Tic Toc Thrift, Vintage and Vinyl Market

Posted on by Thor

True Serenity at 1100 Montana St. Mills 50, Orlando FL, is the site of a weekly pop-up market with merchandise, fine art, performers, outdoor film screenings, lots was also the of vintage items and a huge selection of vinyl records from Apartment E‘s massive collection. Stop by on Wednesdays, 3-10 p.m. through Novembers 25th.

I rather liked the quiet neighborhood of bungalows around True Serenity, and I was surprised to see several empty lots which added to the open green space.  As I approached I could hear the music, and I knew to simply follow it to the source. Frankie Messina who organized the Tic Toc Thrift Vintage and Vinyl Market, was also the DJ, for the evening, spinning vinyl records and projecting documentaries on a portable movie screen. There was a massage station in the corner near the cascading waterfall. Right next to True Serenity there is a grass covered empty lot, and next Wednesday Frankie plans to project the movies  over there so that bicyclists can just stop by and relax on the lawn and watch a movie. I got to meet True Serenity’s owner, Tara Chiavetta who was our hostess for the evening. If you haven It been to True Serenity, then to u are missing a hidden gem just off Mills Avenue.

Besides the records for sale inside, there were original T-shirts, and some art for sale in the back yard which had a meandering stone path. Overall the space had a rustic soothing as an vibe. True Serenity offers gentle yoga, Chakra healing workshops, energy readings, and Reiki Circles. I looked around inside, and the place is amazing. There is a fresh water fish tank in the front entry and cherry blossom murals covered several walls. The mural was illuminated by a black light which made the blossoms glow a magical iridescent pink. Ray Rodriguez, a local musician gave a pop-up performance on his saxophone. It is spontaneous acts of creativity and kindness that make this type of evening so magical.

As The event was winding down and the vendors started packing up, I got a chance to talk to Frankie and his Co. director Brian Barnett.  Frankie told me that he plans to have a UHaul truck set up at the upcoming Creative City Project in downtown Orlando on October 17th. Plans are still in flux, but he had to give the organizers a title for the installation. His first thought was a patriotic red, white and blue but the exhibit is about how Orlando has been documented over the years. So he blurted out read, write and blue. As he thought about it over night, blue didn’t make sense, so he revised the title to Read, Write and Drew. There will be a staggering number of performances and art installations at the Creative  City Project. La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil, Orlando Ballet, Central Florida Community
Arts Orchestra, Orlando City Soccer Club, a 1000 student marching band,
the Downtown Arts District, and dozens of other artists and performers
bring the streets of Downtown Orlando to life.

The Cloak and Blaster brings back board games.

Posted on by Thor

Justin Heidenreich told me about The Cloak and Blaster (875 Woodbury Rd #108, Orlando, FL), a new pub dedicated to geek culture and gaming. The reason for my trip to the Cloak and Blaster was to research it as the spot for an illustration I need to do for a game box. Latice is a new board game that was designed here in Orlando. A successful Kickstarter campaign means the game is about to go into production. At the very heart of The Cloak and  Blaster dwells an extensive
tabletop game library, which includes board, card, party games, and more
from both indie and mainstream publishers. They also provide dozens of
games funded solely through Kickstarter!

Years ago, over a particularly violent game of Munchkin, owners
Markus and Andrea discussed their love for gaming and craft beer. It
was Andrea’s dream to open a Tolkien-inspired restaurant, and Markus
always wanted to incorporate craft brewing into his career. Naturally,
the idea came about for a place that incorporated quality craft drinks,
ample gaming space, and a themed tavern atmosphere for the ultimate
geek-perience. How cool would it be to transport yourself to Middle
Earth for pints in steins?

The Cloak and Blaster provides the ultimate creative, safe space for
geeks of all walks of fandom to enjoy delicious tavern fare, quality
craft beverages, and great gaming with friends. Hey, you can even make
new ones! Forget the stress of cleaning your house for company or
deciding whose turn it is to host. We offer a one-stop shop for getting
together; your friendly neighborhood pub where you can geek out and game
on.

On the evening I visited the Cloak and Blaster, the next table had a  group of 50 somethings were playing a card game called Horrible People  that had them laughing the whole time. At the end of my table, a young couple was on a date, ranking horror movies and talking about Halloween Horror nights at Universal Studies. I was surprised that she rated Shawn of the Dead as one of her top 10 movies. This is a great spot to sit and sketch, because people eat dinner rather fast, but when they are having fun playing games, they tend to linger and enjoy each others company. I suspect there is a resurgence in people playing board games because it offers people a chance to look up from their phones and interact face to face.

Crawling on Earth Day

Posted on by Thor

Earth Day happened to fall on the same day as the World Wide Sketch Crawl. I organized the Orlando Sketch crawl to take place in Lake Eola Park so that we could sketch the Earth Day festivities. I had a tent space, so I made that the home base where all the artists could gather. The tent was right next to IBEX puppetry’s tent, so there was Q sketch opportunity right there.

About four artists showed up, and at lunch time, we all went to the food vendors who were set up around a huge Live Oak tree. A belly dancer performed, but I didn’t sketch since I was still eating. Gay Geiger did manage to get a sketch. After lunch I ran across this artist painting a light bulb shaped earth. There was also a woman helping with the painting, but she left before t could catch her. Jeannette McCree stopped to catch this sketch as well.

Researching Ideas, I found out that it is  a media and experience design company using the premise that
powerful stories create powerful experiences.Their vision is of an enriched,
diverse, and flourishing worldwide community connected through stories. IDEAS has announced that after 6 ½ years, it will be moving from its
current home in Downtown Orlando. No immediate timetable or future
location has been determined.

Over all, hosing the sketch crawl at the Earth Day Festival was an amazing experience. Everyone got some great sketches and it was fun meeting new artists.

Phantasmagoria VI “The Darkness Returns” to the Orlando Shakespere Theater.

Posted on by Thor

I went to sketch the final dress rehearsal of “The Darkness Returns” at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center
812 E Rollins St, Orlando, Florida. Having just returned from 

sold out performances in Orlando and
Atlanta with the touring show “Wicked Little Tales”, Phantasmagoria
Orlando/DiDonna Productions is presenting Phantasmagoria  VI
“The Darkness Returns” to celebrate the 2015 Halloween Season and its
sixth year in Central Florida!

The show will thunder on to the Mandell Stage with all new stories of terror! Live performers,
“Phantastical” dance, explosive stage combat, large scale puppetry,
aerial performance and haunting storytelling combine to create a
tapestry of macabre and whimsical horror!

The evocative troupe of storytellers, dancers, and chorus embarked on their newest journeys through the literary tales of
terror, as well as horrific folk stories, legends, and myths from around
the world. “For 100 years they have not been seen except in fleeting
glances, and now as we enter a new century the power and magic of the
stories return. . . with very dangerous consequences.”

I have had the rare opportunity to watch this show mature over time. This newest incarnation opens with stark black and white images of World War I battle scenes projected on the back wall. The horrors of the tales told are more deeply routed in the horrors of man’s inhumanity to man. The first tale involved a man’s obsessive desire to kill a cat. With the deed done, the cat hung stiff and lifeless from a tree, managing to stay completely still while the tree limbs danced in a breeze. A magician performed for the jaded cast of storytellers but even they were amazed by what seemed like a predictable trick that alluded reason. Their stories are themselves magical because the tales become tangibly alive and viscerally dangerous.

When the cast hits it’s stride, there is a certain whimsical delight as they re-tell the tales of horror. Each character has a back story which has developed over time, but the show holds up as being self contained. Members of the cast often mysteriously appear in the audience and you might be startled as they whisper in your ear. There was a new Russian inspired dance routine in which all the female cast held hands and then each twirled in succession until they formed a tight knit, cross armed line. The aerialists stretched and contorted themselves with a grace causing an awed silence in the theater. There is no better way to warm up to the horrors and chills of Halloween than to see Phantasmagoria “The Darkness Returns”.

PERFORMANCE DATES:
(All Performances begin at 8pm, with VIP show immediately following main stage show)
Oct 10 (Sat), Oct 11 (Sun)
Oct 16 (Fri), Oct 17 (Sat), Oct 18 (Sun) Oct 19 (Mon)
Oct 23 (Fri), Oct 24 (Sat), Oct 25 (Sun), Oct 26 (Mon)
Oct 30 (Fri), Oct 31 (Sat)

(SUGGESTED AGES: Phantasmagoria contains horror of the literary kind,
but is still frightening. Suggested ages are 8 and up with parental
guidance. With all respect, infants, babies and younger children may not
be admitted)

TICKETS:
Student/Senior/Military Admission – $15.00
Student/Senior/Military VIP Admission – $25.00
General admission – $25.00
General VIP Admission – $35.00

(VIP Admission includes Pick of Seating, VIP post show performance,
Take home Souvenir, Download of Halloween night story, Photo Op with
cast and glass of wine or soft drink)
Reserve (for will call cash only at door) 407-328-9005
Credit card orders visit www.OrlandoAtPlay.com

Weekend Top 6 Picks for October 10th and 11th.

Posted on by Thor

Saturday October 10, 2015

9am to 3 pm Free. Sanford Farmers Market. Sanford Florida at First and  Magnolia.

1 pm to 11 pm Free. 10th annual Winter Garden Music Fest in Historic Downtown Winter Garden. The free three-day outdoor and indoor music celebration held on Plant Street features over 30 musical groups and performers of various genres from Central Florida. Hours on Sunday are 1pm to 5 pm.

8pm to Zam  Free, but get a drink. “Return of the Dead” Art Show. The Falcon Bar and Gallery, 819 E Washington St, Orlando, FL. Art Show theme open to interpretation. FYI, Walking Dead season premiere will be the same weekend.

Sunday October 11, 2015 

11am to 1 pm  Donation based community YogART class: 7 Chakra series. Artegon Marketplace 5250 International Dr, Orlando, Florida. Every 2nd Sunday of the month YogART will be hosting FREE Color Therapy Yoga classes for the community at Artegon Marketplace (located in the community room across from section B6 – use movie theater entrance)

We are excited to bring you our “7 Chakra Series” that will focus each class on each individual chakra: breaking down it’s color, meaning, location and function. This particular class will revolve around our second major energy point known as “The Sacral Chakra”.

Color Therapy glasses will also be provided for those who wish to experience the effects of color therapy. Orange will be the primary focus for our Root Chakra but you may wear any color you want to work with.

This is an ALL LEVELS class which incorporates stretching, breathing exercises and light yoga poses geared around the Sacral Chakra.

We also have a color wheel on our site that explains the benefit of each color (glasses) Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. http://www.yogartinc.com/color-therapy-chart/

Please bring your own yoga mat and prepare to unwind.

Noon to 4:30 pm Free Family Day. The Mennello Museum of American Art, 900 East Princeton Street, Orlando, FL. The make-and-take craft table is open from noon-2:30 p.m., and docents are available to give mini-tours of the museum. Then it’s open house in the galleries until 4:30 p.m.

9pm to11pm Free. 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.

Pop Up Discos in Miami try Stayin Alive.

Posted on by Thor

Terry’s friend Elaine Pasekoff organized monthly Pop Up Discos in Miami. Her thought was that 50 somethings aren’t interested in the modern club scene, but they have fond memories of their disco days. Elaine had a birthday Disco party that was a blast, and she wanted to keep the party going. She used to work for the Miami Herald, so she called in favors to get ad space for her Pop Up Disco concept. During Art Basel, this disco had a fair attendance, but it was to far from the main arts scene to really pull in a huge crowd. The venue changes month to month and this one was in a small back room of a bar. A friend of Elaine’s was the DJ.

When the evening was over, Elaine confided that she is about to give up on the Pop Up Disco concept. It is a full time job to promote the event on social media and the newspaper. Attendance was never as high as she had hoped so the profits don’t justify all the hours she puts in to keep the concept alive.  A young crowd had been offered a discount on the cover charge since they livened up the dance floor. Unfortunately most 50 somethings are content to stay at home rather than kick up some dust on a disco dance floor.

Maxine’s for the Holidays.

Posted on by Thor

Maxine’s on Shine, 338 Shine Avenue Orlando FL, is an intimate restaurant where discerning locals go to taste fine wines and have a great meal. The owners, Maxine and Kirt Earhart are always there to meet and greet. Maxine shoots photos of regular customers and Kirt has a wonderful way of addressing everyone and making them feel at home. The restaurant recently won the title of the best neighborhood restaurant and the title is well deserved. If you ever want advice on a wine selection, then be sure to ask Kirt because he has a refined since of taste and he knows his wines.

Each week there are themed dining experiences. Every Tuesday is Maxines neighborhood perks which half off on bottles of wine worth $40 or more. Wednesdays are Maxine’s Girls Night out which provides happy hour all night long for the ladies. Thursday has Parlor Nights which focuses on guitar, baroque, flamenco, and or blues depending on the performer. It is a great date night out, On the second Thursday of every month,  Maxine’s takes part in Thornton Park’s Art and wine Walk . You can meet the artist whose work in hanging in the restaurant and you can sample wines from a featured winery. Friday nights the main stage comes alive with the best from Orlando’s live music scene. Satiation Saturday has a full rejuicication brunch from 10 am to 3 pm. Happy hour is all day long until A pm when college football hits the tube.  The evening then features live music. Sunday features a rejuicication brunch from 10 am to Up m and then there is Serendipity Sunday Supper Club which features weekly acoustic music hand picked by WPRK’s Jessica Pauli.

Keep in mind that reservations are highly recommended because this place fills up fast especially on weekends. I’ve had dinner at the bar several times and the food has always been great. This is the place in Orlando to see and be seen.

FAVO showcases local art, rain or shine.

Posted on by Thor

Faith Arts Village Orlando (FAVO),  221 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida, features 36 art studios open for public viewing, food trucks, live music, and children’s fun art projects. The family friendly event happens every first Friday. The former motel comes alive with art. It was a rainy day when I did this sketch of Will Benton‘s studio space on the second floor at FAVO. Friends visited sitting on his couch and will sold one of his pieces. will has been painting really large canvases that reach to the ceiling. One canvas featured large spiraling Ultramarine circles that matched a lampshade.

This sketch was done from outside Will’s studio looking in. Thankfully there was some cover from the rain but wind gusts sometimes caused some spray to settle on the page. A guitarist performed which offered a calming effect. I went to FAVO to see a show that featured artists paintings on sneakers titled, So Shoe Me. Organized by Deliz V. Berrios and Bethany Taylor Meyers the show was  incredibly fun, the room even had a central bench where you could sit down and try on the art to see if it fit. I felt it was too cramped in the small motel room for me to sit down to sketch,  I’d be blocking art. My solution was to be a voyeur on the outside looking in.

On Friday October 2nd Jack Void showed his ceramic work at FAVO. That is the great thing about this monthly showcase, there is always something new to see. Mark your Calendar, the next FAVO is on Friday November 6th from A pm to 9pm.

Emotions Dance heats up the holidays.

Posted on by Thor

I needed to pick up some art that I had donated to a 7 Deadly Sins performance. I arrange to to go to an Emotions Dance rehearsal to pick up the art and possibly sketch. Emotions Dance had moved to a new dance studio, (145 Wekiva Springs rd. Suite 145 in Longwood). A landmark was a Graffiti Junction which seems to be every where these days. Larissa Humiston the dance company’s founder greeted me and gave me the artwork. The room had dozens of folding chairs set up for a recital, so it was easy to find a place to sit and sketch.

A male and female dancer were performing a romantic duet. They went through the motions but weren’t generating enough heat. Larissa shouted, “You’re going to look like you are madly in love by the time I get done with you.” An under study followed the female dancers moves without dancing all out. Sketching dance rehearsals is always a challenge because I need to pick out one moment from an endless stream of graceful fluid dance. I’m never completely satisfied but that is what keeps me coming back.

Emotions
Dance offers a variety of classes and workshops for all levels. Adult
open contemporary classes are held every Tuesday night for only $10/ $8
professional rate. All classes are located at Turning Pointe-145 Wekiva
Springs Road Suite 145 in Longwood. 9-10:30pm. Each week we do a little
bit of everything, ballet barre warm up and technique work, across the
floor with jumps and turns and then a combination at the end of class in
either ballet, jazz, modern or contemporary. Join to get a full body
workout and technique class!

The OrlandoiX Welcome Party at Wall Street Plaza.

Posted on by Thor

OrlandoiX features five power-packed days (October 2 to 6) of dynamic keynotes, panels, exhibits, and entertainment that showcases leading advancements in entertainment technology, interactive media, and digital arts. Prepare to meet the largest brain trust of knowledge and connections you have ever reached in one week. No other event attracts this many technology-astute early adopters
from disparate, yet complementary, backgrounds. Attendees will include:
game developers, designers, producers, creative technologists,
animators, artists, programmers, tech enthusiasts, national media,
venture investors, and digital entrepreneurs.

The opening night welcome party was held downtown at Wall Street Plaza. Since this is a tech centric event, [ decided to take my new tablet out on location. I just started using a Cintig Companion 2 and I’ve put free trials of Photoshop, Sketchbook Pro, and SAI. Since Windows 10 is also a free download, I decided to get that operating system up and running since I find Windows 8 to be quite confusing. I went inside the barricaded party area and got a wrist band covered in bats. I started sketching an inflatable IZEA sign and the stage using SAI, but then the program froze up and closed, giving me a cryptic message. “Unprotected exception, application has terminated by unprotected exception.” WTF! I tried opening the programs but kept getting the same warning. Finally [ decided to switch over to Sketchbook Pro which is what I used to do this sketch. Since I got crowded inside the barricades, I decided to sketch from outside the enclosure to avoid sketching a sea of butts.

As I worked on this sketch I got a low battery warning. I saved and kept sketching in a panic. Three disheveled, pleasantly drunk people looked over my shoulder as I raced against the battery. “That is dope! I always thought technology sucked but that is amazing, It’s just like a pencil on paper.” Another couple of drunk guys stood in front of me saying something about my sister. I ignored them until they got bored and left. It threatened to rain and stage hands rushed to set up a tent over the DJ to protect the equipment. I had the same concern, but the faint mist never became rain.  Then the screen went black. Well, I guess the sketch is done.  I was so annoyed. I should have brought a sheet of paper and a pencil!  I had spent most of my time fighting software problems. Back at home I worked until 2 am to try and get SAI to open up. After going into a misc.ini file and changing a 0 to a 1, it finally started to work. Although technology was more of a hindrance than a help, it is still a mountain that I need to climb.