Author: admin

Last year, my friend and podcast partner Anthony “Biggie” Bencomo and I went to a chicken tender bender. This was an interesting exploration as I was practically a virgin when it came to fast food. Before this effort began, I had never even set foot in Huey Magoos, the chain that was ultimately crowned a champion. I had never even been to 6 of my other 10 competitors. And hasn’t been back since. I don’t eat chicken tenders. But I will eat &$%!! From the rotisserie chicken. Especially over the past few months, I’ve set myself a goal to slim…

In recent weeks, there has been speculation that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office would shut down Alligator Alcatraz because it was not paying fees under an agreement the federal government had with the state. About $600 million is owed to reimburse the state. Other media outlets have reported that contractors with the detention center have also not been paid their full salaries, and have previously heard that it is only a matter of time before the detention center closes. Officials with vendors contracted to Alligator Albatraz told Florida Daily that the facility is not closing at this time and may remain…

Is there any good hiking in flat Florida? Absolutely, say the co-authors of a new statewide hiking guide covering more than 1,000 trails in the Sunshine State. Florida Hikes founder Sandra Friend teamed up with Central Florida-based author Chris Stevens to create the Hiker’s Guide to the Sunshine State, a guidebook featuring trails from the Panhandle to the Keys. Each listing has been thoroughly researched, hiked, and evaluated by two people who have spent years exploring and traveling around the state. Friend said a lot has changed since the first edition was published in 2005, which included about 580 hikes.…

Trina Gregory said doctors rushed into her room less than 30 minutes after her CT scan a month ago. “We found a tumor in your colon,” they said. she fell to the floor. She had come to the hospital for the same test a month earlier due to abdominal pain. Gregory admits he’s not cut out for the ER, but he finds it serious. They told her she had colitis and constipation and sent her home. “‘Drink more water,’ they said.” Now they were calling in a colorectal surgeon. I told her it might be cancer. it was. Gregory never…

Q: Some of the leaves on my camellia have turned brownish-gray on the top, but are green on the bottom. In places where there are leafless stems, some leaves are starting to fall. What should I do? A: Even the healthiest camellias can develop blemishes on the leaf surface. Usually this is the type of gray to brown algae leaf spot you described. These fungi and algae combinations often grow on shady leaves in areas with poor airflow. Algal leaf spot usually causes minimal damage and occurs on older leaves that fall from camellias within one to two years. Fungal…

The Blue Man Group is back in their Orlando groove, delivering their trademark antics in a brand new theater and weaving in some fresh routines that will make today’s headlines. For the uninitiated, the show features three intelligent, silent, and slightly neurotic blue men who communicate through music and movement. For some reason, it feels too big to be called a pantomime, but you can still get a laugh out of the small movements that signal, “Hey, I got Cap’n Crunch on my lips.” The show combines non-traditional percussion, marshmallows, paint splatters, piping, black lights, and streaming streamers. There’s also…

Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia criticized Orange County’s 2025-2026 budget, saying the county had identified more than $300 million in what he called “excessive and wasteful spending.” Ingoglia said the findings are part of a broader effort to scrutinize local government spending and promote property tax relief across Florida. Orange County’s general fund budget has increased 66.06 percent since 2019, according to the CFO’s office. Ingoglia’s office announced last year that it had identified nearly $200 million in overspending in the county’s 2024-2025 budget. “Last September, my office revealed that local officials in Orange County were irresponsibly wasting taxpayer…

One year ago, Epic Universe opened its gates to the public. Universal Orlando’s new theme park added four roller coasters, five immersive lands, stage shows, restaurants and other attractions to the Central Florida tourism mix at a cost of $7.7 billion. It was the first new park in a generation to open in Orlando, complete with technologically advanced attractions, familiar franchises and a high-end hotel attached. Yet amid all the new stuff, a burning question looms: Will there be more Epic? There are signs but no official announcements. “I like being inside of Epic Universe. I think the theming and…

SeaWorld Orlando has set a reopening date for its revamped Flying Theater attraction. Expedition Odyssey: Fire & Ice debuts Monday at 2 p.m. But SeaWorld annual pass members will be able to get a preview of the ride starting Saturday. Platinum Pass members can begin riding Saturday at 3 p.m., Gold level cardholders can participate on Sunday, and Silver and Bronze passholders can participate on Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The attraction introduces new visuals and a fresh storyline, with an expanded procession representing an arctic research outpost. On the ride itself, visitors can see high-resolution erupting volcanoes,…

Universal Orlando announced Thursday that the four-time Oscar-winning horror film “Sinners” will be translated into a haunted house at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. The 2025 film was written, directed, and produced by Ryan Coogler. “Sinners” is set in the 1930s Mississippi Delta, where twin brothers Smoke and Stack (played by Academy Award winner Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown to open a juke joint. Vampire crashes on the first night. “Sinners” grossed $370 million at the box office. The film was nominated for 16 Oscars, and Coogler won for Best Original Screenplay. “The moment ‘Sinners’ premiered, we knew…