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Seven Orlando spots where you can have a holiday office party that doesn’t suck
Deck the halls, not your co-workers
Pair some paella with your pinot at a special pop-up dinner at Nora’s Sugar Shack
We don’t know about you, but these days we find ourselves stopping to pick up a bottle of wine to go with dinner and then forgetting all about the dinner far too often. But this week’s Que Paella dinner at Nora’s Sugar Shack should mean that we get at least one balanced meal this week.…
Thousands of students from Puerto Rico have enrolled in Florida public schools
More than 7,900 students from Puerto Rico and other islands damaged by this year’s hurricanes have enrolled in Florida public schools, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said Tuesday. Updating the State Board of Education, which met in Lake County, Stewart said 7,212 students displaced from Puerto Rico and 710 students from the Virgin Islands and other…
WFTV wants you to know that homeless people are using our libraries
Local television station WFTV has a hot scoop: Homeless people are using the library, and they’re getting kicked out sometimes. In a report titled “Downtown Orlando library, a homeless hotbed,” reporter Karla Ray, who also ran the incredibly baseless “Lake Eola is a terrorist soft-target” segment, discovered through court records that 90 percent of the 220 people…
Grammy-nominated Celtic Woman will kick off 2018 tour in Florida
Irish music superstars – and perennial PBS faves – Celtic Woman have announced a North American tour for next year that is kicking off in our very own backyard. The Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling crossover artists’ “Homecoming” tour kicks off in Lakeland, and includes several other Florida stops, just none quiiiiiiiiite in Orlando. Celtic Woman play the…
Central Florida company creates bilingual job board for Puerto Rican evacuees
A Central Florida company has created a bilingual online job board to help find work for the thousands of Puerto Rican evacuees who are making their way to the state after fleeing deplorable conditions left in the wake of Hurricane Maria. LatinoJobsOnline.com has job postings in both English and Spanish in places like Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville,…
Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival announces Arcade Fire, Halsey and more for 2018 lineup
After weeks of anticipation, the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival, now entering its third year, has announced its lineup. Headliners include Arcade Fire, Halsey, Travis Scott and Bassnectar (performing twice). The lineup goes the something-for-everyone route, mixing festival veterans like the Flaming Lips with up-and-comers like summer jam “Young Dumb & Broke” singer Khalid. Dance…
Orlando Police Department receives $46,000 grant to improve pedestrian and bike safety
A report from last year ranked Orlando as the third most dangerous city for pedestrians, but the local police department is looking to change that. The Florida Department of Transportation recently awarded OPD a $46,000 grant to help reduce the number of accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists, according the News 13. The grant will fund…
Southern Craft throws a grand opening party with free drinks in the Milk District
The Milk District gets a brand new craft cocktail and beer bar this week when Southern Craft exits the soft opening phase. Celebrate their grand opening with free drinks (!) from 5-7 p.m. and live music from 7-11 p.m. Complimentary light bites will also be served. 5 p.m. Wednesday; Southern Craft, 2405 E. South St.;…
Orlando Shakes brings ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ to the stage as a live radio broadcast
Fans of Frank Capra’s beloved look at small-town American life, 1946’s It’s a Wonderful Life, will find plenty to be thankful for at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater this season. The Shakes is bringing the film to the stage in the style of a live ’40s-style radio broadcast. While the actors do their best impression of…
Disney’s Epcot celebrates Pixar film ‘Coco’ with new interactive exhibits
Disney is bringing its newly released Pixar film Coco to life with new interactive exhibits at its Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion. The company announced yesterday it would be launching seasonal park experiences inspired by the film, which include a mariachi band, folk art exhibit and performances from entertainers. A new musical group, El Mariachi Coco de…
Florida taxpayers paid more than $11 million over 30 years in sexual harassment cases
The state during the past 30 years has paid more than $11 million to settle over 300 complaints filed by women and men who alleged sexual harassment in the workplace or said they worked in hostile environments, according to information released Monday. The largest payment on the list, $1.3 million, was made as part of…
Tampa City Hall plans to fly UCF Knights flag after losing ‘War on I-4’ rivalry
Tampa City Hall will fly the UCF Knights flag after losing a bet on who would win the historic “War on I-4” college football rivalry between the Knights and USF Bulls. The Knights dominated the Bulls 49-42 last Friday in front of thousands at the University of Central Florida’s Spectrum Stadium and won the title in…
Reggae legend Lee Scratch Perry is coming to Orlando in January
Grammy-winning dub reggae artist Lee Scratch Perry is coming to Orlando early next year. Perry will perform the entirety of his classic dub album “Super Ape” with his band Subatomic Sound System, on January 16, 2018 at The Social. The show marks the record’s 40th anniversary and Perry’s 80th rotation around the sun (though we know…
A Publix employee paid the difference for a customer who couldn’t afford their Thanksgiving groceries
A Publix employee reportedly whipped out her own debit card and helped a customer last weekend who struggled to cover their Thanksgiving dinner shopping list. The generous act, which occurred last Friday at a Publix in Fairburn, Ga, was apparently witnessed by Dam Tyrone II, who then posted about it on social media. Though the…
Blue Jacket Grille is now open in the former Smiling Bison spot
A new casual restaurant opened today in the former Smiling Bison location, just south of Baldwin Park. Blue Jacket Grille, a “neighborhood-style” restaurant featuring a plethora of beer, burgers, wings and flatbreads, held a soft-opening over the weekend and officially opened its door this afternoon. The new spot is located at 745 Bennett Rd. Smiling…
Donald Trump’s talking robot is expected to debut at Disney World before Christmas
A robot designed and programmed to the likeness of Donald “I know words” Trump is expected to make its grand debut at the Hall of President attraction in Disney’s Magic Kingdom by this Christmas. Citing sources familiar with the matter, local Disney blog WDWMagic.com says the Hall of Presidents is expected to open by Christmas…
Orlando cultural groups offering Cyber Monday deals
If you are trying not to spend money on meaningless consumer goods, but your credit card trigger finger is getting itchy on Cyber Monday, we have a solution for you: Give that cash to a local arts organization or museum. Here are a few running specials until midnight today: Orlando Ballet: Save 15 percent on tickets…
Orlando is second most ‘sinful city’ in the U.S., says study
Don’t let the mouse ears fool you; Orlando is not as innocent a city as you might think, according to a recent study. A WalletHub study ranked The City Beautiful (or should we now call it The City Sinful?) as the second most sinful place in the U.S., behind — where else — Las Vegas,…
U.S. Supreme Court rejects challenge to Florida’s open-carry ban on firearms
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to take up a challenge to a Florida law that bars people from openly carrying firearms in public, ending a case that started nearly six years ago when a man was arrested in St. Lucie County. The U.S. Supreme Court, as is common, did not explain its reasons…
The Bacon Express food truck is coming to Orlando this December
A food truck carrying loads of bacon, and bacon-inspired treats is coming to Orlando this holiday season. Applegate, the “natural and organic meat” brand, is sending their Bacon Express food truck on an east coast trek, like some sort of bacon fairy godmother, and it’s making a couple of Orlando stops. The truck will make…
Judge weighs legality of Florida’s 24-hour abortion waiting period
Lawyers for the state asked a Leon County circuit judge Tuesday to order a trial about the constitutionality of a 2015 state law that would require women to wait 24 hours before having abortions. But lawyers representing a Gainesville abortion clinic asked Judge Terry Lewis to issue a summary judgment finding the waiting-period law is…
At Mar-a-Lago protest, Orlando immigrant workers fight Trump’s TPS decision
Orlando workers piled onto buses for a three-hour drive to Palm Beach Tuesday to let President Donald Trump know they refuse to give up on the fight for immigration protections for Haitians. On Monday, the Trump administration decided to terminate the Temporary Protected Status designation, known as TPS, for about 59,000 Haitians. The status that…
Band of the Week: Flashlights
Welcome to Orlando Weekly’s “Band of the Week.” Every week, we highlight one of our favorite local bands. This week, we’re pleased to bring you Flashlights. Flashlights are playing Will’s Pub on Dec. 3 with Expert Timing and Deadaires. Just the facts: When did the band form? The band formed circa 2008 with me (Terry)…
Pioneering California hardcore band Battalion of Saints bring ‘Second Coming’ to Bombshell’s Tavern
Tough week, right? You just faced down the extended family gauntlet, explaining and justifying the myriad of (probably bad) life choices you made. Sure would be nice for a quick blast of supercharged adrenaline from your (or somebody else’s) youth to kinda remind you why you fucked it all up in the first place. Oh…
Take a tasty trip through Sanford’s culinary scene at Taste of Sanford
Seminole County’s hippest town showcases its culinary scene this week at the Sanford Civic Center. More than 15 different restaurants provide samples of their best bites, along with craft beer, cider, wine and cocktails. Stick around for the raffle, or kick back and enjoy some jazz from Macalus Quartet. 5:30 p.m. Monday; Sanford Civic Center,…
This Monday is your last chance to see Atlanta up-and-comer 6lack for a while
We know that we consistently urge you not to miss this event or that event, but if you are at all intrigued by the post-millennium tension woven into song by 6lack, you’d better not miss this one-night stand at the Plaza Live. After rising through the ranks of battle rappers in Atlanta, living out of…
‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’ coming to Enzian Theater
Do it, Orlando! Daniel Radcliffe, Joshua McGuire and David Haig star in Tom Stoppard’s brilliantly funny situation comedy. Recorded at the Old Vic Theatre in London, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern follows the journeys of its two hapless title characters living life on the sidelines of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The misadventures of these minor characters make for an…
John Morgan says he will not run for governor of Florida as a Democrat
Orlando attorney, businessman, and medical marijuana advocate John Morgan announced today that he will not seek the Democratic nomination for the governor of Florida. Morgan, who has yet to even announce if he’ll run for governor at all, took to Twitter Friday morning to announce his decision. “Spent all of Thanksgiving with my whole family,”…
Holiday ice skating rink finally brings actual winter to Winter Park
Looking for an ice-cool weekend activity? Luckily for you, Winter Park has once again put down its Winter in the Park ice skating rink. Located at Central Park West Meadow, on the corner of New York Avenue and Morse Boulevard, the rink charges an admission fee of $13 – though group discounts are available –…
We just got the most detailed description yet on the new billion dollar Star Wars land coming to Disney World
The Orange County Register, a highly respected Southern California newspaper, posted a lengthy analysis of the newly public permit plans for the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge that Disney shared with the City of Anaheim. Disney is currently building two nearly identical 14-acre Star Wars lands, one in California at Disneyland and one here in Florida…
Government documents reveal new details on three major projects at Walt Disney World
It’s been nearly half a year since Disney first announced major new additions coming to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. While rumors of these new additions had been around for years, it wasn’t until Disney’s in-house fan convention D23 in July that we got official confirmation of the Tron coaster, the Magic Kingdom theater, and…
‘Love Never Dies’ at Dr. Phillips Center is a maddeningly misguided sequel to ‘Phantom of the Opera’
As anyone who has suffered through Bring Back Birdie or The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public knows, Broadway has ignoble history when it comes to sequel-izing hit musicals. But after decades of development and productions on 3 different continents, one would have hoped for something better than Love Never Dies, the maddeningly misguided continuation of…
The Courtesy Bar transforms into Miracle on Orange for the holidays
Booze is as endemic to the holidays as candy canes and gelt, and this year, one of downtown’s top craft cocktail bars is going all-in on a holiday revamp sure to put some wassail on your chest. The Courtesy Bar has been selected as one of 56 bars across the country to participate in Miracle,…
Eugene Snowden’s Afrobeat band Umoja gets reunion show at Will’s Pub this week
Every Afrobeat band is essentially a Fela Kuti cover band, doing its part to keep the fire of Kuti’s perpetual groove stoked and ready for future generations to discover. How fitting, then, that Orlando’s most charismatic musical showman, Eugene Snowden, got his start locally as the frontman of Umoja, an Afrobeat collective active from 1994…
Opera del Sol mixes classic arias with space opera for ‘Opera Wars’ at the Abbey
Opera Del Sol founder Nicole Dupré is on a mission. “If we want people to fall in love with this art form, we’ve got to shake it up,” she told Orlando Weekly recently, and the group’s first local show seems solidly aimed to do just that. Opera Wars presents some of the best-known operatic arias…
21 Savage hits Orlando just in time for Black Friday
Atlanta trap rapper 21 Savage is coming to Orlando’s Venue 578 with his “Numb the Pain” tour. His latest album, Without Warning, is the second collaboration between Savage and producer Metro Boomin’ and features rapper Offset. Take the name seriously; 21 Savage’s music isn’t always for the faint of heart, boasting eerie sound bites from…
Celebrate Black Friday with Blacklist Babes Cabaret at St. Matthew’s Tavern
Whether you spend Black Friday fighting soccer moms for a Teddy Ruxpin or just clicking your way through Amazon, you can celebrate the end of the “biggest shopping day of the year” by heading to St. Matthew’s Tavern for a comedy musical burlesque show from Blacklist Babes Cabaret. This particular show features live music and…
Not a drill: Publix now delivers booze straight to your door
Just when you thought you couldn’t love Publix more than you already do, they pull at your alcoholic heartstrings by offering to deliver liquor straight to your door. Through Instacart, the Lakeland-based supermarket chain will now send spirits, beer, wine, mixers and other booze-related products from Publix Liquors to your home for a fee. The delivery should come…
Hashtags like #metoo opened the floodgates, and now it’s time to believe women
In November 2014, comedian Hannibal Buress played Orlando. He was on a bit of a pop-culture high, having performed the biggest bit of his career thus far the previous month, when he stood on a stage in Philadelphia and dragged Bill Cosby with a joke whose punchline revolved around what was an open secret in show…
Ray Allen tells Orlando courtroom he was ‘catfished’
Former NBA player Ray Allen was accused Monday in an Orlando courtroom of stalking a man named Bryant Coleman, but in fact, he says, Coleman was catfishing him. Allen filed an emergency motion Tuesday to dismiss Coleman’s case. Coleman contacted Allen online, presenting himself as “a number of attractive women interested in Ray Allen.” Eventually, Allen…
Supervisor’s ‘just a joke’ KKK outfit gets poor reception from Orlando employee
Following what might amount to a stunningly tone-deaf attempt at humor and a stunningly silent corporate response, Orange County resident John Shipley has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. As News 6 reports, Shipley claims he was recently subject to discrimination when a supervisor approached him dressed as a KKK member holding…
Floridians twerk for deliverance from Trump traffic congestion on I-95
Stuck in standstill traffic at an accident scene in South Florida. No movement in 20 minutes. This just happened … pic.twitter.com/ZQd4jqiHR3 — Jeff Pearlman (@jeffpearlman) November 21, 2017 While most Floridians stewed in silent rage as they sat through a traffic jam on Interstate 95 caused by President Donald Trump’s arrival to Mar-a-Lago, others found…
The Pauses in final days of crowdfunding for new record
Orlando’s indie stalwarts the Pauses are in the final stretch of an Indiegogo campaign to fund the recording of their second album. The band’s had a great year so far – touring, playing with Weezer and releasing a new cassette – but they’re looking to release their new work on LP and just need a last…
Sandwich Bar owner Matthew Scot refutes Leguminati claims
Yesterday we reported that vegan eatery Leguminati would not be opening in the Milk District at the Sandwich Bar, as had previously been announced. We quoted from a blog post by Leguminati co-owner Rebecca “Bex” Larsen, who cited a “series of unfortunate events” and “personal influences from select business owners in the neighborhood” as reasons…
One of the most popular snacks at Disney World might return after more than a decade
The annual IAAPA Attractions Expo made a big splash in Orlando last week with numerous high-profile announcements, including new details of attractions on I-Drive and at SeaWorld Orlando, but one of the biggest rumors of the week was the possible return of BeaverTails to Walt Disney World. The fried dough topped with sweets is a Canadian…
17 free shows happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, Nov. 22 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. Thursday, Nov. 23 Thursday Jazz Jams 8 pm at Austin’s Coffee, 929 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park The Mellow Relics…
Southern Nights has all-you-can-drink specials for Thanksgiving night
Southern Nights hosts a Thanksgiving night party that invites you to “come get stuffed.” Take that as you will, but we’re assuming they meant “stuffed with booze.” How else to explain the ridiculous all-you-can-drink specials, ranging from $10-$25, depending on how fancy you like your liquor. Stop by the theater for two drag shows hosted…
ICYMI: Orange County gives the go-ahead to medical marijuana shops, Ross Spano is running for AG, and more
Orange County votes to allow medical marijuana dispensaries In a surprisingly strong move, Orange County commissioners unanimously voted last week 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…
Selections: Our picks for the best things to do this week in Orlando
Friday-Saturday, Nov. 24-25 Opera Wars MUSIC Opera Del Sol founder Nicole Dupré is on a mission. “If we want people to fall in love with this art form, we’ve got to shake it up,” she told Orlando Weekly recently, and the group’s first local show seems solidly aimed to do just that. Opera Wars presents…
At IAAPA 2017, there were hints that trends are leaning away from high-tech and back toward high-touch
Each year around this time, I attend the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions expo, scouring the Orange County Convention Center’s enormous show floor for glimpses of the theme park industry’s future. But while attending SeaWorld’s press conference on my first day at the event, I experienced an unexpected epiphany. While the rest of…
Savage Love: ‘Orpheum Theater’
I was honored to appear with Esther Perel at the Orpheum Theater in Vancouver, British Columbia, a few weeks ago to discuss her new book, The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity. Questions were submitted on cards before the show – some for me, some for Esther, some for both of us – and we got…
Son Volt prove to be living masters on stage, Duquette Johnston emerges from his ’90s cred as his own man
I don’t know about you but Thanksgiving this year comes at a time when it seems like there’s little to be thankful about. From the grapes of wrath growing around, it’s pretty obvious a whole lot of us are feeling that. But we’re wrong. Because there’s you, and there’s me, and here in this community…
This Modern World (11/22/17)
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I-CE-NY rolled ice cream has opened in Baldwin Park, Metro Diner comes to UCF, plus more in Orlando foodie news
OPENINGS: Fuddruckers, once the darling of better-burger aficionados, has opened their third location near the corner of Colonial Drive and Bennett Road in Colonialtown … I-CE-NY, serving smashed and rolled ice cream, has opened in Baldwin Park … Clean Juice, a chain of organic juice and smoothie bars, has opened in Winter Park Village. Look…
Opening in Orlando: Coco, Last Flag Flying and more
THIS WEEK: Coco You have to hand it to Disney. They apparently weren’t too concerned that their latest Pixar animated feature has strong thematic and aesthetic similarities to 2014’s The Book of Life. Heck, they even tried to trademark the name “Dia de Muertos,” just to really preserve themselves some market share. The people of…
Last Flag Flying flies too low
Half-mast
The government’s case sets a low bar for conspiracy charges in the J20 trial
A year ago, after the election of Donald Trump, Dylan Petrohilos hung an Antifa flag out in front of his house. “I had [the flag] flying outside my home because Trump was elected and there was a belief he was a fascist, and so we had this idea that we needed to bring back the…
