I was out driving around this past weekend, and past a house with…well, interesting porch “decorations”:

Doormat? Check.
Mailbox? You bet!
Planters? Sure thing.

Church pews? Ummm…yes?

See you Sunday morning…

(Location: Orchid Avenue in Winter Park.)

Holy pumpkin patch! Literally…

(Location: St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winter Park.)

Somebody lost their children!”

(Girl behind counter at downtown Orlando’s Philly Subs on Magnolia, while holding up a collection of photos to patrons.)

The Red Fox Lounge in Winter Park is one of those places in town I’ve been wanting to check out for years, but just never got around to.

Saturday night on the way to a movie, we decided to stop in for a drink. Every image I’d conjured up in my mind was suddenly real.

Located in the Mt. Vernon Inn (Best Western) on 17-92 in Winter Park, the dark but cozy lounge only has about a dozen or so tables, a single bar and just enough room for a stage to hold Mark & Lorna, the duo who’ve been singing lounge tunes together for 30 years.

Drinks are inexpensive and you’re sure to hear everything from Sinatra to Neil Diamond … If you’re feeling nostalgic, this is the place to be.

The Red Fox Lounge
110 S. Orlando Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789

Sorry, in advance, for the long post but Taverna Opa at Point Orlando is one of the most unique, fun dining experiences I’ve ever had. I have to share everything with our readers.

I went there last night for something “different,” and I can honestly say it was far beyond what I’d expected…or even anticipated. In fact, I didn’t really know too much about the Taverna Opa other than what a friend had told me, and a blog post I’d read a while back.

Let me start by saying the food is delicious! But I also love Greek cuisine, which is what Opa specializes in. Off of the menu, I started with “flaming cheese” (yes, you heard me right!) and then lamb kabobs; my dinner companion enjoyed beef. This was all following the complimentary, mouth-watering bread and chickpea paste. I can taste it right now….

Hopefully this’ll give you an idea of what the food was like:

Bread w/chick-pea spread:

Flaming cheese:

Lamb kabobs:

Now, while the food alone is certainly worth the trip to International Drive, it’s the in-house entertainment that makes the experience so memorable. I mean, patrons dance on the tables! Yes…dance on the tables. Don’t believe me?

After a while I got a tad disgusted by the fact that people were dancing on top of the tables, but then I realized this was happening after they finished-up their meals! Really, how could you care anyway if someone’s having this much fun?

And if the dancing weren’t enough, every-now-and-then, the Opa staff would walk around the dining room throwing around napkins. I’m not fully sure I understand what cultural representation this has, but it’s festive nonetheless (although definitely not eco-friendly). It’s a bit dark and not the best quality, but I managed to capture some of the excitement on video:

I would most definitely recommend trying Taverna Opa at least once; it would be a great thing if you have friends or family in town visiting. Be aware, though, that the restaurant is VERY loud and not conducive to having conversation — honestly, by the time I was finished with my meal I was ready to leave.

There are a few things I think you should be aware of ahead of time if you plan on going to Tavera Opa:

1. There is a $25 minimum per person on the weekends. This is contrary to what their online information states. A little irritating but I was prepared to drop some money anyway. And note that this minimum does include adult beverages.
2. No reservations on the weekends after 6pm. There is a “wait” list, but I’m not really sure what the benefit of that is.
3. It’s at POINTE ORLANDO on International Drive. As Central Florida residents we all know this is a dreaded area, typically saturated with tourists who don’t really know where they’re going or what they’re doing.

* Major downfall: PARKING AT POINTE ORLANDO! It is such a mess, and everytime I go out there I remember why I go so infrequently.

Important information:

POINTE ORLANDO
9101 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
T: 407.351.8660
F: 407.351.8661

Have fun visiting Taverna Opa, and let us hear about your experience!

Finnhenry’s in downtown Orlando. Granted, I haven’t really given them a “fair” try since they replaced one of my favorite lunch hangout spots, Room 3-Nine, but I have to give them credit for attempting to bring some flair to the Central Florida area. I must say, too, that I like the layout of the restaurant/bar much more than 3-Nine.

Now, their website touts them to be located in the “thriving” entertainment district of “diverse” downtown Orlando. I would argue that our downtown area is far from thriving, and the people who frequent it are about as diverse as Nicole Kidman’s facial expressions, but that’s beside the point.

When I went there for lunch not too long ago I had to try their BBQ sandwich (sometimes a weakness of mine), accompanied by some yummy chips.

If you want to check-out Finnhenry’s food menu before committing yourself to go, you can do that on their website by clicking here. You might also need a little something to wash down your food, so why not see what sort of drinks they offer while you’re at it.

All-in-all I’d say Finnhenry’s is a decent place to grab something to eat. I’ll have to do another post when I’ve had a chance to hang out there at night.

If you have any interest, you can be a friend of Finnhenry’s over on MySpace.

I can’t really run. I’ve got too many balls in my pants!”

(“Pulse’s” klynn to akeorlando during a recent tennis game.)

I would never find humor at another’s expense. Ok, well I rarely find humor at another’s expense. However, when I saw this yard sign posted in my neighborhood, I had to pull over and take a picture…all the while dying with laughter:

Of course, we here at “Pulse of Central Florida,” have never blatantly expressed our own opinions (but we do want to make sure you vote). But, like our fellow Orlando blog-site, we strongly encourage you to!

Orlando’s a driving city. There’s certainly no arguing this.

I know, though, that many residents in the Central Florida area don’t have the luxury of automobiles, but from what I hear the LYNX system offers-up some dependable transportation; I’m sure it takes some scheduling. Quite honestly, I am very grateful I don’t have to rely on public transportation.

However, if you weren’t aware, LYNX offers a FREE bus line specifically through the downtown Orlando area. It’s called the LYMMO. “What good does this do for me?” you might be asking yourself. Well, downtown Orlando doesn’t really have a bustling commerce community yet, but the LYMMO service is great for getting from one end of downtown to the other…particularly if you work in the downtown area. It might also come in handy if you’re out-on-the-town during the weekend and have had a little too much to drink (and don’t feel like taking a pedicab). No more worries about where to park, and having to PAY!

Here are the hours of operation:

Monday – Thursday: 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Friday: 6:00 a.m. – midnight
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – midnight
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

LYMMO stops can be found by clicking here. For more in-depth information about LYNX in general–including schedules and maps–visit their website at GoLYNX.com.

This week, beginning yesterday, I’ve been representing the social media marketing company I work for at a “creative” conference being hosted here in Central Florida; I’ve been going to many conferences as of late. This particular conference is called CreateChaos and in addition to having a fantastic line-up of speakers–including Lee Cockerell, author of “Creating Magic”–that are experts in the creative field, there are some interesting vendors exhibiting.

I managed to snap a few photos of the exhibit hall when I had some downtime. Check-it-out:



BubbleShare: Share photos – Find great Clip Art Images.

There are many great events like CreateChaos that take place in the Central Florida area. If you’re looking specifically for Technology/Internet/Online Marketing events, an up-and-coming group called doterati is a great place to start. I’ve done a tad of volunteer stuff with doterati, but plan on getting much more involved in the coming months.

Do you know of a great resource to find local events in Central Florida? If so, share them with us!