Happy Birthday, Michael Jackson!

Today would have been the King of Pop’s 53rd birthday. Sad face. Luckily we can still remember him and his music (and try to forget about those crazy years towards the end there). Every year around this time, DJ BMF gathers his friends for a proper commemoration, Phat ‘N Jazzy style. This year, the 3rd Annual Michael Jackson Tribute Party is this Friday, September 2, at The Social and features Gerry Williams and Swamburger to name a few. It’s always one of my favorite parties of the year, hands down. So dust off your fedoras and get ready to dance, shout and shake your body down to the ground.

Rest in peace, MJ. We <3 you!!!

Cee Lo Green: Free Show at Hard Rock Live

Yep, that’s right. Free. Cee Lo. Wednesday, September 7 at Hard Rock Live.

How? Those nice folks over at Samsung are sponsoring (yay!) and we’re reaping all the benefits. 750 tickets are available -- snag yours by visiting this link and entering your info and the promotion code SK4. The ticket will admit you plus one. Awesome town!!!

And before you judge Cee Lo on that “Forget You” radio song you’re so sick of hearing, just know his whole Lady Killer album is amazing. The man’s voice is like butter.

My fave song from the album: Wildflower.

And did you forget about Gnarls Barkley? Here’s the creepy-yet-accurate singing heart video.

Saturday, July 30: Ricky Powell in Orlando!

Ok, this blog has been too effin quiet lately. I’m not going to make excuses or apologize, I’m just going to write, which is what I should have been doing for the past few months. Anyway, mark your calendars for Ricky Powell’s World Famous Slideshow. That’s right -- the semi-official 4th Beastie Boy will be in our midst on Saturday, July 30 to show us his favorite career-span photos. And for someone who sweet-talked his way on tour with the Beasties and RUN DMC just as they were coming up on the scene (!!!), and has photographed some of the biggest names in the biz, you need to be there. The spot is Mother Falcon, who will also put some of those iconic photos on t-shirts for your wearing pleasure. The DJs on hand know what’s up and it’s an event not to be missed. So be there or be a sucker.

Homeboy throw in the towel, your girl got dicked by Ricky Powell. In Orlando. Fucking A right!!!

Jimmy Eat World, Tomorrow at House of Blues!

When I told Becky I wanted to preview the upcoming Jimmy Eat World concert at House of Blues, she looked at me strangely, thought about it for a second, and then asked if they were that one band that had that “Middle” song on the radio years ago.

Short answer: Yes, that’s them.

Long answer: Yes, that’s them, but despite that one pop song that hit radio almost ten years ago (yep, it was 2002, you really are getting old) the band’s 18-year career is full of MUCH better stuff than that.

Longer answer: Jimmy Eat World’s power-pop/emo music has somewhat achieved mainstream success, but they’ve come a long way from what you heard on the radio years ago. If you’re turned off by the word emo, you’ll be happy to know the band’s newer stuff, including their latest album Invented, is not as bad as it used to be. Yes, the music is moody and cinematic, but it also brings in non-emo traits like smart lyrics, big guitars and a louder, punk-inspired sound. If the last song you heard (or played on Rock Band) was “The Middle,” give them another shot.

Solution: Jimmy Eat World (and myself) will be at House of Blues tomorrow night, February 4, with David Bazan. Tickets are $23.25 and still available!

Bars that Don't Suck: Milk Bar

I’m pretty sure the Milk District is Orlando’s smallest “district,” but it’s one of the best. The compact area, pretty much just Robinson Street between Bumby and Primrose, was named for its proximity to the TG Lee Factory and has a handful of cool shops, restaurants and bars including Etoile Boutique, the newly opened Sandwich Bar and the Milk Bar, an aptly named craft beer haven. There are very few things I love more than drinking tasty beer and playing Scattegories, so any place that happily merges these two loves of mine cannot suck. It just can’t.

Open every night but Monday, the bar’s quarters are small (there’s seating for about 30) but cozy. Leather bound menus are loaded with beers, separated by type and updated weekly. Featured earlier this week: Fort Collins Rocky Mountain IPA and Smuttynose. If you have no clue what those mean, the bartenders won’t get all beer snob on you – they’re happy to explain and offer samples. And if they’re out of something, they’ll suggest a similar pick. The best part: a bookshelf packed with board games like Uno, Trivial Pursuit, Operation (not suggested after three beers) and of course, Scattegories.

The TV pipes out movies every Sunday night (last time I was there, Four Rooms was on), and there’s a new Very Large Array “party” on Saturday nights, where DJs Cub and Jazzthieve spin a nice mix of music at a level comfortable enough to still yell out Taboo! answers if need be.

For more info (and frequent updates), visit the Milk Bar's Facebook page.

Wine Not with DJ Y-Not + Golden Age Wednesdays

What are you doing this Wednesday night? Nothing? Well, then, why not Wine Not with DJ Y-Not? (Try saying that five times fast.)

But, seriously, head over to the College Park location of Dechoes, one of Orlando’s best vintage shops, for the first 2011 installment of their famed Wine Not Wednesday. As if you need them, here are five reasons to go:

DJ Y-Not Chances are, you’ve already heard of him; if not, it’s time you did. By far one of the most talented DJs Orlando has to offer, this dude has amazing taste in music, should have won the Red Bull 3 Style competition last March and threw some sick parties in 2010 (Kenny Dope and Deathrow vs. Bad Boy to name a few). Bottom line: see him.

Free Booze As the name suggests, there will be free wine on hand. If that’s not your thing, grab a free Peroni beer or, if you’re feeling daring, have some of the spiked Dec-hoe punch. But be careful – it’s sponsored by Wally’s, so that can only mean a Thursday hangover.

Free Food The newly-opened Graffiti Junktion in College Park provide the snacks to soak up some of the previously mentioned punch.

Cool Shit To put it simply, Dechoes is the mack. Besides the usual resale items like clothing, shoes, purses and accessories, they also have amazingly dope retro household items. (Will someone please buy me a 70’s owl lamp?) And everything is so ridiculously affordable, even if you plan on not buying anything, a few glasses of Dec-hoe punch will surely loosen your wallet. (That is the point, after all!)

Support Local Businesses! Here’s the deal – places like Dechoes are working for us. They’re busting their butt so we can have a better city. If we don’t help them out, we lose them. Too many cool businesses leave Orlando for greener pastures, so make sure you buy local as much as possible and keep them here. We need them. Orlando needs them. Thank you, Dechoes!

Peep more info on the Facebook invite.

And if you’re feeling saucy after the party, head downtown to The Attic (also formerly known as AKA Lounge) for Golden Age Wednesdays. This brand spankin’ new weekly party features the finer side of hip hop (before the auto-tune, that is), along with old school, neo-soul, reggae and R&B. The night is brought to us by the cool kids over at Culture Climax, also busting their asses to make our fair city more hip and happening. So support them too! First on deck is DJ Hu Flave. (Please note the aforementioned DJ Y-Not slotted for January 19.)

Happy Wednesday!

New Years Eve Parties in Orlando - 2010/2011 Style!

New Year’s Eve in upon us, which is usually hit or miss in our beloved Orlando. There’s plenty going on at the theme parks, Wall Street and Church Street, but here at Don’t Sleep Orlando, it’s our jobs to bring you the alternatives to such events.

And after a few hours of scouring the internetz for some decent NYE parties, the pickins appear to be slim this year. I’m going to chalk it up to procrastinating on the part of clubs and promoters, although the super-mega-shiny-shirt clubs downtown seem to have their act together.

Anyway, without further adieu, here is what’s on this New Year’s Eve in Orlando:

Don’t Forget with DJs Andrew Spear, Mot and Ken Sherry
Best for: The old Knock Knock crowd, fans of Jaegermeister
Details: This trio of DJs doesn’t disappoint and their music selections include everything from house, funk and disco to rock, electro and hip hop. Plus, they’re all a bunch of drunks (in a good way) so expect late night rantings on the microphone, plus Jaeger-fueled shenanigans.
Where + How Much: Peacock Room, $10
What’s in it for me? Free champagne toast at midnight



Red and Black Party with DJ Secret Weapon and guests
Best for: Beer enthusiasts, the indie crowd
Details: The FB invite leaves much to be desired and Redlight Redlight doesn’t even have a freaking website. Seriously?? But DJ Secret Weapon (aka Calvin from Park Ave CDs) has awesome taste in music, although it would be nice if he let the songs play a little longer before mixing them out. Just sayin.’
Where + How Much: Redlight Redlight, Cover charge TBD
What’s in it for me? Forget Miller High Life. Toast 2011 with DeuS -- the literal champagne of beers.
James Bond New Year’s Eve Party: Dress to Kill
Best for: Secret agents, Bond girls and Villains
Details: Unleash your inner Goldeneyes and Octopussys for this annual themed party at The Enzian. The Bond movie Thunderball will be showing outside the Eden Bar at 8PM.
Where + How Much: The Enzian, Starting at $25
What’s in it for me? Hot Bond guy/ Bond girl eye candy, Shaken or stirred drink specials and Enzian Film Society Members receive one complimentary espresso vodka cocktail.



New Year’s Eve Prom Night
Best for: 80’s fans, People who missed their high school dances
Details: Ah, the 80’s prom theme. Will it ever die? Not likely, as this is the third year in a row for IBar’s NYE Prom. So dust off those taffeta dresses and ruffled tuxes, it’s time for prom! (Again.)
Where + How Much: Independent Bar, 21+ $10 cover, 18+ $15 cover
What’s in it for me? Half price admission if you get decked out (we want to see elbow-legnth gloves, ladies!) and $1 Heinekens until 11.



Late Night New Year’s Eve Bash
Best for: House-heads, club kids, people who want to party until 3AM
Details: The untz untz beats will be thumping at the Cameo Theater when Pitchverb, Just Jason, Joey Paranoia, Romano Arcaini and Megan Lyons take over for the night.
Where + How Much: The Cameo Theater, 21+ $10 cover, 18+ $15 cover
What’s in it for me? Free champagne at midnight



Hopefully something from the above list tickles your fancy this New Year’s Eve. If not, check out one of our favorite neighborhood bars below who didn’t bother to list their festivities online:

Will’s Pub
Wallys
The Hideaway
Milk Bar
Lou’s Lounge
The Imperial
Copper Rocket

Good luck and have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve!

Return of the Mack + WTF, Crooked Bayou is Closing?!?!?!

What’s up, kids? Yeah, it’s been a minute, but to quote the lyrical stylings of a Mr. Cool J, “Don’t call it a comeback, we’ve been here for years.”

What’s new with me, you may be wondering? Well, I’ve been lucky enough to travel around the world with my jobby-job (including living in Finland for the last three months) so I’ve been a busy bee. I never did forget my beloved Don’t Sleep Orlando, though, especially every time I had to pay for the domain name.

So, long story short, we’re back. I’ve found a new partner in crime to help me update these lovely event listings, so you can expect much from us in 2011. Announcements and introductions coming soon and we hope to have a comprehensive New Year’s Eve post up early next week, so stay tuned.

But all this is not why I’m here. It is with a heavy heart that I bring news of a well-loved, downtown Orlando bar’s closing. Known for the iconic fried pickles, tater tots, po boys, 25 cent wing nights, and Orlando’s best bartender, Dan the Man, Crooked Bayou, one of our favorite spots, has been sold.

Sad face. :(

In its place, a new BBQ joint will be moving in, and word on the street is they want to keep the status quo – same staff, same DJs, same venue. Supposedly only the menu will be different, but with new ownership, who knows what will happen.

In the meantime, let’s drown our sorrows with one last hurrah this Thursday night. The annual holiday party put on by Hoochie Productions (always a major bash in itself) is being rebranded as the Official Crooked Bayou Closing party. (It pains me to even type that. I still don’t want to believe it’s true!) I can’t think of a better party to thank Crooked for their last 15 years of service to Orlando. Get more info at Hoochie Productions’ website or the Facebook invite. The full menu goes until midnight, so have a Danimal and a Grand Slam shot for old times sake.


We’re looking forward to whatever future ventures the Bayou staff is involved in. There are rumors of a sandwich bar opening soon in the Milk District. Stay tuned.

Surf Expo After Party + Dirty South BBQ III

Yeah, yeah. I know.

I haven’t been here in awhile but this is an excellent weekend to return. Why? Because of these two things:

First up, you may or may not have heard the news about Covert getting robbed while MOT was out of town. Lame. So tonight, in an attempt to bring up his spirits, check out the Music Never Forgets party with Mot, Spear and Ken Sherry at Sky60 (I don’t want to cave to their new branding until I absolutely have to!). And since it’s an offical Surf Expo after party, things are gonna get nuts (read: Jager. And lots of it).


And on Sunday over at the Milk District is the 3rd annual Dirty South BBQ. Etoile, Covert and BETA bring you the dopest potluck party of the year including Dj's, live bands, lola's pizza, dunk tank, bike tune ups, crafts and vegan hotdogs! 12 pm – 8pm, rain or shine (hell yeah, we got down in the rain a few years ago). Donations welcome!


So come out and support your local kids who are doing their best to make it happen in the midst of thieving assholes and a shitty economy!!!!!

Tonight: THE Michael Jackson Tribute Party

Sorry I haven’t been around lately but I’ve had shit to do. Planning a major party in one week has been stressful, but tonight we will reap the benefits! Our man Michael Jackson died one week ago today and we need to pay him respect. There have been a few other tribute parties here and there, but I guarantee this one will be the party of the year. 10 PM, Peacock Room, $5 cover.


We encourage everyone to dress as appropriately as possible!!! Meaning glitter gloves, red leather jackets, high water pants, fedora hats, arm bands, white v-neck tshirts, and fakes noses !!!

So tonight, gotta leave that 9 – 5 upon the shelf, and just enjoy ourselves.