Cover Story
The most notable laws Florida legislators didn’t pass in 2022
In order to spend their time throwing red meat to the base, the Legislature ignored thousands of other bills.
Mxmtoon will play the only Florida show of her world tour in Orlando tonight
Brooklyn musician mxmtoon has been on a world tour that started this month. And if you want to see this future-forward pop star in Florida at all, you’d best come out to the Orlando show. Because that’s it for the Sunshine State. mxmtoon’s album Rising — also this tour’s namesake — dropped on May 20. Rising completes a…
Orlando musician Danny Feedback to screen feature film ‘Nothing True Over the Moon’ this summer
Orlando’s own ultimate outsider-musician Danny Feedback is finally done with his feature-length film Nothing True Over the Moon and will be hosting a one-night sneak preview in June. Referenced back during our 2021 conversation with Feedback, the bulk of Nothing True Over the Moon was filmed with Feedback, director Evan J. Shafran and various collaborators (musical…
Timucua Arts Foundation announces ambitious 2022-2023 season lineups
The Timucua Arts Foundation unveiled a stacked lineup for its 2022-2023 season, starting in August and going full steam ahead with an eclectic array of the performing arts on offer. Timucua’s newest season of music starts off in early August with the International Guitar Festival, which stretches through the month with a slate of concerts…
Death-metal all-star band Left to Die kick off ‘Leprosy’ tribute tour in Orlando
Left to Die, a fearsome quartet of death-metal lifers, are kicking off a U.S. tour this summer. Even better, the tour is a musical tribute to Central Florida DM legends Death’s year album Leprosy. And even better than that (well, on par at the very least), is that the “Reborn Dead” tour kicks off in…
Legal Public Notices 5/4/2022
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices ALL ABOARD STORAGE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Personal property of the following tenants will be sold at public sale to the highest bidder to satisfy a rental lien in accordance with Florida Statutes, Sections: A83.801 – 83.809. All units are assumed to contain general household goods unless otherwise indicated. Viewing of…
James Beard Foundation’s Taste America series makes a stop at Kabooki Sushi July 12
The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America® series celebrates the bright talents behind some of the nation’s most highly lauded independent restaurants and this July, they’ll make a stop at Kabooki Sushi on East Colonial Drive to toast one of the city’s finest, Henry Moso. Moso, a two-time James Beard Award nominee (Rising Star Chef of…
People are less likely to drive while stoned in states with legal marijuana, new study says
A new study has determined that people in states where cannabis is legal are less likely to drive while stoned than people in states where weed remains criminalized. The study, published this month in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports, analyzed self-reported data from a national survey on cannabis use. Respondents in states where cannabis has been…
Tornatore’s in College Park bars minors, citing unruly teens
Tornatore’s Ristorante and Italian Market has been a magnet for students from nearby Bishop Moore High for over a decade. Starting today, those students will no longer be allowed at the restaurant and pizza counter, as the owners have barred unaccompanied minors. The owners of Tornatore’s cited disrespectful students, general rowdiness and poor tipping as…
Get discounted $25 tickets to select big-name Orlando shows during Live Nation’s ‘Concert Week’ promotion
Live Nation is bringing back their ‘Concert Week’ promotion this week, wherein live music heads can grab tickets to an array of big-name events at very discounted rates. From 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, through 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, tickets to a large number of upcoming Live Nation shows in Orlando can be grabbed for $25 all-inclusive…
Orlando-area Rep. Anthony Sabatini calls for arrest of ‘woke mobster’ who leaked SCOTUS opinion
Typically, it’s the Democrats who fret over norms as the country burns down around them. Howey-in-the-Hills representative Anthony Sabatini wants everyone to know that the boys and girls in blue don’t hold a monopoly on being a sniveling Melvin. Sabatini released a statement calling for the arrest of the individual who leaked a Supreme Court…
These local abortion access funds in Florida could use your donation
With the Supreme Court signaling the (official) end of abortion access in the United States, the task of getting people to places where they can receive necessary medical care is about to become much harder. If Alito’s leaked decision holds and the issue of abortion is kicked back to be decided on a state-by-state basis, …
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida to hold ‘Save Roe’ rally in front of Orlando City Hall this afternoon
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida is hosting a rapid-response rally at 5 p.m. Tuesday (today) in downtown Orlando to mobilize for abortion rights and reproductive freedom. The rapid-response event in Orlando is part of a series of rallies happening concurrently all around the state this afternoon in response to last night’s leaked draft of…
Leaked Supreme Court opinion signals end of ‘Roe v. Wade’: what this means for abortion access in Florida
A leaked opinion from the Supreme Court appears to signal the official end of guaranteed abortion access in the United States. The majority opinion, authored by Justice Samuel Alito, overturns the precedent set in Roe v. Wade and takes aim at other rights granted to Americans under a similar right to privacy framework (namely, cases…
Demolition begins on 7-Eleven building in downtown Orlando, clearing way for more public green space near Lake Eola
Demolition began Monday on a building that had formerly housed a 7-Eleven in downtown Orlando, clearing the way for an expansion of Lake Eola Park. The land where the Murrell Building formerly stood on Rosalind Avenue and Central Boulevard, near the southwest corner of Lake Eola Park, will be converted into public green space as part of…
London House gives up private club status, opens to public
Maybe Orlando just isn’t as full of swag bag types as they thought? Maybe they found out there’s no market for looking down your nose in a town where we can see all the sprawl from atop The Wheel at Icon Park? Whatever the reason, the team behind the ultra-exclusive London House has dropped their…
Scranton punks the Menzingers come to Orlando’s Beacham this weekend
“I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore” is an anthem we should all embrace (perhaps particularly our esteemed governor). Fortunately for us, Orlandoans have the opportunity to sing our earnest hearts out to that trademark tune and may more courtesy of Scranton, Pennsylvania’s finest the Menzingers, this Saturday at the Beacham. For many 30-something punks…
Woman surrenders to police after hours-long standoff at Orlando McDonald’s
A 30-year-old woman surrendered to police after an hours-long standoff with Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies inside an Orlando McDonald’s on Sunday morning. The woman, whom authorities have identified as Shandricka Warren, allegedly attempted to rob the McDonald’s on South Orange Blossom Trail late Saturday evening. While all of the employees and customers were able to…
Kim Kardashian spotted at Orlando Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, fueling rumors that she plans to wear Marilyn Monroe dress to Met Gala
When you think of the crowds that haunt I-Drive attractions on any given weekend, glitzy celebs are unlikely to come to mind. But that’s exactly the sort of clientele Ripley’s Believe It or Not! had over the weekend, when Kim Kardashian and boyfriend Pete Davidson were spotted outside the museum of curiosities. The reality TV…
Florida black bear chases Apopka family into their home in viral video
A viral video shows the terrifying moment that a black bear chased an Apopka family and their dog into their house. Rachel Smith shared the Ring-captured video of her fleeing the bear on Facebook. In the clip, Smith and her husband can be seen running into their house while calling for their dog, who runs…
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidates agree: main goal is tossing out DeSantis
With less than four months until the primary election, Congressman Charlie Crist is stressing a need for party unity among the Democratic gubernatorial candidates, who agree their priority is to stop Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and “culture wars” he has championed. Leading the other Democratic gubernatorial candidates in fundraising, Crist vowed during a joint appearance…
Florida voting rights groups revamp challenge to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ redistricting map
Alleging that the map is “intentionally racially discriminatory,” voting-rights groups late Friday requested approval to revamp a federal lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of Florida’s new congressional redistricting plan. In documents filed in federal court in Tallahassee, the groups and five individual plaintiffs alleged that the plan Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed through the Legislature should…
Tori Tori to host block party and fundraiser to benefit family of Chef George in May
Mills 50 bar and restaurant Tori Tori will be holding a block party for a good cause to benefit the family of George Foss next month Foss, the restaurant’s chef de cuisine. was killed in a motorcycle accident back in March. The fundraising event features not only Tori Tori’s cuisine and beverages but also fare…
Brian Esser returns to Florida and finds new creative life post Yip-Yip with Cabo Boing
“I’m here to demystify anything that I’m doing musically. If somebody sees my stuff and they want to make things that are similar to what I’m doing, I welcome that, I’ll talk about it. I love doing that. That’s my favorite thing,” says Brian Esser, without a trace of irony. “I’m just trying to be…
Skyline festival to bring house and techno stars to Orlando Amphitheater over the Memorial Day weekend
Orlando will be playing host to yet another big dance-music festival this year, with Skyline set to take over the Orlando Amphitheater in late May. Going down over Memorial Day weekend — a good a time to officially start the summer as any — Skyline Orlando will offer up over 30 artists getting down on three stages. The lineup…
Gov. Ron DeSantis wants Floridians to carry handguns without permits
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday he expects to approve changing Florida gun laws to allow what is known as “constitutional carry,” though it is not clear when that could happen. DeSantis didn’t say whether he would add the issue to a special legislative session that will start May 23 on property insurance. But he said…
As Twitter sale looms, court will decide whether Florida’s laws against social media platforms are legal
In a major free speech case, a federal appeals court panel will hear oral arguments Thursday on whether Florida can implement parts of a controversial new law that would prohibit social media companies from banning political candidates’ accounts. The case being considered by a three-judge panel in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has become…
Ron DeSantis says dissolving Disney’s special district should be ‘wake up call’ for company
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke on the state’s decision to dissolve Disney’s special district during a segment on Fox News. While speaking on The Ingraham Angle, DeSantis admitted the dissolution of Reedy Creek was a direct result of Disney’s criticism of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. DeSantis has accused Disney of being in thrall to…
List of Florida budget ‘turkeys’ finds $281 million in questionable spending
Florida TaxWatch on Thursday released a list of 166 “turkeys” in a newly passed state budget but suggested that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office should give extra scrutiny to all 1,221 local projects that lawmakers put into the record spending plan. With the state flush with cash from federal stimulus money and higher-than-expected tax collections, TaxWatch…
Teenage racecar driver from Daytona Beach arrested after punching classmate in the groin
ARCA driver Daniel Dye was arrested after he allegedly punched a high-school classmate in his nethers. The 18-year-old was taken into custody after reportedly striking the victim while in school at Daytona Beach’s Father Lopez High on Monday. The unnamed victim alleges that Dye was dancing and grinding on his face. When he pushed Dye…
OCSO deputy meets toddler he saved from apartment fire
Shortly after video of a heroic rescue went viral, an Orange County Sheriff’s office deputy met up with a family he helped save from an apartment fire. In the video shared over the weekend, Deputy William Puzynski can be seen climbing a Millenia apartment building by scaling the balconies to reach a family on the…
Casey Anthony hopes to tell her side of the story in new documentary, according to reports
Infamous Orlando area mom Casey Anthony is hoping to tell her side of the story that made her a household name in a new documentary. At least, that’s the word from People. The gossip magazine spoke with an anonymous source close to the tried-and-exonerated Anthony, who said the former Central Floridian is ready to share…
Comedian and UCF alum Daniel Tosh brings ‘Florida Trash’ tour to Orlando this fall
Comedian and TV host Daniel Tosh has announced plans to take in the sights (and stages) of Florida on his fall “Florida Trash” tour, and of course Orlando is a mandatory stop. The “Florida Trash” tour is a series of seven shows criss-crossing the state and kicking off here in Orlando — appropriate given that the Tosh.0…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoes changes for solar energy users
In a win for the rooftop-solar industry and environmental groups, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday vetoed a controversial bill that would have made major changes in rules for rooftop-solar energy. The bill (HB 741) dealt with a somewhat-wonky issue known as “net metering.” But it drew a fierce debate during this year’s legislative session, as…
Feel like you’re lounging on a Greek island when Pavlo plays Orlando Saturday night
A Mediterranean breeze will waft through Steinmetz Hall’s austere environs when Pavlo performs Saturday night. The PBS darling is touring in anticipation of his combo CD/DVD Live in Santorini. The DVD captures a live concert on the Greek island, while the CD comprises studio recordings of the songs performed. The guitarist purveys a musical mashup…
Disney says Florida can’t dissolve special district without first paying off its outstanding debt
Walt Disney Co. has remained relatively silent as lawmakers have debated (and ultimately signed off on the demise of) their long-held independent government in Reedy Creek. That ended earlier this week with a note to bondholders from the district. Reedy Creek leaders noted that the district could not be dissolved without Florida paying back all…
Florida man attempts to bar Holy Bible from schools under Republicans’ recently passed law opening school books to scrutiny
A Florida man is attempting to get The Holy Bible removed from school libraries under recently passed laws in the state putting instructional materials and library books under stricter scrutiny. In petitions sent to several school districts, Chaz Stevens asked administrators to remove all books the mention the Bible as well as any copies of…
Kissimmee vacation home salesman charged with taking part in Jan. 6 Capitol riots
A real estate agent who specialized in selling second homes in Kissimmee was charged with breaching the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riots. Authorities allege that 45-year-old Matthew Montalvo entered the seat of Congress during the riots that started while the legislature was certifying Joe Biden’s election. They say that photographic evidence shows Montalvo entering the…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis calls special legislative session over state’s property insurance woes
Florida lawmakers will return to the Capitol the week of May 23 to address problems in the property-insurance system that have led to homeowners losing coverage and facing soaring premiums. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday called a special session from May 23 to May 27 and listed general topics such as reinsurance, the Office of…
‘The Offer,’ new on Paramount+ this week, is a gossipy ‘Godfather’ yarn you can’t refuse
Plus everything new debuting on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV+ and the rest. Premieres Wednesday: 365 Days: This Day — The second installment in Poland’s answer to the Fifty Shades franchise offers more of the sexual violence and glamorized crime that moved Variety to castigate the original as “a thoroughly terrible, politically…
Orlando rocker Mike Dunn is finally back in a midnight mood with new single ‘You Belong to the Darkness’
Although Orlando roots rocker Mike Dunn has remained deeply involved in the music scene with activities like his burgeoning annual Folk Yeah music festival, he hasn’t actually released any new music since 2015 album Hard Luck Soft Rock. So newer faces to the scene more accustomed to seeing him as an impresario — and rising…
Orlando concert picks this week: Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Battles, Fanarchy Fest
If you go out, be safe, be cool. Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Area post-rock fans have been suspended in agony over this one for a while now. For one, these legends never come here. Then, once an Orlando date was announced, the pandemic pushed it way out on the calendar. Now, COVID willing, it’s finally…
‘Assassins,’ Sondheim’s pitch-black musical of political violence, finds a home at downtown’s historic Cheyenne Saloon
It’s tempting to read today’s headlines and conclude that this is a uniquely awful time period for civility and the rule of law, but the truth is that political violence is as American as apple pie. For a tuneful take on this ongoing national obsession, visit Church Street’s Cheyenne Saloon, where Kenny Howard and Florida…
An Orlando location for Sixty Vines, Chick’nCone opens with a unique twist on chicken and waffles and more local food news
OPENINGS + CLOSINGS: Sixty Vines will open a second location in the space that long held Roy’s Restaurant in the Plaza Venezia in Dr. Phillips. Just a few doors down, Chima Brazilian Steakhouse will move into the old Bonefish Grill space. Both are expected to open this year … Over in Winter Garden, Bruno’s Oysters,…
Florida Legislature’s abrupt elimination of Disney district, a mob shakedown by statute, sends an Orwellian message
‘Keep your mouth shut and the checks coming, or else’
