Friday Funny

Always liked that song.

 

Trip Report: Avalon, Catalina Island, California

Part of  Los Angeles County in California, Catalina Island is located just under 30 miles off the coast of the mainland. The main town is Avalon, located on the east side of the island. Most of the island is a nature conservatory.

The main street facing the harbor is filled with souvenir shops and restaurants.

The Casino Building is the main landmark of the island. No longer a casino, it's now being used as a theater.

There is a Chime Tower which plays bells every fifteen minutes.

There's even a Vons grocery store, lol. Catalina Island is a beautiful island but I would get bored here after one day. Happy to be getting back on my ship and sailing away.

This Weekend In Techno Town

Activity slows down for this final weekend of April. 

THU   25APR     CELINE     DJ Zingara (USA)

FRI     26APR     MORSE CODE     DJ Johnny Park (USA)

SAT    27APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Amal Nemer (USA)

SUN   28APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Yulia Niko (D/USA)

SUN   28APR     GRAPE & GRAIN     DJ Mathew Scot (USA)

Club Report: Sail-Away Party (Carnival Radiance)

The first party on every cruise is the Sail-Away Party and on Carnival Radiance, that was led by DJ Selector Twis (SLU). The party pics are on Orlando Entertainment News here.

Trip Warning!

Another KingBob trip is underway so our articles may appear at odd times. Look for some Club Reports from the cruise ships we'll be sailing on as well as some Trip Reports from various destinations along the way. Our last trip in February involved 7 flights to and from but this trip, just 2 flights. For those that know your IATA airport and airline codes, here are the segments:

 DL  MCO - LAX 

WS  YVR-MCO

Club Reports: AC Sky Bar, Arena Art Bar, Elixir Bar

Most of us remember this place as Suite B Lounge or Peek Downtown but they're back in business as the Arena Art Bar. It was one of the venues Orlando Entertainment News visited last night. Check out all the pictures right here.

 

Club Reports: Disney Club v Universal Club

Mouseketeers, Princesses & Fairies, OH MY! Last night Orlando Entertainment News held our annual Disney club vs Universal club comparison. The pics are here.

 

Friday Funny

It pays to know the difference between music genres.

 

This Weekend In Techno Town

It's another Party Weekend!

FRI     19APR     BARBARELLA     Indie Night: DJ Smilin' Dan (USA)

FRI     19APR     CELINE     DJ Galo (USA)

FRI     19APR     VANGUARD     DJ NGHTMRE (USA)

SAT    20APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ duo Cocodrills (USA)

SAT    20APR     BARBARELLA     DJ trio Smilin' Dan, Lavidicus, Rob Bates (USA)

SAT    20APR     ARENA ART BAR:     DJ JROK (USA) , DJ MS MF (USA)

SUN   21APR     IRON COW     DJ Phibes (GB)

SUN   21APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Kolter (D)

PI Update: Sign Of The Times

While there are no longer any "Pleasure Island" signs around, there really are no customer-facing "The Landing" signs around either. That's why we continue to call it Pleasure Island. How would anyone know any different?

DS Update: Cheap Eats?

Was having a discussion recently about the cheapest places to eat in Disney Springs. Of course nothing there is inexpensive but there are several cheaper options. We believe the absolutely cheapest option in the Springs is the B.B. Wolf's kiosk where you can get a hot dog, chips and a drink for under $20. Of course you'll have to find somewhere nearby to sit.

Slightly higher in price would be Chicken Guy, where you can get a hot food chicken strips meal including a drink for around $20. And here they have both indoor and outdoor seating. Not pictured is the Earl of Sandwich where a hot sandwich, a bag of chips and a drink will be in that $20 price range. Lots of people eat in Disney Springs. Not many people eat cheap in Disney Springs.

Club Reports: Aero Bar, Morse Code, Barbarella

While we are working on our 8TRAX Reunion event, Winter Park nightclub Morse Code held a 70's Night of their own last night and Orlando Entertainment News visited. The pics are here.

Club Reports: Room 22, The Robinson, Iron Cow

It's always a great night of music when Stanton Warriors (GB) is playing in Orlando. Friday night pics are on sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

Friday Funny

That's us at the home!

This Weekend In Techno Town

More good stuff this weekend! 

THU   11APR     MCQUEENS     DJ Pacho Berrocal (USA)

FRI     12APR     CELINE     DJ Alberto Dimeo (USA)

FRI     12APR     BARBARELLA     Memento Mori: DJ Lavidicus (USA)

FRI     12APR     IRON COW     DJ duo Stanton Warriors (GB)

SAT    13APR     MORSE CODE     DJ Mighty Shari (USA)

SAT    13APR     VANGUARD     DJ Timmy Trumpet (AUS)

SAT/SUN 13-14APR     CEN FL FAIRGROUNDS     Florida Groves Music Festival

SUN    14APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Seth Troxler (USA)

PI Update: As Though They Never Existed!

Looking at some more April, 2014 pics.....ten years ago!

People hanging out beside Mannequins; ignoring the place, as though it never existed!

People walking past BET Soundstage, ignoring the place, as though it never existed!

PI Update: Walls Everywhere!

Walls everywhere, April 2014.

 

Trip Report: Boston Views

View of downtown Boston from Logan Airport.

View of downtown Boston from Marina Bay.

PI Update: An 8TRAX Reunion Is Coming!

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, June 29th. 

 

 

An 8TRAX Reunion is coming and you won't want to miss it! 

Details & Flyer soon.

Friday Funny

 

PI Update: The World's Best Cookies? Must Be!

When we last visited Pleasure Island a couple weeks ago, even at 10PM, there was a long line of customers in the queue for cookies and sweet snacks at Gideon's Bakehouse. We've still never actually tried their products because the line is always so lengthy. Some day!

This Weekend In Techno Town

Orlando remains busy this weekend!

WED  03APR     OLE RED     DJ Chino (USA)     tonight

THU   04APR     CELINE     DJ Ian Asher (USA)

FRI     05APR     CELINE     DJ Will Clarke (GB)

FRI     05APR     VANGUARD     DJ INZO (USA)

FRI     05APR     LEVEL 13 EVENT CENTER     DJ duo Golf Clap (USA)

FRI     05APR     MORSE CODE     DJ Knightlife (USA)

SAT    06APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Moblack (GH/USA)

SAT    06APR     IRON COW     DJ JASK (USA)

SAT    06APR     BARBARELLA     DJ Smilin' Dan (USA)

SUN   07APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Latmun (GB)

Trip Report: 4 New Airlines Added To My Roster

During last month's trip to South Africa and beyond, I had the occasion to fly 4 new (to me) airlines. My brand of choice is Delta which was flown MCO-ATL on a Boeing 757-200 and then ATL-CPT on an Airbus A350-900. Delta was the only U.S. based airline flown on this trip. Pictured above: Delta on arrival at CPT.

For the one day trip to Windhoek, Namabia, we flew on Airlink which is a South African airline. One day the route was CPT-WDH, returning the next day WDH-CPT. Both days involved the same aircraft, an Embraer E-135. Pictured above on the tarmac at WDH.

Returning home involved 3 airlines, all new to me. This is a South African Airways Airbus A320 flying from MRU to JNB. The service was extremely friendly and exceeded expectations. Pictured at MRU.

The JNB-FRA segment was flown by Condor, a German airline. They use an Airbus A330-900 on this route. This flight departed at night and flew over Africa before arriving into FRA in the morning. The service was good. Aircraft pictured at FRA.

Lastly from FRA to MCO, the flight was flown by German carrier Discover Airlines on an Airbus A330-200. Lufthansa used to fly the Orlando route but a couple years ago they switched it over to Discover, a low cost carrier they own. Discover also flies to Fort Myers and Tampa, other leisure markets while Lufthansa flies to Miami, a business market. The service was also good. Aircraft pictured at WDH.

PI Update: The Day We Broke The News IHOP Was Coming To Mannequins

We originally posted this story on April 1st, 2011. Downtown Disney officials confirmed in a press conference early Thursday evening that the former Mannequins Dance Palace night club is going to be converted into a revolving International House of Pancakes restaurant slated to open by December, 2011. According to Downtown Disney Vice-President Keith Bradford, this will be the first IHOP ever on-property and first revolving IHOP in the world. He called it an exciting new addition to Pleasure Island.  "Surveys continue to show that our Guests want more restaurant options when visiting Walt Disney World and there has been in particular requests for something open 24/7. We listen to our Guests and are thrilled to be able to offer this option."

Describing the upcoming renovations, three sides of the building will have mostly glass walls to give diners an extensive view outdoors as the central area of the restaurant completes one full revolution every four minutes. "Evening diners will be able to view the dancing fountains in Village Lake as well as activities at the waterfront Amphitheater."  "The thousands of lights that transform the area into an electric wonderland will be fully visible," he said. Likely to become a tourist attraction in its own right, the IHOP will feature Mickey-shaped Belgian Waffles. When questioned about his reference to Pleasure Island, Bradford conceded that when they learned that the cost to replace that huge Pleasure Island sign on top of the Mannequins building alone was over $8 million, they decided that there was no real need to change the name to Hyperion Wharf. 

Club Reports: Silent Disco @ Orlando Science Center, Proper, Elixir Bar

DJ Bakke (CO/USA) was one of the DJ highlights last night and Orlando Entertainment News was there to take pictures. Check it out here.

 

Club Reports: Swirlery Wine Bar, The Parkview, Morse Code, AVA MM, Grumpys Underground

Our Friday night outing included seeing DJ Jason Brown (USA) at our first stop. The pictures are on sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

Friday Funny

 

PI Update: Save The Date, An 8TRAX Reunion Is Coming!

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, June 29th

We're going to have an 8TRAX Reunion event.

Details & Flyer coming soon.

This Weekend In Techno Town

There's a surprising amount of activity this weekend!

THU   28MAR     CELINE     DJ Jeanie (USA)

FRI     29MAR     VANGUARD     DJ Midnight Tyrannosaurus (USA)

FRI     29MAR     CELINE     DJ Classmatic (BR)

FRI     29MAR     MONKEY BAR     DJ Tia Ariel (USA) 

FRI     29MAR     SOCIAL DISTANCE (Satellite Beach) DJ Magic Mike (USA)

SAT    30MAR     VANGUARD     DJ Matroda (HR)

SAT    30MAR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Bakke (CO)

SAT    30MAR     WALL ST PLAZA     DJ Biscits (GB)

SUN   31MAR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Ahmed Spins (MA)

SUN   31MAR     CELINE     DJ Victor Lou (BR)

SUN   31MAR     IRON COW     DJ Degs (GB)

PI Update: Remembering Laffers Cantina

It's hard to believe but 15 years ago this month, Laffers Cantina had reopened for business on an otherwise dead Pleasure Island. The bar's name came from it being adjacent Comedy Warehouse. Facing West End Plaza, the bar operated on the lower level while the upper level began use as a DJ booth to play music to guests passing by.

This Week In 1980

When I was growing up in Chicagoland there were two Top 40 radio stations that competed with each other. Those were WCFL located at 1000 on the AM dial and WLS, located at 890 on the AM dial. And this week in 1980, this was the hit parade! WOW!

 

MMW Day 3: Sunshine State Of Bass (Savage Labs Wynwood)

DJ duo Snack Pack (USA) was one of the great musical acts playing Saturday night of Miami Music Week. You can see all of the pics from that event on Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

MMW Day 2: The Get Down 3.0 (The Joint Of Miami)

A live appearance by Egyptian Lover (USA) was just one of the many highlights that took place at The Joint of Miami for this year's "The Get Down" event on Friday night. The pics are on Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

MMW Day 1: Nexus Radio Lounge (South Beach)

Nexus Radio is an internet radio station that features Electronic Dance Music. This past Thursday we visited with them as they interviewed dozens of the world's top DJ's who were in Miami for Miami Music Week. Pictured above, Ron from Nexus Radio chatting with DJ Anabel Englund (USA). You can find pics from this event on Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

It's MMW Time!

We're headed down to Miami Music Week this morning to cover several events and Orlando Entertainment News will be posting coverage tomorrow (for today's activities), Saturday (for Friday activities) & Sunday (for Saturday activities.) We'll be posting links to the pics here on SPI Blog so back tune-in.

 

This Weekend In Techno Town

This is Miami Music Week and the reality is everyone is down there this weekend and not here.

SAT     23MAR     IRON COW     DJ Tedd Patterson (USA)

SAT     23MAR     LEVEL 13 EVENT CENTER     DJ Stylus (USA) 

SAT     23MAR     ATLANTIC DANCE HALL     DJ Mynd (USA)

DS Update: What's New?

The closed Everything But Water store in the Arcade Building, Disney Springs Town Center, has been replaced with Rothy's. It's a casual shoe store for men, women and children.

Meanwhile, the closed Art of Shaving store on Hill Street, Pleasure Island remains empty. A sign on the window indicates something is coming soon but that might just be a generic sign and not be referring to anything specific. We'll keep you updated!