Josh Garrick: Culture for your Calendar

Now to Oct. 2 – Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month

Even if you have champagne tastes, and a beer-bottle budget, we can all afford to indulge our palates in this glorious, month-long celebration of Orlando’s sophisticated dining universe. The annual Visit Orlando's Magical Dining Month includes more than 90 restaurants offering three-course meals for $33. The month-long event benefits The Russell Home for Atypical Children, with $1 from every meal donated to the home. Throughout September, foodies may choose from over 90 restaurants from Winter Park to International Drive. Wow! A complete list of participating restaurants is available at OrlandoMagicalDining.com

Now to Sept. 30 - It’s ‘two’ delicious at BRAVO! Cucina Italiana

As if the 90 restaurants of Magical Dining Month are not enough choices, a personal favorite – BRAVO! Cucina Italiana is offering a two-course, chef-inspired menu that starts at $12.99 through September. That includes a salad and your choice from five terrific entrees including shrimp scampi pasta; linguine carbonara in a to-die-for Alfredo white wine sauce, and their chicken with sun-dried tomato and goat cheese (plus two more) entrees. For reservations, visit BravoItalian.com or call 407-351-5880.

Now to Sept. 5 – Allstate and Tom Joyner celebrate family weekend

Tom Joyner, host of the nationally syndicated “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” is at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee this weekend to celebrate family as families from all over the country are joining Joyner for stellar concerts and activities featuring Jill Scott and El DeBarge, Masters of Funk Brick, The Bar-Kays, Switch, and Steve Arrington. In addition celebrity sightings, seminars, and activities for all ages are free inside the expo. Concert tickets, from $29 to $69.50, may be purchased at FamilyReunion.BlackAmericaWeb.com

Sept. 2, 3 & 4 – Disney On Ice presents ‘Follow Your Heart’

While bringing Disney•Pixar’s record-breaking animated feature “Finding Dory” to the ice for the first, this live ice skating extravaganza also features Disney’s “Frozen” and other beloved Disney stories for six performances at the Amway Center. Swim with Dory and Nemo and join Olaf and Kristoff in reuniting the royal sisters Anna and Elsa. See Cinderella, Rapunzel, Tiana and Disney princesses make their dreams come true as your whole family creates unforgettable memories with Mickey, Minnie and all of your Disney friends. “Follow Your Heart” into Orlando where tickets are $18 to $100 at amwaycenter.com, Amway Center box office, Ticketmaster, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Sept. 2, 3 & 4 – Free ‘Sandtastic Weekend’ at the Swan and Dolphin

Feel the sand beneath your toes as the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts host a Sandtastic Weekend with beach activities for all ages. The event highlight is 100 tons of sculpted sand designed by world-class sculptors on the Swan and Dolphin’s private beach. Guests may watch the masterpieces being created, learn techniques of sand sculpting, and compete in an amateur sculpture contest. Games on the beach, a DJ, a campfire and s’mores complete the fun. Overnight accommodations and a full Sandtastic schedule are available at sandtasticweekends.com or by calling 800-227-1500. This event is free and open to the public.

Sept. 2 & 3 – The Sunburst Convention of Celebrity Impersonators

Imagine Marilyn, Madonna, Elvis, Cher, Michael, Tina, Lucy, Lady Gaga, Janis Joplin, G.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and 100 other icons of the past and present gathered together in one celebrity convention. That is exactly what you’ll see at the Sunburst Convention of Celebrity Impersonators at The Florida Hotel & Conference Center at The Florida Mall in Orlando. This year we may attend the talent showcases and have our picture taken with our favorite ‘celebs.’ Tickets are $25 at the door, but by purchasing online, 50 percent of each ticket will go to the OrlandoUnited Fund when you use the promo code OrlandoUnited and purchase your advance tickets at SunburstConvention.com

Sept. 4 – Lyric tenor Marco Panuccio sings opera in the park

Marco Panuccio is the featured performer for the final concert for the summer series from Opera Orlando in a program entitled “O Solo Mio” – a collection of famous arias and Neapolitan songs. Pianist Robin Stamper will accompany him. Panuccio is earning international acclaim: from a recent “La Traviata” – “Marco Panuccio’s ‘Parigi, o cara’ is bewitching and heartrending.” From the role of Bégearss in “The Ghosts of Versailles,” Opera News raved, “As the villain Bégearss, he gave what might well turn out to be a career-making performance.” Hear him live at 2 p.m. at the University Club in Winter Park. Tickets are available online at Operaorlando.org and are $30.

Sept. 7 to Oct. 9 – ‘West Side Story’ opens Orlando Shakes season

The most famous of the contemporary “Romeo and Juliet” stories finds idealistic young lovers Maria and Tony caught between rival street gangs. Their struggle to love and survive in a world filled with hatred and violence is one of the most beautiful and heart-wrenching musical dramas of all time. Based on the original concept by Jerome Robbins, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story's Latin and classical-inspired score features the treasured songs "Maria," "Tonight," and "America." An interesting side-note is that the West Side of Manhattan as depicted in the musical really was dangerous and was ‘ruled’ by street gangs. It was determined that the only way to ‘civilize’ the area was to tear down the slums and build something of stature. We know that something today as Lincoln Center. Highly recommended. Visit orlandoshakes.org

Sept. 8 – Winter Park Garden Club offers free open house and plant clinic

The Winter Park Garden Club invites the public to an open house and plant clinic at their Mead Garden location at 1300 S. Denning Drive in Winter Park. Tom MacCubbin, Florida’s foremost garden expert, will be on hand to identify plants in your yard and diagnose diseases they might have. (Bring a clipping if you have questions). Founded in 1922, the Club’s mission is to educate members about gardening, landscape design, and conservation. This program is free and begins at 5 p.m., and the public is invited. Call 407-644-5770 or visit winterparkgardenclub.com

Sept. 8 & 9 – ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’

The Biblical story of Joseph and his ‘coat of many colors’ comes alive onstage this fall as the young Joseph, favored by his father, is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Featuring a fantastic choir, live music by the CFCArts Symphony Orchestra and many of the finest actors in Central Florida, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s timeless musical offers an adventure of family and faith at Northland Church, 530 Dog Track Road in Longwood. Assigned seats are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Priority and premium seating is available. The shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Recommended. Call 407-937-1800, ext. 710, or visit cfcarts.com

Sept. 8, 9 & 10 – The third annual Florida Local Food Summit

Florida's top food and farming entrepreneurs, chefs and foodies will present a weekend Summit to celebrate all things food and farming with farm tours, farm-to-table meals, a Grower's Festival and classes. The farm tours are free and open to the public. The Summit, including breakfast and lunch ($50) will be held on Sept. 9 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at East End Market. Recognized throughout the world as a leader in humane animal husbandry, organics, and environmental sustainability, the keynote speaker is fourth generation cattleman Will Harris of White Oak Pastures in Georgia. His presentation is free and open to the public on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. in the East End Market Courtyard. Recommended. Visit eastendmkt.com/events/florida-local-food-summit

Sept. 9 to Oct. 2 – Central Florida premiere of ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ the musical

With a ‘white trash’ craving for excitement and fame, two nonentities in Depression-era Texas meet, feel a spark, and recklessly set out to chase their dreams. Too quickly that spark leads the young lovers to robbery and murder, willing to do anything to survive. This musical, infused with blues, gospel and rockabilly, was nominated for Outstanding New Broadway Musical and Outstanding New Score in 2012. While “everyone loves a bad boy,” the musical’s mature subject matter may not be suitable for all audiences. Call 407-877-4736 or visit gardentheatre.org

Sept. 11 – Central Florida Ballet honors 9/11 with benefit performance

The Central Florida Ballet commemorates the 15th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center with “9/11 An American Moment,” a ballet to be presented at Northland Church in Longwood. Created in 2006, “9/11” honors and re-creates the American patriotism, courage, faith, and pride in response to the attack. During the hour-long performance, which begins at 2 p.m., various types of dance are featured with a soundtrack that includes news broadcasts. Audience favorite Israel Rodriguez is featured in the production that received recognition in 2007 by the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. Tickets are $20, $30, and $50. Call 407-849-9948 or visit centralfloridaballet.com

Sept. 11 – ‘One Voice’ – opera’s response to the Pulse tragedy in Orlando

“One Voice Orlando: A Celebration in Song,” is the benefit gala concert from the opera community in response to the Pulse tragedy in Orlando with the performance taking place in Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center. “National stars and musicians have joined in this outpouring of support and generosity for the victims, families and those impacted by this horrific shooting,” said Gabriel Preisser, executive director of Opera Orlando. “Internationally-renowned David Charles Abell will conduct and legendary baritone Sherrill Milnes will be one of the evening’s hosts.” All performers are donating their services with tickets at $25 to $125 available at operaorlando.org or by calling 844-513-2014. Highly recommended.