Wandering Winter Park

So you've got two hours to kill between films...or you've just gotten out of an evening show, and you're not ready to call it a night. What does Winter Park have to offer?

There's a whole range of restaurants, shops, and other ways to spend some quality time - all within easy striking distance of the festival locations.

One of the major shuttle stops, the Winter Park Mall, offers the usual assortment of stores and food venues. However, if you're looking for something a little more personable, take the shuttle to Annie Russell Theater - easy walking distance to the heart of downtown Winter Park.

Stroll up Park Avenue, and you'll find something to please everyone. First, food. Park Avenue is home to everything from Bagel shops (Brueggers, Einstein Bros.) to restaurants/cafe's (La Venezia, Colony Restaurant, Village Bistro, Panullo's, Park Avenue Grill, and the Briar Patch, to name just a few) to desert and coffee places (Barnie's, WM. J Sweets).

If you're looking for something off the beaten path, take New England Avenue west off of Park to the best kept food secret in Winter Park: the West End Grill. They have a great menu, unique ambience and more affordable prices than you'll find on Park.

OK, so now you've eaten, and you're looking for a little diversion. Into shopping or store-browsing? If so, you're in the right place. You'll find boutiques (Liz Claiborne, Ann Taylor, Structure, Express, Ellie), music and book stores (Park Avenue CD's, B. Dalton Books), cool retail shops (Cigarz on the Avenue, Village Candles, Williams Sonoma), and art galleries (Scott Laurent, Albertson-Peterson, Ferris Reeves, among many others).

The downtown district is only about five blocks long, so the easiest way to find what you're looking for is simply to wander. Whether you're into spending cash or just killing time, you can find what you're looking for in Winter Park.

-- Dan Leeds

Dan Leeds
I may have broken the dreaded 30 threshold, but internally I still feel like I stopped getting older some time around 25 or so. Yea, I've become more responsible and maybe even a little more ambitious, but not so much that I've lost track of my guiding ideals or my ability to play. While getting older may be inevitable, aging is much more relative. What else is there? :)