DS Update: Johnny Is

Every time we visit Disney Springs we make a point of checking to see if this store is still in business. It's been there since Disney Springs Town Center first opened. If it ever went out of business, we could say "Johnny Was". But as of this week, they are still there so we will simply say "Johnny Is".

This Weekend In Techno Town

EDC-Las Vegas this weekend has most of the DJ talent playing out there.

THU   16MAY     McQUEENS     DJ Protaxia (USA)

FRI     17MAY     CELINE     EARLY SHOW: The Polish Ambassador (USA)

FRI     17MAY     CELINE     LATE SHOW: Bresh (I)

FRI     17MAY     VANGUARD     DJ Orma (USA)

FRI     17MAY     IRON COW     DJ Dave Seaman (GB)

FRI     17MAY     HOUSE OF BLUES     Ariana Grande Night (USA)

SAT    18MAY     IRON COW     DJ LTJ Bukem (GB) with DJ AK1200 (USA)

SAT    18MAY     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Oscar G (USA) 

PI Update: Pollo Campero Is Back In The Orlando Market

Guatemala City-based fast food chicken chain Pollo Campero is back in the Orlando market with a store on Orange Avenue not far from the ORMC medical campus.

You may recall they used to have a restaurant in Downtown Disney Marketplace. They had taken over and renovated the former McDonald's location in 2010 before closing in early 2014. We tried it out last week and their fried chicken (pictured) is soooo good! (The corn tortilla though still tastes like vulcanized rubber.)

PI Update: Signs Of The Times

Ten years ago this month, the Pleasure Island sign still remained in numerous locations even though the clubs had been closed for 5.5 years.

Club Reports: Proper, Fixtion, Monkey Bar, Aero Bar, Elixir Bar, Vanguard

Our post-cruise hunt for House music in downtown Orlando continued last night and we found some wherever we went. One of the highlights was seeing DJ ALMISTIC (CO/USA) at Elixir Bar. Saturday night pics are on Orlando Entertainment News here.

Club Reports: The Patio, The Beacham, The Corner, Schmankerl Stub’n, Grumpys Underground, Barbarella

DJ Rincon (USA) used to be a resident DJ at House of Blues in Downtown Disney West Side. Last night we ran into him at The Corner in downtown Orlando. It was just one of numerous stops Orlando Entertainment News made last night. The pics are here.

 

Friday Funny

Trip Report: Random Tags

Planned to visit beautiful Pleasure Island yesterday but Baskin-Robbins unexpectedly had our favorite flavor of ice cream in stock so it was necessary to head straight home with a couple quarts. So we're posting this filler article of the tags of the four states and provinces visited during our most-recent cruise. CALIFORNIA

BAJA CALIFORNIA

OREGON

BRITISH COLUMBIA

This Weekend In Techno Town

Seems like we have more postponements this weekend than events!

THU   09MAY    THE BEACHAM     EMO Night

FRI     10MAY    CELINE     DJ Blackchild (I)

FRI     10MAY    BARBARELLA     Memento Mori: DJ Lavidicus (USA) 

SAT    11MAY    VANGUARD     DJ duo Bonnie X Clyde (USA) ppd to 9/27

SAT    11MAY    LOT 54 AT THE VANGUARD    DJ Dom Dolla (AUS) ppd to 9/7

 

UO Update: Universal Also To Premier New Drone Show

Hot on the heels of Disney's announcement of a new free drone show at Disney Springs, Universal Orlando Resort has announced their own drone & fountains extravaganza to take place in and above the lagoon inside Universal Studios. Over 200 fountains and 600 drones will participate. Since this takes place inside the theme park, this won't be a free event. Begins Friday, June 14th. We'll post additional details once we receive them.

 

DS Update: Free Drone Show To Premier Soon

Disney Springs will premier a new drone show beginning on Friday, May 24th (Memorial Day Weekend) and running through Monday, September 2nd (Labor Day). The free after dark event will take place nightly over Village Lake.The event will be called "Disney Dreams That Soar" and should be pretty amazing. Start times may vary as darkness occurs later until the summer solstice and then slowly the days grow shorter again. We'll post more details as we get them.

Trip Report: The Ride Home

Our trip came to a conclusion Saturday morning in downtown Vancouver when our cruise ship Discovery Princess docked at Canada Place.

Coming out of the cruise terminal, it was a short walk to the nearest SkyTrain station. SkyTrain has three lines and it's the Canada Line that goes direct to Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The fares is only about C$3.00.

 

Most people know of the major Canadian airline Air Canada but their largest competitor is WestJet. WestJet does serve Orlando and on Saturdays they fly nonstop to MCO.

That flight is operated with a Boeing MAX8.

A few scenes from above. Flying over the Rockies above Montana.

Badlands National Park in South Dakota. At this point it was "nappy nappy time" so I missed the relatively boring Great Plains.

But awoke for this. Running left to right, north to south, the Mississippi River between St. Louis and Memphis.

It's great to be home and a good time was had by all.

Friday Funny

 

Trip Report: Astoria, Oregon

The cruise on Discovery Princess began in Los Angeles and so far we've visited San Diego and San Francisco. Those were great destinations so I was surprised to find Astoria, Oregon on the itinerary. Located about a two hour drive west of Portland, it was a place we've never previously visited.

US Highway 30 begins in Atlantic City, NJ and ends right here in Astoria. US Highway 101 comes up from California, crosses Oregon and then continues from here into Washington state.

Astoria is located on the Columbia River and that bridge carries US 101 north over it from Oregon to Washington.

There is a historic trolley line along the river that can take passengers from the cruise ship port and into downtown Astoria. The price is just $1 each way.

Close to the city center is the Astoria Nordic Park, paying homage to this area's historic settlers from Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland. Timber continues as a major industry here but there's also tuna fishing and canning.

Along the Columbia River, cargo ships await their turn to pick-up logs.

Astoria is the oldest town west of the Rocky Mountains.

Sea lions! Interesting place to visit and a good time was had by all.

This Weekend In Techno Town

Wuki on Friday night and Magic Mike on Saturday night. Say no more!

THU   02MAY     CELINE     DJ KVSH (BR)

THU   02MAY     MY LOUNGE     Silent Disco Event

FRI     03MAY     CELINE     DJ Wuki (USA)

SAT    04MAY     HAMMERED LAMB     DJ Magic Mike (USA)

SUN   05MAY     CELINE     DJ Will Clarke (GB)  CANCELLED