Cynthia Van Gaasbeck

Orlando news, food and drink, entertainment and more

(PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLORIDA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR) Gently rolling hills offer panoramic views of Lake Louisa State Park’s 4,500 acres of sandy terrain, lakes, cypress swamps, pines, and oaks. They also afford a view of about 250 homes in a neighborhood across U.S. Highway 27 that once was an orange grove and, before that, wilderness. We chose the park in Clermont...

Diego. (ROBERTO GONZALEZ) Welcome to Orlando magazine’s, Annual Pet Guide 2022. In the past few years, we have brought you fascinating information on high-tech products for your pets, stories of remarkable canines who offer support to crime victims, and tips and stories that warmed your heart. This…

(ROBERTO GONZALEZ) Best Private School 9-12 Windermere Preparatory School Virtus, Veritas, Unitas; Integrity, Courage and Unity Twenty-two years ago, Windermere Preparatory School was founded by a group of people who believed that education should, and could, be different. They saw the need for a private institution in Southwest Orlando and sought to create a place where community was celebrated. Two...

(COURTESY OF WINTER PARK PLAYHOUSE) Best Performing Arts Group Winter Park Playhouse “The forget your troubles theatre.” Heather Alexander and Roy Alan, the founders of the Winter Park Playhouse, met where you’d imagine two actors would meet: onstage. “Roy and I met in 1991 doing a production of ’Si…

Join the party for Universal Orlando Resort’s annual festive Mardi Gras celebration through April 24. (COURTESY UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT) SPECIAL EVENTS WEKIVA PAINT OUT Through March 5: A premier plein air art event, with artists painting in the open surroundings of Wekiva Island. The Paint Out hel…

Re:Charge, the first installment in a program of immersive arts events from Orlando’s Creative City Project team, is a relaxing concert experience. ALEX LUPINEK. SPECIAL EVENTS ENCHANTED FAIRY DOORS Through Sept. 5: This Central Florida tradition is back for the summer featuring 20 one-of-a-kind, wh…

Nothing is quite what it seems at the mesmerizing Museum of Illusions Orlando, in ICON Park. Courtesy of Museum of Illusions Orlando. 4TH OF JULY HAPPENINGS INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND AT SEAWORLD ORLANDO July 2, 3, 4: The night sky will light up with fireworks, pyrotechnics and lasers during a one-of-…

Jump in and have some fun at the Summerfest Grape Stomp Festival, June 12-13, at Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards in Clermont. (COURTESY LAKERIDGE WINERY & VINEYARDS) SPECIAL EVENTS Taste of EPCOT INTERNATIONAL FLOWER & GARDEN FESTIVAL Through July 5: Take in enchanting topiaries and gather gardening ti…

Check out some fun events happening around Central Florida this February!