Cover Story
77 new restaurants to enjoy in Orlando this year
It’s showtime, Orlando. 2023 is shaping up to be a year when this city flexes its muscle, shows a bit of swagger and talks a bit of smack (you listening, Miami?). We got James Beard-nominated restaurateurs Johnny and Jimmy Tung behind not one, not two, not three, but four tasting menu concepts — Camille, Foreigner,…
Hide your eardrums! Legendary noise-rock duo Lightning Bolt are set to strike Orlando in April
It’ll be a ferocious night at the Social.
Legal Public Notices 3/8/23
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices ALL ABOARD STORAGE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Personal property of the following tenants will be sold at public sale to the highest bidder to satisfy a rental lien in accordance with Florida Statutes, Sections: A83.801 – 83.809. All units are assumed to contain general household goods unless otherwise indicated. Viewing of…
Orlando Airport passenger arrested after landing with 38 pounds of meth, 4 pounds of pot in suitcase
He told agents ‘he knew he messed up, and … was in a lot of trouble.’
Florida Republicans file extreme 6-week abortion ban proposal
‘A few dozen extremist politicians in Tallahassee who have never had to experience this situation, and who never will.’
Seminole BBQ offers Orlando-area residents dementia-friendly dining
Central Florida restaurant Seminole BBQ is now providing “dementia-friendly dining” experiences for locals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Local organization Central Florida Dementia-friendly Dining has named Seminole BBQ as the sixth area restaurant that is now providing safe dining experiences to folks with dementia and their families. Participating restaurants provide specific times and days of…
RuPaul’s Drag Race ‘Werq the World’ tour coming to Orlando this summer
Unless Florida manages to one-up Tennessee in the next few months.
Tegan and Sara set to close out North American tour with Orlando show this fall
The siblings play the Hard Rock Live in October.
Florida Republicans propose bill that would lower gun-buying age to 18
Florida’s ‘constitutional carry’ bill will also be considered this legislative session
Under new bill, Florida could see increased state regulation of local utilities
The proposals would ramp up the Florida Public Service Commission’s regulation of municipal utilities that serve electric customers outside of city boundaries
Jack in the Box will make a return to Florida with new Orlando locations
This will be the company’s first time opening Florida restaurants in more than 30 years.
Florida environmentalists object to new bills that contradict Gov. DeSantis’ conservation claims
The governor’s latest outline for land conservation has been called ‘vague’
Family-friendly drag event the Miss Rose Dynasty Pageant forced to move from Orlando at last minute
The Rose Dynasty Foundation is a Lakeland-based nonprofit that mentors LGBTQ students
After paying InfoWars blogger $37K, Florida Rep. Jason Brodeur files bill requiring bloggers to register with state
Brodeur was found in 2019 to have paid $37K to an Orlando blogger ahead of his election
DeSantis appointee to Disney oversight board thinks tap water can make you gay
He also compared abortion to the Holocaust.
Estudiantes en Rollins College se manifiestan en apoyo de los derechos sindicales de los trabajadores de comedores
Docenas de estudiantes y profesores de Rollins College, una universidad privada de artes liberales cerca de Orlando, se manifestaron el viernes en apoyo de los trabajadores del comedor de la universidad, que buscan un proceso justo para la representación sindical con el sindicato Unite Here. Read this story in English. La manifestación, celebrada el viernes…
Florida Republicans file bill that would make puberty blockers, hormone therapy for trans youths illegal
The bill would go further by placing a prohibition in state law — and requiring that doctors lose their licenses if they commit violations.
Orlando Pride is first in National Women’s Soccer League to swap out white uniforms over period concerns
The updated uniforms will debut at their March 26 season opener
Florida lawmakers appeal in subpoena fight over controversial laws restricting race-related education
The judge ordered the lawmakers turn over certain “factually based information” to the plaintiffs
‘This is what a dictator does’: Nikki Fried blames Gov. DeSantis for Republican proposal to abolish Florida Democratic Party
The bill would ‘cancel’ the registration of ‘any political party that has ever supported slavery’
Orlando is one of the worst metro areas to walk in, new report says
In a new report ranking urban walkability in U.S. metropolitan areas, Orlando unsurprisingly comes in at almost dead last. The report, “Foot Traffic Ahead 2023,” takes stock of dozens of communities to determine how walking as a form of travel changes over time and how it can affect a local economy. And out of 35 cities…
You can now drink vegan Butterbeer at Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter is now offering a vegan version of their popular Butterbeer drink. Those who shun animal products can finally imbibe a non-dairy version of the butterscotchy beverage, complete with a dollop of vegan froth. [Ed. note: “Vegan froth” … does not sound great! But knock yourselves out.] Butterbeer is…
First round of bands announced for Sanford’s Hurricane Party Music Fest
It’s never too early for a hurricane party in Central Florida, and West End Trading Co. has revealed the first round of bands playing their annual Hurricane Party Music Festival this spring. For a 16th year, downtown Sanford will be ground zero for an armada of local (and beyond) musicians playing on six stages this…
Petition for recreational marijuana in Florida reaches 420,000 signatures
Nearly half the total needed to get on the 2024 ballot
Orange County’s Office of Tenant Services opens to assist local renters and landlords
The Tenant’s Bill of Rights ordinance goes into effect March 1, to be enforced by the new office
The Uptown Arts Expo is back in Altamonte Springs in late March
Several days worth of live music, too
New College of Florida’s new conservative-led board abolishes DEI office in very first meeting
The move comes as Gov. DeSantis aims to eliminate DEI from all Florida schools
The Fringe Festival announces dates for this year and a return to downtown Orlando
The local cultural melting pot that is the Orlando Fringe International Theatre Festival is back for a 32nd year in May. And organizers promise a return to some familiar stomping grounds. Under the theme of “Festival Beautiful,” this year’s Fest is notable for the return of some Fringe programming to downtown Orlando — where Fringe got its…
Free Will Astrology: Is the soul shaped like an iceberg or a hummingbird’s eye?
Your horoscope for the week of March 2-8
Thundering Spirit Family Pow Wow returns to Mount Dora this weekend
Dancing to the beat of their own drums, the Thundering Spirit Family Pow Wow is back in Mount Dora. This three-day festival promises traditional Native American cultural experiences including crafts, foods, games, dancing and lots of music. Featured performers for this event include violinist and storyteller Arvel Bird, flutist Jack Holland, hoop dancer Lowery Begay,…
Monster Jam crashes into Orlando’s Camping World Stadium this weekend
It’s that time! If you enjoy watching 12,000-pound trucks tearing it up, smashing things (not the patriarchy, unfortunately), and making a lot of dirt fly, you’re not going to want to miss the return of Monster Jam. After celebrating 30 years of carnage at the World Finals last May, and holding a couple of other…
Orange County Regional History Center hosts Barbarella’s John Gardner for a talk on dance music in Central Florida
The latest sidebar program held in conjunction with the Orange County History Center’s Figurehead exhibition is a Q&A session with John Gardner titled “Dance Music in Central Florida.” Gardner is certainly as good a starting place as any on the subject. As the owner and operator of edgy dance destinations in Orlando since the 1980s…
Soul Glo, Cloud Rat and Backslider make for a holy trinity of heavy urgency at Winter Park’s Conduit
Soul Glo’s 2019 Orlando appearance was a very underground Uncle Lou’s show. While the attendance was small, everyone there knew we were in the presence of something truly exciting. The Philadelphia band’s career since then has proved us prescient. Shortly afterward, they signed to Epitaph Records and have finally been ripping their urgent and inventive…
DeLand’s Bryan Raymond gets help from some heavy friends for new single ‘Voices’
DeLand singer-songwriter Bryan Raymond has been out on his own trail for a while, mining life’s fragments for truth and finding solo stride with his scarred folk songs. His brand of solitaire has gotten so grooved by now that his new single, “Voices,” might be a bit of a jolt, and it’s the most dramatic…
Florida Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia files bill targeting public sector unions
SB 256 would affect teachers, librarians, transit workers and more; unions representing cops, firefighters and correctional officers are exempted
Florida legislators file proposal to expand controversial ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law
‘They envision a future where LGBTQ families have no school choice to find dignity or respect.’
Netflix takes a trust fall with Chris Rock in first-ever live event, streaming Sunday
What could go wrong? [checks Will Smith’s schedule]
Orlando’s outcasts and outsiders are cordially invited to the House of Haize
Haize’s debut EP, ‘222,’ creates an ethereal sonic refuge
Orlando bids a sad, though not final, farewell to musical theater powerhouse Tod Kimbro
Orlando’s performing arts community has said goodbye to too many important members over the last few years, and although today’s eulogy isn’t as final or funereal as some, it still isn’t much fun. Fellow musical theater fans, it saddens me to report that Tod Kimbro has moved on to a better place: Seattle. A fixture…
Vision Video headline a bill full of dark-rock luminaries at Orlando’s Will Pub
This bill will play like a vintage alternative radio station come to life. Georgia’s Vision Video strike the sweet spot between post-punk and guitar pop like devout goth romantics. The melodic darkness of North Carolina’s Secret Shame rocks like the Cranberries’ brooding, black-clad offspring. Wisconsin’s Carrellee adds some sleekness with her nocturnal synth pop. And…
Dropkick Murphys’ return to Orlando in a sure sign that St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner
For a band that’s both incredibly straightforward and increasingly mainstream, the Dropkick Murphys still have the ability to surprise. Their latest album, 2022’s This Machine Still Kills Fascists, is a novel collaboration of DKM originals written around unpublished lyrics by the great Woody Guthrie and even features a duet with young alt-country boss Nikki Lane.…
DJ Craze and A-Trak to team up for a back-to-back set in Orlando on Saturday
Having A-Trak and DJ Craze on the same bill is already sick enough. But have these highly decorated battle DJs do a back-to-back set of Miami bass together and you can expect 808s and hot breaks. A-Trak has gone from child DJ prodigy to dance-music icon. With a jaw-dropping combination of superhuman technique and supreme…
Lyle Lovett gets unplugged with his Acoustic Group at Orlando’s Plaza Live
Lyle Lovett — the country analog to Nick Cave as he, too, ages gracefully into a late-career creative purple patch — rambles into Orlando with his unassumingly named “Acoustic Group.” Don’t be lulled by the name, though; this group of hired guns boasts string players who’ve done time with the likes of James Taylor, Alison…
Central Florida Fair is back in Orlando for a 111th year
Celebrating its 111th year, the Central Florida Fair is back like clockwork. As per usual, the fair offers up all the midway games, animals, rides, (fried) food, mini-wrestling and live music you can handle. The Fair doubles as one of the biggest livestock exhibitions in Central Florida as well. Come for the funnel cakes and…
Florida Strawberry Festival promises a berry good time for Central Florida
Central Florida’s Strawberry Festival opens for business in Plant City this week, and besides the strawberries and metric tons of fair food, the live music component this year is no slouch. Strawberry Festival organizers have lined up a mix of old and new musicians that offers the proverbial something for everyone. Highlights include Willie Nelson…
