Florida Culture for the Week of September 22 By Josh Garrick

Sept 25 – Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-off at City Hall

We are all invited to join Mayor Buddy Dyer and Commissioner Tony Ortiz at the City of Orlando’s 8th Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff. The free event celebrates Florida’s rich Hispanic heritage and will feature an art exhibit of Latin American artists. The Kickoff will be held in the City Hall Rotunda beginning at 5 pm and will include a City proclamation, live entertainment and a ribbon cutting ceremony. Call 407.254.4652 or email hola[at]cityoforlando.net

Sept 25 10 am to 2 pm – Art for Generations at the Mayflower

In celebration of Active Aging Week, the Mayflower Retirement Community in Winter Park will host a juried art show featuring creative works by older adults. The Art for Generations event is free and open to the public. Artists at least 55 years of age have submitted original entries in Painting, 3-D, mixed media, and Photography.  Set for September 25 from 10 am to 2 pm, visit the Mayflower Retirement Community at 1620 Mayflower Court. Visit themayflower.com/artshow

Sept 26 – La Maschera Goes Motown! (in Orlando)

Get ready to ‘boogie down’ as Bud Light Platinum presents La Maschera Goes Motown in a night filled with entertainment, dancing, cocktails, and food, as well as a performance from Motown in Motion and The I-4 Band. Set for September 26 beginning at 7 pm guests are encouraged to dress in themed attire – ‘best dressed’ wins a prize. At The Abbey in Orlando, tickets are $50 per person with proceeds benefiting the Downtown Arts District. Purchase your tickets by calling 407.648.7060 or at lamaschera2014.eventbrite.com

Sept 26 to 28 – Walt Disney World Announces the Disney Fit Challenge

The first-ever Disney Fit Challenge will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from September 26 to 28 – open to elite, intermediate, and recreational participants. Athletes will test their fitness against peers of the same or similar ages and skill levels by completing a variety of movements and workouts. With professional facilities as the backdrop, each competitor will be tested for speed, strength, skill, endurance, balance, and power. Call 407.939.7211 or visit disneyworld.disney.go.com

Sept 26 & 27 – Sunburst Showcase of Celebrity Impersonators

Guests of the Florida Hotel and Conference Center at 1500 Sand Lake Road in Orlando will be doing a series of double-takes as they say, “Isn’t that…?” over and over again until they learn the Annual Sunburst Showcase of Celebrity Impersonators is staking their claim to the hotel on September 26 & 27 from 1 pm to 4 pm each day.  Think variety show with many of the most famous performers in history.  Marilyn, Elvis, and Cher are always there, but there are wonderful surprises as well, and the performances are open to the public. 

Sept 27 – Casselberry’s Latin Jazz & Art Festival

Legendary jazz guitarist Marc Antoine will headline Casselberry’s Latin Jazz & Art Festival on Saturday, September 27 from 5 to 9 pm at Lake Concord Park. Food vendors, art demonstrations, Latin dance presentations and children’s activities will be included. Bring a blanket, chairs and friends to the lakefront – admission and parking is free. Call 407.262.7700 x1507 or visit Casselberry.org

Sept 28 -- Free Organ Concert at Rollins College

Princeton University Organist Eric Plutz will perform a Free Concert as part of the Conger Visiting Organist Concert Series on September 28 at 3 pm in the Knowles Chapel at Rollins College. Plutz “performs with gusto, flair, clarity and strong yet pliant rhythmic control” according to James Hildreth of The American Organist. Mr. Plutz has four solo recordings on the Pro Organo label. Call 407.646.2233

Sept. 28 – Violinist Lisa Ferrigno at Casa Feliz 

Violinist Lisa Ferrigno will perform a Free concert on the Casa Feliz music series on September 28 beginning at 12 noon. Ms. Ferrigno has been Concertmaster of the Brevard Symphony since 1999, and received her musical training at the New England Conservatory, the Eastman School of Music, and Florida State University. Ms. Ferrigno has helped brides orchestrate their dream weddings as a soloist for Disney’s Fairytale Weddings since 1995 and has appeared on Disney’s Weddings of a Lifetime on TV. Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum is at 656 Park Avenue North in Winter Park.

Sept 28 – Meteoric Collision of Cartoon Families – “D’oh”

Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin are finally going to ‘share a cold one.’ The supposed rivalry between the two legendary animated TV shows will have its finest hour in a landmark event September 28 (the season premiere of Family Guy) when the Griffins find themselves in the Simpson’s hometown – Springfield (cue the music) for an hour of animated comedy history. My only spoiler alert – there will be an epic fight, over the merits of Pawtucket Patriot Ale and Duff Beer. Ya gotta be there.

Current – Orlando’s Maryah Sullivan Named 2014 National Youth of the Year

Two weeks ago I reported that Orlando’s Maryah Sullivan would travel to Washington DC to vie for the title of National Youth of the Year competing for a $60,000 scholarship. Maryah WON, and for the coming year, will be the national teen spokesperson for the 4 million Boys & Girls Club members. In DC, Maryah participated in community service, and attended a congressional breakfast and a Gala. Maryah’s chosen message is ‘knowledge is power.’ The first of her family to be accepted into college, Maryah is an incoming freshman at the University of South Florida where she will major in pre-med.

Oct 4 – GLBT Community Center of Central Florida

If you haven't already heard, The GLBT Community Center of Central Florida will be hosting their annual Black & White Gala this year at the Orlando Museum of Art. The museum has been going through a facelift and will also have 2 new exhibits open, plus the soon to open J. Hyde Crawford and Anthony Tortora Gallery of Contemporary Art. This is special because not only is the $8.3 million dollars of art the largest bequest the Museum has ever received, it seems fitting that we open a gallery in the name of 2 men who were in a loving relationship. Great things happening at OMA:) See everyone soon.

This year will be our 3rd year and I personally hope it is our most successful. We are excited to have the beautiful Orlando Museum of Art as our venue this year, and it truly makes the event that bit more special. Visit www.thecenterorlando.org/BW for tickets.

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators