Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando
Your resident donut savant (me!) is turning into a cookie savant, too. I was at the Glass Knife in Winter Park this weekend getting coffee with the fam, and there she was. It was love at first sight. Before me in the glass case was a beautiful lemon lavender cookie seducing me. 😭
In today’s issue: 👇
- Pedaling Through History
- Miracle League
- Mister O1
- ….and much more
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Let’s dive in!
- Philip
ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
Pedaling Through History: The Forgotten Hero of Orlando's First Bicycle Club
Talk about a snapshot in time! In 1895, the Orlando Bicycle Club posed proudly at the county courthouse, their handlebar mustaches as polished as their bicycle spokes. Little did they know they were preserving an image of the magnificent red-brick Romanesque building that would vanish by the 1950s.
Behind this cycling craze stood Leslie Pell-Clarke, a wealthy northerner who brought his pedal-pushing passion south in 1890. While Orlando locals were still mastering horseback, Pell-Clarke was mapping bicycle routes and building the city's first golf course along Lake Eola—because apparently one outdoor hobby wasn't enough!
In a twist of historical irony, Pell-Clarke's donated home site eventually became the 1927 courthouse—now housing the Orange County Regional History Center that guards his cycling club's photograph. Talk about coming full circle!
Even his nephew Duncan made waves in Orlando, hosting lavish parties with silent film star Helen Gardner at what would become the historic Leu House.
Today's Orlando cyclists dodge cars instead of horse carriages, but the city's 45 miles of trails honor those Victorian velocipede enthusiasts who helped wheel a frontier town into the modern age—one pedal stroke at a time.
(Learn a ton more about the Orlando Bicycle Club and see historic photos with Vanessa Sardon, right here)
THE SQUEEZE 🍊
Orlando's Economic Magic: The Unexpected Job Growth Champion
Move over, rival metros! Orlando has officially claimed the crown as America's fastest-growing job market among major cities, snagging this coveted title for the first time since 2016.
Fresh Florida Department of Commerce data shows employment rocketing up by 2.5% in 2024, creating a whopping 37,500 jobs—more than double the initially reported 16,000. That's 103 new positions every single day!
Healthcare pumped in 6,900 jobs while tourism packed in 7,700 more. Meanwhile, tech and finance sectors outshined national trends with ThreatLocker, BNY Mellon, and Charles Schwab leading the charge.
As 23,000 new workers flood in, Orlando's economic engine keeps purring. Now the Orlando Economic Partnership has its sights set on 2045, aiming to become a magnet for the world's brightest innovators.
(Learn more about this Orlando job growth data and breakdown with Neil Hamilton, right here)
Fresh Start Inside Orlando's Hip New Haven for Homeless Youth
Orlando's homeless youth are getting a cool new hangout with purpose when SALT Outreach's drop-in center launched April 9 in Pine Hills, offering way more than just a place to chill.
The 1,800-square-foot space delivers showers, laundry, computers, mental health help, and life guidance for vulnerable 16-to-24-year-olds.
SALT's Executive Director Eric Camarillo brings personal passion to the project—he faced homelessness at 20 himself. Talk about coming full circle!
This well-timed haven addresses Orlando's alarming 28% spike in homelessness. Backed by HUD funding plus local support, it's a bright spot for youth who've aged out of foster care, escaped tough situations, or been shown the door by their families.
(Learn more about this drop-in day center with McKenna Schueler, right here)
Beyond Bookshelves: How Orange County Libraries Hit the Road
Look out, Central Florida—your library might just come to you! Orange County Library System already zips books to doorsteps for 1.4 million residents through free delivery services running since 1979.
Spot OCLS's quirky book bikes pedaling through community events, or wait for the grand return of the Bookmobile in March 2026—a reading road trip tradition from 1949 now upgraded with tech perks.
Beyond traditional lending, your library card unlocks digital wonderlands of e-books and streaming content.
Even hospitalized kids get special "Library Takeover" days, proving OCLS's commitment to ensuring nobody misses out on literary adventures, regardless of circumstances.
⁉️ Have a library card yet? No? Get one right here.
Extra Innings: Beloved Miracle League Seeks Support
For two decades, Orlando's Miracle League has been knocking disabilities out of the park at Trotter Park. Players like Stephanie Muniz—who once triumphantly walked home despite her cerebral palsy—find magic in these Saturday games.
But now, their cracking field and lack of accessible bathrooms are throwing curveballs at this beloved program.
State Rep. Anna Eskamani pitched in with $80,000 in donations, but they're still $200,000 short of their goal. (learn more and/or help, right here)
The impact? Just ask newcomer Malic Groh, who now practices his batting motion all day long after joining the 70-player league.
These games create those rare, beautiful moments where, as Muniz puts it, heaven touches earth and disabilities temporarily vanish.
(Learn more about the Orlando Miracle League’s shortfall with Michael Cuglietta, right here)
TASTY NEWS 🧑🍳
Orlando Area Eateries Coming & Going
1️⃣ ÔBON Chocolatier - Orlando's New Chocolate Jewel
Light on the Sugar's artisanal spinoff, ÔBON Chocolatier (Insta), is landing at East End Market this spring. The passion project of a veteran pastry chef will feature two dozen premium bon bons, seasonal treats, and gift-worthy confections.
2️⃣ Moa Kai Hawaiian Diner - Island Oasis Coming to Mills 50
This June, Moa Kai Hawaiian Diner arrives in the former Mongolorian location, named for Hawaii's feral chickens. The full-service eatery will serve island favorites like saimin soup, Spam musubi and loco moco alongside tropical cocktails, bringing fresh aloha spirit to Orlando's dining scene.
#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸
Haha! Outside of Night Owl Cookies. By the way, their cookies are 🔥.
📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Winter Park
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FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩
Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza
📍5062 W Colonial Dr #110, Orlando, Florida 32808. Map to this location.
Chef Renato Viola brought his award-winning talent to Orlando in 2023 with Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza (Insta).
His "Extraordinary Artistic Ability" O1 visa inspired the name. The star-shaped Star Luca wows with its ricotta-filled crust, while the coffee-dusted Paolo pizza delivers unexpectedly rich flavors.
Enhance any slice with their Spicy Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Beyond stellar pizzas, indulge in their decadent Nutella dessert pizza—available with bananas or as a calzone.
👉 Check out Mister O1, right here
MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out
🔥 Firefly Hikes
📅 April 15, 18, 21, & 25, 2025 | Until 9pm
📍 Oakland Nature Preserve
Evening access to the boardwalk to observe fireflies with staff available to answer questions.
👉 No Cost
🌍 Earth Day Celebration
📅 April 15, 2025
📍 Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
55th anniversary celebration featuring local conservation groups, butterfly releases, educational activities, and a children's scavenger hunt.
👉 Launch Into Action
🍽️ Taste of Winter Park
📅 April 16, 2025 | 6:30-9:30pm
📍 Winter Park Farmers' Market
Culinary showcase featuring 40 local restaurants, rated wines, craft beer garden, cocktails, and live music.
👉 Savor More
🏛️ Spring Friday Nights at The Morse
📅 Now through April 25, 2025 | 5-8pm
📍 The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
Evening museum access with live musical performances, no admission charge.
👉 Visit
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
