Orlando's Aquamarine Modernist Courthouse

Good morning, Orlando. I’ve been asked how readers can get a birthday shout-out in the Signal. I’ve got a fun and easy way coming shortly. Stay tuned.

🛑 Don’t forget to click (or tap) the poll at the bottom of this issue so we know if we’re on the right track, OR, just hit reply to this email and tell us.

👇 In today’s issue: 👇

• Aquamarine modernist courthouse

• Who’s Ratman?

• Allison’s Choice

• ….and much more

If you enjoy this issue, please forward it to a friend. If you’re that sexy friend, subscribe here.

Let’s dive in!

- Philip

P.S. Happiest of birthdays to Barbara Millican 🎉

ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
The Orange County Courthouse Left Its Mark

In 1857, a humble log cabin served as Orange County's first courthouse, establishing downtown Orlando’s centerpoint from which the new city’s boundaries stretched one mile in all directions.

As Orlando rapidly outgrew one modest courthouse after another, the county finally erected a resplendent Victorian courthouse in 1892 befitting its growing prominence. But even this soon seemed outdated.

In 1959 came Orlando’s sleek, aquamarine modernist courthouse annex intended to stand for a century. While some derided its flashy façade as more Miami Beach than Orlando, none could deny the contemporary edge the annex brought to downtown. Within its progressive walls, jail inmates prepared their own meals—a reformist ideal.

Yet hazard lurked behind the futuristic facade. Asbestos contamination forced emergency evacuation just forty years later. Remediation projections estimated $30 million—more than constructing the building itself. Ultimately, only the lower three floors were cleaned up to supplement Orlando's new courthouse during construction.

The asbestos-ridden annex was demolished in the early 2000s, surviving today only in archives. Yet its physical footprint remains immortalized as Heritage Square Park now occupying the site.

For though the buildings themselves fade, the history they witness leaves an indelible mark. This courthouse lies at Orlando’s very heart, its log cabin origins establishing the coordinates for the city’s first boundaries. From humble beginnings, a legacy grows.

THE SQUEEZE 🍊
Falcon Friends Farm: Helping Students of Unique Capabilities Take Flight

East River High School’s Falcon Friends Farm nurtures animals while helping students with special needs gain real-world skills. Teacher JackLynn Gore-Bishop, passionate about the transformative power of lending a helping hand, spearheaded this one-of-a-kind Agriculture Science program in her second year teaching special education at her alma mater.

Students gain hands-on experience. For many, it’s their first time nurturing animals like chickens and goats at the school’s exterior barn. Gore-Bishop guides rather than directs, empowering students to problem-solve daily barn challenges. This thoughtful approach fosters teamwork and confidence.

Students work shoulder-to-shoulder with peer mentors from the school’s Flight Crew program. Together, they discover solutions while forming bonds across learning differences.

Caring for animals makes hearts feel full, according to one student. Likewise, Gore-Bishop’s heart brims seeing her students gain skills to soar after graduation.

Through community and compassion at Falcon Friends Farm, she’s helping “kids of unique capabilities” spread their wings.

Leftover Pandemic Dollars Help Erase Medical Debt Nightmares For Orlandoans

Orange County is using $4.5 million in leftover pandemic aid to buy up and erase hundreds of millions of dollars worth of medical debt owed by thousands of struggling residents.

Though short of the $8.7 million advocates sought, the debt relief program run by nonprofit RIP Medical Debt could still transform lives, as it has erased over $11 billion in medical bills nationally already.

Mother of two, Eimear Roy, encapsulates the nightmares past-due medical debts can turn into after COVID-19 and long-term complications left her family facing threats of utility shutoffs.

Officials hope lifting crushing debts often sold for pennies on the dollar off families' backs will make it easier for them to qualify for loans, find housing and get back on their feet.

Major hospital systems support the buyback efforts, though advocates say more funds would have allowed debt relief for even more hurting Orange County residents. Still, thousands now have reason to breathe easier as potential financial pitfalls disappear.

Concrete To Canopy: Orlando To Transform Shadowy I-4 Underpass

Darkness cloaks the space beneath I-4 as vehicles thunder overhead. Yet plans are unfolding to transform this concrete canopy into a vibrant, verdant greenspace for downtown Orlando. Dubbed "The Canopy," this 10-acre urban oasis will break ground in early 2025, taking up to two years to complete at a cost of $25-30 million.

Unveiled last week, the city's renderings reveal how The Canopy will realize the community's vision - an inclusive, sustainable refuge integrating nature and technology.

Lush greenery will provide respite from the urban jungle while colorful screens and pathways will enable artistic immersion and seamless mobility. Locals and visitors alike will gather here, from friend meetups to full-blown festivals.

Inspired by Orlando's lush tree canopy, The Canopy will also offer a preview this summer through a pilot parking program near downtown's booming rideshare zone.

With 150 temporary parking spaces set to launch in April, accessing Orlando's emerging oasis will soon be more convenient as this vibrant greenspace continues taking shape in the shadows.

Check out the video rendering of The Canopy below 👇

Gotham City has Batman, but Orlando (UCF) had Ratman?

On a dark night at the University of Central Florida, students felt an unexpected guardian prowling the grounds. This self-made hero fought crime dressed as “Ratman” - wearing a rodent mask and glowing red eyes. His enduring legend began one night in 2018.

Shaky footage circulated online showing a caped figure foiling a bike theft on campus. The clip went viral overnight, igniting curiosity across UCF. Students speculated wildly over Ratman’s identity on Reddit, even as the campus police appealed to the vigilante for help catching a vandal.

Documentarian James Berry first learned the truth behind the myth from his high school friend, Cameron Cruce. As a past UCF film student, Cruce had staged Ratman’s heroic escapades on campus and chronicled them on YouTube.

In Berry’s documentary “Have You Seen the Ratman?”, Cruce reveals orchestrating the character’s increasing celebrity among students hungry for a hidden hero. At Ratmania’s peak, crowds gathered expecting to unmask their protector after fake internet rumors, unaware the man himself lurked nearby enjoying his anonymity.

Though the legendary Ratman has long left campus, his cultural legacy remains at UCF. For students back then, Ratman embodied an endearing spirit who brought mystery and adventure to their imagination. And perhaps, the valiant Ratman may yet return again one night to guard the darkness.

Check out the short documentary below 👇

ORLANDO DIGS: DISCOVERING THE AREAS TOP PROPERTIES 🏠
Butler Chain Mediterranean Crown Jewel

A secluded 15,000-square-foot Mediterranean oasis tucked away on a private peninsula in Florida's Butler Chain of Lakes in Windermere beckons elite buyers.

Behind the iron gates of 4200 Down Point Lane lies a palatial residence with resort-style amenities just minutes from bustling Orlando featuring six bedrooms, eight baths, and a $14 million price tag!

Inside, a hand-painted 25-foot rotunda ceiling crowns the grand entryway. An expansive gourmet kitchen and extensive climate-controlled wine cellar add modern luxury.

Lounge poolside or retire to the covered cabana and outdoor kitchen area before venturing out on the water.

The sprawling two-acre grounds provide opportunities for lakeside living at its finest with three private docks and a fully-equipped boathouse situated on over 1,000 feet of shoreline.

Curious (or nosey like me)? Check out the short video tour below 👇

#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸

Orlandoan paddling through life

📷 via @otterpaddleorlando  |📍Winter Park

Tag @orlandosignal to get your photo featured in the newsletter!

FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩
Alex’s Fresh Kitchen

📍Summit Plaza. 1015 FL 436, suite 109 Casselberry, FL 32707, or map to this location, right here.

Alex's Fresh Kitchen tantalized our taste buds with its renowned creative comfort foods and southern flavors. We dove right into the menu, drooling over the "Mamba Burger" - crowned Orlando's Best Burger by Orlando Weekly, coated in 24 spices and decked with fried pickles and jalapeños, cheddar cheese sauce and garlicky aioli. A symphonic explosion between buns.

But the brisket-packed “Allison’s Choice” wrapped in gooey gouda and white cheddar mac & cheese won us over. Slow-cooked brisket hunks married indulgently with the cheesy contents of the wrap, steeped in smoky barbecue.

Alex’s also spotlights Southern standouts like crispy fried green tomatoes and the quintessential chicken ‘n waffles.

To take sides like fries over the top, we suggest pairing with the aioli flight showcasing housemade garlicky dipping sauces. Bellies full, taste buds dancing,

Alex’s has earned a spotlight for elevating comfort into creative, crave-worthy adventures without losing their Southern roots - a new Orlando favorite.

Hell yes! 👇

badbitchbekyeats

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MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out

> “A Vagabond’s Chaotic Life” (Rom-Com) is coming to Binx Orlando tonight at 7pm. Directed by OS reader, Kimberly DiPersia.

> Los Angeles chain Fatburger opened their first Orlando location last week at 1713 Future Way in Celebration.

> Sip on some fine wine while enjoying the incredible talents of local artists at Wine Down Wednesday at 150 East Central Blvd.

> Check out Sammy Rae & The Friends on Thursday at the House of Blues Orlando

> Join Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company this Wednesday for a Vegan Street Party at 1300 Alden Rd.

> See Classic Movies Series: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure tomorrow at 7pm at the Garden Theatre

> The Drake Kitchen and Bar is now open in downtown Orlando’s new Radius Apartment building.

> Orange County Regional History Center is hosting a special preview of an upcoming mermaid-inspired production by Opera Orlando on Thursday, for free.

> Mid Drive Dive, from the folks behind Hinckley’s Fancy Meats and Freehand Goods, is open on Edgewater Drive

> Grammy nominated, Hiss Golden Messenger is coming to The Social in Orlando tomorrow.

ORLANDO WEATHER 🌤️

Monday

74🌡️ 52 | ☀️ | Brilliant sunshine and nice

Tuesday

78🌡️ 59 | 🌤️ | Partly sunny and pleasant

Wednesday

82 🌡️ 63 | 🌤️ | Partly sunny

THANKS! 🙏

I appreciate your attention and interest! We’ll see you again on Thursday for the weekend fun issue.

My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal