CW Update: Extended Hours Coming?

For the past year or so the clubs at Universal CityWalk have been closing at midnight during the week and at 1AM on Friday/Saturday nights. Effective Friday, August 29th, it appears they may be extending opening hours to 2AM, at least over Labor Day weekend. Their online calendar only runs to through August and the 2AM closing time is listed for Friday, Saturday & Sunday night that weekend. Until they post their September calendar at the beginning of July, we won't really know if the extended hours are just for that holiday weekend or will go beyond that. There are no extended hours for this upcoming Independence Day weekend. We'll report back. Big thanks to Blog reader Jake for this intel!

 

Club Reports: Good Times Bar & Grill, Revel @ The Capital Room, Barbarella 3.0

As we endeavor to show you nightlife from all four corners of Orlando, Friday night we visited a couple venues in the western suburbs. Last night, we went up into Orlando's northern suburbs beginning at Good Times Bar & Grill in Maitland.

Located where Fredster's was once located along Keller Road, we opened the door and walked into this!

Good Times features live bands on weekend nights and last night The Franchise Players (USA) were on stage.

This guy has a voice. The music is mostly Top 40 classics from the 60's & 70's.

 

The crowd does skew older. In fact, when this place was Fredster's, Orlando Weekly commented, "Retirees pack the dance floor to test out their new hips." 

And there are larger crowds here on the weekends when social security checks go out. Definitely shades of Why Not? Lounge. 

Good Times has a shiny disco ball so you know the place is legit.

You can check the band schedule here. The Franchise Players return on August 22nd.

There are two large wrap-around bars so getting a drink is usually not a problem. And admission is typically free except for occasional ticketed events.

Good Times is the swingingist club in Maitland so come check it out. A good time was had by all.

We next headed up to downtown Sanford, the Friday night home to "Revel" at The Capital Room.

The front room is home to their craft cocktail bar and had a crowd.

The rear room, home to the dance floor and DJ booth, not so much.

We found DJ Vint Soul (USA) in that booth.

The music was mostly 70's & 80's tunes remixed to a House beat.

Revel has a shiny disco ball so you know the place is legit.

DJ Ms. MF (USA) would take over next.

Her set also began with House remixes of older songs. 

We spotted this guy over in the corner. I think he's DJ'd here before. The Capital Room goes Breaks on Friday, July 11th with DJ Security (USA and DJ Matrix (USA) and again on Saturday, July 19th ft. DJ Bobby Buzz (USA). Come check it out.

After Maitland and Sanford, we next headed to Winter Park where The Axe Trap on Saturday nights becomes home to Barbarella version 3.0.

We opened the door and walked into this!

We went to the booth to say hello to DJ Smilin' Dan (USA), but he was occupied.

The music format is 80's New Wave and Alternative.

One 80's classic after another kept the dance floor active.

We ran into several Goth girls we know.

It's amazing how hearing a song can transport you back to another time and place. When they played Pet Shop Boys (GB) song " What Have I Done To Deserve This" last night, I was instantly transported to the "Rockin' At 40,000" music channel on a Pan Am flight from Miami to London Heathrow back in the early 90's.

Everywhere we went last night, a good time was had by all.

Club Reports: Home State Brewing, Whole Enchilada, Celine

As you probably know, we don't actually live in the city of Orlando but out in west suburban Winter Garden. So we began our Friday evening at local brew pub Home State Brewing. It's located along New Independence Parkway in Hamlin, it's just east of TOLL SR429.

As you would expect in a brew pub, lots of vats to make their own brews.

Inside is this bar area where you can choose your selections of the evening.

 

And adjacent outdoors, this covered patio was last night's home to the first edition of "Full Dose Fridays".

Featuring DJ Dose (USA).

House music all night long!

Nearby, this tent offered more covered capacity.

The beats had the crowd bouncing.

"Full Dose Fridays" will have guest DJ's and last night DJ Recipe (USA) would come on for a short segment.

Continuing that House vibe.

And then DJ Dose would come back on. This event takes place from 8PM-11PM on the final Friday of the month, the third Friday in August due to the holiday that final weekend.

Spotted: DJ Dose with Jaime Anne.

Spotted: DJ Recipe with Tanya.

Spotted: DJ Drizzy (USA) with his main squeeze.

Spotted: DJ Thomas James (USA)

Spotted: DJ Georgie Oshiro (USA)

Spotted: DJ Mo (USA) joined this"We're pulling for you" pose. Come check this monthly out with the next edition on Friday, July 25th.

Unlike downtown Winter Park which seemingly rolls up its sidewalks at 10PM, there is actually nightlife in downtown Winter Garden including several live music venues. But we came downtown for the Rooftop Bar atop The Whole Enchilada.

A quick-service restaurant downstairs, we came up to the rooftop and walked into this.

Over in the corner booth, DJ 818 (USA).

The music was a mix of Top 40 and House during our visit.

After Friday afternoon's thunderstorms, the air was clear with a hint of coolness and there was a large crowd up here.

They don't brew their own here (Crooked Can Brewery is a block away) but they do have a large selection on tap to choose from.

OK, away from Winter Garden and into the heart of the big city. 

Arriving in to Celine, we walked into this.

We caught the final few minutes of DJ Sheen Boogie (USA) playing House remixes of "Hot In Herre" and "Party All The Time".

And then at 12:30AM, there she was, the headliner.....

DJ Azzecca (USA)

Crowded up front.

Her House/Tech House set had the club bouncing.

The lasers were flying!

The dance floor was crowded up front but away from the front the place was actually pretty empty.

Azzecca is based in Chicago. Her rusty hair color contrasted nicely with her red Adidas track jacket.

Everywhere we went last night, a good time was had by all.