Day 351 – Rollins College Winter Park FL

Rollins College Winter Park FL

The campus of Rollins College in Winter Park is truly one of the best spots in the Orlando area to take some great pictures. The Mediterranean look combined with lush landscaping and romantic archways and courtyards is the ideal setting for wedding or engagement photography. Best day to shoot is probably on weekends – less students ;o) Here are just some pictures I took today, a fraction of what can be done obviously.

Besides being a great spot for photographers, Rollins College is also one of the most desirable colleges in Florida. Below is their information if you want to find out more:

Rollins College
1000 Holt Avenue
Winter Park, FL
Phone: (407) 646-2000

Rollins College on campus

Church at Rollins College

Day 350 – Orlando Museum of Art

Orlando Museum of Art

Orlando has obviously more to offer than only theme parks. Sure, Orlando will never compare to NYC, Washington D.C. or Chicago but we shouldn’t overlook culture and art in the City Beautiful. So I encourage everyone to visit the Orlando Museum of Art this Fall to learn a bit more about art and enjoy one of the current exhibitions.

Love Your Body Project

About 2 years ago my work was actually exhibited at the First Thursdays arts party. It was installation art for an arts class project. You can read more about the project and art work here.

First Thursdays is a great event that takes place every first Thursday of the month at the Orlando Museum of Art. Every month it’s a different theme and local artists are encouraged to enter their work for a chance to be exhibited at the museum that night. There is foods and drinks available and music in the back area of the museum. If you ever wanted to experience how it is to party at a museum, this is your chance! The next First Thursdays, “Orlando’s Original Art Party” will take place on October 1st, 2009 (info below). Check out the OMA web site for more information about First Thursdays.

October 1, 2009 “Rach”-tober: Music Meets Art From Rachmaninoff to Rockabilly. How do sound and vision unite in your world? The focus is on music, musicians and art influenced by music.

The Orlando Museum of Art is located in Winter Park. Here is their complete information. Be sure to visit their site to learn more about current exhibitions and programs. They really have a lot to offer!

Orlando Museum of Art
2416 N Mills Ave
Orlando, FL 32803
Phone: (407) 896-4231

Day 346 – Sanford Veterans Memorial Park

Sanford Veterans Memorial Park

After having lunch in downtown Sanford on a beautiful Saturday I walked down to the Veterans Memorial Park. The flag hung on half mast that day because of Ted Kennedy’s death, I assume (so yes, I am once again behind on my posts…shame on me!).

Sanford Veterans Memorial Park Monument

This little park right by the Sanford Riverwalk is actually quite interesting and the city has provided a good amount of history to read off the signs around the park. If you walk the park you will also notice pavers in the concrete that name all the wars the US has been involved in over the past, including the most recent ones in the Middle East. Those and other interesting details make this park worth a visit.

One of my favorite things in this very well thought through park is the main monument in the middle of the park. The fact that it’s located right by Lake Monroe makes  it look even more impressive. I liked taking the picture from an angle because it makes the brass eagle on top look majestic and quite impressive.

On each side of the monument there are sayings of famous Americans engraved into the black marble. They read as follows:

“A nation united can never be conquered.” Thomas Jefferson

“Give me liberty or give me death.” Patrick Henry

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” John F. Kennedy

“We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.” Abraham Lincoln

I personally love monuments because they say so much about the history of a country and culture. The symbolism is powerful and there is so much to read just from a single, at first simple looking monument. So I could dwell on here for another hour but I think it’s better you check it out yourself and let me know what you think ;o) Keep in mind, this is only a small monument so don’t compare it to anything you might have seen in Washington (where some of my favorite monuments are located).

Sanford Veterans Memorial Park

Day 338 – Orlando Shakespeare Theater

Orlando Shakespeare Theatre

Today we stopped by the Orlando Shakespeare Theater/John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Orlando to check out what’s new now that the new season is going to kick off on September 12th. If you are interested in attending the Gala click here for more info.

The Shakespeare Theater (with its 3 main theaters and other facilities inside) is located across from the Orlando Museum of Art, next to Loch Haven Park and the Orlando Science Center (which was previously located in the current  John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center).

UCF, the University of Central Florida is a partner of the professional Orlando Shakespeare Theater which serves as a faculty member for UCF’s Conservatory Theater and also teaches classes. UCF students often participate in the plays of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater.

What better way to explain what the Shakespeare theater is all about than by quoting the mission statement from their web site:

With Shakespeare as our standard and inspiration, the Orlando Shakespeare Theater produces bold professional theater, develops new plays, and provides innovative educational experiences that enrich our community.

Inside the Orlando Shakespeare Center

There are some very promising plays on the list for the new season and I hope I get to see at least a couple of them. The 2 Shakespeare plays will take place between January and March 2010.

• The Big Bang
• Yankee Tavern
• Every Christmas Story Ever Told
• Hamlet (Shakespeare)
• All’s Well That Ends Well (Shakespeare)
• Shotgun

Here is their info:

Orlando Shakespeare Theater
812 E Rollins St
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 447-1700

Orlando Shakespeare Center

Connecting Sanford’s Past and Future at the Student Museum on 08/24/09

Sanford Student Museum

Here is an announcement for a special event in Sanford that will take place at the Sanford Student Museum (I had previously written about it on Day 221. I received this information from a Sanford365 reader who wanted to make the public aware of the event so below is the event description, quoted:

Mark your calendar for 8/24/09 to be at the STUDENT MUSEUM, 301 W. Seventh Street for two significant events! At 9:00 am the bell in the tower of the 1902 school will ring (for the first time in decades!) to signify the opening of the 2009-2010 for the Seminole County Public Schools. Afterwards, a plaque will be unveiled at the site of the first school lunch room in Seminole County. Then, the museum will be open for tours! Light refreshments will feature the yummy hot rolls long associated with the school. For additional information contact Judy Wiant at the Student Museum 407.936.1679.

This sounds like a great opportunity to explore Sanford’s past! I will try to be there )

August 31st Update: Here are some beautiful pictures of the event that SCPS shared with me. Thank you so much!

Bell Tower - Sanford Student Museum

Lunchroom Plaque

Dr.Vogel at the event

Day 300 – Winter Park is Little Europe

Little Europe Building

Walking down Park Avenue in Winter Park I noticed this building, the Swetman building with the sign “Little Europe” on it. That name is actually quite fitting for the entire Park Avenue area because people often notice that Winter Park’s Park Avenue has a European flair. I think I can agree with that,  this street along with its little stores, quaint cafes and restaurants does come very close to a typical European city (it does remind me a bit of Munich actually). Needless to say, I love the area for that reason (among others).

So Winter Park, within Orlando, is my “Little Europe” and after doing some research I found out that the Winter Park Historical Association offers a Park Avenue/Winter Park Walking Tour. The tour will explain how Winter Park indeed got its nickname of “Little Europe”.

For more information about this tour, please contact the Winter Park Historical Association directly. Here is their contact info:

Winter Park Historical Association
200 West New England Avenue (this is the location of the Historical Museum, here you pick up the brochure to go on this self-guided tour)
Winter Park, FL 32790
Phone: 407-647-8180

Day 259 – Propagator for the Arts – ArtyGators in Baldwin Park

Propagator for the Arts

This is such a fun project that I came across when walking around Baldwin Park today. It’s called “Propagator for the Arts” and as you can see those are fun alligator sculptures each displaying a different design. As you may know I am fan of anything and everyone promoting art and culture in Central Florida.

Artygators actually had their world premiere at Colonial Town Park in Lake Mary. Their main purpose is to benefit the community. They are meant to local artists’ work, increase creativity and fund 25 non-profit organizations. Through October 2009 the artsy gators will be located in Baldwin Park all along New Broad Street. The makers of the project are now even talking about opening an ArtyGator themed restaurant in the future – how fun!

The next ArtyGator event is the ArtyGator Crawl on June 19th 2009 from 5pm-8pm in Baldwin Park. There will be live music, a karaoke contest, scavenger hunt and of course food and drinks. So come out for a fun Friday in Baldwin Park and support the arts in Central Florida!

Click here to visit the ArtyGator web site for more info!

A 6ft tall ArtyGator!

Day 227 – German Spring Festival by the German American Society in Casselberry FL

At the German Spring Festival in Casselberry FL

This was my first time at the German spring festival, organized by the German American Society in Casselberry. We (a bunch of German girls living in CFL and I) had a great time in a very idyllic setting with authentic music! Best of all: authentic food and German beer wherever you would look! To top it off, it was a sunny and beautiful day – not a single cloud in the sky!

For anyone who’s interested in some German food and culture, the German American Society in Casselberry organizes 2 festivals a year, the Spring Festival and – no surprise – the Oktoberfest in the Fall. In case I am not at the original Oktoberfest at the time, I will definitely be at that one

During te festivals you also get a chance to buy German products, from Milka and Kinder chocolate to Semmelknoedel and Spaetzle, there is a decent selection available – of course at import prices.

Contact Info of the German American Society:

German American Society
381 Orange Ln
Casselberry, FL 32707
(407) 834-0574

Email me if you want to meet other Germans in Central Florida or if you are interested in practicing your German. I can put you in touch with a group of fun and friendly people (Germans and German speakers)!

German Spring Festival in Central Florida

Some of Us

Day 221 – Sanford High School Grammar Student Museum

Sanford High School Grammar Student Museum

The Sanford Student Museum and Center for Social Studies (in the downtown Sanford historic district) was built in 1902 in a romanesque revival style (as so many other buildings in historic Sanford). The architect was W.G. Talley of Jacksonville with the two symmetrical one story wings by Sanford architect Elton Moughton (added in 1916). It’s a beautiful 2 story brick facade building with 3 story bell tower, located on 7th Street right across a park in Sanford. It’s the oldest school building in continuous use in Seminole County and the 4th oldest school in continuous use in Florida.

The building served as Sanford High School from 1902 to 1911 (the year when the new high school opened). After that is was renamed Sanford Grammar and served public school students until 1984.

What makes the building so special is that it gives us a very good idea of how schools looked in around the turn of the century. Just imagine how it would have been to go to schools here! How would that compare to your old high school?

I personally think buildings like those are a wonderful environment for students, an environment that creates awe and respect. I was fortunate to go to a high school that was located in a building from the late 1800s but founded in the 1600s.

I’m quite curious to see what it offers. From what I found out online the museum offers a great learning opportunity to public school students of Seminole County.

More Info:

Open for scheduled programs: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Open to the public: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 1:30 – 3:00 PM.

Address: 301 West 7th Street, Sanford, FL 32771

In front of the museum

Sanford Student Museum

Day 219 – Musical at Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in Sanford

Before the Show

The Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center is currently presenting the musical Damn Yankees. We went to the opening night and really enjoyed the performance. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality: great actors and despite a low budget a great production of the musical – and best of all, the musical was very entertaining. The musical is the perfect starter for a fun night out in Sanford! I don’t want to give away too much here so just go and see it and tell me what you thought

I was a bit sad to see the theater only half full on opening night! I hope that changes in upcoming performances. I had perviously mentioned the musical before, so click here to read more about Damn Yankees in Sanford

Since we went to opening night we got to enjoy some champagne and free food after the show and talked to some of the very talented actors. We especially liked Jennifer Guhl’s performance as Lola!

Inside Wayne Densch Perfomaing Arts Center

Just like on Hollywood Blvd

Free food and champagne after the show