Things To Do In SW Florida

Orlando’s theme parks have rolled out a few new things with familiar feels lately. These additions aren’t the kind of things that prompt cross-country trips or land in splashy ad campaigns, but they can enhance outings to the attractions.

Seating sequel

Don’t pull up a chair to watch “Acrobatico!” That could ruin the whole act.

The new performance at Epcot’s France pavilion is a one-person show with feats of balance and strength, hints of mime, and an increasing number of stacked chairs. It’s gentle, engaging humor.

It’s also going to remind Epcotters of “Serveur Amusant,” a similar act that hasn’t been seen at the theme park in about five years. That was a two-person show, including a chef character who used a whistle persistently, and it stacked chairs higher, perhaps perilously so.

There’s a lot of buildup in “Acrobatico!” as the performer sets the scene. She creates a boundary with a tricolored rope, sets the table and interacts with passers-by. Eventually, the stacking of chairs carefully begins with an athletic pose at each stage. Again, there’s authentic French music, heavy on accordion. I did not miss the whistle. read more

Only one Central Florida restaurant shut down the week of Aug. 10-16, according to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Brevard

Thai Thai Restaurant at 2447 N. Wickham Road, Suite 128 in Melbourne shut down on Aug. 13. Inspectors found 12 violations, three of which were high priorities for nonfood-grade bags used in direct contact with food, rodent activity and food held at the wrong temperatures. A second inspection occurred on Aug. 14. Inspectors found seven violations, but none was a high priority. The restaurant requires a follow-up inspection but poses no threat to the general public.

Complaints and warnings

Orange County had the top spot for most warnings and other complaints in Central Florida, with 38.

Volusia had 27, Brevard had seven, Lake had five, Osceola had nine and Seminole had four.

The Hometown Heroes program for first-time buyers in Florida returns on Aug. 18 — just in time for a market stabilization that gives buyers more inventory and more room to negotiate.

But that’s where the good news ends because in 2025, the Hometown Heroes Program only has $50 million to distribute to homebuyers. In previous years, up to $150 million was available to alleviate the housing affordability crisis faced by Floridians. So hurry if you plan to apply because the money will quickly run out, real estate professionals say.

The program offers up to $35,000 for the down payment and closing costs for Florida’s frontline or essential workers purchasing their first property to live in. It works as a second interest-free loan that is repaid when the house is sold or the mortgage is refinanced.

Who qualifies for a Hometown Heroes loan in 2025

Now in its fourth year, the Hometown Heroes program once again limits access to funds exclusively for specific industries in Florida, as it did initially when it was created after the pandemic to retain employees in the state who couldn’t afford homes due to high housing prices. read more

Taskrabbit is a popular side hustle option for handy go-getters, but it may feel daunting if you’re just starting out.

Kevin Johnson has been there, done that, and found success. He’s a college student based in Maryland and offers handyman and moving services on the side. His dream is to open an automotive repair shop one day, and he views this hustle as valuable, if nontraditional, career experience.

Finding a traditional job isn’t exactly easy these days. According to the most recent jobs report, the economy added just 73,000 jobs in July. Compare that with 275,000 new entrants — people seeking their first job — who joined the ranks of those already looking.

If you need or want work, take note of what established Taskers like Johnson do to succeed in the gig economy.

What the work is like

Taskrabbit connects customers with capable workers who can put together furniture, lift heavy objects, mount a TV, declutter a room, clean house, run errands and more. The workers — called Taskers on the app — work independently and flexibly. read more

By STAN CHOE, Associated Press Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is holding steady on Tuesday, stuck in a summer lull.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.2%, a day after barely budging, and remains near its all-time high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 68 points, or 0.2%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was down 0.4%.

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Home Depot rose 3.1% to lead the Dow higher after reporting results for the latest quarter that were a bit short of what analysts expected.

The retailer said homeowners have been focused on smaller, less expensive home repairs while putting off bigger projects because of high interest rates and continuing concerns about inflation. But it stood by its prior forecast for revenue and profit over the full year. read more