Still Standing
With a career spanning five decades, Sylvester Stallone has proved to be, if nothing else, resilient. He’s experienced both the highs and lows that come with life in Hollywood, and yet after all this time, the rugged and chiseled 73-year-old is still going strong. And it’s with that mindset that he has made a regular habit of offering his millions of fans across the globe some... Read More
Foresight is 2020
The upcoming year will bring more growing pains for metro Orlando as the area continues to add residents at a dizzying pace. Now that another year has come to a close, it’s time to look forward at what’s on the horizon. So, to learn more about what the future will bring, Orlando Family Magazine spoke with local leaders about what 2020 will hold for Greater Orlando. The biggest... Read More
Getting Personal
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra Music Director Eric Jacobson on meeting his wife, spending time in Minnesota every summer and the power of a live musical performance. 1. I am in my fifth season as music director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. I wanted this job because the orchestra has such an amazing history and spirit of openness and adventuresomeness, and because Orlando... Read More
A Good Time
Saint Motel is pushing boundaries and having fun while doing it. Critics have called the music made by Los Angeles-based band Saint Motel many things, including garage glam, indie pop and funk rock. But if you ask lead singer A/J Jackson, he’ll sum it up as “a good time.” And that may just be the most accurate description for everything this band does. With catchy songs, elaborate... Read More
French Connection
With delectable dishes served in an intimate setting, Le Coq Au Vin gives guests a lot to savor. Although the building that houses Le Coq Au Vin looks more like a cottage than a restaurant, my friend and I knew we were in the right place when we arrived on a recent Saturday evening because we saw the restaurant’s “Bon Appétit Y’all” sign outside. Having driven past that... Read More
Nothing to Lose
With a heavily established career and a settled home life, Nicole Kidman prefers to just go with the flow. Whoever it was who said “age is nothing but a number” had it right where Nicole Kidman is concerned. The Australian actress, 52, has bucked the trend of female stars finding roles increasingly difficult to come by as their years advance. In fact, one could argue that she’s... Read More
Making Spirits Bright
These Central Florida nonprofits provide support and services year-round for people – and animals – who need them most. With the year coming to a close, many of us will be celebrating 2019’s successes, and these nonprofits are no different. Each one has touched the lives of others in Central Florida—whether they are a fledgling foundation or a nonprofit with decades of experience,... Read More
Feeling Festive: Holiday Event Guide
Celebrate the season with these holiday happenings taking place across Central Florida. December 1-31 St. Augustine’s Night of Lights Now in its 26th year, this annual holiday lights display brings over three million lights to the historic downtown district. Historic Downtown St. Augustine, begins at sunset, free, St. Augustine, VisitStAugustine.com, (904) 824-4997 December 1 Handel’s... Read More
Big Catch
Dive into a sea of flavors and options at Paddlefish in Disney Springs, where quality food meets an elegant ambience. Paddlefish, formerly Fulton’s Crab House, opened in 2017 as a faux yacht, luxurious seafood restaurant docked at Disney Springs. Although this stand-alone restaurant has been around for only a few years, its operator, Levy Restaurants, is no stranger to fine dining... Read More
Getting Personal
WFTV’s Action 9 reporter Todd Ulrich on how he likes to start the day, being an avid cook and what he’s learned after 35 years of fighting to get consumers heard. 1. I’ve found consumer reporting very rewarding because of the results we can achieve for someone. And by telling their story, we help other families avoid the same mistake or scam. Despite what some business owners... Read More
Tag Team
How Orlando and the WWE came together to create the future stars of professional wrestling. Paul Levesque can remember the first time he met Adam Scherr at Full Sail University a handful of years ago. Scherr was a 450-pound ex-football player turned strongman competitor—a huge man with an even bigger personality— and Levesque immediately identified him as having the tools to... Read More
Enjoying the Ride
While Matt Damon goes full speed ahead in the new Ford v Ferrari flick, he’s learned over the course of his career to slow down and appreciate the journey. You could never say Matt Damon doesn’t commit to his craft. Whether that entails starving himself for one of his first major films in Courage Under Fire, piling on the muscle for his starring roles in the Bourne franchise,... Read More
Cream of the Crop
These eight standout student-athletes are primed for greatness this winter. Zach Anderson, Apopka basketball A 6-foot-7 senior forward, Anderson is a three-year starter who helped Apopka win a district championship in 2018 and post a 22-4 record last year. He will continue his career at Florida Gulf Coast University. OFM: Last year was a great one for Apopka, although the team battled... Read More
The Best of The Brunch
If you’re like us, you love a good brunch. There’s just something about being able to toe the line between late morning and early afternoon, no matter whether you’re partial to breakfast, lunch or somewhere in between. And while the over-the-top, all-you-can-eat buffets are great on occasion, we find ourselves more excited by the tantalizing options that can be found on area... Read More
Pulling the Strings
With the stroke of her bow, violinist Lindsey Stirling creates her own multilayered worlds. Lindsey Stirling first stepped into the national spotlight in 2010 on the TV show America’s Got Talent where she impressed the judges with fast-paced violin playing and choreographed dancing, both done simultaneously. It was not something the judges, nor much of America, had ever seen before.... Read More
Style and Substance
The chef-driven Market to Table doesn’t forsake flavor in its search for beauty. Market to Table opened in the Roper Garden Building in Historic Downtown Winter Garden in 2016 but its roots had already begun to grow in the area several years prior at the district’s popular Saturday farmers market, where chef/owner Ryan Freelove would sell soups, salad dressings, butters and... Read More
The Payoff
A star in both Hollywood and the music industry, Jennifer Lopez is reaping the benefits of years of hard work and an unwavering determination to succeed. Jennifer Lopez is much more determined and ambitious than anyone could possibly imagine. Though her public image is that of the poor Bronx beauty who became a mega-selling pop star and movie star, deep down she’s a highly motivated... Read More
Care for the Kids
The rising cost of child care is squeezing the budgets of Greater Orlando families. For many families in Florida, the cost of child care is a significant burden. In fact, it is often a family’s second biggest expense—right behind rent or a mortgage payment. According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a nonprofit think tank, the average annual cost of infant care in Florida... Read More
Gentle Giant
A self-professed “soft soul” and an imposing star of stage and screen, Terry Crews proves that nice guys finish first. At 51 years old, Terry Crews is an anomaly. He has the energy of someone 20 years his junior. His chiseled frame makes him look as though he still belongs in a National Football League uniform. His articulate speech and booming voice make him seem larger than... Read More
In Vino Veritas
A look at Central Florida’s winemakers and producers. Central Florida may not be a revered wine region, but that doesn’t mean that our local winemakers aren’t bringing anything to the glass. In fact, it may be because the Sunshine State is not known for its vino that wine producers here get to have a little more fun including using nontraditional fruit (blueberries!) and repping... Read More
A True Neighbor
Cozy and eclectic, Maxine’s on Shine is the neighbor you wish lived next door. If you’ve never been to Maxine’s on Shine, you might find yourself a little confused when your GPS sends you to a block of residential homes in the Colonialtown area. But don’t turn around, you’re not lost—this eatery, set between two inconspicuous homes, is just a part of the neighborhood. Opened... Read More
