Merlin, parent company of Legoland and Madame Tussauds, is being bought out in $6.1 billion deal
Merlin, the parent company behind Madame Tussauds and Legoland, has agreed to be bought out and taken private by a consortium made up of mostly previous owners. The eye-popping buyout values the second largest attractions operator in the world at $7.6 billion and took four failed bids before this one was finally accepted; all were…
New Museum of American Arts and Crafts Movement readies for its grand opening this winter in St. Pete
St. Pete is already home to some of Florida’s most highly rated museums, but this winter another highly anticipated one will finally open its doors after nearly four years of construction. The first of its kind, 137,100-square-foot Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement in downtown St. Pete is spread across five floors and…
Duran Duran to celebrate the Apollo 11 moon landing at Kennedy Space Center
As Florida’s Space Coast celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing, Kennedy Space Center has announced one of the most unique concert experiences ever to happen at the attraction. On July 16, the famed Rocket Garden will become a concert venue with Duran Duran hosting a special concert that will also feature a…
Local rockabilly hellraisers the WildTones release new single and music video
When you last encountered musician Nadeem Khan in these pages, it was as part of a group interview about Obliterati’s last show. But this story is more about beginnings than endings, as Khan’s primary musical concern these days — the hell-raising local rockabilly trio the WildTones — have just released a new 7-inch single and…
Sublime With Rome and Michael Franti’s Spearhead to play Cocoa Riverfront in July
Here’s one that snuck up on us: Sublime With Rome and Michael Franti & Spearhead are set to play Cocoa Riverfront Park (coming closely on the heels of the recent Steel Pulse show there). Headliners Sublime With Rome recently reconvened to release new album Blessings, while Franti and Spearhead are going from strength to strength…
Nine free concerts happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, July 3: The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 p.m. at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 p.m. at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Friday, July 5: The Accuzed 9 pm at Wing Shack, 4650 E. Michigan St. Beat Assembly II 10 pm at The Nook on Robinson, 2432…
Legal Public Notices 7/03 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices AUCTION Extra Space Storage – Store 8841 9847 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32825 Extra Space Storage will hold a Public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location Indicated: 9847 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32825 (407) 495-9612, July 16th, 2019 @…
U.S. Census will be printed minus citizenship question; Florida deputy general counsel won’t discuss his role in adding it
The Trump administration said Tuesday it will start printing the 2020 U.S. Census without a question asking every household about the citizenship status of residents. The decision came less than a week after the U.S. Supreme Court said the administration needed to come up with a better explanation for why it wanted the question, which…
Vote for your local favorites in Orlando Weekly’s Best of Orlando® 2019 readers poll
Ding ding ding! The first nominating round may be over, but that only means the competition to be named Best of Orlando® is about to get that much more intense. The second round of voting is live now. You have until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, to vote for your favorite musicians, artists, restaurants, writers,…
Clearwater police say $5K cafe tip was relationship revenge, not gratitude
That $5,000 tip so widely reported last week had a different motivation than everyone thought. When a server at the Clear Sky Cafe in Clearwater received a $5,000 tip on June 27, she thought it was because the customer felt bad about hearing that her service dog had recently passed away. It turns out that the customer was…
Florida ranked third most dangerous state in the nation
Florida was recently ranked near the bottom in a “Safest States in America” report, and it wasn’t because of our Category 5 hurricanes, flesh-eating bacteria, or home-invading gators. According to a new report from WalletHub, a financial site that loves to rank states on just about anything as long as they get that sweet sweet…
Central Florida native Rob Thomas returns for a show at Hard Rock Live
Around the time that Orlando was known for cranking out manufactured boy bands like *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys (and O-Town, and 98 Degrees, etc.), Central Florida native Rob Thomas got a taste of superstardom with his band Matchbox 20. Their 1996 debut album Yourself or Someone Like You went platinum 12 times, making it…
Peruvian pop superstar Gian Marco to play Orlando this month
Grammy-winning Peruvian singer-songwriter Gian Marco is heading to the United States for the North American leg of his Intuición Tour later this month, and there’s a big show in the City Beautiful as part of it. Gian Marco is marking three decades of making music and road-testing songs from his 15th album, Intuición. Besides his own solo…
Orlando Republican Rene ‘Coach P’ Plasencia draws Dem challenger for Florida House seat
As he prepares to run for a final term in the Florida House, Orlando Republican Rene “Coach P” Plasencia has drawn a Democratic challenger. Orlando Democrat Nina Wheeler Yoakum has opened a campaign account to challenge Plasencia next year in House District 50, which is made up of parts of Brevard and Orange counties, according…
Orange County sheriffs make the reasonable request that you not shoot guns in the air like a bunch of damn fools this 4th of July
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has embarked on a public information exercise requesting residents not shoot their guns in the air this weekend. “Remember no #celebratorygunfire means celebrating safely. #4thofJuly,” tweeted @OrangeCoSheriff this morning. The graphic points out a very simple principle of basic physics: “What goes up, must come down,” which is a super…
Dominican Republic, rocked by high-profile deaths, works to assure tourists it’s safe
With at least eight deaths of American tourists this year alone, the Dominican Republic is scrambling to save what is left of its tourism industry. The most recent death took place last week after a noticeably ill father from Denver was booted from a flight last Sunday as he tried to leave the country. After…
Here’s a roundup of all the new Florida laws that went into effect today
Florida’s record $90.98 billion spending plan for the next fiscal year, and more than 100 new laws, will hit the books on Monday. The new laws, passed by the Legislature this spring and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, deal with issues ranging from bans on texting while driving and vaping to adding toll roads and…
Five sea turtles and a sandhill crane returned to natural environments after SeaWorld Orlando care
Five sea turtles and one sandhill crane were returned to their natural environments in late June after receiving care from SeaWorld Orlando. The SeaWorld rescue team returned three juvenile green sea turtles to Flagler City and Ormond Beach on June 18. The turtles underwent months of treatment after they were found lethargic and covered in…
Donate blood this month and get two free tickets to an Orlando City home game
People who donate to OneBlood on select dates this month will receive two tickets to any Orlando City home game and a wellness check-up. The screenings include a check of blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count and cholesterol. A full list of the select dates and locations offering Orlando City tickets can be found on…
Florida woman dead of flesh eating bacteria after visit to Anna Maria Island
The family of 77-year-old Lynn Fleming says she fell victim to flesh-eating bacteria and died this past week due to complications from her infected leg. The Ellenton woman became infected with this deadly bacteria after scraping her leg while walking along Coquina Beach on June 10. The attending lifeguard bandaged the wound and she received…
X Ambassadors and Bear Hands team up for a show in Orlando in October
There’s a potent double-bill of rock heading to the City Beautiful this autumn: Bear Hands have been added as touring support to the X Ambassadors’ North American headlining jaunt set to land in the City Beautiful in October. The X Ambassadors have had one hell of a year. Besides putting the finishing touches on their…
Australian singer-songwriter Xavier Rudd to play Orlando in September
Xavier Rudd is bringing a month-long tour to St. Petersburg. The 41-year-old Australian songwriter and didgeridoo whiz will play the Plaza Live in September as part of a three-stop Florida swing that includes dates in St. Petersburg and Pensacola. The show is happening in support of Rudd’s 2018 album, Storm Boy, which press materials describe…
Metallers Baroness announce free acoustic performance at Park Ave CDs in August
Good news for fans of Savannah metal stompers Baroness: You’ve got a second chance to see them before their Aug. 9 show at the Plaza Live. The day before that show, the band will head over to local record emporium Park Ave CDs to perform a free in-store acoustic (!) performance and signing to promote…
Winter Park’s Ravenous Pig celebrates July Fourth with special roast and takeout offerings
The Ravenous Pig will celebrate Independence Day by offering special lunch menu and takeout options. The 4th of July roast goes from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, and includes smoked spare ribs, pastrami brisket, smoked salmon BLTs and lobster Cobb salad for main dishes. The starters offered are grilled shrimp, grilled Nashville chicken wings…
Florida’s new anti-sanctuary cities law goes into effect today
After receiving Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature earlier this month, a new law banning so-called sanctuary cities in Florida went into effect today. Local governments will now be required to “use their best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law,” according to SB 168. In other words, local governments will now be forced to…
Every Orlando Fourth of July event we know about
Wednesday, July 3 Baldwin Park Independence Bash A festival with artisans, craft beer, food trucks and more in the Village Center of Baldwin Park. Followed by a choreographed fireworks show over Lake Baldwin. 6-11 pm; Baldwin Park, New Broad Street and Jake Street; free; baldwinparkevents.com. Freedom on the Waterfront Live music followed by a fireworks…
DeSantis vetoes warnings on lottery tickets, saying they would “negatively impact Florida students”
Lawmakers seeking to slap gambling-addiction warnings on state lottery tickets and advertising once again failed to scratch out a winner. On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis, noting potential impacts to money for education, vetoed a controversial bill (HB 629) that sought to require the following warnings to be prominently displayed on the front of all lottery…
Seminole Hard Rock Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood prepare to open new $2.2 billion expansions
Seminole Hard Rock shared new details on the massive combined $2.2 billion updates currently under construction in Tampa and Hollywood, Florida. Much of the attention has been focused on the Hollywood casino, where a glass-clad 450-foot tall guitar-shaped hotel tower rises above the resort. The new hotel tower is just one part of the $1.5…
Walt Disney Co. readies for upcoming D23 Expo by delicately stomping on fan rumors
With the D23 Expo, Disney’s biennial in-house con, less than eight weeks, away the typical speculation and guessing of what will be announced at it is shifting into high gear, but this year Disney looks to be taking a different approach with the rumors inevitably crop up ahead of the event. The expo is always…
Band of the Week: Adult Life
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 Adult Life. Adult Life is playing Will’s Pub on July 7 with Pathos Pathos, Take Lead, and Woolbright. Just the facts: When did the band form?2014. A simpler time. Who’s…
Florida civil rights groups file suit claiming new felons voting law is ‘racially discriminatory’
Shortly after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an omnibus elections bill Friday, a coalition of voting-rights and civil-rights groups announced they had filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state’s plan for carrying out a constitutional amendment designed to restore felons’ voting rights. The 74-page lawsuit, filed in Gainesville, alleges the newly signed law “unconstitutionally denies the…
Gaetz faces probe
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz faces a House investigation into allegations he tried to intimidate President Donald Trump’s former lawyer before a congressional appearance this year. The House Ethics Committee said Friday that Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican, failed to provide testimony after a complaint from a House member alleged that Gaetz sought to intimidate…
A self-driving 18-wheeler was tested on the Florida Turnpike earlier this month
The future is here, and if you’re a truck driver it’s coming for your job. On June 16, San Francisco-based start-up company Starsky Robotics test-drove its first driverless semi-truck across a 9.4-mile stretch on the Florida Turnpike. Traveling at 55 miles per hour, the truck successfully managed to navigate the road, merge and change lanes,…
Jordan Foley & the Wheelhouse and Kyle Keller shine in showcase of Central Florida Americana
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Jordan Foley & the Wheelhouse, Leon Majcen and Kyle Keller, Will’s Pub, June 25 As being tapped to cohost the recent debut of Terri Binion’s excellent Duets event proves, Jordan Foley’s stock in the Central Florida Americana scene is rising. The emerging local folk-rocker first convinced me with a compelling solo set…
‘Bye Bye Birdie’ at CFCArts in Orlando opens next weekend
Bye Bye Birdie opens next weekend at Central Florida Community Arts and will run through the end of the month. The musical, which was adapted to film in 1963, centers around a fictional 1960s rock star named Conrad Birdie who is drafted by the U.S. Army. His manager, in an effort to earn money before…
Epcot’s Liberty Inn to close early next month to make room for a new barbecue restaurant
Liberty Inn, the quick-service restaurant located at the American Adventure in Epcot, will close July 8 to make room for a new barbecue and craft brew restaurant opening later this year. The new restaurant, Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue, will be a modern barbecue smokehouse with craft brews on tap, according to the…
Twin Temples, Amigo the Devil and King Dude announce Orlando engagement in October
This October, Halloween is going to come a lil’ early for music fans in the City Beautiful, with today’s announcement that a trio of ghoulish groups are touring through the Abbey in mid-October. Local favorite and dark-folk maestro Amigo the Devil is coming back to Orlando, and bringing along hotly-tipped “Satanic doo-wop” duo Twin Temple,…
Florida’s undocumented immigrants won’t have to answer census citizenship question, for now
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday blocked – at least for now – a citizenship question from being asked in the 2020 census, saying the Trump administration offered a “contrived” explanation as to why it was needed. The opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, eased Florida Democrats’ concerns that a citizenship question in Florida,…
Shepherd’s Hope to offer free back-to-school physicals for uninsured Orlando children
Shepherd’s Hope is partnering with Nemours Children’s Health System to provide free back-to-school physicals, among other services, for uninsured and underinsured families between July 24 and Aug. 6. The physicals include general health assessments, sports physicals and vision screenings. Immunizations will not be offered. “It continues to be an undeniable fact that the failure of…
SCOTUS ruling on Maryland cross cited in Florida football prayer battle
A week after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a large cross can remain on public land in Maryland, the decision is being cited in a legal battle about whether a Tampa Christian school should have been allowed to offer a prayer over a stadium loudspeaker before a high-school football championship game. Attorneys for Cambridge…
Bill that would legalize CBD for epileptic children lands on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk
Gov. Ron DeSantis has 10 business days to decide whether he’ll sign legislation that will allow epileptic children in Florida to have access to a drug that contains CBD, the non-euphoric chemical derived from cannabis. The bill – HB 7107 – pertains to the drug Epidiolex, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration…
All Orlando-area locations of Noodles and Company will give away free kids’ meals July 9
Is there any better food than free food? From 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, all Orlando locations of Noodles & Company will offer a free kids’ meal with the order of a regular entree. There is no coupon necessary, although the purchase must be in-store, and there’s a limit of four free kids’…
DeSantis signs law approving alternative therapies for Florida veterans with traumatic brain injuries or PTSD
A series of alternative treatment options could soon be available to U.S. military veterans with traumatic brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder, under a law signed Wednesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The measure (HB 501), which drew unanimous support from the House and Senate during this year’s legislative session, will allow the Florida Department of…
Universal Orlando’s Surfside Inn is now open
Universal Orlando opened their seventh hotel on Tuesday, the Surfside Inn and Suites, which is a “value” (read: cheaper) alternative to their other resorts. The 750-room hotel features a surfboard-shaped pool (with a pool bar, of course), the “Beach Break Cafe” serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and close proximity to Universal Studios, Universal Islands of…
Thievery Corporation to bring a world of sound to Orlando come November
Globe-trotting electronic godfathers Thievery Corporation have announced dates for a North American tour due to start in October. And Orlando fans will have a chance for some face time for the duo of Eric Hilton and Rob Garza (along with more than a few of their musical friends) come November at House of Blues. There’s an…
Gov. Ron DeSantis signs legislation authorizing needle exchange programs in Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill late Wednesday night that will allow residents across Florida access to syringe exchange programs. The Infectious Disease Elimination Programs bill was approved across bipartisan lines, allowing counties the opportunity to authorize needle-exchange services locally. According to a news release from the Drug Policy Alliance, the programs are modeled after…
7NOW Pins app makes satisfying your midnight cravings easier with 7-Eleven delivery
7-Eleven, the world’s largest convenience retailer, is delivering snacks and services faster than ever with their recent addition of ‘7NOW Pins.’ 7NOW Pins give customers the option to have any 7-Eleven items – food, drinks, alcoholic drinks – delivered to high-traffic areas such as Central Park, Mile High Stadium, Venice Beach and Fenway Park. With over…
Suwannee Roots Revival announces jamtastic 2019 lineup with Travelin’ McCourys, Donna the Buffalo and more
Heads up, roots music and jam band fans, there’s another big festival set to take over the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, and the organizers of this Suwannee Roots Revival just revealed their monster lineup for the fall fest. Over a long weekend in October, Suwannee Roots Revival will present a packed, family-friendly roster…
Burger Records band Distractor electrify at Ugly Orange’s new Milk District stand
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Distractor and RV, The Nook on Robinson, June 23 The ladies of Ugly Orange do great concert work of all different scales all around town. And their recent stake at young and intimate neighborhood spot the Nook on Robinson is proving to be a great addition to their cache of venues, allowing…
12-year-old girl contracts flesh-eating bacteria during beach trip to Florida Panhandle
Kylei Parker had a cut on her toe when she went swimming during a family trip to the beach in Destin. Then a flesh-eating bacteria almost killed her. Fox 59 Indianapolis reported the incident late Wednesday. Parker reportedly began feeling pressure in her leg once she and her family left the beach to head back…
Florida man wants to take home-grown medical marijuana fight to Supreme Court
Prominent Tampa strip-club owner Joe Redner went to the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday in a dispute about whether he should be able to grow his own medical marijuana to help fight lung cancer. Redner’s attorneys filed a notice that is a first step in asking the Supreme Court to take up the case. The…
Orlando Fire Department says Mills 50 restaurant Shin Jung has sustained major fire damage
In an unhappy end to a story from yesterday, Orlando Fire Department is saying the fire yesterday morning at Mills 50 restaurant Shin Jung may result in a total loss. About 40 firefighters showed up to combat the flames, which erupted dramatically through the roof of the beloved Korean restaurant on East Colonial Drive. No…
Florida bird spotted feeding cigarette butt to chick on St. Pete Beach
Just a few days after footage surfaced showing a Florida alligator eating a bag of garbage, a mother black skimmer was photographed at St. Pete Beach feeding her baby chick a cigarette butt. The photo was uploaded to Facebook on June 24 by Karen Catbird of Largo, Florida, along with the caption, “If you smoke,…
Florida dad ‘Supermans’ over 4-foot pool fence to save drowning son
A Florida dad’s parental instincts were truly tested this past weekend. Albert Passavanti and his family were lounging by their home pool in Palm Beach County last Sunday when his toddler son fell into the water trying to reach a ball. Knowing his son could not swim, Passavanti bolted from his chair and dove over…
Mock Identity redefine the DC post-punk sound at Uncle Lou’s
The phrase “punk band from Washington, D.C.” probably brings to mind a pretty fixed set of sounds/images – Minor Threat, SOA – but young post-punk quartet Mock Identity are instead in line with more shadowy D.C. cult outsiders like Strange Boutique, adding new sounds and perspectives to their city’s rich musical lineage. The group stands…
Golden Tattoo Ink Club lets you adopt a kitty, then get their precious face tattooed on you for eternity this weekend
Show your devotion to cats by getting a tattoo of one! The Golden Tarot Ink Club is donating the proceeds of $40-$80 cat tattoos (cattoos!) to Orange County Animal Services to support real cats who need homes. Guests can also adopt a cat from OCAS at the event – and then get a permanent reminder…
Hail to the Thieves: Lavola and friends spend an evening covering Radiohead at Will’s Pub
Thom Yorke isn’t coming to town – much to our dismay – but bands Lavola and Boston Marriage are bringing the next best thing to Will’s Pub this weekend: a Radiohead “tribute show.” Lavola, a self-described “symphonic indie rock quartet” fronted by songwriter Julian Cires that has opened for the likes of Silversun Pickups and…
House of Blues hosts a Country Throwdown with Diamond Dixie and Greg Warren Band
Grab your cowboy hats and head on down to House of Blues for a night of great country music and even better boot-kicking fun. The Country Throwdown features artists such as the Greg Warren Band, known for their hit singles “Reason to Drink” and “City Girl,” and Diamond Dixie, a Central Florida sister act who’ve…
Shooting survivor Gabby Giffords advocates for an increase in gun violence research at Orlando Museum of Art
Gabby Giffords, the former Arizona Congresswoman who survived a gunshot to the head in a 2011 attempt on her life in Tucson, comes to Orlando for a rally to increase funding for gun violence research. Giffords is joined by medical professionals and gun safety advocates such as Doctors for America, the League of Women Voters and…
Someone hit a damn bear on I-4 in Orlando this morning
In what was surely a terrifying incident for a very unlucky driver (we presume), a bear was reportedly hit and killed early this morning on west Interstate 4 near John Young Parkway, WFTV reported Wednesday. Orlando police said they spotted the black bear around 5 a.m., though they remain unsure about how exactly it met…
Church of United Ministry squirts off into the sunset this weekend
Church of United Ministry (get it?), the most recent iteration of the outsider art haven formerly known as A-Shop and Anime Fun Shop, closes its doors this week with a party with an exceedingly on-brand name. Venue-runner Jason Kimmins (J.A.S.O.N.) performs alongside the twee-pop of TV Dinner and the outré beats of Andrea Knight’s Bacon…
Bass Night throws a family barbecue for bassheads at the Henao Center
The popular Bass Night party crew holds a family-style barbecue at the Henao Center this weekend. Bring canned goods to donate to a good cause and stuff your face with burgers and dogs. Then dance the night away to music from Burn the Universe and other bass DJs. 6 p.m. Friday, June 21; Henao Contemporary…
Duck Donuts will deliver to your Orlando home for free this week
To celebrate the launch of their new delivery service with DoorDash, Duck Donuts is giving customers free delivery on orders this week through June 30. Duck Donuts, a national chain with a location in Kissimmee, specializes in made-to-order doughnuts. Customers can customize their order on the Duck Donuts website and choose to have it delivered or…
Democratic presidential primary debates kick off with two nights in South Florida
As if the small army of Democratic presidential hopefuls isn’t already telling enough, the 2020 presidential primary season is well underway, with the first of two primary debates set to begin tonight in Miami. The two-night television event of the season, which will feature 10 different candidates each night, will run from 9 p.m. to…
Orlando man who allegedly killed flamingo at Busch Gardens dies in car crash
Joseph Anthony Carrao, an Orlando man who gained notoriety for allegedly murdering a flamingo named “Pinky” three years ago at Busch Gardens, was recently hit and killed by a truck. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 48-year-old was hit by a Ford F-150 pickup truck while crossing State Road 50, near his Orlando home…
Bill allowing state lawyers access to doctors’ database of controlled substance users signed into Florida law
A measure that would allow attorneys for the state to have access to a prescription-drug database as they pursue a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical industry over the opioid epidemic was among 10 bills signed Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The signings — nine were announced by the governor’s office Tuesday morning — came less than…
Florida passes law preventing local governments from passing rules against homeowners’ vegetable gardens
A bill that will prevent local governments from passing rules against homeowners’ vegetable gardens was among 10 bills signed Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The signings came less than a week before the bills go into effect on July 1. Related The bill about homeowners’ vegetable gardens, HB 82, stemmed from a dispute between homeowners Hermine…
Florida orchid grower says state violated his civil rights by denying him a medical marijuana license
A Tampa-based orchid grower has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Florida Department of Health and several current and former state officials, alleging constitutional due-process violations related to the nursery’s attempt to get a medical marijuana license. The lawsuit, filed last week in Tallahassee by prominent Jacksonville civil-rights lawyers William Sheppard and Elizabeth…
Colonial Drive Korean BBQ restaurant Shin Jung caught on fire last night
Few details are known at the moment, but according to reporting by WFTV, flames shot through the roof of beloved Mills 50 Korean BBQ restaurant Shin Jung around 1 a.m. this morning (two hours after closing). The Orlando Fire Department is currently investigating the cause of the blaze. Flames shoot through roof of #Mills50 restaurant,…
If you’re seeking shelter from the storm, the Morse Museum’s newest exhibits make a refreshing respite
Over the past few weeks, I binge-watched a Fringe Festival, journeyed to the Galaxy’s Edge and survived a seven-hour wait for Universal’s new roller coaster, leaving me seeking shelter from so much overstimulation. Thankfully, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art stepped in just in the nick of time, inviting me out on a…
Great live music in Orlando every night this week: Alien Witch, the Knowing Within, Wolvhammer and more
The Knowing Within Local metal act says their good-byes at a proper farewell show at Will’s, flanked by Not in Vain, Life Alive and Story’s End. 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at Will’s Pub, $10-$12 Love and Theft Young hitmaking country duo try out the new Green Room concert space at the Tin Roof. Big…
Support for an amendment to raise Florida’s minimum wage is rising, the rent burden in Orlando skyrockets, and other news you may have missed last week
New report says Orlando area minimum wage earners have to work 85 hours a week to afford even the cheapest apartments: Minimum wage earners in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area have to work 85 hours a week to afford a basic apartment, according to the annual National Low Income Housing Coalition’s “Out of Reach” report. That’s the…
Savage Love: ‘Stressfest’
I’m a recently divorced single mom and full-time student. I’m really beginning to hurt financially and have decided to start working as an escort. I am at a point of great emotional stability, happiness and confidence – all reasons that led to my decision – and I’m surrounded by people who love me and won’t…
Trump does Orlando: When MAGA country comes to the so-called happiest place on earth
Leave it to President Donald Trump to suck up all the air in the room, in the roughly 20,000-seat Amway Center and throughout the City Beautiful in the days leading up to his official 2020 re-election campaign kickoff in Orlando. As Monday evening turned into Tuesday morning, downtown was abuzz. Trumplandia descended upon the city.…
Movies playing this week: Spider-Man: Far From Home and more
Opening this week: Annabelle Comes Home Warner Brothers must be pretty confident about the latest installment in their devil-doll series, because they’re opening it less than a week after the Child’s Play reboot arrived in theaters. (And they’re clearly not worried that anybody is going to go see Anna by mistake.) So it’ll be a surprise…
Beatle fantasy Yesterday is uneven yet enticing
To borrow a phrase, Jack Malik is a real nowhere man, sitting in his nowhere land, which happens to be the seaside resort town of Clacton-on-Sea, England. Working as an underappreciated part-timer at a wholesale warehouse and struggling to write and perform music in his free time, Jack makes all his nowhere plans for nobody.…
Topolino’s Terrace anchors Disney’s Riviera Resort, Ravenous Pig to release Lardermelon ale Monday, plus more in our weekly food news roundup
OPENINGS: Due Amici, the restaurant we told you was moving into the old Kingfish Bistro space in College Park, will open July 4. The Ybor City import will serve house-made pastas and sauces, along with New York-style pies … King Cajun Crawfish has opened a fourth location in the old Southern Spice Indian Cuisine space…
Gimme Shelter: Meet Maya!
Meet Maya! Maya (A426101) went to foster care in early April with sores from flea allergies, and has been in foster care being treated and monitored since then. She is improving, but will need further care at a private practice veterinarian, which may include steroid injections. Maya is returning from foster care in a few…
