That photo of Florida’s last Civil War veteran posing with a fighter jet is really cool, but probably not true
This super cool photo of a supposed Civil War vet from Florida vibin’ out next to a fighter jet has been making the Internet rounds today, and while it’s completely badass to look at, it’s not entirely true. Claiming to be a member of the Confederate Army, William Lundy was 107 when this photo was…
Orlando cupcake queen Miss Holly to battle it out on Cake Wars
Hollis Wilder, a Winter Park-based cupcake queen and three-time Cupcake Wars champion, will be returning to the small screen in July to compete in the new Food Network show Cake Wars. Wilder will be appearing in one episode where she and three other contestants will bake a dream wedding cake for a soon-to-be bride and groom. The winner will…
A fat LIP: Feds come after Gov. Rick Scott and his health-care complaint
Describing the state’s arguments as “baseless,” federal officials this week fired back in court against Gov. Rick Scott’s contention that the Obama administration has unconstitutionally tried to link expanding Medicaid with the continuation of a key health-care funding program. In documents filed late Monday in federal court in Pensacola, the U.S. Department of Health and…
Drag Race superstar Ginger Minj debuts new video, rocks your freakin pants off
She may not have won Rupaul’s Drag Race, but Orlando’s top-three finalist Ginger Minj just hit the ground running with her debut single and video for “Ooh Lala Lala”. Her debut track features background vocals by local diva Janine Klein, as well as an all-star cast of talent from the city beautiful. The song itself…
This Wednesday, The Queen of Versailles will be paired with the guy from 7th Heaven on Celebrity Wife Swap
This Wednesday (June 3rd), ABC’s reality show Celebrity Wife Swap will feature Orlando natives Jackie and David Siegel, known for their roles in the documentary film, The Queen of Versailles. In this week’s episode, The Queen will be paired up with actor Jeremy London, that guy from hit television shows like 7th Heaven, Crossing Jordan and…
According to study, Orlando ranks 1st in nation for ‘staycations’
In what might be the most unsurprising news of the year, Orlando recently took top honors in a study ranking cities for “staycations,” you know, when you have to make the most of staying put in your hometown because you’re too broke to go anywhere. Wallethub’s 2015’s Best & Worst Cities for Staycations, ranked Orlando as 1st…
SWAT team action at 55 West: officers were shot at but suspect’s gun jammed
On Friday, May 29, an armed man attempted to shoot police officers serving a search warrant in downtown Orlando. When SWAT officers went to apartment 2005 at the 55 W. Church St. building – aka the 55 West apartment building – they deployed a “diversionary device” inside the apartment then rushed inside. Officers heard what…
People are pissed at this Florida artist for wrapping his house in tin foil
Tarpon Springs resident and foil enthusiast Piotr Janowski was inspired by Florida’s natural beauty in such a way that he decided to cover his house and surrounding property with aluminum foil. Now, it would appear his neighbors think it looks like garbage. “This is art,” Janowski said to the Tampa Bay Times. “In their thick,…
CityWalk’s NBC Sports Grill & Brew officially announced for fall 2015
Sports-loving theme park fans rejoice: You finally have a place to grab a brew and bask in the reflected glory of oversized athletes between laps on the “Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts” ride. To the shock of absolutely no one, Universal Orlando today confirmed what legal filings had confirmed weeks ago, and announced…
A Florida man was sentenced to one year in prison for sending drug-laced mail to his jail buddies
William Hahne, a Boward County resident, former chemical engineer and penpal, was sentenced to one year and three months in federal prison for sending hallucinogen-laced postcards to his jail friends. As first reported by the Sun Sentinel, Hahne plead guilty last Friday to two federal conspiracy charges for mailing an LSD-like dug called NBOMe to…
This Little Underground: Melt Banana, The Hamiltons (Backbooth)
Although Japanese noise punks Melt Banana have a long history of playing Orlando, they don’t come all that often, the last time being about a handful of years ago. So each time they roll through, it’s like the warm excitation of seeing an old friend – a dear, volcanic old friend. Once you’ve tasted it,…
Watch this fun recap video of Whiskey Business 2015
As the old saying goes, “If you have whiskey, they will come.” Er, something like that. But anyway, our booze-centric party Whiskey Business 2015 was a huge success; the tickets sold out, the whiskey was flowin’, the dancers were dancin’ and the bands were rockin’! Thanks again to all of our sponsors and everyone who made…
Minimum wage earners have to work 77 hours a week to afford an apartment in Florida
It’s nothing new that the cost of living and the minimum wage are incredibly disproportionate and thus obtaining a happy, healthy and fulfilling life a crappy balancing act for today’s society. However, did you know it was this skewed? According to the 2015 report from the Out Of Reach program, an organization that researches the cost…
First Watch to buy the Egg & I restaurants
Southwest-Florida-based brunch chain First Watch is set to purchase Colorado’s The Egg & I brand, according to a report by Sarasota’s Herald-Tribune. First Watch, which has eight locations in Central Florida (all full to the brim from open to close, we might add), has disclosed that some of the Egg & I locations will immediately…
Shots were fired after a SWAT team shuts down block in downtown Orlando
Friday afternoon, May 29, a SWAT team was deployed in downtown Orlando at the 55 West building on 55 W. Church St. Orlando Police Officers and the SWAT team were serving a search warrant at apartment No. 2005. Details of the warrant have yet to be released. According to OPD, SWAT officers entered…
The mystery continues with Moonmen From Mars at Will’s Pub tonight
The ever-mysterious Moonmen From Mars are still riding out the Fear & Terror of their release earlier this year, but they’ve already got four new songs they’re laying down (as well as an announced new cover of the Breeders’ “Divine Hammer”). Whether you’re just looking for one reason to go out or many, though, this…
Find a swell time at West End’s Hurricane Party with the Movement, Ballyhoo!, Whole Wheat Bread and more
Actual hurricanes don’t just cutely “stir it up.” No, no, actual hurricanes suck and at their least intrusive loot us of our air conditioning and at their most shake communities to their core. But West End Trading Company’s annual Hurricane Party is more like the apple of the hurricane’s eye – with gusts of reggae…
Hi-Rez proves his Big Mac reputation this weekend at Backbooth
At the end of April, Ft. Lauderdale rapper Hi-Rez posted a video on his YouTube channel (@zipkid99) where he rapped his entire McDonald’s order while at a restaurant in New York City. He basically flows through the whole menu (and a McFlurry, two of those!) while the cashier makes absolutely no attempt to push any…
Orange County Animal Services to host Hot Dogs and Cool Cats adoptathon on May 30
Have you seen all of the animals available for adoption at Orange County Animal Services? There are tons of them – seriously, check out our galleries, where we post about 15-30 new dogs and cats that have come into the shelter twice per week. Here’s the most recent one. Look how cute: On Saturday, May…
Market report: Clemons Produce has fresh rambutans, neon eggplant
Temperatures have been in the 90s for a couple of weeks now, but if you’re one of those who seeks the signs of nature to signal the seasons, here you go. The rambutans are out, so it’s summer. No question about it. Clemons Produce has them for $3.99/lb, and we’re guessing they’ll be popping up…
Orlando City Soccer Club is going to privately fund construction of new soccer stadium
Today, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the Orlando City Soccer Club announced that the soccer club is no longer going to wait for the state to figure out whether it’ll provide any funding for the construction of a new soccer-specific stadium in Orlando. Instead, the city has agreed to sell the site where it planned…
Orlando is getting a Cake Boss bakery
Calling all dessert lovers, reality TV junkies and shopaholics alike. Looking for a justification to feast on fancy cakes and cupcakes from one of the most popular bakeries in America? Starting this summer, you will have to look no further for this opportunity than the Florida Mall. The Orlando Business Journal reports that Carlo’s Bakery,…
Let the planning begin! Orlando Weekly’s Bite 30 starts Monday, June 1
Get out your maps and double up on the Lipitor – this year’s Bite 30 is upon us. And with 27 different menus to choose from, you’re going to need to be very crafty in order to try them all by June 30. If you’re new to town or just to Bite 30, here’s the…
New Kids on the Block revive their R&B and hip-hop roots with TLC and Nelly at Amway Center
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK with TLC, Nelly 7 p.m. Friday, June 5 | Amway Center, 400 W. Church St. | 407-440-7000 | amwaycenter.com | $28-$89.50 For New Kids on the Block’s fourth full-fledged American tour since reuniting in 2007, the group that brought boy bands back into the pop mainstream in the late 1980s…
Orlando woman claims she was rejected for waitressing job because her legs are too muscular
Victoria Smith, a 29-year-old exercise enthusiast and aspiring waitress, recently told Jezebel she was rejected for a server job at Orlando’s The Tilted Kilt, because her legs were too muscular. According to Jezebel, Smith met with staff at the Tilted Kilt for three rounds of interviews last week. “The first was brief but went well,…
New African-inspired cuisine announced at Disney’s Harambe Market
Harambe Market takes the open-air marketplace style of the Sunshine Ranch Market at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and reimagines it in an African setting. There are four “vendors” that each feature a specific specialty. Kitamu Grill features skewered chicken and a flatbread kebab sandwich. Famous Sausages features a South African boerewors-inspired sausage that will be dipped…
Video: Cobra’s Curse family coaster coming to Busch Gardens Tampa in 2016
While Universal Orlando’s announcement of their Volcano Bay water park may have drowned out Busch Garden’s ballyhoo a bit, the Tampa theme park also released information on a big addition this morning. A select group of media were invited to the construction site of Cobra’s Curse to hear details on Busch Gardens Tampa’s 2016 family…
4 Orlando spots to celebrate National Burger Day
We didn’t invent it (hi, Germany!), but we’ll sure as hell celebrate America’s favorite cook-out food. Today is National Burger Day, so you’ll surely want to be as patriotic as possible and sit down in front of one of Orlando’s best burgers tonight. Here are some of our favorites: H&H Pimento Cheese Burger Highball &…
The Queen of Versailles hired a knife-wielding bunny for her annual Easter party
This short documentary-style video follows Jacqueline Siegel, star of the 2012 film The Queen of Versailles, as she and her husband host their annual Easter party, an event that undoubtedly showed kids what Easter is all about: demented murder rabbits. For some reason, Mrs. Siegel thought it would be hilarious to show the kids in attendance a…
Chef Mickey’s is now serving brunch
Orlando does brunch like few other places and starting May 31, a brand-new brunch option will be available. Chef Mickey’s, the popular breakfast and dinner spot in the Contemporary Resort, will now offer a brunch option. Pulling menu items from both of the current menus, the new menu will include soups, salads, barbecue ribs, seafood…
Universal Orlando announces new Volcano Bay water park
Universal Orlando just unveiled a new volcano-themed water park called Volcano Bay. According to their blog, construction is already underway and the new water park will be located south of Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. The new attraction is slated to open in 2017 and will be the resort’s third immersive park. From the press release: …
Court limits damages in lawsuit over 2008 death of UCF athlete Ereck Plancher
Seven years after University of Central Florida football player Ereck Plancher collapsed and died during conditioning drills, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that his parents are limited to collecting $200,000 in a lawsuit they filed in the high-profile death. Justices, in a 6-0 decision, found that UCF Athletics Association, Inc., which administers the university’s…
Watch this hair-raising compilation of Florida’s worst red-light offenders
If you’re driving right now—for the love of everything sacred—please, put your damn phone down. Pieced together by the folks at American Traffic Solutions (ATS), this video is a terrifying compilation of this year’s gnarliest red-light runners in Florida. According to ATS, Florida ranks 3rd in the country for red-light related traffic fatalities. For a list of…
Judge clears the way for patients to finally get non-euphoric medical marijuana in Florida
Patients could have access to long-awaited, non-euphoric pot products by the end of the year, after a judge on Wednesday rejected a challenge to a proposed rule setting up the medical marijuana industry in Florida. Department of Health officials could begin processing applications for the low-THC cannabis within 41 days of Wednesday’s decision by Administrative…
People are now getting robbed by fake cops in Florida
Two separate instances involving a fake cop pulling over a car and robbing the victims blind occurred last Sunday and Monday. As first reported by the Orlando Sentinel, Sunday’s incident occurred around 2:45 p.m. on Memorial Boulevard in Lakeland, near the Lone Palm Golf Course. The fake cop somehow pulled over a man and…
Noodle lovers unite at Asian Cultural Festival this Saturday
If you count pho, soba, pad thai, lo mein or ramen among your five major food groups, the AAHC Asian Cultural Festival that takes place this Saturday in Fashion Square Mall is probably going to be the highlight of your weekend. Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the festival highlights the cultural diversity of Japan,…
When “Goddessey” becomes a boutique and an adjective at the same time. Crist almighty!
There really aren’t any words to describe this particular revelation other than “Goddessy,” so maybe we’ll leave it at that. Several sources are reporting that former Florida Governor and perennial potato chip Charlie Crist, who might be in whatever political party you want him to be, is pushing his wife’s boutique of hot pants and…
SeaWorld announces details on Orlando’s ‘tallest, fastest and longest coaster’
It’s called the Mako, and SeaWorld Orlando is billing this new “hypercoaster” as the “tallest, fastest and longest coaster in Orlando.” The new ride is set to debut in the summer of 2016 and according to SeaWorld, the Mako is designed for speed and “relentless air time.” Named after the extremely speedy shark, the 200-foot-tall…
15 free concerts this week in Orlando (5/27-6/2)
Wednesday, May 27 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 p.m. at Lil Indies The Imperial’s Acoustic Soundcheck with Rick Krasowski 9 p.m. at the Imperial Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 p.m. at the Caboose Thursday, May 28 Leisure Chief 10 p.m. at Tanqueray’s Thomas Wynn 7 p.m. at the Outpost…
A Florida fisherman caught a disturbingly large fish last weekend
Nothing to see here, except another reason to never go in the ocean. While fishing off the coast of Florida’s Sanibel Island last weekend Jon Black, a man from Cape Coral, caught this massive sea beast while sitting in his sea kayak. It’s actually a Goliath Grouper, to be specific. According to Black, the fish…
Couchsurfing: Grace and Frankie dips gracefully and frankly into uncharted territory
Ever since the marijuana-laced imaginary scenarios that captivated middle-class working women in 9 to 5, the world has been – OK, this writer has been – anxiously anticipating a repeat of the interplay between Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda (collating is hard!). With Grace and Frankie, an intended binge-watch of the Netflix variety, we get…
Gov. Scott’s chair admits he has no idea what he’s doing with Healthcare Commission
“The option to expand Medicaid to low-income adults remains available to the state, and as described later in this letter, could provide an estimated revenue increase of $2 billion annually to the Florida hospitals over and above funding through sources such as the LIP … The decision about whether or not to expand Medicaid is…
Feedback: Adam and the Plastic, Rock Art Show & Sale, Blue Bamboo Music Center
Music updates from around town
Melt Banana warps found sound for more than two decades of apocalyptic pop
Listen to Japan’s Melt Banana. That’s probably how the world will sound when it ends. The crash and chaos, the alarmed, screeching vocals, the mysterious sounds of unidentifiable origins – it’s a rush for sonic thrillseekers willing to leap off a cliff and ricochet off jagged edges of hardcore, punk, pop, metal and noise, only…
Beat Happening: Kill Paris, Pathos Pathos and more
Dance it out this week in Orlando
This Little Underground: The adventurism of Jim Ivy’s Tangled Bell Ensemble
The local rule is that if Jim Ivy is involved, it’s gonna be weird or smart, often both. For the consistently intriguing music monthly the In-Between Series, he rolled out a rather grand conceptual experiment with the debut of his Tangled Bell Ensemble (May 18, Gallery at Avalon Island). Using the early 20th-century poetry of…
Maitland walk-up joint Shish.Co Mezze & Grill channels a night out in Istanbul
Parking lots at night are typically magnets for hoodlums and ruffians, yet the paved parcel at 118 Lake Ave. in Maitland attracts a different sort of character after dusk – the intrepid gastronome. They come from parts unknown, driving into this crammed lot for an opportunity to sample the Turkish delights coming from the glass-blocked…
Chef Eddie’s open on West Church Street, Sushi Pop expands, plus six new restaurants
Chef shuffle: Farm-Haus, Orlando’s farm-to-table dinner delivery service, has announced CIA graduate Julian De Garden as their new head chef. And chef de cuisine Joe Cournoyer-Burnett and sous-chef Elek Kovacs are leaving the Ravenous Pig for “a new hog pen” – said pen being Baldwin Park’s new Osprey Tavern. Chef Nick Sierputowski, most recently at…
A not-too-comprehensive review of Orlando’s significant trees
Back in March, a controversy sprouted in the oddest of places – someone was spotted taking soil borings from the ground in a small, nondescript park near downtown Orlando called Constitution Green. The park, a patch of grass with a handful of massive old oak trees, is owned by a private organization called Mabel Groves…
Savage Love (5-27-15)
You often mention asexual people. I believe I may be one. I’m a 51-year-old woman. I’ve been separated from my opposite-sex partner for nearly nine years. I’ve been approached by a variety of men, each one interested in becoming “more than friends.” I haunt Craigslist’s “platonic m4w” section, but each time I reach out to…
The 24th annual Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival was a big effin’ deal
Time to clutch your lanyards, festival fanatics, for these will be my final words on the Fringe for 2015 … or at least until I share some event statistics in the June edition of Culture 2 Go. As you may have inferred from our saturation coverage in our past couple of print issues and online,…
Check out the artisanal skill of hand-painted signs at ‘Kenji Nakayama: The Quick Brown Fox’
Sometimes you’ll see a faint image shimmering off the side of a brick building – a ghostly reminder of what ad signage used to be before vinyl banners and precut plastic stick-on letters. Without diving too deep into the technical with a discussion of leading and kerning, let’s just stipulate that hand-painted lettering’s very imperfections…
Free Will Astrology (5-27-15)
ARIES (March 21-April 19) Keith Moon played drums for the rock band the Who. He was once voted the second-greatest drummer in history. But his erratic behavior, often provoked by drugs or alcohol, sometimes interfered with his abilities. In 1973, the Who was doing a live concert near San Francisco when the horse tranquilizer that…
Gimme Shelter (5/27/15)
Olaf is an adorable 5-month-old kitten who was recently surrendered to the shelter because a family member was allergic to him. He is a friendly cat who loves to be petted. He also really enjoys walking around and exploring. Cat adoption fees are currently $40 at Orange County Animal Services, but the shelter is running…
Lulu Eightball (5-27-15)
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