Fair Warning: Valentine’s Day Ahead!

I am posting this well before Valentine’s Day arrives, just in case any Top 5 fans are like my husband. I dearly love my hubby; we were high school sweethearts and have now been married for almost 18 years. However, when it comes to romance, he is not always–how shall I say it?–a rival of Romeo’s. He tends to lean a little more toward Larry the Cable Guy than Casanova. So, if you find yourself a bit like my hubby, then this is your advance warning:

VALENTINE’S DAY IS IN 5 DAYS!
START PLANNING SOMETHING!

Truly, we girls are pretty easy to please. It is not generally the cost of an item, but rather the thought that goes into it. One of the best presents my husband ever gave (yeah, he could be romantic if he really wanted to be) was a scavenger hunt. I had to use clues to find my way through the house to the ultimate gift of chocolate-covered strawberries and a pair of sunglasses. It wouldn’t have mattered if it was just a paper airplane awaiting me, I was just thrilled that he had put some advance thought into the gift!

So, here’s some wonderful ideas for a thoughtful Valentine’s Day, just in case you are running short on ideas:

Have a “Green” Valentines Day: Students at Rollins College are putting a “green” spin on a traditional “red” holiday. Members of the Eco Rollins organization are encouraging the purchase of small garden plants and herbs, rather than a traditional cut bouquet of flowers. This way the plant can continue to grow as opposed to traditional flowers that are only good for a limited amount of time.
Your home-run phrase: “It will continue to grow as my love does for you…”

 Tickets to see Almost, Maine: The final performance of the legendary Orlando Theatre Project, Almost, Maine is for romantics. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost’s residents find themselves falling in and out of love in the most unexpected ways.
Your home-run phrase: “Almost, Maine because I’m ‘almost’ totally and completely in love with you…”

Dinner and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra: Imagine a 4-course dinner provided by the famed White Wolf Cafe before settling in to listen to the world-famous Detroit Symphony Orchestra as they take the stage with conductor Leonard Slatkin and young cellist Sol Gabetta.
Your home-run phrase:  ”This just shows you the music that’s in my heart…”

Valentine’s Day Concert at Leu Gardens: Swinging jazz under the stars in a beautiful botanical setting? Bring along a candle light picnic dinner, and you’ve got the makings of true romance.
Your home-run phrase: “Being here with you and the candles, the music, the atmosphere, it;s all I could ever want…”

Bee Mine Valentine’s Day Holiday Workshop: Give your wife a break by taking your preschooler (3 – 5 years old) to a special workshop at the Orlando Science Center on Saturday, February 13. Sometimes just a break from the kids is the most romantic gesture you can make!
Your home-run phrase: ”Because you deserve some time for yourself…” 

Power Package at Pointe Orlando: If you haven’t been to Pointe Orlando (or at least not lately) you are in for a real night out!  Start with dinner at the Funky Monkey Wine Company (a four course sumptuous meal!) and then see Valentine’s Day, the new romantic comedy, and then end the evening with a night-cap and dance at B.B. King’s Blues Club.
Your home-run phrase: “No night out is too good for you…”

These are just a few suggestions to get you started thinking…remember IT IS THE THOUGHT that counts!

John Mayer (by Guest Blogger John Rife)

Central Florida Top 5 is one of our favorite sites. We check it all the time to find out what is happening in our area and are so grateful for this wonderful resource. So to share the love we’ve decided to do a little guest post about attending one of the “Top 5” music events of February for those of you who couldn’t make it.

Last Friday Kamrin and I made the trip down to Tampa to see John Mayer perform at the Saint Pete Times Forum. It has been a few years since Mayer headlined a major tour and we were eager to see if he still had the chops to captivate an arena. Though Tampa is a hike for those of us living in the Orlando area it is certainly worth the trip. The Forum is a great venue for concerts and often grabs acts like Mayer that won’t make a stop in O-town. Plus if you get down there early you can sample some of Tampa’s unique restaurants before the show.

Opening for Mayer was Michael Franti and Spearhead, a reggae infused mix of rock and Jack Johnson’ styled beach music. It wasn’t long before they had the crowd on their feet dancing and singing along as Franti roamed the arena. The band is best known for their Top 40 hit “Say Hey (I Love You)” and they closed with this one, accompanied, on stage, by six enthusiastic fans.

Mayer then took the stage to the uproar of screaming fans, kicking things off with the second single from his Battle Studies CD, Heartbreak Warfare. In light of all the paparazzi hoopla about who he is or isn’t dating it was a apropos choice. He went on to play a nice mix of songs from the new album and best known previous hits. Here is the set-list as I recall it: Heartbreak Warfare / Bigger Than My Body / Belief / Perfectly Lonely / Assassin / Waiting on the World to Change / Edge of Desire / Half of My Heart / All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye / No Such Thing / Gravity and for the Encore: Who Says / Friends, Lovers or Nothing.

Mayer made some great asides during the show where we got to see the man behind the music. Several times he mentioned how thankful he was that as fans we’re still filling stadiums to see him play after his long absence. A cool LOL moment came when he grabbed a neon sign from a fan that read “Mayer, I’m your Joshua Tree,” a reference to a naughty comment he made during his recent Rolling Stone’s cover story. He proceeded to doctor up the sign with a permanent marker while providing a tongue in cheek diatribe about how his “Joshua Tree” comment has become an unlikely rallying point for fans, despite its negative reception by the general public.

We knew Mayer would put on a great show and he didn’t disappoint. He further endeared himself to the crowd when he changed the lyrics of his Encore song to “It’s been a long night in New York City / It’s been a long night in Tampa, too.” It’s a small thing but it nonetheless rallied the troops for the two song encore. This was only the second stop of the tour and it was clear that he was giving it his all and enjoying every minute of it and so were we.

SO….I hope this has inspired you, dear “Top 5” reader, to venture forth and experience all that Central Florida has to offer, even if it means making the trek to the West coast of our lovely peninsula.

John Rife is an ardent champion of Central Florida’s cultural renaissance and shares the stories of the artists, farmers, musicians, small business owners and other pioneers at the heart of this revolution over at his blog A Local Folkus (www.ALocalFolkus.com).

Cars for the Cure Rocks!

My family headed down to the Lake Mary/Heathrow area to Colonial TownPark to support the American Lung Association of Florida-Central Area. What a treat!

First off, the weather was sunny and cool (albeit a bit a windy!) and secondly, the cars were great! Colonial TownPark was the perfect setting: intimate yet roomy enough for cars as well as the crowd. And, we were surrounded by great boutiques and restaurants, such as one of my all-time favorites, Dexters. I will be excited to see just what the final estimate of attendance for this event ends up being…it felt like thousands of people showed up! Check out the Top 5 video below:

I’d like to give a special thank you to the American Lung Association of Florida staff, who invited the Top 5 out to the show. And, readers, please visit the Cars for the Cure website now, where you can make a donation to support healthy lungs.

Mouth on Fire!

The Orlando Chili Cook Off at Baldwin Park was an incredible success! The Top 5 visited thanks to the generosity of Amie Dugan, whose outstanding marketing for Special Olympics Florida really pays off.

Despite what looked like threatening weather, over 2500 people enjoyed the spicy samplings. What a fun and festive way to raise money and awareness!

Thanks for inviting us and we look forward to next year!
(And remember, Top 5 fans, you can donate to Special Olympics any time!)

Blue Men Indeed

No matter what color you were Thursday night, hundreds of people came together to honor the Orlando Magic and the work their organization has done not only for the community but also for the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.  My husband and I attended this exciting event, which started at NBA City at Universal CityWalk.   There, former Magic greats Nick Andersen, Bo Outlaw, and Adonal Foyle greeted us as we walked in to enjoy sumptuous food  like shrimp and grits or an assortment of yummy desserts.  After a brief mingling, the reception officially started honoring several guests.  One was a former recipient of help at the homeless shelter, who had been hooked on heroin. After utilizing the assortment of programs available at the Coalition, he is now a proud married father who is gainfully employed.  Another honored guest was a woman who had been volunteering at the shelter since its opening in 1987. I was greatly inspired by her dedication.

After the reception, guests filed to the nearby Sharp Aquos Theatre where we anxiously awaited the start of the Blue Man Group show.  I have been to Cirque de Soleil and enjoyed this every bit as much. The group’s fast-paced, out-of-this-world entertainment is difficult to describe.  The three blue guys present an almost alien aura, but connect with the audience in a very real way. Whether it is shining a spotlight on Commissioner Bill Segal, who graciously agreed to come in late for the laughs, or having a gazillion rolls of toilet paper unravel over your head, the Blue Man Group is worth the visit!

If you would like to continue supporting the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, donations are always welcome and very much appreciated.

My Son’s Jar of Coins

Like many parents, I am attempting to raise a child who is a well-rounded, well-adjusted teenager. I am fortunate that he is generally in a happy-go-lucky mood most of the time, except when he gets overtaken by some surly, sour-headed, evil spirit who sits grumpily on our couch for hours at a time playing X-Box, snarling at all non-virtual persons who come within his vicinity.

But, for the most part, he is growing up as I would like, all except one area: Altruism. Apparently, there isn’t a single drop of it in his blood.

Now, of course, this is totally my fault as a parent. We started off strong…I remember when he was five and wrapped up some of his never-played-with, barely used toys and gave them away. He was so proud of his generosity. But, it all went downhill from there. Perhaps it is a result of being an only child? Perhaps it is that he rarely sees his parents doing much except for the annual end-of-year-tax-deduction giving? Perhaps this materialistic-driven world is working against me?

Now, my son isn’t exactly as spoiled as he sounds, as he only gets “wants” on his birthday and Christmas. Anything else he “wants,” he has to buy for himself. And, my son gets no allowance, but must clean windows, etc. for money. He is also an expert numismatist, scrounging the bottom of cars, under beds, raiding Grandma’s purse. He keeps all his coins in a big jar that we take to the local Publix to have counted and changed into bills. He is pretty choosy in spending his money, researching the best deals on the internet long before he buys.

But, when my husband told him he must set aside 10% (for the easy math) to go to charity, well, that pile of money never seemed grow very much. (Think more like 0.01%.) Somehow he just couldn’t bring himself to part with the money when there were X-Box games to be had!

When he was a fifth grader, I remember one of his friends, a sweet little boy named Ryan, saying, “I’m not having presents this year at my birthday party. I want everyone to bring a toy to donate to the needy.” As my heart melted at Ryan’s declaration, my son said disgustedly, “Why in the world would you want to do that?”

Yep, not only is there no altruistic blood in my son, but there’s not a single altruistic bone in his body either!

Whatever the reason for my son’s anti-philanthropic attitude, I am attempting to turn the tide. During the recent cold snap, Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida tweeted they were short on blankets. “Aha!” I thought. A prime opportunity to teach my son how important it is to help others in need!

So, we took his jar of coins, emptied it out for around $60 at Publix, drove to Walgreens where they had two blankets on sale for just $7. We bought 14 blankets total and then began driving to the Coalition.

My son was torn, because he knew he was doing the right thing, the important thing, the politically correct thing, but deep down he was really upset about his money disappearing. To his credit, though, he didn’t voice his anger, but rather sat resolutely silent as we drove the streets of Downtown Orlando.

As we approached the Coalition, there was a large group of men gathered on the street corner, standing around talking. Grocery carts toted some of their belongings, and mismatched coats, hats, and shoes presented a rag-tag collection of individuals. I observed my son as he eyed them. We turned into the center, which was very crowded due to the cold weather.

We carried the blankets inside, and my son still didn’t speak but rather noticed the different assortment of people: young men and women, grandparents, middle-aged citizens, and even several children.

Afterwards, my son was quiet for much of the ride home. I finally asked what was on his mind. “There are kids my age there,” he said, and suddenly I realized his silence was not out of a sense of loss for his money anymore, but rather for those children.

This series of events happened to take place right before the Coalition’s 4th Annual Celebration was announced: An Evening with the Men in Blue.

This event pays tribute to the Orlando Magic for over 15 years of dedicated support of the Coalition and to recognize their extraordinary contributions to the community. (What a great example for my son!)

Presented by Baker Hostetler LLP—the firm of Ryan’s dad ironically enough…no wonder Ryan already has such a developed sense of altruism!—this event will feature an exclusive show by Blue Man Group. The evening will begin with a reception hosted by NBA City Restaurant, followed by the Blue Man Group at the Sharp Aquos Theatre.

When my son heard I was attending this ultra-cool event, he said excitedly, “Can I go?” I explained that I was there covering the event as “press” in order to blog and tweet about it, and so he couldn’t go. But, we made a deal: If he found a way to support a group—and I told him he had to be the one to decide what he wanted to support and how he was going to support it—then I would definitely take him to a similarly exciting event next year. He readily agreed.

Is this bribery? Maybe. Will this encourage a philanthropic attitude and somewhere along the way it might become a real altruistic feeling within himself? Hopefully. Only time will tell. (Teenagers…they are more difficult than they look!)

If you would like to join me for this special evening on Thursday, January 21, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. at Universal CityWalk, tickets and sponsorships are still to be had.

Sponsorship opportunities are available at varying levels, starting at only $150 for an individual ticket. You can contact Debbie Leon at 407.426.1265 or debbie.leon@cflhomeless.org for more information. Be sure to check out the An Evening with the Men in Blue Facebook event page.

As for my son, time will tell, but hopefully he will take note of the good work the Orlando Magic does and perhaps begin to do some himself!

Otronicon!

The Top 5 won tickets in a giveaway by the Orange County Regional History Center to go see the Orlando Science Center’s special exhibit Otronicon. So, I was delighted to take my teenager son, since he is the ultimate gamer, and Otronicon is the ultimate gamer heaven!

And pretty sure I was “rubbing elbows” with Roger Moore in Dance Dance Revolution!

“Cars for the Cure”…Why I will be there!

When my sister-in-law rushed my brother Grant to the hospital in October of 2008, he had trouble catching enough breath to even make it to the car. I arrived at the hospital shortly after to find him already intubated and in intensive care. A mechanical machine was breathing for him, and his lungs were filled with a horrible pink fluid. He died just a few hours later.

The official autopsy referred to a Strep A infection that overwhelmed all the organs of his body; however, questions about Swine Flu have recently surfaced, his symptoms being eerily similar. Regardless of the cause, though, I have experienced what the families of 35 million Americans are at risk for as they battle chronic lung diseases.

It has been a little over a year since my brother passed, and my family is still reeling from his loss, but I am finding I can now at least write about it, especially if it can serve a good purpose. So, when I heard about the American Lung Association of Florida’s Cars for the Cure event, I knew I had to be involved.

Cars for the Cure is described as the biggest charitable car show in the Southeastern United States, showcasing 200 cars and drawing 20,000 spectators. Rob Hodgson, CEO of Granny Nannies, a home health care agency headquartered in Longwood, Florida came up with the idea for the charity car show after a co-worker died from lung disease. “It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s a great way to give back,” Hodgson explained.

Sunil Prakash of Classic Audi , the auto show’s presenting sponsor for the third consecutive year, agrees with Hodgson: “People return to this show because of its superior location, superior cars, and a superior cause.”

The American Lung Association of Florida itself is quite impressive, being the state’s leader in working to prevent lung disease and promoting lung health. After researching the association, I knew this was an organization I wanted the Top 5 to support.

This year’s show (6th Annual) will be on February 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Colonial TownPark in Lake Mary. I will be there with my family, enjoying the display of incredible cars, ranging from vintage to luxury. I will also have my brother’s memory close to my heart that day.

Shortly after my brother’s passing, I discovered this song by James Blunt. I found comfort in it. If you are dealing with such an issue in your life, hopefully you will find some small measure of comfort, too.

Top 5 in Space (Part II)

When you first arrive at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, one of the most dominant aspects is the Rocket Garden. Here, real rockets tower into the sky, pointing upward as if a constant reminder of the ultimate goal: SPACE.

The massive rockets allow you to see just how large an undertaking the space program was when the US first set its collective mind on reaching the stars. Enjoy this video for a glimpse of the Rocket Garden and then the Early Space Exploration Center.

Next we got an opportunity to eat lunch with an astronaut. I absolutely loved this! First of all, the food was much better than my family would get at home. [Note: I don't cook.]

Next, the audience was kept small in order to give an intimate feeling as Astronaut Sam Gemar made his rounds, patiently answering questions, shaking hands, and kissing babies. [Okay, he probably didn't kiss anybody.] 

We shared our table with a family from South Africa who brought their three young boys to KSC.  Gemar spent quite a bit of time with us, sharing his incredible knowledge. Fast fact: 1 in 15 astronauts are killed in the line of duty. So, yeah, they deserve our utmost respect!

Gemar then gave a brief general Q&A session, where the favorite question was whether there are aliens in space.  He explained that he hoped there were, as space is a pretty large place, but as of now we had no aliens on Earth. To which a boy of about four years old loudly exclaimed, “Yes, there are aliens on Earth!” [Note: Could have won $10,000 if I had caught that on video...too funny!]

After lunch, we were greeted by Lesley Llerandi who graciously drove us around the property to see some exciting things up close:

• The Vehicle Assembly Building–VAB, which is absolutely mammoth!
• The “crawlerway”…tracks still visible from the last time the Shuttle was brought out
• Launch Pad #39B, close-up drive by and then from a special viewing place by the beach
• We also saw Launch Control

Some of these close-up stops are available to the public for a slightly elevated tour price; it’s well worth it!

We ended at the Apollo/Saturn V Center. This was my husband’s favorite stop. It gives you a great review of the historical importance of the early space program, which was nice for my son and nephew to hear. Then you get to see the actual launch control of the first missions before moving on to see a real Saturn V rocket…larger than a football field in length! Whew!

All in all, the Top 5 was so honored to have been shown around Kennedy Space Center. Not only do we recommend it as a “must-do” stop for tourists, but for any locals, if you are like me and have never been before, be sure to do yourself the favor by visiting this Central Florida gem. And, if you have already been , I strongly recommend going to see what’s new.

It’s hard to keep in mind in our magical city, where so much make believe is fantastically brought to life, that Kennedy Space Center is the real deal. It’s our history, our present, and our future!

The Top 5 in Space!

The Central Florida Top 5 was invited to tour Kennedy Space Center this past weekend, and what a wonderful time! First of all, I am an Orlando native, and I am ashamed to admit I had never been to Kennedy Space Center before, and I suspect I am not alone! [Note: We Floridians tend to become immune to the theme park and attraction advertising, sending our visiting relatives to go without us, nodding our heads because we think we know what is basically there…well, I was wrong about KSC!] It is well worth the short drive down the Bee Line. From the giant rockets and life-size shuttle that greet you, to the interactive exhibits and unique artifacts, KSC is much, much more than I ever realized.

Upon arrival we were greeted by Public Relations Manager @AndreaFarmer, a Twitter friend whose updates I love reading. She graciously showed us around the visitor’s center, instructed us on “must-see” things, and then joined us for the Shuttle Launch Experience. Similar to a theme park ride, this simulator reproduces what it feels like to blast off into space, rumbling seats and all! [Note: 0 to 17,500 mph in a matter of mere seconds!]

The best thing about the simulator, though, is the feeling of weightlessness it miraculously recreates…totally mind blowing! I was joined by my husband @SwimmerJoe as well as my teenage son and nephew. This shuttle ride was their absolute favorite! [Note: The simulator magically transported me back to feeling like a teenager, remembering why I dreamed of becoming an astronaut in the first place.]  [Note 2: This dream was shattered while sitting in Astronomy 101 at the University of Florida where I learned Astronomy is basically the title of a really, really advanced math.] [Note 3: Yeah, I dropped the class after the second week.]

Shuttle Launch Experience Highlights:

• Ultra-slick welcome by astronauts who have actually “been there, done that”
• Quick queue for boarding the simulator
• Realistic countdown from Launch Control
• Awesome blast off and then that feeling of weightlessness
• Eerie yet breathtakingly beautiful view of Earth through shuttle bay doors and then again through a giant window in the floor after the ride
• Individual shuttle mission information
• Signatures of those astronauts who have actually achieved Mach 25 (17,500 mph!)

Check out the video below for the video of the first part of our trip.

Next we visited a bit of a “soft opening” for the Exploration Space: Explorers Wanted, an interactive exhibit geared toward the two teenagers in tow. An ultra-cool display greeted us in the size of a giant revolving planet, so real it felt like we were standing on the bridge of the USS Enterprise. [Note: I am allowing my inner-geek to show, aren't I?]

Astronaut Bess (at last!)

The Exploration Space exhibit also had different controls/gadgets for the boys to try as well as a neat social media aspect. We could create a post card and then email to friends and even upload it to Facebook.

<——Here’s Top 5 editor Bess standing on the moon!  [Note: Ain't I cool?]

Finally the area had a live show where actor “Ken” told us about plans for future space exploration. The only thing that stands in the way of the Constellation Program going forward is funding. [Note: Congress, please support 40,000+ Florida jobs, the state economy, a pioneer spirit, and the survival of the human race!]

 Here’s video of Exploration Space as well as the Hubble Display:

Stay tuned for the second part of our trip…more video and photos coming!