Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando
Halloween was a smashing success in my hood. I heard reports something like 1500 kids came through, filling their bags with all kinds of yummys. I took a stroll early in the evening and someone had a friggin cotton candy tent set up in their side yard serving spun sugar to eager kids. Next level!
Then on Saturday, we ventured downtown and strolled through the Lake Eola Fall Fiesta. I know a moderate amount of people try to avoid downtown, but my unsolicited advice is…..reconsider. Don’t miss out on fun events.
In today’s issue: 👇
- Putting on the Ritz
- Orlando's First ECPR Save
- Schweini's Delicatessen
- ….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.
ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
Putting on the Ritz For Over 100 Years
In downtown Sanford, the Ritz Theater has seen it all: flappers, talkies, disco, and everything in between.
The party started in July 1923 when the Milane Theatre opened its doors. Georgia architects Scroggs and Ewing designed an 823-seat showstopper that had opening night crowds literally fighting for seats. Silent films flickered across the screen, followed by Sanford's first professional opera and eventually those newfangled "talkies."
Re-christened the Ritz in 1936, the theater became the place for date nights and Saturday matinees. But suburban multiplexes crashed the party in 1978, shuttering the beloved venue. For years, it sat empty and crumbling.
Enter Helen Stairs, local hero. In 1998, she rallied a nonprofit to save the old girl. By 2000, the lights blazed again and the National Register of Historic Places came calling in 2001.
Thanks to the Wayne Densch Charitable Trust's generous funding, renovations in 2008 and 2015 brought the house back to its former glory. Today, over 60 annual events keep the magic alive, proof that great stories never really end.
🎥 Check out this 3-minute video to see the Ritz Theater’s evolution and historical photos, right here.
THE SQUEEZE 🍊
A Second Chance: Orlando's First ECPR Save Reunites With His Heroes
Back in August, Lorenzo Davis, 60, had the worst day ever at a 7-11 on Vineland Road….his heart stopped. Lucky for him, a quick-thinking bystander started CPR while Orlando Fire Department crews from Engine 10 and Medic 171 raced to the scene, triggering an ECPR alert to AdventHealth's revolutionary program launched last March.
The ECMO machine became Davis's temporary heart and lungs, keeping him alive while doctors worked their magic. He hit all the right criteria: witnessed arrest, CPR within ten minutes, hospital arrival under 45 minutes.
Last Wednesday, Davis reunited with his heroes. AdventHealth honored the first responders who made Orlando Fire Department history with their first ECMO save, proving that teamwork and technology can literally keep you alive.
🧐 Learn all about ECPR, right here.
SunRail Finally Gets a Nightlife
After a decade of "why can't I ride past 8 p.m.?" complaints, SunRail is adding late-night trains following an Oct. 23 vote by the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission, the first major schedule shake-up since 2014.
The highlight: DeLand's final departure jumps from a dinner-killing 7:55 p.m. to a respectable 10 p.m., actually letting riders enjoy the city's nightlife. Seminole County Commissioner Amy Lockhart praised the move as minimal effort with maximum impact.
The brilliance? Converting ghost trains that ran empty at night into actual passenger service. Now the 9:56 p.m. southbound run hits Sanford, Lake Mary, Longwood, and Altamonte Springs, while new northbound options plug annoying schedule gaps. Cheers to that!
(Learn a lot more about SunRail’s night-time expansion with Isaac Benjamin Babcock, right here)
Orange County Goes All-In on Affordable Housing with $58.5M Play
Orange County commissioners just green-lit $58.5 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund through 2028, aiming to create or save 5,000 homes for workers earning 30% to 80% of the area median income. Think individuals making up to $59,050 or families pulling in $84,300.
The trust fund's been crushing it since 2020, by filling those pesky financing gaps developers always face. Voters loved it so much they made it permanent last year, bumping investments from $17.7 million in 2026 to $21.3 million by 2028.
Sweet bonus 👉 Impact fee waivers are saving projects millions, making it easier for teachers and service workers to actually live where they work.
(Learn more about Orange County's plan to build 5,000 affordable homes with Tyler Williams, right here)
Orlando's Kia Center Now Runs on Sunshine
Orlando just pulled off an impressive energy feat. At the beginning of last month, the Kia Center and Water Conserv II plant flipped to 100% solar power through Orlando Utilities Commission's Community Solar program, launching the city's municipal renewable energy from 30% to 50% in one electrifying move.
Mayor Buddy Dyer says going green doesn't mean sacrificing green, it's fiscally brilliant. Now every concert, every Magic game, every spotlight moment runs on pure Florida sunshine instead of fossil fuels.
Three more facilities: Englewood, Rosemont, and Primrose Neighborhood Centers, will join the solar party by year's end, propelling Orlando toward its ambitious 2027 goal: 100% renewable municipal energy, three years ahead of schedule.
✈️ Orlando’s best flight deal - Mountains and river bends edition
December in Chattanooga brings a cozy mountain charm to this riverside city. The Tennessee River sparkles under winter skies, Lookout Mountain offers crisp hiking with stunning views, and there's something magical about exploring this revitalized town when holiday lights twinkle along the waterfront and the mountain air feels just right.
Orlando (MCO) → Chattanooga (CHA) for 82 bucks, round-trip in mid-December for a weekend. 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 THIS MONTH: Hazel’s Cabo Rico - A Taste of Two Islands
Hazel's Cabo Rico (Insta) is serving up heritage. The new stationary food truck at Food Truck Haven in Kissimmee blends Cape Verdean authenticity with Puerto Rican soul, transforming bicultural memories into dishes like catupa with linguiça and chimichurri-stuffed rice balls. Where two island cultures meet on one unforgettable menu.
2️⃣ EARLY NEXT YEAR: Philly Pretzel Factory - Winter Garden to Welcome Iconic Pretzel Destination
Philly Pretzel Factory (Insta) is bringing its beloved twisted treats to downtown Winter Garden, with a targeted March 2026 opening. The Philadelphia-born shop will bake pretzels fresh on-site daily using premium ingredients, paired with rotating seasonal dips.
😢 Dearly departed/departing: After 25 years, Cindy’s Cafe & Cuban Kitchen announced its closure last week due to its building getting torn down and one of the owner’s declining health.
#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸
Drying off
📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Laureate Park
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FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩
Schweini's Delicatessen - A Bavarian Gem in Winter Garden
📍108 S Main St, Winter Garden, FL 34787. Map to this location.
Schweini's Delicatessen has captured Orlando's heart, earning Best Sandwiches and Best Deli from Orlando Sentinel and landing as a Top 3 Finalist in Orlando Weekly's awards.
This Winter Garden hotspot turns German classics into towering, flavor-packed sandwiches that feel like a celebration. From the legendary "The German," their Cuban-inspired masterpiece, to house-made pretzels with spicy beer cheese, every bite showcases premium ingredients and bold flavors.
Cold German biers, house-made cheesecakes, and a pet-friendly vibe…Yes please!
👉 Check out the menu right here 👈
Source: Schweini's Delicatessen
MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out
🎨 Orlando Senior Expo
📅 Monday, November 3rd | 10am-1pm
📍 Orlando Museum of Art
Connect with local organizations dedicated to helping seniors and families, featuring prize drawings, refreshments, and health screenings.
👉 Senior Resources
🎨 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
🍔 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
🎵 Winter Park Village Fall Concert Series
📅 Tuesday, November 4th | 6-8pm
📍 Winter Park Village
Weekly live music by the fountain featuring rotating local musicians in a family-friendly outdoor setting.
👉 Music Under Stars
🎮 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
🍷 Domu 9th Anniversary Wine Down Wednesday
📅 Wednesday, November 5th | 5:30-9pm
📍 DOMU at East End Market, 3201 Corrine Drive
Anniversary celebration with bottomless drinks, DJ Coast, outdoor courtyard party, light bites, and raffle ticket included.
👉 Wine & Celebrate
🛍️ KaleidoScope 360° & Luminary Market
📅 Wednesday, November 5th | 6:30-10pm
📍 Luminary Green Park, 437 N Terry Ave
Monthly market with unique vendors followed by outdoor screening of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" with LED visuals at 7pm.
👉 Shop & Watch
🍽️ Taste of College Park
📅 Thursday, November 6th | 6-9pm
📍 Great Southern Box Company, 2105 N Orange Blossom Trail
Charity event featuring 16+ restaurants, curated wines and craft beverages, silent auction, and 50/50 raffle benefiting the community.
👉 Taste for a Cause
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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
