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BEST HOLIDAY COCKTAILS IN MOUNT DORA, TAVARES & EUSTIS

12/18/2020

ABOVE: The White Christmas cocktail served at Olive Branch Mediterranean Bar & Grille in Mount Dora

‘Tis the season to be jolly, so Mount Dora Buzz scoured local bars to find festive libations that are sure to bring a few rounds of holiday cheer. Here’s the top picks of this season’s holiday elixirs:

ABOVE: Bad Santa mulled cocktail at Crafted Concoctions (photo by Miracle Pop-Up)

Bad Santa
On one of Florida’s cooler evenings, warm up with this mulled wine with tawny port, orange liqueur, and Christmas spices. This hot cocktail is sure to turn you warm and cozy.
Crafted Concoctions
115 E. Main Street, Tavares

ABOVE: Christmas Carol Barrel served at Crafted Concoctions. (Photo by Miracle Pop-Up)

Christmas Carol Barrel
This fun craft cocktail is served in a barrel and features Reposado tequila, coffee liqueur, dry Curaçao and spiced chocolate.
Crafted Concoctions
115 E. Main Street, Tavares

ABOVE: Egg Nog Martini at the Olive Branch.

Egg Nog Martini
A spiked version of the seasonal favorite, this rich and smooth recipe calls for Early Times whiskey, Fireball and fresh eggnog topped with ground cinnamon.
Olive Branch Mediterranean Grille & Bar
115 W. 3rd Avenue, Mount Dora

ABOVE: Grinch Cocktail served at The Olive Branch.

Grinch Cocktail
There is nothing “bah-humbug” about this festive elixir. It’s a colorful mix of Midori melon liqueur with the perfect amount of lemon juice and one sugar cube.
Olive Branch Mediterranean Grille & Bar
115 W. 3rd Avenue, Mount Dora

ABOVE: Mistletoe Mojito at Momiji Japanese Restaurant.

Mistletoe Mojito
Muddled and shaken to perfection, this spin on the classic light rum, fresh mint and lime cocktail adds cranberry juice and is garnished with fresh cranberries and served in a handled mason jar.
Momiji Japanese Restaurant
24400 State Rd. 44, Eustis

RELATED: Local Dining Guide

Peppermint Patty Martini
This dessert cocktail is like an adult York Peppermint Patty in a glass. The recipe mixes Peppermint Schnapps, Dark Creme De Cacao, coffee liqueur shaken with heavy cream. It’s the perfect Christmas drink mix for Santa.
Momiji Japanese Restaurant
24400 State Rd. 44, Eustis

ABOVE: Floral Spritz available at Pisces Rising.

Seasonal Floral Spritz
Refreshing and bubbly, this is perfect for Florida’s holiday season. This cocktail combines Absolut vodka, pear juice, elderflower, Champagne, hibiscus simple syrup and a splash of lemon and on top of that it’s garnished with fresh rosemary and an orchid.
Pisces Rising
239 W. 4th Avenue, Mount Dora

ABOVE: Snickerdoodle Martini at Momiji Japanese Restaurant.

Snickerdoodle Martini
The decadent, creamy martini is dessert in a glass and it’s hard to have just one. Vodka, Irish Cream, butterscotch schnapps and Amaretto are shaken with half-and-half. Oh, Lawd!
Momiji Japanese Restaurant
24400 State Rd. 44, Eustis

ABOVE: Spiked Peppermint Hot Cocoa at Pisces Rising.

Spiked Peppermint Hot Cocoa
The holiday season isn’t complete without classic hot chocolate topped with melting marshmallows. This adult version of the seasonal favorite is spiked with Peppermint Schnapps and is guaranteed to warm your bones.
Pisces Rising
239 W. 4th Avenue, Mount Dora

ABOVE: White Christmas Cocktail served at The Olive Branch

White Christmas Cocktail
Decadence at its best. Coconut and vanilla vodka blended with white chocolate liqueur and topped with coconut shavings, this drink is delicious and beautiful.
Olive Branch Mediterranean Grille & Bar
115 W. 3rd Avenue, Mount Dora

Enjoy! And please remember, don’t drink and drive. Happy Holidays! For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online event calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

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MOUNT DORA CITY COUNCILMAN PENS "TALES OUT OF SCHOOL"

12/1/2020

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He’s known about town as the approachable city councilman with talent for listening. Now, Mount Dora is seeing a new side of its elected official -- novelist.

This year Marc Crail, who represents Mount Dora’s District 4, penned “Tales Out of School,” a semi-autobiographical novel that follows the rookie year of a young teacher. The main character stumbles and bumbles his way through thanks to a lot of luck and the support of a very understanding principal and colleagues. There are lots of highs and lows and plenty of funny tales, many of which are true, according to Crail. The book could be the ideal gift for teachers this year.

Before moving to Mount Dora, Crail spent his entire 35-year career in education working in Northeast Ohio, During that span, he taught fifth and sixth grades for five years and became an elementary principal before ultimately serving as a Superintendent of Schools for 17 years.

Mount Dora Buzz asked the councilman-turned-author a few questions about his 229-page unexpected journey into semi-autobiographical fiction:

BUZZ: What made you decide to write "Tales out of School"?
CRAIL: I just thought that America was looking for a book a bit sexier than “Fifty Shades of Gray,” more poignant than “Of Mice and Men,” and at the reading level of Harry Potter. The other reason is that is that I’ve been laid off from Disney’s Animal Kingdom for more than seven months due to the pandemic and I needed a project.

BUZZ: How long did it take you to write the novel?
CRAIL: The stories have been rolling around in my head for years now. Once I decided to go for it, it took about five months to complete. There’s no bad language, and the font is fairly large so it’s appropriate for all audiences.

BUZZ: Tell me about your experience as an educator and administrator in the school system.
CRAIL: I enjoyed every minute of each of my jobs. I was very fortunate to have worked with extraordinary kids, some of the best teachers in the universe in communities (mostly small to middle-sized towns) where education was a high priority and for caring and thoughtful school boards who gave me the opportunity to do the things I believed would make a real difference for our students. No one has been luckier than me.

BUZZ: What would you like readers of your book to walk away with?
CRAIL: Teachers have long been undervalued, as well as underpaid, but the work they do is incredibly important to our society and to the future of America. We must allow and encourage our teachers to be creative to meet the unique needs of their students. Textbooks and state tests have value but relationships among parents, teachers and students are far more important.

“Tales Out of School” is available locally at Barrel of Books and Games in Mount Dora and can be ordered in paperback for $10.99 or for electronic readers for $3.99. There are other books with the same title, so be sure to purchase the one by Marc Crail.

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

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NEW MOUNT DORA-OPOLY BOARD GAME NOW AVAILABLE

12/1/2020

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For board game lovers, things just got a little closer to home for the holidays. Mount Dora has now joined over 50 other Florida cities with its own version of an American classic. Mount Dora-opoly launched this fall and features popular local landmarks, businesses and streets in the quaint Central Florida town.

Using rules similar to those of Monopoly®, players can snatch up Goblin Market, the Donnelly House, One Flight Up. the lighthouse and other recognizable local spots and streets to build their property-trading portfolio. Like the classic game, a long or shorter version of Mount Dora-opoly can be played.

RELATED: Discover Mount Dora's Shopping Guide

Mount Dora-opoly is made in the U.S. and produced by Late for the Sky Productions. The company has created similar games for over 500 cities and universities across the U.S. for over thirty years.

“We research several cities and communities around Florida to make a very localized game about a specific area,” said Bill Schulte, a co-owner of Late for the Sky. “We always make sure that the locals love their town before we take on a project. We try to make the content as authentic as possible.”

The company has no affiliation with Hasbro, the makers of Monopoly® and does not use any of its protected trademarks, according to Michael Schulte, Marketing Manager for Late for the Sky.

The game retails for $19.98 and is sold exclusively at Walmart’s Mount Dora location.

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

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Arts & Entertainment

BEST HOLIDAY COCKTAILS IN MOUNT DORA, TAVARES & EUSTIS

MOUNT DORA CITY COUNCILMAN PENS "TALES OUT OF SCHOOL"

NEW MOUNT DORA-OPOLY BOARD GAME NOW AVAILABLE

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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