Breaking News: Planet Hollywood To Become Planet Hollywood Observatory

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Throwback Thursday

Remembering Pleasure Island on this "Throwback Thursday".  Walt Disney World's nightclub district which consisted of 5 dance music clubs and 2 comedy clubs.  It was designed to keep Disney guests looking for nightlife on-property and it did that and more.

Universal more-or-less copied the concept with it's popular CityWalk complex and between the two of them, it would doom the then Orlando nightclub mecca, Church Street Station.   

PI Update: PI At ADH?

One of our sources down on the Island tells us that management at Atlantic Dance Hall is considering the idea of having a Pleasure Island night every Thursday night.  They would have drink specials and music from the different clubs.  Sounds like a great idea; the Thursday night cast member nights at Mannequins are legendary.
ADH's recent attempt at Karaoke on Thursday nights was a bust.  But bringing PI back alive once per week could be a winner if they stick with one club each Thursday night and not try to mix music from all the clubs into one night.  They kind of already do that and nobody goes. We'll be watching this rumor.
Atlantic Dance Hall is the only remaining Disney owned & operated dance club at Walt Disney World.  It's located at Disney's Boardwalk Resort.

PI Update: Where Can I Get A Good STK?

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE  When this old time railroad station looking building was under construction a few months ago, we thought for sure this was the new STK Restaurant underway.  After all, Blog sources told us the restaurant was going over where Comedy Warehouse used to stand.  But then the building opened......as a restroom/WC complex!  So where is the steakhouse?  Look closely behind the railroad station and you'll see the rooftop of another building.  The roof is walled-in to create an exterior facade that we can't see yet but there is definitely a building there what would be accessible from the Island's lower level.  So we'll be watching for this.

To the right of the railroad station is a walled-off area that is covered with what appear to be loose sheets of plywood.  This is on the Island's upper level and whatever is going on there remains un-permited.  Under it we believe will be the entryway to The Tunnels, the underground project that remains cloaked in mystery. 

Never Forget

None of us will forget Florida Winter 2015 last week.  It was brutal!

Club Reports: Toby Keith's I Love This Bar, Independent Bar

Like Rocco's Tacos on Friday night, Saturday night began with a visit to a restaurant that turns into a club at night.  First time visit inside the new Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill.

I would certainly never come here on my own but showing just how flexible I am, came here for my visitors who are Country music fans.  TKILTB&G has a live band on Friday & Saturday nights!  Part of the Greg Warren Band doing a sound check.

DJ's play mostly Country music during the week.

They have the largest bar in Orlando!  Located at Artegon Marketplace at the north end of International Drive, this is where the Caddyshack Restaurant was once located.

First and only stop downtown last night; Independent Bar.

Because this is where you'll find DJ Indie John spinning on Saturday nights!

The Saturday night format being all 80's!

Packed to the rafters!

Mostly early-to-mid 80's New Wave.

Vacation all I ever wanted!

And downtown last night, a good time was had by all!

Club Reports: Rocco's Tacos, Vixen Bar, Suite B Lounge, Vanity Nightclub, Club Epic

Oh what a night!  Began my Friday evening at Rocco's Tacos on Sand Lake Road, the restaurant that turns into a club of sorts later at night!

Fort Lauderdale-based DJ JR was in the booth playing Top 40 and a lot of Oldies.  He said he would migrate to more of a House mix as it got later.

Yes, people do dance in here!  We can expect similar things in Downtown Disney as the many new restaurants on the Island bring-in late night DJ music!

Last summer DJ KenE of Windsor (CDN), pictured here with his wife Nicole, gave me a tour of 8 clubs in his hometown of Windsor, Ontario.  Article here.  Last night it was time to reciprocate during their visit to Orlando!

Too many clubs, so little time.  But after Rocco's the next stop was Vixen Bar.

DJ Gerry Labarge was in the booth spinning Deep House!

Small handful on the floor enjoying the dance mixes!

While favorite bartendress Lindsey took care of the drink mixes!

Any tour of Orlando dance clubs must include a stop at Suite B Lounge!

The music was a mix of Tech House and Deep House.

But unlike so many other visits here, the place was sadly empty.

So we needed to be moving on and moving on we did.  Vanity Nightclub.

Arrived to find DJ Markis blowing the place up with House/Deep House!

Dance floor and club was wall-to-wall!

Here to see headliner DJ Miss Jennifer (USA) who took over at 12:30am!

Resident DJ at Pacha in New York City, she continued with pure, unadulterated House music!

Dance floor got even more packed!

Although some stayed at the bar to check their Facebook.  Directly below in Vyce another big name, DJ Robbie Rivera (USA), was playing too!

Two legends!  Rick Rodriguez is the brainchild of Trust night at Vanity that is bringing in top DJ talent such as DJ Derrick May on March 13th.  He was the man behind Destiny Nightclub back in the late-00's.  He's spotted here backstage with DJ Fusion aka Bob Man!

First time ever visit to Orlando for Miss Jennifer!

Final stop of the night was Club Epic on Pine Street, located where Syn Nightclub operated a couple years ago.

DJ Baby Anne (USA) on the decks in the corner booth!

Place was packed!

You can never go wrong with Go Go girls!  You can never go wrong with Breakbeats!

Not positive but I believe this was Baby Anne's first Orlando appearance since she played at CityWalk's "techno night" in September, 2013.

Mannequins!

Mannequins!

DJ KenE still hanging in there at this wee hour!

NLP was in the house!

ill DJ ChrisB (USA) closing it down!

NLP MC Marybeth looking quite fine in all-black!

And a good time was had by all!