Nov 18-24, 2015

Nov 18-24, 2015 / Vol. 31 / No. 48

Cover Story

Start Christmas early at the Epcot Candlelight Processional

OK, so many it’s a bit early to be thinking about Christmas, but it’s never too early to hear a good story. Drop by the Epcot World Showcase Nov. 26 through Dec. 30 for the Candlelight Processional, a dramatic retelling of the birth of Jesus accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir. Celebrity narrators…

Get your Turkey Day brunch on at The Alfond Inn

Too lazy to cook? No worries! The Alfond Inn is hosting a Thanksgiving brunch Nov. 26. The menu includes pasta, salad, turkey, a hot buffet and an entire dessert station.  Seating times are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets cost $79.

Burn off those guilty calories at the Turkey Trot 5k

Burn off those Thanksgiving calories at the Seniors First Turkey Trot 5k. Let’s be honest: It’s Thanksgiving, so you’re probably going to eat too much. You may as well get some exercise to assuage your inexorable turkey-flavored guilt. Proceeds from the race benefits Seniors First, a nonprofit organization that provides services like Meals On Wheels…

It’s Thanksgiving and they handed me a knife. What now?

That feeling when you get asked to carve the turkey: That feeling when you get asked to carve the turkey, but you’re a vegetarian: How to human up and just get it done: Esquire magazine, that temple of all things manly, published “How to Carve a Turkey in Five Steps: This is a manly exercise worth…

27 free concerts this week in Orlando (11/25-12/1)

Wednesday, Nov. 25 BAHMM Funk Jam 10:30 p.m. at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 p.m. at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Imperial’s Acoustic Soundcheck with Joseph and Jessy Lynn Martens 9 p.m. at the Imperial, 1800 N. Orange Ave. Orlando Music Group Open Jam 10:45 p.m. at St.…

Hillary Clinton is coming to Orlando next week

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is bringing her campaign to Orlando on Dec. 2, according to the Miami Herald.  The former Secretary of State will be at a rally somewhere in Orlando at 1 p.m. next week, the Orlando Political Observer reports. Clinton has other scheduled fundraisers that week in Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami and Miami…

Get sauced at the Turkey Trot Pub Crawl tonight

Explore the many bars of Thornton Park during the Turkey Trot Pub Crawl Nov. 25. The crawl, which runs from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., will make stops at Stardust Lounge, World of Beer, The Abbey and Muchos. Event-goers receive admission to all the bars, a choice of either four complimentary Coors Lights, vodka cocktails…

VIDEO: Roadkill Ghost Choir talks new music on Off the Avenue

We’ve covered Roadkill Ghost Choir’s neat and rapid ascent in the alt-country world since their Quiet Light EP first seeped into our ears in 2012, well after we’d first witnessed singer Andrew Shepard’s grievous-angel vocal live. Fast-forward to the present, after their acclaimed 2014 debut, In Tongues, set them on a path that led them to…

Wine pairings for your favorite Thanksgiving pies

SNL might have been on to something with their sketch that showed us how to deal with difficult racist relatives at the Thanksgiving table, but what’s the real thing that will get us all through the next four days with people you wouldn’t necessarily choose to hang out with on any other given day?  Alcohol.…

Florida approves Winter Garden nursery to grow medical marijuana

Winter Garden’s Knox Nursery was one of five nurseries in Florida approved by the state Department of Health to grow and sell medical marijuana on Monday.  Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill for Charlotte’s Web, a non-euphoric strain of marijuana that treats conditions like epilepsy and cancer, into law last year. Since then, the drug…

Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed budget includes $1 billion in tax cuts

Florida Gov. Rick Scott released his $79.3 billion spending plan for the next year Monday and it’s pretty dense. The budget calls for $1 billion in spending cuts, including a $770 million cut that eliminates income taxes on manufacturing and retail and a $76.9 million cut that eliminates taxes on manufacturing machinery and equipment. The…

Watch this 5 minute Thanksgiving-themed gore flick by Orlando filmmakers

Orlando-based filmmakers Jason Kupfer and Tighe Arnold’s debuted their short film Invaders on actor and director Eli Roth’s Crypt TV today, and it’s probably one of the best/most disturbing Thanksgiving flicks you’ll watch this year.  The horror comedy centers on actors Ricky Wayne (The Walking Dead) and Jordan Woods-Robinson (The Walking Dead, Missionary, Hunger Games: Mocking…

Police Beat: OPD’s Monday morning event sheets show a rash of bad behavior in Orlando over the weekend

Every weekday morning, the Orlando Police Department’s public information officer sends the media what it calls “event sheets” – brief reports about various incidents to which police were called in the prior couple of days. Usually, the reports aren’t particularly notable. They detail some break-ins, robberies, fights and occasional assaults. This morning’s event sheets, which cover…

From vaporwave to dance pop, Skylar Spence constantly surprises (The Social)

THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND It’s a little hard to tell from his slick, marketable dance-pop but Brooklyn’s Skylar Spence has an interesting connection to the deep Central Florida underground. Prior to this guise, Skylar Spence mastermind Ryan DeRobertis was making music as Saint Pepsi. And while he was rolling under that litigation-baiting moniker, he was releasing…

Bleubird and Table for Three show the future of Florida indie rap (Backbooth)

THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND The most notable homegrown hip-hop show recently was the alternative-rap showcase headlined by Bleubird (Nov. 19, Backbooth), a Florida underground hero from Ft. Lauderdale whose ties to the 407 go back deep and long enough for honorary citizenship. His name still has a lot of cachet here with the hip-hop cognoscenti but,…

3 Thanksgiving cheat sheets that could save your Turkey Day

Let me save you the trouble by just telling you that you need to bookmark this blogpost right this second. No matter where you are in the Thanksgiving-dinner-planning thought process, the freaking brilliant Turkey Day hacks on these three sites will help. And if not, there’s still Publix’s $44.99 turkey + 5 sides deal that,…

Busch Gardens unveils new details about new spinning roller coaster

If you’ve been wondering more about Busch Gardens new roller coaster Cobra’s Curse, then you’re not alone. At this year’s International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, the Tampa-based theme park dished about all the twist and turns we can expect with this unique spinning coaster. Riders kick the coaster off by climbing 70-feet to the head…

Swedish chefs: IKEA hosts holiday Julbord on Dec. 11

I’ll waste no time on the adorable holiday decor IKEA has rolled out this year and get straight to the good stuff. The real reason we all go to IKEA. The food. The IKEA Julbord, or holiday buffet, is back, and it’s on Dec. 11 this year. Tickets are a far cry from the furniture…

Sarah Palin is signing books at Barnes & Noble in Orlando tonight

Sarah Palin, probably the nation’s most famous also-ran, is in Orlando tonight, according to the Daily City. She’ll be a the Barnes & Noble in Colonial Plaza at 6 p.m. to sign her new book, Sweet Freedom, and to regale audiences with what Jon Steward famously called her “folksy word salad.”  Get More: Comedy Central,Funny…

Judge frees Orlando man convicted of murder nearly 20 years ago

After spending close to two decades incarcerated since he was 17, Edward Francis became a free man again Friday.  Judge Keith Carsten ordered Francis’ sentence reduced to time served plus 5 years of supervised probation after State Attorney Jeff Ashton asked Carsten to consider the case. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to…

The $400 million Daytona Speedway facelift is going to be ridiculous

Daytona Rising, part of the larger redo of the International Speedway and surrounding area, just took one big leap forward with the installation of the new signage. Anyone who’s visited Daytona Beach knows the old Daytona International Speedway sign due to its sheer size. The new sign will dwarf that old one. Each letter of…

Aku Aku throws a Hawaiian party for Makahiki on Saturday

If you’ve been to Aku Aku Tiki Bar, you know this place takes its tiki seriously – the artwork on the walls is authentic, the carved tiki gods are crafted by actual tiki artists, the cocktails are crafted with house-made syrups and real fruit juices and boy, do they pack a wallop. So we’re certain…

Top 10 Thanksgiving side dishes, scientifically ranked (sorta)

More than 9,700 people were polled on the all-important topic of Thanksgiving side dishes by opinion site Ranker, and according to this very, very scientific survey, America’s favorite Thanksgiving side dishes are as follows (drum roll, please): Mashed potatoes Stuffing Gravy Bread Green bean casserole Corn on the cob Macaroni and cheese Baked sweet potatoes Sweet potato…

Canvas Restaurant and Market paints a pretty picture in Lake Nona

We first reported back in July that the Tavistock Restaurant Collection would be opening a lakeside resto in Lake Nona’s Laureate Park. Well, now it has a name – Canvas Restaurant and Market. The dinner-only joint will mark a return to Central Florida for the Tavistock Restaurant Collection, which previously ran Timpano Chophouse in Dr.…

Supporting players: Where to order your Thanksgiving sides

Thanksgiving planning thought process: 1. “I’m totally going to host Thanksgiving this year. It’s going to rock!” 2. “Wow. That’s a lot of cooking. I don’t know if I have enough ovens/pans/pots/food processors/counter space.” 3. “How does all of this stuff come out hot at the same time? It defies logic!” 4. “I’ll just buy…

Lazy Moon pizza will open a new location in Mills 50

The popular UCF-area pizza joint Lazy Moon Pizza, known for delicious pizzas larger than an infant, will soon open a new location in the Mills 50 area.  As first reported by the Bungalower, the pizzeria will occupy a 5,000-square-foot space in the bottom floor of the former Cruises Only/Euro Living building on Colonial Drive.  Not many…

Florida Atlantic University poll shows Trump leading in Florida

Today, Florida Atlantic University’s Business and Economics Polling Initiative released a GOP primary comparison poll that showed that Florida voters favor Donald Trump as the frontrunner for the party’s presidential candidate. Not just by a little, either. The poll shows Trump is favored by nearly 36 percent of voters polled, compared to the second runner…

BREAKING: There’s been a monorail accident at Walt Disney World

Reports are coming in of an accident this afternoon involving the Express Line of the Magic Kingdom monorail. The incident occurred during a planned test near Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It’s being reported that damage has occurred to the front end of the monorail.  However, no injuries have been reported and no guests were onboard. All…

Want to host Clap Your Hands Say Yeah in your living room?

Attention: Fans of sweet Philly indie rockers Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. You can host an intimate concert featuring Alec Ounsworth performing acoustic versions of your favorite CYHSY songs in your very own living room on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Here’s how to apply: Email cyhsy@living-room-shows.com this info: – Your street address, city, state and…

Restaurants open, restaurants close: new steak, beer and pizza in Orlando

OPENINGS: In early 2016, STK Orlando will open in Disney Springs. The high-end modern steakhouse will also offer the only rooftop dining experience in Disney Springs. Red Cypress Brewery, which made a great showing at last Saturday’s Orlando Beer Festival, is now tapping in Winter Springs. The fourth Florida location of Pie Five Pizza Co.…

A man was cited during Florida’s bear hunt for using Honey Buns as bait

Authorities with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are saying a DeBary man was cited during last month’s bear hunt for baiting with a wide assortment of junk food, including Honey Buns.   According to WMFE, James Louis Ryan was attempting to “bait” bears on a wooded lot near Deland using “two honey buns, a…

31 free concerts this week in Orlando (11/18-11/24)

Wednesday, Nov. 18 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 p.m. at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. Imperial’s Acoustic Soundcheck with Steven Cardwell 9 p.m. at the Imperial, 1800 N. Orange Ave. The Mellow Relics 10:30 p.m. at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Orlando Music Group Open Jam 10:45 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Tavern,…

Free Will Astrology (11/18/15)

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Urbandictionary.com defines the English word “balter” as follows: “to dance without particular skill or grace, but with extreme joy.” It’s related to the Danish term baltre, which means “to romp, tumble, roll, cavort.” I nominate this activity to be one of your ruling metaphors in the coming weeks. You have a…

Picks This Week: The Wonder Years, Circa Survive, Have Mercy and more

Negative Approach Every hardcore fan knows that Negative Approach is like the overlooked ugly stepsister of hardcore royalty like Black Flag, Minor Threat, 7 Seconds, and every other band that gets a little more attention than these true early ’80s fire-starters. Heatseekers would be well advised to get to Will’s Pub for Negative Approach’s show…

Gimme Shelter (11/18/15)

There are tons of adorable adoptable dogs and cats at Orange County Animal Services waiting for you to take them home. Every day, the shelter receives approximately 53 new animals. Visit Orange County Animal Services, located at 2769 Conroy Road near the Mall at Millenia. The facility is open for adoptions Mondays through Saturdays from 10…

Savage Love (11/18/15)

I’ve always been a big believer in the idea that monogamy is hard. Additionally, I like the idea of my wife getting fucked. I don’t have any desire to be denigrated or emasculated; I just get off on the idea of her being satisfied and a little transgressive. Early in our relationship, we talked about…

Selections: Our picks of the week’s best events, Nov. 18-24

Wednesday, 18 Negative Approach MUSIC Every hardcore fan knows that Negative Approach is like the overlooked ugly stepsister of hardcore royalty like Black Flag, Minor Threat, 7 Seconds, and every other band that gets a little more attention than these true early ’80s fire-starters. Heatseekers would be well advised to get to Will’s Pub for…

Every local holiday event from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day

Nov. 5-Dec. 13 Annual Holiday Craft Show Enjoy handmade items by local artisans, free entry, free parking and weekly raffle prizes. Jewelry, wreaths, ornaments, fabric crafts and home decorations are just a few of the many wonderful gifts available for purchase. Mondays-Saturdays, 11 am-6 pm, Sundays, noon-4 pm; Osceola Center for the Arts, 2411 E.…

Stuff that sings for music lovers’ attention this holiday season

Shopping for music lovers is either the easiest task or the most impossible, depending on how much you understand your intended recipient’s niche music interests. It’s been a good year for fans of strong female figures in music history, with many acclaimed memoirs released this year. If you’ve got no book nerds on your shopping…

Ollie’s is the perfect low-key place to tip ’em back with friends

Ollie’s Public House 3400 Edgewater Drive, 407-999-8934, olliespublichouse.com After work or after hours? This is the perfect after-work happy hour spot, though it’s open until 2 a.m. Beer/wine or liquor too? All of the above Check all that apply: ☐ fancy cocktails ☒ make ’em strong and keep ’em coming ☐ wine list (5 choices…


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