What’s New in Florida—Winter 2008
Exciting Events and Exhibits, Innovative Openings and Renovations

From Visit Florida: 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Sept. 10, 2008) – While temperatures across the country take a nose dive this winter, head to Florida to heat things up. From outdoor art festivals to waterfront New Year’s Eve celebrations, a trip to Florida is the perfect way to get rid of the winter chills. (Listings are organized by city from North to South).

   
Exhibits and shows

TALLAHASSEE – The nationally renowned exhibit, Our Body: The Universe Within comes to Tallahassee beginning Jan. 17, 2009 at the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science. Featuring real human bodies, the exhibit literally and figuratively, goes “under the skin” to expose the intricacies of the human body. This up-close look inside the skeletal, muscular, respiratory and circulatory systems clearly shows how lifestyle choices directly affect our health. Visit www.thebrogan.org or call (850) 513-0700 for more information.

JACKSONVILLE – This winter, the Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ) Artists Series allows visitors to experience the best shows Broadway has to offer with “Broadway Across America.” Northeast Florida will welcome the 2004 Best Musical Tony Award winner, Avenue Q, Dec. 9-14. Celebrate Irish music, song and dance with Riverdance Feb. 13-15 as it makes farewell performances across the country.  Learn the story of Dorothy before she arrives in Munchkinland with the story of Wicked April 23-May 10.  For a full list of shows or ticket information call (904) 632-3373 or visit www.artistseries.fccj.org.

ORLANDO – Long before the birth of adventure theme parks, Florida was America's vacation destination. To allow visitors to discover the history of Florida’s tourism, The Orange County Regional History Center unveiled a new permanent exhibit, Destination Florida: Tourism Before Disney. The exhibit takes visitors back into Florida’s “Golden Age of Tourism” almost 100 years before Disney. Destination Florida features artifacts, images, memorabilia and interactive components to help its visitors learn more about the tourist attractions that the earlier generations found to be so delightful. The exhibit is included in general admission, which is $9 for adults and $6 for children ages 5-12. For more information, visit thehistorycenter.org or call (407) 836-8580.

ORLANDO – Discover the spectacular constellations of the winter sky at the Orlando Science Center during ‘Tis the Season: Holiday Planetarium Show with regular showings from Nov. 26, 2008 through Jan. 1, 2009. The special holiday-themed planetarium show also allows visitors to trace the development of holiday customs from around the world. ‘Tis the Season spotlights Northern winter constellations, some of the warmest and brightest celebrations of the year in the sky. For more information, call (407) 514-2000 or visit www.osc.org.

ORLANDO – As the premier outlets for locally produced films and videos, the 2008 Brouhaha Film & Video Showcase, scheduled for Dec. 6 – 7, gives independent film lovers a chance to view the work of film schools throughout the state. Representing the entire spectrum of Florida's immense talent pool, the best of Brouhaha gives visitors an opportunity to experience a different Orlando. Visit www.enzian.org or call (407) 629-0054 for more information. 

PALM BEACH – Oct. 14, 2008 through Jan. 4, 2009, The Flagler Museum will exhibit Parks, Palaces, and Public Buildings: Richard Morris Hunt and American Architecture. The exhibition will feature approximately 80 drawings, watercolor paintings, photographs, and objects from one of America's greatest nineteenth-century architects. Visitors will have an opportunity to view the works of the visionary whose career transformed American architecture. For more information, call the Flagler Museum at (561) 655-2833 or visit www.flaglermuseum.us.

FORT LAUDERDALE – The Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale is hosting several new notable exhibits this winter from world-class artists. Opening Oct. 2, the museum will welcome over 60 ceramics from famed artist Pablo Picasso along with Carlos Luna, a Florida-based artist inspired by Picasso’s penchant for mythology.  Beginning Nov. 6, the Coming of Age exhibit will feature 70 iconic paintings and sculptures chronicling the major developments during an entire century of art from artists such as Alfred Bierstadt, Edward Hopper and Man Ray. Call (954) 525-5500 or visit www.moafl.org for more information.

MIAMI – Visitors to the Historical Museum of Southern Florida (HMSF) will have the rare opportunity to view the plans and drawings for Interama, the permanent Inter-American trade and cultural center that state and city planners dreamed of building in Miami from 1951 to 1975. Interama: Miami and the Pan-American Dream is on display until Jan. 25, 2009. In conjunction with Interama, HMSF offers year-round free Family Fun Days on Second Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. In September, HMSF will begin to offer free Third Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. that will include panel discussions and presentations related to the exhibition. Call (305) 375-1492 or visit www.hmsf.org for additional information.

Accommodations

TALLAHASSEE – Located just three miles east of the Capitol Building, the Springhill Suites by Marriott opens in October 2008 just one month before the holiday season. Guests of the spacious studio suites – 25 percent larger than comparably priced rooms – take advantage of complimentary wired and wireless high speed Internet access, cable television, refrigerator and microwave, as well as a daily complimentary continental Suite Seasons Breakfast buffet. Call (850) 325-1103
or visit www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tlhse-springhill-suites-tallahassee-centr... for additional information.

ORLANDO – The Holiday Inn in the Walt Disney World Resort is slated to open in February 2009. The hotel will feature 323 guest rooms and more than 11,000 square feet of flexible event space. Guest room amenities include 32” LCD wide-screen HDTVs, granite bath vanities, wireless and high-speed online connections and a daily newspaper. The property will also include the Atrium Restaurant and complimentary transportation to the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Call (407) 828-8888 or visit holidayinn.com/hiwaltdisney.com for more information.
                                                                                                                                                                                                 

ORLANDO – Scheduled to open in November 2008, the Venturella Resort & Spa is a boutique-style, 155-guestroom, four-star premier resort located at the threshold to Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista. Venturella Resort & Spa is just moments from all that Orlando has to offer including entertainment, shopping, golf and fun. The resort and spa will offer guests everything from cold lavender-scented towels and frozen sliced fruit at the pool to a private Concierge area. Guests will enjoy personalized and anticipatory service. For information and reservations, visit www.venturellaresort.com or call (407) 239-9500

RUSKIN – Located just 20 miles outside of Tampa, Harborside is the newest accommodation choice at The Resort & Club at Little Harbor.  This enchanting collection of luxury studio, one, two and three bedroom resort condominium residences evoke the style and grace of Caribbean days gone by. Little Harbor offers many accommodation choices for guests, ranging from newly renovated hotel rooms and suites to two and three bedroom townhomes, to the newest accommodation choice, Harborside. For more information, call (813) 645.3291 or log onto www.StayLittleHarbor.com for a complete overview of the resort and community.

FORT MYERS – Open just in time for the holiday season, The Best Western Fort Myers Waterfront on the Caloosahatchee River in North Fort Myers has completed a million-dollar renovation. The hotel now features Best Western’s Uptown Collection with plush carpeting and deluxe bedding and furnishings.  The hotel also added a business center, sports bar and grill, exercise room and meeting room seating up to 60 people theatre style. For more information or to make reservations, call (239) 997-5511 or visit www.bestwesternwaterfront.com.

CORAL GABLES – The Hyatt Regency Coral Gables is currently undergoing a $10 million transformation of its guest accommodations, full service restaurant Two Sisters and Alcazaba nightclub. Scheduled to be completed in late 2008, the new look of the rooms is inspired by the Spanish Alhambra appearance of the hotel. The lobby, lounge and pool area exude European elegance while the guest rooms emote dark wood and rose colored tones with furniture that has a Moorish style. Call (305) 441-1234 or visit www.coralgables.hyatt.com for more information.

Dining and nightlife

PENSACOLA – When visiting Pensacola during the holiday season, stop by BonannaRama specializing in banana pudding, with a recipe inspired by mom. Flavors include banana, chocolate, cherry and strawberry flavors. BonannaRama also sells gourmet coffee, smoothies, floats and deli sandwiches. Please call (850) 497-6958 for more information.

ORLANDO – The 13th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will take place Sept. 26 - Nov. 9, 2008. Each day during the six-week festival, the park’s Future World and World Showcase will overflow with food, wine and beer that spotlight regional experiences from New Zealand to Mexico. Also featured are special wine and beer seminars; cooking demonstrations; Eat to the Beat! concerts, featuring performers like Spyro Gyra, Kool & The Gang and Jon Secada; and culinary exhibits. The event is included with regular admission to Epcot, which is $71 for adults, $60 for children ages 3-9 and free for children ages 2 and under. Additional charges apply for food and beverage samples. For more information, call (407) 939-3378 or visit disneyworld.com/food.

ORLANDO –The first permanent bar made of ice in the United States, ICEBAR Orlando, will open Oct. 3, 2008 on International Drive. For those who want to experience a little bit of the winter cold in Florida, The ICEBAR experience will take guests through the Chill Lounge, a 4,000-square-foot bar featuring live entertainment, caviar flights and premium beverage service in an upscale Nordic setting. Before entering the 1,000-square-foot air-locked ICEBAR, guests will be provided with a cape and gloves to stay warm during their 45-minute experience. The exhibit will be kept at 27 degrees Fahrenheit and the walls, tables, seating, sculptures and bar will be made entirely of ice. Admission starts at $35 per person and includes a premium Vodka beverage in a glass made of ice for guests 21 and older and a non-alcoholic beverage for younger guests. Visit icebarorlando.com or call (407) 426-7555 for more information.

Festivals and events

JACKSONVILLE – Downtown Jacksonville’s St. Johns River is transformed into a spellbinding display of lights as Northeast Florida’s finest boats and captains’ magically decorated vessels parade down the river for the Jacksonville Light Parade on Nov. 29, 2008. This enchanted night is topped off by an unbelievable fireworks display over the river, featuring the signature “waterfalls” fireworks.  Call (904) 630-3690 or visit www.coj.net for more information.
 
JACKSONVILLE – Dec. 31, 2008 marks an entire day of Jacksonville’s New Year’s Eve Celebration. Beginning with the Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade and closing with fireworks at The Jacksonville Landing, the "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" themed parade features colorful floats, high school bands, college bands, giant helium balloons and entertaining specialty units.  Gator Bowl pep rallies take place during the day, as college football fans prepare for the New Year’s Day game.  The Jacksonville Landing features live entertainment in the courtyard with a countdown to 2009 as fireworks light up the night sky over Downtown Jacksonville’s waterfront at midnight.  Call (904) 630-3690 or visit www.gatorbowl.com for more information.

SAINT AUGUSTINE – World Golf Hall of Fame will host the 2008 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Nov. 10, 2008. The Class of 2008 includes Pete Dye, Denny Shute, Carol Semple Thompson, Herbert Warren Wind, Craig Wood and Bob Charles. The newest members will be featured in a new exhibit at the World Golf Hall of Fame Museum.  Event takes place on an outdoor stage adjacent to the Hall of Fame and is free and open to the public.  Seating is limited.  For more information, call (904) 940-4123 or visit www.wgv.com.

LAKELAND – The Polk Museum of Art will host a Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration and Workshop Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Admission to this cultural celebration is free to everyone, and just $2 per person for individuals who wish to participate in the workshop. Kwanzaa is a celebration of African-American culture, but this party is for everyone. Learn about the principles that Kwanzaa is founded upon, do a little dancing, and then make a great African-themed piece of art before you go home. Visit www.polkmuseumofart.org or call (863) 688-7743 for more information.

SARASOTA – Visitors to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art will celebrate the sights and sounds of the holiday season with Holiday Splendor. On Dec. 4, 2008 the Museum of Art, Cà d’Zan Mansion, Circus Museum, Tibbals Learning Center and Museum stores will offer extended evening hours from 6 p.m.–9 p.m. Holiday music and performances by local schools will be provided and food and beverages will be available for purchase. The admission is one unwrapped toy per guest or $10.00 without a toy.  No advanced tickets. The event will benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots, covering Sarasota and Manatee counties. Call (941) 359-5700, ext. 5705 for more information.

SEBASTIAN – The annual Sebastian Clambake Lagoon Festival is Nov. 7-9, 2008 at Riverview Park in Sebastian. The festival will feature fresh seafood booths, live music, historic re-enactments, a boat show, Wacky Raft Race, children’s activities, a volleyball tournament, Kayak Poker Run, boat rides, and much more. Admission to the festival is free; however, tickets are for sale for food and T- Shirts. Live music and various acts are scheduled through the weekend. Proceeds of the festival are designated for local charities. For more information, visit or contact Anjani Cirillo, President of the non-profit Sebastian Clambake Foundation at (772) 589-1403, ext.112.

Attractions

ORLANDO – Located minutes outside of Orlando, Long & Scott’s Farms’ Scott's Maze Adventures has a brand new maze this year themed "Florida Agriculture."  Scott’s takes a closer look at all the exciting bits and pieces that keep a modern farm working. From tractors to vegetables, visitors will be able dig in and learn all about the life of a Florida farmer.  Throughout the pathways to a 6-acre corn maze, you will find pictures, clues and games to make this learning process FUN! For more information, visit www.longandscottfarms.com or call (352) 383-6900.

ORLANDO – Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will feature the precision and power of the world-famous U.S. Navy Blue Angels at the second annual Space & Air Show Nov. 8-9, 2008. Aerospace, aviation and astronauts come together at Kennedy Space Center as the dark blue and yellow-striped F/A-18 Hornet jets blaze across the skies over the shuttle launch and landing headquarters. Tickets begin at $17. Call (321) 449-4444 for more information or visit www.kennedyspacecenter.com.

PLANT CITY – Dinosaur World in Plant City is releasing a new Raptor Pack just in time for Christmas. The raptors will include Oviraptors, Velociraptors and a Dilophosaurus. In addition to viewing the life size raptors, guests will learn interesting facts.  November is Dog Month at Dinosaur World. To celebrate your furry best friends, all guests who bring dogs to Dinosaur World will receive $2 off admission. All four legged friends will receive a delicious doggy treat. Other exhibits at Dinosaur World include a Fossil Dig, Boneyard, Prehistoric Museum, Movie Cave, Carnivore Boardwalk, and Deinoychus Island. For more information, visit www.dinoworld.net.

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