Orlando Weekly's Annual Manual by Orlando Weekly

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‘On your trip to Taos and New Orleans, why not come to Orlando also and dig [the] crazy Florida scene of spotlessly clean highways and fantastic supermarkets and Cape Canaveral?’ — Jack Kerouac, in a 1961 letter to poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti

erlinghetti never did accept Kerouac’s invitation. Maybe because pre-Disney, there just weren’t a lot of reasons to visit the City Beautiful, grocery shopping notwithstanding. Back then Orlando was a sleepy backwater, ideally suited to living anonymously with your mom while waiting for your novel to be published. Post-Disney, the spotlessly clean highways are choked with trafﬁc and the supermarkets are pretty average. (Maybe the rest of the world caught up?) But almost 50 years after Kerouac’s “recommendation,” there are actual reasons why you’d want to visit, or live, here. We’ve got pockets of culture, some exceptional dining, things to do that don’t involve mice and whales and a real music scene. It’s all here, you just need to know where to look. That’s where Orlando Weekly’s Annual Manual comes in. Consider it an insider’s guide to the good stuff. Use it to get around, or lure your doubting friends to town.

ANNUAL MANUAL 2010 Civics Attractions Dining Night life & music Sports & recreation Shopping Arts & culture Calendar

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TEXT

T.I. Fraser Jim Gaines Billy Manes Lindy T. Shepherd Justin Strout Bob Whitby Jessica Bryce Young COVER

Jeff Drew PHOTOS

Jason Greene*

Breaking it down

ILLUSTRATIONS AND GRAPHICS

Steve Madden Shan Stumpf

North

Winter Park area

Downtown

West

BUSINESS KAREN WAEISS, manager AMANDA SELF, administrative assistant

Central South

I-Drive/ Universal

NATIONAL ADVERTISING: The Ruxton Media Group, 1-800-2-RUXTON TIMES-SHAMROCK: DON FARLEY, group publisher; JENNIFER MARSH, general sales manager. Copyright © 2010 Orlando Weekly Inc., all rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Free, one copy per reader. Annual Manual may be distributed only by its distributors. ORLANDO WEEKLY INC. 1505 E. Colonial Drive, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32803; (407) 377-0400, (407) 377-0415 classified, (407) 377-0420 fax • www.orlandoweekly.com

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EDITOR BOB WHITBY ART DIRECTOR SHAN STUMPF

East

Disney y

PUBLISHER RICK SCHREIBER

RETAIL ADVERTISING GRAHAM JARRETT, director ANGIE DERUELLE, LARA FISCHER, JONATHAN RISTEEN, CHAD SHEA, MATT WHITING, DAN WINKLER, account executives MIKE MUNDRICK, junior account executive HOLLIE JIRAK, coordinator PRODUCTION RICK ANDREWS, production supervisor SABRINA ARBONA, graphic designer CIRCULATION PIERRE RENE, manager * Except page 46

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efore you can really call this city home, there are a few things you are going to need to know. That’s where we come in.

Orlando by the numbers

Lost my pet

Location: 28.30 degrees north latitude, 80.72 degrees west longitude d

●

Orange County’s Animal Services Division, 2769 Conroy Road, is your first stop. Call 407-254-9140, or find them online at www.orangecountyfl.net.

Don’t know what to put in my recycling bins The blue one is for newspaper and brown paper only, red is for aluminum, steel, glass and plastic.

Need new recycling bins

● Four other world cities on a similar latitude: Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; New Delhi, India; Nanchang, China; Chihuahua, Mexico ● Estimated population as of 2006: 224,055

Go to the city’s homepage, www.cityoforlando. net, click on the “residents” tab, scroll down to “recycling” and ﬁll out the form. The city will drop bins off for you if they have them in stock.

●

First city name: Jernigan

First name of Orange County: Mosquito County ●

Don’t know when to water my lawn

● Year the county name was changed: 1845

That depends on the time of year and your street address. During daylight savings time, homes with odd-numbered or no addresses are allowed to water on Wednesdays and Saturdays; homes with even-numbered address water on Thursdays and Sundays. During standard time, odds water on Saturdays and evens water on Sundays.

● Population of Orange County in 1870: 2,212 ● Number of those who were white: 1,972 ● Number who were ‘colored’: 215

Don’t have enough to eat Second Harvest Food Bank, 407-295-1066, doesn’t provide food directly but can refer you to an agency that does. Or call the United Way’s 211 service, which is available in all Central Florida counties.

● Number who were foreign: 22 ●

Number who were insane: 3

Year Orlando incorporated as a city: 1875 ●

Want to know what the cops are doing in my neighborhood Check the Orlando Police Department’s “active calls” page, accessible from the police department homepage, www.cityoforlando.net/police/

Want to see if my new boyfriend is a criminal Search Orange County court records at www.myclerk.myorangeclerk.com.

Am trying to ﬁgure out what the hell that glass thing is in front of city hall It’s a 60-foot tall sculpture called The Tower of Light by artist Ed Carpenter, erected in 1992 at a cost of $460,000. Lots of people don’t like it, some of them refer to it as the Glass Asparagus.

● Possible sources for the name ‘Orlando’: character in William Shakespeare’s As You Like It; Orlando Reeves, a soldier killed by Seminole Indians near Lake Eola in 1835; a man who died herding oxen en route to Tampa ● The namesake of Lake Ivanhoe: Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott. ● Number of indictments for murder handed down in Orange County in 1871: 141

Before you got here 1780 – Thomas Heyward Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence, is imprisoned by the British at St. Augustine in 1780 and declares Florida ﬁt for nothing but a haven for refugees and renegades, thus anticipating the tourism industry by a century

16th century 1513 – Juan Ponce de Leon sees Florida, names it for its ﬂowers, and searches for the Fountain of Youth

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1820 – Jacob Summerlin is born in Lake City, supposedly the ﬁrst “white baby” born in what would become Florida. He grows up to be “King of the Crackers”

18th century 1819 – Spain cedes Florida to the United States

1845 – Florida enters the Union for 16 years

1875 – Orlando incorporates. Area: 4 square miles. Population: 85. Voters: 22

19th century 1835 – Orlando Reeves dies near Lake Eola. Or maybe he didn’t; stories vary

1842 – The U.S. passes the Armed Occupation Act, giving free land to Florida settlers if they help drive off those pesky Injuns. Who do the hereditary occupants think they are, anyway?

District 2: Fred Brummer Number of murders in Orlando in 2008: 43 ●

● Number of days annually able-bodied men aged 18-45 were required to work improving public streets in 1881: 6 ● Mandatory closing time for bars the same year: 11 P.M. ● Reason Orange County resident Martha Washington was granted a divorce from her husband, Henderson, in 1881: ‘He had contracted a vile and obnoxious disease known as sypholous (sic).’

Know your pols District 1: Scott Boyd

Orange County Commission

Orlando City Council District 2:TonyOrtiz

Mayor: Rich Crotty The “no” guy

Mayor: Buddy Dyer

District 6: Sam Ings

● Number of Orlando residents picked up in 1940 on suspicion of spying for Adolf Hitler: 12

District 4: Patty Sheehan

The “yes” guy

Ings has a Day Timer stained with barbecue sauce and ﬁlled with every picnic and ribbon

Year of the city’s ﬁrst narcotics arrest, and the drug involved: 1926, morphine

●

Downtown’s lesbian anger-management issue. Just don’t get on her bad side. Or be homeless

District 5: Daisy Lynum Travels the world as the face of the city, then comes home to spout nonsense even she doesn’t understand. Her favorite card game is “race”

● Year the ﬁrst Santa Claus arrived in Orlando by plane: 1927

1883 – The ﬁrst sidewalks are built along Orange Avenue to the train depot. Jacob Summerlin, by now a cattle baron, donates land to become Lake Eola Park

Pleasantly inevitable, coming as he does from a long line of political establishment Stuarts (his father George was a state senator)

Always dependable for a “no” vote when common sense requires one, Diamond never showboats or minces words

● Number of years the ban lasted: 4

● Movie in the beginning of which you can watch the predecessor to the current Orlando City Hall being imploded, and the year the movie was released: Lethal Weapon 3, 1991

District 3: Robert Stuart

District 1: Phil Diamond

● Year Orlando city council banned alcohol sales: 1883

Ofﬁcial city slogan prior to that: the ‘Phenomenal City’

She comes off like a sweet Hispanic Republican Mary Kay lady in person, but on paper Fernandez is a hard-nosed politico with an anti-tax ﬂag

The newest kid on the block, Ortiz is still in larval political puberty

Year skinny-dipping during daylight hours became illegal: 1882

●

District 3: Mildred Fernandez

Last year he made waves by shooting down attempts to actually pay for art in public spaces. This man’s man doesn’t need no stinkin’ art

●

● Year the ‘City Beautiful’ was adopted as the ofﬁcial slogan: 1908

Brummer, a contrarian conservative, is that grumpy old guy on the front porch in a rocking chair shining his shotgun

District 6: Tiffany Moore Russell A boots-on-the-ground ﬁrebrand with an eye for minority interests, Russell’s out of place on the stodgy county dais

1925 – Thomas Gilbert Lee opens his dairy with one cow, named Hopper

District 4: Linda Stewart

District 5: Bill Segal A cautious liberal, Segal is abdicating his commission post for a mayoral bid, working the expensive-scotch angle more than his peers

She’s crazy, but the good kind of crazy, and will talk your earrings off given the chance

1963 – Florida Technological University opens to feed graduates to nearby Kennedy Space Center. It’s renamed the University of Central Florida 15 years later

20th century 1894 – Harsh winter 1895 – It gets 1927 – Municipal Airport opens devastates the even colder citrus industry

1956 – The predecessor of Lockheed Martin arrives, becoming the area’s largest employer

1964 – Disney agents start quietly buying up land

1971 – Disney World opens

1977 – Holy crap, it snows!

Source: Orange County Regional History Center

Annual Manual

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A few famous Central Floridians John Anderson, 1954 Born in Orlando, raised in Apopka, he sings country music.

●

Wayne Brady, 1972 Orlando-born Brady is an actor, singer and comedian who hosts “Let’s Make A Deal!”

●

Joseph Brechner, 1912-1990 Born to immigrant parents in Fall River, Mass., he came to Orlando in the 1950s when his family bought the radio station that became WFTV Channel 9. Famed for his courageous editorials supporting the civil rights movement. ●

Delta Burke, 1956 The Orlando native was 1974’s Miss Florida and went on to a movie and TV career. She’s best known for her role in Designing Women.

●

Florida student was Miss America in 2004. ● Buddy Ebsen, 1908-2003 Born in Belleville, Ill, to German/Latvian immigrants in 1920, he moved to Orlando in 1920. After working as a soda jerk, learning to dance and play the saxophone, he left for New York and acting fame in 1928. Thirty-four years later, he was among the ceement ponds of Californy. ● Jack Kerouac, 19221969 Born in Lowell, Mass., rented part of a cottage in College Park. The Beat Generation author lived here when On the Road came out.

Col. Joseph W. Kittinger Jr., 1928 Born in Tampa, Jack Kerouac but moved here as a baby. Kittinger was an Air Force ﬁghter pilot ● Vassar Clements, 1928-2005 He and test pilot, was captured in the was born in Kinard, S.C., but grew up Vietnam War, and in 1960 made a in Kissimmee. The bluegrass musician parachute jump from nearly 20 miles played on more than 2,000 albums, up. Coming down, he exceeded 600 joining Bill Monroe, the Grateful Dead mph. and the Monkees. He was also a ● Marshall Warren Nirenberg, plumber at Kennedy Space Center. 1927-2010 The New York native ● Ericka Dunlap, 1981 The Orcame to Orlando for his health, and lando native and University of Central those concerns stuck – he became

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a biochemist and geneticist, and won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968. Dr. Philip Phillips, 1874-1959 Phillips came to Orlando in 1894, and his innovations in processing and marketing quickly built a citrus empire. Many places, including an area of town, are named for him.

●

● Edward ‘Fireball’ Roberts Jr., 1929-1964 Tavares-born, Apopkaraised Roberts got his nickname from his pitching style for the Zellwood Mud Hens, but made it famous on the NASCAR track. Then he burned to death in a crash. ● Isabel Roberts and Ida Ryan, 1871-1955 and 1873-1950 Roberts came from Mexico, Mo., and Ryan from Waltham, Mass., but they made their mark on Orlando as the architectural ﬁrm of Ryan & Roberts. The ﬁrm designed the Lake Eola bandshell and a number of apartments, churches and commercial buildings, some of which remain. ● Chuck Schuldiner, 1967-2001 Born in New York, lived in Altamonte Springs. Leader of the band Death, he was called “the father of death metal.”

● Hughlette ‘Tex’ Wheeler, 19011955 Born in Christmas, the sculptor studied in Paris and traveled the U.S. casting bronze horses and western scenes.

John Young, 1930 Born in San Francisco but raised in College Park, Young has been to outer space six times – including a walk on the moon and command of the ﬁrst Space Shuttle ﬂight. Now he’s a road, too.

●

John Young

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aybe you’ve heard: we live in the mecca of attractions. There are the big boys, which you can ﬁnd out about in a couple thousand other places so we won’t recount that info here, and there are the little ones that still feel like old Florida. Here’s a sampling of the latter broken down by land, water, air and the use of your imagination. Go forth and be touristy.

By land Bok Tower Gardens 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales 863-676-1408 www.boktowergardens.org A botanical masterpiece designed by Frederick Law Olmstead Jr., crowned with a 205-foot bell tower. Open daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. $10 for adults, $3 for children.

Central Florida Railroad Museum 101 S. Boyd St., Winter Garden 407-656-0559 www.wgfh.org Perhaps the ﬁnest collection of Florida railroad memorabilia in the state, and includes a somewhat rare collection of dining car china. The museum is housed in the former Tavares & Gulf railroad depot.

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens 3755 U.S. 17-92, Sanford 407-323-4450 www.centralﬂoridazoo.org Home to more than 400 animals, not counting the Insect Zoo. They also have a couple really cool ziplines (check the sports and recreation section for details). Open daily 9 a.m.

Orlando Science Center

Gatorland

to 5 p.m. $10.95 for adults, less for seniors and children.

Dinosaur World 5145 Harvey Tew Road, Plant City 813-717-9865 www.dinoworld.net More than 150 life-size outdoor models of dinosaurs rule over a fossil dig, museum and lots of paleontological-themed activities. Open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.$12.75 adults, $9.75 children.

Fort Christmas Historical Park and Museum 1300 Fort Christmas Road, Christmas 407-568-4149 www.orangecountyfl.net A regional history museum housed in a Seminole War-era log structure. You’ll also find good examples of Florida cracker-style homes, and other amenties befitting a county park.

Gatorland 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail 407-855-5496 www.gatorland.com Gatorland is a roadside attraction turned eco-preserve. The ﬂesh-eating monsters roam (almost) free, along with many more scary things. Watch them swim, eat, sleep, wrestle and jump. Learn about them. Embrace them. Well, not literally. You know

what we mean. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $22.99 for adults, $14.99 children.

Green Meadows Petting Farm 1368 South Poinciana Blvd., Kissimeee 407-846-077 www.greenmeadowsfarm.com Get your shoes dirty with 300 farm animals, petting them and learning how to do a variety of farm tasks. Tours run 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prices for most adults and children start at $17 for locals.

Harry P. Leu Gardens 1920 N. Forest Ave. 407-246-2620 www.leugardens.org Three miles of paths wind through botanical displays. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $7 for adults, $2 children.

Reptile World Serpentarium 5705 East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, St. Cloud 407-892-6905 www.reptileworldserpentarium.com Founded in 1972 as a research facility for the production of venom, this working snake farm opened to tourists in 1976. If you like watching deadly snakes get milked, this is really your only option in Central Florida.

Speed World Dragway 19442 E. Colonial Drive, Bithlo 407-568-2717 www.speedworlddragway.com Watch street dragsters, motorcycles, old hot rods, and even school buses go ﬂat-out.

By water

Jungle Adventures Nature Park

A Orlando Airboats

26205 State Road 50, Christmas 407-568-2885 www.jungleadventures.com Kind of like a low-rent Gatorland, Jungle Adventures is smaller and more kitschy. You enter through the mouth of the “largest gator in Florida,” a 200-footer that used to double as the home of the park’s original owner. Inside, you’ll see rarities such as a Florida Panther and Gray Wolves.

Airboat Rides at Boggy Creek

4245 13th St., St. Cloud 407-572-5391 Aorlandoairboats.com Times are ﬂexible. Lake Toho tours start at $26.70 for 30 minutes.

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

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

Black Hammock Adventures 2356 Black Hammock Fish Camp Road, Oviedo 407-365-1244 www.theblackhammock.com Regular half-hour tours of gatorchoked Lake Jessup run 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with others available. continued on page 12

Air Boat Rides at MidWay

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continued from page 11

Tours start at $23.95. There’s a ﬁshrestaurant on premises that serves mean fried seafood.

Discovery Cove 6000 Discovery Cove Way 407-370-1280 www.discoverycove.com If SeaWorld doesn’t get you close enough, try across the road where you can actually swim with ﬁsh and dolphins. Packages start at $199. Reservations are required.

Kissimmee Swamp Tours 4500 Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville 407-436-1059 www.kissimmeeswamptours.com Day and evening times are ﬂexible. Sixty- to 90-minute tours on Lake Kissimmee start at $47.

Mild To Wild Airboat Tours 14400 Reese Drive, Lake Wales 863-696-0313 www.mildtowildairboattours.com Hours are ﬂexible. It’s $65 for three and one-half hours, with 90-minute bird watching tours for $45.

Rivership Romance 433 N. Palmetto Ave., Sanford 407-321-5091

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www.rivershipromance.com Cruise on Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River. 11 a.m. lunch cruises start at $38 most days, and a 7:30 p.m. Saturday moonlight dining and dancing cruise starts at $53.75.

Wet ‘n Wild water park 6200 International Drive 407-351-1800 www.wetnwild.com If an hour’s too long to reach the beach and you’re scared of jellyﬁsh, try this instead. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days, depending on weather. $47.95 adults, children and seniors $41.95. Half price after 2 p.m.

Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour 312 E. Morse Blvd., Winter Park 407-644-4056 Scenicboattours.com Take a 12-mile pontoon boat tour on three lakes and two canals winding through the city. You’ll skim by Rollins College to see how the tony half lives. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Tours leave hourly. $12 adults, $6 children.

By sky Audobon Birds of Prey Center

1101 Audobon Way, Maitland 407-644-0190 ﬂ.audubon.org As Gary Larson once noted, birds of prey know they’re cool. This rehab center for these cool birds, located in a 1920s bungalow set on Lake Sybelia, is where you get up close and personal with these awesome raptors. There’s a walking trail and aviaries housing injured birds that can’t be release back into the wild.

Fantasy of Flight 1400 Broadway Blvd. SE, Polk City 863-984-3500 www.fantasyofﬂight.com See how old planes are restored, tour hangars holding more than 40 airplanes – some the last of their kind – and watch occasional ﬂying demonstrations. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $26.95 adult, $12.95 children.

Florida Air Museum 4075 Doolittle Road, Lakeland 863-644-0741 www.sun-n-fun.org Home to the annual Sun ‘n Fun Fly In, this museum, adjacent to the Lakeland Regional Airport, is worth the drive for the collection of Howard Huges memorabilia on permanent

display. They also have a Sopwith Camel, like Snoopy used to ﬂy.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex State Road 405 east of Titusville 321-449-4444 www.kennedyspacecenter.com You really can’t get a feel for how massive a Saturn V rocket is until you take a stroll under one suspended just a few feet above your head, and this is the only place in the world to do that. Take guided tours of launch areas, see historic rockets, ride the Shuttle Launch Experience, see the Astronaut Hall of Fame, or ride the Open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. $38 adults, $28 children.

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

By imagination Holy Land Experience 4655 Vineland Road 407-367-2065 www.holyland-orlando.com Stories from the Bible reenacted in a high-tech mock-up of ancient Jerusalem. You might as well pay a visit, because as an Orange County taxpayer, you’re subsidizing the place. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. $35 adults, $23 children.

Monument of States

Winter Park Senic Boat Tour

Air Florida Helicopter 8990 International Drive 407-354-1400 www.airﬂoridahelicopter.com

Open 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. A variety of tours run $25 to $335.

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

Orlando HeliTours 5519 U.S. Hwy. 192, Kissimmee 407-397-0226 orlandohelitours.com Tours run $20 to $150 from 9 a.m. to sunset daily.

Orlando Science Center 777 East Princeton St. 407-514-2000 www.osc.org Four ﬂoors of all things sciency await, with hands-on learning for all. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ThursdayTuesday, closed Wednesday. $17 for adults, less for seniors and children.

300 East Monument Ave., Kissimmee 407-847-2821 Rocks and odd related objects from all 50 states and a number of foreign countries are mounted, labeled and assembled in a tower topped by a concrete globe and American ﬂag. A classic relic of World War II-era boosterism. Free and always open.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

Orange County Regional History Center

9067 International Drive 407-351-8800 www.wonderworksonline.com The upside-down building. Inside hightech effects let you experience an earthquake, hurricane, hang-gliding and lots more. Open 9 a.m. to midnight. Base price is $19.95 adults, $14.95 children.

65 East Central Blvd. 407-836-8500 www.thehistorycenter.org The 1927 county courthouse houses permanent exhibits from natural Florida through Disney’s coming. Traveling exhibits broaden its appeal,

8201 International Drive 407-363-441 www.ripleysorlando.com The prototype of weird exhibits has an Orlando location. Open 9:30 a.m. to midnight. $18.95 adults, $11.95 children.

WonderWorks

AM-10 AM-10

SkyVenture 6805 Visitor Circle, Orlando 407-903-1150 www.skyventureorlando.com Skydive without a plane – brieﬂy. The vertical wind tunnel will cost $44.95 for an hour’s training and a minute or two in the air. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Reservations are suggested.

and a local history archive awaits scholars. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. $12 for adults, less for seniors and children.

Be Part Of The Thrills & Excitement

NOW HIRING! We offer comprehensive beneﬁts*, free admission, discounts, additional passes, and more.

Apply Online At UniversalOrlandoJobs.com *Beneﬁts for full-time & part-time employees. Plans vary. Sign language interpreters will be provided. Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2010 Universal Studios. © 2010 Universal Orlando. All rights reserved. EOE 245380/0210/RA

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6 - Annual Manual

!VAILABLE AT ALL OUR /RLANDO LOCATIONS $INNER MENU ALSO AVAILABLE

ike many small-to-midsized metropolitan areas, Orlando seems awfully samey upon cursory inspection: a dense mass of shopping strips ﬁlled with national and regional chain restaurants. But actually the city is scattered with pockets of ethnic and homegrown goodness. It’s home to a vibrant Vietnamese dining scene, a thick ribbon of Indian and Pakistani restaurants, a sprinkling of celebrity chefs down around the theme parks and a handful of local stalwarts working to bring gastroculture to O-town. Orlando Weekly has sliced the city into nine regions; below, an exploration.

A cozy outdoor courtyard offers bucolic views of the oaks fringing Lake Ivanhoe, and hosts Sunday brunch and summer-months vegan barbecues.

North

Goff’s Drive In

Winter Park Area

West Central

Jazzy Dog Café 1311 Sligh Blvd. 407-428-0633 www.myspace.com/jazzydogcafe Real NYC red-hots and Coney Islandstyle knishes will please ex-New Yorkers. The namesake dog, with sweetpotato mustard and blue-cheese slaw on a pretzel bun, is a hard act to top, but the California Dog (Swiss, bacon, avocado) comes close.

East Downtown

I-DriveUniversal

South

Lac-Viet Bistro

Disney

Downtown Dexter’s of Thornton Park 808 E. Washington St. 407-648-2777 www.dexwine.com Spacious, light and airy, with seating at the bar or at high tables. The menu covers the usual pastas, sandwiches and salads, but the sweet-potato fries are a local favorite. Plenty of wines are available “on tap.”

Johnson’s Diner 595 W. Church St. 407-841-0717 In its expanded digs on West Church Street, Johnson’s continues to provide soulful sustenance to Parramore locals and celebs (politicians, Magic players) alike with comfort staples like stew beef, fried chicken, smothered pork chops, collard greens and corn casserole. Go for banana pudding if it’s available.

Ceviche Tapas Bar 125 W. Church St. 321-281-8140 www.ceviche.com The seductive interior alone makes

Dexter’s of Thorton Park

this Church Street joint worth visiting, though the whopping selection of small plates is what keeps patrons coming back.

Planet Pizza 14 W. Washington St. 407-650-8859 The street theater of drunken hipsters, fratboys and gangsta-wannabes leaning on one another in the late-night line is almost as enjoyable as the wide variety of slices.

Central Beefy King 424 N. Bumby Ave. 407-894-2241 www.beefyking.com A local legend with a dedicated following, this mighty little sandwich shop has survived since 1968 by doing it better than all the big players. Beefy King’s secret is simple quality. Delicious meats – roast beef, pastrami, turkey – are cooked daily and steamed to order to bring out their natural ﬂavors.

Lee & Rick’s Oyster Bar

212 S. Orange Blossom Trail 407-425-5599 Lines are long after church for Sunday sundaes and the “best shake in town.” The cement-block building, open since 1948, sits in an industrial area of OBT, but devoted fans make the trek.

Chinatown Seafood Restaurant 1103 N. Mills Ave. 407-896-9383 Live seafood is this restaurant’s forte; if you want to save yourself a drive to the coast, head to the ViMi corridor for a taste of the exotic (crispy Hong Kong-style frog legs are a spicy standout).

El Coqui Mexicano 2406 E. Washington St. 407-601-4928 It’s an ebullient, familial affair at Rico and Evelyn Martinez’s charming little Latin joint. Saffron-hued chicken atop a heap of garlicky mofongo, blazing chicken sopes and hot guacamole are pleasing plates. Bring your own beer and wine and prepare to be regaled by the owners’ amusing yarns.

Ethos Vegan Kitchen 1235 N. Orange Ave. 407-228-3898 www.ethosvegankitchen.com Creative, satisfying meatless fare is the norm at this all-vegan restaurant.

2021 E. Colonial Drive 407-228-4000 www.lacvietbistro.com Orlando has some of the best Vietnamese food in the nation, and you’ll ﬁnd some of it at Lac-Viet on the Vietnamese-ﬂavored stretch of Colonial Drive near Mills Avenue (across from the huge and comprehensive Super Oriental Market, also worth a visit). Great old standbys with a sense of style, as well as fresh inventions.

Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria 67 N. Bumby Ave. 407-894-0865 www.myspace.com/pompomsteahouse Want interesting sandwiches (yellow curry chicken salad with toasted almonds, red apple and onion), unusual tea (raspberry-rose), killer desserts (lavender-peppercorn crème brûlée), and a cheery atmosphere? Find it all here. Open 24 hours Friday and Saturday.

Social Chameleon 2406 E. Robinson St. 407-715-2138 www.thesocialchameleon.com

Stardust Video & Coffee

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Calm, cool and collected neighborhood sanctuary offers pizza and peace of mind along with a diverse selection of microbrews, organic wines and sangria. Genial (and dogfriendly) service and a charming back garden have won fans.

Stardust Video & Coffee 1842 E. Winter Park Road 407-623-3393 www.stardustrules.com An Orlando institution. Rent obscure German Expressionist films, or stumble up to the coffee-booze-andfood counter to fulfill other, less cerebral appetites. A tightly edited selection of fresh sandwiches and salads offers something for everyone – carnivores, vegetarians and vegans alike. It’s like hanging out at home, if your living room is full of hipsterific kids cruising each other.

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SW Orlando The Marketplace at Dr. Phillips 407 355-0340 • Orlando Colonial MarketPlaza 407 894-1718 • Altamonte Springs Palm Springs Shopping Center 407 830-1770 • Lake Mary Lake Mary Centre 407 833-0848 East Orlando Waterford Lakes Town Center 407 249-9475 • Ocoee Shoppes of Ocoee 407 798-2000

White Wolf Café 1829 N. Orange Ave. 407-895-9911 www.whitewolfcafe.com With its quirky, romantic setting and easy pace, this antique-marketturned-bar-and-café is a landmark hangout on the cluttered strip of Orange Avenue that lies on the fringes of downtown.

Winter Park area Black Bean Deli 325 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park 407-628-0294 www.blackbeandeli.com After dishing out favorites since the mid-’80s, Black Bean changed hands from aunt to nephew, and there’s a new vitality to the kitchen. Lunch platters are a bargain; tender roast chicken has a citrusy tang, pork is marinated and slow-cooked and the black beans are dandy.

Café 118 153 E. Morse Blvd., Winter Park 407-389-2233 www.cafe118.com The raw food movement sprouts at Café 118, where raw ingredients supplant all manner of cooked comestibles. Macadamia- and cashew-based “cheeses” are central ingredients in crunchy chiles rellenos and refreshing basil wrappers, while portobello steak takes on the appearance of ﬁlleted tenderloin, right down to the “pan juices.” Desserts are surprisingly rich, delicious and chocolatey.

Enzian Theater 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland 407-629-0054 www.enzian.org Food and ﬁlm: It’s an odd combination, but it works, even if there are a few interruptions while watching the movie. Order staples like buttered popcorn and chocolate-chip cookies,

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or get fancy with creative starters and sandwiches (including a good vegetarian selection). Before or after dinner, knock back a specialty cocktail or an Austrian beer at the patio Eden Bar.

Four Rivers Smokehouse 2103 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park 407-474-8377 www.4rsmokehouse.com It’s all about the ridiculously good smoked-to-perfection Angus beef brisket at this Texas-style smokehouse – just be prepared to wait in line. Heady sides set this barbecue joint apart from the rest.

Luma on Park 290 S. Park Ave., Winter Park 407-599-4111 www.lumaonpark.com Foodies are hot for the innovative fare at this Park Avenue star. The atmosphere is lively and suitable for large parties, there’s a great wine selection and the small plates encourage sharing – or go for one of the fabulous entrees and keep it all to yourself.

The Ravenous Pig 1234 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park 407-628-2333 www.theravenouspig.com Frills are as sophisticated as the food at this Winter Park gastropub: Diners scheme unsuccessfully to get seconds on the cheddar biscuits, and the grouper-on-brioche sandwich landed in Saveur magazine’s 2010 “Saveur 100,” underscoring serious talent in the kitchen.

North Appleton’s Café 3575 Lake Mary Blvd., Lake Mary 407-323-7663 Biscuits to bacon, this Lake Mary greasy spoon is down-home to the core. Breakfast is the big draw, with crispy country-fried steak and thick, spicy sausage gravy offering bona ﬁde Southern comfort.

Bayridge Sushi 1000 W. SR 434, Longwood 407-331-0000 www.bsjapanese.com It’s a long way from its ex-home in Brooklyn and a long way from downtown Orlando, but this is a casual spot for exquisite-quality sushi, with a slightly expensive but convenient single-piece “a la carte” menu to sample the art of the chef.

Cress Restaurant 103 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand 386-734-3740 www.cressrestaurant.com Mathematician-turned-chef has the

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THE ONE-DAY

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DINING continued from page 16

formula for success: fusing traditional and multicultural approaches with organic ingredients. The signature salad offers a representative sampling from their garden; and specials like poma rosa marinara pappardelle will leave nary a bite on your plate.

Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café 205 E. First St., Sanford 407-321-2204 www.willowtreecafe.com Homey (or “gemütlichkeit”) gasthaus in Sanford’s historic downtown district offers bier, wursts, spaetzle, strudel and some of the ﬁnest sweet red cabbage you’ll eat, but the talent in the kitchen extends well beyond simply German food.

Journeys at Alaqua 2091 Alaqua Drive, Longwood 407-995-3333 www.journeysrestaurant.net The “world-inspired cuisine” here is a many-ﬂavored delight, fusing ingredients from across the globe. They may not take you all the way around the world, but they’ve mastered interesting new permutations of dishes from the Euro-American playbook. Reservations are a must.

Korea House 1155 W. State Road 434, Longwood 407-767-5918 The ﬁrst Korean restaurant in the area remains one of the few outlets for a taste of the Land of the Morning Sun. Abundantly sized dishes are based on the ﬂavors of garlic, ginger, soy and hot pepper, like bulgogi beef marinated in sweet garlic sauce. Eleven side items (panchan) are included with each meal, including the cornerstone kimchi.

South Maraya at Sabrina’s Restaurant 8100 Crystal Clear Lane 407-856-8155 www.marayarestaurant.com One of the priciest restaurants on the Trail is worth a visit for the fastidiously prepared Mediterranean fare alone. Succulent rack of lamb, rustic chicken soup and a cross-section of Lebanese staples highlight the offerings.

Primo 4040 Central Florida Parkway 407-393-4444 www.primorestaurant.com Celebrity chef Melissa Kelly brings her organic, locavore philosophy down from Maine to the enormous JW Marriott Orlando. From free-range lamb to homemade sausage, care is taken – and provenance is listed – with every ingredient, and it pays off

on the plate. Prices are in the very high range, but for a special meal Primo beats almost any spot in town.

Woodlands 6040 S. Orange Blossom Trail 407-854-3330 www.woodlandsusa.com Pure vegetarian. Pure delight. Southern Indian delicacies based on hot, spicy, sour and sweet hit every part of the tongue with equal splendor. Go straight for the thali (assortment plate) specials for a bit of everything, or savor Tamil specialties like huge, delicate ﬁlled-crepe dosas.

East Black Hammock Fish Camp 2316 Black Hammock Fish Camp Road, Oviedo 407-365-2201 www.theblackhammock.com Travel down snaking Oviedo roads to Lake Jessup, walk past the camp’s live gator cage and then set yourself down for some Florida-style seafood (best enjoyed fried).

Lazy Moon Pizza 12269 University Blvd. 407-658-2396 www.eatdrinkandbelazy.com Wide variety of toppings makes for endless ﬂavor combinations, and thin, crispy crust allows one to devour mammoth slices without exploding. The impressive selection of imports and microbrews on offer puts Lazy Moon notches above average pies-and-beer joints.

Sweet! By Good Golly Miss Holly 711 N. Alafaya Trail 407-277-7746 www.sweetbyholly.com If sugariness is what you want, this is the place. Cupcakes are properly moist and cakey, but you may need a quart of milk to wash down the chocolate-ganache-and-buttercream “high-hat”; try one of the two dozen other ﬂavors if you fear cavities.

West The Catfish Place of Apopka 311 Forest Ave., Apopka 407-889-7980 www.mycatfishplace.com The place to go when you’re in the mood for down-home fried seafood. The restaurant is nothing fancy, but the boneless catfish is superb, the coleslaw is crisp and the service is warm.

Chef’s Table at The Edgwater 99 W. Plant St., Winter Garden 407-230-4837 www.chefstableattheedgewater. com An intimate setting, superbly executed dishes and the opportunity to continued on page 21

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REDEFINE

AM-10

DATE NIGHT

AM-10

Redeﬁne entertainment with Blue Man Group, a curiously captivating mash-up of totally unique live music, exceptional humor, and lots of paint!

For tickets or more information: UniversalOrlando.com • 407-BLUE-MAN © 2010 BMP. Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2010 Universal Studios. © 2010 Universal Orlando. All rights reserved. 245424/0310/MW

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banter with the chef make this Winter Garden prix ﬁxe a must-stop on the local foodie trail. Foie gras crème brûlée, wild mushroom–and-gruyère torte and sesame-crusted tuna highlight the menu.

The Goblin Market 330 Dora Drawdy Way, Mount Dora 352-735-0059 www.goblinmarketrestaurant.com Tucked in an alleyway, this casual gourmet outlet is set up for charming dining. Try the ﬂavorful crab bisque, served with a small crystal pitcher of sherry, or the crab cakes with a tart cucumber-onion relish.

Shakera’s West Indian Restaurant 2615 N. Pine Hills Road 407-290-2462 Guyanese joint in the heart of Orlando’s Carib community attracts devotees for its roti – flatbread wraps filled with turmeric-spiced curries. Both chickpea-potato and boneless chicken versions are fulfilling.

Disney area Kabob N’ Curry 12185 S. Apopka Vineland Road 407-238-7684 www.kabobncurryﬂ.com The kebabs and curries at this tourist-area eatery pack a lot of heat, but riches await those who battle the blaze. Gloriously spiced chapli kebabs are worth the drive alone, and nihari’s velvety shanks of beef are a truly comforting nosh.

Kouzzina Downtown Disney Boardwalk, Lake Buena Vista 407-939-3463 It’s big, bright and boisterous, but Cat Cora’s Greek kitchen is well worth enduring the distractions of dining on Disney property. The traditional whole ﬁsh and perfectly balanced cinnamon-stewed chicken are superlative, and Greek wine ﬂights are eye-opening.

Todd English’s Bluezoo Disney’s Dolphin Resort, Lake Buena Vista 407-939-3463 www.thebluezoo.com Splurging whenever you can afford to is great way to feel like king of the sea. Ambience and service are pampering and not pretentious, and match up to slap-the-table delectables like the “miso-glazed Chilean sea bass” and “ﬁsh grilled simply.”

I-Drive/Universal area Best of British Soccer World Sports Bar and Grill 8324 International Drive 407-264-9189

www.bestofbritishpub.com Beef-and-ale pie, ﬁsh and chips and curries prepared by an Indian chef are bang-on, though you’ll suffer through iffy service and long waits.

Cedar’s Restaurant 7732 W. Sand Lake Road 407-351-6000 www.orlandocedars.com Their spin on traditional Lebanese food is a lightness of texture and ﬂavor that is both refreshing and inviting. Use the puffy, hot-from-the-oven pitas to scoop up wonderfully smoky baba ghanoush with pickled walnuts.

The Dessert Lady Café 4900 S. Kirkman Road 407-822-8881 www.dessertlady.com Patti Schmidt, the “Dessert Lady,” serves up seriously seductive sweets, wines and decadent coffee drinks; the buttercream-frosted carrot cake, served with rum-soaked raisins on the side, is a standout.

Lee & Rick’s Oyster Bar 5621 Old Winter Garden Road 407-293-3587 www.myspace.com/leeandricks An unfancy place with 60 years of experience, where fresh, sweet oysters are the focal point. Sit at the tiled bar and settle in with a bucket of them.

Nile Ethiopian Restaurant 7040 International Drive 407-354-0026 www.nile07.com At Orlando’s lone Ethiopian restaurant, utensils come in the form of pancake-like sourdough bread called injera, used to scoop intensely spiced dishes from a large communal platter. Be sure to sample traditional honey wine as well as Ethiopian coffee, brewed in a clay pot.

Oceanaire Seafood Room 9101 International Drive 407-363-4801 www.theoceanaire.com A budget-busting bounty of unparalleled freshness awaits seafood lovers at what is arguably Orlando’s finest seafood house. More than 20 varieties of fish, lobster, crab and mussels, and eight varieties of oysters, are flown in daily from around the world.

Singh’s Roti Shop 5244 Old Winter Garden Road 407-447-3447 www.singhsrotishop.com Rotis come in three types here – sadha (similar to naan), dhalpouri (made with a ﬁne layer of yellow split peas) and basupshut (thick, buttery and torn like a “busted-up shirt”) – all of which can be ladled with a pungent curry, then folded. Flaming Scotch bonnet hot sauce is a must.

For a more comprehensive list, visit www.orlandoweekly.com

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The Social

f you’ve looked around for something to do in Central Florida, you’ve noticed that the good stuff is a little spread out. We don’t have an “entertainment district” as such, unless you count the bars and clubs lining Orange Avenue downtown. And you should. But beyond that, you are going to do some driving. With that in mind, we present you the gas gauge guide to night life. The more gas in the tank, the closer stuff is to downtown Orlando.

Tank is full FESTIVALS Anti-Pop Music Festival November, various venues www.antipopmusicfestival.com The big dog in terms of tastemaker cred, Anti-Pop grabs the best and brightest from the indie rock world – Minus the Bear, Pete Yorn, Saul Williams and Conor Oberst have all graced its stages – and brings them together for a few days of the closest Orlando comes to South By Southwest.

ELLA Fest October, various venues www.myspace.com/ellamusicfest It’s ladies ﬁrst with this intimate gathering of Orlando’s most powerful female musicians. Transcendence is on tap on this weekend, which is organized by local singer-songwriter Robert Johnson as an expression of gender togetherness.

Florida Music Festival April, various venues www.ﬂoridamusicfestival.com Entering its ninth year, FMF is

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Firestone Live

the longest-running music fest in Orlando, and it’s also the most industry-minded. Featuring conferences with music-biz professionals and performances by radio-rock mainstays like Filter, Third Eye Blind and Taylor Swift, it’s all about the pros with FMF.

Orange You Glad Music Festival

vibe altogether, but the commnon denominator is that it’s always interesting.

Bar-BQ-Bar 64 North Orange Ave. 407-648-5441 There’s intimacy and then there’s Bar-BQ-Bar, a liquor-drenched, compact-to-say-the-least space where the closeness promotes a

May, various venues www.myspace.com/orangeyouglad The newest fest on the block, Orange You Glad began in 2009 as a locally focused FMF alternative that’s heavy on the indie and large with the community vibe.

Rock For Hunger Festival October, various venues www.rockforhunger.org Ostensibly a fundraising event to help Orlando’s homeless population (who haven’t historically been treated with the most respect by ofﬁcials), Rock For Hunger, now in its ﬁfth year, features local acts of all stripes, from funk to ska to country.

Tank is full

VENUES Amway Arena 600 West Amelia St. 407-849-2020 www.orlandovenues.net Because the big acts have to play somewhere, it might as well be the home of the Orlando Magic. Thankfully, virtually every seat is a good one, and Amway has the space and the power to ﬁt Britney’s circus and Springsteen’s crotch slides.

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

Tank is 3/ full 4 Tank is 1/ full 2 Tank is 1/ 4 full

kind of fevered pitch of conversation and laughter.

Firestone Live 578 North Orange Ave. 407-872-0066 www.ﬁrestonelive.net The largest music venue on Orange Avenue, Firestone Live has the acoustics to ﬁll your night with good vibes. Its club night focus has shifted

recently to quality live bookings, and it’s the only place in town where you can see Wu-Tang one night and the Misﬁts on another.

Icon 20 East Central Blvd. 407-649-6496 Get your grind on at this relatively upscale hip-hop nightclub, but be advised: Unless you’re a drop-dead ﬁne lady or you know somebody important, you’ll be among the hang-dog faces waiting in a line to get in that frequently goes around the block.

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

Plaza Theatre 425 North Bumby Ave.

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

Redlight Redlight 745 Bennett Road www.myspace.com/theredlightredlight

Voted one of the best places for beer in the world by the people who vote on those things, there’s no better selection for personal imbibing in Orlando, and thankfully, its bookers know a thing or two about music, as well. Some of the best acoustic acts in Orlando consider Redlight Redlight a must to play.

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

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

Lizzy McCormack’s 55 North Orange Ave. 407-426-8007 www.lizzymccormacks.com Drunken camaraderie marks this Irish pub with one of the longest happy hours in downtown Orlando, and one of the best atmospheres to boot. You don’t want to be anywhere else for St. Patrick’s Day.

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

Will’s Pub

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Tank is 3/4 full FESTIVALS I-4 Fest July 4 weekend, Austin’s Coffee 929 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park 407-975-3364 www.austinscoffee.com The ﬁreworks can be found onstage at this annual Independence Day festival featuring local indie-rock acts of all stripes in the parking lot of this über-cool coffeehouse.

VENUES Austin’s Coffee 929 West Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park 407-975-3364 www.austinscoffee.com This is where to go if you’re a fan of open-mic nights, as the couch-andchairs, laid-back atmosphere complements the amateur-night cheerfulness well. Austin’s also stocks some terriﬁc organic, fair-trade coffee.

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

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

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

Stardust Video & Coffee 1842 East Winter Park Road 407-623-3393 www.myspace.com/stardustvideoandcoffee Once a haven for indie-minded ﬁlm

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buffs, the mood has shifted recently toward that of a chilled-out lounge for freaky experimental music acts.

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

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

Destiny Nightclub 7430 Universal Blvd. 407-351-9800 Once a tourist destination for the hip-hop nightclub crowd, Destiny has recently re-imagined itself as a haven for teens on vacation in need of some time away from the hotel.

Handlebar and Grille 600 North U.S. Hwy 17-92, Longwood 407-339-4949 www.handlebarandgrille.com Voted the “best place to duck beer bottles” by this publication, the longtime biker bar also boasts one of the tiniest live stages around, which leads to great fun with the gruff clientele.

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

The Haven 6700 Aloma Ave., Winter Park 407-673-2712 www.thehavenrocks.com It’s a headbanger’s ball at the Haven, located near Full Sail University and populated by aggros in need of a good mosh. While the live acts trend toward student bands fueled by Red continued on page 26

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Tank is 1/4 full

UCF Arena

VENUES DaVinci

Bull, people-watching from the bar has never felt so smugly right. Gemini Boulevard North & West Plaza Drive 407-823-3070 www.ucfarena.com A newcomer to the ginormous venue game (until now, entirely reserved for Amway Arena), UCF Arena has come on strong with excellent seating and swanky VIP sections. The heavy presence of boomer-aged acts and right-wing talking heads on tour leaves some booking taste to be desired, but they’ve ﬂirted with world-famous acts before. Their game is improving quickly. Could U2 or Radiohead be far behind?

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

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112 West Georgia Ave., DeLand 386-873-2943 www.wearedavinci.com This picturesque café is home to some of the best music shows in (or near) town on a regular basis, spotlighting the quickly emerging DeLand local scene as well as the cream of the Orlando crop.

Steve’s Downtown Music 108 South Woodland Blvd., DeLand 386-734-3331 Every good music scene needs a home base, and record-store owner Steve Chmielewski (who also hosts the DeLand Original Music Festival), could be considered the grandfather of all the exciting developments in this part of Central Florida.

House of Blues 1490 East Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista 407-934-2583 www.hob.com This Downtown Disney develop-

ment is where you’ll find your mascara-caked pop-punk acts, as well as the occasional ‘80s reunion act. But enough good can’t be said about the venue itself, which is cozy, inviting and offers great vantage points.

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

Little Fish Huge Pond 309 East 1st St., Sanford 321-230-8535 www.littleﬁsh-hugepond.com You never know quite what you’ll ﬁnd going on at this trippy hangout: intimate soul performances, pirate parties, hookah-passing, maybe even cheese-inspired art shows. End your all-nighter here and you’ll swear the whole thing was a dream the next morning.

FESTIVALS Harvest of Hope Festival March, St. Johns County Fairgrounds, Elkton www.harvestofhopefest.com About 90 minutes away rests the newest, and by far the coolest, music fest to hit the area in a very long time. The 2009 debut of this beneﬁt for farmworkers featured tons of national acts. The following year was even bigger and better, with more than 100 bands (Anvil, Dead Prez, the Mountain Goats) in a single rocking weekend. It’s also an outdoor festival, which overdeveloped Central Florida doesn’t see much of.

DeLand Original Music Festival November, various venues www.ssa.cc/deland.htm A smaller, less ambitious fest occurs around downtown DeLand (about a 45-minute drive from Orlando) that features up-and-comers of the Central Florida music scene. The best reason to go, however, is the atmosphere, a speciality of tight-knit DeLand.

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Beyond Orlando Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area Near Holopaw http://sjr.state.ﬂ.us/recreationguide/bullcreek/ This 23,000-acre chunk of St. Johns River Water Management District land includes nine miles of roads and trails. The remote location means you are likely to see some interesting critters.

Paisley Woods Bicycle Trail

Orlando city trails

Bike trails

hat could be ﬁner than saddling up your metal steed and hitting the broad, ﬂat roads of Central Florida? We’ve certainly got the weather for it. Get on your bikes and ride!

County trails

it is nothing more than signs on busy streets. But you may be surprised to know that there are long sections of actual bike trails that can really take you places. For example, you could hop on the Shingle Creek trail all the way in southwest Orlando, down by Sand Lake Road, and ride an almost-unbroken stretch of bike trail to Clarcona-Ocoee Road. Then you could take a left and eventually hook up with the West Orange Trail. The best way to familiarize yourself with the city’s bike trail offerings is by printing the maps on the city’s website, www. cityoforlando.net.

Orange County has three major bike trails. Maps and brochures for each can be found on the county’s web site, www.orange countyﬂ.net

The city of Orlando isn’t one of the ﬁrst places you’d want to go on a bike ride, unless you like dodging cars driven by people who hate you and dicing it up with other bicyclists who ﬂagrantly disobey the rules of the road. Nonetheless, since 1990 the city has been doggedly trying to overcome its designation as one of the worst places for bicyclists, and it has made a lot of progress. As of June 2008, there were 252 miles of bicycle “facilities” in the city, and there is a plan in place to build 100 more miles by 2015. Still, the trail system in Orlando is a bit of a patchwork; some of it is designated trail, some of

Apopka Lake Apopka

APOPKA

I-4

Orange County ORLANDO

Wekiwa Springs State Park 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka 407-884-2008 www.ﬂoridastate parks.org/wekiwasprings The dedicated bike trail is 9-miles long, but you can also ride the park’s 8 miles of horse trails. As with most off-road trails in this part of the state, be prepared to hit some sand. The daily entrance fee is $6 per vehicle.

Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park 8300 West State Road 46, Sanford 407-884-2008 www.ﬂoridastate parks.org/lowerwekivariver This section of the park has no amenities, but it does have 18 miles of multi-use trails you can cycle around on. Entrance is free.

SR 50

Cady Way

Little Econ Greenway

Orange County’s longest trail at 22 miles, the West Orange Trail stretches from Killarney Station on Lake Apopka, through the Oakland Nature Preserve to Welch Road just north of Apopka. About half the distance is open to horses, so watch your step.

One end of this 6.5-mile trail is on Herndon Avenue, just north of State Road 50 near the Fashion Square Mall, while the other is on Hall Road in Winter Park, near Aloma Avenue. You cross a 685-foot-long suspension bridge on the way.

At 7.9 miles, this trail features picnic areas, wildlife watching, ﬁshing and canoe access. It extends from Forsyth Road on the west to Alafaya Trail on the east, and it will eventually reach all the way to UCF. The amenities make it super popular and crowded in spots.

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West Orange Trail

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Ocala National Forest Paisley www.fs.fed.us/r8/ﬂorida/ocala/ The closest thing you’ll ﬁnd to a tight, technical, off-road course around these parts. This 22-mile ride through live oak domes, pines and prairies isn’t necessarily tough, but it is long and it can be sandy. The best access is at the Clearwater Lake Recreation Area near Paisley. Entrance is free.

Rock Springs Run State Reserve State Road 46, Sorrento 407-884-2008 www.ﬂoridastateparks.org /rockspringsrun The park, which is located about 10 miles west of I-4 on State Road 46, is really just a giant swath of undeveloped land. It features 17 miles of multi-use trails. Entrance is $3 per vehicle.

entral Florida is a paddling paradise. Here are some of the best places to dip your oars. Alexander Springs Run Ocala National Forest Lake George Ranger District 17147 E. State Road 40 Silver Springs 352-625-2520 www.fs.fed.us/r8/ﬂorida/ocala Alexander Springs is broad, ﬂat and deep. The current is easy enough to allow you to paddle both ways. Keep an eye out for alligators. Alexander Springs State Park has concessions, camping and canoe rentals.

Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail www.dep.state.ﬂ.us/gwt/paddling/saltwater.htm The holy grail of paddling in the Sunshine State, this 1,500-mile trail begins at Big Lagoon State Park near Pensacola, meanders through marshes and urban coastlines all the way to the tip of the Florida Keys, then winds its way back north on the Atlantic side, ending at Fort Clinch State Park near the Georgia border. You’d need months to do it. You need much less time to tackle pieces of it, which is good because it is divided into 26 chunks, the nearest of which to Orlando is the 81-mile stretch known as the Space Coast segment. Put in at Front Street Park in Melbourne, paddle the Indian River Lagoon and take out at Smyrna Dunes Park on the northern tip of the New Smyrna Beach peninsula.

Dead River Near Blue Spring State Park 2100 W. French Ave., Orange City www.ﬂoridastateparks. org/bluespring Put in at Blue Spring State Park,

an excellent place for a swim or a picnic, paddle about a half-mile south on the St. Johns River, then take the cut-off canal to the placid Dead River and head north. The loop will take you up around the back side of Hontoon Island State Park and deposit you back in the wide St. Johns. Head back south to get back to Blue Springs.

Econlockhatchee River Chuluota www.dep.state.ﬂ.us /gwt/guide/paddle.htm An absolute jewel hidden at the eastern edge of the Orlando sprawl, the Econ can be easy or difﬁcult, depending on the water levels (high in the summer, low in the spring). The total length is about 19 miles, though the access point at Snow Hill Road near Chuluota is about the middle point. Go when the water is low and camp on a sand bar in the Little Big Econ State Forest.

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Juniper Springs Run Ocala National Forest Lake George Ranger District 17147 E. State Road 40 Silver Springs 352-625-2520 www.fs.fed.us/r8/ﬂorida/ocala The best paddling opportunity in the massive Ocala National Forest. Although it’s only seven miles long, the run’s twists, turns and obstacles mean it’ll take you about four hours to navigate. This one is not really for beginners. Juniper Spring itself is a beautiful spot for swimming, and the state park surrounding it has camping and canoe rentals.

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Lake County’s Blueways http://www.lakecountyﬂ.gov/ boating/blueways.aspx Lake County boasts what it calls the largest collection of waterway trails in the state. What that means, for the most part, is that they put up signs around some of the county’s more continued on page 30

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paddling friendly lakes. Although only a masochist would ﬁnd sloshing around the perimeter of Lake Monroe enjoyable, the area does include the mile-long Dora Canal, connecting lakes Dora and Eustis, which was once dubbed “the most beautiful mile of water in the world” for its towering cypress trees draped with Spanish moss.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Near Titusville www.fws.gov/merrittisland The refuge offers somewhat limited paddling opportunities, primarily in marshy areas, but what there is can be spectacular. You might see manatees, scrub jays or an alligator if you’re lucky. Turnbull Creek is a real treat for paddlers.

Peace River Fort Meade http://www.dep.state.ﬂ.us/gwt/ guide/paddle.htm

Though not technically in Central Florida – the town nearest the put in is Fort Meade – this tea-colored stream is worth the extra drive for the prehistoric sense it imparts. Paddle its 57 miles and you’ll think you’re the ﬁrst person to discover Florida, provided you don’t go when it’s crowded and other paddlers spoil your illusion.

Rock Springs Run-Wekiva River Apopka-DeBary http://www.dep.state.ﬂ.us/gwt/ guide/paddle.htm Put in at King’s Landing, near Apopka, if you want to experience the entirety of this 27-mile respite from congestion, a designated wild and scenic river right in the heart of the Orlando metro area. Stop at Wekiwa Springs State Park on your way – exit 94 from I-4 to State Road 434, then take a right on Wekiva Springs Road if you want to access the park by car – for a swim in the clear, blue springs.

Extreme sports

f you think biking is too boring and ﬁnd paddling too placid, fear not. We’ve cataloged a more than a few things you can do around here to raise your blood pressure. Central Florida is diverse like that.

DRIVE A RACE CAR Richard Petty Driving Experience Walt Disney World Speedway Walt Disney World Resort 800-237-3889 www.1800bepetty.com You’ve got 600 horsepower under your right foot and your speed limit is 120 mph. If you’re 18 and can shift gears, give it a run. Eight laps, the “rookie experience,” will set you back $449.

HOT AIR BALLOONS Orange Blossom Balloons

HANG GLIDING

407-894-5040 www.orangeblossomballoons.com Take a ride over Disney property, swamps, forests, cities, wherever the wind is blowing that day. Flights take off from the Kissimmee area. After your ﬂight, which runs $165 for adults if you book online, you get a champagne toast and a breakfast buffet.

Wallaby Ranch

Thompson Aire

1805 Deen Still Road, Davenport 800-925-5229 www.wallaby.com A sort of low-key commune for hang gliders, not far from Disney. Come for a day or camp and stay a week. Owner Malcolm Jones invented the concept of learning to ﬂy via the tandem glider. There’s no need for mountains when you can catch a tow. A three-lesson package is $320.

Quest Air 6548 Groveland Airport Road, Groveland 352-429-0213 www.questairforce.com If you’ve never ﬂown before, try a

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tandem ﬂight with an instructor for $125. If you get hooked, pitch a tent down by the lake and stay while you learn to ﬂy.

407-421-9322 www.thompsonaire.com Thompson also takes off from the Kissimmee area to skim the trees or rise to several thousand feet above the swamps, forests and theme parks. Rates are $185 for adults and $105 for kids 10-15 years old.

SKYDIVING Skydive DeLand 1600 Flightline Blvd. DeLand 386-738-3539 www.skydivedeland.com A full-service facility with everything

you need to get started, from tandem jumps for noobs to advanced training. This is one of the busiest drop zones in the world, and there’s a bar for after the landing.

Skydive Space Center 476 N. Williams Drive, Titusville 800-823-0016 www.skydivespacecenter.com At 15,000 feet, the tandem jump offered by Skydive Space Center is the highest in Florida. Their 18,000foot option is among the highest in the world.

WAKEBOARDING Orlando Wakeboard Academy

ZOOm Air

4401 N. Orange Blossom Trail 407-374-9253 www.orlandowakeboard.com Stay at a private three-bedroom, twobathroom house on Lake Fairview while you learn how to wakeboard. Thirty-minute lessons go for $60.

required. OWC has lessons for all ages and camps if you want to stay and hone your skills.

Orlando Watersports Complex

ZOOm Air

8615 Florida Rock Road 407-251-3100 www.orlandowatersports.com Two cableways pull you through the water and over ramps, no boat

ZIP LINES Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens 3755 N.W. Highway 17-92, Sanford 407-330-0767

www.zoomair.us/index.html Four courses, including two for kids, give you a tree-dweller’s-eye view of the zoo. You don’t just zip around though; you also navigate obstacles such as nets, balance beams, board walks and bridges, all suspended from the trees.

Zipline Safari Forever Florida 4755 N. Kenansville Road, St. Cloud

866-854-3837 www.foreverﬂorida.com Cruise through pine ﬂatwoods and over forested swampland at a height of 55 feet and a maximum speed of 25 mph. Zipline Safari has the longest single run in Central Florida at 750 feet. The whole course takes about 2.5 hours. Look around while you’re zipping; Forever Florida is a destination unto itself.

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rlando’s got the same chains and mall stores you’ll ﬁnd in most any city our size. But we also have a few more interesting options for the discriminating consumer, like you.

the small storehouse of trade paperbacks and graphic novels that feed nearby Full Sail students and the like.

Bad Apple Comics 8110 S. Orange Blossom Trail 407-859-3422 www.bacomics.com Buy or sell comics and action ﬁgures or take advantage of the badass daily bargains and BOGO deals.

Accessories

Books, CDs, DVDs

Barnes & Noble Multiple locations www.barnesandnoble.com Free Wi-Fi, comfy chairs and the coffeeshop help pass the time when the thousands of books, CDs, magazines and DVDs grow tiresome.

Fashion Booze Furnishings

Gear

Tattoos/ Piercings

Fairvilla Megastore 1740 N. Orange Blossom Trail 407-425-6005 www.fairvilla.com Adult boutique with a wholesome atmosphere goes all the way: DVDs, toys, intimate apparel, costumes, books and friendly consultation.

Park Ave CDs 2916 Corrine Drive 407-447-7275 www.parkavecds.com The smart sensibilities of the ruling music heads keep the stock of new and used CDs and vinyl on the edge and moving – bring old stuff in for trade.

Rock & Roll Heaven 1814 N. Orange Ave. 407-896-1952 www.rock-n-rollheaven.com It’s a miracle how this home for retired vinyl records maintains its relevance no matter the advances in the music industry.

Stardust Video & Coffee

Sneakers

Accessories Kathmandu/Tribalasia 352 N. Park Ave., Winter Park 407-647-7071 23 S. Court Ave. 407-316-0026 www.tribalasia.com Dollars go far to decorate yourself in tribal jewelry, handcrafted textiles and clothing, plus incense, pipes and Buddhist ritual items.

Fairvilla

SEE Eyewear 342 S. Park Ave., Winter Park 407-599-5455 www.seeeyewear.com No need to look geeky when it comes to spectacles, and the prices at this trendy chain are competitive.

Static 240 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park 407-478-1083 www.shopstatic.com For an instant transformation, in ad-

dition to “underground” clothing and T-shirts, the “pop culture boutique” carries belts, buttons, hats, shoes and hair dye.

Books, CDs, DVDs A Comic Shop 114 S. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park 407-332-9636 www.acomicshop.com A geekfest waits on the shelves of

Bold Hype

1842 E. Winter Park Road 407-623-3393 www.stardustrules.com Behind the bohemian-style coffee, beer and social exchanges is a 10,000-plus collection of “internationally minded” videos and DVDs.

Urban Think! Bookstore 625 E. Central Blvd. 407-650-8004 www.urbanthinkorlando.com This eclectic shop caters to authors and artists, with a calendar of readings, signings and performances. continued on page 36

Kyle’s Bike Shop

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Etoile Boutique

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Booze ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Multiple locations www.abcfws.com It may not be the classiest place in town to pick up a drink, but the prices and the stock make it a standby for all occasions.

Total Wine & More

AM-10

2712 E. Colonial Drive 407-894-6553 www.totalwine.com Don’t be intimidated by this virtual warehouse of priced-right wine, beer and booze, stocked with stuff you didn’t even know could be drunk.

Cavanaugh’s Fine Wines 1215 Edgewater Drive 407-426-7510 Owners of this insider’s spot love wine as much as they do teaching others about it. Pay a $5 corking fee, or splurge on a great glass.

Knightly Spirits 2603 S. Hiawassee Road 407-298-1515 5448 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando 407-239-8979 13512 Summerport Village Parkway, Windermere 407-877-9333 www.knightlyspirits.com World-class Scotch, beer, wine and other novelty items worthy of a king.

Fashion Cool Karma Stuff 941 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park 407-810-4144 www.coolkarmastuff.com Get your tie-dye clothing, Nag Champa and bubble wands.

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Dechoes Resale Emporium 2507 ½ E. Colonial Drive 407-894-6622 2110 Edgewater Drive 407-648-7480 3207 Curry Ford Road 407-898-9791 www.dechoes.shoprw.com Excellent quality re-sale shop stocked with name-brand jeans, jackets, jewelry, sunglasses and other accessories.

Etoile Boutique 2424 E. Robinson St. 407-895-6363 www.etoileboutique.com Some of the one-of-a-kind clothing is vintage, some is new by local designers, some is a blend of the two.

Orlando Vintage Clothing Co. 2117 W. Fairbanks Ave. Winter Park 407-599-7225 www.orlandovintage.com Well-groomed collection of men and women’s fashions, 1890-1980, with sensational items available for rental and more for sale on the website.

Mother Falcon Clothing 817 E. Washington St. 407-423-3060 www.motherfalconclothing.com Thornton Park T-shirt shop made a fast following for its American Apparel stock and creative array of designs, including those by local artists.

Thriftko 1442 State Road 436, Casselberry 407-657-0082 That nagging conscience won’t bother you when the cash register rings up purchases made on 20-percent-off Sundays. continued on page 38

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Furnishings 1618 1618 N. Orange Ave. 407-897-6707 Vintage outlet on Ivanhoe Row features a snazzy showroom that could be mistaken for a Mad Men set.

Bold Hype 1844 E. Winter Park Road 407-629-2965 www.boldhype.net Who needs furniture when there’s Juxtapose contemporary original art (by local and national artists) at affordable prices to ﬁll your walls.

IKEA 4092 Eastgate Drive 407-355-3155 www.ikea.com No matter what part of town you live in, a trek to IKEA and its bargain areas always turns up a necessary item or two needed to pad your nest.

Gear Ace Metric 1313 Sligh Blvd. 407-286-0417 acemetric.blogspot.com Bike shop across from the downtown

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Amtrak station rallies cycle enthusiasts and carries cool gear for those on the go.

Kyle’s Bike Shop 203 N. Primrose Drive 866-915-3957 www.kylesbikeshop.net Hub in the heart of the heavy cycle zone with rentals, service, group rides, clothing and accessories.

Mr. Bikes n Boards 950 W. State Road 434, Longwood 407-790-4964 mrbikesnboards.com This is the former Mesh Skatepark owner’s new store, and it leaves the park behind and goes heavy into skateboard and cycle culture.

Loco Motion 1776 Jake St. 407-898-6411 1030 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park 407-629-2680 www.locomotionbikes.com Longtime Winter Park collective serves families, students and serious cyclists; known for strong service and extensive gear selection.

Retro City Cycles 1806 N. Orange Ave.

407-895-2700 www.retrocitycycles.com Cool-looking cycles are popular with the trendy set, and they reach out to women with “Wine Down” clinics and accessories like bicycle necklaces.

Sneakers Covert Skate Shop 2428 E. Robinson St. 407-228-0804 covertskateshop.blogspot.com Keeping up with intense competition, the monthly drops at the indie outlet deliver trendy one-of-a-kinds that aren’t marked up.

Galatic G Skateshop 334 E. Harvard St. 407-895-0410 www.galacticg.com Another local player in the indie market has a ﬁerce following for its stylish kicks and clothes for renegades.

Orlando Premium Outlets 8200 Vineland Ave. 407-238-7787 www.premiumoutlets.com Tackle the trafﬁc and crowd to ﬁnd bargains at shops for Adidas, Converse, Diesel, Nike, Puma, Reebok and Skechers.

Tattoos/Piercings Ascension Custom Dermagraphics 2510 N. Orange Ave. 407-898-2013 114 Semoran Blvd. Winter Park 321-972-8930 www.ascensiontattoo.com An expanding custom-only tattoo studio staffed by artists working in various styles.

Black Chapel Tattoo Studio 693 N. Orange Ave. 407-420-9636 myspace.com/ blackchapeltattoostudios The established center for tattoo and piercing culture stays open seven days a week.

Inkredible Ink 1 S. Orange Ave. 407-843-3666 7215 International Drive 407-370-3101 www.inkredibleink.com Ten years in the biz brings back repeat customers who can count on the store’s professionalism and quality.

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The Maitland Art Center

he arts in in this town are much like everything else: spread here, there and everywhere. It would be great to have one cultural destination to count on, but that’s just not the way we’re arranged. Think “pockets of culture” instead. Here’s where to look.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater

past; the sophisticated exhibits within feature locals, nationals and internationals.

jewelry and sculpture richly dresses the gallery as well as hanging around the rest of the hotel.

Grand Bohemian Gallery

Mad Cow Theatre

325 S. Orange Ave. 407-581-4801 www.grandbohemiangallery.com Contemporary painting, art glass,

105 S. Magnolia Ave. 407-297-8788 www.madcowtheatre.com The established Mad Cow Theatre

Downtown Orlando area

Blank Space Art Lounge 201 E. Central Blvd. 407-481-9001 www.blankspaceart.net Environmental artist Jefrë Manuel’s designer studio also serves as a gallery, performance space, coffeehouse and bar.

Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre 401 W. Livingston St. 407-849-2577 www.orlandovenues.net The old standby where performances of all varieties are booked, including the traveling Broadway shows.

Orange County Regional History Center 65 E. Central Blvd. 407-836-8500 www.thehistorycenter.org This storehouse of archived wonders

To the north

Amway Arena 600 W. Amelia St. 407-849-2558 www.orlandovenues.net The home of the Orlando Magic also comes into play with large traveling theatrical productions.

features regular productions as well as classes, workshops and socials.

To the west

Winter Park/ Maitland area

Loch Haven Park/ Central area To the east

CityArts Factory 29 S. Orange Ave. 407-648-7060 www.cityartsfactory.com Galleries within the high-proﬁle building are in transition, but it’s still the center of downtown’s 3rd Thursday art strolls.

Downtown Orlando area

Gallery at Avalon Island 39 S. Magnolia Ave. 407-803-6670 www.galleryatavalonisland.com The historic building recalls Orlando

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To the south

ďŹ lls its exhibition spaces with traveling blockbuster exhibitions as well as homegrown collections.

SAK Comedy Lab 29 S. Orange Ave. 407-648-0001 www.sak.com Good, clean fun is the hallmark of the troupe that specializes in improvisational comedy shows.

Comma Gallery 813 Virginia Drive 407-894-4505 www.commagallery.com The tiny cave of a storefront gallery is ďŹ lled ďŹ&#x201A;oor-to-ceiling with unbelievable ďŹ nds from some of the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most established and celebrated artists.

Dandelion Communitea CafĂŠ 618 N. Thornton Ave. 407-362-1864 www.dandelioncommunitea.com Social awareness and activism are served alongside the vegetarian cuisine, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all surrounded by changing exhibits of emerging local

artists.

The Mennello Museum of American Art 900 E. Princeton St. 407-246-4278 www.mennellomuseum.org A major collection of folk artist Earl Cunningham anchors the lovely continued on page 42

The Terrace Gallery Orlando City Hall 400 S. Orange Ave. 407-246-4279 www.cityoforlando.net/arts Save some time to browse the city-owned art on display, along with rotating nationally touring and locally curated exhibitions.

Orlando Loch Haven Park/ Central area Bold Hype

Orlando Museum of Art

%ARL #UNNINGHAM Gabriel Overlooking Boothbay Harbor DETAIL OIL ON -ASONITE Âž INCHES 'IFT OF -ICHAEL ! -ENNELLO

AM-10

1844 E. Winter Park Road, Suite A 407-629-2965 www.boldhype.net In a few short years the contemporary gallery has become a hotspot for the Juxtapoz-following generation of artists and scenesters.

THE MENNELLO MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART % 0RINCETON 3TREET s /RLANDO &LORIDA s WWW MENNELLOMUSEUM ORG The Mennello Museum is owned and operated by the City of Orlando.

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ARTS & CULTURE continued from page 41

city-owned facility, which also hosts traveling exhibitions.

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

Orlando Museum of Art 2416 N. Mills Ave. 407-896-4231 www.omart.org Nestled into Loch Haven Park, OMA features its private collection and traveling exhibits, but is best known for its 1st Thursday socials.

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

Orlando Science Center 777 E. Princeton St. 407-514-2000 www.osc.org Explore the four ﬂoors of interactive exhibits and activities, catch a screening at the Dr. Phillips CineDome theater or check the skies at the observatory. AM-10

Orlando Shakespeare Theater 812 E. Rollins St. 407-447-1700 www.orlandoshakes.org One of the top Shakespeare companies in the country, the theater produces a regular season in addition to the annual PlayFest for new works.

Theatre Downtown 2113 N. Orange Ave. 407-841-0083 www.theatredowntown.net Frank and Fran Hilgenberg have kept their cozy professional theater alive and relevant with classics and new works for 18 years.

Winter Park/ Maitland area Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens 633 Osceola Ave., Winter Park 407-647-6294 www.polasek.org The former residence of the Czech artist serves as a gallery, and is upstaged by the lakeside gardens dotted with his bronze sculptures.

Annie Russell Theatre Rollins College 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park

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407-646-2145 tars.rollins.edu/theatre Red curtains, cushy seats and hauntings by the namesake actress accentuate the dramatic at the student and visiting artist productions.

Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park 419A W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park 407-920-4034 www.breakthroughtheatre.com This newcomer brings a rounded menu of collaborative efforts: adult, cabaret, family, main stage and dance.

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art 445 N. Park Ave., Winter Park 407-644-5311 www.morsemuseum.org The stark exterior doesn’t do justice to the warmth of the rare Tiffany glass inside that’s further colored by the legacy of the founder.

Cornell Fine Arts Museum Rollins College 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park 407-646-2526 www.rollins.edu/cfam Architecturally lovely, the distinguished art institution curates shows from its formidable collection and hosts top-notch guests exhibitions.

Crealdé School of Art 600 St. Andrews Blvd., Winter Park 407-671-1886 www.crealde.org The school, set in lakeside bungalows with a sculpture garden, is known for creative classes and its small-but-mighty gallery shows.

Enzian Theater 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland 407-629-0054 www.enzian.org Food and art house ﬁlms come together amazingly well at the home of the Florida Film Festival; eat and drink while watching edgy fare.

Greater Orlando Actors Theatre 669 Cherry St., Winter Park 407-872-8451 www.goatgroup.com A rather intense and passionate troupe that is not afraid to take chances on large-scale musicals and offbeat dramas within its tight conﬁnes.

Harry P. Leu Gardens 1920 N. Forest Ave. 407-246-2620 www.leugardens.org Citrus magnate Harry and his wife once homesteaded on the 40-acre site, which is now city-owned with gardens and paths winding around the lake. continued on page 44

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The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida 851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland 407-628-0555 www.holocaustedu.org The tiny gallery within the Jewish Community Center complex hosts rotating exhibits, which artfully speak to the World War II horrors.

Maitland Art Center 231 W. Packwood Ave., Maitland 407-539-2181 www.maitlandartcenter.org Founded as an experimental art haven in the ’20s, the spirit of the founder lingers over the galleries and grounds, rich in Mayan reliefs.

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

Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival

407-671-1886

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www.crealde.org

Visit Crealdé's sculpture garden and art exhibitions in two galleries, now celebrating our 35th year. Admission is always free.

407-539-2680

Explore Winter Park’s historic African American community through a collection of photos and oral histories, community-based public art and visiting exhibitions.

hannibalsquareheritagecenter.org

welding ɿ painting ɿ drawing ɿ printmaking ɿ ceramics ɿ sculpture ɿ jewelry ɿ photography ɿ bronzecasting ɿ welding ɿ painting ɿ drawing ɿ printmaking ɿ ceramics ɿ sculpture ɿ jewelry ɿ photography ɿ bronzecasting ɿ welding ɿ painting ɿ drawing ɿ printmaking ɿ ceramics ɿ sculpture ɿ jewelry ɿ photography ɿ bronzecasting ɿ welding ɿ painting ɿ drawing ɿ printmaking ɿ ceramics ɿ sculpture ɿ jewelry ɿ photography ɿ bronzecasting ɿ welding ɿ painting

Footlights Theater The Parliament House 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail 407-425-7571 www.parliamenthouse.com The legendary gay resort continues to nurture its love for drama with drag delights and original comedies, musicals and guest productions.

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

To the east Atlantic Center for the Arts 1414 Art Center Ave., New Smyrna Beach 386-427-6975 atlanticcenterforthearts.org The residency program draws renowned visual artists, writers, musicians and poets that conclude with exhibits and performances.

The Winter Park Playhouse

Southeast Museum of Photography

Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts 227 E. Kennedy Blvd., Eatonville 407-647-3307 www.zoranealehurstonmuseum.com Back in commission after a hurricane knockout, the slice of a gallery is devoted to African-American history and preservation of culture.

To the north

Daytona State College 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Building 1200, Daytona Beach 386-506-4475 www.smponline.org Just about every angle of photography gets explored in the expansive institution with multiple galleries of national and international works.

UCF Gallery University of Central Florida Visual Arts Building 407-823-3161 art.cah.ucf.edu It’s tough to get to, buried in campus gridlock, but the exhibitions follow the university’s push for innovation on local and national levels.

Jeanine Taylor Folk Art

To the west

211 E. First St., Sanford 407-323-2774 www.jtfolkart.com With its longtime serious folk art devotee owner, the gallery actively promotes contemporary artists like Purvis Young and Mary Proctor.

Garden Theatre

Museum of Florida Art 600 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand

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To the south

398 W. Amelia St. 407-648-0077 www.orlandofringe.org The 10-day celebration of the stage starts May 20 with HQ at Orlando Shakes, but fundraisers and special events take place year-round.

711 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park 407-645-0145 www.winterparkplayhouse.org Never mind the economy, the “only professional musical theatre” left in town expanded for more nights ﬁlled with cabaret and chorus.

ART IS FOR EVERYONE

Classes and workshops for adults and children in painting and drawing, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and photography. See websites for details.

386-734-4371 museumofﬂoridaart.org Smart decisions and passionate board members have led to incredible in-house exhibitions by Florida artists that travel the circuit.

160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden 407-877-4736 www.gardentheatre.org Restored and taken over by some top Orlando talent, the historic theater in quaint downtown hosts ﬁne theater and family shows.

AM-10

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ou are what you do. And despite what you may have heard, there’s plenty to do around here besides hit the theme parks.

Surﬁng Festival

A dozen annual events you really shouldn’t miss 1. WINTER PARK BACH FESTIVAL February-March, 2011 Venues around Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park 407-646-2182 www.bachfestivalﬂorida.org

A couple weeks of serious class take winter into spring. The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park offers lectures and performances from some the best classical talents active today.

2. PLAYFEST Beginning of April Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E. Rollins St. 407-447-1700 www.orlandoshakes.org

Ten days of workshops and staged readings cap off with the world premiere of a new play. Plus, Orlando Shakes usually scores a way decent special guest. Last year it was Philip Seymour Hoffman, so think quality.

3. FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL April Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland 407-629-0054 www.ﬂoridaﬁlmfestival.com

Bringing to town some of those great screen gems that most of the year we in Orlando just get to read about on the festival circuit, the Enzian Theater throws a fun combination of screenings, celebrity appearances and special events.

4. ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL May 20-31 900 E. Princeton St. orlandofringe.org

Theater troupes put on their most original or offbeat plays and presentations. This is the one everyone winds up talking about for the next year.

5. GAY DAYS June 1-7 www.gaydays.com

What started as a visit to Disney is now one of the biggest LGBT gatherings in the country.

6. NERDAPALOOZA June 26-27 www.nerdapalooza.org

Less a music fest and more geek-pride event, but you’ll be surprised by the bands

7. COCOA BEACH SURF COMPANY NKF PRO-AM SURFING FESTIVAL Sept. 1-6 Shepard Park, 211 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach 800-927-9659 www.nkfsurf.com

J.S. Bach

Florida Classic

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Gay Days

Surf stunt shows, tutorials and bikini contests at the beach on Labor Day. Raising money for the National Kidney Foundation ain’t too bad either.

8. SPOOKY EMPIRE’S ULTIMATE HORROR WEEKEND October Wyndham Orlando Resort, 8001 International Drive spookyempire.com

Meet and hear from horror icons, compete in a variety of trivia and costume contests, catch screenings of modern B-movie classics and get inked up by some of the best tattoo artists in the country.

9. COME OUT WITH PRIDE Oct. 10 mbaorlando.org

Another week of celebration, crowned by a massive colorful parade around downtown.

10. ORLANDO FILM FESTIVAL November Plaza Cinema Café, 155 S. Orange Ave. www.orlandoﬁlmfest.com

Not known for quite the same cinematic caliber as the FFF in April, the OFF is remarkable for the side parties, panels and concerts it hosts.

11. FLORIDA CLASSIC Nov. 20 Florida Citrus Bowl, 1 Citrus Bowl Place 407-423-2476 www.ﬂoridaclassic.org

One of the best rivalries in sports goes down every year as the Bethune-Cookman College Wildcats take on Florida A&M’s Rattlers on the gridiron. The action doesn’t stop on the ﬁeld.

12. CRACKER CHRISTMAS WEEKEND Dec. 4-5 Fort Christmas Historical Park and Museum, 1300 Fort Christmas Road (C.R. 420), Christmas, 407-568-4149

A holiday festival with art, crafts and Southern cuisine. You’ll also see demonstrations of old country living, in case you weren’t grateful enough for air conditioning.

The intimate supper club style restaurant & live music venue serving Southern Comfort food fused with flavors from around the globe.

2 for 1 drinks OR FREE

Fried Dill Pickles

WITH PURCHASE OF AN ENTREE.

One offer/Coupon per person per visit. Applies to 2 for 1 house wine, well brands and draft beer. Not valid for special/private events. Expires 3/31/11

9101 I-DR. (located at Pointe Orlando) â&#x20AC;˘ 407.370.4550 â&#x20AC;˘ www.bbkingsclubs.com 6 - Annual Manual

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