HE HAS SOME WORDS FOR CASA FELIZ
A reading by former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins will benefit the historic venue.
You’ve probably enjoyed reading poems by Billy Collins. But if you’ve never heard him reading his poems to you, then get ready for a special treat. Collins, a former two-term U.S. Poet Laureate (2001–03), will share new works and greatest hits on Wednesday, October 29, at 7 p.m. at Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum.
This unforgettable evening of wit, wisdom and wonder will be a fundraiser for Casa Feliz, which was designed in the 1930s as a private home by legendary architect James Gamble Rogers II. It was relocated, restored and repurposed as a community venue in 2001.
Collins, a resident of Winter Park and perhaps the country’s most popular living poet—his books of verse have cracked the New York Times Best Seller List—has more than a dozen acclaimed poetry collections to his name, all of them filled with works that are equal parts humorous, profound and deeply human.
His poems have graced the pages of The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The American Scholar and The Irish Times, and his voice has echoed through the halls of Congress, where he read his elegy for the victims of 9/11 in his role as U.S. Poet Laureate. He is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Admission to the event is $100, which will include admission to the intimate poetry reading and a signed copy of the poet’s celebrated 2013 collection Aimless Love. Attendees may join Collins at a wine and cheese reception with the poet following the reading.
But get your tickets now since maximum attendance is capped at 70. Casa Feliz is located at 656 North Park Avenue (adjacent to the Winter Park Golf Course). For more information, call 407-628-8200 or visit casafeliz.us.
—Randy Noles
VISUAL ARTS
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. This lakeside museum, open since 1961, is dedicated to preserving works by the famed Czech sculptor for whom it was both home and studio for more than a decade. The museum offers tours of Polasek’s home from Tuesdays to Saturdays and of the adjacent Capen-Showalter House three times weekly: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m., and Saturdays at 10:15 a.m. New at the museum is Timeless Mosaics, an in-depth exploration of the 5,000-year continuum of mosaic art and its contemporary relevance (see page 114). Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $3 for students and free for children. 633 Osceola Avenue, Winter Park. 407-647-6294. polasek.org.
The Art & History Museums of Maitland. The Maitland Art Center, one of five museums that anchor the city’s Cultural Corridor, was founded as an art colony in 1937 by visionary artist and architect J. André Smith. The art center, located at 231 West Packwood Avenue, Maitland, is Central Florida’s only National Historic Landmark and one of the few surviving examples of Mayan Revival architecture in the Southeast. Pangarap: Espero Reimagined, which opens October 18, transforms the gallery into a canvas of speculative storytelling through the work of Isobel Francisco, a former artist-in-residence who imagines how the art center might have been different had it been created in another country. Admission to the art center’s galleries is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students (ages 5 to 17) and free for children ages 4 and under. Maitland residents receive a $1 discount. The Cultural Corridor also includes the Maitland Historical Museum, home to the ongoing exhibit, Maitland’s Attic: A Journey Through a Small City’s Past, and the Telephone Museum at 221 West Packwood Avenue. Plus, you won’t want to miss the Waterhouse Residence Museum and Carpentry Shop Museum, both built in the 1880s and located at 820 Lake Lily Drive. 407-539-2181. artandhistory.org.
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. With more than 19,000 square feet of gallery and public space, the Morse houses the world’s most important collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany creations, including jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass and an entire chapel interior originally designed and built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Opening October 14 are two new exhibitions: Breaking Tradition: Distinguishing American Stained Glass, which examines the way opalescent glass introduced a naturalistic aesthetic to the medium (see page 110); and Tiffany Art Glass, which showcases Tiffany’s mastery of textured effects. Other current exhibitions are Arts & Letters, which explores the all-but-lost art of letter-writing; Vignette: Fair Views, a display of glass, art pottery and furniture as well as ephemera salvaged from the Columbian Exposition; View of Oyster Bay, a notable example of Tiffany’s artistry in leaded glass that has been on extended loan from the Morse to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City; The American Arts & Crafts Movement, which features distinctive furniture, metalwork and design created during the turn of last century; and Fascinating Clutter: American Taste During the Reign of Victoria, which explores the rich aesthetic landscape of the 19th century and how industry, expansion and war influenced personal and artistic expression. Also ongoing are Lamps & Lighting: Tiffany and His Contemporaries, a showcase of Tiffany’s most innovative and iconic designs; Revival & Reform: Eclecticism in the 19th-Century Environment, which provides a rare look at the diversity of decorative arts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with pieces by, among others, Tiffany, William Morris and Frank Lloyd Wright; and Art Jewelry, Favrile Metalwork & Precious Glass, a display of Tiffany’s innovative use of semiprecious stones and enamel in wearable art. Regular admission to the museum is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $1 for students and free for children younger than age 12. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. 445 North Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.
Crealdé School of Art. Established in 1975, this nonprofit organization on Winter Park’s east side offers year-round visual-arts classes for all ages taught by more than 40 working artists. Visitors may take a self-guided tour through the campus’s lakeside sculpture garden, which includes more than 60 pieces of contemporary outdoor art and related educational panels. Continuing through January 24 is Peter Schreyer: Small Stories from a Big Country, a four-decade retrospective of photographs from the artist’s travels around the world. Opening October 24 is Crealdé at 50: Where Creativity Builds Community, which features a curated selection of works by current and former faculty in painting, photography, ceramics, sculpture and mixed media that reflect the school’s enduring values of artistic excellence, cultural expression and mentorship. Admission to the school’s galleries is free, although there are fees for art classes. 600 Saint Andrews Boulevard, Winter Park. 407-671-1886. crealde.org.
Rollins Museum of Art. The Rollins College campus is home to one of the most eclectic collections of fine art in Florida, including ancient artifacts, contemporary collections and Central Florida’s only paintings by European Old Masters. Continuing through January 4, 2026, are Portrait of a Movement, which builds upon recent scholarship and ongoing revivals to offer a more nuanced interpretation of the Bloomsbury Group (a cadre of British writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists in the early 20th century); Manners of Dress, which critically examines the significance of diverse manners of dress from the 16th century onwards (see page 108); and Impressions: Modern Prints from the Benjamin Ortiz & Victor P. Torchia Jr. Collection, more than two dozen works from Latin, Caribbean, European and American artists. Guided tours are at 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at the nearby Alfond Inn, where a selection of more than 400 works is on view from the museum’s Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art. Happy Hour tours of the Alfond Collection are held on the first Wednesday of most months at 5:30 p.m. If you prefer historic works, Throwback Thursday tours are offered at the museum from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of most months. Admission is free, courtesy of PNC Financial Services Group. 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park. 407-646-2526. rollins.edu/rma.
Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Art. Eatonville is strongly associated with Harlem Renaissance writer and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston, who lived there as a girl and recorded her childhood memories in her classic autobiography, Dust Tracks on a Road. The museum that bears her name provides information about the historic city and sponsors exhibitions that feature the works of African American artists. 344 East Kennedy Boulevard, Eatonville. Admission is usually free, although group tours require a reservation and a charge. 407-647-3307. zoranealehurstonmuseum.com.
PERFORMING ARTS
Annie Russell Theatre. “The Annie,” on the campus of Rollins College and in operation since 1932, continues its 93rd season with Let the People Sing (November 13 to 16), a musical revue by Zora Neal Hurston that was originally performed at the college in 1933. That’s followed by POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive (February 12 to 22, 2026), an R-rated political farce; and Anastasia: The Musical (April 16 to 19, 2026), a loose adaptation of the animated film about a young woman with a mysterious past who struggles to survive after the Russian Revolution. Curtain times are 7:30 p.m., 4 p.m. or 2 p.m., depending upon the day of the week. Individual tickets are $25. 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park. 407-646-2145. rollins.edu/annie-russell-theatre.
Winter Park Playhouse. Winter Park’s only professional, nonprofit theater continues its 2025-26 season with Honky-Tonk Angels Holiday Hoedown (November 14 to December 20), a country Christmas comedy; From My Hometown (January 23 to February 21, 2026), a rags-to-riches story including R&B classics from James Brown, Otis Redding and Jackie Wilson; and The Pin-Up Girls (March 20 to April 25, 2026), which weaves almost a century of pop music together with a romantic and patriotic storyline. Performances are set Thursdays to Sundays, with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets range in price from $20 for students to $46 for evening shows. While the Playhouse’s Orange Avenue venue is being renovated, it will present this season’s shows at the Mandell Theater at Orlando Shakes, located at 812 East Rollins Streets, Orlando. For more information, call 407-645-0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org.
FILM
Enzian. This cozy, nonprofit alternative cinema offers a plethora of film series. Tickets are usually $12 for regular admission; $10 for matinees, students, seniors and service members (with ID); and $9.50 for Enzian Film Society members. Children under age 12 are admitted free to Peanut Butter Matinee Family Films, shown on the fourth Sunday of each month at noon. Other series include Saturday Matinee Classics (the second Saturday of each month at noon), Cult Classics (the second and last Tuesday of each month at 9:30 p.m.) and Midnight Movies (every Saturday night). FilmSlam, which spotlights Florida-made short films, takes place most months on the second or third Sunday at 1 p.m. 300 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland. 407-629-0054 (information line), 407-629-1088 (theater offices). enzian.org.
Friday Films. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art presents three film series each year on topics related to the museum’s collection as well as art in general. The fall series, Art Messages, explores how art has conveyed human attitudes about nature throughout time. Admission is free to these lunchtime screenings, which span the noon hour on Fridays, October 10, October 17 and October 24, in the Jeannette G. and Hugh F. McKean Pavilion on Canton Avenue, just behind the Morse. Attendees are invited to bring their own lunches; the museum provides soft drinks and themed refreshments. 161 West Canton Avenue. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.
Popcorn Flicks in the Park. The City of Winter Park and Enzian collaborate to offer classic, family-friendly films free in Central Park on Park Avenue. These outdoor screenings are typically held on the second Thursday of each month and start at 7 or 8 p.m. Don’t forget to pack a picnic and bring blankets or chairs. 407-629-1088. enzian.org.
HISTORY
Casa Feliz Historic Home & Venue. This stunningly restored Spanish farmhouse-style home, designed by acclaimed architect James Gamble Rogers II, is now a community center and museum. Free open houses are hosted by docents on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon. 656 North Park Avenue (adjacent to the Winter Park Golf Course), Winter Park. 407-628-8200. casafeliz.us.
Hannibal Square Heritage Center. Established in 2007 by the Crealdé School of Art in partnership with residents of Hannibal Square and the City of Winter Park, the center celebrates the city’s historically African American west side with hundreds of archival photographs, original artwork and oral histories that are collectively known as the Heritage Collection. 642 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. 407-539-2680. hannibalsquareheritagecenter.org.
Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida. The center is dedicated to combating antisemitism, racism and prejudice, with the goal of developing a moral and just community through educational and cultural programs, permanent and temporary exhibitions, archives and a research library. The center’s ongoing exhibition, Tribute to the Holocaust, is a collection of artifacts, videos, text, photographs and other works of art related to this horrific genocide. Continuing through December 19 is Spots of Light: To be a Woman in the Holocaust, which will share the unique voice of the women among the victims (see page 116). Admission is free. 851 North Maitland Avenue, Maitland. 407-628-0555. holocaustedu.org.
Winter Park History Museum. The museum’s new exhibition, Echoes of Expression: The History of Art & Culture in Winter Park, salutes the creativity that established and continues to define the city. Echos of Expression features a visual timeline of the city’s arts and cultural movement, a stage for monthly performances, an art gallery, a library of books by local and visiting authors, and an interactive children’s area on stage. The exhibition takes place under a sound dome, where the voices of past visiting writers, poets, journalists, scholars and actors can be heard. Admission is free. 200 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-2330, wphistory.org.
HOLIDAYS
15th Annual Veterans Day Celebration. Come to Hannibal Square’s Shady Park (Pennsylvania and New England avenues) Friday, November 7 to celebrate our nation’s veterans. The program will begin at 10 a.m. with speakers, musical tributes, presentations of Quilts of Valor and recognition of veterans according to the military branches in which they served. 407.599.3428, cityofwinterpark.org.
47th Annual Christmas in the Park. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art and the City of Winter Park present this annual exhibition of century-old Tiffany windows combined with a free outdoor concert of holiday favorites by the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park’s choir and brass ensemble. This year’s event is set for Thursday, December 4, from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. in Central Park. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.
73rd Annual Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade. This venerable holiday tradition, set this year for Saturday, December 6, at 9 a.m., has delighted locals since the early 1950s. More than 80 parade units are expected to make their way south along Park Avenue beginning at Cole Avenue and ending at Lyman Avenue. Participants in the 90-minute event include marching bands, dance troupes, police and fire departments, local dignitaries and, of course, Santa Claus (who may seem a bit weary since he’ll have appeared the night before at Winter on the Avenue). 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/christmas-parade.
Handel’s Messiah. The Messiah Choral Society is a Winter Park-based nonprofit that assembles volunteer vocalists to perform George Frideric Handel’s most famous composition every Thanksgiving-to-Christmas season. The main event this year—its 53rd annual local performance—is Sunday, November 16, at 3 p.m. in Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Phillips Center, 155 East Anderson Street, Orlando. Admission is free; reservations are required. messiahchoralsociety.org.
A Classic Christmas. Take part in yet another cherished Winter Park holiday tradition—this one purely musical. The program, part of the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park’s Choral Masterworks series, features beloved holiday music performed by the society’s choir, youth choir and orchestra. Knowles Memorial Chapel on the campus of Rollins College is the venue for the performances, which are set this year for Saturday and Sunday, December 13 and 14, at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Tickets start at $30. 407-646-2182. bachfestivalflorida.org.
Winter on the Avenue. Park Avenue is transformed into a winter wonderland during this annual holiday street party, set this year for Friday, December 5, at 5 p.m. Festivities include the traditional tree-lighting ceremony at dusk, carolers and other live music, snacks such as s’mores, a showing of a classic holiday film and a visit from Santa Claus (the real one, not just a guy dressed up in a red suit). As a gift to the community, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art will offer free admission from 4 to 8 p.m. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/winter-on-the-avenue.
LECTURES
Central Florida Anthropological Society. Do you want to preserve Florida’s historic heritage? Are you curious about prehistoric Florida? Join the CFAS on the third Monday of most months for this new lecture series at the Winter Park Library, which highlights current anthropological and archaeological investigations with a special focus on Central Florida. Meetings are usually held on the third Monday of the month, with upcoming dates set for October 20, November 17 and December 15. Enjoy light refreshments and socializing when the doors open at 6:30 p.m., followed by a presentation at 7 p.m. Admission is free. 1050 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. cfasorlando.com.
Life Explorers Speakers Series. Hosted by Mead Botanical Garden, this speaker series features programs for adults interested in expanding their knowledge on a variety of environmental and cultural topics. Meetings are usually held on the second Thursday of the month, with upcoming dates set for October 9, November 13 and December 11. Admission is free. 1300 South Denning Drive, Winter Park. 407-622-6323. meadgarden.org.
Morse Museum Wednesday Lecture Series. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art regularly invites recognized scholars in the field of late 19th- and early 20th-century art to speak on topics related to the museum’s collection and exhibitions. Call or check the website for upcoming dates and subjects. Programs take place at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free. 161 West Canton Avenue, Winter Park. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.
University Club of Winter Park. Nestled among the oaks and palms at the north end of Park Avenue’s downtown shopping district—a block beyond Casa Feliz—is another historic James Gamble Rogers II building, this one home to the University Club of Winter Park. The club’s various activities, including lectures, are open to the public, although nonmembers are asked to make a $5 donation each time they attend. (Some meetings include a buffet lunch for an added fee.) For a full schedule of meetings and speakers, check the website. 841 North Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-6149. uclubwp.org.
MUSIC
Bach Festival Society of Winter Park. Central Florida’s longest-running performing arts organization and one of America’s first festivals to celebrate the works of Johann Sebastian Bach (and others), the society kicks off its 91st season when internationally acclaimed fortepianist Daniel Adam Maltz returns to perform with the Bach Chamber Choir & Orchestra, offering a rare opportunity to hear Mozart and Haydn on the instrument used by the composers themselves (Sunday, October 19, 3 p.m., Tiedtke Concert Hall). Up next is Voctave: The 10th Anniversary Tour, an electrifying performance by one of the world’s premier a cappella groups (Saturday, October 25, 7:30 p.m., Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Phillips Center). Then comes Carmina Burana & Rhapsody in Blue, a pairing of two early 20th-century masterpieces brought to life by the Bach Chamber Choir & Orchestra with soprano Clara Rottsolk, tenor Patrick Muelheise, baritone Brandon Hendrickson and pianist Byeol Kim (November 2, 3 p.m., Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Phillips Center). The Bach Vocal Artists follow with Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Vespers, a moving journey of spiritual reflection and musical brilliance (Sunday, November 7, 7:30 p.m., Knowles Memorial Chapel). Tickets start at $20. 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park. 407-646-2182. bachfestival.org.
Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts. This vibrant, intimate venue is known for its eclectic and high-
caliber musical programming. Concerts span a wide range of genres, with a strong emphasis on jazz, American roots, swing and blues. Upcoming concerts include the Sokołowski Trombone Project, (Friday, October 3, 8 p.m.); RoSaWay (Saturday, October 4, 8 p.m.), Chris Cortez and Steve Luciano (Sunday, October 5, 3 p.m.) Daniela Soledade and Nate Najar: Love and Bossa Nova (Friday, October 10, 8 p.m.), Johnbern Thomas and his Group (Saturday, October 11, 8 p.m.), The UCF Flying Horse Big Band (Sunday, October 12, 3 p.m.), The Boneshakers featuring Randy Jacobs and Jenny Langer (Friday, October 17, 8 p.m.), the Joe Eckert Quartet (Saturday, October 18, 8 p.m.), Palm Beach Society Orchestra Celebrates the Music of Disney (Sunday, October 19, 3 p.m.), the Mean Mary Band (Saturday, October 25, 8 p.m.), the Maitland Jazz Band: Honoring the Legacy of Big Band Music (Sunday, November 2, 3 p.m.), the Central Florida Jazz Society Presents: A Salute in Swing—Jazz from Those Who Served (Sunday, November 9, 3 p.m.), the Taylor Roberts Quartet (Friday, November 14, 8 p.m.), Ricky Sylvia and the Buzzcatz (Sunday, November 16, 3 p.m.), Josephine Swing (Friday, November 21, 8 p.m.), the Oak Hill Drifters (Saturday, November 22, 8 p.m.), the Palm Beach Society Orchestra Swings into the Music of Early Jazz (Sunday, November 23, 3 p.m.), Heather Thorn and Vivacity present: A Jazzy Christmas with Vivacity! (Saturday, December 6, 8 p.m.), the Orlando Jazz Orchestra Holiday Show Featuring the Orlando Jazz Orchestra Dektette (Sunday, December 7, 8 p.m.), A Christmas Romance Tour with Marcus Anderson and Rebecca Jade (Friday, December 19, 8 p.m.), and Palm Beach Society Orchestra: A Holiday Concert That Swings (Sunday, December 21, 3 p.m.). Ticket prices range from $25 to $35, but Thursday nights are always reserved for free concerts that feature the venue’s empresario—and acclaimed jazz guitarist—Chris Cortez alongside special guests. And don’t forget to bring your instrument! Those “Hang With Cortez and Friends” is followed by a jam session that audience members are invited to join. Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts is located at 460 West New England Avenue (the former Winter Park Library) For more information, call 407-636-9951 or visit bluebambooartcenter.com.
Candlelight Concerts at Mead Garden. Enjoy live music by candlelight in Mead Botanical Garden’s Azalea Lodge. String quartets perform a selection of works by a particular artist or dedicate a program to a special theme. Upcoming concerts include A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics (Thursday, October 30), Rings & Dragons (Thursday, November 20) and Christmas Carols on Strings (Thursday and Sunday, December 11 and 21). Ticket prices start at $49. 1300 South Denning Drive, Winter Park. 407-622-6323, meadgarden.org.
Central Florida Folk. This Winter Park-based nonprofit is dedicated to promoting and preserving live folk music, primarily through concerts usually held on the last Sunday of each month (unless a holiday intervenes) at 2 p.m. Upcoming dates are set for October 26 (Patrick Sampson and Little Sister), November 16 (Jack Williams) and December 21 (Ray Cerbone and Ashtyn Barbaree). The group’s primary venue is the Winter Park Library, 1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. A donation of $15 for nonmembers is suggested. 407-679-6426. cffolk.org.
Opera Orlando. As Part of its 10th anniversary season. Opera Orlando will present a reprise of its first commissioned work, The Secret River, an opera for all ages based on the children’s book by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. With a libretto by Pulitzer- and Grammy-winner Mark Campbell and music by UCF Professor Stella Sung, The Secret River is set during the Great Depression and follows the journey of Calpurnia, a young girl with a robust imagination who searches the Central Florida wilderness for a secret river to help her family and her small town. The production, which premiered last year at the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater at Dr. Phillips Center, will this time be staged at the Grove Amphitheater at Mead Botanical Garden. In addition to the main cast, the outdoor stage will be filled with dancers from Inez Patricia School of Dance and members of the Opera Orlando Youth Company, alongside dazzling puppetry originally created by Michelee Puppets. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs, and are invited to remain after the performance concludes for a talkback with the cast and puppeteers. General admission tickets start at $31.59. 1300 South Denning Drive, Winter Park. 407-622-6323, operaorlando.org.
Music at the Casa. This season of acoustic concerts at Casa Feliz Historic Home and Museum season will wind up with two more of those al fresco courtyard performances, each offering an aural soundscape that will, in its own way, complement the storied surroundings. Upcoming will be the return of vocalist Alma Skye and guitarist Bobby Koelble (Friday, October 24), who kicked off the concert series last January with their eclectic blend of jazz, soul and Latin sounds. The final concert of the year will be Spain Infinitus, a tribute to Latin jazz icons Michel Camilo and Tomatito performed by flamenco guitarist Don Soledad and pianist Pablo Arencibia (Thursday, November 20). All concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and advance purchases are recommended since courtyard space is limited. Offerings from food and beverage vendors further enhance the listening experience. 656 North Park Avenue (adjacent to the Winter Park Golf Course), Winter Park. 407-628-8200. casafeliz.us.
Performing Arts Matter. This nonprofit organization collaborates with various organizations to promote performances for and by local musicians. It supports various groups, including the Maitland Symphony Orchestra, Maitland Market Music, the Maitland Stage Band, the Bravo Chamber Orchestra and the Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra. For a full schedule of events, call 321-303-1711 or visit pamatter.org.
MARKETS
Maitland Farmers’ Market. This year-round, open-air market—held each Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.—features fresh produce, seafood, breads and cheeses as well as plants, all-natural skin-care products and live music by Performing Arts of Maitland. The setting on Lake Lily boasts a boardwalk, jogging trails, a playground and picnic areas. 701 Lake Lily Drive, Maitland. itsmymaitland.com.
Winter Park Farmers’ Market. The region’s busiest and arguably most popular farmers’ market is held every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Central Park West Meadow—located at the corner of New York Avenue and Morse Boulevard—and offers baked goods, produce, plants, honey, cheese, meat, flowers, crafts and other specialty items. 200 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. cityofwinterpark.org.
WRITING
Orlando/Maitland Writers Group. Join fellow scribes for lectures by guest speakers and discussions led by local authors. The local chapter of the Florida Writers Association meets on the second Thursday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Upcoming dates are set for October 9, November 13 and December 11 at the Maitland Public Library, 501 South Maitland Avenue, Maitland. floridawriters.org.
Storytellers of Central Florida. Experienced and fledgling storytellers gather to share stories and practice their craft on the first Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Winter Park Library. Upcoming dates are set for October 7, November 4 and December 2. 1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. 321-439-6020. storytellersofcentralflorida.com.
Wednesday Open Words. One of the area’s longest-running open-mic poetry nights is held every Wednesday at 9 p.m. at Austin’s Coffee, 929 West Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park. 407-975-3364.
austins-coffee.com.
Writers of Central Florida or Thereabouts. This group offers various free programs that attract writers of all stripes. Short Attention Span Storytelling Hour, a literary open-mic night, meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of most months at Stardust Coffee (1842 Winter Park Road, Winter Park). Upcoming meetings are set for October 8, November 12 and December 10. Orlando WordLab, a workshop that challenges writers to experiment with new techniques or methods, meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Winter Park Library (1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park). Upcoming meetings are set for October 22 and November 26. meetup.com/writers-of-central-florida-or-thereabouts.
BUSINESS
Connections. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce at local eateries, Connections provides local businesspeople and entrepreneurs an opportunity to network, socialize and share ideas. Upcoming meetings, held on the fourth Wednesday of most months, are set for October 22 (at Chuy’s Winter Park), November 19 (at A.J. Chocolate House) and December 17 (location TBA). Admission is $35 for members and $50 for nonmembers. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/connections.
Good Morning, Winter Park. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, these gatherings feature coffee and conversation about community issues. Upcoming meetings, held on the first Friday of most months, are set for October 3, November 7 and December 12. Networking begins at 8:45 a.m. followed at 9:15 a.m. by a 45-minute program. Admission, which includes coffee, is free, but registration is required. Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 West Lyman Avenue, Winter Park. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/good-morning-winter-park.
Winter Park Professional Women. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, these meetings—held on the first Monday of most months from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.—feature guest speakers and provide networking opportunities for women business owners. Topics are related to leadership development, business growth and local initiatives of special interest to women. Upcoming meetings are set for October 6, November 3 and December 1. Tickets, which include lunch, are $35 for chamber members and $50 for nonmembers. Reservations are required. Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 West Lyman Avenue, Winter Park. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/winter-park-professional-women.
NATURE
GrowVember. Mead Botanical Garden’s annual plant sale, held on Friday and Saturday, November 7 and 8, will feature a fabulous array of plant vendors and exhibitors, kids’ activities, live music, food trucks, a beer garden and more. Shoppers will find a wide selection of beautiful plants, including annuals, perennials, house plants, medicinal plants and native plants that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Winter Park’s Urban Forestry Department will sponsor a tree giveaway. Admission and parking are free. 1300 South Denning Drive, Winter Park. 407-622-6323, meadgarden.org.
Keep Winter Park Beautiful. Volunteer to help the city keep local watersheds beautiful all season long with cleanups held on throughout the year. Call or check the website for dates and locations. Litter grabbers, safety vests, gloves and garbage bags are provided at City Hall, 151 West Lyman Avenue, Winter Park. Volunteers should contact kwpb@cityofwinterpark.org for more details and to complete a waiver. 407-599-3364. cityofwinterpark.org.
Winter Park Garden Club. The club’s general membership meetings, which always offer something intriguing for lovers of gardening and the great outdoors, are typically held on the second Wednesday of each month from September through May at 10 a.m. Field trips and other community events are also held throughout the year. All meetings are at the club’s headquarters at 1300 South Denning Drive. For more information about the club, which was founded in 1922, and its upcoming programs, call 407-644-5770, check winterparkgardenclub.com or email winterparkgc100@gmail.com.
EVENTS
Best of Winter Park. Celebrate Winter Park’s businesses and cultural institutions at this block party, sponsored by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, where winners in more than 40 “Best Of” categories will be announced. Enjoy live music, beer, wine and light bites from local favorites. The event will be held at the Winter Park Farmers’ Market, 200 West New England Avenue, on Tuesday, October 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. 407-544-8281. winterpark.org/best-of-winter-park.
Cows ‘n’ Cabs. The 13th annual edition of this celebration of food and good causes—which will feature celebrity chefs Bryan and Michael Voltaggio (Top Chef) and a performance by country music star Randy Houser—will open Thursday, November 13, with Tacos & Tequila, an intimate event that will feature craft cocktails along with a taco showdown among participating restaurants. The big night, of course, will be Friday, November 15, when 35-plus local restaurants will offer fabulous fare along and selections of wine and spirits. cowsncabs.com.
Winter Park Autumn Art Festival. This two-day art show and sale, now in its 52nd year, is the only juried fine-art festival in the state to exclusively feature Florida artists. The event, held in Central Park along Park Avenue, runs Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to art, there’s live entertainment, food, a beer garden and more. winterpark.org/autumn-art-festival.
CAUSES
CoffeeTalk. These free gatherings, sponsored by the City of Winter Park, are held on the first Thursday of most months and offer residents an opportunity to discuss issues of concern with local officials. Barnie’s Coffee Kitchen supplies coffee. Upcoming guests include city commissioners Craig Russell (October 2), Kris Cruzada (November 6) and Waren Lindsey (December 4). The hourlong sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall, 401 South Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-8281. cityofwinterpark.org.
AT MILLS GALLERY, THEY JUST WINN-WIN AGAIN
When the Mills Gallery created an exhibition last year aimed at fostering the creativity and careers of emerging artists, it was a hit with both artists and lovers of art. Year two—which will run October 31 to December 15—promises to build off the momentum established by the inaugural Winn-Win Emerging Artists Exhibition.
The original event was conceived by Juan Pablo Santa Luna, the gallery’s executive director and artist-in-residence, and the late philanthropist Michael Winn. The two had built a relationship through their mutual connection to the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, for which Winn was a benefactor and Santa Luna was the cultural ambassador.
Winn and his wife, Gail Cox Adams, had underwritten Orlando Museum of Art’s annual Florida Prize in Contemporary Art since its inception. But that prestigious competition was for established artists. Winn told Santa Luna that there ought to be a high-profile showcase somewhere for artists who were just getting started.
“That’s when we proposed creating an event for the opposite—for the people who need the help, who don’t know the ins and outs of the art world, says Boris Garbe, the innovative venue’s gallerist. “We look at it as we’re building a sister event, a yearly event that doesn’t compete with the Florida Prize but helps artists equally.”
The exhibition certainly provides exposure—but it’s about more than that. Santa Luna and Garbe put the artists through a “boot camp” of sorts and teach them the business side of art. They’re coached on how to approach a gallery, how to speak on panels in front of audiences, how to navigate interviews and generally how to position themselves to make sales.
Days before last year’s inaugural cohort of eight talented artists debuted their collections, Winn died at age 82 having not seen the result of his suggestion. But his legacy was felt just the same and continues to drive the mission.
Last year’s exhibition raised $10,000 for the Atlantic Center for the Arts. Among the eight artists featured, Juan David Tena ended up scoring the first solo exhibition for a Colombian photographer at Orlando Museum of Art. And octogenarian Linda Hobby sold three pieces and is launching a podcast. (Emerging artists don’t have to be young artists.)
Several participants in the first exhibition will serve as mentors to the five emerging artists featured in this year’s exhibition. Applications are accepted from an all-call to artists and the chosen few are selected by Garbe, Santa Luna—who is also curating the event—and local artist Victor Bokas.
Bokas is best known for his installations at Orlando City Hall, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando International Airport and the Mennello Museum of American Art. Two others who participate in the selection process are anonymous. The overall winner, selected by the same panel, will get his or her own event at Mills Gallery.
“The Winn-Win Emerging Artists Exhibition is just a taste of what we’re creating,” says Santa Luna. “It’s very important that people know that we’re here. And we’re doing unconventional things in order to move the community forward.” Mills Gallery is located at 1650 North Mills Avenue, Orlando. For more information, visit millsgalleryoforlando.com or call 855-336-3653.
—Steve Schneider
CLOTHES MATTER MORE THAN WE EVER THOUGHT
In Mark Twain’s 1905 short story “The Czar’s Soliloquy,” he posited the following: “[One] realizes that without his clothes a man would be nothing at all; that the clothes do not merely make the man, the clothes are the man; that without them he is a cipher, a vacancy, a nobody, a nothing. There is no power without clothes.”
Really? Guess we’d better be more judicious with our wardrobe choices and make certain to look sharp when we visit Manners of Dress, which opened in September at the Rollins Museum of Art. The exhibition will provide a deeper look at what fashion choices might indicate beyond adornment or self-expression.
“It’s about more than the person wearing those items,” says Gisela Carbonell, the museum’s curator. “There might be cultural and political implications. There might be economic underpinnings. There might be regional traditions and preservation of heritage. There are different contexts and lenses through which we can look at these works.”
Manners of Dress, therefore, will encompass a robust selection of paintings, sculptures and photographs from European, American, Indigenous, Cuban, Dominican and Mexican artists. Traditional works by Paulus Moreelse, Dirck Hals, Frans Pourbus the Younger and Luis Zapico will illustrate the importance of textures, materials and styles in visual communication.
Contemporary works by Elinor Carucci, Caitlin Keogh and Paulina Olowska will explore how what we wear can become a visual signifier of status and identity.
There’ll also be a slew of watch keys. Yes, the museum has a collection of more than 1,000 of these little winders—dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries—that were donated by a former college trustee and his wife in the 1940s. While such devices had an obvious practical function when all watches were mechanical, they also became fashionable in and of themselves.
“Many of the works in the show depict sitters wearing different kinds of accessories, and so this is an opportunity to see accessories as part of the exhibition,” says Carbonell. “We have a selection of watch keys on view because we haven’t shown them in many, many years. It’s a unique and interesting collection—and they’re beautiful.”
There are also docent-led tours of Manners of Dress on Saturdays or you can just stop in—admission to the museum is free—and take it all in for yourself. The Rollins Museum of Art is located at 1000 Holt Avenue on the campus of Rollins College. For more information, call 407-646-2526 or visit rollins.edu/rma.
—Steve Schneider
OPALESCENCE UNLEASHED A NEW AESTHETIC IN GLASS
An exhibition at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Breaking Tradition: Distinguishing American Stained Glass—set to open on Tuesday, October 14—will explore the rise of opalescent glass favored by Louis Comfort Tiffany and reveal the rivalry between “Team Opalescent” and “Team Antique.”
Until iridescent (almost hypnotic) opalescent glass burst onto the scene in the late 1800s, traditional antique stained glass—made with flat applied paints, stains or enamels—predominated among artisans. Opalescent glass, however, brought a new aesthetic to the industry and some controversy as well.
Rather than requiring the addition of color, opalescent glass infuses color into the glass and displays a range of hues that change with the angle of the light, like the inside of a seashell or an opal. It’s also highly textured, while antique stained glass is flat. That made opalescent glass much more naturalistic and better-suited for such secular subject matter as landscapes and flowers.
“Both techniques continued to be very popular,” says Kayli R. Rideout, the museum’s Hugh F. McKean Curator. “What was really interesting to me is that these two schools were bitterly divided—and there was a lot of discussion in trade circulars and art journals with the two of them going back and forth.”
The antique school just felt that this new medium was simply too commercial—a moneymaking scheme, really—and dismissed opalescent glass as “cotton candy,” adds Rideout.
Naturally, Tiffany disagreed, arguing that old-school adherents were “going by the letter of medieval stained-glass craftsmanship; I’m going by the spirit. If medieval craftsmen had the technologies that I have, they would be using them, too.”
Nearly 30 objects will be included in Breaking Tradition, the majority of which will be windows made by Tiffany. Most notably, says Rideout, will be a window made from pebbles and another made from opalescent glass with a daffodil motif.
The windows, which are well-known by the artist’s aficionados, will be retrieved from storage and placed on display, along with design drawings and the patent for use of opalescent glass on leaded-glass windows held by Tiffany.
Two lectures that coincide with the exhibition are planned in the spring. Brianne Van Vorst, a stained-glass conservator, will be at the museum on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, to discuss the conservation of a window from the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company. Rideout will present a lecture for the Morse Monday series about American stained glass on Monday, April 27, 2026.
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is located at 445 North Park Avenue, Winter Park. For more information, call 407-645-5311 or visit morsemuseum.org.
—Steve Schneider
POLASEK HOSTS MILESTONE SHOW FOR MOSAIC SOCIETY
The Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA) has chosen Orlando as the location for its 2025 annual conference—and the benefits to art lovers should at least equal the momentary boost to tourism.
In advance of SAMA’s private gathering, a juried collection of works by society members will be unveiled in Timeless Mosaics at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. The organization’s 25th anniversary exhibition—which will run through December 7—will include more than 40 pieces, by artists both emerging and established, and will reflect the current state of an art form that has been around for some 5,000 years.
Featured categories in Timeless Mosaics will include fine-art wall mosaics, freestanding mosaics and site-specific mosaics. (The latter will be represented by photos and videos since they’re by definition impossible to decouple from their surroundings.) The exhibition will also feature such special events as artist talks, workshops and lectures.
This is the first time the Polasek has been involved with SAMA (which, despite its name, has members across the globe). The hookup came about via Cherie Bosela, owner of the Luna Mosaic Arts store in Orlando and a SAMA member, who pitched the idea to Polasek curator Tamie Diener-Lafferty.
Judging for Timeless Mosaics was performed virtually last July with Diener-Lafferty as a participating juror. “I’m coming at it from the point of view of a curator,” she says, “knowing what would work well in our space and what our audience would appreciate.”
Diener-Lafferty’s co-juror, Ahmed Ibrahim, will also be represented in the exhibition as an invited artist. His contribution, titled Hope, is an assemblage of polystyrene, fiberglass, amethyst, seashells and other materials meant to represent a wind turbine and thus the promise of renewable energy. The piece comes to Orlando with a built-in pedigree, having already been named the winner of the 14th International Mosaic Meeting in Chartres, France.
The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens is located at 633 Osceola Avenue. For more information, call 407-647.6294 or visitpolasek.org
—Steve Schneider
NAZI TERROR COULD BE DIFFERENT FOR WOMEN
The Holocaust was a watershed event in human history—an act of murder and violence that the Nazis and their accomplices unleashed against the Jewish people. Danger faced every person who professed the Jewish faith—but women, men and children followed different paths to death.
Spots of Light: To be a Woman in the Holocaust—which will run through December 19 at the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center—will share the unique voice of the women among the victims. More than two million women were murdered during this horrific campaign.
Spots of Light—produced by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem—features large panels that depict nine aspects of the daily lives of typical Jewish women during the Holocaust: “Arts,” “Caring for Others,” “Faith,” “Food,” “Friendship,” “Love,” “Motherhood,” “Resistance and Rescue” and “Womanhood.” Each aspect is accompanied by a personal story and is told in the first person.
Nazi ideology viewed women as agents of fertility. Therefore, the extermination of Jewish women would thwart the rise of future generations. Many women who survived annihilation were sent to women-only labor camps, where most died within months. Many others were left alone with children and the elderly and became responsible for the survival of their remaining family members.
Emanuel Ringelblum, a historian who documented the Warsaw ghetto, notes: “The future historian will have to dedicate an appropriate page to the Jewish woman in the war. She will take up an important page in Jewish history for her courage and steadfastness. By her merit, thousands of families have managed to surmount the terror of the times.”
The Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center is located at 851 North Maitland Avenue, Maitland. For more information, call 407-628-0555 or visit hmrec.org.
—Steve Schneider