Tourist in your own town
The cheese-tastic Harlem-set kung-fu flick The Last Dragon – produced by Motown mogul Berry Gordy – is best enjoyed on a big screen with a friend or two and more than a couple pitchers of beer. Luckily, the Enzian can accommodate on two of those fronts; you’ll sho’nuff have to find your own friends. 9:30…
Among the many successful filmic collaborations between John Carpenter and Kurt Russell, Big Trouble in Little China is … a lesser work, let’s say. Lacking the grim joie de vivre of Escape From New York or the claustrophobic horror of The Thing, Carpenter’s attempt to join the martial-arts film pantheon has little to recommend it…
Adventurous local literary imprint Burrow Press teams up with the Gallery at Avalon Island for a one-off cross-disciplinary celebration of unseen and unheard views of Florida with Ekphrastic Floridas. Spinning out of Avalon’s current gallery exhibition – the very impressive Roadsides & Skylines show – Ekphrastic Floridas gathers together a crew of local writers to…
Shake N Bass, the renowned Sunday night dance party famous for launching the career of dearly departed DJ Big Makk, has moved from Backbooth to the V Group’s Vintage Lounge, giving up elbow room for more luxe accommodations. But what’s a good Shake N Bass party without getting uncomfortably close to a sweaty stranger, right?…
This Orlando band’s name won’t be familiar to many – that is, unless you’re an especially keen reader of “This Little Underground.” The new act is the vehicle for Evan Shafran, whom most know as the wild caveman drummer of freak-rock group Happy Valley. Word came our way – then was confirmed by Shafran himself…
If you’re not a fan of Bollywood soundtracks, it’s likely the only encounter you’ve ever had with Sonu Nigam was his appearance on one song from the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack. Yeah, “Aaj Ki Raat,” the one you skipped over because it sounded too much like a Bollywood soundtrack song (which is ironic since the song…
“Trainspotting” is a term used in reference to any sort of hobby that revolves around meticulous attention to detail. It’s derived from railway aficionados who would obsessively record the engine numbers of locomotives that stopped in their towns, though the term is often applied to those who obsess over vinyl record pressing labels, comic book…
World of Beer Downtown invites IPA-lovers to judge an informal competition between breweries from the east and west sides of the country. While the West Coast is repped by standouts like Uinta and Stone, the East Coast has strength in numbers with beers from the likes of Sixpoint, Founders, Sweetwater and our own Crooked Can.…
A burlesque cabaret themed around the best decade ever? Sign us up! H.B.I.C. Aurora Fable and her motley crew at Emerald City Cabaret mine the heyday of Generation X for performances both comedic and titillating. Though we don’t have details of the performances, we have our fingers crossed for Sexy Jurassic Park, Sexy Friends ……
Local heavy stalwarts Trivium are back and sharing their first new material since the album Silence in the Snow became a hit on various Billboard charts. The band has released a new track, “The Sin and the Sentence,” complete with a new video, right before they head off to Europe to do the summer festival…
Wednesday, August 2 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 pm at the Caboose, 1827 N. Orange Ave. Forget Myself 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday, August 3 Thursday Jazz Jams 8 pm at Austin’s…
The Florida Department of Health confirmed Tuesday the state’s first sexually transmitted Zika case of 2017 in Pinellas County. The diagnosed person had not traveled, but recently, that person’s partner traveled to Cuba and came back ill with symptoms associated with the mosquito-borne virus, according to a statement from the agency. The state health department…
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Pono AM and Pasty Cline, St. Matthew’s Tavern, July 30 St. Louis band Pono AM is a garage-rock band, a fairly tradition-minded one even, but they’re much more than that tag typically entails. By not staying bound by the narrow punk straits that have predominated this millennium, they keep their possibilities wide.…
Platinum-selling country singer Jerrod Niemann is making a one-off Florida stop to play a show in nearby Lakeland as part of a U.S. late-summer/autumn tour. Known for his own country radio hits “Drink to That All Night” and “Lover, Lover,” Niemann has also written songs for Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton, Colbie Caillat, Diamond Rio, Mark Chesnutt,…
Not a single arrest has been made after a video surfaced last week showing a valet attendant in Fort Lauderdale getting punched in the face by a former police officer. According to the Associated Press, Ocean Sky Hotel & Resort front office manager Nigel Blair says “it makes no sense” that police have yet to arrest…
“You will never see a more wretched hive of scum and villainy,” may have been used by Obi-Wan Kenobi to describe the spaceport town of Mos Eisley, but we’re pretty sure old Ben never got a chance to witness the Florida Legislature in action. Thanks to unscrupulous districting, Republicans hold an insurmountable majority in both…
Paella: the perfect combination of seafood, meats, rice, veggies and spices. There are as many delicious variations as there are different chefs who have tried their hands at the classic Spanish dish. But it takes two to tango, and Deadly Sins is offering various brews to partner up with your paella. Sample three types of…
Colorful high-tech driver’s licenses and state identification cards, designed for added security and to cut down on fake IDs, will start rolling out across Florida this month. But unless it’s time to update a card because of an expiration date or a name or address change, there’s no need to rush out for a new…
Today, Disney Imagineers completed the track for the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster in Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Land, giving fans of the films more reason to get excited for the new land’s Summer 2018 opening. According to the Disney Parks blog, Disney Imagineers are celebrating the milestone of laying the last piece of track today in the family…
While wearing an American flag T-shirt with the phrase “PROUD” across it, a federal agent in plain clothes dropped his gun and shot himself in the foot in the Orlando International Airport this afternoon. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Kansas City-based agent, who works for Immigration and Customs, was in Orlando on vacation and…
The average seat aisle width at the Amway Center is a little over 12 inches. That’s enough room to awkwardly stumble to your seat, accidentally slosh some beer on the passerby and sacrifice someone’s toes with your pumps before pretzeling yourself into place. But that’s not what happens at a Prince Royce concert at the…
The original lineup of freak-funk trio Primus are reconvening to release their first album of new material since 1995 and will be taking that show on the road. The Desaturating Seven will be released in late September, and then the band will embark on a fall North American tour which includes a stop in Orlando.…
They may be short, but the films playing Winter Garden’s Garden Theatre on Friday night are not short on respect. In fact, all 11 of the mini-movies that comprise the Asbury Short Film Concert have received major recognition, from Oscar nominations to festival awards. The event is set to start at 7:30 p.m. and is…
A key player on Everglades issues was elevated Monday to become executive director of the South Florida Water Management District, replacing Pete Antonacci who is leaving to become Gov. Rick Scott’s top business recruiter. The district’s Governing Board unanimously agreed during a teleconference to promote Ernie Marks, district director of Everglades policy and coordination, to…
Now you can get your Six Shooter faster than a steam engine on greased tracks — or something. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition; 4 Rivers Smokehouse just released online ordering for all locations. That means never having to stand in the sweltering heat waiting for your ‘cue ever again. The online platform, via…
Local themed entertainment design company Falcon’s Creative Group announced details recently of their latest project, the National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey. Located in Times Square, the new 60,000-square-foot interactive marine-focused attraction showcases the latest technology in ways never before attempted. Photo-real animation, projection mapping, real-time tracking, and “mega” projection screens will all be used. According…
A lawsuit filed today by Orlando attorney Mark NeJame seeks damages for the family of an Orange County inmate who was found dead in his cell after being attacked by an Orlando Police dog. On Aug. 6, 2015, 22-year-old Max Gracia Jr. was arrested by the Orlando Police Department after he allegedly robbed a Circle K store…
Winter is here and it’s hilarious! Musical Thrones – the Game of Thrones parody musical from the minds of Jon and Al Kaplan (Silence! The Musical, Predator: The Musical) – will be hitting the road in early 2018 and Orlando will be part of it. Musical Thrones invades the Alexis and Jim Pugh Theater at the…
Florida added three new “travel related” Zika cases during the past week, bringing to 116 the number of report ed cases of the mosquito-borne virus this year, according to numbers posted Monday on the state Department of Health website. State numbers a week earlier showed 113 cases. The state does not have any areas where ongoing transmission…
Gov. Rick Scott on Monday declared a state of emergency in 31 counties after Tropical Storm Emily formed in the Gulf of Mexico. Heavy rains and winds are expected across Central Florida the next two days, and tropical storm warnings were in place from the Anclote River near Tarpon Springs to Bonita Springs. “While this storm developed…
Tonight’s watch party for the premiere of MTV’s Siesta Key, a Florida-based reality show about rich millennials in bathing suits, has been canceled because of outrage surrounding a cast member’s connection to one or more of the men in the now viral “shark-dragging” video. According to CBS12, Monday’s red carpet event at CineBistro in the…
With billions in new investment currently under construction or planned, Highway 192 in Kissimmee is going through one of the biggest transformations ever. One of the most significant projects on the heavily tourist-centered road just south of Walt Disney World is the new Margaritaville Resort. The new $750 million, 300-acre resort will open in phases.…
Rumors of Dragon’s Challenge being removed from Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure have been ongoing for years now, and last week Universal finally confirmed that the opening day attraction, formerly known as Dueling Dragons, would be closed. In recent years the inverted coasters haven’t dueled after numerous incidents where guests were hit with what is…
Gov. Rick Scott wants state wildlife officials to review regulations after watching a “disturbing video” showing a “hateful act” in which a shark is dragged at high speeds through Florida waters. “This week, an incredibly disturbing video was reported by the media showing individuals senselessly dragging a shark behind their boat at high speed,” Scott…
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 Jump Ramp. Jump Ramp is playing Uncle Lou’s on August 4. Just the facts: Who’s in the band?SMOKE Alan – Guitar WHEELS Malone – Bass HAIL Adam – Drums SKATAN…
U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy of Winter Park has submitted a statement to the Congressional Record honoring Billy Manes, who passed away July 21. Manes, 45, a writer, activist and longtime columnist for Orlando Weekly and former editor-in-chief at the local LGBTQ publication Watermark, passed away from complications related to advanced pneumonia. Here is the full text…
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Cindy Wilson, Will’s Pub, July 27 This week has been all Billy Manes. Across the city and even the nation, the news and feeds have been dominated with remembrance and reaction to the far-too-premature loss of this local treasure. It’s been an outpouring that’s commensurate with his footprint and is probably the…
Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan has endorsed Anna Eskamani in the race for Florida House District 47. Well, it’s really more of a one-woman sprint than an actual competition at this point. Democrat Eskamani, 27, is the only candidate publicly running for the seat currently occupied by state Rep. Mike Miller. The Republican is reportedly vacating his…
A 20-year-old Florida surfer is recovering after nearly losing his leg to a string ray barb. Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Michael Goldstein and his surgeon, Dr. Eugene Misquith, appeared together to discuss the freak-accident. On June 19, Goldstein had been surfing off the coast of Singer Island when he thought he felt his…
Happy Anniversary to my beloved bride, @lynnaronberg! Grateful to have you in my life. #paperanniversary ❤️ A post shared by Dave Aronberg (@davearonberg) on May 10, 2016 at 10:34am PDT Lynn Aronberg, a self-described “staunch supporter of President Trump,” says she divorced her husband, former Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, in part because he does…
Last night, Sens. John McCain, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins split from party lines and did The Dougie on the GOP’s “Skinny Repeal” of Obamacare. While the clip of McCain giving his big thumbs-down is extremely satisfying, be sure to look just to the left to witness the exact second Rubio’s little heart is ripped in half.…
After five years in the shadows, the Killers are coming back with a new album and a tour to match. American rock band the Killers will play Orlando’s Hard Rock Live on Jan. 24. Their album Wonderful Wonderful, announced last month, will be released on Sept. 22. The Killers’ synth and distorted guitar-fueled tunes have…
One of the four men recently identified in a viral video that shows a shark being brutally dragged behind a speed boat has asked local authorities for increased police patrols at his home in Palmetto, Florida. According to WFOX-TV, Palmetto Police Chief Scott Tyler confirms that an unnamed 21-year-old featured in the video has asked for…
A state agency overseen by the governor and two cabinet members would be prohibited from doing business with any outfit tied to the Maduro regime in Venezuela, under a proposal released Thursday by Gov. Rick Scott. Scott’s anti-investing outline for the Florida State Board of Administration, which doesn’t currently have any such investments, coincides with…
Has it already been two decades? My, how time flies. The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Florida Theatrical Association and Broadway Across America are bringing the venerable step-dancing extravaganza to Orlando in early 2018 as part of the Fairwinds Broadway in Orlando series. Riverdance: The 20th Anniversary Tour descends upon Orlando for five performances…
Gov. Rick Scott, a U.S. Navy veteran, said he doesn’t want “anyone to ever be discriminated against,” but deferred comment on President Donald Trump’s plans to ban transgender Americans from military service. Through a series of Twitter posts Wednesday, Trump said he wanted a prohibition to keep transgender individuals from joining or serving in the…
Gringos is setting up shop at Knights Plaza just outside the CFE Arena, and will be replacing the Japanese restaurant Kyoto Sushi and Grill. The new location is expected to open by the latest Sept. 9, or by the second home football game, says Jay Clark of Gringos Locos. Like its other locations, the restaurant…
It’s hot. Really hot. That’s why DoveCote is fulfilling all our summer dreams and hosting a picnic-themed wine dinner in the air conditioning on Wednesday, Aug. 2, at 6:30 p.m. The best part, you don’t have to dress up. Flip-flops are specifically mentioned as appropriate attire for this casual fête. Just $58 will net you…
Starting in late August, Valencia College students and employees will ride the Lynx bus system for free. The college announced Thursday it had signed an agreement with Lynx to provide funding for bus service for Valencia students and employees on all routes. Lynx will also reroute an existing bus route going from Lake Nona to downtown…
Trying new foods in new ‘hoods is probably the best way to explore Orlando, which is really the whole point of Main Street Restaurant Week. Now in its third year, Orlando’s Main Street Restaurant Week returns next Friday, Aug. 4, and runs through Aug. 12. This weeklong food-packed event features prix fixe lunch and dinner…
Beloved gospel vocal group the Blind Boys of Alabama have announced two shows in our own backyard this autumn. Orlando proper didn’t get the nod, but nearby Daytona and the Villages (yow) did. The venerable band will be touring behind new album Almost Home. Blind Boys of Alabama play the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona on Sunday,…
You no longer need to wonder if your next spoonful of cookie dough will be your last. Wonderland Cookie Co., serving edible cookie dough in little bowls, will open Aug. 19 at 606 Market St. in Celebration. The company says their dough is safe to eat because they don’t use any eggs and their flour…
Disney labor unions representing 36,000 full-time and part-time Disney workers announced Wednesday that they will seek wage increases as a “path out of poverty” for its members. “Our wages here in Central Florida are some of the lowest in the country,” says Eric Clinton, president of Unite Here Local 362. “A majority of people who work…
Disney World passholders with blackout dates will now be allowed into the parks a bit earlier than expected. Disney sent out an email announcing that Silver-level passholders and anyone with a Weekday Select Pass can now enter all four Disney World parks as of Aug. 1., rather than Aug. 10. Starting Thursday, passholders will be able…
Have you seen a guy with a chainsaw hand? Well, now’s your chance. Today, Universal Studios announced that the Starz show Ash vs. Evil Dead will get its own house at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights 27. Ash vs. Evil Dead is the third house to be announced for this year’s HHN, following The Shining and…
An administrative law judge Wednesday ruled that a longtime trainer of racing greyhounds should face a fine and license suspension after caffeine and other substances were found in six dogs at the Palm Beach Kennel Club. Judge F. Scott Boyd issued a recommended order that said trainer Robert G. Dawson should be fined $3,000 and…
Later this August, Jackie De Couto is throwing a tribute party for the inimitable Kanye West. Helmed by DJs Fiona, B8ta, Grape and Yost, “The Return of Saint Pablo” will be an unofficial sequel to the night that the De Couto put together at Spacebar last year on the same night as Kanye’s cancelled Orlando…
In an effort to create an informed student body, the UCF Police Department released a video explaining what to do in the case of an active-shooter situation. The video, which was released Wednesday, July 26, starts with a man pulling out a long gun in a school building. Sgt. Adam Casebolt explains that people’s first responses…
With Florida Power & Light saying it expects to “pause” the project, state regulators next month will wade into a dispute about how to handle the utility’s long-discussed plans to add two nuclear reactors in Miami-Dade County. The dispute, detailed in documents filed last week at the Florida Public Service Commission, pits FPL against consumer…
As he eyes a run for the U.S. Senate, Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday unveiled the first piece of his pending election-year budget proposal: a $30 million pay raise for state law-enforcement officers. The initiative would provide the boost in the budget year that begins in July 2018. It would come on top of a…
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Bellows, Will’s Pub, July 25 Bellows, the vehicle for musician Oliver Kalb, is part of the Epoch, a Brooklyn arts alliance that includes some indie luminaries like Eskimeaux, Told Slant and Small Wonder. Unlike some loose collectives, members of the Epoch aren’t just affiliated in name only. They’re all over each other’s…
Adam Putnam is currently Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner. He’s also a Republican candidate for governor and a self-described “NRA sellout.” On Monday, Tampa Bay Times columnist Daniel Ruth published an opinion piece called “Adam Putnam sells out to the NRA,” which is a compliment to Putnam, a big tough man’s man who likes to “pack heat…
Rockers Lifehouse and Switchfoot are setting out on their first joint tour together across the U.S. and Canada – the aptly-dubbed “Looking for Summer Tour” – and an Orlando date at the end of August will be part of that tuneful search. Lifehouse and Switchfoot “look for summer” with Brynn Elliott at the Orlando Ampitheater…
A recently opened HIV health care center in Orlando plans to address the rising number of new HIV diagnoses in Central Florida. Local elected officials joined members of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation on Tuesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of AHF’s new clinic in Orlando at 1701 N. Mills Ave., next to the Orlando Immunology Center,…
Disney is putting a modern spin on a classic location for its newest watering hole concept. Today, Disney announced that a new pub called BaseLine Tap House is coming to Hollywood Studios. The new spot is inspired by, and pays homage to, Figueroa Printing Company, an independent print house in L.A. that was tied to the…
Credit-card skimming devices at Florida gas stations and stores are on a dramatic rise this year. State figures show 315 skimmers had been discovered at Florida gas pumps through July 18, compared to 120 skimmers discovered through the first seven months of 2016. That represents a 160 percent increase in the illegal devices used to…
In a few years, Orlando may become one of the chosen ones — one of the chosen hosts, that is. Earlier this month, the United States, Canada and Mexico announced a joint bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament. Now Orlando is one of the cities that they’re considering as a host for…
Farm & Haus owners Patrick and Brittany Lyne continue to hone the concept and vision for their humble East End Market eatery and dinner delivery operation. First off, the eatery inside East End Market will be rebranded as the “Bowl Bar” next month and offer a curated list of warm grain bowls and salad bowls,…
A homeless man was taking a bath in a Florida retention pond this week and got his toes bit off by an alligator. This, among other reasons, is why you should always think twice about taking a bath in a retention pond. According to WINK TV, 68-year-old Frederic Iman was bathing in a pond in Port…
Yesterday, a Florida man brake-checked a couple, hit their bumper, and then proceeded to threaten to kill them with a samurai sword, said police. According to the Brooksville Police Department, on Tuesday, July 25, Julian and Adrian Rivera say they were driving behind Daniel Seymour of Brooksville when he, unprovoked, allegedly started slowing down and…
Lucky’s Market, the Colorado-based grocer known for allowing customers to sip on a “walk-around beer” while shopping, will open four new locations in Central Florida by next year. Lucky’s Market, which already has locations at East Colonial Drive and North Alafaya Trail near the University of Central Florida, made the announcement Monday, July 24. The new locations…
Wednesday, July 26 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 pm at the Caboose, 1827 N. Orange Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Giant Peach Hip Hop Jam 9 pm at…
A new ramen joint is moving into the former Verde Cantina space in Thornton Park. According to Ricky Ly of Tasty Chomps, construction for the new Jinya Ramen Bar will begin in the next couple of months, with an opening date expected for early 2018. The chain, which has over 27 locations spanning the U.S.…
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 9th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.:2016-CA-000558-O CENTURY-NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff, v.SHELOVE LAGUERRE, WOODY BLAISE, ROGER BLAISE, ALYSSON RODRIGO DE SOUZA OSCO, MACHARA CHIRO & REHAB, INC., METRIC DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, INC. PAN AM DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, INC., COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTER, LLC.,…
Last month, I covered the recent TEDx conference at Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center, and I singled out tech CEO Chandra Arthur’s speech about code-switching as one of the event’s highlights. Little did I know then that Arthur and her company Friendish would go viral, thanks to her being featured on the July 18 episode of…
OPENING THIS WEEK: Atomic Blonde Every few years, rumors circulate that the role of James Bond is about to be recast as a woman. It never happens, and it’s never going to happen, because maleness – for better or for worse – is an essential part of the character. Reimagining 007 as anything other than…
I’m a reader in Kansas with two teenage daughters, 16 and 18. My girls recently met a boy where they work and both took an interest in him. The 18-year-old was devastated that he was more interested in her younger sister. I spoke to the 16-year-old about it, which is when I found out this…
Are you looking for a new pet? Meet Tim McClaw! Tim (A379703) recently returned from foster care and now he is ready to find his forever home. He is 1 and a half years old and he is very playful and affectionate! Tim loves to eat treats and would do best with a family that…
Late last week, Orlando lost a champion, a supernova, a true original. Be you acquaintance or follower, the universal connection this city has to Billy Manes speaks to how singularly out and brilliantly he lived. To me, he was a friend, colleague and fellow Pet Shop Boys enthusiast. You, Billy, were truly never being boring.…
Former Orlando Weekly staffer Billy Manes passes away: Manes, 45, was a writer, activist and longtime columnist for Orlando Weekly and former editor-in-chief at the local LGBTQ publication Watermark. After complications related to advanced pneumonia, he passed away peacefully last Friday surround by his husband Anthony Mauss, friends and family. “Billy Manes was a walking…
OPENINGS: The Tea Spot, a new boba joint, will open next month in the 1st Oriental Supermarket plaza on West Colonial Drive, next door to Sapporo Ramen … Selera Singapore, promising authentic Singaporean cuisine, has opened on Plant Street in Winter Garden … Hops Boss, offering Eastern European eats and beer produced “in compliance with…
Thursday, July 27 Cindy Wilson MUSIC Yes, it’s that Cindy Wilson. But with the great renown of being a cornerstone of the B-52's comes great baggage. To get to the essence of what she’s currently doing as a solo artist, a lot of unpacking is necessary. First, before every wedding DJ ever cumulatively beat us…
Dollskin Endorsed by no less than THE Alice Cooper – they won his “Proof Is in the Pudding” talent contest – Arizona’s Dollskin impresses with a sound that brings to mind the Runaways. 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, at the Haven Lounge, $10 Danny Feedback Freak pied piper Danny Feedback steps out on his Crack…
