Orange County Convention Center hospitality workers avoid potential strike, win big raises and pension in new contract
The deal includes a historic minimum wage increase, ‘setting a new standard for Central Florida workers.’
Legal Public Notices 1/25/23
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below at the property indicated: February 10, 2023 at the times and location listed below. The personal goods stored therein by the following: 12:00 PM Extra Space Storage 1101 Marshall Farms Rd, Ocoee 34761 (407) 516-7221 Davendra Narine – Totes, Boxes.…
Orlando comedians hope Wednesday open mics at Bull and Bush survive and thrive under new ownership
Venues booking major comedy acts, like the Improv, Hard Rock Live and Dr. Phillips Center, are no doubt important to Orlando’s comedic ecosystem, but the best of the best don’t serve up laughs at big venues unless they’ve had a ridiculous amount of practice. In Orlando, an important breeding ground for local comedic talent is…
Florida leaders and lawmakers pledge to ‘fight like hell’ against DeSantis decision to block Black history class
Gov’s spokesman calls the Advanced Placement history elective ‘a vehicle for a political agenda’
Country duo Brooks + Dunn add Orlando show to big ‘Reboot 2023’ tour
Country music duo Brooks & Dunn have added some new dates to their much-anticipated Reboot 2023 tour, and Orlando is a beneficiary of this extended schedule. The twosome announced the addition of Orlando on Monday, and this late-spring show will be the first time they’ve stepped on an Orlando stage in 15 years. The newly…
Tampa’s own Ric Flair, woo!, leads the festivities at Gasparilla Pirate Fest this weekend
The Nature Boy is stylin’ and profilin’ this month.
Disney World’s Splash Mountain closes for good, paving way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
The reimagined ride opens next year
With a rebel yell, Billy Idol announces live return to Orlando this spring
Iconic British singer Billy Idol has announced the dates for his upcoming North American tour this spring, and he’ll be making a visit in Orlando. The coast-to-coast tour kicks off on March 30 in Scottsdale, Arizona, with a cluster of Florida shows coming early on: Hollywood (April 18), Clearwater (April 21), Orlando (April 22) and…
Kali Uchis announces Orlando show in upcoming North American tour
It’ll be one of two Florida dates
Florida Vanlife Gathering motors into Central Florida next month
Welcoming van stans and the van-curious alike
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee publishes kids book sucking up to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
‘Help your kids learn about Ron DeSantis and why he may be our next Commander-in-Chief!’ says a promo for ‘The Kids Guide to Ron DeSantis.’
Florida secretary of state touts new voting restrictions as ‘gold standard’ of ‘election integrity’
Critics argue the changes were designed to suppress voting by minorities and Democrats.
Evidence in suspended DA’s lawsuit shows that DeSantis simply wanted to target a ‘reform prosecutor’
Republican political operative Larry Keefe picked Andrew Warren after a Google search and a chat with a right-wing sheriff.
Sorekara poised to bring a reimagined level of Japanese dining to Baldwin Park
[Updated 1/23/2023 2:40 p.m. to include comments from Chef Shen] Chef William Shen, the executive chef of the now-shuttered 12-seat French-Japanese omakase restaurant Ato in New York City, will open a brand-new concept called Sorekara in Baldwin Park later this year. The restaurant will be located in the old Galeria Restaurant space at 4979 New…
Stevie Nicks returns to Orlando this spring with newly announced solo tour
Orlando is the tour’s only Florida date
New downtown Orlando bar Game Room Social Club opens this weekend
Game Room Social Club, a new bar concept occupying a very familiar space in downtown Orlando, is having its grand opening Friday evening, Jan. 20. Game Room has taken over the rooms formerly occupied by downtown dive Lizzy McCormack’s, which closed in September of 2022. The new bar is the latest addition to the Garito…
DeSoto County man convicted after investigation into illegal alligator egg laundering in Florida
A state appeals court Friday upheld a man’s conviction on a charge of conspiracy to commit racketeering after an undercover investigation into the illegal laundering of alligator eggs. A three-judge panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by Robert Thomas Beasley, who was convicted in DeSoto County. An undercover officer from…
Vice President Kamala Harris to speak in Florida on 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Vice President Kamala Harris will appear Sunday in Florida to mark the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday. While not providing details of the travel plans, Jean-Pierre said Harris will deliver “a major address” about reproductive care. “She will talk about what…
DeSantis continues probing for info about diversity-related initiatives and trans healthcare at Florida public colleges
Gov. Ron DeSantis has spent the beginning of 2023 making waves in higher education, including getting answers this week from universities about spending on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Meanwhile, DeSantis’ administration requested broad information from universities about services provided to transgender people. The answers from the state’s 12 universities about spending on programs and…
First-ever Echoland Festival bringing Robert Plant, Tenacious D, Flaming Lips and more to Spirit of the Suwannee
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park will be the home for yet another big music festival come this spring. The inaugural Echoland Music Festival will take over Spirit of the Suwannee in May for three days of live music, with a pretty stacked roster for a first-time effort. The lineup features Phil Lesh, Robert Plant…
SeaWorld’s Aquatica to host ‘Beach Nights’ movie screenings starting this weekend
SeaWorld’s Aquatica is set to host a new after-hours event series starting this weekend that is sure to make a cinematic splash with the young ones. The movie series “Beach Nights” takes place on Saturday evenings at 5:45 p.m., kicking off this weekend and running through Feb. 25. The waterpark will screen six family-friendly films…
Noma no mo’: The ‘world’s best restaurant’ announces its closure and we have thoughts
Does fine dining need to change?
Florida is the second most-expensive state to buy a dozen eggs, according to Instacart study
Don’t get too egg-cited.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ war on ‘woke ideology’ in higher education threatens academic freedom
We’ve seen this all before.
Create your own content with TikTok and YouTube influencers during Content Z party in Orlando this weekend
Promoter I-4 Chapman has earned quite the local following for bringing nightlife events to Orlando, and this week he’s branching out into new territory: social media influencers. On Saturday night, Jan. 21, Chapman is putting on his first-ever influencer event. It’s called Content Z, and features four social media influencers big on YouTube and TikTok…
Check out the Orlando artists featured in this year’s Billboard Project at CityArts starting Thursday night — or, of course, while driving around town
You’ve already been able to see it on the streets for a few days, but starting Thursday night you can check out the art of the 2023 Corridor Project Billboard Exhibition in miniature at CityArts in downtown Orlando. This public art exhibition is a collaboration between Downtown Arts District and local curator Pat Greene; it…
Original ‘Blue’s Clues’ host Steve Burns is coming to Orlando for this year’s MegaCon
The J.D. Salinger of kids’ television is coming to Orlando’s MegaCon convention this spring! Steve Burns, the original host of Blue’s Clues, is making an appearance at the annual pop-culture con. Burns made his name as the beloved OG host of Blue’s Clues for the first six years of the show from 1995-2001. He walked…
Wrestlers Matt Cardona and Bryan Myers bring their ‘Major Wrestling Figures Podcast’ to Orlando for a live taping
“The 40 Year Old Virgin … that stigma was there for so long of that guy, that virgin, with all those action figures on display. But that’s my house! I’m not a virgin!” When ripped pro-wrestler Matt Cardona proudly proclaims that, few will dare snicker. The former (and perhaps future) WWE star balances his wrestling…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis targets trans health care at colleges and universities
Collecting details on people who access certain kinds of medical care — yeah, that’s not at all dystopian.
Free Will Astrology: ‘God is stealthy yet blatant, like a green chameleon perched on a green leaf’
Your horoscope for the week of Jan. 19-25
Kaya celebrates grand opening with Filipino Freedom Fest, OSC fundraiser Science on Tap takes over Loch Haven Saturday + more local food news
OPENINGS + CLOSINGS: At long last, Norman Van Aken’s eponymous restaurant Norman’s is set to open at the Dellagio Town Center in Dr. Phillips in February … Z Asian Vietnamese Kitchen owners Hien Pham and Huong Nguyen will open their pho ga concept, appropriately called Pho Ga Hien Vuong, in the old Zero Degrees space…
Veterans can now access free emergency mental healthcare services under new VA policy
This move will expand access to care for up to 9 million, or roughly half of U.S. veterans who are not already enrolled in the VA.
Windows of Milk District LGBTQ bar District Dive shot out overnight in what sure looks like a hate crime
The windows of Milk District LGBTQ+ bar District Dive — part of the Southern Nights complex at Bumby Avenue and South Street — were shot out last night in what the owners are characterizing as a hate crime. Video posted to District Dive’s Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon shows the late-night shooting, which also targeted Southern Craft, as it happens. The shooting…
Florida military veterans’ nursing homes struggle with staffing shortages
Many veterans homes have had to turn to costly staffing agencies.
Florida House lawmakers back changes to student-athlete pay law
The bill also would allow schools to offer student-athletes contract review, tax prep and financial adviser services
Central Florida’s two newest attractions both rely on atmosphere and interactivity, and both revive long-dormant venues
One is worth the journey, and the other … isn’t
A decommissioned mural in Parramore finds new life in virtual reality
Volunteers are setting up tents, chairs and tables in a parking lot outside a gray office building in the Parramore neighborhood of Orlando the day before Thanksgiving. It’s an ambitious event promising dinner, drinks and dessert, as well as providing free vaccines, health care information, clothing, haircuts and personal care bags at no cost to…
It’s perfectly legal for Orange County landlords to reject tenants based on where their money comes from
But that could change soon, if the county board votes to prohibit ‘source of income’ housing discrimination.
This week Netflix debuts ‘Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre,’ an adaptation of the manga master’s finest tales
What’s new on Netflix, Shudder, Hulu, Disney+ and the rest
Is this ‘the moment’ for Orlando’s Ella and the Bossa Beat to break through?
Their latest album, ‘In the Moment,’ is lush and imaginatively produced
The Amazing Acro-Cats are coming to the Orlando Rep this weekend to do tricks … if they feel like it
The Amazing Acro-Cats, as seen on the Netflix series Cat People, are coming to Orlando for a long weekend of shows at the Orlando Rep. These cats — in contrast to the 99 percent of felines on this planet who just stare at you contemptuously when you request they repeat a cute trick — take…
Orlando rallies with cities around the country to march and mark the 50th anniversary of ‘Roe v. Wade’ this weekend
It’s been nearly 50 years since the Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision, guaranteeing the constitutional right to abortion in the United States … and seven months since the Supreme Court’s conservative majority struck that down. Since then, the abortion care landscape in the U.S. has changed dramatically. And that came after Florida’s GOP-controlled…
‘Spot the Mistakes!’
No. 1: The fact that any of these people are in any kind of power
It’s a double dose of Sarah Shook in Orlando this weekend with the Disarmers and Mightmare sharing the stage
This exceptional bill will feature a captivating double dose of River Shook, the North Carolina artist that most of us know as Sarah Shook. As the head of the Disarmers, Shook has quickly emerged in recent years as one of the best Americana talents of this generation with a hard-twanging country-rock sound that’s both alternative…
Let’s get ready to sluuuuuuurp at this year’s Ramen Rumble competition at Orlando’s Morimoto Asia
Lllllet’s get ready toooo — nope, we’re gonna stop right there, because ring announcer Michael Buffer has trademarked his distinctive catchphrase. But you know what we were gonna say. For a fifth year, the Good Salt restaurant group’s Ramen Rumble returns to rock your noodly socks off, with five local chefs battling for the coveted…
Come sail away (musically) with Styx at Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center on Wednesday
Styx is probably one of the hardest-working rock bands around today. After being bottled up by the pandemic (during which they recorded their latest, quite impressive album, Crash of the Crown), they returned to the road with a vengeance in June 2021. Since then, they’ve played more than 160 shows, nearly 10 of which were…
