Welcome to Thursday Morning, Orlando!
Faithful readers know my obsession with donuts. I’m also obsessed with ice cream. I just learned my generation (Gen X) is serious slackers with ice cream spending according to Empower. Boomers and Millennials pull ahead of Gen X, and Gen Z blows everyone out of the water.
🎉 Happy early birthday (July 26th) to Maureen Sullivan!
Now onto today’s Orlando Signal (weekend fun) issue:
- Summer Flavor Tour
- A Return to Espero
- Vaudeville Variety Show
- + lots of weekend recs
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Let’s roll!
- Philip
3 QUICK NEWS BITS ⏲️
Senior Housing Heroes: Fighting the Good Fight Against Sky-High Costs
Here's a wild statistic that'll make your jaw drop: only 14% of folks over 75 can actually afford in-home care, and 13% can swing assisted living costs, says the International Council on Active Aging.
One Florida grandmother got blindsided when her landlord sold the property with just 30 days' notice. Talk about stress! Luckily, Senior Resource Alliance swooped in like housing superheroes, helping her land an affordable spot at St. Cloud Villas.
Another spunky senior dropped a whopping $500,000 on her grandson's heart condition treatments over several years, because that's what grandmas do! When her savings vanished, the same organization helped her avoid becoming homeless.
Senior Resource Alliance is now planning to build tiny, efficient communities specifically for seniors, proving that sometimes the best solutions come in small packages.
‼️ Check out Senior Resource Alliance, right here.
(Learn more about how SRA helped these seniors with Jeff Allen, right here)
Summer Flavor Tour: 12 Districts, 60+ Restaurants, Two Epic Food Weeks
While Orlando's dining scene usually takes a summer breather, something delicious is brewing! Kicking off tomorrow (Friday) July 25th to August 10th, all 12 Orlando Main Street districts are throwing the ultimate culinary block party for Sip and Savor Weeks, celebrating independent restaurants, cafes, and bars. It’s your passport to neighborhood-hopping food adventures.
More than 60 local hotspots are rolling out prix fixe menus, irresistible experience bundles, and can't-miss promotions across Orlando's coolest neighborhoods.
From Mills 50's flavor-packed multicultural scene to Thornton Park's charming historic vibes, summer dining just got a serious upgrade!
❤️🔥 Check out the full roster of participating spots and their offers, right here.
Dinosaur Fever Hits Enzian: One Special Screening Only
What drives humanity's wild fascination with creatures that vanished 66 million years ago? WHY DINOSAURS follows dinosaur-obsessed James Pinto and his filmmaker father Tony on an epic global adventure alongside leading paleontologists, digging up 150-million-year-old fossils and meeting passionate dino fanatics everywhere.
They hunt down the creative minds behind Jurassic Park and Jurassic World, explore the world's most incredible dinosaur toy collection, and chase the ultimate question: why do these prehistoric giants absolutely captivate us?
Executive producers Jimmy Waldron and Elaine Howard will stick around for an exclusive post-film chat and meet-and-greet. Get ready for hands-on prehistoric displays and snap some amazing photos with Poe, the jaw-dropping animatronic Deinonychus.
🦖Catch this special screening this Sunday (July 27th) at 11:00 a.m. at the Enzian Theater, right here!
WEEKEND SPOT HIGHLIGHT 🔦
Mills Night Market: 1st Anniversary Edition
Image courtesy of the Mills Market
📍Mills Market. 1110 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803. Map to this location.
🕐 Friday, July 25th, 8 p.m. - 11 p.m.
One year strong and ready to celebrate as Mills Night Market: Anniversary Edition returns Friday for an epic birthday bash.
Picture sizzling Asian street eats filling the air, DJ Spinfamous spinning electrifying beats, and a community united in celebration.
🔥 Your ticket unlocks unlimited street food from our chefs and guest vendors, plus non-alcoholic drinks, exclusive anniversary merch, surprise prizes, and cocktails for purchase.
👉 Check It Out
TOP 3 FUN RECS FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊
Opening Reception: A Return to Espero
Image courtesy of the Art & History Museums-Maitland
📍Art & History Museums Maitland. 231 W Packwood Ave, Maitland, FL 32751. Map to this location.
🕐 Friday, July 25th, 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
For nearly a century, the Maitland Art Center's complete origin story seemed known.
That changed with recently discovered letters between artist J. André Smith and philanthropist Mary Curtis Bok revealing an extraordinary creative partnership that transformed Central Florida's artistic landscape.
Guests can enjoy live music by Shine, Kappy's Subs food truck, cash bar, and honoring founder J. André Smith on the stunning National Historic Landmark campus with complimentary admission!
👉 Get more info, right here
Breakfast Club @ Primrose Lanes
Image courtesy of Orlando House Party
📍Primrose Lane. 400 North Primrose Drive Orlando, FL 32803. Map to this location.
🕐 Sunday, July 27th, 10:00 p.m.- 3 p.m.
Orlando, the Breakfast Club returns!
Experience morning magic at Primrose Lanes featuring expanded vinyl DJs (Kaoticblaze | Cruz Control | DJ Cub), vinyl vendors, enhanced brunch menu, and arcade vibes in the Celebrity Room.
Immerse yourself in soul • disco • funk • hip-hop & more while dancing, dining, and bowling!
Space is limited, secure your free RSVP and arrive early for the full experience.
Build community, Breakfast Club style! 🎧🥞
👉 Get the full details
The 4th Annual Vaudeville Variety Show Spectacular
Image courtesy of Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
📍Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater. 445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801. Map to this location.
🕐 Saturday, July 26th, 7:30 p.m.
Step into Orlando's most electrifying musical extravaganza as the LCO's premier Chamber Pops Orchestra and Big Band unleashes a star-studded evening.
Featuring Hungarian jazz clarinetist Joe Fritz, the harmonious Suite Life Barbershop Quartet, thunderous tap duo Jenn Maples and James Stanley, countertenor Terry Barber performing Queen's legendary anthems, vocalist Shelley Keelor, and the powerhouse LCO Big Band.
Four years running, pure magic awaits!
👉 Check it out, right here
MORE WEEKEND HAPPENINGS 🎭 🥁
Multi-Day
HAIR | Fri & Sat | Ivanhoe Village | More
Karaoke Night Weekend | Fri & Sat | Kissimmee | More
Roosevelt Collier | Sat & Sun | Downtown | More
Friday - 25th
🔥Sandbox VR Orlando Grand Opening | 10 a.m. | Pointe Orlando | More
Erin Kinsey | 7 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Jalen Baker | 7 & 9 p.m. | Downtown | More
Gimme Gimme Disco | 8 p.m. | Downtown | More
The Family Reunion Comedy Show | 7:30 p.m. | I-Drive | More
Jeff Rupert Quartet | 8 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Bad Bunny Dance Party | 9 p.m. | Downtown | More
Sunset at the Zoo: Celebrating African American Heritage | 5 p.m. | Sanford | More
Saturday - 26th
🔥 Carrington's Corner Markets | 8 a.m. | Milk District | More
OMYGA Summer Mixer | 6 p.m. | Downtown | More
Celebrating 7 Years of Yoga in the Garden | 9 a.m. | Winter Park | More
Flying Horse Editions 3rd Annual Open House & Benefit Sale | 10 a.m. | Downtown | More
YuGiOh! Regional Qualifier | 10 a.m. | Kissimmee | More
Brian Wilson Tribute: Love & Mercy | 11 a.m. | Maitland | More
Hot Derby Summer presented by Orlando Roller Derby | 12 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
International Vegan Food Festival | 2 p.m. | Downtown | More
Oil Painting Workshop with Andrew Grant | 1 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Sunni's Vegan Family Reunion | 2 p.m. | Milk District | More
Diggy Graves "Crash My Funeral" Tour in Orlando | 7 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Anthony Green | 7:30 p.m. | Downtown | More
Sunday - 27th
Hangover Jazz & Donuts | 12 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Peru Independence Day Celebration | 2 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Easy Living: The Music of Paul Desmond and Jim Hall | 3 p.m. | Winter Park | More
Sandcrawler, Munge, traumabond., and KS23 | 7 p.m. | Mills 50 | More
Todd Rundgren | 8 p.m. | Milk District | More
THANKS!
🧠 Interested in reaching smart readers like you? Grow with us right here.
We’ll see you on Monday.
My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal
