29 minute read
Down but not out
ON (IN A PACKED THEATER)!
Here you’ll find a list of all the Orlando Fringe shows happening online this week – for more information on artists and a complete list of shows, including those streaming continuously, visit thelawn.orlandofringe.org. All events will be found on the Orlando Fringe Facebook page (facebook.com/orlandofringefestival), unless they are Kids Fringe or Teen Fringe – those will be located on the Kids Fringe page (facebook.com/kidsfringeorlando). Please note: All schedules are subject to change. Check the rating for each event, as not all events will be appropriate for all ages. And please tip the performers online!
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 2 pm VarieTEASE
Award-winning Fringe favorite VarieTEASE is back to show Orlando some love! (parental guidance suggested)
3 pm KIDS FRINGE! Parsnip the Cat: A Yoga Kids Yoga Adventure Have fun doing yoga with Parsnip the Cat!
4 pm TEEN FRINGE! Dance Break with Animal Prince Just watch and dance! Dance your heart out with Animal Prince!
5 pm OUTDOOR STAGE! Cesar and David’s Jamboree Join David and Cesar as they sing their favorite show tunes and pop covers. (parental guidance suggested)
6 pm Dorky Dance Fitness by Sadye Osterloh Get ready to be laughing, crying (due to laughter) and sweating your pants off … while also getting a TOTAL BODY WORKOUT! Bring your dorky attire – sweatbands, leg warmers and wedgies highly encouraged (but not required)! (all ages)
7 pm “Brit Takes Broadway” Tortured undead souls have risen from beyond the grave, and these ghouls have a message they wish to share … using Britney Spears’ best hits to channel them. The perfect campy musical theater homage for those seeking a wickedly good time. (parental guidance suggested)
8 pm Seth and Matt Watch as theater producer Lindsay Taylor turns the tables and interviews two heartbeats of the Orlando Fringe, longtime show reviewers Seth Kubersky (Orlando Weekly) and Matt Palm (Orlando Sentinel). There will also be added surprises, so you don’t want to miss this! (parental guidance suggested)
9 pm Wellness Wednesday with Tempestt Associate producer Tempestt Halstead leads you through some stretches to get the blood flowing! No equipment required. (all ages)
10 pm “Baker’s Dozen: 12 Angry Puppets” Rub-a-dub-dub, the Baker’s dead in the tub! Now his husband the Butcher is on trial. And whatever happened to this mysterious Candlestick Maker? A single puppeteer, Adam Francis Proulx, transforms one puppet into the 12 members of the jury who must decide the Butcher’s fate in this courtroom drama/puppet show/mystery/comedy/ one-man show. (parental guidance suggested)
THURSDAY, MAY 14
3 pm Storytime with Brian! Fringe marketing guy and storyteller Brian Sikorski will captivate viewers with his reading of beloved children’s books. (all ages)
4 pm TEEN FRINGE! Mad Science Workshop
5 pm OUTDOOR STAGE “From Broadway to Shelter-in-Place” After his win for “Best Solo Show – Musical” at the 2016 Orlando Fringe Festival with his show “From Broadway to Obscurity,” Eric Gutman is back (virtually) to perform some of his favorite Broadway songs and other pop, rock and folk songs acoustically from his home in Michigan. (parental guidance suggested)
6 pm “Trombone Magic” Elias Faingersh (“A Solo From the Pit”) performs a funny, musical storytelling show by a virtuoso musician with improvisations on topics chosen by audience. (parental guidance suggested)
7 pm “La Triviata” Join Opera del Sol for an evening of opera trivia, Tito’s vodka and ’tinis, opera tunes and maybe even some tenors. Merry debauchery for opera lovers old and new. (parental guidance suggested)
8 pm Thirsty Thursdays with Jessica and Armando Fringe bar managers Jessica and Armando host a mixology class to teach you how to make some of their favorite drinks to enjoy on your own lawn! (21 and up)
9 pm Q&A With Lindsay and Mel Lindsay and Melanie have been in shows, produced shows, been associate producers on their respective teams, and now are the Theater and Visual Fringe producers of the festival. They are also both experiencing their first year as producers by navigating a canceled live festival and exploring digital options. They will talk about their time with Fringe and answer your questions. (all ages)
10 pm “Aspergers, a tale of a social misfit” Adam Schwartz is a highly sought after standup comedian on the autism spectrum. (parental guidance suggested)
FRIDAY, MAY 15
3 pm KIDS FRINGE! Music with Mar Hop online to come and play while learning! We will use music and movement to have a great time together in this interactive class. (all ages)
4 pm TEEN FRINGE! “Play-Along Distant Logical Operations for Continued Keenness (PADLOCK)” PADLOCK is the perfect opportunity for agents across the world to join in on the fun from the safety and comfort of their own homes! Presented as a livestream meeting, the audience will be able to participate in solving a unique new kind of mystery. Part ChooseYour-Own-Adventure, part Blue’s Clues, all fun, PADLOCK offers a new kind of interactive puzzle-solving entertainment. (Link: Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83356043191?pwd =NWJjK29MbHZGeXY4STlsTkNCWFFKUT09 – password is: PADLOCK) (all ages)
5 pm OUTDOOR STAGE! Exclu the Only DJ set Catch DJ Exclu the Only providing feel-good tunes to keep you moving. (all ages)
6 pm TGIFringe Arts Industry Happy Hour We don’t get together as one big, happy arts and cultural family as often as we should. Join us for a virtual happy hour to catch up with your fellow arts administration colleagues. All Central Florida arts industry professionals are welcome. (all ages)
7 pm Creative Costuming Fringe shows are always on a tight budget. What items around the house would you be willing to sacrifice for art? (all ages)
8 pm “Advice with Doc Ella” Our technical director Amy’s daughter, Ella Hadley, will provide advice to patients at home. Got any questions about your future? What should you eat for dinner? There aren’t any questions Doc Ella can’t answer! (all ages)
9 pm “DK’s Improvised Puppet Adventure” Comedian DK Reinemer will create a hilarious world full of adventure and laughter based entirely on a suggestion from the viewers. (parental guidance suggested)
10 pm “PeeVira’s SCAREavan SIngAlong: Musical M.D.” “PeeVira’s SCAREavan SingAlong” is a fun, absurd and sensational group karaoke show. It is steered by drag, skits, games, pop culture trivia and hit songs from popular Broadway shows. It is the fourth installment to this legendary interactive show performed by the cult darling “Queen of Fringe” Madame PeeVira. (parental guidance suggested)
11 pm “Lauren and Amanda Do It” Join Lauren, Amanda and musical accompanist Alli as they test out being cam girls in a latenight talk show about sex. Think The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, but with one hot lesbian as the Roots, and two rad babes as Jimmy. This multi-award winning show makes the uncomfortable comfortable. (18 and up)
12 am Tonight at Midnight with Rauce Padgett Rauce Padgett returns to host the late-night talk show. Nobody really knows what’s going to happen, but it’s going to be a party. (18 and up)
SATURDAY, MAY 16
2 pm VISUAL FRINGE Paint with Jackie Grab a beverage and some art supplies and Jackie will take you through a fun rainbow tree painting step-by-step. Supplies: An open mind; paper or canvas; white, black, red, yellow, blue acrylic paints, OR any art supplies (markers, crayons, pencils, Sharpies, your last shred of sanity). (all ages)
3 pm KIDS FRINGE! Mr. Richard: Live from His Backyard! Musical fun for dancing and singing. Be sure to have your shakers, harmonica and guitar handy! (all ages)
4 pm TEEN FRINGE! Belly Dance Basics for Everyone Learn basic belly dance movements you can use every day to stay active and be happy. This class is appropriate for anyone who wants to move and smile. You can dress up with hip scarves and bells to have a more theatrical experience or wear your pajamas and just soak it all in. Welcome! (all ages)
5 pm OUTDOOR STAGE Swamp Sistas La La: Hope from Home Swamp Sistas conduct a day-long streaming event from 11 am-7 pm live on facebook.com/ swampsistas and will jump into the Fringe Stream for a portion of the festivities. (all ages)
6 pm “Polly’s Follies” Polly Esther returns to Orlando (virtually) with storytelling from a side of her you’ve never seen! (parental guidance suggested)
7 pm “Tit for Tat: A Q and A about T and A” Anything you’ve ever wanted to know about or ask a burly girl with Lady Jaimz! (parental guidance suggested)
8 pm “The Bikini Katie Variety Hour” You’ve seen it on the outdoor stage, now you can watch it from your living room! (Or any other room in your house, we won’t judge.) The Bikini Katie Variety Hour is part talk show,
9 pm VISUAL FRINGE Art Basel Exhibit 2.0 Gallery art, live in your living room. Experience looking at a piece of art in a gallery for 50 minutes. The Art Basel banana has been done. It’s time for something new. (all ages)
10 pm “Josephine” This award-winning off-Broadway and international smash hit show will be broadcast in its entirety for the very first time. Starring eight-time Outstanding Performance winner Tymisha Harris as the legendary Josephine Baker, the show combines music, theater, dance and burlesque to tell the story of one of the most remarkable lives of the 20th century. Filmed professionally at the 2018 Fab Fringe Fundraiser at Plaza Live Orlando. (18 and up)
SUNDAY, MAY 17
1 pm “Sfânta: Hell Bent on Heaven” Diana Lobontiu in a multicharacter solo show based on the Romanian Orthodox Saint Teodora de la Sihla, before she became a saint – back when she was just a young lesbian novitiate trying to become holy at literally any cost in 1680s Romania. (parental guidance suggested)
2 pm VISUAL FRINGE Pet Alliance Tour and Adoption Event Executive director of the Pet Alliance Steve Bardy gives a tour of the facilities and introduces viewers to some of the animals up for adoption. (all ages)
2:30 pm VISUAL FRINGE “We Draw Your Pets!” Send a photo of your pet to visualfringe@ orlandofringe.org. For a $5 donation, we will do a very quick drawing of your pet live! These will be done in two or three minutes max, so we are not aiming for perfection, but to have fun with art. Your artists are Melanie Leon, Bruce Costella, Lisa Hardt and Genevieve Bernard.
3 pm KIDS FRINGE! “The Magic of James Songster presents: I Don’t Just Live In A Hat” In this funny and engaging Kids Fringe! exclusive, James invites viewers to “go behind the hat” to learn what it’s like to share your life with a live pet rabbit. (all ages)
4 pm TEEN FRINGE! Make an Origami Fringezilla Follow this link to learn how to make an Origami Fringezilla: youtube.com/ watch?v=lKOVYw9R7oI
5 pm OUTDOOR STAGE Bobby Koelble Bobby Koelble performs an eclectic set of solo guitar music ranging from ragtime and jazz to electric fusion. (all ages)
6 pm “Playback UCF: After This” Playback theater is an interactive experience, invested in the necessity of sharing one’s voice and hearing others’ voices. This show’s theme will be “After This,” so performers will be asking for stories about the moment after a big event in your life (good or bad, recent or long ago). All participation is voluntary. (all ages)
7 pm VISUAL FRINGE Digital Character Sculpting Demo George Crudo will walk you through the process of creating a 3D character using the digital sculpting software ZBrush. (all ages)
8 pm “Joe’s NYC Bar – Quarantini Edition” Your favorite watering hole is (virtually) open for business! Now more than ever, being able to commune and share is vital to our experience. Join us and be heard! (18 and up)
9 pm Willi Carlisle’s Folksong Sing Along Folksinger and 2017 Orlando Fringe “Best Show” recipient Willi Carlisle regales with folk songs, stories and sing-alongs on banjo, fiddle, guitar and accordion. Special surprises and guest puppets will appear! (parental guidance suggested)
10 “Inside Outlet: A Show of Objects” Will the fork ever find love? Will the spoon find its true place in the universe? Expect toothbrush-on-hairbrush violence, pens at work and spray bottles who are the gatekeepers to a mystical face. A shadow show featuring everyday objects, performed live from the living room of the creators of Fringe hits “Caws & Effect” and “Multiple Organism.” (parental guidance suggested)
MONDAY, MAY 18
3 pm KIDS FRINGE! Mad Science LIVE Interactive Workshop for Pre-schoolers Go to facebook.com/mscentralflorida to watch.
5 pm OUTDOOR STAGE “Vera Jade: A Moment for Music, Joy, and Love” Vera Jade is passionate about creating a reality where we are united through music, creative expression and authenticity. Join her in opening your hearts and minds as we sing, laugh and reflect on the beauty that exists within each of us. (all ages)
6 pm “When the Beer Tent Isn’t an Option: Writing, Producing and Staging for Underage Artists” “When the Beer Tent Isn’t an Option” is a workshop led by Ciara Hannon, who won the New Producer Award at Orlando Fringe 2019 and founded 11th Hour Productions, all while underage. This workshop is tailored to younger artists and covers bringing your ideas to the exciting world of the Orlando Fringe and why age shouldn’t hold you back!
7 pm “The Peek Perspective” BlueLaLa Entertainment presents “Peek Perspective” in conjunction with FATSTAR, featuring the Ladies and LadyBoys of the Peek
‘LAUREN AND AMANDA DO IT’ / PHOTO BY TINA WALLACE
a-Boo Lounge. It’s not just burlesque, it shines light on a day in the life of COVID-19. (18 and up)
8 pm “Cody Clark’s Magical Spectrum!” Take a trip with magician, autistic self-advocate and two-time Fringe veteran Cody Clark. Over the course of an hour, you’ll learn a wide spectrum of basic magic tricks you can do with items you have at home, as well as learn about Cody’s experiences living on the autism spectrum. (all ages)
9 pm “Behind Every Great Mariska Hargitay Is a Great Kurt Fitzpatrick” Kurt Fitzpatrick from Orlando Fringe 2015’s “Best Picture” mixes storytelling and standup to weave a quirky tale about the life of a background actor in New York. (parental guidance suggested)
10 pm “Superman Drinks” Filmed at the 2011 Orlando Fringe: Chase Padgett (“6 Guitars,” “Nashville Hurricane”) tells this personal tale of fathers, heroes and guitar building. (all ages)
TUESDAY, MAY 19
2 pm “Six Degrees of Bakin’” Movie-themed dishes are prepared, and then contestants try to guess the name of the film via a blind taste test. The player who gets the most right wins. Part cooking show, part game show. All delicious! (all ages)
3 pm KIDS FRINGE! Making Paper Boats Join our friend Jen from the Jane Austen Society of North America, Orlando Region and her kids Ellie and Alec, who will show us how to make paper boats that really float. Watch here: youtu.be/qfW7O-r6g7A
5 pm OUTDOOR STAGE Subliminal Doubt: A Tribute to No Doubt and Gwen Stefani A tribute to one of the coolest bands of the ’90s and 2000s, complete with Fake Gwen and matching accessories. (all ages)
6 pm “Bad Habits: A Nunsensical Comedy” A full-length recording of A Little Bit Off’s latest show, “Bad Habits,” a show about two sisters of faith struggling to find the light … and stay in it. An absurd comedic look at the lives and habits of Sisters Florence and Margarine, and the temptations they face. (all ages)
7 pm VISUAL FRINGE: Art History in Pop Culture Are selfies the new self-portrait? Are brunch Instagrams modern-day still lifes? Join the Wandering Art Historian for a closer look at how pop culture is way more connected to art history than you may think. (all ages)
8 pm “Man Cave, a One-Man Sci-Fi Climate Change Tragicomedy!” The last man on Earth (Timothy Mooney) broadcasts to whatever Klingons or Vulcans might still be out there listening. (parental guidance suggested)
9 pm Tech Tuesdays Chat and share stories with the Orlando Fringe techs who hold this festival together.
11 pm Flashlight Cabaret The Creepy Boys, Grummo and Sam Kruger, host the traditional Flashlight Cabaret with some old and new Fringe favorites.
ADAM FRANCIS PROULX IN ‘BAKER’S DOZEN: 12 ANGRY PUPPETS’ / PHOTO BY LILLY HASTINGS
Orlando Fringe 2020 moves online
The COVID-19 quarantine has created a curious kind of time displacement, where weeks seem to blend together in a blur but individual days stand out in sharp relief. Decades from now, people will probably remember where they were on the day the NBA shut down and Disneyland closed, much like previous generations recall Pearl Harbor or JFK’s assassination.
For those of us involved in Orlando’s arts community, March 19 will forever be burned into our minds as the day we learned the 2020 Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival had been canceled.
The anticipated annual event, which was scheduled to run from May 12 through 25, normally draws tens of thousands of participants from around the world.
Not only is the Fringe festival a keystone of Orlando’s cultural community, it’s a major commercial engine as well, generating more than $1.3 million for artists over the past three festivals and injecting millions more into local businesses. So there’s only one word to describe
BY SETH KUBERSKY
what it felt like for executive director Alauna Friskics to make the call and cancel, only days after emailing supporters saying the show would go on: “devastating.”
“Thousands of artists, audiences, volunteers, vendors, patrons, and the arts community at large depend on Fringe as the time of year we all come together,” says Friskics, explaining the dilemma they faced.
“We knew it was the right thing to do in order to keep everyone safe, but actually making the decision was devastating. Orlando Fringe is one of the largest festivals in North America; we are first in the summer Fringe circuit, and we were the first to announce a cancellation. It shook the entire World Fringe community.”
Fortunately, patrons have strongly supported the festival in its decision, according to marketing director Brian Sikorski: “The huge outpouring of love came seconds after the announcement. I had text messages, Facebook messages, Instagram posts, Twitter, phone calls, Facetime calls, people were spreading love and goodwill very quickly.” Similarly, Fringe theater producer Lindsay Taylor, who is the liaison between festival staff and participating performers, says she “could tell they were disappointed but not surprised. It became clear very quickly what decisions we were going to have to make. That being said, I have been completely overwhelmed with how supportive our artists are. I think we have established a trust between our staff and the artists, so they know that we are making decisions in their best interest.”
The good news is that although the Orlando Fringe is down, it’s far from out, because Friskics has fought hard to retain the Festival’s salaried staff (with the support of donors and some hard-won PPP loans) and ensure its
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TYMISHA HARRIS IN ‘JOSEPHINE,’ RECORDED AT THE PLAZA LIVE / PHOTO BY HERIOT PRENTICE
survival into 2021. “Canceling the festival when we did allowed us to stop the immediate financial bleeding,” she explains.
Even if cancellation was the smart choice, it’s still been emotionally challenging for Fringe employees. “It definitely feels like the rug has been pulled out from under me,” says Taylor, who had just assumed her role as theater producer this year.
Unfortunately, the Orlando festival’s cancellation has created reverberations that traveled across the global arts community, and could continue to echo for years. “The international Fringe touring circuit which starts in Orlando and moves across Canada each summer has been halted,” says Friskics, highlighting Orlando’s important role in the Fringe ecosystem. “So many touring artists depend on Fringe not only for financial income but to test new creative works and fine-tune their craft. They are now left with no audiences.”
Two touring performers who have definitely experienced that impact are Erika Kate MacDonald and Paul Strickland, the Cincinnati-based couple behind the Critics Choice award-winning hits 13 Dead Dreams of Eugene and 90 Lies an Hour.
“Orlando Fringe was the first official cancellation of our whole summer tour, and when we got the news it was the moment that it all felt real for us for the first time,” says MacDonald, who had planned to premiere Strickland’s UnTrueBadour this week.
“Fringe is our family, and these Festivals are home in the summer. We don’t usually use the names of months in the summer. We say ‘Winnipeg’ and that means ‘July’; we say ‘Edmonton’ and that means ‘August.’ Here we are in May, and it feels so weird and sad that this year that doesn’t mean ‘Orlando.’ It feels like we can’t go ‘home’ this year.”
Like so many other arts organizations, Orlando Fringe is going live online in lieu of holding IRL events. So even though the Loch Haven lawn may be eerily empty right now, you can still gather virtually with fellow Fringe fans thanks to two slates of digital offerings. In recent weeks, Fringe has been hosting a “virtual lawn” at thelawn. orlandofringe.org, where artists have posted links to prerecorded performances, live online events and artwork for sale.
VIRTUAL ORLANDO FRINGE
facebook.com/orlandofringefestival facebook.com/kidsfringeorlando thelawn.orlandofringe.org free, but tip your performers!
And from May 12-24, “Fringe Today” will present a packed schedule of live programming at facebook.com/orlandofringefestival, ranging from musical acts and midnight talk shows to mixology lessons; you can even catch Orlando Sentinel critic Matt Palm and myself discussing our past reviews in a rare joint appearance on May 13. Many of these offerings are free; patrons are encouraged to tip performers, as well as purchase Fringe merchandise or donate online to support the Festival. [See pages 14-15 for the complete schedule.]
“My goal for ‘Fringe Today’ is to have our audiences get to see our artists in a different way – from watching tutorials of how they make their props to audience interaction experiences to learning how to do a magic trick,” says Taylor, who curated the programming.
“I didn’t simply want shows streaming for hours; I wanted our artists to get an opportunity to connect with our fans, so we can all learn more about each other, and get excited for when we return.” Friskics echoes that sentiment, saying. “This is an opportunity for connection, to bring together artists and audiences. And that’s what Fringe does best.”
Going digital has pushed some artists to radically reconceptualize their shows. A.J. Pratts, whose sold-out PeeVira’s SCAREavan SingAlongs squeezed Fringe patrons into a cargo van, is converting his campy karaoke kidnapping into Zoom meetings every Friday in May.
“Ever since I took my first Fringe bow in 2012, Orlando Fringe has been in my heart,” says Pratts. “It has given me the gift of artistic freedom, self-identity and connection. It makes me feel like I’m part of something so much bigger than all of us. With them, I belong.” Pratts decided to take his yearly Fringe show online “in hopes of keeping connection and laughter alive.”
Just like the grown-up Festival, Kids Fringe has also gone digital, with live Kids Fringe Today events for the little ones every day at 3 p.m. They’re followed each day at 4 p.m. with an hour of Teen Fringe programming designed for their older siblings.
“We decided to share Kids Fringe Today programming each day as an after-virtual-school treat for kids,” says Fringe education coordinator Genevieve Bernard (who’s also artistic director of Voci dance and, disclosure!, my wife). “We’re lucky to have most of the local and touring Kids Fringe artists that were booked for the May festival able to join us online. We have performances, interactive adventures and workshops that the whole family can enjoy together.”
Social distancing may be making this the strangest May in memory, but it won’t silence the spirit of the Fringe. Instead, the Fringe faithful will honor the event from the safety of home – while looking forward to the inevitable avalanche of virus-inspired shows at next year’s milestone 30th festival.
“My hope is artists can use this time to write and create, and that we will see an explosion of new ideas on the stage once we are on the other side of this,” Friskics says. “One thing is true: We will persevere. It may take a while for people to feel comfortable mass gathering, but in time it will happen. And Fringe will be here to mend the community back together.” skubersky@orlandoweekly.com
PARIS BANH MI CAFÉ BAKERY
1021 E. Colonial Drive 407-866-2012 parisbanhmicafebakery.com $
PHOTOS BY ROB BARTLETT
LA VIE EN SANDWICH
French-Viet patisserie blesses Mills 50 with beautiful baguettes and baked goods
BY FAIYAZ KARA
Agood banh mi is surely a benefit of living in Orlando – and Paris too, no doubt – but Paris Banh Mi right here on East Colonial Drive is quite unlike the others. In Orlando, that is. For one, owner Hien Tran is a patissier with some serious baking cred, having graduated from Paris’s École de Boulangerie et de Pâtisserie and earning certificates of distinction at the École Gastronomique Bellouet Conseil pastry school. His wife, Doan Nguyen, ran a trio of banh mi shops in Vietnam and, together, the duo serves some mighty fine sandwiches and pastries out of their sprawling Mills 50 bakery. They reopened Paris Banh Mi on April 25 but with a limited menu, so you’ll have to wait a week or two to enjoy savories like beef stew ($9) and popcorn chicken ($5). When you do walk in, wear a mask. Trust me, it won’t hinder your enjoyment any; the glorious scents of baked goods have a way of sneaking through protective face coverings.
For banh mi enthusiasts, the aroma and the snap, crackle and shhhh of a freshly baked baguette is a beautiful thing, and the loaves here are that – beautiful. All the more so when dolled up with porcine cuts (jambon, pork rolls and grilled pork), frilled with cilantro, crunched with pickled daikon, carrots and jalapeños, and layered above a creamy spread of pork liver pâté. The cost for this “special combination” sammie? A paltry $5.50. A poultry banh mi with shredded chicken can be had for $5. It’s plenty gratifying, sure, but not quite as rich and luxuriant as the porkier numbers. For the same price, a veg version with stir-fried tofu is a plant-based pleasure (just hold off on the mayo if you’re vegan).
And it’s all thanks to that bread, mesdames, messieurs et citoyens. You could put boiled shoe between that baguette and it’d make a decent sandwich. Just remove the heel and laces before you do. Needless to say, you’d do well to purchase a loaf ($2.50) or two while you’re here. I ripped into one immediately after downing a banh mi for lunch and scooped some creamy rapsflower blossom honey I had in my pantry with it. That was pre-dessert. Dessert-dessert comprised exquisite bites of a “chocolate trilogy” cake ($6), strawberry cheesecake ($6) and opéra gâteau ($5), a coffee-soaked almond sponge cake. I bloody well caked it on, I did. I even dreamt of ravaging a moussey raspberry-topped nocturne cake ($5) but, turns out, that was no dream (burp). Flavored teas, milk teas and slushies are also a big sell here, though we still prefer the cheese tea and fruits tea from Royaltea around the corner.
Croissants, naturally, are another featured item at Paris Banh Mi. The verdict: not bad at all. And, for $2 each, not a bad price either. I don’t mean to nitpick (I did eat three of them, after all) but the croissants, while ultrasoft, could do with more flaky layering. I guess I’m still miffed about not being able to get my favorite croissants at Backhaus Bakery in Ivanhoe Village anymore, not since they moved all the way to Mount Dora.
Mount Dora! Scheisse. Pardon my French. fkara@orlandoweekly.com
the diningin diaries
BY FAIYAZ KARA
It was Cinco de Mayo. And Taco Tuesday. Margarita Martes, too. So naturally we craved fish camp fare: fried clam strips, hush puppies, broiled shrimp and the like. So, while Phase 1 of Florida’s Grand Reopening wreaked havoc at restaurants, I pulled up to Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen in Winter Park to satisfy the craving.
The phone was off the hook, so I had to pop my head into the restaurant to let the masked hostess know I was here for my curbside pickup. As I walked back to my car, a friendly server had my order ready.
Ten minutes later, I was home and digging into fried clams, broiled scallops, Florida shrimp and Atlantic cod. I popped those peppery pups into my mouth and scooped up a forkful or two of collards with it, too. Honestly, I was happy to see Reel Fish still serving – Winter Park Fish Co. just down the road has been closed throughout the pandemic.
Fred Thimm, owner of Reel Fish, says they’ve survived on takeout and delivery the past two months, but only via “draconian and unsustainable methods to reduce overhead.” Thimm adds, “Guests have inspired us with their loyalty and support.” Viva la nueva normal.
( Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen and Bar, 1234 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park, 407- 543-3474, reelfishcoastal.com )
Elle Fanning in The Great
BY STEVE SCHNEIDER
PHOTO BY OLLIE UPTON, COURTESY HULU
PREMIERES WEDNESDAY:
The Wrong Missy – David Spade mistakenly invites one of the lesser names in his black book to Hawaii, in a film that officially replaces the concept of “First World problems” with “complaints David Spade should not have.” (Netflix)
PREMIERES FRIDAY:
Basketball County: In the Water – Why has one Maryland county produced an abnormally high number of basketball greats? The answer is right there in the title of this documentary: Fluoride! (Showtime) The Great – Elle Fanning is Catherine the Great in a satirical miniseries that plays fast and loose with history. And it’s still more truthful than anything coming out of the Brady Room. (Hulu) I Love You, Stupid – To help him bounce back from being dumped, a Hispanic sad sack seeks advice on becoming a 21st-century playa. Hey, I hear David Spade is doing consults. (Netflix) Inhuman Resources – From France comes a high-tension drama series about a 57-year-old whose job search exposes him to the underside of corporate life. Wait, you mean there are things worse than LinkedIn? (Netflix) It’s a Dog’s Life – Every week, this documentary series will showcase the amazing things canines do to make our lives better. Host Bill Farmer is the voice of both Pluto and Goofy (which I guess settles that long-running controversy – he’s a dog, dammit!). (Disney+) The Last Narc: Season 1 – In this four-episode documentary, you’ll learn the truth behind the murder of DEA agent Enrique Kiki Camarena. As opposed to Kiki Macarena, who you’ll meet in the next season of Drag Race. (Amazon Prime)
Magic for Humans: Season 3 – As all around us changes, it’s reassuring to know that Justin Willman is still doing tricks on the street. Well, Justin Willman and your mom. (Netflix) White Lines – The new series from Money Heist creator Álex Pina follows a British woman’s descent into the sordid party culture of Ibiza. Of course, to the British, “sordid” means doing it with your socks off. (Netflix)
PREMIERES MONDAY:
The Big Flower Fight – Contestants from America, the U.K., Denmark and Ireland compete to see who can create the best floral installation. Doesn’t sound tremendously exciting to us either, but one of the hosts is Natasia Demetriou of What We Do in the Shadows, so maybe the losers get eaten or something. (Netflix) Patton Oswalt: I Love Everything – In his first stand-up special in three years, the great Oswalt riffs on falling in love and everything else his fans said he wasn’t ready for after his wife died. Boy, nobody has your back like Twitter. (Netflix)
Stargirl – A sort-of-spinoff from the CW’s Arrowverse, with Brec Bassinger as the leader of a younger, multiracial, gender-bent reboot of the Justice Society of America. Mentor roles for the likes of Joel McHale and Luke Wilson might lessen the flaming on Reddit. Oh, who am I kidding? (DC Universe)
Sweet Magnolias – The novel series by Sherryl Woods is the source material for a drama series about three Southern besties. Come to think of it, can you have more than one bestie? (Netflix)
