Cover Story
Why the demise of all 16 Le Cordon Bleu culinary schools may not be such a loss after all
With the closing of all 16 Le Cordon Bleu culinary schools, including the Orlando campus, one writer reflects on her experience in for-profit education, both as a student an instructor, and what it means for the future of for-profit college students, instructors and the country. In August of 2005, I took a class called “College…
Gilbert King, author of a book about the Groveland Four, to speak at fundraiser in Orlando tonight
If you haven’t heard this specific story before, you’re at least familiar with the theme: Four young black men are accused by a white woman of sexually assaulting her. Despite their claims of innocence and their alibis, public sympathy falls with the white woman. One of the four men never even makes it to his…
Florence and the Machine provide ethereal indie rock to the Amway Center
Florence and the Machine are once again targeting arenas, this time in the name of their “How Beautiful” tour. With their 2009 debut album Lungs, which includes hits such as “Dog Days Are Over” and “Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up),” they caught the attention of those who wish to have more otherworldly, graceful tunes added to…
Jack Hanna will be at SeaWorld’s Wild Days this weekend
Jack Hanna, exotic animal advocate and lover of khaki, will be in town this weekend for SeaWorld’s annual Wild Days. Every weekend through the end of January, SeaWorld will present various animal experts, educational shows and up-close animal experiences. Lovers of the man in khaki can check out “Wild Weekend With Jack Hanna” as he…
Two men dressed in Deadpool costumes attempted to steal an ATM in Cocoa, Florida
Authorities are searching for two men, both dressed in Deadpool costumes, who attempted to steal an ATM last Thursday in Cocoa, Florida. According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to a call at 2:38 a.m. at a gas station located at 4580 Grissom Parkway after the alarm went off. Surveillance video shows two men wearing…
Sticky ribs at Morimoto Asia were the best thing we ate last weekend
Here’s a tip: If you want to try the newest, buzziest restaurant in town on one of their busiest nights of the year, but failed to make a reservation (hey, sometimes the urge just hits!), don’t bother with the dining room. Some of the best seats in the house (and the most available ones) are…
On discovering David Bowie
I’m certain there’s nothing lonelier than being a 13-year-old girl whose friends stop talking to her for no good reason. I was in seventh grade, and after a fairly uneventful school year spent becoming fast friends with two girls from my class, I suddenly and inexplicably found myself on the outs. Maybe it was because…
Local band Skylim releases new music video, rocks faces
In the mood for soaring vocals and a throwback to the good ole’ days when nu-metal ate this city for lunch? Well look no further! Local Orlando act Skylim just hit the ground running with a new video for their single Kill My Dreams, a chuggy stomp-rocker with emotion to spare. Singer Devin Leigh puts…
U.S. Supreme Court rules Florida’s death penalty system unconstitutional
Five days after Florida executed Oscar Ray Bolin, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the state’s death penalty system as unconstitutional because it gives more power to judges over juries on who decides capital sentences. The judges ruled 8-1 in Hurst v. Florida that the state’s capital sentencing scheme violates the Sixth Amendment because it requires…
Pizza Planet closes for 11 months, could The Muppets be moving in?
With Hollywood Studios going through a major transition, it’s no surprise that the not-so-popular restaurant Pizza Planet is closing, but what may surprise many is that it looks to be reopening later this year. While the restaurant features the same name as the arcade restaurant in Toy Story, the actual restaurant looked nothing like the…
Orlando mayor, commissioners sworn into new terms
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and three city commissioners were sworn into new four-year terms Monday at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Dyer, along with Commissioner Patty Sheehan and Commissioner Sam Ings, won re-election in last November’s city elections. Commissioner Tony Ortiz, who was unopposed in the election, won his seat by default.…
Gnarly Barley to open sister location in Ivanhoe Village
The Gnarly Barley is celebrating four years of pouring brews in Orlando by announcing the opening of a new sister location in Ivanhoe Village. The second Gnarly spot, located at 531 Virginia Drive, plans to open this spring, and will go by the name GB’s Bottle Shop and Tasting Bar. From Gnarly Barley’s Facebook…
Steve Martin and Martin Short to perform at the Dr. Phillips Center April 23
The Dr. Phillips Center announced that comedy veterans Steve Martin and Martin Short are bringing their “An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life” tour to the Walt Disney Theater on April 23. The two stars promise an evening of stand-up comedy, curated film clips, musical numbers and conversations about their careers…
You can now purchase a home in Sanford complete with its own party cave
If you’re sick of partying in dank and dingy bars, this Sanford house comes with its own dank and dingy party cave. Located at 1105 E. Fourth St., this torn-up $70,000 home might seem like any other passable blip in the housing market, but its backyard dwellings make it anything but ordinary. “There are a few…
UCF bans hoverboards from campus
Hoverboards, wheeled chunks of plastic that have been known to set on fire, are now officially banned from the University of Central Florida campus. According to a UCF Housing and Residence Life newsletter sent out on Saturday, Jan. 9, the school is temporarily banning the popular devices until further notice. “Due to the safety concerns…
Feld Entertainment announces early retirement for all Ringling Bros. circus elephants
Feld Entertainment, the parent company of the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus, has announced that it plans to retire all of the elephants performing in its circuses by May 2016. Last year, Feld announced that it would retire the iconic Asian elephants to the Center for Elephant Conservation, a preserve located in Polk City,…
Here’s all the ways to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Orlando this week
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Jan. 18 this year, but in Orlando and surrounding cities, several events are scheduled throughout this week and next week honoring the civil rights leader. There’s something for everybody, but the major event is the City of Orlando’s 32nd annual MLK parade on Saturday, Jan. 16, at…
Disney woos DVC members, much to the dismay of annual pass holders
The Disney Vacation Club, the in-house timeshare company at Disney, is turning 25 years old this year. To help celebrate the 25th anniversary (or more likely, to help sell more of those DVC points), Disney is rolling out a number of special limited-time features for DVC members. While most of the new benefits are standard…
20 Years Later: Seven Mary Three – “Cumbersome”
One of my favorite articles to ever appear in the pages of Orlando Weekly was published on Nov. 11, 1999. Penned by then-Music Editor Mark Padgett, “The Rise and Stall of Musical Acts Signed to Major Labels” analyzed the aftermath of a mini-frenzy of signings that found a slew of Orlando alt-rock bands suddenly propelled from…
SeaWorld tops off Orlando’s tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster
Over at SeaWorld, construction is well underway with their latest hypercoaster endeavor MAKO, a ride that hopefully won’t trap guests for over 3 hours. MAKO will feature a 200 foot climb, which was topped off yesterday. Coupled with speeds of 73 mph and over 4,700 feet of track, the new ride will be the tallest,…
Priest, Saskatchewan and Day Joy weave nocturnal dreams at the Social
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND A recent local show served as a good, consolidated progress report on three of the more noted acts of Orlando’s current indie class (Jan. 7, The Social). Headliner Priest is a slinky, nocturnal electronic-pop act that’s gotten a considerable amount of hip blog love in its couple years of existence. But even…
US Wildlife Officials want manatees removed from endangered species list
If the US Fish and Wildlife service get their way, manatees could soon be taken off the endangered species list. The US Fish and Wildlife service recently announced that they would like the sea cow to be reclassified as threatened instead of endangered. However, while federal wildlife officials insist that protective measures will remain in…
Two Orlando bakeries offering King Cake for Mardi Gras, plus Publix
It’s time to laissez les bon temps rouler (let the good times roll) since Monday marked the feast of Epiphany (Three Kings Day, to some of you). The real Mardi Gras lineup has been announced in New Orleans, and the pre-Lenten lookalike event that kicks off at Universal Studios on Feb. 6 has released its…
University of Miami sorority spares no expense on this insane recruitment video
The University of Miami’s Delta Gamma chapter recently released their latest recruitment video and we’re not sure if it’s for joining a sorority or some sort of boat club. The boat-heavy recruitment video, which features a plethora of boats, bikinis and more boats, is apparently the new gold standard for recruiting new sisters. Delta Gamma,…
Six new restaurants to try (or look forward to) in the New Year
The grand opening party for Wahlburgers (in the old Simply Puur space downtown on Orange Avenue) should take place at the end of February. According to a Wahlburgers rep, they’re just waiting confirmation from Mark, Donnie and Paul. Ocean Sun Brewing will open in the old Southern Moon Smokehouse space on Curry Ford Road the…
Florida executes serial killer after four-hour delay
Oscar Ray Bolin Jr., convicted of killing three women in the Tampa Bay area in 1986, was executed via lethal injection Thursday night after a four-hour delay. The U.S. Supreme Court was reviewing a last-minute appeal for a stay past the scheduled execution time of 6 p.m., until justices denied the 53-year-old’s appeal just before…
Mulch, Sweat and Shears reuniting for one night only at House of Blues
2015 was the year of theme park closures, and one of the most memorable was the loss of ‘Mulch, Sweat and Shears’ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The popular band had been an institution at DHS for the past 11 years and with a decade of almost daily appearance, they had gained quite a following. Since the…
Punk on the Patio makes big debut with Flashlights, Out Go the Lights and Slumberjack
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND New year, new things – it’s how it should be. And already, we have a fresh new live series hopeful up at bat. I mentioned it last month but Punk on the Patio, the new event baby by rising scene-maker Marshal Rones (of Foundation Presents), is now officially in the mix with…
State Attorney drops charges against local college student accused of resisting arrest
Attorney Natalie Jackson says the Office of the State Attorney will not pursue criminal charges against her client Deidra Reid, the college student accused of resisting arrest in July after an argument with an Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Reid and her friend Reginald Lane Jr. filed excessive force complaints against three OCSO deputies after…
Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi to visit local Publix chains to shill soup, maybe yell at you
Thanks to Hulu’s purchase of the entire Seinfeld series, it seems like everything’s been coming up Jerry lately, from the comedian’s trip to get coffee with President Obama or just local Festivus parties. Publix is the latest company to jump on the Trend About Nothing, by bringing in the actor who portrayed the Soup Nazi,…
Eat well, do good at Second Harvest’s Chef’s Night dinners Jan. 8 and Jan. 14
If you missed the James Beard Foundation’s Celebrity Chefs Tour dinner last month — it was the Very Big Deal culinary event of the year, according to many who attended (see our photos) — here’s your chance to make up for it. Four Seasons Orlando chef Sam Faggetti and FSO pastry chef Rabii Saber are…
Orange County resident arrested after threatening to blow up Bright House Networks
While on a customer service call Tuesday evening, Orange County resident Jeffrey Lauer threatened to blow up his cable service provider, something most of us have only dreamt of doing. As first reported by WKMG, the 55 year-old was arrested by Orange County deputies after telling a customer service rep with Bright House Networks that…
UCF makes deal with state to get $20 million for downtown campus
After suffering a setback last year when Gov. Rick Scott vetoed $60 million in state funding for the University of Central Florida’s downtown campus, school officials say they have cut an agreement with the state to get $20 million in funding. UCF Board of Trustees approved a memorandum of understanding with Scott’s office Thursday, according…
21 questions with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto
On the boob tube, “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto might come off seeming a little intimidating, and while there might be some truth to that – he’s a dedicated warrior with exacting skills and demanding requirements in the kitchen – he can be animated, affable and downright funny face to face. I sat down to chat…
Report: New Yorkers already tired of the cool dining trends Orlando just got
You know those exciting new dining events and locations and menu items that we’re super stoked to finally have in the City Beautiful? New York is already tired of them. Eyeroll. Here are four that Grub Street/New York Magazine food critic Adam Platt has pointed out as among his “11 Dining Trends We’re Tired Of”…
DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz says young women complacent since Roe v. Wade
In a recent interview with the New York Times Magazine, Democratic National Committee chair and South Florida congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz made some comments that ignited a Twitter firestorm Wednesday. When a reporter asked her if she saw a generational divide between younger women and women of her age in terms of their excitement over Hillary…
Disney announces new costume rules for Marathon Weekend, no Jedi robes
If you were hoping to run 26 miles in a layered Jedi robe this weekend, you’re out of luck. Due to new security measures taking place at all Disney theme parks, the company has announced new costume rules for all upcoming road races. The Disney marathon weekend is upon us and runners typically like to dress…
Get a primer on Orlando alternative hip-hop with a free mixtape from Mango Beats
The local hip-hop scene got a huge boost last year with Soul of the City’s periodic multi-stage Scene mini-festivals at Venue 578. The parties provided a forum for musicians, graffiti artists, B-boys and -girls, cratediggers and other fans of hip-hop to mingle, socialize and showcase their talents. Now Mango Beats, the Family Gang’s resident DJ,…
The Phil is alive with “The Sound of Music” through Jan. 10
The hills once again animate with the euphonious symphonies of descant as the new North American tour of The Sound of Music spins into the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, through Jan. 10. Fans of the iconic movie musical will find this handsome production faithfully delivers all of their favorite things, with a…
Rick Scott says Donald Trump has found America’s pulse in USA Today op-ed
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who is apparently not immune to Trump-mania, praised the 2016 presidential candidate and political outsider in a Wednesday op-ed for USA Today. “Political pundits are shocked that Donald Trump is leading in the polls,” the Republican governor writes. “The same thing happened in 2010 when I entered the Florida gubernatorial race…
A record number of green sea turtles nested along Florida beaches in 2015
Finally, some good news about the environment. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, green sea turtles dug 14,152 nests at the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge during 2015, shattering the previous record of 12,846. See full story here. Not too long ago, this species of turtle was expected to simply die out due…
Savage Love (1/6/16)
I’m a 45-year-old straight male. Politically and socially, I consider myself an ardent feminist. There is nothing I enjoy more than giving a woman an orgasm or two. I’m very GGG and will cheerfully do whatever it takes. Fingers, tongue, cock, vibrator – I’m in. If it takes a long time, so much the better. I’m…
Selections: Our picks of the week’s best events, Jan. 6-12
Wednesday, 6 Orlando Story Club: Resolution! LITERARY The word “resolution” is a double-edged sword. When people use it around this time of year, they’re usually talking about their plans for the future – plans to be better or improve themselves in some way. But resolution can also denote the end of something, whether it’s the…
Lulu Eightball (1/6/16)
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This Modern World (1/6/16)
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This Little Underground: Noise experimentalists Chris Corsano and Bill Orcutt collide
For TLU, 2016 immediately starts off on a new but solemn foot. This issue is Ashley Belanger’s last as my editor. No other has done as much to make the words in this column as robustly reinforced visually as her. For that, she gets a hand on the heart from me. But it’s bigger than…
How to make a Suburban, 2016’s next trendy cocktail
Hard to port
Newsroom staffers take buyouts at Orlando Sentinel
If you’re a regular reader of the Orlando Sentinel, you may have noticed some missing bylines lately. That’s because Tribune Publishing offered longtime staffers voluntary buyouts late last year, and according to WMFE 90.7 News, 14 Sentinel newsroom employees accepted the offer. In a memo sent to employees in October, Tribune Publishing announced that it…
10 awesome concerts coming to Orlando in 2016
Bottomless Pit
Picks This Week: Priest, Quality Control, Mothers and more
Manic Focus Electronic producer John McCarten brings his wired swirl of hip-hop, funk and soul from the Twin Cities to the City Beautiful. 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, at the Social, $10-$15 Priest Formerly known as X Priest X, the dreamy duo Priest wafted their self-titled debut out in 2015, a dance-y drop that makes…
Opening in Orlando: The Forest
The Forest One of the things that has always disappointed me about the movie version of You Only Live Twice is that it omits a really fun plot detail from the book: the garden of death that Blofeld maintains on his property, affording the local Japanese all manner of creative ways to commit suicide. Seeing…
When it’s this warm out, we can’t help looking forward to spring and the Orlando Fringe
New Year’s should normally be a day for bundling up in winter wear and warming yourself by a cozy television. But when 2016 arrives with temperatures in the mid-80s, one’s mind naturally leaps ahead to spring. What luck, then, that the Orlando Fringe festival, which celebrates its silver anniversary in May, stepped up with a…
Free Will Astrology (1/6/16)
ARIES (March 21-April 19) John Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962. His novel Of Mice and Men helped win him the award, but it required extra persistence. When he’d almost finished the manuscript, he went out on a date with his wife. While they were gone, his puppy Toby ripped his precious…
Gimme Shelter (1/6/16)
Orange County Animal Services has a friendly 6-year-old dog in need of a new home. Meet Bear! He was recently surrendered to the shelter after his family could no longer care for him. Bear is a smart boy who knows how to sit and shake on command. Give him a tasty treat and he’ll be…
