EOLA Today

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Thornton Park this week: Nov 12–18

A cold snap, a NYE road closure on the books, and an easy date night and kids' morning close to Lake Eola.

By EOLA Today ·

Thornton Park gets a real taste of fall this week. Friday night turns cold and Saturday barely cracks the low 60s, so plan for cozy rooms, warm food and a jacket you probably forgot you owned.

What's new

Thinking ahead to New Year's Eve already? The City of Orlando has posted a road closure for the Thornton Park New Year's Eve Celebration on Thursday, Dec 31. The closure runs from 2 p.m. that afternoon until 3 a.m. on Jan 1, with Orlando Police on site to help with traffic.

If you live on or near the route, expect temporary no-parking notices. The city says closure times can shift, so check its page before you plan to move the car.

Date night

Friday or Saturday is the move this week: the evenings drop into the 50s, which is a good excuse to stay close and stay inside.

  • **Dinner at Osteria Ester.** Handmade pasta on a chilly night is hard to argue with, and it's built for a date.

  • **Drinks at Aku Aku Tiki Bar.** Tiki cocktails are a fun bit of warm-weather denial when it's 55 outside, and it stays open late.

  • **Then The Abbey.** The modern-gothic room on Eola Drive does concerts, comedy, cabaret and late-night DJ dance parties, so see what's on the bill and pick your speed.

Prefer something quieter after dinner? Kaleidoscope Thornton Park pairs cocktails with board games, a solid low-key alternative.

With the kids

Sunday warms back into the low 70s and Monday is clear, either one a better bet for a park morning than chilly Saturday.

  • **Langford Park.** A playground, sports courts and picnic space, so everyone from toddlers to big kids has something to do.

  • **Benjamin French Bakery & Café.** Crepes and French bakery treats make a good refuel, plus coffee for the grownups.

  • **Bonus stroll at Dickson Azalea Park.** Trails and a picnic area if the kids still have energy to burn.

Plan ahead

Next weekend is the last one before Thanksgiving, prime time for Friendsgivings and big group dinners. If you're wrangling a crowd at June or The Stubborn Mule, book this week.

And the night before Thanksgiving, Wednesday the 25th, is one of the busiest bar nights of the year, with everyone back in town. Pick your reunion spot early, whether that's a pool table at Burton's Thornton Park or live music at The Falcon Bar & Gallery.

One more heads-up: this Wednesday, Nov 18, has a chance of rain all day, so keep an umbrella handy if you're walking to dinner.

Sources

Places in this story