AMERICA THROUGH A LEGEND’S LENS
Clyde Butcher celebrates our national treasures in glorious black and white.
Four-wheeled mobility walkers aren’t made to be used in the swamp, which probably explains why Clyde Butcher’s walkers haven’t lasted very long. At age 84—and coping with the lingering effects of a stroke in 2017—the legendary landscape photographer has remained a creative force and still insists on earning every photograph he takes.
Indeed, the aptly dubbed “Ansel Adams of Florida” has dedicated the majority of his life to capturing the most stunning vistas across the country—most notably in the haunting environs of Florida’s Everglades.
Dozens of these extraordinary black-and-white silver gelatin images comprise America the Beautiful: The Monumental Landscapes of Clyde Butcher, which is on display through December 6 at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. The exhibition is sponsored by the law firm Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman in Winter Park.
There’ll even be a special guest: Butcher himself, who suffered a fall in August and underwent hip-replacement surgery. Nevertheless, he still expects to visit the Polasek in person on Thursday, October 8, to offer lectures at 1 and 6 p.m. followed by gallery tours and book signings.
Clearly, in both his genius and his tenacity, Butcher is akin to the museum’s founder, sculptor Albin Polasek, who suffered a major stroke in 1950 but completed 18 more major works despite being partially paralyzed and wheelchair bound.
“What impresses me most about Clyde Butcher is his dedication to his craft,” says Curator Tamie Diener-Lafferty. “He creates remarkable images with depth and detail. His patience, technical mastery and commitment remind me of our founder’s unwavering dedication to his art.”
In 1992, PBS aired a documentary about Butcher called Visions of Florida. He has hosted other PBS specials that focused on conservation, including Big Cypress Swamp: The Western Everglades and Kissimmee Basin: The Northern Everglades. More recently, in 2022, President Joe Biden presented him with the National Medal of Arts at the White House.
The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens is located at 633 Osceola Avenue, Winter Park. For more information, call 407-647-6294 or visit polasek.org.
—Jenna Marina Lee
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. Continuing through December 6 is America the Beautiful, a collection by iconic landscape photographer Clyde Butcher (See page 90.) 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. Vilomah: Against the Natural Order, opening October 17, is a multidisciplinary installation by Soude Dadras that deals with grief and healing through handwork creations that use abandoned textiles, found objects and an assortment of materials that hold memories—her hair, fabric passed down from elders, pages of poetry and text, and objects that have been touched, used or loved by someone before. 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 exhibition, Maitland’s Attic: A Journey Through a Small City’s Past, and the Telephone Museum at 221 West Packwood Avenue, Maitland. 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, Maitland. 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 13 is Revolt in the Parlor: Escaping Victorian Taste, which traces the evolving currents of art and design from 1895 to 1959 and takes its title (as well as its overarching theme) from a 1969 book by museum co-founder Hugh F. McKean. Revolt in the Parlor will follow the cycles of experimentation, disruption and reinvention that emerged as creators confronted (and helped to shape) a dramatically changing world as the “fascinating clutter” of Queen Victoria’s time gave way to the burgeoning of the Second Industrial Revolution. Continuing exhibitions include Handpicked: Jewelry from the Morse Collection, a selection of personal heirlooms and collected jewelry that bridge fashion and art; Beyond Glass: The Paintings of Louis Comfort Tiffany, a collection of Tiffany’s explorations of color and light through painting; Salon-Style Paintings, which features a variety of works from the museum’s collection; Breaking Tradition: Distinguishing American Stained Glass, which examines the way opalescent glass introduced a (surprisingly controversial) naturalistic aesthetic to the medium; and Tiffany Art Glass, which highlights 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, which displays 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’s 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 the 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; 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 self-guided tours through the campus’s lakeside sculpture garden, which includes more than 60 pieces of contemporary outdoor art and related educational panels. Panoramic Light, opening October 16, features works by Central Florida-based painter (and former chief curator at the Orlando Museum of Art) Hansen Mulford that draw from themes of nature, memory and mood. 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 3, 2027 are The House that Freedoms Built, which explores the legacy of colonialism in the Caribbean with three structures inspired by homes built by formerly enslaved people in 18th-century St. Croix; To Imagine a Home, which features a selection of works from the museum’s collection that examine the physical, metaphorical and imagined aspects of the concept of home; and Being Outdoors: Recreation in the American Imagination, which celebrates how outdoor activities define American identity with paintings and prints from the 19th to the 21st centuries. Guided tours are at 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at the nearby Alfond Inn, where on display are more than 400 works 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. At press time, a new facility for the museum was underway on a 2.37-acre city block known as the Innovation Triangle, bounded by New England, Interlachen, Lyman and Knowles avenues. The 32,000-square-foot building—a sleek structure more than three times the size of the current on-campus facility—is slated to open its doors in early 2027. 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, begins its 94th season this fall with The Bounds (October 22 to 25), a genre-bending dark comedy set in Tudor-era England. (See page 96.) Up next is Expressions (November 20 and 21), an eclectic program featuring a wide variety of dance styles—tap, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, musical theater and more—that blends skill with storytelling. That’s followed by Sir Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia (February 25 to March 7), a wild and witty multicentury quest to unravel the mysteries of the universe. And the season concludes with In the Heights (April 15 to 18), a vibrant celebration of community set in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood and featuring hip-hop, salsa and soul music. 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 2026–27 season in its renovated venue with The Rat Pack Lounge (through October 18), a swinging comedy featuring Frank, Dean and Sammy, who are sent back to Earth by God to help a pal (and to sing their greatest hits), followed by A Christmas Survival Guide (November 20 to December 20). After that is Now Comes the Fun Part: The “How the #@&! Did I Get This Old?” Musical (January 22 to February 14), All Hands on Deck (March 12 to April 11) and Sister Amnesia’s Country Western Nunsense Jamboree (May 7 to May 30). Performances are Thursdays through 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. 711 Orange Avenue, Winter Park. 407-645-0145. 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, which are 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. Also coming up for the spooky season is the theater’s annual 13+ Films of Halloween throughout the month of October. (See page 94.) 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. Call or visit the museum’s website for upcoming subjects and dates. Attendees are invited to bring their own lunches; the museum provides soft drinks and themed refreshments. At press time, construction was underway on the Jeannette G. and Hugh F. McKean Pavilion, located just behind the museum’s main building, which will become the home for the Friday Films. Following decades of expanded programming and advances in technology, the pavilion—which will replace an older, minimally adapted space that was part of a bank building that had stood on the lot prior to the museum’s construction in 1995—will better support the evolving needs of the museum and its audiences and should be open by next summer. 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 in 1932 by acclaimed local architect James Gamble Rogers II, is now a community center and museum. Docent-led tours are hosted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. And, incredibly, it’s celebrating the 25th anniversary of its rescue and reopening with a charmingly family friendly 25th Anniversary Community Day on Sunday, October 25,
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (See page 106.) Admission is free, but a $5 per visitor donation is suggested. 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. Continuing through December 13 is Sacred Vessels: Healing & Memory in the Black Diaspora by Central Florida-based abstract artist and architect Tasanee Durrett, which blends human forms with botanical elements to explore the connection between environmental knowledge and cultural identity. 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, Hope & Humanity is a highly personalized and localized exploration of the effects of antisemitism that traces the legacies of European Jews who survived the Nazi persecutions of World War II to eventually settle in Central Florida. Also on view is Mezuzah Traces: Memory on the Doorposts of Poland. Mezuzah traces are the physical marks, silhouettes or indentations left on a doorframe after a mezuzah (a parchment or scroll inscribed with excerpts from the Book of Deuteronomy) has been removed. These markings serve as physical records of families who were forced to abandon their homes—most notably across Eastern Europe—during the Holocaust. Admission is free. 851 North Maitland Avenue, Maitland. 407-628-0555. holocaustedu.org.
Winter Park History Museum. The museum’s new exhibition, Golden Roots: The Citrus Legacy of Winter Park, explores how the citrus industry helped build Winter Park through photographs, oral histories and period tools that immerse visitors in the daily lives of citrus barons and field hands in equal measure. Admission is free. 200 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-2330. wphistory.org.
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 at the Winter Park Library for this new lecture series, which highlights current anthropological and archaeological investigations with a special focus on Central Florida. Upcoming dates are slated for October 12, November 16 and December 21. Enjoy light refreshments and socializing when the doors open at 6:30 p.m., followed by presentations 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 slated for October 8, November 12 and December 10. 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 visit the museum’s website for upcoming subjects and dates. Programs take place at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free. 161 West Canton Avenue, Winter Park. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.
A Conversation With José Andrés. Andrés—a chef, restaurateur, author and humanitarian—discusses his belief in the power we all have to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. His appearance, part of a speaker series presented by the Winter Park Institute, is slated for October 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Warden Arena on the campus of Rollins College. Tickets range in price from $25 to $150. The celebrity chef is the founder of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a nonprofit that provides emergency food relief to areas impacted by natural disasters and humanitarian crises. WCK was the subject of an Emmy-winning National Geographic documentary, We Feed People, directed by Ron Howard in 2022. To salute the work of Andrés, the Institute and Orlando Health—the event’s presenting sponsor—will make a donation to Special Hearts Farm, a Winter Garden-based nonprofit that serves individuals with disabilities and special abilities through adult day training, supported employment and possible entrepreneurial opportunities related to farming and gardening. Andres’s topic clearly complements and amplifies the Institute’s 2026 speaker series theme: “Human Flourishing: How We Live Well Together.” 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park. winterparkinstitute.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 92nd season with a concert by Roomful of Teeth (October 4, 3 p.m., Knowles Memorial Chapel), a Grammy-winning ensemble that blends global vocal techniques and bold contemporary repertoire. Up next is a Choral Masterworks performance of Hector Berlioz’s Requiem (October 25, 3 p.m., Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Phillips Center), a monumental 1837 sacred work that is considered to be a defining masterpiece of the Romantic era. That’s followed by the Bach Vocal Artists with Fables, Feathers and Fins (October 29, 7:30 p.m., Tiedtke Concert Hall), in which the chamber ensemble explores storytelling through music inspired by animals, myths, and whimsical creatures. Insights & Sounds presents Boston Six (November 13, 7 p.m., Tiedtke Concert Hall), a collaboration with the Bach Festival Choir featuring works by classical American composers of the 19th century. Then the Choral Masterworks series continues with Classic Christmas (December 12, 3 and 7 p.m.; and December 13, 1 and 3:30 p.m.; Knowles Memorial Chapel), a Central Florida tradition that showcases stunning arrangements of traditional holiday music sung by the Bach Choir and Orchestra. Tickets start at $20. 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park. 407-646-2182. bachfestivalflorida.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, roots, swing and blues. Upcoming concerts include Mafalda Minnozzi (October 2, 8 p.m.), Ricky Sylvia & The Buzzcatz (October 3, 8 p.m.), Bublé & Beyond with Mark Raisch (October 4, 3 p.m.), Callisto Sextet with Jeremy Fratti (October 9, 8 p.m.), Walter Parks & The Unlawful Assembly (October 16, 8 p.m.), Niels Sayers Magic Comedy (October 17, 8 p.m.), Cigano Swing (October 23, 8 p.m.), Maitland Symphony Orchestra (October 25, 3 p.m.), Allan Vache Swingtet (November 1, 3 p.m.), In Honor & Gratitude: A Musical Tribute to Veterans (November 5, 7:30 p.m.), Cordone & Kilgore (November 6, 8 p.m.), Assel Jean-Pierre Trio (November 7, 8 p.m.), Peter White (November 8, 7 p.m.), Daniela Soledade & The Nate Najar Trio (November 13, 8 p.m.), Ultimate Santana Band (November 14, 8 p.m.), Michael Andrew & Ray Gelato (November 20, 8 p.m.), David Smith Quartet (November 21, 8 p.m.), Bravo Chamber Orchestra (November 22, 3 p.m.), Groove Sleighers (November 28, 8 p.m.), Palm Beach Society Orchestra (November 29, 3 p.m.), Orlando Jazz Orchestra (December 6, 3 p.m.), Ricky Sylvia & The Buzzcatz (December 11, 8 p.m.), Adam Hawley (December 12, 8 p.m.), Patrick Lamb (December 18, 8 p.m.), Julian Vaughn, Marcus Anderson & Lori Williams (December 19, 8 p.m.) and Evan Taylor & Adrian Crutchfield (December 20, 7 p.m.). Ticket prices typically range from $35 to $45, but Thursday nights are always reserved for free concerts followed by a “Thursday Night Hang” jam session that audience members are invited to join. 460 West New England Avenue (the former Winter Park Library), Winter Park. 407-636-9951. 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 dates include The Best of Joe Hill (October 17), The Best of Hip-Hop on Strings (November 28) and Christmas Classics (December 17 and 22). There are usually two shows, at 6:30 and 8:45 p.m., and tickets 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 acts include a Gamble Rogers tribute concert (see listing below) featuring Bob Patterson, Jerry Mincey and Tony Macalusco (October 18), Dave Rudolf (November 15) and Hat Trick with Emmett Carlisle (December 13). 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.
Gamble Rogers Orange Blossom Special. The Winter Park Library salutes the legacy of James Gamble Rogers IV, a beloved folk singer and a member of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, with its fifth annual Gamble Rogers Orange Blossom Special. The celebration includes a presentation of the 2020 documentary film Gamble Rogers: Down at the Terminal Tavern on October 17 and a tribute concert on October 18. Both are at 2 p.m. in the library’s 100-seat Edyth Bush Theater. The concert, presented in partnership with Central Florida Folk, features Rogers’s friends (and folk music icons) Bob Patterson and Jerry Mincey. Admission is free and reservations may be made on the library’s website. 1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. 407-623-3300. winterparklibrary.com.
Music at the Casa. The Casa Feliz Historic Home & Venue presents some of the area’s most talented performing artists, including opera singers, jazz guitarists and flamenco dancers who perform in the intimate courtyard of Winter Park’s beloved Andalusian-style landmark. Tickets are $15 and advance purchase is recommended since courtyard space is limited. Wine, beer and snacks will be available for purchase. (In the event of inclement weather, performances move indoors to the Polly & Thaddeus Seymour Parlor.) Upcoming acts include Fritz Klezmer (October 15) and the Tanner Johnson Trio (November 18). Showtimes are at 6:30 p.m. 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, supporting the Maitland Symphony Orchestra, Maitland Market Music, the Maitland Stage Band, the Bravo Chamber Orchestra and the Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra. 321-303-1711. 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 meetings are slated for October 8, November 12 and December 10 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 meetings are slated for October 6, November 3 and December 1. 1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. 321.439.6020. storytellersofcentralflorida.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 slated for October 14, November 11 and December 9. 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 slated for October 28, November 25 and December 23. meetup.com/writers-of-central-florida-or-thereabouts.
NETWORKING
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 third Wednesday of most months, are slated for October 21, November 18 and December 16 (locations 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 slated for October 2, November 6 and December 4. 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 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 slated for October 5, November 2 and December 7. 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.
Tabitha’s Table. This free monthly gathering for widows and widowers meets the third Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon in the Prayer Center at Calvary Orlando, 1199 Clay Street, Winter Park. Just drop in; no registration is required. 407-644-1199. calveryorlandoi.org/sisterhood.
NATURE
GrowVember. Mead Botanical Garden’s annual fall festival and plant sale, held on November 14 and 15, 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 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.
Mead Botanical Garden Restoration. Join the Tarflower Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society to help weed, water and install new plants. Plus, you’ll have the chance to learn about native plants and the wildlife that they support. Upcoming dates are slated for October 4, November 15 and December 6 from 9 to noon. 1300 South Denning Drive, Winter Park. 407.622.6323. meadgarden.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. Upcoming meetings are slated for October 14, November 11 and December 9. 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, Winter Park. 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.
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 the coffee. Upcoming events are slated for October 1, November 5 and December 3. The hourlong sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall, 401 South Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-8281. cityofwinterpark.org.
HOLIDAYS
15th Annual Veterans Day Celebration. Come to Hannibal Square’s Shady Park (Pennsylvania and New England avenues) November 6 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.
48th 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 slated for December 3, 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, slated this year for December 5 at 9 a.m., has delighted locals since the early 1950s. More than 80 parade units 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 54th annual local performance—is November 15 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 slated this year for December 12 at 3 and 7 p.m. and December 13 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, slated this year for December 4 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 offers free admission that day from 4 to 8 p.m. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/winter-on-the-avenue.
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 50 “Best Of” categories are announced. Enjoy live music, beer, wine and light bites from local favorites. The event is at the Winter Park Farmers’ Market, 200 West New England Avenue, on October 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. 407-544-8281. winterpark.org/best-of-winter-park.
Cows ‘n’ Cabs. The 14th annual edition of this celebration of food and good causes opens November 5, with Tapas & Tinis, an intimate event that features small plates and a rainbow of martinis from participating restaurants. The big night, of course, is November 7, when 30-plus local restaurants 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 53rd 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 November 14 and 15 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.
Makers Market. St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church hosts a Makers’ Market that highlights the creative talents of the church’s parishioners, with proceeds from sales slated to benefit two charities. The event will include both fine arts and crafts as well as children’s activities and demonstrations. Check it out on October 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and October 11 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Parish Hall. 526 North Park Avenue, Winter Park. stmm.org.
POLASEK CARVES A 65-YEAR MILESTONE
The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens has been celebrating its 65th anniversary all year with a dynamic lineup of special exhibitions, intimate musical performances and community showcases.
Among the commemorations will be a free, open-to-the-public event on Tuesday, November 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. The gathering will feature cake and champagne, refreshments, raffle prizes, a commemorative anniversary giveaway and the debut of a special video that will highlight the museum’s history. Advance registration is encouraged.
Also marking the milestone will be an exhibition at the Winter Park Library through October and November. The display will feature sculptures and artwork by Polasek alongside archival photographs, documents and artifacts—some of which have never before been publicly exhibited.
Born in Moravia (now the Czech Republic), Polasek worked as an apprentice woodcarver in Vienna before immigrating at the age of 22 to the U.S., where he studied sculpture at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and for 30 years served as head of the sculpture department at the Art Institute of Chicago.
As an artist, his career-defining sculpture was Man Carving His Own Destiny (1908), although he also won international acclaim for The Sower (1911) and Victorious Christ (1920). His Woodrow Wilson Monument (1928), erected in Prague, celebrated the president’s role in securing the independence of Czechoslovakia.
Polasek retired to Winter Park in 1950, at age 70, and only added to his renown through his late-career work—which, under the circumstances, is all the more remarkable. Just months after his relocation, he suffered a stroke that paralyzed the left side of his body. The sculptor died in 1965.
Today, the Albin Polasek Foundation owns and operates the sculptor’s historic Mediterranean-style estate, which attracts more than 30,000 visitors annually. Also on the property is the Capen House at the Polasek, a historic home that previously stood across Lake Osceola, which was relocated and saved from demolition in 2014.
The museum—which features quarterly rotating exhibitions—also hosts the Winter Park Paint Out, an annual event held in April that hosts plein air painters from across the country, and Czech Heritage Day, slated this year for Sunday, September 13.
Says Executive Director Jennifer Deery: “When I think back to stories of the early days when there was no air conditioning, the grounds were only open during certain months, there were no gallery shows and no Capen House, it’s exciting to now celebrate not only that history but our progress.”
—Randy Noles
LATIN FEST AMPLIFIES DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
This summer’s earthquakes in Venezuela were especially impactful for Open Scene, a Latina-led nonprofit that’s dedicated to amplifying the voices of multicultural communities through a series of performances, installations, workshops, visual art, staged readings and discussion sessions.
Since most of the organization’s leaders are Venezuelan, it seemed natural and logical that the tragedy be reflected in the programming of its sixth annual Latin Festival of Performing Arts (FLAE VI), which will run from Monday to Sunday, October 12 to 18, at the Maitland Art Center.
The result is Interlude, an installation by Colombia-born, Panama-based artist Remedios (Maria Camila Bernal Toro) that will be on view when the festival gets underway on Monday, October 12, at the historic center, which is itself a work of architectural art.
The installation is a textile-based construction that presents images of hearts, gardens, flowers, beetles, rabbits and other natural forms in a walk-through environment.
According to Thamara Bejarano, executive director of Open Scene, the idea is to impart “a sense of softness and shelter” where visitors can feel the grief and loss caused by horrific events followed by the uplifting sensation of life beginning anew. (The installation will be augmented by a “live activation” on Wednesday, October 14, at 7 p.m., in which a dancer will interact with Interlude to the accompaniment of live music.)
Such rapid responsiveness to real-world events underlines the global-mindedness of Open Scene’s signature event, which will again highlight underrepresented communities both here and abroad through a series of performances, visual art, staged readings and discussions.
Elsewhere in the world, the war in Iran is reflected in Kintsugi (Thursday, October 15, at 7 p.m.), a staged reading of testimonies from witnesses to that country’s upheavals. Iran is also the inspiration for Vilomah: Against the Natural Order, a solo exhibition by artist Soude Dadras that considers her native country’s turmoil through “traditional handwork, found objects, video, abandoned textiles and discarded data.”
FLAE VI will also host a multimedia event, Right in the Eye (Saturday, October 17, at 7 p.m.), a live concert/movie hybrid that uses more than 50 instruments and audio devices to recontextualize the work of French filmmaker Georges Méliès (creator of the seminal 1902 silent short A Trip to the Moon).
Making its local stage debut will be Blanco Temblor (Sunday, October 18, at 7 p.m.), a drama by Puerto Rican playwright/director Carola García López that depicts an astrophysicist’s struggle with bipolar disorder after attempting suicide.
Every program presented at FLAE VI will be available in more than 25 languages through either captions visible on smartphones or audio fed to headphones. Some events will be free, while others will follow a choose-what-to-pay model, with a suggested minimum of $21.
The Maitland Art Center—which operates under the umbrella of the Art & History Museums of Maitland—is located at 231 West Packwood Avenue, Maitland. For more information, call Open Scene at 407-923-6535 or visit openscene.org.
—Steve Schneider
FRIGHT FLICKS AND CREEPY COCKTAILS
For the past 10 years, Enzian and its neighboring Eden Bar have celebrated all things spooky during October. Themed parties are thrown, films are shown that represent the heights of the horror genre and custom cocktails are served that relate to the shocking (or just quaintly charming) scenarios that unfold on the screen.
But don’t let the anniversary fool you: Some screenings during this year’s annual 13+ Films of Halloween harken much farther back than a mere decade. One of the key entries on the schedule, in fact, is a noontime screening of the 1922 German classic Nosferatu, a timeless take on the vampire myth directed by F.W. Murnau (Sunday, October 25).
In a nod to the way cinematic terror was experienced way back then, a live musical soundtrack will be provided by Orlando’s own Fernwood String Quartet, which will perform a brand-new score written by multiple members of the Central Florida Composers Forum.
Just like in the heyday of silent cinema—when theaters retained everything from solo organists to full orchestras—the music will punctuate the action as victims are stalked by the undead Count Orlok, who, be warned, makes Bela Lugosi look like George Clooney.
The visuals will be a bit less disturbing at Popcorn Flicks in the Park, the series of free al fresco screenings Enzian presents every month in Central Park. This year’s offering will be 2006’s Monster House (Thursday, October 8, at 8 p.m.), an animated hit that slaps a fresh coat of paint on the haunted house trope. Showtime will be Thursday, October 8, at 8 p.m.
Those are just two highlights of the monthlong calendar that will be packed with fright flicks ranging from the beloved to the obscure. (Or if you’re a real horror buff, both.)
Among the other most notable films slated will be 1981’s Possession, (Saturday, October 3, at midnight); 1986’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (Tuesday, October 6, at 9:30 p.m.); and 1964’s Kwaidan (Saturday, October 10, at 10:30 a.m.)—the influential Japanese chiller that notched an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
The fiendish festivities will come to an end on Halloween night with a party keyed to the slogan “Last Stop: Eden Street Station” (named for the Eden Bar). Attendees at the 8 p.m. event are encouraged to dress according to a “subterranean” motif. The evening will conclude with a midnight showing of 1981’s Halloween II.
Enzian is located at 1300 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland. For more information and a full schedule of films, call 407-629-1088 or visit enzian.org.
—Steve Schneider
MUDDY MAYHEM MEETS PSYCHEDELIC HORROR
No matter what you thought of this year’s World Cup, The Bounds, Stewart Pringle’s genre-bending dark comedy, is here to remind you that things could have been much worse.
Making its North American premiere in the Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College—which is kicking off its 94th season—the play is set in Northern England in 1553, when football matches could last for days, the playing field was miles long and there was more than a passing chance of bloodshed before the whole thing was over.
Performances are slated for Thursday to Saturday, October 22 to 25. Curtain time on Thursday and Friday will be at 7:30 p.m., on Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 4 p.m. The director will be Tony Morton, a visiting assistant professor in the school’s theater department.
The script of The Bounds has been compared to Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot After all, both plays involve waiting in an isolated location and both are fundamentally about human helplessness. In The Bounds, however, things actually happen—some pretty heavy things—especially in the surreal but politically charged second half.
The premise: Two local peasants, Percy and Rowan, have been relegated by their team to “the bounds”—a remote, muddy, isolated boundary miles away from the ball. As they bide their time and hope that the game will come their way, a wealthy stranger named Samuel appears and brings news that will destroy their illusions and shatter their lives.
“It’s been a long time since I read a play and gasped aloud,” says Morton. “The Bounds is a dark-comical, gothic folktale with a dash of horror and sci-fi. And the ending is unlike any other play I have seen or read.”
Audiences, he adds, should expect more than just a story about football: “These characters are barely holding on—they’re one missed day of work or one bad crop away from catastrophe. This play explores how decisions made by the king or the church play out for the impoverished and the powerless.”
The Annie Russell Theatre is located at 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park, on the campus of Rollins College. For more information, call 407-646-2145 or visitrollins.edu.
—Steve Schneider
WHAT IN THUNDER? BERLIOZ’S REQUIEM!
Small wonder that Hector Berlioz’s 1837 Requiem isn’t performed very often: It requires a veritable multitude of singers and players, including a quartet of brass bands set up in the four corners of the concert hall.
But never let it be said that John V. Sinclair, conductor and artistic director of the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, isn’t up for a challenge. He and his talent-laden team will certainly rise to the occasion on Sunday, October 25, at 3 p.m. in Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Philips Center.
For the Berlioz work, vocals will be handled by a choir of more than 200 headlined by tenor Jonathan Boyd. They’ll be joined by the society’s 90-piece orchestra, which for this extravaganza will have 18 extra brass players situated around the room to achieve the intended immersive effect.
“For perspective, there are usually four or five tympani on stage and we’ll be using 15,” says Sinclair. “In the historic world of oratorio repertoire, this work is always considered one of the most massive undertakings. It isn’t just a concert but an experience.”
Officially titled Grande Messe des Morts, Op. 5, the work debuted at a December 1837 memorial for French General Charles-Marie Denys de Damrémont and the soldiers under his command who had been killed during the otherwise successful Second Siege of Constantine in Algeria.
Sinclair, though, stresses that the Requiem is about more than mere bombast and is rather a landmark study in color and dynamics. “While known for its earth-shaking loud moments, this work is equally famous for its fragile, quiet passages,” he says. “It expanded the boundaries of sound theatricality for classical music.”
Dr. Phillips Center is located at 445 South Magnolia Avenue, Orlando. For more information, call 407-358-6603 or visit drphillipscenter.org.
—Steve Schneider
HOW PLACES BECOME A PART OF WHO WE ARE
Certain vistas, gardens, shorelines, forests or ordinary neighborhood streets can remain with us long after we’ve left them. “We often think of landscapes as something external, but the places we experience become part of who we are,” says Bob Jimenez, founder and gallerist at Solana Fine Art in Winter Park.
Atmospheres of Place—which is slated for October 23 to November 15 at the gallery—will explore how environments, whether real, remembered or imagined, can shape our psychological terrain through the works of painters Ellen Kaiden and Orit Reuben.
“As artists, both Ellen and Orit are deeply attentive observers,” says Jimenez. “Their works encourage us to experience our surroundings more thoughtfully. In a world that demands constant attention, this exhibition offers us an opportunity to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with nature, with memory and with ourselves.”
Kaiden is a full-time watercolorist, with studios in Boynton Beach and the Berkshires in Massachusetts. Her works often suggest the echo of a location rather than show its literal form. Reuben, a former interior designer and now an award-winning impressionist pastel painter whose work often depicts glow and intense light, was born to a family of artists in Israel.
In Atmospheres of Place, Reuben will present luminous landscapes inspired by Florida and other Southeastern settings, while Kaiden’s contributions will capture the rhythms of nature through layered washes and expressive color.
Solana Fine Art is located at 1104 Solana Avenue, Winter Park. For more information, visit solanafineart.com or call 321-972-1774.
—Jenna Marina Lee
AT MILLS GALLERY, THEY GO FOR WINN-WIN NO. 3
Now in its third year at Mills Gallery, the Winn-Win Emerging Artists Exhibition has developed a clearer identity and a stronger sense of purpose under the guidance of Executive Director Juan Pablo Santa Luna.
Santa Luna says that the event has evolved into an opportunity for artists to take creative and emotional risks—and to share stories that are both deeply personal and universally relatable.
“This year’s finalists demonstrate that living with purpose is not a destination but an ongoing process of reflection, adaptation and courage,” adds Santa Luna. “They’re helping the exhibition to mature into a community and start a conversation about what it means to move forward with intention, authenticity and hope.”
Santa Luna conceptualized the exhibition—which is slated to run September 23 to November 13—with the late philanthropist Michael Winn, who died in 2024. Winn’s wife, Gail Cox Adams Winn, has continued as co-presenter. Its goal is to serve as a launchpad for up-and-coming artists.
Five finalists were again selected by a team that included Boris Garbe, founder and lead gallerist; Ambar Santiago, operations manager; Victor Bokas, locally based mixed-media artist; and, of course, Santa Luna, also a mixed-media artist who has been dubbed a “community unifier” by various cultural organizations.
The overall winner, who will be selected by the same panel, will be the subject of his or her own exhibition at Mills Gallery. Each artist who enters will benefit from an intensive mentorship experience leading up to the grand opening.
Finalists are, coincidentally, all UCF graduates or currently enrolled students. They include Camila Gonzalez, whose paintings explore cultural identity, personal memory and human connection; and Greyson Hertzendorf, whose mixed-media works explore the tension between outward composure and internal unrest.
Others include Rese Lazo, whose paintings focus on political tension, internal struggle and personal identity; Angelina Palmisano, whose landscapes and portraits pay homage to love, friendship and family; and Bethany Skena, whose landscapes reflect the emotional dualities of suburban spaces and ideas of home, memory and belonging.
Partial proceeds from the exhibition, as always, will benefit a local nonprofit. This year, Mills Gallery has partnered with the Hi Kid Foundation, which assists low-income families with children who have been diagnosed with life-threatening illness.
Mills Gallery is located at 1650 North Mills Avenue, Orlando. For more information, visit millsgalleryoforlando.com or call 855-336-3653
—Jenna Marina Lee
THE HOUSE THAT MOVED WINTER PARK
The Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum was transplanted to its current location in 2001, then painstakingly renovated and opened as a museum and community venue in 2005. The rescue came just in the nick of time.
It seems like only yesterday but was, in fact, a quarter-century ago. Aptly, the anniversary year has been dubbed “Casa Feliz at 25: The House That Moved a City.” The milestone will be celebrated at a charmingly family friendly 25th Anniversary Community Day on Sunday, October 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Highlights of the free event will include an anniversary cake cutting and ice cream from Winter Park-based Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, which has created a special 25th anniversary flavor. A barbecue food truck will also be on site (from which food may be purchased) while the main stage will highlight bluegrass, jazz, and flamenco music and dancing.
The celebration will also feature a large-format display and the debut of a new short documentary video. Likewise, there’ll be plenty of activities for youngsters, including storytelling, souvenir crafting and bell ringing (yes, the house has an irresistible bell tower).
A Hollywood writer couldn’t have come up with a better backstory. To recap: When a new owner began to raze the cherished landmark so that a modern mansion could be built in its place, a consortium of preservationists, under the auspices of a newly formed grassroots organization called Friends of Casa Feliz, jumped into action.
The group won a reprieve, aided by the discovery of a protected bald eagle’s nest on the property—which resulted in the demolition permit being temporarily rescinded. In the meantime, preservation advocates mobilized the community and raised more than $1.2 million from 400 individual donors.
Then, after the owners donated the house to the city on the condition that it be relocated, contractors used hydraulic structural moving dollies to roll the 750-ton building 300 yards across Interlachen Avenue to a lot next to the Winter Park Golf Course.
Restoration took several more years and was soon bolstered by a $250,000 grant from the state Division of Historical Resources. When the job was finished in the spring of 2025, just about everyone—including doubters and naysayers who had opined that the project was sheer folly—turned out for grand opening ceremonies.
Architect James Gamble Rogers II, perhaps the city’s most significant architect, designed the Andalusian-style masonry farmhouse in 1932 for a private client, Massachusetts industrialist Robert Bruce Barbour. “Design it any way you like,” said Barbour. “If I don’t like it, I’ll sell it.”
Barbour liked it. He and his wife, Nettie, hosted dozens of community gatherings at the home, which at 5,400 square feet was substantial but modest by today’s norms for grand estates. (The largest home Rogers ever built was the endangered 7,000-square-foot Merrywood, whose future remained unclear at press time even after it was purchased by a newly formed LLC called Lake Osceola Holdings.)
Following Barbour’s death in 1941, his wife remained in the house until she sold it in 1951. Multiple owners followed as property values soared and buyers came to see more value in the dirt beneath them than in the sometimes-quirky old structures that fronted the city’s brick-lined streets. Everybody knows how that story usually ends.
But, thankfully, not this time. Casa Feliz—owned by the city and operated by the Friends of Casa Feliz—is open three days a week for docent-led tours. The Music at the Casa series presents jazz and world music in an intimate setting, while the Parlor Series features presentations from historians, artists and other experts on a variety of topics.
“Casa Feliz is only here because a community decided that its architectural history mattered,” says Betsy Owens, the architect’s granddaughter and executive director of the nonprofit. “Twenty-five years later, we want to celebrate not only the saving of the house, but the thousands of people who have passed through its doors and helped give it a vibrant second life.”
Casa Feliz is located at 656 North Park Avenue in Winter Park. For more information call 407-628-8200, extension 2, or visit casafeliz.us.
—Randy Noles