

Avant-percussionist Billy Martin named as Atlantic Center Master Artist for fall 2020
Percussion maestro and composer Billy Martin, best known for his work with Medeski, Martin & Wood and solo avant-garde efforts, will be heading to Central Florida next fall, but not as part of a touring jaunt. This time around, Martin will be spending a few weeks at the Atlantic Center for the Arts as a…
Band of the Week: Virginity
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 Virginity. Virginity is playing Pulp Fest at Will’s Pub on Sept. 8. Just the facts: Who’s in the band? Casey Crawford – vocals & guitar Jim Nefferdorf – drums &…
How Central Floridians can help our neighbors in the Bahamas
Updated | Thursday, 11:00 a.m., with new information about supply flights out of Sanford. Floridians breathed a collective sigh of relief Tuesday, as Hurricane Dorian largely passed by Florida without causing major damage. The Bahamas were not nearly as fortunate, with catastrophic destruction across multiple islands leaving at least seven people dead. Early NBC News videos showed…
How Planet Hollywood is reinventing itself with luxury resorts – and a lot of help from Guy Fieri
Orlando-based Planet Hollywood was at one time one of the most recognizable restaurant brands in the world, but by the time the Disney Springs flagship closed in Jan. 2016 for its $30 million remodel, many thought that it would never reopen. After numerous delays, it finally did reopen in 2017. The newly reimagined restaurant kept…
Adding assault-weapons registry to Florida constitution would cost $4 million
A panel of state economists on Tuesday estimated it would cost $4 million to build a registry to carry out a proposed constitutional amendment that targets possession of assault weapons, if Floridians approve the measure in November 2020. The ballot proposal, backed by the political committee Ban Assault Weapons NOW, would prohibit possession of assault…
Gov. DeSantis issues emergency rule paying state agency managers for extra hours worked for Hurricane Dorian
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration on Tuesday issued an emergency rule that will allow mid-level managers in state agencies to get paid for extra hours they work because of Hurricane Dorian. The rule will allow employees to get paid for the “critical services” they provide to the public in hurricane preparation and recovery. Dorian remained a…
It’s a good time to talk about Florida Sen. Rick Scott and that Navy hat
As governor for eight years, now-Sen. Rick Scott used to be responsible for leading Florida’s emergency notices, ably reading Teleprompter scripts written by state authorities. But he was also a notorious control freak, shutting out media from his twice-daily briefings with emergency managers. Stated best in the Venice Gondolier Sun, “Throughout his two terms, as…
Florida likely to avoid a direct hit, but Category 2 Hurricane Dorian will still cause damage
Updated | 3:22 p.m. As of 2 p.m., the National Hurricane Center reports Dorian’s maximum sustained winds decreased to near 110 mph, and that it is moving northwest at 5 mph. The hurricane is about 105 miles east of Fort Pierce, and is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during the next few days. People along the…
SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa to announce new details on 2020 thrill rides next week
UPDATE: SeaWorld has now announced a third press conference on the same day for SeaWorld San Antonio where they will announce that park’s 2020 wooden coaster attraction. After postponing a press event last month, SeaWorld Orlando has now announced that they will be hosting dual press conferences with their sister park, Busch Gardens Tampa, on…
Windy, rainy days expected for Central Florida as Category 2 Hurricane Dorian crawls north up the coast
Updated | 1:10 p.m. Hurricane Dorian, now a weaker Category 2, continues to linger above Grand Bahama Island, where there are still life-threatening storm surges. A 12:00 p.m. NOAA report says wind gusts have been measured up to 130 mph, with storm surges 10 to 15 feet above normal tide levels and extreme flooding from up…
Orlando theme park closures, including Disney, Universal, Legoland and Holy Land Experience
Updated | 2:00 p.m. Tuesday Many Orlando-area theme parks are open limited hours on Tuesday, as we anticipate the now-Category 3 storm to crawl along the eastern coast of Florida. At Disney on Tuesday, the Magic Kingdom Park will be open at 8 a.m. for regular guests (7 a.m. for Extra Magic Hours), and closing…
Orange County Library System is closed through Wednesday, due to Hurricane Dorian
The Orange County Library System announced all branches will remain closed from Tuesday, Sept. 3, through Wednesday, Sept. 4, due to the approach of Hurricane Dorian. All library branches have already been closed on Monday, Sept. 2, due to the Labor Day holiday. The library currently plans to reopen all locations on Thursday, Sept. 5,…
Orlando International Airport closed starting Tuesday morning
Orlando International Airport will not be operating, starting 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, despite earlier announcements that it would open again. The airport is saying on Twitter it will close due to Dorian, now a Category 4 hurricane. Hurricane #Dorian Statement – 9/2/19 Afternoon Dorian's track forces ceasing of operations at MCO on Tuesday, September 3.…
How to get free Uber or Lyft rides to a state-approved shelter
Uber and Lyft are offering free, two-way rides for Florida residents to state-approved shelters. Uber’s promotion includes two free rides up to $20 in fare each way, and can be used by following these steps: Open your app and tap “Payment” in your app menu Scroll down to Promotions Tap “Add Promo Code” Enter code…
Florida man wants the U.S. military to fight Hurricane Dorian with ice
Hurricane Dorian is currently a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane lumbering towards the U.S. coastline at 5 mph, and while there are plenty of smart things to do in the meantime, one Florida man thinks the military should just drop some ice in the water. “I don’t see how they haven’t come up with some way…
Hurricane Dorian still crawling west toward Florida, is welcome to begin moving north any time, please
Updated | 10:40 a.m. Monday Hurricane Dorian continues to inch westward toward Florida at 1 mph, ravaging the Bahamas, as its movement and winds slowed only slightly overnight. Ata a 10 a.m. press conference, Gov. Ron DeSantis advised Floridians to prepare while they still can, and noted that 72 nursing homes and assisted living facilities…
SunRail suspended this week while Central Florida awaits Hurricane Dorian
As Hurricane Dorian – one of the strongest storms in decades – continues its slow roll toward Florida, SunRail isn’t taking chances. The rail line announced on Friday it was canceling service all week. Sunday’s uncertain forecast means the line will be suspended through Friday, Sept. 6. Meanwhile, the City of Orlando is waiving parking…
Dexter’s owners will open New Standard in the old TR Fire Grill space in Winter Park
UPDATED with a correction to the new restaurant name; it will be known as Dexter’s New Standard, not simply New Standard. You already know that Dexter’s in Winter Park will be relocating into the old TR Fire Grill space in the Ravaudage complex in Winter Park (you did know that, right?). What you may not…
Tolls suspended throughout Florida, as Hurricane Dorian becomes 185-mph monster storm
Tolls were suspended Sunday on Florida’s Turnpike and other roads in South Florida and Central Florida, as local mandatory evacuation orders started and large portions of the state’s East Coast continued to face threats from catastrophic Hurricane Dorian. Roads with lifted tolls include: Alligator Alley The Florida Turnpike Mainline (SR 91) The Turnpike Homestead Extension…
Why Disney World doesn’t remove the castle spires, and why Spaceship Earth won’t roll away during a hurricane
Whenever Florida finds itself within the sights of a major hurricane, various urban legends and other spurious stories always pop up about how Walt Disney World prepares for storms. The resort follows the EPCOT Building Codes, a holdover from the days when Epcot was envisioned as a living laboratory for the city of the future. As some…
Orlando International Airport to remain open Monday (Update: Nope!)
After previously planning to close on Monday at 2 a.m. due to Hurricane Dorian, Orlando International Airport changed plans and will remain open for commercial flights through Monday’s Labor Day holiday. The change comes as predictions for the storm’s path show it remaining off the coast of Florida. While Orlando remains within forecasters’ “cone of…
Dorian now a ‘catastrophic’ Category 5 hurricane, threatens Florida coast
Dorian is now a Category 5 hurricane, as the storm heads straight into the Bahamas, the National Hurricane Center said Sunday morning. Packing 160 mph winds with gusts up to 190 mph, “the eyewall of this catastrophic hurricane is about to hit the Abaco Islands with devastating winds,” says the NHC in their 8 a.m.…
Hurricane Dorian to drench East coast, could produce ‘major flooding events’
Updated | 8:37 p.m. Saturday The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center in Miami has Hurricane Dorian’s strength and path unchanged from earlier Saturday. Dorian remains 335 miles east of West Palm Beach with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, 7 mph beneath the Category 5 threshold. “Dorian is moving toward the west near 8…
Hurricane Dorian winds intensify to 150 mph, Central Florida still within ‘cone of uncertainty’
Updated | 11:06 a.m. Saturday After picking up strength overnight and becoming a major hurricane, Hurricane Dorian now has sustained winds of 150 mph, bringing it just 7 mh below a Category 5. Predictions for its path still show Orlando within the “cone of uncertainty” of where the eye will travel. Saturday’s 8 a.m. National Hurricane…
Orange County to offer evacuation shelters starting Sunday
Starting Sunday at 8 a.m., 12 evacuation centers will open in Orange County. Hurricane Dorian is expected to make landfall as a Category 4 storm Monday, with winds exceeding 130 mph. It’s on track to be the strongest hurricane Central Florida has seen in years. Officials urge residents not to arrive beforehand, and included a…
Orlando International Airport to stop all commercial flights Monday
Updated | Monday, 5:00 p.m.: Orlando International Airport will indeed cease operations, starting Monday night until further notice, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Orlando International Airport is stopping commercial flights Monday, the day meteorologists project Hurricane Dorian will make landfall in Florida. All flights will stop Monday starting 2 a.m., according to a…
Concerts in Orlando canceled so far due to Hurricane Dorian
Due to concerns over the possible impacts of Hurricane Dorian in Orlando and Central Florida, a number of concerts and musical events are being canceled over the holiday weekend. Below are some initial announcements, and we’ll keep you informed as more are confirmed. Saturday, Aug. 31 David Mason Band, Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts…
Orange County Government now offering swank, pre-filled sandbags at distribution sites
The pre-filled sandbag distribution sites are now open in Orange County. But don’t go alone – bring someone along to help. Orange County Government is encouraging residents to prepare for Hurricane Dorian by distributing pre-made sandbags to residents on Friday, Aug. 30, 2019 and Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 at various locations. Orange County residents can visit…
The Sidekicks and Future Teens dazzle in emo-heavy bill at Soundbar
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Oso Oso, The Sidekicks, Future Teens and Palm Tree Square, Soundbar, Aug. 28 On the emo spectrum, New York’s Oso Oso occupies the decidedly pop end. In fact, at this point in their career, this vehicle for musician Jade Lilitri is almost beyond that tag with their commercial and open-hearted pop-rock. Although…
Full Sail (finally) cancels classes ahead of Hurricane Dorian
Full Sail University in Winter Park canceled Tuesday classes as Hurricane Dorian approaches Florida. The announcement comes a full day after the University of Central Florida, Valencia College, and Rollins College announced their campus closures. UPDATE: Full Sail's campus will be closed Sunday, September 1 and remain closed through Tuesday, September 3. All classes will…
Dorian officially upgraded to Category 3 hurricane, considered ‘extremely dangerous’
Packing 115 mile per hour winds, Dorian is now a Category 3 hurricane, as it approaches the Bahamas with Florida in its sights. According to the 2 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Dorian is now a major hurricane and is considered “extremely dangerous.” The eye of the storm, which is now well-defined, is…
Roundup: Central Florida K-12 Hurricane Dorian school closures
A number of Central Florida counties have closed school through Tuesday, ahead of Hurricane Dorian. Nearby counties that canceled classes Tuesday include: Orange All OCPS schools and buildings will be CLOSED Tuesday, September 3. OCPS continues to monitor #HurricaneDorian with @OrangeCoFL, @citybeautiful & @NWSMelbourne. Determination for beyond Tues will be made when more information is…
Pet hospital BluePearl plans to keep Florida locations open during Hurricane Dorian
A Florida-based veterinary hospital plans to ride out Hurricane Dorian, but it will evacuate its locations, if need be. BluePearl, a Tampa-based pet hospital with chains across the country, issued a press release on its hurricane plan as Dorian nears Florida. “Our BluePearl hospitals in Tampa, Brandon, Sarasota, and Clearwater are scheduled to remain open…
Former Canadian PM rooting for Hurricane Dorian to hit Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida
The former prime minister of Canada tweeted then deleted a post that said she’s “rooting” for Hurricane Dorian to hit Mar-a-Lago. Kim Campbell, Canada’s 19th prime minister, sent out the tweet on Thursday, then issued an apology Friday. “I’m rooting for a direct hit on Mar A Lago!” she initially posted as a quote tweet.…
‘Absolute monster’ Hurricane Dorian still on track to hit South Florida as a Category 4
Dorian would be the strongest storm to make landfall in South Florida since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Hurricane Dorian has ramped up and is now a Category 2 hurricane, as it continues to slow and strengthen en route to Florida’s east coast. According to the 11 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center, the storm…
Campus closure from Dorian causes UCF Art Gallery to reschedule season’s first faculty exhibition
Hurricane Dorian has interrupted more than just classes at the University of Central Florida. The storm has pushed back by two weeks the opening reception of an anticipated exhibition of artwork. The Faculty Exhibition Opening Reception at UCF Art Gallery originally planned for Friday, Aug. 30 has been rescheduled to Sept. 13 due to campus closures. “The exhibition…
Trump cancels Poland trip as Dorian approaches Florida
President Trump said he canceled a trip to Poland to focus federal emergency resources on Hurricane Dorian as it heads for Florida in the coming days. “To ensure that all resources of the federal government are focused on the arriving storm, I have decided to send our vice president, Mike Pence, to Poland this weekend…
With Dorian expected to become a Category 4 hurricane, all of Florida is now in a state of emergency
All 67 Florida counties are now under an emergency order as the state awaits a powerful hit, likely early next week, from Hurricane Dorian. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday expanded throughout Florida a state of emergency he had declared a day earlier in 26 counties along the East Coast and in some inland areas. The…
Orange County Schools cancel weekend activities but Hurricane Dorian hasn’t canceled school yet
Orange County Public Schools have canceled all activities taking place on school campus ahead of Hurricane Dorian. The school district canceled all campus events, school-related and non school-related, from Saturday through Monday. “On Friday, we will update the community about the status of school for next week,” the district posted on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/UWOQd9hrpG — OCPS…
Legoland offers free admission to first responders all during September
Legoland Florida is offering both active and first responders free admission for the entire month of September. The Winter Haven theme park announced any service members with a valid employee ID or professional organization membership card can score free single-day admission and 50 percent off tickets for up to four guests. IDs must be shown at…
Rollins College student radio station WPRK-FM signing off for Hurricane Dorian
WPRK-FM at Rollins College will sign off for Hurricane Dorian, just like it did two years earlier with Hurricane Irma. WPRK-FM plans to power down for the storm starting Thursday through Sept. 5 at 9 a.m., according to an email from Greg Golden, the director of student media. Rollins College has ordered a mandatory evacuation…
Ten10 Brewing Company offers free filtered water ahead of Hurricane Dorian
Water out of stock? Ten10 Brewing Company is here to help. As Central Floridians brace for the impact of Hurricane Dorian, which is now a Category 4 storm, finding essentials such as water, food, and gas will become increasingly difficult. While Florida politicians have expressed their concerns with companies’ price gouging, one Orlando-based business is…
UCF, Valencia and Rollins College issue Hurricane Dorian alerts, closing campuses
University of Central Florida announced all campuses will close starting at 5 p.m. Friday through at least Tuesday, Sept. 3. in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian. Rollins College and Valencia College are closing classes as well. At Rollins, classes will close Friday and the campus will close from 4 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, during which the campus…
I-4 Ultimate workers make preparations for Hurricane Dorian
Workers on I-4 Ultimate are going into hurricane preparation mode. Mother Nature is just the latest force to slow-down the already-behind project. Crews are checking areas prone to erosion or flooding and removing certain equipment that could be picked up by strong winds, officials said. “Post-storm, the team will inspect for damage and begin clean-up…
Orlando advises using plastic sheeting for Hurricane Dorian, Orange County recommends sandbags
Remember how we told you all to stock up on sandbags because Orange County’s offering a bunch of free sandbag filling stations? Now we’re learning that might not be the best hurricane prep advice. At least, that’s what city of Orlando officials are saying. The city’s official Twitter account just advised against sandbags, saying that plastic sheeting…
Florida attorney John Morgan threatens to sue Andrew Gillum if he runs for office again
John Morgan, a political rainmaker and perhaps Florida’s most well-known attorney, on Wednesday threatened to sue Andrew Gillum, if last year’s Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate runs for office again. Morgan’s remarks to the Tiger Bay Club in Tallahassee were an escalation of a public tirade over Gillum’s decision to sit on more than $3 million ahead of…
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody activates the state’s price-gouging hotline
On Thursday morning, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody opened the state’s price-gouging hotline, a resource for people who find themselves confronting unusually high prices like $22 cases of bottled water. I have activated Florida's Price Gouging Hotline. Floridians in the projected path of #HurricaneDorian prepare now—and report price gouging to my office by calling (866)…
Publix is making Hurricane Dorian cakes and some people are scandalized
Publix is back with the tongue-in-cheek hurricane cakes. Twitter agrees: it is the most-Florida thing ever. The cakes started circulating on social media and most folks are getting a good laugh out of it. I mean, one cake even says “go away” on it. A Publix hurricane cake. If this ain’t the most Floridaest thing…
Central Floridians beg Hurricane Dorian to topple ‘I-4 Eyesore’
Hurricane Dorian, expected to reach category 3 status next week, just might be the strongest storm to hit Central Floridians in years. But we Floridians, as usual, make light of anything under a category 5. The usual hurricane memes and tweets are already making the rounds, and now there’ a Facebook event calling for the…
Hurricane Dorian now projected to hit Florida as a Category 4 storm
Forecasters are now saying Dorian could reach Florida’s coast late Sunday as a Category 4 hurricane, with winds reaching 130 miles per hour. According to the 11 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center, exactly where Dorian will strike is still in question, but the updated models are now showing the storm making landfall anywhere…
Orange County sheriff’s deputy hit by car in Lake Butler
An Orange County sheriff’s deputy suffered serious injuries after a driver struck him early Thursday morning, police said. The deputy was cleaning debris from an earlier accident near S. Apopka Vineland and Conroy Windermere roads at about 4:30 a.m. when the motorist stuck him, Sheriff John Mina said. He suffered from head injuries, a broken…
NOAA: ‘Exact forecast track’ of Dorian no longer matters, coastal Floridians should prepare
NOAA and other weather agencies now consider Hurricane Dorian nearly certain to impact Florida, and are warning coastal residents to prepare for hurricane-force winds and storm surges, no matter the exact path the storm takes. A 5 a.m. advisory post from the National Hurricane Center in Miami on Thursday gives a better idea of the…
The internet’s best amateur weatherman delivers dire warning for Florida: ‘Take care and stay safe’
It’s time to take this storm seriously. The internet’s best amateur weatherman, Frankie MacDonald, is now warning Florida residents about Hurricane Dorian, which is expected to hit the state’s east coast by at least Monday as a Category 3 storm. In his patented rapid-paced half-shouting delivery, the 34-year-old from Novia Scotia says Dorian will bring…
With Hurricane Dorian heading to Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis declares state of emergency
On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for counties in the path of Hurricane Dorian. “The Governor is urging all Floridians on the East Coast to prepare for impacts, as the latest forecasts from the National Hurricane Center project Hurricane Dorian will make landfall on Florida’s East Coast as a major…
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge finally opens Thursday at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Thursday. *Cue lots of hype. For real, Disney even has a countdown clock on their site. Pretty much the same thing already opened in Anaheim on May 31, but now the Orlando-area gets to celebrate the grand opening at Walt Disney World. The new Star Wars…
Dorian has become a hurricane, and it’s expected to hit Florida as a Category 3
Tropical Storm Dorian officially became a hurricane Wednesday afternoon, as it threatens parts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and is also projected to hit Florida’s east coast as a Category 3 hurricane. As Dorian neared the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center upgraded the…
Eight Puerto Rico flights canceled at Orlando International airport in advance of Tropical Storm Dorian
Eight flights between Orlando International Airport and Puerto Rico have been canceled due to the threat of Tropical Storm Dorian. The airport released a statement on Twitter Wednesday stating five departures and three arrivals were canceled. Jet Blue, Spirit, Frontier and Southwest airlines appear to have canceled San Juan, Puerto Rico flights on Wednesday, according…
Free sandbags available at 5 different Orange County Parks
It’s that time of year again. With hurricane season underway, and the looming threat of Tropical Storm Dorian hitting Florida as a hurricane, the National Hurricane Center has advised Floridians to have a hurricane plan prepared. Scoop there it is! Public Safety Director Danny Banks encourages residents to dig in and make their own sandbags…
Disney sued over alleged food poisoning from bug-infested lettuce wraps at Polynesian resort
Three Floridians filed suit against Disney last week, claiming they got food poisoning from a salad filled with “dozens of live insects and bugs” at the Polynesian Village Resort. Broward County residents Britney Walker Figueroa, Cynthia Walker and Jeoffrey Walker filed suit on Aug. 20 against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Oasis Bar and Grill and…
Orlando promoter Bad Balloon was hyping Seattle’s Supercrush, and you should’ve listened
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Supercrush, Sad Halen, Gamma Waves and Please Be Kind, Aug. 25, Uncle Lou’s Orlando concert promoter Josiah Wess always does his due diligence in appropriately promoting all the shows he books under the Bad Balloon banner. But there was something a little extra about the way he was hyping Seattle band Supercrush.…
Lost in Trancelation brings in Richard Durand for a late night Labor Day Eve party
(Editor’s Note: This show has been postponed to a date TBA due to concerns over Hurricane Dorian.) For many, the best way to celebrate a three-day weekend is to go out late on Sunday night. The Lost in Trancelation crew – party people devoted to the trance subgenre of dance music – brings in dutchman…
Galantis headlines EDM festival Frequency Burst at the Central Florida Fairgrounds
(Editor’s Note: This event has been canceled due to concerns over the effects of Hurricane Dorian. The Central Florida Fairgrounds get taken over by a one-day EDM festival this weekend. Galantis, Oliver Heldens and more play Frequency Burst, organized by top-tier party producers Disco Donnie Presents. Head over to Gilt Nightclub afterward for the official…
Raglan Road’s Great Irish Hooley returns for four days of Irish music, dancing and food
Disney Springs’ Raglan Road puts on their annual Labor Day weekend blowout with three stages featuring traditional and modern Irish tunes, step dancers, and plenty of food and drink. (Try the braised beef, it’s excellent. We make better colcannon, though.) As nice as it is for them to have three stages, you’re probably going to…
Enzian and Pet Rescue by Judy team up for CatVideoFest
There’s nothing that a good cat video can’t cure (at least temporarily). The internet’s feline stars, like Lil Bub, Keyboard Cat and Grumpy Cat (RIP), have entertained millions and improved many a bad day. But beneath the glitz and glamour of the web’s whiskered celebrities lies a harsh truth: the kitty pay gap. A YouTube…
Now you can get a passport at the downtown Orlando Public Library
Come next month, you can apply for a passport at the downtown public library in Orlando. And you don’t even need a library card. Orange County Library System will officially offer the service starting Sept. 11, but it will only be at the East Central Blvd. location, according a press release. Library representative Erin Sullivan said…
“My Brother, My Brother and Me” podcast answers tough questions at the Dr. Phillips Center
Justin, Travis and Griffin McElroy – the titular brothers of “My Brother, My Brother and Me” – are something like the First Family of podcasting. The show, which has come out regularly since 2010, mostly features the trio giving advice to listeners or randos on Yahoo! Answers. It’s sort of like “Dear Abby,” but jokier.…
Mexican music legend Marco Antonio Solís shows mastery of multiple genres at Amway Center this weekend
(Editor’s Note: This show has been rescheduled to Oct. 20 due to concerns over Hurricane Dorian.) Mexican singer Marco Antonio Solís has touched on practically every genre associated with his native country over the years. From mariachi to cumbia to bachata to sweeping, dramatic ballads, Solís covers it all. He’s rightfully a star in the…
Florida Underground Festival brings Wolf-Face and several others to venues on Mills Avenue this weekend
The Florida Underground Festival returns for a second go-around this weekend, bigger and wilder than ever. The daylong fest takes over no less than four Mills 50 stages – Uncle Lou’s, Grumpy’s Underground Lounge, Will’s Pub and Lil Indies – with 20-something different bands from all over the state showing off the wilder sides of…
Tropical Storm Dorian on path to hit Florida as Category 2 hurricane by Labor Day
The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center shows Tropical Storm Dorian strengthening over the next couple days and possibly hitting the east coast of Florida as a Category 2 hurricane. Dorian’s exact path and strength is still uncertain. However, Dorian is currently about 60 miles east of St. Croix, moving 13 miles per hour…
Orlando Public Library hosts a showcase of very short shorts at the One Minute Film Festival
While the current scapegoat for the seemingly ever-shrinking human attention span seems to be smartphones – darn kids and their social medias – people have historically blamed everything from music videos to comic books for a perceived tendency toward distraction in the young people. But then there’s the One Minute Film Festival. With no film…
Celebrity impersonators flock to Orlando for the annual Sunburst Showcase this week
A special Orlando event brings Cher, Tina Turner and Shania Twain together in concert for only $10! Just kidding. That’s totally not happening. But you can see dedicated professional impersonators for those singers and more than 100 other celebrities at the 17th annual Sunburst Showcase of Celebrity Impersonators. This isn’t any old celebrity look-a-like fest.…
Oso Oso’s Jade Lilitri comes to Orlando’s Soundbar with end-of-summer anthems
New York’s Oso Oso is the new creative outlet for Jade Lilitri, giving the whole rock & roll thing another go since the shelving of previous band State Lines. With Oso Oso, Lilitri smooths punk’s serrated edges with seriously radio-friendly hooks, a departure from State Lines’ more fraught and angular emo. The album is bright…
Yoni Wolf’s WHY? return to Orlando with an ambitious new visual album
The past couple of decades have seen the inimitable Yoni Wolf lead his project WHY? through a myriad of albums. From Greenthink’s experimental landscapes to Wolf’s sentimental work with ex-girlfriend Anna Stewart on Divorcee, to his latest pursuit of tackling anxieties and bad nostalgia on this year’s “visual album” AOKOHIO, Wolf cites the “normal progression…
Supersuckers, Universal Funk Orchestra, and more live music in Orlando this week
Supersuckers Veteran rockers Supersuckers bring their tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their 1999 album, The Evil Powers of Rock ‘n’ Roll, to Will’s. The Ludes open. 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, at Will’s Pub, $15-$18 Tongues of Fire Asheville’s hot rocking Tongues of Fire roll into the Iron Cow with touring comrades Top Nachos. Locals…
Savage Love: Come the Revolution
I’m a straight woman and have been sexually active for about six years. I’m in my mid-20s now and about ready to become a “man-hating feminist.” I feel like I can figure out what a guy wants in bed pretty easily. I cannot remember a single time when I’ve had sex with a guy that…
Meet Delilah, a 3-year-old sweet girl ready for her forever home
Meet Delilah (A435132)! This sweet girl was brought into the shelter as a stray, and is available for adoption, looking for her fur-ever home! Delilah is 3 years old and was a bit fearful when she first arrived to the shelter, but she has blossomed into a very sweet dog. She has tested positive for…
Chef Roberto Treviño fashions striking ceviches at Don Julio Mexican Kitchen in Orlando
It wasn’t that long ago when our cravings for south-of-the-nonexistent-border-wall cuisine were satisfied by the rash of pseudo-Mexican restaurants lining metro Orlando’s calles and caminos. Now we seek out authenticity from roadside taquerias on the city’s western fringes; we get on the ‘gram after every meal at Black Rooster or Hunger Street; and we look…
Twisted Root Burger Co., Makani Egyptian, Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood, and more Orlando restaurant openings
OPENINGS Makani Restaurant & Lounge is now serving Egyptian fare from the space previously occupied by Sugarcanes Rum Bar & Lounge at 8255 International Drive … College Park happenings: Due Amici is serving Italian fare from the old Kingfish Bistro space while, just further north on Edgewater Drive, Jaber, a Brazilian chain specializing in Middle…
Few Americans have been more destructive to their nation than David Koch
A legacy of ashes
A Border Patrol agent reveals what it’s really like to guard migrant children
Editor’s note: With Central Florida on the shortlist of sites for the next federal migrant detention center for unaccompanied children, this story hits close to home. The Office of Refugee Resettlement has contacted lawmakers to inform them that the ORR is doing “exploratory assessments of vacant properties in Virginia, Central Florida and Los Angeles.” ORR…
NRA lobbyist argues against reasonable gun regulations, driverless shuttles, and more Orlando news
NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer argues against constitutional amendment banning assault weapons. A lobbyist for the National Rifle Association wants to stop a proposed constitutional amendment preventing the possession and sale of assault weapons. Marion Hammer appeared before state economists two times in one week arguing the proposal would ban all rifles and shotguns if approved…
How does the Mouse retain and grow its fervent fanbase, regardless of scandal? It’s the story, stupid
If the Walt Disney Company was any ordinary corporation, the avalanche of negative news that dropped in recent weeks would have shaken it to its core. First, industry consultant Gary Snyder – a longtime critic of the company who is related to the Viacom-controlling Redstone clan – posted an incendiary article alleging that influential theme…
Amazon big-budget fantasy ‘Carnival Row’ could be the next big genre star
Amazon’s big-budget fantasy has the potential to be the next big genre star It’s a good thing that production for Carnival Row started before the backlash for HBO’s Game of Thrones final-season fumble occured. It may have ended up dissuading Legendary Pictures and Amazon Studios from investing so heavily in a big-budget, small-screen fantasy saga.…
CatVideoFest, One Minute Film Festival, ‘Lawrence of Arabia,’ and more Orlando movie events this week
CatVideoFest Screening of cat videos. Proceeds benefit Pet Rescue by Judy. Sunday, 1 pm; Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; $12; 407-629-0054; enzian.org. The Farewell A Chinese family discovers their grandmother has only a short while left to live and decide to keep her in the dark, scheduling a wedding to gather before she…
‘Don’t Let Go,’ ‘The Fanatic,’ and more movies opening in Orlando this week
Opening Wednesday, Aug. 28: Don’t Let Go Shed no tears for Blumhouse Productions. Even though their The Hunt got 86-ed due to our Commander-in-Chief’s misfocused rage, the studio has another film all ready to go. That would be this weekend’s Don’t Let Go, in which David Oyelowo (yep, ol’ MLK himself) receives a chilling phone call…






