Welcome to Thursday Morning, Orlando!

Today’s already May 1st? Wasn’t Christmas and New Years like 2 weeks ago?

🎂 Happy birthday to reader, Carol Wanderley! Have a great one.

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

• Paws & Protocols

• The Mooo-velous Milky Way

• Gateway District's Jazz & Flavors Fest

• + lots of weekend recs

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Let’s roll!

- Philip

3 QUICK NEWS BITS ⏲️

Stage Revival as Winter Garden Says 'Break a Leg' to Theatre Plan

Winter Garden commissioners gave a standing ovation to plans reviving the historic Garden Theatre, which took its final bow last October amid financial drama.

The city-owned venue will now dance to a new tune with a "presenting model" showcasing concerts, special events and downtown festivities.

Consultant Alauna Friskics helped orchestrate this comeback strategy, which includes teaming up with a management company on a trial run that could become a longer engagement if audiences approve.

Local actor Landon Summers finds the current empty marquee a real theatrical tragedy.

For its opening act, the theatre will spotlight lighter fare like concerts, movies and camps before potentially diving back into the spotlight with full productions.

🧐 Check out the whole business plan, right here.

(Learn more about this theater comeback with Nicole Griffin, right here)

Paws & Protocols: Inspector's Surprise Rescue

Talk about a job perk! Orange County Code Compliance Inspector Harmoni Houser was just ticking boxes on her clipboard in late March when—surprise!—she stumbled upon three golden retriever mixes looking more like furry coat hangers than dogs.

One even had a quirky sideways strut that definitely wasn't normal. Houser, with her Animal Services background, knew the drill and called in the cavalry. While the pups got whisked to safety, their owners got shiny new bracelets (the handcuff kind) from the Sheriff's Agriculture Unit.

This tail-wagging turnaround highlights how Orange County's busy inspection team—33,200 checks and 16,000 resolved cases in 2024—does more than just measure fence heights. Sometimes, they save lives with four paws!

SunRail: Central Florida's Costly Commuter Train to Nowhere?

All aboard the money train! SunRail, Central Florida's answer to transit woes, is running on empty with ridership numbers so low that each passenger mile costs a wallet-busting $3.93—a whopping 236% above the national average!

While commuters endure three-hour bus marathons across Orlando's sprawling landscape, officials have cheerfully greenlit a $6 million "Sunshine Corridor" study that could funnel billions into extending tracks to the airport and theme parks.

The billion-dollar question hanging over Orlando's palm trees: Can throwing more money at empty trains actually solve the region's gridlock grief?

(Learn more about these SunRail transit woes with Latoya Dennis, right here)

🙋 Trivia Time

WEEKEND SPOT HIGHLIGHT 🔦

The Mooo-velous Milky Way

📍Orlando Milkhouse. 201 N Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL 32803. Map to this location.

🕐 Friday, May 2nd, 6 p.m.

T.G. Lee turns 100 with an extraordinary Milk Way Bar + Bites Crawl!

Round up your herd and hoof it through The Milk District, sporting spots and celebrating their dairy namesake.

Your wristband (valid ALL WEEKEND from May 3rd) unlocks 15+ stops with exclusive deals, complimentary swag for early arrivals, and a costume contest with prizes! Join this legendary FUNdraiser supporting The Milk District Main Street non-profit.

🤣 WATCH THIS——> It's guaranteed to be legen-DAIRY! You see what I did there?? (21+ only)

[Check It Out]

TOP 3 FUN RECS FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊

Longwood Luau

📍Reiter Park. 303 W Warren Ave, Longwood, FL 32750. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, May 3nd, 4 p.m.

Transport yourself to Hawaii at Reiter Park this Saturday!

The evening ignites with daring fire knife performers, rhythmic Hawaiian melodies, and the School of Tahiti Tamure's mesmerizing hula dancers.

Indulge in authentic island cuisine and tropical drinks while testing your skills at limbo and hula hooping. Browse local artisan treasures and capture perfect tropical photo memories.

This isn't just an event—it's your passport to the aloha spirit, right in Longwood!

[Get more info, right here]

Gateway District's Jazz & Flavors Fest

📍Gateway District. 5475 Gateway Village, Orlando, FL 32822. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, May 3rd, 4 p.m.

Lose yourself in the soulful melodies of local jazz artists while artisan vendors showcase their crafts and food trucks tempt your palate in the vibrant Gateway District.

This celebration honors both jazz luminary David Sanchez and an outstanding District 2 citizen, personally recognized by Commissioner Tony Ortiz.

Elevate your experience with VIP tickets for exclusive perks and prize opportunities!

Come raise a glass of wine or beer to the perfect blend of music, art, and neighborhood pride under the Orlando sky.

[Check it out, right here]

Star Wars Day Sip & Stroll

📍Audubon Park Districts. 3201 Corrine Drive, #216, Orlando, FL 32803. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, May 3rd, 2 p.m.

Venture through Audubon Park Garden District for the Star Wars Day Sip & Stroll, where galactic libations await!

Chart your course between venues offering celestial wines, craft beers and ciders that would impress even Coruscant connoisseurs.

Force-wielders of all allegiances—Jedi, Sith, or casual space travelers—are encouraged to don their finest galactic attire for this interstellar tasting adventure!

[Get the full details]

MORE WEEKEND HAPPENINGS 🎭 🥁

Multi-Day

T.J. Miller @ Funny Bone | Fri & Sat | I-Drive | More

Nate Smith | Fri, Sat, Sun | Downtown | More

Florida Flower Fest | Sat, Sun | Mount Dora | More

Friday - 2nd

May Movie Night: Twister | 8:30 p.m. | Leu Gardens | More

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

68th Season Percussion Ensemble Showcase | 7 p.m. | UCF | More

Ecstatic Dance with J Brave | 7 p.m. | Altamonte | More

Remix: Solo Exhibition by Xine | 7 p.m. | Mills 50 | More

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 | 7 p.m. | Downtown | More

DeathbyRomy | 7 p.m. | Downtown | More

World Music: Calixto Oviedo's Afro-Cuban Jazz Trio | 7:30 p.m. | Wadeview Park | More

Saturday - 3rd

🔥 A Night of Improv and Silent Auction starring The Agreeables | 6:30 p.m. | Sanford | More

The Milk Run 5K | 7:30 a.m. & 8:45 a.m. | Milk District | More

Tacos & Margs Crawl | 2 p.m. | Downtown | More

Cinco de Mayo Night Market | 6 p.m. | Avalon Park | More

MoviEats Presents: Ratatouille | 7:30 p.m. | Altamonte | More

The Orlando Pottery Festival Spring Market | 9 a.m. | SoDo | More

Drawing Self-Portraits in Black & White | 10 a.m. | Maitland | More

Cinco De Mayo Islamica | 10 a.m. | Azalea Park | More

East Meets West AAPI Month Event | 11 a.m. | Audubon Park | More

Central Florida Swamp Meet | 12 p.m. | Mills 50 | More

Sunday - 4th

May the Fourth Market at Krush Brau Park | 12 p.m. | Kissimmee | More

Sensory Sunday: Happy Birthday, Orlando! | 12 p.m. | Downtown | More

Encore Youth Big Band | 2 p.m. | Downtown | More

OCLS Paper Flower Bouquets | 4 p.m. | Downtown | More

Ugly Orange Presents: Tall Juan | 7 p.m. | Mills 50 | 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