Cobalt is another option in Vero Beach for dinner before the theater or after a matinee. / FOR FLORIDA TODAY
Getting there
Orlando
The plans of attack to get to Orlando’s professional theaters starts out the same: Get on State Road 528 and head west. To save a lot of time, get an Orlando-Orange County Expressway E-Pass (call 407-823-7277 or visit oocea.com). Take SR 417 north and then SR 408 west to Orlando.
• For the Bob Carr, from SR 417, head east on Interstate 4, then get off at Exit 83A toward Amelia. You can either drive straight ahead and take a circuitous route to a parking lot, or turn left at the light onto North Hughey Avenue, then right at Livington. That leads to a big open-door parking area with varying costs as high as $10. But if you’re heading to a show that is very popular (read: “Wicked”), you may want to spring for $20 to get valet parking at the Sheraton Orlando Downtown, immediately across the street from the Bob Carr. If you pony up $30, you’ll get VIP valet, which means you get to the front of the line to retrieve your car.
• For the Orlando Shakespeare Festival, from SR 417, head east on I-4 and take the Princeton Avenue exit. Turn right and get into the left lane. About a block past the railroad tracks, you’ll see the sign for the theater, which is next to the Orlando Science Center and the Orlando Museum of Art. Parking there is free.
• For the Mad Cow Theatre,
take the Roselyn Street exit, but do not turn onto Roselyn Street. Instead, drive straight ahead. When you pass Orange Avenue, use the second parking garage on your right. The cost is as high as $10. That garage will lead you directly to the elevator alcove leading to the theater, which is on the second floor. Of course, you can always try to find cheaper parking, but Mad Cow is at busy Church Street, so your chances are slim unless you’re heading to a Sunday matinee.
Vero Beach
To get to Riverside Theatre, get on SR A1A and head south to Vero Beach. Turn right on Beachland Boulevard, then left at Riverside Theatre, which is in the same cultural park as the Vero Beach Museum of Art. Easy, free parking is right there, across the street from the theater.
More
Professional theater lurks just beyond the edges of Brevard. It’s fun to see and easy to get to.
Moreover, if you plan ahead, you can try out different restaurants and maybe kick off your shoes and make a weekend of it.
Orlando
The three big boys on Orlando’s professional theater block are:
• Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, home (for now) to the Orlando Broadway Series, 401 W. Livingston St., Orlando. By fall, the new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will open in downtown Orlando and become home to the series. To reach the Orlando Broadway Series, visit orlando.broadway.com.
• Orlando Shakespeare Theater, which produces much more than Shakespeare, 812 E. Rollins St., Orlando; 407-447-1700; orlandoshakes.org.
• Mad Cow Theatre, where you can find some edgy contemporary plays, 54 W. Church St., Orlando; 407-297-8788; madcowtheatre.com.
Plan to arrive a few hours early, so you’ll have time to stop at one of Orlando’s many small restaurants within easy drive of the theaters.
The Ravenous Pig, 1234 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park, is one of Orlando’s most celebrated gastropubs. It is known for its refined attention to seasonal cuisine and local suppliers. Don’t expect to get into this restaurant unless you book well in advance, regardless of the day of the week. More information is available at 407-628-2333 or theravenouspig.com.
The Cask and Larder, 565 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, is quickly becoming another favorite haunt of locals. A sister restaurant to the Ravenous Pig, this spot calls itself a “Southern public house.” It makes its own beer and prides itself on its artisan cuisine of seasonal foods. It also has an oyster bar. Reservations are needed well in advance here, too, regardless of the day of week. Call 321-280-4200 or visit caskandlarder.com.
Dexter’s of Thornton Park and Dexter’s of Winter Park are favorite hangouts of locals. They have a good selection of wine, a casual ambiance and a full menu to satisfy every age and pcoketbook. You may not need reservations, but it’s always helpful. The Thornton park location is at 808 E. Washington St., Orlando, 407-648-2777; and the Winter Park location is at 558 W. New England Ave., 407-629-1150. Visit dexwine.com.
White Wolf Cafe, 1829 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, is great for those on a budget or on a vegetarian diet. This is the type of restaurant where you can grab a fast salad or linger over a larger meal. The ambiance is warm and welcoming and “antique-y,” as there are items for sale dotted throughout. If you get too full and have the time, you can wander around the nearby antique shops in Orlando’s “antique row.” Call 407-895-9922 or visit whitewolfcafe.com.
Take advantage of weekend packages and get information about events, hotels and restaurants at Orlando Arts Getaway project. Call 407-872-2382 or visit orlandoartsgetaways.com.
Vero Beach
The big city already making your head spin? Then, here’s the perfect answer for theater mavens who want their professional theater with no muss, no fuss.
It’s Riverside Theatre, 3250 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach. A drive to this Equity theater is about as easy as you can make it.
What’s more, you’re not going to find a more comfortable theater anywhere.
For dinner before the theater, or after a matinee, consider the nearby and swanky surroundings of Cobalt, a beautiful restaurant overlooking the Atlantic. Cobalt is in the Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, 3500 Ocean Drive. You can get an idea of the cuisine and costs at cobaltrestaurant.com.
If you decide to stay the night, you might find room outdoors at the gas-fueled fire pit, where you can wax about the production you saw at Riverside, sip a couple of cognacs and head up to your room (rates start at $251).
One of the all-time favorite Vero Beach restaurants is the Ocean Grill. Heavy on atmosphere, the lounge and restaurant overlook the Atlantic. It’s at 1050 Beachland Blvd. Call 772-231-5409 or visit ocean-grill.com.
Riverside Cafe is decidedly casual. In Riverside Park, it sits next to the causeway and is a delightful spot to watch boats sail by on the Indian River. It is at 3341 Bridge Plaza Drive, Vero Beach. Call 772-234-5550 or visit riversidecafe.com.
Contact Harbaugh at 321-242-3717, pharbaugh@floridatoday.com or twitter.com/pharb.