In February 1922 a fire destroyed the main block of Donnelly Street between Fourth and Fifth streets.   The city lost many important buildings including town hall.   The fire reportedly started when someone left an electric iron unattended.    At the time, the community had limited fire service.  Read more and see pics...

Artists approach their subject matter from many different angles.  They may visualize a finished piece  or arrive at it in a more intuitive manner.  No matter how the final piece of artwork is arrives, it starts with a concept.

The two artists featured in the "Conceptual Journeys" exhibit at Mount Dora Center for the Arts  take the viewer on very different pathways.  Read more...

Something extraordinary appeared last weekend in Mount Dora.    Large crowds.  A sight not typically seen in the dead of summer.    Read more...

For photos on the Mount Dora Seafood Festival  click here

Deserving of a parade or at least some fanfare, flatbeds hauling trees arrived downtown early this morning.   

The trees are the first of the oaks and palms to be planted in the construction areas on 4th Avenue and Donnelly Street.  Shade trees are also being installed in the parking lot on 3rd Avenue and Donnelly Street. 

The larger trees will be planted this week and the smaller understory plantings are scheduled to arrive next week, according to Burkhardt Construction, the project's contractor.

The number of trees, an environmental commodity and passionate issue for local residents, represent a difficult compromise between city leaders and residents.  The arrival of the trees is welcome news for downtown businesses, residents and visitors.

According the the contractor, favorable weather this summer has allowed downtown's streetscape project to make very steady progress.  

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In recent history the word 'expansion' was all but removed from an entrepreneur's vocabulary.  Times have changed and some Mount Dora favorites are not only thriving, but expanding.

Crissy Stiles, owner of Barrel of Books & Games is doubling-down in downtown with plans to open a new comic book store in the coming weeks.   Alleyway Comics will open in the adjacent space to the bookstore on Dora Drawdy alley in September.  Read more...

The cheerful, pastel stucco hints of what awaits.  Once lured inside, the senses are certainly in for a treat....or two...or three. 

Rows of freshly baked cupcakes fill the bakery case and quickly alert calorie-counters to surrender upon entering Cupcake Delights.  Key Lime Delight, Espresso-dipped Mousse, Red Velvet, Salted Caramel, Carrot Cake and Cookies and Cream are among 80 different flavors rotated among their 14 daily varieties baked from scratch on the premises.  Read more...

Escaping the brutal winters of New England is routine to many.   Retiring to Florida isn't novel either.   Coming out of retirement in Florida to open a new restaurant, well, that's a little more unconventional.  

Tim and Gail Lyons are doing just that as they prepare to open their new restaurant in downtown Mount Dora after retiring to Davenport 8 years ago from New Hampshire.  Read more...

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There is no place like home.  However, local wine lovers seem to have cozied up to a very close second in a narrow courtyard downtown. 

In their quest to bring patrons their favorite wines and craft beers in a comfortable setting, the owners of one local wine bar created a cozy home away from home at Maggie's Attic.  Read more...