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Immersive, open-air events like ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ might be the future of the arts in Orlando
Into the great wide open
Here’s everything we know about the amazing new Studio Ghibli park that’s opening next year
From Orlando’s Epic Universe to Hong Kong’s Ocean Park, theme park projects worldwide have been delayed, canceled or changed dramatically due to COVID-19, but in Japan, one park is pushing forward. The Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture remains on track for a 2022 opening of its first phase, just a year later than originally planned.…
Grande Lakes Orlando presents ‘Curated Experiences’ with James Beard nominees, barbecue legends and culinary luminaries
OK, so the pandemic all but quashed our food-related vacation plans (I’m still lamenting not being able to travel to Prince Edward Island to indulge in my fave Colville Bay oysters), but the Grande Lakes Resort is doing its part to salvage a semblance of epicurean fancy in this time of COVID-19. The inaugural “Curated…
Universal Orlando’s cashless payment app rolls out new features to keep guests immersed
Universal Orlando now makes buying things on-site easier than ever — no bracelet needed. In a recent update, the Universal Orlando Resort app began offering contactless payments via the wallet tab. The app, which debuted in 2014 after a similar app launched a few years prior, has allowed some purchases since 2016, but this is the…
Orlando Police Department to work with licensed mental health clinicians on nonviolent emergency calls
Beginning this Sunday, the Orlando Police Department will incorporate a Community Response Team to assist with nonviolent incidents involving people who are experiencing mental health crises. The CRT has been receiving training for the last two weeks by the Orlando Police Department in preparation for the one-year pilot program, which is a combined effort of…
F+D Woodfired Italian Kitchen opens third restaurant in Winter Park
F&D Woodfired Italian Kitchen opened the doors to its third location on Tuesday, bringing its signature wood-fired pizza to Winter Park foodies. F&D has managed to open two restaurants — the Winter Park location being the newest — during the pandemic, with more expansions planned, which is no mean feat these days. Charly Robinson, owner and…
Legal Public Notices 2/24 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices AUCTION Extra Space Storage Ð Store 8138 1001 Lee Rd. Orlando FL. 32810 Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 1001 Lee Rd. Orlando, FL. 32810 (407) 489-3742, March 12th, 2021 @ 12:00 PM David…
As demolition begins, some plans for the former Orlando Sentinel property are revealed
Midtown Opportunities, the Miami developer and owner of the Orlando Sentinel’s old downtown headquarters, has revealed some of their redevelopment plans for the former newspaper complex. Midtown is undertaking a nearly $75 million redevelopment project with the eventual end result being a mixed-use development — with office, hotel, retail and parking components all planned and currently in the…
Country stars Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser hit Orlando’s Frontyard Festival stage on Thursday
This big country bill pairs true-blue neo-traditionalist Jamey Johnson and certified country-pop hitmaker Randy Houser, who is currently remaking himself into an artist of substance and keeping interesting stage company (he last came through Orlando in late 2019 with Paul Cauthen). And their co-headlining Cadillac Country Tour — which stops in Orlando on Thursday, Feb. 25, at the…
Hinckley’s Fancy Meats launches ‘Creature Comfort’ takeout dinner series in Orlando this week
Hinckley’s Fancy Meats is starting a new supper series this week called Creature Comfort, which will spotlight some main-course proteins that might surprise you. The Creature Comfort — “inspired by the wild” — dinners will revolve around “unfamiliar” meats combined with a classic comfort-food dish. “We’re going to be kicking off a series of dinners introducing proteins that…
St. Pete Beach named ‘Best Beach in America’ by TripAdvisor
The same patch of sand where the cast of MTV’s Floribama Shore would “puke and rally” was just named best beach in the nation. Today, travel website TripAdvisor released its annual “World’s Best Beaches for 2021” list, and St. Pete Beach took the top spot in the U.S. — fifth globally. Nearby Madeira Beach was…
Young Pharaoh’s appearance at CPAC’s ‘America Uncanceled’ in Orlando has been ‘canceled’ because of his anti-Semitism
This year’s CPAC in Orlando hasn’t even started and already the conservative mega-gathering is navigating bumpy waters. Conservative Political Action Conference organizers on Monday afternoon canceled a previously confirmed appearance by online commentator Young Pharaoh at their (ahem) “America Uncanceled”-themed event in Orlando later this week. Following an investigative report by the website Media Matters…
Orlando White Castle site goes down immediately as customers rush to order takeout
Hey Orlando, you really, really, really like White Castle. Last week we wrote about the groundbreaking of the giant new White Castle restaurant opening in the Village at O-Town West, and mentioned that they’d opened a ghost kitchen in the meantime. We told you that delivery was available in a 15-minute radius of the kitchen,…
State senator proposes expanding Florida’s hate crimes protections to cover journalists
State Sen. Janet Cruz proposed legislation Tuesday that would make attacking or threatening a journalist in the state of Florida a hate crime. “It is a dark reality that members of the press in our country are facing a heightened risk of violent attacks as a result of irresponsible leadership throughout our country,” said the…
Orlando Philharmonic will bring the movie soundtracks of John Williams to life in March
Composer John Williams has provided stirring orchestral soundtracks for some of the 20th century’s most iconic cinematic moments, and the Orlando Philharmonic will be bringing those sounds to life in March as part of their Pops Series. John Williams: Big-Screen Blockbusters will present unforgettable Williams themes from Star Wars, E.T., Jurassic Park and more, guided by…
The Scripps National Spelling Bee finals are happening in Orlando this summer
A number of fiercely competitive contests that push the human body to its limits have restarted at the Walt Disney World resort during the pandemic — the NBA, the MLS and now … the Scripps National Spelling Bee. 2020’s National Spelling Bee was canceled for the first time since World War II due to concerns around COVID-19. Now…
Kevin Smith’s fictional fast-food joint Mooby’s will pop up in Orlando at the Tin Roof in March
We told you last week that Mooby’s, the fictional fast-food restaurant from the Jay and Silent Bob franchise, would open for reals in Orlando for a brief time. Now we can tell you where. Kevin Smith will bring the golden calf to life when Mooby’s pops up at Icon Park — most likely inside the Tin…
Florida coronavirus death toll jumps over 30,000 residents; nationwide, 500,000 dead
In a pair of grim milestones, Florida on Monday exceeded 30,000 resident deaths from COVID-19, while deaths nationally topped 500,000. With an additional 159 deaths reported Monday, the total for Florida residents reached 30,065, according to the state Department of Health. Another 530 non-residents have died in Florida since the pandemic started last year. Nationally,…
Clearwater Marine Aquarium is set to debut its most immersive whale exhibit ever — minus the whales
With a recent expansion that quintupled the amount of public space, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is going big with its newest exhibit. Whales: Living With Giants stretches across 20,000 square feet, an area that could hold more than 12 average American homes. In it, guests will find multimedia exhibits, a virtual reality experience, a theater…
Upcoming Ivanhoe food hall the Hall on the Yard reveals lineup of in-house eateries
The upcoming new food hall in Ivanhoe Village, The Hall on the Yard, has released an eclectic list of nine tenants, with a little something for all tastes. The sprawling 12,250-square-foot hall, set to open this spring, will be part of the Yard at Ivanhoe mixed-use development currently towering over Orange Avenue and will include five…
Nikki Fried refuses to follow Gov DeSantis’ order to lower flags in Florida for dead racist Rush Limbaugh
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a probable Democratic front-runner in the upcoming 2022 gubernatorial race, says she will ignore Gov. Ron DeSantis’ order to lower flags to half-staff in honor of Rush Limbaugh, a dead racist, sexist, homophobic, hate-mongering conservative radio host. “Lowering to half-staff the flag of the United States of America is a…
Florida Rep. Charlie Crist calls for investigation of DeSantis funneling vaccines to the zip codes of wealthy donors
After Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis funneled 3,000 coronavirus vaccines to two wealthy, donor-rich zip codes in Manatee County, Congressman Charlie Crist is now calling for an investigation. A release from Crist’s office claims DeSantis prioritized COVID-19 vaccines for “Republican-leaning communities,” and established “coronavirus vaccine distribution and administration sites to benefit political allies and donors, over…
Bok Tower’s 95th annual Easter Sunrise Service will stream virtually again this year
For the second year in a row, Bok Tower Gardens will host its annual Easter sunrise service virtually. The 95th annual service will be streamed live via Facebook and Bok Tower’s website on Sunday, April 4, at 7 a.m. Rev. Chad Reynolds, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Lakes Wales, will present. Traditionally, the service…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Monday, Feb. 22, 2021
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. Sitting outside Barnie’s Coffee in Winter Park and watching the beautiful people is by far one of my favorite past times. And guess what? It just got better…
After years of speculation, Disney finally confirms the biggest celebration in WDW history
The 50th anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World has been in the works for years, with leaks regarding the plans posted online more than half a decade ago. Now the resort has finally confirmed the upcoming celebration. As was expected, the 18-month event will begin in October on the actual anniversary of Magic Kingdom’s 1971…
Barnie’s launches new butterscotch coffee with dog-friendly Cappy/Yappy Hour
Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Co. has released a new, limited-time coffee flavor: butterscotch latte. In a press release, the gourmet coffee company described the new coffee “packed with golden butterscotch candy flavor and rich dairy cream.” Barnie’s chose the butterscotch flavor after presenting different options for customers to vote on. Barnie’s chief marketing officer Scott…
Gov. Ron DeSantis announces four new COVID-19 vaccination sites in Orlando, Tampa, Miami and Jacksonville
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that four FEMA-supported vaccination sites will open on March 3 in Orlando, Tampa, Miami and Jacksonville. According to a DeSantis representative, the sites will be open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will administer 2,000 jabs per day. Each site will have two smaller, mobile sites that…
A sweet new store at Disney Springs gives us a glimpse at the future of retail
Candy brand M&M’s debuted a new store at Disney Springs this month, and like so many Disney Springs stores, it’s a class in experiential retail. From Instagram-worthy photo-ops to sci-fi technology, the 10,000-square-foot store is as much a celebration of the M&M’s brand as it is a place to buy some candy-coated chocolate drops. M&M’s…
Best Kid Stuff shows us what never-realized Disney and Universal ride concepts would’ve looked like in real life
As part of the development process, designers at Disney and Universal are frequently tasked with designing attraction concepts that are never realized. This leaves behind a trail littered with thousands of unique concepts, including some that are extremely detailed and nearly shovel-ready. Now a website, Best Kid Stuff, has imagined what five of those never-realized…
Lock up your flags — Donald Trump announced as speaker for CPAC in Orlando
In what will be his first major public appearance since leaving the White House, one-term ex-president, spotlight-lover and flag-molester Donald Trump has been confirmed as a speaker for this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference … right here in Orlando. The annual CPAC Republican mega-gathering is set for Feb. 25-28, at the Hyatt Regency Orlando on International Drive. This…
Proposed new rules on Florida medical marijuana spark anger
Looks like medical marijuana is sparking a battle again. Members of the Joint Committee on Medical Marijuana met Thursday to begin developing the practice standards that Florida-licensed physicians must follow when ordering smokable pot. And they weren’t happy. The panel is composed of members of the Florida Board of Medicine and the Florida Board of…
Breakout Orlando MC E-Turn gets dope in 60 seconds in new Sunday Instagram series
If you’re not already following Orlando rapper E-Turn on Instagram (@eturnmusic), now would be the time to hip-hop that train. This month, the Fake Four-signed MC launched a new weekly series called “Sunday Sixteen.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by E-Turn (@eturnmusic) Every weekend, she flexes both her virtuosity and versatility by…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proposes new election legislation that leans a little heavy on voter suppression
While simultaneously bragging about Florida’s success handling record turnouts during the 2020 election, on Thursday Gov. Ron DeSantis and Rep. Blaise Ingoglia proposed new legislation that would completely transform the state’s entire election process. “Last November, Florida held the smoothest, most successful election of any state in the country,” said DeSantis in a statement. “While…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis orders flags lowered for dead racist, sexist, homophobic, hate-mongering prick
On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of dead Palm Beach resident and well-known radio blowhard Rush Limbaugh. “There’s not much that needs to be said. The guy was an absolute legend, he was a friend of mine, and just a great person,” said DeSantis at today’s…
Orlando’s Mad Cow Theatre invites you to dive into new streaming production ‘Fish Are Friends’
Orlando’s Mad Cow Theatre Company is streaming a fin-tastic new ensemble production through March 15, with a portion of the proceeds going to environmental preservation and advocacy work. Fish are Friends premiered Feb. 15 as part of Mad Cow’s ongoing “Bringing Home the Herd” series, and will be available for streaming through mid-March. The show features…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Friday, Feb. 19, 2021
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. You know a beer is good when people flock to a laundromat to find it. Twelve Talons brewery is trading up soap suds for suds of a different…
Two Orange County women dress as ‘grannies’ to try to get COVID-19 vaccinations
Desperate times call for desperate measures. A divorced dad desperate to spend time with his kids posed as an elderly British nanny in the 1993 movie Mrs. Doubtfire (as did Tobias Funke in Arrested Development, to slightly less heartwarming results). And on Wednesday, two Orange County women donned their best grandma drag of ‘bonnets, gloves…
Publix stops scheduling appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations on Thursday due to delivery delay
Publix Super Markets on Thursday announced that it is not scheduling appointments for first dose COVID-19 vaccinations because of a delivery delay of more than 200,000 doses. Publix did not say in a news release when it would reopen its online appointment portal. Customers with already scheduled appointments for second doses of the Moderna vaccine…
Orlando Sentinel newspaper sold to vulture capitalists Alden
This is a rough week for anyone who cares about local news. On Tuesday it was announced that the Tribune Company, parent of the Orlando Sentinel daily newspaper, will be bought by Alden Global Capital. The sale still requires the approval of shareholders and must pass regulatory scrutiny, but will most likely be finalized by…
White Castle will get in on the ‘ghost kitchen’ action in Orlando next week
White Castle is already on track to open their largest free-standing location in the world here in Orlando later this year, and now they’ve announced plans to bring more immediate slider action to Central Florida with the opening of a ghost kitchen next week. On Tuesday, Feb. 23, the virtual doors of a White Castle…
Orlando’s SheZen Mono brings the hot pot experience to your home
Do you have a hankering for some hot pot action, but you’re not quite ready to eat out at a restaurant just yet? SheZen Mono might just be the solution you are looking for. SheZen Mono, a unique new catering operation by chef Natalie Julien, wants to bring the whole hot pot dining ritual to…
Maitland’s Enzian Theater adds new HVAC unit for added indoor screening safety
The Enzian Theater in Maitland has installed a new HVAC unit with UV filtration for added safety at their indoor screenings. This type of air handling unit is designed to more effectively reduce air pollutants, bacteria and (yes) viruses. Other Orlando venues, including the Winter Park Playhouse and the Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts, have…
Rootsy Tampa Bay indie-rock band Oxford Noland will record Saturday show at Will’s Pub for upcoming live album
More than just a basic show, this appearance by rootsy Tampa Bay indie rockers Oxford Noland on Saturday, Feb. 20, at Will’s Pub will be part of a three-date Florida tour that will be the source material for their next album One Take Live. These shows in Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville will be documented by a…
DeLand heavy rockers Kaupe drop new album and then headline a Saturday show at Soundbar
One of the more noteworthy local releases this week will be the sophomore album (Cognitive Dissonance) by DeLand progressive heavy rockers Kaupe, which comes out tomorrow, Feb. 19, but can be pre-ordered on Bandcamp. Hefty and charging, it’s a cinematic rock work that blends drama, dynamics and riffs. To mark the occasion, local promoter Montgomery Drive has…
Orlando lawmaker wants to expand scholarships for victims of 1920 Ocoee massacre
A state senator is seeking to expand a scholarship program set up more than 25 years ago because of a massacre in Rosewood to include people whose families were directly affected by the racially motivated 1920 Ocoee Election Day riot in Central Florida. Sen. Randolph Bracy, D-Orlando, said Wednesday he’s been in talks with House…
New Orlando music releases from Whyte Tygers, Joel Switzer + Jonas Van den Bossche, and Dunies
Orlando band Whyte Tygers have had four of their songs played on MTV.While that doesn’t mean quite the same now as if it had occurred in the 1980s or 1990s, it’s noteworthy nonetheless. And if you’re a regular viewer of Teen Mom, you’ve been hearing a lot of the current rock project of Heather Lee…
Opera Orlando premieres new opera by Florida composer John Young with two shows this weekend
Over two performances this weekend, Opera Orlando is premiering the Tolstoy-based opera Death of Ivan Ilych. Written by Sarasota composer John Young, featuring a libretto by Alan Olejniczak, with musicians from Alterity Chamber Orchestra, the the one-act, English-sung chamber opera is informed directly by the composer’s own battle with cancer — and it should trace the line…
Orange County government will launch a new Emergency Rental Assistance Program in March
Orange County’s Eviction Diversion Program is coming to an end on Friday, Feb. 19. However, it will be replaced by a new Emergency Rental Assistance Program starting March 1. The Eviction Diversion Program was launched in late August of last year, and through it, over $11.2 million dollars was disbursed to attempt to help keep local…
Weeki Wachee restaurant goes viral with ‘face diapers not required’ proclamation and signage
Despite Florida outpacing the nation for a new, highly contagious coronavirus variant, a restaurant near Weeki Wachee Springs wants guests to know that face masks aren’t required. BeckyJack’s Food Shack in Spring Hill has recently gone viral on social media, after posting a photo to their Facebook page that reads “Face Diapers Not Required! Everyone…
Mayhem on Mills returns with live outdoors wrestling in Orlando this weekend
Sunday is a day of firsts in Mills 50. First, local punk-infused wrestling federation Mayhem on Mills returns to action with their first show in a year. And second, this event will go down in a new outdoors event space, Carlotta’s Culture Park. Mayhem on Mills — founded by former Orlandoan Rich Evans (also of Total Punk…
Killing the filibuster is a wolf move, but Senate Democrats are more comfortable being prey than predator
I wanted to ignore Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. It would be a low-rent, low-stakes sequel whose ending was obvious from the opening credits, I assumed. I was mostly correct. The evidence of Trump’s guilt was undeniable and irrefutable. So was the cowardice of the Republican minority that would inevitably acquit him. It didn’t matter how…
‘Queer as Folk’ creator Russell T. Davies returns with ‘It’s a Sin,’ premiering Thursday
Streaming debuts you won’t want to miss. Premieres Wednesday: Amend: The Fight for America — Co-presenters Will Smith and Larry Wilmore favor us with a six-episode documentary series about the genesis and impact of the Fourteenth Amendment. Among the highlights: Famous speeches about civil rights are read by a cast of luminaries that includes Samuel…
Things to do in Orlando, Feb. 17-23: reggae royalty, vintage punk flyers, levitation sessions
Our picks of the week for safe, socially distanced, or virtual events Thursday, Feb. 18Front Porch Series featuring Best in Brass: New Orleans Brass BandGet a taste of Mardi Gras right here in Orlando at the outdoor stage in front of the Plaza Live. The NOBB is a group of Central Floridian jazz and brass…
Spring Guide 2021: The events we’re looking forward to with cautious optimism
This pandemic year has presented those of us who cover local events with quite a dilemma. We know how dangerous it is to gather in groups, not just to yourself but to everyone around you. On the other hand, the small venues and businesses that make our city the vibrant place we love are suffering.…
Serengeti Restaurant opens inside Bronze Kingdom; Kombu Sushi Ramen serves up 12-hour tonkotsu; Japango takes over Chewy Boba in Mills 50
OPENINGS: Serengeti Restaurant & Bar, a restaurant specializing in dishes and cocktails from all across Africa, has opened inside the Bronze Kingdom, a museum dedicated to African art on I-Drive … Kombu Sushi Ramen has opened in the old Bigbelly’s Hawaiian Grindz space on Aloma Avenue near Goldenrod Road. Of note: 12-hour mayu tonkotsu ramen…
‘Nomadland’ turns an ultra-realistic eye on the modern American unhoused
“There’s no place like home,” Dorothy Gale said. Eighty-one years later, Nomadland has turned that adage on its ear. In the third feature by Chinese filmmaker Chloé Zhao, Frances McDormand plays Fern, a nomad living in her van in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Having lost almost everything after the United States Gypsum Corporation…
Three seasonal events happening now at Orlando attractions that you can enjoy in the great outdoors
If our recent wave of unseasonably warm weather has you itching to leave your house, but you’re still antsy about attending activities inside, here are three seasonal events happening now at local attractions that you can enjoy in the great outdoors. Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando New Orleans nixed this year’s Fat Tuesday celebrations, but…
