Cover Story
Amazon’s Ring doorbell partners with Florida police departments to make everyone a snitch
“I was asleep in a hotel in Illinois. I awoke to an alert on my phone, saw a truck in the driveway that did not look familiar and a person started walking around to the back of the house. That’s when I got on the intercom: ‘Hey dude, get the f*ck out of my yard,…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Tuesday, Oct. 29
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. Some Great New Eats In Town! Oct. 29, 2019 A popular Ybor City Italian Restaurant is opening its doors in Winter Park and we hear the pizza is…
Universal gives new details on its Beijing park, but what does that mean for Orlando?
Universal was sparse with the details about its new Epic Universe park, when it finally announced it in August. Now, another new Universal park holds clues as to what we can expect. After multiple delays, Universal has now confirmed the Universal Studios Beijing resort will open in 2021, about two years ahead of Epic Universe in Orlando, where land…
Country musician and actor Kris Kristofferson to play Orlando in January of next year
A country singer, an actor, friend to Johnny Cash, and a Rhodes Scholar, Kris Kristofferson has lived many lives and never ceases to surprise with new twists and turns in his storied career. So in that case, the out-of-the-blue announcement of an Orlando show at the end of January 2020 should just be business as…
Legal Public Notices 10/23 issue
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices All related descendants of Dr. James Gibson A.K.A. “Guinea Jim” of Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas please contact Richard Love at drjamesgibsonbahamas@gmail.com or (305) 528-6645 (AAN CAN) Auction: Notice is hereby given that Compass Self Storage Intents to sell the property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property under…
Jailed Ukrainian campaign donor Lev Parnas sought spot on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ transition committee
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that a Soviet-born South Florida businessman facing federal campaign-finance charges was rejected for a seat on a transition committee as DeSantis prepared to take office in January. DeSantis, however, declined further discussion of post-election interactions with Lev Parnas, who, along with fellow businessman Igor Fruman, has been arrested on campaign-finance…
Former NRA president and convicted Iran-Contra figure Oliver North will host a fundraiser for Florida sheriff Rick Staly
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly recently announced that he would run for a second term in 2020, and now he’s enlisted the help of former NRA president, Fox News host, and ex-felon Oliver North for a campaign kick-off fundraiser. The invite-only event will be held at the Phillips Ranch, a farm that boasts “premier cattle…
Climb the barricades in our backstage tour of ‘Les Miz’ at the Dr. Phillips Center
The world’s most popular musical about underprivileged Parisians has returned to Orlando. While the current tour of Les Miserables may be missing some iconic original elements, it’s still among the most monumental productions on the road, as I learned from my backstage tour of the Dr. Phillips Center during the company’s load-in this morning. Les…
Exact replica of famous Hurricane Sandy rollercoaster to open at Fun Spot Kissimmee
Coaster enthusiasts will soon have a new reason to visit Kissimmee. Construction has begun on a roller coaster at Fun Spot in Kissimmee, next door to Old Town. The new-to-Fun Spot coaster is actually an off-the-shelf Hi-Miler 52-foot model by E&F Miler Industries. Some reports incorrectly identified the new coaster as the Scream’n Eagle from…
Florida journalists attempt to trademark the phrase ‘fake news’ so Trump can’t use it
Since President Donald Trump and his legion of enablers and supporters absolutely cannot stop themselves from referring to literally any media coverage they do not like as “fake news,” the Florida Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is now attempting to trademark the phrase. In an article posted to Teen Vogue, chapter president…
Updated: Dexter’s in Thornton Park closes abruptly Monday night, according to social media posts
Updated Tuesday, 7 p.m. | We had a chance to speak with the new owners of Dexter’s in Thornton Park on Tuesday, who have some positive news to share. One of them, Brian Minkel, says he arrived at the restaurant to take possession of the keys on Monday, not expecting to find guests still inside being served.…
In a video seen in 34,000 staterooms, former Orlando NBA star Shaquille O’Neal is serious about safety
Last year, when Carnival Cruise Line announced a new deal with Shaquille O’Neal, the partnership left many wondering what exactly was going on. Now, the company is moving forward with the next phase of the agreement, and it’s clear this is more than just a one-off marketing gimmick. Press releases by Carnival early last year confirmed the…
‘4 Rivers Day’ in Winter Park will celebrate local BBQ chain’s tenth birthday
To honor the local restaurant’s tenth birthday, 4 Rivers Smokehouse will celebrate Saturday, Oct. 26, as “4 Rivers Day” in the city of Winter Park. Winter Park Mayor Steve Leary will host a proclamation ceremony with 4 Rivers founder and CEO, John Rivers. The Winter Park is just down the street from the original birthplace of the regional…
Disney World’s groundbreaking new Star Wars ride opens in just weeks. Will it be enough to save Galaxy’s Edge?
As the holidays approach, one of the most anticipated new attractions of the year is readying to open at Walt Disney World, and we already know what to expect. Disney has been heavy-handed with cracking down on leaks regarding Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. At Disneyland, the company is rumored to have let go of nearly…
Leslye Gale’s O-Town Lowdown on Magic 107.7 for Monday, Oct. 21
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. If you love Publix, we have the must-haves on this year’s Christmas list! Publix is now selling fanny packs, hoodies, and other swag in a new ‘Fresh Goods’ store Orlando’s…
Band of the Week: TJ Washburn
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 TJ Washburn. TJ Washburn is playing Will’s Pub on Oct. 23 with Jordan Foley and Western Slang. Just the facts: When did you start performing?I’ve been playing music and performing…
Orlando Film Festival continues downtown this week at Cobb Plaza Cinema Café
The 14th annual Orlando Film Festival continues through Thursday at the Cobb Plaza Cinema Café downtown. This year’s event is screening 317 films (including features and shorts), according to Executive Director Daniel Springen. Though that total is down slightly from previous years, OFF is still one of the largest film festivals in North America, judging…
Judge rules Florida cannot deny felons their voting rights if they’re unable to pay financial obligations
In a battle about a constitutional amendment passed last November, a federal judge said Friday that Florida cannot deny the right to vote to felons who have served their sentences but are “genuinely unable” to pay legal financial obligations. The ruling, however, was only a partial victory for voting-rights and civil-rights groups that challenged the…
Orlando’s new crosswalk art will have you seeing swans in Thornton Park
The City of Orlando posted a photo of their new crosswalk artwork in Thornton Park on Friday, and it’s really something. The design evokes Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher’s hypnotic, alternating patterns, with interlocked black and white swans. It’s pretty damn cool to look at, but is it a safe addition to an already slightly…
Orlando Philharmonic returns with ‘Home for the Holidays’ concerts
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will kick off the holiday season with two performances of “Home for the Holidays” on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Bob Carr Theater. With the first show beginning at 2 p.m. and the second at 8 p.m., the annual concert will feature renowned guest conductor Albert-George Schram and Opera Orlando Youth Chorus.…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announces official unemployment rate dropped to 3.2%
Florida’s unemployment rate ticked down to 3.2 percent in September, the state reported Friday. The rate, down from 3.3 percent in August, represented an estimated 336,000 Floridians out of work from a workforce of 10.4 million, according to numbers released by the state Department of Economic Opportunity. The seasonally adjusted figure, compared to a national…
Dungeon synth god Mortiis announces Central Florida show for January
Black metal and dark-industrial chameleon (or should we say elf?) Mortiis toured the U.S. earlier this year for the first time in years to a rapturous response. But he didn’t do it with his full band, just one lone synthesizer. Mortiis has of late been revisiting his early homemade recordings, many made soon after he…
Publix is now selling fanny packs, hoodies, and other swag in a new ‘Fresh Goods’ store
Publix is milking the hype when it comes to its cult local following, and we’re not mad about it. On the supermarket’s website 363green.com, the company released a new line of apparel that’ll have shoppers dressed in submarine sandwich love from head to toe. The gear includes button-up shirts, pajama pants and socks covered in…
Florida House starts looking for money to raise teacher starting pay to $47,000
A House education panel on Thursday began delving into the issue of raising teacher pay, with a key lawmaker saying that while “everything is on the table,” the panel still needs to figure out where the money would come from. Rep. Chris Latvala, a Clearwater Republican who chairs the House PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, said his…
Wawa continues its takeover of Florida with 200th-store celebration
Wawa, the ubiquitous combination of gas station and fast-food joint, has just reached a new milestone in its Sunshine State saturation. The company announced its 200th Florida store opening on Wednesday, in Naples, hometown of U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. Originally from Philadelphia, the Wawa brand made its Central Florida debut in 2012, thanks to a…
Florida kids are smoking less tobacco but vaping more, which is also pretty stupid
The use of tobacco products among Florida’s youth is at an all-time low, but that good news is offset by significant increases in the number of children who vape, a state advisory panel was told Thursday. The results of the 2019 Florida Youth Tobacco survey of 10,844 high-school and middle-school students showed that 1.5 percent…
Organic food supermarket Earth Fare wants to open 15 more locations in Florida
For over four decades, Earth Fare has provided authentic specialty organic and natural foods to shoppers. Over the years, the chain has expanded to 55 locations throughout 10 states including Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas and Indiana. Now, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, the chain believes it has room to grow in Florida, possibly…
Shirtless Florida man removes 9-foot alligator from swimming pool
A large gator was removed from a homeowner’s pool Tuesday by a shirtless Florida man. A video uploaded to social media, shows alligator trapper Paul Bedard wearing a bandana, goggles and a snug swimming-suit while removing an 8-foot, 8-inch gator from a pool in Parkland, Florida. “The gator had walked through the screen and into…
Despite ethics violation, Trump will hold upcoming G7 Summit at his own personal Florida golf course
Update, 3:45 p.m. | Gov. Ron DeSantis, predictably, has tweeted his support for the location. Today, the White House announced that the president will publicly host the next G7 Summit at his own private resort and golf course in Florida, which will certainly result in yet another blatant ethics violation. The afternoon White House acting…
State Sen. Linda Stewart wants Floridians to know she does not oppose sunscreen
Democratic state Sen. Linda Stewart is defending legislation that would prohibit the use of sunscreen containing chemicals found harmful to coral reefs. “A number of recent media reports have mischaracterized SB 318, relating to the Sale of Sunscreen by Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando),” says a release issued Wednesday by Stewart’s legislative office. “My proposal does not…
Diabolical Swedish band Lucifer to play Orlando in January
Diabolical Swedish hard-rock upstarts Lucifer have added a final leg to their U.S. tour, a monthlong jaunt through the South in January of next year that includes a show in Orlando. The band, helmed by vocalist Johanna Sadoni and metal vet Nicke Andersson (Entombed, Hellacopters), deal in Black Sabbath-style metal heft and have spent much of…
Central Florida Veg Fest returns to Orlando with plant-powered food and fun
Returning for its 14th year, Central Florida Veg Fest will bring plant-powered fun to the (almond) Milk District on Saturday, Oct. 26. And yes, there will be lots of food. Now the largest vegetarian festival in the southern U.S., VegFest is themed around health and wellness, vegan cuisine, the environment, animal welfare and rights, and community-building activism.…
‘Giving Thanks’
Related Stories
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, facing foreign-money scrutiny, says two arrested donors ‘appeared legitimate’
A Soviet-born South Florida businessman arrested last week on federal campaign-finance charges seemed just “like any other donor,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday. DeSantis was among Florida Republican candidates who received contributions during the 2018 election cycle from Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, who were arrested on campaign-finance charges involving the pro-Trump super PAC America…
The number of Floridians diagnosed with Hepatitis A this year is about to hit 2,800
Florida had 53 newly reported hepatitis A cases last week, bringing the total number of cases this year to 2,791 as of Saturday, numbers from the state Department of Health show. According to Florida Health, hepatitis A is caused by a contagious virus that infects the liver and can lead to serious liver problems. The virus…
Portillo’s Chicago dogs come to Lake Buena Vista, Southern breakfast spot Brick & Spoon awakens in Maitland, and more Orlando restaurant news
OPENINGS: Portillo’s, the Chicago hot dog and Italian beef joint popular with fans nationwide, will open a spot in Lake Buena Vista at the Village of O-Town West late next year … Brick & Spoon, a Southern breakfast and lunch spot out of Lafayette, Louisiana, will open at the Village at Lake Lily on the…
Landlords gouge Orlando, the Fulwider story gets even messier, the Mennello Museum triples, and other news of the week
Orlando being pitched as Florida’s top city for buying rental property: As rental rates in Orlando soar, a new report from landlord-software TurboTenant is touting Orlando as the No. 1 place in Florida to buy profitable rental property. The report says Orlando is followed by Jacksonville, Tampa and St. Petersburg as the most lucrative area in which…
Equipped with a proven track record, Dark Horizon comes to Orlando from California
Back in 2006, I wrote a cautiously optimistic review of Nights of Terror, a haunt event on I-Drive that attempted to challenge Universal Orlando’s dominance of the spooky season. That effort flamed out after a single installment, and in the 13 Octobers since then, we’ve watched numerous other ambitious independent haunted attractions – from Skull…
Orlando’s dining scene diversifies into Saudi-style Indonesian fare at World’s Magic Restaurant
In Saudi Arabia, Jeddah in particular, Indonesian fare has garnered the sort of following that ramen has here in the Occident. Thanks to the influx of hajj pilgrims from the island archipelago, Saudis have been taken by Indonesia’s melting-pot cuisine, marked by the influences of Indian dynasties, Islamic food law and Dutch colonial rule, not…
‘Dolemite Is My Name’ launches Eddie Murphy back into the public eye
We all love a good comeback story, and this year it looks like it’s going to be Eddie Murphy’s turn. Ahead of a highly publicized return to Saturday Night Live in December, along with the actor’s declaration that he’ll be returning to stand-up comedy soon, Murphy stars in Hustle & Flow director Craig Brewer’s biopic…
On screens in Orlando this week: ‘Lucy in the Sky,’ ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ and more
Opening this week: Lucy in the Sky Remember when former astronaut Lisa Nowak drove from Houston to Orlando to confront (and maybe kidnap) the woman her boyfriend was having an affair with? Remember how she was so intent on getting there on time that she wore adult diapers so she could just dookie in her…
‘Alien,’ a kids’ Halloween party, ‘Jay & Silent Bob’ and more Orlando film events
Alien A 40th-anniversary screening of Ridley Scott’s sci-fi-horror masterpiece about a group of space truckers who come in contact with a dangerous alien species. Wednesday, 7 pm; multiple locations; $12.50; fathomevents.com. Dolemite Is My Name Eddie Murphy stars as Rudy Ray Moore in a biopic covering the creation of Moore’s enduring character, Dolemite. Opens Friday;…
Garth Brooks at a Sanford dive bar, ‘Killer Klowns’ composer at Stonewall, and more Orlando live music picks
Garth Brooks Country megastar steers his “Dive Bar” tour into the Barn in Sanford for an exclusive invite-only gig. Promises to be raucous, intimate and sweaty. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the Barn, contact organizers for details Captured! By Robots Welcome your new robotic grindcore overlords as they lay waste to Mills 50. We had…
Meet Nova, a 7-month-old spayed female who gets along well with dogs and cats
Meet Nova ! Nova (A440342) is a 7-month-old spayed female and was surrendered to our shelter by her previous family because they were moving and could not bring her along with them. They say she is house-broken, leash-trained, and knows basic obedience commands. Nova is friendly with women, men and children; she also gets along…
Savage Love: Standards
I’m a Seattle local who basically grew up reading your column. I think you’ve always given really sound advice, so I’m reaching out. My boyfriend and I have been together for two years. We started out poly, but I was clear from the start that when I fall in love with someone, I lose all…
