Cover Story
Get to know the twelve Christmas cats of Orlando, and maybe bring one home
We haven’t brushed up on the whole Nativity Story thing since like fourth grade, but as we recall, nobody liked the guy who said, “No room at the inn!” Don’t be that guy. Open up your home, your heart and that cabinet where you keep all your tuna to one of these cute creatures this…
New York’s Suno Deko to play Orlando in early January
New York-based astral projector Suno Deko – the solo project of David Cartwright – has announced a one-off Orlando show to start out 2018 on a more optimistic-yet-yearning note as 2017 sputters to a close. Cartwright will landing at Will’s Pub alongside the one-two local punch of Lush Agave and Absolute Fantasy. The Atlanta native…
Florida health officials will offer free HIV prevention drug in 2018
Florida health officials say the department plans to offer an HIV prevention drug for free throughout the state by the end of 2018. Truvada is the brand name of the drug used as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for people at high risk for HIV infection. Taking PrEP daily along with the use of condoms can reduce…
Central Florida Zoo will soon have its own Sonny’s BBQ
A trip to the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is about to get a lot more delicious. The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that a local franchisee of Sonny’s BBQ is set to take over concessions, including catering, at the zoo beginning in early 2018. Sonny’s is no stranger to the zoo. For the past…
Puerto Rican parranda takes over Kissimmee Walmart
Kissimmee shoppers were treated to a holiday surprise after a Puerto Rican parranda broke out at a local Walmart. For the uninitiated, a parranda is the Puerto Rican version of Christmas caroling, except it’s a lot louder. A group of people with instruments will go to a friend’s house at night and surprise them by…
Dead Boys announce Orlando makeup show for early 2018
One of many shows cancelled in the wake of Hurricane Irma, veteran trash-punks and CBGB’s creepers Cheetah Chrome’s Dead Boys have officially announced an Orlando makeup date for next year. The band was profiled in our Sept. 6 issue. Dead Boys play Will’s Pub on Friday, March 23, 2018, at 8 p.m. in the spurious…
21 free shows happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, Dec. 27 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 pm at the Caboose, 1827 N. Orange Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday, Dec. 28 Thursday Jazz Jams 8 pm…
With the bowling alley now closed, Fashion Square Mall is hurting more than ever
The Fashion Square Mall took another major hit in its struggle to rebound last week when the StrikeOuts Bowling and Entertainment Center abruptly closed. Opening in 2014, the family entertainment center was billed as part of the recovery for the long-struggling mall. Up Development, the former owner of the mall, opened StrikeOuts just as other…
Florida Rep. Rooney: Department of Justice is ‘kind of off the rails’
It was supposed to be your run-of-the-mill cable news interview, but comments by Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Naples, went above and beyond the typical and entered the realm of sound-bite hell. On Tuesday, when questioned by MSNBC host Hallie Jackson on President Trump’s most recent tweet regarding the FBI and deputy director Andrew McCabe, Rooney replied, “I’m…
Disney World adjusts housekeeping policy in wake of Las Vegas attack
The new privacy signs arrived in our room today at BLT. Ummm yeah…. no one is gonna take these home. 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/kkmqT7dDxw — OuterRimJim (@OuterRimJim) December 26, 2017 From no-fly zones, to unprecedented safety checks, when it comes to guest safety, over the years Disney has been known to go to extremes few others are…
Judge rules against Florida gambling officials on greyhound drug testing
Ruling in favor of two trainers suspended by the state after their dogs tested positive for cocaine, an administrative law judge on Friday said Florida gambling regulators have wrongly used an outlawed set of protocols to test racing greyhounds for drugs. Administrative Law Judge Lawrence P. Stevenson’s ruling is the latest legal defeat for the…
Trump urges Florida Rep. DeSantis to run for governor while Putnam makes a Christmas videos
It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that President Donald Trump is fawning over Florida Rep. Ron DeSantis, a guy who’s actively trying to undermine Robert Mueller’s investigation into the 2016 election. This afternoon Trump tweeted, “Congressman Ron DeSantis is a brilliant young leader, Yale and then Harvard Law, who would make a GREAT Governor…
Three months and counting, most of Puerto Rico’s still without power
When Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico in September, it knocked out 100 percent of electricity on the island, leaving more than 3.4 million people in the dark — and in more than one way, now. With the original deadline having been increased from Christmas to sometime in March 2018, if even then, Puerto…
Gov. Scott: ‘Orlando led the state with the most jobs created this past year’
Announced Friday in a news release from Gov. Rick Scott’s office, the Orlando area had the highest job creation in the state, adding 39,500 new private-sector jobs in the last year for the fourth month in a row. At present, the local unemployment rate is 3.5 percent, down just less than a percent from this…
Orlando Weekly’s 10 most-read stories of 2017
In a year filled with Trump protests, Confederate statues coming down and record-setting hurricanes, our most-read stories at orlandoweekly.com were pretty much all over the place. Here are our top 10 from 2017: The worst takes in the Orlando Sentinel’s incredibly shitty guest column, ranked A mere 72 hours after the one-year commemoration of the…
Safari Wilderness’ Critter Christmas Safari is definitely worth the drive to Lakeland
If you want to celebrate the season with some exotic wildlife, but don’t want to deal with the cost and crowds of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you have until Dec. 23 to drive down to Lakeland’s Safari Wilderness for their Critter Christmas Safari. Located halfway between Tampa and Orlando in a 260-acre wilderness area, Safari Wilderness…
North Quarter Tavern will close and reopen with new name and concept
After a few successful years in operation, North Quarter Tavern and its adjacent Bar Room will close to make way for a “neighborhood-focused local pub” and a “classic cocktail lounge.” Owner Craig Ustler announced the pair of closings in a statement this week, which also detailed a new operating partnership with Church Street Entertainment. CSE…
Put on some makeup, turn up to see ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ at Enzian
We’re nearly 20 percent of the way through the 21st century, and we’ve yet to see a stage or film musical that’s as glorious as John Cameron Mitchell and Steven Trask’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The story – about a young East German who undergoes a botched sex change operation to emigrate to the…
‘School of Rock’ begins its run at the Dr. Phillips Center on Tuesday
Getting a substitute teacher is a bit like playing Russian roulette – sometimes you get a Dorothy Zbornak who actually tries to educate you and sometimes you get someone who threatens to abandon you and jump off the second story in the event of an emergency. And maybe once in a lifetime, you’ll get someone…
Get rid of your unwanted gifts in exchange for something you’ll actually use at Turnbuckle Tuesday this week
Did you end up with a third copy of Atlas Shrugged from your nutso libertarian sister-in-law? Did Uncle Ted get you a cheeseboard even though you told him all about your lactose intolerance at Thanksgiving? Did you get a machine that helps you put your socks on? Drop off your unwanted gifts at Will’s Pub…
New Christmas video blasts Florida politicians
Christmas came a few days early with the release of Democratic political consultant Kevin Cate’s Christmas annual video mocking almost every well-known politician in Florida. In the video, as Santa Claus puts his feet up after a long day of managing the elves, we watch him flip through a newspaper with headlines that touche on…
Federal government will reimburse Palm Beach County $3.4 million to cover Trump’s visits
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse Palm Beach County $3.4 million in tax dollars to cover costs associated with Donald Trump’s many, many visits. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, West Palm Beach Police Department and Town of Palm Beach will get reimbursements through the Presidential Protection Assistance Grant. However, the costs only cover his…
Reel Fish delivers a Southern take on the Italian holiday Feast of Seven Fishes
The Festa dei sette pesci is an Italian Christmas Eve custom, a family-style seafood meal to celebrate the birth of Christ. But even those who aren’t Catholic, Christian or Italian can take part in Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen’s festive Southern take on the tradition. The seven courses, each paired with wines by Chateau Ste. Michelle,…
Eugene Snowden serves up some gumbo for Christmas Eve
Take your “Winter Wonderland” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and go wassail. For us, nothing sings Christmas Eve like a late-night hellraising with the Friendliest Man in Show Business, Eugene Snowden. Expect plenty of holiday rock & roll in the same tear-the-roof-off-the-joint style as Snowden and his backing band’s Wednesday night residency…
Phantasmagoria performs ‘A Christmas Carol’ in Sanford this weekend
’Tis the season to celebrate with “Orlando’s Original Steampunk Storytelling Troupe.” With a unique rendition of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of holiday cheer on the marquee, this season’s show combines the troupe’s sci-fi-gone-Victorian appeal with song, dance, puppetry, storytelling and more, all in the name of past, present and future. It’s one of the most…
BBQ Tonight in Kissimmee is now serving butter chicken loaded fries and shut up, take our money
File under “Yes, You’ve Got Our Attention, Go On”: Orlando native and UCF alum Danial Ali’s BBQ Tonight, until recently a traditional Indo-Pak restaurant, has added some fusion dishes and the descriptions have our palates twitching. Among the menu’s kebabs, biriyanis, masalas and tandoor specialties, you’ll now find clever mashups like a nehari burrito (nehari being…
Edgewater police officers resign after sending incredibly racist text messages
In October, two officers with the Edgewater Police Department resigned after it was reported that a series of racially inappropriate text messages were sent to each other in a group chat. Following an internal affairs investigation earlier this month, the messages were confirmed, according to a report provided to Orlando Weekly by the EPD. The…
Where to eat in Orlando on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
If the one thing on your Christmas list is not to spend the holiday in the kitchen, you’re in luck, and no, Chinese food isn’t your only option (though that’s an awesome tradition to start). Here’s a list of all the places fit to feast in Orlando on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 1921 by…
Lonestar, Foghat and more announced for the 2018 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival
Epcot’s annual Flower and Garden Festival is seriously leveling up its live music component this year with today’s announcement of a huge lineup of shows set for the spring. Aside from Lonestar and Foghat, this year’s festival also features Smash Mouth, the Village People Simple Plan, Survivor, Rick Springfield, Herman’s Hermits, and Jo Dee Messina.…
New band Vonner resurrects the Lonesome City Travelers this Friday
There’s only one YouTube video of a song (“Bluebird”) out there for Vonner right now, and it’s seemingly just singer Chris Metts solo on an acoustic guitar, but it’s lovely. However, this brand new band, debuting at this show, has a lot of local backstory – and it all goes back to Lonesome City Travelers,…
Texan eccentric Junior Brown opens for Rev. Horton Heat at House of Blues
Showing impeccable taste, the Reverend Horton Heat handpicked Texan eccentric Junior Brown as part of the rollicking “Horton’s Holiday Hayride.” Brown has been wowing tuned-in country and rockabilly fans since the early ’90s with his custom-made doubleneck “guit-steel” hybrid guitar, and of course, attendant flair with it. Coming off like a dapper cross between Link…
Madame Tussauds savagely roasts Disney’s Donald Trump robot
Madame Tussauds Orlando is home to lifelike celebrity wax figures, and apparently they also feature savage roasts. The Orlando branch of the attraction, located at the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye, couldn’t stop itself from laying waste to Disney’s terrifyingly weird Trump robot at the Hall of Presidents. For those of you completely unaware, the photo on…
Downtown speakeasy bar Herman’s Loan Office will close at the end of the year
Herman’s Loan Office, the speakeasy-style lounge located in that little back alley between Church and Pine, will serve its last Old Fashioned at the end of the year. Herman’s parent company, the V Group, made the announcement today in a newsletter that they will close the craft cocktail lounge after only two years in operation.…
New fact sheet helps Puerto Ricans in Florida access healthcare
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, have published a fact sheet to help American citizens from Puerto Rico who were displaced by hurricanes earlier this year. The idea – a request of Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Winter Park – aims to help those same American citizens maintain their access to Medicare and Medicaid…
28 free shows happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, Dec. 20 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 pm at the Caboose, 1827 N. Orange Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday, Dec. 21 Thursday Jazz Jams 8 pm…
SunRail offers expanded service on Dec. 28 and New Year’s Day
SunRail will run several extra trains to support downtown bowl games next week and on Jan. 1. You can ride them even if you hate football, though. On Thursday, Dec. 28, special night trains will leave from Lynx Central Station at the following times: northbound, 9:28 p.m. and 10:18 p.m.; and southbound, 8:48 p.m. and…
Federal judge rejects Corrine Brown’s bid to stay out of prison
A federal judge Wednesday rejected a request by former Congresswoman Corrine Brown to stay out of prison while she appeals a conviction for her role in a charity scam. U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan ordered Brown, who received a five-year sentence this month, to report to prison Jan. 29 unless she can convince the 11th…
Latvala resigns from Florida Senate after reports he promised legislative votes for sex
Saying he has “had enough,” embattled state Sen. Jack Latvala resigned Wednesday, less than a day after a special master recommended a criminal probe into allegations that the Clearwater Republican had promised legislative favors for sex. Latvala’s resignation came after increasing pressure —- including from Gov. Rick Scott —- for the veteran lawmaker to step…
Disney union workers reject company’s latest offer on wage increase
To the sounds of gleeful cheers, thousands of Disney union workers in Orlando overwhelmingly rejected the theme park company’s proposed pay raise, which union leaders called “poverty wages.” Workers belonging to six local unions that make the Service Trades Council Union voted Tuesday and Wednesday on Disney’s contract offer. Out of the 38,000 Disney cast…
Cheetos popcorn is finally coming to Orlando movie theaters
Once again, the Daily City is doing God’s work: this time, coming to the rescue of our jaded snack palates. (OK, Mashable reported it a week ago, but we read it on the Daily City, so credit where credit’s due.) Just in time for all the best movies of the year, we learn that Cheetos…
Florida lawmaker files anti-LGBTQ bill so business owners ‘don’t live in fear of social justice zealots’
Earlier this month, in a typical move by low-level lawmakers vying for a promotion, Rep. Jay Fant, R-Jacksonville, filed a bill that would allow business owners to refuse service to LGTBQ individuals without legal consequence. Fant is currently running for Florida attorney general. Called the “Free Enterprise Protection Act,” House Bill 871 was written with…
Body cam footage shows Florida police officer getting dragged a half-mile by fleeing driver
An officer with the Pembroke Pines Police Department was seriously injured yesterday after being dragged a half-mile by a fleeing suspect. The above video shows officer John Cusack, a 19-year veteran with the force, responding to a call of a man and a woman unconscious in a parked car at a retirement center. According to…
Filipino BBQ pop-up at Kadence this month
Last Sunday, as we were leaving Grandma Party, we noticed a heavenly aroma emanating from across the street. Following our noses, we discovered a blazing grill in front of Kadence, where Mark Berdin’s uncle Jose was churning out four kinds of hot skewers. The marinated chicken skewer with pickled daikon was the best thing we…
‘Wheel of Fugitive’ host and Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey might be getting his own show on A&E
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, the self-described “most politically incorrect sheriff in the country” is reportedly in talks with A&E for his own television show. According to WESH, Ivey says he’s negotiating with A&E to bring something similar to his “Wheel of Fugitive” Facebook segment to cable TV. If what Ivey says is correct, that…
‘Think a Little Less’ singer Michael Ray arrested for DUI and possession at a Eustis McDonald’s
Country singer Michael Ray, a Central Florida native born as Michael Ray Roach, seems to have been celebrating a little too hard during his visit home for the holidays. The 29-year-old, known for cookie-cutter bro-country like “Think a Little Less” and “Real Men Love Jesus,” was trying to get a late-night cheeseburger from a McDonald’s…
Over 50 percent of jaywalking tickets in Orange County are garbage, says report
Let’s just get this out of the way: Jaywalking tickets are useless and racist. A recent report from ProPublica and the Florida Times-Union found that 56 percent of all jaywalking tickets given in Orange County are flawed, and the majority of these tickets are issued to African-Americans. According to the report, 65o tickets were given from…
Rick Scott calls on Jack Latvala to resign from Florida Senate
After the release of a special master’s report that found probable cause of sexual misconduct by Sen. Jack Latvala, Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday called for the Clearwater Republican to resign from the Senate. “Now that the special master report is complete and probable cause has been found, it is time for Senator Latvala to…
End of an era as Phas3 – formerly Spacebar and Covert – closes for good
Well, after months of rumors, denials and retooling, Phase3 – formerly Spacebar, formerly Covert Skate Shop – is actually closing. Stop by on Thursday to pay your respects and give a toast to owner Tommy Mot, but don’t worry: He’ll be back as part of the team focused on revitalizing the Venue 578/Firestone complex downtown. 9…
Spice up your holiday with Cocktail Cabaret’s Mistletoe Peepshow at Will’s Pub
Cocktail Cabaret, the bimonthly burlesque series from Will’s Pub and Kissa Von Addams, returns this week with – of course – a holiday theme. Von Addams brings in some of the best burlesque talent from across the state – including Aurora Natrix from Miami and Mayven Missbehavin from Tampa – to throw some spice in…
Roque Pub celebrates porter season with the release of Coppertail Brewing’s Seasonal Relief
We’ve been wondering when the porters were going to start showing up in beer aisles, since they tend to pair well with cooler weather. This Wednesday, head to Roque Pub for the release of Coppertail Brewing’s Baltic Porter, Seasonal Relief, brewed with goji berries and elderberries. It should hold you over until smoked porter makes…
Sexual harassment investigation concludes Jack Latvala’s conduct may be criminal
Sen. Jack Latvala not only violated rules regarding sexual harassment but should also be investigated for possible public corruption, according to recommendations by a special master released Tuesday. Special Master Ronald Swanson, a retired judge, found probable cause to support nearly all of the allegations lodged against Latvala by Senate aide Rachel Perrin Rogers, who…
Gimme Shelter: Meet Gingerbread Man
Are you looking for a new furry friend? Meet Gingerbread Man! Make your home into a true Gingerbread House by adopting Gingerbread Man (A393946)! This 2-year-old is as festive as they come and will have you in the holiday spirit in no time. Gingerbread Man is active, will keep you company during gift-wrapping and will…
JD McPherson and Charley Crockett show that revivalism can still be fresh AF
Well, hell, apparently 2018 is going to be even more seismic for the city’s music landscape than that Firestone complex bombshell I reported last week. Downtown will soon see yet another overhaul and reboot, this time at longtime music fixture Backbooth – which, to be blunt, has needed it for years. According to an official…
Miami-based Bocas Grill makes you open wide and say ‘mmmm’
Mouth from the south
Tandoori Bowl opens on North Alafaya, Olea Mezze Grill coming to Colonial Plaza and more in Orlando foodie news
OPENINGS: The much-anticipated opening of the Edison, an industrial-gothic, electric company-themed restaurant inside Disney Springs, is slated for New Year’s Eve. Patina Restaurant Group’s other Disney Springs concepts – Maria & Enzo’s, Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar and Pizza Ponte – will open in early 2018 … Look for Olea Mezze Grill to open its third…
Casselberry’s Bowigens Beer Company does one thing, and does it very well
Essay question: “Do one thing, and do it very, very well,” said some sage individual, before buying a four-beer flight from Bowigens Beer Company and disavowing everything they believed in. Bowigens’ blocky, wood-burned taps pour robust triple IPAs and silky milk stouts alike. Strings of Edison bulbs dangle from the taproom ceiling, warming this cozy,…
A handful of music books that would look good under the tree, under your cup of coffee, under the blankets
This is my truth, you tell me yours
‘Darkest Hour’ shines a cinematic spotlight on Churchill
Illuminating the darkness
After escaping Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rican evacuees coming to Florida for medical care are stuck in limbo
Glorimarie Rodríguez knows staying behind in Puerto Rico’s darkness would have meant certain death for her 2-year-old son. From the moment he was born, Matthew González was a sickly child – in his first months, he was diagnosed with a deadly allergy to oats and Sandifer syndrome, a rare disorder that manifests as spasmodic movements…
Selections: Our picks for the best things to do this week in Orlando
Wednesday, Dec. 20 Deviant MUSIC Really fucked-up and deeply strange hardcore right before Xmas? Yes, please! It’s a winning situation for the touring bands too, as they no doubt want to get as far away from the weather up north. On tap is Deviant from Richmond, Virginia, offering up buzzbomb Cro-Mags-style ferocity; Public Acid from…
ICYMI: Rubio scores a tiny win in tax overhaul, a man was stranded on the Lake Eola fountain and more
Marco Rubio takes a W on child tax credits in GOP tax overhaul: On Friday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio got his way on the Republican tax overhaul after nobody called his bluff when he threatened to vote against the measure for not expanding child tax credits to more low-income Americans. GOP leaders reportedly agreed to…
Marco Rubio, jellyfish
The Florida senator scored a small increase in a child tax credit. Big whoop.
Opening in Orlando: The Greatest Showman, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and more
Opening Wednesday, Dec. 20: The Greatest Showman Hugh Jackman keeps up his Broadway chops, taking the center ring in a musical profile of the legendary P.T. Barnum. Barnum, you may recall, predicted the rise of Hootie and the Blowfish more than a century in advance, thanks to his famous pronouncement, “There’s a Rucker born every…
A head-to-head comparison of the two hottest electronic adventures in Orlando
Last weekend, Disney debuted another highly anticipated installment of the Star Wars saga. Many critics and fans are raving about the way it harnesses the latest technology to push familiar characters into innovative new directions, but some may find it lacks a certain essential element. No, I’m not talking about The Last Jedi – though…
Savage Love: ‘Loving Lesbians’
I am a 22-year-old Italian man, 100 percent straight, sensitive and sporty. I have been reading Savage Love for years in Internazionale. I have one question for you: Why do I always fall in love with lesbians? Why do I instantly fall in love with girls who have that something more in their eyes? Something…
