Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando
Dang. On Thursday, I mentioned Lake Eola’s Christmas tree lighting event scheduled for Friday. I took the fam out and was highly impressed! Eola Park overall is lit up like a Christmas tree, haha (no pun intended), and is so lovely. If you get the chance, you should definitely venture out one evening and catch how beautiful the park is right now. Two 👍. Pro tip: park in the library parking garage. It’s $2/hour and a short walk to the park.
In today’s issue: 👇
- Prairie School Gem
- Soap Man of Orlando
- Bites & Bubbles
- ….and much more
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Let’s dive in!
- Philip
P.S. 🍲 Want some hawt community sourced foodie recommendations? Check out the Orlando Signal Restaurant Guide, right here.
ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
A Prairie School Gem in the Heart of Orlando
In January 1921, Orlando kids stepped into their shiny new school, a building so well-made it's still standing strong over 100 years later. The Delaney Street Grammar School, with its sleek horizontal lines and handsome brickwork, was built to last.
Architect Frederick Homer Trimble had quite the resume: six years as a missionary building colleges in China before landing in Florida to design more than 50 schools. His Prairie School style (think Frank Lloyd Wright vibes) was a rare sight in the Sunshine State, featuring bands of windows and limestone accents that made the building look like it was hugging the ground.
The timing couldn't have been better. As the Florida Land Boom exploded and Orlando's population tripled, neighborhood kids walked or biked to Delaney each morning, making it the heart of community life.
These days, you'll find the building at 800 South Delaney Avenue serving as the Mayor William Beardall Senior Center. Different crowd, same sturdy bones, proof that great architecture never goes out of style.
THE SQUEEZE 🍊
The Soap Man of Orlando
In 2008, Shawn Seipler called his hotel's front desk with a weird question: What happens to those little soap bars after checkout?
The answer, “straight to the trash,” sparked a wild idea.
From his Southeast Orlando garage, Seipler launched Clean the World, which has now recycled over 115 million bars of soap and shipped them to 130 countries. Turns out, those tossed toiletries are lifesavers, literally. Basic hygiene fights the leading killers of children under five worldwide.
Today, 8,300 hotels partner with Clean the World, which runs recycling centers across four continents. Seipler has popped up on People Magazine, Dirty Jobs, and network news, yet somehow remains Orlando's best-kept secret.
Locally, his crew runs mobile showers for the homeless, never says no to a good cause, and hosts 10,000 volunteers yearly who leave surprisingly happy after sorting soap.
One shower thought. One hundred million soap bars. Endless impact. Let’s give Shawn a standing ovation!
🧼 Check out our neighbor, Clean the World, right here.
👉 Know a community superstar? Tell me about them, right here.
Stay Out, Stress Less: SunRail's New Evening Runs Are Here
Evening owls, rejoice!
Central Florida commuters can finally ditch the rush starting last week when SunRail rolls out two new evening trains, a southbound departure from DeLand at 9:55 p.m. and a northbound run leaving Poinciana at 8:45 p.m.
Regular riders are thrilled, saying they can now linger a little longer without sprinting to catch the last train home.
But not everything's perfect. Weekend service, a wish list item since day one, still doesn't exist. And riders are eager for the "Sunshine Corridor," a proposed route to MCO, Disney Springs, and I-Drive.
Several municipalities and Universal Studios have backed a feasibility study, so fingers crossed.
🚊 Check out the full schedules, right here.
(Learn more about these evening train rides with Stephanie Rodriguez, right here)
A Holiday Song With Heart, and a Mission
The holiday season doesn't feel magical for everyone, especially young people. That's the message behind "Wish it Felt Like Christmas," a new track co-written by Grammy winner Linda Thompson and local social-impact advocate Andrae Bailey, featuring former Plus One vocalist Nathan Walters and six teen content creators.
The catchy track launches Breaking Thru, a Central Florida youth mental health initiative based in downtown, and founded by Bailey. The timing is intentional: suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10–24, and 42% of youth report persistent sadness.
Sometimes the most honest gift is acknowledging that not everyone feels like celebrating.
🎶 Catch a listen of Wish it Felt Like Christmas, right here.
E-Scooters Are a Blast, and Orange County Wants to Keep It That Way
Kids across Orange County have discovered something wonderful: battery powered freedom on two wheels. Electric scooters and bikes now carry young riders in happy packs through neighborhoods and to school, no parental chauffeur required.
But here's the catch: helmets are scarce, traffic rules are optional, and injuries are climbing.
Last week, county commissioners unanimously agreed it's time for a safety strategy. Commissioner Nicole Wilson is leading the charge, pushing for clearer rules, better enforcement, and actual data on what's happening out there.
School officials are ready to team up, and state legislation may soon follow. For now, Orange County is working to keep the fun rolling, safely.
(Learn more about Orange County’s initiative to keep riders safe with Joe Byrnes, right here)
✈️ Orlando’s best flight deal - Sunsets and island time edition
Late January in Key West is when this little island reveals its true colors. The water's that impossible shade of turquoise, Duval Street hums with just the right crowd, and there's something about biking past chickens to catch sunset at Mallory Square when the winter light makes everything look like a postcard you'd never believe was real.
Orlando (Sanford/SFB) → Key West, FL (EYW) for 84 bucks*, round-trip Thursday through Sunday in late January See the deal.
*Price shown above is accurate as of the time this newsletter was sent.
TASTY NEWS 🧑🍳
Orlando Area Eateries Coming & Going
1️⃣ COMING MID-2026: Sushi Kindai - Fresh Flavors Hitting Winter Garden
Sushi Kindai is rolling into Horizon West this mid-May 2026 with fresh sushi, sashimi, specialty maki, hibachi bento boxes, and fusion appetizers that put a modern spin on Japanese flavors. The full bar will pour sake, soju, and Japanese-inspired cocktails. Winter Garden's first dedicated sushi spot is officially on the way.
2️⃣ OPENING SOON: Johnny’s Diner - Comfort Food Worth the Wait
Since 1995, Johnny's (Insta) has been serving Orlando the kind of breakfast people come back for: fluffy pancakes, buttery biscuits & gravy, crispy bacon, and coffee brewed right. Family-owned with honest portions and prices that make sense. The grand opening is so close. Stay tuned, Curry Ford, something special is cooking.
😢 Dearly departed/departing: Bar Kada, a sake and small-plate lounge, has closed after struggling to find its footing with Orlando diners. Meanwhile, Little Saigon, which opened in 1987 as one of the Mills 50 neighborhood's first Vietnamese restaurants, is also closing its doors after decades as a foodie cornerstone.
#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸
Hours before the tree lighting
📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Lake Eola
Tag @orlandosignal to get your photo featured in the newsletter!
FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩
Bites & Bubbles
📍1618 N Mills Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32803. Map to this location.
Situated in Orlando's Mills 50 District, Bites & Bubbles (Insta) is what happens when fine dining sheds its tuxedo.
Chef Eddie Nickell, whose résumé includes 4- and 5-Diamond kitchens across Ohio and Florida, crafts a daily-changing menu of French-kissed American cuisine: think panko-crusted fried goat cheese, escargot in brandy mustard crème, and a duck fat-infused burger, while partner Nicholas Olivieri ensures every guest feels like family.
Choose your vibe: intimate Parisian bistro, breezy patio, or South Beach rooftop.
👉 Check out the menu right here 👈
Source: Bites & Bubbles
MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out
🎨 Tuesdays 'Til 7
📅 Tuesday, December 9th | Until 7pm
📍 Rollins Museum of Art, 1000 Holt Ave, Winter Park
Extended evening hours with complimentary admission for peaceful arts engagement after school and work.
👉 Art After Hours
🍔 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
👨🍳 Cooking with Confidence: Essential Skills
📅 Tuesday, December 9th | 6-7:30pm
📍 4Roots Farm Campus – Education Building
Culinary Health Institute class teaching core cooking techniques, knife skills, and kitchen management with plant-forward meal samples.
👉 Build Confidence
🎅 Santa's Coming To Kelly's!
📅 Wednesday, December 10th | 5-7pm
📍 Kelly's Homemade Ice Cream, Horizon West
Stop by for ice cream and complimentary photo with Santa courtesy of Cannonfire Photography.
👉 Ho Ho Ho
✏️ Sketchbook Club
📅 Wednesday, December 10th | 6-9pm
📍 The Neighbors Orlando, 3201 Corrine Dr
Self-led drawing event with extra sketchbooks, stickers, and materials available; all ages welcome.
👉 Doodle Away
💧 Water Wise Neighbor Program
📅 Wednesday, December 10th | 4:30-6:30pm
📍 North Orange Branch - Orange County Library System
Learn water conservation with complimentary high-efficiency devices for Orange County Utilities customers while supplies last.
👉 Save Water
🎭 Stocking Stuffer Dinner Show
📅 Wednesday, December 10th | 6pm & 8pm (doors open 30 min early)
📍 Maxine's on Shine
Original holiday romantic comedy paired with three-course Michelin-recommended dinner, plus pre-show cocktails and tarot readings.
👉 Date Night Magic
🎪 Polasek Nights – A Holiday Speakeasy
📅 Wednesday, December 10th | 6-8pm
📍 Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens
1920s-themed evening with vintage dance lessons, festive decor, and seasonal cocktails; period or holiday attire encouraged.
👉 Gatsby Glamour
🎵 Sounds of the Season
📅 Thursday-Saturday, December 11th-13th | 7pm
📍 St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road
Community choir, youth choir, dancers, and live orchestra celebrating the journey to Bethlehem with live Nativity.
👉 Holiday Joy
🎷 Timucua Jazz Jam
📅 Thursday, December 11th | 7:30pm
📍 Timucua, 2000 S Summerlin Ave
Open-door opportunity to play or listen with Central Florida Jazz All Stars house band featuring contemporary, groove-oriented sounds.
👉 Jazz Night
🎵 Thursday Night Hang
📅 Thursday, December 11th | 8-10pm
📍 Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts
Concert set followed by jazz jam session with house band; musicians welcome to bring instruments and sit in.
👉 Jam Session
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THANKS!
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🌟 Know a community superstar? Tell me about them, right here.
Thanks for reading! I’ll see you again on Thursday’s weekend fun issue.
My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal
