Best of Orlando 2013
You might call them the class of 72: the winners of our annual Best of Orlando poll in six dozen categories.
You might call them the class of 72: the winners of our annual Best of Orlando poll in six dozen categories. Readers picked their favorites in everything from golf courses to tattoo parlors, TV news teams to theater, burgers to bloggers. So dig in!
Eat & Drink
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Best Bakery
1. Panera Bread
panerabread.com
Multiple Orlando-area locations
2. Blue Bird Bake Shop
bluebirdbakeshop.com
3122 Corrine Drive
Orlando
3. Charlie’s Gourmet Pastries
charliesgourmetpastries.com
3213 Curry Ford Road
Orlando
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Best Brunch
1. First Watch
firstwatch.com
Seven Orlando-area locations
2. Dexter’s
dexwine.com
Three Orlando-area locations
3. Keke’s Breakfast Café
kekesbreakfastcafe.com
Six Orlando-area locations
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Best Local Coffee
1. Starbucks Coffee
Company
starbucks.com
Multiple Orlando-area locations
2. Barnie’s Coffee Kitchen
barniescoffeekitchen.com
Multiple Orlando-area locations
3. Stardust Video & Coffee
stardustvideoandcoffee.wordpress.com
1842 E. Winter Park Road
Orlando
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Best Non-Chain Burger
1. Graffiti Junktion
graffitijunktion.com
Five Orlando-area locations
2. Johnny’s Fillin’ Station
johnnysfillinstation.com
2631 S. Ferncreek Ave.
Orlando
3. Taproom at Dubsdread
taproomatdubsdread.com
549 W. Par St.
Orlando
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Best Frozen Treat
1. Menchie’s
menchies.com
10 Orlando-area locations
2. Jeremiah’s Italian Ice
jeremiahsice.com
Five Orlando-area locations
3. Twistee Treat
twisteetreatusa.com
Four Orlando-area locations
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Best Restaurant Downtown
1. Citrus
citrusorlando.com
821 N. Orange Ave.
Orlando
2. Kres Chophouse
kresrestaurant.com
17 W. Church St.
Orlando
3. The Rusty Spoon
therustyspoon.com
55 W. Church St.
Orlando
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Best Restaurant on I-Drive
1. Texas de Brazil
texasdebrazil.com
5259 International Drive
Orlando
2. Café Tu Tu Tango
cafetututango.com
8625 International Drive
Orlando
3. The Capital Grille
thecapitalgrille.com
9101 International Drive
Orlando
The Mall at Millenia
4200 Conroy Road
Orlando
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Best Restaurant on Restaurant Row
1. Seasons 52
seasons52.com
7700 W. Sand Lake Road
Orlando
463 E. Altamonte Drive
Altamonte Springs
2. Roy’s
roysrestaurant.com
7760 W. Sand Lake Road
Orlando
3. Rocco’s Tacos &
Tequila Bar
roccostacos.com
7468 W. Sand Lake Road
Orlando
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Best Restaurant in Winter Park
1. Prato
prato-wp.com
124 N. Park Ave.
Winter Park
2. The Ravenous Pig
theravenouspig.com
1234 N. Orange Ave.
Winter Park
3. Luma on Park
lumaonpark.com
290 S. Park Ave.
Winter Park
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Best Restaurant in Seminole County
1. Hollerbach's Willow Tree Café
willowtreecafe.com
205 E. First St.
Sanford
2. FishBones
fishbonesorlando.com
7005 County Road 46A
Lake Mary
3. Enzo’s on the Lake
enzos.com
1130 S. U.S. Highway 17-92
Longwood
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Best Restaurant to Seal the Deal
1. Seasons 52
seasons52.com
463 E. Altamonte Drive
Altamonte Springs
7700 W. Sand Lake Road
Orlando
2. Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster
christnersprimesteakandlobster.com
729 Lee Road
Orlando
3. Hillstone
hillstone.com
215 S. Orlando Ave.
Winter Park
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Best Dinner Show
1. Medieval Times
medievaltimes.com
4510 W. Vine St.
Kissimmee
2. Sleuth’s Mystery
Dinner Shows
sleuths.com
8267 International Drive
Orlando
3. Pirate’s Dinner
Adventure
piratesdinneradventure.com
6400 Carrier Drive
Orlando
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Best Watering Hole
1. Redlight Redlight Beer Parlour
redlightredlightbeerparlour.com
2810 Corrine Drive
Orlando
2. World of Beer
wobusa.com
Six Orlando-area locations
3. Wally’s
wallysonmills.com
1001 Mills Ave.
Orlando
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Best Wine Bar
1. The Wine Room on Park Avenue
thewineroomonline.com
270 S. Park Ave.
Winter Park
2. Eola Wine Company
eolawinecompany.com
136 Park Ave.
Winter Park
430 E. Central Blvd.
Orlando
3. The Vineyard
thevineyardwinebarorlando.com
4848 S. Apopka-Vineland Road
Orlando
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Best Hotel Lounge
1. Bösendorfer Lounge
theboheme.com
Grand Bohemian Hotel
325 S. Orange Ave.
Orlando
2. Rocks at The
Peabody Orlando
peabodyorlando.com
9801 International Drive
Orlando
3. The Red Fox Lounge
bestwesternwinterparkflorida.com
110 S. Orlando Ave.
Winter Park
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Best Sports Bar
1. Buffalo Wild Wings
buffalowildwings.com
Six Orlando-area locations
2. Miller’s Ale House
millersalehouse.com
Five Orlando-area locations
3. Froggers Grill & Bar
froggers.com
Three Orlando-area locations
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Best Specialty Foods Store
1. Whole Foods Market
wholefoodsmarket.com
1989 Aloma Ave.
Winter Park
8003 Turkey Lake Road
Orlando
2. Fresh Market
thefreshmarket.com
500 Dr. Phillips Blvd.
Orlando
3. Magnolia Square Market
magnoliasquaremarket.com
117 Magnolia Ave.
Sanford
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Best Wine Store
1. Total Wine
totalwine.com
2712 E. Colonial Drive
Orlando
4625 Millenia Plaza Way
Orlando
2. Tim’s Wine Market
timswine.com
Four Orlando-area locations
3. ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
abcfws.com
Multiple Orlando-area locations
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Goods & Services
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Best Day Spa
1. Primera Salon & Spa
primerasalonandspa.com
1035 Primera Blvd.
Lake Mary
2. The Spa
thespallc.com
2626 Edgewater Drive
Orlando
3. The Ritz Carlton
Orlando, Grande Lakes
ritzcarlton.com/orlando
4012 Central Florida Parkway
Orlando
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Best Workout Facility/ Gym
1. YMCA
ymcacentralflorida.com
27 Orlando-area locations
2. Planet Fitness
planetfitness.com
Multiple Orlando-area locations
3. LA Fitness
lafitness.com
Multiple Orlando-area locations
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Best Florist
1. In Bloom
inbloomflorist.com
325 W. Gore St.
Orlando
2. Lee Forrest Design
leeforrestdesign.com
51 N. Bumby Ave.
Orlando
3. Flower No. 5
flowerno5.com
1807 E. Winter Park Road Suite A
Orlando
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Best Jeweler
1. Bay Hill Jewelers
bayhilljewelers.com
7782 W. Sand Lake Road
Orlando
329 N. Park Ave.
Winter Park
2. International Diamond Center
shopidc.com
Six Orlando-area locations
3. Maitland Jewelers
maitlandjewelers.com
500 E. Horatio Ave.
Maitland
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Best Business Hotel
1. Westin Lake Mary
westinlakemary.com
2974 International Parkway
Lake Mary
2. Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando
grandbohemianhotel.com
325 S. Orange Ave.
Orlando
3. The Peabody Orlando
peabodyorlando.com
9801 International Drive
Orlando
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Best Mall
1. The Mall at Millenia
mallatmillenia.com
4200 Conroy Road
Orlando
2. The Florida Mall
simon.com
8001 S. Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando
3. Altamonte Mall
altamontemall.com
451 E. Altamonte Drive
Altamonte Springs
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Best Men’s Clothing Store
1. John Craig Clothier
johncraigclothier.com
132 Park Ave. South
Winter Park
4040 Central Florida Parkway
Orlando
2. JoS. A. Bank Clothiers
josbank.com
Five Orlando-area locations
3. Men’s Wearhouse
menswearhouse.com
Multiple Orlando-area locations
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Best Women’s Clothing Store
1. Sophie & Trey
sophieandtrey.com
136 N. 4th St., Suite 1290
Lake Mary
2. Ann Taylor Loft
loft.com
Seven Orlando-area locations
3. Macy’s
macys.com
Multiple Orlando-area locations
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Best Place to Buy Shoes
1. DSW
dsw.com
Three Orlando-area locations
2. Nordstrom
nordstrom.com
The Florida Mall
8001 S. Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando
3. Dillard’s
dillards.com
Multiple Orlando-area locations
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Best Hair Salon
1. Stella Luca
stellaluca.com
433 W. New England Ave. Suite C
Winter Park
460 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 120
Winter Park
2. SizzorS
sizzorssalon.com
269 Aulin Ave., Suite 1009
Oviedo
3. Shag’d Hair Studio
shagdhairstudio.com
1844 E. Winter Park Road, Suite B
Orlando
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Best Nail Salon
1. Nina and Holly’s
Nail Boutique
1120 W. State Road 434
Longwood
407-767-8803
2. Primera Salon & Spa
primerasalonandspa.com
1035 Primera Blvd.
Lake Mary
3. The Spa
thespallc.com
2626 Edgewater Drive
Orlando
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Best Barbershop
1. Floyd’s 99
Barbershop
floydsbarbershop.com
Three Orlando-area locations
2. Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club
kennedysbarberclub.com
Five Orlando-area locations
3. Great Clips
greatclips.com
30 Orlando-area locations
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Best Kids Daycare
1. Ladybird Academy
ladybirdacademy.com
Multiple Orlando-area locations
2. Trinity Lutheran Child Development Center
trinitydowntown.org
123 E. Livingston St.
Orlando
3. Star Child Academy
starchildacademy.com
Six Orlando-area Locations
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Best Private School, K-8
1. Park Maitland School
parkmaitland.org
1450 S. Orlando Ave.
Maitland
2. The Geneva School
genevaschool.org
2025 S.R. 436
Winter Park
3. Trinity Lutheran Church and School
trinitydowntown.org
123 E. Livingston St.
Orlando
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Best Private School, 9-12
1. Trinity Preparatory School
trinityprep.org
5700 Trinity Prep Lane
Winter Park
2. The Geneva School
genevaschool.org
2025 S.R. 436
Winter Park
3. Lake Highland Preparatory School
lhps.org
901 N. Highland Ave.
Orlando
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Best Public Golf Course
1. Dubsdread Golf Course
historicaldubsdread.com
549 W. Par St.
Orlando
2. Orange County National
ocngolf.com
16301 Phil Ritson Way
Winter Garden
3. Winter Park Country Club
winterparkcountryclub.com
761 Old England Ave.
Winter Park
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Best Private Golf Course
1. Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge
bayhill.com
9000 Bay Hill Blvd.
Orlando
2. Interlachen Country Club
interlachenccfl.com
2245 Interlachen Court
Winter Park
3. Isleworth Golf and
Country Club
isleworth.com
6100 Payne Stewart Drive
Windermere
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Best Movie Theater
1. Plaza Cinema Café 12
cobbtheatres.com
155 S. Orange Ave.
Orlando
2. Enzian
enzian.org
1300 S. Orlando Ave.
Maitland
3. Regal Winter Park
Village 20
regmovies.com
510 N. Orlando Ave.
Winter Park
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Best Local Car Dealer
1. Fields BMW
fieldsbmw.com
Three Orlando-area locations
2. David Maus Toyota
davidmaustoyota.com
1160 Rinehart Road
Sanford
3. Lexus of Orlando
lexusoforlando.com
305 N. Semoran Blvd.
Winter Park
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Best Car Repair
1. Lexus of Orlando
lexusoforlando.com
305 N. Semoran Blvd.
Winter Park
2. Kar Kare
6025 S. Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando
407-851-9370
3. Orlando Imports
orlandoimportspecialist.com
2801 E. South St.
Orlando
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Best Pool Builder
1. Signature Pools
signaturepools.com
8818 Commodity Circle
Orlando
2. Artesian Pools
artesianpools.com
7347 E. Colonial Drive
Orlando
3. Premier Pools of Central Florida
premierpoolsofcentralfl.com
4572 N. Palmetto Ave.
Winter Park
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Best Interior Designer
1. Anne Rue Interiors
annerue.com
875 Wallace Court
Lake Mary
2. Ted Maines Interiors
tedmainesinteriors.com
1030 Orange Ave.
Winter Park
3. Phil Kean Designs
philkeandesigns.com
963 Orange Ave.
Winter Park
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Best Chiropractor
1. Glenn Graham
grahamchiropractic.org
7532 W. Sand Lake Road
Orlando
2. Brad Levine
drbradlevine.com
499 E. Central Parkway
Suite 215
Altamonte Springs
3. Kersenbrock Chiropractic
lakemarybestchiropractor.com
3525 W. Lake Mary Blvd.
Suite 301
Lake Mary
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Best Optician/Optometrist
1. Eola Eyes
eolaeyes.com
519 N. Mills Ave.
Orlando
2. Eyes & Optics
eyesoptics.com
312 N. Park Ave.
Winter Park
3. Logan Eye Care
loganeyecare.com
560 Rinehart Road
Suite 100
Lake Mary
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Best Plastic Surgeon
1. Thomas Fiala
plasticsurgeryinflorida.com
220 E. Central Parkway
Suite 2020
Altamonte Springs
2. Edward Gross
wedofaces.com
1035 Primera Blvd.
Lake Mary
3. George Pope
georgepopemd.com
3872 Oakwater Circle
Orlando
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Best Veterinary Hospital
1. Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital
lochhavenvet.com
2000 N. Mills Ave.
Orlando
2. Tuskawilla Oaks Animal Hospital
tuscawillaoaksah.com
1490 Tuskawilla Road
Oviedo
3. Winter Park Animal Hospital
wpvet.com
1601 Lee Road
Winter Park
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Best Doggie Daycare
1. Dog Day Afternoon
dogdayafternoon.net
1015 Sligh Blvd.
Orlando
2. Luna’s Pet Luau
lunaspetluau.com
5013 E. Colonial Drive Orlando
3. Ranger’s Pet Outpost and Retreat
rangerspetoutpost.com
1239 Minnesota Ave.
Winter Park
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Best Bicycle Shop
1. Orange Cycle
orangecycleorlando.com
2204 Edgewater Drive
Orlando
2. David’s World Cycle
davidsworld.com
Four Orlando-area locations
3. Kyle’s Bike Shop
kylesbikeshop.net
203 N. Primrose Drive
Orlando
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Best Tattoo Parlor
1. Electric Needle Hut
114 S. Semoran Blvd., #5
Winter Park
321-972-8930
2. Rise Above
riseabovetattoo.com
1009 N. Mills Ave.
Orlando
3. Stigma
stigmatattoos.com
17 S. Orange Ave.
Orlando
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Personalities
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Favorite Athlete
1. Jameer Nelson
Orlando Magic
2. J.J. Redick
Formerly of Orlando Magic
3. Tim Tebow
New England Patriots
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Favorite Local Performer
1. Tony Brent
Outta Control Magic
Comedy Dinner Show at
WonderWorks
wonderworksonline.com
2. Mike Carr
SAK Comedy Lab
sak.com
3. John Charles
Guitarist, comedian
johncharles.com
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Favorite Local Coach
1. Adrian Heath
Orlando City Soccer Club
2. Jacque Vaughn
Orlando Magic
3. Kameel Abdurrahman
Triathlon, cycling training coach
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Favorite Community Leader
1. John Mica
U.S. Congressman
2. Buddy Dyer
Orlando Mayor
3. Teresa Jacobs
Orange County Mayor
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Favorite Pastor
1. Joel Hunter
Northland, a Church Distributed
2. David Uth
First Baptist Church of Orlando
3. David Swanson
First Presbyterian Church of Orlando
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Media
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Best Local TV Station
1. WESH-Channel 2
2. WFTV-Channel 9
3. Fox 35 WOFL
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Best TV News Team
1. Jim Payne and Martha Sugalski
WESH Channel 2
2. Bob Opsahl and Martie Salt
WFTV Channel 9
3. John Brown and Amy Kaufeldt
FOX 35
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Best Sportscaster
1. David Pingalore
WKMG-Channel 6
2. Pat Clarke
WESH-Channel 2
3. David Baumann
Brighthouse Sports Network
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Best Weather Forecaster
1. Tom Terry
WFTV-Channel 9
2. Amy Sweezey
WESH-Channel 2
3. Danny Treanor
Central Florida News 13
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Best Local Columnist
1. Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
2. Billy Manes
Orlando Weekly
3. Mike Bianchi
Orlando Sentinel
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Best Local Blogger
1. Mark Baratelli
The Daily City
thedailycity.com
2. Watch Me Eat
watch-me-eat.blogspot.com
3. Scott Joseph
Scott Joseph’s Orlando Restaurant Guide
scottjosephorlando.com
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Best LOCAL Radio Show
1. Johnny’s House
XL106.7 FM
2. The Philips Phile
Real Radio 104.1 FM
3. Monsters in the Morning
Real Radio 104.1 FM
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Best Radio Music Station
1. WMGF, 107.7 FM
2. WPOZ, Z88.3 FM
3. XL, 106.7 FM
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Potpourri
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Best Local Resort
1. The Ritz-Carlton
Orlando, Grande Lakes
ritzcarlton.com/orlando
4012 Central Florida Parkway
Orlando
2. Walt Disney World Resort
disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts
29 Orlando locations
3. Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
gaylordhotels.com
6000 W. Osceola Parkway
Kissimmee
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Best Art Gallery
1. CityArts Factory
orlandoslice.com
29 S. Orange Ave.
Orlando
2. Timothy’s Gallery
timothysgallery.com
236 N. Park Ave.
Winter Park
3. Gallery on the Edge
galleryontheedge.blogspot.com
2300 Edgewater Drive
Orlando
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Best Museum
1. Morse Museum of
American Art
morsemuseum.org
445 N. Park Ave.
Winter Park
2. Orlando Museum of Art
omart.com
2416 N. Mills Ave.
Orlando
3. Orlando Science Center
osc.org
777 E. Princeton St.
Orlando
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Best Theater Company
1. SAK Comedy Lab
sak.com
29 S. Orange Ave.
Orlando
2. Mad Cow Theatre
madcowtheatre.com
105 S. Magnolia Ave.
Orlando
3. Orlando Shakespeare Theater
orlandoshakes.org
812 E. Rollins St.
Orlando
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Best Entertainment Experience
1. Cirque du Soleil’s “La Nouba”
cirquedusoleil.com
Downtown Disney
1478 E. Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista
2. Blue Man Group
blueman.com
Universal Orlando Resort
6000 Universal Blvd.
Orlando
3. Boggy Creek Airboat Rides
bcairboats.com
2001 E. Southport Road
Kissimmee
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Best Music Venue
1. House of Blues
houseofblues.com
1490 E. Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista
2. Hard Rock Live Orlando
hardrock.com
6050 Universal Blvd.
Orlando
3. The Social
thesocial.org
54 N. Orange Ave.
Orlando
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Best Place to Get Married
1. Leu Gardens
leugardens.org
1920 N. Forest Ave.
Orlando
2. Disney’s Wedding Pavilion
disneyweddings.disney.go.com
4101 Floridian Way
Bay Lake
3. Trinity Lutheran Church
trinitydowntown.com
123 E. Livingston St.
Orlando
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Best Charity Gala
1. Runway to Hope
Pediatric Cancer Charity
runwaytohope.org
2. Headdress Ball
Hope and Help Center of Central Florida
headdressball.org
3. Man and Woman of the Year Gala
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
mwoy.org
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Best Theme Park Ride
1. The Incredible Hulk Coaster
Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure
2. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure
3. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
Universal Studios Orlando
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Best Foot Race
1. IOA Corporate 5K
2. EA SPORTS Riverside Dash
3. Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
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Best Farmers Market
1. Winter Park Farmer's Market
cityofwinterpark.org
200 W. New England Ave.
Winter Park
2. Downtown/Lake Eola Farmers Market
orlandofarmersmarket.com
E. Central Blvd & N. Eola Drive
Orlando
3. Winter Garden Farmers Market
wintergardenfarmersmarket.com
310 N. Dillard St.
Winter Garden
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Best Festival
1. Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
wpsaf.org
Winter Park
2. Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
disneyworld.disney.go.com
Orlando
3. Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival
orlandofringe.org
Loch Haven Park
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Best Restaurant in Seminole County
Whether you’re craving a dish of sauerkraut and schnitzel, or wanting a generous pour of an authentic pilsner during Oktoberfest, this is the spot that people in the know recommend for German flavors, and with good reason. Hollerbach’s has the atmosphere of a German beer hall, the cheery and very social mood called Gemütlichkeit, where fellow diners offer opinions on unfamiliar beers and waitresses ask if they can cut up your child’s bratwurst (honestly). Owners Theo and Linda Hollerbach bought the Willow Tree Café in 2001, bringing family recipes from Köln, Germany. They continue to serve chicken and pork schnitzel, veal sausage and more, along with more than 50 ales, lagers, dopplebocks and Hefeweizens, in sizes up to a 3-liter glass boot. The jokes from the brass band playing on most weekends remain as corny as ever and the crowd happily sings along just as loudly.
— Joseph Hayes
Best Women’s Clothing Store
Kristin and Ryan Shaw opened this fashionable and favored spot in 2009 with a simple but challenging goal: To sell boutique quality clothing without the boutique price. “Sophie and Trey is taken from the tagline ‘where sophistication meets trendy,’” says Kristin. “There is something for everybody.” With prices topping out at $70, the women’s retail hotspot located in downtown Lake Mary has boomed since its opening and recently made the move to a larger store one block down to accommodate an increase in stock and customers.
— Sara Lane
Favorite Local Performer
Visit tonybrent.com and even the first page will have you in stitches as you delve into the life of this local entertainer. Throughout his career, Brent has performed thousands of shows that incorporate guitar parodies, comedy and magic. His greatest accomplishment is perhaps the “Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show,” which he has performed in Orlando for 13 years. “It’s unique because it’s an improv comedy show with magic, and the audience participates,’’ he says. “That makes it different every night.” Apart from the wackiness staged at WonderWorks Orlando, Brent wears another hat—he writes children’s books and screenplays.
— Sara Lane
Favorite Local Blogger
Baratelli pretty much covers it all at thedailycity.com, which proclaims itself as “Orlando’s biz + trends + weirdness website.’’ On a recent day the write-ups ranged from a Hipster’s Weekend Guide to an update on construction of a SunRail station. There also are guides to fashion trucks, best frozen yogurt, other Orlando blogs and, of course, food trucks (Baratelli is the mastermind behind the local monthly Food Truck Bazaar). The Daily City has been dishing it all out since 2007, morphing from an arts/culture theme to one of urban life. “How long we’ve been around makes us unique, along with what we cover, which is local and non-local,’’ Baratelli says. “I’m not opposed to covering anything.”
— Sara Lane
Best Farmers Market
Staged in and around the city’s historic former train depot from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday, the Winter Park Farmers Market has grown into the number-one plant and produce market in Central Florida. The charming small-town atmosphere and locally produced products appeal to all, from families and tourists to highbrow shoppers and college students. Two of the most popular stops: the kettle corn booth, and the “Butterfly Man’s’’ table, where Lorenzo Zayas sells kits containing caterpillars destined for beauty.
— Sara Lane
