As more and more engaged couples catch on to the appeal and popularity of our quaint and beautiful town, it seems that new businesses that cater to weddings in Winter Park keep popping up. Recently I’ve stumbled upon a couple of well kept secret gems that I’m happy to be able to share with everyone.
First, wedding cakes! Evelyn Stowers has been in the business of making delicious and elegant wedding cakes for 44 years. In fact, the first wedding cake she ever created was for her own wedding (they’re still happily married, likely due to her sweet personality and the cakes she’s always whipping up in their kitchen). Evelyn showed me a binder filled with hundreds of cakes she’s created over the years, and I have to say that I melted completely into giddy girl mode! She has fun and gorgeous ideas for decoration, and after almost half a century of baking, you better believe she’s got more than a couple delicious cake recipes on hand. So ff you don’t feel like hunting down a big banner to post on your car that says “wedding cake on board” while you drive up our curvy mountain pass, then send Mrs. Stowers an email at evelynstowers@yahoo.com. She’ll be happy to hear from you!
Second, and a little more unique, is Ear 2 Ear photo booths. A couple of locals, Jeff Skinner and John Vella, have found great success with their small business of delivering, setting up, and operating photo booths at all kinds of events, including weddings. And yes, you’re thinking of the right photo booths: the same ones you laugh like crazy in at carnivals with your best friends. Photo booths are a creative and fun addition at any event; we think it’s worth your time to check it out! You can read about all the details and see some sample photos at www.ear2earphotobooths.com , then give Jeff and John a call at 970 509 9778.
And as always, if you have any questions about other great services in the area or are interested in lodging, give Winter Park Lodging Company a call at 877-329-1383. We’re always happy to hear from you!
Well, I did it. I finally bought a new snowboard. I’ve been riding on the same one for five years now, and while it was a very sturdy, balanced, reliable board, it was time for an upgrade. (I promise this blog is not just a justification of my purchase to avoid buyer’s remorse).
Maybe it’s just us in Winter Park, but we like to eat good, hot, homemade food, especially when it’s a chilling thirty below during the depths of winter (and we eat a little extra in the fall too, so we can pack on some winter fat to keep us warm…). One of our longtime favorites is Rudi’s Deli, located right in downtown Winter Park, because of the incredible homemade soups and hearty sandwiches. What’s best about this place, aside from the turkey avocado melt and the toasted reuben panini, are the cheap prices! (Remember, I’m a broke snowboard bum, so when I say cheap, I mean it). 
To those who have never visited, the Pub probably seems to be a pretty standard bar. Beer, pizza, flat screen TVs for Monday night football…but what you may not know is that the beer is an ever changing selection of local brews, the pizza is incredible homemade deep dish, and you can have that pizza for free while you’re watching Monday night football on the flat screens. Still not convinced? Then head over to the Pub on Taco Tuesday for $1.00 tacos, or on just about any Friday or Saturday to check out some great live music.
I did two things this summer: drink too much coffee at Rise & Shine Bakery Cafe, and mountain bike, in that order. Now that the snow has started falling I may be giving up mountain biking for a few months, but nothing will be able to keep me from my favorite coffee. And don’t think I’m the only one; Rise & Shine is a local’s favorite, serving up freshly roasted organic coffee, lattes, mimosas, bloody marys, and homemade bread, pastries, doughnuts, and bagels baked fresh daily. With a great lunch menu as well, Rise & Shine is a perfect stop before or after hitting the slopes all day.