orlando weekly college guide

6 College Survival guide 2012

SOCIAL STUDIESorlando Weekly’S

College Survival guide

Welcome to Orlando Weekly’s second annual college guide. Start studying. We have a lot of ground to cover.

table of contentsBarely legal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Party animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Last night a DJ saved my life . . . . . . . . . 21The parent trap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Strap on the feedbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Frenemy foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

PuBlisHer Michael Wagner ediTor Erin Sullivan

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Copyright © 2012 Orlando Weekly Inc., all rights reserved.

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barely legalPlaces to party (sober)

if you’re under 21

Sad but true: It sucks to be under 21 when you’re in college. Not necessarily because you want to get drunk all the time – what really sucks is that you get left in the dust when your friends go out to party and you can’t even get past the bouncer at the front door.

Fortunately, Orlando does have some options for the under-21 crowd. You may have to watch as your buds guzzle down pitchers of cheap beer right in front of your face while you’re sipping on a soda, but at least you aren’t sulking in your room while everyone else is having a good time. Here’s a list of some of our favorite 18-and-up spots.

This is one of the most colorful 18-and-up spots we can think of. It attracts a diverse crowd, ranging from hipsters to faux vampires, and every night of the week is themed – different music, different types of dancers, different drinkers (or, in your case, non-drinkers). Tuesday night’s Grits and Gravy is super old-school – soul and R&B from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s – and Friday and Saturdays DJs spin New Wave from the ’80s and faves from the ’90s. Other nights you’ll hear the type of music that’ll give you a chance to gloat to friends about how you heard it first. This is the place to be if you like a little variety in your under-21 bar-hopping.

These two bars are located directly across the street from UCF, so this is where the underage collegiate go to dance. Visit either spot on a busy night and you’ll definitely have a story to tell your friends – a story that will more than likely contain a belligerent frat guy or a way-too-tipsy girl yelling “YOLO!” A decent place to be for a late-night adventure, as long as you don’t mind navigating all the super-drunk people. The plaza where Knight Library and Fubar are located has been sold and is scheduled for demolition this year. We’re not sure what the future holds for either of these popular college bars, but for now, enjoy it while you can.

independent Bar70 north orange ave.

407-839-0457independentbar.net

Fubar12233 university Blvd.

407-382-2799orlandofubar.com

Knight library12289 university Blvd.

407-482-2500knightlibrary.com

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barely legalcontinued from page 9...

If you’re too young to drink but old enough to be in college and you want a chill place to hang, you might find the cloudy atmosphere of a hookah lounge appealing. Natura Coffee and Tea offers a diverse selection of hookah flavors, and their tea menu isn’t too shabby, either. If you’re looking to hear some local music while you sip and puff, hit an open-mic night. Natura isn’t really a bar, but when you do finally hit the big two-one, they do serve wine and beer.

Natura coffee and Tea

12078 Collegiate Way407-482-5000facebook.com/

naturacoffeeandtea

If Fubar is where you go so you can have a story to tell, this is where you go to have a Greek epic. This is the quintessential “club scene” experience, and you don’t have to be of age yet to take advantage of it – Roxy is big, loud and frequently promiscuous. Whether your Greek epic of a night ends as a comedy or a tragedy is up to how you handle the place, but you’ll definitely leave here with an Odyssey of a tale to tell later.

roxy 740 Bennett road

407-898-4004roxyorlando.com

Cheap entry? Check. Consistently good music? Check. Eighteen and up? Check. This is a great place to hear some of the hottest non-mainstream music – both national and local talent – and the shows are super-intimate. Yes, a fully loaded bar is right there, taunting you while you dance (or whatever it is you do at shows), but you’ll be so close to the band that you’ll hardly notice. ■

The social 54 north orange ave.

407-246-1419thesocial.org


last night a DJ saved my life

If Moombahton and tropical bass are your thing, check out this night featuring DJs Ma-Less, Dr. Khan and Big Makk, who’ll give you thumpin’ bass you can, well, dagger to. You know, if that’s your thing. No holds barred, free keg til it floats. You’re not going to find a wilder Sunday night dance party downtown. ■

sHaKe ’N’ BassSundays at Backbooth37 W. Pine St.407-999-2470backbooth.com

If you’re not the quintessential club kid – that is to say, if EDM isn’t your thing, Moombahton intimidates you and you can’t even wrap your head around what dreamwave or nu disco is, this is a dance night for you. Familiar indie songs (or at least stuff that feels familiar), 80s, New Wave and modern stuff that melds well with that kind of sound is what you’ll get here. No pretension, just good beer specials and even better times.

college iNdie NigHT fridays at independent Bar70 n. orange ave.407-839-0457indepdendentbar.net

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This night has become the epicenter of Orlando’s electronic dance music scene – in addition to featuring some of the best electronic acts going, Ignition goes balls to the wall to create the most festive dance-party experience possible: acrobats, DJs, party buses, kegs, toga parties, 3D projections. If you can bring it into a club and make it a good time, they’ll probably try it here.

igNiTioNthursdays at firestone live578 n. orange ave.407-872-0066firestonelive.net


the parent trapfive places to take

your family when they come to visit

At some point in your college career, your parents are going to want to visit you – they’ll want to see where you live, meet your friends, maybe live vicariously through you for a little while by tagging along with you for happy hour.

But what do you do with them after you’ve done all that? You can’t take them to the local douche-haunts you usually wind up in on the weekends, and there are really only so many things about your life that you want to reveal to your family.

Here are a few guaranteed parent-pleasers where you can kill a few hours

with mom and dad – and maybe even grandma – while they’re in town without letting them know that you really spend your time waking up hungover, barely making it to class, then falling onto your couch with the Wii controller and a bong until somebody suggests something better to do.

It’s peaceful, it’s botanical, it’s beautiful – it’s an oasis in the heart of Orlando that’s so relaxing that it should probably be a must for every potentially stressful parental visit. Stroll through massive stands of bamboo thicker than a baby’s arm, visit the lakefront deck to look for gators and

turtles, check out the massive formal rose gardens, then stroll through the Leu House Museum, where you can get a taste of what life was like in these

parts before modern amenities like central air and beer pong. Check the events schedule for family-friendly entertainment, like outdoor movies, jazz music and plant sales. 1920 forest ave. 407-246-2620 leugardens.org $8 per person

Harry P. leu gardens

11300 S. orlando ave. • maitland 407-629-0054 enzian.org $10 for movie tickets (matinees $8)

enzian TheaterAre your parents film buffs? Then they’ll love the Enzian, Orlando’s only arthouse theater. The Enzian shows cult classics, cutting-edge indie releases and some of the better new releases showing in larger theaters. Have a pre-movie

cocktail at the lush, jungly outdoor Eden Bar, then head inside and find a table where you can order drinks and food while

watching your film. This one’s a parent-pleasing entertainment option that you’ll enjoy as much as they will.

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the parent trapPark avenue, winter ParkIf you go to school at Rollins, this is a no-brainer. If your parents like to eat, drink, shop and gawk, they’ll love Park Avenue. Wander for blocks and browse high-end stores, wine bars, spas and specialty boutiques; have lunch or brunch at any

one of a number of burger spots or fancy bistros; grab a coffee or a glass of wine in the late afternoon, then stroll in the very pretty and well-preened Central

Park. Everyone will be satisfied, exhausted and (if you’ve played your cards right) well-fed when the day is over.

thedailycity.com (various locations around the orlando area, see site for dates and details)

The dailycity.com Food Truck BazaarThis recurring event takes place at locations all around Central Florida, from DeLand to Orlando to I-Drive. Tons of gourmet food trucks peddling everything from savory crepes to specialty cupcakes to fresh seafood and locally

farmed fare gather in one location and draw hundreds of people ready to chow down. Bring folding chairs, set up your base camp and let everyone marvel at

the fact that some of the best food you’ve eaten in a month is being made and served out of a truck. Even if your parents are foodie snobs, we’re pretty sure they’ll get a kick out of this spectacle.

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445 n. Park ave. • Winter Park 407-645-5311 morsemuseum.org $5 (free on from 4-8 p.m. on fridays, april through november)

charles Hosmer morse museum of american artThat boxy, formal-looking building at the north end of Park Avenue in Winter Park? It’s not a church. It’s a museum. You might not really know much about decorative artist and interior designer Louis Comfort Tiffany, except that he’s known

for making those floral stained-glass lamps, but this museum is dedicated to celebrating all of his other design achievements

– furniture, exquisite stained-glass windows, mosaics and more. Prove to your parents that you’re cultured enough to recognize Tiffany’s contribution to the American aesthetic – or that you even know what the words “American aesthetic” mean. ■

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five great places to take your parents

for dinner (as long as they’re paying the bill)

No parental visit is complete until they’ve taken you out to eat, but chances are they’re going to ask you to pick the place. You might feel put on the spot and you might not know where, exactly, people who want food that’s not served on paper plates go to eat. Don’t get stuck in the Cheesecake Factory trap – we’ve got some places you can recommend to mom and dad when they ask you where you want to go for a decent meal – quite possibly the best one you’ll have all semester long. (All write-ups below come straight from our annual Bite dining guide, which you can find distributed around town and online at orlandoweekly.com. You should find a copy of this and keep it handy so you’re in the know about what to eat and where in Orlando.)

2401 edgewater drive 407-872-2332 krestaurant.net • $$$

K restaurant and wine BarThis cozy café reaches a grand level of food and service; chef and owner Kevin Fonzo (aka

“K”) creates dishes that are both simple and elegantly delicious. From salad to starter to main course, everything hits the right

note, surpassing the restaurant’s sterling reputation. Try the grouper cheeks when they’re on the menu..

17732 W. Sand lake road 407-351-6000 orlandocedars.com • $$$

luma on ParkFoodies are hot for the innovative fare at this Park Avenue restaurant. The atmosphere is lively and suitable for large parties. There’s

a great wine selection, and the small plates encourage sharing. Or go for one of the fabulous entrees, such as duck with butternut squash

and lemon confit. The exquisite dessert menu stands alone, as does the weekend brunch.

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7732 W. Sand lake road 407-351-6000 orlandocedars.com • $$$

cedars restaurantTheir spin on traditional Lebanese food is a lightness of texture and flavor that

is both refreshing and inviting. Use the hot, puffy pitas to scoop up baba ghanoush, a smooth roasted

eggplant and garlic puree with a wonderfully smoky taste.

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929 n. Semoran Blvd. 407-275-5035 • $$

55 W. Church St. 407-401-8811 therustyspoon.com • $$

garibaldi’s mexican restaurant

The rusty spoon

A place for genuine Mexican food (along with some authentic folk songs). There are more than 30 different combination platters of

tacos, burritos and enchiladas, along with chiles rellenos and chalupas. The “fajitas Garibaldi” adds chorizo sausage to a combination

of chicken and beef on a sizzling iron pan. This place is a perennial Best of Orlando award winner.

Self-described gastropub brings a locavore credo to the downtown core, along with an urban-farmhouse vibe. The rustic menu

focuses on locally farmed and raised ingredients, but not obsessively so. Best: tapenade-stuffed eggs, coffee-rubbed culotte

steak and grown-up s’mores. There’s a small but decent selection of craft beers, signature drinks and wines as well. Live music on weekends. ■

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