Art at the speed of life
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will soon be presenting their first-ever Resonate Festival, set for the first weekend in February. From Thursday-Monday, Feb. 3-7, the Phil will take over the Plaza Live, presenting a Beethoven-heavy program of concertos, overtures and more intimate chamber pieces. Resonate will also showcase the performing chops of the Phil’s current Artist-in-Residence…
While criminal cases continue against the once-grand business empire, The Trump Organization announced its most ambitious project since Donald J. Trump’s impeachment-studded one-term presidency. Now residing at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, former president Trump is familiar with the construction boom the state has seen in recent months. Trump is looking to cash in on this…
Last year while many cruise lines were still months from any hope of reopening, U.S.-based cruises were able to restart. And new developments in the the cruise industry show that river boats’ pandemic popularity might not be a fluke. Viking, known for their European river cruises, will enter the U.S. market this summer when it…
Enzian Theater will kick off February with a showcase of the cinematic oeuvre of Meat Loaf, to pay tribute to the recently deceased singer. On Saturday, Feb. 5, Enzian will host a 9:30 p.m. screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show, in which Meat Loaf played his 1975 breakthrough role as rocker Eddie. And the day…
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below at the property indicated: February 11, 2022 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) 516-7221Amber Champagne-Household Items, Tina Saville-…
Zora! Festival organizers have postponed the Festival’s signature Outdoor Festival of the Arts event, originally set for the end of this month. The multi-day Outdoor Festival of the Arts, which will feature a set from iconic intergalactic-funk legends Parliament Funkadelic, will be pushed forward to June 4-5, from the original dates of the weekend of…
Greek-inspired restaurant Ava MediterrAegean is finally ready to open in downtown Winter Park. The Park Avenue space that formerly housed Luma will reopen as the home of Ava MediterrAegean Friday, Feb. 4, with chef Keith Bombaugh as executive chef. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AVA MediterrAegean (@avamediterraegean) Bombaugh has experience working alongside Grant Achatz…
Opening a new venue on New Year’s Eve is a ballsy move, and it takes resources, strategy and confidence to pull it off. Oh yeah, and people. Lots of people. Kailash Maharaj, who also owns Alchemy Hookah Lounge on South Kirkman Road, launched his new International Drive venture Rosé Orlando on Dec. 31, tapping local promoter…
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny announced on Monday that his first-ever stadium tour will start in Orlando’s Camping World Stadium on Aug. 5. The “World’s Hottest Tour” will have 29 dates and will cross the United States and Latin America after starting in Orlando this summer. Ticket pre-sale starts Wednesday, Jan. 26, at noon ET. The…
The Orlando Science Center is hosting an evening outdoors with craft beer, food and science this Saturday in Loch Haven Park. The “Science on Tap” event will be the Science Center’s first fundraising event in over two years, and beer craft enthusiasts 21 and over are invited. With over 150 brews to sample from more…
Louisiana-based chicken tender chain Raising Cane’s has made no secret of their plans to mount an offensive into Zaxby’s and PDQ-held territory. They shared that they hoped to expand into Tampa and Orlando late last year and now we have some idea of where those restaurants might be. The chain filed an application in Lake…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ strategy to fight COVID-19 hasn’t been to fight it at all. The chief executive and rising Republican star placed on his chips on monoclonal antibody treatments, a system that treats, rather than prevents, an illness whose long-term effects are still unknown. In a massive blow to that ass-backwards system, the Food…
Three years after Florida lawmakers became embroiled in a fierce debate about so-called “sanctuary cities,” the Senate on Monday began moving forward with another attempt to ratchet up immigration enforcement in the state. The Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee approved a measure (SB 1808) that is a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis — but drew sharp…
With new COVID-19 cases decreasing, the number of Florida hospital inpatients with the virus dropped below 11,000, according to data reported Monday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The data showed that 10,794 inpatients had COVID-19, down from 11,468 on Friday. Also, it showed that 1,566 COVID-19 patients were in intensive-care units,…
As the owner of the Greenery Creamery, Marie Mercado is no stranger to selling folks on new ways to enjoy dessert. She’ll put that to use in a new Filipino ice cream shop and bakery in Mills 50 that’s slated to open later this year. According to a report from Bungalower, Mercado is moving her…
SeaWorld Orlando just shared food and entertainment info on their sprawling Seven Seas Food Festival. Returning in early February, the celebration of international cuisine will offer more than 50 food tastings and entertainment from Flo Rida and Vanilla Ice. The fest kicks off Friday, Feb. 4, and runs through May 8, with concerts ranging from…
A Florida man walked away with just a few scratches after defending his dogs from a full-grown black bear. Last weekend the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission posted a 38-second Ring doorbell video showing a Daytona Beach resident facing off with a bear. In the video, the man (who was not identified by the…
New Milk District retail venture the Spot was the site of a car accident late Sunday night, causing damage to the storefront. At around 1:30 a.m. last night, two cars collided on Robinson Street, which then spiraled into one of the cars veering off the road and slamming into the front window of the Milk…
In a scathing ruling Friday, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker blocked the University of Florida from enforcing a controversial conflict-of-interest policy that gave school administrators discretion over allowing professors to serve as expert witnesses in litigation. Walker’s 74-page opinion, calling the policy “pernicious” and a violation of faculty members’ First Amendment rights, vilified University…
Could weed be the next COVID-19 drug? According to a new study by researchers affiliated with Oregon State University, compounds found in cannabis can prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from infecting human cells. An abstract of the study was published Monday in the Journal of Natural Products. The researchers found that two compounds, cannabigerolic…
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday waved off a decision by the state Senate to not consider a controversial redistricting plan that his administration proposed. The Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved new congressional and Senate maps in the once-a-decade redistricting process. It did not take up a congressional map that DeSantis’ general counsel, Ryan Newman, proposed…
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and his wife Suzie tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. The mayor announced that he had contracted coronavirus on his Twitter, noting that they were prompted to take the test because they had been exposed to a person who was positive and not because they were suffering symptoms. After being made…
Kick-off Black History Month with a jazz concert by the Sanford Jazz Ensemble. On Feb. 6, the ensemble will play its first performance of 2022, pulling selections from the early history of R&B and rock & roll. Guests will be able to hear takes on songs from The Beatles, Jay & the Americans, The Drifters,…
After several months of delay, the Orlando Museum of Art will showcase a collection of rare Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings this February. The “Heroes and Monsters” exhibit opens with a party on Feb. 11. From 8 p.m. to midnight, the Heroes & Monsters Ball will transform the museum into an 80’s themed NYC-style party. The Motiv…
At a news conference in Sarasota on Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis refused to reveal whether or not he had received a COVID-19 booster shot. The governor — who has been vaccinated with a single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot — said that his booster status could be used as “a weapon” against him. “That’s something…
Winter Park Police Chief Michael Deal was released on bail on Thursday. The head of the city’s police department spent a night in jail after he was arrested on a charge of domestic violence battery. The arrest stemmed from an incident at Deal’s home, where police report that Deal was arguing with his wife and…
Florida hospitals saw a decrease in patients with COVID-19 in numbers released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The numbers showed that 11,575 Florida inpatients had COVID-19, down from 11,839 in a Wednesday count. Also, the federal agency reported that 1,601 COVID-19 patients were in hospital intensive-care units, down slightly from…
The state Senate continued to move forward Thursday with a pair of controversial local-government measures that critics contend are tilted too far to businesses and would “embolden bad actors.” The Appropriations Committee voted 11-7 to back a proposal (SB 620) that would allow businesses to file lawsuits if local ordinances cause at least a 15…
311 this week announced a Spring 2022 North American tour and ‘they’ll be here for awhile” in Florida — including Orlando. The alternative rock hitmakers are heading out on the road in March and April for a stretch of dates that include 311 Day in Las Vegas and a spot on Tampa’s baseball-themed Innings Festival. But…
A new exhibition called “Science Fiction, Science Future” will premiere at the Orlando Science Center on Jan. 29 and will run through May 9. The exhibition will focus on new and interesting interactions with technology via exhibits that allow guests to seemingly do the impossible. Visitors can become invisible, move objects with their minds and…
Korean fried chicken joint Chi-Kin is expanding into the former home of Matcha House Tea & Creamery in Mills 50. Chef and owner Hoi Nguyen is building out his Chi-Kin concept into the now-empty space. The new offering will be called Side Chick, a bar and poolroom that gives guest the option of ordering from…
The city of Orlando will reopen the portal for its emergency rental assistance program on Feb. 1. The U.S. Department of Treasury gave the city $6.8 million in COVID-19 relief funds for households that have been financially impacted during the pandemic. As before, the rental assistance payments will go directly to landlords. The city has its…
Despite fierce objections from Democrats who argued the proposal is unconstitutional, a Florida House panel on Wednesday approved a controversial bill that would prohibit doctors from performing abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The proposal, approved by the House Professions and Public Health Subcommittee in a 12-6 vote Wednesday, closely resembles a Mississippi abortion law…
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings threw his support behind the head of the county’s Department of Health after the latter was placed on leave by the state for criticizing his staff’s vaccination rate. “Dr. Raul Pino has been our trusted partner and friend throughout the pandemic,” the mayor shared. “His sound medical advice has helped…
Winter Park Police Chief Michael Deal was arrested on domestic violence charges on Wednesday evening. He is currently being held at the Seminole County jail with out bond on charges of battery. The city has placed him on administrative leave, announcing Division Chief Pam Marcum will act as the interim head of the department. According…
You’ve got one (?) more chance to see Opera Orlando’s recent original production of The Secret River in the form of a televised “encore” screening on local public television station WUCF. The Secret River, Opera Orlando’s first commissioned opera, was staged at the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing…
Barry Bostwick has enjoyed a rich career on stage and screen over the past half-century, originating characters from Danny Zuko in Broadway’s Grease to Mayor Winston on Spin City. But despite that wide range, he’s well aware that the role he’ll forever be best remembered for is Brad Majors, the uptight “hero” of the cult…
The highly anticipated Mount Dora Arts Festival is returning for a 47th year this February. The festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 5-6, starting at 9 a.m and ending at 5 p.m. on both days. It all goes down at the lakefront historic district of downtown Mount Dora. Admission is free, but…
Ring in the Year of the Tiger at Lake Nona’s first-ever Lunar New Year celebration. The celebration of the new year will take place on Saturday, Jan. 29th from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Nona Adventure Park. Bring your friends and family as the event is great for all ages. There will be…
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has held hundreds of daily and weekly meetings explaining the COVID-19 situation in the Orlando area. He has openly pushed back against the state’s laissez-faire attitude toward the raging pandemic. And now, one of the few Florida politicians to take the pandemic seriously has COVID-19. Demings’ positive test was announced…
The director of Orange County’s Department of Health has been put on administrative leave by the state after criticizing his own staff’s vaccination rate against COVID-19. Dr. Raul Pino — who has led the county through several years of the pandemic in a state wholly opposed to fighting coronavirus — let some of that frustration…
Florida lawmakers moved forward Tuesday with a plan that would connect playing the national anthem at sports events to state and local dollars. The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee backed a proposal (SB 1298) that would require Florida professional sports teams receiving government money to play the national anthem before every home game. When asked…
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to prohibit critical race theory from being taught in schools or used in employee training sessions began moving forward Tuesday in the Florida Senate, as outnumbered Democrats warned that the legislation would stifle educators and lead to frivolous lawsuits. The Republican-controlled Senate Education Committee approved the bill (SB 148) in a…
“Patience is also a form of action.”
Dear Dan: I’m a gay man in my 40s. I very much love my husband, but two years ago we acknowledged that our desire for each other sexually just wasn’t there anymore. Thanks in part to reading your column for many years, we were able to have a calm conversation about whether we wanted to…
For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out Kyrsten Sinema’s game. Frustrating though he might be, Joe Manchin at least makes a kind of sense. He’s the last major Democrat standing in a state Donald Trump won by 40 points. Despite being a fixture of West Virginia politics, he was barely re-elected in 2018’s…
Orlando turntablist DJ Dolo76 has a catalog you’d expect from most DJs. There are, of course, remixes — in his case, reinterpretations of songs by Nas, Cardi B, M.O.P., O.C. and the like. His solo debut last year — the Aliens-inspired Vasquez EP — showed instrumental tracks footed equally in classic hip-hop fundamentals and left-field…
Omicron continues to disrupt the calendars, this week postponing the Wu-Tang Killarmy show at the Abbey. So double-check the latest listings for anything you’ve planned, and mask hard if you head out. DJ Nigel John’s Funk Omakase: While touchstones like the grand P-Funk peacocks monopolize the popular conception, funk music is not a monolith. And…
Premieres Wednesday: Heavenly Bites: Mexico — A new foodie series delves into some extreme Mexican dishes you’ll just love, even as they’re doing their best to kill you. And here you thought you had extricated yourself from that kind of tradeoff when you stopped dating. (Netflix) Juanpis González: The Series — Colombian comic Alejandro Riaño…
The last time I spoke to artist-activist Felichia Chivaughn was in late summer 2020, during the peak of both the pre-vaccine pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests, and the co-founder of Central Florida Entertainment Entertainment Advocacy (CFEA) was “not OK.” I’m happy to report that Chivaughn is feeling much better now, as the Orlando-based director…
OPENINGS: Yummy Taste, a new Szechuan restaurant, has opened in the old V.L.C. Vegan Eatery space in the Waterford Towers shopping plaza on North Alafaya Trail … Bacán, the Spanish-leaning restaurant inside the Lake Nona Wave Hotel, has opened … Gou-oui, specializing in (presumably gooey) fresh-baked cookies, has opened at 1737 S. Orange Ave. in…
