Florida Culture for the Week of August 5 by Josh Garrick

August 6 – A ‘Going-Away-Party’ for Crime

National Night Out is an annual event that builds safer communities by bringing ‘crime prevention awareness’ to local neighborhoods. Mayor Buddy Dyer invites residents to participate in the 30th Annual National Night Out on August 6 – with community block parties throughout Florida. This year’s National Night Out theme is “Lights on mean lights out for crime!” with residents encouraged to turn lights on outside their homes while joining their neighbors at registered block parties. Visit cityoforlando.net/police.

August 8 to 18 – A Clandestine Take on RENT!

Central Florida’s newest theater company – Clandestine-Arts – will open their first season with Jonathan Larson’s rock opera RENT. Directed by Derek Critzer, RENT is the cutting-edge musical – based on Puccini’s opera La Boheme – that tells the story of seven friends in the AIDS-ravaged New York City of the 1990’s where their romantic entanglements struggle with a disease that threatens almost everyone they know. With music direction by Beth Atkins, RENT will run from August 8 to the 18th at the Shakespeare Center. Visit clandestine-arts.com

August 9 – Mayor Kenneth Bradley’s “Coffee-Talk”

Good Morning Winter Park – taking place on August 9 from 7:45 am to 9 am – is the monthly breakfast gathering where residents and community leaders converge at the Welcome Center in Winter Park. Friday’s speaker is the Honorable Kenneth W. Bradley, Mayor of Winter Park, who will provide his perspectives on important community issues while interacting with community members and business professionals. Good Morning Winter Park is free, open to the public and includes a complimentary continental breakfast at the Welcome Center at 151 W. Lyman Avenue in Winter Park.

August 9 -- Music, Friendship & Fun in Maitland

The Art & History Museums – Maitland’s (A&H) Summer Concert Series continues on August 9 at 7 pm with the popular Loria Brothers. Held in the Museum’s Main Garden at 231 W. Packwood Avenue in Maitland, the series is presented in partnership with Performing Arts of Maitland. Entertaining audiences since childhood, Mark and Dominick Loria share the stage as an acoustic duo, delivering unplugged versions of classic rock favorites. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair and a bar is available. A&H’s Main Galleries will be open for guests to view the current exhibit. Admission is $3. Call 407-539-2181 or visit ArtandHistory.org

August 10 – Taste of the Nation – Helps END Childhood Hunger

It’s impossible for most of us to comprehend that 1 out of 5 people in Central Florida – that is MORE than 732,000 people – needed food assistance in Central Florida last year. But it gladdens the heart to know that in the past year Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida distributed more than 35 million pounds of food to our hungry neighbors.  That is 732,000 reasons to support Taste of the Nation Orlando on Saturday, August 10 when our finest chefs come together to donate their talent to end hunger in America. Tickets are $150 with 100% of proceeds going directly to Second Harvest Food Bank and the Coalition for the Homeless. Visit tasteofthenation.org/Orlando

August 11 -- "Music at the Casa" presents Violinist Victor Bowers

Violinist Victor Bowers is known for both his technical abilities and interpretive sensitivity. Having begun his musical studies at age 6, he gave his first public performance, on television, at age 8. Victor has played for evangelical crusades, Florida's Governor Charlie Crist, Sea World, and Walt Disney World, while remaining a regular performer for Super Channel WACX TV. We are invited to hear his heart-felt interpretations from 12 noon to 3 pm on August 11 as part of the Music at the Casa Series at Casa Feliz in Winter Park. The event is free; donations are accepted. Call 407.628.8200 or visit casafeliz.us

August 16 to Jan 5, 2014 – Eugene Savage: The Seminole Paintings

In 1935 American artist Eugene Savage made the first of many journeys into the Florida Everglades to study the Seminole Indians. Over two decades, he created an extensive series of paintings of the Seminoles in works that reflect his deep concern for the plight of their native culture. Depicting the way in which tourism and land development threatened their traditional way of life, Savage’s paintings will be presented at the Mennello Museum beginning August 16 and running through January 5. Call 407.246.4278 or visit mennellomuseum.com

August 16 to Oct 6 – A&H Museums – Maitland Celebrates Eatonville

On August 16, the A&H Museums – Maitland will open two exhibits featuring the City of Eatonville. Images of Eatonville: Then & Now will be presented in the A&H’s Center Galleries from August 16 to September 29 while the exhibit Founding of Eatonville may be seen in the A&H’s Maitland Historical Museum from August 16 through October 6. The communities of Maitland and Eatonville have a history of strong ties – from the early formation of Eatonville to the friendship between the A&H’s founder André Smith and writer Zora Neale Hurston.  Eatonville is currently celebrating its 125th anniversary as the oldest incorporated African American municipality in the United States. Call 407.539.2181 or visit ArtandHistory.org

And Looking Ahead …  
 
September 7 – ‘Lace Up’ for the Greater Orlando Heart Walk

Looking to raise funds while increasing awareness of heart disease, the American Heart Association is looking for over 18,000 ‘Walkers’ to participate in the Greater Orlando Heart Walk. On September 7, at 7 am, the Walkers will start at the UCF Memory Mall, at 4000 Central Florida Boulevard in Orlando with a fundraising goal of $1,500,000, making it the largest one-day fundraiser in Central Florida. Combining fitness and philanthropy, the annual Walk brings together corporate sponsors, walk teams, individuals, and heart disease survivors to raise funds to combat heart disease and stroke, the No. 1 and No. 4 leading killers of American men and women. Visit greaterorlandoheartwalk.org or heart.org

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators