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Orlando Weekly’s compact voting guide for 2018 midterms
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Every Orlando restaurant we know of serving Thanksgiving dinner this year
We get it: We can barely bring ourselves to look away from the insanity of the news long enough to plan Thanksgiving ourselves. Luckily, there are plenty of Central Florida restaurants offering to-go or to-stay Turkey Day meals that will deliver just the kind of comestible comfort we’re craving. Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Disney Springs’…
Dream Theater announce Orlando show for next year
Prog-metal overlords Dream Theater have announced the dates for their “Distance Over Time” tour set to kick off next year, with an Orlando date sure to please fans of these bombastic shredders. The band will be touring behind their soon-to-be-released album of the same name, due out in late February. Dream Theater headline the Hard…
Maker Faire returns with tons of DIY projects and hands-on experiences
Come one, come all, to Orlando’s greatest show (and tell) of the year, the Maker Faire: a community-organized, family-friendly extravaganza that includes everything from do-it-yourself science, art, rockets and robots to crafts, music and more. What is a maker, you may ask? Well, in this case, a maker is a parent, a student, a weekend…
11Eleven Fest arrives with a stacked lineup of bands, beers and cocktails
A sequel of sorts to last year’s Ten10 Fest, 11Eleven promises, much like Spinal Tap’s amps that go up to 11, a louder and more bombastic version of the original: live music and a selection of artist cocktails and ales matching up to many of the day’s performers. The lineup is an intoxicating mix of…
All the breweries you’ll meet – and taste – at the 2018 Orlando Beer Festival
So, you may have heard that Orlando Weekly is throwing its fourth annual Orlando Beer Festival this Saturday? Yeah? We’re just a little bit excited about it. This Saturday from 2-5 p.m., rain or shine, sample hundreds of different craft beers from the brewers listed below. As with all beer festivals, rare and popular brews seldom…
Free Play Florida returns with a bigger venue for decades of hands-on arcade history
Free Play Florida has grown from a niche convention for pinball enthusiasts to one of the premier gaming conventions in the state, with classic arcade and console games added to the mix. Along with the massive arcade set up every year, attendees can check out panels from celebrities and game designers or attend the Saturday…
Mix and mingle with the fashion industry at Orlando International Fashion Week’s EDGE event
The signature event for Orlando International Fashion Week returns to Tier Nightclub this week. Catch a runway show from several talented designers, then mingle with models and industry pros during the after party. Spring for VIP if you want preferred seating and early entry. 6 p.m. Friday; Tier Nightclub, 20 E. Central Blvd.; $25-$35; orlandointernationalfashionweek.com.…
The Nook screens two films from Mel Brooks’ best year ever
With all of the mixing and mingling and electric daisying in town this week, it’s refreshing to see a night out that doesn’t require you to move very much. The Nook hosts a movie night showcasing both of Mel Brooks’ 1974 features, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. One of those movies has aged a lot…
Mount Dora restaurant parts ways with Norman Van Aken
Ken Mazik and Donna Brown, owners of Mount Dora restaurant 1921 by Norman Van Aken, have parted ways with the James Beard Foundation Award winner. The restaurant now goes by 1921 Mount Dora to reflect chef Van Aken’s departure which, by all accounts, appears to be amicable. A statement released by the restaurant’s PR company, Rockaway, reads:…
Electric Daisy Carnival turns Tinker Field into a neon EDM wonderland
Bust out the glitter, the body-paint and the iridescent spandex because the Electric Daisy Carnival is returning to Orlando for its eighth consecutive year. A multimedia explosion of music, art and energy, the full-immersion experience of EDC packs in dedicated ravers, party monsters and casual fans equally. The nonstop two-day affair includes three stages with…
24 free shows happening in Orlando this week
Wednesday, Nov. 7 Eugene Snowden’s Ten Pints of Truth 10 pm at Lil Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. The Daniel Heitz Band 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Thursday, Nov. 8 Leisure Chief 10:30 pm at Tanqueray’s, 100 S. Orange Ave. Raleigh Estes and Friends 8 pm at Muldoon’s Saloon, 7439 Aloma Ave.,…
A$AP Ferg headlines UCF’s Homecoming Concert Knight at CFE Arena
Rapper, certified fashion icon and jewelry ambassador A$AP Ferg is coming to the University of Central Florida for Homecoming Concert Knight this week. The Harlem artist, known for wildly successful singles like “Plain Jane” and “Shabba,” will be performing along with English singer Ella Mai. The show is free for UCF Knights but all others…
Orlando Museum of Art kicks off the holidays with the annual Festival of Trees
The Orlando Museum of Art’s Christmas wonderland is entering its 32nd year this holiday season; and as the presenting group, the Council of 101, assures us, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” The event features designer Christmas trees, holiday vignettes, a gingerbread village, handmade wreaths and more. Throughout the nine days that the…
Chicago alternative legends Smoking Popes stop into Soundbar with songs old and new
Never the most flashy of the alt-rock vanguard of the 1990s, Chicago’s Smoking Popes still scored big with underground-gone-overground hits “Need You Around” and “Rubella” from major-label debut Born to Quit in 1994. Even more lucratively than that, the album caught the ears of one Stephen Patrick Morrissey, who for several years used them as…
Apartment E’s Frankie Messina shows the softer side of Prince at the Imperial
Frankie Messina, local arts advocate and new host of WPRK’s “State of the Scene” broadcast, is a huge Prince fan. His collection of rare records, tapes and memorabilia is definitely bigger than yours. Thursday night, he brings his encyclopedic knowledge of the Artist to bear for a special night focused on the softer side of…
Rick Scott defeats Bill Nelson in Florida Senate race
Republican Gov. Rick Scott defeated incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson for one of Florida’s two seats in the U.S. Senate. Nelson, a three-term senator, lost to Scott in a race that saw about $180.7 million spent by both candidates and political outside groups, according to October data from the Center for Responsive Politics. Scott, an extremely wealthy…
Ron DeSantis will be the next governor of Florida
Ron DeSantis has won the 2018 Florida gubernatorial race. His opponent, Democrat Andrew Gillum, conceded the extremely tight race shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday night. Florida chose between two candidates that couldn’t have been more different. Even without much of a platform for most of his campaign, DeSantis rode the momentum of a highly coveted…
Florida votes yes on Amendment 3, putting casinos in the hands of voters
On Tuesday night, voters decided to keep the exclusive right to decide to authorize expansions of casino gambling in Florida. Amendment 3, which was proposed by Voters in Charge, garnered roughly 71 percent of the vote on Tuesday night. The committee spent more than $31 million on the effort and was heavily backed by the Walt Disney…
Florida has decided to ban greyhound racing
Florida’s electorate has spoken, and Amendment 13, which bans greyhound racing in Florida by 2020, has passed. Sixty-nine percent of Floridians voted to pass Amendment 13. The amendment’s passage effectively shuts down the sport at 11 dog tracks across Florida – more tracks than the rest of the country combined. Under the new law, track…
1.5 million ex-felons can now vote in Florida
On Tuesday night, voters decided to restore voting rights to nearly 1.5 million nonviolent ex-felons in Florida. With 70 percent of precincts reporting, multiple news outlets are now calling it for Amendment 4. Florida is one of only three states in the country that didn’t automatically restore the voting rights of felons after they have…
Here are the 2018 Orange County election results for Florida lawmakers, sheriff and more
Despite all the hoopla surrounding the Florida governor’s race and other high-profile candidates, there are a number of important elections here in our backyard. Orange County voters came out in force to vote for three new county commissioners, sheriff and several state lawmakers. Below are the latest results, with winners bolded, in several Central Florida…
Anna Eskamani beats Stockton Reeves in Florida House District 47
First-time Democratic candidate Anna Eskamani walloped Republican businessman Stockton Reeves in the race for Florida House District 47. With all precincts reporting in Orange County, Eskamani won about 57 percent of the vote, about 14 points more than her opponent Reeves, who received almost 43 percent of the vote, according to the Orange County Supervisor…
Democrat Darren Soto wins re-election in Florida’s US House District 9 race
Democratic incumbent Rep. Darren Soto beat Republican nominee Wayne Liebnitzky in Congressional District 9 Tuesday night. With most precincts reporting in Osceola, Orange and Polk counties, Soto held about 57 percent of the vote, according to early returns. The 2018 midterms marked the second time the two faced off on the ballot. In 2016, Soto…
Stephanie Murphy beats Mike Miller for Florida’s US House District 7
Democratic incumbent Rep. Stephanie Murphy defeated Republican state Rep. Mike Miller, R-Winter Park, in congressional District 7 Tuesday night. Though the numbers are still coming in, the Associated Press has called it in favor of Murphy, who narrowly defeated Miller in an extremely contested race. Murphy, D-Winter Park, a middle-of-the-road liberal, was the first Vietnamese…
Orlando astrologer R.J. Speiser guides you through the chills and thrills of Scorpio season
Perhaps you’ve heard it whispered at a dinner party: “Careful what you say to Sandy, she’s a Scorpio.” Even strangers I meet who don’t know anything about astrology know to avoid a Scorpio. Scorpios are the most feared zodiac sign. Scorpios are like the hardcore goth kids in high school – covered in a thick…
Beer, wine, cocktails: There’s plenty to drink at the 2018 Orlando Beer Festival
Are you undecided on attending Orlando Beer Festival because secretly, you’re more of a grape-lover than a hops-head? Have no fear; this year’s OBF offers a wine tasting, a Wine 101 class, and a cocktail zone. Kirt Earhart, owner of Maxine’s on Shine, is also known as “The Juice Pimp.” At the Maxine’s on Shine Wine Tasting Experience, the…
Unwed Sailor bring classic post-rock sounds back to Orlando
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Unwed Sailor and Chapters, Will’s Pub, Nov. 5 It seems instrumental rock has been somewhat dominated in recent years by the heavy end of the spectrum with the surge of metal-minded bands like Russian Circles and Pelican. But the return of eminent post-rock band Unwed Sailor was, top to bottom, a call…
Buddy Guy announces Orlando show set for spring 2019
Blues titan Buddy Guy has announced a string of headlining North American tour dates set for early 2019 after he disembarks from February’s Rock Legends VII cruise. And guess what, there’s an Orlando show in March! The legendary guitarist will be touring behind new album The Blues Are Alive And Well. Buddy Guy headlines the…
Michigan brewery Dark Horse Brewing is coming to Florida for the first time ever
Dark Horse Brewing recently partnered with Sunshine State Distributing to bring their craft beers and spirits to Florida for the first time. Starting Monday, Nov. 5, Dark Horse brews were distributed across Central Florida restaurants and bars, including those in Seminole and Orange counties, according to a statement from the company. Florida is the 16th…
More than 400,000 voters have already cast ballots in Orange County
By 1:50 p.m. on Election Tuesday, more than 400,000 Orange County voters had already cast their ballot for the 2018 midterms, according to numbers from the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office. Of the county’s 798,374 registered voters, 406,393 voters, including early and mail-in ballots, have cast their votes so far. With about five hours…
‘American Pickers’ are coming to Florida and they want to see your junk
Hoarders, time to celebrate. The History Channel’s American Pickers is coming to Florida this February, and showrunners are searching for Floridians who have unique collections to be featured on the show. American Pickers is a documentary series all about “antique picking.” Hosts Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz travel across the country searching for the most…
Kyle Kinane delivers needed post-election laughs at the Abbey
We go to press on this issue too early to know what the results of the midterm elections will be, but if previous elections are any indication, we’re gonna need a laugh. Luckily, Kyle Kinane, easily one of the best – and scandal-free so far, knock on wood – “alternative” comedians, takes the stage at…
Every Orlando bar and restaurant throwing an election night watch party
Election night is stressful on everyone, so there’s no better way to watch the incoming results on Tuesday, Nov. 6, than with food and drinks prepared by someone else. If you don’t want to binge alone, here are a few local watch parties happening in the Orlando area. We will update this list as new…
Ron DeSantis pins hopes on GOP turnout Tuesday in Florida governor’s race
In his final push in the campaign for governor, former Republican Congressman Ron DeSantis told supporters on Monday that he can win the race if the GOP dominates election-day voting. “I think if Republicans vote and vote in big numbers on Tuesday, we will win all of these races,” he said at a rally outside…
Andrew Gillum vows areas still reeling from hurricane won’t be ‘forgotten’ if he wins Florida governor’s race
Most of the houses, the ones still standing, are crowned with blue tarps, and the heavy-duty trucks are still clearing massive trees snapped like matchsticks on the back roads surrounding the Sunrise Worship Center in Jackson County. For many members of the almost-all black audience who came to hear Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum speak…
Trap artist D3V headlines a pre-EDC party at Peek Downtown
Get ready for the biggest EDM festival of the year, Electric Daisy Carnival, with this pre-party at Peek Downtown. Trap artist D3V headlines the night, accompanied by Paper Mushrooms, Hallucinate and DJay, and the as-yet-unannounced winner of a DJ mix contest. It all ends mere hours before the gates open for EDC. Sleep is for…
As it continues to reinvent itself, SeaWorld sees major jumps in attendance and revenue
SeaWorld’s quarterly earnings reports have long been a point of negative publicity for the struggling company. In more recent quarters, the numbers have begun looking up, though there was still some worry. With a delayed opening for SeaWorld Orlando’s 2018 attraction, Infinity Falls, and with the weather continuing to be a concern for the company…
Andrew Gillum and Bill Nelson take slight lead as Florida voter turnout tops 5 million
Statewide Democratic candidates have tiptoed into an early, albeit slim, lead, as more than 5 million early voters have already cast their ballots prior to Tuesday’s general election, breaking turnout records in the process. As of Monday afternoon, 5,111,452 – almost 40 percent of the Sunshine State electorate – had turned out to vote early…
Here’s how to score free stuff in Orlando on Election Day
Don’t throw away your “I Voted” sticker! There are quite a few Orlando deals to choose from for all you who’ve completed their civic duty. 4 Rivers Smokehouse Wear your “I Voted” sticker on Election Day and get a free cupcake from their Sweet Shop. Uber & Lyft Hitch a free or discounted ride to…
Here’s what to do if you haven’t sent in your mail ballot for Florida’s general election
If you’ve waited until the last minute to fish out your vote-by-mail ballot from that unopened stack of letters on your kitchen table and are worried it won’t be received by Election Day, there are a couple solutions to make sure your vote is counted in Florida’s general election. The first option is to physically…
Margaritaville Resort Orlando is now hiring
If getting paid while others waste away in Margaritaville sounds appealing to you, the new resort in Kissimmee is looking for “parrotheads” to join the opening team. The new Jimmy Buffett-themed resort, which which is set to open in early 2019, will host a two-day job fair on site at 8011 Fins Up Circle, Kissimmee,…
A new distillery in St. Pete is building a 9/11 memorial made with a steel beam from Ground Zero
A new distillery in St. Petersburg is building an important art plaza unlike anything the city has previously seen. The American Freedom Distillery, which is slated to open early next year, is owned by a group of former Special Forces and Green Beret combat veterans, including Mark Nutsch, who led a team of Green Berets…
Epcot’s giant aquarium might be getting a giant remodel
Disney has confirmed major updates are headed to Epcot, but one of the latest rumored updates might come as a surprise to many. When The Living Seas opened in 1986, it was one of the most technologically advanced aquariums ever to be realized. At the time it was home to the largest saltwater aquarium in…
Downtown Orlando beer bar Tap and Grind will close for good on Nov. 29
The Tap and Grind, one of the few downtown Orlando hole-in-the-wall beer bars, will close for good at the end of the month. The downtown watering hole, located at 59 W. Central Blvd, said in a weekend Instagram post that they are currently closed for the rest of this month, but will reopen on Nov.…
In Orlando debut, Miya Folick shows next-gen brilliance while Pale Waves cops the goths
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Pale Waves and Miya Folick, The Social, Nov. 3 Being from a city with some of the heaviest, most seminal heritage in alternative music history, you’d think Pale Waves would know better. But the Siouxsie Sioux rips of this young Manchester band are surely earning them some mad shade from all the…
Ongoing plan needed to address Puerto Rico exodus, new United Way report says
The flood of people leaving Puerto Rico may have exceeded 200,000 by the end of this year, a new report from the United Way says. And that means the region needs to keep thinking and planning ahead for their needs. A significant portion of those people have relocated to the Orlando area. “This was a…
Obama rejects divisiveness at Miami rally supporting Gillum, Nelson
Eschewing the racially charged rhetoric and divisiveness that have dominated campaigns in Florida and throughout the nation, former President Barack Obama relied on a message of hope Friday as he urged a crowd of supporters to vote for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. “Don’t get anxious or freaked out. Don’t…
Rihanna backs Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum and Amendment 4
R&B singer, fashion icon and beauty entrepreneur Rihanna has endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum in the Florida governor’s race and is throwing her support behind Amendment 4. In a Sunday Instagram post, Rihanna said Florida has the “opportunity to make history this election.” Gillum, the first African American gubernatorial candidate in the state, is…
Bill Nelson, Rick Scott locked in most expensive Senate race in Florida history
Gov. Rick Scott and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson are heading into the final days of the most-expensive Senate race in Florida history, with the campaign characterized by a relentless barrage of negative advertising. Through mid-October, Scott, the outgoing Republican governor, had raised about $69 million for his Senate campaign, according to the Federal Elections Commission.…
‘I wish I could take a bullet for him’ and other breathless vows from Trump stans at Florida campaign rallies this week
For dozens of people attending a political rally Wednesday in Southwest Florida, another celebrity held almost as much fascination as President Donald Trump, the headliner of the event. A steady stream of rally-goers, many of them wearing “Make America Great Again” red caps, drifted by the fenced-off space for the media in the center of…
Winter Park’s Sushi Pop to feature Vietnamese pop-up ‘Chauhaus’
As we told you back in April, Sushi Pop – the spirited, anime-themed Japanese restaurant in Oviedo – will open a second location on 115 E. Lyman Ave. in Winter Park. According to chef-owner Chau Trinh, the restaurant should open later this month or in early December. That’s exciting news in and of itself, but what Trinh…
Joel McHale headlines UCF’s Homecoming Comedy Knight this week
If you’ve missed your daily dose of snarky Kardashian jokes since Joel McHale left the The Soup, you’ll get an opportunity to revel in the smarminess again – sans E! filter and Kris Jenner’s watchful eye – at the University of Central Florida’s Homecoming Comedy Knight. McHale joins fellow comedians Jaboukie Young-White and JF Harris…
CFAM offers timely Severed Heads & the Power of Women tour of their current exhibit
The title alone is enough to sell it, eh? CFAM couldn’t have known how incredibly timely their Dangerous Women show would be back when they booked it, but the current cresting wave of female rage makes these 16th- and 17th-century paintings of anti-misogynist activists perfectly au courant. While the artists may have simply taken advantage…
Early voting for Florida general election ends this Sunday in Orange County
Early voting for Florida’s general election ends this Sunday in Orange County. Until Nov. 4, Orange County residents can vote early every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 16 voter locations, including a new polling spot at the University of Central Florida. Find all locations at ocfelections.com. Here’s the early voting information for other…
Florida may get its first ever snow park next year
Floridians could be swapping T-shirts and flip-flops for warm coats and snow boots next year, because winter might be coming to the Sunshine State. Point Summit Inc., the company behind TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park and the Scream-A-Geddon Halloween Attraction, and Pasco County are working together to bring the first ever outdoor snow park to Florida…
Ronnie Milsap to play Central Florida in December
Country legend Ronnie Milsap will be closing out the year with a couple of Florida tour dates, including one at the Villages in December. The singer and pianist will be celebrating new duets album (ahem) The Duets, with Milsap singing alongside the likes of Dolly Parton and Kacey Musgraves. Ronnie Milsap plays the Sharon L.…
All that’s left of Red Claw is this hilarious and sad website
Red Claw, the now-shuttered downtown Orlando lobster roll spot you never tried but should have, no longer exists. But at least their website is still serving hot takes. The establishment closed last month – and while their short-lived but celebrated lobster rolls are no more, the restaurant’s website has since been edited to the point…
Eva Longoria, Zoe Saldaña and other Latina actresses join R. Jai Gillum for Kissimmee rally Sunday
Eva Longoria Bastón, Zoe Saldaña and other Latina actresses will be joining Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum’s spouse, R. Jai Gillum, for a rally in Kissimmee this Sunday. R. Jai Gillum will also be joined in Kissimmee by actresses America Ferrera, Gina Rodriguez and Rosario Dawson. The rally starts at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4, at the 65th…
Andrew Gillum is coming to UCF for a weekend rally with rapper Common and Julian Castro
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum is coming back to the University of Central Florida this weekend for a last-minute rally with several high-profile supporters, including rapper Common and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro. Gillum will be holding a “Get Out the Vote” rally on Saturday, Nov. 3 at the CFE Arena,…
Everytown for Gun Safety continues pouring money into Florida elections
As a sign of the importance of gun-related issues in this year’s elections, the group Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund has spent nearly $3.76 million in Florida during the election cycle —- including sending $500,000 to a political committee led by incoming Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, according to a state Division of Elections…
Seminole Tribe of Florida puts more cash into gambling ballot proposal
The Seminole Tribe of Florida this week put another $4.285 million into a gambling ballot proposal, bringing its overall contributions to nearly $24.65 million, according to a new finance report posted on the state Division of Elections website. The Seminole Tribe and Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. have largely bankrolled the political committee Voters In Charge,…
ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons goes solo at House of Blues
You might know Billy Gibbons best from his iconic beard, pointing skills, streamlined guitar and laconic vocals on ZZ Top hits like “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and “Legs,” but there’s a whole lot more to the musical pedigree of this sharp-dressed man. Gibbons’ early musical epiphanies included outré psychedelia, leading him as a teenager to…
Henao Center hosts a Día de los Muertos party with dinner, drinks and dancing
Though the celebration technically takes place the day after Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) ends, head out to the Henao Center for a culturally immersive evening celebration that honors the departed – you know, dead folks. Included with your ticket is entertainment (live music and body and face painting), a complimentary…
Pearl & the Oysters headline WPRK’s annual Fox Fest free concert
With the recent restoration of college radio station par excellence WPRK 91.5 FM to the terrestrial airwaves, this year’s Fox Fest is an even more crucial celebration of the station and staff’s resilience. There will be sets from local shoegazers Acoqui, wiry young C86-ers TV Dinner, and Gainesville’s (via Paris, it should be noted) Pearl…
Orlando is now one of five cities to offer Uber monthly plans
On Tuesday, Orlando became one of only five cities that can use Uber’s newly launched subscription service called Ride Pass, which offers users consistent and lower ride fees for $15 a month. Ride Pass subscribers will have set prices determined by data from similar routes taken in the past and will not be affected by surge…
Downtown Orlando now has an axe-throwing range
As of last weekend, you can put on your favorite flannel shirt and chuck a few axes in downtown Orlando. Epic Axe Throwing Orlando, located at 47 E Robinson St., soft-opened on Saturday, Oct. 27. The axe-throwing range is is now accepting reservations seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and walk-ins from 5-10…
Hunger Street Tacos to launch weekly Mexican omakase dinner at the Heavy
Excellent news for the hungry among us: Starting Friday, Nov. 9, Hunger Street Tacos will stage a Mexican omakase at The Heavy in Winter Park. There will be two seatings for 12 people each – one at 5:30 and one at 8:30 p.m. No info on price yet. [location-1] Omakase is a Japanese word usually…
Roughly 100 people gather at Orlando immigration court because ICE agents gave them fake hearing dates
About 100 people stood in a line that snaked around Orlando’s immigration court Wednesday after local attorneys say U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials issued “fake court dates” to immigrants. People standing in line were told they were supposed to be at the courthouse off Maguire Boulevard on Oct. 31 for a hearing on their case,…
Universal Orlando to reopen Halloween Horror Nights for ‘Stranger Things Day’
Though spooky season is now officially over, the creatures of the Upside Down are coming back to Universal Orlando Resort for one extra day. On Tuesday, Nov. 6, Universal will commemorate the anniversary of the disappearance of Will Byers by reopening their Stranger Things haunted house from Halloween Horror Nights. This marks the first time…
Billboard designed by Parkland victim’s father takes shot at Florida gun laws
A billboard designed by the father of a Parkland high school shooting victim that takes aim at Florida’s gun laws is debuting Thursday in Massachusetts. The sign, hung outside a Boston parking garage, has a photo of 17-year-old Joaquin Oliver, one of the 17 students and teachers killed by a shooter earlier this year at Marjory…
Peter Murphy to bring Bauhaus anniversary tour to Orlando next year
As a belated Halloween present, gothic legend Peter Murphy unveiled 2019 dates for a North American tour marking the 40th anniversary of his band Bauhaus. Murphy will be joined by fellow Bauhaus mainstay David J. (also of Love and Rockets) for a set running heavy on Bauhaus classics … and Orlando goths will have their…
Florida woman dresses up baby as Publix sub for Halloween
A Florida mom posted a photo of her baby dressed as a Publix sub to her Facebook, and obviously it’s the most Florida Halloween costume in existence. “They say you shouldn’t eat deli meat while pregnant but all she wanted was pub subs…so much she popped out as one,” said Elizabeth Dugan of Tampa in the…
Rick Scott reportedly walked away when asked about Trump’s birthright citizenship comments
President Donald Trump inhaled and blew his racist dog-whistle as hard as he could when he told the news website Axios that he plans to sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship to children born in the U.S. And though it was good fodder for the shock factor-happy crews of cable TV news show hosts…
Trump rallies GOP faithful for Scott, DeSantis in South Florida
James Fahnestock stood in the blazing sun for more than five hours Wednesday while awaiting his first opportunity to see his hero, President Donald Trump, live and in person. Fahnestock’s red “Make America Great Again” cap did little to protect him from the heat, but the sweltering temperatures didn’t dampen the 36-year-old Naples resident’s enthusiasm…
Water woes become political wild card in Florida election
Throughout the summer, politicians heard from Floridians angered by the latest bouts of toxic blue-green algae in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers, along with a festering red-tide outbreak on the Gulf Coast. Protesters focused on the state’s handling of rising sea levels, a limited acknowledgement of climate change and past actions by Gov. Rick…
Yelle showers Orlando in glitter and dance
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND Yelle, The Social, Oct. 30 I’m sick AF of saying it but these are dire times indeed. Still, even in this doomsday prophecy come alive, it’s been especially dark of late, and the forecast doesn’t look good. So a dose of eternally bouncy French pop to stave off onset terminal cynicism? Tout…
Who did this?
An astonishingly well-made Lord Voldemort lawn sign has appeared in Florida. An image of the sign was posted yesterday to the social media site Reddit by user DarthReader, and thankfully it features a giant red circle signifying what we should be laughing at. You know, because some say Rick Scott looks like the Harry Potter…
Cows ‘N Cabs brings the area’s top chefs to Winter Park’s West Meadow
For the high rollers – or just those who like to pretend they’re high rollers – the West Meadow of Winter Park’s Central Park hosts the seventh annual Cows ’n Cabs event this weekend. The charity fundraiser boasts tastings from more than 25 gourmet area restaurants, along with all the beer, wine and cocktails you…
College Park Jazz Fest shuts down Edgewater Drive this weekend
Be the traffic hazard you wish to see in the world. College Park’s signature Jazz Fest returns this week to shut down Edgewater Drive and turn it into a pedestrian promenade with several stages of live jazz, soul and R&B, along with plenty of food and drink vendors. Just remember to avoid the area if…
Eden Bar’s Elixir Mixer pits some of the area’s best bartenders against each other
With the slight “cold snap” we’ve been having, it’s the perfect time of year to bask outdoors during our all-too-brief fall, preferably with a drink in hand. Maitland’s most beautiful outdoor bar, the Eden Bar at Enzian, takes advantage by inviting bartenders over for a cocktail competition that you get to benefit from. Tickets to…
Rick Scott wants to choose new Supreme Court justices with Florida’s next governor
In another move in a closely watched case, Gov. Rick Scott is asking the Florida Supreme Court to allow him and the newly elected governor to jointly appoint three justices to the state’s highest court. Scott wants the court to modify an Oct. 15 order that gave the “sole authority” for those Supreme Court appointments…
Rick Scott restored the voting rights of twice as many white former felons as black felons
During his time in office, Gov. Rick Scott and his cabinet restored the voting rights of twice as many white former felons compared to black former felons, according to a recent investigation by the Palm Beach Post. Florida is one of only three states in the country that does not automatically restore the voting rights…
Stockton Reeves still has his Twitter locked for some reason
We’re less than a week away from Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 6, and Stockton Reeves, a Republican candidate for Florida House in District 47, still has his Twitter account locked. Rather than show even the slight bit of performative transparency expected from every modern politician, Reeves has instead opted for the social media iron curtain. Related…
‘Jersey Boys,’ now at Dr. Phillips Center, remains the benchmark for jukebox musicals
If familiarity breeds contempt, than I should be rushing to consign Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons to a Meadowlands landfill for revisiting Orlando only four years after its last local appearance, and less than a decade since its first. Instead, the Equity tour of this Tony-winning tribute to my…
Jimmy Buffett hosting free Florida concert in support of Bill Nelson and Andrew Gillum
This weekend, the legendary singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett will host his second politically motivated concert of the year. On Saturday, Nov. 3, the musician will host a free concert to rally voters in support of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum. The concert is set to take place at the Meyer Amphitheater in West Palm Beach…
An Aquaman wax figure is coming to Orlando’s Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds is home to hundreds of iconic, slightly creepy celebrity wax figures, and this December Aquaman will join their ranks. In celebration of the new stand-alone Aquaman movie coming out Dec. 21, Madame Tussauds Orlando will debut a figure of Jason Momoa as the DC hero on Tuesday, Dec. 4. The wax figure will…
The College Football Playoff committee got it right by leaving UCF out of the top 10
Unsurprisingly, the University of Central Florida Knights were left out of the College Football Playoff committee’s top 10 rankings, released Tuesday. The committee ranked the 7-0 Knights at No. 12 – the highest ranking ever for a Group of Five team in the modern CFP Rankings – behind the two-loss Florida Gators and seven one-loss…
Florida tourism officials invest in marketing after Hurricane Michael, red tide
The state’s tourism-marketing arm wants to send a message to potential visitors: Hurricane damage and fish-killing red tide don’t cover all of the Sunshine State. The Visit Florida Board of Directors on Tuesday approved an $8.89 million marketing campaign intended to address the hurricane and red-tide issues and protect the state’s brand by stressing what…
Central Florida will get new 689 area code in June
A new area code to keep up with Central Florida growth will start in June. The state Public Service Commission on Tuesday set a June 4 implementation date for the 689 area code, which will overlay the 407 area code in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and parts of Lake and Volusia counties. The area code, which…
Moon Hooch merge jazz and house music at the Abbey
It seems like every few years, some artist or retro movement comes along that has pundits salivating over “the return of jazz!” It happened with La La Land. It happened with Norah Jones. And it even happened with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy for a couple of months in the ’90s. But jazz never really went…
Hanson’s Shoe Repair building offers adult alternative from the downtown Halloween madness
Just because downtown is a shitshow on Halloween doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Sneak away from amateur hour on Orange Avenue and slip over to the Hanson’s Shoe Repair building for a quick breath of adulthood. All three floors – Bauhaus, the Study and Hanson’s – feature special drink menus, paired with spooky movies…
The 2018 Florida Amendments, what they actually mean and what we recommend
On the ballot this year are 12 amendments that would fundamentally alter our state constitution and, in one case, directly affect at least 1.5 million Floridians. Orlando Weekly compiled this amendment guide to help keep this sometimes confusing process in order – to help you be an informed voter. We’ve included our recommendations (which admittedly…
Every candidate Orlando Weekly recommends for the 2018 Orange County ballot
Because the scariest thing on Election Day to Florida politicians and special interests is a well-informed voter
Tableside showstoppers are the norm at Turkish steakhouse the H Cuisine
Theater of the beefy
Sus-Hi Eatstation has opened in Lake Nona, SeaWorld’s Craft Beer Festival is coming up, and more in local foodie news
OPENINGS: Sanford will soon be home to a dining and shopping complex fashioned out of shipping containers at East Second Street and Palmetto Avenue. A 95-year-old train car will also be moved to the site and will eventually house a restaurant. Construction commences next spring … Earth Fare will open its second Orlando-area location at…
ICYMI: Ron DeSantis releases health care plan, judge clears way for challenge to gun law, and more
Ron DeSantis finally releases his health care plan: After weeks of criticism over his lack of a health care plan, DeSantis posted the proposal before the final debate. The plan calls for people to have the right to buy the health care they want, to use price-transparency tools to shop for care and to get…
Pale Waves are Manchester’s newest dark-pop contenders
A kiss in the dreamhouse
Drug-abuse drama Beautiful Boy sunk by sweetness, structure
In his song “Beautiful Boy,” John Lennon sang, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” Speaking of other plans, I recommend you make some, instead of watching the new biographical drama that shares its name with Lennon’s song. Beautiful Boy is the English-language directorial debut of Felix van Groeningen (The…
The best concerts coming to Orlando this week
ACP Pro & Pressurewave Hopefully the collab between Moloko Plus and local synthwave vanguard will summon forth total Halloween soundtrack vibes at this ghouls’ night out bash. 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, at Stonewall, free Saeros Local indie trio deals in big, cinematic and yearning songs; check ’em out with Europa, Photo Fire and Sunstrife. 8 p.m.…
Bohemian Rhapsody is entertaining, but pedestrian
The debate over what constitutes entertainment and what comprises art is often pointless. After all, great entertainment requires artistry on at least some level. Still, Bohemian Rhapsody, more than most movies this year, has revived that debate thanks to its status as solid entertainment but pedestrian drama. The Freddie Mercury biopic begins in 1970 when…
I was swift to RSVP for Wawa Shabbawa on Oct. 26, not knowing the significance that Shabbat would take on
I’ve been writing about former Central Floridian performance artist Brian Feldman for over a decade, and from the very first time I covered his conceptual projects in this column, I’ve commented on our shared Hebrew heritage. Even though I’m an agnostic who barely celebrates Passover or Yom Kippur – aka the Jewish equivalent of an…
Opening in Orlando: Bohemian Rhapsody, Beautiful Boy and more
THIS WEEK: Beautiful Boy Steve Carell stars in this adaptation of the memoirs of David Sheff, who used his son’s meth addiction as a cautionary tale for America. Hey, you know what? In my day, we didn’t reward fucking NARCS. But see what our Cameron Meier has to say in his review at orlandoweekly.com. (R)…
‘Suspiria’ remake is all about the witchcraft
Ritual in red
Savage Love: ‘Floored’
I’m a 40-year-old married straight woman. I gave birth to our first kid in 2015 and our second earlier this year. My perineum tore and was stitched both times. I have not been able to have sex with penetration since having our second child. My OB/GYN said I’m “a little tighter now” due to the…
Gimme Shelter: Meet Trouble!
Today we’d like to introduce Trouble! That’s this big boy’s name, but not how we’d describe him. Trouble (A412686) is a 9-year-old boy who was surrendered because his owners are no longer able to care for him. Trouble is calm and laid-back when playing, and very treat-motivated. He knows how to catch treats out of…
Fiesta in the Park brings Orlando’s biggest biannual block party back to Lake Eola for the weekend
3D hardwood sculptures, hand-stamped jewelry, abstract acrylic paintings, vinyl dresses and baby bodysuits are only a few of the items being presented and sold at this Lake Eola art festival. Every fall and spring, the Orlando community gathers together to celebrate local and independent artists at this pet-friendly event. In fact, it might be Orlando’s…
