The Local: Winter Garden—December 2021

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WINTER GARDEN DE CEM BER 20 21

Cheer Issue The

Featuring Billy Flanigan as the happiest man on earth

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event details and reservation links at www.cwgdn.com and www.downtownwg.com

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“ We put people first with custom care.”

—P. Fabian Garcia, MD

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E WN O W A P ACCE T I PTIN EN G TS

C⚫ ntents FEATURES

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Reason to Cheer

Locals Inspiration

Update on Connor Krantz’s battle with cancer, and his unshakeable optimism.

Area painter sees beauty in the simple moments.

R H E YA TAN N E R

MAR K McWAT E R S

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Pet-Present Savvy The Savvy Sitter’s top pet gift ideas for 2021.

S AVAN NA WE ST WO O D

Go the Extra Smile

Billy Flanigan’s “Flanigrams” put him on the map, but his newest project is sure to spread more smiles.

M AR K McWATE R S

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Happiness in Bloom

The power of flowers to bring cheer to every face R H E YA TAN N E R

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The Lo’ Down

Our editor gushes about the fullness of the holidays

12 Garden Variety

NEWS, NOTABLES, AND NEIGHBORS IN THE KNOW

12 Winter Garden’s newest Little Free Library 14 Charitable Spotlight: Holiday Gifts for Kids 14 Market Watch: Dicuru Mozzarella 16 Local History: The Shelby Hotel

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The Local

18 Tails to Tell

Meet Wallace the Famous Frenchie

38 The Homefront

Karen’s kitchen renovation is well underway—but first, we have to make a mess!

42 Oh, Well!

WI N TE R G AR DE N

HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND FITNESS FROM AREA EXPERTS

42 Give yourself the gift of self-care this season 44 Confronting the less happy parts of the holidays

46 Eats + Drinks

46 Holiday cocktails, with and without the booze 48 Indulging in too many pastries and calling it love

50 Rhetoric

MUSINGS ON LIFE AS A LOCAL

It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas, and it will for a long time.

ON THE COVER

What’s next for Winter Gardener Billy Flanigan and his famous Flanigrams?

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The Lo’Down

This time of year

is very full — emotions, nostalgia, just downright everyday cheer. Each little bubble floats up and gathers in my psyche’s inner tube until some of the pressure needs to be relieved and I cry. Ironic, isn’t it? That such wonderful feelings would manifest in tears, but this month they are always on the surface,lurking, ready to pop.

‘Tis the season to embrace tradition, celebration, and joy, and share them with those we love the most. And how lucky am I that my tribe is happy to bounce it right back to me. It makes me well just thinking about it. Curled up on the couch with my family watching a Christmas special in the glow of the tree — magical. Baking cookies with my oldest son and pretend scolding when he steals dough — amazing. Decorating the house with my youngest and sharing a high-five when the room looks festive — wonderful. Taking the dogs for a walk with my husband through our fairyland of a neighborhood— fabulous. But that is just the top layer of the sentimental parfait.

White elephant parties with friends as you talk about favorite holiday memories, wrapping gifts and taking the time to reminisce about the person you are giving it to, gathering cookies and fudge to deliver to neighbors who are thrilled for the treats, it is always there, practically making your skin tingly with joy. And let’s go a layer deeper…

Walking through the lighted paths of Downtown Winter Garden and seeing a family pause for a pose by City Hall, grabbing a peppermint mocha from a shop on Plant Street, sniffing a handmade candle from a Winter Garden artisan as it scents your home — all seemingly designed to make a person feel the celebration. And perhaps shed a cheerful tear or two. Happy Holidays, my Winter Garden friends!

Happy Reading,

Nicole Soulsby, Editor

Something to add?

Send your ideas and images to thelocalwg@emagency.com

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The Local

Editor’s Endorsement: Paper Mate Profile Ball 1.4 The perfect pen for all my greeting cards this holiday season, with smooth writing and less drag so I can scribe more with less ache

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THE ADVISORY BOARD

WINTER GARDEN

The purpose of the board is to guide our efforts to make The Local as reflective of our area as possible.

Its members are leaders who have roots, connections, expertise, and interest in our community and have volunteered their considerable time and talent. .

Elisa SpencerKaplan Managing

Director of the historic Garden Theatre. After more than 15 years leading professional theaters in NYC and around the country, she relocated to Winter Garden last year and loves exploring this special community with her husband, Broadway composer Russ Kaplan, and 8-year-old daughter Emilia.

Dr. Kim Dawson

Healthcare entrepreneur and owner of Pearle Vision in Ocoee. Kim has been passionate about health and wellness for over 20 years. She received her doctorate in Health Science at MUSC in South Carolina. Kim has lived in Winter Garden for 10 years and is inspired daily by her two children, Symone and Desiree. In her free time, Kim likes to cook, travel, and read novels.

Ralph Disciullo

Branch Manager with American Financial Network, one of the largest residential mortgage lenders in the US. Prior to the mortgage industry Ralph played a key role in the startup of several businesses. Originally from Emerson, NJ, Ralph attended USF in Tampa and now resides in Winter Garden with his wife of 16 years, Sandi, and their two daughters Daniella and Avery.

Becca Lanterman

Owner of Winter Garden Senior Home Care.

Becca is a second-generation Winter Garden resident, and her local roots run deep. She is the true embodiment of joy, and has never met a stranger. Becca loves living the “bubble life,” where her golf cart is her primary mode of transportation. She has dedicated her life to tending to the special needs of our local senior adults.

December 2021 Vol. 1 No. 4 Jamie Ezra Mark Publisher Nicole Soulsby Editor Rheya Tanner Art Director Josh Clark Designer Wendy Mak Designer Mark McWaters Writer Tarin Scarbrough Writer Fred Lopez Chief Photographer Caleb Jensen Web Garrett Reardon Digital CONTRIBUTORS

Lily Hollister, Parker Mott, Psy.D., Lindsay S., Marilou Stones, Savanna Westwood ADVERTISING

Jamie Mark, Publisher jamie@emagency.com Find us online @thelocalwg

Tracey Forrester

Realtor with Xcellence Realty, Inc. and Independent Associate with LegalShield. She has been in the Horizon West area since 2007.

She is cofounder of Horizon West Professionals and a founding member of the Rotary Club of Horizon West Chapter. Tracey believes in building lasting relationships and being an integral part of the community. She now lives, works, and plays in Horizon West with her beautiful teenage girls, Averie and Bryce.

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The Local

Bryan Fifer

Local agent with State Farm Insurance.

Bryan is a Central Florida native, Founding President of the Rotary Club of Horizon West, Horizon West Who’s Who Award Winner, and Team Captain for All-Pro Dad. He is married to his beautiful wife Angie and they have two wonderful children.

Bryan is highly invested in making Horizon West the best place to work, live, and play.

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Angie Layfield NHA/CDAL

Executive Director at The Blake at Hamlin, a senior living and memory care community in Hamlin Town Center.

Angie has been in the senior housing industry for over 20 years and brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and insight to our Horizon West seniors and their families.

Though originally from Maryland, she has called Horizon West home since 2016. Angie and her family reside in Village F’s Watermark.

Tamara Zotti

Tamara is a Charleston, SC, native who has lived here for eight years. After seven years as a teacher assistant at Windermere Preparatory School, she now enjoys local life with her husband of 17 years, Frank, and her two children, Nicholas and Samantha. Tamara believes in the value of community involvement and always tries to give back however she can.

Pam Thomas Owner of Pammie’s Sammies, a “thoughtfully sourced, tastefully adventurous” restaurant in the heart of downtown. She is a passionate foodie with a degree in Wine, Spirits, and Beverage Management at the International Culinary School in Tampa. Pam is a staple of the Central Florida community, having operated in Universal Orlando, Dr. Phillips, and now Winter Garden.

Find us IRL Main House Market Pammie’s Sammies Puppy Dreams Rosallie Le French Cafe The French Cafe Sweet Dee’s Cupcakery Writer’s Block Bookstore Winter Garden Heritage Museum West Orange Public Library and more!

A PU BLICATION OF

407-573-6061 • emagency.com @EMagencyinc PRO U D M EM BER S OF

The Local Volume 1 Issue 4 ©2021 Em Agency. All rights reserved. Published monthly. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Em Agency. Reader submissions have been edited for length or clarity. Advertising of products does not imply endorsement. Em Agency can not be held liable for the business practices of these companies.

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NEWS, NOTES + NEIGHBORS WHO KNOW

Alina Dennis browses the Westbrook Little Free Library with Thanos, aka T-Dog

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The Local

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VOCAL LOCALS

THIS MONTH’S QUESTION

What is your favorite holiday indulgence?

Chloe S.

Grace J.

Erica H.

Katja G.

Grace W.

I love to drive around with my family and look at all the pretty Christmas lights in the area.

My favorite indulgence is the homemade pumpkin cookies that I bake with my family.

A little Bailey’s in my coffee— especially when there’s a little chill in the air!

I love making lots of Christmas cookies with my family. My favorite are peanut butter kiss cookies.

Christmas dinner! Anything like stuffing, dressing, mashed potatoes—I always have a lot.

Book Box Bonanza The Little Free Library comes to Stoneybrook.

L

ittle Free Library is the world’s largest book-sharing movement: a community “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. Functioning on the honor system, Little Free Libraries come in all shapes and sizes, with the most common being a small wooden box of books.

While there are a few other Little Free Libraries in Winter Garden, there were not any where I live in the Stoneybrook area. Be-

cause my neighborhood, Westbrook Townhomes, is not gated, I thought it would be an ideal location for a Little Free Library in our community.

This past summer, I proposed the idea to our home owners association, and with their permission, worked with community residents to raise around $500 to purchase and install a library in a common area of our neighborhood.

Our visitors do a great

job of keeping it stocked with books, but I also like to swap out the contents from time to time using book donations I keep on hand. The library has become popular with neighborhood kids in particular, but adults enjoy the library too. There’s usually a nice mix of both kids and adult books available.

Our library is registered with LittleFreeLibrary.org and appears on its world map so nearby residents

can easily find it. There’s also a brand new Little Free Library mobile app for iOS and Android, which makes it even easier to find nearby libraries.

To stay informed about what’s new at our Little Free Library, you can follow its Instagram account @WestbrookLittleFreeLibrary.

Lindsay S. A resident of the Stoneybrook area of Winter Garden. As a Little Free Library steward, she’s delighted to share her passion for reading with the community.

DECEM BER 202 1

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Garden Variety

CHARITABLE SPOTLIGHT

Holiday Gifts for Kids The spirit of the season comes in many ways. For the Winter Garden Police Athletic League (WGPAL), it is derived from the ability to give many kids in our community gifts for the holiday. Throughout the year, WGPAL offers events and activities to fundraise for their two big community outreach programs: an eight week summer camp for 140 local children and the annual holiday gift giveaway.

The Annual Holiday Gifts for Kids drive has been wildly successful in the past, reaching as many 283 youths in a season. Applications are secretly submitted for a child’s gift wants, and the WGPAL team uses donated and fundraised money to purchase these gifts for parents to collect and gift. This year, the need is as strong as ever. Donations of cash and gift cards are appreciated and can be dropped right at the precinct, located on W. Plant Street. If you are having a holiday party and would like to do a group donation, a representative of WGPAL will be happy to stop by and collect your offering. Gifts will be distributed on December 18. If you can’t give money, the gift of time to volunteer for one of their many events is also appreciated.

Get Involved! wgpal.org

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The Local

MARKET WATCH

Dicuru Mozzarella

Cheese, glorious cheese—if it’s freshly made and locally sourced by the Dicuru family, you’re sure to start singing.

Mozzarella, burrata, the creamy, salty goodness, is made with love and tradition at Dicuru Mozzarella.

The Dicuru family hails from the Puglia area of Italy, where Grandma and her siblings learned the cheese-making craft from an early age. She emigrated to Venezuela with her children and their spouses in the 1930s. Her son, Vladimir, and his wife, Elimar (who also has a family history with cheese making), moved to Miami in 2003, followed by their nephew Jorge in 2012. It was there that they began to play with the old family recipes, eventually turning it into a family business.

Four years ago, they saw an opportunity to grow the business in Orlando. They

WI N TE R G AR DE N

purchased a warehouse space to make the products fresh to order, and have been a staple at the Farmers Market ever since.

Even if you don’t buy your cheese directly from Dicuru, you may still be eating it; if you’ve ever sat down at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at Disney Springs, Antica Pizzeria in Altamonte Springs, Kres Chophouse in Downtown Orlando, or Three Birds Café right here in our downtown, you’ve eaten at a restaurant that gets its cheese from Dicuru.

Currently, the three are working on a storefront to adjoin their warehouse to sell additional Italian products, including sausages made with a family recipe. Stop by their booth to sample the product or check out the Dicuru Mozzarella Instagram

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Garden Variety LOCAL HISTORY REVIEW

Watch

Read

Listen

Everyone’s probably heard of The Walking Dead on AMC. It’s hard not to, since it’s been one of the most talked about shows of the decade. In my opinion, the show deserves all its fame!

If you don’t know much about it, The Walking Dead is about the constant struggle the survivors of a zombie apocalypse go through to protect, feed, and provide shelter for each other. The living are just as dangerous as the undead, and they all face diminishing resources, disease, and the unknown. It’s one of those shows where main characters can die, and quite a few of the people I liked most didn’t make it to the end of the series. If you somehow haven’t seen it, or dropped of in later seasons, I recommend picking it back up again.

If you saw the trailers earlier this year for a movie called Infinite, then you already know a little bit about The Reincarnationist Papers by D. Eric Maikranz.

It’s about members of a secret society who remember all their past lives, blending known history with a little something more. It also challenges religious concepts and makes the reader think about just how far back they can remember. The book can drag in some places, a bit like Forrest Gump in that there were several flashback-type stories that didn’t really add to the plot. But I don’t think that takes away from it being a really great read.

Smooth jazz has been my favorite musical genre for my whole adult life, and I really love listening to Sirius XM. If you have XM radio, I recommend tuning into “Watercolors” on Channel 66. It’s a great place to discover your new jazz favorites; it’s where I discovered the song “Trying Times” by Leo Sidran! I love his soft vocals, which remind me of longtime jazz vocalist Michael Franks.

Their nearly breathless quality is so unique! I’m glad I was tuned in when that song came on.

Mike A.

Dani loves books like fish love water, reading between five and 10 each month. When she’s not reading, she’s helping her husband brew bee, and playing with her dogs.

A lover of comedy, suspense, drama, and horror. In his free time, he enjoys cycling and doing CrossFit.

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The Local

Dani C.

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Ann M.

Though she is a jazz lover, her favorite song is “Hotel California” by The Eagles. In her free time, she enjoys loving on everyone’s dogs and catching up with old friends.

In 1912, a fire swept through Downtown, wiping out most of the wood-frame buildings.

The following year, James Lafayette Dillard (or J.L. as he was known) built the first brick structure, the Shelby Hotel. J.L. was a pioneer of Winter Garden, settling in the area in 1887. He built the hotel to house early settlers and board local workers. The site was ideal since it was one block from the train station.

The Shelby has been repurposed many times since then. You can still see the garage door imprint on the side of the building from the days when it was an auto repair shop. Stop

by Tony’s Liquor, if not to get a libation, then to appreciate the history of the building!

Images and research for Local History courtesy of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation

Looking for a little bubbly to enhance your holiday? Head to Tony’s Liquor on the corner of Plant and Main and learn about the unique history of the building it does its business in.

Scene your best resources for what’s happening in and around Winter Garden.

THE LATEST CITY NEWS, EVENTS, AND MORE, STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE Follow the City of Winter Garden’s official social media and subscribe to the Downtown WG blog for bimonthly articles on local businesses and initiatives. @officialdowntownwintergarden downtownwg.com

THE BEST PLACE TO CONNECT WITH NEIGHBORS, EVENTS, AND BUSINESSES IN HORIZON WEST

FROM EVENTS TO DEALS, THE WINTER GARDEN APP IS YOUR COMMUNITY GUIDE

horizonwesthappenings.com

Check out the Portals and Secret Garden for augmented reality experiences.

Join the Horizon West Happenings Facebook Community Group here

17

Tails to Tell

Notorious D.O.G. Wallace, French Bulldog, age 9 Months I know, I know—you recognize me. You’ve seen my beautiful face on the side of big trucks that say “The Poop Bandit” driving all over town. Some may say I was destined for fame, since my humans named me “Wallace,” after the evenmore-famous Biggie Smalls.

I am also aware that my image may strike fear into some people’s hearts, since I am usually seen wearing an intimidating eyepatch and called a Bandit. But don’t you worry, I’m as friendly as any Frenchie you’ve ever known. Some dogs may let the fame go to their head, but not me. I still love to play and greet new humans as much as I always have.

I’m sorry, I’m not giving autographs at this time, but I’m always happy to mug for a camera.

The Local

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During the pandemic, Billy Flanigan gained fame and followers with his traveling Flanigrams. Now, Billy is part of a new, exciting project to spread the joy even farther.

M AR K McWATE R S

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WI N TE R G AR DE N

F R E D LO PE Z

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arely do the words ‘COVID’ and ‘blessing’ share the same sentence. Yet, in the case of Billy Flanigan, the pairing could not be more apropos. Though he’s known to Winter Garden locals as the host of various charity events, the host of Open Mic Night at Pilar’s on Thursday nights, and an entertainer at Disney for four decades, the world at large may know Flanigan best for his Covid-inspired creation: The Flanigram.

It was in March 2020, two weeks or so into the lockdown, and Flanigan was going stir-crazy. “I’d already done everything around the house I could do that needed doing and I was going a little nuts,” he says. He is an active guy who bikes every day, and to get out of the house on that fateful day, he turned to his trusty twowheeled friend.

“I was biking on the West Orange Trail near my house and I thought, if there’s someone I know who lives near the Trail, I’ll just bike on over and say hello!”

As it happened, Flanigan had a very dear friend, Hannah, who fit the bill perfectly, so he biked over and knocked on her door.

She opened it and he barely got “Hey! How are you?” out before she started bawling.

She hadn’t seen anyone in two weeks, hadn’t communicated with anyone.

So, they sat and “socially distant-chatted for a very

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The Local

long time.” He took pictures of them and afterward, posted on social media that they had visited. Hannah, coincidentally, did exactly the same thing. She wrote, “This guy knocked on my door. It was Billy Flanigan.

We sat and talked. How wonderful it was for him to think of me!”

That was the post that started it all. Eventually, Flanigan would develop a song to accompany each official Flanigram, but that would take several tries for him to develop and perfect.

They weren’t even called “Flanigrams” in the beginning—that moniker came later, courtesy of a friend— but the idea had begun taking root. And boy, did it!

He started following people who responded to Hannah’s messages. They were both cast members at Disney and shared a wide circle of friends. Friends and friends of friends started posting, “I got my

WI N TE R G AR DE N

visit from Flanigan today!” or, “Gee, I wish I could get a visit.” So, Flanigan made notes, planned routes, and off he’d go.

Oddly, for someone who’s made his way in show business for as long as he has, he gave absolutely no thought to a costume, or a “look.” He never took to wearing funny hats or decorating his bike with signs and streamers.

“I wear a long-sleeved shirt, shorts, and my bike helmet … and a smile.”

So far, Flanigan has logged 562 Flanigrams over 16

Billy Flanigan as a young boy— sporting that same striking smile

states and 7,000 miles! That is a whole heck of a lot of cheer, covering a ton of territory. But when his accomplishment is pointed out, all Flanigan does is shrug his shoulders and grin.

“The message for me is that there really is no act of kindness too small. When you think about it, I’m riding my bike to a house, knocking on a door, and singing a song. It’s not brain surgery … I had no idea this thing would blow up like it has. Really, I needed this as much as everyone else. I’m a people person. I needed to see people and say hello.”

Grin and Share It Much as Flanigan downplays the impact of “this thing” he’s done, his Flanigram-ees have exactly the opposite impression.

In fact, the first three he visited way back at the beginning—Hannah, Amy, and Katie—decided the whole world needed Flanigrams.

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The First Flanigram Hannah Laird was the very first person to receive one of Billy Flanigan’s “Flanigrams.” It couldn’t have come at a better time. “We were three or four weeks into COVID lockdown,” she says.

“Disney was closed, everyone huddled at home, no contacts with friends, no interaction with people, period—and my doorbell rang. Who could it be? I didn’t order anything. Then I looked out the window and saw this neon green bicycle helmet and I knew!”

Billy stayed on his bike and Hannah stayed on her porch and they just talked. It was exactly what the two friends of 15+ years needed.

Billy said, “I was riding my bike and I figured I’d come say ‘Hi!’” They talked for several minutes, re-connecting, and afterward, Billy turned his bike around and rode away. Hannah shut the door and realized all at once what COVID had changed and how important real connection is.

“I shut the door and started to cry.”

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They took to social media and started a campaign, spreading the word about Flanigrams with the goal of getting Flanigan on Some Good News with John Krasinski. The first he heard about that was from his daughter who was scrolling Instagram at the time, when she said, “Hey, Dad. Look at this!”

Flanigrams have now been featured in People Magazine and on Good Morning America. Flanigan appeared on The Doctors, on Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s program Dr. Laura, and “a ton of podcasts, radio interviews, and Margaritaville on Sirius XM,” he says, to name a few.

Although they didn’t quite reach Some Good News, there is even better news on the

mentary about Flanigan and his Flanigrams. After assuring him that she wasn’t kidding, she put Flanigan in touch with the producer.

Flanigan stopped by the producer’s house one night on his way through Atlanta and Flanigrammed him.

“He knew about me and my Flanigrams because we’d already talked,” Flanigan says. “But after it was over he said, ‘OK. Now I’m totally sold. Now I know what the big deal is.’”

A Million Tears The Happiest Man on Earth documentary’s tagline is, “Behind Every Smile Are a Million Tears.” We couldn’t let that go by us without wanting to know more, could we?

Flanigan’s Flanigrams have taken him across 16 states. So far, he has biked over 7,000 miles and delivered 562 Flanigrams.

horizon: a documentary titled Billy Flanigan—The Happiest Man on Earth is in final edit and soon will be making the rounds at film festivals.

A friend one day and said a producer in Atlanta was interested in his story and might want to do a docu-

Meet Flanigan for the first time and you’ll probably be struck by one thing—that smile. He smiles a lot, in fact he smiles all the time. And you’d wind up thinking ‘The Happiest Man on Earth’ fits that man to a T. But people are rarely so simple.

DECEM BER 202 1

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“I was the fifth child of six, and you could say I grew up craving attention,” says Flanigan. “My dad was definitely the happiest man on earth. He loved each day. He loved life. I got a lot of that from him.”

That desire for attention drew him to the performing arts. “Sixth grade was my very first show, and I fell in love with the stage,” he says.

“I loved making people laugh, making them cry, and boy did I catch that bug.

But this was the early 70s, when people like me weren’t cool. I got bullied a lot.

Had beer bottles thrown at me when I was walking home with my guitar case.

Got shoved into lockers.

I had one teacher who told me ‘they’re just jealous and they don’t know how to handle you.’ But the bullying really messed me up as a kid. Thank god there was no social media then.”

Despite the challenges, Flanigan finished high school and enrolled in the Boston Conservatory of Music for a bachelor of fine arts in musical theater. From there, he got a job at Walt Disney World. “I thought I’d do Disney for a year, then go on to try Broadway or Hollywood, wherever my BFA wanted me to go. But

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one year turned into 40 in a heartbeat. And here I am.”

Flanigan has four sons and is glad the same bullying he’d endured didn’t happen to them. “My boys are jocks, so good at sports—I have no idea where that came from—so I got involved where I could.”

That involvement entailed singing the national anthem at their games, choreographing cheerleader routines, and announcing the games at West Orange High School. He was even the president of the West Orange PTO. “I have always been happy, yes. But no one is happy all the time,” says Flanigan. One of the toughest challenges of his adult life was when his daughter, Lexi, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

“It was nine years ago, when she was 13 years old. I sat

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down and cried my eyes out.

My sister—her aunt—died from that disease at 42 after suffering a stroke at age 38.

Lexi thought her disease was a death sentence.”

All Flanigan could do was move forward, learning as much about type 1 diabetes as he could. Fortunately, the advances that have been made in the last decade have improved the outlook for patients considerably. He got involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, started hosting their events, singing the national anthem at charity walks, and involving his daughter and her friends.

He made sure Lexi became adept at managing her disease herself, something her mother had always done for her in the past. “It

took about a year, a lot of arguments, a lot of fighting, but she learned. Now she knows how to order her insulin, her needles, her Dexcom. I’m so proud of her. She recently moved out with some girlfriends, and I’m confident that she’ll be fine. She knows what to do, where her aunt, my sister, just guessed.”

The World Smiles With You Will Flanigan ever hang up his helmet and give up the ‘gram? Has the easing of Covid restrictions changed the need for them?

“People still enjoy them.

They still smile. But it has changed a little from people needing a Flanigram to wanting one,” he says.

“They’ve heard about them and want to be included.

I suppose I will stop them one day. Everything has to end, right? But not today.”

Is it possible that Flanigan is truly the happiest man on earth? Maybe.

“I’ve always loved what I do for a living. My job is to make people happy, which makes me happy. Am I and my Flanigrams worth making a whole movie about for gosh sakes? I don’t know. I guess for that answer, you’ll have to see the movie.”

Billy Flanigan: The Happiest Man On Earth is set to premiere in early 2022.

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Cheer Reason to

Update on Connor Krantz’s battle with cancer— and the source of his unshakeable optimism.

M AR K McWATE R S

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eaders may remember Connor Krantz’s story from the first issue of The Local in September. After Krantz experienced bouts of intense abdominal pain, his girlfriend, Madi, insisted he get checked out. After some tests, the 26 year-old learned he had testicular cancer. Since then, Krantz has been underoing treatment and receiving incredible support from the Winger Garden community.We wanted to share an update on his progress.

Because of his youth and good physical shape, the approach to treatment very aggressive. The surgeon removed a four-pound tumor roughly the size of a football.

Now, Krantz is about halfway through a brutal schedule of chemotherapy sessions. They have been five hours a day, five days a week, followed by two weeks off to recover. Four rounds were scheduled, after which he would undergo

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another surgery to remove the remnants of the other two tumors.

The day we spoke, the excruciating pains were gone, which lifted his spirits quite a bit. “I never realized how much pain I’d been living with.” But now, those pains have been replaced by sapped energy, feelings of malaise, and difficulty concentrating on anything but getting better.

“I have never been one to ask for help,” Krantz says. “It was hard for me. I didn’t even want people to know what I was going through and I only told my family and close friends at first. I didn’t want to be the guy with cancer and having my friends say, ‘Well, we better go check on Connor.’”

When he let people know what was happening through a Facebook post, he couldn’t believe the response.

People came out of the woodwork to share their own cancer stories. They cheered him on daily, pumped him up. One customer volunteered to come

vacuum the carpet in his store. His employees came in early in the mornings to trim the hedges outside.

Krantz heard countless stories of how people went through ordeals like his and came out the other side healthier and stronger. Their accounts gave him courage and a new realization about the innate goodness of people and how important it is to ask for help.

“I’d like to urge anyone reading this to ask for help when they need it,” Krantz says. “It’s humbling to ask, but it doesn’t make you weak. It makes you strong. If my girlfriend hadn’t forced me to go to the ER that day, who knows where I’d be? If my Mom, the nutritionist, hadn’t fixed my diet before we knew anything was wrong, my cancer might have been a lot worse. If I didn’t have the great employees I have, West Orange E-bikes may not even exist.”

Krantz has heard from so many people — friends, strangers, customers, and family members — who have

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been cheering him on. They have been “pushing me from behind. I have so much to be thankful for,” he says.

Today, thanks to all the support, the kindness of strangers, and his amazing doctors, Krantz can see the end of this difficult journey now. Strangely, he never thought dying would be his end. His only real concern was how long it would take to be himself again.

“I’ve always been one for immediate results,” Krantz says. “But I’ve learned better. I learned when you help others, you get it back many times over.”

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Krantz explains, “I lost myself for over a year. Turned quiet, depressed, kept everything inside when I used to be the fun guy, always happy, always joking.

The other day, my girlfriend looked at me and said, ‘You’re funny again!’ And I knew Connor was back.”

To help Krantz as he continues his cancer treatment, go to in.thelocalwg.com/connor

Krantz (Right) at the beginning of his cancer journey and in a recent picture (Below) show nothing has dimmed his megawatt smile.

Pet Present Savvy Holiday gift giving ideas for the furry friends on your list.

S AVAN NA WE ST WOOD

A

s someone who cares for as many as 70 local pets each week, I know a thing or two about what dogs like. I see what toys and treats my clients are giving their pets (and which ones their pets are actually playing with).So if you’re struggling with how to fill your dog’s stocking with things they’ll enjoy, here are a few suggestions for a howliday gift that will be sure to have tails a-waggin’.

Savannah is a 30-year Winter Garden resident and founder of The Savvy Sitter.

When she’s not spending time with your pet, she is enjoying time at home or honing her archery skills on horseback.

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1. Puzzle Toys

Easily one of the hottest pet trends I’ve seen in my clients’ homes, puzzle toys are great for pets.

They have many benefits for a healthy and active lifestyle, as well mentally stimulate your pet’s brain.

Most brands offer a variety of puzzles with different experience levels, so you can find the perfect challenge for your pooch.

Find puzzle toys at Gracies of Winter Garden or visit most any pet store in person or online.

2. Dog-Safe Sweets

I have a major sweet tooth and am a big foodie, especially around the holidays. And you don’t have to be a pet expert like me to know that dogs love to eat! Share your Christmas cookie time with your pets by buying specially made pupcakes, puppy truffles, special cookies or biscuits, and so much more! You can find some local goodies at Gracies of Winter Garden, Sweet Dee’s Cupcakery, and Woof Gang Bakery.

3. Fun with You

The holidays are about spending time together, after all. If your dog loves to be out and about, take them for a run on the West Orange Trail, hit a local dog park, or visit your neighborhood light displays. Finish it off with a meal at a local pet-friendly restaurant like Pammie’s Sammies, Rosallie, Axum, or the Crooked Can. If your pooch is more of a couch potato, cuddle up at home with them and have a Christmas movie marathon. They’ll be happy just to be next to you.

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Happinessi There is no more universal an “I love you” than a fresh bouquet of flowers from your hometown florist.

R H E YA TAN N E R

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ew things in this world can please everyone. But no matter who you are, a beautiful bouquet has the ability to make you smile.

What is it about flowers?

“They’re not something you wear. They’re not something you eat.

They’re not ‘useful,’ at all,” says Libby Tomyn of Betty J’s Florist. “They are pure, unadulterated, heartfelt sentiment.”

According to a study reported by the Society of American Florists, the presence of flowers has a long-term, positive impact on mood, and leads to more intimate connections with family and friends. For our local florists, this study only reinforces the phenomenon they see firsthand nearly every day.

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“My first week as a driver, I delivered flowers to this woman and her little girl, and she started crying,” recalls Meribeth Jackson, receptionist and longtime employee at Betty J’s. “I didn’t know what the flowers were for, so I just said, ‘I’m so sorry,’ and left. A few hours later, I’m in the grocery store, and the little girl from before was there and came up to me. She said, ‘You’re the flower lady.

You brought my mommy flowers today, and made her cry.’ And I said, ‘Well, I’m so sorry.’ And she said ‘Oh, no. They were happy tears.’”

When the pandemic hit, as the rest of the country cut back on cut flowers, Winter Gardeners did just the opposite; they relied on flowers to communi-

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cate those emotions that can’t be expressed on a screen. “Flowers became a way for people to reach out to each other when they couldn’t be together during the holidays,” says Tomyn. “We kept having to restock on lilies and chocolate bunnies to make all the Easter baskets we delivered last year!”

“Fifty or 60 years ago, flowers were a wonderful hostess gift. It hadn’t been that way for quite a while,” adds Jackson. “But last Christmas, for the first time, we had people come in and say, ‘I’ve been invited to dinner and I need to bring some flowers.’ That never happened before COVID, but now it’s coming back. It’s a great way to say thank you.”

What truly sets bouquets apart from any other

decoration is their multisense experience, which makes them more accessible. “When we’re making an arrangement for someone in a nursing home, we always try to find out, how’s their vision?” says Jackson. “We try to give them more bright colors, more texture, more aroma, so they can feel it even if they can’t see it.”

She recalls one particular woman with Alzheimer’s, and the flowers that got through to her when little else could. “She was almost 100 and had been just laying in her bed for a while.

But she remembered flowers when she smelled them. The sender called us later and said it was the first time in five years that she had smiled.”

Both Tomyn and Jackson have been with Betty J’s for

sin Bloom

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“Even

after as many years as I’ve been here, the flowers can cheer me up if I’m having a blue day.”

—Meribeth Jackson

Meribeth Jackson of Betty J’s Florist still loves flowers after 16 years more than a decade now.

And yet, the magic of flowers is not lost on them. “We had these roses called Bluebells,” says Tomyn. “They weren’t purple, or blue, or red, or pink; they were a little of all of those colors, melded into incredible roses that we were all going nuts over. We see flowers all the time and we still get excited about them.”

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“When you’re around it all day, it’s hard to be irritable,” says Jackson. “Even after as many years as I’ve been here, the flowers can cheer me up if I’m having a blue day.”

“We’ve been busy decorating for Christmas for a couple weeks now. One of the designers had a few free minutes and they did that truck,” says Tomyn, point-

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ing to a decorated red truck on display in the storefront. “When they brought it out, it was like the whole mood of the room had changed. All of a sudden, everybody wanted to make something for Christmas.

It’s contagious.”

Tomyn speaks from experience—she was eventually drawn away from a successful real estate career to join her sister, Rilla Tomyn’s, blooming business. “I was always involved in some way … but when she called me and asked if I was willing to do the gift shop [in Orlando Health], I said, ‘Oh, sister, let’s jump off that bridge and build our wings on the way down.’”

But no one has felt the magnetism of flowers more than Jackson, who has tried her best to retire from the shop four or five times now. “I think the longest I’ve retired was four months,” says Jackson. “I just keep coming back. There’s always a holiday or a wedding or a big move—there’s something happening that I can’t miss being part of.”

“There’s just something about flowers and your hometown florist shop,” says Tomyn. “Calling it a hallmark is too sappy. But there’s a tradition about it that seems to bring out the best in people.”

« Dr. Kim Dawson, owner of Pearle Vision in Ocoee

YOU NEED TO GET YOUR EYES EXAMINED 2021 is almost out the door, and your yearly vision insurance benefits are about to go with it. Why lose it when you can use it?

D

ecember is when many of us are at our busiest. Gifts, greeting cards, and gatherings can easily fill the month, leaving little time to think of anything else.

All of a sudden, there’s just one week left in the year, and you realize you’ve run out of time to use your insurance benefits—meaning you paid all that money into it for nothing.

Don’t give up on scheduling your annual eye exam. Instead, call Pearle Vision. “We can usually make your appointment for that same day or the next,” says Dr. Kim Dawson, owner of Pearle Vision in Ocoee. “Don’t let another year go by without getting your vision checked. You’ve already paid for that part of your insurance.

Don’t let it go to waste.”

And really, who better to call than a trusted national brand with over fifty years of caring for people’s eyes?

According to Dawson, “people understand that Pearle Vision is not just another glasses place. Sure, we have a wonderful selection of designer frames and all the new, high tech lenses. Contacts are a large part of our business. But we’re so much more than that. When you choose Pearle, you’re making a healthcare decision for you and your family.”

When Dr. Pearle opened his first eye-care center a half century ago, he combined quality eye-care with a culture of friendly service. He wanted to create a more intimate, neighborhood feel in his stores. And that boutique feel is exactly what Ocoee’s Pearle Vision is going for. If you need a tweak with your glasses, if they don’t feel right or fit right, bring them in—even if you’re not a Pearle customer.

Kim especially wants to give all the parents out there a heads-up

PR O MOT IO NAL F E AT U RE

about their kids’ eyes. “Every child needs an eye exam yearly. They’re growing, their eyes are changing and it happens so fast. We’re making it our mission to unlock the potential in every school kid here. I like to think Dr. Pearle would approve of that.”

Pearle Vision of Ocoee is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Make the most of your 2021 benefits with a quality eye exam from one of the most trusted eye-care specialists on the planet. Nobody cares for your eyes more than Pearle.

Pearle Vision of Ocoee 11024 W Colonial Dr. Suite 30 407-565-9290 pearlevision.com ocoeepearle@gmail.com DECEM BER 202 1

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Locals Inspiration B y day, RT Lovatto is a Disney stuntman at Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. But when he’s not flying high behind the scenes, he’s in a quiet corner of town, filling a sketchbook with handpainted scenes.

“I love doing small-scale ink work, and I love the portability of sketchbooks,” Lovatto says of his work. “It can be hard to

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WI N TE R G AR DE N

RT Lovatto sees beauty worth preserving in the simple moments of daily Winter Garden life. make time for, but I find it calming and therapeutic when I do.”

His art seems to bring as much joy to others as it does to him. He recalls a young woman approaching him while he was sketching at Axum. “She says, ‘I just wanted to tell you that seeing you sketch here makes me so happy.’

And she hands me this $5 bill and says, ‘I want your

next coffee to be on me.’

And she walks off.”

Though he didn’t get a chance to talk with her, Lovatto’s gut feeling is that she’s an artist herself, drawn to another creative. “You always hear that people are on their phones so often because it’s a dopamine hit for them. In a way, completing art, and going back to see what I accomplished, I get that same feeling.”

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Homefront

PART 2 OF A 3 PART SERIES

Work In Progress Karen’s kitchen reno is well underway. The space looks chaotic right now, but behind the scenes was plenty of careful planning.

D

emolition! Time to get dirty and dusty.

Luckily, Karen hasn’t officially moved into the house yet, so we have the house to ourselves to make as much of mess as we need.

We begin by removing the cabinets and the appliances. The two closets that separate the flex space in the back from the kitchen are now completely gone, opening the space to accommodate the new enlarged kitchen and dining

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space. The wall that separates the kitchen from the family room will be evaluated to see if we can tear part of it out, further opening up the space.

So, how did we get from paper plans to demolition?

With a lot of questions and thinking ahead: How much and how often to you use the kitchen? Which parts do you use most? How do you want the kitchen to flow?

Island in the center or not?

Seating options in the kitchen, or only in the dining

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Above: The down-to-the-studs demolition of Karen’s kitchen. Below: Cabinet and flooring swatches for the remodel. area? How much storage do you need? Any lighting preferences? Special appliances or items that aren’t typically found in a kitchen?

From these answers, we design several floor plans to explore different ways the space can work.

Karen is downsizing from a larger home to this smaller home—but downsizing is never as simple as it seems.

We all have a lot of stuff, even when we purge! So, one of Karen’s criteria was to have plenty of storage.

We were able to implement nine feet of wall storage and a large pantry.

Karen also anticipates that her kitchen will be where her friends and family tend to hang out, since that’s common in many kitchens. This particular kitchen area is not very wide, but we were still able to provide some seating around the island for informal dining and gathering space. In using the additional room in the back, we were able to create a

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Homefront Homefront much larger kitchen and much andand dininglarger spacekitchen for friends dining space for but friends family to gather still and be a family to gather but still be a part of the “kitchen gang.” part of the Once we“kitchen have ourgang.” final Once we have final plan in place, weour start shopplan in place, we start shopping around for appliances ping around for appliances that fit our needs, and we that our needs, and we havefiatkitchen cabinet have a kitchen cabinet company draft several company several elevations.draft When we have elevations.

When the elevations, wewe canhave still the elevations, we can still tweak the plans to better suit tweak the plans to better suit the client’s individual needs. the individual Oneclient’s of Karen’s wishlistneeds. items One of Karen’s wishlist items for the cabinetry was a bar for the cabinetry was bar cabinet added next toathe cabinet added next to the dining area to accommodining area to accommodate two beverage coolers date two beverage and bar storage. coolers and bar storage.

From there, we home From we home in on thethere, final selections in the final selections foron flooring and cabinet for flooring and cabinet

colors and finishes. The colors and finishes.

The countertops, paint colors, countertops, paint and lighting will becolors, selected and lighting will beAnd selected shortly thereafter. of shortly thereafter.

And of course, we finish our seleccourse, we fi nish our selection process off with finding tion processfurniture! off with finding the perfect theI am perfect furniture! the type of the designI am type the designer who the takes theofextra time er who takes the extra time to walk my clients through to walk myofclients through every step the process. every step of the process.

Selections are only made Selections are only made after careful consideration after careful consideration and weighing all their opand weighing theirmy options, becauseall I want tions, because I want my clients to truly love what clients to truly love what they have selected.

Even if they have selected.

Even if they aren’t quite able to vithey aren’t ableproject to visualize the quite finished sualize the fi nished project in their mind, I want them in theircomfortable mind, I want them to feel and to feel comfortable and excited in the process, and excited in the process, and to trust that I am keeping to trust that I am keeping

ELLEN PROBST R E A LT O R ® R N , N P

TRACE Y FORRESTER R E A LT O R ® G R I , G K C

ElleSellsFlorida@gmail.com ElleSellsFlorida.com 407.815.4420

Tracey@TraceyForrester.com TraceyForrester.com 914.582.8521

Homefront Homefront their personal taste at the their personal at the forefront of thetaste design. forefront offorward the design.

We look to showWe look forward showing you the finishedtoproject! ing the finished project!

Stayyou tuned!

Stay tuned!

Marilou Stones, Marilou ASID Owner of Stones, Stones Design. SheASID has beenOwner a licensed of

interior Design. designerShe for has 35 years, 8 of Stones been with a licensed those spentforworking in and interioryears designer 35 years, witharound 8 of Winteryears Garden. those spent working in and around Winter Garden.

Opposite Page: Blueprint measurements of Opposite Page: Blueprint measurements of Karen’s kitchen reno Karen’s kitchen reno Above, Right: The computerized floor plan Above, Right: The computerized planreal-life mockups of the renovation.

You’llfloor see the mockups of the renovation.

You’ll see the real-life final result in our next issue! final result in our next issue!

MARKS THE SPOT FOR HOMES IN HORIZON WEST AND WINTER GARDEN

Oh Well!

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FITNESS

A Gift of Self-Care Tips to ease stress during the season.

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et’s be real: the holidays are busy.

Balancing work, celebrations, meals, shopping, and sweets while maintaining an exercise routine can be quite the challenge, and can sometimes feel impossible.

Exercise is a pillar of self-care, and when you don’t make time for your fitness, you probably aren’t making time for the rest of your self-care either—not great during the often stressful holiday season. So, here are ways you can save time on your household chores, and hopefully squeeze in a few extra minutes to take care of yourself: 1. Try batch cooking. YouTube has a ton of meal prep ideas that could help turn cooking into a once or twice a week thing.

2. Save time on laundry. Folding each piece takes up a lot more time than you think. Instead, try hanging your clothing, or layering it in the drawer. Saving time on chores can help allow time for exercise.

3. Schedule a virtual workout or follow an online routine to save time commuting to and from the gym. Since we live in sunny Florida, you can also exercise outside with a hike, or just play physical games with your family, during even the coldest times of the year.

4. Find someone to keep you accountable. Whether it’s a trusted friend, a Facebook group, or a qualified fitness instructor, this person can motivate you to make healthy choices, better prioritize your health, and remind you that everyone falls off the horse at times; what matters is making sure you always get back up!

Still feeling stressed? You’re not alone.

Here are a couple of simple relaxation and energy building exercises to help you calm and recover your energy for the holidays, as well as prep for a great New Year.

Simple Belly Breathing. When we relax, we use a mouth breath: a gentle inhale of acceptance, and an exhale of releasing stress and expectations. It is a peaceful balance of your nervous system. Belly breathing through the mouth should help to relieve any tension. You don’t even have to put your hands on your tummy; you can even do this in the car or at your desk.

Spinal Rotation Side-Lying. When we are hunched over our phones or keyboards, towering over children and pets, or whatever it is we do, our body is beckoning us to re-open that crouched space up again.

A spinal rotation is a great way to stretch the fascial tissue under your neck and across your chest and arms. To add to the relaxation, incorporate your open mouth breathing.

Lily Hollister Owner of Pilates Center of Winter Garden, and creator of Nerve Impulse Redirection. Lily helps West Orange maintain their best health and body balance.

SCAN THE QR CODES BELOW for Lily’s video demonstrations.

BELLY BREATHING

SPINAL ROTATION

WELLNESS COUNTS

.4% The percentage of body weight the average American gains over the holiday season. (That’s four tenths of a percent.)

SOURCE: New England Journal of Medicine

336M

The estimated number of cookies left out for Santa each Christmas Eve.

90

SOURCE: southfloridareporter.com

Minutes

The length of nap that led to the greatest improvement in memory and cognitive function in seniors—that post-dinner nap is worth it.

3

SOURCE: Journal of the American Geriatric Society

The number of regular family meals per week said to improve kids nutrition and reduce childhood obesity. Enjoy those holiday meals!

SOURCE: Journal of Pediatrics

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Oh Well!

HEALTHCARE

Holiday Breaks Confronting the less happy aspects of the holidays.

F

or many people, this is their favorite time of year—a time to get together with family and friends to celebrate the memories of holidays past. The cool breeze, the warm smells of food wafting from the kitchen, and the traditions of decorating the tree and putting up lights all bring positive feelings.

But for many of us, the season is a double-edged sword. According to a survey commissioned by JoyOrganics, 88% of respondents believe the holidays are the most stressful time of the year, and 84% reported the feelings of stress started as early as November.

Of those reporting anxiety, more than half say the extra financial strain was the biggest factor of their stress (as cited in Anderer, 2019 “Jingle Bell Crock: 88% of Americans Feel the Holiday Season Is Most Stressful Time of Year” ).

In addition, for many

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people, the holidays are the background of the worst memories of their lives— childhood traumas, family blowups, and the loss of loved ones. The holiday season can trigger many vivid memories and feelings from the past. Not all children have that wonderful Christmas morning where they wake up to a pile of presents under the tree, and this can leave a lasting scar for some.

Sometimes the holidays can trigger feelings of loss, such as grieving the loss of a loved one or going through a divorce. The season also may be a reminder of family arguments or disagreements that led to a divide and estrangement from family. All of these can lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety , making the holiday season difficult to maneuver.

So what can one do to help reduce stress and negative emotions during the holidays? First, take time for yourself. Don’t try

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to do too much. You can’t do everything during the holidays, and some family members or friends may not be able to get as much time with you as they would like, and that is OK. Secondly, let go of the idea of perfection. There is no such thing as perfection, and the more one tries to make the events perfect, the more stress and anxiety will increase.

Third, self-care is important. Getting plenty of sleep, exercise, and time for oneself will help to reduce stress.

Take time out after the holidays to recover from travel and the holiday events.

Fourth, if you’ve struggled in the past with holidays, whether with grief, loss, trauma, or abuse, please know you are not alone.

Millions of Americans have experienced something similar and feel the same way. Take time out of the holidays to process your thoughts and feelings.

Share with a family member, friend, or professional.

Lastly, make them fun.

Remember that holidays are a time to spend with family and friends in celebration.

They are a time to share love and kindness. Keep this in mind when you’re obsessing about buying the perfect gift, trying to cook the best dinner ever, or running from place to place. There is a bigger meaning to the holidays. Find your meaning!

If you’re still struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression don’t hesitate to contact a professional.

Psychologists and therapists can provide various interventions to assist with these conditions and help you through the holiday stress.

Parker Mott, Psy.D., Owner of

Counseling & Psychological Services of Central Florida.

Dr. Mott was born and raised in the area, and his family has been here for over 150 years. He attended Dillard Street Elementary, Lakeview Middle, and graduated from West Orange High in 1998.

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786-348-4502 frontyardglowup.com @FrontYardGlowUp

Allison E.M. Budnik,Attorney 161 S. Boyd St., Suite 100, Winter Garden 407-499-2082 / WGfamilylawfirm.com

SHERRIE NEMETZ 321-436-0709 pamperedchefbysherrie@gmail.com R E Q UE S T A C ATALO G

Eats+Drinks

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Revisiting The Holiday Spirits

Simple recipes for a few of my favorite things, sans my favoritest thing.

I

don’t know about you, but I’ve probably consumed too much alcohol this year. My solution to combatting a hectic work life in the middle of a pandemic often led to many nights of countless libations being created … and consumed.

This holiday season, I’m trying to make conscious choices and stay present in the holiday, not immediately heading to the bar as soon as the party starts. If you’re trying to skip the alcohol this holiday season, whatever your reason, I’ve concocted different styles of beverages to appease at any time of the gathering.

If this article doesn’t appeal to you, and you’re fully imbibing this holiday season, I envy you, and I’ve modified each recipe to include alcohol as well.

For a Crowd: Chai Tea Sangria Sangria in December agrees with any Floridian. The richness of the red fruit (usually found from the wine) is perfect for a cocktail hour because it’s a sipping drink that warms you up but keeps it light. Instead of using wine this time around, I supplement chai tea (sweetened with brown sugar) with

pomegranate, cranberry, and orange juice. The chai supplies a cinnamon and peppery note to supplement the spiciness the wine would normally provide. Fresh apples, oranges, lemon, and lime are added for some acidic complexity. Finally, it’s topped with sparkling apple cider to cut through the richness and mimic the sweetness of brandy. I used this as the base for sangria at the bar this week and was told to keep it through the season! If you’d like to batch with alcohol, feel free to add wine, brandy, and a splash of gin to complement the chai.

For One: Pomegranate White Cranberry Limoncello La Croix This is just a combination of some of my favorite beverages. I’m not a brand ambassador, but Limoncello La Croix is one of the most flavorful beverages available, and white cranberry juice is superior to the traditional red (you’ll see). Take some of the leftover pomegranate juice from the sangria and add equal parts juice and La Croix. The vanilla and lemon of the La Croix offset the pomegranate and cranberry, and you

won’t be able to tell if it’s a cider or mixed drink. Vodka or gin would be a phenomenal addition.

After Dinner: Butterscotch Coffee I tried to make eggnog for you, I really did. After researching multiple recipes and still failing miserably, sitting with what looked like pudding, I threw my hands in the air and exclaimed “I’d rather be drinking coffee anyway!” I’m a black coffee drinker, so the addition of dairy usually makes it feel like a dessert or end cap. I made butterscotch creamer by blending brown sugar, butter, and salt with half and half in a sauté pan, cooking low until the cream took on a caramel color, and adding vanilla when removed from heat. Finished with whipped cream and cinnamon, this coffee felt like Werther’s in a glass, so fluffy and luscious I didn’t care it was sans booze. That said, a shot of whiskey would strengthen the caramel note.

Tarin Scarbrough

The Sommelier at The Attic Door. If you like what she pens, you’ll love what she pours!

Be sure to stop by and let her know what you think or drink.

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Eats+Drinks

Shared Experience With this tasty Pastry Trio, good things come in threes. But in the indulgence month of December, we dare to ask, “why not four?”

R H E YA TAN N E R

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F R E D LO PE Z

osallie Le French Cafe plays a cruel and clever game: They make you wait in line by the display of fresh pastries before they let you order. Normally, I’m able to resist that sugary siren song. But hey, it’s the holidays, when calories famously don’t count; there’s no time like now to treat yourself.

My calorie crime of choice—at first—was the Pastry Trio, a delightful little sampler situated in the glass display case right next to the counter (cruel and clever). The perfectly powdered baby cannoli is cute as a button and gives just enough of that filling to scratch the itch.

The fruits in the berry tart make it extra worthy of

its name. Each trio comes with a different colored macaron as well, so you can pick the one that calls to you. I chose an orange-y flame-charred one to signify my incoming indigestion from eating so many sweets.

The red velvet cake is not part of the trio; it just looked way too good to leave behind the counter.

In for a penny, in for a couple extra pounds, right?

I realized way too late that I may have bought more than I cared to eat.

Luckily, I was visiting my mom that day, and she was more than happy to take some of the sweet stuff off my plate to share.

When it comes to desserts, my philosophy is, the more the merrier.

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Rhetoric Rheya Tanner muses on life as a local

My Sleighlist

It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas, and that’s music to my ears.

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than, like, 40. I love that there are a dozen covers of “The Little Drummer Boy,” but my only options for “Frosty the Snowman” are Willie Nelson and Jimmy Durante.I even love those lame filler songs no one cares about, like that Paul McCartney one that never really starts, or that other one that claims Africans don’t know what Christmas is. (Sorry if one of those is your favorite. It probably isn’t.)

I laud Christmas music for its stubbornness. These songs are old— so old that they have outlived their lyrics (what the heck are hop-along boots?) and their singers. Half the crooners caroling on the radio right now are dead and have been for a long time.

Make no mistake though, in thinking that I ever want to hear a

new holiday hit in my life. Classics forever, please.

Music in general has that enduring quality, but there’s something about Christmas music—maybe it’s the snow—that better preserves it in time.

I can’t hear Nat King Cole’s rendition of “The First Noel” without thinking of baking cookies with my grandma.

I can’t hear Elvis’s “Blue Christmas” without hearing my dad teach me to sing the “ooohs” with him.

If you’re one of those bah-humbugs who hates all the repetitiveness, I feel you; I, too, am sick of it by the 14th. But those lights keep twinkling, and that music keeps blaring throughout the town. Savor it while you can. And before that Christmas tree in the square comes down, I hope I’ll see you rockin’ around it.

Illustration: Josh Clark

H

ere it is once again: that magical time of year when we listen to the same 35 songs over and over for several weeks—the very songs we’ve been playing since Nat King Cole roasted his first chestnuts. We get to hear that big band intro to Andy Williams’s “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (and then feel a little cheated when it’s actually the Johnny Mathis version) through WG’s downtown speakers and in shopping malls across the country. We get to enjoy Bruce Springsteen’s long, bewildering preamble to “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” which they haven’t cut from the radio edit for some reason.

In most aspects of life, I wouldn’t consider myself a traditionalist.

Christmas music is a hard exception.

The second the leftover turkey is in the fridge, I turn off the obscure neo-jazz I listen to during the other 11 months and start having myself a merry little Christmas with Crosby, Como, and the Carpenters.

Part of me loves the novelty of it.

I love singing along to songs about snow and ice and winter wonderlands when I’ve literally never experienced a Christmas colder

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