Are you a recent Orlando transplant? In 2020 we saw an influx of people move in (and move out) and they say 1,500 are moving here everyday in 2024. Whether you moved here because it was a lifelong dream to live near Disney (sorry, no Disney content here for you) or you had to move here due to circumstance, and you are counting the days until you can leave again, this guide will prove helpful. Does Orlando suck? Well, that is relative. Would I rather live in a different city. Sure! Am I happy to live here over a lot of other places? YES! Orlando is what you make of it, and as someone who has l ..read more

With prices soaring and choices overwhelming, finding a satisfying midday meal that doesn’t break the bank can feel like an arduous quest that will land you in the Chick-fil-A drive-thru line with everyone else. I’m here to guide you through a local-only eating journey where delicious food meets affordable food. Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty sandwich, a fresh salad, or a warming bowl of Pho, I’ve rounded up some of the best spots to enjoy a fulfilling lunch for under $20 around Orlando. My #1 hack to lessening the lunch bill will always be to bring your own beverage. My trusty Owala ..read more

I'll start by giving you my disclaimer: This was a hosted dinner for a media night. If you know me, I rarely attend these (it’s been literal years) but this was an exception as I'm a long-time fan and supporter of the East End Market (and good friends with the GM), and we wanted to celebrate the christening of Mid Drive Dive together. If one of us goes, we usually beg the other to accompany us since events are not our thing. Ok, we got that out of the way. College Park is my neighborhood and has been for over a decade. I've seen the constantly revolving doors of Edgewater Drive restaurants, a ..read more

Kook’n with Kim If you drive down West Kennedy Blvd in Eatonville on a Sunday, you will notice a small red building with a line out the door. They are all waiting for some good comfort food from Miss Kim. Eatonville is a richly historic Black neighborhood in Orlando with a couple of great spots for dining that can often get overlooked. You have Dajen Eats and Mad Crab Seafood & Wings, which I’ve patronized, but this was my first trip to Kookn with Kim. The line reached the patio on the day I visited but kept at a good pace. You need your time in line to decide entirely on what you want to ..read more

My last trip to Savannah. This was a two-night stop on our way home from Charlotte, which overlapped with Thanksgiving, so we packed as much as possible into 36 hours, going to tried and true spots and some new places. Late Air Rating: A MUST Late Air is an intimate neighborhood restaurant outside downtown Savannah's hustle, doubling as a wine bar. The menu is small and focused, delivering some of my favorite dishes of our trip through Charlotte and Savannah. We got a mix of items off the happy hour menu and their regular dinner menu, including house sourdough with butter, oysters, Yukon potat ..read more

I have always been vocal about my love of The Strand. It's about as old as my Orlando blogging journey (10 years), and I credit it to being one of the first restaurants that got me excited about what Orlando's food scene could be. Fast-forward a decade, and The Strand had been quietly working on expanding into the space next door, but not as additional seating for their restaurant in the height of its long overdue popularity, not to mention a Michelin Bib Gourmand, but rather a sister bar called d.b.a. Upon entering the space on their first week of soft opening, we pulled mightily on ..read more

My first trip to the Queen City - let’s get right to it. Coffee Charlotte had an abundance of coffee shops, but because the coffee scene has gotten so good in Orlando, quite a few shops just didn’t hold up for me. However these were the ones I would recommend. Interestingly enough the two best shops didn’t come up in any of my searches. Provided Coffee Thanks to an Orlando transplant in Charlotte, I got a DM to check out this shop, as they had the same issue I was experiencing. So on my last day I headed to Provided Coffee. It’s non-descript on the outside and extremely small on the inside. Th ..read more

I have a complicated relationship with Brunch. On the one hand, I love breakfast foods and fun brunch concoctions that allow me to indulge in an array of carbs on any given Sunday so intensely that it becomes the only meal I have to consume all day. On the other hand, I am not a "brunch" person in terms of loud music, drunk people, or sloppy shenanigans that come to mind when people think about a weekend brunch outing in any city in 2023. You will never see myself and a carafe of bottomless mimosas in the same place. I want to eat good food in a chill setting and be on my way. With that said ..read more

Small Business Saturday is once again right around the corner. In the heart of Orlando, where the hustle of entrepreneurship meets our vibrant community spirit, Small Business Saturday continues to gain momentum each year. For many who have been struggling with their brick and mortar shops, Small Business Saturday offers a beacon of support, urging residents and visitors alike to explore the hidden gems that line the streets of our diverse neighborhoods. Beyond the towering structures of theme parks, and past the line of Amazon trucks you’ll see on every street, lies unique shops and boutiques ..read more

Last year I was so excited about a new Japanese themed arcade that was opening in the Florida Mall - Gatcha USA. Since then the space has upgraded and expanded into a new space in the mall, and the transformation will make their loyal fans very happy. WHAT’S NEW AT GATCHA When you enter there are two large areas to each side of you. To the right there are banks of much larger claw machines stuffed with all sorts of recognizable plushies in all different sizes. There are also machines with smaller prizes like keychains and small boxed collectibles. To the right you will notice a huge neon wall ..read more