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Another Florida police agency wants to use real-time facial recognition surveillance
Another Florida law enforcement agency wants to use real-time facial recognition, a powerful technology currently being tested in Orlando as a surveillance system. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a company willing to provide “real-time facial searching capabilities from live surveillance cameras,” according to a formal request the agency closed on Monday. Real-time…
Bengali 600 brings in Le Montro to add some gloom to their Afrobeat residency at Iron Cow
Bengali 600 – Orlando’s only regularly playing Afrobeat band – returns to the Iron Cow for their monthly residency this week. They’re bringing along newer band Le Montro, who aren’t even close to Afrobeat, but their moody, gothic aesthetic should provide a stark counterpoint to Bengali 600’s brassy rave-ups. Free beer included with cover! 8…
Floridian dark-synth cult figure the Viirus to return to Orlando in May
Emerging from Gainesville’s vibrant and eclectic experimental music scene many years back, solo electronic act the Viirus (né Adam Batley) was delving into the unexplored depths of the analog synth underground far before acts like Boy Harsher and Cold Cave would bring that sound to the mainstream. For years, the Viirus was an outlier, but his live…
13 free concerts coming to Orlando this week
Wednesday, April 24: The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 p.m. at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Maygen Navarro 8 pm at The Imperial at Washburn Imports, 1800 N. Orange Ave. Thursday, April 25:Leisure Chief 10:30 p.m. at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. McSwagger’s Silent Disco 8 pm at Crooked Can Brewery, 426 W. Plant St., Winter…
‘Avengers: Endgame’ puts a capstone on 11 years of filmmaking
Only one spoiler in this review
Foxtail Coffee is coming to Sanford
Foxtail Coffee will soon be opening a location in Sanford. The local coffee chain made the announcement on social media. Foxtail’s newest location is “coming soon” to the spot at 4720 International Parkway in Sanford, according to the posts. View this post on Instagram COMING SOON✨ Foxtail Coffee, 4720 International Parkway, Suite 1210, Sanford, FL…
Super Rico Colombian Bistro closes downtown Orlando restaurant for renovations until May
One of downtown Orlando’s most popular lunch spots, Super Rico Colombian Bistro, is closing their restaurant for renovations and depriving us all of their addictive salchipapas for a while. In a Facebook post, Super Rico owners say the spot at 57 W. Central Blvd. will be closed starting Monday, April 22. “Super Rico is expanding,” the…
Disneyland announces major changes to their Halloween Party – could the same happen at Disney World?
With Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening at Disneyland this summer, the tiny park is expected to see record-breaking crowd levels throughout the summer and into the fall. Disney has been working around the resort on multiple projects to help improve guest flow, part of a comprehensive plan known internally as Project Stardust. The latest move,…
Orlando will make it easier for food trucks to park downtown
As of early next month, food trucks will be allowed to park in downtown Orlando, including in several metered spots near Heritage Square, Gertrude’s Walk and the Sperry Fountain on Central Boulevard. The Orlando City Council unanimously approved the proposal Monday, which will allow as many as 11 trucks to park on streets downtown. Prior…
A minimum wage hike in Florida would cost the state $540 million in 2027, report says
There’s a price tag that comes with Florida’s proposed minimum wage hike. According to the Financial Impact Estimating Conference, which submitted its calculations Monday to the Florida Secretary of State’s office, the Sunshine State would be on the hook for roughly $540 million in 2027 if the proposed amendment qualifies for the November 2020 ballot.…
Disney World delays ‘Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway’ dark ride to 2020
The transformation of Disney’s Hollywood Studios hinges greatly upon Star Wars and the upcoming “Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway” dark ride, but now there are a few confirmed significant shifts in that plan. After weeks of speculation, Disney confirmed late last week that the new flagship Mickey Mouse dark ride has been delayed. The confirmation…
Dominican music icon Juan Luis Guerra to play Orlando in October
Dominican megastar Juan Luis Guerra has announced an autumn tour of North America with his band 4.40, and this “Literal” tour will include only two Florida stops, one of which is in Orlando! Guerra, with two Grammys and 18 Latin Grammys under his belt, is about to add another major award to his collection this…
Social Distortion and Flogging Molly announce co-headlining show in Orlando this summer
West Coast punk vets Social Distortion have announced a summer tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary as a band, and they’re bringing along Flogging Molly as a co-headliner. This two-month American tour includes only one Florida show, and it’s in the City Beautiful! Social Distortion and Flogging Molly romp through the Orlando Amphitheater on Friday,…
Tamale Co. will debut a new location in Orlando’s Hourglass District on May 5
The popular food truck Tamale Co. is debuting a new brick-and-mortar spot in Orlando’s Hourglass District on May 5. The new 1,300-square-foot restaurant will be inside the Hourglass Social House on Curry Ford Road, along with Leguminati, Le Ky Patisserie and Foxtail Coffee in an “open-dining concept,” according to a press release from owners Fernando and Jennifer Tamayo. Tamale Co.’s…
SeaWorld Orlando’s Sesame Street land is already rumored to be getting an expansion
SeaWorld Orlando’s Sesame Street area hasn’t even been open two months, but they might already be looking at an expansion of the area. When news first began leaking out that SeaWorld was looking to replace their dated Shamu’s Happy Harbor kids area with a Sesame Street-themed area, details regarding the project were sparse but one…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis asks Trump for more aid after Hurricane Michael is upgraded to Cat 5
Gov. Ron DeSantis wants President Donald Trump to increase federal assistance for Hurricane Michael recovery after the strength of the deadly storm was upgraded to a Category 5. DeSantis requested in a letter Friday that a federal share of costs be bumped from 75 percent to 90 percent. The letter came the same day the…
Outbreak of hepatitis A continues to grow in Florida
The number of cases of hepatitis A in Florida has continued to steadily increase, with the largest concentration of the outbreak in the Tampa Bay area, according to numbers posted on the state Department of Health website. The outbreak of the contagious liver disease began in 2018 and has accelerated this year. As of April…
Orlando’s crime-fighting Easter Bunny now has an Instagram and it’s lit
Orlando’s two-fisted, crime-fighting Easter Bunny now has an Instagram, and it’s pretty fire. The fluffy vigilante went viral Sunday night after running into an ongoing brawl and beating up a man on Orange Avenue. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bad Bunny (@badbunnyof19) on Apr 22, 2019 at 1:41am PDT The man behind the…
K-pop stars Tomorrow x Together sell out Orlando show at the Plaza Live immediately
Tomorrow x Together, or TXT to their fans, are the newest K-pop sensations assembled by Big Hit Factory, the conglomerate that brought you BTS. Never heard of them? It doesn’t matter; they’re doing just fine. TXT are currently the biggest-selling new K-pop act. Their album The Dream Chapter: STAR, TOMORROW X TOGETHER topped several Billboard charts…
Garage rock contenders The Growlers set to play Orlando in September
Psych-garage overlords The Growlers already had a summer tour set in stone, but then decided to keep the ball rolling into the end of the year with the recent announcement of a robust round of new dates stretching far into the autumn. The band are touring behind their most recent LP, Casual Acquaintances, and in…
It’s only April and Universal Orlando is already announcing dates for holiday events
Those of us who carp about Christmas coming earlier and earlier every year might as well go hide under the carpet, because Universal Orlando has decided to celebrate Earth Day by announcing the dates for its 2019 Holiday celebrations, including Grinchmas, the Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, and Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.…
Florida Film Festival reveals 2019 award winners
The Florida Film Festival announced most of its awards over the weekend, with Chained for Life, directed by Aaron Schimberg, taking the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature, and Nancy Schwartzman’s Roll Red Roll picking up the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature. Postal, directed by Tyler Falbo, won the Audience Award for…
Abigail Disney says Disney CEO Bob Iger’s pay is ‘insane’
Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of Disney co-founder Roy Disney, thinks the $65 million annual salary Disney CEO Bob Iger earns is “insane,” according to social media posts she shared over the weekend. “Let me [be] very clear. I like Bob Iger. I do NOT speak for my family but only for myself. Other than owning…
Mississippi’s Margaritaville is getting America’s first flying bar
Jimmy Buffett launched a new weed brand last week, but soon Parrotheads will have an entirely new way to get high. From the massive development on Highway 192 to a whole chain of retirement villages, Margaritaville has become a juggernaut of a brand with plenty of wild additions (like that social media-themed water park coming…
Miranda Lambert will rock Orlando’s Amway Center this November
Miranda Lambert will play at the Amway Center in Orlando on Nov. 9 for her Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars tour. The Grammy-winning country singer will perform with Maren Morris, the Pistol Annies and Tenille Townes at her Orlando show. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets go on sale Friday, April 26. Lambert is…
Lizzo is coming to Central Florida this September
Lizzo is coming to St. Petersburg, cuz she loves us. The 30-year-old rapper and body-posi star announced that the second leg of a tour supporting her debut full-length, Cuz I Love You, will hit Jannus Live on Sept. 10. The only other Florida show on the tour is a Sept. 11 gig at Miami’s Jackie…
Downtown Pizza Bruno at Orange County Brewers closing April 30
Pizza Bruno’s counter-service operation inside Orange County Brewers on Orange Avenue downtown is closing after a six-month run. Owner Bruno Zacchini opened the outpost of his uber-popular Curry Ford Road pizza joint inside the downtown brewery last November, replacing Red Claw Lobster Rolls & Pizza as the primary food vendor which replaced the Orlando Pizza…
Band of the Week: Boy Muscle
Welcome to Orlando Weekly’s “Band of the Week.” Every week, we highlight one of our favorite local bands. This week, we’re pleased to bring you Boy Muscle. Boy Muscle is playing Will’s Pub on April 27 with Mikey Erg, Caffiends, BraceFace, Debt Neglector, and Critical Hits. Just the facts: When did the band form?Summer 2017…
The Easter Bunny literally beat someone up in downtown Orlando last night
In what is probably downtown Orlando’s weirdest fight yet, someone dressed as the Easter Bunny ran into an ongoing brawl and beat up a man on Orange Avenue Sunday. An Orlando promoter who goes by Workkk caught the whole thing on video and told Orlando Weekly the fight started when a man bumped into a woman…
Andrea & Mud sleaze up Will’s Pub with their country noir
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Andrea & Mud, West Morrison & the Stray Hares, Will’s Pub, April 18 Andrea & Mud – the partnership of Atlanta musicians Andrea Colburn and Mud Mosely – aren’t just about basic music. This is a band with aesthetic. Dealing in consciously graphic songs that could only soundtrack shady business, their sound…
Federal judge says Florida prison system was ‘deliberately indifferent’ toward inmates with hepatitis C
The state may have to pay millions of dollars more in treatment costs for inmates infected with hepatitis C, following a federal judge’s ruling Thursday that said prison officials have been “deliberately indifferent” in caring for thousands of inmates infected with the virus. The ruling could potentially cost the Florida Department of Corrections as much…
Former Florida men are crowdfunding a Florida Man card game
Florida Man, notorious for his nutty and illicit adventures, is now a card game. This Cards Against Humanity-style game uses headlines inspired by real Florida Man news stories and lets you fill in the blanks: “Florida Man breaks into home, steals (blank), poops on (blank), and falls asleep on (blank).” David Ritchie and Dave Piser,…
Free cookies, sushi joints and more 4/20 deals being offered in Orlando tomorrow
Recreational marijuana isn’t legal in Florida but that hasn’t stopped local restaurants and business from offering sweet 4/20 deals tomorrow. Here are all the Saturday deals being offered in Orlando that we’ve heard about so far: – Insomnia Cookies is giving away one free traditional cookie to in-store guests all day long with no additional purchase…
‘Little Girls’ creators and Florida underground bands unite for one night at Maitland’s BAMF Comics
The creators of the highly-regarded graphic novel Little Girls (Image Comics) – writer Nicholas Aflleje and illustrator Sarah DeLaine – will be heading out on tour for some face time with fans of the book in May and they’re cooking up a very special event with BAMF Comics and some area underground luminaries. DeLaine and Aflleje…
‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ to audition for the role of Jesus in Orlando tomorrow
Jesus Christ! Do you have what it takes to be the singing, dancing, guitar-playing Messiah in long-lived musical Jesus Christ Superstar? Pray on it overnight, because auditions for the role of the titular Jesus will be happening Saturday in Orlando as part of worldwide auditions for the role. The Jesus chosen during this search will…
Windermere’s Hawkers will start serving soup dumplings and Japanese souffle pancakes during brunch in May
Following the revelation earlier this week that Chuan Lu Garden is now serving soup dumplings, Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Windermere announced today that they’ll start serving a special “Brunch in the Grove” menu starting the weekend of May 4 and 5. The full menu has yet to be released, but here are some goodies…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is coming to the Orlando Magic game tonight
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is apparently a basketball fan, as he’s preparing to attend the Orlando Magic’s playoff game tonight, the governor’s office announced. After a seven-year postseason drought, the Magic will face off against the Toronto Raptors tonight in Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs’ opening round. DeSantis will be visiting with the Magic…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis approves 8 new medical marijuana licenses
State health officials are preparing to revamp the application process for medical-marijuana businesses, with the hope of issuing up to seven new licenses before the end of the year, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office told The News Service of Florida on Thursday. The state Office of Medical Marijuana Use is expected to withdraw a series of…
UCF students will strike for climate, environmental rights next week
On Monday, seven University of Central Florida student organizations will lead a strike against the university’s administrators for failing to safeguard the student body and community’s environmental futures. “Energy usage, social injustice, animal agriculture and overall human consumption are some of the main causes of climate change,” the students write in a press release. The…
Australian rockers Rufus Du Sol will play Orlando’s Hard Rock Live in May
Australian alternative-rockers Rüfüs Du Sol are bringing their Solace world tour south and there’s a date with fans in the City Beautiful set for early May. The trio made their debut on North American late-night TV last night, with a fiery performance of “Treat You Better” on Jimmy Kimmel Live. (Watch below.) Their current tour…
The FBI won’t tell Florida officials which county election system may have been hacked by the Russians
Florida officials say the FBI wouldn’t immediately tell them which county election system may have been accessed by the Russians after a report from special counsel Robert Mueller said the federal agency suspected hackers breached “at least one” county’s computer network. The Florida Department of State says it has “no knowledge or evidence of any successful…
Meet Leon Bridges, the soul music star who’s playing a sold-out House of Blues on Saturday
“She didn’t even recognize my voice at first.” That’s Leon Bridges talking to Orlando Weekly/Creative Loafing about the first time he played “Bad Bad News” for his mom, who apparently had the same reaction as fans that had grown attached to the soul sounds from his 2015 debut, Coming Home. The Grammy-nominated LP led Bridges…
Every 2019 Easter egg hunt and brunch happening in Orlando that we know of so far
Here’s our list of every Easter egg hunt and brunch party that we’re aware of so far: Saturday, April 20 Baked Fest A limited ticketed affair including Ten 10 Brewing Company beers being used as an ingredient, tastes of what local area bakers have to offer, and then some. Saturday 1-5 pm The Thirsty Topher,…
New report highlights ‘dirty and dangerous risks’ of offshore drilling in Florida
A report released this morning by the nonprofit ocean conservation group Oceana highlights the “dirty and dangerous” risks of the Trump administration’s plans to move forward with offshore drilling. Late last year, the nonpartisan group and a number of eastern coastal states sued the Trump administration to stop airgun blasting in the Atlantic Ocean after…
Mueller report says the FBI suspects Russians hacked ‘at least one’ Florida county
The FBI suspects Russian hackers accessed “at least one” Florida county government’s computer network through spearphishing emails, according to the recently released report from special counsel Robert Mueller. By the summer of 2016, Russia’s foreign intelligence agency GRU sought access to state and local computer networks by “exploiting known software vulnerabilities on websites of state and local…
Get a free slice and break a record Saturday for the largest outdoor pizza party in Orlando
Get a free slice this Saturday on Church Street when you join hundreds of people trying to break a record for hosting the largest outdoor pizza party in Orlando. PizzaPalooza starts at noon and goes until 4 p.m. on April 20 and is being hosted by the City of Orlando, Church Street District, GratSee and Grand Openings,…
Florida lawmakers still want to give guns to classroom teachers
A little more than a year ago, the idea of allowing armed teachers in classrooms nearly scuttled school-safety legislation hurriedly crafted in the wake of the horrific mass shooting at a Parkland high school that left 17 students and staff members dead. But now, a sharply divided state Senate is prepared to sign off on…
Florida House passes bill forcing minors to get parental consent before abortion
In a proposal that likely would lead to another court battle over abortion, the Florida House late Wednesday approved a bill that would require minors to obtain parental consent before they could have abortions. Lawmakers debated the bill for more than three hours before voting 69-44 to pass the measure (HB 1335). The Senate is…
Bill targeting ‘sanctuary cities’ heads to the full Florida Senate
A controversial proposal aimed at preventing “sanctuary cities” was narrowly sent to the full Senate on Wednesday. The Rules Committee voted 9-8, with opposition from Democrats and Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, to approve the proposal (SB 168) by Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota. Gov. Ron DeSantis supports efforts to prevent sanctuary cities, but Senate and House…
Richard Dreyfuss says hello and ‘Goodbye’ to Orlando at the Florida Film Festival this Friday
Something strange happened to legendary actor Richard Dreyfuss when, at the age of 30, he became the youngest person to ever win the Oscar for best actor. He experienced unease. “It took me about 10 years to understand why I felt so uncomfortable at the end of the evening when I got the Oscar [for…
Carnival cruise line is still using the ocean like a toilet
Less than a year after Carnival Corporation was convicted of dumping poop water into the ocean and lying about it to regulators, court documents show that the cruise line continued to dump over a half-million gallons of poop water into the ocean. According to a 205-page report obtained by the Miami Herald, the previously confidential…
Jimmy Buffett is launching his ‘Coral Reefer’ cannabis brand in Orlando this week
Jimmy Buffett, famous for day-drunk anthems such as “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” is set to launch his Coral Reefer cannabis brand at the Surterra Wellness Center in Orlando on Friday. Coral Reefer offers cannabis products and “lifestyle merchandise,” including vaporizer formula, a rechargeable vaporizer device and pods, plus disposable pens, hats and T-shirts, all…
The invasive bloodsucking worms found in Burmese pythons are now killing Central Florida snakes
Parasitic bloodsucking worms found in Burmese pythons invading the Everglades are making their way up north and killing native snakes in Central Florida, a new study shows. State wildlife officials already knew that the pythons, responsible for decimating the Everglades’ animal populations by eating pretty much everything, were spreading the deadly pentastome parasites to native snake species…
Country rap star Brantley Gilbert will play Central Florida this fall
Brantley Gilbert spent last fall on the road with Kid Rock, but he’s headlining his own party this fall when his “Not Like Us” tour hits Tampa’s MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre on September 28. Michael Ray and Lindsay Ell are set to open the show, and tickets go on sale to the general public on…
Orlando and Tampa airports ramp up facial recognition scanning for international passengers
All international gates at the main airports in Orlando and Tampa will soon use small facial recognition stations to verify the identities of all incoming and outgoing travelers, including U.S. citizens. Officials say the technology will speed up passenger processing, but its primary purpose is to nab imposters using fake passports or capture people who…
After getting booted from Bumble, George Zimmerman is now using a fake name on Tinder
George Zimmerman, a local child killer who was acquitted for the murder of an unarmed Trayvon Martin back in 2012, has now resorted to using a fake alias on the dating app Tinder. According to screen grabs obtained by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, Zimmerman is now going by the name “Carter,” and describes himself as…
Disney announces $5 million donation to help rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral
Disney will contribute $5 million to the cause of rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the company announced Wednesday. The more than 850-year-old church caught fire Monday, and much of the historical landmark was destroyed. “Notre Dame is a beacon of hope and beauty that has defined the heart of Paris and the soul of…
Orlando’s Desmond Meade honored by TIME magazine for his efforts to restore the voting rights of Florida felons
TIME Magazine released its annual list of “The 100 Most Influential People in The World,” and Desmond Meade, the Orlando-based executive director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, was recognized for his efforts to restore the voting rights of former felons. The list recognizes activism, innovation and achievement in the world’s most influential individuals. Meade…
Gimme Shelter: Meet Millie!
Fun, silly and playful! These are only a few words that describe 1-year-old Millie (A424378). Millie has been at the shelter for over a month now and is waiting for her fur-ever family to come adopt her – she is ready to go home today and is only $10 to adopt! For the month of…
Get your cannabis at these Orlando dispensaries
Retail therapy
Opening in Orlando: High Life, Penguins and more
Opening Wednesday: Breakthrough Technically the first product of the ballyhooed Disney-Fox merger, Breakthrough is a faith-based inspirational drama. But not just any faith-based inspirational drama: Instead of being smuggled into the local multiplex on a church bus to do its dogmatic dirty work, it’s getting a big-ass, heavily hyped Easter-week release on screens across the…
The best concerts coming to Orlando this week: Taiki Nulight, Whitesnake and more
Boz Scaggs Singer-songwriter and blues-rock lifer Scaggs plays the Hard Rock Live; see a legend in the flesh up close. 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, at Hard Rock Live, $45.50-$65.50 Alterity Chamber Orchestra The last full orchestra performance by classical boundary-pushers Alterity this season promises to be a scorcher with works by David Lang, Arlene Sierra,…
ICYMI: Orange County launches affordable housing task force, SeaWorld attorney charged with insider trading, plus other news
Trump administration wants to sell access to Florida’s coastal waters for oil and gas drilling: Politico was first to report that the Trump administration’s Interior Department is weighing such a plan. Multiple oil and gas industry executives told Politico that the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast are included in the administration’s current…
A dank guide to talking about getting high
To put it bluntly
Bigfire lights up the old Emeril’s space at CityWalk, Oviedo’s Yuki Hana closes and more in Orlando foodie news
OPENINGS: Last month we told you about celeb vegan chef Matthew Kenney’s restaurant Humbl taking root inside the two-story Franklin Street Hall at the Yard at Ivanhoe. Now we can tell you that Orlando Meats intends to be a vendor, though owner Edgar Massoni says a lease hasn’t been signed as yet. The full-service food…
The Church returns to Orlando, ready to preach
Songs of faith and devotion
With every two steps toward getting medical marijuana right, Florida takes one step back
The sticky, icky point
Savage Love: ‘Workmates’
When I first started dating my girlfriend, I asked her about past boyfriends and she said she hadn’t met the right guy yet. After dating for nine years, I found out about a past boyfriend and looked through her emails. I found out she dated her married boss for three years. She broke up with…
