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Plus, there are at least 1,600 new job opportunities in today's newsletter.
Pulptown
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🤞 It's a great day for the Orlando Magic

Plus, there are 1,600 job opportunities in today's newsletter, what's up with COVID-19, and a Gatsby-themed bar debuts downtown.

By Katie Johnston

Hey there.

Welcome to a new day. I mean that truly. WELCOME. How fortunate are we to be here? Every morning, I wake up and before I crawl out of bed, I give a little wink to the sky. At 12 p.m., my daily reminder goes off: “Do something great with your life today.” Sometimes I hit “done” and other days, I snooze it. 

But let me tell you what, yesterday, I hit complete on that sucker circa 3:38 p.m. as I wrapped up “The Media and Our Movement'' panel for this year’s Orlando Strong Symposium. It’s an annual event put on by the Contigo Fund where local leaders discuss issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community. We talked about how the media has both helped and failed our LGBTQ+ community during the pandemic, our roles in last year’s All Black Lives Matter movement, and alternatives to policing. 

You can view yesterday’s panels here and tune in today from 12 to 4 p.m. where local leaders will be participating in the panels: HIV Justice and Health Equality, Im/migrant Justice: from Climate to Crimmigration, Alternatives to Policing, Sex Workers Rights, and Trans Leaders of Color: Leading the Fight for Justice from Stonewall to Pulse.

Alright, moving right along from some uplifting news to some not-so-great news… But first, let’s ooh and ahh over this cuteness, can we? 

Never have I ever looked this adorable/put together while behind the computer. 📸: @ohh_lorde | Wanna see your photo here? Tag either #pulptown or @pulptown on Instagram to be featured as our IG of the Day! 

What Orlando is talking about

On Monday, Orange County recorded the highest number of new COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. Mayor Jerry Demings held a press conference yesterday afternoon where he once again declared a state of emergency for the county due to rising COVID-19 infections and shared the following numbers: 

  • There were 1,371 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Orange County on Monday — an all-time high for our community. 
  • There are currently 163,903 cases of COVID-19 in Orange County. For context, just one year ago, there were 23,400. 
  • Sadly, 1,390 Orange County residents have died from the deadly disease since the start of the pandemic. 
  • Our current 14-day positivity rate is now at 15.58%, yet another all-time high. Just six weeks ago, that rate was 3.7%. 
  • Around 95% of people hospitalized for COVID-19 are unvaccinated, according to officials for AdventHealth.

Vaccinated and unvaccinated residents are being encouraged to wear masks in public. And as Demings so astutely stated, “The health of our community has a direct effect on the health of our economy.” A big conference pulled out from the convention center next week and cited our COVID-19 numbers as the reason.  

Demings also issued an internal order requiring Orange County employees to be fully vaccinated by the end of September and to wear masks when indoors at county facilities. He urged private businesses to follow his lead, saying that he wants people to know we take COVID-19 seriously. He pleaded, “Let us become the model community for how to respond to COVID-19 and remain open at the same time.” 

In other news… 

🔌 The city of Orlando will soon install solar-powered Wi-Fi hotspot picnic tables in historically underserved neighborhoods in our community thanks to a $20,000 grant from AARP. The tables will go in Prince Hall Park, located in District 6, and Willows Park, located in District 5 sometime this fall and will provide residents with a place to connect to the internet, charge their wireless devices, and get some work done. (City of Orlando

✍️ This new law bans the arrest of anyone under the age of seven. The law was named after Kaia Rolle, the now 8-year-old who was arrested two years ago (when she was six) after being accused of kicking and punching three staff members at Lucious and Emma Nixon Academy. Kaia’s family still intends on fighting to raise the minimum age from now seven to 12. (WESH)

🏀 The 2021 NBA Draft kicks off today, and you know who’s excited? The Orlando Magic organization and its fans. With new head coach Jamahl Mosley 16 days into the job, and the team holding the fifth and eighth picks, we’re crossing our fingers for a Christmas in July. (Orlando Sentinel)  

🥂 There’s a new Gatsby-themed bar opening on Church Street tonight. Well, technically, it’s been in soft opening mode for a few weeks, but the opening night party is tonight at 9 p.m. and costs $20 to attend. There will be live music, 1920s-themed entertainment, and complimentary champagne. (Bungalower

✈️ There are 300 food service jobs available — give or take — at Orlando International Airport. HMSHost is looking to fill a variety of positions, from baristas to cashiers to cooks and they’re offering sign-on benefits. (Bungalower

🎃 Speaking of hiring sprees, Universal Orlando needs 1,300 new employees for Halloween Horror Nights duties. The annual event runs for 42 days and requires full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees. (ABC

🌱 If you’re downtown much, you’ve probably passed the Orange County Government Administration building a million times. Yesterday, the surrounding garden received a makeover as part of Orange County’s new initiative to focus on Florida-friendly landscaping and enhance biodiversity. (Fox35

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✨ Last chance to win

Unwind with an immersive serenade at Re:Charge this weekend. (📸: Timucua Arts Foundation) 

Today is your last chance to enter to win a pair of tickets to Re:Charge this weekend. Re:Charge is a live musical experience to help you rest and reflect by our friends at Timucua Arts Foundation and Creative City Project. Pack your blanket, pillows, and a yoga mat and immerse yourself in a serene setting lit by candlelight and fluffy glowing clouds.  

Enter now to win two tickets to unwind to the 9:30 pm session this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday—good luck!

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Today

🏀 Watch the NBA Draft live at the Amway Center for free, but you've gotta RSVP ahead of time (Parramore)

🌱 Make your own succulent while sipping on local brews (SoDo)

Tomorrow

❄️ Immerse yourself in the Disney magic with Central Florida Community Arts production of "Frozen Jr." through Saturday (Ivanhoe)

👻 Get to know the spirits that haunt this small town every Friday and Saturday (Sanford)

🍿Kick back, relax, and drink a few beers at this pop-up movie night at Ivanhoe Park Brewing (Ivanhoe)

🗣Learn some insider tips for social media at this lunch and learn at Credo Conduit (Ivanhoe)

🎶 Jam with Someday Honey (feat. Kaleigh Baker), Blue Streak Mamas, and Kristopher James at this big show at Will's Pub (Mills 50)

⚽️ Show your pride for Orlando City SC as the team takes on Atlanta United FC (Parramore)

Saturday

🛍 Celebrate Christmas in July by shopping these local vendors (Sanford)

🏈 Cheer on the Orlando Predators to a win over the Carolina Cobras. Tix start at $18 (Parramore)

🛍 Support local makers while frequenting local biz at this monthly pop-up market (Thornton Park)

🍽 Bring your appetite to this foodie-forward walking tour of nearby eateries (Winter Park)

🇵🇪 Celebrate Peru's Independence Day with a party at the Orlando Museum of Art (Loch Haven Park)

🍾 Pop bottles at Island Time for this weekly drag brunch (Thornton Park)

Sunday

☮️ Practice yoga in the sculpture garden at the Mennello Museum every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. (Loch Haven Park)

🎶 Go "somewhere you feel free" at this musical tribute night to Eddie Foeller (Mills 50)

🛍 Shop BIPOC makers at this weekly pop-up market in Hannibal Square (Winter Park)

🍺 Celebrate Hollerbach's 20th anniversary with das boot, delicious German food, and live music (Sanford)

🎶 Watch the dynamic duo, Duo Arpeggione, as they perform cello and piano masterpieces at Timucua Arts Foundation (SoDo/Online)

One more thing

Know someone who has a passion for social justice, knows their way around the political landscapes, and has a knowledge of laws and policies affecting immigrants in Florida? 

The Hope CommUnity Center in Apopka is looking for a new Director of Advocacy and Community Organizing. It helps if that person is also comfortable with public speaking and is bilingual. 

Big ol’ hat tip to our buds at Bungalower for getting the word out

Catch you back here tomorrow, bright and early, unless you’re a late bird like me.

– ✌️ Katie at Pulptown

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