Erika Spence: Business in the Park

Florida winter turns to spring

While our neighbors to the North continue to hunker down beneath feet of snow, Florida winter is officially over (according to a Facebook graphic circulating over the weekend, this year Florida winter lasted from Feb. 18 to 19). Time to shed your scarves, boots and gloves and get ready for all things spring!

Ready for takeoff?

With the arrival of March, the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce is taking a moment to reflect on the economy. While it’s easy to listen for packaged sound bites on economic news, stock market hiccups or policy changes, it is important for business executives to seek the trusted council of economists who spend their time researching long-term trends. For this reason, the Chamber in partnership with Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business is proud to host the annual Economic Update Breakfast on Tuesday, March 3.

This year’s event will ask “Are we ready for takeoff?” The program features an economic overview by Dr. Bill Seyfried from Rollins College that will explore a variety of topics that indicate how our economy is shaping up in 2015. Individual tickets can be purchased at winterpark.org

Art of fine wine returns

The Hannibal Square Wine Tasting presented by SIX The Agency will celebrate the fine art of wine on Thursday, March 19, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The event will feature a street party atmosphere with 40-plus varieties of wine and beer samples, hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants and live entertainment by George Grosman Band. This is a wonderful opportunity to visit shops and restaurants along West New England, network with other business professionals and enjoy some wonderful food and drink. New this year is a limited edition poster designed by SIX The Agency. The posters are suitable for framing and will be available at the event. Tickets and more information can be found at winterpark.org

Art in the park

After you order wine tasting tickets, be sure to visit wpsaf.org to plan the rest of your art festival weekend. The fun begins on Friday, March 20, at 9 a.m. with 225 nationally and internationally renowned artists displaying their talents in Central Park. This is also when people start spreading their blankets on the grass near the Central Park stage for the Friday night concert.

Parking will be at a premium for the weekend, and while many local scout troupes, sports teams and school groups will organize parking lots throughout downtown, please consider supporting Leadership Winter Park when searching for a parking space. Leadership Winter Park provides leadership development opportunities for youth and adults in our community. Monies raised during the festival will support scholarships for these programs. Members of the current class, as well as alumni, will be manning parking lots at the Winter Park Welcome Center all three days and Saturday and Sunday only at Florida Community Bank and Cooper, Simms, Nelson & Mosley Insurance at the corner of New York and Canton avenues (enter both lots from New York Avenue).

During the Art Festival, be sure to visit local merchants along Park Avenue and area side streets for the Spring Sidewalk Sale. This is a terrific time to find gifts and apparel at great prices.

For updates on Chamber events and programs and other community happenings, “like” our Facebook page at facebook.com/winterparkchamber or follow us on Twitter at @WPChamberFL.

Erika Spence is the senior director of marketing and communications at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.