🌱 Downtown Orlando Expects Busy Holiday Weekend + Disney Cast Members

Hey, friends! It's me, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now, including...

• Downtown Orlando is expecting a busy weekend with St. Patrick's Day celebrations and March Madness happening downtown.
• The 64th Annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is happening all weekend.
• Orlando City SC has been eliminated from the Concacaf Champions League.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy; an afternoon t-storm. High: 83 Low: 52.

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Here are the top stories in Orlando today:

1. Thousands of people are expected to descend on downtown Orlando this weekend for both St. Patrick's Day and March Madness. Local business owners in the area hope it will boost business and the crowds come amid a fight over Orlando's nightlife industry and how late bars can open in the area. It could be the last busy weekend before city hall votes. (WESH)
2. An Orlando shelter dog who went viral after being criticized for being "so ugly" is now living her best life with a loving family after being adopted from Orange County Animal Services. Rescue Dogs Dream took in the dog, named Dutchess, and on Jan. 10, the rescue announced that she was adopted. (Fox 51)
3. The 64th Annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is now underway and expected to draw thousands to the area all weekend. The festival started back in "March 1960 as a community project to bring local artists and art lovers together." Organizers are reminding attendees that there will be no pets, bicycles, motorized scooters or skateboards allowed inside the festival. (WFTV)
4. The “Away Goals” rule has caused Orlando City SC to lose the Concacaf Champions League after being 1-1 against Mexico's Tigres. The rule states that in a tie, the "team that has scored more goals 'away from home' wins." (Bungalower)
5. Disney Cast members are pushing for a "living wage" amid a skyrocketing rise in living costs throughout Central Florida. One of the unions representing Disney Cast members held an event this week to draw awareness to their cause behind Magic Kingdom. Disney is holding firm on wages for now. (Spectrum 13 News)

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Today in Orlando:

• 64th Annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival at Central Park Winter Park. (9 a.m.)
• Free Saturday Intro Lessons at Championship Martial Arts Baldwin Park. (9 a.m.)
• Festival De Fresas at Jaleo By José Andrés. (11 a.m.)
• NCAA Block Party at Downtown Orlando. (noon)
• "Broadway ¡Vivo!" at Orlando Shakes. (3 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Orlando Police Department shared: "It is March Madness in Orlando. Officers are #OnTheBeat escorting the teams who will be playing in front of thousands of spectators at Amway Center. We hope everyone has a great time! 🏀" (Orlando Police Department via Facebook)
• Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer shared: "This is why we invested in the Amway Center and our Community Venues: to bring great events like March Madness for residents to experience and to help small businesses get a boost from even more visitors coming to our city." (Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer via Facebook)
• Nature Conservancy in Florida shared: "Join us on Wednesday, March 22, to learn about a potential new solution that can help improve water quality in our rivers, streams and swamps." (Nature Conservancy in Florida via Instagram)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll see you soon.

— 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at carlosreportsnews@gmail.com