Cover Story
Sound poet Tracie Morris announced as Atlantic Center Master Artist for June
Famed sound poet and multimedia artist Tracie Morris has been announced as an upcoming Master Artist-in-Residence at New Smyrna’s Atlantic Center for the Arts early this summer. The breadth of Morris’ career is nothing short of astounding – she’s taught at Pratt in New York City AND been featured on an episode of MTV Unplugged…
Orlando indie trio Saeros release new music video
New and fast-rising local trio Saeros has recently released a music video for their new track “Sorry,” and it’s garnering attention from far outside the City Beautiful. New Noise Magazine premiered the track on their site, calling it “a song worth hearing for relaxation or within a relatable search for serenity.” The dreamlike performance video…
Orlando’s all-vegan eatery Leguminati to open in Hourglass District
When one door closes, another one opens. After a bitter dispute with Sandwich Bar owner Matthew Scot that effectively ended Leguminati’s foray into the Milk District, the self-described “bean team” has teamed up with Foxtail Coffee Co. and will open inside the beanery’s soon-to-open space in the Hourglass District. Breakfast, lunch and dinner options will be served…
UCF makes list for most new users on ‘sugar baby’ site
Sugar, sugar, how’d you get so fly? Every year, the website Seeking Arrangements – a social media platform used to facilitate “sugar baby” relationships, a seemingly romantic partnership based around one person receiving cash, gifts or other benefits from another in exchange for their affection and company – ranks its list of colleges with the…
Orlando’s Domu named one of USA Today’s top ramen destinations
Domu, in Audubon Park’s East End Market, was recently named as one of USA Today’s top ramen destinations in the country. “In Orlando, Domu adds to Florida’s heat by serving steamy, spicy bowls of ramen. House-made noodles are served in slow-cooked broths, ranging from chicken to pork based, and can be chased with craft cocktails…
Disney World guest films monorail traveling with door open
Monorail red is not having a good day and I'm having a panic attack. #disney #monorail #thisisfine #callmaintenance A post shared by abbieprimeknits (@abbieprimeknits) on Jan 6, 2018 at 7:45am PST A recent video from a Walt Disney World guest traveling on the monorail shows how important it is to “stand clear of the doors.”…
James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt to play Orlando in May
James Taylor & His All-Star Band will be hitting the road this summer for a North American jaunt with Bonnie Raitt – and this incredible pairing will be hitting Orlando in May. Both performers will be playing headline-length sets. Though Taylor will not be touring behind new music, he is poised to release (of all…
Florida lawmaker files bill to protect Confederate monuments
Welcome to Rep. Jay Fant’s fantasy world – a place where the South will rise, and never fall, again. Fant, R-Jacksonville, filed a bill on Monday that seeks to protect any wartime monument built after 1822 on public property. According to the legislation, dubbed the “Soldiers’ and Heroes’ Monuments and Memorials Protection Act,” the statues…
Disney wants Star Wars Land to be a WestWorld meets Harry Potter
With both the interactive Star Wars multi-day LARPing hotel resort confirmed for Disney World and two massive multi-billion Star Wars lands, known as Star Wars: Galaxy Edge, just over a year away from opening, we’re starting to have a better understanding of the cutting-edge technology that will be used to transport guests in a galaxy…
Macklemore, Sean Paul and Fifth Harmony added to Universal’s Mardi Gras 2018
Universal Studios has added a few more major acts to their annual Mardi Gras celebration. Macklemore, Sean Paul and Fifth Harmony will be joining performers like the Beach Boys and Foreigner to perform at Universal Studios for what they are calling “Florida’s Biggest Party.” The confirmed dates so far: Feb. 3 Sean Paul Feb. 10…
Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper are coming to Orlando this summer
Rod Stewart will be stopping in Orlando this summer with special guest Cyndi Lauper. The North America Summer 2018 Tour is the second year in a row that Stewart and Lauper have toured together. The two will be performing at the Amway Center July 26. Pre-sale tickets are now available to Citi cardmembers until Jan.…
Gwen Graham pays for release of records related to September nursing home deaths
More than 41,000 pages of records related to the deaths of 12 people in an overheated Hollywood nursing home after Hurricane Irma was released Monday evening, following a records request by 2018 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham. The release comes after Graham’s request to obtain the documents under Florida’s open records law was submitted almost…
From austerity to ‘boom’: State of the State speeches through the years show Rick Scott’s evolution
Gov. Rick Scott will deliver his eighth and final State of the State address today, the opening day of the 2018 legislative session. It’s an important tradition, as it gives the governor a chance to offer his assessment of the state and to outline past accomplishments and his goals for the 60-day session. But like…
With new vision and cred, avant-pop act Suno Deko makes a spellbinding return
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Suno Deko, Will’s Pub, Jan. 6 The last time I saw avant-pop act Suno Deko was a purely chance encounter almost exactly three years ago back in 2014 over at Uncle Lou’s. I came to see a weirdo local improv act (Gnutzak) but ended up captured most by Suno Deko’s performance. At…
Interactive art experience DRIP will shut down I-Drive location
After more than five years and 700 shows, interactive art experience DRIP is shutting down its I-Drive theater. In a statement posted on DRIP’s website founder and creative director Jessica Mariko stated; “Closing this location is bittersweet but exciting for our team. We put a huge amount of passion into everything created in that space…
The reimagined St. Pete Pier is beginning to take shape
After years of delays, setbacks, and controversy the St. Pete Pier is finally taking form, and we’re finally learning what the finished project will be. The city had been discussing a new pier for decades but in May 2013 it closed its iconic downtown pier to replace it with a modern design known as “The…
Orlando activists demand Nelson, Murphy block spending bill without DREAM Act
Orlando activists and undocumented youth were outside the offices of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Stephanie Murphy on Monday demanding both lawmakers block future spending bills that don’t include a clean DREAM Act. Both lawmakers are among several Democratic legislators who have faced a progressive backlash after a Dec. 20 vote approving spending bill…
Beach Boys, Foreigner and more announced for Universal’s Mardi Gras 2018
The first batch of performers for Universal’s Mardi Gras 2018, aka “Florida’s Biggest Party,” has been released and there’ll be plenty of good vibrations. The annual celebration will feature the Beach Boys, Kelsea Ballerini, Andy Grammer and Foreigner. Universal has not release the full set list yet. Concert dates so far are as follows: Feb.…
Rick Scott is just going to go ahead and declare UCF as national champions
It’s official: Gov. Scott is drinking the championship kool-aid. As if the pandemonium surrounding the University of Central Florida’s football team wasn’t already through the roof, Scott issued a proclamation today declaring the Knights as “national champions in Florida” after their undefeated season. UCF rounded out their 13-0 season early last week with a 34-27…
After 22 years, Epcot is about to close one of its least popular attractions of all time
With Universe of Energy and Stitch’s Great Escape both now finally dead, Disney looks to be keeping the streak going by killing off another extremely unpopular attraction, this time again at Epcot. Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable will be closing Sunday, Feb. 3, 2018, after 22 years. The film attraction, found on the second floor…
Florida Rep. Mike Miller is urging Trump to invite UCF to the White House
The 2017 University of Central Florida football season was one for the ages and it might culminate in the most unprecedented move of the year: an invitation to the White House. Mike Miller, a Representative for District 47, recently sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to invite UCF to the White House…
The world’s largest Disney gift shop is about to get a major facelift
Since 1996, the World of Disney shop at what is now known as Disney Springs has been enchanting customers with its over-the-top theming and room after room of Disney merchandise. The 50,000-square-foot facility is the world’s largest World of Disney, which also has locations in Times Square, Anaheim and Shanghai. With a 2015 expansion that…
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit announce Orlando show for April
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit have announced an April/May North American tour, set to kick off with a few Florida dates, and Orlando is one of those cities. Isbell and the band are hitting the road in support of new album The Nashville Sound, and will be supported on all dates by British guitar…
2017 goes down as costliest year ever for natural disasters in U.S.
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration announced today that 2017 was the costliest calendar of natural disasters in U.S. history, totaling more than $306 billion in damages overall. Last year’s total was enough to break the previous record, set in 2005, when the U.S. saw more than $215 billion in disaster-related damage, such as Hurricane…
Legendary Shack Shakers guitarist Rod Hamdallah struts his own stuff, Jim Ivy’s latest weirdness as DJ Mezcalculation
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Rod Hamdallah, Johnny Mile and the Kilometers, the Woolly Bushmen and DJ Mezcalculation, Will’s Pub, Jan. 5 The concert calendars usually go into deep freeze around the holidays, but for us the weather actually followed suit this year. This bill anchored by hometown heroes the Woolly Bushmen was probably the first real…
Justin Timberlake’s ‘Man of the Woods’ tour is coming to Orlando
Justin Timberlake will bring his suit and tie to Orlando this spring for a stop on his “Man of the Woods” tour. JT will perform at the Amway Center on May 14. Tickets go on sale Jan. 16 at Ticketmaster.com. His new single “Filthy,” off his upcoming “Man of the Woods” album (dropping Feb. 2),…
UCF will celebrate ‘national championship’ tonight in downtown Orlando
Thousands of Knights will descend upon Church Street this evening in honor of the University of Central Florida’s perfect football season and self-proclaimed national championship. Mayor Buddy Dyer will present the team with a key to the city at tonight’s block party and pep-rally, which will begin at 6 p.m. and is expected to last…
Florida Republican leaders meet in Orlando to urge mid-term unity amid chaos
Florida Republican leaders Saturday talked of the need to drown out media chatter amid predictions of Democratic gains in this year’s mid-term elections and attacks on the GOP’s unconventional president. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio told members of the Republican Party of Florida gathered for an annual meeting in Orlando to stick with the game plan…
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s best collaboration, ‘Ed Wood’, screens at the Enzian this week
1994’s Ed Wood, a rollicking cinematic love note to the up-to-that-point reviled and forgotten filmmaker, is not only the fullest flowering of the Johnny Depp–Tim Burton creative symbiosis, but Burton’s finest film. Period. Some may argue that point, but some have also argued erroneously that Wood’s 1959 opus Plan 9 From Outer Space is unwatchable,…
Band of the Week: Handmade, Amigo
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 Handmade, Amigo. Handmade, Amigo is playing their CD album release party on January 12 at Henao Contemporary Center with Zap Dragon, Jason Guy Smiley, the Palmettes, and comedians Simon Nash,…
Baker and Barganier team up with another dynamic duo for one-of-a-kind performance at Avalon Island
It’s true we write a lot about Elizabeth Baker’s various shows, but in our defense she is involved in so many solo and group projects that she seems to put on a different performance every time. Baker and Erich Barganier are touring in support of their new album, …and darkness was upon the face of…
The Coldharts bring Fringe favorite ‘Edgar Allan’ to the Timucua stage for one night only
Brooklyn-based performers Katie Hartman and Nick Ryan – better known as the Coldharts – blew Orlando Fringe audiences away last spring with their perverse punk-rock opera The Unrepentant Necrophile, and this week they bring their acclaimed one-woman play, The Legend of White Creek, to the Winter Mini-Fringe. But if you want to know why Orlando…
Take a good close look at Disney’s new Black Panther pin
The Pin Traders store in Disney World’s Spring Marketplace is reportedly selling a Black Panther pin that depicts the main character, T’Challa, as a white dude. According to Disney Pins, a website completely devoted to tracking the pins at Disney parks, the latest Black Panther pin has some serious issues. Clearly whoever designed this pin…
Ten issues to watch during Florida’s 2018 legislative session
Florida lawmakers will start the 2018 legislative session Tuesday, with Gov. Rick Scott giving his annual State of the State address. During the subsequent two months, the House and Senate will negotiate a state budget and consider hundreds of bills. Here are 10 big issues to watch as the session moves forward: BUDGET: Scott has…
House, Senate proposal targets sexual harassment in Florida capital
Two South Florida Democrats filed bills Friday that would seek to prevent sexual harassment by public officials and lobbyists and create a task force to examine sexual-harassment issues in government. Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, and Rep. Kristin Jacobs, D-Coconut Creek, filed the bills (SB 1629 and HB 1233) for consideration during the legislative session that…
Senate bill would boost contraceptive coverage in Florida
Health-insurance policies would be required to provide coverage for FDA-approved contraceptive drugs without imposing deductibles, coinsurance or co-payment requirements under a bill filed Friday by state Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation. The proposal (SB 1718) also would require insurance companies and HMOs to provide follow-up services, including insertion or removal of contraceptive devices, without additional cost-sharing…
Orlando Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith refiles bill to decriminalize marijuana in Florida
Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando), a man not afraid to wear a pair of weed sox, has re-filed legislation to overhaul Florida’s incredibly dated marijuana laws. The bill, HB1203, would re-categorize misdemeanor criminal offenses for minor possession of marijuana (20 grams or less) as non-criminal civil violations. So basically, instead of getting up to a…
Roger Stone says Mueller will bring charges against president ‘almost immediately’
Infamy comes in many forms — the good, the bad and, in this case, Roger Stone. Stone was the guest speaker for the month of January at the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida. Standing in front of a drooping American flag, with a packed room listening, Stone touched on issues ranging from how he…
Central Florida’s last Kmart will close this spring
The blue light specials will soon cease to exist in Central Florida. In an effort to get the company on solid footing, Sears Holding announced Thursday the closing of 64 Kmart stores, including the location at 1002 E. Highway 50 in Clermont. The company also announced that 39 Sears stores will close. All 103 local…
Trump’s private helicopter is using the Mar-a-Lago helipad, which is against the law
A post shared by Katherine Faulders (@kfaulders) on Dec 30, 2017 at 5:34am PST Last March, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort was given permission by city officials to build a helipad that was only meant to be used to transport the president to his luxury golf resort via Marine One. Well, as you can see, the Trump’s…
Southern blues rockers JJ Grey and Mofro announce Orlando show for February
Jacksonville’s Southern rock upstarts JJ Grey & Mofro are hitting the road for a clutch of Florida shows in February and will play Orlando as part of that jaunt. The band just returned from a swing of mostly sold-out New Year’s shows in Georgia and the Carolinas and should be in fighting form come February.…
Puerto Rico governor will hold town hall in Kissimmee next week
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló will travel to Central Florida next week to hold a town hall in Kissimmee on the island’s recovery after Hurricane Maria. The town hall is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Kissimmee Civic Center on 201 E. Dakin Ave. The meeting is “an opportunity…
Central Florida Zoo animals get extra care during freezing temperatures
You’re not the only one feeling the frigid winds slapping your face – animals at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens also get the chills, which means they get extra care during the cold snap. Zoo spokesperson Stephannie Kettle says outdoor, non-native reptiles – including the crocodile monitor, Grand Cayman rock iguanas, Aldabra tortoise and African…
DeSantis launches run for Florida governor after praise from Trump
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis filed paperwork Friday to formally enter Florida’s 2018 gubernatorial race, after landing praise from President Donald Trump and rounding up a list of wealthy financial backers. DeSantis, a Palm Coast Republican, opened accounts that will allow him to raise money for a primary contest that already includes state Agriculture Commissioner Adam…
Uncomfortable Brunch kicks off 2018 with a screening of classic ‘A Clockwork Orange’
Uncomfortable Brunch takes the phrase “New Year, New You” to a new level with their first screening of 2018. Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ novel about a hedonistic young punk who gets reconditioned by an experimental process is far from obscure, but it should still make you uncomfortable. Daytime drinking and a brunch…
Hip-hop community pays tribute to David ‘MexOne’ Alvarado at the Social this weekend
David “MexOne” Alvarado passed away in September, leaving behind a huge impact in the hip-hop scene after helping start the BBoy Spot, one of the first hip-hop community centers in the world. This week, a cadre of local hip-hop heavyweights – BMF, Rubox, E-Turn, Madd Illz, etc. – pay tribute to the man with a…
Rick Scott, Bill Nelson vow to fight Trump’s drilling plan off Florida coast
Gov. Rick Scott and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, widely expected to battle this year for Nelson’s Senate seat, said Thursday they both intend to fight a Trump administration plan to open previously protected parts of the Atlantic Ocean and eastern Gulf of Mexico to offshore oil and gas drilling. Scott said he has requested a…
UCF to throw ‘national championship’ celebration in downtown Orlando
In the latest nod to the University of Central Florida’s undefeated season, the City of Orlando and UCF announced their plan today to throw a “national championship” party in downtown Orlando next week. It’s the latest celebration after UCF topped Auburn University in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl earlier this week, with a score of 34-27.…
Look at this big-ass hairy pig
A 300-pound hairy pig was found crispy side up on a North Naples sidewalk after deputies say it ran away from its owner. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office says residents spotted the auburn-haired hog running free through Amberton Townhomes in North Naples on Monday. Two deputies responded and found the furry pig plopped on a…
The Blue Spring manatee cam is the best thing on the internet right now
With colder temperatures, comes herds of manatees. At this very moment, hundreds of manatees are jam packed into the warm waters at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, which means the live stream is arguably the best thing on the internet today. As of this morning, the park staff counted 363 manatees from the…
Brunch With Your Pup offers your doggo their own buffet in the Mennello’s sculpture garden
January may be the coldest month of the year in Orlando historically, but the forecast for this Sunday calls for a more than comfortable high of 75 degrees. Take advantage of the weather and bring your pupper to the Mennello’s first outdoor brunch of the year. Treat yourself to waffles, quiches and mimosas while your…
In brisket and in health: 4 Rivers launches new bridal planning firm
Today 4R Restaurant Group announced the addition of a wedding planning company to its current portfolio (which includes 4 Rivers Smokehouse, The Coop, the Sweet Shop Bakery, and 4 Rivers Catering). The Branch is a full-service events company offering catering, florals, event design and logistics, and photography to grooms- and brides-to-be. Wedding expert Andi Mans joins…
Frozen iguanas are falling out of trees in Florida right now
The scene at my backyard swimming pool this 40-degree South Florida morning: A frozen iguana. pic.twitter.com/SufdQI0QBx — Frank Cerabino (@FranklyFlorida) January 4, 2018 Arguably no one is more stunned with the current Arctic blast gripping most of the country than Florida’s reptiles, specifically the invasive iguanas. The freezing temperatures result in what’s called “cold-stunned” iguanas,…
Kasa’s new Mexican concept Chela will feature a $15 all-you-eat taco menu
Downtown Orlando is finally getting an all-you-can-eat taco option. As we previously reported, Kasa Tapas and Raw Bar will soon relaunch as a casual Mexican-inspired spot called Chela Tequila and Tacos, and now we’ve been told they’ll feature a $15 all-you-can-eat taco menu every Taco Tuesday. This is a possible game-changer. Chela’s full menu hasn’t…
Carnival’s ‘poop cruise’ boat just failed an inspection from the CDC
The Carnival Triumph, also known as the infamous “poop cruise” boat from 2013, is now knee-deep in metaphorical shit after bombing a recent inspection from the Centers for Disease Control. A November report from the CDC was released earlier this week and highlights some choice scenarios like flies in unsanitary food prep areas, dairy products…
High school students who evacuated to Florida can earn Puerto Rican diplomas
Puerto Rican junior and senior high school students who evacuated to Florida escaping Hurricane Maria’s devastation can earn a diploma from the island while finishing their curriculum in state public schools. Students who attained the 11th or 12th grade in a Puerto Rican public school by the time Maria made landfall and are now enrolled…
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will roar into the Beacham this month
Scuzz-rock experts Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are set to embark on their (spectacularly named) “Wrong Tour” later this month and an Orlando stop is part of it. The band will be supporting new album Wrong Creatures, which is sent to drop on Jan. 12. Going along for the ride is Night Beats. Black Rebel Motorcycle…
Speaker Richard Corcoran wants to ban Florida’s nonexistent ‘sanctuary cities’
As the legislative session starts next week, House Speaker Richard Corcoran is making one of his first priorities the passage of a bill that would ban “sanctuary cities” in Florida. “Sanctuary cities are a threat to the safety of our communities,” Corcoran tweeted on Wednesday. “On week one of session the Florida House will pass…
Florida lawmakers are being pushed to declare UCF national champions
Tallahassee public-relations guru Kevin Cate has pushed Florida lawmakers the past couple years to acknowledge the existence of his alma mater, Alabama’s Auburn University, through a specialty license plate. Now he is trying to round up legislators to proclaim the University of Central Florida as college football national champions after the Knights beat Auburn on Monday to…
Maitland Art Center’s Culture Pop opens a look at the Women of the Research Studio
It’s the Maitland museum’s traditional Friday-night party to mark the opening of a new exhibition in its galleries, and this one brings in the New Year with a roar. Women of the Research Studio celebrates the history of its female fellows and artists in residence, from Mina Citron (1896-1991) and Jan Gelb (1906-78) to contemporary…
Garage rocker Rod Hamdallah steps into the spotlight at Will’s Pub
In recent years, this Atlanta guitar slinger has been busy as the right-hand gun of the one and only J.D. Wilkes in excellent bands like the Legendary Shack Shakers and the Dirt Daubers. On his own, Hamdallah doesn’t have much recorded work out there – just a 2014 debut EP and a 2016 7-inch –…
That big dumb panda was so wrong
A couple weeks ago just about everyone, including a 20-year-old male giant panda, predicted the University of Central Florida would lose to Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl – a sobering reminder why we shouldn’t rely on animals, or anyone for sports predictions. The panda, Yang Yang from Zoo Atlanta, came to his very incorrect…
The Jacksonville Jaguars gave out 1,000 playoff tickets to refugees and displaced Puerto Ricans
This Sunday the Jacksonville Jaguars will host their first home playoff game in nearly two decades, and a total of 1,000 tickets are going to refugees and displaced Puerto Ricans. Through the Jaguars Foundation, owner Shad Khan has donated 500 tickets to political and natural disaster refugees in Northeast Florida and another 500 to Puerto…
Postpunk stars Soft Kill are coming to Orlando this March
If you think it’s cold today, just wait until March. Hotly-tipped post-punk standard-bearers Soft Kill have announced a U.S. tour that includes an Orlando stop this spring. The band is bringing along as touring opener the lush, heart-on-sleeve synth-act Choirboy. Soft Kill headline Will’s Pub on Saturday, March 10. More information on show times and…
Sushi spot U Roll is opening a new location in downtown Orlando
A new sushi spot is coming to downtown Orlando, which already has Shin Japanese Cusine, Amura, Shari Sushi Lounge and Oudom Thai and Sushi, to name a few. But hey, the more the merrier. U Roll Sushi, which has locations at 7685 E. Colonial Drive as well as an “Express” stand in the Altamonte Mall,…
College Football Playoff executive director stands by UCF’s No. 12 ranking
On Monday, in what would come down to a fourth-quarter nail-biter, the University of Central Florida football team finished out their undefeated 13-0 season by besting the University of Auburn with a 34-27 win in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Going into the game, No. 12 ranked UCF was widely regarded as the underdog to No.…
19 free shows happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, Jan. 3 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 pm at the Caboose, 1827 N. Orange Ave. The Strange Trip 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday, Jan. 4 Thursday Jazz Jams 8 pm at…
Barley and Vine kicks off the New Year with the Savage Garten Comedy Show
New year, new comedy showcases. Or maybe just new names for old ones. This Wednesday, Lorraine Cornillie plays host to 13 local comedians kicking off 2018 on the Barley & Vine stage. Get there early to grab a seat at the bar and enjoy full access to the Vine’s extensive selection of craft brews. Or…
Children collateral damage in Florida’s opioid epidemic
Ciara sobs as she recounts how, as a middle schooler, she helplessly witnessed her mother’s downward spiral into drug addiction, an affliction that left Ciara at times wishing her mother would simply die to end their suffering. Ciara, now 20, is one of the countless child casualties of an opioid epidemic Florida lawmakers are struggling…
Henry Rollins shares his travel photos and stories at the Plaza Live
Hardcore man-of-letters Henry Rollins returns to Central Florida this week with his Travel Slideshow. During Rollins’ extensive travels and decades’ worth of performances he documented his experiences, and he brings his vast collection of photos to share the stories and anecdotes behind them with his trademark eye for (ahem) detail, introspection, opinion and, most of…
D.C.’s Red Death headline stacked hardcore bill at Stardust
Four (count ’em) of the finest young, feral hardcore punk practitioners touring this soon after the holidays makes this early Stardust show worthy of a spotlight. But when one of those bands is Washington, D.C.’s Red Death, appropriate notches have been kicked up. The band has moved beyond its hardcore roots, delving enthusiastically into a…
Former Florida congresswoman Corrine Brown asks appeals court for prison reprieve
Slated to report to prison Jan. 29, former Congresswoman Corrine Brown is asking a federal appeals court to allow her to remain free while she continues to fight her conviction on charges related to a charity scam. Brown’s attorney, William Mallory Kent, filed a 37-page document Friday at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals…
Savage Love: ‘Runners’
I married my high-school sweetheart at 17, had a baby, together a few years, mental illness and subsequent infidelity led to things ending. My ex-husband remarried, divorced again, and is now in another LTR. I’m in a LTR for a decade with my current partner (CP), we have a few kids, and I’m so in…
Gimme Shelter: Meet Taffy!
Are you looking for a new pal? Say hello to Taffy! Taffy (A394329) is a a lovable 10-year-old looking for a home. Consider adoption as one of your New Year’s Petsolutions and adopt this sweetheart! As a senior pet, her adoption fees are waived. What are you waiting for? Senior pets (7 years or…
Opening in Orlando: I, Tonya, Hostiles and more
So are movies, like, still a thing? Not if you listen to outlets like Forbes, which are responding to the relative underperformance of The Last Jedi by declaring that no one is ever going to see a Star Wars film ever again – and that the American public might be over moviegoing in general, ready…
Orlando Meats provides a sanctum for the carnivore
Pros of protein
Plenty of exciting plays are coming to Orlando in 2018, but it looks like a relatively quiet year ahead in the theme parks
Did the ambivalent tone of last week’s eulogy for the “best worst year ever” leave a bitter taste in your mouth? Let’s rinse 2017 away with an optimistic look at upcoming arts and attractions I’m anticipating in the year ahead. First and foremost on my 2018 cultural calendar is the Orlando Fringe Festival, which returns…
The best concerts coming to Orlando this week
The Wailers Reggae legends the Wailers – best known for counting Bob Marley (yup) amongst their ranks – present a master-class in roots reggae. Not to be missed. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, at the Social, $25 Rehasher Punky (of course) side project of Less Than Jake’s bass player Roger Lima is sure to take…
A New Year’s resolution for America
Is our country ripping itself apart?
ICYMI: Florida health officials will offer an HIV prevention drug, Disney World adjusts its policies following Vegas attack and more
Florida health officials will offer HIV prevention drug for free by end of 2018: As part of its efforts to reduce new HIV infections, the Florida Department of Health began rolling out a statewide PrEP initiative in October. All 67 county health departments should have PrEP available by the end of 2018, according to officials.…
