Welcome to Monday Morning, Orlando!

Happy MLK Jr day! Today, I’m sharing an Orlando Rewind about when MLK Jr. came to Orlando in 1964. It’s a good one!

Took the fam to Celebrate Lunar on Saturday and we had a blast! Fun entertainment and killer food! Some of our faves were chicken bao, Mochinuts, and brown sugar boba tea.

🧁 Happy birthday to Mary Reichel!

In today’s issue: 👇

• Pitch for Progress

• Home Becomes Hospital

• Nola’s

• ….and much more

Did someone forward this email to you? If so, subscribe here.

Let’s dive in!

- Philip

ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
MLK's Historic Day at Tinker Field

When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stepped onto Tinker Field's pitcher's mound on March 6, 1964, he brought more than just his powerful presence - he brought hope. As 2,000 people gathered to hear him speak, something beautiful happened: for the first time, residents sat freely in the once-segregated grandstand.

Getting King to Orlando was quite the story. His old college friend, Reverend Curtis J. Jackson, had tried back in 1962, but King's schedule was packed. When Jackson reached out again in 1964, with the city struggling over segregated swimming areas, King made time for his friend and the community that needed him.

The day was packed with meaningful moments. King shared wisdom with 200 Black ministers at Shiloh Baptist Church, had a heart-to-heart with Mayor Bob Carr about making real changes in Orlando, and inspired everyone he met. While the local papers might not have given the visit the attention it deserved, its impact lived on in people's hearts.

Today, the Orange County Regional History Center cherishes their few treasures from that day - two photographs, a notebook, and a news script. Their archivists keep searching through old news reels, hoping to find more glimpses of the day Orlando took its first steps toward a brighter future.

(Learn more about this special day in 1964 and see the two photos with Whitney Broadaway, right here)

THE SQUEEZE 🍊
Orlando's Downtown Embraces Fresh Chapter of Community Safety

Downtown Orlando is embracing a fresh chapter of community safety with exciting changes arriving last Friday.

Following the success of last November's improvements, welcoming new barriers will grace Central Boulevard and Pine Street, while Orange Avenue stays people-friendly and vehicle-free.

The city has thoughtfully designed these changes to keep pedestrians safe while making sure favorite local spots remain easy to visit.

Alongside brighter street lighting and expanded community programs like S.A.F.E. and Orlando Connect, plus streamlined late-night alcohol permits and enhanced security, these updates are helping create the vibrant downtown scene Orlando residents and visitors love.

It's all part of making our city center an even more delightful place to gather and enjoy.

Home Becomes Hospital: AdventHealth's New Vision for Patient Care

AdventHealth Winter Park has introduced its innovative "Hospital at Home" program, launched last Monday.

The initiative turns patients' bedrooms into sophisticated medical units, complete with 24/7 monitoring and hybrid care delivery. Patients receive daily visits from medical staff while connecting with doctors via video calls, all supported by high-tech equipment including vital sign monitors and emergency response systems.

Dr. Jennifer Keehbauch confirms they can treat serious conditions like heart failure and diabetes, with research showing patients heal better in familiar surroundings.

The program, covered by most insurance plans including Medicare, seamlessly integrates with AdventHealth's existing home health services.

👉 Check out this video showing how this program works.

New Year Brings Clean Slate for Florida Mail-In Voters

As the calendar turned to 2025, Florida's vote-by-mail system hit the reset button, wiping clean all previous mail-in ballot requests.

The December 31st, 2024 expiration affects every Florida voter who prefers casting their ballot from home, regardless of their voting history.

State law mandates this fresh start after each federal general election cycle, requiring voters to submit new requests to maintain their mail-in voting status.

For those planning to participate in upcoming elections without visiting a polling place, the message is clear: it's time to renew. No automatic extensions, no exceptions.

Orlando's I-4 Upgrade Speeds Past Schedule as Daryl Carter Interchange is Coming Early

Orlando's exciting roadway makeover is racing ahead of schedule, with the new I-4 and Daryl Carter Parkway interchange now set to welcome drivers this spring - a full year earlier than planned!

Thanks to construction crews putting in extra hours each week, the project's innovative design, including three new ramps and a state-of-the-art diverging diamond pattern, is taking shape rapidly.

Local favorite Flippers Pizzeria has already jumped on the opportunity, moving to the up-and-coming O-Town West development that the interchange will serve.

It's just one piece of a broader refresh of Orlando's busy tourist corridor, with more improvements coming to Sand Lake Road and SR-528 interchanges, plus a bonus express lane to help drivers zip through the attractions area.

(Learn more about Courtney Talisse and her mission, with Jerry Hume, right here)

TASTY NEWS 🧑‍🍳
Orlando Area Eateries On Their Way

1️⃣ Abracadabra Play & Cafe - Where Magic Meets Play

A splash of magic is coming to Hamlin this April as Abracadabra Play & Café (Insta) opens its doors at 5736 Hamlin Groves Trail. This enchanting venue combines an indoor playground for kids with a cozy café retreat for parents, offering everything from music classes to birthday parties – where family fun meets perfect lattes.

2️⃣ Jeff’s Bagel Run (Milk District) - Bagel Empire Continues Flying

Orlando's celebrated bagel maestros, Jeff's Bagel Run (Insta), are rolling out 13 new locations across Florida in 2025, including a hotly anticipated spot at 3011 E. Colonial Drive in the Milk District. Founded by Jeff and Danielle Perera in 2019, this NYC Bagelfest honoree continues its remarkable rise to bagel stardom.

3️⃣ Nuri’s Tavern - Midwestern Pizza Finds Home in Orlando

Downtown Orlando's pizza scene gets a Midwest makeover this February as Nuri's Tavern (Insta) debuts at 63 E. Pine Street. From Team Market Group's culinary masterminds comes thin, crackly-crusted tavern-style pizzas served in a vintage-inspired space, complete with house-made dough, craft cocktails, and a neighborhood vibe decades in the making.

😢 Dearly departing/ed: Oof. A wave of local closures rolled through this past week as The Twisted Handle in Mills Park announces its final day of service on January 26th. The Aardvark and Shots Orlando have already closed their doors, while Nick's Family Diner is ending its 15-year run of serving the community. These closures mark the end of an era for the establishments that each brought their own unique character to the area.

#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸

The Waverly

📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Lake Eola

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

FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩
Nola’s Ice Cream Shop

📍7988 Via Delagio way suite 100, Orlando, Florida 32819. Map to this location.

Meet Nola's Ice Cream (Insta), Orlando's newest sweet spot in Dr. Phillips, where family legacy meets culinary innovation.

Named after their daughter Magnolia (Nola), Keren Swanson and Khoa Nguyen have transformed their two-year dream into reality, partnering with The Greenery Creamery and Sampaguita Filipino.

Their menu dazzles with unique flavors like Vietnamese Coffee, nostalgic Cereal Milk, and Thai Tea crowned with sea salt foam – each scoop telling a story of cultural fusion and family love.

👉 Check out Nola’s Ice Cream Shop, right here

MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out

🎭 An Evening With Josh Gad 
📅 January 21, 2025 | 7 & 9pm 
📍 Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Join American Treasure Josh Gad for his debut tell-some: IN GAD WE TRUST.
👉 Learn More

🥃 Whiskey & Cheese Tasting 
📅 January 22, 2025 | 6-8pm 
📍 Forward/Slash, 650 S Capen Ave., Winter Park, FL

Interactive workshop pairing handcrafted whiskeys with artisanal cheeses.
👉 Get Tix

🎸 Melissa Etheridge: 2025 Tour 
📅 January 23, 2025 | 8pm 
📍 Hard Rock Cafe & Live Orlando

Rock icon Melissa Etheridge brings her powerful performance to Orlando.
👉 Check It Out

🎵 The Bikinis 
📅 January 23 - February 22, 2025 
📍 The Winter Park Playhouse

Reunite with the beloved 60s girl group as they bring back the sun and fun of the Jersey Shore.
👉 Catch the Wave

🎭 Mandi Jo John: Broadway My Way 
📅 January 23-26, 2025 
📍 Orlando Shakes, 812 East Rollins Street, Orlando, FL 32803

World-traveled performer Mandi Jo presents her unique take on Broadway classics.
👉 Don’t Miss This

THANKS!

✅ Interested in reaching smart readers like you for your business? To become an Orlando Signal ad partner, start a conversation here.

🎭 Do you put on events? Submit your event.

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

My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal