Sand-sational Sarasota
Only a two-hour drive south from Orlando, Sarasota is known for its pristine white sand beaches, superb dining, unique shopping, not to mention, its endless cultural and recreational amenities. Home of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the official state museum of art, it’s no wonder that Sarasota is often referred to as Florida’s Cultural Coast. It’s nearly 40 miles... Read More
GETTING PERSONAL
XL 106.7’s Johnny Magic on being one of the most beloved radio DJs in Orlando, surviving a devastating house fire, and how the coronavirus affected his life. My first radio job was for an overnight college radio station. I was petrified that first night! All I wanted to do was get off the air and never, ever do it again. The thing I love most about my job... Read More
The Mind-Body Connection
You don’t have to be a professional or even a casual athlete to benefit from the ways sports medicine is helping people from all walks of life get back to the lives and hobbies they love post-injury. While its name may conjure images of sidelined sports heroes clawing their way back to mobility, flexibility and recovery, the reality is that anyone can access the specialized, individualized,... Read More
TOP DENTISTS 2021
With a modern, caring and comprehensive approach, today’s dentists have elevated the patient experience and are doing away with the notion that a trip to their office should be met with fright and anxiety. We polled several area dental professionals and our readers to come up with this year’s Top Dentists list and more than 100 names were chosen. Whether going in for a check-up... Read More
Wayne’s Way
From comedy to acting, singing, dancing and hosting game shows, Wayne Brady has proven he can do it all. Brady has been entertaining audiences for over three decades with no plans of stopping anytime soon. The multi-Emmy winner and Grammy-nominated Brady grew up in Tangelo Park and is a graduate of Dr. Phillips High School. As a youngster, Brady worked as a performer at both Walt... Read More
TOP PHYSICIANS 2021
While the pandemic has been the topic of conversation for the medical world for well over a year now, the fact of the matter is many area doctors have been going above and beyond to treat their patients well before COVID-19 ever became a part of daily lexicon. That is why each year we like to celebrate these selfless individuals for the trusted care they provide and the manner in... Read More
Along the Fairways
Whether you’re a scratch player or a weekend golfer, the area’s premier golf clubs have lots to offer. When the pandemic took over last spring, folks couldn’t wait to get out and about and find a slice of normality to life. Which is why it wasn’t surprising that the golf course became such a popular escape once restrictions were loosened and players were welcomed to return.... Read More
Sibling Revelry
As far as we know, there is no official title for “world’s most athletic family,” but the Kordas would have to be in the running if there were. They are not the first nor the most famous family with multiple generations or siblings reaching the professional ranks, to be sure. But unlike, say, the Mannings in football, the Williams sisters in tennis or the Currys in basketball,... Read More
It’s Academic: The 2021 Public High School Report Card
To put together our annual public high school report card, we gleaned information from the Florida Department of Education to gather key data in areas like graduation rates and senior class size. Due to COVID-19, the average SAT scores were not available to us at press time, so we are running the most recent numbers and encourage you to visit our website in the near future after... Read More
Palate
TOP FIVE: HOT DOGS A quintet of tasty things to try this month THE KING AT DOGHOUSE COLLEGE PARK Fit for a “king,” this dish features a skinless, all-beef Nathan’s hot dog served in a fresh semi-toasted bun and topped with beef chili, cheese sauce, bacon bits, onions, crushed Fritos, ketchup and mustard. The beef hot dog can be replaced with an Angus beef hot dog... Read More
Dishes that Dazzle
True to its roots, Russell’s on Lake Ivanhoe not only serves exquisite cuisine but also a piece of Central Florida history. While the name belongs to an early settler of Lake Ivanhoe named George Russell, this shore-hugging eatery is brought to us by an Orlando-based restaurant group, VO Hospitality, which is co-owned by Kevin O’Donnell and Philippe Villain. The pineapple featured... Read More
Getting Personal
Melissa Wiggins, a former lawyer turned life coach and now podcast host, on creating the Cannonball Kids’ cancer Foundation with her husband Michael, their young son’s battle with the disease and her journey to find happiness. Eight years ago, while 38 weeks pregnant with twins, my husband and I heard the words no parent wants to hear, “Your child has cancer.”... Read More
Parenting Guide: Family Fun
With the COVID-19 vaccine more readily accessible, many people have confidently begun to return to their pre-pandemic routines. Now that summer is upon us and several travel restrictions have been lifted, some are wondering if it is truly a good time to start vacationing once again. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has indicated that domestic travel is... Read More
Playing By Her Own Rules
Viola Davis was always an integral part of Denzel Washington’s plan. Having secured the rights to direct August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, Washington knew Davis would bring some of Wilson’s most memorable characters to life. Davis won the 2010 Tony Award for best actress for playing Rose Maxson in the Broadway revival of Wilson’s play Fences, and an... Read More
Beating Burnout
The 2020-2021 school year was challenging for everyone involved. Due to the pandemic, administrators, teachers and students had to quickly revamp school protocols, teaching styles and learning methods. Parents struggled to decide between face-to-face instruction or at-home learning for their children. Even with the school year now over, many parents are still stressing over whether... Read More
Parenting Guide: Education
This past school year was by far one of the toughest years for learning. The challenges posed by the pandemic resulted in some degree of social and academic loss for all grade levels. Though teachers and administrators worked tirelessly to create as normal of a year as possible, many kids have fallen behind. Now many schools are looking to help students regain what was lost before... Read More
Special Needs
No two children are the same and no diagnosis manifests in the same ways, as parents of children with special needs know well. As if parenting weren’t already fraught with doubt, worry and frustration, the added stressors of tirelessly advocating for a neurodiverse or disabled child in order for their needs to be satisfied—in school, at the doctor’s, on vacation, or anywhere... Read More
The Right Notes
One month before the pandemic, Paul Helfrich became the new executive director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra after a nationwide search. The year had a lot in store as the Philharmonic prepared for its 28th season and the much-anticipated move into Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts, but COVID-19 had cast a shadow over it all. “In hindsight... Read More
Palate
TOP FIVE: CHICKEN SANDWICH A quintet of tasty things to try this month BOURBON BROWN SUGAR BBQ AT CHICKEN GUY!, DISNEY SPRINGS Created by Guy Fieri, this chicken sandwich is the real deal, as the celebrity chef would say. It starts with two crispy fried chicken tenders melded with pepper jack cheese, bourbon brown sugar barbecue sauce, “special” sauce, slaw and pickles,... Read More
BOUNCING BACK
As most residents would attest to, Central Florida is an incredible place to live. With its close proximity to major theme parks, beaches and world-class entertainment, there is always something exciting to see or do. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic threatened the lives and safety of residents and caused major setbacks to the area’s much-relied-upon tourist industry. 2020... Read More
2021 Super Men
It takes a special kind of person to not only recognize a need in the community but to take action and do something to help, whether it’s working to end racism, assisting the homeless, bringing awareness to mental health issues or spreading a love for reading. It just comes naturally to these nine local individuals, who continue to go above and beyond on a daily basis to make... Read More
