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SPACE STATION VISIBLE FROM LAKE COUNTY TONIGHT FOR 4 MINUTES

1/20/2020

ABOVE: International Space Station (ISS) orbiting Earth. (NASA photo)

Gaze into the western sky above Lake County at 6:34 p.m. this evening as the International Space Station (ISS) is expected to be visible as it travels across the sky for nearly four minutes. Spectators will be able to see the ISS with their bare eyes as it resembles a very bright star travelling quickly across the sky

Although the ISS circles the Earth every ninety minutes, the best sighting opportunities are flyovers that occur after dark and when it has a maximum height of at least 40 degrees above the horizon so it’s visible above most landscapes and buildings. Both of those factors take place this evening.

The orbiting ISS is the size of a football field and travels at approximately 17,500 miles per hour. That speed provides the crew with 16 sunrises and sunsets every day. According to NASA, the station has circumnavigated the Earth tens of thousands of times during its 15 years of people living aboard.

Since the space station is only visible when it reflects the light of the sun while passing overhead in darkness, sighting opportunities can range from once a month to several times a week.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

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MOUNT DORA ARTS FESTIVAL DRAWS TOP ARTISTS ON FEB. 1 & 2

1/16/2020

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Historic downtown Mount Dora will transform its New England-style charm into a sea of vibrant art on February 1st and 2nd, when hundreds of the United States’ best artists show their works at the 45th annual Mount Dora Arts Festival.

The juried festival, organized by Mount Dora Center for the Arts, has been ranked among the top 20 art festivals in the country and provides art lovers the opportunity to shop for fine arts, artisan jewelry, and pottery created by 295 of the most talented professional artists from all over the United States.

This year's event will once again feature a Butterfly Encounter in the Kids Zone located on the pickleball courts in Donnelly Park. Visitors will get a chance to interact with and feed nectar to hundreds of butterflies in the educational walk-through exhibit. The Kids Zone will also feature a creative station, face painter, bounce house, balloon twister on stilts, fairy hair vendor, bungee jump and climbing wall.

The festival is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Visitors who arrive early may be able to find free street parking within walking distance. Other patrons can park at the free shuttle location at Mount Dora Golf Club at 1110 S. Highland Street from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on both days. Five-dollar round-trip shuttles are available at Mount Dora High School, 700 N. Highland Street; Mount Dora Christian Academy, 301 W. 13th Avenue and Mount Dora Plaza Shopping Center at 2700 W. Old Highway 441.

Mount Dora Arts Festival is free to attend, but a $1 donation is suggested to help support the Mount Dora Center for the Arts Summer Camp, kids outreach programs, gallery exhibits, and other projects. Donations can be dropped off at the information booth.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the Mount Dora Buzz website and download the free mobile app. Free subscriptions to Mount Dora Buzz monthly updates are available here.

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ANTIQUE LOVERS FLOCK TO MOUNT DORA FOR SPRAWLING EXTRAVAGANZA THIS WEEKEND

1/15/2020

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Once again, Mount Dora will play host to Central Florida's massive and eclectic shopping experience on January 17, 18 and 19.

Three times a year Renningers Antique Center organizes the Antique Extravaganza, the motherlode of vintage and antique shopping, set in the rambling hills under majestic oaks.

Make no mistake. There is antique shopping and then there is the ‘Extravo’ shopping. That’s the term seasoned buyers and ‘pickers’ use for the event that boasts over 800 dealers during its 3-day run spread on a scenic portion of a 130-acre property.

Dealers from across the U.S. descend on Mount Dora to offer a tremendous variety of vintage finds and fine antiques at every price.

Extravos only happen the third Friday, Saturday and Sunday of November, January and February. Shoppers and the curious can roam the hills from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday admittance costs more, however eager shoppers get first dibs on hard-to-find treasures. Sunday shoppers get better bargains, but some vendors do pack up early.

Parking is free. Admission is $10 on Friday, $6 on Saturday, and only $4 on Sunday. A three-day pass is $15. Renninger’s Antique Center is located at 20651 US Hwy 441.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, download the area's free mobile app. Free subscriptions to the monthly issue of Mount Dora Buzz are available here.

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CAPTIVATING PHOTO EXHIBIT TAKES TAVARES "UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL"

1/14/2020

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At first glance, they are bold abstracts in photography. After a closer look, the framed photos are striking details of nature.

Lake County Museum of Art (LCMA) has an impressive exhibit of photographs captured on six continents by world traveller and photographer Charlene Edwards. The dozens of meticulously arranged abstract images of nature span the decades of her career. The exhibit, titled Up Close and Personal, celebrates life’s remarkable and meaningful details, according to Edwards.

In addition to being visually captivating, the interactive exhibit’s main focus is educational, intended to open the viewer’s eyes, mind and heart to nature’s beauty, which can be overlooked in everyone’s busy everyday life.

It’s worth noting that the installation of LCMA’s exhibit is remarkably conceptual and designed with a thoughtfulness that perfectly complements the artwork. This balance is not always found in small museums, but Lake County Museum of Art didn’t disappoint.

This exhibit will be on display at the museum through January 25. Lake County Museum of Art is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 213 W. Ruby Street in downtown Tavares.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

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FUN NEW SCULPTURE ADORNS MOUNT DORA'S UPTOWN GATEWAY

1/9/2020

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It’s big. It’s black. And it’s cool.

This week a creative new addition was installed along Mount Dora’s Uptown gateway. The eye-catching spider sculpture, inspired by similar versions that began popping up in the western states in the 1970’s, was created by John Henns and installed on commercial property he owns at Highland Street and 3rd Avenue. Not long ago, Henns transformed the commercial building into a modern and streamlined building that improved the aesthetics of the entire block.

Henns, a contractor and owner of Henns Construction, said he had wanted to create the oversized arachnid for years, but finally made it a reality. The towering black sculpture, made of steel and a vintage Volkswagen Beetle, took 3 weeks to create and one day to install.

Henns, a Mount Dora High School graduate and his wife, Christy, are long-time residents of Mount Dora, a city known for its artists, but arguably with a shortage of art in its public places. Henns funded the project on his own, but his intent was to create something for the public to enjoy.

The Highland Street corridor, known as Uptown, has been slowly improving and building a unique vibe of its own. The district is now sprinkled with businesses popular with locals such as Mount Dora Brewing, Mermaid Juice Craft Beer Bar, The Streatery restaurant and Adrenaline Bikeworks.

Henns said in the few days the sculpture has been installed, the response from uptown residents and passersby has been very positive. It’s safe to say, the corner of Highland and Third Avenue may become one of the City’s most interesting corners with eye-catching new artwork to photograph.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

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REALISTIC DINOSAURS DESCEND ON MOUNT DORA'S LIBRARY

1/3/2020

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ABOVE: One of the larger dinosaurs currently on display at W.T. Bland Library.

They are so lifelike, you may have to look twice. Thanks to the talent and generosity of a Mount Dora-based company, a new dinosaur exhibit was recently installed in the lobby of the city’s W.T. Bland Library.

The nearly 30 realistic prehistoric models were created by Planet Earth Sculpture. The precise features of the reproductions, like their colorful fur and feathers, were vetted for their accuracy by academics in the field and museum curators. Most of the animals included in the exhibit are 2 to 3 feet tall and a handful measure 5 to 6 feet. The pieces were designed to be a travelling exhibit for participating museums.
The local company’s owners, Keith Strasser and Lyn Joyce, are allowing the library to exhibit the reproductions through February. Planet Earth Sculptures has other work displayed in the Smithsonian Institution and natural history museums throughout the U.S.
In addition to the models, the exhibit also features educational posters about dinosaurs and plaques near the animals that clearly identify them.
One young boy could be heard exclaiming, “I love dinosaurs!” as he excitedly entered the lobby.

“I think we will receive a ton of visitors, as his [Strasser’s] animals reflect the newest science regarding dinosaurs, in that many likely had feathers and fur,” said Cathy Lunday, Library Manager at W.T. Bland Library. The library is located at 1995 N. Donnelly Street.
The Friends of the Library sponsored the exhibit that is open during the library’s regular hours.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

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Arts & Entertainment

SPACE STATION VISIBLE FROM LAKE COUNTY TONIGHT FOR 4 MINUTES

MOUNT DORA ARTS FESTIVAL DRAWS TOP ARTISTS ON FEB. 1 & 2

ANTIQUE LOVERS FLOCK TO MOUNT DORA FOR SPRAWLING EXTRAVAGANZA THIS WEEKEND

CAPTIVATING PHOTO EXHIBIT TAKES TAVARES "UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL"

FUN NEW SCULPTURE ADORNS MOUNT DORA'S UPTOWN GATEWAY

REALISTIC DINOSAURS DESCEND ON MOUNT DORA'S LIBRARY

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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