Friday, May 18 – Art of Basketball (Wave 3)
6-9 p.m.
through June 15
Church Street Exchange
101 S. Garland Ave.
407-648-7060
orlandoslice.com
$15-$20

New York City street artist Billi Kid is typically known for illustrating a wide range of famous faces, anywhere from Sarah Palin to Jim Morrison. But as curator for The Art of Basketball (Wave 3), Kid’s works take aim at the NBA backboard and All Star game basketball court.

The Art of Basketball returns to downtown Orlando this week at the Church Street Exchange building after making its first appearance in Orlando earlier this year during the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend in February.

Kid gathered a team of street and graffiti artists – New York-based artists David Cooper and Cope2, Los Angeles’ Mr. Brainwash, stencil artist Joe Lurato from New Jersey, the Dude Company hailing all the way from France, among others – who present a collection of basketball-inspired pieces licensed by the NBA, in which they incorporate pop-culture icons like Mickey Mouse and political figures such as Barack Obama and Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Art of Basketball (Wave 3) opens with a reception on Friday, May 18, and proceeds will benefit the Downtown Arts District. The exhibit will continue through June 15 only for private viewings. To make an appointment contact Bill Fickett via email at bill@publicworksdept.com.

People have been attempting to combat the “knock down and build anew” mentality since there have been objects to knock down in the first place. It’s not an easy battle to fight in our disposable culture, and the Orlando Historic Preservation Board is enlisting the community’s help to try to recognize some of the cool, old stuff that (fortunately) is still standing. The Lake-Adair-Lake Concord District of Orlando was added to the National Register of Historic Places last year, and the board is asking residents to send in images of that neighborhood for inclusion in its 2013 calendar.

Residents can submit up to three black and white photos that exemplify the essence of the historic district, which shouldn’t be hard to do – the lush greenery, brick-paved roads and lakeside views would be enough to make the Peter Parker in anyone bloom. However, the real beauty of the district lies in its architecture. The neighborhood’s blend of houses ranges from classical Victorians to houses that mimic Frank Lloyd Wright-style modernism. For more information on submitting photos, click here.

The map below shows the borders of the historic district.

A local veterinarian is launching an organization to raise awareness about animal abuse in the food industry. Inspired by a documentary produced by an organization called Mercy For Animals, Randall Cannon of Fairbanks Animal Hospital has formed a local group called Take Your Blinders Off, Inc. (TYBO).

Cannon plans to drive around the state in a black pickup truck with big-screen TVs in the bed that will play the documentary, which shows gruesome clips of animal cruetly in the beef, poultry, pork, seafood, egg and dairy industries.

“The purpose of the truck is to reconnect people with what really goes on behind the scenes,” Cannon said, adding that the food industry has become efficient at blocking the public from how it treats animals.

On Thursday, May 17, Cannon and some volunteers will park the truck on Central Avenue next to Lake Eola from 7-9 p.m. They’ll be screening the movie and handing out literature and vegan desserts. Cannon, who is a vegan, says he plans to eventually hand out animal-product-free entrees at his viewings to show people something other than the “sweet side” of being a vegan.

Cannon said that he has filed for non-profit organization status and is awaiting approval from the IRS. He also said that TYBO is not affiliated with Mercy For Animals, but that has received its permission to play the organization’s documentary.

A small handful of new show announcements for this week, including a rare show by Father Figure (ex-Summerbirds in the Cellar and current Viernes dudes), a not-so-rare-but-still-cool show by Ben Prestage, THREE DAYS OF NERDAPALOOZA downtown, and Toadies and Helmet out at House of Blues.

Here’s a video of the very first song from the very first Father Figure show:

And here’s a bunch of new shows that just got announced in Orlando:

• May 31: Cultura Profética [The Beacham]
• June 2: Girls on the Beach [Will's Pub]
• June 2: The Honeyslides [The Alley - Sanford]
• June 9: Relief in Abstraction: Echo Expression [Back Booth]
• June 15: Father Figure, Golden Pelicans [Stardust]
• June 16: Ben Prestage [The Alley - Sanford]
• July 2: Lozen [Will's Pub]
• July 6: Luciano [The Social]
• July 19: Cope, Big Something [Will's Pub]
• July 27: Toadies, Helmet [House of Blues]
• Aug. 3-5: Nerdapalooza [The Social & the Beacham]
• Aug. 10: Big K.R.I.T. [The Beacham]
• Sept. 4: Dethklok, Lamb of God, Gojira [Hard Rock Live]
• Sept. 15: Citizen Cope [House of Blues]
• Sept. 20: Ruben Blades [House of Blues]
• Sept. 27: Metric [Hard Rock Live]

Make sure you let us know about your upcoming shows. Send show info to listings@orlandoweekly.com and jason@orlandomusicnews.com.

As if we weren’t already wandering around worried about our kids’ futures – much less their emotional perceptions of their futures, like whether they’ll ever be able to get a job – today’s big news of slaloming FCAT scores (like, literally, down into the 20-percent rage), probably speaks more to the state’s giant fumble when it changed the test and the way it was graded mid schoolyear than it says about the work that teachers are doing (although it could also be argued that being ranked 41st is per-pupil spending isn’t helping much, we assume). Our Dumb State can’t really be getting that much dumber.

In a May 15 letter to the Florida Department of Education and the State Board of Education, Central Florida Public School Boards Coalition Chair Susan Valdes argues that the issue is already in need of an audit, seeing as these standardized test scores are the only thing we judge our kids – and consequently, they judge themselves – upon. Give me “C!”Apparently, the State Board of Education is considering new rule on the scores (probably to save face) without the benefit of an external audit.

“This type of solution would not be appropriate considering the broad impact these scores have on associated school functions and the critical risk of losing confidence in the validity and reliability of Florida’s accountability system,” she writes, sternly.

Um, accountability has never even visited Florida, but we appreciate the effort.

FCAT Writing

Lance Armstrong has proven himself as a super-human athlete: He’s a seven-time Tour de France cycling champion, a cancer survivor and, through his Livestrong campaign, an advocate for cancer research. And this weekend, Armstrong’s remarkable comeback continues as he heads to nearby Haines City to compete in the Ironman 70.3 Florida.

Armstrong joins 2300 other adult competitors for Sunday morning’s race – 1.2-mile swim in Lake Eva, 56-mile bicycle ride through rural Polk County and a 13.1-mile running course to finish at the Lake Eva Park Bandshell.

Even the kiddos get to shed some energy on Saturday morning in the 500 IronKids, a shortened version of the adult race for ages 6-15. (Armstrong won a similar event when he was 13.)

And no worries, if you’re more of the not-so-athletic spectator, the Ironman Village will host live entertainment, fitness-related exhibitor booths and an Ironman merchandise store throughout the weekend (Friday, May 18-Sunday, May 20).

For a complete schedule of the weekend’s events, directions to Lake Eva Park and more, visit the Ironman 70.3 Florida website.

Wednesday, May 16 – 2012 National & International Fringe Artist Preview Show
7 p.m.
Lowndes Shakespeare Center
812 E. Rollins St.
orlandofringe.org
$10 plus Fringe button

Every year, dozens of artists from around the world converge on Loch Haven Park to share their fabulousness with us … and hopefully earn enough for a ticket home. The very first night of the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival (whew) will feature sneak peeks of 27 different shows, hosted by the festival producer Michael Marinaccio and returning Fringe fave Chase Padgett. – Jessica Bryce Young

This just in. We got a press release today announcing that WWE, a publicly traded “integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment” that creates and delivers “original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience” and provides “family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms” is partnering with Full Sail University to product its NXT series.

“Throughout the taping schedule, Full Sail University students, staff, faculty and the general public will be invited to attend the live tapings on the campus,” the press release states. “All proceeds from ticket and merchandise sales will go towards a scholarship fund for students enrolled at or planning to attend Full Sail University.”

Full Sail, incidentally, is simply delighted by the development.

“As a leading entertainment and media focused institution we are delighted to announce this remarkable new collaboration, which highlights WWE’s commitment to education and advanced growth in the entertainment industry and Full Sail’s commitment to bringing industry-leading organizations directly to our students,” said Ken Goldstone, Chief Operating Officer for Full Sail University.  “We look forward to sharing this incredible experience with our students, the entire Central Florida community and the millions of WWE fans worldwide.

WWE, of course, is World Wrestling Entertainment. The folks who bring us such superstars as the Undertaker and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. But for some reason, the word “wrestling” appears in the press release exactly zero times. So let us tell you what this really means: Thuggish, luggish dudes in unitards that are too tight, running around the Full Sail University campus! Beating one another and yelling and making crazy scenes, trying to become the next big names in WWE wrestling! Hell in a Cell! No Way Out! Summer Slam! Scholarships!

We are also just delighted to hear this news!

Charges against an Occupy Orlando protester who was arrested for trespassing have been dropped. Nikki Wright, 22, will no longer go to trial since Orange County Judge Greg Tynan ruled that her arrest was unlawful, according to a court document filed on April 30. Wright’s charge of resisting arrest without violence was also dropped.

A press release from Occupy Orlando said that the charges were dismissed because the arrest violated Wright’s First Amendment rights.

Wright was arrested on Feb. 3 while protesting in a designated Free Speech Zone outside of the Orange County Courthouse. When police asked her and her boyfriend to leave the zone, they refused and were arrested, she said. She added that he later accepted a plea deal.

Similar cases are popping up around the country of judges upholding the rights of Occupy protestors. In early April, the Florida State Attorney’s Office dismissed charges against a protester who was arrested in Sarasota for drawing chalk slogans on city park sidewalks, according to Tampa Bay Online. Judges sided with protesters recently in California and Denver, as well.

“It’s bringing to light that [Occupy] is more than a fad for college students,” Kat Duerr, Occupy Orlando’s Facilitator for the Direct Action Team, said. She added that there is still much work to be done, but cases like these are “solidifying things” for the movement.

Wright said that she will still be involved with Occupy, and plans to travel to Tampa for protests at the scheduled Republican National Convention. She also said that she is considering suing the Orlando Police Department for her unlawful arrest and an injury she sustained when she was arrested.

Before the charges were dropped last week, Wright considered taking her case to a higher court, but said she is not sure if she will still do so.

Joel Leppard, Wright’s attorney, could not be reached for comment.

Fans of repetitive series television will notice that the new Morgan & Morgan law firm sign on the Channel 13 building looks an awful lot like the title card for NBC’s “Law & Order.”

Had the new sign been in place on the night of March 14, 2010, it might have illuminated the intersection of Orange Ave. and Central Blvd., helping the driver of an O-Cartz electric taxi to avoid striking pedestrian Abbey Pfeiffer (see “Live, work, pay.” from our February 23 issue). But probably not, since the DOT-standard street lights were all burning brightly when she was hit.

I wonder what Abbey thinks now when she sees the intersection where her life went off the rails, cast in a new reddish glow by the name of the law firm that dropped her case. Dun-DUN!