DS Update: Labor Day Bash Tonight

The Labor Day Bash is TONIGHT at House of Blues.

If you're coming out, here are holiday parking tips for Disney Springs.

Concert Report: DJ Mondo (Omnia Las Vegas)

One of the most famous casino resorts in Las Vegas, this is Caesars Palace.

And inside Caesars, one of the largest dance clubs in Vegas, Omnia. It's 75,000 sf and can hold 3,500.

There is a rooftop lounge too with stunning views of the strip like this.

Arriving at 10PM, DJ Mondo (USA) was already playing. We typically arrive here around that time to a nearly-empty dance floor and watch it get populated behind where we're standing. Not last night. The floor was already nearly completely full when we got there and it was hard to acquire a spot up front. The queue for the club stretched out the casino doors nearly to Las Vegas Boulevard! We luckily had passes that skipped the line and got us right in.

DJ Mondo plays not only here at Omnia but also at sister-clubs Hakkasan and Palm Tree Beach Club in the MGM Grand. Last night his set consisted of mostly EDM bangers which had the packed-club roaring their approval.

Mondo is originally from the Tampa Bay area and we first met him when he played at The Groove in CityWalk at Universal Studios Orlando in 2014.

Before last night, we last saw Mondo when he played a mostly Breaks set on the RynoBus Art Car stage at EDC-Orlando in 2022.

Place was absolutely packed last night!

Mondo played until midnight when DJ Justin Mylo (NL) came on.

PHOTO OMNIA

And headliner DJ Martin Garrix (NL) came on at 1:30AM. A good time was had by all.

Friday Funny

Another fake DJ. Not even plugged-in.

 

DS Update: Labor Day Bash Is Just 4 Nights Away!

This is the voodoo arch located in the northwest corner of House of Blues in Disney Springs. This is at the restaurant section of HOB.

Meanwhile over in the club section of HOB, the Labor Day Bash is just 4 nights away! If you don't have to work Monday, come out for this reprisal of HOB's famed Service Industry Night ft. former resident DJ's Magic Mike (USA) and Jimmy Joslin (USA) and joined by DJ Icey (USA), DJ Baby Anne (USA) and DJ Kimball Collins (USA). This coming Sunday night from 7PM to Midnight. Advance tickets here. 

OFFICIAL TIMESLOTS :

7-8PM Jimmy Joslin

8-9PM Kimball Collins

9-10PM Baby Anne

10-11PM DJ Icey

11PM -12am MAGIC MIKE

 

 

 

 

Labor Day Weekend In Techno Town

Labor Day Weekend Has Arrived, this year mostly in August!

THU   28AUG     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ duo Latenight Society (USA)      

FRI     29AUG     IRON COW     DJ Doc J (USA)

FRI     29AUG     SWIRLERY WINE BAR   DJ Arcade Apocalypse (USA)

FRI     29AUG     CELINE     DJ Austin Millz (USA)

FRI     29AUG     MORSE CODE     DJ Knightlife (USA)

FRI     29AUG     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Frankmatik (USA) 

FRI     29AUG     ORLANDO AMPHITHETER     DJ Alison Wonderland (AUS)

SAT    30AUG     CAPITAL ROOM     DJ Bebe Breaks (USA)

SAT    30AUG     REMIX SOUTH     DJ Ofay (USA)     12noon-6pm

SAT    30AUG     ALTIRE POOL     DJ Steve Torres (USA)

SAT    30AUG     MORSE CODE     DJ Ed Abisada (USA)

SAT    30AUG     VANGUARD     DJ Diesel (USA)

SAT    30AUG     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Sean Samaroo (USA) 

SUN   31AUG     HOUSE OF BLUES     Labor Day Bash     7pm-12midnight 

SUN   31AUG     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Josh Baker (GB)

SUN   31AUG     GRAPE & GRAIN     DJ Romano Arcaini (D/USA) 

 

 

 

PI Update: Dance Dance Dance

Remembering back to August, 2015 at the Waterside Stage.

Then as it is today, dancing opportunities for kids and teens but nothing for adults.

PI Update: The PI Bypass Causeway

Eleven years ago this month (August, 2014) the Pleasure Island Bypass Causeway had been constructed to carry pedestrians around PI because Hill Street had become a major construction zone.

Among the many projects taking place that month, this faux railroad turntable was being constructed in front of the future WC building on West End Plaza. That building was designed to look like a railroad station even though it would contain only toilets and sinks.

Further back, what would become Disney Springs' first parking garage, the Orange Garage, was under construction too.

Club Reports: Allure Lounge, Monkey Bar, Barbarella 3.0

We first visited Allure Lounge back in early June for their opening weekend. We finally made it back last night.

We walked in to find DJ Lo (USA) in the booth playing light Hip Hop, Afrobeats and little bit of Latin.

We were pleased to find the DJ booth had been moved to the ground level adjacent the dance floor. During our initial visit the booth was located to the rear upstairs away from everybody. 

Allure is a restaurant too with most of the seating on this same level. As it was already 11PM, only a couple of tables were still dining.

The bar scene is located downstairs and it was jammed.

Great, upscale vibe in the club. Allure is located on west Pine Street in the former home of many venues over the years but most-famously Blue Room. It's been beautifully redone so come check it out.

Having spent Friday in Manitoba and Minnesota and only hearing Country and Hard Rock from my rental car radio, we were desperately seeking some House music. Where to go downtown? Monkey Bar. 

Upon arrival DJ Meghan Lee (USA) had just ended her House set with DJ Dity (USA) taking over.

The inside bar was busy.

The outside bar was busy.

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

In the sea of Top 40 music that is Wall Street Plaza, Monkey Bar is the House music island oasis so come check it out.

The Axe Trap is located on Lee Road in Winter Park and axes can and do get thrown here. But on Saturday nights, it becomes home to Barbarella 3.0.

Arriving close to 1AM, we walked into this.

Just as it should be on a Saturday night, DJ Indie John (USA) was in the perch, joined by DJ Smilin' Dan (USA).

The Saturday night format is 80's New Wave & Alternative.

Dance floor was active and nearly everyone was wearing the requisite black.

When you try to get a photo of one couple and everyone wants to join-in.

Great music, underground warehouse feel and a full liquor bar too. You can't go wrong spending your Saturday nights at Barbarella.

A good time was had by all.

Trip Report: Angle Inlet, MN

Even though you've probably viewed a map of the United States a hundred times, you've likely never noticed that Minnesota has a "little hat" on top of it that projects itself up into Canada. This area is known as the Northwest Angle and its only town is called Angle Inlet, Minnesota. The Angle is mostly the water of Lake of the Woods but there is a land area to the north of that and it's definitely part of the United States. By road you can only get to it via Canada.

 

Last month we visited Key West, Florida and this buoy that represents the southern most point in the continental United States. Our goal for this trip was to locate the buoy that represents the northern most point in the continental United States.

We flew into the closest airport which is in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (YWG). After renting a car, we headed east on the Trans Canada Highway.

After more than an hour, we reached our turnoff. Manitoba Provincial Highway 308 southbound.

The first 10km or so are paved but the rest of the way is all gravel so you can't travel very fast. Why does the U.S. have a piece of territory that thrusts itself up into what seemingly should now be Canada? This actually goes back all the way to the aftermath of the American Revolutionary War in the late 1700's. As part of the Treaty of Paris, it was agreed that British territory would follow a straight line along the 49th Parallel from Lake of the Woods all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Britain got to keep all of Vancouver Island even though it drops below 49° North and it was agreed that the United States should own the source of the Mississippi River. At the time it was assumed that Lake of the Woods was that source so the U.S. got most of the lake even though it was above 49° North. It was only later that the true source of the Mississippi River was discovered to be Lake Itasca well to the south.

After a seemingly endless drive along that gravel road, our next turn finally arrived.

Manitoba Provincial Highway 525, another gravel road and in really poor condition.

As we're still in Canada, this sign is still in kilometers. But we were getting closer!

Never really saw any marker to indicate the exact location of the border but you know you're finally back in the United States when you see this warning sign.

The actual border here is completely unstaffed. This next sign warns you to check in with United States authorities at a place called Jim's Corner 8 miles ahead.

We don't know who Jim is or why this is his corner, but we finally made it to Jim's Corner. It too is unstaffed but this where you check-in with U.S. Customs & Border Protection.

The back side of the kiosk. When entering the U.S., you enter the building and locate the iPad and fill-out the on-line form. In most cases, you receive a confirmation approving your entry into the U.S. See that black phone outside the kiosk? That's the phone for Canada Border Services Agency, where you check in to return to Canada. Pick up the receiver and it automatically contacts C.B.S.A. where a Canadian Agent asks you a number of questions. This must be done prior to leaving the Northwest Angle and your return to Canada.

Our destination was Youngs Bay Resort, home of the northern most buoy. This is a popular boat launching point, RV parking area, cabins, etc.

It's also home to the best restaurant in Angle Inlet and a souvenir shop too.

And look out the window, there it is! The northern-most buoy.

It's not at the actual northern-most point as there is U.S. land beyond it. The the southern-most buoy in Key West is not at the actual southern-most point of the U.S. either. Both are symbolic though.

Similar to Jim's Corner, this resort also has an Immigration kiosk. If Jim's corner has a queue, you can come here. After eating lunch we used that outside phone to report back to Canada of our intent to return to Manitoba.

There are warning signs reminding you of the Canadian requirement to report.

And Canada is always watching you. If you failed to report, these lights at the border will flash and tell you to go back!

Welcome back to friendly Manitoba.

A good time was had by all who like to fish. Many fishing records come out of the waters of Lake of the Woods. We came just for the buoy.