Independence Day Weekend In Techno Town

THURSDAY JUL 1

DJ Vintage Culture (BR)     The Vanguard     Synthpop / Deep House

THURSDAY JUL 1

                              DJ U4EUH (USA)     Neon Beach     Trance

FRIDAY JUL 2

       DJ Magic Mike (USA)     Island Breakers Lounge (Merritt Island)     Breaks

FRIDAY JUL 2

               DJ Gordo aka Carnage (USA)     Celine Nightclub     House

FRIDAY JUL 2

            DJ Loco Dice (TN/D)     The Vanguard     House / Tech House

FRIDAY JUL 2

                        DJ Danny G (USA)     Barbarella     House / Nu Disco

SATURDAY JUL 3

                   Rabbit In The Moon Live (USA)     Ace Cafe     House / Breaks

SATURDAY JUL 3

                  DJ Flosstradamus (USA)     The Vanguard     Trap / Heavy Bass

PI Update: When Harley-Davidson Relocated

Ten years ago this month was a transition month for Orlando Harley-Davidson. As you recall, during the club days this location was home to trendy clothing store Changing Attitudes. But shortly thereafter it became the Harley store but that didn't last long at this spot. Orlando Harley relocated this month 10 years ago and a different clothing store called Apricot Lane moved in by August, 2011 and lasting until the end of Summer, 2013.

Ten years ago Orlando Harley-Davidson relocated to the West Side with this prime corner spot where DisneyStyle now resides. They would eventually move to their current spot in Disney Spring Marketplace, adjacent Polite Pig.

PI Update: Another Pleasure Island Rewind!

The Saturday and Sunday following Thanksgiving this year will be home to the House of Mouse Expo taking place at the Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista South. And we noticed something curious on the event page. Although the current link provides no information, the link is titled "Pleasure Island Rewind". So this is an event you might want to attend! The last time an expo had a PI Rewind, it was back in 2014 at Disney's Contemporary Resort. Prior event link here. For more information about the House of Mouse Expo including advance tickets (this event will sell out), click here.

 

Concert Report: DJ Audien (Gilt Concert Venue)

DJ Audien (USA) was back in town last night at Gilt and our sister website Orlando Entertainment News was there to cover it. You can find the pictures right here.

Club Reports: Eve Nightclub, Monkey Bar, Barbarella, Aero Bar

Resident DJ Dity (USA) was at one of our stops last night in downtown Orlando. Check out all the pictures on our sister website Orlando Entertainment News right here.

Friday Funny

 

DS Update: Waterside Stage Has A Sponsor

The Waterside Stage, located in Disney Springs Marketplace, has been renamed the AdventHealth Waterside Stage. I did not notice any other sponsorships during my recent visit to Disney Springs. The group playing btw was called Acoustic Edge and they had half-hour sets at 5:15PM, 6:15PM, 7:15PM and 8:15PM. Disney Springs live entertainment continues to end very early every night.

This Weekend In Techno Town

FRIDAY JUN 25

                 DJ Blair Sound Design (USA)     Barbarella     House / Nu-Disco

FRIDAY JUN 25

                     DJ duo Sidepiece (USA)     The Vanguard     EDM / Trap

FRIDAY JUN 25

                  DJ Elias R (USA)     Monkey Bar     House / Tech House / Techno

SATURDAY JUN 26

                    DJ Audien (USA)     Gilt Concert Venue     House / EDM

SATURDAY JUN 26

                    DJ Thunderpony (USA)     Elixir Bar     House / Tech House

SATURDAY JUN 26

                    DJ Bradley Drop (USA)     Levels Lounge (Ocala)     Breaks

PI Update: What's New On The Island?

So what's new? Well let's cross this bridge one more time to beautiful Pleasure Island to find out.

We can tell you the entire Island and Disney Springs were packed with guests. It is summer vacation time and there is pent-up demand for all-things Disney. Here at the Hub, the line for Gideon's Bakehouse continues to stretch around Mannequins and past 8TRAX.

The only thing new noticed was one of the kiosks at Riverboat Square is now Wondermade, home to "gourmet marshmallows". Not sure how well they do in summer's heat but I guess if you eat them right away, it doesn't matter. Come on out to beautiful Pleasure Island to see this all for yourself.

DS Update: Aerophile Increases Airfare

When Downtown Disney's balloon ride opened in 2009 under the Characters In Flight name, the ride cost just $16.

 

In 2011 the price went up by $2 to $18.

That price held for six years with the next $2 increase to $20 happening in 2017.

So now four years after that, another increase occurred last month and this time by a whopping $5. The price is now $25. Of course, this is roundtrip.

Club Reports: Salty Rim, Barbarella

DJ Rob Bates (USA) headlined last night's program at Barbarella and our sister website Orlando Entertainment News was there to see it. Saturday night pics are here.

Club Reports: Barbarella, Elixir Bar, Celine Nightclub

DJ Pablo Ceballos (E) of Chus & Ceballos fame headlined last night's show at Celine Nightclub and our sister website Orlando Entertainment News was there. Friday night pics are here.

 

Friday Funny

 

Trip Report: Gas Stations of Iceland

Continuing with our series of gas station photos from around the world in conjunction with my travels. In Iceland, there are no longer any international oil companies present so you won't find any American or other European brands. For instance, Esso (American) is no longer there nor is Shell (Dutch). The largest brand appears to be N1 which I saw all over the place in the city and in rural areas.

Iceland Oil Ltd does business under the Olis brand. Like most other brands in Iceland, there is a convenience store with a counter service restaurant and tables to eat at. The food is surprisingly good.

Iceland Oil Ltd also operates self-serve only gas stations under the OB brand. There are no employees or even a building; it is strictly pay-at-the-pump with a credit/debit card. It has the cheapest gasoline. In fact, OB stands for inexpensive fuel although it's certainly not inexpensive by American standards.

Atlants Olia doing business as AO is another relatively cheap brand. Self-serve only with pay-at-the-pump, there is no station, no employees and not even a rain canopy.

Orkan stations can be found throughout Iceland. Although you pay-at-the-pump before fueling as with the others, there is a station building with convenience store. The Orkan logo is made to look a bit like a hurricane image since "orkan" is a type of extra-tropical storm found in the north Atlantic. Some of our prior gas station stories can be found below:

Gas Stations of the Emirates & Greece     LINK

Gas Stations of the Caribbean     LINK

Gas Stations of the West     LINK

This Weekend In Techno Town

FRIDAY JUN 18

             DJ Jennifer Marley (USA)     Grumpy's Underground     House

FRIDAY JUN 18

                  DJ Tchami (F)     The Vanguard     House / Future House

FRIDAY JUN 18

                  DJ Pablo Ceballos (E)     Celine Nightclub     House     House

FRIDAY JUN 18

                    Live Band Rockit Fly (USA)     The Abbey     80's Hard Rock

SATURDAY JUN 19

               DJ Digital Dot (USA)     Oasis On The River (Sanford)     Hardstyle

SATURDAY JUN 19

                    DJ Artbat (UA)     The Vanguard     Deep House / Techno

SATURDAY JUN 19

          DJ Atrak (CDN)     Gilt Concert Venue     House / EDM / Heavy Bass

Trip Report: Golden Circle (Iceland)

One of the most popular tourist activities in Iceland is to drive or take a tour bus along the "Golden Circle". Located about an hour east of Reyjkavik, it's an area that bridges the rift valley that cuts through Iceland and is thus full of geothermal activities.

This giant lake takes up a large part of Þingvellir National Park which is located along the circle.

Snowcapped mountains abound through this area.

Including this trio. Supposedly to trick potential settlers, Vikings named the very-green Iceland for ice while the very icy Greenland was named for green. The opposites of course were true.

The Golden Circle does not actually go into any snow at this time of the year. With sunset around midnight and sunrise around 3AM, it does not get very dark in Iceland in mid-summer.

At the eastern extreme end of the Golden Circle, a geysir field.

Along with bubbling mudpots. If you've ever been to Yellowstone, this is similar.

The geysir named Geysir, from which the word comes, no longer erupts with any consistency following some earthquakes. The nearby Strokkur geysir erupts every 5-10 minutes.

It's cool to watch but not as impressive as Old Faithful.

Also nearby is the Gullfoss waterfall where the Hvítá River brings water from a glacial lake in the Icelandic highlands and plunges into this deep gorge in the rift valley.

The roar is impressive and it's possible to follow the stairs and pathway even closer.

It was cold, rainy and windy during my visit so I passed on that!

Continuing the circular route back towards Reykjavik, the Kerið Crater is believed to be the magma chamber of a former volcano that collapsed into itself once it became depleted. Unlike the previous volcanic features seen so far which had black and grey volcanic rock, this area has red volcanic rock.

Stairs and a pathway led to the base here too.

Finally, the Reykjadular Thermal River cut through this range of hills.

Never could find the actual river which flows with hot water in it but did see these numerous hot spots leaking sulfur dioxide out of pores in the mountain. Iceland is so impressive!