Five Must-Dine Restaurants in Venice, Florida

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June 3, 2019

We had a great opportunity to visit Venice, Florida recently, and while we were there we had five must-dine experiences. Since this was our initial foray into the area, these were are first experiences. We didn’t have a bad one in the lot.

The Breakfast Cottage

Although our trip was to Venice, we found the Breakfast Cottage in nearby Nokomis. A great little eatery, it is bright, cheery and delicious. Owned by Bob and Brenda Hoover, the only thing that is more inviting than the decor is the menu itself.

There’s always a great list of their daily specials, recited dutifully by your waitress. But it seems that there’s little where you could go wrong in picking either a special or one of the items on the menu.

Our breakfast at the Breakfast Cottage was, in a word, delish

While there, I dove into the Tuscan Omelette with golden potatoes and thick, marbled rye bread. My wife had a selection of tomatoes, grits, golden potatoes and multi-grain bread. It was a wonderful culinary treat.

You can find out more at their website or follow them on a number of different social media platforms.

Blu’ Island Bistro

The Blu’ Island Bistro is described as “fresh, global cuisine.” The thing I liked is that they serve breakfast all day. This is another place that has a wonderful decor and a kitchen that really pays attention to what they’re doing.

When it comes to breakfast, there are omelets & scrambles, pancakes & french toast, eggs benedict or you can build your own breakfast. The lunch menu ranges from soups & salads to a full range of appetizers, sandwiches and more.

If you are interested, they have a very extensive website. Hint: you might want to call for reservations. This little place is very popular.

The Cafe Evergreen

We were poking around while looking for dinner and found the Cafe Evergreen. This is another restaurant located next door in Nokomis and another dining experience you do not want to miss.

Located in a restored post office, this is a place that uses clean, non-GMO foods and organic ingredients. They take them and “home-make” some of the tastiest dishes you’ll find.

They start early in the morning with breakfast. But unlike many “cafes,” they don’t close in the afternoon – but carry on through dinner.

I selected the Bison Burger with feta cheese and superfood slaw, while the wife had the Raw Avacado Sliders. Those were dehydrated onion bread made in the shape of a taco shell.

Our dinner was a great presentation of ultimate deliciousness.

They started us off with a bowl of soybeans, dusted with spicy creole sprinkles. Our meal was delivered quickly (despite the crowd) and everything was great.

It’s the kind of place you want to revisit, just to try some of the other menu selections.

There’s even a couple of outdoor tables if you would like to enjoy the day .

The Cafe Evergreen has an extensive website where you can see more of what they have to offer.

Joy’s Kouzine

This little place is tucked into a strip shopping center just east of where the US 41 Bypass cuts off the Tamiami Trail in Venice. We had been looking for a Greek restaurant and found this little Mediterranean spot.

Joy’s is tucked in The Bird Bay Plaza shopping center on the north end of Venice.

In addition to salads and sandwiches, they serve a variety of crepes and pitas. Although they had my favorite spanokopita, I opted for the Zorba pita- because they said it was bigger. It was very cheesy. Wife had the vegetarian pita. Both were generous.

We had the joy of being waited on by Joy herself – the daughter of the owners. If you want to find out more, they have a website as well as a Facebook page.

TJ Carney’s

Our last meal before leaving Venice was at a place in the town’s historic district known as TJ Carney’s Pub & Grille. Although it has an Irish name, it serves much more American fare. They have a wide variety of appetizers, soups and salads.

There’s also a great selection of flatbreads, burgers and entrees. But as much as the burgers, TJ Carney’s might be as famous for their great selection of beers, wines and cocktails.

I had an open-faced Reuben while the wife had a veggie wrap.

In addition to the food and beverages, there’s live entertainment almost all week long. The night we were there, the handsome and exciting Ryan was playing and singing. As fortune would have it, we were seated almost directly across from the stage.

Ryan himself onstage at TJ Carney’s Pub & Grille

It was a good performance and not too loud. At TJ Carney’s they offer indoor and outdoor seating. The food is good as is the service. You can find out more at their website.

Again, this was our first trip to Venice and that area. It won’t be our last. There is a great selection of activities, and we only had time for a few. And as you can see, there were a lot of great dining choices. Stay tuned, we’ll go back and report further.

Ideal Classic Cars is Ideal for the Classic Car Buff

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Florida Funmeister

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June 1, 2019

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Ideal Classic Cars is located in Venice. The question is, is it a museum or a dealership? Well it appears to be both.

There’s no telling what will greet you on any given day at Ideal Classic Cars

Set along the US 41 Bypass, Ideal Classic Cars has over 100 vintage, classic and custom cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles. They are parked in a 30,000 square foot, air conditioned building. Moreover, as the ICC staff buys and acquires vehicles, the inventory changes on a daily basis. That means each trip is something new.

A Great Collection

Not only are there vintage vehicles, vintage signs line the walls.

While most of the inventory consists of American made cars, there also are imports and even some customized vehicles. On our trip, we saw a couple of Star Wars Landspeeders, the Mystery Machine from the Scooby Doo cartoon series as well as Speed Racer’s Mach 5.

The Mach 5 was accurate down to the cutting blades on the front.

Cars date from the early days of automobiling, to very recent models. There also are movie cars and celebrity owned vehicles. What is amazing is the sheer number of vehicles and the amount of detail that has been put into each one. Each is pristine – and ready for sale.

Some of the displays are little vignettes of how it used to be.

It’s More Than Cars

In addition to the cars and signs, there are pieces of automotive history. There are old gas pumps, soda machines and even some fully restored paper towel dispensers that sat on the pump island where the attendant could check your oil and wipe your windshield.

The vintage artifacts are some of the most interesting.

You literally can spend hours inside Ideal Classic Cars looking at the different vehicles and quietly reliving the time when those things were new – or at least commonplace. They also have a wonderful little gift shop full of vintage items and re-creations of old signs and such.

The best thing is, it’s free to browse for as long as you like. They only ask that you fill out a short form and give them your email. Ideal Classic Cars is well worth the time and effort to stop by and see these wonderful, immaculately restored vehicles and think about the good ol’ days.

Two Florida State Parks Make “Dr. Beach” List

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Florida Funmeister

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May 30, 2019

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Two Florida State Parks have been listed among the best in the nation on Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beach List for 2019. Grayton Beach State Park is ranked at number three while Caladesi Island State Park has been set at number seven.

Both are Florida State Parks. Both also offer white sand beaches, beautiful scenery and amenities for visitors to enjoy.

“Caladesi Island and Grayton Beach state parks are outstanding examples of natural Florida landscapes.”
Florida Park Service Director Eric Draper

Grayton Beach

Grayton Beach State Park – which is in Walton County – is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, boating and more. Its golden sunrises and silver moonlit evenings make it the perfect spot for enjoying natural beauty.

Moreover, there are plenty of opportunities to paddleboard, canoe and kayak there on Western Lake. Moreover, there’s hiking on nature trails. You can trek four miles through a coastal forest.

Additionally, Grayton Beach offers multiple options for those looking to explore or relax, all surrounded by Gulf Coast scenery.

Caladesi Island

Caladesi Island State Park, is located on an offshore island near Clearwater. It is one of the few completely natural islands along Florida’s Sun Coast.

The white sand beach gives visitors the options of swimming, sunbathing or beachcombing. Fisherpersons can enjoy boating and surf-fishing, Hikers and birders can spot wildlife on a 3-mile nature trail.

There also are great kayaking opportunities.

Kayaks at Caladesi Island – photo by Florida State Park System

Who is Dr Beach?

The list is produced by “Dr. Beach” – aka coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman. He is a professor at Florida International University.

Every year, since 1991, Dr. Beach has released a list of the top 10 beaches using 50 criteria he created to determine the ranking of the nation’s top beaches. Those include water temperature, sand softness and park safety.

Remember, there are lots of great beaches along the 12 Coasts of Florida – these are just two.

A Pleasant Stay at Hotel Venezia in Venice

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Florida Funmeister

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May 27, 2019

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Recently we took a litte trip to the area of Venice and Nokomis. Never having been there before, we were surprised and delighted. There’s a great variety of things to see and do, as well as a wide array of great places to dine.

It all started out when we found The Hotel Venezia. Known more formally as “Ramada by Wyndham Venice Hotel Venezia,” it is a hybrid between a hotel and a motel.

The facade of the Hotel Venezia in Venice, Florida

Hotels usually are multi-floor with interior rooms. Motels. or “motor hotels” generally are two stories with exterior rooms, as are the bulk of the rooms at the Venezia.

The Lodging was Great

The rooms – at least our room – was beautiful. It was spacious, dominated by a king sized bed, and the space had all the comforts we needed. There was a dresser, a work station and bedside tables. There was no overhead lighting – all the light was provided by three lamps.

All the amenities were in order. Naturally, there was a large flat-screen TV, as well as a good sized little refrigerator, a microwave oven and a coffee maker. There was a safe inside the closet, which also had an iron & board plus plenty of space to hang clothing.

The bathroom was small but more than adequate, with a commode which flushed with the power of a thousand sneezes and – most importantly – an abundance of hot water. We took our showers late in the morning and did not run low.

Our only problem was a lack of electrical outlets. Fortunately, we carry our own. That being said, the desk had a small box with electrical plugs and USB ports – which was convenient.

The Hotel was Well Appointed

The hotel itself has plenty of amenities of its own. There’s a large, outdoor pool with a small hot tub, an exercise room, a bar that had both inside and outside service and a restaurant which specialized in buffet-style meals.

The pool at the Hotel Venezia – note the hot tub in upper left, the bar is in the upper right.

If you need it, the hotel also offers a business center. On the one wall there are computers and a printer, on the other there’s a waterfall rack with magazines and tri-fold brochures. These tout the many different attractions available in the Venice area and throughout the Culture Coast.

The business center has everything you need.

Just before the business center is a snack bar that has both packaged snack foods and vending machines for cold drinks.

We were most pleased at the location of this property. Near the junction of US 41 (Tamiami Trail) and the US 41 Bypass, we literally were just a few miles from most of the attractions in the area. We had our choice of beach options, plenty of shopping, parks and wonderful dining opportunities at our fingertips.

Planning an Event?

The Hotel Venezia also prides itself as an event venue and has additional facilities for large groups. The night we arrived they had some sort of investment seminar on tap where you could get a free dinner and learn how to leverage your money. However, they apparently also have class reunions, family gatherings, weddings, banquets and other special events.

If you are planning a getaway to the Culture Coast of Florida, you could do a lot worse than Hotel Venezia.

Time for a Memorial Day Vacation

News

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Florida Funmeister

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May 22, 2019

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TrafficShot — It;s time to hit the road for summer fun!

Officials of the American Auto Club say a strong economy and weaker gas prices should help boost travel numbers this Memorial Day holiday weekend. The Auto Club Group forecasts the strongest kick-off to the summer travel season since 2005. It could be the second-largest travel volume on record – dating back to 2000.

Should I Stay or Should I Go

An estimated 37.6 million Americans will hit the road traveling by automobile. AAA predicts drivers will get an early start Thursday and Friday May 24 -25. That means the greatest amount of congestion. That mostly will come in the late afternoons as commuters leave work early and mix with holiday travelers.

Some of the most congested areas will be popular attractions, theme parks and beaches. Drivers returning home are most likely to encounter congested roads on Sunday and Monday afternoons. The number one travel destination this year will be Orlando.

“Consumer spending remains strong, helped by solid job and income growth. Families continue to allocate their disposable incomes on travel, and a near-record number of them will do just that for Memorial Day.”
Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group.

Gas Prices Cooperate

Florida drivers could find the lowest Memorial Day gas prices in two years. Last year, the state average for gasoline on Memorial Day was $2.91 per gallon. The average price this week was slightly below $2.70 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price in two months. The 20 cent difference amounts to a savings of $3 for a full 15-gallon tank of gasoline.

“If gas prices continue following their current downward trend, drivers could find holiday gas prices that are 30 cents less than last year”
Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA –

Be Careful Out There

Meanwhile, authorities at the AAA predict more than 353,000 motorists may need roadside rescue this holiday. Dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts will be the leading reasons AAA members will experience car trouble.

If you are hitting the road, we suggest you make certain and have both your car repair kit and your first aid kit in the cabin and at the ready. But the most important thing is to remember to pray – especially before you leave.

Fresh Start in Sarasota

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Florida Funmeister

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May 19, 2019

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It has been there on South Orange Avenue in Sarasota for the past seven years – but this was our first time dining at Fresh Start. I must tell you it’s a hidden gem.

We love Sarasota and generally go for the Saturday farmer’s market. But there’s also the Museum of Whimsey, The Ringling Museum, Unconditional Surrender and Jungle Gardens to name a few of the fun things in and around the city.

The Fresh Start Cafe

We had been shopping, found The Fresh Start Cafe on Trip Advisor and went on the strength of the reviews. It is unassuming from the front. However, once inside, they have made use of their dining areas both inside and out for the maximum seating.

Outside seating is under both a tree canopy and brightly colored umbrellas.

Inside, tables are well spaced and easily moveable. When we were there the owners had created a place in the corner for a group planning a wedding party. Staff still was able to take care of the rest of their tables and not miss a beat.

The inside had plenty of seating, but there still is room to walk between the tables.

Our Dining Experience

Naturally, the menu is the most important part, the “two Jewish girls” who run the place boast that they “put a fresh spin on traditional flavors.” Those are more than idle words.

They offer frittatas, egg dishes, salads, sandwiches, soups and desserts. Although I am a burger guy at heart, I went out of my depth and got the roasted eggplant with goat cheese and arugula. Mrs Funmeister got a Mediterranean wrap but instead had it put on 9-grain bread.

The portions were generous and the food delicious

Mine came with a luncheon salad, while hers came with olives and dolmades. It was a true dining experience.

Our waiter Eitan was very accommodating. Not only did he move my wife’s wrap to a sandwich – he got her several cups of ice to make her hot green tea to iced green tea.

In Closing

A Fresh Start is one of those places that makes you want to come back again and try some of the other things that are on their menu. This will be easy – inasmuch as already we have seen things for lunch and on their breakfast menu we want to try.

If you are vegetarian or gluten-free, chances are they have something tasty and wonderful. If you want to go to a place where they play a lot of attention to the food and to you as a customer, this also is the place.

Just remember, as a cafe, they only are open from 10am until 2pm. They also are tucked away on South Orange Avenue kind of off the beaten path (which I guess makes them a hidden gem). But it’s worth the time and effort to get yourself the Fresh Start Cafe.

Historic Melbourne – A fun and Interesting Trip

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Florida Funmeister

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May 16, 2019

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We have visited Melbourne twice. The first time was on a whim when we decided the Space Coast was calling our name. On that foray, we discovered Eau Gallie – much to our delight.

The second time, we went to attend an Easter Sunrise service at Hightower Beach. We found the perfect one put on by The Trinity Wellsprings Church in Satellite Beach. On each occasion we had a chance to walk the streets of historic Melbourne.

That’s worth a trip on its own. The area encompasses a number of city blocks and is a compendium of boutiques, breweries.jewelry stores, gift and specialty shops, cafes, clothing stores and restaurants. One literally could spend hours here (I know, we did.)

Places to Eat

Possibly our best find was Meg O’Malleys Restaurant and Irish Pub. It was a great dining experience and their scones are to die for. However, there are just a ton of other places along East New Haven Avenue. There’s restaurants like The Hurricane Creek Saloon & Kitchen, The Mangetsu Sushi Bar & Korean BBQ, The Burger Place and La Crepe De France to name a few of the ones we still would like to try.

We would say that the best breakfast place in Melbourne probably is Backwater. It’s where we had one of the best breakfasts we’ve had in Florida.

If you’re a drinker there’s Hell ‘n Blazes or The Quarters Brewing + Arcade for a local flair.

We found Jacqueline’s Bakery & Cafe while strolling up the street. It is Melbourne’s epicenter of French artisan breads and pastries. They serve breakfast and lunch menus as well as a selection of cookies, pastries, breads and ice creams.

When we were there they were making some kind of decadent cookie.

All Kinds of Shops

The downtown area has all kinds of shops. And when we say all kinds of shops, we mean all kinds of shops. There’s The Russian House with all things from the Soviet Union, The Flop Shop for all your flip flop needs, Beach Bumz Arts & Gifts Ect, Fancy Flamingo, Two Feathers Gallery, Glitter Alley and Rain Tree – one of the most eclectic shops we have ever seen.

The Russia House has all things from the Soviet Union,

One of our best finds was a little shop called From Olives and Grapes. It is one of a two store chain (the other is in nearby Cocoa Village) that specialize in specialty olive oils and vinegars. We have used these products for years and find them healthy, delicious and a wonderful low calorie alternative to traditional dressings.

There are rows of chrome fustis with such delights as traditional 18-year-aged dark balsamic vinegar, Tuscan herb-flavored extra virgin olive oil, aged pure Vermont maple balsamic vinegar and blood orange infused extra virgin olive oil – to name a few. The nice thing is that you may taste before you purchase.

In addition to the vinegars and oils, they also carry a selection of risotto from Italy, pesto, jams, pasta and a number of gluten-free items. And if you aren’t certain how to use these products, they have plenty of books and recipes to assist you.

There are rows of interesting and tasty olive oils and balsamic vinegars are displayed tastefully at From Olives and Grapes.

As we said, there are lots of things to do around the Space Coast and Melbourne is a wonderful starting point to explore. That being said, The Harbor City itself has a lot to see and do. We’d say from the spectacular sunrises, to the great eateries and the wonderful little shops, you can’t go wrong spending a weekend here.

Staying Off Site

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Florida Funmeister

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May 14, 2019

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WekeeMicroTelOut — Microtel is usually a good choice

We have visited quite a few places and found a technique that has proved to be both fun and useful. That’s the notion of staying off site. There have been times that we have wanted to go to a festival or visit a point of interest and found that the lodgings in the area are a bit above our pricepoint.

Our First Clue

Back in the olden days when we used to go to the major theme parks, it became apparent that the further we got from the front gate, the more reasonable the rates. That trend continues to this day.

Most recently we took a little trip to Dade City for their annual Kumquat Festival. Our hope had been to stay in one of their quaint local lodging facilities. However, by the time we started looking, the rooms had been booked for weeks and at a premium rate.

Instead, we went up to Brooksville and found a great Microtel room at a fraction of the cost. This also happened when we went to St. Augustine to see the Christmas lights. Instead of paying their seasonal rates, we set up just down the road at Palm Coast. Ditto our stay in New Smyrna when we attended seaside Easter Sunrise services, There, we stayed up in Ormond Beach.

St. Augustine was spectacular – but go long before Christmas!

There are Many Benefits

The drive in always has been pleasant and the amount of gas to and from our destination has been a fraction of the difference in the hotel room prices. Moreover, the choices that we had between the two communities doubled our options both in dining and in shopping.

Even at 20-30 minutes away, staying off site gives you plenty of time to get to a destination or festival as an early bird. You then have the option to depart and decide, do we want to see something around here or do we want to go back around our lodging facility and knock about in that community.

We plan to do this again very soon. A trip to the seashore (or Gulfshore) is in our future. Should we not find a lodging facility that meets our pricepoint, we’ll be looking for a community that’s a bit inland to find a place to stay.

In fact, our experience has been that the farther we are from the water’s edge, the more reasonable the pricepoint. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, but it seems to apply more often than not.
Let us know your experiences with staying off site at [email protected]

A Visit to “The Fat Tip” – aka Punta Gorda

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Florida Funmeister

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May 13, 2019

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In Spanish, Punta Gorda translates to “Fat Point.” We have visited “Florida’s Harborside Hometown” on several occasions. Perched at the convergence of the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor, it’s a large promontory point, that gives the city its name.

Punta Gorda offers plenty of different little neighborhoods that provide opportunities for shopping and sightseeing. Marion Street, for example, offers a wide variety of restaurants and gift shops.

Shops and Restaurants Abound

Copperfish Books is right at the corner and it’s a readers dream. You can imagine there are plenty of books as well as stationary, puzzles and gifts. Then there are gift shops like Tiki’s, HipNotique, The Seagrape Gallery and Pomegranate & Fig among others.

The Seagrape Gallery is full of interesting objects d’art produced locally.

There also are plenty of eateries. If you like Greek, there’s Toula’s, or for the best breakfast and lunch in town try Bella’s Bistro, then there’s Italia – which is – of course – Italian, The River City Grill – the home of global comfort cuisine and the Blue Turtle Tavern and Raw Bar.

If you walk across Taylor Street, there’s F.M. Don’s for an upscale casual eatery, Isabel & Annabelle’s Mexican cuisine and Leroy’s Southern Kitchen and Bar for food with a southern flair.

There’s lots to see and do on Marion Street in Punta Gorda

A hop, skip and jump away on Sullivan Street is a line of brightly colored houses. They are green, blue, yellow and lavender. Each houses a different business including real estate, a newspaper office, investment and even a hair salon.

Our favorite was The Orange House. It’s a combination Wine Bar and Breakfast Restaurant. We saw the good breakfast reviews on TripAdvisor and stopped in to check it out. Imagine our surprise when we found a darkened dining room, illuminated wine bottles and jazz music playing in the background.

However, when we returned the next morning, they had opened the curtains and served us one of the best breakfasts we have had in Florida! It goes to show you never can tell.

Breakfast at the Orange House was scrumptious.

Catch the Punta Gorda Farmer’s Market

Two out of the three times we stayed at Punta Gorda, there was a festival of somes kind in the downtown area. They also feature a regular Saturday farmer’s market. There were produce booths, jewelry, makeup, baked goods, even knife sharpening. For entertainment there was a duo playing live music.

Rows and rows of captivating boots at the Punta Gorda Farmer’s Market.

See a Punta Gorda Sunset

One thing we were urged to do was to go to the top of the Wyvern Hotel to watch the sunset. We made our way up to Perch 360 that evening and got a ringside seat. They had a troubadour, a very busy bar and some good food. However, the view was not what we had envisioned.

You could see the causeway, some water and lots of asphalt.

At that point we settled up our bill and headed for someplace a bit closer to the water. Fortunately we found Ponce Deleon Park. Just along the water’s edge there was a wonderful walkway, numerous pavilions, gazebos and a pier that jutted out far enough to bring us close to the boats and the sunset.

Yes there was lots of nightlife, great places to eat and a wonderful little lodging facility that just met our pricepoint. But we will tell you about those later. In the meantime, suffice to say that Punta Gorda rates a vacation outing

A Mural Mystery Solved

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Florida Funmeister

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May 9, 2019

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Our friend Mandy Longo has discovered a mystery mural. It happened during one of her Mosquito County Tours.

It was on May 9 of 1754 that the first cartoon appeared in an American Newspaper. Appearing in the Philadelphia Gazette, it was titled “Join or Die.”

The ink drawing was penned by Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. It depicted a sectioned snake with each piece representing one of the colonies.

Mandy reportedly now has discovered a very similar image. It’s located on the side of a building in the Mills 50 District in Orlando. She spotted it recently during one of their Little Vietnam Food & Art Walking Tours.

This is an 18 x 24-inch “wheat pasted” screenprinted newsprint banner. The image is a sectioned alligator, with each piece representing a different telephone area code. Its legend is “Florida or Die.”

The Rest of the Story

As it turns out, this mural is the work of Orlando artist Akyros. Although he is the one who made the rendering, he is quick to point out he was not the one who posted on the side of the Royal Tea building.

It is, in fact, a nod to Franklin’s original cartoon in the Gazette. That one rallied our nation to come together as one instead of separate entities.

“Benjamin Franklin is a huge inspiration of mine for his leadership, communication skills, and he owned his own print shop back in the day.” – Akyros

Like Franklin, Akyros would like to have his own print facility that empowers creatives and leaders to spread their ideas/artwork. Akros said he made the design just for fun, not realizing how impactful the imagery resonates with the local Orlando community.

Incidentally, if you like the design, it is commercially available on t-shirts and posters. Check out his online store: https://akyros.co/collections/exclusive/products/fla-or-die

Sadly, the 863 area code is missing from this rendering.

Mandy’s Still Looking

Meanwhile, Mandy Longo, who found the poster, said the Akyros design was emblematic of the kinds of things she finds while researching her Mosquito County Tours of “The City Beautiful.”

“Orlando is such an interesting place, and we’re always discovering new things when we escort our guests about.”
Mandy Longo

The Breakfast Cottage

Blu’ Island Bistro

Joy’s Kouzine

TJ Carney’s

A Great Collection

It’s More Than Cars

Grayton Beach

Caladesi Island

Who is Dr Beach?

The Lodging was Great

The Hotel was Well Appointed

Planning an Event?

Should I Stay or Should I Go

Gas Prices Cooperate

Be Careful Out There

The Fresh Start Cafe

Our Dining Experience

In Closing

Places to Eat

All Kinds of Shops

Our First Clue

There are Many Benefits

Shops and Restaurants Abound

Catch the Punta Gorda Farmer’s Market

See a Punta Gorda Sunset

The Rest of the Story

Mandy’s Still Looking

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