Moomers is an extremely friendly, cuddly, loveable OBESE tabby cat once owned by the former artistic director of SAK, James Newport. Her daddy got to adopt her in 2005, from her previous owner, while at a party. There were several people sitting down on couches and chairs. This cat, out of nowhere, walks into the middle of the room and plops herself down on the rug. All the party-goers petted her and loved on her. It was love at first sight for her new daddy! The owner then says (a) he’s moving and (b) they can’t take the cat with them. Jackpot! Moomers had a new home!
The Sentinel’s Mark Schlueb blogged today about the City of Orlando electing to raise Property Tax Rates from $4.9307 to $5.65, a 14.5 percent increase.
Public Hearings are scheduled for September 8 and September 15 before the tax increase becomes final.
Between the mortgage crisis in America and cities like Orlando passing their budgeting issues off on homeowners, it’s certainly good to be a renter.
Last night, a friend and I headed down to Thornton Park for a couple of beverages. My friend suggested Dexter’s because they’re now staying open later and offering half-price liquor … enough said!
I’m no lush, but who wouldn’t enjoy a $3.13 Jack & Diet Coke after a long Saturday of errand-running and chores?
The bartenders were extremely friendly, even going so far as to introduce themselves … I can’t remember the last place someone did that, but I thought it was fantastic.
My favorite snack at Dexter’s are the Cha Cha Chips, but we ordered the Korean beef Bulgogi Skewers instead. They were pretty tasty, the perfect companion to the night’s drinks.
A night out on Washington Street wouldn’t be complete without a trip across the street to our favorite local bar, Burton’s. Burton’s doesn’t serve liquor, just beer and wine and if you’re lucky … freshly popped popcorn.
Next time you want to get away from the usual scene, give Dexter’s and Burton’s a try.
Dexter’s Thornton Park
808 Washington Street
Orlando, FL
407/648-2777
Burton’s
801 Washington Street
Orlando, FL
407/425-3720
Yesterday I worked in the yard. Someone else’s yard, no less; that’s the type of generous guy I am. And needless to say it was hot scorching. Probably not the wisest idea to be working outside during the hottest month of the year, during the hottest time of the day. Regardless, it got me thinking about ways we Central Floridians can “beat the heat.” And particularly if one is out working in the heat; these can pertain to any outdoor activity. Just my personal tips so if you have any of your own…by all means please share!
Here we go:
1. Drink plenty of liquids. Preferably water but liquids in general are acceptable. Remember, the more you sweat the more you need to put back in! Replenish, replenish, replenish. 2. Work with a partner. This may seem a bit silly, but having someone else around will be a gauge of how hot you’re getting. Not feeling well? Make sure and let your partner know. 3. Wear something light [colored]. Black, gray, or navy blue are not the wisest colors to wear when you’re in the beating sun. So try white or another light color that deflects the heat of the sun. 4. Get out in the sun early in the day. Anywhere from 11am-4pm is not the time to be in the sun. 5. Take AC breaks. You may feel like you’re being “weak” or not getting as much work done as you should, but releaving yourself from the heat of the day is key to not overheating or passing out! 6. Have a plan. Determine beforehand exactly what you want to accomplish, and stick to it. That way you’re working toward something, and aren’t staying out in the yard for the entire day. 7. Work in the shade, if possible. Any sort of cover you can have will benefit you. Try to remain out of the high-heat areas until earlier or later in the day. (See #4 above.) 8. Select a day that might have some cloud coverage. (Same reason as #7 above.) Check Weather.com or any of your local news stations for expected weather in your area. 9. Recruit some friends. The more the merrier, as they say! Of course, the more people you have working together the quicker you’ll be done with your project. (You can always tempt them by providing pizza and beer!) 10. Pay someone else to do it! Obviously this might not always be an option, but hey…if you can afford it, I say give the work to someone else!
** I also put this in the category “Tourism & Travel” as I believe these are great tips for those visiting the Orlando area. **
We already know “Pulse’s” klynn enjoys the live concert experience (see previous posts “Live Music” and “I Heart Live Music”). I, too, am a big fan of seeing live music, and have seen most of my favorite musicians live at some point during their career. So when I found out singer Michelle Branch is appearing at Downtown Disney’s House of Blues, I knew klynn would be my perfect concert buddy! She jumped at the chance.
Michelle Branch is known for catchy rock/pop songs like “All You Wanted”, “Breathe”, and most recently “Leave the Pieces” (as one of the two-member group The Wreckers). One of my favorite songs, though, and probably the one I’m most looking forward to hearing is “Are You Happy Now”:
General admission tickets for the show are $18.50 (+ tax and handling fees), which is really a great price…and even more appealing since House of Blues is a relatively intimate venue. If you’re interested in purchasing tickets you can do so at the House of Blues website or by doing a search for Michelle Branch on Ticketmaster.com.
I’m not sure if we’ll be able to sneak cameras in but if we can we’ll take some photos and share them with you here on the blog. Stay tuned….
Just thought you might like an update on the progress of SoDo. I was driving by the development yesterday afternoon and snapped this picture of the newly erected SuperTarget sign! I’m so looking forward to having this store near me.
Chloe is a four-month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (hey, just like previous “Pet Pulse” spotlight Guinness) that loves to chew, play and most importantly, sleep. She became a part of her family back in May of this year, when she and her siblings were found resting on the sidewalk in Winter Park. (What? She was just left alone in Winter Park?) She was simply too cute to leave behind.
As an AKC-registered puppy, her official name is “Blenheim Orange Blossom”. Blenheim is the name for the red-orange-brown color of the CKCS breed and the orange blossom is, of course, Florida’s state flower (the meaning of the name “Chloe” is “Verdant and Blooming”, too).
Most recently, Chloe has learned to swim in her grandmother’s pool. While she’s not one for swimming laps, she seems to enjoy the cool water on her belly. If nothing else, she loves to be outside and having freedom to run.
Her family is really looking forward to some of the dog-friendly events that take place around town, especially “Paws in the Park” around Lake Eola. As a puppy that loves to be the center of attention, it will be interesting to see how she behaves when thousands of dogs are around.
Judging from her recent completion of puppy class at PetSmart, she’ll probably be happy to let all of the dogs play while she looks around for people willing to pet her.
