Orlando Life February 2014

MIKE THOMAS: THE SHUTTLE’S MIXED LEGACY ■ JAY BOYAR: WHEN ACTORS GO ON AND ON

THE BEST OF CENTRAL FL ORID A

ORLANDO’S MOST AMBITIOUS PLAY ’50S HOME GETS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE

$3.95

DAZZLING DRESSES FROM CLASSIC TO COSMOPOLITAN

Febr ua ry 2014

14OL_Feb_14_Cover.indd 1

1/17/14 11:03:38 AM

Accident FREE for Life Get the Best Insurance Against Incontinence & Drive Without Protection.

On average, urinary incontinence and bladder control issues affect 25-45% of all women, however most do not see a doctor for a solution. Many “solve” the problem by avoiding physical activity and wearing a panty liner or an adult diaper—forever. That’s a sure way to drive oneself crazy—but it’s NOT a normal aspect of aging.

Jessica Feranec, MD

Bela Kudish, MD

Rakesh Patel, MD

The highly-specialized urogynecology physicians at Florida Hospital Medical Group are specifically trained in female pelvic medicine and offer many effective remedies, including physical therapy, medical devices and minimally invasive and robotic surgical procedures.

Get the proper diagnosis. Discover a realistic solution.

Call 407.599.6111 or visit www.UrogynecologySpecialists.com Orlando | Winter Garden | Winter Park

FHMG-13-16558_UCW_UroGyn_ORL_LIFE_MAG.indd 1 1OL_Feb14_TOC.indd 14

1/14/14 3:10 PM 1/16/14 11:09:29 AM

4/14 3:10 PM

PHOTO Š EVERETT & SOULE

CGC027598

Outdoor Living Addition

Victor Farina is pictured with his father Mario on the cover of Remodeling Magazine, honoring the nation’s 50 most distinguished remodeling companies. Farina & Sons is family owned with a tradition of award winning renovations, additions and custom homes since 1950. Regardless of size, each project receives Farina’s trademark attention to detail and teamwork approach.

('*(:$7(5 '5 ‡ 25/$1'2 )/ 3+21( ‡ )$5,1$$1'6216 &20

1OL_Feb14_TOC.indd 1

1/16/14 11:07:51 AM

CONTENTS

february

Volume 15

Issue 2

DEPARTMENTS 8 JAY BOYAR’S LIMELIGHT

Lately, it’s been hard to tell playbills and high school yearbooks apart. Also, comedian Amy Schumer is at UCF and so is the Gala of the Royal Horses; a solo Art Garfunkel is playing Plaza Live; War Horse lopes into the Bob Carr; and a Wetlands Festival comes to Christmas.

16 DESIGN / STYLE

A half-dozen wedding gowns evoke a timeless grace. by Marianne Ilunga • photographs by Rafael Tongol

22 DESIGN TOURIST

What are the most cutting-edge new products for your home? The Design Tourist travels across the country, and around the world, to find out what’s hot, and what’s about to be hot, in home design. by Karen LeBlanc

24 PROFILE

It’s the best of times for New York actor John Keller, who has the lead role in the Orlando Shakes production of a lengthy Dickensian masterpiece.

by Jay Boyar • photographs by Rafael Tongol

32

FEATURE 28 TAKE THE CAKE Or don’t. Wedding cakes often have sugary accompaniment these days, as couples add cupcakes and other diminutive delicacies to round out the celebration. by Denise Bates Enos

32 A NEW LEAF

When a florist plans her own wedding celebration, she knows enough to let the experts do the decorating. And speaking of experts, be sure to check out our comprehensive Wedding Resource Guide. by Denise Bates Enos 2

ORLANDO LIFE

1OL_Feb14_TOC.indd 2

If accepting a remodeling project could be compared to accepting a dare, then Nathan Cross accepted a double dare when tackling the rehab of a ’50s block home that other contractors had suggested be torn down. by Karen LeBlanc

64 FLAVOR

Rona has her happy face on after a visit to The Smiling Bison. by Rona Gindin • photographs by Rafael Tongol

72 RESTLESS NATIVE

Its payload bay is empty now, but the Atlantis space shuttle still carries a message. by Mike Thomas ABOUT THE COVER: Myckenzie R, of BMG Orlando, photographed by Rafael Tongol; hair and makeup by Elsie Knab.

Ph ot os: (t op LEFT ) c ou rt esy th e sug ar su it e; (T OP RIGHT ) S c ott Watt Ph ot og raphy ; (BO TT OM LEFT ) rafael t ong ol

57 REMODEL ORLANDO

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 11:18:48 AM

1OL_Feb14_TOC.indd 3

1/17/14 11:25:33 AM

from the editor

FIRST

Change of Life N

WE’RE ON A NEW TIMETABLE WITH A PARTNER PUBLICATION.

o, it isn’t just your imagination. We’re bigger, wider by nearly an inch. If you are a regular reader of this magazine, I’m guessing that you noticed the change. It’s not the only one.

The new, oversized format of the magazine you’re holding is just part of a major shift and a new annual partnership for Orlando Life.

From now on, instead of publishing once a month, we will be sending out this magazine six times a year. This change is due, in part, to the success of our sister publication, Winter Park Magazine.

We bought that publication two years ago, and initially packaged it twice yearly with Orlando Life as a subscriber bonus. It’s become such a hit, however, that we’re going to begin publishing it quarterly and mailing it separately, to households in Winter Park and Maitland.

Now, instead of overlapping, the two publications will reach two distinct audiences.

Since it makes little sense, under the circumstances, for the two publications to continue to compete with each other, we also decided to coordinate their appearance throughout the year.

From now on, Orlando Life will be published in February, March, May (a summer issue), August, September and November (a winter issue). Winter Park Magazine will come out to suit the seasons, more or less — in January, April, July and October.

We’ll all take two months out of the year off — June and December — to go fishing and Christmas shopping, respectively.

If you are already an Orlando Life subscriber and want to continue receiving Winter Park Magazine for free, you can do so by going to orlando-life.com and filling out your address in the appropriate box.

I’ll remain as editor of Orlando Life, while our publisher, Randy Noles, a Winter Parker since the mid-’60s, will continue his role as editor of Winter Park Magazine. Members of the Orlando Life staff — restaurant reviewer Rona Gindin, columnist Mike Thomas, stylist Marianne Ilunga and photographer Rafael Tongol — will begin contributing to Winter Park Magazine, as our entertainment editor, Jay Boyar, already has.

Art Director Laura Bluhm will supervise the graphic design, social media, and style sections of both publications. Harry Wessel remains as Orlando Life’s managing editor and chief grammarian.

I’ll use Orlando Life’s off months to keep you up to date about Orlando-area happenings by writing about plays, movies, concerts and social events online. Those updates will be available on Facebook.

Also look for a new weekly e-newsletter that will go to subscribers of both publications and thousands of others.

Thanks for reading and for all the encouraging feedback we’ve received over the past year.

And for now, at least, I’ll see you next month.

Take Note What’s SOCIAL

Follow us on twitter: @Orlando-LifeMag and Facebook at: facebook.com/orlandolifemagazine. We’re on Google+ and Pinterest too: pinterest.com/orlandolife/.

What’s ONLINE Check out our expanded listing of arts organizations and their schedules of events for the upcoming season.

What you CAN DO See the lion dance, dragon dance, aerial acts, martial arts demonstrations, tai chi fan dances, acrobats and Chinese kung fu demonstrations on Feb. 9 at the daylong Dragon Parade and Lunar New Year Festival in the Mills 50 District, along Colonial Drive and Mills Avenue.

What’s ON DECK From nerds to neighborhoods, we’ll recognize the finest people and places in Central Florida in our annual “Simply the Best” feature.

L

Michael McLeod Editor in Chief mmcleod@orlando-life.com 4

ORLANDO LIFE

1OL_Feb14_TOC.indd 4

FEBRUARY 2014

1/17/14 10:26:07 AM

Ulbarri Feb

Build this Tuscan 4,600 sq. ft. custom home in a desirable neighborhood near you.

Lots available in Lake Forest, Magnolia Plantation and Heathrow’s The Reserve.

Call JORGE

1OL_Feb14_TOC.indd Ulbarri Feb14.indd 1 5

ULIBARRI CUSTOM HOMES today for lot prices.

407-733-5500 www.imyourbuilder.com

1/16/14 1/16/14 4:59:48 4:56:29 PM PM

ca

ST

EM

can

Editor in Chief

HARRY WESSEL

Managing Editor

LAURA BLUHM

Art Director, Social Media Director, Style Editorial Director

JAY BOYAR Arts Editor

RONA GINDIN Dining Editor

MARIANNE ILUNGA, KAREN LEBLANC MIKE THOMAS Contributors

RAFAEL TONGOL

Senior Photographer

Cardiac Care

Ca ST

MICHAEL MCLEOD

Editorial: mmcleod@orlando-life.com

LORNA OSBORN

Senior Associate Publisher Director of Marketing & Public Relations

KATHY BYRD

Associate Publisher ADVERTISING: LOSBORN@ORLANDO-LIFE.COM KATHYB@ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

Thirty-One Days of Experimentation and Collaboration

ORLANDO LIFE

2700 Westhall Lane, Suite 128 Maitland, FL 32751 Phone: 407-647-0225 Fax: 407-647-0145 Subscription questions: 941-487-1136 or (800) 881-2394 ext. 1136 or visit our Web site: orlando-life.com

FLORIDA HOME MEDIA, LLC

DANIEL DENTON President

Unlike anything else in Orlando!

Artist Colony | Steamroller Print | Art Car | Lectures Exhibitions | Building Wrap | Performance Art | Film Learn more at Art31.org

A& H’S MAITL AND ART CENTER

This project is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program.

6

ORLANDO LIFE

1OL_Feb14_TOC.indd 6

RANDY NOLES

Group Publisher

PAMELA FLANAGAN

Vice President and General Manager

Copyright 2014 by Florida Home Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited without written permission of the copyright holder. ORLANDO LIFE ISSN: 2326-2478 (USPS 000-140) (Vol. 15/Issue No. 2) is published six times a year by Florida Home Media LLC, 2700 Westhall Lane, Ste 128, Maitland, FL 32751. Periodicals Postage Paid at Maitland, FL and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Orlando Life Magazine, 330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205, Sarasota, FL 34236.

FEBRUARY 2014

1/17/14 9:58:02 AM

10

cancer care

STROKE 60+years STROKE 60+ EMERGENCY cancer care

cancer care

Full Service

EMERGENCY Full

year

Serv

Trauma

STROKE for Patient Care and Safety* CARE

cancer care Full Service

EMERGENCY STROKE Full Service Cardiac Care

60+ yea

PrimaryC

60+ y

Trauma

STROKE

On campus 60+ years

Cardiac Care

60+YEARS

EMERGENCY

STROKE

Among the Nation’s 60+ years PrimaryCare Top Hospitals

On campus

Cardiac Care

60+years

Cardiac Care cancer care cancer care cancer ca STROKE On campus Cardiac Care On cam

Full Serv

Trusted by the West Orange community for over 60 years, Health Central Hospital provides full-service, on campus healthcare including: Acute Care Facility

On Campus Emergency Department backed by the Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) Trauma Center Lifesaving Cardiac Care and STEMI Program (Among Florida’s fastest programs in treating heart attack with blocked coronary artery)

Intensivist Program featuring Robodoc Joint Commission Accredited Stroke Receiving Center supported by ORMC’s Comprehensive Stroke Program

State-of-the-Art Cancer Care Primary Care – Over 48 Specialties on campus * Top 10th percentile in the nation: 100% Core Measures / Patient Safety (www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare)

Continuing to care for the Health of the Community: on campus and close to home.

10000 West Colonial Drive, Ocoee FL 34761 | 407.296.1000

1OL_Feb14_TOC.indd 7

1/16/14 11:21:09 AM

LIMELIGHT

jay boyar

Exorbitant Intros (AND, OH, BTW: THANKS MOM AND DAD!)

C

harlene Hoffman likes to think of herself as a “tomboy”

who enjoys “cheering on her favorite NFL teams” and “cruising in her 1970 Ford Mustang.”

I know this not because I’ve spoken with her or conducted extensive research into her life. I know because I’ve read her chatty mini-bio in the program for the recent Broadway Across America touring production of Flashdance: The Musical, in which she appeared at Bob Carr.

In a similar way, I know that Carson Scott — the sound designer for Mad Cow Theatre’s Collected Stories — was planning to move to Tucson, Ariz., with his “beautiful fiancée, Megan” when that play premiered. And that Deanna Gibson was a newlywed when she acted in Orlando Shakespeare Theater’s production of The 39 Steps.

I can’t decide if this sort of thing is utterly fascinating or just too much information. But I know there was a time, not so long ago, when such mini-bios in the playbills that ushers hand out at theatrical productions were composed in a highly professional, just-the-factsma’am manner.

8

ORLANDO LIFE

2OL_Feb14_Agenda.indd 8

The blurbs would list a person’s major theater credits and, sometimes, education. That was basically it.

Some blurbs still read that way. In recent years, however, an informal tone has crept into others. Actress and director Peg O’Keef, who often works at Mad Cow, feels the shift occurred as theater companies increasingly left it to cast and crew members to write their own mini-bios.

“When the responsibility for writing was placed in actors’ hands, that was a dangerous day,” she says, chuckling softly.

Since then, some blurbs, such as Hoffman’s, have carried a dating-website vibe. Others contain language that reminds me more of tweets, Facebook shout-outs or acceptance speeches at the Tonys.

Parents, spouses, partners, children and other family members (including, in at least one case, “a really awesome big brother”) are effusively acknowledged. So are friends, pets, agents and, last but not least, God, who is variously celebrated for “mercy,” “blessings” and so on. (Ginna Claire Mason, also of Flashdance, likes to helpfully refer theatergoers to a specific Bible verse.)

FEBRUARY 2014

1/17/14 10:28:08 AM

Inspirational blurbs come in other forms, too. “Dreams really do come true!” offers Danny Lopez, an actor in the Broadway Across America series’ Mamma Mia! Meanwhile, Zach Hensler, an actor in the series’ Wicked, takes a philosophical tack in quoting writer J. H. Holmes: “The universe is not hostile, nor yet is it friendly. It is simply indifferent.”

Damian Barray, Jeffrey Todd Parrott and Sophie Bell.

And, hey, enjoy the show, folks!

Existential profundity aside, one common characteristic among blurbs is an abundance of exuberance, generally involving a liberal sprinkling of exclamation marks. I have seen up to six of them, shoulder-to-shoulder, chorus-line style. In other cases, the excitement takes the form of newly minted words, such as “Lovelovelove” in the mini-bio of Christine Dwyer, another Wicked performer.

Occasionally, a blurb’s expression of gratitude may be addressed directly to a play’s audience. Jamie Cline, who was Hamlet in Mad Cow’s Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, used his mini-bio to thank theatergoers “for supporting the arts, both what’s in front of you tonight and anywhere else it finds you!” Meanwhile, Ryan Hilliard of the Broadway series’ Mary Poppins articulated his appreciation with disarming brevity.

“Thanks for coming,” he wrote in his blurb.

Yo, Ryan! It’s all good. ■ If I had to pigeonhole Amy Schumer, I’d call her one of comedy’s bad Jay Boyar, arts editor of Orlando Life, has written about film and travel for the Orlando Sentinel and numerous other newspapers. He’s the author of Films to Go: 100 Memorable Movies for Travelers & Others and a contributor to Reel Romance: The Lovers’ Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies.

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

2OL_Feb14_Agenda.indd 9

girls. The 32-year-old comedian is part of the emerging breed of female stand-ups who make jokes about subjects that were once the domain of their masculine counterparts.

I mainly mean sex.

Unlike Kathy Griffin, who offers her lewd one-liners with a naughty wink, or Sarah Silverman, a dark-irony specialist, or Chelsea Handler, with her devastating deadpan delivery, the blond, angel-faced Schumer tends to be cheery — even cheerleader-like — while serving up risqué remarks.

The apparent disconnect between her wholesome persona and her unquotable comedy strikes me as funny in itself (and maybe just a tad startling). So are a lot of her jokes.

Whatever she’s doing, it seems to be working. Schumer’s free-form Comedy Central show, Inside Amy Schumer, has been renewed for a second season. And her upcoming movie, Train Wreck, is being directed by king-of-comedy Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin).

Which is not to say that Schumer is ready to abandon standup. In fact, she’s bringing her irreverent act to the CFE Arena at the University of Central Florida on Feb. 20 as part of her Back Door Tour.

“I recently played a college in Birmingham, Ala., and right before I went on, they were like, ‘Keep it PG-13,’” she told Rolling Stone magazine. “And I was like, ‘Nope.’”

Visit cfearena.com for further information.

ORLANDO LIFE

PHOTO: PETER YANG COMEDY CENTRAL

Amy Schumer, Breaking Bad

9

1/16/14 11:33:13 AM

plan on it

LIMELIGHT

Table Manners

Through Feb. 23 Mad Cow Theatre

A dining-room comedy about three dysfunctional couples is part of Alan Ayckbourn’s acclaimed trilogy exploring family and marriage, known collectively as The Norman Conquests.

madcowtheatre.com

Twelfth Annual Folk Festival

Feb. 8-9 Mennello Museum of Art

Art, music and traditional crafts are celebrated on the scenic grounds of the Mennello Museum of American Art in Loch Haven Park.

mennellomuseum.com

Art of Love, Love of Art

Romeo and Juliet

Love, love, love: The museum’s First Thursday open-house social will focus on love as a subject, as seen through the eyes of a variety of artists.

This Orlando Ballet production blends artistic director Robert Hill’s inventive interpretation with Prokofiev’s meticulously wrought score, capturing the impulsive romanticism of Shakespeare’s starry-eyed but star-crossed lovers.

Feb. 6 Orlando Museum of Art

omart.org

Feb. 14-16 Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre

orlandoballet.org A Louis Armstrong Tribute

10

ORLANDO LIFE

2OL_Feb14_Agenda.indd 10

A Louis Armstrong Tribute

Feb. 22 Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre

The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra teams up with guest artist Byron Stripling to pay tribute to Satchmo’s unbridled brilliance through jazz classics such as “Minnie the Moocher,” “What a Wonderful World” and “Hello, Dolly!”

orlandophil.org Pluto

Feb. 27-March 23 Orlando Shakespeare Theater

A single mom tries to reconnect with her son in this wild and darkly humorous story framed by domestic chaos, including a demanding pet and an unruly crowd in the kitchen.

orlandoshakes.org

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 11:33:24 AM

LIMELIGHT

theater

For War Horse Epic, Nimble Hoofers

PHOTO c ou rtesy b roadw ay ac ross americ a

The title role is played by a puppet. The origi-

nal story appeared in a children’s book. But don’t mistake War Horse for child’s play.

The drama, set in Europe during World War 1, was adapted for the stage from a novel about a thoroughbred mix named Joey, who is taken away from a young boy and sold to a British cavalry unit. (In one of the tragic footnotes of that war, millions of horses were slain on battle lines and in bombardments.)

Joey comes to life on stage in the form of a skeletal but evocative creation whose outer shell is made of moldable cane, silk and gauze. Three actor-puppeteers use a system of cables, gears and triggers to mime the tail swishes, ear perks, strides, and even the breathing of a horse. The same team uses practiced vocalizations, sometimes in tandem, to capture the subtleties of a horse’s throaty whinnies and nickers.

“We have a lot of different ways to show

the audience how we are feeling,” says Dayna Tietzen. She is one of 15 cast members whose strenuous task is to manipulate the puppets, which include four horses and several birds, in the national touring production of War Horse. The company will present the play at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre as part of the Broadway Across America series Feb. 25-March 2.

Tietzen, who is allergic to real horses, has a background in dance that has helped her to work as part of one of the three-member teams to make an imaginary steed come to life. “We actually learned to breathe together,” she says. “We can pick up on each others’ transfer of weight to move seamlessly. The point is to make ourselves disappear, so that eventually all the audience sees is a horse.”

Visit orlandobroadway.com for more information — Michael McLeod

Dayna Tietzen

MaryStuart Day and

Megan Cross

MARYSTUART

Ranked Top 100 Realtors in Central Florida - 2008- 2013

407.620.8683

marystuart@fanniehillman.com

MEGAN

407.353.9997

megan@fanniehillman.com

Double the Knowledge.

Double the Detail.

Double the Service.

You’ve planned the perfect wedding.

Now let us help you plan your next step.

Your new life deserves a new home.

www.fanniehillman.com

#1 Real Estate Partnership at Fannie Hillman 2013

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM Fannie Hillman WP OL .5H .indd 1

2OL_Feb14_Agenda.indd 11

ORLANDO LIFE

11

1/14/14 2:34:36 PM

1/16/14 11:33:32 AM

LIMELIGHT

events

Music, Magic and Swampy Sights

COLOR US GREEN Read Orlando Life anywhere, anytime on your iPad, Mac or PC, with nothing left to recycle.

issuu.com/orlandolife 12

ORLANDO LIFE

nicer name for “swamps.” Those people obviously are not dyed-in-the-wool Floridians, who have learned to appreciate the haunting beauty of our state’s marshy wilderness areas.

If you want to see what primal, pre-strip mall Florida looked like, head out to the 2014 Orlando Wetlands Festival, slated for Feb. 15 at rustic Fort Christmas Park in east Orange County.

This year the event will feature comedy and magic by renowned magician Brian Staron, who performs hundreds of shows a year on cruise ships and at corporate gatherings and theme parks.

Members of the Florida Native Plant Society and the Florida Trail Association will lead wilderness hikes. In addition, there’ll be bus tours along the wetland berms and oldfashioned hayrides, as well as kids activities and live country music from self-described “Ocoee good ole boy” Homer Stiles.

Best of all, you might walk away with one of 500 backyard trees being given away in honor of Arbor Day. Visit cityoforlando.net for more information.

— Randy Noles

PHOTO c ou rtesy orlando w etlands fes tiv al

Some people consider “wetlands” to be a

H Im ©

F

FEBRUARY 2014

CFAM OrlLi 2OL_Feb14_Agenda.indd 12

1/16/14 11:33:41 AM

2OL_Feb14_Agenda.indd 13

1/16/14 4:59:25 PM

-R 3RI (E] Your Winter Park Health Assessment...

k ar t is r P en te m ! in ss N W sse PE ur A O Yo alth OW e H N

Your Health. Your Way.

LIMELIGHT

music

is the ultimate health experience - a comprehensive evaluation that addresses IZIV]XLMRK JVSQ GPMRMGEP GEVI XS ½ XRIWW RIIHW all in one seamless day - comprehensive, convenient and personalized.

Hello Arthur, Our Old Friend

The program is personalized, the results are immediate and the experience is unlike ER] HSGXSV SJ½ GI SV LSWTMXEP ZMWMX You receive care from the nation’s leading specialists backed by state-of-the-art technology while enjoying a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere. ˆ ;SQIR´W ,IEPXL %WWIWWQIRXW ˆ 'SQTPIXI WEQI HE] VIWYPXW VIZMI[ ERH PMJI MQTVSZIQIRX TPER ˆ )\XIRWMZI SRI SR SRI XMQI [MXL ]SYV TL]WMGMER ˆ 'SQTVILIRWMZI LMWXSV] TL]WMGEP I\EQ ˆ 4VIZIRXMZI GEVHMSPSK] SRGSPSK] FLH1491

ˆ *MXRIWW EWWIWWQIRX RYXVMXMSREP EWWIWWQIRX ˆ 3R WMXI PEF XIWXW MQEKMRK ˆ 1IR´W ,IEPXL %WWIWWQIRXW EPWS EZEMPEFPI

Call our Health Ambassador and book your appointment today.

Located inside Florida Hospital for Women Winter Park 100 North Edinburgh Drive | Winter Park, FL 32792

FLH-1491-WPHA-OrlandoLifeMagazine_Half_Vert_Feb2014.indd 1

1/6/14 12:25 PM

SUBSCRIBE TODAY and receive your copy of Orlando Life by mail.

It’s quick and easy.

Just visit our website and click on the cover.

orlando-life.com 14

ORLANDO LIFE

2OL_Feb14_Agenda.indd 14

mon’s dulcet-toned singing partner during that iconic duo’s legendary run through the ’60s and ’70s. In fact, Simon & Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits, which includes “Mrs. Robinson,� “Scarborough Fair,� “The Sound Of Silence,� “The Boxer� and “Bridge Over Troubled Water,� is one of the biggest selling albums ever.

But the curly-haired Garfunkel has had a successful solo career as a singer, poet and actor. He’ll be singing his own songs — and likely some Simon & Garfunkel hits — when he appears at the Plaza Live on Feb. 20.

As a solo act, Garfunkel never scaled the commercial heights that his childhood friend Simon did. But he notched a Top 10 hit, “All I Know,� and landed in the Top 20 six more times. He also acted in such films as Carnal Knowledge and Catch 22, and published books of poetry, such as Still Water.

An avid walker, he found time to take a cross-country trip on foot in the late ’80s and to reunite with Simon — the duo is in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame — for occasional tours. Lately, though, he’s been presenting an all-acoustic show that includes songs, anecdotes and even a question-and-answer session. “Taking on the fear and vulnerability of a live show keeps you vital,� says Garfunkel. “I’m a singer trying to get away with a lucky job. I try to soothe, to lift. That’s my life.�

An Intimate Evening With Art Garfunkel should be intimate indeed, as the funky Plaza Live’s theater seats only about 1,000.

Visit plazaliveorlando.com for more information. — Randy Noles

PHOTO c ou rtesy plaza liv e

Art Garfunkel may be best known as Paul Si-

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 11:34:48 AM

LIMELIGHT

event

Park Maitland.

A legacy of leaders for over 45 years.

Since 1968, Park Maitland 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!

Is Dancing For Bipeds Alone?

Neigh, Neigh

PHOTO COURTESY THE GALA OF THE ROYAL HORSES

Nimble-footed souls have commanded the

spotlight, from Fred Astaire to Savion Glover to the competitors on So You Think You Can Dance. But dancing ceases being a bipedal monopoly when The Royal Horses of Europe come to town.

The Gala of the Royal Horses, an acrobatic spectacle featuring a regal stable of Andalusian, Lipizzaner, Arabian and Friesian breeds trained in an array of vertical leaps and fourlegged choreography, will high-step into Central Florida for four shows: on Feb. 6 and 7 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, and two performances on Feb. 8 at the University of Central Florida’s CFE Arena.

In addition to magnificent dancing horses, trained by Swiss-born riding master Rene Gasser, the Gala features traditional flamenco dancers performing to live music. The show, representing three years of intensive training and previously seen only in Spain and Austria, is on its first North American tour.

Visit galaoftheroyalhorses for more information — Harry Wessel

407-647-3038 ParkMaitland.org Ashley Gay Fitzgerald

Attorney at Law, Littler Mendelson, P.C. Smith College, A.B., 2001 Stetson University College of Law, May 2005 Park Maitland Class of 1992

259-237 PM OrlandoLife - Ashley_Half.indd 1

1/6/14 9:13 AM

DON’T MISS WINTER PARK Beginning this year, award-winning Winter Park Magazine will be sent to its own readers and not included automatically as a bonus for Orlando Life subscribers. But if you’d like to continue receiving Winter Park Magazine, free of charge, log onto orlando-life.com, click on the Orlando Life cover image and fill out the form.

ORLANDO LIFE

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM 16th sub adsH WP.indd 1

2OL_Feb14_Agenda.indd 15

Fully accredited by The Florida Council of Independent Schools & The Florida Kindergarten Council

15

1/17/14 12:30:22 PM

1/17/14 12:31:12 PM

DESIGN STYLE

Grand Gowns Six Ways to Say One of a Kind.

styling by Marianne Ilunga photographs by Rafael Tongol hair and makeup by Elsie Knab

The elegant Alfond Inn in Winter Park provides a perfect setting for a wedding — or a showing of stunning wedding gowns. Here, Myckenzie R of BMG Orlando wears a billowing sleeveless layered tulle and lace bodice ivory dress, $3,990,

by Lazaro; and a feather and satin jeweled hair clip, $299,

by Bloom Bazaar; both from The Collection. The statement diamond ring, $5,525, by Norman Coban; deco diamond bracelet, $9,800, by Ivanka Trump; diamond bangles, $5,995-$7,570, by Penny Preville; and diamond wedding set (band, $27,990, engagement ring, $37,990), both by JB Star; all from Be On Park.

16

ORLANDO LIFE

3OL_Feb_14 Style.indd 16

FEBRUARY 2014

1/17/14 10:54:58 AM

Myckenzie’s look takes a sophisticated turn in a structured silk two-piece peplum strapless dress, $3,626, by Legends by Romona Keveza, from Calvet Couture Bridal.

The long gold baroque chain necklace with pearls and diamond butterflies, $16,000; gold chain bracelet with pearls and diamond butterflies, $3,300; and gold cuff with three-dimensional butterflies, $8,500; are all custom-made by Bella by Beth jewelry, bellabybeth. com.

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

3OL_Feb_14 Style.indd 17

ORLANDO LIFE

17

1/16/14 11:35:32 AM

DESIGN STYLE

18

ORLANDO LIFE

3OL_Feb_14 Style.indd 18

This neoclassical ensemble includes a smooth strapless draped gown with jeweled detailed waist, $3,270, by Jesus Peiro; and a handbeaded crystal statement necklace, $635, by Jenny Packham; both from Calvet Couture Bridal. Diamond wedding set (band, $27,990; engagement ring, $37,990), is by JB Star from Be On Park.

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 11:37:51 AM

Timeless Deep South elegance is embodied in this strapless fitted lace dress, $4,780, by Monique Lhuillier; long-sleeve lace off-theshoulder bolero, $1,150, by Inbal Dror; and custom-made lace and tulle hat, $649, by The Collection; all from The Collection.

The sapphire and diamond engagement ring, $33,800, and diamond wedding band, $27,990, are both by JB Star; diamond and sapphire chandelier earrings, $12,800, are by Sethi Couture; all from Be On Park.

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

3OL_Feb_14 Style.indd 19

ORLANDO LIFE

19

1/16/14 11:38:02 AM

DESIGN STYLE There’s a golden-age film-star feel to this mermaid lace dress with jeweled open-back details, $7,980, by Inbal Dror; and crystal headpiece, $690, by Maria Elena; both from The Collection. The estate pearl and diamond stud earring, $4,290; estate pearl and diamond deco bracelet, $7,000; diamond wedding set (band, $27,990; engagement ring, $37,990); are by JB Star; all from Be On Park.

20

ORLANDO LIFE

3OL_Feb_14 Style.indd 20

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 11:38:14 AM

Combine music and magic with a striped organza strapless bridal ball gown, $3,310, by Hayley Paige; ďŹ shnet birdcage with oversized ower detail, $235, by Olivia Nelson; crystal statement bracelet, $490,

by Jenny Packham; and embroidered silk sash, $649,

by Liancarlo Couture; all from Calvet Couture Bridal. The diamond wedding set (band, $27,990; engagement ring, $37,990), is by JB Star from Be On Park.

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

3OL_Feb_14 Style.indd 21

ORLANDO LIFE

21

1/16/14 11:38:26 AM

DESIGN TOURIST

karen leblanc

A

s I travel the globe attending design

events and trade shows, I’m always on the lookout for game-changing products for the home — innovations that offer the design freedom to accomplish things that had previously been impossible because of structural, budget or living space limitations.

Since I’m writing this column for Orlando Life, I’ve curated an assortment of my favorite design finds from my travels this past year. All of them provide stylish living space solutions, and many of them may be appropriate for your home remodeling project.

Ask your remodeler or interior designer if you see something that catches your interest.

1 1

Indoors, the dual-sided fireplace is, no pun intended, a hot trend because it creates ambiance and divides up space in a subtle, seamless way. The 2013 Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Expo displayed several stylish lines of such fireplaces, which double as both focal points and designer walls that create cozy niches.

Several brands let you customize the firebox with rocks, glass and sticks. ortal-heat-usa.com

2

The “no rules” approach to home interiors is about creating living spaces that reflect your personality and sense of style. Textured surfaces are the perfect design tool, with products such as Ceasarstone’s Motivo collection of embossed quartz. Available in patterns such as crocodile and lace, the Motivo collection provides new design possibilities for accent walls, countertops, backsplashes and even furniture. caesarstoneus.com

2 22

ORLANDO LIFE

4OHL_Feb14_Design Tourist.indd 22

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 11:39:15 AM

3

Engineered stone tiles offer a practical alternative to stone and ceramic, with several lines debuting new colors, shapes, sizes and textures of stone, quartz and slate. Engineered stone appeals to me because it’s more durable than natural stone, warmer to the touch and easier to work with. You can install engineered stone tile over minor subfloor irregularities without the risk of cracking, and it’s ideal for creating decorative backsplashes and accent walls. armstrong.com

4

3

For bathroom remodels, free-standing tub fillers are a quick and easy way to make a big difference. These fixtures come in all styles and made a big splash, literally and figuratively, at The Kitchen & Bath Industry show last year. One of the trends bubbling up in bathroom design is a material mix that mimics the look of architectural salvage. This year, I expect to find even more styles, finishes and features by major brands including Brizo and Delta Faucet Company. deltafaucet.com and brizo.com

5

5

At the Fall 2013 High Point Furniture Market, the Detroit Collection, by Jonathan Charles Fine Furniture, struck me as a stylish option for the man cave or male-occupied home office — two spaces that tend to be décor-deficient. The collection is an homage to 1950s American classic cars, with motifs such as steering wheels, tail fins, car seats and front grills that adorn a functional collection of tables, chairs, desks and consoles. jonathancharlesfurniture.com

4

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE MANUFACTURERS

6

The Magnetika, which debuted at the London 100% Design Festival, caught my eye as a flexible shelving solution with minimal construction. You can reconfigure and even move shelves with this magnetized system of metal paneling, which hooks to the wall. Made by Ronda Design, an Italian company, Magnetika’s shelves are made of wood or bent metal in a variety of finishes, including leather and anti-fingerprint stainless steel Magnetika also has a range of accessories including magnetic TV mounts and brackets, picture frames and kitchen accessories. rondadesign.it

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

4OHL_Feb14_Design Tourist.indd 23

6 Karen LeBlanc is host of The Design Tourist, an online program airing on The Design Network (thedesignnetwork.com). She travels the globe in search of unique design finds and brilliant design minds. For a global dose of design inspiration, watch her show and check out her blog, HouseSpiration. com, which tracks the latest trends and tastemakers in architecture, design and home interiors. You can find more images on her Orlando Life Pinterest Board.

ORLANDO LIFE

23

1/16/14 11:39:48 AM

PROFILE

What the Dickens?

FOR ORLANDO SHAKES, IT’S A FAR, FAR GRANDER PLAY.

by Jay Boyar • photographs by Rafael Tongol

24

ORLANDO LIFE

5OHL_Feb14_Profile.indd 24

FEBRUARY 2014

1/17/14 10:31:47 AM

John P. Keller, who has the title role in The Life & Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby , will rely on a ritual of yoga and honey tea to help him through this marathon stage production at the Shakes.

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

5OHL_Feb14_Profile.indd 25

T

here are small, intimate plays and there are big, sprawling ones. And then there is

The Life & Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, which makes even those big plays look small.

To begin with, it runs nearly six and a half hours and is presented in two parts, each a full-length play in itself. In addition, it boasts a cast of 27 performers who collectively play more than 150 roles. This requires meticulous planning so those actors don’t, well, bump into each other.

And to add yet another level of difficulty, Nicholas Nickleby takes place in Victorian England, a setting that demands careful attention to the characters’ diction, manners and clothing.

It’s no wonder, then, that the Tony-winning play — adapted by David Edgar from Charles Dickens’ 1839 comic, yet melodramatic, novel — has seldom been staged since its 1980 world ORLANDO LIFE

25

1/16/14 11:40:34 AM

PROFILE

premiere by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The wonder is that Orlando Shakespeare Theater and its partner, Theatre UCF, have chosen to mount such a large and complex production, which opened Jan. 22 and is slated to run through March 9.

“It’s the most exciting thing we’ve ever done,” says Jim Helsinger, the company’s artistic director and the play’s co-director. He was inspired to dream big, he says, by a talk he heard at the Kennedy Center. Nicholas Nickleby, adds Helsinger, is also the Shakes’ most ambitious undertaking ever — an “event,” not just another show.

John P. Keller, the New York-based actor who plays the title character, seems undaunted by the supersized challenge. True, he only has one role while other cast members will take on up to 10 apiece. But as the central figure, Keller must “carry” the equivalent of two plays.

So in addition to learning his lines and mastering a middle-class London accent, Keller has to keep up his energy for this marathon performance.

“I work out and I do a lot of yoga,” he says, adding that he can’t imagine being ready for the next day’s performance by “just going home, having a cup of coffee and going to bed.” In fact, he’s given up coffee and instead drinks oceans of water, as well as a mixture of hot water and honey for his voice.

Keller — who earlier starred at the Shakes in Sense and Sensibility and Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker — sees the character of Nicholas as one of the world’s innocents. After the death of his father, the young man tries to help his family and learns just how hard life can be.

“He’s unaware that there are people in this world who will really take advantage of other human beings,” Keller explains.

“That’s kind of the lesson of young adulthood.”

The play is part of “What the DickCharles Dickens, circa 1870 ens!” a yearlong celebration of Charles Dickens’ work that also includes events by other local arts groups. With a production as ambitious as Nicholas Nickleby there are risks, including financial ones. But Helsinger doesn’t quite see it that way.

“Those [arts] groups that try to be fiscally responsible by doing very small, safe things generally run themselves out of business,” he says. Those that take risks, he reasons, can build audience loyalty, attract donors and survive.

“Having a big dream,” he adds, “doesn’t mean it can’t come true.”

Visit orlandoshakes.org for more information. n 26

ORLANDO LIFE

5OHL_Feb14_Profile.indd 26

For Shakes Costumier, Clothes Are the Thing

To costume designer Jack Smith, The Life & Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby is Mount Everest. And Smith — who’s designing the costumes for a new Orlando Shakespeare Theater production of the play — is thrilled to be climbing it.

“It’s a huge handful,” he says of the marathon David Edgar stage adaptation of the beloved Charles Dickens novel. “And I love it!”

The play, about a young man in mid-19th century London who must support his family after his father dies, involves 27 actors playing more than 150 characters and requires literally thousands of costume pieces.

In the early planning stages, Smith, who teaches costume design at Elon University in North Carolina, had to ship his costume drawings to Orlando. The sketches alone wound up weighing 18 pounds.

“By far, it’s the largest show that I’ve ever done in my life,” he says, noting that just keeping track of all those costume pieces may be the toughest part of the job.

Costuming is especially important in a period piece. One of the most enjoyable elements of the job for Smith is helping the actors finetune their roles through their attire and props.

Is a certain character obsessed with time? Then Smith may give the actor playing that character a pocket watch “to fiddle with.”

If the character is nearsighted, eyeglasses may be in order. And if a character is risqué, a low-cut dress may be just the thing.

Because most actors in Nicholas Nickleby play several characters, quick changes are often required. So costumes that seem to button up the front may actually be constructed to open easily at the back — held together by snaps, zippers, magnets or Velcro.

All basic equipment when you’re scaling this particular mountain.

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 5:04:08 PM

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

5OHL_Feb14_Profile.indd 27

ORLANDO LIFE

27

1/16/14 11:40:55 AM

Let Them Eat Cake!

(Or Not) THE CONNUBIAL CONFECTION STILL OCCUPIES CENTER STAGE AT WEDDING CELEBRATIONS. BUT OTHER SWEET TREATS ARE WAITING IN THE WINGS.

by Denise Bates Enos 28

ORLANDO LIFE

6OL_Feb_14_Wedding No cake.indd 28

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 11:41:30 AM

T

he cutting of the wedding cake is as important a reception ritual

have some extraordinary dessert in addition to the cake.”

Southerland has seen all sorts of sweet surprises in the weddings she plans, from ice cream stations to s’mores, specialty cakes and pies.

“Couples are offering their guests luscious desserts based on their favorites,” she adds.

You don’t have to sacrifice elegance when eschewing the traditional stacked wedding cake. Use imaginative displays for smaller delicacies, such as these dainty cupcakes under glass. Almost a third of brides are now opting for out-of-the-ordinary desserts, according to one local confectioner.

Ph ot oS: (LEFT ) AMALIE ORRANGE; (RIGHT ) Cou rt esy pott ery b arn

as the bouquet toss. But 21st-century brides are putting a sugary spin on that tradition.

Today, that towering confection might be accompanied — and occasionally upstaged — by cupcakes, cake pops, pies or other pastries.

Less frequently, it might be replaced entirely with assorted baked goods that reflect the couple’s tastes.

Wedding planner Susan Southerland, president of Just Events! in Orlando, says that many couples often want the best of both worlds.

“I’m finding that most people still want wedding cake,” she says.

“It’s such an iconic symbol for a wedding that few brides want to do away with it altogether. However, most of our couples now want to

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

6OL_Feb_14_Wedding No cake.indd 29

ORLANDO LIFE

29

1/16/14 11:41:42 AM

Dainty, artfully arranged cupcakes, mini-pies and grooms’ cakes — often emblazoned with the logo of the groom’s favorite sports team — serve as sugary accessories. The practice of including a more whimsical second cake originated in Europe, but has taken hold in the U.S., particularly in the Deep South.

Among the more unusual alternatives she’s seen include a donut food truck, which was brought in for a reception, and a massive crème brûlée that substituted for a tiered cake.

Instead of a traditional cake cutting, the crème brûlée couple staged a ceremonial cracking of the dessert’s sugar crust as guests followed suit with their individual servings.

The number of such tradition-bucking dessert requests is increasing. “Almost a third of the brides we meet are looking for cupcakes and desserts rather than a traditional stacked wedding cake,” says Jennyfer Mancino, cake designer and owner of The Sugar Suite in Maitland.

“Brides are interested in fun, and desserts just keep getting cuter and more innovative. As long as that keeps up, that trend [of opting for individual desserts instead of cakes] will continue.”

Credit the number of wedding reality shows on television and the explosion of idea-sharing on Pinterest, Instagram and other Internet resources for these push-the-envelope dessert innovations.

The wedding cake tradition has evolved over centuries, from barley cakes that grooms once broke over the heads of their brides in ancient Rome to stacks of buns over which medieval newlyweds kissed to seal their vows.

The towering white-sugar concoctions of the modern era first arose on the wedding-feast tables of the Victorian era. Around that same period, the European tradition of having a secondary cake was adopted, primarily in the Deep South. The so-called groom’s cake is small and often whimsically decorated to reflect the groom’s tastes, interests and personality.

Groom’s cakes eschew the white-frosted formality of the main cake and run the gamut from sports-themed to animal-shaped. It’s a fun way to make the groom feel more included in the wedding preparations amid all the flowers and other feminine frippery.

Obviously, today’s nearly-weds aren’t afraid to buck tradition and add their own personal detours to the usual cake walk. After all, at a wedding, there’s always room for something old and something new. n 30

ORLANDO LIFE

6OL_Feb_14_Wedding No cake.indd 30

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 11:41:59 AM

PRETTY PRESENTATIONS A variety of smaller desserts can make for a dynamic tablescape. Opt for a configurations to create visual interest. For DIY mix of materials, heights and confi brides, showcase your bounty of wedding-day treats with elegant serving pieces. We’ve included several options here for inspiration.

This dainty wire threetier cupcake stand features flower-shaped holders and scrolled feet. $29.95 at Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com.

PHOTOS: (LEFT PAGE) COURTESY THE SUGAR SUITE; (RIGHT PAGE) COURTESY POTTERY BARN, CRATE & BARREL; WILLIAMS-SONOMA

A Pottery Barn Great White cake stand, $38, provides a simple, elegant platform, with an ample serving surface to accommodate larger pastries, in a style that suits any decorative strategy. potterybarn.com

Classically simple, the pure white Pillivuyt porcelain cake stand comes in two sizes. $59.95 and $79.95 at Williams-Sonoma, williamssonoma.com.

Tiered stands are a great way to display smaller baked goods such as cookies, petit fours, mini-cupcakes and brownies. This silver round tiered stand, from Pottery Barn’s Antique line, looks like a family heirloom. $129, potterybarn.com.

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

6OL_Feb_14_Wedding No cake.indd 31

ORLANDO LIFE

31

1/16/14 11:56:59 AM

A New Leaf

32

ORLANDO LIFE

7OL_Feb_14_Wedding Flowers.indd 32

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 11:57:34 AM

After creating floral plans for countless weddings, the time had come for Linda Grier to create one for herself.

Ph ot oS: Sc ott W att Ph ot og raphy

O

by Denise Bates Enos ne thing brides-to-be soon discover is that the best anti-

dote to the stress that comes with planning a wedding is delegating tasks to trusted experts.

As owner of Greenery Productions, Linda Grier has played out the “trusted expert” part of that relationship more times than she can count. So when she planned her own marriage last year — to Al Hansen, the company’s director of outside sales — she knew better than to try the do-it-yourself approach.

Naturally, though, she didn’t have to look very far for an expert she trusted. She gave carte blanche to Tommy Murphy, the company’s wedding stylist and floral designer, to decorate the grounds of her home, where the ceremony and celebration would be set.

Grier was a low-maintenance customer with only one specific request: She wanted a bridal bouquet made of peonies and adorned with brooches from her mother and sisters. “Other than that, I let Tommy design the entire event,” she says. “I didn’t even have a consultation, look at flower pictures or pick out anything.”

Grier simply showed Murphy some pictures from Pinterest to give him an idea of the look she wanted. Then she left the rest up to him — with the caveat that he keep it simple. “I didn’t want anything elaborate,” she adds. “I didn’t want my coworkers to work so hard on New Year’s Eve.” With Grier’s blessing, Murphy created a floral fantasy using approximately 1,300 blooms, including peonies in shades of pink and burgundy, red amaranthus, Black Magic roses, miniature calla lilies in a deep purple eggplant hue, ranunculus, spray roses, stock and tulips.

The bountiful blooms were complemented with a variety of greens and other botanicals, including an assortment of evergreens, dusty miller, seeded eucalyptus and cotton branches, their fluffy balls of white still intact.

“My job was to help streamline Linda’s vision and basically come

With her own staff handling the décor, Grier says she was a lowmaintenance customer. Floral designer Tommy Murphy created a tableau featuring peonies, lilies, roses and other botanicals, including cotton branches, that transformed the surroundings into a fairytale landscape. The couple repeated their vows atop a platform covering a backyard fire pit.

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

7OL_Feb_14_Wedding Flowers.indd 33

Richard Kessler ORLANDO LIFE

33

1/16/14 11:59:10 AM

The wedding’s burgundy, raspberry and eggplant color palette was enhanced by flowers and plant arrangements placed at various strategic elevations throughout the grounds. “I wouldn’t change a thing, except I wish I would have invited a whole lot more of my friends since the wedding was so beautiful and such a blast,” says Grier.

34

ORLANDO LIFE

7OL_Feb_14_Wedding Flowers.indd 34

The Details

It takes a team to bring a dream wedding to reality.

Here’s who made the Grier-Hanson wedding magic.

Wedding stylist: Tommy Murphy, Greenery Productions Caterer: Millenia Catering, milleniacatering.com Linens: Over the Top, overthetopinc.com Photographer: Scott Watt Photography, scottwatt.com DJ: Rhythm of the Night Entertainment, therhythmofthenight.com Lighting: Get Lit Productions, get-lit-orlando.com Tables and Chairs: A Chair Affair, chairaffairrentals.com Ceremony and cocktail music: Beautiful Music, beautifulmusic.cc Wedding Cake: Party Flavors, orlandocustomcakes.com Officiant: Glynn Ferguson, Sensational Ceremonies, sensationalceremonies.com

PhotoS: Scott Watt Photography

up with something based on what I know about her, Al, their home and what was important to them,” says Murphy.

With those elements in mind, he created lush tablescapes with an abundance of blooms in containers of varying heights and materials, illuminating the alfresco setting with strings of party lights, candles, lanterns and even a full-size chandelier.

Flowers also adorned the low retaining wall framing the home’s firepit area, which served as center stage for the ceremony. To ensure that everyone would have a clear view, Murphy added a platform on top of the pit where the couple would stand as they repeated their vows.

Because of Grier’s directive to keep things simple, the ceremony area’s only adornment was a pair of purple-draped pedestals, topped with towering arrangements of flowers in the wedding’s color palette of burgundy, raspberry and eggplant.

After the ceremony, the reception went on into the wee hours of the morning as the wedding party rang in the New Year (2013) with dinner and dancing. At midnight, guests lit more than 100 “wish lanterns” that floated up toward the stars — one of Murphy’s favorite elements of the wedding.

“I wouldn’t change a thing, except I wish I would have invited a whole lot more of my friends since the wedding was so beautiful and such a blast,” she says. “Everyone wanted me to have another party this New Year’s Eve, but Al and I wanted to spend our first anniversary quietly, romantically together.” n

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 11:59:21 AM

Beyond Blooms

A good floral designer knows there’s more to successful wedding décor than just beautiful blooms. Accents and accessories lend depth, texture and significance to the setting. That’s why Grier included a variety of elements that symbolized her past, present and future.

Among the treasured pieces on display was the baby photo her mother added to the gift table. Nestled inside an antique piece of luggage, it created a charming and nostalgic tableau.

The Grier-Hanson wedding also featured family photos suspended from tree branches; an eclectic and meaningful mix of personal china, votives, mirrored trays and vessels to decorate the tables; and Grier’s antique sewing machine, which was moved outdoors to use as the table for the wedding cake.

Such sentimental mementoes can transform a wedding’s ambience from generically beautiful to genuinely meaningful.

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

7OL_Feb_14_Wedding Flowers.indd 35

ORLANDO LIFE

35

1/16/14 11:59:37 AM

O

Wedding e e Resource GUIDE

rlando Life has been a trusted resource for brides and grooms for more than a decade. The following pages list some of the region’s top wedding and event service providers.

CAKES

Bridal Registry

Anna Cakes 407-792-8096 annacakes.com

Bake Me a Cake 407-830-9006 bakemeacake.net Blue Bird Bake Shop 407-228-3822 bluebirdbakeshop.com B350 Degrees Bake Shop 732-259-8266 b350degrees.com

Stay Calm Cupcake Truck 386-366-1737 staycalmcupcake.com The Sugar Suite 321-972-8650 thesugarsuite.com Two Sweets Bake Shop lovetwosweets.com The Yum Yum Cupcake Food Truck 407-494-9336 theyumyumcupcaketruck.com

CATERING

Cha Cha’s Delights chachasdelights.com Cupcake Crazy 407-804-0229 cupcakecrazyorlando.com Cut the Cake 407-265-2205 cutthecakeinc.com It’s Tasty Too 407-920-1945 itstastytoo.com Michael Anthony Cakes 407-453-2064 michaelanthonycakes.com Mini Donut Expert Food Truck 407-506-5189 minidonutexpert.com P Is for Pie Bake Shop 407-745-4743 crazyforpies.com Party Flavors Custom Cakes 407-578-2082 orlandocustomcakes.com

LOCATED IN WINTER PARK VILLAGE 520 N. ORLANDO AVENUE, SUITE 105 • 407-740-8838 36

ORLANDO LIFE

Owen Allen WPmag Jan13.indd 1

10OL_Feb14_Wedding_Guide.indd 36

Raphsodic Bakery 407-704-8615 raphsodic.com Sprinkles Custom Cakes 407-622-7202 sprinklescakes.net

CREATIVE EVENTS & CA TERING

Arthur’s Creative Events & Catering 407-331-1993 arthurscatering.com Collins Catering 407-370-6960 collinscateringfla.com Cuisiniers Catered Cuisine & Events 407-975-8763 cuisinierscater.com John Michael Weddings & Special Events 407-894-6671 johnmichaelevents.com Millenia Catering 407-648-2296 milleniacatering.com Puff ‘n Stuff Catering 407-629-7833 puffnstuff.com Tim Webber: The Coordinator 407-649-9190 thecoordinatorinc.com

FEBRUARY 2014 1/14/14 3:20:39 PM

1/16/14 4:35:09 PM

Alfond Inn W

For your

Brian Adams PhotoGraphics

Perfect Day

Choose the

Perfect Venue

We know that you have been dreaming of this day for a long time and we look forward to making that dream a reality. The Alfond Inn specializes in turning your vision into a day that will become a treasured memory for years to come. Offering space to accommodate parties of 5 to 350, our professional wedding specialists will tailor your event to make it a truly personal experience.

Contact: Jane McLean, Director of Social Catering 407-645-6670

10OL_Feb14_Wedding_Guide.indd 37 Alfond Inn Wedding.indd 1

300 East New England Avenue 8JOUFS 1BSL '- t www.thealfondinn.com

1/16/14 2:07:44 4:35:19 PM 1/14/14

Wedding e e Resource GUIDE

CEREMONY & RECEPTION LOCATIONS

Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens 407-647-6294 polasek.org

Bella Collina 407-469-4915 bellacollina.com

Castle Hotel 407-996-3109 castlehotelorlando.com

Bice Ristorante 407-503-1415 orlando.bicegroup.com

Charles Hosmer Morse Museum 407-645-5311 morsemuseum.org

Bohemian Hotel Celebration 407-566-6000 celebrationhotel.com Bravo! Cucina Italiana 407-351-5880 bravoitalian.com

The Alfond Inn 407-998-8090 thealfondinn.com

Disney Fairy Tale Weddings 321-939-4610 disneyweddings.com

Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa 866-397-6516 buenavistapalace.com Caribe Royale 407-238-8000 thecaribeorlando.com

A&H’s Maitland Art Center 407-539-2181 artandhistory.org

Courtyard at Lake Lucerne 407-648-5188 orlandohistoricinn.com

Dubsdread Ballroom & Catering 407-650-9558 taproomatdubsdread.com English Gardens 407-644-3444 englishgardenweddings.com venues

Casa Felizand unique Offering beautiful 407-628-8200 to add magic to your special day. casafeliz.us

THE NEW CHAPTER IN YOUR

Estate House at Cypress Grove 407-749-0792 cypressgroveestatehouse.com EVO (Event Venue Orlando) 321-662-3746 eventvenueorlando.com Gaylord Palms Hotel 407-586-2270 gaylordhotels.com Grand Bohemian Hotel 407-313-9000 grandbohemianhotel.com Hard Rock Hotel 407-503-2100 hardrockhotelorlando.com Hard Rock LIVE 407-351-7625 hardrock.com/live2 Harry P. Leu Gardens 407-246-2620 leugardens.org

L OV E S T ORY

C

Heaven Event Center 407-488-1800 heaven8240.com

Kraft Azalea Gardens 407-599-3334 cityofwinterpark.org

Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek 407-597-3600 hilton.com/bonnet-creek

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel 407-503-1000 loewshotels.com

Hilton Orlando Hotel 407-313-8400 thehiltonorlando.com Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress 407-239-3955 grandcypress.hyatt.com Hyatt Regency Orlando (formerly Peabody Orlando) 407-284-1234 orlando.regency.hyatt.com

Loews Royal Pacific Resort 407-503-3122 loewshotels.com The Mezz 407-704-6261 artfulevents.com Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate 407-390-6664 omnihotels.com Orange County Regional History Center 407-836-8500 thehistorycenter.org

Photo Credit: Rhodes Studios

STARTS HERE .

7 0ACKWOOD !VENUE -AITLAND &, s s WWW ARTANDHISTORY ORG

lassic and elegant. Or intimate and delicate. Rosen Plaza Hotel knows how to choreograph a wedding with the energy Maitland art history wedding feb 12.indd 1 1/19/12 12:04:04 PM and charm you desire. Featuring enchanting atmospheres in a prime location embedded in the heart of Orlando, your big day will be truly memorable for bride, groom and guests.

For a private consultation with a wedding specialist, call 407.996.9700.

9700 International Drive | Orlando, FL 32819 RosenWeddings.com

W E DELI V ER ROM A NCE . W E DELI V ER OR L A NDO.

38

ORLANDO LIFE

10OL_Feb14_Wedding_Guide.indd 38

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 4:35:50 PM

Walk on Wa

ALEX AND ANI MADE IN AMERICA WITH LOVE速 | WWW.ALEXANDANI.COM

A Unique Boutique with Purpose www.WalkonWaterfl.com

COLONIAL TOWN PARK Colonial Town Park 1140 TOWNPARK AVE | SUITE 12501250 1140 Townpark Ave. Suite Lake Mary, FL 32746 LAKE MARY, FL | 407.805.0477 407- 805-0477

Walk on Water OL Feb14.indd 1 10OL_Feb14_Wedding_Guide.indd 39

WINTER PARK VILLAGE 460 ORLANDO AVE106 | SUITE 106 460 Orlando Ave. Suite Winter Park, FL FL 32789 WATER PARK, | 407.539.2079

Winter Park Village 407-539-2079

1/16/14 1/16/14 10:10:51 4:36:04 AM PM

B

Wedding

e the new you.

Resource GUIDE

Stylissima

Tuscawilla Country Club 407-366-1851 tuscawillacc.com

Orlando Museum of Art 407-896-4231 omart.org

F ASHION C

Universal Orlando Weddings & Celebrations 888-331-9108 universalorlandoweddings. com

Orlando Science Center 407-514-2000 osc.org ONSULTING Paradise Cove Orlando 407-239-6939 paradisecoveorlando.com

S

Park Plaza Gardens tylissima is a full service fashion consulting company that provides individual 407-645-2475 parkplazagardens.com personal shopping, wardrobe assessment, travel packing as well as Glam Squad or special occasion consultation. Stylissima’s goal is complete enhancement - creating Ritz-Carlton an empowered Orlando, Grande Lakes you inside and out with a special focus on color preferences, body shape and407-206-2400 personal style.

‡ CLOSET ASSESSMENT ‡ WARDROBE STYLING ‡ SPECIAL OCCASION STYLING ‡ TRAVEL PACKING e the you. ‡ FASHION SHOWnew PRODUCTION

B

Stylissima OFF 20% B

S

Wardrobe styling Ä“ Travel packing Ä“ Fashion production Closet assessment Ä“ Personal shopping

with noconsulting obligation tylissima is a full service fashion company that provides individual personal shopping, wardrobe assessment, travel packing well as Glam Squad or special (please present this brochure forasdiscount.) occasion consultation. Stylissima’s goal is complete enhancement - creating an empowered you inside and out with a special focus onLUNGA color preferences, body shape and personal style.

ARIANNE IOUF

Stylissima

M

I F

ASHION

S

B

Winter Park Racquet Club 407-644-2226 wprc.net

Stylissima Winter Park Wedding Chapel 407-539-1538 winterparkweddingchaF ASHION C ONSULTING pel.com

S

Villas of Grand Cypress

Rosen Hotel tylissima is aCentre full service fashion consulting company that provides individual 407-239-4700 407-996-9840 personal shopping, wardrobe assessment, travel packing as well as Glam Squad or special grandcypress.com rosencentre.com occasion consultation.

Stylissima’s goal is complete enhancement - creating an empowered you inside and out with a special focus on color preferences, body shape and personal style.

‡ CLOSET ASSESSMENT Blush by Brandee Gaar 407-394-8892 ‡ WARDROBE STYLING blushbbg.com ‡ SPECIAL OCCASION STYLING Rosen Plaza Hotel CCH Weddings + Events ‡ TRAVEL PACKING 407-996-9700 407-228-1901 rosenplaza.com ‡ FASHION SHOW PRODUCTION cchweddings.com Elegant Weddings of Orlando 407-574-4851 elegantweddingsoforSERVICE lando.com

20%OFF

Rosen Shingle Creek 407-996-9933 ANY rosenshinglecreek.com

C ONSULTING

STYLISSIMA FASHION CONSULTING

‡ WARDROBE STYLING ‡ SPECIAL OCCASION STYLING 10OL_Feb14_Wedding_Guide.indd 40 ‡ TRAVEL PACKING

e the new you.

Rocco’s Italian Grille 407-644-7770 roccositaliangrille.com

D

‡ CLOSET ASSESSMENT .STYLISSIMA COM tylissima is aWWW full service fashion consulting company that.provides individual ‡ WARDROBE STYLING personal shopping, wardrobe assessment, travel packing as well as Glam Squad or special consultation. Stylissima’s goal is complete enhancement - creating an empowered occasion .,

a %%

‡ SPECIAL OCCASION STYLING you inside and out with a special focus on color preferences, body shape and personal style.

TRAVEL 40 ‡ ORLANDO LIFE PACKING ‡ CLOSET ASSESSMENT ‡ FASHION Stylissima from flyer.indd 2 SHOW PRODUCTION 1/3/14

Windermere Country Club 407-876-1112 windermeregolf.com

the-ritz-carlton. grandelakes.com

COORDINATING & CONSULTING

F ASHION C ONSULTING ANY SERVICE

e the new you.

Free Consultation

Waldorf Astoria Orlando 407-597-5500 waldorfastoriaorlando.com

Free Consultation

A Flair for Affairs with no obligation Timacuan Golf & 407-896-1476 (please present this brochure for discount.)

Country Club aflairforaffairs.com M407-321-0010 ARIANNE ILUNGA DIOUF golftimacuan.com STYLISSIMA FASHION CONSULTING WWW.STYLISSIMA.COM

.,

a %%

FEBRUARY 2014 10:49:04 AM

1/16/14 4:36:40 PM

Reynolds a

A� ��a� �litte� …

Wedding ◆ Engagement ◆ Anniversary ◆ Birthday

V��entine’s D�� Since 1974

232 North Park Av enue •

Reynolds and Co FP OL FEb14.indd 41 10OL_Feb14_Wedding_Guide.indd 1

Winter Park •

4 07. 6 4 5 . 2 278•

w w w. Rey n o l d s J ewe l e r.co m

1/16/14 4:36:47 9:21:47 PM AM

Wedding e e Resource GUIDE

Jamie M. O’Donnell Event Planning & Design 321-206-6318 jamiemodonnell.com

27 Miracles Wedding Consulting 407-905-5454 27miraclesbyrosie.com

Joie de Vie Weddings & Events 407-296-4008 joiedevieevents.com

Weddings Inc. 407-964-1215 weddingsincorlando.com

Just Events!

407-259-2388 justeventsgroup.com Michele Butler Events 407-365-4729 michelebutlerevents.com StyleHouse Weddings & Events 407-329-4220 stylehouseweddings.com Tickled Pink Brides 407-455-0500 tickledpinkbrides.com

Weddings Unique 407-629-7111 weddingsunique.com Wonderful Weddings 407-629-1849 wonderfulweddingsorlando.com

DECORATING

Birchmore Group 407-478-1616 birchmoregroup.com A Chair Affair 386-479-4308 chairaffairrentals.com Charming Events 407-252-8369 weddingdecorator.net

Classic Event Decorating 352-343-5574 cedecorating.com

Beautiful Music 407-718-0752 beautifulmusic.cc

Blooms Of Winter Park 407-975-4935 flowersinwinterpark.com

Exclusive Linens by S&S 407-448-0680 exclusivelinens.com

Crystal Lake DJ Productions 407-248-1140 crystallakedj.com

Blossoms Orlando 407-463-4272 blossomsorlando.com

Get Lit Productions 407-615-4418 get-lit-orlando.com Kamini Design 407-388-1427 kaminidesign.com Max King Events 407-704-7944 maxkingevents.com Suzanne Nichols Design 407-833-9651 suzannenichols.com

ENTERTAINMENT Al Dee Productions 321-214-0834 adpentertainment.com

Carly Ane’s Floral Studio 407-294-7978 weddingsbycarlyanes.com

Day Entertainment 407-601-3962 dayentertains.com Rhythm of the Night Entertainment 407-466-1570 orlandodjvideo.com Tagas Event & Production Services 407-826-5833 orlandodjvideo.com

FLORISTS

Atmospheres Floral and Décor 407-203-8827 atmospheresfloral.com

Dream Designs Florist & Wedding Boutique 407-896-1199 dreamdesignsflorist.com The Flower Lady 407-709-8357 yourflowerlady.com Greenery Productions 407-363-9151 greeneryproductions.com Lee Forrest Design 407-770-0440 leeforrestdesign.com Lee James Floral Designs 407-897-5300 leejamesfloral.com Peddles 407-339-0663 peddles.com Petals by Design 407-363-1800 petalsorlando.com

Deanna Meredith Photography

Raining Roses Productions 407-854-3500 rainingroses.biz

OFFERING BEAUTIFUL & UNIQUE VENUES TO ADD MAGIC TO YOUR SPECIAL DAY

231 W. Packwood Avenue • Maitland www.ArtandHistory.org • 407.539.2181

42

ORLANDO LIFE

10OL_Feb14_Wedding_Guide.indd 42

Windermere Flowers & Gifts 407-296-9002 windermereflowersandgifts.com

GIFTS

Owen Allen 407-740-8838 owenallen.com

Walk on Water 407-539-2079 / 407-805-0477 walkonwaterfl.com

INVITATIONS

Dragonfly Custom Design 407-521-2144 dragonflycustomdesign. com Maureen H. Hall Stationery and Invitations 407-629-6999 maureenhallinvitations. com Paper Shop 407-644-8700 papershop.com

JEWELERS Be On Park 407-644-1106 beonpark.com Cartier 407-248-9886 cartier.com Jewels by Peter B 407-647-5581 jewelsbypeterb.com

Reynolds & Company Jewelers 407-645-2278 reynoldsjeweler.com Tiffany & Co. 407-351-3133 tiffany.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS Allan Jay Images 407-252-8094 allanjayimages.com

Brian Pepper Photography 407-504-7377 orlandoweddingpix.com Damon Tucci Photography 407-835-7879 damontucci.com

O

I y o a w m o

E

i2eyestudio 407-808-3533 i2eyestudio.com

A W

John J. Unrue Photography 407-629-5292 unruephoto.com

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 4:42:28 PM

LUXURIOUS ELEGANCE. CONTEMPORARY STYLE. YOUR WEDDING.

ONLY AT WALDORF ASTORIA ORLANDO. Imagine the luxurious wedding of your dreams at the Waldorf Astoria® Orlando. You’ll have your own dedicated specialist who will create the beautiful wedding you’ve always wanted on either our signature private island or stunning Grand Ballroom. For your reception, you and the groom will enjoy your own personal butler and your guests will be treated to classic white glove service. It will be a day where every dream will be brought to life and every moment will last a lifetime. Please contact our Wedding Specialist at 877.747.6048 or visit WaldorfAstoriaOrlando.com/ohlwed

EXTRAORDINARY PLACES. A SINGULAR EXPERIENCE. At each of our landmark destinations around the globe, experience the personalized Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts service that creates unforgettable moments.

WaldorfAstoriaOrlando.com

©2014 Hilton Worldwide

10OL_Feb14_Wedding_Guide.indd 43

1/16/14 4:42:37 PM

M ADE FOR

BRIDAL BLISS. Undeniably luxurious, Rosen Shingle Creek redefines what hosting a wedding in Orlando means. Here, wedding celebrations are meticulously planned, flawlessly executed and thoroughly remembered. Not simply because we are home to Orlando’s only unique two-story ballroom, but because no other hotel can deliver the ultimate beginning to your happily ever after.

Mention Orlando Life for a special amenity.

For a private consultation with our Wedding Specialist, call 407.996.9939 or email sales@RosenShingleCreek.com.

9939 Universal Blvd. | Orlando, FL 32819 RosenWeddings.com

NO OT H E R HOT E L DE L I V E R S I NSPI R E D OR L A N D O W E DDI NG S L I K E ROSE N SH I NGL E CR E E K .

S

44

ORLANDO LIFE

10OL_Feb14_Wedding_Guide.indd 44

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 4:42:48 PM

So Many Beautiful Reasons to Choose Arthur’s…

We make weddings delicious. It’s just that simple. Call us today to plan yours.

the life of the party!

ARTH UR ’ S

C R E AT I V E E V E N T S & C AT E R I N G

10OL_Feb14_Wedding_Guide.indd 45

407.331.1993

www.arthurscatering.com

Visit our new web site for creative menu ideas!

1/16/14 4:42:54 PM

Wedd ing î Ľ î Ľ B

e the new you.

Stylissima F ASHION C ONSULTING

S

tylissima is a full service fashion consulting company that provides individual personal shopping, wardrobe assessment, travel packing as well as Glam Squad or special occasion consultation. Stylissima’s goal is complete enhancement - creating an empowered you inside and out with a special focus on color preferences, body shape and personal style.

RESOURCE GUIDE

Katie [Meehan] Crawford Photography 407-574-4852 katiemeehan.com Kevin Keelan Photographers kevinkeelan.com

KMD Creations 407-212-1845 kmdcreations.com

STYLISTS

Studio222 Photography 407-808-7225 studio222photography. com

Scott Watt Photography 407-308-5211 scottwatt.com

‡ CLOSET ASSESSMENT ‡ WARDROBE STYLING ‡ SPECIAL OCCASION STYLING ‡ TRAVEL PACKING e the new you. ‡ FASHION SHOW PRODUCTION

B

Stylissima

20% B S

ASHION

Elsie Knab Hair & Make-Up 407-463-4528 elsieknab.com

Sunshine Photographics 407-481-8425 sunshinephotographics. com

ONSULTING

tylissima is a full service fashion consulting company that provides individual Wardrobe styling • Travel packing • Fashion production personal shopping, wardrobe assessment, travel packing as well as Glam Squad or special Closet assessment • Personal shopping occasion consultation. Stylissima’s goalno is complete enhancement - creating an empowered with obligation you inside and out with a special focus on color preferences, body shape and personal style.

Stylissima

(please present this brochure for discount.)

‡ CLOSET ASSESSMENT ARIANNE LUNGA IOUF F ASHION C ONSULTING ‡ WARDROBE STYLING STYLISSIMA FASHION CONSULTING ‡ SPECIAL OCCASION STYLING WWW STYLISSIMA COM ‡ TRAVEL tylissima is a full service fashion consulting company that provides individual PACKING personal shopping, wardrobe assessment, travel packing as well as Glam Squad or special ‡ FASHION SHOW PRODUCTION

.,

a %%

M

I

.

S

D

.

Stylissima Fashion Consulting ‡ CLOSET ASSESSMENT 407-404-1136 OFF ‡ WARDROBE 20% STYLING Free Consultation ‡ SPECIAL stylissima.com OCCASION STYLING

occasion consultation. Stylissima’s goal is complete enhancement - creating an empowered you inside and out with a special focus on color preferences, body shape and personal style.

Stylissima from flyer.indd

2

ANY SERVICE

with no obligation

‡ TRAVEL PACKING (please present this brochure for discount.) ‡ FASHION SHOW PRODUCTION MARIANNE ILUNGA DIOUF

TRANSPORTATION

STYLISSIMA FASHION CONSULTING

. .

Arango’s Limousine WWW STYLISSIMA COM

OFF Services 20%

.,

a %%

ANY SERVICE

Free Consultation 407-430-8402 arangoslimo.com MARIANNE ILUNGA DIOUF with no obligation (please present this brochure for discount.)

STYLISSIMA FASHION CONSULTING WWW.STYLISSIMA.COM

SAVE THE DATE Join us for the 2014 Orlando Heart Ball 4BUVSEBZ .BSDI Ĺ­ QN QN $PNF &YQMPSF XJUI VT

Enjoy a unique evening of dining, exploring, dancing, auctions and one-of-a-kind, exclusive SeaWorldÂŽ experiences to support the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association.

'PS NPSF JOGPSNBUJPO QMFBTF DBMM or visit orlandoheartball.ahaevents.org

)&"35 #"-- $)"*34 Reagan )&"35 #"-- $)"*34 Reagan and Ellen Rick EXECUTIVE -&"%&34)*1 5&". .BSUZ .D"OESFX +BNFT 1SBUU ;JBE (IBOFN Michael J. Miller Dr. Barbara Czerska Secily Wilson

Anne Naylor Helen Donegan Ann Sonntag Dr. Katia Gugucheva Dr. Kirsten Carter

1/5/11

Brides by Demetrios 407-869-5277 demetriosbride.com

Calvet Couture Bridal 407-245-7000 calvetcouturebridal.com 9:41:49 AM

The Collection Bridal 407-740-6003 thecollectionbridal.com David’s Bridal 407-355-9811 / 407-767-8215 davidsbridal.com

Elite Transportation 407-996-7171 elite-transportation.com

Formal Spot 407-578-1896 formalspot.com

High Horse Carriage Rides Inc. 386-334-4386 highhorsecarriagerides. com

Solutions Bridal 407-647-8666 solutionsbridal.com

.,

a %%

Terry Prather Bertica Morris Paul Baker Jose Fernandez Ian Robinson Sherry Magee

WEDDING ATTIRE: BRIDAL

LeJeune Hair & Make-Up Artistry F C 407-203-3866 OFF ANYyou.

SERVICE e the new lejeuneartistry.com Free Consultation

A Triple Crown Limousine 407-660-0060 orlandosuvlimousine.com VIP Transportation Group 407-822-7755 viptg.com

VIDEOGRAPHERS

WEDDING ATTIRE: TUXEDOS, FORMALWEAR Bloomingdale’s 407-264-2400 bloomingdales.com

John Craig 407-629-7944 / 407-393-3747 johncraigclothier.com

Cinematique Films 407-810-0627 cinematiqueďŹ lms.com

Jos. A. Bank Various Locations Josbank.com

Lasting Blueprint Productions 407-536-8424 lastingblueprint.com

Men’s Wearhouse Various Locations menswearhouse.com

Pro One Video 407-852-0788 proonevideo.com

Nordstrom 407-888-7889 / 321-558-3800 nordstrom.com

SugarPop Films 407-575-7565 sugarpopďŹ lms.com

T&A Formal Wear 407-251-6900

4QFDJBM UIBOLT UP PVS 0SMBOEP )FBSU #BMM 4QPOTPST

"MFSF 7"%$BSF 1SPHSBN Brasfield & Gorrie Dr. Barbara Czerska 'MPSJEB &NFSHFODZ Physicians

'MPSJEB )PTQJUBM Orlando Solar Bears 5 1JDUPO 8BSMPX *7 Walgreens

.FEJB 4QPOTPS

Š2014 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.

46

ORLANDO LIFE

10OL_Feb14_Wedding_Guide.indd 46

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 4:43:32 PM

“WHAT I DREAMED FOR MY WEDDING, ROSEN CENTRE MADE A REALITY.” From the breathtaking reception spaces to tantalizing custom menus to whatever you wish for, Rosen Centre Hotel is committed to ensuring the dreams of your wedding day pale in comparison to its reality.

For more information about our Rest Assured ® Weddings, contact our Wedding Specialist at 407.996.9840 or email YourSpecialDay@RosenCentre.com.

Inquire about also hosting your bridal shower, rehearsal dinner and bachelor/bachelorette parties at Rosen Centre.

Photo: Michael Cairns

RosenCentre.com

WE DELIVER DR EAMS. WE DELIVER ORLANDO.

February 14th - 16th For Tickets Call 407-426-1739

Sponsored in part by

Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre | OrlandoBallet.org ORLANDO-LIFE.COM Orlando Life R&J2.indd 1

10OL_Feb14_Wedding_Guide.indd 47

ORLANDO LIFE

47

1/15/14 3:57 PM

1/16/14 4:43:59 PM

10OL_Feb14_Wedding_Guide.indd 48

1/16/14 4:44:15 PM

SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE PUBLICATION

9OL_Feb_14_McGrath 8 page_SIZE2.indd 1

1/17/14 10:55:48 AM

This circa 1970s home was remodeled throughout and got an addition as well as an array of upscale finishes and details, including a beautiful coffered ceiling in the family room.

BEFORE

9OL_Feb_14_McGrath 8 page_SIZE2.indd 2

1/17/14 10:56:06 AM

Partnership

Marion and Jack McGrath flanked by sons Tim Haney (left) and Greg Haney (right).

TOGETHER, JACK AND MARION MCGRATH HAVE BUILT MORE THAN A SUCCESSFUL COMPANY.

F

for Life

rom the time he was a small child growing up in Belmont, Mass., Jack McGrath loved to build things. If it involved wood, nails and the use of tools, he happily spent hours crafting everything from birdhouses to boats; from go-carts to mini-bikes.

“I loved creating something from nothing,” says Jack. “I liked solving problems and finding new ways to transform and create things.”

Whether his aptitude was hereditary or not is unknown. Jack was adopted at 6 months of age by John and Mable McGrath, and knows nothing about his birth parents.

His adoptive father, however, held a Ph.D. and was an associate professor of education at the State University of New York in Potsdam before becoming Superintendent of Schools in Belmont. His mother was “the driving force behind the family,” Jack recalls, raising three children — Jack and his sister and brother — each of whom were just a year apart in age.

“My adoptive parents saw talent in me, and did everything they could to promote it,” recalls Jack, who today with his wife, Marion, JONATHANMCGRATHCONSTRUCTION.COM

9OL_Feb_14_McGrath 8 page_SIZE2.indd 3

owns one of the most successful home remodeling companies in Central Florida. “Both of my parents were highly motivated, and they were leaders.”

Jonathan McGrath Construction, headquartered in Longwood, celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2014. That’s a major milestone for any family-owned business, but particularly in the highly competitive — and highly volatile — world of remodeling.

This, then, is the story of a business that has successfully weathered economic ups and downs while many of its competitors have faltered.

But it’s also the story of a married couple — Jack and Marion McGrath — whose unwavering respect for one another has allowed them to form a productive and rewarding partnership in both business and in life.

Jack is the technician, the analytical problem solver, the innovative visionary who can look at a tired and dated home and see potential that other builders might miss.

Marion is the marketer, the business-savvy extrovert who draws 30TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE PUBLICATION 3

1/17/14 10:59:12 AM

This once-nondescript lakefront home was transformed into a spectacular showplace via a modern exterior, a second floor and an open porch with a summer kitchen (facing page).

BEFORE customers with the warmth of her personality and makes certain the business runs smoothly so Jack can build without distractions.

And she’ll also brag on Jack’s behalf when he seems reluctant to do so. “Jack’s projects are his little masterpieces,” she says. “We’ve had clients tell us, ‘Everybody else we talked to was just an order taker. Jack had such great design ideas.’”

It’s been that way for 30 years, and 2014 is shaping up to be one of the best in company history as the economy picks up steam and homeowners who had waited to embark on renovation projects decide that now is the time to move forward.

“I would rate my experience with Jonathan McGrath Construction a perfect 10! My home turned out exactly as I had envisioned it would. You can’t tell where the old stops and the new begins, everything blends perfectly.”

— Chris, Altamonte Springs

BORN TO BUILD

Although Jack was always building something, he distinctly remembers his first major project. He was 13, and decided he wanted to build a boat. “My dad told me that if I could build a boat that didn’t leak, then he’d finance an outboard motor for it,” he recalls.

So Jack took part-time jobs, earned money to buy the plywood and pieced together what proved to be an airtight watercraft. His dad, as promised, financed an engine. “I paid it back, $10 a week,” he says. “We even wrote up a contract.”

Jack took mill carpentry in high school — and made extra money building and repairing various items for his teachers — while learning to make doors, windows and furniture from rough lumber. He later finished first in his class at Newton Technical College, where he further honed his mill carpentry skills.

Eager to leave New England and its harsh winters, Jack says he “flipped a coin” to decide whether to make his way to Florida or California. Florida won, so he and his first wife made their way to the Sunshine State in 1979.

But Jack, then 21, was surprised to find that remodeling wasn’t exactly booming in Florida.

The Boston area, of course, was packed

4 30TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE PUBLICATION

9OL_Feb_14_McGrath 8 page_SIZE2.indd 4

with homes a century old or older. And their owners were in constant need of remodelers who understood how to update vintage structures without destroying their historic character.

Not so in Orlando, where “old” generally meant pre-Disney. “When I got here, I tried to get jobs remodeling,” Jack recalls. “People said, ‘Remodeling? What’s that?’”

He soon joined Snapp Construction, a company that did mostly new commercial projects. It wasn’t exactly the kind of work he’d dreamed of doing.

“There were companies doing remodeling, but mostly as a fill-in between other jobs,” Jack says. “And there were a lot of handymen in trucks. But very few people were hanging out their shingles as professional remodelers.”

In 1984, Jack experienced four milestones. His marriage ended, he started flying lessons, and he left Snapp Construction to start his own company, a one-man operation then called Carpentry by Jack.

“I always had more work than I could handle,” says Jack. “I was working crazy hours.”

Luckily for Carpentry by Jack, those ubiquitous cedar shingle houses, which were all the rage in the ‘70s, were starting to look shabby and were in need of repairs JONATHANMCGRATHCONSTRUCTION.COM

1/17/14 10:59:26 AM

BEFORE a decade after they were built. It wasn’t fullfledged remodeling, but it was a start.

Jack’s jobs began to get progressively bigger, including requests for kitchen and bathroom renovations and even wholehouse remodels. He got his contractor’s license in 1994 and changed his company’s name to Jonathan McGrath Construction.

Finally, he was doing the kind of work for which he had a passion.

Things were going Jack’s way personally as well. In 1991 he met Marion Haney, an assistant vice president for marketing at American Pioneer Life Insurance. The couple married the following year.

THE COOLEST THING

Marion, a native of Pittsburgh, had also been married before and had come to Florida in 1978 with her husband, who worked at Martin Marietta.

Now single and doing work that left her unfulfilled, she appreciated the fact that Jack was creating something his clients could see, touch and fall in love with.

People need insurance, but it’s difficult to form an emotional attachment to it. That, Marion realized, was what was missing in her professional life.

“I came from finance and marketing, so we had diverse backgrounds,” she says.

“Jack wanted to start buying homes and JONATHANMCGRATHCONSTRUCTION.COM

9OL_Feb_14_McGrath 8 page_SIZE2.indd 5

DOING GOOD Jonathan McGrath Construction believes in giving back to the community and helping those less fortunate. Here are a few of the organizations the company helps to support: n Help Save a Limb. The McGraths’ granddaughter, Emma, was born without a fibula, but doctors were able to save her foot instead of amputating it. One in 100 children born today face needless amputation for conditions readily treatable with modern technology. The mission behind Help Save a Limb is to spread the word that limb and joint preservation is a viable treatment versus amputation. n Elevate Orlando. This organization is dedicated to equipping and empowering underserved youth to graduate from high school with a plan for the future. This is accomplished through mentoring relationships and public school courses rooted in character education and leadership. n Christian Help. This organization is dedicated to helping people find jobs while providing for them materially and spiritually. In addition to finding jobs, it also focuses on reducing hunger and providing hope for those less fortunate. n The HBA Foundation. The charitable arm of the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando was established to raise funds for organizations that help children and families in need, and is responsible for donating more than $1 million to youth-related charities and scholarships throughout Central Florida.

30TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE PUBLICATION 5

1/17/14 10:59:35 AM

After removal of a loft, the family room in this once-dated California-style home was transformed by a soaring vaulted ceiling and rustic-chic finishes.

BEFORE fixing them up and thought I ought to get a real-estate license and work with him.”

After selling an intangible like insurance, Marion says, “I thought building was the coolest thing ever.” She got her license in 1996 and joined her husband in business that same year.

Never one to do anything halfway, Marion became a leader in the building and remodeling industry. She was mentored by Stephen Gidus, a respected local remodeler and custom builder who died in 2012 of stomach cancer at the age of 50.

“Stephen saw something in me that I didn’t see,” says Marion. Gidus, who was later elected president of the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando, got her

“Jonathan McGrath Construction far exceeded our expectations. We would highly recommend Jonathan McGrath for a job done right the first time.

Thanks for our beautiful new family room.”

— Melinda, Altamonte Springs

involved in the organization’s Remodelers’ Council, which she chaired in 2002.

By 2011, Marion was so highly regarded that she was elected president of the HBA. She was only the second woman — and the second remodeler, after Gidus — to lead the trade association during its 60year history.

She used her term to make HBA membership synonymous with quality and reliability, and implemented several longterm programs to boost the association’s public profile.

In the meantime, Jonathan McGrath Construction continued to grow. Even during the Great Recession, the company was one of a handful that withstood the financial hit, in part by doing smaller jobs for past clients.

“About 30 to 40 percent of our business involves doing work for people we’ve worked for before,” says Marion. “We’ve had our ups and downs, but our great clients kept us going.”

Of course, Jack and Marion are more than business partners. Although they have no children together, Jack has been “a phenomenal stepdad” to Marion’s children, Tim, now 33, and Greg, now 28. The couple also dotes on their three grandchildren.

“Whatever the kids needed, it was all

6 30TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE PUBLICATION

9OL_Feb_14_McGrath 8 page_SIZE2.indd 6

about them as far as Jack was concerned,” Marion says. “He sacrificed a lot and did an incredible job.”

To show her appreciation, several years ago Marion bought Jack an airplane. Or at least the components of a single-engine seaplane, which he built himself.

It’s a measure of their complete faith in his craftsmanship, Marion notes, that family and friends practically beg him to take them flying. He even piloted the plane to Cape Cod last summer.

The McGraths also enjoy traveling and boating. Marion, in particular, loves live music, especially classic rock. Her Facebook friends know that it’s a rare concert that she doesn’t attend and post photographs from.

MORE PASSION THAN JOB

To Jack and Marion — and to their loyal staffers — remodeling is much more than a way to make a living. It’s a way to improve the lives of others.

“Renovation is more a passion than a job,” Jack says. “I love the challenge.”

Even though there aren’t many New England-style Victorians on which to ply his trade, Jack notes that homes built in the ‘70s and ‘80s pose their own set of difficulties.

“Sometimes, once we get to a house,

JONATHANMCGRATHCONSTRUCTION.COM

1/17/14 10:59:46 AM

A wall was removed to open this previously cramped kitchen to the adjacent family room. The room was then outfitted with a dramatic island and new cabinetry.

BEFORE everybody has worked on it,” Jack says. “A handyman type may have pretty much destroyed it. Everybody has heard the horror stories. But we’re full service. We can figure out a way to make it right.”

In fact, Jack’s “outside-of-the-box” thinking has enabled him to complete jobs that others might have found too daunting to tackle.

“I like to say that I’ve learned 100 ways to do the impossible,” says Jack, whose professional designations include Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR), Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) and Certified Green Professional (CGP). “No challenge or obstacle is ever too large to overcome.”

For example, he recently met with clients who wanted a larger kitchen and a higher ceiling for their circa-1970 home.

When raising the roof proved to be too expensive, Jack suggested lowering the floor instead.

It sounded far-fetched, but given Jack’s reputation, the clients gave him the OK to proceed. The result? A big gourmet kitchen with abundant natural light and soaring ceilings. And the project was completed on budget.

“The important thing is,” Jack says, “you’ve got to find somebody you can trust.” 

JONATHANMCGRATHCONSTRUCTION.COM

9OL_Feb_14_McGrath 8 page_SIZE2.indd 7

HONORS GALORE Jonathan McGrath Construction’s projects have earned numerous awards for excellence. In 2003, Remodeling magazine, one of the industry’s leading publications, named the company to its prestigious “Big 50” list. And for the past 13 years, the McGraths have been proud members of The Patriots, a remodeling network through which national leaders in the industry share best practices. Here are some of the other honors the company has received: 2011  Parade of Homes: First Place, WholeHouse Renovation 2010  Parade of Homes: First Place, WholeHouse Renovation with Addition 2009  Parade of Homes: First Place, Exterior Renovation 2008  Parade of Homes: First Place, Kitchen Renovation with Addition; Grand Award, Remodeler’s Showcase 2007  Parade of Homes: Merit Award, Master Suite  Chrysalis Award: Regional and national Winner, Best Bathroom Remodel 2006  Parade of Homes: First Place, Whole-

House Renovation, Builders Choice Award, Associates Choice Award, Grand Award 2005  Parade of Homes: Merit Award, Builders Choice Award, Associates Choice Award, 2004  MAME Award: Best Remodeling Award 2003  MAME Award: Best Remodeling Project  Parade of Homes: First Place, WholeHouse Renovation 2002  MAME Award: Best Remodeling Project Parade of Homes: First Place, Addition and Whole-House Renovation 2001  MAME Award: Best Remodeling Project  Parade of Homes: First Place, Addition

30TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE PUBLICATION 7

1/17/14 10:59:56 AM

BEFORE

“I toured several of the Jonathan McGrath Construction Parade of Homes entries and was impressed with the attention to detail. In my initial meeting with Jack, I was even more impressed with the attention to detail, hands-on approach and the attentive staff, who followed through on all the details.”

— Ann, Longwood

1681 Powell St. 407-260-8077 jonathanmcgrathconstruction.com

This Zen-like master bathroom, which features a custom-built Japanese soaking tub and water flowing from a spout in the ceiling, won a prestigious national Chrysalis Award.

CREATING MASTERPIECES You don’t last in a business like remodeling for 30 years without offering creativity, expertise and value. But there are other remodelers from which to choose. So what sets Jonathan McGrath Construction apart?

“It’s Jack’s name on those houses,” says Marion. “If it’s not up to par, then it’s not a Jonathan McGrath job.”

The company is a design/build firm, which means it offers everything from conception through completion, with a single point of contact for the client. Services include wholehouse renovations, additions and interior and exterior rehabs. They’re also specialists at creating state-of-the-art kitchens, bathrooms, master bedroom suites and more.

Over the years, the company has identified the region’s finest tradespeople and assembled a loyal cadre of partners who understand the level of workmanship the McGraths require and consistently deliver.

Every job starts with a consultation during which project objectives are discussed and fleshed out. If you have plans, bring them. If not, just bring your ideas. The company can even help with financing through a local correspondent lender who shops for the best rates and helps devise a plan perfectly suited to your situation.

You’ll get a comprehensive written proposal for your project at the outset, and you can be as involved — or as uninvolved — as you choose to be. Either way, Jack personally visits every job site, and you’re kept constantly informed as the work progresses.

“Each remodeling project that we’re involved in is as unique as the homeowners themselves,” says Jack. “We believe in creating masterpieces, one client at a time.”

CBC 057296

8 30TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE PUBLICATION

9OL_Feb_14_McGrath 8 page_SIZE2.indd 8

JONATHANMCGRATHCONSTRUCTION.COM

1/17/14 11:00:11 AM

REMOD E L ORLANDO

PHOTOS: TERAN PHOTOGRAPHY

FROM FORLORN TO FABULOUS

11OL_Feb14 Remodel.indd 57

Other builders advised the owner of a 1950s block house in Bell Isle to tear it down and start over. However, Nathan Cross of NWC Construction thought it could be brought back to life through a less-expensive whole-house remodel. The bathroom, shown here, is just one highlight of this award-winning project, which is detailed on the accompanying pages.

PUBLISHED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE REMODEL AND DESIGN COUNCIL OF THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF METRO ORLANDO

1/16/14 4:31:54 PM

REMODEL MEMBER DIRECTORY

Remodel and Design Council

The companies listed below are members of the Remodel/Design Council of the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando. Their membership is an indicator of their commitment to professionalism, continuing education and customer satisfaction. For more information about the council, call the HBA at 407-629-9242 or visit hbaofmetroorlando.com.

CONTRACTOR MEMBERS

YOU CAN COUNT ON THESE PROS

Welcome to the third edition of Remodel Orlando.

As chair of the Remodel and Design Council, I’m excited about this special section and about our new partnership with Orlando Life.

The council is part of the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metro Orlando. The HBA, one of the area’s largest and oldest trade associations, has been recognized for 60 years as the voice of Central Florida’s housing industry.

Our purpose is to educate the public, promote the industry, take a proactive role in governmental and regulatory issues, and provide programs and services that enhance our members’ ability to do business in a professional and competent manner.

Professionalism is why the businesses listed to the right are the ones you want to consult before remodeling your home. By being council members, these builders, designers and suppliers have shown their commitment to making your project — and every project they tackle — the best that it can be.

I hope you enjoy the articles and photographs in Remodel Orlando. I look forward to upcoming issues, where you’ll see more projects highlighted and more information on home improvements and the people who make them happen.

In the meantime, if you’re considering a remodel project, check with the HBA to make sure that the company you plan on using is state-licensed for your safety and protection.

Mike Lewellen, Owner Five Star Construction Services Chairperson, Remodel and Design Council 58

ORLANDO LIFE

11OL_Feb14 Remodel.indd 58

BUILDERS/REMODELERS A.C. Ernst Building Corporation 407-718-0303

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ADVERTISING/ PUBLICATIONS Builder/Architect Magazine 407-321-6447

Adventure in Building 407-222-5582

Orlando Life / Florida Home Media 407-647-0225

Charles Clayton Construction 407-628-3334

SLR Proshots 407-227-9619

College Park Construction 407-896-1063

ALARM/SECURITY SYSTEMS Dynamark Systems 813-664-0770

Cumbus Constructing Corp.

407-467-4664 Hardwick General Contracting 407-702-6531 Eden Construction Corp.

407-671-9697 Five Star Construction Services (321) 696-5173 JLM Design 407-682-5225 Jonathan McGrath Construction 407-260-8077 NWC Construction 407-931-0600 Patriot Building Group 407-905-2790 PC&M 407-509-6314 PSG Construction 407-628-9660 Walter Price Design/Build 407-322-2097 WAO Builders 407-221-8050 BUILDERS/DESIGNERS/ ARCHITECTS Phil Kean Design 407-599-3922

APPLIANCES Milkarsky’s Appliance Center 407-830-6800 APPLIANCES/CABINETS/ COUNTERTOPS Bailey Industries 407-505-9736 APPLIANCES/LIGHTING/ PLUMBING Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery 407-893-5452 ARCHITECTS B&A Design Studio 407-829-8900 AUTOMOTIOVE Orlando Window Tint Specialists 407-628-8468 BUILDING PRODUCTS Iron Age Metal 407-293-5788

CARPENTRY/MILLWORK/ FOUNDATIONS Akcel Construction 407-705-2049 DESIGN/ARCHITECTURE Canin & Associates 407-422-4040 Kessee & Associate 407-880-2333 ELECTRICAL Energy Technology Services 321-689-2544 ENGINEERS DBSS Engineering and Design 321-251-6006 FLOOR COVERINGS The Flooring Center 407-660-8400 GARAGE DOORS/ ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS Florida Door Solutions 407-884-5955 HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEMS Zio Group 407-951-8160 INSURANCE/ BONDS Page Insurance Agency 800-451-7661 INTERIOR DESIGN A. Clore Interiors 407-328-0730 M2 Interior Design 407-718-7330

CABINETS/ COUNTERTOPS Central Kitchen & Bath 407-629-9366

LUMBER Stairmasterz 407-522-4772

CL Kitchens, Baths & Closets 407-574-4099

Thomas Lumber Company 407-841-1250

Natural Stone Motif 407-774-0676

PAINT The Paint Stop by Valspar 407-600-5796

S&W Kitchens 407-339-5911

WINDOWS Solar Tite 407-834-2718 FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 4:32:12 PM

We Design Ooohs & Aaahs...

935 Orange Ave. Winter Park

CKB OL Feb14.indd 1

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

11OL_Feb14 Remodel.indd 59

407.629.9366 www.centralkitchen.com

1/16/14 4:45:06 PM

ORLANDO LIFE

59

1/16/14 4:46:46 PM

REMODEL

Tear it down?

No wAY SOME CONTRACTORS WOULDN’T TOUCH THE JOB. NATHAN CROSS MADE IT AN AWARD WINNER.

By Karen LeBlanc 60

ORLANDO LIFE

11OL_Feb14 Remodel.indd 60

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 4:32:36 PM

I

f accepting a remodeling project could

be compared to accepting a dare, then Nathan Cross and his company NWC Construction accepted a double dare when tackling the rehab of a 1956 block home in Belle Isle that other contractors had suggested be torn down.

But Cross, 33, likes a challenge. Last year he was installed as one of the youngest presidents of the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando and was selected to build the New Southern Home, a state-of-theart show home affiliated with the Southeast Building Conference.

The tricky remodeling project, located at 2410 Nella Avenue, ended up winning the Grand Award for Remodeling in the HBA’s 2013 Parade of Homes.

Cross believed he could work with the home’s “good bones” and a budget of $255,000 to add square footage and accomplish a whole-house remodel.

He reallocated the original 2,300 square feet of living space to create an open floorplan, and added 160 square feet to enlarge the home’s four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

“I knew we could work with the layout if we embraced what was already there — the modern theme,” says Cross. “We re-engineered the home using structural beams

and posts hidden within the walls, since the original frame had load-bearing walls every 16 feet.”

The floorplan, like those in many modest Eisenhower-era homes, was clunky and hindered by a profusion of small, boxy rooms.

The kitchen window looked into an adjacent enclosed garage — not a particularly inspiring view — and the dining room was too close to the front door.

“We took three separate rooms — the formal dining room, living room and galley kitchen — and turned them into a great room,” says Cross. He created a “landing spot” in the foyer by extending it another 60 feet. “Landing spot” is a term for a designated place to stash such items as groceries, coats, electronics and other odds and ends.

Oh, and that window with the depressing view of the garage interior was walled over.

No loss there, Cross figured.

The original master closet was a dual-

This 1956 Bell Isle block home underwent a whole-house remodel. The kitchen, in particular, was small, stuffy and shabby, But removal of a wall separating it from the living room and installation of a kitchen island and new cabinetry changed all that.

phot os: Teran Ph ot og raphy

BEFORE

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

11OL_Feb14 Remodel.indd 61

ORLANDO LIFE

61

1/17/14 10:46:27 AM

This spacious and impressive great room was once three separate rooms. Adding to the airy ambiance is a color scheme of modern pastels and a 50 percent tint of sea salt on the ceiling. door reach-in placed squarely next to the bed, leaving room for only one nightstand.

It also housed a hot-water heater, which Cross moved to the garage.

62

ORLANDO LIFE

11OL_Feb14 Remodel.indd 62

“For years, the homeowners had slept with their heads next to this hot-water heater and dealt with the sound it made,” he says. “We took 5 feet out of the old formal dining room and gave it to the master closet.”

He didn’t touch the layout of the master bathroom, with its dual-entry walk-in shower and his-and-her vanities. But he reconfigured the second master suite at the rear to function as a multipurpose room with a private entrance.

In addition, he added 100 square feet to accommodate a walk-in closet and an enlarged bathroom. Cross describes the original 40-inch bathroom as “the smallest I’d ever seen — you had to step over the toilet to get into the shower.” The covered porch also grew by 100 square feet, enhancing the outdoor living area.

In the kitchen, Cross added an island facing the great room where the galley wall once stood. “We went with a light island,

phot os: Teran Ph ot og raphy

REMODEL

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 4:33:03 PM

painted white, and dark stained cabinets,” he says. “That’s the reverse of most two-toned kitchens, with light backgrounds and dark islands.”

Outside, the renovation included a new flat roof and a semi-stucco finish on the façade. Within the walls, spray foam bolstered energy efficiency. Inside, aesthetic improvements included modern lighting fixtures, new paint and baseboards.

The flooring combined tile in the foyer and the kitchen, and wood everywhere else.

“I hate transition pieces on the floors,” says Cross. “Almost every house I walk into has this. We seamlessly stitched the two types of flooring without transition pieces.”

The color palette featured modern pastels with sea salt as the primary color on the walls and a 50 percent tint of sea salt on the ceilings.

As is the case with many older homes, for which the original plans no longer exist, this home was something of a mystery.

“There was no way we could verify the structure,” Cross says. “The home had a flat roof with no attic access to check out the structure. We assumed that it was built a certain way, but we didn’t know until we started peeling back the layers. A lot of builders were

ABOUT THE REMODELER

scared of the job.”

The modern revival remodeling project, Cross estimates, saved the homeowners $100,000 versus the cost of demolishing the existing home and building a comparable new one.

“This is a really practical house for practical people,” he says. n

THE TEAM

Here is the team of subcontractors who helped make NWC’s project a success: n Central Kitchen and Bath n Del-Air n Michael King Painting n Solar Tite Windows and Doors n Spegal Plumbing n STE Electrical n Sherwin Williams n Solar Tite Windows and Doors n Trinity Tile n Winter Park Granite

NWC Construction Inc. specializes in custom-home building, on-your-lot construction, home additions and full or partial remodeling services. Nathan Cross, owner and president, has earned a long list of industry awards, including the Florida Home Builders Association Remodeler of the Year in 2011 and the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando Builder of the Year in 2009. He’s also 2014 HBA president and a director for both the state association and the National Association of Home Builders. His professional designations include Certified Green Professional (CGP), Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR), Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), EPA Lead-Safe Renovator and Energy Star Building Partner.

He was the builder of the 2013 New Southern Home, a show home affiliated with the Southeast Building Conference.

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

11OL_Feb14 Remodel.indd 63

WHERE IT’S HOT

Remodeling in Central Florida continued to gain strength through the third quarter of 2013. But it’s still nowhere near levels reached at the frenzied peak of the real-estate boom.

That’s the conclusion from Metrostudy, a Washington, D.C.-based company that tracks real estate trends.

Its Residential Remodeling Index analyzes activity in 366 individual markets and uses the data to calculate a national composite score.

A number above 100 indicates a level of activity higher than in 2007, which was the decade’s peak year. Nationally, the most recent RRI grew for the seventh consecutive quarter, hitting 93.3.

In Central Florida — which encompasses Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties — the RRI sits at 62.3 after bottoming out at 57.7 in 2011. In some local zip codes, however, remodeling activity has roared back to pre-crash levels or just below.

Here are the Top 10 local zip codes for remodeling activity and the RRI score for each: 32765 (Oviedo): 100 34711 (Clermont): 99 32828 (Orlando, east Orange County): 98 32708 (Winter Springs): 97 32746 (Lake Mary): 96 34787 (Winter Garden): 95 32825 (Orlando, Lake Nona area): 94 32712 (Apopka): 92 32822 (Orlando, Conway area): 91 32159 (Lady Lake): 90 Other zip codes where activity nearing an RRI of 90 include: 32703 (Apopka), 32727 (Casselberry), 32771 (Sanford), 32792 (Winter Park), 32837 (Orlando, MetroWest area), 34748 (Leesburg), 32825 (Orlando, Union Park area), 32779 (Longwood).

ORLANDO LIFE

63

1/16/14 4:33:35 PM

FLAVOR

rona gindin photographs by rafael tongol

Bully for Bison

IT’S ALL SMILES IN A SCRUFFY BUT SATISFYING SETTING.

O

ccasionally, when I travel with

my family, I ask foodie colleagues on chowhound.com where to find a place that serves excellent food without being too hoity-toity for my two teenagers.

If someone heading for Orlando asked me that same question, I’d be likely to direct them to The Smiling Bison Restaurant & Bar. The Bison, which has the feel of a happily disheveled dive bar, dishes out expertly prepared repasts, made mostly from locally raised ingredients. Dress up if that’s your shtick, but you’ll stand out among the denim and tees.

Set back on a side street near the Fashion Square Mall, the free-standing eatery looks like the kind of place your parents warned you about. The walls are a muddy brown, the lighting dim. The chef may sport a scruffy beard. Other staffers are adorned with an array of tattoos. Dining room adornments are essentially a mishmosh of local artists’ creations, all for sale.

Yet you’ll be lucky to get a table. Owners Josh Oakley and Ron Thomas concocted the place on a shoestring — hence the grunge décor — but they mix four elements that create a restaurant worth patronizing: divine meals, craft beers, low-cost wines and live entertainment.

Craft beers, on tap and bottled, change frequently at The Smiling Bison. Beer outsells wine two to one, but the owners aim to change that with such events as winepairing dinners.

64

ORLANDO LIFE

8OL_Feb_14_Flavor.indd 64

FEBRUARY 2014

1/17/14 10:32:50 AM

Grouper cheeks come battered and fried, with jalapeño grits to add a kick. Below, co-owners Josh Oakley and Ron Thomas started out with a food truck selling sausage sandwiches. varied career that spanned the Navy, a family member’s insurance business and a training program at General Electric.

The two met in 2007 while playing ice hockey. By March 2013, after Thomas had left town and returned, they had taken a baby step toward partnership by collaborating on a food cart called Smiling Bison Foods.

Named not for the animal but for Oakley’s hometown, the cart offered nine varieties of sausages, all of which Oakley produced in a rented commercial kitchen. The partners sold their wares four or five times a week, primarily at Will’s Pub in Orlando’s Mills 50 district, the Redlight Redlight Beer Parlour — whose old building they now inhabit — and the Audubon Park Community Market.

The Media Noche, the Buffalo Chicken Dog and Currywurst were a hit with both the twentysomething beer-loving crowd and the locavores who frequent the Audubon gathering.

Encouraged by the response, the partners leased the shabby building that is now their home base. They continue to run the sausage

The service is commendable as well. During my two visits, we were tended to — but never rushed by — down-to-earth folks who knew the menu well and handily accommodated special requests.

“Food is what we’re all about,” says Thomas, the general manager, noting that his chef-partner Oakley has worked in the Enzian Theater kitchen as well as at The Rusty Spoon, The Ravenous Pig and Cask & Larder. “Josh wanted to own a restaurant where the foods are truly handcrafted,” Thomas says.

Sourcing is a crucial part of their food philosophy. “We try to use as many local vendors as possible, because we’re advocates of being self-sustaining,” he adds. “Why wouldn’t you try to build the local farming community around you? The produce is less expensive, and it’s fresh and tasty.”

Thomas had no foodservice background, but his desire to own a restaurant and bar was bubbling beneath the surface throughout a ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

8OL_Feb_14_Flavor.indd 65

ORLANDO LIFE

65

1/16/14 12:03:39 PM

FLAVOR

rona gindin

A fried duck egg tops the Duck Lovers pizza, also made with duck confit, duck ham and duck sausage. Below, the funky dining room is decorated with works by local artists, all of which are for sale. cart off-property a couple days a week, offering such items as smoked kielbasa sandwiches.

They don’t rest much, these two. Literally and figuratively, they’re always cooking up something, and the menu changes weekly.

However, whenever you visit you’ll surely find the Smiling Bison Burger — which is indeed made of bison — and caraway soft pretzels with a frothy dip flavored with beer, mustard and cheese.

Beyond that, you never know what you’ll have the chance to try.

The draft and bottled beer menu fluctuates, based on “what beer junkies really appreciate and seek,” Thomas says. Recent pours included Petrus Aged Pale Sour, St. Bernardus Witbier and Lost Coast Downtown Brown Ale, while bottles were Zhukov’s Imp Stout, Monke’s Café Flemish Sour and Avery IPA, among others.

Beer outsells wine two to one, but, in an effort to draw adventurous diners who prefer grapes over suds, the team aims to change that. About 20 labels are on the menu, half

available by the glass and all interesting picks — and they’re marked up less than in most restaurants. “We’re even doing wine-pairing dinners now,” Thomas says. “We’re trying to get that group of people in here.”

Guests who want a quiet dinner can always retreat to the back of the dining room or to tables outdoors. Other might prefer to sit closer to the musicians, who set up on a stage near the front door three or four times a week. On Tuesdays, jazz plays through the dinner hour, while weekend gigs — “jazz, reggae, funk, not heavy metal” — begin closer to 10 and cater more to the bar crowd.

Whether you’re a beer-and-sandwich old-schooler or a culinary adventurer, you’ll find the Smiling Bison menu intriguing. If not, you can get the pepperoni pizza. One recent starter, listed under “Bar Snacks,” was poutine, a Canadian specialty. Here it was essentially a plateful of fried potato wedges. The spuds were covered with pungent cheese curds made from local raw milk and roasted maitake 66

ORLANDO LIFE

8OL_Feb_14_Flavor.indd 66

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 12:03:51 PM

Caraway soft pretzels with a spicy beermustard-cheese dip are a Bison staple.

Below, the poutine is made with potato wedges topped with gravy, cheese curds and roasted maitake mushrooms. donuts with an enchanted cinnamon scent. A sweet-tart beer jelly adorned the cakey donuts.

As for those teenagers: I dragged two of them with me for one visit. They liked not needing to dress up or shave, but restricted their unbridled enthusiasm to the chicken wings, which are offered only on the latenight menu.

No matter. I’ll just leave the herd behind next time to savor the Bison’s broader-ranging fare on my own. And with a smile on my face. ■ Rona Gindin, dining editor of Orlando Life, has written about Orlando’s restaurants for Fodor’s and Zagat, among many other publications. She’s the author of The Little Black Book of Walt Disney World.

WHERE: 745 Bennett Rd., Orlando HOW MUCH: $$ WHERE TO CALL: 407-898-8580 thesmilingbison.com

mushrooms, plus a splash of a creamy gravy.

That was fine, but the marinated baby octopus was spectacular.

The centerpiece was bits of tender, lemony mollusk, tossed with crunchy fennel, fresh parsley, preserved lemon and ceregnola olives, served over a base of thinly sliced heirloom tomatoes.

Should the fried grouper cheeks be available, by all means order them. The cornmeal-dusted fish bits sat atop a bowlful of jalapeño grits along with tomato sofrito, charred corn and micro cilantro.

Ditto for a stuffed pasta called carrot and ricotta agnolotti, with its creamy filling and onion purée, lovage and shaved radish topping.

The so-fresh chicken pot pie was filled with carrots, celery root, cippolini onions and fresh herbs tossed in a chicken veloute (creamy white sauce). The shrimp and pork belly was a one-dish feast: four oversized shrimp, crispy pork belly and a wedge of pickled okra atop a rich risotto made with boiled peanuts.

The finishing touch, for us, was a dessert of four piping-hot square ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

8OL_Feb_14_Flavor.indd 67

ORLANDO LIFE

67

1/16/14 12:04:04 PM

FLAVOR LISTINGS AFRICAN

Nile Ethiopian 7048 International Drive, Orlando, 407-354-0026 /

nile07.com. Locals willingly navigate International Drive to dine at Nile, a family-owned restaurant specializing in the exotic cuisine of Ethiopia. Order a few dishes to share and scoop up the intriguing concoctions with the eatery’s signature spongy bread. End with a strong cup of aromatic, brewed-to-order coffee. $$

Sanaa 3701 Osceola Parkway, Lake Buena Vista, 407-938-7400 / disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/sanaa. Sanaa, one of Disney’s most interesting restaurants, offers dishes based on cuisine from the Spice Islands, a coastal African area rich with Indian influences. Flavors are intense, but spicy only upon request. (Curry, the chefs insist, is a melding of flavors, not one particular spice.) The marketplace-style dining room boasts picture windows overlooking the Animal Kingdom Lodge’s savannah, so you might spot zebra or wildebeest while lunching on tandoori chicken or a vegetarian platter with stewed lentils and a vegetable sambar (stew). $$

AMERICAN

The Bistro on Park Avenue 348 N. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-644-

2313 / bistroonparkavenue.com. Located in the Hidden Gardens, this low-key eatery’s glass-enclosed garden room offers one of the prettiest settings on Park Avenue. Specialties include chef crab cakes, shrimp or crawfish étouffée and bistro-style pot roast. Breakfast is served on Saturdays with an excellent brunch featuring a variety of eggs Benedict made with salmon and soft-shell crab. It’s German Night on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. $$-$$

Briarpatch Restaurant 252 N. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-628-8651.

This Park Avenue institution is crowded during breakfast and lunch — and on Sunday for brunch — and incredibly noisy. Fare includes fancy burgers, such as the Grafton white cheddar and sugar-cured bacon burger, as well as sandwiches, salads and omelets. But most patrons are particularly fond of the oversized homemade desserts, including an array of ice creams and such super-rich treats as chocolate layer cake. A bit of trivia: The restaurant’s marble counter once topped the soda fountain at Irvine’s Pharmacy, an even more venerable Park Avenue institution that operated from 1925 to 1973. $$-$$$ Carmel Café & Wine Bar 140 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-

513-4912 / carmelcafe.com. The menu updates the traditional flavors and foods of Mediterranean rim countries such as Italy, Spain, France, Greece and Morocco. Choose from small- or large-plate options and pair foods with an international selection of wines available in three-, six- or nine-ounce pours. Tableside iPads enable guests to control preparation and pacing of the meal, from drinks to dessert, by scrolling, tapping and sending selections. $$

The Cask & Larder 656 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 407-6282333 / caskandlarder.com. From the folks who brought us Ravenous Pig comes this “Southern Public House” in the former Harper’s Tavern location. “Cask” is for the beer that’s brewed on site and “larder” is an arcane term for a pantry used primarily in the South, so the cuisine is Southern-inspired, locally sourced and encompasses the general categories of sausage and country ham; vegetables and grains; fish and oysters; and such delectable oddities as grilled lamb heart, pork belly and foie-gras stuffed quail. Snout-to-tail specials for parties of eight or more involve serving up an entire animal, usually a pig. Now open for lunch Wednesday through Saturday. The midday menu offers more salads and sandwiches along with more substantial entrees such as rabbit meatloaf and trout. Menus change often to reflect local harvests and fresh catches. $$$ Chatham’s Place 7575 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando, 407- 345-2992 / chathamsplace.com. For an old-fashioned dining experience — a subdued dining room and doting personalized service by a veteran staff — check out this hidden Restaurant Row eatery. Locals return regularly for Chef Tony Lopez’s classic dishes such as black grouper with pecan butter, rack of lamb and filet mignon. $$$ Citrus 821 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, 407-373-0622 / citrusorlando.

com. A clubby yet stylish restaurant in a convenient downtown Orlando location, Citrus features modern American cuisine with a nod toward regionally grown and produced ingredients. International influences also highlight the menu, from smoked chili aioli complementing herb-marinated chicken to balsamic rum glaze topping juicy pork chops. $$$

Dexter’s 808 E. Washington St., Orlando, 407-648-2777; 558 W.

New England Ave., Winter Park, 407-629-1150; 950 Market Promenade Ave., Lake Mary, 407-805-3090 / dexwine.com. Central Florida has three Dexter’s locations, and each has become a neighborhood magnet, drawing diners of all ages for hearty portions of creative American fare (at fair prices), good wine and, in some cases, live music. Casual dress is the rule. The brunches, and the pressed duck sandwiches, are especially popular. $$-$$$

Emeril’s Orlando 6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando, 407-224-2424 / emerils.com. Get a taste of — where else? — New Orleans at this always-bustling Universal CityWalk institution. You’ll find classics from celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, including the signature barbecue

68

ORLANDO LIFE

8OL_Feb_14_Flavor.indd 68

shrimp, andouille-stuffed redfish, double-cut pork chops and banana cream pie. The service, of course, is superb. Consider sharing appetizers at the bar area. $$$$

Hamilton’s Kitchen. 300 E. New England Ave., Winter Park, 407645-6675 / thealfondinn.com. Named for the innovative former Rollins College president, Hamilton Holt, the warm and welcoming restaurant at the newly opened Alfond Inn boasts an early 1900s ambience, with a hearth-inspired kitchen window, exposed beams, farmer’s table and Dutch oak floors. The cuisine features traditional Southern offerings using locally sourced ingredients. Hamilton’s is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Chef Christopher Windus, former executive chef of Todd English’s bluezoo at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel, is in charge of the kitchen. $$$ Hillstone 215 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-740-4005 / hillstone. com / hillstone. Formerly known as Houston’s, this Winter Park mainstay is part of a high-end chain. Still, it grows its own herbs, bakes its own bread, grinds its own meat, cuts its own fish and whips its own cream. In nice weather, guests relax with a cocktail in Adirondack chairs overlooking Lake Killarney. Many proposals have been popped during dinners for two on the boat dock. $$$ Jernigan’s 400 W. Church St., Orlando, 407-440-7000 / amwaycen-

ter.com. Watch a Magic game in style at this well-appointed buffet restaurant located on the Amway Center’s exclusive club level. The reservations-only eatery, open to ticket holders, serves wholesome meals for about $40. The menu of the day might offer slow-smoked barbecue ribs, grilled rib-eye steak, pasta pomodoro and Chinese chicken salad. Jernigan’s is run by Chicago’s Levy Restaurants, the team behind Downtown Disney’s Portobello Yacht Club, Fulton’s Crab House and Wolfgang Puck Grand Café. $$$

Marlow’s Tavern 1008 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-960-3670 / marlowstavern.com. Classic American tavern fare, including an array of big and juicy burgers, served in an upscale pub environment, with exposed-brick walls, dark wood accents and leather-upholstered booths. The appetizers are wonderful, especially J.T.’s Kettle Chips which include gorgonzola cheese and bacon, are to die for. Outdoor seating is under a sizeable covered patio, where there’s sometimes live entertainment. $$ Matilda’s On Park 358 N. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-951-5790.

That seemingly cursed corner of Park and Canton avenues most recently occupied by Galopin and perhaps a half-dozen eateries going back a decade or so is now Matilda’s. The logo features a kangaroo and a “Roo Burger” is offered on the menu, but that’s about as far as the Australian theme is carried. Otherwise it’s an eclectic assortment of traditional pub food such as chicken wings along with tacos, sandwiches and varieties of mac and cheese. The upstairs space, as it was during Galopin’s run, is a lounge with a casual but contemporary vibe. $$$ Park Plaza Gardens 319 S. Park Ave., 407-645-2475 / parkplaza-

gardens.com. Located adjacent to the historic Park Plaza Hotel, this Winter Park institution boasts a clubby, cozy bar and sidewalk café for leisurely drinks, casual meals and unparalleled people watching.

Café specialties include appetizers, soups, sandwiches, burgers and a lovely array of salads. At the rear of the building is the elegant atrium dining room, a posh, patio-style space where you are surrounded by large trees and lush vegetation beneath a soaring ceiling of glass. The food is worthy of the setting, melding American, European and Asian flavors and cooking techniques. Specialties of the house include beef carpaccio, filet of beef tenderloin, chicken curry salad and crab-stuffed grouper. Bananas foster is a showy but delightful dessert. $$$-$$$$

Rusty Spoon 55 W. Church St., Orlando, 407-401-8811 / therustyspoon.com. Foodies flock to this Church Street gastropub, a warm and welcoming space in which meals are described as “American food. European roots. Locally sourced.” Your salad will consist of über-fresh greens, your sandwich will be filled with slow-braised lamb, your pasta will be hand-rolled and your meat will be robustly seasoned. $$-$$$ Seasons 52 7700 Sand Lake Road, Orlando, 407-354-5212; 463 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, 407-767-1252 / seasons52.com.

Business dinners, ladies’ luncheons and date nights abound at these ever-popular Darden concept restaurants, that boast big, bustling spaces with satisfying food and comprehensive wine lists. It seems incidental that the food happens to be healthful and low in fat, with no menu item topping 475 calories. So if you want that clam chowder, go for it. It will be cleverly produced without cream, butter or roux. $$-$$$

THE KEY $ Inexpensive, most entrées under $10 $$ Moderate, most entrées $10-20 $$$ Pricey, most entrées over $20 $$$$ Very expensive, most entrées over $30

The Table Orlando 8060 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, 407-900-3463 / thetableorlando.com. For special occasions, book a place at The Table, a tiny restaurant that serves a five-course gourmet meal with wine pairings. Up to 22 guests at a time share the repast around an oversized table. The New American menu changes regularly and is comprised in large part of locally sourced foods. The price is a set $100 including tax and tip. Groups can host private events here. $$$$ 310 Park South 310 S. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-647-7277 /

310parksouth.net. New American cuisine featuring fresh seafood, beef, pasta dishes, signature salads and sandwiches. Dine outside along the Avenue and enjoy daily lunch and dinner specials, a children’s menu or Sunday brunch. Steak, chicken and pasta entrées dominate the menu, but there’s also a very nice, slowly roasted half duck finished with a plum demi-glace. If you prefer to dine at home, call ahead and pick up your favorite dish. $$-$$$

Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen 2203 Aloma Ave., Winter Park, 407-

672-5753 / tibbysneworleans-kitchen.com. If you’re looking for a quiet, intimate dining experience, this is not the place for you. Tibby’s is loud, raucous and fun, with Crescent City favorites like shrimp Creole, crawfish pie and, for dessert, powdered beignets. Tibby’s was named for the late Walter “Tibby” Tabony, a Big Easy native and great-uncle of restaurateur Brian Wheeler, who also founded Tijuana Flats. The old man, whose colorful biography is on the menu, would certainly have approved of the shrimp and andouille cheddar grits and the handbattered fried pickle slices, which are expertly fried and served with a rich rémoulade sauce. $$

TooJay’s Various locations / toojays.com. When it’s time for a taste of

Jewish Brooklyn — pastrami on rye, latkes, blintzes, knishes — the six local outlets of this South Florida-based chain have it all. You’ll also find diner foods such as omelets, sandwiches and pot-roast dinners.

Take home some black-and-white cookies. $

ASIAN

Anh Hong 1124 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, 407-999-2656. You’ll receive a bundle of fresh herbs to tear into your soup at this Mills 50 Vietnamese eatery, and another bunch for a roll-your-own entrée that’s like a DIY summer roll. Asian classics, such as grilled meats and scallion pancakes, are done exceptionally well here, which makes Anh Hong a top choice for local Vietnamese-Americans longing for a taste of home. $ Dragonfly 7972 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, 407-370-3359 / dragonflyorlando.com. Stylishly attired 30-somethings regularly pack this ohso-hip restaurant, where groups share sushi, grilled “robata” items, and tapas-style Asian foods such as soft-shell crab tempura, crispy black pork belly and shiso-wrapped spicy tuna. $$ Hawkers Street Fare 1103 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, 407-237-0606 /

facebook.com/hawkersstreetfare. This Mills 50 mainstay, named for street vendors of Asian fare, serves up generous tapas-size portions of curry laksa (an aromatic Singaporean soup), roti canai (Malaysian flatbread with a hearty curry sauce), five-spice tofu, chilled sesame noodles, smoky mussels and sensational beef skewers with peanuty satay dip. $$

Orchid Thai Cuisine 305 N. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-331-1400.

Enjoy authentic Thai food — with orchids (what else?) garnishing many dishes — in a primo Park Avenue location. Traditional offerings include green curry highlighted by coconut gravy infused with kaffir lime and Thai basil, larb chicken, tom yum soup and curry puffs. For a light and refreshing dessert, try the Thai doughnuts, sweetened by a peanut-sprinkled dip of condensed milk. The cozy restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating. $$-$$$

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro 436 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407622-0188 / pfchangs.com. The popular restaurant chain, with more than 200 locations in North America, offers upscale Chinese classics artfully presented, with many sauces made tableside by servers. Signature entrées include diced chicken wrapped in lettuce leaves, orange-peel beef with chili peppers and wok-fried scallops with lemon sauce. The busy Winter Park Village venue features an outdoor patio. $$ Sea Thai 3812 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, 407-895-0985 / seaorlando.com. Start with a green papaya salad and beef yum, then feast on steamed whole fish with garlic chili sauce, pad Thai and green curry chicken. But you can’t go wrong with any of the Thai classics offered at this welcoming East Orlando eatery. $$ Sushi Pop 310 W. Mitchell Hammock Road, Oviedo, 407-542-5975 / sushipoprestaurant.com. Oviedo is an unlikely location for this cuttingedge restaurant, a popular spot for sushi. The food is serious and often experimental, as chef-owner Chau uses molecular gastronomy to create some of the fusion fare. The aura is fun: Asian anime on the walls, playful colors, and servers who dress in outrageous themed outfits. $$ Tasty Wok 1246 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, 407-896-8988 / yelp.com/

biz/tasty-wok-orlando. True, it’s a humble spot, but Tasty Wok offers an array of satisfying dishes, among them roast duck and steaming

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 5:00:36 PM

soups. Try the beef chow fun, eggplant with minced pork and salt and pepper ribs. A smaller menu of American-style Chinese dishes is also available. $

BARBECUE

Bubbaloo’s Bodacious Barbecue 1471 Lee Road, Winter Park, 407628-1212/bubbaloos.com It now has five locations, but the original Bubbaloo’s is a Winter Park institution, serving up traditional pork and beef platters as well as brisket, livers and gizzards and sides of beans, greens and mac and cheese. It’s definitely an experience best suited to the barbecue purist. $ 4 Rivers Smokehouse 1600 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park; 1869

W. S.R. 434, Longwood; 1047 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden / 407474-8377, 4rsmokehouse.com. A diverse array of barbecue specialties — from Texas-style brisket to pulled pork, smoked turkey and bacon-wrapped jalapeños — has gained this rapidly growing homegrown concept a large following. The newer outposts even include a bakery and an old-fashioned malt shop featuring homemade ice cream. $

BURGERS

Johnny’s Fillin’ Station 2631 S. Fern Creek Ave., Orlando, 407-8946900 / johnnysfillinstation.com. Neighbors gather for hearty burgers, along with wings, subs and wraps at this homey spot in a residential downtown neighborhood. Beer flows, TVs broadcast big games and families love the pool tables and dart boards. $

CONTINENTAL

Venetian Room 8101 World Center Drive, Orlando, 407-238-8060 / thevenetianroom.com. Walk though a run-of-the-mill convention hotel to reach this AAA Four-Diamond treasure, an elegant, domedservice, continental restaurant that pays homage to the heyday of unapologetic, butter-and-cream-enhanced fine dining. The lobster bisque is an absolute must. After that, try the filet mignon, duck a l’orange or Dover sole. $$$$

CREATIVE/PROGRESSIVE

Chef’s Table at the Edgewater Hotel 99 W. Plant St., Winter Garden, 407-230-4837 / chefstableattheedgewater.com. Husband-and-wife

team Kevin and Laurie Tarter are your personal servers at this intimate Winter Garden hideaway, where Kevin prepares the evening’s threecourse, prix-fixe meal and Laurie helps choose the wine. Adjacent, the Tasting Room offers tapas-size portions of international dishes and a full bar. $$$

Fresh 535 W. New England Ave., Winter Park, 321-295-7837/fresh-

cafe.wp.com. You’d expect globally inspired cuisine in a restaurant owned by partners who are Filipino-Italian and Panamanian-Lebanese, respectively. And that’s what you get at aptly named Fresh, where the ingredients are uniformly fresh and largely locally sourced. The everchanging menu features such entrees as seared scallops with limeginger beurre blanc, butternut squash ravioli and succulent beef tenderloin. The grilled peach with mozzarella, prosciutto, lemon honey vinaigrette and mint is an out-of-the-ordinary salad. $$$-$$$$

Funky Monkey 912 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, 407-427-1447; 9101 International Dr., Orlando, 407-418-9463 / funkymonkeywine.com. These twin eclectic eateries are known as much for sushi and intriguing wine lists as for creative American cuisine and an ever-changing menu. FMI Restaurant Group also owns Bananas and the Funky Monkey Vault, a wine shop that also sells gifts, apparel and furniture. $$ K Restaurant 1710 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, 407-872-2332 / kres-

taurant.net. Kevin Fonzo, the go-to chef in College Park since 2001, owns this homey eatery, which is, in fact, located in a converted house. The menu is mostly creative-American, along with Italian favorites celebrating Fonzo’s heritage. Casual wine tastings and themed special dinners, along with a constantly changing menu, bring back regulars for singular experiences. $$-$$$

Le Rouge 7730 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando, 407-370-0909 / ler-

ougewinebar.com. This Restaurant Row hot spot is a sexy lounge with backlit lighting, a long bar and comfy sofas. It also features fine food.

Guests can choose from among three-dozen tapas, including garlic shrimp and sautéed wild mushrooms. $$$

Luma on Park 290 S. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-599-4111 / lumaonpark.com. If there’s pancetta in your salad, the salumi was made in the kitchen, by hand, starting with a whole pig. Most herbs are from local farms, fish from sustainable sources, pickled vegetables jarred in house

and desserts built around seasonal ingredients. Luma’s progressive menu, which changes daily, is served in a sleek and stylish dining room under the passionate direction of Executive Chef Brandon McGlamery, Chef de Cuisine Derek Perez and Pastry Chef Brian Cernell. $$$

Norman’s 4012 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando, 407-393-4333 / normans.com. Celebrity Chef Norman Van Aken’s restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes, turns out artistic New World cuisine combining the flavors of Latin America, the Caribbean, the Far East and the United States. The dining room is dramatic, the food astounding and the service polished. Be sure to begin with a Norman’s classic: foie gras “French toast.” And you’ll be delighted with the Mongolian veal chop. $$$$ Ravenous Pig 1234 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park, 407-628-2333 / theravenouspig.com. After leaving their hometown for serious culinary training, Winter Park natives James and Julie Petrakis returned to open the region’s first genuine gastropub. Dinner reservations have been tough to snag ever since. The ambitious menu changes daily based on the fish, meat and produce that’s available, and it’s executed by a dedicated team that abhors shortcuts. Besides daily specials, The Pig always serves up an excellent burger, soft pretzels, shrimp and grits and a donut dessert called Pig Tails. $$$ Victoria & Albert’s 4401 Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista, 407-9393862 / victoria-alberts.com. Indulgent, multicourse prix-fixe feasts are served in the serenely elegant main dining room, accompanied by live harp music, while yet more courses are offered in the more intimate Queen Victoria’s Room and the private Chef’s Table. Chef Scott Hunnel, Maitre d’ Israel Pérez and Master Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek travel the world to learn the latest food and service trends, then adapt the golden ones locally. That’s why V&A, at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is Orlando’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant. $$$$

FRENCH

Café de France 526 S. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-647-1869 / lecafedefrance.com. Dominique Gutierrez, who’s from Vendée, on the Atlantic coast of France, still greets Café de France diners as if they’re old friends. At this point, many are. Despite a kitchen staffed with chefs, she still prepares the house-made pâtés the way her mother taught her years ago. Look for classics such as garlicky escargot and

“BEST ITALIAN” — 2013 Silver Spoon Awards

Rehearsal Dinners Wedding Receptions

)

Reserve Early for VALENTINE’S DAY LIKE us on Facebook for a chance to win dinner for two.

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

8OL_Feb_14_Flavor.indd 69

Courtyard Receptions Bridal Showers

)

W inter Park 400 South Orlando Avenue s 407-644-7770 Reservations online at www.roccositaliangrille.com ORLANDO LIFE

69

1/16/14 5:01:06 PM

FLAVOR LISTINGS au courant entrées such as rack of lamb with mint, eggplant purée and crisp wild mushrooms. $$-$$$

Café 906 906 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 407-975-0600 / ca-

fe906.blogspot.com. Within this nondescript freestanding building is a friendly, low-key little restaurant where French expat Vincent Vallée will brew you a cappuccino, warm up a slice of quiche Lorraine or indulge you with a peanut-butter filled lava cake — dark chocolate or white. Be sure to try the “salted” pound cake, a savory snack made with goat cheese, walnuts and raisins stirred in, or the bacon quiche, a light, fluffy delight with a delicate and flaky crust. $

Chez Vincent 533 W. New England Ave, Winter Park, 407-599-2929 / chezvincent.com. Orlandoans have headed to chef Vincent Gagliano’s Hannibal Square hideaway for 15 years, dressing up for formal evenings made even more special with trout in lemon-butter and pork tenderloin slathered with Dijon sauce. The intimate space has two sister enterprises: a below-ground wine cellar that hosts private meals for up to 30, and a lounge known as Hannibal’s that dishes up American and French favorites. $$-$$$ Croissant Gourmet 120 E. Morse Blvd., Winter Park, 407-622-7753 / croissantgourmet.com. Tucked onto a side street behind simple glass walls, Croissant Gourmet is so small you might not notice it. Seek it out. Under the expert guidance of pastry chef François Cahagne, this simple spot turns out tray after tray of the region’s finest croissants and pastries. Quiches are superb here, as are the grilled croque monsieur and madame sandwiches. $-$$

Dylan’s Deli 1198 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park, 407-622-7578 / dylansdeli.net. In a disjointed little space featuring warm fresco colors and distinctive touches such as arched doorways, Dylan’s Deli offers not only the pastrami sandwiches you’d expect but also a wondrous assortment of French fare. Crêpes and paninis filled with an array of Gallic and international flavors make for satisfying lunches, while montaditos (platters of meats, cheeses, nuts and more) and charcuterie plates pair well with French wines and beers after dark. $$-$$$ Paris Bistro 216 N. Park Ave., 407-671-4424, Winter Park / parisbistroparkavenue.com. Paris Bistro is a restaurant divided: Some seats are tucked away behind Park Avenue’s Shops on Park building, past a koi pond. The others beckon along a bustling stretch of sidewalk.

Wherever you choose to indulge, you’ll find French classics (coq au vin, beef burgundy) plus a slew of daily specials (roasted rack of lamb flambéed with brandy and topped with a porcini mushroom sauce) created by chef and co-owner Sebastian Colce. $$-$$$

HAWAIIAN/POLYNESIAN

Emeril’s Tchoup Chop 6300 Hollywood Way, Orlando, 407-503-2467

/ emerils.com. Emeril Lagasse’s Polynesian-fusion fare is executed within a dramatically decorated space. Diners enjoy tropical cocktails, steamed dumplings and creative entrées such as pan-roasted duck breast with gingered pear chutney and umeboshi (pickled) plum glaze. $$$$

Roy’s 7760 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando, 407-352-4844 / roysrestaurant.com. Hawaiian-fusion flavors enhance familiar and exotic fish dishes at this Restaurant Row pioneer, a link in a Honolulu-based chain owned by namesake chef, Roy Yamaguchi. $$

INDIAN

Aashirwad 5748 International Dr., Orlando, 407-370-9830 / aashirwadrestaurant.com. Begin with kashmiri naan, a slightly sweet bread stuffed with nuts, coconut and raisins, and continue with chicken biryani, cauliflower in exotic Manchurian gravy and a mixed tandoori grill. Whole spices are roasted and ground daily on site, further enhancing the cuisine’s authenticity. $$ Memories of India 7625 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando, 407-370-3277;

3895 Lake Emma Road, Lake Mary, 407-804-0920 / memoriesofindiacuisine.com. Exceptionally good Indian fare draws diners in Dr. Phillips and Lake Mary to these twin restaurants, where dishes such as palek paneer (creamed spinach) and lamb masala in rich ginger-garlic gravy always satisfy. $$

Raga 7559 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando, 407-985-2900 / ragares-

taurant.com. From its stylish décor to its inspired, somewhat global menu, Raga is a step above most local Indian restaurants. $$-$$$

IRISH

Fiddler’s Green 544 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 407-645-2050

/ fiddlersgreenorlando.com. This is as authentically Irish as you’ll find in Orlando, with a menu featuring bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, hen in a pot, Irish stew and, of course, fish and chips as well as a wide selection of Irish beers. The ambience is enhanced by dark wood, cozy clutter and rowdy groups of “footballers” cheering televised matches.

$-$$

ITALIAN

Antonio’s 611 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland, 407-645-5523; 691 Front St., Celebration, 407-566-2233 / antoniosonline.com. Fine Italian fare

70

ORLANDO LIFE

8OL_Feb_14_Flavor.indd 70

comes in three price ranges at Antonio’s, proprietor Greg Gentile’s trio of culinary homages to his ancestors. In Maitland, the upstairs Ristorante is somewhat formal, although the open kitchen provides peeks of the chefs in action. Its downstairs counterpart, Antonio’s Market & Café, is a more casual spot that doubles as a market and wine shop. And in Celebration, the casual, lake-view Cafe d’Antonio hits that center sweet spot. $$-$$$

Pio-Pio 5752 International Drive, Orlando, 407-248-6424 / mypiopio.com; 2500 S. Semoran Blvd., Orlando, 407-207-2262 / piopios. com; 11236 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, 407-438-5677. Latin American-style marinated roast chicken is a mainstay at this trio of Peruvian-Columbian restaurants, where families fuel up on heaping platters of pollo along with garlicky salad, fried plantains (sweet and green), and rice and beans. $$

Bice 5601 Universal Blvd., Orlando, 407-503-1415 / orlando.bicegroup.com. Bice, with 50 locations around the world, has a local outpost of ambitious Italian cuisine at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal. Homemade egg pasta is used for several dishes, such as spaghetti Bolognese; other choices include veal piccata and steak with a Gorgonzola-demi sauce. $$$$

MEDITERRANEAN

alFresco 146 W. Plant St., Winter Garden, 407-654-5889 / alfrescowintergarden.com. Locally sourced foods take on a Mediterranean bent at this upscale-casual restaurant hidden behind downtown Winter Garden’s charming Plant Street. $$

Brio Tuscan Grille 480 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-622-5611 / brioitalian.com. Located in Winter Park Village, Brio is a Tuscan treasure. Try the roasted lamb chops, a full rack, or the filletto di manzo toscana, an 8-ounce, center-cut filet. Lunch features paninis and sandwiches as well as lunch-sized servings of popular dinner dishes. Pastas are made in-house and breads are baked fresh in an Italian oven. The ambience is upscale, but kids have their own menu. $$

Bosphorous 108 S. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-644-8609; 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., 407-352-6766 / bosphorousrestaurant.com. This is the place for flavorful Turkish fare in either a white-tablecloth setting or alfresco along Park Avenue or Dr. Phillips Boulevard. Many couples fill up on the appetizer sampler with oversized lavash bread. For a heartier meal, try the ground lamb “Turkish pastry,” a shish kebab or a tender lamb shank. Outdoor diners can end their meals by smoking from a hookah. Or not. $$

Enzo’s on the Lake 1130 U.S. 17-92, Longwood, 407-834-9872 / en-

Taverna Opa 9101 International Drive, Orlando, 407-351-8660 /

zos.com. Long before Orlando became a serious foodie town, Enzo’s was serving up lovingly prepared Italian specialties inside a converted Longwood home. Little has changed. Split a bunch of antipasto to begin your meal. After that, you pretty much can’t go wrong, but standout dishes include homemade ravioli stuffed with chicken and spinach, veal with artichoke-caper-white wine sauce and possibly the best spaghetti carbonara in town. $$$

O’Stromboli 1803 E. Winter Park Road, Orlando, 407-647-3872 / os-

trombolis.com. This innocuous neighborhood eatery isn’t fancy, but the food is filling and fresh. That’s why it has become a favorite of residents of Merritt Park, Rose Isle and Baldwin Park. The carbonara is particularly hearty and the fettuccini Alfredo is rich, buttery and more than you should eat in one sitting. The homemade soups are always a dependable starter. $$

Palma Maria 1015 E. Semoran Blvd., Casselberry, 407-339-2856 / pal-

mamaria.com. You’ve got to love a restaurant where the same family has served the same food with the same smiles for more than three decades — but will cook up whatever you ask for on a whim. $$

opaorlando.com. The food is excellent, but that’s only half the reason to visit Taverna Opa. On busy nights, the place is festive indeed: Some guests join a Zorba dance around the dining room while others toss white napkins into the air, joyously shouting “Opa!” Then there’s the belly dancer. $$

MEXICAN/SOUTHWESTERN

Border Grill Fresh-Mex 5695 Vineland Road, Orlando, 407-3520101 / bordergrillorlando.weebly.com. The flavors are crazy-fresh at this tiny Mexican restaurant near Universal, where Veronica Starling and her mother, Esther Fragaso, run the kitchen and dining room with the help of assorted relatives. $ Cantina Laredo 8000 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, 407-345-0186 /

cantinalaredo.com. Modern Mexican cuisine in a spiffy setting draws lovers of cilantro, jalapeño and pico de gallo to this Restaurant Row eatery, where the margaritas flow, the guacamole is made tableside and the portions are generous. The spinach enchilada is a vegetarianfriendly treat. $$

Peperoncino 7988 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, 407-440-2856 / peperoncinocucina.com. The menu changes every night at this cozy Dr. Phillips restaurant, where chef-owner Barbara Alfano puts out plates of fried pecorino drizzled with honey, pear and four-cheese pasta and fish steamed in parchment paper. $$$

Cocina 214 151 E. Wellbourne Ave., Winter Park, 407-790-7997.

The area code of Dallas is 214, so this stylish eatery’s name makes sense when you consider that its menu offers creative, gourmet interpretations of traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes. The huevos rancheros, flanked by Mexican rice and black beans, makes an ideal brunch, with fried eggs served atop corn tortillas and topped with melted queso blanco and red rancheros sauce. Also notable: the truffle mushroom quesadilla and braised pork tacos with mango as well as pescado rico, a large serving of mahi-mahi, wilted spinach and grilled veggies in a roasted poblano cream sauce. The main dining room encompasses freestanding tables and banquettes and there’s a spacious patio where pooches are welcome. $$

Prato 124 N. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-262-0050 / prato-wp.com.

El Tenampa 11244 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, 407-850-9499.

Pannullo’s Italian Restaurant 216 S. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407629-7270 / pannullos.com. Housed in one of Park Avenue’s oldest buildings, Pannullo’s is approaching its 20th anniversary and has become something of a fixture itself. The menu features everything from pizza to classic pasta dishes, but you can’t go wrong with the lobster ravioli or the chicken gorgonzola. And check out the veggie-heavy salad bar. $$

This is one of Orlando’s very best Italian restaurants, but don’t expect a classic lasagna or chicken parmigiana. Executive Chef Brandon McGlamery and Chef di Cucina Matthew Cargo oversee an open kitchen in which pastas are made from scratch, pizzas are rolled to order, sausages are stuffed by hand and the olive oil is a luscious organic pour from Italy. Try the chicken liver Toscana, a satisfying salad Campagna with cubes of sizzling pancetta tesa, shrimp tortellini and citrusy rabbit cacciatore. Begin with a Negroni cocktail; it’s possibly the best around. $$-$$$

Rocco’s Grille & Bar 400 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-6447770 / roccositaliangrille.com. Calabria native Rocco Potami oversees this romantic Italian eatery, where fine authentic fare is presented in an intimate dining room and on a secluded brick patio. Classics include carpaccio (raw, thinly sliced beef with white truffle oil and arugula), ricotta gnocchi and a breaded veal chop topped with a lightly dressed salad. It’s easy to miss, tucked away in a Winter Park strip center, but once you find it, you’ll be back. $$$ Tolla’s Italian Deli & Café 240 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Winter Park,

407-628-0068 / tollasitalianrestaurant.com. Chef-owner Gary Tolla cooks up authentic home-style Italian fare in this small café in a quieter part of Winter Park. The offerings range from hot subs and pizzas to antipasto and veal saltimbocca. Be sure to try the bruschetta. $$

LATIN

Mi Tomatina 433 W. New England Ave., Winter Park, 321-972-4881 / mitomatina.com. This eatery bills itself as a paella bar, and indeed guests share a half-dozen varieties of the signature Spanish rice dish.

Yet others come for a mellow meal over tapas (garlic shrimp, potato omelet, croquettes) and sangria, enjoyed while seated within a small contemporary dining room or outdoors overlooking Hannibal Square. $$-$$$

Many Orlandoans make El Tenampa part of their Costco shopping ritual, since the restaurant is located only a block from the OBT warehouse store. This authentic eatery features fresh fruit juices, spicy chicken chilaquiles (a Mexican breakfast, available all day long, made with fried tortilla pieces and a green sauce) as well as a satisfying shrimp quesadilla in addition to the standard enchiladas and fajitas. $

P.R.’s Taco Palace 499 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 407-645-2225.

This charmingly dumpy but iconic Winter Park eatery, located adjacent to the railroad tracks, serves up hearty portions of Tex-Mex fare including chimichangas, fajitas, tostadas and, of course, tacos. A specialty of the house is the outrageously proportioned fundido, a deep-fried flour tortilla filled with your choice of shredded or blackened chicken, shredded or ground beef and cream cheese. Many, many margaritas are consumed on the premises, and discounted tequila shots are offered whenever a train rumbles past. $-$$

PUBS AND GRILLS

Orlando Ale House 101 University Park Drive, Winter Park, 407-671-

1011 / millersalehouse.com. Part of the Miller’s Ale House regional chain of casual-dining restaurants, most of which are in Florida, the Winter Park location offers daily lunch and dinner specials. Along with a huge beer selection, the Ale House features signature boneless chicken wings and “Captain Jack’s Buried Treasure,” a layered ice cream cake. $-$$

SEAFOOD

Flying Fish Café 2101 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, 407-

939-2359 / disneyworld.com. Creative seafood — and some great steak — are on the menu at this upbeat eatery in Disney’s Boardwalk Resort. For a special experience, enjoy a five-course Chef’s Tasting Wine Dinner while seated at the food bar. $$$$

FEBRUARY 2014

1/16/14 5:01:14 PM

Mitchell’s Fish Market 460 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-339-

3474 / mitchellsfishmarket.com. A high-end seafood chain that prides itself on being “absolutely, positively obsessed with freshness,” the family-friendly restaurant also offers a gluten-free menu and special meals for kids. Signature dishes include charbroiled oysters, Maine lobster bisque and a “Fish Market Trio” of blackened salmon, broiled salmon and sea scallops. $$-$$$

Ocean Prime 7339 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando, 407-781-4880 / ocean-prime.com. Designed to evoke the ambience of an old-time supper club, Ocean Prime’s white-jacketed servers offer sensational steaks and fish dishes along with creative options such as sautéed shrimp in a spectacular Tabasco-cream sauce, crab cakes with sweet corn cream and ginger salmon. End with the chocolate peanut butter pie. $$$$

Todd English’s bluezoo 1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Lake Buena Vista,

407-934-1111 / thebluezoo.com. Creatively prepared seafood is served in an over-the-top undersea setting at this fine-dining restaurant, located in Disney’s Swan and Dolphin hotel. The fashion-forward choices might be a miso-glazed Hawaiian sea bass or fried lobster in a soy glaze. The desserts are among the best in town. $$$$

Winter Park Fish Co. 761 Orange Ave. Winter Park, 407-622-6112 /

thewinterparkfishco.com. Fish and seafood dishes are fresh and wellprepared at this humble Winter Park spot, where a counter service format helps keep the prices reasonable. Crab cakes, lobster rolls, mahimahi sandwiches and more ambitious dishes such as grouper cheeks in parchment and stuffed grouper are among a day’s assortment. $$

Shula’s 1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Orlando, 407-934-1362; 2974 International Parkway, Lake Mary, 407-531-3567 / donshula.com.

Coach Don Shula, who led the Miami Dolphins to a perfect season in 1972, is now in the restaurant business. One of his Orlando outposts, located in Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin resort, is a dark, tastefully sports-themed steakhouse where the menu is painted on a football. Offerings include Premium Black Angus beef as well as barbecue shrimp, wedge salad and crab cakes. Up in Lake Mary, Shula’s 347 Grill is more of a sports bar with ambitious food. $$-$$$$

ricotta is an impressive imitation of the Italian staple. Thirsty Park Avenue shoppers might stop by for a healthful smoothie. $$

VEGETARIAN

3898 / ethosvegankitchen.com. Ethos is a vegan restaurant with a menu that also satisfies open-minded carnivores. Fuel up on pecancrusted eggplant with red wine sauce and mashed potatoes or a meat-free shepherd’s pie, if salads, sandwiches and coconut-curry tofu wraps won’t do the trick. $-$$

Café 118 153 E. Morse Blvd., Winter Park, 407-389-2233 / cafe118.

com. Raw foods—none cooked past 118 degrees—are the focus of this health-conscious niche café, which attracts raw foodists, vegans and vegetarians. The spinach and beet ravioli stuffed with cashew

Dandelion CommuniTea Café 618 N. Thornton Ave., Orlando, 407-

362-1864 / dandelioncommunitea.com. Longtime leaders in Orlando’s local-foods movement, the owners of this colorful counter-service restaurant plate up bowlfuls of meals prepared with veggies — predominantly organic — from area farms. Wraps, salads, a vegan granola raspberry parfait and The Giddyup, a tempe chili, are all terrific. $

Ethos Vegan Kitchen 601 S. New York Ave., Winter Park, 407-228-

TASTE THE MODERN SIDE OF MEXICAN CUISINE

STEAK

Bull & Bear 14200 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Orlando, 407-5975500 / bullandbearorlando.com. Orlando’s Bull & Bear looks similar to New York’s legendary steakhouse (except for the pool and golf course views), but ours has its own ambitious menu. Guests of the Waldorf Astoria’s fine-dining restaurant can feast on traditional items such as veal Oscar and prime steak that’s dry aged for 21 days, and intriguing ones such as appetizers of gnocchi and escargot with crescents of black garlic. The chocolate and lemon desserts are superb. $$$$ Capital Grille 4200 Conroy Road, 407-351-2210; 9101 International

Drive, 407-370-4392 / thecapitalgrille.com. Capital Grille tries to oneup its upscale steakhouse competitors by dry-aging its beef, an expensive process that results in especially flavorful meat. Try a beautifully unadorned chop or a more creative dish, such as citrus-glazed salmon or Kona-crusted sirloin. The setting is clubby; the wine selection is generous. $$$$

Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster 729 Lee Road, Orlando, 407-645-

4443 / christnersprimesteakandlobster.com. Locals have been choosing this prototypically masculine, dark-wood-and-red-leather enclave for business dinners and family celebrations for more than a decade.

Family-owned since 1993 yet under the Del Frisco’s banner until mid2013, Christner’s features USDA Prime, corn-fed Midwestern beef or Australian cold-water lobster tails with a slice of the restaurant’s legendary mandarin orange cake. And there’s a loooong wine list (6,500 bottles). On select nights, Kostya Kimlat hosts magic shows along with a prix-fixe menu in a private dining room. $$$$

Fleming’s 8030 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, 407-352-5706; 933 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-699-9463 / flemingssteakhouse.com.

Fleming’s puts a younger spin on the stately steakhouse concept, featuring sleek décor and 100 wines by the glass along with its prime steaks and chops. The tempura lobster “small plate” with soy-ginger dipping sauce is a worthy pre-entrée splurge. For a taste of the oldfashioned, visit on Sunday, when prime rib is served. $$$$ Linda’s La Cantina 4721 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, 407-894-4491 / lindaslacantina.com. An Orlando icon, this style-free, windowless restaurant is always packed, and that’s because it serves top-quality steak dinners at wallet-friendly prices. Namesake Linda’s daughters Karen Hart, Debra Tassoni and Lori Coley, run the establishment today. $$-$$$ Nelore Churrascaria 115 E. Lyman Ave., Winter Park, 407-645-1112 / neloresteakhouse.com. This is one of two Nelore Brazilian all-youcan-eat steakhouses — the other one is in Houston — where the servers, or “gauchos,” come to your table as often as you’d like bearing skewers of premier beef, chicken or pork. There’s a world-class salad bar and Brazilian cheese bread to keep you happy between meat courses. $$$$

Sip the finest margarita Taste guacamole made fresh Savor fresh seafood and steaks with authentic sauces

Ruth’s Chris 7501 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando, 407-226-3900;

DELLAGIO & SAND LAKE ROAD

610 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-622-2444; 80 Colonial Center Parkway, Lake Mary, 407-804-8220 / ruthschris.com. With three stately steakhouses and corporate headquarters by Winter Park Village, Ruth’s Chris, a native of New Orleans, has become an Orlando special-occasion mainstay. Its service-oriented restaurants specialize in massive corn-fed Midwestern steaks served sizzling and topped with butter. $$$$

ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

8OL_Feb_14_Flavor.indd 71

8000 Via Dellagio

407.345.0186

cantinalaredo.com

JOIN US FOR VALENTINE’S DAY ORLANDO LIFE

71

1/16/14 5:01:26 PM

RESTLESS NATIVE

mike thomas

Its Final Frontier

T

SHUTTLE DISPLAY BEARS WITNESS TO A MIXED LEGACY. he shuttle Atlantis never looked better. It is flying at an angle, its

cargo bay doors open, its robotic arm extended out, perhaps preparing to snatch the Hubble Space Telescope.

The wear and tear of 33 flights is visible, appropriate for what was designed to be a working space truck.

After 30 years and 135 flights, the shuttle has made the journey from space to museum curiosity. Discovery went to the Smithsonian.

Endeavour went to Los Angeles. And we got Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center.

Of the five shuttles, three survived for posterity.

NASA obviously hopes for a nostalgic, Apollo-like remembrance of its shuttle program. And obviously this display serves to lobby history. But how history ultimately weighs in has yet to be decided.

If you define success as a program meeting its objective, the shuttle was a colossal failure. But in hindsight it may well be decided that given the times, the limitations and the technology, the shuttle was a remarkable achievement, if not a spectacular one.

The shuttle never had a moon-landing moment. There was no time when the world stood still, transfixed and in awe. There were no memorable quotes about “One small step …’’ or even memorable heroics, such as the Apollo 13 rescue.

The program did serve as a platform for building the space station.

And even if that outpost has little real value other than the fact of its own singular accomplishment, the skill and experience from building it could, over time, pay large dividends.

But it would be at a very high price. The shuttle was deeply flawed, its engineering design laden with booby traps that were discovered after flights began. Fixing them would have been so expensive and time-consuming that NASA decided to live with them.

The result was two tragedies and 14 dead astronauts.

In the case of the January 1986 Challenger explosion, a handful of engineers tried desperately to stop the flight because they feared freezing temperatures would trigger a catastrophic leak in the seals of the booster rockets. Managers refused to listen. Members of a presidential panel investigating the tragedy were appalled. A oncefawning media ripped NASA to shreds.

A replay of sorts occurred in 2003 when Columbia disintegrated upon reentry because, as happened with all launches, insulation foam broke off

72

ORLANDO LIFE

12OL_Feb_14_Restless Native.indd 72

from the external fuel tank. This time it knocked a hole in the wing. The foam strike was caught on camera, but even so, NASA denied a request from engineers to check the ship for damage while it still was in orbit.

Once again, NASA’s flawed decision-making and bureaucratic warts were put on full public display.

In NASA’s defense, the shuttle it flew was not the shuttle it wanted. The agency originally envisioned its shuttle system as two space planes. The orbiter would ride piggyback on a large, manned rocket plane that would boost it into space, set it free and fly back to Earth ready for the next piggyback launch.

Such a paired flight was expected to occur almost weekly, launching satellites at a fraction of the cost of the rockets currently in use.

Manned spaceflight was to become routine.

But there was little appetite in Congress for spending the kind of money it would have taken to develop such a configuration, and so compromises were made. The manned rocket plane was replaced with two big, old-fashioned booster rockets powered by solid fuel.

Once you ignite a solid-fuel booster, you can’t turn it off or even throttle it down. It simply burns until the fuel runs out. This negated any type of crew escape system during liftoff. The large external fuel tank was added as well. Making matters worse, NASA bypassed its usually rigorous engineering checks and balances because engineers thought they understood systems when they did not.

NASA then deemed its compromised product so safe that the statistical probabilities of failure were too remote to even calculate. The flaws immediately began to surface. Flight delays piled up. Costs soared and promises went unmet. NASA came under increasing criticism and pressure to launch. The agency groupthink changed from “prove it is safe to fly’’ to “prove it is not safe to fly.’’

The cost of each shuttle flight has been conservatively estimated at more than $1 billion each, money that drained scientific missions.

Such revelations, however, may well be buried in media archives and dusty commission reports. And the image of the soaring space plane now on view at the Kennedy Space Center will be the lasting memory. n Native Floridian and longtime Orlando columnist Mike Thomas covered the Challenger and Columbia disasters for the Orlando Sentinel. Now a freelance writer, Mike can be reached at miket@orlando-life.com.

FEBRUARY 2014

1/17/14 10:34:14 AM

12OL_Feb_14_Restless Native.indd 73

1/17/14 10:20:22 AM

NEW PER SONALIZED TRE ATMENTS. LUXURIOUS AND SOPHISTICATED SERVICE.

WALDORF ASTORIA SPA EXCLUSIVE

HydraFacial速 50 minutes /$120* (A $275 Value)

The ultimate expression of luxury is realized at the Waldorf Astoria速 Spa. Experience soothing environments, a holistic harmony of complete physical and emotional well-being and a new collection of customized offerings. From the innovative Hydrofacial therapy to the lavish Diamond Body therapy, every treatment is tailored to your specific characteristics and aesthetic expectations.

For reservations, please call 888-220-5079. Mention promo code HF2014 to redeem offer.

E X T R AORDINA RY PLA CES. A S IN G U L AR E XP E R IE N C E .

At each of our landmark destinations around the globe, experience the personalized Waldorf Astoria速 Hotels & Resorts service that creates unforgettable moments.

息2014 Hilton Worldwide

12OL_Feb_14_Restless Native.indd 74

*Based on availability. Cannot be combined with any other offer, and is not applicable to group or negotiated rates. A 20% service charge will be added for your convenience.

1/16/14 5:29:50 PM