Cover Story
The Drink Issue 2014
Bar listings Casual bars Craft beer bars Craft cocktail bars Dance clubs Entertainment, fun and games Gay bars Live music bars and clubs Outdoor drinking Sports bars Wine bars Related Stories
The Quarterly returns to Will’s Pub with Jake Head and Saskatchewan
Tonight, Dec. 30, local comedy and music night the Quarterly returns to Will’s Pub. Designed by musician Chandler Strang and comedian Tom Feeney as a way to expose local music fans to our underground comedy scene and local comedy fans to our underground music scene. For this edition of the Quarterly, Strang and Feeney have…
Bid farewell to Robin Williams at ‘Good Morning Vietnam’ at the Enzian
Ready to take a look back at 2014 with weepy nostalgia? Then have we got the movie for you! As part of their Cult Classics series for one night only, the Enzian is showing Good Morning Vietnam, starring dearly departed and much beloved comedian Robin Williams. Williams portrays an unpredictable and irreverent DJ in 1965…
Uncle Tony’s Donut Shoppe record store scheduled to close this week
In late November, a quirky little shop appeared in the Milk District at Spacebar selling everything a musicophile with money to burn could ask for. Uncle Tony’s Donut Shoppe may not have much in the way of tasty fried dough, but they do offer delectables such as 12- and 7-inch vinyl records, eight-tracks, cassette tapes,…
The Florida Citrus Parade gets ready to march through Downtown Orlando
This Tuesday, Dec. 30, a flurry of floats festooned with some of Florida’s finest citrus will lumber through the corridors of Downtown Orlando (say that five times fast). The Florida Citrus Parade begins at 10 a.m. and lasts until around noon. If you’re hoping to get your mug seen on national television, better luck next year, as grandstand…
Orlando bars open for the holiday
Is your family the worst? Do you crave a distraction from pointed questions about your career and love life? You probably want to head to a bar this holiday, then. Here’s our list of who’s open on Wednesday, Dec. 24 and Thursday, Dec. 25. These bars are scheduled to close at 2 a.m. unless otherwise…
THE LATEST: LGBT lawyers back up assertion that NOT issuing marriage licenses is the real crime
image via watermarkonline.com The news never stops as we race toward Jan. 6, that hallowed day on which Florida’s gay and lesbian couples will be, gasp, granted the right to marry… and, despite all the confusion currently clogging our argumentative Christmas Eve minds, we’re willing to bet that it will indeed happen. We’re hearing the…
VIDEO: The Plush Monsters on Off the Avenue (Bonus holiday edition!)
The Plush Monsters have been around since 2010, after guitarist Bryan Sherbrook and singer Thommy Laverack left their hometown of Sebastian for Orlando. They gravitated toward the open mic scene at Natura Cafe, which was where a lot of musicians ended up meeting and forming enduring bands. Sherbrook says, “That’s where I met so many…
With ‘American Sniper,’ Clint Eastwood may as well be talking to a chair
Hollywood icon and celebrated filmmaker Clint Eastwood managed to pull off quite a stunt this year by directing not one but two absolute stinkers. First there was the painfully uneven Jersey Boys, released over the summer. Now lumbering its way into theaters just in time for awards season is American Sniper – a tedious and…
Five effervescent alternatives to champagne for your New Year’s toast
Champagne is a bully. It swaggers in to every New Year’s Eve party like it owns the joint, it forces you to use a special glass (such a diva) and it gives you a wicked hangover that starts about 30 minutes after your first sip, instead of having the decency to wait until the next…
Music updates around town: The Plush Monsters, the Social, Rock & Brews
Local band the Plush Monsters released Warm Blooded in June, laying down 10 bright indie-rock tracks that demonstrate their dynamic range on their first full-length since forming in 2010. They have the folky charm of bands like Bowerbirds, only with a more emotional vocal delivery from singer Thommy Laverack. We chose the Plush Monsters as…
Six Orlando bars that make you feel like you’re not in Florida anymore
Anyone who enjoys drinking out inevitably discovers a comfy niche within Orlando’s bar scene. Whether that means frequenting downtown, sticking to neighborhood bars or rooting out local favorites on I-Drive, your usual bar is as dependable as your usual drink. It’s always there for you. Sometimes, though, familiarity can be suffocating. The same barflies. The…
Picks this week: FYA Fest, Saskatchewan and more
James Brown Holiday Jam DJ BMF invites the funkiest musicians in town to pay tribute to James Brown by performing and spinning his hits, samples and remixes. Get up offa that couch if you’re bored Christmas Eve. 11 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, at Will’s Pub, $5 The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights If you’re hankering…
Twelve great patios where you can drink outdoors
Aero Rooftop Bar 60 N. Orange Ave., 321-245-7730; aeroorlando.com This dance club, which used to be known as Sky Sixty, is the best place downtown to dance the night away outdoors under the stars. Barley and Vine Biergarten 2406 E. Washington St., 407-930-0960; barleyandvineorlando.com When Barley and Vine Biergarten opened their doors, we were eager…
Casual bars in Orlando that are perfect for just hanging out
Big Daddy’s 3001 Corrine Dr., 407-644-2844 It’s either your dream or your nightmare: a karaoke night with an attentive audience who will hang on your every squeaky note as you cough out your rendition of “I Touch Myself.” But that’s what you get at Big Daddy’s, which is one of Orlando’s best karaoke joints. Bullitt…
Five festive craft beers to make the holidays even merrier
As the holiday season approaches, the nights are getting longer and the weather has become cold and blustery, putting us in the festive mood for the season of giving. At least that’s true in some parts of the country. Here in Orlando, we’ve simply moved from summer to not-quite-summer. How do you inspire yuletide cheer…
A list of places to get the best craft beer in town
Big River Brewery 2101 N. Epcot Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, 407-560-0253; bigrivergrille.com It’s a brew pub located on Disney property. When you’re done waiting on long lines, crying kids and fireworks, retire to Big River Brewery for a Rocket Red Ale. Belle Isle Yacht Pub 7521 S. Orange Ave., 407-850-3491 A selection of more than…
Eleven great places to eat and drink equally well
As we bask in the glow of our city’s culinary renaissance, it’s inevitable that more and more restaurants muscle their way into the limelight. This was a year when high-end resorts raised their game to match – and in some cases surpass – our lofty gastronomic expectations. Cocktails and craft brews became a necessary offering…
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 1) “Hell is the suffering of being unable to love,” wrote novelist J. D. Salinger. Using that definition, I’m happy to announce that you have a good chance of avoiding hell altogether in 2015. If there has been any deficiency in your power to express and bestow love, I think you will…
Ten bars in Orlando where you can drink, relax and watch the game
Brick House Tavern + Tap 8440 International Drive, 407-355-0321; brickhousetavernandtap.com Any bar that puts a giant deviled egg on their Bloody Mary spear is cool by default. Brick House has a pretty chunky beer menu, though it may be a little light on the crafts for the beer snobs. The patio is big, and the…
Orlando craft cocktail bars where you can get your fancy on
Cask and Larder 565 W. Fairbanks Ave., 321-280-4200; caskandlarder.com This “Southern Public House” has already reached legendary status. Occupying a landmark building, James and Julie Petrakis’ latest venture serves terrific nouveau-Southern fare as well as brews made in-house. It has also become known for its creative craft-cocktail menu, which changes regularly. Think brown butter-infused bourbon old-fashioneds…
Three classic whiskey cocktails remixed
“For relaxing times, make it Suntory time.” Bill Murray’s Lost in Translation character may have been skeptical of the whole Japanese whiskey-commercial situation in which he found himself, but the crew got one thing right: Whiskey is a great relaxer. Whether imbibed medicinally or socially, your brown liquors – whiskey, Scotch, rye – are just…
A sampling of Orlando dance clubs
The Beacham 46 N. Orange Ave., 407-246-1419; thebeacham.com You may think of the Beacham primarily as a live-music venue, but on nights when it’s not indie-rockin,’ DJs are spinning. Barrio and Tropical Sundays, a live broadcast from 104.5 the Beat on Saturdays and a new Friday night hip-hop and reggae dance party with Power 95.3…
Republicans scramble to react to President Obama’s Cuban surprise
“To those who oppose the steps I’m announcing today, let me say that I respect your passion and share your commitment to liberty and democracy. The question is how we uphold that commitment. I do not believe we can keep doing the same thing for over five decades and expect a different result. Moreover, it…
Orlando bars for fun and games
BART 1205 N. Mills Ave., 407-796-2522; bartcade.com What this small spot lacks in space, it makes up for in personality: outgoing bartenders, video game-inspired art on the walls and a well-curated selection of classic arcade games. Grab a bottled craft beer and set up shop for the rest of the evening at the bartop multicade…
Savage Love
I’m a short guy and I need advice. I don’t want a small paragraph’s worth of advice, like you gave “Below Their League” a few years ago. I need advice beyond “Women like men taller than them, get over it!” I get it. I’m short (five foot two), and most women are taller than me.…
Our guide to the gay bars of Orlando
Bar Codes 4453 Edgewater Drive, 407-412-6917; facebook.com/barcodesorlando A friendly crowd, cheap drinks and lots of drink specials – two for ones, underwear nights, leather nights and more. Hank’s 5026 Edgewater Drive, 407-291-2399; hanksorlando.com If you are looking to have a good time on your girlfriend’s phallus-themed bachelorette party, do not go to this bar. If…
This Little Underground: The Black Keys find the promised land
I’ve been asking how the Black Keys got so big ever since they began packing larger venues like House of Blues, where I saw them back in 2010. Now they’re playing fucking arenas. I’ve been a fairly hard-core fan since the beginning and still consider 2003’s Thickfreakness to be the apex of their sound. But…
The language of glassware
Ever wonder why your martini is served in that V-shaped glass, or why we drink champagne out of tall, narrow flutes? It’s not completely random; there is a logic behind the bartender’s choice of receptacle. However, like a lot of so-called rules, you should feel free to break them. (The rules, that is, not the…
Orlando bars where you can catch some live music
Backbooth 37 W. Pine St., 407-999-2570; backbooth.com Backbooth’s personality comes from its wildly varying atmosphere – on Mondays, Midnight Mass features pop, rock and Motown, while Sundays are for Shake ‘n’ Bass, a moombahton dance party that’s off the hook. This year has also brought new booking energy to the club, which is hosting a…
‘The Thin Man’ offers hijinks and highballs in a holiday setting
While on the surface The Thin Man (and its five sequels) embodies a very specific type of glossy Hollywood comedy of the 1940s, it has so much more to offer than witty wisecracks and swanky evening wear. Made between 1934 and 1947, the six Thin Man movies chronicle the adventures of a husband-and-wife detective team,…
Bars that specialize in wine of various vineyards and vintages
Eola Wine Company 430 E. Central Blvd., 407-481-9100; eolawinecompany.com A true and very welcome wine bar that offers its wares by the glass or in 2-ounce sampler flights. If something grabs your fancy, racks of bottles line the walls. Eola Wine hops until 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with a menu of grapes and brews…
Movies opening in theaters this week: ‘Big Eyes,’ ‘The Interview’ (not really), ‘Into the Woods’ and more
Big Eyes Tim Burton’s latest finally reunites him with the writers of Ed Wood, his best-ever film. It stars the red-hot Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz. It opens on Christmas Day. So why haven’t we seen any TV ads for it as of press time, while promos for the week’s other wide releases are blanketing…
Lulu Eightball
Related Stories
Alan Turing finally gets cinematic respect in ‘The Imitation Game’
Adolf Hitler hated homosexuals almost as much as he hated Jews, sending tens of thousands to prison or concentration camps. It’s ironic justice, therefore, that a gay man, mathematician Alan Turing – more than any other person except the “big three” leaders of World War II – brought about his demise, by cracking the Nazis’…
All the best New Year’s Eve 2014 parties in Orlando
Dec. 28 Last T-Dance of 2014 Featuring an appearance by Alaska Thunderfuck from RuPaul’s Drag Race and the regular gong show fantastic-ness that is P-House. 3 p.m.; Parliament House, 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail; 407-425-7571; parliamenthouse.com Dec. 31 Billy Joel in Concert Performing a special New Year’s Eve concert. 9:30 p.m.; Amway Center, 400 W. Church St.; $150; 407-440-7900; amwaycenter.com …
