Audubon Park Farmers Market

Posted on by Thor

Every Monday as the sun sets, vendors set up in the Stardust Video and Coffee (1842 Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL 32803) parking lot for the Audubon Community Market. There was no pressing event that needed to be sketched, so I got a vegan hot dog and started sketching. It is nice sometimes to just relax and watch the shadows lengthen as world grows orange. You can find locally grown produce no hand crafted jewelry from local artists. There is something new every week.

Inside Stardust most people stare at their computers either working or playing, it is hard to tell the difference.

I have been gathering tax documents the past few days. Trying to log into an online banking system, I had to navigate a maze of passwords. Although I have a long analog list on several sheets of paper, those passwords which I religiously wrote down, never seem to match the digital reality. I’m asked for the street I grew up on when I was three and I remember but my answer isn’t accepted. My mothers maiden name? Of course I know that but in the digital world the names don’t match. How much of my life is being wasted chasing false leads and running in circles chasing digital ghosts in the machine? Around tax season these digital walls seem overwhelming.

ODD 4 at Stardust Video and Coffee.

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The October ODD 4 (Orlando Drink and Draw), was held at Stardust Video and Coffee (1842 Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL). This is y monthly event where artists, well, drink and Draw. There is no model is just artists working together and networking. I ordered a Big Wave beer and started to sketch. About six other artists came out to sketch. The Audubon Community Market was happening in the parking lot outside, so the place was crowded. The clientele at stardust have a layed back vibe. The guy a the end of the bar had waist long Rasta Dreads. I had quite a few beers and then I left the bar and drove home. The problem was, that I started a tab and left my credit card with the bartender. I only realized this when I got back home. It is an hour drive but, I drove all the way back to Stardust. They were still open and several artists were still there.

Every Monday as the sun sets, the Audubon Community Market offers fresh local produce.

Posted on by Thor

Stardust Video and Coffee ( 1842 Winter Park Road, Orlando, FL) becomes a vibrant Community Market every Monday. When the weather is good, the parking lot fills with vendor’s tents. When it rains, the market shrinks and moves inside. On this particular Monday I sketched vendors offering fresh baked goods and holistic herbs and oils.

It turned out that the vendors son was a bit of an artist, and he sketched me as I sketched the scene. The costumer, with the green head band and purple shirt was a Disney theme park employee. I also recognized he as being a very active Fringe Festival volunteer. Shopping is only half the objective in this small intimate market. Most of the time is spent socializing and catching up with friends.

As the flow of costumers slowed at the Audubon Community Market, the Disney employee sat with the vendor and her sons behind the table. A mysterious ceremony took place where they all held hands. Perhaps there was healing involved, or a spiritual look inward. I should have asked about it when my sketch was done since I could probably use some of what was offered. Lately my body has started to revolt against my horrible diet and constant work by forcing me to slow down with splitting headaches. Doctors only offer drugs but I would rather find a more holistic approach to improving my health.

The romantic glow of digital devices at Stardust illuminates interactions.

Posted on by Thor

Once again I found myself at Stardust Video and Coffee on the evening of the Audubon Community Market. As I ate dinner, I sketched people absorbed in the glow of their computer screens. Since I was sketching on my computer, I fit right in. Outside tents were going up in the parking lot for the weekly Audubon Market. The couple in the foreground remained focused for the duration of the sketch. Eventually a conversation fired up and the gentleman moved closer to talk. I was surprised that people could meet in person and have face to face conversations. She was an actress who had just arrived in Orlando. He had her laughing much of the time. They agreed that they should stay in touch before they both returned to their screens.

I was pleased with the warm glow of the sketch. I would never get such pure rich color with watercolor washes. As I was finishing up, my Coke bottle fell from the wobbly round table I was sitting at. It crashed to the floor making an insane racket as it bounced repeatedly, yet thankfully it didn’t break.  I must have been beet red as I picked it up. I walked around the market and stopped for a moment to listen to a local musician but I decided against doing another sketch and I headed home. I keep selling the idea that sketching helps me become part of the community, but it also isolates me, making me an impartial outside observer. I’m fully engaged and alive as I’m working, but when the sketch is done, my mood slips and it feels like life is slipping by.

The Audubon Market has produce and a sense of community.

Posted on by Thor

Mondays in Orlando offer few event options. If I’m unable to find a sketchable event, I always go to the Audubon Garden District Community Market at Stardust Video and Coffee (1842 Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL). Tents start to go up in the Stardust parking lot as the sun sets. I like to order a drink at Stardust and sit back to watch all the activity.

On this Monday, I sketched the Stardust patrons who were soaking in the atmosphere. The market always has a live performer which also makes it the perfect spot to sketch. Produce and products are locally grown and crafted which make the market a healthy shopping option. When I order something to eat, I know that at least I ate one healthy meal for the week. With East End Market just a few blocks away there is no reason not to eat a healthy balanced diet all week, but as an artist on the run, I tend to only eat processed fast food before doing most sketches. Maybe a better diet could result in better sketches.

I’ve sketched a number of vegetarian and Vegan themed events and have seen and heard the merits of not eating meat, yet I haven’t yet followed up with a commitment to change my eating habits. It is hard to teach this old dog how to improve his diet. Eating is a quick necessity that I don’t think much about. I function primarily on caffeine and sugar. Perhaps that is why my sketches pen Iines are so shaky and nervous. Healthy living courses seem like such a luxury, yet im probably not functioning at 100%. Aching bones tend to be a distraction when getting lost in the creative process. Perhaps someday I’ll change.

Stardust

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I had time to kill after work, so I decided to get an appetizer at Stardust Video and Coffee. Small paintings by artist Katherine Bennett were on display. They were quirky portraits where people held animals like a lamb, a duck and a mouse. Patrons worked diligently on their laptops. The group in the corner seemed to be studying medical research and they had suitcases and backpacks.

Outside vendors were setting up in the parking lot for the weekly Audubon Community Market that happens every Monday from 6-10PM.  I ordered humus which comes with pita and plenty of veggies. Carl F. Gauze, aka Al, stopped by my table to say hi. He has written a blaxploitation play for this year’s Fringe called “Chocolate Thunder and White Lightning.” He was just grabbing a bite before a reading of the play at his house. This was the first time the cast was assembled. I decided this was a better sketch opportunity than the event at the REP Theater that I had on my calendar. After I finished my sketch and my last carrot, I drove over to Al’s to see this work in progress.

Audabon Market

Posted on by Thor

Every Monday from 6-10PM the Audubon Market sets up in the parking lot of Stardust Video and Coffee (l842 East Winter Park Road Orlando FL). Some vendors offer locally grown fruits and vegetables while others have local crafts. Flowers and plants sit beside homemade pillows. The variety changes from week to week. On top of all that there is often free music. There is a warm communal feel as friends meet hug and talk. A mom carried her child on her hip as she spoke to a vendor. A poet with a grey beard and staff wandered offering poems for a price.

When I finished my sketch I went to a food tent and ordered the least holistic item at the market, a hot dog with sauerkraut and mustard.  When I turned to go back to my table, I bumped into Mark Baratelli and his friend Tom. I was a bit embarrassed that the hot dog I just ordered looked puny compared to the size of the bun. When I was finished eating, a woman offered me some free Wild Flower Saint John’s River Honey because she liked the sketch. If you go to the market, be sure to get some local honey from the Bee Lady. On the drive home, I popped open the yellow lid and sucked on the nipple to taste the sweet nectar.

Red Rum at the Falcon

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The Falcon Bar (819 E. Washington Street, Orlando, Florida), has a back room that is themed after The Shining. The entire room is painted red and thus is the Red Rum. A plastic big wheel tricycle is perched atop a wall harkening back to the movie. The wall paper pattern on the wall is the same pattern used on the carpets in the movie. RR is engraved on a large mirror and a stuffed dear head overlooks everything. The room’s blood red walls made the room feel  bit disturbing.

Every month, Melissa and John Felcman, hosts a Lady’s Fashion Hour, which is a monthly Happy Hour featuring local Orlando fashion.  When I went to sketch December 5th, Dear Prudence was featuring their local fashion wares. Dear Prudence is vintage inspired style, clothing, accessories and a full service bead store located in Audubon Park Garden District. I arrived just as they started setting up. I relaxed on the red couch sketching as each item was carefully displayed. Merchandise was moved constantly. This Feng Shui dance made it hard for me to decide when to nail down an item in my sketch.

Soon enough the room was full of women inspecting jewelry and trying on items from the rack. I had a quick chat with the proprietress from Bee’s Knees. I’ve seen her at many events and just knew her as “the cupcake lady”. She is married to one of the owners of Redlight Redlight and that is one place where you might find her delicious cupcakes on most Thursday and Friday evenings. Weekly, you can find the Bees, Erica and Emily, at the Audubon
Community Market on Monday nights and the College Park Farmer’s Market
on Thursday nights.

Flat Mountain Men

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Every Monday from six to ten in the evening, the Audubon Community Market is held in the parking lot in front of Stardust Video & Coffee. On this particular evening I was going to be able to see the first run of 2012 Ourlando Calendars hot off the press. Julie Norris who did an amazing job designing the calenders had yet to see the calendars as well. A table was going to be set up in the market to sell the calendars. I spotted Julie and her daughter, Maya, at the Big Wheel food truck. I ordered a stuffed avocado dish and then joined Julie and Maya inside Stardust to eat. The avocado was delicious. Emily Rankin entered Stardust carrying a heavy box. She split the tape seal and cracked it open. Inside were the first 50 calendars. Julie and I each grabbed a calendar and started flipping through. I was happy to see the final product but I felt uneasy. The colors were more saturated and darker than I would have liked. I held my tongue, then Julie said, “What do you think?” I had to admit my concern and she agreed.

We were on a tight deadline to have the calendars ready for the holidays. The rest of the printing run was on hold till the morning while the printer ran another job. An employee was at the printer so I drove there to be sure the rest of the print run wasn’t as dark. A sample calender had been printed 10% less dark. I decided it was good enough. I then drove back to Stardust to sign some calendars and enjoy the music. Julie was leaving because Maya was tired. Emily was at the table selling the calendars and I signed a few before sketching the Flat Mountain Men. The parking lot stage consisted of a card table with an inverted cowboy hat and a stool. The music was rustic home spun fun. Folding tables were set up in front of the band where people came to sit and enjoy their food and the music. The two women seated right in front had known the musicians ever since high school. The band played “Walking the Tightrope” as the sky grew dark and the evening cooled.