PI Update: Remembering Our April 1, 2011 Article

Breaking News: Mannequins To Become IHOP! 

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.

 

 

WDW Update: Jellyrolls Closing

We're sad to report that the Jellyrolls dueling piano bar located at Disney's Boardwalk Resort is closing. The final night will be April 19th.

We've seen a total revamp of the restaurants and shops available along the boardwalk these past few years and the closing of Jellyrolls was long-rumored but never seemed to happen until now. They are supposedly moving to a new location off Disney property. They are the only remaining Jellyrolls in a chain that at one time operated all over the country including in Atlanta and Tampa. Sad to see them go and it's the loss of yet another nightlife option at WDW. The rumor we read is that a jazz club will move into this space.

MMW Day 3: Saeed Younan Pool Party @ Palace Cafe, DEDR Pool Party @ Highbar, Sick Day In the Sun Party @ Liquor Lounge, The Get Down SSOB Party @ Mid's Market

This is Florida State Road A1A in Miami Beach. Throughout Miami Music Week it's the centerpoint of so many dance music events. Also known as Collins Avenue, it's where we began our Day 3 (Saturday) of MMW.

Palace Cafe is a bar, restaurant and on Saturday, home to the DJ Saeed Younan (IRQ/USA) pool party.

We arrived around Noon to find there was already a contingent of early partiers upstairs.

Their rooftop overlooks Ocean Drive and the Atlantic Ocean.

DJ duo MXM (USA) was in the booth when we arrived playing House and a little bit of Latin House.

Made up of DJ Mike Foch going back-to-back with DJ Soicy, they are based in Jersey City directly across the river from NYC.

Was surprised to find so many already out this early.

Early or not, they had the dance floor bouncing.

DJ Laura Silva (RCH/CDN) came on next.

This Montreal-based DJ would continue with a House set.

A good time was had by all.

The EDC-Orlando plane was flying by at the beach. EDC returns to O-Town on November 7-8-9 at Tinker Field beside Camping World Stadium. Advance tickets can be found here.

While we were at the Saeed Younan party we could hear dance music coming from another rooftop a couple blocks away. And that sure looked like Laura over there!

Yes, that was Laura over there along with Mariah! We needed to go check that out!

So our next stop was Highbar, home to the annual Dog Eat Dog Records pool party.

The rooftop up here was considerably larger than the one we just left.

We found DJ Confusion (USA) on the decks when we got here.

Seattle-based DJ Confusion was playing quite a few EDM tunes remixed to a Breaks beat.

At the DEDR Logo Shop we indeed found Mariah and Laura.

DJ Mizzo (USA) took over next.

The South Carolina-based DJ played another great EDM to Breaks remix, this one of John Summit (USA) hit "Where You Are".

Highbar has this outdoor bar but you could come around and sit inside too.

First time seeing DJ J-Break (USA).

Breaks and Bass, of course.

If you take DJ Zak Davis (USA).....

.....and mix him with DJ Jonathan Stewart (USA), you get.....

DJ duo Essential Freaks (USA).

The crowd was growing for this party that would run until 11PM.

They didn't limit themselves to just Breakbeats. Their set would run the gamut from Old Skool to House. Fisher (AUS) hit "Moving up and down, side to side, like a rollercoaster!" So fun!

Spotted on the dance floor second from right, DJ Keith Mackenzie (USA). We would sadly miss his set since we had by then moved on to our next stop. He had played on Day 3 of  EDC-Orlando back in 2023.

We ran into so many peeps at this party from the Dance music scene. Some were new but many we knew.

These two are always so animated!

The head honcho of Dog Eat Dog Records was up next.

Rob Silas is DJ Si-Dog (USA).

A lot of old skool breaks in his set.

He had the club bouncing.

We needed to be moving on.

A good time was had by all.

Next stop, the cleverly-named Liquor Lounge.

Home Saturday to the "Sick Day In The Sun" Drum & Bass party.

DJ Darcii Darka (USA) in the booth when we first arrived.

This Selector is based in Gainesville and Jacksonville.

This contingent was dancing at the high speeds required to keep up with DnB.

We ran into lots of peeps from the central and north Florida DnB scenes.

Shift change.

DJ Drbblz (USA) taking over.

A good time was had by all.

Day had turned to night by the time we had arrived at Mids Market in Little Haiti.

We had missed the opening sets and there was a small group on the floor when we arrived.

DJ Juz10tym (USA) was in the booth on this night of Breakbeats and Electro Bass.

Justin is based in the Orlando area.

There were two areas of music here at Mids Market. Outside under this tent, we found DJ Beezie (USA).

Always great seeing (and hearing) this Tampa-based DJ.

On this beautiful March evening in Miami, the outside would prove popular all night.

Inside, a set from DJ James Wolfe (USA) and DJ Bobby Buzz (USA).

They would take turns on their tag-team set. Bobby Buzz ended his set with the very appropriate song, Sander Kleinenberg (NL) hit "This Is Miami". Awesome!

This was the second night of The Get Down / Sunshine State of Bass combined party. They had been separate shows on separate nights in prior years.

Dance floor slowly filling.

There were both inside and outside bars and they began to see some activity.

Back outdoors, DJ Synergist (USA).

We had seen him in both 2023 and 2024 at The Get Down.

Close to 11PM so we headed back inside to find DJ Soltek (USA) in the booth.

Joined with DJ Medley (USA).

These two Miami-based DJ's would also take turns delivering the good stuff.

Through the fog we could see there were people out on the dance floor. Just not up close.

Rear view.

Indoor peeps.

Mr. Sunshine State of Bass himself, Gene Moro.

Back outside, DJ BBoy Roy (USA).

We've seen him numerous times in South Florida these past few years.

But first time seeing this next act.

DJ Brook B (USA)

Also several EDM to Breaks remixes in his set.

Outdoor peeps.

Back inside for the third DJ duo of the evening. Take DJ Heather Collins (USA).....

.....combine her with some Electric Violin from Jesse James (USA).....

And you get some amazing-sounding vibes!

Taking us past midnight.

This was Night 2 of this two night event. We had hoped to be here for the first night but delays at Customs & Immigration at MIA on Friday made it impractical to head over here.

Dance floor was active.

The lasers were flying.

Don't touch the oscilloscope. Oscilloscope? WTF?

Back outside for DJ Hi Cue (USA).

We first met Hi Cue at Sunshine State of Bass in 2022 when it was held in downtown Miami at Blackbird Ordinary.

A lot of the crowd stayed outside; it was SO nice.

One more visit inside after 1AM to see DJ Merlyn (USA).

Merlyn is considered one of the best of the best. We had last seen him play on NYE at a show inside Iron Cow in Orlando.

We heard it got packed in here on Friday night but last night it was crowded but not packed.

DJ Ondamike (USA) and DJ duo Supergenius (USA) would be next but we needed to get back to the hotel for an early morning trip to the airport and a flight home.

Everywhere we went on Saturday for MMW Day 3, a good time was had by all.