Schoolin’ Orlando
Quaint bungalows notwithstanding, the most common sights in College Park are joggers, cyclists and dog-walkers traversing the vibrant downtown quarter’s charming brick-lined, university-appellated streets. It’s no surprise the neighborhood scores high on walkability (and bikeability) ratings, as both are vital ingredients in a community that places the pedestrian above the automobile. Had noted urban activist Jane Jacobs lived in Orlando, she might very well have chosen to live in College Park – just like writer Jack Kerouac, astronaut John Young and current Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer, who can often be seen walking his dog on North Westmoreland Drive. The neighborhood’s main artery – the ambulation-friendly Edgewater Drive – is home to a diverse array of shops, cafés, restaurants and businesses, many of which have been around since the ’40s and ’50s. On the corner of Par Street sits a golf course – Orlando’s oldest – drawing hackers and scratch golfers alike to its narrow fairways. It’s truly a self-contained community, and that’s just the way its denizens like it.
EAT
Hubbly Bubbly
3405 Edgewater Drive
407-985-5841
hubblybubblyfalafel.com
Infusion Tea
1600 Edgewater Drive
407-999-5255
infusionorlando.com
K Restaurant
1710 Edgewater Drive
407-872-2332
krestaurant.net
Paxia Alta Cocina Mexicana and Tequila Lounge
2611 Edgewater Drive
407-420-1144
paxiarestaurant.com
DRINK
Local Bar and Grill
3231 Edgewater Drive
407-900-9005
thelocalcp.com
Ollie’s Public House
3400 Edgewater Drive
407-999-8934
olliespublichouse.com
Taproom at Dubsdread
549 W. Par St.
407-650-0100
taproomatdubsdread.com
SHOP
Dechoes Resale
2110 Edgewater Drive
407-648-7480
dechoesresale.com
Gallery on the Edge
2300 Edgewater Drive
407-615-4683
facebook.com/galleryontheedge
Orange Cycle
2204 Edgewater Drive
407-422-5552
orangecycleorlando.com
Stewart Jewelry
2212 Edgewater Drive
407-425-1496
stewartjewelrydesign.com
PLAY
Dubsdread Golf Course
549 W. Par St.
407-246-2551
historicaldubsdread.com
Kerouac House
1418 Clouser Ave.
kerouacproject.org
GO
College Park Makers Market
Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
1600 Edgewater Drive
Sunday morning extravaganza features fashion, furniture and local foods.
26 reasons to love College Park
This article appears in Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2014 and City Guide (2014).