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Get a Taste of the Sunshine State with Vine-to-Wine Adventures Did you know that the Sunshine State is the birthplace of American-made wine? In 1562, missionaries in St. Augustine used local grapes to make wine for religious ceremonies. Today, Florida has 24 certified farm wineries that collectively produce approximately two million gallons of deliciousness from…
Ah—food trucks. Nothing makes me happier than a local gathering of literal meals on wheels, offering up such delights as strawberry nutella donuts, sweet and spicy Hawaiian burritos, and savory empanadas. Food trucks take the best of foodie fare and make it mobile, creating the ideal environment for a delectable date to remember. Orlando has…
If I had to sum up the brunch experience at DoveCote in one sentence, it’d be “brunch for people who are somewhat tired of brunch”. As much as I love chicken & waffles and decadent pancakes that are borderline desserts, sooner or later I begin craving something out of the norm. And on that note,…
Updated December 2017 It’s a new year, and with that comes the energizing feeling of a fresh start. For many, that also means setting resolutions for betterment in the year ahead. Whether you’ve set your sights on weight loss, a healthier diet, travel plans, or self-improvement, there are plenty of ways to integrate your resolution into…
Christmas at Gaylord Palms kicked off this past weekend with a slew of festive experiences and attractions designed to celebrate the holiday season from November 18, 2016 – January 1, 2017. Besides a new ICE! theme (welcome to Orlando, Charlie Brown!), this five-week event unveiled a few new additions including the Christmas Wish Light Show, an…
As the famed Christmas carol declares: “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year!” It’s time to celebrate with holiday-themed date nights. Here are some festive activities to ignite your seasonal spirit: Festival of Trees Orlando Museum of Art November 12-20 This annual event, now in its thirtieth year, transforms the OMA into a glittering…
The Stubborn Mule is the newest addition to the Thornton Park foodie scene, located where Sonoma Kitchen used to reside. The brainchild of co-owners Brian Buttner and Jonathan Canonaco, also the co-owners of RusTeak Restaurant & Wine Bar in Ocoee and College Park, this New American restaurant features hand-crafted mule cocktails, approachable food and an extensive cocktail,…
Miami. Home to pristine beaches, a vibrant arts community, art deco architecture, impressive nightlife, and enough restaurant choices to keep any foodie occupied for months, this South Florida city is in a league of its own. Yet it’s all too easy to find yourself trodding along the well-beaten tourist trail of South Beach and downtown…
Updated April 2019 Orlando locals, myself included, have learned to avoid the city’s tourist hot spots at all costs. We’re experts at spotting the tourists among us (tank tops in January are a dead giveaway), commiserate about the necessary evil that is I-4, and know which restaurants to avoid due to inflated prices. Yet there’s…
By Dana Robb Dana Robb and her hubby, Sean, won our August giveaway for a spa getaway to Wyndham Grand Orlando Bonnet Creek. They become the Couple at Large and were tasked with writing a first-person blog about their experience. I do not even know where to begin with how magical this mini-staycation was for…
Munch and sip your way through a delightful small town on a walking food tour! Little by little, bit by bit, Sanford is making a name for itself as a terrific small town with so much more than charm and antique shops. You would be amazed by how much is happening in Celery City, the…
Satisfy your cheese craving at one of these Orlando cheese restaurants, wine bars, shops and events! Cheese consumption is at an all-time high with Americans eating about 34 pounds (per person) of cheese each year! Indulge for breakfast, lunch and dinner dates and tantalize your taste buds with hundreds of varieties and flavors. Yes, cheese lovers……
Win one of 12 two-night staycations at some of Central Florida’s best resorts and boutique hotels. Beat the heat this summer with a staycation at one of the many resorts and hotels across Orlando and Central Florida. Now offering spectacular summertime rates, these sprawling properties provide the perfect elements of a getaway for two. We’ve…
New Luxe Teepees take glamping at Westgate River Ranch to a whole new level! By Gabrielle Cash-Kara Howdy, y’all. Last year we explored “glamping” at the Westgate River Ranch Resort. This year the folks at the Resort delved deeper into the world of glamorous camping with their new Luxe Teepee accommodations. Westgate River Ranch is…
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…
Sandi and Aram Ebben were the winners of the Dr. Phillips Date Night Giveaway. Here’s a review of their special night: We won! I excitedly announced to my adorable hubby of 12 years. We had just been notified by Kristen Manieri, the founder and editor of the Orlando Date Night Guide, that we were the…
Closed March 2017 Want more happy hour info? Check out our Guide to Orlando Happy Hours. Tucked into a bustling corner of Thornton Park, Baoery Asian Gastropub feels like a cool neighborhood hangout where folks can just chill out and enjoy good grub. With a bar at its center and a good size patio outside, it’s also…
Orlando has seen a flurry of new restaurant openings in the last few months, including new additions to downtown’s dining scene and Disney Springs. And while new restaurants are flinging open their doors every week, tried and true mainstays are revamping their menus, hiring new chefs and updating their space in an effort to stay…
UPDATE: Cask & Larder relocated to the Orlando International Airport in late 2016. While there’s not a set brunch menu, you can catch breakfast daily. Check out the menu here. Cask & Larder, the sister venture of Ravenous Pig and Swine & Sons, knows exactly what it means to serve up good ol’ country comfort…
We’ve long been fans of Marlow’s Tavern in Winter Park. One of three area locations (there’s also one in Waterford Lakes and one at Pointe Orlando), Marlow’s is the sort of place where you can get a quality meal for two that’s prepared in a scratch kitchen and paired with reasonably priced drinks for around…
UPDATED September 2019 Orlando’s arts and culture scene continues to be alive and thriving, which means there are plenty of places to show off that talent. Local bars and venues host Orlando’s best open mic nights to showcase our impressive local talent, which is great for both performers and eager audience members who like to…
Updated July 2018 The worlds of food and cocktails have collided thanks to a blossoming craft cocktail movement that makes drinking much more of an epicurean experience than ever before. The sky truly is the limit for bartenders willing to think beyond spirit + mixer and instead aim to design multi-faceted recipes most of us…
Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek will host the fifth annual Food & Wine Weekends starting Sept. 25, 2015 through Nov. 15, 2015. Featuring a slew of delectable events and special offerings spanning eight weekends, Food & Wine Weekends (a compliment to Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival, Sept 25-Nov 16), offers a…
Unwind from your workweek at the monthly Wine Down event at Orlando’s boutique urban winery, Quantum Leap. Every second Friday from 7 – 10pm, the winery located at the crossroads of Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village invites the public to its tasting room to enjoy great local wine, live music and food truck fare. Wine Down…
**UPDATE: CLOSED February 2018** TR Fire Grill, the hipster spin-off of Tony Roma’s Steakhouse, recently launched a brunch served Sundays from 11am to 2pm. We stopped in to this wonderful eatery last weekend to check it out and were thrilled with the fun and flavorful selections. For now, this fantastic feast is only available at TR’s…
Dinner with seven, random strangers in a converted warehouse space turns out to be a fabulously fun night of unexpected delights. If you ask me, I believe we are in the midst of a cultural revolution where our obsession with the digital world and connecting online has actually caused many of us to crave human,…
Our sister city, Tampa Bay, is an easy two-hour drive away and is packed full with delightful diversions perfect for fun weekend together. Earlier this year, the city launched a brand-new program designed to give out-of-towners the key to the city… sort of. The Tampa Bay CityPASS includes tickets to all of the area’s best…
Lovers of fun, creative and decadent culinary experiences will adore all the foodie festivities planned on weekends through November 9 at Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. To begin with, the annual Food & Wine Weekends will host a series of wine dinners held on Friday and Saturday evenings when 16 guests will…
By Tisha Mccray Recently I had the opportunity to try out Cuba Libre’s new feature: Tapas Tuesday. I love ordering small plates of food with fellow diners; it automatically creates an atmosphere of sharing and exploration and you can get away with eating several different things. Cuba Libre’s atmosphere is welcoming starting from the minute…
It’s always a good time at Maxine’s on Shine, the bohemian eatery clandestinely tucked into a quiet downtown neighborhood north of Thornton Park. Open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday as well as brunch and lunch on the weekends, this small, locally owned restaurant features live music most nights on the zebra-skinned stage on the edge…
The weather is fine and the city’s green spaces are exploding with color. Now is the perfect time to plan a romantic picnic. Here are three of my favorite spots: LAKE EOLA PARK: this urban oasis in the heart of downtown features a mile-long path around the “lake.” You’ll find lots of little spots to…
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