PI Update: Pissed-Off

Well, knowing what we know now (but didn't know then), I guess Mannequins Dance Palace did deserve to be pissed-on!

 

Club Report: Remembering Retro Room

Remembering Retro Room Bar this morning, that place on US192 with a Clermont address but actually in what should be called West Kissimmee. Ten years ago in February it was home to an 8TRAX Reunion event.

Featuring former 8TRAX DJ Pete Haynes (USA).

Even when there was no reunion, Retro Room was home to this partly lighted dance floor and a music format that was similar to 8TRAX with 70's Disco and 80's Funk.

It the post-Pleasure Island era, it was a great place to hang out. It lasted at least 5 years before petering out and getting sold. It still operates as a bar with music but the music, from what I can tell, is more on the Hip Hop side. I believe, in my opinion, it went downhill when they opened a kitchen in the place and the smell of grease permeated the air.

But while it lasted, a good time was had by all.

Shipwrecked Music Festival (Tampa)

The legendary DJ Green Velvet (USA) headlined last night's Shipwrecked Music Festival in Tampa and sister website Orlando Entertainment News was there. Check out the pictures here.

 

Concert Report: Bonobo (The Plaza Live)

Downtempo specialist Bonobo (GB/USA) was in town last night for a concert and sister website Orlando Entertainment News was there for the pics. Check it out here.

 

Friday Funny

 

PI Update: The Adventurers Hut?

Long after the demise of the Adventurers Club, the Adventure Club Cart was brought back and stood between the former club and Paradiso 37. Yes, it was the "Adventure" Club Cart, not "Adventurers" Club Cart. It later got moved to a spot between the former AC and the former BET Soundstage building.

Although on the menu board it was something else yet again: Adventurers Hut.

This Weekend In Techno Town

Damn, the end of January already!

FRI     27JAN     IRON COW     DJ Atnarko (USA)

FRI     27JAN     PLAZA LIVE     DJ Bonobo (GB)

FRI     27JAN     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Eskuche (USA)

FRI     27JAN     VANGUARD     DJ duo ATLiens (USA)

SAT    28JAN     GILT CONCERT VENUE     DJ duo Dubdogz (BR)

SAT    28JAN     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Classmatic (BR)

What Happened To Glow Sticks?

As far as I can recall, the final night of Pleasure Island was also around the final night of the use of glow sticks. Remember them? Those plastic fishing lures you broke the seal on, chemicals in the stick mixed together and created a neon green glow. When PI closed in 2008, that coincided with the end of the use of glow sticks by club kids. After PI we switched briefly to CityWalk and then downtown Orlando and have rarely seen anyone use them since then. Kids today just have no idea of the amazing looks you can create as you dance with glow sticks. As this year will be 15 years since PI closed and what is fashionable always runs in cycles, perhaps this is the year of the resurgence of glow sticks!

 

Boardwak, My How You've Changed!

Visiting the Boardwalk in January, 2009. My how you've changed.

Atlantic Dance Hall. Notice the difference between then and now?

Well they do currently open and close an hour earlier than 14 years ago.

Big River Brewery is still there.

Jellyrolls is still there. Boardwalk, my how you've changed. Not!

Club Reports: Neon Beach, Monkey Bar, The Patio, Barbarella

When you go to the booth at Barbarella expecting to find resident DJ Indie John (USA) and instead find DJ Icey (USA). Wow! Saturday night pics are on Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

Club Reports: Ember, Bikkuri Lounge, Gimme Gimme Disco @ The Abbey

You can never go wrong when the crowd is 85% female and we're all singing 70's Disco lyrics out loud! Such was Friday night in Orlando last night and you can find all the pics on Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

Friday Funny

Pleasure Island Blog does not condone this type of nonsense. Our official position is that DJ David Guetta (F) is the leading reason for the resurgence of electronic dance music in the United States and deserves great credit for doing so. We even spoke of this issue back in this 2012 article here.

DS Update: Apricot Lane Reemerges

Apricot Lane was a small women's clothing boutique that operated from August 2011 to August 2013 on Pleasure Island near the Hub. It replaced the Disney owned & operated Changing Attitudes boutique in the same spot.

We mention it today because a new Apricot Lane boutique has opened in downtown Winter Garden along Plant Street. Downtown Winter Garden is a popular place due to its variety of restaurants, bars and local shops. If you've not ever been to DTWG, come check it out!

This Weekend In Techno Town

The calendar for the next month looks strong, even if things slow down a bit this weekend:

FRI     20JAN     BIKKURI     DJ Zoya (BG)

FRI     20JAN     GRUMPYS     DJ DMoney (USA)

SAT    21JAN     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Max Styler (USA)

DS Update: Sosa Cigars Closes

During it's heyday, Sosa Cigars operated two locations around Downtown Disney. There was one in Downtown Disney West Side and this location pictured above on Pleasure Island near the Hub. This latter location was razed during the conversion of the Downtown Disney complex to Disney Springs.

This Sosa Cigars location on the West Side remained open for years post-conversion but sadly they had their last day two weeks ago on January 2nd. They were an original West Side opening store on the strip between Pleasure Island and Cirque do Soleil. Disney has not announced what will be replacing it there.

Trip Report: Crossing The Andes

This is LATAM flight 476 as pictured last night before operating between Buenos Aires and Santiago. The flight from Argentina to Chile involves crossing over the Andes mountain range.

The range is rather narrow and sits mostly on the Chile-Argentina border.

The captain announced that the "Fasten Seatbelt" sign would be on during the crossing of the mountains. This is because mountains can cause updrafts but also because the descent into Santiago occurs immediately west of the mountain range.

The range is pretty stunning, even when flying above them.

Because weather in South America generally moves from east to west or south to north, the opposite of North America, the Andes capture the moisture as rain and snow and there is a rain shadow to the west of the mountains which means a lot of Chile is desert.

Club Reports: 80's Night, Ocean Music Fest, White Hot Glow Party (Norwegian Star)

This cruise on Norwegian Star is rapidly (and sadly) coming to a conclusion and it ended with 3 great onboard parties beginning with 80’s Night. Because uploading is taking 5+ minutes per picture this article can’t be loaded until I get home. UPDATE: Article has now been fully loaded and you'll find it on Orlando Entertainment News here.

Friday Funny

Huh?

This Weekend In Techno Town

Wow, what a great weekend coming up!

THU   12JAN     CELINE NIGHTCLUB     DJ Julian Jeweil (F)

FRI     13JAN     BARBARELLA     DJ Lavidicus (USA) & DJ Rob Bates (USA)

FRI     13JAN     VANGUARD     DJ Nitti Gritti (USA) & DJ Saymyname (USA)

FRI     13JAN     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Dennis Cruz (E)

FRI     13JAN     IRON COW     DJ Heather (USA)

FRI     13JAN     LEVEL 13 EVENT CENTER    DJ duo Calyx & Teebee (GB)

SAT    14JAN     NEON BEACH     DJ Keith Mackenzie (USA) 

SAT    14JAN     IRON OAK POST (Melbourne) DJ Jennifer Marley & all female lineup.

SAT    14JAN     VANGUARD     DJ Dombresky (F)          

Trip Report: Falkland Islands

Finally, a bucket list visit to the Falkland Islands. This is a British territory located off the southern coast of Argentina deep in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It was the site of a brief war in the early 80's between Britain and Argentina following the latter's invasion. It did not end well for Argentina.

Besides numerous war sites and memorials, a lot of the tourism centers around wildlife and particularly penguins. Located just 20 minutes outside the capital of Stanley, Gypsy Cove is the closest location to view them.

You'll find some of them coming and going across the beach and into the surf.

While many can be found near their burrows in the sandy hills surrounding Gypsy Cove. I believe there are 6 species of penguins that inhabit the Falklands but for most of them one must travel to the far side of the main island, or further. But these Magallanic Penguins are so close by and you're not likely to find any at Cocoa Beach.

Club Report: 70's Disco Party, Cape Horn Baptism Ceremony (Norwegian Star)

Continuing on Norwegian Star, we've seen DJ Vito (RP) at many events throughout the cruise. The latest can be found on sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

Trip Report: Strait of Magellan, Chile

 

A few pictures taken last night of mountains and glaciers of southern Chile (Patagonia) as seen from our ship crossing the Strait of Magellan. As it is summer down here and we're very far south, it stays daylight until after 10PM.

Friday Funny

Club Report: Sing It If You Know It Party, Welcome Aboard Party (Norwegian Star)

The next cruise has begun and so has the entertainment. We've posted the first club reports over on sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

This Weekend In Techno Town

Let's check this weekend's event lineup!

THU   05JAN      CELINE            DJ Matt Sassari (F)

SAT    07JAN     VANGUARD     DJ Icey (USA) & DJ Baby Anne (USA)

Trip Report: Norwegian Star

We're traveling again so our articles will not be daily but as often as possible and as often as the ship's internet allows. We're on Norwegian Star doing a 14-nt sailing from Santiago, Chile to Buenos Aires, Argentina. We'll be going "around the horn" and will post a few trip reports along the way plus club reports from the ship. So stay tuned!