Suffering from Fringe Confusion? The Orlando Sentinel is here to help!

The Fringe Festival is one of my favorite times of year in Orlando. If you have yet to experience this incredible festival of HUNDREDS of performers and performances, with shows for all ages (including some very uncensored adult fare), it can be overwhelming. Trying to find all the reviews for all of the shows can also be a headache. 

The Festival closes this weekend, so if you're looking to get to some of the shows, this is the time to do it. And the Orlando Sentinel has made it a little easier to decide what to see in the seemingly endless list. They've reviewed every show and consolidated all the reviews in a nice, neat, easily-browsible format. 

So what are you waiting for? Go, read, decide, and buy tickets before it's too late. Some shows are already selling out, so now is the time! 

Two BIG events this Friday -- which will you choose?

Two of the biggest Orlando theme parks have huge events to start off your Memorial Day Weekend. Will you attend one, the other, or both?

That was the scene on Spaceship Earth when Disney president George Kalogridis announced the first-ever Disney Parks all-nighter: "Guests can start Memorial Day Weekend with a 24-hour-marathon of memory-making as three Parks stay open all day and all night to celebrate the bi-coastal kick-off of a Monstrous Summer at Disney Parks."

In Florida, only the Magic Kingdom will be open for the full 24-hours (6am to 6am) to celebrate Monster Madness. Full details of what you will experience are listed on the Disney Parks site, but here are a few choice details: 

• Food and merchandise exclusive to the event
• Character meet and greets themed like a pajama party
• Dance parties at Cinderella's Castle

There are sure to be loads of other surprises, and park attendance is expected to be MASSIVE and last the whole 24 hours. 

Meanwhile, it's finally time for Sea World's long-awaited opening of Antarctica: Empire of the Penguins. 

This is the largest expansion in the park's history. There will be a new family ride, a massive new penguin colony exhibit, and loads more (including merchandise, of course). Some information on merchandise and new restaurants is already available at the Sea World Orlando website, so you can plan your exploration. Plus you can download a free song that was created especially for the new area of the park. 

So which will it be for your family? 

Get ready for a sweet weekend Celebration

Get your sweet tooth ready. It's time for the 12th annual Great American Pie Festival!

More than 30,000 pie lovers are expected to attend this weekend's event, which is held in Lakeside Park in Celebration, Florida. Tickets are a mere $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and children between the ages of six and 12 (plus another $10 for kids who want to enjoy bouncy castles, arts and crafts, and more in the Children's Area). And for that low price, you get to enjoy the Never-Ending Pie Buffet, featuring "award-winning pie, ice cream, toppings, cheeses and beverages."

This year's sponsors include Bakers Square Restaurants and Pies, Bonert's Slice of Pie, Legendary Baking, Kroger's Private Selection, Publix Super Markets, Inc., Village Inn, Winn-Dixie, Wick's Pies and Cabot Cheese. Dunkin Donuts, Smuckers, and Publix will also be on hand to supply coffee, toppings, and ice cream (among other delicious treats). There will be pies for sale, pies for sampling, pie decorating, baking demonstrations by chefs from all over the country, and of course a pie eating contest. 

The festival is held Saturday and Sunday, with tickets available at the event itself -- here are the details:

Saturday, April 27, 2013; 11am-7pm

Sunday, April 28, 2013; 12pm-5pm

Boardwalk Bakery reopens tomorrow, and it's bringing BACON!

Friday, April 26, 2013 brings the return of the Boardwalk Bakery to the Walt Disney World Boardwalk area. Opening time is bright and early at 6:30 am, and this is truly a sweet way to start any Disney day.

The new location is twice the size of the original, with dark wood and bright mosaics throughout. The combination adds both classic charm and colorful touches that make it right at home on a Disney boardwalk. 

The menu has been expanded as well, and includes hot breakfast items, salads, and lunch specials. But in a bakery, it's the sweet stuff that matters. Here's a list of just some of what you can expect:

•  chocolate croissants
•  cupcakes
•  cinnamon rolls
•  eclairs
•  cannoli
•  salted caramel ganache
•  peanut butter, banana, and candied bacon pie

And that last one? You don't even have to wait, if you're willing to put in the time in your own kitchen. The recipe is available at the official Disney Parks Blog now. 

Horror Fans, mark your calendars: Dates for HHN 23 announced!

It's official, according to the event's Facebook page -- this year, Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights celebrates 23 years with 27 fright-inducing nights:

September 20-21, 26-29
October 3-6, 10-13, 16-20, 23-27, Halloween Night
November 1-2

No other details have come out, but based on last year's schedule, tickets should start being available around mid-June, with full house details ready in August. And like every year, if you want to be there on a high capacity night -- like ANY Friday or Saturday in October and ESPECIALLY Halloween itself -- buy tickets EARLY. And spring for Express Pass on those nights (or, in my opinion, any night -- the time saving is amazing). Yes, it's a whole additional cost on top of the bound-to-be-pricey tickets, but on crowded nights it can literally mean the difference between seeing all the houses or only one house. 

And if you're a true horror aficionado and you're feeling flush (or are willing to start putting away your pennies now), the RIP tour option can't be beat. It's VERY expensive -- last year, a private tour for 10 was a total cost of $1800 PLUS the actual admission ticket -- but the perks were pretty good:  RIP Lounge with cash bar (and complimentary coffee and bottle water after the tour), Priority front of the line access at the haunted houses, Priority seating at Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure, VIP access to select park attractions, Complimentary valet parking. And the RIP guides always know where the best bathrooms are, without the massive lines. No details on this year's RIP options yet; once we have them, we will post them.

Celebrate Animal Kingdom's Anniversary with Limited Time Magic!

Next week, the next installment in Disney's Limited Time Magic will take place in celebration of Animal Kingdom's 15th Anniversary. From April 21st (Animal Kingdom's actual anniversary AND Earth Day) through the 28th, Disney guests are in for several treats.

There will be a week long character reunion, where several of the lesser-seen Disney characters will make an appearance in Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade in Animal Kingdom. If you've always wanted to see Lilo and Stitch or Koda and Kenai, this is your chance.

For those of you less inclined to parades, you can dig in to an absolutely delicious desserts - worm and dirt cupcakes, anyone? Or perhaps you'd prefer the more sophisticated worm and dirt tart? Whichever treat tickles your fancy, remember that they're only available for a limited time in select locations across the Disney Resort.

Finally, if you just can't make it to Florida for the festivities, you can buy a commemorative shirt online from April 22nd - 24th.

Guts, Glory, and Tony Bourdain

Notorious chef Tony Bourdain is making his way to Orlando - on April 26 at 8pm, Bourdain will be center stage at Hard Rock Live Orlando. Much like the the man himself, his shows are often notorious for being expensive and for selling out in minutes. But GrouponLive has you covered. For a mere $33, you, too, can see Bourdain in action.

Here are the deal details, directly from the GrouponLive site:

The Deal

• $33 for one G-Pass to see Guts and Glory: An Evening With Anthony Bourdain (Up to a $65.30 value)
• When: Friday, April 26, at 8 p.m.
• Where: Hard Rock Live Orlando
• Seating: Rows D–M of the rear-balcony section
• Door time: 7:30 p.m.
• Ticket values include all fees.
• Click here to view the seating chart.

If you've always wanted to see the man, the myth, the legend live and in-person, this is the perfect chance. As Tony says, "Good food and good eating are about risk." Do you really want to risk missing out on this show? We think not.

A Tree Grows in Animal Kingdom

With Animal Kingdom's 15th anniversary AND Earth Day happening on April 22, the official Disney blog decided it was the perfect time to release this amazing time lapse video of the Tree of Life's construction.

Ready for a few pieces of trivia? The Tree of Life is 145 feet tall, and there are 325 different animals carved into its trunk, roots, and branches. It was built to represent the circle of life - I'm pretty sure we can all sing along to that one, right?

Want to know more about the plans for Animal Kingdom's anniversary? Be sure to check out this blog post!

Want to experience Orlando tastes and treats? There's a great Living Social deal for you

Not everyone realizes it, because not everyone ventures past the theme parks, but Orlando is a serious foodie place. Living Social is now offering a great deal to discover that for yourself, with 50% off Orlando food tours through Food Fun Adventure®.

This excellent deal gives you a choice of four different food excursions, all at 50% off the regular price:

Bites & Sights ($19/person, normally $39) features 10 bites and sips plus a bonus dessert (plenty enough for lunch) at local, non-chain eateries during a 3- to 3.5-hour daytime walking tour. 
Food & Wine ($39/person, normally $79) features five gourmet food tastings with beverage pairings at privately-owned, upscale restaurants over 2 to 3 hours. This evening tour is for the 21-and-up foodies.
Foodie ($34/person, normally $69) showcases culinary gems in a 2- to 3-hour walking tour best suited for adults and adventurous mini-foodies (8 years old and up). Sample popular regional specialties at four to five restaurants, with cocktails and other beverages available for purchase (water is complimentary).
Around the World ($69/person, normally $139) is the best way to experience Orlando's global cuisines, from culinary traditions such as Moroccan, Italian, and French. You will taste five to six courses, each at a different four- or five-star restaurant. Cocktails and wine will be served to 21-and-up guests at select stops during an evening walking tour.

Every tour also includes an Adventures card, good for discounts and specials at local businesses in Orlando, plus loads of exclusive discounts for more Food Fun Adventure tours and classes. Only FOUR DAY REMAIN to get this GREAT deal. Do it. Find your new favorites. 

Harry Potter fan? Need something to do this weekend? How about... QUIDDITCH??

And I don't mean a simulator or even a special visit to Islands of Adventure. No, witches, wizards, and Muggles -- I mean the ACTUAL Quidditch World Cup!

This year, Kissimmee is host to the 6th Annual Quidditch World Cup, presented by the International Quidditch Association, "a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that governs the sport of quidditch and inspires young people to lead " (not associated with J.K. Rowling or Warner Brothers). More than 1500 athletes from around the world will compete for the Cup, which thousands of spectators attend every year. 

The game will be held at the Austin Tindall Regional Park in Kissimmee, just minutes from the Walt Disney World Resort area. "Real" Quidditch is described as a cross between rugby, dodgeball, and Olympic Handball, with four balls and a human Snitch. EIGHTY teams from around the world are competing this year, including teams from the US, the UK, Australia, and France. Here is what you can expect from the event:

• Live commentary from improvisational comedians and quidditch sports pundits
• Bands and performerances between games
• "Magical" merch sales
• A "Kids' Quidditch" area so young fans can try their brookstick skills
• An after party

There will be cosplay galore as Potter fans cheer on their favorite teams. This is a very unique event and a great way to spend your weekend. For more information, including VIP ticket packages, visit the official ticket site at EventBrite.