Cover Story
Big Makk Memorial Golf Tournament to be held on June 2
Orlando-area EDM DJ and producer Big Makk tragically passed away in 2016, just as he was on the verge of a national breakthrough, having joined the Mad Decent roster and secured a prime slot on that year’s EDC Festival. His absence is still felt on the local music scene, where he was a mainstay of…
22 free concerts happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, May 23 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday, May 24 Leisure Chief 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Raleigh Estes and Friends 8 pm at Muldoon’s Saloon, 7439 Aloma Ave.,…
Patrick Moraz from the Moody Blues and Yes to play Orlando next week
Swiss keyboardist and composer Patrick Moraz is best known for stints in the Moody Blues and Yes, but has a musical range far beyond that, including film soundtracks and a gift for improvisation. Orlando prog fans can catch Moraz up close and personal next week with a rare solo engagement at the Blue Bamboo, where…
American Social Bar and Kitchen coming to Dr. Phillips
The old Bar Louie space in the Rialto Plaza in Dr. Phillips is about to get a healthy dose of Americana. The American Social Bar & Kitchen, a gastropub/sports lounge with locations in Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, and Miami, will open in the 9,400-square-foot space after an extensive $2.7 million build-out. The result, according to a…
Sorcha Mercy reveals the painstaking work that goes into drag performance at Orlando Museum of Art
Drag, at its best, combines elements of performance art, visual art, body transformation and modification, dance, and sly subversion of and homage to pop culture, which can be every bit as breathtaking and challenging as a painting or a sculpture. And since Orlando’s drag scene is, objectively, in a boom period, why not pull this…
Outkast’s Big Boi headlines the Beacham this week
You know who Big Boi is – the seven-time Grammy Award-winning artist, the Atlanta MC and counterpart to the legendary Andre 3000 as half of the even more legendary hip-hop duo Outkast – and now you can catch him on his “Daddy Fat Saxxx” tour for his latest album, Boomiverse, as he stops through Orlando…
Florida snake hunters have now killed 1,000 Burmese pythons
There are now 1,000 less invasive Burmese pythons in Florida. Last weekend, snake hunters with the South Florida Water Management District hit the impressive milestone of bagging their 1000th Burmese python. The record setting catch, an 11-foot snake caught by Brian Hargrove, was recorded on Tuesday at the Homestead field station. The district pays hunters $8.10…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘Frogpig’ is unexpectedly ribbeting
Attention, any Disney lawyers reading this review: Jim Henson’s Muppets are not explicitly mentioned by name in Frogpig, the one-man puppet cabaret from Orlando performer Joel Swanson. However, from the show’s opening minor-key chords of “Rainbow Connection,” it’s clear whose progeny the green, porcine-snouted star of this entertaining oddity is intended to be. Abandoned in…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘TK421 Is Dead’ gives an entirely new perspective on the inner life of Stormtroopers
Fans of that famous galaxy far, far, away have several Fringe shows to pick from, including Charlie Ross’s officially licensed One Man Star Wars Trilogy. But TK 421 Is Dead: A Storm Trooper Story, this festival’s other Force-fueled production from Ross, seems to draw more inspiration from THX-1138 – George Lucas’ dark, dystopian first feature…
Shoppers continue to boycott Publix for supporting ‘proud NRA sellout’ Adam Putnam
Some shoppers are officially over Publix’s support of Adam Putnam, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and GOP candidate for governor, and have launched a boycott of the chain just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Over the past several years, Publix has donated an unprecedented $670,000 to Putnam’s political campaigns, and many shoppers are no longer going to…
Ocala school shooter has been charged and could face life in prison
The former student at Forest High School in Ocala who carried out a shooting on April 20 that left one student injured faces five charges, including armed burglary. If convicted, the Ocala Star Banner reports, 19-year-old Sky Bouche could face life in prison. Bouche has reportedly also been charged with armed burglary of a structure…
Orlando just landed $1.5 million in terrorism prevention funds
After years of being snubbed by the Urban Area Security Initiative grant, the Orlando area will receive $1.5 million in federal funds for terrorism prevention efforts. Orlando hasn’t received UASI funding since 2014, and this is the most the city has received under the program since 2012. Securement of the federal grant follows months of…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘Mason, Son of Ma’ is a solo vision quest told through song
It’s difficult to convey the effect of a spiritual experience in words, but Orlando’s Nils Taranger makes the effort in Mason, Son of Ma. Depressed when his parents don’t accept his homosexuality, Nils begins his journey with two weeks of meditation in complete darkness. He visits drum circles and shamans. In ecstasy, he exclaims of…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘Red Bastard: Lie With Me’ is an immersive experience with a true Fringe feel
Goblin-provocateur “Red Bastard” (Eric Davis) is acclaimed on the Fringe scene for pummeling the boundaries of audience participation, so it was with trepidation that I entered the Yellow Venue and ensconced myself in a hard-to-reach seat. The “Bastard” knows we fear him, and he plays with that fear. Slowly teasing out the monster, Davis invites…
After fans trashed the field, Orlando City announces new stadium policies
Orlando City SC announced new stadium policies for games, following the trashing of the Orlando City soccer field by fans. According to a statement from the club, the stadium will now have an “All Pour” policy, which means every drink will be poured into a cup without a lid. However, those who are in suites…
Orlando Police Department is one of the first in the nation to test real-time facial recognition
Orlando Police Department became one of the first American police stations to test Amazon’s facial recognition technologies, which can be used to identify pedestrians on their streets. By using Amazon Rekognition, OPD can spot people in real time, in contrast to the former method of comparing still photos to a person’s mug shot. Orlando Police Department…
Publix censors ‘summa cum laude’ on graduation cake
Formerly beloved Lakeland-based grocery chain Publix has been having a hard go of it just recently. Progressive customers are up in arms about the amount of money the company has donated to Florida gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, calling for a boycott, and that outrage has once again dragged the brand’s more conservative tendencies into the…
Wait, did Disney just announce a new stage show for Walt Disney World?
Late last week Disneyland Paris held a special “InsiderEars” event where numerous projects for the resort were announced. At the event, Disneyland Paris COO Daniel Delcourt spoke of a trip that Walt Disney World President George Kalogridis took to the French resort. During his visit to Disneyland Paris, Kalogridis previewed the Ratatouille ride that is…
Federal appeals court sides with Florida ban of inmate magazine
Invoking Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” an appellate court brushed aside First Amendment concerns and sided with the Florida Department of Corrections in a long-running dispute about a monthly magazine targeted to inmates. The ruling last week by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a previous federal court decision in the…
Latest Disney rumors have Indiana Jones dealing with dinosaurs at Animal Kingdom
Rumors of Indiana Jones heading to Animal Kingdom date back to even before the park opened, more than twenty years ago. Last fall, the rumors got louder as Disney looked to rebound from the failure that is Rivers of Light. The less than popular nighttime lagoon show showed how little Disney actually had in the…
Guitar god Buckethead brings the art of the shred to Orlando
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Buckethead, House of Blues, May 20 Virtuoso guitar music – music crafted solely for the purpose of showcasing a soloist’s aptitude on the electric guitar – is definitely a niche thing. By its very nature, the idea is ludicrous, a conceit that appeals only to academics and freshman rock dorks. It’s so…
Randy Rainbow is coming to Orlando this fall
Celebrated comedian and singer Randy Rainbow has announced a clutch of new tour dates set for later this year and, as of this writing, the ONLY chance to see him in Florida will be a November engagement in the City Beautiful. The unapologetically political and scathing parodist – most recently with his attack on Trump’s…
Orlando’s Lake Eola fountain is getting new lights
Downtown Orlando’s Lake Eola fountain will be getting new lights in time for the celebrations on July 4. The Orlando Sentinel reports City Council approved spending $343,849 last month to repair the fountain’s underwater LED lights. About 32 percent of those lights have already failed, and more could go out soon. City workers will be installing 220…
BeaverTails just opened a new location in Orlando
BeaverTails’ sweet fried pastries have returned to Orlando. The Canadian-based company set up shop last week at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets. The new Orlando location is currently in soft opening mode, so hours of operation vary. BeaverTails has not announced an official opening date, but managers said to expect a grand opening ceremony in the…
Driverless buses are coming to University of Florida
If you live in Gainesville, you will soon be able to travel from the University of Florida’s campus to downtown with 11 of your friends in a bus with no driver. Starting in August, three auto-buses will make their debut in Gainesville. The $2.6 million project, funded by a state grant, hopes to expand the…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘A Solo From the Pit’ combines music, comedy and candor
Experiencing a virtuoso trombonist fill the intimate Brown venue alone would be worth your Fringe bucks, but Elias Faingersh of Sweden’s Theater KEF’s adds lively storytelling and musical humor to his one-man show, A Solo From the Pit. Connecting stories from his life to the operas he was playing at time, Faingersh plays us through…
Florida man caught searching for threatened gopher tortoises to eat
A Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a call Sunday night regarding a “man down” at Seabranch Preserve State Park in Stuart. It turns out that the man was on the ground searching for a female gopher tortoise after already pulling two gopher tortoises from their hole, according to a Facebook post made by the Martin…
Florida politicians have taken more than $1 million from opioid producers
Apparently the same opioid companies that the state is suing are lining the pockets of some of Florida’s lawmakers. According to a report from the Miami Herald, over the last 20 years, nine opioid companies and their subsidiaries have given more than $1 million to Florida politicians, even during the height of the state’s opioid…
Wine Bar George opened last weekend in Disney Springs
Florida’s first master sommelier-led wine bar has finally opened in Disney Springs. Wine connoisseur and master sommelier George Miliotes hosted a grand opening on Saturday, May 19, for his new 6,000-square-foot, two-floor vineyard-style Wine Bar George. Serving more than 130 wines, Wine Bar George, located between Raglan Road and the Hangar Bar, will be open…
New details leaked on Disney’s bold new space-themed restaurant
Earlier this month, Disney confirmed new details on the upcoming space-themed restaurant heading to Epcot. Located between Mission: Space and Test Track near an area formerly used for Mission: Space FastPass distribution, the Patina Restaurant Group operated sit-down restaurant, which is currently unnamed, will be themed to a space station with large “windows” looking out…
A hyperloop connecting Orlando and Tampa along the I-4 may be in the works
While much of the recent mass transit focus has been on SunRail’s Phase 2 expansion, there are plenty of other transit projects in the works throughout the region. One of the most innovative is a hyperloop that’s being proposed between Orlando and Miami. Last year, that route was one of 10 selected by Virgin Hyperloop…
State urges Florida Supreme Court to stay out of ‘homegrown’ medical marijuana case
Lawyers for the state asked the Florida Supreme Court to stay out of a legal battle, at least for now, over whether a lung-cancer patient can grow his own marijuana. Tampa strip-club owner Joe Redner this week asked the high court to step in while the dispute is under appeal. A Tallahassee judge in April…
NRA appeals ruling over anonymous teens in lawsuit against Florida
The National Rifle Association is appealing a federal judge’s refusal to keep the identity of a 19-year-old Alachua County woman secret in a challenge to a state law that raised the age to purchase rifles and other long guns. The case was placed on hold Friday pending a decision regarding “Jane Doe” from the 11th…
Royal Racism
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Park Avenue’s Maestro Cucina Napoletana is now Antonio’s House of Pizza
Rosario Spagnolo, the local restaurateur behind Terramia Ristorante in Altamonte Springs and Lake Mary, has sold his Park Avenue pizzeria, Maestro Cucina Napoletana. Spagnolo partnered with veteran chef, and fellow Neapolitan, Antonio Martino in opening Maestro back in November 2016. It was reviewed quite favorably in February of 2017, but then Martino ended up leaving…
American Pleasure Club come packing Kitty and local Julee Bruise on the rise
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND American Pleasure Club, Julee Bruise and Special Explosion, May 17, Soundbar If the name American Pleasure Club isn’t quite familiar yet, they’re a Baltimore act that first came to indie prominence under the far less fun moniker Teen Suicide. They’re a magpie of a band that plucks from a spectrum of styles,…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘Multiple Organism’ is a kinky cartoon about art and gender
Over the years, I’ve seen countless Fringe shows that seemed like the performers pulled the script out of their asses at the last moment. But I can confidently say that Multiple Organism is the first show I’ve ever attended where an actress literally pulled a script out of her vagina. God bless the Fringe! Chloé…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘Forgotten Memoirs’ is a must-see for fans of modern movement
This year’s Festival is overflowing with dance shows, but it would be a mistake for fans of modern movement to forget about choreographer Amanda Cox’s Forgotten Memoirs. In her second production for Orlando’s Fringe, Cox is accompanied by Kenny Frechette, Tori Sarau, Chalice Streitman and Katrina Soricelli (who’s angling for the “hardest working dancer at…
Fringe 2018 review: Let the verbal and visual imagery of ‘Van Gogh Find Yourself’ wash over you
It might be tempting to dismiss an intimate, unassuming experience like Van Gogh Find Yourself among flashier Fringe offerings, but perhaps you should take a slower look, as this show’s titular artistic titan advocates. New York artist/actor Walter DeForest convincingly embodies the influential post-Impressionist painter in a one-man production that is equal parts historical monologue…
Fringe 2018 review: Revival of Michael Wanzie’s ‘Monorail Inferno’ gets its most lavish mounting ever
On June 26, 1985, Monorail Silver caught fire outside the Magic Kingdom, forcing guests to kick out the car’s windows and climb onto the roof in order to escape the smoke and flames. Soon after, playwright Michael Wanzie transformed Walt Disney World’s near-tragedy into a disaster-movie spoof during a self-confessed cocaine bender, and he’s revived…
Orlando Fringe 2023 review: ‘Nashville Hurricane’
If you’re new to the Padgett party, ‘Nashville Hurricane’ should be at the top of your Orlando Fringe schedule
Fringe 2018 review: ‘13 Dead Dreams of ‘Eugene’’ is a surreal, scary treat
The Pink Venue is home this year to two – yes, two – musical ghost stories featuring unique visual and audio effects. Between 13 Dead Dreams of “Eugene” and The Haunting of Saint River (see separate review), the former is the scarier and more complete production. Belying its title, the show is not really about…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘The Haunting of Saint River’ is an odd musical experiment
Bremner Duthie has enjoyed stage success around the globe, and he deserves it, as his unique blend of cabaret, experimental theater and one-man storytelling sets him apart from other Fringe acts. And though he divides his time between Paris, Montreal and New Orleans, it’s the latter city that infuses The Haunting of Saint River, which…
Fringe 2018 review: VarieTease’s latest will hold you ‘Spellbound’
Ever since Carnivale debuted over a decade ago, VarieTease has been my can’t-miss dance company at Orlando Fringe, and their latest offering doesn’t disappoint. Troupe leader Blue says Spellbound – which features a flock of feathered harlequins in monochromatic clown makeup – is based on her experiences with EMDR therapy for post-traumatic stress. But you…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘An Excruciatingly Ordinary Toy Theater Show’ is in fact extraordinary
Pittsburgh puppeteer Zach Dorn is nervous to the point of neurosis about his Orlando Fringe appearance, since our sister publication Creative Loafing panned his Tampa Fringe appearance. But even if he gets off to an awkward start by flossing popcorn from his teeth for an opener, stick with him and you’ll be rewarded with one…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘The Jurassic Parks’ is more than a goofy spoof
Sad-sack widower Terry Parks (Frode Gjerløw) and his children – sullen Jade (Maria Askew) and overeager Noah (Simon Maeder) – cordially invite you to a memorial service for their dearly departed ex-wife and mother. In lieu of prayers and flowers, be prepared to witness an impromptu re-creation of her favorite film, the Steven Spielberg classic…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘Turner’s Masterpieces’ is hilarious, brainy and eclectic
So far at Fringe, I’ve seen comedic stand-up-style monologues about suicide, addiction and racism. But if you want to see a stand-up show that’s simply about being funny, England’s Chris Turner makes a first-rate choice. This baby-faced 28-year-old can’t grow a beard, but he’s got an impressive high kick, and an even more expansive intellect…
Fringe 2018 review: Tales of terrifying trauma comprise ‘I Think I’m Dead’
After seeing I Think I’m Dead, I can’t believe that Al Lafrance is still alive, after suffering through a childhood drowning, a life-altering untreated limb injury, decades of severe insomnia and a psychotic obsession with the movie Fight Club. What’s even more surprising is that he manages to turn these tales of terrifying trauma into…
Fringe 2018 review: Look past the title of ‘Fuckboys’ and you’ll find a warm, human story
File this one under “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Between the vulgar title and an unintelligible teaser performance, I wasn’t exactly eager to see F*uckboys: The Musical. But writer/co-director Savannah Pedersen’s show turned out to be a surprisingly tender and tuneful tribute to female friendship. In this millennial answer to Sex and the…
Florida man arrested for dumping red paint into gopher tortoise burrow
An Apopka man was arrested after Florida wildlife officials say he dumped leftover red paint into a burrow, dousing the gopher tortoise living inside. The tortoise, later named Raphael, was found April 17 by a witness in the middle of County Road 455, south of Montverde in Lake County. The reptile was covered in red…
R&B star Mýa is hosting a free meet and greet in Orlando tonight
In case you had plans for the early evening today, think about maybe canceling them, because Grammy-winning singer Mýa will be meeting and taking photos with fans to celebrate the opening of Bronze Kingdom’s new location! And, of course, to mark the release of her new album TKO. Mýa will apparently be present at the opening celebration…
East West Music hosts huge BOGO used vinyl sale this Saturday
It’s baaaaaaaaack. One of the few times in life you’ll see the words “BOGO” and “vinyl” so close to one another. It can only mean that East-West Music & More is again holding their one-day sale that will is a fever dream for record collectors. This Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the venerable…
Even without the beer showers, indie-rock heroes Guided by Voices are still rock & roll embodied
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Guided by Voices, The Social, May 16 Though they’ve calmed down quite a bit, Guided by Voices’ Orlando shows in particular are the stuff of legend, as this 2004 article by the Sentinel’s former music critic Jim Abbott details wonderfully. Around the turn of the millennium, their in-town appearances incited the kind…
Florida Governor candidate and ‘Proud NRA sellout’ sends his condolences to Texas shooting survivors
This morning, a gunman killed at least nine students and one teacher at Santa Fe High School in Texas using a shotgun and a handgun legally purchased by his father. In response, Florida gubernatorial candidate and self-described “proud NRA sellout” Adam Putnam sends his thoughts and prayers. “I’m saddened to see more innocent lives taken…
Magic Kingdom is now serving booze at all sit-down restaurants
Drinking your way around the world at Epcot is easy, but now you can also drink near and all around Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom. For the first time in its history, every menu at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom table-service restaurants is offering alcohol. The theme park announced that guests over the age of 21…
New map reminds us that Orlando remains incredibly segregated
Although the metro Orlando area is more diverse than ever, our neighborhoods, on the other hand, are increasingly segregated. A recently released interactive map from the Anti-Discrimination Center shows that Orlando has some issues with racially divided residential areas. The map, which also allows you to browse regions throughout the entire country, allows users to…
Bill Nelson wants FEMA to provide housing aid to Puerto Rican evacuees after June 30
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson filed legislation Thursday that would force FEMA to provide housing aid to hundreds of Puerto Rican evacuees displaced by Hurricane Maria who are living in Florida. The bill requires FEMA and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to activate the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP) for victims of Hurricanes Irma and…
BØRNS and Florida native Twin Shadow will bring fall tour to Orlando
If you wanna fuel your “Electric Love,” Orlando is the first stop on singer-songwriter and pop act BØRNS’ fall North American tour. “Overnight Sensation” Garrett Borns will be hitting the road to promote his sophomore album Blue Madonna, joined by Florida native Twin Shadow. The tour comes to The Beacham on Monday, Sept. 17, at 7…
Colonial Lanes will close forever next week
After announcing earlier this week that Colonial Lanes was closing for a “major remodel,” the owners now say the Milk District bowling alley will close for good. Today Colonial Lanes told the Orlando Sentinel that they will officially close May 24 after being purchased last February by a subsidiary of Titan Properties, who filed plans to turn…
Cocoa Beach, Orlando’s closest beach, will start allowing dogs this summer
Dogs are coming to Cocoa Beach, but there’s a catch or two. Cocoa Beach city leaders voted Thursday in favor of allowing leashed and registered dogs on a designated strip of sand for a six-month trial period starting July 15. The motion allows dogs only between Fourth Street and 16th Street, and they must be…
Florida appeals court upholds decision to jail single mom for failing to pay $947
In a ruling that drew a blistering dissent, a state appeals court Thursday upheld a decision to revoke the probation of a single mother who did not pay $947 in court-ordered costs. The ruling by a panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal came in the Duval County case of Erin Vontez Thompson, who…
Health insurance premiums on federal marketplace expected to increase 17 percent next year
Premiums for health insurance plans sold on the federal marketplace are expected to increase by nearly 16.9 percent in Florida next year due to changes in the Affordable Care Act, according to a new analysis released Friday. Released by the Center for American Progress, the analysis estimates that a decision by Congress and President Donald…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘Eleanor’s Story’ powered by historical gravitas
In September 1939, as millions of Germans were wishing to flee their country, 9-year-old Eleanor Ramrath Garner and her family were arriving from New Jersey. Eleanor’s dad had accepted a two-year job contract, knowing little of the war that was to start on the very day of their disembarkation. With this real-life nightmare as the…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘Oh Hi, Johnny, the Room-sical Parody’ will tear you apart
Oh hi, Fringe! This Tommy Wiseau, creator of The Room. I just saw bunch of actors try to re-create my movie, almost scene for scene, and with songs! I know what you think: You must be kidding, aren’t you? No, it’s true. They even imagine what it would be like if I turned film into…
One Orlando Alliance retracts job offer to Alabama lawmaker who tried to ‘out’ Gov. Kay Ivey
The One Orlando Alliance is retracting a job offer it made to Alabama State Rep. Patricia Todd after the state’s first openly gay lawmaker insinuated Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey was also gay and deserved to be “outed.” The LGBTQ alliance created in the aftermath of the Pulse mass shooting announced in May that Todd had been…
Swamp Sistas La La is an annual highlight of the Fringe outdoor stage
Besides all the famous theater madness, the Orlando Fringe Festival also has a lively music component on the festival grounds’ central lawn. And of all the showcases, one of the most notable is always the Swamp Sistas La La, the annual event for the artistic sorority led by Orlando songbird Beth McKee. This seventh edition…
Snap Downtown offers up an ice cream social to go along with their latest exhibit, ‘Nostalgia’
Who’s ready for breakfast at Tiffany’s? Snap Downtown has you covered on Sunday with all the eye candy and unconventional edibles a Manhattan call girl could want. (What? You’ve seen the movie, right? “Fifty dollars for the powder room,” FOH.) This gorgeous Douglas Kirkland portrait of a post-Golightly Hepburn is part of Nostalgia, currently hanging…
The Peacock Room holds a reunion at Will’s Pub tonight
It’s strange to think about, but it’s already been nearly four years since the Peacock Room closed at the north end of the Mills 50 party corridor. And while the Guesthouse may keep quality drinks flowing in the Peacock’s absence, we miss the weird eclecticism of the old entertainment room. This week, Will’s Pub tries…
Beer ‘Merica offers up the best in American Craft Beer at a lakeside oasis
You like beer, right? (Just say yes.) So if that’s already the case – because just about everyone loves barley pops – you should make it out to Beer ’Merica and help yourself to the more than 100 American craft brews available in celebration of American Craft Beer Week. Chock-full of everything from live music…
Attendance at Disney’s Animal Kingdom jumped 15 percent in 2017
Following the opening of Pandora: The World of Avatar, millions flocked to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which saw an increase in attendance of over 15 percent. According to a report by AECOM, Disney’s Animal Kingdom saw a drastic increase in 2017, bouncing from 10.8 million visitors in 2016 to 12.5 million. Disney property Epcot saw a…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘In the Dark’ is bloody brilliant
In the beginning, there was darkness over the face of the Silver Venue. Quite a bit of darkness, actually. After a while, someone (not God, but maybe one of his minions) said, “Ready!” and there was light, and a whoosh. And it was, as the English say, bloody brilliant. U.K. physical comedy duo James &…
According to FWC, Florida boating accidents saw a significant increase in 2017
Boating accidents in Florida increased by 7 percent in 2017, according to officials. In a recent report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there were 714 reportable accidents from 2016 compared to 766 in 2017. There was also a rise in the number of registered boating vessels in Florida, which increased from over 930,000 in…
Voter Restoration Act could add $365 million to Florida economy, says study
A new economic study found that giving felons the right to vote could result in an overwhelmingly positive impact on Florida’s economy. Conducted by the Washington Economics Group, the study found that as much as $365 million could be added to the state’s annual economy, as well as the addition of approximately 3,800 jobs annually…
Sting and Shaggy to kick off co-headlining tour in Florida
Perhaps – no scratch that, definitely – the most unlikely pairing in pop music has been that of British rocker Sting and Jamaican superstar Shaggy. A musical partnership that yielded first the “Don’t Make Me Wait” single and then the 4/20 release of the full album 44/876 is now entering its most ambitious phase yet, with…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘In Search of Cruise Control’ is an entertaining exploration of sexual shipwreck
Somehow I made it through my first 15 Fringe shows without seeing a single one-man show with graphic descriptions of intercourse. Thankfully, James Gangl has sailed into town with In Search of Cruise Control, an explicit but entertaining exploration of his sexual shipwrecks. Gangl grew up in a crushingly conservative Catholic home, where he got…
Fringe 2018 review: The love triangle in ‘Jealousy’ won’t make you jealous
Awkward Al (Colton Butcher) has been in love with artistic Celia (Cameron Gagne) since school, and arrives on her doorstep begging her to run away with him. Celia says she doesn’t love Al, but keeps stringing him along under the nose of her sweaty significant other, Gunnar (Jack Kelly). Gunnar doesn’t seem to love anyone…
Severed+Said offer widescreen swamp techno at latest underground hotspot A-Shop
Severed+Said is part of a uniquely Floridian movement in dark electronics. Equally influenced by John Carpenter and dance-forward experimental stalwarts like Profligate, Severed+Said’s music and aesthetic is neck-deep in the flora, humidity and fucked noir underbelly of the Sunshine State. Less tropi-goth than widescreen swamp techno, John Touchton’s work has deep roots in the fertile…
SR50 and El Diáspora team up for El Mercado at the Henao Center
Indefatigable cultural signal boosters SR50 Magazine and el Diáspora – the Latinx booking collective – unite for one powerhouse evening of art and music and awareness with el Mercado. Local activist groups like Planned Parenthood will be on hand, as will a clutch of artists and vendors tabling varied wares. While you’re soaking in the…
Orlando, Maitland join lawsuit against Florida ban on local gun laws
Orlando and Maitland are among 10 cities to join a lawsuit this week that challenges a state ban on local gun restrictions. In Florida, elected municipal officials who pass gun regulations can be removed from office by the governor, personally sued and fined up to $5,000. Cities who try to pass restrictions can be punished…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘Fallen From the Toy Box’ fuses classical music and dance with physical comedy
The Fourth Wall Ensemble – Hilary Abigana, Greg Jukes and C. Neil Parsons – are back at Orlando Fringe with another family-friendly flight of fancy fusing classical music and dance with physical comedy. Unlike their earlier Fruit Flies offerings, which were built around dozens of bite-sized routines performed in random order, Fallen From the Toy Box…
Florida punk heavyweights Hot Water Music play two nights at the Social this weekend
For better or worse, Hot Water Music helped define what Florida punk sounded like during the ’90s and 2000s. Formed in Gainesville, the band’s brand of muscular yet melancholy riffs married to world-weary vocals and lyrics that blur the line between the personal and political is a defining feature of that town’s musical legacy. Dual…
Cannabis Corpse brings hard riffs and bong hits to Will’s Pub
So maybe “drink” is the wrong verb for this event, but we’re confident you can figure out what to do instead. Cannabis Corpse have been infusing death metal with weed jokes for more than a decade now, which would come off as forgettable schtick if they didn’t focus as hard on their music as their…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘Mo-to-the-oncle’ skewers racial stereotypes
Detroit Price (Melissa Cole) is a single father in the Bronx, struggling to make ends meet by working in an off-brand cereal factory, when he loses his optical insurance. His son Detroit Jr. (Melissa Cole) is forced to wear a monocle, the only eyewear they can afford, and is bullied at school for looking like…
JetBlue will operate three new gates at Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport will become even busier with the addition of three new gates that will be taken over by JetBlue. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority approved the expansion from 16 t0 19 new gates in the South Terminal Complex, which will accommodate six JetBlue aircrafts, according to a press release. “As the busiest airport in…
Fringe 2018 review: Mini-operas ‘Companion’ and ‘Safe Word’ are by turns steamy and silly
If you think that opera is archaic and unsexy, the first-ever Fringe show from Opera Orlando will blow your … mind. The Companion and Safe Word, a pair of dirty-minded miniature operas from Three Way, by composer Robert Paterson and librettist David Cote, should serve as ample proof that this antique art form can still…
Florida officials shouldn’t rely on feds right after hurricane, FEMA chief says
Local officials across Florida shouldn’t rely on the federal government to be on the ground everywhere a day or days after the next natural disaster, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Wednesday during the annual Governor’s Conference on Hurricanes. FEMA Administrator Brock Long bluntly stressed that his agency and others that offer…
Florida judge weighs ban on patients smoking medical marijuana
Cathy Jordan credits pot with helping her defeat the odds in the battle against Lou Gehrig’s disease she’s waged for more than 30 years. And although she can now legally obtain the cannabis treatment she’s relied on for decades, Jordan is prohibited from what she and her doctors swear is the best way for her…
State Attorney Aramis Ayala says Orange-Osceola office won’t seek bail for minor crimes
Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala says prosecutors under her administration will no longer ask judges to set bail for people charged with minor crimes. Ayala announced Wednesday that her office will recommend non-monetary release for people who don’t present a threat of violence or flight risk starting on June 1. Prosecutors in the Ninth Judicial Circuit…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘Kevin, King of Egypt’ is the final chapter in Rob Gee’s mental health trilogy
Mr. Kevin Haggerty (Rob Gee) is an articulate, charismatic man surrounded by idiots who only want to pump him full of medication, so that pharmaceutical companies can get rich and Kevin can be as depressed as everyone around him. It would be impossible not to be outraged by the injustice of his plight, except for…
SeaWorld is giving away free beer to all park guests this summer
Starting this week, guests at SeaWorld Orlando can score two free beers on every visit. The company made the announcement this afternoon, saying any guest over 21 years of age can claim two 7-ounce beers from the Mama’s Pretzel Kitchen Patio. The free beer will be available Friday, May 18, through Sept. 2, from 10:30…
Nominate your local favorites in Orlando Weekly’s Best of 2018 readers poll
Orlando Weekly readers know this city better than anyone, which is why every year we look to all of you to inform the public about the best parts of our little corner of the galaxy. From May 16 through 11:59 p.m. June 10, write in nominations for all your favorite restaurants, dog groomers, media personalities,…
Fringe 2018 review: ‘Dammit, Jim!’ is admirably open and honest
As someone who has seen every single Star Trek episode ever broadcast (excluding a couple of seasons of Enterprise that violated the Geneva Conventions against torture) I probably embody the target demographic for Polly Esther’s Dammit, Jim! I’m a Comedienne, Not a Doctor!, an alternatively spacey and serious stand-up routine about sci-fi and sobriety. Wearing…
The Orlando Magic are cursed
Was the Amway Center built on a Native American burial ground? A “yes” answer to that question might be the only way to explain just how bad the Orlando Magic’s luck has been over the past several seasons. Adding to the heartbreak, the lady of bad luck once again reared her ugly head during last…
Universal Orlando announces new Trick ‘r Treat house at Halloween Horror Nights 2018
A new house inspired by the 2007 cult Halloween film Trick ‘r Treat is coming to Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 28. Last year, the annual Halloween event featured characters from the film, including Sam, the villain and pumpkin-like creature, in some of the park’s scare zones. But this year, the cast will return to…
Whole Foods now offering Amazon Prime discounts for Florida residents
It’s Prime time in Florida. Florida residents who have an Amazon Prime membership can now receive an additional 10 percent off at Whole Foods Market. The deal starts today, after Amazon’s 2017 acquisition of Whole Foods Market. All members have to do is scan their Whole Foods Market app after linking their Amazon Prime accounts to receive the discount at…
Daytona’s Country 500 Festival announces 2018 schedule
Country 500, the country music extravaganza that takes over the Daytona International Speedway for a long weekend blowout, today announced the day-by-day breakdown of performances for the 2018 edition of the fest. And there is some heavyweight talent on offer. Friday, May 25 James Barker Band, A Thousand Horses, Randy Houser, Dierks Bentley, High Valley, Lindsay Ell, Frankie…
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs tribute to Pulse victims at interim memorial
Yo-Yo Ma performed a tribute to the victims of the Pulse mass shooting last week after the interim memorial at the gay nightclub was opened to the public. The world-renowned cellist was in Orlando on May 8 for a performance with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, which was celebrating its 25th anniversary. After the concert, Ma…
Florida has one of the highest rates for opioid-involved doctor arrests
A new study points out that Florida doctors have played a significant role in the state’s ongoing opioid crisis. The website Detox analyzed data from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s “Cases Against Doctors” report, which provides a glimpse into the arrest and prosecution rates of physicians who overprescribe pharmaceuticals across the country, and found that Florida…
Local magician Nathan Coe Marsh headlines the Orlando Improv for a night of illusions
Sure, there’s nothing worse than a bad magic act, but Orlando native Nathan Coe Marsh has proven his magical mettle on Penn & Teller: Fool Us and honed his craft on a never-ending string of tour dates. His recent acts include a segment highlighting the history of magic with illusions with roots that go back…
23 free concerts happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, May 16 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Edan Archer 9 pm at The Lucky Lure, 1427 N. Orange Ave. Thursday, May 17 Leisure Chief 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave.…
Orlando is thicc, says new study
A new study found that Orlando residents have been getting extra thicc lately, and not eating enough greens. Orlando placed 38th overall out of the 100 most populated cities in the nation in the American Fitness Index rankings by the American College of Sports Medicine. The study also found that Orlando ranks 42nd for personal health…
Publix clarifies that they don’t support the NRA, just self-described ‘proud NRA sellout’ Adam Putnam
Publix wants you to know that they don’t directly support the National Rifle Association, but they do support Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, a self-described “proud NRA sellout.” A report from the Tampa Bay Times says the Lakeland-based grocery chain has given $670,000 to Putnam over the last three years, which is a record amount of…
Tampa cancer patient asks Florida Supreme Court to let him grow medical marijuana
Arguing that “emergency relief is clearly warranted and urgently needed,” attorneys for a Tampa businessman are asking the Florida Supreme Court to step into a legal battle and allow the lung-cancer patient to grow medical marijuana for his own use. The filing late Tuesday afternoon by attorneys for Joseph Redner, who made his fortune as…
Parents of Parkland shooting victims run for school board in South Florida
With the goal of preventing another tragedy, the parents of two 14-year-old girls shot dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February are seeking election to the Broward County School Board. Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter Alyssa was among the 17 people killed in the Valentine’s Day massacre, and Ryan Petty, whose daughter Alaina also…
Corrine Brown is arguing a juror was improperly removed for saying the ‘Holy Spirit’ told him she wasn’t guilty
Prosecutors are asking a federal appeals court to uphold former Congresswoman Corrine Brown’s conviction in a charity scam, blasting her arguments that a juror was improperly dismissed because he said the “Holy Spirit” told him Brown was not guilty. In a 62-page brief filed last week in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, prosecutors…
Who’s Up, Who’s Down in Florida this week
Welcome to Orlando Weekly’s latest semi-regular column, a scatter graph where we rank Sunshine State pols’ behavior each week. Candidate making crowd-savvy moves? Elected official got a case of foot-in-mouth disease? Read about it here.
Our lead critic’s predictions for the 13 hottest Orlando Fringe shows this year
Seth’s crystal ball
ICYMI: Orlando experienced a record year for tourism. and more
Orange County approves ordinance expanding background checks on all gun purchases: Though Florida already requires a three-day waiting period for all retail sales of firearms by licensed dealers and manufacturers, last week, Orange County Commissioners approved an ordinance that closes the legal loophole allowing the sale of firearms at gun shows without a three-day waiting…
Wine Bar George is about to open at Disney Springs, a second Orlando area Domu and more in local foodie news
OPENINGS: Wine Bar George is slated for a possible opening at Disney Springs this weekend, pending final inspections. The 6,000-square-foot, two-floor space by master sommelier George Miliotes will offer more than 130 wines by the bottle, glass and ounce … Domu will open its second area location in the old Mama Louise space in the…
The best concerts coming to Orlando this week
Kenny Loggins Seventies folkie turned ’80s King of Movie soundtracks enjoyed renewed notoriety last year via a cameo on Thundercat’s album; enter the danger zone. 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, at Hard Rock Live, $65.50-$85.50 Odesza Grammy-nominated electronic duo Odesza have expanded on their initial EDM experiments to widespread commercial acclaim. (Time magazine loves ’em!) 7…
Music highlights from this year’s Orlando Fringe Outdoor Stage
Splendor in the grass
The ABCs of Orlando Fringe
We’ve updated our annual A-to-Z (all right, W) guide to getting the most out of the festival. Check out show details, festival policies and venue maps at orlandofringe.org, where you can also buy tickets, and keep an eye on Orlando Weekly’s show reviews at orlandoweekly.com/fringe2018. App Download the official Orlando Fringe app, or log into…
Opening in Orlando: Disobedience, Book Club and more
THIS WEEK: Book Club What hath E.L. James wrought? In the latest comedy aimed squarely at the Spanx set, Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen play a quartet of inveterate readers who make 50 Shades of Grey their template as they search for a more exciting life. Now, most of the women…
Legal Public Notices 5/16 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the locations indicated: 11071 University Blvd. Orlando, FL 32817 05/30/2018 9:30AM Jorge Aponte Furniture, Andrealynn Benham Household Goods, Andrealynn Boyd, Electronics, Anastaissa Alexandra Nieves Tables, entertainment center, chairs, boxes, Eduardo Dominic…
Savage Love: ‘Live at Denver’s Oriental Theater’
Savage Love Live at Denver’s Oriental Theater last week was epic. I fielded sex questions in front of a sold-out crowd, singer-songwriter Rachel Lark performed amazing news songs, comedian Elise Kerns absolutely killed it, and Tye – a token straight guy plucked at random from the audience – joined us onstage and gave some pretty…
Gimme Shelter: Meet Thumper!
Are you looking for a way to help homeless shelter pets? Meet Thumper (A400100). This little guy is currently in our foster program, growing big and strong for adoption. He arrived at the shelter with his mom and siblings when he was just two weeks old, and has spent the past six weeks in a…
Legal Public Notices 5/9 Issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices AUCTION EXTRASPACE STORAGE – STORE 1335 1101 MARSHALL FARMS RD, OCOEE FL 34761 Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 1101 Marshall Farms Rd, Ocoee FL 34761, 05/18/2018 @ 12:30 pm: Jeffery Rego Unit…
