Living out in the sleepy suburbs of greater Orlando, it is easy to forget that we actually live across from the actually great city of: well: Orlando! You know: the city hosting its own 15 billion dollar tech industry and where millions of people choose to vacation every year, you know: our backyard? Regardless of my satirical tone these words come from a place of genuine awe of our surprisingly vibrant downtown. This past week, for the first time in my seventeen years of continued existence upon this mortal plane, I have embarked on a great quest, with no particular end, to document and share the best that our city has to offer. In the hopes that you, my beloved reader, will one day also experience the majesty that is “the city beautiful.”
As with any densely populated municipality, parking is a less than pleasurable experience. Thankfully we have the Sunrail! My personal preference for downtown commuting, no need to worry about traffic, parking, or where your exit is. Additionally the price of a ticket is cheaper that the price of gas per mile, so it is easy on your wallet and your mental health! Not to mention that the sunrail has tables and booths, Wi-Fi, and accessible restrooms.
Unfortunately there are a few negatives as with anything, every rose has its thorn and all that. The Sunrail is primarily a commuter train for corporate workers heading into their downtown offices, meaning that it also follows a corporate schedule of Monday through Friday, so if you want to do anything that is not an after school jaunt, you will have to drive in. Furthermore, while the Sunrail is usually on time, a train arriving at the platform every 40 minutes, it is prone to delays due to automotive accidents and track maintenance. So take care to factor these variables into your plans should you choose to ride the Sunrail.
So, now you have made it into the streets and avenues of Orlando, the buildings sprawling high into the sky, each a monument to human engineering and a testament to our shared success as a city. Now what?
Well, Orlando is home to a menagerie of world class cafes and restaurants that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. I am being very honest, the best coffee and avocado toast I have ever had was within the city limits of downtown Orlando, namely within the the four walls of The Robinson.
The Robinson is a lovely upscale cafe, selling a wide variety of gourmet coffees and light meals. The prices do run a bit high; I spent around 28 dollars for my avocado toast and salted caramel latte, but I assure you that it is absolutely worth every cent. The bread was a freshly baked sourdough topped with smashed avocado, goat cheese, and an aged vinaigrette. The coffee was light, sweet, and velvety in the mouth. The salt and caramel perfectly complemented the bitter, bold roast. No trip to Orlando would be complete without a trip to The Robinson.
Another can’t-miss landmark would be the Orlando Public Library. Its brutalist concrete design stands out as a stark contrast to the prism-like towers of glass and lacquered wood-grain benches surrounding it. Now, I can already see you nodding off at the thought of a library, but bear with me. This is no ordinary county library; it is four floors of compressed knowledge ripe for the taking! Each week, the library hosts a litany of free classes, enabling you to learn new skills without breaking the bank. From film classes in the libraries with fully equipped sound stages to sewing in the second-floor workshop, there is something for everyone! In the mood for fun, the library has a full catalog of tabletop games and materials that you can check out, such as Warhammer and Dungeons and Dragons, or more traditional games like Monopoly.
Well, then, that will have to do for the time being, but I must say this is hardly a tuppence in relation to all the city has to offer; I can hardly fit anything of value into this fairly dense article. Well then, my dear reader, I must resolve to make a pact, and then, once weekly, I shall divulge a new finding of mine that I discovered in the city beautiful. Whether it be a museum, shop, or restaurant, I shall tell you why paying a visit to Orlando is indeed a worthwhile venture.
