Club Reports: Sail-Away Party, 70's Disco Night (Jewel Of The Seas)

We're on yet another cruise and of course that means another Sail-Away Party, this one led by DJ Sneddon (IND). Party pics including 70's Night are now posted to sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

Friday Funny

 

CW Update: BK Out, Five Guys In

The Burger King Whopper Bar upstairs at Universal CityWalk has closed. It will be replaced with a Five Guys restaurant. We only ate at the BKWB one time over the years it operated. Love the fries at Five Guys so we look forward to it opening later this summer.

This Weekend In Techno Town

The hits just keep on coming!

THU   30APR      OLIV BAR     DJ Flash (USA)

THU   30APR      PALM TREE CLUB     DJ Renvo (NL) 

FRI     01MAY     CELINE     DJ Daniel Allan (AUS)

FRI     01MAY     VANGUARD     DJ Layton Giordani (USA)

FRI     01MAY     PALM TREE CLUB     DJ Sigala (GB)

FRI     01MAY     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Frankmatik (USA) 

FRI     01MAY     MORSE CODE     DJ Johnny Park (USA) 

FRI     01MAY     PARGH EVENT CENTER     Studio 54 & More!

FRI     01MAY     GOOD TIMES     Abyss: DJ Lavidicus (USA)

SAT    02MAY     ELIXIR BAR     DJ CID (USA)

SAT    02MAY     BROKEN STRINGS   DJ Circle K & MC Collaborator (USA) 

 

CW Update: Red Coconut Goes (Red)tro

During our visit to Universal CityWalk this past weekend we learned that Red Coconut Club is currently closed for renovations that will temporarily convert it to.....

.....(Red)tro Coconut Club. From May 8th through July 18th the club will convert to a Retro format with music from the 80's, 90's and 00's. Admission will continue to be free. 

And on opening night and other select dates the music will be delivered by DJ Michael Wycoff (USA). We will have coverage from opening night! 

 

PI Update: What's New On The Island

Let's cross this bridge one more time to beautiful Pleasure Island to see what's new.

Renovations continue inside the former Art of Shaving store for it's conversion to Six Ravens Bakery by Gideon's Bakehouse. We've not seen an opening date posted anywhere.

And further down Hill Street, heavy renovations continue at the Oakley store. We can't imagine what they're doing with that small space that would take such a long time to complete. They have a temporary location in a food merchandise truck adjacent the Characters In Flight balloon ride, Disney Springs West Side.

 

Club Reports: Forbidden Kingdom Music Festival, Broken Strings Brewery, Iron Cow

We began our Saturday at Forbidden Kingdom Music Festival where we ran into this group of damsels. We also spent a few hours at Broken Strings Brewery and closed out the night with DJ Miguel Migs (USA) at Iron Cow. Busy day and night and you can find all the pics on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

Club Reports: Hilton LBV Pool, John Lennon Room @ HRL, Red Coconut Club, Atlantic Dance Hall

Did you know there's a free dance party every Friday and Saturday night at the secret John Lennon Room & Terrace atop Hard Rock Live. We went to check it out last night and found DJ Lex (USA) in the booth. All the pics from last night are posted on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

Friday Funny

 

The Downtown Mess - Part 1

This is the parking garage that used to stand at the corner of Hughey Avenue and Church Street, directly across Church Street from then Amway Center, now Kia Center. We posted that photo in 2016 and indicated it would soon be demolished for a new festival marketplace the Orlando Magic planned to build on that space.

Indeed, by 2017 the garage had been demolished and the Orlando PD headquarters building behind it would soon be demolished too as they relocated to a brand new building on OBT, With both buildings gone, they could finally begin constructing that festival marketplace.

Let's zoom ahead 10 more years to 2026 and check out construction progress. The development is now called Westcourt.

We peered over the fence. Are there shops? Are there apartments? Is there a hotel? Is there a music venue? No-No-No-No! There is nothing here after more than 10 years. It's been announced something is going to get built here beginning this fall but we've heard that before over the past decade more than once. Church Street downtown is a mess and the mess begins here. More to come.

 

This Weekend In Techno Town

And just like that, April is coming to a conclusion:

THU   23APR     OLIV BAR     DJ Mer Made (USA)

FRI     24APR     CELINE     DJ Dr. Bresh (USA)

FRI     24APR     PALM TREE CLUB     DJ Malone Morez (C/USA)

FRI     24APR     VANGUARD     DJ Svdden Death (USA)

FRI     24APR     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Justin Davis (USA) 

SAT    25APR     CENTRAL FL FAIR   Forbidden Kingdom Day 1 SOLD OUT

SAT    25APR     BROKEN STRINGS     DJ Genesis (USA)

SAT    25APR     IRON COW     DJ Miguel Migs (USA)

SAT    25APR     SESSIONS     DJ Vampa (USA)

SAT    25APR     TACO KAT     DJ Hulian (USA) 

SAT    25APR     VANGUARD     DJ duo Zeds Dead (CDN)

SAT    25APR     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Brian Burnside (USA) 

SUN   26APR     CENTRAL FL FAIR   Forbidden Kingdom Day 2 SOLD OUT

SUN   26APR     GRAPE & GRAIN     DJ Brian Burnside  3pm+

SUN   26APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ duo X Club (AUS/GB) 

SUN   26APR     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Bles-sed (USA) 

 

 

Blog Archives: April 18, 2009

We published this photo and article back in April, 2009 which is 17 years ago!

 Atlantic Dance is very much like the proverbial box of chocolates because you never know what you're going to get. During an early evening visit this past Friday night (around 11pm) I counted around 100 patrons in there. The dance floor was mostly empty although it did pick up before I departed for The Groove. One of the DJ's who works there told me that one night this past week there was only about 10 customers in there yet the night prior there was over 300! Since the club is not advertised, it's all about how many party people are staying at the adjacent Swan and Dolphin Hotels and to a lesser extent, at Disney's Boardwalk Hotel. Conventioneers generally want to "party" after the meetings are over with and with close to no other options on Disney property, Atlantic Dance can get pretty crowded. For those who have never been, it's a beautiful Art Deco facility playing a Video Dance format of mostly Top 40 and Hip Hop.

Trip Report: Cartagena, Colombia

A few pics from this past weekend's cruise on Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas cruise from Panama to Colombia. 

The cruise terminal is located about 20 minutes drive from downtown Cartagena. Lots of taxi drivers outside the terminal gates vying for your business. We had previously researched the Uber price of around $15 so when one of the drivers said $20, he quickly reduced it to $15 when confronted with the price offered by the competition. 

The old town area Centro Historico is walled as many cities of the 1500's were. This entry area is called the Puerta del Reloj or the Clock Gate.

The Cartagena de Indias Cathedral was built between 1577 and 1612.

Didn't have a lot of time to spend in Cartagena because of our early afternoon flight back to Miami. While there are a lot of colonial features in the city, there are also dozens of modern high rise condos lining the harbor and many of the beach fronts.

Club Reports: Sail-Away Party, Schooner Bar, Safari Club, Vortex Nightclub (Serenade Of The Seas)

Safely back in Orlando this evening after a 1-nt cruise from Colon, Panama to Cartegena, Colombia on cruise ship Serenade of the Seas. Party pics from the ship can be found on our sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE.

 

Trip Report: Panama City, Panama

Quick trip to Panama City, Panama yesterday to be followed by a 1-nt cruise to Colombia. Posting several pictures below to give you an idea about this interesting city & country.

 

After about a 3 hour flight from Miami, we caught sight of land as Panama finally arrived. As you likely know, the isthmus of Panama is the narrowest piece of land in the Americas which is why it was selected to be the location of the canal connecting the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Last water view on the Atlantic (Caribbean) side.

And just a few minutes later, the Pacific Ocean (on the far right) arrived. Interesting fact: while the Atlantic Ocean is east of Panama and the Pacific Ocean is west of Panama, ships traveling through the Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific actually travel mostly eastbound because of the curvature of the isthmus! 

On final approach to PTY, a view of the Pacific entrance/exit of the Panama Canal and the Bridge of the Americas which carries the Pan American Highway over it.

And a nice view of a very modern downtown Panama City before landing.

Friday Funny

Always fun at Iron Cow.

 

FKMF Is One Week Away!

Just one week away! Taking place on Saturday & Sunday of next weekend, Forbidden Kingdom Music Festival returns to Orlando for two days of mostly Dubstep and Heavy Bass. Additional information and waitlist ticket purchases HERE. 

 

This Weekend In Techno Town

For those not attending Breakaway Music Festival in Tampa this weekend, there's a nice assortment of events here in Orlando:

FRI     17APR     BROKEN STRINGS     DJ Circle K (USA) 

FRI     17APR     CELINE     DJ Dirtmonkey (USA)

FRI     17APR     SWIRLERY     DJ Arcade Apocalypse (USA)

FRI     17APR     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Frankmatik (USA) 

SAT    18APR     LUNA BAR     Discoteria: DJ Mighty Shari (USA)

SAT    18APR     VANGUARD     DJ Dombresky dba Disco Dom (F)

SAT    18APR     ATTIC NIGHTCLUB     Sorry For Party Rocking 

SAT    18APR     AXE TRAP     Memento Mori: DJ Lavidicus (USA) 

SAT    18APR     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Juan Sanchez (USA) 

SAT    18APR     2207 E MICHIGAN   House & Food Trucks  10am-4pm

 

 

 

Blog Archives: April 2, 2011

Going back into the Blog archives to Saturday, April 2, 2011 or about 15 years ago. We were at Firestone Live to see an event headlined by DJ Baby Anne (USA).

The club was absolutely packed!

And a good time was had by all.

Club Reports: Remembering Matrix & Metropolis

As we were leaving Live! At The Pointe at Pointe Orlando this past Friday night, we encountered this familiar view as we headed towards the garage. On the left, that vacant spot says the Museum of Ice Cream is coming and on the right, the Funny Bone comedy club operates in there. 

The view was familiar because during the early 2000's, nightclubs Metropolis and Matrix operated in those two spots. 

Metropolis on the left was the larger venue with plush decor set in red velvet. There was a dance floor to one side with a DJ booth behind glass overlooking it. There was a 13ft video wall at one end of the dance floor. The music was mostly Hip Hop during a period when Hip Hop was soaring and House/Dance were fading. Pool tables were available too in what may have been Orlando's first "ultra lounge". 

Matrix was directly opposite and paid admission to one club typically got you into the other club and you could go back and forth. Matrix was the high-tech, high-energy electronic club with sophisticated light and sound systems. An oddly shaped dance floor, poorly located pillars and a DJ booth that was behind glass and removed from patrons limited its popularity as did the fading music genre. To me they played great Dance music like you'd hear on radio station 95.3Party. Disney couple Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were known to socialize here. 

Both clubs were shuttered by 2005.