Palettes, brushes and easels have descended on Mount Dora over the last several days.

"Mount Dora in the Fall," a Plein Air Exhibit will feature the work of thirty  painters, who have spent a week painting the scenes in Mount Dora.  The collected artworks, will start being exhibited on November 20th,  during the 
opening reception from  6pm to 8pm that evening. 

The term Plein Air is French in origin and refers to "open air"to describe painting outdoors in order to capture and represent what the painter's eye sees during the time of painting. 
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The exhibit will continue in the gallery through December 23.

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The IceHouse will be presenting the classic musical, Guys and Dolls for the holiday season. The beloved show has music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, and is based on the stories and characters of Damon Runyon.  Performances are Nov. 20 – Dec. 13, at the Sonnentag Theatre

 Set in Damon Runyon's mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler, Nathan Detroit, sets up the biggest illegal dice games in town while the law breathes down his neck.  To secure a spot for a game, Nathan bets gambler, Sky Masterson, $1000 that Sky cannot take the straight-laced Sarah Brown for dinner in Havana. The book is funny and the songs are unforgettable.

Playing the leading roles are Michael John Foster (Sky,) Phelan Dinverno (Sarah,) Duncan Bahr (Nathan,) and Ashley Willsey (Adelaide.)  

The Sonnentag Theatre is located at 1100 N. Unser Street in Mount Dora. For tickets call 352-383-4616

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There is something genius about delicious food and intense competition.  That's what set the culinary stage last Sunday night in Mount Dora.

As over a hundred foodies looked on as two local chefs went head to head during the first "After Hours Supper Club" at Pisces Rising. The Chef vs. Chef Battle pitted the head chef of Tavares' Tiki West, Ben Yancey against Christopher Robb Murray, owner and executive chef of Creative Culinary Solutions in Winter Park.

Each chef was required to make at least two dishes using three secret ingredients;  a whole pig, black drum fish, and oyster mushrooms.  Onlookers filled the restaurant  watched the competitors on large screen monitors meet the difficult culinary challenges.  Ellis later gave them sugar cane and raw oysters as bonus items that would add to their score if incorporated into their dishes.

After 90 minutes, the chefs presented their creations to the three judges. The dishes were rated on a 1-10 scale in three categories, including, taste, use of secret ingredients, and presentation.

In the end, Yancey prevailed.  His four dishes included:   Quick pan seared, oven braised pork belly taco with avocado and jicama slaw and Cajun Honey Mustard;  a second dish of  roasted jalapeño and blueberry stout-battered black drum fish and chips with crispy fingerling potatoes.   Dish three was a pan seared black drum with blueberry wine and port, beet cream sauce, roasted fingerling potatoes, grilled oyster mushroom and truffle oil drizzle.  The fourth dish was a  Drunkin' Knob Creek grilled oyster with bacon salt and parmesan

The organizer and host of the competition, local chef Graham Ellis, wanted to bring the energy and excitement of network TV cooking shows to Mount Dora while creating a hospitality night where restaurant employees could network, promote local farms, wineries, and chefs.

The next Chef vs. Chef is planned for January.

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Just when residents thought election season was over, 
Mount Dora Police Department, in partnership with the Mount Dora Heroes Foundation, is encouraging residents to nominate their four-legged best friend as the next  'Honorary Canine Mayor of Mount Dora'.

Mount Dora's Canine Mayor will serve a one year term as goodwill ambassador to all pets in the community,  as well as receive many coveted perks including an official collar, reserved parking at the city's dog park and participation in city events.  

Residents can nominate their dog online with a ten dollar donation now through November 18.  All dogs with a Mount Dora mailing address are eligible.   The "caninedates" will be invited to 'campaign' in the first annual Paw Parade fundraiser downtown on November 28.   People can submit their vote for their favorite along with at a ten dollar donation through November 29.  

The Paw Parade will start at Sunset Park  at  9:30 am and travel up to Donnelly Park.   Registration for the event is $5 and closes at 4:30pm on November 27, 2015.  All participants will receive a complimentary dog treat. 

Proceeds from the event benefit retired police K-9s through the Mount Dora Heroes Foundation.  The foundation is a Florida nonprofit, charitable organization created to enhance public safety and law enforcement in the Mount Dora community.  Its mission is to act as an independent and unique resource for the Mount Dora Police Department by providing resources to strengthen ties with the community, keep pace with technology, honor fallen officers and their families, as well as advance and fund the city's K-9 program.

For more information about the Canine Mayor of Mount Dora Contest or the Paw Parade, contact Mount Dora Police Corporal Jessica Howell, athowellj@cityofmountdora.com or 
click here for more information and to nominate your favorite canine.

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