PI Update: Great Sign Darkness

Ten years ago this month construction on the Island was going full board. Meanwhile, out on Buena Vista Drive, Pleasure Island's "Great Sign" was still standing there but no longer lit at night and no longer flashing messages to those passing by. These were sad times indeed.

This Weekend In Techno Town

The Labor Day holiday weekend is upon us! Hope to see you Sunday night at HOB.

FRI     01SEP     HEIST LOUNGE     DJ Sola (GB)

FRI     01SEP     HENAO     DJ WEHBBA (BR/E)

FRI     01SEP     VANGUARD     DJ Rusko (GB) & DJ Nitti Gritti (USA)

SAT    02SEP     VANGUARD     DJ Snakehips (GB) 

SAT    02SEP     FIXTION     DJ Crespo (USA)

SUN   03SEP     BARBARELLA     Memento Mori: DJ Lavidicus (USA)

SUN   03SEP     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Classmatic (BR)

SUN   03SEP     HOUSE OF BLUES     DJ Icey (USA), DJ Jimmy Joslin (USA) and more!

PI Update: The PI Bypass

As 2014 was coming to a close, construction along Hill Street on Pleasure Island was about to make that passage impossible to maintain in a safe manner. So it was necessary to build a "bypass" pedestrian causeway around Pleasure Island. Pedestrians would join it on the western end near the balloon ride and follow it around BET Soundstage, Adventurers Club and Paradiso 37. It would connect back to the Island just east of Paradiso at the Hub. Once this was opened, the teardown of the front of 8TRAX and the shops that would go in in front of Mannequins could commence. This would remain operational for much of 2015.

 

AAHZ Is ON!

DJ Kimball Collins (USA) has confirmed to Orlando Entertainment News that the annual AAHZ Reunion is ON for Thanksgiving Eve at The Beacham. This year that's Wednesday, November 22nd. We'll keep you updated on lineup announcements and advance ticket links.

 

Club Reports: High Tide, Elixir Bar, Barbarella

British DJ's two nights in a row. Saturday night included DJ Chapter & Verse (GB) at Elixir Bar and you can find all the Saturday night pics on Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

Club Reports: Nook, Sportstown, Iron Cow

DJ James Zabiela (GB) was only playing San Diego and Orlando this trip and sister website Orlando Entertainment News was there for the latter. Check out Friday night pics here.

Friday Funny

 

PI Update: Just Before The Wrecking Ball Arrived

Ten years ago this month, the WC building which stood by the bridge from Downtown Disney West Side was still there......but not for long.

The BET Soundstage building was still there.....but not for long.

Laffers Cantina was still there.....but not for long.

The front of 8TRAX was still there. The Curl by Sammy Duval building was still there. But not for long.

This Weekend In Techno Town

The final weekend of August before Labor Day weekend arrives!

FRI     25AUG     IRON COW     DJ James Zabiela (GB)

FRI     25AUG     HENAO     DJ Synergy (USA)

SAT    26AUG     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Chapter & Verse (GB)

SAT    26AUG     GILT CONCERT VENUE     DJ Bhaskar (BR)

SAT    26AUG     THE VANGUARD     Tribute to Daft Punk (F)

SUN   27AUG     HEIST LOUNGE     DJ Degs (GB)  

SUN   27AUG     ELIXIR BAR     DJ duo Cocodrills (USA)

CW Update: What's New At Universal CityWalk

This past Thursday night our sister website Orlando Entertainment News was out at Universal CityWalk to see what's up and check out the latest rumors. You can find the article here.

 

DS Update: Labor Day Bash Is Arriving Soon

Everybody knows that DJ Peapod (USA) was the Friday & Saturday night DJ at Mannequins but they might not recall that he was also the Sunday night DJ. But if you ever went to Mannequins on a Sunday night, you'd realize how deserted the place was. That's because Sunday nights belonged to House of Blues and their famous Service Industry Night! Over the years, some of the resident DJ's for SIN at HOB included Magic Mike (USA), DJ Sandy (USA) and Jimmy Joslin (USA).

Coming up on the Sunday night of Labor Day weekend is a re-creation of those magic Sundays at HOB. We can't call it SIN but we will call it the Labor Day Bash. Magic, Sandy and Jimmy will all be playing along with Stanton Warriors (GB), Si-Dog (USA) and the biggest of them all, DJ Icey (USA). Expect a lot of Breaks and Old Skool. Tickets at the HOB box office or in advance here.

Concert Report: Levitation (Melbourne)

An all-female DJ lineup last night in Melbourne included this DJ trio, The Geishaz Takeover (USA). Pictures of the entire event can be found on sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

Club Reports: Opa, Hampton Social, Blue Martini, Ice Bar, The Vanguard

DJ Rincon (USA) was formerly a resident DJ at both House of Blues in Disney Springs as well as at The Groove in Universal CityWalk. We saw him last night playing at IceBar Orlando, just one of the stops made along International Drive. The pics are here.

Friday Funny

I've studied this for awhile and still can't get it, lol.

DS Update: Poutine!

The Daily Poutine was doing brisk business during our visit last weekend. As you may know, poutine is made up of hot french fries covered in brown gravy and cheese curds. It's a specialty in Canada but you don't find it much in the United States, even in border cities. But there is this outdoor kiosk in Disney Springs.

During our visit to Windsor, Ontario two weeks ago, we stopped by the food court in their shopping mall for some poutine at the A&W Root Beer restaurant. The fries were fresh, the brown gravy was hot and we skipped the cheese. So good!

This Weekend In Techno Town

A bit more activity this weekend than we've seen on the two prior August weekends:

THU   17AUG     BEACHAM     DJ Jai Wolf (BD/USA)

FRI     18AUG     VANGUARD     DJ duo Cash Cash (USA)

FRI     18AUG     ATLANTIC DANCE HALL     DisNite: The Era's

FRI     18AUG     HENAO CONTEMPORARY CENTER     DJ Will Kyza (USA)

SAT    19AUG     IRON OAK POST (Melbourne)  Levitation: All Female DJ Lineup 

SAT    19AUG     ELIXIR BAR     DJ duo Tom & Collins (MEX)

SUN   20AUG     HEIST     Torque:  DJ Degs (GB)

PI Update: The Line Never Ends

It doesn't matter.  10AM.....

.....or 10PM. The line NEVER ends at Gideon's Bakehouse!

DS Update: Summer House

East-facing view of Summer House on the Lake. Appears that the main entrance to the restaurant will be in this corner diagonal from Splitsville Lanes.

West-facing view looking over the construction barrier directly into the building. They still have a predicted 2023 opening but we're skeptical that this can open in the next 4.5 months. But we'll keep an eye on it. Summer House is a concept owned by Lettuce Entertain You restaurants out of Chicago.

Club Reports: Disney Springs & Atlantic Dance Hall

One of the original music acts on Pleasure Island after the clubs were shuttered was the Andre Caram Band (USA) ft. Drey-C. We saw him on the Waterside Stage last night in Disney Springs Marketplace during our visit looking for entertainment. Saturday night pics are on OEN here.

 

Club Reports: Proper Barbarella, Iron Cow

Last night headlining DJ Colette (USA) actually sang some of her own vocals. Orlando Entertainment News was there for the pictures. Check them out here.

 

Friday Funny

 

PI Update: Memorabilia In The Marketplace Co-Op

Blog-reader Troy reports to Save Pleasure Island Blog that he recently spotted some Pleasure Island memorabilia inside Marketplace Co-Op store in Disney Springs Marketplace. He says, "you're near the Mr. Toad vehicle and look back toward the register, they have quite a bit of old Pleasure Island stuff above it. Scooter, the peacock, from Adventurers Club is there, along with a Pleasure Island sign, a surfboard from Rock N Roll Beach Club, and a few other things." We'll try to check this stuff out the next time we're visiting Disney Springs! Thank you, Troy!!  (Photo: Disneysprings.com)

This Weekend In Techno Town

We're in the dog days of summer so yet another weekend with just a few events:

FRI     11AUG     CELINE     DJ Ranger Trucco (USA)

FRI     11AUG     VANGUARD     DJ Malaa (F)

FRI     11AUG     BARBARELLA     Memento Mori: DJ Lavidicus (USA)

FRI     11AUG     IRON COW     DJ Colette (USA)

SAT    12AUG    IRON COW     DJ Flashdrive (USA)

SUN   12AUG    ELIXIR BAR     DJ Sam Divine (GB)

PI Update: Island Signs

Ten years ago this month many of the signs we knew and loved were still standing on the Island. This is even though it had been nearly 5 years since Pleasure Island clubs were shuttered. The Pleasure Island sign atop Mannequins was still there!

Adjacent the No. 2 Bridge, the advertising sign was still there. Sadly, no more nightclubs being advertised!

Sosa Cigars was still operational even if Motion and Rock'N'Roll Beach Club beside it had been demolished!

Of course the beautiful Pleasure Island signs at each of the bridges, looking particularly awesome at night, were still there as well.

Concert Report: DJ Kyle Watson (Elixir Bar)

We don't get out often on Sunday nights but when DJ Kyle Watson (ZA) was in town, we had to go. You can find the article on Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

The Landing, Dracula’s Legacy, Pier Teaki, Saint, Floridian Theater, Saigon Blonde, Goodnight John Boy (St. Petersburg)

This is the pier in downtown St. Petersburg and up on top, home to rooftop bar Pier Teaki. It was just one of the many stops we made last night on our DTSP club tour. The pics are here.

 

Trip Report: Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Taking care of some business in the Detroit area this past Thursday, I included a quick visit across the border into Canada.

In this area The United States and Canada are separated by the Detroit River and going to Canada requires using one of only two methods available, the 1928-opened Ambassador Bridge.

After crossing one has to deal with Canada Border Services. My agent was a bit skeptical of my reason for this short visit to his country but he eventually gave me permission to enter.

Welcome to Canada!

Behind that large Canadian flag is the Detroit River and those buildings on the other side are in downtown Detroit in the United States. Windsor has a lively downtown area of its own with offices, shops, and restaurants. There are also clubs and we did some club hopping in 2014 as shown here.

There is a park along the river on the Canadian side with amazing views of Detroit. This is the only place along the Canadian-American border where Canada is south of the United States!

Looking down river, a nice view of the Ambassador Bridge too. The Detroit River connects Lake Huron to the north with Lake Erie to the south and eventually flows out into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Ambassador Bridge will likely lose a LOT of its traffic when the under-construction Gordie Howe International Bridge opens a couple miles further south. It's named for Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe who played most of his career over the bridge for the Detroit Red Wings. Since it will directly connect the American Interstate system (I-75) with the Ontario 400-series freeway system (Hwy 401) and also bypass local streets, most truckers will switch to the new bridge. The new bridge is likely to join the E-ZPass toll transponder scheme as well, something lacking at the current bridge.

The second current method for crossing the river is via the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. It connects the two downtown areas directly but gets very congested during rush hours. With my quick visit, there was no traffic to contend with.

There it is, heading under the river!

It's always exciting to visit another country, even for just a quick visit, but it's also always great to be back in the United States of America!

Friday Funny

This Weekend In Techno Town

Not much "big name" action this first weekend in August!

FRI     04AUG     VANGUARD     DJ duo Yellow Claw (NL)

SUN   06AUG     McQUEENS     DJ Phoenix Jagger (USA)

SUN   06AUG     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Kyle Watson (ZA)

 

DS Update: NBA Experience Building Still Vacant

When Disney demolished DisneyQuest and replaced it with the equally massive NBA Experience, we expressed skepticism that this was a wise idea. Universal had recently closed its NBA City Restaurant in CityWalk after a long run but what made Disney think a NBA-themed attraction would do any better? It didn't. It opened around June, 2019 and then closed with Disney's covid-19 closures in early 2020. When those closures ended and Disney Springs reopened, NBA Experience did not.

Part of the problem no doubt is the massive size of the building. It's tall and it runs deep. Maybe Ridemakerz can move in and fill the bottom floor like it did when the Virgin Records store closed!