Chief Arts Instigator
Orange County’s arts leader Terry Olson tells us what to look forward to at this year’s Fusion Fest. If you’re involved in Orlando’s arts scene, then you know Terry Olson. Besides being director of the Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs Office, a position he’s held since the office was created in 2001, Olson is well known for having had a hand in creating some of... Read More
Learning Lessons
Local preschools and child care centers have adjusted their practices in response to the coronavirus pandemic. As the coronavirus pandemic first arrived in Orlando, a number of child care centers and preschools kept their doors open to care for the young children of essential workers. But the uncertainty surrounding the virus still was of great concern to parents and many decided... Read More
Outdoor Adventures
Get outside this fall and winter with these ideas for safe, family-friendly activities. With the weather turning cool and the coronavirus pandemic still a concern, families are looking for ways to enjoy the fall and winter season safely. Because social distancing is best achieved in the open air, we’ve rounded up a list of some of the best places around town to engage in outdoor... Read More
Getting Personal
Recently re-elected Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla on getting into local politics, what she’s learned and how she’s coping with the coronavirus pandemic. 1. I moved to Central Florida in 1998. I have always lived in the city but my husband and I wanted to raise our family on a farm. We currently live on 6.3 acres in East Orange County and we are hoping to soon have... Read More
Seizing the Moment
By taking full advantage of her opportunities, Scarlett Johansson finds herself in some pretty elite Hollywood company. These days, Scarlett Johansson’s star couldn’t be higher. Not only has she spent the past couple years atop Forbes’ list for the highest-paid actresses, but her recent powerful performances in Jojo Rabbit and Marriage Story earned her rave reviews from... Read More
Making the Grade: The 2020 Private High School Report Card
The start of a new school year means that it’s time for us to examine some of the area’s top private schools to see how these revered academic institutions are helping students recognize their potential both in and out of the classroom. We worked directly with the schools to glean information on key areas like average SAT scores, the percentage of students attending four-year... Read More
A Seat at the Table
Dining out in the pandemic is certainly different, but most locals are finding it to be a welcome respite. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the hardest hit areas has been the restaurant industry. Already a challenging business, without diners filling seats regularly, it was only right for owners, chefs, servers and more to worry about their futures. Slowly, as restrictions... Read More
While the Iron is Hot
With record-low interest rates and limited inventory, the Central Florida real estate market is booming for sellers despite the pandemic. Normally when someone moves into a new house, it does not take long for the neighbors to stop by, introduce themselves and perhaps offer some baked goods as a gift. Eric Matthews and his wife, local residents who purchased a townhome in Champions... Read More
Health for Her
Advancements in health care for women show the importance of a whole-body approach. Women traditionally put themselves last when it comes to health and wellness, prioritizing appointments for their family members first—whether children or aging parents. Busy schedules are an easy excuse, but the pandemic has placed even more stress on women as statistics show they are shouldering... Read More
Getting Personal
Local social media star Nurse Blake on his ideal day in Central Florida, making funny and inspirational content for health care professionals, and advocating for positive change in the medical community. 1. I’ve been a nurse for six years. I started nursing school in the concurrent Seminole State College-University of Central Florida program back in 2012. During that time, I... Read More
Hidden Treasures
Jason Segel unveils a visually stunning “love letter” in the imaginative series Dispatches From Elsewhere. Jason Segel has had a lot of thrills in his accomplished career, but one of the biggest came a handful of years ago when he was asked to be part of a marketing campaign for Disney. The Disney Dreamers Portrait series saw famed photographer Annie Leibovitz capturing... Read More
Top Dentists 2020
94 of Central Florida’s leading dental professionals. There’s no reason to fear going to the dentist when you look at the many wonderful providers we have here in the Greater Orlando area. And so our readers spent months nominating and voting for their favorite dental professionals and the result is our annual Top Dentists list. The doctors chosen are known for going above... Read More
Experience St. Pete-Clearwater
White sand and sunshine await you on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Neighbor to the bustling city of Tampa, the St.Petersburg-Clearwater area presents a more relaxed atmosphere with sandy white beaches and glistening ocean views. But these lazy beach towns are much more than just sand and sun. Known as Sunshine City, St. Pete has a bevy of family-friendly arts and culture institutions... Read More
Star Watch
Celebrating the area’s top varsity athletes for the upcoming fall sports season. Each year at this time, we focus a spotlight on area high school athletes who achieve big things in their respective sports as well as in the classroom. But this year, things are noticeably different thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. And while there’s still great uncertainty surrounding the upcoming... Read More
Getting Personal
Local artist Nelson Cardenas on painting with fire, reading classic novels and his most recent art series honoring health care workers. 1. I am a self-taught artist. When I discovered the television shows of Bob Ross, I was hooked on art. As a child, I would watch his show and as soon as it ended, I would run to my bedroom and replicate, from memory, his paintings on paper using... Read More
Home Improvement
Central Floridians are looking to upgrade their living spaces as the coronavirus pandemic has people at home. With employers adopting work-from-home models, children not returning to learning at school and families canceling travel plans for the year, homeowners are looking to renovate and update their spaces to better fit a quarantine lifestyle. According to the Joint Center for... Read More
In a Good Place
After decades in the spotlight, Jennifer Aniston is staying true to herself. For those of us who have followed Jennifer Aniston over the years, she epitomizes one of the industry’s most curious juxtapositions—an actress so often represented on screen by bubbly, buoyant, energetic and humorous antics, yet someone who, away from the flashbulbs and the premieres has found the challenges... Read More
Top Physicians 2020
364 of Central Florida’s leading doctors. While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate our everyday lives, the renewed focus on our health and overall well-being has been increasingly important. Of course, that means not only keeping ourselves safe from the virus, but also staying on top of our other medical needs. Thankfully, Greater Orlando is full of amazingly skilled... Read More
A Learning Environment: The 2020 Public School Report Card
As the new school year approaches, there remains great uncertainty as to what exactly it will look like as the state grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, it’s evident that our public high schools will be doing their best to keep students engaged and provide them the best learning experience possible while also preparing them for whatever their futures may hold. For... Read More
Back to Work
Central Florida’s businesses contemplate the future as the coronavirus pandemic changes the workplace. The way people work has been changed by the pandemic. A number of offices in Central Florida have closed, with employees engaging in telework. Meanwhile, essential employees working in doctor’s offices, child care centers and more are still clocking in but doing so with new... Read More
Entering the Mainstream
CBD products are poised to be the next big thing as more people seek natural alternatives to opioid medications and Florida is set on being a pioneer. When she was 14, Betsy Greene’s daughter began having seizures in her sleep. A neurologist placed her on anti-epilepsy medication, and while it helped, it also caused a change in personality and a decline in her straight A grades.... Read More
