Things To Do In SW Florida

GAINESVILLE — It was supposed to be a regular day for 12-year-old Mariah Reginae Smith when she sat on her couch to watch “SpongeBob SquarePants” on Aug. 25. A few minutes later, bullets shot and fired into her Lake City home killed her.

Nearly half a year later, Mariah’s mother Todneisha Filer still struggles to come to terms with her daughter’s death, but she has found comfort in embracing photos and other images of her life.

One image was particularly helpful: A plastic banner with Mariah’s image on it that wrapped her burial casket, displaying her in the clouds with angel wings behind her back and a halo.

It was designed by A Touch of Jai, a casket wrapping and memorabilia business owned by Larry Fulton, 40, and his wife, Jaime, 38, in Gainesville.

The vinyl wrapping industry includes businesses that wrap cars, appliances, tool boxes – and caskets. Unheard of a few years ago, casket wrapping is becoming increasingly common across the U.S.

Casket wrappers often sell prefabricated wraps showing stock images of nature scenes and religious symbols. The wraps, made from a vinyl plastic material that is adhered using heat, can be made in one or two days. read more

Gatorland, Kabooki Sushi and Lake Eola received national attention during an Orlando travel segment on “The Drew Barrymore Show” this week.

Appearing on the syndicated talk show was Ginger Gadsden, an anchor with WKMG-Channel 6, where the program airs in Central Florida, and Gatorland’s Savannah Boan. On Monday’s episode, taped last week in New York City, Gadsden shared Orlando favorites with Barrymore and co-host Ross Matthews.

Before the appearance, “they were like, ‘What do you like to do in Orlando that’s not the obvious thing?’” Gadsden said. “I gave them several options … because there are tons of things to do here.”

They first discussed the draw of downtown’s Lake Eola. Then, a tray of sushi from Kabooki Sushi was presented, and the panel sampled the fare. Then Gadsden unveiled ribs that were stowed beneath.

“You did not expect the sushi place to have the best ribs,” Gadsden said. “It is ridiculous how good those ribs are.”

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