Chemmie

The three-year venture will not add any lanes to the interstate or to the expressway. This is from the article about the construction. BRILLIANT. Why not build it correctly the first time? Instead, we are still going to have single lanes merging from I-4 to 408 and the reverse. Are we unable to take lessons from every other city in the country that has realized they have to widen their large highway intersections? My commute from the city to Sand Lake Rd. is going to be wonderful for the next few years, and after that it won't be any better. Geniuses.

The politicians know it. All of us know it. Most of the city knows it.... But nobody wants to admit it. None of this is going to work until the "undesireables" are moved out. It's not fun to admit, but it's reality.

I've, at some point in time or another, been involved in commutes in 5 of those cities including Orlando. (Atlanta, Houston, D.C., Chicago, Orlando) Add in Philadelphia and that's six major commutes I have taken part in. Orlando is, by far, the best of them all, even with the tolls. We are piss poor for our size, but I don't think we are that bad!!

Thank you for adding to this thread Wide! Welcome. I don't know if I did it already in this thread, but I second the recommendation for Thai House. My wife and I eat there almost once a week. We have tried almost every other Thai place we can think of in Orlando and Thai House beats them all, every time we are there. The service always seems attentive, but they are very attentive to us because we go there so often, order take out from them often and they know us from being regulars. The curry dishes are always top notch. Not too sweet, not too much curry and certainly not watered down like many Thai places in Orlando. The fish is always fresh, from my experiences, which is good. Fish at Asian restaurants scares me sometimes.

They didn't actually print that drivel, did they? I think I need another cup of coffee after that.

My fingers are crossed... but I don't see it unless they level that whole block. A connection to Universal would be nice, too.

Yup, we have pleanty of sprawl here. We know why the tolls are still up, and it's not because they are discouraging sprawl. They are revenue machines. What is different about Orlando compared to most large cities, I believe, is the smaller amount of centralized downtown employment for the residents. In most cities, more people commute into the city. Here, it's all mixed up, people are going everywhere!

How much of that land does City Mark own? Seriously, the hotels down that street where the Delta Resort was are old and an eyesore. The old Mystery Fun House is nothing but a cheap "Buy Tickets Here" type place, as is most everything else on that road. Then you have the Ale House/Kobe/Golden Corral which, even though they keep a good crowd, isn't the prettiest building in the world. I'm just wondering how much is coming down. If it's just Delta that's coming down, I don't see how this beatiful place is going to fit in with the rest of the trash on that road.

Cool. I drove by there on one Friday night and saw a pianist and guitarist playing music. I wish we did have a nice jazz club that had live smooth jazz in a nice dark room. I'm reminded of a place I went to when I was visiting South Bend, Indiana. Of all places in the country, they had a fabulous jazz club. I spent an entire night in there and never wanted to leave. There was a live band playing almost everything you could imagine from the Smooth Jazz radio station. It was great. I miss that night....

I think there's a jazz club in the Westin Grand Bohemian, but it's likely a fortune. Club Swank, which used to be Cactus Club on Mills, is also a supposed jazz club. I have been to neither. You are all feeling the same way I am. Parramore needs a draw. It would be easy to bulldoze it and put up condos. The hard thing would be to make it an eclectic neighborhood full of life, culture as well as having a trendy or upscale feel. I guess it doesn't help much that food isn't a huge draw in this town. Too many people are content with their Olive Gardens and Outbacks to try something new if it were to open. We could use a more upscale southern cooking/soul food type place.

Of course. There was a reasoning for me mentioning the color of the skin in that sentence, though. There is no denying that there is a segment of the population that would visit or live in a revitalized, former poorer minority, area in order to get the feeling that they are "slumming it". *Keep in mind, this isn't necessarilly my opinion but something that cannot be denied that goes on. This is similar to the groups of suburban youths who trek into the city to visit trendy, sometimes run down, areas. The suburban Atlanta crowd that goes to Little Five-Points to hang out with the dred locked hippies and others. The suburban Philadelphia crowd that goes to South Street to hang out with the same types. The suburban Chicago crowd that goes to Belmont and The Alley. It provides them with a sense of escape. To leave the mundane suburban live and visit something new, different and even controversial. This happens in primarilly black communities also. Sure, it is offensive, but it provides a way of some-how legitimising a community such as this. No longer is it an area where crime scares people from visiting, but it is an area where the culture is (in a wierd way) embraced by the outside. It is a careful balancing act and there is a way to pull it off. Is it exploitative of the urban culture? More than likely, yes. Is that a price some would pay for a revitalized Paramore complete with multiple cultures and income levels living together? More than likely, yes.

Having lived for a while in Chicago, I have seen how they have transformed blighted areas into trendy communities. The key isn't to build brand new (in our case, stucco) buildings and make everything beautiful, but to make it a place where people want to be. How do you do that? 1. Get crime, bums and loiterers (the groups standing in front of the liquor stores) off of the streets. 2. Create a niche market that appeals to both the poorer black communities and the trendy, yuppie, white communities. This can be done by opening a trendy soul food, southern cooking, breakfast or creole restaraunt in a nicer location, trendy import furniture shops, eclectic record stores, jazz or blues clubs, etc. Make it a place people want to go. 3. New condo development combined with lower income townhome development. Make it look like a city and not a row of run down cigar homes. Brick stands out, is more "city-like" and lasts longer. Use brick! 4. Re-brick the streets, improve street lighting and an overall "cleaning".

I guess I'm the only one... I think Dunkin Donuts coffee is the best. Their donuts suck, especially compared to KK, but the coffee is great. ...and all coffee gives me the craps, so I guess I never noticed the difference with DD.

Barnies is better. Second only to Dunkin Donuts coffee. Starbucks is somewhere down the line...

Those looters are bringing in the heavy artillary. They want it all... Actually, this is impressive. Looks like it's really going to happen. I think a real downtown for Orlando depends on 55W. This gets built and that whole area booms again, possibly making a huge link to the area west of I-4. This will bring a constant crowd directly to the clubs, shops and restaurants on Church St. It is needed.

That's not demolition. That's just the result of some looters getting in. Nothing to see here...

A vandal breaks a window and the "demolish" by knocking out a few ceiling tiles and we're rejoicing. I'll be happy when I see an actual explosion and some new rock being brought in. This project is key to the survival of Church St., not as we knew it, but forever.

I've driven on I-4 from about College Park to OBT and gotten a wireless connection the whole way. There are plenty of connections to "steal" in the downtown area.

I think the land next to Wills that has been demolished is something completely different than this project. It may all run together, but something makes me think this is an office building being built. I received a new Colonialtown newsletter yesterday, but have yet to read it. It usually has a blurb about Mills/Nebraska in it. I may have another update later when I read it.

The Melting Pot is a chain, but good. Tu Tu Tango has 5 locations, miami, orlando, atlanta and two in california. Never been there.

Got it! Ethiopean... Betty's Cafe. 10910 S. Trail Circle Orlando, FL 32837-8942 (407) 888-8626 Here's a link to Orlando Weekly's review. http://orlandoweekly.com/dining/review.asp?rid=8339 I have a friend who loves going there, I just haven't had the chance to stop in yet.

There is an Ethiopean place here in Orlando (Pine Hills area), and from what I hear it is great. I don't have the information on it right now, but I will post it here tomorrow.

Friends on Mills, near the corner of Virginia has a great Sunday brunch. They had a buffett with bacon, ham, biscuits and gravy, seafood crepes, chicken stir fry, eggs benedict, fresh fruit, homemade pastries, cheese tray and a chocolate fountain! They also had made to order omelets, belgian waffles (which were fantastic!) and scrambled eggs. Best of all, all the mimosas you could drink. All for $14.95. The service was very nice and attentive, keeping my glass full before it could even get half empty. All of the food was great, especially for a buffet type setting. It's a small place inside, and very quaint. It's gay friendly, but if that's not your bag, it shouldn't really be a bother because the food and drinks are so good. With all of the other good breakfast spots in this area (Brian's, Chuck's, etc.), it's good to see another come into the mix. I'm a big fan of all of these places, so Friend's gets a thumbs up just like the rest of them.

Funny, Thai House is my favorite thai (actually ate there tonight) but Siam Garden is one of my least favorite. Siam Garden is watered down, to me. It's as if they are afraid to go all the way with the flavors and spices. My wife and I are both HUGE fans of bold flavors. When we eat, we want a kick! Siam Garden left us wanting much more while Thai House always satisfies. Ming Court is the best Dim Sum place in Orlando, in my opinion. They have a large selection and good prices. Chinese.... hmmmm.. we usually just go to Chinatown, because it is close. So many people pick something like PF Changs, which I cannot stand. No sense in spending three times the price for the same food. Asian food, all around, is supposed to be very cheap. It makes me laugh when I see expensive a place like PF Changs packed. Just isn't worth it to me.

I guess we'll just do the "Best of Orlando" type thing.... Here's my list.... Pizza- Alfonso's on Edgewater in College Park Calzone- O'Stromboli on Corinne in Colonialtown Italian- Pannullo's on Park Ave. (a lot of people don't like Pannullo's, but I think they have some of the most bold flavored Italian I have ever tried. They do not go lightly on the flavor, especially garlic!) Cheesesteak- Niccolli's on the corner of Hiawassee and Old Winter Garden Thai- Thai House on Colonial. (I've tried almost every Thai place in Orlando, this is my favorite.) Mexican- haven't found one yet. PR's on Fairbanks is good, but isn't Mexican, more Tex Mex. Best all around- Park Plaza Gardens on Park Ave. I have much much more... just have to think of them.