Late October settles over Central Florida with softer light, cooler evenings, and a calendar that fills quickly. Pumpkin patches and fall festivals are in full swing, the Kia Center is humming, and across the region, long-running construction projects are reaching milestones. Here is a curated look at the week.
Headline of the Week
The headline number of the week: 626. That is how many beds are now available at VERVE Orlando, a new student housing development near the University of Central Florida that Subtext has opened, as reported by Florida YIMBY. For anyone who lives, rents, or invests near the east Orlando campus corridor, it is a sign of how steadily the area around UCF continues to grow.
Around Town This Week
The coming days offer a lineup that spans arena concerts, club nights, college soccer, and a Disney World spectacle. Listed with the furthest dates first, so there is time to plan:
- October 23: Nekrogoblikon brings its theatrical metal to The Beacham in Orlando.
- October 23: Yung Gravy: The Joyrider Tour plays House of Blues Orlando.
- October 22: UCF Knights Women's Soccer vs. Cincinnati takes the field at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex.
- October 22: Teddy Swims: The UGLY Tour arrives at the Kia Center.
- October 21: Orlando Pre-Pre-Fest #12 is a local-music night at Will's Pub.
- October 21: Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life performs at Walt Disney World.
- October 21: Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks is a home matchup at the Kia Center.
- October 20: Running Punks plays Lil' Indies.
- October 20: Stryper takes the stage at House of Blues Orlando.
- October 20: Noch Down's Occam's Razor EP release, with M with Eye and Alligator Death Roll, is at Will's Pub.
New and Notable
In Seminole County, a Lake Mary power company is expanding with a move into a new office that will house roughly 450 employees, according to The Business Journals. Corporate growth of this kind tends to anchor a community.
Osceola County drivers have reason to smile: the Simpson Road widening project has wrapped ahead of schedule, WKMG reports. Elsewhere, residents can weigh in on the State Road 50 widening at an upcoming FDOT open house, as noted by Spectrum News 13.
Beneath the surface, the city has begun a $19 million project to modernize an 80-year-old lift station, a quiet investment in the systems that keep neighborhoods running, per WFTV.
Small businesses are also in focus. Orange County and the City of Orlando have launched a new small business program, Spectrum News 13 says, and the city is hosting a workshop on how to do business with it, listed by the City of Orlando. In Mills 50, a group of long-standing businesses has been recognized with historic plaques, a nod to the district's character, as covered by WKMG.
Food and Drink
October doubles as National Pasta Month, and the Orlando Sentinel has rounded up places to find it fresh. It is a fine excuse to explore a neighborhood trattoria you have not yet tried.
Parks, Trails, and the Outdoors
Autumn is the season to be outside. The Orlando Date Night Guide collects this year's fall festivals and pumpkin patches, while a local contributor to Business Insider shares ten adventures and outdoorsy outings that have nothing to do with theme parks. The same guide service also offers a guide to Orlando farmers' markets, ideal for a slow weekend morning.
Living Here
Downtown Orlando continues to reward the curious, and the City of Orlando highlights arts, sports, and family-friendly activities all within a short walk. For shoppers who prefer a lighter footprint, Visit Orlando offers a green shopping guide to the city's eco-friendly boutiques.
For those following the housing conversation, WFTV offers an Orlando mid-year housing market review worth a look.
The Week Ahead
The days ahead balance growth with enjoyment: new housing near UCF, an office expansion in Lake Mary, and a road project finished early, alongside concerts, basketball, and the best of fall. Whether the plan is a festival, a farmers' market, or a plate of fresh pasta, Central Florida offers plenty to do. Questions about buying or selling in Orlando? Austin Munday is always glad to help.
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