It’s always nice when you get to ogle half-naked performers for a good cause instead of your own pleasure for once. Miss Ivy Daniels is assembling an all-star cast, including Aurora Fable and Foxy Starr, to help raise money for the Barber Fund. The nonprofit helps out cancer patients in the area by taking care…
The world’s only “Heavy Nedal” band, Okilly Dokilly take their name, appearance and even lyrics from Ned Flanders, the straight-arrow neighbor of Homer and Marge on The Simpsons. Sure, it’s a gimmick, but these Nederinos can actually play metal, and the Flanders quotes they use out of context certainly sound metal. And at least the…
Back in Orlando for a tour supporting their upcoming album, Live the Love Beautiful, Drivin’ N Cryin’ – the self-proclaimed “DIY icons of American underground” – are still at it after more than 30 years of Southern rockin’. Though they’ve been a somewhat regular presence in the City Beautiful over the years, it’s the band’s…
Continuing the streak of eye-popping bookings at downtown’s Elixir is this very surprising one-night only DJ set from tastemaker and musician Matthew Dear. Where do we even start? The Detroit artist recently released his sixth album, Bunny, praised by The Guardian as full of “eclectic post-punk via heavy electronics.” This is only the latest chapter…
Unofficial Weed Day arrives this weekend, and if you’re not in danger of having to pass a drug test anytime soon, you can probably partake just by hitting up all of the weed-themed parties in town and taking a deep breath at each. Downtown’s Celine gets in on the action by hosting Smokechella, a daytime…
This Earth Day, celebrate the planet (while we still have one) in a way that’s both fun and educational at Lake Eola, one of the most visually stunning locations in Orlando. There’s no shortage of events for the whole family. Attend a debate or trivia challenge; see different vegan food preparation demonstrations; or relax and…
It’s a particularly Mills 50 phenomenon – well, an Uncle Lou’s & Grumpy’s phenomenon – that sometimes touring acts of different aesthetic stripes converge on the same show as a kind of DIY supercard. And this Friday’s show is very much that. First off, you’ve got two very heavy noise contenders from abroad. We’re over…
This is the last weekend to catch Christian Kelty’s latest immersive theater project taking place in a bar, The Little Merman From the Black Lagoon. The farce borrows from 1950s sci-fi as a group of scientists travel the Amazon in search of a Creature From the Black Lagoon knockoff, Gill-Man. Instead, they find Ethyl the…
You probably know actor and comedian Ken Jeong as Mr. Chow from The Hangover or Ben Chang from Community, but after Jeong’s debut in the 2007 movie Knocked Up, he also created, wrote, produced and starred in his ABC sitcom, Dr. Ken, which ran from 2015-2017. Get ready to laugh with el tigre chino at…
The moment our left hands became accustomed to the two-fingered gesture “Command+C, Command+V” was the moment ownership of art truly ended. Example? Supreme straight-up stole their logo from Barbara Kruger, and now countless “creators” (even Louis Vuitton!) throw their own ish onto what they think is a Supreme design. Come celebrate the meaninglessness of copyright…
Wednesday, April 17: The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 p.m. at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thomas Wynn 9 pm at Whiskey Lou’s Lounge, 121 N. Bumby Ave. Thursday, April 18:Leisure Chief 10:30 p.m. at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Symphony Under the Stars 8 pm at University of Central Florida, Memory Mall, 4000 Central Florida…
It’s about to get a whole lot uglier on Interstate 4, if you can believe it. Starting Thursday (NOPE), the eastbound I-4 exit to South Street (82B) will be moved about one-quarter of a mile back and combined with the eastbound exit ramp to State Road 408 (82A), the Florida Department of Transportation says. The right lane…
It’s no secret that I don’t look like, sound like, or walk in the same boots as Florida’s previous Commissioners of Agriculture. As the first woman elected to this position, and as a Democrat of Jewish faith, I grew up in urban South Florida. I don’t come from a farming family – but over the…
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Delta Sleep, Hikes, Bogues and Letters to Part, Soundbar, April 15 If you were looking to rock out with both the math and the feels, this was the show for you. Topping the marquee were Delta Sleep, who where making their Orlando debut. Like fellow countrymen and near-past revivalists TTNG, this UK…
Orlando’s wily garage-punk veterans Golden Pelicans are poised to release their fourth album on underground legend (of Homestead and Matador Records fame) Gerald Cosloy’s 12XU label, so what better excuse to head out on tour to road-test their new songs? Golden Pelicans hit the wide open road tomorrow with their tour starting off in Charlotte,…
Walt Disney World looks like it’ll be getting a leading role when Disney+ debuts later this year. Disney’s new ad-free streaming service has been billed the “Netflix killer,” thanks mostly to the vast library of existing content and low prices but while these important features of Disney+ have been discussed in the media at length,…
The prodigal Duke University freshman Zion Williamson is at the forefront of most hoops-focused minds after he declared for the NBA Draft this week, but is 7-foot-6-inch UCF center Tacko Fall actually more deserving? Metta World Peace, the retired pro basketball player formerly known as Ron Artest, thinks so. In fact, he thinks Fall is…
In an effort to halt the release of a video of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft getting a hand job at a South Florida sex spa, the billionaire’s high-profile legal team has opted to challenge the Florida Constitution. Specifically, Deadspin reports, Kraft’s lawyers, William Burck and Alex Spiro, are keying in on Florida’s public…
The Funk Fest package tour is celebrating their 15th birthday in serious sonic style with perhaps their strongest lineup yet that’s set to hit the City Beautiful at the end of April. The lineup includes: Erykah Badu, Jeezy, T.I., Plies, Bobby Brown, Bell Biv Devoe, Monica, Doug E. Fresh, Dru Hill, Jagged Edge, 112, Juvenile,…
Carnival Cruise Line has been steadily rolling out announcements regarding its upcoming LNG-powered cruise ship, the Mardi Gras. The new record-breaking boat is named after the company’s first ship and will debut as part of Carnival’s 50th anniversary celebration. Previous announcements focused on the dining and outdoor entertainment, but now we’re learning more about where…
Tampa Bay area hip-hop fans just watched Nas do a concert on the big screen, but they’ll get to see the Illmatic maestro in real life this summer when he and R&B icon Mary J. Blige bring a summer tour to the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre on July 13. Tickets for the show go on…
The Adult Literacy League’s annual benefit gala returns to the Orlando Science Center this week. Reading Between the Wines offers patrons the opportunity to sample dozens of varietals, snack on bites from local restaurants, and bid on a wide variety of goods and experiences in the silent auction. Plus, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King gives…
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday downplayed growing concerns that President Donald Trump is putting Florida’s coastal waters back in play for oil exploration. A political ally of the president, DeSantis said he will “be raising Cain” if drilling plans advance that include Florida waters, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico Range Complex, a military testing…
Tigris, Busch Gardens’ latest triple-launch steel coaster, soft opens today at the Tampa theme park. The new thrill ride, billed as Florida’s tallest launch coaster, officially opens this Friday, April 19, but today and tomorrow passholders can get a special Quick Queue access to the coaster, announced the theme park. Now the ninth roller coaster…
An Orange County man actually told WESH 2 that he buried a friend who died of an overdose in his backyard. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office was investigating a home near Universal Orlando Resort in the 5000 block of Glasgow Avenue Sunday after finding a buried body at the home. The homeowner, Greg Palermo, told WESH reporter…
Eighties teen-pop sensation and mall-music pioneer Tiffany will be returning to Orlando later this week to revisit her most famous music video moment. And she’s throwing a big party in Lake Nona(!) as part of it. Tiffany is putting on an all-star music video premiere party for the re-release of her MTV-ubiquitous video for 1987’s…
Margaritaville Resort Orlando just released new tidbits on its future water park, Island H2O Live!, including the fact that the Kissimmee attraction will be themed around “technology and social media.” Island H2O Live!, which is planned to open this spring, promises to be Central Florida’s most tech-advanced waterpark with innovative slides that give guests “unique…
Young rock true believers Greta Van Fleet are raring to get back out on the road for their North American “March Of The Peaceful Army World Tour,” kicking off in Florida in May. And amidst those first handful of shows is a big-time gig in the City Beautiful. The classic rock revivalists are still touring…
More than five months after Florida voters approved a ban on workplace vaping, the issue is on the way to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The House on Thursday gave unanimous approval to a bill (SB 7012) that would carry out the voter-approved constitutional amendment. The Senate unanimously passed the bill last month. The constitutional amendment, placed…
Drag legend Yekaterina Petrovna Zamolodchikova (but you can just call her Katya) is bringing her “Help Me, I’m Dying” comedy tour to Orlando’s Plaza Live on Aug. 5. The RuPaul’s Drag Race Miss Congeniality and All Stars finalist promises a “multi-media, multi-character, multi-faceted live stage show.” “A fusion of stand-up comedy, story-telling, video, and live dancerly-ish…
A campaign about free speech on Florida college campuses – a hot-button issue across the nation – is being backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and public university presidents, who signed a resolution vowing to welcome all types of debate unless they promote “true threats or defamation.” At the request of the governor, all 12 university…
Overlooked by most mainstream audiences and even some critics, short films are nevertheless essential to cinema. And by virtue of its Oscar accreditation, the Florida Film Festival is one of the world’s most important shorts showcases. This year’s fest features 130 shorts, most of them contained in 12 blocks ranging from experimental to international to…
As the anthropomorphic crab in The Little Mermaid once said, “the seaweed is always greener in somebody else’s lake.” So, for those of you looking for a complete and total career change, the Weeki Wachee Mermaids are holding open auditions this week. Auditions will be held this Friday, April 19, at 5 p.m. where any…
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Hurricane Party, Lil Indies, April 13 When you merge two artists like Bleubird and Rickolus, who aren’t just credentialed but also interesting, the results could be exponential. Well, that cross-Florida collab, Hurricane Party, is winding up and bringing heat. Even though his many years of distinctive work have earned him 24K street…
As part of the company’s expansion plans, Knox Medical has announced the opening of a new medical marijuana dispensary Tuesday in Casselberry. Current and future medical cannabis patients can go to the open house at noon on April 16 at 487 Semoran Blvd. where Knox Medical employees will be on hand to help patients navigate the…
Coca-Cola products are getting a droid-like makeover in Disney’s new “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” land. Opening on August 29 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, the Black Spire Outpost in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will carry Coke products and Dasani water true to Star Wars theme, according to Disney’s blog. Guests can purchase these drinks specifically on…
Universal Orlando unveiled a first look at Fluffy, the three-headed dog that’s one of the magical creatures featured in the upcoming “Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure” coaster. On the immersive coaster that debuts at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on June 13, guests will find Fluffy deep in the Forbidden Forest. According to the Universal blog:…
With construction well underway, Universal Studios Hollywood finally confirmed that a new The Secret Life of Pets dark ride will open in the park next year, but we might still be years away from a similar attraction in Orlando. A Secret Life of Pets attraction had previously been researched as a replacement to Shrek at…
Mizner’s Lounge at Walt Disney World’s Grand Floridian resort closed earlier this month. At the time it was reported on here that a Beauty and the Beast lounge was rumored for the space; now Disney has confirmed that themed lounge but with a few slight changes. Related The ballroom area will be less focused on…
Flanked by lawmakers and Martin County officials, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez said Friday the state “will leave no stone unturned” as it investigates a hepatitis A outbreak. Florida reported 690 cases of the disease between Jan. 1 and March 31, with the number of cases steadily increasing each month since April 2018, according to the…
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 Outatime! Outatime! is playing April 18 at Soundbar and May 24 at House of Blues. Just the facts: When did the band form?Outatime! formed back in 2014 as a side…
If you didn’t get a ticket to Bad Bunny’s sold-out show at the Amway Center last night and are dying of some serious FOMO, el conejo malo is coming back in December with a stop in Tampa. The Puerto Rican trap star will bring his X 100PRE tour to the Amalie Arena on Dec. 8 at 7…
Are you ready for Record Store Day? Well the people already lined up in front of Audubon Park’s Park Ave CDs are, so you’d better get with it! The reason that they’re baking in the heat is because of this year’s mammoth list of RSD exclusive releases – currently numbering around 400(!) different items -…
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights will have a gory Roman gladiator arena as one of its themed haunted houses this year. “Nightingales: Blood Pit” will take guests to ancient Rome where a “ruthless emperor reigns and gladiatorial games are put on for bloody entertainment,” the theme park announced. Guests must escape the arena as bloodthirsty…
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Mitski and Jay Som, The Plaza Live, April 11 Since showing a provocative but embryonic glimpse here back in 2015 opening up for Hundred Waters at the Dr. Phillips Center, Mitski has rocketed on the thrust of back-to-back critical smashes on Dead Oceans to sit at the head of the current power…
Atheist already has a beer named after it, but the pioneering Sarasota death metal band has taken another step towards reintroducing itself to music nerds by linking up with French indie imprint Season of Mist for the reissue of three albums that influenced bands like Death, Dillinger Escape Plan, Necrophagist and Spiral Architect. Piece of…
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings launched Friday the “Housing for All” task force, a six-month effort that seeks to combat and find practical solutions to Central Florida’s ongoing affordable housing crisis. The 38-member committee has been tasked with providing lasting efforts “to change the narrative around hosing availability and affordability,” Demings said. Demings also noted…
If you’ve been up in (broken) arms about being unable to buy tickets to Dear Evan Hansen’s run at the Dr. Phillips Center, don’t despair: a digital lottery may deliver you $25 tickets to the Broadway hit. While Hamilton’s sold-out visit to Orlando grabbed all the headlines, some Orlando theatergoers have also been grumbling that…
Do you live near a meth lab? A new report from American Addiction Centers says yeah, you probably do. According to the for-profit rehab company, Florida has hosted 877 methamphetamine manufacturing sites over the last decade, and their new map lets you find out just how close the nearest one is to your house. Using…
The Republican Party of Florida reported a massive haul of over $5.1 million or the first quarter of 2019, and their leading contributors include some all-too-familiar names. According to the most recent report from the Florida Division of Elections, the local GOP collected a total of $5,102,175, which is a hefty number compared to the…
Visit Florida would stay in business for at least eight more years under a measure the Senate is set to approve next week. But as lawmakers approach budget talks, the House continues to support closing the embattled tourism-marketing agency this fall. The Senate on Wednesday positioned a bill (SB 178) for a vote on April…
Continuing on today’s metal theme, Savannah’s heaviness purveyors Baroness have announced the dates for their “Gold & Grey” summer tour kicking off in July and stretching through August. Orlando headbangers are in luck because the band will be playing the Plaza Live in the finishing stretch of the tour. Baroness are set to release their…
Metal icon Ronnie James Dio — of Black Sabbath, Rainbow, and an incredible solo career creating the hardest of rock — would’ve turned 77 years old next month, and while it’s been almost a decade since stomach cancer killed him in 2010, a hologram of the heavy-metal icon will eerily tour the U.S. in his…
The time is (finally) upon us, Orlando Magic fans. After a seven-year drought, the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors kick off the opening game of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at 5 p.m. Saturday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the NBA has announced. The first Orlando home game is set for Friday, April 19.…
The Florida Senate’s top Democrat struggled Wednesday to quell a bipartisan firestorm over her opposition to a measure designed to snuff out anti-Semitism at schools and colleges. Speaking to reporters, Senate Minority Leader Audrey Gibson stopped short of apologizing but insisted that she is not anti-Semitic and blamed her “no” vote on a “very confusing”…
Add another stop to your list for Tax Day discounted eats: BurgerFi locations are offering $4.15 double cheeseburgers on Monday, April 15. BurgerFi has nine Orlando-area locations – find your closest here. The only way to redeem this discounted burger is to download the BurgerFi Rewards app. Slide into the burger joint with the app…
Oh, Mills 50 – many nights have we stumbled back and forth between St. Matthew’s Tavern and Lil’ Indies. But the neighborhood isn’t just a safe space for Orlando residents who are too hip to function without craft cocktails and third-wave coffee – it’s arguably the center of gay life in Orlando, and it retains…
Like the rest of the city, our arts and culture community is undergoing enormous changes at the last minute. While we mourn the closure of the Venue, Blue Star’s former multi-use performance space, we welcome the imminent opening of Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center, an acoustically engineered performance venue that will serve our…
Next time you visit Downtown Orlando, you’d be well advised to snap a couple of quick photos. Because soon enough these streets are going to be very different. Maybe even unrecognizable. Change is the name of the game in this neighborhood, from the perpetual overhauls of the I-4 Ultimate Project, the revamped and relocated CityArts,…
Parramore is constantly changing, though that’s not always welcomed by residents. This historic west Orlando neighborhood has recently seen the opening of the Orlando City Soccer Stadium and the massive purple crowds that populate it, as well as an increased event schedule at the rebranded Camping World Stadium. Parramore is also gearing up to welcome…
It started in 2010 as Annual Manual, and while we still have the same core mission – bringing to the surface things we love in the neighborhoods of Orlando – it’s gone through plenty of changes (as you can see from the vintage covers below). There are very few things you can count on staying…
Not too long ago, International Drive was little more than a no-man’s-land of second-string attractions and sketchy motels separating the major theme park resorts. But with Universal leading a construction boom along the I-Drive corridor, there’s now new life (night- and otherwise) to be found, from the outlet malls on the north end all the…
Orlando attracted over 72 million tourists last year, and if that number soon breaks 100 million, you can bet Batuu’s Black Spire Outpost will be to blame. Better known to the non-Jedi as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the eagerly anticipated 14-acre expansion to Disney’s Hollywood Studios will finally allow fans to sit in the cockpit…
Sanford, Orlando’s more charming neighbor to the north, is always reinventing itself with new restaurants, shops and experiences, but at its eclectic core, it remains the first magical escape off Interstate 4. The latest additions to this town only reaffirm Sanford’s status as a global destination whose cup runneth over with award-winning eateries, craft breweries,…
Our City Guide is published annually in April. Events in this list run from April 2019 through March 2020. Set those calendar reminders now! APRIL Florida Film Festival April 12-21, 2019; Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; 407-629-1088; floridafilmfestival.com Whether you’re a fan of dramas, comedies, documentaries or shorts, the Florida Film Festival has…
There’s a lot of evolution and expansion underway in the venue scene over the last 12 months, but it’s been more of a long-view grind than big flashy openings. Newer/rebranded spaces like Soundbar, Veranda Live, Celine and Iron Cow are maintaining their steady momentum of live music in an ever more competitive environment. Grumpy’s Underground…
Along its Orange Avenue main strip, Ivanhoe still retains architectural vestiges of the past, but look to either side and you’ll see it’s an area experiencing rapid, massive transformation. The Yard at Ivanhoe, a 1.2 million-square-foot mixed-use complex of apartments and retail that’s almost halfway done, is looming over Orange Avenue to the east, while…
If sports and outdoors culture in Orlando or Central Florida was ever lacking, it’s safe to say it’s thriving now. With a number of competitive college sports programs and professional franchises, such as the newly founded Alliance of American Football’s Orlando Apollos*, it seems as though we’ve finally hit a high point for spectator athletics…
South of Jacksonville and north of St. Augustine about two and a half hours from Orlando is a little town called Atlantic Beach. Drive until you reach the beach, and you’ll find rows of pastel-colored cottages mixed with a little history and a lot of local life and delicious food. PLAY Atlantic Beach Go to…
In just a few years after becoming an “official” neighborhood, SoDo (short for “south of downtown”) has experienced explosive growth – and it’s still growing. The attack at Pulse Nightclub in 2016 brought the community together, and since then, it’s transformed from a loosely defined district dominated by Orlando Health, quick-service chain restaurants and gas…
This Gulf Coast city is just two and a half hours from the City Beautiful and it’s so charming, you may never want to leave. Sink your toes into its powdery sand, and you’ll definitely start making plans to return … or maybe even retire here. Current real estate prices might be a rude shock…
Almost everything within the tidy confines of Thornton Park looks new and shiny and nice. Unusually for this well-established drinking and dining district, it’s suddenly chock-full of new establishments, from fancy small plate restaurants to indie music venues, helping solidify the neighborhood’s reputation as one of the chicest citywide. Austin’s Coffee Satellite Café at the…
What could possibly be new in a city whose main attraction is called “Old Town”? Well, a lot, thank you very much! Kissimmee has seen huge changes in the past year – hundreds of Puerto Rican people fleeing the destruction caused by Hurricane María have resettled in Kowtown, further strengthening the bond with the island.…
Located in the southeast corner of the greater Orlando metro area, Lake Nona is a planned “smart” community far enough away from the city core to elicit groans from your downtown-dwelling friends. But that’s all changing now that the community’s entertainment options and other amenities have tipped the scales from “a couple of great restaurants”…
The deceptively sleepy and bucolic district that is Audubon Park is actually a busy hive of activity as a foodie haven and small-business and maker hub, nestled in and around veteran businesses like Park Ave CDs and Stardust Video & Coffee. New businesses are opening apace and existing spots are evolving: Redlight Redlight is expanding…
College Park is not the neighborhood you think of when you’re thinking “change.” It’s a traditional, settled bungalow district, home to a Publix that still sports its 1950s facade and a clock shop right there on the main drag. Yet there’s a low hum of revolution if you listen closely enough, with a lot of…
Seeing arguably the highest turnover rate of residents out of any local neighborhood, UCF is both blessed and cursed with a student population that tends to move in, move up and move on. On the one hand, there are plenty of customers to go around, and more every year. But on the other, the popularity…
Beyond bikers and spring breakers, this world-famous beach town features history, character and waves for days. A quick one-hour drive northeast from Orlando, this location on the Atlantic Coast is perfect for a day trip or semi-staycation. PLAY Daytona Arcade Museum 176 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach, daytonaarcademuseum.com Missing your fill of Galaga, Street Fighter…
One of the latest areas to catch the urban revival bug, Curry Ford Road is shaping up to be the new “it” spot for local food and drink entrepreneurs. The legendary Pizza Bruno will always have a place in our heart, but here’s a list of some of the newer options to come to the…
It’s so close and yet feels so far away. Orlando’s citrus history is large and in charge in Clermont – visit the county next door to find a quaint downtown and some OG roadside attractions. PLAY Orlando Cat Café 532 Cagan Park Ave., Clermont, orlandocatcafe.com If it’s floofy cuddles you seek, you have to wait…
With all the new additions – the ones already open and the ones poised on the edge that didn’t make it by press time – to one of Orlando’s hippest neighborhoods, the Milk District, chances are we only have a few more months left before we have to stop calling it one of the city’s…
Is it just us or is Maitland elbowing other neighborhoods aside this year as one hell of a place to while away an evening or a Sunday Funday? The area is a nonstop cloud of construction, notably the recently completed Maitland City Centre, along with condos aplenty. But there’s room enough for everyone, so grab…
Winter Park has a reputation as the hoitiest, toitiest neighborhood this side of Windermere. But that doesn’t mean you can’t visit. The mix of Rollins College students and the well-to-do results in a nice variety of things to do, especially if dining is the main reason you leave your house. There are plenty of new…
