Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando

Hey-yoooo. Happy Memorial Day to all you fine readers out there. We had a great weekend bopping around Orlando. Now I’m up early putting the finishing touches on today’s newsletter to get it into your hands on time. Have a great one today, everybody!

In today’s issue: 👇

• Found Footage

• Orlando's Economic Winning Streak

• Antonio’s

• ….and much more

Did someone forward this email to you? If so, subscribe here.

🛑 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 Campus to Cultural Phenomenon: How Five UCF Students Revolutionized Horror from Orlando

In last Thursday's issue I asked (trivia) which film, produced by Orlando-based filmmakers, became a national phenomenon in 1999, bringing the “found footage” genre into the mainstream. Turned out the correct answer was The Blair Witch Project.

What started as late-night brainstorming between UCF film students Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez in 1993 would eventually have audiences sleeping with the lights on worldwide. Their caffeine-fueled discussion about paranormal documentaries sparked a deliciously audacious idea: convince people that fake found footage was terrifyingly real.

But every great scheme needs accomplices. Fellow UCF graduates Gregg Hale went all-in, literally betting his own money on their wild vision.

Robin Cowie became the business mastermind behind their newly formed Haxan Films, while Michael Monello helped orchestrate what became cinema's first truly viral marketing campaign, complete with fake websites that had people genuinely questioning reality.

Orlando wasn't just home base, it was their creative playground. The Enzian Theater hosted test screenings where they fine-tuned audience terror, and from their Orlando headquarters, they pulled off marketing magic that made The Blair Witch Project a cultural obsession.

The payoff was spectacular: a modest $60,000 budget exploded into nearly $250 million worldwide.

They didn't just make money, they propelled an entire genre, inspiring everything from Paranormal Activity to Cloverfield.

THE SQUEEZE 🍊

30,000 Jobs and Counting: Orlando's Eight-Year Economic Winning Streak

While much of America wrestled with economic uncertainty, Orlando was busy cooking up something special.

Since 2017, the Orlando Economic Partnership recently highlighted during their 2025 Economic Development Week how they’ve orchestrated an impressive transformation, attracting over 200 businesses and creating 30,000 new jobs with $3.6 billion in capital investment. That's roughly one new mid-sized company worth of jobs every year.

Partnership President Tim Giuliani calls their work a team sport, which seems fitting for a region that just scored a rare economic triple crown, ranking first among major metros for job growth, population growth, and GDP growth. Not bad for weathering three presidential elections and a global pandemic.

This success delivers nearly $2 billion in annual payroll and $23 million in fresh tax revenue, proving Orlando has figured out how to turn strategic partnerships into serious economic magic.

🔥 Check out more detailed highlights and progress in Orlando, right here.

Steinmetz Hall Hosted 350 Future Stars in Disney Musical Showcase

Steinmetz Hall's pristine acoustics, designed for world-renowned artists, echoed a few weeks ago with something different as 350 students from Title I schools across Central Florida brought Disney magic to life.

The 17-week Disney Musicals in Schools program has worked its magic on nearly 6,000 students since 2016, turning shy kids into confident communicators. For the 34 participating schools with many English language learners, musical theater proves surprisingly effective at breaking down language barriers that textbooks can't always crack.

The grand finale? Students received tickets to see Disney's "The Lion King," completing their remarkable journey from wide-eyed audience members to stage-ready performers who know their voices truly matter.

(Learn more about this exceptional program with Jayna Manohalal, right here)

From Humble Shores to Healthcare Hub with Orlando's Largest Medical Investment, Ever

Over a century ago, what started as a tiny lakeside medical facility caring for just four patients has blossomed into something extraordinary.

Fast-forward to today, and that humble beginning has sparked the largest healthcare investment in Central Florida history—a jaw-dropping billion-dollar campus makeover.

With 1,500 people moving to Orlando weekly, AdventHealth is pulling out all the stops: a sleek 14-story surgical tower, robot-assisted kidney transplants, AI-powered cancer detection, and intensive care for incredibly tiny 22-week-old fighters.

The ambitious blueprint expands medical residency programs from 24 to 33 by 2029, while university enrollment rockets toward 3,000 students.

Hospital leadership dreams big, envisioning their 172-acre campus as America's epicenter for surgical advancement—a world-class medical destination opening in 2030.

🏥 You can see all that is happening with this AdventHealth announcement, right here.

Orange County Races Against Time to Save the "Headwaters of the Everglades"

Orange County residents packed Dr. Phillips Elementary School Wednesday evening for what might be the most important environmental showdown in recent memory.

County officials proposed designating the Shingle Creek basin as a Special Protection Area. Quite the upgrade for this 84-square-mile watershed that doubles as the "Headwaters of the Everglades."

The numbers tell a sobering tale: 94% of historic upland has vanished under development, while impervious surfaces have doubled from 19% in 1985 to 40% in 2020. Each inch of rain now generates 80 million cubic feet of discharge—nearly double the 1950s levels, creating flooding headaches for surrounding communities.

This biodiversity hotspot still supports 135 species of concern, including bats and Gopher tortoises navigating an increasingly crowded landscape.

County officials emphasize that Special Protection Areas aren't development killers—they're smart growth tools using science-driven policy to preserve natural flood protection and water quality.

💦 Here’s more info about these “Special Protection Areas.”

(Learn a lot more about Orange County’s work to protect these river basins with Massiel Leyva, right here)

TASTY NEWS 🧑‍🍳
Orlando Area Eateries Coming & Going

1️⃣ Nestico’s - Venezuelan Flavors Arriving in Kissimmee Soon

Picture this: You're scrolling through tired fast-food options when relief arrives in golden arepas and crispy patacones. Nestico's Venezuelan (Insta) franchise is opening its second Central Florida location in Kissimmee next month (June), serving authentic street food seven days a week. Finally, Venezuelan comfort food.

2️⃣ Scholar’s Restaurant and Bar - Fusion Flavors Hitting Downtown Orlando

In downtown Orlando's heart, a new spot is preparing to open this August. Scholar's Restaurant and Bar will serve American-Mexican fusion from 7 am to 2 am daily—where comfort food meets vibrant Mexican flavors. From breakfast burritos to late-night tacos, every meal promises edible lessons worth savoring.

😔 Dearly Departed/ing: Southern Contemporary Cuisine (SOCO) Thornton Park closed yesterday.

#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸

Ya’ll asked for a Luna photo. Here you go!

📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Outer Space

Tag @orlandosignal to get your photo featured in the newsletter!

FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩

Antonio’s

📍611 S Orlando Ave, Maitland, FL 32751. See location info, right here.

Step into Antonio's downstairs café (Insta) and you're transported to Italy's vibrant food halls.

Dine amid imported treasures—your table nestled between risotto crates and amarone bottles. Indulge all day: lasagna for lunch, stromboli for dinner, or that perfect 3pm meatball sub.

Don't leave without Tuscan almond cookies or smoked scamorza from Puglia.

While their upstairs restaurant offers formal steaks and cocktails, the market's lively soul will capture your heart completely.

👉 Check out their MENU, right here 👈

MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out

🌙 Moon Market 📅 Today, May 26th, 2025 | 5-10pm 
📍 Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company

Local vendor market featuring favorite community artisans and makers.
👉 Shop Local

🍔 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

🎮 Game & Hobby Night at The Burrow 
📅 Tuesday, May 27th | 5-8pm 
📍 The Burrow Cafe & Play, Mills area

Weekly gathering for games, crafts, reading, and relaxation with drink specials available
👉 Play Together

📝 Poetry in the Gallery 
📅 Wednesday, May 28th | 6-7pm 
📍 Art & History Museums – Maitland

Reading by Kerouac House Writer in Residence Skye Jackson complementing the LOSS exhibition.
👉 Literary Evening

🎹 OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 
📅 May 28, 2025 | 7pm 
📍 The Plaza Live

Synth-pop legends perform their enduring hits with opening act Walt Disco. 👉 Experience Innovation

🎵 Spilt Milk: Singer/Songwriter Showcase 
📅 Wednesday, May 28th | 7-9:15pm (doors 6:30pm) 
📍 Barley & Vine, The Milk District

Intimate musical evening featuring six local artists performing original works in two rounds.
👉 Hear Local Talent

🌿 Late Night Thursdays 
📅 Thursday, May 29th | 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