Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando

Happy Cinco De Mayo to you all, including all the gringos that love their 2-for-1 margaritas on this special day!! 🤣

In today’s issue: 👇

• LBJ's Orlando Sleepover

• The Davis Knight Show

• The Gnarly Cuban

• ….and much more

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💥 Towards the end of today’s issue, I have a question asking what your favorite section of the newsletter is. Please let me know??

Let’s dive in!

- Philip

ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
LBJ's Orlando Sleepover: A Presidential First

When LBJ's Air Force One touched down at McCoy Terminal on October 25, 1964, Orlando wasn't just getting a presidential visit – it was getting its first-ever presidential sleepover! Only Harry Truman had previously breezed through in 1949, but he didn't stick around for pancakes the next morning.

Orlando Sentinel publisher Martin Anderson, Johnson's Texan homie and political cheerleader, splashed the news across front pages with barely contained excitement.

At Cherry Plaza Hotel, Johnson turned into a political rock star – spending 23 minutes glad-handing fans and even scrambling atop a police cruiser to profess his Orlando crush.

The next morning brought a motorcade worthy of royalty, with helicopters buzzing overhead and Secret Service agents nervously eyeing every window. At Colonial Plaza Shopping Center, LBJ charmed 50,000 spectators by declaring himself ready to become an honorary Orlandoan after experiencing such stellar hospitality.

A whopping 110,000 Central Floridians – the biggest crowd the city had ever assembled – turned out for the presidential spectacle.

Though Orange County wouldn't back Johnson that November, he snagged Florida by 2.3% anyway, part of his nationwide victory lap that left opponent Barry Goldwater in the dust.

(Learn a ton more about LBJ’s overnight Orlando visit with Travis Puterbaugh, right here)

THE SQUEEZE 🍊

Winter Park's Mini Maestro: The 11-Year-Old Podcaster Breaking Barriers in Five Minutes

Meet Davis Knight, the 11-year-old whiz kid from Winter Park with ASD (Aspergers) and ADHD who's turning neurodiversity into his secret weapon on "The Davis Knight Show" – packing a punch in under five minutes flat, kinda like this newsletter!

Now 104 episodes strong, his podcast is the ultimate crossover hit, blending brain-tickling trivia, tech talk (a true gift of his), giggle-worthy jokes for kids, and confidence-boosting life hacks.

When not behind the mic, this Winter Park marvel rocks as an ambassador for AdventHealth's "Be a Mindleader" campaign, helping crush mental health stigma among young folks.

His promise? "Get ready to SMILE" – serving up weekly happiness while celebrating what makes you, YOU.

🔥 Catch the magic right here on Spotify or right here on Apple Podcasts!

Stat! Central Florida's Free-Standing ER Phenomenon

Central Florida's landscape is sprouting free-standing emergency rooms faster than you can say "CT scan," sometimes within a stone's throw of existing hospitals. This medical mushrooming isn't just coincidence – it's a calculated response to the region's population explosion and tourism, all made possible by Florida's 2019 medical regulation jailbreak.

The big three healthcare players – Orlando Health, HCA Florida Healthcare, and AdventHealth – have planted 26 of these 24/7 medical outposts across the region, offering hospital-caliber emergency services when minutes matter most.

Healthcare executives insist these facilities save lives through proximity, though they're not exactly crying all the way to the bank.

As Central Florida continues booming, expect more of these medical mini-hubs to pop up in a neighborhood near you!

(Learn more about why free-standing emergency rooms are popping up with Spencer Tracy, right here)

From Crawl to Cruise: I-4's Congestion Relief Arrives

Two new "congestion relief" lanes just zipped open on Interstate 4 last Monday, liberating a 6.1-mile stretch between U.S. 27 and Disney Springs from its traffic nightmare status.

Local commuters now cruise at a mile-a-minute pace where they once crawled.

The $2.5 billion highway makeover arrived eight months early, targeting the spot where 140,000 daily vehicles previously played an unwanted game of stop-and-go. While skeptics worry the traffic jam will simply relocate, other drivers are already celebrating their brake-free journeys.

These free-for-all lanes expand I-4 from three to four each way, with future toll options coming.

Meanwhile, Central Florida drivers are happily reclaiming those precious minutes once lost to America's most frustrating commute.

140 Years of Firefighting as Orlando's Bravest Celebrate Milestone

The Orlando Fire Department will ignite excitement on May 6th (tomorrow) at the Randall R. Tuten Fire Museum, where Fire Chief Charlie Salazar will unveil a flashy anniversary-wrapped Engine 101—one of America's hardest-working fire trucks!

Mayor Buddy Dyer and Retired-Lt. Bill Griffin will join the celebration as OFD commemorates its journey from a small volunteer band serving 1,666 residents in 1885 to today's powerhouse team of 660 firefighters.

Now boasting five prestigious accreditations that have other Florida departments seeing red with envy, OFD continues its tradition of keeping the City Beautiful's residents and millions of visitors safe from harm.

Please RSVP by emailing [email protected].

Hot tip: Museum tours follow the 9:00 a.m. ceremony!

🚒 Dang, who knew about this awesome little museum??

TASTY NEWS 🧑‍🍳
Orlando Area Eateries Coming & Going

1️⃣ Habibi - Flavorful Lebanese Journey Expands

Winter Garden welcomes Habibi Lebanese Grill (Insta) this month, seating 45 for fast-casual dining with their signature menu. The owner, who previously ran Michigan's five-location Kabob Grill, transformed the struggling South Hiawassee Road spot a decade ago by preserving the Habibi name while elevating quality.

2️⃣ Terra Play Cafe - Little Explorers' Sensory Paradise

Lake Nona's newest gem, Terra Play Center (Insta), opens this month—brainchild of pediatric specialist and her partner. This innovative haven features custom play structures for ages 6 months to 8 years, a sensory room, and a café serving Salvadoran coffee. Soft opening May 11-14; grand celebration May 17.

😢 Dearly departed/departing: thankfully this section is 🦗🦗🦗 this week.

#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸

Simpson Building Downtown Mount Dora

📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Mount Dora

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

FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩

The Gnarly Cuban - Orlando’s Ventanita

📍2545 Coolidge Ave STE C, Orlando, FL 32804. Map to this location.

In College Park, The Gnarly Cuban's (Insta) charming little window delivers authentic Cuban flavors Wednesday through Saturday, 8 am to 2 pm.

Their adorable to-go cafecitos offer a perfect jolt of Havana-inspired energy, but the true stars are the empanadas—particularly their mind bending Cuban sandwich variation that leaves customers craving for more.

Beyond these signature items, their full breakfast and lunch menu brings a slice of Caribbean sunshine to every visit.

👉 Check out their MENU, right here 👈

MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out

🎉 Cinco de Mayo at CityWalk 
📅 May 5, 2025 | 1pm-12am 
📍 Antojitos & Margaritaville at Universal CityWalk

Celebration featuring live entertainment, DJs, dancing, and exclusive Mexican-inspired food and drink offerings.
➡️ No Cover Charge

🏮 Orange County's Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration 
📅 May 6, 2025 | 7:30-9am 
📍 Orange County Administration Building

13th annual celebration featuring cultural performances, art exhibition, activities, and light refreshments.
➡️ Join the Celebration

📚 Orlando Indie Book Fair 
📅 May 7, 2025 | 6-9pm 
📍 Great Southern Box Company

Literary gathering featuring independent bookstores, authors, and vendors supporting the local book community.
 ➡️ Meet Authors

🛍️ Luminary Market 
📅 First Wednesday monthly | 5:30-9pm 
📍 Luminary Green Park in Creative Village

Monthly market featuring 20-25 local vendors followed by an outdoor family movie at 7pm.
➡️ Shop Local

🎁 Posh Pantry Loves Moms 
📅 May 8, 2025 | 9:30-11:30am 
📍 Lobos Coffee Roasters, Corrine Drive

Special morning event for mothers featuring complimentary bites, coffee, shopping credit, and giveaways.
➡️ Register Now

THANKS!

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Thanks for reading! I’ll see you again on Thursday’s weekend fun issue.

My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal