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Enzian delves into the bizarre true story of Norwegian black metal with midnight screenings of ‘Lords of Chaos’
The story of Norwegian black metal bands Mayhem and Burzum is straight-up cuckoo bananas. So much so that there’s a lot of skepticism over whether the new film by Jonas Åkerlund, Lords of Chaos, which focuses on the frenemyship of Mayhem guitarist Øystein “Euronymous” Aarseth and Burzum’s Varg Vikernes, can do it justice. While Euronymous…
Will’s Pub pays tribute to the gone but not forgotten Red Fox Lounge for Valentine’s Day
Once upon a time, instead of a bougie pedestrian mall across from a Trader Joe’s and a Shake Shack, the corner of Morse and 17-92 in Winter Park was home to a semi-dilapidated Best Western Inn across from … not much. And in that Best Western was a pocket-sized nirvana known as the Red Fox,…
Nedcore band Okilly Dokilly announce April show in Orlando
Hi diddly ho neighborinos, and see you in the pit. The Ned Flanders-themed metal (or “Nedal” as it were) band Okilly Dokilly have announced dates for their North American “Reneducation” tour and the band will be bringing their tales of the mean streets of Springfield to the City Beautiful in April. Okilly Dokilly plays Will’s…
Surf Curse spin-off acts light up downtown Orlando, plus Soundbar’s major new upgrades
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Current Joys, Gap Girls and Sugarplum, Soundbar, Feb. 10 While the increasingly pointless Grammys were on, there were a bunch of young people out making real music culture in Orlando. Maybe everything’s going to be OK after all. The headlining reason was L.A.’s Current Joys, the solo vehicle for Surf Case’s Nicholas Rattigan.…
Bill that would arm classroom teachers advances in the Florida Senate
A Florida Senate panel tasked with shaping statewide education policies advanced a sweeping school-security package on Tuesday that would make it easier for school districts to participate in a controversial “guardian” program and would allow classroom teachers to be armed. The Senate Education Committee approved the proposal (SPB 7030) with a 5-3 vote along party…
Universal Orlando pays $75,000 to settle ‘dinosaur egg’ injury lawsuit
Universal Orlando has agreed to pay $75,000 into an annuity fund for a young girl who was injured by a mechanical arm on the Dinosaur Egg Scanner attraction at the theme park’s Jurassic Park land, according to public records. The girl, whose age was not disclosed, was struck on the chin in July 2013 by…
Florida lawmakers will allow smokable marijuana, but only with pre-rolled joints
Patients could soon be allowed to smoke medical marijuana, but they’d have to purchase pre-rolled joints with filters, under a measure approved by a key House panel Tuesday. Committees in the House and Senate advanced legislation to nix Florida’s ban on smoking medical marijuana, following an ultimatum issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis shortly after the…
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo are coming to Orlando this May
Four-time Grammy winner Pat Benatar and her husband, Neil Giraldo, will make a stop in Orlando as part of their 40th Anniversary Tour. The iconic pop-rock duo will be playing at the Hard Rock Live Orlando on May 7. Tickets go on sale Feb. 15, with prices ranging from $47.50 to $65.50. The tour will…
Hopdoddy Burger Bar will open its first Florida location in Orlando next week
Austin-based chain Hopdoddy Burger Bar will open its first Florida location next week. Opening in Pointe Orlando (at 9101 International Drive) on Monday, Feb. 18, this restaurant prides itself on making its burgers, shakes and fries from scratch, while also serving a full liquor menu. But it’s not just for meat fanatics – the restaurant also offers…
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio learns about his Spanish heritage on episode of ‘Finding Your Roots’
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio learned some surprising tidbits about his Spanish ancestors in the latest episode of Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates Jr. on PBS. The Cuban American lawmaker found out he’s not the first person in his family to become a lawyer or engage in public service. More than 200 years ago,…
Phish’s Trey Anastasio is coming to St. Petersburg this May
Trey Anastasio Band has announced a rare Tampa Bay date, which should make fans somewhat happy? The Phish frontman will be at St. Petersburg’s Jannus Live May 28, and tickets go on sale this Friday, February 15 at 11 a.m. EST, but you’re right: This is not a Phish now. The last show Phish proper…
The Chainsmokers are coming to Orlando’s Amway Center this fall
Electro-pop hitmakers the Chainsmokers today announced the details of their 41-city “World War Joy” tour and they will be playing in the City Beautiful! The Grammy-nominated group made this tour announcement on the heels of releasing their new collaborative single with 5SOS, “Who Do You Love.” The Chainsmokers, 5 Seconds of Summer, and Lennon Stella…
Inspired by Disney and Universal, Tyra Banks is now building a new model theme park
April Fools is still a few months away so this can’t be a joke, but Tyra Banks has announced a new attraction inspired by Disneyland and Universal Studios that she hopes will become a reality. In what may be one of the strangest moves in recent years, Banks will open a new 21,000-square-foot attraction, Modelland,…
New owners announce major expansions for Kissimmee’s Reunion Resort
Since first opening in 2005, Reunion Resort has become one of Central Florida’s premier golf resorts. The 2,300-acre development just south of Walt Disney World is a AAA Four-Diamond rated destination, with three golf courses, seven dining venues, 10 pools, 25,000 -square-feet of event space, and a seemingly endless supply of other amenities. Now the…
Medical marijuana provider VidaCann opens new dispensary in Orlando
Medical marijuana provider VidaCann opened a new dispensary in Orlando on Tuesday. The location at 1700 N. Semoran Blvd. is in the same shopping plaza as Hotto Potto and Burn Boot Camp. The Orlando store is VidaCann’s sixth statewide dispensary, and the provider is also opening up a seventh new location Tuesday in St. Petersburg. “Orlando-area…
Cinco Taco & Tequila has officially closed
After less than a year in business, Cinco Taco & Tequila – the restaurant across from Trader Joes with the astroturf all over the walls – has permanently closed. As first reported by the Bungalower, the Winter Park taqueria officially shuttered last Saturday, Feb. 9. A spokesperson confirmed the closure to the site and wouldn’t comment…
Get a sneak peek of Orlando’s new shipping container food hall this weekend
Boxi Park, Orlando’s new shipping container food hall, will soft-open to the public this weekend. Located at 6877 Tavistock Lakes Blvd., the new 30,000-square-foot space will host a limited preview starting this Friday, where guests will be able to sample bites and drinks alongside live entertainment. No official grand opening date has been announced. This weekend’s…
Florida is hoping to receive $200 million in federal money for Everglades restoration
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis are pushing for the president to provide $200 million a year in funding to support Everglades restoration, according to a letter signed by the elected officials. The three Republicans sent the letter Monday as a follow-up to a similar letter sent last month that…
Orlando Sentinel cancels comic after readers pointed out it said ‘Go fuck yourself, Trump’
The Orlando Sentinel has pulled the nationally syndicated “Non Sequitur” cartoon from their paper after readers pointed out that it said “Go fuck yourself, Trump.” The cartoon, which appeared in Sunday’s paper, showed the image of a bear alongside Leonardo Da Vinci-style drawings, and contained no political messaging other than the little handwritten “Go fuck…
Bill takes aim at Florida’s old ‘Docs vs. Glocks’ law
Two years after a federal appeals court rejected much of Florida’s controversial “docs vs. glocks” law, a House Democrat wants to erase those parts of the law from the state books. Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, filed a bill (HB 6039) on Monday that would delete parts of the law that were ruled unconstitutional in…
Someone stole this little monkey from a Florida zoo last night
Authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating a 1-pound monkey stolen from the Palm Beach Zoo Monday night. According to the Palm Beach Police Department, the rare Goeldi’s monkey named Kali was taken from its enclosure Monday, and needs medication and a very specialized diet. Goeldi’s monkeys are native to South America, specifically…
South Florida lawmaker accuses fellow Orlando lawmaker of bullying
House Speaker José Oliva has launched a workplace-harassment investigation after Rep. Anika Omphroy, a freshman lawmaker from Lauderdale Lakes, accused fellow Democratic Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith of intimidating her during a Florida Democratic Party meeting over the weekend. In a letter to Oliva sent Monday, Omphroy said she was “bullied, threatened, and verbally assaulted” Saturday…
Rascal Flatts announce Central Florida show for this May
Country superstars Rascal Flatts announced details for their massive “Summer Playlist Tour” stretching from May to September. They’ll be touring behind their recent classic-rock covers EP Jukebox. Touring support will come from a rotating cast of new artists. But, sadly, Orlando fans will have to head down the road just a little bit to Tampa…
Florida lawmakers will try again to ban public funds for stadiums
Florida lawmakers are taking another run at eliminating an unused pool of sales-tax dollars intended for building and improving professional sports facilities. The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee, with little comment Monday, backed the latest proposal (SB 414) by Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, to repeal a controversial 2014 program that —- despite never being used…
Florida’s largest medical marijuana provider just made a deal to carry edible baked goods
Florida’s largest medical marijuana provider has made a deal with a Colorado company to bring cannabis-infused cookies, caramels, brownies and other products to the state’s more than 180,000 patients. Trulieve announced Monday its partnership with Love’s Oven, a Denver-based company that creates gourmet baked goods, craft concentrates, all natural beverages and artisan confections. The medical…
Florida Sen. Rick Scott is now refusing to put his wealth in a blind trust
During his eight years serving as Florida governor, Rick Scott kept his gigantic amount of wealth in a blind trust – but as the Tampa Bay Times reported earlier today, that won’t be the case now that he’s a U.S. senator. A blind trust is a financial arrangement in which a person in public office…
George Zimmerman is on the dating app Bumble, and he wants to grab coffee and cake pops
George Zimmerman, a local child killer who was acquitted for the murder of Trayvon Martin back in 2012 and most recently was fined for stalking a man in Seminole County, now has a profile on the dating app Bumble, and he’s looking to meet up for “coffee and cake pops.” Screengrabs of Zimmerman’s profile obtained…
Full Sail University grads dominate this year’s Grammy-winning projects
Drake may have killed the Grammys dead once and for all with last night’s shady acceptance speech, but whether you think the awards rock, rot or rule, you can’t deny that Winter Park’s Full Sail University dominated the production, engineering and mixing of the year’s major projects. Graduates of the Recording Arts program at the…
Tyler Perry stopped by the Pulse memorial before Amway Center performance
Actor, comedian and filmmaker Tyler Perry stopped by the Pulse memorial this weekend before his final tour performance for his iconic character Madea on Sunday at the Amway Center. Perry paid tribute to the 49 people killed by a gunman in the 2016 mass shooting at the Orlando gay nightclub. “I could not come to…
Pentatonix is coming to Orlando in June
Get ready to match your pitch. Pentatonix is coming to Orlando this summer. The three-time Grammy winning a cappella group recently announced dates for PTX: The World Tour 2019, with a stop in Orlando June 1 at the Amway Center. Pentatonix is known for covers of songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, “Royals” by Lorde…
15 Orlando restaurants where you can still get a table for Valentine’s Day
We wouldn’t wait much longer, but you still have some time to surprise bae with reservations at one of these top tables with menus designed specifically pour l’amour. Think you’ll be able to just walk in on Feb. 14 without a res? Try again, Romeo. Maria & Enzo’s / Enzo’s HideawayBoth the 1930s-themed Sicilian restaurant and sister…
SeaWorld has a new CEO, here are the five big decisions he’ll need to make
After a nearly yearlong search, SeaWorld recently announced their brand-new CEO, Gus Antorcha, in a move that surprised many. The past year has seen the hard decisions made by former CEO Joel Manby beginning to pay off, with the stock reaching its highest value in years and attendance seeing impressive growth. Interim CEO John Reilly…
The odds of a new ‘Coco’ ride at Epcot just got a lot better
When Coco came out in 2017, there was immediate speculation that Disney would be redoing the boat ride in Epcot’s Mexico pavilion to cash in on the hit film. Now a year and a half later there hasn’t been any indication that any such attraction is in the works. Disney did unveil an interactive Coco…
Florida GOP chair says banning ‘sanctuary cities’ is his top priority
The long-shot efforts by Florida Republicans to ban so-called sanctuary cities in the state may have a better chance this year, as key GOP lawmakers align to push legislation that Gov. Ron DeSantis has promised to sign into state law. At the center of the current effort is Sen. Joe Gruters, the chairman of the…
Florida corrections officials skeptical about proposal to move inmates closer to families
As a top Republican lawmaker champions criminal justice reforms, state corrections officials are skeptical about whether a proposal to house inmates closer to their primary residences is logistically possible. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, is trying to pass legislation (SB 642) that would enhance re-entry services for inmates and allow judges to depart from…
City of Orlando issues stop work order on Dezerland Action Park
City officials have slapped a stop work order on the entire renovation of the former Artegon Marketplace shopping mall, and restarted $200-a-day fines against its owner, President Donald Trump’s friend and business partner Michael Dezer. Dezer has been renovating the mall and renamed it Dezerland Action Park. The stop work order and new fines began…
Band of the Week: Boston Marriage
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 Boston Marriage. Boston Marriage is playing Henao Contemporary Center on Feb. 15. Just the facts: When did the band form?We formed in the summer of 2016 and our first show…
Orlando alter egos Kurt Rambus and Old.God reclaim dance music for the underground
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Terribly Wrong 2 (ft. Kurt Rambus, Old.God and Pressurewave), Will’s Pub, Feb. 7 I can’t speak for all you vampires out there, but I wasn’t completely crushed about the Peter Murphy Bauhaus anniversary show getting unceremoniously canceled. It just removed the dilemma of missing yet another edition of Terribly Wrong, the audiovisual…
Peter Murphy cancels Orlando’s Bauhaus 40th anniversary show on the spot
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Bauhaus 40th Anniversary Tour, Plaza Live, Feb 7 Peter Murphy was scheduled to perform an entire Bauhaus set with original bandmate David J before a packed Orlando crowd for the legendary post-punk band’s 40th anniversary. What was supposed to be a glorious séance, however, ended up an unexpected abortion. The scene was…
Florida gang kidnapped and tortured an undocumented immigrant because they thought he wouldn’t call the police
Police arrested three people who were part of a gang that kidnapped, robbed and tortured an undocumented man in South Florida because they believed the immigrant would be too afraid to call the authorities. “It is believed that this group is targeting undocumented immigrants and robbing them for their cash,” says Davie Police Sgt. Mark Leone,…
Florida will seek death penalty for suspected Sebring bank shooter who killed 5 women
Florida will seek the death penalty for Zephen Xaver, a 21-year-old man accused of shooting and killing five women at a Sebring bank in January. A Highlands County grand jury indicted Xaver on Friday with five first-degree murder charges in the deaths of Marisol López, Ana Piñon-Williams, Jessica Montague, Debra Cook and Cynthia Watson, says State…
After a practice drill set one school into a panic, Seminole County will now implement new lockdown procedures
Seminole County Public Schools will implement new emergency lockdown procedures, SCPS and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office announced in a news release Friday. Among the new procedures, SCPS will discontinue the use of “unannounced” Code Red Drills; prior notice will now be provided to students, staff, faculty, visitors and parents before the emergency drill exercise…
Guess who’s back
That’s right, the Publix chicken tender sub is finally on sale again, you freaks. As the weekly ad proclaims, whole chicken tender Pub subs are on sale for $6.99 from now until Feb. 13. The always reliable arepublixchickentendersubsonsale.com has confirmed the recent news, so you know it’s real. As always, the exact dates for the…
Disney Pixar’s ‘Coco’ will soon have its own music special at Epcot
Remember Miiiiiiiiiguel! A new show at Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion called “Mariachi Cobre Presenta the Story of Coco,” will begin March 6, announced Disney. The Mariachi Cobre band will feature a puppet of Miguel Rivera from Disney Pixar’s Coco and will be joined by folklórico dancers to help tell the story of a cursed boy and his sausage dog seeking the blessing…
The ‘Boy Meets World’ cast will reunite this year at MegaCon Orlando
Everyone’s favorite couple, Corey and Topanga, are getting back together. The stars of the popular ’90s sitcom Boy Meets World will be at MegaCon Orlando May 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. Danielle Fishel (Topanga), Ben Savage (Corey), Will Friedle (Eric) and Rider Strong (Shawn) will be at MegaCon all four days. Brushing up against…
A year-round Halloween bar is coming to downtown Orlando
Downtown Orlando already has a Christmas bar, so why not a Halloween bar? A new Halloween-themed bar called Cocktails & Screams is coming to downtown Orlando in the former 39 Pine location, at 39 W. Pine St. just across from the 55 West building. From the folks behind Joysticks, an arcade-themed bar that’s also downtown,…
Florida CFO asks Trump to allow banks to do business with medical marijuana companies
Citing a “tremendous safety threat,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is asking President Donald Trump to use his executive power to allow banks to do business with state-authorized medical marijuana companies. Medical marijuana has become a multibillion-dollar industry throughout the nation, but banks are shunning cannabis companies because pot remains illegal under federal law.…
Second lawmaker files bill in Florida Senate banning abortions after fetal heartbeat detected
A controversial abortion measure known as the “fetal heartbeat bill” has been filed in the Florida Senate, mirroring a bill filed last month in the House. Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, filed the proposal (HB 792) on Wednesday for consideration during the legislative session that starts March 5. The proposal would bar doctors from performing abortions…
Goya Foods plans to build a massive distribution warehouse in Central Florida
Goya Foods is planning to build a 330,000-square-foot distribution warehouse in Apopka that could open by 2020. The Orlando Business Journal is the first to confirm the massive center will be located on 20 acres at the Mid-Florida Logistics Park. The company, which has seen huge sales growth in the past 10 years, purchased 40 acres in total…
Afro-punk band Soul Glo ignite Orlando with raw power and truth
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Soul Glo, C0MPUTER and Witchbender, Uncle Lou’s, Feb. 6 Despite the lighthearted Eddie Murphy allusion of their moniker, Philadelphia’s Soul Glo are to be taken with absolute gravity. Although it’s confounding that it’s still this hot a topic in 2019, America is once again in the painful reckonings of paradigm shift when…
Bill would force Florida police to cooperate with ICE in detaining undocumented immigrants
A new bill would force local law enforcement agencies in Florida to cooperate with federal immigration authorities 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 agencies like U.S. Immigration and…
Orlando International Airport ranks in nation’s top 5 for TSA gun seizures
A good rule of thumb: Don’t bring your gun to the airport. Tell that to some of the folks passing through Orlando International Airport, which, in 2018, ranked No. 5 for having the most firearm discoveries out of the 249 airports across the nation. In fact, according to Transportation Security Administration officials, a total of…
Photo appears to show Florida Rep. Anthony Sabatini, who’s still dealing with a blackface scandal, wearing brownface
A new photo of Florida Rep. Anthony Sabatini, who refuses to resign after photos surfaced of him in blackface, appears to show him in brownface, wearing a stereotypical “Mexican” costume. The photo was sent to Orlando Weekly by a former classmate of Sabatini’s who wishes to remain anonymous. It shows the Howey-in-the-Hills Republican dressed, the source…
All-star experimental bill of Billy Martin and Karl Berger and Friends to go down in Orlando next week
The more arty end of jazz-junk fandom will no doubt be familiar with percussionist Billy Martin from his work with the peerless Medeski, Martin & Wood. Well, next week Orlando music heads will get a chance to see Martin play solo as Disappearing as part of a ridiculous tandem bill with Karl Berger & Friends.…
Florida House balks at total repeal of medical marijuana smoking ban
Florida House leaders have rolled out a proposal that would allow patients to smoke medical marijuana, but only after going through what one critic called a “bureaucratic mess of red tape.” The House proposal, released Tuesday afternoon, would require doctors get the approval of a “case review panel” before they could order smokable marijuana for…
Pulse memorial will hold one-year remembrance vigil for Parkland high school shooting
The Pulse memorial will be holding a remembrance vigil on Feb. 14 to honor the 17 students and teachers killed by a gunman at a Parkland high school one year ago. Two weeks after the nation was captivated by the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018, Parkland survivors and…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proposes $422 million program that would increase teacher bonuses
On Thursday, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his teacher pay proposal plan that includes a $422 million compensation increase and a “bad actor” list for failed charter schools. “I’m proud to announce a renewed investment to recruit and retain the best, most dedicated educators for Florida schools,” DeSantis said on Twitter. DeSantis’ proposals include: More…
Florida senator proposes giving veterans free medical marijuana ID cards
Should military veterans receive free medical marijuana ID cards? State Sen. Gary Farmer, a Democrat from Broward County, thinks so. At a meeting of a Senate health care appropriations committee on Wednesday, Farmer told Gov. Ron DeSantis’s chief health-care budget writer that the state should give the identification cards free of charge to the 1.5…
Florida’s new cannabis chief sees potential in hemp
Saying hemp is poised to be a “multibillion-dollar industry in the state,” Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Wednesday appointed the state’s first cannabis czar. Fried, a Democrat elected in November who made increasing access to medical marijuana one of the cornerstones of her campaign, tapped Holly Bell, a former banker, to serve as director of…
A new bill would give more power to Florida cities to ban single-use plastic
On Wednesday, state Reps. Anna Eskamani and Michael Grieco filed a bill that would remove the state’s pre-emption on municipal governments that restricts their ability to ban single-use plastics and recyclable materials. The bill, or HB6033, is a piece of House companion legislation to SB88, filed by state Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, which would remove…
Orlando lawmaker wants to let counties use tourism funds to incentivize film, TV production
Florida Sen. Linda Stewart wants to let counties use tourism funds to incentivize film and television productions in the state. The Orlando Democrat filed SB 726, a proposal that would allow municipal governments to use funds collected from the tourist development tax, a 6 percent charge on stays at hotels, motels and other short-term rentals.…
Almost half of Central Florida households struggle to cover basic needs, report says
Almost half of Central Florida households struggle to cover their basic needs, according to a new report released this week by the United Way. Despite Florida’s GDP valued at $1 trillion and an improving economy, 47 percent of households in Orange County, about 220,203, struggled to afford child care, housing, food, health care and transportation costs…
A Halo theme park is coming to Orlando this summer
A 300,000-square-foot Halo theme park is coming to Orlando this July. “Halo: Outpost Discovery,” an interactive tour centered on the Halo video game universe, will hit the Orange County Convention Center July 5 through 7. The weekend-long event is essentially a giant festival for Halo fans. Developed by Microsoft’s 343 and Herschend Live, the traveling theme park…
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness comes to Orlando this week
Andrew McMahon is coming out of the wilderness to perform in Orlando this week. McMahon’s new solo tour “Upside Down Flowers” comes to the Orlando House of Blues Thursday Feb. 7, at 6 p.m. Frontrunner of the band Something Corporate and songwriter for Jack’s Mannequin, McMahon’s latest tour comes after the release of his new November…
Orlando Rep executive director Gene Columbus announces retirement
Gene Columbus, the genial executive director of the Orlando Repertory Theatre (or Orlando Rep to its friends) just announced his retirement after 11 years in the role, leaving a big job opening at Orlando’s largest professional youth theater. Columbus, who went from playing Cinderella’s Prince to managing Magic Kingdom entertainment during his nearly four-decade Disney career,…
Bill would restrict certain sunscreens in effort to protect Florida’s coral reefs
Certain sunscreen products in the Sunshine State would require prescriptions, under a measure proposed Tuesday in the Florida Senate. Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, filed a bill (SB 708) that would require prescriptions to buy sunscreen that contains oxybenzone or octinoxate. The bill, which doesn’t have a House version, says the chemicals “cause mortality in developing…
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has filled the Director of Cannabis job
Holly Bell, a consultant for the cannabis and hemp industry in Nashville since August, is expected to be named as Florida’s first Director of Cannabis with the state Agriculture Commissioner’s office. An official announcement is expected for later today, according to a report from the website Florida Politics. The website notes that it relied on…
Florida lawmakers want tough stance on contractor that botched SunPass toll system
State lawmakers called Tuesday for transportation officials to maintain a hard financial line against a contractor blamed for a troubled project last summer to upgrade the SunPass system, as final toll invoices from a backlog go out to motorists this week. Members of the Senate Infrastructure and Security Committee implored the state Department of Transportation…
Florida will bear the brunt of climate change. Why do we keep voting for lawmakers without a plan?
Toward the end of the century, metropolitan areas such as Orlando, Lakeland, Tampa and Sarasota are expected to experience some of climate change’s most dire impacts, according to a new study from the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program. The report, titled “How the geography of climate change could make the politics less polarizing,” uses econometric…
ICYMI: TSA worker jumps to his death at Orlando airport, Mayor Buddy Dyer runs for re-election, and more
TSA employee jumps from hotel balcony at Orlando International Airport: An off-duty TSA employee died after jumping from a balcony at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the airport atrium Saturday morning. “A male in his 40s was found in critical condition and transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased,” the Orlando Police Department…
Gimme Shelter: Meet Tinker Bell!
ISO new fur pal? Meet Tinker Bell! Tinker Bell (A418571) is a 5-year-old cat who is very friendly and sweet, and is FIV-positive. Feline immunodeficiency virus is a disease that causes a cat’s immune system to be suppressed. Once a cat acquires FIV there is no cure; however, the symptoms of the disease can be…
Junior Nyong’o plays the titular prince in Orlando Shakes’ ‘Hamlet’
For someone who is only 24 years old, Junior Nyong’o has already shouldered a remarkable range of roles: scholar, soccer player, political scion, international social media sensation, sibling to a superstar. (Yes, the Oscar-winning Lupita is his sister.) But when we met last month in Loch Haven Park, he was most excited to talk about…
Your feelings don’t trump women’s right to bodily autonomy
Roe v. Wade established abortion as a right – and rights, by definition, aren’t up for public referendum
The best concerts coming to Orlando this week
W00dy Young Philadelphian techno savant W00dy returns for her now traditional pre-INC show, with a cadre of other touring artists converging for possibly the best INC offshoot gig. 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, at Church of United Ministry, $5 Bonnie KaneWe’re torn. On the same night as Peter Murphy at the Plaza Live, avant-garde jazz…
Love Your Shorts Film Festival brings filmmakers together
Short movies equal long-term bonds
Opening in Orlando: The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Cold Pursuit and more
Opening this week: Capernaum In this Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign-Language Film, a 12-year-old Lebanese boy sues his parents for bringing him into the world. Hey, kid: That’s how I always feel during the Academy Awards. (R; opens Friday at Regal Winter Park Village Stadium 20 & RPX) Cold Pursuit And right on schedule,…
Savage Love: ‘Quickies’
Can I still be considered sex-positive if I personally do not have sex? I’ve never had sex or masturbated – all my life, any type of sexual stimulation has been very painful and I’ve been unable to experience orgasm. I simply get a migraine and feel mildly nauseated instead. I am not looking for a…
Taco Bus is coming soon, Forever Naan Curry Street Grill now open on Curry Ford, and more in Orlando foodie news
OPENINGS: Bird of Paradise will be the new brand taking the place of Florida & Co. inside East End Market. Expect locally sourced meats and produce along with tropical flavors, courtesy of chef-owner Emily Rankin … Sideward Brewing, a family-owned and -operated brewery, taproom and kitchen, will open in early spring next to Stasio’s in…
