Dining Guide: All American

30 of Greater Orlando’s best American restaurants. Read More  Read More

Side Dish

Restaurant news from throughout Greater Orlando. Read More  Read More

Dining Review: NOVA Scratch Kitchen

OFM dining critic Michael Lit’s take on Ivanhoe Village’s NOVA Scratch Kitchen. Read More  Read More

That’s Italian!

Hungry for Italian dining? Here are 30 of our favorite Greater Orlando eateries that’ll make you say, “That’s amore!” Read More  Read More

Dining Review: Norman’s at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

Chef Norman Van Aken is a culinary trendsetter with his blend of Caribbean and Key West flavors that he coins as “New World Cuisine.” He is one of the only American chefs to win the James Beard and Robert Mondavi awards, as well as the Food Arts Silver Spoon. Until now, and despite Van Aken being a culinary inspiration to me through the years, I’d never had the opportunity... Read More

Orlando Dining for the Whole Family

Great dining options and families are two things that Orlando has in abundance, and plenty of the former are perfect for the latter. These are some of our favorites, representing an array of menu and pricing options for just about every taste and budget. 4 Rivers Smokehouse: Chef John Rivers’ popular eateries serve up world-class brisket, great barbecue and good times for the... Read More

Best of the Beach: 6 Outstanding Central Florida Beaches

Pity Orlando—the largest city in Florida without immediate access to a beach. If you ask us, though, our geographic reality is as much a benefit as it is an inconvenience. After all, if we didn’t need to leave town to visit the shore, chances are we’d be less likely to travel to the many amazing beaches that are just a relatively short drive from our hometown. And when we... Read More

Dining Review: Luma on Park

Luma on Park, from James Beard-finalist Chef Brandon McGlamery, is a restaurant fellow chefs have been recommending for quite some time. My wife Toni and I were excited to finally try his modern American cuisine with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Located on Winter Park’s ritzy Park Avenue, Luma is an elegant venue that offers a variety of seating options for any party size.... Read More

Al Fresco Dining in Orlando

310 Lakeside, 310 Nona and 310 Park: All three sister restaurants have outdoor seating with gorgeous scenery. Lakeside: Downtown Orlando, (407) 373-0310 | Nona: Lake Nona, (407) 203- 1120 | Park South: Winter Park, (407) 647-7277 4 Rivers Smokehouse: Load up on Orlando’s best brisket and other barbecue goodness on the patio at Chef John Rivers’ flagship store. Winter Park, 844-474-8377 Bice... Read More

Out & About in Orlando

SYMPHONIC CINEMA Calvary Assembly, Winter Park Jun 10-11 The Central Florida Community Arts Symphony Orchestra invites you to sit back, relax and be swept away by beautiful and powerful film scores. Featuring iconic music from unforgettable motion pictures such as Back to the Future, The Magnificent Seven, UP, Titanic and many more, this concert event is designed to entertain the... Read More

Pie Perfection: 30 blockbuster pizzas in Greater Orlando

New York. Chicago. Orlando? While the first two cities are most closely associated with the best pizza in the country, our hometown does itself proud in that regard, too. Ask any local where his or her preferred pizza joint is, and you’ve probably just opened an hour-long debate over the merits of the crust here or the sauce there. No matter how you slice it, it’s evident that... Read More

Park It and Ride

One of the most unique benefits of Greater Orlando living is year-round access to the world’s best theme and amusement parks. Of course, being able to visit Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom or Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter any time we like could easily lead to a sense of jadedness—if the parks weren’t always cooking up something fresh. SeaWorld Orlando’s... Read More

Four-Legged Adventures

Family fun and summertime go hand in hand. All too often, though, our four-legged family members get left behind when everyone else heads out. Sure, your cat probably prefers it that way, but if you’ve seen one too many hangdog expressions from your canine companions when you depart for a day of adventure, maybe it’s time you do something about it. “Dogs aren’t any different... Read More

Time Out for Fun: 6 Easy Family Road Trips From Orlando

When it comes to family fun in Greater Orlando, do you feel like you’ve been there, done that? Well, maybe you just need to drive a little further. From historical forts and beaches to marine discovery centers and museums, Orlandoans have access to adventure from coast to coast. Ready to start exploring some fantastic spots? Consider these cool day-trip destinations, most of which... Read More

Dining Review: Todd English’s bluezoo

Living in a tourist town can have its shortcomings, but having a plethora of celebrity chef restaurants is not one of them. Take, for example, Todd English’s bluezoo at Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resort, to which my wife Toni and I recently—and happily—made the 45-minute trek to enjoy a weekend dinner. Once in the restaurant, we were seated immediately and took... Read More

Out and About in Orlando: May 2016 Events

JUNIE B. JONES, THE MUSICAL Orlando Repertory Theatre, through May 15 It’s Junie B.’s first day in first grade, and a lot of things have changed for her: Her friend Lucille doesn’t want to be her best pal anymore, and on the bus, Junie B. makes friends with Herb, the new kid at school. Also, Junie B. has trouble reading the blackboard, and her teacher Mr. Scary thinks she... Read More

A New Spring in Disney’s Step

In September 2015, something happened to the local attraction formerly known as Downtown Disney: It transformed into Disney Springs, ushering in a new era for the shopping, dining and entertainment destination. While much remains familiar, Disney Springs will more than double the size of its predecessor by the time it’s complete, and the existing additions and improvements are... Read More

Family Dining: The Coop

As every family knows, going out to dinner with kids can be a challenge. When they’re babies, you pray they don’t cry through the entire meal, and you take turns caring for them, so the other parent can try to finish eating. When they hit elementary school, you hope they’ll like something on the menu and stay seated long enough to enjoy it. Once middle school hits, they start... Read More

The Real Scoop: Orlando’s Ice Cream Hot Spots

One of the best things about living in Greater Orlando is that our perpetually sunny climate offers us the excuse to indulge in ice cream all year long—which is particularly appreciated, given that taking the family out for a few scoops is a great way to spend time together without breaking the bank. Ready for some quality time in a cool way? From old-fashioned scoops to trendy... Read More

2016 Easter Happenings

Easter Egg-Stravaganza at Stanley Pond Adventure Farm Join us this March for an “egg-tastic” Easter celebration featuring a hayride and story-reading film in our theater with Spookley the Square Pumpkin’s friend, Jelly Bean, in The Legend of Jelly Bean and the Unbreakable Egg from author Joe Troiano. It was just before Easter on Holiday Hill Farm when five little... Read More

Valentine’s Day Activities for Every Romantic

You’ve picked up flowers and a sappy card, now… book the babysitter! Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity for Central Florida parents to reconnect through romantic activities. Get Dirty! Before the mortgage and the kids, you went on fun dates. Fall in love all over again with a unique night out! Maybe even channel the romantic, waterside streets of Murano, Italy,... Read More