Time for Orlando for Grownups
August 24, 2008
We couldn’t have said it any better. Time Magazine’s Sept. 1, 2008 edition detailed the things to do for “grownups” in Orlando. Without kids, O-Town has plenty to do, and writer John Cloud, known for his profile of Ann Coulter, details what’s the best. We took a look at his list ourselves:
The Westin Imagine hotel. Time says that barman Kyle McCann is the one to ask for because of his “masterly” flavored vodka. This spanking new Art Deco style hotel has the eateries Fiorella’s Lobby Bar, Fiorella’s Tuscana Cucina and a poolside tiki bar. The Westin Imagine Orlando, 9501 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32819, (407) 233-2200, (866) 716-8108.
Discovery Cove, the Anheuser-Busch resort, led by head trainer Jesse Pottebaum. Time hilariously mentions that you shouldn’t touch the “genital slit”. www.discoverycove.com.
Leu Gardens, the downtown Orlando botanical garden. Started by Harry B. Leu, it not only has Leu’s National Register house but 50 acres of butterfly garden, two-acre tropical stream garden, daylily garden and camellias, the most in one place outside of California. It’s a deal, admission is $7 for adults and $2 for children; Monday is free. Harry P. Leu Gardens, www.leugardens.org, 1920 N. Forest Ave., Orlando, FL 32803-1537, (407) 246-2620.
The Orlando Museum of Art, founded in 1924, is devoted to American artists. The permanent collection has American and African Art. Notables include John Singer Sargent, Thomas Moran, Georgia O’Keeffe, Ansel Adams, Robert Rauschenberg. Upcoming exhibitions include children’s artist Jerry Pinkney’s show “Aesop’s Fables and Other Tails” (May 9 – August 16, 2009) and glass artist Therman Statom’s show “Stories of the New World” (January 10 – May 10, 2009). 2416 North Mills Ave., Orlando 32803, (407) 896-4231.
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park offers up more than Louis C. Tiffany, but that is definately the main lure. Also look for works by George Inness, John Singer Sargent, Rembrandt Peale, Maxfield Parrish and Thomas Hart Benton. What makes a wonderfully Florida experience is that much of the art is related to Florida landscapes. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, 445 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, (407) 645-5311.
Parliament House, the gay nightclub and hotel resort. It has a drag show popular with every sort of person where people “line up 20 deep to give the drag queens cash.” Info at www.parliamenthouse.com.
Amazing the Morse museum has that tiffany, and it survived.