Great Dates Orlando

New Tuesday Night Trivia Spot

Earth Trivia just announced it’s added Cafe Red on Church Street as yet another great venue for playing live trivia in the Orlando area. The location, which is a new concept by the Graffiti Junktion folks, features a full menu of American cafe fare and craft cocktails. Curtis Earth will host trivia there every Tuesday starting at 7pm. 

Battle of the Brains, Thursday April 3

Harry Buffalo (129 W Church Street) will host the annual Battle of the Brains event this Thursday when teams of up to 6 individuals will participate in 3 rounds of trivia about sports, pop culture, etc.

Prizes will be awarded to the best and the worst teams and the event will raise funds for Ronald McDonald House. 

Event schedule
5:00pm - Registration opens
6:00pm - Trivia starts
8:00pm - Winning team is announced  

Registration fee: $25/person with a maximum of 6 players per team and includes 3 rounds of trivia, complimentary beverages, one complimentary appetizer and a chance to win great prizes too!

Christner’s Dinner and Magic Show

I love magic. I’m one of those totally geeky people who’ll take it all in, wide-eyed, zero skepticism, giddy gasps at all the right points in the show. To say that I loved Christner’s Dinner and Magic Show would be an understatement.

This monthly affair takes place in one of the private dining rooms at Christner’s Prime Steak and Lobster (formerly Del Frisco’s) where an audience of 10 to 20 guests gather to enjoy a four-course dinner along with some pretty awesome magical entertainment.

The evening’s host and head magician, Kostya Kimlat (the official magician of the Orlando Magic) recently invited Marc and I to experience his fabulous dinner show, which kicks off at 7pm and consists of a variety of card, sleight-of-hand, and mind reading tricks that left us astounded. 

For over two hours, we sat in the cozy space sipping wine and enjoying Christner’s delicious steaks, salads and desserts while Kostya and his crew of magicians wowed us.

I’ll warn you: tickets aren’t cheap. $118 per person (including tax and tip but not alcohol) but if you’re a fan of Christner’s and love a good magic show, it’s worth the splurge.

The next show is slated for Saturday, March 29. For more details and tickets, visit http://www.seelivemagic.com/venue/del-friscos-dinner-and-magic-show/.

 

 

Date Night at B.B. King's

By Cassie Ahrens

*** Each month, Great Dates Orlando sends a different couple on an awesome date night. This Couple at Large then shares their experience on the blog. For September, we sent Cassie Ahrens and her boyfriend, Scott, to B.B. King's Restaurant & Blues Club at Pointe Orlando. Here’s what Cassie had to say about the experience: 

We were the Couple at Large for the month of September and sent to a great place over in Pointe Orlando called B.B. King's. We were unable to choose a Friday or Saturday night, so we went on a Monday night. It did not seem to matter which night we chose; this place is always a good time.  

When we walked in we were expected as the couple for our special date night. We had a reserved table right up front, close to where the band was playing. There was even a cool sign made that had both of our names on it. We felt like royalty!  

When our server arrived, he congratulated us and took our drink order. I wanted to try a specialty drink so I ordered a blue cocktail called The Lucille. Pretty tasty, very sweet. 

For dinner, Scott ordered the Full Rack of Ribs, which was a great choice. He devoured them all. I ordered the Carolina BBQ Salmon, which was very good and something a little different with the BBQ sauce and the salmon. It was a great mix. I would attribute that to the New Orleans style flair that was themed throughout the food.  

As dinner went on, there was an amazing blues band (The Betty Fox Band) playing a bunch of there own singles, and they were GREAT!! I recommend getting up to dance and letting that music move you.  

We couldn't skip dessert, so we had to try the Bread Pudding, the Peach Cobbler, and the Brownie Sundae. Haha! Well, they were all fabulous!!  My favorite of all was the Bread Pudding.  

This was such a great night and we will definitely be coming out to B.B. King's again to enjoy the great music and awesome food. Thank you so much for this experience.

___________________________________________

B.B. King’s is a live entertainment venue and supper-club style restaurant serving Southern comfort food fused with flavors from around the globe. Each night, live bands take to the stage and present a mix of blues, Motown, and funk music ideal for shaking your booty on the dance floor. The colorful locale consists of three different areas ranging from an outside patio, a mezzanine that looks over the main stage and a large seating area with live music daily. 

 

 

Nerd Nights!

In the September issue of Orlando Magazine, I had the opportunity to showcase a handful of Orlando local events designed to engage your inner nerd. I bet you'll find at least a few worth checking out on your next date night.

Get Your Geek On
Orlando’s nerd culture blooms with help from nightly local events.

Thanks to a few cerebral celebrations, Orlando, dubbed “Nerdlando” by some area intellectuals, is gradually becoming a place where being smart is cool. At monthly events around the city, geeks—and non-geeks—are gathering to drink beer and share ideas, all in the name of intellectual stimulation. Check out some of these brainy affairs...

Keep reading...

 

 

Garden Theatre Summer Movie Series

As you may have already noticed from my previous post about Winter Garden, I am pretty smitten with this area. Besides great restaurants and shops, as well as a stellar Saturday farmer’s market, Winter Garden is also home to the Garden Theatre, which will host its annual Summer Movie Series beginning tomorrow.

From June to August, the Garden Theatre will screen vintage and cult movies on Thursdays and Fridays at 7pm.

Individual tickets are just $5 but you can get a pass to see EVERY film for just $55! Tickets are sold online (with a $1.50 service fee )or 2 hours prior to show at the Garden Theatre Box Office.

Here’s the line-up:

June 13 Singin' in the Rain
June 14 Goonies
June 20 The Maltese Falcon
June 21 The Pink Panther
June 27 The Searchers
June 28 Yours, Mine and Ours
July 5 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
July 11 Citizen Kane
July 12 Spaceballs
July 18 Chinatown
July 25 The Apartment
July 26 Monty Python & the Holy Grail
August 1 Rear Window
August 2 The Birdcage
August 8 All About Eve August 9 Waiting for Guffman
August 15 The Philadelphia Story
August 16 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
August 22 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
August 23 Ghostbusters

Dinner and a Movie
Snag a table at one of these stupendous Winter Garden restaurants all within walking distance of the Garden Theatre:

The Chef's Table at the Edgewater Hotel
99 W Plant Street, Winter Garden

alFresco
146 W Plant Street, Winter Garden

Moon Cricket Grille
14 W Plant Street, Winter Garden

The Attic Door (café and wine bar)
28 W Plant Street, Winter Garden

 

Happy Hour & a Movie in Winter Park Village

Last night I checked out Happy Hour at Mitchell’s Fish Market (Winter Park Village) and could not wait to tell you all about it.

Dubbed the ‘Market Bar Martini Hour,’ this foodie affair is scheduled Mondays through Fridays from 4pm to 7pm in Mitchell’s bar area and newly unveiled porch area outside.

For $5, you’ll choose from this list of five thirst-quenching cocktails:

• Winter Park Cosmo (Smirnoff Vodka, Cointreau, White Cranberry, freshly squeezed lime juice)
• Moscata White Sangria (Skyy Blood Orange Vodka, Moscato wine, lemon juice, sliced strawberries and oranges)
• Basil Smash (Jim Beam Whiskey, freshly squeezed lemon juice, smashed basil, orange and cherry)
• FM Mojito (Myers’s Silver Rum, freshly muddled mint, lime juice and a splash of soda)
• Market Margarita (Jose Cuervo tequila, freshly squeezed lime, lemon and orange juices)

Also on the happy hour drink menu are $5 wines by the class and $3 beers.

Then you’ll snag a few snacks from the list of $4 - $8 Martini Hour Munchies, including Warm Pretzel Bread served with Magic Hat #9 Beer Cheese, the Trio of Wild Sea Scallop & Shrimp Ceviche, Tuna Poke, and Lobster Salad, and Spicy Crispy Shrimp (my favorite).

Afterward, catch a flick at Regal Cinemas Winter Park Village where you’ll find 20 screens including two in 3D.

You can easily do this date night for $50… here’s the math:

Two movie tickets   $20
Two cocktails          $10
Two appetizers        $10  
Tax/tip                    $10
TOTAL                     $50

Couple at Large: Velvet Sessions Review

By Kirsten Maher

** Each month, Great Dates Orlando sends a different couple on an awesome date night. This Couple at Large then shares their experience on the blog. For May, we sent Kirsten and her date to Velvet Sessions. Here’s what she had to say about the experience:

On the last Thursday of each month (typically) the Velvet Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando opens its doors to hundreds of local music fans for Velvet Sessions, an event that has become something of an institution having hosted scores of chart topping 70s and 80s, 90s bands.

The live performance we attended was for The Fixx, an English new wave band best known for hits "Red Skies at Night!", "One Thing Leads to Another." Perfect for an 80's girl like me!

For your reference, tickets are $29 online, $35 at the door and include specialty drinks and finger foods from 6:30 pm until show time, live music and cash bars from show time onward, and valet parking. After the show, guests can hang out in Velvet Bar, where a DJ plays until 1am.

DATE NIGHT TIP: The VIP tickets are an extraordinary deal. Priced at $50 (online only), this package includes access to a special viewing area with private bar and specialty drinks all night. Definitely worth the upgrade!

Dinner at The Kitchen
Upon entering the hotel, we were surrounded by the legendary costumes, instruments and rock 'n' roll memorabilia that the Hard Rock bars and hotels are famous for in their 'rock star chic' venues. We walked through the bedazzled lobby to begin our date at The Kitchen, which offers comfort foods like chicken pot pie, flat breads, burgers and, if you are really in the mood, a fabulous filet! This was my date’s choice and he was not disappointed. The meat was cooked to perfection and served on a bed of spinach, potato puree, port-glazed mushroom. To die for!

For myself, I chose a delicious appetizer of fire roasted mussels, cooked in a Pernod almond lemon garlic butter sauce. Very yummy! My main course, pan seared grouper accompanied by corn and leek cream, was incredible. One word of caution: be careful not to fill yourself up with the homemade soft pretzels and baked cornbread as they are extremely addictive!

My date and I were very impressed with The Kitchen's eclectic decor and the service was fantastic. 

The Show
For every Velvet Sessions event, the main lobby of the hotel is transformed into a cool concert venue. We really felt like celebrities with our VIP tickets, which granted us access to an exclusive VIP entrance, great seats, and complimentary specialty drinks all night. Before the headliner takes the stage, small bars featuring drink specials are dotted throughout the venue where you can grab the drink specials included in the Velvet Sessions ticket price until show time. 

The Fixx came onto the stage at 8:30pm and immediately took us all back in a time machine to the 1980s with their flawless performance of their classic hits. The crowd seemed to know all the words.  

We would 100% recommend this for a great date night. There is plenty to do and see, the crowd is full of energy, and you can make it an early evening or stay a bit later for the DJ in the Velvet Bar or just relax on the Veranda. There is no better local venue to party like a rock star.

For more details about upcoming events, visit VelvetSessions.com.

 

 

Make sure you're signed up to receive the FREE weekly date night email delivered every Thursday... just in time for the weekend! Subscribe HERE. 

 

 

A Church Street District Date Night

It’s been a few years since I wandered through the Church Street District. My memory of the area was that it was a place most frequented by a twenty-something, 3 for the price of 1 drink guzzling crowd, a demographic I’m sadly no longer a part of.  

While the 3 for 1 drinks are still offered at places like Chillers and Latitudes, there is SO much more going on in this district. Sure, you can come here and booze it up at its bars and clubs but you can also dine at some of downtown’s best restaurants, watch live theater, take in a Flamenco show, and play dirty Bingo.

Here’s a pictorial that tells a story of the ‘new’ Church Street District and hopefully invites you to check it out again or for the first time.  

Besides a stellar Happy Hour weekdays from 5-7pm with $4 sangria and tapas, Ceviche also features Tapas Tuesdays when they have over 30 different tapas available all night for $4.

 

 

Church Street Station is home to Eternal Tap and will welcome a new sport's bar in a few months.

 

Besides yummy diner food, Hamburger Mary's has a sweet line-up of nightly events, including HamBingo On Tuesdays and Trivia on Wednesdays.

Mad Cow Theatre moved to the heart of Church Street last October. On June 7th it will debut Dream Girls, a musical production based on the music business in the 1960s. 

Don Jefe’s Tequila Parlor opened just last week offering tacos, tapas and lots of tequila-infused drinks.

Kres Chophouse, a swanky steakhouse almost on the corner of Orange Avenue, features free appetizers and discounts on select cocktails during Happy Hour Monday – Friday 4 p.m. – 7 p.m 

Although it's not on Church Street, The Grand Bohemian Hotel is a member of the Church Street District. Head there for artful cocktails in the Bosendorfer Lounge or dinner at The Boheme.

It's always a good value at Urban Flats, where you'll find tons of $10 flat breads and $7 wines by the glass.

I'm dying to try out The Rusty Spoon, a farm-to-fork concept right downstairs from the 55 West condos. Everyone I know who's been there says it is amazing!

Finally, close out the night at ONE80 GREY GOOSE Lounge, my new favorite rooftop bar in downtown Orlando. It's open most Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10pm. 

Coupled: The Game Show & Game Night

For the last four months, Curtis Earth (yep, the trivia guy) and I have been secretly working on an event that we are so excited to finally unveil.

Coupled: The Game Show & Game Night will debut at The Abbey on Saturday, June 15^th at 7:30pm.

Beginning with a hilarious interpretation of the classic he said/she said Newlywed Game, the event will invite 6 couples to compete on stage for prizes as they demonstrate how well they REALLY know each other. Of course, Curtis will be mixing in trivia throughout so audience members can win some fabulous prizes too!

Immediately following the ninety-minute show, classic board games (Sorry, Connect Four, etc.) will be set up at tables throughout this posh venue so you and your sweetie can continue the fun well into the night. In addition, we’ll be playing Twister, Musical Chairs, and Dance Freeze on the dance floor.

Expect lots of prizes, drink specials and more fun than you could ever imagine having on date night.

Tickets, which are $12.50 per person, can be purchased online in advance here as well as at The Abbey. 

Hope to see you there!

 

A Little Mental Stimulation

Here are two happenings this week designed not simply to entertain and amuse but also to enlighten:

TONIGHT: There Will Be Madness – A Flash Fiction Blood Bath
Tuesday, March 12
6 pm - 8 pm
Urban ReThink
Free
From J. Bradley, the creator of the monthly poetry open mic known as There Will Be Words, comes There Will Be Madness, an eight-writer battle of the pens consisting of three rounds increasing in word count and decreasing in authors until one writer is left standing.

Nerd Night
Thursday, March 14
7 pm - 8:30 pm
Stardust Video and Coffee
Free
After popping up in more than 50 cities across the globe, Nerd Nite is finally coming to Orlando with an inaugural evening of fun-yet-informative talks across all disciplines. Nerds and non-nerds alike will gather to meet, drink, and learn something new from the various presenters slated to enlighten the crowd each month.
Check out the Facebook page.

 

By the way, you should follow GDO on Twitter and Facebook for even MORE great date night ideas!