This small plaque is to honor Colonel Corbin Marquand Sarchet, III, who is the founder of "Fiesta…read morein the Park" in Lake Eola. Fiesta in the Park has been recognized as one of the top 100 arts and crafts shows here in the United States of America and it is by the selfless work of this man and others that make it a reality. This plaque is a bit hard to find, though it is located by the Walt Disney Amphitheater in Lake Eola. I'm in Lake Eola pretty much weekly and it is surprising that I have never noticed this before. However, I saw today and I learned something new today about an extraordinary man who has given of himself so selflessly of for his community. If you were in Lake Eola Park seek this little plaque out. Lake Eola Park is definitely my favorite Park in Orlando and it is because of these little things that make this park so epic. Come check out the park as a whole and definitely seek out this little plaque.

A fun and free thing you can do in historic downtown Kissimmee is take a self guided mural tour…read more One of the murals you would see is the colorfu Bengal Tiger mural on the Broadway building by Florida based visual artist, Nicole (Nico) Holderbaum. Nico has painted murals around the world and has mentored thousands of students, guiding them in painting murals on over 30 schools in Florida. She is currently based in Miami. Bengal Tiger is part of The Time For Art is Now public art project funded by Osceola Arts in downtown Kissimmee. The projects mission is to revitalize the downtown area with colorful works of art. Created in 2020, Bengal Tiger is on Kissimmee Jewelers on Darlington Street and Broadway Streets. It features the majestic head of a tiger is shads of orange, yellow, red, purple, and pink. While I like the murals featuring native Florida plants and animals, this mural carries an important reminder that tigers are on the brink of extinction. Today there are fewer than 3,900 tigers that live in four percent of the land they once historically ranged. I think this mural serves as a wakeup call that we need to be environmentally conscience so that animals can roam the planet freely and not just entertain us in zoos.

A good authentic (some exceptions) Lebanese food. Service is really nice and ambience comfortable…read morewith nice outdoor area. Lacks on dish presentation and attention to detail.

Cedar of Lebanon is one of 9 sculptures that are part of See Art Orlando, a permanent contemporary…read morecollection of art that was unveiled by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the See Art Orlando Board of Directors on November 18, 2013. The art project was launched by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and art lover Jennifer Quigley. They hoped that adding public art to downtown Orlando would bring pride, boost the economy, and strengthen the city's cultural core. The art is mainly displayed around Lake Eola. You can find Cedar of Lebanon at the cul-de-sac on Osceola Ave next to Post Parkside just off Lake Eola Park Cedar of Lebanon was by sponsored by Khaled Akkawi and created by local artist Jake Harmeling who owns Qui Studios in Ivanhoe Village. He was the only local artist selected to create a piece for the See Art Orlando project. Cedar of Lebanon is a three story tall abstract metal tree made from bent sprinkler pipes and mirrored stainless steel canopies that are the leaves of the tree. The art work represents Orlando's diversity, strength, and elegance. At night the sculpture is lit from within. It is also meant to represent the nature found throughout Orlando. I like the the large scale of the piece and how it mirrors the trees found naturally all around Lake Eola.

During my visit to St. Cloud I enjoyed exploring the murals throughout downtown. One that caught my…read moreinterest is the Historic St. Cloud Fire Station Mural which is part of the St. Cloud Historic Mural Trail, a collection of paintings that celebrate and preserve significant moments in St. Cloud's history. The trail is also connected to a larger statewide network linking Florida communities through public mural art. The mural depicts St. Cloud's first fire station, which was housed in the Osceola County State Bank building. Constructed in 1911 by N. F. Bass at the corner of 19th Street and Florida Avenue, the building later served as St. Cloud City Hall. In 1920, the city purchased the property and added an extension on the south side to accommodate its fire station. The artwork recreates the original fire station garage and fire truck. A particularly interesting detail is the window, where viewers can see the buildings across the street as they would have appeared at the time, along with the reflection of a vintage automobile parked in front of the station. The mural was painted by artist Juliana Davidson, who holds a degree in Commercial Art and has more than 20 years of experience in scenic painting, graphic design, curating, and artistic creation. Her attention to historic detail makes this a memorable stop on the historic mural trail.

While exploring downtown St. Cloud, I came across the St. Cloud Fife and Drum Corps mural next to…read morethe American Legion Civic Hall. It caught my attention because of the fascinating history it represents. This mural is part of the St. Cloud Historic Mural Trail, a collection of public artworks that celebrate and preserves the city's heritage. The trail is also connected to a larger statewide network that links Florida communities through public mural art. The mural was inspired by the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Post 34 and the St. Cloud Fife and Drum Corps, organizations that played a significant role in the city's early history. Following the Spanish-American War, veterans joined Union veterans of the Civil War as some of the first residents to purchase lots in the military retirement community that eventually became St. Cloud. By the early 1900s, the city had become home to the largest concentration of Union veterans in the South. The GAR, founded in 1866 as a fraternal, charitable, and patriotic organization for Union veterans, helped establish Memorial Day as a national holiday while promoting patriotism through parades and the creation of war memorials. In St. Cloud, GAR members marched alongside the St. Cloud Fife and Drum Corps during patriotic celebrations and community events, helping create civic pride. The veterans invested their pension checks to raise $8,000 to construct the GAR Memorial Hall on Massachusetts Avenue. The building was later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Among the corps' founding members was J.T. Burbank, the subject of this mural by Amy Rosebush. This mural is a wonderful tribute to the veterans whose patriotism and pioneer spirit helped shape St. Cloud. Stop by f you're walking the Historic Mural Trail.

This mural is located on the side of the City Centre building, which is located on the corner of…read moreEast Central Boulevard and Rosalind Avenue in downtown Orlando. It is not far from Lake Eola Park and is a vibrant piece of art that enhances and beautifies the downtown Orlando, Florida area. Public art shows the underlying personality of a city, it adds soul to the concrete and steel that define most large cities and shows us the community rather than simply the population in terms of numbers. This piece of art is a wonderful addition to the downtown Orlando area and I definitely encourage you to come check it out.

During my visit to St. Cloud I enjoyed exploring the murals throughout downtown. One of my…read morefavorites was the Joyland Beach Mural which is part of the St. Cloud Historic Mural Trail, a collection of paintings that celebrate and preserve significant moments in St. Cloud's history. The trail is also connected to a larger statewide network linking Florida communities through public mural art. Located at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 10th Street, the Joyland Beach Mural transports visitors back to one of St. Cloud's most beloved destinations. The artwork depicts the Joyland Pier and Dance Hall, once situated on the shores of East Lake Tohopekaliga near Ohio Avenue. During the mid-20th century, Joyland Beach served as a popular gathering place for both residents and visitors, offering relaxation, recreation, and entertainment. Families and friends flocked to its sandy beaches, swimming facilities, and picnic areas. The site's history dates back to 1911, when a boat dock and bathhouse were first constructed. After the original structures were destroyed by fire, they were replaced by the Joyland Pier. In April 1923, a new bathing pavilion was built, only to be lost to another fire in July 1935. Today, the area is home to the St. Cloud Lakefront, while memories of those simpler times live on through this downtown mural. The Joyland Beach Mural was created by artist Al Pepin. A figurative fine artist and product designer based in St. Cloud, Pepin is best known for his large-scale public murals, many of which can be found throughout downtown St. Cloud.

A fun and free activity in downtown historic Kissimmee is a self guided mural tour. The murals are…read morepart of The Time For Art is Now public art project funded by Osceola Arts in downtown Kissimmee. The projects mission is to revitalize the downtown area with colorful works of art. Some of my favorite murals feature native Florida plants and animals like this one, Florida Panther by artist Ryan Semple. Semple focuses on subjects of flora and fauna in his art. Ryan painted this mural in 2020 with the help of his girlfriend Samantha Shumaker who he met while working on another mural. The subject of the mural is the Florida panther, a threatened species. Their population was decimated by hunting and they were one of the first species added to the Endangered Species Lust in 1973. In the 1970's there were only 20 to 30 left in the wild. Today there are around 200 living in the Everglades and Big Cypress Preserve. Habitat destruction, pollution, and diseases continue to threaten their population.