From Military Roots to Gourmet Hotspot

October 12, 2023

Reading time: 5 minutes

Good morning, Orlando! The leaves are turning (in Florida?), the air is crisp (eh, not really), and the flavors of Fall are in abundance (100%). Thursday newsletters is all about upcoming weekend fun & things to do.

You share, we listen. Send us feedback at [email protected], or hit Reply to this email and share your thoughts on how we’re doing.

In today’s Orlando Signal:

  • Exploring APGD

  • Cider & Spice at the Foundry

  • Upside Down World

  • …and more

On with it!

- Philip

WEEKEND SPOT HIGHLIGHT 🔦
Exploring the Audubon Park Garden District

The roots of Orlando's charming Audubon Park Garden District trace back to World War II, when the Naval Training Center Orlando and McCoy Air Force Base brought droves of service members to the area. McCoy even became the region's top employer before Walt Disney World opened in 1971.

Many military families settled in what became known as Audubon Park, aptly named for the National Audubon Society with its bird-inspired street names.

Today, the Audubon Park Garden District stretches beyond the original neighborhood to include a vibrant corridor of dining, shopping and nightlife. The former Naval Training Center land now houses the exclusive Baldwin Park community, offering more culinary and retail indulgences, as does neighboring Winter Park.

The area honors its service member roots while blossoming into a hub for good food, good cheer and natural beauty.

Wander through the stunning 50 acres of flowers and plants at Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens. As the region's only designated Community Wildlife Habitat, Audubon Park provides an urban oasis for nature lovers.

The district's anchor is the delightful East End Market, where you can savor farm-fresh fare and handcrafted goods. Top attractions here include the MICHELIN-recommended Domu eatery and Gideon's Bakehouse, renowned for artisanal cookies so beloved they opened a second location at Disney Springs.

East End Market also hosts cheese and charcuterie at La Femme du Fromage, biscuits at Winter Park Biscuit Co., breads at Old Hearth, baked goods at La Boutique, and donuts at Dochi Donuts.

Along Corrine Drive, discover more tempting sweets like P is for Pie Bakery, The Salty Donut, and Kelly's Homemade Ice Cream.

Beyond East End, foodies will relish the MICHELIN-starred Kadence, along with Sushi Lola, Bem Bom, and 1803 Pizza Kitchen.

When you need a good brew or spirit, visit Redlight Redlight Beer Parlour or Stardust Video and Coffee, with its impressive Scotch list. End your night showing off your pipes during karaoke at Big Daddy's starting at 9pm.

ORLANDO TOP 3 FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊
Lake Nona Town Harvest

Saturday, October 14th, 5pm-10pm.

Autumn's harvest brings a bounty of old-fashioned fun to Lake Nona's town center this season. Families are invited to enjoy an afternoon of festivities harkening back to simpler times.

👉 Meander through the pumpkin patch to select the perfect gourd and creatively transform it at the decorating station.

👉 Strike a pose with the tractor amidst hay bales and mums for an Instagrammable photo op.

👉 Two-step to lively country melodies filling the air. Indulge your sweet tooth at the fall sweets bar.

Don your favorite flannel and boots for the occasion. Let the laughter of children warm your heart as you make memories to cherish long after leaves turn. Lake Nona's fall festival promises cozy, nostalgic fun for all this season.

Get more details on the harvest, right here.

Cider, Spice, and Candle Delights

At Artifact Candle Foundry, fall's decadent medley inspires olfactory artistry. In their candle workshop, let creativity spark magic. Blend premium fragrance oils like pumpkin spice, friendsgiving feast, and brown sugar into custom aromatic treasures.

Spend an evening crafting with loved ones, enjoying the moment. Or seek solo tranquility designing candles as unique as you. Artifact provides guidance so anyone can illuminate their space with hand-poured creations.

If you prefer leaving candle-making to the experts, Artifact's selection channels fall's essence. However you choose to welcome autumn home, delights for the senses await.

Lab of Interactive Learning and Fun

Behold an upside-down world of wonder along International Drive. Within the peculiar capsized lab, imagination and intelligence unite for an unforgettable "edu-tainment" experience.

WonderWorks defies gravity with over 100 interactive exhibits across 35,000 square feet. Step into the unknown and challenge your mind with hands-on scientific marvels. Outsmart optical illusions, design rollercoasters, play laser tag in the glow-in-the-dark galaxy, and explore the forces of nature.

This topsy-turvy amusement park started as a top-secret Bermuda Triangle laboratory before an experiment launched it to Orlando. Though landed on its roof, the magic within remains intact, ready to amaze kids and adults alike - an attraction that truly stimulates the mind.

WEEKEND FOODIE FIND = FORK YEAH! 🤩
Kung Fu Kitchen

8466 Palm Pkwy, Orlando

Revered for its mouthwatering steamed buns and hand-pulled noodles, NYC's beloved Kung Fu Kitchen has officially arrived in Orlando as its first expansion outside the Big Apple.

After winning accolades as New York's top spot for Chinese dumplings and noodles, Chef Peterson brings the signature flavors of Kung Fu Kitchen to Florida foodies. Its overwhelmed popularity led to three bustling NYC locations, and now Orlando gets to savor these authentic Northern Chinese delicacies.

At the sleek new outpost on Palm Parkway, dive into Kung Fu Kitchen's most raved-about dishes like the decadent crab and pork soup dumplings bursting with flavorful broth. Sink your teeth into the Shanghai pan-fried pork buns, seared to perfection. We're lucky to host their premiere location beyond New York, so don't miss out on these hard-to-find flavors from the culinary capital.

Map yourself to this location, right here.

🏡 FORK YEAH - @HOME EDITION! 🥘
Apple Cider Donuts

One of our family’s favorite treat to make in Fall.

Prep: 40 min. + chilling, Cook: 5 min./batch

With one bite of a warm, fragrant apple cider donut, you'll be transported to an autumn wonderland. Crisp on the outside and pillowy soft inside, these old-fashioned donuts are made extra special with apple cider in both the dough and the glaze.

Cinnamon, nutmeg and other cozy spices add comfort and nostalgia with every bite. Drizzled with a sweet maple or chocolate glaze, these melt-in-your-mouth donuts are the ultimate fall treat.

So fire up the fryer and get ready to dive into apple harvest heaven! The heavenly aroma of fried dough and apple cider spice will fill your kitchen as you fry up batch after batch of these beloved autumn classics.

Click to get the recipe below 👇

Apple Cider Doughnuts

Apple doughnuts remind me of family trips to South Dakota. We’d stop at Wall Drug for a dozen or so before camping in the Badlands. Maple glaze was and still is my favorite. Share a batch with friends and family who appreciate a hot, fresh apple cider doughnut. —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/apple-cider-doughnuts

WEEKEND HAPPENINGS 🎭

Friday:

Saturday:

Sunday:

ORLANDO WEATHER 🌤️

Friday

88 🌡️ 77 | 🌦️ | Clouds and breaks of sun; humid with a couple of showers and a thunderstorm

Saturday

87 🌡️ 73 | ☁️ | Cloudy and humid with a thunderstorm

Sunday

84 🌡️ 61 | ☀️ | Pleasant and less humid with abundant 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