Trip Report: S.S. United States Goes Down

At one time in history the S.S. United States was the luxury flagship of all American passenger shipping but she had been moored in various ports along the eastern seaboard for decades wasting away. In the end, it was either take her to the breakers in India for scrap or use her as an artificial reef. The latter won out with her purchase by Okaloosa County, Florida and finally her sinking last night in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Fort Walton Beach. 

In August, 2024 we were invited to tour the derelict ship while she was still docked in Philadelphia. We got to see first hand why refurbishing her was not a real option. Her sinking for use as a reef means she now lives on forever, albeit under the sea. Our ship visit from 2024 is on Orlando Entertainment News HERE.  

 

This Weekend In Techno Town

It's no surprise that one weekend after EDC, there are just a few shows:

FRI     13NOV     VANGUARD     DJ duo/trio Above & Beyond (UK)

FRI     13NOV     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Victor Rosado  

SAT    14NOV     IRON COW     DJ Robby Clark (USA)

SAT    14NOV     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Robbie Doherty (UK)

SAT    14NOV     PALM TREE CLUB     DJ duo Dubdogz (BR) 

SAT    14NOV     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Hector Romero (USA)  

SUN   15NOV     TACO KAT     DJ Palmtree (USA) 

SUN   15NOV     PERLA'S PIZZA     DJ Frankmatik (USA) 12n-5p 

 

Downtown Update: What's New?

The former Swiggs spot at the corner of Central & Magnolia closed a few months ago for renovations and it has now reopened as Reeves Sports Bar. They advertise as "Every game on, every seat close enough to hear it, and a kitchen that stays open past the fourth quarter." We wish them luck since they are not the only place downtown playing sports.

In Wall Street Plaza, Rivals Activity Bar is out and The Villa is in. The games that Rivals had are gone and there are some new lighting features but otherwise we're not sure what niche this place fills.

And this venerable spot has become available again. Most-recently home to Noir Lounge, we commented more than once that it was always closed, even on weekend nights. So it was no surprise when we saw it had gone out of business. Before it was Noir, it was home to Arena Art Bar, Ann Teague's Lamp Supply and Sports Club at Celine. Of course most of us knew the space as Peek Downtown and Suite B Lounge. Some even remember it as Knock Knock.

 

Concert Report: MEDUZA (Elixir Bar)

Simone Giani is one-third of highly-acclaimed electronic musical trio MEDUZA (I) and he performed a DJ set last night at Elixir Bar. The photos are now posted to sister website Orlando Entertainment News and you can view them HERE.

 

Club Reports: 80’s Night @ Rayn, Proper, The Villa, Fixtion

It was kind of like a night at 8TRAX! This 80's Party at Rayn Nightclub in Altamonte Springs last night was our first of several stops. The pics can be found on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

EDC Orlando 2026 – Day 1

We had to cut-short our visit to Day 1 of EDC-Orlando yesterday but we did get to see DJ Matthias (USA) at the neonGARDEN stage. Pics are on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE. 

 

Friday Funny

 

WDW Update: Disney Transport Options

Walt Disney World transportation map considering monorails, skyliners, ferries and water taxis but just a limited number of bus routes.

But when you consider the entire Disney Transport bus system, its actually much more complicated. Many transit systems in the United States now use these types of color coded maps to represent their various transport lines. But these actually originated in Europe in the 1960's.

 

EDC Week: Before, During & After Parties

We've assembled a list of the top Before parties, During parties and After parties taking place around Orlando this EDC weekend. You can find the list HERE.

 

CW Update: RCC Status

A snapshot of Red Coconut Club in November, 2009. RCC became CityWalk's main dance club when The Groove did not reopen post-pandemic. At this time RCC is closed until Friday, November 20th as it is remade into the Christmas-themed Green & Red Coconut Club. 

 

PI Update: Remembering HOB Thursday Nights

Shortly after PI closed, House of Blues did a trial run of electric dance music nights on Thursday nights featuring Mannequins Thursday night DJ Dave Cannalte. It should have caught on because where did the huge crowds at Mannequins on Thursdays disappear to? Sadly, it did not work. Here's a copy/paste of the article we wrote about it in November, 2008:

Friday, November 14, 2008

HOB Thursday Nights

Made my first Hospitality Industry Night visit to House of Blues yesterday evening to check out Dave Cannalte. Nothing of course can compare to Mannequins itself however this night is a good substitute if you like Dance music.

Advertised as a 10:30pm start, Dave did not get spinning until 11pm because of delays caused by a prior concert running late. And then, despite it being a beautiful warm Orlando evening, I estimate the number of patrons at only about 100. I've heard that prior Thursdays have had 150-200 patrons. So where the heck are all the CM's who used to go to Mannequins on Thursday evenings now going if they're not going to HOB?

But the music was great and the dance floor stayed pretty full from about 11:30pm to 1am. It didn't spin and there was at least 5-6 times when I expected the CO2 was going to spray down and that didn't happen either. But the music was Mannequins-style so it gets a big thumbs up since we're not seeing that anywhere else in Oralndo.

My understanding is that Dave Cannalte at HOB is a 2-month trial run. We need more guests out there if this is going to continue. I don't know how many HOB needs to make it profitable to stay open versus staying dark; presumably they've got nothing going on anyways. But I don't think 100 patrons is enough.

BTW, HOB is still running their Service Industry Night on Sundays at 10:30pm and I understand the place is packed wall-to-wall with DJ Sandy spinning the Dance music. So I'm going to put this back on the options list here on the blog!
Update 11/27/08: Hospitality Industry Night on Thursdays with Dave Cannalte has come to a conclusion and is no longer being offered.

 

Club Reports: Daylite Party @ SOBOX, John Lennon Room @ HRL, CityWalk Promenade, Dead Coconut Club

The stunning DJ Lex (USA) was playing weekly family dance parties last year at Disney Springs West Side and we found her last night on the Hard Rock Live rooftop. Our Saturday began with a daytime House music party at SOBOX and ended at Universal CityWalk. You can find all the pics on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

Club Reports: Crooked Can Brewery, Pilars Loft, The Whole Enchalada, Harlow Grove (Winter Garden)

Last night we visited the Friday night music scene in downtown Winter Garden. While downtown Winter Park seems to roll-up their sidewalks after 10PM, downtown Winter Garden is just cranking things up. At one stop we met DJ Marc Thyssen (AUS/USA). We've got photos on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

Friday Funny

 

Club Report: Suite B Lounge/Peek Downtown

Halloween memories at Suite B Lounge downtown.

 

Halloween Weekend In Techno Town

Not only is it Halloween weekend, but at 2AM Sunday morning it becomes 1AM.

FRI     30OCT     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Julian Fijma (NL)

FRI     30OCT     WALL STREET PLAZA     DJ Gordo (USA)

FRI     30OCT     TACO KAT     DJ Rich Medina (USA) 

FRI     30OCT     CELINE     DJ Linska (GB/USA) 

SAT    31OCT     SOBOX FOOD HALL  Daytime House Party  10a-6p

SAT    31OCT     IRON COW     DJ Cataclisma (USA) 

SAT    31OCT     BROKEN STRINGS     DJ Paul Moss (USA) 

 

 

PI Update: Tis' The Season

View from October, 2010.

 

Trip Report: Brightline Status

There is some confusion in the marketplace about the recent bankruptcy filing by Brightline's holding company. Rest assured that their train operations company is operating normally between Orlando International Airport Station at Terminal C and MiamiCentral Station in downtown Miami.

We had the opportunity recently to ride them again northbound from Miami to Orlando. All trains stop at Aventura, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach and then nonstop to Orlando. Some trains also stop at Boca Raton.

 

Brightline trains are operated with Siemens Charger locomotives with one at each end of the consist. 

There are two classes of service. Smart fares are the equivalent of Economy class on an airplane except there is far more legroom. Seating is 2/2 on each side of the center aisle. Snacks are available for purchase in the station and onboard. Premium class is the equivalent of Business class on an airplane and has 1/2 seating on each side of the center aisle. Premium comes with three extras: Even more legroom, access to the in-station Premium lounge in your station before boarding with free food and drinks there plus free food and drinks on the train. 

Brightline is a wonderful experience, especially after partying in Miami or Orlando and heading home. It can be nappy-nappy time on the train versus fighting with the traffic on Florida's Turnpike. Outside south Florida, speeds often exceed 100mph. There is a $39 sale currently in progress on certain dates so check it out HERE. 

Concert Report: Thrill The World (Genesis Health Club)

DJ Dave Cannalte (USA) of Mannequins Dance Palace fame was a celebrity ghoul at yesterday afternoon's massive "Thriller" dance and Orlando Entertainment News was there for full coverage. You can find the pictures HERE.

 

Club Reports: Good Times, Mulligans, The Robinson

Friday night included an 80's Night at Good Times Bar & Grill, a 90's/00's Old School Hip Hop hits night at Mulligans and finally some current House music at The Robinson. You can find all the photos posted on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.