WAY DOWN UPON THE INDIAN RIVER
Rollins students sing the estuary’s praises while advocating for ecology.
Did you know that the Indian River Lagoon, part of the Intracoastal Waterway that runs along the state’s east coast, is actually a grouping of three lagoons: the Mosquito Lagoon, the Banana River and the Indian River? And did you know that it’s one of the most biodiverse estuaries in the northern hemisphere and home to more than 4,300 species of plants and animals?
The Indigenous people who lived along the Indian River—known as the Ais (or Ays)—thrived on its plentiful fish and shellfish and left behind middens piled with refuse from clams, oysters and mussels. But, like most natural areas in modern Florida, this historically significant ecological treasure trove faces human-created challenges.
There are toxic algae blooms and disturbingly frequent deaths of birds, manatees and dolphins in the area. Harmful bacteria have rendered some of the lagoon’s water dangerous for human contact.
But hold on. Isn’t this a lifestyle magazine? What’s the deal with the focus on ecology? According to Rollins College music professor Dan Flick, raising awareness about an environmental issue—indeed, about any pressing societal concern—can be effectively accomplished through topical multimedia musical presentations.
And he makes his case with a class offered each semester at the college, “The Show Goes On,” in which eight to 10 students—all music majors—research, write, rehearse and perform an original educational program. The first such program, The Flame of Freedom, was about democracy and was presented in the fall of 2023. The most recent program, produced in the fall of 2024, was The Indian River Estuary in Concert.
“Music is never just about music,” notes Flick. “Artists and creators almost always have a statement to make about some aspect of society. Not reactionary, but actionary—about how to help. And working with these smart, engaged kids has confirmed to me that we’re in good hands.”
The Indian River Estuary in Concert is a history lesson, a call to action and a showcase of musical styles presented as an uninterrupted string of 11 original songs—mostly co-written by teams of students—that range in genre from folk to rap to rock ‘n’ roll.
Narration is the glue that binds together the musical offerings about the estuary, its history, its ecological significance and its present-day struggle for survival. Video projections of river scenes on a screen behind the performers add to the impact and interest.
Although the class is finished, the student-participants will reunite to reprise the event—which was originally staged at the on-campus John M. Tiedtke Concert Hall—at the Atlantic Center for the Arts (Tuesday, April 8) and the Brannon Center (Thursday April 10), both in New Smyrna Beach. Both start at 1 p.m. and are free and open to the public.
The Brannon Center performance will be a highlight of the ShORE Symposium (sponsored by Sharing Our Research with Everyone on the Indian River, hence the title’s odd capitalization). The organization seeks to bring awareness to issues impacting the lagoon by sharing impactful student and professional programs and projects.
Developing the concert was quite an intensive undertaking. The class was joined by guest lecturers who discussed the science and the history of the region. Students also took a field trip to the New Smyrna Museum of Natural History and embarked on a boat tour offered by the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau’s Marine Discovery Center.
Leslie Poole, an environmental studies professor, spoke to the class about the crucial role of women and their organizations in the state’s conservation movement—a topic about which she has authored several books. Poole’s talk inspired a song used in the concert called “Women You Don’t Say No To.”
Among themselves, and under Flick’s watchful eye, students divided responsibilities and mapped out a flow, if you will, for the show. Their musical contributions were informed by their specific talents with an eye toward effective storytelling. Orlando-based crooner and composer Michael Andrew stopped by to listen and to offer suggestions, adds Flick, and occasionally got misty-eyed at the power of the music.
Consequently, The Indian River Estuary in Concert, which lasts an hour or so, seemingly flies by and leaves attendees feeling both informed and, hopefully, inspired. Sophomore Noila Demers, a guitarist and vocalist, is a seventh-generation Floridian who says that the experience made her feel “closer to my history.”
Junior Wave Wildman, a vocalist and percussionist from Los Angeles, “knew nothing at all” about the Indian River and says she was both fascinated by its history—she wrote much of the narration—and intrigued by the dynamics inherit in successful creative collaborations.
Other participants in The Indian River Estuary in Concert include Bryan Adames (vocals and percussion); Akina-Naomi Kennedy (vocals and guitar); Kate Reilly (vocals and percussion); Em Segal (vocals and percussion); Thomas Todia (violin); Tyler Warnick (vocal and percussion) and Jacob Zhang (keyboards).
It was actually John Sinclair, chair of the college’s department of music and artistic director of the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, who encouraged Flick to offer a class of this sort. “I knew Dan was a master at putting together musical programs that had educational components,” says Sinclair. “I’m a history buff, and I learned a lot. Plus, the topics have been hugely timely.”
Sinclair asked Sondra Jones, education manager of the Bach Festival, to assist Flick and to work toward offering subsequent programs in public schools through the festival’s educational outreach program. The next topic, which the class in the fall of this year will tackle, hasn’t yet been decided, says Flick.
The Atlantic Center for the Arts is located at 1414 Art Center Avenue, New Smyrna Beach. For more information, visit atlanticcenterforthearts.org or call 386-427-6975. The Bannon Center is located at 105 South Riverside Drive, New Smyrna Beach in Riverside Park. For more information, visit brannoncenter.com or call 386-410-2880.
—Randy Noles
VISUAL ARTS
17th Annual Winter Park Paint-Out. The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens will again host the annual event, slated for April 20 to 26, during which 22 specifically invited plein air artists set up their easels at the museum and scenic locations throughout the city. (See page 110.) Admission to the museum, sculpture gardens and gallery are free during the weeklong event. 633 Osceola Avenue, Winter Park. 407-647-6294. winterparkpaintout.com.
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 Tuesdays to Saturdays. And it offers tours of the adjacent Capen-Showalter House three times weekly: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m., and Saturdays at 10:15 a.m. Built in 1885, the Capen-Showalter House was saved from demolition several years ago and floated across Lake Osceola to its current location on the Polasek’s grounds. Continuing through April 13 is A Matter of Time, which showcases Floridian Paul Baliker’s environmentally themed driftwood sculptures. 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. Continuing through April 13 is Future Nature: The Silent Conversations of Sinuhé Vega, a collection of paintings and ceramic sculptures that delve into themes of ecological and human fragility. (See page 106.) And opening April 26 is Loss, an exhibition of works by Florida sculptor Mike Massaro that delves into nuanced themes of change, loss and rebirth. 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 and Telephone Museum at 221 West Packwood Avenue, and the Waterhouse Residence Museum and Carpentry Shop Museum, both built in the 1880s and located at 820 Lake Lily Drive. 407-539-2181. artandhistory.org.
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. With more than 19,000 square feet of gallery and public space, the Morse houses the world’s most important collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany creations, including jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass and an entire chapel interior originally designed and built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. In celebration of the chapel’s 25th anniversary at the museum are two exhibitions: After the Fair, which follows the previously neglected ecclesiastical masterwork’s incredible journey from Chicago to Winter Park; and Fathers of the Church—a glass mosaic on loan from The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass in New York—that was also crafted for the Columbian Exposition. Likewise new at the museum are an intriguing pair of exhibitions: Arts & Letters, which explores the all-but lost art of letter-
writing; and World’s Fairs Vignette, a display of glass, art pottery and furniture as well as ephemera salvaged along with the chapel from the Columbian Exposition. Other current exhibitions are View of Oyster Bay, a notable example of Tiffany’s artistry in leaded glass that has been on extended loan from the Morse to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City; The American Arts & Crafts Movement, which features distinctive furniture, metalwork and design created during the turn of last century; and Fascinating Clutter: American Taste During the Reign of Victoria, which explores the rich, romantic aesthetic landscape of the 19th century and how industry, expansion and war influenced personal and artistic expression. Also illuminated are Lamps & Lighting: Tiffany and His Contemporaries, a showcase of Tiffany’s most innovative and iconic designs; and Vignette, a collection of décor items from the Ayer Mansion in Chicago, one of Tiffany’s most complete residential design commissions. Another ongoing exhibition is Revival & Reform: Eclecticism in the 19th-Century Environment, which provides a rare look at the diversity of decorative arts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with pieces by Tiffany, William Morris, Frank Lloyd Wright and others. Additional displays include Watercolors from Louis Comfort Tiffany’s “Little Arcadia,” which invites visitors to look beyond Tiffany’s legacy to discover the gifts of other talented artists—especially women—who worked in his studios. Regular admission to the museum is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $1 for students and free for children younger than age 12. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. 445 North Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.
Crealdé School of Art. Established in 1975, this nonprofit organization on Winter Park’s east side offers year-round visual-arts classes for all ages taught by more than 40 working artists. Visitors may take a self-guided tour through the campus’s lakeside sculpture garden, which includes more than 60 pieces of contemporary outdoor art and related educational panels. Continuing through May 3 is Converging Realities, which features works by Orlando-based painter P.J. Svejda and Ocala-based mixed-media artist Charles Eady that offer a profound exploration of humanity’s connection to nature and history—encouraging critical awareness of conservation efforts and overlooked stories shaping our collective identity. 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 May 11 are: Beyond the Surface: Capturing Meaning Through Portraiture, which examines how paintings of people can influence perceptions of their subjects and tell stories of their historical context; Art Encounters: Rethinking My Relationship to the Land, a selection of works from the museum’s collection that address human-driven climate change; Classical Refractions: The Legacy of Antiquity in Visual Culture, which explores how artists from the Renaissance through today have employed the techniques and themes of their ancient Greek and Roman predecessors; and Symbolic Languages: Children’s Understandings of the Collection, which demonstrates the ways children perceive, interpret and evaluate works of art. Opening May 31 are: Masks & Mirrors: Reflections of Femininity in Photography, a selection of works from the museum’s collection that spotlights the interaction of gender and technology between the early use of photography and the dawn of the Internet; Portrait of a Movement, which builds upon recent scholarship and ongoing revivals to offer a more nuanced interpretation of the Bloomsbury Group (a cadre of associated British writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists in the early 20th century); and Sacred Land, a photographic exhibition that seeks to capture both the ancient and contemporary soul of Israel. Guided tours take place at 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at the nearby Alfond Inn, where a selection of more than 400 works is on view from the museum’s Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art. Happy Hour tours of the Alfond Collection are also conducted on the first Wednesday of most months at 5:30 p.m. If you prefer historic works, Throwback Thursday tours are offered at the museum from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of most months. Admission is free, courtesy of PNC Financial Services Group. 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park. 407-646-2526. rollins.edu/rma.
Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Art. Eatonville is strongly associated with Harlem Renaissance writer and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston, who lived there as a girl and recorded her childhood memories in her classic autobiography, Dust Tracks on a Road. The museum that bears her name provides information about the historic city and sponsors exhibitions that feature the works of African American artists. 344 East Kennedy Boulevard, Eatonville. Admission is usually free, although group tours require a reservation and require 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, will conclude its 92nd season with Michael Gore’s Carrie: The Musical, based on Stephen King’s legendary horror novel. The play will run April 24 to 27, and 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 will continue its 2024-25 season with Gigolo: The New Cole Porter Revue, which runs through April 12 and uses the composer’s iconic songs to tell the story of an international playboy and his relationships with four beautiful women. That critically praised romp is followed by another: Route 66 (May 9 to June 8), a musical journey across the country set to pop favorites from the 1950s and 1960s. Performances are Thursdays to Sundays, with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets range in price from $20 for students to $46 for evening shows. 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, 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. The annual Florida Film Festival, which runs April 11 to 20, will feature more than 160 films. (See page 48.) 300 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland. 407-629-0054 (information line), 407-629-1088 (theater offices). enzian.org.
Friday Brown Bag Matinees. 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. Admission is free to these lunchtime screenings, which span the noon hour on select Fridays in the Jeannette G. and Hugh F. McKean Pavilion on Canton Avenue, just behind the museum. The three-part spring series The Art of Fashion continues with the second part of John Singer Sargent: Fashion & Swagger on April 4 followed by Riveted: The History of Jeans on April 18. Attendees are invited to bring their own lunches; the museum provides soft drinks and themed refreshments. 161 West Canton Avenue. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.
Popcorn Flicks in the Park. The City of Winter Park and Enzian collaborate to offer classic, family-friendly films free in Central Park on Park Avenue. These outdoor screenings are typically held the second Thursday of each month and start at 7 or 8 p.m. Don’t forget to pack a picnic and bring blankets or chairs. 407-629-1088. enzian.org.
HISTORY
Casa Feliz Historic Home & Venue. This stunningly restored Spanish farmhouse-style home, designed by acclaimed architect James Gamble Rogers II, is now a community center and museum. Free open houses are hosted by docents on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon. 656 North Park Avenue (adjacent to the Winter Park Golf Course), Winter Park. 407-628-8200. casafeliz.us.
Hannibal Square Heritage Center. Established in 2007 by the Crealdé School of Art in partnership with residents of Hannibal Square and the City of Winter Park, the center celebrates the city’s historically African American west side with hundreds of archival photographs, original artwork and oral histories from longtime residents that are collectively known as the Heritage Collection. The center also offers a walking tour of Hannibal Square, Now and Then, with Fairolyn Livingston, chief historian. Tours, which are offered on the third Saturday of each month from 10 to 11:30 a.m., require reservations; the cost is $10, or $5 for those with student IDs. 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 anti-Semitism, 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. Continuing at the center is Escape Denied: The Frank Family’s Struggle for Freedom, which uses personal letters, official documents and family photographs to chronicle the unsuccessful attempts of Anne Frank’s family to emigrate and escape Nazi-occupied Europe. The museum’s ongoing exhibition, Tribute to the Holocaust, is a collection of artifacts, videos, text, photographs and other works of art related to this tragic episode in world history. Admission is free. 851 North Maitland Avenue, Maitland. 407-628-0555. holocaustedu.org.
Winter Park History Museum. The museum’s current exhibition, Hello Sunshine: Selling Florida Through the Art of Postcards, offers a colorful look at local history through vintage postcards from the collection of Rick Frazee, owner of the fondly remembered Best Western Mount Vernon Inn, who gifted more than 1,000 fun and kitschy images to the museum. A new exhibition, The Architecture of Rollins College, is coming soon. 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 for this new lecture series at the Winter Park Library that will highlight current anthropological and archaeological investigations with a special focus on Central Florida. Upcoming dates are April 21, May 19 and June 16. Enjoy light refreshments and socializing when the doors open at 6:30 p.m., followed by a presentation at 7 p.m. Admission is free. 1050 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. cfasorlando.com.
Life Explorers Speakers Series. Hosted by Mead Botanical Garden, this new speaker series will feature programs for adults interested in expanding their knowledge on a variety of environmental and cultural topics. Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month; upcoming dates are April 17, May 15 and June 19. Admission is free. 1300 South Denning Drive, Winter Park. 407-622-6323. meadgarden.org.
Morse Museum Wednesday Lecture Series. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art regularly invites recognized scholars in the field of late 19th- and early 20th-century art to speak on topics related to the museum’s collection and exhibitions. Call or check the website for upcoming dates and subjects. Programs take place at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free.161 West Canton Avenue, Winter Park. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.
University Club of Winter Park. Nestled among the oaks and palms at the north end of Park Avenue’s downtown shopping district—a block beyond Casa Feliz—is another historic James Gamble Rogers II building, this one home to the University Club of Winter Park. 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 make a $5 donation each time they attend. (Some events include a buffet lunch for an added fee.) For a full schedule of events and speakers, check the website. 841 North Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-6149. uclubwp.org.
MUSIC
Bach Festival Society of Winter Park. This season—the society’s 90th—is barreling to a conclusion in grand style. The Bach Chamber Singers will celebrate their past and future with a double concert featuring an alumni recital followed by a showcase of current talent (April 10, 7:30 p.m., Tiedtke Concert Hall). The Modern Masterworks series will wrap up with Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, Bloch’s Schelomo and Rollins professor Daniel Crozier’s Piano Concerto (April 26, 7:30 p.m. and April 27, 3 p.m., Knowles Memorial Chapel). The Bach Vocal Artists and Bach Festival Chamber Orchestra will bring the season to a close with Vivaldi’s Choral Works, a selection of the composer’s lesser-known masterpieces. Tickets start at $15. 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park. 407-646-2182. bachfestivalflorida.org.
Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts. This eclectic venue, which is currently retrofitting the old Winter Park Library for use as a performance venue, is temporarily offering live performances at other venues until the new facility is complete. For a full schedule of events and locations, and news about the grand reopening, check the website. 460 East New England Ave, 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. Queen vs. ABBA is on April 11, while more events are set to be announced soon. Ticket prices start at $49. 1300 South Denning Drive, Winter Park. 407-622-6323, meadgarden.org.
Central Florida Folk. This Winter Park-based nonprofit is dedicated to promoting and preserving live folk music, primarily through concerts usually held on the last Saturday of each month (unless a holiday intervenes) at 2 p.m. Upcoming dates are April 27, May 18 and June 29. 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.
Music at the Casa. The Casa Feliz Historic Home and Venue presents some of the area’s most talented performing artists, including opera singers, jazz guitarists and flamenco dancers. Concerts are held either outside in the courtyard or in the Polly & Thaddeus Seymour Parlor. Upcoming dates are April 9 (Nadya Borno, An Evening of Latin, Jazz & Pop), May 18 (Jose Rodriguez and Josip Zambrano, Latin Violin, Guitar & World Percussion) and June 15 (Justin Steger and John Olearchick, Jazz Standards Reimagined). Tickets are $12. 656 North Park Avenue (adjacent to the Winter Park Golf Course), Winter Park. 407-628-8200. casafeliz.us.
Performing Arts Matter. This nonprofit organization collaborates with various organizations to promote performances for and by local musicians. It supports various groups, including the Maitland Symphony Orchestra, Maitland Market Music, the Maitland Stage Band, the Bravo Chamber Orchestra and the Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra. For a full schedule of events, call 321-303-1711 or visit pamatter.org.
MARKETS
Maitland Farmers’ Market. This year-round, open-air market—held each Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.—features fresh produce, seafood, breads and cheeses as well as plants, all-natural skin-care products and live music by Performing Arts of Maitland. The setting on Lake Lily boasts a boardwalk, jogging trails, a playground and picnic areas. 701 Lake Lily Drive, Maitland. itsmymaitland.com.
Winter Park Farmers’ Market. The region’s busiest and arguably most popular farmers’ market is held every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Central Park West Meadow—located at the corner of New York Avenue and Morse Boulevard—and offers baked goods, produce, plants, honey, cheese, meat, flowers, crafts and other specialty items. 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.
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 April 10, May 8 and June 12 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 April 1, May 6 and June 3. 1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. 321-439-6020. storytellersofcentralflorida.com.
Wednesday Open Words. One of the area’s longest-running open-mic poetry nights is held every Wednesday, 9 p.m. at Austin’s Coffee, 929 West Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park. 407-975-3364. austins-coffee.com.
Writers of Central Florida or Thereabouts. This group offers various free programs that attract writers of all stripes. Short Attention Span Storytelling Hour, a literary open-mic night, meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of most months at Stardust Coffee (1842 Winter Park Road, Winter Park). It’s for authors, poets, filmmakers, comedians, musicians, bloggers and others who enjoy creative pursuits. Upcoming meetings are April 9, May 14 and June 11. Orlando WordLab, a workshop that challenges writers to experiment with new techniques or methods, meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Winter Park Library (1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park). Upcoming meetings are set for April 23, May 28 and June 25. meetup.com/writers-of-central-florida-or-thereabouts.
BUSINESS
Connections. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce at local eateries, Connections provides local businesspeople and entrepreneurs an opportunity to network, socialize and share ideas. Held the fourth Wednesday of most months, upcoming events are April 30, May 21 and June 25 (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. Held the first Friday of most months, upcoming events are April 4, May 2 and June 6. 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 events are April 7, May 5 and June 9. Tickets, which include lunch, are $35 for chamber members and $50 for nonmembers. Reservations are required. Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 West Lyman Avenue, Winter Park. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/winter-park-professional-women.
NATURE
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.
Winter Park Garden Club. The club’s general membership meetings, which always offer something intriguing for lovers of gardening and the great outdoors, are typically held on the second Wednesday of each month from September through May at 10 a.m. Field trips and other community events are also held throughout the year. All meetings are at the club’s headquarters at 1300 South Denning Drive. For more information about the club, which was founded in 1922, and its upcoming programs, call 407-644-5770, check winterparkgardenclub.com or email winterparkgc100@gmail.com.
CAUSES
Baby Owl Shower. Brace yourself for perhaps the cutest event of the year —the impending birth of baby owls. Each year, the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, which focuses on the rescue, rehabilitation and release of Florida’s raptors—such as bald eagles, ospreys, owls and falcons—throws a Baby Owl Shower as a fundraiser to help cover the facility’s increased costs during baby-bird season. That means a day of fun and educational activities for the whole family, with non-releasable baby raptors serving as the main attraction. This year’s shower, slated May 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is free if you bring an item from the center’s online wishlist. 1101 Audubon Way, Maitland. 407-644-0190. fl.audubon.org.
Run for the Trees: Jeannette Genius McKean Memorial 5K. This popular foot race, held this year on April 26 at 7:30 a.m., begins at Ward Park, 250 Perth Lane. But the last mile and the finish are through the privately owned Genius Preserve, which is open to the public only for this annual event. Proceeds support the Winter Park Tree Replacement Fund—and all finishers receive a young tree to plant. Registration ranges from $37 to $52 per person. 407-896-1160. trackshack.com.
Unleashed. Uncorked. Unframed. The 12th annual fundraiser for Franklin’s Friends animal welfare group promises to be a magical evening with exemplary wines, gourmet cuisine, spectacular auctions and a private art sale. The May 10 event is slated for the Winter Park Events Center. Tickets start at $300. 1050 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. unleashedfundraiser.info.
CELEBRATIONS & EVENTS
Earth Day Block Party. This free event in Ward Park features a plant-based family picnic, yoga and meditation, a petting zoo, giveaways and workshops along with lectures, games and much more. The event is slated for April 26 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at 250 Perth Lane, Winter Park. 407-599-3364. cityofwinterpark.org.
Hannibal Square Heritage Center Folk & Urban Art Festival. This annual festival, now in its 16th year, celebrates culture and diversity through art and music. An array of Florida artists will offer their works for sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 26. The event includes live music, arts-and-crafts demonstrations, storytelling and more. Admission is free. 642 West New England Avenue, Winter Park.
hannibalsquareheritagecenter.org.
Juneteenth. The Hannibal Square Heritage Center will commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S. with its 10th annual Juneteenth celebration at historic Ward Chapel AME Church on June 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 160 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Winter Park. hannibalsquareheritagecenter.org.
Memorial Day Service. The ceremony in Winter Park’s Glen Haven Memorial Park cemetery, Slated for May 27 at 11 a.m., usually includes an honor guard, music and a guest speaker. Admission is free. 2300 Temple Drive, Winter Park. 407-647-1100. cityofwinterpark.org.
POLASEK PUTS THE ‘PUBLIC’ IN PUBLIC ART
En plein air is a French expression that means “in the open air,” and refers to painting—sometimes sketching—outdoors. Plein air artists are particularly fond of Florida, with its vividly colored subtropical landscapes and year-round temperate weather.
The Winter Park Paint Out, sponsored by the historic Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, will again host an assortment of 22 invited artists who’ll roam hither and yon to literally paint the town. (They truly put the “public” in “public art.”)
The 17th annual event—which will run the week of April 20 to 26—will welcome new participants Jonathan Aycrigg, Rachel Dowd, Catherine Hillis, Julia Kamenskikh, Nathan Leemis, Abby Ober and Michael Pintar, who’ll join a roster of 15 returning artists from editions past (including Stacy Barter, who provided this year’s official event poster).
Works that the artists create—sometimes at the blistering pace of one or more daily—are notable for their whimsy and spontaneity as well as for their loose brushwork and gleeful disregard for the formal conventions of studio painting.
Seeing artists creating on the Polasek’s lush grounds—or anywhere in and around Winter Park—is a delight for residents. And the event has become an important fundraiser for the museum, which was once the home and studio of Czech-born sculptor Albin Polasek, who died in 1968.
The sale of paintings (the proceeds are split evenly between the museum and the participating artists) have cumulatively generated more than $1 million since 2009, with prices for individual paintings ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Throughout each day, completed paintings are hung in the Polasek’s “wet room” for potential buyers to peruse and purchase. Images of the paintings are also posted on the event’s website, so you can check them out online first and claim them for purchase.
Admission to the museum’s gallery and gardens is free all week during Paint Out, and visitors are welcome to watch the artists at work on the sculpture-filled grounds (or wherever else you may encounter them). There’ll also be a series of eight painting demonstrations on the grounds, also at no charge.
A couple of Paint Out-related major events—one of which will be new this year—are sure to be can’t-miss affairs. On Wednesday, April 23, artists will set up their easels and get to work outside participating Park Avenue businesses for “Paint-In on Park Ave,” held in conjunction with the Park Avenue District.
Guests will have the opportunity to explore the iconic boulevard, enjoy a curated selection of wine and appetizers from local businesses, and watch the artists in action. Tickets are $25 each or two for $40.
As usual, the entire affair will culminate in an old-fashioned Garden Party, this time on Saturday, April 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. There’ll be food, drink, live musical entertainment and a chance to meet the featured artists. (For the dress code, think seersucker and florals.)
The celebration is a $150 ticketed event that always sells out early. Limited parking is available at the museum while shuttles will transport guests who park off-site to the museum. You might consider taking a ride-sharing service for minimal hassle, suggests Jennifer Deery, who took over as interim director of the Polasek on New Year’s Day.
The Polasek is located at 633 Osceola Avenue. For more information, visit polasek.org or call 407-647-6294.
—Steve Schneider
A SPRINGTIME SPLASH OF COLOR AT SOLANA
Part of living in Central Florida is acknowledging that the concept of seasons means something slightly different here than it does in most of the country. But however long you want to bet that “spring” will last this year, odds are you’d like to usher it in with a splash of rejuvenating color.
Enter In Full Bloom, a calendar-conscious exhibition at Solana Fine Art, a new gallery in Winter Park. Devised as a salute to the energizing hues of springtime, the show—slated for April 4 to May 10—will focus on the works of three artists from among the gallery’s regular roster.
Sculptor Cal Breed finds his inspiration in colored glass, while painter Elizabeth Fischer Chapman deals in bright florals. And then there’s Wyanne Thompson, whose vibrant abstracts will demonstrate how surviving Stage 4 head and neck cancer unlocked the sunnier side of her artistic disposition.
“You’ll need sunglasses when you walk in,” jokes gallery owner Bob Jimenez, the Sotheby’s-educated collector and art historian who opened Solana last December. In Full Bloom is the third entry on his sleek venue’s 2025 slate of eight shows, each of which will follow its own theme and spotlight a different cadre of creatives.
The spring event marks another first for Solana, which will partner with Be On Park jewelers for a trunk show that will match the exhibition color for color. The Park Avenue boutique will display a curated selection of fine jewelry in dazzling shades of the spectrum—including pieces by designers Stephanie Albertson, Lauren K, John Apel, Kwiat, Emily P. Wheeler and Paul Morelli as well as some of the store’s vintage treasures.
While In Full Bloom will stay up for a month, the trunk show will only be held in conjunction with the exhibition’s opening reception, which is set for Friday, April 4 at 5:30 p.m.
Grab the opportunity while you can, because before you know it, it’ll be over—just like spring in Central Florida. Solana Fine Art is located at 1104 Solana Avenue. For more information, call 321-972-1774 or visit solanafineart.com.
—Steve Schneider