The much-missed Indie Queen of the City Beautiful may no longer call Orlando home — she now resides a ways up I-75 in Gainesville — but she remains in our 407-centric hearts and (soon) our ears with her solo debut EP, A Farce to Reckon With, gracing us with baroque piano splendor in a matter…
Orlando punk trio Vicious Dreams released their latest, self-titled album back back on Halloween of last year, and they’ll finally be able to debut those songs live at Uncle Lou’s in the company of some loud, stellar locals. Vicious Dreams will take over Uncle Lou’s — a very appropriate location — to show off their new material in the…
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices AUCTION Extra Space Storage Ð Store 8138 1001 Lee Rd. Orlando FL. 32810 Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: July 30, 2021 @ 12:00 PM Grisel Garcia – Household goods, Latasha Ransom -…
Creative City Project and Timucua Arts Foundation are bringing back their innovative Re:Charge collaboration this month, to give attendees a tuneful and mindful time-out from daily stressors. Taking 0ver the Colonial Promenade at 4644 E. Colonial Drive, over two weekends in July, Re:Charge allows attendees to unplug from their day to day and just relax…
SeaWorld’s first-ever Howl-O-Scream is off to a swampy start. The park just shared details of its first haunted attraction, Dead Vines. The primordial haunted house will draw visitors into a jungle controlled by a Poison Ivy-type hellbent on keeping them out. “Is this jungle alive…or undead? There’s an ominous force at work here, a merciless…
Florida’s State Board of Education on Wednesday will consider adopting a wide-ranging overhaul of curriculum standards across multiple subjects in public schools, including guidelines for teaching civics and government courses and Holocaust education. In documents outlining the proposed standards, the state Department of Education said that the requirements would reflect priorities such as teaching “a…
It comes as no surprise that the top destination for water slides and a fun splash is right here in Orlando. Seaworld’s Aquatica claimed the title of the best water park in the country in USA Today’s top ten of Best Outdoor Water Parks. Aquatica’s attractions such as the Dolphin Plunge, a tunnel slide that…
Florida does not require passengers to show proof of vaccination before they can board a cruise. This puts a wrinkle in cruise companies plans to return to service. However, many companies are finding ways to limit the number of unvaccinated passengers, by making it more difficult to ride with them. Carnival Cruise Line is the…
Fans of left-of-the-dial 1980s sounds will be over the moon with the news that the English Beat and the Fixx are embarking on an extensive U.S. tour this autumn, with an Orlando date set for late October. The duo are flying in the face of the hoary old rock maxim that British bands are hesitant…
Orange Country Public Schools has partnered with Health Hero Florida to administer the coronavirus vaccine to high school students. The mobile clinics are coming to four area high schools (Winter Park, West Orange, Apopka, University). Each high school will open for one day, offering the Pfizer vaccine from 3 to 6 p.m. Students that are…
Leaders in Orange and Seminole Counties are encouraging citizens to wear masks indoors as the number of coronavirus cases climbs. COVID-19 infections climbed throughout the state of Florida last week, with many Central Florida counties being particularly hard hit. Seminole and Volusia counties saw positivity rates in the teens while Orange County climbed up to…
The Milk District Spot opens this week, giving Orlando artists and entrepreneurs the chance to show off their wares in the bustling main street. Intended as a “retail incubator” and “startup space,” a rotating cast of local movers will use the space for everything from art openings to classes to product launches in the coming…
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made a name for himself nationally by openly flouting federal recommendations to stem the spread of coronavirus in the country’s fourth-largest state. That disdain has led to nearly 40,000 deaths in Florida since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With new merch shared on his campaign website, DeSantis says he’ll…
One of Epcot’s most popular festivals is coming back this year with more flavor, and more fun, and more days to enjoy it. The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival returns in 2021 with new food booths and international concepts from July 15 through Nov. 20. Most of the booths will open on July 15, but…
As the investigation continues into the deadly condominium collapse in Surfside, a top Republican Florida House leader said Monday that lawmakers don’t need to make immediate changes to state building codes. Rep. Paul Renner, a Palm Coast Republican set to take over as House speaker following the 2022 elections, pointed to the inability of the…
The Orlando Magic on Monday announced the signing of new head coach Jamahl Mosley from the Dallas Mavericks. Mosley will be heading southeast to the City Beautiful after seven seasons as assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks. Mosley is now the 15th head coach in the Magic’s NBA run. “Welcome to Orlando, Coach Mosley!” trumpeted…
The odds of the annual Candlelight Processional returning to EPCOT in 2021 are not looking good. The winter holiday celebration is a highlight for many Florida high-schoolers and their families, but it was put on hold last year due to coronavirus restrictions. A recent announcement from Walt Disney World laying out their planned holiday events…
What do a California event venue and most of the GOP have in common? They want nothing to do with Matt Gaetz. The Florida congressman is searching for a venue in the other Orange County after a hotel there gave Gaetz and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s “America First” rally the boot. While the Pacific Hills…
Men who have sex with men have faced additional restrictions on blood donation for decades. Even under recently relaxed guidelines due to the coronavirus pandemic, bisexual and gay men have to wait three months from their last sexual encounter to give blood. While there’s no sign of that changing in the near future, a pilot…
The City Beautiful is growing, expanding, and welcoming new residents. Unfortunately, that’s brought along a massive increase in the average rent. Average rents in Orlando have risen 13.3% since the start of 2021, according to a new report from commercial real estate company CoStar. TheOrlando Business Journal first shared the report, which found that average…
Florida’s manatees are dying at an unprecedented rate, sounding alarm bells for environmentalists. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has reported 841 manatees deaths so far in 2021, overshadowing the record set in 2013, when 830 died. Florida’s estimated total manatees population is 8,810. WTSP says 87 of those deaths happened in the Bay area.…
Amid concerns about the potent Delta variant of the coronavirus, the number of cases of COVID-19 jumped in Florida last week, according to a report issued Friday by the state Department of Health. The report showed Florida had confirmed 2,361,360 cases as of Thursday, an increase of 23,747 cases from a week earlier. Florida during…
Between events and music releases, creative Orlando syndicate the Grand Collab have been in as high a gear lately as we’ve ever seen of them, and their latest production, Encore, is a fittingly grand one. Kicking off at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 11, and going into the night at Mills 50 wine bar Grape…
If you’ve ever found yourself pining for a 4 Rivers Smokehouse sandwich but reluctant to put on pants, you’re in luck. The Orlando-area BBQ chain just announced that they will sell their smoked sausages in Costco locations throughout Florida. Here in the Orlando area, the pre-cooked smoked sausages will be available at Costco locations in…
Things are getting as back to normal as a city almost entirely predicated on theme parks can get. And that means it’s time again for free beer. SeaWorld Orlando announced the return of its obviously popular free beer program through August 12. There’s very little in the way of catches or gimmicks. Every person over…
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young tore into U.S. House Rep. Mike Waltz for sharing an update on the condition of a DBPD officer who was shot in the head last month. After Waltz shared that officer Jason Raynor was awake and speaking, Chief Young said the congressman has “no right” to divulge that and said…
I shot this video of a massive fish kill at Waterside South in Coquina Key on Wednesday. @BN9 pic.twitter.com/tWpJMS473p — Josh Rojas (@JoshRojasBN9) July 8, 2021 A video shared to Twitter by reporter Josh Rojas shows the devastating effects of red tide on fish in the Tampa Bay area. Canals in neighborhoods throughout St. Petersberg…
While many of us wouldn’t know a googly from doosra, the Orlando Galaxy will give Central Florida plenty of opportunities to learn this year. The Minor League of Cricket team will kick off its first official season at the end of this month. The league launches its inaugural season on July 31, and 27 teams…
Seven African penguins have reportedly died at the Florida Aquarium. The deaths were confirmed by the aquarium on Thursday, and no cause of death was revealed. “It is with heavy hearts that The Florida Aquarium announces the passing of seven of our African penguins. At this time the cause of death is unknown and under…
Supergroup Generation Radio — with members of Journey, Chicago and Rascal Flatts on board — are on their way to the Frontyard Festival later this summer, and they promise all the hits from the members’ previous creative outlets. Boasting Jay Demarcus of Rascal Flatts, Jason Scheff from Chicago and Dee Castronovo of Journey, the band have got decades of radio singles under their collective…
In a microcosm of the fast-changing nature of Orlando’s commercial real estate, two major updates have come to Church Street in the last week. The downtown Orlando location of Pepe’s Cantina permanently closed its doors, as construction moved forward on the Bumby Arcade Food Hall. Bumby Arcade is one of seemingly countless food halls coming…
If you thought a little thing like no longer being the president was going to stop Donald Trump from displaying his ignorance on matters of government, think again. The game show host turned sleazeball prez just filed a lawsuit alleging that Facebook violated his First Amendment rights by upholding their ban of the president following his…
HOUSE REVEALED: Open the Door to Your Worst Nightmares. See full details on Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House haunted house at https://t.co/rinFyWxhfW. pic.twitter.com/KNuEbWxxpB — Halloween Horror Nights (@HorrorNightsORL) July 8, 2021 Haunted attractions are catching up to what the most high-minded horror directors have known for years: There’s nothing spookier than intergenerational family trauma.…
Drag sensations Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova are heading out on a co-headlining tour next spring, and they’ve got Orlando square in their sights. The anything-but-gruesome twosome are heading out on the “Trixie and Katya Live” tour, an all-new show that’s an homage to roadtrip comedies of the 1990s from The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen…
The City of Orlando will offer mobile vaccine sites in Orlando neighborhoods to make sure that families are all vaccinated ahead of the start of the school year. The vaccines will be administered at seven City of Orlando neighborhood centers, offering the Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines. Residents 18 and up can receive the…
Though he’s spent the last two weeks at the site of a collapsed building that went without inspection for far too long, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis isn’t sure that more inspections of aging buildings are the answer. Saying that the Champlain Towers South building that collapsed on June 24 might have had “problems from the…
Last year, Snowcat Ridge was shut down within its first month by the county because of multiple safety hazards, and on another occasion it voluntarily closed because of a lack of snow, but this week Florida’s snow park announced that it will make a triumphant return for the 2021 winter season. The winter-themed park has…
The Miami-Dade County grand jury will delve into ways to prevent future disasters such as the deadly collapse of a condominium building in Surfside, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said Wednesday. “As a community, we remain shaken and horrified by the immense loss of life and the sheer destruction caused by the collapse of the…
Realtor groups have poured another $8 million into an effort to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the 2022 ballot that would ensure money for affordable-housing programs, a newly filed finance report shows. The group Florida Realtors funneled $5 million in June to the political committee Floridians for Housing, while the National Association of Realtors…
The 93rd annual Scripps Spelling Bee national finals kick off in Orlando today for the first time ever. And First Lady Dr. Jill Biden is coming down to check out the action at Disney. After being canceled last year for the first time in its long history, the Spelling Bee national finals have been relocated…
Authorities arrested a Viera High School teacher on Tuesday on charges connected to the Capitol riots on Jan. 6, according to court records. Kenneth John Reda, a 54-year-old physical education teacher, was arrested on charges of illegally entering the U.S Capitol and disorderly conduct. Brevard County Schools official said Reda will be on leave while…
Arguably, the state of Florida led the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S Capitol. The Sunshine State now has more individuals charged in connection with the attack than anywhere else in the nation. Florida also has the most charges connected to far-right extremist groups, like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys. But this weekend,…
A Winter Garden woman beat out thousands of applicants to win the Audubon Institute’s annual bird photography award. Across categories for amateurs, professionals and children, more than 8,000 photographs were entered. Robin Ulery walked away with the top prize for non-professional photogs. Ulery captured the above shot of a sandhill crane and its colt while kayaking…
Beyond the car-choked and strip-malled nature of its public space, Orlando is about as far from New York City in the 1970s as you can get. But then again, what’s a library for if not to show you new perspectives? With that in mind, the Orange County Library System is hosting an exhibition of art…
YouTube and podcasting stars Mega64 are hitting the road this autumn, and the North American “Last Laugh” tour will include an Orlando show in November. Starting out as a humble public access television show, the gang behind Mega64 have spawned a multimedia empire that even includes hosting the annual Gamedays at Disneyland. The premise —…
Orlando Fringe Patron’s Pick-winning show Hexed: A Femme Rock Musical is returning to the stage this weekend for a very limited engagement at the Abbey. And if you’re jonesing for witches and a coming-of-age story grafted to an original score of grunge and punk-pop tunes, your weekend plans are basically made. Hexed follows a tight-knit…
In what’s almost certainly a glimpse into our ever-more-grim future, Disneyland Paris just crossed the theme-park tiered service Rubicon. The Disney park rolled out a paid version of FastPass, the scheduling/advanced queueing service that allows Disney parks riders to hop to the front of long first-come, first-served lines. The service known as “Disney Premier Access”…
Yet another Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy has been disciplined for posting TikToks while in uniform. Shortly after OCSO deputy Shelby Abramson was suspended for her posts to the platform, investigators began looking into the account of deputy Sha Quan Smith-Ramsay. Of the 88 videos Smith-Ramsay shared to the social media app between May of…
Not to get all metaphysical right off the bat, but can we agree that music has unique healing properties among the various arts? And can we agree that we all — particularly kids — could use some musical healing right about now? Everybody still here? Good. To that end, the folks behind Orlando Girls Rock…
This Saturday, July 10, is Dab Day aka “Oil Day” (because 710 upside-down looks like OIL) so in honor of the cannabis concentrate enthusiasts’ answer to 4/20, I’m finally publishing excerpts from the interview I conducted earlier this year with Bluma Wellness CEO Brady Cobb. Bluma’s One Plant medical marijuana dispensaries offer the best full-spectrum…
Our selections of the best stuff to do this week. Thursday, July 8 Kristin Harmel Book signing put on by Writer’s Block Bookstore with local author and New York Times best-seller Harmel signing copies of her new tome, The Forest of Vanishing Stars. Ticket price includes a copy of the book for signing and a…
Kaleigh Baker & Patrick Hagerman: As her solo performances affirm, Kaleigh Baker needs backup like a lighthouse needs a candle. However, her weekly Lil Indies residency has recently gotten a fresh shot in the arm with the recurring guest addition of rising local musician Patrick Hagerman, with whom she’s been performing as a duo. When…
Premieres Wednesday: Cat People; Dogs Season 2 — Which of these two series about hard-core animal lovers you binge will depend upon your own preferences for nonhuman companionship. But come on, somebody else out there has to be waiting for a salute to Komodo dragons! (Netflix) The Mire: ’97 — In the second season of…
Orlando’s Tierney Tough has been involved in the music scene locally and nationally with all manner of projects. Of course, there’s her own long-running band the Pauses. Then there’ve been stints in other bands, notable ones like War on Women, Matt Pond PA and Beach Slang. And don’t forget about her work as a scene-building…
The latest in a line of restaurants to move into the old Diva-Nopa-Daya-La Merce-Proper & Wild space off Park Avenue in Winter Park is amusingly dubbed “A New York Restaurant.” I know, try not to laugh. Its name — The Bridge — is not only meant to evoke images of the Brooklyn Bridge, but to…
It was 115 degrees in Portland last Monday, the highest temperature ever recorded at the city’s airport. In Seattle, the mercury hit 108, more than 40 degrees above “normal” — a baseline the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently redefined to account for hotter conditions — and the highest temperature ever recorded there, too. By…
