DeLand electronic project Elder Spell serves up some Halloween listening with album ‘They Live in the Trees’
Until now the most mysterious and otherworldly phenomenon out of Volusia County for us was the Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp, but new DeLand horror-synth project Elder Spell just might snatch those bragging rights. The solo project of one Geoff Scott, formerly guitarist in now-defunct local doom metal band Bog Prophet – a band that OW’s Bao Le-Huu called the…
Cruise lines met with Pence, but they could be looking to Biden for guidance
While the ongoing global pandemic has impacted every corner of the economy, few have faced a more negative setback than the cruise industry. With most cruise lines shut down since the first quarter of this year, there was hope that a White House meeting with Vice President Mike Pence would bring some much-needed good news,…
SeaWorld bets big on new Abu Dhabi theme park
Even as the global travel industry works to recover from the massive pandemic related slowdown, some positive news was recently shared regarding one of SeaWorld’s most ambitious projects to date. Late last week, Miral announced that SeaWorld Abu Dhabi was 40% complete. Located adjacent to Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld water park, and Warner Bros. World,…
Plaza Live to launch outdoors ‘Front Porch Concerts’ series on Thursday
The Plaza Live has revealed plans for a series of outdoor Front Porch Concerts that will keep Thursdays – and a couple of Fridays – nice and loud in the Milk District once again. Kicking off next week with a show by local soul squad CeCe Teneal & Soul Kamotion, these gigs will be a weekly “weekend warm-up”…
Florida House Speaker denies coronavirus death toll; critics call it an attempt to ‘downplay the pandemic’
The Florida House speaker on Tuesday called into question the state’s COVID-19 death toll, warning that it was based on compromised data and used a methodology that inflated death rates. Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, sent a memo Tuesday to all House members announcing the findings of an-in house analysis he ordered of the state’s…
Legal Public Notices 10/14 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices AUCTION Extra Space Storage – Store 8841 9847 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32825 Extra Space Storage will hold a Public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location Indicated: 9847 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32825 (407) 495-9612, October 27, 2020 @…
UCF reports record spike in new coronavirus cases this week
University of Central Florida released a public statement on Monday informing the student body that the school’s reported positive student cases of COVID-19 have more than doubled last week’s numbers. The statement, penned by Associate Vice President of UCF Student Health Services Dr. Michael Deichen, in part stated that “eating and drinking in indoor social…
Orlando’s FusionFest unveils a pre-fest ‘Virtual World’ as part of November’s event
The annual Orlando festival and multicultural showcase FusionFest on Tuesday revealed a new online component of their event this November dubbed “The Virtual World.” For the benefit of those unable to make it out to the festival, The Virtual World gives people the ability to experience FusionFest in a unique way from the safety of their…
Orlando dance music label Back Door Records releases benefit compilation ‘Northern Shelter’
Orlando-based electronic and dance music label Back Door Records has just released the benefit compilation album Northern Shelter, a fundraiser for U.S. border communities that features tracks from a loose collective of Miami- and Orlando-based DJs and producers. The eight tracks on the album feature rising Florida beatmakers like Orlando’s Blair Sound Design and Miami’s…
Trump rises from hospital bed to rally in Florida, threatens to give ‘big, fat kiss’ to ‘the guys and the beautiful women’
On the eve of his in-person return to the campaign trail in – yay – Central Florida on Monday, President Trump called in to radio host and Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Rush Limbaugh’s “virtual rally” several days before to spread the good news of his miraculous recovery from COVID-19 “You know, I was not in the greatest of…
Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center to screen ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ right before Halloween
The Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in Sanford is getting into the spirit of the Halloween season with a Devil’s Night screening of cult horror-musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Rocky – a campy, glammy midnight-movie staple since the 1970s – will be screened one night only, with plenty of added fanfare like cocktails and “cult movie prop bags”…
Opera del Sol and Orlando Fringe to present virtual opera-burlesque hybrid ‘Nightwear on Elm Street’
Local company Opera del Sol is teaming up with Orlando Fringe and some of our city’s burlesque all-stars to present a creepy cabaret called “Nightwear on Elm Street” in November on the internets. A best-of-both-worlds situation combining the realms of burlesque and opera, “Nightwear” sees the return of Miss Foxy to Opera del Sol, this time…
College Park Spark to showcase the sights, sounds and wares of the neighborhood in November
College Park Jazz Fest may have been called off for this year, but the area will still be hopping – socially distanced-style – during the College Park Spark event that will run instead in November. Running down Edgewater Drive from Par to Sheridan Blvd. – from Ollie’s Public House to Digress Wine, to put it another way – the outdoor affair…
‘Save Our Stages’ virtual fest happens this weekend with big-name headliners to help out independent venues
Big-name acts like Brittany Howard, the Roots, Demi Lovato and Foo Fighters are taking part in a three-day-long virtual Save Our Stages Fest this weekend. This event, put on by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), hopes to raise awareness about the plight of independent music venues as economic relief legislation languishes on the U.S. Senate floor.…
Mobile video game lets you fight other politicians as Florida Sen. Rick Scott
If you’re feeling frustrated by the presidential debates and Congressional hearings, and you’re taking a break from volunteering for local candidates, maybe kick back with a video game on your phone to get your head out of politics. Unless it’s “U.S. Political Fighting,” a mobile game from developer RV Entertainment Center that originally appeared before…
Judge overturns ruling for Florida teachers unions finding school reopenings unconstitutional
Handing another victory to the state Friday, the 1st District Court of Appeal overturned a ruling that said Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran violated the Florida Constitution when he issued a July order aimed at reopening schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Nothing in the emergency order requires any teacher or any student to return to the…
Super Nintendo World is delayed but that’s not stopping Universal from selling Mario-themed merch and food
The highly anticipated Super Nintendo World was supposed to open this summer at Universal Studios Japan before being brought stateside in the coming years, but the pandemic and delay of the 2020 Olympics caused the opening to be pushed back to next year. Now the Osaka-based theme park will be debuting a unique café and…
Don Trump Jr.’s Tampa rally attracted Proud Boys, bikers and MAGA faithful
Speaking in front of a packed audience at a Tampa towing company Thursday night, Donald Trump Jr. ran through a 30-minute set of “own the libs” slams, spanning everything from rips on Nancy Pelosi’s hair to transphobic digs on “the other 97 genders.” The mostly maskless audience was filled with the usual MAGA faithful, as…
Federal judge roasts Florida for ‘perennially chaotic’ elections, but rules against extending the voter registration deadline further
Florida’s election system suffered yet another black eye this week, after the state’s online voter-registration system repeatedly crashed before Monday’s deadline to sign up for the November presidential election. The Sunshine State’s seemingly perpetual election-related snafus are the subject of ridicule, scorn and embarrassment, and a federal judge on Friday excoriated state officials for this…
Neandertal genes may raise risk of severe COVID-19 — though they may protect against other diseases
Some people’s genetic inheritance from Neandertals may raise their risk of developing severe COVID-19. A stretch of DNA on human chromosome 3 was previously found to be associated with an increased risk of developing severe disease from coronavirus infection and of being hospitalized. Some genetic heirlooms passed down after humans interbred with Neandertals more than 50,000…
Equality Florida says Jason Brodeur is ‘trying to rewrite history’ on the anti-gay bill he sponsored
On Thursday, Florida’s LGBTQ community was lighting up the internet accusing GOP state Senate candidate Jason Brodeur of releasing a “shockingly” “dishonest” ad campaign. In the last nine minutes of the ad in question, Brodeur claims that he has “fought to let same-sex couples adopt,” and LGBTQ activists and legislators were visibly appalled. “Jason Brodeur…
Op-ed: Azerbaijan is waging a war not just against Armenia, but the entire civilized world
In 1915, the state of Florida’s various publications provided journalistic due diligence in reporting news that drew attention to humanitarian assistance and inhumane atrocities. Florida was an integral supporter of Near East Relief (NER), the American-led campaign that quickly sparked an international response with its unprecedented humanitarian endeavor, mobilizing all segments of American citizenry including…
Florida has Rick Scott to thank for another trash website that cost the taxpayers millions
A program pushed by former Gov Rick Scott to help people compare prices and shop for medical procedures has cost taxpayers millions of dollars but has garnered little attention from the public. The state has paid more than $5 million for the FloridaHealthPriceFinder website over the past three years, according to a review of state…
Trump is still fixated on Florida, and it’s probably Crazytown behind the scenes for campaign staff
In yet another turnabout, President Trump now plans to come to Florida on Monday. According to the News Service of Florida, President Donald Trump will hold a rally Monday evening in Sanford. This could be seen as a replacement for the rally that was scheduled there for Oct. 2, which had to be canceled when the…
Our coughing, steroid-riddled president wants to hold a rally in Florida on Saturday
Donald Trump, America’s infectious, ‘roided-up president who tested positive for coronavirus just a week ago today, says he wants to hold a rally in Florida on Saturday. Trump called in to Hannity Thursday night, and in between a few very audible coughing fits, announced that he clearly doesn’t mind putting his supporters at risk. “I…
Catch a streaming concert by Future Islands Friday night and help out Orlando venue the Beacham
Indie rockers Future Islands will release their new album, As Long as You Are, Oct. 9 on 4AD. And as much as they’d surely like to take the album on the road, touring is off the table. So they’re gonna make lemonade out of lemons with a one-night-only worldwide livestream the night of the album’s…
Winter Park’s Central Park will be the scene of Bach Festival Orchestra’s movie music concerts
Tickets go on sale today for “Bach off the Avenue: Silver Screen Symphonic Classics.” The Bach Festival Orchestra, led by Dr. John Sinclair, will perform a 75-minute program of some of the best-known film scores of the 20th century, including Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, the Harry Potter movies and more. Extremely savvy film-score…
Florida’s number of children without health coverage is soaring
The number of children without access to health coverage is on the rise in Florida. An annual report released today by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families reveals there were 55,000 more uninsured children in the state in 2019 than in 2016. “[Florida’s] public coverage programs are quite stingy.” Anne Swerlick, a health…
Orlando sushi fans, here’s a sneak peek of the expanded Kabooki Sushi on Colonial Drive
Henry Moso, the local James Beard nominee for Rising Star Chef of the Year, has been spending a good part of the pandemic reinvesting into the future of Kabooki Sushi on East Colonial Drive. Soon after opening Kabooki Sushi on Sand Lake Road, Moso began plotting out expansion plans for the original Kabooki Sushi and, now,…
Ravenous Pig to celebrate 13th anniversary by unveiling new beer garden this week
Winter Park eatery the Ravenous Pig will be celebrating their 13th anniversary not with a blowout bash, but with the more low-key – but still highly anticipated – debut of their brand-new outdoor beer garden. The Pig made the announcement on their social media on Thursday with this teaser image: View this post on Instagram…
In battleground Florida, young BIPOC voters care more about the issues than the candidate
Young Black, Hispanic, Native American and Asian-American voters aren’t enthused about President Donald Trump or Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, according to research released this week by the Advancement Project. But the research in key battleground states, including Florida, also showed that minority voters between ages 18 and 24 are more motivated to vote because…
DeSantis says Trump will be back in politically crucial Florida ‘very soon’
Gov. Ron DeSantis expects Trump to soon be campaigning in his adopted home state after quarantining in the White House because of a COVID-19 diagnosis. “I don’t have any firm details, but if I were a betting man, I’d bet you’ll see him very soon in Florida,” DeSantis said Tuesday during an appearance in The…
Definitely-not-apocalyptic giant hole in Pasco County seems to be growing by the day
A giant hole in Pasco County is active and continues to grow. Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Times reported the hole, which is on Spring Haven Boulevard near Little Road, was nearly 30 feet in diameter and nine feet deep. However, as of 2 p.m. Thursday, the hole had grown to 38 feet in diameter and…
A mind-shatteringly large Burmese python was captured in Florida last week
Last week, an 18.9-foot-long Burmese python was captured in the Everglades, setting a new state record. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed the record Thursday afternoon on social media. “Members of our Python Action Team and the South Florida Water Management District Python Elimination Program captured an 18-foot, 9-inch Burmese python. That’s a…
First fully electric Lynx bus comes to downtown Orlando
Orlando bus service Lynx is set to deploy the first zero-emission electric bus to the streets of downtown, part of a long-term project that will eventually see 14 electric buses added to Lynx’s fleet to lower emissions and (hopefully) slow the ever-accelerating climate crisis. A partnership between Orlando city government, the Orlando Utilities Commission and Lynx,…
After a five-month drought, money finally trickles in to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ re-election PAC
For five months straight not a single soul donated a single red cent to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ re-election political committee, but now the streak has finally ended. According to a newly filed finance report, the Friends of Ron DeSantis brought in $60,000 in September. The majority of that sum came on Sept. 29 from…
International Drive restaurant Tapa Toro to host ‘safe and savory’ cooking class in October
International Drive tapas joint Tapa Toro is branching out a bit, offering an on-site, limited-capacity cooking class to coincide with the very last day of Hispanic Heritage Month. The class is taking place at Tapa Toro on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6:30 p.m. The menu to be both prepared and eaten in the course of the…
Orlando punk band Vicious Dreams premieres new music video for ‘Bumper Cars’
Orlando punk band Vicious Dreams has just unveiled a new music video for “Bumper Cars,” a track from their upcoming self-titled album set to drop on Halloween. The clip for the wired, poppy punk anthem takes the viewer along on a fun romp through a carnival, complete with a climax of vomiting when getting off…
Pandemic job loss means more than 14 million have lost employer-sponsored health insurance at the worst possible time
The coronavirus-induced recession nationally has displaced 7.7 million workers who had employer-sponsored health insurance, a study released Wednesday shows. Conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research and the Commonwealth Fund, the analysis also found that 6.9 million dependents were covered, bringing the potential number of people losing employer-sponsored…
Fierce legal battle over medical marijuana continues in Florida, considered “one of the nation’s most lucrative markets”
In a case that could have a dramatic impact on the state’s pot industry, the Florida Supreme Court made the unusual move Wednesday of hearing a second round of arguments in a challenge to a state law aimed at implementing a constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana. Tampa-based Florigrown LLC is challenging the 2017…
‘No Ordinary Love’ screens at Ocala Drive-In in October to benefit domestic violence organizations
The 2019 film No Ordinary Love, a film that premiered at the Orlando Film Festival, is coming back to Central Florida in October for a one-night only screening for a good cause. No Ordinary Love is a tense psychological thriller that “explores the danger two women face when they begin plotting to escape their manipulative…
‘We are not saying disconnections are an appropriate thing to do,’ says Florida utility regulator while rejecting a proposal to halt disconnections
State regulators on Tuesday turned down a proposal aimed at temporarily halting electricity disconnections for residents struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Florida Public Service Commission sided with utilities, which argued they have made widespread efforts, such as using payment plans, to help avoid shutting off customers’ power. The proposal, filed last month by…
Did a viral tweet from Ariana Grande crash Florida’s voter registration site?
A viral tweet from pop star Ariana Grande urging Florida residents to register to vote may have contributed to Monday’s voter registration website crash. Grande tweeted the following message at 3:10 p.m. Monday: “fellow Floridians, we need you. today is the last day to register to vote. if you haven’t yet or if you know…
DEA chief meets with Florida law enforcement, warns of a ’flood of drugs’ into the U.S. when pandemic travel restrictions end
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Timothy Shea warned Tuesday that the eventual lifting of coronavirus restrictions could bring a flood of methamphetamine and other narcotics from Mexico into the United States. Shea met in Tallahassee with federal, state and local law-enforcement officials from North Florida and Attorney General Ashley Moody. In part, they held…
Orlando organization NAMIGO marks Mental Illness Awareness Week with a slate of online events and presentations
Local organization NAMIGO (National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Orlando) is putting on a slate of virtual events to mark National Mental Illness Awareness Week – this very week – and this week/month/year the issues they’re spotlighting are definitely more important than ever. Every day this week there will be free online events and related happenings to spotlight mental…
Remembering guitar legend and innovator Eddie Van Halen
Shock and sadness instantly filled me when I scrolled through the barrage of messages on my cellphone when word broke that the most innovative and influential rock guitarist of my generation, Eddie Van Halen, had passed away. Having suffered some serious health setbacks through recent years (including having a portion of his tongue removed due…
Orlando bar license suspensions are lifted – welcome back, Mathers, Joysticks, Shots and Le Palace Otown
Drinks can flow again at establishments where alcohol licenses were pulled this summer when the state cracked down on violations of coronavirus rules. Nine alcohol license suspensions issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation between June 22 and Aug. 10 have been lifted, department spokesman Patrick Fargason said in an email Tuesday.…
Coronavirus in Florida by the numbers: Increases in unemployment claims, infected inmates, new cases, deaths
State agencies updated a variety of numbers Tuesday related to the coronavirus in Florida. Here are some takeaways: — 720,125: Total number of cases. — 2,251: Increase in cases from a Monday count. — 14,767: Deaths of Florida residents. — 55: Increase in Florida resident deaths from a Monday count. — 3,951,059: Unemployment claims processed…
Come Out With Pride events Orlando 2020
Pride is in the streets – Pride is in the house!
Winter Park gets a new omakase bar, two ‘Top Chef’ alums open a new spot in the Ritz-Carlton, plus more food news
Our weekly Orlando food news roundup
It’s the Halloween costumes for us in Adam Sandler’s new Netflix streamer
Premieres Wednesday: Hubie Halloween – Just when you had started thinking of Adam Sandler as the guy who made Uncut Gems, he goes and reminds you he also made Hotel Transylvania 1, 2 and 3. The key difference is that Hubie Halloween – in which Sandler has to protect his home town of Salem, Massachusetts,…
Pretty Moodie is dominant but not aggressive, and she’s ready to be adopted today from Orange County Animal Services
Moodie (A456261) is a 6-year-old spayed female. She is leash-trained and friendly with men and women. She can be very dominant with other dogs but we have not observed any aggression. Moodie has tested positive for heartworm disease, and thanks to Webb Engineering, her heartworm treatment is sponsored, meaning much of the cost of will…
Savage Love: Most people don’t care about your very prominent nipples
I was dumped in August by a guy I was seeing for 10 months. He told me that he wants to work on himself and “needs to be selfish” right now. Since then, we have spoken every day, shared numerous dinners and gone on hikes. Our friendship is killing me. With him I hold it…
This Orlando public access show gives indie filmmakers local exposure
They say timing is everything, but don’t tell Orlando’s Indie Cinema Showcase. In a year that has seen major fests scrapped and local events, such as this week’s South Asian Film Festival, go virtual, ICS has bucked the trend by relaunching itself following a seven-year absence. The TV show is back, albeit in a tweaked…
Comparing indie Central Florida haunts to Howl-O-Scream proves bigger isn’t always better when it comes to boos
Orlando is currently in the middle of its most unusual Halloween season since 2001, and with Disney’s and Universal’s after-hours activities on hiatus, competitors have rushed to occupy haunt-lovers’ October evenings. Recently, I’ve explored how independent haunted houses and drive-through events have tried to balance imaginary terrors with real-world pandemic precautions. This past week, I…
The November election is a test. If we fail, we might not get another chance
This election is a test. It is a test of our integrity. A test of our intelligence. A test of our morality, our decency, our humanity. A test of our commitment to democracy. If we pass, this will be the first of many such tests in the years to come. If we fail, I’m not…
