Publisher’s Letter: Dining Awards & Holiday Beginnings
It's November, Orlando!
November. The month I typically give up on my Fantasy football team’s hopes of winning the championship. November also ushers in the unofficial start to the holiday season, and Orlando has no shortage of festive, fun activities to help get those holiday feelings flowing!
This month we celebrate the 2023 Orlando magazine Dining Award winners in first, second, and third place, as voted by thousands of you, our readers, and a selection of extraordinary picks from Brendan O’Connor. Explore hundreds of restaurants in dozens of categories, all of which reside right here in Central Florida. From the best seafood restaurant (Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen) to the best service (Victoria and Albert’s) and everything in between when it comes to the Orlando dining scene, click here!
Award-winning Photo Editor Roberto Gonzalez brings Cirque du Soleil, Drawn to Life, to life as he spends an intimate afternoon with the artists and performers at one of Disney Springs most iconic attractions. Enjoy this spectacular sneak-peek at the artistry that is Drawn To Life, and the incredible performers who make this show one-of-a-kind. Next, as an ode to the late Jimmy Buffett (1946-2023), we set sail on Margaritaville at Sea’s Paradise cruise ship for an epic three-day cruise in the Bahamas, and nibble on some sponge cake while watching the sun bake.
And perhaps November also signifies the beginning of a slower, more indulgent season. In other words, it’s time to feast, Orlando! We’re starting off the holiday season with a Thanksgiving giveaway for our Central Florida readers. We’re giving away forty meals to-go from our friends at Metro Diner. Michael Donohue-Falkenstine helps us navigate Thanksgiving options at resorts, hotels, and local restaurants if you want to skip the cooking and have a good time with more than a dozen ideas.
For those looking for a festive holiday experience without traveling too far, we head to North Carolina for small-town festivities, and a romp through Charlotte with the Charlotte magazine Publisher, Andy Smith.
Now pass the cranberries!
