fbpx
❤️ The heart of downtown Orlando?
x

❤️ The heart of downtown Orlando?

PULPISM 101: CHURCH STREET

Church Street
cherch street, noun


WHAT IS IT?
Once deemed “the heart of downtown,” it’s where Orlando’s history used to meet its new trends. With an abundance of dining, entertainment, sports, retail, train transportation, housing and special events, most locals (and many tourists) have visited.

WHAT’S THE BACKSTORY? Church Street was conceived in 1889 by the South Florida Railroad. It was a train depot until the 1970s when the complex was repurposed into an entertainment and dining district. Beloved venues such as the Cheyenne Saloon and Opera House (built in 1982) and the Orlando Exchange Building continue to transport visitors to another time while evolving to accommodate our growing city.

WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF CHURCH STREET? The Church Street district was purchased this year by Digvijay Gaekward and Rob Yeager, two entrepreneurs who have heavily invested in Orlando’s growth. Gaekward says he remembers the booming Church Street of the 1980s and believes he can help transform this iconic place yet again to regain its role as a vibrant downtown center with new cultural and economic purpose, such as supporting more local startups. Plus, “new” restaurants are coming – or at least, new to Church Street. There are even plans to build a park under I-4 connecting the Amway Center to the rest of downtown.

WHAT SHOULD I CHECK OUT THERE? On the weekends, grab dinner and a show at Hamburger Mary’s where you can “dine with the divas” – in drag. Enjoy discounted sangrias and tapas at Ceviche on Tapas Tuesdays. For a more upscale dining experience, check out the Rusty Spoon, the first farm-to-table restaurant of its kind when it came onto the scene in 2011 owned and operated by James Beard Award-winning nominee Chef Kathleen Blake. El Buda is a killer newish Asian-fusion restaurant. For libations, choose from Market on Magnolia’s many draft beer offerings or throw it back to Latitudes, a tropical rooftop bar where many Orlandoans used to spend their time before the influx of bars downtown. (It’s chill until 11 p.m. when the dancing starts.) If you’re watching sports, check out Lion’s Pride for Orlando City matches and Harry Buffalo or Ferg’s Depot for Orlando Magic and Solar Bears games.

USAGE: “Let’s grab dinner and drinks on Church Street before the Orlando City soccer game ends and all the wasted fans show up.”

Do you have a Pulpism that you think belongs in our “dictionary”? If so, send it our way by simply replying to this email or sending us a message at hello@pulp.town.

WHAT'S GOING DOWN IN PULPTOWN

The off-limits question. City leaders voted unanimously Monday to implement the Trust Act, a policy that will prevent police from asking people who haven’t broken any laws about their immigration status. The hope is that this policy will encourage undocumented immigrants to talk to law enforcement if they witness or experience a crime. (WFTV 9)

Green isn’t always good. Blue Cypress Lake, an Orlando water supply (via the St. John’s River) located roughly 70 miles south of the city, is now tainted with the same green, pollution-fed algae that is found in Indian River Lagoon, Lake Okeechobee, and other bodies of water around the state. The algae, which can be toxic, is likely the result of sewage-treatment waste being dumped as fertilizer on nearby farmland. Biosolid haulers have agreed not to dump near Blue Cypress, but only for six months. (Orlando Sentinel)

Run water at your own risk. If you were ever told not to shower during a thunderstorm, you might want to heed the warning. According to the National Weather Service, metal pipes, wires, and even tap water itself are conductive and susceptible to lightning strikes that could travel all the way to your dirty dishes — or your other dirty bits. (Wesh 2)

Earning trust. Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee’s mayor, is vying for the votes of African-American voters across Florida to become the state’s first black governor. But some Central Florida leaders say the Democrat has more work to do to win the trust of local African-American communities. (Orlando Sentinel)

Welcome to fancy word world/land/park. Universal Studios is building a new park, and of course, they’ve been super secretive about it. But last month, a rumored guest survey asking which name seemed most likely to belong to a Universal park gave the options “Fantastic Worlds, Epic Worlds, Legendary Worlds, Legendary Lands, and DreamPark.” Industry experts speculate on which name will be chosen for the park and what will be there. (Orlando Weekly)

OUR PARTNER EVENTS

SATURDAY, JULY 28: Join us this Saturday for Florida Miracle, a dance marathon benefiting the Central Florida Miracle Network! Food, music, and entertainment will be provided. Just bring your AWESOME dance moves!

IN AND AROUND TOWN

TODAY
🎶 Bring your own vinyl for the DJ to spin (Sanford)
🎤 Hear Orlando’s rising musical stars (SODO)
❓ Who knows Ross, Rachel, or Phoebe best? (Downtown)
🌅 Take off on a sunset paddle of Lake Jennie Jewel (SoDo/Edgewood)
❓ Get your trivia on at Hammered Lamb (Ivanhoe)
🎤 Groove to this open mic (Thornton Park)
💻 Support local nonprofits and our tech community (East Colonial)


TOMORROW
🎭 Enjoy a night of improv comedy (College Park)
💁‍♀️Girls only summer networking event (Dr. Phillips)
🎶 They’re spinning darker tunes at Fukn Fancy Wednesday (Winter Park)
🍻 Meet other Orlando Young Professionals at this new brewery (Ivanhoe)
🖼 Enjoy an adult-only Art Night Out (Loch Haven)
🎭 Welcome to the Funhouse (Parramore)


THURSDAY
🗣 Meet our political candidates at this hobnob (East Colonial)
🎶 80s babies, check out Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper (Downtown)
🦁 Cheer on the Lions to victory (Parramore)
🎉 Join us for the annual Milk District Mixer (Milk District)
🍷 Support this water nonprofit while drinking wine (Loch Haven)
🎮 Throwback Thursday to the original gaming consoles (Mills 50)


FRIDAY
🐶 Grab the pup and head to Mennello for food, coffee and slobbers (Loch Haven)
🚲 It’s time for Orlando’s favorite monthly group bike ride (Loch Haven)
👩‍🔬 Get your science on once the sun goes down (Loch Haven)
🎶 Catch some brews and tunes at Tuffy’s (Sanford)


SATURDAY
🥃 Bourbon and bacon for breakfast? Oh my (Downtown)
🎧 A music-festival-filled night run? Twist our arms (West Colonial)
🎉 Eat cupcakes galore at Blue Bird’s 8th Anniversary (Audubon Park)
🍖 Bring your appetite for this sandwich meat-up (Winter Park)
🚜 Head over to the Winter Garden Farmers Market (Winter Garden)
👙 Class it up at this poolside bash (Winter Park)
🚜 Support this farm supper fund (Longwood)
👯‍♀️ Ladies’ night, am I right (Thornton Park)
🇵🇪 Celebrate Peru’s Independence Day (Loch Haven)


SUNDAY
🧘🏻‍♀️ Start your Sunday off with some namaste in the park (Loch Haven)
🙀 Remember Creature from the Black Lagoon (Downtown)
🎟 Check out this flea pop-up market of local makers (Thornton Park)


Going to one of these? Take us with you! Email a pic to hello@pulp.town or tag #pulptown on Instagram. See more upcoming events on our events page, and add your own events with a Pulptown membership.

ALREADY HUNGRY FOR LUNCH?

Just because it’s Tuesday, here is a foodie pic that might give you some lunch ideas.

Ciao,

– Pulptown

 

Archived Newsletters