Trip Report: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

We had to interrupt our Miami Music Week for a quick daytrip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Airline service was provided by LATAM, the result of a merger between LAN Chile and TAM Brasil.

The outbound flight was on a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with two aisles and 3-3-3 seating.

If you're looking about an article about all the exciting things to do in Punta Cana, this ain't it. Our business was strictly inside the airport and we never left it, lol. But this is the approach into Punta Cana. There are numerous resorts, often all-inclusive, in the area. And as you can see, sparsely populated. The big metropolitan area in the DR, Santo Domingo, is nowhere near here.

Canadian airlines Air Canada, Air Transat and Sunwing were on the ramp along with American carriers Frontier, Spirit, Delta and American. There are two terminals, numbered A and B. LATAM uses Terminal A.

Welcome to Punta Cana.

Terminal A is modern and filled with shops and restaurants. But with the American Spring Break in progress, the place was a zoo.

At Terminal A there are no jet bridges. We disembarked the plane via stairs and were able to walk into the terminal. For the return flight, the plane was parked at a remote stand so we had to take a bus from the terminal gate to the plane.

And soon we were back in the air headed to Miami. Had hoped to get out to an evening MMW event but Customs & Immigration at MIA was a slow affair, even with Mobile Passport and the hotel shuttle took forever so it was not practical to go back out. Nonetheless, as far as the daytrip goes, a good time was had by all.

MMW Day 1: Nexus Radio Lounge, Winter Music Conference Pool Party

The internet bandwith in our hotel is not allowing me the speed necessary to upload 75+ photos from Thursday's events. So we will hold-off until we get back to Orlando on Sunday. Will post on Facebook when articles are ready for viewing.

Trip Report: Miami, Here We Come!

Heading down to Miami on the Brightline train this morning and flying back to Orlando on Sunday morning. Will post pics from various events we're attending this year at Miami Music Week.

MMW Weekend In Techno Town

It will be a slow weekend in Orlando as Miami Music Week is in progress!

THU   27MAR     OLIV BAR     DJ Stardoll (USA)

FRI     28MAR     IRON COW     DJ Nina S (USA)

FRI     28MAR     CAPITAL ROOM     Blue Room Reunion DJ Gerry LeBarge (USA) 

FRI     28MAR     ALFIE's HiFi     DJ Mr. Mogembo (USA)

SAT    29MAR     ELIXIR BAR     Zinc Bar Reunion DJ Dave Cannalte (USA)

SAT    29MAR     ALFIE's HiFi     DJ Sleazy McQueen (USA)

 

PI Update: Happy Times Ahead

Ticket booths in front of the No.2 Bridge originally were used on the Fort Wilderness Railway.

Happy times were just moments away when you encountered them. And if you had a Pleasure Island Annual Pass, you didn't even need to stop at them.

PI Update: We're Convinced

We're convinced that if you go down the corridor behind this wrought-iron doorway and go all the way to the end, you'll find an unlocked door on the right that goes into a mystery area. That mystery area is behind the new OluKai store (former Sanuk store) and was an area that was not needed for retail and not needed by the Morimoto kitchen. And that area, suspended in time, are the remains of 8TRAX. Why are we so convinced? Because someone that used to work there told us that.

 

Club Reports: AC Skybar, The Other Bar, The Patio, Aero Bar, Barbarella 3.0

Located at the corner of Orange Avenue & Pine Street, you can find the old Merita Bread bakery sign lighted in the City park at that downtown intersection. If you lived in Orlando for any number of years, you can't help but remember the smell of fresh baking bread as you passed by the bakery along I-4.

We began our Saturday night at AC Sky Bar located in the AC by Marriott Hotel.

Up on the 18th floor is the hotel Reception desk and this inside bar. There's lots of seating. We've occasionally seen a DJ or other musician playing up here but usually not.

Step outdoors and you'll find this spectacular outside bar.

And it's out here you'll find this beautiful view of Kia Center, home of the Orlando Magic NBA team.

And what could be more romantic for a first date than the I-4/SR408 interchange. Admission to AC Skybar is free but there could be a queue to enter later on weekend nights.

Our next stop was The Other Bar aka The Other Irish Bar located within Wall Street Plaza.

This large bar used to wrap around the back to the next room but they now have that other room closed off. As the ownership team of the former Gilt Nightclub purchased both sides of Wall Street Plaza, this is apparently the only venue that remains separately owned.

 

Here we found DJ Fern (USA) playing mostly Top 40 hits. Just when you think you've met every DJ in Orlando, you meet another one.

This selfie photo sign is located aft in the club but you won't see it unless you come all the way back.

We've always felt that a nightclub has to have a lot of audacity to advertise there's "Always A Party" at their venue. Because "Always" means "Always".

But while we've tried numerous times unsuccessfully over the years to disprove their slogan, last night was not going to be the night to disprove it either. We could see through their open rooftop that there was already a crowd.

Friday/Saturday night resident DJ Parry (USA) was in the booth.

The music mostly Top 40 and Hip Hop hits.

Dance floor kept getting more-and-more crowded.

Bubble music!

DJ Parry has been bringing in the crowds dating back from when The Patio was called Eye Spy.

Admission is free. For now, all we can say is, there really is always a party at The Patio.

Up on top of The Patio and The Corner is Aero Bar.

The bar was crowded but not the dance floor when we first arrived.

In the booth delivering the good stuff, Saturday night resident DJ "The Dom" aka DJ Dominick Morrison (USA).

And then this happened!

And then all of  a sudden the dance floor got populated.

The music a mix of House and EDM.

We know The Dom from his years as a resident DJ at Mannequins on Pleasure Island and as the NYE DJ at EPCOT: China.

We don't usually make requests but when we asked The Dom if he could play "Messy" by Lola Young (GB), he pressed a couple buttons and said, "Sure, which version?" Awesome!

Admission is free. It gets like this every Friday and Saturday night at Aero.

The Axe Trap is located on Lee Road in Winter Park, just east of I-4. And on Saturday nights, it becomes home to Barbarella 3.0.

Barbarella is home to 80's New Wave and Alternative but this summer on the 3rd Saturday of every month, look for Barbarella's darker cousin "Memento Mori". We walked into this!

With "Memento Mori" resident DJ Lavidicus (USA).

The music a mix of Industrial, EBM, Darkwave, Alternative and Goth.

Since our last visit this shiny disco ball has been added above. It will soon be lighted and spinning!

Spotted in the booth: Sound & Lighting Tech Ernie joining DJ Lavidicus.

Everywhere we went last night, a good time was had by all.

Club Reports: Alfie's HiFi, Manikins, Oliv Bar, Aura Nightclub

Located in the Mills/50 District, Alfie's HiFi is the new must see and be seen in club in Orlando. This set of photos were actually taken Wednesday night after the Kraftwerk (D) concert when we could actually get inside the place. If you go on a Friday or Saturday night, prepare for a long line outside to get in.

There was a contingent on the dance floor when we first arrived but this was nothing like weekend nights when it's hard to move about the place.

During our visit, we found DJ Just Jason (USA) in the booth flanked by DJ duo No Por Na' (USA). The music was light House during our visit. Jason is also part of DJ duo Latenight Society (USA) and they play tonight here at Alfie's. All the music at Alfie's is off vinyl. No laptops or thumb drives allowed here.

They have this cool color-changing light fixture above the bar in the front room.

 

Just remember at Alfie's, the DJ's are selecting the music and there are no requests.

So last night, we headed first to Manikins in downtown Sanford where the Goths come out at night.

Led by the Head Goth, the legendary DJ Paul Vaine (USA).

We arrived particularly early so just a few people on the dance floor at this hour.

The music on Friday nights a mix of Industrial, Dark Wave, New Wave, Alternative and more.

Activity was picking-up.

The club is jammed with mannequins throughout. In the darkness and fog, it's often hard to tell the difference between a mannequin and a club patron!

Indeed, I can recall during my first visit to Manikins a few years back, I was chatting-up this chick for close to ten minutes before I realized she wasn't real.

Paul Vaine is best-known in Orlando club history for his long-running shows at Visage and later at Venue 13.

Team photo!

You've got to come check this place out!

We next headed to uptown Orlando and Oliv Bar.

Here we found DJ Dani Orieta (BOL/USA) in the booth playing House.

We've seen this place packed but last night it was more on the empty side.

Even though it's a small venue, they have a full liquor bar.

Always love listening to Dani Orieta sets.

DJ Kris Kokopelli (USA) then played a b2b set with.....

DJ Sachin Talikot (IND/USA)

Team photo!

Dance floor got populated.

Approaching 1AM so time for one more stop, Aura Nightclub downtown. Aura is located upstairs where The Woods previously operated.

In the booth, DJ Elias R (USA).

The music, loud-booming Techno. The place was absolutely packed!

The hard beats had the club bouncing.

Over the years we've seen Elias R perform numerous times but our favorites remain when he played at EDC-Orlando in 2021 and when he opened for DJ Roger Sanchez (USA) at Celine in 2023.

Everywhere we went last night, a good time was had by all.