Culture Worthy of your Calendar

Some of the most spectacular tablescapes ever to inspire shouts of “Opa” are being created as a benefit for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, and Friday, Feb. 3, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, we are invited to tour these amazing tables, enjoy a Greek pastry, and raise money for Ronald McDonald House. Last year’s tables included a handmade ‘love boat’ and a 10-year tribute table to honor the firefighters who died on Sept. 11. This is the perfect exhibit for decorating fanatics, brides-to-be, wedding planners and interior designers. After we tour the tables we can shop in the Aegean Market Place for Greek pastries, desserts and specialty coffees. Take-home appetizers, meals and gifts are available. Admission for the tour is $10, which includes a Greek pastry. For tickets, call Joyce Yarbrough at 407-774-2744. The event will be held at the Holy Trinity Conference Center, 1217 Trinity Woods Lane in Maitland.

The musical rites of spring

Works by visionary composers will be performed by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra when Maestro Christopher Wilkins leads the Orchestra in a Legendary Composers concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Bob Carr PAC in Orlando. The entire course of musical history changed when the world accepted the genius of Beethoven. His “6th Symphony (the Pastorale)” joins Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring”, which changed ballet music forever. “These works represent two opposing views of nature: one bucolic, the other utterly terrifying,” says Maestro Wilkins. “Beethoven's ‘Pastorale’ symphony is one of the most enticing musical landscapes in history, while ‘The Rite of Spring’ seems more like the eruption of a volcano.” Even those unfamiliar with orchestral music will recognize the works from Disney’s 1940 animated film “Fantasia”. Call 407-770-0071, or visit www.orlandophil.org

Faces of HIV: Exhibit

The Florida Department of Health recently unveiled Faces of HIV, a project that tells the stories of Florida residents living with HIV through portraits, interviews and personal journals. The ‘art exhibit on wheels’ will be at the University of Central Florida, 400 Central Florida Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, and Downtown Orlando at Lake Eola Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb 4. Portrait participants address how they dealt with the diagnosis as well as their relationships, effects of HIV on the body and more. This uniquely personal glimpse into the lives of those living with HIV was created to promote awareness and understanding. Visit www.wemakethechange.com/faces

Molly Chism at Art & History Museums - Maitland

The new exhibit at Art & History Museums – Maitland (A&H) will present the work of artist Molly Chism in an exhibit titled “EMERGE!” Opening from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, and continuing through April 15, the exhibit will be presented in the Maitland Art Center Galleries at 231 W. Packwood Ave. in Maitland. Chism, a former Artist-in-Action at the A&H, is a graduate of the University of Central Florida. She has exhibited her ‘emotionally-charged,’ dream-like landscape paintings across Florida. Call 407-539-2181 or visit ArtandHistory.org

Writers at Rollins

Five writers will visit Rollins College in February as part of the Winter with the Writers Festival of the Literary Arts. The free talks are open to the public and will take place in Rollins’ Bush Auditorium on four Thursdays, beginning Feb. 2. A highlight of the series is three-time Pulitzer Prize-nominee Carl Hiaasen on Feb. 2. Readings begin at 7:30 p.m. and free parking is available in the SunTrust Garage. Speakers include Mihaela Moscaliuc and Ilya Kaminsky on Feb. 9, Paula McLain on Feb. 16, and Chimamanda Adichie on Feb 23. Visit rollins.edu/winterwiththewriters

Josh Garrick is a writer, photographer, educator, and fine art curator. He is a member of the Curatorial Council for the Museum of Florida Art. Garrick can be reached at [email protected] or 407-522-3906.