5 minute read
CITY NEWS
by styletome
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
By Riesa Pascal
Now that you’ve packed away your Halloween costume, rinsed off your plastic fangs and eaten way more candy than you’d ever admit, it’s time to sit back and enjoy one of the most gorgeous months in the City Beautiful! As we dive headfirst into November, let’s take a look back at how Orlando came to life with a variety of Halloween and Oktoberfest inspired fun last month. Here are the highlights, just in case you missed it!
The streets of Universal Studios came alive with hordes of horrifying mutants, monsters and maniacs this month which can only mean one thing—Halloween Horror Nights is back! The nation’s premier Halloween event returned for its 30th year of Halloween frights and scares. Guests explored ten all-new terrifying haunted houses, braved multiple creature-filled scare zones and cried with laughter at outrageous live shows. In between the screams, thrill-seeking guests delighted in a nighttime experience of braving the park’s many exciting rides and attractions.
The month of October kicked off Disney World's 18-month long celebration of their 50th Anniversary! Throughout this incredible event, visitors can discover classic favorites and exciting adventures across The Most Magical Place on Earth. Cast members will be sharing magic across Walt Disney World Resort, ready to create unforgettable memories that last a lifetime. As you enter the park, you'll step into a celebratory scene with dazzling decorations, new looks for Mickey, Minnie and Friends and magical touches at all 4 theme parks and beyond.
Even the "Alligator Capital of the World" rang in the 2021 Halloween season with a special event that included spooky fun for everyone! From October 9th-31st, the third annual “Gators, Ghosts and Goblins at Gatorland” was included with the regular price of park admission and featured several spooky themed areas throughout the park complete with ghoulish actors, selfie zones, fun shows and a variety of specialty vendors. Just some of the many highlights included searching for Cryptids in “The Crocs and Cryptids Zone!” where attendees met Gatorland’s Skunk Ape while searching for hidden cryptozoological beasts! Then, visitors grabbed ther Lederhosen for Frank & Steins Ooky Kooky Octoberfest featuring live music from “Polkageist,” Gatorland’s own undead polka band as well as German Beer and food for purchase.
On October 16th, the city closed out the Winter Park Paint Out and celebrated the Polasek Museum’s 60th anniversary with a Great Gatsby themed party! Costumes were welcomed and encouraged as attendees viewed and purchased artwork from the week while enjoying excellent food and live entertainment at The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens.
The largest horror convention in the United States returned on October 22nd for a weekend of celebrating the dark side of comic con! Spooky Empire took place at the Hyatt Regency Orlando and featured an array of activities including: live music, performances, a tattoo festival, a film festival, a zombie walk, a kids zone and a costume and cosplay contest. Guests at Spooky Empire also enjoyed creepy cars, seminars, a game room and Q&As with artists, authors and filmmakers among many other exhilarating activities. Even various celebrity guests appeared throughout the weekend including icons from some of the country’s most beloved horror movies.
For precautionary reasons related to COVID-19, the Tales & Tails Gala online auction became a free live stream for the public on Saturday, October 23rd. Virtual attendees joined Canine Companions online for a special virtual event celebrating 25 years of independence, teamwork, compassionate service and their life-changing service dog teams. From Inspiring speakers and premier auctions to cure puppies in training and service dog demonstrations, the gala sought to honor all the people who have made the Tales & Tails Gala magic happen.
The Orlando Symphony Orchestra returned to the stage for a free outdoor concert! Under the direction of David Handel, the Orlando Symphony Orchestra performed the free concert at The Veranda at Thornton Park after a long break due to COVID restrictions. The outdoor performance venue allowed everyone to enjoy live music in a safe environment on the evening of Saturday, October 30th. Music lovers enjoyed classics from a variety of famed composers such as Brahms, Bernstein, Berlioz, and more.
CO NTRIBUTORS
RIESA PASCAL
Riesa was born in London, England and now resides in sunny Orlando, Florida. She is a proud graduate of Florida State University where she double majored in creative writing and communication. In addition to editorial writing, Riesa is also deeply passionate about broadcast journalism and currently freelances as a TV personality with various networks in Central Florida. You can learn more about Riesa at her website: RiesaPascal.com
COURTNEY CAGGIANO
Courtney was born in Miami and currently resides in Orlando, Florida. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a BA degree in English Literature, where she developed her passion for the written word. She pursues all forms of writing, including journalism, nonfiction, critical literary analysis, and inspirational writing. You can read her published work on her website: CourtneyMaeCaggiano.com or on Instagram at @bycocomae.
DANA DAMATO
Dana Damato is a Florida native and a travel writer turned publicist. Prior to starting Damato Public Relations, Dana was an avid traveler seeking new adventure, and has appeared in Forbes Travel, My Malibu Beach, Sky Magazine and many more. She pursued a Masters degree in Communications from the University of Central Florida and uses her expertise in media and travel to work with different brands around the world. She is addicted to adventure and loves to indulge herself in new cultures. She thrives off travel, visiting unique destinations, and bringing those experiences to life through words.
GREG ALEXANDER
Greg Alexander is a world citizen who travels the planet to transmute all the quintessence of femininity on glazed paper. If he nourishes an atavistic passion for Greece, the ground of his ancestors, it’s in Paris that he has found his home port. As a photographer, he continues his dream of perfection because, according to him, “the photograph is a kind of plastic surgery which is able to modulate a face ad infinitum!” His vision of beauty is fragile, transitory, a little kitsch and inevitably fatal.
MARK NEJAME
Mark NeJame is a renowned trial attorney who has been involved in some of the areas and country’s highest profile cases. He is routinely sought by the media as a legal commentator and is currently a Legal Analyst for CNN. He is the Founder and Senior Partner of the Law Firm of NeJame, LaFay, Jancha, Ahmed, Barker, Joshi & Moreno, P.A. a/k/a NeJame Law. NeJame Law has 15 attorneys and 4 divisions: Personal Injury, Criminal, Immigration and Business/Commercial Litigation. Mr. NeJame is a regular contributor to Orlando Style Magazine. Mr. NeJame can be reached at 407-245-1232 and NejameLaw.com.
