News - Seminole's "Kids House" wins the Victory Cup Initiative and $20,000
The inaugural event of the Victory Cup Initiative in Winter Park was held on February 4th when 10 Florida nonprofits were asked to deliver their message (in less than 3 minutes) to an audience of Central Florida business leaders. The audience vote awarded Kids House of Seminole the first prize of $20,000. The goal of the Victory Cup is to celebrate the much-needed work that is done every day by nonprofit organizations in Central Florida. Kids House is a safe environment where child abuse victims can find the services they need. Visitkidshouse.org
19. bis 21. Februar – Antiques Vintage & Garden Show
The Antiques Vintage & Garden Show, presented by the Orlando Art Museum's Council of 101, has been raising funds for the museum since 1983. With dealers offering a range of fine antique furniture, paintings, silver, ceramics, jewellery, textiles, carpets and vintage decorative objects, the three-day event also includes inspiration from garden and floral designers, as well as an opening preview party (February 18), guest speakers and Show Book Signings, Rating Days, Mystery Home Tour (February 20th), Tea Room and Daily Functions. Call the Council of 101 office at 407-896-4231 ext. 254 or email[Email Protected]
February 19th, 20th and 21st - Silver Spurs - A weekend of driving fun for cowboys
Round up your little pooches and watch the country's top rodeo pros at the Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee. Spectacular events include bull riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and bareback riding, along with the popular cowboy clowns. Fans and cowboys alike enjoy the air-conditioned facility with 8,300 extra-wide seats, and purchasing a rodeo ticket entitles you to free entry to the Osceola County Fair, located adjacent to the Silver Spurs Arena. Call 321-697-3495 or visit ussilverspursrodeo.com
February 19-29 - The Breakthrough Theater Presents "The Heidi Chronicles"
Through a series of connected scenes, Wendy Wasserstein's The Heidi Chronicles follows the life of art historian Heidi Holland as she watches her friends move from the idealism of her college years to the feminism and then back to the materialism they aspired to reject. The play won the Pulitzer Prize, the Tony Award, the N.Y. Drama Critics Circle Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award and the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. The theater is located at 419A W. Fairbanks Ave. in winter park. Call 407-920-4034 or visit usDurchbruchtheater.com
Feb 19-March 20 - "Painting Churches" at the Mad Cow Theatre
In Tina Howe's award-winning comedy, Painting Churches, artist Mags Church returns home to paint a portrait of her aging parents while still with them, but her canvas may not be large enough to capture the poetry, outrage, and... Capturing the zest for life from Fanny and Gardner Church. An Obie winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist, the play was described by The New York Times as "a theatrical family portrait with the brilliance and depth of Renoir portraits."madcowtheatre.com.
February 20 - Orlando Wetlands Festival
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer invites friends and families to the 16th Annual Orlando Wetlands Festival, a free event featuring bus tours, photo walks, bird and plant identification trips and other wilderness tours. There will be live country music by Homer Stiles and the City of Orlando Parks and Recreation Department is giving away free trees in celebration of Arbor Day. At Fort Christmas Historical Park at 1300 Fort Christmas Road, little ones will enjoy live animal shows, face painting, games, bouncy castles and more this Christmas. The event lasts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on February 20th. Call 407-568-1706 or visit uscityoforlando.net/wetlands.
20. Februar – Windermere Art Affair
The City of Windermere will host its first annual Windermere Art Affair in its Town Square on February 20th, featuring both local and visual artists from around the world. The event is free and open to the public with over 50 exhibit booths from renowned artists to event sponsors. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. there is live music, food and "a good glass of wine". on February 20th at this animal friendly event. The Windermere Downtown Business Committee organizes the Art Affair. Call 407-448-0244 or visit uswindermereartaffair.com
February 20 – Patti LaBelle at Dr. Phillips Center
The incomparable Patti LaBelle is a soulful songbird whose name is synonymous with grace, style and class. The astounding vocal range that allows her to belt out classic rhythm and blues, pop standards and spirituals has created the unique variety of performances for which Ms. LaBelle is known and revered. Save February 20th for this special evening of classic songs, incredible vocals and inspirational energy at Dr. Phillips Center in front. Call 844-513-2014 or visit usdrphillipscenter.org
20. Februar – Science Night Live im Orlando Science Center
Live from Orlando, it's Science Night Live! This evening is reserved for adults to enjoy our Orlando Science Center with adult-inspired programming. We can see stars and planets through the giant refractor telescope, watch movies in the CineDome, in Dr. Experiment at Dare's Laboratory, play science trivia, and enjoy adult food and beverages at the Hard Rock Cafe. There's even a guest speaker - Derek Demeter - who will be presenting "Our Sky, Our Universe" at 9pm. and 10 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, and OSC members are admitted free. Call 407-514-2000 or visit usosc.org/snl
Feb 21 - The Pulitzer Prize-winning "Anna in the Tropics"
2003 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama winner Nilo Cruz's "Anna in the Tropics" is set in Ybor City, a borough of Tampa and the heart of the cigar industry at the turn of the century. In the play, reading Anna Karenina deeply affects the characters' lives and causes their relationships to spiral out of control. In two performances at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Call the Dr. Phillips Center at 844-513-2014 or visit usdrphillipscenter.org.
February 22 - National Margarita Day in Cocina 214
Mine will be "shake, stir or shuffle" on February 22nd when I join multiple judges for the 2016 Margarita Madness Competition at Cocina 214 at 151 E. Welbourne Ave. connect in Winter Park. We are all invited to drink and participate at 6:30pm. on February 22 while we search for the "Best Original Margarita Recipe of 2016." The winner will receive a $100 Cocina 214 gift card and the drink will be the featured margarita on the restaurant's menu. Do you have the winning ingredients? Pick up registration forms at the restaurant or at visitcocina214.com. The finalists will enter the Live Margarita Contest on February 22nd.
February 23-28 - Broadway in Orlando Presents "Kinky Boots"
Inspired by true events, the musical Kinky Boots tells the story of Charlie Price trying to save the family shoe store. Charlie turns to a fashionable friend - cabaret star Lola - who gives Charlie an idea that could change her fortunes. With a Tony-winning score by Cyndi Lauper, a book by Tony-winner Harvey Fierstein, and Tony-winning choreography and direction by Jerry Mitchell, it turns out the musical is about finding friendship and inspiration where you are least expected it. Call 844-513-2014 or visit usdrphillipscenter.org.
24 Feb - Free Lecture at the Morse Museum
In the first of a series of free lectures at The Morse Museum of American Art, we will learn about the famous lamps made by Tiffany Studios, which make up a large part of the museum's extensive collection of works by American artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. Margaret Hofer, Vice President and Museum Director of the New-York Historical Society, will speak on "A Collecting Odyssey: The Tiffany Lamps of Egon and Hildegard Neustadt" on February 24 at 2:30 p.m. The museum is located at 445 N. Park Ave in Winter Park. Admission is free and there will be a reception after the event. Call 407-645-5311 or visit usmorsemuseum.org
24. Feb. – Das Jerusalem Symphony in Daytona Beach
In a rare opportunity to hear music from the Jerusalem Symphony, the orchestra is celebrating 80 years on the American coast. Presented by the Daytona Beach Symphony Society, this one-performance-only event will feature works by Tchaikovsky and Saint-Saens, with Grammy-nominated conductor Dmitry Yablonsky also appearing as a soloist. The program concludes with Brahms' rousing Second Symphony. This event comes with my highest recommendation. Call 386-671-3460 or visit uspeabodydaytona.com
Feb 26 - The Moscow Festival Ballet presents "Giselle" in Daytona Beach
The Moscow Festival Ballet brings together the highest classical elements of drama and dance from the great Bolshoi and Kirov ballet companies and presents the most perfect of all romantic ballets - "Giselle" - in just one performance at the Peabody in Daytona Beach. Poor Giselle dies of a broken heart after finding out her lover is engaged to someone else. A group of supernatural spirits summons Giselle from her grave and takes Giselle's lover to her death, but her great love - and forgiveness - frees him from their grasp. Call 386-671-3460 or visit uspeabodydaytona.com
Feb. 27 - The 13th Annual Gala benefiting the Mennello Museum
"The Friends" of the Mennello Museum invite you to their annual gala to support the museum's exhibitions and educational programs. In addition to celebrating the museum, the evening honors community leaders Susan Porcaro Goings and Rick Goings, Chairman and CEO of Tupperware Brands. Tickets for the gala start at $375. The event is at 6 p.m. on February 27th. Call 407-246-4278, ext. 4113, or visitfacebook.com/MennelloMuseum
February 27th and 28th – Scribes of Central Florida presents CalligraFaire
At the free two-day CalligraFaire event, we're invited to watch the learned members of the Scribes of Central Florida demonstrate the old and new art of calligraphy. Members put your name on free bookmarks, discuss the history of calligraphy, have items for sale — along with a calligraphic supplies pop-up shop — and offer 50-minute introductory classes so you can try your hand at calligraphy. Classes are aimed at beginners and cost $5 and include all materials. CalligraFaire takes place at the Maitland Civic Center in Maitland from 9:30am to 4:30pm. on February 27th and 28th. VisitScribesOfCentralFlorida.com
News – New healthcare business offers new healthcare options
myDirectMD, a new healthcare company with a unique business model, has chosen Orlando as its first location. myDirectMD is a medical practice that offers traditional primary care services, but rather than relying on insurance, myDirectMD admits patients who pay a set monthly fee for ongoing primary care services from board-certified physicians. By eliminating the overhead of insurance companies, myDirectMD charges $10 per month for children and $50 to $214 per person per month, depending on age. There are also affordable options for businesses. myDirectMD is located at 7350 Sandlake Commons Blvd. Visitmydirectmd.com
And look ahead...
March 2nd - A night out with Josh Groban at the Dr. Phillips Center
We share this news early because if I waited there would be no more tickets. the dr Phillips Center invites you to an evening with the incomparable Josh Groban. This international singing phenomenon has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, including five multi-platinum albums and huge hits like "You Raise Me Up", "You Are Loved" and "The Prayer". Groban's latest album, Stages, quickly topped the charts and contains a collection of some of the greatest musical theater songs of all time. Visitdrphillipscenter.orgor call 844-513-2014.