As many of you already know, right off Magnolia Square in downtown Sanford you will find a very special grocery store and deli, in many ways just the way I know it from Germany… Every time I walk into Magnolia Square Market I feel a bit closer to home – and best of all, the bread, cheese and meat tastes as close to home as it can! This store truly has high quality products!

The Muesli rolls are amazing and I love the pretzel sticks (tip, bread freezes and thaws well, so don’t be afraid to buy in bulk). I typically also buy some slices of Leberkaes (tastes great with sunny side eggs on top, some mustard and a fresh pretzel!) and some of the amazing hams.

Magnolia Square Market even has Quark! For those of you who have never tried Quark, it comes very close to Greek Yogurt (which is obviously a total hype right now), just a bit thicker. Quark is also the ingredient for the typical German cheesecake  (favorite of mine – my dad used to bake it and it was always my first choice on birthdays).

Speaking of cake: the mini Black Forest Cake (Schwarzwaelder Kirschtorte) is delicious and makes a very special dessert to bring to a party. I have also tried the mini fruit tarts and the absolutely decadent chocolate covered truffles – a dream! Besides those items you can find some other mini pies and cream puffs and, very special, gluten free treats! In fact, the store offers a very good selection of gluten free products, from sweets to bread to packed goods like gluten free pasta.

I could go on and on about Magnolia Square Market and tell you about all the great products, but I think it’s best if you check it out yourself. If you know and like German products and food, this store is for you! Did I mention you can also buy beer and wine (not just the typical Riesling, no, Germany actually has some very good wines) here?

Magnolia Square Market also offers fresh sandwiches – just pick your favorite breads from the bakery and deli, et voila!

Ok, to keep it short, here a list of my personal MUST BUY items (trust me, if I wasn’t narrowing it down, there would be plenty more…):

• Bakery: Pretzel Sticks, Muesli Rolls and Whole Grain Bread
• Cooled Items: Quark
• Desserts: Truffles
• Grocery Items: Seitenbacher Muesli, Maggi and Knorr Sauce Mixes, Spaetzle, Potato Pancake-, Knoedel- , and Kaiserschmarrn Mix (OK, this is Austrian, but I still love it!), Zwieback
• Meat: Leberkaes and Leberwurst
• Sweets: Milka chocolate (picked up the one with strawberry yogurt filling last, OMG!) and Prinzenrolle (“Sandwich Cookies with Chocolate”)
• Last but not least: any beer because they all taste amazing

But here in their own words. What is Magnolia Square Market?

A True German Deli with Gluten Free, Bakery, Deli, Grocery items. Our Goal is to provide you our Guests with High Quality Food and Drink Products at a fair Price. Our Market has a full service Bakery and Delikatessen, Beer and Wine, Groceries specializing in German Products, Gluten Free Goods and Organics. Our Market is an extension of our restaurant Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Cafe which we have been operating for over 10 years.

Need I say more? If you are a fan of the Willow Tree Cafe, you will also love Magnolia Square Market! Thank you Theo for bringing it to Sanford!!

The Love Your Shorts Film Festival will return Feb. 10-12 for its second year, when the event will move into a larger venue, add an additional category of films, and show 70 short movies from filmmakers around Central Florida and the world.

The festival will be held in the historic downtown Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center. The three-day event will feature short films up to 30 minutes each in the 1923 theater.

Filmmakers from 15 countries submitted 220 movies for consideration in the festival, which will have seven different categories, plus an opening-night variety of films, and a Best of the Fest competition on closing night. Last year’s Best of the Fest winner won an Oscar two weeks later, so maybe this year’s Love Your Shorts winner will again provide a hint of what’s to come at the Academy Awards.

Movies will be shown in blocks of about 90 minutes each in animation, comedy, documentary, drama, sci-fi/horror, Florida Flavor, and the new E for Everyone category, which will offer films for young children. Ticket costs for the E for Everyone category are reduced so parents can bring kids and their friends.

In addition to the films from the United States, others to be shown are from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, India, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

Christina Grace-Beverly, festival media director, said filmmakers from as far as California and New York have already committed to attend.

Several local filmmakers were chosen for the nonprofit event, including two returning from last year with new works: Charles Frisby of Sanford, with a tale of a private investigator that accepts a late-night case, and Carl Knickerbocker of Oviedo, with an art/puppet film.

Two films by University of Central Florida students and another by a Seminole County 3rd grader also will be shown.

A Q&A forum featuring some of the attending filmmakers will be presented during the festival. Some of the downtown restaurants, bars and shops will offer festival specials, and food trucks will be on hand the final day.

The schedule, tickets and descriptions of the movies are available on the LoveYourShorts.com website. The Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center is at 201 S. Magnolia Ave.

Come out and join the party on Thursday, February 9th for downtown Sanford’s Pardi Gras Alive After 5! With food and beverage samples, live music, local art and community businesses, it’s the perfect excuse to go out on a Thursday and enjoy our take on the Mardi Gras holiday. This wonderful event is every second Thursday of the month from 5-8pm in Sanford.

For further questions, info, and vendor information contact The Historic Sanford Welcome Center at 407.302.2586, info@sanfordwelcomecenter.com, or visit us at 230 East First Street in Downtown Sanford.

The American Lung Association presents their 8th annual auto show in Lake Mary/Heathrow on February 4 from 10am to 4pm at Colonial Town Park on State Road 46A.

The Cars for the Cure show is free, proceeds from sponsors and registrants benefit the lung association. 20,000 visitors expected.

More info at www.CarsForTheCure.com

Come ring in the New Year in downtown Sanford on January 27th with our Sanford Art Walk! On the fourth Friday of each month beginning at 6:00pm and lasting till 9:00pm, downtown Sanford hosts the Sanford Art Walk, a gallery tour around town. Come join us as we feature Central Florida artists in a gallery setting. Mingle with the artists as you enjoy live music, food and lots of ART! The event is open to the public and admission is free.

In conjunction with the Sanford Art Walk, The Sanford Welcome Center will be hosting our “Black and White Forever” art show from 6-9pm. Come and enjoy every possible combination of artwork in black and white, white or black, or even shades of grey. It is sure to get you ready for a new year of new art!

If you would like to submit your artwork or if you have any additional questions, contact us at 407.302.2586 or go to our website www.sanfordwelcomecenter.com.

Ho Ho Ho! Come join the holiday festivities in downtown Sanford on December 23rd with our holiday Art Walk! On the fourth Friday of each month beginning at 6:00pm and lasting till 9:00pm, downtown Sanford hosts the Sanford Art Walk, a gallery tour around town. Come join us as we feature Central Florida artists in a gallery setting. Mingle with the artists as you enjoy live music, food and lots of ART! The event is open to the public and admission is free.

In conjunction with the Sanford Art Walk, The Sanford Welcome Center will be hosting our December 23rd “Calling All Holidays” art show from 6-9pm. Come get in the Holiday spirit as you feast your eyes upon some festive holiday artwork! Purchase some wonderful holiday art for those last minute gifts! Or just come to relax and enjoy yourself!

For more info you can contact us at 407.302.2586 or go to our website www.sanfordwelcomecenter.com

Ladies Night Out in Sanford! Trade your unwanted bags, scarves, hats, jewelry and anything that dolls you up. Relax, mingle and enjoy appetizers and pamper stations. The swap will take place after we give away door prizes. Bring your friends and enjoy yourself.

Where: Sanford Wine Company, an amazing night spot in the Historic Sanford District.

This is a free event.

Candlelight Tour of Homes, Friday, December 2. 6:00 – 9:30 pm

Tour homes beautifully decorated for the holidays on the candlelit streets of Sanford’s Mayfair neighborhood. Enjoy trolley rides, Carolers in period costumes, smooth saxophone, and food samples from local restaurants.

Ticket booth: 8th Street and Elliott Avenue, Mayfair. $25.00

More details at: www.SanfordHistoricTrust.org

Day Tour of Homes, Sat.Dec.3. 11 am-4 pm

Visit charming homes and historic buildings. Refreshments offered at several stops. Gather tree decorating ideas at the Woman’s Club of Sanford “Festival of Trees” show and silent auction.

Ticket booth and Festival of Trees at Woman’s Club of Sanford 309 Oak Ave. $15.00

The theme this month is “Wild Planet” and all about animals – be it animals from your backyard or all around the world. There will also be a book signing by Judy Martin, a local author and artist. Her book “Eyes on the Endangered” features pictures of the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford. Her book is all about endangered animals around the world.

Come out on November 25th at 6pm in downtown Sanford and enjoy great art while having a good time.

Click here for more info about this event.

From the event organizer:

It’s that time again! The Sanford Welcome Center will be posting the “Wild Planet” art show in conjunction with the Sanford Art Walk on November 25th. This event will include a book signing with Judy Martin, a local author and artist that has produced Eyes on the Endangered, a book that draws attention to endangered animals around the world. The book features photographs and support from the Central Florida Zoo.

Come join the fun on the fourth Friday of each month beginning at 6:00pm, as we feature Central Florida  artists in a gallery setting. Mingle with the artists as you enjoy live music, food and lots of ART! The event is open to the public and admission is free.

If you would like to submit your artwork to this event, all the usual rules, regulations and deadlines apply this month, and are available at http://www.sanfordwelcomecenter.com. Please take note that the application deadline is Tuesday, November 15th.

Free workshop: Make large illuminated outdoor holiday lights

Presented by The Sanford Historic Trust

Learn to make the large illuminated lights seen hanging in the trees of Sanford’s Historic District during the 2010 Holiday season.

Saturday, November 19th, 12-4:00pm at the Sanford Welcome Center courtyard at 230 E. Main Street.

Bring your own materials or purchase materials at workshop (supplies limited!).

Materials needed for each lighted ball:

• 36″X36″ chicken wire. Available at Ace Hardware
• 2 strands of mini-lights – 100 bulbs ea.
• work gloves