Josh Garrick: Culture Worthy of Your Calendar

Jan. 13 – Free Family Day at the Mennello Museum

However you define your “family,” we are all invited to the Mennello Museum’s Free Family Day on Sunday, Jan. 13. A make-and-take craft station and mini-tours of the galleries will be available from noon to 3 p.m., and this month – in honor of “The Big Dog Show” – guests may use hand-carved dog stamps to create a dog scene and a paper hat while also following the “Big Dog” activity card. This wonderful – and kid-friendly exhibit – includes Dale Rogers’ 20 8-foot-tall, 10-foot-long “American Dog” sculptures scattered throughout the Sculpture Garden. (The ones with red collars have been "adopted" to raise funds for local animal nonprofits.) Visit mennellomuseum.com or call 407-246-4278.

Jan. 15 to 17 – 5,000 years of Chinese culture at the Bob Carr

For centuries the arts of China were gifts bestowed on scholars who would sit in meditation to inspire creativity. On Jan. 15, 16 and 17, the world’s premier classical Chinese music and dance company, Shen Yun Performing Arts, will perform at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center in a celebration of Chinese culture drawn from five millennia of civilization. Shen Yun has performed around the world, presenting classical Chinese dance and folk dances, ancient legends and modern tales of courage. Accompanied by musicians who combine Western and Chinese instruments; vocalists, bright costumes and animated backdrops round out the evening. Call 800-745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com

Jan. 16 to March 2 – World premiere of the D* Word

The prolific creator of the hit “Menopause, The Musical” is bringing the world premiere of her new show, “The D* Word – A Musical (Ditched, Dumped, Divorced and Dating),” to The Abbey in downtown Orlando for six weeks starting Jan. 16. “The D Word” is a musical about the woes and wows of four single-again women who learn the art of “happily @@even@@ after,” giving voice to the emotions from being Dateless and Desperate to Dynamic and Dazzling. With their home in Winter Park, Ms. Linders and her creative team have been so successful that her foundation – the Jeanie C. Linders Fund – has served as a voice for women in countries as diverse as Ghana, Italy, Kenya, the U.S. and more. Tickets can be purchased through TicketWeb.com. Visit TheDWordMusical.com

Jan. 18 to April 13 – Weaving history and heritage in our community

In honor of the 125th anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Eatonville, the oldest African-American municipality in the United States, the Hannibal Square Heritage Center is working with seven families to create a series of photographic quilts to tell the story of their relationships. “Sewn Together: Photographic Quilts Reflecting the Historic Family Ties of Eatonville, Maitland and Winter Park” will be on exhibit beginning Jan. 18 through April 13 at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center in Winter Park. An opening reception is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 18. The event is free and open to the public. Call 407-671-1886 or 407-539-2680.

Jan. 18 – Grand opening of the new Lake Eustis Museum of Art

It’s not every day that a gem of a Museum re-opens in a new location, but on Jan. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m., the new Lake Eustis Museum of Art will welcome friends to join its mission of making visual art accessible to everybody. With the theme ‘building membership through networking,’ the Museum says, “Bring a new member! Bring two! Bring 10!” Being featured for the reception is a members-only exhibit: “Members Create” through March 3, showcasing the talent of Central Florida. With the amazing Richard Colvin as the Museum’s new director, the new LEMA is located on Lake Eustis in downtown Eustis at 1 W. Orange Ave. Visit lakeeustisartmuseum.org or call 352-483-2900 or 352-308-8176. There is plenty of free parking.

Jan. 19 – Jerry Seinfeld at the Bob Carr

Jerry Seinfeld, stand-up comedian, writer, and television and film producer, is best known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the sitcom “Seinfeld” that ran throughout the 1990s. Known for humor based on uncomfortable social situations, Comedy Central ranked Seinfeld as No. 12 out of 100 of the greatest comedians of all time. Mr. Seinfeld will bring his angst-filled comedy to Orlando on Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Bob Carr PAC. Tickets are available at Amway Center box office, charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000 and at Ticketmaster.com

Josh Garrick is a writer, photographer, educator, and fine art curator. He is a member of the Curatorial Council for the Museum of Florida Art. Garrick can be reached at [email protected] or 407-522-3906.