As we’ve learned from the last four years, electing just any ol’ body to the top seat of American power has consequences – scary, sometimes cruel, downright weird consequences. As these political times attest in the singular presidential era of Donald Trump, elected to the tippy-top in his very first campaign of his life, who…
On the heels of having to cancel and postpone all of their programming through at least April, the Timucua Arts Foundation has created a virtual market hub to help local musicians. The ongoing Digital Music Flea Market event on Facebook – continuing through the end of March – will, ideally, serve as a gathering point for local…
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at 1700 Celebration Blvd. Celebration FL 34747, on March 31, 2020, at 12:15PM. Timothy Mosley- Holiday Decor and Household Goods, Jonathan Rhodes- Boxes and Seasonal items. The auction will be listed and…
As the reality of the coronavirus pandemic finally sinks in for most Americans, it’s becoming more apparent that theme parks, hotels and restaurants won’t be opening in two short weeks. Instead, this will be an international fight for months to come. The ripple effect of these closures and the corresponding slowdown of the U.S. economy…
A pair of influential local singer-songwriters, Terri Binion and Beth McKee, have announced a virtual pay-per-view concert set for the end of this week, and the news is music to our increasingly beleaguered ears. Binion and McKee will each play a full set on Friday night, March 20, at the Blue Bamboo Center and the…
This one hurts. News came today that venerable European free jazz titan Peter Brötzmann has canceled his May show at the Timucua Arts Foundation house. This show was to be the Orlando debut of the Full Blast trio, and though we might have preserved some of our hearing, we’re definitely saddened by this news. Watch the…
After weeks of back-and-forth between Tampa city leaders and WWE, Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment have made the decision to not hold April’s Wrestlemania 36 as a live event in Tampa. Due to myriad health and safety concerns around the coronavirus pandemic, Wrestlemania will instead be held at the WWE Performance Center at in…
UPDATED MARCH 17 TO NOTE TEMPORARY THEATER CLOSURE: From 12 Monkeys to Contagion to zombie flicks, the movie industry loves viral-outbreak films. Now it’s starring in a real-life one. Though the coronavirus, or COVID-19, is exponentially less serious than the health crises depicted in Hollywood disaster films, the outbreak has led to the temporary closure…
UPDATED MARCH 17: Maitland’s Enzian Theater has announced it will postpone the Florida Film Festival. “In light of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently recommended guidelines regarding COVID-19, this year’s Florida Film Festival, scheduled for April 17-26, has been postponed,” the Enzian said in a prepared statement. “Festival staff members are tentatively aiming…
At a Tuesday morning press conference, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered all bars and nightclubs to close for 30 days starting a 5 p.m. on March 17 in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Restaurants are being ordered to screen employees before shifts, stagger seating by 6-feet to keep customers away from each other and…
Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles says Tuesday’s election is proceeding as planned, if not as usual, with poll workers taking extra precautions to clean and sanitize election machines and polling locations. He says turnout during the early voting period, which began March 2, has been particularly low for various reasons, most recently the…
Stardust Video & Coffee doesn’t run the tightest ship, and that’s why so many people love it (including us). A coffee shop in the morning, “the Dust” evolves throughout the day into a bar, hangout spot, art gallery, weekly farmers market and, yes, a music venue. It was founded in 1999 by Brett and Katherine Bennett…
Toasted, the local burger and “crafted grilled cheese” sandwich chain, is worried about kids who rely on reduced and free lunch programs, and especially whether they’ll have enough to eat while riding out the coronavirus pandemic at home. They’ve decided to do something about it by offering kids across Central Florida free grilled cheese meals at…
Seminole County is reminding residents not to dump poisons into the ground, and they’d love to make you dance while they’re at it. The county’s public works department released a music video on March 9 called “NITROgen (Slow Release),” under the faux label “Seminole County Records.” It outlines what fertilizers you should and shouldn’t use…
OUC customers who fall behind on their bills will not have electric or water services turned off – at least for the foreseeable future. “During this time of uncertainty, we have suspended OUC service disconnects due to nonpayment until further notice,” said a letter from Orlando Utilities Commission general manager and CEO Clint Bullock on Friday. “As your…
Saying he “fell into a depression” after losing the 2018 race for governor, Democrat Andrew Gillum on Sunday announced he is going into a rehabilitation facility because of alcohol abuse. The announcement came after an incident Thursday night in a South Beach hotel room, where a man reportedly overdosed. Gillum was in the room, and…
Gov. Ron DeSantis, while contending that many Florida residents are not at risk of getting the coronavirus, announced on Saturday a 30-day ban on visits to nursing homes as he acknowledged that the virus is spreading through some communities. DeSantis, whose administration a day earlier had encouraged schools across the state to shut down for…
Florida lawmakers will vote Thursday on a record $93.2 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year that includes spending $500 million to increase teacher pay and bolstering reserves as the novel coronavirus threatens state revenues. The budget was distributed Sunday evening, starting a legally required 72-hour review period before lawmakers can vote on it. The…
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer released a statement Friday, saying the city is following the county’s direction and “will cancel or postpone city-hosted, city-sponsored and city-permitted events with an estimated attendance of 250 or more people.” It takes effect late Sunday at 11:59 p.m., and continues through March 31. The directions were issued ahead of the state…
On Friday evening, officials recommended that all public schools across the state of Florida to remain closed until March 30 due to the coronavirus. The order was issued by Florida’s Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran: “Today, Richard Corcoran, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Education, provided strong recommendations for extending spring break following Centers for…
Professional wrestling and sports-entertainment purveyors WWE has announced that they will be moving tonight’s taping of their Fox network weekly live program SmackDown to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. This taping will not be in front of an audience out of concerns for safety and health amid coronavirus worries. WWE released a statement outlining their…
Update: Tuesday, March 17 | Owner Will Walker has announced that Will’s Pub, Lil Indies and Dirty Laundry will be closed indefinitely as of today out of concerns for the safety and health of employees, patrons and performers. As of this writing on Friday afternoon, venerable Orlando venue Will’s Pub is expected to remain open…
SeaWorld ended hours of speculation on Friday, finally announcing their Orlando park will be closing on Monday, March 15, a full day after Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando plan to close. “During this time essential personnel, including animal care experts, will continue to look after the health, safety and nutritional needs of the animals…
A Florida pig named Duck is pursuing an acting career. The first role she’s trying out for is the Cadbury bunny. June Tarallo, the pig’s owner, told Bay News 9 she entered Duck into a contest to find Cadbury’s next spokesbunny after encouragement from Duck’s fans. Now, Duck is a top 10 finalist in the…
If you hate talking about the weather at work, try waking up at 2 a.m. every day to do it. That’s been the routine for beloved Channel 2 morning meteorologist Amy Sweezey for 11 years. On Thursday, Sweezey announced she will be departing WESH after a final April 16 broadcast, but she doesn’t intend to leave town. She…
On Thursday night, Miami Beach Police say they responded to a potential crystal meth overdose at a hotel involving former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gilllum. According to a police report obtained by multiple outlets, officers responded to a cardiac-arrest distress call at around 1 a.m. at the Mondrian South Beach Hotel. The call was “in…
The Orange County Library System announced today the cancellation of all library-sponsored events and programs scheduled from March 14 through March 31. Sadly, this includes the Orlando Book Festival scheduled for this weekend. At publication time, core library services remain available during regular hours. However, “camps, classes, events, programs, staff-assisted studio sessions, tours, library pop-ups…
Well, this one really sucks, however inevitable it may have been. Harry P. Leu Gardens announced Thursday it has canceled its annual plant sale, previously scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, presumably due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. In a Facebook post and on their website, at least as of 10:30 a.m. Friday, the note says…
First responders in Orlando, including firefighters, police and emergency service technicians, have added measures to protect themselves from coronavirus while also aiding the public. COVID-19 was recognized as a pandemic on Wednesday, and health experts are in a dash to better understand the fatal disease. Emergency officials say the virus has been a focal point in the preparation of local…
Promising “hot times for all you quaranteenie boppers out there,” the next Turnbuckle Tuesday dance night is apparently still happening on Tuesday, March 17 – but no touching will be allowed. Billed as the “Super Fun No Touching Rock and Roll Dance Party!” on Facebook, the night will feature Johnny Wells and Costell O’Brien spinning hit rock &…
The City of Winter Park announced Thursday they have canceled the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. The announcement came among a wave of cancellations this afternoon, as event organizers across Central Florida have begun bowing to the possibly inevitable. 1/3 – Due to current information regarding the potential spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), and events beyond…
Updated, 9:10 p.m. | Universal Orlando has announced they are now closing on Sunday, as well, through March. Their hotels and Universal CityWalk will remain open. The Walt Disney Company is closing Walt Disney World in Orlando for the rest of March, along with its theme parks around the world, the company announced Thursday night.…
Updated 9:00 p.m. | Walt Disney World in Orlando and Universal Orlando will both close Sunday, March 15, for the rest of the month. Disney also announced Disneyland Paris will close. COVID-19 has disrupted life around the globe, and now the coronavirus pandemic is putting a temporary hold on the Happiest Place on Earth. Despite…
As if there wasn’t enough of a reason to get out to the polls to vote for the primaries, 4 Rivers Smokehouse added another. The first 50 customers that visit 4 Rivers locations on Tuesday, March 17 sporting an “I Voted” sticker will receive a free dipped Oreo cookie that reads “2020 I Voted.” Now…
A positive case of coronavirus was confirmed in Seminole County by the Florida Health Department on Thursday. The test was performed on a 68-year-old man by Advent Health Altamonte Springs, the department said in a tweet. He is being “appropriately cared for and isolated,” continued the tweet, which also designates his case as “travel-related.” The…
This afternoon, Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott announced that he is under a self-imposed quarantine after potentially making contact with a Brazilian delegate who has tested positive for the coronavirus. Scott sent out the following statement on Tuesday afternoon: “My office was alerted today by the Brazilian Embassy that a member of President Bolsonaro’s delegation…
The Killers have confirmed the North American dates for their massive world tour staring later the year. The U.S. leg of the tour will kick off in August in Denver and will reach the City Beautiful by September. The band just dropped new single “Caution,” and are putting the finishing touches on a new album.…
Update, 3:15 p.m. | Orlando City SC released a separate statement, saying the club “fully supports the decision of Major League Soccer to suspend the season due to COVID-19.” “The safety of fans, players and staff is of the utmost importance to the Club and remains the top priority at this time. During this public health crisis,…
Citing the World Health Organization’s designation of coronavirus as a pandemic, Rollins College president Grant Cornwell notified the campus Thursday morning that all remaining classes this semester are moving online. “We have made the extraordinary decision to move to virtual, synchronous learning through the remainder of the semester,” Cornwell wrote. “It means that students can complete…
In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the Florida Legislature on Wednesday passed bills that would expand the roles that advanced nurses and pharmacists play in the state’s health-care system, including allowing pharmacists to test and treat patients for the flu and strep throat and treat people with chronic medical conditions. The bills, which now…
“Would you like to start with rude or gross?” WKMG News 6 anchor Julie Broughton asks fellow anchor Matt Austin. The two TV broadcasters were talking during an episode of the News 6 podcast “Florida’s Fourth Estate” about the hate mail they receive. Austin says when anchors compete over who has the most intense hate mail,…
Apopka, which gets its name from the Seminole word “Ahapopka” for “potato eating place,” is about to get a little taste of Hawaii, as Kona Poké announced plans to move to Orange County’s second-largest city this summer. It’s the third planned location for the Seminole County-based sushi-in-a-bowl chain. Poké, the cubed, raw-fish dish, is eaten…
Darden Restaurants, the Orlando-based multinational corporation that brings you Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, has announced it will offer its employees paid sick leave. Albeit with their backs up against the proverbial coronavirus wall, Darden has showed a glint of humanity in its corporate eye. This is a surprise in general, and especially in this case,…
Sorry basketball fans, but novel coronavirus is here to officially give you the bracket blues. On Wednesday afternoon, NCAA President Mark Emmert announced that March Madness games happening as part of the NCAA’s Division I men’s basketball tournament will be played “with only essential staff and limited family attendance.” That includes opening round games scheduled…
In a story of evident immediacy and impact, the University of Central Florida has notified its students that in-person classes will be suspended for two weeks, moving all instruction online, as a preventative measure against spreading coronavirus. “UCF will move to remote instruction effective Monday, March 16, to minimize health and safety risks to the…
French-Canadian dark-synth star Automelodi will be in the spotlight for the first Panic! event since the local avant-dance promoters parted ways with their former home base of Stonewall. Automelodi are touring behind last year’s album on HoloDeck, Mirages Au Futur Verre-brisé. The sound, unlike many of the colder Panic! headliners, is lush and romantic, a…
Someday Honey at the AMP’d Series, March 9: Downtown’s gleaming Dr. Phillips Center has unquestionably upped the average on the city’s stage game. Its programming focus, though, is primarily a Promethean one aimed at bringing us the fire from the major touring circuit. Its AMP’d Series, on the other hand, is dedicated to showcasing homegrown…
There’s a certain kind of fandom that is as rare as a bottle of hand sanitizer on the shelf at Publix in the middle of a coronavirus outbreak. It’s that fandom that’s unique to teenage girls who have found their icon – the one who moves their hearts by moving their feet. When a musician reaches…
Update, March 12 | This event has been postponed with a new date TBD. A statement from the festival organizers read: “Following the State of Florida governor’s announcement on Tuesday, March 11th, the Orlando City and the Orlando Caribbean Festival Executives team have met to discuss updates on the festival, scheduled to be held this…
Updated, March 12 | Due to intensifying concerns over the spread of coronavirus, the Orlando Book Festival, and all Orange County Library events for the month of March, have been canceled. This includes camps, classes, events, programs, staff-assisted studio sessions, tours, library pop-ups and outreach events. Their online classes, however, will remain open. CANCELED Take…
As the prolific rapper Gucci Mane once said, “If a man does not have sauce, then he is lost. But the same man can get lost in the sauce.” This tidbit couldn’t be more relevant now that Chick-fil-A is bottling their sauce. Starting in April, you’ll be able to find 16-ounce bottles of Chick-fil-A’s Polynesian…
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. Not Even COVID-19 Could Slow Mickey & Minnie’s Railway In spite of growing COVID-19 fears, Disney was sure crowds would show up for the inaugural Mickey & Minnie…
The Florida Department of Health late Tuesday announced eight new positive cases of the novel coronavirus, with seven of the cases described as “travel-related” and involving Florida residents. Three of the new cases involved residents of Collier County, according to the health department. The eighth case involves a Georgia resident who is in Florida, with…
OPENINGS: The pace at which Sixty Vines has built out the old Kona Grill space in Winter Park has been impressive. Larry Sinibaldi (Two Chefs Seafood Oyster Bar) will oversee the Napa-inspired menu at the wine-centric restaurant, which is slated to open next week … Speaking of, Bagel World should open in the old Two…
b>Opening this week: Bloodshot For a while now, Sony has been hoping to launch a shared universe based on the mythology of Valiant Comics. First up is Vin Diesel as Bloodshot, which makes for a good introductory outing due to a certain amount of, shall we say, built-in familiarity: The title character is a murdered…
Camp Counselor: Lo-fi indie trio from St. Louis rambles into town with Softies vibes and Please Be Kind, Sad Halen and Luci Skies in tow. 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, at the Falcon, $5 Yung Joc: Rapper and reality television star headlines the kick-off night of local hip-hop station 104.5-FM the Beat’s Spring Break Anniversary…
Meet Prince! Prince (A433388) is a sweet boy who was surrendered by his owner and so he is looking for his forever home. Prince can’t wait for you to visit him today! According to his previous owner Prince is housebroken, leash-trained and knows basic commands, Prince is friendly with women, men, children and gets along…
The Orlando Fringe Festival held its annual Fab Fringe Fundraiser on Feb. 28 at the Orlando Museum of Art. The 1960s-inspired “Peace, Love, & Fringe” event featured live performances by Voci Dance, Blue Star, Todd Kimbro and more, followed by a night of dining and dancing to DJ Frankie Messina. The evening raised more than…
I’m a cis bi woman, and I mainly have sex with people with penises. I have a really gross problem, sorry. It’s been an issue for as long as I’ve been sexually active – but in the past few years, it seems to have gotten worse. If I am being penetrated vaginally, especially if it’s…
When my mom called me last Wednesday while I was in the middle of Epcot, I really should have known better than to tell her where I was. “Why are you there?” she asked with an anxious edge to her ordinarily easygoing tone. “Do you really have to be there?” It’s an understandable reaction, considering…
Florida’s primary elections happen Tuesday, March 17, although early voting is still going on. In Orange and Osceola counties, you can visit any early voting center through Sunday. In Seminole and Lake counties, early voting ends Saturday. To cast a vote in the Florida primary and factor in how this battleground state impacts the ascent…
Updated March 16: This show has been canceled. Refunds will be available at point of purchase. At 46, an avid reader with over 2,000 books in her collection, Mina Caputo humbly acknowledges that a lifetime of tragedies, traumas and misunderstandings could result in a bouquet of midlife wisdom for some. But Caputo credits her own…
Cartoons & Cereal Enjoy a breakfast cereal bar while watching cartoons of yesteryear every second Saturday morning. Saturday, 10 am-1 p.m.; The Nook on Robinson, 2432 E. Robinson St.; free; facebook.com/thenookonrobinson. Jesus Christ Superstar Sing-Along Sing along with the ’70s musical film. Special appearance by Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the film. Sunday, 7 p.m.; The Abbey, 100 S.…
Benh Zeitlin is the type of kid I wish I had grown up with; the writer-director has a way of fashioning fantasy from ordinary childhoods. He did it in 2012 with Beasts of the Southern Wild, and he’s done it again with Wendy, an ambitious reinterpretation of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. But while Beasts mixed…
Dexter’s is dead. Has been for a while. The aughts-era big shot of our food scene has been flopping about in various lifeless forms around the city, cavorting with the oblivious like the restaurant equivalent of Bernie Lomax. I won’t bore you with the post-mortem details; all you really need to know is that the…
“Anything different is good,” Bill Murray mused in Groundhog Day. With respect to Phil Connors, Extra Ordinary casts doubt on that theory. Remarkably quirky yet only sporadically funny, this mix of horror and romantic comedy certainly lives up to its name. (Note the two-word misspelling, which the film explains.) Indeed, the off-kilter Irish flick is…
