Local Beermeister Hopes His Orange Blossom Pilsner Honey Beer Creates a Buzz at DeLand’s February Beer fest

ORLANDO – Tom Moench, founder of Orlando-based Orange Blossom Pilsner, is one of more than 30 craft brewers who will be featured next month at the 2nd annual DeLand Craft Beer Festival.

The event, scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, will be held in the Artisan Alley at 118 W. New York Ave. in downtown DeLand.

Moench – a client member of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubator Program – said he fell in love with his first beer when he was only 12 and started brewing in his family’s garage at the age of 18.

After years of studying books on brewing, visiting breweries, and tasting lots of beer, Moench began experimenting with everything from ginseng and shitake mushrooms to coconut and fresh fruit. But, it was the 2.3 teaspoons of fermented orange blossom honey that seemed to give every bottle of his Orange Blossom Pilsner exactly what he had been searching for: a clean, crisp, yet complex, flavor.

The flavor combination has been a huge hit as Orange Blossom Pilsner currently is on tap at 50 locations in Central Florida and is available in bottles at more than 600 locations throughout the state, including many Publix supermarkets and ABC Liquors. It’s also the number one selling beer at the Mellow Mushroom.

In addition to his OBP beer, Moench also will be pouring two other samples at the DeLand festival: OBP2, which has the same ingredients as OBP but with half the water; and Toasted Coconut Porter, which Moench calls the “little brother” to stout beer.

Tickets for the festival – which are available from the DeLand Beacon, daVinci Cafe, The Abbey Wine and Beer Bar and the Mainstreet DeLand office – are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. For details, call 386-738-0649.
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About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including nearly 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and will be adding Volusia County. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

For more information about this release, please contact: Tom Moench, Owner, Orange Blossom Pilsner, Tom@OrangeBlossomPilsner.com; Melissa Wasserman, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubator-Orlando, 321-281-8384, mwasserm@mail.ucf.edu; Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 386-532-8862 or 407-644-4142; chagervandyke@yahoo.com

Downtown Orlando Penthouse, 20,000 Square Foot Events Center at The Plaza North Tower is open for a variety of occasions

ORLANDO - The Downtown Orlando Penthouse Events Center, a 20,000 square foot meeting facility located on the 16th floor of The Plaza’s North Tower building at the corner of Orange and Church Streets is now open and available for a variety of large and small private events and will accommodate up to 250 guests.

Sarah Woodbery, coordinator of the Downtown Orlando Penthouse Events Center, said a 10,000 square foot sky terrace/outdoor patio with a bar and a putting green is included, and serves as an excellent and exclusive venue for weddings, receptions, private holiday parties, networking and fundraising events.

The center includes an executive boardroom with conference table that seats 20, with full food and beverage service available.

“The Downtown Orlando Penthouse Events Center offers a well-appointed facility for both formal events and business meetings, with garage parking and excellent services,” Woodbery explained.

Since opening the Downtown Orlando Penthouse Events Center dozens of events have taken place, including the Florida Music Festival and the Florida Film Festival.

For a video tour of the Downtown Orlando Penthouse Events Center, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXrCxfzo3Qo.
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For more information, contact: Roger Soderstrom, Founder/Owner Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-581-7890; Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Lennar to Host “From The Vine Goes The Grape” Festival at Heritage Hills Feb. 27 in Clermont

ORLANDO - Lennar will host “From the Vine Goes the Grape” Festival from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 at Heritage Hills in Clermont, located on Heritage Hills Blvd. off Hancock Road south of S.R. 50.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said the Mediterranean-themed festival will feature foods, with entertainment and the public is invited.

Admission to “From the Vine Goes the Grape” is free, Metheny said.

Heritage Hills, Welcome Home Center, is located at 3195 Heritage Hills Blvd, Clermont, Florida, 34711. For more information about the “From the Vine Goes the Grape” festival call 888-216-1988 or 888-317-7489.
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For more information, contact: David Parker, Director of Sales & Marketing Lennar-Orlando Region, 888-317-7489; Jassy Friddle, Marketing Manager Lennar-Central Florida, 888-317-7489; Mark Metheny, Lennar Division President-Central Florida, 727-479-1700

Lennar to Host La Tamborrada Spanish Musical Festival at Heritage Hills in Clermont

CLERMONT, Fla. --- Lennar’s Central Florida Division will host the La Tamborrada Spanish musical festival on Jan. 30 in the new community clubhouse at Heritage Hills, the active adult community located in Clermont off Hartwood-Marsh Rd. at Hancock Rd. south of S.R. 50 in Clermont.

David Parker, director of sales and marketing Lennar’s Central Florida Division in the Orlando area, said the La Tamborrada Festival is major international cultural event every year in San Sebastian, Spain, that includes music, dancing, and Spanish foods.

“La Tamborrada is an historic Latin music festival with a tremendous musical theme that centers on drums,” Parker explained. “We are hosting a Latin orchestra and many Spanish delicacies to enjoy,” he said.

Admission to the La Tamborrada festival is free, Parker said. La Tamborrada will be held from Noon to 3 p.m. in the ballroom at the new Heritage Hills community clubhouse, an 18,900 square foot facility that includes a swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, fitness center, billiards room, aerobics studio, bocce ball courts, a vineyard and olive grove park, fitness walking trails, bike trails, golf simulator and social director.

“We like to invite everyone in the Orlando region to come tour the Heritage Hills clubhouse and enjoy the music, dancing, and foods,” Parker said.

Many new homes at Heritage Hills are eligible for $8,000 and $6,500 U.S. tax credit incentives for new homebuyers and qualified existing homeowners, Parker added.
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For more information contact:
David Parker, Director of Sales & Marketing Lennar-Orlando Region, 888-317-7489
Jassy Friddle, Marketing Manager Lennar-Central Florida, 888-317-7489
Mark Metheny, Lennar Division President-Central Florida, 727-479-1700

Lennar to Host Family Pumpkin Festival at Bella Terra in Estero and Stoneybrook at Venice with Pony Rides, Pumpkins, Refreshments

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Lennar’s Southwest Florida division will host a holiday Pumpkin Festival for the whole family from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 17 at Bella Terra in Estero and at Stoneybrook at Venice.

Matt Devereaux, director of sales for Lennar’s Southwest Florida Division, said the events will feature pony rides, face painting, $3 Halloween pumpkin sales, and plenty of food and refreshments---including Halloween candy---for the whole family.

Bella Terra is located off Corkscrew Rd. east of I-75 in Estero three miles east of the Miromar Outlet Mall.

Stoneybrook at Venice is located on N. River Rd. west of I-75 Exit 191.

The Pumpkin Festival is free, Devereaux said, and the public is invited.

For more information, contact:
Matt Devereaux, Director of Sales, Lennar-Southwest Florida 239-278-1177
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Avalon Park Seeks Sponsors for July 4 Community Festival with Night-Time Fireworks Exhibition

Avalon Park Seeks Sponsors for July 4 Community Festival with Night-Time Fireworks Exhibition

ORLANDO, Fla. - Avalon Park in east Orlando is seeking sponsors for a community festival and fireworks exhibition that is expected to draw upwards of 20,000 people to Avalon Park on July 4.

Stephanie Hodson, marketing coordinator at Avalon Park Group, said the community festival, scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday July 3, will host a wide variety of events and entertainment, including a hot dog eating contest, an apple pie bake-off and live music.

For more information contact:
Stephanie Hodson, Marketing Coordinator, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565Beat Kahli, Owner/Founder, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142