

Cover Story
Flashes from the outer limits of the Orlando DIY scene
Scene in between
Come see the Orlando Girls Rock stars of tomorrow at Will’s Pub this weekend
As this year’s edition of the Orlando Girl’s Rock Camp draws to a close, the campers are ready to ROCK and show off their newfound instrumental chops and you’re cordially invited to see the Will’s Pub headliners of tomorrow at the Will’s of today this weekend. Orlando Girls Rock Camp Showcase is at Will’s Pub…
New Orleans sludge masters Thou to play Orlando in September
Agit-sludge band Thou has announced a long-awaited show in the City Beautiful in September, bringing along Big Brave and Blackwater Holylight for the ride. The Louisiana band is still touring behind last year’s Magus album on Sacred Bones Records, and has clearly got the road itch, having only recently completed a North American run with…
10 percent of teachers on ‘sugar daddy’ website are from Florida
Struggling teachers across the country are seeking extra income on a popular sugar daddy site, and nearly 10 percent of them come from Florida. SeekingArrangement, the self-proclaimed largest sugar daddy site in the world, said more than 10,000 American teachers use sugar daddies due to their low teaching salaries. And 999 of them come from…
Ken Stringfellow of the Posies to play Orlando’s Timucua house in October
Posies legend Ken Stringfellow is set to make a solo return to Orlando and continue his string of playing unconventional spaces. This time around, he’ll be playing the classical/experimental haven that is Timucua, and he promises an evening of stories and songs covering his storied career (including a stint with the mighty Big Star) and…
14 free shows happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, July 24: Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 p.m. at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. The Neu Old Boyz 9 pm at Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave. Technasia 9 pm at Celine Orlando, 22 S. Magnolia Ave. Thursday, July 25: Kaleigh Baker 10 p.m. at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave.…
Legal Public Notices 7/24 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices Auction: Notice is hereby given that Compass Self Storage Intents to sell the property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property under the Florida Self Storage Facility Act (Section 83-80-83.809). The owner will sell at public auction for CASH through competitive bidding on August 14, 2019 at…
Lynx is bringing fully electric Lymmo buses to downtown Orlando thanks to $1.9 million federal grant
Lynx is receiving nearly $2 million from federal authorities for more sustainable equipment — funds that will go toward zero-emission Lymmo buses. The central Florida bus operator is receiving $1.961 million, to be exact, according to U.S. Representative Stephanie Murphy, D-Winter Park, who announced the news on Twitter Tuesday. “A great investment in central Florida!”…
Peelander-Yellow brings night of Asian insanity and revelation to Lil Indies
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Yellow Nite Fever Tour ft. Peelander-Yellow Fabulous Johnk Wray and Musuki Aruvavo Lee, Lil Indies, July 21 The Asian sense of duty is so real it’s famous. So, as a card-carrying member, a trifecta involving (1) something called the Yellow Nite Fever Tour featuring (2) Japanese artists with (3) Peelander-Yellow as the…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finally gets an airplane
Florida officials could soon finalize a deal to buy a business jet to fly Gov. Ron DeSantis, more than six months after he was a passenger in a state-operated aircraft that experienced a mechanical malfunction. A negotiation team with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Tuesday recommended the state acquire a nine-passenger jet from…
Jaleo in Disney Springs has a new ‘Sangria Hour’
If you haven’t gotten day-drunk on Disney property yet, can you really call yourself an Orlando local? Now you’ll have the perfect opportunity because Jaleo, chef José Andrés’ restaurant at Disney Springs, has announced a daily “Sangria Hour” starting on July 29. From 3 to 6 p.m. every day at the Jaleo Matador, you can…
Dochi Donuts is returning to Lake Nona’s Boxi Park
Dochi Donuts, who produce the fabulous Japanese Mochi Donut, will return to Boxi Park with another pop-up store from July 26 to July 28. The donuts will be $2.50 each, with a half-dozen going for $13. Mochi donuts are a hybrid between American donuts and Japanese mochi, which come together for a treat with both…
The New ‘Jay and Silent Bob’ movie will be screened in Orlando
All the Kevin Smith fans stand up because his newest film, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, will include Orlando in its 600 theater premiere in October. On October 15 and 17 Orlando theaters such as the AMC 18 in Altamonte Springs and the Regal Pointe on International Drive will screen the newest film about the…
7-Eleven delivery app is giving away AirPods to Orlando shoppers
As we all know, Apple AirPods are the ultimate status symbol. And now, on July 25, you can get them for free from 7NOW, 7-Eleven’s delivery app, when your delivery order exceeds $50. With the 7NOW app, you’ll get notified about when the flash deal begins, and you’ll have to find some way to spend…
St. Augustine’s Sing Out Loud Festival reveals musical lineup for this year with nearly 300 artists
The unique Sing Out Loud Festival is returning to St. Augustine later this year, boasting a packed schedule of free musical performances dotted throughout the city. The festival will be taking place over the better part of September, with some 300 artists scheduled to perform, and there are some absolutely jaw-dropping headliners. Highlights of this…
Orlando attorney John Morgan formally announces $15 minimum wage campaign for 2020 election ballot
A $15 minimum wage campaign in Florida is now officially in the works. Florida for a Fair Wage, the long-time passion project of Orlando attorney John Morgan, was formally launched Monday with a press release. “There is no doubt in my mind that is an uphill battle. But just like there were hundreds of thousands of…
Woman punches Disney cast member in the face at Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror
A Chicago woman with ride rage got herself banned from “the happiest place on earth” after she punched a Disney cast member during a FastPass dispute. The whole thing happened earlier this month after the 23-year-old woman and the group of riders with her became angry because their FastPasses for Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror…
Florida NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer claims photos of gunshot wounds sent to her are threats
A California attorney urged a federal appeals court Monday to reject a lawsuit filed by prominent National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer over emails sent after the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County. Lawrence Sorensen, an attorney and mediator, sent emails to Hammer that contained photos showing injuries…
Is Tesla headed to Tomorrowland? Disney says no, but there might be more to this rumor
Rumors of the demise (or update) of the Tomorrowland Speedway at the Magic Kingdom date back years now, but as we move closer to the WDW 50th Anniversary in 2021 it’s looking all the more likely that something will happen soon. In a rare move, this time Disney itself has even commented on the rumors.…
A new luxury expedition-focused cruise line will soon call Florida home
From Virgin Voyages to Ritz Carlton Yachts, the luxury cruise industry grows larger every day, and with it, Florida continues to dominate the industry. Now yet another cruise line has decided to make Florida its home. According to posts by the company on LinkedIn and comments by real estate firm NAI/Merin Hunter Codman, Mystic Cruises…
Florida gas prices will fall 5 to 15 cents after Tropical Storm Barry bump
Florida gas prices are creeping down again after rising 7 cents thanks to Tropical Storm Barry. A news release published by the American Automobile Association Monday has state gas prices averaging at $2.67 a gallon. That’s below the national average of $2.78 a gallon. “The brief 7-cent increase last week was a delayed response to Tropical Storm…
American crocodiles thriving near nuclear power plant in South Florida
American crocodiles, once headed toward extinction, are now thriving in the canals surrounding Florida Power & Light’s Turkey Point nuclear plant in South Florida. The canals, which stretch 168 miles, are home to 25 percent of the American crocodile population. The team of specialists from FPL that monitor and protect this group of several hundred…
There’s now a 60 percent chance a new tropical system will develop off the coast of Florida
As of Monday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center is now saying there’s a 60 percent chance a new tropical system will develop just off Florida’s east coast. In their 2 p.m. update, forecasters with the NHC said that a system located off Andros Island in the Bahamas will move northwestward towards Florida at about 15…
Ousted Miss Michigan was once a University of Central Florida student
The newly crowned Miss Michigan got her title taken away, and she says it’s in part because of a tweet she made while she studied at UCF. Kathy Zhu, self-proclaimed “independent thinker” and “political commentator,” took to Twitter last week to say Miss World America accused her of being “racist, Islamaphobic and insensitive.” “They stripped…
Brian Setzer Orchestra to once again show Orlando that Christmas Rocks this November
It’s only July, you say? Nonsense, hip-daddy, it’s never too early for erstwhile Stray Cat Brian Setzer to announce his 16th annual “Christmas Rocks Tour.” Setzer will be reconvening his eponymous orchestra to hit the road in November and do his best Swingin’ Santa. And if you want to see him in Florida, your only…
Hurricane Party and Astronautalis together at Will’s was a major Orlando hip-hop homecoming
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Hurricane Party and Astronautalis, Will’s Pub, July 18 Having Astronautalis and Hurricane Party MC Bleubird on the same bill is a tap into one of the richest wells of Florida hip-hop talent in modern history – make that ever. And that fountainhead traces right back here to the 407. Although neither artist is…
12,000 books to be donated at the Need to Read Orlando Book Giveaway
Need to Read, a local nonprofit, will donate books, backpacks, and other school and educational supplies to Orlando residents during their second annual Book Giveaway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3. One event will begin with a ribbon-cutting at the Washington Shores Church for Christ (2818 Orange Center Blvd.), which will feature…
Study finds cost of admission at Disney World has increased 3,014% over the past 60 years
A recent study by Play Like Mum found that the price of admission to Walt Disney World has increased 3,014% since its opening in 1971. A one-day, one-park adult admission ticket cost $3.50 when the park opened. At that time, each ride required a separate ticket. You could buy ride tickets individually or in a set…
Florida’s unemployment numbers are still below the national rate
Florida’s unemployment numbers stayed low in June. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity released its latest job numbers, finding the state’s “over-the-year job growth rate has exceeded the nation’s rate since April 2012,” if you don’t count September 2017. At 3.4 percent seasonally adjusted unemployment, the state is still below the national unemployment rate, which…
Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday begins next Friday
Parents: You’ve survived the summer. To reward you, Florida’s back-to-school tax holiday is set for Aug. 2-6. That means there will be no sales tax on a variety of items, including: Footwear, clothing and certain accessories ($60 or less per item) Some school supplies ($15 or less per item) Personal computers and certain computer-related accessories…
Florida may have the second-highest rate of diabetes in the nation by 2030
Florida’s on track to have one of the highest rates of diabetes in the country. By 2030, the Sunshine State will have a diabetes rate of 18.8 percent, the second highest in the country behind West Virginia, according to an analysis from an academic psychology site. PsyDPrograms analyzed data from an Institute for Alternatives Futures…
Cruise line Seabourn to take guests to new depths with crazy luxury submarines
With the global cruise industry booming, cruise lines are seeking unique new ways to differentiate themselves, from onboard roller coasters to drag brunches. But one luxury cruise line is taking the task to new depths — by including custom-built, ultra-luxurious submarine jaunts. Seabourn, the luxury cruise line best known for their virtual reality staff training…
Disney finally decides to finish a sidewalk it announced in 1994
After nearly 25 years, Disney is finally moving forward with plans to connect the Grand Floridian and Polynesian Resort to the Magic Kingdom via a pedestrian walkway. The surprising move was first revealed via public documents posted on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection website and was later confirmed by a Disney spokesperson. This isn’t…
Caribbean showers *probably* not bringing tropical storm to Florida
UPDATE: Newer news says that there’s now a 60 percent chance of this storm hitting Florida. We’ll do our best to keep you pointed at the latest updates. There’s a tropical wave brewing in the Bahamas, but chances of it moving into Florida as a storm aren’t too high. A Monday morning update from the…
Orlando band Sales’ song ‘Chinese New Year’ is freaking huge on TikTok
If you wish Vine still existed, new(ish) app TikTok is for you. If you aren’t already acquainted with the joys of “the youth”‘s favorite new DIY music video meme machine, you will be soon – Facebook is gearing up a lesser version of it of their own, a sure sign they consider it worthy of buying…
Florida Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried has massively reduced gun permit waits
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried says review times for applications for concealed-weapons licenses have been reduced. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which Fried heads, says review times for people with no prior issues have been reduced from 50 days when Fried took office in January to one day in July. Meanwhile, people with…
Orlando’s newest Rita’s Italian Ice will give 50 people at the grand opening free treats for a year
A new location for Rita’s Italian Ice is setting up shop near International Drive, and at the grand opening celebration July 25, the first 50 families in line will receive coupons for a year’s worth of free Italian ice. The entire grand opening party will last four days, from July 25 to July 28, and…
New owner takes over downtown Orlando restaurant the Rusty Spoon, plans name change
Kathleen and William Blake have sold their interest in the Rusty Spoon restaurant at 55 W. Church St. In its eight years, the restaurant was one of the best examples in Orlando of locally and seasonally focused fine dining. Chef Kathleen Blake not only forged relationships with local farmers and purveyors, she was a role…
Five Florida guys flung fists at a Florida Five Guys
Exactly five guys were arrested this week after a fistfight broke out in a Florida Five Guys location. The numerologically correct brawl occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Five Guys Burgers & Fries at 2185 Southeast Federal Highway in Stuart, Florida, according to the Stuart Police Department. “Can you guess how many guys were arrested at…
Psych rockers Gringo Star to unveil new album at Will’s Pub this weekend
Gringo Star has been around long enough to have seen dozens of descriptors tossed out in an effort to describe the band’s psych-rock sound (“vintage,” “scruffy,” “feverish” and “soulful” are some of our favorites). The Atlanta-based quintet is no stranger to the City Beautiful, and this is a chance to see Gringo Star in close…
Industrial survivors Pig to play Orlando in September
Industrial music veteran Raymond Watts has reconvened his infamous project Pig for a string of North American dates starting up in September. For this latest tour, promoting new covers album Candy, Watts is adding some serious live firepower by bringing back all-star collaborators including En Esch (KMFDM), Steve White and Galen Waling (both from 16…
Eatonville’s historic Zora Neale Hurston museum gets a new home
The Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts will be moving into a brand-new spot. The museum named after the Eatonville author and anthropologist will move just down the road to a newly designed building at 344 E. Kennedy Blvd. So will the offices for the Association to Preserve Eatonville Community, which announced the…
Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes to stop at Orlando’s Hard Rock Live on Jay & Silent Bob’s Reboot Roadshow
Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes, last seen as their onscreen personas of Jay & Silent Bob waaaaaaay back in 2001’s Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, are reuniting this fall for Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, out on Oct. 15. They’re also kicking off a live stage tour that month that will bring them to…
SeaWorld gets new board chairman Scott Ross, former director of Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company
SeaWorld elected a new board chairman, the company announced Friday. While Yoshikazu Maruyama stepped down, he will stay on as SeaWorld director. Scott Ross, founder and Managing Partner of Hill Path Capital LP, was unanimously voted in as the new chair, the company stated. Maruyama had served as chairman since October 2017, and Ross joined…
Orlando-area triple homicide to be featured on Court TV
Court TV is back and headed to Seminole County to cover a triple homicide tied to a man’s relationship with an online performer. The TV program that once brought high-profile cases from O.J. Simpson to Casey Anthony to screens across the country began coverage of the Grant Amato trial on Thursday. Amato, 29, of Chuluota, was…
Orlando carjacker couldn’t drive stick, so he bailed and stole a different car
A 25-year-old man was arrested after, sheriff’s deputies say, he stole an elderly man’s car in Orlando, but couldn’t drive a stick shift – so he stole another one. The suspect carjacked the man at East Colonial Drive and Dean Road just before noon on Tuesday, according to Orange County Sheriff’s Office. “Unable to drive…
Nobody wants these embarrassing Confederate statues in Florida, and that includes eight Lake County mayors
Mayors from across Lake County want Gov. Ron DeSantis to prevent the statue of a Confederate general that has represented Florida in the nation’s capital for nearly a century from being displayed in their community. Mount Dora Mayor Nick Girone became the latest mayor to sign a letter opposing the plan to bring the 9-foot…
Florida insurance agency declines to cover damage caused by 11-foot alligator bursting into Clearwater kitchen
A Clearwater woman’s insurance claim has been denied after an 11-foot alligator crashed through her window. The incident occurred before dawn on May 31, when the apex predator burst through a low window in 77-year-old Mary Wischhusen’s Clearwater condo, causing extensive damage to walls and shattering bottles of wine across the floor. Though the exact…
Orlando’s Park Ave CDs is one of the few stores to host a listening party for Bon Iver’s new album, i, i
Few indie bands make the crossover into massive popularity as much as Justin Vernon’s Bon Iver project. His fourth album, i, i, drops Aug. 30 on Jagjaguwar, but you can get a sneak peek at the whole thing on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at Park Ave CDs. Attendees get the chance to listen to the new…
Orlando murder case to be featured on HLN this weekend
The City Beautiful will make an ugly appearance on HLN’s Lies, Crimes & Video as the series explores the case of a Florida woman raped and murdered in her apartment. Set to air Saturday, the seventh episode of the eight-part series will look into the death of Sasha Samsudean. The episode, titled “Horror in Apartment 345,” has the following description from…
Central Florida for Good partners with Ben and Jerry’s for Winter Park scavenger hunt
Central Florida for Good, an association of “purpose-driven” businesses, and Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream will co-host a scavenger hunt in Winter Park from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, along oak-canopied Park Avenue. Participants will be able to explore local shops, boutiques, restaurants and more along the main strip of the downtown historic…
The Boathouse was the only Orlando spot to make OpenTable’s ‘100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America’
The Boathouse, a staple of Disney Springs, was the only Orlando-based restaurant to crack into OpenTable’s list of the 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America. What makes the Boathouse so scenic? It certainly doesn’t hurt that it sits on a lake with a view of Disney Springs, not to mention its Dockside Bar, water taxi,…
Park Ave CDs teams up with 64 North for a ticket giveaway happy hour this Friday
Friday happy hour is obviously the best part of the working week, but this Friday, July 19, takes it to a new level. Park Ave CDs, Pom Pom’s and 64 North team up for three hours of free stuff. Park Ave is giving away tickets to upcoming shows from acts like Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Jenny…
Florida House candidate who claimed to treat shooting victims after Pulse shooting admits she ‘just made it up’
A former candidate for a state Democratic house seat lied about being a doctor and treating Pulse victims, Florida health officials confirmed. A report published Wednesday by the Florida Department of Public Health reveals Catherine Elizabeth McCarthy admitted to an investigator that she “just made it up.” The department ordered McCarthy to pay $3,094.95 in…
Florida prison inmate took a break to ‘dance around’ after shanking guard, says Department of Corrections
A Florida Panhandle inmate who attacked three officers in a “brutal, unprovoked attack” has been charged with attempted murder of a correctional officer and possession of contraband, state prison officials said Wednesday. “This violence is completely unacceptable. Our officers come to work every day to protect Florida communities and serve courageously in this profession dedicated…
SeaWorld Orlando announces new summer concert series with Colt Ford, Vertical Horizon and more
SeaWorld Orlando announced on Thursday a summer concert series and the limited-time return of their Fun Card. The indoor concerts, included with park admission, will begin July 20 and take place over the next four weekends. Country hip-hop artist Colt Ford will headline the first series on the weekend of July 20-21. The American rock…
Florida GOP lawmaker calls ‘send her back’ chant racist, criticizes Trump for not stopping it
A Republican state representative just criticized Trump for not stopping the chants of “send her back” directed at congresswoman Ilhan Omar at a recent rally. Rep. Chris Latvala (R-Clearwater) tweeted that the chants targeting Omar, a Minnesota representative who was originally born in Somalia, were just helping divide the country. “Chanting ‘Send her back’ towards…
Orlando cancels Amazon Rekognition program, capping 15 months of glitches and controversy | Orlando Weekly exclusive
Orlando’s two-phase pilot with Amazon to try out real-time facial recognition software ended Thursday, capping 15 months of technical lags, bandwidth issues and uncertainty over whether the controversial face-scanning technology actually works. The city’s second pilot phase with the software, called Rekognition, began in October 2018 using four cameras at the police department’s headquarters, three…
Disney announces new fireworks show and enhanced attractions for 2019 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party
Disney announced Wednesday that this year’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom will feature a new fireworks show and several rides will be enhanced to fit the party’s spooky theme. Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas will host “Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular,” a fireworks show featuring projections, lasers and special lighting. The show centers…
Florida students must now take 5 hours of mental health instruction
Florida students now have to take at least five hours of mental health instruction — a new requirement in line with First Lady Casey DeSantis’ mental health campaign. The State Board of Eduction voted on the new mandate Tuesday, which will apply to students from 6th to 12th grade. “Ron and I have traveled the…
Orlando Record Store Crawl returns with drinks, swag and a tour of some of the town’s record shops
Like going record shopping? Like getting drunk? Of course you do, Dad. Deep Eddy Vodka and Warner Bros. Records sponsor a chauffeured crate-digging expedition this weekend that carts you to Park Ave CDs, East West Records and Rock & Roll Heaven, where you’ll receive 15 percent off all your purchases. You’ll also get lunch (and…
Royal Caribbean ships will not stop in Puerto Rico due to protests
Today, Royal Caribbean ship Harmony of the Seas canceled a scheduled stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico, over ongoing political protests against Gov. Ricardo Rosselló. Related The cruise company also re-routed another ship yesterday, Empress of the Seas, to stop in Tortola instead of San Juan because of the protests and continued civilian unrest. It’s…
Bowigens in Casselberry gives sour beer fans their dream menu at Sour Fest
Fans of sour beers – there are literally dozens of us – get spoiled rotten at Casselberry’s Bowigens Beer Company this Saturday. The brewery’s second annual Sour Fest highlights nine house-brewed Berliner weisses, goses and other varieties. Plus, guest sours appear on the menu from Deviant Wolfe, Hourglass, Tactical Brewing and more. Pair your beer…
Roque Pub’s Belgian Independence Day party is less about waffles, more about beer
The Belgians celebrate their National Day every year on the anniversary of the installation of Leopold I as king in 1831. And yet, even with their delicious contributions to world culture – Belgian beer, Belgian waffles, French fries (look it up!) – their Independence Day has yet to be appropriated and Americanized like Cinco de…
18 free concerts happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, July 17: Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 p.m. at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Swamp Sistas See, Hear & Say 5 8 pm at The Imperial at Washburn Imports, 1800 N. Orange Ave. Thursday, July 18: Kaleigh Baker 10 p.m. at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Jacob Latimore 7 pm…
Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights features Ghostbusters for the first time
Universal Studios just announced the addition of an OG Ghostbusters-themed haunted house to its 2019 Halloween Horror Nights lineup, which runs from Sept. 6 through Nov. 2. According to Universal, the Ghosbusters haunted house is set to commemorate the blockbuster’s 35th anniversary, tracking the movements of Peter, Ray, Egon and Winston through iconic scenes like…
Crazy ’80s Pub Crawl gives you the chance to put on your best Hopper shirt and paint the town pastel
Don’t listen to your cynical friends: The third season of Stranger Things was way better than the second, even with the over-the-top nostalgia references. Show them how wrong they are by getting dolled up like Fat Rambo in some cutting-edge finery and doing the Neutron Dance through basically every bar in downtown for the 14th…
Synth-pop star Howard Jones gets his due at Hard Rock Live
Howard Jones doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. Shut out of the more critic-friendly lists of 1980s synth-pop pioneers, Jones never really fit that particular club’s obtuse rules of icy detachment. Instead, he was in thrall to the ringing tones of classic songwriting like Cole Porter, Burt Bacharach and Bernie Taupin. He was a nerd’s…
Jennifer Lopez returns to Orlando for the first time in half a decade along with stars from World of Dance
For the first time in nearly six years, Jennifer Lopez will be returning to Orlando. However, this time, J.Lo is not coming alone. Her “It’s My Party” tour is a spin-off from her hosting duties on NBC’s dance contest-reality show World of Dance, and Lopez will be bringing some of the show’s top talent along.…
Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs gives guests the chance to learn how to slice sushi like a pro
Sharpen your knife skills while also sampling exquisitely fresh raw sea creatures including mackerel, hamachi and madai snapper at this “educational seminar” happening Sunday afternoon at Morimoto Asia. Students will learn how to properly sharpen a knife and how to use every part of a whole fish, as well as how to prepare sashimi and…
Classic Gainesville band Radon join an old-school matinee at Will’s Pub this weekend
It may seem like lifetimes ago to those of us “of a certain age,” but all-ages matinee shows were once an important proving ground for punk and hardcore bands to hone their stagecraft in front of die-hard fans who maybe weren’t old enough to get into these same venues at night. Matinees are not as…
Tacos & Tequila bids farewell to downtown Orlando’s beautiful Cheyenne Saloon this weekend
This weekend, we bid adieu to the beautiful Cheyenne Saloon with one of our favorite food events: Tacos & Tequila, where restaurants and sponsors set up shop throughout the building to pass out their favorite takes on tacos. You’ll find the usual suspects like Chela and Tijuana Flats, along with newcomers like Chronic Tacos or…
Florida plants get artistic treatment at the Falcon’s Flora art show
It seems the creepy-crawly fauna in Florida – gators, boa constrictors and whatever else is lurking in the Everglades – get all the attention. But for this group of Orlando artists, it’s all about the vegetable, not the animal. The flower-themed group art show Flora opens at the Falcon this Saturday, with a diverse array…
Reverend Horton Heat to bring his Holiday Hayride back to Orlando in December
Why should Brian Setzer have all the rockabilly-style holiday fun? Psychobilly pioneer Reverend Horton Heat posed this question in his own unique manner last year with his “Horton’s Holiday Hayride” tour, and he’s just announced Round 2 set to kick off in late November. Expect possibly blasphemous takes on carol canon and touring support from Voodoo…
Showtime’s On Becoming a God in Central Florida trailer has us feeling like winners already
Film and TV representations of Central Florida often miss the mark – anyone remember the godawful The Hotwives of Orlando? – but Showtime’s new dark comedy series, On Becoming a God in Central Florida might at least nail the atmosphere, even if they shot in Louisiana instead of actual Central Florida. The trailer’s a little…
Hundreds in Orlando protest for resignation of Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rossello
Hundreds gathered in Orlando Tuesday evening calling for the resignation of Puerto Rico’s governor Ricardo Rosselló. Demonstrators stood outside the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration office on Lake Ellenor Drive, chanting while waving the commonwealth’s flags and homemade posters, seen in WFTV video coverage. The protests joined ongoing demonstrations in Puerto Rico. Rosselló came under…
Orlando: 80 hours, five cultural events, one city
I’ve spent most of the past month immersed in themed attractions, so this week I’m making up for lost time and showcasing Orlando’s artistic diversity with short takes on five cultural events that I managed to squeeze into a recent 80-odd-hour span. Wednesday morning: Pompeii Partner Launch Toga-clad deities, living statues and a platter of…
Can a post-Trump America pull itself back from the brink?
Watching democracy die, part 3
On Screens This Week: The Art of Self-Defense and more
Opening this week:The Art of Self-Defense Let’s face it, one of the reasons people still go to the movies is the prospect of seeing Jesse Eisenberg get punched in the face. The yearning started, somewhat guiltily, with The Squid and the Whale, as Eisenberg’s Walt yammered foolishly about a Kafka text being “Kafkaesque”; “just adolescent…
Swan City Bagels open at Eola General, Tapa Toro launches ‘bottomless brunch,’ and more in our food news roundup
OPENINGS: Swan City Bagels is now open in the Eola General space with, of course, bagels and schmear, but also “Garlicky Everything Pickled Eggs on a Stick” … Adventurous eaters should beeline to HuNan Taste, now open on West Colonial Drive in the spot formerly occupied by Chef Wang’s, for Xiang-style frogs and shredded pig’s ear…
Migrant children were sent to private detention center in Florida, some asshole stabbed a dolphin, and other Orlando news you may have missed last week
At least 55 migrant children separated from their parents by the Trump administration in 2018 were sent to a privately run detention center in Florida: A recent congressional report revealed children had been sent to a child detention center located in Homestead, Miami-Dade County. A house committee obtained information on the center after issuing subpoenas…
Perilous times for political cartoonists
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The best concerts this week: Chad Price, Flying Limbs and more
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Korine bring Philly synthwave to Orlando’s Soundbar
Nestled in among a cadre of synthwave heavies on this Hump Day electro showcase is, surprisingly, the classic electro-pop majesty of Philadelphian duo Korine. They deal in bright, pristine and heartbreaking synth-pop redolent of Depeche Mode circa Music for the Masses, Drab Majesty circa their whole catalog, or classic OMD. Here is a group who…






