Bungalower

01/15/2026

📣 Last day to vote! 🗳️
Final voting for the What Makes Orlando, Orlando: The Bungalower Local Awards closes tonight at 11:59 p.m. — so make sure your voice is heard!

Here are the nominee categories and finalists you can choose from:

✨ Favorite Arts or Cultural Space
Afterlife Studios, Enzian Theater, Judson’s Live, Renaissance Theatre Company, Theater On The Edge, Will’s Pub

🍸 Favorite Bar
D.B.A., Lil Indies, Quicksand, The Courtesy, Tori Tori, Wally’s

☕ Favorite Coffee
Aguila Coffee, Foxtail Coffee, Framework Coffee, Lineage Coffee, Lobos Coffee, Qreate Coffee

🎉 Favorite Event or Festival
Foreign Dissent, Immerse, Jingle Eve, Nosferatu @ The Ren, Orlando Fringe, You Must Dance

🛍️ Favorite Local Retail Shop
Dora Mae Jewelry, Freehand Goods, Gold Dust Home, Good Crowd, Park Ave CDs, Rare Earth Gift

🌟 Favorite New Business
Aguila Coffee, Alona’s Food Affair, Cromulent Basement, Dr. Drip Coffee Lounge, Outpost Neighborhood Tavern, The Burrow

🍽️ Favorite Restaurant
Domu, F&D Italian Kitchen, Kaya, The Ravenous Pig, The Strand, Ziggie’s Pizza

❤️ Favorite Third Place
Austin’s Coffee, District Dive, Downtown Orlando Library, East End Market, Lake Eola Park, Stardust Video & Coffee

🏙️ What Makes Orlando, Orlando
Anna V. Eskamani, Artists & Performers, Diversity & Q***r Inclusivity, Lake Eola Swans, Murals, Small Business Grit

🕐 Cast your vote before midnight!
Help us celebrate what truly makes our city the City Beautiful.

After weeks of reader nominations, final voting is officially open for the What Makes Orlando, Orlando Local Awards. These awards were created to celebrate the places, people, and ideas that s…

01/15/2026

Florida football fans, here’s a name you’ll recognize. Former Gators wide receiver Elijhah Badger has been allocated to the Orlando Storm as the team continues to take shape ahead of the UFL season. More roster moves are coming.

Click link to read more.

If you’ve been wondering who’s actually going to be wearing an Orlando Storm jersey this spring, here’s one name you can now pencil in. Former Florida Gators wide receiver Elijhah Badger has been *…

01/14/2026

Don Toliver, Playboi Carti, and NBA YoungBoy will headline the three-day festival May 8–10, 2026, at Camping World Stadium. It’ll be the festival’s only U.S. stop next year, with tickets available now via Rolling Loud’s official site.

Click link for more details.

Rolling Loud has officially announced the lineup for its Orlando debut, locking in three major headliners for its only U.S. festival of 2026, which we told you about a week ago. The festival takes …

01/14/2026

Phones stuck in SOS mode and nothing you try is fixing it? You’re not losing your mind. Verizon has confirmed a widespread outage impacting Orlando and beyond, and all those usual tricks aren’t going to help this time. Click link for more info.

If your phone suddenly flipped to SOS mode and nothing you tried fixed it, you are not losing your mind. Verizon customers across Orlando and Central Florida were hit by a widespread wireless outag…

01/14/2026

Small business owners, this one’s worth your time. As Florida’s legislative session gets underway, Heart of Florida United Way’s Daniel Vanegas explains why staying connected with your state legislators matters more than you might think and how decisions in Tallahassee can quietly impact staffing, housing, childcare, and your bottom line. Click link to read more.👇

As Florida’s 2026 legislative session gets underway, Daniel Venegas has a clear message for Orlando small business owners: get to know your state legislators. Venegas, Director of Advocacy and Publ…

01/14/2026

As Orlando Shakes opens Romeo and Juliet, the company also addressed hateful comments that appeared on a recent Meta ad, reaffirming its commitment to a safe and inclusive community. The production runs Jan. 14 through Feb. 8. Full details at link below.

Orlando Shakes issued a public statement today after racist and antisemitic comments appeared on a Meta ad promoting its upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet. In the post, the company said it do…

01/14/2026

Renaissance Theatre Company is opening Mean Girls: The Musical at its temporary downtown home at 54 West Church Street from Jan. 16–March 15, complete with Spring Fling, a themed after-party with drag, dancing, spiked punch, and a chance to be crowned Spring Fling Queen after each show.

For more info and tickets, click link below.

Renaissance Theatre Company opens Mean Girls: The Musical on Friday, January 16, running through Sunday, March 15, at its temporary downtown Orlando home at 54 West Church Street. The Ren is billin…

01/13/2026

Anthem Orlando is teasing a new food menu by Chef Pom Moongauklang, marking her next chapter after stepping away from Pom Pom’s. The preview alone looks stacked, and this is just the beginning.

Click link for more details.

https://bungalower.com/2026/01/13/anthem-orlando-teases-new-menu-by-chef-pom-moongauklang/

01/13/2026

New District 3 Commissioner Roger Chapin has selected former council candidate Chris Durant as an office aide, per Orlando Weekly reporting. City documents list the position as a trainee role as Chapin begins his term representing District 3.

More details at link below.

New Orlando City Commissioner Roger Chapin has selected former District 3 opponent Chris Durant to serve as one of his two office aides, according to reporting by Orlando Weekly. Durant, a 24-year-…

01/13/2026

The avian flu outbreak at Lake Eola continues to take a toll. Since Dec. 17, 32 birds including 26 swans have died, surpassing 2024's outbreak. City officials say there’s currently no way to protect the birds from the virus. Details at the link.

https://bungalower.com/2026/01/13/heartbreaking-avian-flu-claims-26-lake-eola-swans/

01/12/2026

Orlando City Commission met today for its first meeting of 2026, welcoming new commissioners, swearing in returning leadership, and kicking off what’s sure to be a busy year of big conversations and bigger decisions. We’ll be watching how it all plays out across the City Beautiful.

https://bungalower.com/2026/01/12/orlando-city-council-convenes-for-the-first-time-in-2026/

01/12/2026

House of the Day: Views for days! 😍 Check out this rare corner unit at Park Lake Towers. Completely remodeled with 270-degree views of downtown Orlando and Park Lake. Walkable to Lake Eola and ready for you to move in.

See the full tour here:

Sponsored: Completely remodeled from floor to ceiling, this rare corner 2-bed, 2-bath high-rise condo offers sweeping 270-degree views of downtown, Park Lake, and unforgettable sunrises and sunsets…