This Weekend In Techno Town

DJ Jane.Doe (USA)    Discothèque @ Barbarella     House

FRIDAY DEC 17

                         DJ Funkbaby (USA)     Grumpy's Underground     Breaks
 

FRI/SAT/SUN DEC 17-19

            Event Horizon Festival     Top Secret Resort     House / Heavy Bass

SATURDAY DEC 18

            DJ Jimmy Joslin (USA)     Cahoots     Old Skool / Classic Dance / Breaks

SATURDAY DEC 18

                           DJ Chris Lake (GB)     The Vanguard     House

SATURDAY DEC 18

                     DJ Getter (USA)     Gilt Concert Venue     Dubstep / Heavy Bass

NYE @ EPCOT Sold Out

The annual NYE DJ parties at EPCOT are a tradition and they're back this year after a one year hiatus due to Covid19. But if you're thinking of going and did not make a reservation, it's too late. Disney requires that you have a ticket or pass to go to any of their parks plus you have to make a reservation for the specific date you wish to attend. If you delayed, it's too late. With attendance limited this year, EPCOT on December 31st is sold out. Save Pleasure Island Blog and Orlando Entertainment News will have full coverage though.

DS Update: NBA Experiene Venue

Disney has removed signage at the failed NBA Experience building and the ticker tape scrolling scoreboard has disappeared as well. When you have a loser like this place was, it's best not to leave any trace behind. The building is huge so no telling what could fill the space later. What were they thinking?

 

Trip Report: Travel Day Today

No article today as our trip concludes with a LONG day of flying beginning with a service from Dubai to Amsterdam on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. God willing, will be home in Orlando on Sunday night!

Trip Report: Modern Architecture Of The Gulf Countries

Some final pictures from the Middle East gulf countries. Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Dubai's most famous building, the Burj Khalifa. The observation deck is on the 150th floor.

Another iconic building in Dubai, The Frame.

The skyline of the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi.

The West Bay area of the city of Doha, Qatar.

Friday Funny

Club Reports: 70's Night & Abba Tribute (MSC Virtuosa)

Last night we experienced 70's Night at the ship's main pool and then an Abba (S) tribute in the ship's Irish pub. We've posted the pics on our sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

This Weekend In Techno Town

DJ Louie Vega (USA)     Discotheque @ Barbarella     House

DJ Lady Waks (RUS)     Skytop Lounge @ Amway Center     Breaks

 

DJ Paul Vaine (USA)     Visage Reunion @ Barbarella    Industrial / Alternative / New Wave

DJ duo Cash Cash (USA)     The Vanguard     EDM

                          DJ duo Neverdogs (I/E)     Elixir Bar     Techno / Tech House

Trip Report: Food Court Signs In Arabic

Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. Included was a visit to the Marina Mall and it's food court for lunch. Let's see if you recognize any of the restaurant brands there based on their signs in Arabic.

Recognize Cinnabon?

Pizza Hut

Some brands have incorporated elements of their English name into their foreign names which makes them easier to identify. Did anyone guess Chili's?

Baskin Robbins

The use of distinctive colors can define a brand too. Dunkin Donuts.

If you're struggling, keep in mind that Arabic is read from right to left. Hardee's.

McDonald's

This should be easy: Subway

Love that chicken from Popeyes!

We end with this one that is not in Arabic but plain English. But Church's Chicken in the middle east is called Texas Chicken, presumably because this is the land of mosques, not the land of churches.

Club Report: Attic Club @ Horizon Pool (MSC Virtuosa)

DJ Oleksandr (UA) was playing all EDM last night at the ship's pool party on MSC Virtuosa. We've posted the pics on our sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

Club Report: Starship Club (MSC Virtuosa)

Sailing onboard the brand new cruise ship MSC Virtuosa and dropping by Starship Club.

There are human bartenders here (far right) and one very unhuman bartender (left)!

Rob the Robot (I)

You place your order from a kiosk and pay with your cruise card and then watch him make it for you! Pretty much any combination including non-alcoholic is available and he delivers it to you in a take home souvenir glass.

At Starship Club, a good time is had by all.

Trip Report: Destination Dubai

Per the request of many, will be posting some trip updates throughout this week's journey. This picture was taken at Paris - Charles de Gaulle Airport on Thursday, getting ready to depart for Dubai.

Service on this route operated daily with an Air France Boeing 777-300.

After departing Paris and crossing the Alps above Slovenia, the plane flew over Greece and then directly into the Levant. The routing here was over Israel, Jordan, Syria and Iraq. Those four are countries not yet visited and flying over them doesn't count.

And then straight down the Persian Gulf into Dubai.

Midnight landing into DXB with the Burj Khalifa pointing into the sky downtown.

Passing the Burj Khalifa on Friday morning. Spending the morning trying to obtain a Covid-19 PCR test.

Needing the test to be able to board my cruise ship on Saturday. There is a testing centre promising results in less than 24-hours here at the huge Mall of the Emirates. They delivered!

Transportation Friday via the Dubai Metro.

 

Friday Funny

 

PI Update: Mannequins 10 Years Ago This Month

Let's remind ourselves of what our beloved Mannequins looked like 10 years ago this month, December, 2011. On top of the building, the Pleasure Island sign continued to shine brightly every night.

Out front along Hub Street, people walked by and probably wondered what all the fuss was about.

The famous Mannequins marquee remained boldly above the doorway, even though it had been plucked of the word "Mannequins" a year earlier during the so-called PI Putsch.

Around the side facing "The Waterfront", the Mannequins garage door reminded one of so many crowded events inside that they had to open it for extra ventilation!

And just over the No. 2 Bridge from the parking lot, railroad car ticket booths remained even though they had been disconnected from reality. (For our younger readers, that black thing towards the left lower corner is something we used to call a "pay phone".)

This Weekend In Techno Town

FRIDAY DEC 3

                          DJ Paco Osuna (E)     Celine Nightclub     House
 

SATURDAY DEC 4

                  DJ Charlotte de Witte (B)     The Vanguard     Minimal Techno

SATURDAY DEC 4

                              DJ Seb Zito (GB)     Elixir Bar     House