Orlando Weekly College Guide 2016

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GUIDE TO GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CITY

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COVER ILLUSTRATION

BY CHRIS TOBAR RODRIGUEZ Publisher Graham Jarrett Associate Publisher Leslie Egan Editor Jessica Bryce Young Editorial Staff Writer Monivette Cordeiro Calendar Editor Thaddeus McCollum Music Editor Matthew Moyer Digital Content Editor Colin Wolf Interns Bridgette Norris, Harry Sayer, Jarleene Almenas Contributors Rob Bartlett, Jen Cray, James Dechert, Hannah Glogower, Liv Jonse, Holly V. Kapherr, Faiyaz Kara, Seth Kubersky, Bao Le-Huu, Nick McGregor, Cameron Meier, Richard Reep, Sierra Reese, Joey Roulette, Steve Schneider, Ken Storey Advertising Account Manager Lindsey Hahn Senior Multimedia Account Executive Dan Winkler Multimedia Account Executives Patty Fisher, Jessica Flynn, Scott Navarro, Shannon Maggio Classified and Legal Rep Jerrica Schwartz Marketing and Events Events Director Zackary Rowe Events and Promotions Manager Brad Van De Bogert Marketing and Events Coordinator Rachel Hoyle Marketing & Events Interns Stephanie Nunziata, Kristen Elliott

15 HOW TO PARK ON CAMPUS 10 automotive tips for students at all universities, but especially UCF

19 SIZE DOESN’T MATTER The pros and cons of small and large majors

25 HOW TO BREAK UP WITH YOUR HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART Let ’em down easy

29 HOW TO STAY FIT Keep on the move to avoid the typical freshman-year weight gain

47 WHERE TO GO TO SHOWS AND WHERE TO SHOP FOR VINYL Places to go and things to buy for music lovers

55 HOW NOT TO LOOK LIKE A FRESHMAN A crash course in mastering drinking, dressing and dancing in college bars

59 HOW TO GO TO A MUSIC FESTIVAL Tips for getting through the year’s music festival slate with your wallet and sanity intact

65 WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

35 HOW TO SELL YOUR BODY – LEGALLY

How to deal with disasters small and large

Even if you can’t find a job, there are still ways to make money

70 FESTIVALS AND FAIRS, FALL THROUGH SPRING

39 HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR STUDENT DISCOUNT

A year-round guide of don’tmiss Orlando events

79 DAILY PLANNER

It’s crazy, but some people will give you cheap or free stuff just for being a college student

From trivia nights to open mics to club nights, there’s something to do every night of the week in Orlando

Creative Services Creative Services Manager Shelby Sloan Editorial Designer Chris Tobar Rodriguez Graphic Designer Melissa McHenry Business Operations Manager Hollie Mahadeo Business Assistant Allysha Willison Circulation Circulation Manager Collin Modeste Euclid Media Group Chief Executive Officer Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Officers Chris Keating, Michael Wagner Human Resources Director Lisa Beilstein Digital Operations Coordinator Jaime Monzon euclidmediagroup.com National Advertising: Voice Media Group 1-888-278-9866, voicemediagroup.com Orlando Weekly Inc. 16 W. Pine St. Orlando, Florida 32801 orlandoweekly.com Phone 407-377-0400 Fax 407-377-0420 Orlando Weekly is published every week by Euclid Media Group Orlando Distribution Orlando Weekly is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader.

Copyright notice: The entire contents of Orlando Weekly are copyright 2016 by Euclid Media Group LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher does not assume any liability for unsolicited manuscripts, materials, or other content. Any submission must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All editorial, advertising, and business correspondence should be mailed to the address listed above.

Subscriptions: Additional copies or back issues may be purchased at the Orlando Weekly offices for $1. Six-month domestic subscriptions may be purchased for $75; one-year subscriptions for $125.

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HOW TO PARK ON CAMPUS 10 tips for students at all universities, but especially UCF

BY J A R L E E N E A L M E N A S

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Arrive 30-45 minutes before your class starts.

Even if you live 15 minutes from campus, don’t assume that you’ll make it to class on time by leaving your house 20 minutes before your class begins. You will be late. Parking varies, and just because one day you find a spot right away doesn’t mean you will the next day. Plan adequately and give yourself a little extra time in the morning. You can always get a coffee before class if you have a lot of time to spare.

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If you see a whole bunch of cars going one direction, go the opposite way.

It’s simple, really. If all the cars are turning left in the lot or garage, you’ll have more chances of finding parking to the right.

Sometimes, these cars might be headed all the way to the top of the garage or the front of the lot, and you’ll waste a lot of time waiting for them as they drive superslowly to where they want to go.

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Don’t be afraid to park on the inclines.

As a beginning driver, sometimes

parking up on the inclines of the parking garages seems a little scary and unsafe.

But actually, most of these spots are by default bigger than the ones on the levels. If you park cautiously, you’re less likely to get your car dinged by other people’s doors.

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If you have doubts about fitting into a spot, keep looking.

It’s not worth it. You might hit the other cars or maybe the pole, or you’ll squeeze in only to realize that you can’t get out of your car. It’s too much of a hassle. Just be patient, and eventually you’ll find another spot – one you can actually fit in.

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Don’t steal another person’s spot.

You will be tempted to on days where parking is just dreadful. You might have been searching for parking for over 15 minutes, but don’t give in to this urge. Not only will it make you a terrible human being, but that person that you took the spot from could be vengeful. They could key your car or slash your tires. You never know. Parking is serious.

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Do follow people back to their cars.

It’s not rude. They understand.

They’ve done it too. When you’re trying to park during the high traffic hours, this is the easiest and most reliable way to find parking. Plus you save gas because you don’t have to keep looping around the lot or garage.

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Garages shouldn’t always be your go-to.

If you go to a school with a variety of parking choices, resist the pull of the shaded garage and try your luck at one of the open-air lots. These are usually bypassed by the majority of students because they assume they won’t find parking, but in actuality you’ll probably find something a lot quicker than in the garage. And if you arrive before 9 a.m. on campus, they’re usually deserted, so you can have first pick at the best spots.

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Avoid student hot spots.

At UCF, garages H, C, B and A are usually the worst ones to find parking. Garage H is near Classroom Building 1, where a majority of students have class during the day. C is behind the engineering building, and B is in front of the gym.

Garage B is tough, though, because although there is a lot of in-and-out traffic, it’s hectic and can get stressful. Garage A is the main one in front of the main university entrance, and is usually the go-to for lazy parkers – go figure. Now at Rollins, parking is a little trickier. There are no real “hot spots” because there are not enough lots for students to be choosy.

Only upperclassmen can actually park on campus. Freshman and sophomores have to park in an off-campus garage (or find street parking in Winter Park – good luck with that!) and walk.

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If possible, arrive before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m.

Traffic is at its highest between these times, as these are the peak times for classes. Trying to park during these hours can be a nightmare, and if you can arrive earlier, you’ll be grateful for it.

Even if you get to school and just chill in your car, it’s still a better alternative than panicking because you can’t find parking and you’re late for your 10:30 a.m. class.

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If you’re staying on campus late, avoid faraway and unpopulated areas.

This one should be a top priority if you’re parking early in the day but staying on campus late. Make sure you don’t park in a garage or lot that’s unlit, or one that’s empty after 7 p.m. And if you have no choice, don’t be scared to ask campus police to escort you to your car. You can call them from booths located all around campus.

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Winter Park

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312 East Morse Boulevard

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Size doesn't matter The pros and cons of small and large majors

BY J A R L E E N E A L M E N A S

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ow many other students are enrolled in your field of study shouldn’t be a factor when you decide on your college major. That being said, there are numerous perks that come with how big or small your major actually is, as well as certain drawbacks. Whether you end up in Biomedical Sciences or Art History, there will always be positives and negatives, and you’ll learn to appreciate your degree program for its own particular qualities.

Small Major PRO: SMALL MAJOR, SMALL CLASSES The farther you are along in your major, the smaller the classes are. It won’t feel weird to have classes with 20, 15 or sometimes even 10 other people. You’ll find that a lot of the time, these classes will not only be the most memorable, but also the ones where you’ll retain the most information.

CON: ATTENDANCE IS A MUST But if there are only 14 other people in your class, your professor will definitely notice your absence. Attendance can

often count for a serious chunk of your grade, so make sure you adhere to the professor’s policy, whatever it is, and limit the times you’re out. Even if your teacher doesn’t care, your grades will thank you for it.

PRO: YOU’LL MAKE FRIENDS IN YOUR PROGRAM QUICKER It’s more than likely that you’ll end up taking most of your main classes with the same people, and after countless group study marathons and projects, your classmates will become some of your closest friends. When you complain about a professor or a class, they’ll understand completely because they lived it too.

CON: YOU’LL EVENTUALLY BE STUCK WITH SOMEONE YOU CAN’T STAND There will always be that one person you hate, regardless of your major. The difference is that in a small program, you will see them all the time – in your classes, during your professor’s office hours, at club meetings and probably even at graduation.

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PRO: YOUR PROFESSORS WILL KNOW YOU REALLY WELL They’ll know your name, your work ethic, your strong suits, and possibly also details about your personal life like who you’re dating or who you’re friends with.

It’s inevitable, as you’ll be seeing them all the time. But it’s nice. When you need help, you’ll know exactly which professor to turn to for advice.

CON: YOUR PROFESSORS WILL KNOW YOU TOO WELL Yeah, this pro is also a con. Just like they’ll know your strong suits, they’ll also know your weaknesses, and at some point they’ll know you well enough to be able to see through excuses that might’ve flown with a professor who doesn’t even recognize you. Plus, if they form a bad impression of you as a student, you’ll probably still have to put up with them for a couple more classes. So try not to get on anyone’s bad side.

PRO: YOUR PROFESSORS WILL BE ACCESSIBLE While sometimes professors will still want you to make appointments with them for office hours, they’ll probably be easy to reach even if you don’t have one. Sometimes your professor doubles as your faculty advisor, and popping into their office hours for a quick chat about your grades or an assignment you’re having difficulty with isn’t unheard of. Their offices doors are usually open and since they like seeing you take interest in your work, they’ll likely happily help you out.

Large Major PRO: PROFESSORS ARE MORE ACCOMMODATING If you have a lecture hall class, chances are that most of the slides and study guides the professor goes over in class will be available online. At UCF, some professors use Lecture Capture, which uploads a video of the entire lecture into Webcourses in case you missed it. (Some CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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schools use Blackboard or their own proprietary platform.) This gives you the option of going to class or watching the lecture later from your laptop.

CON: YOU’LL BE TEMPTED TO MISS CLASS With most material accessible to you online, you’ll find yourself making excuses to skip class all the time. Why bother to show up for a three-hour lecture when you can watch it from your dorm? But paying half-attention to a lecture in your dorm and seeing it firsthand in class are two different things, and the most convenient option isn’t always the most beneficial.

PRO: YOU’LL ALWAYS BE MEETING NEW PEOPLE It’s impossible to know everyone in your major, so you’ll be seeing new faces regularly. You might sit next to someone one day and never see them again – not because they’re not around, but because there are more than 300 students in the class. It definitely keeps things interesting.

CON: IT’S HARD TO MAKE FRIENDS There will be classmates that you hang out with daily. You’ll study with them, you’ll eat with them, you might even party with them. But unfortunately, that’s generally a one-semester thing. Unless your schedule for the next semester happens to be the same, you will probably not hang out with them again. You might see

them on campus sometimes, but just in passing. This won’t happen with all your classmates, but definitely with most of them.

PRO: YOU HAVE MORE PROFESSORS TO CHOOSE FROM That’s the thing with big majors. They need more professors to teach courses, so you as a student have more options of who to take classes with. Ratemy professor.com will become your best friend, and remember: The earlier you sign up for classes, the better chance you have at getting the professors you want.

CON: PROFESSORS CAN BE HARD TO TRACK DOWN You will definitely need to make an appointment to meet with most of your professors during office hours. And even then, you might still have to wait a long time to meet with them. Some of these professors teach multiple classes of more than 200 students, and if they all were to show up unannounced during/ office hours, things could get hectic.

PRO: YOU’LL BECOME A STUDYING EXPERT At the end of the day, your large major and your equally large classes will really force you to study material you have no recollection of your professor ever teaching. You’ll learn all about marathon study sessions and how to drag yourself out of bed the next day for that 8 a.m class you regret choosing. In a large major, you have to develop some self-discipline.

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How to break up with your high school sweetheart

BY J A R L E E N E A L M E N A S

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o you’ve made it to college and realized you might’ve packed one item too many – your high school relationship doesn’t fit anymore. There’s no shame in acknowledging that something isn’t working out, and college is the best time to realize that it’s OK to look out for yourself, even if that seems a little selfish.

Here are five steps to help you break up with your high school sweetheart.

1. Be honest with yourself It sounds simple, but the first step in breaking up with your high school boyfriend or girlfriend is realizing that you want to break up. It’s coming to terms with the fact that you two are not the same people you were in high school and that you’ve grown in opposite directions.

College is the time to start figuring out who you are as a person and who you want to be. And if you can’t see your current relationship being a part of your new life, then it’s time to make changes.

2. Be honest with him/her The next step is to tell them. After all, you can’t break up with a person if you don’t tell them. Approach this conversation in the way you feel most comfortable, though preferably it should take place face to face. No one likes getting dumped via text, and you’re in college now so you should at least try to be an adult about it. Tell them why you want to break up as simply as possible. Stay away from cliché phrases like “It’s not you, it’s me,” and don’t drag it out too long. Just tell the truth.

3. Sever all ties This third step will probably be the hardest, but if you truly want to break up, it is the most necessary. Severing ties doesn’t exactly mean deleting all of your photos with them on social media, or changing your relationship status on Facebook. You might find that helps, or it might make no difference – that’s up to CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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you. Severing ties means not texting them when you’re bored or when you see something online you know they’ll find funny, not “accidentally” running into them, and not calling “just to see how you are.”

Hopefully you didn’t pick a school based on where your boyfriend or girlfriend was going, but if you did, at a school like UCF with more than 60,000 students, chances are you probably won’t see them unless you’re actively trying to. So don’t. (If you both chose to go to Rollins, with less than 3,000 undergrads, it is going to be a lot harder – but you can handle this.)

4. Immerse yourself in activities This one is easy. There’s always something happening on campus, and making plans for activities and events is good not only for distracting yourself, but also for meeting new people. You can join an organization; UCF has more than 600 student clubs, and Rollins has over 100 student organizations for you to choose from. One of the quickest ways to get over a breakup is to stay busy, and joining diverse clubs and expanding your friend circle is a great way to do so.

5. Give it time It’s OK to admit that sometimes you miss your ex, especially at the beginning.

You will be tempted to call them, text them or even Facebook-stalk them, and that’s normal. Regardless of whether you had been together since you were 14 or started dating shortly before HS graduation, after any relationship ends (especially a meaningful one), you need time for yourself. Of course, since you’re in college you’ll probably date a bit in the time you’re still getting over your ex, and that’s OK too. You’re going to make romantic mistakes, just like you’ll probably switch your major once or twice. But like everything else in life, you’ll get it right eventually.

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How to stay fit in college Keep on the move to avoid the typical freshman-year weight gain

BY B R I D G E T T E N O R R I S

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eight gain and your first year at college go hand-in-hand. The dreaded “freshman 15” may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it’s a commonly used phrase because, well, it is a real phenomenon. No one is immune, unless you have a freakishly fast metabolism. The combination of late-night eats, excessive drinking, dorm-room snacking, unhealthy cafeteria meals and lack of exercise will all contribute to the almost unavoidable weight gain. Aside from trying to eat and drink as healthily as possible on a college budget, exercise is the best way to stay fit.

Community events YOGA IN LAKE EOLA PARK Every Sunday, there’s a group yoga class in the park (facebook.com/yogainlake eolapark). No prior yoga experience is required, so throw on some groovy yoga pants and give it a try. There’s no shame if all you’re able to master is child’s pose. Hit the farmers market after and you’ve got yourself a healthy Sunday funday.

JOIN A SPORTS TEAM Some high-school students are used to playing multiple sports year-round, but cut ties with the sports routine before heading to college – a surefire way to

gain weight before you know it. Whether you’re playing to lose weight or just stay in motion, Orlando Sport and Social Club (orlandosportandsocialclub.com) offers competitive sports teams for adults.

RUNNING EVENTS Orlando is home to a ton of amateur race events. There’s always a 5K, marathon or some other active race that people can participate in for a reasonable price. For a bit more flair, try newer races like the Color Run or the Flavor Run. UCF As the nation’s second largest university, it is no surprise the campus offers a wide variety of different fitness facilities (check rwc.sdes.ucf.edu). These amenities include: è There’s an outdoor lap pool where students can swim laps or take different levels of group lessons to improve their swimming skills. è Students can participate in wheelchair basketball, goalball, swim lessons, a rock climbing wall and a student-assisted workout program with help from the UCF Physical Therapy Faculty members. è Group exercise provides many types of fitness classes, like resistance training, mind/body, cardiovascular endurCONTINUED ON PAGE 31

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ance, plyometrics and spinning. Classes are open to students of all fitness levels, so you can find comfort in knowing you won’t be the best or the worst. è Personal training sessions are available to all students and faculty at UCF. The sessions are 60 minutes long and the first one is free. è Small group training is the happy medium between group exercise and personal physical training. These sessions focus on specific fitness goals over a period of time with a group of like-minded individuals. If you prefer to hide in the back during group exercise classes, this is not the class for you. è Intramural sports leagues are where students can act as a referee or a player in a variety of team, dual and individual sports. If you can’t find anyone to play with, you can join a team online.

è Lake Claire Recreational Area has volleyball courts, picnic tables and a sanded beach area overlooking the lake. No need to drive to a spring to canoe, kayak or paddleboard – students can rent equipment for the day. è Memory Mall is a huge grassy area in between classroom buildings where students play frisbee and other games in between classes. There are even Quidditch tournaments some weekends. è Adventure Trips are fun outdoor outings, from a daylong excursion to a weeklong expedition that won’t break the bank. è Challenge Course has high and low elements and will definitely make you break out in a sweat. Think climbing and crawling. è Sport clubs, which are Registered Student Organizations, can be played competitively or recreationally, but are mainly competitive so come ready to play.

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Rollins

College

Even though this private liberal arts college in Winter Park is a smaller school, it still has top-notch fitness programs and amenities for students at no additional cost (check rollins.edu/athletics and also rollins.edu/r-wellness). Some of these amenities: è The Harold & Ted Alfond Sports Center is open to students as a fitness center for campus recreation. If you need someone to show you how to work out, try the group exercise classes instead. è Group fitness classes give students a chance to work out with friends and peers in a variety of different ways. è Alfond Swimming Pool is available for students to swim laps. Swimming laps while overlooking the lake might have

you feeling like you’re on vacation, not at school – when in reality, you’re burning calories from attending a school so close to all of the great restaurants on Park Avenue. è Barker Family Stadium at CahallSandspur Field is a facility where students can participate in intramurals. You might make some enemies, but you might make some friends – and either way, you’ll be sweating. è Tiedtke Tennis Courts are open to students. This seems like one of the least popular hobbies among college kids so chances are that you won’t have an audience to impress (or not), or a long wait time to grab a court. è Club sports are aimed toward students who want to play a sport competitively – not competitively enough to play for the school team, but more competitively than intramurals. feedback@orlandoweekly.com

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How to sell your body legally Even if you can’t find a job, there are still ways to make money

BY H A R R Y S AY E R

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t’s entirely possible you may spend time while you’re in college without gainful employment. The reasons for not having a job can be varied: You might have too much schoolwork, you might have trouble finding a job at all, you might need time to find yourself and figure out who you are, etc. But the fact remains, you still need money. And if a job is out of the question, it’s time to get creative. They seem a little distasteful at first, but there are all sorts of ways to retail your body for cash, and all are entirely legal.

SELL YOUR PLASMA This is a good way to get a lot of money, if you plan it right. There are many places in Orlando to donate plasma, including Biotest Plasma Center, located right next to UCF, which extracts and ships your plasma (the liquid portion of your blood) to labs to be used as material for creating biopharmaceutical products. You’ll have to get a physical examination before-

hand, but once that’s done, you’re off to the races. You’ll sit in a resting chair, have a needle inserted into a vein in your arm, and stay there for one or two hours as the machine draws your plasma. It pays pretty well, around $25-$50 every time, but the real keys are the deals and bonuses new donors receive, plus various online coupons and promotions that throw in a few extra bucks if you bring in a friend.

(Biotest Plasma Center, 2501 Discover Drive, 407-207-1932, biotestplasma.com)

SELL YOUR GAMETES If you’re comfortable being a mother or father without directly knowing your offspring (at least at first, anyway; parents of children born by reproductive donation are encouraged to let them know their actual parentage when they come of age), there’s good money to be made helping other people’s dreams of parenthood come true. Cryos International, which calls itself the world’s largest sperm bank, is located near UCF and the Central Florida CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

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Research Park. Sperm donations can earn you between $400 to $1,300 per month, but visits to the center will be frequent – you may be asked to go up to three times a week. As for egg donations, which Cryos also performs, you’ll get between $5,000 and $5,500, but the donation procedure is much more complex. (Cryos International, 2200 N. Alafaya Trail, 407-203-1175, usa.cryosinternational.com)

JOIN A CLINICAL DRUG TRIAL You can always opt in to a clinical trial if you want to help find the next life-saving treatment or medical practice (and make a bit of cash). Orlando research facilities run a wide spread of studies designed to develop drugs to fight diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, depression, lupus, migraines and more. And you don’t need health insurance to participate. CenterWatch.com lists clinical trials in the Orlando area; use it to find a study you qualify for. Compensation and level of commitment varies.

SELL YOUR HAIR Believe it or not, there’s an active market for different kinds of hair to buy and sell. If you’re feeling like a drastic cut is just the thing to set off your new college look, do some research in advance to see how you can sell the remains for a nice profit.

The forthrightly titled BuyAndSellHair. com is a good site to use.

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How to get the most out of that student discount It’s crazy, but some people will give you cheap or free stuff just for being a college student

(one day, one park) costs $80, Busch Gardens is $66, and Seaworld is $66.

BY H A R R Y S AY E R

3402 Technological Ave., 407-730-3444, haircutmenuniversityshoppesorlandofl.com

ore often than not, the average college student is pretty broke.

Luckily, there are several ways you can use your trusty student ID to get some nice discounts when you’re out and about.

There’s also an iOs app called Party Tutor (created by a UCF grad!) that sends push notifications of new and limitedtime discounts for UCF students right to your phone. If you don’t want to download yet another app (or you don’t have an iPhone), just follow @UCF_PartyTutor on twitter to keep up on all the deals.

A UCF student ID will get you $3 off your cut. è Stop Barber Shop

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College-specific discounts UCF students should keep an eye on the SGA Ticket Center page, which lists discounted tickets to theme parks, shows and attractions all over town, as well as discounted Lynx bus passes. Rollins students are eligible for the PerksCard network, which offers discounts on gym memberships, movie tickets, travel and dining.

Theme parks This is one of the bigger benefits of being a college student in Orlando. Disney parks will run you $113 each, Universal

Haircuts è Sport Clips

11917 E. Colonial Drive, 407-249-9611

If you swing by any Tuesday or Wednesday with your UCF or Valencia ID, you’ll get a $10 haircut. è Supercuts Multiple locations, supercuts.com

UCF and Full Sail ID cards mean 10 percent off; sign up to get coupons by mail.

Movie theaters Student discounts at Regal and AMC theaters can vary from location to location as well as depend on the movie and show time, but tickets generally cost around $10 with a student ID. Amazon Prime amazon.com/prime

A surprising number of college students don’t know about this one: Any college student with a “.edu” email address can get a free six months of Amazon Prime, which includes a pretty robust TV and movie streaming service along with free two-day shipping for packages. When the CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

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six months end, you can re-up your subscription for half off, at a $49/year rate.

Apple apple.com, or visit one of the three local stores at the Mall at Millenia, the Florida Mall or the Altamonte Springs Mall)

Students can get discounts on desktop and laptop Macs, iPads and iPhones.

Educational pricing is available to college students, students accepted to college and parents buying for college students.

At press time, they were throwing in a free pair of wireless Beats headphones with eligible Mac purchases.

Microsoft Office 365 microsoftstore.com/education

You can get the entire Microsoft Office package for free when you use your student email account. You’ll be needing to use Word, Excel and Powerpoint throughout your four years, so this is a steal.

However, be aware the offer is only in place for students with Windows PCs or laptops.

STA Travel statravel.com

This discount student travel agency is like Expedia or Kayak, but just for college students. Search for student discounts and deals on airfare, accommodations and more. Hit this site up before you plan your semester abroad or spring-break vacation.

Cheap drinks è Gilt Nightclub 740 Bennett Road, 407-504-7699, giltnightclub.com

Thursdays are Recess College Night: free before 11 p.m. and free drinks until midnight for those over 21, and free admission after 11 p.m. for those under 21, plus a $5 bus from UCF. For information on the bus, call or text 954-263-6875. è Southern Nights 375 S. Bumby Ave., 407-412-5039, southernnightsorl.com

For those with college IDs, this popular LGBTQ nightspot charges no cover before midnight on College Night Thursdays.

Cheap eats Many national chains, like Buffalo Wild Wings, Chipotle, Burger King, Dairy Queen and the like, offer discounts or free items, so it’s always worth asking. Here are a few more homegrown restaurants that offer bonuses to students with valid ID. è Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen 118 S. Park Ave, Winter Park, 407-629-0042, barniescoffeekitchen.com

Current Rollins College students need only show their Rollins R-Card for 20 percent off their bill (not applicable on beer and wine). è Huey Magoo’s UCF Student Union, 561-846-9200; also 4293 Alafaya Trail, Oviedo, 407-977-0213, hueymagoos.com

This chicken joint offers 20 percent off all meals on Mondays with a student ID. è Jersey Mike’s 3402 Technological Ave., 407-286-1336, jerseymikes.com

There are multiple locations in Orlando, but this one at the University Shoppes near UCF offers regular-sized subs for $8 and large subs for $12 if you show them your student ID. Other stores in the Orlando area may offer 10 percent off. è Luya Chinese Restaurant 4498 N. Alafaya Trail, 407-243-6630, luyahealthychinesefood.com

Students can get the combination lunch special (offered to the general public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day) all day long.

The combo prices range between $5.50 and $7, and include entrée, fried rice, and egg roll or soup. è Pollo Tropical multiple locations, pollotropical.com

Pollo Tropical offers a 10 percent discount on any of their grilled chicken meals to students with ID. è TooJays Deli 715 N. Alafaya Trail, 407-249-9475, toojays.com

There are multiple locations in Orlando, but we know from experience this one gives students 10 percent off. è Viet Garden 1237 E. Colonial Drive, 407-896-4154

The Mills 50 Vietnamese restaurant offers 15 percent off with a student ID.

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You better shop around Music is a tangible experience – see it, hear it, hold it

BY M AT T H E W M OY E R

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ace it, you’re going to need the occasional escape valve from the pressures of higher learning, and here in Orlando there are plenty of distractions of the sonic variety. Most weeks will yield at least one high-caliber concert by either touring or local acts, but the venues depend on your comfort level – do you want the band 6 inches or 60 feet from you?

While we’re at it, we’ve gotta talk for a second about how Orlando has a plethora of solid record stores that will be more than happy to take your hard-earned student dollars in exchange for audio gems of all types. If you’re a music fan, you’re going to be busy.

Amway Center

400 W. Church St. 407-440-7000 amwaycenter.com

The downtown mega-arena that hosts everything from the Orlando Magic to Justin Bieber.

Backbooth

pleasingly gritty with an almost nightly lineup of touring and local punk, hardcore, metal and hip-hop.

The Beacham 46 N. Orange Ave. 407-246-1419 thebeacham.com

Longtime general admission club with a little bit more elbow room that’s hosted everything from the Refused to Ghost to They Might Be Giants. A lot of history has gone down here.

CFE Arena 12777 N. Gemini Blvd.

407-823-3070 cfearena.com

Arena located on UCF property (convenience!) hosts national touring bands and comedians like Halsey, Meghan Trainor, Katt Williams and Amy Schumer.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts 445 S. Magnolia Ave. 844-513-2014 drphillipscenter.org

37 W. Pine St. 407-999-2570 backbooth.com

Generally highbrow spot for classical

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and theater, but they take the occasional walks on the wild side with the likes of Alice Cooper and Maxwell.

Hard Rock Live 6050 Universal Blvd.

407-351-5483 hardrock.com/orlando

407-246-1419 thesocial.org

An intimate and close-quarters venue that tends more toward the indie rock spectrum. Also a good landing point for newer electronic and EDM. Timucua Arts White House

Part of Universal’s CityWalk area of bars and clubs, Hard Rock Live has distinguished itself as an essential place to see acts both old and new, and check out more intimate performance series like the Velvet Sessions and the Living Room Sessions.

2000 S. Summerlin Ave. timucua.com

If you’re not familiar with the house show concept, it’s a more intimate affair, stripped of the trappings of a club or bar.

Now imagine a house that was specifically constructed to hold shows. It’s hard to describe how rare this is. Shows are free and the calendar is adventurous.

The Haven Lounge Uncle Lou’s Entertainment Hall

6700 Aloma Ave., Winter Park thehavenrocks.com

Was it Def Leppard who inquired so long ago, “Do you wanna get rocked?” If the answer is yes, you’ll be spending a lot of time here, where metal shows are given pride of place.

1016 N. Mills Ave. 407-898-0009

Let your freak flag fly at this hole-inthe-wall haven for DIY and underground shows of all stripes – punk, metal, hip-hop, indie, alt-country, experimental. Odds are there’s something going on every night.

House of Blues 1490 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista 407-934-2583 houseofblues.com/orlando

Even though this club is on family-friendly Disney property, it still cuts loose with the likes of Muse, Los Van Van and the Kills.

Shows start a bit earlier here than at other venues, so be warned.

The Social

Will’s Pub 1042 N. Mills Ave. 407-748-8256 willspub.org

Anything goes here, and this venue has the sound system and stage to back up that adventurous booking palette. A tiki party, the Total Punk fest, a Japanese noise show and Colleen Green are only a few of the more recent engagements.

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East West Music & More

rabbitfoot.rocks

4895 S. Orange Ave. 407-859-8991

Intimate record store/coffee bar with onsite lathe cutting. Cut your own record and cut out the middleman!

The inspired anarchy of East West is just something you don’t get to experience in most record shops circa 2016. LPs, CDs and DVDs wash toward you like a tidal wave. Digging will yield unexpected treasures.

Foundation Records College Park 2529 Edgewater Drive 239-734-1006

The new kid on the block. Small but tasteful used vinyl selection – with a lot of hiphop – along with clothing, shoes … and soon, they plan to get the equipment to lathe-cut records on site.

Park Ave CDs 2916 Corrine Drive 407-447-7275 parkavecds.com

For new vinyl and adventurous inventory, Park Ave CDs has no local peer. Want the newest Weeknd LP? How about an acouostic Sir Richard Bishop album? Why not both?

Rabbitfoot Records and Coffee Lounge 307 E. Second St., Sanford 321-926-3154

Retro Records 59 N. Bumby Ave. 407-898-2484 retrorecordsorlando.com

Behind the unassuming beige storefront of Retro Records lurks a treasure trove of new and used LPs, and also CDs, tapes and strange forgotten toys.

Rock and Roll Heaven 1814 N. Orange Ave. 407-896-1952 rock-n-rollheaven.com

The Heaven is like this weird pop/rock culture time capsule. Stuffed to the gills with records, CDs, tapes, memorabilia, toys, posters, buttons and stereo equipment, there’s really nothing else like it. Dig deep.

Uncle Tony’s Donut Shoppe 703 N. Orange Ave. 407-734-0034 eldonutshoppe.com

Small but immaculately curated boutique shop geared toward serious collectors of hip-hop, jazz, soul, world music and sundry collectible wax.

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ROCK N ROLL

heaven Millions of New, USED & RARE CD’s, LP’s, 12”-45’s ALL STYLES OF MUSIC T SHIRTS - MAGAZINES - BOOKS & POSTERS

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Halloween Horror Nights

How not to look like a freshman A crash course in mastering drinking, dressing and dancing in college bars

BY B R I D G E T T E N O R R I S

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t the start of the semester, every college student who is even somewhat social is going to be out and about at the bars with liquor pitchers in hand. Syllabus week will arrive and it will be better than waking up on Christmas morning. Sure, the smell of stale beer and puke surrounding every inch of the bar

and a 20-minute bathroom line might not sound charming, but it surely is.

Being reunited with friends and all of that other crap is great, but the highlight of going out during syllabus week (and during the first half of the semester, if we’re being honest here) is the pure entertainment freshman obliviously provide upperclassmen. From the childish outfit choices and the intensely sexual dance moves to the Snapchat addiction and the Blue Long Islands, let’s just say the whole attitude that 18-year-olds carry into a college bar needs major help.

THE OUTFIT: First things first: College bars aren’t clubs. Understanding this is a major key to mastering collegiate nightlife. And you’re not going to prom or homecoming. So for CONTINUED ON PAGE 56

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the ladies, here’s What Not To Wear, College Edition: tight dresses, booty shorts, high heels and wedges, bright-colored eyeshadow and other dramatic makeup choices. The more casually you dress, the older people will think you are. (Guys seem to master this earlier than girls, but they should heed the next two pieces of advice just as much.)

THE DRINKING: Other than very poor fashion choices, there are other red flags identifying freshman before they can even make their way into the bar. Showing up right when doors open means you are either an upperclassman alcoholic or a thirsty freshman (and not thirsty for a beverage, if you know what I mean). And once you do make your way in at a reasonable hour, don’t order a Long Island Iced Tea; it’s like turning on a big neon sign over your head that says “I MAKE POOR DECISIONS.” Try to pace yourself. You can loosen up without ending up in a puddle on the sidewalk on your way home.

THE DEMEANOR: No matter how much you like a song, this is not a high-school dance, so do not even think about grinding on someone. You’re in college.

There will be no pelvic thrusting in the bar.

(Save that for the dance nights – see page 79.) And keep in mind, plenty of other people in the bar are new to this scene too. You don’t need to use Snapchat as a defense mechanism to avoid human contact and awkward communication. Stop taking a ton of pictures and singing into your phone for a “cool” snap story. Keep your phone put away and try to socialize like a normal person. That’s what you’re there for, right?

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Festival fever Tips for getting through the year’s music festival slate with your wallet and sanity intact

BY THADDEUS MCCOLLUM

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ne of the most popular ways to utilize the ridiculous energy levels, responsibility-free schedules and biological resilience youth affords you in your college years is by loading up your car with friends and camping equipment and shelling out hundreds of dollars for weekend-long music festivals. Take advantage of it. But whether you’re headed to Hulaween, Okeechobee, Zen Awakening or the mighty Bonnaroo, here are a few tips to hopefully save you some cash and reduce the risk of permanent damage.

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME FOR FREE TICKETS Tickets to multi-day festivals can be pricey AF, running around $300 for a full weekend pass. But there are ways to mitigate that cost. Some festivals will let you sign up for a promo code, and the more people you can get to purchase a ticket with that promo code, the closer you are to getting a free ticket. There’s also the option of volunteering at a festival.

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full cost of a ticket), you can sign up to volunteer for a few shifts throughout the weekend and, assuming you show up for those shifts, you’ll be refunded the full amount after the festival’s over. Clean Vibes, the largest company that provides volunteer cleanup services to festivals, starts looking for volunteers in February of each year.

THROW SHADE The sun and heat at festivals can be a literal killer. Plan your campsite accordingly. While you’ll definitely want to bring a shade tent (or five, depending on the size of your group), don’t forget to mitigate sun pouring in from weird angles by bringing tapestries, blankets or tarps to hang from the sides to create a more comfortable living arrangement. Speaking of heat …

DRINK WATER Yes, we know that part of the fun of festivals is being at least a little unsober for an entire weekend. But by the end of the first day, you’ll see plenty of people

who go too hard being carted off to the medical tents in buggies. The most common cause of this is dehydration, so make sure to grab that 24-pack of bottled water along with the suitcase of Coors Banquet.

Even better: Bring a reusable water bottle that you can clip on. Most festivals have plenty of refill stations available.

THERE’S MORE THAN JUST MUSIC While planning out your campsite and figuring out who’s bringing the propane for the grill, who’s bringing the food and who’s bringing the solar shower (oh BTW, bring a solar shower; you’ll save money and make new friends), don’t get locked in to a game plan for the festival’s entertainment schedule. In all our years of festivaling, we’ve never gotten to see everyone we wanted, but we’ve often discovered new favorite bands just by being in the wrong place at the right time. Plus, most festivals these days put a lot of work into creating unique environments and art pieces for attendees to discover on their own, like interactive sound sculptures or inflatable igloo caves. Take the time to explore; it’s half the point of going to a festival in the first place.

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Worst-case scenario What to do when things go wrong B Y J A R L E E N E A L M E N A S A N D H A R R Y S AY E R

PROBLEM: You’re locked out of your dorm, but you don’t want to look lame asking for help.

PROBLEM: You waited too long to pay your parking ticket, and campus police put a boot on your tire.

SOLUTION: Don’t be dumb, just ask.

If you get locked out of your dorm, better hope you have your ID card with you – at least if you’re a UCF student. For some Rollins students, your R-Card is your key.

UCF: Head down to the community office at your dorm to get help. If you have not just left your key inside your dorm, but actually lost it, report it to the community office as soon as possible. Rollins: Visit the facilities and services building, where you can report to campus security, request room entry or a locksmith and/or order a new R-Card.

In both cases, if the key is lost they will order a new lock core and set of keys, which they’ll charge for, of course. However, you have no choice. Residence hall staff members are not allowed to open dorm rooms for students, whatever the case may be.

SOLUTION: Pay your ticket!

At UCF, you have 10 business days to either pay your parking citation or appeal it. After that, they can put a hold on your student account, add late fees to your citation or put the infamous boot on your tire to immobilize your car. If they do put a boot on your car, you better hope it isn’t after 9 p.m. on a weekday, as they won’t be able to release the boot until the next weekday. As for Rollins, they aren’t quite as drastic, but they do charge you a $20 service charge for citations not paid within two weeks of their issue.

PROBLEM: You forgot your Scantron and the vending machines are all out.

SOLUTION: Run! Let’s just be honest: At some point in your freshman year, you’re going to CONTINUED ON PAGE 66

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be late for an exam. And maybe you’re more than just late; maybe you’re also unprepared and forgot to bring a Scantron sheet or blue (or green) book. No judgment; you’ve been busy studying, and after all, at UCF* there are Scantrons and test books available for purchase in vending machines. Except that when you arrive at the vending machine, it’s completely empty. Your first response is going to be panic, but as long as you have your student ID, the SGA office in the Student Union will give you one free Scantron per day. So use that panic and run like you’ve never run before. You may just make it. (*Rollins students don’t have to provide their own testing materials.)

PROBLEM: Your roommate left a mountain of dishes in the sink.

SOLUTION: Redecorate their room with the dirty dishes.

You’ll likely be living with at least one random roommate during your freshman year, and while they might be someone you instantly connect with, it’s more probable there’ll be some kinks to work out.

One of the worst of those is when your roommate leaves piles and piles of dishes in the sink. You should ask them to clean up after themselves, but if that doesn’t work? In that case, make a power move and relocate all of the dirty dishes into their room. Sure, you could leave a passive-aggressive note, but more likely than not it’ll be ignored. Won’t it feel better – and be more memorable – to festoon their room with plates and silverware?

PROBLEM: You don’t like any of your roommates.

SOLUTION: Find new friends!

Having random roommates is like spinning a roulette wheel – you really don’t know what you’ll end up with. And it’s possible that you’re not going to click with any of them. Perhaps they party way too much, or not enough, or care about Greek life too much (or not at all), or maybe they’re just not fun to be around. Good news is, even though you live with them, you don’t have to be their friend. The solution here is to start exploring, find new groups of people to associate with and get out of your comfort zone. You’ll have new friends in no time.

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Festivals and fairs, fall through spring O

rlando is home to all sorts of festivals and fairs during the year, and the upcoming fall and spring semesters are no different. Here are a few of the coming celebrations you can check out.

September 2016 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival When: Sept. 14-Nov. 14 Where: Epcot Price: $113 (UCF student discount price)

PHOTO BY ANTHONY QUINTANO

This 62-day festival showcases some of the world’s varied cuisine. Concerts, block parties, tasting events and more can be found day and night at this massive food festival.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party When: Sept. 14-Oct. 31 Where: Magic Kingdom Price: $72

This is a good way to combine your love of Disney with Halloween. This nightly event has you dressing up in your Halloween best and trick-or-treating inside the Magic Kingdom. You’ll also see a parade and fireworks show.

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This annual event has Old Town full of ghosts and ghouls just waiting to scare you. If you’re lucky, you may find some zombies dancing to “Thriller.”

Halloween Horror Nights When: Sept. 16-Oct. 31 Where: Universal Studios Price: various prices

October

The juggernaut of Orlando Halloween celebrations, Horror Nights consists of several haunted houses and scare zones designed to give you a fright. Last year’s celebration was Horror Nights’ 25th anniversary, and they’ve shelved the iconic clown Jack for his sidekick, the sadistic Chance. The Exorcist, the Walking Dead and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre are some of the announced houses so far, with more to come.

Artlando When: Oct. 1 Where: Loch Haven Park Price: free

Orlando Weekly’s one-day celebration of visual and performing art takes over the central lawn at Loch Haven Park with vendors, contests, performances from various arts groups and so much more.

Come Out With Pride

Global Peace Film Festival When: Sept. 19-25 Where: Enzian Theater and Regal Cinemas Winter Park Village Price: TBA

The goal of the Global Peace Film Festival is to promote, well, peace using the film medium. Films from all over the world are shown, activists speak about their work, and there are various educational and instructional panels.

Halloween at Old Town When: Sept. 23-Oct. 31 Where: 5770 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee Price: free

When: Oct. 8 Where: Lake Eola Park Price: free

Already one of downtown’s most popular parades and parties, expect Pride to be absolutely off the chain this year.

Freak Show Horror Film Festival When: Oct. 21-23 Where: Premiere Cinemas, 3201 E. Colonial Drive Price: TBA

The Freak Show Horror Film Festival is a great opportunity to catch some of the newest independent horror films being made by modern talent.

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This massive Latin festival takes over several downtown blocks with numerous bands and food selections to keep you busy.

Orlando Zombie Ball When: October, date TBA Where: TBA Price: TBA

November

All the Halloweenies come out to this massive costume party, which features a costume contest, live DJs, prizes and a horrifically good time.

Central Florida Veg Fest When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 22 Where: Festival Park, 2911 E. Robinson St. Price: free

Dozens of vegan and vegetarian vendors come out for the Central Florida Veg Fest.

You can expect speakers, concerts, food preparation demonstrations, and hopefully a new recipe or two.

College Park Jazz Fest When: 6 p.m.-midnight Oct. 22 Where: Edgewater Drive, College Park Price: TBA

The College Park Partnership shuts down Edgewater Drive to accommodate the thousands of people who come annually to take in live jazz on three different stages.

Calle Orange Festival When: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 23 Where: Orange Avenue downtown

Fall Fiesta in the Park When: Nov. 5-6 Where: Lake Eola Park Price: free

Downtown Orlando’s oldest arts and crafts festival is back this November. Food vendors, artists and craft-makers showing off their wares all across Lake Eola are some of the highlights to look forward to.

Orlando Beer Festival When: Nov. 12 Where: Festival Park, 2911 Robinson St. Price: $25-$55

This boozy festival has countless breweries and bars participating, so you’ll have your fair share of spirits to choose from.

I Love College Park Art & Wine Stroll When: 5-9 p.m. Nov. 19 Where: Albert Park, Edgewater Drive and Vassar Street Price: $15

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along the way. All of the proceeds go to the College Park Neighborhood Arts & Theater Center.

Orlando Food and Wine Fest

Festival of Trees

Food from dozens of Orlando’s restaurants, domestic and international brands of wine, and music and other live entertainment is what you can expect from one of downtown’s premiere festivals.

When: Nov. 12-20 Where: Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 N. Mills Ave. Price: TBA

This annual event turns the Orlando Museum of Art into a festive wonderland.

Events include an opening night party, musical performances, and programs for seniors and children.

December Florida Citrus Parade When: Dec. 30 Where: Downtown Orlando Price: free

If you’ve ever wanted to see a float made from fruit, this is the place to be. Floats are made from more than 100,000 oranges, tangerines and grapefruits, with more than 50 entries rolling by in a vitamin C-laden parade.

January 2017 Lake Apopka Wildlife Festival & Birdapalooza

When: February, date TBA Where: Lake Eola Price: TBA

Lunar New Year Festival When: February, date TBA Where: Fashion Square Mall Price: free

Ring in the Year of the Rooster at this annual celebration of the Lunar New Year that draws people from many cultures to celebrate Orlando’s unique Asian heritage.

March Epcot Flower and Garden Festival When: March 1-May 29 Where: Epcot Price: price of admission

Epcot’s major spring festival has guests enjoying a variety of foods while walking through flower gardens specially decorated for the event.

When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 20-21 Where: Magnolia Park, 2929 S. Binion Road, Apopka Price: free

Central Florida Fair

A celebration of all things avian, Birdapalooza offers free tours through the north shore of Lake Apopka. Beyond that, you can enjoy the food vendors and live music, or go on a nature hike if you’re feeling adventurous.

Check out rides, shows, games, music, livestock and entertainment at the multicounty fair.

February Orlando Chili Cook-Off When: Feb. 18 Where: Festival Park, 2911 E. Robinson St.

Orlando’s quintessential chili competition returns with more types and styles of chili than you can count. But there’ll be plenty for you to sample and enjoy.

When: March 2-19 Where: 4603 W. Colonial Drive Price: various prices

April Florida Film Festival When: April, dates TBA Where: Enzian Theater and Regal Cinemas Winter Park Village Price: various prices

Orlando’s longest-running film festival returns with impressive art and commercial flicks for you to enjoy, along with panels, filmmaker interviews, celebrities, parties and more.

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Daily Planner From trivia nights to open mics to club nights, there’s something to do every night of the week in Orlando.

Looking for more? Check our website at orlandoweekly. com for tons more drinking, nightlife, parties and events.

Ladies Night Knights Pub, 3910 Alafaya Trail, knightspuborlando.com

Free cover for women until 10:30 p.m., free drinks until midnight.

Rock Band Jam Night The Haven, 6700 Aloma Ave., Winter Park, thehavenrocks.com

MONDAY

Bring your own guitar, drum kit or keys and jam out with your fellow Rock Band aficionados.

Curtis Earth Trivia

TUESDAY

Graffiti Junktion, 900 E. Washington St., graffitijunktion.com

Diverse Word

Starting at 7 p.m., enjoy a trivia night that routinely places in Orlando Weekly’s Best of Orlando poll.

Dandelion Communitea Café, 618 N. Thornton Ave., dandelioncommunitea.com

Drink Around the Hood

Geek Trivia

Third Wednesday of every month, various venues, Ivanhoe Village, drinkaroundthehood.com

The Geek Easy, 114 S. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park, mygeekeasy.com

Every month we host this neighborhood pub crawl/meetup. Buy a ticket for $15 and sample drinks at different businesses and restaurants all around the area.

Win bar tabs and comic books with only the aid of your superior intellect.

Spoken-word open mic.

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purchase at this indie comedy night, which starts at 8 p.m.

Saves the Tuesday Independent Bar (I-Bar), 70 N. Orange Ave., facebook/independentbarorlando

Dance to all the emo and pop punk you can handle while guzzling cheap drinks from multiple bars.

THURSDAY Burger and Beer Night Friendly Confines, 3088 Aloma Ave., Winter Park, myfriendlyconfines.com

$4.99 gets you a half-pound burger and a domestic draft until 9 p.m.

Tasty Tuesdays The Milk District, East Robinson Street and North Bumby Avenue, facebook.com/ tastytuesdaysorlando

Korndogg’s Karaoke

A rotating lineup of local food trucks brings a crowd every Tuesday for this pop-up street party.

With more than 11,000 songs to choose from, music videos and more, this is one of downtown’s best karaoke nights.

WEDNESDAY

Jack’s Open Mic Comedy Night

Sideshow, 15 N. Orange Ave., wallstplaza.com

Jack’s Pub & Grub, 5494 Central Florida Parkway

Liquor Pitcher Wednesdays

Comedy open mic hosted by Myke Herlihy.

Knight Library, 11448 University Blvd., knightlibrary. com

Talk Yo Shit

Free liquor pitchers and free drafts until midnight. Make sure you don’t have an early class scheduled for the next morning. Because you won’t make it.

The Patio, 14 W. Washington St., thepatioorlando.com

Dance night from DJ Fiona with free drinks for ladies until 11:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

Mac and Cheese Independent Bar, 70 N. Orange Ave.

A dance night full of guilty pleasures, sometimes with special performances from one-hit wonders $1 Drink Night Chillers, Big Belly and Latitudes, 33 W. Church St., churchstreetbars.com

Starting at 7:30 p.m., frozen drinks, mixed drinks and domestic bottles are just a buck.

3-4-1 Happy Hour Big Belly, Chillers and Latitudes, 33 W. Church St., churchstreetbars.com

Yes, you read that right: three drinks for the price of one from 5 to 9 p.m. Get your weekend started.

Footloose ’80s Backbooth, 37 W. Pine St., backbooth.com

Party like it’s 1989 with this throwback night featuring videos from the ’80s.

Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word Austin’s Coffee, 929 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, austinscoffee.com

Just like the name of the night suggests, this is an open mic for both poetry and spoken word, held in a hip Winter Park coffeehouse not far from the Rollins campus.

$5 Fridays Knight Library, 11448 University Blvd., knightlibrary.com

You pay a $5 cover and get free drafts and $1 shots until midnight.

Friday Night Block Party Wall Street Plaza, 25 Wall St., wallstplaza.net

Spacebar Comedy Showcase Spacebar, 2428 E. Robinson St., facebook.com/spacebarcomedy

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Wall Street Plaza is known for its weekend block parties. Wander the plaza, drink in hand, and take advantage of $4 Fireball shots at all six plaza bars. No cover.

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Nerdy Karaoke

Orlando Farmers Market

The Geek Easy, 114 S. Semoran Blvd., mygeekeasy.com

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sundays at Lake Eola Park, corner

Karaoke in the Geek Easy, a lounge/bar connected to one of Orlando’s most popular comic-book shops.

sATURDAY

of East Central Boulevard and North Eola Drive

Part farmers market, part reason to daydrink. The beer and wine garden opens at noon, and it features live acoustic music.

Sunday Funday: The Day Party

Midnight Mass

Sundays at Aero, 60 N. Orange Ave.,

Backbooth, 37 W. Pine St., backbooth.com

thesocial.org

From midnight until 2 a.m., DJs spin pop, rock and Motown while you confess your sins to your patient bartenders.

DJs spin hip-hop, house, reggae and Latin jams and drive the crowd crazy.

Saturday Night Block Party Wall Street Plaza, 25 Wall St., wallstplaza.net

Wall Street Plaza is known for its weekend block parties. Wander the plaza, drink in hand, and take advantage of $4 Fireball shots at all six plaza bars. No cover.

dON’T MIss THese reCUrrING NIGHTs, eITHer! Body//Talk Various locations, once per month, bodytalkparty.org

Shit Sandwich Standup Comedy Showcase

This monthly dance party tries to re-create the house party feel in a nontraditional venue.

First and third Saturdays at Bull and Bush, 2408 E. Robinson St., bullandbushorlando.com

Orlando Pub Crawls

Admission is free to this stand-up comedy showcase, which features local comedians.

Begins at various bars in downtown Orlando, orlandopubcrawl.com

$1 shots, $1 bottled beer and free drinks until midnight. No matter how broke you are, you can surely afford this night.

The Orlando Pub Crawl organization sponsors a tour of downtown bars with a twist – think Crazy ’80s Pub Crawls, the Good vs. Evil Pub Crawl, the Get Lai’d Luau Pub Crawl and more. Check the website for upcoming crawls.

sUNDAY

There Will Be Words

Barrio Sundays and Tropical Sundays

Gallery at Avalon Island, 39 S. Magnolia St.,

The Beacham and the Social, 46 N. Orange Ave., thebeacham.com

therewillbewords.com

Single Saturdays Knight Library, 11448 University Blvd., knightlibrary.com

Pay at the door, pay no more (cover is $13$15 ages 21 and up). All you can drink for one cover fee. Top 40 and Latin hip-hop music spun by DJs in the Social and salsa, bachata and merengue in the Beacham.

Copper Rocket Comedy Jam The Copper Rocket Pub, 106 Lake Ave., Maitland, copperrocketpub.com

Comedy open mic hosted by Heather Shaw.

Second Tuesday of every month

A showcase of some of the best writers in the state.

Third Thursday Gallery Hop Third Thursday of every month, downtown Orlando, 3rdthu.com

Part art gallery hop, part tech meetup, part foodie tour of downtown, this monthly celebration is the perfect (free!) reason to get out of your dorm or apartment and explore the city.

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