Welcome to the first edition of ORLtoday — we’re so glad you’re here.Send us an email and let us know what you’d like to see covered in our newsletter.
Editor’s Pick
Winter Park tasting counter concept Ômo is a finalist in the Best New Restaurant category. | Photo by @mob__mom
This year’s James Beard Award winners will be announced tonight in Chicago, and we’re crossing our fingers that the Orlando finalists get the attention they deserve.
In other food news, Bite30 — Orlando’s version of Restaurant Week, which is actually over a month long — is happening now through Sunday, July 13. We’re eyeing the $38 prix fixe menus at Chez Les Copains + Acropolis Greek Taverna, featuring menu choices like salmon meunière and pasta Santorinia, respectively.
Asked
Asked
Which of the following local restaurants/chefs has won a James Beard Award?
A. Henry Moso: Kabooki Sushi B. Melissa Kelly: Primo by Melissa Kelly C. Alda and Joe Rees: The Strand D. Sean “Sonny” Nguyen: Domu
Audubon Park Community Market | Monday, June 16 | 5-8 p.m. | Audubon Park Garden District | Free | Swing by the artisan market on the way home from work to pick up fine foods like fresh produce, cheese, bread, and decadent desserts.
Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet | 7-8:30 p.m. | Funny Bone Comedy Club | $37+ | Listen to the podcast hosts of “Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet” perform dramatic readings of the internet’s wildest one-star reviews of Orlando hotspots.
Thursday, June 19
5th Annual Facets of Freedom Juneteenth Festival | 10 a.m.-10 p.m. | Orlando Family Stage | Free | Join this festival for family lunch and learn opportunities + music, dance, and spoken word performances.
Live Music on the Patio | 5-8 p.m. | Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando | $10+ | Pack up a picnic + bring seating to this outdoor concert included with general admission to Henry P Leu Gardens.
Friday, June 20
Wild Safari Bourbon & Whiskey Tour | 7-10 p.m. | Eola View | $61+ | A general admission ticket includes five bourbon or whiskey tastings, light bites, and a tour + class.
Saturday, June 21
The Official Pride Bar Crawl | 4-11:59 p.m. | Underground Public House | $13+ | Tickets to this crawl include up to three drinks, free drag show cover, and afterparty access.
Plan Ahead
An Evening with Heart | Friday, June 27 | 7 p.m. | Kia Center | $77+ | All we wanna do is be in the crowd for this rock band’s performance.
UCF Football’s FBC Mortgage Stadium is getting a new name — Acrisure Bounce House. The name change, set to take effect on Tuesday, July 1, comes courtesy of naming rights company FBC Mortgage’s own rebrand to Acrisure Mortgage. (Orlando Sentinel)
Civic
Nearly $400,000 in state funds will go to the construction of a permanent Pulse Memorial, commemorating the 49 people who died in the 2016 nightclub shooting. The city has put together an estimated budget of $12 million for the memorial, which is expected to break ground next year. (Orlando Weekly)
Coming Soon
Blue Blamboo Center is set to reopen this month in the old Winter Park Library space. The team behind the jazz institution has been renovating the library on New England Avenue to become a performance and rehearsal space. Construction on the second and third floors will start in July. (Orlando Weekly)
Number
$825.5 million. That’s the anticipated economic impact of the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships, which started last Friday at the Orange County Convention Center. The annual event will last through Monday, July 7, bringing ~325,500 attendees to Central Florida. (Orlando Business Journal)
Open
Luminescent, a new hangout in the old Baguette Factory, is now open, serving coffee by day and cocktails by night. It’s expected to celebrate the flavors of India, plus serve up street food-inspired bites. Keep an eye on your future dinner plans with this list of new and coming-soon restaurants.
Try This
Epcot’s new adults-only lounge is now open. Geo-82 is inspired by Spaceship Earth and offers scenic views of the park + beer, curated wines, craft cocktails, and an exclusive bourbon flight. Park admission is necessary to visit the 21-and-up lounge. (Orlando Business Journal)
Mansion Monday
Things we love about this 4,163-sqft Lake Davis home on the market: the huge walk-in closet a la “The Princess Diaries 2,” the pool and private pool house, and the trees lining its oversized lot.
Little ones won’t even realize they’re enjoying “edu-tainment” while roaming WonderWorks. | Photo via WonderWorks Orlando
We’re a few weeks into summer break for Orlando Public Schools students, and if you’re already running out of ideas to keep the youngsters entertained, you’re not alone.
Check out this guide to local kid-friendly activities to help bust that summertime boredom.
Indoor adventures
Kings Orlando, 8255 International Dr. | The small folks will have a great time with 10-string bowling lanes, giant jenga, upgraded arcades, and Connect Four. Kids will remember having rockin’ birthday parties here.
Sensory-friendly playgrounds
Terra Play Center, 9725 Selten Way, Ste. A | Amenities include a corkscrew-style slide, treehouse tower, small toddler and baby play pit, and a family-friendly cafe. Kids will remember the air-powered ball machine.
After-hours attractions
Silver Moon Drive-In Theater, 4100 New Tampa Hwy., Lakeland | Pack the blankets and drive over to Lakeland — just west of Orlando — for a family-friendly flick under the stars. Kids will remember stretching out with their favorite snacks.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
It’s such a pleasure to be sending out the very first edition of ORLtoday — shout out to all of the editorial team members who helped with its launch. We’ve been hard at work creating content that we think you’ll like, but ultimately, it’s you who knows best.
What are the things you’ve always been curious about, the events you’re dying to keep on your radar, or the neighborhood-specific quirks you think deserve a mention? Feel free to send an email my way with your thoughts.
