Hello Winter Park! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Playhouse reopening, lake cleanup with nanobubbles, and Hello Kitty workshop + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
New lake cleanup plan: Winter Park won a $2.1 million grant to fight Lake Virginia algal blooms using nanobubble technology. A barge by Rollins College will oxygenate sediments and buoys will track conditions -- see the lake cleanup plan.
A major milestone ahead: Winter Park Playhouse will reopen its renovated theatre July 7 with a ribbon-cutting, remarks from Jerry Demings and Sheila DiCiccio, showcasing expanded seating, a new lobby and a cabaret space -- get the full details.
New café coming soon: Yemeni coffee spot Azal Coffee will open soon at Cranes Roost in Altamonte Springs, bringing brews, tea, and pastries to 3,000-square-foot cafe with indoor seating and patio, pending final approvals -- meet the new café.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Press start IRL: If your living room controllers are starting to judge you, make the quick hop to Arcade Monsters Oviedo, where over 150 classics, rhythm games, and pinball sprawl across seven themed rooms, and an anime-themed bar serves craft beer, natural slushies, and Cuban bites.
Plants, gifts, calm vibes: Kiwi and Fern is the kind of planty gift shop that doubles as a chill hangout inside Harmon Collective. Browse lush botanicals and thoughtful home goods, settle into the cozy seating, maybe grab Vietnamese coffee from Black Phin, and walk out feeling like your week just got greener.
Cool-off local pick: Whether you're wrangling kiddos or just need a five-minute reset, Shady Park delivers with leafy shade, a cheerful spray area, and plenty of benches and picnic tables. Pack a snack, let the mist do its thing, and enjoy an easy, low-stress breather close to everything.
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04 — Our recommendations
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🐞 Summer Family Art Workshops - Week 3: Soft Sculpture Bugs @ Maitland Art Center Studio 10 | Wednesday (6/24) at 10:00 AM – Free family art workshops are popping up in the Maitland museum garden with soft sculpture bugs, so your kids can craft critters you actually want in the house. Drop in, go at your own pace, enjoy the historic campus, and hit the playspace’s surprise stations.
🌳 Liberty Tree Dedication @ Oviedo City Hall | Thursday (6/25) at 9:00 AM – Grab a comfy stance at Oviedo City Hall for a Liberty Tree dedication, our neighborly nod to America’s 250th. No fireworks, just a new tree, a few good speeches, and the kind of porch-swing conversations that remind you why you never moved.
🎮 Pokémon Learn & Play @ Versus Games (Oviedo) | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – Parenting hack at Oviedo Mall, free Pokémon Learn & Play with the Versus Games crew. Kids and teens get real instruction, hands-on trading, and new friends, you get a breather. Beginners welcome, collectors too, and members snag a bonus gift for extra bragging rights.
🧪 Science on Screen Jr: Big Hero 6 @ Enzian Theater (Maitland) | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – Round up the kids or grandkids for Big Hero 6, free for the under-12 crowd, plus a pre-show meet with Team Z.I.P Ties from FIRST Tech Challenge and their robots. They flex STEM, you relax, and Baymax takes care of the heartstrings.
☕ Mommy & Me Tea Party A Luxury Mother-Daughter Tea & Spa Experience @ Healing Mama Studio (Maitland) | Sunday (6/28) at 11:00 AM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to swap I-4 stress for herbal tea, this is it. A luxe, private mother-daughter tea with pastries, optional mini facials or gloss making, bracelet keepsakes, and affirmation notes. Real connection, less chaos, and zero character meet-and-greets.
🚗 Cars & Curry @ Gateway to India Restaurant (Longwood) | Sunday (6/28) at 12:00 PM – This car meet pairs rides with curry at Gateway to India in Longwood. Expect supercars, JDM builds, bikes, and classics, a family-friendly crowd, and no burnouts, because the heat comes from the kitchen, not the tires. Bring your ride for a free drink and appetizer.
🎀 Hello Kitty Workshop @ The Taste of Curiosity (Oviedo) | Monday (6/29) at 10:00 AM – Got a kid 5 to 10 who worships bows and pink? This Hello Kitty workshop is pure creative chaos in the best way, with glue, glitter, and giggles handled by pros while you enjoy a rare, quiet coffee. Small groups keep it sweet.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Winter Park report Weather forecastToday — High: 93°F — Low: 76°F — Precip: 51%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tomorrow — High: 94°F — Low: 76°F — Precip: 25%
A slight chance of rain showers between 8am and 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. This house is wildThis soon-to-be-built Winter Park stunner at 1417 Williams Drive offers 5 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, and nearly 4,900 square feet of polished living space on a generous 15,934-square-foot lot. Soaring ceilings, designer finishes, a chef’s kitchen, spa-style primary suite, resort pool and spa, covered lanai, and three-car garage make it a standout.
Take a peek inside → |
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