The 420 Issue 2023
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Cover Stories
The 420 Issue: Chef Wendy Lopez says April’s En La Mesa Dinner will be a joint effort
A grass-roots affair at Reyes Mezcaleria
The 420 Issue: Our list of the best thing to buy at six local dispensaries
You could go broke trying every product from every dispensary
The 420 Issue: Joint resolution in Tallahassee could leave cannabis measure up in smoke
Puff puff will it pass?
Florida Republicans pass anti-union bill, reject Democrats’ attempts to soften its blow
Florida legislators approve a gut punch of a bill to public employee unions, largely along party lines
Legal Public Notices 4/26/2023
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below at the property indicated: May 12, 2023 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 Jason Todd Grace – Household…
Orlando Gay Chorus takes their BroadGAY Spectacular out for a local mini-tour in May
As a bonus, State Rep. Anna Eskamani and Orlando activist Ida Eskamani serve as MCs
Orlando bookstores celebrate Independent Bookstore Day this weekend
Expect exclusive merch (tote bags, book people!), deals and more
The Super Gigantic Garage Sale has us seriously considering a drive to Ocala this weekend
The sale attracted more than 5,500 shoppers last year.
Gov. DeSantis targets Disney World monorail with increased inspection as feud continues
Tuesday’s amendment to the transportation bill was the latest salvo in a feud that began last year between DeSantis and Disney World
Florida Republicans will subpoena trans treatment records from two medical groups
The decision is among a series of moves by lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration targeting transgender people and the LGBTQ community
‘We will not disappear’: LGBTQ activists rally at Orlando City Hall
LGBTQ Floridians question whether new education and healthcare policies are simply a move to eradicate their presence in the state
Behind the scenes of Florida’s efforts to purge schools of books deemed improper
‘There are so many other important issues that are impacting their education.’ Brengle said. ‘It’s not the books in my library.’
Florida House moves forward with sweeping immigration bills backed by Gov. DeSantis
The measure would also give $12 million to DeSantis’ migrant flight program
Florida gas prices jump 15 cents due to historic flooding
‘If this oil price trend continues, drivers may see falling gas prices.’
International Vegan Food Festival returns to Orlando
The plant-based foodie fest goes down Saturday, April 29
Legal Public Notices 4/19/2023
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below at the property indicated: April 28, 2023 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 George Moore – Household Goods.…
Experts worry that the number of elder abuse cases reported in Florida may not reflect reality
The population of Sumter County, home to The Villages, is 58% seniors — yet in 2020-21, only two cases were reported
Appeals court denies shield for Florida AHCA chief in transgender care lawsuit
The judge found Weida likely has ‘relevant, indeed significant, information not available from other sources.’
Orlando flight interrupted because man has beef with crying baby
The only sure things in life: death, taxes, and any plane in or out of MCO is full of kids.
Florida moves swiftly to sever contract with emergency alert system provider
Everbridge fucked around and found out
Ongaku Overdrive to present a night of gaming and live music featuring Mega Ran
The evening promises live music, modern and retro game consoles, and videogame-themed drinks
Hannibal Square Heritage Center Folk and Urban Art Festival happens this weekend
Local creativity will be bountiful in Orlando this weekend.
‘Racist at its core’: Bill targeting college diversity, equity, inclusion programs backed by Florida Senate panel
‘SB 266 will lead to diminished educational quality.’
Immigrant-advocacy groups drop lawsuit over DeSantis administration’s migrant flights
The lawsuit was based on a now-moot part of the state budget that was used to fund the flights, which sparked a national controversy
Gov. DeSantis signs death penalty bill to eliminate need for unanimous juries
The new law took effect immediately and represents a major change in Florida’s death-penalty system
Rockpit Brewing hosts SoDo After Dark soiree this weekend
The party will celebrate the best of the up-and-coming Orlando neighborhood south of downtown
Florida Senate approves bill that shields travel records and who visits Gov. DeSantis’ mansion
The measure would create a public-records exemption for information held by law-enforcement agencies related to ‘security or transportation services’
Hit musical ‘Chicago’ runs through the weekend at the Dr. Phillips Center
A 25th-anniversary production of popular musical Chicago is currently running a limited engagement at the Dr. Phillips Center, and you’ve only got a few more days to see the ol’ razzle-dazzle for yourself. This staging of the Tony- and Grammy-award winning Chicago, now the longest-running show on Broadway, period, is part of the current Broadway in…
SeaWorld Orlando’s new stand-up surf-themed coaster opens in May
SeaWorld was stoked to announce Pipeline, their seventh roller coaster
NAMI of Greater Orlando to host mental health awareness walk this weekend
A midmorning of light exercise promoting mental health awareness and education
Mass hysteria, grumpiness ensues as Florida Division of Emergency Management ruins everyone’s morning
They later apologized for the test alert, saying it was meant to be on TV, not phones
Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law expanded through all grades in public schools
The rule requires that teachers shall not ‘intentionally provide’ instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity through 12th grade
Bills to end Reedy Creek agreement approved, move to Florida House and Senate
Gov. DeSantis’ moves to strip Disney of its self-governing power continue
Game Changer Wrestling and Mayhem on Mills make for a big weekend of Orlando pro-wrestling
Any live event put on by cult-favorite fed GCW is met with fervent anticipation by in-the-know pro-wrestling fans. Game Changer Wrestling hosts well-curated cards drawing from some of the best and brightest in indie wrestling around the world giving that extra oomph, and it’s garnering them some early ECW-level buzz. This Saturday’s Orlando card, dubbed…
‘Greetings From Queertown: Orlando’ screens as part of Florida Film Festival this weekend
One of the many local-centric premieres at this year’s ongoing Florida Film Festival includes this essential new documentary. Greetings From Queertown, produced by local newspaper Watermark, aims to tell the story of Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community from the 1970s through the present day, taking in milestones like Disney Gay Day, Orlando Pride celebrations, the heyday of…
Florida House expected to pass anti-transgender bills targeting healthcare, drag shows, bathrooms
‘We have three bills that will target LGBTQ+ people for no reason but political motivation’
Drive-By Truckers look back and forward ahead of Orlando show
Keep on truckin’
New on Netflix: Rachel Weisz stars as twins in a gender-flipped reboot of ‘Dead Ringers’
Streaming debuts you won’t want to miss on Hulu, Amazin Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+ and the rest
In Winter Park, Maya Cafe Lounge and Gallery’s expressive, feel-good spirit finds its way to the kitchen
But food alone doesn’t convey the whole story at Maya
Free Will Astrology: ‘What humble influence might be ready for evocative consideration and inspirational use?’
Horoscopes for the week of April 20-26
Raise a glass to the Science Center during Saturday’s Science of Wine benefit
Raise a glass — with purpose — this weekend to the Orlando Science Center. OSC is putting on their 11th annual Science of Wine benefit, a soiree with an educational bent. This “oenological odyssey” promises to teach attendees about various aspects of wine growing and wine tasting. And because the Science Center always encourages lots…
Get ‘Soul II Soul’ with Kem, Ledisi and Musiq Soulchild on Friday
In a sequel of sorts to their 2011 “Intimacy” co-headlining tour, R&B icons KEM and Ledisi, along with special guest Musiq Soulchild, reunite for an epochal East Coast Soul II Soul jaunt. And it hits Orlando on Friday. Kem marks 20 years of his seminal Kemistry album on Motown, a record that deftly mixed jazz,…
Orlando singer/songwriter Zoya Zafar returns with gorgeous new single ‘Wordz’
After emerging on the scene and capturing the local music cognoscenti in the mid-2010s, Orlando artist Zoya Zafar went relatively quiet for several years. Last year, she began performing live again, and now she’s finally unveiling new music for the first time in four years. Just-released single “Wordz” is a furtherance of the atmospheric indie-pop…
Record Store Day returns across Orlando on Saturday
For vinyl obsessives, the most wonderful time of the year is here — Record Store Day. This Saturday, gather all of your record-collecting friends and run to your nearest record store for the chance to grab some exclusive RSD albums and newly dropped releases from favorite artists old and new. Local stores participating include Rock…
Cryptid in the pit? Find out at the Great Orlando Skunk Ape Conference
Despite the name, this event is actually more punk concert than conference. But it is timed intentionally to be a little fuck-you to the annual Great Florida Bigfoot Conference happening the very same day in Ocala. Organized on the grass-roots level by Florida natives rather than the Tennessee group that runs the GFBC, the Great…
Beware little pigs, Green Jellÿ maraud into Conduit on Sunday
UPDATE: This show has been canceled. From their beginnings under the litigation-baiting name Green Jellö, Green Jellÿ have gone from underground phenoms to cult status as one of America’s premier comedy bands. Even though studious players like Tool’s Maynard James Keenan and Danny Carey were once members, Green Jellÿ have remained hilariously steadfast in their…
Americana cult hero Lydia Loveless plays the Ace Cafe on Saturday
The headlining Drive-By Truckers are one of the most venerated Southern rock bands of their time. Opener Lydia Loveless, on the other hand, is one of the most underrated Americana artists alive right now. With years as one of Bloodshot Records’ brightest stars, she’s got indie cred. Loveless stunned me early in her career when…
Janet Jackson and Ludacris are coming to the Amway Center on Wednesday
Janet Jackson — Miss Jackson if you’re nasty — is kicking off her Together Again comeback North American tour this week in Florida, and Orlando gets bragging rights as the second stop on the tour. Together Again is Jackson’s return to the road after four years of absence, and will mark three frankly gigantic milestones…
