Cover Story
26 free concerts happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, July 11 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday, July 12 Leisure Chief 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Raleigh Estes and Friends 8 pm at Muldoon’s Saloon, 7439 Aloma Ave.,…
Oh thank heaven, today is 7-Eleven Day
Every year on July 11, behemoth of convenience 7-Eleven Corp. celebrates its eponymous date by giving away free Slurpees. But rather than just tell you that – go on, go get your free small Slurpee – we thought we’d go you one extra and turn to the undisputed Queen of 7-Eleven, a woman so devoted…
Central Florida is officially getting a new area code
State utility regulators gave the go-ahead Tuesday for a new area code to keep up with growth in Central Florida. The Public Service Commission unanimously approved a proposal that will make the area code 689 available as an overlay to the existing 407 area code in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, as well parts of…
Trump supporter and local asshole holds homophobic sign outside of Orlando man’s home
Ignoring Orlando’s residential picketing ordinance, a Trump supporter was recently caught on video targeting a College Park man’s home with a sign referring to him as a “Trump hater” and a “gay Asian with AIDS.” The video, which has since gone viral, shows a man identified in the clip as Matt Sherman, sitting in front…
Daytona Beach roller coaster derailed because of excessive speed, says investigation
Last month’s derailment of the Daytona Beach roller coaster that hospitalized six people was due to excessive speed and operator negligence, concluded a report from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Today the department released its Preliminary Investigative Summary and the third-party engineer’s report of the Sand Blaster Roller Coaster accident, stating that…
Full of Hell announce Orlando show for October
Avant-grind (we promise it’s a thing) maestros Full of Hell have announced an East Coast tour set for later this year, and among their Florida stops is an Orlando date in mid-October. The band – best known for their punishing 2014 collaborative album with Japanese noise legend Merzbow – has had a busy year so…
The ICON Orlando observation wheel will light up in Thailand’s flag colors tonight
In honor of the Wild Boars soccer team being rescued from a cave in Thailand, the ICON Orlando observation wheel, formerly known as the Orlando Eye, will light up in the colors of the Thai flag this evening. The gesture comes after the last of the 12 remaining boys was successfully removed from a flooded…
Trump’s Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh once argued that SeaWorld trainers should expect to be dismembered
All roads lead back to the Sunshine State – and, well, SeaWorld. On Monday night, Judge Brett Kavanaugh was nominated by President Donald Trump to the U.S. Supreme Court. And even though Kavanaugh was most recently on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, his ties to Florida have had consequential effects on the state’s history,…
Sam Smith brings British blue-eyed soul to Amway Center this week
British native Sam Smith’s breakout LP took the world by storm back in 2014 – when his impressive vocals were (jokingly) deemed to sound a lot like Adele’s – but he’s grown up since then. His sophomore record, The Thrill of It All, scored Smith his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart.…
Tacos & Tequila brings together all of your favorite tortilla-based sandwiches
Judging from the number of taco spots in town, it’s clear Orlandoans will eat just about anything wrapped in a tortilla. Indulge in #peaktaco obsession at Orlando Weekly’s Tacos & Tequila celebration this weekend. Pick Orlando’s best taco from your favorite spots around the city, including Chela Tacos & Tequila, El Patron, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop,…
Orlando is the most affordable travel destination in the nation, as long as you don’t do anything
A new study names Orlando as the most affordable travel destination in the U.S., but seems to forget that leaving your hotel room costs money. SmartAsset, a finance and data collection company, ranked Orlando No. 1 for the third year in the row as the most cost-efficient city for vacation. Las Vegas comes in at No.…
Metro Boomin is coming to Orlando this summer
UCF’s Pegasus Palooza Concert Knight has in the past few years featured music heavies like Lil Jon, Throttle, New Politics and MAX but this year’s headliner is on a whole other level. Hit-making producer/DJ Metro Boomin will be this year’s special guest. Metro Boomin played CFE as an opener for Bryson Tiller last year, but this…
You’ll never know what you’re made of until you hunt an alligator
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced the addition of 1,313 alligator harvest permits available in 2018 to combat the rise in population. Nows your chance to see what you’re made of. Permits will be available for purchase at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, either online or in person at a license agent or county tax collector’s…
Florida’s pension fund keeps positive streak alive for ninth straight year
Florida’s $160.4 billion state pension fund showed a preliminary return of 8.99 percent for the fiscal year that ended June 30, marking the ninth straight year the retirement fund has shown a positive gain. Ash Williams, executive director of the State Board of Administration, which oversees the fund that pays retirement benefits for teachers, county…
Will go-karts, ice skating and chocolate save Leesburg’s Lake Square Mall?
As countless malls struggle to survive amidst the latest “retailpocalypse,” Lake County has been home to one of the region’s most ambitious rebranding plans. The Lake Square Mall has seen a number of changes over the past few years, including changing its name to Via Port Florida, which never really caught on. After years of…
The world’s largest space-themed gift shop is at the Kennedy Space Center, and it’s also filled with awesome exhibits
Over the past few years, Kennedy Space Center has been in the midst of a major overhaul that saw new exhibits and entirely new attractions, but one place that lacked updates was the main gift shop. Now Kennedy Space Center has finally created a gift shop worthy of such an incredible place. The Space Shop…
Gas prices remain at four-year high in Florida
Even as the cost of gas in Florida declined by a half-cent over the past week, prices at the pump are the highest in four years, according to AAA auto club. “Reduced global oil supplies have caused summer travelers to pay a higher price at the pump this year,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said in…
Orlando’s Boathouse ranked among OpenTable’s best ‘al fresco’ restaurants in the country
Florida is basically ground zero for outdoor dining, but not all are created equal. Twenty-six Florida restaurants recently were listed on OpenTable’s 100 best “al fresco” restaurants, and Disney Springs’ Boathouse was among them. Listed among the best outdoor dining spots were six restaurants in Naples and five in Fort Lauderdale. In March, OpenTable also listed…
Gov. Rick Scott will declare a state of emergency over algae bloom on Florida’s west coast
Gov. Rick Scott will declare a state of emergency after touring the Caloosahatchee River algae blooms early this morning. The state of emergency is expected to include Martin and Lee counties. The move comes after the Army Corps of Engineers temporarily suspended scheduled flows from Lake Okeechobee down the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers on…
Orlando Philharmonic to present an evening of American Blues with Rhiannon Giddens
The Orlando Philharmonic has unveiled its full 2018-2019 season and there’s a lot to rave about. But there’s one event in particular that both showcases the Phil’s continued eagerness to program events that challenge listeners’ notions of what is and isn’t classical music and boasts a top-level guest musician. “American Blues” in mid-October is part…
Which one of you lost 75 pounds of cocaine?
Authorities say 75 pounds of cocaine were found floating off Florida’s Gulf Coast last weekend. According to the Associated Press, the excessive amount of yayo was found by an unnamed “good Samaritan” drifting just south of Pensacola on Saturday evening. No suspects were found, and it’s currently unclear who’s missing their blow delivery. Related This is just…
Florida cops: ‘This may be the largest gator we’ve ever responded to’
A massive 13-foot gator was caught at a park in Southwest Florida on Sunday by Florida Fish and Wildlife officers and sheriffs from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. The gator was roaming around Shamrock Park in Venice near the Gulf of Mexico. Supervisor Carl Selitti said this may be the biggest gator their team has had to…
Cypress Cove nudist resort is holding an open house this week for anyone who hates clothes
Local nudist resort Cypress Cove is opening its doors this week to any fellow clothes-haters out there. On July 14, anyone can come out to the resort’s open house from noon to 4 p.m. to experience it for themselves. And no worries, you can stay fully clothed (unless you don’t want to, of course). The resort…
SunRail really wants you to stop taking selfies on the damn tracks
Accidents involving SunRail and pedestrian victims are “100 percent preventable,” according to state troopers. Unfortunately, some of us still have to be reminded that fooling around on the tracks isn’t a bright idea. SunRail posted a warning on Twitter last Wednesday, reading: “Railroad tracks are not photo studios. For your own safety, keep at least…
Good Charlotte will bring their ‘Generation Rx’ fall tour to Orlando
American punk-rock band Good Charlotte is touring North America this fall, and their only Florida date is in Orlando. Good Charlotte will perform at Hard Rock Live on Tuesday, Oct. 16, and doors open at 6 p.m. Fans can register on the band’s official website by midnight tonight in order to grab up tickets available…
City of Orlando renews test of controversial Amazon surveillance program despite broad condemnation
Despite widespread condemnation from local and national civil rights groups, Amazon’s facial recognition software is set for another trial period in Orlando following the city’s first six-month pilot program that ended last month. The facial recognition software, called Amazon Rekognition, can be used by law enforcement agencies to track down people of interest by uploading a mugshot…
The March for Our Lives bus tour is coming to Orlando this weekend
Following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School back in February, activists have been traveling the country to educate about NRA donations to politicians and encourage young voters to rally behind stricter gun laws as a part of the Road to Change movement. The summer bus tour began on June 15 and will be coming…
SeaWorld’s new parking prices make absolutely no sense
Despite strong revenue, last quarter Orlando-based SeaWorld Parks saw net losses of $62.8 million. As the company continues to focus on cost-cutting initiatives, we are starting to see some of the boldest moves yet regarding new ways to drive revenue. Since 2016, Disney has used dynamic pricing, similar to that used for plane tickets or…
Disney just opened a new ‘Coco’ attraction and barely anyone noticed
Epcot’s major reimagining is beginning to take shape, with new ride buildings rising above the park’s skyline. But as the park looks ahead to the confirmed additions of Ratatouille and Guardians of the Galaxy, other rumors still persist – none stronger than Coco heading to the Mexico pavilion. While the rumors of Coco replacing the Donald…
Band of the Week: All Hell
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 All Hell. All Hell is playing July 15 at Will’s Pub with Exhumed and Gruesome. Just the facts: When did the band form?The band started in early 2013, but our…
Pat Greene will host two final music events at Gallery at Avalon Island this month
Since Pat Greene took on curatorial duties at the Gallery at Avalon Island downtown five years ago, he has been hosting regular music programming in the building that redefines the very notion of art music. Touring acts like To Live and Shave in L.A. and Simeon from Silver Apples played there; as did locals like…
New standalone Sephora store will open in Winter Park on July 27
If your significant other loves to drop a pretty penny at Sephora, don’t say we didn’t warn you. On Friday, July 27, a standalone Sephora store will open its doors at the Winter Park Square shopping center, joining other shops including Whole Foods Market, Nordstrom Rack and Cafe Rio. With their powers combined, this formidable…
Federal dike repair money coming amid toxic algae woes in South Florida
As calls grow for state action to deal with toxic algae blooms in Southeast and Southwest Florida, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced funding is in place to speed repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee. The Army Corps’ Jacksonville office said Thursday that $514.2 million is heading toward repairs of the…
Swedish metal act Ghost to hit Orlando on Black Friday
Black Friday just got a hell of a lot darker this year. Swedish theatrical metal outfit Ghost has announced an Orlando stop as part of their “Pale Horse Named Death” tour, and it’s going to give area metalheads the perfect excuse to skip out on their family and/or the mall. The lengthy North American leg…
Scott Pruitt Gets Bounced
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Florida legislators are urging Rick Scott to declare a state of emergency over Lake Okeechobee’s toxic algae problem
Gov. Rick Scott is currently being urged by Florida legislators to declare a state of emergency over Lake Okeechobee’s toxic algae problem. Lee County legislators sent a letter to Scott, a man who over his career has accepted hundreds of thousands of campaign dollars from Big Sugar, demanding he take action by allocating emergency funds…
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort wants to hire 61 foreign workers for the upcoming tourist season
President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club filed applications seeking permission to hire 61 foreign workers for the winter season, according to data published by the Labor Department on Thursday. On July 3, Trump’s club requested to employ 21 workers from overseas to serve as cooks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach from October 2018 to May 2019,…
Remember when Adam Putnam endorsed Scott Pruitt for EPA administrator?
If Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam seems quiet since news broke of Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt’s resignation, it’s likely because Putnam is still trying to dislodge his foot from his mouth. Following Pruitt’s polite firing, which comes amid an ethics investigation into his office’s massive spending habits and his relationship with a lobbyist, the…
Anna Eskamani sues Democratic opponent Lou Forges in Central Florida House race
Florida House candidate Anna Eskamani has filed a lawsuit against her Democratic primary challenger, Lou Forges, after her campaign accused him of failing to properly qualify as a candidate. Eskamani, a former Planned Parenthood official and grassroots activist from Orlando, had been running for months without Democratic opponents for House District 47, which runs through…
Here’s Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2018 season
Overnight, Tropical Storm Beryl intensified into a Category 1 hurricane – the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2018 season, according to hurricane center officials. Beryl is on a steady path heading west at 15 mph, with maximum sustained winds recorded at 80 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. advisory on Friday. Hurricane…
Chris Brown was arrested immediately after last night’s show in Florida for felony battery
Chris Brown arrested on a Hillsborough County warrant in West Palm Beach on July 5, but the embattled singer posted $2,000 bail and was released an hour later. Brown, 29, was arrested on an outstanding out-of-county-warrant, according to the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. WPTV says the warrant was issued by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office…
Death Row inmate’s appeal rejected in 1995 Central Florida murder
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an appeal by a Death Row inmate convicted of strangling a woman outside a Winn-Dixie supermarket in October 1995 in Osceola County. The appeal was filed by attorneys for Scott Mansfield, now 57, who was sentenced to death for the killing of Sara Robles, whose body was found…
Lack of Florida questions at governor’s debate between Putnam, DeSantis still a sore subject
Expect more questions involving Florida-centric issues when the two Republicans running for governor meet again next month. The lack of Sunshine State topics —- from education and the future of citrus to offshore drilling —- was a sore subject at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center after last week’s Fox News Republican gubernatorial debate…
Suspect arrested for Casselberry home invasion and sexual assault
A 32-year-old Tallahassee man was arrested in connection with a violent home invasion and sexual assault in Casselberry. According to the Titusville Police Department, Benjamin Victor Hovan was arrested at a Marathon gas station on U.S. 1 just before noon on Wednesday, after an officer recognized the suspect and scanned his the license plate of his…
This guy plans to take on Rick Scott in Florida’s GOP primary for Senate
Car dealer and real estate developer Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente announced on Independence Day that he will challenge Gov. Rick Scott in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate in Florida. According to a news release, De La Fuente’s campaign will focus heavily on immigration. “Florida has a rich history of welcoming immigrants,” De La…
So it begins
UPDATE: Tropical Depression Two has intensified into Tropical Storm Beryl, the second named storm of the 2018 season. The National Hurricane Center is following a tropical depression that formed in the Atlantic Ocean Thursday morning but is expected to dissipate before reaching land. The forecast currently places Tropical Depression Two, which could form Tropical Storm Beryl,…
Disney will get $1.2 million refund from Orange County after winning tax dispute
Walt Disney World will be getting about $1.2 million in refunded property taxes after winning a dispute against the Orange County Property Appraiser’s Office over the value of Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort. Disney sued OCPA in 2016 after the county office’s appraisers assessed Yacht and Beach Club Resort at a value of nearly $337 million…
Ugly Orange showcases Detroit’s Hala, L.A.’s Boyo and local songbird Lexi Long
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Hala, Boyo and Lexi Long, Will’s Pub, July 2 From their recent clip of shows, it seems that pacesetting local promotions group Ugly Orange are back up to full speed. Their latest production brought the Orlando debut of Hala, the music moniker of 21-year-old Detroit babyface Ian Ruhala. With a quartet to…
Florida’s SunPass toll system starts getting back up to speed
SunPass toll transactions are starting to be processed, 22 days after a $287 million upgrade to the system was expected to be completed. The Florida Department of Transportation on Tuesday thanked customers for their patience as the SunPass Centralized Customer Service System gradually posts tens of millions of transactions in the order they were made…
Florida appeals court refuses to allow smokable medical marijuana while legal fight continues
Chiding a judge who sided with sick patients and saying plaintiffs likely won’t win on the merits of the case, an appellate court on Tuesday refused to allow smokable medical marijuana while a legal fight continues to play out. The ruling by a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal came in a…
Big Time Street Food Co opens in Thornton Park, Tin & Taco is up and running in SoDo and more in Orlando foodie news
OPENINGS: Terralina Crafted Italian, Top Chef Master Tony Mantuano’s restaurant inspired by Italy’s Lake District, has opened in Disney Springs … Big Time Street Food Co., a “food counter” serving everything from fried cheese curds to panzarottis to Korean fried chicken wings, has opened at 805 E. Washington St. in Thornton Park … Another week,…
Opening in Orlando: Ant-Man and the Wasp, The First Purge and more
Opening Wednesday, July 4: The First Purge When a franchise resorts to prequels just four installments in, it usually isn’t a good sign – especially in the case of the Purge series, which really didn’t need to depict how the titular marathon of state-sanctioned violence came to be. (At least not to those of us…
ICYMI: Brightline pursues Orlando to Tampa high-speed rail route, an update on Universal Orlando’s expansion and more
Puerto Rican evacuees set up tent city to demand Rick Scott’s help with housing: Displaced Puerto Rican families who could be evicted from Central Florida hotels set up a “tent city” protest last week outside the Gaylord Palms resort to demand Gov. Rick Scott’s emergency help with housing. After Hurricane María caused catastrophic damage to…
Savage Love: ‘Scenes From a Marriage’
My wife and I have been married for 14 years and in a committed (I assumed) relationship for 17 years. Sex between us (often kinky) has always been great. We have a wonderful life together and two perfect children. I thought we were good; turns out things were too good to be true. I learned…
Gimme Shelter: Meet Champ!
Are you looking for a new four-legged friend? Meet Champ! Champ (A359724) is a sweet 2-year-old boy who was surrendered because his owners could no longer care for him. Champ is great with other animals, and loves to spend time with kids. He also enjoys playing outside and going on runs. Adopt this cutie today!…
Legal Public Notices 7/4 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices AUCTION EXTRASPACE STORAGE – STORE 1335 1101 MARSHALL FARMS RD, OCOEE FL 34761 Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 1101 Marshall Farms Rd, Ocoee FL 34761, 07/20/2018 @ 12:30 pm: JOAN FULLER FLOWERS,…
Erasure is still the soundtrack to experience and discovery
What’s a boy in love supposed to do?
The best concerts coming to Orlando this week
Whyte Tygers Should you find yourself in Sanford after the big fireworks dealie, decamp to Tuffy’s for a free set from fiery new Wynn family project Whyte Tygers. 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 4, at Tuffy’s Bottle Shop, free MoZaic Newly Orlando-based soul celestial lands at the Falcon for the kick-off show of her month-long “Free Floating”…
‘Whitney’ paints a portrait of musical tragedy
Greatest love of all
