surina777

Interested to see what other UP'ers think about this .... http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/vips-get-special-nba-all-star-weekend-traffic-trea/nGPS3/ ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando city officials told WFTV that they're giving VIP ticket-holders their own lanes of traffic through downtown Orlando during next month's NBA All-Star game. Certain roads surrounding the Amway Center will be closed for game events, but VIP drivers will still be able to use them. City officials said a lot of this is being mandated by the NBA, but it really comes down to accommodating people expected to spend upwards of $60 million over four days. Officials said the city hasn't generated cash like that at once since the 1994 World Cup. In five weeks, 80,000 people are expected to hit Orlando. That's nearly half the city's population. Orlando resident Catherine Reyes said she is already dreading the traffic nightmare. "Especially when there's that going on, and you shut down more streets," Reyes said. During the four-day all-star event, not only will the city put up a fence around the Amway Center to keep everyday people away from the Amway Center, but on Tuesday, WFTV got the first look at a map that shows how the NBA is asking the city to shut down and reserve major roads for VIPs. Streets will be closed from West Church Street to Garland, and North Central Avenue to Anderson. When drivers get off I-4 at South Street, they will have to go through a security checkpoint set up in the middle of the intersection. Only VIPs will be allowed to go straight, and left toward the Amway Center. Everyone else will be directed east of downtown. WFTV asked transportation engineer Frank Consoli if they're getting special treatment. "Somewhat. But you forget they're also spending a lot of money in Orlando," Consoli said. Orlando residents said they spend money, too, every day, and this sends the wrong message. "If you make a little more money, little bit of a high roller, then get special treatment," Reyes said. When WFTV asked Reyes "Is that fair?" Reyes said, "No, definitely not!" But Orlando resident Mark Smith sees no reason to complain about the event expected to pour $65 million to $80 million into the city. "If we look at the little things and complain about that, they might not come back," Smith said. WFTV found out that other cities have made similar accommodations for VIPs during All-Star Weekend. City officials said the NBA wanted even more roads shut down, but they had to draw the line somewhere. City engineers will be able to control traffic lights to keep all of the traffic moving.

Fogo de Chao coming to I-drive in early 2012! http://c.bizjournals.com/ct/c/39317361/MjQxMjczMTE6OjM5MTgxODA/ super excited about this, Texas de Brazil is NEVER slow ... this will be great for the area, we have plenty of tourists that will be able to patronize both and I am sure still be ridiculously busy

That's awesome! i've always had trouble getting a decent cup of coffee w/o having to walk a distance...roho's hours are weird and never consistent...sometimes they were open when they felt like it i suppose...at least barnies will have stable hours. **crossing fingers** they stay open late!

Every first Saturday of the month (show 12pm - 5pm) there is a car show on Church Street Between Amway Center and Orange Ave. While the first two events have had ok crowd attendance, there are quite a lot of car enthusiasts that show. When it's not so hot out I think this will draw a good crowd, not to mention it's one more person out there during the day on a saturday than normal. If anything the car show'ers are patronizing the downtown restaurants...especially when winners receive $50 gift cards to local restaurants / bars. http://churchstreetdistrict.com/carshow.html June July 1st place best exterior!

i heard shipyard emporium will be adding a location in the cheyenne salon location, if this is true!!! it is quite exciting they do quite well in winter park!!

it is true, i saw a sign friday at mochi....this is really going to hurt business...especially those huge wine down wed events!

Sweet Stop Candy Co. (former alterations shop) grand opening today! It is across from Amway.. support local shops and grab some sweets!

Went to Jernigan's before the game last night...and i know i know you aren't suppose to review restaurants until after 2 months of them being in business...but c'mon they are in a big corporate setting, you would think they'd have their act together a little! We waited in a long line to get in on the club level which I didn't really care about much, after all they just opened their doors... It's a buffet, for $35.95 (desserts from dessert lady, not included....boo $10) There are 4 different food themes: bbq, italian, asian, and american (?) i forget the fourth.... its set in a circle format, pretty small, think buffet at a wedding for about 50 people (at least that is what came to my mind) By the time we got around the buffet circle and sat down our food was cold, good, but cold...going up for seconds there was no one in line and the food was hot for about 1.5 seconds until the freezing AC cooled our food down haha one redeeming thing was where we sat was amazing! Great view of the court... http://plixi.com/p/49911449 If it was a regular full service restaurant with a menu, I would return, but not at this rate...

oh man i wish i knew! it probably would have been better than the jernigan's food ...well for the price at least!!!

http://plixi.com/p/49050054 http://plixi.com/p/49050132 couple pictures i just tweeted of the light features going under I4 by the Amway

i heard nba city is a maybe for that location ....

Just heard (not sure if it was mentioned earlier in the thread) that they are expanding the sidewalks under I-4 and putting speakers and lighting structures that will change with different images under I4, yay! One day hopefully some retail and eateries will be there!

that sounds like a good 'best practice' for a publication, orlando weekly tells me they do the same...but im just someone who likes good food so no rules for reviews for me! i do go back and re-review a place sometimes after a horrid experience at brick and fire when it was behind dessert lady...i gave it another shot when it relocated to orange ave...service was def better, but the pizza was terrible! its still open though...so good for them

did anyone get a chance to check out banana's diner that just opened up this past weekend? i unfortunately had someone tell me about a bad experience there and I posted it in my blog but after a little bit of digging on urbanspoon i found that she wasn't the only one... anyone on here?

aw just read black olive is changing and becoming an "upscale" burger bar ... i really enjoyed dining there hope this makes them the profits to stick around and not vacate! http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2010/05/24/daily23.html?ed=2010-05-26&ana=e_du_pub

pix from my walk to lunch

nabbed a quick pic of the glass windows/wall going up on the church street side this morning! i like how everything is shaping up now!

walked into braxis tonight...it appears to be food court-ish .. braxis is on the left..pancheros on the left... hopefully it does well in that spot... also noticed signs up for "heat" at the bottom of 55w...hopefully that actually comes to fruition b/c that will be something of more variety...i think i remember reading Mediterranean fusion of some sorts

haha ... u can never have enough burgers... besides braxis appears to be more of a fast food place (i could be wrong)... hamburger marys, kress is a bit different vibe...i wouldnt be comfy walking in my pj's real quick to grab a burger in either of those places i did try pourhouse this past week and had an amazing burger...but where braxis is was a bit too far to walk from where i live, brix food is not good, graffiti, hue and 310 are in a different direction if i lived in 55w and just wanted a quick burger i prob would rather stop quickly in braxis (if the food is good there) instead of going into a sit down place and being served

oh yay! alongside? as in a 2 in 1 place (ie pizzahut/tacobell?) ... or next door...it almost looks like they are taking the pancheros sign off and putting braxis on...but nonetheless...yay for new food joints downtown!

got an email from buylocal today and they said that mucho apologizes and has changed their discount to $3 margaritas after 6.

went to sushi hatsu on saturday (located off of washington btwn church st and rosalind) it was great! loved the small restaurant feel, the magic game was on and it was just a great overall experience! the sushi was great and tasted very fresh! will def be back!

that stinks...i was on review site (urbanspoon or yelp, one of those) and they had a ton of reviews ... for a new place i thought it was odd, figured they got all their friends to post for them. i figure the after club time is their main audience ... maybe that and lunch...so if its not equal or better than chipotle and that sort...it may go out quick

has anyone been taking advantage of the buylocalorlando program? fyi mucho taco n tequila that recently opened at the bottom of 101 eola states on the buylocal site that it is 15% off bill but claims it cannot honor it b/c their system cant do the discount... food is good but that is just bs, they get advertising through buy local but do not honor the advertised discount boo on them! read more about my experience on my blog if u wish FIRST time i have ever had a buylocal merchant not honor the advertised discount

double agree...and i thought the mexican place on washington, gringos locos has ties to forty-seven owners ... they are at least friends i hear...and i hear the place is good ...haven't tried it myself yet tho... hopefully they reconsider the entire concept and name ...