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Annual Manual 2016: UCF
Cheap eats and cheaper beer lace the outline of the student stronghold, but there are gems to be found like natural beauty, innovative sips and UCF’s MFA programs, which have reinvigorated Orlando’s literary and fine arts communities. RESTAURANT In the realm of college jobs, tossing 3-foot pizzas at pie giant Lazy Moon on University Boulevard…
Welcome to the 2016 edition of Orlando Weekly’s Annual Manual
Orlando and its surrounding areas are full of venues, events, activities and shops, and while we cover them on a week-to-week basis, this is our attempt at highlighting a year’s worth of cool stuff. Inside, you’ll find useful lists of museums, bars and clubs, consignment shops, date ideas and more, along with a breakdown of…
7 essential late night Orlando eats
Or early morning munchies
Refresh your wardrobe and recoup some cash at Orlando’s resale shops
Investment pieces
Here’s where to find unique and one-of-a-kind local gifts
Knickknacks, baubles, gewgaws, tchotchkes, bibelots and whatnot
10 great ideas for the perfect date night in Orlando
Let’s go out
Annual Manual 2016: Ivanhoe Village
The Ivanhoe exit was the first casualty of I-4 Ultimate, but that hasn’t stopped shoppers and eaters from rallying around the lake and its bars, restaurants, bakeries and retail stores, both brand-new and long-established. PASTRY Flaky, buttery perfection comes in the form of a croissant at the German bakery Backhaus. Run, don’t walk, tomorrow morning. Other…
13 Orlando Weekly parties that need to be on your radar
Bite30 A monthlong celebration of the best food Central Florida has to offer, with special prix fixe menus at each participating restaurant. June 1-30, 2016, multiple locations, bite30.com Bite Night Bite Night transforms the historic Orchid Garden Ballroom into a foodie wonderland featuring samples from more than 20 of Orlando’s best-loved chefs and restaurants. June 27,…
Annual Manual 2016: Thornton Park
Historic homes and cobblestone streets are the markers of this neighborhood. All at once walkable, quaint and cosmopolitan, it’s what other big-city-dwellers think Orlando lacks. Joke’s on them. DESSERT Beyond the macarons and laminated pastries and rows of quiches is a tiny treat worth trying. Canneles at Benjamin French Bakery & Cafe on Washington Street…
Annual Manual 2016: Downtown
Far from being just businesspeople by day and sloshers come nightfall, Orlando’s downtown district is full of fine dining, fine arts and culture centered around Lake Eola’s fountain.person PERSON Named as a James Beard Award Foundation semifinalist this year for the third time since 2013, chef Kathleen Blake of the Rusty Spoon has set the…
Orlando’s bars, clubs and live music venues go above and beyond the moment the sun goes down
In the heart of Orlando, those in the know snicker at the fools who believe theme parks are our city’s main draw. With bars, clubs and live music venues that go above and beyond the moment the sun goes down, locals know the truly treasurable Orlando experiences are encountered in more genuinely fun spots –…
Whether you’re a fan or an athlete, there are plenty of ways to stay sporty in Orlando
Central Florida was made for the sports enthusiasts – during most of the year, the weather is perfect for hiking, running, biking and kayaking, and when it’s not, we have plenty of sports teams you can cheer on as a spectator. Biking and hiking Cady Way Trail Entrance is 1/4 mile north of State Road…
Annual Manual 2016: College Park
With street names like Harvard, Vassar and Yale, it’s no surprise that College Park is Orlando’s most expensive neighborhood per square foot. Luckily, there’s no dearth of affordable dining, sports bars and unbeatable brunches. BUILDING The Art Deco architecture of Miami somehow made its way up to Orlando, and College Park has some of the…
Here’s where to explore and experience Orlando’s vibrant arts scene
GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens 633 Osceola Ave., Winter Park | 407-647-6294 | polasek.org The Czech artist’s former residence is now a gallery, surrounded by gorgeous lakeside gardens full of his bronze sculptures. Anita S. Wooten Gallery Valencia College East Campus | 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail 407-582-2298 | valenciacollege.edu Valencia students…
20 essential upcoming events that every Orlandoan should have on their calendar
April Fiesta in the Park April 2-3, 2016, Lake Eola Park, North Eola Drive and East Washington Street, fiestainthepark.com Wander around Lake Eola and check out food, live music, and arts and crafts from tons of vendors. Florida Film Festival April 8-17, 2016, Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland, 407-629-1088, floridafilmfestival.com Whether you’re a…
Annual Manual 2016: SODO
South of the East-West Expressway, the neighborhoods that make up the Downtown South area – Wadeview Park, Delaney Park, Conway Gardens, Dover Shores – are largely residential. The allure: exciting architecture, sybaritic green spaces and #thatskylinetho. VENUE Since 2000, the Timucua Arts Foundation has brought international artists and musicians to Orlando to perform. Concerts take…
Annual Manual 2016: Mills 50
It’s possible to eat a different Asian cuisine every night of the week in Mills 50, formerly known as ViMi. Feast on noodle soup and dumplings, of course, but don’t miss the tacos, craft coffee and cocktails that also pepper this strip of foodie heaven. COFFEE SHOP Order a flat white and settle into the mid-century surroundings…
Annual Manual 2016: Audubon Park
Sandwiched between Mills 50 and Baldwin Park, Audubon Park’s short stretch is packed full of character and characters. Beer parlors, hipster haunts and foodie landmarks make the spot. PERSON On the corner of Winter Park Road and Corrine Drive is Big Daddy’s Roadhouse, where karaoke is the main event and happy hour stretches from doors-open till…
3 quick and easy day trips for when you need to get out of town
MOUNT DORA The historic town has long been prized for its many antique stores – the streets of the downtown area are lined with shops full of collectibles, and nearby Renninger’s (20651 U.S. Highway 441, Mount Dora, 352-383-3141, renningers.net) holds Antique Extravaganzas three times per year, welcoming vintage and antique dealers from around the country.…
Annual Manual 2016: Winter Park
All at once uptight (no more burger joints!) and down-to-earth (wanna go get a burger?), Winter Park is the college town that isn’t a college town. Park Avenue is prime for shopping and celeb spotting; Hannibal Square can host a hell of a pub crawl if you time it right – they stop serving alcohol…
It’s tough, but here’s how to get around Orlando without a car
Orlando is a car city, there’s no getting around it – it can be time-consuming, inconvenient or expensive to get where you want to be if you don’t have the use of an automobile. But slowly the city is making strides in the area of public transit, adding commuter train SunRail to the long-established Lynx…
