Welcome to Thursday Morning, Orlando!

Woke up extra early to make sure everything here looks solid. <CHECK>
Newsletter flying through the Interwebs and into your inboxes. <CHECK>
Sipping some tea and considering heading back to bed. <CHECK>
Actually heading back to bed <FAIL!>

Now onto today’s Orlando Signal (weekend fun) issue:

• Hall's on 5th

• Sunset Pig Roast

• Yuuuuge Annual Plant Sale

• + a lots of weekend recs

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Let’s do this!

- Philip

3 QUICK NEWS BITS ⏲️
Feeding a New Generation as Hall's on 5th Makes History Again

Get ready, food lovers! The 100-year-old Hall's Feed Store is being transformed into "Hall's On 5th," Apopka's exciting first food hall opening this spring on 5th Street.

Ella Duke and her team are bringing something fresh to town with six mouth-watering vendors: Thrive Craft Kitchen's tasty sushi and sliders, Empanada & Co.'s delicious Ecuadorian pastries, Butcher's Nook's premium deli (from a former Dolphins chef!), Soulicious Vegan Kitchen's crave-worthy plant-based comfort food, Sweet & Salty's authentic Hawaiian barbecue, and Parlor Kitchen's famous cookie-stuffed waffles.

Complete with a full bar and event space, this beloved landmark is becoming a welcoming community hangout that honors Apopka's past while serving up its flavorful future!

(Learn more about Hall’s on 5th with Patricia Tolley, right here)

Won't You Be My Neighbor? Fred Rogers' Rollins College Legacy

Come stroll through the sunny paths of Rollins College where Fred Rogers found his calling!

Every March (10am-4pm weekdays), you can grab a map at Olin Library and see his mother's lovingly knitted sweater and those famous sneakers. Don't miss the "Life is for Service" plaque that Fred carried in his wallet for life, or the special stone from his hometown nestled between Beethoven and Wharton.

Peek into Tiedtke Concert Hall for Don Sondag's warm portrait of Fred in his red sweater, then finish your journey at Paul Day's magnificent 7-foot sculpture celebrating our favorite neighbor.

It's a beautiful day to explore America's most beautiful campus!

🔥 Get all the deets about this self-guided (gratis) walking tour and download the tour map, right here.

A Smoother Dip: Wekiwa Springs' New Visitor-Friendly Reservation System

Looking to spend some time relaxing at Wekiwa Springs soon? Well, great news!

Starting March 12, our beloved park is saying goodbye to those frustrating dawn traffic jams with a friendly new reservation system. No more waiting for a long @$$ time!

Simply book your spot online starting March 10—annual passholders too. You'll just pay the regular entry fee when reserving, nothing extra. Bring your digital or printed confirmation when you visit.

Need to leave and come back? Just grab a re-entry ticket! Changed plans? No worries—cancellations are refundable.

This six-month trial at Wekiwa Springs aims to make your visit smoother while protecting the natural beauty we all treasure!

💣 Here’s more info and that coveted reservation link!

WEEKEND SPOT HIGHLIGHT 🔦
Art After Dark 2025

📍CityArts. 39 S Magnolia Ave Orlando, FL 32801. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, March 8th, 8 p.m.

By popular demand, Orlando's Downtown Arts District hosts the ultimate creative soirée.

Explore CityArts' seven galleries showcasing fresh local talent, while immersing yourself in interactive art, henna, tarot readings, and fashion sketches.

The night pulses with DJ beats, live music, and surprise performances. Meet artists, sample whiskey and beer, and enjoy delicious bites. Your ticket includes all experiences, two drinks, and welcome bubbly.

Where art transforms after sunset—bring those who inspire you.

[Check It Out]

TOP 3 FUN RECS FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊
Quantum Leap Winery’s Sunset Pig Roast

📍Quantum Leap Winery. 4404 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, Florida 32804. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, March 8th, 5 p.m.

Join as dusk falls over Quantum Leap Winery's lakefront backyard for an unforgettable feast.

The masterful team at Roast On Wheels will transform a premium Berkshire-Meshian pig from Shady Oaks Farms into the centerpiece of a spectacular dining experience. Watch flames dance as twilight descends, savoring perfectly paired accompaniments with each succulent bite.

Where fire meets flavor, and wine meets wonder—an evening where culinary craftsmanship and natural beauty converge.

[Get more info, right here]

Leu Gardens' 28th Annual Plant Sale

📍Harry P. Leu Gardens. 1920 North Forest Avenue, Orlando, FL, 32803. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday & Sunday, March 8th & 9th, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Spring beckons at Leu Gardens' 28th Annual Plant Sale with gratis admission all weekend!

Meet over 60 vendors offering treasures direct from the growers—from vibrant annuals to exotic bromeliads, fruit trees to rare orchids. Bring your wagon and explore this botanical wonderland rain or shine.

When hunger strikes, savor delights from Swine & Sons, Copper Rocket, Wild Rabbit Café, Foxtail Coffee, Kelly's, and Peak Season Pops.

This isn't just shopping—it's where your garden dreams take root.

[Check it out, right here]

2025 Craft Beer Fest

📍Kia Center. 400 W Church St, Orlando, FL 32801. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, March 8th, 4:30 pm

Immerse yourself in a craft beer paradise on Church Street (4:30-6:30 PM) before witnessing the Orlando Solar Bears battle the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at 7:00 PM.

Experience both the artisanal beer festival and heart-pounding hockey action. Don't miss this perfect pairing of hoppy delights and icy thrills.

This Saturday, craft and competition collide!

[Get the Full Details]

MORE WEEKEND HAPPENINGS 🎭 🥁

Multi-day:

UCF Knights Baseball vs. Monmouth Hawks Baseball | Fri, Sat, Sun | UCF | More

Trey Kennedy | Fri, Sat, Sun | I-Drive | More

Opera Festival: A Zine Opera by ChanJi Kim and Keri Lee Pierson | Fri & Sat 7:30 p.m. | Wadeview Park | More

Dragons Love Tacos: The Musical | Sat & Sun | College Park | More

Friday:

🔥 Tramps Like Us | 7:30 p.m. | Oviedo | More

Spring Friday Nights at The Morse | 5 p.m. | Winter Park | More

Lunch & Learn: The Dazzling, Defunct Circus World Theme Park | 12 p.m. | Downtown | More

Alan Jackson | 7 p.m. | Downtown | More

Getdown Downtown Maitland | 6 p.m. | Maitland | More

K Boswell | 7 p.m. | Mills 50 | More

KRS ONE | 7 p.m. Downtown | More

The Blues is Alright | 8 p.m. | UCF | More

Mirror Parts with Discord Theory, Philos, and Sky Navy | 8 p.m. | Mills 50 | More

Freaky Fridays: The Short Films of David Lynch | 11:59 p.m. | Maitland | More

Saturday:

13th Annual Mayor's Jazz in the Park | 11:30 a.m. | Holden Lakes | More

Sip Into Spring 2025 | 4 p.m. | Ivanhoe Village | More

Ani DiFranco | 8 p.m. | Milk District | More

🔥 Women's Wellness Day | 10 a.m. | Winter Park | More

Steps to a Cure | 8 a.m. | Downtown | More

Smile Mile | 8 a.m. | Audubon Park | More

6th Annual Oviedo Jeep Show | 9 a.m. | Oviedo | More

DogFest Orlando | 11 a.m. | Winter Park | More

The Artists Circle at Timucua | 2:30 p.m. | Wadeview Park | More

Sunday:

11th Annual It's Just Yoga Health & Fitness Festival | 10 a.m. | Downtown | More

Lucky Goats & Lattes | 3 & 5 p.m. | Audubon Park | More

Writer's Atelier Presents: March Write-in at Winter Park Library | 1 p.m. | Winter Park | More

Springtime Sip and Stroll | 2 p.m. | Saint Cloud | More

Orlando City B vs. Columbus Crew 2 | 7 p.m. | Kissimmee | More

Opera Festival: Bravo Chamber Orchestra | 7:30 p.m. | Wadeview Park | More

Howie Mandel | 8 p.m. | I-Drive | More

THANKS!

🧠 Interested in reaching smart readers like you? Grow with us right here.

We’ll see you on Monday.

My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal