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This is the best downtown photo of Orlando I've ever seen! Thanks

huh?

I always said put in a Dave & Busters, H & M, Club Monaco, FCUK, Bennetton, Grand Lux Cafe, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Pei Wei Asian Diner, Adventurer's club type of attraction, Revive Jungle Jim's, Dick's Last Resort, Best Buy, Trader Joes, Barnes and Noble and an attached hotel for all the shoppers going to Prime, would be a good addition to the mall. Hell, through in a Major Department store like Marks & Spencer for the British Folk and you got it made. Now I can wake up. Seriously though I agree: This mall just won't die. It's an themed mall search for a theme. You got just a whole bunch of outlet stores thrown in with a BCBG (why they are in the mall, I never know) and mom and pa stores that sells incense burners and stuff. I just don't get this place.

Well after years of waiting we can wait no more. The Ron Juan Surf Park at the Festival Bay is officially dead in the water. The final nail in the coffin for the Festival Bay mall. Maybe time to rev up those bullbolzers and put that place out of it's misery.

Also... The Gardens at Millenia Millenium Parc Retail and Hotel Millenia Crossing Whole Foods Marketplace Dellagio The Fairfield Inn and Suites/Springhill Suites by Seaworld The Element and Aloft Hotels Convention Center The Westin Lake Mary The Hyatt Place Lake Mary The Residence Inn Lake Mary The Square The Hilton Convention Center

Whole Foods was scheduled to open on June 25th. There were tons of cars in the parking lot today as I drove by; probaby check it out over the weekend. As for as the other stores, nothing has opened yet. The only sign that has gone up is the Pei Wei Asian Diner (part of the P.F. Changs family), but it hasn't opened yet. Michaels, Golf Galaxy, and some sushi place are the only ones I know of going into the development as of yet. Cold Stone Creamery is opening in the Dr. Philips Marketplace down the road.

I was driving down Universal Blvd the other day right behind the Westgate Palace there was a sign for the proposed "THE EMPIRE", which looked like a replica of the Empire State Building in NY. I think it supposed to be a condo hotel or maybe just condos. I tried looking in Orlando Skyscrapers to see if I can find any info about it, but nothing was posted. Do you know if this project is dead, on hold, just proposed or someones pipe dream?

Since being new to the city of Orlando; I'm not that up to date on the whole commuter issue other than finding out that the project seems like its DOA. Question: All the money that was set aside for this project including the widening of I4 with 4 additional lanes; that's also dead? Gone? This is the only city where I lived that didn't have some sort of mass transit system and for the first time in 20 years I have to buy myself a extra vehicle, which I'm not keen on doing. Even though I love living in Florida, I sometimes wonder why I moved to Orlando. Very frustrating.

This was taken from the Condo Metropolis Blog: This week

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I always thought people went to Disney to escape their mundane reality without being subjected to places where they are part of everyday life. It's attractions such as La Nouba, Disney Quest that make it unique and destination restaurants like Bongos, House of Blues, T-Rex, Rainforest Cafe and Planet Hollywood where they are not located in their hometowns; that make it memorable. I said memorable...not good! How is bringing in TJ Maxx, Olive Garden, Ross Dress for Less and TGI Fridays going to make it memorable or unique to people?

I read on a website that the Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede is thinking of relocating in Disney when they open that big box Flamingo Crossings shopping district. Who else has a bad taste about this Flamingo Crossing project? Does Disney really need a have an Econolodge on their property? Wasn't the whole point why Disney bought all this acreage in Orlando is to not duplicate the problem of Disneyland, with all those tacky motels/restaurants adjacent to the park? Seems like this is going totally against Walt's original plan.

Another Rosen hotel?

I'm not aware of this.

Well it is the attractions area, that is what the area caters to....tourists. What do you expect to put there instead of shopping, restaurants and hotels?

Starwood's new Aloft brand is also coming to the convention center. It will be adjacent to the new Element hotel. I think they are planning another Aloft hotel near the airport as well.

I agree with the Pointe. The last time I was there is was bustling with activity; though it still has a long way to go before reaching its potential (many stores are still vacant). I'm still not sure how the Square will be viable being so close to the Pointe. If they are looking for an extension of the types of stores and/or restaurants that the Pointe has to offer, than I say it will met with success; if it plans to go the route of the former Pointe, then the place is doomed. Speaking of the Westin, have we heard of an opening date yet? Any idea when the rest of the Village of Imagine will be scheduled to be complete?

How long are we going to milk this topic?

Or how about the Kobe Bryant house of ......oh never mind

I think they started out in CA. They do have the single fans, but I remember them at the host area when you come in. I was thinking of the macadamia nut crusted chicken last night, I'll have to try it next time. The prices are pretty reasonable for the amount of food they present to you. They were on a 20-25 min. wait on a Wednesday, so I think they are doing fairly well.

We tried the Elephant Bar & Restaurant in the Altamonte Mall last night for dinner. Sort of like a P.F Changs atmosphere with a pretty varied menu with items such as Kung Pao and Sweet n Sour Chicken to Burgers, Salads, Beef, Lamb, etc. The Kung Pau; though not as tasty as the P.F. Chang's version was made with grilled Tofu which was different. They are building another location adjacent to the Mall of Millenia.

I always thought the Festival Bay mall was a themed type mall searching for a theme. Nothing fits. They have national retailers like BCBG mixed in with outlet mall stores. The indoor mini golf looked like it was thrown in at the last minute.

I think Dixie Crossroads is now closed. I haven't been to any of the other restaurants other than Fuddruckers which I ended up getting sick afterwards. I wish they would of kept the Murray Bros. Caddyshack restaurant. I went to the one out by St. Augustine and the place was very busy and the food was quite good.

sorry, just MY wish list, but a good list at that. Darren

It's a new chain of restraurants developed by Landry, who owns the Rainforest Cafe. Yes, the place is very enticting for kids, but like the Rainforest Cafe, it does cater to all age groups. They built the first one in the Legends Shopping area in KCKC. It has the same feel as the Rainforest. Except a big gift shop attached to the restaurant. Speaking of Restaurants, how about our city getting a Grand Lux Cafe and a Cheeseburger in Paradise? I'm thinking if the Festival Bay mall can land the Grand Lux with the CIP as an outparcel pad with a Dave & Busters plus the opening of the Ron Juan Surfpark, the Festival Bay mall would be kick-ass.