Shows I Go To: American Aquarium has strong sutures in Orlando’s heart
The thing that often makes a band special is relating to their lyrics. BJ Barham from American Aquarium has this incredible knack for capturing all of the complex emotions we continually experience throughout our 20s and translates them into simple, hard-hitting and hauntingly realistic lyrics over some rockin’-ass alt-country music. “I’ll be out of your…
Capital One to end bowl game sponsorship?
via Hot on the heels of the news that Tostitos and Discover will be ending their sponsorships of the Fiesta and Orange Bowls, respectively, comes a rumor that Capital One may end their sponsorship of Orlando’s Citrus Bowl. Right now, Capitol One is in discussions to fill the void left by Discover at Miami’s Orange…
This Little Underground: Happy Valley @ Will’s Pub
This Little Underground is Orlando Weekly’s music column providing perspective, live reviews and news on the city’s music scene. Read the latest column here. The ever-sexy Happy Valley Prior to the prime of locals like Matt Kamm (Telethon, Me Chinese) and Timothy Murray (Moon Jelly, Zenas Fisk, Auto Chlor), the kooks of Happy Valley were…
Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 24: Walking Dead IN, Harry Potter OUT
The Walking Dead are coming to Halloween Horror Nights 24, but Harry Potter is not (photo via Universal Orlando/AMC) Hot on the heels of this morning’s reveal of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley’s London Waterfront, we have have two pieces of breaking news about Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 24, involving…
Police Beat: An Orlando bully receives comeuppance
According to his mother, Joshua Prowell, 17, suffers from two things: a mental handicap and bullying. In a report, Michele Prowell told police about Ronald Lindsey – a 5-foot 10-inch, 270-pound 15-year-old who had in the past “hit, slapped and chased” her son around the apartment complex where they lived on Cinderlane Parkway. It was…
First video footage of Harry Potter’s London at Universal Studios
A first look at Harry Potter’s London at Universal’s new Wizarding World (photos and video by Seth Kubersky) The big media blitz for Universal Orlando’s new Wizarding World of Harry Potter– Diagon Alley doesn’t begin until next week, but guests at Universal Studios Florida got a sneak peek at the expansion’s London waterfront facades without…
UPDATE: A.V. Club notes Jacksonville-born Emperor X is from Orlando, a “fairly strange place”
Emperor X being weird, somewhere other than Orlando (via @emperorx on Instragram) Sure, Orlando has a ton of quirk – we have a theme park where you can feed hot dogs to live gators and pose upon their broad backs, it’s basically summer 365 days a year but we have an unincorporated area called Christmas…
Shaq sells house near Orlando … for $10
via Yesterday, TMZ reported that Shaquille O’Neal sold one of his Florida homes to an Orlando-based businessman for the low, low price of $10. The house, located in Mt. Dora, boasts five bedrooms, four bathrooms and almost 4,000 square feet. Shaq bought the house for $235k in 2012. Doesn’t seem like such a wise investment,…
Thuggish, ruggish Bone Thugs-n-Harmony light up Firestone in July
If you’ve ever swayed to “Tha Crossroads,” we’ll expect to see ya at Bone Thugs-n-Harmony’s show next month at Firestone Live at 8 p.m. Friday, July 18 ($25). The group’s origin story is well-known in hip-hop history, with the Bones buying one-way tickets to meet Eazy E, who signed them after they bombarded him with…
Happy birthday, Donald Duck!
One of the world’s most enduring avian characters is celebrating 80 years young today. On June 9, 1934, Donald Duck made his debut in Disney’s The Wise Little Hen, a one reel adaptation of centuries-old folk tale The Little Red Hen. Ever since, Donald’s been delighting us with indecipherable speech patterns, a lightning quick temper and…
YOUR DAILY WEEKLY READER: minimum rage, a bad lei, Bundy fundies and Right Said Fred
AH, THE KEY TO THE CONSERVATIVE WAGE-CRISIS ECHO CHAMBER – ONLY KIDS FLIP BURGERS: “Wall Street Journal Editor Paul Gigot argued on Sunday that the minimum wage should be kept low because it would teach workers that they did not want to work low-wage jobs. During a panel discussion on ABC’s This Week, Gigot predicted…
Get freaky this Friday with the Sh-Booms
Photos: Norse Korea’s 3-year anniversary shows on Mills Avenue The Sh-Booms have been performing behind closed doors for the past six months, playing exclusively at private parties since Norse Korea’s anniversary show in January. But this Friday, June 13 at 9 p.m., they’re back out in the open at the Social for “The Freaky Friday…
This Little Underground: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah & Stagnant Pools @ The Social
This Little Underground is Orlando Weekly’s music column providing perspective, live reviews and news on the city’s music scene. Read the latest column here. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at the Social (photo by James Dechert) Sticking to what you do well is a virtue, especially live. It’s a maxim that paid dividends for Brooklyn’s…
Calvin & Hobbes creator Bill Watterson secretly, briefly returns to cartooning
That’s a sentence I never thought I’d get to write, but Pearls Before Swine creator Stephan Pastis got a slightly better gift out of Bill Watterson. After releasing the strip below, Pastis was encouraged by Nick Galifianakis to email it to Watterson, who liked it and had an idea. If it was okay, he’d take over Pearls…
Olympia High’s Nick Gordon goes 5th, UCF’s Eric Skoglund 92nd at the MLB Draft
Nick Gordon, son of former major leaguer (on of my favorites ever), set-up man Tom “Flash” Gordon, and brother of LA’s second baseman Dee Gordon (who is having an incredible year for the Dodgers and my fantasy team) was picked fifth overall at the MLB First Year Player Draft yesterday by the Minnesota Twins. Gordon…
Is Publix going to buy Whole Foods?
via Rumors were swirling today that Florida-based grocery chain Publix is planning to buy its hipster-grocery-paradise competitor, Whole Foods. The rumors started when live market analysis website Briefing.com posted Thursday that they were “hearing chatter that privately held Publix is interested in WFM.” Neither of the grocery chains will comment on the rumors at this time.…
Jack Kerouac House announces 2014/2015 Writer-in-Residence winners
Orlando Weekly’s Annual Manual: 26 reasons to love College Park Like any good Orlando-native-literature-enthusiast will tell you, Beat Generation writer Jack Kerouac once walked the streets of Orlando. Before packing everything up and moving to New York in 1958 (where he met the likes of Allen Ginsberg and Neal Cassady), he resided in 1418 ½…
SAK’s Brawl for All: Head-to-head comedy combat
via Last summer, we spent our Friday nights watching improv teams of two or three (and sometimes four, but the fourth members were only honorary) compete for the Brawl belt at SAK. The teams participated in a double elimination competition each Friday night until, eventually, a winner was crowned, er, belted. Last year, “Distraction ……
Location Matters: the unmarked tomb of Nickelodeon Studios
Nickelodeon Studios during its ’90s heyday, as seen from the base of the mighty slime geyser. Location Matters is a series that reflects upon pieces of Orlando immortalized in popular film/television. Over the years the Universal Orlando Resort has grown to such monolithic proportions that it’s hard to keep track of everything the park has…
Thank you, Internet: lickable chocolate wallpaper and voodoo science
The end of the week is finally here and you’re ready to be done with work and get the weekend started, right? Well, you still have a few hours to kill, so here are some links to help you pass the minutes: via 1. In something straight outta Willy Wonka, Scottish artist Anya Galliccio invites visitors…
10 free things to do in Orlando this weekend (6/6 – 6/8)
24 fun things to do in Orlando this week Whether you’re in the mood to wind down to blues music or tour a local brewery, Orlando is filled with events this weekend for all ages and interests. Here are some recommendations to experience the City Beautiful free of charge: Allure of Ancient Rome Learn about…
This Little Underground: Drive-By Truckers & Water Liars @ The Beacham
This Little Underground is Orlando Weekly’s music column providing perspective, live reviews and news on the city’s music scene. Read the latest column here. Let there be rock: Photos of Drive-By Truckers at the Beacham After many years of basically a Sahara of attention to our city, it is truly a great thing that alternative…
YOUR DAILY WEEKLY READER: Scott’s rich mistake, prison housing and dumb Americans
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU RUB TWO BILLIONAIRE FRAUDS TOGETHER IN A BOCA HOT TUB? WE MAY NEVER KNOW: “Gov. Rick Scott abruptly called off a South Florida fundraiser planned for Saturday at the Boca Raton home of real estate developer James Batmasian, a convicted felon who did time for federal tax evasion. Batmasian pleaded…
World Cup 2014, Brazil: one week out from the opening kick off and the commercials are still the best thing
As of today we’re a week out from the biggest organized sporting event in the world. Here, not so much, but it’s growing each cycle thanks to coverage of NBC (Premier League, MLS), Fox (Champions League, FA Cup), ESPN (ESPN FC) and BeIN Sports (La Liga, etc). For the US, there is little hope for…
Kissimmee to host pool-based Guinness stunt
If you’ve always dreamed of getting into the Guinness Book of World Records but have never been sure just how, we have a suggestion: head down to Kissimmee’s Bob Makinson Aquatic Center on June 20 to participate in the world’s largest swimming lesson, presented by an organization aptly named the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson that set…
Oliver North book signing in Mount Dora, June 17
via Gather ‘round the campfire for some of Grandpa’s war stories. Okay, well, not so much grandpa, but definitely war stories. Retired Marine corps Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North is signing his newest book, Counterfeit Lies, Tuesday, June 17 at Barrel of Books and Games in Mount Dora, just a 45 minute drive north of the…
12 places to watch the World Cup in Orlando
via The world cup is set to begin in less than ten days! (June 12 through July 13th) In order to prepare you “footie” fans, we’ve compiled a list of bars to catch the game at. We’ve even gone to the extent of grabbing the World Cup schedule and the happy hours, so you can…
Skyscraper, world’s tallest roller coaster, announced for Skyplex on I-Drive
Executives from US Thrill Rides, Mango’s Tropical Cafe, HHCP, & Euforria announce Skyplex, home of the world’s tallest roller coaster Skyscraper, coming to I-Drive in 2016 (photos by Seth Kubersky) After months of rumors and speculation, a press conference was held in a run-down former go-kart track off International Drive to confirm that the “world’s…
Mmm, free donuts: Where to celebrate National Donut Day in Orlando
via This time we won’t complain about arbitrary national holiday granting gods, cause, y’know, donuts. In the name of people who love sweet round things, June 6, TOMORROW, has been deemed National Donut Day. Guess what that means for you? Free donuts. Krispy Kreme will hook you up with a completely free donut: no purchase necessary.…
The woman who burned down the “Senator” finally sentenced
via Sara Barnes might just be the most hated woman in Central Florida after burning down what was the oldest pond cypress tree in the world, the “Senator,” whose ashy remnants now remain in Big Tree Park. Yesterday Barnes, who was also addicted to meth at the time of the torching, entered a guilty plea…
YOUR DAILY WEEKLY READER: gay, gay, gay and gay
TEXAS HAS CLEARLY LOST HOPE. IT’S RESORTING TO PRAYING AWAY THE GAY, EVEN THOSE WHO USED TO DO REPARATIVE THERAPY DON’T BELIEVE IN IT ANYMORE (NOR DOES SCIENCE): “Earlier this week, the Dallas Voice reported that the Texas Republican Party had stripped language from its platform that claimed that “homosexuality tears at the fabric of…
Questlove’s back for a 3-day residency at the Social in June
via Last month, we went nuts when Lazy Afternoon convinced Questlove to party directly after his performance with the Roots at Universal, and that felt like a special one-off. But now Lazy Afternoon has teamed up with Phat-N-Jazzy to present three nights with the hip-hop guru at the helm, 10 p.m. each night Tuesday, June…
Oh, Villagers! A cougar and her prey arrested for public fornication
via Monday evening, David Alan Bobilya was caught (literally) with his pants down while getting it on with Margaret Ann Klemm at Lake Sumter Landing pavilion in The Villages. At 68, Klemm, who is a resident of “Florida’s friendliest retirement hometown”, is almost 20 years Bobilya’s senior. (He’s not old enough to be an official resident,…
And the most common cause of death in Florida is…
via Earlier this week, Slate released some serious maps about death. More precisely, they compared causes and frequency of death among each of our United States using a 2008 CDC report. Not surprisingly, the overwhelming winner was heart disease, save for nine states whose no. 1 cause of death was cancer. Since there were no…
19 questions with an Orlando resident: Susan Dunn
Welcome to 19 Questions, a feature where we ask longtime Orlando residents 19 questions that are mostly related to living in the City Beautiful. Susan Dunn works for a local community college and has been in the Central Florida area for 17 years, originally hailing from Buffalo. Susan’s lived in Orlando proper for a decade…
Uber goes live in Orlando today
Today at about noon, transportation company Uber began operating in Orlando. Through June 20, you can try the service out for free (up to 10 trips at $20 each). The company, which hires individual car owners to taxi people around the city at fluctuating rates that vary depending on demand, started advertising for drivers here…
Look out, drivers! Orlando police are on pedestrian right of way patrol
via Look out, drivers! If you’re not a vigilant and attentive person (which, honestly, few of us are), paying special attention to pedestrians (those people you see through the windshield who are not driving cars – you’ve seen them, right?) you might wind up with a $164 ticket and three points on your license. Officers…
Maria Bamford replies to Orlando comics
via Earlier this week, a group of Orlando comics sent out a plea to comedian Maria Bamford, asking her to headline the upcoming Orlando Indie Comedy Festival in late September. Though Bamford appeared flattered, responding via Twitter that she would check her availability for Sept. 25-28, it appears that she’ll be out of the country…
This Little Underground: Floor @ Backbooth
This Little Underground is Orlando Weekly’s music column providing perspective, live reviews and news on the city’s music scene. Read the latest column here. Trick scene: Photos from Floor at Backbooth (Floor at Backbooth / photo by Christopher Garcia) If you experienced the massive 2012 reunion show at Will’s Pub, then it will come as…
Gov. Rick Scott is not a scientist
Governor deflects response to questions about climate change and its impact on Miami
‘Maleficent’ is not magnificent
Disney’s cartoonish retelling of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ falls way short
Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority troubles are nothing new
History of controversy plagues Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority
Opening in Orlando: ‘Edge of Tomorrow,’ ‘The Fault in Our Stars’
Movies playing in Orlando theaters this week
Fraudulent email account tied to maps submitted during redistricting
State is paying approximately $2 million to defend the 2012 redrawing of Congressional districts
Pound for pound, Trevi’s fresh-made pastas are unbeatable
Father-daughter team Angelo and Vanessa Falcone mix, roll and cut a wide range of shapes and flavors
‘Sex Criminals Volume 1: One Weird Trick’
Though saddled with a ridiculous title, this female-starring comic mixes sex and superpowers in a novel way
Aurelio Valle revives Calla’s narco-sexual slither on solo debut
Album review: Aurelio Valle’s ‘ACME Power Transmission’
Clear your schedule to experience Copeland’s experimental escapades
Album review: Copeland’s ‘Because I’m Worth It’
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19) “We are born with whirlwinds, forest fires and comets inside us,” writes novelist Robert R. McCammon. “We are born able to sing to birds and read the clouds and see our destiny in grains of sand. But then we get the magic educated right out of our souls. We get it…
Downtown Credo and Vespr announce new coffee bars
Plus Local Roots Farm Tour (with beer!), RavPig truffle dinner and more resto closings/openings
Premium bottled cold-brew makes our Remixed Mexican Coffee a snap
Remix: a fresh take on a classic American cocktail
Drinking, Nightlife and Parties
Where to drink and party in Orlando this week
King Snake Records, back-porch jams, memories of the chitlin’ circuit
How the small Central Florida city played a pivotal role in keeping blues music alive in the Sunshine State
Savage Love
A few months ago, I started getting hang-up calls from numbers I didn’t recognize in Boston. Then weird texts started showing up, trying to set up “dates.” I responded to the first few because I figured someone was giving out a fake number that just happened to be mine. (I kept my cell phone when…
Sharon Van Etten’s latest is more mood and ether than soul
Album review: Sharon Van Etten’s ‘Are We There’
Two new attractions prove the Mouse can still produce magic
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is entertaining (really); new Downtown Disney Starbucks is exquisite (really)
Swearin’ defies genre and gender roles with rousing, punk-tinged rock
Allison Crutchfield doesn’t wanna have to describe her music
This Little Underground: Freestyle Fest triggers an old flame
Live reviews of TKA, Safire, Matthew Fowler, Austin Miller
The Amazing Race auditions coming to Orlando
via Think you have what it takes to win The Amazing Race? Or at least make a go of all the detours, road blocks and u-turns that make up the thousands-of-miles long race around the world? On June 14, as part of Fun Spot’s sweet 16 celebration, you’ll get the opportunity to audition for the…
How much do you need to make to buy a house in Orlando?
via Earlier this year, we told you that you’d need to make $15.87 an hour to comfortably rent a market-rate one-bedroom apartment in Orange, Osceola, Lake and Seminole counties. Working a full time schedule, that averages out to roughly $33k a year. If you wanna buy a house, you’re gonna need to bring home a bit…
Record-breaking 500-foot-tall coaster coming to Orlando?
via Right now, the tallest roller coaster in the world resides at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. Kingda Ka takes its riders to a maximum height of 456 feet. Well, if the team behind the currently under-construction Mango’s Tropical Cafe project has anything to say about it, a new addition to the I-Drive…
#OrlandoWeekend: We want YOUR weekend pics
39 shots from our awesome weekend in Orlando Every Monday, we play a shortened version of “What I did on my summer vacation” with you, sharing shots of all the cool stuff we did in Orlando over the weekend. Well, we’d like to include you in our fun. Starting this weekend, we’d like to see…
Celebrate Negroni Week in Orlando, June 2-8
The Negroni is probably my favorite cocktail, the thing I always order if I’m in a bar where the bartenders look like they know what they’re doing. (Not that it’s complicated! A Negroni is just equal parts Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth.) And I’m definitely not alone in that — the (photo by Jessica Bryce Young, from this…
Jenny Lewis premieres glitter-sprinkled new track on NPR
via Former Rilo Kiley vocalist and pop princess of our hearts, Jenny Lewis, has released a new single that will be featured on her upcoming album, The Voyager, out July 29. Produced by Beck, “Just One of the Guys” boasts vintage country melodies with the typical Jenny Lewis dash of glitter sprinkled throughout. (Hear it…
See Andrew Jackson Jihad perform a free show at Park Ave CDs
Coming to Backbooth June 7 in their brand new go-go-mobile is the folk-punk group Andrew Jackson Jihad (who have perfected confessional poetry sung with a twang). Tickets for that 7 p.m. show are $12, but for superfans and cheapskates, this go-round there is a free option in the form of a 3 p.m. Park Ave…
Port Orange imposes draconian ban on barnyard fowl
Not in my backyard! Image courtesy of Wikipedia. Cue a sad cock-a-doodle-doo (is there even such a thing?): citing the ever-clucking presence of chickens as “too much of a burden” and “nuisance” to non-chicken owners, the Port Orange city council has voted down an ordinance that would allow citizens to raise and care for barnyard…
Decades in Spain records music video amidst IOA corporate 5k run
Local Orlando rock band Decades in Spain have released a music video for their newest single “Gallows” featuring the IOA corporate 5K? Though certainly an unusual backdrop for their math rock bass lines and moody vocals, the video’s DIY atmosphere grants the sound an offbeat edge. This eccentricity is especially highlighted by the fact the…
Four more Orlando restaurant closings
Bye-bye, Meltz. (via) It pains us to have to tell you about five more Orlando restaurants that have recently ceased operations, especially during Bite30, our month-long foodie celebration, which is going on RIGHT THIS SECOND. On Sunday, Memories of India on Turkey Lake Road served its last plate of saffron shrimp and basmati rice. According…
YOUR DAILY WEEKLY READER: Scott’s political tweezers, Brown’s redistricting woes, your rich politicians
WHO KNEW RICK SCOTT OWNED A PAIR OF TWEEZERS? “Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Monday signed into law the largest budget in state history, a $77 billion spending plan crafted to enhance his re-election prospects, as well as the Republican legislators who crafted it. Scott didn’t use a scalpel for vetoes, it was a pair…
Sayonara, shooting pool at Will’s Pub
Shooting pool at Will’s Pub was formerly an institution of happy hour, cuz you could play forever while getting smashed at cost. But amidst all the right-proper changes Will’s Pub has made to improve as a venue, the pool tables were just getting in the way. Now, when you walk into the bar, there’s room…
