Orlando holiday events guide 2017
While you’re with the family, you might as well test-drive some of the latest — and shiniest — cars available. Hosted by the Orange County Convention Center, the four-day Central Florida International Auto Show is at its best on Sunday, when the crowd of auto junkies has died down. The show features over 350 new cars, trucks, SUVS, and…
‘Tis the season for rustic home decor, and, let’s face it, way too many candles. If you’re late to the holiday decorating, visit the Unhinged Holiday Market at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25, and cruise a shabby chic table — or two. The one-day, indoor/outdoor market will take place at Altamonte’s Adjectives Market at 1200 E. Altamonte…
Although it’s not time for spring cleaning yet, God & Monsters is hosting an event that’s all about out with the old and in with the new – collectibles, that is. On Saturday, the comic book store is putting on a Scavenger Trading Party, where attendees can bring in pop-culture ephemera they no longer want…
Skip the chaos that is Black Friday holiday shopping and opt for a more relaxed bargain-hunting day. Although the official holiday is celebrated every April, Record Store Day’s year-long homage to indie records stores is having a mini holiday event for vinyl fans. Get your hands on limited edition reprints and releases at one of…
Fans of Japanese animation classics like Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away shouldn’t miss the Enzian Theater’s screening of another film from director Hayao Miyazaki. The venue will show Porco Rosso at noon for its Peanut Butter Matinee Family Film on Sunday. After his comrades die in a World War I battle, Marco Pagott turns from a…
Whether you’re catching up with old friends or trying to relax after a stressful day of cooking 900 different things and navigating family politics, the post-Thanksgiving nightcap is an essential capstone for some. But finding a place that’s open can be tricky. Check our running list before you head out for all the info we have…
What pairs well with turkey? A sweet orange-grapefruit-and-lemon IPA, of course. This Thanksgiving, give thanks to the beer gods for Deadly Sins Brewing’s turkey day celebration. The brewing company will host a free family-friendly Thanksgiving dinner from 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 23. The dinner is ideal for those who don’t plan on spending time cooking or…
The third iteration of the annual Number of the Feast Thanksgiving afterparty promises $2 PBR tallboys and $3 Wild Turkey nibblers. But more importantly, it’s one of the few times you’ll find an ostensibly holiday-related party with a soundtrack that avoids the usual holiday clichés. Mingle on the patio to the sounds of classic and…
Before gorging yourself on a hearty Thanksgiving meal, take part in an active charity benefit that reminds you of the true spirit of the holiday season. Seniors First hosts its Turkey Trot 2017 5K at Lake Eola on Thursday, with a goal of raising $150,000 to help the elderly. Participants can dress up in regular…
Pointing to bias in the selection process, an administrative law judge Tuesday called for the University of Central Florida to scrap a plan to award a 10-year contract for providing concessions at athletic facilities. Judge John D.C. Newton, in a 53-page decision, sided with the firm Centerplate, which challenged a decision to award the contract…
New York Times food writer Julia Moskin once wrote: “To many Americans, gravy without mashed potatoes is like jam without toast: a condiment with no consequence” and yes, it was in 2013 but … Ahem. NO. Gravy is practically the whole point of Thanksgiving, and (at least on my family’s plates) it goes everywhere – not just…
Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala and Gov. Rick Scott are quarreling over whose office is responsible for missing a deadline in a death-penalty case. Scott and Ayala have been in a public feud since Ayala declared in March that her administration wouldn’t be pursuing capital punishment for any cases during her time in office. Scott…
President Donald Trump’s regular dose of Fox & Friends will be tainted this Thanksgiving week with reminders about his historically low approval ratings. The women’s advocacy group UltraViolet says it’s targeting Trump during his vacation at the Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort in Palm Beach, with “More Popular Than Trump” TV ads. The anti-Trump commercials will…
After hearing a litany of complaints from lawmakers, state health officials are moving forward with a contested contract to process medical-marijuana patient identification cards. State Surgeon General Celeste Philip signed a contract with Jacksonville-based Veritec LLC on Wednesday, citing emergency powers “to avoid an immediate and serious danger to public health.” Patients have complained about…
The Eagles have just announced a North American tour set for next year with an Orlando date AND a very unexpected (and yet incredibly fitting) opener – Jimmy Buffet. The surviving Eagles – Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit joined by Vince Gill and Deacon Frey – have also tapped James Taylor and Chris…
Congratulations to the Orlando Sentinel for publishing arguably the crappiest take on the #MeToo movement. In a letter to the editor posted on Nov. 20, Diane Panacek of Altamonte Springs managed to top millions of terrible Tweets and Facebook posts with an epic rant titled “Get off the #MeToo bandwagon,” which basically says that women…
For some people, Thanksgiving is the biggest day of the year to eat mashed potatoes. It’s not solidly in the category of do-not-mess-with-this traditions, like turkey and cranberry sauce, but it’s close. But – just playing devil’s advocate here – there are already a lot of starches on the Thanksgiving table, and if you do…
In a blow to vegans and lovers of meatless dining, all-vegan eatery Leguminati won’t be opening in the Milk District as we first reported earlier this month. In a blog post, co-owner Rebecca “Bex” Larsen cited a “series of unfortunate events” and “personal influences from select business owners in the neighborhood” as reasons for the…
The fallout from the resignation of Florida Democratic Party Chairman Stephen Bittel continued Monday, with a top staff member stepping down and the interim party chair saying she won’t pursue the permanent post. Bittel on Friday announced his resignation, effective at 11:59 p.m. Monday, after being accused by several women of leering at them and…
Gov. Rick Scott is asking that a Florida Supreme Court justice be disqualified from ruling on a case focused on whether Scott has the authority to appoint three new justices before leaving office in early 2019. In a motion filed Monday, Scott’s lawyers requested the disqualification of Justice Barbara Pariente because of comments she made…
Hundreds of protesters are rallying Tuesday afternoon in front of President Donald Trump’s Florida resort, the Mar-a-Lago, after his administration decided late Monday night to end immigration protections for almost 59,000 Haitian immigrants. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it will permanently terminate Temporary Protected Status, also known as TPS, in July 2019 for…
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Congressman Dennis Ross on Friday criticized a lack of funding for the state’s storm-ravaged citrus industry in the latest disaster-relief package proposed by the White House. Putnam said a $44 billion request sent to Congress by the White House Office of Management and Budget “puts government reimbursement in front…
Wildlife officers were called to help remove a 6-foot crocodile from a Florida beach this afternoon, because here in the Sunshine State we like our beaches croc free. According to WBPF, the croc was first spotted near Dania Beach this morning, before it drifted south and eventually swam ashore on Hollywood Beach. Lifeguards kept crowds back…
In a scathing ruling issued Friday, a federal judge found that Florida corrections officials have a “long and sordid history” of failing to treat inmates infected with the Hepatitis C virus and ordered the state to immediately come up with a plan to properly provide care. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker found that the Department…
The organizers of Miami’s Look Alive Fest know that there’s an endless array of prime events to entice attendees of the ever-expanding Art Basel, so they’ve doubled down on the weirdness when picking this year’s headliners. A reformed and rejuvenated Royal Trux – the scuzzy blues duo of Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema – will…
Yesterday morning a single-engine plane had to make an emergency landing in a Florida residential area and a local sheriff’s dashboard camera caught the incident on film. The video, which was posted to Facebook by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, shows the plane attempting to land on Keene Road in unincorporated Clearwater at around 10:20…
The youngest Weasley sibling is joining the Wizarding festivities this January. Universal and Warner Bros. announced today that Bonnie Wright, known for playing Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter films, will return to the Wizarding World’s fifth “A Celebration of Harry Potter” event on January 26-28, 2018. Wright will join fellow Potter stars James and Oliver…
Because nothing says “sanctuary” like a room full of guns, a church in Florida has decided to place welcome signs on their doors warning would-be bad guys that they are “heavily armed.” Signs at The River at Tampa Bay Church read: “PLEASE KNOW THIS IS NOT A GUN FREE ZONE — WE ARE HEAVILY ARMED — ANY ATTEMPT…
Croissant Gourmet in College Park is about to get très gourmet. Chef Pete Morales, former executive chef at F&D Kitchen & Bar in Lake Mary, is partnering up with Croissant Gourmet chef/owner Francois Cahagne to open a neighborhood boîte in the Croissant Gourmet space on Edgewater Drive. Tartine Wine Bar & Eaterie will be French to its…
Someone apparently robbed the Imperial at Washburn Imports in Ivanhoe Village and they want your help figuring out what happened. The neighborhood furniture shop and bar recently released security footage showing two women taking a pair of expensive shoes from behind the counter during last Saturday’s Jingle Eve event. The video showed two women going…
A new player is entering Orlando’s Chinese food game. As first reported by local food critic Scott Joseph, a new Chinese restaurant called Peter’s Kitchen is set to open at the freestanding 3922 E. Colonial Drive space. The location has housed numerous restaurants over the years, including California Burrito Company, Fazoli’s Italian, and Casa Barcelona,…
One of the New York Times’ most distinguished reporters, White House correspondent Glenn Thrush, has been suspended by the newspaper after several female journalists accused him of sexual harassment in a Vox report. Four women in the Vox article, including its author, alleged that Thrush, a prominent reporter at Politico before joining the Times earlier this year, conducted…
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who has consistently bemoaned unnecessary regulations on businesses, is escalating a legal and regulatory feud with the state’s long-term care industry. The latest salvo has come in the form of letters that the Scott administration is demanding be sent to residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as well as…
On Nov. 17, 1973, President Richard Nixon was knee-deep in the Watergate controversy when he arrived at Disney’s Contemporary Resort to give his now infamous “I am not a crook” speech. In an attempt to quell the outrage surrounding his presidency’s involvement with the scandal, Nixon spoke before the Associated Press Managing Editors annual conference, and it…
Orlando’s decades-old tradition of decorating downtown with a giant golden star to start the holiday season is back this weekend. City workers plan to raise the Jack Kazanzas Star this Sunday, Nov. 19, near the corner of Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard. The 600-pound star is elevated 50 feet over the street. The tradition dates back more than…
In honor of Transgender Awareness Week, Mayor Buddy Dyer showed off a new transgender pride version of the official Orlando city flag. Dyer shared a photo of the flag this morning on the mayor’s official Twitter account, saying “It’s #TransWeek and I am proud to support our Transgender community because everyone deserves to be treated equally.” The…
After you see the new Justice League movie, show your allegiance to DC or rub Marvel’s superiority in the face of disappointed fanboys at Gods & Monsters’ Vault 5421. This cosplay party features drink specials, DJs, comic book movies playing on the big screens and prizes awarded for the staff’s favorite cosplay ensembles. Plus, there’s…
When we first broke the news this May about the newly minted Hourglass District and its associated food ventures, the real estate professionals behind the project — Giovanni Fernandez and Elise Sabatino — talked of grand plans for the Curry Ford Road/Bumby Avenue corridor. Well, looks like those grand plans are coming to fruition. Sure, work…
It’s a tough day at the Happiest Place on Earth. This week Disney announced more than 145 employees from its Walt Disney Parks & Resorts department have been laid off. Those affected work in human resources, finance, marketing, sales, and operations. As such, Disney does not expect the move will impact visitor experiences, reports The…
Florida Democratic Party Chairman Stephen Bittel has resigned in the wake of a report from POLITICO where six former state party staffers and consultants accused Bittel of creating an unprofessional and hostile workplace for women. In a statement released on Twitter, Bittel, who previously apologized, says his personal situation has become “distracting” to the party’s mission.…
This morning Disney released a few interesting tidbits about the new planet featured in the upcoming Stars Wars land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. According to Disney’s official blog, guests riding “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” will now get a first look at the planet of Batuu, which is also the location for the new…
The Florida Senate has hired a prominent Tallahassee lawyer amid a probe into sexual-harassment allegations against Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican. Meanwhile, a separate lawyer hired to conduct the investigation into possible misconduct by Latvala, who has steadfastly denied that he touched female lobbyists or Senate staffers inappropriately, estimated the inquiry could be wrapped…
Arguing they should not have to turn over documents, Florida Power & Light and Broward County have been battling subpoenas from a Hollywood nursing home where residents died after Hurricane Irma knocked out its air-conditioning system. Attorneys for The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills served subpoenas on FPL and the county as part of a…
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Son Volt and Duquette Johnston, The Social, Nov. 15 For a Kilimanjaro of reasons – heritage, quality, historical significance, a seeming chronic allergy to Orlando, etc. – Son Volt has been looming especially large on the calendar even among the usually bountiful autumn concert season. The Jay Farrar vehicle, of course, is…
Last night Universal hosted a sneak preview of their new “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts” projection show, and if you have any interest in Harry Potter, you’ll probably drop a yule log or two. This season, for the first time ever, both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are featuring a swath of Potter-holiday…
Daytona Beach’s historic oceanfront Bandshell, once the site of MTV Spring Break, is finally getting a well deserved makeover. City commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to demolish the interior of the 80-year-old sandcastle-like structure, which will be rebuilt with a $1 million budget, according to the Daytona Beach News Journal. The building, which has hosted open air…
It’s not truly the holiday season until Winter Park opens their annual ice skating rink. The Winter in The Park rink will open this Saturday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. in the Central Park West Meadow (150 N. New York Ave.), on the corner of New York Avenue and Morse Boulevard. Skaters can slide around for…
Sweet mother of Manson, the Ash vs Evil 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 prop car from Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is for sale, and it runs! Winter Garden-based company Central Florida Furniture/Props/Sets & Staging is selling this functioning prop car for just $3,600, or best offer. Though, technically, the car used in the series was a ’73…
Orlando Brewing’s annual tapping of their batch of Chocolate Mint Girl Stout is always a party. It was the first beer in their Babes Brew Series, a selection of beers crafted entirely by female employees of the brewery, and it tastes like a liquid version of the cookies your neighbor’s kid has you hooked on.…
This weekend, like just about every weekend, parking will be a soul-sucking experience in downtown Orlando. For the second weekend in a row, the City of Orlando has issued a transportation advisory for downtown. On Saturday, Nov. 18, people are advised to leave early to find parking and anticipate delays because of a few major…
State Rep. Ross Spano, a Republican lawmaker who recently attempted to declare porn a health crisis while also “liking” Twitter porn, says he plans to run for Florida attorney general next year. Spano, who also is the chairman of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, made the announcement Thursday, Nov. 16, and is now the third…
With about 70 million visitors coming to the Orlando area annually, Lake Nona is looking to capitalize on that traffic with a massive new sports and performance resort. The Tavistock Group announced today plans to open the eight-story Lake Nona Resort with health and nutrition amenities, as well as one of the nation’s largest man-made lagoons…
Childhood cancer is a terrible thing. Luckily, our community has a tendency to step up when it comes to helping out our neighbors. Will’s Pub hosts a daytime benefit for Orion Predko – a local childhood cancer patient – and BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation with live music from Terri Binion and Kaleigh Baker, an…
With one of the boldest themes for a burlesque show we’ve seen, Tolkien It Off takes the greatest fantasy world of all time – Middle-earth – and adds the layer of sex and comedy that the original was missing. From elves to dwarves to dragons, nothing is spared a tongue-in-cheek giggle and squeak. There’s even…
Florida’s opioid-related deaths spiked sharply by 35 percent in 2016, according to a report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The report, put together by the state’s Medical Examiners Commission, shows the number of fatalities where opioids were identified as the cause of death or present in bodies jumped to 5,725 last year. That’s an…
Eccentric, multitalented MC Tyler, the Creator and Vince Staples have announced a co-headlining North American tour to kick off in January of next year, with one of two Florida dates being Orlando. Tyler, the Creator is ending 2017 strong, winding down his current headlining tour after the release of the Flower Boy album, and opening…
Former Gov. Jeb Bush, who made education reform the hallmark of his two terms in office, on Wednesday praised a new state law that could spur the growth of charter schools in Florida. “It was a historic bill. It was extraordinary,” Bush told state House members, who hosted the former Republican governor as part of…
Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday said Alabama U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore, accused of sexually inappropriate behavior with girls as young as 14, should drop out of the race, according to the Austin American-Statesman newspaper. Scott, in Texas for a Republican Governors Association meeting, is the latest Republican calling for Moore, a firebrand politician who…
A Florida lawmaker has a plan to stop greyhound racing. Republican Senator Tom Lee, along with former State Senate President Don Gaetz, have filed a constitutional amendment to end greyhound racing in Florida. Lee’s proposal would see the controversial spectator-sport phased out over the next 3 years, and banned entirely by July 21 2021. Related…
After mocking Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s 2013 water bottle gaffe, Donald Trump had his own thirsty boy moment today. While speaking to reporters this afternoon about his trip to Asia, a parched Trump paused from reading his teleprompter to wet his whistle with a refreshing bottle of water, something he mocked Rubio for doing on…
A popular Florida beach is now covered in a slimy legion of tiny gastropods. At Fort De Soto Beach, just south of St. Petersburg, huge numbers of cerith snails have washed up on the once pristine shoreline. A video of the never-ending swath of snails was posted last weekend by See Through Canoe’s Michael McCarthy. At…
A statue of civil-rights leader and educator Mary McLeod Bethune is getting support in both chambers of the Legislature as a replacement for a Confederate general who has long represented Florida in the U.S. Capitol. Over the objection of a senator who decried “cultural purging,” the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday voted 18-1 to support…
It would appear Donald Trump’s first presidential pardon will be for a Florida turkey. Word of Trump’s upcoming holiday visit comes from a “VIP Movement Notification” released by the Federal Aviation Administration. These notifications typically precede the President’s travel, and are issued to warn other pilots of future flying restrictions. Related So far, Trump has spent…
Raising the prospect of “irreversible damage” to the public- education system, nine school boards want the Florida Supreme Court to block a massive education law approved in May. The school boards late Monday filed a constitutional challenge at the Supreme Court to the bill, which has become known in the education world by the shorthand…
Wednesday, Nov. 15 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Reggae Night with Hor!zen and DJ Red I 10 pm at the Caboose, 1827 N. Orange Ave. Yacht Rock Happy Hour 5 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Thursday, Nov. 16 Thursday Jazz Jams 8…
An independent study released today by the WWE and Mayor Buddy Dyer’s office says Wrestlmania 33 dropped a $181.5 million tombstone piledriver on the Orlando region last April. This number is a new record for the annual Showcase of the Immortals, which spanned six days and held the main event at Camping World Stadium on April…
In a surprisingly strong move, Orange County commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday night to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas of the county. Rules from the Florida Legislature dictate municipal governments only have two options regarding dispensaries – they can either ban them outright or regulate them like any other pharmacy. Mayor Teresa Jacobs called…
I had a blast hosting Savage Lovecast Live at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts. Audience members submitted questions before the show, and I consumed a large pot edible right after the curtain went up and then raced to give as much decent sex advice as I could before it took effect. Here are some…
Are you looking for some furry friends? Meet Bashful and Curley! Bashful and Curley are a bonded pair of Terrier mix brothers that have to be adopted together. They were part of an abuse case and were confiscated by animal control along with 16 other dogs. Curley & Bashful are both shy and timid. Curley…
Wednesday, Nov. 15 Son Volt MUSIC Before “alt-country” became the provenance of pop-star ensembles like Mumford & Sons and even the qualifier “alt” just seemed sketchy, cosmic cowboy Jay Farrar was setting the twangy, melancholic template with his Son Volt. Though still indelibly associated with his first band, country-punk godfathers Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt has…
Sadistik Fake Four alum and gifted MC mixes dark storytelling with vulnerable autobiography with metal-influenced showmanship and it makes him a can’t-miss act. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Will’s Pub, $12-$15 Knockout Kids If you’re interested in surveying the current state of young pop-punk, check out this piled-high bill featuring Knockout Kid, Story Untold,…
OPENINGS: All-vegan eatery Leguminati has moved into the Sandwich Bar on East Robinson Street in the Milk District … Banh mi joint Mai Bistro opens Friday in the former Scientology building on East Colonial Drive … Also on East Colonial Drive, Lineage Coffee Roasting will open next door to Lazy Moon Pizza on Dec. 2…
SHANA FALANA AND THE WELZEINS, WILL’S PUB, NOV. 8 The latest national name imported by OYG Presents was New York’s Shana Falana, a Team Love Records band that operates on the brawnier side of the dream-pop realm. While many of their contemporaries float among the clouds like seraphim, they ride through them like a jet…
On Oct. 30, over 200 patrons attended “Young Fringenstein,” the Orlando Fringe Festival’s first Halloween event in several years. The event, which was held in Orlando Shakes’ Margeson Theater, featured five local troupes – Wanzie Presents/D Squared Productions, Phantasmagoria, Gromalot Theatre Factory, Central Florida Vocal Arts and Lil Theatre Company – recreating Mel Brooks’ classic…
During the decade I’ve been covering Orlando performing arts, opera has been declared deceased and then shouted “not dead yet” more times than a Monty Python character. With no fewer than four opera-focused companies now active in the city, it’s safe to say the art form is finally out of the ICU. For traditionalists, Opera…
Just when we thought the stale “coming-of-age” film was on a precipitous slide, along comes the most unlikely of lifelines. Greta Gerwig, often dubbed the queen of low-budget cinema, has temporarily rescued the genre and shown she too has come of age, from mumblecore darling to quirky character actress to mature writer-director. One of the…
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA JUVENILE DIVISION CASE NO. P15-DP- 180 IN THE INTEREST OF: A.T. SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF ADVISORY HEARING FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AND GUARDIANSHIP, STATE OF FLORIDA TO: Allen Bernard Harrell, 226 Ronnie Circle, Orlando,…
THIS WEEK: Justice League So let’s review, shall we? The director they brought in to salvage this picture started hemorrhaging followers after his ex-wife accused him of being a serial philanderer and gaslighter. The male lead is an admitted titty-grabber with uncomfortably close ties to Harvey Weinstein (not to mention his role in shielding his…
Hill, Stuart pull slim victories in Orlando City Council races while Gray coasts to re-election: Orlando voters decided to send all three incumbents back to City Hall in last week’s municipal elections. Orlando Commissioners Robert Stuart and Regina Hill pulled off slim victories in District 3 and 5 respectively, with Stuart receiving 51 percent of the…
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA JUVENILE DIVISION CASE NO. P16-DP- 91 IN THE INTEREST OF: D. E., J. E. SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF ADVISORY HEARING FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AND GUARDIANSHIP, STATE OF FLORIDA TO: Jose Castarneda Esparza, 2817…
