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Tag: downtown Orlando

  • Man in his 40s shot near 7-Eleven gas station in Orange County

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    A man in his 40s was shot on Wednesday morning at a 7-Eleven, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s OfficeThe incident was reported at the intersection of East Colonial Drive and Magnolia Avenue.Deputies said they responded to the scene around 3:30 a.m.Upon arriving, they found that a man had been shot, so he was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Details about who shot him or the cause remain unknown.Orange County deputies are still investigating the incident.

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    A man in his 40s was shot on Wednesday morning at a 7-Eleven, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office

    The incident was reported at the intersection of East Colonial Drive and Magnolia Avenue.

    Deputies said they responded to the scene around 3:30 a.m.

    Upon arriving, they found that a man had been shot, so he was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

    Details about who shot him or the cause remain unknown.

    Orange County deputies are still investigating the incident.

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  • Protesters gather in downtown Orlando to demand ICE’s removal

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    RESISTING WITHOUT VIOLENCE. THAT PROTEST WAS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL IN CENTRAL FLORIDA TODAY, INCLUDING ONE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO AT CITY HALL. THAT’S WHERE OUR GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN IS NOW TO TELL US HOW THIS RALLY IS COINCIDING WITH MANY OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. GAIL. STEWART. THAT’S BECAUSE TODAY, JANUARY 23RD, HAS BEEN DECLARED A NATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY BY THE ICE GET OUT FOR GOOD MOVEMENT. AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS TO BASICALLY REMEMBER THOSE LIVES LOST AND TO DEMAND ICE’S ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE REST AND OTHER INCIDENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AT ITS HEIGHT. SOME 150 PROTESTERS AND SPEAKERS GATHERED OUTSIDE ORLANDO CITY HALL TO GET ICE OUT OF ORLANDO AND FLORIDA. NO FEAR, NO HATE, NO ICE IN OUR STATE, NO FEAR, NO HATE, NO ICE IN OUR STATE. AND I’M HERE BECAUSE I’M ANGRY. AARON LEWIS OF ORLANDO, 5051. ONE OF THE GROUPS ORGANIZING THIS EVENT SAYS ICE IMMIGRATION, CUSTOMS AND ENFORCEMENT IS NOT ABOUT SAFETY. IF IT WERE, WE WOULDN’T BE TERRORIZING NEIGHBORHOODS AT DAWN. IF IT WERE, WE WOULDN’T BE DISAPPEARING PEOPLE INTO A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO BREAK THEM. THIS IS WHAT THAT SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE. RENEE. NICOLE GOOD IS DEAD. A MOTHER, A NEIGHBOR KILLED BY ICE, A FIVE YEAR OLD CHILD WAS USED AS A DECOY, LIKE BAIT. DEMONSTRATORS ARE EAGER TO SEE ICE MELT IN FLORIDA. WE WANT TO SEE ICE ABOLISHED, NOT JUST RETRAINED, NOT REGULATED, GONE OFF THE STREETS. YOU CANNOT TRAIN THE CRUELTY OUT OF THESE PEOPLE. AND NOW THAT THEY WANT TO BRING A 1500 BED ICE DETENTION CENTER TO ORLANDO, NOT SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEY WANT TO DO THAT RIGHT HERE. WE SAY NO, THIS IS NOT ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS TERROR WITH PAPERWORK. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT PROTESTING IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO KICK ICE OUT OF ORLANDO. WE NEED TO DO STRIKE ACTIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE’RE CALLING FOR IS A NATIONAL GENERAL STRIKE ON MAY 1ST ON LABOR DAY. ORGANIZERS OF THIS ICE OUT FOR GOOD RALLIES SAY NOW IS THE TIME. STAND UP, FIGHT BACK, TELL YOUR LEADERS THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT IN AMERICA. FIND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THE WORK AND GET PLUGGED IN. ICE OUT OF ORLANDO, ICE OUT OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND ICE OUT FOR GOOD. THANK YOU. NOW, THE NEXT THING THAT ORGANIZERS TELL ME THAT THEY’RE ALSO WORKING ON IS A FEBRUARY 3RD PUBLIC ONLINE MEETING. AND THAT WAY IS TO DISCUSS MORE WAYS TO GET ICE OUT OF ORLANDO, COVERING ORANGE COUNTY LIV

    Protesters gather in downtown Orlando to demand ICE’s removal

    Updated: 11:18 PM EST Jan 23, 2026

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Protesters gathered outside Orlando City Hall on Friday as part of a national day of solidarity for the “ICE Out for Good” movement, demanding the removal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement from Orlando and Florida.At its peak, around 150 protesters and speakers gathered, chanting, “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state.”Aaron Lewis of Orlando 5051, one of the event’s organizers, criticized ICE, saying, “If it were, we wouldn’t be terrorizing neighborhoods at dawn. If it were, we wouldn’t be disappearing people into a system that is designed to break them. This is what the system looks like: Renee Nicole Good is dead, a mother, a neighbor killed by ICE, a 5-year-old child used as a decoy, like bait.”Jackie Giralt, another organizer from Orlando 5051, expressed the group’s goal: “We want to see ICE abolished, not just retrained, not regulated, gone off the streets. You cannot train the cruelty out of these people.”Lewis also highlighted concerns about a proposed 1,500-bed detention center in Orlando, stating, “And they want to bring a 1,500-bed detention center to Orlando, not somewhere else; they want to do that right here. We say no, this is not enforcement, this is terror with paperwork.”Izzy Coventry from Socialist Alternative emphasized the need for more than just protests, advocating for strike actions and calling for a national strike on May 1, International Workers’ Day, also called Labour Day in some countries. Organizers urged attendees to take action, with Giralt saying, “Stand up, fight back, tell your leaders that is not what we want in America. Find organizations that are already doing the work and get plugged in.”The rally concluded with chants of “ICE out of Orlando, ICE out of our communities and ICE out for good.” Organizers are planning a public online meeting on Feb. 3 to discuss further steps to remove ICE from Orlando while ensuring the working class is not adversely affected.

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    Protesters gathered outside Orlando City Hall on Friday as part of a national day of solidarity for the “ICE Out for Good” movement, demanding the removal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement from Orlando and Florida.

    At its peak, around 150 protesters and speakers gathered, chanting, “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state.”

    Aaron Lewis of Orlando 5051, one of the event’s organizers, criticized ICE, saying, “If it were, we wouldn’t be terrorizing neighborhoods at dawn. If it were, we wouldn’t be disappearing people into a system that is designed to break them. This is what the system looks like: Renee Nicole Good is dead, a mother, a neighbor killed by ICE, a 5-year-old child used as a decoy, like bait.”

    Jackie Giralt, another organizer from Orlando 5051, expressed the group’s goal: “We want to see ICE abolished, not just retrained, not regulated, gone off the streets. You cannot train the cruelty out of these people.”

    Lewis also highlighted concerns about a proposed 1,500-bed detention center in Orlando, stating, “And they want to bring a 1,500-bed detention center to Orlando, not somewhere else; they want to do that right here. We say no, this is not enforcement, this is terror with paperwork.”

    Izzy Coventry from Socialist Alternative emphasized the need for more than just protests, advocating for strike actions and calling for a national strike on May 1, International Workers’ Day, also called Labour Day in some countries.

    Organizers urged attendees to take action, with Giralt saying, “Stand up, fight back, tell your leaders that is not what we want in America. Find organizations that are already doing the work and get plugged in.”

    The rally concluded with chants of “ICE out of Orlando, ICE out of our communities and ICE out for good.” Organizers are planning a public online meeting on Feb. 3 to discuss further steps to remove ICE from Orlando while ensuring the working class is not adversely affected.

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  • Tanqueray’s to close New Year’s Eve with farewell events

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    Credit: Tanqueray’s/Instagram

    After nearly four decades dishing out drinks and live music in its dimly lit basement-ish digs, Tanqueray’s is set to shut its doors Dec. 31. 

    The long-loved bar’s owners announced on social media the building owner will not renew the lease for the downtown space — 100 S. Orange Ave. — that Tanqueray’s has called home for almost 37 years. 

    They also cited ongoing challenges that downtown bars have faced in recent years.

    “The city has not been kind to the local bars in the downtown entertainment district since 2023, that have been in existence for a very long time,” the post reads. 

    Owner Dan Charles says that after his 49 years in the hospitality industry, he’ll retire alongside the closure. 

    Marking the end of Tanqueray’s reign in downtown will be a “final New Years Event” and special happy hour jam Tuesday, Dec. 23, from 5 to 8 p.m. Expect live music courtesy of Chuck Magid, Daniel Heitz and more.

    Tanqueray’s is the latest in a string of downtown-adjacent establishments that have seen their final days in the recent past. Increased nightlife regulations from the city, dips in foot traffic and overall financial struggles have shuttered several longstanding spots, like Dapper Duck Bar, HighT, 1Up, Ember and more. 

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    The new spots waiting for a hungry, warm welcome to the city

    Whether you’re looking for a decades-old classic, a glitzy Michelin-starred eatery, a cozy breakfast spot or even something with live entertainment, Orlando’s got it.

    The chef’s modern German cuisine gets more comfy in Ocoee than it was in downtown Orlando



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    Chloe Greenberg
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  • Renaissance Theatre Co. finds temporary home in downtown Orlando

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    Credit: Orlando Fringe

    The Renaissance Theatre Co. has found a temporary new home just in time for the holidays — and it’s a familiar space to fans of performing arts in Orlando.

    On Tuesday afternoon, it was revealed that the City of Orlando has granted the Ren a temporary lease running through the end of March to take over the vacant theater facility at 54 W. Church St. in downtown Orlando. This two-theater complex is a familiar spot for local theater fans as it was briefly the home of Fringe ArtSpace and before that, for many years, Mad Cow Theatre.

    This announcement comes just in time to salvage the full run of the Ren’s annual immersive holiday comedy, Office Holiday Party Musical Extravaganza Show, set to start on Friday, Dec. 5. So yes, the fictional Gripp & Pfister holiday extravaganza, a Ren tradition since 2021, is back for another go. And, yes, the drag afterparties will still happen as well.

    And once the Holiday is over, this ad hoc space will host a production of hit Broadway musical Mean Girls, starting mid-January. The entirety of the run will happen at the Church Street theater space, regardless of whether the Ren’s home base has reopened by then.

    “The swift decision by the city and its Community Redevelopment Agency to support the arts community by helping us find a temporary home says a lot about our local government’s commitment to culture in Orlando. Though this type of programming isn’t necessarily what we normally do or want to do for the long haul, this will allow us time not only to get through the permitting process but also to plan ahead into 2026 and beyond,” Ren co-founder and artistic director Donald Rupe said in a press statement.

    In the meantime, Ren staff are still working with the city to resolve the building issues that forced their closure back in late September. “The fine folks in Permitting are helping us where they can, but it’s one of those things that just takes time, so we haven’t been able to plan ahead and that’s been really tough,” added Rupe.

    The Office Holiday Party runs Dec. 5-22, and Mean Girls will play Jan. 16-March 15, 2026. Tickets are available now through the Renaissance Theatre Co.’s website.

    Orlando’s daily dose of what matters. Subscribe to The Daily Weekly.

    Featuring Fatties, Future Bartenderz, TV Dinner, Caustic Bats, Platonic Valentine and Jordan Schneider

    Owners Vu Nguyen and Mai Huynh are hanging up their aprons

    Bartenders both local and from lands afar travelled to the restaurant to show off their ’tending and drinking skills.



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    Matthew Moyer
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  • Orlando marks 100 years of Lake Eola swan boats, while real swans pass health check

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    Credit: Lake Eola/Facebook

    Orlando rang in this week 100 years of its iconic Lake Eola swan boats with a “Swantennial,” while the lake’s living residents passed their health checks with flying colors. 

    In honor of the first-ever boat launch in 1925, the city unveiled Tuesday a special gold-wrapped swan boat to commemorate the lake’s history. 

    The swan-shaped trips around the lake originally began with just two pedal-powered boats that could carry up to two dozen passengers. The idea came from Maitland resident Mrs. Bowers, who requested permission to add a swan boat dock just two months before the first launch. 

    The Swantennial comes just days after the living birds who inhabit the lake received passing health checks during their annual swan roundup. Veterinarians and volunteers provided medical check-ups and well-being assessments to the more than 50 resident swans. 

    Swan species represented in the park include trumpeter, black neck, whooper, royal mute and Australian black.

    The swans continue to display resilience in the face of turbulence, as recent years have seen raccoons snatch baby swans, while bird flu took the lives of several others.

    Guests can ride the boats Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Rides cost $15 for 30 minutes.

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    The Florida Department of Transportation claimed it would cost about $1,000 to return the crosswalk to its “original state”

    Prepare to see driverless vehicles on the streets of the City Beautiful

    It will be the biggest rewrite of local animal rules in two decades, changing hold time, TNR and spay/neuter rules



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    Azlyn Cato
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  • Indiana indie-rockers Murder by Death will play one of their last shows ever in Orlando

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    Adam Turla has always possessed an eye for spotting hidden signs in life.

    There were signs as a college student at Indiana University that he should take his gothic-country outfit Murder by Death seriously, and that there could be a future beyond playing shows at pizza parlors and basements.

    “You get a lot of little signals,” Murder by Death’s frontman tells Orlando Weekly. “It could be something as small as playing a basement show and we got our little CDs out and everybody in that room buys a CD. Or having a show where people were engaged and paying attention.”

    Turla saw the signs that he could take the guitar gifted to him from a garage sale, and go pretty damned far with it. He is also cognizant enough to recognize the signs that the show is over.

    After playing thousands of gigs and releasing nine studio albums, the show is indeed over for Murder by Death. Their current tour, which heads to Orlando’s Social on Tuesday, is the band’s last. The seeds for closing up shop were planted back during the early days of the COVID pandemic in 2020.

    “We were on the biggest tour we ever had and then one day we were driving 16 hours home and had no future in sight. No unemployment and no help was on the way. It was kind of an eye-opener,” says Turla.

    “But also I realized I was in a state of feast or famine my entire adult life. I was either completely broke, waiting to go on tour or I just got home from tour and my body is destroyed.”

    The band will still play their annual Cave Shows in Tennessee, but will stop touring permanently. Turla recognizes the way the industry has changed for the worse since Murder by Death started two decades ago, in particular thanks to Spotify.

    “My instinct is to say that the music industry is worse than when we started,” explains Turla. “I feel like there are more predators out there 1762400650 like Spotify. There are people trying to take our intellectual property. The music industry has always had predators.”

    One of the ways that Murder by Death has gotten ahead of the game is self-funding their albums via Kickstarter. The band started using Kickstarter as a vehicle for fundraising back in 2012.

    One of the albums that was funded in this manner is their latest, Egg & Dart, released this past summer. The album is focused on something that Murder by Death have been saying a lot of these past few months: goodbyes. Whether saying goodbye to a relationship, or goodbye to consuming mainstream news, the band says farewell in many different ways on Egg & Dart.

    They recorded the album in Los Angeles, around the time wildfires were ravaging the city. The setting of the recording of Egg & Dart still weighs on Turla’s mind; he plans on spending time volunteering with disaster relief after the tour is wrapped.

    “We went to Los Angeles to record and right around the same time [were] the wildfires in Malibu and Altadena,” remembers Turla. “Our studio was less than five miles from Altadena, and it was a wild time to be there. We had masks on outside and there were windstorms that made it worse. There were wild animals like coyotes, foxes and bears that were fleeing Altadena and you would see them in the hillside. … The whole community stepped up, and it was cool to see the way people were engaging, whether collecting clothing or goods.”

    Sometimes saying goodbye means having the freedom to be your truest self. For Murder by Death, growing, evolving and, yes, aging together has allowed the band to do things musically that they couldn’t when they were younger. Egg & Dart pushes at those previous limits.

    “With the last couple of records one of the things I’ve had fun doing is trying to get into the headspace of myself in my teens or 20s,” says Turla. “Trying to go back and think about what if I write a song in my 40s that I would have loved to have written in my teens or 20s that I wasn’t as experienced to write back then. I have written certain songs trying to go back and reflect on what I would have to have gotten done that I couldn’t then.”

    Lately we’ve seen bands try to relive past glories and reunite for tours. Bands that Murder by Death have worked with musically or toured with, such as My Chemical Romance and Minus the Bear, have reunited recently for reunion shows. But Turla is adamant (at the moment) that we won’t be seeing a Murder by Death reunion tour at the Social in 2035.

    “When you do a farewell tour you are ending an era, even if you are a band that intends to come back. We don’t plan on touring again,” he says. “We might play some more shows down the line, but aren’t going to be a band that plays 26 shows in 30 days. The intention is not to do that again.”

    With that in mind, Murder by Death are taking it all in on this last ride, and are excited to play the Social one more time.

    “We would play at Will’s Pub and the Social once or twice a year back in the day,” says Turla. “I remember one time in 2006 we did this two-night stand at the Social with Lucero and it was this wild tour where we were up all night partying really hard every night. It was a different time, but it was really fun. Whenever we go to Florida we try to go to the ocean or try to go walk on the beach. We try to engage in nature in some way because there’s a great natural element to Florida.”

    (Murder by Death with BJ Barham, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, The Social, 46 N. Orange Ave., foundation-presents.com, $35)

    “We might play some more shows down the line, but aren’t going to be a band that plays 26 shows in 30 days.”

    The Massachusetts-based cannabis company’s grow lab looks like Willy Wonka’s candy factory as designed by Stanley Kubrick

    Plus everything else premiering on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock and Disney+ this week

    This article appears in Nov. 5-11, 2025.



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    Kyle Nardine
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  • New LGBTQ+ nightclub opens in downtown Orlando in time for Pride

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    A new LGBTQ+ nightclub has opened its doors in downtown Orlando, right in time for Pride celebrations during the city’s annual parade and festival.Anthem, located in the heart of downtown, is meant to be a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and to add to the city’s nightlife scene.Owners Michael Vacirca and Emmanuel Quiñones, who are also fiancées, said it has been a years-long dream for the pair to open a LGBTQ+ nightclub after meeting at another Downtown nightclub.”The LGBT community has been losing spaces all over the city, and now we have a brand new one,” Vacirca said. Anthem is in the former “Saddle Up” space and had its grand opening on Pride weekend.Both said it was a journey getting to this point, obtaining the needed permits, etc. “Anthem is for you to feel free, be seen, dance like no one is around you, and you can express yourself,” Quiñones said.”It’s just bringing the heart back to Orlando.” Vacirca and Quiñones said they plan to hold community events and skills workshops.”We want to make sure we level up the community together. We want to make sure we’re bringing everybody to a better place, a better future,” Vacirca said.The hope is that Anthem is more than just a club, but also a home for Central Florida’s LGBTQ+ community.”It’s just our queer people, they need it. They sometimes feel they are alone, they don’t have a friend, they don’t have a home. When they walk through those doors, that’s what we want them to feel. We want them to feel that love and you’re welcome.”

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    A new LGBTQ+ nightclub has opened its doors in downtown Orlando, right in time for Pride celebrations during the city’s annual parade and festival.

    Anthem, located in the heart of downtown, is meant to be a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and to add to the city’s nightlife scene.

    Owners Michael Vacirca and Emmanuel Quiñones, who are also fiancées, said it has been a years-long dream for the pair to open a LGBTQ+ nightclub after meeting at another Downtown nightclub.

    “The LGBT community has been losing spaces all over the city, and now we have a brand new one,” Vacirca said.

    Anthem is in the former “Saddle Up” space and had its grand opening on Pride weekend.

    Both said it was a journey getting to this point, obtaining the needed permits, etc.

    “Anthem is for you to feel free, be seen, dance like no one is around you, and you can express yourself,” Quiñones said.

    “It’s just bringing the heart back to Orlando.”

    Vacirca and Quiñones said they plan to hold community events and skills workshops.

    “We want to make sure we level up the community together. We want to make sure we’re bringing everybody to a better place, a better future,” Vacirca said.

    The hope is that Anthem is more than just a club, but also a home for Central Florida’s LGBTQ+ community.

    “It’s just our queer people, they need it. They sometimes feel they are alone, they don’t have a friend, they don’t have a home. When they walk through those doors, that’s what we want them to feel. We want them to feel that love and you’re welcome.”

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  • Orlando Ballet swans into the Steinmetz this weekend with ‘Swan Lake’

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    Orlando Ballet kicks off their 2025/2026 season with a double dose of classic Tchaikovsky chestnuts. Of course The Nutcracker will dance in the winter holiday season, but starting things off this fall is the romantic Russian composer’s elegant and lovelorn Swan Lake, featuring choreography by Christopher Stowell and live scoring from the Orlando Philharmonic. Past productions of this iconic heartbreaker have never failed to impress, so expectations are high.

    Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 16-19, Steinmetz Hall, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave., drphillipscenter.org, $43-$200.

    This article appears in Oct. 15-21, 2025.



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    Matthew Moyer
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  • Orlando’s artsiest Halloween block party happens downtown Thursday evening

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    The Downtown Art District’s spooky arts party returns Thursday evening with the 16th Annual Día de los Muertos and Monster Party at CityArts.

    The evening opens with two dynamic exhibitions: a Día de los Muertos showcase featuring traditional ofrendas and catrina dolls, and a monster-inspired gallery of spooky art by local and international artists.

    Outside on Pine Street, the festivities spill into a lively block party with food, drinks, all kinds of performing artists providing entertainment and vendors of Halloween-y items. A frighteningly good time for all.

    6 p.m. Thursday, CityArts Orlando, 39 S. Magnolia Ave., downtownartsdistrict.com/ddlm, free.

    This article appears in Oct. 15-21, 2025.



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    Matthew Moyer
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  • Downtown Orlando’s newest park opens this week

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    Credit: via Mayor Buddy Dyer/Facebook

    Downtown Orlando’s newest park, Art², opens this weekend, mixing together local food, art, and the city’s flair for dynamic public spaces.

    Mayor Buddy Dyer, city commissioners, the Downtown Development Board and the team behind food truck hub À La Cart — who will manage the onsite café and program the food vendors and events — kicked off the park’s grand opening Friday. Art² will be open to the public starting Saturday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m.

    Located in the heart of downtown at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Robinson Street, Art² features outdoor seating, local food vendors, a craft beverage station, and more amenities implemented by À La Cart. 

    Food vendors include Phat Ash Bakes, Red Panda Noodle, and newcomers Eighty-Twenty Burgers and Wings. 

    Adding to the creative atmosphere, two new murals will be unveiled. “Urban Mirage 1” by artist Stiki Dogan celebrates the park’s vibrant energy, while “Step Into the Past: Walking Through Time” by SKIP is meant to represent the city’s history and nod to pop culture. 

    Funded by the City of Orlando’s Community Redevelopment Agency, the park comes as part of the DTO Action Plan to transform downtown and advance the city’s vision of being “An Awesome Outdoor City.”

    The outdoor venue was first announced in 2023 and was anticipated to open the following winter. So this weekend marks the end of a long wait. 

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    It’s the latest indication that DeSantis’ dubious war with Disney is in fact over

    “At the end of this year, if Congress doesn’t do its job, we are going to see 25 million Americans have their healthcare costs go up anywhere from 50 to 300 percent,” the Democratic congressman said

    Home games will be played at Inter&Co Stadium



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    Emmy Bailey
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  • New North Quarter wine bar Sparrow gives you wings

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    Sparrow wine bar Credit: Matt Keller Lehman

    Jason and Sue Chin have been flying high ever since their James Beard Award nomination for Outstanding Restaurateur earlier this year. And while losing out on the coveted accolade at the June affair in Chicago may have brought the duo back down to earth, the landing was brief. That’s because the Chins had just launched Sparrow in late May, and early indications were that their fledgling North Quarter wine bar was a total vibe.

    A vibe? Hell, Sparrow’s an aura. Its mid-mod manner meshed with a sultry, after-dark aesthetic plays like a paean to nightclubs of the velvet-rope era. Makes quite the striking first impression, too. Then there’s “Rhonda,” a disco ball that glitzes things up when the moment strikes. “Our staff named it,” says Sue Chin. “They said she reminded them of a ’70s showgirl.”

    What really glitters, however, are a couple of girls who also put on a show: Reyes Mezcaleria and Sparrow chef-partner Wendy Lopez, who churns out dishes drawing on French, Italian, Portuguese and, of course, Spanish influence; and beverage director Lorena Castro, whose curated wine list reflects everything she loves most about wine. “For me, it’s a balance of fun, geeky and a little funky,” she says, “while at the same time respecting the classics.”

    We certainly respected the 2023 “Palmberg,” a racy Riesling ($58) that accelerated the silky, earthy sweetness of a mushroom pâté ($12) fashioned from maitake, shiitake and oyster mushrooms splashed with madeira.

    We glou-gloued it with pan con tomate ($9) funked with Manchego ($5) and silver-skinned boquerones ($5), as well as a puree of charred eggplant ($12) laid on a disc of pan frito topped with roasted red peppers, sweet onions and piparra peppers. And after an appreciably spicier dish — house-made lumache ($22), or snail pasta, smothered in vodka sauce and spiked with nduja and Calabrian chili — the bottle was all glugged out.

    Sparrow wine bar Credit: Matt Keller Lehman

    As far as the cocktail program, Castro’s aim is to “force people to drink more sherries and vermouths.” Which we did in the form of superb, olive- and piparra-pepper-brined martinis ($20) poured into a chilled glass served with “bird seeds” (a mix of spiced seeds and nuts) and highballs ($13) made with olive oil-washed gin, blanc vermouth and Manzanilla sherry.

    A suggestion: Sink into a leathered swivel chair in the middle of the restaurant (OK, wine bar) and sip on tipples while surveying the scene. It’s a preferred vantage point, even if those deep seats require extra effort to prop oneself up to eat. No matter, Lopez’s cooking makes the lean worth it, whether hovering over a hearty house-made rigatoni verde with short rib ragu ($24), or a sole meuniere ($42) prepared as Escoffier intended, or one of the best endive salads ($10) served in the city since Cheesecake Factory’s version 20 years ago.

    It did, however, take a couple of tries to get the arroz negro with head-on prawns ($26) right. The Calasparra rice was, at first, startingly bland. But a re-done version was brought out later during our meal, and flavors of sofrito and seafood stock filled very kernel of the squid and cuttlefish-inked rice.

    For some, the nine-seat bar may seem a bit tight, but I really like the snuggly seating. More so, I like starting my meal here with some slivers of jamon ($9) or slices of bluefin tuna and Faroe Island salmon crudo ($17) nested in chunky caper salsa verde before crossing the checkerboard floor to a table. Special thanks to general manager Nicole Peters and her staff for handling seat-shifting with aplomb.

    By the time desserts come around, Rhonda the Disco Ball is usually in full spangle, but I was dazzled by a gorgeous Basque cheesecake ($10) with Valencia orange, and an almond-sponge chocolate cake ($16) with a mirror glaze so glossy I could see myself eating it. A little birdy told me both are the work of Steve Brinkman, a guy who works the line at Reyes on some days and makes Sparrow’s desserts on others. Just another reason to put this restaurant (OK, OK, wine bar) on your regular rotation. So the next time you’re contemplating a chill spot to check out, let Sparrow flutter into your consciousness.

    (Sparrow, 807 N. Orange Ave., 407-203-8524, sparroworlando.com, $$$)

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    This article appears in Sept. 17-23, 2025.



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    Faiyaz Kara
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  • Three more Pulse protesters released from jail after arrests for using chalk at crosswalk

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    Three people arrested late Sunday evening for using chalk to protest the state’s removal of the Pulse rainbow crosswalk were released from jail Monday pending charges from the state attorney’s office.

    Maryjane East, 25, Donavon Short, 26, and Zane Aparicio, 39, were arrested and booked by Florida Highway Patrol on Sunday night outside the Pulse memorial in Orlando and charged with defacing a traffic device — a statute that typically covers electronic traffic devices such as lights and signals.

    The arrests come after Orestes Sebastian Suarez was arrested Friday night by Florida Highway Patrol on the same charge. Suarez was also released shortly after he was booked after the judge found no probable cause he committed the crime.

    However, a judge on Monday did find probable cause for the three latest arrests. However, there were no charges pending after they were released on their own recognizance, and any further charges would need to be brought forward by Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell.

    Blake Simons, the attorney representing both Suarez and the three arrested late Sunday night, said FHP’s arrest report from Sunday was much more detailed and included allegations of damage of over $1,000.

    “I would argue water-soluble chalk that washes away while you’re being arrested doesn’t amount to over $1,000 worth of damage,” Simons said after appearing before the judge Monday morning.

    FHP and Orlando Police Department have been stationed at the Dunkin Donuts next to the Pulse memorial for over a week, telling protesters they won’t be arrested if they are not impeding traffic.

    Protests initially erupted last month after the Florida Department of Transportation painted over the rainbow crosswalk, meant to memorialize the 49 victims of the 2016 mass shooting, in the middle of the night. Since then, the department has repainted it at least once more due to ongoing protestors coloring the crosswalk with rainbow paint and chalk.

    FDOT has ordered other cities to remove rainbows and other painted designs from their roads.

    DeSantis has defended the state’s actions, saying it’s not political and cited a new state law — a claim lawmakers refute — and that the designs “jeopardize both driver and pedestrian safety.”

    But an Orlando Sentinel analysis of city traffic data shows the opposite. The city’s many decorative crosswalks and murals in Downtown Orlando, including the crosswalk by Pulse, have helped reduce crashes with pedestrians despite increased foot traffic.

    In a statement, FDOT said it conducted a “months-long” update of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices with input from representatives of state and local governments. The update included a prohibition on “non-uniform” traffic control devices and explicitly “prohibits the application of pavement or surface art on travel lanes, paved shoulders, intersections, crosswalks or sidewalks.”

    The four arrested protesters are part of a larger, coordinated effort to maintain protests against the state’s removal of the rainbow crosswalk. On Reddit’s Orlando forum, one person — who said they had been at the crosswalk all of last week — claimed the three intended to be arrested for the cameras.

    “Do not worry, we planned this for live cameras to see. Now we get to see what a judge says about them violating our first amendment rights, and we hope it leads to us being allowed to continue the chalk,” wrote Reed, who asked to only be identified by their first name.

    Following the arrest of the three protesters at the Pulse memorial Sunday night, the remaining protesters marched to Orlando City Hall downtown where they wrote messages in chalk.

    “You can’t erase us,” one chalk message read.

    “We’re just getting started,” read another.

    Protesters returned to city hall Monday afternoon.

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  • Downtown Orlando businesses see slow weekend after deadly mass shooting

    Downtown Orlando businesses see slow weekend after deadly mass shooting

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    Business owners in downtown Orlando said foot traffic slowed significantly over the weekend following a deadly mass shooting on Halloween night.The Halloween night shooting, which took place just after 1 a.m. on Friday, left two people dead.The victims were identified as 25-year-old Tyrek Hill and 19-year-old Tim Schmidt Jr., according to the Orlando Police Department. Surveillance footage showed a chaotic scene as patrons scrambled to safety, with club line barricades being used by police to secure the fresh crime scene.Justin Kihano, who owns nightclubs La Rosa and Aura, said his businesses were flooded with people seeking refuge during the incident.Related: Orlando mayor issues curfew, early end to alcohol sales for businesses near downtown shooting”We’re the closest business to the actual shooting. So it was terrifying,” Kihano said.Kihano and his staff safely evacuated patrons, directing them calmly down the staircases to avoid further injuries.Police arrested a suspect, 17-year-old Jaylen Edgar, shortly after a second victim was shot and killed. More: Downtown Orlando mass shooting suspect waives court appearanceSince the incident, Kihano said the streets of downtown Orlando have been far quieter than usual.“I have over 80 employees downtown. I have three clubs down here; this is going to hurt,” Kihano said.While Kihano commended the city for its efforts to improve safety, he voiced concerns about how curfews and restrictions affect businesses. “Do we really have to have a 12 or 1 o’clock curfew when I’m already paying the police to protect the venues?” Kihano asked. He said the incident occurred in the street, not inside a venue, and involved a minor.WESH 2 reached out to Orlando police for details on curfew enforcement and if citations have been issued. We have yet to receive a response.More: WESH 2 Exclusive: Brother of downtown Orlando mass shooting suspect speaks out

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    Business owners in downtown Orlando said foot traffic slowed significantly over the weekend following a deadly mass shooting on Halloween night.

    The Halloween night shooting, which took place just after 1 a.m. on Friday, left two people dead.

    The victims were identified as 25-year-old Tyrek Hill and 19-year-old Tim Schmidt Jr., according to the Orlando Police Department.

    Surveillance footage showed a chaotic scene as patrons scrambled to safety, with club line barricades being used by police to secure the fresh crime scene.

    Justin Kihano, who owns nightclubs La Rosa and Aura, said his businesses were flooded with people seeking refuge during the incident.

    Related: Orlando mayor issues curfew, early end to alcohol sales for businesses near downtown shooting

    “We’re the closest business to the actual shooting. So it was terrifying,” Kihano said.

    Kihano and his staff safely evacuated patrons, directing them calmly down the staircases to avoid further injuries.

    Police arrested a suspect, 17-year-old Jaylen Edgar, shortly after a second victim was shot and killed.

    More: Downtown Orlando mass shooting suspect waives court appearance

    Since the incident, Kihano said the streets of downtown Orlando have been far quieter than usual.

    “I have over 80 employees downtown. I have three clubs down here; this is going to hurt,” Kihano said.

    While Kihano commended the city for its efforts to improve safety, he voiced concerns about how curfews and restrictions affect businesses.

    “Do we really have to have a 12 or 1 o’clock curfew when I’m already paying the police to protect the venues?” Kihano asked.

    He said the incident occurred in the street, not inside a venue, and involved a minor.

    WESH 2 reached out to Orlando police for details on curfew enforcement and if citations have been issued. We have yet to receive a response.

    More: WESH 2 Exclusive: Brother of downtown Orlando mass shooting suspect speaks out

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  • Downtown Orlando’s inflatable pigeons ‘hunkered’ for Helene

    Downtown Orlando’s inflatable pigeons ‘hunkered’ for Helene

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    Downtown Orlando’s inflatable pigeons, which are perched atop buildings as part of a public art project, have decided not to fly the coop, even amid winds and rain caused by Hurricane Helene.

    The 16-foot-tall birds (when inflated) were wrapped up, deflated and looked much less pigeon-like when seen from the sidewalk on Thursday as gusty winds whipped palm fronds around on downtown streets. Bungalower’s Brendan Bunting O’Connor posted on social media that they are “hunkered” for the storm.

    “Reddit users have been placing bets on these birds flying the coop since we first released them into downtown Orlando, but little did they know that they’re all anchored by big iron beams underneath their little neon pigeon feet,” said O’Connor, who hatched the idea in collaboration with Creative City Project. “They’re big chunky creatures that have been swaddled and burritoed for the storm.”

    The birds first landed in the City Beautiful’s urban center in August, thanks to funds set aside for public art. The $1.36 million yearlong initiative is led by Orlando’s Downtown Development Board/Community Redevelopment Agency with the help of United Arts of Central Florida, Creative City Project and the Downtown Arts District.

    These neon-colored critters, which have received mostly positive reviews but also some detractors on Reddit, can be seen on sunnier days on top of Wall Street Cantina, Casey’s on Central, Taco Kat and several other downtown locations.

    The pigeons will be on display through Oct. 17, but the “DTOLive” project continues through June 2025, bringing more than 800 performances and events to 11 public spaces in downtown Orlando. During the public art initiative, visitors to downtown Orlando can also see artwork in vacant storefront windows, hear musicians in the streets and experience an expanded Third Thursday celebration.

    The goal of DTOLive is to increase pedestrian traffic, improve business for restaurants and retailers, employ local artists and, above all, to breathe new life and vibrancy into the City Beautiful’s urban core.

    O’Connor said the pigeons would be popping back up “ASAP” after the winds and rain from Hurricane Helene had passed through Central Florida.

    Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.

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  • Shaq announces his Bass All-Stars Block Party happening in downtown Orlando

    Shaq announces his Bass All-Stars Block Party happening in downtown Orlando

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    click to enlarge

    Photo by Matt Keller Lehman

    Shaq wants to block-party with you

    Former Orlando Magic star, bass DJ and busy entrepreneur Shaquille O’Neal wants to block-party with you in October.

    O’Neal is set to throw a Shaq’s Bass All-Stars Block Party at Wall Street Plaza in downtown Orlando this fall. We guess there is still some party left in the Orange Avenue strip (though the event does theoretically end at midnight).

    Shaq anchors the event in his DJ Diesel persona, and will be joined by Space Laces, Hairitage, Rated R, Celo, Machaki and Butler.

    Shaq’s Bass All-Stars Block Party 2024 at Wall Street Plaza happens on Saturday, Oct. 19, starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are available through Disco Donnie Presents.

    Location Details

    Wall Street Plaza

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    Matthew Moyer

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  • Orlando City Council passes permanent limits on downtown nightclubs that take effect this fall

    Orlando City Council passes permanent limits on downtown nightclubs that take effect this fall

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    Photo by Jim Leatherman

    Permanent limits on nightclubs downtown have been passed

    Orlando City Council has voted to pass new and permanent mandates on nightlife in downtown Orlando Monday.

    The Council passed a new ordinance, taking effect this fall, that will permanently limit the opening of new nightclubs to one nightclub per block in Orlando’s downtown entertainment area, requiring a 300-foot distance between each new club.

    City Council voted unanimously to pass this new ordinance. This was the second vote on the ordinance; the first reading last month moved forward with a 6-1 vote in favor of passing. The sole dissenting voice then, District 2 commissioner Tony Ortiz, switched his vote at Monday’s meeting.

    Existing nightclubs that don’t conform to this distance limit would be grandfathered in under the proposal, although they could be prevented from expanding under these rules.

    Concurrently, Orlando City Commissioners lifted a moratorium on new bar and nightclub construction. But any new construction would be potentially hamstrung by these limitations.

    City leaders made the case that the new rule is another step towards a “safer” and more family-friendly downtown

    During the meeting, District 4 commissioner Patty Sheehan did a little bit of pearl-clutching about the supposed dangers of downtown Orlando: “We just have too many bars and too much going on — and I walk through downtown, sometimes. I see the craziness. I hear the craziness!”

    Beacham property owner Margaret Casscells-Hamby told Central Florida Public Media that perhaps the Council doesn’t understand the attraction of downtown Orlando for locals: “The people who are trying to — who are wishing this — to happen don’t understand the market. Because the people who come downtown love having fun. … They’re in their 20s, they’re in their 30s. They come from all walks of life.”

    This new rule takes effect on Saturday, Sept. 21.


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    Matthew Moyer

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  • Florida Puerto Rican Parade and Festival happens downtown this weekend

    Florida Puerto Rican Parade and Festival happens downtown this weekend

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    Photo courtesy Florida Puerto Rican Parade, Inc./Facebook

    Florida Puerto Rican Parade and Festival happens downtown this weekend

    Wepa! Celebrate culture and community at the Florida Puerto Rican Parade and Festival in downtown Orlando.

    This year’s events are themed “Civic Engagement and Responsibilities,” with a focus on civic literacy efforts like voter registration, community volunteering and holding positions in government and public office.

    The parade is dedicated to the Municipality of Juncos “La Ciudad del Valenciano,” a town on the eastern part of Puerto Rico. Over 100 vendors will offer art, food (fingers crossed for good pastelón), products from Puerto Rico and more. The festival also features live music from artists like Crespo, Yomo and Elysanij, along with celebrity appearances and a children’s area.

    Parade floats and comparsas — groups of musicians and performers traditional at carnivals — will line the streets during the parade, set to start at 11 a.m.

    The parade route begins at Robinson Street near Lake Eola and ends at the intersection of West Livingston Street and North Orange Avenue. The festival area, conveniently, begins where the parade route ends.

    Make a day of it.

    11 a.m. Saturday, April 27, downtown Orlando.

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    Sarah Harwell

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  • Your Orlando weekend agenda: MadSoul, Bassrush, Movie Trash, Monster Jam, Uncomfortable Brunch, Gloria Gaynor + more

    Your Orlando weekend agenda: MadSoul, Bassrush, Movie Trash, Monster Jam, Uncomfortable Brunch, Gloria Gaynor + more

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    Friday, March 1:

    Baroque Magnificence: Bach Mass in B Minor
    8 pm; Steinmetz Hall, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave.; 407-358-6603.

    Blame It On the Boogie: A Disco Dance Party
    8 pm; Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave.;
    $15.

    Color Palettes: Danielle Lazala 7 pm Friday; Framework Craft Coffee House, 1201 N. Mills Ave; 321-270-7410; instagram.com/thechainedgallery.

    Constant Throw, Off the Rains, Graveyard Dogs, Skater Brainz
    7 pm; Uncle Lou’s Entertainment Hall, 1016 N. Mills Ave.; $5; 407-270-9104.

    Daði Freyr 7 pm; The Plaza Live, 425 N. Bumby Ave.; $27-$43; 407-228-1220.

    Ekkstacy, Alexsucks 6 pm; The Social, 54 N. Orange Ave.; $20; 407-246-1419.

    Freaky Fridays: Cemetery ManFrancesco Dellamorte (three-time BAFTA award nominee Rupert Everett) is the groundskeeper at the Buffalora cemetery where the dead just won’t stay dead — and it’s up to him to deal with those who come back to life with a hunger for human flesh. 11:59 pm; Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; $11; 407-629-0054; enzian.org.

    Getdown Downtown 6 pm; Independence Lane, 1776 Independence Lane, Maitland; free; 407-539-6223.

    Michel Camilo Trio 7 & 9:30 pm; Judson’s Live, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave.; $55.

    Movie Trash: Jade Part police procedural, part erotic thriller, part murder mystery, all over-the-top performances. This flick is pure 1990s nonsense. 8 pm; The Nook on Robinson, 2432 E. Robinson St.; instagram.com/orlandopopupmovieservices.

    Pardi Gras Music and costumed revelers. 7 pm; Pointe Orlando, 9101 International Drive; Free; 407-264-9950; pointeorlando.com.

    Responsibility and Resilience Featuring work from KYLE, Shannon Rae Lindsey, Dina Mack, Daniel Harris Mendoza, Rachel Simmons and Shannon Staunton. 6 pm; Hollerbach’s Art Haus, 205 E. First St., Sanford; free; 321-788-2805; facebook.com/hollerbachsarthaus.

    Trash Panda, Frog Mallet, Demonfuck, Playground Drug Dealer 7 pm; Conduit, 6700 Aloma Ave., Winter Park; $15; 407-673-2712.

    Saturday, March 2:

    The 12th Annual Mayor’s Jazz in the Park Yvonne Loggins Coleman, WUCF 89.9 FM. Jones High School Alumni Band, Safia Valines, The Yo Cats, Naomi Joy Music, Dave Capp Project, Micah Silverstein, Dimas Sanchez and the Afro Latin Jazz Project, Omari Dillard. Noon; Cypress Grove Park, 290 Holden Ave.; free.

    Alkaline Trio, Drug Church 7 pm; House of Blues, Disney Springs, Lake Buena Vista; $34.50-$85; 407-934-2583.

    Apes of the States, Doom Scroll, Myles Bullen, Danny Attack 7 pm; Stardust Video and Coffee, 1842 E. Winter Park Road; $20; 407-623-3393.

    Bassrush Presents: Peekaboo, Lyny 10 pm; The Vanguard, 578 N. Orange Ave.; $14.99-$49.99; 570-592-0034.

    Danny Kamins, Thomas Milovac, Jonas Van den Bossche 6:30 pm; The Dining Room, 2902 Ambergate Road, Winter Park; facebook.com/atthediningroom

    Festival Dor de Moldova Authentic cuisine, beer and wine, live musical and dance performances, traditional decorations reminiscent of childhood. Noon; German American Society of Central Florida, 381 Orange Lane, Casselberry; free; 407-834-0574; orlandogermanclub.com.

    Horse Head, Fish Narc, Zubin 8 pm; Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave.; $25.

    Hulder, Devil Master, Worm, Necrofier
    6 pm; The Abbey, 100 S. Eola Drive; $25; 407-704-6261.

    Laurie Berkner 3 pm; The Plaza Live, 425 N. Bumby Ave.; $25-$60; 407-228-1220.

    MadSoul Festival Muna, Melanie Faye, Nohemy, Kaelin Ellis, Palomino Blond, I Met a Yeti, Sara Nelson, Jasmine Burney-Clark, Maddie Barker, Wahid, Venture Motel, Harla, Mr. Floyd Larry, Nervous Nature, Jasmine Burney-Clark, Brandon Wolf, Rep. Anna Eskamani, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Justin Jones, Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Zooey Zephyr. 2 pm; Loch Haven Park, 777 E. Princeton St.; free-$100; 407-246-2283.

    Michel Camilo Trio 7 & 9:30 pm; Judson’s Live, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave.; $55.

    Monster Jam Experience full-throttle fun as 12,000-pound monster trucks tear up the dirt in wide-open competitions of speed and skill. 7 pm; Camping World Stadium, 1 Citrus Bowl Place; $25-$100; 407-423-2476; campingworldstadium.com.

    National Theatre Live: Vanya Andrew Scott (Sherlock, Fleabag) brings multiple characters to life in a radical new version of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya by Simon Stephens (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time). 11 am; Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; $20; 407-629-0054; enzian.org.

    St. Patrick’s Day Parade 9 am; Park Avenue, Park and Comstock avenues, Winter Park; events.cityofwinterpark.org.

    Seven Seas Food Festival: Gloria Gaynor 7 pm; Bayside Stadium, 5677 SeaWorld Drive; $99-$209; 407-545-5550.

    Stayin’ Alive: One Night of the Bee Gees 7 pm; The Clermont Performing Arts Center, 3700 S. Highway 27, Clermont; $27-$41.50; 352-394-4800.

    Symphony Storytime Series: Carnival of the Animals 10 & 11:30 am; The Plaza Live, 425 N. Bumby Ave.; $10; 407-228-1220.

    Vision Video, Tears of the Dying, Super Passive 7 pm; Conduit, 6700 Aloma Ave., Winter Park; $20; 407-673-2712.

    Sunday, March 3:

    Alexa Tarantino Quartet 5 & 7:30 pm; Judson’s Live, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave.; $35.

    Distant Stations, Saucers Over Washington, John David Williams 8 pm; Uncle Lou’s Entertainment Hall, 1016 N. Mills Ave.; $5; 954-258-0307.

    Central Florida Sounds of Freedom Band and Colorguard: Love Is Universal 3 pm; Alexis and Jim Pugh Theater, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave.; $25.

    Nu Deco Ensemble 7 pm; Steinmetz Hall, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave.; $35-$75; 407-358-6603.

    Psycho Frame, Balmora, Beast Plague, Memento, Jezter 7 pm; Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave.; $15-$20.

    Rossini’s Stabat Mater 3 pm; Rollins College, Knowles Memorial Chapel, 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park; $15; 407-646-2182.

    Seven Seas Food Festival: Night Ranger 7 pm; Bayside Stadium, 5677 SeaWorld Drive; $99-$209; 407-545-5550.

    Symphony Storytime Series: Carnival of the Animals 11 am & 12:30 pm; The Plaza Live, 425 N. Bumby Ave; $10; 407-228-1220.

    Uncomfortable Brunch: Killer Joe When 22-year-old Chris (Emile Hirsch) finds himself in debt to a drug lord, he hires a hit man to kill his mother, whose $50,000 life insurance policy benefits his sister Dottie (Juno Temple). Noon; Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; $11; 407-629-0054; enzian.org.

    Friday-Sunday, March 1-3:

    Thundering Spirit Pow Wow Drumming, dancing, crafts and food at an intertribal gathering. 9 am Friday-Sunday; Renningers Florida Twin Markets, 20651 U.S. Highway 441, Mount Dora; $10-$15; 352-636-4271; thunderingspiritfamily.com.

    Saturday-Sunday, March 2-3:

    37th Annual Festival of the Arts A juried show featuring national and international artists and contemporary craftspeople, to stimulate, energize and foster the arts in the community. Colonial Town Park, 950 Market Promenade Ave., Lake Mary; free; lakemaryheathrowarts.com.

    House of Mouse Expo A fan event for all properties under the Disney umbrella. Exhibition Building at Osceola Heritage Park, 1901 Chief Osceola Trail, Kissimmee; $35-$70; 321-697-3333; ohpark.com.

    Spirit Fest 70-plus booths with many new vendors, practitioners, readers, artists, authors and more. Avanti Palms Resort and Conference Center, 6515 International Drive; $10; 407-494-9817; spiritfestusa.com.

    Through March 10:

    Central Florida Fair Enjoy a midway featuring rides, games, food, live music and entertainment, animals, livestock exhibitions and competitive exhibits, and so much more. Central Florida Fairgrounds, 4603 W. Colonial Drive; 407-295-3247; centralfloridafair.com.

    Florida Strawberry Festival Strawberry treats of all kinds, concerts, rides, exhibits, displays, contests and a berry sweet time for the whole family. Strawberry Festival Grounds, 303 N. Lemon St., Plant City; $10; 813-752-9194; flstrawberryfestival.com.

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    Kristin Howard and Jessica Bryce Young

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  • Orlando City Council likely to extend moratorium on new nightclubs downtown

    Orlando City Council likely to extend moratorium on new nightclubs downtown

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    Photo by Jim Leatherman

    It’s likely that no new nightclubs will be coming to downtown Orlando for at least another six months.

    Orlando City Council on Monday unanimously voted to extend a moratorium on the opening of new nightclubs downtown, priming it for a final vote of approval in March. The moratorium, first established on March 20, 2023, is set to expire next month on March 20, 2024.

    Initially, city leaders agreed to a six-month moratorium, but voted unanimously to extend that last August, ahead of its expiration the following month. If approved through a second vote at their next regularly scheduled Council meeting, the moratorium — meant to discourage a nightly influx of rowdy party-goers and potential criminal activity — will be extended for a second time, set to expire on Sept. 20, 2024.

    The first vote on extending the moratorium Monday occurred without any discussion by city commissioners on the issue, nor did anyone sign up to provide public comment.

    According to city documents, the moratorium on nightclubs is meant to support the city’s mission of encouraging more daytime activity in the downtown Orlando area — a mission city staff believe could be negatively impacted by more nightclubs. Orlando City Council, the extension ordinance reads, “needs additional time to develop regulations to address the negative secondary impacts of nightclubs in order to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare.”

    The nightclub moratorium ordinance — spurred by a July 2022 shooting downtown that injured seven people — was approved last year in conjunction with another, more controversial ordinance that placed new restrictions on the sale of alcohol after midnight. That ordinance requires existing club owners in the Downtown Entertainment Area to get a special permit to sell alcohol after midnight. It also established other security requirements, based on capacity, for late-night businesses that sell alcohol.

    City staff did not predict any direct economic impact from the nightclub moratorium extension, which specifically applies to “the acceptance, processing and consideration of applications for development orders, development permits, building permits and zoning approvals for any new (which includes change of use and substantial improvement) nightclub use within the Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Area.”

    According to city spokesperson Cassandra Bell, city commissioners are expected to receive additional recommendations for changes to city rules pertaining to nightclub regulation in the future, ahead of the proposed moratorium expiration date in September. This could include a change to land development codes. Bell explained that a state law (SB 250) passed last year, effective July 1, 2023, had restricted the city’s ability to change its land development codes, among other things, for about six months.

    Now, Bell says city staff “are working diligently to prepare and finalize recommendations to better support nightclubs and to better manage development and zoning implications related to them.”

    A second vote on the nightclub moratorium extension, and its adoption, is expected to take place at the council’s next regularly scheduled meeting on March 11.

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    McKenna Schueler

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