Diplo plans to break a twerk world record at Electric Zoo
DJ, producer and former Orlando-area troublemaker Diplo is planning to break the world record for twerking. He’s currently seeking 50 girls to “#expressthemselves” on Sept. 1 during his Electric Zoo Festival set in New York. He even has an Instagram video calling for “butts around the world” to audition for one of 50 coveted spots…
The Short Stack: Death Rides a Unicorn
This Must Be the Only Fantasy Dir: Todd Cole Runtime: 13m The Creators Project This is probably my favorite of the short films I’ve seen so far this year. After leaving a weekend RPG hangout because their friend Trevor (Elijah Wood) flaked out on them, Lora (Sidney Williams) falls, dropping her 12-sided die. When she…
For Reels Sunday Roundup — August 25th, 2013
For the handful of great things Twitter offers the world, it sucks the life out almost everything else. It was Ben Affleck being cast as Batman in the next Man of Steel that set all of the Twitter nerds off on a temper tantrum this week. Most people cite his absolutely dire performance in Daredevil…
Florida Dunkin’ Donuts employees still can’t get no respect
“Dunkin’ Donuts worker pistol-whipped over botched coffee order” (NY Post) As soon as I read the headline, I just knew it was going to be somewhere in Florida. Maybe not Orlando, but c’mon, somewhere in Florida, right? Right. Lauderhill, Fla, to be exact. The deep fried beatdown took place after a Dunkin’ employee, Rajay Hall, served the wrong…
George Zimmerman is all smiles and shotguns
George Zimmerman, a month after his acquittal in the killing of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin and last seen evading a speeding ticket somewhere in Texas, decided a trip to Kel-Tec—the company that manufactured the PF-9 he used to shoot Trayvon—was in order, and the Cocoa company apparently rolled out the red carpet, according to…
The Great Pumpkin Beer Review ushers in the fall drinking season
Let’s be honest: When compared to other parts of the country, our “fall season” here in Orlando might be considered a “cooler summer” anywhere else, a time in late September/early October where the pea coats and UGG boots come out of the closet at the first sign of mid-70s temps. But that doesn’t stop us…
A negotiated peace: Antoinette Tuff and the new culture of compassion
I started paying real attention to movies in the 1970s, which means I grew up watching a lot of hostage situations. From Dog Day Afternoon to The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, it seemed that, every week, I was seeing some professional negotiator talk a gunman out of mayhem. That’s why, when I heard the 911…
Orange County Animal Services accidentally puts dog to sleep **Updated**
This horrible story about Orange County Animal Services accidentally putting a dog in its care to sleep, despite the fact that a family had an application in to adopt the dog, is being shared around social media this week. The shelter, which said its system of checks and balances failed, has come under fire for…
Hackneyed home-invasion horror ‘You’re Next’ lacks genuine scares
Despite twists, ‘You’re Next’ is a worthless addition to a tired genre
Mickey and Minnie Mouse in new short, “Bad Ear Day”
Hot off of two short form Emmy wins for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for Croissant de Triomphe, Disney dropped another brand new Mickey short and it’s kind of by far my favorite of the new batch of shorts. In it, Mickey finds himself running late for a date night out on the town with…
Excellent video documents a night at Orlando Jai Alai
Earlier this summer, we documented the dying sport of jai alai in Orlando, but it seems we weren’t the only ones intrigued by what was going on at Orlando Jai Alai. New York director Drew Blatman managed to capture the slow death on film in his short A Night at Jai Alai. If you are…
Stadiums. Don’t. Work.
The economics literature is clear, but Orlando leaders just don’t care
Pet Rescue by Judy erects new million-dollar animal shelter in Sanford
Nonprofit rescue group says the project was built almost entirely on community donations
‘I Believe in You’ is a freeze-frame portrait of an artistic community
Jessica Earley presents a circle of Orlando experimentalists knitted together by friendship and mutual admiration
Opening in Orlando
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, The World’s End and You’re Next
Florida and Georgia go to the mat over Apalachicola Bay
Florida says Georgia’s use of water threatens delicate oyster fishery
Drinking, Nightlife and Parties
Where to drink and party in Orlando this week
Hats off to high school dramedy ‘The Spectacular Now’
Teen romance does a spectacular job of bringing smarts and sensitivity to the high-school dramedy
Savage Love
I recently discovered that my 14-year-old stepson has been stealing, wearing, soiling and hiding his toddler sister’s pull-ups. I’ve found them after he hides them in his closet, which also serves as a general storage area. After discussions with him, I’m certain that wearing them is a pleasure thing for him. He has even stolen…
This Little Underground
Our live music columnist checks out Sonic Graffiti, Queen Beef and Luscious Lisa
What does an artist need to thrive, or at least survive, in Orlando?
Live Active Cultures: A weekly arts column
Another Trader Joe’s, Second Harvest Guest Chef Night, Green Chile Festival, Seed Swap, and more
Tip Jar: local food news
Republican Party pulls race card on Allie Braswell
If party had just investigated potential candidate’s background, they wouldn’t have had to bother
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19) An Indian student named Sankalp Sinha has invented the “Good Morning Sing N Shock.” It’s an alarm clock that plays you a song and gives you a small electrical jolt when you hit the snooze button. The voltage applied is far less intense than, say, a taser, and is designed to…
Back-to-school boozing at UCF
A pub crawl through Orlando’s student ghetto
Debut LP from West Palm’s Centuries is a full-on brute – and we love it
Album review: Centuries’ ‘Taedium Vitae’
Central Florida Punk and Hardcore Festival doubles up on bands in its second year
Get schooled on Florida’s best and brightest punk and hardcore bands
Giraffas Brazilian sticks its neck out
Fast-casual steak-and-burger chain has grand expansion plans, but execution needs to keep up
Can we please stop pretending the Orlando Magic are doing us a favor?
Our fearless leader, Erin Sullivan, posted earlier today about the city’s plan to sell its police headquarters and a parking garage to the Orlando Magic for $12.7 million. The Magic, in turn, will use this land to build some sort of $100 million entertainment megacomplex, which will of course go much better than the last…
On sale this week: Janelle Monae at Hard Rock Live!
On sale: Friday, Aug. 23 Janelle Monae 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22 Hard Rock Live 6050 Universal Blvd. 407-351-5483 hardrock.com $27.50-$45 Down the road: The Dangerous Summer, Aug. 28 at Backbooth Tides of Man, Aug. 30 at Backbooth Michael Grimm, Aug. 30 at The Plaza Live Diana Ross, Sept. 3 at Hard…
