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From 3-7pm on June 28, 2013, Tommy Bahama's restaurant & bar (9101 International Drive #1200, Orlando, Florida, Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest) is having a happy hour to celebrate its 20 years in business. Called "Island Time Happy Hour," the celebration will include a special menu including Key West Conch Fritters, Boca Chica Chicken and a...

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http://www.trbimg.com/img-51b2d976/turbine/os-cal-8-track-sounds-of-the-70s-20130606/187/16×9 Winter Park Playhouse will be getting down with the sounds of the BeeGees and K.C. & the Sunshine Band when it opens “8 Track: The Sounds of the 70′s” on Friday, June 21. Orlando Arts Blog … Continue reading →

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The first trailer for Disney’s Frozen is not what I expected at all. The movie is adapted from The Snow Queen, and instead of focusing on the Princess Anna, the Snow Queen Elsa, or even the Mountain Man Kristoff, we get a dose of interaction between Sven the reindeer and Olaf the snowman. We also don’t get to embed the trailer (as has become Disney’s habit as of late, they’re partnering with a sponsor to debut early trailers). In this case it’s the weather channel, which I think at least wins for being well themed to a movie named Frozen.

Update: I can embed the UK version of the trailer:

With wacky ‘physical’ comedy like that, it’s apparent Disney wants to communicate very early that Frozen will be appropriate for children of all ages. How well do you think they did?

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Trailer for Disney’s Frozen Goes for Guffaws originally posted on
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California Grill, which is currently closed for a massive remodel, gave details of its new beverage program to Disney Parks Blog recently.  The restaurant is a popular one with Disney fans for its unique location on the top of the Contemporary, providing a perfect view for the Magic Kingdom fireworks.  The new menu will debut when the restaurant re-opens later this...

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Legoland Florida’s World of Chima (pronounced Chee-mah) readies for its grand opening on July 3, 2013. Recently the theme park’s youth panel, Buddy’s Brick Bunch, helped christen the central ride of the new land. The christening event gave the first official images of the Quest for Chi ride vehicles. The ride will take 8 riders per boat through an indoor and outdoor track that features a...

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Latest Events – Downtown Arts District of Orlando … Continue reading →

Recently the popular water ballet entertainment company Aqualillies performed a special “In-Sync” routine at the largest resort swimming pool at Walt Disney World — the Big Blue Pool, located appropriately in the “Finding Nemo” courtyard at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. The professionally choreographed performance of Aqualillies also show-off a lot more of the Art of Animation Resort in the video:

A+ to Disney for bringing such a unique partnership to Walt Disney World. Makes me think of Pushing Daisies (that wonderful show on ABC that couldn’t survive the writer’s strike). Which scene is your favorite?

(Photo courtesy Disney. Gene Duncan, photographer)

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Aqualillies Perform “In-Sync” Routine at Art of Animation Resort originally posted on
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Park Avenue merchants and Winter Park community members are invited to attend a free seminar regarding Park Avenue Merchants Association’s ExperienceParkAvenue.com on Thursday June 20, 2013 at 9a at the Winter Park Welcome Center (151 W. Lyman Ave, Winter Park).    The website garners over 5,000 unique visitors per month, of which 42% access the site via their iPhone.  Since...

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By Ken Storey Remember that Sick Time proposal that 50,000 area voters signed in support of only to have Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs text with local lobbyists (that link is a major Huffington Post story on the scandal, how embarrassing is that) and businesses in a successful attempt to block it from the November 6, 2012 Orange County ballot?  The proposal was forced to...

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Disney’s The Lone Ranger promises a new sort of old western. Clearly a return to the classic genre, but with a twist that will keep audiences focused on the screen waiting for what comes next. Here are three recent behind the scenes looks at how the movie was made:

The Craft

The Spirit Tower

Cowboy Bootcamp

Which featurette did you like the best?

From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, comes Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger,” a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.

“The Lone Ranger” also stars Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson and Helena Bonham Carter.

A Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films presentation, “The Lone Ranger” is directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski, with screen story by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio and Justin Haythe and screenplay by Justin Haythe and Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio. ‘The Lone Ranger” releases in U.S. theaters on July 3, 2013.

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Go Behind The Scenes on Disney’s The Lone Ranger originally posted on
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Leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime, and his sidekick Bumblebee have arrived at Universal Orlando Resort to get ready for the grand opening of Transformers: The Ride – 3D – which will take place this Thursday, June 20. I’ve been able to sneak on a couple rides during the attraction’s technical rehearsals (aka soft opening). The attraction is essentially a clone of the California Transformers attraction, which a more compact layout that requires an elevation change. You don’t really notice the up and down movement, because your eyes are transfixed on the action happening in front of you.

From ground breaking to its official opening construction of Transformers took less than 12 months. That’s the fastest they’ve ever built an attraction at Universal Orlando. Watch this time-lapse video showing the construction compressed down to about 30 seconds:

The ride system itself is very similar to the Spider-man 3D attraction at Universal’s other park Islands of Adventure. The main difference is the heavy CG animation used in the Transformers has a realistic feel, while Spiderman is obviously set in a comic book universe. They through the usual set of tricks at you, but do it in such a fun way that you don’t really mind the similarities between the attractions. You could really ride both on the same day and have to difference experiences.

For the grand opening on June 20th the famed Autobot duo of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee will be rolling through Universal Studios Florida looking for recruits to join them in the battle to save Planet Earth from the Decepticons. Transformers: The Ride – 3D pushes the limits of technology to place guests in the middle of a larger-than-life battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons and offers a transforming experience for theme park guests.

So far when I’ve been on the attraction, the Express Pass hasn’t been available. That meant the Standby queue moved at a steady pace (barring any attraction breakdowns). When the Express Pass opens, the single rider line will become a great option to a standby queue that will snake slowly through its rooms. Hopefully you’ll be able to spend much of the wait inside where it’s air conditioned. As you can tell by the size of this exterior queue, they’re expecting huge crowds with long waits.

If the line is too long, there is also a great meet and greet area around the back of the attraction where you can get your photo taken with the Transformers. Then come back when the evening has fallen and you won’t have to worry about sun beating down on your head in that huge queue. But do come back Transformers is a terrific ride.

( Photo Courtesy Universal Orlando Resort.)

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Transformers: The Ride – 3D at Universal Studios Florida Time-Lapse Video and Autobots originally posted on
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I’m a big fan of Hand Drawn animation, as are many Disney fans. But we haven’t been enough to save the artform from withering on the tree at Walt Disney Animation Studios. In April, Burbank let go most of the hand-drawn animation team. It’s a shame, because artists like Nick Ranieri can still crank out some pretty amazing stuff with pen and and paper.

Here’s a pencil test for Wreck-it Ralph from Ranieri. The film’s directors used it to get a sense for how the character would move and act while the CG Animation Department was still working in early stages.

Below the jump is another pencil test, this time from Eric Goldberg, of King Candy:

The quality isn’t all that good. But you still get a feel for it.

What do you think, would Wreck-it Ralph have worked as a 2d animation?

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Wreck-it Ralph as if it were Hand Drawn Animation originally posted on
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On Friday January 14th as I drove home after sketching on Virginia Drive, I was surprised to see a police car parked a block from my home, with its red and blue lights cutting into the night. A Channel 9 News van was parked behind the police cruiser. Several young men stood in the street with large black plastic bags piled near by, their heads bowed.

This McMansion was build in 2008 just before the Housing market crash which sent the country into a recession and resulted in countless foreclosures. After this 7 bedroom, 6.5 bathroom, 4242 square foot home was built, it remained vacant. It is estimated to be worth over $710,400 yet it was never sold. For the last five years the place has been abandoned. The grass turned into tall weeds and the pool became a green sludge. The neighborhood homeowners association seemed to ignore the buildings abandoned state. Then again, abandoned, unmaintained, homes are now a common sight throughout the neighborhood.

Kelly Wyatt moved in last week with her five sons signing a rental agreement to pay $1,800 a month. She paid $1,800 cash up front. The usual rent for a place this big would be close to $4,000 a month. She was told she was getting a deal if she would maintain the place. My wife saw one of the sons mowing the lawn for the first time in years. Dead tree branches were moved curbside for pick up. Kelly majored in the Visual and Performing Arts at Owens Community College in Toledo Ohio before moving to Florida. She is the CEO of Diversity Theater Company and works at Glasshouse Ministries as a chief executive officer.

Kelly called Channel 9 News when the sheriff's office informed her that she had just three hours to leave the home she thought she was renting legally. Her family stayed in the 5501 Bay Side Drive Mansion just four or five nights before she was told she would have to leave. She was the victim of a scam. The real owners, Jody and Monica Mendelsen who live in a humble waterfront home in Plantation Florida, had no idea that anyone was living in their Bay Side home until the Orlando Sheriff's department called.

The scam artist may have created fake identification papers in the Mendelsen's name. The big mystery is how this fake landlord got the keys to the abandoned home. According to Kelly's description he was about 5'10" tall, a bit heavy built, perhaps Indian with slightly grey hair and he drove a silver SUV. It is not clear if all the locks had been changed in the home or if the original home keys had been used. No one has been able to contact the fake landlord. Apparently this type of scam happens often.

Kelly, her five sons, a yellow Labrador and a cat were suddenly homeless. "I feel like I have been robbed." Wyatt said. The family had little in the way of possessions. There were a few suitcases, a couple of computers, a house plant, a box fan and clothes in plastic bags. There wasn't any furniture to be moved. Most of her belonging were still in storage in Ohio. Apparently viewers of the Channel 9 News broadcast started calling the station offering assistance. I don't know if this family has a roof over its head today.

As I sketched the home, I heard loud squeaks coming from inside the house like the sound of a basketball player's sneakers on the polished floor boards.  The NBA finals were flickering onto TV screens across America. I finally realized the sound was of a fire detector with a dying battery. Once again the building was abandoned with no one to replace the battery, a symbol of false hope and greed.Thomas Thorspeckenhttps://plus.google.com/106875855644733859424noreply@blogger.com0

The SoTG, Chris, and Weasel talk the Off Season and more!

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I’m leaving in a few minutes to catch a press screening of Monsters University so I can deliver a timely review here later this week. There have already been a number of earlier screenings at Disney World, so I’m actually the last person in my family to have seen it. I’m keeping an open mind, but everyone else has been very complimentary. Of course, Monsters Inc is one of my favorite Pixar films, so I can’t wait to return to the world of Monstropolis one more time.

For everyone who has to wait until June 21st, here’s another preview with a few small snippets of new scenes:

Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from future Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Fame–inductee and award winning composer Randy Newman (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3″). The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

Are you convinced enough to pre-order a ticket? Or will you be waiting until DVD to see Mike and Sulley again? Let us know in the comments.

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Monsters University Opens This Week, Are You Going? originally posted on
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