Things To Do In SW Florida

By Eliza Haverstock, NerdWallet

Yes, college is expensive. The real surprise: Housing can be pricier than tuition. At public four-year colleges in 2023-24, the average cost for housing and food was $12,770 — higher than the $11,260 for tuition and fees, according to a 2023 College Board report. Students at community colleges and private schools also faced similarly high housing costs.

High housing prices can impact a student’s ability to thrive at college or complete their degree. According to a 2019 report by Temple University’s Hope Center in Philadelphia, about 56% of surveyed students said they experienced housing insecurity — including the inability to pay rent — in the previous year.

“We see escalating prices and escalating costs whether you’re on- or off-campus, and so it’s becoming a bigger piece of the college education funding puzzle for a lot of families,” says Olan Garrett, associate vice president of student affairs at Temple University.

There are strategies to lower your college housing costs, from getting roommates to carefully comparing on- and off-campus options. Advisors at your college can guide you toward affordable options, even in emergency situations. read more

Inflation and job growth could determine the next president.

It’s not whether the nation’s economic performance influences voting, it’s what slice of the economy has the most say.

Personal finances are very personal. The parts of the business world that sway your checkbook might be inconsequential to others.

My trusty spreadsheet looked at seven economic yardsticks — cost of living, hiring pace, gross domestic product, mortgage rates, unemployment, the stock market and wages — seeking any hints as to who will control the White House next year.

The third-quarter performances of these metrics were compared with four years earlier for the last 12 presidential election years, from 2020 back to 1976. Ranking those periods was a modest calculation of the “are you better off than four years ago” question.

To create a historical scale, the 12 presidential terms were divided into thirds for the seven benchmarks. The four best performances were viewed as economic signals that the incumbent party would stay in power. The bottom four outcomes were seen as predictions for a change. The middle third was an “undecided” opinion. read more

Construction is expected to start before the end of the year on the newest food hall to enter the Orlando dining scene.

Orlando developer James Ekbatani is converting the former University Club space at 150 E. Central Blvd. in downtown’s Mondrian tower into the Eola Food Hall, which will showcase some of the region’s top culinary offerings.

“The Eola Food Hall will transform this corner into a vibrant place where surrounding residents and the business community can gather and collaborate,” he said. “By promoting local businesses and regional products, the project will foster inclusivity and enable consumers to celebrate the distinctive qualities of the downtown Orlando neighborhood.”

It is the third new food hall being envisioned in the downtown area.

Ekbatani has joined forces with Lincoln Property Company to handle the buildout and leasing for the project. The first two floors of the four-story building on the southwest corner of E. Central and N. Rosalind Avenue, are being repositioned as a two-story, 15,000-square-foot food hall. Diners will have panoramic views through floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Eola and new outdoor cafe seating on Rosalind Avenue across from the planned expansion of Lake Eola Park. read more

New activities have been incorporated into the IAAPA Expo, which returns to the Orange County Convention Center in November.

“With growth comes innovation, and we are thrilled to bring so many new and exciting additions to IAAPA Expo this year,” Jakob Wahl, president and CEO of the Orlando-based International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions trade group, said in a news release. “Our North America team has truly outdone themselves. There are a number of creative activations that can only be seen at an Expo.”

Among this year’s additions are:

• Legends: A Hall of Fame Celebratory Affair: The gathering will salute new honorees and benefit the IAAPA Foundation. The evening will include fine dining, live and silent auctions, entertainment and recognition of past Hall of Fame members.  New inductees include Dick Chance of Chance Rides; Geoff Chutter, CEO of WhiteWater, a water-park manufacturer; Rick Hunter, water-park innovator; and Clark Robinson, former president and CEO of IAAPA. The session, listed as “elegant cocktail attire,” is 7 p.m. Nov. 18; individual tickets are $300. read more

A SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral on Saturday evening would mark the 73rd launch from the Space Coast in 2024, the most ever in one year.

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 of the company’s Starlink satellites is set to lift off from Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40 targeting 5:47 p.m. during a launch window that runs until 9:47 p.m. Backup opportunities are available on Sunday during a four-hour window that opens at 5:24 p.m.

Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron forecasts a 90% chance for good launch conditions for both Saturday and Sunday’s windows.

The first-stage booster for the flight is making its 19th launch with a planned recovery landing downrange in the Atlantic Ocean on the droneship Just Read the Instructions.

A SpaceX Starlink launch on Wednesday tied the 2023 record, which saw a combination of 68 from SpaceX, three from United Launch Alliance and one from Relativity Space, from pads at either Kennedy Space Center of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

With yesterday’s successful launch, SLD 45 has now supported 72 launches here on the #SpaceCoast in 2024, tying 2023’s total launch count. read more