OCTOBER, 2015

MOUNT DORA BUZZ

• The seasonal corn maze at Long & Scott Farms is now open.  In addition to the two winding mazes, the cafe and the market, this year the attraction has added a few new features.  Read more..
• A new lunch spot just opened on Donnelly Street between 4th and 5th.  The new casual eatery, Just for Lunch, features Fresh Maine Lobster Roll as its house specialty, and feature six daily sandwiches at $5.95.  Read more...


• There's exciting news on the restaurant front.  Celebrity Chef, Norman Van Aken, who has appeared on many national cooking shows, will open an upscale, rustic restaurant in the former location of The Garden Gate on 4th Avenue and Baker Street in 2016.  Read more...

• Mount Dora Bicycle Festival is just around the corner.  A lot of improvements have been made that are drawing a large increase in registrants.  The 3-day event starts Oct. 9.  Read more...

• Fall is the time for Friday Night Lights in Mount Dora and one of the exciting elements this year is the girl on the gridiron at Mount Dora High School.  Read more...

• Our annual Candidate Forum and Meet 'N' Greet for the city council and mayoral election is Thursday, Oct. 8 at 6pm at Mount Dora Brewing on Highland Street.   This year's election features incumbents facing challengers in all seats except District 4.  In that seat, newcomer Marc Crail, is unopposed.  The restaurant will have its tasty menu available for ordering so you can dine while hearing the dialogue.  Residents are encouraged to attend and can check the calendar for more details on the event. 

• Spread some love to your favorite local restaurants, salons, bars and other businesses by casting your vote in the new 14 categories of the Best of Mount Dora 2015.  Voting continues through Oct. 7.  To read more or cast your vote, click here...

• If you didn't catch the restaurant review of Tavares' new Mexican restaurant, Eduardo's Lokos Tacos that opened recently, just click here...

• Cooler weather is approaching so now is the perfect time to warm the hearts and bodies of local families in need.  Mount Dora Buzz is coordinating Keep Lake Warm drive to ask residents to clean out their closets and donate adult and children's hoodies and jackets.  Read more... 

• A new store, The Lacy Ladybug, opened in the Renaisance Building on Donnelly Street and features everything from casual to evening wear in curvy and petite sizes.

• Heard about the Bra-Vo event, but don't quite get it?  No worries, here is all you need to know.  It's a fun, annual October fundraiser utilizing the creativity and generosity of the entire community to benefit free or low cost mammograms in Lake County.  Read more...

• Looking for a new gig?  Watch our employment listings on the Announcements page for local opportunities.  If you have an opportunity available, just let us know.

For more local news and articles click here.

TAVARES BUZZ

• It's been open only a few weeks and already Eduardo's Lokos Tacos on Alfred Street has a large following.  The casual restaurant serves authentic Mexican fare and offers a full bar.  Margaritas, anyone?  To read the review, click here.

• Watch for a new restaurant, Puddle Jumper, to open in the former space of ALS Landing on the downtown waterfront..

• Downtown Tavares waterfront will be rockin' during the city's Rocktober Fest on October 10 with three bands, German food and much more.  Admission is free and the fun goes from 3pm to midnight.

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EUSTIS BUZZ

• Locals have been flocking to the new Magnolia Cafe for breakfast and lunch since it opened last month in the former home of Olivia's Coffee House on Bay Street, downtown.  If you go, try the carrot cake!

• This month Strawberry's, an ice cream shop, opens in again in front of Harper's Alley on Magnolia Street with new owners. 

• Can't decide where to eat in downtown Eustis?  Check out the 'Explore Eustis' event on Oct. 4 to sample the signature dishes of several downtown participating restaurants.  Get more info on the calendar.

WHAT'S HOT...
Here's what's hot locally...

• Perfect for Gator fans...we found large, handpainted gators for the patio at Noni at the Olive Branch. They are a must for any die-hard fan! (418 N. Donnelly Street).

• The work of Mount Dora's artists is amazing and a visit to Baker Street Artists' Studios always turns up cool finds.  To read more amount the local artists colony, click here. 

• It's to die for!  The  new homemade bourbon ice cream at Le Petit Sweet is amazing.  Try it over their croissant bread pudding.  If you take the last one, we'll come looking for you!

• Trendy suede-like, fringe layering vests perfect for fall were spotted at Zen Cowgirl (5th Avenue, Mount Dora). 

• We uncovered a couple of cool finds just in time for Mount Dora Bicycle Festival. Bike jerseys by local artist Bev Neal were seen at Painting Outside the Lines Gallery on Donnelly.  The innovative battery-powered bikes at Sun Cycle in Tavares will make the routes just a little easier! 

To get deal alerts of Mount Dora area stores on Facebook, click here.

SHOUT OUT

• This month's shout out goes to Burkhardt Construction for finishing the third phase of downtown construction almost a month early. Their hard-working, friendly crew have become adopted residents and will be missed. Thanks for everything!