Thursday, June 29, 2023

PI Update: Island View

This is a mid-2011 view of Pleasure Island taken from the parking lot side of the No. 2 Bridge. At this stage both Motion and Rock'N'Roll Beach Club had been razed which is why the background in this photo looks so odd.

 

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

This Weekend In Techno Town

Well it's a holiday weekend in the United States but only a few events overall in Orlando:

FRI     30JUN     AREA 142 (COCOA BEACH)     DJ Versa-Style Tribute Event

SAT    01JUL     STREAMLINE HOTEL (DAYTONA)     701 South Reunion

SAT    01JUL     THE VANGUARD     Rabbit In The Moon (USA)

SAT    01JUL     IRON COW     DJ Robby Clark (USA) & DJ Scott Riley (USA)

SAT    01JUL     MONKEY BAR     DJ Hulian (USA)

SUN   02JUL     THE VANGUARD     DJ duo Sidepiece (USA)

SUN    02JUL     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Sosa (DOM)

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

PI Update: 9 Years Ago Today

Nine years ago today Save Pleasure Island Blog was up in the sky taking a picture of high-line construction taking place below. You may recall that concept art showed an observation deck up there accessed via stairs and an elevator but that never happened. The dirt area was to be called Expo Park but it was renamed Food Truck Park.

 

Monday, June 26, 2023

DS Update: Yes We Have No Fireworks

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since we snapped this photograph at the old Downtown Disney complex. But one thing has not changed and that is on the 4th of July next week, there will be no fireworks at Disney Springs. 

 "Walt Disney World will celebrate July 4 with nighttime spectaculars at EPCOT and Magic Kingdom." "Note that there will not be fireworks shows at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs."

Sunday, June 25, 2023

Club Reports: Elixir Bar, The Patio, Aero Bar, Henao Contemporary Center

DJ Nela (USA) at Aero Bar was just one of the great DJ's we saw last night at our various stops around Orlando. You can find all the pictures here.

 

Saturday, June 24, 2023

PI Update: Permanent Vacation Has Arrived

Adventurers Club fans will enjoy this new tiki bar called Permanent Vacation which has opened in an unmarked location in Maitland. Sister website Orlando Entertainment News visited last night. Check it out here.

 

Thursday, June 22, 2023

The World's Top 100 Clubs

DJ Mag readers have voted for the Top 100 clubs in the world but only one of them is in Florida! We talk about this over on Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

PI Update: When Obama Visited The Island

Tomorrow will be the anniversary of President Obama's famous visit to Pleasure Island back in 2012. He had been meeting with Disney executives elsewhere on property when his entourage made an unexpected stop on the Island. He gave a short impromptu speech as shown above. Speaking to the surprised crowd and members of the Press, he announced that he wanted to see Pleasure Island dance and comedy clubs reopened. He was pleading to top Disney management when he exclaimed, "Chairman Iger, tear down this wall!"  He said he wants to see Motion rebuilt, would like to hang out with the Colonel sometime and hopes to take a spin on the revolving dance floor at Mannequins before his second term ends. 

 Yes, there was still hope back in 2012 but there's no hope now.

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

This Weekend In Techno Town

Big drop-off in concert activity this weekend compared to the past few weekends:

THU   22JUN     McQUEENS     DJ Hulian (USA)

FRI     23JUN     VANGUARD     DJ Pauly D (USA)

SAT    24JUN     PROPER     DJ Chino (USA)

SAT    24JUN     VANGUARD     DJ Pickle (USA)

SAT    24JUN     ELIXIR     DJ Bontan (GB)

SAT    24JUN    HENAO EVENT CENTER     DJ Henry Brooks (USA)


Monday, June 19, 2023

PI Update: Remembering Those Construction Walls

 

Ten years ago this month Pleasure Island was a vast construction zone as work had already begun to demolish some venues and renovate others to become restaurants. Construction walls were up all over the Island and it was indeed a sad time.

Sunday, June 18, 2023

Concert Report: Driven AM Showcase (Iron Cow)

DJ Random Movement (USA) was the headliner at last night's Drum & Bass show at Iron Cow and sister website Orlando Entertainment News was there. Check out the pictures here.

Saturday, June 17, 2023

Club Reports: The Robinson, The Vanguard, Grumpys Underground

It was a night of Breaks at Grumpys Undergound but DJ Darcii Darka (USA) went DnB on us! All the Friday night club pics are on OEN right here.

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

This Weekend In Techno Town

A busy weekend coming up in Orlando's dance scene. Check it out!

FRI     16JUN     IRON COW     DJ Jay Tripwire (CDN)

FRI     16JUN     CELINE     DJ Nora En Pure (ZA/CH)

FRI     16JUN     VANGUARD     DJ Ben Nicky (GB)

FRI     16JUN     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Marten Hørger (D)

FRI     16JUN     GRUMPY's  DJ Darcii Darka (USA)

SAT    17JUN     IRON COW     DJ Quivver (GB)   CANCELLED

SAT    17JUN     IRON COW     DJ Random Movement (USA) (moved from Heist)

SAT    17JUN     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Beltran (USA)

SUN   18JUN     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Sohmi (USA)


Tuesday, June 13, 2023

PI Update: What Happened To Our Clubs?

Do you recall what became of our clubs?

MANNEQUINS: Renovated to become restaurant Morimoto Asia.

8TRAX: Renovated to become the kitchen of Morimoto Asia. The former front section of the club was demolished and it is where SANUK and Art of Shaving now stand. Between the shops and the kitchen there supposedly is a non-renovated area that looks like the remains of 8TRAX.

MOTION: Demolished. Restaurant Boathouse now stands in that area.

ADVENTURERS CLUB: Renovated and now home to club/restaurant The Edison.

COMEDY WAREHOUSE: Demolished. Restaurant STK now occupies the space.

SOUNDSTAGE CLUB: Demolished. Maria & Enzo's restaurant is now there.

ROCK'N'ROLL BEACH CLUB: Demolished. Now home to lounge Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar and the Waterview Stage entertainment area.

And that's that!

Monday, June 12, 2023

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Forbidden Kingdom Music Festival

Our sister website Orlando Entertainment News has lots of pictures from yesterday's Forbidden Kingdom Music Festival in Orlando. You can find them all here.

 

Saturday, June 10, 2023

Club Reports: Proper, Barbarella, Bikkuri Lounge

DJ Ben Gold (GB) joined DJ Suzy Solar (USA) last night for "Lost In Trancelation" at Bikkuri Lounge and it was one of three club stops Orlando Entertainment News made last night. The pics are here.

 

Thursday, June 8, 2023

Two Musical Festivals This Weekend

There's not one but actually two different major music festivals taking place this weekend in Orlando. Dirtybird CampINN is oriented towards mostly House music. More information on OEN here.

Forbidden Kingdom is also happening and is oriented towards mostly Heavy Bass & Dubstep. More information on OEN here.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

This Weekend In Techno Town

Two big music festivals in town this weekend plus an assortment of other events:

THU   08JUN     CAMPINN PREPARTY     DJ Green Velvet (USA) 

THU   08JUN     CELINE     DJ Boogie T (USA)

FRI     09JUN     BIKKURI     DJ Ben Gold (GB) & DJ Suzy Solar (USA)

FRI     09JUN     BARBARELLA     Memento Mori: DJ Lavidicus (USA)

SAT    10JUN     MONKEY BAR     DJ Manny Ocasio (USA)

SAT   10JUN     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Oscar G (USA)

SUN  11JUN     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Ms. Mada (USA)

Forbidden Kingdom Music Festival FRI/SAT at Central Florida Fairgrounds

Dirtybird CampInn FRI/SAT/SUN at Wyndham Resort



Tuesday, June 6, 2023

DS Update: Entertainment Staff

One of the companies with an apparent DJ entertainment contract with Disney for Disney Springs is Event Concepts.

The company is headed by DJ Steve Dunlap (USA) as seen here in this Blog archive photo from June, 2013. This company apparently also has the contract for Atlantic Dance Hall.

Monday, June 5, 2023

ADH Update: NYE @ ADH

Atlantic Dance Hall is always a popular place on New Years Eve and since we visited this past Saturday night, it got me thinking about my very first visit there. I thought for sure that my first visit was the first New Years Eve immediately following the closure of  Pleasure Island clubs in 2008. But in looking back at Blog history, I was mistaken. This is our January 1, 2009 entry:  
Had planned to spend New Year's Eve at Atlantic Dance Hall. Unfortunately, tickets sold out early and I couldn't even get near the place as Disney Security directed those without tickets to the already full overflow lot. That left few last-minute choices so I headed over to Pleasure Island to see what was happening there. Surely the rumors were true that they'd reopen up at least one venue to handle the masses. Not!
So apparently it was the following NYE when I made sure to get in the queue early for those coveted Atlantic Dance Hall NYE tickets.   PHOTO: DJ Talie (USA) at club Motion

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Club Reports: Electronic Downtown Bar Crawl, Atlantic Dance Hall

First a downtown bar crawl followed by DJ Michael Wycoff (USA) at Atlantic Dance Hall. What a great Saturday night and you'll find the pictures on sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Club Reports: Kala Rooftop Lounge, Red Coconut Club, Iron Cow

The Red Coconut Club is operational again, at least for the summer. Our sister website Orlando Entertainment News was there last night to see Friday night resident DJ Chino (USA). The pics can be found here.

 

Thursday, June 1, 2023

PI Update: They Were Still There!

June, 2013 was 10 years ago this month and nearly 5 years after the clubs closed. Yet Pleasure Island was still there!

The Pleasure Island clubs sign was still there.

The old tickets booths were still there.
 
Sosa Cigars was still there.

PI Live Bar was still there.

Curl by Sammy Duval was still there.

8TRAX was still there.

And last, but never least, Mannequins was still there!