 |
| Big River Grille and Brewing Works was a popular moderate-priced (for Disney) restaurant located along the boardwalk at Disney's Boardwalk Resort. But they permanently closed in January, 2024. |
 |
| That's nearly 2.5 years ago. But we noticed this past weekend that construction fences are up, renovation is in progress and something new is finally coming. We don't know details of what is going in there but Disney has stated it will be a quick-service restaurant. |
 |
| When Jellyrolls closed in April, 2025, Atlantic Dance Hall switched to operating every night. Not sure why but we guess it provided a nightlife option for guests staying at nearby hotels and resorts such as the Swan and Dolphin as well as Disney's Boardwalk Resort. |
 |
But that is no longer the case. ADH has switched back to being open only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. They open at 8PM and close at 1AM. |
 |
| It's not like Jellyrolls or its replacement Hurly Burly Jazz Club has opened but apparently being open on all those dead nights was not wise financially. Still, surprised they don't open on Thursday nights since many weekend guests arrive on Thursdays. |
 |
| LQ Nights at 480 Wine Bar in Winter Park Village has become a monthly thing and during our visit last night we found the legendary DJ Leony (USA) in the booth. All our Saturday night photos can be found on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE. |
 |
| Legendary DJ's Cliff T (USA) and Carlos Mendoza (USA) led last night's Zinc Bar Reunion show at Iron Cow and our sister website Orlando Entertainment News was there to get the pics.We also began the evening on Disney property at Atlantic Dance Hall. You can find the article HERE. |
 |
| WFTV Orlando channel 9 is reporting that interactive game room LEVEL99 will be opening on Monday, June 29th in Disney Springs West Side. Advance tickets will become available one week earlier, on Monday, June 22nd. Details HERE. Only time will tell whether the new attraction is any less ill-advised than what it's replacing, NBA Experience. |
Not a whole lot going on this weekend:
FRI 19JUN IRON COW Zinc Bar Reunion: DJ Cliff T (USA) & more
FRI 19JUN SWIRLERY Hidden 80's Gems: DJ Arcade Apocalypse (USA)
FRI 19JUN ALFIE'S HIFI DJ Numinous (USA)
FRI 19JUN BROKEN STRINGS DJ Slinkee (USA)
SAT 20JUN QREATE COFFEE House & Coffee: DJ Chino (USA) 8am-2pm
SAT 20JUN MORSE CODE 80's Night: DJ Rob Cokeless (USA)
SAT 20JUN 480N WINE BAR Latin Quarter Nights: DJ Leony (USA)
SAT 20JUN LUNA BAR DJ Mighty Shari (USA)
SAT 20JUN BARBARELLA Memento Mori: DJ Lavidicus (USA)
SAT 20JUN ALFIE'S HIFI DJ Brian Burnside (USA)
SAT 20JUN ELIXIR BAR DJ Slugg (USA) & DJ Flashdrive (USA)
 |
| Sources says that very soon, sometime before the 4th of July weekend, riding a Disney Transportation bus from Disney Springs to any Disney resort is going to require proof that you're staying in a Disney hotel. This is to prevent people from parking for free at Disney Springs and then going to a Disney resort hotel which is located near a desired theme park. Unknown if this will also be required for travel from Disney Springs to a Disney hotel via ferry boat transportation. |
 |
| We have one more article to publish about last week's trip to the upper peninsula of Michigan and our one night journey into Ontario, Canada. During our visit to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, we took a 2-hr boat tour of the Soo Locks that connect Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes. |
 |
| Lake Superior is the highest of the Great Lakes at 600ft above sea level. Both Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are 577ft above sea level, a drop of 23ft. The St. Marys River connects Superior to Michigan/Huron and it's full of very visible rapids. To allow for ship movements, the Soo Locks were constructed. |
 |
| There is this single lock on the Canadian side and two locks on the American side with one more under construction. |
 |
| This Canadian lock is relatively small so the large lake freighters use the American locks in both directions. Our tour boat entered the lock on the lower Huron side of the lock. |
 |
| Once inside, the doors on both ends close and water is pumped into the lock to raise the boat. |
 |
| Once the level of Lake Superior is reached, the door opens and you can sail out. Our tour boat is the only one originating from the Canadian side. There are two Soo Locks tours originating from the American side and we encountered one coming in the opposite direction. |
 |
| We passed under the International Bridge which connects Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on the left with Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on the right. (Sault is pronounced Soo.) |
 |
| We then made a U-turn and headed towards the American locks, followed by lake freighter MV Indiana Harbor. At 1000ft in length, she's one of the largest boats on the Great Lakes and typically carries a cargo of taconite from Duluth to steel mills along the Great Lakes. |
 |
| Our tour ended shortly after we entered one of the American locks and were lowered back to Lake Huron level. Hundreds of miles away, the Welland Canal has 8 locks and lowers boats from Lake Erie down to the lowest lake, Lake Ontario. The locks lower ships gradually while the nearby Niagara River has a rather steep drop called Niagara Falls. |
 |
| DJ Mr. Nukem (UAE) and DJ Rossi (UAE/GB) played mostly Classic Trance last night at Iron Cow and the music was SO good. Saturday night pics can be found on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE. |
Another action-packed weekend coming up!
THU 11JUN IRON COW DJ Juan Buitrago (USA)
FRI 12JUN McQUEENS Shade: DJ Carlos Mendoza (USA)
FRI 12JUN BROKEN STRINGS DJ Talent Showcase
SAT 13JUN IRON COW DJ Mr. Nukem (UAE)
SAT 13JUN BROKEN STRINGS All Female Lineup ft. DJ Gruv Girl (USA)
SAT 13JUN VANGUARD DJ duo Adventure Club (CDN)
SAT 13JUN PALM TREE CLUB DJ Chino (USA)
SAT 13JUN ALFIES HIFI DJ Mark Gorbulew (USA)
 |
| You know you're in Canada when you come to these booths operated by Canada Border Services and you have to show your passport to gain entry. (This is the land crossing from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.) |
 |
| You know you're in Canada when you see Shoppers Drug Mart stores on every other street corner. (They are as ubiquitous as Walgreens and CVS in the United States.) |
 |
| You know you're in Canada when you see Tim Horton's instead of Dunkin. |
 |
| You know you're in Canada when you see Petro-Canada and ESSO gas stations. |
 |
| You know you're in Canada when you see Canadian Tire stores. They really have no American counterpart, selling not only tires and auto parts but also outdoor equipment such as kayaks and tents and some even sell groceries. |
 |
| You know you're in Canada when you see Bell telephone stores and payphone booths. A remnant of the former American conglomerate Bell System. Florida used to have Southern Bell and later Bell South. |
 |
| You know you're in Canada when you see Canada Post/Postes Canada branches. |
 |
| You know you're in Canada when you see Roots stores full of outdoor leisure apparel, much of it with Canadiana logos. |
 |
| You know you're in Canada when sporting goods stores such as Sport Chek are jammed with hockey sticks! |
 |
| You know you're in Canada when you see Dollarama stores. |
 |
| Last but not least, you know you're in Canada when there are A&W restaurants everywhere and you can stop and get some poutine (pictured here without cheese curds...yuck!) Bonjour au Canada, everyone! |
 |
| We're on the road this week, initially checking out the Upper Peninsula (The U.P.) of Michigan beginning with Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. While not a full-fledged national park, it is a unit of the National Park Service. |
 |
| There are massive sand dunes along the Lake Superior shore and they are the main feature of the park. |
 |
| Once you get yourself to the bottom, you've got to get yourself back to the top. I only went down a few feet to get pictures of the guys climbing down but it was a struggle to climb back up. The dunes are over 300ft tall. |
 |
| There are numerous warning signs about going down and about them having to send rescue teams to get you back up. Rescues are not at all uncommon. |
 |
| Sandstone cliffs are the highlight at Miners Castle. |
 |
| Far view. |
 |
| Close-up. Lake Superior storm waves and winter lake effect snowfall that often tops 200" all sculpt the lakeshore. |
 |
| Miners Falls is also nearby. |
 |
| Only a .6mi walk from the nearest parking lot, it's definitely worth the mostly downward stroll. (Although the stroll is mostly upward heading back.) |
 |
| When you're in the U.P., be sure to nibble on some Pasties. They're everywhere. |
 |
| During June, 2010 which is 16 years ago, Save Pleasure Island Blog was investigating that bright white light pictured in the lower right corner of the photo above. It had always been a bright white light. |
 |
| Well in June of that year the light suddenly began emitting a cobalt blue color. SPI demanded answers but never got them and like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives. |
 |
| It was all Prince (USA) all night last night at the "Prince Tribute" show ft. DJ BMF (USA). It was so much fun and you can find all the pictures on sister website Orlando Entertainment News HERE. |
 |
| Our sister website Orlando Entertainment News visited 6 clubs last night and you can find all the photographs HERE. Included was DJ Derek Fereal (USA) playing Trance during our visit to Taco Kat. |
