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One of our favorite go-to dates is a fancy night at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Each year a wide array of performers take the stage, dazzling audiences with their spectacular talents. There are dozens of exciting shows coming to Dr. Phillips Center in the next few months. From Broadway musicals to world-class…
A progressive dinner is defined as “a dinner party in which each successive course is prepared and eaten at the residence of a different participant.” To plan your own, pick an area of Orlando where there’s a cluster of yummy restaurants within walking distance. Then, stop by three or four places eating one dish at…
Put a spin on your usual Sunday Funday by heading to Orlando Shakes! Starting this September, the theater will be hosting four select Sunday matinees that combine a fun pre-show bash and theater performance for a Sunday you and your date won’t soon forget. The fun kicks off Sunday, September 23 with a Latin street…
13 Classic movies are returning to the big screen, select dates in 2018 Dinner and a movie: it’s the most quintessential date night combination. As much as we love going to the movies, we’re always on the lookout for clever spins on this go-to date night. Which is why the Turner Classic Movies Big Screen…
Runners and walkers of any age and fitness level are invited to join in the fun during the Florida Hospital Battle of the Bands 5k, a race designed to get your feet moving in more ways than one. Not your average 5k, this race puts music center stage by featuring local bands dueling it out…
A favorite go-to for date night, The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts recently announced additions to the 2017-18 season. We’re already thrilled about the previously announced Orlando Broadway Season; the newly announced shows and performances are simply adding to the already amazing lineup. From the date-night worthy La La Land in Concert to…
Attention movie buffs: the 26th Annual Florida Film Festival (FFF) will bring the red carpet to Orlando for 10 days April 21-30, 2017. This must-go festival is packed with films, celebrity guest events, parties, and forums you won’t want to miss. This year’s festival features more than 180 feature length and short films, giving you plenty…
Researchers say we should all eat breakfast like a king and I could not agree more. I love a lavish morning meal. So, too, does my friend Faiyaz Kara, food critic for Orlando Weekly and the author of Gourmet Breakfasts for the GENIUS, a new cookbook designed to inspire some amazing DIY breakfast eats all the while…
We are simply gushing over the upcoming Broadway Season in Orlando! The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Florida Theatrical Association and Broadway Across America have announced the roster of shows that will arrive in the Walt Disney Theater during the FAIRWINDS 2017-18 Broadway Season in Orlando and it’s packed with productions we cannot…
Kick off your Valentine’s weekend with some togetherness mixed with great exercise. On Saturday, February 11, Track Shack will present its Run 4 Love presented by Florida Hospital, a four-mile run designed for couples, families and friends. Single? Married? It’s complicated? This event is for everyone that has found the love of running and walking. Lace up…
Cooler temperatures make maximizing your time outside a must. It’s time to check out Orlando’s best patios on your next date night or day. Here are some local spots that have great patios for you to relax on, enjoy great food, soak up some sun and take in the stellar views. Updated November 2019 GOOD EATS The…
A slew of stellar performances are headed to the Dr. Phillips Center in the coming weeks. Closing out what was a terrific line-up of events in 2016, these final shows top our list of must-go events for November and December. Here’s what’s on deck… The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time November 1 – 6,…
It’s official. The votes are in and the top ranking in the Best Local Blogger category in Orlando Magazine’s Best of Orlando 2016 goes to little ol’ me… Kristen Manieri, Orlando Date Night Guide’s founder and editor. This annual reader’s choice awards lets Orlando locals pick their favorites in dozens of categories, including best coffee…
Tapa Toro, the award-winning Spanish restaurant at I-Drive 360, will host a series of wine dinners over the next few months. Sabor, A Summer Wine Dinner Experience, will give guests the opportunity to enjoy a multi-course feast created by Executive Chef Wendy Lopez and and Chef de Cuisine Francisco Galeano. Each month, this seasoned culinary team will…
The calendar is packed with foodie festivals, dinners and parties this spring. Having trouble narrowing down all the choices? Here are our picks for 9 upcoming Orlando events to top your list… and fill your belly! A Truly Floridian Experience: The History of Florida Through Eating Sunday May 1, 6:30pm East End Market $85/person Chef Greg…
Sprawling across 500 acres only minutes from downtown Orlando, Grande Lakes Orlando resort is a property unlike any other in Central Florida. Home to The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes boasts more than 1,000 guest rooms and suites, a lazy-river, three outdoor heated pools, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, The Ritz-Carlton Spa (featuring 40…
The Florida Film Festival Returns April 8 – 17, 2016 Spanning ten days beginning April 8 through April 17, 2016, the Florida Film Festival returns next month for its 25th year with a line-up that promises to be one of its all-time best. Hosted at the Enzian and Regal Cinemas in Winter Park Village, the Festival will screen…
An exciting line-up of award-winning shows headline the upcoming Orlando Broadway season It’s always exciting to attend the unveil of the next season’s Broadway line-up in Orlando. Each year, the roster seems to get better and better, especially since The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts opened 15 months ago. Last night, Dr. Phillips Center, along with…
By Samantha Rosenthal Orlando is known for many things when it comes to its dining and food scene, but what you may not know is that the City Beautiful is home to lots of great bakeries—especially ones specializing in making delicious cupcakes. Here are some of our favorite places to go to when we have a sweet tooth…
I’ve lost count of the number of couples I’ve met who tell me that Rocco’s Italian Grille is there go-to restaurant for anniversaries, Valentine’s Day and celebratory dinners. Maybe it’s because the made-from-scratch Italian fare served at Rocco’s is so darn good but I think it’s also because when you’re at Rocco’s… you are family….
2015 was an unbelievable year in terms of the number of really great new restaurants in Orlando. When I first moved to Orlando in 2006, Manuel’s on the 28th was the place to go. Ten years later, Manuel’s has long since closed and a slew of top-notch restaurants have taken its place. Maybe we can’t quite compare…
Local foodies crossed their fingers when Soco opened its doors just over a year ago in the former Hue space. The brain child of executive chef/partner Greg Richie (formerly of Roy’s and Emeril’s Tchoup Chop), Soco promised to bring contemporary Southern cuisine to its little corner of Thornton Park, perched on the intersection of Central Blvd and Summerlin Avenue….
In partnership with Florida Blue Foundation, Dr. Phillips Center will once again present the Florida Blue Concert Series, a free series that will take place on the outdoor Seneff Arts Plaza on select 3rd Thursdays, coinciding with the Downtown Arts Districts 3rd Thursday events. Concerts will begin at 5pm. CONCERT LINE-UP Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 5pm…
Part miniature golf tournament, part bar crawl, Thornton Park District’s Putt N’ Crawl will take teams to nine Thornton Park District bars and restaurants for what promises to be a crazy fun event. Beginning at 4pm on Saturday, July 18, golfers will be challenged by holes designed and built by each host location while enjoying…
Local foodie folk-heroes James and Julie Petrakis are transforming Monday into “funday” at The Ravenous Pig with a new happy hour menu full of craft beers, snacks, cocktails and wine. Previously only open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, this much-loved Winter Park restaurant now invites locavores to unwind and pig out after work Monday through Saturday for happy hour, served…
Winner of three Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival and Choreography, the musical comedy Anything Goes is sailing into Orlando for 8 performances at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts from Tuesday, May 26 – Sunday, May 31, 2015. Based on Roundabout Theatre Company’s production, the madcap musical follows the crew and guests…
The 24th Annual Florida Film Festival (FFF) will return to Central Florida April 10-19, and with it comes more than 177 feature and short films plus a slew of celebrity guest appearances, forums and parties. The 10-day celebration of cinema will kick off with the Opening Night Film and Party on Friday, April 10. Welcome to Me, starring…
Calling all serious Oscar fans!! If you’re the type who loves to watch the Academy Awards each year but loathes the feeling of being clueless about the nominees, here’s your chance to become the savviest of silver screen aficionados. This year, AMC Theatres is presenting the Best Picture Showcase, which will feature all 8 of the…
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts has created quite a stir in national music and theater circles, as made abundantly obvious by the scores of big name artists and productions now eager to hit the stage inside our new state-of-the-art urban cultural hub. In 2015, Downtown Orlando will host a non-stop line-up of…
It’s amazing how easy it is for Orlando locals to simply jump in their car, drive 20 minutes, and be checking into a fab hotel for a romantic overnight. Honestly, Orlando has got to be one of the best cities in the country for staycations. There are more than 100,000 rooms to check into inside…
WINNER: Lauren King Winner of eight 2012 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Once is a new Broadway musical adapted from one of my absolute favorite movies. The story follows a Dublin street musician who is about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his love songs….