Cask & Larder

            Are you someone who enjoys a classy upscale dinner and can appreciate a good ole’ fashioned southern cooked meal? Do you love craft brews and specialty cocktails?  Do you prefer a cool laid back ambiance teamed with the highest professional standard? If this is how you like to get down and dine, then you should check out Cask & Larder located on Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park.  This 22-month-old restaurant has created big hype and delivered high quality results since opening in September 2012.  It is not only a fantastic restaurant; it doubles as a brewery that brews all beers on tap in house.

Cask & Larder brew pub prides itself in its seasonal, fresh and local ingredients.  Therefore, the menu is constantly changing to keep up with the best fruits and veggies available.  They are also known for curing their own meats, canning their own preserved fruits, and pickling their own vegetables.  The day I visited this unique southern public house, some of the entrees on the menu consisted of Florida Frog Legs, Smoked Duck, Clams and Sausage, and Country Fried Rabbit. I ordered an Imperial IPA and an order of the fried oyster lettuce wraps.  To say the least, I was completely taken back by the amazing presentation, taste, and overall uniqueness of the meal.  My best advice for you is to go there and try it for yourself.

Photo credit to: https://www.facebook.com/cask.larder?fref=ts

Cask & Larder is open for dinner 7 days a week with a Sunday brunch from 10:30 -3PM .  With its convenient location and affordably priced beer, this brew pub will be a forever favorite of mine…

Needless to say, I have found my new birthday spot for years to come.

Ty Zarbo

for About Town With Shel

Raphsodic Bakery Urban Pastry Art House

Raphsodic Bakery

Are you a the type of person who is health conscious and cares about what kinds of foods enter your body, but cant seem to fight the never-ending craving for your sweet tooth?  Look no further than Raphsodic Bakery, an urban pastry art house. 

This is not your ordinary bakery with cakes filled with trans-fats, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup and preservatives.  This bakery bakes all of its cakes with integrity and a deep sense of caring for its customers.  Everything that comes out of the oven at The Raphsodic Bakery is handmade, all natural, and contains the best in high-quality ingredients.  Did I mention that all of the products are Vegan as well?  That means no animal products whatsoever.  They pride themselves in being egg free, dairy free, honey free, as well as gluten free.  Raphsodic Bakery is an allergy and special diet conscious bakery, so they use gluten-free flours, thickeners, and leaveners sweetened with raw blue agave nectar.  The owners of this new age bakery work hard to insure that everyone will be able to enjoy their sweet cakes; regardless of allergy or personal diet choice.

 As if being the healthiest sweet shop in Orlando isn’t enough; the owners of this hip bakery, Jonathan and Katie Andrews, are probably some of the coolest and most down to earth business owners in town.  Their store is filled not just with amazing baked goods, but also with local art and handmade jewelry, which adds a sense of caring for the local community to the shop.

Next time you are in the Mills and 50 District and can’t seem to fight off your sweet tooth, quit fighting and swing by 710 Mills Avenue to The Raphsodic Bakery for some of the healthiest and yummiest cupcakes in town.  I promise, your tastebuds and your body will thank you.

Tyler Zarbo

for About Town With Shel 

Skin Studio

Amy Runyan - Owner of Skin Studio

When it comes to the beautiful community of Lake Baldwin Park, the best place to get a facial and a wax is Skin Studio. Skin Studio offers professional skincare on a personal level.

Amy Runyan is the owner and esthetician of Skin Studio. Her years of experience in the entertainment industry have taught her the importance of skincare. Through her exposure in the industry, she has gained knowledge of skincare and has started her own skincare studio!

If Amy looks familiar to you then you might know her as the former Miss Ohio America or in national commercials such as: Geico, Klondike, Florida’s Natural Orange Juice, Friendly’s, Academy Sports, and many more. Every client that comes in to Skin Studio can trust that their skin is in the perfect hands.

Amy truly cares for each of her clients and her facials and services are personalized to each client that walks through her doors. Every single minute is truly utilized to help each client with their needs. Amy is friendly, knowledgeable, and personable. Not only are Amy’s services excellent, but the products that she uses and offers are great and beneficial to the skin. Skin Studio is by appointments only, however Amy’s services and expertise will nurture and rejuvenate your skin. Your skin will truly be thankful at Skin Studio.

Lily Nguyen

for About Town With Shel

Mark your calendars for Park Avenue Fashion Week 2014

It's back ! Mark your calendars for the biggest and most exciting event of the year. Follow them on Facebook to stay in the know for all the great sneak peaks leading up to the event this October! #AreYouReady #PAFW14 

Subu CrossFit

For those looking to get in shape, have an enjoyable, no excuses workout, with people who will push you to do your best then Subu is the place for you! It’s the only CrossFit affiliate box in the heart of downtown Orlando located on Robinson.

Two weeks ago I took on the challenge of the WOD (workout of the day). First, I talked with the owner and coach Larry Marks, who is very cool, down to earth and super fit. He told me of his success story of starting in the backyard experimenting with CrossFit with friends (who later turned into business partners,) before long there were 20 or 30 people a night coming to train with them. They carefully paved their way becoming certified, requesting the affiliate and scouting the perfect location for the now successful Subu CrossFit Downtown. After we talked and he showed me around the “box” which is a term that means the gym, he coached me through the workout of the day.

CrossFit is a conditioning and strength program dedicated to improving agility, stamina, speed, balance, flexibility, power and more. CrossFit workouts include high intensity interval training, Olympic weightlifting, gymnastics, calisthenics, powerlifting and other exercises.

Once we finished the WOD, I could not lift a limb, and I like to think I am pretty athletic, but I was ready to call it quits. It was such a different kind of workout than what I was used to. Regardless, I enjoyed everything about it, the people, the exercises and the community feeling of the box itself. It was a great experience and I will definitely go back.

Nick Del Orbe
for About Town With Shel

Universal Studios Mardi Gras Grand Celebration

Mardi Gras. When think of this, we think of beads, drinking, beads, food, beads, and more beads. Mardi Gras is known for being held in New Orleans, Louisiana right in the center of the French Quarter. If you couldn’t make it this year then you might have visited Florida’s version, right here in Orlando, Universal Studios Mardi Gras Grand Celebration.

Photo Credit: http://disneyways.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/resources-digitalassets-mardi-gras-at-universal-orlando-resort-5.jpg 

After the concert, unfortunately the park closes, but if you are not ready for the night to be over then head to CityWalk for the after party! There is a live DJ on the stage near the water, or if you are still feeling the Mardi Gras spirit head to Pat O’Briens to experience their famous Hurricanes, or sing a song with the dueling pianos in their lounge! 

While our own home version extends longer than what they have going on in Louisiana, the atmosphere is the same. On select nights from February 8^th to June 7^th, Universal Studios Florida turns into the French Quarter. You can find amazing food, crazy dancers dressed up in costumes, as well as performances from well-known artists right after the parade and of course beads, beads, and more beads.

I was able to experience this tradition at one of the last nights of the celebration.

Mardi Gras officially starts at 5 P.M.  in Universal Studios. You can find stilt walkers, performers, and jesters all dressed up in the Mardi Gras spirit right near the French Quarter in the park, which is to the left of Transformers, and in front of Twister: Ride It Out. You are able to joke, take pictures, and get a few beads right before the parade begins.

If you are going to try some of the New Orleans specialties, I highly suggest going early to avoid lines! All the food was fantastic, of course, whether you love potato twists, jambalaya, shrimp po boy’s, or my favorite, beignet’s you will not be disappointed. Universal definitely brings the Cajun spice to make these dishes transport you straight to New Orleans.

Depending on the time of the performance, the parade will start forty-five minutes before that (The last parade will start at 8:15pm ). The parade will start out of the Esoteric Gates (right across the street from Mel’s Diner in Hollywood) and it will make a loop from there to in front of Shrek Monster’s Café, turn into New York, and head back to exit through the gates once again. The best place to stand, for the most beads would be right in front of the Horror Make-Up Show, that way you can  experience the floats not once, but twice.

With over ten different types of floats  will all amaze, and astound you. Every year there is a theme to the floats, this year’s theme is “Around the World in Eighty Days”, from the classic Jules Verne’s story. Each float has a story that will take you around the world from beginning to end.

After you have gotten more beads than you can dream of owning, head to the concert yard to experience the live performance, with only one performer, Robin Thicke, who is known for singing “Blurred Lines”. These concerts are fun, short, and worth standing next to someone who might pop your personal space bubble by dancing too close.

Photo Credit: http://www.patobriens.com/patobriens/images/orlando.gif

We hope you have fun! We know we did!

Morgan Mcgee

for About Town With Shel

The W Event: Where Winter Park Meets Windermere

We invite you to experience Park Avenue's boutiques with a Windermere twist. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Kids Beating Cancer. Held at the new luxurious Jaguar of Orlando. Eat, drink, and experience the spring and summer fashion runway show.

Tickets are available at: Shelmarkspr.com/thewevent