Orlando City

Occupy Orlando Protester Wins Free Speech Claims

musiclover — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:08:44 +0000

A federal judge said police officers violated free-speech rights by arresting of an Occupy Orlando participant for writing political messages on the sidewalk outside City Hall. Occupiers can write on city sidewalk to express political messages because the messages are not advertisements or public notices, and they are not permanent, U.S. Magistrate Judge David Baker said.

SeaWorld Orlando ‘Empire of the Penguin’

musiclover — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:35:57 +0000

Even as the grand opening of TurtleTrek approaches on Friday at SeaWorld Orlando, not much has been revealed about the theme park’s biggest in-the-works project, the new Antarctica realm, since its announcement four months ago. But that changed this week as a few new details and a bit of artwork were released at the annual Pow Wow convention, held this year in Los Angeles.

Previously described as the world’s coldest theme park attraction, Empire of the Penguin will take guests on a unique journey through near-freezing temperatures on a ride that SeaWorld now says will change from visit to visit.

Orlando Museum of Art lets public choose exhibit

musiclover — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:15:32 +0000

Online voting has decided the fate of singers, ballroom dancers and dance crews. Now it’s being used to decide what goes on the walls of art museums.

When Orlando Museum of Art’s “Picturing My Florida” exhibit opens Saturday, it will join cultural icons such as the Smithsonian Institution and Brooklyn Museum in letting the public choose what’s displayed.

Orlando hotel occupancy, room rates up

musiclover — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:19:26 +0000

Orlando’s hotel industry continued to see improvement in March, with low-budget properties leading the charge toward better occupancy and higher rates.

Hotels in the Orlando area filled 82.7 percent of their rooms in March, compared with 80.8 percent during March 2011. Last March was the first time local properties logged an average occupancy rate above 80 percent since 2008, near the start of the Great Recession.

SeaWorld Orlando treating injured manatee

musiclover — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:41:13 +0000

SeaWorld Orlando officials say they’re treating a 10-foot manatee that was rescued in central Florida. Officials said the park’s animal care experts will conduct an extensive assessment of the 1,700-pound female manatee on Wednesday.

The Orlando Sentinel ( http://bit.ly/HAbVOY) reports the manatee is in stable condition. It was injured by a boat strike in Indian River Shores, north of Vero Beach.

Orlando exhibit puts you onboard Titanic

musiclover — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:10:17 +0000

Four days later, when the luxurious ocean liner hit an iceberg, more than 1,500 passengers perished in the icy Atlantic Ocean, but public fascination with the ship and its passengers continues to this day.

The fateful voyage was the backdrop of the 1997 movie “Titanic” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.With the rerelease of James Cameron’s blockbuster movie Wednesday in 3-D, commemorating the centennial of the ship’s doomed voyage, fans will once again be able to relive the tragedy – Hollywood style.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer wins re-election

musiclover — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:38:04 +0000

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has won a third term, easily defeating three challengers. Dyer and three incumbent commissioners – Tony Ortiz, Patty Sheehan and Sam Ings – all kept their jobs in Tuesday’s election.

With all absentee ballots and precincts counted, the Orlando Sentinel ( http://bit.ly/HRnkZz) reports that Dyer held 57.8 percent of the vote. Former Commissioner Phil Diamond was second with 27.8 percent. Businessman Ken Mulvaney had 11.3 percent, and community organizer Mike Cantone had 3.2 percent.

Dwight Howard uses his best moves

musiclover — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:05:20 +0000

DWIGHT HOWARD kept his distance from Jennifer Williams on Tuesday night. The Orlando Magic big man, who arrived in town early for his team’s game against the Knicks on Wednesday, stayed far away from the “Basketball Wives” cast member while the two partied at the album-release party for former Diddy-Dirty Money member Dawn Richard’s EP, “Armor On,” at SoHo hotspot Greenhouse.

Orlando mayor candidates spar over city’s finances

musiclover — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:47:42 +0000

As he campaigns for another four years as Orlando mayor, Buddy Dyer has been trumpeting the city’s financial health.

But two opponents say Dyer isn’t being honest. At issue is the city’s bond rating, which Dyer touts as “Triple-A” in campaign ads. Overall, the city’s bond ratings are good, and one rating service, Fitch Ratings, did give a “AAA” rating to Orlando’s “implied general obligation bonds” last month.

FEC Industries plans Miami-to-Orlando passenger service

musiclover — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:04:16 +0000

Florida East Coast Industries is planning a $1 billion project to develop a three-hour Miami-to-Orlando passenger train service by 2014, using a right of way that runs through the downtown areas of South Florida’s coastal cities.The move would bring about a restoration of passenger service for first time since 1968 on the Florida East Coast Railway, which Henry Flagler built more than 100 years ago.

Many South Florida business leaders have been enthusiastic about restoration of passenger service on the FEC, whether it’s an Amtrak route that goes along the coast to Jacksonville or a commuter rail service that could go from Miami to Jupiter.