Art After Dark Returns + Gordon Ramsay Opens Orlando Restaurant

Welcome back, Orlando! Let's get you started this Tuesday with everything you need to know going on in Orlando today.

In this issue, you'll learn about a supermarket expanding in the area, the return of "Art After Dark", the state of tourism in Orange County, and more. Now, let's get started.

First, today's weather: Humid and mostly cloudy throughout the day. High: 91 Low: 75.

Here are the top stories in Orlando today:

1. “Art After Dark” is returning to downtown Orlando starting on August 14th at CityArts. It is an all-inclusive event where guests can view the gallery, eat and drink, while enjoying the ambience and entertainment. Tickets are now available. (WESH)

2. Orange County's hotel tax revenue in June 2021 was the highest since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Area hotels generated $21 million in tax dollars and were able to get by without dipping into county reserves for the second month in a row as the area recovers. (Click Orlando)

3. South Florida-based grocery chain Presidente Supermarkets announced it plans to open two more grocery stores in Orlando as part of a larger Central Florida expansion. (Orlando Weekly)

4. The often brash celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay opened a Fish & Chips restaurant on Monday at Orlando’s ICON Park. It is the first restaurant the chef has opened in Florida. (Spectrum News 13)

5. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announced on Monday that nearly 5,700 new cases of COVID-19 had been reported since his briefing last Thursday or about 1,000 cases a day. The county will open a new testing site at Clarcona Elementary School in response. The 14-day rolling positivity rate is 19.72% for Orange County, far above was previously the target threshold. (Click Orlando)

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Today in Orlando

• School Starts! - Colonial High School. (7:00 AM)
• Tears & Cheers Breakfast - Audubon Park School. (8:45 AM)
• PTSO Parent Engagement Meeting - Pershing - Pine Castle Elementary School. (8:45 AM)
• What! No Oysters for Lunch? - Orlando Science Center. (9:00 AM)
• Morse Museum August Open House. (9:30 AM)
• St. Luke's Free Food Distribution. (11:00 AM)
• Freshman Football Interest Meeting - Boone High School. (2:30 PM)
• John H. Jackson Neighborhood Center Mobile COVID-19 Vaccine Site. (3:00 PM)
• Soccer Team Tryouts Start - Innovation Middle School. (4:00 PM)
• School Board Meeting - Orange County District. (4:45 PM)
• Florida Online Concealed Carry Class. (6:00 PM)
• Tuesday Night Run at Ten10 Brewing Company. (6:30 PM)
• Brushes & Brews. (7:15 PM)
• Disney After Hours Boo Bash at Magic Kingdom Park. (9:30 PM)

Orlando Patch Notebook

• The Federal Government is sending $57 million in aid to the Central Florida entertainment industry.
• Orlando City SC: "O Capitão The @exploriaresorts Photo of the Match " (Instagram)
• Visit Orlando : "Hidden gems are the key to paradise. : @nckstagram" (Instagram)
• Nature Conservancy in Florida: "David Wolkowsky’s Ballast Key, a 14-acre island located in the clear blue and vibrant waters eight miles west of Key ..." (Instagram)
• Orlando Food & Travel Guide: "“Fish & Chips was a real tradition for me growing up, so I’m excited to deliver that same nostalgia to all the local ..." (Instagram)
• Orlando Food & Travel Guide: " GIVEAWAY ALERT! When 2020 forced the world to slow down, the folks at Puff N’ Stuff Catering saw a renewed int..." (Instagram)
• Orlando Fire Department: "Congratulations to Engineer Maerkl on 15 years serving the residents of Orlando. Thank you!" (Facebook)
• Orange County, Florida : "As a community, let's build immunity against COVID-19. As of August 8, 2021: 64.33% of Orange County residents 12+..." (Instagram)
• Orange County, Florida : "Orange County now has three free COVID-19 testing sites, open daily from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (until capacity is reache..." (Instagram)
• Orlando Science Center: "Happy #NationalBookLoversDay! Every book is unique, and so is every love story. When planning a fairy tale wedding,..." (Instagram)
• Orlando Main Streets: "The Lego folks of Sam Flax want to wish you a happy Monday #muralmonday #alocalthing" (Instagram)
• Orlando Health: "As someone who has battled the impacts of kidney failure for most of his life, Terry is grateful to have a surgeon he..." (Facebook)
• Downtown Orlando: "Welcome to downtown The 808 Orlando! At The 808, guests are transported to an old-school, laid-back surf shack. Their..." (Facebook)
• Ciudad de Orlando: "Los pequeños negocios son la piedra angular de nuestra economía local y son más los comercios hispanos que continúan ..." (Facebook)
• YMCA of Central Florida: "As kids are preparing to go back to school, we may have forgotten one of the most important things to get them throug..." (Facebook)
• Ciudad de Orlando: "Los próximos centros móviles de vacunación COVID-19 en la ciudad de Orlando son: -Martes 10 de agosto Centro Vecinal ..." (Facebook)
• ReThink Your Commute: "Earn points for recording your commute, including days when you work from home! Redeem points for discounts at local ..." (Facebook)
• City of Orlando - Government: "Orange County, Florida Government Health Services has announced its COVID-19 vaccine operations will transfer from Ba..." (Facebook)
• Downtown Arts District Orlando: "Art After Dark is THIS SATURDAY - https://mailchi.mp/dadorlando/art-after-dark-is-back-998774" (Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today! See you tomorrow for another update. If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Carlos Hernandez

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Orlando Daily? You can reach me at orlando@patch.com.