Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando
ATE LOCAL, like a wild man. On Saturday the fam and I hit Mills Market in Mills 50. What a collision of senses between sights, sounds, smells and tastes. The place was HOPPING 13 minutes after opening for the day. Smashed some pan fried Chicken Bao at Kai Kai, then had an awesome Mango Snow dessert at Saigon Snow. THEEEEN, we stopped at Phat Ash Bakes and picked up some banana pudding cookies. I think I fell into a food coma after all this.
👉 Please look out for the poll about half-way down. I could use your help!
🎉 Annnnd, happy birthday to reader, Lauren T. Wishing you an awesome day.
In today’s issue: 👇
- Enzian's Wild Ride
- Your Forgotten Fortune Awaits! (maybe)
- Smokemade Meats + Eats
- ….and much more
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Let’s dive in!
- Philip
ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
Forty Years of Cinema Magic: Enzian's Wild Ride
Let’s imagine it's 1985, and 91-year-old silent film legend Lillian Gish is watching her own 1919 masterpiece "Broken Blossoms" under ancient oak trees in Maitland. This wasn't your typical movie night, it was the birth of Central Florida's quirkiest cultural phenomenon.
Named after pretty blue flowers the wealthy Tiedtke family spotted during Austrian castle vacations (because of course they had a castle), Enzian Theater started as Tina Tiedtke’s wild idea: What if Orlando had a sophisticated art house cinema? In theme park central? Was she crazy?
Turns out, brilliantly so. This little theater that dared to serve gourmet food during movies, thanks to stealthy "ninja" servers, became home to an Oscar-qualifying film festival.
Celebrities like Susan Sarandon and Christopher Walken started showing up. The 1999 premiere of "The Blair Witch Project" (made by local UCF grads!) became their biggest hit ever.
Forty years later, after entertaining two million guests and screening 7,000 films, Enzian proves that people everywhere crave something more interesting than popcorn and predictable plots.
Who knew artsy cinema could be this much fun?
⁉️ Ever been to the Enzian Theater? Check it out, right here.
THE SQUEEZE 🍊
Hidden Treasure in Orange County: Your Forgotten Fortune Awaits!
Surprise! The Orange County Clerk's Office is sitting on a goldmine of uncashed checks with your name potentially on it. Payments sent into the void, forgotten in junk drawers, or lost when someone moved without leaving breadcrumbs. Now these wayward funds have landed on an official treasure list!
Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell's office has turned bureaucratic housekeeping into an annual treasure hunt, actively reuniting people with money they forgot they had coming.
But here's the kink, you've got until September 1st, 2025, to claim your cash. Miss that deadline, and Florida law swoops in, permanently relocating your forgotten fortune to the Clerk's Fine and Forfeiture Fund.
⏳ Time to start digging! Click here to search the list for your name!
From Basement to Big Stage: Opera Orlando's 10-Year Crescendo
Opera Orlando celebrates its 10th birthday by ditching a soggy church basement for swanky new digs under Gabriel Preisser's baton. The southwestern move caps off spectacular growth: fundraising finally cracked the $1 million barrier this year, while last season's revenue soared to $3 million with audiences packing the house.
The shiny L.B. McLeod Road headquarters, courtesy of Launch event-planning's Larry Epstein, boasts proper rehearsal halls, costume workshops, and studios mimicking Steinmetz Hall's exact dimensions.
From scrappy 2016 startup with $250,000 pocket change, this cultural juggernaut now commands a $3.13 million budget, rubbing shoulders with Andrea Bocelli and staging homegrown hits like "The Secret River."
🎭 Check out Opera Orlando’s 10th season Summer Concert Series, right here.
(Learn a lot more about Orlando Opera’s growth with Matthew.J. Palm, right here)
Treasure Hunters of the Graveyard: Florida's Wildest Cemetery Rescue Mission
Let’s call this Orlando-adjacent, but still local-ish and fascinating.
In Oak Hill (Volusia County), a scrappy crew of volunteers is pulling off the ultimate archaeological adventure at Saints and Sinners cemeteries! Armed with ground-penetrating radar and serious determination, they've discovered 50+ hidden graves across seven mysterious acres that were never properly mapped.
These 100+ year-old burial grounds survived hurricanes, bullet holes, and even serving as a 1980s dump, talk about resilience! Now with 900 new homes planned nearby, treasure hunter Spence Youman and detective-researcher Dru Ann Welch are racing to uncover incredible stories of the 160+ souls resting there.
Founded by former slave turned educator William Wellons in 1901, this site splits church-goers into "Saints" and non-members into "Sinners" because even in the afterlife, someone's got to keep things organized!
(Learn a boat-load more about this Saints and Sinners adventure with Luis-Alfredo Garcia, right here)
When Two Wheels Change Everything with Central Florida's Bike-Building Bonanza
In a bustling Central Florida warehouse, Tony Diaz and Michael Albano from civil engineering firm DRMP are leading the ultimate assembly party. They commanded an 80-person volunteer army on a mission: transform 50 cardboard boxes into gleaming freedom machines before school bells ring today.
Diaz barely contained his excitement about the unboxing surprises. Will it be a slick mountain bike or a dazzling rainbow-spoked cruiser destined to become some kid's most prized possession? The warehouse buzzed with anticipation as volunteers discover each colorful treasure.
Through DRMPCares, their company's feel-good philanthropic program, these bike-building heroes know they're crafting more than transportation, they're engineering pure joy, independence, and magical pathways to adventure for children ready to ride toward their dreams.
👉 Check out all the DRMPCares initiatives, right here.
(Learn more about this building adventure with Curtis Mcloud, right here)
TASTY NEWS 🧑🍳
Orlando Area Eateries Coming & Going
1️⃣ FULLY OPEN: Outpost Neighborhood Tavern - From Launch to 7-Day Success
After fine-tuning since their late July soft opening, Outpost Neighborhood Tavern (Insta) now welcomes guests daily at 11 a.m. This Lake Eola Park gem breathes new life into the former Persimmon Hollow Brewing and Panera space, serving appetizers, sandwiches, sides, plus full bar with sports and brunches.
2️⃣ ROLLING: Calu Bakery and Coffee - Mobile Artisanal Java Rolls Into Clermont
Florida's pioneering mobile patisserie (Insta) bringing European-style artisanal pastries and handcrafted coffee directly to your neighborhood. Their charming van serves flaky croissants, decadent pains au chocolat, brownies, cookies, and cakes every Sunday at Clermont Farmers Market.
#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸
Lovely ice cream spot
📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Mills 50
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FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩
Smokemade Meats + Eats
📍1400 S Crystal Lake Dr, Orlando, FL 32806. Map to this location.
Smokemade Meats + Eats (Insta) brings authentic Central Texas BBQ soul to Orlando's Curry Ford West. This family-owned operation evolved from lightning-fast pop-ups that sold out in minutes into a permanent barbecue sanctuary.
Tyler and his team obsessively craft each dish, 16-hour smoked brisket, butter-finished turkey breast, fall-off-the-bone pork ribs, and artisanal housemade sausages, using traditional low-and-slow techniques.
No shortcuts, just scratch-made perfection that honors genuine Texas barbecue tradition while pushing culinary boundaries.
👉 Check out the menu, right here 👈
Image courtesy of Smokemade Meats + Eats
MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out
🍕 Otto's High Dive Presents: ViceVersa
📅 Monday, August 11th | 6-10pm
📍 Otto's High Dive, 2304 E Robinson St
Miami pizza and cocktail hotspot pops up for one night only; first-come, first-served service.
👉 Get There Early
🎵 Collin Oliver Trio
📅 Tuesday, August 12th | 7pm
📍 Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Local jazz trio known for their musical versatility, blending contemporary hits with jazz standards inspired by legendary artists.
👉 Jazz Fusion
🎮 Game & Hobby Night at The Burrow
📅 Tuesdays | 5-8pm
📍 The Burrow Cafe & Play, Mills area
Weekly gathering for games, crafts, reading, and relaxation with drink specials available.
👉 Play Together
🍔 Tasty Takeover in The Milk District
📅 Tuesdays | 6:30-10pm
📍 The Milk District – 2424 E Robinson St
Orlando's premier weekly food truck block party featuring diverse culinary offerings behind the shops and bars.
👉 Dine Alfresco
🌿 Speed Friending: Plant Parents Edition
📅 Wednesday, August 13th | 7-9pm
📍 Whippoorwill Beer House, 2425 E South Street
Zero-pressure social event for plant lovers, green thumbs, and garden enthusiasts to grow their friend group together.
👉 Plant Connections
🍺 Wekiva Brew Review: Featuring Central 28 Brewing
📅 Wednesday, August 13th | 6-8pm
📍 Wekiva Island, Longwood
21+ brewery event with six samples, full pour, buffet dinner, and swag; reservations required.
👉 Island Vibes
🎨 Art Night Out: Building Character With Victor Davila
📅 Wednesday, August 13th | 6-8:30pm
📍 Orlando Museum of Art
Creative evening where participants work alongside an art teacher to create their own masterpiece, all materials included.
👉 Make Art
🎺 Five Iron Frenzy
📅 Thursday, August 14th | 8pm
📍 The Plaza Live
Legendary ska-punk band reunited after their 2003 hiatus, known for spirited interactive shows and hits like "Oh, Canada."
👉 Ska Revival
🧜♀️ Siren Soirée
📅 Thursday, August 14th, | 6:30pm
📍 Authentic Books, 1815 N Orange Ave
Enchanted evening featuring charm bracelet making, DIY decoupage oysters, candle creation, and custom labels; mermaid attire encouraged.
👉 Dive Deep
THANKS!
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Thanks for reading! I’ll see you again on Thursday’s weekend fun issue.
My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal
