Undiscovered Central Florida

Now we know that an evening at an observatory can be a pretty dull date. But toss in a couple of cosmic cocktails, crystal clear skies and sumptuously soft music, and the night can get pretty darned romantic in a hurry!

That’s the idea behind Cocktails & The Cosmos event every third Friday at the Orlando Science Center. The event’s schedule of activities changes every time but the Sept. 15 event features Stormtroopers, a real NASA astronaut, the debut of Disney’s Roving Mars and a menu featuring Cornish Game Hen, Mushroom En Croute with Spinach Mousse and Champignon Veloute, and Crème Brulee for dessert. You can’t get that at a fancy restaurant (the Stormtroopers and astronaut that is).

Cocktails and food are extra. Hey, what can you expect for a $9.95 admission price?

The doors open a 6 and close at 11, so there’s plenty of time to gaze into the telescope and one another’s eyes, even if you have other plans that evening.

Click here For more information on Cocktails & The Cosmos.

We’re suckers for anything that relates to the Caribbean, especially Jamaica and good Jamaican food. After being there a few times in the past year, we come back to Central Florida missing the great food of the islands. I have good news! We’ve found the food, without the airfare! believe it or not, it’s on Church Street in Downtown Orlando. It’s called Paradise Island Cafe. The restaurant is run by folks from Kingston, Jamaica, and they know how to make the real stuff! Our most recent meal was curried chicken, Jamaician chicken patties and coco bread. But also on the menu all sorts of caribbean favorites from Jerk Pork to Curried Goat. And not only is it a restaurant, but also a little Jamaican Market. We were able to get mixes for some of the sweet fried bread that we loved in Jamaica (called Festivals) as well as Jamaican sodas(Ting and Bigga Drinks) and all sorts of other things you just don’t usually see here in the states. Want a real taste of the Caribbean? Unless you have a lot of free air miles and want to take a flight to Jamaica, this is the next best option.

Directions to Paradise Island Cafe

We’re always up for a new creative project to take over our home, and now we’ve found a place that has pretty much everything you need in the arena of art supplies. It’s Sam Flax in Downtown Orlando. They have everything from the ordinary to the ‘I never knew they had those’ kinds of art supplies, and some finished artworks and creative gift ideas to boot. One of our favorites on the unique gift idea front is a wine glass that holds an entire bottle of wine. I know a few people who can really use that!

On the projects side, I like that they have either ready-to-make projects if you just want something fun, without too much ‘what do I need to make this happen’ thought… or if you have and idea that you want to build from the little pieces up, you can find all kinds of bits and pieces. Great place to walk in and let that creative kid inside of you go!!!

Map to Sam Flax

White Wolf Cafe is where it’s at if what your looking for is the four things above. Why go to the typical chain coffee shops for connectivity, when you can check out a bohemian cafe with a great menu, possibly get a little live entertainment, and be live on the internet. It just so happens this cafe is in the midst of a number of unique boutiques, so you may want to set a little extra time aside to go shopping. If you don’t want to leave the restaurant, you can shop there. Most of the antiques around you are for sale. On our last trip we split the Sun Dried Tomato Lavosh and a White Wolf Waldorf. They give huge portions so it was just enough to have happy stomachs, and not be too full to continue a trek around the area.
White Wolf Cafe Website

Map to White Wolf Cafe

If you’re looking for someplace different for an evening hang out, head down to Winter Park and Redlight Redlight.

It’s a great little beer bar that is owned by three very friendly folks. When we say beer bar, we mean it. Sure, they have a little wine, sake, and sangria, but mostly beer. All kinds of beer! 50-60 different types at any one time. If you are a non-drinker, they have bottled water(no soda). If you’re just not a beer person, consider this a chance to have your horizons broadened. Give a few a try. Michelle doesn’t drink beer, but every time she has been there, they have had some obscure fruity foreign beer that seems to strike her fancy. Just ask the pros behind the bar, and they’ll take good care of you.

In addition to unique beers, they also have a lot of unique events. This month they’re celebrating Talk Like a Pirate Day on the 19th (If you’re there, look for us, we’ll be the totally dressed up to the 9’s pirates) and on the 21st they’re having Beer Church - a beer tasting with an Octoberfest theme.

Redlight Redlight’s Web Page

How to get to Redlight Redlight:
Below is the map, but once you are on foot on the street, if you aren’t paying attention you may miss it, it’s the stairwell beside the bakery.

Map to Redlight Redlight

When people think Central Florida they automatically think of the theme parks. If you ask them about other offerings of Central Florida they may be able to come up with a nightspot or two, but few realize this area is SOOO much more than just a tourist attraction.

What about travelers who don’t just want to do the theme park circuit? What about new people moving to the area who are not willing to have thier social life revolve around what is happening at the mouse house? We need a place to talk about other local attractions, places to go, things to see, fun to be had by all. That’s what this Blog is all about. It is a place that we share with you some of the lesser-known spots in Central Florida that we discover.