The Lake Eola Pulse Vigil.

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Sunday night around 7:30pma vigil was held for the 49 victims and the survivor still recovering from terrorist shooting at the Pulse Nightclub south of downtown Orlando. I drove into Eola Heights and parking was hard to find. The side streets around Lake Eola were closed to traffic. Police, EMS, and Military were on hand to handle the exceptionally large crowd. Over 50,000 people were expected to show up.

At the North East corner of the park, a flower vendor was doing a brisk business. Walking around the park, I had to turn down religious pamphlets from every denomination. John Lennon was singing “Imagine if there is no heaven, it’s easy if you try.” For once, the canned Lake Eola music was right on the money. Shrines were being set up a the base of trees. I was offered flowers, but I wanted to keep my hands free to sketch.

I figured the Lake Eola band shell would be ground zero for all the politicians, and other speakers. The crowds grew thicker a I got closer. I finally decided to swing wide out to the street an that gave me a clear approach. There was a mulched path that no one used, so that gave me some space to work. As I started, three ducks appeared and they ambled past me, quacking as they foraged for food in the garden. A huge rainbow flag was lying on the grass and that made a perfect highlight to the foreground. It began to rain, so I put the computer away and waited for it to stop. A rainbow appeared over Lake Eola as if the evening was granted a divine approval.

When it got dark enough, everyone lit their candles. The crowd was dispersed all the way around the lake. Candler flames illuminated the entire shore. The crowd became a sea of flickering flames. The Pulse club owner began a chant that spread through the crowd, “Peace, Love, Pulse!” The Orlando community was out in force. I was so emotionally drained that I didn’t have any more tears. The garden gave me a voyeurs cushion from the raw emotions. Instead, I focused my attention on the light emanating from the crowd. The names of the victims were read aloud to the now quiet crowd. Couples of all genders embraced. Love is love, and it should have no boundaries as defined by hate.

After the crowd dispersed, I walked around the lake to see all the candle shrines that were now everywhere. A five foot heard was covered in flowers and surrounded by candles. The stone sculpture of a woman lying in the garden covered by ground cover had hundreds of candles in her outstretched hand along with signs. Plastic red cups with candles inside were arranged in the shape of a heart. All the symbology was there, but the best way to heal would be to bring about positive change. Hopefully someday that change will come. But for now it is easy to pick up an assault rifle any day of the week here in Orlando.

Free Meditations with Beautiful Chorus.

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After a solid week of non stop vigils and events honoring the victims of the Pulse Terrorist Attack, I decided it would be a good idea to try and re-ground myself with meditation. I noticed a free meditation at the Panic Healing Center. It seemed strange that a healing center would be called Panic, but I was panicked.  I didn’t notice until just now that it is actually the Pranic Healing Center of Central Florida (619 N Thornton Ave, Orlando, Fl.)

As I approached, I noticed all the shoes near the entry, so I tool off my shoes and socks. The meditation room was packed with beautiful people peacefully waiting. At the front of the room, for woman sat on a fairly large rug which was surrounded by green Christmas lights. One singer looked very familiar with her beautiful chiseled features.  I couldn’t figure out where I had seen her. I couldn’t find a good spot to sit in the crowded room.  A woman took pity on me, and suggested I sit up front next to the stage near a fire extinguisher. It was the perfect spot, since it was close to the performers and could look out over the audience.

Ashley Inguanta a talented local writer made her way to the stage and she lead everyone in healing prayers and stretches. Everyone started with one hand ore their heart, and another over their stomach. Hands were then clasped at the chest with the thumbs pressed against the sternum. From this position the heartbeat and breath could be felt. Ashley pointed on that if events get hectic, we could always return to this place of peace. We are all a bit frazzled from this week events. Ashley herself is being pulled emotions in different directions. She finds she keep forgetting things. I have had the same affliction all week.


Beautiful Chorus began to sing. Their voices resonated in perfect harmony. The music reflected peace and love. On the night of June 11th in Orlando, FL, in another LGBTQ friendly
venue, less than five miles from where the atrocities at Pulse nightclub
took place, the Beautiful Chorus sang “Pulse“. A line from the song reads, “But we know better, we’ve sacrificed too many nights to violence, and too many days to shame.” It seemed as if the song were predicting events to come only few hours in the future. The music resonated in my bones. I had to hum along. I was still humming the music long after the meditation and performance was over. The line between meditation and appreciating the beautiful music was subtle.  Alexandra Love was the lead singer. She had a monk like visage. Mila Bella was the performer I recognized. She is also a visual artist and I sketched her once working at a group studio night. I had no idea she had such a beautiful voice. After the performance Milla let me know the she heard me humming in the corner. I was mortified. I hope I didn’t interfere with anyone’s appreciation of the music. She rather liked the deep notes added however. The song is like an anthem for a city that has lost it’s innocence.

The Orlando Strong Group Body Paint at The Other Bar.

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Mandi Ilene Schiff of BASE Orlando organized this amazing evening where 49 models were each painted a separate color of the rainbow. Of course the 49 models represent the 49 who fell at the Pulse Terrorist Attack. Six survivors are still in critical condition. The Other Bar (18 Wall St, Orlando, FL) is located right next to the Orlando History Center. Outside the bar was a huge wooden chair with each of it’s wooden slats painted a different color of the rainbow.

When I entered, models were already being painted. Robert Johnston , Ilene’s fiancee offered me a seat at the bar, and I got right to work. The model closest to me was being painted purple. She must have locked her knees because she suddenly felt faint and had to sit down. People rushed to get her water and juice. She gradually recovered. I have had this happen with a model before and it can be quite terrifying for the model, and the artist. There were far more women being painted than men. I admired James Brendlinger‎, a producer and director who was being painted blue. Perhaps in the future if male models are needed. I will volunteer. It would be nice to get a bit more fit first. Some of the women were extremely fit. Model Monica Edwards created special Pulse Tribute Dolls that sell for just $25 each. This tragedy hits incredibly close to home for Monica and these dolls are
intended as a fundraiser for the victim’s recovery and for the families
of those we lost. All proceeds will be going to the Pulse Victims Fund, gofundme. 

 Outside the bar was a surreal scene in which dozens of beautiful brightly colored people milled around the bar and socialized. Every model got a wrist bracelet with brightly colored beads. It was funny to find that clicks formed over time with the reds sticking together at the bar. One purple woman exited the bar and shouted out for a short purple man. ” Did anyone see a short purple man?” A purple woman hugged a yellow woman as they posed for pictures. A beautiful lesbian couple kissed in front of models that represented every color of the rainbow. There was so much love everywhere I looked. All the bright colors swirled around me.  Then all 49 models were encouraged to go to the park in front of the Orlando History Center for photos. I stayed and watched, soaking in the joy and lore for those still trying to recover. Mandi created an amazing event that celebrated life while honoring those lost.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for June 18th and 19th.

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Saturday June 18, 2016

10am to 4:45pm Free. Orlando Book Festival. Orange County Library System (FL) 101 E Central Blvd, Orlando, Florida. The Orlando Book Festival is a day-long celebration of books at the Orlando Public Library. Join us for book signings, panel discussions, writing workshops, and a keynote address from New York Times bestselling novelist, screenwriter, and game designer Chuck Wendig. This event is free and open to the public. More information.

Attending Authors:

Diana Abu-Jaber

Sarah Andre Author Page

Catherine Bailey: https://www.facebook.com/catherinebaileybooks

James C. Clark

Trish Doller

Lauren Gibaldi

Janice Hardy

J.J. Howard

USA Today Bestseller Ward Larsen

Meredith McCardle

Katheryn Russell-Brown

Medeia Sharif

NYT Bestseller Milly Taiden

Eric Telchin

Jenn Marie Thorne

NYT Bestseller Chuck Wendig

NYT Bestseller Nathan Whitaker

11am to 7pm Free. Festival of the Sea. Orlando Festival Park 2911 East Robinson Orlando FL.

8pm to 11pm Free. InkSpeak Writer’s Meet-up. The Milk Bar Lounge 2424 E Robinson St, Orlando, Florida. ough and loose writing meet-up hosted by JoeXO. All writers welcome! Come work on your blog posts, screenplays, collection of poetry, erotic fan fiction, sci-fi epic, state of the union speech, college astronomy essay, or that letter to your ex.
Come with an idea, get a drink, then shut up and write with us!
If enough people want to share after, we can give/get feedback, but that’ll be up to those in attendence.

Sunday June 19, 2016

7pm to 9pm Vigil for Pulse Shooting victims. Parliament House, 410 North Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL.

7pm to 9pm Vigil for Pulse Shooting victims. Ember, Orlando, 42 W Central Blvd, Orlando FL.

8pm to 10pm Vigil for Pulse Shooting victims. Baitul-Aafiyat Mosque: 9501 Satellite Blvd, Suite 103 Orlando FL. Prayer service.

Pulse Shooting Memorial in front of the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center.

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I went to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts to witness the ever growing memorial for the 49 lives lost at the Pulse Terrorist Attack. On this evening, I was going to do an event sketch at the Grand Bohemian which is right across the street.  An American Flag held up by a white PVC frame had the names of all 49 of the Orlando Citizens who lost their lives embroidered into the red stripes. A large candle said, “Hate will never win”. A rainbow colored paper chain surrounded the whole altar. There were small American flags and lots of rainbow colored pin wheels.

It was a scorching hot day and when I was offered a bottle of water, I took it. The cut flowers that were everywhere wouldn’t last long in this heat. Heart shaped helium balloons waved in the breeze. Two young high school girls approach me with a pink card. I accepted it and thanked them. A packet of Smarties was taped to the card which read, “You are Loved, Pass it on.” #Love Wins, # Orlando Strong. The O in Loved was shaped like heart. It was such a sweet gesture.  Struggling with my sketch, I is at the “This is Shit” and “I am Shit” phase of the creative process. I was certainly not feeling much love. At least the candy was sweet. I had a relative who used to work in a smarties factory in South Carolina. He used to breath in that sweetness every day. He died.

Mack became curious about my sketch and sat beside me. Evey few minutes his cell phone would whistle. He explained that the noise indicated that he got a text. Mack liked to talk. He told me that he had been to the 9/11 memorial in NYC. He was once a firefighter so he had special access. He told me that one woman at the memorial had purchased a plane ticket on one of the doomed flights. She had decided against going and traded the ticket with a friend. Her friend died on 9/11. She left the unused ticket beside her friend’s name on the memorial. 

Four volunteers huddled together in prayer under an umbrella. A break dancer performed to a song titled, “Where is the love?” I was offered several dozen bottles of water and drank two during the marking of this sketch. I even accepted a bag of Fritos. Everyone wants to do something to help. It seems rude to ignore the gestures. A grief counselor talked to anyone who would listen. It seems people often respond to grief by excessive eating and drinking. That might have something to do with constantly being offered comfort food and water.

As I got ready to go to the Grand Bohemian a Washington Post reporter pulled me a side for an interview. I explained that I was a Illustrative Reporter, but he seemed intent on asking questions. Anything I told him, I’ve probably already written here. I don’t know if my answers helped. Orlando is still in pain. I am still in pain. This coming week there will be 49 funerals. A Baptist Church group is planning to protest at some of these funerals spouting their bigotry and hate. Others will surround the funeral homes with love.  My hope is to sketch the love and turn my back on hate. As I crossed over to the Grand Bohemian, two protesters shouted to passing cars, “What do we want?” “A ban on Assault riffles!” “When do we want it?” “Yesterday!!!” I admired them.

I live on Gay Road. My upstairs neighbors have hung a rainbow flag from their balcony. The bright colors light up my view. The neighbors across the way followed. I’ve heard that my upstairs neighbors have been harassed by older tenants in the complex. That has to stop. We all need to help one another. Lets stop the divisiveness and hate.

The Pulse Shooting Candlelight Vigil.

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After finishing my first sketch at the Orlando Pulse Shooting Vigil, I wandered through the crowd. People were crying and hugging for support. I wanted to get a sketch closer to the stage. I made my way to the perimeter to get back stage.  Equality Florida set up a GoFundMe page to help victims of the Pulse shooting and it has reached over $3 million since it was opened on Sunday. There has been an incredible outpouring of support all across the country for families affected by this terrorist attack. This page for the victims of the Pulse shooting
is one of the biggest record breaking pages in the fundraising site’s
history.

I leaned up against a pylon and started sketching the stage. I wanted to catch some of the police presence. All the news trucks were lined up to my right down the street.
Pulse workers took the stage and vowed to come back, bigger than ever. “We will not be defeated! We are here to stay!”
The owners then led the audience in a chant of “Peace Love Pulse!”, “Peace Love Pulse!” We chanted louder until it became a unified shout. There was defiance and love as that chant filling downtown.

Most politicians who spoke seemed to be telling the crowd what they wanted to hear. It all sounded so shallow. The words were meant to instill civic pride and bring cheers. At Pulse two nights before, cell phones buzzed in shooting victim’s pockets from loved ones hoping they had survived. The coroner worked tirelessly to identify bodies. One politician who spoke from the heart was Patty Sheehan. She is the first openly gay woman to be elected as an Orlando City Commissioner. I’ve met her multiple times at various events, and she is always open and gregarious. She is also an artist who paints what she calls equality kittens. Often sales of these paintings go to help the LGBT community. Patty spoke about how she had been at ground zero for the past 48 hours. She had seen blood on the sidewalks and desperate mothers wanting to know if their sons were alive. Her voice broke as she described these scenes. She ran out of words, paused, and then said that she had also seen an incredible amount of love and an outpouring of support. “All of you are a shining example of that love.” Everyone shouted their approval and once again I got choked up and had to stop the sketch. She said, “Murderers will not destroy our spirit. I love you, Orlando.”

Candles were handed out to everyone in the crowd, one small flame became thousands. The Methodist Church across the street, tolled a bell for every life lost. The reverberating sound went on and on.  Every new strike became sadder. It rang 49 times. I cry just thinking about that sound. There was sadness and silence through the whole crowd. Vigils like this are happening all across the country. Orlando is not alone. But everyone has to live with their grief alone. Tears sting but don’t heal. Only time and positive change can do that. When Gov. Rick Scott was asked if gun control or restricting access to the assault rifle
used by shooter Omar Mateen would have helped, the Republican governor said that radical
Islam killed the victims of the nightclub, not guns. That attitude is why the Gunshine State is now internationally known as the world’s most violent tourist destination. As the vigil ended, former State Representative Joe Saunders reminded everyone that there are still people in hospitals and he asked us all to take care of one another. The streets of downtown Orlando were then flooded with mourners, many still carrying their candles as they made their way home to loved ones. I went home to write an article before midnight and then I lay on the floor listened to Tibetan healing bowls. I curled up, drained.

Other vigils in Orlando…

  • Baitul-Aafiyat Mosque: 9501 Satellite Blvd, Suite 103, 32837-8445. Sunday 8 p.m. prayer service.
  • Christ Church of Orlando: 2200 South Orange Ave. Open to first responders and workers for rest and prayer. Sunday, 6 p.m.
  • Ember, Orlando: 42 W. Central Blvd., Orlando, 32801. Restaurant/bar holding plans a candlelight vigil for 7 p.m. Sunday.
  • The Experience Christian Center: Prayer vigil at 6:30 p.m. to be
    held at Jones High School. Gov. Rick Scott and other Central Florida
    officials have been invited.
  • Parliament House, Sunday, 7 p.m.
  • St. Cloud City Hall, Sunday, 7:30 p.m. vigil planned near the
    flagpole. Deputy Mayor Jeff Rinehart will lead in a moment of silence
    and prayers.
  • Candlelight Vigil for Orlando, Lake Eola. Sunday, 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Pulse Shooting Vigil at The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

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You must be aware of the horror by now. On Saturday night around 2am, a gunman shot and killed 49 people and injured 53 more people at Pulse Night club in Orlando. This is the largest single gunman terrorist attack in the history of the United States. This morning, I woke up and the first thing I did was search the Internet for the names of victims. Though none of the names were familiar, I was in tears. Through out the day friends and family from around the country checked in to see if I was alright. I had sketched events at Pulse five times before, so I am familiar with the venue.

At dusk, there was a vigil at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. I wondered how tight security might be. At security check points my art supplies are often suspect. I was pleased that the were no fences or barricades. The crowd was huge and growing. I decided to stop when I saw this large sheet of construction paper for memorial wishes. People knelled down to write and draw messages of hope love and pride. Half way down the scroll, a young girl was writing a message. She was interrupted by a friend who spoke to her. I saw her face contort in pain and sorrow as he spoke. Clearly she had lost a loved one. She hugged her friend for longest time and cried on his shoulder. My heart broke.

On stage, names of the victims were being read out loud. the list went on forever. A woman to my left was sobbing and I had to stop sketching to clear my eyes. I was thankful when another announcer suggested we hug the person beside us. I hugged the man beside me. A quote from Martin Luther King rang true… “Darkness cannot drive out hate; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” I picked up a stray crayon and used it on my sketch. Can creativity really comfort or heal? People wandered the crowd handing out snacks and water. Like a funeral, food is thought to bring comfort.

The little town where tourist dreams come true was center stage for a nightmare. There is no pixie dust that can heal such a tragedy. I don’t understand love in the face of sorrow, hope in the face of pointless violence. Speakers called for strict gun control but legislation is never passed. The ever powerful social media sites don’t have an automatic message to let you know a friend has been shot dead.  We all face our certain demise. Yet that field was full of love and community support. Someone complimented my sketch and I choked up in response. Such kindness despite everything. The gravity and scope of what happened washed over me fully for the first time.

Frank to be Frank at Fringe.

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World-renowned! The Rat Pack’s 17th member! America’s most entertaining entertainer invites you to partake in his interactive live life retrospective. This riveting glimpse into a very special leading man is brought to you by Australian comic Emily June Newton and director Deanna Fleysher (aka Butt Kapinski). FRANK will grab you by your shoulders and make you feel nostalgia for a star you never knew!

As we entered the round patron’s room, Frank welcomed each audience member. Some were given mini flashlights. Frank is a woman dressed as a man, pretending to be a woman dressed like a man. Gender and the theatrical five o’clock shadow were all quite confusing. I had been advised to see this show thanks to one of the critics at the press preview.  Several bolts of fabric were at the front of the sage, and Frank showed them to the audience saying in a sing son voice, “beautiful fabrics!” The audience when coached sang along. Frank regaled us with his many successes and the audience was puddy in his hands.

He held a popularity contest with one member of audience and was shocked as the tide gradually turned in favor of the audience member. The theater went black an Frank hid back stage and tried to sneak out of the theater but intrepid audience members caught him in the beams of their flash lights. Frank shouted “No! Don’t shine that light on me!” Which meant, please keep me in the limelight.

Later that evening, after the show, we stood in line for Joe’s NYC Bar and there was a beautiful actress in front of us. Perhaps because I had been sketching, I recognized her as Frank. She said that our audience had been the best audience she had experienced at fringe. The whole “Beautiful fabrics” routine had been improvised and built upon because the audience was so willing to play along. There is a certain magic that happens when a performer meets just the right audience. I was glad to be a witness to some of that magic thanks to Frank.

A Drink with Country Joe at the Fringe Beer Tent.

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Joe Rosier had hopes of get in into the 2016 Fringe Festival. Unfortunately his name wasn’t picked in the Fringe Lottery. In the past, he had performed solo shows as a country doctor telling ghost tales, and Odysseys S. Grant relating Civil war stories. With his grizzled age and shaggy white beard, Joe was perfect for such historical roles.  Shortly after the lottery, one of Joe’s eyes closed up and minor age discomforts became serious health issues.

Chemo therapy resulted in hair loss and the need for a neck brace. That didn’t slow Joe down. He was at the years fringe and I got to spend some time with him at the beer tent. Joe posed for my Mennello Museum  Mural and I’ve sketched him a number of to the in costume. Producers, actors an directors greeted Joe like the celebrity he is. the last time I saw Joe was in December and I bumped in him while walking towards the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Joe was dressed as Santa Claus of course. As we walked past the Harp and Celt, a young woman seated outside shouted to Joe to come in. There was z private party and they needed Santa Clause. I regret not follow.’ Joe inside. I heard he was the life of the party, and all I young women sat in his lap to whisper their Christmas wishes.

Dino World offered yet another take on Jurassic Park at Fringe.

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The wacky love child of a certain Jurassic-themed-park, and a certain Chocolate-themed-factory, Dino World gives a one of a kind tour of the prehistoric past. When the dark secret behind these dinosaurs is revealed, it’s eat or be eaten in this original parody musical.

Although I was ready to root for the nerdy kid who loves dinosaurs, the show lost me with the coming of age song about needing to shave. It might have mad sense for the kid, but the same song uses sung by other more mature characters as well. I liked the sexy but unfeeling lawyer. Dinosaurs were portrayed by dancers dressed as if for burlesque. Although I’m very familiar with the source material the show left me confused. I steered several friends clear of the show i the large orange venue, so I felt, that I did my duty.