Things To Do In SW Florida

Jennifer Silva, 30, had worked in the service industry since 2015. All kinds of restaurants: mom-and-pop, corporate and everything in between. And she was done.

Competition with her teammates and toxic tension with back-of-house staffers were among the issues weighing on her — not to mention wage instability.

“I’d had one too many six-hour shifts where I’d send people home, wanting to grab all the tables only to end up closing by myself and leaving with maybe $50.”

Then came Kaya. Silva is the lead server at this rising star.

Orlando’s Michelin galaxy expands with four new stars

Yes, Kaya was named Restaurant of the Year in the 2024 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards. They are a finalist for Best New Restaurant in the James Beard Foundation Awards. Last week, they were awarded a Green Star by the Michelin Guide for their sustainable practices. But despite the raves, the house hasn’t always been full.

“The road was closed for 10 months!” jokes co-owner Jamilyn Salonga-Bailey of ongoing construction in their Mills 50 neighborhood. Despite her good humor, things were truly precarious. And yet Kaya, unlike many restaurants in town, is fully staffed with an ample stack of resumes on file. read more

The luxury pedigree that Regent Seven Seas welcomed with Seven Seas Explorer in 2016 continued with sister ship Seven Seas Splendor in 2020, but the third and final sister Seven Seas Grandeur offers up the best of class.

The ship’s features include the first Fabergé egg with a permanent home at sea. The blue-pearl-and-diamond sculpture titled “Journey in Jewels” is a small but commanding centerpiece rotating within its display case in the atrium for travelers to enjoy as soon as they step on board.

The egg is revealed as seven branches break away like waves that represent the Seven Seas. The ship’s godmother is Sarah Fabergé, the great-granddaughter of Peter Carl Fabergé.

It’s part of a 1,600-piece art collection that includes classic black-and-white photos from global destinations adorning the hallways between cabins to the steakhouse’s original Picassos. Travelers could spend a good afternoon wandering hallways and public spaces, akin to visiting a museum. A new app for the line also offers a digital art tour, like a personal guide. read more