Wednesday, Aug. 22 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Cosmic Roots Collective, David Zim 8 pm at The Imperial at Washburn Imports, 1800 N. Orange Ave. Thursday, Aug. 23 Leisure Chief 10:30 pm at…
Chicago comedian Chris Redd made his Saturday Night Live debut this past season at just the right time. In the wake of the 2016 election and its aftermath, the show’s ratings remain higher than they’ve been since the ’90s, and it’s rarely felt as relevant to the zeitgeist. Redd got his first major film credit…
Florida Democrats from across the state are calling on Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg to apologize and resign over an Islamophobic question Greenberg posted on social media. The Seminole County Republican has faced public backlash after posting on his personal Facebook, “Very simple question…Name just ONE society in the developed world that has benefited…
Atrévete-te-te, Orlando, to watch Calle 13 founder René Pérez Joglar on his worldwide debut tour as soloist Residente this weekend at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. The 40-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, composer, and winner of four Grammys and 24 Latin Grammys will be at the Fairgrounds’ Orlando Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. Tickets start…
According to a new study from the financial website SmartAsset, drivers in Florida are once again ranked among the nation’s worst. Go figure. SmartAsset compiled the study by collecting data on drivers and traffic statistics throughout the U.S., basing their ranking on four factors: the percentage of drivers with insurance, the number of DUIs per…
SeaWorld Entertainment has confirmed that Rudolph & Friends will continue to be a part of the Christmas celebrations at their theme parks through the 2023 season. First joining the holiday line-up in 2016, Rudolph and Friends have proved to be very popular. Found at all three SeaWorld parks, both Busch Gardens parks, and Sesame Place, the…
Rapper Travis Scott has announced his “Astroworld: Wish You Were Here” tour dates, and with only two Florida dates on deck, Orlando fans are going to have to travel a bit to get to the closest Central Florida date. Scott will be bringing Astroworld to Tampa, and if his recent VMA performance is any indication,…
A large part of SeaWorld Parks recovery plan has been to attract locals–those within a few hours’ drive of the parks. With that effort in mind, SeaWorld unveiled a new pass member only lounge at SeaWorld Orlando in 2015, just months after Joel Manby was brought in as CEO. Manby was the one who announced…
Universal Orlando just revealed the final house for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights, and they added two more days to the already historically massive event. This morning, Universal released details on the tenth and final house, “Scary Tales: Deadly Ever After,” a previous fan favorite but with a slight twist. From Universal: Guests will encounter…
Joel Greenberg, the Seminole County tax collector-turned-heel who refuses to resign, or even apologize, after a streak of Islamaphobic social media posts, is now insulting his political rivals, bragging about his net worth, and even threatening his constituents with the powers of his public office. Last night, in an lengthy Twitter meltdown, Greenberg fought every…
On Tuesday, Orange County commissioners approved a request by Sheriff Jerry Demings to hire 75 new deputies for schools in unincorporated areas of the county, following a week of back-and-forth bickering over the funds between Demings and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. The approval comes just one week prior to primary Election Day. Both Demings,…
Our hearts are still aching over the fact that Wally’s Mills Avenue Liquors, a local landmark and cultural institution, closed up shop this morning. From Wally’s bartender Tania Bernard: And yet, for those of us who are still moaning our say-it-isn’t-sos, hope may be on the way in the form of Orlando attorney John Morgan.…
Orlando landmark and cultural institution Wally’s Mills Avenue Liquors has reportedly closed this morning. According to Twitter user Kelli Deluxe (@the_kspot), the dive bar closed by putting up a sign on their door with patrons still inside. @OrlandoWeekly FYI Wally’s Liquor on Mills Ave just closed for good THIS MORNING (with patrons inside drinking). I…
A Leon County circuit judge Monday knocked a proposed education constitutional amendment off the November ballot, saying the wording failed to inform voters of its impact on the creation of charter schools. The proposed amendment, placed on the ballot by the Constitution Revision Commission, would impose eight-year term limits on school board members and would…
In a detailed, 65-page ruling, a federal appeals court Friday said a trial is needed in a legal battle about whether Disney theme parks have taken adequate steps to meet the needs of customers who have autism and cannot wait long times for rides. A lower-court judge had granted summary judgment for Walt Disney Parks…
Wells Fargo shut down the campaign account of a candidate seeking a seat on the Florida Cabinet because she took contributions from lobbyists representing the medical marijuana industry, according to records provided by Democrat Nikki Fried on Monday. Fried, a Fort Lauderdale lawyer, has made advocacy for medical marijuana a cornerstone of her campaign for…
Using the hashtag #JoelGottaGo, Central Florida advocates have started a petition calling for Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg’s resignation after he posted an Islamophobic question on Facebook. The petition, which currently has 639 signatures, also asks for Attorney General Pam Bondi and Leon Biegalski, executive director of the state Department of Revenue, to urge Greenberg…
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Squad Five-0 reunion, Gasoline Heart and Mike Dunn, Will’s Pub, Aug. 18 There was a time in the 2000s when, amid a swelling new-millennium indie tide, there was a strong little scene here in Orlando that staked a vibrant claim at the classic altar of rock & roll. It was a society…
Announced today, Universal Orlando will once again feature the films of horror producer Jason Blum at Halloween Horror Nights. The new maze “The Horrors of Blumhouse” will feature characters and scenes from the films Happy Death Day and the recently released First Purge. From Universal: “The Horrors of Blumhouse” maze will bring guests face-to-face with…
New York post-punk all-stars Interpol are set to release their new album Marauder this week and Orlando fans have a chance to hear it before anyone else. Park Ave CDs will host an exclusive listening party of Marauder, the band’s sixth album, on Wednesday, two days before the proper release of the album. Interpol’s Marauder…
New-school pop-punk band the Garden have announced a North American tour set for the end of the year with a ridiculously stacked support bill of Machine Girl and rapper Le1f. The trio so far have one Florida date announced, and it’s in Orlando. The twin brother-helmed Garden are touring behind new album Mirror Might Steal…
Seminole County residents are calling for the resignation of tax collector Joel Greenberg after he posted an Islamophobic Facebook “question” and proceeded to wonder why people aren’t more tolerant of his bonehead, racially charged posts. “Very simple question… Name just ONE society in the developed world that has benefited in ANY WAY from the introduction…
More than 1 million of the state’s 13 million registered voters have cast ballots — by mail or at early-voting locations — for the Aug. 28 primary, as early voting opened statewide on Saturday. In numbers updated by the Florida Division of Elections on Monday, Republicans had cast 475,973 ballots — 402,881 through vote-by-mail ballots…
Florida has had 62 reported cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus this year, though it does not have any areas of active transmission, according to numbers posted online by the Florida Department of Health. The 62 total is as of Aug. 13 and represents an increase of three cases since the department posted July numbers.…
After nearly two decades, one of Orlando’s most iconic live-action shows is about to close. The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad stunt show is an opening-day attraction at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure. Based on stories found within the Arabian Nights collection, the stunt show hasn’t changed much since opening in 1999. An impressive stunt towards…
When Epcot’s new Ratatouille ride opens ahead of WDW’s 50th Anniversary, it will be the first built-from-scratch ride in the World Showcase in more than three decades, and will be the first such ride to feature fictional characters. While both Mexico and Norway now feature Disney animated characters, the France ride is different due to…
Those who bother to have an opinion on topics like “the greatest concert film of all time” usually fall into one of two camps: Jonathan Demme and the Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense or Martin Scorsese and the Band’s The Last Waltz. Both films are fantastic; it’s not like this is a Beatles–Stones rivalry. But…
Central Floridians are calling on Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg to apologize after Greenberg posted an “Islamophobic” question asking how Muslims benefit society on Facebook. The controversy began Saturday after the Republican elected official posted on his personal Facebook, “Very simple question…Name just ONE society in the developed world that has benefited in ANY…
Voting rights advocates are suing 32 counties in Florida for failing to provide bilingual ballots, resources and assistance to Spanish-speaking Puerto Ricans. The lawsuit alleges Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner and county elections officials are violating the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which protects the voting rights of U.S. citizens educated in “American-flag schools” in…
Lawyers for a voting-rights group asked a judge Friday to remove a proposed constitutional amendment that could expand charter schools in Florida from the November ballot, arguing the measure is misleading. Ronald Meyer, a lawyer representing the Florida League of Women Voters, likened Amendment 8, which combines three separate education proposals into one ballot measure,…
Democratic candidate Jeff Greene has put another $7 million of his fortune into the governor’s race, bringing the total since early June to nearly $30 million, according to a finance report posted Friday on the state Division of Elections website. Greene, a Palm Beach billionaire, loaned and contributed a total of $7 million to his…
United States Sen. Bernie Sanders visited University of Central Florida on Friday to headline one of two campaign rallies for Andrew Gillum, a Democratic primary candidate hoping to become Florida’s first black governor. The rallies, one held in Tampa and one in Orlando, brushed over Gillum’s well-known support for gun control, a $15 minimum wage…
Come Monday, Orlando City Council is expected to approve an initiative meant to reduce bicycle and pedestrian deaths citywide. Almost $55,000 of the funds will be granted by the University of North Florida. The initiative will be used to enforce some of the city’s most dangerous sections of roadway, with a project goal of “[increasing]…
Visit Florida, the state’s private/public tourism arm, and Gov. Rick Scott launched two programs Friday to provide aide to southwestern counties suffering from the latest red tide outbreak. The programs, the Tourism Recovery Grant Program for Red Tide and the Red Tide Recovery Marketing Program, were implemented to help once the red tide subsides, not…
The Local Bar & Grill is getting a bit of a makeover. The College Park spot, located at 3231 Edgewater Drive, was recently purchased by Venchur Investments, a company headed by Orlandoan Pat Semeraro, and he plans to make some changes. But fear not, Local lovers – it’s not getting a total facelift. “We look forward to bringing…
Universal announced their partnership with Cinemark Theaters today, and the former AMC CityWalk movie theater is about to get flipped. The new theater will feature a Cinemark XD auditorium. According to Universal, the auditorium will feature “expansive wall-to-wall screens, custom-engineered surround sound with multi-channel speakers and state-of-the-art projection systems capable of delivering 35 trillion colors.” The…
A gunman who killed five people last year at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was sentenced to life in prison Friday, after pleading guilty to charges in May. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom also sentenced Esteban Santiago to consecutive 20-year terms stemming from injuries suffered by six other people in the shooting, according to a news…
Jimmy Hula’s wants to help you start your weekend a little early. The taco and beer joint is hosting a grand opening for their newest location in downtown Orlando today. Dubbed an “Urban Express” location, the new store shares its space with the Basement at 68 E. Pine St. and celebrated a soft opening on Aug.…
A political action committee supporting Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis just got a $100,000 from the GEO Group, a Florida-based private prison giant known for numerous human rights investigations. According to public records, on Aug. 15 the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC accepted $50,000 from GEO Group, Inc. and another $50,000 from the company’s CEO,…
Florida’s SunPass toll system is reimbursing customers hit with bank overdraft fees after a botched $287 million upgrade left an enormous backlog of 170 million transactions. The Florida Department of Transportation announced earlier this week it was fining the contractor responsible for the upgrade, Conduent, nearly $800,000 in damages and asked for an investigation into the…
Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Thursday demanded that U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla, back up an “unsubstantiated” claim that Russians are hacking state voting systems. “We are aware of the threat and the need to stay vigilant, but if you have specific information on a confirmed intrusion of any of Florida’s voting system…
Gwen Graham is embarrassed. Diet Coke in one hand, the Democratic candidate for governor scoops up the dental floss in the backseat of her campaign SUV. She also sheepishly notes the tear in the upholstery of the Chevy Equinox, caused she said by the heel of one of her black pumps while she was trying…
Early voting for the primary election starts Friday in Orange County and will continue for a little more than a week until Sunday, Aug. 26. Early voting locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Orange County Supervisor of Elections has 15 locations open throughout the county, including: – Alafaya Library, 12000…
After their tower was damaged by Hurricane Irma, and then not replaced because of upcoming construction, and then they found a new place for the antenna, and then it was taken over by a pair of nesting bald eagles, local college radio station 91.5 FM WPRK is finally back on the air. The Rollins College…
Awash in ’80s nostalgia, the synthwave scene is all about capturing the feeling of watching a cool karate training montage or driving scene from straight-to-video action films of the era. Two of the area’s more keen retro-merchants – ACP Pro and Moondragon – share the stage at the Geek Easy for a trip down implanted…
The largest gathering of interactive technology developers in the Southeast arrives at Full Sail University this weekend for the annual OrlandoiX event. While Friday’s schedule is geared toward the business side of virtual reality, digital arts, video games and more, Saturday features a daylong expo with both major developers like Nintendo and small local groups…
Only the most retrograde chefs are knee-jerk anti-vegan these days – and may we venture the opinion that it’s probably because they lack the creativity required to make vegan food delicious? (Note: We’re not judging people who eat animal products, just saying people who do should stop judging those who don’t.) So while the meat…
Way before RuPaul’s Drag Race managed to sell drag to mainstream America, there was one queen to rule them all, and her name was Divine. Starring in several of John Waters’ underground shorts and features, Divine cemented her place in cinematic history by eating dog shit for a scene in Pink Flamingos. This weekend, Vault…
The news hit hard today at the OW offices that the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin passed away at the age of 76. Franklin’s importance to music and culture can’t be overstated, songs like “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” will be essential listening for generations to come. And her…
Deputies have identified the worker killed after accidentally falling into a vat of oil near Disney World as John A. Korody. Korody, 61, was an employee at Harvest Power, a Massachusetts company that specializes in converting organic waste into biogas, compost, mulches and natural fertilizers. The accident happened at Harvest Power’s Orlando energy facility on South Service Lane, which…
Full of torque and torture for the eardrums, the Monster Jam Triple Threat series is coming back to Orlando. The evening features crowd-favorite drivers and trucks like the infamous Gravedigger, the Monster Mutt Rottweiler, Zombie and many more, all of which will be crushing and smashing every car frame in sight. Plus, the Triple Threat…
On Wednesday, Orange County mayoral candidates – County Commissioner Pete Clarke, County Sheriff Jerry Demings and local businessman Rob Panepinto – spoke at the inaugural Sustainability Forum. The event focused on approaching sustainability through the lens of equity. As event organizer LeAnn Siefferman described it, it was “a democratic, collaborative process, hosted by a committee…
Heavy music breathren Five Finger Death Punch and Breaking Benjamin have announced a new round of dates for their co-headlining tour to resume later this year and this time their is an Orlando show in the mix. Five Finger Death Punch are taking the songs from their new album And Justice For None out on…
About a third of Florida’s school districts are taking steps to deploy armed “guardians” on school campuses to prevent incidents such as mass shootings, according to the state Office of Safe Schools. Damien Kelly, a veteran law-enforcement officer who is the first director of the newly created safety agency, told the Florida Board of Education…
It’s the norm for Republicans to paint themselves as the Trump-iest of candidates in GOP primaries. But two Democrats vying for Florida governor are taking a twist on the Trump train, with smear campaigns linking each other to a president reviled by left-leaning voters deemed crucial for a primary election victory. The feud between Jeff…
For the 11th year in a row, personal injury attorneys the Overchuck Law Firm sponsor a day of truancy at Wall Street Plaza. City Skip Day invites everyone to take the afternoon off and enjoy some free beer – you know, just like high school. With games, competitions and free Yuengling until the kegs run…
A nationwide call to protect America’s free and independent press
There’s a certain breed of hardcore punk that feels baked in the sun – music that you, the listener, just know is a response to endlessly sweaty days spent in endlessly concrete purlieus. It’s catharsis – youth and energy, boredom and anger – and it seems extra-necessary right here right now, as we melt through…
Philly neo-soul singer Bilal is best known for his show-stealing collaborations with heavies like the Roots, Erykah Badu, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, J Dilla and, perhaps most notably, contributions to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly that earned Bilal a Grammy. But to just focus on his creative teamwork is to overlook a fearsome talent and classically…
SeaWorld’s Aquatica water park is debuting a new Latin-themed monthlong event this fall. “Fiesta Aquatica” will take place throughout the month of September, and will feature “live entertainment, specialty menu items and beach games,” says the company. From SeaWorld: Latin-inspired treats, mixed drinks, and Sangria located in specialty food stations throughout the park and at…
A planned social media forum at this week’s annual Political Salsa, a private “non-partisan political mixer” for Central Florida candidates, has been canceled after one of the hosts was discovered to have connections with the “Proud Boys” alt-right group. Though the rest of the event will still happen, organizers have scrapped the social media portion of…
On Wednesday, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs fired back at County Sheriff Jerry Demings’ claims that she was slow in acknowledging his requests for additional deputies to staff school campuses in his jurisdiction and that a presentation regarding his requests was canceled. Jacobs’ statement during the press conference comes in light of a fuss that…
Olga Tañón, Puerto Rican singing sensation and merengue queen, has announced an Orlando show set for this autumn! Dubbed the “Mujer de Fuego,” Tañón has been crafting hits since her solo debut, 1992’s Sola, was the first Puerto Rican woman artist to be certified Gold in the U.S., and even has actual Guinness World Records for number of…
Harry’s Poolside Grill at Rosen Centre throws a prix fixe dinner highlighting a craft brewery regularly. For this iteration, St. Pete’s 3 Daughters Brewing gets the nod. Enjoy a six-course meal from lauded head chef Tello Luna with pairings for each course, including some of their newer hard seltzer line. Reservations strongly recommended. 6:30 p.m.…
School districts across the Sunshine State will receive $95.8 million in federal funding as reimbursement for enrolling students from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands displaced by hurricanes. The initiative, spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Winter Park, will include funds for local schools coping with a swell of newly enrolled students, some of whom are dealing with…
How did Orlando’s obsession with pho start? Where can we find the city’s “signature dish” (it’s honey nougat glacé, if you didn’t know)? And how exactly does a taco cone work? The experts with all the gastronomical knowledge to answer those questions will be at 90.7 WMFE’s Trends in Taste panel this week with host…
Arguing that Floridians shouldn’t be asked to vote on ballot measures that patch together unrelated issues, a legal challenge filed Tuesday at the state Supreme Court seeks to scuttle six proposed constitutional amendments. The plaintiffs, including former Supreme Court Justice Harry Lee Anstead, take aim at proposed amendments that the Florida Constitution Revision Commission placed…
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is sticking to his comment that “Russians are in Florida’s election records,” as Gov. Rick Scott pushes for more information and questions the veracity of the claim. With the two set to square off in the November general election for the Senate seat, Nelson’s office said Tuesday the focus needs to…
Fabulously weird post-punk project No Thanks filter passionate sociopolitical commentary through a sieve of trashy glamour and angular deathrock poses, to undeniably immediate effects. (And if you think there’s no precedent for that, check out Rubella Ballet and Noh Mercy.) If you went to last year’s Guests show at Stardust, it’s recommended you not miss…
Grün Wasser Young dark electronic duo out of Chicago plays one (count ’em, one) Florida show at the Falcon; the music is cold, crystalline and beautifully strange. 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, at the Falcon, $5 Jonah & Friends The Pauses are touring with and backing up Far legend Jonah Matranga running through his much-loved Water…
Are you looking for a new four-legged pal? Meet Sammy! Sammy (A410118) is a sweet 3-year-old boy who was brought into our shelter as a stray. Sammy is the definition of a cuddle bug – he loves to snuggle and get attention. He knows how to sit and seems to be housebroken. He would be…
OPENINGS: Vinia Wine Bar will open in Hannibal Square in early September. In addition to serving boutique wines, Vinia will offer a menu with a focus on Euro-Med small bites, oysters, imported charcuterie and cheeses, paninis, salads and Italian-style flatbreads … Jimmy Hula’s Urban Express celebrates their official grand opening inside the Basement bar on…
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs says she’ll ‘find the funding’ for in-school law enforcement: After Sheriff Jerry Demings announced that his agency hadn’t hired enough deputies since the passage of a new state law requiring every public school have security personnel, Mayor Teresa Jacobs – who’s running for Orange County School Board Chair – said…
Welcome to Orlando Weekly’s latest semi-regular column, a scatter graph where we rank Sunshine State pols’ behavior each week. Candidate making crowd-savvy moves? Elected official got a case of foot-in-mouth disease? Read about it here.
THIS WEEK: Alpha Welcome to a week in which the controversies behind the movies are more interesting than the movies themselves. We start with Alpha, which on the surface might seem like merely the latest and most primal entry in a summer filled with pictures for dog lovers (Dog Days, A.X.L. … it’s almost as…
I’ve been enjoying consensual nonmonogamy for the past two years, in part thanks to your column and podcast. I have a delightful young lover, and our connection has evolved into a kind of Master/slave relationship. I “allow” her to fuck other men and women, and she delights in asking my permission and recounting the details…
