Orlando Life August 2014

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TOP CANCER DOCS ■ GROWING UP WITH THE BIG C ■ CLIMBING FOR A CAUSE

T H E B E S T O F C E N T R A L F LO R I DA

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EXPLORE MAGICAL DIAGON ALLEY August 2014

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Outdoor Living Addition

PHOTOS Š EVERETT & SOULE

Living in Florida means spending a lot of time outdoors. Make your home a favorite place to relax. Farina & Sons is family owned with a tradition of award winning renovations, additions and custom homes since 1950. Regardless of size, each project receives Farina’s trademark attention to detail and teamwork approach.

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I N N O V AT E . D I S C O V E R . C U R E .

EXPLORING THE GREAT UNKNOWN Discovering New Frontiers of Medicine at Orlando’s First Exercise and Bioenergetics Laboratory

Medical experts know very little when it comes to the science of exercise. How does exercise really work? Why does it work for some and not others? Why do we lose muscle function as we get older and can it be prevented? These are just a few of the many questions our researchers are working hard to discover answers to. Our new Exercise and Bioenergetics Laboratory was created by a team of exercise experts for the sole purpose of research. This world-class laboratory features a state-of-the-art exercise training facility, a comprehensive testing area and an adjacent laboratory capable of capturing the real-time impact of exercise. Through our dedication to research and medical discovery, we strive to redefine the science of exercise and provide new treatments for people around the world.

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To learn more about the exciting, new frontiers of medical science we are exploring, visit TRI-MD.org.

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S P E C I A L P R O M OT I O N A L F E AT U R E

Introducing Orlando’s First Exercise and Bioenergetics Laboratory Exercise and Metabolism research has always been an important component of the research being conducted at the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI-MD). Within the last year, however, the TRI-MD has expanded its commitment to this area of research by creating a new, dedicated facility. Some of the brightest minds in the fields of exercise and metabolism research were brought together to create the ultimate exercise research facility, known as the Exercise and Bioenergetics Laboratory. According to Bret Goodpaster, PhD, senior investigator and scientific advisor for the program, “This is not your typical ‘health club’ nor will it be used as a wellness center. It is specifically designed with research in mind.”

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The facility is composed of three state-of-the-art components that allow for advanced, multi-faceted research: an exercise training facility, a comprehensive testing area and a laboratory. The exercise training facility houses the latest exercise equipment,

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To learn more about the exciting new frontiers of medical science we are exploring or to tour our facility, call (407) 303-1700 or visit TRI-MD.org.

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including treadmills, stationary bikes, rowing machines and resistance equipment. The testing area employs specialized equipment designed to measure exercise capacity and muscle function. Thirdly, the adjacent laboratory allows for immediate analysis of patient samples designed to capture the real-time impact of exercise. For example, a person could have a muscle biopsy and blood drawn in the testing facility, then work out on a rowing machine, then immediately have another muscle biopsy and blood sample drawn post exercise. The samples are taken steps away to the lab to be analyzed within moments to record the impact, if any, that the exercise has had on the muscle tissue. The purpose of these studies is to understand how exercise works. As Goodpaster states, “It’s 2014 and we still really don’t know the answer to things like ‘Why does exercise work for some and not others? How does the aging population lose muscle function and why? Can it be prevented, and if so, to what extent?’ That’s why this research is so important.” Through this exciting new research, TRI-MD seeks to redefine the science of exercise and discover groundbreaking new treatments for people around the world.

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UNLOCKING THE SCIENCE OF EXERCISE

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CONTENTS

marriot_light_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`12 å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿ ≠ marriot_light_italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvw å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿ ≠ marriott_med_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïö ≠ marriott_med_italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstu å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïö ≠ marriott_bold_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy åç´ƒ©˙ˆ˚¬µ˜øœ®ß†¨¥`¡™£¢§¶•ªº–“‘«…æ÷�Åı Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäë

august

marriott_bold_italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrs åç´ƒ©˙ˆ˚¬µ˜øœ®ß†¨¥`¡™£¢§¶•ªº–“‘«…æ÷�Å Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäë

marriot_condensed_light_abcdefghijklmnopqrst å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ ÷ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñ ≠ marriot_condensed_medium_abcdefghijklmno å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿ

marriot_condensed_bold_abcdefghijklmnopq å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöü ≠ AbadiMTStd-Light_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^ å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥�`¡™£¢ §¶•ª Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿ

AbadiMTStd-LightItalic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvw ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^ å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥�`¡™£¢ §¶•ª Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿã

AbadiMTStd_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`12 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$% å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢ §¶•ªº Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöü

Volume 15

Issue 5

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DEPARTMENTS 10 JAY BOYAR’S LIMELIGHT

Jay raves about the Gone With The Wind exhibit at the Orange County History Center while highlighting some of the best new movies shown at the Florida Film Festival; Crosby, Stills and Nash harmonize at the Bob Carr; Valencia College does a big show about small art; the Orlando Phil’s 24th summer chamber music series moves to The Plaza Live; and Tori Amos brings her Unrepentant Geraldines tour to Bob Carr.

20 STYLE

Accessories take a heavy metal turn. by Marianne Ilunga • photographs by Rafael Tongol

26 ATTRACTIONS

The spectacular Diagon Alley expansion at Universal Orlando is a coming-of-age story in more ways than one. Here are seven of those ways. by Michael McLeod

66 FLAVOR

A new restaurant brings the cuisine of Basque country to the East End Market. by Rona Gindin • photographs by Rafael Tongol

32

A tricky balance needs to be struck in managing the future of Winter Park’s historic Hannibal Square. by Randy Noles

FEATURES

SPECIAL SECTIONS

32 CONQUERING KILI

When physicians or their loved ones are faced with cancer, who do they call? Find out by checking the peer-selected roster of Central Florida’s Top Doctors for Cancer, compiled by Castle Connolly and presented exclusively by Orlando Life.

Here’s how 16 amateur climbers, four of whom were cancer survivors, pulled together to reach the summit of the world’s highest freestanding mountain. by Marc Middleton

38 LITTLE BIG MAN

A UCF senior who has endured two long, brutal battles with cancer wouldn’t wish his life on anybody else — but he’s stronger for having lived it. by Jarred Paluzzi • photographs by Rafael Tongol 4

ORLANDO LIFE

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44 TOP DOCTORS

57 REMODEL ORLANDO

Make a design statement with tile, which comes in every size, shape and look these days. by Karen LeBlanc

Photos: (Bottom left and right) rafael tongol; (top left) courtesy growing bolder; (top right) courtesy universal orlando

72 FROM THE PUBLISHER

AUGUST 2014

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Let us spoil you with poolside pampering.

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Let us guide you on a kayak through Shingle Creek. Let us stop time so your kids can stay kids a little longer. Let us capture your most treasured family memories.

$229*

Intrigue You – Enjoy one complimentary night; stay four nights pay for three. Package includes breakfast buffet for two and overnight self parking. For reservations, contact your travel professional, call The Ritz-Carlton at 800-576-5760 or visit ritzcarlton.com/orlando.

*Offer valid through September 30, 2014, subject to availability. Rate listed is starting from and is per room/per night, based on single or double occupancy, exclusive of taxes, gratuities, fees and other charges; does not apply to groups; cannot be combined with any other offer and is not applicable for Rewards redemption. Advanced reservations are required. Void where prohibited. ©2014 The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.

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7/11/14 2:19:58 PM


from the editor

FIRST

Using the Users FACEBOOK MAKES ME HAPPY. NO, FACEBOOK MAKES ME SAD.

P

eople I don’t even know are controlling my mood. Some days they want to make me happy. Some days they want to make me sad. And they do. I know what you’re thinking. You want to know how I figured this out, because you’ve been suspecting, lately, that the same thing is happening to you. Well, let me tell you something, in all seriousness: If you’re a Facebook fan, you could be right. There was quite the uproar a few weeks back when Facebook admitted that a researcher had randomly selected half a million of the website’s users and changed the balance between positive and negative news feeds they saw. The point of the experiment was to see what effect this kind of manipulation had on the kinds of posts users would make. Facebook’s official stance is that we give them permission to jerk us around like this in the “terms of service” agreement. The researcher made a public apology just the same. But it’s going to take me a while to get over this. I mean, was I just being manipulated the other day when I saw that post about a lady who takes care of dogs whose hind legs are paralyzed, outfitting them with little two-wheeled carts? I remember smiling that day as I watched the dogs chase each other around. It looked a miniature version of the chariot race in Ben Hur. And what about the bird that perches next to a keyboard and sings a melody while accompanied by a pianist? Or the cat that stands on its hind legs like a prairie dog for long stretches, staring off into the distance, forelegs crossed, thoughts adrift? Or the 16-year-old boy named Tyler Domeier who rescued two fawns caught in flood waters, and was photographed carrying one of them under each arm? It brings me joy to know that somewhere out there is a turtle who is fast! This turtle corners like a Porsche. It buddies around with a little dog. The two of them like chasing a rubber ball and, if the dog tries to take the ball away, the turtle bites him. I got a different sort of happiness out of the picture of a fat, grinning man with limited word skills and a problem with immigrants, which he likes to express by holding up a hand-lettered sign that reads: “Respect Are Country. Speak English.” In the comment section under the photo, I wrote: “Okay. You first.” I doubt that guy, whoever he is, will ever see my message. But posting it made me happy, just the same. It’s going to be hard to give all that up. I’m just not sure I can. Now I’m all depressed.

Michael McLeod Editor in Chief mmcleod@orlando-life.com

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Take Note What’s SOCIAL

Follow us on twitter: @OrlandoLifeMag and Facebook at: facebook.com/orlandolifemagazine. We’re on Google+, Instagram, Tumblr and Pinterest too: pinterest. com/orlandolife/. Insta

What you CAN DO Take the way-back machine to Hard Rock Live Aug. 31 to check out heavy metal pioneer band Deep Purple (“Smoke on the Water”).

What’s ON DECK September is our annual “Can’t Miss List,” when we clue you in about the most important arts and entertainment events of the upcoming season. The September issue will also feature our insider’s guide to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, which will celebrate its grand opening in November.

About the COVER Natalie wears a silver chain-link necklace, $2,950, by David Yurman. The sulfur-blackened silver earrings, $395; and black diamond ring, $1,195; are both by John Hardy. Her bracelets include a black diamond and silver bangle, $850; a silver and black diamond chain-link cuff, $1,995; and a bamboo silver and black diamond cuff, $1,200. All are from Neiman Marcus, The Mall at Millenia. Photograph by Rafael Tongol. AUGUST 2014

7/11/14 2:20:32 PM


Jorge Ulibarri Custom Homes

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Magnolia Plantation golf course lot

7/14/14 1:46:46 1:54:07 PM PM 7/14/14


MICHAEL MCLEOD Editor in Chief

HARRY WESSEL

Managing Editor

LAURA BLUHM Art Director

JAY BOYAR Arts Editor

RONA GINDIN Dining Editor

MARIANNE ILUNGA Style Editor

KAREN LEBLANC, MARC MIDDLETON, JARRED PALUZZI, MIKE THOMAS Contributors

RAFAEL TONGOL Photographer

AILIN LE BELLOT, SAMANTHA HENRY Editorial Interns

Editorial: mmcleod@orlando-life.com

LORNA OSBORN

Senior Associate Publisher Director of Marketing & Public Relations

KATHY BYRD

Associate Publisher ADVERTISING: LOSBORN@ORLANDO-LIFE.COM KATHYB@ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

ORLANDO LIFE

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Copyright 2014 by Florida Home Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited without written permission of the copyright holder. ORLANDO LIFE ISSN: 2326-2478 (USPS 000-140) (Vol. 15/Issue No. 5) is published six times a year by Florida Home Media LLC, 2700 Westhall Lane, Ste 128, Maitland, FL 32751. Periodicals Postage Paid at Maitland, FL and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Orlando Life Magazine, 330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205, Sarasota, FL 34236. 8

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Park Maitland.

A legacy of leaders for over 45 years. Since Since 1968, 1968, Park Park Maitland Maitland has has been been growing the leaders of tomorrow. We offer a proven foundation of excellence in education and provide children the tools they need to realize their dreams!

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407-647-3038 ParkMaitland.org Fully accredited by The Florida Council of Independent Schools & The Florida Kindergarten Council

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LIMELIGHT

jay boyar

Frankly, My Dear… A TARA-IFFIC TRIBUTE AT THE HISTORY CENTER.

Jay Boyar, arts editor of Orlando Life, has written about film and travel for the Orlando Sentinel and numerous other newspapers. He’s the author of Films to Go: 100 Memorable Movies for Travelers & Others and a contributor to Reel Romance: The Lovers’ Guide to the 100 Best Movies. Date Movies 10

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DRESS COURTESY N.C. MUSEUM OF HISTORY; SEE GONE WITH THE WIND (1939) ON TMC. TM & © 2007 TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES. A TIME WARNER COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TCM.COM

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or some folks, it can only be Star Wars. For others, it’s Citizen Kane. But for many, the greatest motion picture ever made is — and always will be — Gone With the Wind. “It was colorful! The costumes! The sets! Everything about it was larger than life,” says James Tumblin, who has been collecting memorabilia from the Civil War epic for half a century. “Then there are the actors. Stars like that we’ll never see again, because we don’t have personalities like that anymore.” About 130 items from his collection of more than 300,000 will be on view from Aug. 16 through Nov. 30 at the Orange County Regional History Center. The exhibit, Gone With the Wind: Reel to Real, will mark the 1939 classic’s diamond anniversary. A former head of the Universal Studios makeup and hair department in Hollywood who now lives in Oregon, Tumblin started his collection after visiting a costume manufacturer in 1962 and noticing a dress on the floor. He bent down to pick it up but was told not to bother — that, frankly, nobody gave a damn. When he offered to buy the dress, he was told he could have it, plus a whole rack of clothing, for $20. That dress had a label indicating it was one of Vivien Leigh’s costumes from her starring role as Scarlett O’Hara. Tumblin says that after word got around about his purchase, “all of a sudden, I started getting these memos and phone calls and notes from people in the business” offering to sell other articles from the film. “And that’s how the collection started,” he says. “By picking up a dress off the floor.” That first dress will be among the mementos featured at the History Center show. Others will include Leigh’s Oscar for the film, rare posters, memos, props and furniture. Visit thehistorycenter.org for more information. ■

AUGUST 2014

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The animated film Cheatin’ is funny, inventive and unexpectedly touching.

DRESS COURTESY N.C. Museum of History; See Gone With the Wind (1939) on TMC. TM & © 2007 Turner Classic Movies. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. tcm.com

Cheatin’ and Other Cinematic Pleasures When I say “Florida Film Festival,” what comes to mind? Probably the 10 days every April when Enzian brings dozens of independent films (plus a movie star or two) to town for all of us to see. But much of the influence of the nonprofit Maitland movie theater is felt after the event is over. That’s because film festivals are meant to call attention to worthwhile efforts that might be lost in the shuffle when they eventually enter the marketplace. In keeping with that philosophy, here are a few examples from this year’s lineup. If you missed them during the festival, you might want to keep an eye out for them to reappear in general release, either at Enzian or elsewhere. The Trip to Italy was one of my festival favorites this year. Featuring British funnymen Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as versions of themselves, it’s the hilarious sequel to 2010’s The Trip. As our odd couple travels the Italian countryside in this largely improvised, ruminative comedy, they share uproarious thoughts about, and impressions of, Christian Bale, Richard Burton, Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino and (as, memorably, in The Trip) Michael Caine. My other festival faves include Words and Pictures, a wobbly but somehow endearing romcom with Clive Owen and Juliette ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

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Binoche; I Believe in Unicorns, a delicate, affecting coming-ofager; and SlingShot, a documentary about Segway-inventor Dean Kamen that becomes increasingly involving as it rolls along. My very favorite film at this year’s festival is Cheatin’, an animated feature written and directed by Bill Plympton and partially funded by Kickstarter. The Manhattan-based Plympton is a longtime friend of the festival and Enzian. In fact, festival-founder Philip Tiedtke is a producer on Plympton’s film, and Plympton designed the mural that adorns Eden Bar, near the theater. A lot of Plympton’s previous work has relied on deliberately grotesque imagery. Cheatin’ has some of that, too, but it’s a richer film. This funny, inventive and unexpectedly touching production tells the tale of Jake and Ella, a young couple who meet on a bumper-car ride before taking a ride on the bumpy road of matrimony. Variety praised the film’s “distinctive, freewheeling visual imagination” while The Hollywood Reporter emphasized its “finely crafted sight gags.” I agree with all that, but I’d add that Cheatin’ also has a warm, tender heart. Plympton tells me that his film is still playing at festivals, where it’s winning awards and gathering support. And the director, who has previously received Oscar nominations, is hoping for another one to help Cheatin’ get the sort of distribution deal that would bring it back to a theater hereabouts. “I think America is ready for an animated film that talks about adult subjects,” he says. Here’s hoping that Cheatin’ pays. ORLANDO LIFE

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LIMELIGHT

plan on it

An Evening with Yes

Aug. 3 Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre

Yes, it’s really Yes, performing songs from their ’70s albums Fragile and Close to the Edge, and introducing songs from their new album, Heaven and Earth.

ticketmaster.com History Boys

Aug. 8–Sept. 7 Mad Cow Theatre

This Tony Award-winning play, set at a fictional grammar school in northern England, mixes comedy and drama as it explores serious issues related to adolescence and the role of education.

madcowtheatre.com

The Wayans Brothers

Aug. 16 Hard Rock Café

The four multitalented brothers — Shawn, Marlon, Damon and Keenan Ivory — join forces for a stand-up comedy act that dishes on love, pop culture and everyday life.

ticketmaster.com

Orlando Urban Music Fest

Aug. 22 UCF’s CFE Arena

Grammy Award-winning singer Anthony Hamilton leads a sterling array of musical talent for an evening of rhythm and blues, featuring guests Lyfe Jennings, Jazmine Sullivan and Mali Music

cfearena.com

Third Annual Great Irish Hooley

Aug. 29 – Sept. 1 Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant, Downtown Disney

This celebration of all things Irish features some of the Emerald Isle’s top musicians along with authentic step dancing, iconic national cuisine, dance workshops, Celtic face painting and, oh yeah, beer.

raglanroad.com

Blake Shelton

Aug. 30 Amway Center

The country star’s Ten Times Crazier Tour — in support of his latest album, Based on a True Story... — also includes Neal McCoy, The Band Perry and newcomer duo Dan + Shay.

amwaycenter.com

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CAHILL Castleworks Charles Clayton Construction Dave Brewer DeLorenzo Homes Derrick Builders Farina & Sons Goehring & Morgan Construction Hannigan Homes Hardwick General Contracting J. Richard Watson Construction Company Kelsey Custom Homes McNally Homes Phil Kean Design Group Posada Custom Homes Ray Coudriet Builder Regal Classic Homes Speer Homes Stonebridge Homes The Master Custom Builder Council is a Central Florida organization pledged to maintain the highest professional standards in the home building industry. The Council represents the DUHDtV OHDGLQJ custom and luxury home builders who have dedicated themselves to using their craft and workmanship to make Central Florida an even finer place to live. MCBC builders adhere to a very strong code of ethics which are listed at www.custombuilt.com

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LIMELIGHT

music

Each earned a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a soloist. But just try thinking of any one of them without bringing to mind the other two. David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash will be forever known for the music they made together. Nash likely said it best: “No one in the world can sound like us when we’re singing together.” Rock’s reigning masters of three-part harmony will play the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre Aug. 7. Along with Neil Young, who left the group in its early years, Crosby, Stills and Nash became counterculture icons overnight after their appearance at Woodstock. Songs such as “Marrakesh Express,” “Teach Your Children,” “Wooden Ships” and “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” are among their familiar repertoire. But life was anything but free and easy for members of the trio in the aftermath of their commercial success. Both Crosby and Stills wrestled with drug addiction. Nash struggled with relationships —

including his role as the group’s steadying influence. Lately, though, they’ve all settled into their roles as latter-day rock royalty. Earlier this year Crosby, accompanied by his son, pianist James Raymond, released Croz, an album he describes as an “emotional voyage.” Stills just finished a series of solo concert performances, while Nash published the 2013 memoir Wild Tales: A Rock and Roll Life. Crosby and Nash have recently expressed hopes of persuading Young to join them for a reunion tour. Visit crosbystillsnash.com for more information. — Samantha Henry

PHOTO: Chris Kissinger

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www.fanniehillman.com

AUGUST 2014

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Afaq Zaman Khan, M.D., F.A.C.S.

General Surgeon Laparoscopic and Gastrointestinal Surgeon Dr. Khan is a board-certified diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and is a fellow of American College of Surgeons. This is accepted as the standard of excellence in the field of general surgery. He also underwent specialized training in minimally invasive gastrointestinal and robotic surgery. Dr. Khan comes from a family of physicians. He earned his medical degree from King Edward Medical College. He then furthered his studies at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Royal College of Surgeons of Dublin, Ireland. He completed his general surgery residency at Michigan State University and then did his fellowship in foregut surgery at University of Southern California. Dr. Khan has been awarded the Oweida scholarship by the American College of Surgeons and has several publications in the field of General Surgery. Our team at Surgimed of Orlando actively participates in preoperative, operative and post operative management, including the management of complications. We understand the importance of teamwork and work closely with the primary physicians to provide the best possible care to their patients. Dr. Khan enjoys water sports, a good game of cricket, movies and traveling. On the weekend, you can find Dr. Khan socializing with family and friends. He lives in Baldwin Park Orlando with his wife, who is also a physician and young son. Immediate appointments are available, Please call the office for further information.

Monday through Thursday,9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Phone: 407 966 3355 Fax: 407 966 3365 631 Palm Springs Drive, Suite 104. Altamonte Springs, FL. 32701.

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LIMELIGHT

art

Pint-Size Really Matters At Valencia Art Exhibition

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PHOTO Courtesy VALENCIA COLLEGE

Good things — including works of art — come in small packages. That truism is showcased and celebrated at Valencia College’s Wooten Gallery with its fifth annual Small Works by Central Florida Artists. The exhibit, which runs Aug. 15 to Oct. 3, features 20 local artists working in a variety of mediums. There’s just one requirement: All works must be less than 16 inches in width and height. One of the participating artists is Kimberly Miller, former director of Orlando’s Ceramic Workshop. The veteran potter has two of her works on display at the Small Works exhibit, which is staged on Valencia’s east campus. Creating the two encaustic paintings — “Memory of One” and “Waiting for Lindsay” — involved the use of color pigments, beeswax and a blowtorch. The unfamiliar medium was a challenge for Miller, but an enjoyable one. “I’m a painter trapped in a potter’s body,” she says, adding that her art helps her “express the inexpressible.” “When you try to verbalize things, it doesn’t come out right. But when you put marks on a piece, you feel great.” Visit valenciacollege.edu/artsandentertainment for more information. — Ailin Le Bellot

AUGUST 2014

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Kim Arena


Congratulates

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LIMELIGHT

music

The 24th season of the Orlando Philharmonic’s summer chamber music series is being celebrated in a brand-new home. The Sounds of Summer series, which began in June and concludes with two concerts this month, has served as an extended housewarming party at the Milk District’s venerable Plaza Live Theatre. Mark Fischer, the Phil’s director of artistic operations, says the orchestra has been gradually warming up to its new digs. A long-term strategy to improve acoustics is being developed by a theatrical consultant. But for now, a 12-foot-tall acoustic shell, borrowed from Trinity Prep, has been installed to boost sound quality in the 400seat converted movie theater. Orchestra members collaboratively nominate selections for all five Sounds of Summer concerts.

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Coming Aug. 4 is a strings-and-flute ensemble, followed on Aug. 18 with chamber music by Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Glinka. That concert, the final one of the series, will be performed by a sextet led by the Phil’s concertmaster, Rimma BergeronLanglois. Apart from being concertmaster since 2011, Bergeron-Langlois is a globally recognized violinist. The musical “friends” performing with her include her husband, Canadian bassoonist Gabriel BergeronLanglois. The couple will be joined by Alexander Stevens on violin, Mauricio Céspedes Riverio on viola, David Bjella on cello and Keiko Andrews on piano. Visit orlandophil.org for more information — Samantha Henry

PHOTO Courtesy ORLANDO Philharmonic

More Music at the Phil’s Summer Digs

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LIMELIGHT

music

PHOTO Courtesy ORLANDO VENUES

Tori Amos, Still Shaking It Up It’s been 22 years since she rearranged the pop-rock landscape with her first solo album, Little Earthquakes. Since then, singer-songwriter Tori Amos has worked her way through numerous and sometimes surprising themes, from feminism and spirituality to history and beekeeping. Her latest musical musings? The troubles and joys that come with turning 50. Amos, who recently released her 14th solo album, Unrepentant Geraldines, will appear at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre Aug. 23. The album’s title, says Amos, is a reference to her belief that powerful women need not apologize for their actions and beliefs. “What’s kind of crazy is when you try and be an age that you’re not,” Amos says. “I don’t want to wear 50 how the media thinks women in the music industry should wear 50, because a 20-year-old can’t talk about what I’m going to talk about.” Amos, who’ll actually be wearing 51 by the time her Orlando performance rolls around, recently added theatrical composer to her resumé, collaborating with playwright Samuel Adamson in a stage adaptation of author George MacDonald’s The Light Princess. Visit ticketmaster.com for more information. — Ailin Le Bellot

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STYLE

Riveting Looks

TESTING THE METTLE OF INDUSTRIAL ACCESSORIES. styling by Marianne Ilunga photographs by Rafael Tongol hair and makeup by Elsie Knab Natalie B of BMG Models wears a gold- and diamondaccented watch by Michele Watch, $2,945. It’s paired with gold tone and lucite earrings, $275; a gold tone and lucite bangle, $195; a Black Liquid lucite hinge cuff, $245; and a gold tone and lucite bracelet with pavé crystal accents, $175. All are from Neiman Marcus, The Mall at Millenia.

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Natalie displays three original rings by Rebecca Rose Sculpturings. From left to right: “Futuring,” $1,100; “Persevering,” $950; and “Engagement Ring,” $600. All are available at Snap! Orlando snaporlando. com.

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STYLE

Natalie wears handcrafted metalwork from Liz Rishavy, with a necklace of large labradorite that’s set in woven sterling, $1,250. It’s matched with a long woven-sterling and labradorite lariat, $825; drop earrings of labradorite set in sterling, $225; a sterling, 18K gold and labradorite cuff, $5,000; and a large labradorite and sterling ring, $325. All are available online at houseofrishavy.com. 22

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AUGUST 2014

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Natalie wears two layered Nest turquoise statement necklaces, $375 each; square drop, quartzcovered turquoise earrings by Konstantino, $1,085; and a gold and silver ring, also by Konstantino, $1,590. All are from Neiman Marcus, The Mall at Millenia.

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STYLE Natalie’s Liz Rishavy Draco necklace features a shark tooth set in oxidized silver, $625. It’s worn with an 18K oxidized silver moonstone cuff, $5,000; a labradorite rose-cut sterling silver ring, $195; a small rose-cut moonstone sterling ring, $85; a teardrop moonstone sterling silver ring, $225; a rough labradorite sterling silver bangle, $350; and an oxidized silver upper-arm bracelet, $950. All are available at houseofrishavy.com.

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AUGUST 2014

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Natalie wears a silver ear cuff, $70; a pair of lapis and carved quartz skull earrings, $350; a chic silver bracelet, $105; a moonstone and silver ring, $95; a woven silver and rose quartz lariat necklace, $1,500; an Open Heart ring, $325; and a filigree bracelet collection with two large moonstones, $325. All are original works by Liz Rishavy, available online at houseofrishavy.com

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ATTRACTIONS

Diagon Alley

Potter Deux

SEVEN reasons why Universal’s expansion of the boy wizard’s realm is a theme park game-changer. by Michael McLeod 26

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H

ere’s how life got better for you last month: From now on, no matter how bad things get, you can always say you have the most fabulous alley in the world in your own backyard. That would be Diagon Alley, the 20-acre, $400 million expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened July 8 at Universal Orlando Resort. Alleys are humble thoroughfares. This one’s an overachiever — elaborately conceived, lavishly financed, shrewdly wrought. It’s a creative tour de force that not only sets a new standard for theme parks, but shifts the balance of power among them. How? We counted the ways. When we got to seven, we stopped in homage to She Who Must Be Named — and Where It All Began. It took British fantasy novelist J. K. Rowling seven volumes to create the best-selling book series in history: the story of Harry Potter, an adventuresome young wizard with a holly-and-phoenix-feather wand and the fate of the world in his hands. Not to mention the fortunes of a certain up-and-coming theme park franchise.

PHOTO: courtesy universal orlando

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A fire-breathing dragon serves as a formidable security guard for Gringotts Bank, at the far end of Diagon Alley — Universal’s riotous, meticulously fashioned evocation of a key part of J.K. Rowling’s fantasy world.

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This is one sequel that outdoes the original. In movies, follow-ups notoriously disappoint. That rule apparently doesn’t apply to theme-park attractions, at least this one. Both the interactive story line and the technology behind the Diagon Alley expansion easily overshadow — and deftly complement — the village of Hogsmeade, home of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. That was Universal’s first and nottoo-shabby incarnation of Rowling’s fantasy world, which opened four years ago. Its centerpiece ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, uses swooping robotic arms and oversized video screens to take guests on a simulated flight, trailing along behind a quidditch match (think polo on broomsticks) that’s interrupted by a firebreathing dragon.

The flagship ride at Diagon Alley is a combination roller coaster, 3-D movie screen and live-action ride called Escape From Gringotts. It features a dragon, too, but one that is upstaged by a still-scarier threesome: the über-evil Lord Voldemort; his most sadistic follower, Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange; and his giant snake, Nagini. After boarding nimble, 12-person carts that lunge, spin, skid sideways and plummet through a subterranean maze, visitors are much more directly involved in the action than they are in the Forbidden Journey ride. In fact, they’re on their own for a good long stretch, under attack from various villains and assorted trolls. They’re eventually rescued by Harry, Hermione and Ron, who have just arrived to break into a closely guarded goblin vault to find a charmed object Harry needs to defeat He Who Must Not Be Named.

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Location, location. There was one key element of Rowling’s fictional domain that was never clearly evoked in Universal’s first stab at the Harry Potter saga: It’s a parallel universe. Witches and wizards routinely congregate in invisible havens that exist right next door to the haunts of ordinary humans. Diagon Alley is just such an enclave, situated diagonally to a “real” London neighborhood — hence the name. In Universal’s rendering, Diagon Alley is tucked behind a row of London storefronts and residences that includes a painstakingly realistic re-creation of Kings Cross Station, a major London railway terminal that dates back to the 19th century. The most dramatic way for guests to get to Diagon Alley is to arrive at that bustling railway station via a five-minute trip aboard the newly created Hogwarts Express, which multitasks as both a theme park ride and — for wizards with a two-park pass — a means of transportation between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. A mirrored effect in the boarding queue makes passengers seem to magically disapORLANDO LIFE

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Diagon Alley

pear as they approach the train. During their five-minute journey, video screens attached to the train’s windows populate the passing scenery with fantastical characters and objects, such as the shape-shifting Knight Bus that only wizards and witches can see. But the train itself — which is made up to look like a vintage Scottish steam locomotive called a Jacobite — is just a noisy, bumpy, human-invented conveyance. And the station, picturesque though it may be, is just a station. It resonates with a tinny, disinterested voice announcing arrivals and departures to ordinary places. It’s staffed with conductors who stare at you curiously if, like any good witch or wizard, you travel with a magic wand. Never mind them. They are muggles. They certainly don’t know what wands are for.

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But wizards do. There are more wands in children’s fantasy stories than you can shake a stick at. But the most important wands at Universal these days aren’t plot devices. They’re accessories. The newly available, interactive, roleplaying wands offered for sale have built-in sensors that allow visitors to cast their own spells as they travel through the park. Using modified Xbox Kinect motiontracking cameras, designers have set up stations in storefronts and various nooks and crannies — some obvious, some hidden — where a properly executed wave of the wand creates apparently magical effects. Guests who shell out $45 for one of the wands can use it to reassemble a suit of armor, reveal a message written in disappearing ink, coax a fountain into spouting, turn lights on, make marionettes dance, inspire

The Knight Bus, an exclusive, magical conveyance for witches and wizards in the Harry Potter books, is posted just outside the entrance to Diagon Alley, whose fantastically decorated shops cater to supernatural shoppers. 28

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shrunken heads to sing and cause a spooky eye to appear in a keyhole. It may all sound a bit like pumping your own gas to people who remember the bippidy-boppidy-boo days. But this is not your fairy godmother’s wand.

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Food, magical food. It’s routine for park attractions to bristle with snack bars and restaurants whose décor and menu items are tied in — usually lamely — to the overall theme. In the developmental phase of Diagon Alley, Universal execs visited British pubs and pored over Rowling’s books, looking for inspiration. One vice president turned up at a pre-launch press conference with his own dog-eared Harry Potter volumes, which were filled with a level of marginal notes and highlighted passages generally reserved for Talmudic scholars and post-grad lit students. What the cuisine team came up with is a menu that shrewdly underscores the parallel universe theme in yet another way. The first establishment on your left as you walk inside Diagon Alley, a cloistered, block-long canyon of riotously decorated, Victorian-era wizarding-supply boutiques, is a café called the Leaky Cauldron. With its high ceiling, long, rough-hewn table and stout overhead beams, it looks like a medieval banquet hall. In the book, the Leaky Cauldron functions as both a wizardly pub and a secret portal — a transition from one world to the other. So it makes perfect sense for the menu to feature traditional British dishes — fish and chips, split pea soup, bangers and mash, scotch eggs and sticky toffee pudding — coexisting with wizarding refreshments such as butterbeer and Fishy Green Ale. Farther down the alley, Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour features frozen wizarding flavors such as Earl Grey and lavender, chocolate chili, clotted cream, apple crumble, strawberry and peanut butter — and, of course, an ice cream version of butterbeer.

PHOTOS: COURTESY UNIVERSAL ORLANDO

ATTRACTIONS

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ATTRACTIONS

Diagon Alley

of a would-be novelist named Joanne Rowling told her she would never make a fortune writing children’s books. It seemed a safe prediction at the time. Rowling was a single mother, living on welfare in Edinburgh, Scotland, while banging away on a manual typewriter. She currently has a net worth of $1 billion. The Harry Potter brand itself has been estimated to be worth $15 billion. That qualifies her as a Cinderella story. So does this. In the early 2000s, Rowling was still deep in negotiations that had gone on for years with Disney executives for the rights to a Harry Potter attraction. There are various rumors and theories as to why the talks broke down. Some say Disney just couldn’t figure out how the Potter tale, with its considerable darkness, fit in. Others say it was because Rowling wanted more control than Disney was willing to concede. And that’s why Hogwarts Castle and Cinderella Castle are in two different parks, instead of just one.

In the vaults beneath Gringotts Bank, riders on Escape From Gringotts risk the ire of Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange after passing by animatronic goblins, who guard the bank’s considerable treasures.

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It’s a coming-of-age story — in more ways than one. That’s the essence of the Potter saga: He may be a wizard, but he’s also an orphan and an underdog who grows to maturity as the story progresses. Part of the appeal of the story is the fun of watching him grow up. Diagon Alley’s debut coincides with much the same thing happening to Universal. It’s in the midst of a growth spurt. Two new rides have been added in the 30

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past two years — Transformers: The Ride3D and Despicable Me Minion Mayhem. Cabana Bay Beach Resort, an 1,800-room, moderately priced resort, opened in the complex last month, nearly doubling the number of rooms available on site. “Diagon Alley solidifies Universal as not only a primary destination but a multiday destination. That’s been a huge objective that Universal has had for years. Now there’s no way you can see everything they have to offer in a day,” says Dan Hatfield, owner and editor of the Orlando Informer (orlandoinformer.com), a theme park blog.

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It’s also a Cinderella story — in more ways than one. Twenty years ago, the literary agent

PHOTOS: courtesy universal orlando

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Thank the bank. It’s fitting that the cornerstone of Diagon Alley is a bank — a palatial establishment that acts as the entranceway to the new subterranean roller coaster ride. As in the books, the bank is run by goblins because of their reputation for vigorously safeguarding money and treasures. Witches and wizards rely on them. Goblins know how to play financial hardball. So does Comcast Corporation. The telecommunications giant, which purchased Universal three years ago, has been heavily investing in new attractions for the Orlando and Hollywood parks ever since. Theme park magic is expensive, but Comcast CEO Brian Roberts has said the company will continue to invest in its theme park operations. Given that those operations brought in $2.2 billion in revenue last year, that seems like a decision any good goblin would approve of. n AUGUST 2014

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CONQUERING

KILI

THE WORLD’S TALLEST FREE-STANDING MOUNTAIN WAS NO MATCH FOR A GROUP OF CANCER SURVIVORS AND THEIR FRIENDS. by Marc Middleton 32

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Only about 20 percent of climbers reach Uruhu Peak, the highest of Mount Kilimanjaro’s three summits, and about 100 people a year die trying. ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

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I

have never been shy about taking calculated risks in the pursuit of an adrenaline buzz and a story. During my career as a broadcaster, I have bungeejumped from a hot-air balloon, ridden on a bucking bronco and wing-walked on a biplane in flight. The list goes on, much to my family’s dismay — although for the past decade or so, snow skiing had been the most dangerous pastime I had allowed myself. Then, in February, I took on the most difficult and rewarding experience of my life. I decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with a team of 16 extraordinary people that included four cancer survivors and 11 others whose lives had been impacted in some way by the disease. Our mission was to reach the frozen summit of the world’s highest free-standing mountain. The annual climb, known as Survivor Summit, is meant to inspire the 32 million people worldwide now living with a cancer diagnosis. To salute those who had simply run out of time, we wanted to fly “honor flags.” The trip was organized under the auspices of the Livestrong Foundation. Previously known as the Lance Armstrong Foundation, this international nonprofit was founded by former professional road-racing cyclist Lance Armstrong, a survivor of testicular cancer. Armstrong, as virtually everyone knows, was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and later banned from competitive cycling due to a doping scandal. He severed his affiliation with the organization in 2012, after which it adopted a new name. Today Livestrong lobbies governmental agencies, conducts research on cancer sur-

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Marc Middleton, CEO of Bolder Media Group, filmed the climb and interviewed the participants for an upcoming documentary,Conquering Kilimanjaro. Middleton says he was inspired by the stories of cancer survivors like his friend, colleague and fellow mountaineer Wendy Chioji. vivors and funds smaller nonprofits with related missions. But its primary function is to provide free, personalized support services for those battling the disease, which killed some 580,000 people in the U.S. last year. Each participant in Survivor Summit is required to raise a minimum of $10,000, which covers lodging, meals and expert guides as well as a donation to Livestrong. Airfare to Tanzania, Africa, is not included.

We would resist the standard practice of forming smaller, more efficient groups. Instead, we would commit to reaching the summit together, at the same time, or not at all. Wendy Chioji, my Growing Bolder colleague and cancer survivor, also made the trek. So did another Central Floridian: Dr. Robert Masson, an internationally recognized neurosurgeon, joined the group to honor his sister, a 20-year cancer survivor, and his father, who recently succumbed to prostate cancer. My job was to shoot footage for a documentary film, Conquering Kilimanjaro, which I hope will be seen nationally early next year.

At 62, I was the oldest member of the group. Although I’m in good shape from a lifetime of vigorous activity, including competitive swimming, I was by no means certain that I could keep up. Yet, I had to give it a shot. After all, I had built Bolder Media Group on the idea of telling people not to let age — or anything else, for that matter, including cancer — prevent them from seizing life-affirming opportunities. On Growing Bolder and Surviving & Thriving, our two television programs, I had interviewed dozens of cancer survivors who experienced physical and spiritual renewal following their illnesses. They inspired me, and I wanted to make the climb for them. I was especially concerned about Wendy. She had beaten breast cancer after being first diagnosed 13 years ago. But late last year, doctors found that she had developed thymic carcinoma, an entirely unrelated cancer. The climb was set to start just 10 weeks after she had completed a grueling course of radiation and chemotherapy. An adventurous, globe-hopping triathlete familiar to our viewers through her on-air work as an anchor and a reporter, Wendy has consistently refused to let illness keep her from doing exactly what she wants to do, when she wants to do it. I asked if she was climbing with the approval of her doctors. AUGUST 2014

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Her answer? “I never asked.” Leading this eclectic band of mountaineering novices — some of whom had never even been on a camping trip — was Chris Warner, one of only nine Americans to reach the summits of both Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, and K2, also known as Ketu/Kechu, the second-highest. Chris is the owner of Earth Treks, one of the largest chains of climbing centers in the U.S. He has led nearly 200 international expeditions, including a dozen on Kili. He is also a leadership expert who consults with Fortune 100 executives, professional sports organizations, U.S. military covert-ops squads and Wharton School of Business students on building high-performance teams. Dr. Matt King and Chris Callahan, cofounders of Survivor Summit, and Doug Ulman, president and CEO of Livestrong, were also along for the climb. Doug, a threetime cancer survivor, has managed to keep Livestrong moving forward in the aftermath of the Armstrong debacle. “Livestrong has been through a lot,” Doug admitted to me. “But the work is too important. What we’re doing is so critical to so many people that you can’t even think about slowing down. You can’t let challenges hold you back. I’m excited about where we go from here.” Supporting the group were 87 Tanzanians, including guides, cooks and porters. Thanks to them, we would not have to worry about cooking, setting up and breaking down camp or hauling anything more than one backpack up the mountain. ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

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At candlelit evening meals, which were shared in a cold and crowded mess tent, the most repeated questions were: “Are you OK? Do you need anything?” That absolute reliance on one another forged a bond and created a force that kept the climbers going. Clearly we would need all the help we could get. The climb was considered “nontechnical,” meaning that it was basically hiking — trudging, if you will — without the necessity of scaling sheer rock walls. But only about 20 percent of climbers reach Uruhu Peak, the highest of Kili’s three summits at nearly 20,000 feet. About 100 people each year die trying, according to Chris, who added that Kili is “the most underestimated mountain in the world.”

“An expedition is a success not because you reach the summit. It’s a success when you’ve learned something about yourself along the way that you can apply to life back home.” — Chris Warner

What if you were injured along the way? Forget about calling 911. If you broke a bone, for example, you would be strapped to a wheeled piece of plywood and jostled down to the mountain’s base, where a helicopter would transport you to Nairobi for medical treatment. Yet, in spite of all that, and in spite of Chris’ warning not to underestimate Kili,

somehow that is exactly what I did. nnn Within a few minutes of meeting one another at the Kia Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania, the team came to a bold decision that made the odds of success even longer. We would resist the standard practice of forming smaller, more efficient groups. Instead we would commit to reaching the summit together, at the same time, or not at all. Chris agreed, but emphasized that a total team effort would be required. “There can be no individual load,” he added. “Only group load. There can be no individual resources. Only group resources.” Then he told us that in order to be successful we had to love one another. That seemed like a stretch to me. Most of us had never met. Yes, the importance of teamwork was obvious — but I doubted that we would be together long enough for that level of bonding to evolve into something more intense. I knew only this: Whether or not they loved me, I did not want to be the person who caused the others to fall short and turn back. Nobody wanted to be that person. I peered out the lodge window. Although Mount Kilimanjaro was a four-hour bus ride away, it could be seen through the haze from where I stood, beckoning and challenging. We made it more challenging. Most groups opt for routes that have at least ruORLANDO LIFE

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Between bone-chilling cold and decreasing air pressure, the environment on Kili was physically punishing. Luckily for the climbers, a supporting crew of Tanzanians set up and broke down camp. Still, six days of climbing and sleeping in extreme conditions took its toll. dimentary camp facilities along the way. Our group, however, chose the Rongai Route, considered to be the most remote and leasttraveled of the six options. We battled steep inclines of deep volcanic ash and scrambled over large boulders. We struggled daily through wind gusts, rainstorms, snowstorms and plunging temperatures. But in spite of all that the mountain had in store for us, the biggest unexpected development of the entire expedition for me was this: Just as Chris predicted, we began to love one another. And that love was our greatest ally. I first became aware of it in the easy banter during candlelit evening meals, which we shared in a cold, crowded mess tent. It was reinforced by day in the single most repeated question among us: “Are you OK? Do you need anything?” Love was integral to the way of life we instinctively established in order to survive — sharing food and supplies, literally catching one another when we stumbled. Once, Wendy dropped a “stuff sack” containing her thermal jacket and watched helplessly as it disappeared into a valley. Without hesitation, two other hikers, Rob and Matt, offered her their coats. Just as importantly, she resisted the wellhoned independence and stoicism that had served her so well, and accepted their generosity. “In another setting, I might have 36

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declined and suffered,” she later wrote in her blog. “But as part of the bigger Survivor Summit team, I took Matt’s coat.” It made sense in context. We had decided before ever setting foot on the mountain that this would be an all-or-nothing effort. And we knew that to succeed it had to be team first, individual second. nnn

“It’s a validation of just how tough I really am. Of how tough we all are. You always think that you’ve been pushed to your limit, that you can’t handle any more. That’s a lie. No matter what challenges we’re facing, we all have the ability to keep moving forward.” — Wendy Chioji

Six days of climbing and sleeping in extreme conditions had taken its toll by the time we arrived at high camp, our last stop before the final push to the summit. We were exhausted and struggling for breath. The air pressure at 18,000 feet is about half the air pressure at sea level. That means even something as simple as sipping water requires a

major effort. Because you are breathing primarily through your mouth, the act of swallowing momentarily prevents you from taking in air. So to stay hydrated it’s sip, gasp, sip, gasp, sip, gasp. We rested in our tents for several hours before beginning the final, nine-hour assault on the summit. The environment turned increasingly hostile as we doggedly slogged through newly fallen snow on steep, slippery and seemingly endless switchbacks. Headaches, nausea and doubt had begun to set in. “I started getting nose bleeds,” Wendy later confessed. “I could feel and taste the blood dripping down the back of my throat. My vision was starting to go. I started seeing really weird things. I was hypoxic. I couldn’t really talk, and for the first time, I started to wonder if I could finish.” This was the most grueling, and yet the most magically surreal, stage of the entire expedition. There was a very real and palpable power pushing us forward, leading us upward. Chris had been right. The absolute reliance upon one another had forged a bond and created a force that would not be stopped. As the sun began to rise, we reached Gilman’s Point, the first of Kili’s three summits. We then pressed on to Stella Point, the second summit and another landmark at which many consider their journey finished. But we wanted Uhuru Peak. We paused to enjoy the magnificence of the morning and to gather ourselves for the last excruciating, exhilarating stretch. Robert Masson used the occasion to spread AUGUST 2014

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At Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak, the climbers unfurled a banner honoring those who are fighting cancer and those who simply ran out of time. Front row, left to right, are Claire Jungling, Stephen Sandlin, Bree Sandlin, Wendy Chioji and Nelson Laur. Back row, left to right, are Jeremy Jungling, Christopher Callahan, Robert Sergent, Cindy Trent, Marc Middleton, Matt King, Maddie Chandler, Bob Chandler, Chris Warner, Robert Masson and Doug Ulman. some of his father’s ashes. “We all miss my dad a lot,” he said, quietly. “He fought bravely for 13 years. He put up a hell of a fight. He was one of a kind in so many ways. I love you, Dad.” Seven days after taking our first step and nine hours after leaving high camp, there wasn’t any farther to go. We had reached the roof of Africa, Uhuru Peak, at 19,341 feet. We had conquered Kili. nnn By any standard, it was an incredible moment for everyone — but especially for the four cancer survivors who, between them, had battled the disease seven times. In many ways, this journey from the valley to the mountaintop was a metaphor for their shared experience. The sun was shining, the wind was calm and it was actually warm as we marveled at the Furtwängler Glacier, a remnant of an enormous icecap that once crowned the summit. While most climbers are able to remain on the summit for only a few minutes, we stayed for nearly an hour, unveiling banner after banner bearing the names of those for whom we had undertaken this adventure. Finally, fearing the growing effects of hypoxia and the potential for acute mountain sickness and cerebral or pulmonary edema, Chris and Nelson ordered us to begin our descent. ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

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Then it happened to me: Halfway back to high camp, my body simply gave out and my legs buckled. I had given all I could give and could go no farther. My throat was so constricted that it was difficult to get any oxygen. I felt as though I was suffocating. A group so physically depleted needs to keep moving. Stopping, in fact, only makes it that much harder to get started again. So while the others continued down to high camp, Chris stayed behind with me. At least, I thought, I had not scuttled the group goal of reaching Uhuru Peak. Nonetheless, I certainly did not want to be dragged the rest of the way on a piece of plywood. So, after a 10-minute rest, I struggled to my feet. Chris and I arrived in high camp about 45 minutes behind the others. After a very long, nerve-wracking night propped up in my tent with an oxygen mask strapped to my face, I was able to breathe normally and climbed all the way down with the rest of the team. nnn Back at the lodge in Arusha, Chris challenged us to share what we had learned. “An expedition is a success not because you reach the summit,” he said. “It’s a success when you’ve learned something about yourself that you can apply to life back home.”

“It’s a validation of just how tough I really am,” Wendy said. “Of how tough we all are. You always think you’ve been pushed to your limit, that you can’t handle any more. That’s a lie. No matter what challenges we’re facing, we all have the ability to keep moving forward. That knowledge is illuminating, uplifting, powerful, spiritual, emotional and impactful.” For Robert, the climb was a reaffirmation of what is truly important. “The biggest thing is the realization that I don’t want to focus so much on quantitative goals,” he said. “I want to return to my roots and spend my time and energy in pursuit of qualitative goals, which feed my soul and enrich my life and lives of others in more meaningful ways.” For me, the major takeaway was what Chris declared on Day One — that only love will get us to the top of the mountain. I did not truly get it at first, but now I am a believer. To be successful in business or in life, you have to surround yourself with people who care for you. I have been lucky so far. But let’s face it — sooner or later all of us will encounter major health challenges. Climbing Kili taught me that I will be able to handle whatever comes my way. By harnessing the power of love, we’re all so much more powerful than we know. n Editor’s Note: Marc Middleton, formerly a longtime anchor at WESH Channel 2, is founder and CEO of Bolder Media Group, which produces the television programs Growing Bolder and Surviving & Thriving. To learn more about the Conquering Kilimanjaro documentary, visit conqueringkilimanjaro.com ORLANDO LIFE

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Big Little

Man

Cancer may have shaped me. But it didn’t define me. by Jarred Paluzzi photographs by Rafael Tongol

Jarred and Dr. Vincent Giusti, the doctor who saw him through his battles with cancer, first as a child, then as a young adult. 38

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I

have a part-time job as a waiter. Sometimes, when I approach a table, I notice the customers looking me up and down, their eyebrows raised. Sometimes one of them will grin when I get to the table and wonder out loud if I’m old enough to bring them their wine. I’m used to it. I know what I must look like to them. At 5-foot-3 and 120 pounds, I could pass for a middle schooler. You’d have to study my boyish face pretty carefully for any clue about how old I really am — or what I’ve been through. In truth, I’m a 23-year-old senior at the University of Central Florida. In a few months I’ll graduate with a journalism degree. And the reason I’m so small is cancer. I have beaten the disease twice. The first time around, I was a child, and my growth was stunted by the therapy I had to go through — the chemo, the radiation, maybe both. Years later, when I was in my late teens, a second, entirely unrelated cancer attacked me. Here’s all I usually say when people make comments or ask me questions about my size: “I guess I just got the short end of the stick.” There’s a lot more to it than that. I am who I am because of the pain I experienced — not just physically, but mentally. And not just as a boy, but as a young man. My first battle with the disease began in July of 1993, when, at the age of 2½, I was diagnosed with stage 3 hepatoblastoma, a rare form of liver cancer. Soon afterward I had 70 percent of my liver removed in an operation at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women. The good news after the operation was that my liver was cancerfree and on the mend. In a patient who’s young enough, that remarkably resilient organ simply grows back. The bad news came a year later. The cancer had metastasized into my lungs. It was aggressive. But then, so was Debra Paluzzi. My mother, who raised me by herself, scoured the country for the best possible treatment for me, working in concert with Dr. Vincent Giusti, a longtime pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Arnold Palmer. In 1995 she arranged for me to go to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York to be among the first young patients to undergo what was then an experimental procedure for my kind of cancer: Autologus Bone Marrow Transplant. It helped, at first. But the cancer came back again. A doctor told my mother I had six months to live and any further treatment would be “inhumane.” She responded with a few choice, unprintable words. Then she persuaded the doctors at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis to take my case. They agreed to perform a radical operation to remove three tumors and a lobe from one of my lungs. 40

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I was 7 years old. I’d been bald for most of my life. Hair, to me, was something that came and went, like the seasons: It started growing back from one round of chemo just in time to fall out for the next one. My birthday parties had often taken place not at home but at faraway therapeutic way stations like the Ronald McDonald House in New York City. And the guests weren’t next-door neighbors and playmates, but doctors and nurses and kids my age from all over the world who might not be around long enough to celebrate another birthday of their own. The night before the operation, I asked my mother something I’d been wondering about but had never said out loud: “Am I going to die?” It took her a beat or two to compose herself and find words to reassure me. No, she promised. I wouldn’t die. And she was right. The operation was a success. After three hospitals and 4½ grueling years, I was cancer-free. When I recovered, I was finally well enough to go to a mainstream school, Heathrow Elementary. But when you haven’t had a normal childhood, it’s hard to know how to be a normal child. I tried, though. I tried very hard to fit in. I always kept my shirt on at the pool or the beach to hide the telltale trails of surgical scars on my chest and my back. I hated the ugly blue earphones I had to wear to amplify sounds because the chemotherapy had permanently damaged my hearing, and I begged my mother to let me go to school without them. She would always do anything she could to help me lead a normal life — and never let me use my illness as an excuse. So she agreed — provided that I sat in the front of the class, paid attention and got good grades. I did. Doctors had said that because of scar tissue from the operations and the fact that parts of my lungs had been removed, I would never be active in athletics. My mother ignored them and signed me up for soccer. Thanks, Mom. The great thing about soccer is that you can be small and still compete. And I did. Over the next few years, the game became more and more important in my life. I developed confidence, made friends. In high school, I even lost some of my embarrassment over my surgical scars, in part because of a funny story about them that started making the rounds and nearly made it into the Lake Mary High yearbook. I’d been attacked by a shark, so the story went, and one of my classmates had saved me. Somehow, the hero of the tale always ended up being whoever was telling the story at the time.

Jarred’s mother, Debra Paluzzi, ignored the advice of a doctor who told her to abandon her crusade to save her son’s life. AUGUST 2014

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Jarred spent a week of volunteering as a counselor for children with cancer at Camp Boggy Creek. “Cancer is a terrible disease,” he notes. “But it’s beautiful to see how it draws people together.” When my senior year rolled around, I started looking forward to college. But I also wanted to make sure I closed out my high school soccer career with a flourish. During one match, after I’d scored a couple of goals, two players on the other team decided to target me. They came at me in tandem, slamming into me so hard it knocked me out. When I came to, my first instinct was to get on my feet and get back into the game. I couldn’t understand why all my teammates started laughing. “Game’s over,” they said. Because of the blatant foul, we had won on a forfeit. Later that year, when I was on my way to West Palm Beach with the club team I played for, my left eye began swelling up for no apparent reason. I never made it into the game. By the time we arrived I couldn’t see clearly. I started having other weird symptoms — sinus infections, leg spasms, weight loss. None of the doctors I saw could figure out why. Then Dr. Giusti came back into the picture, pulling strings so that even though he was a pediatric doctor and I was about to turn 19, he could take over my care. In July of 2009 he diagnosed me with ALL: Acute Lymphatic Leu42

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kemia. Although radiation has been known to cause other forms of leukemia, it has never been associated with this form of the disease, in which lethal hoards of dysfunctional bone marrow cells crowd out the healthy ones. I had worked so hard to put it all behind me — not just the disease, but the stigma of the disease. I made liberal use of my “short end of the stick” line and kept it a secret. Especially from girls. One in particular. She’d seen the scars and asked about them. I didn’t want her to know, not yet. “When the time is right,” I had told her. The time would be right, I was thinking, when I was sure that she could see me for who I was, not what I was. But now the timetable I’d had in mind would have to give way to another. One year of intense chemotherapy. Two more years of milder chemo — pills, injections and painful spinal taps to check on my progress. I’d get nauseous. I’d be bald. I’d look like crap, feel like crap. I knew what I was in for. Been there. Done that. I didn’t want sympathy. I didn’t want my friends to see me go through what I’d be going through. I just wanted to cut myself off from the world. I begged my mother to let me drop out of classes at Seminole State. But of course, she wasn’t having it. She had bought me Superman underwear when I was younger to infuse me with the idea that I had enough secret powers of my own to AUGUST 2014

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make it through anything. Now she used different strategies to accomplish much the same thing. She suggested that I keep a journal to record my feelings. She got me a camera and suggested photography as a hobby. She reminded me of friends I’d made at hospitals during my treatment — friends who didn’t make it. There was one stalwart soccer teammate who came to check on me, week after week, as the months of therapy crept by. Other friends disappeared, one by one. So did the girl. I was just as confused by my emotions this time around as I’d been as a child. I didn’t want to be a burden on anyone. I didn’t blame them for moving on with their lives while mine was in a holding pattern. Yet I felt abandoned by them, jealous of them, too. I even lashed out at my younger (but much taller) brother, accusing him of not caring about me as he’d fly out the door to be with his friends. Meanwhile, though, I was still toughing it out and going to school. I took some classes online. Others I attended. I even gave a talk in my public-speaking class right after my hair — all of it, including my eyebrows — had fallen out. I had a lot of time to read. I ran across one book that left an indelible impression on me. It was Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild, an in-depth examination of the tragic journey of Christopher McCandless. An idealistic young hermit who thought he could live off the land, McCandless starved to death while living in an abandoned bus in the Alaskan bush. ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

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I identified with his sense of isolation. But what I took to heart the most was a cryptic line from his diary. It wasn’t the sort of sentiment you’d expect to hear from a hermit: “Happiness only real when shared.” nnn It’s been two years now since my therapy for ALL ended. My checkups are good. Meanwhile, that public-speaking class I took has come in handy, as I’ve occasionally been asked to speak at fundraising events for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I also spent a week this summer as a volunteer at Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis. All the campers that week were young kids with cancer. The most amazing thing of all was seeing how much they cared about each other, helped each other out. Cancer is a terrible disease, but it’s beautiful to see how it draws people together. I know that if I ever get the chance again to spend my time with kids like this, I’ll jump at it. If anybody knows what they’re going through, I do. Still. I’m a regular fountain of helpful advice, especially when it comes to sports and fashion. If kids tell me they like playing soccer, I can definitely give them a tip or two. And if any of them happen to mention an affinity for superhero underwear, I’ve got a confession to make: Even after all these years, I wear it, too. n ORLANDO LIFE

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2014 TOP CANCER DOCTORS

TOP CANCER

DOCS Here’s who other doctors select as being the best in their areas of specialty.

Diagnostic Radiology

Joseph G. Andriole, M.D. 8816 Bay Hill Blvd., Orlando 407-832-0175 Orlando Regional Medical Center Stephen Bravo, M.D. Sand Lake Imaging 9350 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando 407-363-2772 Susan Curry, M.D. Women’s Center for Radiology 1621 N. Mills Ave., Orlando 407-841-0822 Lane F. Donnelly, M.D. 13535 Nemours Parkway, Orlando 407-650-7128 Nemours Children’s Hospital

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Mary Kathryn Garrett, M.D. Medical Center Radiology Group 20 W. Kaley St., Orlando 407-423-2581 Orlando Regional Medical Center, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Laura Jane Varich, M.D. 601 E. Rollins St., Orlando 407-303-8178 Florida Hospital Orlando

Gastroenterology

Robert J. Dorff, M.D. 1925 Mizell Ave., Winter Park 407-629-6644 Winter Park Memorial Hospital, Florida Hospital Orlando Samuel A. Giday, M.D. Center for Digestive Health 1817 N. Mills Ave., Orlando 407-896-1726 Orlando Regional Medical Center, Florida Hospital Altamonte

Who are the region’s top doctors specializing in cancer

diagnosis and treatment? That depends on who you ask. One excellent source of information is other doctors. Who would they trust to care for a member of their own family? Who has the best reputation among their peers? The most highly regarded peer-reviewed doctor rating service is Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., which for nearly 25 years has conducted a rigorous, doctor-supervised survey of individual physicians and hospitals across the country. Orlando Life and Castle Connolly have joined forced to present the list of Top Cancer Doctors in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. The doctors shown are organized by sub-specialty, and presented alphabetically within that subspecialty. The information encompasses the doctor’s name, practice name and address as well as a primary hospital affiliation (shown first at the bottom of each listing) and a secondary hospital affiliation (shown second at the bottom of each listing). Hospital affiliations are important to many patients, and have not typically been shown on similar lists appearing in other regional publications. Of course, no such compilation can be regarded as definitive. There are many excellent doctors in Central Florida whose names do not appear here. What can be said is that the Top Cancer Doctors shown on the following pages are highly regarded by other specialists, and have undergone a thorough rigorous screening process before the list was finalized.

Robert H. Hawes, M.D. 601 E. Rollins St., Orlando 407-303-2570 Florida Hospital Orlando Barry R. Katz, M.D. Digestive Disease Consultants of Central Florida 623 Maitland Ave., Altamonte Springs 407-830-8661 Florida Hospital Altamonte David H. Lebioda, M.D. Digestive Disease Consultants of Central Florida 623 Maitland Ave., Altamonte Springs 407-830-8661 Florida Hospital Altamonte Henry Levine, M.D. Center for Digestive Health 1817 N. Mills Ave., Orlando 407-219-9611 Florida Hospital Altamonte, Orlando Regional Medical Center

Alex M. Menendez, M.D. Gastroenterology Specialists of Orlando 100 W. Gore St., Orlando 407-245-3124 Orlando Regional Medical Center Felix A. Navarro Jr., M.D. Gastroenterology & Liver Consultants 1403 Medical Plaza Drive, Sanford 407-322-9530 Central Florida Regional Hospital Sanjay K. Reddy, M.D. Digestive Disease Consultants of Central Florida 623 Maitland Ave., Altamonte Springs 407-830-8661 Florida Hospital Altamonte, South Seminole Hospital

Jaime M. Rivera, M.D. Gastroenterology Associates of Osceola 710 Oaks Commons Blvd., Kissimmee 407-957-3373 Osceola Regional Medical Center William B. Ruderman, M.D. Center for Digestive Health 1817 N. Mills Ave., Orlando 407-896-1726 Florida Hospital Altamonte, Orlando Regional Medical Center Ira Shafran, M.D. Shafran Gastroenterology Center 701 W. Morse Blvd., Winter Park 407-629-8121 Shyam S. Varadarajulu, M.D. Center for Interventional Endoscopy 601 E. Rollins St., Orlando 407-303-2570 Florida Hospital Orlando AUGUST 2014

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2014 TOP DOCTORS

Gynecologic Oncology

Robert W. Holloway, M.D. 2501 N. Orange Ave., Orlando 407-303-2422 Florida Hospital Orlando, Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies Veronica Schimp, D.O. UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health 105 W. Miller St., Orlando 321-841-8393 University of Florida Health

Hematology

Ralph Gousse, M.D. Florida Cancer Specialists 601 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs 407-303-2305 Florida Hospital Altamonte Sonalee K. Shroff, M.D. Hematology & Oncology Consultants 2501 N. Orange Ave., Orlando 407-898-5452 Florida Hospital Altamonte, Winter Park Memorial Hospital

Medical Oncology

Geethanjali K. Akula, M.D. Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute 70 W. Gore St., Orlando 407-426-8484 Florida Hospital Orlando, Orlando Regional Medical Center Said Baidas, M.D. UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health 1400 S. Orange Ave., Orlando 407-648-3800 University of Florida Health

Stefani L. Capone, M.D. Hematology & Oncology Consultants 2501 N. Orange Ave., Orlando 407-898-5452 Winter Park Memorial Hospital, Florida Hospital Orlando

Robert B. Reynolds, M.D. Cancer Institute of Florida 894 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs 407-834-5151 Florida Hospital Altamonte, Florida Hospital Orlando

Philip H. Dunn, M.D. Hematology & Oncology Consultants 2501 N. Orange Ave., Orlando 407-898-5452 Winter Park Memorial Hospital, Florida Hospital Altamonte

Jennifer E. Tseng, M.D. Rod Taylor Thoracic Care Center 22 W. Underwood St., Orlando 321-841-7232 University of Florida Health

William Grow, M.D. Hematology & Oncology Consultants 2501 N. Orange Ave., Orlando 407-898-5452 Florida Hospital Orlando Thomas J. Katta, M.D. 922 Lucerne Terrace, Orlando 407-426-8660 Orlando Regional Medical Center, Florida Hospital Orlando Susan S. Kelly, M.D. UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health 1400 S. Orange Ave., Orlando 321-841-1869 University of Florida Health David C. Molthrop Jr., M.D. Hematology & Oncology Consultants 2501 N. Orange Ave., Orlando 407-898-5452 Winter Park Memorial Hospital, Florida Hospital Altamonte

Lee M. Zehngebot, M.D. Hematology & Oncology Consultants 2501 N. Orange Ave., Orlando 407-898-5452 Florida Hospital Orlando, Winter Park Memorial Hospital

Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Don Eslin, M.D. 92 W. Miller St., Orlando, 321-841-8588 Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children

Vincent F. Giusti, M.D. UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health 92 W. Miller St., Orlando 321-841-8588 Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, University of Florida Health Fouad Hajjar, M.D. Children’s Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases 2501 N. Orange Ave., Orlando 407-303-2080 Florida Hospital Orlando

The Most Important Book You Will Ever Buy! • More than 6,700 top doctors — nominated by their peers and screened by our physician-directed research team. • The top 1% of medical specialists • Detailed doctor profiles • Index of more than 2,100 diseases and medical conditions • Information on top hospitals All this for only $34.95 www.CastleConnolly.com • 800.399.DOCS (3627) Brought to you by

Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. America’s Trusted Source For Identifying Top Doctors ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

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Judith Wall, M.D. Nemours Children’s Clinic 13535 Nemours Parkway, Orlando 407-650-7715 Nemours Children’s Hospital, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children

Radiation Oncology Daniel J. Buchholz, M.D. UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health 1400 S. Orange Ave., Orlando 407-648-3800 University of Florida Health

Steven G. Lester, M.D. Radiation Oncology Consultants 2200 W. 1st St., Sanford 407-321-3040 Central Florida Regional Hospital, Orlando Regional Medical Center Eric L. Saunders, M.D. Florida Hospital Cancer Institute 601 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs 407-303-2271 Florida Hospital Altamonte

David Diamond, M.D. Florida Hospital Cancer Institute 2100 Glenwood Drive, Winter Park 407-646-7777 Winter Park Memorial Hospital Alan R. Forbes, M.D./Ph.D. Florida Center for Prostate Cancer 1561 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park 407-478-4920 Orlando Regional Medical Center

Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a healthcare research and information company founded in 1991 by a former medical college board chairman and president to help guide consumers to the top doctors and top hospitals in the U.S. Castle Connolly’s established survey and research process, under the direction of an M.D., involves many tens of thousands of physicians as well as academic medical centers, specialty hospitals, and regional and community hospitals across the nation. The company’s physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors on both the national and regional levels. Its online nominations process — located at castleconnolly.com/nominations — is open to all licensed physicians in the U.S. They may nominate a physician in any medical specialty, and in any part of the country, and then indicate whether the nominated physician is, in their opinion, among the best in his or her medical specialty, either regionally or nationally. Careful screening of doctors’ educational and professional experience is essential before the final selection is made among those nominees most highly regarded by their peers. The result: Castle Connolly identifies the top physicians and provides you, the consumer, with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise. This information is available in the company’s paperback guides, national and regional magazine “Top Doctors” features and online directories. Doctors do not — and cannot — pay to be selected and profiled as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor. Physicians selected for inclusion in Orlando Life’s “Top Doctors” feature may also appear as Regional Top Doctors online at castleconnolly.com, or in one of Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors™ guides, such as America’s Top Doctors® or America’s Top Doctors® for Cancer. ORLANDO LIFE

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2014 TOP CANCER DOCTORS

Center for Digestive Health 1817 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, FL 32803 407-896-1726 • centerfordigestivehealth.net

cobletely William Mayoral, M.D.; Henry Levine, M.D.; William Ruderman, M.D.; Marlon Ilagan, M.D.; Samuel Giday, M.D. About Our Practice: The Center for Digestive Health (CDH) was founded by Dr. Henry Levine in 1982. Thirty-three years later, it has grown to five physicians, six offices and a state-of-the-art surgical center. The CDH offers world-class healthcare in a uniquely specialized setting, providing the highest level of diagnostic care with total patient respect and compassion. The physicians — Henry Levine, William Ruderman, William Mayoral, Marlon Ilagan and Samuel Giday — are at the cutting edge of digestive care delivery and technology, having trained at Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, Columbia, Mayo Clinic, Georgetown and Albert Einstein. Their skills and passion toward medicine and excellence have earned the practice a reputation not only locally but internationally. Our Services: In a 20,000-square-foot clinical center, dedicated staffers and physicians provide a full range of endoscopic services, using a highly skilled anesthesia team for outpatient Propofol-assisted upper endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures.Video capsule technology, Bravo esophageal pH studies and carbohydrate breath testing are provided in the office.The on-site infusion center delivers therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, colitis and infectious hepatitis. All these services offer the convenience of easy scheduling without the hassle of hospital parking or the extra cost of hospital outpatient services. What Sets Us Apart: Seasoned diagnosticians, nursing staff and caring professionals. Offices in Orlando, Lake Mary, Clermont, Sand Lake and Oviedo. The acceptance of every major insurance plan available in the four-county area. Innovations: The physicians are experienced in the newer cutting-edge technologies of Barrx ablations for Barrett’s esophagus, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for definitive diagnosis and management of thoracic and abdominal cavity abnormalities and SpyGlass endoscopy of the liver and bile ducts. For inpatient care, the physicians offer 24/7 services at Florida Hospital and Orlando Health. Professional Memberships/Affiliations: The physicians are faculty affiliated with the University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of Central Florida, teaching medical students and residents to become the physicians of tomorrow. Castle Connolly Top Doctors: Henry Levine, M.D.; William Ruderman, M.D.; Samuel Giday, M.D.

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7/14/14 10:22:03 AM


2014 TOP CANCER DOCTORS

Cancer Institute of Florida

Florida Hospital Medical Group Altamonte Springs: 894 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701, 407-834-5151; East Orlando: 7975 Lake Underhill Road, Suite 130, Orlando, FL 32822, 407-303-6772; Orlando: 2501 N. Orange Ave., Suite 689, Orlando, FL 32804, 407-303-2024 • CancerInstituteofFlorida.com

MORE THAN TREATING CANCER; TRANSFORMING CLINICAL RESEARCH INTO EARLY DETERCTION AND POSTIVE OUTCOMES. Carlos Alemany, M.D.; Raul Castillo, M.D.; Tarek Mekhail, M.D., M.S.c., F.R.C.S.I., F.R.C.S.E.d.; Sarah George, M.D.; Robert Reynolds, M.D.; Linda Lukman, M.D.; Ahmed Zakari, M.D. Practice Highlights: Our physicians are award-winning, widely published and heavily involved in the latest cancer research, allowing our practices to remain on the cutting edge of revolutionary medical breakthroughs in detection, prevention, treatment and cures. As one of the largest hematology and oncology practices in Central Florida, we have made significant strides in breast, colorectal and lung cancer research as well as early diagnosis and positive patient outcomes. We are committed to providing a comprehensive continuum of services, access to national clinical trials and world-class treatment for cancer and blood diseases. Beyond the clinical side of a cancer diagnosis is the compassion—the guidance, hope and healing provided by our Care Coordinators, coupled with the support programs and services available through Florida Hospital Cancer Institute. Philosophy and Patient Promise: We are led by the passion of a multidisciplinary team diligent in their quest to help cancer patients and their families determine the right course of action. Prestigious Treatment Innovations: More than a prognosis, a plan. When it comes to creating an individualized cancer treatment plan, we confer with the entire care team—primary care physicians, radiologists and surgeons—to ensure all patients and caregivers are well informed and treated with a holistic, compassionate approach. This multidisciplinary continuum of care delivered is evidenced through ongoing expertise, accessible information, complementary support programs and assistance that extends well beyond the hospital walls. Oncology Cancer Programs: breast, colorectal, lung (thoracic), bladder, esophageal, gastric, kidney, pancreatic, prostate, sarcoma and testicular. Hematologic Cancer Programs: leukemia, lymphoma, MDS and multiple myeloma. Hematologic Disorder Programs: anemia, ITP and rheumatoid arthritis.

“Every aspect of developing the right cancer treatment plan is significant. Choosing the right Cancer Institute of Florida physician is paramount.” Castle Connolly Top Doctor: Robert Reynolds

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2014 TOP CANCER DOCTORS

Florida Hospital Gynecology Oncology

Florida Hospital Medical Group Celebration: 380 Celebration Place, 2nd Floor, Celebration, FL 34747; Orlando: 2501 North Orange Ave., Suite 800, Orlando, FL 32804 407-303-2422 • Toll-free: 800-531-0087 • FloridaHospitalGynCancer.com

ONCOLOGY INNOVATION THROUGH CONTINUED RESEARCH AND REVOLUTIONARY TREATMENT DISCOVERIES. James E. Kendrick, M.D.; Lorna A. Brudie, D.O. ; Robert W. Holloway, M.D.; Glenn E. Bigsby, D.O. Practice Highlights: The team is affiliated with the award-winning Florida Hospital Cancer Institute (FHCI), and treats more newly diagnosed cancer patients than any other health system in Florida. As the FHCI Gynecologic Oncology Program, together, we are pushing the limits of cancer expertise, technology and patient care. From our Coordinated Care Programs, which provide one-on-one support, to our nationally recognized clinical research center, we offer patients the very best treatment in a state-of-the-art environment. Prestigious Honors and Innovations: Recently ranked No. 10 nationally by U.S. News & World Report, our Florida Hospital Gynecologic Oncology Program delivers world-class care to women from Central Florida as well as destination care for women from the Southeast and many international locations. Ongoing Clinical Research and Discoveries: We offer an extensive portfolio of ongoing clinical trials from multi-institution research groups, and might include Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), UCLA Tori Trial Group, Sarah Cannon Cancer Center and Duke Clinical Trials. These new treatments and advanced technologies offer patients access to revolutionary prevention, detection and treatment options. Philosophy and Patient Promise: At the FHCI Gynecologic Oncology Program, patients and their families can expect unrivaled expertise in advanced gynecologic care, including surgical oncology, medical oncology and gynecologic surgery for complex benign conditions. In addition, we offer unrivaled cancer care resources, such as a dedicated care coordinator, support groups and counseling and services specifically for families and caregivers.

“We treat complicated, benign gynecologic conditions as well as any gynecologic cancer. In addition, our team is widely recognized as leaders in the management of advanced cervical, ovarian, uterine and vulvar cancers. “ Castle Connolly Top Doctor: Robert W. Holloway, M.D.

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32804

2014 TOP CANCER DOCTORS

Heartfelt Care with Children in Mind

Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases 2501 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32804 407-303-2080 • www.ChildrensCenterForCancer.com

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Fouad M. Hajjar, M.D. is medical director of the Children’s Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases, part of the Florida Hospital Medical Group. He is board-certified and Yale-fellowship trained in pediatric hematology and oncology. Dr. Hajjar also serves as medical director of the hematology/oncology department at the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children and the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute. His mission is to treat the full range of pediatric blood and cancer conditions, from leukemia, lymphoma and solid tumors to hemophilia and anemia, through scientific research and discovery, education and compassionate care. This commitment is further evidenced by the practice’s interdisciplinary teams, which deliver specialized treatments through a unique collaboration with the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute and Florida Hospital for Children, as well as clinical trials through the Children’s Oncology Group. Dr. Hajjar is also an essential part of the comprehensive Neuro-Oncology Clinic and Neurofibromatosis Clinic.

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2014 TOP CANCER DOCTORS

Center for Colon & Rectal Surgery

Florida Hospital Medical Group Altamonte Springs: 661 East Altamonte Drive, Suite 220, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701; East Orlando: 258 South Chickasaw Trail, Suite 201, Orlando, FL 32825; Winter Park: 242 Loch Lomond Drive, Winter Park, FL 32792 • 407-303-2615 • CenterColon.com

PIONEERS OR TRANSANAL MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY (TAMIS) AND TRANSANAL TOTAL MESORECTAL EXCISION (TATME). George Nassif, Jr., D.O. ; Sam B. Atallah, M.D. ; Teresa H.deBeche-Adams, M.D. ; Matthew R. Albert, M.D. Practice Highlights: The Center for Colon & Rectal Surgery has four offices where sub-specialty surgeons treat a broad spectrum of disease of the colon and rectum with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques. Prestigious Surgical Innovations: The group is well recognized for pioneering, transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS), and has trained thousands of surgeons around the world while publishing extensively on this revolutionary technique for rectal cancer. TAMIS has further evolved into another transanal approach to radical rectal surgery called transanal total mesorectal excision (TATME). TATME is considered the next generation of rectal cancer surgery, and is thought to be one of the most important innovations of the past three decades. The surgeons at CCRS continue to lead the world in surgical technique development, instruction and patient outcomes. They have published 30 papers in peer-reviewed journals and conducted numerous presentations at national surgical society meetings. Elite Fellowship Program: Out of 100 applicants, only two surgeons are enrolled in the CCRS’ highly competitive colorectal surgery fellowship program each year. International fellows, physician assistant students, medical students and surgical residents also rotate to learn from our team. Our physicians are affiliated with the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and Florida State University College of Medicine as well as Graduate Medical Education at Florida Hospital. Philosophy and Patient Promise: To provide our patients with the highest quality of care possible, and continue our research endeavors that lead to surgical innovations from which physicians and patients around the world can benefit.

“Research is ongoing, and the group is actively seeking to enroll patients in national and international clinical trials. We have helped establish Centers of Excellence in colorectal oncology and pelvic floor disorders with regular participation in multi-disciplinary conferences —such as pelvic floor, pathology and GI tumor board—and provide a true continuum of care to solve complex problems of the colon and rectum. “

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Florida Cancer Specialists physicians are consistently ranked among the most outstanding in Central Florida. We proudly congratulate our colleagues on their 2014 Top Docs recognition.

FLCancer.com Patrick Acevedo, MD Geethanjali K. Akula, MD Ahmed Al-Hazzouri, MD Roy M. Ambinder, MD Jennifer L. Cultrera, MD Maria Regina C. Flores, MD Ralph Gousse, MD Maen A. Hussein, MD Vasundhara G. Iyengar, MD Imad El-Jassous, MD Victor W. Melgen, MD Kottapurath Moideen, MD Vipul M. Patel, MD Pablo C. Reyes, MD Shemin Saferali, MD Sandeep Thaper, MD Lynn Van Ummersen, MD Marays Veliz, MD

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Geetha Akula, MD

Ralph Gousse, MD

15 CONVENIENT CENTRAL FLORIDA LOCATIONS ALTAMONTE SPRINGS 601 E. Altamonte Dr. Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 (407) 303.2305

LEESBURG 110 North Boulevard E. Leesburg, FL 34748 (352) 323.8022

ORLANDO DOWNTOWN 70 West Gore St., Ste. 100 Orlando, FL 32806 (407) 426.8484

APOPKA 200 N. Park Avenue, Ste. B Apopka, FL 32703 (407) 303.2305

LEESBURG SOUTH 601 E. Dixie Ave., Ste. 1001 Leesburg, FL 34748 (352) 787.9448

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LEESBURG WEST NEW OFFICE 1600 W. Main Street Leesburg, FL 34748 (352) 530.2189

THE VILLAGES EAST 1400 N. US Hwy 441, Ste. 552 Lady Lake, FL 32159 (352) 753.9777

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THE VILLAGES NORTH NEW OFFICE 1400 N. US Hwy 441, Ste. 924 Lady Lake, FL 32159 (352) 633.8319

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ORANGE CITY 765 Image Way Orange City, FL 32763 (386) 774.7411

THE VILLAGES SOUTH 1400 N. US Hwy 441, Ste. 557 Lady Lake, FL 32159 (352) 787.9448

7/14/14 10:22:40 AM


TAKE THE LEAD

Carol Craig, Founder and CEO, Craig Technologies Chair, Leadership Orlando Class 88

Are you on the outside looking in? Are you ready to use your expertise and passion to advance a cause that will change and strengthen our region? Do you want to step inside the circle of decision-making that is shaping the future? Leadership Orlando recruits, cultivates and encourages established and emerging leaders to better serve the Central Florida Region. Through this one-of-a-kind experiential curriculum, you will learn perhaps the most important aspect of leadership—You can follow a leader or BE ONE.

Class 88 begins September 10 :: Enrollment Deadline: August 15 Contact Danielle Gulasa, Director of Business Development, at 407.835.2444 or visit LeadershipOrlando.org to enroll today!

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REMOD E L ORLANDO

METALLIC AND MAGNIFICENT

Crossville’s line of art-deco inspired glass mosaic wall tile, dubbed Sideview, features bold beveling, metallic hues and sophisticated finishes. For more on what’s trending in tile, see the accompanying story. PUBLISHED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE REMODEL AND DESIGN COUNCIL OF THE GREATER ORLANDO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

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REMODEL MEMBER DIRECTORY

The companies listed below are members of the Remodel/Design Council of the Greater Orlando Builders Association (GOBA). Their membership is an indicator of their commitment to professionalism, continuing education and customer satisfaction. For more information about the council, call GOBA at 407-629-9242 or visit hbaofmetroorlando.com.

CONTRACTOR MEMBERS BUILDERS/REMODELERS

YOU CAN COUNT ON THESE PROS

Welcome to the fifth edition of Remodel Orlando.

As chair of the Remodel and Design Council, I’m excited about this special section and about our partnership with Orlando Life. The council is part of the Greater Orlando Builders Association (GOBA), formerly the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando. GOBA, one of the region’s oldest trade associations, has been recognized for 60 years as the voice of Central Florida’s housing industry. Our purpose is to educate the public, promote the industry, take a proactive role in governmental and regulatory issues, and provide programs and services that enhance our members’ ability to do business in a professional and competent manner. Professionalism is why the businesses listed to the right are the ones you want to consult before remodeling your home. By being council members, these builders, designers and suppliers have shown their commitment to making your project — and every project they tackle — the best that it can be. I hope you enjoy the articles and photographs in Remodel Orlando. I look forward to upcoming issues, where you’ll see more projects highlighted and more information on home improvements and the people who make them happen. In the meantime, if you’re considering a remodel project, check with GOBA to make sure that the company you plan on using is state-licensed for your safety and protection. Mike Lewellen, Owner Five Star Construction Services Chairperson, Remodel and Design Council 58

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ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ADVERTISING/ PUBLICATIONS

DESIGN/ARCHITECTURE Canin & Associates 407-422-4040

Builder/Architect Magazine 407-321-6447

Kessee & Associate 407-880-2333

Akcel Construction 407-705-2049

Orlando Life / Florida Home Media 407-647-0225

MZ Interior Design 407-718-7330

Adventure in Building 407-222-5582

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Energy Technology Services 321-689-2544

Charles Clayton Construction 407-628-3334

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ENGINEERS

A.C. Ernst Building Corporation 407-718-0303

College Park Construction 407-896-1063 Cumbus Constructing Corp. 407-467-4664 Hardwick General Contracting 407-702-6531 Eden Construction Corp. 407-671-9697 Five Star Construction Services (321) 696-5173 JLM Design 407-682-5225 Jonathan McGrath Construction 407-260-8077 NWC Construction 407-931-0600 Patriot Building Group 407-905-2790 PC&M 407-509-6314 PSG Construction 407-628-9660 Southern Heritage 407-467-3822 Walter Price Design/Build 407-322-2097 WAO Builders 407-221-8050 Zoltan Construction 407-539-1400

BUILDERS/DESIGNERS/ ARCHITECTS B & A Design Studio 407-829-8900 Phil Kean Design Group 407-599-3922

ELECTRICAL

Dynamark Systems 813-664-0770

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Milkarsky’s Appliance Center 407-830-6800

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Bailey Industries 407-505-9736

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Florida Door Solutions 407-884-5955

HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEMS Zio Group 407-951-8160

AUTOMOTIVE

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Orlando Window Tint Specialists 407-628-8468

Page Insurance Agency 800-451-7661

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A. Clore Interiors 407-328-0730

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BUILDING PRODUCTS Iron Age Metal 407-293-5788

CABINETS/ COUNTERTOPS Central Kitchen & Bath 407-629-9366 CL Kitchens, Baths & Closets 407-574-4099 Natural Stone Motif 407-774-0676 S&W Kitchens 407-339-5911

CARPENTRY/MILLWORK/ FOUNDATIONS Akcel Construction 407-705-2049 Custom Fenestration Products International 321-972-8939

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LUMBER Thomas Lumber Company 407-841-1250

PAINT The Paint Drop by Valspar 407-600-5796

PLUMBING, HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING Del-Air 407-314-2813

WINDOWS Orlando Window Tint Specialists 407-628-8468 Solar Tite 407-834-2718

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REMODEL

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADVENTURE IN BUILDING

STYLE WITH TILE

HOW TO MAKE A SUPER SURFACE STATEMENT. By Karen LeBlanc 60

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T

ile is shedding its stereotype as literally and figuratively “square.” Nowadays, technology means that ceramic and porcelain tile can become doppelgängers for just about any material you can imagine. And the shapes and designs are likewise limitless. Modern ink-jet and high-definition printing capabilities facilitate creation of tile that mimics an array of looks, from stone and cement to metal and wood. I recently witnessed this revolution in tile style at the 2014 Coverings Show in Las Vegas. The show celebrated its 25th anniversary this year with a global gathering of master tile craftspeople and leading tile companies. Tile, I found, is certainly having its comeback moment. But it’s not necessarily being designed, manufactured or used the ways many of us are accustomed to seeing. Today’s tile, often made from recycled materials, is available in geometric shapes with optical illusions, 3D surfaces, sheens and aged patinas that defy design conventions. Tile trumps many materials because it’s durable, affordable and easy to maintain. From flooring to facades, feature walls to furniture and fireplace surrounds, today’s tile elevates previously run-of-the-mill surfaces to haute couture in all areas of the home. “Patterns help to tell a story in a space and help to satisfy an overall design concept,” says Christian McAuley, president of Imag-

The Start Collection from Naxos Ceramica offers mix-and-match embossed patterns that mimic the look of concrete and metal. These white body wall tiles are “rectified,” meaning they’ve been mechanically ground so there is no size variation and grout lines are minimized. ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

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ine Tile, a New York-based manufacturer. “Whether it’s a restaurant, flagship store or home, patterned tiles let the floors, walls and ceilings do the talking.” Ready to express your tile style during your upcoming remodeling project? Here’s a global dose of surface-style inspiration with local insight.

Artisanal Tile

All the design buzz about “retro” and “vintage” stems from a renewed appreciation of artisanal items, sometimes handmade or manufactured in small batches. For lovers of nostalgia, artisanal tile reworks familiar designs from decades past into contemporary interpretations. For example, tile that mimics encaustic antique cement is attracting attention. Inspired by tile originally made of cement mixed with marble and natural pigments — which are then shaped by a mechanical hydraulic press — the modern ceramic incarnations boast hand-painted, aged patinas that evoke the romance of 18th-century Italian palazzos and palaces. Italian tile manufacturer Refin Ceramiche and Spanish tile manufacturer Apavisa both revived patterns from their archives and employed state-of-the-art technologies to create these charming homages. Incidentally, the mixing and matching of patterns and motifs in a single installation is one of the latest installation techniques. Today’s designers are even using patchwork tile to create a rug effect on the floor.

Geometric Shapes

With its variety of geometric shapes, tile breaks surface monotony. Hexagons and rhombuses, for example, are molding the latest surface styles. At the show, I saw plenty ORLANDO LIFE

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REMODEL

These long plank porcelain tiles from American Olean’s Scene Collection offer a nuanced mix of tones and patterns that mimic reclaimed wood. of hexagonal tiles in both solids and prints, some as part of installations that mixed pattterns in visually surprising ways. Tile designer Erin Adams, owner of California-based House Fifty Two, says hexagonal tiles with simple stripe patterns are among the company’s most popular sellers.

Bigger is Better

Tile can alter space and scale in a room. And now, manufacturers are able to produce large — even supersized — tile panels for walls, countertops or furniture cladding. “Wider is better,” says Eric Rusnak, vice president of operations for The Flooring Center in Orlando. “Now consumers are looking for bigger and also more authenticlooking tile.” Plus, traditional square tile is being sup62

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planted by oversized rectangular shapes, according to trend watchers. A particularly popular size is 12-by-24, which is by any measure a very large tile. American Olean has launched its Scene collection of elongated tile in sizes that open up a space and make it appear larger. “In the tile industry, the hottest shapes and sizes are long, narrow planks,” says Laurie Lyza, marketing manager of American Olean. “It’s a common misconception that a small bathroom or small kitchen needs small tile. Actually, it’s the opposite effect. You want longer pieces to open up that space.” The latest plank-tile surfaces combine different sizes and insert a polished surfaces here and there to keep the eye engaged. At the show, foe example, American Olean installed its Surface Collection on a shower wall, using randomly placed glass mosaics to add visual interest.

Wood-Look Tile

Wood can certainly warm up a room, but it brings with it durability drawbacks. However, ceramic or porcelain tile that mimics

wood can work in all areas of the home, in all environments. For example, wood tile is perfect for kitchens because it’s impervious to water damage. From refined oak to reclaimed barn wood planks, ceramic and porcelain tile can replicate the look of any hardwood. High-definition printing technology recreates the grain, color nuances and textures.

Polished Mineral Tile

Ceramics that look like travertine and slate, along with porcelain tile, are providing less porous, easier-to-maintain alternatives to natural stone. Unlike natural stone, tile doesn’t need a sealant. Consumers are still fond of travertine in their bathrooms, but designers are now seeing larger and more contemporary tiles being used instead. Lately, geode-inspired design is gaining popularity, with home accessories mimicking the sheens and patterns of polished minerals. A perfect example is the Mirage line AUGUST 2014

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REMODEL Apavisa Hydraulic Blue tile, top left, is crafted using cement molds and pressed with natural pigments to resemble European cement tile manufactured in the mid19th century. Florida Tile has revived its line of RetroClassique subway tile, bottom left, but with a slightly undulating surface. from Italian tile manufacturer Privilege. It’s a porcelain slab printed to look like polished stone such as quartz or agate and coated in resin — and it’s ideal for a feature wall or statement surface.

Subway Tile Revival

Sure, subway tile is a blast from the past. But it’s making its way back into home interiors, especially on backsplashes. “It gives an urban, modern feel to the space,” says Rusnak. “Consumers are also purchasing a lot of sleek subway tiles for walls and showers, and pairing them with a solid color. This monochromatic look is very sleek and popular.” Florida Tile —founded in Florida but now headquartered in Kentucky — has debuted its Retroclassique subway tile line, which boasts a fume effect that creates a smoky color gradation. Retroclassique, a reinterpretation from Florida Tile’s archives, is also highlighted by undulating surfaces and slightly distressed, rounded corners and edges for a hand-molded look.

Zero Grout Lines

Tired of grout lines? Many of today’s tile installations have zero grout lines for a seamless look. Plus, this technique eliminates the hassle of cleaning grout. However, installing “rectified” tiles in any size is more costly and labor intensive for the installer.

Recycled Materials

Today, many home-design trends are driven by sustainability and eco-friendliness. For example, Crossville, a Tennessee-based tile manufacturer, has debuted a porcelain tile 64

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line made of recycled, unused toilets. The Reclamation Collection mimics wood and concrete, some with graffiti etchings, in 12-by-12 and 24-by-24 sizes. “We have a partnership with Toto sanitary ware, and we recycle toilets that don’t pass their quality inspection into our tile,” says Lindsey Waldrep, vice president of marketing.

Mixed-Media Mosaics

Tile mosaics using combined materials are a modern incarnation of a perennial favorite. American Olean has launched its Morello glass mosaics, using a mix of five different blends of glass and extruded aluminum. The latest grouting techniques create an ombre, or gradient, effect, transitioning from dark to light grout lines. Mosaics can blanket an entire surface or accent a space. And they’re not limited to walls or backsplashes.

“A very popular look is glass mosaic risers and wood treads on a staircase,” says Rusnak. Floor medallions made of glass and metal mosaics also add style beneath the feet.

Industrial Metals

Tile that looks like industrial metal such as steel titanium and copper, in glossy and matte finishes, complements the architectural salvage style trending among city dwellers. Tau, a Spanish tile manufacturer, has debuted Energy, a new generation of metallic tiles in weathered finishes and embossed motifs. n n n So, from super thin to large-format tile in limitless shapes, colors, patterns and textures, tile is the go-to tool for making a modern statement through surfaces. Next year, the Coverings Show heads to Orlando, April 14-17. For more information, visit coverings.com. n

Karen LeBlanc is a Design TV host, writer and blogger. Her show, The Design Tourist, airs on thedesignnetwork.com and offers a global dose of design inspiration. Subscribe to her blog, insidedesign.tv, for news on the latest trends and tastemakers in art, architecture, home fashion and design plus more videos.

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FLAVOR

rona gindin

photographs by rafael tongol

Breaking Basque

O

THE TXOKOS MENU CELEBRATES A LEGENDARY REGION.

ne matador.” Pause. “Two matadors.” Pause. “Three matadors.” Pause. Holding a 5-pound octopus in stainless steel tongs beside a cauldron of boiling water, the chef recites his matadors as an obedient schoolchild might count off Mississippi’s. Then he dunks the eight-legged creature a second time and hauls it back up for another three-matador count. They’re not nuts, the chefs of Txokos. They’re just “kind of jazzed up about what we’re doing,” in the words of co-owner Henry Salgado. The tried and true triple-matador technique bespeaks the culinary team’s determination to get its octopus appetizer just right. And indeed they do. The finished dish is a tender, smoky, lemony starter atop creamy potatoes. It’s superior to just about any octopus offering in town. Even the humble chicken undergoes a multi-step preparation process. It’s brined in saltwater the first night; marinated in sherry, olive oil, orange and garlic the next. Finally it’s roasted over fire on a rotisserie before being brought to your table. “You’ll be tasting our enthusiasm,” Salgado says. “It sounds goofy, but it’s true.” He and his wife, Michele, have owned the creative Latino Spanish River Grill in New Smyrna Beach for nearly 15 years. Even as their reputation has grown — Henry was twice nominated for a regional James Beard Award, which is a Very Big Deal in culinary circles — the couple has a reputation for being reserved, even standoffish. But when you get them talking about Txokos (pronounced CHOkose), they loosen up considerably. Suddenly Henry is chuckling about himself, Michele and their kitchen staff. “We’re all drinking the Kool-Aid,” he says. These folks are having a whole lot of fun on the hot line. The food and décor at Txokos are a tribute to the Basque region of

Spain. The word “txokos,” in fact, is a Basque term for an exclusive gastronomic society whose members speak Euskera (the region’s native tongue) and cook, sing and celebrate together. The Basque region is home to about 40 Michelin-starred restaurants, a few of which Henry and Michele sampled during a recent visit. “The food is represented 100 percent by the season,” Michele reports. “If the squid are running, squid is on the menu. If tomatoes are at their peak, that’s what you have on the menu.”

Opposite, clockwise from top left: An open kitchen faces one of Txokos’ two dining rooms. The dining areas are dominated by black and white, accented by jolts of red and green. A thin communal table runs along the front of the kitchen. Right: Owners Michele and Henry Salgado are highly regarded in local culinary circles. ORLANDO-LIFE.COM

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FLAVOR

rona gindin

Above: Oxtail stew is served in a traditional casuela cooking pot. Right: The Txokos take on paella includes toasted pasta and squid ink. “The food is represented 100 percent by the season,” says Michele Salgado. The Txokos produce list is equally fresh. John Rife, who owns the bustling East End Market complex where the restaurant is housed, grows vegetables to order on the premises. “We wanted a particular pepper from Spain and couldn’t find it anywhere,” Michele says. “John came up with the seeds and planted it.” More specifically, he found a source for the padrons, guernicas and guindillas in Spain itself. You’ll see the resulting cross-Atlantic vegetable gardens in the front of the building, a converted church on Corrine Drive in the hip Audubon Park Garden District. Although he’s half Cuban and a fifth-generation Floridian, one side of Henry’s family is from Galicia. The couple grew enamored with the Basque region through reading, then embarked on a research trip during which they “fell absolutely in love with the people, the warmth and the food,” Michele says. Proud Basque chefs invited the Salgados into their kitchens, instructing the Floridians on how to authentically duplicate their signature dishes. You’ll taste those recipes and others in a busy, buzzy bistro. Music plays — way too loud for easy conversation, unfortunately — in two contemporary-looking dining rooms. Black and white are the predominant hues, with the bright red, green and white of Basque flags providing jolts of color. One dining room has an oven called an asador, which sits behind a bar and burns oak and hardwood charcoal. The other dining room opens to the kitchen, where there’s bar seating available along one 68

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side. A thin communal dining space between the bar and the traditional tables offers kitchen views, but the backless seats aren’t conducive to a long stay. “In the Basque region, we saw a beautiful mixture of old and new, like an extremely old building decorated in contemporary style,” Michele says. “We tried to capture that.” They also tried to capture the spirits: Txokos’ entire wine list is Spanish (sherries and beers, too). Craft cocktails are also available. We were disappointed in a bland Fume Martini — a dirty martini with a marcona- and manchego-stuffed olive — while the red sangria, made with muddled berries and spiked with fizzy ginger beer, was refreshing. Even if you’re there for a full meal, try some of the bar food, too. The kebab of figs and manchego cheese with a sherry dressing is a simple treat, as is the canapé topped with a marmalade made from stewed oxtail. Michele makes the spicy nut mix, which has lime zest, grated ginger and soy sauce among its ingredients. I’m trying to figure out how to get her to share the recipe. I may grovel. We were just as enthusiastic about the pintxos, which are the small plates referred to as tapas in the rest of Spain. They double as appetizers. First off, there’s that octopus. After its matadoring, it’s braised in a court-bouillon (a wine and vegetable stock) with citrus and spices for an hour and half, drained, marinated with lemon juice, smoked paprika and more, then grilled to order. Olé! AUGUST 2014

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“BEST ITALIAN” — 2013 Silver Spoon Awards

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Left: The octopus is a smoky, lemony starter served atop creamy potatoes. Above: The steamed clams are served in a wine-based green sauce with fried baby artichokes, charred peaches and crumbled chorizo sausage.

You’ll also enjoy the steamed clams in a green sauce, crispy fried baby artichokes with a spicy anchovy dip and truffle oil, and a salad of charred peaches with crumbled chorizo sausage and a bit of balsamic vinegar. The combination tastes, to me, a bit like those somewhatsweet Italian Amaretti cookies. The entrées, called platos, aren’t super-splurgy, with most in the $20s. I’d get the oxtail again. It’s made in the traditional way, braised with a sherry and smoked paprika mirepoix (foundation), and served over grits mixed with goat cheese. This potted stew just jumped with vivacity. I’m not a fan of squid ink, so the paella made with toasted pasta, not rice, with a “tinta” (squid ink) sauce, wasn’t for me, despite fresh mussels, clams and calamari plus chorizo. The dining companion who ordered it — and likes squid ink — was quite pleased. Next time I’ll try the wood-grilled whole fish with sherry vinegar, guindilla peppers, garlic chips and charred garden vegetables. It’s one of the specialties Henry learned in a Basque chef’s kitchen. He was told to “go home and practice.” Desserts are “evolving,” Michele says, although she’s proud of the almond-crusted tart with Bordeaux cherries. The bread pudding was nice; the cheese with cocoa-dusted almond was functional. One guest was disappointed not to have the option of decaffeinated coffee. The entire Txokos service staff was friendly and polished during our anonymous visit. But had I not been so curious to try this new and intriguing place, I might have given up and taken my business 70

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elsewhere. Txokos doesn’t seem to be listed on opentable.com, my preferred method of reserving a spot. I called, but got a recording informing me that the restaurant opens at 5 p.m. Because I wasn’t invited to leave a message, I deduced that Txokos doesn’t take reservations. Yet, when four of us showed up that evening, we were asked if we’d called ahead for a table. Then we had to wait. Whatever the policy truly is for making reservations, the website and phone message should explain it. But that’s an easy-to-fix niggle. Michele says the restaurant’s regulars include a considerable contingent from Orlando’s Basque community, who’ve adopted the place as a home away from home and have even offered tweaks to the grammar and spelling on the menu. Hey, it’s all about the details. If anybody knows that, it’s the Txokos crew. ■ Rona Gindin, dining editor of Orlando Life, has written about Orlando’s restaurants for Fodor’s and Zagat, among many other publications. She’s the author of The Little Black Book of Walt Disney World.

WHERE: East End Market, 3201 Corrine Dr., Orlando HOW MUCH: $$$ WHERE TO CALL: 321-972-8852 • txokoskitchen.com

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

randy noles

Hannibal’s Hope

T

PRESERVING WHAT MATTERS IN WEST WINTER PARK.

here are two things I learned right away when my family moved to Winter Park in 1967. You didn’t read the comic books at Irvine’s Drug Store without paying for them, and you didn’t go to Hannibal Square. Either activity was deemed dangerous, although going to Hannibal Square was more likely to result in actual physical harm. What I didn’t know then, but learned much later, is that Hannibal Square — the heart of the city’s traditionally African-American west side — hadn’t always been so rough. It had once been a vibrant, lively place where neighbors did business with neighbors. A place where people of color who weren’t welcome anywhere else had an opportunity to build successful lives. Now, whenever I go to the west side, I think about those days in the late 1960s, when Hannibal Square consisted of run-down rooming houses, seedy convenience stores and the infamous Big C bar, which was the scene of so many melees that the stools were nailed to the floor. If you had told me in 1967 — or even in 1987 — that Hannibal Square would one day be home to fine-dining restaurants and eclectic boutiques comparable to those along Park Avenue, just a few blocks away, I wouldn’t have believed it. That this transformation has occurred is largely through the efforts of Dan Bellows, a rough-and-tumble developer who began buying up west side property in the 1990s. (Yes, I know Bellows can be abrasive. But let’s give the man his due. He took a risk no one else was willing to take.) Around the same time, the City of Winter Park formed a Community Redevelopment Agency that encompassed the west side. Then came a massive remake of Hannibal Square, which has spurred interest in smaller residential projects at its periphery. A revitalization success story? By most measures, yes. However, preservationists and many west side residents worry that the character of the neighborhood is changing; its proud history vanishing. At this writing, there’s a furor over a proposal to increase the allowed density in a one-block area between Denning and Capen avenues. The change would allow construction of a townhome project in which prices start in the high $500s. Complicating matters for the west side is the fact that there are few significant historic buildings left to rally around. In 2001, GAI Consultants identified 70 west side homes as “historic resources.” About a third of them have since been demolished. 72

ORLANDO LIFE

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But the west side’s significance isn’t about buildings. Ever since “negro lots” were first platted there in the 1880s, the neighborhood was viewed as a place where blacks could achieve something resembling the American dream despite the bigotry and discrimination that predominated outside its cozy confines. Generations of families have been comforted by this sense of pride and place. But let’s face it. Unless there’s something made of bricks and mortar on which to anchor a preservation campaign — something both literally and figuratively concrete — it’s difficult to make an anti-gentrification argument that doesn’t sound needlessly obstructionist. Similar stories are playing out across the country. Recently a Brookings Institution demographer found that between 2010 and 2013, primary cities have grown faster than their suburbs. That’s true even in Central Florida, a region notorious for sprawl, where compact Orlando proper grew by 2.1 percent and its far-flung suburbs by 2 percent. In most cases, what’s new is an improvement over what it has replaced. Of course, local governments need to do a better job of protecting historically significant homes. And in cases like the west side of Winter Park, where most of the structures have no special intrinsic historic value, they need to think a little more creatively. Are there ways to accommodate inevitable change without wiping out reminders of what the neighborhood once meant? And I don’t mean putting up an obscure historic marker or even a small museum, with all due respect to the Hannibal Square Heritage Center. The city does, in fact, have a master plan that makes general promises about preserving the west side’s single-family residential character. Yet, there are still block-by-block skirmishes and a level of mistrust that’s disturbing. It would be worth the time and the relatively small expense to convene a conference on the future of Winter Park’s west side that involves city officials, preservationists, west side residents and an expert facilitator. Hannibal, the Carthaginian general for whom Hannibal Square was named, is known by historians as “the father of strategy.” Why not apply a little strategic thinking to his namesake neighborhood? n Mike Thomas is on vacation. His “Restless Native” column will return next month. AUGUST 2014

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