Dear Orlando – Part 2 (An overview of some of my favorite places),

It's true.

The five years we spent together were pretty sweet in many ways….

I really appreciated all the wonderful things I saw and experienced, the incredible people who fell into my life, and the happy places I frequented with them.

Here are some of my favorites….and I thank you for keeping these places alive. When you mix the right people with the right places, magic happens. There was magic, in one way or another, in each of these places for me. And no, none of that magic had pixie dust on it or was in any way related to Disney. My experience was an authentic Orlando experience, the one the tourists don't get to see, the one that's worth moving there for, or staying for, or, eventually, leaving but leaving with a warm and full heart.

This is a little tribute to you, Orlando. Thank you for the magical times. I hope we have some more.

In no particular order:

Blue Door – Santiago huckleberry candles (for: imparting irresistibleness via a convenient wax tub that you ignite in your home in order to create optimal appeal for someone you'd like to seduce at some point), Hudson jeans (lending a buttshape to the buttshapeless), tie-dye hair ties ($1 each)

Jewelry – Be on Park – I pretty much want everything in there.

Sandwiches – Sandwich Bar, Pom Pom's

Best server – Dee-lite at Pom Pom's – sweetest girl ever. If you don't know the reference to Dee-lite, look it up you child.

Coffee and people – Stardust Video – this is the best feng shui spot for freelancers – I got more work done there than anywhere else

Best coffee – Stardust Video – perfect every time. The ratios are beautiful. Mathematicians would find this breathtaking. Like there's jesus in every cup. But there's not. There's just several long haired beauties behind the bar making the goodness.  And one willowy, beautiful short-haired one, Emily. Go there. Get some.

Second best Coffee – Drunken Monkey – although no one is drunk and there are no monkeys. Sometimes the people are not so nice and the service is maddeningly slow. But the breaktfast burrito things are very good and it has really decent vegan stuff. Oh, and pure cane sugar soda pops in glass bottles. Tasty and refreshing. None of that corn syrup shizznit.

Vegan Stuff – Ethos. Yum! I love the bruschetta. It's the best $5 vegan lunch in town.

Used Cds, irreverent cards – Park Ave CDs

Italian food – Armando's in Hannibal Square. Slow service but calm down. Pretend you're in Europe. The owner is Sicilian. The food tastes as if it is. So relax. Yeah, it's a little slow. But what's the rush?

Best local place with wonderful people – Maxine's on Shine – beautiful wine list, delicious everything, amazing desserts, sweet owners, fun vibe, great locals

Best Dessert – Maxine's on Shine – get the caramel buttercream cake. I'm not even a sweet tooth person and this is one I absolutely crave!

Best Vietnamese – Little Saigon – great food, really friendly, no atmosphere but who cares, good food

Best massage therapist/healer – Kathleen Quinlan

Best dive bar – Hideaway. They never heckled me even when I wore my Patriots jersey. It may be a dive bar but the peeps in there have class.

Other places to hide – P.R.s in Winter Park, Burton's

Best sushi – Amurra

Other good sushi – Shari in Thornton Park, Lola's in College Park

Best Park Ave fun – Prato – the food is a little overrated, but here's what to get: order the meatballs (there are only 3 so don't bother to share, make it your order alone), share (or not) the salad with the cheese and the apples or pears (lunch and dinner are different), and then just enjoy the décor and the pretty people. They have a garden on the wall, folks. A garden. Their typeface is beautiful. Their logo is modern. Like it for being a cool place to be.

Best yoga studio – Orlando Power Yoga. Hands down, downward dog down, heart open. Whatever. This is the best yoga studio by far. One of the best I've been to in the US. I used to go to Full Circle but when Louis left, it just wasn't the same. OPY is a wonderful place.

SUP – and best yoga studio on a paddleboard – Paddleworks. Go there. Get on the water. Get all stretchy. Be outside. Laugh. Tip over, maybe. Wonder why, the next day, your sides ache. Because you just had a bass ass core workout without even noticing! Try this one if you haven't already!

Best burger – Ravenous Pig – dude, it's amazing, plus it comes with stick thin truffles fries served in a pint glass. Yumtasticness. I recommend ordering it without the bleu cheese. Not needed. 

Runners up – Johnny's Fillin' Station, Graffiti Junktion

Best colorists – Hira Anees at Dolce Vita, Jay Johnson at Nube Nove

Best stylist – Hira Anees ( her cuts last and last, she's meticulous and wonderful)

Plants, flowers, pots, inspiration – Palmer's

Best old school steak and 70s retro bar – Linda's La Cantina – just awesome. Get the steak without the bacon. It's better that way. And be sure to eat in the charmingly lit sunken bar with the strange pond thingy. You'll feel like Lonnie Anderson might sit down next to you and ask you to buy her a martini and light her smoke. 

Best cupcakes – Rhapsody Bakery – seriously, right? Vegan ain't my thang babay but these are delish. No joke. I'm a butter girl and these are just to die for.

Pom Pom's also does cupcakes the traditional butter way and are also divine. But Rhapsody has just a little more magic in there, I think. Not sure what it is exactly.

Best away from it all bar – The Imperial – good wine and craft beers – plus the furniture and décor is all for sale. So it's good inspiration. A moveable feast. A living, breathing Pinterest explosion of desire.

Best music venue – The Social

Second Best – The Beacham

Best pizza – Anthony's

Best margarita – Hillstone's (the BEST margarita anywhere. Ever. Maybe even in Mexico)

Best house painter – Ananda Walker – amazing, fast, affordable, responsible – what more can you ask for? Call this girl. She's amazing. Email me for her number.

Best sweet treat – Chocolate covered popcorn on Park Ave. – seriously addictive. They also have chocolate covered bacon popcorn. No joke. I have not tried it. It was on back order. It's on back order every day. The people come. The people eat. The people wait. I'll have to get back there when I visit.

That's it for now.

Orlando, I miss you. I really do. Actually, I really just miss the people I went to all these places with (and yes, I know I just ended a sentence with a preposition).

Keep being fun.

I'll be back to visit.

Much love,

Jess