Top Pop: Montego Bay (Bobby Bloom)

We're talking a few days off and posting old music that I used to play on my pretend radio station WALK-WT.  Broadcasting off my walkie-talkie, the signal could be heard on FM radios up to 500ft from my house!

Club Reports: Amphitheatre, Mannequins

Amphitheatre in Tampa was one of only two dance clubs in the United States (that we're aware of) that had a revolving dance floor. Closed for many years, they reopened in 2011 with a DJ Icey (USA) concert but a construction fire in 2016 destroyed the place.

We don't have a good picture of the dance floor but you can tell from the diameter railing that it was far smaller than Mannequins. It also had a "spindle" in the center that ate up a lot of space. In the post-Pleasure Island era, it brought back the experience especially when they did a CO
2  spray-down! It was much slower than Mannequins too.  At MDP if you were off the floor and you saw a friend pass by, they'd be back in about a minute. At Amphitheatre, it seemed like 5 minutes!

But there was nothing like Mannequins!

We've previously published this post-closure pic of Mannequins' revolving dance floor. It was huge and could hold hundreds at one time. We believe the floor is still there, hidden under a raised false floor inside the current occupant of the building, Morimoto Asia restaurant.

Club Reports: Ember, The Lodge, Elixir Bar

Downtown Orlando is slowly reopening and our sister blog Orlando Entertainment News checked things out last night. Check out our photo article here.
Pictured: DJ K1K0 (USA)

Breaking News; EDC-Orlando 2020 Cancelled

The 10th edition of EDC-Orlando has been cancelled because of Coronavirus.
More details in the Orlando Sentinel here.

Friday Funny

Yes, we might get a little political as the 2020 election approaches.

PI Update: Such A Waste!

Such a waste!  This is Maria & Enzo's Italian restaurant located by the No. 5 Bridge to Pleasure Island. It stands where BET Soundstage used to stand. The food is fine and the decor is art deco beautiful. But it should have been a dance club!

You'll recall back in 2016 during construction that all the speculation was that Disney was getting back into the nighttime entertainment business for its adult guests and this would be a game-changer for Orlando nightlife just as Pleasure Island was.

The expansive roof covering a single large room screamed "entertainment venue" which could serve as a dance club at night.  It turned out to be another Italian restaurant on an island that has many others. Such a waste!

This Weekend In Techno Town

FRIDAY AUG 28
DJ Jimmy Joslin (USA)     Ember Happy Hour     Top 40 Hits Old and New

FRIDAY AUG 28
DJ Magic Mike (USA)     Ember Late Night     Hip Hop Hits Old and New

DS Update: No Ample Hills 4 U

This spot in Disney Springs Westside was the former home of Something Silver but was to be replaced by Ample Hills Creamery. But AHC filed for bankruptcy earlier this summer so people were speculating as to whether the ice cream store would ever come.

Ample Hills signage remained on the construction wall for some time after the bankruptcy filing but as you can see, that's been removed. So what's coming instead? Stay tuned.....

PI Update: Cookies Are Coming! (UPDATED)

We've previously mentioned that Gideon's Bakehouse is coming to this spot on Pleasure Island. Located at the Hub, it's where PI Live Bar used to stand back in the day.

We previously opined that prior occupant Erwin Pearl Jewelry was doomed because their door faced a side walkway and was thus invisible to most patrons passing by on the main thoroughfare from Disney Springs Marketplace to Disney Springs West Side. We don't know if this will be remedied for Gideon's or will they still have this side entry.

Trying to replicate a backstory sign from old town Disney Springs, it reads "Lindwurk Bookseller". Not sure where they will put Gideon's signs. This will be their second location with the original remaining in Orlandi's East End Market. There cookies cost $5 each so it will be interesting to see if they can maintain that price point at Disney.

Extensive renovations inside including the installation of baking ovens are an indication that it's going to be awhile before they open.

UPDATE: Good news! The former entrance has metal studs installed so that means the entrance IS being moved to face either the corner or to face Hill Street where most of the pedestrians are. 

Concert Report: Tail Break Rave (Ace Cafe)

It was grueling at times but yesterday's Tail Break Rave was a success and represents a path forward for the pent-up demand for DJ concerts. We've got the photos on our sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

 

 

DJ Jeff Justice (USA)

DJ G-Force (USA)

Tail Break Rave TODAY!

Beginning at 1PM today, the parking lot of Ace Cafe will be home to one of the most important DJ concerts to ever hit Orlando!

Why so important? Because following nearly 6 months of closed clubs, bars and cancelled events, this will be the first attempt by any promoter to host a large concert during the covid-19 era.

We visited last night while the stage was raised and lighting and sound was installed. Walk-ups will be welcome at the concert but most guests will be arriving in cars and will park facing the outdoor stage. You can hang-out in or around your car but you can also walk about the premises including the dance floor up near the stage! Restaurant food and restrooms will be available inside Ace Cafe and there will be both outdoor and indoor bars.

The City of Orlando has granted the necessary permits for this event to happen and if successful it can serve as a way forward for future events by other promoters. Mask-wearing is a requirement though and it will be strictly enforced. Everyone’s cooperation will make this a success. Arrive when you want. Tickets available at entry for $25.
LINEUP:
1:00P JEFF JUSTICE
1:45P DJ SISCO
2:30P LISA LLOYD
3:15P DJ AFRODISIAX vs DJ G-FORCE
4:15P DUSTIN “DYNASTY” NELSON
5:00P JASON BROWN
5:45P JIMMY JOSLIN
6:l45P DJ TOOLTIME
7:30P GN (GSMONTANA & NEUROZIZ)
8:30P DJ HUDA HUDIA
9:30P ON DA MIKE
10:30P DJ MAGIC MIKE
11:30P SWEET CHARLIE

Friday Funny

Yes, we might get a little political as the 2020 election approaches.

DS Update: M&M Progress

Construction continues on the conversion of the two retail spots previously occupied by Curl by Sammy Duval and Fit2Run into the M&M's at Disney Springs store.

We thought the conversion would be rather simple; take out the clothing racks and replace them with M&M dispensers. But it appears to be much more sophisticated with, as you can see, a complete gutting of the building! Their store in the Florida Mall will relocate here.

This Weekend In Techno Town

An extremely important event is about to take place this Saturday night in downtown Orlando at Ace Cafe. First of all, the line-up is stacked with great DJ talent as you can see on the flyer above. But what makes this an extremely important event is that it's the first attempt in Orlando to have a DJ concert during the covid-19 pandemic. If they're successful, it can serve as a guide for other promoters to attempt similar DJ concerts. The event will take place outdoors at Ace Cafe with a stage at one end of the parking lot. Patrons will arrive in cars and should remain in or about their vehicles. Bring your own chairs. You'll be able to access food, bars and restrooms inside the building.  If you don't arrive in a vehicle, there will be a dancing area up near the stage.
You must wear your mask and social distancing will be enforced.
The event will run from 1PM until 11PM.
Tickets are $25 and will be available upon entry.

DS Update: Beatrix Delayed

Construction of the new healthier-eating Beatrix restaurant has apparently come to a halt due to the covid-19 situation.

Following a lot of ground preparation, there's been no further attempt to move construction along.

So the spot that was formerly occupied by Bongos Cuban Cafe will remain unoccupied indefinitely.

PI Update: I See Mannequins, I See 8TRAX!

It's been awhile since we went up in the Aerophile balloon ride (Formerly Characters In Flight) at Disney Springs. So let's go up and check out the two remaining Pleasure Island club buildings!

From 400ft. above Pleasure Island, a great view of Mannequins! No more dancing on the revolving dance floor there though since it was converted to restaurant Morimoto Asia. Sources say the old revolving floor is still there under Morimoto's false floor.

And 8TRAX is there as well. Interestingly, Morimoto's kitchen only occupies the rear half of the old club building. We've been told by a reliable source that the front of half of 8TRAX was not tampered with and is still the old club. That's the part directly behind the Sanuk flip-flop store that fronts on Hill Street.

You'll recall that Sanuk fits in the only part of 8TRAX that was actually demolished.

Club Report: Elixir Bar

Unless you were eating or drinking, the mask rule was being enforced last night at Elixir Bar. Elixir's famous outdoor patio is the Saturday night home of House music downtown now and we have pictures from last night on sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

DS Update: Lululemon Signs Are Up

Signs for the new Lululemon store have been installed.

We're told the store should open before the end of the month. With a Lululemon outlet store located not far away at the outlet mall, should be interesting to see how they do in Disney Springs.

Friday Funny

Yes, we might get a little political as the 2020 election approaches.

DS Update: Hot Glazed Donuts Coming!

Hot fresh glazed donuts at Disney Springs?  Yes, Everglazed is coming soon!

It will be located in this spot in the narrow walkway that leads from the center of the Orange Garage lower level to the Disney Springs West Side intersection occupied by Splitsville on one side and the AMC Theaters on the other side.

Previous occupant Pop Gallery closed on July 31st after 15 years in operation. I believe it replaced a different art gallery called Hoypoloi. Sad to see them go but passersby did not often see the shop from the main walkway. Hopefully Everglazed will have some sort of HOT DONUTS sign to draw attention to them!

This Weekend In Techno Town

There is so little nightlife to show you that this week we're going to show you two places that had their liquor license suspended yesterday. Allegedly they had served customers last Saturday night while they stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the bar. We did not go inside either establishment that night but can attest to disorganization outside Shots Orlando and The Basement where large groups stood around the entrance without any social distancing and if they were planning to go inside, no obvious queue.

Apparently Mathers Social Gathering shares a liquor license with Shots Orlando and the adjacent Joysticks Video Game arcade and are thus impacted by the license issue. More details here.

Trip Report: Railroads Of Fiji

Today is a slow news day on Pleasure Island so we'll run this filler article instead. The pics were taken last September in Nadi, Fiji where I stayed at the Fiji Gateway Hotel. The hotel is located across the main highway from Nadi International Airport. Crossing the entrance road into the airport was this railroad sign and a set of tracks.

I was curious about the tracks. They were of a 2-ft. narrow gauge and their silver polished tops were an indication of likely recent use. But over several days of my visit, I never saw or heard any trains.

But on my last day there, I heard the train's horn and made it to the track in time to see this tiny locomotive coming across the airport entrance road!

It was pulling 30+ tiny carriages of sugar cane!

For more than a century in Fiji, the cane trains take cut sugarcane from the fields to the crushing mills.

Fascinating!  The famed Sunshine Rail Line used to deliver passengers to Pleasure Island back in history and a couple months ago we had an article about it which you can find here.