Florida Culture for the Week of February 6 by Josh Garrick

Can Your HEART Handle All the Choices???

Feb 10 -- Culture AND Cocktails 

Culture & Cocktails, presented by the Art & History Museums – Maitland (A&H) takes place on the second Friday of every month with this month’s event set for February 10 from 6 to 9 pm at 210 W. Packwood Avenue in Maitland. Three super-talented Artists – Cherie Dacko, Cake Marques, and Tracy Burke are featured at this event. Dacko works in what she calls ‘Bent Realism,’ creating surreal subjects in 3-dimensional scenes while Cake paints very UN-traditional subjects in the very traditional method of oil on board. Burke works in two dimensions on canvas, using her own recipe of oil paints and additives. Music will be provided by The Mudflappers. Admission is $5 (which includes one drink). Call 407.539.2181 or visit ArtandHistory.org

Feb 10, 11, and 12 – Ballet’s Battle of the Sexes

The Orlando Ballet’s Artistic Director Robert Hill put Central Florida on notice in his first season when he created a series of sexy ballets for a program he called Battle of the Sexes.  Working with bodies that stretch and exercise every day as part of their ‘job,’ the idea was received with standing ovations with Hill bringing sexy back --Florida style!  Battle of the Sexes III, presented by the Orlando Ballet, will take place February 10, 11, and 12 at the Bob Carr PAC in Orlando. Call 407.426.1739 or orlandoballet.org

Feb 11 – Luv Sux III

The volunteers who make up the Orlando Circle of Friends Chorus have felt the ‘dark side’ of the day of hearts and flowers and will produce their questionably tasteful annual fundraiser called Luv Sux III on Saturday, February 11 at 8 pm. If your experience with love has left you … confused, befuddled, or just plain ‘messed up,’ the Circle of Friends want to make it even worse. Their anti-Valentine’s Day Cabaret is made up of songs about the misfortunes of love, sung by the wrong people. Prepare to be ‘strangely entertained’ as their mismatched singers bemoan the horrors of that fateful February Day. The cabaret will take place at 398 West Amelia Street in Orlando. For tickets, visit ocofchorus.com or call 407-345-OCOF (6263).

Feb 11 and 12 -- ArtFest in Kissimmee

The 45th Annual Osceola Art Festival, set for Feb 11 and 12 on the Valencia College Osceola Campus in Kissimmee, will feature over 150 professional artists, live entertainment, a student art tent, a sidewalk chalk drawing competition and ‘Festival food.’  Artists from across the U.S. will compete for over $15,000 in prizes. The Student Art Tent will include work from Osceola School District students with 1st, 2nd & 3rd place ribbons awarded to each school, and a ‘Local’s Lane,’ dedicated to local galleries, artists and crafters from Central Florida. Open from 10 am to 5 pm on both days, Valencia’s Osceola Campus is at Highway 192 at 1800 Denn John Lane in Kissimmee. Parking and admission are free. Call 407.846.6257 or visit ocfta.com

Feb 12 – Valentine Concert in Central Park

The merchants of Winter Park’s Park Avenue are making it easy (and FREE) to make a Valentine Date with your sweetheart by presenting the second annual Valentine Concert in Central Park. Sponsored by Boyette, Cummins & Nailos, the event features the super-talented Michael Andrew and Swingerhead in an outdoor concert on Sunday, February 12 at 4 pm. This year’s concert features Michael’s new 10-piece orchestra and his ‘better-than-Sinatra’ voice. Michael was the headline singer for two years at the Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center in New York City, and has been described as “one of the great singers of all time.” The Central Park stage is at 151 N. Park Avenue in Winter Park. 

Feb 12 -- Valentine’s with Andrea Bocelli

Superstar Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli makes a very special Valentine’s Weekend appearance at the Amway Center for an evening of romance on Sunday, February 12. Highlighting Bocelli’s lush romantic repertoire of classical arias along with world-famous love songs, this is Bocelli’s first-ever performance in Orlando. “The Voice” has sold more than 65 million albums worldwide and continually receives rave reviews throughout his sold-out U.S. tours. And a welcome ‘local note’ is struck by the news that 60 members of Winter Park’s Bach Festival Choir will join Bocelli for his only Central Florida performance. You can buy tickets at amwaycenter.com, Amway Center box office, charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000 or at Ticketmaster.com.

Feb 12 -- Mission: Nutrition – for Heart Health

The Orlando Science Center “gets to the HEART of the matter” at the 5th Annual Mission: Nutrition on Sunday, February 12 from 10 am to 4 pm. Guests will experience demonstrations showcasing medical technology, nutrition and fitness and how they impact heart health. Guests may also interact with ‘SimMan’ – a state-of-the-art patient-simulator who represents the technology being used to train today’s medical professionals. SimMan “talks, functions and reacts like a real patient.” Florida Hospital will transform the Darden Theater into a surgical amphitheater with a heart surgeon performing a beef heart dissection, a live demonstration that all-too-vividly explains how the heart works. The popular Physical Challenge Arena will be open for competitors with activities for all ages plus information on ways to stay active. Families will jog away with prizes and a new perspective on fitness. Admission to Mission: Nutrition is included with general admission to the Science Center, and includes access to exhibits and giant screen films. Visit osc.org or call 407.514.2000

Feb 15 to 26 -- Billy Elliott – the Musical

Billy Elliot is a kid from a working-class family in England who is training to be a boxer, because his hard-drinking father wants him to be something more than an out-of-work factory bloke. But Billy discovers – and becomes obsessed with – the world of ballet. While his family comes to terms with this strange (for them) career path, Billy gets a shot at a scholarship with a prestigious dance school. Billy Elliot the Musical opened on Broadway in 2008 with music by Elton John and went on to win 10 Tony Awards – including BEST Musical.  Billy Elliot the Musical will take place at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center in Orlando from February 15 to 26.  Visit ticketmaster.com

Feb 15 and 16 -- By Popular Demand – Ms. Jacqueline Jones

She may be the best known – and best-loved – singer in all of Central Florida, and now the incomparable Ms. Jacqueline Jones is back to present her cabaret act What is This Thing Called Love?, on February 15 and 16 at 7:30 pm, as part of the Winter Park Playhouse Cabaret Series. Ms. Jones’ blend of Jazz, Rhythm and Blues and Contemporary music consistently delights her audiences, whether she is performing in an intimate club or on a concert stage. "Patrons can't get enough of her fabulous voice, wit, and charm," says Director Heather Alexander. Seating is limited, so reservations are recommended. Tickets are $20 and include one drink. Call 407-645-0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org

50 Years of the Kennedy Space Center

Talk about the way time FLIES!  The Kennedy Space Center is currently welcoming guests to celebrate 50 Years of KSC with a $50 Annual Pass to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.  Annual pass holders enjoy a range of benefits including savings on admissions, discounts on merchandise, access to breath-taking launches, plus admission to seasonal events including the 50th Anniversary of Americans in Orbit, Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction, Sci-Fi Summer and Holidays in Space. The special price lasts until March 7. Call 866.737.5235 or visit kennedyspacecenter.com

Feb 28 and 29 -- Michael Jackson – The IMMORTAL World Tour

Consider a repertoire of the greatest ‘pop music’ of all time – created by Michael Jackson and then let your imagination fly as that music is used for Cirque du Soleil’s newest full-length evening of performance magic. The MUST-SEE ticket of the season – MJ – THE IMMORTAL – will be performed in two-performances-only on February 28 and 29 at the Amway Center in Orlando. This life-changing production combines Michael Jackson’s music with the choreography and athleticism of Cirque du Soleil to give fans a unique view into the spirit, passion and heart of the artistic genius who forever transformed pop culture. Written and directed by Jamie King, who has channeled Michael’s love of music and dance, fairy tale magic, and the fragile beauty of nature into a show featuring more than 60 international dancers, musicians and acrobats. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000.

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators