Josh Garrick: Culture for Your Calendar

Two weeks left – Truly Magical Dining Month

Foodie Alert! – September is Orlando’s Magical Dining Month, and you do not want to miss the opportunity to visit more than 75 restaurants serving up big savings this month. Many of our finest restaurants are serving three-course dinners for $33. My personal favorite so far – Eddie V’s on Sand Lake Road. So wonderful I went back twice. A full list of restaurants and menus is available at OrlandoMagicalDining.com

Now through Sept. 21 – Cirque du Soleil presents ‘Varekai’

From a group of 20 street performers in 1984, Cirque du Soleil has grown into a multi-national company with 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from 50 different countries. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Cirque brings “Varekai” to the Amway Center from Sept. 17 to 21. “Varekai” picks up where the Icarus legend leaves off. Parachuted (as only Cirque can) into a magical forest, a young man learns to take flight again. Visit cirquedusoleil.com. For tickets, visit amwaycenter.com, Ticketmaster.com, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Tonight – Sept. 18 to Oct. 11 - Donna Dowless presents ‘Dresses: Objects of Art’

An opening reception will be held for “Dresses: Objects of Art,” an exhibit produced by artist Donna Dowless, featuring painting, sculpture, and mixed-media works. “Dresses” will open tonight, Sept.18, at 6 p.m. with the public invited to the Gallery at Avalon Island. Visit galleryatavalonisland.com or call 407-257-2415.

Sept. 19 to Nov. 10 – Taste your way around the world at EPCOT

Take your family (and your taste-buds) on an adventure of food and wines at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival from Sept. 19 to Nov. 10. Each fall, Disney’s EPCOT offers the flavors of 30 global marketplaces along with cooking demos, tastings, wine-pairings, and decadent desserts. Meet and talk with celebrity chefs as you sample, sip and learn. Then – each evening – visitors end their day with a live performance by chart topping bands, ranging from the Pointer Sisters to Smash Mouth. Visit disneyworld.disney.go.com

Sept. 19 – Curator Noel Smith speaks at Art & History Museums – Maitland

Inspired by the exhibition “Lengua Materna” at A&H’s Maitland Art Center, Noel Smith will examine the visions of Hispanic artists in today’s art world at noon on Sept. 19. Ms. Smith is curator of Latin American and Caribbean art, and curator of education for the Institute for Research in Art: Contemporary Art Museum and Graphicstudio at the University of South Florida. “Lengua Materna,” Maitland Art Center’s current exhibit, features work created by artists of Hispanic descent. Visit artandhistory.org/lengua-materna or call 407-539-2181.

Sept. 20 – Opening night 2014 for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra

In a season in which the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s search for a new music director has chosen five finalists, the orchestra offers one more brilliantly strategic move as each of the finalists conducts a classical program during the season. Mexican-born Alondra de la Parra will conduct opening night. “The Paris Symphony” captures the genius of a 22-year-old Mozart and speaks to the young Mahler’s “First Symphony,” in which he discovers his musical voice. Beginning at 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 at the Bob Carr PAC, visit orlandophil.org

Sept. 20 – Headdress Ball XXV! A benefit for the Hope and Help Center

Headdress Ball is proud to be Orlando’s “most outrageous black tie event” – an evening of lively entertainment, food, drinks and visual masterpieces. This is the 25th annual Headdress with the event having evolved into a no-holds-barred Vegas production to help the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida, which saves lives by treating and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. Ninety cents of every dollar goes directly to client services at Hope and Help. For tickets, call 407-645-2577 or visit headdressball.org

Sept. 20 to Jan. 4 – ‘Bats: Myths and Mysteries’ at the Science Center

At “Bats: Myths and Mysteries,” the new exhibit at the Orlando Science Center, visitors will see 30 of the flying creatures of the night (safely enclosed) including African fruit bats, Asian fruit bats, leaf nosed bats, and a local variety called ‘the big brown bat’ – for real. Guests may try a pair of giant bat ears to experience the sensitivity of bat hearing, and search for replica bats concealed in a variety of habitats. Visitosc.org

Sept. 20 – Orlando Museum of Art Film Series

The Orlando Museum of Art’s Film Series presents a romp through the art scene of the ’60s. Centered on the outrageous life of Henry Geldzahler, the Metropolitan Museum curator who championed the careers of Andy Warhol and his contemporaries, “Who Gets to Call it Art” is a fascinating look at mid-20th century American art. The film begins at 1 p.m. on Sept. 20. Admission is free. Call 407-896-4231, ext. 262.

Sept. 21 – Seminole Harley Owners Bike Run for the Zoo

Beginning at the Winter Springs VFW and ending at the Central Florida Zoo, the Seminole Harley Owners will hold a bike run to support the Zoo’s American Bald Eagle Aerie on Sept. 21. The Seminole Harley Owners have maintained the aerie for the public since July 4, 1992 and were given the honor of naming the first eagles – Harley and Davidson – who were rescued at the zoo. All proceeds go directly to the care and feeding of these majestic symbols of freedom. Call 386-837-1157 or 386-847-4075.

Sept. 25 – Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff at City Hall

We are all invited to join Mayor Buddy Dyer and Commissioner Tony Ortiz at the city of Orlando’s eighth annual Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff. The free event celebrates Florida’s rich Hispanic heritage and will feature an art exhibit of Latin American artists. The Kickoff will be held in the City Hall rotunda beginning at 5 p.m. and will include a city proclamation, live entertainment and a ribbon cutting ceremony. Call 407-254-4652 or email [email protected]

Sept. 25 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Art for Generations at the Mayflower

In celebration of Active Aging Week, the Mayflower Retirement Community in Winter Park will host a juried art show featuring creative works by older adults. The Art for Generations event is free and open to the public. Artists at least 55 years of age have submitted original entries in painting, 3-D, mixed media, and photography. Set for Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visit the Mayflower Retirement Community at 1620 Mayflower Court in Winter Park. Visit themayflower.com/artshow

Now – When kids have no food, we have no choice

Today, we share the awful statistic that 187,940 children struggle with hunger in our community — an 8.9 percent increase over last year. In response to the growing need, the Winter Park community is renewing its effort to end hunger through Feed the Need – an unprecedented community effort to raise funds for Second Harvest Food Bank. The time is now. Please help by making a donation, starting a food drive, hosting an event, or providing a raffle prize. Ready to sign up? Email Ashley Ringler at [email protected]. Community champions who sign up by Oct. 4 will be recognized at the kickoff on Oct. 31 at City Hall. For Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, call 407-295-1066.