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Harry P. Leu Gardens
1920 N. Forest Ave.
Orlando, FL 32803-1537
407-246-2620
Directions

1920 North Forest Avenue, Orlando, Florida USA 32803
407-246-2620

Special Events

August

Story Time at

Leu Gardens

Presented by ARNOLD PALMER HOSPITAL for Children

Monday, August 2

Orange County Library System's storytelling program makes sharing stories and songs with your little one so much fun. Enjoy this indoor event the first Monday of each month at 10:00 am, excluding holidays. The event and gardens are free.

10:00 am -10:15 am Infant Time (up to 18 months)

10:20 am -10:35 am Toddler Time (18 months to 2 year olds)

10:40 am - 11:00 am Preschool Time (3 to 5 year olds)

Date Night Movie

"Duplicity"

August 6

Movie begin at dusk.

Oscar® winner Julia Roberts and Clive Owen star as two sexy spies-turned-corporate operatives in the midst of a clandestine love affair. When they find themselves on either side of an all-out corporate war, they'll put everything on the line to remain one double-cross ahead in a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse. From writer/director Tony Gilroy (seven-time Oscar®-nominated Michael Clayton) comes the film critics are raving about. (2009, PG-13)

September

Due to a national holiday on Monday, September 6, Story Time will not be held or rescheduled for the month of September.

Date Night Movie

"That Old Feeling"

September 3

Moviebegin at dusk.

Molly De Mora (Paula Marshal) invites her divorced parents (Bette Midler and Dennis Farina) to her wedding reception, where they see each other for the first time in 14 years. A shouting match between the two ensues. Following this, their spark is rekindled during the wedding reception. Over the next few days they fall in love again and run off together, thereby upsetting the newlyweds' honeymoon and their respective (current) spouses. If the scandal was made public it would be more controversial than usual, since the bride's husband hopes to stand for election to Congress. (1997, PG-13)

October

DATE NIGHT AT LEU GARDENS

"SIGNS"

Friday, October 1

Gardens open at 6:00 pm Movie time at 8:30 pm

Weather Permitting

Enjoy an outdoor movie in a beautiful garden setting. Patrons may bring a blanket or chairs and dinner picnic basket. Garden Admission is $7.00 plus tax adult and $2.00 plus tax child; Garden Members receive free admission on all Date Nights. Admission is collected at the door.

Signs is a 2002 American science fiction thriller film written, produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan and starring Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin and Abigail Braslin.

The film begins with Graham Hess, a former priest who lost his faith after the death of his wife, finding a crop circle in his cornfield. As the film progresses, crop circles are discovered to be appearing all over the world as is other phenomenon such as lights in the sky. Graham slowly becomes convinced that the crop circles are the result of aliens and he and his family must prepare to survive the imminent invasion. Although the plot revolves around aliens and crop circles, producer Frank Marshall said, "It's really about human emotions set in motion by a supernatural event."

Story Time at Leu Gardens

Presented by ARNOLD PALMER HOSPITAL for Children

Monday, October 4

10:00 am - 10:15 am Infant Time (up to 18 months)

10:20 am - 10:35 am Toddler Time (18 months to 2 year olds)

10:40 am - 11:00 am Preschool Time (3 to 5 year olds)

October 15, gardens close at 4:00 pm, last admittance at 3:00 pm due to the Ghost Story Event

GHOST STORIES

Friday, Ooctober 15

7:30 - 9:30 pm

Harry P. Leu Gardens and Project Imagination present a haunting event for Central Floridians. Hear eerie stories of strange and mysterious encounters that will send shivers down your spine. Creaky gates open at 6:00 pm and the haunting stories will begin at 7:30 pm. Bring a blanket or chairs – this is an outdoor event, weather permitting. Hotdogs, sausages, drinks and “treats” available to purchase. Warning: due to the nature of the stories, this event is not recommended for young children. Tickets are purchased at the door: $10 adult, $5 member/child, 4 years and under are free.

October 23, gardens close at 3:00 pm, last admittance at 2:00 pm due to the Jazz'n Blues Stroll

JAZZ AND BLUES STROLL

Saturday, October 23

7:00 – 10:00 pm

Gardens will close at 3:00 pm

Garden House will open at 6:00 pm for Will Call.

Enjoy live blues and jazz under a starry sky inside Leu Gardens’ 50-acre botanic oasis located in the heart of Central Florida featuring the velvety sounds of the Nightly Blues Band, soulful voice of Selwyn Birchwood and Don Soledad Group. Each band will feature favorite songs as well as originals. Pack a dinner picnic basket full of your favorite foods/drinks and bring chairs or blanket for this outdoor event. Vendors selling coffee and pastry. Advance Tickets on sale Monday, October 11, 2010.

Advance Tickets: $17.00 plus tax General Admission, $13.00 plus tax Garden Member (members may purchase up to 4 tickets at member prices per membership) and $20.00 plus tax day of the stroll for members and nonmembers. Tickets are limited, nonrefundable and nontransferable to other garden activities. Purchase advance tickets at Leu Gardens’ Gift Shop every day from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm or by phone 407.246.2620 Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (last day to purchase tickets over the phone Friday, October 22 until 1:00 pm, if available) with a MasterCard^®, VISA^®, or American Express^®. No rain date.

Free offsite parking and shuttles are available at Blue Jacket Park off General Rees from 6:00 pm until 10:30 pm.

November

Story Time at Leu Gardens

Presented by ARNOLD PALMER HOSPITAL for Children

Monday, November 1

10:00 am - 10:15 am Infant Time (up to 18 months)

10:20 am - 10:35 am Toddler Time (18 months to 2 year olds)

10:40 am - 11:00 am Preschool Time (3 to 5 year olds)

Date Night at Leu Gardens

"The Blind Side"

Friday, November 5

Gardens open at 6:00 pm Movie time at 8:30 pm

Weather Permitting

"The Blind Side" is based on the true story of Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy who take in a homeless teenage African-American, Michael "Big Mike" Oher. Michael has no idea who is father is and his mother is a crack head. Michael has had little formal education and few skills to help him learn. Leigh Anne soon takes charge however, as is her nature, ensuring that the young man has every opportunity to succeed. When he expresses an interest in football, she goes all out to help him, including giving the coach a few ideas on how best to use Michael's skills. They not only provide him with a loving home, but hire a tutor to help him improve his grades to the point where he would qualify for an NCAA Division I athletic scholarship. Michael Oher was the first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 NFL draft.

Won an Oscar in 2010 for Sandra Bullock for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role," and nominated for "Best Picture of the Year."

Leu’s Holiday House

Dates: November 23, 2010 – January 3, 2011

10:00 am – 3:30 pm (Museum hours)

This holiday season visit the Leu House Museum. Each of 11 rooms in the home has its own theme from Hollywood Glamour to Monochromatic Elegance fused with amazing dioramas. Thirty minute tours are given on the hour and half-hour. The designers from Seminole State College of Florida Interior Design Students and Ron’s Miniature Shop & Museum dedicate their time and trimmings turning the home into a magical holiday showcase.

December

Holiday Movie at Leu Gardens

"The Holiday"

Friday, December 3

Gardens open at 6:00 pm Movie time 7:30 pm

Weather Permitting

Story Time at Leu Gardens

Presented by ARNOLD PALMER HOSPITAL for Children

Monday, December 6

10:00 am - 10:15 am Infant Time (up to 18 months)

10:20 am - 10:35 am Toddler Time (18 months to 2 year olds)

10:40 am - 11:00 am Preschool Time (3 to 5 year olds)

Family Holiday Movie at Leu

"Polar Express"

Friday, December 17

Gardens open at 6:00 pm Movie time 7:30 pm

Weather Permitting

Tackling the legendary question: Does Santa Claus really exist? - this timeless, adventure-filled odyssey to the North Pole chronicles one eight year-old boy's struggle with doubts and his miraculous discovery that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

Based on the popular children's book by Chris Van Allsburg, the lad's journey begins on Christmas Eve when he hears the sound of a train outside his front door. Rushing outside, he's invited aboard by The Conductor who has noted his seasonal cynicism. Along the perilous trek, he learns the importance of helping others in need, making friends and, above all, believing.

What's astonishing about this film is its technology. While it looks like animation, it's not. It's an updated version of an old technique: "motion capture." The characters were first filmed in live action with minimal props, then they were digitally recreated, giving the concept a photoreal aura. Eye-popping, high-tech feats are not unusual for Robert Zemeckis who blended 'toons with actors in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and digitally recreated history in "Forest Gump." Some of the wizardry includes dancing waiters serving hot cocoa to pint-sized passengers, the caribou crossing, the roller-coaster-like run through Glacier Gulch, the discovery of forsaken toys, the thousands of elves, the North Pole gift factory and the eventual launching of Santa's sleigh.

Tom Hanks plays five different parts: the hero boy, his father, the train conductor, the hobo and Santa Claus. Eddie Deezen, Peter Scolari, Nona Gaye and the late Michael Jeter did the other main roles.