Stylin' Park Avenue

There’s a crisp coolness in the air and it is definitely perking up my spirit.

Today on facebook I pondered whether the City of Winter Park OR the Chamber of Commerce’s check had cleared overnight . . . . today was spectacular and I delighted a bit that the highest I ever noticed an outside temperature from my car was about 84 degrees. As I type, my windows are open and I feel a light breeze, hear the constant hum of some insect creature enjoying the darkness just beyond.

THIS, to me, is called the welcome door mat to the sweet spot of the year: Come on in.

Gladly.

This is going to largely be about one specific event and my planned activities tomorrow, SO, before getting into that, I’d just like to publicly say: Happy Birthday, Hiddy B! Hiddy B is actually Katie, our now 10 year old fawn Boxer. She has always been Alpha off the chain, but this dog has chilled a bit, gotten funny with age. Oh, she will still put other dogs in their place when miffed, but she is the most AWESOME dog I have ever seen with children. She ADORES them. Likewise, our neighbor, Mr. Elliott, of Cottrell’s 5 & 10 fame, who just celebrated his own 85th birthday on Monday, makes her so happy she often rolls over at his feet and proceeds to pee on herself. That’s not a senility move, THAT is what she does when she REALLY LUVs you. Hiddy B is, actually, an adaption of Hideous Beast, one of the earliest nicknames which stuck and truly fit her. Then, after her juvenile delinquent years she mellowed, became sweet, crazy in a most wonderful way. Happy Birthday, Hiddy . . . hope you LUVed your birthday steak as much as it appeared!

One other QUICK note – I PROMISE. Parker is scheduled to arrive back in town in the next few days. Winter Park’s own BIG BIRD will be on North Park Avenue this weekend from around at least noon to two. Come on out for the Winter Park Autumn Arts Festival and bring the kids . . . . they tend to like this very large headed, ground-restricted bird.

Okay, so last night I head out to the cocktail and fashion extravaganza at Tuni. I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect, I guess, but what I found was a terrific little taste of all the best I could have imagined. Retail can be a competitive enterprise, no question, but I will tell you that no matter the Local individual I have ever spoken with, this store, its namesake and staff are always well regarded, revered for the amazing job they do. Having said that, I was not as aware they can throw a cool party.

I come down Park Avenue and I see people stacked up against the front windows. Models, of course. And looking through my photos this evening, these guys were even better than I thought . . . . always on cue, showcasing their look.

Inside there was great music, delicious food & drinks and a stylish crowd, including designers, models AND shoppers. I was actually a tad surprised by how many people I did see actually SHOPPING. As saddled with ADD as I am, I can only handle a few things a time! The crowd was friendly and it was nice that early on there was the woman I always need close to the shoe section to explain to me just how women pull off their footwear – ‘oh, it’s easier than you think’ she tells me – and a guy I had to thank initially for ensuring I wasn’t the only one in the crowd.

I met some new Tuni staff, had a nice chat with Paige Blackwelder and Kristina Mackinder and others, including the Park Avenue Fashion Week emerging designers I will be writing about in my Winter Park Maitland Observer column next week. I won’t go into it too much here, but this is definitely the sort of thing that’s right up my alley and their enthusiasm and excitement made it all that much better.

So much work goes into these events, so much preparation and effort, it’s great to see a good crowd out enjoying them. Back when I worked for GTE Wireless / Verizon, I organized a number of national meetings for the various groups I worked for and while the work is rewarding, and the success of an event a triumph, when YOU are the organizer, the initial aftermath can be a tad startling . . . . all the time, effort, planning . . . over so quickly. And when you’re among those doing all the work to make it happen, while you are pleased with success, your own ability to enjoy the fruits of your labor can be fleeting. Come out and enjoy these events . . . . and, if you get the opportunity at one of them, make certain to say, ladies, JOB WELL DONE! Such events are such a plus for Winter Park, for Park Avenue, it is the least they deserve.

Watch for the emerging designer piece in next week’s WPMO. And, if you have some time this Saturday evening, join them – ME! – for another event at the McRae Studios off Webster, just adjacent to the railroad tracks. This hub of Local artists is truly one of my favorite places in Winter Park . . . so much amazing talent under ONE ROOF, everyone should know about it. I hear there will be some fashion among the art, and that trend will continue for the fashion show the following Saturday. That sounds like a great pairing to me, so I can hardly wait to see how it all comes together.

In next week's blogs I'll also have some more fashion photography and commentary from last evening. Tomorrow I'm hitting the bricks to capture Sidewalk Sale scoop . . . so if you know of anything I surely should not miss, let me know!

Thursday night in Central Park: Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein! These people so undersold this movie and when I was a kid I LUVed it! NOT just Frankenstein, but also Dracula and the Wolfman. It's like 1950s movie monster reunion! Fun October flick for the whole family, so bring the kids out tomorrow night for a great memory they'll remember all their lives, and when they see the movie anytime in the future, they'll always refer back to the first time they say it! Movie starts at 8 o'clock on Thursday evening.

Today on ILUVWinterPark.com . . . . 35% OFF Halloween jewelry from Leisa Lovely Designs in Fern Park. Eyeball rings, bat earrings and MORE . . . get into the spirit of fun that is October with Leisa Lovely Designs.

In closing, YES, I’m a HUGE animal LUVer and if I can help place even one animal with my ‘Give A Dog A Home’ segment, I will be thrilled. Tonight, we have Dominic, a 5 year old, 14 lb Lhasa Apso / Shih Tzu blend boy. Dominic is a calm little guy who is super sweet! He LUVs other dogs and he gets along great with them and enjoys playing. He LUVs going on walks and is such a gentleman on the leash. Dominic is very well behaved and he just goes with the flow! He is a good little boy, ready and anxious for his new family. Dominic is heart worm negative, microchipped, vaccinated, house-trained and neutered. For more info on Dominic, to adopt or see other animals looking for furever homes, check out www.poodleandpoochrescue.org.