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At press time, the weather was on track for Sunny Vibes Market to live up to its bright promise, with mild temperatures in the 80s predicted and plenty of sunshine perfect for the “Sunday Fun Day” vibe of this new regular event. “It’s all local,” says Glenn Crosson, owner of Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company, which is hosting the third annual Travel and Leisure event. The Ivanhoe Village brewery is no stranger to outdoor events and is always family and dog friendly. Sunny Vibes is held on the third Sunday of each month. “It’s a laid-back Sunday outing,” he said, noting…

“Who said raves were only for humans?” Chase Bowden, assistant general manager and part-time DJ at BarkHaven, describes the concept behind one of Orlando’s first pet-friendly music festivals. This weekend, the Ivanhoe Village area eatery and dog park will host the first-ever Bark Chella, a pet-friendly twist on California’s massive Coachella event. This Saturday from 5pm until midnight, dogs and their humans can enjoy sets from DJ CHYMERA and CHASENSPACE, glowing lights, a foam party, Pawlicious doggie ice cream, jewelry and craft sales, bubbles, and lots of high-energy fun throughout the evening. Since opening in November 2024, BarkHaven has grown…

Florida’s Hispanic business community knows that public safety and economic opportunity go hand in hand. Families are less likely to shop, invest, or establish roots in areas where they don’t feel safe. Small businesses cannot thrive if crime disrupts neighborhoods, drives away customers, and puts employees at risk. That’s why wise and responsible investments in public safety are so important. Not just for law enforcement, but for all of us. One such investment is license plate reader (LPR) technology. LPR is not a theoretical tool or a futuristic concept. They are already being used across Florida to help law enforcement…

The University of Central Florida (UCF) has received a $50 million transformational gift from a distinguished alumni. This is one of the largest private gifts in the university’s history. School officials announced the donation this week, calling it a major investment in UCF’s long-term growth as one of the nation’s largest public universities. The donor’s identity was not immediately disclosed, but university leaders said the gift reflects alumni’s strong confidence in UCF’s direction and influence. University officials say the pledge will support a variety of strategic priorities, including expanding academic programs, student scholarships and research initiatives. The bulk of the…

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) announced plans to eliminate approximately 200 positions as part of a broader effort to address budget constraints for the upcoming school year. District officials said the cuts are aimed at filling anticipated funding gaps caused by rising operating costs, changing enrollment patterns and uncertainty around the flow of state and federal funding. District leaders say most of the cuts will be through attrition, vacancies and reassignment rather than widespread layoffs. Administrators emphasized that classroom instruction remains a top priority, with a focus on minimizing the impact on students. However, some non-instructional roles and administrative positions…

Put the past behind you, put the future on hold and take our mini quiz about what’s going on at Disney’s Animal Kingdom these days. I hadn’t been to this theme park since I waved at the closed Dinosaur attraction, so it was time for a walk. Please answer as follows if you would like. 1. What are the newest animatronics in the park? 2. What is the hottest new dessert? 3. What is happening behind the walls of Dinoland Construction? 4. What time does this place close? answer Benjamin Clawhauser, a character from the Zootopia movie series, will appear…

My trip to Japan was an active one. On my first night, I didn’t sit very still, other than at a rooftop footbath in Tokyo’s Asakusa district. It was a wonderful visit. I watched top-level sumo wrestlers, learned the cheering songs (cheering songs) at a match in Yokohama, and cheered on the DeNA BayStars while drinking local beer poured by vendors (servers) carrying heavy, bright yellow barrels on their backs. I went to sample it at Suntory Yamazaki Distillery. I took the Shinkansen to Kyoto at a speed of 200 miles per hour. I saw the legendary Iron Maiden in…

Convenience store giant 7-Eleven is planning major downsizing and closing hundreds of stores across North America as it overhauls its business and prepares for a long-awaited initial public offering. The company plans to close about 645 stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico during the current fiscal year, which began March 1, according to a recent investor filing from parent company Seven & i Holdings. Some locations never disappear completely. Instead, the company said certain stores may be converted into wholesale fuel distributors, signaling a shift to lower-cost, fuel-focused operations in unprofitable markets. Fewer stores, bigger strategy Despite the large-scale…

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that Tallahassee’s airport has been officially renamed the Bobby Bowden Tallahassee International Airport in honor of the legendary former Florida State Seminoles head football coach. The designation follows the governor’s signing of Senate Bill 628, which officially renames Leon County’s airports and includes several honorary road designations in the state. “Coach Bowden is a legend in college football, and it’s only right that we honor him in a way that is visible to all who travel to and from our nation’s capital,” DeSantis said. The airport’s new name pays homage to Bobby…

New polling data released by Rasmussen Reports shows that a majority of American voters believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, and that economic confidence is lower than in recent months. A national survey found that 39% of likely American voters say the country is on the right path, while 55% think it is headed in the wrong direction. This marks a slight change from the same period last year, when 43% said the country was heading in the right direction and 51% said it was on the wrong track. The results are based on a Rasmussen Report…