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…

Interview at Maxine’s

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JB Webb and the Reverend produce a podcast about the Orlando Arts and Culture scene called The JB Rev Show. I recently did some art work for this show which depicted this dynamic duo as if on the cover of a comic book. It was fun working with JB to make that happen.

I was called in to Maxine’s on Shine for an interview on the show. The production was staged in the red room in the back corner of the restaurant. Before the place became the restaurant it is today this room was used to stage weddings. Now it’s walls are blood red and it has plenty of romantic and erotic art.

The JB REV Show is quirky and fast paced. I put on the headphones and joined in for the ride and it was over before I knew what hit me. Honestly I am not sure if I got a word into the mix. I was so mesmerized by the quirky hosts. I then settled in to sketch the production as they interviewed their next guest, Tony Mauss who was the husband of Billy Maines.

My life is measured by the pages in my sketchbooks. Just 15 pages prior to this sketch, I had sketched Billy Maines as he talked about his experiences after the Pulse Nightclub Massacre. Shortly after doing that sketch I found out that Billy had been let go from Watermark where he was the editor and chief, and shortly after, he died on Friday, July 21, 2017 at the age of 45. It was a real shock since he seemed in good health the day we spoke with him. He did joke about a persistent cough.

In a statement to the Orlando Weekly, Tony said, “My husband, Billy Manes, passed away peacefully on Friday afternoon
surrounded by his family of friends. He had been ill for a couple of
weeks with what turned out to be pneumonia, and by the time we sought
medical attention, it was too far advanced. He died due to complications
of his condition leading to organ failure.”

Mauss continued, “Billy Manes was a walking fucking miracle, a man who
fought ferociously to create a world where justice, equality and respect
were the cornerstones of his community. He loved Orlando. He knew what
was possible here in this sprawling mass of ex-pats, misfits,
introverts, seekers, party people, bookworms, performers, makers,
artists and friends. His driving force was love. He loved you, Orlando,
and he knew of your love for him. He fed off it; it sustained him. He
would have fought proudly for each and every one of you forever.
Unfortunately, his body had other plans.

“So … grieve, Orlando, grieve, but don’t forget to laugh, create joy, and love each other wildly. That would honor him.”

Though the JB Rev Show makes a point of being irreverent, they toned down the jokes a notch to pay tribute to a man who had spent his life reporting about local politics in the Orlando Weekly and Watermark, making the seemingly boring inner workings of local government entertaining and relevant.

#txtshow returns to Orlando after 10 years.

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I began this daily sketch blog back in 2009. It was on March 3rd of 2009 that I posted a sketch of Brian Feldman‘s performance of #txtshow at the Jack Kerouac House. The room was crowded back then and I squeezed into a corner of the room to catch the crowd as they looked at their smart phone screens in the dark room. Back then not many people used Twitter or txt, so they had to be taught how to get started.

#txtshow is one of Brian Feldman’s most famous performances and the longest running independent production in D.C. theater history – returns to the venue it originated, the Kerouac House (1418 Clouser Ave, Orlando, Florida 32804) exactly 10 years to the day.

For this completely interactive performance, all audience members keep their phones “on” – as a mysterious character named txt (pronounced ‘text’) recites anonymous, real-time tweets written by YOU, live and in-person.

Audience members are instructed to bring their smart phones, ideally fully-charged, and actively use them during the show’s 45 minute duration. It is not necessary to have a Twitter account in order to participate, as everyone in attendance is randomly assigned a protected and anonymous account for their use.

Unfortunately for the first  performance in Orlando there wasn’t much of a crowd. Just four of us sat in the seats set up in the Kerouac House living room. It was an absolutely gorgeous day outside, so perhaps most people were out at the beaches or enjoying outdoor activities with their families.

Tisse Malon was there with her sister offering samples of Frutisse – a new, fruit tea infusion beverage made in Orlando with love and without preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, or coloring. Pam Schwartz had joined me to the show so that meant there were just three people sending txts on their phones since my hands were busy sketching. Even with so few authors, the show as hilarious. A joke about pirates needed to be read twice for the proper delivery. Someone kept sharing animal insights that were also quite humorous. With so few authors, I kind of knew when Pam had written a txt. She was laughing so loud she couldn’t catch her breath and she had to wipe the tears from her eyes. It was a fun afternoon. Brian didn’t hold the even in the evening since the Oscars were going on that night.

There are three more performances of #txtshow remaining.

#txtshow costs  $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

• Monday, February 25 at 7:00 PM

• Tuesday, February 26 at 7:00 PM (10th Anniversary date)

• Wednesday, February 27 at 7:00 PM

• Thursday, February 28 at 7:00 PM

#txtshow is just one of 5 performances in various venues that Brain is bringing back to Orlando to celebrate 15 years of his performance art.

Wawa® Shabbawa will be on Friday, March 1, 2019 at 7:00 PM at:

Wawa Store #5145

11750 University Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32817Cost: Free Admission

All guests must RSVP on OneTable:

https://dinners.onetable.org/events/78972835-ebe8-4027-8baf-c03179dc190e

“Wawa® Shabbawa” – Brian Feldman’s newest hit dinner project – returns to Central Florida, right down the road from the second largest Jewish collegiate population outside of the State of Israel!

Knives Out will be on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at 2:00 PM SHARP at:

The Glass Knife

276 Orlando Ave.

Winter Park, FL 32789

Cost: Free to attend

The public is invited to join Brian and the critics at their table, or at an adjoining patio table, and order anything off the menu of The Glass Knife (food or drink), at their expense.

Knives Out features 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.

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 & 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.  

Jack Fields Artist Talk

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Jack Fields gave an artist talk at The Maitland Art Center, (231 W Packwood Ave, Maitland, FL 32751). I first sketched Jack when he was a puppeteer at a Pinocchio’s Marionette Theater up in the Altamonte mall. A grant from United Arts helped Jack produce a short puppetry film. Performance artist Brian Feldman made a short cameo appearance in that film.

One of Jack’s signature puppets is names Godrick. Godrick is a life sized puppet that jack slips inside. He is bulbous  with black drapery that hides any sign of feet. His large head head isn’t on the shoulders but instead juts out of the characters hips area. A hat sits where his head used to be. His articulated mouth is the one element that animates on the huge puppet. I have sketched Godrick in action at several festivals and the kids love him. There is something about his simple bell shapes form that must appeal top them.

On the table were several glittery heads from the film Happy Memories. I can’t say I understand what the film was about, but it was certainly visually stimulating. My happiest memory was seeing Brain Feldman get zapped by mystical light beams and become a cupcake headed guru.

Food Share

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The Saint George  Orthodox Church on Lake Eola (24 N Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL 32801) holds a a weekly food share in the parking lot behind the church.

I had gone to the Library to sketch a game night event but there was no one there. Instead I sketched the food share from the library window. Behind me was a rainbow of books. It was a rainy day and the clouds loomed steel grey on the horizon.

 Chairs were set up in the parking lot for people coming for food. There was music and a sermon. Hunger seems to be a motivator for saving souls.

The Straight Street program, gives anyone who has interest an opportunity to “get in where you fit in”. They currently host food shares on Tuesdays at 5:30pm and every Sunday at 4pm. The
Tuesday food share takes place in downtown Orlando at the St. George
Orthodox Church parking lot.  The Sunday
event is a Pop Up Food Share that requires a bit more participation from
volunteers.

Food shares were shut down by a city ordinance in Lake Eola Park in 2006. Volunteers from Food Not Bombs were arrested for feeding the 50 to 100 people in the park.  In April of 2011, the Court of Appeals ruled in a unanimous decision to uphold the city limit of twice-yearly food-sharings in public parks. After the decision, food-sharing groups can only serve meals in the
specified parks twice a year. Parties caught without a permit could be
convicted of violating the city ordinance. Individuals or groups could
be fined $500 or spend two months in jail if they continued to
distribute weekly meals.

The St. George
Orthodox Church food shares have stayed strong despite the city ordinance. The Styrofoam food containers tend to be left all over the place in Heritage Square park in front of the Orange County Regional History Center. The History Center and the Library have to do much of the clean up work.

Weekend Top 6 picks for February 23 and 24, 2019

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Saturday February 23, 2019

8am to 1pm Free. Parramore Farmers Market. The east side of the Orlando City Stadium, across from City View. Purchase quality, fresh and healthy food grown in your own
neighborhood by local farmers, including Fleet Farming, Growing Orlando,
and other community growers.

10am to 4pm Free. Sanford Farmers Market. First and Magnolia Sanford Fl. 

7pm to 11pm Free. Ybor City Art Walk. 7th Ave Ybor Tampa, Florida 33605.

Featuring a number of arts organizations and artsy businesses, be sure to R.S.V.P. here to get the official map for the walk!

This event will begin at 7pm and end at 11pm (or maybe there will be an after party!)

Here are the participating locations:

The Bricks of Ybor
Bloodline Tattoo
Ybor Arts Colony
Hot Wax
Wandering Eye Art Gallery
Dysfunctional Grace
Moon Over Havana Arts Gallery
Live Arts Labs

Sunday February 24, 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. 

3pm to 5pm $20 Brian Feldman Performance #txtshow. Kerouac House 1418 Clouser Ave, Orlando, FL 32804.

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 & laugh, or give it a try yourself.

Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens

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On a road trip with John Naughton to South Carolina, we were all looking for something to do on a Sunday. We decided to visit Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens (1235 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464). The historic “Avenue of Oaks” leads up to to the house with southern live oaks on either side, originally planted in 1743. In front of the plantation was a butterfly garden. One butterfly rested on Pam’s back for like an hour. While
everyone else toured the inside of the plantation, I sketched outside.
It was a gorgeous day and I sat on a bench under the shade of a large
live oak.

In the
early 18th century, cotton plantations were enormously profitable, and
this stunningly beautiful estate was a giant of Charleston’s low country
cotton farming. Boone Hall is one of the oldest plantations. Instead of
cotton, they now produce peaches, strawberries, tomatoes and pumpkins.
During certain seasons guests are allowed to pick their own food. Boone
Hall has been
featured in several movies. 

The plantation includes a large Colonial Revival
plantation house (completed in 1936) that replaced the lost original
house on the site, a number of slave cabins running parallel with the oak alley which date back to 1790-1810. It was common for owners to display
their slave cabins in the front of the property as a sign of wealth.
Built of brick, the one-story structures are 12 feet by 30 feet with
gabled roofs, have either plank or dirt floors and a simple fireplace
with a brick hearth and no mantle at the rear of each house. The cabins
were in use well into the 20th century, as they were occupied by sharecroppers through the 1940s. Today they display information on slave life. They looked very uncomfortable to live in with dirt floors.

There was an outdoor presentation on the Gullah culture. The Gullah are African Americans who live in the Low Country region of the U.S. states of Georgia and South Carolina, in both the coastal plain and the Sea Islands. They developed a creole language, the Gullah language, and a culture rich in African influences that makes them distinctive among African Americans.We learned about the culture through stories and song.

Emily’s Tattoo

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Emily Arnold used to be the assistant curator at the Orange County Regional History Center. She decided to get a tattoo on her right bicep of a gorgeous bird. Since she is an artist she was very discerning about who should create the tattoo. She decided that Steve Roberts of The East Tattoos was the man for the job. One of Steve’s major influences is the work of John James Audubon which made him the perfect artist for the job. Her boyfriend who also worked at the History Center kept her company through the long agonizing process.

The East is an appointment-only private tattoo studio located just north of Downtown Orlando in Ivanhoe Village. Overlooking beautiful Lake Ivanhoe, The East offers a completely personalized experience in a relaxed and comfortable space. Each of the artists work independently; scheduling our own appointments, setting our own prices and corresponding with our own clients.

Two of the tattoo artists from The East stopped by as I was working on a mural on Ivanhoe Park  Brewing. They asked how I planned to do the line work on the mural, and I explained that I was debating about using Krink markers or acrylic paint applied with a brush. One of the artists did graffiti and he said the Krink markers fade quickly over time. He had first hand experience from work he had done in the past. Because of that conversation I abandoned the Krink brand and have been doing the line work with a brush. 

Since getting the tattoo, Emily and her boyfriend both left Orlando. The arts in Orlando left their mark.