Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando

Warning: HOT take incoming. The fam and I went out to Charlie’s Bakery & Creamery over the weekend for the very first time. Several other local publications often herald this spot as the best bakery in Orlando this. Although, while tasty, we will place Buttermilk Bakery on top every time!

In today’s issue: 👇

• The Oyster Rebel

• Daughter For Hire

• Teak

• ….and much more

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🛑 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. 🐈

Let’s dive in!

- Philip

ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
Walking Off His Own Tombstone: How Dr. Kilmer Helped Build Orlando

Talk about ignoring medical advice!

When physicians gave Dr. Washington Kilmer just one year to live in 1872, the stubborn 34-year-old Civil War surgeon prescribed himself an unusual treatment, a casual 1,500-mile stroll from Ohio to Florida.

Born in 1838 amid New York's Mohawk Valley sawdust, Kilmer traded lumber for medicine at Albany Medical College before patching up Union soldiers during the Civil War. After settling in Ohio with his wife Florence and starting a family, his body mysteriously betrayed him.

Incredibly, his marathon trek south didn't kill him, it cured him! By 1873, a rejuvenated Kilmer planted his family and one of Central Florida's first orange groves in a settlement he dubbed “Altamont.” Not content with just growing citrus, he shaped young minds as Orange County School Board chair for eight years.

His most daring feat? When yellow fever terrorized Tampa in 1887, Kilmer was the lone Orlando doctor brave (or crazy) enough to rush in. He survived the disease himself after treating victims for five weeks, earning Orlando's golden gratitude.

By his 1919 death, a fashionable 47 years past his expiration date, Kilmer had helped build courthouses, railroads, and a city. Not bad for a man who was supposed to be long gone!

(Learn a boat-load more about Washington Kilmer with Paul Trembly, right here)

THE SQUEEZE 🍊

Daughter For Hire Brings Heart to Senior Companionship

Meet Gail and Tim Flowers, the warm-hearted duo bringing a fresh approach to senior care across Orange and Seminole counties.

Their business, Daughter For Hire, is sprinkling sunshine for seniors who want to stay home sweet home, sprouted from personal experience caring for their own mothers.

"We're not your typical agency," Gail smiles. "Our Care Companions become genuine friends to seniors, helping with daily activities while bringing joy and connection."

Since launching Florida's first Daughter For Hire in November 2024, the Flowers keep it refreshingly personal. They answer calls themselves and play matchmaker between seniors and companions after cozy home chats.

Their innovative online portal lets faraway families peek in on daily adventures without the "everything okay?" texts.

"Nothing beats hearing how we've brightened someone's day," Tim beams.

"We're helping seniors stay in the homes they love at a fraction of facility costs—while giving families priceless peace of mind."

The Oyster Rebel: When Anthony Bourdain Stormed Orlando

When I discovered Bob Morris' recent article about chaperoning Anthony Bourdain around Greater Orlando, I couldn't help but smile. As someone who admired Bourdain's fearless culinary adventures and honest travel narratives through his Parts Unknown series, finding Morris’ behind-the-scenes account was like uncovering hidden treasure for me.

Morris, a former columnist for publications like the Orlando Sentinel and contributor to National Geographic Traveler, captured the essence of Bourdain perfectly, unfiltered, occasionally difficult, but ultimately authentic.

Their adventure kicked off with an epic oyster standoff when Bourdain flat-out refused Morris' beloved Lee & Rick's Oyster Bar due to “warm oysters.” After clearing the air, Bourdain unleashed his full rock-star persona between stops at The Ravenous Pig and a fancy Babette's Feast recreation at Luma.

The highlights? Women flashing for autographs at the Citrus Club, Bourdain telling a sixty-something culinary hopeful he was "too old" before encouraging him anyway, and tossing joints to star-struck kitchen staff at the Enzian Theater.

Bourdain always proved the man behind the television persona was just as complicated, brilliant, and surprisingly reliable as fans hoped.

🔥 Ya’ll have to read Bob Morris’ full story, right here.

From Saigon to Orlando: When Worlds Collide

It's been a wild half-century since Saigon fell and the Vietnam War wrapped up.

At Lake Nona's Veterans Memorial Park (I had no idea this memorial existed!!), hundreds of fallen Central Floridians get their due from an unlikely duo: retired Army Col. DeLloyd Voorhees Jr., who cut his teeth as a young lieutenant living on "nine bowls of rice daily," and Hoang "HD" Doan, who literally grew up dodging bullets as a South Vietnamese officer's kid.

After communist forces crashed his hometown party, Doan's family braved re-education camps before making a pulse-pounding monsoon escape by boat to the Philippines.

Now Orlando neighbors with shared battle scars, they honored April 30th as the day dedicated to freedom's defenders.

(Learn more about DeLloyd Voorhees Jr. and Hoang Doan with Nicole Griffin, right here)

Dragons on Wheels: Kids Design Orlando's Quirky Bike Safety Icons

Local elementary artists are jazzing up Orlando's bike lanes with eye-catching designs freshly unveiled by FDOT at Avalon Elementary. These cool pavement makeovers, picked from six schools during National Bike Month, turn safety lessons into bike path galleries.

Fourth-grader Jacob Hughes wowed everyone with his dragon cyclist sporting a quirky horned helmet, while Chin Yang's winning creation came as a delightful surprise even to herself—proof that creative dreams do pay off!

The colorful markers boost FDOT's "Target Zero" campaign against traffic accidents. District Manager Libertad Acosta-Anderson champions these smart travel choices—helmets, lights, and now dragon-powered inspiration—keeping Central Florida cyclists both safe and stylishly entertained.

(Learn more about these elementary bike path artists with Angie Quezada, right here)

TASTY NEWS 🧑‍🍳
Orlando Area Eateries Coming & Going

1️⃣ Black Bean Deli - Cuban Soul Expands to New Home

Black Bean Deli (Insta) brings Havana heat to Winter Garden this summer after years of anticipation. The beloved eatery transforms historic surroundings with authentic comfort foo, from mouthwatering pan con lechon to sweet guava pastries, creating a vibrant tribute to Cuban heritage and resilience.

2️⃣ PopStroke - Gourmet Bites Meet Putting Paradise

PopStroke's (Insta) scratch kitchen headlines Tiger Woods' Hamlin entertainment venue opening this August. While perfecting your putt on two 18-hole courses, savor chef-crafted cuisine and premium drinks. This West Orlando destination promises culinary delights alongside mini-golf thrills for all ages.

#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸

Quaint little British pub

📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Milk District

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FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩

Teak Neighborhood Grill

📍6400 Time Square Ave, Orlando, FL 32835. See location info, right here.

Discover Teak (Insta), Orlando's true neighborhood haven where sports fans, party-goers, and foodies unite!

Their 37 signature burgers (19 lurking on their "Underground" SECRET menu) pair perfectly with our ever-evolving craft beer selection.

Whether it's an intimate dinner or group celebration, Teak delivers unforgettable experiences daily.

🔥 Don't miss their Fab Five Frito. A double smash masterpiece with provolone, BBQ sauce, Fritos, bean-less chili, and white cheddar queso on a pretzel bun.

👉 Check out their MENU, right here 👈

MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out

🍔 Tasty Takeover in The Milk District 
📅 Tuesdays | 6:30-10pm 
📍 The Milk District – E. Robinson St

Orlando's premier weekly food truck block party featuring diverse culinary offerings behind the shops and bars.
👉 Dine Alfresco

🌱 Homegrown Workshops: Advanced Gardening 
📅 May 21, 2025 | 6:15-7:45pm 
📍 The Kitchen House, 26 E King Street

Workshop covering soil health, microclimates, intensive planting, and eco-friendly pest management for experienced gardeners.
👉 Grow Smarter

🎨 Polasek Nights 
📅 May 22, 2025 | 5:30-8pm 
📍 Polasek Museum, Winter Park

Evening museum access featuring the "Threads of Freedom" exhibition, sculpture gardens at sunset, and Pride-themed photo-booth.
👉 View Art After Hours

🎻 Sunset Serenades: Spring Strings with Rimma 
📅 May 22, 2025 | 7-9pm 
📍 Harry P. Leu Gardens, Camellia Room

Classical concert featuring works by Dvořák, Debussy, and Gardel, with one complimentary beverage included.
👉 Musical Evening

🍽️ Taste of Baldwin Park 
📅 May 22, 2025 | 6:30-9:30pm (VIP 5:30pm) 
📍 Baldwin Park

Annual food and wine event featuring 60+ vendors, lakeside live music, and all-inclusive tasting options benefiting local charity.
👉 Sample the Best

🎭 Comedy Dark 
📅 May 22, 2025 | 8pm 
📍 Grape and the Grain Wine Bar, Mills 50

Outdoor comedy showcase featuring professional comedians performing their most outrageous material, with food truck on site.
👉 Get Wild

🍺 Suncreek Brewery's Bacon & Beer Tasting 
📅 May 22, 2025 | 7pm 
📍 Suncreek Cafe, Clermont

Culinary experience featuring four craft beer and bacon pairings.
👉 Reserve Your Pairing

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