Milk District's Retrospective + The Unreal Garden

November 02, 2023

Reading time: 5 minutes

Good afternoon, Orlando! This weekend we’re moving house. Moving sucks. You will enjoy Thursday’s recommendations for the upcoming weekend below👇, but I will be unpacking boxes.

In today’s Orlando Signal:

  • Iconic ice cream shop re-opens

  • 60,000 gallons of milk per day

  • The Unreal Garden

  • …and lots more

On with it!

- Philip

QUICK NEWS BITS ⏲️
Decades of Memories Preserved As Iconic Ice Cream Shop Re-opens

The nostalgic scent of freshly churned ice cream will soon return to 212 South Orange Blossom Trail, the home of Orlando's iconic Goff's Drive In for over 70 years.

In 1948, founder Edwin Goff pushed open the shop's window for the first time, welcoming the community inside for cold, creamy treats. Little did he know this little window would become a passageway to decades of memories.

After Goff handed over his scoop, the Truesdell family kept the ice cream flowing until tragedy struck in May 2022. A fire raged through the beloved shop, damaging beyond repair the building that had served as a backdrop for so many happy moments. According to police, the suspected arsonist was 58-year-old Alfred Jerome Kirkland.

Rising from the ashes, a new era will dawn when Sweetie's Ice Cream throws open its doors on November 4, 2023. Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood natives, Eric Macintosh Jr. and Jelani Gray, are breathing new life into the historic ice cream parlor.

After over 70 years of delighting taste buds, the rebuilt shop is ready to delight a new generation.

Rallying Kids to Run, Before They Run to Class

Getting kids moving before the school bell rings is Frank Allen's passion.

As a volunteer with walk/run club Westly's Mile, this enthusiastic coach is teaming up with Healthy West Orange and the American Heart Association to make exercise exhilarating for students in Orange County.

As a physical education teacher, Allen has seen first-hand how important it is for kids to get their hearts pumping before hitting the books.

So several mornings a week, he rallies students at local schools to walk or jog laps on the track before class starts.

Armed with personalized scan cards, students log their miles. The more they move, the more points and kudos they earn. Top performers are feted at pep rallies, motivating everyone to keep moving."

For Allen, the rewards are priceless - he loves making a difference. While coaching kids wasn't in his original plans, he has zero regrets.

2023 Orlando Auto Show Promises an Unforgettable Ride

The highly anticipated 2023 Central Florida International Auto Show runs November 2nd-5th at the Orange County Convention Center. This four-day automotive wonderland showcases over 500 of the latest and greatest vehicles from top manufacturers like BMW, Toyota, Jeep, and more.

Auto enthusiasts can immerse themselves in innovation and imagination across 900,000 square feet of exhibit space. Marvel at the power and performance of the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Jeep Wrangler 4xe, and Ram 2500.

Glimpse into the future with cutting-edge electric and hybrid models from Chrysler and Toyota. Take a spin in the driver's seat of the Dodge Challenger, Jeep Gladiator, and other test drive vehicles available Friday through Sunday.

Beyond the extensive new car showcase, special attractions include Mario Andretti's iconic 1978 Formula 1 Lotus race car and a dazzling display of classic Model A's and MOPAR muscle cars. With something for everyone, from car buffs to casual viewers, the show promises an unforgettable experience.

Admission is $7-$15. Purchase advance tickets online and save time at the entrance. Parking at the convention center is $15 per vehicle.

The show's hours are:

  • Thursday: 12PM - 9PM

  • Friday: 12PM - 9PM

  • Saturday: 10AM - 6PM

  • Sunday: 10AM - 6PM

NEIGHBORHOOD RETROSCPETIVE 🧐
The Creamy Origins of Orlando's Hip Milk District

Nestled just east of downtown Orlando sits the trendy Milk District, a hub brimming with culture, cuisine, and character. But how did this happening neighborhood get its lactose-laden name?

The story starts in the 1910s when Swiss expat Theodore G. Lee founded a modest dairy farm in the area. Through hard work and ingenuity, Lee grew his homestead into one of central Florida's largest milk and ice cream suppliers.

In 1925, Lee opened the gleaming T.G. Lee Dairy plant. With its pristine white façade and smokestacks showcasing Lee's name, the plant was a local landmark. Each morning, a fleet of Lee's milk wagons headed out from the plant, delivering fresh bottles of milk and scoops of ice cream to neighborhoods across Orlando.

By the 1950s, the booming T.G. Lee Dairy was processing a whopping 60,000 gallons of milk per day! To celebrate this milestone, Lee installed a 30-foot illuminated cow statue on the dairy plant's roof. This iconic roof cow moved into the hearts of locals and cemented the area's "Milk District" nickname.

Even after the dairy plant closed in the 1990s, the Milk District moniker stuck around. The old T.G. Lee building now houses eateries and shops that tip their hats to the area's roots.

Today, the Milk District remains a popular Orlando neighborhood. Music venues, restaurants, and boutiques have moved into the old dairy warehouses, pumping new life into the historic district. Street corner cow murals remind passersby of the district's history.

TOP 3 FUN ORLANDO RECS FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊
Escape into Fantastical Worlds at Verse AR Theater

📍BOXI Park, 6877 Tavistock Lakes Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827. Map to this location.

🕐 Thurs-Fri, 5pm-11pm. Sat, 12pm-11pm. Sun, 12pm-9pm

👉 Get your tickets, right here.

Immerse yourself in fantastical realms at Lake Nona's Verse Orlando augmented reality theater.

Four interactive worlds await, including the Unreal Garden, each with a visionary work of art and storytelling.

Uncover cosmic mysteries in a far-future space odyssey. See artistry evolve before your eyes into unimagined new forms. Hone your skills in a wizarding world of spells and high adventure.

Verse Orlando’s virtual gameplay with augmented projections that transform the real world around you. Experience total immersion without isolation or motion sickness. Unlike VR, Verse's AR (augmented reality) technology allows you to freely explore these vivid worlds without disorientation.

Don't just play the future. Step into it today at the one-of-a-kind augmented reality theater Verse Orlando.

Fall for Cider Doughnuts at Southern Hill Farms


📍 16651 Schofield Road in Clermont. Map to this location.

🕐 Every Thursday-Sunday Sept. 23 - Nov. 12.

The aromatic scent of fresh apple cider wafts through Southern Hill Farms, where owners David and Lisa Hill prepare a beloved fall treat: apple cider doughnuts.

David got the idea years ago after tasting hot cider doughnuts at a North Carolina apple orchard and was determined to recreate that experience for visitors.

Now in its 8th season, the festival keeps the Hills hopping as they churn out around 6,000 doughnuts a day to meet demand. Watching them made fresh is part of the fun. The 20-minute process from mixing batter to frying and coating the doughnuts in cinnamon sugar while warm draws crowds.

Enjoying them straight from the fryer is a must for full flavor. Some regulars wait in long lines to stock up before leaving. Occasionally the Hills sell out, showing how beloved these apple treats have become.

Once fall ends, doughnut varieties switch to strawberry and blueberry versions made with the farm's own crop. For now, grab some frozen lemonade, take a hayride through the fields, and don't leave without a box of the famous apple cider doughnuts. Their sweet, seasonal goodness makes fall memories at this charming local farm.

Get Your Suds On: Orlando Beer Fest Takes Over Milk District


📍Milk District's Festival Park: 2911 E Robinson St, Orlando. Map to this location.

🕐 Day/time: Saturday, November 4th, 2-5pm

🆔 21+

Speaking of the Milk District…….Raise a glass, Orlando! The city's beloved Orlando Beer Festival returns to quench your thirst for brews and fun.

This homegrown tradition promises over 200 brews to sample from local legends and craft connoisseurs across the nation. From hoppy IPAs to dark stouts, find your perfect pour amongst the fizzy sea of lagers, ales, seltzers and more.

Of course, every great beer deserves a great bite. Orlando's favorite food trucks are rolling in to serve up grub that's as diverse and delicious as the drinks. This year's trucks include Gaucha Empanadas, Red Panda Noodle, Burrito Boys, El Perrero, Rollin Dough, Al's Ice Cream, We the Burger Jawn, Momma’s Pantry, Smoke & Donuts, and others soon to be announced.

Orlando’s iconic Supervillains headline the musical entertainment, with Wilted Chilis and DJ ET spinning all day. New this year - a jumbotron broadcasting college football, perfect for an epic beer-filled tailgate. And work off those pints by bouncing around the giant inflatable games.

Snag general admission or VIP tickets. VIPs get exclusive pours and early entry to start sipping before the crowds. With brews, bites, and live entertainment, Orlando Beer Festival promises a flavorful, festive fall day for beer buffs.

WEEKEND FOODIE FIND. FORK YEAH! 🤩
White Wolf Cafe

📍1829 North Orange Avenue, Orlando. Map to this location, right here.

The White Wolf Cafe, tucked away in the charming Ivanhoe Village neighborhood of Orlando, has blossomed from its humble beginnings as an antique shop into a beloved local eatery.

Casper, the white German Shepherd who was the antique store's faithful companion in the early 1990s, lives on in the cafe's name to this day.

Upon entering the funky, eclectic space, one still feels transported back to those antique store days, surrounded by antique lamps and decor.

Places like the White Wolf Cafe truly exemplify what makes Orlando's food scene so special - the heart and soul of this city can be found in its small, locally-owned eateries like this. Don't miss out on grabbing one of their incredible cinnamon rolls!

WEEKEND HAPPENINGS 🎭

Friday:

Saturday:

Sunday:

ORLANDO WEATHER 🌤️

Friday

79 🌡️ 65 | 🌤️ | Breezy and pleasant with periods of clouds and sunshine

Saturday

83 🌡️ 68 | 🌥️ | Mostly cloudy

Sunday

85 🌡️ 69 | 🌤️ | Humid with increasing amounts 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