Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando

You learn something every day. So apparently there’s a Reddit group, 145K people strong, dedicated to…….naming cats. 🐈

In today’s issue: 👇

• Essex Rails to Florida Trails

• Phantasmagoria

• Turull’s

• ….and much more

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🛑 Don’t forget to click (or tap) the poll at the bottom of this issue so we know if we’re on the right track. Every time you vote in a poll, our cat Luna gets a little treat. 🐈

Let’s dive in!

- Philip

ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
From Essex Rails to Florida Trails: How One Englishman Shaped Orlando

Imagine a young dreamer from Essex, England, setting sail in 1873 with his wife Mary and three children, bound for Denver. But fate, and a cousin named Jesse, had other plans.

After Mary's stomach-churning Atlantic crossing, the family stopped in Orlando to visit Jesse and decided to stay put. For just $4, Joseph Bumby claimed 160 acres spanning what would someday become the stretch between Summerlin Avenue and Orlando Executive Airport.

While his orange grove matured, Joseph became a frontier multitasker such as mail carrier, founder of "Bumby's Express" (Central Florida's first public transportation). This horse-drawn wagon bounced passengers through twelve dusty hours, connecting frontier Orlando to the outside world. Think Uber, but with more hay and zero air conditioning.

Then by 1880, Orlando's first railroad freight agent. He even turned his warehouse into a makeshift station before Church Street Station was built.

In 1886, he opened Joseph Bumby Hardware Company in a sturdy brick building (the Bumby Building) that would outlive him by over a century. The Essex immigrant became an American citizen in 1897, his family growing to include nine children—the famous "Bumby boys" and three daughters.

Tragedy struck in 1911 when lightning destroyed his colonial home. Joseph died shortly after at 68. Today, that original brick building stands empty but still bears his name, a monument to the Englishman who helped build Orlando from swampland.

(Learn a ton more about Joseph Bumby and the Bumby Building with Ghoststorygirl, right here)

THE SQUEEZE 🍊

From Kitchen Dreams to Career Reality: Second Harvest Transforms Lives One Chef at a Time

The aroma of sautéed onions fills Second Harvest's teaching kitchen, where aspiring chefs are cooking up fresh career opportunities. This 16-week culinary training program transforms adults facing employment barriers into job-ready food service professionals with serious skills.

Students commit Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., diving into hands-on lab sessions with award-winning chef instructors. The immersive approach mirrors real restaurant environments, building both technical skills and confidence through intensive practice at the Food Bank's facilities.

The upcoming session runs July 21 through November 7, 2025, with applications accepted until July 14.

For many participants, these dates mark the beginning of complete career transformations, turning culinary passion into sustainable livelihoods.

🔥 Check out this training program in action, right here.

Florida Accelerates $1.7B I-4 Makeover, Drivers Rejoice

Central Florida drivers just scored a major victory as state lawmakers fast-tracked an ambitious I-4 transformation, pumping $1.7 billion into three game-changing construction projects that were supposed to wait until 2026.

The legislative budget commission's surprise move accelerates express lane expansions across Osceola and Polk Counties, plus the shiny new 3.5-mile Poinciana Connector that will link State Road 429 straight to I-4.

These upgrades promise smooth sailing on express lanes stretching from Seminole County through downtown Orlando all the way to Polk County.

Part of Florida's bold Moving Florida Forward initiative, this funding injection compresses an already ambitious ten-year construction timeline for fourteen miles of I-4 improvements, finally bringing some relief to one of the state's most notorious traffic nightmares.

Community Rallies Around Fire-Displaced Restaurateurs as Phantasmagoria Returns to Maxine's

When flames disrupted Maxine and Kirt Earhart's Fern Park home on June 1st, their beloved culinary hotspot, Maxine on Shine’s (ahem, also Bite30 participants), became the heart of an inspiring community rally.

Devoted diners snatched up gift certificates while neighbors showered the displaced couple with advice and generous support.

The Michelin-selected gem, famous for its show-stopping Sunday brunches since 2012, brings back the deliciously dark Phantasmagoria tomorrow (Tuesday) June 17th.

The atmospheric storytelling troupe serves up "Poe, Through the Tales Darkly," spinning Edgar Allan Poe's spine-tingling classics like "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart" into theatrical gold.

Two performances at 6 and 8 p.m. pair three-course feasts with theatrical thrills for $75. Snag reservations, plus enjoy garden patio mingling from 7-10 p.m.

(Learn more about this community rally to help Maxine’s owners with Matthew J. Palm, right here)

Nine Years Later, Pulse Survivors and Families Step Back Inside for Final Farewell

As demolition looms, survivors and families of those lost in the devastating 2016 Pulse nightclub attack are making deeply personal pilgrimages back to the site where their lives changed forever.

The organized private visits began last Thursday, the day after Orlando marked the ninth anniversary of the tragedy that claimed 49 lives in the terror attack.

Laly Santiago Leon, whose cousin Luis Wilson-Leon and partner J.C. Mendez Perez were killed, described experiencing a sense of healing and better clarity, though noting there will never be true closure.

Orlando officials report 93 people participated during the first two days, with 225-250 total registrations before the former nightclub's demolition.

(Learn more about Pulse survivor and families’ final pilgrimage with Sasha Teman, right here)

TASTY NEWS 🧑‍🍳
Orlando Area Eateries Coming & Going

1️⃣ Seasons 52 - Fresh Flavors Coming to Winter Garden

Something exciting is brewing in Winter Garden Village, where Seasons 52 (Insta) will replace the shuttered Romano's Macaroni Grill. The existing 6,800-square-foot building will get demolished entirely, creating their seasonally-driven restaurant from scratch. The concept celebrates peak-season produce and micro-seasonal ingredients.

2️⃣ Corner Chophouse - James Beard Nominee Targets Winter Park

Corner Chophouse (Insta), helmed by a four-time James Beard Award nominee, opens this summer in Winter Park's Hannibal Square. The steakhouse will blend Florida seafood with dry-aged cuts and shareable sides.

😔 Dearly Departed/ing: Thankfully, none this past week. 🦗

#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸

Fountain of Youth?

📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Crescent Park

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FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩

Turell’s Kitchen & Bar: Orlando's Best-Kept Spanish Secret

📍513 S Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. See location info, right here.

Turull's Kitchen & Bar (aka Turull's Boqueria) (Insta) transports diners straight to Spain without the passport.

This authentic gem serves masterful tapas like creamy Croquetas de Bacalao and sizzling Gambas al Ajillo, plus generous Paella Valenciana perfect for sharing. The modern Spanish atmosphere balances casual comfort with upscale sophistication, while bilingual staff provide exceptional service.

Open Wednesday-Sunday with convenient mall parking at Florida Mall, Orlando's hidden treasure for genuine Spanish flavors.

👉 Check out their MENU, right here 👈

MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out

🥃 Bruichladdich Scotch Tasting 
📅 Tonight (Monday), June 16, 2025 | 6pm 
📍 Bites & Bubbles, Orlando

Guided tasting of five premium Islay Scotches with Global Brand Ambassador Frazer Matthews, featuring paired appetizers.
👉 Reserve Experience

🍖 Meat Bingo at Hollerbach's 
📅 June 17, 2025 | 6-8:30pm 
📍 Hollerbach's German Restaurant, Sanford

Weekly German meat prize bingo benefiting Sanford Seminole Art Association, featuring authentic food and drinks.
👉 Wunderbar Fun

🎮 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

🎯 Dude Perfect: The Hero World Tour 
📅 June 17, 2025 | 7pm 
📍 Kia Center

YouTube sensation brings epic trick shots, hilarious challenges, and interactive entertainment to the stage.
👉 Get Tickets

🍔 Tasty Takeover in The Milk District 
📅 Tuesdays | 6:30-10pm 
📍 The Milk District – E. Robinson St

Orlando's premier weekly food truck block party featuring diverse culinary offerings behind the shops and bars.
👉 Dine Alfresco

🏛️ Third Thursday @ The Museum 
📅 June 19, 2025 | 5-9pm 
📍 Orange County Regional History Center

Monthly late-night museum access with extended hours and special programming. 👉 Explore History

🎭 Comedy Dark 
📅 June 19, 2025 | 8pm 
📍 Grape and the Grain Wine Bar, Mills 50

Outdoor comedy showcase featuring professional comedians performing their most outrageous material. 18+.
👉 Get Wild

🌿 Late Night Thursdays 
📅 Thursdays | 5-8pm 
📍 Leu Gardens

Extended evening hours featuring the Origami in the Garden exhibit with picnicking and drinks allowed.
👉 Evening Stroll

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