Things To Do In SW Florida

Epic Universe is so last week, am I right? No, of course not. The new Universal Orlando theme park was years in the making, but if you want to wait until it’s less white-hot for a visit, there are new and returning options at Central Florida’s theme parks and attractions in the coming months. (Beware, it’s practically Halloween season. Boo!)

Disney debuts

Two new stage shows are now in the daily lineup at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After,” in which Magic Mirror breaks into song, is running in the former home of the Lightning McQueen Racing Academy, just beyond Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

“The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” features Ariel and friends in a new production. A previous “Mermaid” show there closed with the 2020 pandemic shutdown and never returned.

Also on tap is GEO-82, an adults-only lounge within Epcot’s Spaceship Earth. It opens June 4. (Reservations are required). Meanwhile, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival continues daily through June 2, them the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival kicks off Aug. 28. read more

Banning Ranch, a rapidly growing new neighborhood in Leesburg, hit another milestone in its development with the recent purchase of 265 acres of land for two future phases.

Located west of County Road 33, east of County Road 48 and south of the Florida’s Turnpike, the land — bought for $3.86 million — is half of what Hanover intends to purchase to develop Phase 3 and Phase 4 of Banning Ranch, according to a report in GrowthSpotter.

The other half, according to Hanover VP of Land Acquisition Ben Snyder, will be purchased within two years.

It’s part of the broader expansion of Leesburg, a West Lake County community of 27,000 whose growth is being fueled in part by the proximity of The Villages.

“It’s going to have a resort-style pool, playground, tot lot, dog parks, lots and lots of preservation areas, passive parks and green space,” Snyder said of Banning Ranch. “There’s lots of wetland on the property that we’ve worked with and enhanced for the beautification of the community.” read more

Readers of my column know I periodically review the latest books in the field of personal financial planning. I try to read everything that’s published in the genre, but I only review books that I think will help readers. In today’s column, I am reviewing “How Not To Invest: The Ideas, Numbers, and Behaviors That Destroy Wealth – and How to Avoid Them” by Barry Ritholtz (Harriman House).

Ritholtz is the co-founder, chairman and chief investment officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management LLC, a financial planning and asset management firm that manages more than $5 billion.

In the first three sections of the book, Ritholtz examines the bad advice that investors receive. I am reasonably sure that by reading those sections you will recognize many of the reasons why you haven’t been as successful as you could have been. Much of the advice you hear from journalists, fund managers, and forecasters, he points out, is inaccurate because it is based on “the benefits of hindsight.”

In the fourth and last section, Ritholtz discusses what he refers to as “good advice.” I will emphasize this part of the book, because I believe the 10 steps he outlines will help you become a more effective investor. read more

By DEE-ANN DURBIN

McDonald’s said Friday that it’s closing down CosMc’s, a new restaurant format it began piloting in the U.S. last year.

Related Articles

• 
  Justice Department reaches deal to allow Boeing to avoid prosecution over 737 Max crashes

• 
  One Tech Tip: These are the apps that can now avoid Apple’s in-app payment system

• 
  Venezuelan workers at Disney put on leave from jobs after losing protective status

• 
  FTC abandons Biden-era effort to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard

• 
  Homeowners spend on renovations and repairs despite the uncertain economy and higher prices

But the company said beverages inspired by CosMc’s will soon be tested at U.S. McDonald’s locations. Among the drinks on CosMc’s current menu: a matcha iced latte, a turmeric spiced latte, a prickly pear-flavored slushy with popping candy on top and a frozen sour cherry energy drink.

McDonald’s announced in late 2023 that it wanted to test a small-format store with customizable drinks and treats that would appeal to afternoon snackers – and potentially grab sales from rivals like Starbucks and Dutch Bros. McDonald’s sales often slump in the afternoon between mealtimes and the company wants to change that. read more

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has reached a deal with Boeing that will allow the airplane giant to avoid criminal prosecution for allegedly misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 Max jetliner before two of the planes crashed and killed 346 people, according to court papers filed Friday.

Related Articles

• 
  For 1 sentinel, a final walk at Arlington’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

• 
  McDonald’s is closing its CosMc’s restaurants but plans to test drinks the chain ‘inspired’

• 
  The penny costs nearly 4 cents to make. Here’s how much the US spends on minting its other coins

• 
  Urban fires can mean long trips for helicopters to get water. One firefighter had a better idea

• 
  Runway lights were out as pilot tried to land at foggy San Diego airport before fatal crash

Under the “agreement in principle,” which still needs to be finalized, Boeing would pay and invest more than $1.1 billion, including an additional $445 million for the crash victims’ families, the Justice Department said. read more