Top 10 things to do this week: July 24-30
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Slum Village
Wednesday, July 24
with Word$Worth, E-Turn & SPS, Luck the Superhero, Boogs Malone, Mal Jones, DJ Maestro, DJ Chaos
7 p.m.
Backbooth, 37 W. Pine St.
407-999-2570
backbooth.com
$15-$20
For legendary Midwest rap crew Slum Village, legacy has come with tragedy. Of the three founders, only T3 survives. But the Detroit group repeatedly defies rumor and odds. Besides soldiering on despite being rocked by the deaths of Baatin and J Dilla, theyre now bringing their smart and soulful hip-hop to town on the wings of a freshly released album (aptly titled Evolution), even though it was widely believed that 2010s Villa Manifesto would be their last. The new record was made by T3, Illa J and Grammy-nominated producer Young R.J., and features contributions by Mobb Deeps Havoc, Jazzy Jeff and Rapper Big Pooh. But show up for the notable openers, too, especially local Second Subject act E-Turn & SPS, who impressed a couple months ago at E-Turns album release party. Bao Le-Huu
The Psychedelic Furs
Friday, July 26
8 p.m.
The Plaza Live, 425 N. Bumby Ave.
407-228-1220
plazaliveorlando.com
$25
National Dance Day Orlando
Saturday, July 27
10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Art House Orlando, 111 N. Orange Ave.
nationaldancedayorlando.com
free-$10
If youve ever been interested in learning more about Orlandos dance community, but you werent sure where to start, heres your primer. National Dance Day a grass-roots initiative to inspire people to take an interest in dance (or, barring that, just move) is July 28, and our local dance companies plan to celebrate a day early. Beginning at 9:30 a.m., local instructors and performers will hold open dance workshops and classes that anyone is welcome to participate in if they sign up. Got two left feet? No worries: There will be open workshops led by longtime dancers in which you can learn about improv, African jazz, hip-hop dance, barre and stretch, and contemporary. Got two left feet and a serious case of performance anxiety? OK, then you can just watch: At 7:30 p.m. some of the best dance troupes in the region, including Me Dance, DRIP, Voci Dance, Orlando Ballet School and more, will hold live performances, and there will be art installations, sculptures and experiences throughout the evening that highlight the dance community. Look, ma were dancing! Erin Sullivan
Sing Along With The Muppet Movie
Saturday, July 27
3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Garden Theatre, 160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden
407-877-4736
gardentheatre.org
free with purchase of $10 goodie bag
Calling all lovers and dreamers! (Also, parents might want to listen up.) The 1979 version of The Muppet Movie plays this weekend at the Garden Theatre. But this isnt your grandmothers screening of the Academy Award-nominated film and American classic, preserved by the Library of Congress, no less. This is a party the likes of which historic downtown Winter Garden has yet to see, featuring Heather Hensons Ibex Puppetry, a group that plans to transform the movie from a spectator sport to a full-on (kid-friendly!) rave. Henson, who founded Ibex and is the daughter of Muppet legend Jim Henson, co-hosts along with Sunny Raskin and Davey Rocker, bringing the feature film to life with puppets, kites and shadow acting. Admission is free, but kids and parents are encouraged to take advantage of the $10 goodie bags available for purchase theyre filled with twirl-streamers, glow necklaces and bubble bottles. To find the Rainbow Connection, a sense of childlike wonderment is required. Singing and dancing are recommended. Lauren Killer
Orlando Predators vs. New Orleans VooDoo
Saturday, July 27
7 p.m.
Amway Center, 400 W. Church St.
407-648-4444
orlandopredators.com
$10-$200
AFL arena football league game
Sustainable Saturday
Saturday, July 27
5 p.m.
Orlando Brewing, 1301 Atlanta Ave.
407-872-1117
orlandobrewing.com
$10 donation
At Orlando Brewing, they dont just ask you to drink responsibly but to think responsibly as well, in the form of environmental sustainability. And this weekend, the brewery hosts a Sustainable Saturday event dedicated to local companies, causes, artists and consumers who strive toward sustainability with a bounty of organic food, local vendors and green-themed art displays. A donation of $10 (or more!), which benefits the Nature Conservancy of Florida, gets you an organic meal of synthetics-free food provided by Lake Meadows Naturals and Space Girl Organics, plus hoppy hour pricing on all organic microbrews. Free brewery tours start at 6 p.m., and to keep this green party going into the wee hours, local band the Earth Project performs at 9 p.m. As Captain Planet said, The power is yours! to protect our planet, and Orlando Brewing is truly celebrating that the right way. Besides, if we dont get to work on problems like global warming, how are we going to keep our beer cold? Kelly Chambers
W. Kamau Bell
Saturday, July 27
8 p.m.
The Plaza Live, 425 N. Bumby Ave.
407-228-1220
plazaliveorlando.com
$25
We suspect that the fate of accused murderer George Zimmerman might be entirely different if it were up to the group of jurors hand-picked by comedian W. Kamau Bell on his Totally Biased TV show last month: Bell suggested the likes of Chuck D., the ghost of Malcolm X, Ice Cube and four different movie character versions of Samuel L. Jackson. In the same segment, Bell angrily spewed a series of harsh words for Zimmerman, including names like child-killing coward, but hes one of todays most promising sociopolitical comics, one whos gained high praise from both the New York Times and the Guardian, and fans of Bell fully engage in his ability to make light of typically serious civil liberty and political issues. Orlando is Bells last stop on a 10-city Totally Biased Standup Tour, and the live gig packs jokes from Bell himself along with a revolving lineup of writers from the show, which is co-produced by vet comic Chris Rock and will start airing nightly on new channel FXX this September. Bell usually lays it all out on the table, and hes known to raise his voice at any given time during a bit, so we suggest treading wisely during the Q&A session after the show. Aimee Vitek
Winter Park Canine Memorial
Saturday, July 27
6-10 p.m.
starting at Harbor Park, 4990 New Broad St.
floatinglanternmemorials.com
free
The bond between dog and owner is established, oddly, by each one sensing how the other reacts to stimuli and supporting the other through instinctive recognition of what we can only suppose the other is feeling. We care for the animal: vet trips, walks, treats and toys. They care for us: loud barks, tail wags, excited greetings and snuggles. And when the pet is gone and no matter when it happens, it always feels sudden that reciprocity stops, and we are left with the mystery of how we managed to care so well for a living thing and still lose it. It is crushing, and more significant emotionally than many are willing to admit. This week at Fleet Peeples Park, you can join others to remember the good dogs whove affected you at a canine memorial and lantern floating ceremony. Its free to attend, but lanterns are $15, with a portion of proceeds going to the nonprofit Friends of Fleet Peeples Park. Ashley Belanger
One By One Punk Cover Show
Sunday, July 28
8 p.m.
Will's Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave.
willspub.org
$5
Those of us who grew up on Cinema Beer Nuts or Punk-O-Rama accept that a certain part of us will always reside in the pop-punk world where Veronica eternally hates us. Because pop-punk lyrics are catchy and funny and spirited, and at pop-punk shows you laugh, dance sloppy and know all the words to all the songs, its often too easy to fall back into and become nostalgic. So what better way to truly relive the insurgent joy of pop punks compilation culture than by hearing a cover set that pays homage to essential punk classics by the Misfits, second-wave bests like NOFX and then, of course, later bands like Pennywise and Millencolin? Thats what you get when cover band One by One comes to town. And if youre reading this before the show, you can even request your favorite song at facebook.com/onebyeone. Ashley Belanger
Cult and Kitsch Movie & Cocktail Shindig: Strait-Jacket
Monday, July 29
8:30 p.m.
Stonewall Bar Orlando, 741 W. Church St.
407-373-0888
stonewallorlando.com
free
Throw out those antiquated notions that a relaxing movie night always involves your jammies and a bucket of microwaved buttered-up Orville Redenbacher. Instead, get Stoned with Joan in July as local LGBT-leaning oasis Stonewall continues its Cult and Kitsch movie-watching series this month with a lineup of flicks starring irresistible Hollywood mistress Joan Crawford. (This week brings a showing of a later-in-her-career Crawford wailing in ax-murderer fright as the star of William Castles 1964 psycho-biddy classic Strait-Jacket.) But dont think for an instant this shindig is going to be the same boring movie night at home that youre used to, because the spirited bunch at Stonewall also serves up free Jell-O shots during the movie, alongside film trivia and other games. (That means prizes, folks!) And hell, if you really feel like wearing your PJs, go for it. After all, Stonewall is the kind of place thats been known to offer drink specials to those who come in wearing cute underwear or only a towel. Aimee Vitek