10. Improv Comedy Club and Dinner Theatre
Local and national comedians perform at Improv Comedy Club and Dinner Theatre, located at Pointe Orlando. The theater has seating for 325 at four-top tables. There is also a 500-square-foot room for private events located just off the lobby.
PhPhoto: Courtesy of Improv Comedy Club and Dinner Theatre
4. Fogo de Chao
Located on International Drive just blocks from the Orange County Convention Center, Fogo de Chão will open in March. The 12,000-square-foot Brazilian steakhouse will seat 400 guests and will include five private dining rooms to accommodate parties of up to 150. The patio lounge can be combined with one of the private dining rooms for an indoor/outdoor function space.
Rendering: Courtesy of Fogo de Chao
5. The Pub Orlando
Also on International Drive, Tavern Restaurant Group will open The Pub Orlando at Pointe Orlando in February. The 8,000-square-foot restaurant will serve pub fare and have a bar where guests can pour their own draughts and pay by the ounce. The venue will have patio seating and several semiprivate areas.
Rendering: Courtesy of Pub Orlando
7. Splitsville
Downtown Disney will get a new upscale bowling and entertainment complex in August. Splitsville takes over the former Virgin Records space. It will combine bowling, billiards, dining, music, and nightlife in a 45,000-square-foot, two-story complex. The venue will have sushi bars, outdoor seating, and multiple cocktail bars. Sections will be available for buyout.
Rendering: Courtesy of Splitsville
An 8- by 64-foot runway filled the center of the ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando.
Photo: Nielsens Photography & Design
TV personality Mario Lopez hosted the runway show.
Photo: Nielsens Photography & Design
Orlando native and The Voice contestant Ashley de la Rosa escorted one of the young cancer patients down the runway.
Photo: Nielsens Photography & Design
The fashion show included 68 pediatric cancer patients, ages two to 20. Neiman Marcus provided clothes for the girls, while The Gap outfitted the boys.
Photo: Nielsens Photography & Design
Sponsor SeaWorld Orlando brought a mermaid to greet guests in the foyer. The park also brought some of its penguins, stingrays, and small mammals to entertain attendees.
Photo: Nielsens Photography & Design
The silent auction included more than 150 items, including sports memorabilia, jewelry, and vacation packages.
Photo: Nielsens Photography & Design
The first course consisted of a tin of smoked salmon rillettes, Tellicherry peppercorns, candied Maui onions, pickled beet juice, and cucumber relish with liquorice. It was served with a salad of Belgian endive and cocoa beans atop toasted bread.
Photo: Nielsens Photography & Design
The Orlando Premier Collection displayed two luxury vehicles at the V.I.P. reception, an event for sponsors that contributed at least $1,000 to the fund-raiser.
Photo: Nielsens Photography & Design
For the V.I.P. reception, the hotel's catering department recreated the Runway to Hope logo out of styrofoam and covered it with royal blue icing. The shoe, measuring six feet long and more than four feet high, held a basket of blueberry macaroons.
Photo: Nielsens Photography & Design
For the V.I.P. reception, the Waldorf Astoria Orlando prepared a seafood display with mussels, shrimp, clams, and crab.
Photo: Nielsens Photography & Design
