Things To Do In SW Florida

Every day, 35,000 people travel along West Colonial Drive to and from downtown Orlando. If they want to escape the ugliness around them, they must avert their eyes.

Businesses have been fleeing West Colonial for 20 years, and COVID was a nail in the coffin. Even national retailers like 7-Eleven, Family Dollar and Burger King shut down, concentrating the blight on the corridor that now has 32 vacant lots and buildings.

But where others see an eyesore, Amit Kumar saw an opportunity. His efforts over the last year illustrate the loose public-private partnership determined to transform this corridor much in the way East Colonial was reborn over the last decade, according to a report in GrowthSpotter.

In 2024 the restauranteur bought the shuttered and graffiti-covered Burger King for $1.16 million and plans to invest another $1.5 million in the property. Kumar is the chef and owner three restaurants in Orlando, including Bombay Street Kitchen, which has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for three straight years. He told GrowthSpotter he plans to convert the Burger King property into a commissary and test kitchen to train his cooks and create new menu items for the other restaurants. He will also operate a limited seating restaurant where he’ll serve a five-course tasting menu of his elevated Indian creations. read more

Walt Disney World has been a regular destination for Tim Bishop and his family for years, but that’s all over now.

The 56-year-old Toronto-area real estate agent is crossing Florida off his travel list and taking his money elsewhere.

“Any Canadian who has a lick of national pride should be rethinking their U.S. travel plans as a simple gesture of the middle finger to Trump,” Bishop said in a text message. “It’s unfortunate because I’ll miss visiting my American friends for the next four years.”

As President Donald Trump threatens sweeping tariffs and belittles Canada as the “51st state,” Bishop is part of a social media movement urging Canadians to spend their money at home or in more supportive countries.

That could be bad for business in Florida. Canada is the Sunshine State’s top source of international visitors with the Maple Leaf flag flying proudly in snowbird enclaves and license plates from Ontario and Quebec signaling winter’s arrival.

About 3.3 million Canadians flocked to Florida in 2024, making up roughly 2% of total visitors, according to Visit Florida, the state’s tourism marketing organization. Orlando alone received more than 1.2 million Canadian visitors in 2023, the most recent data available. read more

The small chapel — with white clapboard siding and bell tower steeple — is like a piece of a picturesque New England town tucked amid the cars, offices and fast-food joints along busy State Road 436.

First built in 1885, the Altamonte Chapel near Forest Avenue in Altamonte Springs is one of the oldest structures in Seminole County. Former presidents Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland attended services in the chapel.

But now its prominent bell — rung countless times by pulling a long rope during weddings and Sunday services over decades  — is on the verge of collapse. The steeple needs to be replaced. And the chapel, showing its age, needs serious renovation, according to its owners.

To maintain the chapel’s historic character, the restoration would require a meticulous and careful process likely to cost tens of thousands of dollars, according to members of the Altamonte Chapel’s Board of Directors.

The group recently started seeking bids from contractors. It also set up a GoFundMe account — titled “Save the Altamonte Chapel Bell” — to raise $50,000 toward the project. read more

By Jeff Ostrowski, Bankrate.com

The conventional wisdom about private mortgage insurance (PMI) has long been that borrowers should try to avoid it. PMI is a requirement for conventional mortgage borrowers who put down less than 20% on a home — and it’s just one more cost squeezing first-time homebuyers.

Yet, in recent years, private mortgage insurers have lowered their rates.

“I am a big fan of mortgage insurance — and it’s kind of a dirty word. When you talk to customers, they don’t tend to like it,” says Emanuel Santa-Donato, senior vice president at Tomo Mortgage. “But if you look at the actual cost of the mortgage insurance relative to being able to put down 3% or 5%, it is quite advantageous. That money could be used elsewhere.”

What is private mortgage insurance (PMI)?

PMI is a requirement for conventional mortgage borrowers who make a down payment of less than 20% on a home. Although the borrower pays for coverage, PMI protects not the borrower, but the lender. Should the borrower default, or stop paying, the loan, the lender receives a payout from the PMI carrier. read more

By Rachel Christian, Bankrate.com

Many people think $2 bills are rare, but in reality, there are millions still in circulation, and they continue to be printed. However, while most $2 bills are only worth their face value, certain ones can fetch thousands of dollars on the collector’s market.

This article will explore which $2 bills are worth the most, why they hold their value and how you can determine if your $2 bill is worth more than your next paycheck.

Which $2 bills are worth the most?

Not all $2 bills are valuable, but certain editions stand out due to their rarity, historical significance or printing errors. But similar to the most valuable coins, it’s extremely unlikely that you would ever come across these bills in your daily life. As you’ll see, bills printed in the 1800s tend to be the most valuable.

1862 and 1869 legal tender notes

The earliest $2 bills, issued in 1862 and 1869, feature a portrait of Alexander Hamilton (who was later replaced by Thomas Jefferson). These notes are highly sought after by collectors thanks to their historical importance and limited availability. read more