I didn’t have to look far to find a Lime bike. Less than a block from Orlando Weekly’s front door, before I even had a chance to download the app, I rounded the corner of Pine Street and Orange Avenue and there sat three lime-green, lithium-powered bicycles, neatly lined up in a row. Like municipalities…
Wednesday, Jan. 23 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. The Bellysleepers 6 pm at Playalinda Brewing Company, 305 S. Washington Ave, Titusville. Elizabeth Ward 8 pm at The Imperial at Washburn Imports, 1800 N.…
Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket is set to launch Wednesday at 8:50 a.m. CST (9:50 a.m. EST) from West Texas carrying eight research payloads, including two built by a team of UCF undergraduate students. The NS-10 mission, named for New Shepard’s tenth mission, was initially scheduled to launch last December, but a “ground infrastructure issue”…
U.S. Rep. Darren Soto has refiled a bill granting immigration relief to Alejandra Juárez, the wife of a U.S. Marine combat veteran who was forced to deport to Mexico last year under the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” policies. Last August, Alejandra Juárez, 39, was separated from her husband, former Marine Sgt. Cuauhtemoc “Temo” Juárez, 41, and 16-year-old daughter, Pamela. They…
The U.S. Civil Rights Trail is a group of destinations significant to the fight for civil rights in America, mapped out so visitors can easily plan trips to pay respects. More than 100 sites in 15 states are included but until this week, none in Florida. That changed today, when tourism bureau Visit Florida announced…
The Asteria Arts & Music Festival, returning to Polk County for the third year this April, has begun its hype phase with a series of preview shows across the state. This week, L.A.’s Hi I’m Ghost promotes the fest with a show at Wall Street Plaza’s Shine. Their trademark “spooky riddim” is an interesting fit…
After yet another season of record-breaking hurricanes, flooding and wildfires, never have more Americans felt concerned about climate change. According to a study produced by the Yale program on climate change communication, a total of 72 percent of polled Americans now say climate change is a matter they deem personally important, marking the highest level…
We all know what a pain it is to drive in Florida, but now there’s a study to put into perspective just how bad we compare to the rest of the country. The Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety released their 2019 Roadmap Report detailing which states have the best and worst traffic safety laws…
In the final step in reshaping the Florida Supreme Court, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday named Carlos Muñiz, general counsel at the U.S. Department of Education, as his third selection to the state’s highest court. The appointment of Muñiz, 49, who served as chief of staff to former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and deputy general counsel…
This Friday’s release of Kingdom Hearts III might be the most anticipated game release of this entire year. Disney, who is better known for their video game flops, has seen huge success with the Kingdom Hearts series over the past sixteen years. The game series is hugely popular here in the United States, as seen…
The indomitable Dave Matthews Band have announced details and dates for a huge summer tour kicking off in April (a lil’ early but still) that will include several Florida dates. And though Orlando DMB-heads got overlooked this time around, there are dates in Jacksonville, West Palm and one just down the highway. Dave Matthews Band…
In predictable fashion, former state Attorney General Pam Bondi has accepted a position with one of Washington’s top lobbying firms. On Tuesday, Ballard Partners’ announced that Bondi, a two-term Republican politician who left office earlier this month, will lead the firm’s new regulatory compliance office that “will focus on serving Fortune 500 companies to implement…
Arguing that Florida’s middle class is getting squeezed out, Orlando attorney John Morgan announced his ballot initiative to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. “There’s nothing more profitable than slave labor,” said Morgan at a press conference Tuesday morning while announcing his Fight For 15 initiative. Morgan hopes to place the wage issue…
Virgin continues to prove its new cruise line, Virgin Voyages, isn’t going to be just another run of the mill cruise experience. Recently they made this point via new details regarding the RockStar Suites, their luxury level accommodations. The cruise line’s first ship, The Scarlet Lady, which set for a 2020 debut, will have 78 RockStar…
Blue Star, Orlando’s biggest burlesque booster and the founder of Fringe favorite VarieTease, announced tonight in an emotional livestream that The Venue, her community-focused theater in the Ivanhoe District, will close for demolition after Sept. 12, and won’t be rebuilt inside The Yard development as previously planned. Blue began her video address on Facebook and…
Soul and funk legends Maze featuring Frankie Beverly have announced an Orlando show that is sure to be music to the ears of serious fans of classic soul and R&B. Beverly’s Maze had their sound honed down from the beginning; their first two albums Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly (1977) and Golden Time of Day (1978) are…
To celebrate one year around the sun, Chela Tacos is going big for tomorrow’s Taco Tuesday. On Jan. 22, the downtown Orlando taco spot located in the Chase Plaza is offering $3 tacos all day long, and all-you-can-eat tacos for just $12 at dinner (slightly reduced from their typical $15 all-you-can-eat Taco Tuesday special). Plus,…
Bloody marys, mimosas and brunch, oh my! Orlando Weekly’s United We Brunch returns to the Orchid Gardens & Ballroom on March 23 for one day only in 2019. From noon to 3 p.m., enjoy cocktails and food at the ultimate boozy Saturday brunch. Early-bird tickets are now on sale and VIP tickets include early access…
Legoland’s new hotel wants to be a totally immersive, swashbuckling adventure. Legoland Florida recently released a few details about the upcoming Pirate Island Hotel, opening in the spring of 2020. The hotel, which is only a few steps away from Legoland park, will include 150 pirate-themed rooms, free breakfast, a pool deck, scavenger hunts and in-room…
On Monday, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his intention to end the waitlist for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship – a program that offers private school scholarships to low-income K-12 students in Florida. His reason: The scholarship’s waitlist has gotten out of control. In fact, in 2019, it already has a hefty waitlist of roughly…
A West Palm Beach Police officer ran over two people with his patrol car Sunday night while they were lying in a roadway to watch the lunar eclipse. The Palm Beach Post reports the officer was patrolling the Apoxee Wilderness Trail around 11:30 p.m. when his 2018 Ford Explorer hit a man and a woman, both 24 years…
NBCUniversal’s commitment to adding a new attraction to every theme park they own every single year has remained true, as they prepare to open a new show at Universal Studios Florida and a new Harry Potter-themed coaster at Islands of Adventure. While much of the focus has been on these two major attractions, there are…
As Disney prepares to open two new Star Wars-themed lands this year, we are just now starting to learn details about what to expect in these billion-dollar areas. Opening first in Disneyland this June, and then “late fall” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be the largest, most detailed, and most expensive…
University of Central Florida President Dale Whittaker on Friday acknowledged a “broken culture” at his school, after receiving an investigative report on the improper use of state funding to construct a major campus building. The report, which was reviewed by the university’s board of trustees on Friday, focused on UCF’s use of $38 million in…
Saying the county conducted its last election like the “Keystone Cops,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday suspended Palm Beach County Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher. In his executive order, DeSantis cited a litany of problems with Bucher’s office, such as failing to complete a machine recount of three statewide contests, including the U.S. Senate and governor’s…
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 Letters to Part. Letters to Part is playing Jan. 27 at Will’s Pub with Makari and Softspoken. Just the facts: When did the band form?August 2010 Who’s in the band?Y’shua…
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Noname at the Beacham, Jan. 17 Chicago rapper Noname is rising fast. Though evident in the size of the Orlando crowd that received the budding artist, the surer testament to her heat was their clear intensity. And she met it with a big show. A velvet union of hip-hop, jazz and R&B,…
Israel is less than a month away from lofting its first rover to the moon from a Cape Canaveral launchpad. Today, ahead of SpaceX’s double-payload mission in February, the little lunar lander named “Beresheet” arrived at the Orlando International Airport after an eight-hour flight from Israel. “Shipping the spacecraft to the United States is the…
President Donald Trump said he did not want “a single dollar going to Puerto Rico” in federal disaster relief funds as the U.S. territory struggled with the continuing aftermath of Hurricane María, according to a recent report from the Washington Post. Trump reportedly made the comments last September after falsely claiming that Puerto Rican politicians wanted…
Many retirees move to Florida to relax and enjoy the eternal summer weather, what they may not know is those characteristics paint a red target on their backs. A study by The Senior List showed that Florida ranks as the most dangerous state for senior citizens because of its high rates of fraud, violence against…
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is banning discrimination against LGBTQ state employees in her office. The recently elected Democrat announced Friday that she’s revising the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ list of workplace protections against discrimination to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” The Florida Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination against age, sex,…
As long as this completely asinine federal shutdown continues over a fake border crisis, many Orlandoans are paying the price. Since there is no sign of a settlement, if you’re affected by this crisis here’s where you can take advantage of some local freebies: MX Taco: A free taco to government workers (with valid ID) during…
A Senate Republican on Thursday filed a proposal aimed at abolishing the Florida Constitution Revision Commission, a panel that meets every 20 years and has unique power to place proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, filed the proposal (SJR 362) for consideration during the legislative session that starts March 5.…
Venture-funded launch startup Relativity Space will set up shop on the Space Coast to launch its 3D-printed rockets by 2020. It’s the first company from the market for small launch vehicles — a growing segment in the commercial space industry — to lock down such a deal in Cape Canaveral. Los Angeles-based Relativity announced yesterday that…
On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his decision to name Chris Anderson, the chief investigations officer for the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office, the county’s latest supervisor of elections. Anderson, a former deputy sheriff for Seminole and Indian River counties, will fill the shoes of Michael Ertel, who was elevated to serve as Florida secretary…
You can now get brain freeze while copping a buzz at Disney Springs. Paddlefish, the fancy seafood restaurant sited in an old paddleboat, announced this week that they will begin serving Buzz Pop Cocktails push-up pops. Unusually for boozy frozen treats, each of the frozen pops contains as much alcohol as a 30-proof cocktail. (Find Paddlefish…
Due to a massive outage, many Verizon customers have reportedly been unable to use their phones Friday, and the worst-hit area is Orlando. According to the site DownDetector, outages have been reported all over the country, beginning at approximately noon ET. However, the largest affected zone is currently the Orlando metro area. “We are currently…
Florida lawmakers next week will consider pumping an additional $25.3 million into the Bright Futures scholarship program amid higher-than-expected student participation this year. The Joint Legislative Budget Commission, which is made up of House and Senate leaders and can make mid-year budget changes, is scheduled to take up the issue Jan. 24, according to an…
A state appeals court will hear arguments in March about the constitutionality of a 2015 law that would require women to wait 24 hours before having abortions. The 1st District Court of Appeal last week scheduled arguments March 26 in the case, according to an online docket. The state appealed last year after Leon County…
Winter Springs’ Central Winds Park turns into Bannockburn this weekend as the Central Florida Scottish Highland Games return. Watch beefy lads and lassies compete in various sports that mostly involve moving heavy stuff while you enjoy pitchers of beer from Dunedin Brewery. New attractions this year include a Scottish-themed mobile escape room that we recommend be…
Damon McMahon, the central figure of Amen Dunes, evolved from producing sparse bedroom experiments to recruiting Montreal’s post-rock collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor to produce and be the backing band on his 2014 album, Love. But last year’s Freedom has been a breakthrough both critically and commercially. McMahon teamed up with the likes of the…
Downtown’s only monthly goth night turns four this week, proving that no matter what your mom says, it’s not just a phase. Resident DJ Lavidicus plays the best in industrial, darkwave, EBM and more, just like every other third Monday, while donations are collected to help out with cancer treatments for one of the regulars.…
One of the problems with strawberry farming in Florida is that the lowest yield comes in November and December, but scientists at the University of Florida think they’ve come up with a solution to that problem: the “Florida Brilliance.” “Our farmers need to produce more strawberries during this period in order to remain profitable,” says…
This morning, Disney announced that its latest attraction, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, will officially rev the engines on March 31 at Hollywood Studios. From Disney: Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy will welcome you inside the world of Pixar’s Cars films, bringing you face to face with racing legend Lightning McQueen. You’ll be part of the next…
Today, Tampa’s annual Gasparilla music festival announced the full lineup for it’s 2019 edition and it’s fully of heavy hitters from all over the country, and our own backyard. This year’s lineup includes: The Avett Brothers, Gary Clark Jr., Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real, The Pharcyde, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Toro y…
Appearing in Winter Park this afternoon alongside Orlando attorney John Morgan and Congressman Matt Gaetz, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that he wants the Legislature to change the current law and allow smokable medical marijuana. “I want people to have their suffering relieved,” said DeSantis, speaking in front of reporters at Azalea Park. DeSantis stated…
Richmond rapper and underground legend Nickelus F has announced dates for a swing through the South in February, and be still our beating hearts, the MC will be playing an Orlando show. Nickelus F first caught national attention in the early ’00s after winning 106 & Park’s Freestyle Fridays for nearly two months straight. His…
When Gov. Ron DeSantis makes his first international trip to Israel, he plans to tout Florida but also will have a chance to get a new supply of water — and probably will do a better labeling job. Water from the Sea of Galilee that DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis saved from a past…
There’s a chance the Orlando Museum of Art may soon be on the move to Lake Nona, thanks to one of the world’s largest private art collectors. The Orlando Business Journal reports that billionaire Joe Lewis, the investor in Lake Nona developer the Tavistock Group, has proposed a potential $10 million investment into a new…
This weekend’s 13th anniversary edition of the long-running Southern Fried Sunday is bittersweet. The mini-fest brings fan favorites like Matt Woods, Terri Binion, Laney Jones and more to two stages, but promoter Jessica Pawli says that it marks the end of SFS being a monthly event, opening Southern Fried Sunday up to take advantage of…
Fresh off the Holy Ship! cruise, Dirtybird Records’ J. Phlip heads to Celine this week. Bringing Dirtybird’s trademark funky tech house to the dancefloor, J. Phlip shows why she’s become one of the most in-demand names for events across the country. And best of all? It’s free. 10 p.m. Friday; Celine Orlando, 22 S. Magnolia…
U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Mario Díaz-Balart have proposed a bipartisan bill to allow Venezuelans fleeing their country’s humanitarian crisis to become eligible for the Temporary Protected Status program, also known as TPS. Both Florida lawmakers say the regime of President Nicolás Maduro has “perpetrated egregious human rights abuses and corrupted Venezuela’s once democratic institutions, leading to…
Florida Power & Light said Wednesday it plans a major expansion of solar-energy projects during the next decade, as the state’s utilities move forward with generating more renewable energy. FPL said it will install more than 30 million solar panels by 2030, with solar facilities expected to be built across the state. The company, which…
A South Florida commissioner has come under fire after saying that U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Muslim congresswoman from Michigan, might “blow up Capitol Hill.” The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports Hallandale Commissioner Anabelle Lima-Taub made the comments on Facebook Jan. 8 after signing a petition to remove Tlaib from office. Hours after being sworn in on Jan. 3,…
It’s been almost nine and a half years since the federal minimum wage was last raised, but today over 100 Democrats – along with Florida congresswoman and Winter Park resident Stephanie Murphy– introduced a bill that would gradually raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour. Led by Democrats Bernie Sanders and…
Super-smooth crooner and R&B hitmaker Lionel Richie announced a very select set of spring dates for his “All the Hits” North American tour and, well, Orlando music fans should prepare to be romanced. The tour is a sequel of sorts to his 2017 co-headlining tour of the same name with Mariah Carey. Lionel Richie headlines…
Give me your heart. Make it real or else forget about seeing Santana. Guitar legend Santana recently announced the dates for his 2019 tour and he’s rocking out in Central Florida. Santana will be bringing his Global Consciousness tour in these Florida locations: April 18, 2019: St. Petersburg, FL at the Al Lang Stadium April…
In a moment of utter self-defiance, the City of Orlando has begun painting parking boxes across downtown to remind citizens where to park their “dockless” Lime bikes – yes, dockless – when they’re finished riding. Kind of defeats the point, right? Not quite, according to Karyn Barber, a spokesperson for the city. “In an effort…
A Tampa-based food hall is looking to open a new location in Orlando’s Ivanhoe Village neighborhood. According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, the Hall on Franklin, which currently has a location in Tampa Heights, is negotiating a new retail space in the Yard at Ivanhoe. The Yard, which is still under construction and doesn’t plan…
Airbnb hosts in Florida welcomed more than 4.5 million guests to the state in 2018, and a good portion of those visitors stayed in Osceola County. The vacation rental platform announced Tuesday that Osceola County homeowners hosted 640,000 guests last year and earned $82.6 million. Osceola County came in second behind Miami-Dade County, which hosted 954,000 guests and earned $204 million.…
The federal government might be shut down, but our Florida state representatives Anna Eskamani and Carlos Guillermo Smith were still hard at work yesterday afternoon, hosting a town hall discussion with local arts leaders at the Orlando REP, and delivering a passionate call-to-action supporting the full restoration of cultural funding from Tallahassee. Reps. Eskamani and…
Florida lawmakers continue to respond to the state’s opioid epidemic, with Rep. Joe Geller, D-Aventura, filing a bill Tuesday that, among other things, would require pharmacists to place red warning stickers on prescription drug bottles containing opioids or other controlled substances. The warning stickers would be required to flag the addictive nature of opioids and…
The State Board of Education is expected Wednesday to approve a report that details a shortage of certified science, English and math teachers in Florida’s public schools. The annual report points to issues such as a scarcity of certified teachers in subject areas such as general science, physics and chemistry when compared to fields such…
Don’t expect Gov. Ron DeSantis to plan an Airbnb stay as part of his first foreign trip as the state’s top executive. The governor announced Tuesday that Florida employees will no longer be reimbursed for Airbnb stays while traveling, as the state considers economic sanctions over the home-sharing platform’s decision against listing properties in the…
OPENINGS: Sette, the rustic Italian eatery by Va Propst and Trina Gregory-Propst of Se7en Bites, will open in the old Stir/Nova/Elliot’s/Brian’s space in Ivanhoe Village in March … Bolay, the gluten-free, build-a-bowl joint featured in this week’s review, will open in the Sprouts plaza on Aloma Avenue in the coming weeks … Speaking of, Sprouts…
Orlando’s semi-annual cold snap arrived last week just in time for the return of the Orlando Fringe Winter Mini-Fest, which warmed the Orlando Shakes from Jan. 10-13. The lineup for the third annual event included encores of some of the best shows from last year’s festival – including the 2018 Critics’ Choice Best Show, 13…
So we’re halfway through January, and you’re probably feeling pretty shitty about yourself right now. Just two weeks after you declared 2019 was going to be a major turning point, your social life is still in the toilet and you aren’t making a penny more in take-home. And your “weight-loss campaign” consisted of requesting a…
I’m a middle-aged man dating a younger guy. He wanted to be a “boy” to a Dom top daddy, and I was happy to oblige. The sex is amazing, and we click as people, too. Then a couple days ago, he told me he wanted to explore small penis humiliation (SPH). I was taken aback…
Meet Clydette (A415381)! She is about 7 months old, and is currently in foster care. She needs a special and patient adopter who is willing to give her a chance. She is very afraid and cautious of humans, but she loves being in the company of other cats and kittens. If you are willing to…
Dark Thoughts Young Philly punk trio keeps things loud, fast and evil. Their Will’s stand last year was a riot – don’t miss them this year. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, at Uncle Lou’s, $5 Swamp Sistas Beth McKee’s Swamp Sistas collective present a multimedia evening of music, art and literary performance by talented area women. 7…
Bloomberg awards Orlando $2.5 million to combat climate change: Michael Bloomberg’s American Cities Initiative announced last week that Orlando is among 25 cities to receive $2.5 million to help combat climate change. The grant is a $70 million program designed to catalyze efforts to promote a sustainable future for residents and help deliver on the…
I didn’t really know much about Bolay before making the drive down to the Lake Nona eatery: Didn’t know it was a Florida-based, fast casual, build-a-bowl chain. Didn’t know the recipes were crafted by Wolfgang Puck protégé Martin Oswald. Didn’t know it was a venture by Outback Steakhouse co-founder Tim Gannon and his polo champion…
