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The Trailblazers: A group of former Orange Blossom Trail prostitutes and addicts hold a reunion in Orlando
On a rainy Monday night in Colonialtown, Phyllis Gamber is out with some friends. She starts a fresh pack of cigarettes on the outdoor patio of Houlihan’s on East Colonial Drive and gets ready to talk to a reporter about her life. The stone tables outside are still wet with fat drops of condensation that…
I-4 Fest hits a 10-year milestone this Fourth of July
If there’s any day in this country to celebrate the differences that make us unique parts of a cultural melting pot, it’s the Fourth of July, right? Austin’s Coffee’s I-4 Fest brings a healthy dose of diversity to its lineup this year, with genres like ska (Jahnopa), soul (Eugene Snowden) and garage rock (The Woolly…
Black Tusk’s new songs offer good reason to rage this Thursday at Will’s Pub
Since forming in 2005, Savannah sludge metal band Black Tusk has combined thick, infuriated vocals with sick, torrential riffs, garnering comparisons to nearly anyone considered heavy music elite. It’s an essential act to catch any time they come to town, but this would be an especially good time to rally around these rippers. Last year…
Fringe hit ‘Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll’ gets a revival at the Footlight Theater
We love a Fringe revival. Seriously, there are just too many shows at Fringe Festival to see all the best ones every year; inevitably, at the end of the fest, the crowd is raving about a show you completely missed. So a lot of you may be pretty chuffed for a second chance to see…
Happy Wednesday! Watch this video of a tiny hamster’s July 4 BBQ
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22 free concerts this week in Orlando (7/1-7/7)
Wednesday, July 1 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 p.m. at Lil Indies The Geek Easy’s Monthly Open Mic! 7:45 p.m. at the Geek Easy, Winter Park The Imperial’s Acoustic Soundcheck With Brian Killeen 9 p.m. at The Imperial at Washburn Imports Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 p.m. at the…
Status of Florida’s 24-hour waiting period for abortions law in question as legal challenges play out
The day before a new Florida law would have begun requiring women to wait 24 hours before having an abortion, a Leon County judge placed the law on hold while a constitutional challenge goes forward. But the state quickly filed an appeal, a move that could prevent Leon County Chief Circuit Judge Charles Francis’ ruling…
Cute alert: SeaWorld announces birth of two sea lions pups
Get your heart eye emojis ready because SeaWorld Orlando’s California sea lion family welcomed two new additions last week. The two most recent sea lions, who were born June 23 and June 26, join four other newborns who entered the world at SeaWorld’s Paradise Point Preserve in recent weeks. But why the sudden surge of…
A Florida bicyclist was hospitalized after crashing into a dead alligator
Last Saturday, June 27th, Pembroke Pines resident Tim Nicholls was riding his road bike when he ran into a two foot alligator carcass that had been previously crushed by a car. Riding in a group of roughly 40 cyclists, known as Weston Vello, the road bikers were sprinting at speeds of nearly 30 mph on…
This Florida wedding photographer had an epic comeback to an anti-gay customer
Rainbow filters began to overlay Facebook profile photos over the weekend in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage across the country. But when Clinton Brentwood Lee, a St. Petersburg professional wedding photographer, showed his support of same-sex marriage on his business’ Facebook page, one particular client did not receive the change warmly,…
DisneyQuest at Downtown Disney will be closing in 2016
DisneyQuest, the massive indoor arcade that houses classic favorites like Virtual Jungle Cruise and Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam, will unfortunately be closing its doors sometime in 2016. Walt Disney Disney announced the five story interactive theme park will be replaced with a basketball-centered NBA Experience, which promise “hands-on activities that put families and guests of all…
Listicle site Thrillest names Florida as nation’s ‘worst state’
Thrillest.com, a website that ranks Hot Pocket flavors, has released a new “definitive ranking” of our nation’s states and has ultimately decided that Florida is the worst. Ignoring any real data (like census info, job reports, insurance records, etc) the listicle relied heavily on the worldly opinions of its authors. Basically, the only reasoning Thrillest…
Disney says it will no longer serve poop-inspired dessert
If you were one of the few that got to sample Animal Kingdom’s poop-inspired desserts over the past two weeks, then consider yourself lucky. Disney will no longer be restocking the chocolatey turds at Zuri’s Sweet shop, located in Harambe Market. The shit snacks came in four different species; elephant, giraffe, hippo and tamarin and ran…
Matt Pond goes to Dinosaur World and picks up Florida hitchhikers in new music video
A.V. Club debuted the first part of Matt Pond’s newest two-part music video for “Take Me With You” today to get us revved up for tomorrow’s debut (June 30) of his new album, The State of Gold. And while the album likely isn’t any sort of ode to the Sunshine State (the musician used to live…
Netflix’s ‘What Happened, Miss Simone?’ is a breathless and wheezing hard stare at the enigmatic Nina Simone
Director Liz Garbus’ amazing glimpses of Nina Simone in her new Netflix documentary, What Happened, Miss Simone?, add up to a breathless and wheezing hard stare at one of the world’s most enigmatic talents. Garbus would’ve had to try to fail, of course, considering there’s enough emotion in just a GIF of Miss Simone that…
Daytona Beach considering gun range that serves alcohol
Because nothing could possibly go wrong, Ron Perkinson, owner of Volusia Top Gun is hoping to open a gun range in Daytona Beach that also slings drinks. Essentially, the idea is to have a gun range with a separate, but attached, cafe that serves both food and alcohol. Perkinson, who is confident that the the…
It’s official, the World’s Ugliest Dog is from Florida
Meet Quasi Modo, a former shelter dog, a Loxahatchee, Florida resident and now the world’s ugliest dog! For exhibiting “excellence in ugliness,” the 10 year-old, pit bull-Dutch Shepard mix took home the top prize at the 27th annual World Ugliest Dog contest last Friday in Petaluma, California. Quasi beat out a field of 27 dogs,…
Say Anything brings a more dynamic string arrangement to House of Blues with Cymbals Eat Guitars
If you picked up Say Anything’s 2014 record, Hebrews, you likely noticed it came with some strings attached. The band swapped out their trusty guitars for a more dynamic string arrangement, and this tour finds them touring with a string quartet to perform the songs true to the album. This will definitely be a separate…
Locals talk about “Tasty Trends in Today’s Food” at WMFE studios Tuesday
If you’re not all tired out from talking about/thinking about food after Bite 30 and Bite Night, here’s a fun local event you might wanna check out. Our local NPR affiliate, WMFE 90.7-FM, is hosting a panel discussion on current food trends 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 30. The event is free, but you’ll need to…
Lake County deputy pulls gun on couple at Taco Bell for cutting him off, gets hit with burrito
Thomas Thompson, a Lake County corrections officer and a man who loves to “Live Mas,” allegedly pulled a gun on a couple for cutting him off while trying to exit a Taco Bell parking lot Monday night, June 22nd. The couple told police they were leaving a Taco Bell in Mount Dora, Florida, when Thompson…
Ben & Jerry’s makes marriage-equality day even sweeter by introducing I Dough, I Dough ice cream flavor
Even though the company has long been sold to global conglomerate Unilever, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream still maintains the progressive spirit that’s always made it one of our favorite corporate citizens. Today, Ben & Jerry’s announced that it’s making marriage-equality day a little sweeter by renaming its Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream “I…
Disney really hates selfie sticks, officially bans them from all parks
Because certain people can’t stop taking photos of themselves on rides, starting Tuesday, June 30th, selfie sticks will now be flat out banned from all Disney theme parks. The ban includes all four Disney theme parks in Orlando as well as Disney Quest at Downtown Disney. Disneyland Resort in California will also be seeing the…
#ShareACoke Event at Winter Park Village through Sunday
If your name is Lori or Everly or Donald, you might have experienced somewhat of an existential crisis when fishing through the endless bottles of Cola-Cola during the soda giant’s #shareacoke campaign. No more! From today through Sunday, June 28, stop by Winter Park Village, across from Regal Cinemas, and personalize two mini Coke cans…
A White Castle food truck will be in Orlando tonight
White Castle’s Crave Mobile, a roving dispenser of square mini-burgers and bubble gut, will be sliding into the Food Truck Bazaar line-up this evening. According to The Daily City, the Crave Mobile will be on hand tonight (June 26th) from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 520 Main St., Windemere. People who enjoy small burgers…
Paper pushers: Orlando Zine Fest hits orbit at the Space Station today and tomorrow
If “zine fest” conjures up images of sad card tables stacked with badly Xeroxed, folded-and-stapled office paper, shake your head HARD to clear out the cobwebs; this two-day celebration will be nothing like that. Instead, works on paper (and even textiles) by almost 20 local artists, poets and writers will be displayed for ogling and…
Market report: Stone fruit = summer, and there are peaches by the millions right now
If you’re looking for something to do with yourself this weekend (like there’s not enough cool summer stuff going on around town already), might we suggest making a cobbler, upside-down cake, pie, galette or jam? Peaches are prime right now, and will be at their juicy, supple, sweet best through mid-August. Who’s got them: Freshfield…
U.S. Supreme Court makes its decision: Marriage between same-sex couples is legal in the United States
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is legal across the nation. In a 5-4 decision, supported by Justices Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, the court overturned a 2014 Sixth Circuit court ruling that upheld gay marriage bans. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas…
Carnival claims world’s largest cruise ship will be ‘eco-friendly’
The cruise industry recently took a big step forward when Florida headquartered Carnival Corp & PLC ordered four new cruise ships. The new 6,600 passenger cruise ships will be the world’s largest and the world’s first at sea to be powered by liquefied natural gas. The cruise industry, known for its traditional releases of raw…
Costumes are encouraged at 27 Club Tribute Show that faithfully honors the music of Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix and more
Your 20s are hard, and doubly hard if you’re a rock & roll king or queen who’s expected to party and perform all the time. Some of them tend to burn brighter and faster than others, giving rise to the legendary “27 Club,” a surprisingly extensive group of superstars who died three years before the…
U.S. Supreme Court ruling allows Floridians to keep using Obamacare, even if the state doesn’t cooperate
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a crucial interpretation of the Affordable Care Act on Thursday, preserving health insurance for more than 1 million Floridians but providing no larger solutions to the national or statewide divisions on the law. In a case that hinged on what Congress meant by making tax credits for insurance available to…
Smiling Bison to open second restaurant in Sanford
Seminole County blog The Bokey reports that the owners of the Smiling Bison gastropub plan a second location in downtown Sanford, to occupy the Magnolia Square spot formerly home to Marco Dino Ristorante. Chef Josh Oakley was quoted as saying that he and his business partner, Ron Thomas, have not yet decided whether the Sanford restaurant…
This Little Underground: Ceremony, Wildhoney, Tony Molina, False Punk, Gross live (The Social)
In a career defined by relative unpredictability, Ceremony has somehow managed to take a turn that’s just plain puzzling. Although products of punk, they’ve proven in recent years that they’re no slaves to hardcore orthodoxy. Progressively adding moody hues of gray into their sound, they’ve made a name by bucking convention. That’s why one of…
The historic Ma Barker house was one of the casualties of Gov. Rick Scott’s veto spree
Marion County’s attempt to purchase and restore the famous last hideout of Ma Barker was shot down earlier this week when Gov. Rick Scott vetoed the $250,000 the Florida Legislature approved for the purchase. The money was set aside from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund, the same fund that voters last year overwhelming voted to…
Cigar City Tap Takeover tonight at Barley & Vine
After work tonight, start the weekend early and head to the Milk District to get your craft brew on. Starting at 5 p.m., Tampa-based fan-favorite brewery Cigar City is taking over 25 taps at Barley and Vine Biergarten on the corner of Bumby and Washington. For now, B&V is keeping the selections under wraps, so…
Pizza Hut’s new hot dog pizza is a deathtrap
As I write this, my stomach feels like it’s turning inside out. I’m 28 years old – I shouldn’t be feeling like I need to rush to the hospital, like my heart is about leap out of my chest because my clogged arteries forgot how to be arteries. I’ve already thrown up once today, and…
UPDATED** Rip, ride, rockit: The Golden Pelicans announce new LP and European tour STREAM FULL ALBUM NOW
Last summer, the Golden Pelicans released their debut after what felt like ages of ripping those songs live, and now it seems the essential local punk act is making up for it by bouncing back this year with a timely follow-up in Oldest Ride Longest Line. They’ve already shared two scorched new tracks, “Black Mold”…
Theater Review: I Love Lucy Live on Stage at Dr. Phillips Center
I’m a little to young to have loved “I Love Lucy” during its original run (don’t let my grey hair fool you) but I can remember enjoying its reruns on Nick at Night, back when it actually was on Nickelodeon at night. So while I Love Lucy: Live on Stage didn’t exactly leap to the…
Global munchies: poutine, paella and peri-peri in Orlando
This N’ That Eats opens June 29 at 1811 N. Orange Ave. in Ivanhoe Village. (Really? You couldn’t have been there back when I lived across the street? Sigh.) Sandwiches on chef Jason Schofield’s menu include a Cuban with pork confit and dijon aioli, a pork-belly banh mì, a Mexican chorizo torta, and an Italian-inflected…
Read artfully at Snap Book Day this Saturday (it’s OK to just look at the pictures)
If you’ve ever been bitten by the art-book bug, you know it’s a habit that can cost you plenty. Sure, you could sit in a library carrel and get your fix, but it’s just not the same as leafing through those luscious pictures on a comfy couch, enjoying an espresso or maybe a mimosa as…
Catch twisted hip-hop star Kool Keith with DJ Kid-Flash at Will’s Pub
One of the most intricate spitters, and forever revered for his imaginative spunk, Kool Keith is known (and as you’d expect, respected) under a number of monikers (Dr. Dooom, Dr. Octagon, Rhythm X), but what he’s not known for lately is dropping into Florida dive bars. That’s why this unusual gig, which also features Kid…
A suspect in the SunTrust bank robbery was arrested
A suspect was arrested in relation to a June 9 bank robbery on South John Young Parkway. Detectives arrested Horace Darren Lewis, 21, in the Kissimmee area, according to a statement released by Orlando Police Wednesday. Lewis, along with two other unidentified males, robbed a SunTrust bank June 9 and left with an undisclosed amount…
Why are Orange County residents surrendering so many animals to the shelter this summer?
This week, the media received a distressing press release from Orange County Animal Services: In the past 10 weeks, the shelter has seen a 74 percent jump in the number of pets surrendered to the shelter by their owners, compared to this time last year. This is troubling for a number of reasons, not the…
Let’s relive Janet Jackson’s best moments before her September show in Orlando
She has shocked, sung, danced and even nip-slipped. With pop icon Janet Jackson coming to the Sunshine State this fall as part of her Unbreakable World Tour, let’s take a look back at some of her most memorable moments. 1. Rolling Stone Cover Jackson made headlines (and dorm rooms) when she confidently appeared on a 1993…
Authorities are searching for a ‘serial butt grabber’ at Florida International University
Apparently, the campus at Florida International University has some serious issues with people grabbing asses. According to the Associated Press, who called the perpetrator a “serial butt grabber,” officials are searching for a guy (or a group of guys) who enjoy racing passed woman and grabbing their backsides. The Miami Herald reported that butt grabbing…
One of the world’s worst invasive species just showed up in Florida and it’s disgusting
The New Guinea Flatworm, one of the world’s peskiest and ugliest invasive species, has now been spotted in Florida and will likely spread to the rest of the country. The flatworm is known to feast on local snails and earthworms, which are a vital part of the ecosystem. Despite the fact that the 2 inch…
FWC approves black bear hunt in Florida
We just heard from Chuck O’Neal, chairman of the Natural Resources Committee of the League of Women Voters of Florida, that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has just voted to authorize bear hunting in Florida – the first such hunt in 21 years. After hours of testimony, and after the Humane Society of the United States…
Here’s everything that’s leaving Netflix in July
But first the good news: Season Two of Bojack Horseman, Tig (a documentary by/about comedian Tig Notaro) and an eight-episode sequel series to Wet Hot American Summer (trailer below) both show up this month: Bojack S2 and Tig on July 17, and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp on July 31. Now, on to the mourning.…
Gov. Rick Scott vetoes funding for UCF, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando Rep Theater
Among the big losers in this week’s budget veto process were the University of Central Florida and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Funding for Orlando Repertory Theater also took a hit, though not as large as the other two entities. The governor’s long list of budget vetoes, which totals $461,387,164, includes $15…
Harrypalooza fulfills your needs for debauchery and decadence with a blown-out Shit Show at the Patio
With his Shit Show regularly gracing the Patio downtown, Talk Yo Shit organizer Mr. 3 (a.k.a. Fiona Trapple, Black Liz Lemon) seeks to become Orlando’s party visionary and he’s succeeding, likely due to the momentum of the local rapper’s annual Harrypalooza, now in its fifth installment. It used to be a birthday party, but the…
Watch this insane high speed car chase in Silver Springs, Florida
Last Friday, June 19th, Richard Sanders led local authorities in a high speed car chase in Silver Springs, Florida, until he was ultimately taken out by a police K9. According to LiveLeak, Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of domestic violence battery at Silver River Inn, where Sanders then fled the scene and led…
13 ways of looking at a flag: A post-mortem of “The Confederate Flag: A Belated Burial in Florida”
The initial press release for John Sims’ 13 Flag Funerals project didn’t attract much notice outside the art world : “To mark the 150th anniversary of the end of Civil War, multi-media conceptual artist John Sims will organize a thirteen-state funeral for the Confederate flag on Memorial Day, May 25, 2015. The services are intended…
4 Rivers to open at City Hall, Better Than Sex coming to Ivanhood, Thirsty Topher moving to Virginia Drive and more in our foodie news roundup
It’s a done deal: 4 Rivers Smokehouse will open on the ground floor of Orlando City Hall this fall. Better Than Sex, a dessert and cocktail restaurant based in Key West, is moving into the Wolfie’s Pizzamia space. They plan to open late September or early October, while Wolfie’s will close sometime in July. If…
Free Will Astrology, June 24, 2015
ARIES (March 21-April 19) During my regular hikes along my favorite trails, I’ve gotten to know the local boulders quite intimately. It might sound daft, but I’ve come to love them. I’ve even given some of them names. They symbolize stability and constancy to me. When I gaze at them or sit on them, I…
Music updates around town: The Groove Orient, Ralphfest, Woodstock
Anyone who has ever seen the Groove Orient would easily guess the band’s highly musical background without ever knowing the members all met casually attending Rollins College while pursuing focused music studies. The group coalesced by happenstance, really, when David Vanegas (percussion, bass, vocals) and Chuck Magid (guitar, vocals) became mildly obsessed with performing at…
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a quirky mix of life, death and friendship
4 stars “Nothing in this life that I’ve been trying could equal or surpass the art of dying,” George Harrison wrote. Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and writer Jesse Andrews might have taken inspiration from those lines when concocting Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, a quirky yet moving meditation on the life we discover during…
Opening in Orlando: Max and Ted 2
Max Last I checked, “Max” was the most popular dog name in the U.S., which means that Ted Geisel’s widow could push a hell of a nuisance lawsuit if she got smart. Sadly, this movie has nothing to do with Mount Crumpet’s most illustrious quadruped. Instead, it’s the cinematic equivalent of one of those feel-good…
Comeback king Juicy J relies on pop chart toppers to pivot his career
Juicy J has been priming the pump for his next album, Pure THC: The Hustle Continues, for some two years now, letting an original target date for release in September 2014 come and go. He’s not being lazy. In fact, in a recent phone interview, Juicy J says he’s worked harder on this album than…
Picks this week: The New Sam Rivers Rivbea Orchestra, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Punk Fiesta and more
The New Sam Rivers Rivbea Orchestra Get dressed up and go dancing at the end of every month when the music of Sam Rivers is revived by this capable and cherished group of local players. 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, at Will’s Pub, $7-$10 Harrypalooza Vol. 5 It used to be a birthday party, but…
Former Orange County employee files suit claiming racial discrimination
About African-Americans: “Most of them are drug dealers, on welfare and need to stop making babies, they’re without ambition, and are the reason for rising crime in the community.” About Rastafarians: “They must not be very educated people because why would they wear their hair like that. It’s so nasty.” About Haitians: “I don’t understand…
Savage Love: Help! My fiance is disgusted by sex!
I am a male grad student who is technically engaged to a female grad student. She has numerous positive qualities, but she is repulsed by sex. She is very sensitive about her repulsion and becomes distraught when I broach the subject. She says that even the thought of doing anything sexual with me elicits a…
This Little Underground: Making up with the War on Drugs
I’m an original fan of the War on Drugs. Having fallen hard for their debut LP, Wagonwheel Blues, back in 2008, I’ve been waiting an eternity for their Orlando debut (June 17, the Beacham). Thing is, I’m really only an unconditional fan of that first album. By the time they finally made it here, they…
Med fare, mod environment, meh results at Taboon Bistro
It’s been more than four years since Wa Restaurant, a hidden gem near the Universal Studios backlot, shut its doors. When I reviewed the restaurant in February of 2010, I talked of how every so often a restaurant in this city makes a conscious effort to challenge the palates of its patrons and how, more…
Gen Y’s production of The Flick brings an unconventional script to life
Orlando is the undisputed American capital of themed entertainment, but when it comes to more traditional theater, we are often disparaged in comparison to bigger cities. I’ve battled with outsiders, insiders and even myself over the alleged inferiority of our local theatrical community’s output versus “professional” out-of-town productions. It’s a problem that I anticipated would…
