Erika Spence: Business in the Park

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce rang in the New Year by hosting Mayor Bradley’s final State of the City Address, taking a look at the history and celebrations in store during the Woman’s Club of Winter Park’s 100th anniversary and recognizing local businesses at the 2015 Ovations Awards Ceremony. You can see photos and highlights from these events at our website winterpark.org and on Facebook at facebook.com/winterparkchamber.

Love is in the air

We’ve turned our attention to the season of love and packed the calendar with special opportunities to share with your Valentine. First, experience the charm and romance of Park Avenue at Sip, Shop and Stroll. Discover new merchants, taste seasonal menus and shop for one-of-a-kind gifts at more than 25 locations. Tickets are $25 and include a complimentary wine glass plus appetizer and beverage pairings. Reservations are strongly encouraged and are available at ExperienceParkAvenue.com.

Then, make a date with your sweetheart for Sunday, Feb. 8, as the Park Avenue Merchants Association hosts The Sweetest Sounds: A Valentine Concert in Central Park. In celebration of the Bach Festival Society’s 80th annual Bach Festival, members of the Bach Festival Choir will join Michael Andrew and Swingerhead for an afternoon of music and romance. The free event will take place at the Central Park stage from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Come early, bring a picnic blanket and stay afterwards for dinner on the Avenue at one of our event supporters, including 310 Park South, Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine, Cocina 214, or Pannullo’s Italian Restaurant.

Sandwiched between these two Valentine favorites is the Chamber’s annual Membership Awards Celebration presented by CenturyLink and HUB International Florida Kuykendall Gardner. The evening is a tribute to the members and volunteers who make our organization and community so remarkable. This year we are proud to honor David McGuffin, president/CEO of The Mayflower Retirement Community, as the Lydia Gardner Citizen of the Year for his many years of service and contributions to Winter Park. Join us in showing some love to David and our outstanding members on Friday, Feb. 6, at The Alfond Inn.

Be mine

Whether it’s the Sweetheart Latte at Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen or the super cute Love Bug doughnuts at Krispy Kreme, everyone seems to have a special treat this season. I’m looking forward to the handmade creations that are sure to come home from pre-school. For those that are not as crafty as my kids, here are some other ways to say, “Be Mine,” this Valentine’s Day.

Sweets are an obvious choice for Valentine’s Day. Peterbrooke Chocolatier, Kilwin’s Chocolates and Winter Park Chocolate are all great choices for chocolate creations. For desserts, our Ovations voters also loved B Cupcakes and the ever-so-tempting choices at The Sweet Shop at 4 Rivers Smokehouse.

The wise ones say that diamonds are a girl’s best friends. Shop local with jewelers at Simmons, Bay Hill or Be on Park and discover some stunning jewelry. Or check out accessories from Through the Looking Glass and Ten Thousand Villages. Park Avenue and Winter Park Village are both packed gifts that are sure to please.

And while glitz and glam are always a big hit, the way to a man’s heart is still through his stomach. A romantic dinner for two can be found around town. From Luma on Park to Hamilton’s Kitchen, our local restaurateurs aim to please this Valentine’s Day weekend. Reservations are sure to fill up quickly as the holiday falls on Saturday evening, so call ahead and ask about Valentine specials.

Show some love to local charities

And finally, the Rotary Club of Winter Park presents the annual Chili for Charity event on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at the Winter Park Farmers’ Market. From 5:30 to 8 p.m. guests can sample a variety of chili creations, all with a Winter Park attitude, from local restaurants, caterers and even submissions from local businesses. Event highlights include live music, silent auction and prizes for the chili entrants. Net proceeds will be distributed to Winter Park charities through the Rotary Club’s foundation later this year. Tickets and information can be found online at chiliforcharity.org or search for the event on Facebook.

Erika Spence is the senior director of marketing and communications at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.