St. Louis Arch

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Chief Curator Pam Schwartz and her team from the Orange County Regional History Center went to St. Louis to collect awards their institution had garnered. While they were in the museum conference, I wandered the city of St. Louis for a day-long sketch crawl. My first stop was to sketch the Gateway Arch.

The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot monument, clad in stainless steel. It is the world’s tallest arch, the tallest
man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere, and Missouri’s tallest
accessible building. The arch honors the Louisiana Purchase and Saint Louis in it’s role in the westward expansion of the United States. It is considered by many to be the Gateway to the West. The arch has just undergone a 380 million dollar renovation making it and the park more accessible. As I sketched, the park next to me was fenced off and being re-landscaped.

The Old St. Louis County Courthouse (11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102) was built as a combination federal and state courthouse in St. Louis, Missouri. It was Missouri’s tallest habitable building from 1864 to 1894, and is now part of the Gateway Arch National Park and operated by the National Park Service for historical exhibits and events.

In 1872 Virginia Minor attempted to vote in a St. Louis election and was arrested. Her trials, including the deliberations before the Missouri Supreme Court, were held in this building. The United States Supreme Court in Minor v. Happersett (1875) upheld the male-only voting rules, as the Constitution did not address voting rules, which were set by the states. The Minor v. Happersett ruling was based on an interpretation of the Privileges or Immunities Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Supreme Court readily accepted that Minor was a citizen of the
United States, but it held that the constitutionally protected
privileges of citizenship did not include the right to vote.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for January 5 and 6, 2019

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Saturday January 5, 2019

8 am 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.

 8pm to 10pm Free. Shuffleboard at Orlando’s Beardall Courts. 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. Free fun!

10:30pm to Midnight Get a drink and or food. Son Flamenco. Ceviche Tapas Orlando, 125 W Church St, Orlando, FL.  Hot blooded Flamenco dancers with acoustic guitar accompaniment.

Sunday January 6, 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.

Noon to 1pm Free. Yoga. Lake Eola Park near the Red Gazebo. Bring your own mat.

6:30pm to 8:00pm $10-$20 suggested donation. Please also bring food or wine to share. Holly Cordero’s Steamin’ Quartet. Timucua White House 2000 South Summerlin Orlando, FL 32806
.

The Steamin’ Trio is made up of players
from the Central Florida area with a sense of New York Flair. The
Steamin Trio plays tunes from jazz standards to Brazilian to Funk to
arrangements of pop tunes in a Jazz fashion. These guys even perform
holiday music! They deliver wonderful jazz entertainment with amazing
solos and wonderful audience engagement. Home of the original Jazz
Drinking Game! First 20 to reserve a ticket also get a free CD!

Holly Cordero, bassMike Harris, saxJoe Barone, pianoKen Shadrake, drums

JohnnyMag Sax at the garlic

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I caught a performance by Johnny Magnuson on Sax at The Garlic (556 E 3rd Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169). I went with one of my downtown apartment mates. She is tasked with selling wine to restaurants so the trip was two pronged. She knows Johnny so we sat at the end of the bar to listen in and sketch. He used an iPad on a music stand to keep his music in order. A salad bowl was used to collect dollar bills. We arrived rather late and the bowl was already full.

After the performance we drove over to Johnny’s house. He has a room mate in the basement and plenty of room. We all sat around on the back porch and talked for a while. Johnny has  over 5000 friend on Facebook, he must be a very popular sax player.

The Garlic is a very visually appealing place to sketch. You can get lost in all the rooms decorated in a rustic French Provincial style with plenty of raw garlic hanging from the rafters. There is a candle display that has all the melted wax from years and years of use making it look like a huge molten volcano. I consider the place well worth a visit. Of course New Smyrna Beach is a bit of a drive if you live in Orlando so consider making a beach day of it and stop into the Garlic before driving back home.

Buddha’s Birthday Celebration

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May 7th was the Worldwide Celebration of the Buddha’s birthday. The  day celebrated the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, founder of the religion and Buddha himself. In China, Buddhists celebrate this day at temples by literally bathing the Buddha, reciting sutras and lighting incense.

 The Guang Ming Temple, (6555 Hoffner Ave Orlando, FL 32822), had a day long celebration. As soon as I arrived I sat down to capture this group of drummers in front of the temple. Behind me people were crowded under the food tents and before I left I made sure to sample the food available. The festival began with a beautiful ceremony, and was followed by the bathing of the Buddha’s and a large food festival.

A pristine Buddha sat next to the drummers looking out at the crowd. With his many drums the energy in the crowd grew. The Orlando Taiko Dojo demonstrated the traditional art of Japanese drums known as “Taiko”. Taiko drums were used in battlefields and have been used in religious ceremonies and festivals for over 2000 years in Japan.

The troupe’s dynamic style emphasizes speed, fluidity and
power that are combined with their choreographed motions to create a
performance rich in sight and sound. I do believe I have sketched this Dojo group before at Dragon boat races, and I love the energy.

Orlando Sun Blockers vs Savannah Hostess City Hellions

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The second match of the Orlando Roller Derby Double
Header was just as exciting as the first match if not more so. The Orange County
Parks and Recreation Center
(Barnett Park 4801 W Colonial Dr,
Orlando, Florida
32808) had crowded
bleachers and standing room around the edges of the court. In front of the
bleachers a mascot was dressed in a sun burst costume dancing for the crowd.
The announcers were at a folding table under the score board.

Roller Derby takes some time to get used to how
scoring works. A single skater has a star on her helmet and she is charged with
breaking away from the two team pack and lapping them if possible. A referee wold follow her while pointing to make it easier to keep track of the score. Her
supporting team blocks and shoves the opposing team in an effort to help her
roll by.

For some reason the ending moments of any
match are the most exciting. As the match nears a close, the two teams ramp up
their energy and this is when women really start knocking each other over.

Double Header! Orlando Roller Derby vs. Savannah Derby Devils

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I have become addicted to sketching Roller Derby. It is a thrill to sketch women competing all out with no holds barred. This double header was held at Barnett Park (4801 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida 32808), the Orange County Parks and Recreation Center.

 Roller derby began in the early 1900s as a form of banked track racing. It then morphed into Transcontinental Roller Derby where two teams of women skater would travel 3000 miles around the oval track. Briefly the sport waned during WWII but then returned with a vengeance and was televised through the 1970s. in 2006, the Women’s Flat track Derby Association was formed and Contemporary roller derby was born. Orlando Roller Derby has been around since 2009. There are 65 active skaters and 12 referees.

There were two matches in this double header. I will share a sketch from the second match tomorrow.
Game 1 – Orlando Ozone Slayers vs Savannah Derby Devils

Game 2 – Orlando Sun Blockers vs Savannah Hostess City Hellions 

Orlando was in the lead 90 to 52 when I sketched the score board, but
the action heated up at the end with Savannah catching up. Ultimately
Orlando was victorious.

Doors opened at 3:45pm, and the first whistle was at 4:00pm.
There was also a 50/50 raffle. The money collected benefited High School High Tech, a program that exposes children with disabilities to careers in the STEM fields.

If you are interested in joining roller derby in Orlando, stop on out to the 2019 Recruitment Info Session at Semoran Skateway (2670 Cassel Creek Blvd, Casselberry, Florida 32707). They will be providing information about how to get involved with Orlando Roller Derby in 2019! If
you’ve ever dreamed of being a derby girl, referee, or are interested
in volunteering for one of the fastest growing, exciting, and fun sports
in the world – please come!  NO SKATING EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!

Find out why so many people say “Derby saved my life”. The ‘fresh meat’ program will teach you everything you need to know about roller skating and playing the sport of roller derby!

Leu Gardens Gallery

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I decided to participate in a one night art
exhibit at Harry P. Leu Gardens (320 Ferncreek Avenue Orlando
Fl). I framed a sketch of a Rainbow illuminated dinosaur that I did at the Orlando Science Center.
I sketched the entry outside the gallery as artists checked their work in. The
evening had some complimentary food and drink, so that made it a nice social
hour. We all had to take our work back home when things wrapped up.

Many of the paintings were by students. Of
course I am a student of life as well, and I want to learn something new every
day. Each painting in the show had a small box where guest’s cold vote for
their favorite piece. I joked that it would be easy to stuff those ballot
boxes. The person I was there with was upset and appalled at the suggestion,
but I still think it is the American way.

BASE Orlando – Masquerade Body Paint Art Show

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The Masquerade Body Paint Art Show run by Mandi Ilene Schiff, was at DRIP (8747 International Drive Suite 102 (Behind Denny’s and Senor Frogs), Orlando, Florida.) Unfortunately DRIP on has closed down. It used to be a spot to see some of Orlando’s most edgy art.

BASE Body Art Showcase and Exhibit is one of the few places in world where guests can witness a body painting event of this magnitude. Each body art showcase is centered on a theme and features over a dozen professional body painter’s masterpieces. Artists and models come together to create a truly one-of-a-kind piece of art that only exists for the fleeting moments for that one evening.

 I focused my attention on Nix Herrera who is an amazingly talented body painter that I have sketched at work before. Once all the models were painted, there was a runway show to showcase all the creations. Nix’s mom was curious about my work in progress. Clearly she is supportive of her son’s colorful career.

Afterwards, the only remember the creation is in the photography taken, that can never fully bring back view of the 360 degree, living, breathing canvas. My sketch is just another hint at the art created that night.

Weekend Top 6 Picks December 29 and 30, 2018

Posted on by Thor

Saturday December 29, 2018

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.

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

10:30am to 12:30pm Free but get a drink and or bite. Son Flamenco. Ceviche Tapas Orlando, 125 W Church St, Orlando, FL.

Sunday December 30, 2018

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.

Noon to 3pm Donation based. Music at the Casa. Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, 656 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Members of the public are invited to visit our historic home museum, listen to live music and take a tour
of our historic home museum and the James Gamble Rogers II Studio by
trained docents.

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.

Foxtail Coffee

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I
sketched at Foxtail Coffee (1282
N Orange Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789)
as part of my series of Orlando’s
best cafes. I was working on a book for a London Publisher. Unfortunately that
book wasn’t pushed though to publication. I did a series of sketches for
several spreads in the book for the book pitch. Unfortunately it want picked up
at the London
book fair.

I like
the relaxed ambiance at Foxtail. People worked away on their computers and cell
phones as they sipped their coffee. A separate glass enclosed corner room is
where the coffee beans are ground. Shelves of bagged beans lined the shelves
and a huge old grinder was ready at a moments notice.

I met
the daughter of a friend of mine. It turns out she is a fashion blogger, though
I think the fashion photos are posted on Instagram. I am not sure how all that
works. She encouraged me to get involved on Instagram and the next week I was
up and running. Apparently this is the best business card in this digital age.

Foxtail
Coffee Company was founded in December of 2016 with a mission to provide high
quality coffee and intuitive work space for local communities in Winter Park and Orlando.
Foxtail Coffee Company is dedicated to responsibly sourcing and roasting some
of the finest coffee from around the world.