Calendar of events

FEBRUARY

COCINA 214 wants to raise a glass to National Margarita Day on Wednesday, Feb. 22. For the entire month of February, COCINA 214 will be offering customers who spend $25 or more in a participating Winter Park business a free frozen or rocks margarita, redeemable with a purchase of an entrée. Visit winterpark.org

ArtsFest is Feb. 1-29. All 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.

FEB. 9

The inaugural Sweet Wars is from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, at Indigo Palms at 740 N. Wymore Road in Maitland. Sample an array of delicious desserts and vote on the best. Guest judges are Johnny Magic of XL106.7, Ted Noah of News Channel 13 and Kevin & Jami Wray of Peterbrooke Chocolatier. Tickets are $10 and benefit the American Heart Association in honor of National Heart Month. Tickets are limited and may be purchased at the event. For more information, contact [email protected] or 407-514-1330.

The Maitland Public Library will hold “Asthma and Allergies - A Natural Approach,” an informational workshop that presents natural solutions to breathing problems that are caused by asthma and allergies. The workshop educates you about the natural ways to prevent and reduce asthma attacks and other breathing problems. The dates for the events will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays on Feb. 9, March 8 and March 15.

The Central Florida Anthropological Society presents "The Evolutionary Antecedents of Obesity: Why We Are Fat Now" by Dr. Leslie Sue Lieberman, professor emerita of anthropology at the University of Central Florida. It will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, at Harry P. Leu Gardens at 1920 N. Forest Ave. in Orlando. It is free and open to the public. Contact [email protected] or 321-948-3994.

Five writers from across the U.S. 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 the Bush Auditorium of Rollins College on four consecutive Thursdays, starting promptly at 7:30 p.m. Romanian poet Mihaela Moscaliuc will speak on Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Auditorium, along with Poet Ilya Kaminsky. Poet and best-selling novelist Paula McLain will speak on Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Auditorium. Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie will speak on Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Auditorium. Visit rollins.edu/winterwiththewriters

The Breakthrough Theatre will present its annual “Best of Broadway” musical revue from Feb. 9-20. This year's revue will feature songs from the years 1990-1994. Shows represented include “Aspects of Love”, “City of Angels”, “Gypsy”, “Sweeney Todd” and “Miss Saigon”. The show dates are Thursday-Monday, Feb. 9-13, and Thursday-Monday, Feb. 16-20. It will also be shown at 8 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, as well as Sundays at 3 p.m. General admission is $18. The Breakthrough Theatre is located at 419A W. Fairbanks Ave. in Winter Park.

FEB. 10

The historic Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College produces “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” by Steve Martin, Feb. 10-18. Tickets are $20, or $10 with a student ID. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 407-646-2145 or visit rollins.edu/annierusssell

Art & History Museums - Maitland (A&H) presents Culture & Cocktails on Friday, Feb. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m., both inside and outside of the Museum’s Germaine Marvel Building, located at 210 W. Packwood Ave. in Maitland. Three talented artists, Cherie Dacko, Cake Marques, and Tracy Burke, are featured at February’s event. Admission is $5, which includes one drink ticket. Visit www.ArtandHistory.org or phone 407-539-2181.

At noon on Friday, Feb. 10, there will be a brown bag matinee of “Liquid Stone: Unlocking Gaudi’s Secrets” at the Morse Museum, located at Hugh F. and Jeannette G. McKean Pavilion, at 161 W. Canton Ave. Admission is free. Later in the day, there will be a free flute and guitar performance by the Romanze Duo from 5 to 8 p.m.

FEB. 11

Welcoming members and non-members from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, the Orlando Florida Blue Health Fair is offering attendees free health screenings at Florida Blue at Winter Park Village, located at 434 N. Orlando Ave. in Winter Park.

Come and learn what educated women do today at the American Association of University Women breakfast meeting at the First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 225 S. Interlachen Avenue in Winter Park. It will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11. Contact Rosemary Vendena, 407-282-1023 by Feb. 8 to make a reservation.

FEB. 12

The University Club of Winter Park will be hosting a February reception featuring artist Rich Franco from 12-4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12. He has been a photographer for more than 20 years and has traveled the U.S. and the Caribbean, producing images for Travel, Leisure, Food & Wine, Gourmet, and other publications. He has taught basic digital photography and basic computer techniques, and has resided in Maitland for 30 years. Admission is free. Contact 407-644-6149 or visit www.universityclubwinterpark.org

FEB. 14

Feb. 14 through Feb. 3, of next year, the Morse Museum will feature a presentation titled “Watercolors of Otto Heinigke – A Glass Artist’s Palette”. This selection of more than 30 watercolors from the Morse Museum’s collection of works by American glass designer and artist Otto Heinigke (1850-1915) includes serene scenes ranging from middle-Atlantic farms and forests to ocean and river shorelines. They have never before been exhibited. Heinigke was a first-generation American and a principal in the prominent Brooklyn stained-glass firm Heinigke and Bowen, whose commissions included the Library of Congress. The artist, whose German-trained father painted miniatures, began his career as an easel painter and spent much of his leisure time painting landscapes and still lifes.

Join the Goldenrod Chamber of Commerce at 11:45 a.m. on Valentines Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Goldenrod Station, located at 4755 N. Palmetto Ave. in Winter Park, for the monthly chamber luncheon. They will have Metro Crime Prevention of Florida speaking on credit card fraud, how to keep your accounts safe and general safety information. The cost of the luncheon is $10 per person and all are welcome to attend. Contact the Chamber at 407-677-5980 for your reservations today.

FEB. 15

American Association of Individual Investors, Central Florida Chapter, will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the University Club of Winter Park located at 841 N. Park Ave. in Winter Park. Check-in begins at 6:30 p.m. and the speaker begins at 7 p.m. Pre-registered price is $5 for AAII members or $7 for non-members or $10 at the door for everyone. For more information visit www.aaii.com or call 407-644-1607

The University Club of Winter Park will be hosting its “Trivia 4 U” event from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 15. Visit www.universityclubwinterpark.org or call 407-644-6149.

FEB. 16

Balancing Hormones Naturally will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb.16, at the Maitland Public Library at 501 S. Maitland Avenue in Maitland. This is an informative and practical workshop that will arm you with ways to improve your health at home without potentially dangerous Hormone Replacement Therapy. This workshop is also an excellent source of information about MS, Peri-Menopause, Menopause and Post-Menopause. Call 407-644-7700. It will be at the Seminole County Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 22, and again at the Maitland Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 29.

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center presents “How Children Become Upstanders.” As part of the Center’s commitment to educating the community through its UpStanders: Stand Up to Bullying initiative, this presentation will look at the dynamics of bystander behavior and identify ways to help children safely intervene when they witness bullying. The forum is at the Center at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16.

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., in Winter Park. For more information, visit CasaFeliz.us or call 407-628-8200 ext. 3. Upcoming performances include: 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. 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. For more information, call 407-539-2181 or visit ArtandHistory.org

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]

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 4-8 p.m. through April 27. Occasional programs include live music, art demonstrations, curator tours and family tours. Visit morsemuseum.org

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” through April 15. It provides visitors with behind-the-scene access into the International Harp Museumís 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 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 (Feb. 5) and at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9. Tickets are $38 evening / $35 senior evening / $28 matinees / $20 industry professionals and students 25 and younger.

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 through 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. 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 at 2:30 p.m. on select Wednesdays in the Jeannette G. and Hugh F. McKean Pavilion, 161 W. Canton Ave., just behind the museum.

Laughter Yoga, a gentle aerobic exercise that blends laughter with yoga-style breathing, is held at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays and at 7 p.m. on Thursdays 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 Avenue 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.

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center’s exhibit “BESA: A Code of Honor” will be at the Center until the end of March. It 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.

The Art & History Museums & Maitland (A&H) proudly features the work of artist Molly Chism in the upcoming Exhibition EMERGE! Molly Chism through April 15. The exhibition is held in the Maitland Art Center Galleries, 231 W. Packwood Ave. in Maitland.

The Winter Park Public Library is partnering with AARP to provide free tax help to people of all ages this tax season every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. through April 17 in the Library’s second floor literacy training room. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/taxhelpwp

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