Science Exhibit With Mr. Potato Head

ORLANDO – Orlando Science Center presents “The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head,” May 23 – August 9. The exhibit will feature the much-loved Mr. Potato Head, leading adventures in outer space, the jungle, archeological sites and under the sea. See www.osc.org.

Florida Architecture Explored July 20-22 With Steve McCurry Photos

ORLANDO – The Orange County Regional History Center will host “Looking East,” an exhibit by world renowned photographer Steve McCurry, and “Culture Quest: Florida Architecture 101: From Chickees to Cottages.” From August 21 – October 4, Looking East will allow visitors to the history center a chance to view the stunning photographs taken by Steve McCurry.

This collection includes some iconic images, such as the green-eyed Afghan girl recently featured in a National Geographic Greatest Portraits exhibition. Culture Quest is a three-day immersion experience of “Architecture with a Florida Twist.” This exhibit will reveal some of the rich history that Central Florida has to offer; helping people understand the many styles of structures from the region’s very early days to the present, including forts, family dwellings, public structures and more.

Buildings, such as the History Center and other points of interest in the area, will be explored; experts in the field will lead various discussions and field trips. Hands-on activities enhance this three-day adventure July 20 – 22. See www.thehistorycenter.org

Mennello Features Arts Earl Cunningham

ORLANDO – Mennello Museum of American Art presents “Earl Cunningham’s America,” March 6 – August 2. This art exhibit will feature some of the paintings of Earl Cunningham, one the premier folk artists of the 20th century. “Earl Cunningham’s America” features 50 of Cunningham’s canvases. See www.mennellomuseum.org

Dinosaurs Alive at Challenger Learning Center

TALLAHASSEE – On July 3 the Challenger Learning Center’s IMAX Theatre begins showing Dinosaurs Alive! Movie-goers can see the earliest creatures of the Triassic Period to the monsters of the Cretaceous period, in a ‘life-sized’ IMAX presentation. Join renowned paleontologists as they discover new fossils and uncover evidence that dinosaur descendants are still among us. Realistic and scientifically-accurate computer generated animation brings dinosaurs back to life. See www.challengertlh.com

Babcock Ranch Nation’s First Solar City

PORT CHARLOTTE – Real estate developer Kitson & Partners announced a landmark agreement with electric utility Florida Power & Light to build the world’s largest solar photovoltaic power plant at Babcock Ranch, Florida, making it the world’s first city powered by solar energy.

The 17,000-acre city of Babcock Ranch will consume less power than the proposed FPL on-site solar facilities will produce, allowing it to become the first city on earth powered by zero-emission solar energy. The city of Babcock Ranch will also be home to an integrated “smart grid” that will provide greater efficiencies and allow residents and businesses to monitor and control their energy consumption. Read more

Florida Keys Marinas Bought By Summit

NORTH PALM BEACH – Summit Development said that it has acquired two prominent marina properties in the Florida Keys, namely Mangrove Marina in Tavernier and The Sombrero Resort and Marina in Marathon. Summit said in a press release it will undertake extensive renovations.

Summit Development is actively seeking office, retail, residential, hotel and marina opportunities throughout South Florida, and have wide-ranging experience in property acquisition, renovation and management. The company specializes in repositioning under-performing real estate assets.

Summit Development President Felix Charney said the two marina properties will require major investment. “While both are clearly in need of work, that does not diminish their inherent value in terms of their location and potential. We see tremendous opportunities with respect to the marinas. We have spent the last 15 months looking at under-performing assets in South Florida and these two locations stood out,” he said.

Robert Charney, who oversees Summit’s Florida operations, noted that Summit recognizes the importance both locations play in the Keys. “It is obvious that the deterioration of these two properties has been a cause for concern. We are well-financed and are confident that we can accomplish a repositioning of the two sites that will once again make them the valuable component of the Keys business community that they can and should be.”

Summit acquired the two sites from Sun Vest Communities, the successor to Cay Clubs. Robert Charney said: “We want to assure the Keys community and our visitors that under Summit’s ownership the two properties will be properly renovated so that they can regain their prominence in the community.”

• Mangrove Marina has 130 boat slips as well as rack storage, boat yard facilities, a fuel dock, boat launching ramp and a ships’ store. It is situated on the Inter-coastal Waterway and is protected on three sides by mangrove islands. Tavernier is about 12 miles south of Key Largo a
  30-minute drive from the mainland.
• Sombrero Resort and Marina is midway between Key Largo and Key West. It includes a 54-slip marina as well as 124 one-bedroom condo-style suites and eight detached villas, “The Latitudes,” a full-service restaurant, tennis courts and a poolside tiki bar.

“Redevelopment is something we do well,” Felix Charney said. “We are anxious to get started on the two marina sites in the Keys and we are actively pursuing other opportunities throughout Florida. These may include hotels, marinas, retail and office properties, and both for sale and leased single-family, multi-family and condominium projects.”

Orion Bank, which has 23 branches in Florida, is financing the acquisition and renovation.

Summit Development is based in Southport, Connecticut, and has offices in Chappaqua, New York, as well as North Palm Beach. Since its founding in 1981, the company has developed more than 4 million square feet of commercial space and more than 1,000 units of residential housing.

See www.summitdevelopment.net.

Man Falls Off Boat in Florida; Boat Found in Alabama

PANAMA CITY BEACH – It may go down as one of the most bizarre boating accidents in years, but a 41-year-old Georgia man is recovering in Bay Medical Center after falling overboard April 17 while cobia fishing off Panama City Beach.

The 24-foot Century boat, which was borrowed, ran out of gas and was found beached Sunday morning at Fort Morgan, Ala.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officer Jeff Gager said Michael Bursten of Roswell, Ga., was cobia fishing by himself Friday afternoon in rough seas off the western end of Panama City Beach in the Laguna Beach area when he attempted to climb down from the “ling tower.” A wave hit the boat, pitching Bursten overboard, the FWC said in a press release.

The trouble was he had left the boat in gear, albeit running slowly, but all he could do was watch the vessel slowly chug off to the west and out of sight.

Bursten fell overboard roughly 300 yards offshore. Several beachgoers heard him holler for help and swam out to him.

Bursten, who was not wearing a life jacket, was admitted to the hospital for water inhalation and remains hospitalized.

Gager said the U.S. Coast Guard and Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputies also responded to the accident, and everyone thought the vessel would be found later, somewhere down the beach or perhaps in Walton County.

Saturday passed, and there was still no word about the vessel. Chris Palomba, the boat’s owner who lives in Lawrenceville, Ga., hired a private pilot to begin an aerial search, but then word came on Sunday the vessel was found beached in Alabama.

The distance between Panama City Beach and Fort Morgan is about 130 miles.

“Most boats, if you don’t hold the wheel steady, will turn to the right or left. There were 15-20 knot winds Friday and 6-foot seas and it’s just amazing the vessel ended up where it did,” Gager said.

Visit Paul Rudolph’s Riverview High School Masterpiece In Sarasota

SARASOTA -  If you are an admirer of Modern architecture, go by and visit Paul Rudolph’s Riverview High School in Sarasota before it is torn down.

Riverview, built in the International Style, is located just off Route 41 on Proctor Road near Swift. Sadly, the Sarasota School Board decided they had to demolish the school in 2008. We can’t hate the Sarasota School Board too much for the decision, however wasteful. Sarasota County, after all, erected the building to rave international notices in 1958, and reaped the glory and fame therein. Read more

Find a Florida Canopy Road

If you are driving about Florida, look for the Canopy Road sign. It is a state designation that shows that the road is covered with a canopy of trees, most probably live oaks.

They are in just about every city, and make a particularly restful moment as you toot around.

The sign does not indicate large amounts of Spanish moss, though it certainly  would indicate that such a large amounts of the tangly grey aerophyte would be nearby.

By the way, impress the kids by telling them the Latin name of Spanish moss. It is Tillandsia usneoides. Read more

Hairspray on Royal Caribbean New Ship

MIAMI - The Tony award-winning Broadway musical, ‘Hairspray,’ is set to debut on Royal Caribbean International’s highly anticipated Oasis of the Seas when the ship sets sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale in December 2009.

“We are thrilled to bring to our guests a ground-breaking entertainment feature such as Hairspray on Oasis of the Seas,” said Peter Compton, vice president, Entertainment, Royal Caribbean International, said in a press release. “The addition of this popular musical to Royal Caribbean’s entertainment lineup will undoubtedly take cruise entertainment to the next level and cater to the evolving tastes of vacationers. Guests will be able to enjoy an award-winning Broadway-caliber production on Oasis of the Seas along with a myriad of revolutionary onboard amenities for a most memorable cruise vacation.”

The show is licensed to Royal Caribbean International for three years aboard Oasis of the Seas with an option for a fourth year. Under the agreement, which was struck with the aid of New York City-based Music Theater International and Broadway Theatrical, the show will be available exclusively to the cruise line.

“All of us are delighted that Hairspray will set sail on Oasis of the Seas, the biggest, boldest and most exciting cruise ship,” said Margo Lion, Tony Award winning producer of Hairspray.
With the introduction of Hairspray, Oasis of the Seas will offer a myriad of diverse entertainment choices for guests including:

• an innovative aerial show – yet to be formally announced – which also will make its home in the Opal Theater.
• Entertainment Place, one of seven diverse neighborhoods on Oasis of the Seas, which will offer Jazz on 4, an intimate lounge filled with live jazz and blues
• Comedy Live, featuring side-splitting comedy
• Studio B with an ice show, ‘Frozen in Time’ featuring the writings of Hans Christian Anderson
• Entertainment experiences also will be found in all of the remaining neighborhoods on Oasis of the Seas, including Dazzles, a two-floor dance lounge featuring musically-themed evenings; and the Boardwalk with AquaTheater – a one-of-a-kind venue at the stern of the ship – which will play host to two aqua shows, ‘Splish Splash,’ a comedy dive show and ‘Oasis of Dreams,’ featuring aquatic acrobatics synchronized to a spectacle of music and lights.

Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will be the largest cruise ships in the world when launched in December 2009 and December 2010, respectively. Architectural marvels at sea, both ships will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 gross registered tons, carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms.

The two ships will sail from their homeport of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Additional information is available at www.oasisoftheseas.com.

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