Dear recent Orlando transplant:

Ok, so you just moved to Orlando from New York / Philly / Chicago / San Francisco / et al. You feel lost, uprooted, misplaced -- you're starting to think Orlando might suck. Eager to find some nightlife in this town, you go to Lattitudes on Church Street, Slingapour's on Wall Street and that mega-club on Orange Avenue owned by one of those Backstreet Boys (Orlando's finest celebrities). Maybe you even think International Drive, Citywalk or Downtown Disney is where everyone hangs out in this town. Now you really think Orlando sucks.

Well, you're wrong. There is more to this city than theme park "nightlife" and crappy clubs with guys wearing shiny shirts, but you have to know where to look. Instead of complaining about how lame Orlando is compared to your city of origin, why not get out there and support your new scene -- it's a lot better than you think! After all, you moved here for a reason, right? (I'm guessing to escape the cold weather.) So you can do one of two things: either 1) move back to the city you think is sooooo much more awesome or 2) quit bitchin', check the events below and DON'T SLEEP on the shit that is happening!

Monday, March 30, 2009

See Kid Koala for Free

The post-WMC haze is in effect but that's not always a bad thing for us Orlando-ians, especially since we still get a few DJs to pass through our town on their way home from Miami. Tomorrow night turntablist extraordinaire, Kid Koala, will be visiting Phat-N-Jazzy before leaving the Sunshine State. Tickets range from $12 to $14, or you can send an RSVP to RSVP@thesocial.org for free entry. (Only confirmed RSVPs will be valid and you have to be 21+.)



PS... I'll try to be better about posting ahead of time. I am the queen of procrastinating.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

My Milkshake Brings All the Boys to the Yard

Damn right, it's better than yours.



Block party today at the Milk District! (That's the retail area by the TG Lee cows on Robinson and Bumby in case you weren't sure.) Highlights include DJs, bands, a vegan hot dog eating contest and a mural unveiling by Andrew Spear. It's all going down in the parking lot behind Covert (2428 E. Robinston St.) so get down there now!!!

Alt. Post Title: I Drink Your Milkshake!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Art Shirts + French Invasion + Pop Off

It’s quite a busy Thursday in our not-so-sleepy li’l town. First up, everyone’s favorite large-headed artist (as so lovingly coined by this interview on SmileForCamera.com), Andrew Spear, is teaming up with everyone’s favorite make-your-own-super-awesome-tshirt company, Mother Falcon. From 6 PM – 9 PM tonight, the store will be holding a jump off party featuring Spear’s artwork on limited edition t-shirts. I bought a daft punk shirt last weekend and I <3 it!!! If you can’t make it tonight, be sure to stop by the store before April 15th to grab a Spear shirt. Hell, just go to the store, period! They can make any image into a rad shirt for you!!! I can’t believe no one has done this yet.



Also tonight, we have a French invasion in J.E.S.U.S. land. Institubes labelites Bobmo, Orgasmic, Das Glow will be gracing the stage of Club Icon, along with the regular cast of characters assembled by Pauly Crush. Is it just me or does this lineup keep changing? I thought I saw Curses’ name on here this past week... maybe he’s too busy being Drop the Lime these days. And whatever happened to the real meat and potatoes of the crew: Surkin and Para One? My guess is the lack of bodies the last time they played might have something to do with it.



Last but not least we have the Pop Off crew over at The Social. What to expect: dope ass music, hipsters with angled haircuts and extremely overpriced drinks. Luckily, there are 2 for 1 wells all night... too bad you’ll pay $8 for one. (To be fair, Club Icon’s drinks are even worse. I think we dropped $50 on 3 drinks last week. They might have been doubles, but still!!!)



Happy Thursday!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Contra @ Good Look

Crazy busy all up in here. So busy, in fact, that I am lackadaisically copy/pasting a Myspace bulletin about tonight's happenings. Hey, at least I'm doing something. Should be a good time tonight. Tomorrow is going off too so I'll be back with more... hasta manana!

(I apologize for the explicit use of ALL CAPS that follows):

GOOD LOOK is: A NEW MONTHLY PARTY created to bring together Orlando's art, music, fashion and design communities.

For a once a month network event/night of mayhem, that revolves around DJ culture, Live Music, Live Art, and of course, binge drinking.



Set in Orlando's only Japanese style Boutique Club, Bikkuri Lounge, GOOD LOOK is here to progress the city beautiful and create a platform for the exchange of ideas amongst artists, designers, and DJ's.
Wednesday, March 18!

GOOD LOOK presents:

CONTRA!

The tour DJ for M.I.A.& Santogold!
Along with one of our favorite guys in town,

QUESO!



Just for you Orlando !

Tons of t-shirt and tote bag give-aways all night long from our friendly NYC based sponsor KILL SHOP KILL!!!

PLUS the first 50 people through the door will be given original works of art to keep! SWEET!

and make sure you keep your eyes open for a secret video art installation presented by the Bold Hype Crew.

Haven't been to Bikkuri Lounge yet?

This place is AMAZING. By far one of the best sound and lighting systems in all of Orlando. Lasers and all kinds of crazy shit! LED Light Wall. You will be jamming out to the soundz of MIA and SANTOGOLD's TOUR DJ in a super posh unique nightclub experience.

Plus SUSHI!
SAKE!
Great drink specials! 2-4-1s! $3 domestics!

and get your drunk ass photographed in some crazy photos by your favorite Smile For Camera photographer!

Also, there will be one of a kind screen printed vintage purses available by A La Revenge!

Dress to impress, but don't stress!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

This Friday the 13th

I just got home from the shortest trip to southern California in the history of trips to southern California - I left on Sunday and came back tonight... basically I was there for one day. Although it was one of the most perfect days in the history of perfect days in southern California, I am now home and feeling exhausted. Not sure if it's the jet lag, daylight savings change or the numerous vodka + sodas I had on the plane, but none of that matters now.

Why? Because the greatest party ever in the history of parties is upon us this weekend!!! This Friday, March 13th (yes, it's Friday the 13th again people. March is always a copy of February and you should know that by this point in your life) brings us the most anticipated party of the year. No, I'm not just saying that because I am DJing. I am saying it because literally everyone I know always asks me when this party is coming back and I never have an answer. Until NOW!

The Worst Music Party Vol. 13 returns to the Hideaway!!! We have some surprises in store (hint: think pinball) but you'll just have to show up to see what the mayhem is about. AND New Kids on the Block are performing the same night - coincidence? Hell no! We're having the goddamn official afterparty.



Don't you dare miss out on the party of the year!!!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

What You Should Be Doing Tonight!

Check it:

Mythology Mural Show at Bold Hype



Brice Stephens' show at Stardust Video (conveniently located next door to Bold Hype!)



Girl Talk at Firestone



False Alarm Warehouse Party (free admission with your Girl Talk ticket stub)



Happy Saturday!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Diplo vs. Tricky

Allright, kids, here are your best choices for tonight.



Florida’s own superstar DJ slash producer, Diplo, at Icon. He really looks like a Florida guy, doesn’t he? I can’t explain what it is but I’m sure I’ve seen him buying cigarettes at a gas station wearing a wife beater and jeans (boxers showing, of course). After making some lame comment to the cashier, he takes off in his pickup truck, blasting either country or hip-hop... you never can tell with those guys.



Or, British trip-hop icon, Tricky (aka Gary Oldman’s right-hand man in the Fifth Element!!!), at Firestone.



Not bad for a Thursday, huh? Be sure to save some juice for Girl Talk this weekend.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Tigercity @ Will's Pub

Any of you kids remember the band that opened for VHS or Beta last year? Well, you should. They’re called Tigercity, a Brooklyn-based band named as one of Rolling Stone’s Artists to Watch in 2007. This disco-fied foursome are guys after my own heart: they describe their influences "ranging from The Police, Daft Punk, and Roxy Music, to classic Prince and Off The Wall-era Michael Jackson." Um... yes, please! My favorite song on their Myspace player is Are You Sensation, hands down.



They’re playing tonight at Will's Pub with Spirit Bomb, Makeshift Gentleman and The Royal. Catch them in your own backyard while you still can! Not only are they headed off to SXSW and a European tour, I’m sure it's only a matter of time before they get signed to the DFA label or something similar.

$8, Doors at 9 PM