“Here they come!” Surviving Monkees members Mickey Dolenz and Mike Nesmith announced a farewell tour for their iconic pop combo this week, and the “Last Train to Clarksville” will be pulling into Orlando in October. The Monkees Farewell Tour was described by the group’s management as “the end of a unique project that began in 1965…
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices ALL ABOARD STORAGE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Personal property of the following tenants will be sold at public sale to the highest bidder to satisfy a rental lien in accordance with Florida Statutes, Sections: A83.801 – 83.809. All units are assumed to contain general household goods unless otherwise indicated. Viewing of…
The city of Orlando is trying to encourage commuters to ride greener and reduce the usage of single-occupancy cars. In a partnership with the Miles app, the city is offering rewards to Orlandoans who use transit, bike and walk. The Miles app gamifies moving yourself around the city, logging each trip and mode of transportation used. As…
After more than a year of being closed, the Disney College Program is returning this June. In an announcement on their blog posted May 3, Disney said 2020 College Program participants whose tenure ended early or was cancelled were sent an invitation to return. Because of the closures, Disney has temporarily opened up the program to…
Tactical Brewing Co. announced its latest collaboration with foodie-haven Viet-Nomz: a pho-flavored beer. The Phosho gose (say that four times fast) is brewed with typical pho flavorings like Thai basil, lime, and jalapeños. If you haven’t had a gose before, it’s been the “it” beer of craft breweries for several years. It’s a German style…
You’re never too young to become a “Florida Woman.” An Escambia County teen found that out the hard way, after authorities allege she schemed to rig her high school homecoming election. Emily Rose Garter was 17 when police say she conspired with her mother to falsify the meaningless election last October. In spite of this,…
In celebration of Star Wars Day, Walt Disney World announced new details about its intergalactic, immersive 2-day vacation experience, including a new light saber reveal exclusive to resort guests. According to a Disney blog, guests will be transported to another galaxy at the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser terminal, where they’ll enter a launch pod that’ll…
Six years ago, when Universal confirmed it would be partnering with Nintendo for new theme park attractions, fans immediately began speculating if Pokémon would be included. The popular series involves multiple parties, so launching an attraction based around the games wouldn’t come as easy as other Nintendo properties. Still, signs of success were around. The…
After months of consistently bad news for cruise lines, the tone of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shifted recently. Indicators point toward cruises in U.S. waters beginning as soon as July. While other travel industry segments have begun reopening, the CDC has been hesitant to greenlight cruising. Early in the pandemic, there were…
Epcot is undergoing the most extensive renovation in its history, but the rides are far from the only focus. The park’s beloved culinary options will also see a major overhaul. Future World’s Space 220 restaurant is by the most anticipated of the new experiences. Using patented cutting-edge projection techniques, the space station-themed restaurant will offer…
Since a humble Orlando tree frog became the new Cadbury Bunny earlier this year, let’s keep the local mascot momentum going as a Central Florida alligator seeks to be the new face of Frontier Airlines. Larry the Alligator, resident at — where else? — venerable Central Florida theme park Gatorland, is currently in the running to be the “face”…
Rides aside, the Jurassic Park areas of Islands of Adventure do a pretty good job of showing what life was like millions of years ago. If you look beyond the bones and raptor packs, you’ll see a fresh-faced Buddy Dyer taking office for his first term as Orlando’s mayor. Just outside the raptor paddock, some…
Orange County mayor Jerry Demings blasted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over his executive order overruling all local coronavirus mandates in Florida. In a letter issued Monday night, Demings accused the state’s top exec of playing stooge to a larger GOP strategy meant to “usurp the authority of Democrat-led urban counties and cities across America.” DeSantis…
Get ready for a celebration of arguably one of the greatest sammies ever developed by humankind when the Cuban Sandwich Festival returns to Central Florida for a 6th year in August. Now, one could easily hold a Cuban Sandwich Festival and just pack it with vendors from around Central Florida purveying their ham-and-pickle wares [Tampa…
The pandemic put most major projects in the theme park industry on pause, and prompted some resorts to let nearly completed attractions remain unopened while waiting for the economy to recover. But while Disney waits until October to debut Epcot’s Ratatouille ride, Universal Orlando is again breaking from the pack and unleashing another marquee attraction.…
The national touring industry should be somewhat on its way to a recovery by the fall, and Christian Berishaj will be a part of the healing. Last week, the Detroit songwriter better known as Jmsn (stylized “JMSN” and pronounced like the whiskey) announced that his “Heal Me” would stop in Orlando on Wednesday, Sept. 29…
Lawmakers during this year’s legislative session eliminated grants that help students at some private colleges pay tuition and got rid of an annual textbook stipend for Bright Futures scholarship recipients —- but stopped short of upending the way the $650 million Bright Futures program is funded. Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, in February filed a proposal…
Will’s Pub just launched a new free live-music series called the Laundry Sessions. The booking minds of owner Will Walker, Southern Fried Sunday’s Jessica Pawli and Montgomery Drive’s Marshal Rones have come together like a concert Voltron to curate this early evening run of weekend shows occurring, like the name says, outside on the back patio by…
The original Hulu animated series The Places We Live shines a spotlight on “modern folklore about everyday situations and the things we take for granted.” Lovingly quirky takes on whimsical, heartbreaking (or both) slice-of-life tableaux that we miss out on during our own daily hustle-and-bustle. The three episodes by Bernardo Britto cover subjects as disparate…
Right now, Florida is in the midst of alligator mating season, when horny gators will do whatever it takes to find a mate, including losing in a fight with a broom. Last week, deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, we’re once again summoned to remove an alligator that found itself wedged under a car.…
The pandemic has dramatically altered how people interact with the physical world outside of their homes. A new academic study looks at how public spaces, such as parks, public transit, and libraries, were impacted by the pandemic. It finds disturbing data on racial/ethnic inequalities among park use. The Harvard-backed researchers lay out their findings after…
A walk-up COVID-19 site will open in Winter Garden on Tuesday, May 4. The Community Health Center of Winter Garden will host the one-day event, distributing the first and second shots of the Moderna vaccine to any eligible adults.The center will be taking patients between 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. No appointments are being scheduled…
Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order immediately overriding all local COVID-19 emergency orders in the state. During a press conference in St. Petersburg, the governor trotted out his regular talking points about government overreach with regards to the shuttering of businesses and schools in response to the coronavirus pandemic. If he caught the…
OpenTable has released their “Top Brunch Spots For Mother’s Day” list just in time for the matriarch-hailing holiday, and three Orlando spots made the cut. Released on Monday morning, the rundown of 100(!) favored brunch destinations spans the entire country, and Orlando made a very strong showing with the Tap Room at Dubsdread in College…
The first thing to know about Caitlyn Jenner isn’t that she is transgender. It is that she is impossibly wealthy. Like many members of the upper crust, her decisions spawn first from protecting that wealth at all costs. That is why Caitlyn Jenner is an active member of the Republican party, a group tries to…
Floridians have waited decades for White Castle to come to the state. Compared to that, standing in line overnight for a pack of sliders is nothing. That’s exactly what many Orlandoans did, lining up outside the world’s largest White Castle ahead of its grand opening on May 3. Lines stretched around the building and the…
Senate President Wilton Simpson said the redistricting process will likely begin in the summer after Florida found out this week it will pick up one congressional district from the once-a-decade census count. “We have not given that a lot of consideration at this point,” Simpson said Monday after the U.S. Census Bureau announced Florida is…
Electronic project Kurt Rambus — the experimental alter ego of longtime Orlando DJ Nigel John — is premiering a new music video this weekend, but you’ll have to show up to see it first on the big(ish) screen. Rambus will be premiering the tripped-out promo clip for Wekiva Jive,” a collaboration with Heather John, on (this) Sunday, May…
Earlier this month, social media and Disney fan sites were filled with reports that Disney Springs’ latest restaurant venture, Beatrix, had been canceled. The health-focused, fast-casual concept from Chicago was slated to replace the former Bongos Cuban Café that closed in 2019. At the same time as the news of the pause was percolating through…
Divers Derek Demeter and Henry Sadler are used to finding prehistoric treasures when they trawl Central Florida waterways. But no amount of experience could prepare them for the massive surprise they found while diving in the Peace River earlier this month. The pair uncovered a 50-pound leg bone from a Columbian Mammoth, an extinct distant…
In celebration of National Therapy Animal Day, the best boys and girls in all of Orlando have returned to Orlando International Airport after a pandemic-long hiatus. MCO’s Paw Pilots therapy program returned Friday, much to the delight of…well, everyone. The program was designed to bring comfort to travelers via doggo cuddles and kisses. “It was…
More details on Universal Studios’ newest coaster have been shared by the theme park. Fans have been incredibly curious about the Jurassic World: VelociCoaster, which the park calls”the apex predator of coasters.” According to a press release, the original cast from the movie, including Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and BD Wong, are set to…
Alternative-folk heroines the Indigo Girls are headed to Orlando next month for what sure looks to be one of the last few of Frontyard Festival shows as of this writing. The duo of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers released their 16th album, Look Long, last year and have in the meantime been working on various solo…
‹ Left Center Right Resize Cancel Crop 580 x 347 ✖i › Photo via Wikimedia Commons Florida lawmakers Thursday night passed a plan to crack down on large social-media companies that block users from their platforms, giving a victory to Gov. Ron DeSantis on one of his top legislative priorities. The Republican-controlled House and Senate…
As their brand-new whale exhibit opens, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium has announced an upcoming documentary following the rescue of five stranded pilot whales. Stranded: A Whale Rescue Tale will debut this summer. The doc covers the pilot whale rescues that took place on Redington Beach in 2019. The aquarium’s animal hospital is just fourteen miles from…
Former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg has reportedly been cooperating with the feds in their investigation into Florida congressional representative Matt Gaetz. However, it might be something Greenberg wrote well before he turned stoolie that will sink the congressman from the Panhandle. In a letter obtained by The Daily Beast, Greenberg admits that both…
With time running out before the end of this year’s legislative session, Florida lawmakers signed off Thursday night on a controversial elections bill that would make it harder for voters to cast ballots by mail. Republican lawmakers backed away from more-stringent proposals contained in earlier versions of the elections overhaul. But the bill continued to…
I still remember the story Chuck Cobb told as he assembled the Nashville hot chicken sandwich I ordered at his gas station barbecue joint Git-N-Messy. As an overly eager cook at Hardee’s, Cobb accidentally dipped his fingers into a vat of hot oil used to fry chicken. I’m unfazed by the tale of unintentional self-hazing,…
Disney Cruise Lines revealed its latest ship on Thursday. Dubbed the “Wish” it will include immersive experiences from the Frozen, Marvel, and Star Wars franchises. The five-night cruise will be making its first voyage on June 9, 2022, sailing to Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay. According to a Disney blog, the cruise line will feature…
Florida will continue to have the most pitiful unemployment benefits in the nation for at least the rest of 2021. Senate Republicans were too busy prioritizing picking on trans kids for no reason and infringing on Floridians’ First Amendment rights to pass the almost universally popular plan to raise unemployment benefits in the state. Bills…
A photography exhibit by a local mother-daughter tandem that revamps the Mary Poppins archetype will soon be on display at the Eatonville Branch Library. Black Mary: Revival of the Marketplace and Culture, by famed journalist Renata Sago and her mother Kanika Sago, is a series of 12 photos that recast the Disneyfied Poppins as “a…
If you’ve ever watched a person swing through the air on one of Central Florida’s skycoasters and thought, ‘that would be more fun if I was able to do it with a busload of people,’ then there’s a brand-new ride concept you will love. Windermere resident Bill Kitchen made a name for himself in the…
The already-rescheduled show by reunited riot grrrl legends Bikini Kill in Orlando has now been moved from November to 2022, as part of a revamped tour itinerary that includes some new Florida shows. The show at Plaza Live is now happening on May 29, 2022, at the Plaza Live, along with other Florida concerts at…
It’s been in the works for awhile now, but Pattie Lou’s Donuts is one step closer to being the donut destination downtown with a soft opening to work out the kinks. The shop is located at street level in the downtown library’s parking garage at 139 Pine St. — because bibliophiles need sweet sustenance too — and has propped…
The University of Central Florida’s new football coach has adjusted to being a powerful Floridian rather quickly. His team has yet to play a snap and he’s already simping for the scraps of rich people. Gus Malzahn joined a growing movement asking Elon Musk to sponsor UCF’s football stadium under the banner of Musk’s rocket…
The founder of a disputed but popular Twitter account that alerts people when Publix chicken-tender subs are on sale says he will keep posting updates – and keep his fingers crossed that the grocery chain giant doesn’t sue him, as it threatened. In an exclusive interview, Bryan Dickey, 26, said he plans to “see what…
With Democrats decrying the “eleventh-hour” move, the Florida House and Senate on Wednesday revived and passed a controversial plan that would ban transgender female athletes from competing on high-school girls’ and college women’s sports teams. The House tucked the transgender athlete proposal into an education measure and sent the revamped bill to the Senate. The…
Tiesto will play The Vanguard on Saturday, May 8. The world-famous DJ and producer has been an EDM mainstay for several decades, and not even coronavirus can stop that (apparently). The Vanguard continues to be a downtown Orlando hotspot in more ways than one, offering temperature checks and gentle encouragement of mask-wearing to throw dance…
Florida lawmakers appear ready to give final approval to a restaurant industry-backed measure that would make permanent a practice of allowing alcoholic drinks to be included with take-home meals. The House and Senate have reached a compromise on a bill (SB 148) that would include limits on restaurants that can sell alcoholic drinks with take-home…
All service jobs carry an enhanced risk during the coronavirus pandemic. Outside of maybe flight attendants, however, few workers are exposing themselves to more people from more places than theme park employees. Walt Disney World as much as acknowledged this with a new program, offering a bonus to any park employee who could prove they…
The Orlando Magic will move their operations into downtown Orlando, temporarily taking up residence in a 23,711-square-foot space next to City Hall on Orange Avenue. The Orlando Business Journal reports the team will move its operations staff out of their office in Maitland at the RDV Sportsplex Athletic Club, taking 200 employees with it. “This…
Eat a light breakfast this Saturday morning because 4 Rivers Smokehouse is kicking off National BBQ Month with a tasty offer of BOGO barbecue sandwiches for that one day only. On Saturday, May 1, 4 Rivers ushers in National BBQ month at all of its Central Florida locations with buy-one-get-one “classic” barbecue sandwiches. BOGO varieties on…
A new survey by credit card points news site The Vacationer found that almost half of Americans felt that wearing masks ruined the magic or experience of visiting a Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Over 46 percent of survey respondents agreed that the illusion of Disney was sullied by the park’s ongoing mask mandates to…
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings gave an update on Wednesday about the county’s ongoing mask mandate to combat coronavrius. In the wake of the CDC updating their guidelines around mask-wearing earlier in the week, Demings opted to reduce requirements on fully vaccinated people. “As I have said many, many times, here in Orange County, we…
A popular Twitter account that tells followers whether the cultishly beloved Publix chicken tender sub is on sale is back online today. The account, with its 40K followers, had been dark for over a month, seemingly due to pressure from the grocery chain itself. Account runner and sub enthusiast Bryan Dickey has been mum on…
A proposal that would let people with concealed-weapons licenses pack heat at churches or other religious institutions that share properties with schools is heading to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Republican-controlled Senate on Tuesday voted 24-16 along party lines to give final approval to the measure (HB 259), which passed the House last month. DeSantis’ office…
Last month, Orlando ambient maestro Danielfuzztone formally entered our consciousness with a strong and realized debut album (Thoughts & Abandonment) on Bandcamp. As expected given the enormous recorded backlog he’s amassed, it didn’t take long for more releases to follow. But, besides repping our city well with their substance, the inspiration for his two latest…
Dear Dan: My wife and I (lesbian moms together) have been invited to her cousin’s wedding. And she’s marrying the son of a former Republican statewide official who, in the early 2000s, turned the power of his state against gays, especially gay parents. His son hasn’t renounced his views — in fact, he’s converted his…
Our picks of the week’s best events Wednesday, April 28Frontyard Festival: Sheryl CrowSinger-songwriter and ’90s survivor Crow is doing a little mini-tour of socially distanced live events in Florida. Just a couple of days before her Orlando show, she’s set to be one of the headliners of the Moon Crush Festival in Miramar. 7:30 p.m.,…
Meet Diamond! Diamond (A465720) is 11 years old and she has currently been at our shelter for over 55 days. She was surrendered by her previous owner because she did not get along with the cat and dog in the home, but she’s very affectionate with people. Diamond takes treats gently, enjoys being petted all…
How to save policing from the cops
OPENINGS: Bruno Zacchini, owner of Pizza Bruno and Bagel Bruno, will open a Venetian-style bacaro called Cicchetti inside the resuscitated Orlando Milkhouse project on Bumby Avenue. The concept will offer small bites featuring regional specialties from all over Italy (not just Venice) and is expected to open later this summer. Bagel Bruno will also be…
Surrounded by political allies and law officers last Monday at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed what was arguably the most controversial piece of legislation considered this session — House Bill 1, dubbed by its Republican sponsors the “Combating Public Disorder Act.” DeSantis’ swift action to sign the so-called “anti-riot” bill Monday…
In recent months, Live Active Cultures has covered the revival of theaters, theme parks and other forms of performing arts, but I’ve largely overlooked the post-pandemic progress of Orlando’s visual arts venues. I recently made amends by making my first visit in over a year to one of my favorite Winter Park institutions, the Charles…
Premieres Wednesday: The Handmaid’s Tale — Season 4 of the series you’re tired of referring to as “eerily prescient” includes three episodes directed by star Elisabeth Moss. Originally, she was only going to direct one, but a few opportunities sprang up due to the pandemic. You know, just like there’s going to be an opening…
