Club Report: Eclipse Nightclub (Jacksonville)

Over in Jacksonville on this Saturday night at Eclipse Nightclub.  (Is it just me, or does anyone else see a hidden Mickey in their logo?)

Made the drive up to check out none other than DJ Kimball Collins (T) because you can never have too much Kimball Collins!

The club was packed and I'd say 9 out of 10 were there to see Kimball!

Crowd was a mix of youngsters and those of us from the AAHZ Decade.

His set was completely different from what he played at Sound Bar in Orlando last month.

More Progressive than the opening DJ's who had played earlier last night.

He played a couple tracks that I would have sworn were Old Skool Dance from back in the day but he later told me they were new songs with that old AAHZ vibe!

Spotted in VIP: DJ's The Revrend & Dave Berg

Dance floor stayed jammed!

The club itself is moderate sized and definitely bigger than Sound Bar back in Orlando.

Kimball says he'll be doing another show in Orlando before heading back to Bangkok in July.

Spotted: A couple Mannequins girls who live in JAX.

Kimball finishing up a little after 1am and DJ George Acosta (USA) getting ready to come on.

His set quickly migrated from Deep House into more current House/Dance hits.

Dance floor stayed pretty full!

I like this club.  Good sound system although the lighting effects were a bit limited.

Had previously seen George Acosta play at Electric Sun Fest here in Jacksonville a couple years ago and then again at Firestone Live in Orlando after that.

Great music from all the DJ's last night.  DJ Icey (USA) plays here with Dave Berg on June 21st!

A good time was had by all!

Club Report: Suite B Lounge (Orlando)

After visiting a whirlwind of dance clubs in two nights last weekend, I was determined to remain parked in just one spot only last night....as long as the music was good.  It was.

Arrived at Suite B Lounge close to midnight and found DJ Phoenix Jagger in the booth playing an eclectic mix of Electronic Dance Noise, lol.  We saw Jagger open for German DJ ATB a few months ago at Roxy and in the coming weeks he'll be opening for Dutch DJ Sander Van Doorn and Canadian DJ A-TRAK at The Beacham.

The club was not packed like we see sometimes but there were plenty of people in the place and the dance floor stayed active!

Next up was DJ Evo who we saw open for Egyptian DJ Fila of Aly & Fila last November at Firestone Live!

His mostly what I would call Progressive House set filled the floor!

Looking for Progressive House or Breakbeats in Orlando, Suite B Lounge is usually the place to find either!

Evo is known for Trance but he remained almost completely on the House side last night, although it can be difficult to tell some songs apart.  Sources say Evo is opening for DJ Ferry Corsten (NL) at Firestone in a few weeks.

Last up was DJ Bash DropR3con, someone I had not seen perform before.

He went into a straight House/Dance mix including many vocal hits from the past couple years!

The peeps liked this a lot!

You can never go wrong with Go Go......boys?

Spotted: ShannonHTG along with DJ J-13.

Don't know them but way too cute to pass up!

And a good time was had by all!

PI Update: Ticket Booths' Days Are Numbered!

This is Ticket Booth #2 located at the front entrance of Pleasure Island during happier times.  Save Pleasure Island Blog roving reporter William tells us that the days are numbered for the two ticket booths (Ticket Booth #2 & Ticket Booth #3) located in front of the No. 2 Bridge to Pleasure Island.  The two narrow gauge coaches at this entrance once served on the fleet of the Fort Wilderness Railroad from 1973-1977.

Even with the clubs closed, the booths remained parked there and there was always hope that we would see their use again.  But in this January, 2010 Blog file photo, we saw that the data lines which ran from the office upstairs inside Mannequins to those booths were cut.  With that, it became obvious that Downtown Disney had no plans to use them again.

William on the Island last night shares this photo of Booth #2 now hidden behind construction walls. He reports that a window has been removed and a door is wide open. William used work in this booth.

A lock has been removed. It does seem that the trailers will serve no function at Disney Springs.

But close to 1am this morning, a stream of guests departed Pleasure Island and walked past the shorter Ticket Booth #3. I'm sure a good time had been had by all.

Holiday Weekend In Techno Town

THURSDAY MAY 22  It's Memorial Day weekend in the United States and thus some bonus time for partying.  Tonight Sound Bar has DJ's Randall M and Ben Finx to kick things off!  ($5)

FRIDAY MAY 23  Excellent lineup tomorrow night at Suite B Lounge as the headliner is DJ Phoenix Jagger who opens for some of the biggest DJ names visiting Orlando such as the upcoming concerts for Sander Van Doorn (NL) & A-TRAK (CDN).  DJ Evo who we recently saw open for Aly & Fila (ET) opens the show!  ($5)

And right next door at Vain Nightclub they have DJ Caspa (GB) doing his Dubstep thing!  ($10)

SATURDAY MAY 24  Breakbeat fans will want to check out Big Norm's Club V located aboard Victory Casino Cruises at Port Canaveral.  Ship sails at 7pm and returns around 1am.  Resident DJ Shal is joined by DJ's Lee Coombs (GB), Rob-E, D-Xtreme & Phat Kidz.  Admission price includes parking, boarding fee & the club.  Only club with slots!  ($10)

If you're in Jacksonville this Saturday night be sure to check out Eclipse Nightclub because they've got DJ George Acosta (USA) headlining along with Kimball Collins (T)!   ($20)

Closer to home on Saturday night DJ Carlos Mendoza (USA) will be pumping out pure House at Vixen Bar, mixing it up with DJ Knightlife!  (FREE)

SUNDAY MAY 25  You know the drill on Sunday nights; there's Service Industry Night at House of Blues in Downtown Disney and everything else doesn't matter.  But it's always extra special on holiday weekends...and extra crowded.  DJ Richie Rich opens for legendary DJ Magic Mike; DJ Shal is on the patio!  (FREE with any service industry ID; $8 everyone else)

Except that Vixen Bar is holding its 7th annual Memorial weekend party with the likes of DJ's Justin Faze, Dustin Hulton & Curtis B.  (FREE until 12, then $5)

Returning to Tampa this weekend (Saturday & Sunday) beside Raymond James Stadium is the annual Sunset Music Festival, now 2-days of EDM. The lineup this year includes DJ's Zedd (D), Benny Benassi (I), Hardwell (NL), Cosmic Gate (D), W&W (NL) and DJ Snake (F).  So far only 2-day tickets are on sale but after Saturday they typically sell one day tickets if the event is not sold out.  ($159+)

PI Update: Latest Construction Progress

Returned to beautiful Pleasure Island last night to check on the progress.

Doesn't appear to be any progress to the block wall that will make up part of the Boat House Restaurant.  But the progress is actually in front of that wall!

Since much of the building will actually be above the waters of Village Lake, the progress seen in the past week centers on the over-the-water framework.

Nice view of that framework here.

Another new building takes shape in the area behind where Fuego used to stand. 

The concept art makes it look like this building could house several vendors in their own shops.

This will be along the main pedestrian walkway that as you head eastbound will take you into the former service court of Raglan Road and Portobello.

Meanwhile this round "stage" still appears to be part of an outdoor performance "amphitheater" of sorts.

Speaking of Portobello, it's now nearly completely blocked by construction walls as workers rebuild that entire area formerly known as the "lily pad".

There is an opening between walls to get to the restaurant and Portobello keeps an employee staffed there so that people can figure it out.

Extensive renovation of the "lily pad" includes new planters with trees including several beautiful Weeping Fan Palms.

This shot gives you a good idea of all the construction walls in the area.

With it being a Tuesday, Mannequins was probably not opening last night. Maybe some other night.