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Organized resistance: An action guide for the next four years
Since Jan. 20, the days in our fresh new hellscape start promptly around dawn, sometimes earlier if President Donald Trump decides he wants to tweet “FAKE NEWS” at the New York Times at 3 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. Throughout lunch, the endless onslaught continues with arguments over misleading misspeaks (also known as falsehoods), attacks…
Sixty years later, ‘Little Rock Nine’ member sees similar hatred in today’s politics
When Minnijean Brown Trickey tried to go to school in 1957, the mobs of white segregationists who aimed to stop the black 15-year-old girl from integrating Little Rock Central High School carried signs saying, “Stop the race mixing” and “Go back to Africa.” Sixty years later, the wording may have changed, but Trickey still sees…
Local punks Crit release new EP and music video
Local punks Crit have premiered their new Permanent Vacation EP and music video for standout track “First Edition” through the online arm of New Noise Magazine and included a really complimentary writeup on the band that quotes our own Bao Le-Huu. Big time! (We’re not even mad that the mag misspelled his name.) Overthought by…
WWE NXT bodyslams the fourth wall at CFE Arena this week
We love a good slam poetry jam or modern dance performance as much as the next gal, but sometimes we want more flavor on our cultural palate, and NXT never fails to deliver. As the minor league branch of the WWE universe, NXT is where independent wrestlers hoping to be signed and make their way…
Inoculum Ale Works releases special absinthe-inspired beer at Ten10 Brewing
Inoculum Ale Works, based out of Spring Hill, Florida, releases a limited edition batch of Dreamcatcher – an absinthe-inspired farmhouse sour that incorporates wormwood, hyssop and anise along with lemon peel and coriander – at Ten10 Brewing this week. Only 300 bottles are available at this release, so show up early to get a taste…
DJ Paul Oakenfold announces Orlando show
Veteran U.K. DJ Paul Oakenfold has just announced the first leg of his “Generations” world tour set for this spring and there is an Orlando date pencilled in. Oakenfold, intending the tour as a look back at three decades worth of DJing, is stripping his setup down to a classic setup of two turntables and…
Rockabilliy duo the Kolars play Will’s Pub tonight
Noir-rockabilly duo the Kolars are the new project from Rob Kolar (guitar/vocals) and Lauren Brown (percussion) from He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister and they’re going in a much different, seedier direction. Less is more. The Kolars play Will’s Pub tonight at 7 p.m. in the company of Solaseria. Cover is $6-$8. Early show to make way…
Orange County Sheriff’s deputy who screamed at tow truck driver loses vacation time
“I am a cop. You’re going to (expletive) jail for stealing my car,” screamed off-duty Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy Tracy Weiss last April. The altercation occurred when Weiss violated a homeowners association rule at the Starlight Ranch retirement community, when she illegally parked her truck over a sidewalk, which is often used by people in wheelchairs.…
Topgolf Crush coming to Camping World Stadium this spring
Want the thrill of that golf swing without the monotony of an 18-hole game? Well, you might be able to get a taste of this new tee time in Orlando this spring. Topgolf Crush, an interactive golf course event, is coming to Camping World Stadium March 10-12. Guests will be able to take their swings…
Here are all the town halls happening in Central Florida this week
Protesters have taken to the streets in the last few weeks, raising their voices in rallies and marches across the country. But, in offices up on Capital Hill, those voices might not be reaching the ears of legislators. This week though, some members of Congress are returning to their Florida offices, providing the perfect chance…
Savage UCF student grades ex-girlfriend’s apology letter
One University of Central Florida student decided to go old school, literally, to get back at his ex-girlfriend. Nick Lutz received an apology letter from his ex-girlfriend, and decided to pick up a red pen and grade her sad words. Lutz, whose Facebook page says he’s a Business Marketing major and now single, slashed through…
House Speaker offers money for Visit Florida – with conditions
House Speaker Richard Corcoran is willing to allow Visit Florida to remain alive, at one-third the funding sought by Gov. Rick Scott and with a list of conditions attached. A Scott spokeswoman quickly called the “massive cut” a threat to Florida families that rely on the tourism industry. In the latest move in a feud…
Rapper J. Cole is coming to Orlando this fall
He’s performed all over the country, but now J. Cole will be taking the City Beautiful to Dreamville in a show for Orlando’s “eyez” only. The hip-hop star is bringing his “4 Your Eyez Only Tour” to Orlando this fall. The concert will be Wednesday, Aug. 16, at the Amway Center. The show starts at…
The White House doesn’t want to admit how much Donald Trump golfs in Florida
In a weekend filled with making up nonexistent terrorist attacks in Sweden and launching a presidential campaign just three weeks into his presidency, Donald Trump, a man who consistently criticized Barack Obama for anything that resembled a vacation, somehow squeezed in 18 holes of golf with professional Rory McIlroy in Palm Beach, Florida. According to…
Large fire engulfs building at Orlando’s troubled Tymber Skan community
This morning Orange County Fire Rescue was called out to a massive fire at Tymber Skan, the troubled condominium complex near Millenia. Orange County Fire Rescue spokeswoman Kathleen Kennedy says eight firefighting units responded to the fire, which fully engulfed a structure that appeared to be vacant. “The fire was knocked down by 8:15,” Kennedy says, and…
There’s a strong rumor that Disney World will be getting a massive gondola system
With Star Wars Land expecting to draw huge crowds back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the already strained mass transit system at Walt Disney World will need some upgrades. Now it looks like Disney is about to break ground on the biggest expansion of its mass transit system since the early ’80s when the monorail expanded…
Florida death penalty cases allowed to move forward despite questions
In what was described as an “about-face” after a previous ruling, the Florida Supreme Court on Monday ordered that death penalty cases can proceed, even with an unconstitutional law still on the books. The order came as the Legislature prepares to address a pair of Florida high court rulings last fall that struck down the…
Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa to play the Dr. Phillips Center tonight
Blues-rock true believer and guitarist Joe Bonamassa hits town tonight. We’re hoping he airs some tracks from his recent collaboration with Mahalia Barnes on the Betty Davis tribute album Ooh Yea! Joe Bonamassa plays the Dr. Phillips Center’s Walt Disney Theatre at 8 p.m. tonight. Tickets are still available for $69-$149. Related Stories
Cool, now Sweden is dissing Orlando thanks to Trump’s ‘last night’ comment
Many were taken aback by the President’s “last night in Sweden” remark at his Florida rally on Saturday. “You look at what’s happening last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this?” said Donald Trump at a rally in Melbourne attended by “9,000 boisterous people” (and us). What could Donald Trump have been referring to,…
FWC: Annual Florida manatee count breaks record for the third time
The future is looking up for Florida’s manatee population. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported Monday a preliminary count of 6,620 manatees in Florida waters. The past three years have held a steady increase in the manatee population, with at least 6,000 counted per year. In 2016, manatees were officially taken off the…
A half-eaten shark washed up on New Smyrna Beach last weekend
A big ol’ half-eaten shark washed up ashore at New Smyrna Beach last Saturday, a sobering reminder that not only is there always a bigger fish, but that the ocean is metal as hell. According to WKMG, the shark was either a blacktip or a spinner – apparently it was little too chewed-on to tell.…
Disney releases sneak peek at new Na’vi River Journey ‘Avatar’ attraction
Disney released a short teaser of the Na’vi River Journey, part of Disney’s up-and-coming Pandora: The World of Avatar experience. According to Disney, this winding boat ride takes guests on a canoe down a secret river through a bioluminescent forest. On the ride, guests will see the world of Pandora open up to them and…
Orlando Philharmonic will perform score to ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ this year
Magic is in the air with today’s announcement that the Orlando Philharmonic will be performing John Williams’ score to the second installment of the Harry Potter film series – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – for a two-night run this fall. The Philharmonic will be providing a live soundtrack to the film as…
New project spotlights local artists on SunRail cars
In the next month, SunRail will become a moving art installation. The project, deemed, “Art Is Moving,” is the brainchild of Nicki Drumb, a local artist who received a grant from The Awesome Foundation, which donates $1,000 each month to an idea the group finds to be “awesome.” Pieces by local artists will be framed…
You can now retire to Margaritaville, also known as Volusia County
The Margaritaville Resort Orlando is readying for its grand opening later this year, but if relaxing in the shadows of tourist traps and overpriced gift shops isn’t your idea of a vacation, there’s another local place to enjoy your cheeseburger in paradise. Minto Communities has announced a new partnership with Florida-based Margaritaville Holdings for several housing…
Airline cutbacks suggest that Americans aren’t as interested in traveling to Cuba as hoped
When President Obama announced the thawing of relations with Cuba back in 2014, many expected that Cuba would become one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean for Americans. But now, just over two years in, the outlook isn’t so sunny. Airlines were quick to fill the 110 daily flights to the island that…
House files lawsuit against Florida Lottery over contract
The House of Representatives filed a lawsuit late Friday accusing the Florida Lottery of illegally signing a long-term contract for ticket sales, escalating a feud between House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Gov. Rick Scott a little more than a week before the legislative session begins. Corcoran’s decision to file the lawsuit represents a head-on confrontation…
Band of the Week: The Belltowers
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 Belltowers. The Belltowers are playing Will’s Pub on Saturday ,Feb. 25, the second night of Field Trip South. Just the facts:Who’s in the band?Eddie Foeller- Guitar/Harp Marshall Huggins- Bass/Vocals/Keyboards Bill…
A month into his presidency, Donald Trump campaigns for 2020 in Florida
A month after his inauguration, Donald Trump has decided he wants to keep president and kicked off his 2020 re-election campaign in front of thousands at a rally in Melbourne this weekend. Without a political opponent, Trump has found a new enemy for himself and the American people in the media and started off by…
UCF and NASA team up to figure out how to build human habitats on Mars
Humans have been plotting the route to Mars for some time now and it seems more navigable every day that passes, but where are the brave souls who make this inevitable journey planning to live? With the awarding of a grant from NASA, professor Sudipta Seal, the interim chair of UCF’s Material Science and Engineering…
Ambient hip-hop act Contour to headline a night of quiet sounds at Spacebar
Hazy, sleep-deprived and sublimely opiated soul/trip-hop from the young and otherworldly South Carolinian, Contour. Post-millennium tension reigns. They’re touring behind new film/movie Softer. Contour plays with Infinitefreefall, Nory, Garrott Odom and Blue November this Saturday at 8 p.m. at Spacebar. Show is free. Related Stories
NRA says court treats gun owners like ‘second-class citizens’ in ‘Docs vs. Glocks’ ruling
The National Rifle Association’s top lobbyist in Florida says the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals “treats gun owners as second-class citizens” after the court decided to strike down a state law that prohibited doctors from asking their patients about gun ownership. In a 8-3 decision, judges found that the Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act, also…
Orlando City unveils new business casual home uniforms
While the new Orlando City uniforms might look similar to jerseys past, one thing sets this new attire apart: It’s business casual. Orlando City unveiled its new home jerseys for the 2017 season, revealing the new shirts are collared — every dad’s favorite go-to on casual Fridays. The shirts also differ from past uniforms with…
Nesting hawks are attacking golfers at this Orlando club
This is not the type of birdie you want on a golf course. On Tuesday afternoon, the Orange Tree Golf Club in Orlando posted on its Facebook page that aggressive hawks are currently nesting on the course, and most importantly they more than likely will attack you. The club posted signs around the nest area…
Trump’s press conference shows, yet again, that reality is his real opposition
This column is part of our Democracy in Crisis series, in which D.C.-area alt-weekly reporter Baynard Woods works to reclaim the “alt” from the alt-right. For a moment earlier this week, it seemed that the regime might have to come to terms with the reality the rest of us share. But Trump’s Thursday press conference…
Bonchon, the best Korean fried chicken chain, is coming to Orlando
We about lost our fried-chicken-loving minds when we heard about this: Bonchon is coming to Orlando. Three outposts of the chicken chain that originated in Busan, South Korea, before kickstarting the Korean fried chicken craze in the U.S. will open in the next two years. They will be the first Bonchon locations in Florida, with…
Local band Gary Lazer Eyes premiere new music video
Local quartet Gary Lazer Eyes has just premiered a brand new music video for the track “Galapagos” The short clip was directed by Steve Radley and features local burlesque performer Ivy Les Vixens. The video is a solid visual entry point into the band’s light-drenched, buoyant indie-beach grooves. Watch the “Galapagos” video below. Related Stories
Following Disney’s lead, Universal raises ticket prices
Because Universal seems to think anything Disney does, it can do better, the theme park followed the House of Mouse’s lead and raised its ticket prices. Universal’s one-day single-park tickets have jumped $5, and are now $110. Park hopper tickets, allowing guests to travel between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, increased $10 to $165.…
BB-8 will start meeting guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this spring
One of the newest additions to the Star Wars family might not be hitting the big screen again until December, but now you’ll be able to see everyone’s favorite spherical droid before then. According the Disney Parks Blog, the loyal droid BB-8 from The Force Awakens movie will begin greeting guests at Hollywood Studios this…
Federal court rules Florida ‘Docs vs. Glocks’ law violates doctors’ free speech rights
A controversial Florida law that restricted doctors from asking patients about gun ownership has been shot down. According to the Miami Herald, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday, Feb. 16, that the law violated medical professionals’ right to free speech. The ruling struck down key provisions in the “Docs vs. Glocks” law, legislation that is…
Ease your hangover with your pupper at Thirsty Topher’s Hair of the Dog Day
Bring your pooch over to the Topher for this puppy party. Sponsored by Lagunitas (because of the dog in their logo, we assume), Hair of the Dog Day features free dog treats made from spent brewer’s grain, raffles and giveaways, and even a caricature artist on site to sketch silly portraits of your main mutt.…
Osprey Tavern and Bowmore scotch team up for an oyster luge on Saturday
If you got excited hearing the words “oyster luge” and pictured yourself puckering up to a chute carved out of ice to knock back a steady stream of raw, briny bivalves, we have bad news. It turns out that an oyster luge has little to do with the Jägermeister luge you swore you’d never try…
Young guns Jamestown Revival and the Record Company show heart, cross generations (The Social)
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Indie folk band Jamestown Revival, who just made their Orlando debut (Feb. 16, The Social), are part of the class of young folk gentry steering the genre toward wider, more pop-oriented horizons. No question, this is polished stuff. But it’s not as twee as their contemporaries the Avett Brothers, the Lumineers et al.…
All systems go: SpaceX is set to launch a rocket Saturday morning from Cape Canaveral
Elon Musk’s SpaceX will carry out its 10th cargo resupply mission (CRS-10) Saturday from NASA’s historic 39A launch pad in Cape Canaveral. If you live in Cape Canaveral, prepare to hear the Falcon 9’s rattling sonic boom when it returns to Earth’s atmosphere. During the CRS-9 mission last July, even Orlando citizens reportedly heard the…
Feud between Rick Scott and House leaders over incentives gets uglier this week
Gov. Rick Scott, embroiled in a fight with House leaders over the future of the state’s tourism-marketing agency, said Thursday that Florida hit record tourism numbers in 2016. The surge in visitors came despite reports during the past year of toxic algae blooms in Florida waterways, the spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, damage from…
Cask & Larder releases annual Brandenburger Bock with the Bach Festival Choir Saturday
This annual collaboration between the Bach Festival Society and Cask & Larder Brewing is probably our favorite local Baroque/craft beer crossover. While C&L launches this year’s batch of Brandenburger Bock (get it?), the Bach Festival Society Choir takes the stage to provide guests with heavenly musical accompaniment straight out of the 18th century. And now…
Arab American Cultural Festival celebrates true spirit of America at Lake Eola
If you’re reading this at 4 a.m. under a blanket doing your early-morning Twitter check to make sure the world hasn’t totally fallen off the rails, maybe it’s time to get back to a slight sense of normality. Take this weekend to reconnect with what’s still good in America at downtown Orlando’s 2017 Arab American…
Audubon Park’s Retro Modern Home Tour gives you a peek at ‘Mad Men’-era architecture
Sometimes we grow weary of our own surroundings and long for something greater – namely, other people’s much nicer homes. Audubon Park Garden District’s Retro Modern Homes Tour is the perfect excuse to explore interior design ranging from vaguely unaffordable to Zooey Deschanel-level quirky while staring longingly at top-shelf liquor collections resting atop a Mad…
Janine Klein dishes on the ups and downs of being a drag queen’s assistant in ‘The Diva’s Diva’
Assisting a drag queen: It isn’t all bonbons and marabou mules, brushing out wigs and playing rounds of Name That Barbara Stanwyck Quote. In fact, if you work for Ginger Minj (who described herself as “a glamour-toad” in her premiere episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race) as Janine Klein did, it sounds more like a cross…
Florida lawmakers vote to withdraw from federal refugee program
State House members took the first step Thursday in seeking to withdraw Florida from a federal refugee-assistance program. In a party-line vote, the House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee supported a measure (HB 427) by Rep. David Santiago, R-Deltona, that would direct the state refugee coordinator to provide notice by June 30 to the director…
Watch this Florida heron eat a damn alligator
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission released a video this afternoon of a great blue heron polishing off a small alligator. The FWC posted the video to their Facebook page this afternoon. According to the FWC, the video was shot by photographer Scott Martin in the Viera Wetlands near Melbourne, Florida. From the FWC post:…
Posthumous single from Christina Grimmie to be released today
The family of Christina Grimmie, the Voice contestant and pop singer who was tragically shot to death at the Plaza Live last summer, is having a single of her work released tomorrow as a posthumous tribute. The single, “Invisible,” will be released by Republic Records/Universal Music Group, also home to the Weeknd and Lorde. The single…
Florida Supreme Court blocks 24-hour abortion waiting period
This post has been updated with a more recent story. In another in a string of rulings siding with abortion-rights advocates, the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday blocked a 2015 law that would have required women to wait 24 hours before having abortions. Thursday’s 4-2 decision was the second time the state high court kept…
This Craigslist ad offering to pay Trump supporters to go to his Florida rally is probably fake
A recent Craigslist ad is offering to pay Trump supporters to show up to this weekend’s rally in Melbourne, Florida, and more than likely it’s fake as hell. The ad, which was posted late in the day on February 15, calls for “enthusiastic patriots” to show up to the rally at Orlando Melbourne International Airport,…
TMD’s Combination 5 dance night is this Friday at Spacebar
The fifth installment of TMD’s Combination series expands outward their already impressive curatorial chops; selecting DJs, electronic acts and artists to create a carefully constructed and immersive visual/sonic environment, instead of just another leaden night at the club, any club. Two out-of-towners are paired with two locals and a visual artist sets a complementary mood.…
Death penalty fix on fast track in Florida Legislature
A proposal that would require unanimous jury recommendations for death sentences to be imposed sailed through its first House vetting Wednesday, receiving unanimous approval from the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee. The legislation (HB 527), and a similar Senate measure (SB 280), is the latest attempt to get the state’s death penalty —- on hold for…
This kiss cam video from the Orlando Pro Bowl will probably make you cry
We hope you have a box of Kleenex handy, because the Ad Council’s new kiss cam video, shot at this year’s Pro Bowl in Orlando and backed with a song by Gainesville’s Hundred Waters, will more than likely result in some misty eyes. The video, “Fans of Love,” is part of the Ad Council’s latest…
Florida woman receives gift card after being locked inside a CVS
A local woman scored a $100 gift card after being inadvertently locked inside of a Florida CVS, arguably everyone’s worst nightmare realized. On Monday at around 9 p.m., Christian Hathaway noticed the metal security doors going down at a CVS in St. Cloud, Florida. “I dropped all my stuff at the counter and ran running towards…
Pop-up F.L.A.M.E. event at the Orange Studio merges art and fashion worlds
Nobody doesn’t love a good art party, and F.L.A.M.E. promises to fit into the mold Orlando has come to enjoy: cool space, cool artists, free entry but plenty of cool stuff to buy, plus the satisfaction of ephemerality – if you miss it, you missed out. F.L.A.M.E. also promises to break out of that mold…
DJ Craze and others set to pay tribute to Big Makk at Backbooth
We don’t need to rehash how bad 2016 was for musician deaths, but it’s important to recognize that the bizarre wave of death that swept the globe touched down locally too. Big Makk (neé Samisoni Koroitamudu), known for curating the tropical booty-thumping Shake N Bass night at Backbooth, died in a car crash in August.…
The Bakery Bar gets sweet and boozy at its official grand opening
The upstairs space in the alley between Church and Pine streets has struggled in recent years, with Rok Room going through two incarnations separated by a long period of inactivity. But the Bakery Bar, already in soft opening, looks to reverse that trend with craft cocktails sculpted around the flavors of classic desserts. If sweet’s…
Kathleen Blake and Brandon McGlamery are 2017 James Beard Award semifinalists
The James Beard Foundation has announced this year’s JBF Award semifinalists, and there’s a little bit of Orlando love in there. 2017 semifinalist Kathleen Blake, chef-owner of the Rusty Spoon, has made it to the finalist round for Best Chef: South three times, in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Brandon McGlamery, our other 2017 semifinalist, is…
Accused cop killer Markeith Lloyd indicted on two first degree murder charges
On Wednesday, a grand jury voted to indict accused cop killer Markeith Lloyd on two first-degree murder cases, says 9th Circuit Court State Attorney Aramis Ayala. Lloyd is accused of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon last December, as well as killing Master Sgt. Debra Clayton, who was allegedly shot by Lloyd after approaching him…
33 free concerts happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, Feb. 15 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints Of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 pm at the Caboose, 1827 N. Orange Ave. Thursday, Feb. 16 Thursday Jazz Jams 8 pm at Austin’s Coffee, 929 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park The Mellow Relics…
Insomnia Cookies’ new downtown Orlando location is giving away free cookies
Insomnia Cookies opened their second area location last Saturday in downtown Orlando, and to celebrate they’re giving out free snacks. The cookie shop, whose name is a nod to the fact they’re always open till 3 a.m., is handing out one free cookie per customer through Friday, Feb. 17. (Sorry, but this offer does not…
Disney sets opening date for the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ ride, formerly known as Tower of Terror
Disney has announced the opening date for the highly anticipated, and equally polarizing, Guardians of the Galaxy attraction in Anaheim, California. Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout, formerly known as the Tower of Terror, will open May 27, 2017. The opening day will include character interactions and a dance party, the company said on their official…
Donald Trump visits Melbourne this weekend on ‘Thank You Tour’
President Donald Trump is not currently feeling the love in Washington after a certain report from the New York Times, so he’s coming down to Melbourne on Saturday to get some campaign-style validation from Floridians. Trump is holding a “thank you” rally for his supporters Feb. 18 inside the AeroMod International hangar at Orlando Melbourne…
Icelandic band Kaleo is coming to Orlando
Folk-rock group Kaleo are kicking off their 2017 Handprint tour next week, and yes, they will be coming to Orlando. Kaleo will perform with band Roses & Revolutions at the House of Blues on March 5. Kaleo’s first self-titled album was recorded in 2013, with five singles topping the charts. Since then, the band has continued…
King Bao owners plan new restaurant on Colonial Drive
The owners of King Bao are opening up a new restaurant down the street called Colonial Lobster, a concept that will focus on every New Englander’s (and many Orlandoans’), favorite staple: the lobster roll. The Mills 50 lunch spot announced on its Instagram Wednesday that the new concept will center on lobster rolls, seafood and craft…
Groundbreaking Detroit band Death lives again to reclaim its place in rock history (Will’s Pub)
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND There have been some nice instances of important but overlooked bands finally getting their due over the years. But few are as righteous as Death (Feb. 13, Will’s Pub), who’ve recently become perhaps one of the greatest history-righting rock stories of all time. Emerging from the Detroit underground that was coursing with…
Valencia College creates Pulse Memorial Scholarship honoring student victims
The Valencia College Faculty & Staff Giving Campaign team is offering a scholarship honoring the victims of the shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse. The Pulse Memorial Scholarship will be offered to students, mainly in the LGBTQ and Hispanic communities, who have been impacted by the Pulse shooting and who continue to support and promote…
Jazz-poetry hybrid Loudar at Blue Bamboo is your best post-Valentine’s bet
Say you forgot about Valentine’s Day, or maybe you and your sweetie’s schedules just didn’t allow for a romantic night out. You could do worse than catching Loudar to make up for it. A project that tends to only happen whenever French poet Patrick Sacleux is in town, Loudar started out as just readings of…
Psych-folk pioneer Richard Thompson revisits an impressive career at the Plaza Live
Whereas the words “solo acoustic show” and “Rolling Stone’s Top 20 Guitarists of All Time” would normally fill us with varying degrees of cold dread, Richard Thompson is one of the few so-called “guitar heroes” you can actually enjoy. Despite the heavy baggage of pyrotechnics and puffy shirts that immediately spring to mind, Thompson is…
Here’s Buddy Dyer recording his welcome message for the new airport People Movers
I keep hearing there's a cult following for my @MCO welcome message. Don't worry I've taped a message for the new automated people movers. pic.twitter.com/iWp6rz2AnW — Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) February 13, 2017 If you’ve ever flown out of gates 1-59 at Orlando International Airport, then you’ve ridden on an Automated People Mover, which means…
City of Orlando wants your help to create a new flag
Do you know what Orlando’s flag looks like? Did you even know we had a flag? The City of Orlando wants the community’s help in giving a new look to a pretty dated flag, so it’s launching a public design competition to create a new flag together. From Feb. 15 through March 22, you can…
Clearwater lawmaker files bill to block access to recordings of attacks like Pulse
In response to shootings at the gay nightclub Pulse and the Fort Lauderdale airport, a new bill filed in the Florida House would block the release of a photograph, video or audio recording of a person’s death. The law already prohibits the dissemination of recordings by an agency of the “killing of a law enforcement…
Endoxa goes synth with Gost and Moondragon, Parquet Courts makes Orlando debut with Mary Lattimore
If that photo above doesn’t impel you to read on, nothing will. So let’s. THE BEAT Like an encyclopedia of heavy metal, probably no other promoter in the Orlando area covers the spectrum as well as Endoxa Booking. But when it reaches out to the genre’s furthest extremities, like 2015’s amazing Author and Punisher show,…
Selections: Our picks of the week’s best events, Feb.15-21
Wednesday, 15 Richard Thompson MUSIC Whereas the words “solo acoustic show” and “Rolling Stone’s Top 20 Guitarists of All Time” would normally fill us with varying degrees of cold dread, Richard Thompson is one of the few so-called “guitar heroes” you can actually enjoy. Despite the heavy baggage of pyrotechnics and puffy shirts that immediately…
Concert Picks This Week: Contour, Joe Bonamassa, the Digs and more
Orlando Language Exchange Local DIY enthusiasts are putting on this event for bilingual, trilingual, etc. folks to meet up with fellow language enthusiasts, share information and practice speaking face to face. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Sandwich Bar, free Richard Sherfey and All God’s Children Seriously gritty, blue-collar rock from Sherfey and friends;…
ICYMI: The ‘sanctuary community’ debate comes to Orlando, a judge sides with Orlando bakery owners who refused to put gay-hating message on cake, and more
Advocates ask City of Orlando, Orange County to protect immigrant communities: In response to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that cracks down on so-called “sanctuary” communities by taking away federal funding, advocates are asking local government officials to protect Central Florida’s immigrant community. “Sanctuary” cities, counties and campuses don’t detain undocumented immigrants for federal…
44 progressive Florida organizations that could use your help right now
The best way to stay grounded and busy for the rest of the Trump administration is to help those who are probably going to need it in the next for years. From what we’ve seen so far, this administration has already started chipping away at voting rights, environmental protections, Title IX requirements, climate change policy,…
Remembering the Orlando 49: Eric Ivan Ortiz Rivera
Every week between now and the one-year anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shootings, Orlando Weekly will profile a person killed on June 12, 2016. This week: Eric Ivan Ortiz Rivera Eric Ivan Ortiz Rivera was days away from celebrating his first wedding anniversary with his beloved husband, Ivan Domínguez. They married on June 26 –…
Vote with your feet: Tips for attending and organizing protests
1. Prepare to protest safely Whether organizing or attending a protest, don’t do it by yourself. If possible, bring a buddy or accompany friends. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes, and avoid bringing a bag of any kind. Keep your ID and $20 cash in your pockets, along with a handkerchief or paper towel. Bring any…
The Trump administration is coming for your right to vote
Clubs and cattle prods
Is your smartphone ready for resistance?
The tech world responded to the election and the actions of the Trump administration with an explosion of helpful apps and websites. Find the ones that work best for you, but also remember, if you are participating in direct action, to lock down your own personal web presence and devices. Let your phone help you…
New downtown game lounge Joysticks goes heavy on ambience and nostalgia
Joysticks Arcade Lounge and Retro Bar 69 E. Pine St., second floor; 407-613-5007; joysticksorlando.com Essay question: Ambience, ambience, ambience! Joysticks spares no detail when it comes to re-creating the neon frenzy of the 1980s. Homages to Jaws, The Goonies and other nostalgia-heavy flicks abound, and there are more than enough arcade and console video games…
How to contact your elected representatives: Methods, addresses and phone numbers
Don’t despair about not having any influence over national political decisions. The truth is, you often do. 1. Contact them all, especially your local leaders. The U.S. Constitution gives ultimate authority to federal laws, but the federal government relies heavily on local policies and law enforcement officials to get things done. While huge portions of…
Clarity is verboten in Gore Verbinski’s ‘Cure For Wellness’
All is not well
Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen & Bar has opened in the former Ravenous Pig space, Arab Fest at Lake Eola, plus more in local foodie news
OPENINGS Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen & Bar has opened in the former Ravenous Pig space. Weekend brunch service commences this weekend … Tin & Taco has opened downtown on Washington Street. Hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday … The owners of Orchid Thai in Winter Park open their second outpost in…
Opening this week: Fist Fight, The Great Wall and more
OPENING THIS WEEK: Fist Fight It isn’t easy being a teacher in the Betsy DeVos era. You get a good but expensive degree from an education college to prepare you for doing important work you love. You land a gig at an institution that’s woefully underfunded, unsafe and at risk. The students don’t respect you,…
15 books to inspire you to fight the power plus 2 to relieve the stress
Our president says he doesn’t read, but you should.
There’s much more to sound effect-spewing star Michael Winslow than just a repertoire of wacky noises
Over the past few years, the performing arts center at Valencia College’s east campus has served as a Chicago nightclub, a Times Square dance hall and a 19th-century German school; this weekend it becomes a Gramercy Park apartment for the stage version of The Seven Year Itch. But last week, for one night only, the…
Savage Love (2/15/17)
I’ve been reading your advice column in ‘The Coast’ in Halifax for a while, and it seems that most solutions to relationship problems revolve around sex. Everyone wants it or needs it, we should fuck before dinner, we can spice up our sex life in this certain way to be happy. What about someone who…
Gimme Shelter (2/15/17)
Are you looking for a new furry friend? Meet Lady! Lady (A370060) is a 14-year-old dog who was surrendered because her owner could no longer keep her. Lady is a little shy, but she’s a sweet senior girl. Her previous owner said that she is car-trained, leash-trained and housebroken. She knows basic commands, and gets…
