Cover Story
A massive Black Lives Matter mural on Rosalind Avenue seemed like a positive step. But some in Orlando’s Black community would rather see systemic change
They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Few would claim that Orlando city leaders had anything but the best intentions in mind when they painted the words “Black Lives Matter” in letters 30 feet high on the surface of Rosalind Avenue. But many residents, Black and white alike, question the utility…
As alligator mating season brings nests across Central Florida, Gatorland reminds you to watch your back
Although it is not recommended that you get up close and personal with alligators in the wild, Florida theme park Gatorland houses over 2,000 American alligators, which are native to Florida, where guests can do just that. The theme park reopened its doors in mid May with new procedures to address COVID-19, but the real…
Big Storm Brewing Co. to open new Orlando brewpub at Amway Center
Not sure this one makes sense quite yet, but for the optimists out there: Independent Clearwater brewpub Big Storm Brewing Co. is opening their fourth Florida location, in Orlando, at the Amway Center. Yes, this year, 2020. Or at least they hope to by December. The Orlando City Council approved their 10-year lease on Monday, and…
City of Orlando approves lease for 18-acre 4Roots Farm Campus in the Packing District
If you’re the type of person who appreciates some good news, how about a little urban-farm update to brighten your day? Orlando’s Packing District is a massive, rapidly developing new residential area with one big planned perk: an 18-acre farm, which was approved by the City of Orlando on Monday. The new lease is a germination,…
Orange County Commission approves plunking $5 million into Universal Orlando wastewater pipe
Orange County commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to spend $5 million of county money to help Universal Orlando with their new theme park project. The money in question will go toward moving a wastewater pipe that cuts through land that Universal plans to build out for their upcoming Epic Universe park, with Universal and the…
4 Rivers Smokehouse and the Coop to hold July fundraising campaign for Black youth scholarships in Florida
Local eateries 4 Rivers Smokehouse and the Coop have announced a monthlong fundraiser in July for Black youth scholarships in Florida. All 4 Rivers locations around the state – 23 in all – and sister restaurant the Coop in Winter Park will donate a percentage of the proceeds from every sale – dine-in, to-go and catering –…
New interactive map tracks police violence at peaceful protests nationwide, including in Orlando
Since the recent protests began, reports of law enforcement officers using excessive force have been reported across the country, and now a new interactive map shows how bad it is both nationally and here in Orlando. The crowdsourced map — created from a megathread on the subreddit /r/2020PoliceBrutality before making it into a GitHub repository…
SeaWorld to host ‘Flicks and Fireworks’ drive-in movie event this weekend
The drive-in movie revival continues, and now SeaWorld’s getting in on the socially distanced action. SeaWorld on Tuesday announced “Flicks & Fireworks,” a weekend’s worth of drive-in movies set to take place in their parking lot in just a few days. Pop-up drive-in movie events are having a moment now locally, with both the Epic…
Legal Public Notices 7/8 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 28, 2020 @…
Orange County Convention Center’s planned $605 million expansion postponed
The $605 million expansion of the Orange County Convention Center is now off the table for the foreseeable future. The Orlando Sentinel reported that Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said in a news conference Monday afternoon, while running down the new county budget, that this massive construction project has been postponed, if not canceled. “Another…
Orlando metal stars Trivium to play full-on livestream concert from Full Sail on Friday
Orlando metal stars Trivium are set to play their first local concert this Friday since they released their new album, What the Dead Men Say, on Roadrunner Records way back in April. And though it can’t be a show with an audience, the band is planning to go all-out, “100% live” with full production and…
Local author David James Poissant to hold Zoom launch party for his debut novel tonight on Zoom
Local author David James Poissant is having a launch party for his debut novel, Lake Life, on Tuesday night and you can join in on Zoom. Lake Life, out through Simon & Schuster, has gotten positive notice from Booklist and Publisher’s Weekly (“poignant and beautiful”) and just this morning scored a positive review from the…
FC Dallas withdraws from Major League Soccer tournament in Orlando, after 10 players test positive for COVID-19
Major League Soccer announced on Monday night that the FC Dallas team was being withdrawn from the MLS Is Back tournament – set to start Wednesday in Orlando – after multiple players on the team tested positive for COVID-19. In a statement released on Monday, the league acknowledged FC Dallas’ 10 positive tests and resulting health concerns:…
Good news! Gov. DeSantis expects job numbers to show Floridians back at work
Gov. Ron DeSantis expects Florida to see “positive” jobs numbers next week when a June unemployment report is released. DeSantis addressed the issue Monday as $600-a-week federal unemployment benefits are slated to expire at the end of July and as Florida deals with a surge in coronavirus cases. Amid debate about whether federal aid will…
Dave Chappelle is throwing intimate, celebrity-packed comedy pop-ups in rural Ohio … and I got a ticket
On June 12, comedian Dave Chappelle released 8:46, a stand-up special filmed just days before in his hometown of Yellow Springs, Ohio. It’s hard to call it comedy – after all, the title refers to the length of time that police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on the neck of George Floyd in late May, killing…
Ronald McDonald House Charities closes down Orlando locations due to coronavirus concerns
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida announced on Monday that they are temporarily closing down their three houses in Orlando effective immediately, until later in the month. In a statement posted to their social media, Ronald McDonald House stated that the decision was due to positive tests for COVID-19 both in the local houses and the…
Pointe Orlando displays unofficial sets from ‘Friends’ and ‘That 70s Show,’ which may be more interesting than the real ones
After weeks of being holed up in your own apartment, a new attraction at Pointe Orlando allows you to spend a few minutes inside two of TV’s most famous residences. Both Monica’s apartment from Friends and Eric’s basement from That 70’s Show are on display at the pop-up experience. The experience was slated to open…
Florida Supreme Court to decide fate of vacation-rental ‘bed tax’
A battle about whether Airbnb and similar vacation-rental platforms are required to collect and send in county tourist-development taxes could be decided by the Florida Supreme Court. Palm Beach County Tax Collector Anne Gannon is asking justices to take up the issue after a divided appeals court ruled in March that the online companies are…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Tuesday, July 7, 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 Been Eating Out? Listen Up Have you been eating out since Florida reopened it’s restaurants? While it’s a great idea to support local, where you eat…
Florida public schools ordered to reopen in August
Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran on Monday ordered public schools to reopen in August and offer “the full panoply of services” to students and families. As COVID-19 outbreaks spike in Florida, Corcoran’s mandate said that extending school closures can impede students’ educational success and prevent parents and guardians from returning to work. “There is a need…
Feed the Need expands meal distributions to the Plaza Live in Orlando
The local Feed the Need food-aid organization is expanding operations this week. In addition to their Tuesdays at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, the organization will now also be handing out free meals to arts and theme park workers at the parking lot of the Plaza Live on Fridays. Starting this week – Friday, July 10…
Florida prisons see hundreds of additional coronavirus cases
Florida’s prison system recorded 443 new coronavirus cases and an inmate death over the holiday weekend, according to figures released Monday by the state Department of Corrections. An additional 354 inmates and 89 correctional workers have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. In total, the state has logged 2,443 inmate…
As Florida coronavirus cases soar, new credit card study links infection spikes to in-person restaurant dining
If you’ve been feeling a little too nervous to eat inside a restaurant of late because of concerns over coronavirus, you just might be on to something, at least according to a recent study conducted by investment bank JPMorgan Chase. CNBC recently reported on a study conducted by JPMorgan Chase, where in-house analysts cross-referenced the…
Gov. DeSantis’ veto of $225 million in affordable housing funds could leave Orange County in need
When Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s new state budget on June 29, he slashed a billion dollars earmarked for agencies and programs that Floridians depend upon, including money set aside for building more affordable housing in Orange County. Among his vetoes, DeSantis cut $225 million that lawmakers intended for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership, or SHIP,…
Disney World fans want to replace ruined Hall of Presidents with ‘Hamilton’
With most Americans still at home, Disney’s quick move to add Hamilton to streaming service Disney+ was a genius move, but many fans are now asking Disney to embrace the once-in-a-generation Broadway historical phenomenon in a far more tangible way. It’s no secret that the company has had issues with its Hall of Presidents attraction at…
Disney accidentally bills annual passholders for months the theme parks were closed
Loyal Walt Disney World annual passholders got a grand April Fool’s Day-style shock in the wallet over the July 4 weekend when Disney accidentally billed passholders for the months the parks were closed. All at once. The charges started appearing on Friday afternoon, with passholders on a monthly payment plan suddenly assessed for three or…
Visit virtually: Popular Florida parks and attractions adjust to COVID-19
While the coronavirus pandemic has altered many travel plans, a number of attractions are offering an interactive virtual experience in the era of social distancing. Some popular theme parks are providing virtual rides. You can even gaze at sea creatures at aquariums online or become an at-home park visitor at national and state parks across…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Monday, July 6, 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. Busch Garden’s Popular Safari Experience Is Back The Serengeti Safari at Busch Gardens is a fan favorite and has now reopened to park guests, but on a limited…
Florida added 59,000 new coronavirus cases in the past week alone
With thousands of positive test results pouring in every day, Florida topped 200,000 coronavirus cases on Sunday. Hitting 200,000 cases this weekend would have seemed unlikely — if not unthinkable — a month ago: On June 5, Florida totaled 61,488 cases, after adding another 1,305 positive results that day. But then came a massive surge…
Florida surpasses 200,000 total coronavirus cases over July 4 holiday
The state of Florida released the latest coronavirus numbers on Sunday, and they show a milestone has officially been crossed in the coronavirus pandemic, as the Sunshine State reached 200,111 total cases statewide since March 1. The new numbers show 10,059 new cases in the last day. That’s down from the record-high number of same-day new…
Tarpon Springs’ Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art hosts free Zoom happy hours to learn cocktail making
Now that the bars aren’t allowed to serve booze to patrons in person, learning how to make your favorite cocktails at home is suddenly more important than ever. Enter the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art’s Tuesday night Zoom happy hour series. In each iteration, Museum Director Teresa Wilkins and beau Nick teach you how to make…
Hey snowflakes, just stay home if you’re too scared to wear a mask
Just in case you’ve been living underneath a rock (which actually sounds nice right about now), then you know that Orange and Seminole counties have ordered residents to wear masks indoors in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. The move came as the efficacy of masks in preventing transmission of the virus has been…
Florida sheriff who said he would deputize ‘every lawful gun owner’ against protesters now says he legally can’t do that
Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels clarified on Wednesday the statements he made warning Black Lives Matter protesters that he can deputize “every lawful gun owner” in the county. In the video clearing up his headline-producing statements, Daniels said: “We have not given, and will never give anybody the autonomy or approval under the name of…
On same day as new record for COVID-19 cases, Sen. Rick Scott tells Fox News that Florida doesn’t need a statewide mask order
Florida Sen. Rick Scott defended Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision not to impose further sweeping shutdowns in Florida as the state’s case count continues to surge. Scott appeared on Fox & Friends Thursday, supporting the governor’s Tuesday announcement that Florida is “not going back” on its reopening and to call on local, state and federal governments…
One month after second phase of reopening, Florida hits new record-high for coronavirus cases
On June 3, as Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the second phase of his economic reopening efforts, 58,764 people had tested positive for the coronavirus in Florida. Just one day past a month later, that number has exploded to 190,052, with more than 11,000 new cases in one day on Friday. Forget New York. Florida and other…
Another record-high day for coronavirus in Florida, as cases jump more than 11,400 on Friday
Another day, another record-high rate of new coronavirus cases in Florida, which officially added 11,458 more people who tested positive for the virus on Friday. That brings the state’s total to 190,052, and it’s the third consecutive day of reporting more than 9,000 new cases. There have been 15,735 hospitalizations statewide, with 3,803 who have died. According to…
Florida Gov. DeSantis, VP Pence offer assurances as cases surge
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Vice President Mike Pence tried Thursday to assure residents that Florida is responding effectively to the coronavirus pandemic, as the number of cases continues to soar and some hospitals are having to halt non-emergency inpatient surgeries. While Pence contended that the state was in a “much better place” to respond to…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ net worth was up in his first year as governor
Gov. Ron DeSantis saw his net worth increase nearly 3 percent in his first year residing in the governor’s mansion. DeSantis reported a net worth of $291,449 as of Dec. 31, 2019, up from $283,605 at the end of 2018, according to a new financial disclosure posted on the Florida Commission on Ethics website. Meanwhile,…
VP Mike Pence ‘excited’ about coming to Jacksonville for Republican National Convention
Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday sidestepped questions about whether he would recommend that vulnerable people not attend the Republican National Convention in Jacksonville next month if COVID-19 cases in Florida continue to surge. “Let me say, we are excited about coming to Jacksonville,” Pence told reporters in Tampa at a press conference with Gov.…
Orlando Sentinel and parent company Tribune Publishing being sued for unpaid rent
Local daily newspaper the Orlando Sentinel has been sued by its landlord for three months of alleged unpaid rent, according to court documents from the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. The Miami-based landlord Orlando Opportunities South B LLC and Midtown Opportunities VIB LLC sued both the Sentinel and parent company, Tribune Publishing Co., on…
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opens socially distanced version of their Serengeti Safari tour
One of the more popular animal encounters is back at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. On July 2, the theme park announced that Serengeti Safari is once again giving 30-minute tours on the back of open-air trucks, but with a few new safety measures. The $29.99 upcharge that allows guests to see zebras, giraffes and other…
Jacksonville protesters prepare for the Republican National Convention
Republican leaders recently announced that Jacksonville would play host to major parts of the Republican National Convention (RNC), falling on the last weekend of August. Jacksonville, known for its relatively large conservative demographic, has been given a fair share of praise for the decision; Republican Mayor Lenny Curry called it “a tremendous opportunity.” Over the…
Dr. Phillips Charities to award $1 million in grants to local nonprofit groups engaged in coronavirus relief work
The Orlando philanthropic organization Dr. Phillips Charities announced on Wednesday that it will be making available $1 million in grants to nonprofit organizations in Orange and Osceola County engaged in local coronavirus relief efforts and projects. “Many of our neighbors have been affected by the coronavirus, either from physical or economic effects, in ways not…
Workers at over 20 Central Florida Publix stores test positive for coronavirus
Employees at more than 20 of Central Florida area Publix stores have tested positive for COVID-19. The list of stores was released Wednesday with more stores added through Thursday. The impacted stores will not be closed for extra cleaning, and employees who tested positive for coronavirus – and those they came into close contact with – have…
Florida reports over 10,000 new coronavirus cases, a record number
Over 10,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday, a new daily record that absolutely obliterates the previous record, which was set last Saturday, June 27, with 9,585 cases. According to the Department of Health, Florida added a total of 10,109 positive cases, 67 new deaths and 325 hospitalizations. The state now has 169,106 confirmed coronavirus…
OUC flips the switch on new solar farms in Orange and Osceola County
On Tuesday, Orlando Utilities Commission activated two new solar farms in Orange and Osceola County that added 108.5 megawatts – enough to power 20,000 homes – to the power grid as durable new sources of renewable energy. These two solar facilities, Harmony Solar Energy Center in St. Cloud and Taylor Creek Solar Energy Center in east Orange…
Florida’s elections officials prepare for primary and general elections amid the uncertainty of a pandemic
Face shields, temperature checks and disposable pens are just some of the safeguards Florida officials plan to employ to combat COVID-19, as they brace for elections in August and November. Collectively, Florida’s 67 county supervisors of elections have decades of experience responding to disasters. They’ve combatted hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires and even the historic Bush…
Meet Lambo and Bugatti, a pair of silky micro-panthers who are ready to be adopted from Orange County Animal Services today
Meet Lambo and Bugatti! Brother duo Lambo (A451767) and Bugatti (A451766) are five months old and are currently in foster care awaiting their chance at a forever home. These sweet boys both get along well with dogs and love eating and snuggling with one another – and with their human friends. The brothers are available…
Orlando rapper Sean Mingo finds his voice with ‘T.K.T.B.’
Seeing Orlando outsider hip-hop collective OhTwo live for the first time in 2018 was a revelation, and a lot of that was down to the fearless, frantic performances of Sean Mingo. At a house show, Mingo once made the floorboards shake from his stomps and leaps. The young MC was a blur, treating even the…
Netflix doc ‘Disclosure’ exposes the sorry state of trans visibility on screen
Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
Those who did manage to grab Disney tickets will have a very different experience compared to the pre-pandemic park
Earlier this month, I shared my experiences visiting the newly reopened Universal theme parks, and then signed off for a short but sorely needed sabbatical. I’d naively hoped that some semblance of sanity (or at least stability) might have reasserted itself by the time I returned, if not in the world at large, then at…
Savage Love: Kinked Gays
I have a question. I’m a gay man in a relationship and we’re both really happy since we met a year ago. We’re “open” in the sense that he wants the option to be intimate with someone else if a connection happens and in turn he said he would be supportive of me being involved…
Meet Gracie! She loves playing with toys and purring up a storm
Meet Gracie! Sweet Gracie (A452705) is a 3-year-old spayed female cat. She was brought to our shelter as a stray, and has become another shelter favorite! Gracie enjoys playing with toys, scratches behind the ear, and purring up a storm. She is available for adoption at our shelter and is also a virtual adoption candidate.…
Chicken Fire owner Kwame Boakye takes Nashville hot chicken lovers to hell and back
Cooking with love can make all the difference between a good dish and a great dish. But cooking with revenge? Well, that can mean the difference between dead meat and hot meat. Luckily in the case of Thornton Prince, it was the latter, so the story goes. Some Saturday night philandering gave Prince’s good lady…
‘New Girl’ stars Nasim Pedrad and Lamorne Morris reunite in ‘Desperados,’ debuting Friday on Netflix
Premieres Wednesday: Say I Do – The creators of Queer Eye bring us a new reality buttinsky-fest, in which a fashion designer, an interior designer and a chef make sure that couples who have been together for years finally have their dream wedding. But if people have managed to avoid getting married for that long,…
Bad As’s Sandwiches opens Winter Park outpost
The Dining-In Diaries
