

Cover Story
Florida Uber and Lyft drivers launch effort to organize for better pay, better app policies
Local rideshare drivers are organizing with a group that’s come under scrutiny in the past by some labor activists and organizers.
Downtown restaurants partner with City of Orlando for free parking and valet
It may be an attempt at a peace offering, but we’ll take it
Legal Public Notices 5/17/2023
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below at the property indicated: May 26, 2023 at the times and location listed below. The personal goods stored therein by the following: 12:00 PM Extra Space Storage 1101 Marshall Farms Rd, Ocoee 34761 (407) 516-7221 Ralyn Sugar – Household Goods.…
Florida loves turtles so much these drivers risked death to protect one
The multi-vehicle highway pileup was caused by one truck stopping dead for a turtle crossing the road
Florida teacher faces investigation after she showed class Disney movie with gay character
‘Strange World’ is Disney’s first and only movie with an openly gay character
Federal prosecutors move to drop all charges against Andrew Gillum
Gillum has asserted that he was the victim of a political witch hunt, in part because he is Black
Florida attorney general seeks to block recreational marijuana amendment from 2024 ballot
Moody wrote that she thinks ‘the proposed amendment fails to meet the requirements’ of part of state law
Norman’s Orlando celebrates grand opening with celebrity chefs and master sommeliers
There may be music; there may be nunchucks.
Gov. DeSantis signs bill to defund diversity programs at Florida colleges
Schools also will not be able to spend money on programs or activities that ‘promote or engage in political or social activism’
Epcot’s new Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya restaurant will celebrate Japan’s seasonal festivals
The new experience offers views of Epcot’s World Showcase Lagoon and nightly fireworks
Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is now hiring ‘scareactors’ for 2023 event
The annual fright fest also teased some haunted house announcements (hopefully) coming soon
Florida 13-year-old girl punches shark to escape attack at Fort Pierce Beach
She believes it was a 5 to 6-foot bull shark
Florida’s citrus industry expected to yield smallest orange crop in nearly 90 years
The industry has battled for two decades against deadly citrus greening disease and development pressures
Orlando Fringe 2023 review: ‘Ha Ha Da Vinci: Music, Magic, Mayhem’
An ‘only at Fringe’ sort of show suffused with originality and interesting imagery
Orlando Fringe 2023 review: ‘Bullock and the Bandits: Back in the Saddle’
Go in expecting a high-decibel concert with some connective patter rather than a full-blown musical
Orlando Fringe 2023 review: ‘8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s in Concert’
The show digests the decade’s major cultural movements into a breezy hour-long musical medley
Florida Gov. DeSantis approves later start times for middle and high school students
The start times will be required to take effect by July 2026, giving school districts three years to develop plans
Gov. DeSantis signs bills that ban CBDC, block credit card companies from tracking gun sales
The new laws take effect July 1
Florida Gov. DeSantis signs bills to hide his own travel records, target Disney’s monorail
DeSantis has been traveling across the country as he prepares for a potential 2024 presidential campaign
Future Bartenderz play first show as full band, with Fatties and Palmettes in support
See the Bartenderz earn their ‘z’ as an ensemble at last
Orlando Chef Tung Phan’s Camille, a modern French-Vietnamese restaurant, opens in Baldwin Park
Doors open on the upscale tasting menu concept June 13
Orlando Public Library gets in the fest game with locals-heavy Melrose Pop Festival
Celebrate summer with a free day of music downtown
SeaWorld is giving their free beer promotion another go for the summer
The penguin enclosure will not be the only frosty thing happening at the theme park
Florida unions file lawsuits over DeSantis’ union-busting bill and prepare for fight ahead
From legal challenges to boots-on-the-ground organizing, Florida union members aren’t ready to let their unions be crushed by a new anti-union law without a fight
Florida Gov. DeSantis signs bill to outlaw COVID-19 mandates
DeSantis held a bill-signing event in Destin on the same day that a federal public-health emergency for COVID-19 was set to end
The Michelin Guide handed out its 2023 stars for Florida restaurants Thursday night
Here are the Orlando winners (and losers)
Broadway in Orlando: The songs in ‘My Fair Lady’ are still sublime, but the staging and dialogue are awkward
Touring production of the Lerner and Loewe classic plays the Dr. Phillips Center through May 14
Orlando Publix bakery refused to put the word ‘trans’ on a cake, says support group
The manager ‘said it was taking a stance, and that they weren’t allowed to take a stance’
‘Too wiggly’: Orange County Animal Shelter volunteer arrested for dragging dog to its death
Roman, a 15-week-old puppy, died after going into shock from being strangled
Pisco Peruvian Gastrobar soft-opens in Lake Nona, ‘speakeasy’ The Circle opens on Colonial, Harry Buffalo downtown closes
Plus more Orlando food news than you could shake a stick at
Epcot’s Eat to the Beat concert lineup this year includes Baha Men, Boyz II Men and Ray Parker Jr.
Hear ‘Who Let the Dogs Out’ and the ‘Ghostbusters’ theme while getting blotto at the theme park
Arab Festival brings a wealth of music, performance and food to downtown Orlando on Mother’s Day
The festival is back for a 12th year
Trulieve spends another $8 million to put recreational pot on Florida’s 2024 ballot
As of April 30, Trulieve had contributed $38.5 million to Smart & Safe Florida
Hellcat Tendencies, Her Delirium, Really Fast Horses and more raise money for Planned Parenthood this weekend
A rallying cry to raise money for Planned Parenthood
Korine return to play Orlando, this time at Conduit
Live synth-pop, emphasis on ‘pop’, excellence forthcoming
Nekrogoblikon will take ‘goblin mode’ to its logical, musical conclusion at Conduit
The sublime and the ridiculous will collide, loudly
Florida Gov. DeSantis signs anti-immigration bill into law, requiring E-Verify and funding migrant transport
‘The Florida Legislature is punishing the wrong people for that and, in the process, dehumanizing their existence’
Florida Gov. DeSantis signs bill to ban students from using phones and TikTok in schools
The law will take effect in July
Florida bill could help Black farmers get medical-marijuana licenses after years-long effort
The bill now awaits a decision by Gov. Ron DeSantis
Rapper/producer TzariZM is back on the mic at last with new album
‘O.T.H.E.R.’ keeps the flame blazing for hip-hop’s true school
‘An Elegy to Rosewood’ opens this week at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center
Art exhibition commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the Rosewood Massacre
Bizarre World takes over the Central Florida Fairgrounds with cosplay, steampunk and curiosities
Yes, cosplay dance-off. Did we stutter?
Leatherette and Body Shop say adieu to Orlando
Our hearts sink, but we must bid farewell to two formidable local bands at the same time
With the opening of White Elephant Theatre, Orlando gets a sorely needed new performance space
But the clock is already ticking on its expiration date
Pizza Bruno owner Bruno Zacchini puts a focus on Jersey-style pies at his College Park pizzeria
The tomato pie is a specialty here
Orlando artist and architect Richard Reep makes treasure from trash in ‘Burglitecture’
‘It’s a larceny of the landscape, a heinous heist of high design’
The Lee Boys and Melody Trucks present an evening of deep Florida musical heritage
Festival faves play an intimate local gig
Orlando rent is still unaffordable for low-income renters, even with a housing voucher
In Orlando and other Florida metro areas, the value of housing vouchers hasn’t kept up with surging rent prices.






