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March 11th, 2011

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Opens

by Patricia Letakis

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

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This is my 12^th year covering the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. As the park kicks off its 18^th festival (March 2-May 15), I salute Disney’s horticulturists, who manage to come up with new ideas (the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden with Tink and friends as topiaries is adorable) and spruce up the old ones (last year’s Minnie’s Butterfly Garden has doubled in size and morphed into what is now called Bambi’s Butterfly House).

March 9th, 2011

Orlando Ballet Promises Another Great Night Out

by Vicky Hodges

Bailamos!

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Photo by: Michael Cairns

This Saturday, for one night only, the Orlando Ballet will be tearing up the stage for the second year running in "Bailamos!" This Latino meets high-art performance will have the company's sexiest dancers literally throwing themselves into the dynamic salsa and tango moves that made for such an unforgettable show last year.

March 9th, 2011

Last Chance for Fresh Florida Citrus

by Patricia Letakis

D & L Grove Stand

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I did a taste test of the varieties of Florida-grown citrus a few years ago and discovered that for juice the Valencia is king. There’s nothing sweeter and more refreshing than a glass of chilled orange juice squeezed from the Valencia orange—and March is when the harvest begins. So this weekend I plan to buy a bushel at the D&L Groves fruit stand off Interstate 95 at exit 298 St. Augustine (turn east and the stand’s on the north side of the highway).

March 8th, 2011

BubbleQ Farewell, South Beach Wine & Food + More

by Susan Friedman

South Beach Wine & Food Fest, Sunday Grand Market Village

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The BubbleQ has bid us all a fond farewell. It’s been a must on my South Beach Wine & Food Festival ticket list for years. The final hurrah, an evening hosted by Bobby Flay in a ginormous tent on the beach behind the Delano, was just as fun as always — with Perrier-Jouët flowing non-stop. And from what I’ve been told, nearly 3,200 bottles were emptied!

March 7th, 2011

South Beach Wine & Food Fest Fun at the Fontainebleau

by Susan Friedman

Chef John Doherty, Certified Angus Beef Brand

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I love the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. This year was no exception. It’s one of my all time annual fave foodie events. I can easily get googley eyed over chefs and their masterpieces. OK, twist my arm, I admit it, I’m a chef groupie! My first stop was at the luncheon for the “Best of the Best” participating chefs at the Fontainebleau Hotel and it was sponsored by the Certified Angus Beef brand.

March 6th, 2011

Morse Museum Celebrates New Tiffany Wing with Free Admission

by Paul Love

A view of the Daffodil Terrace

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The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art has long been home to the world's largest collection of works by American artist and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany, and this Winter Park cultural institution recently opened a new wing in which to display the works in grand fashion.

March 4th, 2011

South Beach Wine & Food Festival debuts New Event

by Patricia Letakis

The Best thing I Ever Ate

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They call it “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” and the crowd came out last Saturday at 10 pm to shuffle through the sands under a huge tent while sampling dishes that Food Network stars, as well as Miami’s local food-centric celebs, deemed worthy of a taste.

March 4th, 2011

Escape to Key Biscayne's Ritz-Carlton

by Susan Friedman

image-Panoramic of the pools and the beach

Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne Pool Panaoramic

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Memories wash over me as I cross the Rickenbacker Causeway onto Key Biscayne. The color of Biscayne Bay is such an incredible sparkling blue that it’s actually mesmerizing. Driving past vivid floating windsurfer sails, the wild flora of Crandon Park and a pack of bicyclists, I think back on time well spent here with my parents — especially dining out as a family on weekends at the long-standing Rusty Pelican with its stupendous watery views...

March 3rd, 2011

Cooking at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival

by Patricia Letakis

Barilla Interactive Lunch

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I put on my toque and apron to became a chef for the day and mingle with Food Network stars during last weekend’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival. At the Florida Travel + Life-sponsored Barilla Interactive Lunch, held at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, my dining partners and I took turns mixing and stirring fish soup, hanger steak with polenta and a scrumptious bananas Foster.

February 15th, 2011

West Palm's Beauté Spa + the Iron Mask Facial

by Susan Friedman

Iron Mask Facial

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I might be a fan of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man films, but when I heard there was a spa offering Iron Mask facials, I couldn’t help but think this sounds just a bit crazy...

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