Calendar of events

VOTING

Early voting continues in Orange County through Saturday, Jan. 28; Election Day is Tuesday, Jan. 31. Ten centers are available to eligible voters including the Winter Park Library, 460 E. New England Ave., Winter Park (10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day). Visit www.orangecountyvotes.com for more information.

JAN. 26

Don’t miss a special Sundance Film Festival USA screening of “Arbitrage” starring Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth and Brit Marling at the Enzian Theater at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26. As part of the evening, Brit Marling is introducing the film and conducting a live Q&A with the audience. This event is sold out. A limited number of stand-by tickets may be available on the day of event at 5 p.m. Visit Enzian.org

JAN. 27

The SunRail groundbreaking ceremony is 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 27, at the future home of the Altamonte Springs SunRail Station at the corner of State Road 436 and Ronald Reagan Boulevard. For details call 407-487-4035 or email [email protected]

The C-SPAN Campaign 2012 Bus stops at the Rollins College Student Union from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, on its “Road to the White House” tour.

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce will host a Membership Awards Celebration presented by Bright House Networks and Kuykendall Gardner at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27. Join us as we celebrate our members, who are our most valuable asset, at Full Sail Live, located at 141 University Park Drive in Winter Park. We will also honor Congressman John Mica as Winter Park's Citizen of the Year. The cost is $75 for individuals and $575 for a corporate table for eight. Reserve your seat or corporate table today. Visit WinterPark.org

Eatonville will host the ZORA! Festival 2012 from Friday, Jan. 27, through Sunday, Jan. 29. The festival is an amalgam of arts education, visual arts, and performing arts.

Programming is available for all ages and backgrounds.

The schedule of events includes “Education Day,” to be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday. Another event to be featured is “Keeping It Real: Hip-Hop Culture and Community,” an open-air forum encouraging dialogue between young and old, from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be a Performance Stage concert from 6 to 9 p.m. Paid admission is required.

From 9 a.m. to 9 pm. on Saturday, “Family Day” will be held. There will be a Performance Stage concert from 6 to 9 p.m. on this day as well. Paid admission is required. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, “Inspiration Day” will be held.

Visit zorafestival.com for more information.

Laughter Yoga, a gentle aerobic exercise that blends laughter with yoga-style breathing, is held Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Enjoy an improved mood and a positive attitude, decreased stress, improved interpersonal relationships and being healthy. It is located at 3377 Aloma Ave. in Winter Park.

It is open to participants ages 12 and older and is funded through the Winter Park Health Foundation. Call 407-671-4300 for more information.

JAN. 28

The National Kidney Foundation of Florida will conduct a free health screening for people at increased risk for kidney disease on Jan. 28, at the Winter Park Community Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The screening is part of the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP), designed to identify and educate people at risk: Those with diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease.

Come down to Shipyard Brew Pub on Saturday, Jan. 28, and help celebrate their one-year anniversary. There will be 50 percent off food and drinks, live outdoor music, a beer garden and much more. Visit tinyurl.com/Shipyard-Brew-Pub for more information.

Keith Sweat will be performing live in concert on the Performance Stage in Eatonville at the Robert Hungerford High School Athletic field at the ZORA! Festival. He will perform from 6 to 9 pm. on Saturday, Jan. 28. Visit zorafestival.com for more information.

JAN. 29

The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park presents Manhattan Brass at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29. The acclaimed Manhattan Brass is best known for its innovative programming, dynamic performances, varied, eye-opening repertoire and commitment to educating audiences of all ages about live music and the brass idiom. It is part of the Visiting Artists series and will be held at the Tiedtke Concert Hall. Tickets range from $30 to $40. Visit www.BachFestivalFlorida.org for more information.

The Florida Opera Theatre, in collaboration with St. Augustine and Vero Beach Opera, will present Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29. It will be presented at the Valencia Community College East Campus Performing Arts Center, located at 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail in Orlando. Call 407-872-2382 to order tickets or buy them at RedChairProject.tix.com

The Peachy Keen Porcelain Art Show will be held from Sunday, Jan. 29, through Tuesday, Jan. 31, at the Bahia Shrine Center located at 2300 Pembrook Drive in Orlando. The show features two world-renowned guest artists from Switzerland: Peter Faust and Harun Aschrafi. Both are highly regarded for the creativity and style they bring to porcelain painting. Hours are from 4 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 30, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 31. Admission cost is $3. For anyone who has never experienced porcelain art, this is a wonderful place to start. Visit flwocp.com for more information.

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center will be hosting a reception for the opening of their new exhibit “BESA: A Code of Honor”. The event will be held at the Center at 851 N. Maitland Ave. in Maitland at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29, and will be co-hosted by the Islamic Society of Central Florida. The reception will include the screening of a brief film and a presentation by Imam Muhammad Musri about the concept of “besa”. The exhibit, which will be at the Center until the end of March, offers a glimpse into the lives of a people whose commitment to their faith requires them to act unselfishly even under the most dire circumstances.

FEB. 1

United Arts kicks off its annual fundraising campaign with ArtsFest, happening Feb. 1 though 29. All ArtsFest events are free and open to the public, although some offerings have limited seating and capacity, which are referred to as “Tickets Are Limited” events.

Visit ArtsFestFL.com for more information.

The Winter Park Institute presents Pat Metheny’s "Career Retrospective" at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at Rollins College at the Keene Concert Hall. “An Evening with Pat Metheny: Music and Dialogue” will be hosted at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2. The 18-time Grammy Award-winning jazz guitarist, composer and sound innovator will discuss his 40-year music career, highlighting his innovations and influence on modern music. All WPI events are free and open to the public, and no tickets are required. Parking is available in the SunTrust parking garage on Lyman Avenue. For more information, visit rollins.edu/wpi

The University Club of Winter Park will host “Trivia 4 U” on Feb. 1 and 15 at 7 p.m. Attendance is free, but donations are accepted. For more information, call 407-644-6149 or visit universityclubwinterpark.org

FEB. 2

Five writers from across the United States will take part in this year’s “Winter With the Writers,” A Festival of the Literary Arts. The event is free to all and will take place in Rollins’ Bush Auditorium on four consecutive Thursdays, starting promptly at 7:30 p.m., beginning Feb. 2. Three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Carl Hiaasen will speak on Thursday, Feb. 2, at the Bush Auditorium. Romanian poet Mihaela Moscaliuc will speak on Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Bush Auditorium, along with Poet Ilya Kaminsky.

Poet and best-selling novelist Paula McLain will speak on Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Bush Auditorium. Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie will speak on Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Bush Auditorium. Visit rollins.edu/winterwiththewriters for more information.

The Orange County Retired Educators Association will meet at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, for a Pot-Luck Luncheon at College Park United Methodist Church, located at 644 W. Princeton St. in Orlando. Visit ocrea-fl.org or call 407-677-0446 for more information. Anyone who has worked in education is invited to join.

The Jewish Pavilion is providing a free “Medication Management” workshop for volunteers and community members on at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, at Colonial Medical, located at 614 E. Altamonte Drive in Altamonte Springs. Hank and Bonnie Charpentier from Partners in Health Care, a silver sponsor of the Pavilion will lead this informative seminar. RSVP to Wendy Levine at the Pavilion office 407-678-9363 or e-mail [email protected].

ONGOING

The Winter Park Farmers’ Market is held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday. It is located at the old train depot, at 200 W. New England Ave. For more information, visit CityofWinterPark.org

The Maitland Farmers’ Market is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday. It is Located at Lake Lily Park. For more information, visit ItsMyMaitland.com or call 407-539-6268.

Food Truck Café is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Wednesday at Lake Lily Park in Maitland.

The Winter Park Food Truck Stop is located at 1127 N. Orlando Ave. in Winter Park, and is open for food trucks 24/7. Follow the site on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/FoodTruckStop

“Music at the Casa” is a free weekly open house from noon to 3 p.m. on Sundays, featuring live performances and tours of the historic Casa Feliz, at 656 N. Park Ave. For more information, visit CasaFeliz.us or call 407-628-8200 ext. 3. Upcoming performances include: The Maple Leaf Trio “Young Musicians Sunday” on Jan. 29, Catherine Way on Feb. 5, Lisa Ferrigno on Feb. 12, Peter Thatcher on Feb. 19, and Shannon Caine of Beautiful Music on Feb. 26.

Maitland’s Culture and Cocktails takes place the second Friday of every month until April, both inside and outside of the Maitland Art Center’s Germaine Marvel Building, located at 210 W. Packwood Ave. Guests are sure to enjoy this evening of art, music, poetry, food and fun. For more information, call 407-539-2181 or visit ArtandHistory.org. The schedule includes artists Cherie Dacko, Cake Marques and Tracy Burke, performing 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, as well as artist Andrew Spear, performing 6-9 p.m. Friday, April 13.

The second Friday of every month local residents will have the opportunity to meet the artists, enjoy live music and performances, while experiencing art and culture at the Maitland Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact [email protected]

The Art & History Museums – Maitland invites you to come and explore as it presents “Borders of Paradise: The New World in the Eyes of Explorers” through Feb. 26 at the Maitland Historical Museum, located at 221 W. Packwood Ave. in Maitland. Call 407-539-2181 or visit ArtandHistory.org

Friday Nights at the Morse features free admission to the Morse Museum on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. through April 27. Occasional programs include live music, art demonstrations, curator tours and family tours. Visit MorseMuseum.org for details.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays in January at Morse Museum, there are Curator tours of the new Tiffany wing from 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Space is limited and there are no advance reservations. Curator tours are available on a first-come first-served basis and are free with the price of admission.

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida has launched a new project to provide adults with an opportunity to share ideas in an informal environment. Beginning in January, community members are invited to participate in a bimonthly book club focused on literature related to the Center’s mission. All book club meetings will be held in the library of the Holocaust Center, located at 851 N. Maitland Ave. in Maitland. There is no cost to participate in the book club, but RSVPs to the Holocaust Center are appreciated. Contact us at 407-628-0555 or [email protected]

Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens presents “Artful Strings: Four Centuries of Harp Making” Jan. 17 through April 15. It provides visitors with behind-the-scene access into the International Harp Museum’s collection of rare and visually striking harps from antique to contemporary pieces. The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, located at 633 Osceola Ave. inWinter Park, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call 407-647-6294 or visit polasek.org

Self-taught and nationally recognized African-American artist “Missionary” Mary Proctor will speak at the opening reception for an exhibit of her highly distinctive work. The exhibit will be open through Saturday, April 21, and will be hosted at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center in Winter Park. The exhibit will showcase work from Proctor’s personal collection in Tallahassee, as well as the permanent collection from the Mennello Museum of American Art. The exhibit will culminate with the third Annual Hannibal Square Heritage Center Folk Art and Traditional Craft Festival on Saturday, April 21.

The Winter Park Playhouse proudly presents the professional Central Florida premiere of the hit off-Broadway musical comedy “I Love You Because – A Modern-Day Musical Love Story,” running through Feb. 11. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, at 2 p.m. select Sundays (Jan. 29 and Feb. 5) and at 2 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 9). Tickets are $38 evening / $35 senior evening / $28 matinees / $20 industry professionals and students 25 and younger.

The Breakthrough Theatre will present the Mark Medoff play, “Children of a Lesser God,” through Feb. 5. It is a love story about a speech teacher who falls for a beautiful yet distant deaf girl in a small New England school for the deaf, and the obstacles that they face due to their differences. Show times are Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., and also Thursday, Feb. 2, at 8 p.m.

The EGAD! Art lab will be hosting an Art Exhibition titled “No Stone Unturned,” which is an exhibit of photography by Observer culture columnist Josh Garrick. The exhibit will be open from Jan. 20 to Feb.12. It is located at 1405 Highland Ave. in Melbourne.

Three of today’s most noted American scholars in the fields of architecture and decorative arts will provide their insights into the splendor and mystery of Laurelton Hall, the most personal project of Tiffany’s career, at the Morse Museum. The speakers include art historian Martin Eidelberg on Feb. 22, and architectural historian Richard Guy Wilson on March 28. Admission is free. The lectures are being held on select Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. in the Jeannette G. and Hugh F. McKean Pavilion, 161 W. Canton Ave., just behind the museum.

Visit wpmobserver.com/events for more details. Send submissions to [email protected]