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Frontier Undertaking
When Elijah Hand stepped off the train in 1885, little Orlando couldn't have known how this warm-hearted pioneer...
Welcome to Monday Morning, Orlando!
Guys and gals. This is not funny! I woke up to โfeels like 27โ Saturday morning and the warmest thing I own is a HOODIE. I almost rolled my booty over to REI in Winter Park to try on parkas!
๐ง Happy birthday to Carla C!
In todayโs issue: ๐
Frontier Undertaking
Welcoming Over 25 foster Children
Palm Beach Meats
โฆ.and much more
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Letโs dive in!
- Philip
๐ฅ Love Food + Local History?
Orlando Signal's Ivanhoe Village Foodie Tour returns Sunday, February 16th, just in time for Valentine's weekend. Journey through six distinctive eateries over three delicious hours (3-6 p.m.) while your expert guide shares tales of this historic neighborhood. Make your Valentineโs weekend special with this perfect adventure!
ORLANDO REWIND โช
From Frontier Undertaking to Orlando Legacy: The Carey Hand Story
When Elijah Hand stepped off the train in 1885, little Orlando couldn't have known how this warm-hearted pioneer would transform the way they said goodbye to loved ones. The town was tiny then - just a few hundred souls - and families had to rush their farewells, burying their departed within a day.
But as the city's first trained embalmer, Elijah changed all that, teaming up briefly with local (first) undertaker Edgar A. Richards before opening his charming combination furniture store and funeral parlor on West Pine Street.
The story gets even better when Elijah's son Carey joined the family business in 1907. By 1914, the younger Hand was running the show, and what a show it became! He built a beautiful Renaissance Revival building in 1918 (thank you, architect F.H. Trimble), complete with Orlando's first funeral chapel. By 1925, they'd added another first - the South's very own crematorium.
Carey wasn't just about business - he poured his heart into the community through the Rotary Club and Boy Scouts. While the Hand family has moved on, their compassionate legacy lives on through Carey Hand and Cox-Parker Funeral Homes, and their historic building now welcomes students at UCF's Downtown Campus.
(Learn more about Carey Hand and see historical photos with Jessica B., right here)
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When you need a home repair (garage door spring breaking, toilet clogged, etc.) or a home service/improvement (painting, pressure washing, new grout, house cleaning, etc.), instead of spending lots of time trying to find someone and figure out if they are trustworthy, reliable, with great workmanshipโฆ.๐
๐ How valuable would you find a curated resource of the top home service professionals (electricians, plumbers, etc.), screened and researched for quality and reliability, you can refer to when needed?Click or tap your answer below ๐ |
THE SQUEEZE ๐
More Than Blood: A Mother and Son's Journey Through Foster Care
Every morning at the Snyder household brought a delightful surprise: who would be joining them for breakfast?
Young Ben Jr. thrived in this heartwarming environment as his family welcomed over 25 foster children into their cozy Winter Garden home.
The experience was so profound that Ben Jr. and his mom Michelle teamed up to write "Beyond Blood: How Being a Foster Brother Shattered My World and Rebuilt It." Drawing from Michelle's own childhood with relatives, the Snyders created a warm haven where children of all ages found comfort and belonging.
Their story shows how a family's love can grow endlessly, touching countless lives along the way.
(Learn more about the amazing Snyder family with Amy Quesinberry Price, right here)
Your Money Matters With Orange County's New Path to Financial Wellness
In exciting news for Orange County residents, a new financial education program has launched with a generous $300,000 grant from the Cities For Financial Empowerment Fund - the first of its kind in Florida!
The heart of the program lies in its partnership with Habitat for Humanity, offering friendly one-on-one financial counseling at local community centers.
Just ask Shataka Smith, who's already working towards her dream of homeownership through the program's practical budgeting guidance.
With free sessions in English and Spanish at three welcoming community centers and plans to grow throughout 2025, help with managing money is now just around the corner for Orange County neighbors.
๐ฅ You, too, can make an appointment and get help, right here.
(Learn more about this counseling program with Maria Serrano, right here)
Elevating Arrivals with MCO's Bold Baggage Makeover
Welcome to Orlando's next big adventure!
MCO is launching an exciting $650 million makeover of its baggage system, turning a decades-old setup from the post-9/11 era into something truly special. Over two decades, MCO's growth has skyrocketed beyond expectations, making this upgrade essential.
The project has found a champion in Dan Giordano, recently appointed to the aviation authority by the Governor, who dreams of making baggage claim actually fun.
While this transformation will take a few years, curious travelers can follow along on the "Elevating MCO" website, right here.
Orlando's Next Great Destination
Downtown Orlando's future is looking brighter than ever as the exciting Westcourt Sports + Entertainment District gets ready to break ground this spring.
The project will create a vibrant new heart for the city when it opens in 2027, bringing together the Orlando Magic, a sleek Kimpton hotel, modern apartments, and a buzzing Live Nation venue all under one roof.
The visionary team of Machete Group and JMA Ventures is weaving together an incredible urban tapestry with 200,000 square feet of office space, inviting retail spots, and a lively outdoor plaza.
Thanks to $66 million in infrastructure funding, this dream of transforming downtown is about to become reality.
(Learn more about this project with Laura Kinsler, right here)
TASTY NEWS ๐งโ๐ณ
Orlando Area Eateries On Their Way
1๏ธโฃ Nazโs Halal - NYC Street Food Heads South
A New York street food legend is making its way to the Sunshine State. Naz's Halal (Insta), which evolved from a Queens food truck to a restaurant empire, will debut its mouthwatering halal dishes to S Orange Ave in Orlando next month.
2๏ธโฃ Backyard - Backyard Party Goes Gourmet
Welcome to the ultimate backyard party! Josh and Andrea Halperin are transforming an Ocoee home into The Backyard (Insta), where six diverse food trucks, a 24-tap beverage station, and 1,000-square-foot covered patio await guests. This innovative dining concept combines food truck cuisine with the cozy comfort of a friend's gathering space.
3๏ธโฃ Boba N Chill - Cozy Corner Brews Bubble Magic
Orlando's bubble tea scene gets a cozy upgrade as Boba N Chill (Insta) prepares to open on Orange Blossom Trail this February. The new cafรฉ promises a fresh take on comfort, serving everything from perfectly pearled teas to steaming dumplings and grab-and-go treats.
๐ข Dearly departing/ed: Sadly, after 12 years in Orlando, The Hammered Lamb is calling it quits. Their last day serving is this Saturday.
#ORLANDOSIGNAL ๐ธ

Hand Pulled Noodles @ Celebrate Lunar
๐ท via @orlandosignal |๐Luminary Green Park
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FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! ๐คฉ
Palm Beach Meats
๐3421 S. Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32806. Map to this location.
You've got to check out the newest gem in SODO - Palm Beach Meats (Insta), where Eric and Meghan San Pedro are working pure magic with Wagyu beef.
Their Australian Wagyu Sando will make you weak in the knees, and just wait until you try their mind-blowing Wagyu Tallow Brownie Sundae! From their incredible hotdogs and empanadas to rare Takimori Wagyu from sake-fed cattle, everything here is pure deliciousness.
You can trust this Wagyu wonderland is about to become your new favorite spot!
MORE PULP! ๐
Weekday things to check out
๐ Next Step Screenplay Series: "...Or Die Trying"
๐
January 27, 2025 | 7-10pm
๐ Bynx Orlando, 420 E. Church Street, #118
Orlando A staged reading of an original fantasy/adventure screenplay featuring four brave women on an epic quest through a mythical realm.
๐ Get Tix
๐ 7th Annual Ramen Rumble
๐
January 27, 2025 | 5:30 & 8pm
๐ Morimoto Asia
Five top Central Florida chefs compete for the "Broth Belt" trophy in this ultimate ramen showdown.
๐ Join the Battle
๐บ Lord of the Wings
๐
January 29, 2025 | Time TBA
๐ Sideward Brewing, Orlando
A Lord of the Rings themed wing night featuring LOTR-inspired beers, themed photo wall, and costumed revelry. Six special wing flavors from "Mt. Doom" supremely spicy to "One Wing to Rule Them All" turkey leg.
๐ Join the Fellowship
โ Curtis Earth's Magical Mystery Trivia Night
๐
January 30, 2025 | 7-9pm
๐ Hard Rock Cafe & Live Orlando
GRATIS Beatles-themed trivia night with prizes on the 55th anniversary of their final rooftop concert.
๐ Enter Through This Door
๐ธ TOBYMAC Hits Deep Tour
๐
January 30, 2025 | 7pm
๐ KIA Center
Featuring special guests Crowder, CAIN and Ryan Stevenson.
๐ Get Tix
๐ญ Imogen Says Nothing
๐
January 30 - February 9, 2025
๐ UCF Main Stage Theatre
A bold comedy about identity and empowerment in Elizabethan England, featuring a woman who might also be a bear.
๐ Enjoy Here
THANKS!
โ Interested in reaching smart readers like you for your business? To become an Orlando Signal ad partner, start a conversation here.
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Thanks for reading! Iโll see you again on Thursdayโs weekend fun issue.
My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal