Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando
Okay, I'm not supposed to play favorites, but THIS issue? <Chef's kiss> We're talking heavy generosity vibes today, folks. You're about to see Greater Orlando showing up and showing OUT. Grab your coffee and let's dive in! 🎉
In today’s issue: 👇
- Tinker's Gamble
- East Side Story
- Thrive
- ….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.
ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
Tinker's Gamble: From Double Plays to Real Estate Plays
A two-story building on West Pine Street shouts "TINKER" in mustard-yellow letters against brilliant blue tile, because when you're a baseball Hall of Famer turned real estate mogul, subtlety is overrated.
Joe Tinker made his name as the Chicago Cubs shortstop in the legendary "Tinker to Evers to Chance" double-play combination. By 1920, he'd traded his glove for Florida sunshine, managing Orlando's local team.
Then the land boom hit, and Tinker dove headfirst into development, founding Tinker-McCracken Realty Company and platting subdivisions faster than he'd ever turned double plays.
In 1925, riding high, he built himself a showpiece headquarters at 16–18 West Pine Street. Buff brick, cream terra cotta, glazed tiles in jewel tones, and that glorious rooftop nameplate visible from blocks away.
The boom went bust. Tinker lost his fortune but never left Orlando, sticking around until his death in 1948.
His building? Still standing. It's housed sewing machines, hardware, newspapers, and law firms. Now on the National Register, those defiant tiles remind everyone: a Cubs shortstop once owned this town.
📸 Check out the front of the Tinker Building in the #ORLANDOSIGNAL section further down.
👋 Making friends after 25 hits different.
We're your wingman.
We're bringing strangers together over good food in Winter Park this time on Wednesday, January 28th at 6:30 PM for our 3rd Orlando Signal Dinner Club.
Just answer some questions about yourself. We'll pair you with five Orlando Signal readers who match your energy (or shake things up if you're feeling adventurous).
Your restaurant location stays secret until the morning of. Keeps things interesting. Want more? We'll text you a spot mid-dinner where everyone reconvenes after for drinks and laughs.
New to Orlando? Find your crew fast. Been here forever? Break your bubble.
➡️ Get more info, and grab your seat, right here!
THE SQUEEZE 🍊
East Side Story: Zeynep Portway's Mission of Hope
While Orlando's homeless services huddle downtown and out west, Zeynep Portway saw the east side getting left behind, and she wasn’t having it.
As executive director of Samaritan Resource Center near Union Park, Portway runs the only day services hub for homeless folks in the area along with her team. But calling it just a "day center" seriously undersells what's happening here.
Sure, there are hot meals, showers, laundry, and closets full of donated clothes. But Portway has lead something bigger: on-site case managers, housing specialists, mental health counseling, and regular healthcare visits.
She's even taken services directly to homeless encampments.
Now, here comes the secret sauce. A mostly volunteer-powered operation that brings in local churches for meals and activities, plus a partnership with UCF for computer access and job hunting.
Bonus cool points: Prime Video's Street Vet has visited Samaritan multiple times to care for clients' pets. Those four-legged companions who are often the glue holding someone together through the toughest days.
For east Orlando's homeless community, Samaritan isn't just convenient, it's essential.
🔥 Check out Samaritan Resource Center, right here.
👉 Know a community superstar? Tell me about them, right here.
County Workers Flex Their Giving Muscles to the Tune of $1.45 Million
Hold the confetti. Actually, no, bring it all out.
Orange County employees went absolutely wild during the 2025 Heart of Florida United Way Campaign, hauling in a jaw-dropping $1.45 million. That's a 40 percent jump from last year and the fattest fundraising total in the drive's 30-year history.
Thousands of county workers charged forward under one gloriously competitive banner: "Survivor: Outraise, Outreach, Outshine." Three departments: Community and Family Services, Utilities, and the Sheriff's Office, each blew past the $100,000 mark.
Golf tournaments, parking lot events, and Fire Rescue's 343 Hero Challenge added over $309,000 to the pot.
Turns out generosity looks good on everyone.
60+ Local Arts Groups Just Got Some Very Good News
Orlando keeps growing, and growing, and growing, but arts funding? Not so much.
Enter United Arts of Central Florida, swooping in with $2.45 million in General Operating Support grants for more than 60 nonprofits across Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties.
The best part? This money comes with no strings attached. Organizations can use it however they need: paying staff, launching programs, or finally fixing that ancient projector.
Grants range from $10,000 for scrappy community groups to over $200,000 for the big players.
United Arts President Jennifer Evins says it's all part of positioning Central Florida as a global creative capital. No pressure, folks.
🔥 Want to see who's making art happen near you? Check out the full list of recipients, right here.
💼 This Week's Curated Jobs
Sourced from the Orlando Signal Job Board!
🏪 Perishable Products Selector
BJ's Wholesale Club | Orlando Area
Join a team of 30,000+ at one of the nation's top wholesale clubs, selecting and building pallets in a fast-paced warehouse environment with weekly pay and free membership perks.
💰 $20.00/hour | 👉 Learn More & Apply
🔥 Operations Supervisor
AmeriGas Propane | Orlando
Lead daily operations for the nation's largest propane distributor with home-every-day schedules, managing teams and ensuring safety compliance in this essential service role.
💰 $33.00/hour + license premiums | 👉 Learn More & Apply
🌎 Director of Expansion Verticals (US Eastern Timezone)
Signifyd | Remote
Drive strategic growth in travel and ticketing sectors for a global fraud prevention leader, combining business development with operational excellence in this dual IC role.
💰 $120K-$160K/year + bonus | 👉 Learn More & Apply
📦 Inventory Specialist - $1,000 Sign-On Bonus
Orange County Government | Orlando
Support emergency repairs and maintenance operations by managing warehouse inventory using computerized systems, with excellent government benefits and retirement.
💰 $19.00-$24.12/hour + $1K bonus | 👉 Learn More & Apply
Visit https://jobs.orlandosignal.com for lots more opportunities.
✈️ Orlando’s best flight deal - Keep it weird edition
Mid-February Austin is what Texas wishes it could be year-round. Seventy’ish degrees (depending on the year), breakfast tacos on every corner, and live music seven nights a week without the SXSW chaos. Barton Springs is swimmable, South Congress is walkable, and the whole city's got this effortless cool thing happening. Just go.
Orlando (MCO) → Austin (AUS) for 80 bucks*, round-trip Friday through Monday in mid-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 SOFT OPENED: Moon Wok - Dim Sum Arrives on I-Drive
Moon Wok Kitchen & Lounge (Insta) soft opened last Wednesday, bringing Michelin-recognized dim sum and Chinese barbecue to International Drive. Watch the culinary action unfold in an elegant open kitchen while enjoying crispy pork, beef chow fun, roast duck, and duck noodle soup, all prepared fresh daily.
2️⃣ OPENING Q3: Six Ravens - A Baker's Savory New Adventure
Steve Lewis, the cookie wizard behind Gideon's Bakehouse, is cooking up something new at Disney Springs. Six Ravens (Insta) will sling "coffyns," pillowy yeast rolls packed with savory goodness. Opens in the 3rd quarter of the year.
#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸
Tinker Building during a recent architectural walking tour
📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Downtown
Tag @orlandosignal to get your photo featured in the newsletter!
FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩
Thrive
📍13 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801. Map to this location.
Thrive (Insta) exists for those who crave bold flavors and unexpected experiences.
The restaurant bridges culinary creativity with genuine hospitality, offering tapas-style dishes that encourage exploration. From weekend brunch favorites like Chickie Waffle to inventive sushi rolls such as Your Highness, every plate showcases carefully crafted flavor combinations.
The bar program matches this adventurous spirit with cocktails like LSDream and Mint To Be. Here, comfort meets curiosity in an atmosphere where guests feel welcome to discover something extraordinary with every visit.
👉 Check out the menu right here 👈
Source: Thrive
MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out
🎭 Unity Heritage Festival
📅 Monday, January 19th | 12-4pm
📍 Crealdé School of Art, Winter Park
MLK Jr. Weekend celebration featuring gospel, jazz, blues performances, children's activities, cultural vendors, and Annual Heritage Award presentation.
👉 Celebrate Unity
🎤 Monday Scaries Comedy Show
📅 Monday, January 19th | 7pm
📍 Orlando City Arts, 39 S. Magnolia Ave
Unfiltered stand-up comedy for collective stress relief with room full of people who don't have it together yet; $5 admission.
👉 Laugh It Off
🍔 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
🎻 Stetson Faculty Guest Recital: Randall Goosby
📅 Tuesday, January 20th | 7:30pm
📍 Stetson University Lee Chapel, DeLand
Acclaimed violinist performs in complimentary guest recital at Elizabeth Hall.
👉 Virtuoso Performance
🛍️ Luminary Market
📅 Wednesday, January 21st | 5:30-9pm
📍 Luminary Green Park
Monthly market with 20-25 vendors followed by outdoor screening of "La La Land" with LED visuals at 7pm.
👉 Shop & Watch
👶 Little Creatives & Me
📅 Wednesday, January 21st | 10-11am
📍 A&H's Maitland Art Center
Songs, stories, art time, and sensory play for babies and toddlers 3 and under with special person in historic garden; pre-registration required.
👉 Creative Beginnings
🎭 Jon Bennett: AmeriCAN
📅 Thursday, January 22nd | 6:30pm
📍 Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, Dr. Phillips Center
Award-winning comedic storytelling about absurd journey navigating U.S. life as international performer; ages 16+.
👉 Hilarious Journey
🎭 Opera Experience
📅 Thursday, January 22nd | 11:30am-2:30pm
📍 Enzian Theater, Maitland
Networking event with opera artists and singers including Academy Award-winning film "Joyeux Noel" screening; food and wine included.
👉 Opera & Film
🎨 Stories We Were Never Told Exhibition
📅 Thursday, January 22nd | 6:30-8:30pm
📍 Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center, Maitland
Opening of exhibition featuring Martha Aladjem Bloomfield's artwork visualizing untold Holocaust stories from Bulgaria through survivor testimony.
👉 Hidden Histories
🎭 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
