Chef Akhtar Nawab and his group, Hospitality HQ (HHQ) will be the operator of the 17,300 sq. ft. food hall planned in the historic Southern Box building near the corner of Orange Blossom Trail and Princeton Street. The Packing District Food Hall will house 11 vendors chosen by the HHQ team, representing a diverse offering of food with a focus on immigrant cuisine. HQ Hospitality will provide comprehensive support including menu engineering, marketing, and accounting to the local chefs and their businesses. Construction is planned to begin on the food hall in August 2022 with a completion estimated in the second quarter of 2023. Hospitality HQ, a creative consulting and management group, is currently the fastest-growing food hall management company in the country, with critically-acclaimed restaurant and communal dining projects located in Brooklyn (Alta Calidad), New Orleans (Otra Vez), Chicago,(Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall), Philadelphia, (Patchwork at the Hyatt Centric), Tennessee, (Marble City Market) and many more. Acclaimed New York-based chef, Akhtar Nawab, is a first-generation Indian-American with classical training in Italian and French and is now known for his Mexican cuisine. He worked in some of New York’s best-known restaurants before venturing out on his own. Nawab has been featured in various publications, including Food & Wine, Bon Appétit and Eater, and has appeared on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America.” Chef Akhtar is in partnership with Hospitality HQ to operate his own restaurants and dining projects across the country. “We are thrilled to have Chef Akhtar and his team on board with The Packing District Food Hall,” said Ken Robinson, President/CEO of Dr. Phillips Charities. “Through a national search, we discovered HHQ and believe their commitment to a high quality, chef driven experience aligns with our vision for the food hall. They understand our deep history in this area and are focused on identifying and supporting local chefs and providing them the opportunity to start or grow their business.” “We are proud to provide a future home to a number of local vendors launching their first brick and mortar locations or taking the chance and expanding their business with us at the forthcoming food hall in the historic Packing District in Orlando. We look forward to taking this journey with them together as a team, and establishing ourselves as a part of this incredible community” said Chef Akhtar Nawab.

runDisney turns 30 next year, and to celebrate, the Walt Disney World Marathon will have an awesome retro 1990s theme For 2023. New art was released today for each event showing off the retro cool theme as well as the “30 Years Running” slogan! The art features vibrant colors and patterns as well as the original Walt DisneybWorld logos. The 2023 marathon will be sponsored by State Farm. Here’s the announcement from runDisney: Test your mettle at your chosen skill level—from the 5K to the Marathon—while you trek your way through the Disney theme parks. When you participate in the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, you’ll become part of something incredibly special. The designs feature different characters such as Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Daisy, Goofy and Pluto. The marathon weekend includes a 5K, 10K, half-marathon (13.1 miles) and a full marathon (26.2 miles). Runners can also participate in the Dopey Challenge, which involves completing all four marathon weekend races. There will also be virtual races available. General registration for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend will open April 19 at 10 a.m. Registration for the virtual races will open April 22 at 10 a.m. For more information about the marathon weekend, visit rundisney.com.

Walt Disney World have confirmed that the Spyglass Grill restaurant, located in the Trinidad Village at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort will welcome back Guests for breakfast, lunch, and dinner beginning April 14, 2022. After two years of not operating, Spyglass Grill is returning with a few menu changes from when it was last open in early 2020. BREAKFAST Starting with breakfast, the Cream Cheese Guava-stuffed French Toast and Pineapple-Banana Pancakes are no longer available. The scrambled eggs are now served with potato hash, multigrain toast, and choice of bacon, pork sausage, or turkey sausage. The Seasonal Fruit Plate is no longer served with chili-salted lime along with the guava yogurt, the Breakfast Cuban is up 50 cents, now costing $7.49, and the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich is up 20 cents to $6.99. In plant-based offerings, the Breakfast Yuca Hash is no longer available, in favor of the new Trinidad Sunrise Crispy Yuca Bowl at $9.49, which is described as Plant-based Eggs served over Crispy Yuca with Black Beans and topped with Pico de Gallo. Also new is the Breakfast Wrap, containing Plant-based Eggs, Plant-based Chorizo, and Spinach wrapped in a Flour Tortilla for $6.99. An assortment of sides are now available — Fresh Fruit, Pork Sausage, Turkey Sausage, Bacon, and Scrambled Eggs. The kids meals are also now updated, with two new Disney Check meals — Scrambled Eggs and Fresh Fruit and Granola with Yogurt, both served with two sides and a small low fat milk or bottled water. At $7.29, the kids Breakfast Cuban will return with a significant price hike from $5.69 in 2020. In baked goods, the Cinnamon Roll, Blueberry Muffin, and Croissant all return with slight price increases, while the Chocolate Croissant, Apple Danish, and Banana-Bran Muffin are all new. New in desserts is of course the 50th Anniversary Dessert, a Raspberry Cheesecake with a Rose Gold Champagne-infused Glaze on an Almond Cookie at $5.99. Also new is the M&Ms Sugar Cookie for $3.49. New in specialty non-alcoholic beverages is the Guava Lemonade for $4.99. Several juice options are now available to guests, including Vegetable Juice, Simply Smoothie Pineapple Mango, Simply Smoothie Strawberry Banana, Minute Maid Cran-Apple Raspberry Juice, and Grapefruit Juice. Cutting back significantly from previous offerings, four specialty alcoholic beverages will be available at breakfast — a Strawberry Margarita with Teremana Blanco Tequila blended with Strawberry Purée and Fresh Lime Juice for $16, a Frozen Piña Colada with Plantation Original Dark Rum blended with flavors of Pineapple and Coconut for $12, a Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri with Bacardí Superior Rum blended with Strawberry Purée and Fresh Lime Juice for $12, and a Spiked Guava Lemonade with Tito’s Handmade Vodka for $12. DINNER The entire soups and salads menu has been eliminated in favor of just salads. Also gone in Entrées are the Chorizo Burger, the Caribbean Taco Trio, and the 7 oz Angus Cheeseburger. New to the menu is the Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger, a Grilled Signature-blend Burger topped with Bacon, Cheddar, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, and Pickle on a Brioche Bun served with choice of Side for $12.49. Also new are the Chicken Strips, served with choice of side for $10.49, and the Mojo Pork Tacos, Three Tacos topped with Pickled Vegetable Slaw, Cilantro-Lime Crema, Cotija Cheese, and Pico de Gallo served with choice of Side for $9.99. The salads menu also contains three options — a Shrimp Salad with Mixed Greens, Avocado, Black Beans, Pickled Onion, and Tomato served with a side of Key Lime Vinaigrette for $11.99, a Chopped Jerk Chicken Salad with Romaine, Kale, Red Bell Peppers, and Mango served with a side of Key Lime Vinaigrette for $10.99, or a Fresh Fruit Plate served with guava yogurt for $7.99. In plant-based offerings, the Trinidad Crispy Yuca Bowl replaces the Crispy Yuca Bowl, the Black Bean Tacos replaces the Vegan Black Bean Caribbean Taco, and the Chipotle Seitan Yuca Bowl has been removed in favor of an Impossible Burger. The Fish Tacos are also no longer available for kids.

Camping World Stadium is hosting its first ever Orlando Tacos and Margaritas Festival this Saturday, April 16, where you can enjoy tons of tantalizing tacos and a myriad of flavors of margaritas! In addition to indulging in chef-crafted signature tacos and margarita pairings, festival-goers will also enjoy live professional wrestling, live DJs and musical performances by Hayden Coffman, country music’s next big artist, featuring his signature down-home country-pop and catchy lyrics, and 30 local artists will showcase their arts and crafts along the stadium concourse. Kids activities, including face painting, will also be available on site. A trio of ticket options are available through Ticketmaster.com. Day-of-event general admission tickets are $20, with Ultimate and VIP admission options also available.

This weekend find everything for your home improvement projects at the Central Florida Home Expo taking place at the Orange County Convention Center, North Hall. The show takes place this Saturday, April 9, 10am until 6pm, and Sunday, April 10 10am until 5pm, with FREE ADMISSION all weekend. The Central Florida Home Expo features local, regional and national exhibitors with fabulous ideas for consumers, you’ll find the latest in products and services for home improvement, meeting professionals to make your next remodeling, renovation, landscaping, patio or decorating project a big success. For this one weekend, the Orange County Convention Center will offer wall-to-wall displays and exhibits, with all of the latest trends in home improvement. This is the perfect event for the Orlando area homeowner who is planning for the year ahead. At this weekend's show you can meet nationally recognized Celebrity Chef Warren Caterson. Chef Caterson is the award-winning author of ‘Table for Two’. His seminars provide a variety of temptingly delicious culinary experiences for every situation, palate and budget. Whether he is cooking for two or two hundred, he is convinced that life, joy, and communion can be found in a freshly prepared and shared meal. Be sure to visit Chef Caterson at the show. The show is organized by East Coast Consumer Shows who have been producing Home and Garden Shows for over 25 years. For more details on the show, and to see a list of exhibitors, CLICK HERE.

If you're staying at a Walt Disney World property tonight you might just catch some fireworks testing at Magic Kingdom Park. Disney has sent out a notice that says they will be conducting some routine fireworks testing at Magic Kingdom Park on Thursday, April 7th., with testing occurring between 11pm and midnight.

We're excited as the first items from the brand new Walt Disney World 50th anniversary EARidescent Shimmer collection have arrived at Walt Disney World. Check out just how adorable the new Minnie ear headband and Loungefly mini backpack are, I absolutely adore them. The collection has been inspired by the gold and blue turrets of Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom Park. EARidescent Shimmer Minnie Ear Headband $34.99 The sparkling ear headband has a Minnie bow made of blue shimmer fabric, while the headband and ears are coated in gold sequins. EARidescent Shimmer Loungefly Mini Backpack $110.00 The beautiful Loungefly mini backpack is shimmering gold, with blue fabric around the zippers and exterior pockets, and I love it! It is topped with sequin-covered mouse ears and a Minnie bow. The front pocket is also covered in gold sequins.The straps are blue, while the interior lining is blue and patterned with Mickey silhouettes. Ih addition to the ears, and backpack, nn EARidescent Shimmer Spirit Jersey will be available later this spring.

SunRail and Brightline have agreed a deal that will see rail services extend from Orlando International Airport through Orlando to Tampa, with stops serving Universal Orlando Resort, International Drive, SeaWorld Orlando, the Orange County Convention Center, and Walt Disney World. Through this new partnership, Brightline would lease rights to SunRail for an east-west corridor connecting the airport to SunRail’s current north-south tracks, the Orange County Convention Center, and south International Drive, with Brightline building its own tracks from the Walt Disney World Resort area to Tampa. The Orlando Sentinel reports that Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has hosted dozens of meeting between Brightline, Universal Studio, which would be served by the new plan, and other interested parties to break a deadlock over the planned Brightline extension. Dyer says the extension would be the beginning of an east-west route for the currently north-south SunRail, which serves 16 stations on a 49-mile route in four counties. Service to the airport would also require the commuter operator to increase frequencies, run later at night, and operate on weekends, he said. Currently, the Monday-through-Friday service operates on 30-minute headways during peak periods, and less frequently at other times. The new plan, called the “Sunshine Corridor Program,” would see trains every 15 minutes on the airport route. U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (D-Kissimmee) said he has told the parties they must reach a decision by this summer to be in position to compete for federal funding: “Those first announcements for rail and for highways are going to be big ones, the biggest in the nation. We want to make sure there is consensus locally because it’s so competitive. If we don’t have consensus it’s going to be very difficult.” Brightline spokeswoman Christine Kefauver said the plan is “the type of big vision project that Central Florida needs and one that will improve the quality of life for Central Floridians while ensuring an economic advantage for decades.” SunRail’s service currently spans 49 miles and 16 stations in Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties. Brightline is near finishing their rail from South Florida to Orlando International Airport. Service is scheduled to begin next year.

Disney has confirmed the height requirement for EPCOT's upcoming new rollercoaster 'Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind. The 'Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind' height requirement is 42" (107cm). At 42 inches, here's how 'Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind' compares to other Walt Disney World coasters: Expedition Everest (44") Rock 'n' RollerCoaster (48") Space Mountain (44") Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (40") Slinky Dog Dash (38"). The height requirement supports expectations of the thrill level of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind being around the same level of Expedition Everest and very much a family coaster experience.

Walt Disney World is earmarking nearly 80 acres of land for a new affordable housing development right here in Central Florida. Disney say the initiative has been in the works for a while as the company has been focused on finding solutions to this challenge for quite some time. “We are invested in working together with our community to solve complex issues,” said Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “The lack of affordable housing is affecting many people across our country, including right here in Central Florida. With this initiative, we’re lending a hand to make a real and meaningful impact in our community by tapping into the best of our company’s strengths. This is the right opportunity and the right time to take action.” The development, which is expected to include more than 1,300 units, will be constructed by a third-party affordable housing developer and will be located on Disney’s land in southwest Orange County, Florida. It will offer Central Florida residents a variety of home choices that are affordable and attainable, in a great part of town near schools and the new and expanding Flamingo Crossings Town Center retail and dining complex. The development will be available for qualifying applicants in our region, including Disney cast members.

Amazing news for Central Florida tourism as Orange County have announced its latest revenue numbers, proving that tourists are coming back to the area in record numbers. The figures provide a look into how tourism fared during the early weeks of the pandemic and how Orange County has bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic. In a news release, Comptroller Phil Diamond said that Tourist Development Tax (TDT) collections were $28,362,000 for February, an 173.9% increase over February 2021. The announcement showed a full rebound to pre-pandemic tourism in Central Florida with February collections $5.9 million higher than January and $255,800 higher than February 2020. According to Diamond, the latest collections were the highest for the month of February and the third-highest monthly collections ever. Orange County also reported a 73.7% occupancy rate for hotels, the second highest since the beginning of the pandemic. Orlando International Airport saw an increase also, in January, there were 3.4 million passengers, while February jumped to 7.1 million. Domestic travel was up over 72% from February The previous year. This is wonderful news for Orange County and Orlando, proving that visitors still love Orlando, and are returning in record numbers.

Disney are getting us even more excited for its latest attraction, as Walt Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley shares another look at the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion, which will house Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT. Riddley posted photos that includes our first close-up look at the tap point or “tapstiles” for the attraction’s Lightning Lane. Instead of featuring the iconic Mickey head, the tap points are purple and feature the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion icon. Riddley also shared some amazing photos of the Starblaster outside of the pavilion. He also shared a picture featuring the Nova Corps star logo lit up in orange from inside the pavilion. Here's Zack Riddley's Instagram post with all the details: