Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando
The fam and I finally traversed H Mart this weekend. They’ve re-purposed a Super Target and it’s 100,000 square feet of sensory overload, but tons of Asian yummies up and down every isle! Leading up to that excursion, I did more taste testing for ya’ll and scouted out Shaka Donuts in SoDo. Groovy place, but the consensus from my crew was it’s good to mid.
In today’s issue: 👇
- Celery Fields to Butterfly Wings
- Worm Warriors
- Zen Dumpling
- ….and much more
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Let’s dive in!
- Philip
P.S. 🍲 Want some hawt community sourced foodie recommendations? Check out the Orlando Signal Restaurant Guide, right here.
🔥 Meet your people at the FIRST Orlando Signal Dinner Club
Orlando's amazing, but making real connections is tough.
The Orlando Signal Dinner Club changes that.
Small groups dinners across multiple Milk District restaurants happening Wednesday, October 29th at 6:30 PM. We’ll reveal your exact dining location the morning of. This is actually a fun aspect of the experience!
Take the quiz and we’ll match you with five people you'll actually vibe with by interests, personality, and preferences.
We orchestrate reservations, reminders, light-hearted conversation starters, and setup an optional after meet-up at a nearby venue to keep the conversation flowing.
Bring a friend or significant other? (Optional) At the end of the quiz, you can invite a friend to join. If they sign up within 12 hours, they'll get matched to your table.
Just 16 bucks reserves your seat, and you pay for your meal directly at the restaurant. Easy-peasy.
Orlando's full of incredible people. You're one of them. Let's get you in a room with five more.
🫵 See Details & Start the Quiz →
ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
From Celery Fields to Butterfly Wings: A Century of Growth
Walk through the gates of Lukas Nursery in Oviedo today, and you're stepping onto soil with serious stories to tell, tales that started over a century ago when Paul and Mary Lukas cleared Florida timberland with grit and determination.
These scrappy Czechoslovakian immigrants arrived in America separately. Mary in 1899, Paul in 1905, met in Cleveland, married, and dreamed of farming.
In 1911, as President of the Slavia Colony Company, Paul led families south to unsettled flatwoods outside Oviedo. Most turned back. The Lukas family stayed, cleared the timber, and planted roots that would span generations.
They farmed celery in Sanford's muck fields when it was "The Celery Capital of the World." They pivoted through Depression-era hardships.
In 1973, Paul Martin Jr. launched Lukas Nursery with 50 recycled coffee cans under an old chicken house.
Now, fourth-generation owners Stanley II, Caleb, and Cecelia are writing their boldest chapter: a $5M+ redevelopment of the Butterfly Encounter and Learning Center, catalyzed by Slavia Road's expansion, the largest capital investment in Lukas Nursery's history.
Some roots are simply too deep to abandon.
🦋 Check out Lukas Nursery butterfly encounter, right here.
The Road That Can't Wait: Orlando Sanford Airport's Do-or-Die Connector
After decades of "maybe someday," the Central Florida Expressway Authority finally pulled the trigger on a two-mile toll road connecting State Road 417 to Orlando Sanford International Airport.
The verdict from officials: act now before the development boom makes construction impossible.
The $200 million project has one tiny problem, toll revenues will only cover $48.1 million over 40 years. Oops.
The rest needs help from Seminole County, Sanford, and whoever's handing out state grants. Construction is still years away, including $18.3 million to buy out existing properties along the route.
The window of opportunity is closing fast as new homes pop up daily across the corridor.
(Learn lots more about this toll road plan to Sanford airport with Martin E. Comas, right here)
Going Green, Saving Green: Orange County's Win-Win Strategy
Orange County has cracked the code: going green while keeping budgets in the black. Under Chief Sustainability & Resilience Officer Carrie Black's leadership, the county's eco-initiatives are proving that helping the planet and saving money aren't mutually exclusive, they're best friends.
The numbers are impressive: LED upgrades at the Orange County Convention Center will pocket approximately $700,000 yearly, $14 million over 25 years. Reflective roofing adds another $6 million in savings, while solar panels are set to generate $20.5 million in benefits.
Since 2019, Black's team has snagged over $6 million in grants, funding everything from resilience projects to senior resident assistance programs.
The payoff extends beyond spreadsheets, creating jobs, slashing utility bills, and building a community that's both greener and stronger.
Seminole County Ditches Bus Stops for On-Demand Rides
Say goodbye to sweating at bus stops!
Seminole County launched Scout last Wednesday, swapping most Lynx routes for a tap-and-go transit system run by Miami's Freebee.
The game-changer? Door-to-door service that saves the county $10 million annually from its previous $14 million budget.
Over 30 vehicles zip across five neighborhood zones including Altamonte Springs, Sanford, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Lake Mary, Longwood and Casselberry, with fares from $4 to $14 depending on your journey. Students, seniors, and disabled riders score discounts down to $2.
District 5 Commissioner Andria Herr celebrated the end of roadside waiting and weather woes. County Chair Jay Zembower admitted there'll be growing pains ahead.
Grab rides through the free "ride Freebee" app or dial (407) 665-7433.
(Learn more about Seminole County's new transit system with Joe Mario Pedersen, right here)
The Worm Warriors: Lake Mary Startup Turns Plastic Into Fertilize
In Lake Mary, millions of squirming earthworms are living their best lives.
Wriggle Brew founder Sam Baker discovered that red wigglers and blue Indian worms create killer fertilizer, and their gut bacteria have a shocking superpower: eating plastic.
The magic? Superheat plastic to 500°C, turn it into organic oil, feed it to bacteria who transform it into worm chow. The worms do their thing, and boom: microplastic-free fertilizer.
Armed with a cool $1.2 million NSF grant, Baker's commanding an invertebrate army in an all-out war on plastic pollution.
(Learn more about worm-powered fertilizer with Paul Giorgio, right here)
✈️ Orlando’s best flight deal
Trade the palm trees for skyline views this Fall. While everyone else is chasing tropical warmth, savvy travelers know that Chicago in the cooler months means cheaper flights, smaller crowds, and that famous deep-dish tastes even better when there's a brisk breeze outside. This week's deal gets you to the Windy City without blowing your budget.
Orlando (MCO) → Chicago (O'Hare International Airport) for 54 bucks, round-trip weekend in mid-November. 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 SOON: Walter’s Tavern - Aviation-Inspired Bar Landing in Packing District
The team behind Papi Smash'd Burgers is opening Walter's Tavern (Insta), a 3,800-square-foot bar inside The Packing District's historic Great Southern Box Company Food Hall. The tavern will feature live entertainment, an elevated sports-viewing experience and craft cocktails for locals and visitors alike.
#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸
Spooky Nona
📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Lake Nona
Tag @orlandosignal to get your photo featured in the newsletter!
FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩
Zen Dumpling
📍423 N Alafaya Trail, Orlando FL, 32828. Map to this location.
At Zen Dumpling (Insta), ancient tradition meets contemporary dining through their legendary Xiao Long Bao, Shanghai's iconic soup dumplings featuring thin wrappers encasing seasoned pork and hot broth created from gelatinized meat stock.
Guests witness the magic through live dumpling-making demonstrations, then savor authentic dishes from Dan Dan noodles to Sweet & Sour Baby Ribs, Mongolian Beef, and Brown Sugar Milk Tea with Boba.
Each bite delivers exceptional flavor with purpose, connecting cultures through cuisine crafted with soul.
👉 Check out the menu right here 👈
Source: Zen Dumpling
MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out
🎭 The Hound of the Baskervilles
📅 Now through Sunday, November 2nd
📍 Orlando Shakes, 812 E Rollins Street
Hilarious adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes classic with three actors playing a dozen roles in this madcap Halloween-season production.
👉 Mystery & Mayhem
🛒 Audubon Park Community Market
📅 Monday, October 20th | 5-8pm
📍 Stardust Video & Coffee, 1842 E. Winter Park Road
Weekly gathering featuring local growers, artisans, and musicians with fresh Florida produce, prepared meals, and live entertainment.
👉 Local Harvest
🎨 3rd Annual "itty bitty art" Expo
📅 Monday, October 6th - Friday, November 28th
📍 Historic Sanford Welcome Center, 230 E. First Street, Sanford
Exhibition of 100+ mini paintings available for purchase with People's Choice voting and free drawing to win artwork; Artist Reception October 23rd, 6-8 p.m.
👉 Tiny Treasures
🎮 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
🍷 Tastemaker Tuesday - Wine Blending Class
📅 Tuesday, October 21st | 6:30pm
📍 CityArts Gallery, 39 S. Magnolia Ave
Craft your own custom red blend with head winemaker guidance, artisanal snacks, and after-hours gallery access.
👉 Blend & Sip
🍔 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
🍃 October Plant-Based Potluck
📅 Wednesday, October 22nd | 6-7:30pm
📍 4Roots Farm Campus
Community gathering with plant-based dishes and conversation about food, sustainability, and healthier living.
👉 Share & Connect
🎵 Music and Story Time with Mark DeMaio
📅 Wednesday, October 22nd | 11-11:30am
📍 Mennello Museum of American Art
Percussive sing-along and story time exploring visual and musical arts, perfect for young art lovers.
👉 Kid-Friendly Fun
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THANKS!
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Thanks for reading! I’ll see you again on Thursday’s weekend fun issue.
My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal
