Disney Princes and Princesses: But first let me take a selfie
Italian digital illustrator Simona Bonafini imagines a world where Disney characters become a part of our world: taking selfies of themselves to share with their Instagram kingdoms. The series called, “Selfie Fables” includes bunches of our favorite Disney characters from Hercules (can you say #mancrushmonday?), to the ever vain Evil Queen from Snow White. Filters in tact…
‘Sharknado 3’ devours Orlando
Image via IMDB The original Sharknado descended on Los Angeles last year, followed by Sharknado 2: The Second One’s attack on New York City this summer. You guys? We have some bad news for you: Next year, Sharknado 3 is coming to Florida. The terror starts in our nation’s capital, as the airborne, sharp-toothed fish make their way down the east…
Letters to a Satanist: What is a Black Mass?
Illustration by Lee DeVito Recently, Metro Times, our sister paper in Detroit, unveiled a new column called Letters to Satan. Readers are invited to submit questions about Satanism to be answered by Doug Mesner, a spokesman for the Satanic Temple. Since the Satanic Temple has been so active in Florida in the past couple of…
MAP: What’s the most famous movie set in Florida?
Image via Business Insider Last month, we told you (but didn’t entirely agree with) Business Insider’s pick for the most famous book set in the state of Florida. Now, the folks over at Business Insider have released their choices for the most famous movie set in each state. Some of them are obvious: The Texas Chainsaw…
This Little Underground: Soko at the Peacock Room
This Little Underground is Orlando Weekly’s music column providing perspective, live reviews and news on the city’s music scene. Read the latest column here. Soko at the Peacock Room (photo by James Dechert) French actor-singer Soko is touring as direct support to Foster the People (whose Orlando show was Oct. 18 at Hard Rock Live)…
The 10 craziest stories from Reddit’s theme park workers AMA
Image via Imgur Yesterday, Reddit asked theme park and carnival workers to share some of their most unbelievable stories in a Reddit AMA. Some of the answers might make you reconsider riding a theme park ride ever again. Here are some of the wildest: 1. TL;DR – Irresponsible parents nearly got their child steamrollered by a roller…
Miss Mommy: I was told I couldn’t compete in beauty pageants because I have a child
On Monday Oct. 13, I was expelled from the Miss UCF Pageant. Not because I wasn’t talented, or pretty or a worthy contestant. ?It was because I have a child. I was considered good enough to represent my fellow students and women, until it came to light that my uterus wasn’t pristine. To be…
Florida’s Satanic Temple gets backing from Americans United for Church and State over holiday display
In 2013, the Florida state Capitol was a festive place. In addition to the usual holiday decor – baubles on trees and lights and whatnot – it hosted three different holiday-speicific displays: a Nativity scene, a Festivus pole made of PBR cans and a Flying Spaghetti Monster. See photos below for proof: Photo via…
Monday, Oct. 20: Things to do today/tonight
28 fun things to do in Orlando this week (10/15 – 10/21)Photo by Tony Webster MUSIC PICK OF THE DAY: Caffiends and/or Brother Ali: http://bit.ly/ZGj0HO Epcot Food and Wine Festival: Smashmouth: http://bit.ly/1zdoSIz Biketoberfest: http://bit.ly/1txFR66 Stop Making Sense: http://bit.ly/1wMF9Pg West Side Story: http://bit.ly/11ulQ3N The Footsteps of Mozart: http://bit.ly/1uaniPJ For more stuff going on this week, visit…
Tuesday, Oct. 21: Things to do today/tonight
Image via Tasty Tuesdays in The Milk District MUSIC PICK OF THE DAY: Kaleigh Baker: http://bit.ly/ZGj0HO Monsters of Muertoville: http://bit.ly/1sMn1Wn Tasty Tuesdays: http://bit.ly/1jJEwi9 Sound Culture with OAM: http://bit.ly/11umUoi The Nick and Knight Tour: http://bit.ly/1su52CV For more stuff going on this week, visit our online calendar. Arts and Culture: http://bit.ly/1yHd1kM Music: http://bit.ly/Zwf1gv Learning…
Sunday, Oct. 19: Things to do today/tonight
Image via Astronomsr MUSIC PICK OF THE DAY: Astronomar at Shake ‘n’ Bass: http://bit.ly/ZGj0HO Winter Springs Festival of the Arts: Artoberfest: http://bit.ly/101IXlX Yoga in Lake Eola Park: http://bit.ly/1tPN1ie Surf Rock Sunday Benefit for the Surfrider Foundation: http://bit.ly/1yHhIv6 Elayne Boosler: http://bit.ly/1w978cL Downtown Orlando Oktoberfest: http://bit.ly/1Cqxxnt The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: http://bit.ly/1o7GIbn For more…
Saturday, Oct. 18: Things to do today/tonight
28 fun things to do in Orlando this week (10/15 – 10/21) MUSIC PICK OF THE DAY: Open House Conspiracy Three-year Anniversary: http://bit.ly/ZGj0HO Foster the People: http://bit.ly/1zdmAJv Music on Mills: http://bit.ly/1vi5UNa Epcot Food and Wine Festival: Night Ranger: http://bit.ly/1sMkagb Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival: http://bit.ly/1su2BjB Fossil Fair: http://bit.ly/1sMkzzb Winter Springs Festival of the…
Thank you, Internet: Pumkpin kegs and cat-ear headphones
There so many fun things going on this weekend, you kinda wish you could start it early, don’t you? Well … you can’t. You gotta wait til the clock ticks down the minutes until 5 p.m. Hopefully, these links will help the time march a little faster: Image via Indiegogo 1. OK, so $150 seems like…
Cube approves: Kaiju Big Battel coming to Orlando on Halloween
Image via kaiju.com Image via Studio Kaiju on Flickr Kaiju Big Battel has been menacing the universe for 20 years – pitting fierce monsters hatched by the evil genius of Dr. Cube, like Sky Deviler and Hell Monkey, against each other and heroes like Kung-Fu Chicken Noodle to control their maniacal rage and keep humans like…
Restaurant taking over College Park Dunkin’ Donuts has a name and projected opening
You’ll soon be enjoying twisted classics in this space.Image via College Park Community Paper We’ve got College Park food news boiling over today. Earlier we reported the opening of RusTeak, and now we’ve got the scoop on the restaurant that’s taking over the Dunkin’ Donuts space on Edgewater Drive. In an earlier Tip Jar, we…
Brick-or-Treat invades Legoland Florida
Image via LEGOLAND Weekends through Oct. 31| Legoland Florida, 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven | (877) 350-5346 |legoland.com | $69 | Ghouls, and ghosts and goblins! Oh my! Every Saturday and Sunday this month, Miniland USA at LEGOLAND is transformed into a haunted adventure with a scavenger hunt in search for these creepy creatures. This…
Orlando is the most economical foodie city in the country
35 of the best restaurants in Orlando, as determined by you To celebrate World Food Day (there they go again, with these made up holidays), WalletHub, a financial website, analyzed 150 U.S. cities to figure out which on was the most economical foodie city in the country. Guess what, Orlando? WE WON! Yes, according to this…
Friday, Oct. 17: Things to do today/tonight
28 fun things to do in Orlando this week (10/15 – 10/21) MUSIC PICK OF THE DAY: Givers and/or Me Chinese and Room Full of Strangers CMK Pre-Party: http://bit.ly/ZGj0HO Audubon Assembly: http://bit.ly/1xVtC12 Vampire’s Ball: http://bit.ly/1xVsHh6 La Tragedie de Carmen: http://bit.ly/1ocCMGq Our Roaring Twenties: http://bit.ly/1wbmFYH Horror Movie Poetry Night: http://bit.ly/1sMhvDh 7 Deadly Sins: http://bit.ly/1sXmfXU Oktoberfest with…
Thursday, Oct. 16: Things to do today/tonight
28 fun things to do in Orlando this week (10/15 – 10/21) MUSIC PICK OF THE DAY: Caustic Casanova: http://bit.ly/ZGj0HO Jay Pharoah: http://bit.ly/Zwfuzm Dia de los Muertos: http://bit.ly/1rzSOEO Epcot Food and Wine: Billy Ocean: http://bit.ly/1w1Fs8D Biketoberfest: http://bit.ly/1txFR66 Phantasmagoria V: Death Comes For All: http://bit.ly/1s9GbnG Retromended 2 Year Anniversary Party: http://bit.ly/1sVyGTb Words Out Loud: http://bit.ly/1tXKxjE A…
Rusteak is now open in College Park
After some false starts on location, Rusteak Restaurant and Wine Bar in College Park has found a second home and settled in, and they’re ready to serve you one of their signature burgers right meow. After an initial rumor that they’d be taking over the Harmoni Market > Wildside BBQ > Hangar Bar & Grille space…
Florida woman quit teaching to twerk on Vine … and she’s making bank
Move over Miley, there’s another twerker in town and this one claims she’s pulling 6 figures doing it for the Vine. Image via Jessica Vanessa Jessica Vanessa, a former kindergarten teacher assistant from Florida, has quit her day job in order to pursue her dreams as twerker. The 22-year-old claims she didn’t hate her old…
#Fangate dominates national discussion of Florida gubernatorial debate
[View the story “#Fangate dominates discussion of Florida gubernatorial debate” on Storify]
Night of the Glowing Dead Paint Party at Venue 578
Image via Feel Numb 10 p.m. – 2:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 | Venue 578, 578 N Orange Ave. |407- 872-0066 | venue578.com | $15 – 25 | There seems to be a zombie outbreak in Orlando. Don’t run for that survival kit you bought off eBAy. Instead, head to Venue 578 for shelter. But…
Dispute over a fan causes late start to gubernatorial debate
By BRANDON LARRABEE THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA After tens of millions of dollars worth of television commercials and the slinging of massive amounts of mud, could the Florida gubernatorial election come down to an electric fan? In the latest strange chapter in the always-fascinating politics of Florida, Gov. Rick Scott skipped the first few…
New development project being considered for Ivanhoe Village
Map of properties owned by R-Kid that could be impacted by a proposed mixed-use development for Ivanhoe Village. Image courtesy Gordon Spears. In the same week in which we learned that Red Fox Lounge, Theatre Downtown, the Peacock Room and Patsio’s Diner are closing, we’ve also learned that something’s afoot in Ivanhoe Village that could…
10 free things to do in the Orlando area this weekend (Oct. 17-19)
28 fun things to do in Orlando this week (10/15 – 10/21) Has the chaos of the 9 to 5 work week left you in drive-through windows with an empty wallet and a taste for adventure? Well, check your wallet into rehab and enjoy these free events out and about Orlando this weekend: Oktoberfest with…
This Little Underground: Austin Lucas, Jayke Orvis, Jon Snodgrass at Will’s Pub
This Little Underground is Orlando Weekly’s music column providing perspective, live reviews and news on the city’s music scene. Read the latest column here. Austin Lucas at Will’s Pub (photo by Ashley Belanger) Since the young alt-country scene is crowded with refugees from other, heavier genres (particularly punk), many of the singers have adapted the…
Orlando City Soccer Club to break (purple!) ground on new stadium
Image via Orlando City Soccer 5 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 16 Orlando City Soccer Club supporters, players, staff and civic leaders will gather at Church Street Station and march to the location of OCSC’s new stadium, where an official groundbreaking ceremony will take place. In true Orlando City Lion, style, this will not be a boring shovel-in-the-dirt ceremony at all.…
Federal judge rejects Adrian Wyllie’s request to be included in Florida gubernatorial debates
By JIM SAUNDERS THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA A federal judge Tuesday rejected arguments by Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Adrian Wyllie that he should be allowed to take part in a debate Wednesday night with Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic challenger Charlie Crist. U.S. District Judge James Cohn, in a six-page ruling, refused to grant a temporary…
Also shuffling off this mortal coil: Red Fox Lounge, Patsio’s Diner and Winn-Dixie
Hey, Orlando, maybe you could stop killing off landmarks long enough for us to catch up? We heard last week about Patsio’s Diner losing their lease; then the long-rumored loss of Theatre Downtown’s building (where they’ve been for 25 years) was confirmed; then the ax fell on the Colonial Drive Winn-Dixie; and now we hear that the Red…
‘Esquire’ magazine names Cask & Larder one of the country’s best new restaurants
Photo by Rob Bartlett This year, Esquire magazine held its first-ever Food and Drink Awards, and they chose James and Julie Petrakis’ Cask & Larder as one of the best new restaurants in America. Here’s what the mag had to say about the brewery/gastropub: “It’s hard to get a handle on this inexplicably great suburban Florida restaurant. Do…
Theatre Downtown confirms rumors that it will have to move out of its Orange Avenue space
In August, Seth Kubursky raised concerns about rumors that Orlando’s Theatre Downtown might be booted from the space on Orange Avenue that it has called home for the past 25 years. The theater’s landlord, Florida Hospital, the rumor indicated, had plans for the building and had given the theater notice that it would have to move…
Savage Love
Four years ago, I met a man on a “married but looking” website. We exchanged fantasies, which included wanting to have threesomes and a D/s relationship. He was 19 years my senior. I was 42 at the time. For three years, we met twice a week for drinks or sex. The sex was amazing. We…
Learning + Civics
Learning and Civics in Orlando this week
Amazon story was right on
Letters to the editor
Down with the clown: Documenting Florida juggalo culture
Despite the FBI’s gangslangin’, juggalos prize family – not violence
Concerts/Events + Clubs/Lounges + Opera/Classical
Where to find music in Orlando this week
‘Reflecting Florida’ offers a full day of eco-discussion at East End Market
Authors, artists and activists band together in panels presented by Bookmark It and the Center for Earth Jurisprudence
At Pho K5, the priority is the victuals, not the visuals
New Milk District pho joint offers spot-on service and the full gamut of Vietnamese classics
Picks this week: Givers, Astronomar, Zulu Wave and more
Great live music rattles Orlando every night
Down the Road
American Authors, The Mowglis, Oh Honey, Oct. 22 at The Beacham Epcot Food and Wine Festival: Jim Brickman, Oct. 23 at Epcot Accidental Music Festival: The Living Earth Show, Oct. 23 at The Gallery at Avalon Island Throcket Luther, Bring Back Joel, Oct. 24 at Will’s Pub Finch, Maps and Atlases, Weatherbox, Oct. 25 at…
Smaller state government threatens Florida’s most needy
Department of Children and Families and the unemployed suffer under conservative belt-tightening
Rotation: One-man band Lauris Vidal on Tom Waits
What local artists are listening to
Florida’s third party candidates face long odds
Profiles of third-party and indepdendent candidates for governor, attorney general and Congress
Brother Ali gets back to his roots, his fans and doing his best
The rapper discusses ISIS, Gandhi and why he avoids being topical to transcend time
Where to find better boos for your buck
Willing to put a few miles on the car? Try Howl-O-Scream in Tampa or A Shallow Grave in Winter Haven
Lick it up! Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley open Rock & Brews in Oviedo
Plus five more new restaurants open and an old favorite closes
Comedy + Dance + Theater + Art + Events + Literary + Family + Sports
Arts and Culture in Orlando this week
Whistleblower reignites Gov. Scott’s fraudulent past
Crist campaign pulls out the big guns on Columbia/HCA Medicare case
In ‘The Double,’ Jesse Eisenberg plays two sides of one perplexing man
Couchsurfing: stuff to stream and download
Drinking, Nightlife and Parties
Where to drink and party in Orlando this week
Movies opening in Orlando this week
‘The Best of Me,’ ‘The Book of Life,’ ‘Fury,’ ‘Men, Women & Children’ and ‘St. Vincent’
‘Prince of Los Cocuyos’: Richard Blanco’s hyphenated Miami youth
Memoir of growing up Cuban-American by America’s first Latino/immigrant/gay inaugural poet
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19) New York City’s Diamond District is home to more than 2,000 businesses that buy and sell jewelry. Throughout the years, many people have lost bits of treasure here. Valuable bits of gold and gems have fallen off broken necklaces, earrings, watches and other accessories. Now an enterprising man named Raffi Stepnanian…
Wing Shack is designed with the sports fan in mind
Bar Exam: The where, what and why of Orlando drinking
This Little Underground: More unrest in Orlando nightlife
Plus live reviews of St. Vincent, Insane Clown Posse
Westgate Resorts, owned by David Siegel, will raise its minimum pay to $10
Hey, remember that time in 2012 when timeshare mogul David Siegel, owner of Westgate Resorts, sent his employees a crazy email telling them that if they voted for Obama, they’d probably be putting themselves out of jobs (because Obamacare and all of the things Obama was going to do to destroy the economy)? The gist of…
Sting operation nabs dollar stores and gas stations selling novelty contact lenses without prescription
You know those crazy colored contact lenses that people like to sell this time of year – the ones that make your eyeballs look like black spots in your face or cat’s eyes or zombie eyes? Well, they’re supposed to be available only with a prescription, but it seems some Florida stores have been selling…
Michelle Obama heads to Orlando to campaign for Charlie Crist
Image via Wikimedia Commons Always wanted to press flesh with the First Lady? On Friday, Oct. 17, you’ll have the opportunity to do just that. Michelle Obama will be in town campaigning for Charlie Crist’s bid to regain the Sunshine State governor’s seat. Yeah, yeah, we know, as a Democrat, you can’t believe you’re considering…
Say “yes” to St. Matthew’s Cinematheque’s Halloween Spookfest
Image via Wikipedia St. Matthew’s Cinematheque Halloween Double Feature | 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15 | St. Matthew’s Tavern at the Orlando Beer Garden, 1300 N. Mills Ave. | 407-300-3489 | facebook.com/St-Matthews-Cinematheque You can’t celebrate the Halloween season without at least one night of scary movies. So why not spend a few exciting nights getting well acquainted with a spookathon with host…
10 Craigslist ads that prove that Orlando theme parks are almost as good as Grindr
Ever wanted to see a Disney Prince’s dick? Here you go! (NSFW, obvs) Waiting in lines at the theme parks may seem boring, however we’ve proved before that Disney is one of the horniest places on earth. This new set of Orlando Craigslist ads go to show that the drops on the rides aren’t the only things going…
Audubon Center for Birds of Prey to host owl meet and greet
Image via Pixabay 6:30 p.m.-8:45 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 15| Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N. Forest Ave.| 407-644-0190| facebook.com/Audubon-Center-Birds-Prey| $5 Calling all bird lovers! This month, Sierra Club Central Florida Group and Audubon Center for Birds of Prey will be hosting an exclusive event that will be shedding light on how to maintain the protection…
Third Thursday’s best night is back with Dia de los Muertos and Monster Factory
6-11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 | CityArts Factory, 29 S. Orange Ave. | 407-648-7060 | orlandoslice.com | $5 donation The best Third Thursday of them all has arrived, and, of course, it’s Day of the Dead-themed! All galleries will exhibit works by local and national artists as per usual, but Pine Street will be closed…
The Orlando Ballet bites into another Vampire’s Ball
Photo by Michael Cairns 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday | Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, 401 W. Livingston St. | 407-426-1739 | orlandoballet.org | $37.50-$86.75 Although billed as a “nontraditional performance for the Orlando Ballet,” we’re going to go out on a limb and say four years of the same show is…
Planned Parenthood looks to raise funds with “Our Roaring Twenties” costume party
7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 | Orchid Garden at Church Street, 122 W. Church St. | 407-246-1788 ext. 104 | ppgo.org/annualevent | $100 suggested donation Feel pretty in pink at Planned Parenthood’s annual “Pinktober” event. Celebrate 20 years of reproductive health in Central Florida and the opening of the new state-of-the-art health center by Planned…
Horror Movie Poetry Night offers a Halloween party for introverts
7 p.m. | Gallery at Avalon Island, 39 S. Magnolia Ave. | 407-317-8367 | free There’s more than one way to celebrate this Halloween season. You can dress up like a sexy fillintheblanks and go out drinking. You can construct elaborate costumes and go to parties. Or, if you’re not the masquerade type, you can…
SNL comedian Jay Pharoah comes to Orlando Improv
8 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday, 7:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Saturday | Orlando Improv, 9101 International Drive | 407-480-5233 | theimprovorlando.com | $20, 21 and up While the women of Saturday Night Live (Aidy Bryant, Cecily Strong, Kate McKinnon, et al) have been tearing it up lately, one of the only…
Do me, Orlando: Wednesday Night Pitcher Show
Art by Brendan O’Connor Wednesday Night Pitcher Show The best part: People bring you beer and there’s free-ish popcorn! Info/cost: Eden Bar, Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; free movie, various menu prices; 407-629-0054; enzian.org It lasts: As long as there’s a movie and the bar is open OK, we know you can watch…
Will they or won’t they?: Following this morning’s “discussion” on marriage equality at the County Commission
You may have read in the Orlando Sentinel this weekend that Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs – who made an appearance at Come Out with Pride for the second year in a row on Saturday – would be confronted once again with the idea that her and the Orange County Board of County Commissioners sign…
