ORLANDO, Fla. - A trailblazer in the local arts community opens a brand new entertainment venue. And the concept is about food, drinks, acceptance, and activism.
Here are five things to know about HAOS on Church.
- Blue Star is an Orlando arts community icon. The burlesque booster's beloved The Venue closed for demolition in 2019, meaning the Ivanhoe District lost its community-focused theater. “I just wanted to not do anything,” she said.
- But, during the pandemic, Blue's search for a new home ended in the heart of downtown Orlando. “We have a blank slate, and how cool is that?” she said, beaming. She’s referring to the space now called HAOS on Church (123 W. Church St, Orlando). “We had to give some sort of hope to the community as a whole. Not just the LGBTQ community. Not just the theater community. But the community.”
- HAOS is a restaurant and entertainment venue. “The Golden Gals” had its run this holiday season upstairs. “Sometimes at night while you're eating dinner downstairs, there's people flying around in the air. Somebody singing a song. There's dancing. There's a burlesque act.”
- The menu is as “a new concept of contemporary cuisine” – both eclectic and comfy as can be. We're talking about Butternut Squash and Roasted Beet Carpaccio, Pork Tostadas, Dip N' Biscuits, Filet and Grilled Shrimp, and more.
- Bites, sips, and hips. Enough said.