What Orlando is talking about
🏡 One local company is offering free homes to incentivize its workers. Jason James, the president and CEO of Altamonte Springs-based air conditioning and plumbing company Mechanical One, decided that while bonuses and vacations are nice, what he really wanted was for his employees to enjoy their own homes. He’s purchased two lots for three-bedroom, two-bath homes and has set aside a $500,000 budget to raffle off two brand new, mortgage-free homes to his workers in December 2022. (WKMG)
🎄 Get in the holiday spirit this weekend and check off your things-to-do list by peeking this seasonal roundup by Orlando Weekly. The list has the deets on how to celebrate the holidays in Orlando, including everything from Santa villages to Christmas tree farms and ice rinks around town. (Orlando Weekly)
🎟 In not-so-feel-good news, the Frontyard Festival at the Dr. Phillips Center is no more. The outdoor arts program was arguably the highlight of an otherwise turbulent last year. Between free concerts from big names like The Wailers to Sunday night movies and weekday yoga sessions on the lawn, the performing arts center offered a safe space and a fun atmosphere; we were lucky to enjoy it for as long as we did. Here’s to hoping they’ll continue to think about outside-of-the-box outdoor offerings. (Orlando Weekly)
🖼 Orange County is looking to create an “Arts and Culture Master Plan” for the region, so says this writeup from our buds at Bungalower. What started as a conversation in 2019 between Director of Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs Terry Olsen, the City of Orlando, and the Community Redevelopment Agency is now a bonafide action plan. It calls for collaboration and cost-sharing future arts efforts by both the county and city in order to foster culture in the Orlando area. The purpose is to ensure that future arts efforts are coordinated and provide for a balanced array of artistic offerings rather than a piecemeal or reactionary approach. (Bungalower)
🍻 Deadwords Brewing will officially open for business at 4 p.m. today. The Parramore-based brewery has been in the works for a few years now in the former Al’s Army Store on Orange Blossom Trail. It’ll be open Wednesday through Sunday. Head to the link to read about its history and how it got its name. 👉 (Bungalower)
