Mochi donut chain Dochi to open location in Mills 50
It can be hard to crave something you’ve likely never had. Still, mochi donut makers Dochi do their level best to inspire mysterious tummy rumblings with their colorful social media presence. The makers of the fusion treat have been teasing locals for months, ever since the first Florida outpost of the chain was announced. Now,…
One of Florida’s most memorable homes now offers public tours for fans of folk art
After a year of less than inspiring Instagram photos, a new Tampa Bay area tour may be the perfect opportunity for some unique selfies. Florida is home to plenty of one-of-a-kind homes, but one of the most memorable is found in Safety Harbor. What started as a small folk art display painted on a handful…
Cruises have resumed — including one from Florida — giving hope to an industry that desperately needs it
After months of delays and setbacks, cruising is slowly returning with many lines planning restarts within the coming weeks. One of the first U.S.-based cruises since last spring launched earlier this month from north Florida on a short Historic South and Golden Isles itinerary. The cruise, which began in Florida’s Amelia Island and ended in…
Eleven years after losing out to Bloomberg, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer may get the last laugh on JetBlue
Eleven years after choosing New York over Orlando as its headquarters, JetBlue is rumored to be second-guessing the decision. Last week the New York Post reported an internal memo was sent to staff at the airline’s New York headquarters indicating the airline was reviewing options ahead of the July 2023 expiration for its current office…
Legal Public Notices 3/24 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices AUCTION Extra Space Storage Š Store 8138 1001 Lee Rd. Orlando FL. 32810 Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 1001 Lee Rd. Orlando, FL. 32810 (407) 489-3742, April 9th, 2021 @ 12:00…
Orlando Land Trust’s ‘little old ladies’ successfully purchase land to expand Lake Eola Park
After 18 months of raising money, the Orlando Land Trust was able to purchase a $3.25 million parcel, which will be designated as a green area at Lake Eola Park. The nonprofit, organized by self-described “little old ladies” Lynn Long and Eugenia Sefcik, purchased the land on the corner of Rosalind Avenue and Central Boulevard in order to…
Goya to donate 85,000 pounds of food to Orlando food pantries
Goya Foods is celebrating its 85th anniversary by donating 85,000 pounds of food to food pantries and hunger-fighting initiatives in the Orlando community. The popular Hispanic-owned food company plans to donate the food during an opening ceremony for a new warehouse along Shelby Industrial Drive in Apopka on March 26. Goya Foods plans to donate 30,000…
See our guests: Walt Disney World tests facial recognition technology at park entrances
Walt Disney World is testing facial recognition technology that they hope will speed up the process of entering the theme park. Disney announced the trial run on Tuesday on its website, noting the facial recognition entrance will run through April 23 (and adding that this day was subject to change). The park claims the test…
Largest White Castle in the world gets regular-sized sign
The largest White Castle in the world is inherently a site for comical juxtapositions. The chain’s incredibly tiny burgers are bound to be dwarfed by the looming fast food outpost. We’re not sure if that’s what builders had in mind when they raised the upcoming location’s sign over its soon-to-be home at the The Village…
Groundbreaking ‘punk poet’ Eileen Myles announced as Atlantic Center Master Artist for 2022
We’ve all but given up hope on salvaging much enjoyment out of this summer, but summer 2022 sure does seem to be heating up for local lit fans with the announcement that poet Eileen Myles will be a Master Artist-in-Residence during that most sweltering of seasons. As part of the 185th iteration of the Atlantic…
Drive-in protest against Republican ‘anti-protest’ legislation happening at Orlando’s Tinker Field this week
National advocacy organization March for Our Lives and a number of local activist groups are teaming up for a drive-through protest event to raise awareness about anti-protest legislation currently under consideration in the Florida legislature. The “Drive-in Rally to Save Protesting” is set for Tinker Field this Friday, March 26, at 6 p.m. The drive-through…
University of Central Florida student’s tree frog wins Cadbury Bunny contest
You might have heard a little story about this time of year. The tale of an underdog coming up against impossible odds and persevering. A springtime celebration of laying something down for eternity. We’re talking, of course, about Betty the tree frog and her quest to become this year’s Cadbury Bunny. The frog belonging to…
Delusional production company announces CampINN, a ‘safe’ EDM festival in Orlando this May
Planning an EDM festival for this spring either takes a lot of chutzpah or a lack of empathy. The molly-fried minds behind the upcoming CampINN festival in Orlando seem to think they can create a dance music festival, without all the grinding of teeth and bodies. The organizers are taking precautions, splitting festivalgoers up into…
Gnarly Barley announces upcoming move to Ivanhoe Village
Orlando restaurant the Gnarly Barley will soon be shifting its base of operations from Belle Isle to Ivanhoe Village soon. The Barley is set to decamp from its current locale and take up operations at 1407 N. Orange Ave., across the street from Lake Ivanhoe. This will put Gnarly Barley closer to sibling GB’s Bottle Shop — and…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. Here’s a pretty sweet deal! Krispy Kreme is offering an original glazed doughnut free to anyone who can prove they’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19. – LINK Former UCF…
Orlando-based virtual theater opens call for local playwrights
The Bandcamp model is coming for the theater. Orlando-based nonprofit New Generation Theatrical just announced their platform, which allows playwrights, actors and other theater folk to upload their productions and charge a fee for audiences to watch virtual screenings. The group promises to guide the less savvy through matters of ticketing and how to create…
Governor Ron DeSantis proposes using portion of Florida’s federal coronavirus relief funds on job training program
Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking lawmakers to approve creating two workforce education programs by using $75 million in federal coronavirus relief funds. Speaking at a news conference Monday in Melbourne, DeSantis pitched using the money to launch what he’s calling the “Get There Faster Initiatives.” The proposed programs, one to serve high school students and…
Florida Senator Dennis Baxley walks back controversial Bright Futures proposal
In an apparent victory for opponents, the Senate this week could drastically overhaul a controversial proposal aimed at reducing state Bright Futures scholarships for students in degree programs deemed unlikely to lead to jobs. The measure (SB 86), sponsored by Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, initially included a proposal that would have eliminated Bright Futures scholarships…
Disney hints at how they plan to update Jungle Cruise ride
By theme park standards, the Jungle Cruise rides at Disney World and Disneyland are positively ancient. The original ride in California has been in operation since 1955 and the version at Disney World was an inaugural ride when the park opened in 1971. Both versions are overdue for an update, and that’s what the park…
Small Business Administration to open grant application portal to dole out economic relief for ‘shuttered’ music venues
The Small Business Administration is opening up a new way for owners of “shuttered” music venues to apply for much-needed grant relief in early April. And that might just be music to the ears of local venues still largely shut down after more than a year. On April 8, the SBA will open an online…
Amway, Orlando Magic owner Richard DeVos Jr. gave $25,000 to DeSantis PAC
Richard DeVos Jr. gave $25,000 to a political action committee supporting the re-election of Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this month. According to the PAC’s own disclosures, the member of the Amway Center and Orlando Magic-owning DeVos family gave the committee the large donation on March 16. It was the second donation that DeVos had made…
Krispy Kreme offers free donut to anyone who gets vaccinated
Not only do people who get inoculated get to protect themselves from a historic plague, they also get a sweet treat. On Monday, Krispy Kreme announced that starting today it will give away a free glazed doughnut to anyone who shows their COVID-19 vaccine card. “As the U.S. continues to scale COVID-19 vaccinations, Krispy Kreme…
Orange County opens new COVID-19 vaccination site at South Trail Branch Library
A new state-sponsored vaccination site opened this morning at the South Trail Branch Library on Orange Blossom Trail. The new vaccination site will be subject to state guidelines. That means that first responders, medically vulnerable people, healthcare workers and people over the age of 50 will be able to receive vaccinations at this location. The…
Original Dexter’s location in Thornton Park to become Hawaiian restaurant from owners of Stardust Lounge, The Abbey
Restaurateur Todd Ulmer and venue owner Wendy Connor are planning a new Hawaiian bar and restaurant in Thornton Park. The 808 will move into the old home of brunch spot and bar Dexter’s, which closed abruptly and dramatically in 2019. In a nice bit of serendipity, the name of the planned island-themed restaurant is both…
Marcus Jordan plans Michael Jordan-themed retail store for downtown Orlando
Michael Jordan’s son is planning to open a retail shrine to his father in downtown Orlando. Former UCF Knights basketball player Marcus Jordan is relocating his shuttered sneaker/clothing/memorabilia outlet the Trophy Room to the Modera Central apartment building on the corner of East Pine Street and South Rosalind Avenue. The store was previously in Disney…
Orlando’s top 10 neighborhoods are probably where you’d expect
Orlando can’t agree on what to call a given neighborhood on a good day. So, we’re sure an actual ranking of the supposed best neighborhoods in The City Beautiful is bound to cause a few scuffles and scrapes. Reviews and rankings website Niche recently revealed their Top 10 neighborhoods in the Orlando area and the…
Former Florida senator, astronaut Bill Nelson tapped to head NASA by Biden administration
Former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat who orbited the earth 98 times over six days aboard the space shuttle Columbia, was formally announced Friday as President Joe Biden’s pick to lead NASA. “Most every piece of space and science law has had his imprint, including passing the landmark NASA bill of 2010 along…
Florida Democrats call for new state senate elections amid ongoing campaign fraud case
Florida Democrats are demanding that a state senator resign and a special election be held after a prosecutor charged a former Republican legislator with fraud related to a razor-thin Miami-Dade County race last year. Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle on Thursday filed felony charges against former Sen. Frank Artiles for allegedly recruiting and…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Monday, March 22, 2021
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. There’s a new pilot program in Central Florida that will allow adults to take out a tablet, along with access to a mobile WiFi hot spot, all at…
Industrial-metal gods Ministry move Orlando concert at Hard Rock Live back to October
With one eye on our eternal love for the band and the other on everything going on right now, we’ve been anxiously watching the approach of the Orlando date for Ministry for a long time now. Originally scheduled for 2020 and then rescheduled to April 21 at Hard Rock Live, the industrial and metal gods have wisely…
Here’s an early look at the Mister Rogers statue coming to Winter Park’s Rollins College
In more Rollins College-related construction news, notable Rollins alum, public television persona and all-around decent man Fred Rogers will be the subject of a piece of public art on campus later this year. The bigger-than-life statue — destined to be one of the few dedicated to a white man that will not be pulled down in…
Orange County will go ahead with vaccinations of people 40 and over, in spite of new rules from the state of Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday issues an executive order explicitly setting the lower age limit of the Florida’s COVID-19 vaccination guidelines at 50 . If you wanted to read the move as a swipe at Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, who lowered his own county’s vaccination age limit to 40 the day before, a story was…
City of Orlando launches mobile hotspot and tablet checkout pilot program for local residents
The City of Orlando this week announced a new initiative where local residents can check out a tablet and mobile WiFi hotspot — for free, no strings attached. As part of the Future-Ready City Master Plan, this one-year pilot program will allow locals 18 or older to check out a tablet and hotspot, library-style, for two…
Florida ex-senator charged over illegal donations to alleged “sham candidate”
The Miami-Dade County state attorney has charged former Florida Sen. Frank Artiles with election fraud for allegedly propping up a sham candidate in a razor-thin Senate contest in which an incumbent Democrat was ousted by a Republican challenger in November. Artiles is accused of using a third-party candidate to “confuse voters and siphon votes” from…
Maitland Special Olympian, Ironman finisher Chris Nikic to take part in ‘Swim For Inclusion’ fundraiser on Saturday
Special Olympian Chris Nikic will be on hand for the “Swim For Inclusion” fundraiser at Clermont’s National Training Center on Saturday. Nikic wowed last year when he became the first person with Down syndrome to complete and Ironman triathalon. For the uninitiated or otherwise sedentary, a full run-through of the Ironman includes a 2.4 mile-long swim…
Airstream pop-up Cups and Pups Coffee to take over space of College Park’s Gratitude Coffee
You can’t keep a good dog down. The former Airstream-based coffee pop-up Cups and Pups was thrown for a loop like the rest of the service industry with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Owners April and Matt Guldi adapted to a delivery model, slinging cold brew throughout the last year around Orlando. And that…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Friday, March 19, 2021
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. It goes against state guidelines, but Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has said starting Monday anyone age 40 or above can make an appointment to be vaccinated at…
Florida lowers COVID-19 vaccination age to 50
For Orange County residents, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is a day late and a decade short. But for Central Floridians who can’t make it to the Orange County Convention Center under their new, loosened requirements, the governor’s announcement that anyone 50 and over can now be vaccinated is a blessing. DeSantis announced the new age…
Disney cast member union calls on Gov. DeSantis to allow theme park workers to be vaccinated
Unite Here Local 362, a union representing Disney employees and other hospitality workers, has called on Gov. Ron DeSantis to expand vaccine eligibility requirements in Florida to include frontline Disney cast members, theme park employees and hospitality workers. Asserting that “tourism workers are essential” (and you won’t get any argument from us on that point), Unite…
Cali-based spice purveyors Dave’s Hot Chicken announce expansion to the Orlando area
The hot chicken scene in Orlando is, well, heating up? Los Angeles-based chain Dave’s Hot Chicken has announced intentions to expand to Florida, starting right here in Orlando. Started as a parking lot pop-up operation back in 2017 by chef Dave Kopushyan, his eponymous chain now has locations all over California, serving up Kopushyan’s take on the…
Orange County lowers vaccination age requirements to 40
Orange County officials announced on Thursday that they would begin vaccinating anyone aged 40 and over next week. The county-led vaccinations are carried out at the Orange County Convention Center and appointments for next week are available now. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said that he made the decision to lower the age requirements in…
Bethune-Cookman University president resigns unexpectedly
The president of Bethune-Cookman University resigned suddenly this week, according to several reports. Dr. E. LaBrent Chrite, who had served as the HBCU’s president since July 2019, announced he was leaving the position during a regular meeting with his cabinet. Chrite plans to leave at the end of the school year for a position at…
The average single adult in Orlando doesn’t have enough to cover their bills, per report
Single Orlando residents can’t fully pay their bills, according to a report published by California-based insurance agency Surety First. The report ranks single Orlando residents as having the 9th worst monthly discretionary income in the nation. The report noted that the average lone Orlandan doesn’t actually have discretionary income. When typical monthly expenses are held up…
SeaWorld to host Grad Nite after-hours events for Orlando-area students
SeaWorld Orlando has announced a couple of after-hours Grad Nite events set for April and May of this year for Central Florida middle and high school students. What could go wrong? On April 23 (high school) and May 7 (middle school), groups of students from local schools will be let loose on the grounds of…
Florida House moves forward on bill to ban trans women, girls from competing in women’s sports
Despite impassioned pleas from LGBT advocates, a Florida House panel on Wednesday approved a controversial proposal that would ban transgender girls and women from competing in women’s high-school and college sports. The move by the House Secondary Education & Career Development Subcommittee put Florida among the ranks of at least two-dozen other Republican-dominated state legislatures…
Rollins College receives big-money grant for new performing arts theater
Rollins College has received a multimillion dollar grant for construction of a new theater and performing arts theater. The private, liberal arts college in Winter Park was the beneficiary of $3 million from the Florida Charities Foundation this week, with the money expressly earmarked for a new performing arts complex where the Fred Stone Theatre once…
Minnesota salad and grain bowl chain Crisp & Green plans expansion to Orlando
The Minnesota-based salad chain Crisp & Green is planning a massive expansion to the Orlando area. According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, who spoke with CEO Steele Smiley, the chain plans nearly 20 restaurants for the I-4 corridor. They hope to open between five and eight locations in Orlando and a further eight to…
Florida senators level attack on teachers unions
After teachers and union officials lined up to oppose the bill, a Senate committee Wednesday approved a proposal that would place a series of new restrictions on education unions. The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee voted 3-2 to approve the measure (SB 1014), sponsored by Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala. The bill, in part, would…
Upscale surf and turf destination Restaurant Seychelles coming to downtown Orlando
A new steak-and-seafood restaurant is headed to downtown Orlando, courtesy of some familiar faces. As reported by the Orlando Business Journal, Restaurant Seychelles is opening soon at 25 W. Church St. downtown, right near the bustling corner of Church and Orange streets. Owners of the Restaurant Seychelles concept, according to OBJ, include Robert Kelly, Mitchell Molyneaux and Eugene…
Knight’s Pub owners open Thrive Cocktail Lounge & Eatery in former home of Avenue Gastrobar
The ownership group behind hotspot hot zone Knight’s Pub has opened another bar downtown. Thrive Cocktail Bar & Eatery seems to be a much classier affair than the other watering holes owned by Thriving Hospitality & Entertainment LLC, who are perhaps best known for their ownership of the aforementioned pub and Orange Avenue’s line-dancing, Fireball-guzzling Saddle…
Tampa-bred Mexican chain Taco Bus closes Orlando location
It’s been less than three years since the Tampa-based chain restaurant loaded up for a trip up I-4 and landed at University Terrace. The field trip didn’t turn out as well as they hoped. Amid the coronavirus pandemic downturn affecting all restaurants (no doubt multiplied by their proximity to and reliance on the University of…
Outdoor Americana concert series Southern Fried Sunday kicks off its 15th year later this month
Local Americana showcase Southern Fried Sunday returns this month after nearly a year of hibernation and virtual events for a 15th anniversary blowout — a spring series of gigs kicking off with an outdoors show featuring some all-star rootsy locals and out-ot-towners. Setting up shop and stage at Carlotta’s Culture Park (1000 N. Mills Ave.) with…
New karaoke tiki bar Aloha Beautiful soft opens in downtown Orlando this week
The former Joysticks Arcade Lounge space in downtown Orlando has a new tenant, and an even more unabashedly retro theme than the erstwhile 1980s arcade treatment of yore. It was “game over” for Joysticks back in October, and the second-floor bar at 69 E. Pine St. is now Aloha Beautiful, a tiki and “tropical karaoke” bar with all…
Orlando’s Park Lake/Highland named among the best neighborhoods in the United States
Park Lake/Highland was named one of the best neighborhoods to live in the United States in a new list by review aggregator Niche. The Orlando residential pocket includes historical homes, two lakes and a connection to the crucial Orlando Urban Trail bike path. It ranked highly in Niche’s metrics of nightlife, family-friendliness, diversity, schools and…
Florida Legislature considers creating statewide PPE stockpile for future pandemics
Florida could set up a stockpile of life-saving personal protective equipment and sell it to health-care practitioners at cost, under proposals now moving in the Legislature. Despite some concern from one lawmaker who cautioned the measure could turn a “government agency into an Amazon,” the House Pandemics & Public Emergencies Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved…
Soft openings in Mills 50: Japango, selling sushi boxes out of Chewy Boba; and Dochi, selling mochi doughnuts
Our weekly food news roundup
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the unlikeliest of spies in ‘The Courier’
The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis is perceived chiefly as a conflict between the governments of the United States and the Soviet Union, specifically John Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev. But in The Courier, the new historical suspense-drama from director Dominic Cooke (On Chesil Beach), we’re reminded of the role of the little guy. That guy, specifically,…
Orange you glad you can meet Orangie at the Orange County animal shelter today?
She’s an adoptable cat who’s, that’s right, bright orange
Disabled Floridians are being left behind in the scramble to get citizens vaccinated
‘At risk and forgotten’
Concert picks this week: The States, Pinto Psychs, Saturday Soundwalk
If you go out, respect everyone’s distance, for all our sakes. The States: I first encountered this young Ocala band at Mike Dunn’s Folk Yeah festival in 2019. Of the young crop represented that year, the States were among the cream with their huge melodic horizon and increasingly modern bridge of indie rock and folk.…
My friend beats off while I tell him how I banged his wife, and that makes me uncomfortable
Dear Dan: A male friend — not my best friend but a close one — told me his wife was really attracted to me (also male) and asked if I was attracted to her. His wife is an incredibly hot woman and I thought it was a trick question. I read your column and listen…
Things to do in Orlando, March 17-23: Morgan Myles, Disney tunes live, Mount Dora Spring Festival of Arts and Crafts
Our selections of safe, socially distanced, and virtual events this week. Thursday, March 18Atmospheres Opening night for an exhibit of abstract works by Kerry Harripersad, part of Third Thursday art festivities in downtown Orlando. The show was delayed for a year by the pandemic. 6 p.m., free. CityArts, 39 S. Magnolia Ave. Friday, March 19Frontyard…
Getting ‘mugged’ by Kevin Smith: A souvenir cup from the Mooby’s pop-up now sits proudly among other View Askew memorabilia
Moviemaker Kevin Smith mugged me last weekend, and I ain’t even mad about it. The year was 1994, and I was among a handful of undergrads at the art cinema in Colonial Williamsburg attending the late-night screening of an ultra-low-budget indie film that had garnered buzz on Usenet groups (the primitive precursor to today’s internet…
Rubio’s vapid op-ed and DeSantis’ gross play for attention weren’t even the dumbest remarks made by awful men in one weekend
On Friday afternoon, facing seven allegations of sexual assault or harassment — not to mention an ongoing investigation into his cover-up of nursing home COVID deaths — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters that congressional and legislative Democrats’ calls for him to resign were part of (wait for it) “cancel culture.” Then he added,…
New releases from Orlando bands and producers Ethereal_Interface, Copper Bones, and Blair Sound Design
Eminent local electronic music label Circuit Church recently unveiled the debut of Ethereal_Interface, the audiovisual collaboration between Orlando’s Modal Plane and Chicago’s Sara Goodman. Dream_Logs is 15 tracks of ambient downbeat music that, though abstract, is done with structure, motion and intelligibility. It’s available digitally on Circuit Church’s Bandcamp, but for the full multimedia experience,…
