CitySurfing Orlando

On select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from now through June 3, the Orlando Science Center is taking Astronomy Day and stretching it into a month-long celebration during May 2012.

Throughout the building, demonstrations that examine gravity, what comets are made of and how space suits work will be taking place. It’s here you’ll find the Science On A Sphere exhibit, which connects guests of all ages to earth and space science through a dramatic visual presentation. Using a six-foot suspended sphere and state-of-the-art projection technology, explore our planet’s dynamic landscape and weather, tour the solar system and understand the complex relationship between our planet and its sister worlds. And be among the first to experience its newest program, Kinesthetic Astronomy, to learn about the four seasons and the rotation of the earth.

The aluminum-domed Crosby Observatory atop the Orlando Science Center will be open for SunWatch events during these select weekends. Peer through the powerful, 10-inch lens of one of the largest publicly-accessible refractor telescopes in Florida and safely gaze upon the closest star to our home planet.

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There seems to be a lot of businesses flocking to International Drive lately, and one of the latest is WhirlyDome, which will take over the old Sports Dominator building.

Inside will be two courts for playing WhirlyBall, a team-based hybrid of bumper cars, jai alai and basketball. There will be one on each floor. Also inside will be laser tag, arcade games, pool tables and a Formula One racing simulator by Evotek Engineering.

Those that work up an appetite on playing can slake their hunger and thirst at the Bloodhound Brew Pub & Eatery.

There are already venues operating in Chicago, Detroit, and Atlanta, but the company says this will be their first in such a tourist-heavy location. Sounds like fun for the whole family.

The WhirlyDome is located at 6464 International Drive, near Wet & Wild, and will be opening sometime this spring.

The venue will be holding a hiring event on April 2, 2012, from 11am to 6pm at the Ramada Plaza at 6500 International Drive. Positions available are bartenders, servers, hosts and hostesses, bussers, line cooks and dishwashers. For applications and more info, visit whirlydome.com.

If you have an interest in storm chasing, you might want to check out the new film that will be showing at the Orlando Science Center starting March 24, 2012.

Storm Chasers star Sean Casey and the researchers of VORTEX 2 have put together 45-minute film called Tornado Alley that looks to answer questions about these natural forces of destruction.

Our family blogger Carol Garreans attended one this week’s sneak previews with her husband and young son and shared her opinions of the film:

We were recently blessed with a sneak peek preview of the film “Tornado Alley” at the Orlando Science Center. We took our 4 yr old son to see it. He enjoyed it, but it did get slow at times for him and it was a bit long. I think the length is better suited to a bit older kids, but our son did manage to get through it.

Out of 5 stars, I would give this film about 2.5. My husband and I came away with the same opinion of this film. I apologize for being blunt, but this film seemed to be self serving on the directors (and main character in the film) part. There was minimal science in it and it was almost added as an after thought. The more I have thought about this film, the I feel that it was more about self promotion, and less about the research. The other research team in the film was portrayed as a “competing” team instead of fellow researchers. I was left with the impression that the main featured researcher and film maker was more concerned about getting “the shot”. And if that was his goal, he did accomplish it.

So there you go.

Admission to the film is included in general admission to the Orlando Science Center, which is $17 for adults/$12 for children. Add another $5 for the parking garage.

The Orlando Science center is located at 777 E. Princeton Street and you can call toll free at 888.OSC.4FUN for more info on this event or any other OSC event.

Their tagline is “it’s huge!” and local amusement park The Fun Spot is about to live up to that with plans to expand their original location at the north end of International Drive.

Among the additions planned are adding on to the already popular go-kart section, as well as installing several rollercoasters. The park says they will also be installing a SkyCoaster ride, which has proven to be very popular at the company’s second location in Kissimmee, next to Old Town.

An all-day pass currently costs around $35. Once the expansion is finished, reps for the Fun Spot say that price will go up, but It will still be cheaper than spending a day at one of the big three theme parks. The SkyCoaster will probably be priced as a separate ticket, just as it is at the Kissimmee location.

Have you ever spent the day at one of The Fun Spots? Do you feel it’s a good value for the price paid? Let us know in the comments.

If you’re in the Kissimmee area on Friday, October 14, head on over to Old Town on Hwy 192 for their Zombie Walk.

The event is to kick off the Halloween season at the popular tourist attraction, but you don’t have to just watch, you can also participate.

Just show up between 2 and 3pm on Friday, dressed in clothes that you don’t mind having ruined with make-up and fake blood, and professional make-up artist Tim Hays of MonsterFX will complete your transformation into one of the undead for free.

If you want to participate, RSVP to Rachel McIntee at rachel at myoldtownusa.com.

Otherwise, show up mid-afternoon and grab a viewing spot to watch the zombies shuffle on by. It’s all free.