Orlando News, Food, Arts & Events - Orlandoist.com » Hot Spots

Lake Eola

admin — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:30:13 +0000

Sure, you can set sail at Lake Eola. But instead of renting one of the swan-shaped paddleboats, you might be better off walking the lake’s nearly milelong perimeter, taking in the serene beauty of the urban greenspace, which includes an amphitheater and a children’s playground. On Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., check out a small farmers’ market on the south side, where vendors sell fresh-brewed coffee, fruits, vegetables and baked goods.

Doc’s Restaurant

admin — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:28:04 +0000

Residents are still buzzing about Doc’s Restaurant (1315 South Orange Avenue, 407-839-3627; www.docsrestaurant.com), a sophisticated addition to the city’s otherwise ho-hum dining scene. A soaring space with wood tones and polished concrete floors, it is partly owned by a physician (hence the name), but the real attraction is Neil Connolly, a former chef for the Kennedy family (his cookbook “In the Kennedy Kitchen” has just been published; DK Publishing, $35). The eclectic menu includes a lobster stew ($8 a cup), buttery sushi ($15 for a “tuna snowball” appetizer) and filet mignon ($35) — all executed with contemporary flair.

Urban Think!

admin — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:26:22 +0000

In Thornton Park — an old pedestrian-friendly neighborhood in downtown Orlando — Urban Think! (625 East Central Boulevard, 407-650-8004; www.urbanthinkorlando.com) is the kind of independent bookstore that, sadly, is a vanishing species. It has a smart selection of children’s books, hard-to-find magazines and gay fiction, and the comfy chairs make for a welcome midday break. Afterward, take a leisurely stroll through the area, and pop into boutiques like Zou Zou (2 North Summerlin Avenue, 407-843-3373), which carries women’s designer clothing, or a wine bar like Dexter’s (808 East Washington Street, 407-648-2777; www.dexwine.com).

CityArts Factory

admin — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:22:32 +0000

The city’s budding art scene has a new home at the CityArts Factory (29 South Orange Avenue, 407-648-7060; www.dadorlando.com). Housed in a 1917 theater, the cultural center, which opened last year, has five light-filled galleries, a performance space and an artist’s studio, all under one roof. As the galleries are still finding their groove, a couple stand out. The Zulu Exclusive Gallery (407-228-1747; www.zuluorlando.com) specializes in a primitive-gone-modern school of African sculpture known as Shona. And Keila Glassworks (407-590-3901; www.keilaglassworks.com) has honed a unique style of groovy shapes and sensual colors; many of the pieces are created in the studio and sold in the adjoining gallery.

Orange County Regional History Center

admin — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:17:13 +0000

For those who think the history of Orlando begins and ends with Mickey Mouse, a visit to the Orange County Regional History Center (65 East Central Boulevard, 407-836-8500; www.thehistorycenter.org) is in order. The main exhibit traces 12,000 years of life in Central Florida, from the days when American Indians roamed the land to the advent of the citrus industry. And, yes, it also details how Disney transformed Orlando — for better and worse. In a 1927 courthouse, the museum also has rotating exhibits, including one on the Civil War (running through May 6) that features the desk on which Abraham Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation. Admission is $10.

Johnson’s Diner

admin — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:10:05 +0000

For a classic Southern breakfast served with a side of local history, start your day at Johnson’s Diner (595 West Church Street, 407-841-0717; www.johnsonsdiner.com), a fixture in Orlando’s sizable African-American community for more than two decades. Soul food doesn’t get much better than the fish and grits, fried whiting with perfectly buttery grits ($5.25). Although Johnson recently moved to a new location — the ground floor of a gleaming retail and apartment complex in the hard-scrabble Parramore area — the tablecloths are still vinyl, it’s still decorated with portraits of prominent black Americans like Ray Charles, and residents still linger and gossip.

Sak Comedy Lab

admin — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:08:03 +0000

The spirit of improv lives at the Sak Comedy Lab (380 West Amelia Street, 407-648-0001; www.sak.com), a 200-seat theater in, of all places, the base of a parking garage. Anyone who has seen the television show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” knows the drill: a troupe of comedians spontaneously create skits based on audience suggestions. (Indeed, one of the show’s stars, Wayne Brady, is a Sak alumnus.) To get the crowd warmed up, Tootsie Rolls are tossed into the audience. And a box is placed over the heads of performers or audience members who say something too risqué, in scarlet-letter fashion. Friday night performances ($15) run from 8 to 9:30 and 10 to 11:30.

Little Saigon

admin — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:05:24 +0000

Some cities have Chinatowns. Orlando has Little Vietnam, home to a large Vietnamese population that began arriving in the 1970s. The neighborhood, north of downtown along East Colonial Drive and North Mills Avenue, has lots of cheap and casual restaurants where you can feast on banh-mi (an Asian sandwich), shrimp rolls and pho (beef noodle soup). Two of the most popular are Little Saigon (1106 East Colonial Drive, 407-423-8539; www.littlesaigonrestaurant.com) and Anh Hong (1124 East Colonial Drive; 407-999-2656). Little Saigon is the more formal of the two, but it’s hardly fancy; Anh Hong has the look of a small Asian luncheonette. At both places, dinner will set you back a mere $10 to $20 person. You can also stock up on hard-to-find Asian ingredients, like tamarind candy and dried mushrooms, at neighborhood markets. One of the largest is Dong A. Corporation (816 North Mills Avenue, 407-898-9227).

Eola Wine Company

admin — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:02:46 +0000

For a good introduction to Orlando’s grown-up side, take a seat at the Eola Wine Company (500 East Central Boulevard, 407-481-9100; www.eolawinecompany.com), a wine bar and store at the edge of Lake Eola, the city’s most prominent body of water. It has an urban-chic feel, with polished wooden surfaces and stylish wine racks. But the real attraction is the more than 70 selections by the glass, split among New and Old World wines. Try one of the wine flights, perhaps Bubbles ($15), which features sparkling wines from France, California and Spain. The bar also offers cheeses and light snacks, including a first-rate sun-dried tomato cheese spread ($7).

Dandelion Communitea Cafe

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:58:38 +0000

Even if you’re not into eating sprouts or saving the planet, there’s plenty to appreciate at the Dandelion Communitea Cafe (618 North Thornton Avenue, 407-362-1864; www.dandelioncommunitea.com). There is the funky, artsy décor with hand-painted chairs and fabric-covered ceiling. There’s the menu, which includes the outstanding Happy Hempy Hummus ($6), topped with hemp seeds, and an upscale version of a Fluffer Nutter sandwich ($7.50), made with almond butter and served on toasted sourdough bread. And finally, there’s the tea service ($2.50 to $3.50), with an amazing assortment of green, black, white and herbal teas, with names like Morockin’ Mint and Don’t Be Chai.