Welcome to Thursday Morning, Orlando!

Alright you crazy kids. Today’s poll halfway down asks a super polarizing question. Please don’t come for me! 🙄

🎂 Also, Happy early birthday (Sunday) to Allen Johnson

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

• Ten Commandments

• "The Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth"

• Tony Bennett Songbook

• + lots of weekend recs

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

On with it!

- Philip

3 QUICK NEWS BITS ⏲️
Nothing’s Impossible: Winter Park Woman Transformed Devastating Stroke into Mission of Hope

At just 31, Winter Park's Valerie Greene saw her life change in an instant when two strokes left her paralyzed on one side, unable to speak, and mostly deaf. Doctors doubted she'd ever walk or talk again, but they hadn't met anyone quite like Valerie. Through sheer grit and faith, she proved them wrong, fighting her way back to mobility and speech.

She has turned her experience into a message of hope by sharing her innovative recovery methods in her new book, "Stroke Solutions: Keys to Recovery & Prevention," for everyone.

👉 Pssst. Check out the book here.

As founder of Global Stroke Resource and Stroke Solutions, “America’s Stroke Coach” championed life-changing legislation and completed a Disney half-marathon.

Her message to stroke survivors? Recovery doesn't have to mean endless frustration – there's a practical path back to independence.

Holocaust Center Welcomes Rare Survivor, a German Synagogue's Ten Commandments

A remarkable piece of Holocaust history has found a new home in Central Florida. The Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center in Maitland has acquired an 800-pound Ten Commandments stone tablet that once adorned a synagogue in Egelsbach, Germany.

The tablet survived Kristallnacht in 1938 when Nazi violence swept across Germany, toppling it from its perch. For decades, it lay hidden in brush behind the converted synagogue until the Simon family, whose ancestors built the temple in the 1840s, discovered it during a 1996 visit.

After years in a Miami synagogue museum, this silent witness to history debuted in Maitland on November 3, but can be viewed during regular hours ongoing.

The Canopy Project Delivers First Win for Orlandoans

Good news for downtown Orlando drivers: The ambitious "Canopy" project is bringing back 150 much-needed parking spaces under Interstate 4, breathing new life into an area that once hosted 900 spots.

Unveiled in February's master plan, these temporary spaces will make it easier to explore Church Street, downtown, and the blossoming Parramore/Creative Village area.

While City Hall's Ashley Papagni hasn't pinned down an opening date just yet, the construction crews have worked their magic in just weeks—and from the looks of it, we'll be parking there soon.

WEEKEND SPOT HIGHLIGHT 🔦
Maker Faire Orlando

📍Central Florida Expo Center & Fairgrounds. 4603 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32808. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, Nov 9th & Sunday, Nov 10th - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Maker Faire Orlando beckons curious minds to a wonderland where robots whir, rockets soar, and imagination runs wild. This 12th annual gathering at the Central Florida Fairgrounds brings together the brightest inventors and creators in the community.

Known as "The Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth," this non-profit celebration unites over 200 local engineers, artists, scientists, and crafters as they share their latest creations. Families can tinker, learn, and explore alongside the incredible makers who are shaping tomorrow's possibilities, this weekend!

[Get more info & tix, right here]

TOP 3 FUN RECS FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊
Jonathan Karrant, the Tony Bennett Songbook

📍Timucua Arts Foundation. 2000 S Summerlin Ave, Orlando, Florida 32806. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, November 9th, 7:30 p.m.

Journey into an unforgettable evening as acclaimed vocalist Jonathan Karrant channels the timeless magic of Tony Bennett at Timucua.

Fresh from releasing his fifth album "Eclectic" (2023), Karrant has become a commanding presence in contemporary jazz, mesmerizing audiences across the US and Europe.

Like his inspiration Bennett, whose masterful interpretations of the Great American Songbook sparked Karrant's musical journey, this globe-trotting virtuoso artfully bridges classic standards and contemporary gems with soul-stirring elegance.

[Get more info, right here]

College Park Jazzfest

📍Enter at any one of eight entrance gates off Edgewater Drive. 648 Dartmouth Street, Orlando, FL 32804. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, November 9th, 5-11 p.m.

Since 2002, College Park's JazzFest has transformed neighborhood streets into a pulsating celebration of sound.

Three dynamic stages showcase a dozen talented bands, serving up everything from smooth jazz to heart-thumping R&B and infectious rock rhythms. Bring your crew and those trusty lawn chairs – though you might not stay seated for long!

Local shops, restaurants, and food trucks add flavors to the festivities, creating the perfect backdrop for this beloved block party where every beat drops a new memory.

[Get more info, right here]

Central Winds Music Festival

📍Central Winds Park. 1000 Central Winds Dr, Winter Springs, FL 32708. Map to this location.

🕐 Saturday, Nov 9th, 4-8 p.m.

Experience musical magic at the second annual Central Winds Music Festival, returning November 9 as a completely free community celebration.

From 4:00 to 8:00 PM, immerse yourself in captivating performances while savoring delectable treats from local food vendors. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, then settle in for an unforgettable autumn evening under the open sky.

This family-friendly festival transforms an ordinary Saturday into an extraordinary memory you won't want to miss.

[Get more info, right here]

MORE WEEKEND HAPPENINGS 🎭 🥁

Multi-day:

🔥 Maitland Rotary Art Festival | Fri 5 p.m, Sat & Sun 10 a.m. | Lake Lily Park, Maitland | More

Lakeridge Lights | Fri & Sat 5 p.m. | Clermont | More

EDC Orlando 2024 | Fri, Sat, Sun 1 p.m. | Downtown | More

GROWvember Fall Fest and Plant Sale | Fri 2 p.m & Sat 8 a.m. | Winter Park Area | More

Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical | Fri 7:30 p.m. & Sat 2:30 & 7:30 p.m. | Downtown | More

Friday:

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party | 7 p.m. | Lake Buena Vista | More

Preacher Lawson: Best Day Ever! | 7 p.m. | Milk District | More

Dan L. Hess: "Earth's Last Picture" | 6:30 p.m. | Downtown | More

UCF Knights Mens Basketball vs. Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons | 7 p.m. | UCF | More

The Jeff Rupert Quartet | 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. | Downtown | More

Weeping Wound, Fiends, Cohen_Noise, and Gas FL | 7 p.m. | Mills 50 | More

Orlando Magic v New Orleans Pelicans | 7 p.m. | Downtown | More

NWSL Playoffs Quarterfinals - Orlando Pride v Chicago Red Stars | 8 p.m. | Downtown | More

Freaky Fridays: The Bat Woman | 11:59 p.m. | Winter Park Area | More

Saturday:

Paint Your Pet | 3 p.m. | Ivanhoe Village | More

Justin Timberlake | 9 p.m. | Downtown | More

Le Petite Fete: The Eras Party, A Taylor Swift Inspired Dance Night | 8 p.m. | South Eola | More

Glee Night | 9 p.m. | Lake Buena Vista | More

Kindred Pear Exchange Night Markets | 5 p.m. | Thornton Park | More

ProBox Promotions | 6 p.m. | South | More

The Toxhards with Paging Mr Herman | 7:30 p.m. | Mills 50 | More

Movie Trash: Hawk Jones | 7:30 p.m. | Milk District | More

Dean’s Scorpio Birthday Bash 3 | 10 p.m. | Winter Park Area | More

Sunday:

The Florida Vintage Market | 12 p.m. | Ivanhoe Village | More

Edgar Meyer Trio with Tessa Lark and Joshua Roman | 3 p.m. |  Winter Park Area | More

Zane Lamprey | 8 p.m. | South Eola | More

Fall Market | 12 p.m. | South | More

Orlando Magic v Washington Wizards | 6 p.m. | Downtown | More

Concealer, Monterey, Keep Reaching, Between You and God, Wasted Life | 7 p.m. | Mills 50 | More

THANKS!

We’ll see you on Monday.

My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal