This Little Underground: The Chris Charles Quartet at the Smiling Bison
This Little Underground is Orlando Weekly’s music column providing perspective, live reviews and news on the city’s music scene. Read the latest column here. The Chris Charles Quartet at the Smiling Bison Last week, I wrote about how Rocco’s Italian Grille – considering all the moves they’ve made recently like extending their bar hours and…
Orlando’s most scandalous Texts from Last Night
Image via Tumblr That 1 a.m. text to your boo (if that’s what we’re calling him this week) may seem like a private matter. However, thanks to Texts From Last Night, that little sext was just sucked into the public vortex. Texts From Last Night, a website that launched back in 2009, takes texts from users…
Tuesday, Nov. 18: Things to do today/tonight
Image via Zeds Dead Facebook MUSIC PICK OF THE DAY: Zeds Dead: http://bit.ly/1xNdSNo Miggs, Ries Brothers and Guests: http://on.fb.me/1B2ngm2 Caribou: http://on.fb.me/1xIlmkL Mike Birbiglia: http://on.fb.me/1B2nt8T Zeds Dead, Big Makk: http://on.fb.me/1ExLItP Cuisine Corner: Florida Beef Council: http://bit.ly/1EpGPRq Ivanhoe Trivia Knight: http://bit.ly/1nYqttt James Taylor: http://bit.ly/1xfhA5z For more stuff going on this week, visit our online…
Saves the Day performs all of ‘Through Being Cool’ at House of Blues
PHOTO BY TOM STONE In 1999, every kid putting their shoulders to the wheels of sensible sweet-16 Jettas and Civics on high school campuses across the country was blasting Saves the Day’s catchy sophomore album, Through Being Cool, a disc said to usher in the new era of pop punk that bands like You Blew…
Aaron Carter gets hearts ‘Tiger Beat’-ing again at Backbooth
Come get it. Aaron’s party rushes into Backbooth to get the hearts of those of a certain age Tiger Beat-ing again. Aaron Carter proved less was more in a time when his boy-band competish (including older bro/Backstreet Boy Nick Carter) required a base minimum of three to satisfy stadium crowds. Back then, he juggled Disney…
MAP: Is Florida more of a cat or dog state?
Image via Washington Post Washington Post recently compiled research conducted by Euromonitor that determined which countries and states were filled with cat people versus dog people. One might think that the United States is, without a doubt, a dog country, with 36.5 percent of U.S. households owning dogs versus 30.4 percent who own cats. However, using raw population data, you’d…
Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead Republican Attorneys General Association
Last week, we posted a video in which Florida’s Attorney General Pam Bondi insisted repeatedly that her super-cozy relationship with lobbyists and her acceptance of travel and gifts from the Republican Attorneys General Association (which receives funds from corporations that would love to have the ears of any Republican attorneys general who will listen) has…
Council Watch: Liveblogging your city at work so that you can just get your hair done
Welcome back to a weekday!!!! Odds are, if it’s a Monday, there’s nearly a 50 percent chance that there will be discussions and general wonderment at City Hall, mostly existing as a sort of vocal collage via your elected City Council members who do, on occasion, like to talk about themselves. We’ve fine-tooth-combed this week’s…
Monday, Nov. 17: Things to do today/tonight
Image via Real Friend’s Facebook MUSIC PICK OF THE DAY: Real Friends: http://bit.ly/1xNdSNo Downtown Guitar School Fall Recital: http://on.fb.me/1EpDqCn Monday Night Cabaret Series: You’ve Caught Me Again starring Carol Lee and Matthew Arter: http://on.fb.me/11eCV1H Good at Bad Decisions with Brian Barganier and Jerry Morgan: http://on.fb.me/1GLY9Eg Global Impacts of Climate Change: http://bit.ly/1uZ3Jzx …
TIL: Black Bean Deli breakfast is pretty much perfect
We finally made it into the Orlando location of Black Bean Deli this morning for that breakfast service we told you about a couple of weeks ago. And just as we expected, it was pretty much perfect – simple, tasteful (in every sense) and a very welcome new way to start the day. As you can…
Thank You, Internet: Thanksgiving sushi and Kickended
It’s Friday, it’s dreary out and you’re stuck in the office. These links should help you pass some of the time until you can escape the drudgery: Image via Food Beast 1. The Vulgar Chef is the creator of delicacies such as Doritos Crusted Corn Dog Grilled Cheese and Cookie Dough Cereal Bowls. Some of his creations sound…
Local songwriter Laney Jones a finalist in NPR-affiliated NewSong Contest
Photo by Matthew Tonner via Laney Jones’ Facebook Tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 15), Mt. Dora songwriter Laney Jones competes among a dozen artists selected as finalists in the 2014 NewSong Contest, a competition hosted in partnership with NPR’s Mountain Stage that seeks out undiscovered new artists. Jones, whose voice our live reviewer Bao Le-Huu describes as…
Florida mom makes costumes for her daughter to wear to Disney … and they’re adorable
Cinderella with Prince CharmingInstagram: ferdalump Some families are able to just GO to Disney World. You know, hop in the car wearing whatever you have on and ride some rides, eat some overpriced food and head home. Others need to do a little bit more preparation. Florida mom Jennifer Rouch is one of those hardcore preppers. She…
Disney adds food offerings to Holidays Around the World at Epcot
Image via Disney Now that Epcot’s annual Food and Wine Festival has come to a close, Disney-lovin’ foodies must be wondering when they can get their next park-side food fix. They won’t have to to wait too long, because on Monday, Disney announced that Epcot’s annual Holidays Around the World event will add global flavors to its…
Win a $25 gift card to Dechoes Resale!
Love Fashion? Here’s how to win a $25 gift certificate: 1. Like Dechoes Resale on Facebook 2. Tag a friend and tell us why you love to shop there. 3. That’s it! Don’t miss Dechoes Resale grand opening at Artegon Marketplace on November 20th & their Ugly Sweater Party on Saturday, November 22nd! …
SeaWorld’s third quarter results for 2014 are not very good
SeaWorld Entertainment released its third-quarter results for 2014, and depending on which side of the debate over the marine-themed parks you’re on (Blackfish bad, SeaWorld good or SeaWorld bad, Blackfish good), the news is either thrilling or infuriating. According to a document posted to seaworldinvestors.com, the park experienced lower attendance, decreased revenue and a drop…
Nerd Nite Orlando XXI: To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before!
Image via Nerd Nite Orlando The latest edition of Nerd Nite Orlando happens tonight, Thursday, Nov. 13 at Stardust Video and Coffee, and, we have a prediction … it’s gonna be outta this world. To be fair, that kind of goes without saying since tonight’s topic is space. NASA scientists will be on hand to discuss NASA’s…
Sunday, Nov. 16: Things to do today/tonight
Image via Festival of Tree’s Facebook MUSIC PICK OF THE DAY: Southern Fried Sunday: http://bit.ly/1xNdSNo Obliv-o-brunch: http://on.fb.me/10VxJis Eric Gottesman Lecture: http://on.fb.me/1xuEpRg WJRR presents Halestorm: http://on.fb.me/1uYZynq SuicideGirls Blackheart Burlesque: http://on.fb.me/1zJRskf Festival of Trees: http://bit.ly/149aeEL For more stuff going on this week, visit our online calendar. Arts and Culture: http://bit.ly/1zMJ2sg Music: http://bit.ly/1xNdSNo…
Nine free things to do in the Orlando area this weekend (Nov. 14 -16)
37 fun things to do in Orlando this week (11/12- 11/18) As the time to stuff the turkey gets increasingly closer (*group procrastinator cringe*), trying to find some weekend thrills that will keep your wallet stuffed with cash seems to be getting harder and harder. Here are eight free events happening in the Orlando area this weekend that…
Video: Pam Bondi responds to criticism about her cozy relationship with lobbyists
This just in from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, everybody: Just because she may have accepted some gifts and donations from lobbyists, it doesn’t affect anything and she’s still totally not biased in favor of lobbying interests. “No access to me, nor my staff will every influence what we do,” she insists when asked by various…
Saturday, Nov. 15: Things to do today/tonight
Image via MC Lars MUSIC PICKS OF THE DAY: MC Chris, MC Lars: http://bit.ly/1xNdSNo No One Knows I’m Disco: http://on.fb.me/1oGYkLg Florida Bookstore Day: http://on.fb.me/1tD1xqM Artists’ Talks for Between Fact and Fiction: http://on.fb.me/1xIjPLz Chocolate Mint Girl Stout Release: http://on.fb.me/1qCAYlK Destroyer Fest featuring Weedeater: http://on.fb.me/1wg0zTp Orlando Artists’ Quarterly Social: http://on.fb.me/1v09cXw Functionally Literate presents Jeff…
Friday, Nov. 14: Things to do today/tonight
Image courtesy of Alt Press Magazine MUSIC PICKS OF THE DAY: Sick of It All: http://bit.ly/1xNdSNo Renninger’s Antiques Extravaganza: http://on.fb.me/1pNejIA November Conductor Crawl: http://on.fb.me/10VwIae Mayday Parade with Tonight Alive, Major League, Pvris: http://on.fb.me/1EpC2j8 Fall Harvest Dinner: http://on.fb.me/1497ZRD Equality Florida Greater Orlando Gala: http://on.fb.me/1xffv9C Phillip Phillips: http://bit.ly/1tD3W4Q Makj: http://bit.ly/1EpEGoU For more stuff…
Thursday, Nov. 13: Things to do today/tonight
Image via Reverend Horton Heat’s Facebook MUSIC PICK OF THE DAY: Reverend Horton Heat: http://bit.ly/1xNdSNo Gareth Emery: http://on.fb.me/1v084mG Lagunitas Lakeside Tapas and Beer Pairing: http://on.fb.me/1xIiLqQ Thornton 2nd Thursday Wine and Art Walk: http://on.fb.me/10RjuuU Break the Silence: Protect the Woodlands: http://on.fb.me/1xuDmB1 Nerd Nite Orlando XXI: http://on.fb.me/1tD0NlB ECHD presents AudioFreq Orlando: http://on.fb.me/1EpBFVH Florida Citrus Sports Feast on…
Orlando is one of the top cities for the LGBT community
TONS of photos from the Come Out With Pride 2014 Parade At a press conference today, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced that the City of Orlando received a score of 100 on the Municipal Equality Index (MEI), making Orlando one of the top cities for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The MEI, conducted by…
Sleazy McQueen taps filth-funk legend Blowfly for new single
Album review: Sleazy McQueen’s ‘The Walking Beat’ (feat. Blowfly and Robbie Hardkiss)
Do me, Orlando: Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza
Art by Brendan O’Connor The best part: EVERYTHING! How long does it last? All weekend Info/cost: Friday-Sunday Nov.14-16; Renninger’s Antique Center, 20651 U.S. Highway 441, Mount Dora; $4-$15; 352-383-8393; renningers.net More than 800 vendors from around the country descend on this little valley in Mount Dora four times a year to sell weird and wonderful…
Ray Brazen’s ‘Time Tunnel’ may be the best imaginable primer to weird Orlando
Album review: Ray Zinnbrann’s ‘Time Tunnel 1983-1988’
Gimme Shelter: Adopt Roberta
Roberta (Animal ID A304944) is looking for a new home! She’s 2 years old, and she’s a friendly girl who walks well on a leash. She’s also housebroken. She was recently found as a stray near Forest City Road and Edgewater Drive. She is healthy and heartworm negative, and she will be spayed, microchipped and…
Orlando songwriter Kyle Cox colors sound with rustic hues on ‘The Plan, the Mess’
Album review: Kyle Cox’s ‘The Plan, the Mess’
Wednesday, Nov. 12: Things to do today/tonight
Image via Ex-Cult’s Facebook MUSIC PICK OF THE DAY: Golden Pelicans, Ex-Cult: http://bit.ly/1xNdSNo Extra Estetica Closing Reception: http://on.fb.me/1ExJJ8T Former Models: http://on.fb.me/1v07Vzu I and You: http://on.fb.me/1zhrmlE Natty Vibes: http://on.fb.me/1EpBaLs The Imperial’s Acoustic Soundcheck with Megan Katarina: http://on.fb.me/1EpBf1s For more stuff going on this week, visit our online calendar. Arts and Culture: http://bit.ly/1zMJ2sg Music: http://bit.ly/1xNdSNo Learning and Civics: http://bit.ly/1un541F
Sparky’s hosts jam and warehouse sale
Photo by Wes McGrath courtesy of Sparky’s Distribution The boys of Sparky’s open their doors today for a jam like no other. Home to BMX brands Subrosa, the Shadow Conspiracy, Rant, Mutiny, Banned and Bone Deth, this is ground zero for high quality BMX bikes, parts, accessories and apparel. Today is a chance to get…
Good at Bad Decisions with guests Brian Barganier and Jerry Morgan
The insanely participatory comedy showcase is back, and at its helm tonight are the extremely funny Alex Luchun and Larry Fulford (back from a stint playing drums in Knoxville for Matt Woods.) Last time we were at one of their shows, they busted out the “Wheel of Bad Decisions” and invited the audience onstage for…
Move over, Record Store Day — bring on Florida Bookstore Day!
Why should Record Store Day have all the fun? We hope to see Florida Bookstore Day build up the same groundswell of support that RSD has in its seven years – but this is just the first one, so they’ll need alllll the readers to show up today. More than 30 stores across Florida have…
East End hosts an outdoor harvest dinner
No, it’s not time for the turkey quite yet; but you’ll gobble down heaps of food with your friends shamelessly for a good cause any day, right? This celebration of gathering and gobbling takes over East End Market for a second year, honoring the farmers and food producers that not only set the course on…
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19) We all have addictive and obsessive tendencies. They are fundamental to being human. So the challenge is not to eliminate them – that’s not possible – but rather to harness them. If you hope to keep them from dragging you down, you must work hard to channel them into activities that…
Tom McGrath’s spectacular installation at the Dr. Phillips Center raises the bar for public art in Orlando
Public works of art must satisfy many constituencies; the artist was not intimidated
Movies opening in Orlando this week
‘Beyond the Lights,’ ‘Dumb and Dumber To’ and ‘Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas’
Jeff VanderMeer crafts weird fiction of a particularly Floridian bent
Tallahassee writer to read Nov. 15 at Functionally Literate
Winter Park’s Keg ’N Cork is a neighborhood bar in the best sense
Bar Exam: the what, where and why of Orlando drinking
Theatre Downtown’s farewell party, Artegon Orlando opening and United Arts grants workshops
Culture 2 Go: a monthly arts news roundup
Caribou wraps fans in a warm embrace on new album ‘Our Love’
Thoughtful frontman Dan Snaith breaks the pretentious electronic musician mold
Down the Road
Andrew McMahon, Hunter Hunted, Junior Prom, Nov. 19 at The Beacham Gondwana, Bachaco, Nov. 20 at The Social Say Anythingand Saves the Day with Reggie and the Full Effect, Nov. 21 at House of Blues Slayer, Nov. 21 at Hard Rock Live Aaron Carter, Nov. 22 at Backbooth Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals, Nov. 22 at The…
Making peace with 2014’s election results
Republican rout sends Democrats packing and wondering about the future
Concerts/Events + Clubs/Lounges + Opera/Classical
Where to find music in Orlando this week
The quality ’cue at Pig Floyd’s will make you wish you were here
Urban Barbakoa steps up as the alternative 4 Rivers Smokehouse
Savage Love
My last boyfriend and I were in an open, long-distance relationship. We were together for a year and a half, and things were great fun. We considered each other primary partners, but I met his other partners and felt fine about most of them, and I got to have some fun playtime back in my…
Comedy + Dance + Theater + Art + Events + Literary + Family + Sports
Arts and Culture in Orlando this week
Goodbye to All That
One last hurrah for the Red Fox Lounge
Movies for the mensches: Enzian’s Jewish Film Festival
Central Florida Jewish Film Festival screens five features and one short
Drinking, Nightlife and Parties
Where to drink and party in Orlando this week
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts opens in a burst of confetti and clichés
The facility makes a fabulous first impression, but this is just the beginning of the story
Learning + Civics
Learning and Civics in Orlando this week
This Little Underground: Rocco’s carries the Red Fox torch
Plus, live reviews of Melvins, Interpol
More love for Terri Binion, no love for our elections process
Letters to the editor and reader comments
More elbow room at Wine Barn, opening date for Gene Simmons’ Rock & Brews
Plus seven new restaurants to anticipate
Picks this week: MC Chris, Sick of It All and more
Great live music rattles Orlando every night
Princeton development in College Park gets green light from city
City attorneys tell City Council they have no choice but approve controversial apartment complex
Film listings
Screenings and cinema-oriented events you don’t want to miss
Did you know there was a no-fly zone over Walt Disney World?
No planes are allowed to fly over Disney parks. Not even Pedro or Little Johnny Jet. Did you know that the airspace over Walt Disney World in Orlando has been a no-fly zone since 2003? It’s true – more than a decade ago, the parks managed to get the Federal Aviation Administration to grant no-fly status…
Florida Family Policy Council’s John Stemberger gloats about LGBT bill’s dismal future in state House
John Stemberger and friends pray on Rick Scott, via Facebook. Usually when we get interesting stories from the State House from the News Service of Florida, to which we subscribe for year-round updates from Tallahassee, we post them to our site – but before we did that with the service’s recent story on the future…
St. Matthew’s Cinematheque and Sunspot Cinema host a night of experimental films
Hosted by Sunspot Cinema and St. Matthew’s Cinematheque, tonight brings a series of weird and wonderful experimental films by UCF Film alumni called Former Models: Recent Experimental Films. Screenings include films like Lindsay Denniberg’s Real Live Girls: Bethany, inspired by online pornography and live camgirls; the titular Former Models by Benjamin Pearson, a meditation on…
Video: Nine things only Floridians understand + two from us
According to Buzzfeed, this is Florida’s State Bird Image via Wikipedia This weekend, Florida became Buzzfeed-famous. GloZell Green, a self-proclaimed Orlando native hosted a video titled “Nine Things Only Floridians Understand.” GloZell’s list is pretty spot on, covering all the basics, like the Florida seasons (“Hot, extra hot, super hot, and crispy”), our year-round style (on…
Frank Holt, praised as “visual genius,” to retire from post as Mennello Museum executive director
From the exhibition “George Catlin’s American Buffalo” Today it was announced that Frank Holt, the longtime director of the Mennello Museum of American Art, will retire at the end of January 2015. Mr. Holt, who came to the museum as its first director from a position as public art manager with the city of Orlando,…
How to deal with urban coyotes
Coyote near downtown OrlandoImage by Marcus Sharpe In the past few months, urban coyotes have been plaguing College Park and Winter Park residents, killing pet cats and scavenging pet food left outdoors. Some of these coyotes have been caught and euthanized, because, as Trapper Wayne Salicrup told WKMG Local 6, relocation is not an option. College Park…
How Orlando could stage a more successful (and more droolworthy) massive music festival
Fun Fun Fun Fest at sunset Does Orlando really need a music festival on par with massive festivals like Coachella or Bonnaroo? I’m not actually sure it’s a need, so much as a missed opportunity. We have successful niche festivals that by focusing on certain music genres are able to create really spectacular experiences for…
Iconic Merita Bread sign to be removed
Image via the Park Press For decades, the Merita Bread sign acted as a welcoming beacon to downtown Orlando for those traveling eastbound on I-4, just south of downtown. Two years ago, the bread company closed its doors when Hostess, its former parent company, went bankrupt. Tomorrow morning’s commute will be the last time the iconic…
Restaurants honor veterans with free meals today
Image via Smokey Bones Smokey Bones (free meal): With food complimentary of Executive Chef Jason Grondland who is also a fellow vet, military personnel can enjoy a day stuffing their face for free all day long (or at least until you’re meal is finished). Applebee’s (free meal): Buzz your way to Applebee’s if you’re a…
