PI Update: Not Even A Second Glance

How many times did you walk right past this club sign marquee and ignore it, knowing that your clubs were there yesterday, they were there then and they'd be there tomorrow?

This Weekend In Techno Town

"How dry I am!"

DS Update: Saudi Arabia Aquires Interest In HOB

With the entertainment industry hit hard by coronavirus closures, many stocks are near all-time lows. Yesterday we learned that the Saudi Arabia's investment arm has bought a 5.7% interest in Live Nation, a deal worth approximately $500B.  
Live Nation owns a number of businesses including TicketMaster, Front Line Management and House of Blues.
More details here from CNBC.

PI Update: Million Dollar View

Now THAT's a view I'd pay a lot of money to see again!

Firestone Update: Reopening Soon?

 "We will celebrate again together soon!" reads the marquee sign outside Firestone, The Club at Firestone, Firestone Live, Venue 578, The Vanguard Theater.

 Yes, notwithstanding the coronavirus situation, we could see The Vanguard opening within months. The Blog last visited 6 months ago and we posted exterior and interior construction photos here.

The exterior appears to be largely finished. These black plywood sheets block the main entrance along Orange Avenue.

Opposite the main entrance, The Patio, where many a great DJ has played, has been enhanced with seating plus stairs to the second level.

Rounding the corner of the patio and looking west, it continues further. More black panels block what I assume will be glass windows and doors.

Walking down the Concord Street side and then looking back east, one can see not only that patio on the lower level but also a balcony level above it.

The entire back of the building where the parking lots are. Their website refers to a Spring, 2020 opening which of course is now through mid-June. We'll just have to see how things play out but it's good to know....it's coming back!

PI Update: 8TRAX Drink Menu

Every club at Pleasure Island had a list of specialty drinks you could purchase unique to that venue. The drink menu at 8TRAX was a conglomeration of drinks referencing many of the other venues on the Island.
RAGE IN THE CAGE: A reference to The Cage, the name of the club before it became 8TRAX.
JESSICA'S SECRET: A reference to Jessica's Store, home of Jessica Rabbit merchandise.
SUPERSTAR: Reference to Superstar Studios, where you could make your own recording. 
FUNMEISTER: Reference to the king of Pleasure Island.
ARMADILLO PUNCH: Reference to the Neon Armadillo, PI's country music venue.
FRANKIE'S WESTENDER: A reference to not only the famous West End Stage but also to Frankie Scarborough of the PI live band "Frankie and the West End Boys".

 The same drink menu board was considerably more depressing-looking when we visited a couple years after the club closed.

Friday Funny

Stat!

PI Update: Five More Nights For $5

I saw this posted on Facebook and wanted to share it. I believe it was a rather late promotion in this history of Pleasure Island and I vaguely remember it. The price of a 1-night/All-Club ticket is shown to be $21 and the promotional offer was that for $5 more, you could add 5 more nights admission to the Island. It was a great deal if your first night was a Thursday because you could then get in on Friday and Saturday night too. During the waning days of PI, those three nights were pretty much the only busy nights. Earlier in Pleasure Island history it could be packed every night.

The closest thing in town to Pleasure Island is Universal's CityWalk complex where you can buy a similar pass and visit multiple clubs. Downtown has Wall Street Plaza with multiple bars and clubs but other than for special events, admission there is free. Pleasure Island though has no equal. 

This Weekend In Techno Town

WDW Update: Unhappiest Place On Earth

Could it happen Memorial Day weekend? Could it happen June 1st? 
Could it happen sooner?

DS Update: Closed Closed Closed

June 1st seems like a possibility at this juncture.
Until then, everything is CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED!

Time Tunnel Club Report: Firestone Live

Every weekend during the coronavirus curfew we're taking the Time Tunnel back to better days. Last weekend we visited Atlantic Dance Hall circa 2010 and today we're going back to 2013 for the very first "Leaders of the True School" at Firestone Live!

Firestone was jammed for this night of classic Breaks from some of the genre's classic DJ's.

The late great DJ X-Treme (USA) was on the main stage when I arrived.

Over in the Den, DJ Supagroover (USA) was pumping out hits!

Outside on Firestone's Terrace we had DJ duo Security and Rob E (USA).

Taking over at midnight inside, Scratch-D of Dynamix II (USA).

The most recent "Leaders of the True School", Edition 3.0, took place last October.

Like the original, it was packed!

Around 1am, the hairy DJ Freq Nasty (USA) took over on the main stage.

While the less-hairy DJ Agent K (USA) teamed-up with DJ Bella (USA) outside.

A lot of the usual suspects were in the house!

The "Head" of Future Sound of Breaks himself, Mr. Glyn S. Morgan.

On that night in 2013, a good time was had by all.

Friday Funny

DS Update: Sorry We're Closed

Sorry, they're still closed. Check back sometime in May.

This Weekend In Techno Town

SATURDAY APR 18
DJ duo Amine Edge & Dance (F)     Iron Cow     House / Big Room

MONDAY APR 20
Rusko (GB)     Gilt Nightclub     Dubstep / Heavy Bass

Editors Note: Both events are still on the calendar but neither can happen so they need to officially cancel them and issue refunds to those that have purchased advance tickets.

Flamingo Crossings Update: Motel City

Does anyone remember Disney's Flamingo Crossings development? Located just west of TOLL SR429 at the Western Way exit, Disney first announced the hotel/shopping development back in 2007. The Blog questioned then why any hotels would build there given the cost of new construction and the nightly rates they would have to charge to recoup their investments. This was particularly true given all the existing hotels just one exit south at US192.

Finally, in 2012 or five years post-announcement, we posted blueprints for a Walgreens that was going to be coming to Flamingo Crossings! This would be the first tenant.

Except when we visited in 2013, this was the new Walgreens!

Finally in 2017 or ten years after Flamingo Crossings was announced, two hotels did finally open: Springhill Suites by Marriott and Townplace Suites by Marriott.

But we're now 13 years post-announcement and the economics of operating hotels here have apparently changed. Things are finally under construction! Right to left we have a Homewood Suites by Hilton, Hampton Inn by Hilton and a Fairfield Inn by Marriott. I think there may be a Home2Suites by Hilton in there somewhere too.

And a Residence Inn by Marriott.

The mailing addresses are Winter Garden, not Lake Buena Vista or Bay Lake, Florida. New residences for Disney College Program interns will be located here as well, assuring the new shopping center will have a steady stream of customers. Announced tenants include Target, Five Guys, Dunkin, PDQ, Speedway.....and a Walgreens!

DS Update: Zipped Tight!

Buena Vista Drive is open through Disney Springs but it's not possible to stop to visit the closed stores and restaurants. Access to all the garages are closed as are access roads to the Disney Springs surface lots. The place is zipped tight with Disney Security and Orange County Sheriff's Department deputies everywhere. Even the Hess Speedway station is closed.

SMF Update: Sunset Postponed to Independence Day Weekend

Sunset Music Festival is now scheduled for Friday July 3 & Saturday July 4 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. We appreciate your understanding as we work through the changes, as we are trying our best to produce a safe and fun event.
Tickets will transfer to the July event, automatically, at point of purchase. No further action is required.
If you would like to elect a refund, please fill out the appropriate form below:

• Online purchases: https://explore.seetickets.us/refund-request-sunset-music-festival-2020/
• For additional questions or help, please email info@SMFtampa.com

We share your disappointment in the change, but the safety of the fans, artists and staff is always our number one priority. Help one another, take good care of yourself and we look forward to seeing you in July. Here’s to seeing you soon.
Sunset 2.0
Friday July 3 & Saturday July 4, 2020
Raymond James Stadium (north lot)
SMFtampa.com

Ticket Information

Due to the rescheduling of the festival, the following reschedule / refund policy is now active:

• Existing tickets will be transferred automatically to the rescheduled date, Friday July 3 & Saturday July 4, 2020. No action is required.
• For fans who opt for a refund, tickets will be 100% refunded in entirety, including service fees.
• The deadline to request a refund is Friday, April 24 at 11:59pm ET.
• Refunds for electronic tickets will be processed within 7 days of receipt. Please allow for an additional 3-5 business days for the funds to return to the account used to make the purchase.

See www.smftampa.com for full rules and other details.

Time Tunnel Club Report: Atlantic Dance Hall

Full time quarantine remains in effect throughout Florida at this time due to the coronavirus but that shouldn't keep us from going back in time to better days! Time to revisit exactly 10 years ago at Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney's Boardwalk Resort.

Blog-favorite DJ Tallie (USA) on the decks!

The expansive dance floor was pretty full by ADH standards.

Many patrons here are guests staying in nearby Disney hotels.

Plus a contingent from former Pleasure Island nightclub Motion.

Ten years later, it's still pretty much the same.

The music at ADH always came with (and still does come with) videos!

Atlantic Dance Hall remains Disney's only owned & operated dance club.

Spotted on the dance floor: Former Mannequins' patrons Mark & Beth with the late "Flowers" peeking out from between them.

Nino had a tattoo of the Motion logo on his neck!

A good time was had by all. Can't wait for them to reopen!