Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Taste the MYSTERY meat. Spooky stuff Oct 26.

As if Halloween isn't SCARY enough, the Tavares Waterfront Entertainment District has conjured up another spooky event.
As part of the annual HOWL FEST sponsored by the Tavares Chamber of Commerce at the end of October which will feature a costume contest, $5 Hayrides, Trunk or treat, and entertainment,
a Hot Dog Tasting contest will be happening downtown Tavares on Sat Oct 26 from 4PM-7PM.

You can taste versions of Hot Dogs and special fixins made by ALS Landing, Pressed For Time, Ruby Street Grille, O'Keefes, Pastore's Pizza, lake Dora Sushi and Sake and Tasso Cajun Kitchen.

Sushi Hot Dogs? Crawfish wieners? Who knows what the businesses will prepare. 
DARE to venture beyond the mysterious meat of the plain hot dog.
Tickets to taste and Vote are on sale for $10 at Hoity Toity, Ruby Street and O'Keefe's.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Road Closure -week of Sept 16, 2013

Please note 

Road Closure - Caroline St. & Disston Ave. week of September 16

This intersection will be closed to through traffic while the City works on utility upgrades in the downtown area. Please proceed with caution in this neighborhood and follow directional signs

Click HERE for more info on utility upgrades in Tavares, FL and see a map of the traffic detour plan.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Everyone Loves a Parade!

EVERYONE has a parade memory. Whether it was a sister or brother in the marching band, an uncle driving an old shined up hot rod  in the Rotary section or a line of badly dressed clowns carrying a banner and throwing out candy for their local organization, we have all been there.
 Parades are a part of Americana and give small towns a time to come together and celebrate their community. Its a time to show off your pride , parade down the street with your group and tell the world whats important to you.
Parades are also a great way to support your community festivities and create memories for your friends and family...and you!
If YOU want to be a part of the Tavares, FL 4th of July Parade, here's your chance. Its FREE!

Posted by the City of Tavares:

Participants NEEDED for 4th of July Parade - Register now
"It's a Grand Old Flag" is the theme of Tavares' Independence Day celebration and you are cordially invited to participate in the parade.
 NO ENTRY FEES!
Parade will begin on Main Street & Ruby Street at 5pm. All floats and participants will be judged and awards presented in the following categories:
Most Patriotic, Most Creative, Best Youth, Best Float and Judges Award
Applications must be submitted to the City of Tavares no later than June 24th.
Click HERE for the Application
For more info call 352.742.6319 or email dblais@tavares.org

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Time captured through Art


 Ah, Florida..
Growing up in upstate New York, I always dreamed of coming to Florida.
 Old books like "The Yearling" by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings about living in the tranquility of palm tree woods and the promise of thick hot summer nights engulfed me. It was my mission to live and fish in peace for the rest of my life in eternally warm weather on the edge of a peaceful lake.
 Finally the day came when we arrived in Orlando.
Shock is just the tip of the iceberg. Not only was this Florida filled with Disney and Disney wannabe tourist traps, traffic jams and angry sounding foreigners, The whole surrounding area was ticky tacky suburban homes that all looked the same.
I eventually found Tavares and Mount Dora, Florida and Lake Dora on the Harris Chain of Lakes. The lakes are connected by the Dora Canal, a stretch of pristine Cypress canopy dotted with wild alligators and blue heron that will take you back in time. You can see the canal yourself on a narrated boat tour with Premier Boats. See a little preview below:
If you miss the boat, make sure you check out the Art exhibit at Tavares Art in the Square starting March 11, 2013.
Acclaimed Florida Artist Catherine Haynes Stockwell will be featured through April 10.
 Mrs. Stockwell was born in Deland, FL in 1893 and was a 1917 graduate of Stetson University. She moved to Eustis in 1937 with her family and lived there until her death in 1983. See real old Florida and particularly this area as it was seen through her eyes before tourist attractions and shopping malls. Her paintings preserve Central Florida’s landmarks of that period such as Trout Lake before the trailer park and the landing on Lake Eustis before civilization changed the shoreline. Her daughter estimates she must have completed at least 5,000 paintings in her lifetime.

There will be a reception featuring her artwork Monday, March 11, 2013, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm at Tavares City Hall, 201 E. Main Street. Admission is free.

Bob Grenier, author of “The Gallant Captain Melton Haynes,”and Tavares city councilman will introduce the artist’s daughters MayLo and Kathleen.  Captain Harry will provide live entertainment.  Light refreshments will be provided.
This exhibit kicks off  Viva Libros!, the 2013 BookFest presented by the Lake County Library System. For a full event schedule visit www.MyLakeLibrary.org.
For more information on Tavares Art in the Square exhibit, contact Tamara Rogers, Tavares Community Services, 352.742.6338.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

African-American Heritage Festival Feb 1 & 2, 2013

Posted by the city of Tavares, Florida

African-American Heritage Festival - February 1 & 2

African-American Heritage Festival
February 1 & 2 in Tavares
The African-American Heritage Festival will take place in Tavares on February 1 & 2. This celebration of African-American culture will include three major events.
On Friday, February 1, in the Tavares High School Gymnasium, there will be a free cultural event. The Community Choir will perform at 6 pm and a dance performance will begin at 7 pm. The Center for Contemporary Dance presents Moore Dance Project in “Reflections,” a series of new contemporary dance works set to the soulful sounds of the Motown era. Under the artistic direction of award-winning choreographer Dario J. Moore, the Moore Dance Project is the area’s first and only African-American professional dance ensemble. Using classic music from Motown legends like Marvin Gay, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and many more, the company will present world-premier dance works featuring seasoned dancers who command the stage with grace, artistry and depth. Refreshments will be served by the African-American Heritage Committee.
On Saturday, February 2, there will be a parade down Main Street, in downtown Tavares, which will begin at 10:00 am. Following the parade there will be an African-American Festival from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm in Wooton Park, located on Ruby Street. Entertainment includes singing, dancing, gospel choirs and steppers, promising an afternoon of toe-tapping fun. There will also be arts and crafts, food vendors, as well as historical and cultural educational exhibits. Admission is free.
The Moore Dance Project produces artistically-engaging dance works that celebrate and examine new perspectives in the African-American experience. Founded in Washington, DC in 2001, the Project has been operating out of The Center for Contemporary Dance in Winter Park, FL since 2006. Since arriving in Central Florida, Moore Dance Project has presented more than 35 new dance works, including those commissioned by the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity, Rollins College, the Tupperware Company, Black Enterprise Magazine and the Pepsi-Cola Company.
The Center for Contemporary Dance is an award-winning education, incubation and production center for the dance arts. Over the past eleven years, the organization has supported emerging and seasoned artists in the creation and presentation of more than 250 new dance works, including those by Moore Dance Project. Responsible for the emergence of no less than eleven professional contemporary dance companies, the organization has received recognition and awards from United Arts of Central Florida, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Florida Alliance for Arts Education. To learn more, visit www.TheCenterForDance.org.
For questions regarding the dance performance contact Tavares Community Services, 352.742.6338.
For questions on the African-American Festival contact Pastor Mike Watkins, 352.406.9608 or Sheila Short 352.552.0325.