Trash 2 Trends: An Evening of Recycled Fashion.

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The third annual Trash 2 Trends held at Sea World‘s Ports of Call, is a fundraiser which  brings
the fashion and art of local artists together with the environmental
community to promote sustainability in an innovative way. The show
features local designers who create runway looks from items headed to
the landfill. Money raised went to Keep Orlando Beautiful, whose mission is to engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community  environment through litter prevention, waste reduction and recycling and beautification  efforts.

There were complimentary appetizers during the cocktail hour, and a dessert
and coffee bar was be provided during intermission for all guests. This is always a fun evening with some outlandish and quite beautiful designs created. Judges included City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, Maxine Earhart, Flora Maria Garcia and designer Nailuj Villarroel.

The most Avant Guard design was in black, white and silver with very pointy over the top sun glasses, by designer Brittany Mikell. The most wearable award went to Nancy Alanso for an elegant white gown. The best use of material, by Gail Warner had a skirt made from hundreds of soda 6 pack holders. The Top Design award went to Christina Woodman for a black blouse and white skirt combination that was offset with a sharp 45 degree angle at the waist.  The audience choice went to Helaine Schneider for a poofy Van Gogh starry night themed dress.

The next Trash 2 Trends:

Date: Saturday, February 3, 2018

Location: SeaWorld’s Ports of Call, 7007 Seaworld Drive, Orlando, Fl 32821

Time: 7 – 10 p.m.

Attire: Cocktail

Story Club at the Abbey.

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I went to The Abbey, (100 S Eola Dr #100, Orlando, FL 32801) to sketch Orlando Story Club which is an evening of stories based on the theme of “Can You Keep A Secret?” At this unique story telling series everyone can share their stories. Participants drop their names in a hat. The host pulls names from the hat to see who tells their story next. Three judges are picked from the audience. The only requirement to be a judge is that the person is new to Story Club.  The judges award prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.  A guest story teller headlines every show with its own theme, food, drinks and laughter are available in abundance.

Orlando Story Club was founded by storyteller and film maker Robin
Cowie (“The Blair Witch Project”).  After participating in the national
storytelling series The Moth, Central Florida based Cowie sought out to
produce the same event here and so Orlando Story Club was born.

 The most memorable story for me was told by Banks Helfrich, a local filmmaker. He told a story about meeting a woman and really connecting with her. He described the warmth of her hugs when they parted. Each encounter seemed more intimate. One day she explained that she needed to tell him something. It turned out that she had a long term boyfriend. This bit of news came as a complete shock.

The May charity partner was Victim Service Center of Central Florida.  Since 1999, the Victim Service of Central Florida has been aiding victims of sexual assault, violent crime and traumatic circumstances.  The center is designed to provide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week support to victims.  They are the only certified rape crisis center for both Orange and Osceola County.  Their vision is to continue to transform victims’ lives and stop violence in the community.  Through their vision and mission, the Victim Service Center of Central Florida strives to keep assisting victims of these circumstances and provide a safe outlet for them to seek counseling and support.

Orlando Story Club will continue on the first Wednesday of every other
month this year (November 1, 2017 and “Best Of” December
13, 2017).

Parkin’ Lot Pickin’ behind Twistee Treat.

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Each Friday for about the past 27 years,weather permitting Blue Grass musicians gather in the parking lot on the corner of Colonial Drive ad Maguire in Ocoee Florida for a Blue Grass jam. The parking lot lamp acts as a spotlight for this group of tailgate musicians. The one female musician grew up performing in this lot since her father started the tradition. This is a true old Florida past time. Banjos, fiddles, guitars, mandolins and upright basses all find their way to this gathering each week. Jack and Judy Lewis founded this jam session 22 years ago, making it Florida’s longest running Blue Grass jam.

When the sessions first started out, Jack Lewis says, Moonlite Express
acted as the core of the group, never missing a Friday night.The jam session has gained a reputation. It’s received so much attention that people
have traveled from different states, and even other countries, to pick
along with the Moonlite Express and the crew of regulars. Lewis doesn’t
operate a website, and the jam isn’t advertised, so people have to find
out about it through word of mouth. This group refuses to go electric, they play all
acoustic instruments. To amplify, they might play into a microphone.

The Blue Grass Jam is an inspiring sketch and great date night any time of the year. The most obvious landmark is the Twistee Treat on Maguire on the corner of Colonial Drive. Order some soft serve ice cream and then listen for the Blue Grass music. You will literally find the group on the far end of the parking lot. I got to share this session with Pam Schwartz and we met several musicians since they were interested in seeing what I was sketching.

Broadway Brunch at Hamburger Mary’s

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I joined the staff of the Orange County Regional History Center when they went as a group to Hamburger Mary’s for Broadway Brunch. Mimosas flowed and then we ordered some very juicy burgers and cheese fries. The Minx, and Nicky Monet, acted as the hosts who kept the show lively. The Broadway Brunch Bunch dancers and some stellar singers show up to this weekly showcase to belt out their favorite show tunes. No two shows are alike. Production numbers were from Mary Poppins, Hairspray, Grease, Les Miserables, and so much more.

I had seen Dream Girls on Broadway when the show opened so I couldn’t resist singing along to those tunes. One act consisted of a singer slowly coming out of what might have been a sleeping bag or sheet w-Honda around her. She spread her arms and it became clear that she was a butterfly. It was an amazing act and I just sat back and enjoyed instead of stressing about trying to catch it all. Acts often circulated around the room collecting tips and singing up close and personal. One singer pressed between two men on the History Center staff and pressed them to her chest.

If you haven’t been to the Sunday Broadway Brunch, you need to go. The hosts stressed that the fun shared here needs to flow out into the world so that hate has no reason to flourish. In Orlando we lost 49 joyous souls. By singing laughing and dancing, we honor their memory.

Guests will each pay a $2.99 entertainment fee and be required to
purchase an entree or two alcoholic beverages.  Call 321-319-0600 to
grab your seat!

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Weekend Top 6 Picks for September 16th and 17th.

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Saturday September 16, 2017

11 am to 12:30 pm Free. Life Screenings – One Minute Film Festival. Orange County Library System (FL) 101 E Central Blvd, Orlando, Florida 32801. Life Screenings in association with the Orange County Main Public
Library look “Outside the Lines” at what happens when a film festival
and library mash-up. The purpose is to create a library beyond a library
and a film festival beyond a festival.

Preceded by donuts and coffee, one minute films will screen back to
back; post exhibit, filmmakers will be on hand to participate in a
lively talk back.

Films are chosen on the basis that they show a world we love to live in.

Create and send us your one minute stories.

Free donuts and coffee supplied by the library.

1 pm to Midnight Free but beers cost. 11th Annual Oktoberfest Celebration!  Orlando Brewing 1301 Atlanta Ave, Orlando, Florida 32806. Our 11th annual celebration of German food, music, games and beer is
drawing near!

1PM: Tapping of our organic Oktoberfest märzen lager

2PM: Traditional German food available from Backhaus Orlando food truck

5PM-9PM: Live music & games with Dan Witucki and the Heimatland
Musikanten [Epcot’s German Band]

– Best Dressed of Oktoberfest Contest (5PM)

– Women’s Stein Holding Competition (5:30PM)

– Most Revered Beard [& Mr. Moustache] Competition (6PM)

– Men’s Stein Holding Competition (6:45PM)

This a dog & family-friendly event that will take place rain or
shine

We encourage patrons to Uber or Lyft to this event, so if you show us
your ride receipt, you’ll receive a happy hour wristband for $1 off all
drafts all day

Oktoberfest Mug Preorders: Preorder your 20 oz. 2017 Oktoberfest mug today and get two FREE fills
of our organic Oktoberfest beer. Mug also gets you Oktoberfest fills for
pint price for the 3 weeks of our 11th Annual Oktoberfest Celebration!

4 pm to 8 pm 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!

Sunday September 17, 2017

Noon to 3 PM. Donation based. Music at the Casa. Alborea Dances Flamenco. Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, 656 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789.

 2 pm to 4 pm Free. Ukulaliens Ukelele Jam. 

Deadly Sins Brewing 750 Jackson Ave.Winter Park FL. All-ukelele open jam.

4 PM to 10:30 PM $15 Southern Fried Sunday’s Southern Belle Ball.  Will’s Pub 1042 N Mills Ave, Orlando, Florida 32803. Will’s Pub and Southern Fried Sunday: Southern Belle Ball! SFS is
celebrating fall and the twenty-second anniversary of Will’s Pub by
harvesting 11 of the cream of the crop female musicians to play a
festival style afternoon/evening, inside/outside festival event at
Will’s Pub, Lil Indies and The Dirty Laundry Pavilion. Classic Southern
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey Craft Cocktails will be served from the
Jack Daniels’ Vintage Airstream bar, and the entire Jack Daniels Family
of Whiskeys will be on special. Swine & Sons will be in attendance,
serving a Locally Sourced, Farm-To-Table, BBQ Feast. Donations of Food
and Funds will be accepted for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central
Florida to help our neighbors have abundance in this season. Bring out
the Big Hats, and don your Dapper Derby Style, in the Fall! Let’s get
Fancy & have a Ball Y’all! 

Performances by: 

Hannah Harber and The Lionhearts 

Kaleigh Baker 

Terri Binion 

Beth McKee’s Swamp Sistas 

Songwriter Circle
Heather Lee & Jordan Wynn’s Whyte Tygers 

Soulace feat. 

members of Harmonica Man and the Sawgrass 

Band
Maple Sparrow 

Sarah Purser Sings 

Sleepy Giants feat. members of Uke-A-Ladies 

Parlor with special guest Layla Brisbois 

Danielle Dart of Tears of a Tyrant 

 $10 Presale tickets, $15 Day of Show. 18+ Welcome. Friendly dogs on a
leash are allowed outside.

Weathering Hurricane Irma.

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I spent all morning looking for a coffee house with Wi Fi. My apartment has no power. I tried Stardust Video and Coffee first. A staff member was dumping water out the front door using a plastic trash pail. He let me know that Stardust was without power. A crew was cutting up a fallen Live Oak across the street. I tried Drunken Monkey next. The parking lot was full. I parked a few blocks away and walked in. There was a huge line for coffee. Nicki Drumb, who got an awesome grant to help create “Moving Art“ on Orlando’s Sun Rail, had her cup of coffee and gave me a hug in line. She let know that the Monkey had no Wi Fi. Ugh, I groaned. Next I tried the Orlando Public Library which had bombastic music piped in at the entrance. Unfortunately the library was closed. 

At this point I gave up my quest for a digital connection. Instead I sketched this fallen tree near my apartment. The neighborhood was coming alive with people walking their dogs to get out after being cooped up for several days because of Hurricane Irma. Baby Blue , the owner of the Venue stopped her car and asked me if I needed anything from my curbside sketching perch. A neighbor who was also out of power stopped to see my sketch and we chatted for a moment. It is amazing how catastrophe helps bring a community together. With my sketch done, I drove up to Winter Park, because The re was a rumor that Austin’s Coffee (929 West Fairbanks Road Orlando FL) was open and it had Wi Fi. Behind the counter the Batista’s mused,”We got Nihilism, we got musings in cool places,We got bad attitudes, oh and we got power.”  With an ice cold Yak and a Portabella Mushroom sandwich, I finally settled in to write this article.

The night before, power flickered off just as Pam Schwartz pulled a hot home made pizza out of the oven. We played cards by candle light as the winds picked up outside. I followed the eye of the four hundred mile wide storm on the radar app on my phone. South West coast of Florida as a category four Hurricane and it crept north at 15 miles per hour. The winds blew objects which rolled and scraped over the roof. The sky flashed a mysterious vibrant blue. Emergency vehicle lights strobbed and illuminated the trees a blood red. Something banged at the front and back of the house. Several intense wind bursts made it seem like The roof might lift.

The next morning clean up began. It seemed like half of the tree limbs had snapped off of the tree. Curb side piles grew to fortress proportions. Large trees were down in the neighborhood. With yard work out of the way curator Pam Schwartz and I drove south to check on the warehouse where the Orange County History Center‘s off site storage facility is housed. What we found was shocking and unexpected. A huge double rainbow spanned the horizon opposite the setting sun over the huge warehouse parking lot which was now a lake which was thigh deep.

The Day They Found: Poetry, Violin, [De]-Construction

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I went to The Space Station, (2539 Coolidge Ave, Orlando, FL 32804) where Ashley Inguanta and Sarah Morrison build a a [de]construction site relying on glass, paper, a loop machine, violin, and poetry.

During this performance, the audience had the option to give and to receive. They had the choice to hold, to let go, and to find that balance. They were invited to bring all of the angels and ghosts they know.I found a comfy spot on a couch to sketch from. The lighting was dark and moody.

At one point string was handed out to everyone in the audience. they each held on and it tied the group together. Ashley’s poetry was accompanied by the violin music of Sarah. During one reading, Ashley set a small model of a home on fire. The significance of that fire I can only guess at. It was an unexpected bit of theater.

Drip Local Art Nights feature Live Performances.

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At Drip Local Art Nights, local visual artists display their merchandise, and local bands take to the stage. To sketch close to the stage, I resort to shoving pencil erasers in my ears since I need to stand right in front of the speakers to catch the performance up close.

Mark Your Calendar! The next local art night in Orlando will be Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017 from 7 to 11 PM. Local
artists showcase and sell art while performers entertain. This is like
an art walk with wine, cocktails and beer. Bringing local
artists together creates such an amazing creative vibe. If you go, There is a good chance you will find me sketching, be sure to say hi.

Local Art Night at DRIP.

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DRIP‘s Local Art Night often happens on the fourth Thursday of each month. The event features Visual Artists, Performance Artists, Burlesque troupes, Body Painters, Dancers, Belly Dancers, Art Installations, Etc. The boyfriend of one of the dancers brought in his couch and showcased his work on a makeshift coffee table. The gritty splattered vibe at DRIP (8747 International Dr Suite. 102, Orlando, Florida 32819) is perfect to showcase artists whose work has an edgy urban feel.

The last DRIP Art Night was July 27, 2017. There is always something new to see Art Night so I go to sketch at every opportunity. It is a fun chance to just throw paint down on the page. Being on International Drive, the event allows local artists to showcase their work to International tourists as well as locals. 90% of any art sales goes to the artist.

Interview with Bess Auer and Ben Reed for Blog Talk TV.

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I was asked to be interviewed by Bess Auer and Ben Reed on Blog Talk TV Season 2. Filming was done at Concrete Lion Pictures Studio (910 Belle Ave #1120, Winter Springs, FL 32708). I arrived early to sketch Kristen Manieri‘s interview. She founded the Orlando Date Night Guide.

Blog Talk TV is broadcast on Cox 11 in Virgina. It airs weekly. The program official page Internet page. Blog Talk TV is broadcast to 1.5 million homes. The program is also finalizing contracts to be broadcast in additional markets in the Southeast, West Coast and the Mid West.

Prior to the show I was given specific questions that might be asked. The hosts try to keep the show “evergreen” because it could be syndicated at another time of year. That meant that my responses should not reference a specific season or time of year. The program also tries to minimize references to the show being filmed in Orlando. And since it’s shown on public television, I was advised avoid f@#king profanity and other inappropriate language.

The set used three cameras, a complete lightning set-up, lapel microphones and a “control booth”. The interview was filmed “live-to-tape” meaning they try to reduce the need for editing by shooting everything in one take. The show had a casual relaxed vibe. It was fun to talk about what I do every day and at the end of the interview I shared the sketch I had do me of the set.