The Juniper Tree

Good morning, Orlando! Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers in advance! Did you know the modern Mother's Day holiday was first celebrated in 1908 when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in West Virginia? Jarvis then campaigned to make Mother's Day a recognized holiday, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

In today’s Orlando Signal, Thursday (weekend fun) issue:

• CORE Network expansion

• Shen Yun

• The Juniper Tree

• + lots of weekend recs

🛑 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. Every time you vote in a poll, our cat Luna gets a little treat. 🐈

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On with it!

- Philip

3 QUICK NEWS BITS ⏲️
CORE Network Expansion Brings Renewed Optimism to Opioid Addiction Battle

After years lost to fentanyl addiction, Linda Gonzalez can finally see light at the end of the tunnel. The 57-year-old is getting medication-assisted treatment in Bithlo, providing a lifeline out of homelessness.

Twice monthly, she receives suboxone to curb cravings and withdrawals. This gold-standard approach combines drugs with behavioral therapy to aid recovery.

Its availability has been limited in Central Florida due to funding gaps and stigma. But the state's Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) network is expanding to Orange, Seminole and other counties, bringing new resources.

Andrae Bailey of Project Opioid noted they are not seeing enough expansion of medication-assisted treatment yet, but said this could be the opportunity to change that.

With CORE's emphasis on medication-assisted treatment, advocates hope to finally turn the tide against the opioid scourge claiming over 800 Central Florida lives annually.

City of Orlando Rolls Out Red Carpet for Parramore Entrepreneurs

Orlando's "Parramore Merchant Program" aims to revitalize the historic Parramore area by attracting local businesses to the new $500 million sports and entertainment district downtown.

The program offers turnkey 1,000-square-foot retail spaces within the district, only requiring businesses to supply furniture and equipment.

David Barilla of the City's Development Board views it as an incubator for entrepreneurs to gain solid footing.

Manuel Carmona, whose Luxe Med Spa benefited from another city incentive, praised the program's ability to save thousands in startup costs for new businesses. His wife Jamie noted it helps build client trust.

The rent structure involves a percentage tied to sales performance. As the project begins, city staff will closely support developers and merchants to ensure the program's success in nurturing a vibrant Parramore business community.

Orlando Fringe Festival: Uniting Through Artistic Expression

In the heart of Orlando, the International Fringe Theatre Festival celebrates artistic expression, empathy, and community this May (May 14th-27th). This year's edition promises over 100 diverse shows exploring unique perspectives through uncensored creativity.

Veteran participant Sarai Goley believes the festival fosters compassion by allowing strangers to share emotional connections. Her show with Kevin Fox, "The Bottleneck Effect," delves into human growth and empathy. Fox appreciates Fringe's embrace of novel premises seldom seen elsewhere.

Beyond performances, live music, food trucks, and art galleries create an immersive experience accessible to all ages.

Above all, the affordable event cultivates a warm, inclusive atmosphere that transcends divisions, inviting attendees into a celebration of unity through artistic diversity.

WEEKEND SPOT HIGHLIGHT 🔦
Orlando Taco & Margarita Festival

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

🕐 Saturday, May 11th, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

You just might see me at this one!

Brace yourselves, Orlando! The Orlando Taco & Margarita Festival is descending upon the Central Florida Fairgrounds, promising a celebration of flavor and revelry.

Tiny taco lovers aged 5 and under enter free, while others indulge in endless taco varieties and tantalizing margarita concoctions.

LIVE Pro Wrestling electrifies with raw power, and over 50 local vendors offer unique treasures. Kids delight in face painting and bounce houses. This epic fiesta ignites the senses with savory delights, thrilling spectacles, retail therapy, and unbridled joy.

TOP 3 FUN RECS FOR THE WEEKEND 🍊
Shen Yun

📍Dr. Phillips Center. 445 South Magnolia Ave. Orlando, FL 32801. Map to this location.

🕐 Friday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. or Saturday, May 11 at 2 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.

The thunderous gong resonates as celestial scenes unfurl - ethereal fairies adrift on clouds, brave Mongolian warriors astride mighty steeds across vast grasslands. Ancient romantic tales, tragedies, and heroic legends are brought vividly to life through breathtaking dance and music.

Shen Yun's artists resurrect China's divinely inspired cultural heritage that flourished for millennia until suppressed under communist rule. Some 20 masterful vignettes whisk you through 5,000 years of civilization - from dynasties and philosophies to mystical realms and persecuted spiritual beliefs like Falun Dafa.

A global phenomenon, Shen Yun tours over 150 cities yearly, drawing unstinting acclaim. But mere words cannot capture the magic - you must experience this revival of ancient Chinese culture with your own eyes.

Mother’s Day at Leu Gardens (pssst, Mom’s free)

📍Harry P. Leu Gardens. 1920 North Forest Ave. Orlando, Florida 32803. Map to this location.

🕐 Sunday, May 12, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Let this Mother's Day become a treasured memory by treating the special mom in your life to Orlando's most enchanting botanical paradise.

Wander the winding paths, discovering floral masterpieces and the breathtaking Glass in Flight 2 exhibit - larger-than-life insects and birds sculpted from shimmering glass and steel by renowned artist Alex Heveri. Delight in a kaleidoscope of butterflies amidst the blooms as you enjoy a picnic of her favorite treats.

Each mom receives a single rose memento while supplies last. Beat the heat with refreshing frozen popsicles from Peak Season Pops.

Above all, moms receive free admission, ensuring a truly magical, worry-free experience crafting memories that will forever illuminate your hearts.

The Juniper Tree

📍Dr. Phillips Center. 445 South Magnolia Ave. Orlando, FL 32801. Map to this location.

🕐 Friday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. or Saturday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Brace for THE JUNIPER TREE's sinister grip as Opera Orlando concludes its 2023-24 season with Glass and Moran's haunting opera.

A wicked stepmother's murderous jealousy leaves her stepson served to his father, only to meet her own dramatic end. Local director John DiDonna conjures a multi-sensory madness - eerie choreography, unsettling puppetry, chilling spectacles - through an unholy alliance with Phantasmagoria and Orlando Family Stage.

Gorgeous vocals from Opera Orlando's stars, including 2023-24 Studio Artists and Youth Company, underscore this hypnotic, melody-drenched vision. Conductor Geoffrey Loff leads you into the Grimms' depraved realm, utterly ensnaring your senses.

MORE WEEKEND HAPPENINGS 🎭 🥁 

Friday:

AJR - The Maybe Man Tour | 6:30 p.m. | Downtown | $50-$300 (link)

Loma Prieta, Pez, Thrull (Album Release Show), and Knaw | 7 p.m. | Winter Park Area | $15 (link)

Devin and Gage (Sundown Sessions) | 7 p.m. | Mills 50 | Free (link)

Queensrÿche | 8 p.m. | Milk District | $30 (link)

The Naughty Nightcap Burlesque Show | 9:30 p.m. | Thornton Park | Free (link)

IV and the Strange, Foley and Hood, and Bryan Raymond | 8 p.m. | Mills 50 | $15 (link)

OLATI - Italo Disco Nite! | 9 p.m. | Milk District | $5 (link)

Wines of the World | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown | $75 (link)

Spring Studio Show 2024 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Maitland | Free (link)

Bites, Sips & Hips (Burlesque show) | 7 p.m. | Thornton Park | $55 (link)

Saturday:

Milk District Sketch Walk | 10 a.m. | Milk District | $10-$15 (link)

Baby Owl Shower | 10 a.m. | Winter Park Area | Free (link)

Collective Coachella | 12 p.m. | Ivanhoe Village | Free (link)

Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras 67th Season Jazz Finale Concert | 3 p.m. | Winter Park Area | $25 (link)

Nerd Nite: Next Gen | 3 p.m. | Downtown | Free (link)

Scowl, Watts, and Miracle | 4 p.m. | Mills 50 | $20 (link)

Nashville Night in Orlando | 4 p.m. & 8 p.m. | Downtown | $60 (link)

Kindred Pear Exchange's May Night Market | 6 p.m. | Thornton Park | Free (link)

Geese | 6:30 p.m. | Downtown | $20 (link)

JK and The Contraband | 6:30 p.m. | Mills 50 | Free (link)

Orlando Pride vs. Bay FC | 7:30 p.m. | Downtown | $12-$70 (link)

17th Annual Hurricane Party – Music Festival | 11 a.m. | Sanford | $45 (link)

Sunday:

Mother's Day Tea at Ritz Carlton | 11 a.m. | Williamsburg | Free (link)

Jimmy Failla | 4 p.m. | Milk District | $30 (link)

Rich Amiri | 6 p.m. | Downtown | $27.50-$130 (link)

Retro World | 12 p.m. | Oviedo | Free (link)

We Them Ones Comedy Tour | 7 p.m. | UCF | $65.50-$149.50 (link)

Beethoven’s 5th | 3:30 p.m. | $45-$85 (link)

Sunday Brunch Market | 10 a.m. | Winter Park | Free (link)

The Florida Vintage Market | 12 p.m. | Ivanhoe | Free (link)

THANKS!

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We’ll see you on Monday.

My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal