Cover Story
Florida Supreme Court rules against Ayala on death penalty cases
Today, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Rick Scott has the authority to remove death penalty cases from Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala. “Far from being unreasoned or arbitrary … the reassignments are predicated upon ‘good and sufficient reason,’ namely Ayala’s blanket refusal to pursue the death penalty in any case despite Florida law…
Take your kids to a free screening of Charlie Chaplin’s ‘Modern Times’ at Enzian
During the summer, when the kids are out of school and parents have to come up with ways to entertain the sticky little goblins without taking out another mortgage, the Enzian offers up KidFest, a series of free screenings of family-friendly movies. Of course, it being the Enzian, you’re not going to get computer-animated Hollywood…
Reptaliens aren’t just any band of disguised reptiles from another star system
Now, usually, having a relatively young band with only one 7-inch EP (Forced Entry on tastemakers Captured Tracks) opening for indie-dance worthies the likes of STRFKR would be a somewhat surprising proposition, but Portland’s Reptaliens are not just any band of disguised reptiles from another star system. The band – led by the couple that…
World of Beer goes all in on Espolón Tequila Brunch this Sunday
More like Sunday Booze-day, amiright? Feast on a brunch buffet that includes Espolón-glazed bacon, then kick back cocktails or shots of Espolón’s blanco, reposado or anejo varieties. Everyone gets a free cocktail and a sample of New American Oak, a tequila made in fresh oak barrels and finished in used Wild Turkey barrels. 10 a.m.…
Nationwide burlesque competition Florida Burlypicks comes to The Venue
The Venue, capital of the Central Florida burlesque scene, hosts the Florida Regional competition for Burlypicks, a nationwide burlesque variety competition. The competition welcomes dancers, musicians, clowns, magicians and whatever else in addition to traditional burlesque and striptease. Performers Blue Star and Franki Markstone, along with photographer Robert Castelli, judge who gets to advance to…
Pipsqueak Collective brings ‘pint-sized theater’ to Downtown Credo
While the subtitle “An evening of pint-sized theater” may give you the impression that this is a showcase of children’s theater, this evening of short plays and performance pieces is anything but. Organized by the Pipsqueak Collective, a local group of artists who produce theater and video works focused on collaboration, SqueakFest brings together 10…
The Geek Easy Comedy Show returns this Thursday night
The Geek Easy Comedy Show Stand-up returns to the Geek Easy with a free showcase featuring “nerd comedy,” or maybe just comics that look like nerds. The lineup includes Luke Tyler Dupuis, Nick Graves, Christophe Jean, Bailey Erickson, Adam Avitable, Marcus Crespo, Sean Beagan and Heather Shaw. 8-10 p.m. Thursday; The Geek Easy, 114 S.…
Bill Maher brings his politically charged comedy to Dr. Phillips Center
It’s gotta be difficult getting opposing sides of the culture war to despise you for completely different things, but Bill Maher, longtime host of HBO’s Real Time, has somehow managed it. While the right has long despised Maher for what they view as smarmy liberal elitism – he famously critiqued the characterization of terrorists as…
Start practicing the ‘hand jive’ for this week’s Grease Sing-Along at The Abbey
Like a lot of things you loved as a kid, Grease is full of stuff that would never fly today. For instance: Guys, if your friends say, “Tell me more, tell me more/Did she put up a fight?” when you’re describing a date, you need new friends. But it’s a sure bet that even just…
Pre-Metallica Block Party comes to downtown Orlando tonight
Before you serve your masters, pre-game on Church Street. The bars and restaurants along the strip – including Wahlburgers, Chillers, Latitudes, Irish Shannon’s, Ferg’s Depot and Lion’s Pride – take to the street to offer up free samples, drink specials, music and metal. Beats pregaming at stadium prices. 4-8 p.m. Wednesday; Downtown Orlando, Church Street,…
After more than a decade, Metallica returns to Orlando
Are you ready to jump in the fire? Bow to the leper messiah? Or even thrash around and act like a maniac? Well, your shortest straw has been pulled because Metallica are returning to Orlando after more than a decade. Having concluded the first leg of their Worldwired Tour at Soldier Field in Chicago, Metallica…
Disney finally scrubs human trafficking from Pirates of the Caribbean ride
Disney recently announced that the famous auction scene in Pirates of the Caribbean is being scrubbed of the human trafficking theme, and instead will now feature the pirates auctioning off the townspeople’s valuables. The central character in the auction scene currently is the “red head,” who the pirates famously proclaimed “we wants the redhead.” Well,…
Now’s your chance to own a piece of Artegon Marketplace
Artegon Marketplace might be gone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t relive the memories of the dead mall thanks to an upcoming auction. Jay Sugarman Auctions will be holding two days of auctions, July 13 and 14, for the various equipment, props, and other items left behind from the failed mall. Artegon, known as “the anti-mall,”…
After 22 years, Blizzard Beach may finally be getting an update
Months after Blizzard Beach closed the Red Slopes, home of the Runoff Rapids trio of slides, we might finally know why these slides have been shuttered since nearly the beginning of the year. With the addition of Miss Adventure Falls at Typhoon Lagoon earlier this year, Blizzard Beach now holds the longest streak of any…
Anna Eskamani launches campaign for Florida House
Orlando progressive leader Anna Vishkaee Eskamani announced Monday her run for Florida House District 47. The seat is currently occupied by state Rep. Mike Miller, R-Winter Park, who reportedly plans to run for Congress. House District 47 runs through Winter Park to Orlando and Belle Isle. “As an Orlando native and daughter of immigrant parents I have…
Rick Scott schedules Florida’s first execution in 18 months
Signaling a potential end to an 18-month hiatus for the state’s embattled death penalty, Gov. Rick Scott on Monday rescheduled the execution date of convicted killer Mark James Asay for Aug. 27. “I think the execution machine is going to get started again immediately,” said Pete Mills, an assistant public defender in the 10th Judicial…
Florida judge strikes down ‘stand your ground’ change as unconstitutional
A Miami judge on Monday ruled that a change to the state’s “stand your ground” self-defense law signed nearly a month ago by Gov. Rick Scott, intended to better protect the rights of defendants, is unconstitutional. Supporters of the controversial law, approved by the GOP-dominated Legislature earlier this year, called the ruling “a notable setback”…
Florida is ‘reviewing’ Trump election commission’s request for voter data
State officials are “reviewing” a request for personal Florida voter information from President Donald Trump’s election integrity commission, which is investigating the unsubstantiated claim that millions voted illegally in the 2016 election. The request to Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner was a letter sent to all states from Kris Kobach, the secretary of state in Kansas…
Gov. Rick Scott’s worth is almost $150 million
Gov. Rick Scott’s net worth rebounded in 2016, a reversal of fortune after his investments plunged a year earlier, according to annual financial disclosure documents. Meanwhile, the collective net worth of the state Cabinet has also climbed, with all three elected members reporting upticks in the annual reports, which were due July 3. The Cabinet’s…
Band of the Week: Acoqui
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 Acoqui. Acoqui is playing Will’s Pub on July 8 with the Woolly Bushmen and MrENC. Just the facts (answered by Alberto Hernandez): Who’s in the band?Tyson Bodiford plays the drums,…
Chef Kevin Fonzo has sold K Restaurant
It’s hard to believe, but in a couple of weeks James Beard Award-nominated chef, and inaugural BITE Award recipient, Kevin Fonzo won’t be manning K Restaurant in College Park. Fonzo told me he and his family sold the restaurant to Chad Phelps, who’ll take over the restaurant July 14. Phelps’ cooking experience includes stints as…
Famed Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to play Orlando next week
Pakistani devotional singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is making an incredibly rare Orlando appearance next week, courtesy of the Association of Pakistani Americans of Central Florida! The singer, nephew (and successor) of the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and a master of the Qawwali musical tradition, has toured the world and provided playback vocals to many…
Morimoto Asia is celebrating America with free beer on July 4
Honestly, what is more American than free beer? Chef Masaharu Morimoto might be Japanese by birth, but if you’ve ever watched the original, English-dubbed Iron Chef series, you’ll see his challengers tease his latent American-ness. After all, this country gave him two of his great loves: baseball and his culinary career. On Independence Day, Morimoto…
Florida public schools will lose nearly $100 million to charter schools
Thanks to Gov. Rick Scott’s freshly signed education bill, Florida public school districts are now set to lose a massive chunk of cash to charter schools next year. According to data requested by the Miami Herald and The Tampa Bay Times, a provision of SB 7069 will force Florida counties to share their local tax…
Orlando lawmaker says Rick Scott ‘ran away’ when asked about anti-discrimination order
State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith says Florida Gov. Rick Scott “ran away” from him at an event Friday after Smith tried to ask Scott about signing an executive order that would protect state employees against anti-LGBTQ discrimination. Smith, D-Orlando, and other LGBTQ advocates in Florida say days after the massacre at the gay nightclub Pulse,…
St. Petersburg is being tormented by a ‘triple butt’ artist
An image showing an unholy union of three butt cheeks is currently popping up all over St. Petersburg, Florida, and local authorities are not pleased. According to WFLA, the triple-butt graffiti has appeared in at least 20 locations over the last several months. “The bottom line is whoever is doing this is destroying property,” said…
Local rapper Danny Towers to headline Backbooth on Saturday
Adventurous local MC on-the-rise Danny Towers headlines Backbooth this weekend on the strength of his excellent grindhouse horror-themed new album Hellraiser. Danny Towers plays Backbooth at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 1, with support TBA. Tickets are $10. Related Stories
Stephanie Murphy and Val Demings just voted for an incredibly terrible anti-immigration bill
Yesterday, Florida congresswomen Stephanie Murphy and Val Demings were among 24 Democrats who voted for an extremely controversial bill that only boosts Donald Trump’s anti-immigration crackdown. On Thursday, June 29, HR 3004, also known as Kate’s Law, passed the House with a margin of 257-167. The GOP-backed bill is named after Kathryn Steinle, who was murdered…
Lake Eola remains ground zero for Fourth of July celebrations
No matter how many fireworks shows we’ve seen, there’s something about them that always leaves us in awe. Every Independence Day for the last 40 years, Lake Eola has transformed into a celebration of red, white and blue. By 9:10 p.m., the festivities will reach their peak – in the sky. Spend the day by…
Morbid Saint headbang their way into Will’s Pub this weekend
Incontrovertible fact: If you have the first word “Morbid” in your band’s name, you are destined for underground greatness. To wit: Morbid, Morbid Opera, Morbid Angel – and belatedly joining those ranks is Morbid Saint. But don’t call it a comeback; Morbid Saint have been here for years. Since 1982, in fact, when the band…
Kick off the Fourth with a ‘Kaboom!’ at Orlando Science Center
The ingredients in fireworks are pretty basic – just a mix of mostly black gunpowder and combinations of metal salts that give these star-like explosions their fabulous colors. But that simple, combustible fusion can make any event feel more romantic, exciting or in the case of this Independence Day, much more Amurrican. If you want to…
Transgender teen sues Florida school board after bathroom restrictions
A transgender teenage boy is suing the St. Johns County School Board after his Ponte Vedra High School told him he couldn’t use the boys’ restroom. Drew Adams, 16, began expressing his gender identity at Allen D. Nease High School since 2015, according to Lambda Legal, the organizations representing Drew and his mother Erica Adams Kasper. As a…
Here are some of the new Florida laws going into effect this weekend
Rideshare services, such as Lyft and Uber, will have to comply with statewide rules, and students and teachers will be allowed to express their religious beliefs at public schools, under new laws that will go into effect Saturday. The changes —- including two bills from the special session —- are among 125 revisions to Florida…
Popbar gelato joint opens in the Orlando Premium Outlets
Popbar is now serving up handmade gelato on a stick in the Orlando Premium Outlets. Opening early this month, Popbar stands out from other frozen dessert spots for its easy-to-eat treats, which are made daily and run around $5. You can find these fancy pops at 8200 Vineland Ave., between Hugo Boss and AG Jeans.…
Orlando Meats will host soft opening this weekend
Orlando Meats is back in business this July, with the long-awaited opening of its Virginia Drive location. On July 3, Orlando Meats will host the soft opening of its butcher shop at 728 Virginia Drive, between the Matador and Santiago’s Bodega. The new location will also have a restaurant, which will open in the weeks…
The Every Other Wednesday Session is a hidden local emerald of traditional Irish music
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND The Every Other Wednesday Session, Harp and Celt, June 28 Last summer, news that longstanding Irish public house Claddagh Cottage was being forced to close lit up the local media. But it was an interesting story by Brendan Byrne of Orlando NPR station WMFE (90.7 FM) that piqued my particular attention, and…
Los Angeles rock band Together Pangea announce Orlando show for September
Hotly-tipped L.A. band Together Pangea have announced a North American tour with a sole Florida stop; and the host city will be Orlando. The band will embark on their “Bulls and Roosters” tour in support of their new album of the same name (on Nettwerk Records), with some all-star support acts. Together Pangea are set…
Florida has a deadly brain-invading worm problem
A new study published in Plos One suggests that a potentially deadly parasite called rat lungworm is now more prevalent in Florida than previously thought, mostly due to climate change. Though fatality rates for what’s referred to as an Angiostrongylus infection are relatively low, the parasite can still cause a form of meningitis, and if the…
Sing Out Loud Festival in St. Augustine reveals full lineup for this year
St. Augustine’s Sing Out Loud Festival has announced the lineup for its second annual event and the lineup is stacked with national and regional worthies. The sprawling festival takes place over every weekend in September at venues large and small across the city of St. Augustine, and the festival is notable for both its diverse…
Orlando Beer Festival named among ‘top global festivals in 2017’
The 3rd annual Orlando Beer Festival was just named as one of the most anticipated festivals of 2017, according to one of Canada’s largest online travel websites FlightNetwork. Praising the festival’s surplus of suds and entertainment, the travel site had plenty of nice things to say about Orlando Weekly’s upcoming event. From FlightNetwork’s Courtney McCaffrey: Drink up, folks! The…
Pepe’s Cantina opens downtown Orlando location
Taco Tuesdays just got turned up a notch now that Pepe’s Cantina recently opened its newest taco and margarita outpost in downtown Orlando. The new spot opened last Friday, June 23, in the former Hamburger Mary’s Side Bar Cafe location, at 110 W. Church St. Related Besides their everyday Mexican fare, the downtown location will also…
Orlando activists stage die-in at Marco Rubio’s office over Trumpcare
To the tune of the Negro spiritual “Wade in the Water,” protesters in Orlando staged a die-in outside U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s office Wednesday to demand he vote against the Republican health care bill that would leave 22 million people uninsured by 2026. Senate GOP leaders wanted to pass a repeal of the Affordable Care…
8-foot Burmese python found in Orlando after hitching a ride in couple’s boat
An invasive 8-foot Burmese python took at least a four-hour drive after it hitched a ride from Plantation Island to Orlando. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, an unnamed couple drove their boat on a trailer to Orlando for repairs, and found the sneaky snake after pulling back the deck to inspect…
Frank ‘N Steins out, Market on Magnolia food hall coming to downtown
No, Fixer Upper’s Joanna Gaines isn’t opening a modern-rustic outpost of her Magnolia Market on Magnolia Avenue. Instead, Pete Downing, current owner of Frank & Steins hot dog-centric bar space, is eschewing his souped-up tube steaks in favor of a food hall featuring some of Orlando’s already-loved artisans. Coming to the new food hall space,…
Shawn Wayans delivers his own perspective this weekend at the Orlando Improv
Rising from the talented Wayans family of actors and comedians, Shawn Wayans found fame first on his family’s groundbreaking In Living Color sketch comedy show in the ’90s, then went on to appear in the screwball sendups of genre films like Scary Movie and Dance Flick. His most successful outing was probably the instantly dated…
Swine & Sons, La Femme du Fromage and Central 28 team up for a Taste of Summer
Maybe it’s due to the fact that so many culinary staples are in season, or maybe it’s because it’s too hot to do much else, but food season kicks into high gear in the summer and doesn’t really stop for … well, ever, really. This week, three local food and drink purveyors team up in…
Alt-right in fat Elvis mode at D.C. Nazi rally
“Can I get some sunscreen,” one young Nazi asks another young Nazi near the Lincoln Memorial where the alt-right’s “Free Speech” rally — the more edgy of two right-wing rallies scheduled for the same time in Washington, D.C. on June 25 — is about to kick off. The second rally, which is supposed to be…
Sorry, but Orlando drivers are not the ‘third best in the country’
For the second time in two years a highly questionable study says that Orlandoans are some of the best drivers in the country, a bold claim that is unequivocally false. The study, from insurance website QuoteWizard, calculated accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, and citations in the 75 most populous metro areas in the country, and Orlandoans…
Donald Trump has literal ‘fake news’ hanging in Mar-a-Lago
President Donald Trump, a man who constantly dogs the media for “fake news,” has a literal piece of fake journalism hanging in at least five of his resorts, including Mar-a-Lago. The cover, which reads ““Donald Trump: The ‘Apprentice’ is a television smash!” and “TRUMP IS HITTING ON ALL FRONTS . . . EVEN TV!” is a poorly…
30 free concerts happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, June 28 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 pm at the Caboose, 1827 N. Orange Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday, June 29 Thursday Jazz Jams 8 pm…
Apparently, Oviedo police can’t tell the difference between drywall and cocaine
A Central Florida man spent 90 days in jail because the Oviedo Police Department couldn’t tell the difference between drywall and cocaine. Back in March, Oviedo resident Karlos Cashe, who works as a handyman, was pulled over for driving with his headlights off. After an officer saw white powder on the seat and floor of…
Jimmy Buffett’s LandShark Bar & Grill is coming to Daytona Beach
Florida Jimmy Buffett fans will soon be able to enjoy cheeseburgers in paradise, or at least in Daytona Beach. The Buffett-themed LandShark Bar & Grill will break ground on July 12, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal. The new beach-side restaurant will share a 6-acre lot at 451 S. Atlantic Ave. with Cocina 214. LandShark…
Florida Democrats on offensive in health care fight
Even as the U.S. Senate delayed a planned procedural vote Tuesday on a controversial Republican plan to overhaul the Affordable Care Act, the proposal was roiling Florida’s political landscape ahead of the 2018 elections. Democrats running for the Senate and in the state’s governor’s race hammered away at the GOP, suggesting that they saw a…
Orlando International Airport will likely beat last year’s record of confiscated guns
The Orlando International Airport will probably surpass last year’s record of 86 guns confiscated by TSA agents. As of today, TSA officials have stopped 41 guns from going through security at OIA, said TSA’s Federal Security Director Jerry Henderson to Fox 35. “With 41 guns stopped year-to-date, the number of passengers bringing guns to the checkpoints…
UCF fraternity suspended after claims of sexual assault and hazing
After a slew of complaints, the University of Central Florida has suspended Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity. According to public records obtained by the Orlando Sentinel, the fraternity faces allegations that they hosted underage drinking at a party last spring, engaged in hazing, and that one of its members had sex with someone who was too drunk…
Florida tourism officials worry about Trump’s impact on travel
Attracting more than 120 million visitors before the end of the calendar year remains a goal of the state’s tourism-marketing arm, now that Visit Florida’s funding won’t be slashed. But Visit Florida board members, whose agency continues to undergo belt-tightening as a result of new operational guidelines ordered by state lawmakers, expressed concern Tuesday over…
Lil Tracy brings distinctively 21st-century hip-hop to Backbooth
From the murkier and more anarchic corners of Soundcloud comes Lil Tracy, a distinctly 21st-century MC who is a living riot of outer limits pop-culture signs and signifiers, but, crucially, has the delivery to back up his visual sensory overload. The rapper formerly known as Yung Bruh, Toreshi Minaj, and Yunng Karma first turned heads…
Metal queen Lita Ford gets the Velvet Session treatment at Hard Rock Hotel
Guitarist and glam/punk/metal pioneer Lita Ford has yet to receive the full historical reappraisal that she so richly deserves. How does Thursday work for you? A shredder from the word “go,” Ford got her start with no less than Joan Jett and Cherie Currie in 1975 as guitarist and founding member of the Runaways, a…
Russian sci-fi rumination ‘Stalker’ screens at More Q Than A
Andrei Tarkovsky is one of those Big Deal Filmmakers that inspires endless debates among film students, an artist that if you aren’t familiar with his work, you can’t truly call yourself a cinephile. This is the kind of thing that can scare off a casual viewer, but rest easy, you can enjoy Stalker. Well –…
Clay Miller thought Orlando was ‘ripe for the taking’ so he returned to open DoveCote
He’s worked with some legendary names – Boulud, Keller, Cardoz, Van Aken – and was named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs of 2010 for his stint at D.C.-area hotspot Trummer’s on Main. But all that national acclaim failed to have the desired impact and, after what Miller describes as being a “small fish in a big…
Chef Kevin Fonzo wins our inaugural BITE Award
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the local culinary community, Orlando Weekly is pleased to announce the recipient of our inaugural BITE Award: Chef Kevin Fonzo. He might be a New York City native, but chef Kevin Fonzo has been in an Orlando state of mind for nearly three decades. After graduating with honors…
Orlando Concert Picks This Week: Duke Dumont, Danny Towers, Saros and more
Cortez and Koelble Local jazz guitarists face off again as part of their monthly residency; at this point they’ve got to be hitting some serious instrumental telepathy. 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, at the Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts, $10 Duke Dumont U.K. DJ and deep house revivalist Dumont is riding high, touring the…
The family behind Oh My Gyro! couldn’t help but let a bit of their Indian heritage creep onto their halal menu
While the fare served from halal food carts of the sort found on the not-so-mean-streets of the Big Apple veers toward Middle Eastern (and gyros, of course, are Greek), the quadrumvirate behind Longwood’s Oh My Gyro! couldn’t help but let a bit of their Indian heritage creep onto their menu of rice platters and pita…
We asked local trendsetters to name a ‘signature dish’ for Orlando
There’s a movement afoot among some tourism and restaurant industry folk to name a “signature dish” for Orlando. Rock shrimp, stone crab and grouper sandwiches belong to the coast; Key lime pie to the Keys. So what does that leave for the City Tasteful – gator tail? Thanks, but nah. So we asked a few trendsetters…
Savage Love (6/28/17)
I had a great time at the live taping of the Savage Lovecast at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre. Audience members submitted questions, and I tackled as many as I could over two hours with the welcome and hilarious assistance of comedian Kristen Toomey. Here are some of the questions we didn’t get to before they…
Bruno Zacchini hopes locals see Pizza Bruno as a true taste of Orlando
It’s hard to come across an avid eater in the city who hasn’t been to Pizza Bruno, and it’s even harder to find someone who has anything bad to say about their magical Neapolitan-style pies. So when the inevitable question “Where should we go for pizza?” arises and “Pizza Bruno!” is the response, it really…
7 Orlando-area doughnut shops worth the drive
We dream of the day when indie gourmet donut shops are as plentiful as Dunkins in this city, but until then we’ll have to keep catching them where we can: food trucks, far-flung shops and pop-up markets. Bakery Plus This hard-working little Sodo bakery just off Michigan Street serves doughnuts and pastry of unparalleled quality.…
Welcome to Bite 2017
After years of hard work by local chefs, restaurateurs, publicists and writers, Orlando is finally that vaunted thing: a food city. The accolades have poured in from the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Travel and Leisure, New York magazine, Eater, Zagat and countless blogs and websites. So now what? Now…
Reyes Mezcaleria tests locals’ preconceived notions of Mexican food and drink
Jason Chin always wanted to open a Mexican eatery, but he wanted to open one that went beyond serving the standard, everyday Tex-Mex fare. For the longest time, Chin felt Orlando wasn’t quite ready for his type of Mexican joint, but not so anymore. Reyes Mezcaleria, his and wife Sue Chin’s latest restaurant venture, tests…
Five Orlando secret menu items you probably haven’t tried yet
Don’t just settle for what’s right in plain sight, whether it’s on the wall or in the first menu they hand you. At some of Orlando’s restaurants, both the elegant and the everyday, options extend beyond what’s posted (think In-N-Out Burger’s “animal style”) and all you have to do is ask. As notorious food- lover…
Gimme Shelter: Meet Checkers
Are you looking for a fun new friend? Meet Checkers! Checkers (A379650) is an 8-year-old dog who came to us as a stray. He is super sweet and friendly, and he can’t wait to find a forever home to spend his golden years in. Checkers is very mellow and laid-back. He enjoys attention and he…
Brandon McGlamery of Luke’s Kitchen & Bar didn’t want to like Orlando as much as he did
Brandon McGlamery, the James Beard-nominated wiz behind Luma on Park and Prato, welcomed a new addition to his restaurant family this year – Luke’s Kitchen & Bar. Not surprisingly, the restaurant’s “classic American cuisine” checks the “seasonal” and “responsibly sourced” boxes, and serves as an anchor for Maitland’s burgeoning restaurant scene. After all, McGlamery’s name…
What and where to eat when at Orlando sporting events
Typically, we’d advise dining before you dash out to see the Lions, Solar Bears or Magic — paying $12 for a Bud Light is a drag. But if you must eat and imbibe at the event, make a beeline for these in-house restaurants, kiosks and counters once they’ve scanned your ticket. DINE Ballgames aren’t exactly…
Culinary riches and Persian-style kebabs make Shiraz one of the best Middle Eastern markets in Orlando
Shiraz Market helped fill the void for Persian fare in Seminole County after Zora Grille shuttered in Altamonte Springs, and what’s offered from the market’s cramped kitchen is nothing short of remarkable. Owner Nas Rajabi, along with his wife and parents, fashions the finest Persian-style beef and chicken kebabs in town and, on any given…
This Little Underground: The Districts preview massive new sound in Florida debut, Dull and Audiotourism revive ’90s indie-rock glory
THE DISTRICTS AND THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE, THE SOCIAL, JUNE 23 Since forming in high school, young Pennsylvania band the Districts have built their name on a shaggy and true brand of rock that’s as rootsy as it is indie. And it’s a sound that’s carried the kids up to being made men on…
Chelsie Savage’s Sanctum Cafe serves diners who demand more than just food that tastes good
Chelsie Savage started a nutrition consulting business to change people’s perceptions about healthy eating, but after witnessing food movements in major cities across North America, Savage felt a need to do more. “I spent a lot of time traveling – New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Austin, Vancouver, Boulder – and was…
Orlando foodie district face-off: Mills 50 vs. I-Drive
Both neighborhoods are packed with restaurants, but which you choose has a lot to do with what you’re craving – hyperlocal flavor on the cheap or cha-ching! pampering. To the north, there’s Mills 50, a haven for mom-and-pop ventures, international eats and the hottest spots to find nom-nom-nirvana on a dime. To the south, International…
Harold Henderson of North Quarter Tavern says its chef’s responsibility to nourish, ‘be it body or soul’
I’m not flaunting my credentials,” says chef Harold Henderson of North Quarter Tavern as he rattles off a litany of top-notch kitchens in which he’s worked – K Restaurant, Luma on Park, Artisan’s Table, Citrus Restaurant, Crooked Spoon, Bar J Me. “My point is that I’ve been around Orlando’s food scene for a long time…
Sonny Nguyen of Domu wants to ‘go against the grain and take chances’
“I want to put Orlando on the map with Domu,” says Sean Nguyen, the sanguine owner of the East End Market ramen-ya and pan-Asian hotspot. As much as Orlando’s food scene has matured over the past few years, and as much acclaim as his restaurant has received, Nguyen is hungry for more and not one…
British architect Sir David Adjaye is tapped to design the new Winter Park library and events center
Architecture of happiness
Legal Public Notices 6/28
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA DIVISION: 03 CASE NO.: DP14-369 IN THE INTEREST OF: Z.L., a male child, DOB: 03/01/2013 SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF ADVISORY HEARING FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS STATE OF FLORIDA To: Kathy Lodge, Address unknown. WHEREAS…
Fred Thimm has the will and the wherewithal to make Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen a success
You have to admire Fred Thimm. The seasoned and experienced restaurant industry veteran, whose résumé includes executive stints at Palm Restaurants and Hard Rock International, opted to leave the corporate world behind to open a seafood restaurant in a space that previously housed one of the area’s most hallowed restaurants. No small task, that’s for…
Beefy King turns 49, new Dinner Party Project, plus more in our weekly food roundup
NEWS: Congratulations to chef Kevin Fonzo for being the first BITE Award recipient for his outstanding contributions to Orlando’s culinary community. Thank you, chef! … And another Orlando institution, Beefy King, celebrates its 49th birthday of making sandwich happiness this month. Happy beefday! OPENINGS: Foxtail Coffee Co. will open a second location inside DoveCote Brasserie…
Florida’s bounty of flora and fauna reigns at 1921 by Norman Van Aken
We should count our lucky stars that culinary legend Norman Van Aken runs not one, but two restaurants right in our backyard. His latest, 1921 by Norman Van Aken, is an absolute stunner and, along with chef de cuisine (and legend in the making) Camilo Velasco, Van Aken says he’s on a mission to “give…
The Beguiled is a cult 1970s erotic thriller, remade for arthouse scrutiny
Agency provocateur
The next best thing to being there is TEDx, independently organized events inspired by the TED model
I’ve explored the intersection of technology, entertainment and artistic design in Orlando Weekly’s pages for a decade, but TED conferences have been doing just that since 1984. If you’ve ever listened to an inspiring TED Talk, you’ve probably wished you could attend one in person, but August’s TEDGlobal meeting in Tanzania costs $6,000 a seat.…
Mia is a welcomed addition to Orlando’s Asian supermarket lineup
Bumby Avenue has seen its share of ch-ch-changes over the last couple of years, finally reopening this spring after widening and repaving. But before all that, Winn-Dixie closed and Mia Supermarket took over. For those devotees of Phuoc Loc Tho, Saigon Market, Dong-A Supermarket, Woo Sung Market and First Spring Oriental Market, Mia was another…
Opening in Orlando: Baby Driver, The House and more
OPENING THIS WEEK Baby Driver Boy, if you only read the synopsis, this thing would be a must to avoid. By count, it’s the 1,537th movie released in the last five years that concerns a low-level mob employee trying to escape the life and settle down with his girlfriend. And of course, the animating incident…
Taissa Rebroff of Buttermilk Bakery is inspired by the community to grow with passion and quality
As the saying goes, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” For Taissa Rebroff of Winter Park’s Buttermilk Bakery, the muse reveals itself every time she steps into Redlight Redlight, Lineage Coffee Roasting, or the Audubon Park Community Market. Those local successes, she says, “started small, then consciously took their time to grow…
It’s rare to find a thriving family-run chophouse like Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster
In the competitive world of high-end steakhouses, it’s rare (pardon the pun) to find a family-run chophouse like Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster thriving, especially here in Orlando. Started by Russ Christner in 1993, who saw an opportunity in Orlando due to a “lack of competition and potential for growth,” the classic, wood-paneled steakhouse quickly…
ICYMI: LGBTQ advocates call out Rick Scott, the Sabal Trail pipeline starts pumping, Florida has a new medical marijuana law and more
Advocates take on Rick Scott for failing to sign LGBTQ anti-discrimination order after Pulse: A year after a gunman murdered 49 people at the gay nightclub Pulse, LGBTQ advocates say Gov. Rick Scott broke his promise by failing to sign an order that would protect state employees against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender…
Here in Orlando, tacos are king
Mexican food – both upscale and casual – is definitely having its day. In just about a year, ciudad Orlando has gone from sporting chain Tex-Mex and hole-in-the-wall taquerías, with little middle ground, to flaunting innovative and authentic Mexican cuisine at all price points. And the buzz is undeniable. Tacos are king, of course, but…
No menu required: Five Orlando spots where the chefs let the food flow
To those of us who break into a sweat, offer to go last, and hope our dining partners have umpteen questions to ask before the server reaches us and asks for our decision, anyone who doesn’t have a hard time making a decision when it comes time to talk to the server is suspect. There’s…
On the Senate’s no-good, very bad health care bill
Informed dissent
At Bad As’s Sandwiches, creativity and diversity are imperative
Orlando’s thriving food truck scene is a sure sign of its gastronomic health, and when food truck proprietors like John Collazo get into the brick-and-mortar game, all the more so. At Bad As’s Sandwich, Collazo’s Milk District eatery, the fruits of his labor come in the form of monstrous, sometimes decadent, always inventive sammies. “We’re located in an…
Rise of the Orlando ‘grocerants’
First things first: “Grocerant” is a nifty little portmanteau combining grocery and restaurant. Whether you’ve heard the word before or not, doubtless you’ve noticed the inviting areas newer supermarkets have set up in which to enjoy their prepared foods: trendy tables and chairs, wi-fi, a constellation of condiments on demand. A market research study by…
Selections: Our picks for the best things to do in Orlando this week
Wednesday, June 28 More Q Than A: Stalker FILM Andrei Tarkovsky is one of those Big Deal Filmmakers that inspires endless debates among film students, an artist that if you aren’t familiar with his work, you can’t truly call yourself a cinephile. This is the kind of thing that can scare off a casual viewer,…
Foxtail Coffee Co. is more than just a ‘bean to bag’ operation
Some cities have a coffee culture and some don’t. Iain Yeakle and Alex Tchekmeian, a couple of true coffee connoisseurs and proud Arabica snobs, are the brains behind Foxtail Coffee Co., which has quickly become ground zero for coffee-loving Starbucks-haters in the area. Pretty much every brew style – AeroPress, siphon, nitro, pour over, espresso…
Kombucha is on the verge of bubbling over in Orlando
Kombucha may not be Orlando’s favorite fizz yet, but trust: Its popularity is about to bubble over. Health fanatics love the fermented beverage for its probiotics and other healthful properties; foodies like the sweet-and-sour tang that offers a whole new palette of flavors to paint with (hello, cocktails). The beverage is made by allowing tea…
