DOP'S UPCOMING EVENTS
2/02/24 – First Friday Coffee | 8-9am | Hosted by e|spaces2/02/24 – Maximize Your Membership | 9-10am | at e|spaces2/15/24 – Third Thursday Happy Hour | 5-6:30pm | Hosted by Thrive
2024 Black History Month Meet the Artists Reception - February 12thThe City of Orlando Multicultural Affairs Office, in partnership with the Downtown Orlando Partnership and Black History Month platinum sponsor Orlando Credit Union, presents a "Meet the Artists Reception" in celebration of Black History Month on Monday, February 12th from 10-11:30am at City Hall's Terrace Gallery. Engage with and gain insights from the talented artists behind the art pieces on display in the Black History Month art exhibition. Discover the inspiration, stories, and cultural influences that shaped their work while enjoying beverages and donuts from black-owned and operated businesses. Reserve your spot now and join us for an unforgettable "Meet the Artists" event in celebration of Black History Month. For a listing of all BHM community events, please visit orlando.gov/bhm.
DOWNTOWN HAPPENINGSSpecial Event Grants Program Applications Close Next Week!The CRA's Special Events Grants Program supports diverse arts and cultural opportunities to encourage a variety of entertainment within the area. The purpose of this program is to support events that align with the CRA's grand plan for downtown, the DTOutlook. Applications for the Special Events Program are due by Thursday February 1, 2024, 11:59pm for events taking place May 2024 - October 2024. See all the guidelines and sublmit your applications here.2024 MLK Gospel ConcertCelebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, the 9th annual MLK Concert is presented by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the Mayor’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, produced and directed by Grammy Award Winner, Dr. Jeffrey Redding. The concert will take place at the Dr. Phillips Center on Friday, February 2nd at 7pm. Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations for UP – United Against Poverty, which will be distributed to various local community and school food pantries. Special guests include Naguanda Miller-Nobles, Soprano – Benjamin Polite, Bass, and Shawn Welcome, the City of Orlando’s Poet Laureate. Click here to learn more and get tickets. Know Before You Go: U.S. Olympic Team Trials - MarathonJoin the City of Orlando, Orange County, Visit Orlando, Track Shack Events, Greater Orlando Sports Commission, USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon as they cheer on Team USA hopefuls in their pursuit of Paris. Secure your Finish Line Grandstand seat for access to the best seats in the city at the beautiful Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando. $125 gets you a General Admission Grandstand Seat. Concessions will be available to purchase at Relax Grill and food trucks. Also, join the Fan Fest at Seneff Arts Plaza at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, for food trucks, lawn games, a local DJ from iHeartRadio, and more! Visit Orlando2024Trials.com for the most up-to-date information available and to access the spectator viewing map. In addition, the City of Orlando has provided information related to the event that may impact traffic patterns, pedestrian movement, detours and parking at Orlando.gov/olympicroadclosures.Parking and Transportation for NFL Pro Bowl GamesCamping World Stadium on-site parking is available for the NFL Pro Bowl Games on Sunday, February 4, which can be purchased HERE and limited day-of parking is available at Jones High School – Lot 10 (cash only). Fans can also ride SunRail for FREE, compliments of the Downtown Development Board (DDB), or purchase parking in downtown Orlando and take the free stadium shuttle to/from the event. Fans are encouraged to prepare for the AFC vs. NFC flag football matchup before visiting Camping World Stadium and visit the NFL Pro Bowl Game Day Guide for more information. Also, be advised road closures will be in place around Camping World Stadium on Sunday, January 4, beginning at 7am.Prismatica - A Kaleidoscope of Art and InnovationAre you ready to embark on a visual journey that will captivate your senses and transform downtown Orlando into a mesmerizing tapestry of color and sound? Downtown Orlando is proud to announce their collaboration with Prismatica, by RAW Design a production of Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, distributed by QDSinternational. This interactive art installation in DTO is available to visit now - February 11, 2024. Prismatica is a dazzling installation featuring 25 pivoting prisms strategically placed across two picturesque locations— Lake Lucerne and 30 S. Orange Avenue. These prisms are not just static sculptures; they come alive, rotating and reflecting a breathtaking rainbow of colors that shift dynamically with the changing lighting and your unique perspective. As the prisms dance, they create a symphony of chimes, playing music at different volumes that add another layer to the sensory experience. Be sure to check them out before they're gone!
MEMBER NEWSAddition Financial Foundation Offers College ScholarshipsThe Addition Financial Foundation will be giving back to the Central Florida community once again through their J.A.M. Jr. Annual Scholarship Program. Named after Addition Financial's former president and CEO Joseph A. Melbourne Jr., the statewide program grants college scholarships worth $10,000 each to six high school seniors. Addition also offers two master scholarships worth $2,500 each. Last year, two of the recipients were from Orange County. The application deadline for this year's scholarships is February 29, and the winners will be selected and notified by April 30, 2024. PRO-Active Prostate Cancer Screening Awareness by AdventHealthAdventHealth is partnering with the Omega Beta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. to host the PRO-Active Prostate Cancer Screening Awareness event dedicated to enhancing the well-being of the Parramore and Pine Hills residents. The event will take place on Sunday, February 4, 2024 from 2-4pm at the AdventHealth Training Center. Prostate cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in men. Compared to the general population, Black men are more likely to develop prostate cancer and are twice as likely to die from the disease. This difference in mortality is one of the largest racial disparities in any cancer. It is treatable if detected early. Health professionals from AdventHealth and other community partners will be on hand to answer questions and offer vital information about prostate health. Free prostate cancer screenings, food, physician consultations, and giveaways will also be available during the event.Esports Tournaments at Select YMCAsA few of Central Florida's YMCAs are now offering competitive opportunities in video games, specifically esports! The Roper YMCA Family Center in Winter Garden held the first tournament in NBA 2K on Xbox last summer, followed by two tournaments at the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA and another at the Downtown Orlando YMCA. These tournaments and future competitions are offered to kids 12 to 18 years old, and registration is free. Winners have won prizes of up to $25 in Amazon gift cards. Roper YMCA Youth Development Director Jessica Fernandez states that new tournaments and competitions will take place in the springtime at the Roper or Downtown Orlando YMCA. Click here to read the full article and stay up to date with their upcoming events!