Club Reports: Epic Nightclub, Backbooth

After a couple hours of Trance, headed downtown for some Breaks.  First visit ever to new club Epic located in the former home of Club 57 West and later Syn Nightclub. Had not been in here since seeing DJ Heavygrinder perform back in 2013.

Delivering those Breaks, DJ Bella shown here visiting with DJ Security!

As it was approaching 2am, the dance floor had unfortunately pretty much cleared-out!

But you can never go wrong with Go Go girls!

And there was a pretty good light show!

Moved next two doors down to Backbooth where their Footloose 80s's Night has been taking place every Friday night for more than a decade!

DJ Adam Wright putting out the retro 80's music!

As is typically the case, packed!

Even the stage where bands perform was jammed with dancers!

Where Independent Bar on Saturday nights is typically all New Wave 80's, Backbooth 80's runs the gamut from Michael Jackson to Fraggle Rock to Men Without Hats!

And a good time was had by all!

Concert Report: DJ Indecent Noise (Bikkuri Lounge)

Anyone driving by Bikkuri Sushi on Colonial Drive would have no idea that in the back upstairs they have a dance club!

But they do and I arrived just after 11pm last night to find DJ Suzy Solar (USA) in the booth for this month's Lost In Trancelation event!

The club is famous for that ever-changing light wall!

LIT is normally free but last night it was a paid ticketed event and was sold out!

Headliner, DJ Indecent Noise (PL), joining DJ J-13 and Suzy Solar in the booth!

Indecent Noise getting ready to come on as Suzy goes crazy for Trance!

And on he came at midnight, opening with a Hard House tune that evolved into a 3-hour set of Trance!

Dance floor stayed jammed all night!

Most people I've ever seen in here for an event!

The music was a mix of both Vocal and Non-Vocal Trance.

He played at Electric Daisy Carnival - Orlando this past November and I'm told he had such a great visit to O-Town that he couldn't wait to come back!

 More light wall action!

You can never go wrong with Go Go girls!

Getting into the big drops!

Suzy Solar chilling in VIP.

Indecent Noise was really enjoying his set as well!  When that happens, you know it's a great show!

A good time was had by all!

I-Drive Update: Ain't Standing Idly By

Had time on my hands earlier this afternoon so it was a good opportunity to check out what's happening along a very vibrant International Drive. As Disney remakes their downtown and Universal ups their offerings, I-Drive isn't standing idly by.  Starting at the top, the former Festival Bay indoor mall is now Artegon.  Full of artisans selling their wares in small booths, it's very unfleamarket-like and I think it will do well.

Located outside at Artegon in the space formerly occupied by the Caddyshack restaurant, Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill opened a week or so ago and features Country music always but also live music at night!  Wear your cowboy boots and yell Yee-Haw!

Inside, famous Chicago restaurant and brewery Berghoff is coming soon!

Just south of Sand Lake Road, Mango's Tropical Cafe advances at a snail's pace towards completion.  Here's the sign posted last year and at this speed, look for a 2016 sign to be posted later this year!

Like the location in South Beach, Mango's will feature DJ's spinning Top 40, Oldies and Latin and this location will also have a rooftop patio.  Once they open.

iDrive360 already has a free parking garage and some restaurants open but the big draws will be the Sea Life Aquarium and Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.

 

And of course the stunning Orlando Eye ferris wheel which is supposed to open before this summer!

Last stop of the day was the pool complex at Avanti Resort.

Where I spotted former Suite B Lounge bartendress Lisa working the pool bar.  She moved here about a year ago and says she loves working daytime hours. Stop by sometime and have her make you something frosty and cold! 

PI Update: Latest Construction News

Before we head over to the Island, let's take a look at progress on the portals that link the new Orange Garage (West Garage) with Downtown Disney West Side.  This one is located in the northeast corner of the garage and will link guests via the second floor of the garage to the West Side near Planet Hollywood.  Escalators in the portal will bring everyone down to ground level.

The second portal is located mid-garage and will bring guests to the walkway located between AMC 24 Theaters and Splitsville.  It appears further away from completion than the other portal.

The Pleasure Island bypass causeway is once again completely closed, as is the Pleasure Island Water Taxi dock.

OK, let's cross the No. 5 Bridge to the place that is neither an Island nor the home to much Pleasure.

Action taking place to the south of the No. 5 Bridge shows us what will be a ramp down from the Island's upper level down to the lower level.  The new No. 4 Bridge is shown under construction here as well.

Another view of the pedestrian ramp.

Art of Shaving should be opening within a couple weeks here.  Shave and a haircut, 2 bits!

This last remaining patch of Seed & Mulch at The Hub will be home to a new restaurant operated by the Raglan Road folks but nothing has been announced.

The latest look of Mannequins Dance Palace being turned into Morimoto Asia restaurant.

The entire south wall as been sliced open and covered scaffolding covers the former east entrance side.

Infrastructure work continues beneath West End Plaza where rumors say The Tunnels will be located.  Even if true, we don't know what The Tunnels will be but there's a lot of hope for an underground bar district.  That way late at night people could be partying below while mommies and their strollers pass by above!

Still no apparent work taking place inside the former BET Soundstage or Adventurers Club.  And that's the latest from beautiful Pleasure Island!

DTD Update: Searching For Nightlife

Here's a roundup of free musical entertainment currently available at Downtown Disney.  First of all at Splitsville, there is normally a live soloist, duo or band performing outside on the patio.

But there is something new inside!  Blog reader FN alerted us to live bands performing inside Splitsville on Saturday nights from 9pm to 12:30am.  Had not heard about this yet a spokesman for Splitsville told the Blog that this has been taking place for about 12 weeks now.  They've also expanded the downstairs Bullet Bar for easier access to drinks.  Thanks, FN!

There is now live music evenings at Exposition Park aka Food Truck Park.

Of course live music is what they had in mind when they built the new amphitheater known as the Waterview Stage.

There is still live music outside Fulton's Crab House at the Lily Pad.

There is free music available on the patio outside House of Blues.  Entertainment inside is almost always a ticketed event.

There is a temporary raised stage outside Raglan Road providing live Irish bands.  Of course you're familiar with the Kids Dance Party at the Waterside Stage in Marketplace.  Live Latin bands and DJ's are available at Bongo's ,although sometimes there is a cover charge there.  We await word of new offerings coming to Disney Springs and we'll keep you posted here on the Blog!