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This week, a total of 12 of Orlando’s Main Street neighborhoods are coming together to celebrate Sip and Saver Week, a citywide celebration highlighting the diverse, independent culinary experiences of our neighborhoods, the foundation that makes our city not only beautiful but delicious. “This is one of those rare initiatives where everyone benefits,” said Misty Heath, executive director of the SoDo Main Street District. “All 12 Main Street neighborhoods are working together to celebrate the uniqueness of Orlando’s neighborhoods, with businesses gaining visibility and residents finding new favorites at affordable prices during a traditionally quiet season. There’s a real camaraderie…

With the countless restaurants and cafes surrounding this charming Lake County burg, it’s surprising that it took this long for the Mount Dora Area Restaurant Week to be announced, but the inaugural Restaurant Week will officially begin Saturday (July 25). “This idea came to us about two to three months ago through Salt and Ember, a new member of the chamber and one of Mount Dora’s newest restaurants,” says Rachel O’Ryan, president of the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce. “They proposed holding a Restaurant Week in the area, and we immediately recognized its potential as a powerful summer promotion…

Democracy is only as strong as a people who understand how it works. Florida has taken that idea to heart and is investing in civics education starting in the early grades. This summer, I saw that investment pay off as Tallahassee event halls filled with middle school students, their families, and the buzz of anticipation.At the end of June, Florida State University’s Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) hosted the Florida-wide finals of the National Civics Bee®, a competition for middle school students. Twelve middle school students from across the state qualified by writing essays about issues in their communities…

Concerns about university closures continue to grow across the country.As many as 80 universities could collapse in a year due to declining enrollment due to declining student populations and rising operating costs. There can be significant risks for families, including interruption of degree programs, loss of credits, and financial instability.Some college students have paid tuition for years only to find themselves without a path to a degree when their school closes. Open School Rankings, a platform that ranks institutions known as the Distressed Universities Index, analyzed nearly 300 universities to identify those showing signs of severe financial distress.The Open School…

There’s nothing like sugar plums and winter snow to cool down from Florida’s sweltering summer heat. December 25th is still a few months away, but there are plenty of ways to celebrate Christmas in July in Central Florida. Fans of the festival can celebrate about 5 months Get your cool thinking going early with events at The Florida Mall, Margaritaville, Avalon Park, and Citrus Tower and other Central Florida venues. Here’s how to enjoy the frosty festivities in the Orlando area. Santa will be at the Florida Mall throughout July. (Courtesy of Simon Moles) Christmas in July at Florida Mall…

Legoland Florida is expanding its Halloween event with an interactive destination called Brick-or-Treat Street. The event’s theme transforms the Winter Haven theme park into Mischief Town, with six life-sized LEGO monster houses inspired by the brand’s famous minifigures. Participants will encounter plant monsters, spider ladies, mummies, scarecrows, and more. “We’ve transformed a classic Halloween tradition into a playful neighborhood filled with candy, surprises and magical moments that families will remember long after the season ends,” park president Brian Batica said in a news release. The annual Brick-or-Treat event is designed especially for families with younger children and is included in…

Universal Orlando has unveiled its ninth haunted house for Halloween Horror Nights in 2026. This haunted house is based on a movie currently showing. The latest maze to be announced is “Evil Dead,” which is inspired by the film of the same name that was released earlier this month by director Sebastian Vanicek (“Contagion,” “Crocs”). It was produced in 1981 as part of the Evil Dead series, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell. HHN House recreates the moment that begins in a secluded villa in the woods. “The nightmares become more intense as guests adventure through the haunted…

“Summer is naturally a slow season in Florida,” says Ryan Latino. That’s true. If you survey most restaurateurs, they’ll tell you that these are often the most challenging times, affecting a wide range of demographics, from fast-casual and food trucks to places like Michelin-starred Latino’s Ômo by Jônt, a beautiful little space just off Park Avenue in Winter Park. Here, Chef’s Tasting multi-course menus are priced at $195 or $375, but the new menu in the restaurant’s cozy salon is just $78, welcoming both regulars looking for something simpler and newcomers enjoying Omo for the first time. The menu includes…

Every day we are faced with a series of choices that require us to weigh potential risks against future benefits. Whether you decide to change jobs, buy a new car, or simply try a new restaurant down the street, your brain acts as a silent calculator. According to industry metrics from Behavioral Psychology Reports, the average adult makes more than 35,000 choices every 24 hours. Many of these actions occur automatically, but large, life-changing decisions require a more systematic approach to avoid unnecessary setbacks. Understanding how to properly balance the odds allows you to take control of your path and…

Bobby Williams is a Republican candidate for Florida governor, presenting himself as a political outsider with a background in service and community service rather than elected office.Williams, a third-generation Floridian, has emphasized his personal ties to the state and concerns about the impact of population growth, development and rising housing costs. He and his wife have been married for 25 years and have one daughter. His campaign biography also highlights his Christian faith, interest in hunting, and commitment to staying active in the Florida community.For about 10 years, Williams has been working on an initiative called the Freedom Tour, which…