orlando weekly annual manual 2013

orlandoweekly.com ANNUAL MANUAL 2013 3


Community............................................................................6Welcome to Orlando..................................................................9Downtown.........................................................................11Thornton Park............................................................................13Mills50/ViMi..................................................................15Ivanhoe Village...........................................................................17Milk District.................................................................................19Winter Park...............................................................................20College Park...............................................................................23Audubon Park/Baldwin Park.................................................25Maitland...........................................................................27South Orlando...........................................................................29Sanford..............................................................................31Sand Lake/Dr. Phillips............................................................33UCF....................................................................................34Waterford Lakes/Avalon Park...............................................35

LISTINGSArts & Culture............................................................................37Attractions.......................................................................42Nightlife...........................................................................49Sports & Recreation.................................................................59Annual Events...........................................................................63

General Manager Graham JarrettEditor Erin SullivanCreative Director Adam McCabeContributors Ashley Belanger, Billy Manes, Aimee Vitek, Jessica Bryce YoungCopy Editors Katherine Ramirez Massey, Katie WestfallInterns Shelby England, Drexler B. JamesProduction Manager Shelby SloanGraphic Designer Danny McGeePhotographer Rob BartlettBusiness/Marketing Andreina IcazaCirculation Manager Pierre Rene

ADVERTISING Account Manager Jerrica SchwartzSenior Sales Execs Jonathan Risteen, Dan WinklerRetail Sales Execs Jon Bowers, Matt WhitingClassified Sales Exec Candace Valladares

Regional Publisher Michael Wagner

Copyright 2013 Orlando Weekly Inc., all rights reserved. Orlando Weekly Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Unsolicited manuscripts must be accompanied by an SASE. Orlando Weekly may be distributed only by its distributors. Resist your hoarding instinct: One copy per reader, please.

ORLANDO WEEKLY INC.

1505 E. Colonial Drive, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32803;

407-377-0400 407-377-0420 fax 407-377-0415 classified

orlandoweekly.com

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

6 ANNUAL MANUAL 2013 orlandoweekly.com

OCT. 1, 1971Walt Disney World opens

DEC. 15, 1973 Sea World

opens

OCT. 1973East-West Expressway opens

1974Orlando Sentinel-

Star combines Orlando Morning Sentinel and Orlando Evening Star

DEC. 6, 1978Florida Technical

University renamed University of

Central Florida

DEC. 7, 1980 Trial of serial killer Ted Bundy begins at the old Orange County Courthouse

MARCH 31, 1982Queen of Mean Leona

Helmsleys only son, Robert Panzirer, dies

of a heart attack at her notorious Harley Hotel

in downtown Orlando

OCT. 1, 1982Epcot Center opens

FEBRUARY 1983Phase I of Orange County Conven-

tion Center opens at a cost of $54 million

JAN. 29, 1989Orlando Arena opens

JUNE 7, 1990Universal Orlando opens

OCT. 25, 1991Old Orlando City Hall

demolished by implosion, filmed for Lethal Weapon 3

AUGUST 1997Orlando declared rave capital by Rolling Stone

COMMUNITY

Orange

Count

y size:

903.43

SQUA

RE

MILES

APRIL 5, 2007Developer Cameron Kuhn buys Church Street Station after Pearlman forecloses; Kuhn loses it to foreclosure one year later

JUNE 27, 2007Pearlman indicted by a federal grand jury on fraud charges

AUGUST 2009Lake Eola fountain struck by lightning

MAY 24, 2011Casey Anthony murder trial begins; she is found not guilty on July 5

FEB. 26, 201217-year-old Trayvon Martin shot by

George Zimmerman, who claims self-defense under Floridas Stand Your Ground law

MARCH 25, 2012Old Amway Arena demolished to

make way for Creative Village

SEPTEMBER 1997Orlando anti-rave ordinance passed

1999The city of Orlando approves the sale of old Navy base for $7.6 million to Chicagos Pritz-ker family, paving the way for

Baldwin Park four years later

MARCH 28, 1999Universals Islands of Adventure opens

FEB. 17, 2003Orlando City Council approves sale of Church Street Station to Backstreet Boys

founder Lou Pearlman

AUG. 13, 2004Hurricane Charley decimates Orlando

MARCH 10, 2005Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

indicted on charges of paying for absentee votes; is cleared

five weeks later, canceling a special election

JULY 24, 2006Orlando passes homeless feeding ordi-nance, which prohibits feeding homeless people within two miles of City Hall

SEPT. 29, 2006Dyer and Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty announce $1.1 billion dollar venues deal for Amway Center, performing arts center and Citrus Bowl renovations

ORLANDO POPULATION AS OF 2011: 243,195

ORLANDO SIZE: 102.4 SQUARE MILES

ORANGE COUNTY POPULATION AS OF 2011: 1.17 MILLION

ORANGE COUNTY SIZE: 903.43 SQUARE MILES

WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT SIZE: 40 SQUARE MILES

NUMBER OF DISNEY EMPLOYEES: 62,000

MEDIAN HOUSE OR CONDO VALUE FOR ORLANDO: $96,800

PERCENT OF FLORIDA HOUSES IN FORECLOSURE: 3.1

ORLANDO CRIME RATE IN 2011: 8,156 PER 100,000 RESIDENTS


SO, THIS THING HAPPENED New to town? Or just not sure where to go to solve a problem? Heres a handy guide to some resources you may need if you call our fair region home.

I need to call the police: If youre in the City of Orlando and its not an emergency, dial 321-235-5300. Outside city limits (but still in Orange County) call 407-836-4357. Of course, if it is an emergency, the old 911 should do, no matter where you are.

I need a new drivers license, because Im pretty sure I lost mine in the move (but probably at the bar): You have a couple of options, but both will require a wait in line. You can find your closest full-service Department of Motor Vehicles office by going to flhsmv.gov, or you can (and probably should) just go to the local county tag agency, listed on the same website (or call 407-836-4145).

I need medical attention, but I dont have insurance or a job: Theoretically, the emergency room of any local hospital should see you. But there are several free clinics operated

by Shepherds Hope (shepherdshope.org) around town that serve the ill on a first-come-first-served basis. The downtown medical volunteer health center sees patients from 6-9 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday (101 S. Westmoreland Drive).

My dog ran away: Call Orange County Animal Services at 407-836-3111 while youre making your posters. You are making posters, right?

I have created a ridiculous amount of yard waste: If you live in the city of Orlando, you can usu-ally leave your yard waste curbside. You can find the regulations and the scheduled weekly pick-up times within city limits at cityoforlando.net, or call the solid waste division at 407-246-2314. In Orange County,

not Orlando? Check ocfl.net or call 407-836-6601.

I think I got an STD, or maybe Im pregnant: The Center at 946 North Mills Ave. offers free HIV testing seven days a week (407-228-8872). For other reproductive concerns (both male and female), Planned Parenthood has two offices in the area (407-246-1788).

I cant afford to feed my kids: There are several food banks in town, but Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is one of the most prominent. Its at 3533 Mercy Drive (407-295-1066).

I am without a home and I need a place to sleep: Best to start at the Coalition for the Homeless downtown, 639 W. Central Blvd. (407-426-1250).

Theres a tree leaning against my power line: Call the Orlando Utilities Commission at 407-423-9018.

Im considering offing myself: First, please dont. Pick up a phone and call LifeLine of Central Florida at 407-425-2624. Its not that bad.


NEIGHBORHOODS

Welcome to Orlando

O utsiders like to visit us, but they sure dont know us. When they think Orlando, they think of a place thats Anytown, USA all chain stores and strip malls and corporate anonymity, run by a shadow govern-ment with its HQ buried somewhere deep in the calculated heart of Walt Disney World.

We know that couldnt be further from the truth. The heart of Orlando is not in the theme parks (though they are an integral part of who we are and what we do). Its in our neighborhoods. Though they often go overlooked by tour-ists, neighborhoods with unique identities places with beautiful parks full of tropical foliage and mystery, locally owned businesses and favorite watering holes are as much a part of our city as the Mouse, the roller coasters, the water parks and the alligators.

Each year, we put this annual manual together to give you an insiders guide to what makes Orlando (and its surrounding cities and towns) a unique place a place were proud to call home. In the following pages, youll find profiles of many of our major neighborhood hubs. We highlight some of the prime places to eat, drink and shop, followed by listings of all the best in arts & culture, night-life, sports & recreation, attractions and events. Its a little bit of everything that makes Orlando whole from its history to its future. The takeaway? Orlando is frequently a happy accident.

Read about the city through our eyes, then get out there and explore it whether youre new to town, a longtime resident looking for new adventures in your own city or a tourist just passing through, weve tried to include some-thing for you. Now its your turn to make it your own.

LAKE EOLA


Culture and cocktails lots of cocktails

T he mythic echoes of small-town depart-ment stores and apothecaries may haunt the vaguely historic architecture of down-towns Orange Avenue stretch, but theres just enough of an exhaust stench and thumping urban din to kick the citys central thoroughfare into what passes for city life by night.

Sure, there are some scraps of retail existence for the daytime denizens of local government and the legal profession in fact, you can buy a rather expensive tie at Siegels Clothing Co. (130 S. Orange Ave., 407-481-2155, siegelsonline.com) if you happen to dribble your midday Wall Street Cantina salsa (19 N. Orange Ave., 407-420-1515, wallstplaza.net) or Gringos Locos guacamole (20

DOWNTOWN ORLANDO

THE COURTESY

ORANGE AVENUE

E. Washington St., 407-841-5626, eatgringos.com) on the one you wore to work this morning but mostly what downtown offers is arts, entertain-ment, food and drink.

On the cultural side, Mad Cow Theatre recent-ly hopped into the old brick complex on Church Street (54 W. Church Street, 407-297-8788, mad-cowtheatre.com), where it stages some of the best professional theater to be found in town. Before you catch a show, youll need sustenance, though and Kres Chophouse (17 W. Church Street, 407-447-7950, kresrestaurant.com), located in the cool old Kress department store building, is a solid traditional red-meat choice.

But if its a bad boy youre after (or girl), try the balls-to-the-wall thrust of Bullitt Bar (33 E. Pine Street, 407-841-1071, facebook.com/bullittbar), a bar wrapped around the namesake ghost of Steve McQueen, but soundtracked by stripper metal. Contemplate the custom-glass bar riddled with

bullet holes as you sip your Bushmills and fancy yourself a badass.

The new trend in downtown Orlando these days seems to be that of mixology hangouts with retro flair. The Speakeasy at Hansons Shoe Repair (3 E. Pine Street, 407-476-9446), re-creates the Depression-era secret-stiff-cocktail culture (no cellphones allegedly allowed in here) and offers you a chance to enjoy a (sorta pricey) Negroni or French 75 out on a lovely balcony. Youll have to call in advance, though, as you need a password for entry. A similar aesthetic designed by the same people is definitely worth taking in over at the Courtesy (114 N. Orange Ave., 407-450-2041, thecourtesybar.com), another craft-cocktail hotspot without the exclusivity. The drinks may take a while to mix everythings made to order, and sometimes there is the crushing of ice cubes in sacks with a mallet to contend with; also, interest-ing spices and garnishes but the experience is worth the time. For less heady bar fare, check out Elixir Bar Room & Hash House (9 W. Washington St., 407-985-3507, elixirorlando.net) just around the corner from the Courtesy. This lovely and cavernous tap room was carved out of the stained wood of the former Scruffy Murphys space.

For more active amusement, the resurgence of live music stalwart the Beacham (46 N. Orange Ave., 407-246-1419, thebeacham.com) continues to bring authentic indie and local noise to the big stage (with a smaller stage right next door at the Social). But, if youre really going to party like a local, youll eventually find yourself slapping the Siouxsie floor at Independent Bar (70 N. Orange Ave., 407-839-0457, independentbar.net) as you make just enough of an ass of yourself to carry some regret with your hangover smile. Some things never change. Some things never should.


THORNTON PARK

Surprisingly walkable, surprisingly wild

T hornton Park is a mixture old and new, gay and straight, accept-ing, Melissa Schumann explains. Schumann, a resident of the Thornton Park neighborhood for the past eight years, is the presi-dent of Thornton Park District Main Street, and she and her husband own custom T-shirt store Mother Falcon (407-423-3060, motherfalcon clothing.com) and the Falcon Bar & Gallery (819 E. Washington St., Suite 2, thefalconbar.com) which hosts monthly art shows and wine walks.

In recent years, the couple played a part in bringing an influx of young, artistic residents to the area, and Thornton Park, located just a few shorts blocks away from the downtown district, offers something of a respite from the hustle-and-bustle of North Orange Avenue. Its also home, says Schumann, to a colorful commercial district with

EOLA WINE COMPANY

LAKE EOLA PARK

GRAFFITI JUNKTION

a European feel to the restaurants and boutiques.Take a stroll through this neighborhood (and it

is, unlike a lot of Orlando hoods, very walkable) on any weekday and youll find the after-work set decked out in business suits grabbing a glassful at Eola Wine Company (430 E. Central Blvd., 407-481-9100, eolawinecompany.com), or sipping on craft suds around the corner on the street-side patio at Sonoma Draught House (100 S. Eola Drive, 407-730-3400, sonomadraughthouse.com). During the evening, that same professional pack (and other upscale trendsetters) roll into Shari Sushi Lounge (621 E. Central Blvd., 407-420-9420, sharisushilounge.com) for sophisticated dinner gatherings.

Those in the mood for a jukebox-and-beer expe-rience belly up to Burtons Bar (801 E. Washington St.), or take a picnic-table seat at Graffiti Junktion (900 E. Washington St., 407-426-9503, graffitijunktion.com) for draft beers, overstuffed burgers and games of trivia. If youre into mainstay neighbor-hood staples, make your way to Dexters (808 E. Washington St., 407-648-2777, dexwine.com),

Anthonys Pizzeria (100 N. Summerlin Ave., 407-648-0009, anthonyspizza.com) or WildSide BBQ Bar & Grille (700 E. Washington St., 407-872-8665, wildsidebbq.com) theyre all literally within steps of each other.

Acting as the creative hub of the Thornton Park area (and arguably, the rest of the city), is Urban ReThink (625 E. Central Blvd., 407-704-6895, urbanrethink.com). Dropping in on any given day might land you in the middle of a reading series, film screening or writing workshop. Grab a bite at the Spork Caf (625 E. Central Blvd., 407-476-6250, thesporkcafe.com), located in the Urban ReThink space, which dishes out creative vegan and vegetarian fare.

If theres one thing you cant miss in Thornton Park (because its literally the largest landmark in the area), its Lake Eola Park and its Art Deco fountain, which has become a trademark for the City Beautiful. Not only does the park serve as a gathering place for walkers and runners, every Sunday a collection of local food producers, craft vendors and musicians gather for the Orlando Farmers Market (orlandofarmersmarket.com). The lake is also home to a surprisingly diverse assortment of wildlife stroll around the path and youre sure to encounter swans, herons, turtles, mallards, anhingas and egrets. Its an oasis right in the heart of the citys busiest region.


MILLS 50/VIMI

From soup to beer-nuts

T heres so much stuff packed into this dynamite little neighborhood. Since the 1970s, the strip of Colonial Drive between Ferncreek and Mills has been dominated by Vietnamese restaurants and storefronts, and they give Mills 50 (which has also been known as ViMi, short for Virginia-Mills, as well as Little Saigon) an ethnic flair not found elsewhere in the city. Stop by Pho 88 (730 N. Mills Ave., 407-897-3488, pho88 orlando.com) for some of the best beef noodle soup in town. This area is also ground zero for the best banh mi, those famously beloved Vietnamese subs you can pick one up at just about any restaurant in the neighborhood, or you can head to Yum-m (1227 N. Mills Ave., 407-894-1808, yummisandwiches.com), which specializes in them. They serve everything from the tradition-al pt variety to the less adventurous (though still tasty) types. Dong A Market has two store-fronts here: Dong A Imports (706 N. Mills Ave., 407-894-6062, dongamarket.com), where gifts and

YUM-M

DONG A MARKET

BART

imported goods like ceramic lucky cats and elabo-rate textiles are sold; and Dong A Market (816 N. Mills Ave., 407-898-3807, dongacorporation.com), which is packed with Asian groceries, produce and goods from China, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Mosey north up Mills from Colonial Drive toward Virginia Drive, and the neighborhood opens up to an eclectic mix of businesses, restau-rants and bars. Get yourself fitted with the perfect pair of running shoes at the Track Shack (1104 N.

Mills Ave., 407-898-1313, trackshack.com). The folks who run the store know their business, and they dont just sell shoes they also spon-sor running events, such as the annual OUC half-marathon, which takes place in Orlando in December. The LGBT community is well-represented and served by both the Center (946 N. Mills Ave., 407-228-8272, thecenterorlando.org), which offers counseling, health servic-es, HIV testing and support groups for adults, and the Zebra Coalition (911 N. Mills Ave., 877-909-3272, zebrayouth.org), which offers similar services for teens and young adults.

Then theres the burgeoning nightlife scene. You could barhop in Mills 50 all weekend long, if you wanted to. Bounce from Wallys Mills Avenue Liquors (1001 N. Mills Ave., 407-896-6975, wallysonmills.com) for a stiff pour, then to Wills Pub (1042 N. Mills Ave., willspub.org) for live music, then to Lil Indies (1036 N. Mills Ave.) to talk about the show. You can play retro video games while sipping craft beer at Bart (1205 N. Mills Ave., 407-796-2522, bartcade.com), where arcade games from your childhood (Pac-Man and Galaga) are all free for patrons. End your evening with a leisurely nightcap at the Peacock Room (1321 Mills Ave., 407-228-0048, thepeacockroom.com), which is dark, moody and smoky, like a late-night lounge should be.


IVANHOE VILLAGE

An urban planners dream (with fetal pigs and pizza)

O nce an unassuming stretch of old Orlando lakefront loaded almost exclusively with old furniture stores, the recent rehab of Antique Row into something organically (yet cleverly) fashionable has been nothing short of revolutionary an urban planners dream.

There are still numerous fantastic places to buy modular couches that sill dream of Jeannie, like 1618 Something Different (1618 N. Orange Ave, 407-897-6707, somethingdifferentretro.com), but, to some degree, even those formerly static retail

WOLFIES PIZZAMIA

THE VENUE

THE HAMMERED LAMB

haunts have adapted to the alcoholic flow of time. The Imperial at Washburn Imports (1800 N. Orange Ave., 407-228-4992, imperialwinebar.com) lights up the dark wood of the global-imports store with fine wines, beers and conviviality by night

(usually with convenient food trucks right outside). Further up the Row, new watering hole the

Hammered Lamb (1235 N. Orange Ave., 407-704-3200, facebook.com/thehammeredlamb) sparkles up the evening with casual bites and hefty train shots out on the garden-district-like patio. You can even spruce up your withering image while drink-ing by heading up the patio stairs to Copperhead Salon (1235 N. Orange Ave., 407-898-6636, copperheadsalon.com), because hair and booze are great bedfellows.

Just off the path, but still in character, is the Venue (511 Virginia Drive, 407-412-6895, thevenueorlando.com), local whirling perfor-mance-art dervish Baby Blues burlesque-y brothel of bounce. The weirdness only increases when you pop into novelty shops like Boom-Art (1821 N. Orange Ave., 407-895-0280) and more frighten-ingly, the house of skulls and oddities called Curio(1809 N. Orange Ave., 407-620-6181). We had a waiting list for fetal pigs on Valentines Day, we overheard the owner say. You can literally find anything on Ivanhoe Row.

Oh, youll need to eat. The Greek Corner (1600 N. Orange Ave., 407-228-0303, thegreekcorner.net) and White Wolf Caf (1829 N. Orange Ave., 407-895-9911, whitewolfcafe.com) are good bets; White Wolf just opened Wolfies Pizzamia right next door, if you want a slice to go with this uniquely Orlando slice of life.


MILK DISTRICT

DRUNKEN MONKEY COFFEE BAR

MILK BAR

407-894-0865, pompomsteahouse.com) for entic-ingly conceptual sandwiches like Mama Ling Lings or the Fu Man Chu. While youre there, peek into Retro Records (59 N. Bumby Ave., 407-898-2484) for music and collectibles. For even more treasures, however, Etoile Boutique (2424 E. Robinson St., 407-895-6363, etoileboutique.com) is a necessary stop for vintage clothing and unique jewelry. Perhaps the shiniest gem in this neighbor-hood is Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar (444 N. Bumby Ave., 407-893-4994, drunkenmonkeycoffee.com), where Mojo Jojo and Anzac converts con-gregate for free Wi-Fi.

Bulls eye

I n a sequestered neighborhood just east of Thornton Park is the Milk District, a part of town known mostly for its Tasty Tuesdays food truck gathering but named for its proximity to T.G. Lee Dairy (315 N. Bumby Ave., tgleedairy.com). On this short-but-sweet strip youll find clever theme bars, inventive snacks, vintage clothes and darts aplenty.

At the heart of the Milk District is Sportstown Billiards (2414 E. Robinson St., 407-894-6258, facebook.com/sptstown), with requisite pool, Ping-Pong, shuffleboard and also drinking games like cornhole. Stay there or head to neighboring Bull & Bush (2408 E. Robinson St., 407-896-7546, thebullnbush.com) for a raucous game of darts. If youre just looking for a quality beer, though, go straight to the Milk Bar (2424 E. Robinson St., 407-896-4954, themilkbarorlando.com), where those feeling peckish can enjoy food delivered from nearby Spookys Black Cat Caf (207 N. Primrose Drive, 407-896-2377, themilkdistrictmarketplace.com), which offers a menu full of adventurous flatbreads.

Drift around the corner and head to Pom Poms Teahouse & Sandwicheria (67 N. Bumby Ave.,


Well-heeled but wide-ranging

O ur neighbor, Winter Park, cant be called a neighborhood its its own city, made up of neighborhoods just like Orlando. Theres the well-established, swanky commer-cial strip of Park Avenue, the up-and-coming Hannibal Square, and various homey pockets long loved by locals. Park Avenue is the place to start, though. Packed with restaurants and boutiques, its anchored at its tree-lined north end by the renowned Morse Museum of American Art (445 N. Park Ave., 407-645-5311, morsemuseum.

WINTER PARK

SLEEPING MOON CAF

FLOYDS 99 BARBERSHOP

LE MACARON

org), a repository of Tiffany glass and Victorian artifacts. Le Macaron (216 N. Park Ave., 407-295-7958, lemacaron-us.com), hidden away in a brick courtyard, is one of the few places to find the crisp-shelled Parisian sweets in the area. Barnies Coffeekitchen (118 S. Park Ave., 407-629-0042, barniescoffeekitchen.com) will caffeinate you with single-bean pour-overs and carefully crafted lattes, along with an updated menu (try the shakshuka, eggs baked in tomato-thyme sauce, if you have time to linger). For creative cocktails, the lounge at Luma on Park (290 S. Park Ave., 407-599-4111, lumaonpark.com) is a cozy alternative to the bus-tling dining room. Just off the avenue, Cocina 214 (151 E. Welbourne Ave., 407-790-7997, cocina214.com) serves high-end authentic Tex-Mex in style.

Although national retailers Gap, Eileen Fisher, etc. are well-represented on Park Avenue, the independent boutiques offer better service: The ladies at Thread (356 S. Park Ave., 407-622-7600, threadwinterpark.com) will help you put together an outfit from racks packed with Tory Burch, Tracy Reese, Splendid and Calypso, and keep you posted on upcoming sales with handwritten notes.

T he leafy, cobblestoned streets of Hannibal Square enfold a choice selection of cafs, bistros and shops. A glass of wine at Dexters (558 W. New England Ave., 407-629-1150, dexwine.com) is a classic beginning to your stroll; whimsical letterpress stationery can be found at the charming, tiny home of Rifle Paper Co. (558 W. New England Ave., 407-622-7679, riflepaperco.com) along with carefully curated housewares and accessories. Speaking of tiny, the deliciously eclectic menu at Fresh (535 W. New England Ave., 321-295-7837, freshcafe-wp.com) shows chef Gina Bugayongs unbounded creativity. You may bump elbows with your neighbors in her rustic-modern jewelbox of a cafe, but you wont mind.

W here Fairbanks Avenue splits off from North Orange, Floyds 99 Barbershop (610 W. Fairbanks Ave., 407-790-7799, floydsbarbershop.com) offers straight-razor shaves and old-school cuts in a rock & roll atmo. Further west on Fairbanks, traffic roars past a true Winter Park treasure Skycraft Parts & Surplus (2245 W. Fairbanks Ave., 407-628-5634,


skycraftsurplus.com), marked by a flying saucer on a pole, is where youd go if you were in fact attempting to build a flying saucer. Its packed with bins full of switches, screws, gears, and incom-prehensible bits of plastic and metal and felt that could be the basis of a great machine or a great art project. Nearby sits Orlando Vintage Clothing Co. (2117 W. Fairbanks Ave., 407-599-7225, orlandovintage.com) a source for impeccable 1950s and 60s fashion. On the same block, B&B Junction(2103 W. Fairbanks Ave., 407-513-4134, bbjunction.com) serves high-quality organic and local burgers.

N ear the intersection of Semoran Boulevard (aka 436) and University Boulevard sits Full Sail University, an entertainment media school with roughly 8,000 on-campus stu-dents. That many kids on a 24-hour schedule (not to mention all the instructors and staff ) mean theres no shortage of fast food, but theres also some homegrown charm to be found. Humble little cafeteria Rincon Cubano (3327 N. Forsyth Road, 407-679-5600) slings some of the best Cuban food in town their cortadito will change your life, or at least your day. Sleeping Moon Caf (4951 N. Semoran Blvd., 321-295-7844, facebook.com/sleepingmooncafe) is a relatively new addition fea-turing coffee, sandwiches, local art and open-mic nights; vegans will find good choices here. And you can dunk anything from live blue crabs to sliced beef to baby bok choy in the simmering hot pots at newcomer Hotto Potto (3090 Aloma Ave., 407-951-8028, hottopotto.com), before slathering with their array of house-made sauces.

BARNIES COFFEEKITCHEN


Familiarity breeds contentment

C ollege Park is one of those Orlando neighbor-hoods that almost feels like Pleasantville for being so close to downtown, it has a remarkably old-fashioned, old-Florida appeal. Its mostly a residential cluster of cozy bungalows, but Edgewater Drive serves as the main drag, where the kind of small indie businesses that you only expect in small towns a locksmith, a clock repair shop, a vacuum store are interspersed with res-taurants and boutiques. Since 1975, Orange Cycle (2204 Edgewater Drive, 407-422-5552, orangecycleorlando.com), a 10,000-square-foot bike shop known for knowl-edgeable, hands-off service, has anchored the community at the corner of Edgewater and Princeton Street. Ollies Public House (3400 Edgewater Drive, 407-999-8934, olliespublichouse.com), where you can drink beer on the patio in mildly alarming proximity to the gleaming new Edgewater High School, has replaced the long-lived Jax at one end of the strip; down at the other, Cavanaughs Fine Wines (1215 Edgewater Drive, 407-426-7510) has recently added a small wine-and-beer bar to their stock of hard-to-find bottles. In between, life-improving services abound: College Park Yoga (3029 Edgewater Drive, 407-999-7871, collegeparkyoga.com) twists limbs and deepens breathing seven days a week. Tamahras Secret (1520 Edgewater Drive, 407-999-5008, tsecret.com) soothes and smooths troubled complexions. And Alchemy Salon

(2812 Edgewater Drive, 407-650-8022, alchemyorlando.com) cuts and colors the hippest hair in town and hosts an awesome block party every summer. You can pay what you wish for the fair-trade coffee at the sunny, positive-vibes Downtown Credo (706 W. Smith St., 407-250-4888, downtowncredo.com). Artichoke Red (2808 Edgewater Drive, 407-898-3353, artichokered.com), open seven days a week, stocks the most complete inventory of vegan necessities weve seen in Orlando.

As for pure retail therapy, an outpost of the always-dependable Dechoes Resale (2110 Edgewater Drive, 407-648-7480, dechoesresale.com) meets your gently used denim and designer-handbag needs, while Gallery on the Edge (2300 Edgewater Drive, 407-999-5251, face-book.com/galleryontheedge) combines Artistree Co-op (Etsy-esque handmade goods) with Atomic Junkies (midcentury modern furniture). Hungry? There are more than a dozen restaurants packed into the neighborhood, but notables include K Restaurant (1710 Edgewater Drive, 407-872-2332, krestaurant.net), the domain of Kevin Fonzo, one of Orlandos most creative chefs; and Paxia (2611 Edgewater Drive, 407-420-1155, paxiarestau rant.com), where Mexican food gets a modern twist. Paxia is also a great place to sip tequila on a weeknight or work off a hangover at weekend brunch; if Friday nights dont hit you too hard, the College Park Farmers Market also serves brunch and has recently shifted to Sundays under the auspices of TheDailyCity.com. (Its still hosted in the parking lot of Infusion Tea, 1600 Edgewater Drive.)

COLLEGE PARK

ORANGE CYCLE

INFUSION TEA


Sometimes opposites really do attract

I t may seem a little odd to pair these two neighborhoods Audubon Park is arguably the hippest, most organically developed neigh-borhood in town, while Baldwin Park is (again, arguably) one of the most carefully planned devel-opments in Orlando proper. However, these two very different neighborhoods complement one another nicely. Baldwin Park brought to this area a new Publix supermarket, a CVS and a hand-ful of chain conveniences (Five Guys burgers, a Subway) Audubon Park was lacking. Audubon Park brings to the table a killer craft beer bar, Redlight Redlight (2810 Corrine Drive, 407-893-9832, redlightredlightbeerparlour.com), Orlandos best

AUDUBON PARK/BALDWIN PARK

place to buy new and used CDs and vinyl (Park Ave CDs, 2916 Corrine Drive, 407-447-7275, parkavecds.com), a fantastic neighborhood sandwich shop (Bikes, Beans & Bordeaux, 3022 Corrine Drive, 407-427-1440, bikesbeansandbordeaux.com) and probably the most hipster of hangouts in

town, Stardust Video and Coffee (1842 Winter Park Road, 407-623-3393, stardustie.com).

Between these two neighborhoods, you have critical mass: two sushi joints (Seito Sushi, 4898 New Broad St., 407-898-8801, in Baldwin, or Sushi Lolas, 2806 Corrine Drive, 407-898-5652, sushilolas.com, in Audubon), two Italian restaurants (O! Stromboli, 1803 E. Winter Park Road, 407-647-3872, in Audubon, and La Bella Luna, 4886 New Broad St., 407-895-0025, labellalunafl.com, in Baldwin) and plenty of neighborhood bars (Caddyshanks, 4882 New Broad St., 407-574-6570, caddyshanks.com; Big Daddys Roadhouse, 3001 Corrine Drive, 407-644-2844). For delectable baked goods, you cant go wrong with Blue Bird Bake Shop (3122 Corrine Drive, 407-228-3822, bluebird bakeshop.com); Ice Cream Treats and Eats (3114 Corrine Drive, 407-894-0286) serves ice cream for both humans and dogs; and at Delish frozen yogurt (4954 New Broad St., 407-440-4222, delishyogurt.com), you can order your soft-serve with self-serve toppings by the ounce.

Perhaps best of all, theres plenty of green space and beauty nearby. Blue Jacket Parks formal footbridge and fountain (2501 General Rees Ave.) are popular spots for majestic-looking graduation photoshoots, and the pocket parks planted with native plants and grasses that sit between Baldwin Parks townhouses and mini-mansions, create ideal habitats for Florida wildlife. Between these two neighborhoods, you get the best of both worlds.

BLUE BIRD BAKE SHOP

LAKE BALDWIN

STREET PARTY ATBIKES, BEANS AND BORDEAUX


MAITLAND

Small-town appeal with big-time hospitality

S ome would consider Maitland the mea-ger next-door neighbor to affluent Winter Park. But what this strip of U.S. Highway 17-92 lacks in glitz and glamour, it certainly makes up for in its friendly appeal.

Perhaps the biggest draw for visitors (film buffs and otherwise) to Maitland is independent alter-native cinema Enzian Theater (1300 S. Orlando Ave., 407-629-1088, enzian.org), which hosts an eclectic selection of movies both new releases and cult classics screened in a comfy dinner theater. Enzian is also home to the annual Florida Film Festival.

Hollie Mahadeo, general manager of the Enzian, says Maitland offers that small-town appeal where you actually get to know people and hospi-tality isnt just the name of an industry its a way that people are treated.

Thats why in Maitland, its easy to find neigh-borly joints where even out-of-towners are welcomed like friends it just comes down to what kind of friends you hang with.

Those looking to sip cocktails in an outdoor

EDEN BAR AT ENZIAN THEATER

garden ambiance flock to Enzians Eden Bar (1300 S. Orlando Ave., 407-629-1088, enzian.org), while bar-goers up for a round of darts or trivia (and a selection of 140 beers) pull up a stool at Copper Rocket Pub (106 Lake Ave., 407-645-0069, copperrocketpub.com).

On-the-go diners looking to (literally) grab a bite can stop by Kappys (501 N. Orlando Ave., 407-647-9099) for rock-solid submarines, or chow down on roasted chicken and other Greek special-ties at Athena (487 S. Orlando Ave., 407-539-0669, athenachicken.com). For a more romantic date night, couples dine at Antonios Ristorante (611 S. Orlando Ave., 407-645-5523, antoniosonline.com), an upscale Italian cuisine stalwart with both indoor and patio seating overlooking Lake Lily.

Maitland is also home to one of Central

Floridas cultural gems, the notable Art & History Museums Maitland (231 W. Packwood Ave., 407-539-2181, artandhistory.org), where creative minds view art exhibits and attend monthly Culture & Cocktails parties. And for a more scenic side of Maitland, take a stroll on the paved walking trail around Lake Lily Park, which also plays host to a weekly outdoor farmers market, where purveyors sell fresh, locally grown produce.

Maitland is definitely more than just a stopping point between downtown Orlando and Sanford if youre driving along the busy four-lane 17-92 highway.

Its still a bit of a local secret, says Mahadeo. You get the best of both worlds with hidden quiet historic neighborhoods and tons of fun things to do just minutes away in any direction.


SOUTH DOWNTOWN

Where variety keeps things interesting

I n the homey and high school-y burbs where Wadeview Park and Delaney Park converge close enough to downtown to feel alive; far enough away to have a kid there are pockets of commerce suited for bluer col-lars and brighter minds. It doesnt have to be fancy to be good, you know. You just have to know what to look for. If youre hungry for a good burger and even better people-watching, stop by de facto neighborhood center Johnnys Fillin Station or Johnnys Other Side next door (2621 S. Ferncreek Ave., 407-894-6900). Thats where youll find bikers and gay folks and hot chicks and teenagers all crammed into one space, chatting loudly. Craft beer and wine more your thing? Try the selection at the brand-new Rogue Pub (3076 Curry Ford Road, 407-985-3778, facebook.com/roguepub), which just opened in February.

For casual ethnic fare, hit up Tasty Thai (3806

Curry Ford Road, 407-895-6266) and try the pad thai on for size, or head over to Theos Kitchen (2952 Curry Ford Road, 407-849-0810; theoskitchen.com) for some Mediterranean-style spinach pie or hummus in what feels like an 80s strip-mall diner. Mostly because it is, but its so worth it.

More upscale fare can be found on the Orange Avenue side, known as SoDo. OLV Caf (25 W. Crystal Lake Street, 407-722-5060; olvcafe.com) has fantastic brunch-ing outside and a great dinner, wine and tapas specials. Its also on the right side of fancy, even if it shares a shopping center with affordable-not-affluent retailers Target and T.J.Maxx. More selective shopping can be found at old record store relic East-West Compact Discs and Tapes (4895 S. Orange Ave, 407-859-8991), where the term out-of-print hardly even matters any-more. Also, you can throw a little danceable nightlife into your excursion and have a gay old time at Pulse (1912 S. Orange Ave., 407-649-3888; pulseorlando.net). Its a wide spectrum in south Orlando, and you might as well see all of it.

THEOS KITCHEN

JOHNNYS FILLIN STATION/OTHER SIDE


SANFORD

An unexpected and charismatic main street strip

Y ou might miss it if you dont know where to look: Pass the giant retail buzz of Sanfords Seminole Towne Center and head toward the corner of U.S. Highway 17-92 and Sanfords East First Street. Turn right and in a few blocks, youll find yourself in historic down-town Sanford, a totally unexpected, charming main street that perfectly represents the image of a pic-turesque Southern town.

Downtown Sanford is situated along the shore of Lake Monroe, a Central Florida haven for freshwater fishing and sailboat cruising. Visit the lakefront any day, and youre sure to encounter anglers serious grandpas and squealing teen girls alike casting their lines in the water.

Have lunch at Christos (107 W. First St., 407-320-0799, theoriginalchristos.com), a mom-and-pop institution since 1971 that serves up breakfast classics, salads, sandwiches and hand-tossed pizzas dont leave without a slice of the homemade cheesecake of the week.

After lunch, stroll down First toward Maya Books & Music (201 E. First St., 407-321-6504). Its the kind of place where youll likely have to do some digging, but your efforts will be rewarded with treasures in the form of those used CDs, vinyl records and books youre just not going to find at the big-box stores. You might also

HOLLERBACHS WILLOW TREE CAF

MAYA BOOKS & MUSIC

do a bit of window-shopping as you pass by the shared space of Gallery on First and Jeanine Taylor Folk Art (211 E. First St., 407-323-2774, galleryonfirst.com/jtfolkart.com), both of which feature a wide variety of local and outsider art.

Stick around for dinner if you dont, youll miss a chance to partake in the best in German fare and entertainment at Hollerbachs Willow Tree Caf(205 E. 1st St., 407-321-2204, willowtreecafe.com), an authentic and rollicking German beer hall. Wolf down a schnitzel, chug a 3-liter boot of beer and yodel along to live German music. It gets hoppin on the weekends, so if you want to be guaranteed a good seat in the music room, call ahead for next-day reservations.

If Hollerbachs good clean gemtlichkeit isnt rowdy enough for you, downtown Sanfords bar scene might be. For vintage-inspired craft cock-tails, grab a seat at furniture store-turned-bar theImperial at Washburn Imports (116 E. First St., 407-732-6956, facebook.com/theimperialsanford). Or if youre up for new experiences, wander over to the weird-as-hell (in a good way!) Little Fish Huge Pond (401 S. Sanford Ave., 407-221-1499, littlefish-hugepond.com), where owner-bartender Moire Wisdom treats everyone like a long-lost pal.

Live music fans get their fill at the Alley (114 S. Park Ave., 407-328-4848, thealleyblues.com), where live blues musicians play nearly seven days a week, while the beer-and-bar-food crew ends the night at the West End Trading Co. (202 S. Sanford Ave., 407-322-7475, drinkatwestend.com).


All the neighborhoods a feast

E ven though its a tourist-rich area of town, even for locals the Sand Lake/Dr. Phillips area is the place to go for special occasion dining. The strip of Sand Lake Road between I-4 and Apopka Vineland Road isnt nicknamed Restaurant Row for nothing.

Its home to a number of high-end chain establishments, like popular Hawaiian fusion restaurant Roys (7760 W. Sand Lake Road, 407-352-4844, roysrestaurant.com), whose dark, sophisticated lounge is a comfortable meeting spot that serves creative cocktails (hand-shaken Hawaiian martini, anyone?) as well as interesting apps like Wagyu beef sliders and crunchy lob-ster potstickers. Fondue lovers flock to the Melting Pot (7549 W. Sand Lake Road, 407-903-1100, meltingpot.com), one of the few restaurants in town where youre encouraged to play with your food dipping strawberries in chocolate or chunks of bread in cheese (or bread in chocolate and strawberries in cheese) is a great ice-breaker for a first date and a guaranteed good time for girls nights out.

One of our favorite spots on this row is Cedars (7732 W. Sand Lake Road, 407-351-6000, orlandocedars.com), an upscale Middle Eastern restaurant specializing in Lebanese cuisine. Try the mohamara with pickled walnuts and pomegranate molasses, or one of the house specialties, like baked kebbeh (ground meat with cracked wheat, spices, onions and pine nuts).

If youre looking for a nightcap after youve gorged yourself on fantastic food, youve got plenty of options down this way. Theres a World of Beer (7800 Dr. Phillips Blvd., 407-355-3313, wobusa.com), where craft beer is always on the menu, as well as Cricketers Arms (7563 W. Sand Lake Road, 407-730-2111, cricketersorlando), where you can take in the true British pub experience. (Orlando is home to lots of British expats, in case you werent aware, and its a super-popular vacation spot for Brits, as well.)

While youre in the area, if youre looking for a place to relax, you can head over to the I-Drive area ( just a stones throw away) and get in a few rounds of mini-golf. Or, if youre feeling more contemplative, you can stop by the Dr. P. Phillips Community Park (8249 Buenavista Woods Blvd., drphillips.org/node/49), located on the shores of Big Sand Lake, where you can take in 43 acres of green space, playgrounds, hiking, picnicking and dog parking.

SAND LAKE/DR. PHILLIPS

THE BAR AT ROYS

DR. PHILLIPS COMMUNITY PARK


UCF

Unchained melodies

W hether youre a UCF Knight or simply someone taking advantage of the afford-able housing on the east side of town, the area close to campus offers some attractive amenities if you venture into and beyond the strip malls that line the streets. For one thing, Jay Blanchard Park (2451 N. Dean Road, 407-254-9030) provides tons of activities for the outdoorsy, including an incredible hike down the Little Econ Trail. But before you indulge in this escape, you must first delve in and discover some long-loved establishments.

Many pizza fans cried out when the plaza where Lazy Moon (11551 University Blvd., 407-658-2396, eatdrinkandbelazy.com) lived was demolished, but fret not; now your much-missed Box Car Willy special is back

in a new location. Travel toward campus to treat yourself to Falafel Caf (12140 Collegiate Way, 407-382-6600, falafelcafe.com), where the Lebanese food is homemade, and the service is unforgettably friendly. Its in that same plaza that youll encounter Natura Coffee & Tea (12078 Collegiate Way, 407-482-5000, naturaorlando.com), a hookah lounge, bar and coffee shop meshed into one, where open mic nights are cherished.

Nowadays, the areas best meeting place might just be World of Beer (3402 Technological Ave., 321-235-9741, wobusa.com) with live music, an impressive patio and a list of craft beers as long as your arm. And since youre feeling boozy, check out the two-for-one mar-garita specials at Azteca dOro (11633 University Blvd., 407-737-8388, aztecamex.com), which also offers a slightly healthier take on Mexican food, plus endless chips and salsa to soak up all that tequila.

WORLD OF BEER

JAY BLANCHARD PARK


Suburban convenience meets small-town appeal

D owntowners who dont wander further east than Semoran Boulevard (because thats where all of lifes little necessities, like Costco and the airport, can be found), tend to think of the Waterford Lakes/Avalon Park area of town as a sort of strip-mall wasteland. And sure, the Waterford Lakes town center is a mall, but if youre the type whos more at home in a suburban, name-brand environment, there are certainly worse places to live, work and play. The area is full of gated-community enclaves where people take pride in their big houses with lush green lawns and streets so quiet the kids can safely ride their bikes around in the evenings. And, of course, everythings conveniently located to the shopping centers.

The main Waterford Lakes shopping mall a sprawl-ing outdoor mall that often hosts Adidas tent sales, beer fests and (occasionally) quirky community markets does indeed offer a little bit of everything: Theres a Barnes and Noble, an Ulta, a TJ Maxx and more for the living and the working (aka, shopping). For the playing, catch a movie at the Regal Cinema, then hit up the Friendly Confines (435 N. Alafaya Trail, 407-736-9182, myfriendlyconfines.com), a sports bar that caters to the pub grub and a pitcher set, or check out Millers Ale House (641 N. Alafaya Trail, 407-736-0333), where you can sit down for the full tavern experience (steaks, seafood, more than 75 different kinds of beer). Eat too much? Fortunately, theres an LA Fitness (815 N. Alafaya Trail, 407-380-1526, lafitness.com) in the mall, as well.

Just down the road from Waterford Lakes (OK, its a good 10-minute drive) is Avalon Park. If youre really into the I want to live in a community with the convenience of a downtown, with a yard and a big house and without the hassle of actually living in a downtown, this ginor-mous planned community was made for you. Theres a town center with shops and restaurants. Theres a coffee shop, naturally, which every town center needs Avalon Perks (12001 Avalon Lake Drive, 407-282-8100, javavine-yard.com) and a pizza place Milanos Pizza (3564

WATERFORD LAKES/AVALON PARK

GROOM, GRUB AND BELLY RUB

Avalon Park East Blvd., 407-273-2677, milanosatavalon.com) as well as sandwich shops, sushi, Thai food and ice cream.

Got dogs? If you live in the burbs, theres a good chance you do and Avalon Park is ridiculously dog-friendly. Theres a reliable veterinary clinic right in the hood: Avalon Vet Clinic (3520 W. Avalon Park Blvd., 407-275-3430, avalonvetclinic.com), a dog park and an independent pet-supply business called Groom, Grub and Belly Rub (3702 E. Avalon Park Blvd., 407-277-7387, groomgrubandbellyrub. com), which offers cage-free grooming and a long list of all-natural pet foods, treats and supplements.

Then theres the other thing about Avalon Park that most people who refuse to venture that far east realize: Its full of green space, walking trails, parks and little oases, many of which are walking distance from the little downtown, where you can lose yourself in peaceful rev-erie without feeling like youre in the middle of suburban sprawl or a blacktop jungle. Not so bad, after all.

WATERFORD LAKES


GALLERIES & MUSEUMS

Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens633 Osceola Ave., Winter Park407-647-6294polasek.orgThe former residence of the Czech artist

serves as a gallery, and the grounds feature

gorgeous lakeside gardens populated by

his bronze sculptures.

Anita S. Wooten GalleryValencia College East Campus701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail407-582-2341valenciacollege.edu/artsandentertainment/galleryWork by emerging American and interna-

tional artists inspires Valencia students in

this white-box gallery.

Art & History Museums Maitland 231 W. Packwood Ave., Maitland407 539-2181artandhistory.orgThe cultural complex embraces Andr

Smiths famed Research Studio, the

Victorian-era Waterhouse Residence

and two technological repositories, the

Telephone Museum and the Carpentry

Shop Museum.

Atlantic Center for the Arts1414 Art Center Ave., New Smyrna Beach386-427-6975atlanticcenterforthearts.orgThe residency program, which draws inter-

nationally renowned visual artists, writers,

musicians and poets, concludes with exhib-

its and performances four times per year.

Casselberry Art House127 Quail Pond Circle, Casselberry407-262-7700 ext. 1301casselberry.orgThe quaint red-doored cottage offers

2,500 square feet of community space for

classes, workshops, lectures, concerts and

art shows.

UCF Center for Emerging Media500 W. Livingston St.407-823-2121www.fiea.ucf.eduHome to the cutting-edge Gallery 500 and

Flying Horse Editions, this UCF satellite

campus is conveniently located in down-

town Orlando. The space hosts unique arts

exhibits and events that feature film, pho-

tography, painting, illustration and fine-art

printmaking.

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art445 N. Park Ave., Winter Park407-645-5311morsemuseum.orgThis museum features an astounding col-

lection of the works by Louis Comfort

Tiffany, including a recently opened wing

dedicated to recreating the essence of

Laurelton Hall, Tiffanys Long Island, N.Y.,

estate.

ARTS & CULTUREMuseum of Florida Art600 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand386-734-4371museumoffloridaart.orgSmart decisions and passionate board

members have led to impressive in-house

exhibitions by Florida artists.

Mennello Museum of American Art900 E. Princeton St.407-246-4278mennellomuseum.comThe space is tiny, but it packs a lot of

punch. Its a showcase for works by folk

artist Earl Cunningham and an eclectic mix

of traveling exhibitions.

Orlando Museum of Art2416 N. Mills Ave.407-896-4231omart.orgNestled into Loch Haven Park, OMA

features its private collection and travel-

ing exhibits, but is best known for its 1st

Thursday socials.

Redefine Gallery29 S. Orange Ave.407-648-7060redefinegallery.comA tiny space within the CityArts Factory,

Redefine is the areas most reliable pur-

veyor of cutting-edge graffiti and street art;

a room that small requires a choosy curator.

Southeast Museum of PhotographyDaytona State College1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Building 1200, Daytona Beach386-506-4475smponline.orgYes, its way out there in Daytona, but

photography lovers know its worth the

hour-long drive to the coast to visit this

space. Just about every angle of pho-

tography gets explored in the expansive

institution with multiple galleries of national

and international works.

Twelve21 Gallery1221 N. Orange Ave.407-982-4357twelve21gallery.comBrainchild of the Laughing Samurai brand-

ing agency, Twelve21 curates a consistent

mix of cutting-edge contemporary art in

the clean, modern setting it deserves.

The Terrace GalleryOrlando City Hall400 S. Orange Ave.407-246-4279cityoforlando.net/artsThis gallery showcases some of the city

of Orlandos public art collection, as well

as nationally touring and locally curated

exhibitions.

UCF Art GalleryUniversity of Central FloridaVisual Arts Building407-823-3161gallery.cah.ucf.eduParking can be tough, but its faculty and

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CityArts Factory29 S. Orange Ave.407-648-7060cityartsfactory.comThis downtown arts space is the center of

Orlandos Third Thursday art strolls. It hosts

shows that change monthly, and its home

to a number of independent galleries and

arts spaces.

Cornell Fine Arts MuseumRollins College1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park407-646-2526rollins.edu/cfam

Tucked away on the campus of Rollins

College, this museum hosts thought-

provoking guest exhibitions. Its also home

to a formidable permanent collection.

Creald School of Art600 St. Andrews Blvd., Winter Park407-671-1886crealde.orgThe school, set in lakeside bungalows with

a sculpture garden, is known for creative

classes as well as ever-changing gallery

shows.

The Falcon819 E. Washington St.407-423-2788thefalconbar.comRevolving shows from emerging contem-

porary artists both local and out-of-town,

specializing in lowbrow, street and graffiti

art, in an intimate bar setting.

Gallery QThe Center Orlando946 N. Mills Ave.407-228-8272thecenterorlando.org/art-galleryThe brick-and-mortar home of the Orlando

Art Collective, Gallery Q displays art by or

supporting LGBT artists and issues.

Hannibal Square Heritage Center642 W. New England Ave., Winter Park407-539-2680hannibalsquareheritagecenter.orgEstablished in 2007, the gallery presents

exhibitions and displays archival photos

and historical documents related to the

African-American experience in the evolv-

ing west Winter Park neighborhood.

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland407-628-0555holocaustedu.orgThe tiny gallery within the Jewish

Community Center hosts rotating exhibits

that challenge the viewer and speak to the

horrors that took place during World War II.

Jai Gallery101 S. Garland Ave., Suite 101407-921-0693facebook.com/jaigalleryA new gallery in the historic Exchange

Building, near downtowns Church Street,

puts the emphasis on fostering a new gen-

eration of collectors.

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designed by noted architect James Gamble

Rogers in 1932, hosts art, music and talks

on historical preservation within its luxuri-

ous walls.

DRIP8747 International Drive347-855-3747ilovedrip.orgThe interactive dance/performance art

troupe known for flinging colored liquids

and powders about the stage just moved

into its own space and offers nightly shows.

Emotions Dance Company456 Gallberry St., Altamonte Springs407-788-1659emotionsdance.orgA contemporary dance company that seeks

to engage social and environmental issues.

student shows feature innovative mod-

ern works that make it worth any minor

hassles.

Urban ReThink625 E. Central Blvd.407-704-6895urbanrethink.comThe space that was once Orlandos only

independent bookstore is now a vibrant

multi-use space curated by the Urban Think

Foundation, filled with readings, experi-

mental music, art, film and creative

thinkers.

Wells Built Museum of African American History and Culture511 W. South St.407-245-7535pastinc.orgHoused in a historic hotel near the erstwhile

South Street Casino (the only hotel nearby

that would rent rooms to the casinos chit-

lin circuit performers), Wells Built is a trove

of African-American artifacts.

Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts227 E. Kennedy Blvd., Eatonville407-647-3307zoranealehurstonmuseum.comThis little gallery is devoted to African-

American history and culture and features

the work of artists of African descent.

Its celebrating 20 years of operation in

Eatonville, the oldest African-American

incorporated municipality in the United

States.

THEATERS & PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS

The Abbey100 S. Eola Drive407-704-6103abbeyorlando.comA small mixed-use room in an ornate set-

ting (with full bar service!) hosts art shows,

cabaret, comedy, community theater and

concerts.

Annie Russell TheatreRollins College1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park407-646-2145rollins.edu/annierussellRed velvet curtains, plush cinema seats and

the ghost of the namesake actress accen-

tuate the dramatic at this theater, which

presents both student and visiting-artist

productions.

Arts Sake Studios680 Clay St., Winter Park407-629-4800art-sake.comThe intimate space offers acting classes

by day and hosts local theater companies

productions.

Athens Theatre124 N. Florida Ave., DeLand386-736-1500athensdeland.comDeLands restored historic theater hosts a

resident community theater group, youth

theater and concerts.

Bach Festival Society1000 Holt Ave.,Winter Park407-646-2182bachfestivalflorida.orgCentral Floridas premier choral and orches-

tral group presents an annual season of

Bachs music, performed by the 160 vol-

unteer members alongside international

visiting artists.

Beth Marshall Presents407-925-6052bethmarshallpresents.wordpress.comThe longtime Fringe Festival producer has

formed her own company, producing an

ambitious slate of plays and events.

Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre401 W. Livingston St.407-246-4262orlandovenues.netThe space may be dated and the sound

system could use some work, but this old

standby is home to all manner of popular

performances, from concerts to touring

Broadway shows.

Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park421 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park407-920-4034breakthroughtheatre.comNon-equity community theater features

dance, theater and musical events.

Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum656 N. Park Ave., Winter Park407-628-8196casafeliz.usWinter Parks landmark farmhouse,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37


ORLANDO PHILHARMONIC


Empty Spaces Theatre Co.407-328-9005facebook.com/phantasmagoriaorlandoImpresario John DiDonna produces stage

plays with Empty Spaces but also oversees

Orlandos own steampunk circus, the

Phantasmagoria performance troupe.

Footlight Theatre & Cabaret Lounge at the Parliament House410 N. Orange Blossom Trail407-425-7571footlighttheatre.comThe legendary gay resort is home to this

theater, which thrills audiences with drag

delights and original comedies, musicals

and guest productions.

Florida Opera Theatre407-718-4365floperatheatre.orgFOT works to fill the void left by the

demise of Orlando Opera by staging cham-

ber operas and recitals in collaboration with

Orlando Philharmonic and other Florida

opera groups.

Garden Theatre160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden407-877-4736gardentheatre.orgFully restored, the historic theater in quaint

downtown Winter Garden hosts fine the-

ater and family shows.

Greater Orlando Actors Theatre2431 Aloma Ave., Winter Park407-872-8451goatgroup.comThe passionate GOAT troupe has settled

nicely into its new home in Winter Park

near Creald School of Art.

Mad Cow Theatre54 W. Church St.407-297-8788madcowtheatre.comThe established and well-regarded Mad

Cow Theatre features regular stage produc-

tions as well as classes, workshops and

socials.

Orlando Ballet1111 N. Orange Ave.407-426-1733orlandoballet.orgOrlandos professional ballet company

performs its major productions The

Nutcracker included at the Bob Carr

Performing Arts Centre; 2013 featured a

collaborative staging with the Orlando Phil

and Bach Festival Society.

Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra812 E. Rollins St., Suite 300407-896-6700orlandophil.orgWider fare than just classical music keeps

the only local professional orchestra in

action: pops, film scores, opera and distin-

guished guest artists.

Orlando Repertory Theatre1001 E. Princeton St.407-896-7365orlandorep.comProfessional family theater productions

have become the domain of Orlando Rep,

which also presents shows from its Youth

Academy.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater812 E. Rollins St.407-447-1700orlandoshakes.orgOne of the top Shakespeare companies in

the country, OST produces a regular season

in addition to PlayFest, which showcases

new works.

Playwrights Round Tabletheprt.comAround since 1997, the Playwrights

Round Table gives new and experienced

playwrights and screenwriters a venue to

showcase their new works.

SAK Comedy Lab29 S. Orange Ave.407-648-0001sak.comGood, clean fun is the hallmark of the best-

known Orlando troupe for improvisational

comedy shows, classes and workshops.

Theatre Downtown2113 N. Orange Ave.407-841-0083theatredowntown.netThis cozy professional theater produces

both classics and new works.

Theatre UCF4000 Central Florida Blvd.407-823-2862theatre.cah.ucf.eduUniversity of Central Floridas theater

undergrads and grad students tackle an

ambitious year-round schedule of plays,

musicals and youth theater.

Voci Dance407-432-1133vocidance.orgThe modern dance company special-

izes in presenting theatrical experiences

incorporating puppets, original music and

elaborate set and costume design.

The Winter Park Playhouse711 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park407-645-0145winterparkplayhouse.orgCabarets, musicals and holiday fare this

little community theater offers a busy the-

atrical calendar all year round.

Yow Danceyowdance.orgChoreographer Eric Yow makes it his mis-

sion to bring exposure to modern dance by

staging performances by his company in a

variety of educational settings.


ORLAND0 BALLET


THEME PARKS

We cant do a listing of attrac-

tions without listing the

granddaddies of all attractions

in our area: the theme parks. Though most

of them are not located in Orlando proper

Disney is a good 40-minute drive from

downtown the parks are part of our lives,

and to make the most of them, it pays to

do some research before you visit. If you

show up at the gate without an advance-

purchase ticket or at least a plan for how

to make the most of your money, youll

probably pay more than you should have.

Most of the parks offer deep discounts on

multi-day tickets, and some offer special

weekday discounts. Florida residents gen-

erally dont save much on single-day adult

tickets, but if youre a diehard park-goer (or

aspire to be, or have relatives who like to

visit a lot), you can save some big bucks by

purchasing an annual pass.

Walt Disney World (including Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disneys Hollywood Studios, Disneys Animal Kingdom, Disneys Blizzard Beach and Disneys Typhoon Lagoon) The various parks are located along Buena Vista Drive and Epcot Center Drive in Lake Buena

Vista, 407-939-7211, disneyworld.disney.go.com

Price of one-day ticket: $89 ($52 for

Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon)

Florida resident price: $89 (annual pass

$452.63)

Good to know: Theres a whole other

world located underground at Walt Disney

World. Cast members aka, the people

dressed as Disney characters need to

preserve the illusion, so naturally they

need a place where they can, you know,

check in for work, go to the bathroom,

take off the giant Goofy head for a minute.

Utilidors corridors running throughout the

park give employees a way to get around

without creeping out your kids.

Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando, 407-363-8000, universalorlando.com

Price of one-day ticket: $88

Florida resident price: $88 (prices are

reduced on multi-day tickets; annual pass

$164.99)

Good to know: Want to avoid lines at the

entrance? Theres a second entrance to

the park thats generally not as busy as the

main one. Enter the park through CityWalk,

as usual, then head toward the Blue Man

Group theater. Youll see an entrance to the

park along the pathway, underneath the

giant rollercoaster.

SeaWorld Orlando 7007 SeaWorld Drive, Orlando, 407-363-2200, seaworldparks.com


Florida resident price: $79 (for $89 you

can buy a ticket thatll get you a general

admission pass for the year)

ATTRACTIONS

BLUE MAN GROUP

Good to know: Just like the other parks,

SeaWorlds bread and butter is the experi-

ence spectacles and thrills and things to

look at. But the park also exists to educate

the public about aquatic animals. There

are more than 100 employees at SeaWorld

whose job it is to simply talk to people

about the park and its animals. Theyll glad-

ly answer your questions about anything

and everything SeaWorld. Look for the

park employees wearing nametags marked

Education.

LegoLand1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven, 877-350-5346, florida.legoland.com


Florida resident price: $79 (annual pass

$99)

Good to know: LegoLand Florida was built

on the site of another once-popular Central

Florida attraction called Cypress Gardens

known for its waterskiing shows, gorgeous

botanical gardens and women dressed in

elaborate Southern belle costumes. The

parks popularity waned after Walt Disney

World opened in 1971, and it changed

owners a handful of times before it finally

closed in 2009. If you wander LegoLands

grounds, youll still see remnants of Cypress

Gardens the botanical gardens have been

restored, and a massive Banyan tree, first

planted as a seedling in 1939, still stands on

the new theme parks grounds.

FORMAL GARDENS AND BOTANICAL MASTERPIECES

Bok Tower Gardens 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales 863-676-1408 boktowergardens.org

A botanical and historical masterpiece

designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.,

crowned with a neo-Gothic/art deco 205-

foot bell tower. Open daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

$12 for adults, $3 for children.

Harry P. Leu Gardens 1920 N. Forest Ave.407-246-2620 leugardens.org

Three miles of paved paths wind through

truly gorgeous botanical displays, including

the largest formal rose garden in Florida,

a bamboo forest and a butterfly garden.

You can also visit the historic on-site house

museum. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: $10.

Mead Botanical Garden1500 S. Denning Drive, Winter Park407-599-2800meadgarden.org

This green oasis features bike paths, board-

walks and picnic areas set amongst native

plants and wildlife, restored wetlands and

riparian forests. This unique ecological

oasis is a hidden gem. Open daily, 8 a.m. to

dusk, free.

Nehrling Gardens2267 Hempel Ave., Gotha407-445-9977nehrlinggardens.org

This garden was once the home of pioneer-

ing horticulturist Henry Nehrling, who liked

to experiment with tropical and subtropical

plants he tested more than 3,000 types

of plants here for the USDA. The gardens

and Nehrlings historic home are currently

being restored, but private tours are avail-

able by appointment.

MUSEUMS

Central Florida Railroad Museum101 S. Boyd St., Winter Garden407-656-0559wghf.org/cfrailroad

A cool little museum located in adorable,

walkable downtown Winter Garden. This

museum features the finest collection of

Florida railroad memorabilia in the state,

housed in the former Tavares & Gulf rail-

road depot. Free.

Fort Christmas Historical Park and Museum1300 Fort Christmas Road, Christmas407-254-9310nbbd.com/godo/fortchristmas

An interesting little regional history muse-

um that showcases pioneer life in Florida,

housed in a replica Seminole War-era log

structure. Youll also find seven restored

Florida cracker-style homes, as well as pic-

nic pavilions, playgrounds and basketball

courts. Free.

Fantasy of Flight 1400 Broadway Blvd. S.E., Polk City 863-984-3500 fantasyofflight.com

This ones a haul from downtown Orlando,

but if youre a plane buff, its worth the

drive. See how old planes are restored, tour

hangars holding more than 40 airplanes

some them are the last of their kind or

climb into the cockpit of a flight simulator.

Admission: $25.95.

Florida Air Museum4175 Medulla Road, Lakeland863-644-2431sun-n-fun.org

This museum, adjacent to the Lakeland

Regional Airport, isnt too far from Fantasy

of Flight, so you can combine a visit to

both and make a day of it. Check out the

collection of Howard Hughes memorabilia

on permanent display, including leather fly-

ing suits, scrapbooks and personal artifacts

that once belonged to the worlds most

notorious recluse. Admission: $10.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex State Road 405 east of Titusville321-449-4444 kennedyspacecenter.com

Geek out over space exploration? Then

youll love the Space Center. Take guided

tours of launch areas, see historic rockets,

ride the Shuttle Launch Experience and see

the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Admission: $50

gets you a ticket, plus a day of free


admission to the Astronaut Hall of Fame

(must be used within seven days of original

ticket purchase).

Kissimmee Air Museum and Warbird Adventures 233 N. Hoagland Blvd., Kissimmee 407-870-7366 warbirdadventures.com

See classic planes from the early days

of flight to the height of the Cold War.

Then fly a real World War II-era trainer

plane, with an instructor in the rear seat.

Admission: $7 to the museum, $250 for a

15-minute plane ride.

Orange County Regional History Center 65 E. Central Blvd.407-836-8500 thehistorycenter.org

The 1927 county courthouse includes

permanent exhibits from natural Florida

through Disneys coming. Traveling exhibits

broaden its appeal, and a local history

archive awaits scholars. Admission: $9.

Orlando Science Center 777 E. Princeton St. 407-514-2000 osc.org

How can you not love a museum thats

home to SimMan, a life-sized simulated sick

person whose vital signs you can follow

until he flat lines? The science center also

has Floridas largest refractor telescope

and all sorts of hands-on learning experi-

ences thatll appeal to kids and adults alike.

Admission: $27.

Ripleys Believe It or Not! 8201 International Drive 407-354-0501 orlando.ripleys.com

Youve probably seen Ripleys odditori-

ums before; this one is home to a full-sized

car made out of matchsticks, a portrait of

Beyonce made out of candy and an actual

human shrunken head, all housed inside

a building that looks like its falling into a

sinkhole. Admission: $19.99.

Titanic the Experience7324 International Drive 407-248-1166 titanictheexperience.com

The 20,000-square-foot interactive

museum offers a guided tour of authentic

artifacts by costumed actors portraying

the famous passengers and crew of the

unsinkable ship. Admission: $21.95.

RIDES & ADVENTURES

Air Florida Helicopter Charters8990 International Drive 407-354-1400

airfloridahelicopter.com

Youll be surprised how exhilarating it is to

go up in a copter right off I-4. Tours give

you a birds-eye view of the theme parks,

malls, downtown Orlando and more. A vari-

ety of tours are available starting at $20.

Fun Spot Action Park5551 Del Verde Way407-363-3867funspotattractions.com

Go-karts, bumper boats, carousels, slides,

an arcade and more make this park

worth taking the kids to check it out

theres no admission fee here, either. Pay

by the ride or buy an armband for unlim-

ited riding fun.

iFly Orlando6805 Visitors Circle 407-903-1150 orlandoiflyworld.com

Skydive without a plane: Fly in the vertical

wind tunnel. Training session and use of

flight gear included. Reservations are sug-

gested. Admission: $59.95.

International HeliTours 12651 International Drive 407-239-8687 internationalhelitours.com

Tours run 9 a.m. to sunset daily, ranging

from $30 to $400.

Old Town 5770 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee407-396-4888myoldtownusa.com

A pay-as-you-ride amusement park set

in an Old Florida-style downtown setting.

From bumper cars to roller coasters to

ferris wheels, Old Town has rides suitable

for all ages. Theres shopping, dining,

music and special events, too. Open

Monday-Friday, 2-11 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday

noon-11 p.m.

Orlando HeliTours 5519 W. Highway 192, Kissimmee 407-397-0226 orlandohelitours.com

Tours run from 9 a.m. to sunset daily, star-

ing at $40.50

Speed World Dragway 19442 E. Colonial Drive 407-568-5522speedworlddragway.com

If youre into drag racing, this is the

place to be. Check out street dragsters,

motorcycles, old hot rods and even school

buses as they go flat-out. Street drags

every Wednesday and Friday night. Check

the schedule online for events.

EPCOT



Wet n Wild6200 International Drive 407-351-1800 wetnwild.com

The water-park persons water park:

Experience thrill rides with vertical drops,

multi-person tubing rides, toboggan slides

and more. If you like your water rides on

the milder side, float along the lazy river or

splash in the wave pool. Admission: $48.99

(half price after 2 p.m. on specified days).

WonderWorks 9067 International Drive 407-351-8800 wonderworksonline.com/orlando

Housed in an upside-down building,

this attraction has high-tech effects that

simulate earthquakes, hurricanes and a

hang-gliding experience. Plus indoor zip

lines, a 4D extreme motion ride and more.

Open 9 a.m. to midnight. Admission is

$24.99.

OUTDOOR ENCOUNTERS

Airboat Rides at Boggy Creek 2001 E. Southport Road, Kissimmee 407-344-9550 bcairboats.com

Thirty-minute tours start at $26.95, with

others available, day and night.

Air Boat Rides at MidWay 28501 E. Colonial Drive, Christmas 407-568-6790 airboatridesatmidway.com

You are almost guaranteed to see gators

lots of them on this popular airboat tour.

Its the one we always take visitors from out

of town to experience. Open 9 a.m. daily,

night tours available. Tours start at $37.56

for one hour.

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey1101 Audubon Way, Maitland407-644-0190fl.audubon.org

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 the awesome raptors. Theres

a walking trail and aviaries housing injured

birds that cant be released back into the

wild. Admission: $5.

Black Hammock Adventures 2356 Black Hammock Fish Camp Road, Oviedo 407-365-1244

theblackhammock.com

Airboat tours of gator-choked Lake Jesup

start at $25.95. Theres a fish restaurant on

premises that serves mean fried seafood,

and theres a few caged gators for tourists

to gawk at.

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens 3755 N.W. Highway 17-92, Sanford 407-323-4450 centralfloridazoo.org

Home to more than 400 animals, not

counting the Insect Zoo. They also have

a couple really cool zip lines (check the

sports and recreation section for details)

and botanical gardens in one package.

Admission: $14.95.

Discovery Cove 6000 Discovery Cove Way877-557-7404 discoverycove.com

If SeaWorld doesnt get you close enough,

try heading across the road where you can

actually swim with fish and dolphins. Prices

vary, but start at $169. Reservations are

required.

Forever Florida4755 N. Kenansville Road, St. Cloud407-957-9794foreverflorida.com

Eco-safaris of a 4,700-acre Florida nature

preserve by horseback, open-air coach or

zipline offer views of a traditional cracker-

style ranch, gators, black bears and other

wildlife. Overnight horseback tours avail-

able. Safaris start at $32 (open-air coach) to

$85 (zipline).

Gatorland 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail 407-855-5496 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. Admission: $24.99.

Jungle Adventures Nature Park26205 State Road 50, Christmas407-568-2885jungleadventures.com

Kind of like Gatorland, but smaller and

more intimate, this roadside attraction

takes in injured and abandoned wildlife

for rehab. Enter through the mouth of the

largest gator in Florida, a 200-footer that

used to double as the home of the parks

original owner. Inside, youll see rarities



such as a Florida panther and gray wolves.

Admission: $21.95.

Kissimmee Swamp Tours 4500 Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville 407-436-1059 kissimmeeswamptours.com

Day and evening times are flexible. Sixty- to

90-minute tours on Lake Kissimmee start

at $47.

Old Fashioned Airboat RidesChristmas (directions provided after reservation is made)407-568-4307airboatrides.com

Look for gators and otters and spoonbills

on this 90-minute ride through the marshes

of the St. Johns River in a six-person air-

boat. Reservations only. Admission: $50

Orlando Airboats 2271 E. Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee 407-572-3561aorlandoairboats.com

Times are flexible. Lake Toho tours start at

$49.95 for one hour.

Reptile World 5705 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, St. Cloud407-892-6905

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. Admission: $8.75.

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. Youll skim by Rollins College to see

how the other half lives. Tours leave hourly.

Admission: $12 adults.

FAMILY

Boing! Jump Center532 S. Econ Circle, Oviedo407-542-7844boingjumpcenter.com

The jump center contains 13,000 feet of

giant trampolines. Play Boing! dodgeball,

bounce on a trampoline half-pipe or hold

your birthday party in a trampoline room. If

youre not into the organized activities, just

show up for open jump. Admission: $12 for

the first hour.

Blue Man GroupAquos Theatre, CityWalk at Universal Orlando407-258-3626blueman.com

What does Orlando have in common with

Boston, New York, Las Vegas and Berlin?

Blue Man Group, that experimental theater/

comedy routine performed by three guys

painted blue from head to toe. Its comical,

its loud, its a spectacle at times, and its

always good fun. The Orlando show is a

family-friendly affair, though super-young

kids might find the loud percussion, flash-

ing lights and other elements of surprise a

little startling. Admission: $69.

Cirque du Soleil: La NoubaDowntown Disney, 1478 E. Buena Vista Drive,

Lake Buena Vista407-939-7600cirquedusoleil.com

Its a circus, its an acrobatic adventure, its

a magic show and more. Orlandos Cirque

troupe is everything youve come to expect

from this Canadian band of performers. Its

colorful, its lively, its occasionally breath-

taking and just like everything else in the

Disney family, its suitable entertainment for

the whole family. Admission: $61.

Congo River Mini Golf various locations around Orlando407-248-9181congoriver.com

Youre in Central Florida how could you

pass up the opportunity to play miniature

golf on a course thats also home to alliga-

tors you can feed, an arcade, a faux African

safari and more. Answer: You cant. Fun for

everyone. Except the gators. Admission:

$11.99.

Dinosaur World 5145 Harvey Tew Road, Plant City 813-717-9865 dinosaurworld.com

More than 150 life-size outdoor models of

dinosaurs rule over a fossil dig, museum

and lots of paleontological-themed activi-

ties. Admission: $14.95 adults.

Downtown DisneyWalt Disney World Resort1780 E. Lake Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista407-828-3800disneyworld.disney.go/destinations/ downtown-disney

Parents, heres something youll want to

know: Downtown Disney is on the Walt

Disney World campus, its got Disney-

related decor that changes with the

seasons and its got fun stuff for kids to

look at, including cool stores and res-

taurants thatll make them think theyre

actually at Disney. Best part: Admission

to Downtown Disney is completely free.

Open daily.

Green Meadows Petting Farm1368 S. Poinciana Blvd., Kissimmee 407-846-0770 greenmeadowsfarm.com

Get your shoes dirty with 300 farm ani-

mals, petting them and learning how to do

a variety of farm tasks. Admission: $23.

Holy Land Experience 4655 Vineland Road 407-872-2272holylandexperience.com

Stories from the Bible reenacted in a high-

tech mock-up of ancient Jerusalem. You

can even witness a simulated crucifixion,

which is held daily at the park. Admission:

$40 for adults.

Pinocchios Marionette TheaterAltamonte Mall451 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs407-834-8757pinocchios.net

A full-time marionette theater offering daily

shows great for kids ages 3 through 10,

but still good, clean fun for kids of all ages.

Showtimes vary, call or visit the website for

more information. Admission: $5.


It should surprise exactly no one that

this city, where the happiest place on

earth exists, knows how to happy hour.

Not only is this town properly schooled

in getting sloshed, were also privy to the

other necessities of nightlife: live music and

dancing. Whether youre looking for a dive

or a dance club, an art or an arcade bar, craft

beer or classic cocktails, there is a vast world

of options for you to explore. You thought

the theme parks were legit? Wait til youve

experienced the magnetism of Orlandos

real attractions.

NIGHTS

Accidental Music FestivalNovember, various venuesaccidentalmusicfestival.comA festival curated for music lovers, this

festival focuses on inventive, avant-garde

music with pleasantly surprising perfor-

mances, educational activities and a special

showcase of international performers.

Florida Music FestivalApril, various venuesfloridamusicfestival.comDrawing in huge acts from all over the

country, FMF is the longest-running music

festival in Orlando and is coupled with

industry conferences that offer an oppor-

tunity to network and discover new music

while pub-crawling downtown.

NerdapaloozaSummer, various venuesnerdapalooza.orgImagine Otronicon as a music festival, and

youll begin to understand the unique treat

Nerdapalooza offers resident geeks, deliv-

ering the best acts in hip-hop nerdcore,

chiptunes, comedy rock and video game

music to town f

orlando weekly annual manual 2013

Documents

orlando weekly

orlando morning sentine

parkbaldwin park

lakesavalon park

sea world opensoct

walt disney world opensdec

aimee vitek

billy manes