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All the new restaurants coming to Orlando in 2019 that we know of so far
Wild game, gourmet vegan, natural wines, clubby chophouses, build-your-own doughnuts, and noodles on noodles on noodles
Enjoy a dog day afternoon at Paws in the Park at Lake Eola
Life can be stressful, we get it, but you know what helps? Doggies. This weekend, Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando hosts a doggy-lover’s paradise with Paws in the Park at Lake Eola. Have a dog? Great! Bring that good boy. Take him to burn off some calories at the canine agility course or let her…
Adam Sandler swings into CFE Arena fresh off of a surprisingly good Netflix special
Whether you think he’s great or you can’t stand the sight of him, Sandler’s comedic twist to everyday happenstances will leave you laughing or at the very least slightly more amused than when you arrived. His performance at CFE Arena this week may include jokes and songs from his surprisingly good Netflix comedy special, 100…
‘Peak taco’ deniers converge in Lake Nona for the Orlando Taco Festival
Lake Nona is crazy about those tacos, huh? Drive Shack hosts a taco festival this weekend for not one, but two days. While your ticket grants you entry into the festival (and your first drink), tacos themselves – more than 75 varieties thereof – are $3 apiece. Peak taco? What’s that? 1-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Feb.…
It’s a Valentine’s ladies’ choice at the Nook’s Sadie Hawkins Sock Hop
Don’t let the title fool you: You can still go to the Nook on Saturday for a Valentine’s edition of Sock Hop & Swing even if you don’t get invited by your favorite femme. Machine Gun Kristin provides an all-vinyl trip through the ’50s and ’60s. Dressing up would be a good choice. 10 p.m.…
Synthwave standout Betamaxx takes it back to the ’80s at Stonewall
The synthwave artist behind the Kung Fury soundtrack, Pittsburgh’s Betamaxx, plays at Stonewall this week, months after a canceled show at Will’s Pub. Carlos Navarro and Waka Shame Black host a costume contest during the night, so wear your best ’80s-aping getup, whatever you think the ’80s looked like. 9 p.m. Friday; Stonewall Bar Orlando,…
Elder punk statesman Ted Leo helps make sense of it all at Will’s Pub
The last time American underground icon Ted Leo played Orlando, it was mere days after the apocalypse of the 2016 presidential election. We didn’t yet know the full shape and scale of the new reality that was to come, but we knew it wasn’t gonna be pretty. Somehow, though, Leo managed to rein us all…
20 free shows happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, Feb. 6 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. Thursday, Feb. 7 Leisure Chief 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday Jazz Jams 8 pm at Austin’s Coffee, 929 W. Fairbanks Ave.,…
Last minute shoppers get three different options to pick up a Valentine’s Day gift this weekend
If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, as the saying goes, make sure you marry someone who says they don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day and actually means it. For the rest of you, however, you’re lucky that the pop-up market scene in Orlando is so strong right now. On Saturday, the…
Florida appeals court clears path for exploratory oil well drilling in the Everglades
Overturning a decision by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, an appeals court Tuesday ordered the state to issue a permit to a major Broward County landowner that wants to drill an exploratory oil well in the Everglades. A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal ruled the department improperly rejected a recommended…
Aramis Ayala’s former assistant is running against her for state attorney
Ryan Williams, the former assistant of Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala, announced Tuesday that he will be running against his former boss for state attorney in 2020. Williams had left Ayala’s office after she said she would not pursue the death penalty for murder cases during her term. Her stance led then-Gov. Rick Scott to remove…
UCF named as a ‘Hispanic-serving institution’ by federal education officials
The University of Central Florida has been designated as a “Hispanic-Serving Institution” by U.S. Department of Education officials, which allows it to compete for federal grants that would expand opportunities for Hispanic and low-income students. To qualify as an HSI, an educational institution must have a minimum Hispanic enrollment of 25 percent. Federal officials confirmed last week…
DJ Nigel John curates a night of adventurous dance music at Will’s Pub
DJ Nigel John brings back his Kurt Rambus alter ego for another edition of Terribly Wrong at Will’s Pub this week. Devoted to electronic music that goes beyond the mass-marketed boundaries of EDM, trap or dubstep, Rambus takes glee in delving into drum & bass, breaks and dark groove. Electronic artist Pressurewave opens. 9 p.m.…
Big Freedia sets out to make the whole Abbey bounce this week
If you didn’t have a chance to bust it open for Big Freedia last year when she was in Orlando, you’ve got one more chance to impress her majesty, the Queen Diva. The pioneer of New Orleans bounce is coming back to the City Beautiful for another night of exemplary twerking, seasoned ass-jiggling and queer…
Goth legend Peter Murphy proves he’s far from undead at the Plaza Live
The usual rules about the diminishing returns of “classic bands” reuniting don’t apply when it comes to gothic music legend Peter Murphy. The man is simply born to perform; we’ve seen him solo a couple of times and as part of the 1998 Bauhaus “Gotham” reunion tour and he goes fucking hard and gives the…
Mike Birbiglia and Jen Hope Stein kick off Rollins’ Winter With the Writers
Rollins College’s Winter With the Writers series of lectures and events kicks off this week by mixing their media. Mike Birbiglia, known for his stand-up comedy and storytelling, and Jen Hope Stein, Birbiglia’s wife and producer, talk about writing for film and stage after screening Don’t Think Twice. Written and directed by and starring Birbiglia,…
Universal Orlando unleashes BOGO ticket offer for Halloween Horror Nights 29
Apparently it’s never too early to start screaming over savings, because a full seven months before Halloween Horror Nights 29 is set to begin, Universal Orlando is already advertising a limited-time “buy one night, get one free” offer on event tickets, along with various vacation packages. Fans of Universal Orlando’s annual Halloween event can now…
Bill repealing Florida’s ban on smokable medical marijuana weakened with restrictive changes
A high-profile effort to repeal the state’s ban on smokable medical marijuana morphed Monday into legislation that, according to the proposal’s author, would be worse for patients than doing nothing at all. Gov. Ron DeSantis has given state lawmakers until March 15 —- 10 days after the 2019 legislative session begins —- to address the…
Florida Rep. Anthony Sabatini also wore blackface, and he has yet to resign
Last week, Florida Secretary of State Michael Ertel resigned from office after photos surfaced of him wearing blackface and mocking Hurricane Katrina survivors. This happened just a few days before photos of Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam appeared showing him in blackface next to a guy in a Ku Klux Klan outfit in his medical school…
Orlando astrologer RJ Speiser welcomes you to the age of Aquarius
There is probably no other sign that can compare to the social impact that Aquarius has made. It is a term used to describe a decade of free-loving hippies, a Coca-Cola sports drink and finally, the season 10 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race. It seems Aquarius is a popular archetype society wants to embody and…
Central Florida will receive $7.8 million in federal funding for affordable housing, homelessness
Central Florida will soon receive more than $7.8 million in federal funding to help combat the affordable housing crisis and homelessness, U.S. Reps. Stephanie Murphy and Darren Soto announced Monday. According to a news release, more than $2 million of the funds will be provided to programs in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties that offer…
Florida lawmaker files bill that would ban cities from banning plastic straws
Local governments wouldn’t be able to regulate single-use plastic straws under a measure filed Thursday in the House. The proposal (HB 603) by Rep. Anthony Sabatini, R-Howey-in-the-Hills, says “a municipality, county, or other local governmental entity may not adopt, enforce, or implement any ordinance, rule, or law that would further restrict a food service establishment…
Ritz-Carlton’s new Yacht Collection cruise ship is fancy AF
With new ships from Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, Princess, and MSC along with new cruise line Virgin Voyages, 2020 is shaping up to be a huge year for the cruise industry. But there’s another contender that might make the biggest waves across the industry. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is bringing unprecedented luxury to the cruise…
Disney now has a way for you to blow $12,000 a day at the parks
It’s no secret that Disney costs a lot of money, but a new tour takes it to the next level. The brand-new World of Dreams tour gives groups of up to six guests an all-access dream vacation for 12 hours for $12,000. The fully customizable tour begins with luxury transportation to the parks and is…
A manatee and a crocodile recently became best friends in Florida
https://www.facebook.com/FloridaKeysFreePress/posts/2036512693091505 A 10-foot-long American crocodile and a manatee are now best buds. According to the Florida Keys Free Press, the duo recently met in a canal at Lake Surprise in Key Largo. The massive croc actually allowed the manatee to nudge it around for about 45 minutes before local photographer Ron Lace snapped a photo.…
Judge rejects Florida’s cap on medical marijuana dispensaries
Siding with Florida’s largest cannabis operator, a circuit judge for the second time struck down a law capping the number of dispensaries medical marijuana businesses can run. The limit on the number of retail storefronts was included in a 2017 law aimed at carrying out a constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana. But Quincy-based…
New fusion restaurant Lotus Asia House will soft open at Pointe Orlando this week
A new pan-Asian concept will make its debut at the Pointe Orlando mall this week. Owned by Orlando restaurateur Karim El Sherif, Lotus Asia House will host a preview to the public this Friday, Feb. 8, with a limited menu, in the space formerly occupied by RA Sushi. Spearheaded by chef Jesse Beardshear, who was…
New DisneyQuest-style VR theme park could be in the works for Orlando
As we head toward the second anniversary of DisneyQuest’s closure, there is now hope of a new virtual reality theme park for Orlando. Singapore-based D. Legends Holdings announced plans to bring their Legends Heroes Park concept to the United States, and one of the cities they’re interested in is Orlando. The U.S. expansion comes just…
Leaked documents show Universal’s new theme park is borrowing one of Disney’s best ideas
A few weeks ago, documents began leaking out from a Comcast meeting where Universal’s new Orlando theme park was discussed. The blurry photos showed the Fantastic Worlds name with the Super Mario World concept art behind it. Since that initial leak, other details from the town hall meeting have begun to surface, giving us brand-new…
Florence and the Machine will bring new ‘High and Hope’ tour to Orlando’s Amway this summer
British indie rock force Florence + the Machine are bringing their new national tour to Orlando this summer. Just announced this morning, the “High and Hope” tour will have just two Florida stops, with one at the Amway Center Saturday, June 8, and another Sunday, June 9, at American Airlines Arena in Miami. Nathaniel Rateliff &…
Patriots Tom Brady and Julian Edelman set to celebrate Super Bowl win at Disney today
We get it if you’re still pissed about the New England Patriots’ 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53 last night – what’ll likely go down in history as the most boring game to ever take place on the gridiron. After all, we’ve seen this before: Since 2001, Brady and the…
Florida’s toxic algae levels just hit their lowest in more than a year
The latest lab tests conducted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rated red tide and toxic algae levels across the Sunshine State at either “not present” to “background” concentrations. According to the latest data provided by the agency late last week, the WCC tested more than 100 water samples offshore and in bay…
Universal Orlando now has a glitter-farting troll
A new character addition in the Universal Orlando KidZone is a blast. Guy Diamond, from the DreamWorks movie Trolls, has been added to the character meet-and-greet list, and during his routine with Poppy and Branch, the shiny troll shows off his dance moves and then finishes with a swift fart of glitter. As you can see in…
Slash is coming to Orlando this August
Slash, better known as the Guns N’ Roses guitarist who played a mean solo in “November Rain” and, of course, the face of Guitar Hero III, will bring his big hair to Orlando this summer. Joined by his backing band, Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, this upcoming show is part of his 2019 Living the Dream…
Neko Case reigns and Nikki Lane rises in mighty Orlando pairing
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Neko Case and Nikki Lane, The Beacham, Feb. 2 Neko Case is one of the few artists who can be called “one and only” without hyperbole or debate. She’s exceptional in her writing and songs. But most of all, it’s that voice. In tone and movement, it’s a thing of singular craft…
Ron DeSantis backs more money for program arming Florida public school employees
Florida’s new school “guardian” program has faced reluctance from many school districts, leading Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday to propose using $57 million that’s gone unspent to try to get more districts to participate. DeSantis has said he wants to follow most of the recommendations made by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety…
Dozens of animals killed in fire at Orange County wildlife sanctuary
Dozens of animals were killed early Monday morning in a large fire that destroyed the Second Chance Wildlife Sanctuary in east Orange County. Orange County Fire Rescue responded around 1:30 a.m. to a fully involved fire at the two-story home on 805 Baron Road near Bithlo. The sanctuary was home to “exotic and abandoned wildlife…
Former Florida Secretary of State Michael Ertel finally apologizes for blackface photos
A little more than a week after the Tallahassee Democrat published photos of him in blackface, former Florida Secretary of State Michael Ertel has finally apologized. Ertel resigned Jan. 24 after photos surfaced from a private Halloween party in 2005, about eight months after Ertel was appointed as the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections. The photos show Ertel…
Band of the Week: Tape Studies
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 Tape Studies. Tape Studies is playing Feb. 4 at Will’s Pub with Acoqui and Brother Cephus. Just the facts: When did the band form?Tape Studies began spring/summer of 2018. It…
Velvet Buzzsaw’s offbeat charm is irresistible
Creating a Buzz
TSA employee dies after jumping from hotel balcony at Orlando International Airport
A TSA employee jumped from a balcony at the Hyatt Regency Hotel inside the Orlando International Airport atrium Saturday morning, killing himself in what officials say was an isolated incident. “We are working an incident at the Orlando International Airport @MCO where a person jumped from the Hyatt Regency Hotel into the atrium area of…
Orlando International Airport now has its own official GIFs
The Orlando International Airport now has its own GIFs, so travelers can fully express their shock and dismay that the tourist trapped in the glass box is not alive. The airport announced on Twitter Friday that it now has a verified channel on GIPHY for “official MCO motion images.” Big news, GIF fans! Orlando International…
A man actually punted a rabid coyote in Kissimmee
A Kissimmee resort is at the center of a rabies alert after an infected coyote attacked three people, ultimately biting two of them, after taking a serious punt. News 13 reports the rabid coyote first tried to attack a man who was walking on the sidewalk at Emerald Island Resort. The man tried to scare the…
The Marcus King Band announces Orlando show set for this Spring
Soulful roots rockers the Marcus King Band have announced details for a North American tour set to start at the beginning of March and there is an Orlando date in there! The band will be touring behind new album Carolina Confessions and are bringing the North Mississippi Allstars for this trip! The Marcus King Band…
Three Orlando restaurants make Yelp’s nationwide list of the most romantic places to dine
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. To start preparing, take a look at the three most romantic Orlando restaurants according to Yelp’s top 100 list, a national list. Seito Sushi Sand Lake was ranked at no. 41, the Colorado Fondue Company in Casselberry was ranked no. 44 and last, but certainly not least (especially bill-wise),…
Florida Power & Light Company just installed its first solar plant in Volusia County
As part of the company’s plans to add solar panels across the state, Florida Power and Light announced Thursday that one million more solar panels were now functional, including a new solar plant in Volusia County. The company also announced the launch of solar power plants in St. Lucie, Miami-Dade and Columbia counties. According to…
Colonial Drive in downtown Orlando will be closed for two nights this weekend
West Colonial Drive will be closed in both directions for two consecutive nights between Orange Ave and Garland Ave to install cables and trusses for the new pedestrian bridge. Road closures will occur Feb. 1 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and Feb. 2 from 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. The quarter-mile bridge is designed…
Country hellraisers Zac Brown Band announce a Central Florida show for October
Central Florida fans of the Zac Brown Band, are you still sore about the band getting passed over for a spot on the Super Bowl halftime show? Buck up, because the band has announced a Central Florida show today as part of their North American “The Owl” tour kicking off in May. The Zac Brown…
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer files for re-election
Back at it again, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has filed for re-election, his campaign announced Friday. Dyer has served as the City Beautiful’s mayor since 2003. “I have been honored to serve our residents and look forward to continuing the momentum of our city and region,” Dyer says in a new release. “I am proud…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pitches $91.3 billion budget with more money for schools, environment
In what would be the largest budget in state history, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday released a proposed $91.3 billion spending plan that would increase school funding, pump money into water-quality projects and trim taxes. DeSantis’ proposal is a starting point for lawmakers, who will negotiate a 2019-2020 budget during the legislative session that starts…
After painful midterm loss, Florida Democrats plot 2020 course
As they deal with painful election losses and try to devise a plan for the 2020 presidential election cycle, Florida Democratic Party leaders announced Thursday they have formed a commission to help build an infrastructure that they hope will yield future wins in the nation’s largest swing state. The commission was formed amid intra-party disagreements…
Florida Board of Governors continues probe into UCF’s improper spending
Amid heavy scrutiny from the Florida House, the state university system’s Board of Governors said Thursday it will continue an investigation into the misuse of tens of millions of dollars for a building project at the University of Central Florida. The Orlando-based university has faced investigations since an audit in September detailed the improper use…
Orlando’s Ad Nauseum reps hard alongside Relapse Records double feature of Windhand and Genocide Pact
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Windhand, Genocide Pact and Ad Nauseum, Will’s Pub, Jan. 29 Even though the latest joint between notable Florida bookers Endoxa and For Your Friends was a Relapse Records double feature, the show ended up a trifecta of heavy music as mighty as it was diverse. Topping the marquee were Virginia’s Windhand, probably…
Animal Lover Triple Feature is possibly the squickiest Uncomfortable Brunch yet
The programmers of Uncomfortable Brunch, the film series that pairs squicky art-house movies with a delicious brunch spread, are known for their twisted sense of humor. But making their Valentine’s show a showcase of stories about interspecies sex may take the cake. What’s even weirder is that these movies – two features and a short…
Stardust hosts boundary-pushing artists on their way to Miami’s International Noise Conference
For live music devotees in search of the shock of the new, this week is one to get out there, with a dizzying array of artists playing in Orlando on their way down to Miami for the International Noise Conference. This particular bill pairs two performance-art firebrands – Iowa’s Real Dominic (above) and Savannah’s Rainé…
Mount Dora Arts Festival is one of the biggest outdoor art festivals of the year
The lakeside Mount Dora Arts Festival provides beautiful art for your eyes, great music for your ears, and delicious food for your stomach as you walk through the historical streets of downtown Mount Dora. During this weekend, the city’s blocks are filled with seemingly endless rows of art stalls displaying paintings, sculptures, photography and more from…
Acoqui plays Will’s Pub ahead of a spot at Miami’s III Points
Orlando’s model shoegazers Alberto Hernandez, Tyson Bodiford, Aaron Borowicz and Steve Head, collectively known as Acoqui, are frequent O-town giggers as of late, and you may have seen them at local events such as the Grandma Party Bazaar at Stardust or Foxfest at Rollins College. The band became certified rockers when they were named one…
Timucua hosts Jim Ivy’s Tangled Bell Ensemble for a night of group experimentation
We’ve been following the work of reed maestro/composer Jim Ivy for a couple of decades now, and in all that time the only consistent element in his work is the relentless need to keep moving forward. A go-to freak for garage bands and noise-rock ensembles alike, Ivy is also a fearless conductor and bandleader. As…
Doug Rhodehamel returns to Stardust with an art show about Plankton
Local artist Doug Rhodehamel long ago left behind his world-famous mushrooms to focus on spaceships and robots and the like – now he’s back with a show of microscopic sea creatures. Well, the creatures are microscopic; his portraits of them are not. Rhodehamel applies his signature whimsical vision (or as he calls it, “weirdo brain”)…
Central Florida man arrested after ICE creates fake university scheme to target foreign students
A Central Florida man is among eight people arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for recruiting foreign students to keep their visas by enrolling in a fake Michigan university secretly run by undercover ICE agents. The Detroit News reports the Department of Homeland Security created the fictional University of Farmington in 2015 to essentially lure…
Trump’s friend Michael Dezer files plans for new apartments at former Artegon mall in Orlando
Orlando city officials are finally getting a few details on a plan to redevelop the former Artegon Mall on International Drive. Miami developer Michael Dezer, a friend of the Trump family who developed several Trump Tower condo properties in South Florida, is planning to start constructing new apartment buildings on existing parking lots around the…
Florida Sen. Rick Scott is now urging Trump to declare a national emergency over non-existent border crisis
Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a man who has declared at least 26 states of emergency as governor, is now urging Donald Trump to use his executive powers to fulfill what ultimately boils down to a harebrained campaign promise. The junior Senator took to Twitter Thursday afternoon to urge the president to declare a national emergency…
Diplo once stole records from WPRK, so a Rollins student ate a picture of him every day until he admitted it
Sometimes the only way to win is to eat your opponent’s face. That’s what WPRK programming director and Rollins College student Colin Brant learned this week when he finally forced dirtbag EDM godling Diplo to admit that he was fired from the station back in the day for stealing records. This story is such a…
Universal Orlando is looking to hire 2,500 new employees
Universal Orlando is now looking to hire 2,500 new “Team Members,” offering full-time, part-time, seasonal and professional job positions. Job openings are in attractions, aquatics, food services, custodial, sales and other areas, with some positions including competitive salaries and benefits packages. If you’re interested in learning more or applying, visit their website. New positions and opportunities…
Indie rock heroes of Montreal announce Orlando show for April
Indie crew of Montreal have announced a show this spring in Orlando with Yip Deceiver, their third performance in the City Beautiful in four years. Though as of this writing there has not been any official announcement of a tour, from the looks of recently published Facebook event pages, this show will be part of…
Just a reminder that Andrew Zimmern’s Orlando apology episode debuts this weekend on the Travel Channel
Six months after tweeting, “You’re kinda screwed …” when it comes to dining in Orlando, “but there is some good BBQ there at 3 rivers and Ravenous Pig,” food critic and television personality Andrew Zimmern will finally air his Orlando-centered episode of the Travel Channel’s Zimmern List. If you’re unfamiliar with why he’s airing an “apology…
Gov. Ron DeSantis issues executive order to end Florida’s Common Core standards
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is moving to cut Common Core standards in Florida schools, the administration announced Thursday. The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a 2010 educational initiative that details what K-12 students throughout the U.S. should learn as part of their language arts and mathematics curricula at the end of each grade. Florida…
Police release video showing suspects in deadly downtown Orlando shooting
Orlando Police have released surveillance video and an image of three suspected gunmen involved in a weekend downtown Orlando shooting that left one victim dead and injured two others. The video shows Keveon D. Smith, 22, talking with two other people in the parking lot of 320 N. Magnolia Ave. around 2:13 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26.…
Florida lawmakers raise doubts about eliminating smokable medical marijuana ban
Whether Florida lawmakers will do away with the state’s prohibition against smoking medical marijuana remains up in the air, despite an ultimatum issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Saying they failed to heed the will of voters, DeSantis this month ordered lawmakers to eliminate a ban on smokable medical marijuana and, if they don’t comply, threatened…
Florida ethics commission releases report detailing allegations against Andrew Gillum
The Florida Commission on Ethics released documents Wednesday supporting the panel’s unanimous finding of probable cause that Andrew Gillum, last year’s Democratic nominee for governor and a former Tallahassee mayor, violated ethics laws with trips to Costa Rica and New York and tickets to the Broadway hit musical, “Hamilton.” In a 41-page report, the commission’s…
Fuddruckers is suing Trump tower developer over plans for Orlando’s former Artegon mall
Owners of the Fuddruckers location on International Drive are suing their landlord — President Donald Trump’s business partner Michael Dezer — over Dezer’s plan to convert the former Artegon Marketplace shopping mall into an auto museum and tourist attraction. The mall and its former owners, Lightstone Group, attracted lawsuits when Lightstone abruptly threw most tenants…
There are nearly 500 manatees at Blue Spring State Park right now
With this week’s temps hitting record lows, it should come as no surprise that a massive herd (or aggregation) of manatees is currently warming up at Blue Spring State Park. Today’s manatee headcount at the park is 489, a slight drop from yesterday’s 552. Arguably now is the best time to go see this awesome…
VHS Swap & Show turns Pauly Shore movies into a drinking game at the Falcon
The video tape-trading event moves from Stardust to the Falcon this week. Instead of bringing the usual horror flick to screen, they’re doubling up on the weeeeeasel. Two highlights from Pauly Shore’s seminal film career, Encino Man and Son in Law, get screened. And as an added bonus, there’ll be a drinking game to go…
Nora’s dedicates 15th birthday to selling beer and raising funds for cats
Nora Brooker, proprietor of the former Nora’s Wine & Cigars and the current Nora’s Sugar Shack, is an Ivanhoe Village pioneer. This week, she celebrates 15 years in the business with a special benefit for fans of her cozy drinking hole. Make a $10 donation at the door to help out homeless cats and receive…
Disneyland Paris decides gay dollars are OK dollars with official Pride event
Although Gay Days has been celebrated at the Disney parks for decades, ever since the first one in 1991 (right here in Orlando!), Disneyland Paris has just made history by becoming the first to organize an official LGBTQ Pride event, finally acknowledging openly that pink money pays their bills, too. Magical Pride happens June 1,…
The Hotel at Margaritaville Resort Orlando is now open
Prepare yourself for packs of Parrotheads making pilgrimages to Kissimmee, because the long-awaited Margaritaville Resort Orlando hotel finally held its grand opening ribbon cutting last week. Though it has been serving guests in soft-opening mode since late last year, January 23 marked the official debut of the Margaritaville Resort Orlando’s island-inspired 184-room hotel. The new Margaritaville…
Virgin Trains is about to offer $500 million worth of stock to fund its Orlando track
Virgin Trains USA, formerly known as Brightline, will offer a common stock to the public estimated by the company to be worth in excess of $500 million, the company announced Wednesday. The company is offering to sell more than 32.5 million shares of stock at $17 to $19 per share. You can find the shares…
Orlando television station WFTV can kiss my ass
Since nothing is easier than scaring the public with images of “the homeless,” I regretfully am here to report that Orlando’s WFTV is back on their bullshit, and they can officially kiss my very fortunate non-homeless ass. For the past two years, Channel 9 has run the exact same horribly transparent story about homeless people…
UCF student arrested after police discover fully automatic AR-15 in his car on campus
A University of Central Florida student was arrested Tuesday after police discovered he had illegally modified an AR-15 into a fully automatic rifle and was keeping it in his car on campus. The UCF Police Department said it received anonymous tips that engineering student Max Bennett Chambers, 19, was in possession of an illegally modified weapon that…
Sarah Shook & the Disarmers bring acclaimed country to Will’s Pub
North Carolina’s Sarah Shook & the Disarmers achieved critical acclaim last year with their sophomore album, Years. The album, their first recorded for powerhouse indie country label Bloodshot Records, goes deep into some well-worn country themes: heartbreak, drinking, etc. But the traditionalism is tempered with attitude and punch that reveal a fondness for punk and…
Ron DeSantis walks back opposition to Florida’s medical marijuana system
Gov. Ron DeSantis still wants to eliminate Florida’s ban on smoking medical marijuana, but he’s walked back his opposition to a state system that resulted in what the new governor this month called a cannabis “cartel.” Speaking to reporters following Tuesday’s state Cabinet meeting, DeSantis reiterated his insistence that the Legislature do away with the…
Fairvilla showcases options for those stumped on what to get their significant other for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is almost here, but if you’re still stumped as to what to get your significant other, bring them to Fairvilla this week. Their Valentine’s event features free drinks, live music by noted mood-setter Eugene Snowden, a lingerie fashion show and plenty of games, raffles and prizes. Plus, you can get a hands-on (hands…
Central Florida Brewer’s Guild showcases local craft beer in February
The Central Florida Brewer’s Guild, a nonprofit dedicated to helping collaborate efforts between local brewers to benefit the beer scene as a whole, returns to the Seminole Harley Davidson on Saturday, Feb. 23, for their second annual beer festival. Featuring 40 different Central Florida breweries, the festival is capping attendance at 600 tickets to ensure…
Tame Impala playing two Florida shows in 2019
The more we know the better, duh. The Australian indie band announced their new tour dates yesterday with two stops in Florida. The Grammy-nominated band will play St. Augustine on May 6 at the St. Augustine Amphitheater, and Miami on May 7 at the Fillmore Miami Beach. Tame Impala debuted in 2010 and are known…
Orlando is finally getting a dog park with a bar
Filling a void in Orlando, an off-leash dog park with a bar (or a bar with an off-leash dog park) is planning to open this summer. The appropriately named Boozehound will soon be Central Florida’s first “dog bar.” Woof! Located in Edgewood neighborhood at 5501 S. Orange Ave., the new off-leash watering hole will be built…
Opening in Orlando: Miss Bala, They Shall Not Grow Old and more
Opening this week: Miss Bala As 2019 stumbles awkwardly forward, the whole country is wondering if anybody can right the precarious relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. Hmm, sounds like a job for … a Los Angeles makeup artist! That’s who the protagonist is of this action thriller, in which the Angeleno in question gets…
Alt-country heroine Neko Case returns to Orlando
Heaven or Hell
The best concerts coming to Orlando this week
Good Grief Intriguingly messy and raw North Carolina band Good Grief play the Falcon, along with Jacksonville’s Sleepless and superlative locals Sugarplum. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Falcon, $7 LH Belle Local experimental hip-hop artist plays an eclectic showcase with Sugarplum and Reels. 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, at Stonewall, $5 Dream Chambers Dreamlike…
Savage Love: ‘Omissions and Emissions’
I’m a 21-year-old woman, and I have an IUD. I’ve had sex with quite a few men, and one thing seems to be almost constant among them: trying to fuck without condoms. Many of the men I’ve been with seem to be perfectly fine and terribly eager to have sex without condoms. This has always…
Gimme Shelter: Meet Trouble!
Here comes Trouble! Don’t let his name trick you – Trouble (A313701) is a happy boy who loves people, treats and spending time outdoors. He is around 4 years old and is a staff favorite at the shelter. This fun and playful boy has been at our shelter for almost a month and is ready…
I’m here to say that Hamilton is the rare phenom that lives up to all the accolades
After years of anticipation and months of incessant promotion, Broadway megahit Hamilton has arrived at the Dr. Phillips Center, and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s revolutionary musical about the Revolutionary War has divided Orlando’s arts community. As an alt-weekly critic, you might expect me to join the growing chorus of naysayers and call this multiple Tony-winner overhyped, or…
Eola General opens next month, College Park Farmers Market closes, and more in our food news roundup
OPENINGS: Proper & Wild, the higher-end vegan resto by the Sanctum Cafe’s Chelsie and Jamie Savage, has opened. Their Sanctum Coffee & Juice Bar on Douglas Avenue in Altamonte Springs will open next month … Veranda, the city’s first Romanian restaurant, has opened on West Sand Lake Road across from the Florida Mall … Midici…
Legal Public Notices 1/30 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices AUCTION Extra Space Storage – Store 8841 9847 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32825 Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 9847 Curry Ford Road, Orlando,FL 32825 (407) 495-9612, February 19th, 2019 @…
Bloomberg’s $2.5 million climate grant to Orlando comes with a catch – there’s no cash
Earlier this month, billionaire philanthropist and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the city of Orlando is set to receive a $2.5 million grant, part of a two-year program designed to help the city achieve its carbon reduction goals. The program, known as the American Cities Climate Challenge, follows the sustainability pledge…
ICYMI: Orlando wants to host an international LGBTQ celebration, John Morgan’s $15 initiative, and more
Florida Secretary of State resigns after photos surface showing him in blackface: Last week, the Tallahassee Democrat broke the story that photos had surfaced of Secretary of State Michael Ertel in blackface. Ertel resigned almost immediately. Ertel, the former Seminole County Supervisor of Elections, was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the cabinet position in…
