Leisure … more than a word, it's a lifestyle

What a fantastic finish to the Vancouver Winter Olympics…a hockey game you’ll never forget.

Sidney Crosby’s goal at 7:40 in overtime gave Canada a tense, 3-2 victory over the United States to earn its second men’s hockey gold medal in the last three Olympics. Crosby’s shot from the lower part of the left circle eluded goalie Ryan Miller, the tournament Most Valuable Player.

In one of the greatest games in Olympic history, Canada’s collection of all-stars held off a young U.S. team that had staged a furious comeback after falling behind 2-0 to force overtime.

With Canada seconds away from celebrating the gold medal that its nation expected, American Zach Parise tied it with 24.4 seconds left in regulation.

The moment he scored, the sighs of disappointed fans probably could be heard from Vancouver to the Maritimes. Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins star who had been scoreless the previous two games, brought back the cheers with his second post-regulation game-winner of the tournament.

The victory gives Canada a sweep in hockey as its woman’s team also beat the U.S. Canada finished the games with 14 gold medals, the most of any nation. The U.S. meanwhile, won the medal race with 37 total medals, including nine gold.

Tell me what you thought… were they the best games ever? What did you enjoy the most?

Yesterday we started to explore the restaurants who won Foodie Awards from the Orlando Sentinel…today we continue that list…

German

Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Cafe

205 E. First St., Sanford; 407-321-2204; WillowTreeCafe.com

Runners-up: Biergarten Restaurant (Epcot’s German pavilion, Lake Buena Vista) and Bauren-Stube (Orlando).

Greek

Greek Flame Taverna

1560 N. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park; 407-678-2388; greekflametaverna.com

Runners-up: Taverna Opa and The Greek Corner (both Orlando)

Ice cream

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice

Three locations including 111 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; 407-599-9991; jeremiahsice.com

Runners-up: Cold Stone Creamery and Bruster’s (both various locations)

Indian

Memories of India

7625 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando, 407-370-3277; and 3895 Lake Emma Road (Shoppes of Lake Emma), Lake Mary; 407-804-0920; memoriesofindiacuisine.com

Runners-up: Passage to India and Woodland’s Indian Cuisine (both Orlando)

Italian

Olive Garden

Various locations including 2495 S. U.S. Highway 27, Clermont; 352-242-0582; olivegarden.com

Runners-up: Antonio’s (Celebration, Maitland and Orlando) and Il Pescatore (Orlando)

Japanese

Amura

Three locations including 950 Market Promenade Ave. (Colonial Town Plaza), Heathrow; (407) 936-6001; amura.com

Runners-up: Kobe Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar (various locations) and Fuji Sushi (Winter Park)

Korean

Korea House

1155 W. State Road 434, Longwood; 407-767-5918

Runners-up: Shin Jung and Korean Kitchen (both Orlando)

Late night

Taco Bell

Various locations including 2050 S. Semoran Blvd., Orlando; 407-273-9669; tacobell.com

Runner’s up: Pita Pit and Miller’s Ale House (both various locations)

Latin

Latin Quarter

6000 Universal Blvd. at City Walk, Orlando; 407-224-2800; universalorlando.com

Runners-up: Pio Pio and The Samba Room (both Orlando).

Mexican

Tijuana Flats

Various locations including 8 N. Summerlin Ave., Orlando; 407-649-8063; tijuanaflats.com

Runners-up: El Potro (various locations) and Garibaldi (Orlando and Kissimmee)

Middle Eastern

Cedar’s

7732 Sand Lake Road, Orlando; 407-351-6000; orlandocedars.com

Runners-up: Bosphorus (Winter Park) and Ali Baba (Longwood)

Outdoor

Bahama Breeze

Various locations including 8735 Vineland Ave., Lake Buena Vista; 407-938-9010; bahamabreeze.com

Runners-up: Hue (downtown Orlando) and The Taproom at Dubsdread (Orlando)

Overall

Seasons 52

Runners-up: The Venetian Room at the Caribe Royale Resort and The Oceanaire Seafood Room both Orlando)

Pizza

Pizza Valdiano

Various locations including 510 N. Orlando Ave, Winter Park; 407-628-5333; pizzeriavaldiano.com

Runners-up: Mellow Mushroom (Winter Park and Orlando) and Anthony’s Pizzeria & Restaurant (Orlando)

Power lunch

Seasons 52

Runners-up: Citrus (downtown Orlando), Houston’s (Winter Park)

Puerto Rican

Guavate

422 S Alafaya Trail, Orlando; 407-281-4700; guavateinorlando.com

Runners-up: Sazon 436 (Orlando) and El Coqui Mexicano (yes, the Coqui in the name refers the Puerto Rican part of the menu)

Romantic

Seasons 52

Runners-up: The Melting Pot (Longwood, Orlando, Melbourne) and Victoria & Albert’s (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa)

Sandwich

Beefy King

424 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando; 407-894-2241; beefyking.com

Runners-up: TooJay’s Original Gourmet Deli and Firehouse Subs (both various locations)

Seafood

The Oceanaire Seafood Room

9101 International Drive, Orlando; 407-363-4801; theoceanaire.com

Runners-up: Red Lobster and Bonefish Grill (both various locations)

Steakhouse

Del Frisco’s

729 Lee Road, Orlando; 407-645-4443; delfriscosorlando.com

Runners-up: Outback Steakhouse (various locations) and Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Sushi

Amura

Three locations including 55 W. Church St., Orlando; 407- 316-8500; amura.com

Runners-up: Shari and Fuji Sushi (both Orlando)

Tex-Mex

Tijuana Flats

Various locations including 160 Tuskawilla Road, Winter Springs; 407-706-2468; tijuanaflats.com

Runners up: Amigo’s (closed) and Chevy’s Fresh Mex (Lake Buena Vista and Ocoee)

Takeout

Pei Wei

Various locations including 8015 Turkey Lake Road, Suite 400, Orlando; 407-241-3301; peiwei.com

Runner’s up: Outback Steakhouse and Tijuana Flats (both various locations)

Thai

Thai House

2117 E Colonial Drive, Orlando, 407-898-0820

Runners-up: Sea Thai and Royal Thai (both Orlando)

Vegetarian

Ethos Vegan Kitchen

1235 N. Orange Ave., Orlando; 407-228-3899; ethosvegankitchen.com

Runners-up: Sweet Tomatoes (various locations) and Dandelion Communitea Café (Orlando)

Vietnamese

Little Saigon

1106 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando; 407-423-8539; littlesaigonrestaurant.com

Runners-up: Viet Garden and Pho 88 (both Orlando)

Wine list

Seasons 52

Runners-up: The Oceanaire Seafood Room and Luma on Park

Wings

Ker’s Wing House

Various locations including 3789 S. Kirkman Road, Orlando; winghouse.com

Runner’s-up: Gator’s Dockside and Hooters (both various locations)

The 2009 Orlando Foodie Awardsfrom Orlando Sentinel have just been announced. They’re always an interesting read because I’m always on the look out for great new restaurants.

Central Florida is home to many diverse and interesting eating houses from fine-dining establishments to small cafes

There are many new dining options for you in 2010 and a lot more independent restaurants are using locally-grown foods. Exceptional newcomers such as Anatolia, Big Fin Seafood Kitchen, Bull & Bear Steakhouse at the Waldorf-Astoria, Wa Restaurant and Sake Lounge and Four Rivers Smokehouse have added intriguing choices to the mix. We have seen Journey’s make an exciting move to Alaqua Country Club in Longwood and said “welcome back” to Chef Henry’s. And we have watched longtime local icons such as Enzo’s on the Lake and Le Coq au Vin maintain the course with consistent fine dining.

So let’s raise a glass to the best of 2009 – there’s plenty to celebrate.

African/Soul/Caribbean

Boma – Flavors of Africa

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, 407-WDW-DINE (939-3463)

Runners up: Jiko – The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and a tie between Mama Nems and Johnson’s Diner

Bar

Seasons 52

Two locations including 463 E. Altamonte Drive (State Road 436, near the Altamonte Mall), Altamonte Springs, 407-767-1252; seasons52.com

Runners-up: The Oceanaire Seafood Room, Orlando, and Miller’s Ale House, various locations.

Barbecue

Bubbalou’s Bodacious BBQ

Runners-up: Sonny’s, various locations and O’Boys (Orlando and Winter Park)

Breakfast

First Watch

Various locations including 249 W. State Road 436 ( Ethan Allen Plaza), Altamonte Springs; 407-682-2315; firstwatch.com

Runners-up: White Wolf (Orlando) and Peach Valley Café (Orlando, Heathrow and Ormond Beach)

Brunch

Dexter’s

Three locations including 808 E. Washington St. (Thornton Park) in Orlando; 407-648-2777;dexwine.com

Runners-up: First Watch and La Coquina at the Hyatt Grand Cypress

Buffet

Sweet Tomatoes

Various locations including 4678 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando; 407-896-8770; souplantation.com

Runners-up: Golden Corral (various locations) Texas de Brazil (Orlando)

Burger

Five Guys

Various locations including 4821 New Broad St. (Baldwin Park Town Center), Orlando; 407-219-3366; fiveguys.com

Runners-up: Hamburger Mary’s (Orlando) and Back Yard Burger (various locations)

Chain

Seasons 52

Two locations including 7700 Sand Lake Road (Plaza Venezia) Orlando, 407-354-5212; seasons52.com

Runners-up: Olive Garden and Outback (both various locations)

Chinese

PF Chang’s

436 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-622-0188; and 4200 Conroy Road, Orlando, 407-345-2888 ; pfchangs.com

Runners-up: Pei Wei Asian Diner (various locations) and Imperial Dynasty (Longwood)

Cuban

Black Bean Deli

325 S. Orlando Ave. Winter Park; 407-628-0294; myspace.com/blackbeandeli

Runners-up: Numero Uno (Orlando) and Rolando’s (Casselberry)

French

Le Coq au Vin

4800 S. Orange Ave., Orlando; 407-851-6980; lecoqauvinrestaurant.com

Runners-up: Paris Bistro and Chez Vincent (both Winter Park)

We’ll continue with the list tomorrow. ..

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It’s where old planes go to die – a 2,600-acre patch of U.S. desert where several generations of military aircraft are stored in what has been dubbed ‘The Boneyard‘.

The $35billion  worth of outdated planes is kept as spare parts for current models at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. Some planes are merely stored at the base between deployments, but for more than 80 per cent of the 4,200 aircraft that call it home, it is a cemetery of steel – 350,000 items to be called on when needed.

The base is home to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance And Regeneration Group (309 AMARG) which carries out repairs to the craft and even gets some of them flying again.

Engines, munitions, wiring and electronics are all recycled to help lower the cost of maintaining the current-day fleet. In 2005, staff at the facility recycled more than 19,000 parts worth $568 million.

The U.S. government even allows the military in other countries to buy parts and even planes from the site. The facility is the size of 1,300 football pitches.

The site has been a curiosity for eagle-eyed Google Earth users since the satellite imagery software was launched in 2005, but now for the first time it is available to view in high resolution.

The desert is a perfect place to store the mass of steel, because low humidity and rainfall means very little rust occurs. In addition, the hard soil means they can be parked up without the need for building concrete ramps.

The military has used Davis-Monthan as a plane storage facility for 60 years, and in recent years its unique landscape has been called on by Hollywood for such films as Transformers.

Click here to see more on Google Maps.

Where on earth is this year going to already? 5 seconds ago I was talking about a New Year and now I’m about to explore what’s happening in March in Central Florida.

Personally I like to use this blog to talk about other things other than the main theme parks. Sure, they’re important and they’re a lot of fun but Florida was here before them and we shouldn’t forget there’s a lot more “normal” stuff happening.

For a start there’s the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City from March 4 to 14. Check it out at www.flstrawberryfestival.com and enjoy a visit for some great family fun, midway rides, contests, live entertainment and of course, strawberries galore.

From 6 to 7 March you enjoy the 17th Annual Weeki Wachee Swamp Festival at Linda Pedersen Park in Weeki Wachee. There’s lots of entertainment, country, folk and nostalgia music acts plus clogging, line and other dances. of course “swamp food” will be available. Check the web site www.wwswampfest.com

If you like your history then be sure to check out The Nature Coast Civil War Re-enactment at Crystal River. You enjoy seeing the cannons roar and a real charge of the cavalry as you gaze upon 500 re-enactors portraying soldiers from the North and the South as they recreate a Civil War battle. www.crystalriverreenactment.org is the web site and battle commences on 13 and 14th March.

On 25 March Rollins College music students present a program in honor of the Bach Festival Society’s 75th Anniversary. This is held in Winter Park and the web site for more info is www.bachfestivalflorida.org

Check back often, as I’ll be letting you know more about what’s going on.

Growing up as a kid I used to love to watch the Harlem Globetrotters…both live on TV and also on Scooby Doo!! Well, they’re here, in O-Town and Tampa this week…

St. Pete Times Forum
Tampa FL 02/25/10
Time: 7:00 PM

Disneys Wide World of Sports the Milk House
Lake Buena Vista FL 02/25/10
Time: 7:00 PM

University Arena
Orlando FL 02/27/10
Time: 7:00 PM

Sports fans can meet star athletes and ESPN personalities this weekend at ESPN the Weekend at Walt Disney World.

The one-of-a-kind sports-themed special event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park and the newly re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will showcase ESPN personalities as well as on-site telecasts of popular television and radio programs. The one-of-a-kind special sports- themed event takes place February 25-28 and will give fans the opportunity to see and hear their favorite on-air personalities, including Mike & Mike in the Morning co-hosts Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, who are celebrating 10 years together next week. ESPN will present live telecasts including First Take and NFL Live and Baseball Tonight from a set in front of Mickeys Sorcerers Hat at Disneys Hollywood Studios.

In addition, many current and legendary athletes will be making appearances, including Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia and former Heisman Trophy winner and current University of South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. ESPN personalities John Anderson, Ted Bruschi, Colin Cowherd, Ron Jaworski, Karl Ravech, Sage Steele, Dick Vitale, and Trey Wingo are scheduled to participate. Athletes Maurice Jones-Drew, Jason Witten, Adam Vinateri, Brian Dawkins, and many more are participating in the event. To check out the ESPN sports personalities and sports celebrities slated to attend the sixth annual event, go to www.espntheweekend.com (click on Whos Coming).

The festivities will begin with a special grand opening event at the newly re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Feb. 25 with a performance by the world famous Harlem Globe Trotters.

Over the years I have had so many requests from our guests about the possibility of them buying their own vacation home that I decided to create an E-book on the topic.

For a limited time I’m making it available free of charge so be sure to get your copy from http://BuyAnOrlandoVacationHome.com right now before this offer goes away.

Thank heavens that’s all done with. Yes, I mean the Tiger Woods confessional at PGA Headquarters on Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Now can we move on?

Probably not. The media will ensure that. They’re not going to be interested in his statement…only their lust for pursuing him with their questions over what happened.

Well, here’s my take on things. It’s got nothing to do with anyone else but Tiger, Elin, their family and the women he got involved with. Period. Tiger’s given his statement and no-one else has the right to demand anything of him. Period.

Now let’s get back to normal life… and enjoy some golf along the way.

Over the course of the week we’ve talked about some of the things to do in Orlando. Today, I want to take a quick look at some of the things you can do “Beyond Orlando”.

Down in Lake Wales you can find Bok Tower Gardens. This gorgeous 250 acre National Historic Landmark sits on the peninsular of Florida’s highest point. The sanctuary features Omsted-de-signed landscaped gardens crowned with a majestic 205 foot marble and coquina bell tower with a 60 bell carillon. Every hour you can hear angelic music ringing from the bells.

Daytona 500 Experience – now that the Daytona 500 is out of the way for another year don’t think that’s where the fun stops. The Daytona 500 Experience is a highly interactive motor sports attraction year round. It is designed to be fun for everyone and will entertain and educate all race fans.

It has 13 different attractions within the 60,000 square foot facility and you won’t want to miss the IMAX theater with its four story screen and high tech sound system. The admission price is between $19 and $24 but it does give you a guided track tour to boot.

Silver Springs are located about an hour and a half’s drive from Orlando. The theme park is surrounded by the beautiful Silver River and is home to plenty of wildlife. In the 350 acres guests can check out alligators, endangered bears and panthers  and explore the Kritter Koral petting zoo as well as watch an array of wildlife shows.

Weeki Wachee Springs is where you can see live mermaids perform in the spring. The mermaids have delighted visitors since 1947. Today, visitors can still witness the magic of the mermaids, take a river boat cruise and canoe or kayak on the Weeki Wachee River. The 538-acre park features a first magnitude spring and a 400-seat submerged theatre for watching the live mermaid show.

Buccaneer Bay offers a fun-filled flume ride for thrill seekers of all ages and the white sandy beach area and covered picnic pavilions provide a relaxing day for the entire family. Weeki Wachee’s animal shows also provide audiences with an entertaining and educational look at domesticated birds and reptiles. Located on U.S. 19 at the intersection of State Road 50, just north of Spring Hill and south of Homosassa Springs.