Club Reports: Shine, The Other Bar, The Woods, Treehouse, Suite B Lounge, The Patio, Backbooth

Seven clubs in 4 hours last night with the fun beginning at Shine. Located where Slingapour's used to operate, Shine is Wall Street Plaza's only real dance club.

DJ booth up in the corner. One of Orlando's few clubs with actual theming, the vibe in the entire venue is steampunk era!

DJ Travon in the booth spinning mostly Top 40.

Just a few people on the dance floor at this early hour but this place gets really packed!

Also located within Wall Street Plaza, The Other Bar remains a popular location to chill with friends!

DJ Adam Wells in the booth delivering Top 40 and Oldies.

Hadn't seen him playing since early 2013 at clubs Native and Ember!

People do dance in here!

First time visit to The Woods, located upstairs at 49 N. Orange Avenue.

Not a club and no DJ, the music was 40's and then later switched to Hip Hop during the time it took for me to consume my drink.

Spotted at the bar: Nicole, Phillip & Kristy

The group wanted to see Treehouse, a true speakeasy located along Magnolia Ave.

First find the entrance and then club up into the tree!

Definitely not a secret anymore!

Dancing on the grass floor!

 The fun here though is getting your drink and then chilling on the turf!

Stopping next at Suite B Lounge for some much-needed Breakbeats!

Spotted at the booth: MC Marybeth with unspecified friend and DJ Matrix

DJ Funkbaby on the dance floor breaking things up!

Big crowd in here! Dance floor was jammed!

I've heard there's always a party at The Patio!

DJ Parry in the booth delivering an EDM set!

Friday and Saturday nights are a mix of Top 40, Dance and Hip Hop hits.

There is no roof so you're dancing with the stars!

Final stop at Backbooth for their "Footloose 80's Video Night"!

DJ Adam Wright has been delivering the 80's.....since the 90's!

Young crowd in here, but always a packed event!

You're allowed to dance up on the band stage too!

Every Friday night beginning at midnight!

"Wake me up, before you go go!" "Jitterbug!" A good time was had by all!

DTD Update: Bongos Closing Rumor

Blog reader DJ MadManRay alerted us to a rumor published by Screamscape a couple weeks ago that Bongos Cuban Cafe may be closing.

According to the rumor, the company that owns Splitsville has bought-out the lease and will convert it into a Mexican restaurant.  I was hoping to get more information about this but was not able to develop anything.  There's little doubt that Bongos is a tired concept but would Mexican do any better?  Perhaps they've eyed how jammed Rocco's Tacos is over on Sand Lake Road.

DTD Update: Evening Entertainment

Well maybe it is The Landing already!

Checking out Downtown Disney's free outdoor entertainment beginning at the Waterside Stage in the Marketplace.  DJ Robbie G effectively leading the nightly Kids Dance Party.

Moderate-sized off-season crowd on hand watching the hula hoop contest.

But the DJ is actually a Disney animatronic.

Secretly controlled from the back row by DJ Elliot!

At Raglan Road, the small stage and the crowd have been pushed into a small corner as Mannequins construction wall eats into their space.

But the Darlin' Dancers carried on with their traditional Irish Jig.

Live bands play outside at Splitsville. This duo was singing love songs.

Under the highline railroad trestle beside Starbucks, Dominick Gaudious was performing his unique instruments.

At the Lily Pad beside Fulton's Crab House, duo Kalinka was playing.

There is often free entertainment outside at House of Blues too.

At the new Waterview Stage, the live band Evan Jones Trio was alternating with Nicholas Marks (pictured standing to the right).

The music, light Rock.

Moderate-size crowd here too that would increase as darkness fell.

A good time was had by all!

PI Update: Name Added To The Hangar

North South East West, an adventurers life is best!  Embedded compass at the Hub.

Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar got part of its name added today!

The old time aviation-themed bar will have references to the Indiana Jones films.

Supposedly the venue is mostly bar, with light food options. (Hopefully some wings! Aren't wings aviation-related?)

Side view taken from the new outdoor amphitheater.

Steamboat Reggie in permanent drydock beside JLHB.

This Weekend In Techno Town

THURSDAY MAY 14
Big EDM weekend in Orlando begins tomorrow night with DJ Seven Lions (USA) at Venue 578!
Trance, Chill.

FRIDAY MAY 15
Tier Nightclub keeps bringing in the talent. This time with DJ Laidback Luke (NL).  Eurohouse.

And just a block away Vyce Lounge has House and Tech House from DJ Saeed Younan (USA)!

But it's Breaks you want, eh?  Suite B Lounge is Orlando's home to the Breaks and they have the NLP DJ's on Friday night!

SATURDAY MAY 16
With hits like "Tsunami", "Invincible" & "Wildfire", this will be a sellout at Gilt for BORGEOUS (USA).

The Social usually has bands, not DJ's, but this Saturday night they have one of the originators of the early 90's Rave scene, with DJ Josh Wink.  His hit "Higher State of Consciousness" got a lot of play at Mannequins! John Debo opens.

Deep House versus Techno at The Crow this weekend as they have their pre-grand opening for Phoenix Underground night taking place every Saturday.  NYC's DJ Miss Jennifer will be there on the 23rd but local DJ's will deliver this weekend!  Don't stay home!

Breaking News: Hangar Bar on PI To Have Indiana Jones Theme!

The Orlando Sentinel this afternoon is reporting that the new Hangar Bar on Pleasure Island will be named Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar and themed to the Indiana Jones films. Full article link here.

 Interior concept art released by Disney today.  JLHB will be operated by Disney, not 3rd party.

DTD Update: Town Center Construction

The conversion of Pleasure Island into The Landing continues of course but the largest construction project in Downtown Disney is the conversion of the old PI parking lot into the Town Center retail district.  This building is immediately adjacent T-Rex Cafe and will overlook the springs.

The view of the old parking lot as seen from West End / Celebration Plaza.

Numerous buildings under construction out there.

Closer up.

Same building as viewed from Buena Vista Drive.

And looking back in the other direction towards West End Plaza behind that construction wall, with BET Soundstage and Adventurers Club behind the wall as well.  Come on out and see it for yourself!

PI Update: Planet Hollywood DJ's

Since Planet Hollywood predates the construction of Downtown Disney West Side, it's always been considered part of Pleasure Island even though it was technically off the Island itself.

PH has offered DJ music for the diners for years so it's with sadness that we saw DJ TonyZ retire from the club last Wednesday night. 

Unlike most dance clubs where a DJ can pretty much choose his set, Planet diners besiege the DJ with Top 40 requests throughout the night.  TonyZ always enjoyed delivering on those requests, particularly those from the Disney film "Frozen".  He'll still be doing some monthly gigs at Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney's Boardwalk Resort.

TonyZ joins former Pleasure Island DJ Talie in the Planet Hollywood DJ Hall of Fame.

 We understand DJ Sharpe is moving on too although he will guest DJ there once per month.

DJ Uncle Mike pictured above thus becomes the Monday-Thursday resident DJ at Planet Hollywood.  DJ Nate will do weekends and DJ Trey on Sundays.  Renovations to convert the venue into Planet Hollywood Observatory don't begin until next year.  So come on out for dinner and put in your "Frozen" requests!