PI Update: Return of the PI Philharmonic

Happy Halloween and welcome to the spookiest place at Disney World, beautiful Pleasure Island. Blog reader Right Guard tells us that the long lost Pleasure Island Philharmonic, er at least the percussion section, was parading on the Island last night! I'm not familiar with them as they must predate my association with PI. They marched down Hill Street to the Hub, went past Mannequins to the Lily Pad where they gave an unexpected concert! They'll be back on the Island tonight. Thanks for sharing Right Guard! Meanwhile on the West Side:

Halloween Night Downtown Orlando

While tomorrow night is actually Halloween and that's when the trick-or-treaters will be out scouring for candy, adults celebrated the "holiday" last night in Orlando.

Downtown was the home of most of the official activity with major streets closed to traffic and many locations sponsoring costume contests.

My guestimate is that greater than 50% of the patrons were in some sort of costume. That's a pretty high ratio!

It was all about seeing and being seen!

One of my favorites.

The clubs I went by were already jammed at 10pm as revelers got an early start. But many just wandered the streets checking things out.

In seems in past years many girls just tried to look as slutty as possible but this year that gave way to much more imaginative costumes, and a wider variety too.

Reader Brian provided this last photo showing some of the imaginative stuff out there last night. Thanks, Brian! Fun time downtown in awesome weather. No October snow storm here!!

DJ Carl Cox Coming To Orlando

One of the world's most renowned DJ's, Carl Cox (GB) will be playing at Senso Supperclub in downtown Orlando on Tuesday, November 8th. Known for his blending of House and Techno, Cox has a summer residency at Club Space in Ibiza. First visit to O-town that I'm aware of.

DJMag Announces World's Top DJ's

At an award ceremony this past Wednesday night at Ministry of Sound in London, DJMag announced this year's Top 100 DJ's as voted on by readers.  The big news was after a 4-year run at #1, DJ Armin van Buuren dropped one spot to #2 with DJ David Guetta taking the #1 spot for the first time. Following a year where everything Guetta touched turned to gold, it made sense for voter support to finally put him into the top spot. We're still waiting for him to perform in Orlando though, maybe for the 2012 Electric Daisy Carnival - Orlando! Dutch DJ's dominate the leaders claiming 9 of the top 20 spots!  The highest ranking American DJ is Skrillex at #19, a Dubstep DJ. Here's a look at the Top 10. The entire article is located at:  http://www.djmag.com/top100
1.  David Guetta (F)
2.  Armin van Buuren (NL)
3.  Tiësto (NL)
4.  Deadmau5 (CDN)
5.  Above & Beyond (GB)
6.  Avicii (S)
7.  Afrojack (NL)
8.  Dash Berlin (NL)
9. Markus Schulz (D)
10. Swedish House Mafia (S)

PI Update: West Side Seeing Construction

For those of you already experiencing 40F-degree temps and some snow, make your plans now to come visit Orlando where we're still in the 80's.

With the Hyperion Wharf project on indefinite hold and perhaps outright cancelled, nothing going on behind these construction walls surrounding the space formerly occupied by Rock'n'Roll Beach Club and Motion.

Nearly all the action at Downtown Disney is taking place on the West Side. The biggest project of course is the conversion of the former Virgin Mega Store space into Splitsville Bowling. Scheduled to open next Fall, everything is currently taking place inside the massive space. The project brings hope to many of us!

Sunglass Icon is significantly renovating its space.

Blink by Wet Seal is moving into the former Magnetron space. The latter is no more.

West coast-based Something Silver is moving into the former Magic Masters space.

Back on beautiful Pleasure Island this is the only sign of progress.  Construction has returned to the Lily Pad which ironically was just renovated one year ago. The previous renovation eliminated the permanently placed objects that were there which provided a forum for entertainment acts to perform. A PI source says a bandstand type area is being constructed for the Lily Pad.  Could not verify that. But if you're in the area, be sure to drop by the Island to check it all out!

Happy Halloween from Wonderfall DTD!

Orlando Halloween Options

Wall Street Plaza is having its annual Plazaween on Saturday night. One cover gets you 8 bars with DJ's at Slingapours, One-Eyed Jacks and outside including DJ Digital (USA). Costume contest.


But downtown everywhere is just plain crazy! This picture from last year provided by reader Brian shows how many revelers were out there, most in costume! They close down a long stretch of Orange Ave.

Church Street is also closed down and Church Street Entertainment clubs have parties inside and out on the street. Clubs include Antigua, Chillers, Big Belly Brewery, Lattitudes and Rok Room. $3000 in cash prizes for costumes. Saturday night.

Bliss Ultra Lounge has $2500 in cash and prizes to give away for their Haunted House Halloween Party.  DJ Mickey Bono (USA) will magically transport you back to Mannequins with awesome Dance music! Saturday night.

The Electric House of Terror will be taking place at Firestone Live on Saturday night with local DJ's Elias R and Carlos Mendoza (USA) along top European female DJ Ilgin (TR) playing Electro and Tech House. Multiple rooms.

All events in this article are on Saturday night except for this Sunday night event. It's the Halloween Bacchanal with DJ Stefan (USA) at Independent Bar. Real vampires will be out for Industrial, Synth, Electro and Dance. No cover.

CityWalk has no official Halloween events planned but it does get crazy as this picture from last year at The Groove shows.  However, as you can see, only about 5% of the patrons wear costumes which spoils some of the fun!

Meanwhile at Pleasure Island, ghosts will be dancing in Rock'n'Roll Beach Club and Motion. Actually, the only thing Halloween-like at PI is this pumpkin pretending to be Mickey at Laffers Cantina. Otherwise, the term ghost town comes to mind!




DJ Datsik (CDN) spinning Dubstep at House of Blues in LBV.

Back downtown , The Beacham (formerly Tabu Night Club) has the city's largest prize package on costumes along with DJ Richie Rich (USA) playing mostly Hip Hop but mixing it with Top 40 Dance and a lot of Oldies.

North Korean Party Rock

Ain't no party like a Pyongyang party!!

Upcoming EDM Concert Calendar

TECHNO/DANCE CONCERT CALENDAR:

28OCT JENNIFER MARLEY & DAVIE-D (USA) - SUITE B
29OCT DJ ILGIN (TR) - FIRESTONE LIVE
29OCT DATSIK (CDN) - HOUSE OF BLUES
04NOV DJ MORGAN PAGE (USA) - VAIN
12NOV DJ BABY ANNE, DJ TRASHY (USA) - CLUB V
12NOV DJ ICEY (USA) - AMPHITHEATRE
17NOV DJ BABY ANNE, DJ FREEFALL (USA)-VINTAGE 
17NOV DJ ATB (D) - ROXY
19NOV DJ ATB (D) - AMPHITHEATRE
23NOV AAHZ REUNION - COLLINS/CANNALTE(USA)- BEACHAM
25NOV DJ ICEY & DJ JIMMY JOSLIN (USA) - LEVELZ
03DEC DJ MORGAN PAGE (USA) - AMPHITHEATRE
11DEC JINGLE BALL/DAVID GUETTA (F) -ST PETE TIMES FORUM
15DEC SKRILLEX (USA) - HOUSE OF BLUES

Look for our annual Halloween Weekend Options article on Thursday here on the Blog.

PI Update: Adventurers Club Exterior Objects

For those of you who have been following the story of the Adventurers Club artifacts, you're aware that recently all references to the club's name were removed from the exterior of the Adventurers Club building on beautiful Pleasure Island. At the same time the few remaining artifacts that were still in place in front of the club were removed. Blog reader Victoria reports that the Gypsy Moth, Sphinx and assorted vases have now been placed in areas visited by the trams of the Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios!

Close up of some of the AC artifacts now on display at DHS. Thanks for the photos and report, Victoria!

Archive photo taken this past July at AC prior to the plane's removal. In other news, Blog reader Jason reports to the Blog that blackout paper/felt has now been added to the downstairs windows of the Adventurers Club. You'll recall in the October 12th article the Blog speculated that if Disney were to secretly be working inside some of the clubs that they'd have to block the windows to keep people from peaking in.  The upstairs and side windows had already been blacked-out. Now even the downstairs windows (which are not accessible to the general public) have been blacked-out.  Sure have to wonder why!

Club Reports: Terrace 390, Bullitt Bar, 180 Grey Goose Lounge, Bliss Ultra Lounge, Independent Bar

If you're willing to walk a few blocks, there is often free street parking up near the courthouse building which saves the $5-10 charges further south. When I got out of my car up off Livingston Street I could hear loud House music drifting over from the west. Following the music trail I came upon Terrace 390 located both inside of and in the courtyard of the Bank of America building!

Out in the bank's courtyard on Friday and Saturday nights they have a DJ playing Top 40, Dance, House and Progressive. This venue has been open since April.

This area under the palm trees serves as the dance floor which I was told would be filled later in the evening. It is breezy outside since you're standing adjacent a 30-story building.

The inside bar offers numerous television monitors serving up sports and that large empty expanse becomes the dance floor for another DJ playing Latin and Reggaeton after 11pm. Interesting place that I'll need to return to but later in the evening. Cover charge a steep for Orlando $10.

Return visit to Bullitt Bar on Pine Street. Cover here is a more-reasonable Free.

The DJ here was playing mostly older but well-known Hip Hop songs.

The place has always been crowded during my visits and there was actually several people dancing this trip but it's really more of a socializing place.

And they have this awesome beer cooler built into the rear of an old Chevy van!

Another club with numbers in the name is 180 Grey Goose Lounge located up on the 7th floor of Amway Center.

Resident DJ John Campisano is playing mostly House to the pretty jammed porch overlooking downtown.

There is an indoor area with a bar but the club's feature is the outdoor area. No one dancing during my visit but it's not unheard of out there.

The big draw is the 180-degree view overlooking the downtown skyline. Free cover.

Bliss Ultra Lounge on Saturday nights is more to my liking!

Resident DJ Mickey Bono is playing 100% Top 40 Dance and House!

The club gets packed on Saturday nights.

It is overall a pretty young crowd but it's the best EDM music in Orlando on Saturday nights!

Final stop on Saturdays is Endent Bar. One of these days they might get the sign fixed.

DJ Indie John playing 80's New Wave dance music from the control tower.

Pretty good crowd spanning all age groups here.

Some familiar faces; Sonia & Andrea!

And some new ones too. Always a fun time at I-Bar!