19 free shows happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, Dec. 5 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday, Dec. 6 Leisure Chief 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday Jazz Jams 8 pm at Austin’s Coffee, 929 W. Fairbanks Ave.,…
Metal legends Cannibal Corpse to devour your soul this week at The Abbey
When no less than Sen. Bob Dole referenced Cannibal Corpse as a contributing factor in the downfall of American society back in 1995, the band’s blood-soaked reputation was cemented as death metal legends. Fast forward through several more influential albums and an appearance on Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and Cannibal Corpse are still going strong…
ACLU files lawsuit after Florida sheriff’s office worked with ICE to jail and nearly deport a U.S. citizen
A permanent citizen and Florida resident of a decade, Peter Sean Brown wasn’t familiar with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, much less the U.S. deportation process, until he was unlawfully arrested in April. What began with Brown reporting to the Monroe County Sheriff’s office in Key West for violating probation with a low-level, marijuana-related offense spiraled…
Orlando Starflyer will allow a handful of lucky people to barf their way into 2019
Without a doubt the most fitting way to wrap up this hell of a year is by spinning around a giant pole at 60 mph and involuntarily releasing an entire evening’s worth of Buffalo Wild Wings from 425 feet in the air. The Orlando Starflyer, the tallest ride of its kind in the world, will…
Op-ed: By filling jobs, paying taxes and creating new businesses, immigrants add value to Orlando
In the nearly eight years I’ve been teaching citizenship and English language classes within the Orange County Public Library system, I’ve helped thousands of people become citizens of our great nation. It’s amazing to see what happens when they pass the exam; several students have increased their earning potential and a handful now work for…
SunRail will provide late southbound trains for select Orlando Magic games
Orlando Magic fans in need of a ride home from the game have a new option this month, as the SunRail is providing a later southbound train on select home game nights. On these select nights, the special southbound train will leave at 10:30 p.m. from the Church Street station. The December dates are: Wednesday,…
Rob Zombie, Korn and more added to 2019 Welcome to Rockville lineup
Jacksonville’s annual hard rock festival Welcome to Rockville has announced its 2019 lineup, featuring big names like Korn and Evanescence. The ninth annual festival will be taking place at Metropolitan Park in Jacksonville on May 3-5, 2019. Bands that will be performing include The Prodigy, Judas Priest, Bring Me the Horizon, Tool, Shinedown and more.…
Tom Jones announces Orlando show in 2019
What’s new, pussycat? Well, let me tell you … classic Welsh crooner Sir Tom Jones has announced a tour of the South set for 2019, and Orlando won the lottery with a show set for May of next year. Jones has been treading the boards since the 1960s and is still going strong, releasing albums…
Jerry Demings officially becomes Orange County’s first African American mayor
As he took the oath of office this morning, Jerry Demings became Orange County’s first African American mayor in its 173-year history. Demings, a City Beautiful native, was also Orlando’s first African American police chief; the first African American elected as Orange County Sheriff, where he served three terms; and the first African American public…
Following Hurricane Irma-related deaths, judge backs revoking Hollywood Hills nursing home license
Offering extensive details of what she described as a “catastrophe,” an administrative law judge has backed a state decision to revoke the license of a Broward County nursing home where residents died after Hurricane Irma. Judge Mary Li Creasy, in a 94-page recommended order issued Friday, traced a three-day chain of events that started when…
Florida pension fund urges gun industry to act responsibly
Florida has joined a coalition of major pension funds and investment companies that have adopted a set of principles aimed at encouraging gun manufacturers and retailers to act responsibly. Ash Williams, executive director of the State Board of Administration, which oversees the state pension fund and other investments, said the agreement carries no mandates for…
Hurricane Michael insurance losses top $4 billion
With nearly 130,000 claims filed, estimated insured losses from Hurricane Michael have topped $4 billion, according to numbers posted on the state Office of Insurance Regulation website. As of Friday, 129,876 claims had been filed from the October storm, with estimated insured losses of $4.01 billion. Most of the claims filed, 86,936, involved residential properties.…
Marriott confirms new hotel tower ‘The Cove’ is headed to Disney World
In September, after months of speculation, Marriott confirmed that it was planning a third resort hotel at Walt Disney World next to its Swan and Dolphin hotels. At the time, little was known about the new 14-story hotel tower. However, it was clear that the new project would focus on business travelers, with meeting spaces…
Disney’s latest character dining experience opens in two weeks, here’s everything we know about it
Back in August, when Disney announced the upcoming Snow White-themed Storybook Dining at Artist Point, few details were shared. Now with the new character dining experience less than two weeks from opening, we have plenty of information on precisely what diners can expect. Artist Point, the Wilderness Lodge’s finest dining establishment, has been given a…
More people took a Lyft to Ember than any other bar in Orlando in 2018
The rideshare company Lyft announced the winners of their 2018 “Lyftie Awards” and Ember came out on top. Take that, CityWalk. Ember was deemed Orlando’s most-visited-by-Lyft, quite the feat for a local bar competing with Universal and Disney-owned establishments. Lyft didn’t release any specific numbers, so it’s unclear by how much Ember outranked the rest,…
Ono Nightclub in downtown Orlando will close for good Jan. 2
Ono Nightclub will be a casualty of a new renovation coming to the One South Orange building in downtown Orlando. Local marketing agency company Launch That LLC, which owns the 105-year-old building, plans to break ground on the project next year. New tenants are expected to move in late 2019 or early 2020. Orlando Business Journal…
Hootie and the Blowfish announce Central Florida show set for next summer
Nineties rockers Hootie and the Blowfish today announced a comeback tour set for next year – the “Group Therapy” tour – and they will be joined by Barenaked Ladies on this trek. And there will be an Orlando show as part of the 44-date tour! The band also confirmed that they are working on a…
Federal government approves Florida’s move to reduce Medicaid spending
Despite fears that the move could cut access to health care for poor residents, Florida has won approval from the federal government for a change that will let the state reduce how much it spends on Medicaid. The change in how the state administers the safety-net program was approved by federal officials Friday and takes…
Vince McMahon’s XFL is reportedly coming back to Florida
Although Florida is chock-full of professional football teams as it is, with three NFL teams and a new spring league team coming to Orlando, Vince McMahon is determined to bring the XFL re-launch to Tampa. McMahon, the World Wrestling Entertainment chairman who, according to Forbes, lost $70 million for the WWE and co-sponsor NBC during…
Comedian Ron White is coming to the Hard Rock Live in Orlando
Ron “Tater Salad” White is going on tour, and he’s making four stops in Florida, including one in the City Beautiful. The stand-up comedian behind the Blue Collar Comedy Tour is performing at the Hard Rock Live on March 1, 2019. He’ll also make appearances in Hollywood, Clearwater and Fort Pierce. Tickets, starting at $47.50,…
Queen with Adam Lambert will play two Florida shows next year
We see a little silhouetto of a man, and it’s Adam Lambert. Queen, with Lambert as their stand-in front man, is coming to the Amalie Arena Aug. 18, 2019, to perform their biggest hits in what will be their first Tampa Bay show ever. Sunrise will also be getting a performance the night before on…
Florida’s 2018 hurricane season will be remembered for Hurricane Michael
For the third consecutive year, after a decade reprieve, Florida in 2018 was tested by the force of a massive hurricane. The slightly above-average season, which began June 1 and was ending Friday, began early for Florida. Tropical Storm Alberto brought maximum sustained winds of 45 mph to North Florida in late May. But for…
Mystery still surrounds two Magic Kingdom ride closures
Construction of Magic Kingdom’s new Tron-themed thrill ride is well underway. The building housing the massive indoor roller coaster will have a modern wave-like skin of slightly transparent panels wrapping around the building and stretching over an elevated entrance plaza, which itself is above the current Walt Disney World Railroad, before reaching to the ground…
Florida NAACP calls for reopening of state Supreme Court nominations, after zero nominees were African-American
The state NAACP demanded Friday that the nomination process for three appointments to the Florida Supreme Court be reopened after a list of 11 nominees did not include any African-Americans. The call came a day after The News Service of Florida reported that the Supreme Court will not have a black justice for the first…
A second Toy Story-themed hotel confirmed to be in the works
With major new additions to both of its parks, Tokyo Disney is the midst of its largest expansion since the opening of Tokyo DisneySea in 2001. A new 475-room hotel looking into Tokyo DisneySea was announced earlier this year, the fifth hotel for the two-park resort. Now, yet another hotel is in the works. The…
Band of the Week: Ootheca
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 Ootheca. Ootheca is playing Dec. 7 at Will’s Pub with Pictureplane, J.A.S.O.N., and Mother Juno. Just the facts: When did the band form?2017 Who’s in the band?Brian Phillips: Computer, keyboards,…
Indie rockers Born Ruffians reclaim their original spark in long-awaited Orlando return
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Born Ruffians, Little Junior and Talk With Your Hands, Soundbar, Nov. 30 Toronto band Born Ruffians emerged onto the scene strong back in the late 2000s with their irrepressible snap, scrap and spark. Then somewhere along the way, almost as suddenly as they popped out from the pack, they sanded off all…
Florida Gov. Rick Scott suspends Broward elections chief Brenda Snipes
In one of his final moments as Florida’s governor, Rick Scott levied a wave of appointments Friday night and suspended Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes over several “inexcusable actions” during the 2018 midterm election recounts. Governor Scott announced Snipes’ suspension late Friday afternoon, citing “misfeasance, incompetence and neglect of duty” and appointed former Republican…
Florida law enforcement officials will open inquiry into Rick Singh after lawsuit alleges he misused taxpayer funds
Florida law enforcement officials will open an inquiry into Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh after former employees alleged in a federal lawsuit that Singh spent taxpayer money on personal trips and brought strippers into his office after hours The inquiry will be conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Office of Executive Investigations. “FDLE will…
Cult synth legend John Maus to play Orlando in February
In a surprise addition to his recently-announced 2019 tour, philisopher-synthesist John Maus has announced a show in Orlando. Maus will be playing the City Beautiful on his way down to Miami’s III Points festival. Maus returned from an extended hiatus into academia with 2017’s comeback album Screen Memories, and a popular “comeback” tour the same year.…
Florida court blocks lawsuit asking Rick Scott to disclose more about his financial assets
An appeals court Friday blocked a lawsuit aimed at requiring Gov. Rick Scott to disclose more information about his financial assets, saying such issues should be handled by the Florida Commission on Ethics. Scott, the wealthiest governor in state history, took the issue to the 1st District Court of Appeal after a Leon County circuit…
City of Orlando will be featured in climate change documentary ‘Paris to Pittsburgh’
The City Beautiful will be getting a massive shoutout in a new documentary premiering next week. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will host a premiere screening of the Bloomberg Philanthropy documentary Paris to Pittsburgh at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, Dec. 3. The event is by invitation only. The film, which…
Florida lawmaker files bill to ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors
A South Florida lawmaker has filed a bill to ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors. “Conversion therapy,” also known as “reparative therapy,” is a debunked practice that falsely claims to be able to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTQ advocates argue conversion therapy is not only fraudulent but also dangerous, especially for young…
‘Iron Chef’ contestant Roberto Treviño heading up new ceviche bar in Orlando
Chef Roberto Treviño, the former contestant on Iron Chef whose Latin-Asian fusion restaurant El Buda recently closed in downtown Orlando, will soon be spearheading a new ceviche bar. Treviño has linked with the team at Don Julio Mexican Kitchen on South Chickasaw Trail, and will soon open a ceviche bar in the space next door,…
UCF’s on-campus lazy river project just got a $1 million boost from alumni
The dream of a lazy river winding through the University of Central Florida campus just became more of a reality. As part of the $30 million vision for the university’s Athletics Village, former UCF students Tom McNamara and his wife donated $1 million toward Recovery Cove, a leisure and recovery space for student athletes. UCF…
Thornton Park’s Menagerie Eatery & Bar will host grand opening Dec. 5
Menagerie Eatery & Bar will make their big debut next week. Though the Thornton Park restaurant has been in soft opening since October, the official grand opening will be Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 5-8 p.m. The event will feature food and drink samples, as well as live music. Menagerie Eatery & Bar is located at…
Okeechobee Arts and Music Festival officially cancelled for 2019
Sorry Okeechobeeings, it doesn’t look like you’ll need the glitter and spandex. The Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival issued a statement yesterday confirming that the fest will not be returning in 2019. “After much consideration and looking at many different options,” the statement read. “We have decided to take a fallow year and not hold…
Here’s the entire 2018 hurricane season in one stunning timelapse video
Today, with the 2018 hurricane season officially wrapping up, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration marked the occasion with a remarkable video looking back at this year’s storms. Using footage from the GOES East satellite, the timelapse video shows all 15 named storms from 2018, including 8 hurricanes and the two major storms; Michael and Florence. …
Bishop Briggs looks back on 2018 ahead of her set at the Florida Man fest tonight
The inaugural Florida Man music festival goes down later today at the Central Florida Fairgrounds, with a stacked lineup featuring the likes of Weezer and Cold War Kids. But for our money, one of the most exciting acts that will be gracing the stage later today is Bishop Briggs. The British electro-pop singer is still…
DeSantis’ nominees will leave Florida Supreme Court without black justice for first time in 36 years
For the first time in 36 years, the Florida Supreme Court will not have an African-American member when three new justices join the court early next year. Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis will select the new justices from a list of 11 nominees sent to him Tuesday by the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission. None of…
New bill would move Florida’s concealed weapons licenses to state law enforcement
The state’s concealed-weapons licensing program would be moved to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, under a measure proposed Thursday by Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation. The proposal came as National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer is urging that the Republican-dominated Legislature move the program from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to state Chief…
Drum & bass star Goldie rings in the Torque 19 Year Anniversary
Torque, the (mostly) weekly drum & bass night, turns 19 this week, and to celebrate in proper style, they’ve brought in one of the few true superstars of the drum & bass scene, Goldie. Tickets are only available at the door, so get there early and plan how you’re going to ask Goldie to tell…
Salsa music legend Willie Colón stops by House of Blues this weekend
One of the can’t-miss releases of this spring’s Record Store Day was a deluxe reissue of Willie Colón’s 1971 masterpiece, La Gran Fuga, a defining moment for both New York’s pioneering Fania Records and the burgeoning Nuyorican Salsa scene, one in a string of peerless collaborative albums between Hector Lavoe (immortalized onscreen by Marc Anthony…
Metal lords Raven come to Will’s Pub to obliterate your hearing
Living musical connective tissue between the British NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) of the ’70s and the nascent thrash movement of the ’80s, England’s Raven are nearly as important to the heavier ends of metal as Mötörhead or Mercyful Fate. All three dealt in musical economy, and utterly unforgettable riffs and choruses, and…
Elton John reschedules canceled Orlando show for March 2019
After canceling his sold-out concert at the Amway Center earlier this week, Elton John has rescheduled his Orlando show for March 18, 2019. The British pop icon postponed his performances in Orlando and Tampa due to a serious ear infection. The Orlando show was canceled 20 minutes after it was supposed to start, disappointing hundreds of fans…
Lawsuit alleges Rick Singh had strippers in office, paid personal trips with taxpayer money
Former employees of Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh allege in a federal lawsuit that he brought strippers into his office after hours and spent taxpayer money on personal trips. The lawsuit was filed earlier this month by the office’s former finance director Aisha Hassan and communications director Laverne McGee in the U.S. District Court for…
Insomnia Cookies is giving away free cookies next week
National Cookie Day is next Tuesday, and to celebrate this annual extravaganza Insomnia Cookies is giving away a ton of free cookies. Guest can receive a free traditional cookie at all Insomnia locations on the big day, Tuesday, Dec. 4. However from Monday, Dec. 5 through Dec. 6, guests can also score a free cookie…
Hugh Jackman announces Central Florida concert set for next summer
Actor Hugh Jackman, continuing to confound the expectations of those who know him best as the X-Men’s Wolverine, has today announced dates for his musical arena tour “The Man. The Music. The Show.” And if you want to see for himself if he’s got the singing goods in the flesh – previously evidenced on the…
The number of uninsured children in Florida spiked by 37,000 over the last year
The number of children who lack health insurance is growing in Florida despite an improving economy, worrying advocates who fear it may be the start of a troubling trend that the state cannot beat back. The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families on Thursday issued a report that showed about 325,000 uninsured children in…
Atmosphere show how to do local pride right with new album and all-Minneapolis tour bill
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Atmosphere, deM atlaS, The Lioness and DJ Keezy, The Beacham, Nov. 27 The current tour by indie-rap heroes Atmosphere is a beacon of what it means to have true local spirit. Although not our town, the Rhymesayers legacy act are proudly championing their own native Minneapolis in a way that a striving…
Civil rights advocates file complaint against Florida school for turning away black child with dreadlocks
Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, are pursuing legal action with the Florida Department of Education after a 6-year-old African American boy wasn’t allowed to attend school in Apopka because of his dreadlocks. Six-year-old Clinton (C.J.) Stanley Jr., was denied entry to the A Book’s Christian Academy in Apopka, Florida, on his first…
The City of Orlando will flip the switch on this giant Christmas tree Friday
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer invites Central Florida residents to Lake Eola Park this Friday for the City of Orlando’s eleventh annual Tree Lighting Celebration. Located at Lake Eola Park’s Washington Plaza, the 72-foot Christmas tree’s 160,000 animated lights will create a light-and-music show synchronized with the Lake Eola fountain. The celebration will begin at 5:30…
Orlando rapper Niko Is will drop new album ‘UNIKO’ this week
Local MC, Talib Kweli collaborator and Colours of the Culture leading light Niko Is will release his newest album UNIKO this week. The album was recorded in São Paulo with production by Thanks Joey and includes guest appearances by heavy hitters like Tego Calderon, Styles P and Curren$y. The album features heavy Brazilian musical vibes for a…
Florida Department of Health is urging people to get the hepatitis A vaccine
The Florida Department of Health issued a public health advisory on Wednesday to warn Floridians about hepatitis A, which is on the rise in the Orlando and Tampa Bay metro areas. According to the advisory, since January 2018, there have been 385 cases of the hepatitis A virus in Florida, a dramatic increase from the…
Orlando City Hall opens Florida’s first ‘all-user’ bathrooms in government building
Orlando City Hall unveiled a new “multi-stall, all-user restroom” Thursday, making it the first of its kind in a Florida government building. The new restroom is located next to the existing men’s and women’s restrooms at City Hall on the second floor. The “all-user” restrooms can be used by anyone, including transgender, genderqueer and gender…
Legal battle continues over controversial Florida education law designed to boost charter schools
More than 18 months after legislators passed a controversial education law pushed by then-House Speaker Richard Corcoran, attorneys for the state and 11 county school boards are continuing to battle in court about whether the measure violates the Florida Constitution. Attorneys for the state this week filed a 100-page document at the 1st District Court…
Florida’s new agriculture commissioner fights with NRA lobbyist over concealed carry permits
Agriculture Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried wants to move the handling of concealed-weapons licenses from the agency she will soon oversee to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. But National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer, the state’s top Second Amendment advocate, is digging in on her position that the license program needs the guiding hand of a…
Fringe favorite Mike Delamont returns with ‘God Is a Scottish Drag Queen Christmas Special’
Fringe favorite Mike Delamont, the Canadian comedian whose God Is a Scottish Drag Queen series of one-deity shows has left patrons in stitches year after year, returns to town this week for a special engagement. The Savoy hosts Delamont for a special Christmas-themed iteration of the show that promises to skewer everything from Brussels sprouts…
YouTube star Randy Rainbow brings his eccentric comedy show to Hard Rock Live
Shelling out the cash to see a popular web comedian can be a gamble; there’s no guarantee that what’s entertaining in a YouTube video will be as entertaining in person. But Randy Rainbow has proven that he has the performance chops to pull it off. His current schtick of taking popular showtunes and turning them…
West Fest features two full days of art, music and creativity in Orlando
West Fest packs two full days of art, music and creativity into a small corner of Orlando. Located in the city’s newest art hub, the event features street graffiti and murals created by local and international artists on the walls of the WestArt District. West Fest also promises live music by performers such as Josie…
Weezer, Cold War Kids and more headline this week’s Florida Man Music Festival
Celebrating the first anniversary of WQMP 101.9-FM’s switch in format to “alternative rock,” the Florida Man Music Festival draws several high-profile bands to the Orlando Amphitheater at the Central Florida Fairgrounds for an all-day music shindig. Similar to the station’s format, the lineup mixes proven vets like Weezer and Cold War Kids with newer bands…
Brightline-Virgin gets negotiation greenlight from Florida officials for Orlando-to-Tampa high-speed rail route
Brightline got the green light Wednesday from the state to negotiate for land to add high-speed passenger rail service from Orlando to Tampa —- a link envisioned to eventually connect with Brightline’s existing service in South Florida. The Florida Department of Transportation’s procurement office approved an application from Brightline, giving it 90 days to work…
Maitland’s Mediterranean Street Food By Shishco gets new mural makeover
Maitland’s Mediterranean Street Food by Shishco recently got a makeover. The parking lot diner, located in the Village Plaza off Orlando Avenue, added two new colorful murals to the building’s outside, along with a few painted picnic tables. Owner Julio Bermudez said he worked on the project, which is still in progress, with longtime friend…
REO Speedwagon to play Central Florida in February
Classic rockers REO Speedwagon are returning to Central Florida for the first time since their 2016 tour with Chicago and are set to play the Villages in February. So fight whatever feelings you have about the unlikely venue, and get those wheels turnin’. REO Speedwagon headline the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center at the…
Pop-up art installation ‘Night Shift’ comes to Orlando Museum of Art
Orlando Museum of Art isn’t shy about calling its Night Shift party “an experiment,” but hopefully it’s one that bears interesting results. The gallery spaces get taken over with pop-up installations and exhibits while live experimental music is provided by Gay-Z and J.A.S.O.N. The cash bar is provided by the Guesthouse. Fair warning: You break…
Nu Depth heads a stacked lineup at this week’s ‘Gay-Ass Noise Show’
Stripping away the macho theatrics and bro-downs that can be a bug in noise music, Thursday’s “Gay-Ass Noise Show” takes the queer, extravagantly avant scene centered around the Church of United Ministry/A-Shop space and transports it to the heart of Mills 50. A prequel of sorts to this weekend’s Inaugural Womxn Fest in Miami, the…
The documentary ‘Meow Wolf: Origin Story’ debuts for one night only this week
What does Santa Fe artists collective Meow Wolf do? Tough to describe; their interactive installation The House of Eternal Return has been described as an “experiential museum,” but it’s more apt, maybe, to call it a cross between performance art, experimental theater, a haunted house and a rave. The word-of-mouth popularity of Meow Wolf’s wild…
Enzian will screen controversial film ‘The House That Jack Built’
Lars von Trier’s latest film, The House That Jack Built, currently has a 58 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And if this were any other director, we might consider that a miss. But Trier – you know that “von” is an affectation, right? – thrives on creating controversy and dividing audiences. We can’t help but…
Stage legend Betty Buckley brings old-fashioned star power to ‘Hello, Dolly!’ at Dr. Phillips Center
Broadway musicals have the ability to be as challenging and thought-provoking as any serious drama, but sometimes instead of chewing on a heavy meal, you want something light and easily digestible. If you’re still feeling full from your Thanksgiving feast, the new tour of Hello, Dolly! currently playing at the Dr. Phillips Center is a…
The manatee cam at Blue Spring State Park is going off right now
Floridians aren’t the only ones trying to escape the cold, manatees are too. The sudden cold front, with temperatures dipping into the low 50s and 60s, has forced groups of manatees in search of warmth to head to Blue Spring State Park. Under any other circumstances 70 degree water is chilly, but in this case…
Florida lawmaker files bill to provide menstrual products for incarcerated women
Florida House Rep. Shevrin Jones filed a bill this week to provide menstrual products for incarcerated women and stipulate certain protections against abuse from correctional officers toward inmates. HB 49, also known as the “Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act,” would require jails, prisons, juvenile detention center or other correctional facilities to make available “health care…
Wilco singer Jeff Tweedy heads to Orlando on new tour
No better way to promote an album called “Warm” than to perform in the Sunshine State. American rock singer and founding member of the band Wilco, Jeff Tweedy, will head to the Plaza Live Theatre here in Orlando on March 17. Tickets go on sale here tonight at 7 p.m. British folk singer, James Elkington, will…
Ron DeSantis gets list of conservative nominees for Florida Supreme Court vacancies
With a chance to create a solid conservative majority on the Florida Supreme Court, Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis on Tuesday received a list of 11 nominees to fill three upcoming vacancies on the state’s highest court. The Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission, which met in a closed-door session in Orlando, advanced a list that includes…
Elton John is very sorry for canceling last night’s Orlando show
Just 20 minutes after last night’s sold-out show at the Amway was supposed to start, Elton John canceled the performance because of an ongoing issue with an ear infection. The Grammy award-winning musician issued an apology on Twitter this morning, where he also mentioned that tonight’s show in Tampa is canceled. “We are sincerely sorry to…
Savage Love: ‘Shake That Moody’
I’m a 30-year-old, Asian American, hetero-flexible cis woman. I’m also newly diagnosed with bipolar II. I’m on medication – the doctor is trying to figure that out – but no talk therapy for right now, as my last therapist wasn’t great and I haven’t managed to find a new one. My question for you is…
Gimme Shelter: Meet Confetti!
Meet Confetti! Confetti (A415969) is a total sweetheart who was brought into the shelter as a stray in October. We estimate that she is around 2 years old. She is filled with fun and excitement. She does well around other cats and is very loving. Confetti is a ready-to-go-home kitty! Adopt this cutie today! This…
ICYMI: Florida is definitely screwed on climate change, Ocoee acknowledges near 100-year-old massacre and more
New federal climate report has dire warnings for Florida: Thank God we just elected two politicians who refuse to fully acknowledge climate change to the top seats in the state. The Fourth National Climate Assessment produced by 300 scientists and 13 federal agencies says humans need to take action immediately “to avoid substantial damages to…
Sing, Muse, the story not of a wandering man, but of the women he left holding the bag for 20 years
Most Orlandoans likely spent Thanksgiving week scurrying around the supermarket, sprinting to Black Friday sales and slogging through the theme parks. But on Turkey Day Eve, I went strolling around Homer’s Ithaca, sightseeing spots immortalized in The Odyssey, one of Western literature’s greatest epics. Here, the fountain where the Oracle-cursed infant was saved from drowning…
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A new King Bao location is now open, Jack and Honey’s coming to Ivanhoe, plus more in Orlando foodie news
OPENINGS: Hammered Lamb owners Jason Lambert and Joe Colón-Acevedo will open a 24-hour diner next door called Jack and Honey’s. Look for it to open next spring at the earliest … Another location of King Bao has opened at Alafaya Trail and East Colonial Drive … French steakhouse chain La Boucherie has opened in the…
The best concerts coming to Orlando this week
Fonseca Colombian singer, cultural ambassador and Latin Grammy-winner lands at the House of Blues for a night that blends traditional sounds with razor-sharp pop hooks. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, at the House of Blues, $40 Moloko Plus Local modular synth collective joins up with the Thick & Funky DJs for a live demonstration of…
