Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando
I love days like today. It’s new feature release day, designed to add value to readers, and/or those closest to you in Greater Orlando! I won’t spoil the intrigue. You’ll run into it and get all the deets as you read through today’s issue. You can’t miss it!
In today’s issue: 👇
- “Surprise and Delight”
- Rusty's Revolution
- La Bella Luna
- ….and much more
Did someone forward this email to you? If so, subscribe here.
Let’s dive in!
- Philip
P.S. Want some hawt community sourced foodie recommendations? Check out the Orlando Signal Restaurant Guide, right here.
P.P.S. Loving the Signal? Contribute here!
ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
“Surprise and Delight”
In downtown Orlando, ornamental gates inscribed "Surprise and Delight" mark the entrance to a courtyard that weaves together 138 years of history.
The story begins in 1886, when English settler Gordon Rogers built a Victorian Queen Anne structure to house Orlando's English Colony social club at 39 South Magnolia Avenue. The 1894 freeze destroyed their citrus dreams, and the building fell into decades of decline.
Enter Ford Kiene, a beer distributor who purchased the crumbling structure in the 1990s and became one of Orlando's most devoted arts patrons. "Surprise and Delight" was his personal motto, explaining that combining the words projects the best intentions a surprise can bring. In 2018, he donated the building to the city for cultural use.
The FORDify the Arts Courtyard, which opened December 2024, transformed a forgotten alley using salvaged materials from Church Street Station. The gates, sponsored by Tom Cook and esteemed OS reader, Dr. Paul Skomsky, honor Kiene's legacy: a businessman who believed old structures and generous giving both deserve protection.
📸 Check out historic photos of the Rogers-Kiene Building, right here.
Also, I took a snap of these gates on a recent walking tour and share in the #ORLANDOSIGNAL section further down, but here’s the plaque. 👇
👋 Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: Orlando Signal Job Board!
I asked in a poll, and you voted YES. The Orlando Signal Job Board is officially a thing. 🎉 It’s a space connecting talented Orlandoans with companies worth working for.
Browse roles across tech, healthcare, marketing, creative, operations, gov, and lots more categories. Opportunities that matter to our community, with tons of new jobs added weekly, all categorized!
🔥 Starting NEXT week: I'll curate and highlight 3-5 standout jobs from the job board in a new newsletter section.
Know someone job hunting? Share this with them.
Know a business hiring? Basic job postings are free. Premium job postings are 70 percent off for a limited time with code “EARLY70” at checkout.
➡️ Check out the OS job board, right here
Let's get Orlando hired, y’all. 🍊
THE SQUEEZE 🍊
Rusty's Revolution: 2,000 Bikes, Infinite Possibilities
Russell Durham is basically running Orlando's coolest mobility missions, one refurbished ride at a time.
This former music teacher turned Altamonte Springs into bicycle central with Rusty's Bicycle Recycle, delivering over 2,000 bikes to homeless folks this year alone. That's 2,000 people who went from stuck, to mobile, hitting job interviews and keeping employment in a city where distance kills opportunity.
Durham spent years in the classroom before trading lesson plans for bike repairs. Same patience, different gears. Mike Rowe's "People You Should Know" caught wind of his magic, but true to form, Rusty deflects faster than a bike messenger, pointing everyone back to community support.
He understands something fundamental: for someone experiencing homelessness, a bicycle means freedom on two wheels, and agency. The difference between "I can't" and "watch me go."
🔥 Check out Rusty's Bicycle Recycle, right here.
👉 Know a community superstar? Tell me about them, right here.
Too Fast, Too Furious? The E-Scooter Showdown at School
Orange County school officials are in a pickle over e-scooters and e-bikes zipping around campus. The stats are wild: emergency room visits have exploded 400% since 2017, with accidents more than doubling since 2023 for kids under 15.
Now everyone's scrambling for solutions. Ban them entirely? Require licenses? Mandate training? School leaders are debating everything from temporary timeouts to speed limits. Some board members want safety lessons instead of restrictions, while others are itching to write actual rules into the Student Code of Conduct.
Students? You guessed it! They're rolling their eyes.
For many, scooters are lifelines to school, practice, and weekend plans. They argue it's all about riding smart. Meanwhile, Florida lawmakers might soon require licenses for the speediest e-bikes.
(Learn lots more about Orange County's e-scooter dilemma with Tilly Raij, right here)
New Lanes, New Ramps: Orlando's Road Overhaul Begins
The Central Florida Expressway Authority is kicking off a hefty $219 million project this month to give State Road 408 and several Downtown Orlando streets a serious upgrade.
The big draw: Ramps at Tampa Avenue, Orange Blossom Trail, and the I-4 interchange are getting facelifts, complete with sleek electronic toll gantries as CFX ditches cash for good. Plus, a shiny new eastbound lane stretching 1.5 miles along SR 408 between Church Street and Interstate 4.
Meanwhile, Carter and Long Streets, plus Rio Grande and Tampa Avenues, will score updated utilities, lighting, curbing, and fresh sidewalks. These local fixes wrap up by July 2027, perfectly timed for Camping World Stadium's upgrades.
Full completion? January 2029.
(Learn more about SR 408 expansion with Molly Duerig, right here)
✈️ Orlando’s best flight deal - Mountains and cozy vibes edition
Early February in Asheville is for people who get it. Snow-dusted mountain views, cozy coffee shops and art galleries when it's cold, and a food scene that punches way above its weight. The Blue Ridge is stunning in winter, downtown's got that fireplace energy, and you'll eat incredibly well.
Orlando Sanford (SFB) → Asheville (AVL) for 81 bucks*, round-trip Friday through Monday in early-February. See the deal.
*Price shown above is accurate as of the time this newsletter was sent.
TASTY NEWS 🧑🍳
Orlando Area Eateries Coming & Going
1️⃣ OPENING IN A FEW WEEKS: Mochiry Orlando - Chewy Doughnuts Land This January
Mochiry Orlando (Insta) is bringing the goods to downtown around the middle of this month: chewy Korean-style mochi doughnuts, boba tea, Korean corn dogs, and steaming ramen bowls. The spot will be perfect for students cramming between classes, office workers sneaking out for a treat, or anyone chasing a quick caffeine-and-carb fix.
2️⃣ OPENING SOON: Fragaria - New Zealand Ice Cream Finds Home
Fragaria (Insta) is trading its wheels for walls. The mobile ice cream venture is opening its first permanent shop in Maitland, serving up New Zealand–style treats that blend real fruit with plant-based goodness: think oat milk, sunflower seed butter, and a texture that's delightfully airy. After chasing the trailer around Orlando, fans finally have a place to park.
#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸
“Surprise and Delight”
📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Downtown
Tag @orlandosignal to get your photo featured in the newsletter!
FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩
La Bella Luna
📍4886 New Broad St, Orlando, FL 32814. Map to this location.
This family-owned La Bella Luna (Insta) serves Italian cooking rooted in generations of tradition: handmade pasta, slow-simmered sauces, and recipes that tell stories. Inside, dark woods and soft lighting create an intimate vibe.
Outside, the pet-friendly patio invites lingering.
Don't miss the Lasagna al Forno (fresh pasta, bolognese, ricotta, mozzarella, baked in ceramic), Toasted Ravioli (cheese-filled, golden-fried, marinara on the side), or the Arugula and Prosciutto pizza (prosciutto, arugula, truffle oil on New York-style crust).
👉 Check out the goodies right here 👈
Source: La Bella Luna
MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out
🍔 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
🎮 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
🛍️ Luminary Market
📅 Wednesday, January 7th | 5:30-9pm
📍 Luminary Green Park in Creative Village
Monthly market with 20-25 local vendors followed by KaleidoScope 360° outdoor movie at 7pm under the stars.
👉 Shop & Watch
🎉 Happy Birthday, Zora
📅 Wednesday, January 7th
📍 Online/Virtual
Global online celebration of Zora Neale Hurston featuring readings, musical performances, and reflections launching the 2026 ZORA! Festival Season.
👉 Celebrate Legacy
🎭 Winter Mini-Fest
📅 Wednesday, January 7th - Sunday, January 11th
📍 Orlando Shakes, 812 E Rollins St
10th anniversary celebration featuring popular past Fringe works, new pieces from beloved artists, and international discoveries; $3 button plus tickets starting at $15.
👉 Fringe Fun
🎸 Classic Albums Live: Abbey Road
📅 Thursday, January 8th | 8pm
📍 Steinmetz Hall
Note-for-note recreation of The Beatles' 1969 masterpiece featuring "Come Together," "Here Comes the Sun," and more surprises from their discography.
👉 Come Together
🎭 Want to share an event? Use this link.
THANKS!
✅ Want to connect with 20K+ curious Orlandoans for your business?, start a conversation here.
🌟 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
