Starry Night

There's something about the night sky that stops us in our tracks. This event brings that wonder down to earth, literally.

Welcome to Thursday Morning, Orlando!

The weekend forecast says gorgeous. The calendar says stacked. The newsletter says: go have fun. See you Monday, y’all!

Now, in today’s issue:

Fort Gatlin's Fairy Godparent
Starry Night
Diamond of the Season
+ lots of weekend recs

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

Let’s roll!

- Philip

P.S. Want some hawt community sourced foodie recommendations? Check out the Orlando Signal Restaurant Guide, right here.

☀️ Let's make January interesting

Orlando Signal Dinner Club is back for its 3rd installment on Wednesday, January 28th in Winter Park.

Get paired up with five other locals based on your interests, food preferences, and vibes. Show up for dinner (we'll reveal the restaurant that morning).

Halfway through, everyone gets texted the mystery after-spot where all tables meet up to keep the good times rollin’.

We're your wingman: curated matches, conversation prompts on deck, zero cringe. Your only assignment? Be hungry and open to meeting cool people.

🎉 Take the quiz, get matched to a fun table, and let's do this. 👇

👉 Reserve your seat now!

3 QUICK NEWS BITS ⏲️
Plan Ahead: No-Cost Mammograms Available in Orlando on Monday

Circle next Monday on your calendar: the 3D Mobile Mammography bus heads to Grace Medical Home this coming Monday, January 26th, bringing potentially life-saving breast cancer screenings to Central Florida women, many at zero cost.

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County is parking the mobile unit at 1417 E. Concord St. in Orlando from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They're seeking women aged 40-64 without insurance coverage who earn at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Part of the Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, it helps uninsured women catch problems early when they're easiest to treat.

Unsure if you qualify? Call 407-858-1421 now to confirm your eligibility before Monday arrives.

➡️ Learn more about the Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, right here.

Orlando Keeps Winning While Others Worry

While the rest of the country nervously tapped the brakes in 2025, Orlando floored it, and shows no signs of slowing down based on the Orlando Economic Partnership’s data research.

University of Central Florida economists are calling for 1.3% local employment growth, absolutely smoking Florida's 0.8% and leaving the national 0.5% in the dust. The wild part? Orlando will outpace Miami in job creation over the next decade, despite being half the size.

Business jitters aren't going anywhere, but companies are done letting them call the shots.

Job growth is entering its next chapter as boomers peace out and robots clock in. AI skills? Scorching hot. Demand has doubled in two years, topping 1,000 monthly postings by late 2025.

March's Census data will spill the tea on whether recent demographic shifts are temporary or the new normal.

👨‍💻 <cough-cough>. Check out the Orlando Signal Job Board for tons of local job opportunities. 😀

(Learn lots more about Orlando's economic momentum with Neil Hamilton, right here)

Fort Gatlin's Fairy Godparent: Anonymous Buyer Promises Parkland

An anonymous benefactor is swooping in to save a piece of Orlando history, and the community is cautiously celebrating.

The 2.5-acre Fort Gatlin site along Lake Gem Mary has quite the resume, it hosted an Army fort in 1838 before Orlando even existed, then a Navy sonar lab, and later school offices. Now the abandoned eyesore is getting a serious glow-up.

The mystery buyer will drop $600,000 on the land and invest $3 to $4 million to build the park before gifting it to the county. Their lawyer says it's simply a successful local giving back.

Neighbors, who formed Save Fort Gatlin, rallied hard for parkland over potential condos, aren't popping champagne just yet. They've formed a watchdog group and plan to keep tabs until the five-year contract delivers the green space they've been dreaming of.

(Learn lots more about the anonymous benefactor's park plans with Camila Gomez, right here)

WEEKEND SPOT HIGHLIGHT 🔦
Mayor’s Open House and Job Fair

Source: Orange County Government

📍Orange County Administration Center. 201 S. Rosalind Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, January 24th, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

County leaders are opening their doors wide, inviting residents to see how local government actually works.

Wander through more than 30 department booths to discover programs quietly operating in the background of daily life.

🔥 Job seekers can meet Human Resources face-to-face, browse positions, and apply on the spot.

Free parking awaits at Jackson Street and Liberty Avenue. Whether you're a longtime resident or newcomer, the message is clear: this is your government, come see what it does.

👉 Check It Out

TOP 3 FUN RECS FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊
Starry, Starry Night: A Celebration of Art and Science

Source: Bok Tower Gardens

📍Bok Tower. 1151 Tower Boulevard, Lake Wales, FL 33853. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, January 24th, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

There's something about the night sky that stops us in our tracks. This event brings that wonder down to earth, literally.

Peer through telescopes with local astronomers who'll reveal constellations you've never really known. Leading experts share presentations that make space feel less distant, more like a neighbor worth knowing.

Hands-on activities, animals, and a NASA ambassador round out an evening where art and science merge under the stars.

👉 Get more info, right here

Diamond of the Season Market

Source: La Bodega

📍Great Southern Box Company. 2105 N Orange Blossom Trl, Orlando, FL 32804. Map to this location.

🕐 Sunday, January 25th, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Picture stepping into Bridgerton's world of elegance and high society, but with Orlando's finest artisans.

La Bodega's Diamond of the Season Market transforms Great Southern Box Co. into a Regency-inspired marketplace.

Browse curated vendors, snap photos in period settings, and mingle in style worthy of the ton. Dress to impress, you might be named Diamond of the Season.

Free admission makes this refined affair accessible to all seeking an afternoon of discovery and delight.

👉 Get the full details

International Vegan Food Fest

Source: Orlando Bearded Vegan

📍Wall Street Plaza. 25 Wall St, Orlando, FL 32801. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, January 24th, 2 p.m.

The International Vegan Food Festival proves plant-based eating is anything but boring.

Wander through colorful stalls offering reimagined comfort foods, burgers that satisfy, creative pizzas, globally-inspired salads, and dairy-free desserts that astound.

Between bites, discover sustainable farming practices and the environmental impact of our food choices.

Whether you're a longtime vegan or simply curious, you'll find incredible flavors and connect with fellow food lovers who believe eating should be both enjoyable and intentional.