Cover Story
By night, Orlando’s drag queens entertain the masses. By day, they lead the fight for LGBTQ rights
By now, the majority of America knows the difference between being told, “Shanté, you stay,” and the heartbreak of “Sashay away.” Drag in its various forms has been around for centuries, but no one can deny RuPaul Andre Charles’ Emmy award-winning phenomenon of a show, RuPaul’s Drag Race, has managed to overwrite the mischaracterization of…
Florida officials say law enforcement is ready for white supremacist’s speech at UF
The commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Tuesday authorities are prepared to handle people who commit or encourage violence when a white-nationalist leader speaks Thursday at the University of Florida. Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott got backing from Cabinet members for the state of emergency he declared in Alachua County. Scott’s executive order,…
Orange County transfers comfort quilt received after Pulse to Las Vegas
Following a bittersweet tradition, Orange County officials gathered Tuesday to honor the 58 victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting and transfer ownership of the “Comfort Quilt” received locally after the Pulse massacre. The quilt came to Orlando in 2016 after a gunman killed 49 people at the gay nightclub Pulse from San Bernardino, where…
Kevin Hart brings his ‘Irresponsible Tour’ to Orlando for New Year’s Eve
Between allegations of cheating on his pregnant wife and an extortion scandal, Kevin Hart sure has had a long, eventful year. And now he will be bringing a comedic spin to his real life drama during an Orlando performance for New Year’s Eve. The comedian will take the stage at the CFE Arena on Sunday…
Orlando food truck The Crepe Company announces plans to franchise
A local food truck is looking to expand its business beyond its usual weekend farmer’s market fare. Lisa Fareed, owner of The Crepe Company, announced yesterday she will grow her food truck and catering business into a franchise, according to a press release. She will open more locations through Florida and the Southeast during 2018.…
Op-ed: Fact-based gun research can save lives. So why aren’t we doing it?
Two years ago, I received a call informing me that my son’s school had been placed on lockdown after an active shooter warning was issued in the area. My son and his pre-school classmates were rushed into a supply closet and told to remain silent for hours. When I was finally able to pick my…
With Virgin partnering with Hyperloop One, Florida’s route is now one step closer to reality
Sir Richard Branson is known for his willingness to embrace new technologies and to approach existing businesses in brand new ways. Branson’s Virgin Group is known for its retail stores, airlines, hotels, and many other businesses. Now Virgin is adding another business to its conglomerate of more than 400. Earlier this month Hyperloop One announced…
Epcot just received a ‘gigantic’ hiccup in its reimagining plans
Epcot is on the cusp of the most extensive update to the park since its opening in 1982. We now have confirmation of some aspects of this updating; including a Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster and a Ratatouille ride behind the current France pavilion. Disney has also confirmed that this is just the tip…
Orlando ranks as third best American city for vegans and vegetarians
The City Beautiful just became a lot greener, as it was named the third best vegan and vegetarian-friendly city in the U.S. According to Wallethub, a 2016 Harris Poll commissioned by the Vegetarian Resource Group compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 15 categories. Collected data ranged anywhere from the percentage of restaurants serving meatless options…
Gov. Scott calls for increased security funding at Jewish day schools
Following last year’s spike in anti-Semitic crimes, Gov. Rick Scott has proposed putting $1 million toward protecting Jewish day schools. Scott announced the plan Monday while speaking at the Katz Hillel Day School in Boca Raton. With next year’s legislative approval, the funds would allow Katz Hillel and other Jewish Day Schools to purchase new…
Rick Scott declares emergency before white supremacist Richard Spencer’s UF speech
Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency days before white supremacist Richard Spencer gives a speech at the University of Florida. Scott’s executive order is for Alachua County, which is home to Gainesville, the city where UF is located. Spencer’s rally is planned for Thursday. Oct. 19. “Prior speaking engagements involving Mr. Spencer…
Florida farmers may get loans to help with Hurricane Irma damage
Florida farmers in 44 counties may be eligible for federal loans to help cover damage inflicted by Hurricane Irma, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced. Still, Florida might have to wait months for broader federal assistance to the agriculture industry, which sustained more than $2.5 billion in losses from the storm. U.S. Agriculture Secretary…
Sweeping measure targets Florida’s opioid epidemic by curbing prescription pills
Doctors would be limited to prescribing seven days’ worth of opioids for patients with acute pain and would have to check a statewide database before ordering most prescription pain medications, under a proposal filed Friday in the state House. The 114-page bill, sponsored by House Commerce Chairman Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, incorporates proposals put forward by…
Popular Manzano’s Deli coming to Winter Park by end of year
Manzano’s Deli, a fixture in New Smyrna Beach and DeLand, will set up shop in the retail plaza at the intersection of West Fairbanks and South New York avenues in Winter Park. The plaza, which currently houses ceramics studio All Fired Up, will soon see the Little Blue Donut Co. move into the old Scratch…
Once-dead rumors come back to life, indicate Universal’s response to WDW’s 50th Anniversary
Last week we shared details of the rumored new Star Trek attraction coming to Universal Orlando. That plan is actually a long-canceled project that seems to now be back on the front burner. Universal has also recently shared details of other projects that were believed to be dead, including a Hogsmeade expansion replacing Dragon Challenge…
Band of the Week: Raspberry Pie
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 Raspberry Pie. Raspberry Pie are playing the Twisted Bazaar at St. Matthews Tavern on Tuesday, Oct. 17. They are also throwing a Halloween dance Party (aptly named “The Super Sexy…
Native stars Hundred Waters level up with new pivot, Kelsey Lu shows why she’s next
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Hundred Waters and Kelsey Lu, The Social, Oct. 12 With their just-released third album, Communicating, Hundred Waters now emerge with their most accessible work yet – and that’s anything but the concession it sounds like. The Gainesville-born, Orlando-connected breakouts have always been unequivocally of left field, transmitting on their own extraterrestrial wavelength…
Framework Craft Coffee House coming to Mills 50
You’ll recall that local coffee stalwart Vita Luna Cafe recently rebranded itself as Framework Craft Coffee House and announced they’d open a storefront somewhere in the Mills 50 District. Owner Danny Alvarez told me that he hopes to open Framework sometime this fall in the way-cool building at 1050 N. Mills Ave., which once housed the…
You can finally track LYNX buses in real time
The waiting-and-wondering-game is over. Today LYNX announced the release of a new app which allows you to track buses in real time, something that’s incredibly useful for riders standing around waiting in the sun. Available for iOS and Android, the LYNX Bus Tracker app includes a number of other useful features besides tracking your next…
Watch this Florida cop easily bag an escaped 9-foot-long anaconda
A detective in Tallahassee was tasked with capturing a 9-foot-long anaconda, which is a thing cops in Florida have to do now. On Wednesday, Oct. 11, Detective Emily Shaw with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office was called to collar the massive snake, which escaped from its owner’s enclosure. As you can see in the video above,…
‘I-4 Eyesore’ owner now says exterior will be completed by January
Back in 2001, Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings was in theaters, Björk wore a swan dress, and the construction of the Majesty Building (aka the I-4 Eyesore) began. Now, 16 years later, SuperChannel 55 President Claud Bowers says the exterior of his company’s 18-story building will be completed by Jan. 23, reports WJAX.…
Florida brewery offers free beer in exchange for unused tickets to Richard Spencer’s speech
In an attempt to create an empty auditorium, a brewery in Gainesville is offering a free beer in exchange for unused tickets to the speech by white supremacist Richard Spencer at University of Florida. Alligator Brewing Co. announced on Oct. 12 that anyone who brings in two tickets to Spencer’s event will receive one free…
You can now bring your dog to Walt Disney World Resort hotels
Beginning Sunday, Oct. 15, for the first time ever, select Disney resorts will allow guests to bring their dogs. Sorry, cat-lovers, maybe next year. Today Disney announced that the Art of Animation, Port Orleans Riverside, Yacht Club, and Cabins at Fort Wilderness are all participating in the new dog-friendly policy, which allows guests to bring…
Florida health officials try to remove judge from medical marijuana dispute
Accusing him of being biased, Florida health officials want Administrative Law Judge John Van Laningham removed from a case involving a medical marijuana license. The highly unusual request came two days before a hearing was supposed to begin in a challenge filed last month against the state Department of Health by Homestead-based Keith St. Germain…
Florida senator apologizes for downplaying Hurricane Irma nursing home deaths
State Sen. Dennis Baxley issued an apology Thursday for questioning whether the deaths of residents of a Broward County nursing home were related to Hurricane Irma or were an inevitability given their advancing ages. “As a funeral director and ordained elder of my church, I have spent my entire adult life working with families who…
Traffic will be a major clusterf*ck this Saturday in downtown Orlando
Being awesome isn’t always easy, and this Saturday, because of five massive events, traffic in downtown Orlando is going to be a goat rodeo. Those events, on top of the usual weekend downtown madness, are: —The 2017 Come Out With Pride Festival at Lake Eola Park, which includes a parade marching throughout downtown —Bruno Mars…
After Hurricane Irma, pet poop became a legitimate problem for Florida public schools
Floridians love their pets, and they’re not about to abandon them in a storm. But it turns out that when many Floridians have to flee their homes in the face of a major hurricane, like Irma, they often end up in public schools that provide the bulk of storm shelters across the state. Sen. Bill…
Wonton Asian Kitchen to open in Winter Park in early November
We recently told you about Wonton Asian Kitchen opening in the Winter Park Financial Center near the intersection of Fairbanks and Orlando avenues, and now we can tell you a bit more. One of the partners in the venture told me that he and his cohorts have been involved in the Asian food biz for…
Local music heavy Godless America Mixtape to be released on International Cassette Store Day
Cassette Store Day is here again this weekend. The plucky lil’ sibling to the better-known Record Store Day focuses its attention squarely on that unfairly maligned medium, the audiocassette. On Saturday, Oct. 14, labels large and small around the country will releases exclusive tapes just for the day, and that includes prolific local tape label…
City of Orlando will build 8-mile bike loop connecting downtown to Fashion Square Mall
Considering Florida is the worst state to be a bicyclist and Orlando is the third most dangerous city in the nation to be a pedestrian, any option to avoid cars is always a good thing. The City of Orlando released a statement today announcing an 8.25-mile “Orlando Bicycle Beltway,” which will connect downtown to the Fashion…
There’s a damn bear roaming around campus right now at UCF
As if it weren’t hard enough for University of Central Florida students to get to class, now there’s a damn bear on campus. The University of Central Florida Police Department received a report that a bear is wandering on campus near Knights Plaza, according to a tweet from the organization. The department advises students to…
Topgolf Orlando will finally open next week
Topgolf Orlando, the driving range-arcade-restaurant-bar hybrid, will finally open its 65,000-square-foot complex next week. The company confirmed to Orlando Weekly that they will open Friday, Oct. 20. Topgolf won’t be taking reservations for large groups until Oct. 30. For the unfamiliar, Topgolf is basically a three-floor modern driving range that allows guests to smack microchipped…
SeaWorld announces new Ray Rush water slide coming to Aquatica
A new family-friendly water slide is coming to SeaWorld’s Aquatica. SeaWorld announced today its Orlando water park will open a manta ray-themed water slide called Ray Rush in spring 2018. The ride has three unique components. First, the 60-foot-tall slide will launch riders through enclosed tubes at 33 feet per second. Then, riders will swirl through…
Trump threatens to abandon aid to Puerto Rico as millions remain without power, water
Nearly a month after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, almost all of the 3.4 million U.S. citizens who live on the island remain without electricity. Thousands don’t have water to drink and are either getting donated bottled water from the government or collecting spring water they’ve redirected using makeshift spigots – the desperation is so intense…
Synth-pop trailblazers Book of Love are coming to Orlando next year
Synth-pop royalty the Book of Love has reunited to celebrate their 30th (!) anniversary in grand fashion; they released a greatest hits compilation, the new EP All Girl Band earlier in the year, and are criss-crossing the country with a greatest hits set. Local new wave true believers’ hearts will flutter with the news that…
CrossCurrents looks to unite jazz and Indian music in Orlando this fall
Celebrated tabla master Zakir Hussain is reconvening his ambitious Crosscurrents ensemble with a spectacular new addition to the ranks. Jazz bassist and composer Dave Holland – a fearsome player who’s worked with Miles Davis and local hero Sam Rivers – is hitting the road with CrossCurrents to explore the conscious and unconscious links between traditional Indian…
Airbnb is building its own apartment complex in Kissimmee
Airbnb is hoping a new c0-branded apartment complex in Kissimmee, Florida, will bridge the gap between rent-paying locals and tourists. It’s no secret that traditional apartment complexes and landlords have often been at odds with the home-sharing company, since travelers aren’t on the lease and they often come with unwanted noise and foot traffic. One…
Henry Rollins will bring his travel slideshow to Orlando next year
If there’s anyone who can make the usually snoozetastic ritual that is showing off your vacation slides exciting, it’s punk godfather turned literary provocateur Henry Rollins. He’s compiled some of his favorite photos from years of getting in the van all over the globe and is switching up his usual spoken-word format by presenting these…
Republican lawmakers want to allow bullied Florida students to transfer schools
House Republican leaders Wednesday outlined a proposal that would allow students who are bullied or suffer violence to transfer to other public schools or to receive money to attend private schools. Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, and his top lieutenants on education issues announced the proposal during a news conference at the Capitol, though…
Florida senator suggests sweltering nursing home may not be to blame for all 14 deaths
A Republican state senator — and funeral director — is suggesting that a South Florida nursing home may not be to blame for 14 deaths that occurred in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, said Wednesday he isn’t convinced that all 14 deaths now associated with the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills…
On stage, Thundercat unchains his genius to mixed results
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Thundercat, Saco & Uno and PBDY, The Beacham, Oct. 10 A mighty combination of skill and lineage has made Los Angeles’ Thundercat perhaps the most eminent bassist alive right now. A collaborative force behind some big, respected names like Flying Lotus, Kendrick Lamar and Erykah Badu, he was last seen here in…
New bill hopes to build monument in Tallahassee honoring victims of slavery
A new bill hopes to put in place a monument honoring the victims of slavery in Florida’s state capital. The bill, SB 286, was introduced by Miami Rep. Kionne McGhee to the Florida Legislative committee this week and has received widespread bipartisan support. If successful in the Senate, the bill will authorize the construction of a…
Second Agave Azul location moving into old Square 1 Burgers spot
Agave Azul Cocina Mexicana announced on their Facebook page that they will take over the Winter Park space once home to Square 1 Burgers. The Millenia-area upscale Mexican restaurant opened in 2008. The Winter Park location is planned to open in February 2018, while a Windermere location is planned for fall 2018 and a Maitland…
Tomorrow is the last day of Magical Dining Month
Magical Dining Month, which one of the best times to explore new restaurants in Orlando without losing your shirt, is wrapping up tomorrow. The annual event organized by Visit Orlando was extended from its initial end date of Oct. 1 because of Hurricane Irma. So this means Thursday, Oct. 12, is your last chance to pop…
Brian Setzer Orchestra to play Christmas concert in Orlando
Rockabilly don Brian Setzer is once again trading in the Stray Cat Strut for the Santa Boogie and is set to hit the road on his 14th annual “Christmas Rocks!” tour later this year. Setzer is taking his 19-piece orchestra on the road to play material from his four(!) Christmas albums, and will hit Orlando…
Crews finish installing Orlando’s new rainbow crosswalk near Pulse
City crews finished installing Orlando’s new rainbow crosswalk to honor the 49 lives taken during the 2016 massacre at the gay nightclub Pulse. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the city received an online petition asking the city of Orlando to paint a rainbow crosswalk near Pulse to remember the victims and survivors of the attack. The rainbow…
So long, Kaká
Following rumors of a possible retirement, Brazilian soccer star Kaká announced today that he will not renew his contract with Orlando City SC. The Lions’ captain and top designated player held a press conference this afternoon alongside majority owner Flávio Augusto da Silva and CEO Alex Leitão. Related “I will honor this jersey ’til the…
Hurricane Irma washed up a nearly 400-year-old canoe in Florida
Hurricane Irma brought a torrent of winds and rain to Florida’s Atlantic Coast, but it also brought a little bit of history. Researchers say a dugout canoe that washed up on the shores of Cocoa, Florida, could be hundreds of years old. As reported by the Sun Sentinel, radiocarbon dating shows the canoe’s wood may…
Florida House panel moves to replace Confederate statue with civil rights activist
A statue of civil-rights activist and educator Mary McLeod Bethune moved closer Tuesday to replacing a likeness of a Confederate general in representing Florida in the U.S. Capitol. The House Government Accountability Committee voted 20-1, with Jacksonville Republican Jay Fant opposed, to approve a measure (HB 139) that calls for a statue of Bethune to…
Florida House leaders target pro-sports stadiums on public land
A ban on professional sports franchises building or renovating stadiums on publicly owned land is ready to go to the full Florida House, after speeding through only one committee in advance of the 2018 legislative session. The House Government Accountability Committee on Tuesday voted 15-6 to approve the measure (HB 13), which would also prohibit…
Florida lawmakers hear grim picture of opioid epidemic
Facing what one expert called “chemical warfare,” a key Senate panel Tuesday began tackling the opioid crisis that has engulfed the nation and state, ripped families apart and created a public health crisis bound to get worse. The Senate Health Policy Committee heard from a panel of experts —- including emergency doctors, treatment providers, law…
27 free concerts happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, Oct. 11 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. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday, Oct. 12 Thursday Jazz Jams 8 pm…
They really don’t want you to show up to Richard Spencer’s speech at University of Florida
Richard Spencer, a white supremacist punching bag and organizer of the Charlottesville rally that left one woman dead, will be speaking at the University of Florida next week, and everyone from the school’s president to Sen. Marco Rubio are now urging people not to show up. University of Florida president Kent Fuch, who agreed to…
Sprouts Farmers Market moving into former Whole Foods spot in Winter Park
Grocery chain Sprouts Farmers Market is moving into the shopping center near Aloma and Lakemont that once housed the Winter Park Whole Foods. The stores, which typically are about the same size as a Trader Joe’s, specialize in relatively cheaper organic foods, fresh meats and produce, and bulk-food items. “We’re ramping up expansion efforts based…
Republican Bobby Olszewski easily wins Orlando-area House seat
Former Winter Garden commissioner Bobby “Bobby O” Olszewski handily won a special election Tuesday for an Orlando-area seat in the state House, replacing Eric Eisnaugle. Olszewski defeated Democrat candidate Eddy Dominguez with just over 55 percent of the vote, according to the Orange County Supervisor of Elections. Dominguez entered the District 44 race late after…
The best concerts coming to Orlando this week
J. Balvin The Colombian reggaeton demigod has been referred to as the “Drake of reggaeton,” but don’t allow clumsy pop hyperbole distract you from the undeniability of Balvin’s songwriting Midas touch. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, at Hard Rock Live, $65-$75 Chris Isaak Actor and noir-inclined rockabilly singer Isaak is sure to melt hearts upon…
Perfume Genius stands up for happiness on No Shape
Oh! You pretty thing
Gimme Shelter: Meet Peanut!
Are you looking for a new furry friend? Meet Peanut! Peanut (A388896) is 4 years old and is looking for a new home. He was surrendered because his owners could no longer care for him. He is housebroken, leash-trained and crate-trained. His previous owner also said that he does well with other dogs. Peanut is…
Central Florida actor Michael Walters may be Broadway bound, Playfest dates are announced, plus more performing arts news
Central Florida actor Michael Walters is currently in the cast of a new musical that may be Broadway-bound. Walters, a former performer in Disney’s Hoop Dee Doo Revue and Finding Nemo shows who is best known as a Dame Edna impersonator, is understudying Tony-winner Michael McGrath as Ralph Kramden in The Honeymooners at New Jersey’s…
Goodbye to Tom Petty, the audiovisual wonder of Sound of Ceres, the loving return of former local Ariel Bui
I hate that this space has been an obituary lately but if anyone deserves a big pour on the floor, it’s Tom Petty, a Gainesville boy and one of the most classic and quintessentially American voices of all time. SOUND OF CERES AND AVELEON, WILL’S PUB, OCT. 1 Sound of Ceres are a relatively new…
9 ways to party with pride this week in Orlando
PRIDE EVENTS THURSDAY Come Out With Pride Launch Party The countdown to Pride Weekend ramps up with energetic performances, including Drag Race star Trinity “The Tuck” Taylor, in a dazzling social setting. Thursday, 6:30 pm; The Veranda at Thornton Park, 111 N. Summerlin Ave.; $35-$40; 407-872-8454; comeoutwithpride.com. FRIDAY Pride on Church Street Hamburger Mary’s turns Church Street into…
ICYMI: Orlando feels the impact of the Las Vegas mass shooting, Pulse owner files plans for a temporary memorial and more
Orlando feels the impact of the Las Vegas mass shooting, Pulse owner files plans for a temporary memorial, a Florida gun shop’s YouTube account is shut down and other things you may have missed this week. Orlando rings church bells in honor of Las Vegas shooting victims: The minutes felt like hours as the bells…
Crealdé exhibit is both quiet elegy and cautionary tale
Top of the lake
Selections: Our picks for the best things to do in Orlando this week
Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 12-14 Sanford Oktoberfest EVENTS Short of flying to Germany, Oktoberfest celebrations don’t get much more authentic than the one at Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Cafe. The three-day event kicks off with Sanford’s Alive After 5 Street Festival, with live music, food and craft beer from local vendors. Hollerbach’s keeps the party going on Friday…
Opening in Orlando: Blood Money, The Foreigner and more
THIS WEEK: Blood Money John Cusack stars in a modern riff on The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, in which a corporate criminal’s loot stash brings out the worst in a trio of pals on a nature outing. When you see Cusack in a few weeks signing autographs at Spooky Empire, you can ask him…
For a truly unnerving experience, get out of the theme parks and into Orlando’s indie haunts
You wanna see something real scary? As entertaining as Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is, conga-line crowds and flashlight-waving employees inside the mazes always undercut any actual fear, holding HHN back from ever being truly terrifying. If you want the kind of unnerving experience that can only exist with isolation and intimacy, you’ll need to get…
Savage Love: ‘Poly wants’
I’m a 25-year-old woman currently in a poly relationship with a married man roughly 20 years my senior. This has by far been the best relationship I’ve ever had. However, something has me a bit on edge. We went on a trip with friends to a brewery with a great restaurant. It was an amazing…
Muddy Waters in South Eola got its mojo working
Spell check
Rogue Pub goes for Roque, Polski’s goes the way of Polonia, plus more in our weekly food roundup
OPENINGS: Mary Mattern, former road chef for Blink-182, and fiancé Neil Westfall, guitarist for A Day to Remember, will open a vegan eatery called Heirloom Deli this April at a yet-to-be-disclosed location … Jeremiah’s Italian Ice will open in the old Subway locale on Edgewater Drive in College Park … Look for Wonton Asian Kitchen…
Legal Public Notices 10/11
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices In order to satisfy a contractual landlord’s lien, under the provisions of the Florida SelfService Storage Space Act, public notice is hereby given that the following described property will be sold at public sale to the highest bidder for cash only. The sale will be held at the times and…
