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It’s slime time: Rapper Young Thug returns to Orlando
Who’s on top?
27 free concerts in Orlando this week (5/11-5/17)
Wednesday May 11Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints Of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Oriented Music Group Open Jam 10:45 pm at St. Matthew’s Tavern, 1300 N. Mills Ave. Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 pm at the Caboose, 1827 N. Orange Ave. Timothy Eerie, the Mellow Relics 10:30…
John Morgan: ‘Florida is ready for medical marijuana’
In a salty speech, John Morgan told thousands of pot entrepreneurs Tuesday that legalizing medical marijuana in Florida is not a question of how, but when. “There is no state in the union that is more ready for this industry than this state,” the Orlando attorney and United for Care chairman said today. “This is…
SeaWorld releases details on new Shark Wreck Reef area
SeaWorld Orlando released a few details about Shark Wreck Reef, the new shark-themed area that will house Mako, the 73 mph hypercoaster set to open this summer. Orlando’s “tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster” will be the centerpiece of Shark Wreck Reef,” a newly designed realm that blends education and thrills, while immersing guests in an underwater…
Restaurant rumors: Brandon McGlamery opens new place, maybe (UPDATED!); Ming Court shutters
A couple of big restaurant developments to report on. We hear that Brandon McGlamery, of LUMA on Park and Prato fame, will open a restaurant in the old SoNapa Grille/Blackfin/Steak & Ale space at the corner of South Orlando Avenue and Manor Road in Maitland. One can only speculate as to the concept, but I’m…
Stream free jazz legend Peter Brotzmann’s Orlando show tonight live
Though the only logical option tonight is for you to attend the Peter Brotzmann Quartet show at the Timucua Arts White House to see a firebrand legend in his seemingly endless prime, there is another option if work/life gets in the way. The Civic Minded 5 folks are doing us the solid of streaming this…
4 Rivers Smokehouse will deliver to downtown locations starting Wednesday
If you don’t live or work downtown, maybe just don’t read this ‘cuz you might get jealous.* OK, for those of us who spend significant amounts of time in the CBD: Starting tomorrow (Wednesday, May 11) 4 Rivers Smokehouse’s downtown location teams up with the awesome Brick Road Couriers to deliver BBQ to your door…
Orange County Library System launches their new website
The Orange County Library System launched a brand-new overhaul of their website yesterday, and I’m not sure if there’s a way to say this that isn’t a backhanded compliment, but: IT IS SO MUCH BETTER. Finally, you can find easily search for classes and events happening at the library, with the ability to choose parameters…
Jumping Florida sturgeon claim their first knockout of 2016
While fishing on the Suwannee River last weekend, Alachua, Florida resident Ronald Dick become the first sturgeon-related knockout of 2016. According to a statement from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Dick was participating in a fishing tournament and driving at approximately 30 mph near Manatee Springs, when a sturgeon bounced off the windshield of…
Einstein Bros. new pull-apart bagel laughs in the face of bagel-slicing purists
There’s more than one way to slice a bagel – so says Einstein Bros. Bagels. Their new Twist N’ Dip bagel exposes the delicate underbelly of the bagel-eating world: those of us (myself included, TBH) who snub the traditional hemispheric slice-and-schmear method in favor of breaking off bits of bagel and dipping them in the…
Young Orange Democrats will host local Florida Senate primary debates
If you’re interested in a debate that doesn’t have a reference to a candidate’s anatomy, you’re in for a treat. The Young Democrats of Orange County are hosting a debate Tuesday night with six Democratic candidates for Florida Senate Districts 11 and 13, according to a press release. The event, held at the Dr. J.B. Callahan…
Amazon Prime Now two-hour delivery available in Orlando as of today
Next-day delivery? Blah, so tired. As of today in Orlando, Amazon Prime Now will bring you the goods within two hours. Yep, you can get whatever you want (well, not whatever you want – there’s a list here of available inventory) in your hot little hands, if you’re a paid-up Amazon Prime member. From the…
SeaWorld recruits artist Guy Harvey to help bring awareness to the plight of sharks
SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment has announced a new partnership with Guy Harvey to help promote awareness of the plight of sharks. In March, SeaWorld announced that sharks would be one of the new more concentrated focus in the educational and conversation efforts at the company. At that time, SeaWorld also announced a partnership with the…
Disney Springs may force two of its oldest celebrity-owned restaurants to close
With all of the big changes that have been happening at Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney), we’ve seen the introduction of more than a half-dozen new dining options and improvements to many others. Two of the older restaurants that have to yet to update now might be opting to move out instead of doing costly…
Thousands of endangered sea turtles are being sucked into a Florida power plant
Over the last 10 years, facilities at a St. Lucie County nuclear power plant have killed more than one protected sea turtle a day by sucking them through pipes that extend into the Atlantic Ocean. According to a joint investigation from Treasure Coast Newspapers, the Florida Power and Light Co. facility has been waiting over a decade…
Orlando City Council adopts use of civil citations for marijuana, but with some changes
With a 4-3 vote, the Orlando City Council adopted a revised measure that essentially decriminalizes possessing 20 grams or less of marijuana and gives police officers discretion to issue civil citations instead of arresting people. The new measure doesn’t go into effect until later this year on Oct. 1. Commissioners Sam Ings, Tony Ortiz and…
Judge strikes down Florida’s new death penalty law as unconstitutional
A Miami-Dade judge struck down Florida’s newest capital punishment law, which states that only 10 out of 12 jurors must vote in favor of a death verdict. The law, which was enacted in March this year, was deemed unconstitutional by Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch during a first-degree murder trial on Monday, according to the Miami Herald.…
Univeral Orlando releases new details about Incredible Hulk Coaster
Universal just released a slew of details about The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Islands of Adventure, which is set to re-open this summer. According to Universal, just about everything (except the ride itself) is getting a facelift; from new cars, a new marquee (which will be made with track from the original coaster), to new immersive…
Three local spots to eat shrimp and grits on National Shrimp Day
Nope, National Shrimp Day is not a day to make fun of your shortest friend (save that for Jan. 17, National Hug a Short Person Day, for realz), it’s a day to celebrate the smallest of our crustacean comestibles: the shrimp. There are two great things about celebrating this food-themed holiday in Florida — and…
Chinese visitors welcome Disneyland to town by defecating in the bushes
As Disneyland Shanghai readies to open next month the infrastructure and smaller aspects of the resort have been coming online over the past few weeks. The brand new metro station opened in late April causing floods of curious locals to fill the station and Disney Town shopping district even though not a single shop was…
Florida man cited after authorities found an illegally poached gator foot stuck in his dashboard
Authorities stopped a Florida man driving around with an illegally poached gator foot stuck in his dashboard—something even they don’t see everyday. On Monday morning, the FWC posted that two of its officers, Luis Merizio and Casey Schroer, stopped a truck at Corbett Wildlife Management Area to check its day-use pass, but instead found many gator…
Activists call on Orlando commissioner to support city’s marijuana proposal
Orlando’s City Council plans to take a final vote Monday on an ordinance that, if adopted, would decriminalize possessing small amounts of marijuana and give police officers discretion to issue civil citations instead of arresting people. Although the measure passed the first time it was before the council, three commissioners, including Commissioner Sam Ings, voted against…
Urban farming class at Alafaya branch of OCLS this Saturday
If you’ve ever thought that you might like to have a couple of backyard chickens or build up a nice self-sustaining vegetable garden (or both!), the Alafaya branch of the Orange County Library System is bringing current farmers, activists and gardeners together to advocate and educate attendees about the virtues (and how-to’s) of growing and…
U.S. Attorney will review OPD’s arrest of homeless man
At the urging of the city’s Citizens’ Police Review Board chair, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says it’s investigating whether a homeless man’s civil rights were violated last year when he was arrested by an Orlando Police officer. “We are currently reviewing information pertaining to that incident,” says William Daniels, a spokesman for the office, which…
Almost 1 in 5 Millennials in Orlando still live with mom, study says
Orlando may rank as one of the American metropolitan areas with the most mansions, but curiously enough, it’s also one of top metros in the country where Millennials still live with their dear old moms. In fact, 24.3 percent of Orlandoans ages 24-34 were staying home with their mothers in 2014, according to a study from…
Can’t get enough derby? Race your PBR can at Will’s
Aping the old pinewood derby of Boy Scouts days, PBR sets up its Pabst Can Derby at probably the most appropriate venue in town this week. The idea is simple: Make a car out of a PBR can, place it at the top of an inclined track and pit it against another car to see…
St. Pete punk band Wolf-Face much more than just wolf faces (Will’s Pub)
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND I’ve been curious to see St. Pete’s Wolf-Face (May 6, Will’s Pub) for a while now – mainly because, first, they’re a band called Wolf-Face and, second, they actually wear wolf faces. Their particular lupine inspiration is Michael J. Fox’s b-balling Teen Wolf because, duh. Beyond that, I’m only concerned about their…
Jeb Bush: ‘I will not vote for Donald Trump’
Guys, remember Jeb Bush and his sad exclamation point from way, way back in February? The former Florida governor, who dropped out of the 2016 presidential race almost three months ago, has came back to let you know he’s not voting for the Republican presumptive nominee and lover of Hispanics, Donald Trump. But don’t think…
New sounds from Central Florida Illuminated Paths label … and Justin Timberlake
Joshua Rogers of Illuminated Paths recently mentioned that he releases a few tapes every week, and I remember thinking, “Maybe he means a tape every few weeks,” promptly filing the information away. And yet, the Illuminated Paths Facebook just premiered three new releases freshly available on their bandcamp page. Alongside BLOB and Black Magic Tamarak, there’s this incredible sprawling…
Starbucks unveils new Caramel Waffle Cone Frappuccino
We guess Starbucks just figured “what the hell, the ice cream’s gonna melt anyway” so they figured out a(nother) way for you to consume the calories you would have spent on one frozen treat, made it drinkable and half-convinced you it’s “coffee,” not dessert. Clever. Just when you thought there were no more possible combinations…
Punk on the Patio continues strong roll with Gillian Carter and the Caution Children
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Five months in and hopeful new concert monthly Punk on the Patio is still a thing – and, thankfully, a good and well-supported thing. The latest edition (May 4, The Patio) was a strong, legitimately underground roster with bands like young local standout Crit, Jacksonville’s the Caution Children and Palm Bay’s Gillian…
Thrash supergroup Iron Reagan brings speed and anger to Will’s Pub
Richmond crossover thrash supergroup Iron Reagan (featuring members of Municipal Waste, Cannabis Corpse and Darkest Hour) hearken back to an earlier generation of thrash icons – Exodus, DRI, Anthrax, Nuclear Assault – but their sound manages to evade the cartoonish excess and nostalgia overload of the “retro thrash” movement. Iron Reagan succeeds by distilling their…
Michelle Obama, Morgan Freeman and more set to welcome the 2016 Invictus Games
The word “invictus” means “unconquered,” the perfect term to describe tenacious veterans who have persevered despite their injuries. At this year’s Invictus Games, over 500 military competitors from 14 nations around the world are competing in 10 different sporting events, using the grit and determination they carry beyond the battlefield. A star-studded opening ceremony featuring…
Explore the medical oddities of yesteryear, only cuter, at ‘Of Misery & Medicine’
Self-deprecation seems to be a given in the mind of an artist. So as far as stereotypes go, Michael Reyes goes for the gold by describing his art pieces, under the name Terribly Odd, as “exhaustingly mediocre work.” What follows, however, goes beyond stereotypes and into a world of uniquely dark and somber art. For…
Here’s how to remove a large angry alligator from your pool
Last Wednesday, May 4, Tampa authorities were called to remove a couple of large unwanted guests from pools in two different neighborhoods, Temple Terrace and Palm Harbor. Thankfully, both of these gator removals were caught on film. Now, it should go without saying that you should never attempt to do this yourself. According to Fox…
Annual Smashington festival moves to Mills 50 this weekend
The Mills 50 district has carved out its own autonomous arts and culture interzone within metro Orlando, both in terms of the flurry of gigs at venues like Will’s and Uncle Lou’s and larger, collaborative events like Total Punk’s Total Fuck Off Weekend and this, the Smashington Festival. Billed as a showcase for local artists…
Hear the sound of music disintegrating on Shattered Streams
I really want to hate Red Bull Music Academy – and I say that as someone who drinks more than their fair share of Red Bull – but whomever is behind their music programming and educations component has consistently neat ideas. And now there’s this, Shattered Streams, a commentary on the ephemerality of all music…
Orlando’s S+M industrial troupe Genitorturers to celebrate 30th anniversary
Has it really been 30 years? “Goths of a certain age” in the Central Florida area will no doubt remember the over-the-top music and stagecraft of the Genitorturers. For early ’90s Florida, this shit was wild. The Genitorturers were a band that went all in on the S&M imagery that most industrial bands only flirted…
Donald Trump attempts to win over Hispanics by eating a beef taco bowl on Cinco de Mayo
Donald Trump, a man whose entire presidential platform is based around getting rid of brown people, tried to win over Hispanic voters on Cinco de Mayo by posting a picture of himself with a beef taco bowl and stating, “I love Hispanics!” The man who once said “They’re rapists” when referring to Mexicans posted…
The luckiest dog in the history of dogs was found swimming 5 miles off the Florida coast
A Jack Russell terrier in a lifejacket was recently found paddling around roughly 5 miles from shore in the Gulf of Mexico, which is a terrible place for a dog. According to Fox 13, two couples boating near Hernando Beach last Sunday when they spotted what they thought was a buoy. “You just saw his little…
Buddy Dyer endorses former OPD Chief Val Demings in congressional race
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is endorsing his former employee, Orlando Police Chief Val Demings, in the race for the state’s 10th Congressional District, according to the Democratic candidate’s campaign. “Under Chief Val Demings’ leadership, Orlando saw the most dramatic decrease in violent crime in the city’s history,” Dyer says in a statement. “I had the…
Gov. Rick Scott on joining Donald Trump’s ticket: ‘I’m going to pass’
Even though Rick Scott has been at the top Donald Trump’s heap of potential running mates, the Florida Governor says he’s not interested. In an interview with CNN Wednesday, May 4, Scott claimed that he has absolutely no desire in taking on a vice president role with the likely Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. …
‘Latte liberal’ Cara Jennings hits back at governor with #StopRickScott campaign
Cara Jennings, the Florida resident who trashed Gov. Rick Scott and called him an asshole at a Gainesville Starbucks in a viral video, is now launching a campaign encouraging others to let Scott know what they think using the #StopRickScott. The video by Jennings, a former Lake Worth commissioner, also asks Californians to call Scott…
Urgent: Make reservations for these 8 Mother’s Day brunches today
Probably the last thing on Mom’s list is getting up on Mother’s Day and making breakfast for your lazy ass. There’s still time to pony up for at least one meal for your No. 1 lady, but remember: Mother’s Day is the restaurant world’s busiest day, so arrive on time if you don’t want to…
Julie Delpy’s Lolo returns to Enzian Theater
Lolo, which is returning to Maitland’s Enzian Theater this week following its “Spotlight” showing at the recent Florida Film Festival, is a French farce, with a dab of darkness. Julie Delpy, who also directs and co-writes, plays Violette, a 40-something overbearing mother (with an even more overbearing son) struggling to find romance. Embracing relationship comedy…
Accidental Music Festival returns to Timucua with six hours of new music at Marathon AMF
The wave of appreciation for modern classical music in Orlando shows no signs of cresting. In the past couple of years, we’ve witnessed an unusual sight: adventurous, young listeners (well, young-ish) filling seats at classical concerts, or even standing at rock clubs, to hear music by Philip Glass, Steve Reich and Alvin Lucier. No one…
Bring a donation and get to see a baby owl up close at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
No toilet paper games at this baby shower. The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey is hosting its annual Baby Owl Shower to raise funds for their clinic, which cares for orphaned raptors (birds of prey) that have been displaced from their nests. The center uses the funds to buy food, medications and other supplies…
Florida Republicans try to reconcile with idea of Donald Trump as GOP nominee
As Donald Trump essentially locked up the Republican presidential nomination late Tuesday, Florida GOP leaders began facing a decision none of them expected to be making a year ago: Line up behind the real-estate mogul’s White House bid, or figure out how to win around him in the fall. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas,…
Tittie-Thyme gets decadent for their 10th issue release party
If there’s anything we love more than the Tittie-Thyme collective’s zines, which encourage women to express themselves in creative ways, it’s their release parties. In addition to picking up a copy of the latest issue, you can often find people selling homemade arts and crafts, raffles for unique prizes and plenty of music. For the…
‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ is the rare show that works on every level
I hate to start a review with a cliché, but “beautiful” truly is the best word to describe Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, on tour at Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center through May 8. That’s largely thanks to both Carole King (originally Carol Klein), the legendary singer-songwriter whose music and life story form the backbone for…
John Kasich bows out of presidential race, makes Donald Trump presumed nominee
Ohio Gov. John Kasich was the last Republican standing in the way of billionaire Donald Trump’s presidential nomination, but that blockade ended Wednesday night after Kasich announced he was suspending his campaign. Kasich dropped out hours after U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz announced he was suspending his campaign. “As I suspend my campaign today, I have…
Hear an unreleased track from Orlando metal legends Death
Relapse Records have released the never-before-heard “Legion of Doom” demo from Orlando death metal pioneers Death in advance of their reissue of the band’s 1987 debut Scream Bloody Gore. Death was the bloody brainchild of Chuck Schuldiner (1967-2001), started originally as Mantas in 1983, when Schuldiner was only 16. Influenced by the likes of Slayer and…
Star Wars Celebration announces return to Orlando on Star Wars Day
Happy Star Wars Day, May the Fourth Be With You or whatever you want to call it. While you scroll through bad puns about Star Wars and dust off your replica Poe Dameron/Finn love-jacket for a party or whatever, note that Star Wars Celebration, the largest convention for all things Star Wars, announced this morning…
Rick Scott plans trip to Washington, asks feds for immediate action on Zika threat
Gov. Rick Scott says Congress should treat the mosquito-borne Zika virus more like a hurricane in a statement that announced Scott was planning a trip to Washington D.C. next week to push for federal emergency funds. President Obama asked Congress for $1.9 billion to fight the virus, but those funds have been blocked by Republicans…
20 free concerts in Orlando this week (5/4-5/10)
Wednesday May 4Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints Of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Oriented Music Group Open Jam 10:45 pm at St. Matthew’s Tavern, 1300 N. Mills Ave. Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 pm at the Caboose, 1827 N. Orange Ave. The Strange Trip 10 pm at Tanqueray’s,…
A Florida woman filmed herself chasing a pervert out of Target
A Florida woman recently filmed an extremely uncomfortable situation with a convicted video voyeur at a Target store. According to Daily Mail, Jeffrey Polizzi, who was convicted back in 2009 of voyeurism for attaching a camera to his shoe and filming women at a surf shop in Neptune Beach, approached Candice Spivey in the bikini section…
Central Florida teens have close encounter with great white shark near Ponce Inlet
Two Central Florida teens got a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with a massive great white shark last Sunday. According to WPTV, Wylie Phelan and Taylor Magone of Port Orange, were fishing for grouper at around 12:30 p.m. near Ponce Inlet, Florida, when they saw a 16-foot “grey shadow.” “He probably…
Ted Cruz suspends his campaign, leaves GOP nomination to part-time Florida man
After losing the Indiana Republican primary, Ted Cruz ended his presidential aspirations Tuesday night, leaving billionaire and part-time Florida man Donald Trump’s path to the GOP nomination clear. The Associated Press reports that despite Cruz’s argument that he was the only true conservative in the 2016 presidential race, he couldn’t beat Trump’s appeal to white, working-class…
This Little Underground: Goodbye to Morgan Steele, South Florida reps hard with Denzel Curry and Heavy Drag, and Howling Midnight is week’s surprise local find
Another blindsiding goodbye this week, this time to local artist Morgan Steele, whose personality was as wildly colorful as his painting. As followers of each other’s work, he and I technically knew of each other more than we actually knew each other. But that seeming barrier was heeded far more by me than him –…
Selections: Our picks of the week’s best events, May 4-10
Thursday, 5 Ignition Reunion: Baauer MUSIC History may never remember dance music producer Harry Bauer Rodrigues, but the 26-year-old can claim at least one thing that will forever be immortalized in time: the Harlem Shake. You might cringe now, but let’s not forget when those videos of groups dancing to a short excerpt of the…
This Modern World (5/4/16)
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Picks This Week: Peter Brotzmann, Yashira, Good Graeff and more
Good Graeff Identical twin sisters Brooke and Brit Graeff create enjoyable indie-pop with a folk tinge. If you missed them the last time around, don’t repeat the transgression. 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, at Will’s Pub, $8 Yashira Jacksonville fire-breathers Yashira kick off a brief East Coast tour here; recommended for those who dig the…
New details on Disney Springs restaurants and more in local foodie news
Plenty of news out of Disney Springs: The restaurant formerly known as Fulton’s Crab House will be called Paddlefish when it opens later this fall (expect a menu of seafood, steaks and chops); the Daily Poutine will bring in four varieties: Canadian (yay!), French (quoi?), Latin (huh?) and Italian (wha?); it’s a mouthful to say,…
Monthly debate night Drunken Problem Solving sparks spirited discussion and rewards non-linear thinking
T. S. Eliot said “April is the cruelest month,” and his epigram was especially apropos this year. Since January, 2016 has brought more than its fair share of grief, and the final days of last month sealed the deal with the death of Prince. While fans worldwide mourned the loss of the Artist Formerly Known…
Could there be a better cocktail to remix for Derby Day than the mint julep? We say thee neigh.
Writing about cocktails in May is always a toss-up, what with its two strongly drinking-associated “holidays” – Cinco de Mayo margaritas or Kentucky Derby mint juleps? My personal choice would be the former, but I’ve already remixed the margarita, so I figured this year I’d jump in on the julep. Reluctantly. It’s just never been…
Savage Love (5/4/16)
I’m a 31-year-old straight woman: good job, great friends, average attractiveness. I’ve dated close to 30 men at this point, and I can’t wrap my head around this: I’ve never had a boyfriend or dated anyone for more than a couple of months. It’s really starting to wear on my self-esteem. I don’t believe anything…
Opening in Orlando: Dough, A Hologram for the King and Term Life
Dough Why is this high different from all other highs? A kosher baker hires a Muslim apprentice, not knowing that the industrious young fellow has a side gig dealing weed. When the kid accidentally dumps his product in the baker’s dough, the resulting challah mixture has a decidedly calming effect on their community. A favorite…
Free Will Astrology (5/4/16)
ARIES (March 21-April 19) “Silence is not silence, but a limit of hearing,” writes Jane Hirshfield in her poem “Everything Has Two Endings.” This observation is apropos for you right now. There are potentially important messages you’re not registering and catalytic influences you can’t detect. But their apparent absence is due to a blank spot…
Gimme Shelter (5/4/16)
Her name might be Sassy, but she is as sweet as can be! Sassy (A347019) is a 5-year-old dog who was recently surrendered to the shelter because her owner was moving and couldn’t take her with him. This pretty pup is very calm and laid-back. She enjoys eating treats, and she loves to be petted!…
