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The world’s largest Christmas light maze is coming to St. Pete on Nov. 22
Enchant Christmas, an “immersive holiday experience” featuring a light maze, ice skating, and a Christmas market, is opening at St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field on Friday, Nov. 22. Based on the photos of the attraction – which includes the world’s largest maze of Christmas lights – it looks like it’s definitely worth the trip. Organizers say…
The Creative City Project plans an expanded ‘Immerse 2019’ for downtown Orlando in October
Imagine walking outside to a metropolitan mashup cascading with creative expression, excitement and purpose. Now stop daydreaming and start immersing yourself in Immerse 2019. The Creative City Project takes over downtown Orlando Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18-19, for its most ambitious project to date, Immerse 2019. This year’s two-day interactive art mega-project will expand into…
Universal Orlando joins the race between branded theme-park running events
After years of letting Disney take the lead on massive running events, Universal Orlando has finally decided to join the race. While not the first running events ever held at the resort, the Running Universal Epic Character Race 5K and 10K in February will be the first official resort-sponsored running events at Universal Orlando. The…
Women-focused competitor to Lyft, Uber launches in Orlando next week, but is it any good?
Ride-share companies like Lyft and Uber have faced backlash for their perceived lack of concern for passenger safety, especially with reports of abuse and sexual assaults against women making headlines. Now, one ride-share company says it was founded by women for women, to provide safer rides with strangers. Their secret, they say, is a more…
Universal Parks CEO talks Disney, SeaWorld, and Universal’s answer to Magicbands
Despite numerous leaks and rumors, there has been very little officially shared by Universal regarding their future plans across their various resorts. But Universal Parks Chairman and CEO Tom Williams decided it was time to change that when he sat down for an interview recently at an industry conference. In an evening “fireside chat” at a…
Downtown Arts District goes royal for 15th-annual themed arts celebration
The Downtown Arts District’s annual arts celebration returns on Friday, Sept. 27 with the theme, “La Maschera Goes Royal.” The evening will include live entertainment by Midnight Mayhem, a silent auction, food and drinks, and a costume contest. Attendees don’t have to dress according to the theme, but you don’t want to be “that one,”…
Central Florida International Auto Show zooms into this weekend
The Central Florida International Auto Show used to be held on Thanksgiving weekend, but this year it moved to September – and is happening now. The auto show features new and classic cars, exotics and even test-drives, and takes over the Orange County Convention Center South Concourse Friday, Sept. 20 through Sunday, Sept. 22. “We are excited…
Local punks to give the middle finger to Hurricane Dorian with October benefit show
Sometimes the most blunt way to say things is the best. And that’s why there’s a certain eloquence to titling an event “F*ck Off Dorian!”and then pairing that with real action. In this case, it’s a mob of local punks getting together in early October to raise funds for the Bahamas in the wake of…
Percussionist supreme Tito Puente Jr to play the Casselberry Latin Jazz and Art Festival this month
Latin music royalty and master percussionist Tito Puente Jr. is confirmed as an all-star guest at this year’s Casselberry Latin Jazz and Art Festival at the end of September. Puente will be the special guest of event headliners the Rico Monaco Band. This follows on the heels of Puente Jr.’s appearance on RMB’s newest album…
Universal Orlando and SeaWorld win big at amusement-industry awards, but Disney World goes home empty-handed
The annual Golden Ticket Awards, one of the most prestigious awards within the amusement park industry, were recently announced in a ceremony that took place at the Silverwood theme park in Idaho. Presented by Amusement Today, an industry trade magazine, the winners are selected via voting by industry suppliers, leaders, journalists, and hand-selected fans who…
Dashboard Confessional to celebrate two decades of music in Orlando next March
Chris Carrabba and his Dashboard Confessional are celebrating two decades of life as a band, and are doing it in style, with this week’s announcement of a greatest hits album and tour, both happening early next year. And Orlando will be a part of this tour’s route. January will see the release of compilation album…
Californian thrash metal heavies Death Angel set their sights on Orlando in December
West Coast thrash metal legends Death Angel were peers with the fearsome likes of Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica, but sadly never hit the mainstream in the way that those three bands did. And yet, decades later they’re still together, still musically viable and have announced a show in Orlando in December. Death Angel, Exmortus and…
Legal Public Notices 9/18 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 3280 Vineland Rd Kissimmee FL 34746, 407-720-7424 on 10/8/19 @ 11:30am: Jayne Stuckey tv stand, bag & boxes, Jessica Cervantes totes, clothes, pillow & bag. The auction…
After a hurricane delay, Orlando’s first autonomous buses finally begin routes in Lake Nona
If you’ve been waiting for your chance to ride in an autonomous vehicle, Central Florida’s first self-driving shuttles will begin hauling passengers in Lake Nona on Wednesday. The launch was delayed from an earlier August date by Hurricane Dorian. Two autonomous shuttles will operate on a fixed route between Lake Nona Town Center (where the…
Country music giant Alan Jackson plays way down yonder at the Amway Center this week
In its own way, Alan Jackson’s signature moustache (now sadly gone), mullet and cowboy hat are as enduring a country music look as Johnny Cash’s all-black ensemble. And, like Cash, Country Music Hall of Famer Jackson keeps his songcraft staunchly focused on the fundamentals of timeless, blue-collar country music. You’ll get a Jackson chorus, delivered…
Climate strike in Orlando will begin occasional ‘Fridays For Future’ protests
Update, Sept. 27 | The next Fridays for Future climate strike is planned for November. We’ll keep you updated on the details in a new post. Climate activists of all ages will gather at Orlando City Hall on Friday for what is billed as the first of many “Fridays for Future” protests, to call for immediate policy…
A Day to Remember add two more dates to ‘homecoming’ stand at House of Blues
Ocala’s own A Day to Remember have added an additional two shows to their homecoming November stand at the House of Blues due to overwhelming demand for tickets. This now brings their total mini-residency at House of Blues up to four nights, with the first two on Nov. 26-27 already sold out, and these new…
I-4 construction to close roads for two nights in Orlando this week
Another I-4 closure to report, this time temporarily closing southbound Kirkman Road (State Road 435) from Major Boulevard to International Drive, and the westbound I-4 exit to southbound Kirkman Road. The closures will take place as soon as 10 p.m. tonight, Sept. 17, and are expected to reopen at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18, according…
The Orlando cult for NYC electro-punk act Machine Girl is getting insane
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Machine Girl, Five Star Hotel, and Jas000n, Stonewall Bar, Sept. 15 The street buzz for New York electro-punk act Machine Girl is hitting a fever pitch in Orlando. It’s not just the quantity they’re drawing, though packing out a show in the nightlife desert that is Sunday evening in Parramore is a…
Winter Park mayor to challenge Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla
Winter Park Mayor Steve Leary filed Monday to run against incumbent Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla in District 5. Leary is in his second term as mayor of the city, which has approximately 30,000 residents. He and his wife have 14-year-old triplets, and they own a small manufacturing company and a property management company. Bonilla was initially considered…
New tropical depression forming in the Atlantic is expected to become Hurricane Imelda
In their 11 a.m. advisory on Tuesday, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center say tropical depression 10 has now formed in the Atlantic and is expected to become a hurricane later this week. “The NHC forecast calls for the depression to become a tropical storm later today, and attain hurricane status within 72 hours,” says…
Cali punk legends Bad Religion to play Orlando this Thursday
Bad Religion earned their place in punk rock history long ago – the Los Angeles punks have been questioning all forms of authority and dismantling the status quo since the 1980s. This is a band that inspired a generation of angst-filled-youth to leave it all in the pit, as well as at the ballot box.…
Kelly Clarkson to bless, become godmother of Norwegian cruise ship
When you think of surf and sand, endless meals, and other cruise-ship favorites, Kelly Clarkson probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but Norwegian Cruise Lines is looking to change that. In a surprise announcement on The Kelly Clarkson Show, NCL president Andy Stuart announced that the Grammy Award-winning artist and superstar will…
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers to play Orlando in December
Orlando Parrot-Heads, heed the call of your patron saint! Jimmy Buffett has announced a few final 2019 dates for his “Son Of A Son Of A Sailor High Tide Tour” (that’s a mouthful) that’s been sailing for most of the year. And this final handful of dates will be in Florida with, yes, a big…
SeaWorld’s CEO jumps ship after more than 100 Orlando employees are laid off
With impressive recent financial reports, including triple-digit net income and double-digit improvements in adjusted earnings, it looked like SeaWorld’s troubled waters were behind the Orlando-based theme park chain. But that all changed Monday when the CEO, who had only been on the job for 7 months, abruptly resigned. SeaWorld surprised many in February when it tapped Gus…
Orlando housing prices are up 9 percent since this time last year
More troubling news for Central Florida home buyers, according to the Orlando Regional Realtor Association, as Orlando’s housing prices increased by 9 percent since this time last year. That’s the largest year-over-year price increase we’ve seen, and it brings the median price in August to $250,000. The ORRA August report also notes a decrease in the inventory of…
Orlando Taco Week starts Friday at more than 25 restaurants
If you remember the huge response to Orlando Burger Week earlier this year, you’ll know how important it is to jump on the Orlando Taco Week wagon early. More than 25 restaurants offer up $5 taco packages, giving you the chance to try new flavors and old favorites for rock-bottom prices. You can even grab…
Baltimore electronic musician Dan Deacon announces Orlando show in November
Baltimore composer and electro-freak Dan Deacon today announced a tour of the Southeast kicking off at the end of October. And local promoters Ugly Orange will be hosting him right here in Orlando at Will’s Pub as part of that trek. Deacon has dedicated most of 2019 to film scoring, including his score for Time…
Jacksonville blues-rockers JJ Grey and Mofro announce Orlando return to close out the year
Floridian blues-rock royalty JJ Grey & Mofro have announced a series of live blowouts throughout the state to close out the year, culminating in a massive hometown show in Jacksonville on New Year’s Eve. And the City Beautiful is one of those destinations, with a special engagement at House of Blues. The band just came…
David Bowie’s bandmates to tour Central Florida, recreating classic albums
Following a major world tour earlier this year, a group of super-musicians from David Bowie’s various bands are rejoining and coming though Central Florida in 2020. “A Bowie Celebration” bills itself not as a nostalgic cover band playing the greatest hits, but as an entirely new experience, as they plan to perform two of Bowie’s greatest albums, Diamond…
‘Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle’ projection mapping debuts at Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando guests can now behold the unspeakable creatures and sinister villains from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter through an enormous, projection-mapped experience, part of the park’s Halloween Horror Nights. Running through Nov. 15, the state-of-the-art projection mapping, “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle,” will combine special effects and lighting into a fully immersive – and…
SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens are now carrying the Impossible Burger
A handful of Central Florida theme parks are now adding a fierce veggie option. Today, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment announced that is has added the Impossible Burger to all menus at all 12 company properties including, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The company will also be donating 10 percent of the proceeds of…
Disney confirmed major Epcot overhaul, but there’s more to the Orlando plans than Disney is letting on
Last month at the biennial D23 Expo, Disney announced massive updates to Epcot that included many changes which have been rumored for years. But despite what will likely be over a billion dollars in upgrades and new additions, there were a few glaring absences in the announcements. Rumors of Disney doing away with the Future…
Band of the Week: The TransDimensionalizers
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 The TransDimensionalizers. The TransDimensionalizers are playing Stonewall on Sept. 19 with Gary Lazer Eyes and the Shovelhead Lounge on Sept. 27 with Tommy Frenzy. Just the facts: Who’s in the…
The essential Lake Nona restaurants you should try right now
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Bolay is donating 100% of their profits this weekend to World Central Kitchen in the Bahamas
Hurricane Dorian might be old news to Floridians now, but it’s still a daily nightmare for thousands of people on the islands of the Bahamas. So it’s good news that fast-casual Florida chain Bolay is donating 100% of this weekend’s profits from all 12 locations to World Central Kitchen’s food relief efforts in the Bahamas.…
Orlando’s first openly gay city commissioner describes her time in an ‘ex-gay’ ministry
In a video released today, Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan discusses the time she spent at an Orlando-based “ex-gay” conversion ministry called Eleutheros, which was under the group Exodus International that was shut down in 2013. “It took me a long time to be able to heal from the, I would say abusive things I…
Jenny Lewis revives her mid-2000s glory with the Watson Twins at the Beacham
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, The Beacham, Sep. 11 Well, this is one welcome reunion. At least on paper. When Jenny Lewis first struck out on her own, she launched her post-Rilo Kiley career like a rocket with the double booster of the Watson Twins on 2006’s Rabbit Fur Coat. Everyone knows…
Slice by Pizza Bruno won’t open in Mills 50 after all
Almost a year after we announced that Slice by Pizza Bruno would open on Mills Avenue, we have the unfortunate task of un-announcing its opening. “Welp after the better part of year it’s sad to say that this concept at 1011 N. Mills will not be happening” Pizza Bruno owner Bruno Zacchini posted on Instagram.…
Florida man discovers car with body of missing man in lake using Google Maps
A Google Maps search by a Florida man of his former home led to the gruesome discovery of a missing person’s car and body in a retention pond behind the house. The Grand Isles man, Brian Martin, was searching his old neighborhood when he spotted a light-colored object in the water behind his old house.…
Florida medical marijuana dispensary now sells the state’s first cannabis tablet
Even though Florida residents can finally smoke medical marijuana, one of the state’s largest cannabis companies is now offering it in tablet form. The company Curaleaf released the state’s first cannabis tablet on Sunday. The company’s two Orlando locations, at 775 N Semoran Blvd. and 12402 S Orange Blossom Trail, sell the mint-flavored tablets for $35 for a…
The Florida Department of Education has no idea which teachers own guns
The Florida Department of Education was unable to confirm an independent survey that found seven of the state’s 67 school districts have approved or would consider arming classroom teachers under a controversial school “guardian” program. Department of Education spokeswoman Cheryl Etters said the state agency has not collected information from school districts on whether they…
Florida massage business cleared after firing employee for Ghana travel during Ebola outbreak
A federal appeals court Thursday rejected arguments that a Tampa business violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when it fired a massage therapist because she would not cancel a trip to Ghana amid an Ebola epidemic in Africa. Kimberly Lowe, who worked at a Massage Envy business in Tampa, planned in 2014 to visit her…
Florida lawmaker wants to raise the age limit for vaping and smoking
A state House member wants to increase the legal age for vaping and smoking tobacco from 18 to 21 in Florida. “As a mother of five myself, with children in both middle school and high school, this issue is alarming and urgent. Precious lives are at stake,” state Rep. Jackie Toledo, R-Tampa, said in a…
Tropical disturbance heading to Florida likely to become Tropical Storm Humberto over the weekend
The National Weather Service is tracking an upgraded tropical disturbance in the Atlantic that will likely create a rainy weekend ahead in Central Florida. Thursday’s tropical disturbance, now called “Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine,” is currently 140 miles southeast of Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas, moving northwestward toward the northeastern Bahamas at 6 mph. A tropical storm watch…
Campaign to ban assault weapons in Florida received record donations in August
In the wake of two mass shootings in Texas and Ohio last month, contributions flooded into a political committee seeking to ban possession and sale of assault weapons in Florida, according to a new campaign-finance report filed at the state Division of Elections. Ban Assault Weapons NOW, the political committee behind the proposed constitutional amendment,…
Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge channel classic Black gold with the Midnight Hour
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND The Midnight Hour, Iron Cow, Sep. 9 The Midnight Hour is the big, high-power band that swirls, snaps and grooves around the creative nucleus of A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad and L.A. composer-producer Adrian Younge. No doubt, that Tribe credential leaps out like a lion. But focusing too much on…
‘Stranger Things’ are happening at Orlando’s Cabana Bay Resort
Are you up for a journey into the upside down? Look no further as Halloween Horror Nights unveils it’s strangest exhibit yet to Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Now until Halloween, guests at Cabana Bay can also take photos and even eat inside featured set replicas from the Netflix hit series “Stranger Things.” It’s a solid match, since…
SeaWorld Orlando announces Ice Breaker launch coaster for 2020
This morning, SeaWorld Orlando invited journalists to the park for a special presentation breaking the news about Ice Breaker, the record-breaking new multi-launch family roller coaster opening in Spring 2020. While launched coasters can already be found in Disney’s and Universal’s parks, Ice Breaker will be the first such ride at SeaWorld Orlando. The Arctic-inspired…
While he was governor, Rick Scott turned down $70 million in federal funds to fight the AIDS epidemic in Florida
An extensive investigation by the Guardian reports that while governor, Rick Scott blocked $70 million in available federal funds for fighting Florida’s HIV crisis, likely hastening the state’s record rate of infections. In the report, Florida’s HIV/AIDS administrator from 2014 to 2016 under Scott, Marlene LaLota, is quoted saying, “I think Rick Scott fueled the epidemic in Florida.” The report found…
West Coast house icon Mark Farina spins at the Milk District’s Iron Cow this weekend
Following closely on the heels of a recent engagement by Noncompliant, Iron Cow this weekend has another huge get: DJ, producer and house music innovator Mark Farina. Farina has been hard at it since 1988, when a chance meeting with Derrick Carter at a Chicago record store put him on the road to making his…
Experimental digital hardcore duo Machine Girl gets aggressive at Stonewall this weekend
New York City’s Machine Girl makes a triumphant return to Orlando after blowing minds opening for LE1F at Soundbar late last year. The electronic punk act incorporates live drums and a slew of electronics into a mesmerizing, frantic cacophony that picks up where Alec Empire’s Digital Hardcore Recordings label left off near the turn of…
The Nook lets you borrow 3D glasses for a special ‘Friday the 13th’ double feature
You knew it was going to happen somewhere. The Nook hosts a double feature of Friday the 13th movies on Friday, Sept. 13. Kicking off the mini-marathon is a special screening of Friday the 13th Part 3 presented in its original 3D form, with glasses provided. Stick around for Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,…
Overchuck Law Firm’s annual City Skip Day returns to Wall Street Plaza Friday
The Overchuck Law Firm and Wall Street Plaza team up for the 12th year in a row to bring downtown cubicle jockeys City Skip Day. Clock out early – or just don’t come back from lunch – and gather at Wall Street to enjoy free Yuengling with your fellow shirkers. Alleviate your conscience a little…
Holey Miss Moley headlines a Red Lion Pub reunion at the Henao Center
Those who enjoyed the jam-tastic, now-defunct Red Lion Pub are invited to a reunion at Henao Contemporary Center this week. Along with live music from the likes of Holey Miss Moley and Sweet Cambodia are fire dancers, craft vendors and free food – just like the old Twisted Tuesdays. 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12; Henao…
Movement grows in Florida to preserve nature and drinking water by granting legal rights to rivers
Efforts in five Florida counties could result in legally enforceable rights for rivers, as a way to save drinking water and ecosystems. According to a release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) and Speak Up Wekiva on Wednesday, grassroots groups in Alachua, Orange, Lee, Brevard, and Osceola counties are advancing county-wide laws to recognize the…
The Coathangers bring renewed vigor to Soundbar
Angular (and righteously angry) Atlanta trio the Coathangers earlier this year delivered the summer anthem that we never knew we needed – but my God it felt so right – “F the NRA.” For that alone, this Tuesday show is worth your time. Equally worth your time is the opportunity to see the Coathangers perform…
Cellist Daniel Levin and movement artist A. Eithne Hamilton collaborate at CityArts’ In-Between Series
The In-Between Series, now under the joint aegis of CityArts and the Timucua Arts Foundation, continues to be one of the best values out there for anyone interested in avant-garde and experimental music. This month’s performance features cellist Daniel Levin and movement artist A. Eithne Hamilton in a collaborative improvisational piece. Hamilton says she creates…
Florida is sending a half-million bottles of water to Bahamas
After being largely spared by Hurricane Dorian, Florida and the state’s largest electric utility are sending more than a half-million bottles of water to storm-ravaged parts of the Bahamas. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Power & Light on Tuesday announced plans to ship 19 truckloads of water – including 10 truckloads that had been stockpiled by the…
Central Florida commemorates 9-11 attacks with vigils, walks, ceremonies and tributes
Central Florida firefighters, police, and other authorities and first responders are leading ceremonies to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks which killed 2,997, including 412 New York emergency workers. Orange County will honor first responders with a candlelight ceremony at Downtown Fire Station 1 at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The county will hold a private remembrance for first…
Garden Theatre kicks off the spooky season with an interactive screening of ‘Hocus Pocus’
Carved pumpkins and cooler weather signal the start of fall, but the real herald of Halloween is the 1993 film Hocus Pocus. The comedy-horror tale about three witches resurrected on All Hallow’s Eve was a box-office flop during its summer release; movie guru Roger Ebert called it a “dreadful witches’ comedy,” and Entertainment Weekly deemed…
Cram all of the fun of a weekend convention into a single day at Orlando AnimeDay
Colorful wigs, giant swords and obscure characters descend on the International Drive Wyndham Resort for a one-day convention this weekend. AnimeDay bundles all of the important parts of a weekend-long anime convention into a single day, offering cosplay, video game tournaments, screenings, panels and special guests. There are even meetups for Pokémon players, live music…
‘Making a Murderer’ lawyer Jerome F. Buting speaks about criminal justice reform at Orlando Public Library
One of the defense lawyers from the Wisconsin murder trial of Steven Avery – covered in depth on Netflix’s hit true crime doc series Making a Murderer, speaks at the downtown library this week. Jerome F. Buting, a criminal defense attorney with more than 35 years of experience, is promoting his book Illusion of Justice:…
J Balvin brings a mind-blowing production to the Amway Center this week
Colombian reggaeton sensation J Balvin is steering his “Arcoíris” North American tour straight into the Amway Center this week. Balvin is on a hot streak live, wowing crowds at this year’s Coachella with a mind-blowing production replete with over-the-top, fantastical stage sets and imagery. And if that’s not enough, his Oasis collaborative album with Bad…
Publix supermarkets, which once supported an ‘NRA sellout,’ now asks customers to not openly carry guns at their stores
Publix, a Lakeland-based grocer that once donated an unprecedented $670,000 to former gubernatorial candidate and “proud NRA sellout” Adam Putnam, is now asking customers to not carry guns in their stores. In a statement provided to WFLA on Wednesday, the company urges customers to leave guns at home, even if local laws allow it. “Publix…
Savage Love: Open Wide
My roommate is a gay man who is into getting fisted. A lot. We were FWBs until he moved into my place, at which point we agreed it would be better for us to not have sex anymore. It’s worked out fine, and he’s been here for a year. Here’s the problem: About two years…
Official Secrets is a timely retelling of whistleblowing in a post-9/11 world
In 1989, under Margaret Thatcher, the United Kingdom amended its Official Secrets Act to make it easier for the government to convict people who leak security information. This revision left many subsequent whistleblowers twisting in the wind. Fourteen years later, during the buildup to the Iraq War, an employee of Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)…
Meet Lyla! She’s 5 years old, affectionate, and has become a favorite at the Orange County shelter
Meet Lyla! This sweet girl was brought into our shelter as a stray and she is still on the lookout for her fur-ever home. Lyla (A436049) is 5 years old and she has tested positive for heartworm disease, but thanks to a generous sponsor, much of her treatment cost will be covered. Lyla gets along…
Florida teens sue over solitary confinement, credit card skimmers at gas stations, and other news you may have missed last week
Florida teens file federal lawsuit against Department of Juvenile Justice over use of solitary confinement: Two 13-year-olds and a 16-year-old are suing the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, alleging their health and well-being were put in danger when the state placed them in solitary confinement. The case argues that putting minors in isolation violates the…
Freedom March wants gay people in Florida to know they’re “free to leave homosexuality”
It’s been three years since Luis Javier Ruiz was trampled as he and other patrons scrambled to flee the Pulse nightclub. Three years since his foot got stuck in a fence, trying to get out. Three years since he waited for texts from friends, only to learn by watching the news they had died in…
Boundary-pushing Orlando founder of AntiBabe returns to iconoclastic form with ‘Confessions of a Party Girl’
Over the 15 years that I’ve known Jodi Renee Thomas, I’ve watched her evolve from the boundary-pushing founder of AntiBabe – the influential fashion/performance-art troupe that predated Orlando’s current burlesque renaissance by a decade – into a prolific writer and outspoken activist for women’s issues. But it turns out that this iconoclastic party girl has…
Counting down the last days of the Venue, two new events celebrate new plays, and more Orlando theater news
In the coming weeks, Orlando will welcome two showcases for original works, while saying farewell to a beloved local institution. Right now, the Venue is counting down the “12 Days of Doom” before Ivanhoe Village’s independent theater permanently closes on Thursday, Sept. 12. Janine Klein kicked off the demolition a little early by tearing the…
At downtown Orlando’s Jam-Eng, Jamaican staples contend with English fare
Much can be said, and has been said, about post-colonial food histories and how we view these experiences through the lenses of race, class, gender and immigration. As disparate as Jamaica and England are as countries and cultures, the two are, of course, forever tied by the gastronomic bonds of colonialism, yet most Jamaican restaurants…
Filipino-American restaurant Taglish opens, wine tastings at Epcot, and more Orlando restaurant news
OPENINGS: Filipino-American restaurant Taglish will open this fall inside the Lotte Plaza Market. Taglish is a joint venture between chef Michael Collantes and Johnny and Jimmy Tung of Bento Group … Florida-themed cocktail bar The Basin has opened inside Henry’s Depot in Sanford. The remaining vendors (Dixie Dharma, Grain & Ember, Greenery Creamery, Salvatore’s Prime…
All the president’s Sharpies
Informed Dissent
Call ’em what you will, but Ceremony keeps moving forward
Forget everything you’ve read about California quintet Ceremony. Forget the thrashing powerviolence of their 2006 debut, a 13-song, 13-minute atomic blast appropriately titled Violence Violence. Forget the rabid hardcore of their 2008 follow-up, Still Nothing Moves You and the more polished post-punk of 2010’s Rohnert Park. Forget the sludgy garage rock of 2012’s Zoo and…
Emilio Estevez’s ‘The Public’ kicks off this year’s Global Peace Film Festival in Orlando
Audiences – and critics – lean into personality traits displayed by stars across a spectrum, be it from listening to song lyrics or parsing clues from repeat screenings of a filmmaker’s work. We seek reflections that confirm perceived shared sensibilities and cultural norms. And it is sometimes easy to assume a degree of familiarity that…
‘3 From Hell,’ ‘Brittany Runs a Marathon’ and a ‘Friday the 13th’ double feature on screens in Orlando
1989 Film Festival: Look Who’s Talking Bruce Willis voices the inner monologue of a newborn in this family comedy. Monday, 11 am; Orlando Public Library, 101 E. Central Blvd.; free; 407-835-7323; ocls.info. 3 From Hell Rob Zombie’s follow-up to House of 1,000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects, shown as an unrated cut for a special…
‘The Goldfinch,’ ‘Official Secrets,” and ‘Hustlers’ opening on Orlando screens this week
Opening this week: Aquarela Documentarian Victor Kossakovsky pays tribute to the awesome power of water in all its forms, in a series of vignettes that show how good ol’ H2O both sustains and threatens life across the planet. Kossakovsky told Vox that the conditions he and his crew had to work under were so fraught with…
