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The HyCube vertical farm grows more produce with less space and energy, and also looks super cool
Cristian Toma, co-founder of Orlando-based Eco Convergence Group, hands me a pair of shoe coverings, a hair net and a white lab coat prior to entering the HyCube – a 2,000-square-foot self-contained hydroponics box situated on the sprawling grounds of the Orlando World Center Marriott. We stand like irradiated victims of fallout under the vents…
Carlos Vives to play Orlando in September
Colombian superstar and Grammy winner Carlos Vives has announced a U.S. tour set for later this year and the “Vives U.S.A.” tour is set to kick off in Orlando! The singing legend will be touring behind new album Vives and promises a heady mix of new material and hits like “La Bicicleta” and “Fruita Fresca.”…
28 free shows happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, April 18 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday, April 19 Leisure Chief 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Raleigh Estes and Friends 8 pm at Muldoon’s Saloon, 7439 Aloma Ave.,…
Hundreds of Puerto Rican evacuees could be evicted from Central Florida hotels this week
Hundreds of Puerto Rican evacuees could be evicted from Central Florida hotels by the end of this week after stricter eligibility requirements disqualified many of them from FEMA’s temporary housing program. U.S. Rep. Darren Soto says about 1,800 evacuees staying in Florida will be denied extensions by FEMA for the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program. The…
Former Florida Rep. Alan Grayson says he’s making another run for Congress
His campaign raised just more than $192,000 in the first quarter of 2018, but former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, a progressive Democrat, has yet to decide on where in the state he’ll make another run for Congress. But let’s be clear: As Orlando Rising reports Grayson saying on Monday, “I am running for the U.S. House…
Disney will extends hours at Hollywood Studios this summer for Toy Story Land’s grand opening
From sunrise to sunset (and on), Disney World will allow guests to enjoy more of its newest attraction, Toy Story Land, at Hollywood Studios when it debuts on June 30. Starting on Sunday, July 1, through Aug. 25, Hollywood Studios will be open from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with special Extra Magic Hours from…
Ms. Lauryn Hill to play Central Florida this summer
Iconic singer-songwriter Ms. Lauryn Hill has announced a tour to celebrate 20 years of her seismic solo debut The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill set to begin in July that contains several Florida dates, including one in nearby St. Pete. Ms. Lauryn Hill will play Miseducation from start-to-finish on all 29 dates of this North American tour.…
Orlando International Airport is looking to fill 200 new jobs this week
Due to the rise in food and concession sales at the Orlando International Airport restaurants on site are in need of employees. According to the Orlando Sentinel, concessions operator HMSHost says they will be holding job fairs starting Wednesday, April 18, to fill full and part-time positions at restaurants like Chili’s, Chick-fil-A, Macaroni Grill and…
There’s a petition to bring WWE WrestleMania back to Orlando
Camping World Stadium is asking for your help to bring WrestleMania back to Orlando. According to a tweet from Camping World Stadium, they are working hard to bring the event back to Orlando, but are asking fans from last year’s WrestleMania to fill out an online petition/survey to help them do so. “WWE fans: We’re…
SeaWorld adds Grand Funk Railroad and more to Seven Seas Food Festival lineup
Two additional weekends were added to SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival, including a performance from “American Band” Grand Funk Railroad. The slew of new concerts, running through April 29, will include sets from: Nicky Jam – April 21 Tracy Lawerence – April 22 Grand Funk Railroad – April 28 Josh Turner – April 29 The festival…
City of Orlando joins lawsuit challenging ‘unconstitutionality’ of Florida gun law
Orlando City Council voted 6-1 on Monday to join a lawsuit against Gov. Rick Scott and other Florida officials, challenging the 2011 state law that punishes local leaders for enacting firearms regulation. The class-action lawsuit seeks to declare the state law unconstitutional. That means Orlando is now the largest of 12 cities joining the suit,…
Greyhound racing ban heads to Florida voters
Florida voters will be asked this fall to ban greyhound racing, a staple for decades of the state’s gambling industry. After repeated and heavily lobbied legislative debates in recent years about the future of the greyhound industry, the Florida Constitution Revision Commission on Monday voted 27-10 to put the proposed ban on the November ballot.…
Florida will get the first ultra-luxury cruise ship from the new Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Ritz Carlton is known for its luxury resorts, but the lifestyle brand is about to venture into a brand-new industry. The Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection is expected to revolutionize the luxury cruise industry when it sets sail in 2020. With only 298 passengers on each ship, which are more like a superyacht than an actual…
Crime victims bill of rights measure will go on Florida ballot in November
With the measure drawing support from state leaders and law-enforcement officials, Florida voters in November will decide whether to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would spell out a series of rights of crime victims. The Florida Constitution Revision Commission on Monday voted 34-3 to approve the measure (Proposal 6001), which largely focuses on a…
Beyoncé donates $25K for scholarship to Daytona’s Bethune-Cookman University
Following her historic performance as the first black woman to headline Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, pop diva icon Beyoncé will donate $100,000 to four historically black colleges and universities, including Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach. Beychella was a radical tribute to the traditions of the school spirit, show-stopping dance troupes, flawless drumline sets, colorful marching…
A Burmese python with a tracking device led Florida officials to a record-breaking sex party
An invasive Burmese python with a surgically implanted tracking device led Florida researchers to the largest python “aggregation” ever found in Collier County. A couple of days before Valentine’s Day, a male python (or sentinel) nicknamed Argo was fitted with a tracking device and led researchers with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida to a 100-pound female python…
Surterra will open medical marijuana dispensary near downtown Orlando
Medical cannabis provider Surterra Wellness is opening a marijuana dispensary near downtown Orlando this Thursday. Surterra will debut its Orlando Wellness Center on April 19 at 2 p.m. The dispensary is located in the SoDo District at 1743 S. Orange Ave., about a block north of Kaley Street. Surterra’s products include transdermal patches, vape pens, oils,…
Wildlife officials captured an African warthog wandering through a Florida neighborhood
An African warthog was apparently living that hakuna matata lifestyle in Florida, until wildlife officials captured it near a St. Lucie County neighborhood. Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were notified about the sturdy hog’s adventures through a neighborhood in a St. Lucie County on March 4, TC Palm reports. Residents described the warthog as friendly…
Fuel prices are expected to rise in Central Florida
Early estimates predict that Central Florida’s fuel prices could reportedly jump as much as 25 cents in the near future. A gallon of regular unleaded fuel dropped in price by 1.1 cents over last week, to $2.54 a gallon. Meanwhile, fuel prices across the rest of the country increased by 5 cents, bringing the national…
Rep. Ross Spano will ditch Florida Attorney General’s race to run for Congress
State Rep. Ross Spano is planning to ditch the Florida Attorney General’s race to run for Congress. The Tampa Bay Times reports Spano will announce Monday that he’s running for the seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross. The Lakeland Republican announced last week that he wouldn’t run for re-election in Congressional District 15, which…
Kids are suing Florida Gov. Rick Scott to force action on climate change
On Monday, in an effort to force the governor’s hand in acting on climate change, eight young Floridians – the youngest of whom is 10, the oldest of whom is 20 – were reportedly named plaintiffs in an lawsuit that seeks to implement a statewide court-ordered “Climate Recovery Plan.” In the suit, the plaintiffs accuse…
The Fast and Furious attraction is now in soft opening at Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando is allowing some lucky visitors into the new high-speed chase Fast & Furious – Supercharged attraction through technical rehearsals, or “soft openings,” as the park refines the finishing details. During these sporadic soft openings, only a limited amount of guests are allowed a peek at the new attraction. With no operating hours set in…
Orlando attorney John Morgan puts more money into minimum wage measure
Orlando attorney John Morgan last month continued sinking tens of thousands of dollars into an initiative to raise Florida’s minimum wage. Morgan’s law firm, Morgan and Morgan P.A., contributed $87,649 in March to the political committee Florida For A Fair Wage, according to a report posted this week on the state Division of Elections website.…
Florida felons’ lawyers accuse Rick Scott of deliberate delay in rights restoration fight
Attorneys for felons trying to have their voting rights restored are accusing Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet of “foot-dragging” by trying to block a federal judge’s order that gave the state until April 26 to revamp its controversial rights-restoration process. A response filed Thursday by the plaintiffs’ lawyers in the Atlanta-based 11th U.S.…
Madame Tussauds in Orlando is getting the Justice League
Just in time for MegaCon Orlando, Madame Tussauds Orlando has announced a major new addition opening May 25. The Justice League: A Call for Heroes exhibit will allow guests to meet three of the most famous members of DC’s Justice League. The newly remodeled area will be modeled after the alleyways and rooftops of Gotham…
Five major things we can expect Universal to build in Orlando that aren’t theme parks
After years of legal fights, last week Universal Orlando finally secured the rights to develop a theme park on its Lockheed property, while also securing hundreds of acres more. This property south of Kirkman, east of Universal Boulevard and north of the Beachline is now nearly twice the size of their current resort. With this…
Florida Film Festival concludes with awards party, Hitchcock flick
The 27th annual Florida Film Festival ended this weekend with an awards presentation and party on Saturday and a 75th anniversary screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt on Sunday. Executive Director David Schillhammer presided over the awards ceremony at Maitland’s Enzian Theater, at which 12 prizes were presented. For narrative feature films, the…
25 things we ate and drank at Beard in Baldwin 2018
This past Saturday, Jason and Sue Chin hosted a who’s who of local and national culinarians at Beard in Baldwin, an event benefiting the James Beard Foundation’s National Scholars Program, which provides $20,000 scholarships to food-focused candidates of exceptional talent. Food stations were set up along New Broad Street while, inside Osprey Tavern, food and…
Get a sneak peek at what’s in store for Fringe at two special Preview Shows on Monday
One of the most astonishing things about the Orlando Fringe festival is it brings a collective of artists together to put on dozens of unique, uncensored theatrical acts for nearly two weeks. But the most frustrating part of Fringe is choosing which shows to go to – you’d go to all of them if you…
Little Blue Donut Co. opens next week in Winter Park
Back in October of last year, we told you about Manzano’s Deli and Little Blue Donut Co. opening in the retail plaza near the intersection of W. Fairbanks and S. New York Avenues in Winter Park. While Manzano’s is still a month or so away from opening, Little Blue Donut Co. announced they’re opening their…
OMD arrive in Orlando revived and recalibrated with GGOOLLDD
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND OMD and GGOOLLDD, The Beacham, Apr. 12 A show by synth-pop kings Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark is a lot of history loaded into one night. Although one sort of eclipses the other at this point, there are two distinct schools of thought in the OMD appreciation society: fans of their artier…
Sanford’s old jailhouse to morph into a new Old Jailhouse
An old pokey in the Bokey will soon be serving fare quite a few notches above your average jailhouse slop. That’s because Bram Fowler, former chef/owner of the well-received Journeys Restaurant in Longwood, has signed on to become the executive chef of the Old Jailhouse in Sanford. Situated at 113 S. Palmetto Avenue, the 1890…
Wawa has a secret menu, and you have to find a goose to see it
Since every good chain deserves a secret menu, the deli counter at Wawa gas stations now features a secret menu, and it’s only accessible if you tap a little goose. The secret menu is only accessed by clicking the Wawa goose logo found at the bottom left corner of the deli touch screen computers. The…
Reggaeton legend Ivy Queen to play Orlando in June
Orlando music fans, prepare to be in the presence of royalty. Reggaeton legend and singer/rapper Ivy Queen has announced an Orlando show for June as part of a round of U.S. dates later this year. The “Queen of Reggaeton” has been making music for over three decades and shows no sign of slowing down for…
Disney CEO Bob Iger teases a 2020 presidential run in ‘Vogue’ magazine profile
In a Vogue magazine profile published Thursday, Disney CEO Bob Iger discusses the idea of making a 2020 run for the White House, among other issues, like the #MeToo movement and DACA. Iger says that even before the 2016 presidential election, he had already considered running for president himself. From Vogue: “’Willow [Bay, his wife]…
Here’s your election-year reminder that Florida is a closed primary state
Although Election Day is still months away, it’s never too early to make sure you’re registered to vote properly, especially in Florida. For all you newbies who just moved here, Florida is one of nine states that has closed primaries. During primary elections, this type of system only allows registered voters of political parties to…
SeaWorld could face punishment from the SEC, company discloses
On Thursday, SeaWorld Entertainment reportedly disclosed in a filing that they had been alerted that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission staff recommends the company face a civil punishment or administrative hearings for violating federal securities law. The SEC and U.S. Department of Justice have been investigating the company for comments made by executives in…
The new sign for the ‘Princenton’ exit on I-4 is perfectly fine
Encapsulating everything that represents the $2.3 billion Ultimate I-4 project, a new sign on eastbound I-4 reads “Princenton,” rather than the correct spelling of “Princeton.” Real Radio’s Joshua Fowler spotted it yesterday and seeing how the temporary sign makes about as much sense as the massive construction project, we might as well just leave it…
Pepe’s Cantina will open new location on I-Drive next week
Local Tex-Mex staple Pepe’s Cantina will open their third location next week on International Drive. As we previously reported, the new outpost is located in the former Giraffas location at 5415 International Drive. According to the owners, the new spot will be in soft opening Monday, April 16, with a grand-opening scheduled for a Cinco…
Florida cities, counties take aim at state ban on local gun restrictions
Less than two months after a 19-year-old gunman shot dead 14 students and three faculty members at a Broward County high school, city and county officials in parts of Florida are pushing back against a state firearm law they say has created a chilling effect on their ability to respond to constituents’ demands. Challenges to…
Florida business owners fight immigration verification proposal
A wide-ranging coalition that includes a major Republican donor, cruise-line officials, agricultural interests and former pro basketball players is seeking to halt a proposed constitutional amendment that would require Florida businesses to verify the immigration status of new employees. The state Constitution Revision Commission is expected next week to consider putting the proposal on the…
High rollers get to choose between two top benefit galas in Orlando this Saturday
The annual gala fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, the Cattle Baron’s Ball, is one of the biggest events of the season for the high society crowd. The party features gourmet bites from some of Central Florida’s finest chefs, a live auction, entertainment and, of course, plenty of booze. Somehow, the Cattle Baron’s Ball and…
Lil Wop goes goth at Soundbar this weekend
On a serious horrorcore-goes-trap vibe, Atlanta-via-Chicago rapper Lil Wop is perhaps the most exciting signee to Gucci Mane’s 1017 Eskimos label. The young and fanged MC does take a good amount of influence from Gucci Mane, true, but Lil Wop is on a whole other aesthetic trip. Wop’s music is a disorienting smear of horror…
Universal gets its way and acquires more land near I-Drive for future theme parks
After years of speculation, Universal Studios has now secured the additional property that crisscrossed their southern property. The purchase also includes the long sought after deed rights that had previously blocked Universal from building a theme park on the property. Ironically, the property was previously owned by Universal Studios but sold it in 2003 when…
At this point, the Orlando Magic might as well hire Master P as the next head coach
Following this morning’s abrupt firing of Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel, rapper Master P, known for his ability to make people say “ugh, nah nah nah nah,” said he could probably do a better job coaching the team. Local television station WESH caught up with Master P outside of the Amway Center this afternoon…
Here’s Rick Scott squirming out of a simple question about supporting Robert Mueller’s investigation
I asked Senate candidate and Florida Gov. Rick Scott if he supports legislation to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Here’s what he said: pic.twitter.com/XUVRz6fi7R — Nicole Rodriguez (@NicRodriguez) April 12, 2018 This morning, Sarasota Herald-Tribune reporter Nicole Rodriguez asked Senate candidate and Florida Gov. Rick Scott if he would support legislation to protect Special Counsel Robert…
You need to make at least $70K a year to afford the average home in Florida, says study
The majority of us probably don’t make enough to own an average home in Florida, according a recent study. A new study from How Much, a finance information website, states that Floridians needs to make roughly $70,360 a year in order to afford the average home. The site came this conclusion by taking the average…
Everything we know about the secret ‘speakeasy’ coffee shop opening in the Milk District
A secret coffee shop is coming to the Milk District sometime this spring. The Frenchpressery, a “speakeasy meets coffee shop,” is giving out their top secret grand-opening information to the first 500 people to signup for their secret “society.” The grand opening is set for sometime in late May from, 7 a.m. to noon in…
Marjory Stoneman Douglas teacher arrested after leaving loaded gun in public bathroom
A teacher from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was arrested after deputies say he left a loaded gun in a public restroom that was later fired by a drunk homeless man. The Sun Sentinel reports Sean Simpson, 43, is a chemistry teacher who was at the Parkland high school when a gunman killed 17 people…
Universal Orlando is looking to hire 3,000 new team members
Universal Orlando announced this morning that they are hiring more than 3,000 new employees for full-time, part-time and seasonal positions across all properties. The full-time and part-time gigs Universal is looking to fill include positions in attractions, culinary, entrance operations, tech services, marketing and sales, human resources and more. Getting a job at Universal comes…
Central Florida GOP Rep. Dennis Ross will retire from Congress
U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., announced Wednesday he will not run for re-election in November, joining three other Florida Republicans who plan to leave Congress. Ross, 58, issued a statement that said he looks “forward to the next chapter of my life which will include, in some way, continued public service.” He represents Congressional District…
Orlando Magic fire head coach Frank Vogel after just two seasons
It seems as though Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel – who compiled a 54-110 record during his two-season tenure and a 25-57 finish during the 2017-2018 campaign – has been shown the door. The Magic opened the season with a bang, with an 8-4 record. But those numbers would quickly fade, as the team’s…
Adam Putnam dominates money chase among Florida governor candidates
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam continues to dominate the fundraising field in the 2018 race for governor, reporting his campaign’s best monthly total of $2.28 million in March. New reports filed with the state Division of Elections showed that Putnam, who is seeking the Republican nomination to replace term-limited Gov. Rick Scott, eclipsed his prior best…
Curtis Harding’s performance is a look at the future of classic soul
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Curtis Harding, The Social, Apr. 10 Alongside rising stars like Son Little and Florida breakout Benjamin Booker, Atlanta’s Curtis Harding is one of the leading lights in the current class of bright young soul saviors. Without question, their lodestar is the school of soul that’s old and true. But rather than the…
Sarasota Film Festival to begin with screening of Eric Stoltz’s ‘Class Rank’
Depressed that the Florida Film Festival is ending this weekend? Never fear, for another, even larger festival is just getting ready to begin. The 20th annual Sarasota Film Festival will get underway Friday evening at the Sarasota Opera House with a screening of Class Rank, directed by Eric Stoltz and starring Kristin Chenoweth and Bruce…
Blackstar brings back the Brink for a night with Dani Toro and Naomi Smalls
There was a time before Blackstar and after Hoops when the spot on Amelia Street was known as the Brink, an LGBT dance club. The Brink returns this weekend for what will hopefully turn into a regular takeover of Blackstar. The debut iteration features top party DJ Dani Toro and an appearance by RuPaul’s Drag…
Margaret Cho brings her comeback tour to the Orlando Improv this weekend
Margaret Cho may have reached peak exposure back in the ’90s when she starred in the semi-autobiographical sitcom All-American Girl on ABC. But that particular spotlight didn’t suit her, and she struck out to find further success as a stand-up comic, political advocate, burlesque performer and musician. Now she’s on a so-called comeback tour to…
Exhumed and Gruesome will co-headline show at Will’s Pub this summer
In what is sure to be one of the more blood-soaked shows ever at Will’s Pub, death metal icons Exhumed and Gruesome have announced a co-headlining show at Will’s Pub set for this summer. Exhumed now over 25 years into their musical life, have just released Death’s Revenge, a concept album about murders in Scotland…
Daytona Beach Shores officer fired after sending racist Snapchat
A Daytona Beach Shores public safety officer lost his job on Wednesday after a complaint revealed he sent a racist Snapchat messages. Officer Matthew Moriarty was fired roughly two months after authorities were advised that he was sharing inappropriate images while off-duty. The Snapchat in questione featured a selfie of Moriarty with what appeared to…
27 free shows happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, April 11 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday, April 12 Leisure Chief 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Raleigh Estes and Friends 8 pm at Muldoon’s Saloon, 7439 Aloma Ave.,…
Study ranks Florida as one of the worst states for millennials
A recent study puts Florida as one of the top ten worst states for millennials, explaining why your neighbor with the master’s degree still lives at home with his parents. According to WalletHub, Florida isn’t the best settling spot for these early-20-to-early-30-somethings, and comes in as the 42nd state out of 51 (the researchers included…
Florida judge rules Tampa cancer patient can grow his own marijuana
A Tallahassee judge ruled Wednesday that a Tampa cancer patient can legally grow his own marijuana. The Tampa Bay Times reports that strip club owner Joe Redner will be allowed to grow and harvest cannabis “solely for the purpose of his emulsifying the biomass he needs for the juicing protocol recommended by his physician.” The…
Beard in Baldwin brings together some of the region’s top chefs for a good cause
Beard in Baldwin may sound like a gathering of hipsters with facial hair, but that is not the case. This food and wine festival is presented by restaurateurs Jason and Sue Chin, and benefits the James Beard Foundation, an organization that in its 50 years of existence has given $3.7 billion in scholarships to applicants…
Stormy Daniels’ strip club appearance in Satellite Beach was canceled
Stormy Daniels, an adult film star who allegedly spanked Donald Trump with a rolled up Forbes magazine, will no longer appear at a strip club in Satellite Beach this week. Daniels was scheduled to bring her “Make America Horny Again” tour to the Red Leopard on April 12, but this is apparently no longer the case.…
Nerd Nite celebrates Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, at the Geek Easy
Nerd Nite returns as part of the international Yuri’s Night celebration, honoring Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space. Participate in a space-themed costume contest while settling in for informative and entertaining presentations on a variety of interstellar topics. 7 p.m. Thursday; The Geek Easy, 114 S. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park; free; orlando.nerdnite.com Get our…
Orange County awarded $325,000 grant to combat Zika virus
Ten counties across Florida, including Orange, will reportedly receive a $325,000 grant from the state Department of Health to help fight the Zika virus. The funds will be used to acquire necessary equipment like handheld sprayers, backpack sprayers, truck-mounted sprayers, traps and anti-mosquito materials such as pellets, briquettes and liquids. When the Zika threat was…
There’s a petition to keep Florida beaches open to the public
A petition calling for the repeal of a new Florida law that will give hotels, condos and private residences more control over their beach property, which would bar public access, is gaining signatures across the state. According to the new law, landowners will be able to decide whether they want to restrict the public from…
Hurricane Irma insurance losses in Florida pegged at nearly $7.4 billion
New insurance-loss estimates from Hurricane Irma total nearly $7.38 billion, down more than $600 million from a February estimate as claims continue to be filed and closed, according to information posted by the state Office of Insurance Regulation. The vast majority of claims involve residential property, with most in southern parts of the state. Irma…
St. Petersburg joins Florida cities lawsuit against state ban on local gun laws
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman is joining elected officials from 10 South Florida cities who are suing the state over a ban prohibiting municipal governments from enacting local guns laws. Elected officials who pass local gun laws in Florida can be removed from office by the governor, personally sued and fined up to $5,000. Under the 2011…
Democrat Lori Berman cruises to win in Florida Senate election
More than five months after the seat became vacant, Lantana Democrat Lori Berman easily won a special election Tuesday in a Palm Beach County Senate district. With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, Berman, a longtime state House member, had captured 75 percent of the vote in Senate District 31, according to unofficial totals posted…
Trump nominates two Florida judges for federal district court
President Donald Trump on Tuesday tapped two Florida appellate judges with ties to Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Gov. Jeb Bush to serve as federal district judges. Trump said he will nominate Allen Winsor, a judge on the state’s 1st District Court of Appeal, to serve as a judge in the federal Northern District…
Susuru, a retro-themed, ramen-driven izakaya, will open this June
I know what you’re thinking — Susur Lee is opening a restaurant in Orlando?!? No? Well, that’s what I was thinking. Anyway, Susur Lee isn’t opening a restaurant in Orlando, but a couple of local blokes — Lewis Lin of College Park’s Jade Sushi & New Asian and managing partner Kenny Ly — will open…
We’ve seen few productions of Little Shop of Horrors with as much heart as the one from Derek Critzer
As a resident of downtown Orlando, it’s tempting to assume you’re living at the epicenter of the arts in Central Florida, and dismiss driving nearly an hour for a musical, especially one I’ve seen many times before. But it’s hard to imagine a better venue to see Little Shop of Horrors – Howard Ashman and…
New espionage thriller ‘Beirut’ is competent, but lacks authenticity
Bargain bin ‘Beirut’
Opening in Orlando: Rampage, Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare and more
THIS WEEK: Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare Well, they can’t all be Get Out. Blumhouse leaves its social conscience on the nightstand for the nonce, putting Pretty Little Liars’ Lucy Hale and Teen Wolf’s Tyler Posey through a game of Truth or Dare in which the consequences are life and death. What’s next, Seven Minutes in…
ICYMI: Another awful hurricane season may be in the works for 2018, a federal judge claps back and more
New law makes it easier for Florida property owners to kick people off the beach: Starting July 1, a new Florida law will restrict local governments from adopting ordinances regarding customary use, which establishes public access to private beaches in spite of owners who may want to block people. In Florida, the “wet sand” area…
Local music throwdown Rock Fight is back with a vengeance
Rock, rot and rule
The best concerts coming to Orlando this week
Craig Owens Chiodos and BadxChannels man Craig Owens comes to spin and throw down some throwback jams (can the early ’00s even be counted as throwback?) for the Not a Phase club night. 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, at Soundbar, $12 The Revivalists New Orleans-based seven-piece band combines jam band tropes with some of the…
Orlando Shakes announces its next season, Fringe is nearly upon us, plus more in Orlando theater news
Three classically minded companies recently announced their 2018-2019 seasons. Orlando Shakespeare Theater will follow the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical In the Heights with Charles Ludlam’s The Mystery of Irma Vep, Jim Helsinger’s version of A Christmas Carol, the Ibsen sequel A Doll’s House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath, and Updike’s Gertrude and Claudius (adapted by Mark…
The Edison touts invention and imagination, but its kitchen lacks inspiration
The restaurant with two brains
Kai Asian Street Fare opened on Semoran, a ‘speakeasy meets coffee shop’ coming to a secret location, plus more in Orlando foodie news
OPENINGS: The building that once housed Lombardi’s Seafood near the intersection of North Orange and South Orlando avenues will become a market/food hall with Hunger Street Tacos, Pizza Bruno and Papa Llama as likely tenants. In addition to selling the work of local vendors, the market will host community-based events … Domu will open its…
Savage Love: ‘Call for submissions’
I’m a 36-year-old straight woman. I was sexually and physically abused as a kid, and raped in my early 20s. I have been seeing a great therapist for the last five years, and I am processing things and feeling better than I ever have. I was in a long-term relationship that ended about two years…
Gimme Shelter: Meet Henry!
Looking for a sweet new furry friend? Meet Henry! Henry (A400634) Is 1.5 years old and this handsome boy is looking for his forever family. He has been at Orange County Animaal Services since April 6 and he’s hoping his adopter will come very soon. For the month of April, OCAS adoption fees will be reduced…
