Calendar

AUG. 27

Popcorn Flicks returns to Central Park for a showing of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 8 p.m. The event is presented by the Winter Park CRA and produced by Enzian Theater. This film series features classic films for the whole family. You are encouraged to bring a blanket, a picnic or snacks, and some family and friends and join in! Free popcorn is available for everyone. For more information, call 407-629-0054.

Tim Evanicki has been rescheduled to take the stage at The Winter Park Playhouse in its monthly Spotlight Cabaret Series on Thursday, Aug. 27. Tim returns in full voice at the end of the month to perform his solo cabaret, “Cheaper Than Therapy,” with piano accompaniment by Playhouse Musical Director Christopher Leavy. General Admission tickets are $20 plus a one drink minimum. Once sold out, a limited number of "standing room only" tickets are available for $10. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. cabaret. This is a performer not to be missed! Tickets will sell quickly so call The Winter Park Playhouse box office for tickets 407-645-0145 or purchase online at winterparkplayhouse.org.

The second annual A Toast for a Cure Corporate Cocktail Event benefitting The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation will take place on Aug. 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Dugout Club in Steinbrenner Stadium in Tampa. Enjoy live entertainment, a silent auction, raffles, complimentary appetizers and an open bar. Ticket price is $75 per individual or $125 per couple. Purchase tickets at online.ccfa.org/2015toastforacure or contact Layne Kauffman at [email protected] 646-477-5608.

AUG. 28

Bring your child out to a book club meeting at the Maitland Public Library. This book club is open to anyone in elementary or middle school interested in the Sunshine State Books! Each month a different book is selected to discuss. Even if you haven't read it, stop by anyway! Light snacks are provided. August's book is “Pie” by Sarah Weeks. The next book club meeting will take place Friday, Aug. 28, at 5 p.m. Visit maitlandpl.org to learn more.

AUG. 29

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey will host the Audubon Back to School Bird Bash on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join the Center to kick off the new school year and learn about magnificent birds of prey and what you can do to get involved with conservation! The Audubon Center is located at 1101 Audubon Way in Maitland. The event is free, and all ages are welcome. Visit http://fl.audubon.org/events-and-programs for more information.

SEPT. 10

Watch a movie under the stars in Winter Park’s Central Park as Popcorn Flicks continues with a screening of “Strangers on a Train” at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10. This film series features classic films for the whole family. You are encouraged to bring a blanket, a picnic or snacks, and some family and friends and join in! Free popcorn is available for everyone. For more information, call 407-629-0054.

Winter Park Sip, Shop & Stroll event returns to Park Avenue on Sept. 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. This evening on the town features wine, hors d’oeuvres and a preview of the latest fashions, gift ideas and seasonal menu items at 30 local merchants. Visit winterpark.org for tickets.

SEPT. 15

On Sept. 15, the University of Central Florida’s College of Graduate Studies will host its annual Grad Fair from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Pegasus Ballroom at the Student Union. The fair will offer information on UCF’s nearly 200 graduate programs, including master’s, doctoral, and specialist, and certificate programs. More than 1,200 people attended the fair last year, and there are nearly 8,000 graduate students currently enrolled at UCF. The fair is free and attendees can dress casually. Parking is available in any university lot or garage for $5. For more information, visit graduate.ucf.edu/GradFair or email [email protected]

SEPT. 16

Rollins Winter Park Institute, a center for intellectual engagement that brings world-renowned speakers to Central Florida, recently announced its first speaker for the 2015-16 academic year, 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee. Gbowee, founder and current president of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, will address “Leading Change Through Activism: The Liberian Women’s Experience” on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Alfond Sports Center. All Rollins Winter Park Institute events are free and open to the public. No tickets are required. Parking is available in the SunTrust parking garage at 166 E. Lyman Ave. For more information, visit winterparkinstitute.org, call 407-691-1995 or email [email protected].

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and the National Center for Simulation will host the Florida Simulation Summit on Wednesday, Sept. 16, in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center. The Summit will highlight the state’s multi-billion dollar simulation industry and help identify opportunities for businesses to commercialize simulation! The Summit is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $25. To purchase tickets, call 407-384-6111.

SEPT. 17

The Winter Park Garden Club and the League of Women Voters of Orange County are co-sponsoring a moderated discussion about the pros and cons of fracking in Florida at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Winter Park Garden Club, located at 1300 S. Denning Drive. Chuck O’Neil, first vice president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, will moderate a discussion between David Mica, executive director of the Florida Petroleum Council, and Jennifer Hecker, director of Natural Resource Policy of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 407-644-5770 or visit winterparkgardenclub.com

The Central Florida Anthropological Society will host a lecture by Dr. Ashley Kistler on “The Aj Pop B’atz Project: Maya Resurgence and Historical Identity in the Guatemalan Highlands.” The event will take place at Winter Park Towers, located at 1111 Lakemont Ave. on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Contact Kevin Gidsusko at 321-948-3994, or email [email protected] for more information.

SEPT. 19

Livingston Taylor, brother of James Taylor, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, in the historic sanctuary of First Congregational Church of Winter Park, located at 225 S. Interlachen Ave. Livingston will perform some of James Taylor’s music as well as popular songs he has written himself. The event will open with folk singer Shawn Garvey, who serves as the senior minister at First Congregational Church of Winter Park. You’re invited to come out and join in for this an amazing night of music in this historic church. Tickets are available for $35 at the door or in advance online. For more information, call 407-647-2416.

ONGOING

The Vision Winter Park team is continuing to work with the community in setting the stage to guide the vision for the city’s future. For those that have not already submitted a survey online, the team is inviting you to join the 300-plus people in the conversation at the upcoming Community Talk on Thursday, between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., on Aug. 27. Community Talks are held at the Rachel D. Murrah Civic Center, located at 1050 W. Morse Blvd. These short, 30-minute, one-on-one talks are offered to help you navigate through the survey and allow the visioning team to talk with you about the overall process, find out how to reach others, and identify willingness to co-create the plan. To reserve your time, please contact Lisa Smith at [email protected] or 407-599-3324 or stop by at your convenience. If you are unable to make these face-to-face meetings, you can join the conversation online at visionwinterpark.org to begin and/or continue the discussion about the future of Winter Park, or contact 407-599-3665 or [email protected]

The Winter Park Sunday Running Group has been a source of pleasant running experiences and friendships for hundreds of runners over 40 years. Join them every Sunday at 7 a.m. starting along Park Avenue at Welbourne Avenue. They encourage and welcome runners of all ages and speeds to join them on the course, which offers exceptional scenery throughout Winter Park. The most popular distances range from 5 to 10 miles, but the course easily accommodates shorter loops of 3 or 4 miles. Visit orlandorunnersclub.org

Make a difference by donating to a food pantry near you during September, also known as Hunger Action Month! There are over 600,000 people who struggle with hunger in Central Florida. All through the month of September, Catholic Charities of Central Florida is raising awareness about what you can do to help! Visit cflcc.org/alleviate-hunger for Catholic Charities of Central Florida pantry locations and a list of most needed food items.