Hundreds of musicians urge Congress to provide financial relief to independent music venues around the country
In early May, the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), a coalition of independent music venues and promoters from all around the country, formed. The purpose was twofold, both to raise public awareness of the importance of smaller, independent venues in the economic and creative ecosystem of a city, and to lobby Congress to pass the…
Organizing For All Black Lives Fund launched by local LGBTQ+ activists in partnership with Contigo Fund
The local activists and organizers behind the Contigo Fund have announced the formation of the Organizing For All Black Lives Fund, an initiative dedicated to funding Black LGBTQ+ groups and efforts in Central Florida “particularly those led by and for Black Transgender, Gender nonconforming, and Gender Nonbinary community and Sex Workers.” Spurred by Black Lives…
Watch the premiere of Orlando rapper Redd Simpkins’ new animated video ‘Deep Space’
Orlando rapper and Grand Collab member Redd Simpkins released his newest album, Curse of the Lucid Dreamer, back in February, and today Orlando Weekly is proud to premiere the music video for standout track “Deep Space.” The video was created in, ahem, collaboration with fellow Grand Collab stalwart Big Phels and it’s a dizzying illustrated trip…
The Sounds of Healing brings guitar great Larry Mitchell and U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo together in Central Florida this weekend
Two powerhouse former artists-in-residence at Central Florida’s storied Atlantic Center for the Arts are returning there this weekend for a live performance dubbed “The Sounds of Healing ― Healing Through Sound” that will be simulcast online. Joy Harjo, a Native American poet who has recently been named to a second term as U.S. Poet Laureate,…
Legal Public Notices 6/17 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices AUCTION Extra Space Storage – Store 8841 9847 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32825 Extra Space Storage will hold a Public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location Indicated: 9847 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32825 (407) 495-9612, July 08, 2020 @…
Florida achieves new single-day record for coronavirus cases, with 2,783 reported Tuesday
Florida on Tuesday has reported another new record: 2,783 COVID-19 cases diagnosed on the same day. This beats the previous single-day record set on Saturday, June 13, of over 2,500 new cases. Florida has more than 80,109 cases of coronavirus and 2,993 deaths as of this writing. The last few days of high numbers have…
Florida progressive groups ask judge to clear way for vote-by-mail fight
Accusing Florida officials of ignoring “the harsh reality of the pandemic,” left-leaning groups are asking a federal judge to move forward with legal challenges to state vote-by-mail restrictions. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Secretary of State Laurel Lee late last month asked U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle to dismiss the challenges, arguing that they are based…
Federal judge refuses delay in order granting voting rights to Florida felons
A federal judge on Sunday refused to put on hold his decision allowing hundreds of thousands of Florida felons who have completed prison or jail sentences to register and vote in this year’s elections. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle turned down a request by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ lawyers for a stay, as they challenge his…
In midst of record new COVID-19 Florida’s tourist welcome centers reopen with free face masks
Two state-operated welcome centers opened to the public Monday for the first time since March, while the coronavirus pandemic keeps two others locked up. And while the highway centers were once known for offering free orange juice to weary travelers, state workers at the reopened facilities – on Interstate 10 near the Alabama border and…
WWE suspends Orlando tapings after wrestler tests positive for COVID-19
At 2:14 p.m. WWE provided Orlando Weekly with a statement on this story regarding masks and audience rules at their tapings: “Fans have not been in attendance at WWE events since March 13. Yesterday, a select number of friends and family were permitted to attend WWE’s TV production. These individuals were required to participate in…
Orlando Science Center reopens for visitors
The Orlando Science Center – closed to the public since March 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic – has this week reopened its doors to the public. The beloved local museum will be open at reduced capacity, with timed entry for patrons and safety protocols in line with CDC and state guidelines. If you’re planning to make…
Disney reportedly creating new committee on minority representation in Orlando parks and resorts
As Americans continue grappling with the ghosts of systemic racism that still haunt nearly every corner of our culture, corporations have become eager to address their historical mistakes and the ingrained prejudices that continue perpetuating inequality. Few have a more arduous task in this time of requisite self-reckoning than the Walt Disney Company. The corporation…
Landmark Supreme Court ruling fuels calls for LGBTQ protections in Florida
LGBTQ advocates are hailing Monday’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that gay, lesbian and transgender workers are covered by federal anti-discrimination laws, but they say Florida needs to do more. The court’s 6-3 opinion, authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, found that the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits sex discrimination, applies to workers’ gender identity…
Orlando Sentinel and other Florida papers stop publishing online databases of arrest mugshots
Maybe it was the daily protests against racial injustices like the killing of George Floyd, or the pandemic and resulting furloughs, but Florida newspapers are finally getting the memo about publishing mugshots without context. The Orlando Sentinel announced Friday they are no longer publishing their mugshot database at mugshots.OrlandoSentinel.com. “The Orlando Sentinel is discontinuing the posting…
Sus Hi Eatstation pledges to donate 100 percent of Monday’s profits to campaign to end police brutality
Sus Hi, the local fast-casual, ninja-themed sushi chain, is donating 100 percent of their profits from Monday’s sales to a policy initiative to reduce police killings in the United States. “Our profits made today from all locations will be 100% donated to Campaign Zero,” said the restaurant company on Facebook. Campaign Zero launched an “8…
Florida man bitten in the face by an alligator while looking for his Frisbee, say police
Wildlife officials are searching for an alligator that bit a man directly in the face. Largo Police Department spokesman Lt. Scott Gore told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that Travis Spitzer was in waist-deep water at Taylor Lake at around 5 a.m. Friday, June 12 [date corrected], looking for Frisbees when the gator bit him in the face.…
Orlando Rep awarded $10,000 Art Works grant by the NEA
Local arts organization Orlando Repertory Theatre has been named as a recipient of a $10,000 Art Works grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. The award is part of $84 million awarded to arts programs across the country by the NEA. This award is intended to support the Rep in hosting a concert by Grammy-winning…
Publix won’t let employees wear Black Lives Matter face masks
Publix employees have been required to wear a mask since April 20, until the end of the national emergency, but the supermarket chain is apparently not happy about some employees’ choice of face covering. Some associates have been asked to remove or reverse masks reading “Black Lives Matter,” and customers have taken to Twitter to question…
Amid Florida’s biggest coronavirus spike, some Central Florida businesses close their doors after guests and staff test positive
This weekend brought unwelcome news of massive spikes in new cases of COVID-19 all over the state of Florida. The Florida Department of Health reported over 2,500 new coronavirus cases on Saturday and approximately 2,000 new cases on Sunday. These last two days have been the biggest single-day increases in new cases yet. As of…
As elections across Florida take shape, some lawmakers win without opponents
As Democrats hope to dent Republican majorities in both legislative chambers, the major parties will clash in 96 of 120 state House seats and 17 of 20 Senate contests, according to data posted by the Florida Division of Elections after the qualifying ended Friday at noon. Candidates were required to file paperwork and fees by…
Florida police union fights to keep officers’ identities secret
The Florida Police Benevolent Association made a second attempt Friday at getting a court to settle a dispute about whether a constitutional amendment aimed at protecting victims’ rights should apply to law enforcement officers. Citing privacy protections for crime victims in a 2018 Florida constitutional amendment known as “Marsy’s Law,” the police union maintains that…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs student-athlete compensation law
Surrounded by sports standouts, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday put his signature on a bill intended to allow student-athletes at Florida colleges and universities to cash in on their names and likenesses. The athlete-compensation bill, which establishes rights for students and schools, allows college students to have professional representation through agents licensed by the state…
Florida Rep. Darren Soto announces legislation to designate Pulse a national memorial
As Orlando pauses for a day of reflection and remembrance on the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse, Florida Democratic Rep. Darren Soto has announced he is filing a bill for the Pulse site to be made a national memorial. The proposed bill – H.R. 3094 – would grant a federal designation to Pulse…
Jacksonville is hosting the Republican National Convention on 60th anniversary of city’s KKK race riot
With the largest civil rights movement in contemporary history playing out as a backdrop, Jacksonville is now celebrating the fact it will officially host the 2020 Republican National Convention. Coincidentally, will be held on the 60th anniversary of a race riot in that city. Known as “Ax Handle Saturday,” on Aug. 27, 1960, more than…
Sanctum and Proper & Wild owner Chelsie Savage files for divorce
The Sanctum restaurant chain has been rocked by turmoil as an extremely toxic and hostile workplace has come to light in the past week. More than a dozen past and current employees have stepped forward to allege sexual harassment by Jamie Savage, who managed the restaurants with his wife, Chelsie, and also alleged that Chelsie…
Florida Rights Restoration Coalition and local motorcyclists to ‘Ride for Racial Justice’ and protest police brutality in Orlando on Saturday
This weekend, local bikers and motorcyclists are teaming up with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to ride out to the Orange County Courthouse. The ‘Ride for Racial Justice” will protest police brutality and highlight the continuing fight over ex-felons’ voting rights in the state of Florida. In 2018, Florida citizens overwhelmingly voted yes on Amendment 4,…
New ‘Orlando’s Own Hip-Hop’ free compilation out today
Today sees the release of the sprawling Orlando’s Own Hip-Hop Compilation, a locals-only digital mixtape conceptualized and curated by restless local DJ and musician Dizzlephunk. The timing is appreciated, bringing a vibrant local sonic movement back to the fore at a time when most of the local music scene is on pause because of the…
Florida Supreme Court continues to allow executions of prisoners with intellectual disabilities
Three weeks after a major ruling on the issue, the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday turned down appeals by two convicted murderers who argued they should be spared from potential execution because of intellectual disabilities. Justices on May 21 said the court made a “clear error” in 2016 when it gave some Death Row inmates…
Republican National Convention is coming to Florida
President Donald Trump will deliver his acceptance speech as the Republican presidential nominee in Jacksonville, following a dispute between the president and the governor of North Carolina over COVID-19 precautions. Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel announced Thursday night that the party will hold the late August convention at the 15,000-capacity VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena…
Florida eases rules on Bright Futures scholarships
Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran late Wednesday signed an emergency order that eases some eligibility requirements for awards under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Many graduating high-school seniors have struggled to complete volunteer service hours and improve SAT or ACT test scores after the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down schools and test sites this spring…
Florida just had its biggest one-day spike in new COVID-19 cases
Today Florida logged 1,698 new coronavirus cases, its largest single-day spike since the beginning of the pandemic, bringing the state’s overall total to 69,069, and 2,848 deaths. The record spike comes as much of Florida enters Phase II of reopening, which includes bars, movie theaters, museums and concert venues. Also, many of the state’s zoos,…
Another horse in Florida found butchered and dismembered
A horse was found butchered and dismembered at a horse farm in Central Florida in a horrific scene that may be part of a pattern of horse killings in the area. The horse, named Frosty, was discovered May 29 at a farm in Summerfield in Marion County. The scene was gruesome, with nothing but bone,…
Gov. Ron DeSantis announces plans to reopen Florida schools at ‘full capacity’ this fall
Thursday afternoon Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the state’s recommended road map for reopening K-12 school campuses this fall. The plan, which you can read in its entirety here, includes plans for disinfecting classrooms and new social distancing measures, as well as an outline for $475 million in educated-related aid, which will be completely funded by…
Disney pulls advertising from Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s program
UPDATED: June 12, 1:35 p.m. | Updated to remove SmileDirectClub, which a rep said, “made a bulk media ad buy and did not target advertising on Tucker Carlson’s show. The company ceased the bulk media ad buy (it ended according to schedule plan, it wasn’t pulled) at the end of May, unrelated to Tucker’s recent…
Weeki Wachee, Florida’s mermaid city, officially dissolves
With the signature of Gov. Ron DeSantis sealing the deal, the city of Weeki Wachee, Florida, ceased to exist yesterday. The city, population 13, will be absorbed into Hernando County. Weekie Wachee, the city, came into being over 50 years ago as an advertising gambit more than anything else, according to the Tampa Bay Times. This…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Thursday, June 11, 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. Great News Soccer Fans, The MLS Is Coming To Disney First Orlando lands the NBA and now the entire MLS season? No, it’s not a dream! – LINK Disney…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis makes ‘very, very unusual’ request to appeal to voting rights decision
Arguing that the case is of “exceptional importance,” lawyers for Gov. Ron DeSantis have made a rare move of asking a full appellate court to consider a challenge to a voting-rights ruling that would pave the way for hundreds of thousands of felons to cast ballots in the November elections. Appeals in federal lawsuits are…
Republican Party of Florida ready with ‘red carpet’ to host national convention
Florida Republicans believe they can hold a “safe, secure & successful” Republican National Convention, following a report in The Washington Post that Jacksonville is the front-runner to host the event. “While no final decision has been made by the RNC we understand Jacksonville is a front runner. This certainly has been generating a lot of…
Entire Major League Soccer season, including Orlando City, will resume at Disney World in July
Major Leauge Soccer will return July 8 to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World, in a World Cup-like tournament, the MLS announced on Wednesday. The 26 MLS clubs will compete for regular-season points and a Concacaf Champions League berth during 54 scheduled matches ending in August. “We are pleased to…
Florida law against unlicensed dietary advice challenged in federal court
Weighing arguments about the First Amendment and government regulation, a federal appeals court Thursday will take up a dispute about the constitutionality of a Florida law that restricts unlicensed people from giving dietary advice. Panhandle resident Heather Kokesch Del Castillo, backed by a national libertarian legal group, challenged the law after the Florida Department of…
Disney fans call for Splash Mountain to be re-branded
Disney fans online and signers of a recent Change.org petition (currently at over 4,500 signatures) have started an online campaign to convince Walt Disney World to rebrand its Splash Mountain water ride. The petition calls on Disney to to ditch its current Song of the South theme and instead re-imagine Splash Mountain around their more…
Walt Disney World releases new safety protocols for hotels and resorts ahead of reopening
On Wednesday, Walt Disney World released an official statement on new safety protocols that will be implemented at WDW hotels and Vacation Club resorts when they reopen and it appears to be a pretty proactive regimen of new cleaning and safety protocols. Katie Kelly, Vice President of Worldwide Safety Services, broke down the new guidelines…
Orlando Weekly’s Bite30 event is on, starting July 2020!
Bite30, the city-wide promotion featuring 30-plus local restaurants serving $30 prix fixe three-course menus for 30 days, has been rescheduled for July 15-Aug. 16, 2020. The promotion, which usually runs the entire month of June, was canceled due to coronavirus health concerns and the uncertainty of restaurants’ ability to service dine-in customers. As restaurants reopen,…
Local charity Give Kids the World closes indefinitely and lays off staff due to coronavirus
Beloved local charity Give Kids the World in Kissimmee has announced that they are closing indefinitely, and at the end of this month laying off 171 employees, as the organization struggles with the lasting impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on their mission. GKTWV CEO Pamela Landwirth released a statement yesterday via Facebook breaking the sad…
Florida coronavirus infections continue rising, with 1,371 new cases reported Wednesday
The U.S. surpassed 2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, and cases continued to spike in Florida. The state health department announced on Wednesday morning a total of 1,371 new positive cases and 36 virus-related deaths, bringing Florida to a total of 67,371 cases and 2,801 deaths. For the past ten days, Florida has been reporting…
Black Lives Matter demonstration organized by local Black trans women to be held at Orlando City Hall on Wednesday afternoon
The Black Lives Matter demonstrations and rallies sparked by the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police continues in Orlando with an event in downtown Orlando on Wednesday afternoon. As part of nationwide actions organized by the Trans People of Color Coalition, local Black trans women have organized a protest at 1 p.m. today on…
COVID-19 cases jump inside Florida’s juvenile justice system
The number of youths in Florida’s juvenile-justice system who have tested positive for COVID-19 jumped to 73 on Tuesday, up from 47 a week earlier, according to the Department of Juvenile Justice. Also, the number of infected juvenile-justice workers increased from 50 to 62. Palm Beach Youth Academy has had the most cases, with 21…
Gov. DeSantis signs bills on wrongful convictions in Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed 25 bills into law, including approving $2.15 million for a Jacksonville man wrongfully imprisoned for almost 43 years and two measures tied to a series of controversial highway plans. The highest-profile bill (SB 28) will compensate Clifford Williams, who was sent to prison for a 1976 murder, including serving…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Wednesday, June 10, 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. Folks Are Wondering If Orange County Really CARES Even after adjustments to it’s application process, Orange County’s CARE website crashes for a second straight day. – LINK Brevard Sheriff’s…
Make an appointment to meet Magic at the Orange County Animal Shelter
Meet Magic! Magic (A338708) is a 5-year-old boy who has been available for adoption at our shelter for 58 days. He has been neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. This sweet boy is very calm, laid-back and easy to handle. He enjoys being petted, takes treats gently, and likes to lie in the sun and enjoy the…
‘Pokémon: Journeys,’ ‘Artemis Fowl,’ ‘Da 5 Bloods’ and more films streaming online this week
Premieres Wednesday: Curon Season 1 – The Italian horror tradition adds a new chapter, as a mother’s yearning to return to her hometown spells trouble for her teenage children. Kids, this is why we gave up high-school reunions for Facebook. (Netflix) Lenox Hill Season 1 – In a documentary series shot before the coronavirus, doctors working…
If you don’t feel too guilty about taking a break from reality, check out scenes from Universal Orlando’s post-quarantine reopening
If you’d asked me three months ago, back when Central Florida’s attractions first announced their unprecedented closures due to COVID-19, how I’d feel when I finally got to visit a theme park again, I would have predicted that I’d be pretty enthusiastic. Instead, when that day finally arrived last week at Universal Orlando, my heart…
Think fascism can’t happen here? You’re already soaking in it
Despite the recent proliferation of memes, the early-20th-century novelist Sinclair Lewis probably never said, “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” But he would have endorsed the sentiment. Watching Hitler’s rise to power in Europe while the anti-Semitic Father Charles Coughlin and the swaggering, dictatorial populist…
Orlando’s citizen photographers are chronicling an extraordinary time of protest
This machine kills fascists
From gyros to hand pies, kebabs to kourabiedes, Maitland’s Greek to Go is good to go
Here’s a restaurant with a name for the times: Greek to Go (emphasis on the “to go”). It’s one of three Greek joints in Maitland – Athena Roasted Chicken and Olea Mediterranean Grill being the others – all within a mile of each other, in what has to be the greatest concentration of Hellenic eateries…
Beignets and bananas Foster French toast await at Maitland’s Brick & Spoon
The Dining-In Diaries
Judd Apatow and Pete Davidson’s ‘King of Staten Island’ is heartfelt but uneven
Judd Apatow is one of the toughest filmmakers to peg. Though the producer-director cut his cinematic teeth on seemingly low-brow, slightly raunchy fare, his best films (This Is 40 and, to a lesser extent, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) surprise you with a richness of characterization and an underlying sweetness, especially in their second halves. The King…
Photos of the most magnificent night-blooming cereus in Orlando
She’s known as Queen Weltin to the locals who gather once a year (or so) to worship.
‘I am sick and tired of Orlando’s police forces traumatizing the residents of this city’
Letters to the Editor
Savage Love: Streamers
Hey, Everybody: We had our first Savage Love Livestream event last Thursday night and I had such a blast! I got more questions than I could answer in our allotted time and so I’m going to answer as many as I can squeeze into this week’s column. Is there a safe way to date/be slutty…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Tuesday, June 9, 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. The Curfew Is Lifted & Gas Prizes Are On The Way Up After several days of productive, peaceful rallies, Orlando lifts its curfew. Orange County addresses its covid…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Monday, June 8, 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. Local Lawyers Offering Free Legal To Protesters Al though recent rallies in Orlando have been peaceful, hundreds of folks have found themselves behind bars for standing up for…
