Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando
The coffee creativity and flavor in Orlando never cease to amaze me. I guess there’s a first time for everything, but we tried Deeply Coffee downtown on Saturday morning and picked up Stroopwafel Latte’s. Next-level goodness right there.
In today’s issue: 👇
- Serving Turkey Legs
- Rise and Ride
- Osteria Ester
- ….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.
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ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
From Selling Soap, to Serving Turkey Legs
The Kress Building in DTO is part wedding cake (ornate layered appearance), part time-machine, and cleverly L-shaped to boot.
Named after the S.H. Kress & Co. retail chain that built it, this flagship "five and dime" store has frontages on both Church Street and Orange Avenue, catching shoppers from two of Orlando's busiest corners.
When architect Edward F. Sibbert finished it in 1936, he dressed steel-reinforced concrete in cream terra cotta and added tiny parrot sculptures above the windows, because why not reference the pet department with permanent birds?
After nearly forty years of selling dish soap and sundries, the store closed in 1974. Then things got weird. The building became Shakespeare's Tavern (later becoming King Henry’s Feast), a medieval dinner theater serving turkey legs where housewares once lived. Knights jousted, patrons feasted, and somehow it all made sense in downtown Orlando. The operation eventually relocated to International Drive in 1986, rebranding as King Henry's Feast and entertaining tourists until 2000.
Now, Sullivan Properties has given the building new life: Kres Chophouse occupies the ground floor serving steaks beneath original high ceilings, while Starter Studio's tech incubator fills the upper levels.
From five-and-dime to jousting knights to Silicon Valley hopefuls, this Art Deco beauty has seen it all.
THE SQUEEZE 🍊
Inside Job: How 44 Residents Became County Government Insiders
Ever wonder what actually happens inside county government? Forty-four Orange County residents found out this fall through the Mayor's Citizens Academy, and they're still talking about it.
The ten-week program turns curious residents into civic insiders through facility tours, meet-and-greets with department leaders, and up-close looks at county operations.
One participant geeked out watching craftsmen build street signs with surprising precision. Another, a recent immigrant, finally cracked the code on how American local government actually works.
The fall session wrapped with a graduation ceremony celebrating a fresh batch of civic insiders who now see their community through completely different eyes.
⁉️ Interested in joining the Spring 2026 Mayor's Citizens Academy cohort, then visit right here.
Rise and Ride: An Early Morning Art Adventure by Rail
The Sort of Brutally Early series is back, daring art lovers to ditch their pillows for a sunrise adventure this Wednesday, December 17th.
Roll out of bed and meet fellow early birds at CityArts Café at 7:30 a.m. Grab free coffee, then hop aboard SunRail's 8:23 a.m. northbound train from Church Street Station with the group, arriving at Maitland Station at 8:47 a.m..
At 9:30 a.m., curator Dan Hess leads a private tour of the Art & History Museums of Maitland.
When the tour wraps at 10:30 a.m., hunger may strike, and tradition calls. The route back to the station passes Kappy's Subs, that storied local haunt where regulars have been filling up for decades. An early lunch here sets up the journey home: the 11:59 a.m. southbound train returns travelers to Church Street by 12:21 p.m.
All of this unfolds thanks to organizer Pat Greene, who continues proving the early bird doesn't just catch the worm, sometimes it catches great art, too.
🔥 Reserve your spot, right here!
Beyond the Medicine Cabinet as Arts Program Targets Senior Health
Forget pill bottles and medical charts: buckets of clay, drumsticks, and dance shoes are making their way into Share the Care's Adult Day Health Centers.
Creative Aging, a pilot program uniting Share the Care, Senior Resource Alliance, United Arts of Central Florida, and AdventHealth, launched in October with a simple premise: art might be just what the doctor ordered.
The eight-week courses offer drumming and percussion, ceramic flower bowl making, poetry and collage, and global dance exploration.Each class accommodates participants facing dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease.
Research shows regular creative activities correlate with better sleep, reduced pain, and less medication use among older adults, a low-cost complement to traditional healthcare as America's senior population heads toward doubling by 2050.
(Learn a lot more about the Creative Aging program, right here)
Drinking Water Dilemma: Waste Not, Want Not
Central Florida is heading toward a new reality: drinking recycled wastewater.
At pureALTA in Altamonte Springs, treated sewage becomes crystal-clear tap water that tastes completely normal.
New state rules now permit potable reuse, turning yesterday's flush into tomorrow's refreshment through advanced treatment like ultraviolet sanitization.
The push comes as Central Florida faces a 41% water demand spike by 2045, straining the massive Floridan aquifer system. Some critics dismiss it as gross "toilet to tap," arguing officials care more about development than health.
But with 37 states now regulating water reuse, the trend is undeniable. The technology works. The water's ready. The real question: are Floridians ready to embrace their inner water cycle? 🤣
I know it sounds gross 👆, but I grew up in Southern California drinking this water, from the garden hose no less, while outside playing for years. All good!
(Learn more about our recycled water future with Molly Duerig, right here)
✈️ Orlando’s best flight deal - Monuments and museums edition
Here's what they don't tell you about Washington, DC in late January: it's actually perfect. Yeah, it's cold, but that means you're wandering world-class museums without fighting through tour groups, grabbing a seat at that Georgetown cafe everyone raves about, and standing alone with Jefferson while snow dusts the Tidal Basin. This is when the city stops performing and just... is.
Orlando (MCO) → Washington, D.C. (BWI) for 58 bucks*, round-trip Thursday through Sunday in late January See the deal.
*Price shown above is accurate as of the time this newsletter was sent.
TASTY NEWS 🧑🍳
Orlando Area Eateries Coming & Going
1️⃣ COMING JANUARY 2026: Jiang’s Kitchen - Dumplings Take Center Stage
Jiang's Kitchen (website) arrives in downtown Orlando this January 2026, where an open-view dumpling station puts the magic on display. Watch soup dumplings come to life, then dig into beef, shrimp, pork, and crab varieties alongside authentic Chinese dishes, Shanghai specialties, and sushi across 86 tables of deliciousness.
2️⃣ NOW OPEN: Mi Ranchito Oaxaqueño - From Food Truck to Forever
After years slinging tacos from a food truck on South Semoran Boulevard, Mi Ranchito Oaxaqueño (Insta) has finally traded wheels for walls. The family-run spot on N Chickasaw Trail brings authentic Oaxacan flavors to Orlando through tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and tlayudas made with quesillo imported straight from southern Mexico.
3️⃣ OPENING SOON: Seasons of India - Fusion Flavors Hitting Orlando's Southside
Seasons of India (FB) is ready to spice things up any day now on Orange Blossom Trail, mixing Indian, Mexican, and Chinese flavors into one tasty menu. The fusion concept was refined through ghost kitchens before landing its brick-and-mortar home, serving Indian-spiced tacos, hakka noodles, and samosa chaat.
#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸
The illustrious Kress Building
📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Downtown
Tag @orlandosignal to get your photo featured in the newsletter!
FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩
Osteria Ester
📍629 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801. Map to this location.
Osteria Ester (Insta) quietly began welcoming guests last week, marking the sixth concept from Good Salt Restaurant Group alongside The Osprey, Reyes Mezcaleria, The Monroe, Sparrow, and Seito Sushi Baldwin Park.
Chef Michael Cooper, the talent behind The Osprey, channels his New Jersey roots, those Sunday dinners and beloved red-sauce joints that defined his childhood.
Osteria Ester is his delicious homage: comforting Italian-American classics made with heart, designed for passing plates, pouring wine, and lingering long after the last bite.
👉 Check out the menu right here 👈
Source: Osteria Ester - Veal Alla Parmigiana ☝️
MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out
🎨 OCLS Wonders of Winter
📅 Monday, December 15th | 10:30am
📍 Orange County Library System, North Orange Branch, Apopka
Explore wintertime wonders through stories, crafts, and activities for children.
👉 Winter Fun
🍔 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
🎅 Santa's Coming To Kelly's!
📅 Wednesday, December 17th | 5-7pm
📍 Kelly's Homemade Ice Cream, Audubon Park
Complimentary photos with Santa courtesy of Cannonfire Photography while enjoying ice cream.
👉 Ho Ho Ho
🩰 The Nutcracker
📅 Wednesday, December 17th | 7:30pm
📍 Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Orlando Ballet's premier holiday production featuring Clara's enchanting journey with pre-show children's activities during select performances.
👉 Holiday Magic
🎄 Ho Ho Ho Holiday Party
📅 Wednesday, December 17th | 6pm
📍 Celebration Brewing Co., 1601 Future Way, Celebration
Festive evening with new friends, brews, holiday bingo, and optional gift exchange ($25 max); casual/festive attire.
👉 Holiday Cheer
🎭 Stocking Stuffer Dinner Show
📅 Wednesday, December 17th | 6pm & 8pm
📍 Maxine's On Shine
Romantic comedy paired with three-course Michelin-recommended dinner for the ultimate holiday date night.
👉 Date Night Magic
🎨 3rd Thursday Orlando: Art. Making. History.
📅 Thursday, December 18th | 4:30-9pm
📍 CityArts Orlando
Monthly celebration featuring art vendors, live music, gallery openings, and complimentary History Center admission throughout downtown.
👉 Arts District
🕊️ Blue Christmas
📅 Thursday, December 18th | 6:30pm
📍 Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 130 N. Magnolia Ave
Contemplative service with choir offering gentle space for those experiencing grief, stress, or loss during the holidays.
👉 Find Peace
💼 Intelligent Singles Mixer
📅 Thursday, December 18th | 7-10pm
📍 The Capital Grille, 9101 International Drive
Evening of connection and possibility meeting new friends and potential romantic interests in upscale setting.
👉 Make Connections
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
