ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER PRESCHOOL REVIEW!!!! …read more Where do I even begin? I want to start with Ms. Juanita. She is one of those educators who you immediately know is doing what she was meant to do. She is incredibly passionate about STEM, education, and learning, but more than that, she is passionate about creating experiences for children that they simply cannot get anywhere else. She goes above and beyond every single day, and you can feel how much she truly cares about the children and their experience at school. I was incredibly lucky to have my oldest son accepted into the Orlando Science Center Preschool when some of our school friends decided to leave our previous preschool for what they felt was a better program. We had heard so much about the Science Center Preschool and knew what an incredible opportunity it would be if we could get a spot. And I am SO grateful we got that spot. My oldest son, who is now 7, truly developed his personality at this school. He wore dinosaur shirts constantly, brought his favorite animal figurines for show & tell every week, and fell completely in love with science, space, engineering, nature, and everything around him. But what I loved most was that the school gave him the freedom and confidence to just be himself. The preschool also taught him something I value tremendously: respect. They celebrated different cultures, values, backgrounds, and perspectives and taught children to appreciate what makes each person unique. That kind of foundation is priceless. My son is now enrolled in one of the top ranked charter schools in the state, and while I am incredibly proud of him and happy with his education and grades, I truly credit the Orlando Science Center Preschool with giving him the fundamentals and confidence that helped prepare him for where he is today. And I have to admit... I miss the dinosaur shirts. I miss the silly Mohawk. But most of all, I miss those daily updates with pictures and videos showing us exactly what our child was experiencing, learning, discovering, and enjoying throughout the day. Fast forward a few years, and I am reminded of all of those things again because my baby, now 3, is officially a Science Center Preschool student. There was absolutely no question in my mind that he would attend this school. He was enrolled in the 3 year old program as soon as we had the opportunity. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Before starting at the Science Center, my youngest attended a part time church preschool. I want to be very clear that we loved that school and the people there. They were incredibly loving and sweet and will always hold a special place in our family's heart. But having now experienced both environments, I can already see such a difference in the learning style and opportunities when comparing the two side by side. (Ms. Chau, Ms. Michaela my baby loves you!) He WANTS to go learn. For a three year old, I can't think of a better gift than that. My oldest still remembers all of the things that made the Science Center so special. When I asked him what he thought about his little brother going there, his only wish was that he could still go there himself as a second grader. And that says everything. Ms. Juanita somehow always seems to be pulling strings and creating opportunities for our kids, from getting them into special events and theater experiences across the street, opd firetruck surprises, to sending home books, creating incredible show and tell experiences, plays/events for parents and finding ways to make learning exciting and memorable. I still have books that were given to us during my oldest son's preschool years. I still remember the excitement of his weekly show and tell. I remember the daily photos and videos, the weekly take home agendas with curriculum information, and all of the ways the school kept us connected and involved in our child's learning even when we weren't physically there. As a parent, that means so much. You aren't just dropping your child off and hoping they had a good day. You get to SEE it. You get to be part of it. You get to watch them discover something new, make friends, explore, ask questions, and grow. My oldest had such an incredible experience here that there was never a question about where his little brother would go. And now, only two weeks into this new chapter, I am already seeing that same excitement for learning beginning in him. I truly cannot give this school enough credit. Orlando Science Center Preschool is hands down the best preschool in Florida in my eyes. It is so much more than a preschool. It is a place where children are encouraged to be curious, confident, kind, creative, and completely themselves Thank you, Ms. Juanita, and thank you to the entire Orlando Science Center Preschool team, for giving my boys such an incredible foundation and for making school a place they genuinely love. My baby is already so in love!

We attended a birthday party here and had such a great time. The kids got to do two hands-on…read morescience experiments, and everyone was completely engaged -- my kid was still talking about it days later. After the experiments, we were free to explore the entire science center, and there's so much to see that we could have stayed for hours longer. The T-Rex theater show was the highlight -- genuinely amazing, and just as fun for the adults as it was for the kids. The staff really made the day. Every person we interacted with was helpful, courteous, and clearly enjoyed being there. Everything ran smoothly from start to finish. Highly recommend this place, whether you're going for a party or just visiting for the day. We'll definitely be back.

A wonderful commemorative mural in the overflow parking lot for track shack off of Mills Ave. It's…read morealways nice to see not just artistic murals but ones with a meaningful purpose as well! This one is a tribute to the Pulse incident and shows our city's pride and solidarity despite the things we've faced. This one is located next to another beautiful mural across the way from the main track shack building in their 'overflow' lot. They don't have much parking on site so this lot is where most people park anyways so it's super easy to get to and take a snap. Overall: A++ Love this meaningful and well done mural!!

On June 12, 2016 hate and anger reared its ugly head in my city. I am still processing my feelings…read moreas it was such a shock to me that something like this can happen. I know I will never truly understand it and it will forever live in my mind, heart and soul. But, what I am taking from it is nothing but love. I will continuously pray for those lost, their loved ones and our city as a whole. I am so very grateful to live in a city that is so inclusive and supportive and we are truly blessed to see the outpouring of love and respect that has risen from this terrible time. I adore this brand new addition to our loving city so that we keep this reminder close; that Love will ALWAYS win! Graffiti artists, Luce Sky and HepsFury have made this gorgeous tribute mural on the southern side of Pho Hoa. Go check it out and support our City Beautiful!

I went to an event Pet Pool Party in the Marilyn L. Mennello Sculpture Garden at The Mennello…read moreMuseum. 'Pools in the Park' was Free Admission sponsored by Valley National Bank. I did not bring my dogs because it was super hot and I had a few stops in this area. I arrived near the end of the event to see if this was something I could share with my dogs. I saw lots of happy owners and pups (some wet.). They had great raffles and fun tents to experience with your pet. Full disclosure I have been a member of Mennello in the past and attended their folk music events. I really like that they have events that empower patrons to participate in art, music and the community. They have another Pet event in Fall 2025.

If you have 20-30 minutes to kill and want to be in air-conditioning, this is a nice small place to…read moresee curated art. Admission is $8, although there are discounts that bring it down to $3-5. I'd say $5 is about right for the time you spend here. The staff were very nice and the permanent exhibits were great to see. The majority of the museum is dedicated to the childlike folk art of Earl Cunningham. The paintings are well lit and feature bright colors and really convey feelings of joy. Besides that, there are wonderful bronze sculptures as well as a few pieces from other artists. There's also the grounds of the museum that have several outdoor installations. We paid $8 a piece and were done in about 20 minutes but I did enjoy myself and felt I contributed to the arts in Orlando.

"A photo does not always have to be technically perfect and a masterpiece. After all, life is not…read moreand yet we find it wonderful. " - Nina Hrusa July 8, 2021 Mesmerized by Snap!'s Exhibit of Martin Stranka. It was a gloomy & rainy day that day, but I was so happy to finally see this artist's and photographer's exhibit after viewing it online. A solo exhibition by award-winning international photographer, Martin Stranka, in collaboration with Forbes Magazine.

The Snap! Gallery is an ever changing art space with three galleries located in the Camden 420 East…read moreChurch building. The gallery is free entry to visitors Monday thru Friday until 6pm. The opening art exhibit are world class and occasionally feature local artists. Snap's emphasis is photography, and the shows are carefully curated by the founders Holly and Patrick Kahn. If in town, stop by and visit this special space.

Sidewards is such a gem!…read more Their craft beer is great! Their service, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Their food is delicious. They have quaint indoor seating and also an outdoor space where you can enjoy a hot day and a cold beer. Also, plenty of parking available in their lot, but be mindful it is shared with other businesses. Cheers!

Absolutely love this place water coming for a quick stop or a night with the boys the bear is great…read morethe food is great and the service is fantastic. Had enough of a good time that forgot to take pictures. The beer and mead is great you'll have to order depending on your taste but I have not been dissapointed yet. The variety of food they have exceeded what you would think they would have. From quick app like bites to sandwiches. Also they dont mind if you get some goods from the surrounding businesses. It can get a little loud but still a good space to hang out and talk. And if you sit outside you are almost assured a random encounter with a cute pup . Very nice place in a very nice side of town.

Received gift certificates for a Christmas gift and was finally able to cash in those gift cards…read moreand have the experience. We were not sure what to expect for the experience, but we had an AMAZING experience and made some great memories. There was a group of 5 of us that we were able to stop in and book our timeslot since online was only showing 4 slots. We had very clear and easy to follow instructions. The kids were both able to do their own projects and make their own choices for color. This is such a unique and fun experience and we will be back closer to Christmas to make some ornaments! There is also a table outside to be able to bring some snack and drinks.

We visited Florida glass house on a Saturday night for a glassblowing workshop. We honestly had no…read moreclue what to expect going in, but there were 4 people total which is good because it wasn't an overwhelming number. Each of us got to decide whether to make a globe ornament or a flower. The flowers were beautiful, but I'm very utilitarian so I went with a globe. The instructor who also owns the studio walked us through all the custom color blends he makes for his glass and that was awesome. One thing that was awesome about this workshop for someone who had never done any glass work before was that he really wouldn't let us fail. Our instructor was with us every step of the way and walked us through how we should do things and would help us if things were going awry before it became an issue. He was very good at his job and answered all of my questions about his tools and the process without hesitation. He was super friendly and showed us an installation that he was working on for a show soon too. I really enjoyed this workshop, and it's awesome that we got to take something home. I'd definitely go back for another workshop. They also do group workshop events too.

i came here on a day a lot of the exhibits were being worked on but i enjoyed the half off price…read morebecause of it (plus i can come back !!) this was a beautiful museum of art w/ such a variety of different types of art. i took my time as i walked around the rooms & it was lovely. they had a whole hallway dedicated to young artists which was sweet & they also have many art programs for the littles as well as adult events! i really enjoyed my time & will make another stroll soon, i'm sure of it. thank you for existing.

We came here last week for the third Thursday event. March 20 26th…read more Every third Thursday they have a free event. You can get in free to the museum all day until 8:00 p.m. Some of the artists are there and you can talk to them about their artwork. They were giving out free wine and water. Great art museum to check out once a month because they do change out the displays. We got there a little late They were closing at 8:00 p.m. and we got there at 7:30 so we had to do a quick rush through but I was so glad I got to see this and we'll come back next month.

I adore the Orlando arts community so much. So many awesome, gifted, and brilliant artists come…read moretogether to improve the Orlando esthetic and community. Randall Paints is one of my fav as he brings vibrant colors, fun robots, and a touch of happy to everything he lays his designs on. The Mills50 Dumpster behind Fit Body Boot Camp on Mills. He does these awesome Illustrations and you can request custom ones as well. Spots around town you can find his mural goodies: - Mills50 Dumpster - Downtown Orlando inside Catalyst - Wall at Pho Hoa Orlando - Mills50 Junkbots Mural on the Spots around town you can grab your own piece of Randall Paints: - Thornton Park Wine Walks - Local art events like Maker Faire Orlando - WineArt Wednesday in Lake Mary - Baldwin Park First Fridays - Local Art Shows at bars around town! - Or check out his online store: https://squareup.com/market/randall-paints Thanks for calling Orlando home, Randall

Charming shop very nice gift selection for spiritual friends. Important part of our community --…read moreholding space for alternative recovery groups. Thank you!!

When you enter, you are entering into a sacred space. The shop has a selection of crystals and…read moreother gifts in the front and another room with more items- including clothing. The big draw was the room with altar space used for events such as yoga, meditation sessions and more. I didn't enter, but poked my head in. I snagged a hand hammered copper bracelet here and a few crystals. Had a great chat with the man (owner?) who was working.

Really enjoy this palce and the staff who work here. I just wish is was closer to where I live…read more Very knowlagable about photogrophy and the local area (we're new to Orlando so chatting with them has given us a lot of interesting recommendations to try. I'll contunue to make the trec there.

I've been a patron of this store for many years now. While I do not visit it as often as I used to…read moreback in my collegiate and (worldwide) traveling days, I still pop in from time to time for my camera needs. Sometimes, I pop in just to see what new doo-dads and knick-knacks they have in store. Service is always good - at least I've never had any negative experiences. Staff are always kind and helpful. They have a good variety of popular / some vintage, and some niche items. Pricing can vary depending on what you are looking for. Usually, I find them comparable to other major retailers if you are looking at the more popular "items." However, you can get a good deal out of here. It really just depends on what it is you are in search of. All in all, this is a great little shop for your photography and hobby needs.