Cover Story
COVID-19 pushes a Central Florida domestic violence epidemic into the shadows
For some, ‘safer at home’ isn’t the case
After COVID-19 tragedy, political newcomer Tony Tsonis runs for Florida House District 48
Part 2 of a series of candidate profiles in the Florida House of Representatives District 48 election to replace Rep. Amy Mercado. – Tony Tsonis, a former professional marketing manager in the hospitality sector, is running for Florida House of Representatives in District 48. “As I pulled back the layers I became more and more…
To reassure the public it’s safe to travel, Florida hotel chains are partnering with the biggest brands in cleaning
There has been plenty of talk of the “new normal,” and now we’re starting to learn what that means for hotels. The biggest change is the renewed focus on brand-name cleanliness. In recent weeks more than two dozen major hotel chains have announced partnerships with health organizations, universities, and cleaning product companies. April 21 saw Marriott…
Sanford company avoids layoffs by making coronavirus safety products
Charles McCarthy, owner of McCarthy Fabrications, has sold more than 9,000 units of a hand sanitizer stand that has helped his business stay afloat amid the pandemic. McCarthy Fabrications, a construction and small scale contract manufacturing company based in Sanford, is open for business because of McCarthy’s idea to manufacture a type of hand sanitizer…
Florida’s theme parks are reopening but there is still a lot that is unknown
As Florida’s tourism industry looks to reopen, so far, there has been no uniform approach to it. Each of the major theme park operators have set different reopening dates and different safety protocols. This has led to confusion on what has and hasn’t been confirmed. The first of the big three park operators will be…
Black Lives Matter op-ed: In 2020, I learned that my biggest fear is not irrational, and I am not OK.
I am a writer. I am a university graduate. I am a musician. I am a child welfare worker. I love my family and friends. I love the company I work for. I love food. I am a daughter, a granddaughter and a sister. I am a best friend. I am a neighbor. I have…
Orange County opens applications for CARES Act funds for small businesses and residents on Monday
Next week, local residents and small business owners might be able to indulge in a quick moment of guarded optimism as Orange County opens applications to receive much-needed federal CARES Act funds. After delaying a week for more time to prepare staff and resources, Orange County will open applications on Monday, June 8, for individuals…
Annual Orlando Pulse remembrance ceremony to be held virtually for the first time
On June 12, 2016, 49 people were killed at the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando. Since then, the onePULSE Foundation has held an annual remembrance ceremony to honor all 49 victims at the Pulse Interim Memorial, and this year’s ceremony will be held virtually at 7 p.m. Friday, June 12. In a onePULSE Foundation news release,…
Orlando may be in the running to host the Republican National Convention this summer
Did you think that this summer couldn’t get any worse? Well, buckle up, because President Trump took to Twitter Tuesday night to declare that he’s moving August’s Republican National Convention out of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Republican sources have told CNN that Orlando is one of the cities in the mix as a Plan B.…
Legal Public Notices 6/3 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices AUCTION Extra Space Storage – Store 7107 6174 S Goldenrod Road, Orlando, FL 32822 Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 6174 S Goldenrod Road, Orlando, FL 32822 (407) 955-4137, June 23, 2020 @…
Florida bars and lounges are pressuring DeSantis to reopen
Gov. Ron DeSantis is under increasing pressure to let bar owners again pour spirits and ring the bell for last call. Local elected officials are telling the governor that bar and nightclub owners whose businesses rely on alcohol for 50 percent of revenue are getting desperate watching from the sidelines, a month into the first…
Florida Sen. Rick Scott backs Trump’s ‘law-and-order’ rhetoric towards Justice for Floyd protesters
Following Gov. DeSantis’ blustery and foolish ‘zero tolerance’ statement about the protests happening throughout the state calling for justice for George Floyd, Trump’s other favorite Floridian, Sen. Rick Scott, chimed in, pleased as punch with Trump’s favored tactics. Scott appeared on CNBC this morning and, no surprises, fell right in line after offering lightning-quick condolences…
Disney may use the pandemic as the excuse to finally overhaul Fastpass and Extra Magic Hours
For years, Disney has been looking at how to adequately address the issues deeply embedded within the FastPass+ system the company spent nearly $2 billion on at Walt Disney World. Now, thanks to the pandemic, it looks like they may have found their solution. After a fourteen-year run with the paper FastPass system, FastPass+ was…
Florida’s Big Cat CEO Carole Baskin will take over Joe Exotic’s tiger zoo
Carole Baskin will soon own Joe Exotic’s tiger zoo. A federal judge ruled Monday that the 16-acre Oklahoma property containing the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park formerly owned by Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is to be handed over to his rival Baskin. The exotic zoo will become property of Baskin’s Big…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis extends ban on foreclosures and evictions for another month
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis extended the statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures sparked by the coronavirus pandemic to July 1, just hours before it was set to expire. The month-long extension was publicly announced as an executive order at 7:45 p.m. Monday, after no previous mention from DeSantis regarding the issue. The moratorium would have…
Lauraleigh Avery appointed as new head of Orange County Emergency Management on Tuesday
Orange County has a new Emergency Manager with the appointment Lauraleigh Avery to the post. The Orange County Board of Commissioners appointed Avery to head up Emergency Management during their meeting today, and she is the first woman to hold this position. Avery started with the Orange County Fire Rescue Department in the early 1990s…
Cristobal forms in the Gulf, bringing increased chances of rain to Central Florida just as hurricane season begins
The 2020 Hurricane Season started yesterday, and we already have our third named storm. Tropical Storm Cristobal formed this afternoon, according to a Tuesday outlook from the National Hurricane Center, the system is headed north while moving at a near standstill on the Western coast of the Gulf of Mexico, where a tropical storm warning…
Justice for George Peaceful Protest set for Orlando City Hall on Tuesday
This afternoon will see a large Justice for George peaceful protest at Orlando City Hall in Downtown Orlando to demand both immediate justice for the wrongful death of George Floyd and broader systemic change and overhaul of policing in the United States. There have been daily protests downtown since Friday in response to the killing…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Tuesday, June 2, 2020
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. Florida’s Tourism Numbers Are Trickling In Post Pandemic The first post pandemic tourism numbers are in and while the initial indicators aren’t too bad, they promise to get…
Florida Gov. DeSantis calls George Floyd’s death ‘appalling,’ declares ‘zero tolerance for violence’
For the first time since a string of protests erupted in Florida against police brutality, Gov. Ron DeSantis late Monday afternoon said the state has “zero tolerance for violence, rioting and looting.” “George Floyd’s murder was appalling, and the Minnesota perpetrators need to be brought to justice, but this cannot be used as a pretext…
Three more Florida inmates died of COVID-19 over the weekend
Three Florida inmates died over the weekend from complications of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, the state Department of Corrections reported on Monday. The identities of the three inmates and the prisons where they were housed were not immediately disclosed. As of Monday, 15 state prisoners had died after contracting the virus.…
Feed the Need rallies to keep Orlando arts and theme park communities fed
4 Rivers’ affiliated aid group Feed the Need, in partnership with St. Luke’s United Methodist Church on South Apopka Vineland Road, distributes hundreds of free meals and fresh produce weekly, no questions asked, to members of Orlando’s arts community, performers and entertainment workers. Feed the Need is a new arm of 4 Rivers BBQ founder John…
Central Florida’s biggest theme parks are still planning plenty of new things this year
By this point, everyone knows that things won’t be the same once Central Florida’s theme parks reopen, but it isn’t all bad. Multiple parks are scheduled to open new attractions in the coming months. Busch Gardens Tampa’s newest attraction, Iron Gwazi, is likely the readiest, expected to open when (or not long after) the park itself…
Florida tourism took a 10 percent hit last quarter due to the coronavirus pandemic
Tourism in Florida fell 10.7 percent in the first quarter of 2020 from the same period a year earlier, and the estimate may be optimistic. The final month of the quarter, March, was impacted heavily by the COVID-19 pandemic, which essentially shut down the hospitality industry statewide. A report posted online by Visit Florida, the…
LaShawnda K. Jackson becomes first Black president of the Orange County Bar Association
LaShawnda K. Jackson, a partner at the law firm RumbergerKirk, has become president of the Orange County Bar Association in Orlando. Jackson is the OCBA’s first black president since the group’s founding in 1933. Jackson practices in the areas of casualty and product liability, and received her law degree from the University of Florida. She’s been…
Kissimmee Police Department to march in solidarity with anti-racism protesters on Monday
The Kissimmee Police Department announced on Monday they are joining protesters calling for an end to police violence. “The Kissimmee Police Department will be marching in solidarity with residents in Downtown Kissimmee tonight during a peaceful protest against police misconduct or brutality,” said the message, attributed to Chief Jeffrey M. O’Dell. Police will meet residents at…
Anti-racism protests all weekend in Orlando, and around the world, call for ‘Justice for George Floyd’
In the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis ex-police officer Derek Chauvin, emotional anti-racism protests erupted across the United States – and around the world – with Central Florida no different over the weekend. Protests began in earnest in Orlando late last Thursday night in Windermere, when news spread that Chauvin owned a…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Monday, June 1, 2020
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. Protests Take Over As We Settle Into Yet Another New Normal Just as we were settling into our “new normal”, our normal changed. Looking for justice for George…
Half of Florida’s COVID-19 deaths linked to long-term care
In a stark reminder of the toll of COVID-19 on seniors and their caregivers, slightly more than half of the reported deaths of Floridians from the disease are now linked to long-term care facilities, state figures show. Florida topped the 50 percent threshold in numbers released Saturday by the state Department of Health. A report…
Take one last musical Big Pause today courtesy of Southern Fried Sunday
Update: This event will now start around 1:30 p.m. Follow the event page for up0dates and changes to the schedule. The run time of the event might also be impacted due to today’s announcement of a curfew in Orange County. For two months – pretty much from the moment that venues were forced to close their…
Testing every assisted living resident and staff in Florida could cost tens of millions
A new study suggests that testing every assisted living and nursing home resident and staff member for COVID-19 just once across Florida could cost $43 million dollars. The study, conducted by the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living, predicts that for the entire country it would be over $672 million…
Protesters in Orlando demand ‘Justice for George Floyd’ from Windermere to Orlando
Five days after the death of unarmed Black father George Floyd under the knee of white, now-former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, protests Saturday from Windermere to downtown Orlando joined those taking place across the nation. Three separate protests were staged in the Orlando area, starting with ongoing demonstrations in front of Chauvin’s Windermere home at noon, followed by multiple…
Gov. DeSantis vows to appeal court decision restoring felons’ voting rights
Florida elections officials are moving ahead to comply with a federal judge’s order that could pave the way for hundreds of thousands of felons to register and vote without paying court-ordered fines and restitution, even as Gov. Ron DeSantis initiated an appeal of the ruling on Friday. Florida Division of Elections Director Maria Matthews sent…
NASA administrator says Trump watching new vehicle launch in person was ‘a big risk’ politically
In an interview on NASA’s “Launch America” approximately 18 minutes after the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said he watched the launch with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, and that Trump’s attendance at Wednesday’s earlier launch attempt was “a big risk.” Interviewer Derrol Nail of NASA…
SpaceX and NASA successfully launch historic Falcon 9 mission from Cape Canaveral
SpaceX and NASA successfully launched the new Falcon 9 spacecraft from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, shortly after 3:22 p.m. The historic launch marks the first time in nine years that American astronauts have been launched in an American rocket on American soil. Due to poor weather conditions on Wednesday, the originally scheduled launch had been…
Lawyers for state of Florida and NRA agree mediation would be ‘fruitless’ in fight over gun law
The National Rifle Association and Florida officials are asking a federal judge to drop court-ordered mediation in a lawsuit challenging a 2018 state law that prevents people under age 21 from purchasing firearms. The ban was included in a sweeping law passed in response to the Feb. 14, 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas…
Osprey Tavern in Baldwin Park restructures and transforms into a seafood restaurant
Back in March, when COVID-19 brought our restaurant industry to its knees, Jason Chin, who runs Osprey Tavern, Seito Sushi Baldwin Park and Reyes Mezcaleria with his wife Sue, told me it was without a doubt the most extreme and trying times they’d ever experienced and that it had left his business few options to…
Step into virtual rave the Gaytrix featuring local DJs and musicians on Zoom this Sunday
Update, Sunday, May 31: The event has been canceled. There is a statement from the organizers here. What if I told you that even though raves, like most live music, are off the table for a while, enterprising promoters are figuring out new ways to keep bodies moving … just at a slight remove? Next…
You can drop off letters, donations for family of George Floyd at Saturday ‘pull up’ in Eatonville
On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Equal Ground Education Fund will host a drive-by letter drop off for George Floyd and his family called Pull Up for George Floyd. Video of Floyd’s death while handcuffed and knelt upon by a Minneapolis police officer has sparked protests across the country to end police…
Orlando painter Robert Ross opens solo exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach
Daytona’s Museum of Arts & Sciences joined other Central Florida museums in reopening to the general public this month, and when they opened their doors, it was with a new exhibit that should be of particular interest to Orlandoans. “Unique Perspectives: Paintings by Robert Ross” is currently on display at the museum’s Gary R. Libby…
Some Florida Publix and Home Depot locations will start offering COVID-19 tests
On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new partnership with three Home Depot and three Publix stores to act as COVID-19 testing sites. “If you’re shopping and you want to get a test, you have the ability, very easy access, you don’t even have to leave the parking lot to be able to do…
Gov. Ron DeSantis approves reopening Walt Disney World and SeaWorld Orlando
Gov. Ron DeSantis approved on Friday plans by Walt Disney World and SeaWorld to reopen. Both theme park companies had presented their plans to reopen on May 27, and received approval from an Orange County task force. Both parks will implement numerous safety guidelines to ensure guest safety, such as physical distancing, contactless interactions, temperature screening and required…
Snap Orlando photo gallery will leave the Cameo Theatre after six years in Mills 50
Just after celebrating their 10th anniversary this month, Snap Orlando announced it is leaving its Mills 50 location at the end of the year. Snap has operated a gallery at the historic Cameo Theatre space on Colonial for six years but will be moving out to focus more on public art exhibitions. Founders Holly and Patrick…
You can eat your Buffalo Wild Wings at select locations starting Friday
If you love Buffalo Wild Wings, this one’s for you. “B-Dubs” is reopening select Orlando-area locations on Friday, giving you another spot to watch dozens of enormous TVs and eat slightly better-than-average wings. And you once again have a place to bring your dad. They’re taking the usual new safety precautions: The restaurants will open at…
Disney World clarifies new reservations system and resort hotel reopening date
On Wednesday, Walt Disney World presented plans to reopen on July 11 and July 15 to an Orange County task force. The task force and Orange County Major Jerry Demings approved the plan and Disney now continues to await approval from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. One key feature that Disney has implemented is a reservations…
Protesters gather outside Orange County home of Minneapolis cop who killed George Floyd
Updated, 1:45 p.m. | Derek Chauvin has been arrested in Minnesota, in connection with George Floyd’s death. – Derek Chauvin, the now-former Minneapolis police officer who was seen kneeling on George Floyd’s neck before he died on Monday, owns a home in Windermere, and local Twitter users have pinpointed the address. Protesters have been surrounding Chauvin’s home…
For the first time in history, a third named storm could form in the Atlantic before hurricane season starts
The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season doesn’t officially start until June 1, and we may already see our third named storm. A new disturbance over the central Atlantic now has a 50% chance of development into a subtropical depression tonight or Saturday, according to a Friday morning outlook from the National Hurricane Center. Currently, this sizable…
Florida University System leaders approve blueprint for reopening UCF, other state schools
The Florida university system’s governing board on Thursday approved a broad blueprint for how to reopen campuses in the fall, which will help schools as they work to finalize their individual plans over the next two weeks. State university system Chancellor Marshall Criser told the Board of Governors that each university will have the flexibility…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Friday, May 29, 2020
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. Manned Tollbooths Will Welcome Drivers Starting Monday Grab your quarters, tollbooth operators are ready to welcome you back Monday morning. – LINK COVID-19 is even impacting the way we…
Judge rejects order trying to force Florida into fixing its unemployment system
Pointing to the constitutional separation of powers, a Leon County circuit judge Thursday refused to order the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to take steps to “fix” the state’s much-maligned unemployment compensation system to process and pay claims. Judge John Cooper turned down a request for a preliminary injunction in a potential class-action lawsuit filed…
State Cabinet approves Florida Forever land conservation deals
Gov. Ron DeSantis and state Cabinet members drew praise from environmentalists Thursday after agreeing to spend $79 million on seven Florida Forever land deals. The deals include protecting thousands of acres in Franklin and Wakulla counties that include frontage on the Gulf of Mexico and conserving a chunk of property in Hendry County that is…
Watch as SeaWorld Orlando rescues and rehabilitates bottlenose dolphin
SeaWorld Orlando announced the rescue and rehabilitation of an injured 26-year-old bottlenose dolphin on Thursday, but cannot release him into the wild. The adult male dolphin was rescued from the Florida Keys in July of last year, where he was found stranded in shallow water with pneumonia and significant weight loss. Since his rescue last…
Seminole Tax Collector Joel Greenberg says he’s tested positive for COVID-19
Controversial Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg said Thursday afternoon that he’s tested positive for COVID-19. “Today, May 28th, I tested positive for COVID and I will be doing a self quarantine for the next two weeks,” said Greenberg in the video. “I feel fine.” Last month, he told constituents on social media to disobey…
First Florida location of NYC juice bar Pure Green to open in Orlando
Time to give your lockdown diet a fresh twist. A lot of us have put on roughly (COVID-)19,000 pounds thanks to not walking anywhere besides the fridge, stress-induced comfort food binges and way more takeout than usual. But there’s a new player in town that may help mitigate the unhealthy aspects of takeout. Pure Green,…
Orlando venue the Abbey reopens today and through the weekend
In line with the continued reopening of the state, Orlando venue the Abbey announced yesterday via their Facebook page that they are opening their doors today and through the weekend, with food, cocktails and, yes, even live music on offer through the weekend. As of this writing the Abbey will be open with modified hours…
Getting a driver’s license in Florida will be different during the coronavirus pandemic
Florida’s newest drivers still need to take behind-the-wheel tests to get licenses, but they should expect some changes in the way tests are conducted, at least while the coronavirus is still around. In a memo this month, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said that as state offices reopen to the public…
The Garden Theatre announces new dates for 2020-2021 season, now kicking off in late August
Winter Garden’s Garden Theatre has announced a revised set of opening dates for their 2020-2021 season of productions – now starting in late August of this year – and the steps they will be taking to ensure theatergoers have a safer experience when the doors of this venerable venue are open again. The new schedule for their…
For widow of Eric Garner, George Floyd’s death ‘was like watching my husband die all over again’
Three words still haunt Esaw Garner six years after her husband Eric Garner was killed by a New York Police Department officer during an arrest for selling loose cigarettes. Those same three words rang in her ears again Tuesday night. “I can’t breathe,” were the words Eric Garner repeated 11 times while Officer Daniel Pantaleo…
Orlando’s Addition Financial Arena will host virtual tour stop from Sony artist Kellie Rose in June
Addition Financial Arena today announced that it will be hosting a virtual tour stop from Sony Records pop act Kellie Rose in early June. Rose, who released her debut single “I’m Fine” through Sony on May 1, launched her 12-stop virtual tour earlier this month. Each night of the tour, she goes live on the social…
Toll attendants returning to work in Orlando
Cash collections at toll booths will resume Monday in Central Florida, with safeguards to protect attendants from COVID-19. The Florida Department of Transportation and the Central Florida Expressway Authority announced Wednesday the return of toll attendants. “This is in coordination with Central Florida Expressway Authority and includes portions of the Beachline Expressway (SR 528), the…
Bowie and Beyonce photographer Markus Klinko takes you ‘Behind the Lens’ on Instagram Live this afternoon
If you find yourself doomscrolling Instagram this afternoon, give yourself a little break and check out fashion and music photographer Markus Klinko’s appearance on the 20th episode of the Morrison Hotel and Gallery’s Instagram Live series of talks with famous photogs “Behind the Lens.” Known for iconic shots of David Bowie and Beyonce, Klinko will…
SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral scrubbed, rescheduled for Saturday
Today’s historic Space X launch scheduled for 4:33 p.m. was scrubbed over weather concerns. A new Falcon 9 launch is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, at 3:22 p.m. The new launch will follow the same procedure as it did on its initial launch day today, but if the unpredictable Florida weather disrupts yet another safe liftoff,…
‘George Floyd was lynched today’: Central Florida church calls out white supremacy with incredibly accurate sign
St. Petersburg’s Allendale United Methodist Church has been no stranger to activism since 2017, so it comes as no surprise to see the house of worship say something about the murder of George Floyd, a Black man who died at the hands (and knee) of the Minneapolis Police Department on Monday. One side of a…
35 reasons I’ll only wear a mask to an Orlando Costco when it’s placed on my cold, dead face
Are you curious why someone might be vehemently against wearing a mask at Costco? Let me educate you on the simple yet compelling reasons behind my choice. 1. Because I’m a patriot. Only the kind who won’t make the smallest sacrifice for his country. 2. Me and the boys already spent a morning with our AR-15s…
SpaceX’s planned Wednesday afternoon launch rescheduled for Saturday
Updated, 4:16 p.m. | Due to poor weather conditions, the Falcon 9 launch planned for Wednesday has been scrubbed, delayed with just over 16 minutes left on the countdown clock. A new launch is planned on Saturday at 3:22 p.m. SpaceX is teaming up with NASA to launch a new spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Wednesday. The…
Annual Orlando postseason college football throwdown becomes the Cheez-It Bowl with crunchy new sponsor
The Cheez-It Bowl is back, and this year it’s going to be right here in Orlando. Crunchy lil’ snack cracker Cheez-It will sponsor one of the big postseason college football games held annually in O-town. The game is a postseason all-star clash between top teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) or Notre Dame against…
Atlantic weather ‘disturbance’ becomes Tropical Storm Bertha overnight
Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in South Carolina this morning, a disheartening four days before the official start of hurricane season. Bertha started as an Atlantic weather disturbance bringing rain to Florida over the Memorial Day weekend, gaining strength as it moved away from the Florida coast, according to CNN. In quick succession early this…
SeaWorld and Walt Disney World approved by Orange County to reopen, dates await approval by DeSantis
Walt Disney World presented reopening plans to an Orange County task force on Wednesday morning, saying it hopes to welcome back tourists and residents with a phased reopening. SeaWorld presented a reopening plan alongside WDW on an earlier schedule. Both companies’ plans were approved by the county. If given approval next by Gov. Ron DeSantis,…
Child immunizations in Florida drop amid COVID-19 pandemic
The number of vaccinations administered to children during the COVID-19 pandemic has sharply decreased, leading to worries among pediatricians about public-health consequences if something isn’t done to reverse the trend Florida Department of Health data show a 15 percent reduction in the number of vaccinations administered in March 2020 compared to March 2019 – and…
‘The Masked Singer’ live tour’s Orlando date rescheduled for June 2021
The touring version of hit Fox reality competition The Masked Singer was set to play Orlando this summer in June. As live music is on indefinite pause for now, the whole tour has been rescheduled, with an Orlando show now set for June of 2021. Season 3 of the show wrapped recently, with the Golden…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Wednesday, May 27, 2020
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. The Hurricane Sales Tax Holiday Goes Into Effect Friday How we’re going to survive a pandemic during hurricane season is yet to be seen. You can get a…
Walt Disney World and SeaWorld to present reopening plans for Orange County approval
It’s a big day for Walt Disney World and SeaWorld, as both parks submit their reopening plans to Orange County for approval. The plans presented to the county’s Economic Recovery Task Force will include anticipated reopening dates and steps to protect guests. Mayor Demings said Tuesday he has already seen the proposals and considers the applications to…
Savage Love: Quickies
I don’t want to become one of those people who write to you complaining about how I married someone I wasn’t sexually compatible with ten years ago and now my sex life still sucks. I already know I need to break up with my boyfriend and I was about to do it when he got…
Live for the glorious, difficult and passionate present
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) I’ve got a message for you, courtesy of poet Lisel Mueller. I think her wisdom can help you thrive in the coming weeks. She writes, “The past pushed away, the future left unimagined, for the sake of the glorious, difficult, passionate present.” Of course, it’s always helpful for us to liberate…
Manzano’s Deli in Winter Park serves sandwiches that are as meaty as they are enormous
There’s a sandwich on the menu at Manzano’s Deli called the “Italian Stallion.” It’s an obvious, fleshy-hued homage to the 1970 Sly Stallone effort of the same name – you know, the pre-Rocky nudie rooted in B-movie and softcore lore. The sandwich ($14.99) is packed with salami (natch) but, I gotta tell ya, the sheer…
HBO Max launches with U.K. series ‘Stath Lets Flats,’ ‘Trigonometry’ and ‘Ghosts,’ in which haunts try to scare off human interlopers
Premieres Wednesday: Ghosts – Launch day for the ballyhooed HBO Max includes the stateside debuts of some popular British series. The first is Ghosts, in which a houseful of haunts try to scare off the human interlopers who have moved into their place. Geez, 15 bucks a month and I gotta watch the English rip…
You thought 2016 was bad? Buckle up, buttercup.
Informed Dissent
Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk slowly emerge from their coronavirus closures
Longtime observers of Orlando’s attractions have noticed that a familiar playbook is usually followed when the theme parks have a big premiere. First, Disney announces an ambitious plan long before its proposed opening date, teasing impressive ideas but providing minimal specifics. Meanwhile, Universal works full-steam building new things in full view of guests but refuses…
Sci-fi slow-burn ‘The Vast of Night’ is atmospheric but ultimately empty
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, The Vast of Night might be this year’s top cinematic sycophant. The debut film from director Andrew Patterson and writers James Montague and Craig Sanger references everything from Close Encounters of the Third Kind to Stranger Things to Amazing Stories. Those stylistic and thematic tributes aren’t completely…
Bulla Gastrobar makes dining out tempting again
The Dining-In Diaries
