Go Local Wednesdays – Creative Collaboration Comes to Ivanhoe Village

Two local businesses in the Ivanhoe Village Main Street District have teamed up with Orlando artist Patrick Fatica to host a unique event featuring six nights of dinner, art, and a performance.

Patrick Fatica’s home base is right around the corner in the Mills 50 district.  He is known for his pop-surreal oil paintings of females.  For this show he’s switched to pastels to create large vivid images inspired by the name of the latest Ivanhoe Village establishment, The Hammered Lamb.  Choreographer Baby BlueStar owns The Venue Orlando, an Ivanhoe Village area performance space, and used the artwork as inspiration for her show.

The joint event will be held six nights.  Each night begins at The Hammered Lamb with dinner and drinks, followed by transportation to The Venue for the performance, and finally back to the Hammered Lamb for the art opening and drinks.  What a great way to spend an evening supporting local business owners and artists!  Buy Tickets today.

Tickets for the entire night are $40 in advance and $50 the day of the event.  Read more about the show and inspiration at The Orlando Weekly.

JUNE 20, 21, 22, 24, 28, 29  Starts at 7 pm

 

Who Says There’s Nothing to do in Orlando? – Adventures in Audubon Park

Looking for something fun and unique to do this weekend?  Look no farther than Orlando’s Audubon Park neighborhood.  This Saturday from 2-5:30 pm they will be having a combination scavenger hunt / trivia contest challenge!

Contact Jennifer Marvel to register!
407-212-7321
audubonparkgardendistrict@gmail.com

The inaugural British Isles Adventure Race will start at 1601 East Winter Park Road in the Audubon Park Garden District.  Teams of two or three compete to decipher clues, answer trivia questions and have a bloody good time.  Participants who compete in a UK-themed costume will receive bonus points that will help save them time.  The better the costume, the more points earned.  Use your smartphone along the way to phone a friend, look up clues, and take photos!

At the end of the challenge, each participant will enjoy a free beer, fine wine or cane sugar soda to wait out the results.  Prizes include free tickets to the 2014 Scottish Highland Games, tickets to a regular season Orlando City Soccer game, two free tickets to The Gothic Cotillion, gift certificate from Liam Fitzpatrick’s, and an APGD gift basket, with more prizes being added all the time.

After party at Redlight Redlight, beginning at 5:30.

Want to live in Audubon Park?  Search Homes today!

Image credit:  UK-London via wallyg on Everystock via creative commons

 

Go Local Wednesdays – Lodge 10 Year Anniversary this Weekend

I have a special place in my heart for The Lodge in Downtown Orlando.  If you can believe it they are 10 years old – wow I feel old!  If you have not been to The Lodge – where have you been living the last 10 years?  Congrats to the awesome guys who own this establishment on their 10 year anniversary!  

The Lodge is just a fun place to go any night of the week if you’re looking for a good beer or a stiff drink and it’s a great example of successful Downtown businesses.  The guys recently opened up another bar right upstairs called The Woods.  The new place offers a more intimate atmosphere with craft cocktails made with fresh juices and unique spirits and the beer menu is excellent as well.  Hope to attend the 10 year anniversary for this new spot in the future!

Be sure to check out the Lodge 10 year Anniversary Festivities at their Facebook Event Page or stop by and ask one of the friendly bartenders!  There’s no cover for the main bar with $2 PBRs and $3 Jagers.  The best part is the VIP Beer Garden with 16 of the Best Craft Beers available

Come Celebrate 10 Years of Debauchery! NO COVER, $2 PBR’s, $3 Jagermeisters, Get Served by Bartenders Past, a Beer Garden with 16 of the Best Craft Beers Available(Limited Space for the Beer Garden, so get your tickets asap!).  The VIP tickets are only $25!  Oh and last but not least, my favorite DJ in Downtown Orlando will be playing some old Lodge classics.

 

Who Says There’s Nothing to do in Orlando? – Spring Weekend

As we head into the Spring, there are more and more outdoor events in the Orlando and Winter Park area.  This weekend is no exception!  Whether you are looking for something to spruce up your exterior or interior there is a place for you this weekend.

If you want to get your front yard ready for spring, stop by the Leu Gardens annual plant sale this weekend near Audubon Park.  I have personally purchased many things and it is a great way to spend a spring day!  Bring a cart if you plan on buying anything so you can transport the plant back to you car.

Saturday, March 16 & Sunday March 17
9:00 am – 5:00 pm

If you are in the mood to change things up in your house, stop by the Annual Winter Park sidewalk Art Festival.  ”The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most prestigious juried outdoor art festivals, consistently rated among the top shows by Sunshine Artist and American Style magazines.”  Each year more than 350,000 visitors enjoy the show.  It’s a great place to find some inspiration for an interior space.

Friday, March 15th, 9 AM to 6 PM
Saturday, March 16th, 9 AM to 6 PM
Sunday, March 17th, 9 AM to 5 PM

Do you have any weekend plans?

Image credit:  personal

 

Go Local Wednesdays – Manicures and Mimosas in Thornton Park

This weekend you can enjoy a mimosa, get a manicure, and people watch in Downtown Orlando’s favorite neighborhood for locals!  Lambs Eat Ivy Salon located at 804 E Washington St  will be featuring Manicures and Mimosas on their front patio from 11:30 am – 3 pm.  The weather is just right to enjoy a manicure alfresco in Thornton Park!

Stop by this Saturday from 11:30 am – 3 pm and enjoy a relaxing weekend in Downtown Orlando.  First come first serve!  For more info visit their Facebook page or call  (407) 245-7006.

The Thornton Park area is full of small businesses to check out – make a day of it!

 

Who Says There’s Nothing to do in Orlando? – Outdoor Fun

The weather outside is gorgeous for this time of year!  Tomorrow the high is 70 and sunny!  It is a perfect Saturday to get outside and enjoy living in Orlando.  I don’t know if you have seen the street banners in Winter Park lately; but there is a website address posted on them called FindActiveFun.org.  I checked out the website and it is pretty neat.  You select your zip code, date, neighborhood, budget, environment, and whether or not you want to include pets.  Then the site filters active events in Orlando for you based on your criteria!

There are plenty of great ways to get active and/or enjoy the outdoors in the Central Florida area.  Get out and have some fun this weekend!  There are plenty of local farmer’s markets in Orlando to check out.

In full disclosure, for those adverse to cold weather, it’s supposed to be pretty chilly on Sunday but a nice jacket and you’ll be just fine.

Enjoy your weekend!

 

Image credit:  photo taken by Jessica Ruthardt in Downtown Orlando 

 

 

Go Local Wednesdays – Valentine’s Day Ideas

What are your plans for Valentines Day?  I’m not a huge fan of the holiday myself.  It might be the worst night of the year to make dinner plans so I think my significant other and I will order a yummy stuffed pizza TO GO.

If you aren’t a home body like me, here are a few ideas to enjoy Valentine’s Day in Orlando!

Winter Park:  A movie under the stars sounds like a romantic date for v-day.  Enzian’s Popcorn Flicks in the Park will start at 7 pm tomorrow at Central Park in Winter Park.  The movie of the night is a classic From here to Eternity.

Downtown Orlando:  Thornton Park’s 2nd Thursday wine walk is a pretty inexpensive date and sure to be enjoyable.  You can stroll through the new Thornton Park Main Street district from 6:30 – 10 pm and stop at various shops, restaurants and bars.  For only $10/person you complimentary wine/beer/little bites at various stops.

If you’re recently single or just hate Valentine’s Day, the Love Stinks Party at Neighborhood Rogue sounds interesting.  Stop by the fire pit and burn pics of your exes.  Check out more info on the Facebook event page.  This is just around the corner from the wine walk so there are discounts available for wine walk participants.

Hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

image credit:  The finished product via Creative Commons

 

Go Local Wednesdays – Hammered in Ivanhoe Village

I tried to post this last week after I visited the new bar in Ivanhoe Village last week; but I got busy with selling homes.  The blog takes the back seat sometimes.

The new hot spot in Ivanhoe Village is called The Hammered Lamb.  They had a soft opening early last week and then officially opened the doors on Friday.  The location is perfect with beautiful views of  Lake Ivanhoe from the large outdoor patio bar.  Inside there are video games, tons of TVs, plenty of spots to sit and chat or listen to the awesome 90′s set-list.  It’s a relaxed neighborhood bar vibe that is just right for the area.

They will be serving light dishes in the future but for now it’s a great place to have a drink and enjoy the Florida weather on the outdoor patio.

Thinking of moving to the area?  Search nearby homes for sale in Lake Highland, Colonialtown North , Eola Heights, and College Park or call me to learn more about Downtown Orlando real estate at 407-494-2820.

 

Image Credit:  from window from Hammered Lamb instagram

 

 

Who Says There’s Nothing to do in Orlando? – Audubon Park Deserves it’s Own Cocktail Contest

Don’t miss the “Audubon Park Deserves it’s Own Cocktail, Dammit Contest”!   Tonight at The Glass Bar at Stardust Video and Coffee enjoy an evening cocktail Audubon Park style.

There will be a variety of Fresh picked, organic fruits and herbs to temp your taste-buds and locally produced spirits from Winter Park Distilling Company.  Attendees will vote on the best cocktail and it will become the official cocktail of Audubon Park!  The fundraiser will support Beautify Spring 2013.

The City of Orlando will match every dollar earned at this event and put it towards Beautify Spring 2013, which will provide bike racks and trash cans to make the area nicer and more bike friendly!

Tonight at Stardust at 1842 E Winter Park Rd.  Runs from 5 — 8 pm. $20 in advance $17.50 for APGD and Slow Food members. $25 at the door.
Buy Tickets Now 

 

Go Local Wednesdays – Yummy Treats in Ivanhoe Village

Just the other day my boyfriend stopped off in Ivanhoe village to meet with someone about a logo design.  He stopped by Yalaha bakery on his way home.  It’s a place we have passed by many times but never gone inside.  I have always been curious what kind of treats they had!

He brought home a beautiful Tuscan bread, a key lime tart, and some kind of chocolate treat that seemed to be filled with ganache.  It was so tasty that once I took a bite I forgot what it was actually called!

This delightful bakery serves German breads and old world tortes and pastries, they offer lunch, and coffee beverages.  It is open Monday through Sunday from 8 am - 6 pm.  I highly recommend stopping by and will probably make this a weekly routine for myself!

What’s your favorite local Orlando bakery?