Florida Curiosities
My articles and essays on the hidden stories, remarkable people and little-known places that make Florida fascinating. From cultural quirks to historical gems, these tidbits reveal the Sunshine State beyond the guidebooks.
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Glamour and crime at an historic Florida restaurant
Willoughby’s Open Hearth existed in Orlando’s collective memory as a stylish, indulgent restaurant from the 1970s, but behind the nostalgia lurked a much messier story. Continue reading
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The woman who gave ‘it’s a small world’ its magic
Joyce Carlson started at Disney fetching coffee during WWII. She became the artistic force behind “it’s a small world,” transforming Styrofoam, plastic flowers and costume jewelry into theme park history. Yet for decades, few knew her name. Continue reading
Tiffini Theisen 