Overheard in Orlando: It’s a church! It’s a bar! It’s… St. Matthew’s Tavern!

Overheard in Orlando: It’s a church! It’s a bar! It’s… St. Matthew’s Tavern!

Get ready to pull out your high heels
The wildly popular fundraiser that has Orlando’s elected leaders strapping on high heels to benefit Harbor House, Central Florida’s domestic violence shelter, has a confirmed date in 2014.  “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” will begin at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2014. The event, which was held on a hot June summer afternoon in 2013, will be held at a cooler time in its second year. The first event brought more than 500 walkers and raised $20,000 for the shelter. Next year’s goal is $30,000 and organizers are looking for sponsors. For more information, shoot an email to Randy Ross at RandyRossOrlando@gmail.com or call 407-401-4409.

Castle Knights closes its gates for the last time
A little more than a year after Castle Knights had its grand opening, the medieval-themed bar in College Park has closed its doors. The spot, previously occupied by Faces, R-Bar and Reckos, was the creation of Nadia Lazzano, Jackie Gilmore and Kathleen Bones. Serving beer and wine, it featured live bands, karaoke and drag shows. On the club’s Facebook page, owners thanked their supporters for their support. No word on what will occupy the site in the future.

Drink, Pray, Love
When Dan Bellows, the owner of the Winter Park Wedding Chapel, decided to pick up the building and move it a block away, St. Dorothy’s Catholic Community had nowhere to hold its services. Former Savoy bartender Matt Fassl came to the rescue. He offered his new tasteful, steampunk bar for Sunday mass, and even included genuine wooden pews in the design. More than 40 members of St. Dorothy’s showed up at the future home of Orlando Beers Gardens in the Mills 50 District on Sunday, Nov. 24 to pray together. Fassl and business partner Patrick Raso, a current owner of Savoy, will have the official grand opening of the bar at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. For a sneak peak, check it out during the 12 Nights of Christmas Pub Crawl on Saturday, Dec. 7. For now, the inside of the bar has been dubbed St. Matthew’s Tavern. The outside beer gardens will open in the spring once the city of Orlando permitting department approves it. No word on how long Orlando Beer Gardens will double as a church, but everyone is invited to mass.

Crowdfunding with a local angle
Popular crowdfund sites like Kickstarter, Rockethub, Indiegogo and Peerbackers, have successfully funded business and projects with help from colleagues, peers, family, friends and even perfect strangers. Now a team of Orlando residents has put together ArtStarter, to help local residents with art and culture projects raise money, market and connect with supporters. The first five projects include: Play Me 2.0 by David Thomas Moran, Urban Art Museum Installation #2 by the Urban Art Museum, Shoot a Camera not a Gun by Nolan Thompson, Capture Community: Save our Historical Sites by Amh+design and Bosphorous Turkish Kitchen-A New Chapter. To check them out, go to TheArtStarter.com.

Get ready to pull out your high heels

The wildly popular fundraiser that has Orlando’s elected leaders strapping on high heels to benefit Harbor House, Central Florida’s domestic violence shelter, has a confirmed date in 2014.  “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” will begin at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2014. The event, which was held on a hot June summer afternoon in 2013, will be held at a cooler time in its second year. The first event brought more than 500 walkers and raised $20,000 for the shelter. Next year’s goal is $30,000 and organizers are looking for sponsors. For more information, shoot an email to Randy Ross at RandyRossOrlando@gmail.com or call 407-401-4409.

Castle Knights closes its gates for the last time

A little more than a year after Castle Knights had its grand opening, the medieval-themed bar in College Park has closed its doors. The spot, previously occupied by Faces, R-Bar and Reckos, was the creation of Nadia Lazzano, Jackie Gilmore and Kathleen Bones. Serving beer and wine, it featured live bands, karaoke and drag shows. On the club’s Facebook page, owners thanked their supporters for their support. No word on what will occupy the site in the future.

 

Drink, Pray, Love

When Dan Bellows, the owner of the Winter Park Wedding Chapel, decided to pick up the building and move it a block away, St. Dorothy’s Catholic Community had nowhere to hold its services. Former Savoy bartender Matt Fassl came to the rescue. He offered his new tasteful, steampunk bar for Sunday mass, and even included genuine wooden pews in the design. More than 40 members of St. Dorothy’s showed up at the future home of Orlando Beers Gardens in the Mills 50 District on Sunday, Nov. 24 to pray together. Fassl and business partner Patrick Raso, a current owner of Savoy, will have the official grand opening of the bar at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. For a sneak peak, check it out during the 12 Nights of Christmas Pub Crawl on Saturday, Dec. 7. For now, the inside of the bar has been dubbed St. Matthew’s Tavern. The outside beer gardens will open in the spring once the city of Orlando permitting department approves it. No word on how long Orlando Beer Gardens will double as a church, but everyone is invited to mass.

 

Crowdfunding with a local angle

Popular crowdfund sites like Kickstarter, Rockethub, Indiegogo and Peerbackers, have successfully funded business and projects with help from colleagues, peers, family, friends and even perfect strangers. Now a team of Orlando residents has put together ArtStarter, to help local residents with art and culture projects raise money, market and connect with supporters. The first five projects include: Play Me 2.0 by David Thomas Moran, Urban Art Museum Installation #2 by the Urban Art Museum, Shoot a Camera not a Gun by Nolan Thompson, Capture Community: Save our Historical Sites by Amh+design and Bosphorous Turkish Kitchen-A New Chapter. To check them out, go to TheArtStarter.com.

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