Cover Story
A Florida 12-year-old waited for hours in a COVID-swamped ER. Then his appendix burst
What first struck Nathaniel Osborn when he and his wife took their son, Seth, to the emergency room this summer was how packed the waiting room was for a Wednesday at 1 p.m. The Florida hospital’s emergency room was so crowded there weren’t enough chairs for the family to all sit as they waited. And…
The future of SeaWorld water parks is on display at Orlando’s Aquatica
SeaWorld has doubled down on its commitment to its water parks with new attractions confirmed for every single water park company-wide. From Adventure Island in Tampa to Water County USA in Virginia, SeaWorld’s chain of water parks will be filled with new attractions and enhancements come next year. The company’s flagship water park, Aquatica Orlando,…
Legoland announces plans to reopen one of Cypress Gardens’ most historic attractions
While Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration lacks nearly any reference to those intervening fifty years, Legoland Florida’s tenth-anniversary celebration includes many nods to the past, including historic attractions that predate the park in its current location. Legoland shared that they plan to bring boat rides back to the gardens’ canals, an attraction that ran on…
Universal’s CityWalk might be adding ‘Saturday Night Live’ lounge, beer hall
Universal’s CityWalk has gone through an upheaval in the last few years, with nearly every tenant being replaced or updated. Now, we’re learning what’s next for this multi-year evolution to Universal Orlando’s shopping and entertainment district. In 2017, Universal surveyed guests on a variety of potential updates to CityWalk. That survey featured many concepts the…
Legal Public Notices 10/20 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below at the property indicated: November 5, 2021 at the times and location listed below. The personal goods stored therein by the following: 12:00 PM Extra Space Storage 1101 Marshall Farms Rd, Ocoee 34761 (407) 516-7221 Eric Brooks – Household Goods,…
Orlando hip-hop collective Seeyousoon reveal new music video, tour dates
Avant-minded Orlando hip-hop collective Seeyousoon are on a creative roll as of late, and just upped the stakes again with a new single and music video. The 9-piece rap group have already released several singles from their upcoming album HZLIKHELL — see our writeup of the “No Daylight” single from last month — and third time’s the charm with…
Man commits suicide by jumping from Cititower balcony
Orlando Police are on the scene of an apparent suicide. According to OPD, the as-yet-unidentified man jumped from a balcony at the Cititower apartment building at 101 Lake Ave. and landed on a car parked on the street below. Photos from the scene show taped-off streets around the building as well as a damaged Lexus…
Tennis cancel Orlando concert, citing Florida’s ban on asking for proof of vaccination
Indie pop act Tennis was gearing up to play the Beacham this Saturday, Oct. 23. But due to Florida laws prohibiting safety measures like asking for proof of vaccination and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ early termination of mask mandates on the local level, the band cancelled their Orlando date. ORLANDO – so sorry but we've been…
Former George Zimmerman attorney arrested on perjury charges
Attorney Harold “Hal” Uhrig, who represented George Zimmerman for a time while Zimmerman was on trial for killing Trayvon Martin, has been arrested and charged with solicitation to commit perjury and witness tampering. Uhrig was arrested on Monday at the Osceola County courthouse and has bonded out. The lawyer is accused of pressuring a teenager…
Cowboy Chicken reveals location of first Orlando area restaurant
The Dallas-based rotisserie chicken chain Cowboy Chicken has revealed the location of its first greater Orlando-area outpost, and it will be in nearby Kissimmee. The fast-casual Cowboy Chicken, as we wrote about earlier this year, have their hearts set on aggressive expansion in the Orlando area, with up to four locations planned. The newly-signed lease…
Central Florida Veg Fest returns to Orlando’s Festival Park this very weekend
For the herbivorous and plant-curious, this weekend will be a godsend. The Central Florida Veg Fest returns in full bloom to Festival Park. On Saturday, Oct., 23, starting at 10 a.m., Festival Park in the Milk District will be abuzz with activity from the “largest vegan festival in the South.” Expect plenty of delicious and…
Florida State Sen. Annette Taddeo joins increasingly crowded democratic field for governor
State Sen. Annette Taddeo jumped into the Democratic primary race for governor on Monday, saying she is the candidate who can excite voters in her party’s bid to oust Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis next year. Taddeo’s entrance into the contest sets up a crowded and potentially awkward Democratic primary battle with U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist…
Florida Department of Education considers adding military hero worship to state civics courses
The State Board of Education on Wednesday will consider adopting a proposal aimed at reshaping the way civic education is taught in public schools, culminating an effort set in motion by lawmakers this spring. Making changes that inject patriotism into the curriculum was a priority of top Republican lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis during the…
Publix heiress donated more than $450K to groups who helped organize Jan. 6 insurrection
The descendants of Publix founder George Jenkins have dumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into conservative coffers to support things like keeping marijuana illegal and re-electing former President Trump, but now it appears they’ve also pumped money into the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. According to the Washington Post, on Dec. 29 Jenkins’…
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort to open four new restaurants
The mammoth, iconic Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort is getting even bigger. A new tower is opening at the resort with four new restaurants: a full-service signature restaurant called Amare; a poolside bar and grill called Tangerine, a grab-and-go option called Grounds, and the lobby lounge, Stir. Details released today regarding Amare reveal…
Matt Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg allowed to delay sentencing again
Matt Gaetz’s most talkative and incarcerated friend has avoided sentencing for a second time. Former Seminole County Tax Collector and current convicted felon Joel Greenberg was granted his request to stay his sentencing so that he might better rat on his former pals. A judge opted to push Greenberg’s sentence to next year, so that…
Video shows alt-right, anti-vaxxer Laura Loomer being thrown out of Orlando’s Relax Grill at Lake Eola
Update: Republican congressional hopeful Willie Montague, who was at the restaurant, said that the group left of their own accord. In an email to Orlando Weekly. Montague says he suggested they leave the restaurant after being insulted by staff. “I was the one who asked us all to leave because we were not going to…
Bodycam footage shows Flagler County deputy saving 3-year-old from house fire
Bodycam footage released by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office shows a deputy rescuing a 3-year-old from a house fire. K-9 Deputy First Class Marcus Dawson arrived at the scene of the fire ahead of firefighters and the video begins with him talking to a neighbor about whether or not the people who live in the…
Florida’s new election law brings increased costs, reduced service in several counties
Election supervisors in some Florida counties say they will need thousands of dollars in additional funding to meet requirements of a new election law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. To cover the additional costs, at least one county is reducing the number of ballot drop-off boxes, making voting less convenient. Despite conducting a seemingly flawless…
Florida adds nearly 1200 COVID-19 deaths this week, approaches 58,000 total
Nearly 58,000 Florida residents have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic started in early 2020, according to a report released Friday by the state Department of Health. The report listed 57,859 deaths as of Thursday. That was up from 56,667 in a report issued last week. Lags in reporting make it unclear when the deaths…
Florida Department of Health pushes long-term rule against school mask mandates, required quarantines
The Florida Department of Health on Friday proposed a long-term rule to try to prevent school mask mandates and give parents more authority to decide whether children who have been exposed to COVID-19 should be able to attend school. The department published the proposed rule as it tries to fend off a legal challenge from…
WATCH: Central Florida man jumps into Intracoastal to try and swim away from police following chase
A convicted bank robber with warrants out for his arrest wasn’t ready to go to prison without some kind of fight. Bodycam footage released by Volusia County Sheriff’s Office shows Melbourne resident Edward Sotelo ramming police cars and jumping into the Intracoastal Waterway in an attempt to flee from police. Police say the spotted Sotelo…
White Ring are coming in November to show Orlando heaven
It’s just after Halloween, but early November is still the perfect time of year for Witch House pioneers White Ring to materialize in Will’s Pub. The eldritch duo, newly relocated to South Florida, will be venturing up for a live “ritual” on Friday, Nov. 5, aided and abetted by local EBM marauder Mother Juno and…
Florida leads nation in nursing home deaths from COVID-19
Florida led the nation in the rate of COVID-19 nursing-home deaths during a four-week period that ended Sept. 19, according to a report published Thursday by the senior-advocacy group AARP. The report, which relies on federal data, said Florida nursing homes reported 289 resident deaths from COVID-19 during the period. The Florida deaths represented nearly…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis promises to challenge federal vaccine mandate
Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed Thursday to legally challenge a soon-to-be-released federal rule that would require workers at businesses with 100 or more employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. DeSantis indicated that the case likely will be filed at the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which he said is an avenue in challenging the…
Orlando’s College Park Jazzfest is taking to the streets in early November
The streets of College Park will soon be grooving, as College Park Jazzfest returns next month. The 19th iteration of this fest is going down on Saturday, Nov. 13, from 5-11 p.m. Beyond a no-doubt scorching set from locals the Legendary JC’s, not much of the lineup has been announced as of this writing. But…
Trombone Shorty to play the Frontyard Festival in November
New Orleans jazz standard-bearer Trombone Shorty is coming to the Frontyard Festival in November with his outfit Orleans Avenue. Troy Andrews, the man behind the trombone, will be taking Orleans Avenue on the road in early November for a small handful of Southern dates in early November, and this outdoors Orlando engagement is the only…
Florida has less than 1,000 ICU patients with COVID-19 as hospitalizations continue to drop
In another sign of easing pressure on Florida hospitals, the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive-care units has dropped below 1,000, according to data posted online Thursday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The data showed that 918 intensive-care unit beds at 261 Florida hospitals were being used by COVID-19 patients. As…
Orlando Fringe to head back downtown for Winter Mini-Fest in January
It’s been quite a while since Orlando Fringe, the spring bacchanal of experimental theater, has called downtown Orlando home. In 2003, the long-running fest made the decision to move to Loch Haven Park. But an offshoot of the big bash is putting out-there performances back where they began: Fringe’s Winter Mini-Fest will bring the organization…
Vermont family sues Disney for $20M, alleging toddler was sexually assaulted on Disney Cruise Line ship
A Vermont family is suing Disney for $20 million, saying their child was sexually assaulted while in the care of a Disney Cruise Line daycare. The anonymous couple claim that their toddler was assaulted aboard the Disney Fantasy during a January 2020 cruise in a lawsuit filed on September 22. They say that their child,…
Central Florida school board member details threats made against her for supporting mask mandate
Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins is one of several school board members across Florida who have been threatened or otherwise harassed for their support of school mask mandates. Jenkins went viral this week for explaining the threats of violence she’s received during a recent school board meeting. In an address to the audience,…
Wife of Orlando’s Pulse shooter gives interview for the first time in years: ‘“It’s time people know the truth’
The wife of the Pulse shooter is speaking out for the first time in years, giving a greater accounting of her side of the story than she ever has publicly. In a new interview with Vice, Noor Salman painted a picture of a deeply abusive marriage that still offered no indication of what nightclub shooter…
Pediatrics groups back parents in mask ban lawsuit
State and national pediatrics groups on Wednesday supported a request for a federal appeals court to block Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order that seeks to prevent school mask requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatrics sought approval to file a friend-of-the-court brief…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban on school mask mandates could become state law
Amid a series of legal battles, a Senate Republican on Wednesday filed a proposal that would put into state law a ban on school districts requiring students to wear masks. The proposal (SB 452), filed by Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, also would bar cities and counties from requiring people to wear masks or undergo medical…
‘Star Wars’ comic will highlight story of ship at the heart of Disney’s immersive Starcruiser hotel
A new Star Wars comic will tell the story of the ship at the center of Disney’s much-anticipated immersive resort. The Galactic Starcruiser hotel will transport guests into the galaxy far, far away by dropping them into a spaceship called Halcyon. In the Halcyon Legacy mini-series, creators will dive into the story of the legendary…
There’s a new brewery looking to open up in Seminole County
Seminole County may see another brewery open in the near future if the permitting stars align. Connor Brewing LLC, the folks behind “nano-brewery” Little Wekiva Brewery, have their sights set on setting up shop in Seminole County, as reported by the Orlando Business Journal. Connor have filed paperwork to open a 1,200-square-foot outpost right near…
Peppa Pig Theme Park sets opening date in February
Look out! We have a surprise! We’re SO excited to share that Peppa Pig Theme Park will be opening on February 24, 2022 AND theme park tickets are on sale NOW! https://t.co/5sxX7X9sW9 pic.twitter.com/cpqdV1Rj3W — Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida (@PeppaPigFlorida) October 12, 2021 The bite-sized Peppa Pig theme park opening at Legoland has announced its…
Bad As’s Sandwiches closes Winter Park location
A little over a year after it opened, the Winter Park location of Bad As’s Sandwiches is closing its doors. The once-again Milk District-based sandwich shop announced the shuttering on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🅱🅰🅳 🅰🆂'🆂 🆂🅰🅽🅳🆆🅸🅲🅷 (@badass_sandwich) Owner John Collazo shared a statement on the closure to…
Avant-jazz duo Tin/Bag headline downtown Orlando’s In-Between Series on Thursday
Avant-jazz duo Tin/Bag — the duo of Mike Baggetta (guitar) and Kris Tiner (trumpet) — are heading out on the road playing intimate venues across the East Coast and they’ve got a date with the City Beautiful on Thursday. Tin/Bag are set to headline longtime local experimental music spotlight the In-Between Series at CityArts in Downtown Orlando as…
Florida Department of Health imposes $3.5 million in fines on Leon County over vaccine requirement
The Florida Department of Health is imposing a $3.57 million fine on Leon County because of the county government’s requirement that employees be vaccinated against COVID-19. The department sent a notice Tuesday to Leon County Administrator Vince Long that gave the county 30 days to pay the fine. The notice pointed to a state ban…
Big Freedia brings ‘Big Diva energy’ to Orlando in November
You’re not hallucinating, none other than bounce legend Big Freedia is plotting a return to Orlando as soon as November. Last seen around these parts for a sold-out show in 2018, Big Freedia is heading back to Will’s Pub on Sunday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. The queen of New Orleans bounce just released new…
Florida will not join other GOP-led states in auditing 2020 election
Florida does not plan to review the 2020 election, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday during an appearance in St. Pete Beach. “What we do in Florida is, there’s a pre- and post-election audit that happens automatically,” DeSantis said. “So, that has happened. It passed with flying colors in terms of how that’s going.” DeSantis was…
Rascal is looking for a good home and he deserves one; meet him at Orange County Animal Shelter
Meet Rascal! Rascal (A473157) is an 8-year-old male who has been at the shelter for over 128 days. Rascal has been selective with the dogs that he has interacted with at the shelter, but it appears he may be coming around — he has shown improvement. We do recommend slow introductions if there are other…
New music from and new directions for Orlando’s Swamburger
In the music scene, it doesn’t get any more Orlando than rap champion Swamburger. But the MC-producer actually has roots in Chicago, and he’s made something of a return to that in his brand new single. A nod to Chi-town’s seminal dance music heritage, “All Hail Open Doors” rides a jazzed-up house stomp rather than…
Savage Love: To snip or not to snip?
Thirty-year-old trans woman here, Dan, and I have a question about what is surely one of your favorite subjects: the “age gap discourse.” About four years ago, I had a sexual experience that I go back and forth on whether to label as sexual assault. When I was 26 years old, I met a 19-year-old…
Orlando concert picks, Oct. 13-20: Scott H. Biram, Local H, The Hives
If you go out, be safe, be cool and please be respectful. Scott H. Biram, J.D. Wilkes, Jordan Joyes: This loaded lineup is an illustrious cross section of the American South’s musical underbelly. With his grease-bucket sounds and extreme tendencies, Texas blues heathen Scott H. Biram is a living icon of the one-man band tradition.…
Readers react: ‘No’ to a road through Blanchard Park, ‘yes’ to pitching in to combat climate change
¶ Proposed road would cut through Blanchard Park Jay Blanchard Park is home to 84 acres of accessible trails, fields for sports and a connection to the Little Econlockhatchee River. Its beautiful scenery attracts residents, students and families from all over the Orlando area to spend a day outside. Rather than an open grassy field,…
One-man production of ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ is a comeback for Orlando actor Stephen Pugh
If you’ve been following along with my Halloween adventures this year, you’ve already survived a surfeit of jump scares and your jangled nerves might be jonesing for a seasonal treat that’s a little less jarring, a little more literary. In that case, the Orlando Repertory Theatre (orlandorep.com) is presenting a one-man production of The Legend…
‘You,’ ‘Dopesick,’ ‘Aquaman: King of Atlantis’ and more streaming debuts this week
Premieres Wednesday, Oct. 13: Dopesick — Michael Keaton plays Dr. Samuel Finnix, a physician who helps jump-start the opioid epidemic by prescribing OxyContin to his patients. If I were his defense lawyer, my strategy would be to pin it on the Multiverse version of Finnix played by Ben Affleck. (Hulu) Just Beyond — Here’s an…
