Together With:
Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando
In light of the downright frigid temps recently, Luna had the right idea yesterday morning!
In today’s issue: 👇
- A Gothic Spire
- Dream Village
- Scandi Swedish Bakery
- ….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 ⏪
A Gothic Spire's 40-Year Name Game
The pointy-topped tower at 390 North Orange Avenue has changed names more often than a witness protection participant, and honestly, it's kind of fabulous.
It kicked off in 1988 as William DuPont III's big idea, the only piece of his $400 million "du Pont Centre" fantasy that actually got built.
Morris-Aubry Architects went wild, slapping 10 medieval-style spires on top because apparently Orlando needed a gothic castle disguised as an office building.
Then came the name carousel: NationsBank, Barnett Bank Center, Bank of America Center, basically whoever was winning at banking consolidation that decade.
The ownership story is pure real estate musical chairs. Eola Capital grabbed it in 2009 ($1.1 billion spree), Parkway Properties snagged it in 2011 ($462 million merger), Southwest Value Partners swooped in for $81.86 million in 2018.
By June 2020, City National Bank of Florida finally claimed naming rights, and maybe, just maybe, this one will stick.
At 404 feet, Orlando's fifth-tallest building remains that quirky spired friend in a skyline of glass boxes.
TOGETHER WITH CFCArts
My Funny Valentine. When Love Gets a Live Soundtrack
There's a reason great love stories always unfold with a jazz standard playing in the background.
This February 5th-8th (Thursday - Sunday), the award-winning CFCArts Big Band turns up the romance at the Pugh Theater with My Funny Valentine.
🥰 Pick your vibe:
- Dance like you're in an old Hollywood film February 5th & 6th.
- Grab a seat and let the music do the work February 7th & 8th.
From Duke Ellington to Michael Bublé, expect classics like "It Had to Be You," "La Vie En Rose," and "Sway" that'll make your heart skip.
🔥 Date night? Celebrating something? Doesn't matter. Just dress sharp and prepare for the largest Big Band in town to make you fall in love all over again.
Grab your tickets now before they're gone!
🖱️ Grab Your Seats, Right Here
THE SQUEEZE 🍊
The Wish-Granting Wizard of Davenport
Imagine a child stepping into a Lego-themed cottage at the Sunshine Foundation’s Dream Village in Davenport (Orlando adjacent!), eyes practically popping out of their head. Next door? A Space-themed adventure pad. Down the path? Snow White's cottage awaits.
Meet Wanda Curtis, the woman making it all happen with just one other employee and an army of volunteers. She grants wishes for chronically ill children who don't qualify for other organizations, because every kid's dream matters.
This year marks the Sunshine Foundation's 50th anniversary, started by a Pennsylvania policeman. The Dream Village now hosts approximately 300 guests at its annual themed gala (disco! Halloween! throwback decades!) where everything's donated.
Wanda devotes virtually every waking moment to funding dreams, recruiting volunteers, and keeping the magic alive.
She's proof that one unstoppable person really can change the world, or at least make it brighter for kids who need it most.
🔥 Check out Sunshine Foundation’s Dream Village, right here.
👉 Know a community superstar? Tell me about them, right here.
Orlando's Arts Scene Spills Outside With Free Listening Garden
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is building a "listening garden" on South Street after city commissioners gave the thumbs up last week. Think outdoor LED screens streaming live performances from Judson's Live and Steinmetz Hall, bringing the arts to downtown wanderers, all with no tickets needed!
Florida's pitching in $500,000. Officials aim to lock down designs and snag a contractor by June, with the spot serving food, drinks, and free tunes.
Commissioner Patty Sheehan was all smiles about the free public access, calling it a win for the community. It's the latest piece of the center's expanding downtown presence.
(Learn lots more about Orlando's downtown arts expansion with Matthew J. Palm , right here)
No Appointment Needed: Free Health Screenings Go Mobile
Brittany Pickren and her team are basically health detectives on wheels, popping up at food banks and community centers across Orange County with one mission: catch the sneaky stuff before it catches you.
In 2025, the County Outreach Awareness Community Health (COACH) program checked 2,843 people at 233 events, a whopping 182 percent jump from the year before.
They come to you. No appointments, no bills, no hassle. Pickren manages this Orange County Medical Clinic program that's all about knowing your numbers before they become your problems.
Blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, the silent troublemakers get spotted early, turning potential emergencies into preventable blips.
💼 This Week’s Curated Jobs
Sourced from the Orlando Signal Job Board!
🎾 Coordinator, Creative Designer USTA National Campus | Orlando
Design everything from the US Open to local tennis programs for the national governing body of tennis, no tennis experience required, just creative chops and Adobe mastery.
💰 $58K-$60K/year | 👉 Learn More & Apply
💰 Finance Director Greater Orlando Builders Association | Maitland
Lead financial operations for a nearly 800-member trade association, blending nonprofit accounting expertise with operational leadership in the construction industry.
💰 $65K-$80K/year + benefits | 👉 Learn More & Apply
📋 HR Administrative Assistant KP PPEC LLC | Orlando
Support meaningful work in pediatric healthcare by managing confidential medical records, employee files, and daily operations in a HIPAA-compliant environment.
💰 $17-$21/hour | 👉 Learn More & Apply
🏥 New Hire Education Coordinator AdventHealth Orlando | Maitland
Design and deliver onboarding experiences that welcome new healthcare team members, with benefits starting day one and a mission-driven culture.
💰 $43.6K-$81K/year | 👉 Learn More & Apply
Tap/click here for lots more opportunities. Over 180 added last week!
✈️ Orlando’s best flight deal - Tacos and street art edition
Ok, Mexico City in late February is ridiculously good. Seventy-degree weather, some of the best food on the planet, and world-class museums you can actually afford to visit. The street tacos cost two bucks and taste better than anything back home. It's cheaper than you think, way more interesting than another beach trip, and you'll wonder why you waited this long.
Orlando (MCO) → Mexico City (MEX) for 300 bucks*, round-trip Thursday through Monday in late-February/early March. See the deal.
*Price shown above is accurate as of the time this newsletter was sent.
TASTY NEWS 🧑🍳
Orlando Area Eateries Coming & Going
1️⃣ RECENTLY OPENED: Cafe de Wan - Mediterranean Mornings Meet Casselberry
Cafe de Wan (Insta) recently opened their doors with Mediterranean warmth and intention to Casselberry. Turkish breakfast plates, flaky börek, and house-made drinks, all 100% halal, prepared from scratch. Each dish honors tradition while welcoming everyone to the table. This is food with soul, served in a space that feels like home. Your seat is ready.
2️⃣ OPENING SOON: Koffee Sutra - Coffee by Day, Cocktails by Night
Koffee Sutra (Insta) is sliding into Thornton Park's century-old Veranda building within a month, and it's pulling double duty. Mornings? Think espresso, cold brew, and hard-to-find Indian filter coffee. Evenings? Craft cocktails and good vibes. Grab a Bombay sandwich, take a brewing class, or just soak it all in. Coffee at sunrise, cocktails after dark, Thornton Park's newest hangout is about to be everyone's favorite escape.
#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸
Morning stroll through LN
📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Lake Nona
Tag @orlandosignal to get your photo featured in the newsletter!
FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩
Scandi Swedish Bakery
📍Various pop-up markets around Orlando. See schedule here.
When most bakeries trace their origins to business plans, Scandi Bakery (Insta) points to something better, a kitchen filled with cardamom and family stories.
This Orlando husband-and-wife duo brings Swedish heritage to life through small-batch baking, hand-twisting each bun with real ingredients (no artificial anything, thank you very much).
From cinnamon buns crowned with imported pearl sugar to fudgy Swedish brownies, every pastry delivers genuine comfort.
Here, tradition meets community, one delicious, cardamom-scented batch at a time.
👉 Check out their pop-up schedule, right here 👈
Source: Scandi Barkery
MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out
🌿 Make & Take: DIY Roller Fragrance Workshop
📅 Monday, February 2nd | 6-7pm
📍 4Roots Farm Campus – Education Building
Hands-on workshop creating custom botanical roller fragrances using natural essential oils and farm-grown ingredients for $25.
👉 Natural Scents
🎨 Black History Month Art Exhibition Opening Reception
📅 Tuesday, February 3rd | 5-8pm
📍 Terrace Gallery, Orlando City Hall
Opening featuring 52 works by 28 local artists exploring "A Century of Black History Commemorations" theme; exhibition runs through April 5th.
👉 Celebrate History
📖 Speak Now. Speak Life. Poetry Slam
📅 Tuesday, February 3rd
📍 Great Southern Box Co.
Powerful spoken word poetry slam honoring organ and tissue donation legacy, featuring 15 selected poets.
👉 Voice for Impact
🍔 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
🎭 Orlando Family Stage Centennial Reunion
📅 Tuesday, February 3rd | 5:30pm
📍 Orlando Family Stage
Complimentary celebration for performers, technicians, volunteers, and patrons from all eras featuring archives and UCF partnership announcement.
👉 100 Years Strong
🎤 Brandon Martin: Lift Every Voice and Sing!
📅 Tuesday, February 3rd | 7pm & 9pm
📍 Judson's Live, Dr. Phillips Center
Black History Month celebration featuring stirring portrait of African American experience through words and music from noted artists and activists.
👉 Inspire & Uplift
🛍️ Luminary Market
📅 Wednesday, February 4th | 5:30-9pm
📍 Luminary Green Park
Monthly market with 20-25 vendors followed by outdoor screening of "Valentine's Day" with LED visuals at 7pm.
👉 Shop & Watch
🎨 Art Night Out: Portraits in Charcoal
📅 Wednesday, February 4th | 6-8:30pm
📍 Orlando Museum of Art
Adult workshop with Andrew Sapienza learning to capture likeness, mood, and depth through expressive charcoal techniques; all skill levels welcome.
👉 Draw Faces
🎭 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
