Two months after the City of Orlando condemned the Renaissance Theatre Co.’s venue, the troupe this week released an update, citing 34 canceled performances and roughly $488,000 in revenue lost so far.
Donald Rupe, Ren founder and artistic director, said in a social media post the shutdown has lasted longer than he expected. His team is now awaiting approval for what they hope to be the final permit that would allow them back into the building.
The Ren was officially closed on Sept. 19 due to safety code violations just ahead of the theater’s signature Halloween show, Nosferatu. Both Nosferatu and the V-Bar after-show, as well as resident drag night Off the Record, have been staged in modified versions during late September and October at venues like the Plaza Live, the Beacham and the Social.
Since the closure, Ren employees have collectively lost about $218,000 in wages, while also losing material and labor costs, having to remove the set of Nosferatu, Rupe said.
But the team still has hope. They are preparing annual comedy The Office Holiday Party Musical Extravaganza Show and after-party in hopes it can open on Dec. 5 as planned. Tickets will not be sold until there is a guaranteed place to perform.
However, it is unlikely they will go on the road again soon, as sales from roving dates at venues like the Plaza Live have not covered production costs, Rupe said.
“If we find that we need to continue to host events outside of our own venue, we will need to revisit the kinds of shows we produce and look at a budget model that is meant for that kind of production,” Rupe wrote.
City-mandated requirements have also proven costly. The required upgraded fire-alarm system alone costs around $40,000.
Rupe credited co-founder Chris Kampmeier and more than 350 donors for helping keep The Ren afloat. Supporters can continue to donate directly at rentheatre.com .
“We don’t believe that our city can afford to risk losing another theatre, especially one that is so essential to our LGBT+ community, and we cannot wait to get back to creating unique world-class artistic experiences,” Rupe said.
Rupe clarified that he does not believe the closure is politically motivated and praised city officials for their support in helping get the building back on its feet.
Downtown Arts District, the nonprofit that oversees downtown arts and culture hub CityArts, is finally reopening the café that’s been idle for many years, frustrating arts lovers with a java jones.
CityArts Café opens this week, with a grand opening kickoff at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12. There will be free coffee tastings, art activations and live music, culminating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m.
The café reopening is part of the Downtown Arts District’s mission to cultivate the arts in Orlando by creating a new space to highlight local artistry.
Art from Downtown Arts District’s 3rd Thursday monthly rotating exhibition will be on display, and a portion of the cafe’s proceeds will go toward supporting local artists and arts programming, the nonprofit says.
The café will offer guests a menu inspired by the building’s European heritage, such as Lavazza espresso-roast coffee, a variety of tea and tisanes, and soft drinks. Food options include classic French pasties and British tearoom favorites from local purveyor Olde Hearth Bread Co.
The 530-square-foot café is located inside the historic Rogers Kiene Building, home to CityArts Orlando, at 37 S. Magnolia Ave.
“CityArts Café is reopening as an extension of the Downtown Arts District, supporting our mission to cultivate a vibrant creative community in the heart of Orlando,” Downtown Arts District board chairman Daniel Betancourt said in a release.
Credit: Downtown Arts DistrictCredit: Downtown Arts DistrictCredit: Downtown Arts DistrictCredit: Downtown Arts DistrictCredit: Downtown Arts DistrictCredit: Downtown Arts DistrictCredit: Downtown Arts DistrictCredit: Downtown Arts DistrictCredit: Downtown Arts DistrictCredit: Downtown Arts District
U.S. House Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) advocates for the extension of subsidies to make healthcare more affordable. (Nov. 3, 2025) Credit: McKenna Schueler
After seven weeks of a federal government shutdown that has led to flight cancellations and delays in food assistance to families, the U.S. Senate approved a funding agreement Monday that could reopen the government if approved by the House and signed into law by President Trump.
Democratic U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost of Orlando, however, sharply rebuked the controversial deal for offering “empty promises.”
“This funding fight was supposed to be about addressing the urgency of rising health care costs for 20 million Americans brought on by this administration’s failed policies and Republican inaction. Instead, the Senate gave up in exchange for an empty promise for a vote on extending current health care subsidies, ” Frost said in a statement, echoing the concerns of other Democrats who have described the deal as “lousy” and “complete BS.”
“Americans don’t need empty promises,” Frost added. “They need to be able to afford their health care premiums.”
Seven Democrats and one independent U.S. Senator joined Republicans (including Florida’s two U.S. Senators) in voting 60-40 to approve the funding agreement Monday, which would effectively reopen the federal government. Just one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted against the deal, according to the Washington Post. It’s expected to head to the U.S House for a vote later this week.
Rep. Frost, a progressive Democrat from Orlando, says he’s a firm “no” on the deal, noting it fails to directly address the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits at the end of the year. The expiration of the COVID-era tax credits could cause the monthly healthcare premiums of roughly 22 million Americans, including nearly 200,000 people in Frost’s district, to more than double. Locals who rely on their health insurance for life-saving medication are already sounding the alarm.
“This deal fails our communities who elected us to stand up for them, but the fight isn’t over,” Frost shared Monday. “I believe that in the richest country on the face of the Earth, families deserve to get the care they need when they need it — and I will fight like hell to make that a reality,” he said.
The sort-of bipartisan deal reached between U.S. senators over the weekend offers no guaranteed extension of the enhanced ACA tax subsidies, which have helped make healthcare more affordable for millions of low- and middle-income Americans who don’t receive health insurance through an employer, including small business owners and the self-employed.
The deal approved Monday would reverse the layoffs of thousands of federal workers during the early days of the shutdown, fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September, and offer stopgap funding for most of the federal government’s operations through Jan. 30, according to the Post.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has also reportedly promised a vote by mid-December on whether to extend the ACA tax subsidies. But that promise falls short of the guaranteed extension that Democrats have been holding the line for over the last 42 days.
“People need healthcare, damn it,” U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) told Axios. “Not some lame promise about a mythical future vote.”
The shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history. It’s left hundreds of thousands of federal employees either furloughed or working without pay, including TSA officers and air traffic controllers who are considered essential to government operations.
The air traffic control system already faced a staffing shortage of roughly 3,000 controllers prior to the government shutdown. Now, the lack of pay afforded to controllers working 10-hour shifts during the shutdown has caused even greater staffing shortages, leading to flight delays and cancellations at airports across the U.S., including Orlando International Airport.
“For decades, air traffic controllers have held the line through staffing shortages, outdated equipment, hiring freezes, terrorist attacks on September 11th, pandemics and every crisis that this country has lived through,” said Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a union that represents nearly 20,000 aviation safety professionals.
“They have kept their focus, their composure and their commitment to safety, but now they must focus on childcare instead of traffic flows, food for their families instead of runway separation,” Daniels noted during a press conference Monday. “This is not politics,” he added. “This is not ideology. This is the erosion of the safety margin the flying public never sees, but [that] America relies on every single day.”
This strain of the government shutdown on air travel, as Thanksgiving and the winter holidays approach, has added significant pressure to Congress to reach a deal to reopen the government. So has the unprecedented delay of SNAP benefits that help 42 million Americans, including nearly three million Floridians, buy groceries for themselves and their families.
Although the Trump administration has said they have the money to fund SNAP for November, the administration has appealed court orders to do so, agreeing only to fund partial benefits.
“The record here shows that the government sat on its hands for nearly a month, unprepared to make partial payments, while people who rely on SNAP received no benefits a week into November and counting,” an appeals court said Sunday.
The seven Democrats who caved and joined Republicans in voting through the funding agreement Monday are all years away from re-election. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (who voted against the deal, despite playing a key role in negotiations) is consequently facing calls to resign from some fellow Democrats and progressive groups like MoveOn and Our Revolution over his handling of the shutdown.
“Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?” progressive Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) wrote in a post on X.
The Florida Democratic Party also blasted the Senate’s funding deal, opting to blame Republicans rather than any of the Democrats (or Schumer) who were complicit in its passage.
“A temporary deal to end the shutdown without healthcare is not a real solution,” said FDP chair Nikki Fried in a statement.
“Republicans have once again betrayed the American people,” she argued. “This deal will force millions of Americans to choose between medicine or groceries. It doesn’t have to be this way. A deal without health care is unacceptable — plain and simple.”
Credit: Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings/Facebook
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings on Thursday formally announced his bid for governor, setting up a Democratic primary fight next year against former Congressman David Jolly.
Demings, a former Orlando police chief and former Orange County sheriff who opened a campaign account for the gubernatorial race last week, issued a statement early Thursday that focused on a need to make Florida more affordable.
“Our state has become more expensive and less fair for everyone, all while power is being stripped away from local communities that know their residents best,” Demings said. “Florida needs a change. We need a different type of governor who puts delivering results before grabbing headlines and petty political fights.”
Demings, who has been Orange County mayor since 2018, was expected to hold an event later Thursday in Orlando to further launch the campaign.
With Gov. Ron DeSantis unable to run in 2026 because of term limits, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and former state House Speaker Paul Renner are seeking the Republican nomination for governor.
Jolly, a former Republican who kicked off his campaign in June, welcomed Demings to the race Thursday.
“All of Florida — Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike — deserves a spirited Democratic Party primary that puts voters first, one rooted in real solutions for the affordability of housing and health care, the future of public education, protecting personal freedoms, and restoring trust and competence in government,” Jolly said in a prepared statement.
The tone Thursday was different from a memo that Jolly’s campaign sent earlier in the week outlining “the choice before Democrats.”
Touting Jolly, the memo asked who can unite the party, break nearly three decades of Republican control of the state and “has the credibility and message to defeat Republican extremism — not with partisan rhetoric, but with practical ideas that connect across political lines?”
The memo said that “for 30 years, Florida Democrats have repeated the same losing formula: Campaigns built around consultants instead of communities, focused on fundraisers and corporate boardrooms instead of front porches and town halls. We’ve ignored voters, chased special-interest money, and prioritized the political class over everyday Floridians.”
It also included former U.S. Rep. Val Demings, who is married to Jerry Demings, among “well intended, dedicated nominees” who “still came up short” in statewide contests. Val Demings, who served in Congress from 2017 to 2023, lost a bid for the U.S. Senate in 2022 to then-Sen. Marco Rubio, who is now U.S. Secretary of State.
Asked about the contest Wednesday, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said having two prominent candidates will provide an “opportunity for the people of our state to hear from our statewide candidates, to share their vision, ask the tough questions.”
Fried said the party’s job is to build “the infrastructure that no matter who the Democrats in our primary decide to choose, we are going to be ready to build a coalition to again share the vision of what the next chapter of Florida looks like.”
Whoever emerges from the Democratic primary is expected to be the underdog in the general election, as Republicans have huge edges in fundraising and voter registration. The last Democrat to win a gubernatorial race was Lawton Chiles, who was re-elected in 1994.
The Republican Party of Florida greeted Demings’ entry into the contest with a news release saying his campaign is “destined to flop.”
“Under Republican leadership, Florida is booming, freedom is prevailing, and Republicans hold a record voter advantage,” GOP Chairman Evan Power said in the release.
As of Sept. 30, Florida had about 5.5 million “active” Republican registered voters and nearly 4.12 million Democrats. Another 3.38 million voters had no party affiliation.
The Republican Governors Association took a shot at Democrats, saying Demings opening a campaign account was a sign “Florida Democrats are clearly unimpressed with David Jolly’s Charlie Crist impersonation.”
Crist, a former congressman who won statewide races including the 2006 gubernatorial contest as a Republican, was the unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2014 and 2022.
Equal Ground, a Black-led, nonprofit organization, noted that with Demings entering the campaign, Florida could have Black candidates topping the ticket for both major parties in 2026. Donalds, who has the backing of President Donald Trump, is Black.
“This moment represents a defining chapter for Florida … It stands as a powerful milestone in a state where Black voices, leadership, and civic power have for far too long faced systemic barriers towards progress,” Equal Ground said in an email.
Orlando International Airport is among 40 airports facing a 10 percent reduction in flights as of Friday, Nov. 7 in response to the federal government shutdown. The cuts come just as the high-travel holiday season approaches.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the flight reductions are part of a contingency plan to maintain safety standards during the shutdown. The plan aims to temporarily reduce the number of flights across high-volume airports to adjust to staffing shortages.
MCO handles about 1,000 flights a day, so a 10 percent cut of flights would impact around 100 flights per day. According to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, with more than 57 million passengers, MCO is the nation’s ninth busiest airport.
Staffing issues and fatigue among air traffic controllers, who have been working unpaid during the shutdown, have already led to increased delays and ground stops at several major airports in recent weeks, including Atlanta, New York and Washington, D.C.
MCO passengers are encouraged to stay alert for changes in the coming days. Officials advise travelers to check flight status frequently, arrive early, stay flexible and sign up for alerts from the airport and airlines.
From Orlando to Tokyo in one flight? Pinch me (Actually, don’t)
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is collecting nonperishable food items and gift cards at MCO and the Orlando Executive Airport this week
An official statement from the airport states that contingency plans are in place should there be a “dramatic decrease” in TSA officers showing up to work
Before Tuesday’s elections in other states, Gov. Ron DeSantis repeatedly said a win in the New York City mayor’s race by Democrat Zohran Mamdani would be a boon for Florida real-estate agents as New Yorkers would move.
After Mamdani’s dominant win Tuesday, DeSantis continued the trolling by posting a poll asking how Florida should respond: “Build a FL border wall” “Tariff all transplants” or “Recruit new transplants.”
The poll closed Thursday morning with 45,282 responses. The border-wall proposal got more than 48 percent. Tariffs were second.
When state Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Highland Beach, posted online that “Florida should tariff everyone fleeing NYC,” DeSantis replied, “Have you filed that bill?”
Meanwhile, Republican state Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia called Mamdani’s victory “a sad day for NYC.”
“The ‘Big Apple’ is now government issued and will be rationed accordingly,” Ingoglia posted on X.
But Florida Democrats offered a much different outlook after Tuesday night, combining Mamdani with Democrats winning gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia and the results in the Miami mayor’s race where Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins will face former Miami City Manager Emilio González in a runoff.
“Last night was not an anomaly or a blip. It’s a rational call to restore order amidst chaos and a resolute reminder that hope is still on the ballot,” Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said Wednesday during a conference call with reporters.
“They (voters) want the government back open,” Fried said. “They want to make sure that their kids are fed. They want to make sure that they have access to affordable health care. They want prices to come down. They want the economy to grow, and they want to stop the chaos in Washington.”
Fried said national “momentum” could help Florida Democrats, who do not hold any statewide offices and are far outpaced in voter registration by Republicans.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do. I’m not overstating the amount of work that needs to get done,” Fried said. “But I do think that we are on the right course to start picking up some of these really important elections across the state.”
By a razor-thin margin a Senate panel Tuesday passed a bill that would allow lawsuits for the wrongful death of fetuses at any stage of development in the womb, even if the fetus wouldn’t have been able to survive outside of the womb.
The Senate Committee on Judiciary voted 5-4 to advance the bill, SB 164, by Sen. Erin Grall, a Republican from Fort Pierce.
Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, a Republican from Naples, and Sen. Tom Leek, a Republican from St. Augustine, voted against the bill, along with Sen. Lori Berman, a Democrat from Boynton Beach, and Sen. Tina Polsky, a Democrat from West Palm Beach.
Democratic Sen. Rosalind Osgood, who also serves on the Senate Committee on Judiciary, wasn’t in attendance, nor was Sen. Nick DiCeglie, a Republican from St. Petersburg. Senate documents show both senators had excused absences.
In a prepared statement, Michelle Grimsley Shindano, Planned Parenthood Florida Action’s director of policy and government affairs, blasted the vote.
“SB 164 could be the beginning of a slippery slope where the state treats embryos and fetuses as ‘persons’ under the law. If embryos and fetuses were granted the same rights as a pregnant patient, that would take away the patient’s right to make health care decisions that are best for their body and specific situation, including in emergencies. That means lawyers, not doctors, will be consulted if that patient needs health care, including in an emergency,” she said.
Under current law, damages for the death of an unborn child are not recoverable under the state’s wrongful death act, which allows for recovery of medical or funeral bills and the past and future pain and suffering. However, per a 1997 Florida Supreme Court ruling, damages may be recoverable for “negligent stillbirth” in a common law case. Those damages are limited to mental pain and anguish and medical expenses incurred incident to the pregnancy.
Common law refers a body of law developed through judicial decisions and precedents, not by statutes.
Defining “unborn child”
Specifically, the bill defines “unborn child” as a “member of the species Homo sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb.”
That definition alarmed abortion-rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers on the panel who said the proposal was a back door to further reduce access to reproductive health care.
Proponents of the legislation also had concerns with the definition of unborn child saying it would exempt from potential lawsuits in vitro fertilization providers. IVF is a fertility treatment where an egg is fertilized by sperm in a lab, then the resulting embryo is transferred to a woman’s uterus.
Grall said the bill updates Florida’s statute to reflect a post Roe v. Wade environment and fetus viability. Grall, who has unsuccessfully pushed the legislation in the past, also sponsored the state’s six-week abortion ban.
“Roe has been thrown out as the basis for determining when a life deserves the protection of the state. And in the state of Florida, we have decided that that is at six weeks, that is very young. We have also decided that in our criminal statute it is when it is in the womb, when in the mother, that is when it deserves protection.”
The legislation comes as wrongful death cases for fetuses have been brought in Texas and Arizona. In Texas, a man sued three friends of his now ex-wife for $1 million each for helping his then-wife access abortion pills.
In Arizona, a man accompanied his former wife to her abortion appointment, then, two years later following their divorce, filed a wrongful death suit against the clinic.
The Senate legislation comes as the House champions an effort to expand the state’s wrongful death laws to allow parents of adult children and children of single adult parents to pursue wrongful death cases against hospitals and physicians. Florida law bans those groups of people from filing wrongful death suits. Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed legislation earlier this year that would have changed the law.
SB 164 heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice and Senate Rules committees next.
Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Contact Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.
Credit: Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida/Facebook
Nearly 3 million Floridians lost access to federal food assistance Saturday, Nov. 1, as the ongoing government shutdown has resulted in the temporary cessation of SNAP funding.
Florida has the fourth largest SNAP enrollment in the country, with 2.94 million relying on the program for food security — that includes veterans, the elderly and more than 1 million children. Nationwide, 41.7 million people rely on SNAP benefits, August 2025 data show.
In and around Orlando, a number of food banks, pantries, nonprofits and other organizations are continuing to provide food and resources to those in need while SNAP benefits are suspended. What follows is a developing list of Orlando-area food banks and pantries working to support their fellow community members.
Several of the following are accepting (and in need of) food donations and/or volunteers. Check individual websites or contact the location to find more information on which goods are needed most. Orlando organizations accepting donations also includeUnited Against Poverty and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
(Courtesy Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida food locator and additional reporting)
Salvation Army Food Pantry Orlando 416 West Colonial Drive, Orlando Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m.
Catholic Charities of Central Florida 1771 N. Semoran Blvd., Orlando Agape Mission Markets food pantries take place at several locations found online.
Christian Service Center 808 W. Central Blvd., Orlando Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Soup kitchen is available Monday-Friday and every Saturday but the second 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; first and second Sunday, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.; dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Community Baptist Church 651 Campanella Ave., Orlando Regular distribution, 2nd Saturday of month from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4th Saturday of month 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. On call for emergencies at 407-293-3100 Deliveries are available.
International Harvest 2740 Old Winter Garden Road, Orlando Wednesdays 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. On call for emergencies, 407-849-2226
Knights Pantry UCF Student Union, 12715 Pegasus Drive, Orlando UCF students with a valid student ID can check out food items once per day.
Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando 2100 Lee Road, Winter Park Pearlman Food Pantry Operates weekly Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointment only. Call 407-644-7593 and dial 0.
Good Samaritan Outreach 5802 Makoma Drive, Orlando Monthly the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 2-4 p.m.
Recover Orlando 800 N. Pine Hills Road, Orlando Every second and fourth Monday, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 3rd Saturday every month, 9 a.m. to noon On call for emergencies Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Call 407-293-4277
Beracah French Seventh Day Adventists Church 1517 Mercy Drive, Orlando Friday from noon to 1 p.m.
Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry 206 E. Eighth St., Apopka Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call for appointment/delivery at 407-886-6005. Non-TEFAP clients are required to show proof of address and proof of income. Offers general case management.
Olive Branch Community Development Corporation 2525 W. Church St., Orlando Bi-weekly, Mondays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Washington Park Church 4455 W. Conley St., Orlando First and third Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Hope Community Center 800 S. Hawthorne Ave., Apopka Emergency Food Pantry will operate only on Thursdays at the South Building.
True Vision 1704 Mercy Drive, Orlando Third Saturday monthly, 10 a.m. to noon
Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church 5200 W. South St., Orlando Tuesdays 10 a.m.-noon. Please use the entrance on Ring Road.
Revelations II 4305 Lennox Blvd., Orlando Weekly Tuesdays, from 10 a.m – 2 p.m. On call for emergencies, 407-346-9498
El Bethel Temple of Jesus at Orlando 3000 Bruton Blvd., Orlando Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
4C Pine Hills 2804 Belco Drive, Orlando Nearest bus stop is on Belco Drive and Pine Hills Road Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nearest bus stop is on Belco Dr. and Pine Hills Rd.
Covenant Charities, Inc. 2210 S. Rio Grande Ave., Orlando Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m., or until food is gone.
Rhema Breath of Life Ministry 750 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando Third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Shiloh Baptist Church 604 W. Jackson St., Orlando Fourth Friday of the month, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., or until food runs out
4C Ivey Lane 5151 Raleigh Street, Suite C, Orlando Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Nearest bus stop is at intersection of Raleigh and Deerock streets
St. Andrew Catholic Church 801 Hastings St., Orlando Tuesday-Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only Call 321-319-0063, leave a message and you will get a call back to schedule.
Covenant Builders Ministries Inc. 44 Coburn Ave., Orlando Second Saturday monthly, 10 a.m.-noon On call throughout the month, 407-792-8768
First Haitian Baptist Church 4701 Lenox Blvd., Orlando Weekly Tuesdays from 11 a.m. – noon
National Tabernacle 1100 Bethune Drive, Orlando Every third Friday of the month from noon to 2 p.m., or until food runs out. Please call 407-490-7727to confirm
If You Foundation 1723 Bruton Blvd., Orlando Food distribution is every other Friday. Call for updated schedule at 407-962-9988
Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) 701 S. Kirkman Road, Orlando Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Majestic Life Ministries 821 S. Kirkman Road, Orlando Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon
Pine Hills Community Church 1305 N. Pine Hills Road, Orlando Wednesdays weekly from 9 a.m. to noon, except the first Wednesday each month. On call for emergencies on a case-by-case basis. Call 407-295-5932
Haven of Hope Ministries 1310 W. Colonial Drive, Suite 25, Orlando Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Grace Charity Foundation Inc. 6220 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Suite 500, Orlando Distribution is in back of building Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Church of the Good Shepherd Food Bank 331 Lake Ave., Maitland Second and fourth Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Clients can drive up or walk up for emergency food distribution. Clients may return each time the food bank is open. Limited deliveries available. Call 407-644-5350
Serenity’s Grace Inc. Certified Nutritious Pantry 2024 716 W. Robinson St., Orlando Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Access Connection 2150 Brengle Ave., Orlando First and fourth Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Pantry is closed every January.
Fountains of Living Water Ministries 2200 Silver Star Road, Orlando First and third Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Closest bus stop at Silver Star Road and Orange Blossom Trail On call available. Call 407-297-5770
St.Vincent de Paul/Holy Family 5125 South Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. By appointment, call 407-481-3223. Leave message, and you will get a callback to schedule.
First Baptist Church-Pine Castle 1001 Hoffner Ave., Orlando The closest bus stop is on the corner of Orange Avenue and Hoffner Road Second Friday from 9 a.m. to noon
Pentecostal Tabernacle Apostolic 3965 Silver Star Road, Orlando Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until food is gone. On call for emergencies. Call 407-432-7703
First Haitian Free Church of the Nazarene 220 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
St. John Baptist Church 30 Fred L. Maxwell Blvd., Orlando Every third Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. In April and November, it will be the fourth Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. On call for emergencies and deliveries on a case-by-case basis, 407-781-0700.
New Covenant Church of Jesus Christ 5002 Cortez Dive., Orlando Third Saturday monthly from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. On call for emergencies on a case-by-case basis; must call and schedule appointment outside of distribution hours, 407-532-4811
Emmanuel Seventh Day Adventist 6350 Arundel Drive, Orlando First and third Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Somehow, we’re nearing the end of 2025 but the year is definitely not over yet. There’s plenty to do and plenty to look forward to before we even think about ringing in a new year, and that includes new eats and drinks all around town.
New restaurants and bars heading to Orlando before we cap out 2025 include elevated Italian-American endeavors, quick omakase-style spots, pickleball-inspired eateries and celebrity culinary concepts.
Osteria Ester 629 E. Central Blvd., Orlando Osteria Ester, an Italian-American concept from Good Salt Restaurant Group founders (and 2025 James Beard Award finalists for Outstanding Restaurateur) Jason and Sue Chin, is heading to Thornton Park. It will be a true neighborhood gathering place taking on a casual and communal feel when it opens mid-November. Michael Cooper, executive chef-partner of The Osprey (another Good Salt operation) will oversee kitchen operations at this restaurant named after his grandmother, and he has a very specific vision in mind. Credit: Google MapsNeko San 8546 Palm Parkway, Orlando Before the year is done, chef Lewis Lin will open the doors to Neko San, a quick-style omakase concept and sake bar next door to Susuru in Lake Buena Vista. “Neko” is the Japanese word for “cat,” a name he chose in memory of the felines that once patrolled the area behind the restaurant, and who held a special place in the hearts of Susuru’s workers. It’ll offer budget-friendly omakases and more. Credit: Make Design StudiosWalter’s Tavern 2105 N. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando Pine Street Hospitality, the group that brought Orlando Bullitt Bar, McQueen’s, Sessions, The Basement, The Attic and Papi Smash’d Burger, will bring Walter’s Tavern, a 3,800-square-foot bar, to the Great Southern Box Co. Food Hall in the Packing District. The bar is named after Walter Phillips, son of Dr. Phillips, and will offer craft cocktails, live entertainment and an “elevated sports-viewing experience.” Credit: Walter’s Tavern/FacebookHamlin House 231 W Grant St., Orlando Orlando is getting a boujee new pickleball and social club concept in SoDo. Hamlin House, owned by the DeVos family, will be a 28,000-square-foot facility with three indoor courts and four outdoor courts (two covered and two not), in addition to a family room, full-service restaurant, café and outdoor patio. Chef John Fraser and his team curated the menu for the restaurant, which will be open for lunch and dinner. The café will serve all-day bites, smoothies and coffee. Credit: Hamlin HouseCowboy Curry 1110 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando After a series of pop-ups and trial runs inside Mills Market, Cowboy Curry, the Japanese beef curry house by Sorekara chef William Shen, is now open. The spot will specialize in scratch-made Japanese curry. Credit: via Mills MarketStill Lounge by Dre and Snoop 9101 International Drive #2210, Orlando Still Lounge by Dre and Snoop will blend “West Coast swagger with Southern Soul” when it opens Oct. 16 at Live! at the Pointe Orlando. The club follows in the footsteps of The Spot by Dre and Snoop, a similar concept that opened in Nashville earlier this year. The latest collaboration between the hip-hop icons will showcase bespoke cocktails fashioned from their new spirit offering — Still G.I.N. by Dre and Snoop — and other top-shelf spirits for folks to get their drink on. Credit: Still LoungeJohnny’s Diner 3335 Curry Ford Road, Orlando Paulie Krasniqi, son of the original Johnny’s Diner owner, Johnny Krasniqi, will open Johnny’s Diner in the former home of Daybreak Diner this October. Daybreak Diner abruptly closed last month after 27 years in business. Credit: Johnny’s Diner/FacebookKappo Tsan 11815 Glass House Lane, Orlando For nearly three years, David Tsan has been cutting fine figures at Norigami, his eight-seat sushi counter inside Winter Garden’s Plant Street Market. Now the 36-year-old Taiwan-born chef is partnering with James Beard Award-nominated restaurateurs Johnny and Jimmy Tung to open a full-fledged restaurant specializing in kappo-style dining later this year. It will present sushi and cooked dishes in both multicourse and à la carte formats. Its style will fall somewhere between the formal artistry of kaiseki and the casual spirit of an izakaya, allowing Tsan to showcase his culinary journey to guests. Credit: via Chef David TsanSelva Rosa Cocina & Bar 901 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park Selva Rosa Cocina & Bar will be an “elevated-casual space where people can hang out, enjoy good drinks and have fun,” says Heidy Cuevas, a spokesperson for the restaurant. Selva Rosa will feature three distinct areas: the main dining room, a sushi bar and “El Patio Rosa.” The menu, Cuevas says, will blend Mexican, Latin American and Asian flavors to create a unique Credit: photo by Faiyaz KaraHarlow Grove 186 S. Main St., Winter Garden Look for Harlow Grove, a two-story restaurant space billed as Winter Garden’s “premier full-service restaurant and lounge,” to open this fall in the Smith & Main complex. The restaurant will comprise a “dynamic” first-floor lounge, an upstairs dining room and a veranda terrace under the shade of a century-old oak tree. Credit: via Smith & Main/Google MapsBabbi Babbi Korean Kitchen 10799 Moss Park Road, Lake Nona Babbi Babbi Korean Kitchen will open its third area location later this year, this one in Lake Nona. It offers a comfortable dining environment and plenty of traditionally inspired Korean eats. Credit: BaBbi BaBbi Korean Kitchen/FacebookVicky Bakery 334 N. Alafaya Trail, Orlando Look for Miami-based Vicky Bakery to open its second Orlando location, this one at 334 N. Alafaya Trail in the old Smashburger space across from Waterford Town Center. Everything from Cuban pastelitos and croquetas to medianoches and café con leche will be served. Vicky Bakery also has a location at 4556 S. Semoran Blvd. near Pershing Avenue. Credit: Vicky Bakery/Google MapsKelly’s Homemade Ice Cream 3801 W. Lake Mary Blvd., Lake Mary Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream will open its seventh freestanding parlor (and 50th operation, when you include the ones inside Foxtail Coffee) at 3801 W. Lake Mary Blvd. before the end of the year. Credit: Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream/FacebookBuffalo Boss 333 N. Orange Ave., Orlando Jay-Z’s cousin Jamar White has opened Buffalo Boss, a late-night wing joint with a hip-hop vibe downtown at 333 N. Orange Ave. next to Tacos El Rancho. The only other Buffalo Boss is located in the Barclays Center in, of course, Brooklyn. Credit: Google MapsTamara Lake Mary 1541 International Parkway, Orlando Tamara Lake Mary, a sister operation to Tamara Modern Indian Cuisine in the Cambria Hotel near Universal, has opened at 1541 International Parkway in the space that housed The Nine Heathrow Thai Grill & Kitchen. The menu features Indian, Thai and Chinese dishes. Credit: Google MapsPeruvian Chicken 5420 Deep Lake Road, Oviedo The simply named Peruvian Chicken, offering pollo a la brasa as well as a host of other Peruvian delights, has opened at 5420 Deep Lake Road in Oviedo. Credit: Google MapsMamazzita Gastrobar 1949 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando Mamazzita Gastrobar, a Peruvian/Latin restaurant that transforms into a nightclub with bottle service at night, has opened near the Florida Mall at 1949 W. Sand Lake Rd. in the same plaza as Viet Thai Cafe. Credit: Mamazzita Gastrobar/FacebookTaffer’s Tavern 9101 International Drive #1204, Orlando affer’s Tavern, a full-service restaurant and bar concept by Bar Rescue host Jon Taffer, is newly opened on Orlando’s International Drive. The new outpost, which is the chain’s very first Florida location, offers signature drinks, comfort food and tavern classics, and an “inviting and warm ambience.” Credit: Taffer’s Tavern/FacebookPho 813 4724 Millenia Plaza Way, Orlando Pho 813 has reopened at a new location under new ownership, serving much of the Vietnamese flavor its dished out in the past. Credit: Google MapsEl Cilantrillo 431 S. Chickasaw Trail, Orlando Local Puerto Rican chain El Cilantrillo will open a location this fall in the Rio Pinar Plaza. The 4,470-square-foot space will feature a tropical bar and live music nights. The restaurant is from the same owners as Turull’s Kitchen & Bar. Credit: El Cilantrillo/FacebookJam Hot Chicken 426 W. Plant St., Winter Garden Another Jam Hot Chicken outpost is set to open in the former Hunger Street Tacos stall inside Plant Street Market in Winter Garden. Credit: Jam Hot Chicken/Facebook
Vans Warped Tour is alive again and heading to Orlando’s Camping World Stadium this month to celebrate more than three decades of music.
Orlando is one of only three cities hosting the pop-punk extravaganza and 30-year anniversary comeback, and is set to welcome a series of corresponding events leading up to the two-day fest that takes place Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15 and 16.
The Warped Wall-Street Takeover transforms Wall and Court streets into “Warped World” for a four-day bar crawl-style get-together from Nov. 13 to 16. It’s free to attend and features food trucks dishing out Warped Tour-themed eats, a Warped Pour pop-up bar, trivia nights and a barbecue after the festival’s final shows of the night on Nov. 15 and 16.
On the eve of the fest, Warped will partner with Emo Nite to put on a night of nostalgic emo and pop-punk anthems courtesy of a live DJ. The party takes place at the Beacham on Friday, Nov. 14.
If you can’t make the Orlando events, the Skate Park of Tampa is also set to host the annual Harvest Jam All Ages Contest — which will serve as a one-stop shop for Warped Tour 2025 merch.
Warped Tour kicked off in June in Washington D.C. and touched down in Long Beach, California in July. The Orlando fest wraps up the comeback.
The musical lineup includes both seasoned Warped Tour performers and new faces, some of which include 3OH3!, A Day to Remember, The Wonder Years, Winona Fighter, Movements, Simple Plan, Bowling for Soup, Pennywise, Miss May I, Dance Hall Crashers, Less Than Jake, Thursday, MGK, Falling in Reverse, Boys Like Girls, Microwave and many, many more.
Confirming rumors of a potential run, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings officially filed paperwork to enter Florida’s highly anticipated gubernatorial race next year, with current Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis term-limited from running for reelection.
Demings, a former Orlando Police Chief and Orange County Sheriff, is running for governor as a Democrat in a state that’s trended increasingly red in recent years. He’s the second high-profile Democrat to launch a bid for the seat, challenging former Rep. David Jolly (a former Republican turned Democrat) for the Democratic nomination.
Demings, the husband of former U.S. Rep. Val Demings, is reportedly expecting to share a formal announcement of his campaign for governor at the Rosen Centre later this week. Records publicly available through the state Division of Elections website show Demings officially filed his candidate paperwork on Friday, allowing him to begin raising money for his campaign.
A couple of high-profile Republican candidates have already filed to run for governor as well, setting up what is likely to be a competitive election to succeed the right wing’s anti-woke champion DeSantis.
First Lady Casey DeSantis, Ron’s Republican wife caught up in a scandal involving alleged theft of government funds earlier this year, is also reportedly mulling over a run for governor, while Lt. Gov. Jay Collins — a former state senator — has also teased a run but hasn’t yet filed paperwork.
Demings is the mayor of one of the last Democratic-leaning counties in Florida, and one of the largest. Orange County, located in Central Florida, is also one of the Sunshine State’s tourism capitals, home to Disney World, Universal Orlando Studios, SeaWorld and other major tourist attractions that collectively draw in more than 75 million visitors annually.
Recent polling published last week found that Republican Byron Donalds and Casey DeSantis currently share nearly identical leads in voter sentiment on the candidates running for governor. A survey from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Lab found Democrat Jolly trailing Donalds by 11 percentage points, 45 percent to 34 percent, while Jolly trails DeSantis by 13 points. Survey respondents were also asked about Demings, then just a rumored candidate. Results show he also trailed Donalds and DeSantis by similar margins.
“We’re still a year away from the midterm election, and there are quite a few undecided voters,” said Dr. Michael Binder, a political science professor and faculty director for the Public Opinion Lab. “At this point, it looks like both Republicans are more than 10 points ahead of whoever emerges on the Democratic side.”
Demings hasn’t been afraid to challenge Florida’s current governor, and his allies, as it is. After facing scrutiny from Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”) task force, Demings defended the county’s spending habits, arguing that while the county’s budget has increased in recent years, so has the county’s population and “the myriad challenges that we face” — with rising homelessness being one of them.
Demings also called on DeSantis last week to dip into the state’s emergency funding to fund federal food assistance, known as SNAP, for Florida’s nearly 3 million recipients. As a result of the federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1, the Trump administration has declined to utilize its contingency funding to fund SNAP, a program that serves more than 41 million low-income Americans, including many seniors, children and people with disabilities.
“In Orange County, more than 175,000 residents depend on SNAP benefits and will lose access to funds needed to purchase groceries for their families starting November 1st if immediate action is not taken,” Demings wrote in an Oct. 29 letter addressed to Gov. DeSantis. The federal and state governments, he added, “have a responsibility to ensure residents have access to nutritious food,” noting that the Orange County government alone has dedicated $5.3 million in funding to the region’s largest hunger relief organization this year, Second Harvest Food Bank.
“This is a fundamental right, and we must not allow our most vulnerable populations to be deprived,” Demings wrote.
DeSantis has rejected Democrats’ pleas for him to declare a state of emergency over the SNAP freeze (despite several other governors deciding to do so). Facing growing pressure, DeSantis finally conceded Monday that the state’s agriculture department would “be doing more” to help SNAP recipients, the Tampa Bay Times reported, without offering any specifics on how they will do so or what that will look like.
Although a federal judge last week ordered the Trump administration to use contingency funds to cover SNAP benefits for November — even with the ongoing government shutdown — it’s unclear when that will trickle down to Floridians through the state’s administrator. Plus, as NBC News reports, the contingency funds agreed to by the administration on Monday are only likely to cover “50% of eligible households’ current allotments.”
Demings was elected as Orange County’s first Black mayor in 2018, and won reelection in 2022 with about 60 percent of the vote in a four-way race. Florida’s gubernatorial race (still likely to see the entrance of additional candidates) is set for November 2026. The Democratic primary will take place next August.
Disputing allegations that they violated First Amendment rights, Florida wildlife officials Thursday argued that a federal judge should reject a request to reinstate a biologist who was fired because of a social-media post after the murder of conservative leader Charlie Kirk.
Attorneys for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Roger Young and Melissa Tucker, a division director, said the agency fired Brittney Brown on Sept. 15 to “prevent foreseeable disruption, reputational harm and loss of public trust. The agency did not police ideology; it protected credibility central to its mission.”
“The First Amendment does not shield public employees from the consequences of speech that undermines the effectiveness, credibility or public trust on which their agencies depend. … Even if the post had some political dimension, FWC’s (the agency’s) interest in maintaining credibility and neutrality far outweighs any minimal expressive value,” the officials’ attorneys wrote.
Brown, who worked for the commission studying shorebirds and seabirds in the area of Tyndall Air Force Base in the Panhandle, filed a lawsuit Sept. 30 alleging that her firing violated First Amendment rights.
The lawsuit said Brown was fired after reposting on her personal Instagram account a post from an account called “@whalefact.” The post said, “the whales are deeply saddened to learn of the shooting of charlie kirk, haha just kidding, they care exactly as much as charlie kirk cared about children being shot in their classrooms, which is to say, not at all,” according to the lawsuit.
Brown’s attorneys on Oct. 3 filed a motion for a preliminary injunction that asked U.S. District Judge Mark Walker to reinstate her to her job and to prevent retaliation by the agency. In addition to alleging First Amendment violations, the motion said Brown’s post did not disrupt Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission operations.
“Plaintiff made her social media post on her personal phone while she was on vacation,” the motion said. “That political post had nothing to do with plaintiff’s job responsibilities. After all, she is a wildlife biologist, not a public information officer. In addition, plaintiff did not identify herself as an FWC employee in her post; the post itself had nothing to do with FWC or its operations; and her Instagram profile made no reference to FWC as her employer or otherwise.”
The document filed Thursday by attorneys for Young and Tucker was a response to the motion for a preliminary injunction. Walker has scheduled a Nov. 10 hearing on the motion.
Kirk, who led the conservative group Turning Point USA, was assassinated Sept. 10 during an appearance at Utah Valley University. After Brown made the repost on Sept. 14, Libs of TikTok, a conservative social-media account, shared a screenshot and called for her firing, according to the lawsuit. She was fired the next day.
Brown worked for the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for about seven years, according to the lawsuit. A copy of her Sept. 15 termination letter included in the lawsuit indicated she had an “Other Personal Services” position, a classification that does not include some of the protections that other employees receive.
The Petrified Forest is dying to scare you on halloween Credit:Courtesy
Halloween falls on a Friday this year, making for a long weekend of frights and spooktacular events and parties in Orlando. Here’s a legion of terrifying events worth your attendance … if you dare.
13+ Films of Halloween: Halloween (1978) 1Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield …. 11:59 pm Friday; Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; $11-$12.50; 407-629-0054; enzian.org.
The Allen Asylum The Allen Asylum Haunted House began as a neighborhood tradition and has become one of Orlando’s growing Halloween attractions. All donations go to local charities, with over $1,000 raised last year and a goal of $2,500 for this season. Kid-friendly preview for ages 10 & under at 6 pm. 7 pm Friday; The Allen Asylum, 9239 Cypress Cove Drive; free; 321-228-5555; theallenasylum.com.
Anthem Halloween: Heroes vs. Villains The ultimate Halloween showdown! Choose your side and bring your fiercest look for a night of epic costumes, wild beats and pure chaos. 8 pm Friday; Anthem Orlando, 100 N. Orange Ave.; free; 407-279-0609; anthemorlando.com.
Beacham Halloween Music by DJ Grape, DR3DACHEF, and costume contest offering $10,000 prize in cash and goods. This event is 21 and up. 10 pm Friday and Saturday; The Beacham, 46 N. Orange Ave.; free-$100; 407-648-8363; foundation-presents.com.
BOO! Orlando Monster mazes, comedy and interactive entertainment in a safe, family-oriented environment. Located in Lake Nona, BOO! is designed to create lasting memories without the nightmares. 5-10 pm Friday and Saturday; Nona Adventure Park, 14086 Centerline Drive; $10-$40; 407-476-3535; booorlando.com.
Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Fall Fest Vendors and food trucks daily, mini-readings in the Berkner House from 3-9 pm., nightly Encounter the Spirits tour, and bookstore open after hours. 3-10 pm Friday and 10 am-10 pm Saturday; Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp, Cassadaga Road and Stevens Street, Cassadaga; free; 386-228-2880.
Ceiba Bar Takeover: Día de Los Muertos An unforgettable Day of the Dead celebration in partnership with Lost Explorer Mezcal. Celebrate the evening with tarot card readings, a live mariachi band and traditional Mexican dinner with expertly paired themed cocktails. 7 pm Saturday; Ceiba, 1500 Eastbeach Way; 407-387-2000; ceibaorlando.com.
Clermont Haunted House Experience terror at the Brewer & Sons Funeral Home Clermont Chapel. Thursday-Saturday; Clermont City Hall, Historic Downtown Clermont, 685 W. Montrose St.; $10; 352-394-4081.
Disney’s Hocus Pocus in Concert Live to Film Film plus the Orlando Philharmonic. 6 pm Saturday; Walt Disney Theater, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave.; $20-$153; 844-513-2014; drphillipscenter.org.
Dr. Grimly’s Halloween Trails This year, the gates open to three horrifying trails. Squeakles’ Game twists the carnival grounds into a freakish contest of fate; Sins of the Sacred turns the old monastery into a possessed sanctuary of torment; The Carvehouse is unlike anything you’ve faced before. Through Saturday; Sunsational Farms, 40541 Roger Giles Road, Umatilla; $10-$100; 352-771-2013; sunsationalfarms.com.
Eden Bar’s Halloween Party Take a peek beneath the Big Top, if you dare, at our Carnival of Lost Souls. Test your skills with frightful games galore or gaze into the crystal ball and discover what horrors fate has in store for you. This traveling roadshow makes a stop in town for one night only to unleash pure pandemonium. Dress to impress in your best costume and party with your friends until the lights go out. Tickets include entry into our carnival-themed party, the costume contest and plenty of scares to remember. 8 pm Friday; Eden Bar at the Enzian, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; $10; 407-629-1088.
Flashback Fright An ’80s dance party featuring Beauty & the Beats. 7 pm Friday; Judson’s Live, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave.; $29.75; 407-358-6603; drphillipscenter.org.
Freesco: Halloween Edition An unforgettable night of disco, freestyle and more. 8 pm Friday; Primrose Lanes Restaurant and Bowling Club, 400 N. Primrose Drive; $13; 407-745-0862; primroselanes.com.
The Grave Rave Pop Punk Emo Night 9 pm Friday; West End Trading Co., 202 S. Sanford Ave., Sanford; free; 407-322-7475.
Halloween at DaVinci Music from the ’80s, a cash costume contest and drinks. 7 pm Friday; Cafe DaVinci, 112 W. Georgia Ave., DeLand; free; 386-873-2943; cafedavincideland.com.
Halloween at Will’s Featuring Psycho 78 as The Misfits, The Ultimate Sin as Ozzy Osbourne, Our Escape From the Grave as AFI and Interlude With a Vampire. This event is 18 and over. 8 pm Friday; Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave.; $10; willspub.org.
Halloween Costume Contest Live music by Rhythm Me Up and DJ Dead Ringer, street performers, shops and more. The top 25 costumes compete for a share of over $1,000 in cash and prizes. Participants must be 18 or older. 6 pm Friday; The Promenade at Sunset Walk, 3251 Margaritaville Blvd., Kissimmee; free; 407-338-4811; sunsetwalk.com.
Halloween Flix at the Garden: The Nightmare Before Christmas10 am Saturday; Garden Theatre, 160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden; $5; 407-877-4736; gardentheatre.org.
Halloween Spooktacular Kids love trick-or-treating (with purchase of reusable bag) during this daytime event as they explore our decorated trail and meet colorful characters. This year be sure to check out all our immersive family Spooktacular Festivities. Select dates through Sunday; SeaWorld, 7007 SeaWorld Drive; 407-363-2613; seaworld.com/orlando.
Haunted Monster Truck Ride Clermont’s beloved Showcase of Citrus transforms into a realm of unrelenting terror. The once-familiar orange groves are no longer a safe haven — they’ve become a harrowing landscape of fear. Your only hope for survival? Climb aboard towering 16-foot-tall, 40-foot-long Monster Trucks manned by fearless Showcase Rangers, and plunge into a wild escape through the cursed fields. Through Saturday; Showcase of Citrus, 15051 Frank Jarrell Road, Clermont; $25; 352-856-0507; showcaseofcitrus.com.
The Haunting of River Ranch Have a witching-good time with immersive experiences like haunted stables, scare zones, eerie photo ops and frightfully good food and beverage booths. 7 pm Friday-Saturday; Westgate River Ranch Resort, 3600 River Ranch Blvd., River Ranch; $5-$10; 863-692-1321; westgatereservations.com.
Hulaween This year’s expertly curated bill spans the full spectrum of sound, bringing together world-renowned artists and emerging talent across electronic, jam, funk and more, featuring a mix of debut performances and genre-blurring sets. Friday-Sunday; Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, 3076 95th Drive, Live Oak; $170-$10,500; 386-364-1683; hulaween.com.
You’re Welcome: Lucy Darling Halloween Special8 pm Friday; Steinmetz Hall, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave.; $70-$118; 407-358-6603; drphillipscenter.org.
The Magic Show: Halloween Edition Spine-tingling illusions, eerie vocals and electrifying live music from America’s Got Talent finalist Drew Thomas. Friday-Sunday; Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes Resort, 4012 Central Florida Parkway; $50-$90; 321-204-7499; drewthomasmagicwowshow.com.
Nightmare at the Pointe Four venues. One night. Endless thrills. 8 pm Friday; Pointe Orlando, 9101 International Drive; free; 610-215-7939; pointeorlando.com/live.
Old Town’s Spooktacular Halloween 5 pm Friday; Old Town, 5770 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee; free; 407-396-4888; myoldtownusa.com.
A Petrified Forest APF returns for its 18th season with a new villain, a haunted strip mall, and a fully reimagined event designed to blur the line between horror and reality. The 2025 theme, “The Landlord Has Arrived,” sets the stage for an all-new storyline that pulls guests into an immersive, multi-sensory experience across three haunted trails — and beyond. 7 pm Friday; 1360 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs; $36; 407-468-6600 apetrifiedforest.com.
Rage Against the DJ Halloween Takeover9 pm Friday; Tuffy’s Music Box, 200 Myrtle Ave., Sanford;free.
Richie Kotzen, John 56 pm Friday; House of Blues, Disney Springs, Lake Buena Vista; $50; 407-934-2583.
Spooky Empire The dark side of Comic Con: Central Florida’s horror-entertainment convention. Friday-Sunday; Hyatt Regency Orlando, 9801 International Drive; $40-$299; 407-284-1234; spookyempire.com.
Step Into the Spirit: Día de los Muertos Immerse yourself in a celebration of Día de los Muertos at the Museum of Illusions. Guests of all ages can enjoy colorful decor, themed illusions and interactive exhibits that honor Mexican traditions celebrating life, family and remembrance. Noon-6 pm through Sunday; Museum of Illusions Orlando, 8441 International Drive; $19-$27; 833-541-0992; moiorlando.com.
Thornton Park Halloween Block Party Thornton Park District presents the 12th Annual Halloween Block Party featuring Halloween costume contest with prizes, DJs and outside bars with drink specials, plus Vaudeville Entertainment with Cirque-themed performers. This event is 21 and over. 8 pm Friday; Thornton Park, Summerlin Avenue and Washington Street; $15-$20; 407-752-9763; thorntonparkdistrict.com.
Thrill the Night Michael JacksonThriller-inspired Halloween costume party. A night of champagne, chills and killer moves. Sip themed cocktails, beer and wine and dance to DJ Nela spinning all night. 8 pm Friday; Flutes Champagne Bar, 480 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park; free; 321-972-5716.
Vampirates!A haunted high-seas spectacle where bloodthirsty buccaneers, audience participation, and cursed treasures await the bravest of souls. Through Friday; Pirates Dinner Adventure, 6400 Carrier Drive; $40; 407-248-0590.
WJRR 101.1 presents Afterween8 pm; West End Trading Co., 202 S. Sanford Ave., Sanford; $10.11; 407-322-7475.
As local elected officials scramble to address threats to the social safety net posed by the federal government shutdown, the Orange County government had at least one piece of positive news to share this week.
Through a partnership with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, Orange County announced this week it has managed to relieve a total $515 million in medical debt held by more than 300,000 residents. The county announced an initial round of $472.5 million in debt relief back in May, and the second round of $42.9 million in relief was announced Tuesday.
“Medical debt is more than a financial burden, it is an emotional weight,” said Sheila Santiago, a local resident who received $7,000 in debt relief. “Having that weight taken off my shoulders allows me to focus my time and attention on my health.”
The medical debt relief initiative, funded by about $4 million of federal pandemic relief funds distributed under the Biden Administration, was made possible through buying up debt from local hospital systems — such as Orlando Health — and third-party collection agencies.
No one formally had to apply for the program. Instead, Undue Medical Debt worked with local hospitals and collection agencies to identify and buy up the debt of qualifying residents. Each dollar invested in the process erases about $100 of medical debt, according to the nonprofit.
Orange County commissioners first approved a contract with Undue Medical Debt last summer to lead the program, becoming the first county in Florida to do so. Founded in 2014 by former debt collection executives, Undue Medical Debt has partnered with more than two dozen other local state governments across the U.S. — including Arizona, Michigan, and Illinois — to wipe out medical debt for pennies on the dollar.
“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Orange County, bringing much-needed financial and emotional relief to more residents,” Allison Sesso, president and CEO of Undue Medical Debt, said in a statement. “This initiative exemplifies how local government can make a transformative impact on families who are least able to pay these burdensome debts.”
Medical debt is considered the leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S., affecting roughly four in 10 adults, according to the nonpartisan nonprofit KFF. Pandemic relief funds received by Orange County (roughly $270 million total under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) came with restrictions on how the funds could be used, and had to be fully obligated for a particular purpose by Dec. 31, 2024.
Medical debt is considered the leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S., affecting roughly four in 10 adults
This means the funds are already depleted or are otherwise unavailable to use for other purposes like emergency SNAP funding.
According to county documents, the bulk of Orange County’s direct allocation from ARPA was obligated for social and community services, the county’s public health response, and “revenue recovery investments” such as technology upgrades.
But county commissioners were also persuaded by a coalition of local advocates last summer to dedicate just a small portion of remaining funds to help relieve the burden of medical debt for residents, many of whom were (and still are) struggling to get by after double-digit rent hikes that hit the county after the expiration of COVID-related eviction moratoriums in late 2020.
“Throughout my 11 years as a social worker in this county, I’ve seen that medical debt has created incredible barriers for people to gain stability,” Adam Hartnett, a licensed clinical social worker with Poverty Solutions Group, told county commissioners last year. “I’ve worked with families who have hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt who simply can’t move economically because of this burden.”
The campaign for the initiative was led by Central Florida Jobs with Justice, a coalition of local labor, faith and social advocacy groups that has also backed a proposed expansion of Medicaid. Samuel Delgado, an organizer with CFJWJ who pushed for the debt relief, told Orlando Weekly he was “thrilled” to see the program continue to provide “much-needed relief” to his neighbors, especially in the current political climate.
“As political attacks on working class people have set back America’s healthcare system even further this year, we are continuing our efforts to organize here in Orange County in pursuit of additional opportunities to address obstacles that stop people from getting the care they need,” Delgado said in a statement. “We hope our community and its leadership will continue to show out like they did for medical debt relief, especially amid the difficulties that lie ahead.”
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The debt relief initiative was made possible thanks to federal funds provided under the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan Act.
The medical debt relief plan will be funded by $4.5 million in unspent federal pandemic relief funds.
Difficulties ahead
Medical debt could become an even more mainstream reality for U.S. adults if the health insurance tax credits that Democrats and Republicans are currently fighting over expire, as scheduled, by the end of 2025.
These enhanced tax credits have helped millions of low- and middle-income Americans over the last four years afford health plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace at a lower cost. Without them, monthly premiums will more than double, on average.
Medical debt is already more likely to affect people of color, low-income families and seniors, and people who don’t have any health insurance altogether. But healthcare advocates have warned that if the enhanced tax credits expire, millions will choose to go without health insurance due to the unaffordable cost.
“If you want to vote an evil bill in to take away healthcare from people, do it by yourselves,” U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-FL) said at a rally earlier this month, urging Republicans to agree to extend the subsidies.
The issue has been a primary point of contention in federal budget talks that have left the federal government shut down since Oct. 1. Republicans blame Democrats for the shutdown, arguing that the tax credits issue can be negotiated once the government reopens, while Democrats argue that reaching an agreement on this issue can’t wait.
“Remember when Donald Trump ran on lowering costs? Well, now he’s running away from lowering costs with this key negotiation,” U.S. Congressman Darren Soto, a Democrat from Kissimmee, shared in a news conference earlier this month.
Florida Democrats have also been sounding the alarm on a looming pause to federal food assistance that is distributed monthly to nearly three million Floridians through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
If the government shutdown persists into November, the Florida Department of Children and Families — the state administrator of the program – has already warned that SNAP benefits will be paused until the government reopens and federal funding is restored. More than 40 million U.S. adults and families are served by the program nationwide.
“For families already struggling under record food and housing costs, the loss of this critical support would be catastrophic,” a letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, penned by Florida Democratic Senate leaders this week, reads. “Local food banks and pantries have already reported overwhelming demand and depleted supplies. … We are days away from a full-blown hunger emergency that will leave families without food during the holiday season. The state cannot stand by.”
DeSantis, meanwhile, has rejected Democrats’ call for him to declare a state of emergency, or to tap into the state’s $5 billion “rainy day fund” for emergency food aid.
“Did those Democrats write a letter to [U.S. Senate Minority leader] Chuck Schumer asking him to stop filibustering the spending?” DeSantis asked at a news conference Wednesday. “Come on.”
A Florida woman is suing SeaWorld Orlando after she says a duck knocked her unconscious while she was on a ride at the theme park.
Hillary Martin, an Orange County resident, claims a duck “flew into the path” of SeaWorld’s Mako roller coaster while she was on the ride on March 24, the lawsuit says.
According to the lawsuit, filed Monday, the duck struck Martin in the face, “causing loss of consciousness and personal injury.”
The suit alleges that SeaWorld failed to “maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition by negligently failing to correct a dangerous situation” that the park “either knew or should have known about.” Martin’s attorney also argues the park did not warn her about the potential risk of bird strikes before riding.
The lawsuit claims that the Mako’ coaster’s high speed, its location over a body of water and the ride’s design together created a “zone of danger for bird strikes.”
“The safety of our guests and employees is a top priority, and we take these situations seriously. We will not be commenting beyond that as this is pending litigation,” SeaWorld said in a statement, reported by ABC News.
Since this incident, Martin says she has suffered permanent injuries, including “pain and suffering of both a physical and mental nature,” “loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life,” “aggravation of an existing condition” and “past lost wages.”
She is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.
SeaWorld’s Mako roller coaster is described on the park’s website as Orlando’s “tallest and fastest roller coaster,” reaching speeds up to 73 mph and heights of up to 200 feet.
Mako has been the subject of lawsuits involving flying objects before. A Hillsborough County family filed a suit last month alleging their child was hit in the face by an object while riding the coaster in March.
The trial for Martin’s lawsuit is scheduled for Nov. 8 in Orlando, according to court documents.
From Orlando to Tokyo in one flight? Pinch me (Actually, don’t)
While some progress has been made in contract talks with Starbucks, the union is threatening a potential strike if they don’t reach a deal that workers approve.
Most teachers will receive a 4 percent raise under their new collective bargaining agreement
Universal Orlando is holding space for an updated shopping adventure delving into the magical world of Oz debuting this week, providing some fantastical cross-promotion for the upcoming film Wicked: For Good.
Starting Friday, Oct. 31, the “Wicked: The Experience” shop at Universal will get some big upgrades, with an ozmopolitan collection of new film props, photo ops, exclusive merchandise and more, inspired by second installment in the Wicked film series, out Nov. 21.
Guests can explore immersive spaces along the yellow brick road, inspired by locales in the Land of Oz, like the Emerald City and Shiz University, brought to life with scenic design and film costume replicas.
A variety of themed bites, beverages and treats, such as the Yellow Road Shake with Dulce de Leche ice cream and the Wizards Elixir Shake with Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream at Schwab’s Pharmacy ice cream shop, will be available throughout the resort as well.
Entry to the experience is free with purchase of a park ticket.
Stephanie and Tom Sifrit in Bradenton on Oct. 2025.
Credit: by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix
Stephanie Sifrit is on a mission to persuade the Florida Legislature to require nursing homes and assisted-living facilities to allow residents to install video monitoring devices in their rooms.
Sifrit and her husband Tom appeared before the Manatee County legislative delegation on Monday to make their case in advance of the next regular legislative session, slated to start Jan. 13.
Stephanie Sifrit placed her mother in a Bradenton facility in February 2021 due to her severe dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Sifrit says that on three separate occasions she asked the nursing home administrator for permission to install a recording device in her mother’s room but was told no. The administrator, she said, denied her request because of privacy concerns for the long term care staff who care for the residents.
The Sifrits allege Stephanie’s mother was sexually assaulted at the facility on or about March 4, 2021, approximately two-and-a-half weeks after she entered the facility.
After the alleged incident, the Sifrits filed a lawsuit in 2023 claiming negligence and a breach of fiduciary duty, but the case was ultimately dismissed after the company declared bankruptcy in 2024.
Stephanie Sifrit told the Phoenix she also filed a complaint regarding the incident with the state Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), but was told by the agency the allegation wouldn’t be investigated. AHCA did not immediately respond to the Phoenix’s request for comment.
“I implore you to hear my request, to my plea, and now my cry, which is on behalf of thousands of vulnerable citizens who are in their difficult end-of-life journeys and cannot self-protect, self-defend, nor self-advocate,” Sifrit told the panel of Republican legislators, including Senate President Designate Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton.
Sifrit, a high school teacher, has created a website highlighting the issue and along with her husband has been calling on state legislators to enact laws permitting families to place cameras in their loved one’s rooms. Approximately 20 other states allow for the use of so-called “granny cams.”
“I’m here to ask you to please fight for the patient,” Sifrit added to the lawmakers on Monday. “Currently in the state of Florida, the [nursing] home can say, ‘No, no cameras here.’ And you can be evicted or they can retaliate. Please sirs, please represent my voice in Tallahassee. I am your constituent, and I am advocating for vulnerable people.”
The Sifrit’s story of abuse may not be unique.
The Tampa Bay Times reported in 2023 that nursing homes were cited 83 times in 2022 for putting older adult residents at risk of immediate danger. Between 2019 and 2022, the paper reported, the number of serious allegations levied against nursing homes with the state were double the amount for the previous six years.
Legislation hasn’t moved
Florida legislators have filed bills over the past several years addressing the issue, with little success. During the 2025 regular legislative session, a “granny cam” bill was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Ileana Garcia, R-Miami, and in the House by Rep. Susan Plasencia, R-Orlando.
Mrs. Sifrit testified on behalf of Plasencia’s bill earlier this when it was considered by the House Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee. Representatives from the Florida Health Care Association, the Florida Senior Living Association, and the Florida Assisted Living Association all spoke out against the measure.
Senate Health Policy Committee Chair Sen. Colleen Burton, R-Winter Haven, never brought the companion bill up in committee for consideration and ultimately the legislation failed.
Tom Sifrit says that he and his wife have heard “a lot of reasons” from lawmakers and officials in the long term care industry who have resisted such legislation, including privacy concerns for the other residents and their visitors as well as the long term care staff who care for the residents.
And while some of those concerns have merit, Sifrit told the Manatee County delegation members, resident safety is more important.
“I want you to imagine that it’s your mother. It’s your wife. How many of these reasons would matter?” he asked.
Industry opposition
There are differences between nursing homes and assisted living facilities (ALFs).
An ALF provides personal care services in the least restrictive environment. ALF residents must be able to move independently or with the help of devices like walkers or wheelchairs. Nursing homes treat more frail residents and provide nursing care, case management, and health monitoring, as well as personal care.
There are more than 3,000 ALFs in Florida, and close to 700 nursing homes in the state, according to the USF School of Aging Studies.
As of Wednesday evening no bills authorizing the use of granny cams had been filed for the upcoming 2026 session.
Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Contact Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.
Starbucks workers in Oviedo practice picket line in preparation for a potential strike. Credit: by McKenna Schueler
Ahead of a vote on whether to authorize a national strike by unionized Starbucks workers, a group of off-shift baristas at one of Central Florida’s only unionized locations gathered outside their store Wednesday afternoon to practice their picket line.
The action — posing little to no disruption to business inside the Oviedo location, with their fellow co-workers working as scheduled — was organized as part of a pressure campaign by their union, Starbucks Workers United.
The union, which represents more than 12,000 Starbucks baristas and shift supervisors, has been fighting for a contract since 2021, when workers at a Starbucks in Buffalo, New York voted to form the first unionized Starbucks in the U.S.
That victory has been a beacon of inspiration for local baristas, spurring a flurry of organizing efforts at Starbucks locations across the U.S. The movement has been driven largely by a workforce of younger, queer workers initially drawn to work at Starbucks by the coffee giant’s competitive pay (compared to other entry-level jobs) and its progressive branding.
Since the store in Buffalo unionized, Starbucks workers at more than 650 locations in 45 states — including states like North Carolina, where unions are less common — have similarly voted to join the Workers United.
For Kevin Beljan, a barista of seven years at the Oviedo store, the fight for a strong union contract is a noble cause he believes is worth the challenge.
“I think that it has far-reaching implications,” he told Orlando Weekly Tuesday, as co-workers beside him flashed signs with messages like “No contract? No coffee!”
Beljan’s not wrong. Workers for the burrito chain Chipotle (whose former CEO now leads Starbucks) and Trader Joe’s, for instance, have named Starbucks workers as inspiration for their own union drives, too.
“After seeing the victories at Starbucks, it was like ‘Oh, my God, we can accomplish this,’” one Chipotle worker told the Washington Post in 2022 after workers at her Michigan restaurant voted to join the Teamsters. “A lot of young people are in favor of unionizing but thought it would never happen here,” the worker added. “That realism is what is keeping a lot of us down right now. Getting this far shows us we do have to try, because we can succeed.”
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Securing an initial union contract, however, can take well over a year — an analysis by Bloomberg found this can take 465 days on average.
Although progress has been made on finalizing a union contract — including tentative agreements on non-economic items, such as anti-discrimination protections — the union says the company has failed to meet their demands on economic issues, such as pay and scheduling.
After reaching a tentative deal with the coffee giant earlier this year, union members serving as delegates for their stores overwhelmingly rejected it, called Starbucks’ economic offer “insufficient.” The company, however, claims that the union has been the party unwilling to listen.
“Workers United only represents around 4 percent of our partners but chose to walk away from the bargaining table. If they’re ready to come back, we’re ready to talk,” Jaci Anderson, a Starbucks spokesperson, told Orlando Weekly in a statement following initial publication of this story online.
The tentative agreement reached between the two parties earlier this year guaranteed annual raises of at least 2 percent, according to Bloomberg, but did not offer any immediate pay raise guarantees. On average, unionized workers earn 12.8 percent more than nonunion workers in comparable jobs, and the spillover effects of unionization can also force employers to raise standards for nonunion workers, too.
Starting pay at the Oviedo location in Seminole County is currently listed by the company at $16.50 to $18.73. A living wage in Seminole is considered closer to $25 for a single, childless adult.
The union has proposed a starting wage of at least $20 an hour, equal to $41,600 annually if one is working full time. Starbucks, on the other hand, says they already offer the “best job in retail, including more than $30 an hour on average in pay and benefits” for hourly workers.
But that pay, and job security, isn’t guaranteed either. In a major shakeup, Starbucks recently announced plans to close 1 percent of its U.S. stores by the end of 2025, including 59 locations that are unionized. The union has criticized this move, pointing in part to the generous compensation package of nearly $100 million gifted to CEO Brian Niccol last year.
According to a report from the AFL-CIO, a national federation of labor unions, Niccol made 6,666 times the pay of the average Starbucks barista in 2024.
“I think there’s a massive imbalance,” said Beljan, the Oviedo barista. The most important fight by the union, he believes, is to hold Starbucks accountable for their treatment of workers, to “stop this corporate greed,” and to give more power to the rank-and-file like him who “generate the profit for this company.”
Beljan’s never been a union member before this experience and admitted that, compared to what he hears from baristas in places like Philadelphia and New York City — where the percentage of unionized workers is much higher — organizing a strong union in Florida is “an uphill battle.”
“We’re in a deep red state, and it’s more of an uphill battle than in, say, a blue state. But again, for me, you know, it’s worth it to see this through.”
His co-worker Regan Schneider, a barista who transferred to the union Starbucks about a year ago, has similarly been inspired by the union. She previously worked at a non-union Starbucks in Port Charlotte. Although she’s getting ready to leave Starbucks to work as a teacher, she said the experience has inspired her to be an advocate for unions moving forward.
“I think there is this idea that you are more protected if you are neutral, but the truth is, you’re not protected if you’re neutral,” she said. “You need to show your support, whether that’s for the union or against the union.”
Starbucks has been accused of hundreds of unfair labor practices by the union over the years of the organizing drive — essentially, accusations of violating workers’ rights under federal labor law. That includes allegations of illegally firing, surveilling, or threatening the benefits of workers who are involved in union organizing activity.
“I’ve basically been harassed and targeted because of my involvement,” Beljan admitted. Still, he added that, at least with the union, “there’s also mechanisms to fight that that wouldn’t normally be there. And there’s also mechanisms for, like, accountability for management and people above me.”
Schneider said Starbucks, a multibillion dollar company with unionized workers in other countries such as Chile, should be prepared for a fight ahead. “They need to learn to either fight with us,” she paused. “Or, to just get ready for a bigger fight.”
A strike by the union would require a majority of the union’s 500+ delegates to vote in favor of authorizing their union to call for a strike action. It’s not something that a union leader could call for, or force workers to engage in unilaterally. According to Beljan, the strike authorization vote is currently underway.
This post has been updated to include comment from a Starbucks spokesperson that was provided over email after the initial publication of this story.
Chloe Diane Polson (left) in Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Drawn to Life’ Credit: Trevor Aydelotte, courtesy Cirque du Soleil
Tourist attractions turned Orlando into a beacon for variety performers from around the globe, and there’s no bigger big top than Cirque du Soleil’s tent-shaped theater at Walt Disney World. As Drawn to Life approaches its fourth anniversary on Nov. 18, I spoke with original cast member Chloe Diane Polson — who is one of six current performers from the U.K. — about leaving London to create the leading character in this one-of-a-kind circus.
Growing up in Connah’s Quay, a small town outside Liverpool on the border between North Wales and England, Polson’s path to performing was initially inspired by her family’s love of music (especially British soul) and dancing. “None of my family are professional entertainers; however, they’re all very kooky and nutty, and they all love having a good time,” Polson says. “Just being surrounded by artistic people, that was what really sparked me.”
From ages 3 through 16, Polson was immersed in the world of dance, training with the Royal Ballet School associates, before being awarded a scholarship to the Bodywork Company at Cambridge Performing Arts to study musical theater. After graduation, she joined a contemporary dance company called Chrysalis London, then spent several years freelancing.
“I was auditioning for the West End, but it was such a struggle, because I’m only 4’ 11”. I’m very tiny and petite, so I was struggling so much to find where I fit in the industry,” Polson recalls. “Those three years were so hard, it was ‘no’ after ‘no’ after ‘no’: ‘You’re too tiny, you’re too petite. You don’t fit into the ensemble, you don’t fit the costume.’”
Ironically, Polson’s small stature helped land her biggest job yet: originating the role of Julie, the tween protagonist of Drawn to Life. Polson was cast in the central part (along with Miho Inaba) after submitting a video audition in May 2019. “They flew me over [from London to Montreal], and then the audition was literally in one day, which is crazy.”
Initially, Polson says she struggled to adapt her disciplined dance background to the more creative world of Cirque. “My dance skills definitely are needed, but it’s more acting, it’s more physical theater … so it took time for me to really get out of that, to play and have fun. I would definitely say those first few months were like, ‘Oh, I’ve got to really unlearn everything I’ve learned.’”
Unlike most Cirque du Soleil shows, Drawn to Life has a defined storyline, but that doesn’t mean it used a conventional script or rehearsal process. Rather, Polson and Inaba spent three months collaborating with acting coach Nico Lagarde and director Michel Laprise to develop Julie’s journey using a story outline. “A lot of that was just really playing in the body of a little girl. Who is she? How does she walk? How does she speak, how does she play, how does she laugh?” says Polson. “I learned so much, day by day, just finding who this little inner child was, which was actually a very beautiful process.”
Unfortunately, just as that process ended and Drawn to Life’s premiere approached, the world went into pandemic shutdown, delaying the opening by over a year and a half. “There was no endgame. We didn’t know when it was going to open, [and] I would actually work on the show a lot, to the point where my friends were like, ‘You need to stop it,’” remembers Polson, emphasizing that Cirque supported her and communicated regularly throughout the downtime.
In addition to performing Julie, Polson sometimes substitutes as Abricot Gouache, the Mary Blair-inspired role originated by Russian mime Ekaterina Pirogovskaya. “I definitely had to play with being very, very detailed and intricate. Physically, she’s so different to Julie, who’s free and loose and playful, but this is so precise,” says Polson, who has also trained for a third performance track involving aerial hoops and puppetry. “I love to play and be challenged by the complexities of each character and what they bring to the story.”
Even through her routine isn’t quite as rigorous as some of the death-defying acrobats who must train daily, performing two shows a day can be “quite exhausting,” admits Polson. Despite her busy schedule at Disney Springs, she still makes time to take acting classes at Art’s Sake Studio and sing at Judson’s Live with the Alain Bradette Quartet.
Even after almost four years, Polson has no plans to leave the show, although she hopes to someday see more of America. “I would like to stay in the United States and continue to explore and grow as an artist,” she says. “I take it year by year. It’s hard for me to say, but I’d still love to try other Cirque shows. Broadway would be amazing [and] I’d also love to try film.”
Until then, Polson carries on drinking a cuppa prior to each show “to keep a piece of home with me,” and continues to delight in “seeing the little kids and their eyes when they see Julie, especially when I come for the bow. Sometimes there will be little kids at the front, and they’ll want to touch or high-five. To see their joy through their eyes, that’s the reason why we do it.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis is directing Florida’s top higher education board to prevent state universities from hiring foreign specialty workers, he announced Wednesday.
At a Tampa press conference, DeSantis said the Board of Governors should fully “pull the plug” on the visas that allow foreigners in a specialty occupation to temporarily work in the United States, called H1-B visas. This comes a month after President Donald Trump announced a $100,000 fee for future H1-B visa applications amid his administration’s broader efforts to stop illegal immigration and roadblock non-Americans from working in the U.S.
“I’m directing today the Florida Board of Governors to pull the plug on the use of these H1-B visas in our universities,” DeSantis said, likening their usage to “indentured servitude” and deriding how “troubling” it is that Florida universities are relying on cheaper labor — especially as workers nationwide are experiencing increased layoffs due to artificial intelligence, a DOGE-style of thinking, and federal furloughs.
“We can do it with our residents in Florida or with Americans, and if we can’t do it, then man—we need to really look deeply about what is going on with this situation,” he continued.
He then rattled off a list of assistant professors, coaches, data analysts, coordinators, marketers, and more university workers on H1-B visas from areas like the United Kingdom, China, Spain, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Russia, Poland, Albania, Argentina, and the West Bank, appearing increasingly incredulous at how these various positions were deemed specialty occupations.
The Phoenix was unable to independently verify the list of professors and their countries of origin.
“Why aren’t we producing math and engineering folks who can do this?” DeSantis questioned, after claiming one college had a power systems researcher from Wuhan, China. “[There’s] a clinical assistant professor from supposed Palestine. Why are they—is that just social justice that they’re doing?”
As of June 30, 2025, there were more than 1,900 Florida employers sponsoring over 7,200 H1-B visa holders, according to the USCIS. There were a total of 78 employers and 677 beneficiaries in the education sphere, with the University of Florida boasting the most H1-B beneficiaries at 156, followed by the University of Miami with 90, and the University of South Florida with 72.
These schools also have the three largest medical programs in the state. Thousands of H1-B visas nationwide are used by foreign physicians, although the majority of H1-B recipients are in the tech industry.
H1-B visas have become a flashpoint in Republican circles, as party leaders like Trump and DeSantis urge less reliance on foreign labor while others insist that businesses need workers, NOTUS reported.
The conversation erupted as an offshoot from the larger discussion on illegal immigration and America-first businesses, two of Trump’s top priorities during his 2024 presidential campaign and the subject of many of his day one executive orders. In the immigration sphere, Trump has ordered mass deportations, increased ICE presence, and allocated federal dollars to states assisting in detention efforts of migrants illegally in the country — led by Florida under DeSantis.
This comes after Trump — in the early days of his term — stood alongside Elon Musk as they touted the new Department of Governmental Efficiency to cut down on alleged excesses in spending. This led to thousands of firings across federal agencies.
Just as Florida reflected the national model on immigration onto the state level, DeSantis also created a state-level DOGE to audit state universities and local governments to search for waste, fraud, and abuse. That torch has been taken up by Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, who’s unofficially renamed the task force the Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight, or FAFO.
Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Contact Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.
