Cover Story
13 love letters to the City Beautiful
How do we love thee?
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ coming to Dr. Phillips this summer
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, a popular and well-received chain specializing in Japanese yakiniku dining, will open this summer in Dr. Phillips, according to Yutaro Iwamura, one of the restaurant’s owners. The restaurant will be housed in a new strip mall at 7858 Turkey Lake Road, just north of Sand Lake Road. If you’ve gone out for…
U.S., Cuba sign deal restoring commercial flights
A new agreement between the U.S. and Cuba will restore commercial flights, permitting new daily flights between the two countries starting this fall, according to the Associated Press. Following a signing of the deal on Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation allowed U.S. air carriers to apply for a bidding process on “as many as 110…
Groveland city officials consider exoneration proclamation for Groveland Four
Almost 67 years after four African American men were accused of raping a Groveland white woman, Groveland city officials will consider a proclamation Tuesday night asking Gov. Rick Scott and his cabinet to exonerate the Groveland Four, according to the Associated Press. In 1949, 17-year-old Norma Padgett accused Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd and…
Wahlburgers Orlando is now officially open for business
The wait is over for Orlandoans craving the good vibrations of a celebrity-endorsed burger: Wahlburgers has officially opened its downtown Orlando restaurant. But if eating a Wahlburger pales in comparison to meeting a Wahlberg, on Thursday, Feb. 18, Mark and Paul will be attending a special VIP opening event. According to a press release, the…
Wildlife officials holding public meeting on manatee reclassification this weekend
Plans to reclassify Florida manatees from a status of “endangered” to “threatened” are underway, and now is your chance to speak up if you have something to say. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a public meeting about the reclassification of the species on Saturday, Feb. 20 at Buena Vista Palace Convention Center in…
SeaWorld Orlando says they will increase minimum base pay for employees
SeaWorld Orlando recently announced that they will be increasing their employee base pay by 50 cents an hour. SeaWorld employees, referred to as ambassadors, will start receiving $10 per hour starting July 1, according to a press release from SeaWorld Orlando. “We have incredible ambassadors who are the heart of our organization,” says Christine Elliott O’Neal, Vice…
Disney announces new castle show at Magic Kingdom this summer
Just when you thought you could get “Let It Go” out of your head, Frozen will be returning to the Magic Kingdom this summer in the debut of the park’s new live stage show, Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire. The production in front of Cinderella’s castle will feature Mickey Mouse and his friends, as well as…
Orlando Police are looking for an abandoned newborn baby
The Orlando Police Department is currently searching for an abandoned newborn girl after officers found a placenta in the parking lot of the Willow Bend Apartments. OPD officers responded to the apartment complex on 4757 Silver Star Road at 3:04 p.m. Monday and determined a “full term baby had been born and discarded,” says police…
Osceola County hopes enlarging its tourism district will fix the area’s many problems
Even while Osceola County struggles to fill the countless empty buildings currently in their tourist district, county leaders are moving forward on a plan to rezone 3,396 acres of land from a general Mixed Use zoning to a Tourist Commercial zoning. The property in question is bordered by Polk County on two sides and with various…
Foreigner and Alabama added to SeaWorld’s Bands, Brew & BBQ Festival
Legendary hard rockers Foreigner and Alabama will be jamming on stage at SeaWorld later this month. The two groups have joined the lineup for SeaWorld’s Bands, Brew & BBQ Festival, which is set to start this weekend and continue every Saturday and Sunday until March 6. If you’re looking to catch their sets, you’ll want…
Legoland Florida looks to be building a massive hotel in Winter Haven
Legoland Florida continues to add new attractions to help entice an ever increasing number of guests to the park in Winter Haven. While the location is surely off the beaten path for many tourists, the steady stream of new offerings are keeping the resort fresh, including recently uncovered plans that look to confirm the interactive…
Thousands of sharks are currently swarming near Palm Beach
Sorry, beach bums. The waters off Palm Beach County coastline are currently occupied by about 10,000 blacktip sharks as part of their annual winter migration. WPEC reports Florida Atlantic University professor Stephen Kajiura captured a mildly terrifying aerial video of the sharks that has gone viral. The video is part of a weekly migration survey of…
Artist Brian Feldman was injured in a mugging and needs your help
Whenever we think of Brian Feldman, we think of him as an indomitable artistic spirit with a mind rooted squarely in the civic good. In 2009, to point out how dangerous Orange County’s roads are for pedestrians, he staged “Pedestrian, or Walking: Impossible,” in which he crossed 12 of the region’s most dangerous intersections. In 2010,…
Google Street View cameras spotted at Disney’s Magic Kingdom
Google Street View has been a popular way to view places virtually since it was first launched in 2007. Since then, Google has been offering more and more places where you can explore, including inside shopping malls, underwater and even the Mount Everest base camps. A guest with a Google Street View backpack was spotted…
Third Man Records tour serves up the underground to electrifying results (The Social)
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Despite rising to become a certified A-list name, Jack White has kept it pretty real. At this point, a guy of his profile doesn’t have to do shit. He’s already one of the true sons who’ve accomplished the rare miracle of breaking big. The guy could go on autopilot, or into a…
Get an intimate live theater experience at Timucua Monday night with Living Room Theater
It’s said that theater at its most basic level needs only two people to occur: one person to do something and another person to watch. But while stages, costumes, props and lighting may be technically inessential, they sure do change the way we feel about a performance. Take Living Room Theater, for example. Thespians Tisse…
Carly Rae Jepsen gets E·MO·TIONal at the Plaza Live Monday night
Pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen might have started out waiting by the phone, but now she isn’t waiting for calls — she’s making them. Her career started off with the 2012 summertime single “Call Me Maybe,” a song so overplayed it was impossible to keep out of your head, but Jepsen has since matured into…
Video: Watch the lion awaken at the Orlando Lunar New Year Festival
Today at Fashion Square Mall, Asia Trend magazine, REACH, the Mills 50 Orlando Main Street District and Youth Enrichment and Senior Services rung in the Year of the Monkey at the Orlando Lunar New Year Festival. In this video, dancers from Wah Lum Kung Fu perform the traditional lion dance, one of the highlights of…
New local band Field Kit justifies the buzz with a powerful gestalt (Will’s Pub)
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND By all measure, early 2000s act My Hotel Year is one of the modern era’s most beloved and celebrated local bands. Their last reunion back in September sold out Will’s Pub in presales way in advance in the kind of time that only major events do. But Field Kit (Feb. 12, Will’s…
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia found dead at a Texas ranch today
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was reportedly found dead at a ranch in Texas today. According to news reports, he had arrived at Cibolo Creek Ranch in Big Bend, not far from Marfa, on Friday. This morning, he did not show up for breakfast, and when somebody was sent to look for him, they found…
Love Your Shorts Film Festival underway in Sanford
The sixth annual Love Your Shorts Film Festival presented its opening-night movie block last night at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in Sanford, with Leo’s Love Letter taking home the audience award. It will move on to the “Best of the Fest” block on Sunday night and compete with the audience winners from the…
Not even a Lynx bus driver can figure out how to stop for SunRail
Spotted on Feb. 11 at a SunRail crossing. Heavy sigh. Related Stories
One suspect arrested in Glitz Ultra Lounge shooting that killed two
Orlando Police have arrested one man in connection to the shooting at Glitz Ultra Lounge this weekend that killed two people, Chief John Mina says. Jose Jaime Brull-Lopez, 23, was arrested on charges of carrying a concealed weapon and tampering with physical evidence and was taken to the Orange County Jail, where he later posted a…
Mad as hell about the proposal to cash in on state parks? Join activists at Wekiwa Springs on Feb. 13 to protest
Tomorrow (Feb. 13), activists, concerned citizens and speakers will gather at Wekiwa Springs State Park to protest the state’s boneheaded proposal to use state parks to generate revenue. There’s currently a plan on the table, see, to allow hunting, cattle grazing and timbering in state parks because, according to state Department of Environmental Protection secretary…
State of Florida creates Zika Virus hotline to keep panic at bay
Today, Gov. Rick Scott announced that there’s a new Zika Virus Hotline where people who are worried about Zika can call and talk to a real live person about what’s going on with the virus in the state. We called the hotline tonight – the number is 855-622-6735 – and a reassuring tech informed us…
Universal Studios raised their ticket prices to $105, here are 8 other ways to spend that money
This week Universal Studios Orlando raised their ticket prices to $105, which is also how much it costs to spend the day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. That’s a lot of money. According to Fox News 13, Universal Studios raised single park one-day admission from $102 to $105 on Wednesday, February 10. Universal is no stranger to…
Market report: Winter Park Village Publix carries Cigar City smoked salsa
For those of you on a locavore diet, your salsa options just opened up. The Publix in Winter Park Village is carrying Cigar City smoked salsas (no relation to the brewery, other than that they’re both made in Tampa, obvi). They’re not cheap, as far as condiments go ($5.99 for a jar), but it’s small-batch…
Sen. Harry Reid asks Alan Grayson to drop out of Senate race
A day after The New York Times released a lengthy investigation Thursday about how U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson’s hedge fund work interfered with his congressional duties, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is calling on the Orlando Democrat to drop out of the Senate race. The Associated Press reports the Nevada Democrat said in a statement…
Fans of creative music have a lot to look forward to this weekend
The growing cadre of contemporary classical fans in Orlando are getting quite the Valentine’s Day present: three amazing concerts to choose from (or just binge out and see them all). Collide Contemporary Music Series presents Ensemble P4 in a concert featuring new works for piano and percussion by Steve Kornicki, Thad Anderson, Shawn Hundley, Sydney…
Orange County Charter Review passes tougher requirements on citizen initiatives
Orange County’s Charter Review Commission unanimously passed several proposals Thursday that would alter the charter’s citizen petition process, and according to advocates, make it harder for people to get a petition on the ballot. The Orlando Sentinel reports the new process would now “require a petition drive to collect more signatures, pass a legal review…
NYT: Alan Grayson’s hedge fund work interfered with congressional duties
For the past year, media outlets like Politico and the Tampa Bay Times have raised questions about U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, and his management of a hedge fund, which spurned an investigation into the congressman by the House Committee on Ethics. Now, The New York Times is reporting the extent to which Grayson’s two…
Join a who’s who of Orlando musicians at Will’s Pub on Sunday to say goodbye to David Bowie
Cancer is a motherfucker. You will most likely not get through this life without losing someone you love to it, and no one is immune – not even cultural icons like David Bowie. The man who redefined what it meant to be a rock star, who redefined the rock landscape a number of times, succumbed…
Bring a picnic and your sweetheart to the Mennello’s lawn Saturday for the second annual Indie-Folkfest
A good musical palate (or lack of) in a potential crush is a make-or-break factor for a lot of people, and a 20-minute Tinder date isn’t enough time to figure out if your potential boo likes Nickelback. Instead, figure out how harmonious you two might be at this year’s Indie-Folkfest at the Mennello Museum of…
Randy and Mr. Lahey from ‘Trailer Park Boys’ get in character at Backbooth Saturday
The shit winds roll into Orlando as Trailer Park Boys’ booziest (and sexiest) duo pack out Backbooth to prove once again that Canadians are neither nice nor orderly. Sunnyvale Trailer Park Supervisor Mr. Lahey (John Dunsworth) and his loyal sidekick Randy (Pat Roach) drunkenly slur stories about things like Randy’s ex-life as a cheeseburger-obsessed prostitute,…
FanDuel plans to lay off 55 employees from Maitland offices
The fantasy sports website FanDuel recently announced plans to lay off 55 employees from their Maitland, Florida, offices. “In 2015, we saw continued growth with more than six million users registering for FanDuel and our largest NFL season to date, despite regulatory pressure,” said a spokesperson in a prepared statement. “As we plan for the future,…
Monster Energy responds to Morgan & Morgan lawsuit, says it ‘defies logic’
Monster Energy Company fired back at Morgan & Morgan February 11, after the law firm filed several law suits claiming their clients suffered serious injuries after drinking the energy drinks. As previously reported, Morgan & Morgan’s plaintiffs are claiming that Monster’s high-caffeine drinks caused serious injuries. Morgan & Morgan’s cases include a 14-year-old boy who…
SeaWorld returns four rehabilitated manatees to warm waters
Over the last two days, four manatees were brought back to warm waters after being rescued and rehabilitated at SeaWorld Orlando. Two manatees, named Carmine and Leonard, were rescued as orphaned calves in 2013. While the other two, Sheldon and Bernadette, were rescued from cold stress near Jacksonville, Florida, in December 2014. After SeaWorld Orlando’s…
Watch this cute guide dog in training meet Pluto for the first time
Every dog has his day, and Ace, a Guide Dog of America in training, got his when he met his hero Pluto at Disneyland. The magical encounter occurred in December of 2015, when Ace was visiting the California theme park for a few hours as a socialization experience, according to the Huffington Post. Although his…
Tim McKinney announces his bid for Orange County Commission
Tim McKinney officially threw his hat into the ring Thursday afternoon to compete for Orange County Commission District 5. The executive vice president of United Global Outreach told us he was planning on entering the race after McKinney and Commissioner Ted Edwards, who currently represents District 5, had a public spat regarding what to build…
Rapper Lil B will give an ‘extremely rare’ lecture at University of Florida
Lil B, the rapper who successfully curses professional athletes, will be giving an “extremely rare” lecture at University of Florida this month. On Wednesday afternoon, the rapper announced the UofF lecture, which will be held at the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom at 8:30 p.m. on February 18. While promoting the event on his…
This dancing dog from Orange County Animal Services needs a home
Orange County Animal Services says a dog at the local shelter is trying to dance its way into a new home. The dog, named Ginger Rogers by staff, dances on her hind legs whenever workers, volunteers and shelter visitors pass by, says OCAS spokesperson Carolina Devine in press release. OCAS volunteer Crystal Kincaid shot and uploaded the…
Osceola County wants to shut down Mike Busey’s Sausage Castle
After years of notorious sex parties, dildos in fish tanks and strippers galore, the St. Cloud property known as “The Wildest House in America” might soon have to shut the party down for good. Osceola County is trying to foreclose and bulldoze the Sausage Castle, the infamous home of Mike Busey and his sundry band…
Okeechobee Music and Arts Fest releases full weekend schedule
The Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival – a weirdly massive event happening March 4-6 at Sunshine Grove in Okeechobee being put on, in part, by one of the guys who helped launch Bonnaroo – has released its full weekend schedule. And if you’re planning to go, you better start working on your stamina now, because…
Move over, Valentine’s Day Frappuccino: DQ releases “Singles Blizzard”
You know who loves you? Ice cream loves you. Just two days ago, Starbucks rolled out its line of drinks celebrating love, available this week only. In brisk fashion, rival (not really) Dairy Queen has announced its release of the “Singles Blizzard,” just in time for Feb. 14. What’s in it? Salted caramel truffles, Reese’s…
Local confectioner creates “Burn in Hell” bar for those who hate Valentine’s Day (or love Guy Fieri)
Local chocolatier Smith & Adams Confectioners has concocted the perfect chocolate bar for those who are not into the usual heartsy-fartsy Valentine’s Day candy. (You may remember them from our cover story last month, “State of the plate: 16 new Orlando restaurants you need to try in 2016.”) For those of you who have no use…
25 Years Later: Spacemen 3 – ‘Recurring’
Tension makes great art. Destruction makes great art. Drama makes great art. But when all that tension, destruction, and drama are going on behind the scenes and aren’t explicitly expressed in the art, well, things can get a little weird. There’s a rather large hallway in the House of Great Albums dedicated to those records…
Report from New Hampshire: First in line for Bernie
I stared through a glass door at a Secret Service agent who was playing with a pocket knife in front of his colleagues, all of whom were afraid to ask him to chill despite their being visibly appalled by his behavior. It was a Bernie Sanders rally, but the overreaching arm of federal law enforcement…
Longtime Orlando Sentinel food editor Heather McPherson bids paper goodbye
The latest to take the Orlando Sentinel buyout package is Heather McPherson, a three-decade veteran of the Central Florida dining scene. McPherson has been with the paper for 38 years, 28 as food editor. In November, the Chicago Tribune reported that the Tribune company (parent company of the Orlando Sentinel) had approved buyouts for 7 percent…
Sam Waterston wants money out of politics: an interview with the legendary actor and activist
Nick Carraway. Jack McCoy. Charlie Skinner. Countless people know and adore actor and Cambridge, Massachusetts native Sam Waterston for the characters he’s played on screen. What’s less known is his passion for and involvement with the forces pushing campaign finance reform to the top of America’s voting agenda. Along with other Cantabrigians, like comedian Jimmy…
Nude Nite finds a new home at Artegon Marketplace this weekend
Nude Nite: It’s just what it sounds like. An art and entertainment experience, Nude Nite brings people together to celebrate the beauty of the nude. Guests are invited to attend the three-day event – this year hosted at Artegon for the first time – and witness a night to bare all. Performances by body painters,…
Love Your Shorts Film Festival returns to Sanford with more than 60 short flicks from around the world
“I think that short films often contain an originality, a creative freedom, an energy and an invention that is inspiring and entertaining,” Kenneth Branagh once said. “I think they are, as Shakespeare put it, a good deed in a naughty world.”Naughty or not, our world is richer for short films. Specifically, Sanford has become a…
St. Anselm student says real politics were absent at New Hampshire Republican debate site
Politics at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire is, like some kind of god, both always present and invisible at the same time. All around campus, even when there is not a debate going on, there is a higher-than-usual chance that some national figure or other – TV journalists, think-tank pundits and of course the…
What happened to Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire?
Despite the fact that she did the nae nae on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, word around Manchester all week was that Hillary Clinton couldn’t connect with young New Hampshire voters on the whole. On Saturday, the former Secretary of State made an appearance at New England College for a segment called Come Ask Hillary Anything,…
Former Shish.Co owner opens Mediterranean cafe in Hannibal Square
Mehmet Gurkaynak, one of the two Mehmets that ran Shish.Co Mezze & Grill, has left the Turkish kebaberia to open Park Cafe & Bakery, in the former Extract Juice Bar space, in Hannibal Square. “I was doing some work at Venture Photography next door and always had my eye on this place,” says Gurkaynak. “When…
Legendary Swedish death metal band At the Gates slaughter your soul at House of Blues tonight
Twenty years ago, Swedish death metal band At the Gates released Slaughter of the Soul, an album that quickly established itself as a pre-eminent genre document. Had the band stopped then, they would have been remembered as one of the most important melodic death metal bands in history. And, well, they did stop then, imploding…
Only one week left to register if you want to vote in the Florida presidential primary
Are you with Hillary? Feeling the Bern? Then you better make sure you’re registered to vote in Florida’s March 15 presidential primary election. No matter your candidate (or your party) you only have until Feb. 16 to register to vote if you want to participate. You can download a voter-registration application here. Related Stories
Black Rooster Taqueria opens in Mills 50, TastyChomps’ Ramen Rumble, and more in local foodie news
Austin Boyd (Seito Sushi), Greg Richie (Baoery Asian Gastropub) and Chau Trinh (Sushi Pop) get into a noodle throwdown in TastyChomps’ Ramen Rumble at 6 p.m. Monday, March 7. Paying guests will sample a tasting bowl of ramen from each chef, a draft beer and dessert. Cost is $30, with proceeds going to the winning chef’s…
Ten10 Brewery has developed quite the following, and for good reason
Ten10 Brewing Company 1010 Virginia Drive, 407-930-8993, ten10brewingcompany.com After work or after hours? After work Beer/wine or liquor too? Beer brewed on-site and wine from nearby Quantum Leap Winery Check all that apply: ☐ fancy cocktails ☐ make ’em strong and keep ’em coming ☐ wine list (5 choices or more) ☒ craft beer ☐…
Picks This Week: Madeon, Barenaked Ladies, Yanni and more
Madeon After sharpening his skills by producing tracks for the likes of Muse, Coldplay and Lady Gaga, the French electronic producer dropped his blissed-out debut album, Adventure, last year to plenty of acclaim. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Plaza Live, $20-$35 Dan Baird & Homemade Sin The Georgia Satellites may have been misfits…
Slam poetry at the Amway, ‘The Tempest’ comes to Orlando Shakes and more in local arts news
Mere months after hiring and then abruptly axing interim executive director Jim Cundiff (their sixth leader in six years), the Orlando Ballet has brought in the big guns to help it pirouette its fortunes. Michael M. Kaiser, chairman of the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland and past president of Washington,…
Naked Boys Singing is a boozy, bawdy evening of ogling buff boys with their balls swinging in the breeze
We live in a world of lies, bombarded daily by half-truths, obfuscations and outright falsehoods from promoters and politicians. So let’s get erect and give a standing ovation to Naked Boys Singing for earning the “truth in advertising” award. This spirited musical revue may not have any dialogue, characters or plot, but it’s got more…
Where to Invade Next is provocative, powerful
Steal this movie
Opening in Orlando: Deadpool, How to Be Single and Zoolander 2
Deadpool Nobody was particularly happy with the way Marvel’s “merc with a mouth” was depicted in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but 20th Century Fox is still giving him a shot at his very own feature – and with Ryan Reynolds back in the role, no less. Wow, imagine if Ben Affleck had gotten another crack at…
Savage Love (2/10/16)
Gay man in my late 20s. I recently ended things with a guy. Our relationship started as a strictly sexual one. We’re both involved in the kink scene in our city and have interests that align in a great way. Quickly it became clear there was a real connection. The next two months were great!…
This Little Underground: Legendary Shack Shakers return from hiatus to slay
During its initial announcement back in December, I wrote about the predominantly démodé slant of new Orlando music fest hopeful the Moonstone Music Festival (Apr. 30-May 1, Central Florida Fairgrounds). Now, the latest lineup additions actually include surprisingly current bands like Best Coast, Eternal Summers and the Coathangers. However, they come alongside the likes of…
17 hate letters and poems to The City Beautiful
Some choice words for things that make us cringe
Free Will Astrology (2/10/16)
ARIES (March 21-April 19) “Love is a fire,” declared Aries actress Joan Crawford. “But whether it’s going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.” I disagree with her conclusion. There are practical steps you can take to ensure that love’s fire warms but doesn’t burn. Start with these strategies:…
I-Drive workers share their complaints about working in the vacation capital of the world
Take this job and shove it
Gimme Shelter (2/10/16)
We have a champion who is looking for a forever home! Bronco (Animal ID A340874) is a 2-year-old dog who weighs in at 129 pounds. This gentle giant loves doggy biscuits – so much that he might need a “super bowl” to eat all of his treats. He is a really friendly boy who enjoys being…
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is a worthy day trip
Down in the hole
This Modern World (2/10/16)
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Lulu Eightball (2/10/16)
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The Lady in the Van conveys metatheatrical charm
British playwright Alan Bennett met Mary Shepherd when the elderly, homeless woman parked her dilapidated van outside his suburban London home in 1970. Almost 20 years later, the mysterious curmudgeon was still there and the two had formed an unlikely friendship, fostered by Bennett’s kindness and Shepherd’s stubborn refusal to seek shelter elsewhere. But, as…
