Nerd Nite 6 Year Anniversary

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The Nerd Nite 6 Year Anniversary was held at Celine Orlando, (22 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801.) Nerd Nite anniversaries are usually held at The Abbey but that venue was booked for the night. The evening was slated to begin at 6 PM but the first speaker didn’t take to the stage for another hour and a half. I suppose that was time set aside for mingling and networking. I used the time to block in my sketch. I had never been to Celine before so the space itself was exciting. Ricardo Williams started off with excerpts from some of his favorite Nerd Nite presentations over the years. His white suit caught the blue light to great effect.

Dr. Krista Noble was the first speaker for the night. Her talk was titled “Why the Heck Are We Conscious? The Hard Problem of Consciousness”. As she said, “Everyone agrees that our mental processes (meaning our thoughts,
emotions, and perceptions) correspond with physical processes in our
brains. The question is, how and why? Why do we have subjective
experiences at all? Why aren’t we genetically programmed to pursue
survival, yet lacking consciousness? These fundamental questions still
plague scholars in spite of our most advanced scientific discoveries.” As she spoke about comparing two objects and noting that they were both bright red, I put some red notes on my sketch. If I sketch am I conscious? Perhaps I am more like a zombie using my few synapses to document what is around me with my hands and eyes.

“To Boldly Go: A Brief History of the Space Toilet” by Brendan Byrne followed with hilarious results. Brendan works for WMFE and he covers the space beat. As he said, “Human spaceflight has been plagued by waste. From urine-soaked
spacesuits to floating turds, the history of human spaceflight is flush
with dirty (and hilarious) anecdotes of dealing with waste in space.
Engineers seem to have a handle on #1 and #2 as we explore low Earth
orbit, but the future of deep space exploration hinges on our ability to
overcome a heaping pile of physiological, biological and engineering
problems. So how will we do it? Brendan has
been exploring the history of the space toilet for a new book and
presents a brief history of the galactic commode – and ideas for new
hardware that will boldly take our poop to places like the moon and
Mars.” 

On the first space flight, the astronaut was supposed to be in flight for just 15 minutes so no thought was put into a toilet. He was nervous and drank many cups of coffee that morning. Then there was a delay in launch which resulted in his needing to ask permission from mission control if he could wet his spacesuit. Engineers followed with a hard dock solution in which a condom was attached to a bag. A crap was more difficult requiring a cup strapped to the butt and a two fingered method of snipping off the log. Gravity usually helps the solids fall away but there was no gravity. Brendan read a recently declassified transcript in which astronauts debated about whose crap was floating around the capsule. Upon opening a recently recovered capsule a navy man vomited upon smelling what was inside. There was some hilarious audio of astronaut John Young (namesake of John Young Parkway)  as he was on the moon. He farted loudly and curses saying he would never eat citrus again.


Technology did catch up with the problem with a small fan providing suction to draw the excrement from the source. He played a video of astronauts pee being vented into space and it instantly crystallizing. Today however all liquids are recycled to be reused as drinking water. For long distance space flight a researcher is creating a device that burns down all waste and turns it into water and hydrogen. Brendan ended the presentation with a photo if him sitting on a space station toilet replica. is  mom must be so proud. I geek  out just as hard trying to get to as many space launches as I can to  sketch.


It was an evening of scatological and cerebral pursuits, who could ask for more?

The next Nerd Nite is April 11, 2019

Ivanhoe Park Brewery Mural Unveiling

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Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 7 PM – 10 PM will be the the official unveiling and signing of my City Beautiful Mural at Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company (1300 Alden Road, Orlando, Florida 32803.)   Gentry’s BBQ will be on site for food options. No cost to attend but drinks and food will cost.

I have been working on this mural for the past 39 days, usually from sunrise until noon when the sun floods the wall taking away my cooling shade. The last week was accelerated with me working all day long because Charles Marklin from Metro Finishes let me borrow some scaffolding. When I stood on the scaffolding it would shake violently side to side. I braced my hand against the wall and steadied my breathing to continue painting the sky. I only painted one 5 foot section of sky and then Pam Schwartz took over. When she stood on the scaffolding she was steady as a rock. She ended up painting all the rest of the sky.

I was introduced to Glen Clossen of Ivanhoe Park Brewing by Brendan Bunting O’Connor of The Bungalower. Brendan knew I had pitched this mural design for the Fringe offices back in 2014, but that building was torn down before painting started. I adjusted the same sketch for use on the Brewery. Years before this same design was used to paint a large canvas at a Downtown Arts District fundraiser at the Sonesta Hotel Downtown. That painting was executed by the drunk party goers and the results were as might be expected. It looked like it had been painted by non artists. That canvas hung over the admissions desk for a while and then quietly disappeared. I am not sure of it’s fate, if it went in the trash, or is in someone’s private collection.

My process on this mural is well documented on Instagram showing a photo at the end of each work day. Line work was a challenge. I considered using Krink markers but was told they do not last long in the Florida sun. Instead I used black acrylic paint and the same water brush I use every day to do my on location sketches. I tried to maintain the same quirky line quality of the original sketch on the much large wall surface.

Come on out, grab a beer and say hello.

Out of Bounds Comedy Festival

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Pam Schwartz and I went to The Hideout Theatre (617 Congress Ave, Austin, Texas 78701) for the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, which traditionally takes that final blistering week before Labor Day and fills it with funny. There was improv, sketch, and stand-up by mirth makers from both the Austin and around the planet. Out of Bounds showcased more than 130 acts over the course of seven days. More than 500 performers brought on the laughter. Out of Bounds is Austin’s longest running comedy festival and the largest multi-disciplinary comedy festival in the south.

The theatre was small and intimate and the acts came fast and furious. It was a fun night of improv comedy and proof that Austin is indeed keeping it weird. After the performance the two performers I had sketched found me and asked to have a photo taken with the sketch. I don’t think I ever saw that photo but it was great to meet the performers face to face.

Remington Beard Boss World Beard and Moustache Championships

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When Pam Schwartz and I traveled to Austin Texas, I wanted to sketch events that are a quirky and unique as the ones I find in Orlando. The Remington Beard Boss and the Austin Facial Hair Club World Beard and Moustache Championships fit the bill. Beardos and Whiskerinas came from all over the world to Austin, Texas for Championships at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

The three-day competition attracted more than 1000 competitors and fans. Every two years, the WBMC showcases the very best in men’s whiskers and united beards in a cultural event like no other. For the first time at WBMC, Whiskerina (ladies) categories were showcased. Projected to be the largest competition to date, the three-day event included live entertainment, local food vendors, family-friendly activities and dozens of facial hair competitions—all on site at Austin’s premier downtown performing arts center.

I was clean shaven at the time but after witnessing this event, I began to sport a beard. There were beards of every shape and size and some that honestly are hard to believe. One man grew his beard so long he created a mask out of it that made him look like a werewolf.  Beards were sculpted into intricate and delicate curtly cues. Beards were long, short soft and pointy. There was a beard for every taste. A woman has a mustache that looked like two nuclear explosions.

We arrived late in the day on the final day of the competition to see the best in show and the closing ceremonies. I wrote on the sketch that #526 was the winner. That was not the werewolf but a more refined beard and mustache of epic spiraling forms. I keep my beard trimmed to less than 1/4 inches but it is tempting to contemplate what it would take to be a world champion.  I only feat a larger beard would get in the way when I sketch.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for March 16 and 17, 2019

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Saturday March 16, 2019

9pm to 5pm Free Saturday and Sunday. Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. Central Park, 150 W Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789. Plenty of art to see and buy. Just don’t sketch on Park Avenue it is illegal.

10am to 4pm Free. Commander’s Call. Museum of Military History 5210 West Irlo Bronson Hwy Kissimmee FL 34746. This ongoing program is held on the 3rd Sat of each month is designed to
appeal to families, military memorabilia collectors, history buffs,
re-enactors and others interested in military history. In addition,
persons interested in displaying, trading or selling their military
items such as honor coins, swords, photographs, military buttons, scale
model boats & planes, military art, uniforms or other equipment
register in advance by calling the museum to reserve a spot. Re-enactors
& veterans are welcome to come in uniform to add to the history
and authenticity of the military experience. Non-military booths such
as health care providers, home improvement, local attractions or other
businesses are invited to be vendors for minimal donation.

For information or to register: 407-507-3894 or to register your table space.

4pm to 8pm Free. Cruisin’ Downtown DeLand Car Show! East Indiana Ave Downtown DeLand, Deland FL. Classic cars & rods. Live DJ, giveaways, shopping & dining. Fun for the family! Every 3rd Saturday night!

Information for showing your car 386-738-0649

Sunday March 17, 2019

10am 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.

10am to 4pm Free. Lake Eola Farmers Market. Lake Eola, Orlando, FL 32801. Arts crafts and some fruits and veggies.

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.

Corsets and Cuties

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Corsets and Cuties has found a new home in Theater West End (115 West 1st St., Sanford, Florida 32771). Their next performance is Saturday, March 23, 2019 doors open at 9pm, and the showtime is at 10pm. Tickets are $18. A little song, a little dance, maybe a Cutie in your lap. Unexpected fun and surprises await!>
Lovely ladies and some not-so-gentle men sing, dance, and take their clothes off all for your entertainment pleasure! Whether you’re celebrating with the one you love or out on the prowl, the Cuties are ready for ya! Guest stars, and special treats their sponsor Premier Couples Superstore – you can be sure of a fantastic night out!
Seating is general admission, and first-come, first-served basis.

Bring your sense of humor, appetite for adventure – and dollar bills, y’all!

NOTE: The show is intended for adult audiences, as it contains adult content and nudity. 
This sketch was done at the Venue when Violectric joined the troupe offering some amazing live violin music. Violectric is now performing out in Las Vegas with Wayne Newton.

The event is 18 and up. And 21 and up to drink, of course!

The Yorktown

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The Yorktown aircraft carrier is harbored in Charleston, South Carolina. It is one of the ships that can be explore at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum (40 Patriots Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464). One thing that is difficult to convey in just one sketch is just how huge this ship is. The upper deck must have been several football fields in length.

Patriots Point Development Authority was established in the 1970s to
develop the naval and maritime museum on Charleston Harbor with the
World War II aircraft carrier, USS Yorktown as its centerpiece. It’s
also home to a fleet of National Historic
Landmark ships, the Cold War Memorial and the only Vietnam Experience
Exhibit in the U.S., the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, and the
agency’s official Medal of Honor Museum. Patriots Point strives to preserve the living history of our nation’s
bravest men and women while telling their stories in honorable,
educational and engaging ways.

We explored the inner bowls of the ship winding up metal staircases and narrow passageways.  It felt liberating to get out on the huge open each, so I  took some time to settle in and sketch.

Every section of the ship has been converted into a museum to showcase the history of the Yorktown and ships like her. Initially to have been named Bonhomme Richard, it was renamed Yorktown while under construction to commemorate USS Yorktown (CV-5), lost at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Yorktown (CV-10) was commissioned in April 1943, and participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning 11 battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Decommissioned shortly after the end of the war, it was modernized and
recommissioned in February 1953 as an attack carrier, and served
with distinction during the Korean War. It was later modernized with a
canted deck and eventually became an antisubmarine carrier and
served for many years in the Pacific, including duty in the Vietnam War, in which it earned five battle stars. Late in its career, it served as a recovery ship for the Apollo 8 space mission, and was used in the movie Tora! Tora! Tora! which recreated the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Solar Eclipse

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Getting to witness a complete solar eclipse is rare. When I found out a solar eclipse was coming, I researched where the path of totality was as it passed across the country. The narrow band crossed over Charleston, South Carolina. I have a sister who lives in Charleston so I gave her a call. Then I researched the best places to witness the eclipse and I found out about Joe Riley Stadium the home of the River Dogs. The stadium opened early before the game so that fans could watch the eclipse.

Pam and I found solar glasses well over a month before. We drove up to South Carolina with John Naughton and his nephew. The road trip itself was fun with a few short stops along the way, including an amazing restaurant in Savannah Georgia. My sister agreed to join us on game day to watch the eclipse. It felt good to share such a rare event with family.

I expected huge crowds approaching the stadium but parking and getting in proved effortless. Once seated, we got a few hot dogs and waited. Announcers kept track of the eclipse progress sharing video on the jumbo-tron screen. A drone hovered over the field watching the crowd and the players lounged on top of their dugout to watch as well. Hundreds of people watched the sky with their solar glasses. Some kids had built their own solar pinhole devices which projected the eclipse on a white card for viewing. The last time I witnessed a solar eclipse I was maybe 10 years old and made a similar pinhole viewer. A group of students also launched a weather balloon high above the field. Rumors circulated that Actor Bill Murray was in the crowd. A face painter was busy painting solar eclipse themes faces.

It took quite some time for the sun to completely block out the sun. When it did the stadium grew quiet. Even the birds stopped chirping. It was a reflective moment. This crowd seemed small compared to the grand scale of the universe. Gaps between leaves in the trees acted as pin hole viewers projecting crescent shaped images all over the pavement. Just as the day had grown pitch black, it slowly illuminated again. Once the sun was out, the game got under way and went on right until sunset. The sunset was glorious and golden behind the bleachers.

Bok Tower Gardens

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Bok Tower Gardens is one of Florida’s gems. With 126 different species of birds, 50 acres of gardens to explore and fascinating architecture, the Gardens are an outdoors
enthusiast’s dream. I wish Bok Tower Gardens was closer to Orlando. It is an hour and a half drive west from Downtown. Douing this sketch was a major challenge since mosquitoes were out in force. I spent more time swatting them that putting makes on the pace. If there is a noticeable frenetic energy to this sketch, that is the reason.

Edward W. Bok
immigrated to America from Den Helder, Netherlands at age six, not understanding the language, customs or culture. Through determination
and hard work, he became a highly successful publisher, Pulitzer
Prize-winning author, respected humanitarian and an advocate of world
peace and the environment.  in 1921, the idea came to him to preserve this hilltop and create a bird sanctuary – a place of beauty, serenity and peace.

Integral to his idea was the availability of a famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. who also designed Central park in NYC. Having
made arrangements to buy land on the hilltop, Bok commissioned Olmsted
to change this arid sand hill into “a spot of beauty second to none in
the country.” The first year was spent digging trenches and laying water
pipes for irrigation, after which thousands of truck loads of rich black soil were brought in.

With the proper conditions for a subtropical garden in place, the
planting of bushes and trees began to provide food for migrating birds.
Today, these plantings provide shade to visitors as well as refuge for
squirrels and 126 bird species. I quickly sketched the giant floating water lilies.

The Singing Tower was designed by famed architect Milton B. Medary and ornately crafted by noted stone sculptor Lee Lawrie,
the Tower houses one of the world’s finest carillons. Concerts from the
60-bell carillon fill the garden every day at 1p.m. and 3 p.m.

Nightmare Before Christmas Cabaret

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I went to the Falcon Bar and Gallery (819 E Washington St, Orlando, FL 32801) to sketch the Nightmare Before Christmas Cabaret staring Marisa Ashley Risque. In the window of the bar, was a sing from the Pulse Foundation that said, “We Will Not Let Hate Win.”

This was a fun edgy and funny show for those who wanted to celebrate Christmas in July. There was live acoustic guitar and plenty of cross dressing. The drag performer was proud with a full beard, push up bra, and full white fur coat. Some shows like this might fall back on lip sinc to carry the tunes, but Ashley Risque has a fabulous  voice that can belt out any Skellington themed tune. Ashley was dressed as Sally, Jack Skellington’s love interest. She sang Sally’s song with deep baleful and tragic sincerity. The arts though stitched and sometimes missing an arm are still thriving in threadbare Orlando.