Foster Kids Found Christmas Magic

December 28, 2023

Reading time: 4.5 minutes

Good afternoon, Orlando! As we close out 2023, I want to sincerely thank our loyal readers. It’s a privilege to engage with you the past several months. My aim is always to provide content that enlightens, uplifts, and spreads more positivity. If I have achieved that in some small way, I am grateful.

In today’s Orlando Signal, Thursday (weekend fun) issue:

  • Foster kids found Christmas magic

  • Peacocks, presidents, & puzzles

  • The Debonair Supper Club

  • + many weekend NYE recs

Let’s get on with it!

- Philip

P.S. Happy belated birthday to Robbie Crysell.

QUICK NEWS BITS ⏲️
Jumping for Joy: Foster Kids Found Christmas Magic

The foster kids piled excitedly onto the buses, Christmas magic awaiting. Though skies threatened rain, smiles shined brighter than any decoration. 21-year-old David Butler simply felt grateful to share the holiday with familiar faces. He had bounced between temporary shelters since 12, making days like this a respite from loneliness.

These annual yuletide adventures were the brainchild of foster mom Penny Jones. A decade prior she had pioneered "Jump on the Bus" after seeing how the season spotlighted the isolation of foster youths. She transformed the outing into a beloved tradition.

The convoy transported the laughing group to a winter wonderland at Gaylord Palms. Later stops brought bowling, bumper cars, feasting, and rollercoasters. By day's end, tired feet and wide grins foretold memories outweighing any material gift.

And in the smiles surrounding him, David Butler found the meaning of Christmas - because home isn't always a place, but rather the people you share your life with.

Taste of Home: How a Filipino Restaurant Fosters Kinship in Orlando

When Kaya opened in Orlando’s Mills 50 district over a year ago, it brought the city its first Filipino restaurant. But Chef Lo Lalicon and co-owner Jamilyn Salonga Bailey have served up more than cuisine—they’ve fostered community.

As the only Filipino establishment in the Asian food enclave, Kaya holds karaoke nights, vendors markets, and more, seamlessly blending tradition with modern vibes. Erica Abalos-Hernandez, a fellow Filipino American business owner, says dining there brings catharsis, reminding her of childhood when Filipino culture felt confined to her home.

The first time Abalos-Hernandez ate at Kaya, emotion washed over her. Now she regularly brings friends or family, like visiting with her parents after their recent Philippines trip. She also brings her two daughters, hoping to nurture the cultural pride she lacked as a child.

On Friday afternoons, they cool off with Japanese shaved ice from the adjoining dessert shop. For Abalos-Hernandez, celebrating different Asian cultures shows the next generation they belong.

In many ways, Kaya has grown beyond a restaurant into a figurative and literal taste of home, nurturing bonds within the Filipino community and beyond.

A Bright Light in A City of Shadows

In Orlando's historic Parramore neighborhood, hope and hardship walk hand-in-hand. This community has long housed most of Central Florida's homeless services. But resident Anna Ashie, president of the Lake Dot Village Neighborhood Association, sees the $5.2 million in recent funding for a new Christian Service Center comprehensive homeless campus as a bright light amid the continuing struggle.

The CSC campus will offer showers, laundry, storage, and access to housing, healthcare and other critical resources while awaiting housing and employment assistance.

Ashie says she was glad to see the investment, but wants it to be a model for what other Orlando neighborhoods should do to assist the unsheltered locally. The CSC aims to serve up to 350 individuals daily, supporting over 3,000 annually, to align with the city’s goal to cut homelessness in half in 3 years.

While praising the CSC and raising three boys in her beloved, diverse community, Ashie knows Parramore’s realities. She recalls homeless attempting to use her lawn as a bathroom, underscoring the need for more public options until the recent addition of portable toilets at Lake Dot Park. At the story’s heart is Ashie’s devotion to Parramore’s rich history. She and her husband purposefully chose to raise their family there in an area reflecting their background.

The city may find its bright light towards uplifting the marginalized in Ashie’s rising voice.

WEEKEND SPOT HIGHLIGHT 🔦
Winter Park Historic Walking Tour - Peacocks, Presidents & Puzzles

📍401 S Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Map to this location.

🕐 Tours which depart after 5:00pm and on Sundays originate from the benches in front of the City of Winter Park Administrative Building, located at 401 South Park Avenue

👉 Get more info, right here.

Hidden away amongst sunny citrus groves and glistening lakes lies a charming city with storied secrets. Founded in 1887 amid Florida’s pioneer days, Winter Park has blossomed into a Mediterranean-style oasis harboring over a century’s worth of fascinating history waiting to be unveiled.

Uncover the intriguing stories behind the genteel brick-lined streets, shaded oak canopies, and vibrant Park Avenue cafés of this lakeside locale. From its early days as a winter retreat for elite industrial tycoons to hosting presidential getaways and celebrity residents, Winter Park’s past is as eclectic as the chic boutiques dotting its downtown.

You’ll hear captivating tales of visionary city founders, pioneering edificators, and influential figures while standing in their very footsteps. From Rollins College's humble beginnings to extravagant hotels catering to America’s rich and powerful during the early 1900s, the live oaks here have witnessed it all.

Whether you call Winter Park home or are just visiting, prepare to time travel on this walking tour through evolving eras of culture, innovation, style, and prosperity reflecting both Florida’s history and one of its best kept secrets. The sights, stories, and spirit of this Central Florida gem await.

TOP 3 FUN RECS FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊
A New Jewel Sparkles in Downtown's Nightlife Crown - The Debonair Supper Club

📍183 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801. Map to this location.

🕐 Grand Opening on New Year’s Eve.

The Debonair Supper Club, entrepreneur Mohammad Jalil’s passion project, is set to make its grand debut on New Year’s Eve, ushering in 2024 with spectacular style.

The prime location inside The Plaza, where Jalil also resides, will exude chic sophistication across its sweeping 6,100 square feet of custom-crafted details.

From mosaic floors personally selected by Versace to intricate ironwork gates, Debonair enthralls with its fusion of refinement and whimsy. Its wraparound patio is guarded by striking carved figures as DJ beats fill the vibrant lounge inside.

No detail has been overlooked for the venue’s signature flair, which will be on full display New Year’s Eve with a “Homecoming 2024”-themed soiree. When the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, the celebrations are sure to still be in full swing at downtown’s newest hot spot - one destined to be the talk of the town in the year to come.

Thornton Park New Year's Eve Street Party


📍700 East Washington St. Orlando FL 32801 Map to this location.

🕐 Sunday, December 31st, 8:30pm - 2:00am

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, will you be among the revelers celebrating the start of a bright new year at the iconic Thornton Park Street Party? For over a decade, this lively block party has welcomed all who seek festive fun and memorable moments to ring in the next chapter.

Whether you don fancy formalwear or prefer casual comfort, you'll find your crowd among the diverse celebration spanning two and a half vibrant city blocks. Six lively venues featuring talented DJs will keep your energy and spirits soaring sky-high well into the early hours.

Not one, but two rockin’ stages bookend the party equipped with massive screens to pump up the excitement. For the VIPs, an exclusive venue and performance stage promises a supremely unforgettable night out.

As the confetti cannons blast and champagne toasts commence, be part of the electric excitement as Thornton Park rocks in another new year in classic style! Revel in live music, delight in gourmet bites, connect with old and new friends - the night is yours to seize at Central Florida's premier New Year’s Eve bash.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue


📍STEINMETZ HALL 445 South Magnolia Ave. Orlando, FL 32801. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, December 30th. 2:30pm and 7:30pm

At just four years old, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews made his debut at the esteemed New Orleans Jazz Fest, performing alongside legend Bo Diddley. By six, this prodigy was fronting his own talented brass band. His supreme musical gifts soon caught the attention of rock icon Lenny Kravitz, who recruited the young virtuoso for his coveted world tour ensemble.

While masterfully playing brass instruments has its perks, Andrews brings much more to the table as a versatile artist, magnetic showman, and consummate entertainer. He has emerged as an undeniable star across television and festival stages like Coachella, wowing crowds with chart-topping hits spanning collaborations with major artists from Pharrell to Foo Fighters.

Back home in New Orleans, Andrews now leads his own Mardi Gras parade and hosts the star-studded Voodoo Threauxdown shows. After witnessing his larger-than-life talent, the New Orleans Jazz Fest chose Andrews to follow once-in-a-lifetime headliners with his own unforgettable set during their final performance.

From six-year-old bandleader to heralded festival closer, Trombone Shorty continues to blow audiences away at every turn.

WEEKEND HAPPENINGS 🎭 🥁 

Friday:

Saturday:

Sunday:

ORLANDO WEATHER 🌤️

Friday

61🌡️ 45 | ⛅️ | Cool with times of clouds and sun

Saturday

61 🌡️ 42 | ⛅️ | Cool with clouds and sun

Sunday

65 🌡️ 47 | ⛅️ | Plenty of sunshine

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THANKS! 🙏

Many thanks for reading the Orlando Signal today. If you found something useful or interesting, please share this edition with someone you know!

My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal