Loans available for Orlando residents who want clean energy homes
Starting this year, getting an energy-efficient home just got a little easier. Orlando residents can now get lower interest loans to revamp their home into a clean-energy dream with help from the Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) and the Orlando Utilities Commission, according to Bungalower. In January, SELF expanded into Orlando with the help…
30 free concerts this week in Orlando (7/8-7/14)
Wednesday, July 8 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 p.m. at Lil Indies The Imperial’s Acoustic Soundcheck With Caiti Patton 9 p.m. at the Imperial at Washburn Imports The Luna Bellum Wednesday 10:30 p.m. at Tanqueray’s Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 p.m. at the Caboose Thursday, July 9 Dave Sheffield Trio…
Between the Buried and Me’s show at Venue 578 is worth digging into
The crushing weight of the hype behind Between the Buried and Me’s seventh album, Coma Ecliptic, could be enough to submerge shrewder music fans into dubious terrain, but luckily it dropped just in time (July 7) for there to be no guesswork before this week’s show. Fans of the band’s mathy prog and epic concepts…
Norsekorea throws a benefit this Friday at Backbooth to fund a tight local music comp
We’re not sure what’s more awesome: the fact that the Orlando Is Tight compilation album is happening or that the fundraiser concert to get the ball rolling is stacked with rad bands that totally illustrate the comp’s message. Four bands on the bill will be featured on the comp – Panther Camp, Suck Brick Kid,…
Perfect storm E-Turn & SPS throw a party at the Social to drop their new album
When it comes to the power of two, few hip-hop unions around here are as loaded as Orlando duo E-Turn & SPS. Individually, they’re stars of their respective crafts: Turntablist SPS is a certified DMC battle champion and E-Turn’s one of the most aggressive, diamond-cut rhymers in the rap game right now; she’s even stunned…
Find out how you can get involved with the Creative City Project at Avalon Island Thursday
If a passion for the performing and visual arts runs through your veins, then we think the Creative City Project is calling your name. The movement began in 2012 when a group of artists made it their mission to liven up the streets of Downtown Orlando. Their big to-do is a large annual arts event…
Nerd Nite shows the ladies some love at the Geek Easy
Nerd Nite celebrates girl power this month. This gathering of geeks brings you an evening of booze, brains and intellectual banter. As an audience member, you’ll be able to sit back, relax and drink as an all-female lineup of speakers presents for around 15 minutes each on the achievements of different women in science. You…
New report highlights insane drop in environmental regulation enforcement under Gov. Rick Scott
Yesterday, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility issued an insane report highlighting just how bad things have gotten when it comes to environmental regulation under Gov. Rick Scott. According to an analysis of the state Department of Environmental Protection’s work to protect the environment between 2010 and 2014, anti-pollution enforcement has taken a nosedive. In 2014,…
This Little Underground: Mewithoutyou and Field Mouse (The Social)
I’m not gonna get too into the faith rock issue besides to say that it’s not my thing. Like, at all. Place the blame where you will – on the concept, the practice or my difficulty in overlooking it – but I always enter skeptical when it’s in play. And so it is with Philadelphia’s…
New app shows which cities in South Florida will soon be underwater
Ever wonder if your home will be consumed by the all-encompassing rage of the Atlantic Ocean? Look no further. Eyes on the Rise, an app created by students from Florida International University, shows how the southern part of the state could flood if the oceans continue to rise in the coming years as a result…
You can fly to Cuba from Orlando International Airport starting July 8
Beginning tomorrow, you can catch a direct, nonstop flight to Cuba twice per week from Orlando. According to the Orlando International Airport, Island Travel & Tours plans to offer two flights per week – Island Travel’s website says you’ll be able to fly out on Wednesdays or Sundays at 3 p.m. and you’ll be in…
4 bagel hacks to pimp your topper at Einstein Bros
Granted, there are better places in town to bite off a piece of chewy, carby bagel (like here and also here), but they’re not nearly as morning-commute ubiquitous as Einstein Bros, who just rolled out four new “toppers” for your bread bomb which, honestly, look pretty great. Here are four (secret!) upgrades to +1 your…
Monty Python’s John Cleese and Eric Idle add second Orlando show
We reported last month that John Cleese and Eric Idle would come to the Dr. Phillips Center Saturday, Oct. 17, to present their stage show, Together Again At Last… For The Very First Time — and now the erstwhile Pythons have found it in their hearts to add another. The extra show is Oct. 16, and…
Police raid home of Subway spokesman Jared Fogle
Federal authorities searched the Indiana home of Subway spokesman Jared Fogle Tuesday morning, according to the Indianapolis Star. Officials from the FBI, Indiana State Police and Postal Service were seen at the house, and an evidence truck was parked in the driveway. Fogle garnered national attention in 2000 when the sandwich chain ran television commercials…
Florida woman arrested after repeatedly crashing into her own home
Cheri Tenney, a resident of Seminole, FL and an apparent fan of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, was arrested Saturday, July 4th, after repeatedly smashing her SUV through her own house. According WFLA and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, witnesses claim an extremely drunk Tenney, hit part of her garage while trying to back out of…
Deseret Ranches development plan in Osceola County gets mixed reviews
A development proposed to house half a million people on 133,000 acres of land in Osceola County has gotten mixed critiques from state agencies. The Orlando Sentinel reported Saturday that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection claimed in a one-page report that the metropolis would not cause “adverse impacts” to the environment. However, other agencies…
Four gunmen robbed a Golden Corral on Semoran Boulevard, shots were fired
On Saturday, July 4th, while most of us were out celebrating or Nation’s birthday, four masked suspects robbed a Golden Corral and its employees at 11:30 p.m. The robbery went down at the 2328 S. Semoran Blvd location. According to OPD, the robbers stole an undisclosed amount of money from the till and personal property…
Could Mexican striker Chicharito make Orlando City home?
Rumors have been swirling around for months now about Mexican striker Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez transferring to the Orlando City Soccer Club of the MLS, but is there any truth to it? According to WKMG-TV Local 6, there is a “65 to 70 percent chance” of the Lions signing the the Manchester United player in the…
Greater Orlando Planned Parenthood merges with Sarasota, Naples affiliates
Starting July 1, Planned Parenthood branches in Naples, Orlando and Sarasota joined together to make a new organization called Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, according to a press release from the organization. The new group, based in Sarasota, spans 22 counties and manages 12 health centers, serving about 39,000 patients in the region.…
Race for rashers at the Great American Bacon 5K next month
If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I’d really like to run 3.2 miles and stop three times for a bacon snack along the way,” the Great American Bacon Race is about to make your smoky, porky dreams come true. The race takes place Aug. 1 (ooooh, steamy!), starting at 9 a.m., and registration ($39 through…
Man caught having sex on Florida beach sentenced to 2.5 years in prison
Jose Caballero, the man who was caught on film having public sex on the beach in Manatee County last July, was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Caballero, who was filmed by a nearby grandmother having public sex, taking a nap and then having more public sex, was convicted in May of two counts of…
I4 Ultimate Project update: starting July 7, some downtown Orlando parking lots out of commission
In March, we told you that the I-4 Ultimate Project, which is widening the highway to install four new toll lanes for “express” travel, would result in the closure of parking lots beneath the I-4 overpass downtown. The Florida Department of Transportation wasn’t able to say at the time when, exactly, the parking lots would…
The Central Florida Zoo wants you to name this baby warthog
The Central Florida Zoo is giving you all the chance to officially name a baby warthog whatever you want, you know, like Pumbaa, or Hamela, or Hamlet. On April 17, a 1lb 8oz baby girl was born to two of the Zoo’s warthogs, Joy and Chop. Now, as of July 1, the “spunky” and “adventurous”…
Growlers are legal! Now what’s a growler — and where can I get one?
Now that the Florida Legislature has made it legal for beer brewers to sell 64-ounce growlers, craft beer lovers are rejoicing. But those who are more casual beer consumers might be wondering a) what’s the big deal and b) how to join in. Very briefly, a) the big deal is that by filling a growler…
Grilled cheese, ice cream, and other summer delights: new restaurants open now/opening soon
Tom + Chee (“Grilled CHEEse & TOMato soup for the kid at heart”) opens in the Crossroads Plaza in Lake Buena Vista July 3; grand opening is July 10. You’ve seen the food truck, now get ready for the brick-and-mortar storefront. Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream is open in the former Ice Cream Treats & Eats space…
Wander the halls of desire at the Grand Polylust Hotel at Will’s Pub
It was only a matter of time before someone realized that Orlando’s burlesque scene was missing something: that is, a Wes Anderson-themed burlesque show. Polylust Burlesque to the rescue! For two evenings, the city’s radical, body-positive “queerlesque” troupe will transport audiences to the Grand Polylust Hotel (a play on Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, in…
The Orlando Eye broke down again, 66 passengers rescued
The Orlando Eye, a 400 ft Ferris wheel that now has a reputation for continuously breaking down, stranded 66 passengers Friday afternoon, July 3rd. At around 3:45 p.m., the ride stopped moving for more than 45 minutes. Orange County firefighters helped passengers exit the ride in a rescue effort that spanned more than 3 hours. …
Want a side of Michael Fassbender’s wang at breakfast? Check out Uncomfortable Brunch at Will’s Pub
The film series that revels in the awkwardness of combining delicious breakfast with disturbing art films has put us in some flustering situations since it launched in January – for instance, trying to eat Easter brunch while watching the sodomy-and-excrement festival that is Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom. But as…
Screamo band MewithoutYou wrestles with death at the Social
It’s clear straight from the album title, Pale Horses, that MewithoutYou songwriter Aaron Weiss is wrestling with death on the latest disc, or at least with its imagery. Without fearing retribution from the band’s still-staunch hardcore-leaning fans (who will immediately hold dear the album’s fiercest standout track, “Red Cow”), he conjures scenes from Revelations with…
This Little Underground: Black Tusk, Meatwound, Bhavachakra (Will’s Pub)
It’s serious business any time Georgia standouts Black Tusk come to town (July 2, Will’s Pub), but my scope was pointed more at a couple rising Florida acts this time. A new local band that’s been making increasing ripples on the scene lately, Bhavachakra deals in progressive black metal with some unusual undercurrents. Their storms…
State of Florida sees sharp spike in number of kids in foster care
The number of Florida children in the state’s foster-care system has reached its highest level since 2008 – driven by both a spike in the number of kids being removed from their homes and a drop in the number being discharged after a stint in foster care. In the last 24 months, the number of…
Unwind from the weekend with a free sunset yoga class at the Polasek
Have you ever wanted to do a sun salutation as the sun fades into the background? Well, this is your chance and this setting, the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden in Winter Park, is the perfect place for it. DJ Nigel will set the mood as Aly Ballow from Audubon Park’s Warrior One Power Yoga leads…
How rich are Florida’s top politicians? See their financial disclosure forms and find out
It’s financial-disclosure time in the state of Florida again! Which means we can tell you just how much our rich politicians are worth lately. Financial forms declaring our state’s elected officials’ net worth are due on July 1 every year. Here are some of the highlights from this year’s filings: Gov. Rick Scott: $146,800,754.00 Even…
Tijuana Flats is bringing back the hemp burrito
Burweedo strikes again! Starting next week, you can now add a hemp burrito to your paraphernalia collection courtesy of Tijuana Flats, according to a press release from the Winter Park chain. The hemp tortillas are back for a limited time starting Monday, July 6. Last year, the chain also advertised three specialty hemp burritos prepared “megajuana”…
Now that the OK Supreme Court ruled against the 10 Commandments monument, what will happen to the Satan statue?
Early Tuesday morning, June 30th, I received word that the Oklahoma Supreme Court had ruled against the legality of a 10 Commandments monument currently residing on the state capitol grounds. According to the ruling, the monument, only freshly erected, is unconstitutional and must now come down. The Satanic Temple, (TST) having fought to erect a…
![Former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins’ contract not renewed by Rollins [UPDATED with comment from Rollins]](https://i0.wp.com/www.orlandoweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/paul-mccartney-billy-collins-rollins-college.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
Former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins’ contract not renewed by Rollins [UPDATED with comment from Rollins]
In a sad yet not really surprising move, Rollins College has quietly ended its prestigious association with poet Billy Collins. Collins was Poet Laureate of the United States from 2001-2003, and composed a memorable 9/11 poem, “The Names,” at the request of Congress. He came to the area in 2008 at the request of Rollins’…
Enzian is hosting a Young Filmmakers Camp for kids
Let your kids walk down the red carpet this summer at the Enzian. For two weeks, your little Spielberg can learn about the art and history of filmmaking, make their own films and showcase them at a ‘World Premier.’ KidFest 2015 is hosting its summer camp from July 6 to July 17 (with the graduation…
Florida AG Pam Bondi joins suit to keep EPA from enforcing rules to protect more waterways
We get it – wetlands aren’t a sexy topic. They’re full of mud and snakes and sometimes gators, and the average person doesn’t really seem to know what they’re good for. And Florida has lots of wetlands. More than any other state. Which is probably why Attorney General Pam Bondi just joined a lawsuit against…
Lake Eola launches new wheelchair-accessible swan boat
One of the iconic swan boats of downtown Orlando’s Lake Eola Park got a redesign, making it the lake’s first wheelchair-accessible swan paddle boat. The city unveiled the revamped watercraft on Thursday at the lake with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and City Commissioner Patty Sheehan in attendance, according to a City of Orlando press release.…
The Orlando Science Center is in the midst of a major overhaul
The Orlando Science Center is in the midst of a major overhaul. It’s moving the popular Town interactive play area to the second floor, replacing the area where the original gift shop was, to make room for the new KidsTown the gift shop moved to the opposite side of the entrance. The new gift shop…
Taco Bell announces latest stunt food: Cap’n Crunch donut holes
So, we'll see you tomorrow? #CapnCrunchDelights pic.twitter.com/7umLWZVl2Q — Taco Bell (@tacobell) July 1, 2015 Adding yet more evidence to support our theory that fast food companies want you to die with a greasy, sugar-glazed smile on your face, Taco Bell announced today that Cap’n Crunch donut holes, previously available only in one city in California,…
You will soon be able to fly out of OIA and eat Chipotle at the same time
Next year when you fly Southwest, Air Tran or Virgin out of Orlando International, wait till you get to the airport for lunch. Villa Enterprises unveiled their new plans for the new Orlando International Airport food court and it has some interesting additions. The new court, in Airside 2, will include 11,100 square feett of…
Skyscraper at Skyplex announces new surf park, pushes back opening
The 700 ft tall Skyscraper at Skyplex has announced another new addition to what is beginning to sound like the ultimate one-stop shop for thrills along International Drive. Along with the 570 ft tall roller coaster, the world’s tallest roller coaster by well over 100 ft, a new 600 ft long powered reversed zipline and…
Fun Spot adds live entertainment, announces an ‘Old Florida District’
Fun Spot recently added new live in-park entertainment at their I-Drive area location. The new puppet and live character entertainment is akin to the Citizens of Hollywood at Hollywood Studios. The new characters are provided by local improv company, Power2Improv. Currently they are only there on Saturdays but other days should be added soon. The…
This Little Underground: Marc With a C, Harsh Radish and Samurai Shotgun at the Grand Collab (Will’s Pub)
I know there are music seekers out there. Not enough of you, but there are more than I’m seeing – at least that’s what I keep telling myself in order to go on living. For those so inclined, multi-genre showcase series the Grand Collab has become my little, not-so-secret safari spot to sample and discover…
UPDATE: CONFIRMED. There’s a rumor that Wahlburgers is coming to downtown Orlando
[UPDATE: Wahlburgers has confirmed through a PR spokeswoman that they will indeed open a downtown location in the vacated Simply Puur space at 200 S. Orange Ave.] Unconfirmed rumor! Irresponsible journalism alert! And all that. But we heard this, ahem, juicy rumor about Wahlburgers and couldn’t resist sharing. A reader tipped us that workers at…
New lakeside restaurant opening this fall is another reason Lake Nona residents never have to leave home
If ever there was a restaurant hotbed in the making, Lake Nona would be it – it’s so far away from everything that it’s on the developers to provide entertainment for their residents, and they seem to be working to do just that. The Laureate Park section of the planned community will soon house a…
Chaka Khan will be joining the Food & Wine Festival
“Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan” will be bringing her glamorous self to this year’s Food & Wine Festival. Known for gems like “Ain’t Nobody,” and “I Feel For You,” the music icon will be on stage Nov. 15-16 at Epcot’s Eat to the Beat Concert Series. Also, Smash Mouth, famous for their one song…
World Food Championships coming to Kissimmee in November
“It’s like seeing food TV on steroids,” is how Mike McCloud, CEO of the World Food Championships, describes the weeklong event, which takes place Nov. 3-10, 2015, in Celebration. We’re not sure if that’s supposed to be a deterrent or a draw, but one thing’s for sure, there’s going to be an assload of people…
5 local juice bars for your summer cleanse
Two truths: 1) Juice cleanses are hard. 2) There’s barely a better way to lose a couple of pounds of bloat while still feeling like a human being. Sure, you could go out and buy a $200 juicer that you’ll use for four days and will end up in the pantry collecting silverfish, or you…
48 Hour Film Project announces dates
The Orlando 48 Hour Film Project has announced its dates. The kick-off event for filmmakers will be August 14 at 6 p.m., with films due at the drop-off location by 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 16. In addition, three meet-ups are planned, the first coming this Friday at 7 p.m., at Wildside Bar & Grill, 700…
Daytona Speedway won’t take down Confederate flags this weekend, offering flag exchange
There will be a new feature at the Daytona International Speedway this weekend, and it’s not a new concession stand, but a flag exchange program. Fans will have the opportunity to exchange their Confederate flag for an American flag at this weekend’s Independence Day race, according to ESPN. Racetrack president Joie Chitwood told the Orlando…
A distracted Florida driver actually jumped an open drawbridge
Accomplishing what many us have only dreamt of, Palm Beach resident James Montano actually jumped an open drawbridge last Sunday, June 28th. While barreling along on the Flagler Memorial Bridge, Montano managed to smash through a stop arm and clear a small gap in the bridge before crashing into the roadway on the opposite…
If you want to score some drugs in Orlando, these signs won’t help
Some local pranksters have been placing fake signs around the Orlando area offering everything from cheap heroin, Viagra, to even fart noises. Don’t be fooled. They’re totally fake, bro. As first reported by WFTV, if you call the phone number on one of these signs, you’ll probably reach an annoyed business owner. In many cases, the…
Gimme Shelter (7/1/15)
You don’t have to go to Africa to see the beautiful Savannah – all you have to do is visit Orange County Animal Services to meet this pretty 1-month-old kitten. She’s as sweet as can be. She loves to be petted and held. Savannah gets along well with other kitties and she loves to play…
Raising the bar: Five Orlando watering holes where form is just as important as function
Wall Street Plaza: More than just block parties With seven bars lining its brick-paved pedestrian walkway, it’s no surprise Wall Street Plaza is known as downtown Orlando’s party central – particularly on the weekends, when 20somethings gravitate to the epic block parties and liquor-infused events that transform the space from quirky daytime lunch spot or…
Lulu Eightball (7/1/15)
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Savage Love (7/1/15)
This is going to sound like bragging, but my appearance is intrinsic to my kink. I’m a gay male gymnast. Most of the guys on my college team are annoyed by the kind of objectification we routinely come in for. (We actually don’t want to be auctioned off at yet another sorority fundraiser, thanks.) But…
This N’ That Eats opened in Ivanhoe Village, authentic poutine at Union Burger and more local foodie news
East End Market chef-in-residence Jessica Tantalo hosts a crêpe breakfast July 11 as part of the Audubon Park Garden District’s annual Bastille Day celebrations. Also on tap that day for French food lovers: La Femme du Fromage hosts a very exclusive cheese tasting, a special edition of the Dinner Party Project happens at P Is for…
Remix: The radler might be the perfect Fourth of July cocktail
I’m not saying that summer is an excuse to be lazy; I’m just saying, when the heat index says it feels like triple digits and you’re swimming through 100 percent humidity, it’s smart to conserve energy. So I’ll have no objections if you skip the labor-intensive part of this month’s Remix. After all, I myself…
Mummies looks more like a permanent exhibit than a temporary set-up and the real buzz around Artegon is Gods & Monsters
After being caught in torrential downpours at three different theme parks last week, I’m inclemently inclined to inform you of two new indoor attractions, for those afternoons when the family says, “Let’s go out,” but the sky screams, “Stay inside!” Mummies of the World: The Exhibition at Orlando Science Center Upon arriving at the Orlando…
Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman explains why the tour’s not so punk anymore
This year’s Warped Tour lineup is decidedly rock-centric, leaning toward metalcore, hardcore and edgy indie rock. For a festival tour that started out in the mid-1990s focused on punk and ska – music that had a strong underground following at the time – it’s quite a shift. But Warped founder and organizer Kevin Lyman says…
Picks This Week: Telekinetic Walrus, Father, the Caution Children and more
Acoustic Soundcheck With Brian Killeen Frequently performing under the moniker Plane Versus Cult, Brian Killeen conjures drama-tinged and darkly wistful indie-folk that gives this night a world-weary allure. 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, at the Imperial, free Black Tusk It’s an essential act to catch any time they come to town, but this would be…
This Little Underground: The weird originality of Illuminated Paths
I’ve been thinking a while now about enigmatic Central Florida music label Illuminated Paths – what it’s doing, what it is – and the launch of its first label showcase tour and our feature story (June 15) that it compelled recently brought it to a point. There are, of course, other boutique cassette labels out…
Here’s what Gov. Rick Scott’s state budget cuts mean to Orange County
Last week, Gov. Rick Scott singlehandedly vetoed funding for a 10-page list of local and statewide projects. The last-minute grinching cut $461 million from the $78 billion state budget that takes effect on July 1. That may not sound like much removed from a huge amount, but these vetoes are roughly 0.6 percent of the…
Gov. Rick Scott’s “keep Florida working” budget slashes funding for free and low-cost clinics
One area where Gov. Rick Scott’s slash-and-burn approach to budgeting hit particularly hard this year: healthcare for the poor. Among Scott’s bigger cuts was $9.5 million set aside for the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, which supports free and low-cost clinics across the state. According to the governor’s proud letter announcing his bold,…
This Modern World (7/1/15)
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Opening in Orlando: Magic Mike XXL, Terminator: Genisys
Magic Mike: XXL Now that’s how you title a sequel. What was the runner-up – Magic Mike: The Next Dick? Or Phallus Doesn’t Live Here Anymore? Anyway, good taste and subtlety once again prevail as Hollywood revisits the hit that made your aunt feel deliriously dirty before she could even name 30 shades of grey.…
The Binge: Seinfeld enters the streaming era
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Free Will Astrology (7/1/15)
ARIES (March 21-April 19) To determine whether you are aligned with the cosmic flow, please answer the following questions: 1) Would you say that your current situation is more akin to treading water in a mosquito-ridden swamp, or conducting a ritual of purification in a clear mountain stream? 2) Have you been wrestling with boring…
