PI Update: The Great Sign

We sure do miss the Pleasure Island so called "Great Sign".

 

Trip Report: Going To Miami

About ten years ago we had two very near misses on Florida's Turnpike when Going to Miami. That and bumper-to-bumper traffic during Miami Music Week determined that we would no long drive there but instead take other available options. This year we flew there and back, using our American Airlines AAdvantage miles at a good price when booking way ahead. Flying time of about 45 minutes wheels-up to touch-down makes this extremely convenient. The Metrorail fare from MIA to downtown or the Metrobus fare from the airport to South Beach is only another $2.

Another option we've used numerous times is the Brightline train which departs from Orlando International Airport directly to MiamiCentral in downtown Miami. This can typically be much cheaper than flying and the travel time is under 4 hours. So relaxing! It does save to book ahead.

The third non-driving option is AMTRAK. They have 2 daily trains to Miami but please note one of them is via Tampa first while the other is direct. Travel time is 5-8 hours so it's not fast but it can be pretty cheap, even last-minute. Departures are from Orlando but also from Deland, Winter Park and Kissimmee. So if you want to avoid the road to Miami, you've got options!

MMW Day 3: Project Mahem’s Industry Social @ La Diosa

Miami Music Week 2026 came to an end last night with a Miami Bass set from the legendary DJ Magic Mike (USA). We've posted Saturday night pics over on our sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

MMW Day 2: Geishaz @ Liquor Lounge, DJMag Party @ Sagamore, The Get Down @ Kemistry

Always an Orlando favorite, DJ Icey (USA) was seen last night during our MMW Day 2 club tour. Photos are posted on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

MMW Day 1: Winter Music Conference Pool Party @ Kimpton, Casa Electro Party @ Sirius/XM, DJMag Party @ Sagamore

We made three Miami Music Weeks party stops last night including getting to see DJ Layton Giordani (USA) at Sirius/XM Studios in South Beach. All our Thursday night pics are posted on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

Miami Music Week Has Arrived!

Orlando Entertainment News will have event coverage this weekend from Miami.

This Weekend In Techno Town

This is Miami Music Week so most everyone will be down in Miami this weekend for hundreds of DJ events including Ultra Music Festival and Winter Music Conference. And for those of you remaining behind:

FRI     27MAR     PALM TREE CLUB     DJ Jack Swoon (GB)

FRI     27MAR     IRON COW     DJ Mathew Scot (USA)

SAT    28MAR     VANGUARD     DJ Kyyba (I/NL)

SAT    28MAR     GRUMPYS UNDERGROUND     DJ Kris Kokopelli (USA) 

 

 

PI Update: Just Another Night On The Dance Floor

Just another night.....on the greatest dance floor ever!

Just another night at Mannequins!

Around and around we went on the greatest dance floor ever!

Okeechobee Music Festival - Day 4

On a day filled with too much Dubstep, a House set from DJ Maure (CO/USA) in this palm grove was our highlight. Pics from Sunday at Okee are posted on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

Trip Report: Nassau, Bahamas

For the average tourist in Nassau, activity centers around Bay Street. It is jammed block after block with souvenir shops, jewelry stores, banks and on the side streets, a few eating choices. 

Nassau's famous Straw Market is along Bay Street too where there are literally hundreds of vendors vying for your business. 

 

When the Bahamas finally built a new terminal area a few years ago, they also constructed this waterfront concert arena. We've not seen it in use during our port visits but we know the very first EDSea cruise used it for an all-day DJ festival for ship guests only.

Now called the British Colonial Hotel, this was formerly the British Colonial Hilton and Sheraton British Colonial prior to that. And as you can see on the near end, home to the popular local outpost of Señor Frog's.

The water tower in the background up on Bennet's Hill was damaged in a hurricane more than 20 years ago and has been closed to tourists ever since. It was supposed to reopen this past December for tourists to visit the very top for great views of Nassau but as of this past weekend, has sadly still not reopened. Hopefully very soon. That imposing building in front of the water tower is the U.S. Embassy for The Bahamas. 

Club Reports: Privilege Pool (Baha Mar), White Party (MSC Seashore)

We first met DJ Selecta Jmac (BS) here at Privilege back in 2018 so it was a great surprise to find him here again. Friday day and Friday night pictures are posted to our sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

Club Report: Sail-Away Party @ Atrium Bar, Glow Party @ Le Cabaret Rouge (MSC Seashore)

Yesterday we had our Sail-Away Party aboard MSC Seashore ft. DJ Burn (RP) and last night a Glow Party ft. DJ Sean (MS). Thursday pics from this latest cruise are posted to sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

Club Report: Europe Night Club (St. Louis)

We were supposed to be visiting St. Louis yesterday, stopping by the Gateway Arch National Park. However, mechanical problems with our plane led to the need for an aircraft swap and a resulting two hour delay. Since this was a day trip, a two hour delay meant insufficient time on the ground to meet the purposes of the trip so we cancelled it.

But it reminded us of our last visit to St. Louis back in January, 2014. That was an overnight trip which allowed for a club visit to Europe Night Club not far from downtown STL.

There were 4 DJ's on duty that night and they were playing House music and EDM.

         And even though it was a week night, the place got packed!

Considering this was at the beginning of the House & EDM boom, it was impressive to find a club playing that kind of music on a week night in St. Louis. Who knew?

A search of the internet shows that Europe Night Club is still in business! Well no wonder. They had a shiny disco ball so we knew then they were legit!

This Weekend In Techno Town

OMF is back this year, bigger than ever!

THU-SUN  19MAR-22MAR   SUNSHINE GROVE   Okeechobee Music Festival 

THU   19MAR     ICE BAR     Megacon Kickoff Party: DJ PopproXxx (USA) 

FRI     20MAR     VANGUARD     DJ duo Kream (N)

FRI     20MAR     CLUB 3NINE     Megacon Party: DJ Dimi (USA)

SAT    21MAR     IRON COW     DJ Adam Collins (USA)

SAT    21MAR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Dany Gomez (C/E) 

SAT    21MAR     MORSE CODE     DJ Jason Brown (USA) 

SAT    21MAR     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Frankmatik (USA) 

SAT    21MAR     LUNA     Discoteria: DJ Mighty Shari (USA)

SAT    21MAR     ROSEN CENTRE  Megacon Afterparty: DJ Hyperlock (USA) 

SUN   22MAR     WALL STREET PLAZA     DJ Hugel (F) 

SUN   22MAR     VANGUARD     DJ Eran Hersh (USA) 

MON  23MAR     IRON COW     DJ duo Document One (GB) 

 

PI Update: The Motion Corridor

15 years ago this month (2011) club Motion was to be demolished and the so called "Motion Corridor" was to be constructed through this back stage garbage dump area behind Raglan Road and Portobello Country Italian Trattoria. We've come a long way, haven't we?

 

Friday Funny

Because of other planned content this Friday, we're posting this week's Friday Funny a few days early. When wandering around downtown Orlando a few days ago, we spotted this sign out of the corner of our eye. We thought it said "TECHNO CLUB" but upon closer examination, we were sad to learn it only said "TECH HUB". 

 

Sun Drop Music Festival (Daytona Beach)

The legendary DJ Huda Hudia (USA) was just one of the many headliners at last night's Sun Drop Music Festival on Manatee Island in Daytona Beach. Hundreds of pics can be found on our sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

Club Reports: Aero Bar, The Patio, Taco Kat, Iron Cow

DJ Three (USA) was last night's headliner at our fourth stop of the evening. Friday night pictures can be found on our sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

Friday Funny

Blog Mission Statement And Disclaimer

The original goal of the Save Pleasure Island Blog was to rally support to reverse the decision to close Pleasure Island. There were Save Pleasure Island and Save The Adventurers Club petitions and letter/e-mail campaigns. Unfortunately, all that fell on deaf Mouse ears.

The current mission of Save Pleasure Island Blog is to keep you informed about what is happening with our beloved Island now that it has been converted to Disney Springs. Factual information is provided when available but much of what is printed is rumor-based. Please understand that rumors by their very nature are very unreliable. Even if a rumor was true at one time, it's possible that things change and it never becomes reality. Thus, readers should consider the information on SPI Blog to be fiction and opinion and not rely on any of it in any way. Do you have any inside information? Please email me at: king bob of the north at gmail dot com.  Thanks so much to those of you that have been doing that all these years.

With PI closing, so many people kept asking me where I would be hanging out. Thus, this Blog also evolved into reporting on nightclub alternatives and DJ concerts playing various forms of Electronic Dance Music. Around six years ago we acquired Orlando Entertainment News and have been using it for club & DJ reports. Only Orlando Entertainment News covers the clubs, the clubbers and the DJ's!

In conjunction with Federal Trade Commission Rule 16 CFR Part 255, all opinions are my own and I accept no consideration for any endorsements made.  In conjunction with European Union regulations and for our EU readers, please be aware that Blogger and Google use cookies on these websites to give you a better experience.

 

This Weekend In Techno Town

It's Spring Break in Florida for many with a LOT of events for those willing:

THU   12MAR     OLIV BAR     DJ Freeda Sol (USA) 

FRI     13MAR     TACO KAT     DJ Duke (USA)

FRI     13MAR     IRON COW     DJ Three (USA)

FRI     13MAR     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ AJ Hall (USA)

FRI     13MAR     PALM TREE CLUB     DJ Nicole Fiallo (USA) 

SAT    14MAR     QREATE COFFEE  House & Coffee: DJ Chino (USA) 8am-2pm

SAT    14MAR     PALM TREE CLUB     DJ Chino (USA)

SAT    14MAR     LUNA BAR     Tuk Tuk: DJ Antonia Rivera (RCH/USA)

SAT    14MAR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ duo Tomi & Kesh (D)

SAT    14MAR     SUNDROP MUSIC FESTIVAL   DJ Dynamix II (USA) 1pm-11pm

SAT    14MAR     SOCIAL DISTANCE     DJ Magic Mike (USA)

SAT    14MAR     VANGUARD     DJ AYYBO (USA) 

SAT    14MAR     MULLETS    Rave The Day: DJ ROMN (USA) 3pm-10pm

SUN   15MAR     UNIVERSAL STUDIOS     DJ Zedd (D)

SUN   15MAR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Luke Dean (GB) 

TUE   17MAR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Eccentra (USA)  6pm-11pm 

 

Remembering AM Radio

Back when I was growing up in Chicago, radio station WLS aka Musicradio 89 was thee radio station to listen to for current Top 40 music. It was located at 890 on the AM dial. FM radio was home to album oriented Rock and I did not discover that until my senior year in high school. Anyway, here's the hits from July, 1975. These free flyers could be found inside the record departments of stores such as Sears, Goldblatt's, Singer and other shops that sold 45rpm records.

 

PI Update: Wine Bar George II

Wine Bar George. Disney Springs.

Wine Bar George. Orlando International Airport. Who knew?

Concert Report: The Road To Miami (Broken Strings Brewery)

DJ KJ of K5 (USA) was one of the headliners last night at "The Road to Miami" concert at Broken Strings Brewery. He's most famous for his hit "Passion" which used to receive play at Mannequins. The pics are posted on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

Club Reports: Good Times Bar & Grill, Iron Cow

DJ BCee (GB) was the headliner, Drum & Bass was the music. Friday night pictures are on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE. 

 

Friday Funny

 Gas prices

DS Update: LEVEL99

Renovations continue in the former NBA Experience building, converting it into an interactive challenge/game room for adults called LEVEL99. We've not seen an opening date announced yet.

 But is this going to be another bust? We questioned the wisdom of NBA Experience before it opened. Would people actually pay money to shoot hoops? It's not like NBA stars were constantly hanging around the place. And NBA City at Universal CityWalk had shuttered before it.

When we were in downtown Providence in January, we passed their location there along I-95 but did not have time to check it out. The question here is are there enough adults wanting to spend both time and money to compete against others to do so-called challenges. Once again, we're skeptical.

This Weekend In Techno Town

Big weekend as we begin a new month!

THU   05MAR     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Demi Korrin (USA)

FRI     06MAR     CELINE     DJ Lavern (NL)

FRI     06MAR     IRON COW     DJ BCee (GB)

FRI     06MAR     GOOD TIMES   Disco Night: DJ Michael Knight (USA) 7pm+

FRI     06MAR     GOOD TIMES     Abyss: DJ Lavidicus (USA) 10PM+

FRI     06MAR     WATERFRONT INN VILLAGES  70's Dance: DJ Lu-S (USA)

FRI     06MAR     GRAPE & THE GRAIN     DJ Dani Orieta (USA) 

FRI     06MAR     SESSIONS     DJ Zubah (USA) 

SAT    07MAR     BROKEN STRINGS   Road To Miami with 20+ DJ's

SAT    07MAR     ELIXIR BLOCK PARTY     DJ Chase West (USA)

SAT    07MAR     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Frankmatik (USA) 

SAT    07MAR     VANGUARD     DJ duo Walker & Royce (USA) 

SUN   08MAR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Gaskin 

 

PI Update: Oakley Renovations

One of the first stores to open in Disney Springs was called Apex by Sunglass Hut. It was located in the front of the former 8TRAX building along Hill Street but by 2017 had been rebranded as an Oakley store. It is currently under renovations which is why it's been walled-off.

What it looked like pre-renovations.

But don't have a cow! If you really need a pair of Oakley's, like right now, they have a truck parked at the foot of the No. 5 Bridge to Pleasure Island, adjacent the balloon ride. Renovations of the shop should be completed by the end of next month.

PI Update: Six Ravens Work

On a warm Sunday afternoon, let's cross this bridge one more time to beautiful Pleasure Island.

Faux bushes surrounding the former Art of Shaving spot along Hill Street means some work must be in progress converting the location into Six Ravens, the bakery to be operated by the Gideon's Bakehouse people.

 

We originally speculated that this would be a second location for Gideon's since their queue continues to stretch back to Mannequins and having a second spot could help alleviate that. But apparently no, Six Ravens will offer a different assortment of baked goods.

Club Report: The Castle (Tampa)

The Goths come out at night, at least they do at The Castle in Tampa's Ybor City nightclub district. Sister website Orlando Entertainment News visited last night and the pictures are posted HERE.