Day 361 – Beyond the Obvious in Sanford FL

Look for the little things in Sanford

Today I wanted to take a different look at Sanford. I have been focusing a lot on buildings and”the obvious” that is right in front of me. It is also quite fun though to look for details when walking around. Can you guess where any of these pictures were taken?

Sanford FL

Sanford FL

Sanford FL

Day 345 – Gourmet 2 Go Sanford FL

Gourmet 2 Go in Sanford FL

If you are in need of a quick bite that actually tastes good, or like their slogan says “Fresh Food Fast” you should check out Sanford’s Gourmet 2 Go on First Street (the location used to be Rubyfruit Juice and Smoothies, see Day 61).

Try the Creamed Celery Soup (called a Sanford tradition due to Sanford’s history as “Celery City”) and one of the delicious paninis for lunch, stop by for an afternoon latte with a $1 dessert shot or meet up your friends and enjoy a glass of wine in the evening while overlooking life on First Street in downtown Sanford.

Prices are very reasonable and I like that you can chose from different serving sizes depending on your appetite.

Here is their complete info:

Gourmet 2 Go
101 W 1st St Ste A
Sanford, FL 32771
(407) 322-3779
Closed on Sundays

Next Alive After Five Event in Sanford is August 13 – Tropical Nights

Tropical Nights Party in Sanford FL

Just a quick note to let everyone know that the next Alive After Five Street Party event will take place on Thursday, August 13th, as usual every second Thursday of the month, from 5pm to 8pm on First Street. But don’t worry, the party is typically doesn’t end there because many of the visitors hang out at the local bars and restaurants until later in the night.

For $7.00 you can purchase your “sample ticket” and try free food and drinks at the vendors’ and restaurants’ booths. The theme this month is “Tropical Nights”, perfect with the weather these days )

This event will as usual have fun live music, this month on stage, the Junkanoo Band. They will represent Bahamian culture and also show us a costume parade through the streets of Sanford.

Something else you might want to do is stop by the Sanford Herald (corner First and Palmetto) to have your picture taken – condition: you must wear a tropical shirt and stop by between 5pm and 6pm. If they choose to take your picture you might appear in the next weekend issue in a photo collage. Now I am not really sure what exactly would qualify as a tropical shirt, but I am assuming if you show up colorful or in flower prints it should be fine ;o)

There will also be a Tropical Nights contest that will reward the winner with a $100.00 prize. All you need to do is stop by the vendors on a map that will be given to you when you get your sample ticket (wristband). Te vendors have to sign off on your map and once completed you simply drop it off at the Welcome Center on First Street (First Street and Palmetto).

Sounds like a fun summer party in Sanford, I will be there taking lots of pictures!

Day 325 – A Saturday Morning in Sanford FL

Sanford Farmers Market

Sanford FL is a great place to enjoy a relaxed Saturday morning, away from all the hustle and bustle. Since I also wanted to check out the new covered shade I had written about during the week, I decided to visit the weekly Sanford Farmers Market on Magnolia Square and then walk a bit through downtown Sanford to see what was new in town.

It was quite hot but nevertheless there was a good amount of people out here enjoying Sanford, listening to live music at Magnolia Square and visiting the surrounding stores, cafes and restaurants. The shade on Magnolia Square by the way turned out great and I was happy to spend some minutes under it ;o) After buying some fruits we walked along First Street and just took some pictures (see below).

Maya's Book Store

Maya Books and Music is a wonderful place to browse and find some used books. It’s located right on Mangolia Square. I had previously written about this unique book store on Day 6 when it was still located next to the Willow Tree Cafe (German restaurant).

When we walked by the German restaurant (who wouldn’t know this one by now?) I saw the weekend issue of the Sanford Herald displayed in front of the restaurant and found out that the Willow Tree Cafe is competing to be named the top German restaurant in the US! As a big fan of the Willow Tree Cafe, they definitely have my vote. In case you want to cast your vote, visit GermanDeli.com where you can vote once a day until September 1st. Support “Gemuetlichkeit” – there is no better place to live this very “Gemuetlichkeit” than Sanford ;o)

Willow Tree soon #1 German Restaurant in the US? You decide!

I am always amazed by the detail in the beautiful “art wall” (that’s how I call it) on First Street so today I took some more pictures of it… You can really get inspired here and I think I must have spent 20 minutes just looking at it. Very inspiring!

First Street Art Wall

After this quick stop on First Street and Magnolia Square it’s always nice to walk a bit around the Riverwalk or sit on one of the swings overlooking Lake Monroe.

Click the link below to see some more pictures taken on a Saturday in Sanford FL

Day 296 – Little Fish Huge Pond Sanford FL

Little Fish Huge Pond

One of the most unique bars and nightlife spots in downtown Sanford is Little Fish Huge Pond, located on First Street in the Bishop Block building. The inside decoration and atmosphere is cozy (couches and sofas) and I felt like walking into one of my cool friends’ living room hangout (which I loved!). Obviously, the atmosphere is friendly and very laid back, another plus. I think this little bar is a great spot to meet up with friends for drinks, listen to some non-mainstream music and just be different. Little Fish Huge Pond also pays homage to the classics – they have a Classic Album Night (Tuesdays) and a Cult Movie Night (Wednesdays) where you can watch a free movie while enjoying the unique atmosphere (again, like a movie night at a friend’s house). On weekends Little Fish Huge Pond features different events (including House, Techno and Hip Hop music events with DJ), sometimes with cover charge.

The bar strikes me as creative and youthful and I will definitely be back for more (still can’t believe it took me so long to write about it here…). Be sure to check out their web site for more info about events.

Here is their info:

Little Fish Huge Pond
309 E. First Street
Sanford, FL 32771
Phone: (407) 321-2264

Closed on Mondays.

Inside Little Fish Huge Pond

Day 292 – First Street Sanford Completed – Opening Party July 25

First Street Arches Sanford

On Day 131 I had blogged about the road construction on Sanford’s First Street. Well, the project is finished and it’s looking great. First Street now features beautiful brick pavers right from its start at 17-92/French Avenue. This ties the downtown area together and adds even more historic charm to Sanford. Thanks at this point to Debra of the new Hot Pots store on First Street for the tip!

Save the date: The official First Street opening party will take place on Saturday, July 25th. It’s an all day street party event so swing by and take a look at the improved downtown area of Sanford.The official ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 9am. There will be life entertainment and all businesses will be open for product sales, demonstrations and more. Of course, as every Saturday in Sanford, there will also be the Farmers Market on Magnolia Square.

Now all we need is some more stores, restaurants and bars Can’t wait for that to happen!

First Street Completed

Day 291 – Angelos Pizzeria Sanford FL

Angelos Pizza Sanford FL

Looking for Italian food and pizza in Sanford? You might want to check out Angelos Pizzeria on First Street. It may not be the best Italian food you’ve ever tasted but it is good food and if you’re in the mood for a calzone or pizza, why not? Sitting outside on the little patio on First Street can actually be quite relaxing. Order a glass of wine and an appetizer and enjoy downtown Sanford.

We have been to their All-You-Can-Eat buffet for lunch and it was ok, I liked the fact that it wasn’t too busy and also that it’s a very laid back atmosphere – and since we were a large group it was almost as if we had the entire place for us. I have been with friends in the past who pointed out the place wasn’t too clean but I have to say I’ve seen worse. At the same time though, I am not too picky when it comes to those things… Well, give it a try and let me know what you think

Here is their info:

Angelos Pizzeria and Restaurant
107 W 1st Street
Sanford, FL 32771
Phone: (407) 320-0799

Hours:

Sunday-Monday: 11 am – 3 pm
Tuesday-Thursday: 11 am – 9 pm
Friday-Saturday: 11 am – 10 pm

Day 267 – At the Alive After Five Blues and BBQ and Jax Lake Mary FL

Alive After Five June 2009

Another fun Alive After Five event! I enjoyed the Blues and BBQ a lot – and the weather turned out perfect, not a drop of rain! The hot temperatures though may have kept some people in their homes because I have seen busier days. However, that made the lines shorter…

We met up friends (some of them at the event for the first time and they liked it a lot), had some refreshing drinks, and then spend some time at the Willow Tree Cafe.

After that we left to watch the Lakers-Magic game at Jax in Lake Mary, a great sports bar and ale house right off Lake Emma. They have flat screen TVs virtually in every corner of their large bar, even outside. So if you ever feel like watching a game, Jax is a fantastic place for that! Well, the Magic lost this game… But they still have a chance!

Here is the information for Jax:

Jax 5th Ave Deli & Ale House
951 Greenwood Blvd
Lake Mary, FL 32746
(407) 323-3354

Below are some pictures of a fun Thursday!

Alive After Five June 2009

Day 249 – Memorial Day Weekend German Style

Jose and his cousins by Magnolia Square in Sanford

Jose’s cousins from Colombia are visiting for a week. They arrived today and we thought, what better way to introduce them to life in Sanford than bringing them right into the heart of Sanford. Despite the rain (yes, it is still raining after a week!!) we managed to get somewhat dry to our destination: the German restaurant, the Willow Tree Cafe, in Sanford – admittedly and not surprisingly my favorite restaurant not only for food but also atmosphere, so please excuse all the many posts I have already dedicated to this wonderful place but I just happen to be there a lot as it seems

As a table of 13 we did a fairly poor job “killing the boot”, I have seen better days. Nevertheless we had a blast as usual and a good Memorial Day weekend Sunday in Sanford.

Below are some pictures of us and the huge Grillplatte Jose and I shared – the Leberkaes was excellent!

Jose and his cousins by Magnolia Square in Sanford

Day 229 – Inside Two Blondes and a Shrimp

Inside 2 Blondes and a Shrimp

I had previously blogged about Two Blondes and a Shrimp, a fantastic seafood restaurant in downtown Sanford (on First Street). I went back and this time took also a picture of the interior because the interior of this quaint little place definitely deserves to be mentioned here. It is a very unique style and you’ll simply feel cozy when sitting inside. Not that their outside covered patio-like seating area isn’t just as beautiful. You decide – and either way, I think you’ll like Two Blondes and a Shrimp inside and out

For more info check out my previous post about Two Blondes and a Shrimp in Sanford