Weekend Top 6 Picks for March 9 and 10, 2019

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Saturday March 9, 2019

4pm to 6pm Free. Young Voices. JB Callaman Center 102 North Parramore Ave Orlando FL. Teen Open Mic Every second Saturday of the Month.

8pm to 10pm $5. Second Saturdays in Sanford. 202 S Sanford Ave, Sanford, FL. Live music event featuring 2 stages, drink specials and more.

10:30pm to 12:30am Free. Son Flamenco. Ceviche Tapas Orlando, 125 W Church St, Orlando, FL.  Hot blooded flamenco dancing to acoustic guitar.

Sunday March 10, 2019

10 am to Noon Free. Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation Class. University, 5200 Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32811. The Method of Heartfulness A simple and practical way to experience the heart’s unlimited resources.

1:30pm to 5pm Free but get food and drink. Florida Gospel Jam. Fish on Fire 7937 Daetwyler Drive Belle Island FL. Non Denominational Gospel open mic Every 2nd and 4th Sunday.

10pm to midnight. Free but get a coffee. Comedy Open Mic. Austin’s Coffee, 929 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL. Free comedy show! Come out and laugh, or give it a try yourself.

Black Cow Jumps – Immersive Theater of the Heart

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I went to The District Market At Mills 50, (1221 North Mills Ave, Orlando, Florida 32803) to sketch Black Cow Jumps. In association with KC Malhan, Banks Helfrich brought immersive theater of the heart to this eclectic fashion event. Black Cow Jumps is an immersive, reality-based theater which explores relationships, philosophy and absurdity through short vignettes.

The District Market at Mills 50 is a Local Artisan Market and Co-Op
Marketplace featuring a Vegan Bodega Gourmet Grocery, Coffee, Handmade Cards, Gifts and Artwork, Vintage / Soaps and Pop-Up
Dining. I was fascinated by the cat bag hanging on the wall, and the various African animals scattered around the room. It was a quaint place and I am glad I got to discover it with Pam.

 The show started off with a cello solo. Black Cow Jumps featured intimate on on one performances which often had the theme of connection. An upcoming show at the Winter Park Library on March 9, 2019 is sold out, so it is clear that this direct and intimate form of theater has a place in our fast paced digital lives. Theater that is accessible in the back rooms of community markets and libraries can attract a whole new audience of people who might not otherwise go to theater. This is theater that is simple real and raw. There are no sets and no scripts. The performances are about simple direct interactions and feelings.

The Yearling Restaurant

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Pam Schwartz and I went to the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park (18700 S. Cr 325 Cross Creek, Hawthorne, FL 32640) which is the former homestead of Pulitzer Prize-winning Florida author. Marjorie, a native of Washington, DC,
and her husband Charles purchased a 75-acre (30 ha) orange grove in
1929, including the old dogtrot house. They set about enlarging and
adapting the house to their use, and both developed their careers as
writers. Marjorie first achieved significant notice with stories
published in Scribner’s Magazine, and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1939 for The Yearling. Her writing was infused with details from the central Florida region where she made her home. Upon her death in 1953, the property was bequeathed to a foundation of the University of Florida. It has been managed by the state ever since, the house opening to the public in 1970.

After a tour of the home, we went to the Yearling Restaurant down the road 14531 East County Road 325 Hawthorne, Florida 32640)for some local dishes, and live music.Willie Green who Hails from Alabama, delivers authentic down home blues at The Yearling daily. He has been called “The Real Deal” by slide guitar legend John Hammond, and has played with many of the greats.

Willie told me that another artist had done a painting of him that was sold for plenty of cash. Willie didn’t see a dime from that sale. Should anyone like to purchase this sketch, I would be glad to send a percentage down Willies way so that he can feel good about sharing his music with people down near the Rawlings home. Otherwise it will get filed away along with thousands of others like it in my library of sketchbooks documenting Central Florida arts and culture. Should you stop in to the Yearling Restaurant, be sure to let Willie know I sent you.

Knives Out

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A critic can cut like a knife. That is the premise behind performance artist Brian Feldman‘s Knives Out at The Glass Knife, (276 Orlando Avenue, Winter Park, Florida 32789)which featured five current and former critics from Central Florida, each taking a stab at reading 3 reviews they’ve previously written about past Brian Feldman Projects; 15 reviews for the 15th anniversary of Brian Feldman’s performance art career.

Featuring the arts criticism of Mark Baratelli (The Daily City), Carl F Gauze (Ink 19), Seth Kubersky (Orlando Weekly), Elizabeth Maupin (Orlando Sentinel), and Thomas Thorspecken (Analog Artist Digital World). (Due to a schedule conflict with Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Brian’s Mom, Marilyn Wattman-Feldman, read for Betsey Maupin.) As an added bonus, I  decided Pam Schwartz would read for me since I was busy sketching the event.

Originally envisioned to take place inside of the Randall Made Knives Museum in Orlando, after Brian’s proposal was rejected he was conflicted as to whether this project was still worth pursuing. While the final realization may not have been nearly as visually interesting as critics in a room filled with 1,000 knives, there was at least be cake available.

A disadvantage of The Glass Knife’s outdoor patio is that the sound of traffic meant that I could only hear bits and pieces of each review. I showed up to the event completely unprepared. I didn’t realize that Brian had wanted each critic to choose the columns they wanted to read. I knew that time to sketch was limited, so I got right to work. Brian seemed to have assigned seating, but he relinquished the seat at the far end of the table that I felt I needed to sketch from. I managed to sketch every critic but Carl F Gauze since he was hidden behind others at the table. I usually try to get the back of his head in any sketch that I do.

Pam did a great job reading my columns. I particularly liked the article about the end of Analog TV. I really liked Seth’s article about Wawa Shabawa. Carl read his review of #txtshow which had not been published yet. The gist of the review was that not many went to the show, but the few that did had a great time. Orlando is a transient town so anyone that was familiar with his Orlando Performances starting 15 years ago have likely left town. Then why am I still here?



Knives Out was one of 5 of Brian’s performances (part of #BFP15) that he brought back to Orlando to Celebrate his 15 years as a performance artist. The last shows still to come include:

Fiddler on the Phone will have 2 performances.

• Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at Sunset (6:28 PM EST)

• Thursday, March 7, 2019 at Sunset (6:29 PM EST)

Depending on your musical number order, Brian Feldman will call you between 6:28 PM – approximately 9:30 PM EST.

The performance will come direct to your Phone (Brian Feldman will call you from a pay phone).

Free (only 16 calls available)

Register for your phone call at brianfeldman.com.

Note: All calls to area codes outside of the U.S. will be made collect.

Taking
place entirely over a pay phone, this performance features Brian
Feldman singing Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Joseph Stein’s classic
Tony Award®-winning 1964 musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” a capella, one
song at a time, one phone call at a time.

Specific songs from the
show may be requested, and will be fulfilled in the order received.
Otherwise, all songs will be allocated randomly. Phone calls will range
from approximately 1 to 8 minutes.  

The Feldman Dynamic on March 8, 2019 at 7:30 PM at:

Stardust Video and Coffee

1842 E. Winter Park Rd.

Orlando, FL 32803

Cost: $15 advance, $20 at the door

Free
if your last name is “Feldman” (at the door, with valid photo ID).
Offer not valid if tickets are sold out prior to the performance.

The
original Brian Feldman Project returns to Central Florida for the first
time in over five years, and to Orlando for the first time in over 10
years.

An unprecedented reality theater event featuring a family –
Brian Feldman’s actual family (Mom, Dad, and sister) – having dinner
together live on stage. There’s no script, no rehearsal, and every
performance is completely different. It’s not improv. It’s the reality
show that will never be on TV.

The Feldman Dynamic is Brian Feldman, Edward Alan Feldman, Adrienne McIntosh, and Marilyn Wattman-Feldman.  

Fusion Fridays

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Fusion Fridays at a Magi Temple Belly Dance School, (3589 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32806) is hosted by Serafina Schiano. I have seen Serafina perform many times with Phantasmagoria and other productions in town.

A Magi is teaming up to promote all sorts of workshops and cultural affairs
in the Central Florida area, so there is always something fun and
different to inspire your creative side! In an effort to
make the arts accessible to everyone, this class session was donation-based.

The session began with a review of Zil Rhythms and musicality. Everyone sat on the floor in a circle and Serafina explained the Zil Rhythms. They each pt on finer cymbals on each hand and then started with 3 triple gallops Which had the simple pattern of 123, 123, 123. The 3, 3, 7 combination went, 123, 123, 1234567. There was also a 3,5,5 combination and a 3,1,3,1,3 combination. Some of these are more difficult to maintain and some got lost in the midst of their pattern. Rhythm is something that is felt intuitively not necessarily learned.

I was amazed that the students picked up a routine in just 15 minutes in the second half of class. Serafina picked a piece of music by Fifth Harmony called Work from Home (Ty Dolla $ign.) Moves taught included head circles, chest circles, and hip circles and rib combos. Written on sheet of paper, the choreography looked incredibly complex. Yet by the end of class everyone had mastered the entire routine. I have a deep respect for everyone who mastered this lesson which resulted in a hip and contemporary Belly dance routine. There was a well deserved shot of pleasure when they completed their run through.


Should you want to explore Belly Dancing you can study with Serafina every Fusion Friday at Magi Temple Belly Dance School. Class runs from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. It is an opportunity to train your body, Cultivate your unique style, and  ignite your passion.

Gertrude and Claudius at the Shakes

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Gertrude and Claudius based on the novel written by John Updike and adapted by Mark St. Germain, acts as a prequel to Hamlet. I had just sketched Hamlet the earlier in the month. The set remained the same, being a royal castle in Denmark. This play began with a royal wedding between King Amieth (Kenny Babel) and Gertrude (Paige Lindsey White). The king was a man with unsubtle tastes and ways but a true love for his queen. On their wedding night be fell fast asleep as the queen got ready for bed.

There was trouble in paradise as the queen felt she lost her identity with her royal responsibilities and she was actually frightened of her son, Hamlet (Junior Nyong’ o). In this play, Hamlet had a very small part to play. This play was about the queen and how she was seduced by the king’s brother, Claudius (Gene Gillette). As the queen felt more confined, the brothers letters from far away lands helped her imagine a life of freedom.

The infamous couple serve as the villains in Shakespeare’s work, but
are offered a new exposition in this tale of good intentions and family
dysfunction. With ominous hints at the familiar story to come, Gertrude and Claudius is a play that shakes up what you thought you knew about the royal couple. It is a classic tale of guilt and revenge.

This was a more modern production as well, without the flowery language of Shakespeare. There were also many moments of levity, acting as a stark contrast to the brooding Hamlet that would follow. Though Hamlet is a classic, this play is far easier to digest. If you have a chance to see both plays, go and see Gertrude and Claudius first and follow that on another night with Hamlet.

Remaining show times are:

Thursday, February 28, 2019 – 7:30 PM

Friday, March 1, 2019 – 7:30 PM

Wednesday, March 6, 2019 – 2:00 PM

Wednesday, March 6, 2019 – 7:30 PM

Saturday, March 9, 2019 – 7:30 PM

Sunday, March 10, 2019 – 2:00 PM – Talk back Performance

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 – 2:00 PM

Friday, March 15, 2019 – 7:30 PM

Saturday, March 16, 2019 – 2:00 PM

Friday, March 22, 2019 – 7:30 PM

Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 2:00 PM

Tickets are $30 to $53

Florida Licence Mobile

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My last sketch at the IDignity Identification Clinic was of the FLOW Mobile parked behind the Salvation Army Gym,

(440 W Colonial Dr.

Orlando,

Fl

32804). For people who had all the proof required to obtain a Florida ID (or license
renewal), one could be obtained at no charge via the FLOW mobile
(Florida Licensing On Wheels) at the event. People I had sketched inside as they made their way through the process ended  up out here where they could get their ID handed to them inside this bus. A few volunteers hung out in the tent to offer guidance. Some people lingered for a cigarette or a chat before they left to rebuild their life with the added asset of an ID. These Identification Clinics happen on the third Thursday of every month. 

It began to rain which chased me off to find my car parked several blocks away. As I was about to cross Concord Street on foot, a car rushed by at about 90 miles per hour. I swerved into oncoming traffic to get around slower cars and then tried to turn right down Hughey Avenue which is a frontage road parallel to I-4. The car was traveling too fast to make the turn and it crashed into a dirt embankment which saved it from crashing into a cement support wall. The car was perched on to of the hill with its tires dangling. Police drove up to the crash scene in a black SUV. I was walking towards the crash and saw police scanning the ground looking for foot prints in the dirt. The car was empty. Whoever had been driving had fled the crash scene on foot. People in a condo near the crash were on there balcony looking down at the scene and pointing. The police wore ski masks which hid part of their faces. I decided it wasn’t a good idea to stick around since clearly someone was wanted and desperately trying to escape capture. They could be armed. I walked the two blocks to my car and drove back to the studio.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for March 2 and 3, 2019

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Saturday March 2, 2019

8pm to 11pm Free. The Tremolords + The Wildtones. The Veranda Live 707 E. Washington St., Orlando, Florida 32801. Real. Raw. Rock and Roll.

Doors 7pm … Bands play 8-11pm

8pm to 10pm Free. Shuffleboard.  Orlando’s Beardall Courts 800 Delaney Ave Orlando FL. Shuffleboard at Orlando’s Beardall Courts at 800 Delaney Ave on the 1st Saturday of each month.

10:3pm to 12:30am Get a drink and or food. Son Flamenco. Ceviche Tapas Orlando, 125 W Church St, Orlando, FL. Hot blooded flamenco dancing to acoustic guitar.

Sunday March 3, 2019

10am to Noon. Free. Enchanted Nature Walkabout. Mead Botanical Garden, 1300 S Denning Dr, Winter Park, FL 32789.  After all the enchanted guides health issues this past year, he plan to conduct his first
official walkabout at Mead Gardens on March 3rd, which
is s Fae Day (03/03).

2pm to 6pm Knives Out.  The Glass Knife, 276 Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Critic read select reviews of past Brian Feldman performances.

10pm to midnight. Free but get a coffee. Comedy Open Mic. Austin’s Coffee, 929 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL. Free comedy show! Come out and laugh, or give it a try yourself.

IDignity Intake Station at the Client Service Event

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In the Salvation Army Gym (440 West Colonial Drive Orlando FL) people started entering for help in getting IDs. The first stop was the intake station. Volunteers lined one side of this long table dressed in their IDignity volunteer T-Shirts sitting opposite people seeking assistance in getting identification. First of course the need would need to be assessed. IDignity provides assistance in obtaining Florida ID cards and licenses,
birth certificates, Social Security cards, replacement citizenship or
immigration records and other documents needed to obtain an ID/license.

Once the forms were filled out and the person was issued an entry number, the volunteer would raise his or her hand which would bring over a volunteer who would provide a personalized path to start the process of obtaining identification documents. Some people came with all the paperwork needed to make getting the ID easy but others required more work. I overheard one volunteer telling a person that they just needed to mail themselves a letter to verify their address. Funny how in this digital age that a stamped envelope if a solid verification of a residence.

The place ran like clockwork. Sometimes the person did not need to face the task alone. A friend might stay by their side the entire day. People were from all walks of life. Some dresses in button down shirts and dress shoes while others were far more informal. A mother came with her new born child on her hip.

I was introduced during the orientation, so many volunteers came up to me to see my progress on the sketch. I had met some of these people at other fund raisers and community events around town. They all were so thankful that the mission of this place might be introduced to a new audience. IDignity has serviced over 20,000 people which is about the population of Maitland Florida.

I was told that the last venue that these events were held in was much smaller, so everyone is thankful for the full basketball court of space where they can help the community’s needs. The ID card acquired brings each person the freedom to apply for work or school, gain access to shelters, seek
help from social service programs, open a bank account or cash a check,
secure permanent housing, or overcome many other obstacles to being
self-sufficient.

IDignity Orientation

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I went to an IDignity event at The Salvation Army Gym (440 W. Colonial Dr.,

Orlando, FL 32804) which is near the construction for the new Creative Village. These events happen every Third Thursday of each month. Volunteers had to arrive by 7am. I tried to get there at that time, but the parking lots were full so I parked several blocks away in Parramore and walked.

There was a line outside the Salvation Army of people waiting to get in to obtain identification. On man had set up outside at 4am to be ready when the doors opened. He would be the first to go through the process of getting his ID. Service is first-come, first-served.

I asked a volunteer where to find the volunteer entrance. Ben Jimenez the creative media specialist, was my point person, helping me get oriented. Michael Dippy, the Executive Director, shook my hand and thanked me for helping tell their story. When I arrived inside, volunteers were getting their orientation. Many volunteers had returned time and time again and others were new to the process. A blue curtain separated the gym into two halves. In the first area, volunteers greet patrons, giving them a numbered card that is the patron’s guide through the event. Danielle Landaal, the program manager, explained how the day would proceed with people first entering at 8:30am to 11am. Intake would end when maximum capacity was reached.

Put simply, IDignity restores dignity and hope by providing identification. It was created to help the disadvantaged in Central Florida
through the complex steps of getting personal identification. Documents
like birth certificates, Florida ID cards, and Social Security cards
are essential for anyone to fully take part in society.

Every person’s story is unique. I was told about a man who was visiting Orlando as a tourist and he was robbed. He was stranded here living for a time at the airport unable to fly home. Getting his identity back meant he could get his life back. An ID the basic building block needed to get any job, a place to live and to become a contributing member of society.

After this orientation meeting, the volunteers splintered off into smaller groups. Some volunteers would be helping patrons at the intake station.  People could obtain a birth certificate on site, get a Florida ID or driver’s License on site, get assistance from Social Security or the Department of Veterans affairs, get legal counsel or ask about health advice. What is amazing is that all these social services have agreed to come together under one roof once a month, thus simplifying the process.

The room was a buzz and the doors opened allowing the first people in for assistance…