Sip, Eat & Stroll!

With Sip! tonight, I’m doing a combo Wednesday / Thursday blog!

Yes, tonight’s the latest Sip! event on Park Avenue. This one is in honor of the city’s 125th anniversary this year! If you plan to participate . . . hope you’ve got your tickets because this one is SOLD OUT! These events are always fun and my understanding tonight is the light bites will be more substantive, so Sip! and EAT and have FUN! Okay, not like you need to be reminded to do any of it. Hope to see you tonight . . . I’ll be hangin’ at Downeast, doing a stationary version of Sip!

Don’t have Sip! tickets? You can still come down to Park Avenue and take part in some of the Local fun. Galopin Winter Park tonight begins After Work Thursday. From 6 to 9 you can enjoy all you can eat hors d’oeuvres for a $10 cover. Bring some friends and hang out while you check out the ENTIRELY renovated space. Don’t miss the upstairs, with a HUGE new bar . . . . my favorite spot now! The space is big and open and a natural for hanging out with friends, co-workers . . . meeting new people.

I met with Guillermo Zayas, Galopin’s new head chef and interim general manager yesterday and learned some new stuff about the restaurant. First, perhaps you, as I, have been curious about the name. The owner is Swiss and Galopin, if I understood correct from Guillermo, is refers to a Dennis the Menace sort of kid. I met Jeremy, the owner’s son, briefly, and there you have it!

The menu is being modified a bit now, but all Galopin dishes are made from organic ingredients AND 75 – 80% of them are all sourced LOCALLY, with most coming from Lake Metal Farms out of Oviedo. They also sell out meat out of the Winter Park Farmers’ Market. All beef is grass fed and chickens are cage free. They make EVERYTHING there in the restaurant, from the mayonnaise and mustard to their fresh baked daily bread and homemade ice cream.

Recent catering for Winter Park Chamber . . . loved it and will be featured on the cover of My City Eats in coming months. Tonight they initiate After Work Thursday events with all you can eat hors d’oeuvres from 6 to 9 with a $10 cover. They also have Happy Hour Tuesday through Saturday (except Thursday) with beer, wine and mixed drink specials.

Omar Martinez, a professor from Full Sail, created all the new, large original art around the restaurant.

While I was out on the Avenue yesterday I did a new man on the street for the Winter Park / Maitland Observer’s publication for the Winter Park Autumn Arts Festival the weekend of October 13. There were LOTS of visitors on the Avenue yesterday and while most couldn’t provide me an answer to my question, having only recently arrived, all still sang the praises of the beauty of the area, the charm of Park Avenue. Yep, no surprises here!

If you’re looking for something to do tomorrow afternoon, consider joining Enzian in Maitland for their kick off of showings of Robot & Frank on Friday. This movie looks VERY cute. On Friday, bring the kids to see Florida Robotics with DR. R.E. CYCLER, the world’s first fully mobile entertainment robot with on-board recycling equipment. Dr. R.E. CYCLER has the capability to crush aluminum cans in his chest, to less than an inch in size. Guests are encouraged to bring empty 12 oz. aluminum cans and watch as the robot fully crushes the can in 30 seconds! The robot will be interacting with attendees between 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in front of the Enzian box office and Eden Bar. Showtimes for ROBOT & FRANK on Friday will be at 4:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 9:15 p.m.

Got a car which needs cleaning? Yesterday on ILUVWinterPark.com I promoted Local mobile carwash / detailer J&K Carwash. Get $5 OFF any service and THEY COME TO YOU, whether it’s your residence or place of business. See accompanying graphic or the website for contact info.

Watch tomorrow on the site for a grand opening this weekend . . . especially for Local beer lovers!

Lastly, of course, let’s try to ‘Give a Dog a Home’ from Florida Poodle & Pooch Rescue! Choxie is a 4 year old, 4.5 lb Chihuahua boy. Choxie is a people dog and his favorite thing to do is be near you! He doesn't care if he is on your lap, laying next to you or being carried around, he just loves to be next to you. He would do best in a home where someone is home most of the time because he loves to be loved on. Choxie is quite the kisser and will make sure that you get your fair share of smooches! Choxie does well with other dogs or he would be just as happy as the only recipient of your affection. Due to his size, he should be in a home with no children or cats. Choxie loves to play and he is very smart....he will even dance for treats! Choxie enjoys going for rides in the car and he would make a perfect RV dog. Choxie is heartworm negative, housetrained, vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. See Choxie and more available animals at http://www.poodleandpoochrescue.org.