Saturday, October 28, 2006

Silver Springs Arts & Crafts Fall Festival

Nov. 4-5, 2006
Live country, bluegrass and Cajun music, dancing and traditional Southern cooking presented at Bill Bowlegs Bar & Grill. Enjoy fried or BBQ chicken, fried catfish and art and craft booths throughout. Silver Springs Nature's Theme Park
5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd
Silver Springs, Fl. 34488
352-236-2121 or www.silversprings.com

Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney

Nov. 10-12,2006
9:30am - 5:30pm
Enjoy a brush with greatness as you meet over 150 artists at the 31st Annual Festival of the Masters. Admire their diverse creations displayed on the Downtown Disney West Side. It's an affair of the "art" for the entire family, with plenty of fun at the Children's Activity Centers and Chalk Art displays in the Marketplace. You'll be drawn to it!
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32330; 407-824-4321 or www.disneyworld.com For Orlando Hotels and Restaurants Click Here.

8th Annual Orlando Beer Festival

Nov. 11-12, 2006
More than 150 brands are expected to attend and one will win the title "Best of the Fest" and will get to distribute and market their beer at a select City Walk venue, in additon to national media exposure. Orlando, 407-363-8000. www.universalorlando.com

Friday, October 27, 2006

Insure your travel before the tour

If you are going on your gap travel year or get on a backpacking trip around the world it is essential that you have enough travel insurance! And, if you’re the adventurous type and into activities you need to make sure that you have got the right insurance to cover the type of activity you’re planning.

Accidents and illness can and do happen for a variety of reasons, but failure to have appropriate travel insurance could leave those on an extended trip footing huge bills for medical or travel expenses. We would also recommend anyone taking a long trip to take a first aid kit for those minor cuts and bruises often encountered whilst travelling.

Don’t forget to take travel insurance for backpackers is a lot cheaper than having to fork out on expensive medical bills!
travel insurance for backpackers policy has been specially designed for those aged between 18-35 who are taking an extended trip or on a ‘Gap year’ and includes emergency medical and repatriation cover together with a 24-hour Emergency Medical Assistance Service.

Travel insurance is only available to persons who have been resident in the United Kingdom for at least 6 months prior to taking out this insurance and who are registered with a UK General Practitioner. Cover is only available for round trips starting from and returning to the UK. Available with single trip and annual multi-trip "premier" cover. For more in formation click here

Thursday, October 26, 2006

UpTown Saturday Night

Saturday: October 28
Enjoy extended shopping hours, live entertainment and book signings as the quaint shops along San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine extend their hours for an evening of entertainment and shopping. Uptown Saturday Night is free to the public and takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. along San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine. For more information call 904.824. 9357 or for St. Augustine Hotels.

Treasure Chest Quest

Saturday: October 28

Search for buried treasure and feast on a fabulous buffet at St. Augustine’s only Pirate Game Show Dinner Theater! Treasure Chest Quest takes place every Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the IHOP Banquet Room at 2600 N. Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Tickets are $27. For reservations, call 904.377.9500. More information is available at www.treasure-chest-quest.com .

Birds, Botany and Breakfast Walk

Saturday: October 28
Join the Friends of GTM Reserve and birding experts Linda and Jerry Harrison for a “Birds, Botany and Breakfast” nature walk. The walk will begin at 8 am at the Guana River Dam Trailhead located off A1A at Guana River Road. Come walk along the GTM Reserve’s hiking trail and look for birds, plants, and other interesting wildlife. The walk will take about 2 hours, cover about 1 ½ miles and will be followed by coffee, orange juice and donuts. Bring binoculars if you have them. The cost is $10 per person for the guided walk and continental breakfast ($5 for Friends of GTMNERR members). Make reservations by calling the GTM Reserve at (904) 823-4500, space is limited.

St. Augustine Community Orchestra-South of the Border

Friday: October 27

Enjoy a free presentation of the Community Orchestra’s South of the Border. The performance includes renditions of the Christopher Columbus Suite, Blue Tango, Night in Mexico and Sovenir de Porto Rico, all led by Conductor John Bush. The concert takes place at 8 p.m. in the Lightner Museum’s Café Alcazar on Granada Street in St. Augustine. For more information call 904.461.6727.

Women's Exchange Fall Luncheon

Friday: October 27
Enjoy a special luncheon with St. Augustine Women’s Exchange. The luncheon takes place at the Pena–Peck House, built in 1750 as the Spanish Treasurer’s home, and operated by the Women’s Exchange since the 1930’s. The luncheon, which is served at noon, features recipes from members of the Exchange. Following the luncheon, tours of the Pena-Peck House are available. Tickets are $20 and are available at the Women’s Exchange Gift Shop located at the Pena-Peck House, 143 St. George Street in St. Augustine. For more information call 904.829.5064.

Ghosts and Legends of St. Augustine

Friday and Saturday: October 27 – 28
Ride around the nation’s oldest city hearing of the ghosts and legends that abound. The tour includes a visit to the St. Augustine Lighthouse grounds that was recently featured on the Sci-Fi Channel’s Ghost Hunters, where the ghosts are dying to meet you. Tours start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $22. For more information call 904.829.1122 or 800.461.1009 or click here for St. Augustine Hotels.

Murders, Myths & Monsters

Friday and Saturday: October 27 – 28
Join Ghost Tours of St. Augustine for a hauntingly fun walking tour highlighting the many murders, myths and monsters that makes St. Augustine known as one of the nation’s most haunted cities. Meet the Spirits as your guide leads you through the narrow streets and alleys and to the shadowed cemeteries. Ghostly characters are met along the way. Murders, Myths and Monsters provides two different haunting experiences. North-side tours start from the City Gates area, at the north-end of St. George Street and tickets are $12. The South-side walking tour includes admission to Potter’s Wax Museum’s Mysteries and Monsters. Tickets are $16. Tours start at 7 p.m. and run through the evening. For more information call 904.829.1122 or 800 461.1009.

Haunted Hayride

Friday and Saturday: October 27 – 28
Take an old-fashioned hayride and discover the nighttime beauty of the maritime hammock while meeting haunting goblins of the forest, spooks from sandy graves and other denizens of the dark. Young children will be able to go through a “scare-free” walking loop of the Enchanted Forest for a magical experience. The fun starts at Anastasia State Park (please enter the park at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre). The haunted hayride takes –place from 7 -9 p.m. and admission is $7 per person. For more information call 904.461.2035.

LightHouse Dark of the Moon Tour:

Friday and Saturday: October 27 – 28
See the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Keeper’s House in the shadowy darkness! These special tours are from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. and include a climb to the top of the tower (in the dark) and a visit to the dark museum and Victorian home that served as the keeper’s quarters. Although ghostly sightings have occurred here for more than a century and the crew from the nationally-televised “Ghost Hunters” had an amazing encounter here, there is NO GUARANTEE that you will encounter the supernatural. Tickets are $25 per person. To reserve yours, call Faith at 904.829.0745 (Note: This tour will be repeated on Halloween, October 31.)

Tales of the Dead at Colonial Spanish Quarter

Friday and Saturday: October 27 – 28
Experience ghostly history with story tours through The Colonial Spanish Quarter, including a visit to the De Mesa-Sanchez House. Haunted 18th century tales of this house plus tales of past, but possibly still present, inhabitants of Colonial Spanish Quarter will be told. Tours take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 Adult, $5 Accompanied Child, and $20 Family of four. Reserved tickets can be purchased at the Colonial Spanish Quarter Bookstore or at the Government House. For more information call 904.825.5096.

Creatures of the Night

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: October 27-29
Come dressed in your favorite costume to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park and we will provide the candy, a creepy creature experience, animal trading cards, and a great time! Young ghosts and goblins can wander the wild walkway and encounter costumed animal keepers with creepy creatures and candy! There will be an alligator feeding show and a drawing for free annual passes and other prizes. The fun takes place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and admission is $7 adults, $5 children. For more information call 824-3337 or visit www.alligatorfarm.com.

A Weekend Ghostly Encounter

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: October 27-29
Walk the dark, narrow streets of St. Augustine and hear stories of those who came before us…and refuse to leave. Tours depart from the Old Drug Store, 31 Orange Street in St. Augustine. Tours include admission to the Haunted Hospital and start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $14 per person. For more information call 904.827.0807.

Haunted Hospital

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: October 27-29

The Doctor is always in at the Haunted Hospital! Come check in with the MAD Surgeon as he demonstrates the “cutting” edge of patient care. This tour is not for the faint of heart for you never know what lurks within each of the dark rooms of the Haunted Hospital. Tickets are $6 per person. Tours start at 6 p.m. at the Spanish Military Hospital, 3 Aviles Street in St. Augustine. For more information call 904.827.0807.

Ghosts of the Matanzas

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: October 27-29
Join the ghostly pirate that has commandeered the 72' Schooner Freedom and holds passengers captive as they sail the dark waters of Matanzas Bay. Entertaining tales and assistance from the captives are the highlight of this adventure-- not to mention the rations and grog that add to enjoyment. BEWARE--'there be pirates here'. Tours start at 8:15 and 9:45 on Friday and Saturday, 6:45 and 8:15 on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Tickets are $35 for adults and kids 2 -12 are $25. For more information call 904.810.1010. Reservations are required for these tours.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Christmas at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show

October 28, 2006 - January 1, 2007

The Dixie Stampede is magically transformed into a holiday fantasy with twinkling lights, softly falling snow, evergreens, poinsettias, old-fashioned holiday costumes and familiar holiday music.
The spirit of the season will appear before your eyes. Our live nativity scene is both dramatic and spectacular. The true meaning of Christmas comes alive as three kings riding atop camels on their way to Bethlahem. The beauty of angels from above will amaze you.
But no show is complete without the fun and games! The holiday festivities get playful as Elves from the North Pole and South Pole will compete in friendly rivalry while serving up a festive four-course feast! Be ready to stomp your feet and get loud! That's all part of the thrill!
For more information, call (866) 443-4943, or visit www.dixiestampede.com.

Safe Trick or Treat Locations

Places to bring your little princesses and monsters other than in your community.

Old Town - Oct. 31st
2-6pm; 407-396-4888

Festival Bay - TBA
407-351-7718

Waterford Lakes Town Center - Oct. 31st
5-7pm; 407-737-2866

Florida Mall - Oct. 31st
5-7pm; 407-851-6255

Pointe Orlando - Oct. 31st
10am-10pm; 407-248-2838

Please call and confirm, dates and times may change without notice.
Have A Safe But Fun Halloween!

CityWalk Entertainment Calendar - November 2006

Below please find the November talent booking calendars for the following CityWalk venues:
• Red Coconut Club
• Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville
• CityJazz
• Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom
• the groove• Latin Quarter
• Pat O’Brien’s• NBA City
• NASCAR Café

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

8TH ANNUAL ORLANDO BEER FESTIVAL returns to Universal CityWalk, November 11&12. - More than 100 brands are expected to attend and the winner of the coveted title “Best of the Fest,” as chosen by the Central Florida Home Brewers Association, will get to distribute and market their beer at a select CityWalk venue. Event times:*Saturday, November 11th – 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.*Sunday, November 12th – 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.For more information visit - www.orlandobeerfestival.com

TOXIC AUDIO AT CITYJAZZ
Off Broadway sensation and award winning vocal quintet takes the stage for four shows at City Jazz at Universal City Walk.*Friday and Saturday, November 17-18*Doors open at 6pm, two shows at 7:30pm & 9:30pm*Tickets on sale at CityWalk Guest Services and Ticketmaster - $19 plus tax

CITYWALK VENUE ENTERTAINMENT NOVEMBER 2006
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GUESTS MAY CALL CITYWALK GUEST SERVICES AT (407) 224-2691

Red Coconut Club
*$7.00 Cover after 9:00p.m. or CityWalk party pass
*21 and up welcome
*Daily Happy Hour – Featuring half price martinis/appetizers
*Live DJ
*Complimentary valet parking with validated receipt
Girls' Night Out at Red Coconut Club – Thursday nightsLadies will receive:

*Complimentary admission and valet throughout the evening
*$4 Grey Goose or Bacardi cocktails, $5 martinis
*WOMX MIX 105.1 will be there from 7-9 p.m. for prize giveaways and drawings
*Half-priced Martinis and Appetizers

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville
$7.00 Cover after 8:00 p.m. or CityWalk party pass
Thursday is Locals’ Night
*Daily – Happy Hour at the Porch of Indecision from 11:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
*Live DJ – Lone Palm
*Live Entertainment on the Patio:

Blue Stone Circle: November 1-4, 7-11, 14-21, 26-30
Leonard Brothers: November 5-6, 12-13, 22-25

CityJazz
*$7.00 Cover or CityWalk party pass
*18 and up welcome.
Herb Williams Band: November 1-4, 7-11, 14-16, 21-25, 28-30

TOXIC AUDIO
*$19 plus tax – Tickets on sale at CityWalk Guest Services and Ticketmaster.
*Friday and Saturday, November 17-18
*Doors open at 6pm, two shows at 7:30pm & 9:30pm

CityJazz goes Bonkerz!
*Bonkerz Comedy Club presents live comedy at CityJazz every Thursday through Saturday night.
*Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 8pm. Times vary on select nights. Food menu available.

COMEDIAN SCHEDULE:
November 2-4 Artie Fletcher as seen on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”, HBO & “Law & Order”
November 9-11 Steve Netta as seen on MTV
November 16 Warren Durso as seen on The USA Network
November 23-25 Kim Harrison as seen on Nickelodeon’s “Funniest Mom in America Contest” & Fox

Bonkerz presents Hypnosis Sundays at CityJazzComic/Master Hypnotist Doug MacCraw offers a hilarious experience where subjects and audience members journey into a world of side-splitting hypnotic hi-jinks. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., showtime at 8:00 p.m on November 1, 9:00 p.m. other nights.

Karaoke at CityJazzGuests can sing their heart out and make their Universal CityWalk debut, Mondays at CityJazz. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., show starts at 8:45 p.m., 18 and up welcome.

Bob Marley’s – A Tribute To Freedom
*$7.00 Cover after 8:00 p.m. or CityWalk party pass.
*21 and up after 9pm
* Rastafarian Thursday’s – 4pm until close. Red Stripe and Captain Morgan specials.
* Entertainment, prizes and more!

Mystik NRG: November 1-3, 6-10, 13-17, 20-24, 27-30
Chain Reaction: November 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26

the groove
*$7.00 Cover after 9:00 p.m. or CityWalk party pass
*Mainstream Dance Music Nightly

DJ John Campisano: November 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27
DJ AJ: November 1-4, 7-11, 14-18, 21-25, 28-30

XL/Skyy Jet Set Fridays at the groove - 9 pm-2 am
*$7.00 Cover after 9:00 p.m. or CityWalk party pass
* Stick from WXXL 106.7FM will be broadcasting live starting at 10:00pm
* Enjoy great Skyy drink and Skyy bottle specials and VIP programs!

Teen Nights at the groove – Select nights
Come listen to live DJ’s spin all of today’s hits and experience state-of-the-art sound, lighting and video. Teens ages 15-19 welcome with High School ID’ or driver’s license.
* Friday, November 10 7:00pm – 11:00pm - $15 admission
* Tuesday, November 21 8:00pm – 12:00am - $12 admission
* Wednesday, November 22 8:00pm – 12:00am - $12 admission

Latin Quarter
*$7.00 Cover after 9:00pm or CityWalk party pass

Alejandro Kartal: November 1-4, 7-11, 14-18, 21-25, 28-30
George Dimitrov: November 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27

Rumba Thursdays
*Ladies’ Night hosted by 100.3FM.
*Guests enjoy a Reggaeton/Freestyle dance party.
*Drink specials Brahma, Leblon and Skyy drink specials. *10:00 p.m. – 2 a.m
*21 and up welcome

Pat O’Brien’s
*$7.00 Cover after 9:00 p.m. or CityWalk party pass
* Piano Bar – Live Music Nightly, New Orleans style food and ½ price appetizer menu
* 2 for Tuesdays at Pat O’Brien’s
* 2 for 1 Hurricanes, Heinekens and Amstel Light from 4:00p.m. – 10:00p.m.

WMMO 98.9fm presents Party at Pat’s every Wednesday night
*Drink specials on Budweiser, Bud Light, Bud Select, Michelob Ultra, Hurricanes
*Half price on select appetizers*6:00pm –12:00am

NBA City
*Skybox Happy Hour, Monday thru Friday, 4pm – 7pm
* Happy hour specials are only available in the SkyBox lounge located on the second floor.
* Domestic beer, .35 wings specials and $4.99 Basket of Lug Nuts (jalapeno poppers)!

Nascar Café
*Guests can enjoy live music on the weekends from guitarists on the patio starting at 6pm.

RaceDay Parties
* Watch the excitement of NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series at NASCAR Café!
* Every Sunday in October, “Chase to the Nextel Cup” food and beverage specials.
* 6 large projection screens.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Mannheim SteamRoller Share the Celebration

Friday, December 15, 2006
The one and only Mannheim Steamroller, America's #1 holiday concert, rolls into Orlando for one show only on Friday, December 15 at 8 pm. Still together after more than 20 years, the original band takes the stage for a memorable, multi-media evening of your favorite Christmas music.
Get your tickets at the TD Waterhouse Centre Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone 407-839-3900. Groups of 10 or more, call 407-849-2014.
THE ONLY FLORIDA PERFORMANCE

Sunshine State Resort is Home to ICE!

ICE!, an attraction hand-carved from nearly two million pounds of ice, will return for its fourth year. The wildly popular family experience gives guests an opportunity to visit a whimsical winter wonderland of interactive environments and larger-than-life, three-dimensional holiday scenes and sculptures, all hand-carved from ice.
The attraction, which is presented by Coca-Cola and co-spnsored by Nissan and Sarah Lee, combines fantastic frozen creations, thrilling ice slides, dramatic lighting and special effects.
The enormous structure used to house ICE! is cooled to a chilly 9 degrees. To stay comfortable inside the attraction, visitors are given oversized winter coats to wear.
This year, ICE! features several new or revised scenes, including a holiday train and depot that guests can "climb aboard" to explore. In response to guest feedback, some elements will return for an "encore," including a breathtaking life-size nativity carved completely of crystal-clear ice. A guest favorite--three fantastic ice slides--will return amid a towering Christmas Castle.
The attraction is carved by a team of 40 artisans from Harbin, China. The talented artisans spend nearly an entire month in Kissimmee creating this one-of-a-kind attraction.
ICE! tickets range form $9.99 - $24.99, depending on the type of ticket, and day of the week. Discounts will be available for tickets purchased online in advance at www.gaylordpalms.com/ice
For more information or reservations, call (407)586-4ICE.

Best of Florida Christmas Overnight Packages

Overnight Best of Florida Christmas packages start at $249 per night plus tax, based on a two-night stay. Packages include a Florida-view guest room, 2 tickets to ICE!, a souvenir photo, self parking, and a host of exclusive resort guest benefits. Packages and rates are available for families of all sizes, beginning with a one-night stay.
This year's celebration will include special experiences created exclusively for guests who purchase the Best of Florida Christmas overnight package:
  • Priority Entry to the ICE! attraction and ICE! skating rink, as well as the ability to visit both attractions multiple times during a stay.
  • Family memories event, a new experience created just for overnight guests.
  • Holiday bedtime stories, broadcast every night via a special in-room channel.
  • Elf tuck-ins, bedtime visits by one of Santa's helpers (additional fee).
  • Christmas Concierge, who can recommend and help book unique holiday experiences throughout Orlando.

Gaylord Palms Resort is Orlando's Host to Christmas Season

Kissimmee, Fl. - As the Orlando host to the Christmas holiday season, Gaylord Palms Resort will offer a slate of activities that are "merry and bright," Nov. 18, 2006 - Jan. 2, 2007.
The special events are part of the resort's Best of Florida Christmas celebration, featuring live entertainment, unique attractions and holiday activities held to commemorate the Christmas season.
This year's Best of Florida Christmas program will include 46 days of holidays revelry, including several new or revised events:
  • ICE!: This frozen family experience is Orland's most unusual holiday attraction, handcarved from nearly two million pounds of ice. This year's walk-through experience will reflect the theme "A Season of Wishes."
  • ICE! Skating: This outdoor skating rink will offer a holiday tradition common only in northern climates. Skate rentals are included.
  • "Holiday Wishes" Christmas Show: A Christmas variety show featuring a cast of characters and a memorable soundtrack of holiday favorites.
  • Christmas in Florida: The County Wreath Collection: A new exhibition of wreaths decorated to reflect Florida's diverse destinations, from coast to coast.
  • "Lights Alive!" Shows: featuring lights throughout the resort's atrium, synchronized to festive holiday music.
  • Holiday Gnome Hunt: Families can hunt throughout the Gaylord Palms atriums to spot cleverly hidden gnomes, each ready to celebrate the holiday season.
  • Visit Santa: Kids can take an opportunity to share their special Christmas wishes with Santa Claus...in person, or via email.

5th Annual Charity Oktoberfest At World Golf Village

Saturday: October 21
Celebrate October at the United Way 2-1-1’s Fifth-Annual Charity Oktoberfest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Walk of Champions at World Golf Village. The event is free and open to the public and will feature a European car and motorcycle show, Bavarian bands and dancers, food and beverages, an awards ceremony and more. Registration, vehicle check-in and photos will take place from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and registered participants will be eligible receive several awards and prizes. Owners may register their motorcycles for $25 and cars for $35 for the first automobile and $25 for each additional car. The event is free and open to the public. World Golf Village is located at Exit 323 along I95. For more information call 904.307.9431 or visit www.nefl211.org/oktoberfest/.

Ripley's Halloween Story Time - A children's Ghost Adventure

Saturday: October 21
Bring the kids for a FUN Halloween experience at Ripley’s. Geared towards kids under 10, The Children’s Ghost Adventure includes a kid-friendly haunted house and a night-time walking tour that is a tiny bit scary but never threatening! Tickets are $5. Tours start at 5 p.m. and leave from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 19 San Marco Avenue. This tour will also be offered on October 27, 28 and 31. For more information call 904.824.1606.

Charity PawParade

Saturday: October 21
Experience paw power by participating in the Charity Pet Pawparade at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 19 San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine. Dogs and cats will strut their stuff to support local pet rescue agencies. Registration is $10 per pet and begins at 9 a.m. with judging at 10 a.m. Prizes will be awarded in several categories. All proceeds go to benefit Goliath and Bebe’s World and Noah’s Ark. For more information, call 904.824.1606.

European Epicurean At The Cultural Center

Saturday: October 21
Celebrate the senses with beautiful music, fun entertainment, fabulous food and superb wines that relate to three popular, romantic European regions - Andalusía, Provence & Tuscany. The Cultural Center will transform into these glorious European destinations with Cafés Cantantes, gypsies, flamenco dancing, sloping vineyards, colorful scenery and their own picturesque Chiantigiana Wine Road. The European Epicurean will take place at the Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach, 50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach, from 6 to 10 p.m. For more information call 904.280.0614 or visit www.ccpvb.org.

Ripley's Haunted Express

Friday and Saturday: October 20-21
Ride through old St. Augustine hearing the haunting stories and legends of the Nation’s Oldest City aboard Ripley’s Haunted Tour Train. Tickets are $18 and tours start at 8 p.m. from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 19 San Marco Avenue. In addition to this weekend, the Haunted Express will depart nightly during October 27, 28 and 31. For more information call 904.824.1606 or for St. Augustine Hotels

Enchanted Forest

Friday and Saturday: October 20-21
Young children will be able to go through a “scare-free” walking loop of the Enchanted Forest for a magical experience. The fun starts at Anastasia State Park (please enter the park at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre). Enchanted Forest admission is $4 and will be open from 7 to 9 p.m. Call 904.461.2033 for more details.

Ghosts and Gravestones

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT! Enjoy a most haunting experience on St. Augustine’s premier "Frightseeing" Tour that explores the darker side of St. Augustine's past. The only tour that takes you inside the three most haunted places in the entire city. Haunts include: The Old Drug Store that rests upon an old Indian burial ground and is a natural gathering place for lost souls and malignant spirits. Enter... and in darkness you will learn the secrets of embalming and why so many people were buried alive; The Spanish Military Hospital where you can visit a death bed and hear of amputations and strange medical practices shared in whispered tones as you re-live the grizzly duties of 17th century medical practitioners; and The Old Jail, featured on the Sci-Fi Channel’s Ghost Hunters, that was built in 1891 and housed prisoners for over 60 years. Listed on the Florida and National Haunted Places Register, the Old Jail has been the site of countless supernatural occurrences. Many criminals met their maker here at the end of a hangman's noose. Tours are scheduled nightly this weekend and on October 27-31. They start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $24 for adults and $12 for children. For more information call 904.829.3800.

3rd Annual St. Augustine Amateur Men's Golf Tounament

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: October 20-22
See some of the nation’s best amateur and collegiate golfers competing in what has become one of the best tournaments of its kind in the Southeast. Played over 54 holes at the St. Johns Golf Club, the tournament’s competitors will be selected on the basis of their golfing resumes. Points awarded to the winner, runner up and Top 5 finishers will count toward the Golfweek/Titleist Men’s Amateur Rankings. Registrations is $230.00Proceeds from the event will benefit the First Tee of St. Johns County – an initiative that provides young people of all backgrounds with an opportunity for personal development through golf and character education. Starting times are 8 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There will be a Long Drive Contest and cook-out at the First Tee on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. An Awards Ceremony will be held following play on Sunday. The St. Johns Golf Club is located at 4900 Cypress Links Blvd., in Elkton. For more information, call 904.377.6440 or visit www.staugustineamateur.org. For St. Augustine Hotels Click Here.

Limelight Theater - I'm Not Rappaport

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: October 20-22
Meet a really “odd couple”–Nat and Midge, as they confront aging and life in their own New York way. Schmoozing together, grumbling and complaining, these two old codgers are surprisingly inventive and provide the ultimate gift of laughter. Show times through November 5 are every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., Matinees are every Sunday and on October 21 & 28 and November 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students and military. Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students and military. The Limelight Theater is located in the Joukowsky Family Foundation Center for the Performing Arts, 11 Old Mission Avenue, St. Augustine. Call or visit the Limelight Box Office at 904.825.1164 or www.Limelight-Theatre.org.

Women's Exchange Fall Lucheon

Friday: October 20
Enjoy a special luncheon with St. Augustine Women’s Exchange. The luncheon takes place at the Pena–Peck House, built in 1750 as the Spanish Treasurer’s home, and operated by the Women’s Exchange since the 1930’s. The luncheon, which is served at noon, features recipes from members of the Exchange. Following the luncheon, tours of the Pena-Peck House are available. Tickets are $20 and are available at the Women’s Exchange Gift Shop located at the Pena-Peck House, 143 St. George Street in St. Augustine. For more information call 904.829.5064.

Halloween fever at Rita's Home

Kiana, Serena and Zania having a scarecrow parade time at Rita's home.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Let’s Eat!

In less than two hours, a person can put together eight to 12 family-size entrees without shopping, chopping, or mopping. Fresh is best at Let’s Eat!, and October entrees include customer favorites like Salmon Wellington, Shrimp and Feta Pasta and Herb Pork with Rasberry Sauce. Let’s Eat! also offers new recipes such as New England Pot Roast, Hoisin Fish and Chicken Caprese. Each month, clients choose from 14 different entrees, including new vegetable side dishes. Located in The Marketplace at Dr. Phillips, 7601 Della Dr., Suite 13, Orlando, Let’s Eat! is open Monday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information and to make reservations, call (407) 345-0645 or visit www.letseatdinner.com on the Web.

Magical Mealtime

Located at 7705 Turkey Lake Road in the Bayhill Plaza, Magical Mealtime is one of Florida’s largest meal-assembly kitchens, and a fun, quick, cost-effective way of providing high-quality meals for dinner. Magical Mealtime combines the hottest new concept of meal assembly with catering for parties and other special events; and also provides private party facilities. Dinner is a snap with Magical Mealtime. Special packages are available. For more information, call (407) 354-5393 or visit www.magicalmealtime.com on the Web.

The Dinner A’Fare

Family dinners together can be simple, and The Dinner A’Fare can make it happen by helping clients create 12 meals in two hours. Families will not have to worry about grocery shopping, buying ingredients that are used once or twice, taking trips to the fast-food drive-through, but can enjoy a healthy sit-down dinner with a minimum of preparation time. Located at 2735 Old Winter Garden Road in Ocoee, The Dinner A’Fare is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, reservations, menus and pricing, call (407) 905-4440 or visit www.thedinnerafare.com on the Web.

The Grape

Opening this winter at Pointe Orlando on International Drive, across from the Orange County Convention Center, The Grape is an upscale wine concept that combines a wine bar and retail seller under one roof. Offering more than 120 wines, a full menu of small-plate gourmet fare designed to complement the wine list is also available. The Grape offers an interactive experience that is entertaining for all guests, regardless of their knowledge of wine. For more information, call (407) 248-2838 or visit www.yourgrape.com on the Web.

Home Cookin’ LLC

Busy executives and families in the Orlando area can now enjoy a customized in-home personal chef service. Owned and operated by MetroWest resident Doug Janousek, Home Cookin’ offers fresh, home-cooked meals in the privacy of one’s home. Janousek meets with clients, then plans meals customized for their needs, ranging from daily to weekly service, as well as intimate dinner parties and special events. For the most part, preparation and cooking is done in clients’ kitchens. Janousek is a recent Le Cordon Bleu summa cum laude graduate of Orlando Culinary Academy and a member of the Central Florida chapter of the American Culinary Federation. For more information, call (407) 295-9967 or visit www.home-cookin.net on the Web.

Take Out Express

A revolutionary upscale restaurant-delivery service, Take Out Express delivers hot meals within 55 minutes or less to offices and homes and provides room service to hotels in Southwest, Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee from a wide variety of restaurants, including Bella Roma, Sam Snead’s Tavern, Butcher Block Steakhouse, Peacock Garden Restaurant, Sushiology, Mikato Japanese Steakhouse, Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine, Magic Wok, Houlihan’s, Passage to India, Sizzler, Taste of Hong Kong, TGI Friday’s and TooJay’s Original Gourmet Deli. The charge for delivery is $4.99 per restaurant, and catering and gift certificates are available. Take Out Express operates daily from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., with lunch available for groups only. Menu choices can be made at www.orlandotakeoutexpress.com on the Web, and orders can be faxed to (407) 352-1019 or called in to (407) 352-1170. For more information, visit www.orlandotakeoutexpress.com on the Web.

WineStyles Wine & Gifts

WineStyles, a new and easy way to shop for wine, demystifies the wine-buying experience. WineStyles’ staff categorizes their wines by style, or taste profiles. Their mission is to bring superb, world-class wines to customers at affordable, everyday prices, while taking the guesswork out of choosing wine. WineStyles offers a wine club for those who enjoy wine tastings, discounts on purchases and a free bottle of wine on their birthdays, plus other benefits. Hospitality employees also enjoy benefits at WineStyles. Service employees are invited to a complimentary wine tasting the third Tuesday of every month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., when there is a 10 percent discount on all wine purchases with proof of employment. Located in The Marketplace at Dr. Phillips at 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., WineStyles is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call (407) 351-9463 or visit www.winestyles.net/drphillips on the Web.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

About Us

Chef Voila! is a new and exciting concept in the world of cooking. We offer the latest in cooking instruction for the entire family, in a way that is both educational and entertaining.
We invite your family to step into our colorful state-of-the-art kitchen studios to experience the fun that we an cook up! While singing and dancing your way to culinary perfection, our expert chefs will instruct you on everything from basic cooking techniques, to the secrets of gourmet chefs and food experts from around world.
Chef Voila! offers something for everyone at all skill levels and culinary interests, from creating to just plain eating. We have a variety of classes that cover all types of cooking topics such as international cooking food art, holiday creations, and more.
Our mission at Chef Voila! is to bring the entire family back into the kitchen, where family memories and delicious meals can be made. We believe that by making cooking fun, kids and adults alike will develop creative culinary skills they will use for a lifetime.

Cafe' Voila! and Retail Shop

Just looking for a new place to relax? Come join us at Cafe' Voila and enjoy assortment of gourmet soups sandwiches, salads and baked goods. While enjoying one of our featured desserts or special of the day, browse our retail shop where we sell a selection of unique cookware gifts.

Birthday Parties

This dish will serve up the fun every birthday party deserves. Chef Voila! whisks together the joy of cooking and the excitementof turning one year older in a way sure to entertain all your guests... and the most special one.

Your Birthday Party Ingredients:
1 group of 10 or more
1 birthday cake & candles
1 birthday theme (many to choose from!)
1 gift for the guest of honor
1 optional goody-bag set
10+ oodles of fun
1 very happy birthday!
- let fun simmer as long as possible, then ignite the candle fireworks!

For more information visit www.chefvoila.com

For Kids who knead Fun!

Cooking Classes
A safe, clean kitchen, a fun-loving chef, nd kids ready to have a blast make these dishes an easy way to whip up some fun. Kids will explore their creativity and gain a sense of accomplishment after they've created something delicious!

Your Cooking Class Ingredients:
1 group children
2 fun-loving chefs
5 cups creativity
8 dashes excitement
15 tbsp giggles
- let dance for 5 minutes, serve with a smile!

Your Main Course Menu:
Cooking 101: First Course
Cooking 102: Cooking Up Some Fun
Cooking 103: Chef Extraordinaire
Cooking 104: International Tasty Traditions

Parties

Chef Voila! has party platters waiting to spice up your next private party or gathering. Our kitchen studios and cafe are the perfect place for birthay parties, baby and wedding showers, holiday parties and more.

Your Party Ingredients:
1 group of 10 or more
1 party theme
1 special occasion!

Friday, October 13, 2006

For Adults looking for fresh Fun!

Cooking Classes
Looking for a new dish of fun for an outing with friends or that special someone? We host a variety of adult classes, covering an array of exciting culinary topics and featuring local celebrity chefs. Grab your aprons and your favorite bottle of wine and join us at Chef Voila!

Your Cooking Class Ingrediants:
1+ adults
2 experienced chefs
7 cups learning
12 tbsp laughter
1 great new memory
this is a dish best served with fun!

Your Main Course Menu:
We've got a wide variety of classes. Check our schedule often, classes change monthly and fill up quickly!

Team Cuisine!

Here's your opportunity to strengthen relationships in a comfortable, entertaining, and relaxed environment. Chef Voila's Team Cuisine is an unique new way to build unity among your staff.
By dividing your staff into teams and assigning them to an experienced Chef, each member of your team will experience how skill, care, and dillgence in one aspect of a recipe is essential to the whole.
Team Cuisine is a great way to show your staff how everyone's contributions are important and necessary in order to reach a common goal! Afterwards, teams join together to enjoy the entire meal and discuss lessons learned.
Team Cuisine is great for project kick offs, employee appreciation events, new team member introductions and re-energizing your existing team.
It's fun, affordable, and interactive! For more information on this Teambuilding Recipe for Success, visit www.chefvoila.com

Chef Voila's Spooky Halloween Party!

Open House
October 28th 3-5pm
1140 TownPark Ave.
Colonial TownPark
Lake Mary

Kids... Wear your costume and join us for cookie decorating, bobbing for apples, face painting, and more! It's going to be full of frightening food and freaky fun! Colonial TownPark's
"Trick or Treat Around Town" hosted by Radio Disney will follow our event.
Please call for more information 407-333-3262 or visit www.chefvoila.com
$10/child

Ghosts Galore in St. Augustine!

ST. AUGUSTINE, Sept. 13….. The scariest time of year is almost here and with nearly 450 years’ worth of scary stories, frightening legends and spooky shadows cast among genuine Old World architecture, its obvious why St. Augustine is a favorite haunt of everyone who loves Halloween. This year, the Nation’s oldest city offers a collection of tours and excursions guaranteed to put goose bumps on even the most determined cynic. Read on – if you dare!

Ripley's Halloween Ghost Train

October 17 – 21 & 24 – 31
Board the Ghost Train for a ride throughout the haunted streets of old St. Augustine. There are stops along the way where tales are told and guests can use Electro-Magnetic-Field Meters to identify the presence of spirits. After hearing stories of the local haunts, passengers enter the historic Castle Warden for a sleuthing experience of actual events. Tours start from Ripley’s Castle Warden, 19 San Marco Avenue at 7 p.m. Tickets are $24 for adults and $12 for children 6 -12. Reservations are required. For more information call 904.824.1606 or for St. Augustine Hotels Click Here.

Death in the Oldest House

October 19
Experience an 18th century funeral as the St. Augustine Historical Society presents “Death in the Oldest House,” a special evening program about funeral and mourning customs practiced during St. Augustine’s colonial period. Library manager Charles Tingley will speak, and museum docents will interpret living tableaux depicting the funeral of an infant son of Tomás González and his wife Francisca (1727) and the funeral of Joseph Peavett, husband of Mary (María) Evans (1786). Death in the Oldest House tours take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., with last tour at 8:30 p.m. Admissions are Adults $8, Seniors $7, Children 6-18/Students $4, Family$18, St. Johns County residents $3. Historical Society members are free. The Oldest House Museum Complex is located at 14 St. Francis Street, in St. Augustine. For more information call 904.824.2872.

Ghosts and Gravestones

October 20 - 23 & 27 - 31
TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT! Enjoy a most haunting experience on St. Augustine’s premier "Frightseeing" Tour that explores the darker side of St. Augustine's past. The only tour that takes you inside the three most haunted places in the entire city. Haunts include: The Old Drug Store that rests upon an old Indian burial ground and is a natural gathering place for lost souls and malignant spirits. Enter... and in darkness you will learn the secrets of embalming and why so many people were buried alive; The Spanish Military Hospital where you can visit a death bed and hear of amputations and strange medical practices shared in whispered tones as you re-live the grizzly duties of 17th century medical practitioners; and The Old Jail, featured on the Sci-Fi Channel’s Ghost Hunters, that was built in 1891 and housed prisoners for over 60 years. Listed on the Florida and National Haunted Places Register, the Old Jail has been the site of countless supernatural occurrences. Many criminals met their maker here at the end of a hangman's noose. Tours are scheduled nightly and start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $24 for adults and $12 for children. For more information call 904.829.3800 or for St. Augustine Hotels

Ripley's Halloween Story Time-A Children's Ghost Adventure

October 21, 28 & 31
Bring the kids for a FUN Halloween experience at Ripley’s. Geared towards kids under 10, Children’s Ghost Adventure includes a kid-friendly haunted house and a night-time walking tour that is a tiny bit scary but never threatening! Tickets are $5. Tours start at 5 p.m. and leave from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 19 San Marco Avenue. For more information call 904.824.1606.

Enchanted Forest

OCT 20 & 21
Young children will be able to go through a “scare-free” walking loop of the Enchanted Forest for a magical experience. The fun starts at Anastasia State Park (please enter the park at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre). Call 904.461.2035 for more details.

Ripley's Haunted Express

October 20 & 21, 26-31
Ride through old St. Augustine hearing the haunting stories and legends of the Nation’s Oldest City aboard Ripley’s Haunted Tour Train. Tickets are $18 and tours start at 6 p.m. from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 19 San Marco Avenue. For more information call 904.824.1606

Ghosts of The Mantanzas

October 25 - 31
Join the ghostly pirate that has commandeered the 72' Schooner Freedom and holds passengers captive as they sail the dark waters of Matanzas Bay. Entertaining tales and assistance from the captives are the highlight of this adventure-- not to mention the rations and grog that add to enjoyment. BEWARE--'there be pirates here'. Tours start at 8:15p.m. on the Wednesday and Thursday and 8:15 and 9:45 on Friday and Saturday, 6:45 and 8:15 on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Tickets are $35 for adults and kids 2 -12 are $25. For more information call 904.810.1010. Reservations are required for these tours. View St. Augustine Hotels

Haunted Hayride

October 27 - 29
Take an old-fashioned hayride and discover the nighttime beauty of the maritime hammock while meeting haunting goblins of the forest, spooks from sandy graves and other denizens of the dark. Young children will be able to go through a “scare-free” walking loop of the Enchanted Forest for a magical experience. The fun starts at Anastasia State Park (please enter the park at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre). Call 904.461.2035 for more details.

Haunted Hospital

October 27 - 29
The Doctor is always in at the Haunted Hospital! Come check in with the MAD Surgeon as he demonstrates the “cutting” edge of patient care. This tour is not for the faint of heart for you never know what lurks within each of the dark rooms of the Haunted Hospital. Tickets are $6 per person. Tours start at 6 p.m. at the Spanish Military Hospital, 3 Aviles Street in St. Augusitne. For more information call 904.827.0807.

A Weekend Ghostly Encounter

October 27 - 29
Walk the dark, narrow streets of St. Augustine and hear stories of those who came before us…and refuse to leave. Tours depart from the Old Drug Store, 31 Orange Street in St. Augustine. Tours include admission to the Haunted Hospital and start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $14 per person. For more information call 904.827.0807 or for St. Augustines Hotels Click Here.

Halloween Ghostly Encounter

October 30 & 31
Join us on the only walking tour that enters a haunted building. Enter the Military Hospital that has been investigated by the Ghost Hunters Team of the Sci-Fi Channel. Tours start from the Old Drug Store, 31 Orange Street and the Haunted Hospital, 3 Aviles Street in St. Augustine. Tickets are $10. Tours start at 8 p.m. For more information call 904.827.0807

Murders, Myths & Monsters

October 27 & 28
Join Ghost Tours of St. Augustine for a hauntingly fun walking tour highlighting the many murders, myths and monsters that makes St. Augustine known as one of the nation’s most haunted cities. Meet the Spirits as your guide leads you through the narrow streets and alleys and to the shadowed cemeteries. Ghostly characters are met along the way. Murders, Myths and Monsters provides two different haunting experiences. North-side tours start from the City Gates area, at the north-end of St. George Street and tickets are $12. The South-side walking tour includes admission to Potter’s Wax Museum’s Mysteries and Monsters. Tickets are $16. Tours start at 7 p.m. and run through the evening. For more information call 904.829.1122 or 800 461.1009.

Ghosts and Legends Of St. Augustine

October 27 & 28
Ride around the nation’s oldest city hearing of the ghosts and legends that abound. The tour includes a visit to the St. Augustine Lighthouse that was recently featured on the Sci-Fi Channel’s Ghost Hunters, where the ghosts are dying to meet you. Tours start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $22. For more information call 904.829.1122 or 800.461.1009. St. Augustine Hotels

Creatures of the Night

October 27- 29
Come dressed in your favorite costume to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park and we will provide the candy, a creepy creature experience, animal trading cards, and a great time! Young ghosts and goblins can wander the wild walkway and encounter costumed animal keepers with creepy creatures and candy! There will be an alligator feeding show and a drawing for free annual passes and other prizes. The fun takes place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and admission is $7 adults, $5 children. For more information call 824-3337 or visit www.alligatorfarm.com.

A Very Scary Halloween Party At Casa Monica

October 31
People have been saying for years the beautiful Casa Monica hotel has ghosts--now you can see for yourself! The evening promises loads of fun with a live band, a costume contest and lots of scary specialty drinks, including the Kiss of the Vampire, The Zombie, The Ghouls Shroud and more. The hauntingly fun-time takes place at 95 Cordova Lounge at the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augusitne from 7 to 11 p.m. Admission is free and this event is for adults only. For more information call 904.827.1888 or visit www.casamonica.com.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Second Seminole War At Castillo de San Marcos

Saturday and Sunday: October 14 & 15

Come learn about Florida’s early frontier days when reenactors and rangers at the Castillo de San Marcos present life in Florida during the Second Seminole War of 1835 -1842. Both American and Native American viewpoints will be presented through demonstrations and displays. In addition, there will be an encampment at the Colonial Spanish Quarter. The Castillo de San Marcos is located on Avenida Menendez along St. Augustine’s Bayfront and is open 8:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Admission is $6 adults, children 15 and under are free. For more information call 904.829.6506 ext. 233, or visit www.nps.gov/casa/.

Guana Beach Talk and Walk

Saturday: October 14

Find out what kind of animals once inhabited some of your favorite seashells! Discover why the beach is such a harsh environment and how the organisms that live there are especially adapted to deal with these conditions. Find out just how salty the ocean is by doing a salinity test! Join the Guana - Tolomato - Matanzas environmental educator, Angie Golubovich for this informative ¾ mile beach walk at 9 a.m. The walk starts at the Guana Beach South Parking lot on A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach. The cost is $3 per vehicle for parking. For more information call 904.823.4500 or for St. Augustine Hotels

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Find Low Gas Prices

GasBuddy compiles information from more than 173 gas price information sites to help you save on gas by focusing your search. Enter your Zip code to find stations and prices near you. If you're traveling, click on a state, then a county to find prices in towns you'll be traveling through. Or click on the USA National Gas Temperature Map for the graphic depiction of gas prices nationwide. For information go to www.gasbuddy.com

Lincolnville Festival Will Celebrate Oldest City's African-American Heritage

26th Annual Event!
November 3-5

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Oct. 10) – The African-American heritage of the Nation’s oldest city will be celebrated with music, food and fun when the Lincolnville Festival returns to St. Augustine’s Historic Lincolnville on November 3rd through 5th.

The festival gets underway on Friday with live R&B music, food, arts and crafts. Saturday features narrated tours of Historic Lincolnville sites, live country/pop, jazz and dance music throughout the day and a special “Soul Food” contest. On Sunday, the day’s entertainment features great gospel music – along with more food and more fun.

Funds raised from the festival will go to the second phase of the Fort Mose Museum, which is being built in St. Augustine. In 1738, the Spanish Governor of Florida Chartered Fort Mose as a settlement for freed Africans who had fled slavery in the British Carolinas. The only requirements for freedom for the Africans were to convert to Catholicism and to form a militia to protect St. Augustine, which they did. Consequently, Fort Mose is the first free African-American settlement in what is now known as the United States. The story of Fort Mose represents a story of courage, determination, and perseverance. The stories of Africans fleeing to freedom and of Native Americans who aided them, as well as tales of the many other people touched by Fort Mose will inspire everyone who visits the new center.

Historic Lincolnville is one of the oldest African-American communities in the United States with more than half of its buildings dating from the late 19th century. Held on Granada and Washington Streets in historic Lincolnville, admission to the Festival is free. Festival hours are Friday, 5 to10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday 2 to 6 p.m. For more information, call 904.377-3421 or (904) 814-7763 .

Oldest City To Celebrate Holidays With A Festival Of Lights And Events

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Oct. 10) St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city will celebrate the holiday season in dazzling style when the 13th edition of its memorable Nights of Lights flashes to life on November 18. One of the South’s most popular holiday extravaganzas, the city not only creates a magical setting with more than two million tiny white lights, the Nights of Lights also features a full schedule of special events including concerts, historical re-enactments, exciting tours and even a Christmas parade.

In a manner befitting one of the nation’s most historic cities, this inspiring display of light is based on the tradition of the town’s original Spanish colonists who placed a white candle in their windows to brighten the nights during the Christmas holidays. The Nights of Lights continues this tradition in grand style with tiny white lights that create a magical atmosphere as they outline the buildings of the historic district and beautiful bay front, reflect in the waters of Matanzas Bay, glisten from stately palms and extend their glow to the nearby lighthouse and beaches.

Within this holiday wonderland, an exciting array of special events and activities await visitors. Nighttime tours of ancient buildings and inns led by storytellers in period clothing, rollicking train and trolley tours through the narrow brick streets, festive shopping, First Friday art walks in December and January featuring more than 20 galleries serving free holiday refreshments, luminaries in the town plaza, holiday concerts – even a Christmas parade – are among the special events to be added to the memory books of visitors and residents alike.

This is also a special time to celebrate the brief 20 years when the town was occupied by the British (1763-1784). Held this year on December 2, British Nightwatch is a fun, re-creation of holiday frivolity with a torch lit parade through town by hundreds of authentically-clad re-enactors, house tours, wine, caroling and volleys of musketry.

The Night of Lights opening ceremonies, featuring a high-energy musical performance in the city’s historic Plaza de la Constitucion, get underway at 4:30 p.m. on November 18. The lighting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. when a single flick of a switch will bathe the historic district in the soft glow of two million lights.

For a detailed listing of all Nights of Lights tours and events, go to www.nightsoflightscelebration.com or call 1.800.653.2489. For St. Augustine Hotels Click Here.

Best of Florida Christmas at Gaylord Palms Resort

Nov. 18, 2006 - Jan. 2, 2007

You can't miss Best of Florida Christmas at Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando this holiday season from Nov. 18, 2006 - Jan. 2, 2007. This family fun event features live entertainment, unique attractions and holiday activities held to commemorate the Christmas season. Some activities include an outdoor ICE! Skating rink, "A Season of Wishes" Christmas variety show and the marquee attraction, ICE! The walk through experience carved from nearly two million pounds of ice. For more information about Best of Florida Christmas visitwww.gaylordpalms.com/ice. Tickets are on sale now. For reservations, call (407) 586-4ICE

Monday, October 9, 2006

European Epicurean To Bring The Best Of Europe To Ponte Vedra

October 21

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Oct. 9) – Three of Europe’s most romantic regions will be magically transported to Ponte Vedra on the evening of October 21. Called “European Epicurean,” this unique event will transform the Culture Center at Ponte Vedra Beach into Andalusia, Provence and Tuscany.

This European celebration of the senses will feature beautiful music, entertainment, fabulous food and superb wines from each of these regions. From 6 to 10 p.m., Cafes Cantantes, gypsies, flamenco dancers, sloping vineyards, colorful scenery, and even a picturesque Chiantigiana Wine Road will be available to entertain and amuse patrons of the event.

Tickets to European Epicurean are priced at $150 per person. All proceeds will benefit the Cultural Center’s educational programs. For tickets, call the Center at 904.280.0614. The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach is located at 50 Executive Way. For more details on Center activities, go to www.ccpvb.org.

European Epicurean is funded in part by a grant from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council. For more information on events and vacation opportunities, go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website www.getaway4florida.com or call 1.800.653.2489.
For St. Augustine Hotels Click Here.

Making Cooking A Party Is Their Business

Lake Mary, FL - On a Friday evening, the kitchen at Chef Voila (www.chefvoila.com) brims with activity. In a studio that looks like the setof a TV cooking show, a group of four couples slip on their aprons andprepare for a culinary odyssey where professional chefs will teach themfirst-hand how to make gourmet pizzas.

Pepperoni and sausage aren’t on the menu tonight. Instead, the couples willlearn how to prepare delicacies like Heavenly Angel Hair Pasta Pizza,Nawrlins Style Crawfish Etoufee Pizza, Mojito Shrimp and Avocado Pizza andCherry Cobbler Pizza with Homemade Ginger Ice Cream.

For decades, Americans have consistently searched for ways to make preparingdinner an easier task. Added to that dilemma is the fact that, in today’sfast-paced lifestyle, gathering around the kitchen table for a family dinneris a rare occurrence. The mission has grown even more challenging withmothers juggling careers, a heavier workload at home and shuttling theirchildren to and from after-school activities.

Inspired by this trend – and the evolving interest in fueled by The FoodNetwork and the increasing number of celebrity chefs – Meghan Dalton andbusiness partner Dan Heneghan decided to create an environment wherechildren and adults alike could learn how to cook in a fun atmosphere fromprofessional chefs. The result is Chef Voila which is based in Lake Mary,Fla., an affluent northern suburb of Orlando.

From children’s birthday parties and date nights for couples to summercooking camps and corporate team building events, Chef Voila hosts an arrayof themed cooking classes taught by culinary artists like chef JamesO’Donnell, who was trained at the renowned Culinary Institute of America inHyde Park, N.Y., and Byron Boquet, who attended Orlando Culinary Academy andhas a passion in Cajun cooking cultivated from his roots in New Orleans.

Before Dalton and Heneghan opened Chef Voila in March 2006, they wereimmersed in the world of technology. Heneghan was the chief financialofficer of Intersil Corporation, which is based in San Jose and has a branchin Palm Bay, Fla. Dalton, who was also an executive at Intersil, helpedlaunch Intersil as a public company and worked together on an assortment ofprojects. Both tired of the corporate world and craved a businessopportunity where they could work with children and families, and encouragethe concept of family togetherness that has diminished in today’s societywhere many households have two working parents.

Dalton, who is single and has a 4-year-old son, Max; and Heneghan, who ismarried and has two teen-age daughters, explored several ideas. They decidedon a concept that would introduce children and adults alike to the joys ofcooking.

“With the rapidly growing interest in watching cooking shows on TV, learningnew dishes to prepare at home, and finding new ideas for entertaining, wefelt that the timing was right for a concept like Chef Voila,” Dalton said.“It’s common for parties and family gatherings to be centered in thekitchen. People enjoy social interaction, and food is a way to bringeveryone together.

”Cooking and eating together is a perfect vehicle for parents to buildrelationships with their children, Heneghan believes.

“Growing up, dinner time was a very important part of my family members’lives,” said Heneghan, who has five siblings. “It was an hour filled withlively conversation. We shared each other’s company and learned important life lessons.

“At Chef Voila, parents and their children can have fun doing something thatboth of them like, and they are able to enjoy family time that is socoveted,” Heneghan added. “They can take what they learn here, and apply itin the kitchen at home.”

Dalton and Heneghan spent a year developing the Chef Voila concept. Theyhired Megan Strongrich, a lifelong family friend of Dalton who has a degreein advertising from Michigan State, to help manage the store and spearheadideas for classes and special events. O’Donnell hatched the idea for thecafé and catering operations. The facility - which is located at theColonial Town Park amid upscale boutiques and restaurants, and a sprawlingmulti-screen theater complex – includes two cooking studios and the café,which is open for lunch and a menu that features sandwiches, desserts,salads, soups and special entrees created by O’Donnell and Bouquet.

During the summer, Chef Voila hosts a series of summer cooking camps forchildren. Cooking 101-A is geared for kids 7-12 who have limited experiencein the kitchen while Cooking 102-A is organized for middle and highschool-aged students who learn to plan a comprehensive dinner party fromscratch. Throughout the year, there are themed classes for parents andchildren such as Game Day Fun, which offers instruction on sports foodfavorites like burgers, hot dogs and chicken wings; and Breakfast Bash,where kids are introduced to delicacies other than cold cereal.

Birthday parties are popular for children and their parents alike, Daltonsays. There are themed parties for pizza, Mexican cuisine and chocolatelovers among other options.

“Kids love being in the kitchen, and here they and their parents don’t haveto worry about making a mess,” Dalton said. “A cooking-themed birthday partyis something much different than what most kids are accustomed to.”

Adults can participate in classes that range from gourmet pizzas, cookingwith wine and Southern cooking to preparing elegant appetizers, baking piesand making fusion cuisine. Themed date nights for couples, and ongoing“girls night out” classes are also among the most popular offerings fromChef Voila, as are hands-on cooking parties for private groups andorganizations. Holiday-themed events – such as preparing Halloween,Christmas and Valentine’s Day-centered parties – are also part of ChefVoila’s seasonal menu.

“Over the years, I’ve attended many off-site company retreats where you areplaced in a conference room for the entire time writing lists on easels. Acorporate team building event in the kitchen adds an element of excitement,builds camaraderie and reinforces teamwork,” Dalton said. “After all -whether you’re a business, a family or a group of friends - there are fewthings more relaxing and entertaining than sharing food and drink together.
View other great Orlando Restaurants.

The Blue Rose Joins Preferred Hotels & Resorts

ORLANDO, Fla., October 9, 2006 -The Blue Rose, Orlando's highly anticipated new Las Vegas-style condo hotel and resort, has joined Preferred Hotels® & Resorts, a collection of the world's finest independent hotels and resorts. Upon completion, the Property's 1,292 luxury hotel residences will be offered through Preferred's global sales network and reservation systems and will benefit from the group's marketing and brand building activities.
To qualify as a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, The Blue Rose had to meet Preferred's award-winning Standards of Excellence™. This exhaustive quality assurance program, which includes an annual, unannounced inspection, ensures that only the best hotels become members of the brand. Recently, five members of Preferred earned spots on Condé Nast Traveler's coveted "Hot List", the insider's guide to the newest and hottest hotels in the world for 2006. Twenty-two Preferred properties have received the Travel + Leisure World's Best Award for 2006, a distinguished mark of excellence for hotels and resorts around the world. Click Here for other great Orlando Hotels.

Serbfest

November 17-19

St. Petka Church in Longwood is planning a big fund raising event in November. The Serbfest, which is similar to the Greek fest, will be held with all the proceeds going to build the Church.
Folklore will dance every hour, with the main show on Saturday. There will be face painting, bounce house, rock climbing wall and much more entertainment for the children. The food is endless. Come experience the Flavor! Fun for the whole family. For more information about this fund raising event go to www.serb-fest.com

Sunday, October 8, 2006

Southern Women's Show

October 12-15, 2006
Orange County Convention Center West Concourse, Halls C & D1
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday & Saturday 10am-8pm
Sunday 10am-6pm

Take a break to feel refreshed, rejuvenated and recharged at the Southern Women's Show in Orlando. Spend a relaxing day being pampered with spa treatments and makeovers. Learn about ways to juggle your responsibilities, realize your dreams and improve your lifestyle. Explore your own personal style and uncover your passions. In addition, you can shop for clothes, jewelry and gifts. You'll enjoy plenty of personal attention from a variety of experts!
You'll become energized and feel like a new woman! It’s no wonder why women love this show! Share in the fun! Grab a friend, mark your calendar and plan to attend the Southern Women’s xdow in Orlando!
For events schedule or ticket information visit wwwsouthernwomensshow.com or for Orlando Hotels and Orlando Restaurants Click Here.

Leaves are Falling

October 13 &14
5 - 9:30 p.m.
Leaves fall at 6,7,8,&9 p.m.

Listen for the rustling of falling leaves as Celebration kicks off autumn with a weekend of fun for the whole family!
Don't miss your chance to hop on a hayride, dance to a live band, paint a pumpkin or just enjoy the beauty of Celebration's lakefront.
Catch savings of up to 20% at participating Town Center stores when you find special discounts falling during hourly leaf falls!
Bring a donation of two cans of food to benefit Central Florida's Second Harvest Food Bank, and you'll receive 50% off the price of your commemorative Falling Leaves t-shirt! Limit one discout per person. For more information on this special event visit www.celebration.fl.us

Thursday, October 5, 2006

RedCarpet Monday

RedCarpetMonday was created to give Orlando's most successful businessprofessionals a place to unwind while socializing, networking and sharingbusiness ideas with other entrepreneurs. We are keeping this eventexclusive by enforcing our Invitation-Only philosophy.
Tickets andinvitation requests can be obtained by visiting www.RedCarpetMonday.comOur next event will be on November 13, 2006 at 7 P.M.

Death in the Oldest House

Thursday October 9
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Oct. 5) Over the centuries, death has been a frequent visitor to St. Augustine’s Oldest House. On Thursday, October 19, visitors to the venerable home will get to see a rare re-enactment of funeral and mourning customs of Spanish and British colonial residents. Featuring living tableaux of two colonial-era funerals and tours of the house, this event provides a look at history from an unusual perspective at a time of year traditionally associated with death. The tours begin at 7 p.m. with the last departing at 8:30 p.m. Admission for the event is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and active duty military, $4 for ages 6-18 and college students; and $3 for St. Johns County residents.
Located at 14 St. Francis Street, the Oldest House is more formerly known as the Gonzalez-Alvarez House. The oldest surviving Spanish Colonial dwelling in Florida, the current structure dates to the early 1700s, but the site has been occupied since the 1600s. The earliest documented funeral to take place in the house occurred in 1727 as a result of the death of the infant son of Spanish artilleryman Tomas Gonzalez and his wife Francisca de Guevara.
The house is maintained and operated by the St. Augustine Historical Society, the oldest continuously operating museum and historical society in Florida. The Oldest House has been open to visitors since 1893.
For more information on “Death in the Oldest House,” contact the Historical Society at 904.824.2872 or go to www.oldesthouse.org . For St. Augustine Hotels

Emma Concert Series - "Carmen"

Saturday: October 7
Enjoy the story of the passionate gypsy Carmen brought to life by William Soleau’s choreographed dramatic ballet set to the beautiful and evocative music of George Bizet. Carmen will be performed at 8 p.m. at the Flagler College Auditorium on Granada Street in St. Augustine. Tickets are $18. For more information call 904.797.2800 or for St. Augustine Hotels Click Here.

Mustang and Ford Stampede V At the World Golf Village

Saturday: October 7
Rev it up at the Modern Mustangs of Jacksonville Club’ fifth-annual car show. See over 40 years of Mustang history in addition to other Ford cars and trucks. Registration to participate in the show ($20 per car)will take place from 7:30 to 10 a.m. and an awards ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Families can enjoy a raffle, an auction, a costume contest for children…and more. Cars will be on display along the World Golf Village Walk of Fame. Admission is free. World Golf Village is located along I-95 at exit 323. For more information call 904.940.4123 or visit www.mmjax.com. For St. Augustine Hotels

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration At Castillo De San Marcos

Saturday: October 7
Celebrate St. Augustine’s rich Spanish heritage as re-enactors dress in colonial Spanish costume to present talks and displays on various crafts, military arts, and lifestyle of St. Augustine’s colonial Spanish days, all set to live music from the period. The Castillo is open 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Admission is $6 adults, children under 15 free. The Castillo de San Marcos is located on Avenida Menendez along St. Augustine’s Bayfront. For more information call 904.829.6505 ext. 233 or visit www.nps.gov/casa/. For St. Augustine Hotels

St. Benedict Fundraiser Gala

Saturday: October 7
Help restore St. Benedict the Moor School and learn about the fascinating history of this St. Augustine landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located in the heart of Lincolnville, the school was built in 1898 and closed in 1964. Today, plans are underway to make the school the center of the community – much as it was prior to its closure in 1964. Multi-media centers, a library, museum and meeting facilities are among the goals for this once-beautiful building. Old St. Augustine Village will host a gala fundraiser beginning at 6:45 p.m. at the Village. Local historians, architects, and re-enactors will be on hand to tell the school’s story – plus there will be music, food and entertainment! Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the Old St. Augustine Village gate. For more information, call 904.823.9722 or for
St. Augustine Hotels Click Here.

17th Annual St. Augustine Colonial Folk Arts & Crafts Festival

Saturday and Sunday, October 7-8
See colonial craftspeople from throughout Florida demonstrate “Lost Arts” such as spinning, weaving, basket making, blacksmithing, pottery making and many other arts and crafts. Historical musical performances, children’s hands-on craft experiences, storytelling and much more show how entertaining the old days could be. The event takes place each day from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum, 53 St. George St., St. Augustine. Admission is free. For more information call 904.810.5587 or 904.825.5033.
St. Augustine Hotels

9th Annual Greek Festival

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: October 6-8
Celebrate the Greek influence on the Nation’s oldest city with music, food and fun! Hosted by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, the festival features a delicious assortment of Greek foods, pastries and beverages and non-stop entertainment with live Greek music by the Hellenic Band of Jupiter and traditional Greek dances by the Nisiotes dance troupe. The festival is from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, located on A1A South in St. Augustine Admission is $1. For more information call 904.823.5906 or visit www.holytrinitygoa.org/greekfest/. For St. Augustine Hotels Click Here.

Sunset/Moonrise at St. Augustine Lighthouse

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: October 6-8
Celebrate the full moon by watching the sunset and moonrise from the most unique perspective in all of St. Augustine- the top of the Lighthouse tower. This special event includes a champagne toast, provided by San Sebastian Winery, atop the tower and an informative overview of the history of the St. Augustine Light Station. The fee is $20 for non-museum members ($16 for members) reservations are required and space is limited. The tour and reception takes place from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. For more information or to reserve a spot call 904.829.0745 or for
St. Augustine Hotels

First Friday Art Walk

Friday: October 6
Enjoy the latest exhibits, music, entertainment and refreshments at over 20 participating galleries in this fun-filled walking tour. Galleries are open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. St. Augustine Sightseeing Trains and Old Town Trolleys offer attendees a complimentary shuttle service to most of the galleries. Trains run on a continuous loop every 30 minutes. Tours begin at Rembrandtz Fine Gifts for Fun People, 131 King Street. For more information call 904.829.0065 or visit www.staugustinegalleries.com or for St. Augustine Hotels Click Here.

Monday, October 2, 2006

Diwali, Festival of Lights!

This week, area Indians are celebrating Navarati, which means nine nights. In October, they celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

Navarati, a religious holiday, is celebrated with an all-night dance called "garba." Traditionally, in Indian villages, women in long skirts danced the garba, circling around oil lamps as a drum marked the rhythm. Today, men and women participate in garba, and at Central Florida events, the ages range from toddlers to seniors.

In October, Indians celebrate Diwali, also spelled Deepavali. In northern India, Diwali marks the Indian New Year. The festival represents good over evil, light over darkness. The holiday starts this year on Oct. 21 and typically lasts five days.

At home, an Indian family will celebrate this occasion with quiet prayer among family members. The outside of the house will be decorated with lights. In the temple, offerings to God will be made for wealth and prosperity.

Local celebrations include:

Gujarati Society of Central Florida hosts garba dances from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sep 30. and Oct. 6 and 7 at Dr. Phillips High School, 6500 Turkey Lake Road. Musicians from the United Kingdom will perform today. Dance contests will be held Oct. 7. Cost is $10, and $5 for students. Details: www.gujaratisocietycfl.com.

Hindu Temple of Greater Orlando hosts Navarati celebrations at the temple grounds, 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry, nightly until Monday. The dances start at 8 p.m. and end at midnight. The event begins with a prayer service.

On Oct. 21, the Hindu Society of Central Florida will celebrate Diwali at the Casselberry temple with a prayer service starting in the evening at sundown and ending with fireworks. Details: 407-699-5277.

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, 1325 W. Oak Ridge Road, celebrates Diwali on Oct. 21 and 22. On Oct. 21 at 7 p.m., prayers for prosperity and success for the upcoming year will be offered, said Kamal Ruparelia, a temple organizer. On Oct. 22, New Year's Day celebrations begin at 7 a.m. with a prayer service and meet and greet. Meals and services will be offered throughout the day. More than 1,000 vegetarian dishes will be offered to God, said Ruparelia. Details: 407-857-0091.

Horizon of Indian Culture will present Diwali Mela 2006 on Oct. 7 at the Citrus Bowl. The event runs from 3 to 10 p.m. A motorcade and parade featuring 25 floats will start from the Shri Laxminarayan Mandir, 269 N. Klondike Ave., at 3 p.m. Fifty vendors will display wares including religious books, jewelry and Indian clothes, said Harry Singh, organizer. A continuous dance program will run on the stage from 4 to 10 p.m. -- both Bollywood and classical. The event also features a Miss Diwali Pageant. Details: 407-814-7501.

Association of Asian Cultural Festivals will host the Ninth Annual Diwali Mela 2006 on Oct. 7 at the Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola. The event attracts thousands. Musical lineup includes The Angels and Dhanraj Balgobin. The fair features numerous booths. Area dance groups will perform and a Miss Diwali USA will be crowned. The event runs from 3 to 10 p.m. Details: 407-293-9991 For Orlando Hotels or Orlando Restaurants Click Here.

Wolfgang Puck Sushi Team

When it comes to sushi making I take may hat out for these gentleman Kazyo, Chau and Thomas, next time you visit Downtown Disney stop by the sushi bar and see them in action.

Agrigato

California Roll at Wolfgang Puck

The Wolfgang Puck is a great place to experience some of the most popular sushi in a comtemporary, fast casual setting with friendly service. The menu includes Wolfgang Puck's famous signature thin crusted pizzas. Great atmosphere for more go to Orlando Restaurants

Sushi at its best at Wolfgang Puck Disney Market Place

Sushi is the most famous Japanese dish outside of Japan, and one of most popular dishes among Japanese themselves who usually enjoy sushi on special occasions. My wife and I enjoy the sushi at Wolfgang Puck the picture above is the sushi sampler, it is a great choice and we get to see the famous sushi chefs at work. Look for more at Orlando Restaurants

Sunday, October 1, 2006

Biketoberfest 2006

Oct. 19-22, 2006
Daytona Beach Florida

There's a little something for everyone at Biketoberfest. Whether you are interested in vintage and custom bikes or the newest models anywhere, you'll find them here.
On Main Street, you'll see every kind of machine imaginable, but don't forget to check out this years festivities, some of which include, motorcycle races, charity rides, street festivals and expos. The Entertainment abounds during the weekend with live rock, blues and reggae music on just about every corner.
Bikers are always generous to many charities. Donations can be made to Easter Seals, Conklin Center for the Blind and Zangi Gratto to name a few.
So come out and participate in this family-friendly event and give your motorcycle one last ride before winter. For more information call 866-296-8970 or www.biketoberfest.org

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