By Mark Baratelli, Editor
The Daily City
I'm doing a new podcast called Orlando Opinions here once a week on Mondays with four stories in 5-10 minutes. The stories are 100% Orlando-based and include my opinion. You can listen to it or read the script here.
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We're getting a robot! The Orlando Fire Department Bomb Squad Division was approved by City Council to buy a $300,000 ANDROS FX™ hazardous duty robot. The Andros FX is used to "defeat vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in addition to many other threats." The only company that makes it is REMOTEC, a company that make make planes that fly by themselves.
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A former train depot built in 1901 at 78 W Church Street (MAP) is on the market for $4,700,000. It's a 15,018 sq ft building that's currently a restaurant and bar called Ferg's Depot (Facebook). Back in 2015 before it opened someone stole $3,000 worth of antique fencing and duked in one of their toilets. And right on the other side of the tracks.
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One entire side of Church Street Station, the north side, is available for sale! This is the building with Lions Pride Bar, Ceviche restaurant and a vacant bar space. The building is officially called Church Street North. It's got 28,846 sq ft and does not include the Harry Buffalo bar space next door. That's a separate building altogether. The price is not shared publicly. I think the whole church street emporium empire wild west saloon dancing girls mess should be bulldozed (save all the interior architetural elements of course) and build something worthy of being in the heart of downtown. Apartments, parking garage, floating mall... something.. just make sure it's tall.
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I am sharing this story because at the time of this recording, it's been a week since the Charlottesville events and I think people will want to know about this so they can go away for th eweekend and avoid and eat their sheetcake, band together and fight or just show up and observe. I am not promoting this event or condoning it. I am just letting you know so you know.
A pro-Trump rally called "America First" is taking place Saturday September 9th 1-3pm. Facebook Event Page. It's one of many rallies planned across the country by Act For America which describes itself as the "largest national security organization in the U.S."
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Act for America is the "largest grassroots anti-Muslim group in America."
"Join us in celebrating America's exceptionalism, supporting President Trump's security policies defending America and demanding to protect our borders with rational immigration policy."
Act for America has 280,000 members and over 1,000 chapters.
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And for those like me who want to get together and hear smart people debate this issue, The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida (Facebook) is presenting a panel talk moderated by Orlando Sentinel's Scott Maxwell called "Protest: Free Speech v. Hate Speech" (Facebook Event).
Here's the event description: "Protests are often held in support of or in opposition to public policies and governmental action with one goal: to be heard. When though, does this become unproductive? Is all speech protected by the First Amendment? When does free speech become hate speech? Should we respond and what might happen if we do? What are the consequences of hateful rhetoric? Join us as panelists tackle these tough questions."
Panelists include:
Terri Day, Professor at Barry University's Law School
Mitchell Bloomer, Resource Teacher at the Holocaust Center
Rachel Allen, Peace & Justice Institute Coordinator at Valencia College Peace and Justice Institute
Angela King, Former Skinhead & Deputy Director/Co-Founder of Life After Hate
The panel happens Tuesday August 22 6pm-7:30pm at the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida at 851 N Maitland Ave, Maitland, Florida 32751 (MAP)
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I told you in May that the film "The Florida Project," dramatizing the life of a poor mother and daughter living in Kissimmee on 192, got a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and debuted at Cannes Film Festival. The whole thing was filmed right on 192 in Kissimmee, purple hotels and Wizard-covered gift shops and all. The trailer was released recently which is on the blog. The film's release date is October 6, 2017.
Watch the trailer here.
Willam Defoe and an actress discovered on Instagram play the leads. The Florid aProject tells the story of a group of children whose summer break is filled with childhood wonder while their parents and the adults around them struggle with hard times., all taking place in the shadow of Disney World
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Thank you to Visit Orlando for the invitation to a lovely media preview dinner for Orlando Magical Dining Month. My boyfriend got to go to at Dovecote in downtown Orlando and eat all the food, take pictures which will be up on the blog this week and meet other media folks. So thanks for that. Celebrate Orlando’s amazing culinary scene during Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month sponsored by American Express. Beginning August 25 during a special preview week, and continuing through October 1, over 100 Orlando area restaurants will offer prix fixe dinners for just $35. Indulge in imaginative appetizers, entrees and desserts sure to leave you spellbound. For details go to visitorlando.com/magicaldining.