projects successful.
3432 Edgewater Dr. Orlando, FL 32804 407.849.1731 farinaandsons.com
Praised for its professionalism and high aesthetic standards, Farina & Sons is a family owned business with a 60-plus year tradition of award-winning renovations, additions and custom homes for Orlando’s most established families. Small or large, each project is highlighted by Farina’s trademark attention to detail and team approach. Strong referral and repeat business, as well as dozens of awards for excellence, is a testament to the company’s impeccable reputation. Farina & Sons has been building quality homes in Central Florida since 1950. Call today and see how the company can transform your current home into the home of your dreams. SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
1200 Alden Rd. Orlando FL 32803 407.893.5452 ferguson.com
Flooring by DeLoreto Interiors 250 N. Orlando Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789 407.677.9777 deloretointeriors.com
Flooring is an integral part of every living and working environment, and there are an incredible array of products from which to select. At family owned and operated DeLoreto Interiors, you’ll work with experienced professionals, ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
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including a licensed interior designer, who are available help you make the right decisions – from concept to completion. In the company’s fully appointed, 2,200square-foot design center, you’ll find a wide selection of flooring from distinguished manufacturers such as: Fabrica, Masland, Stanton and Dixie Home for carpet; Provenza, Anderson and Baltic for wood; and Cobsa Emil and Walker Zanger for tile. An international collection of natural stone offers options for everything from pavers to countertops. To finish your room in style, enhance your windows with custom window treatments or select from the beautiful Hunter Douglas line. Stop by and let Flooring by DeLoreto Interiors show you how 45 years of combined experience can make the difference in your next design project.
Lamar Design
1326 Palmetto Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789 407.645.5262 lamar-design.com
Lamar Design’s outstanding attention to detail results in award-winning 44
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
OCTOBER 2011
538 Virginia Drive Orlando, Florida 32803 OfямБce:
407-897-8988
www.cabinetrycreationsinc.com
WWW.OHLMAG.COM
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ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
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A Premier Flooring Source n
n
CARPET â&#x20AC;˘ WOOD â&#x20AC;˘ STONE â&#x20AC;˘ TILE â&#x20AC;˘ LAMINATE AREA RUGS â&#x20AC;˘ WINDOW TREATMENTS 250 North Orlando Avenue Winter Park, Florida 32789
407.677.9777
Featuring Exquisite Products for Residential & Commercial Projects Custom Design and Quality Installation
homes and, more importantly, in satisďŹ ed clients. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledgeable team is experienced in architecture, kitchen and bath design and interior design. That expertise means the Lamar Design professionals can create the form, the function and the ďŹ nishes for your remodel, addition or new home in an efďŹ cient and costeffective manner. And the quality is unparalleled; Lamar Designâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s projects have won both Parade of Homes and Aurora Awards. From kitchen and bathroom remodels to new home design; from New Smyrna Beach to North Carolina â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lamar Design can truly do it all.
Sunscape Homes
P.O. Box 928 Windermere, FL 34786 407.876.1811 sunscapehomes.com
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ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
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Sunscape Homes is a luxury builder whose business is based on a genuine commitment to personal service and satisfaction. As a true design-build ďŹ rm, Sunscape provides a turnkey approach to creating beautiful custom homes. The company is on the leading edge of the latest design ideas and lifestyle preferences, and has earned numerous professional awards and recognitions for outstanding work. The experience Sunscapeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s professionals offer, and their understanding of the builder/owner relationship, takes the guesswork out of your building project and allows the company to deliver an appealing and extraordinary home. OCTOBER 2011
Orlando Home & Leisure’s
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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
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Harriett’s
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CHIC HARRIETT’S PARK AVENUE FASHION WEEK
FALL 2011
We’re excited to share Park Avenue with You
W
elcome to the 5th Annual Harriett’s Park Avenue Fashion Week! We are so excited to share beautiful downtown Winter Park, its toprated and trendy restaurants and very fashionable boutiques and other businesses with you. Our “big event” is the runway show, held on Saturday, Oct. 15 inside a glamorous tent designed by the designers of New York Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week and Miami Fashion Week. But it’s the in-store events held throughout the week that are the heart of Park Avenue Fashion Week. Designers fly in from around the globe, the latest collections are express-shipped, parties are planned and trends are set in downtown Winter Park’s stores. Take some time to peruse our Schedule of Events on the following pages. And please, join us as we show off the best of Winter Park! We’d like to thank our sponsors for their continued support of Park Avenue Fashion Week, especially our favorite fashionista, Harriett Lake. In addition, special thanks to Mercedes Benz of Orlando in Maitland, and Winter Park Memorial Hospital. When you have a chance, please acknowledge all our sponsors, partners and supporters. Finally, a great big kiss to Robert Hill, artistic director of the Orlando Ballet, for choreographing something very different specifically for Park Avenue Fashion Week, just wait until you see the opening at the runway show! Don’t forget to buy your tickets online at parkavenuefashionweek.com. And we’ll see you at the runway!
Paige Blackwelder
Sarah Grafton DeVoe
Tuni Co-Chair, Park Avenue Fashion Week
Grafton Wealth Management at Merrill Lynch Co-Chair, Park Avenue Fashion Week
WELCOME 51
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FALL 2011
TICKET INFORMATION
SPONSORS TITLE SPONSOR
General Admission
Harriett Lake
PRESENTING SPONSOR
$45, ($50 day of runway show), includes: Reserved seating at the Runway Show in the general admission section.
SILVER SPONSORS
Access to the general admission lobby, where food and drink will be available for purchase. Invitation via email to all Park Avenue Fashion Week trunk shows and in-store events.
Shuffield Family Trust
VIP $125, ($150 day of runway show), includes: Reserved seating at the Runway Show in the VIP section.
VIP PRE-PARTY SPONSORS Grafton Wealth Management at Merrill Lynch Thread
EMERGING DESIGNER SPONSOR Tuni
Access to the exclusive VIP Lounge, with complimentary hors d’oeuvres from top area restaurants and creative libations from top mix masters.
FRIEND OF FASHION Regions Bank
FASHION FIND Invitation via email to all Park Avenue Fashion Week VIP events, to be held at various locations including: the official Park Avenue Fashion Week Kickoff Party at Mercedes Benz of Orlando in Maitland; the official Park Avenue Fashion Week Preview Party at Thread; the official Park Avenue Fashion Week After Party immediately following the Runway Show; email invitations to all Park Avenue Fashion Week trunk shows and in-store events; access to the VIP Swag Bar filled with gifts from Park Avenue boutiques and sponsors.
Dr. Clifford Clark Beasley & Henley Interior Design
MEDIA PARTNERS
The Park Press
Harriett’s Park Avenue Fashion Week is encouraging patrons to ‘Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve’ by supporting the American Heart Association, the charity of choice for the annual event. 52
HARRIETT’S PARK AVENUE FASHION WEEK
Winter Park/Maitland Observer
HOSTED BY:
SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
FALL 2011
Laughter
ACTIVE LIVING...SHARE THE
Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SO Westminster! Visit us to explore our beautiful lakefront community and experience our wide variety of active living choices!
Winter Park Towers 407-647-4083
PARTICIPANTS RUNWAY SHOW PARTICIPANTS Bajalia 520 Park Ave. S., 321-295-7918 bajalia.com
Bay Hill Jewelers on Park 216 Park Ave. N., 321-422-0948 bayhilljewelersonpark.com
Bebe’s/Liz’s 311 Park Ave. S., 407-628-1680 bebesandlizs.com
Coralia Leets Jewelry Boutique
Thread 356 Park Ave. S., 407-622-7600 threadwinterpark.com
Tresor Gallery 308 Park Ave. S., 407-539-1199 tresorgallery.com
Tuni 301 Park Ave. S., 407-628-1609 facebook.com/TuniFashionWinterPark
PARTICIPATING SALONS
Current
Kendall & Kendall
128 Park Ave. S., 407-628-1087 currentmen.com
339 Park Ave. S., 407-629-2299 kendallandkendall.com
Eileen Fisher
Marvaldi Hair & Makeup Studio
Eyes & Optics 321 Park Avenue North, Suite B 407-644-5156 eyesoptics.com
iLash Works 290 Park Ave. N., 407-622-0226 ilashworks.com
John Craig Clothiers 132 Park Ave. S., 407-629-7944 johncraigclothier.com
La Bella Intimates 411 W. New England Ave. 407-790-7820 labellaintimates.com
348 Park Ave. N., Suite 3 407-628-4440 marvaldistudio.com
EVENT PARTICIPANTS Not in the runway show, but hosting events during the week
Cocina 214 151 Welbourne Ave. E., 407-790-7997 cocina214.com
Luxury Trips 190 E. Morse Blvd., 407-622-8747 luxurytrips.com
See Eyewear
Lilly Pulitzer
342 Park Ave. S., 407-599-5455 seeeyewear.com
118 Park Ave. N., 407-539-2324 lillypulitzer.com
Things & Fashion
Sultre 290 Park Ave. N., 407-699-9696 sultre.com HARRIETT’S PARK AVENUE FASHION WEEK
202-B Park Ave. S., 407-647-7241 synergysportswear.com
307 Park Ave. S., Suite B 407-622-6515 clboutique.com
112 Park Ave. N., 407-628-9260 eileenfisher.com
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Synergy
180 E. Morse Blvd. 407-571-9937 thingsandfashion.com
FALL 2011
WWW.PARKAVENUEFASHIONWEEK.COM
SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
HARRIETT’S PARK AVENUE FASHION WEEK
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS PRE-PARK AVENUE FASHION WEEK EVENTS Mercedes-Benz of Orlando in Maitland. The Official PAFW VIP Kickoff Party. Enjoy a stylish evening with Central Florida’s fashion elite. October 1, 6 - 8 p.m.
Tuni. Meet the finalists in the Emerging Designer Contest at an exclusive VIP party. Oct. 5, 5 - 8 p.m.
WEEKLONG PROMOTIONS, OCT. 9 -15 Bajalia. Register for daily giveaways. Each day, one lucky winner will receive a pre-selected accessory.
Coralia Leets Jewelry Boutique. Get 10 percent off all week long with your PAFW ticket.
Kendall & Kendall/ Thread. Get a complimentary blowout/style when you spend $250 or more at Thread or $150 or more at Kendall & Kendall. Or schedule your PAFW style and makeup session now for $65 at Kendall & Kendall.
SUN, OCT. 9
Marvaldi Hair & Makeup Studio/ Eileen Fisher. Visit Marvaldi for our Press Show, which features fall fashions from Eileen Fisher complemented by new hair and makeup trends. Velo, an exciting new line of cosmetics, will be introduced. 4-6 p.m.
Things & Fashion. Kick off PAFW with champagne, a trunk show viewing and 25 percent off your total purchase. Noon-6 p.m. 56
HARRIETT’S PARK AVENUE FASHION WEEK
Tresor Gallery. A jewelry extravaganza featuring Mar of Santa Barbara. This line captures the beauty of sea glass and accents it with cool, sleek, elegant designs in brushed sterling silver.
MONDAY, OCT. 10 Bebe’s/Liz’s. Enjoy a glass of champagne and view our latest collections. Bring your PAFW Runway Show ticket and get a special discount on your outfit for the big night.
Eileen Fisher. We’re kicking off PAFW with a three-day sale of exquisite samples from our New York showroom. La Bella Intimates. At our bra-fitting event, buy one bra, get the second for half-price. Meet Santa, Orlando’s bra whisperer, and have an expert fit you with our stylish and comfortable bras from Europe. Our exclusive lines, which range in size from A to JJ, can’t be found anywhere else in town. Every purchase enters you into a drawing for fabulous prizes. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Things & Fashion. Enjoy a glass of wine while you shop our trunk show and receive 25 percent off your total purchase. Sign up daily for gift certificates and door prizes.
Thread. Sample from our Sweet! Cupcake Trunk Show and then shop our trunk shows featuring Sam & Lavi, Sunner, L*Space Swim, Spanx Shape Wear, Calypso and Love Quotes Scarves. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Tresor Gallery. A jewelry extravaganza featuring shapes of classic elegance and enduring
quality from Elizabeth Garvin, New York City.
Tuni. Back by popular demand, it’s our Frye Boot Trunk Show. Our Frye expert, John Smyth, will help you find the perfect pair or pairs. 12 - 7 p.m. Also, meet Cimber designer Kelly Cimber, who’ll show her conversation-starting “naughty rosaries” and “kosher rosaries” as well as her beautiful agate, druzy and semiprecious stone jewelry collection for fall and the holidays. 1 - 7 p.m.
TUE, OCT. 11
Bajalia. Enjoy “A Night of Turkish Delight” at our Turkish Trunk Show featuring jewelry, accessories and textiles from the Ottoman Empire. Also experience a mehndi artist and traditional baklava. 5:30-8 p.m.
Bebe’s/Liz’s. Enjoy a glass of champagne and view the latest collections. Bring your PAFW Runway Show ticket and receive a special discount on your outfit for the big night. Cocina 214. Calling all fashionistas! Buy one 214 Rocks Margarita and then have one on us.
Eileen Fisher. Our threeday sample sale continues with exquisite samples from our New York showroom. La Bella Intimates. Get 20 percent off all loungewear, including our lavish silks and soft cotton pajamas. Every purchase enters you into a drawing for fabulous prizes. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sultre. Shop a trunk show featuring Gypsy 05, clothes that
SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
transition from day to night and define interpretations of beauty, life and culture. Light bites and vino will be served. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Things & Fashion. Enjoy a glass of wine while you shop our trunk show and receive 25 percent off your total purchase. Register daily for gift certificates and door prizes.
Thread. Treat yourself to Yummy Yoga with Christine from Full Circle from 9-9:45 a.m., then shop our trunk shows featuring Sam & Lavi, Sunner, L*Space Swim, Spanx Shape Wear, Calypso and Love Quotes Scarves. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Tresor Gallery. A jewelry extravaganza featuring creations of visual and tactile elegance for casual or formal settings from Serena Kojimoto, Los Angeles.
Tuni. Enjoy a meet-and-greet with Kelly Cimber, sip mimosas and chat with the designer about how being a lieutenant in the Coast Guard inspired her latest collection, and what’s she’s got planned for spring. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. We’re also hosting a Rebecca Minkoff Trunk Show. The line, by one of New York City’s most beloved designers, finally makes its way to Park Avenue and onto the racks at Tuni. Meet our sales rep, Ashley, and find out about the line, which includes clothing, handbags and shoes. 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12
WED, OCT. 12
Bebe’s/Liz’s. Come and enjoy a glass of champagne and view the latest collections. Bring your PAFW Runway Show ticket and receive a special discount on your outfit for the big night! Cocina 214. Calling all
FALL 2011
Since 1968, Park Maitland School has been growing the leaders of tomorrow. We offer a proven foundation of excellence in education and provide children the tools they need to realize their dreams! Mindy Kobrin “Mindy’s Meals on Heels” Entertaining and Celebrations Expert mealsonheelsbymindy.com Park Maitland Class of 1983
8 today or visit us online at ParkMaitland.org Call 407-647-303 Fully accredited by The Florida Council of Independent Schools & The Florida Kindergarten Council
hers and Feat
TRESOR GALLERY Featuring an enigmatic collection of hand-crafted jewelry, award-winning fine art and trendy accessories. s 308 S. Park Avenue | Winter Park
407.539.1199 WWW.PARKAVENUEFASHIONWEEK.COM
SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
HARRIETT’S PARK AVENUE FASHION WEEK
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS fashionistas! Buy one 214 Rocks Margarita and then have one on us.
served. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Things & Fashion. Enjoy
the last day of our sample sale, featuring one-of-a-kind pieces from our New York showroom.
a glass of wine while you shop our trunk show and receive 25 percent off your total purchase. Register daily for gift certificates and door prizes.
iLashWorks. Discover
Thread. Be a knockout with
what the lash craze is all about. Check out the hottest lash bar in Orlando and learn about eyelash extensions, tinting, perming and strip lashes from our knowledgeable staff. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
our Bombshell Blowout Promo. Spend $150 or more on products from Kendall & Kendall or $250 or more at Thread and receive a complimentary blowout from Kendall & Kendall. Look stylish with a fab new ‘do for the Official PAFW VIP Pre-Party at Thread. Shop our trunk shows featuring Sam & Lavi, Sunner, L*Space Swim, Spanx Shape Wear, Calypso and Love Quotes Scarves. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Eileen Fisher. Today is
La Bella Intimates. For every $100 spent today, receive a $15 gift certificate redeemable from Nov. 1-15. Every purchase enters you into a drawing for fabulous prizes.10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Tresor Gallery. A jewelry Marvaldi Hair & Makeup Studio. Today is “Go Red Day.” A portion of each sale will benefit the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” campaign.
See Eyewear. A sneak preview of new, fresh fashions from Europe from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. In the evening, meet the magnificent art duo Lori Mirisola of Funky Junky Mosaics and Joe Mirasola of Artistic Glass and enjoy an exhibit featuring fabulous shoe art. “The Ladies Night Out” collection uses hot glass to portray fashionable ladies primping for a night out on the town. Enjoy complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres sponsored by The Bohemian Baker, Orchid Thai Cuisine and Graffiti Junktion. 5-7 p.m. Sultre. Shop a trunk show featuring Alice+Olivia. This go-to designer offers vintage-inspired glam. Light bites and vino will be 58
HARRIETT’S PARK AVENUE FASHION WEEK
extravaganza featuring inspirations from industrial objects and geometry from Christian Nevin.
Tuni. Looking to heat things up this winter? Stop by our Cosabella Lingerie Trunk Show to pick up gifts for you and him. Meet the sales rep of this Tuni staple line of Italian underpinnings and, while you’re here, check out the season’s entire collection of Black Halo for the perfect dress. 1 – 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, OCT. 13 Bajalia. Join us for “India Inspires,” featuring beautiful products from India. Enjoy Indian delicacies, learn about the artisans and view the featured collection of jewelry and accessories. 5:30-8 p.m. Bebe’s/Liz’s. Grab your crown and join us for champagne and meet the reigning queens from throughout the state! View the newest collections from the
hottest designers in prom, pageant and formal wear, including Sherri Hill, Toni Bowls, Terani and Jovani. Receive a royal discount on select gowns that are perfect for the big night! 6-10 p.m.
Cocina 214. Calling all fashionistas! Buy one 214 Rocks Margarita and then have one on us.
Coralia Leets Jewelry Boutique. Don’t miss our trunk show with a rare in-store appearance by Coralia Leets herself! Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served. 6:309:30 p.m.
Current/ John Craig Clothiers. The second annual Park Avenue Fashion Week Party will feature Peroni beer, Winter Park Magazine martinis and a wine and cigar bar. Luma on Park will cater the evening with a small donation benefitting a local charity. 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Eileen Fisher/Kendall & Kendall. The Florida Hospital Women in Medicine Event is a private fashion show featuring the latest in fall and resort trends in clothing, accessories, hair and make-up. This is a private event sponsored by Winter Park Memorial Hospital. 6-8 p.m.
La Bella Intimates. No more muffin tops! Get 20 percent off all Yummie Tummie shapewear. Heather Thomson, stylist to celebrities, designed this beautiful and comfortable line, which smoothes, slims and shapes your body. Every purchase enters you into a drawing for fabulous prizes. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Luxury Trips. Learn more
SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
about exciting and exclusive destinations for 2012 from our professional travel photographer and enjoy wine and appetizers. 6-9 p.m.
See Eyewear. Join us for “We SEE Fashion” and preview fabulous fall collections and style trends featuring See Eyewear’s European fashions and hair by Gary Lambert Salon. Also on display: PlanetTogs’ fashions, which were featured at Berlin and Dubai fashion weeks, and Chronicle Stones Jewelry’s handcrafted designs, which were featured at the 2011 MTV Awards. Enjoy Grand Touring Vodka martinis and desserts by Drunken Cupcake. 6-9 p.m.; show begins at 7 p.m. Sultre. Shop our trunk show featuring Mason, a designer known for combining sexy sophistication and edge. Light bites and vino will be served. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thread. Happy 5th Anniversary, Thread Party! Shop our trunk shows featuring Sam & Lavi, Sunner, L*Space Swim, Spanx Shape Wear, Calypso and Love Quotes Scarves. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Things & Fashion. Enjoy a glass of wine while you shop our trunk show and receive 25 percent off your total purchase. Register daily for gift certificates and door prizes.
Tresor Gallery. A jewelry extravaganza featuring eclectic creations with Swarovski crystals, gemstones, Italian leather and antique brass from Rebel Designs, New York City.
Tuni. Meet the lovely ladies of DVF Clothing and Shoes and learn about the iconic designer FALL 2011
Diane Von Furstenburg, what is hot for this season and the vision for the upcoming collections. Don’t miss this opportunity to see an expanded collection of clothing and shoes from this Tuni favorite. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Also, meet designer Joy Cioci, a Central Florida native and Dr. Phillips Alumni whose debut collection is taking the fashion world by storm. We are honored to be carrying her first collection and thrilled to give you the opportunity to meet and talk with the visionary designer. Joining her is another Orlando designer, Amanda Joy, with her one-of-akind fine leather and exotic skin handbags. 12 – 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCT. 14
Bay Hill Jewelers. Shop a trunk show featuring Lana Jewelry. With celebrity clients such as Cameron Diaz, Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson, Lana is all about making the complicated simple. Her delicate pieces feature strong edges and statement curves. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Bebe’s/Liz’s.
Friday finale! What better way to wrap up PAFW than with drinks, appetizers, live music, fashion and shopping? This is the last day to receive your PAFW discount. 6-10 p.m.
Current.
Trunk show featuring contemporary men’s fashion from Sand.
John Craig Clothiers.
trunk shows introducing new designers to Central Florida. From 4-7 p.m., preview Haute Apron by Elizabeth Scokin and Knock out Panties. Be the perfect hostess in Haute Apron’s brilliantly chic aprons for home entertaining. Knock out Panties are not only sexy and comfortable, but they have both sweat and odor control built into the 100 percent cotton liner. Every purchase enters you into a drawing for fabulous prizes.
Lilly Pulitzer. Shop a trunk show featuring samples from our resort collection and jewelry by Julie Collection of New York. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Cocktails and refreshments will be served from 5-7 p.m.
See Eyewear. Shop a trunk show featuring Fresh Fashions from Europe. Complimentary refreshments will be served throughout the day. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Synergy. Join us for a Red Carpet Preview and discover our collection of new arrivals including Prada sunglasses, Born and UGG Australia boots. Celebrate fashion red carpet-style while enjoying refreshments, sweets and discounts. 6-9 p.m. Things & Fashion. Cocktails, Fashion and fare! Spend an evening with Australian designer Pia Gladys Perey and her Celebrity Glad Collection, as worn by Angelina Jolie, Gabrielle Union and Morena Baccarin. Get a sneak preview of Pia’s fall and holiday offerings before they hit the runway.
Trunk show featuring men’s and ladies fashions from Robert Graham.
Thread. Rock out with Thread
La Bella Intimates. Join us for martinis and two exclusive
& Grafton Wealth Management at the Official PAFW VIP Pre-Party, from 7-10 p.m. at Thread, while
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shopping our trunk shows featuring Sam & Lavi, Sunner, L*Space Swim, Spanx Shape Wear, Calypso and Love Quotes Scarves. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Tresor Gallery. Shop an Anothai Trunk Show and meet master designer Anothai Hansen, the creator of spectacular jewelry that channels love, passion, sensuality, empowerment and spirituality.
Tuni. The DVF trunk show continues. Leran about the Spring 2012 collections and what to expect to be wearing next year. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Also, MAC makeup trunk show. Allow an expert team of artists to make you over with the newest color palettes and allow you to order products right here all while you shop. Spaces fill up quickly so call us to make your appointment at 407.628.1609. 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., by appointment. Finally, today is “Go Red Day” and a portion of all Tuni sales will go towards Go Red for Women, a movement of the American Heart Association.
Lilly Pulitzer. Shop a trunk show featuring samples from our resort collection. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. See Eyewear. Shop a trunk show featuring new, fresh fashions from Europe from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Try on a new pair of glasses and receive complimentary makeup. A Lipstick Mixtapes makeup artist will be in the store from 2-5 p.m. Thread. It’s the last day to treat yourself to our tantalizing trunk shows featuring Sam & Lavi, Sunner, L*Space Swim, Spanx Shape Wear, Calypso and Love Quotes Scarves. It’s from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., followed by the Big Show. See you at the tent!
Tresor Gallery. A jewelry extravaganza featuring the harmony of exotic woods, gemstones and organic shapes by Nature Bijoux, a unique jewelry line from France.
SATURDAY, OCT. 15
Bay Hill Jewelers. Stop in to see our newest collection of diamonds in the rough and our limited edition black diamond collection.
La Bella Intimates. Bring your ticket to the PAFW Runway Show and receive 20 percent off everything in the store, excluding sale items. Every purchase enters you into a drawing for fabulous prizes.
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RUNWAY LIGHTS UP THE AVENUE From humble roots, Park Avenue Fashion Week has grown into a glitterati tradition.
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t’s a bit early for Christmas decorations, so don’t expect to see downtown Winter Park aglow in holiday trimmings for Harriett’s Park Avenue Fashion Week, Oct. 9-15. The glitter, and there will be plenty of it, will be restricted to a series of trunk shows, designer displays, store specials and fashion extravaganzas, all leading up to climactic runway shows in a poshly appointed display tent on the final night of the celebration. This is the fifth annual edition of Fashion Week, which has grown into such a glossy, painstakingly orchestrated Winter Park tradition that it’s easy to forget its relatively humble and somewhat disaster-prone roots. The first Fashion Week, held on Lyman Avenue in 2007, was meant, in part, to be a fundraiser to buy holiday decorations for Park Avenue. There was no tent that year, and it rained, day after day, causing numerous activities to be postponed – and forcing elegant but spattered models to carry umbrellas as they glided down the open-air runway, makeup smearing, hair blowing in the wind. There has been one key ingredient of Fashion Week ever since: tents, which have grown bigger and more elaborate over the years. Fashion Week has done the same. The event, which fine-tuned its own raison d’être after that first year, now involves scores of volunteers, a dozen committees, eight sponsors, 100 models and year-round planning by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce and the Park Avenue Area Association. Proceeds from the show benefit the American Heart Association. Paige Blackwelder, Fashion Week co-chair and owner of Tuni’s boutique on Park Avenue, predicts that this year’s back-to-back runway shows will feature “lots of fur and feathers, lots of shine going on. I think we’ll see some of the new wide-leg pants on the runway, some jewel tones, some grapes and greens.” Harriett Lake, Central Florida’s reigning fashion matriarch and title sponsor of Fashion Week, always arrives in full regalia, always with one of her trademark high-fashion hats. Generally a friend or two will also turn up in a hat borrowed from her ex-
tensive collection. Without ruining any surprises, let’s just say that this year, there will be more hats than usual at the runway show. Lake, a youthful 89, has her own prediction about the trends that will be in evidence. Last year, at the event’s conclusion, she walked out murmuring: “Well, I guess we all need to go home and hem up our skirts.” This year, she expects more of the same leggy look. “I’m a child of the Depression,” she says. “I know that when times are desperate, hemlines go up. Maybe it’s to save money on material. Or maybe it’s just to give everybody a distraction.” By Michael McLeod
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FALL 2011
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MAY WE INTRODUCE OURSELVES? On this page are selected Park Avenue Fashion Week participants and sponsors who have additionally supported the event with advertising messages in this special guidebook. EYES & OPTICS 430 W. New England Ave., Suite B Winter Park, FL 32789 407.644.5156 eyesoptics.com Eyes & Optics, Winter Park’s premier optical boutique and private optometry practice, recently celebrated its five-year anniversary. Dr. Lisa Gibbons and Dr. Phil Mackinder are proud to announce that the practice is relocating to 312 Park Avenue North. Already known for unique high-quality eyewear and excellent customer service, Eyes & Optics will be expanding its selection and on-site optical lab services. Weekday and Saturday appointments are available and outside prescriptions are welcomed. EILEEN FISHER 112 Park Ave. N. Winter Park, FL 32789-3813 407.628.9260 eileenfisher.com Eileen Fisher is more than a brand. It’s a culture and an ethos born of passionate individuals who use good design to inspire creativity, cultivate connection and instill confidence. Its mission is to design products that delight the spirit
and simplify life. The company makes clothes that work together guided by these design principles: simplicity, beauty, comfort, ease, function and versatility. Eileen Fisher’s is also a socially responsible company, supporting women through social initiatives, practicing business with an absolute regard for human rights and guiding products and practices toward sustaining the environment. THREAD 356 Park Ave. S. Winter Park, FL 32789 407.622.7600 threadwinterpark.com threadwinterpark.blogspot.com Enjoy a grand gathering of trunk shows at Thread from Oct. 9-16. The lustful lineup will begin with a two-day preview of Calypso (Oct. 9-10 only) and then a weeklong showing of Sam & Lavi, Sunner, Love Quotes Scarves, SPANX Shapewear, Habitual Denim and L*Space Swim. Let Thread help you create your fall wardrobe, and celebrate the store’s fifth anniversary on Oct. 13. TRESOR GALLERY 308 S. Park Ave. Winter Park FL 32789 407.539.1199 www.Tresorgallery.com Let a world of spirited jewelry, handcrafted accessories and fine art whisk you away to a place of limitless beauty
and substance. This is Tresor Gallery – a scintillating shopping experience where you will find a mesmerizing collection of exquisite items you simply cannot acquire anywhere else. Come, feel the vibe, and take a little home when you leave. TUNI 301 Park Ave. S. Winter Park, FL 32789 407.628.1609 facebook.com/tunifashionwinterpark Tuni has been bringing style into the hearts of women everywhere for decades. This year the company celebrates 25 years on Park Avenue and couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Owned by mother-and-daughter duo Tuni and Paige Blackwelder, Tuni showcases the most current, cutting-edge and fashionforward collections of clothing, shoes and accessories from both well-known and up-and-coming designers. Lines currently carried at Tuni include Trina Turk, Diane Von Furstenberg, 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent, L.A.M.B. Poleci, Pour la Victore , Frye and Hunter Boots as well as Elizabeth and James shoes and eyewear. Follow us on Twitter @ tuniwinterpark.
Offerings from last year’s Park Avenue Fashion Week: Downeast (left); Emerging Designer winner Maria Roman (above) and Liz’s Fashion Xperience (right). WWW.PARKAVENUEFASHIONWEEK.COM
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FLAVOR s
The paella risotto at Finesse is both beautiful and delicious, reflecting the owners’ passion for food. The Lake Mary eatery is a standout in a district packed with good dining choices. 66
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BY SCOTT JOSEPH
From A to Z, Finesse Fits Its Own Definition
The Veal Milanese is a top choice at Rocco’s Italian Grille in Winter Park.
T’S EASY TO TELL WHEN THE OWNERS OF A RESTAU-
PHOTOS: (LEFT) GREG JOHNSTON; (RIGHT) ERIC CUCCIAIONI
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rant are passionate about what they do. It shows in all aspects of the business, including the attitudes of the employees. And when the owners also happen to be the people cooking the food, you can quite literally taste the difference. That was what I observed at Finesse, a restaurant in the Lake Mary dining district at C.R. 46A and I-4. The owners and chefs – the husband-and-wife team of Alex T. Brugger and Autumn M. McCoy – appear to be having a ball with their lovely little restaurant. And should you ask them about the ingredients of a particular dish or inquire about the preparation of an entrée, you’ll discover just how passionate chefs can be about their food. And when it’s this good, why not? There wasn’t one item I sampled on a recent visit that I wouldn’t order again. My absolute favorite, however, was the appetizer of grouper cheeks, sweet little dollops of meat marinated in buttermilk, lightly dusted and then fried. Absolute heavenly bites all by themselves, and the chipotle aïoli added a devilish note. I also loved the saffron mussels, mainly because nearly every one of the black mollusks also had a chunk of chewy chorizo inside. The liquor had just a hint of saffron, which made it most sippable. There was chorizo in the black bean soup, too, adding a spicy touch to the thick bean flavor. The lobster crab soup was rich on its own but entered another realm with the addition of brandied cream stock. I chose the chimi skirt steak, a grilled Angus cut with cabernetinfused onions and a piquant chimichurri sauce. It was, as you would expect with skirt steak, chewy but not tough. It was served with regular shoestring fried potatoes, but I asked if I could try the duck fat fries that were listed with some of the other entrées. There was no comparison. The duck fat gave the potatoes such intensely rich flavor that I never want to have any other kind of
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Real Italian Cuisine Is Now Easier to Find RUMORS TO THE CONTRARY, I’VE ALWAYS LIKED
Italian restaurants. What I’ve never liked are the places that dump tomato sauce on top of pasta and proclaim, “That’s Italian!” That’s not Italian, but that used to be the norm for the dining public in Orlando. Then, however, things started to change. Some restaurateurs who really knew Italian cuisine started dishing up the real thing and educating their patrons that Italian food didn’t necessarily require globs of red sauce – and it almost never called for heavy doses of garlic. We now have a wonderful array of authentic Italian restaurants that serve everything from the creamier-style sauces of Northern Italy to the seafood specialties of the Ligurian coast to, yes, the tomato sauces of the south. Here are some of my favorites. s ANTONIO’S LA FIAMMA, 611 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland. Most people never leave the first level of this two-story Maitland complex, because the casual downstairs deli serves wonderful dishes. But upstairs is a more formal – and recently expanded – dining room offering authentic Italian fare. The roast duck is a favorite, but if it’s available, the veal Milanese is the one to have. s ROCCO’S ITALIAN GRILLE, 400 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park. This easy-to-miss eatery is where Rocco Potami and his able staff serve some of the most authentic dishes in the area. Potami’s Milanese is also first-rate, but the bolognese sauce is what I always have if it’s on the menu, and I never leave disappointed. s ENZO’S ON THE LAKE, 1130 S. Highway 17-92, Longwood. Bucatini alla Enzo, featuring big, fat noodles tossed tableside with prosciutto, peas, bacon and mushORLANDO HOME & LEISURE
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The chimi skirt steak (above), a grilled Angus cut with cabernet-infused onions and chimichurri sauce, is wonderfully chewy but not at all tough. The casually elegant interior (below) features a dictionary theme, with culinary terms and their definitions posted on the walls.
fries again. My companion had the pumpkin swordfish, which supposedly gets its orange-colored flesh from a diet of shrimp. There’s nothing to confirm that, but I can attest to the wonderful flavor and the rich mouth feel of the fillet, which was served with couscous and charred tomato salsa. For dessert there was an amazing chocolate orange molten cake. Served more akin
PHOTOS: GREG JOHNSTON
rooms, was my favorite dish at this Longwood landmark two decades ago and remains so today. The ambience is homey, which is no surprise considering that the restaurant was once a lakeside home. s TERRAMIA WINEBAR E TRATTORIA, 1185 S. Spring Center Blvd., Altamonte Springs. This has long been a favorite of mine. Everything is good, but the antipasto table is especially impressive, consisting of such delights as spicy peppers; sweet roasted red, green and yellow peppers; soppressata and mortadella; buffalo mozzarella with tomatoes garnished with a sprig of basil; provolone and Italian olives. You can make a feast just with the antipasti. s TRATTORIA TOSCANA, 521 Park Ave. S., Winter Park. Armando Martorelli oversees this small restaurant on the south end of Park Avenue. The sautéed calamari is almost like a Tuscan soup, while the pasta e fagioli – my favorite Italian soup – is also extra special. s CAFFE POSITANO, 3887 Lake Emma Road, Lake Mary. Eggplant rollatini is offered as antipasti, but it’s good enough and filling enough to serve as an entrée. If you must move on to the secondi, try the chicken mamma mia or the veal zingarella. There are dozens of other really good Italian restaurants in the area. Sadly, we also still have some that are less authentic. You learn how to spot them. I remember coming across a restaurant that had a statue of a chef outside the front door, the figure holding a chalkboard on which was written, “This is a real Italian restaurant.” I had my doubts. It didn’t matter that I had spotted that particular establishment during a visit to Rome.
OCTOBER 2011
to a soufflé in its own dish, it was made with super-rich Ghirardelli chocolate and had a ganache center into which the server poured peanut butter anglaise. I’ve always prided myself with being able to take one bite of a dessert and push it away, but I’ll admit to a few more bites of this one. There are a couple of things about Finesse I would change. One has to do with the ambiance, which is quite nice and casually elegant – once the sun has gone down. However, while it’s still light out, the front wall of windows floods the room with light, which sucks all the mood out of the room. When the interior lighting is able to take over, you’ll notice the hot-red booths, the alabaster bar with backlighting, and the walls covered with raised letters that spell out culinary terms and their dictionary definitions. The other thing besides the daylight brightness level I would change is the dictionary-definition trope, which is played to the nth degree. Every listing on the menu is shown as it might be found in Webster’s, with ingredients posing as definitions. I like it as a wall motif, but on the menu it’s a bit much. Still, when that’s the only thing a critic can find to criticize, A to Z, you’ve got a pretty darn good restaurant. And that goes back to the zeal of Brugger and McCoy. There are many dining options within a few blocks – even a few steps – of Finesse, but you’ll find none where the entire experience is imbued with this kind of passion.
FINESSE WHERE: 7025 C.R. 46A, Lake Mary WHEN: lunch Tuesday through Friday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday and brunch Sunday. HOW MUCH: $$ CONTACT: 407-805-9220 WWW.OHLMAG.COM
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F L AV O R L I S T I N G S COMPILED BY SCOTT JOSEPH FEATURED LISTING
SPOOKY’S BLACK CAT CAFÉ
AFRICAN Jiko The Cooking Place $$$ Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Orlando, 407-939-3463 Jiko is the Swahili word for cooking place. Therefore, the full name of the restaurant translates to The Cooking Place The Cooking Place. Whatever. Jiko’s food may not be entirely authentic African cuisine, but it’s good. Be sure to try the ostrich schnitzel and the lamb shank, which, on my visit, was rubbed with a sauce spiced with berbere, a mixture of spices used in Ethiopian cooking. Service was about as good as I’ve seen at Disney restaurants. Menu knowledge was first-rate, and all the servers were attentive and prompt. Even more impressive was the servers’ grasp of the wine list, which boasts the largest collection of South African wines in North America.
AMERICAN The Boheme $$$ Grand Bohemian, 325 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, 407-581-4700 The Boheme has grown into a more consistent finedining experience but now is trying to position itself as more accessible. Try the Kessler calamari, a silly name for a delicious appetizer, and follow with the lamb duet or the Chilean sea bass. The kitchen also has a way with scallops. Citrus $$$ 821 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, 407-373-0622 The kitchen has improved greatly since the restaurant first opened and is now turning out some pretty tasty dishes. There’s a very popular citrus salad named for Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. Skirt-steak flatbread and the bacon cheddar burger are other favorites. CRAVE $$$ 4158 Conroy Road, Orlando 407-345-8788 This is the fourth location for a Minneapolis-area chain whose slogan is “Fresh, Vibrant, American,” which doesn’t explain the sushi bar. But the sushi is good, as are most of the other items. There’s a little something for everyone – pizzas, pastas, steaks, seafood. The decor is upscale, but this can be a very loud place to dine.
Dexter’s $$ 558 W. New England Ave., Winter Park, 407-629-1150 808 E. Washington St., Orlando, 407-648-2777 950 Market Promenade Ave., Lake Mary, 407-805-3090 There are three distinct Dexter’s, but all offer the same basic menu, which is un-ambitious but functional. Much more emphasis is placed on producing a lively atmosphere, which often includes live music. For food, the pressed duck sandwich is a classic. And the chicken tortilla pie, a tall, layered affair, is one of those things you feel guilty for liking but keep ordering each time you go. Emeril’s Orlando $$$$ Universal Orlando CityWalk, 407-224-2424 The food can be very good, but the quality can also be spotty. It’s a very noisy restaurant, too, so it’s not a good choice for a romantic meal. But if you can, choose a spot at the bar for your meal, it’s more entertaining. The menu changes frequently, but if Lagasse’s oyster stew is on the menu, order as big a bowl as you can. Funky Monkey Pointe Orlando $$ 9101 International Drive, Orlando, 407-418-9463 A second location for the popular Mills-50 original, this Monkey is less funky — at least from the outside — but still has all the good food and wine inside that has made it a local favorite. Although you wouldn’t get it from the name, sushi is a forte. But you’ll also find more substantial fare, such as bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin — ah, nothing like pork products garnished with more pork products. You may also find entertainment here with the occasional show of drag. La Coquina $$$$ Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, 1 Grand Cypress Blvd., Orlando, 407-239-1234 La Coquina has been relegated to use only during
EDITOR-AT-LARGE SCOTT JOSEPH HAS been reviewing Central Florida restaurants for more than 20 years. He is a past Association of Food Journalists award-winner and also presides over a dining-oriented website,
PHOTO: GREG JOHNSTON
WHAT: A funky little eatery and taproom in the Milk District WHERE: 207 N. Primrose Ave., Orlando WHEN: Dinner Tuesday-Sunday; lunch Sunday WHY: It’s open year-round, but only at the end of October does the name really seem right. CONTACT: 407-896-2377
Sunday brunch. But oh what a brunch it is, with a wall full of awards and accolades to attest to it. The various food stations are set up in the kitchen, where guests enter to load up on salads, soups, cold seafood, salumi, cheeses and such. When you’re ready for your entrée, step up to the chef’s station and place your order from among the day’s options. The chef then prepares it for you on the spot. No steam tables here. LUMA on Park $$$ 290 Park Ave. S., Winter Park, 407-599-4111 Under the direction of Chef Brandon McGlamery, this stylishly chic restaurant on trendy Park Avenue has become a real jewel in Central Florida’s culinary corona. The dining room can be a bit noisy. The decor is still modish, even after four years. And the automated restrooms with their sliding glass doors and confusing washbasins still annoy me. A fun thing to do here is make a feast of small plates, but if you want to have a full entrée try the flank steak or the black grouper. Norman’s $$$$ Ritz-Carlton, 4000 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando, 407-393-4333 Owner Norman Van Aken is one of the founders of Floribbean or New World Cuisine and arguably one of Florida’s most celebrated chefs. Van Aken and the Ritz-Carlton have teamed up to present the sort of fine-dining experience seldom seen in Orlando. The menu changes regularly, but if it’s your first visit, ask your waiter for some of Van Aken’s signature dishes. A dinner at Norman’s is pricey — it’s the Ritz for crying out loud! — but it’s worth an occasional splurge. Seasons 52 $$ 7700 Sand Lake Road, Orlando, 407-354-5212 The original conceit of the restaurant was that something somewhere was coming into season every week of the year. The kitchen has gotten away from following that concept too closely but continues to offer entrées with lots of flavor and fewer calories. You won’t notice a difference when you taste the grilled pork with polenta or the filet mignon. If you start feeling too goody-goody, go crazy and order all the mini desserts. There is a second location at 463 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs (in front of Altamonte Mall), 407-767-1252.
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Toojay’s $-$$ Various locations, including: Colonial Market Plaza, 2400 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, 407-894-1718 Whenever I feel a cold coming on, I head right for Toojay’s for some chicken soup. The rich golden broth, with or without noodles, may not cure the cold, but it doesn’t hurt. Others go here for the big overstuffed sandwiches, potato pancakes and blintzes. The Venetian Room $$$$ Caribe Royale Hotel, 8101 World Center Drive, Orlando, 407-238-8060 This fine-dining holdout is pricey, but Chef Khalid Benghallem’s French/American food is very good. I enjoyed the appetizer of foie gras, which had two seared lobes layered in an alternating stack with cakes made with smoked polenta. My favorite among the entrées was the tenderloin of beef – two thick slabs of seared meat served with marrow, barley, rhubarb, chard, fennel strudel and red-wine reduction sauce, tinged with black truffles. For dessert, share the soufflé. Vineyard Grill $$$ Ritz-Carlton, 4012 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando, 407-206-2400 A hidden gem among the jewels, the Vineyard Grill does a better than expected job with its American cuisine of steaks and seafoods. Its Sunday brunch is developing a loyal local following.
BARBECUE Blackwater Bar-b-q $ 3405 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, 407-447-9511 I prefer the College Park location to the South Orlando spot, but that’s just me. Blackwater does a little bit of everything. You’ve got pulled pork. You’ve got sliced beef or sliced chicken. There are baby back ribs and St. Louis style ribs. I liked most of everything I sampled at Blackwater. The pulled pork was especially good, moist and tender with a taste of smoke that made extra sauce superfluous. And the baby back and St. Louis style ribs were pretty tasty, too. I especially liked the spiciness of the dry rub on the ribs.
BRAZILIAN Nelore $$$ 115 Lyman Ave., Winter Park, 407-645-1112 A Brazilian churrascaria where the buffet comes to your table! Go hungry, pace yourself, just nibble until you find something you love and keep calling the gaucho (that’s what the servers are called) back until you’re full. Here’s how it works: Diners are given a little disk to put next to their plates. One side is green and the other side is red. Green go; red stop. As long as the green side is facing up the servers will offer you meats. When you’ve had enough or just need a breather turn the red side up. Don’t miss the caipirinha and mojito.
CHINESE Eastern Pearl $$ 5749 T.G. Lee Blvd., Orlando, 407-373-6888 This is the second location for the acclaimed Altamonte Springs Chinese restaurant, winner of more than a few Foodie Awards, including several Critic’s Choice nods. The atmosphere is more stylish and the food is more creative than at many other local Chinese restaurants. The decor is pleasant and so is the staff.
CUBAN Padrino’s Cuban Bistro $$ 13586 S. John Young Parkway, Orlando, 407-251-5107 I’m prepared to call this the best Cuban restaurant in Central Florida. It’s really that good. A family opWWW.OHLMAG.COM
eration out of South Florida, Padrino’s features both traditional Cuban dishes and some more stylized bistro items, and they’re served in a pleasant bright dining room. The owners are usually at the restaurant tending to the customers and making sure that everything is first-rate. And it usually is.
FRENCH Café de France $$ 526 Park Ave. S., Winter Park, 407-647-1869 Café de France is a Park Avenue mainstay, surviving the iconic thoroughfare’s slump in the ‘90s and prospering during its recent revival as one of the area’s premier dining destinations. Locals love the quaintness of its small dining room and the charm of its hostess and owner, Dominique Gutierrez. Though not everything on the menu is strictly French, the ingredients are always fresh and specials change daily. Chez Vincent $$$ 533 W. New England Ave., Winter Park, 407-599-2929 Chez Vincent continues to serve classic French dishes in pleasant, if slightly worn, surroundings. Chef/ owner Vincent Gagliano is a master with soup, and the coquille St. Jacques is one of the better seafood entrées. Steak au poivre is a good choice for a meat dish. The waiters here allow the guests to dictate the pace of the meal. If Chez Vincent has survived over the years, it’s because there is an appreciation among Central Florida diners for a quiet place to enjoy a good classically prepared meal.
GERMAN/ EASTERN EUROPEAN Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café $$ 205 E. 1st St., Sanford, 407-321-2204 Voted the second best German restaurant in the U.S. by readers of GermanDeli.com for 2009. (Bavarian Grill of Plano, Texas was number one; go figure.) I’m not in a position to say it merits the national rank, but I’m prepared to call it the best German restaurant in Central Florida. Although the surroundings leave something to be desired, there’s good German food to be had here. Have a schnitzel or the sausage platter, but beware: it’s a lot of food. The place is especially festive Thursdays through Sundays when there is entertainment. Oom-pah-pah! Steak & Salad $$ 1326 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, 407-898-0999 Eateries don’t get a lot more eclectic than this. As the names suggests, steaks and salads are a focus of the menu. But so is an array of authentic Turkish dishes that represent the owners’ native cuisine. And it’s those items that should get your attention when you visit.
GREEK Greek Corner $$ 1600 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, 407-228-0303 It’s Greek, and it’s on the corner; you can’t get more succinct than that. But no corners are cut on the quality. All your Greek favorites are here served in a small unassuming space. I supped on the
THE KEY $ Cheap eats, most entrées under $10 $$ Moderate, dinner entrées $15-20 $$$ Pricey, most entrées over $30 $$$$ Many entrées over $30
melitzanosalata, a dip made with roasted eggplant, and followed with a bowl of tangy argolemono, the chicken soup thickened with a lemony egg sauce. For my main course I had the moussaka, a big brick of seasoned beef, eggplant and potatoes topped with a fluffy béchamel. Substantial and delicious. If it’s a warm day — it’s Florida; the odds are in your favor — sit on the patio across the street from Lake Ivanhoe.
INDIAN Memories of India $$ Bay Hill Plaza, 7625 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando, 407-370-3277 Memories of India is a delightful place with wonderful food served in a pleasant atmosphere. One of my favorites among the many entrées was the chicken saagwala, which featured tender chunks of chicken breast meat plus potatoes in a creamy curry made of spinach and spices. I also liked the lamb vindaloo, cubes of lamb marinated in a vinegary gravy and cooked with potatoes and pearl onions in freshly ground spices. Be careful: hot means hot. Order accordingly. And be further warned: food comes out of the kitchen at a snail’s pace. Slow means slow.
ITALIAN Antonio’s La Flamma $$$ 611 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; 407-645-1035 When Greg Gentile opened this massive two-story restaurant in a renovated family steakhouse, everyone thought he was crazy and that the place would close in one year. That was about two decades ago. Why did it succeed? Simple: good food, good service and an atmosphere for everyone; fine dining upstairs and a casual deli down. The upstairs has recently been expanded to include patio dining. Antonio’s Ristorante $$$ 7559 West Sand Lake Road, Orlando; 407-3639191. Think of it as Antonio’s La Fiamma without the deli downstairs. The Restaurant Row outpost offers an elegant Italian dining option. BiCE $$$$ Portofino Bay, 5601 Universal Blvd., Orlando 407-503-1415 Dinner at BiCE is not an inexpensive night out. But when you consider cost vs. quality, you’ll find that BiCE is not overpriced. Just consider the restaurant’s signature dish, ravioli stuffed with beef short ribs and spinach. The pasta was delicately thin and tender, and the braised meat inside had a rich, fatty mouthfeel that blossomed with the sauce of mushrooms and Marsala wine. Absolute heaven. Desserts are worth lingering over. Café d’Antonio $$$ 691 Front St., Celebration; 407-566-2233 A smaller version of Greg Gentile’s flagship restaurant Antonio’s La Fiamma, Café d’Antonio is a consistently good choice for residents and visitors in Celebration. Rocco’s Italian Grille $$$ 400 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-644-7770 This old space, which has held Italian restaurants for decades, has been re-imagined into a beautiful restaurant. The menu is classic, and some things are done very well. The veal Milanese was brilliant. Fritto misto alla Ligure was a terrific appetizer of lightly floured calamari and shrimp and spears of zucchini. The breading was crisp to a precision point and the sun-dried aioli — from Sardinia in the other direction from Liguria — was a nice complement.
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F L AV O R LISTINGS
JAPANESE Hanamizuki $$ 8255 International Drive, Orlando, 407-363-7200 Hanamizukiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menu features Kyoto-style cooking, which tends to be more elegant and formal than many of the dishes served in most American Japanese restaurants. It also focuses more on fresh vegetables and seafood other than sushi, although thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also available. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be surprised to ďŹ nd a predominantly Japanese clientele here. No small wonder when the restaurantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website is written in Japanese (you can opt into a translation).
THE HEART
OF A DELI
Wa $$$ 5911 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando 407-226-0234 Ostensibly a Japanese restaurant, Wa could pass for a French Bistro. Some of its daily specials include such things as trufďŹ&#x201A;e fries and bacon-stuffed quail. A very stylish space, but one that is difďŹ cult to locate.
THE SOUL OF A RESTAURANT
ORLANDO Colonial Marketplaza (407) 894-1718 SOUTHWEST ORLANDO The Marketplace at Dr. Phillips (407) 355-0340 EAST ORLANDO Waterford Lakes Town Center (407) 249-9475 ALTAMONTE SPRINGS Palm Springs Shopping Center (407) 830-1770 LAKE MARY Lake Mary Centre (407) 833-0848 OCOEE Shoppes of Ocoee (407) 798-2000
SCOTT JOSEPHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 2011 ORLANDO RESTAURANT GUIDE From the most trusted food critic in Central Florida.
MEXICAN Cantina Laredo $$ 8000 Via Dellagio Way (one block west of Dr. Phillips Blvd.), Orlando, 407-345-0186 The menu isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly authentic Mexican â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the nachos, fajitas and crepes wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be found on many menus south of our border, unless it was a restaurant specializing in Ameri-Mex cuisine. But the food done here is very good, especially the guacamole, prepared tableside. The chile relleno is a menu standout, but the chicken enchilada is pretty good, too.
SEAFOOD The Oceanaire Seafood Room $$$ Pointe Orlando, 9101 International Drive, Orlando, 407-363-4801 The promise of a good seafood restaurant has sailed into Central Florida aboard The Oceanaire. The Oceanaire Seafood Room is meant to take you back in time with an interior that suggests a 1930â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ocean liner. Sample some of the fresh ďŹ sh selections after you enjoy the crab cake appetizer. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit pricey, but quality is worth paying for. Winter Park Fish Company $$ 761 Orange Ave., Winter Park, 407-622-6112 Chef George Vogelbacher has teamed up with area restaurateur Craig Tremblay for this casual, orderat-the-counter ďŹ sh market that has Winter Parkers packing it in. Bouillabaisse is about the most ambitious item, but everything is undoubtedly fresh and delicious.
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scottjosephorlando.com
Bull & Bear $$$$ Waldorf Astoria, 14200 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Orlando, 407-597-5500 The ďŹ rst Waldorf Astoria to be built outside of Manhattan also features a steakhouse called Bull & Bear, just like New York. Well, not exactly like New York. The decor here is less dark and clubby; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually quite an attractive room with windows overlooking the resortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pool area (and Disney ďŹ reworks in the distance). The menu features steak, of course, but
THE KEY $ Cheap eats, most entrĂŠes under $10 $$ Moderate, dinner entrĂŠes $15-20 $$$ Pricey, most entrĂŠes over $30 $$$$ Many entrĂŠes over $30 Full review at scottjosephorlando.com
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also does some fine fish, including a lovely Dover sole filleted tableside. Also performed tableside is a traditional Caesar salad. Curiously, there is no Waldorf salad. And the veal Oscar (another invention of the New York hotel’s) is a stylized version.
sushi coins with a sauce of sorts comprised of mayonnaise, fish eggs, crab and cheese baked so the cheese was melted and the sauce hot. Unusual and amazingly delicious. If you’re a purist, you’ll find the traditional items just as satisfying.
Capital Grille $$$$ The Pointe Orlando, 9101 International Drive, Orlando, 407-370-4392 One of Darden Restaurants’ most recent acquisitions and easily their most upscale. The steaks here are very good, and the service is attentive if not downright solicitous. I had the Delmonico that had a flavorful, well-seasoned crust and beautiful red center. Atmosphere is clubby and posh.
Seito Sushi $$ 510 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-644-5050 4898 New Broad St., Orlando, 407-898-8801 8031 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando, 407-248-8888 671 Front St., Celebration, 407-566-1889 It’s becoming its own little local chain, but it keeps its quality high, both in terms of the sushi and the elegant surroundings.
Del Frisco’s Prime Steak & Lobster $$$$ 729 Lee Road, Orlando, 407-645-4443 The steaks here are always high quality. The atmosphere isn’t quite as posh as some of the other topdrawer steakhouses, but it at least rises to meet the price point, which is high. Since you’ll probably be having meat for your main entrée — and if you’re not, why are you here? — have the fried oysters for your appetizer. What, you’re worried about the cholesterol? Again I have to ask: Why are you here?
SUSHI Izziban $$ 1700 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando, 407-850-5088 Really good sushi, if somewhat unorthodox. For something really special, try the restaurant’s namesake Izziban roll. It has tempura shrimp and asparagus with cream cheese rolled in rice. The cream cheese alone would be enough to give sushi purists the shudders. But then the chef topped the sliced
THAI Orchid Thai $$ 305 Park Ave. N., Winter Park, 407-331-1400 A splashy and elegant restaurant with a hip vibe that befits its Park Avenue milieu. Short rib massamam featured a large beef short rib braised and then sautéed with potatoes and small pieces of sweet bell peppers with a chili sauce and a bit of roasted peanuts. Part of the enjoyment of this entrée, and indeed most every dish served here, was the elegant presentation, which almost invariably included luminous purple orchid blooms as plate garnish. (Yes, orchid petals are edible, but, frankly, I enjoy looking at them much more than ingesting them.)
VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN Café 118º $$ 153 E. Morse Blvd., Winter Park, 407-389-2233 If veganism can be defined as extreme vegetarianism, the raw food movement could be classified as extreme veganism. The 118 in the restaurant’s name refers to the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit to which some of the foods here are heated. I stew myself in temperatures higher than that in the steam room at the Y. Going above that temperature, aficionados of raw cuisine profess, saps foods of their vitamins, enzymes and minerals. Raw foods, they assert, aid in digestibility and cell reconstruction, among other things, according to information on Café 118’s menu. I can’t attest to any of that. But I can tell you that the food I had at Café 118 was all quite delicious, and presented in a stylish and even (dare I say?) gourmet fashion.
VIETNAMESE Lac Viet Bistro $$ 2021 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, 407-228-4000 Lac Viet Bistro isn’t exactly fine dining but, relatively speaking, it’s finer than you’ll find at most other area Vietnamese restaurants. The menu features dishes from all over Vietnam, but its Northern specialties might be less familiar to even those who frequent area Vietnamese restaurants. Try one of the banh cuon or the vermicelli soups. And start with one of the crispy shrimp cakes.
W inter Park 400 South Orlando Avenue s 407-644-7770 Reservations online at www.roccositaliangrille.com WWW.OHLMAG.COM
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WELLNESS
The entrance to Eden dominates the lobby of the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute.
‘Everything Here is for Me and Women Like Me’ Their offerings may not be medical, but boutiques for breast cancer patients can be critical to recovery.
T
ALL, TAN AND FIT, LINDA DOVE IS A PICTURE OF
health despite what she’s been through the past couple of years. She smiles and even laughs as she recounts the experience of being diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in her late 40s, enduring a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation treatments and, finally, reconstructive surgery. “It’s a journey I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but it’s a journey I wouldn’t trade for anything. It prioritizes life for you,” says Dove, director of curriculum services for Orange County Public
Schools who lives in Longwood with her husband of 28 years, Warren, and their “spoiled rotten” Yorkshire terrier, Lucy. This is a woman who has benefited from good medical care and the support of family and friends. But she’s had one other thing going for her: Eden Spa, at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute. The facility offers not only pampering but help and support in times of need. Open to anyone, “Eden: The Spa for Image Discovery” specializes in products and services for cancer patients, who are also given priority with appointments.
BY (ARRY 7ESSEL s PHOTOGRAPHS BY 'REG *OHNSTON
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That includes specialized garment fittings in the spa’s largest room, “Harriett’s at Eden.” “What Eden has done for me, it’s helped me to be normal,” says Dove. “I never wanted anyone to look at me and say, ‘She has cancer.’ I want them to say, ‘That’s Linda.’ That’s what Eden did for me.” Across town at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Care Center Orlando, Sara Massy has similar grateful words of praise for that institution’s low-key facility, called simply “Harriett’s.” While there are many differences between M.D. Anderson’s boutique and Florida Hospital’s combination boutique and spa, each were recipients of $500,000 gifts from Central Florida’s best-known and best-dressed philanthropist, the indefatigable Harriett Lake. The generosity of Lake is why similar names are used by otherwise competitive institutions. Harriett’s “makes you feel like you’re in a store, not a hospital, and I usually have it to myself,” says Massy, 61, of DeLand, who underwent a mastectomy earlier this year. “It’s really nice to have a place like this. It’s not like going into any old store and picking out one thing that might be good for a breast cancer patient. Everything in here is for me and women like me.” Both Harriett’s at Eden and Harriett’s are feminine, intimate spaces that reflect Lake’s distinctive design aesthetic. But it didn’t start out that way at M.D. Anderson’s boutique, which opened in April of 2006. An experienced interior designer had picked out the room’s colors, furnishings and decorations. “The first time Harriett walked in, she said, ‘I don’t like this,’” recalls Dr. Clarence Brown,
the center’s president and CEO. “She made us take everything out and replace it with what she selected. So it truly is Harriett’s boutique.” The third-floor facility, where items are free of charge to breast cancer patients, is operated by Women Playing for T.I.M.E. (WPFT), a breast cancer awareness and
support group that has raised upward of $6 million for breast cancer education, research and treatment. The redesigned room is warm and personal. Brown notes that the only change Lake did not make was the large, framed photograph hanging on the far wall. It’s of WPFT’s founders, the late
Cancer survivor Linda Dove checks out the boutique’s swimsuit rack. 76
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WELLNESS
Eden (above) also features wigs, bandanas and other head coverings. Adjacent to the boutique is the spa (below), offering services including pedicures, manicures, hairstyling and massages.
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Sheila Solomon and Elaine Lustig, a close friend of Lake’s. “We see up to 20 patients a day in our breast care center,” Brown says. “Only about a fourth of those women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s only those women who would even know about the services that Harriett’s provides.” Massy first visited Harriett’s after her bad-news diagnosis in May. “I came in to discuss my surgery, and it was right here. I’m a shopper, so I walked in. This is a wonderful place. I come in here every time I come for an appointment.” There’s always a tasteful variety of hats, scarves, bags, T-shirts and the like, Massy says, and the selection changes often – thanks to WPTF volunteers who restock the inventory. Other offerings include bandanas, visors and pocketbooks, along with specialized items such as deodorants and powders for highly sensitive skin and camisoles with pouches for holding drainage tubes. There are even heart-shaped pillows that fit snugly between arm and torso. “The pillows are wonderful, because everybody needs them,” says Massy, who credits the pillows with allowing her to sleep in the weeks following her surgery.
Mastectomy bras are on display at Harriett’s at Eden, a room reserved exclusively for breast cancer patients to use for fittings.
After shopping, Massy usually leaves a donation, although it isn’t required. “A lot of people can use these things, but they can’t afford them,” says the world-traveling grandmother, who spends part of the year at her second home in Trinidad. Items not stocked by the boutique are mastectomy bras and wigs, which require special fittings. However, patients are given a list of places in Central Florida where they can get these services, including the American Cancer Society. Not on the list, most likely for competitive reasons, is Eden. However, Florida Hospital’s Lake-funded facility provides both. Bra fittings are conducted in Harriett’s at Eden, a room reserved exclusively for breast cancer patients. “The mastectomy bras were a godsend to me,” says Dove, who also relied on the spa to find her a wig. Eden staffers not only found one that exactly matched her hair color, they trimmed it “so that people at work had no idea OCTOBER 2011
I was going through treatment or that I was wearing a wig. Meanwhile, I was bald as a bat.” Dove brought the wig in every two weeks for washing and refurbishing, and while there treated herself to a massage. She no longer needs the wig, but still stops in for a massage every month or so. “I’ve lost some movement in my left arm – radiation shrinks the skin, and I lost some lymph nodes. Massage makes the arm feel so much better, and it increases the range of motion.” Eden, which opened in May 2008, includes a retail boutique with hats, turbans, wigs, specialized make-up products and a host of other items helpful to cancer patients in general and breast cancer patients in particular. Harriett’s at Eden – along with a spa/salon featuring manicures, pedicures, facials, therapeutic massages, hairstyling and wig services – is in an adjacent, limited-access space. Nothing is free at Eden, but many of the products and services are insurancebillable for cancer patients. A second Eden is slated to open at Florida Hospital Altamonte in early 2012. Boutiques and spas that cater to the real-life needs of women with breast cancer fulfill an important role, says Brown, who has been with M.D. Anderson Orlando since it first opened in 1991. “It’s a very morale-boosting situation for these women, when they know that they can find something very attractive to help them get through their treatment and some of the physical needs of having this disease. It’s a very positive thing for them.” ●
Harriett’s (above), on the third floor of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, offers breast cancer patients a wide variety of useful, fashionable items at no charge. Sara Massy (below) stops in often at the center’s one-room boutique, which, she says, “makes you feel like you’re in a store, not a hospital.”
Heart-shaped pillows (right) available at M.D. Anderson’s boutique bring relief and comfort to patients recuperating from breast cancer surgery. WWW.OHLMAG.COM
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OTHER ORLANDO
Stetson Kennedy: A Rabble-Rouser Who Made a Lasting Difference TETSON KE N N E DY WAS A CR USADE R, A
S
rabble-rouser, a folklorist, an author and, truth be told, a tireless self-promoter and a notorious ladies’ man well into his 90s. Kennedy’s colorful and turbulent life, which spanned most of the 20th century, came to an end last month in a Jacksonville hospital. “He was a giant,’’ said Peggy Bulger, director of The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. “He never quit working. Last time I talked to him he was still full of piss and vinegar.’’ Kennedy is today perhaps best known for infiltrating the nation’s most dangerous hate group and writing about it in a book called I Rode With the Ku Klux Klan, later renamed The Klan Unmasked. Its breathless prose seems a bit overwrought today – more akin to a Mickey Spillane mystery than a serious work of investigative journalism – and even Kennedy admitted that he took some artistic license in places to make sure it was lurid enough to sell. But no one doubted the cocky Kennedy’s courage. And his revelations cast a harsh spotlight on the Klan and its insidious influence in the 1940s – a time when crossing the Invisible Empire was not safe or even particularly popular. In fact, after being accused of harboring Communist sympathies and receiving numerous death threats, Kennedy fled to France – temporarily, of course; he could never stay away from Florida for long – where he wrote Jim Crow Guide to the U.S.A., a sort of insider’s account about the sorry state of race relations in the Deep South. Although no American publisher was interested, existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre published the book in Paris and arranged for distribution in the United States. Nobody knew more about the collective mind of the South than Kennedy, who was born in Jacksonville and attended the University of Florida. During the Great Depression, he was a writer and editor of Florida: A Guide to the Southernmost State, which was produced under the auspices of the Florida Writers’
Project. Assisting him was Zora Neale Hurston, who had recently published her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. A few years later Kennedy published Palmetto Country, consisting of stories he gathered while driving through Florida and recording the words of the state’s forgotten underclass, including farm workers, fishermen, cigar-makers, hoboes and characters of all sorts. Today, Palmetto Country is considered a classic of social history. Six more books, all dealing with Florida folklore and racial politics, would follow. Along the way he befriended folksinger Woody Guthrie, a kindred spirit who would arrive, unbidden, at Kennedy’s home, a ramshackle cabin on a swampy 4-acre tract in St. Johns County that he called Beluthahatchee, which means “heaven” in the Seminole Indian language. Guthrie even wrote a song about his friend called Beluthahatchee Bill. When Kennedy launched a quixotic run for the U.S. Senate in 1950, Guthrie also contributed a campaign ditty: Stetson Kennedy, he’s that man, Walks and talks across our land, Talkin’ out against the Ku Klux Klan. For every fiery cross and note, I’ll get Kennedy a hundred votes. Kennedy was in his 80s when I interviewed him for a magazine profile. He was dapper, soft-spoken, witty and had a young girlfriend in tow. I later learned that he admitted to having been married six times, though the actual number may have been higher. As dyed-in-the-wool Southerners, we enjoyed our talk and I soon found myself with an invitation to join Kennedy, his female friend and a handful of adoring professors for dinner. When the evening was over, the old firebrand gave me a set of his books and inscribed them: “To Randy, a Southerner who understands.” I don’t know if I understand much about Florida, but I’m pleased to have known someone who did – and who loved it enough to risk his life trying to change it. ●
by Randy Noles
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