Mimi’s Christmas Birthday Party.

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Mimi Hwang lives on beautiful Lake Sylvan in Winter Park. Finding her house number was a challenge but there was plenty of side street parking once I got off the main road. Her back yard sloped right down to the lake’s edge. The night tin view off the lake we gorgeous with all the home lights adding a romantic glow. It was a chilly night and no one else used the rented tables and chairs she had set up on the hill. I poured a Proseco and started the sketch. The table was pitched an angle, so the wine glass kept inching down the table towards my lap. I found it could be stabilized by wedging a pine branch under the leading edge.

The back porch of her home had a DJ and a fire pit. It was also mission central for the bar which supplied champagne all evening. Candle light and Christmas lights supplied the only illumination. Mimi had tons of rich sweet roast duck and plenty of side dishes. A piano player performed holiday favorites which everyone sang along to. I finished the low light digital sketch in record time, so I could get back inside and warm up. Wendy Wallenberg pointed out all the walls of the home that she would rip out if she were to buy the home. She also took selfies with just about everyone at the party. By the time the birthday cake rolled out, every one was stuffed, drunk or both, and the cake went uncut. Being able to party outside in December is why we all love to live here in Central Florida.

Violectric at Lake Eola.

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The popular electric string quintet with keyboards and drums known as “Violectric” rang in the holiday season with their exciting annual “Violectric Holiday Show” presented by the City of Orlando Families, Park and Recreation at the Walt Disney Amphitheatre at Lake Eola Park, (99 N Rosalind Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801). Free and open to the public, the concert featured traditional holiday songs like “Jingle Bells,” “O Christmas Tree” and “Hanukkah, O Hanukkah” mashed up with classic rock tunes like “Kashmir,” “Born to Run” and “Sweet Dreams”, plus modern hits, delivering a fun-filled, energetic, and highly-unique holiday show unlike anything seen and heard before.

Violectric teamed up with Old Forrester who hosted a VIP “Backstage Speakeasy” Pre-Party including a special behind-the-scenes with a band and a “End of Prohibition” After-Party open to all with a cash bar and 1920’s costume contest. Guests were also encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to the concert, which would be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Formed in 2008, the accomplished members of the “Classic Musicians Who Rock!” Violectric have been performing in various groups, orchestras and together for over 20 years across the globe.  Led by Grammy Recording Artist “Vinylinist” Michelle Jones, Violectric is a unique fusion of the passion and beauty of classical string instruments with the excitement of cutting-edge modern technology and effects.  Violectric’s custom arrangements of classic and modern rock tunes like “Billie Jean,” “Go Your Own Way,” “Moves Like Jagger” and “Chandelier” cannot be heard anywhere else.

Violectric has a signature look in that the violins are illuminated by neon. Of course Santa and Mrs. Claus made an appearance towards the end of the concert. That couple certainly gets around. They have been at just about every holiday event I have sketched.

Angels at Pulse.

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December 12th marked six months since the horrific shooting that took 49 lives and ruined counties others at Pulse Nightclub.  Pulse owner Barbara Poma opened the chain link fence surrounding the club to the first time, at 2am for family of victims and then later that evening for the general public to mourn. The angels gathered, holding candles at Pulse along the Orange Avenue length of fence. Purple neon glowed above the entrance to Pulse. Media and passers by shot photos.

One reporter from Channel 13 News, John Davis,  was curious about my digital sketch and he interviewed me the next day as I hung 18 sketches at City Arts Factory that document Orlando’s attempts to heal since the mass shooting. The city will never be the same.

At the entrance there was prayer and then song. One song was Wind Beneath My Wings, which seemed perfect for the angels in attendance.

The da Vinci Robot at Otronicon.

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The Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803) hosts Otronicon each year. Otronicon is a celebration of interactive technology that takes place
each January at the Orlando Science Center. It offers a glimpse into the
future and a demonstration of how interactive technology will impact how
we work, learn and play. At Otronicon, guests walk on the cutting edge
through state of the art video games, digital media, digital art, and
workshops – not to mention military and medical simulators typically not
available to the public.

The da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic surgical system made by the American company Intuitive Surgical. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000, it is designed to facilitate complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach, and is controlled by a surgeon from a console. The system is commonly used for prostatectomies, and increasingly for cardiac valve repair and gynecologic surgical procedures like hysterectomies. According to the manufacturer, the da Vinci System is called “da Vinci” in part because Leonardo da Vinci’s “study of human anatomy eventually led to the design of the first known robot in history.”

 If you have a passion for technology, simulators, and video games in general, mark your calendars for the most interactive technology expo in Central Florida – Otronicon. This event takes the world of video games and simulation, and transforms them into in-depth immersive experiences.

There will also be classes in video game creation, as well as exclusive peeks at simulators created by experts in the field. This is the one weekend when the Orlando Science Center leaves its doors open for extended evening hours, so be sure to plan on experiencing all of the interactive fun at Otronicon.

Otronicon will run from January 13th to 16th, 2017. 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (All Ages)
Tickets are available online.

Christine’s White Elephant Party.

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On Christmas Day Christine and her family host a White Elephant Party for Christmas orphans.I’m a bit of an orphan this year since I’m separated and not even sure where I will be living in 2017. Christine hosts a potluck dinner with more food than you can imagine and crystal clear Greek 99 proof drinks that will make your toes curl.

Everyone brings a funny or practical white elephant gift and then people picked their gift when a number is pulled from a hat. There is an advantage to having your number pulled later in the proceedings. When you open your gift in front of everyone, you have a choice. You can keep your gift, or exchange your gift with some on who has a be the gift than yours.

I was called up rather late in the process, and picked a large flat package. I ripped the paper, ribbons and bow off. It turned out to be one of those tacky paintings with celebrities sitting around a table playing poker. The only way it could have been worse is if it had been dogs playing poker. I figured I was stuck with it. However, a young college aged boy must have figured it would look good in his man cave dorm room and he stole it from me. I don’t even remember what I got in exchange. with all the downsizing I have been doing moving place to place lately, I doubt I still have it.

This party is a great way to catch up with old friends an make new ones. The large Greek family makes us all feel at home.

2nd Annual Boat Parade

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I went to Without A Paddle Cafe, (1000 Miami Springs Dr, Longwood, FL 32779) for the second annual Boat Parade on the Wekiva River. Parking on site was packed, so I drove a block away to Publix and parked there. There was snow being blown from the rooftop of the cafe. It melted on my sleeve just like real snow but then we re no flakes. They were more like lumps and I suspect they were soap suds. I made sure my computer brief case was closed up so the suds couldn’t damage my digital sketchpad.  All the wooden dock side chairs were taken so I found an empty spot between camping chairs and picnic blankets.

The first board spread down the river with Christmas lights ablaze, and the driver held up an air horn and blasted the crowd. Every one stood up, so I finished the sketch while standing. Small boats followed in succession up the river. One had a large round nose on the bow and antlers. It was clearly Rudolph. An other board had Christmas light lined butterfly wings which animated when a pulley and rope was pulled. The winner for the evening was a small boat decorated to look like a steam train engine. The most popular decorating ate rice was tree branches, which when wrapped in lights look like a deer antlers. On the opposite shore lights outlined Christmas Tree shapes. Spotlights illuminated the dark woods. At the corner of the cafe stood a totem that looked to me like a tall sea creature with large black eyes. On closer inspection,  I discovered that it was actually lashed together canoes. The black eyes were spot lights. I preferred to imagine it being an exotic squid shaped creature.

Inside the cafe, I noticed Beth Black performing on violin. There was a large area covered in snow, or more likely crushed ice. And kids were having a snowball fight with the slushy mess. I picked some up just to feel the cold. Stilt walking angels had white Christmas lights to outline their wings. Mr. and Mrs. Claus were on a boat with lame Christmas lights that blinked of mire often than they were on. That didn’t dampen the crowds enthusiasm as they shouted and waved to him.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

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Saturday December 24, 2016 (Christmas Eve)

9:30am to 4 pm Christmas Eve Open House. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, 445 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789.

6pm, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm Snow Falling Nightly in Celebration. Celebration Town Center.

6pm and continues hourly until closing. Holiday Light Show at Light Up UCF.  CFE Arena.

Sunday December 25, 2016. ( Christmas Day) 

5:30 pm to 7:30pm Chanukah on the Park. Central Park, Winter Park FL.

5:36 pm Sunset St. Augustine Nights of Lights. Take a day trip (about 90 minutes to 2 hours from Orlando) to St. Augustine to enjoy their Nights of Lights display.

St. Augustine’s
popular holiday season city-wide event – the famed Nights of Lights
celebration – will glow with more than three million brilliant white
lights again this year attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to
the oldest city in the Nation.

Nights of Lights runs November 22, 2014, through January 31, 2015, in
St. Augustine, Fla. The festival starts with a countdown November 22,
6:30 p.m. in the Plaza de la Constitucion when the lights are officially
lit.  Holiday music and the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree add
to the splendor of the lighting of one of the world’s greatest holiday
light displays.

Many historic landmarks and locations are beautifully illuminated
during Nights of Lights. The waters of Matanzas bay glow from the
nightly reflections of lights strewn along the bay walk and displayed on
the Bridge of Lions. The Plaza de la Constitucion shines from the top
of trees and throughout the famous center of St. Augustine’s historic
district. The 125-year-old Hotel Ponce de Leon, now the campus of
Flagler College, is outlined in lights. And the Lightner Museum, once a
resort hotel also built by Flagler, is lit so brilliantly it is a
favorite among visitors.

Nights of Lights is inspired by the tradition of marking the holiday
season with a single white candle burning in a window at each home
during the nearly 250 years when St. Augustine served as the capital of
Spanish La Florida. Today, Nights of Lights continues that tradition in a
grand style reflecting the city’s 449 years of history.

Nights of Lights continues to garner accolades. In 2014, Rachel Ray
magazine named St. Augustine one of the Nation’s “Twinkliest Towns.” 
National Geographic declared St. Augustine one of the Top 10 Places in
the World to view holiday lights in 2012 and 2013. The American Bus
Association named Nights of Lights a Top 100 Event in North America..

 6pm to 9pm The Ice Factory. 2221 Partin Settlement Rd, Kissimmee, FL 34744, 407-933-4259

The Ice Factory
is an NHL-size skating and hockey rink located in the heart of Florida.
Staffed by experienced, professional skating instructors and certified
coaches, the Ice Factory features a 750 Seat Stadium and two Ice
Surfaces.

Main Rink $10 admission (includes basic skate rental)

Small Rink $5 admission (includes UPGRADED skate rental)

Small Rink $7 admission (includes basic skate)

A Russian Christmas.

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On December 11th, the Maitland, Presbyterian Church (341 N Orlando Ave, Maitland, FL 32751) presented A Russian Christmas. Russia is well known for producing talented composers like Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. This concert presented sounds of the holiday season with a Russian flair. June Flowers, who organizes music a presentations around Central Florida, asked me to come and sketch the performance. June introduced me to Elizabeth St. Hilaire who is a visual artist and also a violin player. I made sure to get Elizabeth’s pinch hair in the sketch. 

The Artistic Director and Conductor was Eric W. Mendez. Most arrangements were purely instrumental, but Cantique de Noel featured soprano Laura Bertshinger. Her performance elicited a standing oration. The Emcees for the night were Sent in a columnist Scott Maxwell, and Margaret Patten. Scott mentioned an article he had just written about 101 of the things that make Central Florida unique. I had just read that article and pulled it out of the paper because it contained so many sketch opportunities.  That article listen the Maitland Symphony Orchestra as one of the unique 101 gems. 

The concert was free, but of course donations were encouraged. This concert was certainly a way to warm up to the Christmas season. I slipped away during A Christmas Festival by Leroy Anderson. I wanted to avoid the crush of the crowd when the concert ended.

Santa and the Angry Elves.

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The Feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated in parts of Europe on December 6th. On the preceding evening of December 5th, Krampus Night or Krampusnacht,
the wicked hairy devil appears on the streets. Sometimes accompanying
St. Nicholas and sometimes on his own, Krampus visits homes and
businesses. The Saint usually appears in the Eastern Rite vestments
of a bishop, and he carries a golden ceremonial staff. Unlike North
American versions of Santa Claus, in these celebrations Saint Nicholas
concerns himself only with the good children, while Krampus is
responsible for the bad. Nicholas dispenses gifts, while Krampus
supplies coal and bundles of sticks used as a whip.

 On Krampusnacht, I hosted ODD (Orlando Drink and Draw) at the Hammered Lamb (1235 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32804). Santa and the Angry Elves were setting up on the main stage doing a sound check. My impression was that they would set up and then head home for a quick costume change. They disappeared and I didn’t see them again, so I finished the sketch without their festive costumes. A train rumbled by just inches behind the stage and then a bar maid came around with a tray full of shots. The 44 North Train shots are passed out free every time a free rumbled by. I must have had four shots during the course of making this sketch.

By the time Santa and the Angry Elves returned, I had done sketches of several Krampuses and a sketch of the Deviant Dolls sales booth. I was sketched out for the night. As Santa and the Angry Elves took to the stage, I was packing up my art supplies to go. Just as I was leaving several more Krampuses showed up. One was covered in white fur like a Yeti, and had extremely long horns. The Krampus costume contest was still to come,  and it would be a toss up between the white Yeti, Krampus, and the gorgeous long clawed Kampus in a wheel chair. I really should have stayed to sketch the both, but I was tired.

The Kessler Corporate Christmas Party.

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I was commissioned to sketch at the Kessler Corporate Christmas Party held in the Devos room in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801). C’Nergy was the local band offering cover tunes for the evening. I arrived early entering the venue through the loading docks. My art supplies made it through security with no problem. The Devos room is on the third floor above the Center’s entry area. Glass walls surround the room on three sides offering an incredible view of the new plaza outside the Center. In June thousands gathered in that plaza to morn the loss of 49 of our own to gun violence. Candles flicked above the crowd. One glass wall slid open and I had to walk over to look. The green expanse of a lawn was now empty and silent. The sky was a deep ultramarine blue with flickering stars. A woman next to me said, “Don’t jump.” I laughed and joked that with my luck, I’d probably only break a leg. With that theater reference under my belt, I returned to my sketch.

Several Kessler Collection employees stopped to ask questions as I worked, it turns out I was on the program… “Experience the works of illustrator and journalist Thomas Thorspecken. He’s a talented local artist who sketches stories of Central Florida’s community daily in his popular blog.” I was surprised that the MC announced me as well and I waved as people turned to look at me. After the cocktail reception, everyone was invited to find a table so the party could get started. Mr Kessler was at the front table, but his table wasn’t full. Most of the other tables were full. The MC insisted that people move in closer to the stage. “We are going to have to do a training exercise if people don’t move closer, Mr. Kessler doesn’t bite.” Finally several couples moved to the front table.

 An executive in bright red shoes introduced a party game he devised. He wanted each table to come up with a fun reason why it is a unique experience to work for the Kessler Collection. Two of the tables on stage left got their submissions in right away. He got back up to the mic later in the evening to scold the other tables who hadn’t yet participated. After endless raffle prizes, he pointed out that there were only five raffle tickets unpicked and so he advised that “If your ticket wasn’t picked, you shouldn’t play the Lotto.”

 

Mr. Kessler got on stage. The big announcement was that the Plant Riverside development was underway in Savannah Georgia. The one time I visited Savannah, I stayed in a Kessler historic home right on one of the many public parks in a city. With gorgeous art, and gorgeous historic architecture, it was a wonderful place to stay. The Plant River side construction will take 24 months at a cost of 217 million dollars. Apparently there were many hurdles along the way. One Kessler employee said that he attributed his grey hair to the endless negotiating.  Patience and perseverance eventually made the dream a reality.

The 1912 Georgia power plant located on the west end of River Street
in the National Historic Landmark District is being revitalized into an
ultra-chic hotel delivering an electrifying Hostess City experience.

• 422 beautifully appointed, luxury guestrooms and suites

• Over 26,000 square feet of stylish meeting and event space

• More than 11 upscale food and beverage offerings

• Live music and entertainment venue

• Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park

• Rooftop bar overlooking the Savannah River

• Curated wine tasting and interactive blending experience

• Grand Bohemian Gallery and diverse retail outlets

There was an awards ceremony for staff that went above and beyond the call of duty. The one person I met at the event, Leile Ahlstrand, won the highest honor. She welcomed me warmly and instantly made me feel at home when I entered the Devos room, so I understand why she was honored that night. My sketch was complete. As the band started playing again, I made my way to the front table to show Mr Kessler the final product. My timing was a bit off since I had to shout over the music. He seemed to like the sketch and I explained the I would be writing an article. Then I found Leile and let her know that I was finished. We chatted for a bit. She was glowing as if she had just won an Oscar. None of the recipients had taken time at the mic to thank everyone who made the award possible.  There was probably time for a second sketch, but my legs were tired from standing. I also wanted to get home to have a bite to eat. On the walk back home I passed artists set up on the sidewalks of Thornton Park selling their art. Christmas lights illuminated white tents. It was quite festive, another sketch opportunity, but it was getting late and they were starting I break down. Besides I was over dressed.