Cover Story
Terror in Orlando
A complete reconstruction of the worst day in Orlando history
Life returns to Urban Rethink space with pop-up Burrow Press bookstore (updated)
Remember Urban Rethink? Yeah, that place was awesome. Sigh. If you missed it somehow, there used to be a multi-use art/music/discussion/co-working/tech/café space located on Central Boulevard (between what’s now Soco and Baoery). It closed in 2013, after two or three years of readings, film screenings, music, broomstick pony races, panels, pop-up dinners and whatever else…
Valhalla Bakery to open stand-alone doughnut joint, Valkyrie Donuts
It’s interesting to us that the doughnut trend, so entrenched in other cities, hasn’t quite found its wings in Orlando yet. (It seems nothing can topple boring cupcakes off their boring throne.) Other than Donut King – amazing sinkers, but not exactly a hipster joint – and Krispy Kreme – undeniable, but not super-varied or…
10 ways to tube Florida’s springs and rivers this summer
The Florida heat can be vicious during the summer, and there are more ways to cool off than by just going to the beach or the pool. It’s time to tube! While some of these places may be a bit far from Orlando, it just gives you an excuse to plan a road trip. So,…
Pizza Bruno opening soon-o, as soon as he can get through permitting
Chef Bruno Zacchini opens his long-anticipated Pizza Bruno very, very soon – just as soon as he can get legal. The neighborhood pizzeria and Italian eatery with a wood-burning pizza oven should open “by July” at 3990 Curry Ford Road. Zacchini is also the executive chef at the highly respected Third Wave in New Smyrna…
Bite30 Spotlight: Get your fill at TR Fire Grill
Bite Night, the gastronomic gala marking the culmination of BITE30, is less than a week away, and the appetites of the city’s culinary class haven’t seemed to wane any. Judging from the various posts on social media, intrepid diners continue to pig out on the prix-fixe lunch and dinner productions carried out by some of…
Benefit and tribute songs dedicated to the victims of the Pulse shooting
City Beautiful: A Compilation for Pulse A grab bag of lost and new tracks from a variety of Central FL bands (including You Blew It!, Pathos Pathos, Henrietta) with all download purchases going towards the Center Orlando. Forever Beautiful: a collection of love for Orlando by Various Artists Forever Beautiful: A Collection of Love for…
Lynch: DOJ will give $1 million to help pay first responders in Orlando mass shooting
Attorney General Loretta Lynch says the Department of Justice will make available $1 million to cover overtimes costs for state and local responders who helped during the mass shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse. Lynch mentioned the award during her visit to Orlando on Tuesday. She adds that the department is also offering emergency counseling resources…
Imagine Dragons discuss their upcoming Orlando benefit show for Pulse victims
In a a week+ that has already seen scores of local musicians step up and throw a series of benefit shows for the victims of the Pulse massacre and their families. Now, Imagine Dragons will be headlining the ALL IS ONE Orlando Unity Concert on Wednesday, June 22, (tomorrow!) at Hard Rock Live. Sponsored by GLAAD,…
Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen set to open in Lake Nona in September
We first told you about Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen, the new concept by the Tavistock Restaurant Collection, back in March. We now have some additional details. The cornerstone restaurant of the Lake Nona Town Center doesn’t seem to veer far from Tavistock’s other Lake Nona resto – Canvas Restaurant & Market – insofar as…
U.S. Senate rejects gun-control measures days after Orlando mass shooting
A little more than a week after 49 lives were cut short at the end of a gun in Orlando, the U.S. Senate voted to reject four amendments regarding gun control. USA Today reports two measures proposed by Republicans would have made a judicial review system to stop someone on the terror watch list from…
Universal Orlando releases details about new water park Volcano Bay
Since the announcement of Volcano Bay back in May of 2015, details have been slim, but Universal Orlando has just released new information on the company’s next big water park. Although an official opening date has not been released, impatient park g0-ers can now start buying a new three-park ticket, for the two theme parks and…
New pro-Trump ad takes full advantage of Orlando tragedy
A super PAC supporting a very broke Donald Trump is wasting no time using the nightclub shooting in Orlando to make the case for a Trump presidency. The new pro-Donald ad, titled “The Enemy,” comes from the Great America PAC and features Navy SEAL Carl Higbie, who states that the shooting at Pulse is a…
Survivors honor Pulse shooting victim Eddie Justice at Lake Eola vigil
His friends knew him as Brycen Banks. That’s the nickname Eddie Justice, one of the 49 killed in the mass shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse, created for himself. At a vigil in Lake Eola Park on Monday, survivors of the shooting and friends remembered the 30-year-old accountant with balloons and handwritten notes on paper…
Poll: Clinton leads Trump by 8 points in Florida
Getting a boost from independent voters and adding to her advantage among women, Democrat Hillary Clinton has opened an 8-point lead over Republican Donald Trump in Florida’s critical presidential contest, a new poll shows. Clinton leads Trump by a margin of 47 percent to 39 percent in Florida, after being in a virtual deadlock last…
Bite30 spotlight: Kabooki Sushi’s tonkatsu ramen
Jiro Dreams of Sushi plays on the TVs around the place and there’s a Boy Kong mural on the exterior wall facing west (#thatssoorlando), but inside, Kabooki Sushi might as well be straight outta Tokyo. For Bite30 (which continues through June 30), Kabooki has put together a $30 prix fixe dinner menu that includes one…
Frozen Ever After opens today at Epcot, here’s a full ride POV video
It’s been a long long winter, but the new Frozen-themed ride Frozen Ever After has officially opened in the Norway area of Disney’s Epcot. However, if you’re not already in line, good luck … The line for #FrozenEverAfter goes past China. It's a 300 minute wait right now: pic.twitter.com/ZUKCHoXyvt — Attractions Magazine (@Attractions) June 21,…
Longtime Orlando vegetarian fixture the Garden Cafe will close this week
Some sad news for Orlando’s vegetarian and vegan community: We heard over the weekend that Garden Café, the O.G. vegan Chinese restaurant on Colonial Drive, would close June 26. While Orlando is no longer nearly so short on vegan dining options as it was even 10 years ago, Garden Café is still the comfort choice…
A week after Orlando massacre, a Florida senator is giving away an AR-15 on his Facebook page
It’s been slightly more than a week since the deadliest mass public shooting in U.S. history and now a Florida senator and congressional candidate has announced he’s giving away an assault weapon on his Facebook page. Greg Evers, a Republican senator running for the 1st Congressional District in Florida’s Pandhandle, is giving away an AR-15…
Broadway records song to benefit Orlando mass shooting victims
The biggest stars on Broadway have teamed up to record a heartfelt cover of the 1965 hit “What the World Needs Now Is Love” to honor the victims of the mass shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse. The “Broadway for Orlando” initiative is selling the song on iTunes for $1.29, and the proceeds will go…
Attorney General Loretta Lynch to visit Orlando, meet with Pulse victims’ families
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch plans to visit Orlando on Tuesday to meet with the families of Pulse mass shooting victims, first responders and others in the community affected by the June 12 attack, according to the Department of Justice. Lynch also plans to visit site of the shooting massacre by Omar Mateen, which left…
Enterprising trash monsters are already exploiting the Pulse shooting on Amazon
Terrible people are terrible.
FBI and DOJ release unredacted transcript from Orlando shooter’s 911 call, calling it an ‘unnecessary distraction’
The FBI and Department of Justice have now released the full, unredacted transcript from the 911 call involving the Orlando nightclub shooter responsible for killing 49 last Sunday, June 12. This morning, the FBI and the DOJ released a partial transcript, which attracted quite a bit of criticism from Republicans, specifically House Speaker Paul Ryan,…
Appeal court to hear challenge to ‘Docs vs. Glocks,’ a law banning doctors from asking about gun ownership
Five years after Florida lawmakers passed what became known as the “Docs v. Glocks” law, a full federal appeals court will hear arguments Tuesday in a constitutional dispute that pits physicians against gun-rights advocates. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, meeting in Atlanta, will take up a challenge by physician groups and individual doctors…
Chefs Fonzo and McFadden organize Food & Wine Unite Orlando event
Two Orlando chefs, Kevin Fonzo (K Restaurant) and Jamie McFadden (Cuisiniers Catering), have teamed up for this donation-only event, and are gathering other food and beverage professionals from around the city to participate. Head to East End Market on July 10 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. for an event to recognize and benefit the…
FBI releases partial transcript of 911 call with Orlando shooter
The FBI has released partial transcripts of three conversations the Orlando shooter had with the police on Sunday, June 12. From the FBI: Out of respect for the victims of this horrific tragedy, law enforcement will not be releasing audio of the shooter’s 911 calls at this time,nor will law enforcement be releasing audio or transcripts of…
Kate DiCamillo draws from Central Florida childhood in new book ‘Raymie Nightingale’
Kate DiCamillo, the author of several celebrated children’s novels such as Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tiger Rising, The Tale of Desperaux and more, is no stranger to writing from a personal place. Her new book, Raymie Nightingale, is one of her most autobiographical to date. The children’s novel stars Raymie Clark, a 10-year old girl grappling with the emotional fallout…
St. Pete’s Set and Setting bring powerfully calibrated post-rock to the Space Station
Ever wish that epic bands like Explosions in the Sky and Mono would stop fucking around with the exploratory foreplay and just get to big climaxes already? Boy, do we have a band for you, and they’re from Florida. St. Pete’s Set and Setting are one of the most powerfully calibrated post-rock bands in the…
Westboro protest at Orlando mass shooting victims’ funeral fizzles against ‘angels’
If the Westboro Baptist Church thought Orlando was going to take its anti-gay message quietly, it was sorely wrong. Hundreds of demonstrators sang “Amazing Grace” to drown out the Westboro members’ infamous chants and cries as “guardian angels” helped form a wall protecting the Cathedral Church of St. Luke with their large white wings. Inside…
Hundreds show love at funeral mass for Pulse shooting victim Luis Vielma
Hundreds of families and friends arrived at All Souls Catholic Church in Sanford on Friday to pay their final respects to Luis Vielma, one of the 49 victims in the mass shooting last week at the gay nightclub Pulse. Vielma, 22, was a student at Seminole State College who worked at the Wizarding World of Harry…
Video surfaces showing Disney employee fending off alligator near Splash Mountain
Last Tuesday, a 2-year-old was tragically killed by an alligator at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Since the incident, employees have come forward claiming Disney World knew about the alligator issues. Now, a recently surfaced video shows a Disney employee fighting off an alligator with a pole. The video, which was posted to YouTube…
PWR BTTM, Pity Sex and Petal donate show proceeds to Pulse victim fund (Backbooth)
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Even though I really relished the powerful coincidence, I wasn’t planning on making too big a deal about an especially unambiguous queercore band coming into town this week of all weeks. But then I saw this at the show (June 16, Backbooth): Seriously, ladies, you don’t want to go into this particular…
Florida drivers have a bad habit of running over panthers
Even though Florida panthers are our state animal and an endangered species, drivers are having a hard time avoiding these embattled felines. A driver alerted Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission after a 6-month-old female panther was struck by a car in Collier County on June 17. The big kitten faced no life threatening injuries…
UPDATED: Local concerts happening for Pulse victims and families
Orlando’s music community has stepped up and put together a number of benefit shows for the victims and families of the Pulse shooting. Here is a cumulative list of what’s happening in the next couple of weeks. Thursday, June 16 – Swept/Knick-Knacks/Dumberbunnies/Zig-Zags show at the Spacebar. All of the door proceeds will be donated. 9 p.m. $5.…
UPDATED: Every local bar and restaurant raising funds for Orlando Pulse victims and families
After the Pulse shooting in Orlando, local restaurants and bars are raising funds to help the people most affected by the tragedy. Below you’ll find a list of where and when you can eat and drink for a good cause. We will update this last as more events and fundraisers are announced. The Florida Restaurant and…
Orlando’s fierce DIY scene stands strong and united at Chew, False Punk, Problem Child, Gillian Carter show
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Last night was my first night out since the Pulse massacre. I haven’t even attended any of the public vigils yet. Although I’ve been incredibly lifted by all the rallying images I’ve seen online, I just wasn’t ready myself. I needed the womb of my own space to grieve and process. I…
The Pulse Yelp page is not the appropriate place to grieve
In the wake of the the country’s deadliest attack by a single shooter, a Yelper decided to leave a heartfelt review on Pulse’s page, which seems nice enough but then proceeded to give the nightclub 3 stars. This gesture is both extremely kind and extremely savage. The user, SM. from Fort Lauderdale, starts off…
Orlando City players will wear an Orlando United patch this weekend
The Orlando City soccer team has added a patch on their jerseys to show support after the Pulse nightclub shooting. On the jerseys, in between their lions logos and the Adidas logo, there is a now a patch that reads Orlando United with a rainbow colored heart. The jersey change comes just in time for their…
Daily Show’s Hasan Minhaj calls out Congress for being ‘complicit in the deaths of thousands’
In the wake of Orlando’s mass shooting that killed 49 people, Daily Show correspondent Hasan Minhaj closed out his comedy routine at the Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association Dinner Wednesday night by calling out members of Congress for failing to take action on guns. Addressing members of Congress directly, he said, “We look to you…
Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen bring show to Dr. Phillips Center
Anderson Cooper is coming back to Orlando, but this time, he’s bringing Bravo’s Andy Cohen and giving you all the details ahead of time. Cooper and Cohen announced they are going to have a special live benefit show at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. All proceeds will be donated to the OneOrlando…
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey thinks people should stay and fight active shooters
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, a firm believer that a “good guy with a gun” is the simple solution to our nation’s plague of mass shootings, has a new idea for anyone involved in a mass shooting. Responding to Orlando’s recent attack at Pulse nightclub, Ivey says people should no longer run and hide from…
Apopka turns out at vigil for Orlando mass shooting victim Eddie Justice
About 100 people came to pray, light candles and mourn in Apopka for the life of Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, one of the 49 people killed last weekend in the mass shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse. Justice, 30, worked as an accountant, who was Pulse early Sunday morning during “Latin Night” with his best friend and…
Doobie Brothers tickets go on sale today, the Father’s Day Holy Grail
If you’re still desperately scrambling for the perfect Father’s Day gift for your classic-rock-loving dad (or grandad, let’s be honest), boy howdy does the Dr. Phillips Center have you covered. Tickets go on sale today for the Doobie Brothers’ engagement at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on November 16. The Southern rock-gone-yacht…
Disney was reportedly warned about alligator issues before toddler’s death
Tuesday night a 2-year-old was tragically killed by an alligator at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. However, sources are now saying that Disney staff at a nearby resort reportedly knew about guests feeding alligators, and had ignored requests to put up a protective fence around the lagoon. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Mike Hamilton, a…
Florida restaurants will band together to raise money for OneOrlando Fund on June 30
The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association has established a statewide event called Dine Out for Orlando United, so restaurants statewide can participate in an event to raise money on June 30 for the OneOrlando Fund, benefiting victims, families and community members affected by the shooting at Pulse. There are, as you’d expect, local restaurants on…
Westboro Baptist Church plans to protest Pulse victims’ funeral Saturday
As if Orlando wasn’t going through enough already, now we’ll have to deal with one more thing this weekend: the Westboro Baptist Church. The infamous congregation, known for protesting the funerals of LGBTQ people, is coming to Cathedral Church of Saint Luke on Magnolia Avenue this Saturday to protest the funeral of two victims killed…
People are now getting these Pulse tribute tattoos
#Pulse tattoos are officially a thing. Shout-out to Kristen & Adrienne, two friends who exemplify #OrlandoStrong! 🍊💪 pic.twitter.com/1l1HoCZaUG — John Raser (@johnraser) June 15, 2016 Orlando has received overwhelming support since the tragic incident of June 12, with people donating everything from blood, time and resources to the victims and their families. Well, now we…
UPDATED: Dems mount filibuster to close gun law loophole; 38 shootings happen during that time
UPDATED: The filibuster lasted 15 hours, and ended when an agreement between Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and Minority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada, to hold votes on two gun control amendments was announced. During the 15-hour filibuster on the Senate floor, Vox reports, there were 38 shootings that killed 12 people and injured 36 more…
UPDATED: Say Yippee Ki-yay to your favorite mother f****r at Enzian’s Father’s Day ‘Airplane’ (formerly ‘Die Hard’) Brunch
If we’re being honest, it’s hard to go wrong with barbecue, beers and Bruce Willis to celebrate Father’s Day. Take your pops (or your kid) to the Enzian for a special showing of the classic action flick Die Hard, and enjoy pulled pork, wings and a whole host of sides. Dads get one free Yuengling,…
Orlando Book Festival brings renowned writers like Chuck Wendig and Allison Brennan to the downtown library
Alert to all Central Florida bookworms and aspiring writers: The Orlando Book Festival is bringing published authors to your downtown library for a daylong event of writing workshops and panels. Allison Brennan, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen thrillers, and Star Wars: Aftermath author Chuck Wendig are keynote…
South Florida’s Ordinary Boys pay tribute to Our Lord and Savior Morrissey at the Social
Though they might better resemble latter-day Morrissey’s live band than the Smiths in the full gladiola of their youth, there’s no mistaking the fact that South Florida’s Ordinary Boys have got the Smiths’ singular sound down pat. They’ve got a set that draws heavily from classics like “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out”…
New details emerge about Christina Grimmie’s killer
New details have emerged that fill in some of the missing pieces in the Christina Grimmie murder. Best Buy co-workers of Kevin Loibl, the 27-year old who shot and killed Grimmie after her show at the Plaza Live on June 10, have talked to TMZ about his all-consuming obsession with the singer, who, by all…
Obama says Orlando massacre victims’ families asked him to ‘stop the carnage’
After meeting with grieving families and survivors of the Orlando mass shooting, President Barack Obama says they “don’t care about the politics” and want him to do more to stop the gun carnage. Obama landed at Orlando International Airport on Thursday and was met by Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and…
Remembering the victims of June 12, 2016
Here we honor the 49 victims shot and killed on Sunday, June 12, at Pulse nightclub in Orlando by telling some of their stories. We can’t encapsulate any one life in just a few words, but we’ve tried to document what we can about these people beyond their names and faces. The 49 souls lost…
Orlando shooter texted wife during attack asking if she was watching the news
During Sunday’s mass shooting at Pulse nightclub the shooter reportedly texted his wife and asked if she was watching the news, says CNN. Citing a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation, CNN is reporting that Omar Mateen texted his wife, Noor Salman, while in the bathroom at Pulse. From CNN: Around 4 a.m., about…
60 Broadway stars including Carole King, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Idina Menzel record single to benefit the Center
More than 60 Broadway stars will record a new version of Burt Bacharach’s “What the World Needs Now Is Love” in support of the victims and victims’ families of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. All proceeds from the sale of the single will benefit the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida. The song will be available…
Florida Gov. Rick Scott vows to rid Florida of ‘radical Islam,’ tighten up immigration
The shooter responsible for killing over 49 and injuring 53 at an Orlando gay nightclub last Sunday was an American-born citizen, who legally purchased his weapons, passed all background checks, and, as the CIA just announced, had no connections to Islamic terrorist groups … or any terrorist groups for that matter. But despite any of this,…
President Obama lands in Orlando to meet with Pulse shooting victims’ families and survivors
President Obama is on his way to the Amway Center after landing at the Orlando International Airport this afternoon. Obama and Vice President Biden are visiting Orlando in the wake of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. The White House says Obama and Biden will “meet with families of victims of the attack and stand…
Sheriff: Toddler snatched by alligator drowned, body recovered
The body of a toddler grabbed by an alligator and pulled into the water near the shores of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa was recovered by officials Wednesday. The Orlando Sentinel reports Lane Graves, 2, of Elkhorn, Nebraska, was found “completely intact” about 15 yards from the beach about six feet underneath the surface,…
Universal Orlando’s parent company donates $1 million to OneOrlando fund
In response to Sunday’s mass shooting at Pulse nightclub, Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal division announced that they will be donating $1 million to the OneOrlando fund. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer set up the OneOrlando fund to assist those affected by the tragedy. “Like so many other organizations and families in Orlando, those of us at…
CIA: No direct link between Orlando shooter and terrorist organizations
Orlando shooter Omar Mateen may have supported terrorist groups like ISIS, but top intelligence officials are now saying the Orlando shooter had no direct connection to any terrorist organization. According to Reuters, CIA Director John Brennan told a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Thursday, June 16, that the agency “has not been able to uncover any direct…
Sports mascots compete in fun challenges to help sick kids at the annual Mascot Games
Sports are fun and all, but jeez can they get serious. Thankfully, teams employ a bunch of clowns in stifling-hot fur suits to keep the crowds smiling in dark times. That’s why the Magic have one of the best mascots in the game: Even though we’re let down year after year as the team “rebuilds”…
The Plaza Live reopens after shooting for Yacht Rock Revue
Let’s get one thing out of the way quickly: The Yacht Rock Revue is a band, not an assemblage of your favorite ’70s soft-rockers. This Atlanta group consists of accomplished players who grew up on the lite sounds of AM radio (probably while shopping with mom) and figured they’d be better off as a full-time…
Lopez-Cantera will end Senate campaign if Rubio jumps into race
Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera advised supporters Wednesday that he will end his campaign for the U.S. Senate if longtime friend Marco Rubio decides to seek re-election. During a failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination, Rubio said he would not run this year for another term in the Senate. But various media outlets reported Wednesday…
President Obama, Vice President Biden plan to visit Orlando Thursday
President Obama and Vice President Biden will visit Orlando later today in the wake of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. The White House says Obama and Biden will “meet with families of victims of the attack and stand in solidarity with the Orlando community.” The president and vice president’s schedules have not been…
Neil DeGrasse Tyson pays tribute to Orlando in the most science way possible
While most people might post pictures of rainbows to social media, Neil deGrasse Tyson would rather break down the science behind the global symbol of LBGT pride. As a tribute to the deadliest shooting in U.S. history, which targeted the gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando, the host of Cosmos reached out to The City Beautiful…
Orlando mayor says gunman drove around community before Pulse shooting
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer says the gunman who killed 49 people and injured 53 at the gay nightclub Pulse drove around the city before going to the club. Dyer says he can’t confirm the locations or if Omar Mateen stopped to visit any of them. “As I understand it, he had driven around our community…
OCSC fans plan rainbow tribute for Saturday’s match
If you’re planning to head to Saturday’s OCSC tribute match versus San Jose Earthquakes at Camping World Stadium (still feels weird to call it that), put away your purple for just one game, unless you’re sitting in the Supporters section, section 125, or sections P18-P25. Fans are banding together to “paint” the inside of the…
Free Concerts in Orlando this week (6/15-6/21)
While free shows are always fun, you should also consider attending one of the many benefit shows being held this week for those affected by the Pulse shooting. We’re keeping a running list of them on this page. Now on to the list… Wednesday June 8 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints Of Truth 10 pm at…
Florida Gov. Rick Scott: ‘This was a clear attack on the gay, Hispanic community’
Florida Gov. Rick Scott said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon that the mass shooting at the Orlando gay nightclub Pulse, was a “clear attack on the gay and Hispanic community.” Wednesday’s statement is a welcoming shift in focus for Gov. Rick Scott, who took over 48 hours to mention that the gay community…
Country Strong benefit concert announced for victims and families of Pulse shooting
This Tuesday night there will be a “Country Strong” benefit concert at the CFE Arena to benefit the victims and families of the Pulse nightclub shooting. Presented in tandem by Cox Media, K92.3 FM, WFTV, WRDQ and the CFE Arena and billed as “Orlando’s night of healing & country music,” the concert will start at…
Students, friends and family pack UCF Student Union for vigil
Despite the stormy weather that carried on through the night, hundreds of University of Central Florida students gathered Tuesday night on every floor of the campus Student Union to pay their respects to the victims of the Pulse shootings. As a symbol of solidarity, the Pegasus seal was decorated with yellow roses and candles brought…
Watch the insane grand opening of Shanghai Disneyland live right now
The $5.5-billion Shanghai Disneyland opens today and the opening ceremonies are streaming right now. Among it’s many many amenities, the new Magic Kingdom-style park features six themed areas, two hotels, a shopping district and 99 acres of gardens, lakes and parkland. Over the past few weeks, the park has opened in sections, and let’s just…
Orlando opens assistance center for Pulse victims, families at Camping World Stadium
Local officials announced the opening of a family assistance center at the Camping World Stadium for those affected by the mass shooting at Orlando’s gay nightclub Pulse. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs say the center opens Wednesday starting at 10 a.m. on West Church Street. “Our hearts goes out…
Creative City Project sponsors a series of workshops on creativity leading up to their call for artists
With storms and sunshine already cranking up Orlando’s heat and humidity before summer has even officially begun, it can be challenging to cast your mind forward to the cooler months and contemplate enjoying an outdoor art event. But the 2016 Creative City Project is now only four months away, and founding executive director Cole NeSmith…
Opening in Orlando: Central Intelligence, Finding Dory and Puerto Ricans in Paris
Opening this week Central Intelligence Believe it or not, my mother is fascinated by Kevin Hart. I mean, the woman is 85 years old and whiter than Casper, but when she hears that rat-a-tat delivery issuing from the TV, she comes running like Pavlov’s dog in the presence of a Quarter Pounder. I’ve seen her…
Genius examines the relationship between a famous writer and his not-quite-invisible editor
Thomas Edison claimed genius was 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. Well, after watching the new drama about the relationship between author Thomas Wolfe and his editor, one might say that genius, at least in the literary world, is equal parts writing and editing. Directed by Michael Grandage, who is better known as a…
Savage Love (6/15/16)
I’ve been dating a nice guy for a month or so. Sex is good, and we’re faultly compatible in other ways, too. He told me he likes to wear diapers. He said he doesn’t want me to do it with him, but that every once in a while he likes to wear them because it…
Gimme Shelter (6/15/16)
Are you looking for a purrfect new addition to your family? Meet Mami! Mami (A344561) is a 3-year-old cat who is looking for a home. She is very sweet and friendly, and she’ll make a wonderful pet! Mami is a beautiful kitty who loves to cuddle. She has a mellow personality, so she’ll make a…
Free Will Astrology (6/15/16)
ARIES (March 21-April 19) The coming months will be a favorable time to boost your skills as a cagey warrior. I don’t mean you should push people around and get into lots of fights. Rather, the goal is for you to harness your aggressiveness constructively and to wield your willpower with maximum grace. In the…
Plague Vendor prove one of today’s most exciting bands, Refused reclaim glory, Chakra Khan emerge as the most modern Solillaquists spinoff yet
Because I’m still reeling from the double blow of a weekend that saw the Christina Grimmie shooting at the Plaza Live and the Pulse nightclub mass shooting, I almost rewrote or deleted everything this week that exuded fervor. But my resolve and then my mind caught up and stayed me. So in the shadow of…
Selections: Our picks of the week’s best events, June 15-21
Wednesday, 15 Peek-A-Boo Tribute to Prince DANCE Since the passing of Prince, the pop legend has been at the forefront of our minds more than ever. We’ve been receiving updates about his death almost daily, somberly singing his songs over and over again, and now we have another chance to celebrate his musical genius. Orlando…
Picks This Week: Tiger Fawn, Holocaust, Rezz and more
St. Lucia New York synth-poppers sound like a modern upgrade to the circuit boards laid down by Simple Minds and Thompson Twins, and that’s not a bad thing. 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, at the Social, $20-$23 Chew Three former Orlandoans swing through town to show off their ultra-vicious hardcore project. Eschews tuff-guy breakdowns for…
Local notables talk about Orlando’s senseless tragedy
I was so saddened by the tragic events at Pulse. What I’ve witnessed in the hours following have given me hope that our city will heal. I witnessed hundreds of volunteers bringing food, water and donations to the Center, watched thousands of people line up to donate blood and read countless encouraging words from friends…
Orlando Weekly’s editor and publisher weigh in on the events of June 12, 2016
letter from the editor On Thursday, June 9, NPR radio host Diane Rehm visited Orlando for an onstage talk with WMFE’s Matthew Peddie. In the post-interview Q&A, an audience member asked Rehm who she thought was her best teacher, and she promptly replied, “Fred Rogers.” So perhaps it’s not surprising that as shock escalated to…
What’s going on inside Verde Cantina’s kitchen? No sé
Cocina confidential
Downtown Credo finally set to open a location downtown, spinalis coming to STK, plus more in our weekly food news roundup
Jimotti’s Restaurant, by former Morimoto Asia head sushi chef Junichi Takazoe, will open on South French Avenue in Sanford in two or three weeks. Takazoe says he’ll serve “ingenious and creative” Japanese tapas dishes, as well as rare sakes and Japanese beers. Swank Disney Springs steakhouse STK will serve spinalis, aka “butcher’s butter,” aka calotte, aka ribeye…
