From Startling to Soothing

From startling expressions of pain and mourning to soothing depictions of gardens and harbors, the Cornell Fine Arts Museum on the Rollins College campus is presenting two highly contrasting but equally intriguing exhibitions.

Patrick Martinez: American Memorial features works in paint, neon and in repurposed school folders that represent the act of mourning — which can function as a political protest, an act of defiance and, ultimately, an expression of love.

With his neons, Martinez reimagines texts that reflect harsh realities and embody struggle and fear. His work, Then They Came for Me, is a jarring reminder of the fragility of public safety — and is particularly poignant as Central Floridians commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre.

Martinez’s paintings and drawings are most often of people who are otherwise depicted without respect or dignity — particularly people of color who are victimized by various forms of brutality. Some paintings pay tribute to the ubiquitous use of flowers to commemorate a loss — or to inspire a meditation.

“Patrick Martinez’s art is both timely and consequential,” says Ena Heller, the Cornell’s director. “His works offer a nuanced yet forceful commentary on contemporary society. The dialogue they spark is particularly welcome on campus.”

American Memorial is the first solo show in a museum of work by Martinez, a Los Angeles resident whose early inspiration came from hip-hop culture. He’ll deliver an Artist’s Talk at the Cornell on September 5 at 6 p.m. The exhibition runs through September 10.

In an adjoining gallery is Sea and Sky: Watercolors and Drawings by Paul Signac from the Arkansas Arts Center. The French artist, who gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, favored creating vivid images of harbors and gardens, historic towns and Paris streets.

While Signac is best known for his oil paintings, he was equally a master of art on paper. He began exploring watercolor as a medium during a sea voyage to Saint-Tropez, and subsequently won wide acclaim from both critics and buyers.

The Cornell exhibition, which consists of works collected by Arkansas industrialist James T. Dyke, includes several watercolors from Signac’s ambitious project to depict 100 different harbors in France. Between 1929 and 1932, the artist busily explored ships, docks and waterfront architecture along France’s rivers and sea coasts.

“It’s visceral — like falling in love,” says Dyke of his passion for Signac’s work. His collection represents the artist’s entire career, and encompasses everything from black-and-white sketches to watercolors painted from nature. Dyke gave 133 pieces to the Arkansas Art Center in 1999. Sea and Sky also runs through September 10.

Admission to the Cornell is free, courtesy of Dale Montgomery, Rollins Class of 1960. 1000 Holt Avenue. 407-646-2526. rollins.edu/cfam.

— Randy Noles

FAST FACTS

What: Patrick Martinez: American Memorial and Sea and Sky: Watercolors and Drawings by Paul Signac from the Arkansas Art Center

Where: The Cornell Fine Art Museum at Rollins College

Notes: Two contrasting exhibitions, one featuring politically charged works that represent the act of mourning, the other showcasing vivid watercolor depictions of harbors, gardens and historic towns.

Hours: Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Monday. Admission is free, courtesy of Dale Montgomery, Class of 1960.

Information: Call 407-646-2526, or visit rollins.edu/cfam.

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VISUAL ARTS

Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. This 54-year-old lakeside museum is dedicated to preserving the works of the famed Czech sculptor for whom it was both home and studio for more than a decade. Running through September 3 is Summer of Love: Reflections on Pulse, dedicated to the 49 people killed in the mass shooting at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub last June. The themed exhibition, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of San Francisco’s iconic “Summer of Love,” is based on the idea of art transcending hate. The museum has scheduled three events associated with the exhibition, starting with a July 23 workshop, Collective Light with Marla E, which explores the healing value of collaborative art. Participants in the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. workshop will create mixed-media sculptural lanterns resembling fireflies for a temporary installation in the gardens and to take home as a memento. Beginners and advanced students are welcome; materials are included, but registration is required. Next up, on August 7, is the Artful Book Club’s summer selection, Mislaid by Nell Zink, which was chosen for its thematic overlap with the exhibition. Registration is required for the club’s discussion and gallery tour, which runs from 10-11:30 a.m. Finally, on August 15, learn about the challenges of archiving the Pulse tragedy and other culturally significant events with Orange County Regional History Center Director Michael Perkins during his presentation, Documenting a Collective Narrative. Registration is also required for this event, which runs from 7-8:30 p.m. In addition, the museum offers tours of the restored Capen-Showalter House on Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Regular admission to the museum, which was Polasek’s home from 1949 until his death in 1965, is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for students and free for children. 633 Osceola Avenue, Winter Park. 407-647-6294.
polasek.org.

Art & History Museums – Maitland. The Maitland Art Center, one of five museums anchoring the city’s Cultural Corridor, was founded as an art colony in 1937 by visionary American artist and architect André Smith. The center offers exhibits and classes at its Maitland campus, located at 231 West Packwood Avenue. The complex is the Orlando area’s only National Historic Landmark and one of the few surviving examples of Mayan Revival architecture in the Southeast. Wrapping up on July 2 is a juried exhibition, Architect as Artist, featuring artwork by Florida architects that falls outside the realm of traditional, functional design. The Cultural Corridor also includes the Maitland Historical Museum, where through July 2 an architectural exhibition, Composing Maitland, features the handiwork of art center founder Smith and William H. Waterhouse, who built the Waterhouse Residence. The other three venues are the Telephone Museum, included with the historical museum at 221 West Packwood Avenue, and the Waterhouse Residence Museum, which with the Carpentry Shop Museum was built in the 1880s and is 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, this museum 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. In marking its 75th anniversary this year, the Morse celebrates the breadth and depth of its collection (assembled by founders Hugh and Jeannette McKean) in Celebrating 75 Years — Pathways of American Art at the Morse Museum. The exhibition, which continues through next January, includes portraits, landscape paintings, and works on paper and pottery. Also on display this year: Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Life and Art, which examines Tiffany’s “quest for beauty” through art objects, archival documents and various artifacts representing the artist’s astonishingly diverse body of work in the decorative arts. Continuing through September 24 is The Bride Elect: Gifts from the 1905 Wedding of Elizabeth Owens Morse, which features the original registry and some of the 250 gifts presented to the daughter of Charles Hosmer Morse and Martha Owens Morse by her family’s wealthy friends. Other ongoing exhibitions include Revival and Reform: Eclecticism in the 19th-Century Environment, which encompasses two galleries and has as its centerpiece The Arts, a neoclassical window created by the J&R Lamb Studios, a prominent American glasshouse of the late 19th century. Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $1 for students and free for children younger than 12. In an Independence Day tradition dating from the opening of the current museum on Park Avenue in 1995, the Morse provides free admission to its galleries on July 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in conjunction with Winter Park’s Olde Fashioned 4th of July Celebration in Central Park. 445 North Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.

Cornell Fine Arts Museum. Located on the campus of Rollins College, the museum houses one of the oldest and most eclectic collections of fine art in Florida. Free weekend tours take place at 1 p.m. each Saturday at the campus facility and 1 p.m. each Sunday at the nearby Alfond Inn, which displays dozens of works from the museum’s Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art. Happy Hour art tours of the Alfond Collection are also conducted the first Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Two exhibitions are in the main museum through September 10: Patrick Martinez, American Memorial, which features paintings by this hip-hop-influenced painter from Los Angeles; and Sea and Sky, Watercolors and Drawings by Paul Signac from the Arkansas Arts Center Collection, which features various works by this late 19th- and early 20th-century French artist. (See page 102 for more information.) Meanwhile, the museum’s ongoing Conversations exhibition features selected works from the permanent collection along with recent gifts and select loans through December 31. Admission to the museum is free, courtesy of Dale Montgomery, Rollins Class of 1960. 1000 Holt Avenue. 407-646-2526. rollins.edu/cfam.

Crealdé School of Art. Established in 1975, this not-for-profit arts organization offers year-round visual-arts classes for all ages taught by more than 40 working artists. Through July 29, the school’s Showalter Hughes Community Gallery features the exhibition A Look Back/Coming Back — Works by Henry Sinn, a native Florida artist who studied at Seminole Community College (now Seminole State College) and Rollins College, and who works mostly in mixed media. The school’s 36th annual Juried Student Exhibition, which runs through August 31, showcases some of the past year’s best student work in painting, drawing, photography, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and fiber arts. Admission to the school’s galleries is free, though there are fees for art classes. 600 Saint Andrews Boulevard, Winter Park. 407-671-1886. crealde.org.

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 archival photographs, original artwork and oral histories from longtime residents that together are known as the Heritage Collection. The collection’s Phase IX: Hannibal Square Heroes, is on display through September 2; it celebrates 10 Hannibal Square natives who grew up to become nationally known in their fields, which include music, education and athletics. Also ongoing is the Hannibal Square Timeline, a display that documents significant local and national events in African-American history since the Emancipation Proclamation. Admission is free. 642 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. 407-539-2680. hannibalsquareheritagecenter.org.

PERFORMING ARTS

Annie Russell Theatre. “The Annie,” in continuous operation since 1932, returns from summer break to kick off its 2017-18 season on September 29 with The Cradle Will Rock, a musical allegory written in the 1930s about political corruption and corporate greed. The show, which runs for eight performances through October 7, may be seen at 8 p.m. or at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. matinees. Tickets start at $20. 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park. 407-646-2145. rollins.edu/annie-russell-theatre.

Center for Contemporary Dance. A not-for-profit organization focused on dance education, incubation and production, the center’s programs and performances are designed to provide students of all ages, from novice to professional, with experience in classical, post-classical and world dance forms. Over the past 14 years, the center has supported artists in the presentation of more than 250 new works. The annual Choreographers’ Showcase, slated this year for August 12 and 13, takes audiences into the rehearsal studio and gives them a chance to talk with artistic directors, choreographers and dancers. The two shows are Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12 to $15 each; proceeds benefit the group’s Residency Program, which assists seasoned and rising choreographers as well as modern-dance companies in the area. Both performances are at the center, 3580 Aloma Avenue, No. 7. 407-695-8366. thecenterfordance.org.

Winter Park Playhouse. Winter Park’s only professional, not-for-profit theater opens its 2017-18 mainstage season with Some Enchanted Evening, which runs July 28 through August 20. This musical revue celebrates the music of the legendary Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, with 34 well-loved songs from Broadway classics such as Carousel, The King and I, Oklahoma, South Pacific and The Sound of Music. Up next, running from September 15 through October 8, is Life Could Be a Dream, the Florida premiere of a high-energy musical comedy about a group of doo-wop singers preparing to enter a major radio contest. The show’s score features such classic ’60s rock ’n’ roll hits as “Fools Fall in Love,” “Tears on My Pillow,” “Runaround Sue,” “Earth Angel” and “Unchained Melody.” Both shows are Thursday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. or 2 p.m. Single tickets range from $15 (for students) to $42 for evening performances. Coming April 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. is the Spotlight Cabaret Series featuring Shawn Kilgore. 711 Orange Avenue, Winter Park. 407-645-0145. winterparkplayhouse.org.

FILM

Enzian. This cozy, not-for-profit alternative cinema offers a plethora of film series. This year it kicks off the summer with a special event on July 9: a Filmmaker Workshop: Developing and Producing a Web Series. Participants of all ages and experience levels will learn how to develop and write a TV series for the internet comparable to the popular programs now available on YouTube, Vimeo and Tumblr. The class is taught by Donald Tynes, an instructor in Full Sail University’s bachelor of film program; and Michael Tabb, a veteran Hollywood screenwriter and Full Sail professor. Peanut Butter Matinee Family Films are shown on the fourth Sunday of most months at noon. Next on the schedule: Spy Kids (August 27). Tickets are free for children under 12; otherwise they’re $8 (or $7.50, if you’re an Enzian Film Society member). Saturday Matinee Classics are shown on the second Saturday of each month at noon. Upcoming films include The Young Girls of Rochefort (July 8) and Melvin and Howard (August 12). Tickets are $8. The annual KidFest Summer Movie Series offers film fans of all ages the chance to see a wide selection of family friendly movies — for free. This year’s lineup includes Modern Times (July 11 at 3 p.m., July 16 at 1 p.m. and July 25 at 3 p.m.), The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (July 12 at 3 p.m., July 22 at 1 p.m. and July 26 at 3 p.m.), Arctic Tale (July 13 at 3 p.m., July 23 at 1 p.m. and July 27 at 3 p.m.),  Explorers (July 19 at 3 p.m. and August 2 at 3 p.m.), Boy and the World (July 30 and August 3 at 3 p.m., August 5 and 6 at 1 p.m.). Cult Classics are shown on the second and last Tuesday of each month at 9:30 p.m. Upcoming films include Frailty (July 11), After Hours (July 25), The Last Dragon (August 8) and El Mariachi (August 29). Tickets are $8. Book to Big Screen is a series that examines great films adapted from books. Upcoming films include Life of Pi (August 26 at 11 a.m.). Tickets are $8. FilmSlam, a showcase for Florida-made short films, is held every month except April and November on Sundays at 1 p.m. The next scheduled dates are July 9, August 13 and September 10. Tickets are $8. Other special showings include: the Paris Opera Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (July 15, 11 a.m.); the 2015 Salzburg Easter Festival’s production of the two short operas Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci (August 19, 11 a.m.); the National Theatre Live productions of Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches (September 2, 11 a.m.) and Angels in America Part Two: Perestroika (September 3, 11 a.m.); David Gilmour Live at Pompeii (September 13, 9:30 p.m.); and the Vienna State Ballet’s production of Le Corsaire (September 16, 11 a.m.). 1300 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland. 407-629-0054 (information line), 407-629-1088 (theater offices). enzian.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 usually on the second Thursday of each month and start at about 8 p.m. (or whenever it gets dark). Upcoming films include Beauty and the Beast (July 13) and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (August 10). Bring a blanket or chairs and a snack. 407-629-1088. enzian.org.

Screen on the Green. The City of Maitland offers free outdoor movies each spring and fall on the field at Maitland Middle School. Bring a blanket or chairs for seating. The program’s summer break won’t end until October 1, with a 7:30 p.m. showing of Sing. 1902 Choctaw Trail, Maitland. 407-539-0042. itsmymaitland.com.

HISTORY

Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum. 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 trained docents every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon. Also, live music is featured in the large downstairs parlor on Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. (see Music). 656 North Park Avenue (adjacent to the Winter Park Golf Course). 407-628-8200. casafeliz.us.

Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida. The center is dedicated to combating anti-Semitism, racism and prejudice, with the goal of developing a moral and just community through educational and cultural programs. It houses permanent and temporary exhibitions, archives and a research library. A new exhibition, The Tuskegee Airmen: The Segregated Skies of WWII, explores the history and heroism of the first African-American pilots to fly in combat during World War II. It opens July 3 and continues through September 8. The museum’s ongoing exhibition, Tribute to the Holocaust, presents Holocaust-related artifacts, videos, text, photographs and artwork. Admission is free. 851 North Maitland Avenue, Maitland. 407-628-0555. holocaustedu.org.

Winter Park History Museum. Ongoing displays include artifacts dating from the city’s beginnings as a New England-style resort in the 1880s. Its current exhibition, Winter Park: The War Years, 1941-1945 — Home Front Life in an American Small Town, explores the ways in which World War II affected Winter Parkers. Admission is free. 200 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-2330. wphistory.org.

Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts. 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 city, which was formed by African-Americans; it also sponsors exhibits featuring the works of African-American artists. The museum’s current exhibition is Back in the Day: Reflections of Historic Eatonville, which features artifacts and memorabilia related to Eatonville’s history. Admission is free, though group tours require a reservation and must pay a fee. 227 East Kennedy Boulevard, Eatonville. 407-647-3188. zorafestival.org, hurstonmuseum.org.

HOLIDAYS 

Olde Fashioned 4th of July Celebration. Head for downtown Winter Park on Independence Day to enjoy a bicycle parade, patriotic music by the Bach Festival Brass Band and Bach Festival Choir, free hot dogs and watermelon, horse-drawn wagon rides, games and more from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In a July 4 tradition dating from 1995, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art also provides free admission to its galleries from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to Bach Festival musicians, the main stage in Central Park will feature other entertainment. If you want to start celebrating even earlier, you can kick off the day with the annual Watermelon 5K run, which begins at 7 a.m. on Park Avenue. The race is followed by a Watermelon Eating Contest at 8 a.m. and a Kids’ Run at 8:15 a.m. Military personnel and their family members receive a $10 discount on the 5K registration fee plus a special race bib. 407-599-3463. For information about the race, visit trackshack.com. For information about other activities, visit cityofwinterpark.org.

LECTURES 

Winter Park Institute at Rollins College. Each year the institute presents lectures, readings and seminars by thought leaders in an array of disciplines. Its 2017-18 season kicks off September 12 at 7:30 p.m. with Jon Meacham, executive editor and executive vice president of book publisher Random House and the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. Meacham’s talk on The Art of Leadership: Lessons from the American Presidency, will take place in Knowles Memorial Chapel. (See the special section elsewhere in this issue for information on the full season.) Tickets for Meacham will range from about $15 to $50. 407-646-2145. rollins.edu/wpitickets.

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. at the old railroad depot that also houses the Winter Park History Museum. The open-air market offers baked goods, produce, plants, honey, cheese, meat, flowers, crafts and other specialty items for sale. After shopping, make a morning of it with a stroll along nearby Park Avenue. Dogs are welcome to bring their people. 200 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. cityofwinterpark.org.

MUSIC

Bach Festival Society of Winter Park. The informal and intimate concert series Bach @ the Alfond resumes July 6 in the music conservatory of the Alfond Inn with vocalist Michelle Mailhot, a popular jazz artist who tours with the Orlando-based a cappella group Toxic Audio. Tickets for the 3 p.m. performance are $15; tea and scones are included. 300 East New England Avenue. On July 16, join the Bach Festival Choir for a free “open sing” of Mozart’s Requiem from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Tiedtke Concert Hall on the Rollins College campus, 1000 Holt Avenue. Parking is available a block away in the SunTrust Plaza garage. 407-646-2182. bachfestivalflorida.org.

Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts. This eclectic venue is part performance hall, part recording studio and part art gallery. It offers live performances most evenings, with an emphasis on jazz, classical and world music — although theater, dance and spoken-word presentations are also on the schedule. Upcoming musical events include: fusion band The Conglomerate, July 1 at 8 p.m. ($15); the Crawford Jazz Project presenting Timeless, July 6 and 7 at 8 p.m.; Smokin’ Torpedoes, July 15 and September 9 at 8 p.m. ($15); Blue Bamboo’s One-Year Anniversary, featuring the Orlando Jazz Orchestra, July 18 at 8 p.m. ($20); Carol Stein and Friends, July 19 at 8 p.m. ($15); guitar duo Cortez and Koelble, July 27, August 31 and September 28 at 8 p.m. ($10); Catch the Groove, July 29 at 8 p.m. ($15); Carol Stein and Friends, July 19, August 16 (with Bill Prince) and September 13 (with Mark Miller) at 8 p.m. ($15); and the Larry Fuller Trio, September 14 at 8 p.m. ($20). 1905 Kentucky Avenue. 407-636-9951. bluebambooartcenter.com.

Central Florida Folk. This Winter Park-based not-for-profit is dedicated to promoting and preserving live folk music, primarily through concerts on the last Sunday of each month (except May, when the Florida Folk Festival takes center stage). The group’s primary venue is the Winter Park Public Library, 460 East New England Avenue. The next two library concerts are: Brian Smalley, plus Deserie and Jim, on July 30 at 2 p.m.; and Roy Schneider, plus Sandy and Sharon’s Porch Revue, on August 27 at 2 p.m. A donation of $12 for non-members is suggested. 407-679-6426. cffolk.org.

Dexter’s of Winter Park. This well-known restaurant in Winter Park’s Hannibal Square neighborhood occasionally has live musical acts. Upcoming events include three appearances (July 13 at 7:30 p.m., August 5 at 8:30 p.m. and September 21 at 7:30 p.m.) by the Rico Monaco Band/Rick Monaco Quartet, a high-energy, Latin-flavored rock band that has headlined concerts and festivals, and has opened for national acts in major venues. 558 West New England Avenue. 407-629-1150. dextersorlando.com.

Music at the Casa. The Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum regularly presents Sunday afternoon acoustic performances from noon to 3 p.m. in the home’s main parlor. Upcoming performers include guitarist Brian Hayes (July 2), Beautiful Music String Quartet (July 9), vocalist Shirley Wang (July 16), guitarist Jeff Scott (July 23), guitarist/vocalist Shawn Garvey (August 13), violinist Yaniv Cohen (August 20) and harpist Catherine Way (August 27). Admission is free. 656 North Park Avenue (adjacent to the Winter Park Golf Course). 407-628-8200. casafeliz.us.

Opera in the Park. The first official performances of Opera Orlando’s 2017-18 season are its three-part Opera in the Park series, an outdoor recital program. The series begins August 6 with soprano Kenneithia Mitchell, accompanied by Lynn Peghiny on piano. Baritone Daniel Belcher, also with Peghiny on piano, follows on August 13. The series wraps up August 27 with soprano Wendy Bryn Harmer, accompanied by Robin Stamper on piano. The 2 p.m. performances take place at the University Club of Winter Park, 841 North Park Avenue. Tickets are $30 each or $75 for all three recitals. 407-512-1900. operaorlando.org.

CELEBRATIONS

Summer Sidewalk Sale. Enjoy savings of 50 to 75 percent at participating merchants along Park and New England avenues from July 13- 16. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sponsored by the Park Avenue Merchants Association. 407-644-8281. experienceparkavenue.com.

Old School Pool Party. Hard-working adults (age 18 and up) are invited to hang out by the pool on a Saturday evening (in an alcohol-free environment) to enjoy a midsummer weekend. The July 22 party runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Winter Park Community Center, 721 West New England Avenue. 407-599-3275. cityofwinterpark.org.

5th Annual Luau by the Pool. Celebrate the final days of summer vacation poolside at the Winter Park Community Center on August 12 from 1 to 4 p.m., There’ll be games and contests with prizes. 721 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. 407-599-3275. cityofwinterpark.org.

EVENTS

Florida Blogger & Social Media Conference. This annual, one-day gathering of bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, marketers and others, known informally as FLBlogCon, offers panels and workshops designed to help online entrepreneurs take their blogs to the next creative level and to make money with them through sponsorships and other financial opportunities. This year’s seventh annual conference, scheduled for September 23 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Full Sail University, offers three keynote presentations and more than two-dozen breakout sessions. Tickets are $45 to $75. 3300 University Boulevard. 407-679-6333. flblogcon.com.

Florida Writers Association. The Orlando/Winter Park-Area Chapter meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for guest speakers and discussions organized by author and “book coach” Rik Feeney. Upcoming dates are July 5, August 2 and September 6. University Club of Winter Park, 841 North Park Avenue. The chapter known as the Maitland Writers Group meets the second Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for speakers and discussions organized by Nylda Dieppa-Aldarondo. Upcoming dates are July 13, August 10 and September 14. Maitland Public Library, 501 Maitland Avenue South, Maitland. floridawriters.net.

Nerd Nite Orlando. This monthly gathering is based on a simple premise: Learning is more fun when you’re drinking with friends and colleagues. Introduced to the Orlando area in 2013, Nerd Nite is an evening of entertaining yet thought-provoking presentations in a casual atmosphere. The local version takes place in a comic-book store/craft-beer bar on the east side of Winter Park, with host Ricardo Williams, on the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. Upcoming dates include July 13, August 10 and September 14. The Geek Easy, 114 South Semoran Boulevard, No. 6. 407- 332-9636. orlando.nerdnite.com.

Playwrights Round Table. This play-reading workshop, held on the second Sunday of each month on the Rollins College campus, invites area writers to bring any piece they’re working on for review and discussion. Upcoming dates include July 9, August 13 and September 10 at 1 p.m.. If you plan to read something aloud, you must email info@theprt.com to schedule a time slot. It’s free, though memberships are available. Fred Stone Theater, Rollins College, 1000 Holt Avenue. 407-761-2683. theprt.com.

Sip, Shop & Stroll. On September 14, the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce and the Park Avenue Merchants Association invite you to experience the charm of Park Avenue, the region’s premier shopping district. Discover new merchants while checking out the latest fashions, gift ideas and seasonal menus — all while enjoying wine and hors d’oeuvres offered at participating locations from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $25; check in at the corner of Park Avenue and Morse Boulevard between 5 and 7 p.m. to receive your wine glass and “passport.” 407-644-8281. winterpark.org.

University Club of Winter Park. Members are dedicated to the enjoyment of intellectual activities and socializing with one another. The club’s various activities, including lectures, are open to the public, although nonmembers are asked to donate a $5 activity fee each time they attend. 841 North Park Avenue. 407-644-6149. uclubwp.org.

Wednesday Open Words. One of the area’s longest-running open-mic poetry nights takes place every Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Austin’s Coffee, 929 West Fairbanks Avenue. The free poetry readings are hosted by Curtis Meyer. 407-975-3364. austinscoffee.com.

ISSUES

CoffeeTalk. These free gatherings, sponsored by the City of Winter Park, are usually held on the second Thursday of each month and offer residents an opportunity to discuss issues with top city officials. Coffee is supplied by Barnie’s Coffee Kitchen. Upcoming topics and guests include City Manager Randy Knight (July 28), Commissioner Greg Seidel (August 10) and Commissioner Sarah Sprinkel (September 14). The hour-long sessions start at 8 a.m. at the Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 West Lyman Avenue. 407-644-8281. cityofwinterpark.org.

BUSINESS

Good Morning Winter Park. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, these monthly gatherings attract civic-minded locals who enjoy coffee and conversation about community issues. Typically scheduled for the second Friday of each month; upcoming dates include July 14 and August 11. The networking begins at 8 a.m., followed by a program at 8:30 a.m. Admission, which includes a complimentary continental breakfast, is free. Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 West Lyman Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-8281. winterpark.org.

The Hot Seat. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, this quarterly business-oriented series puts local executives in the spotlight as they offer advice and discuss entrepreneurism, leadership and sales-and-marketing techniques. The next event is August 23 at noon. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members, and reservations are required. Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 West Lyman Avenue. 407-644-8281. winterpark.org.

Winter Park Executive Women. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, these gatherings — held the first Monday of most months — feature guest speakers and provide networking opportunities for women business owners. Topics revolve around leadership development, business growth and local initiatives of special interest to women. Up next is “The Power of Community Engagement,” with featured speaker Peg Cornwell, assistant to the president and director of community relations at Rollins College. Tickets for the August 7 presentation, which include lunch, are $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers, and reservations are required. Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 West Lyman Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-8281. winterpark.org.

CAUSES

Lakes Forest and Grace Watershed Cleanup. Volunteers who help the City of Winter Park collect litter around lakes Forest and Grace, at the south end of the city near Winter Park Road, receive breakfast, a T-shirt, a snack and a water bottle. Kayakers and paddle boarders are welcome to participate. The 8 a.m. assembly point is at 2225 Howard Drive; the cleanup ends at 11 a.m. 407-599-3364. cityofwinterpark.org.

The Sapphire Gala. Cherished, Precious, and Loved Inc., an Orlando-based not-for-profit group that runs a transition home and counseling service for women emerging from human trafficking, sexual exploitation and addiction, holds its fall fundraiser at 7:30 p.m. on September 22 at the Winter Park Community Center. Blue is the thematic color for this formal evening event, which includes dancing. 721 West New England Avenue. 407-240-807. cherishedpreciousloved.org.

Woman’s Club of Winter Park Annual Rummage Sale. This sale, once an annual Labor Day tradition, was revived by the club in 2014 as a fundraiser for area charities. It offers shoppers a wide variety of items donated by local residents, including jewelry, antiques, artwork, books, clothes, furnishings and household items. This year’s September 2 sale is at the club’s headquarters, 419 South Interlachen Avenue. It starts with a bake sale at 9 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m., with a lunch menu available from George’s Gourmet to Go. 407-644-2237. womansclubofwinterpark.com.

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ARTS ORGANIZATIONS JOIN FORCES ONLINE

In a city bursting at the seams with arts and culture, who can keep up with it all? Making matters more difficult, there hasn’t been a single source of information about who’s doing what.

Enter the Arts & Culture Subcommittee, which was formed as part of the city’s Public Art Advisory Board in an effort to enhance and improve awareness and visibility of the city’s numerous nonprofit arts and cultural organizations.

The initial result of the subcommittee’s work is a hyper-local city website: cityofwinterpark.org/arts-culture, where you’ll find:

• A comprehensive directory of all nonprofit arts and cultural organizations located within Winter Park’s city limits, including contact information and links to individual websites.
• An extensive and easy-to-navigate month-by-month events calendar featuring all scheduled arts and cultural experiences being offered by those organizations.
• Information about upcoming communitywide arts and cultural events, such as the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, among others.

Organizations participating in Winter Park’s first-ever combined arts and cultural calendar include: The Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden (and the adjacent Capen-Showalter House); the Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College; Art in Chambers at City Hall; Art on the Green in Central Park; the Autumn Art Festival in Central Park; the Bach Festival Society of Winter; Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts; the Casa Feliz Historic Home; the Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College; the Crealdé School of Art; the Fred Stone Theater at Rollins College; the Galloway Room at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center; GladdeningLight; the Hannibal Square Heritage Center; Mead Botanical Garden; the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art; the Winter Park History Museum; the Winter Park Institute at Rollins College; the Winter Park Playhouse; and the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival.

There are also links to the Winter Park Public Library’s Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival Collection — all the Best of Show winners from years past — and Paint Out, a plein air painting event sponsored by the Polasek. You can also follow local arts and cultural events via Twitter, at #wpinspires.