Orlando abounds with community-driven events that are perfect for meeting strangers who turn into friends overnight. Here are a few of our favorites that we highly recommend checking out:

• The Dinner Party Project: Eight strangers gather around the table to hold meaningful conversations about our community, world, and similarities and differences that we share
• Some awesome food tours where you can visit restaurants, their chefs and meet like-minded foodies include: Orlando Foodie Tours, Sanford Food Tours, Winter Garden Food Tours, Downtown Orlando Food Tours, and Orlando Food Tours
• Orlando Story Club: Each meeting has a different theme and attendees are invited to throw their names in a hat. Then ten names are drawn from the hat to share their stories and a group of judges picks the best one. Plus, event proceeds are donated to a different local charity each month.
• PechaKucha: A handful of interesting Orlandoans are selected to give a six-minute, 40-second presentation in 20 slides that appear for 20 seconds each. The topic is of their choosing so long as it falls into the overarching theme that changes from event to event.
• NerdNite Orlando: A meetup of people who like to nerd out on whatever topic that tickles their fancy. Before the event, you can submit whatever topic you want to nerd out about, and if you’re chosen, you get to make a 15 to 20-minute presentation at the meetup. Bonus: Usually there’s a happy hour before the presentations start.
• Orlando Tech Meetup: This is the largest tech startup meetup group in the Southeast. Owners of local startups can demo their products and get feedback from the community.
• Orlando is home to some pretty hip churches. Both Summit and Celebration Orlando have campuses all over Central Florida and could be a great place to start.
• Bonding over a common interest is a great way to meet new people. Some classes we’ve loved are Cabernet + Namaste, Rooftop Zumba, and Beer Yoga at Deadly Sins Brewing.   
• Girls Pint Out: Join this group of women who celebrate their mutual love of craft beer and then learn more about each other as the pints wear on.

Do you have suggestions on other events to check out to meet new people in Orlando? If so, hit reply and we’ll update our list and share out your suggestions in a later newsletter.

I am lion, hear me roar! Orlando City fired its head coach Jason Kreis on Friday and Orlando City Soccer Club CEO Alex Leitão says he’s in the market for a new coach who is hungry, young, and experienced. But most importantly, he wants a coach to come in and win immediately. (ProSoccer USA)

(Too) Long live(d) the Travelodge! Ever had an out-of-town friend visit who made a reservation at the Travelodge? Or better yet, drunkenly opted to book a room just for fun? Well, those days could soon be over. The city is set to review plans a new 240-room hotel (with all of 20 parking spots!) on Thursday. (The Daily City)

Oh Brother, where art thou? If you like Big Brother (the TV show, not the government), you should root for local Orlando substitute teacher Faysal Shafaat. He’ll be appearing in the house when the reality series returns next week. He’s competing against 15 other houseguests for $500,000. (Click Orlando)

All aboard! In anticipation of Sunrail’s four new stations, it released an updated train schedule that goes into effect on July 23 and includes more midday departures and extended evening departures. (Orlando Weekly)

Alohomora! Show us the goods! Islands of Adventure is the future site of a new Harry Potter-themed roller coaster where construction is moving along rather quickly. We don’t know exactly what the design will look like, but this article has some guesses. (Attractions)

“It took less than 10 seconds.” International travelers are moving through Orlando International Airport a lot faster because of the new facial recognition scanners that MCO’s been testing since April. The word on the street is that the program will be expanding to all incoming and departing international flights soon. (Fox 35)

THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY FOLKS!

See you tomorrow!

– Pulptown