Got some strings of Christmas lights that just don’t work anymore? Don’t throw them in the trash to end up as landfill waste. Bring them to The Home Depot for proper recycling and a valuable coupon to buy energy efficient LED lights.
This offer is only good November 5-15. You’ll receive a $3 coupon for each set of lights you recycle, with a limit of 5. For more information visit The Home Depot’s website.
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I just got a flier for the Winter Sale at US Toys Constructive Playthings. While we don’t often head over there because of the distance, I did want to mention it for two reasons.
1) It’s an awesome store!
2) The kitchens are on sale!
I bought the US Toys basic white kitchen set for Julia about 2 or 3 years ago because we were looking for something mostly wooden that wasn’t hard on the eyes. It is still going strong despite many pretend meals and many children playing with it. US Toys still carries a lot of wooden kitchen sets and most of them have gone on sale!
Whether you are shopping for a party, your homeschooling needs, or gifts take the time to spend at least an hour or two wandering the store. It’s packed full of stuff.
Posted in Deals Around Town | Tagged constructive playthings, sale, toy kitchen, us toys | Leave a Comment »
A reader submission from Christina Bass about Seven Sisters:
Seven Sisters Coffee House is conveniently located on Mills Ave. just north of Marks St., near the main branch of Central Florida Educators’ Credit Union.
I am the kind of person who will drive past a coffee shop and think, “Hey, I should try that place,” about a gazillion times…yet find myself strangely reluctant to actually go in. I’m a thirty-something mom, not a twenty-something hipster; so I find myself apprehensive about trying something trendier than the big chains.
However, there is truly something for everyone at Seven Sisters.
Quirky art hangs on the walls and local crafters display reasonably-priced offerings. There’s a playroom (believe it or not) where kids can hang out and read books or play with toys. There’s a living room area where adults can talk to friends (in full sight of the playroom) and even spin vinyl on the record player or pick up a magazine. There are snacks – healthy and not-so-healthy – for adults and children alike.
Yet, I’d obviously be remiss if I didn’t mention the coffee.
Single-sourced from an estate in Nicaragua and roasted to perfection by master roasters in Atlanta, both espresso and brewed coffee have a taste that will delight even the most jaded connoisseur. The coffee is shade-grown, songbird-friendly, organic, with a fair wage paid to the workers who collect the beans. (In other words, it’s guilt-free.
)
Seven Sisters Coffee is the dream of Alisha Kearns, who wanted to create a place where everyone could feel comfortable – families as well as childfree folks – and where social activism and socializing could combine in neat ways.
The truth is that I can’t go to a certain big coffee chain anymore, even though it’s a lot closer to my house. The brewed coffee is too bitter and the baked goods don’t taste as if they were baked that very day with fresh ingredients the way they do at Seven Sisters.
If you’re like me and hesitant to try something new, I heartily recommend that you take a chance on Seven Sisters Coffee House anyway.
Whether you are a college student or businessperson or mom or retiree (or all of the above), you will find both a comfortable environment and a great tasting cup of coffee at your new ‘home away from home.’
Posted in Coffee and Tea | Tagged blue bird, christina bass, coffee, coffee house, cupcake, organic, reader submission, restaurant, seven sisters, seven sisters coffee, snack, snacks | Leave a Comment »
Orlando Science Center is having it’s 3rd Neanderthal Ball!
Step Into the Past… to Support the Future!
Saturday, November 7, 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.Dust off your club and drag your date to the Neanderthal Ball, the Orlando Science Center’s gala evening. Enjoy a “diamond dig” set amongst the prehistoric setting of the “DinoDigs” exhibit and the delectable food and wine choices under the star lit sky on the beautiful SunTrust Terrace.
“Rock out” with themed entertainment and music. Chisel out your mark at the silent auction. Dress code is cocktail fun with an accent on “cavemen couture”, with an animal print necktie or leopard pattern cocktail dress!
Proceeds from the Neanderthal Ball provide critical funds to provide operating support for educational programs and opportunities for youth, regardless of their ability to pay, to experience the fun and discovery of the Orlando Science Center.
For more details, see the OSC page for this event!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged annual event, auction, charity, gala, museum, neanderthal, orlando science center, osc | Leave a Comment »
CURRENT BANNER PHOTO
This is the fuller size picture by Tom Cook from VegFest on October 24 at 3:50 PM that is featured on our site banner photo. The photo was organized by First Unitarian for the general public to participate in. Other snaps were featured in the Orlando Sentinel Climate Gallery.
We gathered on the steps of Loch Haven park to represent for “Orlando 350″ along with many others doing the same worldwide! Not sure what all that means? Check out 350.org!
CALL FOR NEW PHOTOS
It’s getting to be holiday time! Send me pix of your cuties in Halloween costume, the Thanksgiving fun, Yule logs burning, and whatever else your family has planned for the holiday season throughout the end of 2009!
No need to crop it to size – we’ll do that for you. Just send the largest resolution possible so we have plenty of image to work with when cropping it to banner size. (Hint: At least 800 pixels wide is great!)
Winners will be announced in a post featuring the full photo and banner version will appear. Get out and snap!
Posted in Photo Contest | Tagged 350, 350.org, First Unitarian Church of Orlando, holidays, loch haven, tom cook, vegfest | Leave a Comment »
Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando is offering the following class to help children explore and appreciate the great outdoors:
Leafing Out
Saturday, November 14
10:30 am-Noon
Palm Room & Gardens
This class for children (kindergarten through sixth grade) will start with a walk in the Gardens looking for interesting leaves and other treasures. We will then bring our findings back to the cottage and turn them into pieces of art. All supplies will be provided.
Instructor: Leu Staff
Fee: $8 (Members $5)
For more information, visit Leu Gardens Website.
Posted in Fun Stuff for Kids | Leave a Comment »
The Unitarians are banding together with Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to provide a day of classes and and info picket for farm workers and fair food! Come to the bits you like best!
CLASS INFO
Coalition of Immokalee Workers will be appearing Nov 1, 2009 at both Unitarian churches in Orlando to hold classes about farm workers! They will teach us what life as a tomato picker is like and the human rights obstacles they face. Presentation is free to anyone — families welcome.
You can attend these at
Room 9 in the Education Building 9:30 – 10:30 AM at
First Unitarian Church of Orlando
1901 E. Robinson St
Orlando, FL 32803and
Main Building from 12 – 1 PM
University Unitarian Universalist Society
11648 McCulloch Rd
Orlando, FL 32817
THE ISSUESThe precedent-setting agreements with Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, McDonald’s, Burger King, Whole Foods, Subway, and Bon Appetit to improve wages and conditions for tomato pickers include the first real wage increase for farmworkers in 30 years, a code of conduct against abuses–with zero tolerance for slavery, and farmworker participation in monitoring improved conditions. To date, three Florida growers have committed to implement these fair food agreements.
Yet Publix, whose sales in the first half of 2009 topped $12 billion, refuses to pay just one more penny per pound to improve wages for tomato pickers and work with the CIW to guarantee fair conditions for those who pick its tomatoes. What’s more, Publix continues to knowingly purchase tomatoes from two tomato growers implicated in a recent farmworker slavery operation.
PICKET INFO
In the afternoon at 2:30 PM, Coalition of Immokalee Workers moves on to hold a peaceful, information picket at the Publix on Shine and Colonial to raise awareness for the plight of the farm workers. It is part of a month long info picket at various Publix supermarkets in the state of Florida.Join farm workers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) in calling for fair wages and human rights at a Publix near you:
Sun., November 1st at 2:30 pm
Educational Picket in front of Publix
1400 E Colonial Drive, OrlandoMORE INFO
Can’t wait until Sunday? Come in costume on Sat., October 31st at 2 pm for a Halloween-themed Event in front of Publix 2015 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
And mark your calendars to join us at Publix Headquarters on Dec. 5, 2009 in Lakeland!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ciw, class, coalition of Immokalee workers, First Unitarian Church of Orlando, publix, University Unitarian Univesalist Society | Leave a Comment »
The following class is being offered by Harry P. Leu Gardens:
Square Foot Gardening
Wednesday, November 4
6:30 pm-8:00 pm
Palm Room
It’s time to put the cool season crops in the ground. Maybe you don’t have a lot of room in your landscape, but it only takes a 4′ by 4′ space to have a square foot garden. Learn about square foot gardening and see a square foot garden built during the program.
Instructor: Ed Thralls
Fee: $14 (Members $8)
For more information, visit Leu Gardens Website.
Posted in Organic Gardening, Study Groups and Classes | 1 Comment »
Ourlando is organizing the Farm to Table event at the Enzian!
Sunday Nov 15, 2009
12:oo PM – 2:30 PM
Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave
The purpose of this event is to connect the community with their food source, network and promote a sustainable community for Orlando and the surrounding areas. Come, be a part of this and support the local food movement.
Featuring the documentary “Food Fight” by Chris Taylor and food by Chef Josh Oakley.
Come meet our local farmer’s and local food vendor’s. The event begins with passed hors d’oeuvre made with locally grown produce by Chef Josh Oakley, the executive chef of Enzian. Followed up with the showing of Food Fight.http://foodfightthedoc.com
After the documentary, there will be plenty of time to meet and mingle with our local farmers and vendors. We will also be featuring the organically, fresh brewed beer of Orlando Brewery, fair trade coffee from Austin’s and assorted blends of tea from Dandelion Communitea just to name a few.
Tickets: $18, includes hors d’oeuvre, beer, coffee and tea.
Tickets available at the Enzian box office and through their web site.
Support local, independent business and help build a sustainable local food economy.
Posted in Coffee and Tea, Deals Around Town, Food and Nutrition, Local "Green" Events | Tagged enzian, fair food, farm to table, farmer, food fight, local food, ourlando, sustainable | Leave a Comment »
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