Sanford hosts a musical feast for your earholes this weekend as the Sanford Porchfest returns for a second year. Head downtown and grab a map to guide you to various front porches where more than 40 musical acts play for the roving crowd. Acts include Hannah Harber, Eugene Snowden, Run Raquel, Terri Binion and more.…
Local wrestling promotion USA Pro has been pinging our radar pretty consistently with a regular string of bimonthly cards heavy on star power, both past and present. Their events are a great middle-ground for those who checked out of pro-wrestling after, say, ECW went out of business or those who are well-versed in the indie…
Propeller Anime’s monthly showcase of curated anime goes big this week with a night devoted to giant robots. Instead of the usual Evangelion or Macross episodes, though, you’ll get to see lesser known gems like Patlabor and Battle Angel, the basis of the recent live action movie. As always, Bikkuri keeps the drinks cheap all…
If you’re of a certain age, there’s a good chance that just reading the words “Spin Doctors” started that band’s 1993 hit “Two Princes” playing in your head, where it will remain all day long. You’re welcome/Misery loves company. The reunited Spin Doctors play in the lobby of the Hard Rock Hotel this week, taking…
Autonomous vehicle company Beep revealed on Tuesday that a miniature, self-driving bus is poised to hit the streets of Lake Nona in the coming months. Dozens of executives and local officials convened in the Orlando suburb for the announcement and added that Beep will plant its headquarters square in Lake Nona – a burgeoning, 17 square-mile neighborhood…
Raw Travel, the most watched authentic travel show on U.S. commercial television, will feature historic downtown Sanford this weekend, and local chefs are hosting a brunch party on Saturday to watch the premiere episode. Raw Travel host Robert Rose explored this charming Central Florida town and discovered what we already know and love about Sanford –…
Hours after University of Central Florida President Dale Whittaker offered to resign on Tuesday amid a deepening probe into his administration’s use of state funds, a student-run online petition raked in more than 1,000 signatures to keep him in office. “President Whittaker decided to ‘fall on the sword’ so UCF can have a clean slate…
Florida’s latest attempt to draw more film production to the Sunshine State started rolling Tuesday in the Senate. The Commerce and Tourism Committee backed a measure (SB 526) by Chairman Sen. Joe Gruters that would provide grants of up to $2 million to production companies that have completed at least 70 percent of their work…
Record collectors get an excuse to hang out at a bar and admire each others’ collections this week. The Falcon hosts a record swap this Wednesday where vinylphiles can bring their doubles to trade or sell with each other while enjoying $1 off of all tallboys. Finally time to get rid of your extra three…
Florida’s new tourism czar, former Sen. Dana Young, is pitching lawmakers to continue setting aside $76 million a year for Visit Florida and is promoting the agency’s ability to overcome negative publicity while drawing record numbers of visitors. Young, a Tampa Republican tapped by DeSantis to run the public-private tourism agency, said this week that…
Indie-pop titans Young the Giant and Fitz and the Tantrums have announced a massive joint summer tour spanning June through August, and the City Beautiful is one of the confirmed shows. Young the Giant is currently riding high off the release of new album Mirror Master while Fitz and the Tantrums are putting the finishing…
The time is upon us, University of Central Florida football fans. The Knights are headed out to celebrate with their biggest supporters around the state on the ChargeOn tour. The tour is set to kickoff in Tampa on Feb. 27 at the World of Beer on Fowler, followed by a “War on I-4” basketball matchup…
Attorneys leading a class-action lawsuit alleging that the Orlando Utilities Commission’s coal-fired power plants contaminated the properties of more than 30,000 residents will lead a town hall Tuesday night. The Feb. 19 town hall is at 6 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel, 12125 High Tech Ave., near the University of Central Florida. The attorneys will be joined Stephen…
University of Central Florida President Dale Whittaker offered his resignation Tuesday afternoon amid investigations into UCF’s improper misdirection of almost $85 million in leftover funds. Whittaker, who was UCF’s provost and executive vice president before being elected in July to replace retiring President John C. Hitt, submitted his resignation to the UCF Board of Trustees…
Weeks after an 11-year-old boy was arrested at his Lakeland middle school for allegedly being disruptive after refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, his attorney says he plans to file a civil complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. Roderick Ford, an attorney with Cochran Law Firm in Tampa, told The Ledger that he and…
Despite remaining silent publicly, behind the scenes Universal is hard at work on their still unannounced third theme park that will be located near Lockheed Martin and the Orange County Convention Center. With an expected opening sometime in the early 2020s, the new park will be the first to open in Orlando since Islands of…
As Disney’s Hollywood Studios prepares for record attendance this coming winter when the highly anticipated Stars Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens, many of the smaller items around the park that have needed some updating in recent years are finally getting the attention they deserve. Pathways are being refreshed, and restaurants are getting better crowd-flow features. Over…
Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan is running for re-election to the City Council seat representing District 4. Sheehan was first elected to the Orlando City Council in 2000 and has since been re-elected four times. She’s Orlando’s first openly gay commissioner and was a leading force for the community during the 2016 mass shooting at the…
A House Democrat on Monday filed a proposal that calls for apologizing to people who were targeted in the 1950s and 1960s by a legislative committee that went after civil rights activists and homosexuals. Rep. Evan Jenne, D-Dania Beach, filed a resolution (HCR 893) that proposes offering a “formal and heartfelt apology to those whose…
As lawmakers weigh changes to the state’s medical-marijuana laws, the Florida Department of Health has appealed a circuit judge’s ruling that struck down a limit on the number of dispensaries that marijuana businesses can operate. Attorneys for the Department of Health filed a notice late Friday that said they were challenging a Feb. 1 ruling…
Indie singer/songwriter Jenny Lewis will be coming to Orlando this fall for a night at The Beacham as she promotes her upcoming album On the Line. Lewis will be stopping in the City Beautiful as part of her tour on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at The Beacham, 46 N Orange Ave. Tickets go on sale…
The Florida Department of Education posted a survey Monday to gain input from educators, parents and the community on what they think would be a sound replacement for Common Core public school learning standards. The move comes after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order last month that ordered state Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to create…
Watergate had Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Vietnam had Daniel Ellsberg, Disney World had Emily Bavar and now, Universal Orlando has Alicia Stella. The Orlando ParkStop blogger has quickly made a name for herself with her incredibly accurate reporting of Universal’s biggest plans despite the company trying its best to keep all these projects under tight wraps.…
Disney World’s 50th Anniversary in 2021 is getting plenty of attention, but there’s another Florida theme park readying for an even bigger anniversary. Busch Gardens Tampa will be celebrating its 60th anniversary next month. The diamond anniversary will be celebrated all year long at the African-themed Tampa park. March 1 will kick off the celebration…
Orlando City Soccer Club inked a deal Monday with the Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon for a free transfer of four-time Premier League champion and UEFA Euros champion Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha, better known as “Nani.” Nani will the join the MLS club on a three-year contract. “This is an exciting day for our organization,” says…
With the U.S. Supreme Court moving quickly to hear the case, a legal battle about a proposed citizenship question on the 2020 U.S. census could have political ramifications for Florida. The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to take up the U.S. Department of Commerce’s appeal of a lower-court ruling that would prevent the census from…
The biggest supermoon of 2019 will take over Orlando’s sky Tuesday night. The “Super Snow Moon” will appear in Orlando on Feb. 19 starting at 6:34 p.m., according to timeanddate.com. Although the Super Snow Moon won’t be as dramatic as the “Super Blood Wolf Moon” seen Jan. 20-21, the Super Snow Moon will be the…
A SunRail train hit and killed a man who was standing on the railroad tracks Monday morning in Orange County. Orange County Fire Rescue says the crash happened around 10 a.m. near East Oak Ridge Road and South Orange Avenue. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. 10:08 a.m. fatal crash: E Oak Ridge…
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND John Maus and Nick Nicely, The Social, Feb. 15 Minnesota electronic savant John Maus is both enigma and phenomenon. His lyrics don’t necessarily reveal it, and his musical palette is immersive enough to just bask in the halo, but Maus’ synth-pop seems to suggest some deep conceptual underpinning. Rather than the straight-style…
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 Longest Hall. The Longest Hall is playing the Falcon on Feb. 22. Just the facts: When did the band form?We are brothers, and have been playing music together since…
An 11-year-old boy was arrested at his Lakeland middle school for allegedly being disruptive after he refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance because the U.S. flag and national anthem are “racist.” Bay News 9 reports that the confrontation began on Feb. 4 when a substitute teacher named Ana Alvarez asked a class at Lawton Chiles Middle…
Hamilton is a hard act to follow, but a wisecracking genie and Vietnamese bar girl will attempt to follow in the Founding Father’s sold-out footsteps when Disney’s Aladdin and Miss Saigon anchor the 2019-2020 Fairwinds Broadway in Orlando season, which will also bring the new musical Mean Girls to the Dr. Phillips Center. On Valentine’s…
A man detained in a “security incident” at Orlando International Airport Saturday morning caused a massive panic that led to scared travelers running for their lives. Orlando Police say a 37-year-old unarmed man was arrested after attempting to enter the west TSA checkpoint area for gates 1-59 at MCO around noon. During the arrest, a…
Upholding a judge’s decision that sided with former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and national Democrats, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ruled that a Florida law requiring voters’ signatures on mail-in ballots to match the signatures on file with elections officials imposes “a serious burden on the right to vote.” Friday’s 2-1…
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday he wants to create a new “equal opportunity” voucher program to eliminate a waiting list of about 14,000 low-income students seeking to use state-backed scholarships to attend private schools. The governor is asking lawmakers to create a “supplement” to the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, the state’s largest voucher-type program,…
A Senate Democrat on Thursday filed a proposal that would allow public schools to buy a type of drug that is used to treat people who have overdosed on opioids. Sen. Jason Pizzo, a Miami-Dade County Democrat, filed the bill (SB 1064) for consideration during the legislative session that starts March 5. Under the proposal,…
Three construction workers were injured Friday after falling 15 feet while pouring concrete on the eastbound ramp to Interstate 4 near Amelia Street in downtown Orlando. WFTV 9 reports the incident on the I-4 Ultimate Project comes a few days after work resumed on the project after another worker, James Hardy Mills, was struck and…
A 10,000-square-foot Ron Jon Surf Shop will soon make a splash at Disney Springs. Although there is no official date set, the store will be located next to the Polite Pig and is expected to open late 2019, according to a Disney press release. The New Jersey-based chain has quite a few Florida locations, including…
Orlando drag queen Trinity The Tuck has made it to the top four on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, putting her closer to winning the crown on Friday night’s finale. The tightest tuck in the business is up against three formidable lip-syncing opponents – Naomi Smalls, Monét X Change and Monique Heart. The embodiment of injectable plastic…
Following an increase in bear activity, part of Ocala National Forest has been temporarily closed, forestry officials announced earlier this week. Juniper Prairie Wilderness will reopen March 13. According to the United States Department of Agriculture and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, only folks with a permit will be allowed in, unless you’re…
Singer, dancer, actress and television show host Jennifer Lopez formally requests your presence for a party she’s throwing for herself here in the City Beautiful. The diva has announced dates for her upcoming “It’s My Party: The Live Celebration” tour and there is an Orlando date set in stone. In addition to a romp through…
As you and your roommates are probably aware, it has become increasingly more expensive and more annoying to buy a home in Orlando. But for the third month in a row, the area’s bloated housing market has actually shown some signs of slowing down. According to a recent report from the Orlando Regional Realtors Association,…
An ongoing legal battle over which managed-care plan should be picked by the state to provide care to low-income AIDS and HIV patients in South Florida has triggered a new round of litigation that pits two competitors. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation this week asked a circuit judge to order competitor Simply Healthcare to stop communicating…
Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a sentient diaper that routinely advocates for “the rule of law” and denounces authoritarians, is now praising President Donald Trump for his decision to commit arguably the most authoritarian act in modern American history. This morning, Trump declared a national emergency over the nonexistent crisis at the country’s southern border, a…
Nothing says “humanitarian crisis at the southern border” like a round of golf, right? After declaring a national emergency Friday to bypass Congress and get about $8 billion in funding for a border wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, President Donald Trump planned a little weekend getaway at his private Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago. Trump, who says our…
Outside the Florida Capitol, a bell tolled 17 times Thursday morning in somber recognition of the one-year anniversary of the state’s deadliest school shooting. Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife, Casey, led a moment of silence for the victims of last year’s massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School before traveling to the Parkland school…
With officials seeing a potentially lucrative industry, Senate Agriculture Chairman Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, is proposing creation of a state hemp program. Albritton on Thursday filed a bill that would set up the program under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill came after Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried last week named Holly Bell…
Orlando garage-soul heroes the Sh-Booms have been on that grind heavy, y’all. Their hard work and greasy shine have been gathering national notice for a little while now like on NPR. But lately they’ve been in high-gear hustle, kicking up some real anticipation for their upcoming new album The Blurred Odyssey, dropping on Mar. 22…
From 1967 to 1978, Carol Burnett was the host and star of one of the most successful variety shows on television, The Carol Burnett Show. Like a primetime Saturday Night Live, the show featured comedy sketches featuring several guest stars. But Burnett started most shows with an unscripted Q&A session with the audience, where she…
Even though Fashion Square Mall is everyone’s favorite mall to not shop at, the years when it hosted the annual Lunar New Year dragon parade felt, well, weird. Thankfully, the parade is back in its Mills 50 home, this year going down Thornton Avenue from Lake Highland Drive to that big parking lot behind Chuan…
In case no one told you, it was Valentine’s Day this week. Burlesque troupe Blacklist Babes Cabaret brings their take on the holiday to Clicks South this weekend, with a show titled “War of the Roses.” We somehow doubt that it will feature much commentary on the Lancaster v. York civil war in England, but…
The FBI has released drawings made by one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history with the hope of identifying the 90 people he confessed to murdering, including 13 homicides in Florida. Between 1970 and 2005, 78-year-old Samuel Little criss-crossed the country from California to Florida, leaving dead bodies behind in the cities he…
A memorial was held today for the 17 victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting at the Pulse Interim Memorial to mark the one-year anniversary of the tragedy. Victims from the Parkland shooting and the Pulse nightclub shooting joined first responders, local government officials and other members of the community to commemorate the…
On Wednesday, an Orlando resident took one for the team and tuned into Roger Stone’s senseless dribble of an InfoWars program to give him a piece of his mind, and to generally just tell Stone to go fuck himself. The Florida Man described himself as “Michael in Florida” and said he’s been an Alex Jones…
Raucous indie duo Matt and Kim are returning to the City Beautiful this weekend, and if past shows are any indication (keyboard player/singer Matt Johnson threw out his back during a past show here from going so hard), you’ll want to make it out. Besides this brief southerly swing where you can see the band…
A 23-year-old Windermere man was arrested Wednesday after Orange County deputies say he fired at them with a gun and livestreamed their shootout on Instagram. Despite the gunfire exchange between deputies and Laforest Duron Gray Jr., no one was shot during the incident at the Citra at Windermere apartments The Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded to the…
On Tuesday, Republican U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Mike Braun introduced a bill that would end taxpayer-funded pensions for congressional members. The End Pensions in Congress Act would nix the current congressional eligibility requirement, which allows members their pensions after five years on Capitol Hill. The amount is determined by averaging a member’s three highest-paying…
On the eve of the one-year anniversary of Florida’s deadliest school shooting, Gov. Ron DeSantis asked the Florida Supreme Court to impanel a statewide grand jury to investigate whether school districts are complying with mandatory safety measures designed to protect students. DeSantis made the announcement Wednesday, flanked by family members of the 17 Marjory Stoneman…
For a primetime EDM capital of global prestige and signature style in the 1990s, Orlando doesn’t get the credit it truly deserves in dance music history. Many hearts around here still glow with the euphoric memories of those glory days of our hot-burning underground rave scene (the feverish turnout at the AAHZ reunions can attest…
Valentine’s Day isn’t just about love or genitals; it’s also about heartbreak. Will’s Pub gives you the chance to wallow in that fact with a night of covers of the saddest songs ever written, as selected by Mike Dunn & Co., Day Joy, and Cat Ridgeway & the Tourists. Enjoy sad drink specials, a sad…
Wednesday, Feb. 13 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, Feb. 14 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.,…
Here’s a bit of a belated Valentine’s gift for us all! Singer, poet, performance artist, actress, No Wave icon and gothic godhead Lydia Lunch is returning to the City Beautiful, not for a show … but for a dinner date. Over the last couple of years, Lunch has made an annual trek here to pummel…
A year ago, Florida lawmakers decided that one way they could try to protect students from shooters was to arm school personnel, and they doled out millions of dollars to start the school “guardian” program. So far, the state dollars used for that push have been dominated by expenses for firearm supplies and staff. The…
There are plenty of reasons to dislike Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz – like the time he brought a Holocaust denier to the State of the Union, or the time he tweeted an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory about George Soros bankrolling the migrant caravan days before the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, or the time he said that the…
A ghost note in music is known as a “muted note” or “dead note”: Dallas’ band Ghost-Note, however, is a very different proposition, creating music that bursts with vibrancy and life. The Snarky Puppy offshoot calls their sound “conscience funk” and it’s all true. Ghost-Note’s new album Swag-ism takes inspiration from every corner of the globe to…
Florida Rep. Randy Fine actually suggested Wednesday afternoon that the University of Central Florida should be shut down for five to 10 years over the school’s misuse of at least $38 million to construct a campus building. Florida Politics reports the Brevard County Republican make the comments at a hearing of the House Higher Education Appropriations…
Rockpit Brewing is debuting to the public on Valentine’s Day. The new brewery will host a soft opening on Thursday, Feb. 14, at their new location, 10 W. Illiana St. in Orlando’s SoDo District. The soft opening will begin at noon and feature a special handcrafted beer menu that can be seen on their website. Along…
Gov. Ron DeSantis is ordering the Florida Department of Education and state law enforcement to “harden” school safety policies. DeSantis is pushing for a July 1 deadline. On Tuesday in Brevard County, he announced that he would issue executive orders based on recommendations of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Commission, a body within the Florida Department…
Spend an entire day taking your taste buds on a mouth-watering journey through more than 100 booths at the Orlando Chili Cook-off. Each tent serves its own unique chili recipe from top chefs and locals alike, while attendees help decide which one is the best through the “people’s choice” voting category. For its 10-year anniversary,…
We pretend that Valentine’s Day is all about love, but we really know it’s mostly about humping. That’s exactly what we expect the notoriously raunchy Luscious Lisa to tout at this Valentine’s Day show at Stonewall. The Wildtones open, and DJs keep the vibe going till last call. 9 p.m. Thursday; Stonewall Bar Orlando, 741…
The Geek Easy’s House Party night throws a Valentine’s special on V-Day. Pat Burns and Archiived spin the best in house while partiers enjoy dancing, beer pong and arcade games. Arrive early for a free beer. Ladies get in free until 10:30. 9 p.m. Thursday; The Geek Easy, 114 S. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park; $5;…
Virgin Trains, the privately owned and operated passenger rail formerly known as Brightline, has decided to remain private and will not issue stock in its initial public offering, the company announced Monday. “As we explored a public offering, a number of alternative financing sources became available that allow us to keep the company private and…
No civilians were shot by local law enforcement officers who responded to the mass shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse in 2016, says Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala. A review of the shooting found that Orlando Police officers, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement fired more than 180 shots during the incident that began…
Andrea Bocelli When you’re of a certain age and in a loving relationship, and Andrea Bocelli announces a Valentine’s show, you open up that wallet and buy those tickets, no questions asked. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the Amway Center, $79-$679 Timothy Eerie plays the Velvet Underground Floridian psych expat rolls back into town with…
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No.2019CP000063 RE: ESTATE OF ROBERT M. KELLER, Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Robert M. Keller, deceased, whose date of death was October 9, 2018, is pending in the Circuit Court for Seminole County, Florida,…
Opening this week: Happy Death Day 2U Here’s a heartwarming story to start your Valentine’s Day off right. The sequel to 2017’s Happy Death Day was originally scheduled to open on the holiday itself, to give all the adorably morbid couples out there a chance to celebrate their love by watching college kids get slaughtered…
Rocky (A421511) is a 4-year-old boy who has been at our shelter since January and is looking for his forever home. He does well with people and can even give hugs! We would suggest that he goes to a household where he’s the only animal. This month, all dogs are $55 and all cats are…
OPENINGS: The Old Jailhouse, Bram Fowler’s restaurant specializing in dishes of the American Sunbelt (that is, dishes from the southern parts of the United States from California to Florida) has opened in a former hoosegow on South Palmetto Avenue in Sanford … Karim El Sherif, former general manager and wine director at Restaurant Daniel in…
You’ll miss us when we’re gone
I am a 56-year-old heterosexual man, and I have lived with ALS for the past six years. I am either in a wheelchair or in a hospital bed, and I have very little motor ability in my limbs. Like most or all male ALS patients, I still have full sensory ability, including a fully functioning…
In 1844, Samuel Morse transmitted his famous telegraph: “What hath God wrought?” Quoting from the Book of Numbers, he predicted the profound influence of his accomplishment. Similar technological revelations are depicted in cinema, perhaps none as memorable as Colin Clive’s manic cry from the 1931 Frankenstein: “It’s alive!” Fast-forward 88 years to writer-producer James Cameron…
Bill would force police to cooperate with ICE in detaining undocumented immigrants: SB 168, filed by state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, demands that all state agencies, municipal governments and police departments not only comply with federal immigration law but also work with the agencies to impose it. The Florida House voted to pass a similar…
If you want a vision of the future of music, imagine a man pounding a clenched fist against his own head – forever. He’s wearing a button-down shirt drenched in sweat. Occasionally he screams at the top of his lungs. His name is John Maus, and his idea of the future is bleak but believable.…
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices AUCTION Extra Space Storage – Store 8841 9847 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32825 Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 9847 Curry Ford Road, Orlando,FL 32825 (407) 495-9612, February 19th, 2019 @…
