Side Show Bar and Restaurant in Downtown Orlando.

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Side Show Bar and Restaurant (15 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL) is a bright splash of color that moved into downtown after The Loaded Hog and One Eyed Jacks vacated. The last time I was here, I was sketching the fun chaos as the Packer Backers cheered on their favorite football team. The space has been opened up and filled with every imaginable form of Side Show kitch. Above the bar looms a huge poster of Alexander the fortune teller. Elaborately framed paintings showcase everything from the Fat Lady to the Swamp Gypsy. Exotic Turkish lamps illuminate the bar.

I stopped in shortly after 5pm and a table was filled with co-workers having an after hours drink. During The course of the sketch, one loner came in, placed his baseball cap on the bar and ordered a beer. e ordered a burger and a beer both of which were decent. A large lever on the back wall spins a gaming wheel above the from door which picks exotic drinks like the Bearded Lady.

On another occasion, Terry and I were meeting friends, Amanda and Matt Simantov from out of town along with Matt Rankin. They were in a bar across from SAK Comedy Club, but the place was packed and way too noisy for any form of shouted conversation. A Magic game had just let out of the Amway Arena which explained the crowd. I suggested we go up to Side Show but instead ever one agreed to go all the way to Thornton Park for a quieter spot. The women went off to get their car and the guys walked up Orange Avenue. We passed Side Show which was surprisingly empty. Just a block away the bars were crowded to overflowing and yet Side Show was vacant. Perhaps the large open space isn’t conducive to draw in the crowds. It would have been a perfect place to stop, but we were already commit to the long hike to Thornton Park, where we ended up going to Graffiti Junction.

“There’s Johnny!”

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I went to Johnny’s Fillin’ Station (2631 South Ferncreek Avenue Orlando Fl) because I heard a band would be performing. I went to the bar right after work and the place was packed. There was a pool table in the corner and dark wood paneling on the walls. The star spangled sign on the front of the building proclaimed that this is where you get Orlando’s Best Burger. I found a small table facing the bar and ordered a beer and a burger. By the time the burger arrived, I was well into the sketch. I’d take a bite, wash it down and then push the plate aside to work on the sketch. It was a long leisurely meal and it was a darn good burger.

The waitress stopped back a few times since I was taking longer to eat than most costumers.  When she saw the sketch, she proclaimed “There’s Johnny!” She then pulled over other staff to see the sketch. When I was ready to leave, the band started setting up their equipment. I was already satiated, so I headed back home.

Independent Bar is a cornerstone of the downtown Orlando scene.

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Independent Bar is a multi-leveled nightclub with state-of-the-art
sound and lights. They feature three bars, each with its own unique style;
two dance floors, offering separate genres of music; and cafe´ style
sidewalk seating, allowing customers to mingle with the ebb and flow
of downtown Orlando. It is located on the corner of Washington and Orange, (70 N. Orange Ave

Orlando, FL).

I arrived on a typical weeknight. The bar was full as was the dance floor. My friends danced while I sketched. Landmines and interplanetary orbs hing from the ceiling. The place got more packed as I sketched. A few people grew suspicious of me standing quietly sketching but they were fine once they saw what I was up to. I imagine the art on display must be permanent since it was hung so high.

With the sketch done, I watched people on the dance floor for a while, but I wasn’t tempted to dance myself. I imagined my art supply bag would be a problem to keep track of. For Dina Peterson and the others this was the first stop for the evening. They planned to crawl between a number of the clubs up Orange Avenue. I depend on others to introduce me to Orlando’s nigh life which offers so many sketching opportunities. I decided I had enough excitement for the night and I went home.

Nothing Beats Bingo at Pulse

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Bingo is usually associated with a crowd of retirees at the local Moose Lodge. However when presented by Anna-Rexia and Dysen-Terri, at Pulse, bingo can become a fun romp. I didn’t pick up a bingo card since my hands were busy, but Katie Windish played along.

The cross dressed outfits were a riot of black and white stripes along with plenty of fishnets. After a few Yuengling beers it started to seem like victory was always close at hand.

Pulse (1912 Orange Ave, Orlando, FL) is supposed to be Orlando’s premiere gay bar, it offers a world of fun and fantasy. Inside there are three unique worlds: The Lounge, Ultra Bar and The Adonis Room. Since
2004, Pulse has been serving up unmatched live entertainment and
tantalizing liquid libations, courtesy of the renowned staff and
entertainers.

Bingo was presented rather early in the evening before the place gets packed. I haven’t sketched there yet when the party is in full swing. Anna-Rexia was hilarious, offering plenty of slutty tongue in cheek quips that kept everyone laughing as the lusted for just one win.

Santiago’s Bodega

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I had an hour to kill before getting to The Venue to sketch a rehearsal, so I decided to stop at Santiago’s Bodega (802 Virginia Drive Orlando FL) to try their tapas. Right after the collapse of Disney Feature Animation, Kathy Schoeppner a feature animation artist decided to rent this space as a gallery. For a while this space exhibited the art from some of the most talented artists from the studio. Kathy would suggest a different theme each month and artists would create work inspired by that theme. I was proud to exhibit my work being surrounded by so much talent. Unfortunately an art gallery on Virginia drive wasn’t a profitable business venture at the time, and Kathy had to let the gallery go. She moved to Los Angeles following the talent and money that flooded out of Orlando at the time.

Anyway, back to the Bodega. The art on the walls was less than inspired. A sad theatrical mask painting behind the maîtra d’ station greeted people as the entered. I ordered a beer and some tapas all of which tasted great. I’m not much of a foodie, so I didn’t take note of the delicate tastes. I just wanted a quick munch before heading out to sketch. I can say that I’d gladly go back and this place is within walking distance from the Fringe so I will be doing just that quite soon. The entry area had a few chairs where people could sit while waiting for their significant other, or a table.

The waiter at my table took quite an interest in the sketch and he kept inviting more staff over to take a look. A commotion broke out at the table next to me. A bee had flown through the open entry door and it was buzzing and accosting the women. The braver of the two was swatting the bee with her menu while the other woman screamed and laughed. The bee just wouldn’t die. She finally trapped it in her napkin and handed it to the waiter who had run over to help. She warned him that the bee was still squirming inside the napkin. He walked away with the trapped bee and I choose to believe he set it free.

Howl at the Moon

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Howl at the Moon, 8815 International Dr, Orlando, FL, was bustling on the evening I decided to stop out and sketch. Inside people had obscenely large tropical drinks and the piano was blazing. A large party of people from the Orange County Convention Center were stuffed inside. I sat outside and sketched the crowd of people at the entrance. I found it ironic that a full moon was in the sky right behind the logo of a howling wolf perched on a piano.

Howl at the Moon rocks International Drive! the high-energy dueling pianos and awesome events make the dueling piano bar the coolest spot for Orlando nightlife! From corporate events to happy hour with friends to bachelorette parties,
the party is always at Howl at the Moon.

I keep thinking that I will return someday to sketch inside the piano bar, but I dread driving or International drive and parking around there. My car was towed once from a parking lot on International Drive, so I am very cautious, anytime I park there since I suspect that cars that are presumed to belong to tourists are targeted with the intent to make hundreds of quick bucks by seizing and holding cars hostage.  It is business as usual in Orlando.

The Boathouse Oyster Bar

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The return trip to Orlando from Louisiana involved a stop over in the pan handle of Florida. Breaking up the drive made the trip much easier. This was the first time I was allowed to drive Terry’s new Porsche. I don’t think it is a good idea for me to have that much power in my hands. I revved the engine loudly on some quaint gulf-port town startling people walking on the sidewalk.

We stopped in Destin and walked along the docks. For lunch we went to The Boathouse Oyster Bar,  288 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL. Locals refer to the place as Destin’s best kept secret. Dollar bills covered the walls. Locals crowded around the bar watching a football playoff game. Terry and I decided to sit outside overlooking the water. Sea gulls swooped down hoping to grab our lunch. I put a sketchbook over my sandwich when I wasn’t eating it so it wouldn’t disappear.

Terry was trying to identify a sea bird and an older couple next to us identified it for her. The bird kept diving down looking to catch fish. Terry wanted to snap a photo with her iPhone but the bird would disappear under water right before she could click the shutter.

Bad Wolf Art Night

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On November 14th I went to the Peacock Room (1321 North Mills Avenue, Orlando, Florida), to find out what Bad wolf art night is all about. Hosted By Kyla Rene’ the event invite explained that, after a one month break, the performers would be back to create some more art. Dancers would be improving to live music. There was no cover at the door. The hours on the invite were 5:30pm to 8pm. This was earlier than most events but I stopped by at 5:30 to have a drink.

The stage in the back room wasn’t set up but there was band equipment packed and ready.  I settled in at a table in the bar and drew the early birds like myself. The owner of the Peacock Room, David Rich was seated at the end of the bar. He took an interest in my sketch and stopped over several times to photograph the sketch in progress. Now I can see why new art is always on display on the walls. David truly loves art. He also works in the Disney Parks in operations. He must be someone who has no need for sleep.

As I was working on the sketch the band equipment was moved out. It was probably 7:30 or so when I was finishing up and there was still no hint of Bad Wolf Art Night so I packed up my art supplies and left. Either I got the date wrong, or the event didn’t start until much later. Either way, I had my sketch already and I headed home.

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White Wolf Cafe

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Paul Horgan posed for the mural I did for the Menello Museum. I had to reconstruct the mural for a book I’m writing on Urban Sketching since the original file was on a now dead hard drive. Paul purchased the sketch I did of him on the evening of the mural’s unveiling. Since he is prominent at the front of the line I felt I deeded to get the sketch back to re-scan. He agreed to meet me at White Wolf Pizza.

White Wolf Cafe, (1829 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL) was once an antique shop but is now a cafe and bar. I sat at the bar and sketched the line of nude ballet sculptures. The bar was empty until Larry finally sat down and started checking his phone for football scores. I ordered a German beer with an orange slice. It as quite good. A saxophone player, Gregory, who is Larry’s son, began to play. He plays at White Wolf just about every Saturday.

All that remains of the antiques are a series of Tiffany styled lamps scattered throughout the establishment. The bar tender was quite intrigued by my progress and wanted to shoot a photo but no one’s smart phone was working. When the sketch was done, I realized that Paul still hadn’t shown up. I got a text from him explaining that the pizza place was down the block. I met Paul and Ed Anthony, half way between the establishments. I believe they were going to check out a show at the Venue. I rescanned his sketch that night and got it into the book. A few days later, I returned the sketch to him by leaving at the Shakespeare theater box office. He is so well known in the theater community that he said I could leave it with anyone and they would know how to get it back to him.

NV Bar and Lounge

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On Third Thursday, September 19th, I went to NV  to see the art opening for G. Lemus. Tr3 Mark Harris curates the shows at NV along with Brad Michael Biggs. The bar is gritty with a fantastic exposed wooden slat wall. G. Lemus came from Honduras and making art helped him adapt to a new culture where he didn’t know the language. In the military his comic sketches of the Drill Sargent were confiscated but he became the official platoon artist. He founded the B-side artists in Orlando with Swamburger. This group of artist were the first to bring art to the clubs and bars in Orlando.

G. Lemus was inspired by the expressive work of Jean-Michel Basquait.  The work in this show featured thick rich paint. Many of the pieces were primarily black and white featuring images of aircraft and flight. In one painting titled “On the Trail of Greatness”, Luke Skywalker seemed to be flying a modern day jet instead of an X wing fighter. Another painting of a nautilus shaped craft was titled “Victory over Love is Flight”. The artist wore goggles as he moved around the opening talking to patrons. He was offered a mural assignment in which he would supervise middle school and high school kids to do the painting.

The artist hired beautiful women to pose as flight  attendants. The whole idea of the show was based around flight. Take you dreams and let them sore. The artist was the pilot and the girls were the flight attendants passing out a menu (his art) with peanuts attached to it. The DJ brought her own equipment and set up at her station at the top of the staircase.

Tr3 and I were discussing a showing of my sketches at NV. Rumors circulated that evening about the possible show and it was quickly established through a quick series of texts, that the planned dates of the NV show were too close to the dates of a solo show still in the early planning stages at The Gallery at Avalon Island. Other than showing my work in a U-Haul (Mobile Art Show), this was my first experience in planning to show my work downtown.  There seem to be unwritten codes of conduct that I overlooked. I’m hoping to have my work on some walls when my book on Urban Sketching comes out in early 2014.

Mark your Calendar, The G. Lemus show at NV (27 E Pine St  Orlando, FL) can be seen anytime before  Sunday October 13th at 2am. Grab a drink and see some art.