Florida Culture for the Week of August 1 by Josh Garrick

Bok Tower’s FREE Day for Artists – August 3
The magnificent gardens around the Bok Tower in Lake Wales, Florida call to Artists every day of the year.  On August 3, however, all Artists, (with no judgments on level of experience) are welcome to paint, draw and create in the Gardens free of charge. Children 12 and under receive a free watercolor kit at the Visitor Center. Mention that you’re an artist at the entrance gate for complimentary admission and enjoy the amazing gardens that make up one of the greatest achievements of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Mother Nature – with Olmsted’s help – has created a host of picturesque vistas in a setting that invites personal mediation and enjoyment. Acres of ferns, palms, oaks and pines create thousands of shades of green to back up the azaleas, camellias and magnolias that form an ever-changing work of art, and on August 3, we are invited to create our own. The Bok Tower Gardens are located at 1151 Tower Blvd in Lake Wales, FL. Call 863.676.1408

Bach Festival Society’s Summer Sing
If you wish to move from your regular ‘venue’ of singing in the shower to understand what it feels like to sing with a “really big” choir, the Bach Festival will host Summer Sing on Sunday, August 7 at 3 pm. Summer Sing was created to give community members a taste of the full-Choir experience and is open to everyone who loves to sing, regardless of experience or skill level. This year’s Sing includes selections from Verdi’s Requiem and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Participants may download music or purchase the music on the Summer Sing page of the Bach Festival Society’s website. There is no other charge to participate. The Bach Festival Society celebrates 77 years of creating music during its 2011–2012 Season, making it one of the longest continuously-operating Bach Festivals in the country. Summer Sing will take place in the Tiedtke Concert Hall on the Rollins College campus in Winter Park. Call 407.646.2182 or visit BachFestivalFlorida.org

Cabaret with Heather Alexander & Laura Hodos
Singing personalities Heather Alexander and Laura Hodos will return to the popular Winter Park Playhouse Spotlight Cabaret Series in a new act called ‘Together Again…At Last’ on August 10 and 11 at 7:30 pm. It’s been over three years since this incredible pair of “Queens of Cabaret” performed together, bringing their beautiful harmonies – and comedic offerings – back to The Playhouse. Audience favorites for years, Ms. Alexander and Ms. Hodos have performed in several shows together, including SUDS, Celebrate Me Home, And The World Goes ‘Round and I Got Rhythm. “When these two women get together,” says Playhouse Board President Judith Marlowe, “you’re guaranteed an evening of beautiful music and big laughs!”  The Playhouse is located at 711 Orange Avenue in Winter Park. Call 407.645.0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org 

Heather Alexander

Laura Hodos

Emerging Designer Contest
Some would say that Winter Park is ‘fashionable enough,’ but the folks putting together Central Florida’s biggest annual fashion event are sending out a Call for Entries to design students, fashion aficionados and anyone else who ‘has what it takes’ to enter Harriett’s Park Avenue Fashion Week’s Emerging Designer Contest. Contestants will submit 3 to 5 finished looks plus photos or sketches of additional designs to form a 10-look collection by August 29. Five semi-finalists will be chosen by a panel including title sponsor, Harriett Lake; HPAFW Emerging Designer winner, Maria Roman; plus fashion stylists and editors. Semi-finalists will have two weeks to complete an additional look for a charity-related ‘challenge.’ HPAFW is a 7-day (October 9 to 15) celebration of the local fashion community held every fall. With a week full of events hosted by the boutiques of Park Avenue and Hannibal Square, the grand finale is the fashion show held in Winter Park’s West Meadow Park. On the night of the HPAFW fashion show (October 15), the winner will be revealed with his or her own personal runway show. To apply, visit ParkAvenueFashionWeek.com or call Erika Spence at 407-644-8281.

The “Up in the Trees” Cycle Experience
In a first-of-its-kind attraction in the USA (and only the second in the world) Florida EcoSafaris has created a combination bicycle/zip-line attraction that takes guests pedaling through the treetops of the 4700 acre Forever Florida Wildlife Conservation Area in St. Cloud. The adventure begins as each guest boards their own ‘Canopy Cycle’ – a reclining bicycle suspended from a network of high-tension steel cables. Reaching heights of 25 feet, guests pedal their way through the treetops of some of the most beautiful ecosystems of Florida – preserved just as Nature intended. Winding through the trees, guests see everything from bromeliads to birds, butterflies and other treetop residents, not to mention their swamp-dwelling friends below. The ride is a nature photographer’s dream. Along the way, guests pass over a pond that is home to ‘George,’ a 13-foot alligator who has called Forever Florida home for over 60 years. The ride technology is the second ride of this type in the world and the first in the United States. The new Canopy Cycle joins Zipline Safari, and the guided Horseback Safari and Coach Safari adventures offered by EcoSafaris. Reservations suggested. Florida EcoSafaris is located at 4755 N. Kenansville Road in St. Cloud, Florida. Call 407-957-9794 or visit FloridaEcoSafaris.com

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators