Ronald Dion DeSantis became Florida’s 46th governor on Tuesday, promising to lead the state for the next four years with “a full heart, my best judgment and the courage of my convictions.” The 40-year-old Republican from Ponte Vedra Beach did not break any new ground in his inauguration speech but used the 16-minute address to…
Orlando’s Mee Thai Restaurant has earned a spot on Yelp’s 2019 “Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S.” list. Mee Thai Restaurant, located at 1200 Lee Road, serves popular cuisine from Thailand’s northeastern region Esan, also known as Isan. The annual list is compiled by Yelp using the rating and volume of reviews received by businesses in…
Aquatica Orlando announced today that it has been certified by the International Board of Credential and Continuing Education Standards as the first water park in the world to be a Certified Autism Center. Guest will now have access to services and tools which include pre-visit planning resources on the Aquatica Website, such as a sensory guide…
On Monday, the Commerce and Tourism committee in the state Senate approved a bill that will provide Floridians with a sales-tax exemption for diapers, incontinence underwear, incontinence pads and incontinence liners. The bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by state Sens. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, and Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, was unanimously approved by the committee. The bill will…
Slacker turned pop conceptualist Beck is returning to the live arena this year with a couple of West Coast dates in January and the surprise announcement of a Miami show, the only date in Florida, set for May right before Atlanta’s Shaky Knees Festival. The news of this Florida show comes amidst word that Beck’s…
New Orleans’ Sebastian Figueroa is recognized around the country as a respected member of the experimental noise underground, but that’s almost too reductive a description for the soundscapes and (yes) music he creates as Proud/Father. We see him as a spiritual descendent of Robert Fripp with his Frippertronics experiments, channeling multiple guitar lines through processors…
Celestial diva Diana Ross – she of Supremes and R&B solo legend – ended 2018 big; she wrapped her glittering Las Vegas residency, appeared on a float at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and even released a Christmas album. Now she’s starting 2019 right by bringing her “Brand New Day” tour to the South. The…
The owners of Se7enBites will open their new rustic Italian concept, Sette, in the former Stir location (and Nova, and Elliot’s Public House, and Brian’s Diner) in Ivanhoe Village. This morning, chefs and co-owners Trina Gregory-Propst and Va Propst told Orlando Weekly in an email that they reached an agreement with the owner of the location at…
Jaleo, a new modern Spanish restaurant chain coming to Disney Springs, is building a giant artichoke. Today, renowned humanitarian chef José Andrés released renderings of his latest project, a Disney Springs location of his Jaleo restaurant. According to the press release, the 22,000-square-foot restaurant will be the company’s largest to date, and is “inspired by…
An estimated 1.5 million former felons can start registering to vote in Florida as Amendment 4 goes into effect Tuesday. Passed in November, the constitutional amendment automatically restores the voting rights of people convicted of felonies who’ve completed their sentences, excluding those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense. Florida was previously was one of only…
Floridians can expect a quick start to the Ron DeSantis administration, with the new governor ready to make key appointments to the state Supreme Court, announce a major environmental initiative and try to improve the medical-marijuana system. “Within the next week, I think you guys are going to have a lot to write about,” DeSantis…
A federal judge who’s been highly critical of how the state has handled elections struggled Monday to find a fix to a lawsuit filed by ousted Broward County elections chief Brenda Snipes, who was removed from her job by outgoing Gov. Rick Scott after she submitted her resignation. Following a series of election mishaps and…
A 25-year-old man who claims he was bullied for his German heritage was arrested for allegedly spray-painting swastikas and anti-Semitic slurs on several buildings near the University of Central Florida in December. Michael Peter Ill, of Orlando, was arrested and booked Friday night into the Orange County jail on a felony charge of criminal mischief. The…
After a months-long delay due to an emergency closure caused by a crack, the new I-4 overpass in downtown Orlando – part of the I-4 Ultimate project – reopened Monday, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. However, mind you, dear drivers: The new bridge over Colonial Drive and Garland Avenue still has cracks in it, which…
Pizza Hut is now willing to bring you even more carbs. Pizza Hut announced today that they plan to expand their new beer delivery option to nearly 300 restaurants, including locations in Orlando. Beers available through the service include Blue Moon, Bud Light, Budweiser, Busch Light, Coors Light, Corona Extra, Kilt Lifter, Michelob Ultra, Miller Lite, Miller…
Just three days after they are sworn into office, new Gov. Ron DeSantis and members of the Florida Cabinet are expected to take up the “Groveland Four” case of four African-American men accused in 1949 of raping a white woman in Lake County. DeSantis, new Attorney General Ashley Moody, new Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and…
In commemoration of the largest political protest in recent U.S. history, thousands will gather at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando for the third anniversary of the Women’s March. The “Truth to Power” march will take place Saturday, Jan. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lake Eola Park. “In January 2017 we made history…
Roughly six months after saying, “You’re kinda screwed …” when it comes to dining in Orlando, “but there is some good BBQ there at 3 rivers and Ravenous Pig,” food critic and television personality Andrew Zimmern will finally air his Orlando-centered episode of the Travel Channel’s Zimmern List. Last June, Zimmern’s comments on Twitter set…
A bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers is trying again to push a bill that would expand a needle exchange program started in Miami-Dade County to the rest of the state. HB 171, which was filed last week by Reps. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, and Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, authorizes any eligible entity in the state to establish and operate…
Following the release of a 458-page report by a state panel that investigated the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, two Florida sheriffs appeared on NRA TV to advocate for the deeply unpopular stance of arming classroom teachers. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, a member of the Parkland commission,…
Domu Chibi, a new counter-service ramen restaurant, is now open in Waterford Lakes Town Center. The sister site to Domu in East End Market is located at 869 N. Alafaya Trail, between Jeremiah’s Italian Ice and Fresh Kitchen at Waterford Lakes. Customers use self-serve kiosks to place their orders, and the menu offers six different…
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven, The Social, Jan. 5 Few manage the feat of being in a defining band. David Lowery’s name, however, is at the top of two acts in the canon of American indie rock with Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker. And this stacked winter tour brings both bands together…
In a 4-3 ruling, the Florida Supreme Court on Friday upheld a voter-approved change that requires Orange County constitutional officers to be elected in non-partisan races. The ruling overturned a 5th District Court of Appeal decision in 2017 that said state law governed such issues and blocked non-partisan elections for the clerk of circuit court,…
One of the architects of Florida’s medical-marijuana laws anticipates a “new day in Florida” on marijuana issues after Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis takes over Tuesday as the state’s chief executive. DeSantis, a former congressman closely tied to President Donald Trump, “is going to embrace issues of access and patient care,” according to state Senate budget chief…
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 Chase Shellee. Chase Shellee is playing Jan. 9 at Iron Cow. Just the facts: When did the band form?I formed the band over seven years ago in the Philippines. Yes,…
Orlando Health facilities will loudly clear their pipes this weekend. The hospital released a statement saying they must vent their piping system Saturday and Sunday, and also warned nearby residents that the sound will be “equivalent to the noise level one would experience standing on an aircraft carrier as a jet takes off.” Orlando Health…
A Florida lawmaker has filled a bill that would allow you to purchase gigantic wine bottles, effectively making late-night emergency pinot noir runs a thing of the past. SB 220, filed by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, gets rid of a Florida statue that prohibits retailers from selling wine in individual containers holding more than…
Arby’s, a fast food chain that famously and unapologetically “has the meats,” is apparently a difficult place to rob, especially if you’re an absolute dolt. Last month, a bold yet bumbling doofus attempted and failed to pull off the biggest heist in the history of Seminole County. Yes, someone tried to rob the Casselberry Arby’s.…
Neapolitan-style pizza is coming to Maitland later this month, with the opening of Midici The Neapolitan Pizza Company. The pizzeria will open on Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Maitland City Centre, located at 171 S. Orlando Ave. Suite E. MidiCi specializes in Neapolitan pizza, which is a type of pizza that originated in Naples, Italy…
A new cocktail lounge recently opened its doors in Orlando’s North Quarter District. Bitters & Bottles Cocktail Lounge opened last week at 861 N. Orange Ave. (formerly the location of the North Quarter Tavern), and is now offering specialty cocktails, wines, beers and “chef-driven bar snacks.” Master mixologist Ginger Otvos has put a Florida twist on…
Has it been twenty years already? Nomadic punk-world-folk collective Gogol Bordello are setting out on a 20th anniversary tour in March and Orlando will be one of a cluster of Florida dates the band will be playing. Gogol Bordello headline the Beacham on Thursday, March 28, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $27.50-$35. Get our top picks…
National Public Radio staple StoryCorps has chosen Orlando as its first stop of 2019. StoryCorps records and preserves personal history in the form of meaningful conversations between two people about their lives – with the philosophy that each individual’s story has something to add to the greater history of the country. With this mobile studio,…
A Pulse first responder who has struggled with severe post-traumatic stress disorder since the 2016 mass shooting was finally granted disability benefits after initially being denied. WMFE 90.7 reports former Eatonville Police Cpl. Omar Delgado was granted benefits Thursday after a vote in favor of the motion from the Eatonville Police Pension Board. Last year, the pension board…
MX Taco, Orlando’s latest taqueria contender, is now slinging tortillas in the Milk District. The fast-casual taco spot recently soft opened in the former Arepas and More location at 207 N. Bumby Ave. Headed by chef Ryan Manning, MX Taco is in the same vein as other recent high-end Orlando taco joints (Hunger Street, Black…
Despite early indications from Brightline officials that construction of the higher-speed rail from West Palm Beach to Orlando would begin late last year, the company’s leaders are now pointing to March as a start date. During a Dec. 13 update with the Central Florida Expressway Authority, Brightline President Patrick Goddard told the governing board that…
In a move that could refuel a long-running debate, a House Republican on Thursday proposed a measure that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns on college and university campuses. Rep. Anthony Sabatini, R-Howey-in-the-Hills, filed the bill (HB 6007) for consideration during the 2019 legislative session, which starts March 5. Under current law,…
Ron DeSantis will be Florida’s youngest governor in more than a century when he takes office on Tuesday. DeSantis, a former congressman from Ponte Vedra Beach, turned 40 about two weeks after he won the Aug. 28 Republican primary. He will be the youngest governor on Inauguration Day since Park Trammell took the oath of…
Matt Gaetz, a sitting Florida Republican congressman who apparently was elected to defend whatever Trump tweets that particular day on cable news, will make the final transition to television talking head and host a Fox News show this afternoon. Representing Florida’s District 1, Gaetz will put aside his congressional duties today and play newsman on…
A change in culture, with law enforcement handed more on-campus authority, is needed to improve school safety, members of a transition advisory panel for Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis said Thursday. Andy Pollack, a member of the Transition Advisory Committee on Public Safety whose 18-year-old daughter Meadow was one of 17 people killed last year at Marjory…
Attorneys for a transgender inmate and the Florida Department of Corrections are battling in a federal appeals court about whether the state’s treatment of the inmate violated her constitutional rights. The Department of Corrections took the case to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in September after U.S. District Judge Mark Walker sided with…
Are you looking for a slonky new kitten? Meet Ferris! Ferris (A417718) had a merry Christmas in his foster home! Ferris is a 3-month-old male kitten who is very sweet, playful and ready to go home with the purrfect family today. This little cutie is adoption-ready and his New Year’s resolution is to land a…
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Jenny Parrott, Oak Hill Drifters and Gailanne Amundsen, Will’s Pub, Jan. 2 After years with notable acts Shotgun Party and Loves It, Austin’s Jenny Parrott is finally stepping out on her own. She released her solo debut album (When I Come Down) last summer and just debuted her new feathers in Orlando,…
More than a year after sexual-harassment allegations brought down a powerful lawmaker, the Florida Senate has reached a $900,000 settlement with a legislative aide who said she was harassed and later faced retaliation. The settlement came in a federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission case filed by aide Rachel Perrin Rogers. As part of the settlement,…
Celebrate the birthday of the weirdest Coppola Saturday at the Falcon, with a lineup of Nicolas Cage movies and drink specials. There will be National Treasure vodka cocktails and Vampire’s Kiss sake shots (bring your own crunchy cockroach); tons of Coppola Vineyards wine and the sweatiest overemoting in Hollywood will flow all night long. The…
The intentionally weird Camper Van Beethoven accidentally found success with early single “Take the Skinheads Bowling” in 1985. They never had another hit, but fans who dug into their catalog were rewarded with adventures into Russian-tinged ska, psychedelic country and other experiments. But at the beginning of the “alternative” boom of the ’90s, frontman David…
You’re reading it right, brother. WWE Raw, the world’s premiere professional wrestling league, is coming to the City Beautiful with a double main event featuring intercontinental champion Seth Rollins in his match against Dean Ambrose, as well as other WWE superstars like John Cena, Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre and Ronda Rousey. So practice some ring…
Lake County is getting close to breaking ground on a new $7.8 million animal shelter as part of the county’s no-kill status. According to a news release from Lake County, following the project’s approval in 2017, construction on the 31,000-square-foot animal shelter in Tavares will begin later this month. It’ll be equipped with an open-air…
There’s no one quite like him in popular music today (if ever), and roughly a year after his Orlando show at the Social in 2018, dub reggae icon Lee “Scratch” Perry will be retuning to Central Florida next month. Over a nearly 60-year career recording and performing, Perry was an unmatched record producer in Jamaica…
For a whole week beginning in February, we’re paying homage to America’s original sweetheart, the hamburger. That’s right, Orlando Weekly is proud to announce “Burger Week,” a week (actually 10 days) centered on $5 specialty burgers from more than 30 Orlando area restaurants. Between Feb. 22 and March 3, Burger Week aims to get you…
Filling top jobs at two of the most-scrutinized agencies in state government, incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday appointed new secretaries of the Florida Department of Corrections and the Florida Department of Children and Families. DeSantis named Mark Inch, a retired U.S. Army major general who also worked as director of the Federal Bureau of…
Florida boaters did some serious damage to our state’s manatee population last year. In their annual mortality report, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says that a total of 823 manatees died in Florida waters in 2018, and 121 manatees of those were killed by a boat strike. This number breaks the previous record of 106…
Start your 2019 with some galactic enjoyment because the first meteor shower of the year will be peaking Thursday night. The Quadrantids, named after an extinct constellation, are known for their bright fireball meteors and being one of the best meteor showers of the year, according to NASA. During its peak in early January, anywhere from…
With 2018 now in the books, it’s time to talk about which books Orange County residents enjoyed most last year. According to the Orange County Public Library System’s website, local literature aficionados were into fiction more than other genre in 2018, particularly when it comes to popular scribes like David Baldacci (he gave a talk…
An absolute chungus was recently spotted in Lakeland, Florida. Video of the proud lad was uploaded to Facebook Dec, 29 by Suzy Griffin Paul, who wrote in the caption “Big Gator at Circle B Today!!!” Over the past few years, Circle B Bar Reserve has produced some seriously massive gators, like the “Godzilla-sized” gator spotted…
Walt Disney World is reviving its 3-day Discover Disney ticket for Florida residents. Starting today, the limited-time deal gives guests three days at any Walt Disney World theme park for just $175. The Discover Disney deal has no blackout dates, is only good for one park per day, and must be purchased by June 27…
Good news for Florida’s more than 162,000 medical cannabis patients – Trulieve, the state’s largest provider, has inked a deal to start carrying fancy weed-infused edible products, the company announced Wednesday. Trulieve will be working with the Colorado-based company Binske, which markets a high-end type of medicine, from French-inspired pâte de fruit candies to fruit…
Wednesday, Jan. 2 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday, Jan. 3 Leisure Chief 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday Jazz Jams 8 pm at Austin’s Coffee, 929 W. Fairbanks Ave.,…
“Personal and system failures” culminated in the mass shooting that left 14 students and three faculty members dead and 17 people wounded at a Broward County high school, according to a report by a state panel that spent months investigating the Valentine’s Day massacre. The report, unanimously approved Wednesday by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High…
Amid concerns that leaky septic systems are polluting waterways, a Senate Republican on Wednesday filed a proposal that would require the Florida Department of Health to identify all septic systems in the state by Jan. 1, 2021 and provide a map of the systems. The bill (SB 214), filed by Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, also…
The number of registered sex offenders and predators living in Florida is on the rise, according to a new state report. The Associated Press reports 28,548 sex offenders and predators call the Sunshine State home as of October 2018 – a 53 percent increase since 2005 when the state started reviewing its registry. Registered sex offenders who…
Starting today, SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica are offering free admission to Florida children ages 5 and under. Announced Jan. 2, the “Preschool Card” is good for free unlimited admission to both parks and is valid through Dec. 31, 2019. Anyone interested has until Jan. 27 to register online and the card must then be redeemed in-park…
A reward offered to those who have information on the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Boone High School student Alejandro Vargas Martinez has been increased to $15,000. The Orlando teenager was gunned down around 6:41 a.m. on Dec. 18 while he was walking to school along Waldo Street near East Kaley Avenue. Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies found Alejandro lying…
A new bill aims at keeping Florida beaches from turning into ashtrays. Sarasota House Republican Joe Gruters wants to outlaw smoking on all public beaches through a newly introduced bill, SB218, which would fine first-time violators $25 or 10 hours of community service. If passed, the bill, which doesn’t seem to include any language about…
For 50 years Busch Gardens Tampa offered free beer to guests, until the promotion was canceled in 2009 and resurrected last year. Yesterday, the theme park announced they will continue the flow of free booze as part of their 60th anniversary celebration. “At Garden Gate Café or Serengeti Overlook Pub, guests age 21 and older…
Mark Hosler, best known as a member of culture-jammers Negativland – sued within an inch of their lives by U2’s label Island in 1991 for the sample-heavy “U2” EP (listen below) – is taking a break from his day job and hitting the road this month for some solo shows. Not content to coast on…
’80s new wave stars the Fixx, set to drop anchor on the Dee Snider-hosted “The ’80s Cruise” sailing out of Fort Lauderdale next month (it’s all true), have scheduled a clutch of Florida headlining dates around that shindig. And as a wise man once said, one thing leads to another and Orlando will play host…
Incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis is being urged to use his close ties with President Donald Trump to bolster efforts to help Florida farmers fend off low-priced crop imports that weren’t addressed in the rewrite of the North American Free Trade Agreement. During a conference call last week, several members of DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee on…
State Reps. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Anna V. Eskamani will hold a town hall in Orlando this month on the state of arts and culture in Florida. The two Democratic Orlando lawmakers will be joined by prominent voices from Central Florida’s arts and culture community, along with other elected officials and arts supporters on Tuesday,…
I guess Jamie and Chelsie Savage felt like they just weren’t busy enough. In addition to running Sanctum Cafe — their successful vegan eatery in Colonialtown North — they’re on the verge of opening Proper & Wild, a higher-end vegan restaurant in Winter Park, all while raising a schedule-averse, 10-week-old newborn. Now they’re taking over the Wheat Berry Cafe…
Minimum-wage workers will get a pay raise, businesses will get a break on insurance bills and a few new laws will take effect Tuesday as 2019 begins in Florida. Minimum-wage workers will start earning $8.46 an hour Tuesday, up from $8.25 an hour in 2018 —- and more than a dollar above the $7.25 federal…
Gulf Power, the largest electric utility in Northwest Florida, starts 2019 with a new owner. NextEra Energy Inc., the parent company of Florida Power & Light, announced early Tuesday that it has finished an earlier-announced deal to purchase Gulf Power from the Atlanta-based Southern Company. The deal expands NextEra’s already-large footprint in Florida and is…
One of 2018’s best pairings – Stonewall Bar and Tommy Mot – continue their partnership into the New Year, kicking things off before noon on New Year’s Day with a free party. Brush off that hangover – or, god bless you, keep your buzz going – with free cover and free champagne while tearing up…
A political committee has spent nearly $400,000 in recent months and submitted 33,863 valid petition signatures as it tries to get a measure on the 2020 ballot that would revamp Florida’s electric utility industry. The proposal, backed by a committee called Citizens for Energy Choices, calls for wholesale and retail electricity markets to “be fully…
Michael Ertel, Seminole County’s supervisor of elections since 2005, has been named to oversee elections statewide by Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis. DeSantis’ transition team on Friday announced the appointment of Ertel, a 49-year-old Republican, as secretary of state, a position that requires Senate confirmation. Along with overseeing elections, Ertel will run a state department that also…
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 Fingerstripes. Fingerstripes is playing an EP release show at Will’s Pub on Jan. 6 wtih Rachel Gentry, John David Williams, and Heather DeSanctis. Just the facts: When did the band…
Florida’s fledgling private passenger-rail service has had some reason for holiday cheer. Days after Brightline got an extra six months to issue $1.15 billion in tax-exempt bonds needed to expand the service from South Florida to Orlando, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper on Monday tossed a lawsuit by Indian River County that sought to block…
Despite a bumpy rollout that has drawn lawsuits and criticism from legislators, a new report shows the number of Floridians using medical marijuana continues to grow. In the first nine months of 2018, more than 136,000 patients across the state received certifications from 1,070 physicians to receive medical marijuana. In all, those patients received 174,254…
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio took to Twitter to argue Thursday against a Major League Baseball agreement with the Cuban Baseball Federation that is intended to make it safer for Cuban players to reach the big leagues. Rubio, expressing hope that President Donald Trump or the U.S. Department of State will intervene, called the agreement “both…
Orlando attorney John Morgan announced that he will be increasing the starting pay at his law firm Morgan & Morgan to $15 an hour in 2019. Morgan posted a companywide memo to his social media channels on Friday, Dec. 28, announcing the pay bump, and saying that it will go into effect sometime in early…
We petitioned Santa fervently for new deathrock bands this year, and it looks like Orlando Weekly was good because here comes new Baltimorean crypt-dwellers Ten Million Spiders. With that lethal combination of robust attack and deathly power that made bands like (Rozz Williams-vintage) Christian Death, 45 Grave and Superheroines still sound utterly current, just because Ten…
Now that all of the holiday rigmarole is out of the way, prepare for a glut of artists both big and small to make their way to our supposedly sunny climes – even if their own climes aren’t exactly arctic. Kick it off with Austin, Texas’ Jenny Parrott. Known mainly as the songwriter for cult…
Well, this is fucking grim. We’re right back at 1978, it would seem. Britain’s agit-reggae godfathers Steel Pulse came up in the late ’70s, with a righteous and in-your-face attack that was a cry of rage against an ugly undercurrent of racism and nationalism that was bubbling up to the surface in their home country.…
We do love watching a new venue find its place in the ecosystem, and this week the Nook settles ever more firmly into the niche it’s carved for itself, i.e.: A Little Place For Weird Stuff. Tonight’s weirdness is a screening of Shrek Retold, a shot-for-shot remake of Shrek by 200 different artists. Yes, Shrek, the…
If the holidays haven’t fully quenched your thirst for nostalgia, perhaps a dose of ’80s-influenced dream-pop will do the trick. Equal parts New Romantic and darkwave, Chicago duo Wingtips combine The Breakfast Club with the Batcave for a sonic trip down memory lane. In the year since their show at the Falcon last fall, the duo…
If you don’t want the heartfelt, warm, gooey feelings to end after Christmas Day, head to New Smyrna Beach for their delightfully cheesy and soul-fulfilling Grilled Cheese Challenge. For only $15, envelop yourself in multiple styles of toasted goodness made by local restaurants, chefs and bars. You’ll want to order and pick up your passports…
So perhaps just the day before you were simply having a wonderful Xmas-time, but now, you, the live music fan, are already climbing the walls and facing down a week pretty much barren of shows. Luckily for you, prodigals do return for the holidays, which brings us ad-hoc supergroup Astro Wave. A collection of members…
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND It’s the last issue of 2018 so time to officially shout out the year’s local superlatives with the annual TLU Underground Awards. THE 2018 UNDIES Development of the year: New venuesAs outlined in the live venue recap of last week’s column, 2018 saw the most new stages come – and sometimes go…
LaSpada’s Famous hoagie, LaSpada’s Original Philly Cheese Steaks and Hoagies: This sandwich is a gargantuan architectural marvel featuring genoa salami, pepper ham, capicola, sopressata, prosciutto and sharp provolone on an overstuffed soft roll. Lettuce, tomato and onion come standard, and you can add hot or sweet peppers for a slight upcharge. I recommend both. It…
Imagine waking up Christmas Morning, walking out your front door, and seeing this. Story tonight on @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/kYD8XjFS1u — Spectrum News Wildman (@NewsWildman) December 25, 2018 Someone spray-painted more than a dozen swastikas on buildings along Alafaya Trail near the University of Central Florida. News 13 reports the symbol appropriated by Nazi Germany, white supremacists and…
With apologies to Charles Dickens, 2018 was the best of times and the worst of times at the same time. Since the wheat and chaff were hopelessly intermingled, get ready to swallow the sweet with the sour as we say sayonara to the past year in Orlando arts and attractions. In the theme park wars,…
Time to wake up
Opening this week: Escape Room Not too long ago, I visited a rehearsal hall that had begun its life as an escape room. You could tell because, when you asked the proprietors for directions to the bathroom, they told you which colored line near the ceiling to follow, instead of just to turn left at…
I’m a 30-something straight woman married for 16 years. Eighteen months ago, I met a man and there was an immediate attraction. For the first 15 months of our relationship, I was his primary sexual and intimate partner, as both sex and intimacy were lacking in his marriage. (My husband knew of the relationship from…
