Cover Story
Three women tell us what it’s like to be pregnant in a pandemic
As Florida begins easing quarantine restrictions and reopening the economy, one of the first sectors the state let expand in terms of operating capacity was health care. As of last week, medical facilities were able to resume outpatient and invasive surgeries, diagnostics and more. But the lifting of restrictions came with caveats, including COVID-19 screening…
Tampa Bay Times analysis reveals higher COVID-19 death toll in Florida
The Tampa Bay Times teamed up with health researcher Troy Quast from the University of South Florida to understand why there has been hundreds of unexpected deaths that have not been counted toward the tally of COVID-19 deaths within the state of Florida. Based on analysis, the epidemic’s death toll may be between 17 and…
An Orlando woman’s home needs repairs or could be condemned. Here’s how her neighbors are helping
After moving to Orlando homeless in 1989 and with only $500 in her pocket, Theresa Defairia worked hard to eventually purchase her own small home that same year. It had been scheduled for demolition but she bought it “just in time.” The one-story, chipped-white home is overgrown with weeds so tall they overtake the chicken-wire-covered windows. Although…
Donating blood is an easy way to get a free, accurate COVID-19 antibody test
OneBlood donation centers are now offering free COVID-19 antibody tests to anyone who donates blood, just as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says that antibody tests are only accurate 50 percent of the time. OneBlood, the not-for-profit blood center with locations in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, has been testing all blood…
Gov. Ron DeSantis supports moving Republican National Convention to Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday the political conventions for both major parties would be great for Florida’s coronavirus-damaged economy as President Donald Trump has suggested moving the planned Republican convention out of North Carolina. “Heck, I’m a Republican, it’d be good for us to have the DNC (Democratic National Convention) in terms of the economic…
Legal Public Notices 5/27 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices AUCTION Extra Space Storage – Store 8138, 1001 Lee Rd. Orlando FL. 32810 Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 1001 Lee Rd. Orlando, FL. 32810 (407) 489-3742, June 18, 2020 @ 4:00…
Read Orlando Weekly’s National Geographic-funded new reporting on Wednesday
Some good news: On April 8, we learned that the National Geographic Society would fund a work of original investigative reporting to be published in Orlando Weekly. The Society’s Emergency Fund for Journalists supports evidence-based, on-the-ground reporting on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local populations. We know Orlando needs the view from within, not the…
When Florida’s unemployment system fails, Orlando’s elected state representatives take the calls
Gov. Ron DeSantis claims that Floridians are not receiving their Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) payments due to user error; meanwhile, Florida state representatives have been inundated with calls and emails from citizens hoping to receive help with applying for unemployment and successfully receiving their payments. We’re asking Central Florida’s elected state officials to weigh in, as…
Orlando indie outliers Tele + the Ghost of Our Lord gets the reissue treatment from Illuminated Paths
It’s rare that a record label can focus on the new and next as well as what influenced said new, providing context and lineage for a scene as it evolves. Locally, Florida’s Dying did that, and luckily, so does Illuminated Paths. This month, the Central Florida label began a reissue campaign focusing in on the…
Local horror convention Fantasm to return in October to the Rosen Shingle Creek
Local horror convention Fantasm is returning for a second year in the flesh, and con organizers say that, for now, this October’s sequel is going ahead as planned at the Rosen Shingle Creek. Featured guests this year include stars from the cult hit Halloween III: Season of the Witch like Tom Atkins (!), Stacey Nelkin…
Central Florida beaches, coastal towns slammed with crowds over Memorial Day weekend
As the gradual reopening of Florida continues apace, area beaches were crowded over the long Memorial Day weekend, long considered the kick-off to the summer tourist season. Despite social distancing guidelines and rainy days, many thousands crowding in for a little sun and surf. The action started for many before they even reached the sand,…
Chuck E. Cheese might be trying to hide who they are, but Orlando still owes a lot to this mouse
The pandemic has caused hard times for many restaurants, but few face an existential crisis more extreme than Chuck E. Cheese. The kid-focused restaurant-arcade has had a rocky road since its founding in the late 1970s with a history of backstabbing, questionable health standards, and numerous reinventions. Throughout it all, Orlando has inexplicably become a…
Florida sales tax ‘holiday’ for hurricane supplies starts Friday
Starting Friday, shoppers in Florida emerging from coronavirus stay-at-home orders can avoid paying sales taxes while putting together disaster-preparation stockpiles for the 2020 hurricane season. In addition to helping residents buy everything from coolers to generators, Florida Retail Federation President and CEO Scott Shalley hopes the seven-day tax “holiday” can provide a boost for businesses…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. Central Florida Is Slowly Reopening The first of the large theme parks to open their doors appears to be… Legoland in Winter Haven. Here’s how they plan to…
KFC is testing a new chicken sandwich exclusively in Orlando
KFC announced Tuesday they are testing a larger, “more premium” chicken sandwich in Orlando. The fried chicken peddlers will first deliver the new product to select frontline workers chronicled in the Orlando Sentinel’s Pandemic Portraits, including teachers, auto mechanics, police officers and others. Calling it “bigger and better than KFC’s current sandwich,” KFC really kicks themselves…
With debts mounting, the owners of the former Nick Hotel speak to Orlando Weekly on what the future holds
Updated for clarity on the valuation by the Orange County Property Appraiser. Updated to include new comments from Urban Commons regarding the value of the Orlando site. After a tumultuous 2019, it looked like Urban Commons was heading into calmer waters this year, but of course (like everything else) that quickly changed. The L.A.-based real…
Orlando International Airport’s budget slash ignores history of growth, will have major impact on new terminal
Memorial Day weekend crowds show some hope for the tourism industry that people are beginning to travel again, but the total number of airline passengers is still far lower than in previous years. The resulting loss of revenue will have lasting impacts here, especially at Orlando International Airport. Air travel is indeed beginning to pick…
Federal judge clears the way for felons to vote in Florida
Opening the door for hundreds of thousands of convicted felons to be added to Florida’s voting rolls, a federal judge on Sunday struck down major parts of a state law requiring felons to pay court-ordered “legal financial obligations” to be eligible to vote. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle’s highly anticipated ruling also laid out a…
Vote for your favorite Orlando musicians to perform on WMFE’s ‘Tiny Desk’ concert showcase
Central Florida public radio station WMFE-FM released their list of 14 finalists this week, who are now competing to appear on the station’s local showcase based on NPR’s famed “Tiny Desk Concerts” series. The list includes some talented heavy hitters from Orlando’s music scene and a few new faces. Check out the nominees: Adam Fusco…
Dovecote Brasserie’s Clay Miller is the new executive chef at the Ravenous Pig
Since opening in the summer of 2016, Dovecote Brasserie has arguably been the anchor of downtown Orlando’s restaurant scene thanks to chef/founder Clay Miller’s exquisite “French-inspired” dishes. Now, less than four years later, Miller is leaving the restaurant he established to join his good friends and confidantes James and Julie Petrakis at the Ravenous Pig.…
This weekend’s Big Pause 2 Fest gives you a tuneful reason to stay indoors
Southern Fried Sunday has been pretty tireless in providing you with quality weekend musical entertainment and welcome sonic distractions, and this weekend’s Big Pause Fest 2 no exception. Combining a phalanx of artists ready to stream live, some prerecorded performance goodness and an accompanying menu from the New Standard, all bases are covered. This lineup…
Florida reaches 50,000 coronavirus cases on Saturday
State agencies updated a variety of numbers Saturday related to the coronavirus in Florida. Here are some takeaways: The total number of cases has reached 50,127, an increase of 676 cases from Friday’s count. There have been 2,233 deaths of Florida residents, an increase of 43 from Friday. The confirmed “unique” unemployment claims received from March…
Gatorland to reopen to the public Saturday, with new safety policies in place
OK, Social Distancing Skunk Ape, your moment is nigh. Friday afternoon, Gatorland announced that they will be opening on Saturday morning for the holiday weekend and beyond. Yesterday Gatorland presented their reopening plan to the Economic Recovery Task Force, where it was approved both by the Task Force and by Mayor Jerry Demings. Gatorland CEO…
Taco Bell releases pineapple drink resembling Disney’s famous Dole Whip
Walt Disney World’s famous Dole Whip frozen pineapple beverage has been considered a park favorite for years, but now it faces new competition from your local Taco Bell drive-thru. The Bell rolled out its new beverage on May 21, just as theme park fans have grown thirsty for their beloved costumed characters and colorful, sugary…
Fun Spot Orlando reopened Friday to the general public, masks not required
Fun Spot Orlando reopened on Friday at 2 p.m. and plans to reopen daily to the general public. The park will be open Friday until 10 p.m., and will reopen Saturday from noon until 10 p.m. Their Kissimmee park remains closed, with no reopening date set. As far as theme park news goes, “it’s huuuuge,” since…
Legoland Florida to become first major Central Florida theme park to reopen, on June 1
Looks like Legoland Florida has put together all the pieces. The Winter Haven theme park is the first in Central Florida to have its reopening plans approved, and they’re preparing to welcome visitors again starting on Monday, June 1. The Polk County park says it received guidance from AdventHealth officials to create their plan, which will include maintaining a 50…
Timucua Arts to stream last year’s command performance by Ken Stringfellow tonight
Tonight, the Timucua Arts Foundation is doing a one-night-only broadcast of the solo show by power-pop legend Ken Stringfellow from last year on their website and Youtube channel. In October of last year, Stringfellow held court on the Timucua stage, playing a mix of old and new songs – with a particular focus on his 2001…
Orlando has lost more than 179,000 jobs over the past year
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced that the Orlando area private-sector employment decreased by 179,100 jobs, a reduction of 15 percent, over the year. “This month, Florida saw considerable changes in employment data due to COVID-19,” begins the report issued on Friday. Predictably, the unemployment rate for the Orlando area has risen sharply to…
Gov. Ron DeSantis ‘lifting all restrictions on youth activities’ in Florida, effective immediately
While speaking to reporters in Jacksonville Friday morning, Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said all restrictions on youth activities have been lifted. “Effective immediately, Florida will be lifting all restrictions on youth activities including summer camps and athletics,” said DeSantis.“We believe this makes sense based on the data and observed experience.” DeSantis noted that the Department…
UCF and other universities are grappling with the details of reopening
As Florida universities face a mid-June deadline to solidify plans for safely reopening campuses in the fall, some school leaders continue to wrestle with questions. After campuses were shut down in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, some of the questions gnawing at school leaders are: Who will need to be tested for the virus?…
Hear ‘Five Strange Central Florida Stories’ online Friday at noon
Friday afternoon is about to get strange. Or at least stranger than usual for Central Florida. That’s because Orange County Regional History Center curator of collections Lesleyanne Drake is leading a Zoom discussion at noon about five of the most interesting, outlandish stories she’s learned about since she joined the History Center team. From 7,000-year-old bog…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Friday, May 22, 2020
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. Universal Orlando Reopening In Just Weeks It’s happening quickly. Just days after Universal Orlando Resort presented their reopening plan to Orange County, we’ve learned the park will reopen to…
Florida’s unemployment system has been breached
An unspecified number of unemployment applicants have been advised that some of their data was hacked, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity acknowledged Thursday. “We have notified individuals that were part of a data security incident associated with Reemployment Assistance claims,” department spokeswoman Paige Landrum said in a statement. “This issue was addressed within one…
Unemployment is a ‘horrible life,’ says Florida Sen. Rick Scott
Sen. Rick Scott appeared on Fox News Thursday calling unemployment a “horrible life.” The former Florida governor expressed sorrow for those unemployed, saying members of his family were often unemployed when he was younger. “Every family I talk to is saying, ‘We’ll figure out how to stay safe, let us have our jobs back,'” Scott…
Universal Studios presents Orange County with a plan to reopen on June 5
In a move that’s somehow both shocking and not, Universal Studios Florida asked to be able to reopen to the public by June 5, during today’s Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force meeting. Fox35 reporter Holly Bristow announced the bombshell on her Twitter account, and while it was expected that Universal would present an reopening plan…
Two Florida beaches were named ‘Best in America’ by Dr. Beach
For the past 30 years Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman, a coastal scientist and professor at Florida International University, has ranked the nation’s best patches of sand, and this year another Florida beach climbed to the top of his annual list. Jumping up three spots from last year, the Panhandle’s Grayton Beach State Park nabbed the…
Video shows four grown men fighting with paint at a Florida Home Depot
Wednesday morning, a Home Depot parking lot in Tampa was the site of a physical fight involving four grown men hurling open cans of paint at each other. A video of the incident was captured by bystanders, and has since gone viral. In the clip, a large man is seen slinging a can of white…
From Gatorland to Universal, Orange County theme parks make big moves toward reopening
Like it or not, inexorable movement continues toward “reopening Florida,” and that includes some area theme parks and attractions getting closer and closer to swinging their doors wide-open. A clutch of area attractions, including Gatorland, Fun Spot America and ICON Park presented their case on Monday to the Bringing Back Tourism working group, outlining new…
NOAA forecasters are predicting a busy Atlantic Hurricane Season this year
With warmer than average water temperatures and a weaker El Niño on deck, experts are predicting an “above-normal” 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The 2020 season, which officially starts on June 1 and runs until Nov. 30, is expected to have 13-19 named storms, 6-10 hurricanes, and 3-6 major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or greater,…
Guns N’ Roses postpones summer stadium show in Central Florida due to coronavirus concerns
Guns N’ Roses fans are gonna have to exercise some patience (sorry, don’t cry) as the band has officially postponed their August 15 date at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium in response to the global coronavirus pandemic. The news comes as part of the postponement of the band’s entire North American tour, which was supposed to…
Local experimental music showcase Accidental Music Festival returns this year as a livestream
The Orlando-based Accidental Music Festival has been a very enjoyable rallying point for experimental and left-field classical performers – and enthusiasts – over the years. We fondly remember the 2017 installment in a gutted-out space near the SODO Target, where we were exposed to acts that became favorites like Elizabeth A. Baker, Blacksunblackmoon and the Milovac Colossal Unit.…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Thursday, May 21, 2020
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. Have You Seen Gatorland’s New Skunk Ape? Look Familiar? Gatorland has a new mascot. A social distancing, pandemic worthy Skunk Ape.cHe looks so familiar. Right? – LINK The Vice…
Pence and DeSantis pay unmasked visit to Beth’s Burger Bar in Orlando
Adult man and Vice President of the United States Mike Pence joined Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for a lunch visit to an Orlando Beth’s Burger Bar location on Wednesday, following Pence’s delivery of personal protective equipment to a nursing home, and ahead of a tourism industry roundtable. Neither man wore a mask to the restaurant, and…
Drive-in movies come to Mount Dora this week, starting Thursday
“You’re gonna need a bigger … car.” Word comes via Mount Dora Buzz that the drive-in movie trend is arriving in Mount Dora this very week. Epic Theatres at Mount Dora is launching a drive-in movie series in their parking lot that focuses heavily on classic titles. Mount Dora’s Epic now joins movie theaters in…
Hispanic supermarket chain Sedano’s now delivering groceries in Orlando
Things are about to heat up in the kitchen, with Central Florida Sedano’s locations now offering grocery delivery via the Shipt website and app. Founded in Hialeah in 1962, Sedano’s Supermarkets is America’s largest independently owned Hispanic supermarket, with a selection of flavors that blows the cans off the “ethnic food” aisle at Publix. Its roots…
Orange County Clerk of Courts to host Thursday mental-health webinar to help with your pandemic stress
Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased anxiety, stress and uncertainty, the Orange County Clerk of Courts’ Office will be hosting an informational webinar about mental health on Thursday afternoon. The webinar titled “My Health Matters: Mental Health Awareness During COVID-19” is meant to raise awareness and help to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, and members of the public…
Florida Gov. DeSantis angrily defends firing of state COVID-19 dashboard official
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday defended the firing of Department of Health employee Rebekah Jones and pushed back against media accounts calling her the chief architect of the state’s COVID-19 information “dashboard.” The governor also pointed to an issue of an unrelated criminal charge against Jones. During a media availability in Orlando with Vice President…
Orange County releases ‘consumer confidence’ survey to gauge reopening during coronavirus
The Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force wants to know your thoughts on how local businesses and our economy are reopening. The group released a survey asking county residents to weigh in on issues like social distancing enforcement, restaurant capacity and daily temperature checks. You can take the Orange County Consumer Confidence Survey right here, and…
Orlando Rep. Val Demings, contender for Biden’s VP pick, takes aim at Mike Pence visit
Just in time for mask-averse Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to Orlando this week, Florida Congresswoman – and one of OW’s People We Love 2020 – Val Demings is going in on Pence, most certainly to show she’s tough enough to run with Biden for VP. Demings is no stranger to making an impact on a national…
Spoleto Italian Kitchen appears to have closed all Orlando area locations
Spoleto Italian Kitchen, an Orlando haven for fast-casual Italian done right, has apparently closed all their locations in the city. Local writer Scott Joseph reported on his Orlando Restaurant Guide that all of Spoleto’s Central Florida locations appear to be closed, with telephones disconnected and their website down. This news is seconded by Yelp, which has…
Orlando’s Gatorland introduces ‘Social Distancing Skunk Ape’ to make sure guests stay safely apart
Orlando’s Gatorland attraction, closed since March due to the coronavirus, is doing much more than hoping guests follow social distancing recommendations when the park reopens. That’s why they’ve released a “Social Distancing Skunk Ape” to show that getting too close to other people right now really stinks. The park hasn’t announced a reopening date yet,…
Calling Florida’s unemployment office? Get ready to wait at least an hour
Floridians who call the state for help with unemployment claims should expect wait times to surpass an hour. “The best time to call, and maybe after a lot of people hear it today it won’t be, is late afternoon,” Department of Management Services Secretary Jonathan Satter told reporters Tuesday. “But be prepared to sit on…
Ministry reschedules ‘Industrial Strength’ Orlando tour stop to April 2021
Industrial-metal survivors Ministry have rescheduled their “Industrial Strength” tour with KMFDM and Frontline Assembly, moving it forward to 2021. The Orlando show (also the only one in Florida) is still on, pushed forward from this summer to next spring. Ministry’s new Orlando “Industrial Strength” tour date is Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at Hard Rock Live.…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. Health Worker Says She Was Fired For Not Fudging State Stats?? Department of Heath worker, Rebekah Jones, says she was fired for refusing to manipulate the Florida’s Covid…
The Orlando ‘Fringe that almost was’ became the ‘Fringe that still kind of is,’ thanks to ingenious staff
After seemingly countless weeks of quarantine, Central Florida has started taking its first tentative steps toward a new abnormal. Unfortunately, any easing of stay-at-home restrictions came too late to save the 29th annual Orlando Fringe festival, at least as artists and patrons have come to know it. Happily, the “Fringe that almost was” became the…
Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s ‘Trip to Greece’ is a worthwhile sojourn
It’s their last ‘Trip’ movie
Savage Love: Power Players
Here’s a non-COVID question for you: I’m a queer white female in a monogamish marriage. I vote left, I abhor hatred and oppression, and I engage in activism when I can. I’m also turned on by power differentials: authority figures, uniforms, hot guys doing each other. Much to my horror this thing for power differentials…
Define what you hope for, and then do whatever’s necessary to live inside that hope
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for,” writes author Barbara Kingsolver. “And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.” According to my analysis of…
Orlando Weekly publisher Graham Jarrett on supporting a free press: ‘We are the eyes and ears of your community, but we cannot do it for free’
I seem to have so much to say, and so little room to say it in … Where do I start? Maybe with the fact that the business model of simply selling ads to support and give away high-quality journalism is broken. It’s been broken for a while. At Orlando Weekly, we have been working…
Here’s the Orlando Fringe festival streaming schedule for May 20-25, 2020
The show must (not) go on (in a packed theater)!
