Eden Bar just makes the Enzian even better

The Enzian Theater in Maitland has always been a great date place, but they've trumped themselves with the opening of Eden Bar.

The independent-movie house is a great one-stop shop for dinner and a movie, but the gorgeous outdoor setting of the new bar begs for you to bring your date for a before-movie drink, or just grab a bite to eat sans the flick. The rich landscape of green surrounding the outside patio bar (made of Brazilian walnut), along with the fun and colorful mural of a Floridian garden of Eden created by animator Bill Plympton, makes this one of the most visually charming bars in town.

The bar has been open since the Florida Film Festival last spring, but the introduction of restaurant service, with a slightly different menu, launched a couple of weeks ago.

"We offer Austrian specials on the menu outside," says project director Alex Tiedtke -- his family owns the Enzian -- and says his father had wanted to open a restaurant out there ever since Nicole St. Pierre next door closed. He says the Austrian theme of the movie house has gotten lost through the years, and they're trying to bring it to the forefront again. His aunt, Tina Tiedtke, created the Enzian in the spirit of Friedstein Castle, home to her grandmother -- even the fountain out front is a replica of one at Friedstein. (An enzian is actually an alpine blossom found in Austria.) "We're also offering Austrian beer and wine, to see if people dig it."

Another part of the past is being reintroduced with Prohibition-era bourbon that Tiedtke's grandfather scored in the '30s after investing in the American Medicinal Spirits Company. You can try some yourself for $125 a pour. Otherwise, you can go my route and order an Avery White Rascal Wheat Ale for $6.50. Not as pricey or cool as the bourbon, but still mighty tasty. I will say that $6.50 is a bit pricey for a beer, but since Enzian is a nonprofit, I kind of rationalized it to myself. According to Tiedtke, since they're located between Park Avenue and the Copper Rocket Pub they gauge their prices accordingly.

The decor wasn't quite that planned.

"My father and me really were just shooting from the hip," says Tiedtke. "We had a drink rail with movie posters, two of them were Bill Plympton's." Hence the idea of the mural, which takes over three of the walls and the ceiling directly over the bar.

With the cooler weather here, this is going to be a fantastic place to grab a glass of wine, try a Mohr Im Hemd (that's an Austrian almond and hazelnut torte) and catch a movie, if it gets too chilly outside.

A great move for an already fantastic spot.

Next up: W, X, Y or Z

The former Club Paris just won't let the nightclub thing die. First it was Club Paris, then it was Dolce, now it's Club V. When I call, I get a voice mail that doesn't take messages, but the only event I'm aware of is its Celebrity Halloween Ball, claiming to give away $3,000 in prizes tonight. If you want to check out the party head to 122 W. Church St. in downtown Orlando; try 407-459-1427.

Halloween, the sequel

Because Halloween has crept into this column again, I figure I can add a couple more parties (if you want more suggestions feel free to e-mail me). For $5 you can see Misfits cover band Psycho 78 at Crooked Bayou at 50 E. Central in downtown Orlando starting at 9 p.m. The "Halloween Bash" is open to the 21-and-up crowd. And don't forget, Church Street will have its 2008 Halloween Street Party starting at 5 p.m. tonight. Cover is $10 for the 21-and-up party; call 407-649-4270.

New digs for Redlight

Redlight Redlight finally has moved to its new location at 745 Bennett Road in Orlando. That's right, in Orlando, folks. No more pesky Winter Park curfews; you can enjoy Redlight's fantastic beer selection until 2 a.m. now. The grand opening is tonight, and they have a phone now too: 407-893-9832.

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