First things first, decide on a budget. Figure out how much you intend to spend
and stick to it. We would all love to splurge and buy our valentine a pricey gift but bear
in mind, a gift is rarely valued as much as an experience.

Everyone loves to be ‘wined and dined’ especially on a day dedicated to love.
Instead of spending a fortune at a restaurant, cook a memorable dinner. Buy gourmet
ingredients you wouldn’t normally cook with. Every restaurant on Valentines Day
is packed, loud and the service is usually awful. Skip it and treat your valentine to a
romantic night in. If a certain restaurant has special meaning or significance see if they
have a carry out menu so you can still enjoy the night away from the madness.

If you ‘forgot’ how to cook, don’t worry. Check out the prepared foods section at
Publix near the meat department. Here you can find steak pinwheels with fresh spinach
and mozzarella, bacon wrapped chicken cordon bleu, marinated steak kabobs and so
much more. All of the Publix pre-made items come with instructions so if you burn it
make sure you have Papa Johns on speed dial and order a heart shaped pizza.

Ignore the typical box of chocolates calling your name. In an article titled “From
fancy salt to gourmet trucks, an appetizing look at 2012,” USA Today named artisan
chocolate one of the top food trends for 2012. Look for smaller bars that feature unique
flavors and have a higher percentage of cocoa. One bar may cost the same as a common
supersized bag, but your valentine will not complain about its size when he or she tries it.

Sweet! By Good Golly Miss Holly, a bakery with specialty cupcakes located
in Waterford Lakes Town Center, is offering a special Valentines Day collection
of cupcakes. Each cupcake is embellished with a handmade custom chocolate to
compliment each flavor of the collection. The Valentines Day collection is offered at $18
for one dozen mini cupcakes.

Try and explore other areas around Orlando. Harry P. Leu Gardens will be
hosting a Valentine’s Movie Night featuring “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” Admission is only $5
per person and you can bring your own picnic basket and blankets. The Garden will open
at 6 p.m. and the movie will start at 7:30 p.m. During the day admission is $7 and you
can explore 50-acre oasis in the middle of Orlando. Go to www.leugardens.org for more
information.

Park Avenue in Winter Park features one of the most enjoyable walks in Orlando.
Stroll the brick, tree-lined street surrounded by shops and restaurants. Most of the
restaurants will be at capacity but there’s always Starbucks and a vintage candy store.

Make sure to check out the rose garden next to the six-acre park, a frequent wedding
ceremony location due to its charm.

If you’re too busy applauding the fact that you don’t have to worry about anything
above, you should plan a night out. Regardless of relationship status, it’s still a holiday.
You can sit around, watch Christian Slater movies, play video games and pretend you
don’t know what day it is or you can enjoy yourself. Get a group together, split a cab, and
go downtown where you’ll find other people doing the exact same thing.

Remember to buy a card, or make one yourself. Flowers die, chocolate will
mysteriously disappear but a card will always be there to remind your valentine how
much you care. Don’t let you friends feel forgotten, there’s nothing wrong with buying
juvenile valentines for your friends. If all else fails think thoughtfully, speak kindly and
enjoy the people around you.

By: Sophie Grace

The offer is valid on January 23rd only. For coupon click here

According the Jimmy Hula’s website, the restaurant serves original fish tacos, burgers and beer. It’s a silverware-free place and you order at the counter. The new location will be similar to their Winter Park store, with a large outdoor eating area.

Zach Hartman, a manager at Jimmy Hulas, stated by phone “that the store is slated to open mid-February, if everything goes as plans.” He went on to say they “will be holding a large grand opening event to invite UCF students out after opening.”

The "for lease" sign was added after the "reopening soon" sign.

The recent addition of the “for lease” sign, however, raises big questions as to whether El Corral will in fact be opening soon.

KnightNews.com did a check of health inspection records of El Corral, and records show El Corral “met inspection standards” on Sept. 9, 2011 for health code. KnightNews.com is working to find out if the restaurant had any past violations.

KnightNews.com will also work to contact the El Corral managers to find out exactly what the future plans are for UCF’s favorite chicken joint, known for its famous white sauce and low prices.

Last year, KnightNews.com’s Entertainment Unit shot a music video at El Corral to highlight its popularity with students and employees working in the UCF area. You can check that video out below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O85QFEsEyww

Jewish New Year — High Holiday Services
The Doors of Heaven are Open to All … So are Ours!

Orlando September 26, 2011

On Wednesday evening, September 28, 2011 the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah will commence and continue through Friday night, September 30, 2011. The Chabad Jewish Student Center will host a full High Holiday Services and meals schedule. “Our services will be warm, friendly and traditional,” according to Rabbi Chaim Lipskier, the director of the center. Organizers are expecting over 200 students to attend the first night’s service and dinner and plan to host well over 1,000 throughout the holiday. The services will take place at the center; 600 Oak Circle, Oviedo, FL 32765

There are no fees or membership to join. All are welcome, free of charge, regardless of background or affiliation. “Despite the present economic crisis, the Chabad Jewish Student Center continues to stand by its philosophy that every Jew deserves a meaningful service, regardless of his or her financial wherewithal”, explained Rabbi Chaim Lipskier.” Everyone is invited for services and meals, free of charge. The services will be user-friendly, making it enjoyable and meaningful for both the seasoned and the unversed. The services will be in Hebrew and follow traditional customs interspersed with modern Jewish tunes and English readings.

“We are expecting and preparing for hundreds of people. We want everyone to know that the difficult financial situation has not slowed the efforts of the Chabad Student Center,” said Ari Tow, president of the Chabad Jewish Student Group at UCF. “According to Tradition, at the New Year the Doors of Heaven are open and G-d accepts all prayers, from anyone. The least we can do is open our doors as well, to the entire community,” added Rivkie Lipskier, co-director.

Services will be held on Rosh Hashanah – the Jewish New Year (September 28-
30), as well as Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement (October 7-8). They will be held at various times at the Center, 600 Oak Cir, Oviedo, FL, 32765. For a full schedule of services times, please contact the center at 407.949.8838 or visit our web Site www.JewishUCF.com

The Center is a branch of the Chabad movement, an international Chassidic organization under the leadership of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of righteous memory. With over 3500 centers and establishments around the globe, it is by far the largest network of Jewish religious and social services in the world.

For further information on the above events, or if you have any questions related to the Jewish High Holidays, please contact Rabbi Chaim Lipskier at 407.949.8838 or at Rabbi@JewishUCF.com

Different fraternities sent delegates to compete in this hour-long eating contest where contestant must eat a five-pound meal consisting of two one-pound burger patties and a pound of pulled pork, stacked on a bun with nine slices of cheese and nine slices of bacon, all on a tray with one pound of frech fries.

With around a dozen contestants, only one emerged victorious int he contest. Lee Smith, a brother of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, was crowned the first “Fratty Fatty” of 2011, having eating the entire meal in approximately 40 minutes. Lee was also the winner of several eating contests in 2010, including Fubar’s “Fubarger Challenge,” as well as El Corral’s “Empanada Eating Contest.”

The event was set to raise money for Freedom Ride Orlando, a therapeutic horseback riding center. There was a bucket representing each contestant, and money was thrown into each in order to support fellow fraternity brothers.

With more than 100 in attendance, IFC President Adam Brock says he is excited to see the event grow even bigger in years to come.

From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., IHOP customers will receive a short stack of three pancakes for free.

IHOP’s goal is to raise $2.3 million to donate to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities, much like UCF’s Knight-Thon. They claimed to have raised more than $5.65 million since it started its National Pancake Day promotion in 2006.

Be sure to set aside plenty of time if plan to take advantage of the free pancakes, though. KnightNews.com has received numerous tips that the restaurant is extremely crowded, and that there are long waits to be seated.

For more information, check out IHOP’s National Pancake Day website.

Related Story: Buy-One / Get-One at Chipotle Coupon

The Daily Beast website asked independent data collector AggData to compile a list of cities that could be considered “The Fast-food Capital of America.” And surprisingly, the theme park capital of the world is the front runner.

Sponsored Link (Story Continues Below)

The data shows that there are 463 fast food restaurants in Orlando, meaning there’s a total of 196.3 fast-food joints per 100,000 residents, the most of any city qualified for the list. The list takes into account the 30 largest fast-food chains, and only cities with 200,000 or more residents.

Louisville, Richmond and Miami were the next on the list.

Founded by Romi Mawardi, the owner of Scoop and Deko, this will not be an ordinary burger stop. He said he wants to it be a more unique place for students, especially after-hours, since it will be open from 11am until 4am each day.

Here’s how it will work.

Step 1: Pick your bread – you will be able to choose from many types of bread, including a dusted kaiser roll, sourdough, pesto, challah, onion, potato and a wheat bun.

Step 2: Pick your protein — you will be able to choose from different types of meat, including Angus beef, Kobe beef, a 6 oz.tuna fillet, a chicken breast, a veggie sandwich or an everything burger (meatloaf style mix of meats, Mediterranean style) or even a hot dog (served on potato roll).

Step 3: Pick your cheese — You will be able to choose from American, cheddar, pepper jack, Swiss, provolone, blue cheese crumbles, muenster, smoked Gouda and Havarti.

Step 4: Pick your veggies — you will be able to choose from iceberg lettuce, tomato, red onions, sautéed onions, green peppers, mushrooms, pickles, back olives, jalapenos and grilled tomato.

Step 5: Pick your extras (starting at $.50 each) — choose from add-ons of bacon, egg, avocado, fries, onion rings, chili, pepperoni or a double patty of the meat you’ve chosen.

Step 6: Pick your sauces — choosing from chipotle mayo, horseradish, A1, ketchup, honey mustard, honey BBQ and ranch.

Step 7: Pick your side — you will have the option of adding on fresh, homemade sweet potato fries or regular fries fries, fresh cut potato chips, onion rings, side salad, cole slaw, chili or baked beans.

Step 8: Pick your beverage — you can choose from a fountain soda (they will have Pepsi products) or a beer on tap.

Mawardi estimates that a regular burger, fries and a drink will cost less than $6, making it competitive with other late-night restaurants in the shopping center.

With full, cooked-to-order, never frozen meals ranging from $5 – $10, this new late-night burger place is expected to be a hit amongst college students and the surrounding community — not to mention, they will serve $1 drafts all day, every day.

Every Wednesday this month, 10% of all proceeds at Mix Frozen yogurt will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network. Mix will also be hosting a Halloween Party on Sunday Oct 31st from 12pm-4pm, and 20% of the proceeds will go towards the cause.

The party will include Halloween-themed festivities such as face-painting, as well as a special appearance from Mix’s mascot, Yo-man.

Mix Frozen Yogurt opened in April, and is eager to get involved in the UCF area. “We like to give back- we want to be a positive force in the community. It’s not just about selling yogurt.” Ricky Ly said, marketing director of Mix.

Knight-Thon student director, Christina Vicari, says that Knight Thon jumped at the opportunity to partner with Mix when Ly contacted the organization and offered to host the fundraiser.

“It’s a really great way to combine grabbing some FroYo with your friends and raising money for the kids.” Vicari said.

Children’s Miracle Network raises funds and awareness for children’s hospital throughout North America. According to their website, Children’s Miracle Network saves approximately 17 million lives per year through charitable care to children of various ages and backgrounds. This is made possible due to donations by organizations such as Knight Thon.

Knight Thon’s primary fundraiser is their annual 15 hour dancing marathon, also benefiting Children’s Miracle Network. Up until the marathon, which is scheduled for this upcoming February, Knight Thon will continue to raise funds by partnering with businesses like Mix.

“We are hoping to continue on the growing path and raise $80,000 for the kids. Two years ago we jumped from $20,000 to $52,000 and last year we raised $65,000.” Vicari said. “I know we can continue on this path.”

Come out to Mix Frozen Yogurt this Wednesday, located on the corner of Alafaya Trail and Colonial Drive, to support Knight Thon and Children’s Miracle network.