Orlando Eyesores

I couldn't decide whether to put this on my Rant blog, or Downtown blog, but since it's a gripe about Downtown Orlando. I'll start with it here.

David's Top Orlando Eyesores...

Beginning with Mills Nebraska Lumber, on Mills Avenue near Loch Haven park. This Orlando landmark has somehow missed its calling to be bulldozed long ago. Mills Nebraska Lumber is home of Orlando's biggest board (oh yes) which for some reason has given them a pass with code enforcement and local residents.

I for one say EYESORE. Get rid off this ugly place and turn Orlando's largest board into Orlando's largest pile of toothpicks!

Lake Eola

Just a nice picture I tool at Lake Eola that I felt like sharing. It was one of those perfect spring days and one of the reasons I just LOVE living downtown.


Don't pictures just make a blog so much nicer?

Closed For Remodeling

And speaking of restaurants. A friend of mine in the food & beverage business told me that "Closed for Remodeling" was restaurant code for "Out of Business" and it seems in the last couple of months, the downtown Thornton Park district has a lot of places "Closed for Remodeling" and all of them but one was a suprise.

The 50 year old Lee's Lakeside finally bit the dust after the long time owner passed away. My guess is a new owner came in and finally noticed that the place hadn't been cleaned in the 50 years it had been opened. My only experience there was on that I still can't get the smell out of my mind. Why Orlando residents paid so much for so little was always a mystery to me. I was hoping it would be bought by a chain. I'd love to see a Houstons there.

Also owned by the same people, Lake Eola Yacht club posted its remodeling sign last week and closed its door. The much cleaner, better tasting, and trendy cousin of Lee's was expensive but good. And you couldn't beat the casual atmosphere and back deck overlooking the Lake Eola fountain. Let's hope this one will be back soon.

And then we come to Rocco's on Washington Street. I thought this place was a winner even though I don't care to pay $10 for a hamburger. They seemed to be able to attract a crowd the previous owners couldn't with DJ on the weekend, and lot's of people stopping in for drinks. It's never been the same since it's heyday as the Thornton Park Cafe, the original neighborhood friendly and affordable breakfast, lunch, and dinner cafe.

Ah how I wish for a return to the old days. But until then I'm "Closed for Remodeling."

Friends Restaurant

There is a new restaurant near the intersection of Mills and Nebraska called Friends that opened about 3 weeks ago. It's basically been word of mouth advertising while they work out the kinks. Waiter told me they will be having an official Grand Opening in the near future. It's open from 11 to 10 Tuesday through Sunday (subject to change) and closed Monday.

It is small (about 10 tables) but very nice inside. Formerly one of a thousand vietnamese restuarants in that area, it has made the transition to neighborhood gay friendly spot. Menu contains appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers and a light dinner menu of steak, pasta, chicken, blah, blah, blah. I was a bit surprised by the linen napkins and candles during lunch, but the presentation was quite nice. If they can afford the linen bill, and not go out of business because of it, I'll get used to it, but I'm a pile of paper napkins kinda guy.

Sandwich portion was a bit on the slim side. I had a half order of wings, sandwich with fries, and iced tea and it came to about $13. Service was attentive, but I did notice that every time the waiter brought an order to the surrounding tables, something had to go back to the kitchen for a correction. No big deal, just seemed a bit clumsy. It is their first month, and I understand the owners are local bartenders and are new to food service so they'll get no complaints from me.

I've always thought the place would make a great gay friendly spot so close to Peacock and Club Swank and it appears that I was correct. Plenty of gay and lesbian clientele during my weekend lunch visit. Not sure how often I'll stop in, but when I do, I know I'll get a good meal in a friendly and clean atmosphere.

Termites

One of the things your get used to in Florida besides Hurricanes and Humidity is Bugs. If you live downtown in a wood home built in the 1930's, you get used to termites. This will be the 3rd time I've had to have the house treated for the pesky house eating creatures. You think Stephen King would have wriiten something about them.

This time it was drywood termites. Did you know there are two kinds? Oh yes, the commercials always forget to tell you that. Drywood termites fly through the air, and subterranian termites come up from the ground. And guess what? If you have the subterranian variety, you spend thousand of dollars having a truckload of chemicals pumped around the edge of your house's foundation, and if you have drywood, you get to spend another thousand having a tent put over your house and pumping it full of deadly gas.

Oh, and another thing the termite companies don't tell you. If you have a bond for drywood, it doesn't count for subterranian invasions. So read your guarantee carefully and don't have a false sense of security if your house has been treated.

So I've spent the past few nights after work and most of my weekend packing up food and clothes for a few days at a local hotel while the house is fumigated. I also have the pleasure of having to cut back all my shrubs around the house and garage so they can get the tarp over the roof and down the sides. A nice fun job in 90 degree heat with 90 percent humidity.

Disaster at Studz

A one legged driver (no, I'm not kidding) ran his car through the patio fence of local hangout Studz early one Tuesday evening. Nobody was injured, but the pool and fence was a total loss. One cheap plastic chair and a few potted marigolds were also victims of the "I pressed on the gas instead of the brake" excuse driver.

It all brought back images of a similar accident years ago at the Full Moon Saloon.

Why is it every person who runs into a non-moving object (fence, storefront) who use that excuse are always over the age 60?

My First Blog

Well here I am on a Monday night writing my first blog. I'm not sure about all this blog stuff. I can't even figure out how to find blog's from other users so how the hell is anyone gonna find mine and who would want to read it. I've decided it would be easier for me to write about downtown Orlando where I live. Maybe some experiences, maybe some complaints, maybe just boring stuff.

Already run out of energy. Don't want to ramble, and I want my other posts to have a theme. So look for a new string later.