Renninger’s has a stage for concerts.

Posted on by Thor

On February 20th I went to Renningers to tag along with my wife Terry, Elaine Pasekoff and Bob Newlin as they shopped for deals among the hundreds of outdoor vendors offering antiques and knick knacks. There was an entrance fee which garnered us each an arm band. Within a hundred yards of the entrance gate was this rustic log stage. The giant guitar had tubing which could give it a neon glow at night. There were no performers during the antique fair, instead there were folding tables covered with porcelain bowls cups and figurines. There was also an ice cream churn along with a yarn spool and large jug.

There was a fairly steady stream of people who walked up the steps to get on stage and then exit on the other side of the stage. I’m not certain if more people looked at the items compared to a table out among all the others.  When this sketch was done I texted to find out how to find our troops.

Renninger’s

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On Friday February 14th I joined my wife Terry and her friend Elaine Pasekoff as they explored Renningers Antiques Fair. This is an Annual pilgrimage that has been going on for decades. Usually Bob Newlin would fly in from Washington DC, but he was snowed in by an intense snowstorm. We stayed in a Best Western the night before and got up at the break of dawn to hit Renningers. Elaine always makes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch and she used the hotel jelly packets to complete the task at breakfast.

We parked in the grass being directed by two attendants who were arguing with each other. There was a small entry fee and our hands were stamped. I immediately started hunting for a sketch while Terry and Elaine shopped. I settled on this antique sign dealer. His name was Rick Shields and the company was called Southern Pickers. The company slogan was “we buy rust.” This lot was in the valley just as you entered. Up the hill were all the food vendors with an ice cream cone being the most obvious landmark. Elaine and Terry found me and they left their purchases next to my chair so they didn’t have to carry them around.

I was seated in front of “Rustic Stuff of the South“. Jerry Douthit was building wooden cases that could encase snugly fit coolers. The hammering attracted costumers and the rustic looking cooler stands were quite attractive and functional. The hot sellers had Gator and Seminole football logos. Since I was sitting in the direct sun, I rushed the sketch so I could find some shade. With the sketch done, I approached Rick and asked him if he had a business card. He said he had handed them all out. I then showed him the sketch and he reached into his pocked and pulled out a card. He explained that he had to ration them. He asked me for my card an I told him that I had handed them all out. Later in the day, I discovered a bunch of business cards in my wallet.

Lakeside Inn

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Once a year, Elaine Pasekoff, Bob Newlin and Jill Ziegler make a pilgrimage to Central Florida to attend the Renningers Antique Market in Mount Dora. The last several years Terry has joined them in their all day shopping fest. She has started collecting antique women’s compants encrusted in jewels. Last year she also came home with a huge railroad crossing sign. Bob who comes from Washington D.C. collects antique silver. Elayne comes from Miami and usually walks away with some Teddy Roosevelt memorabilia. Jill, also from D.C., has joined in the last several outings collecting fine china. I didn’t spend the day shopping, but I agreed to meet the exhausted shoppers at the Lakeside Inn where they were staying the night so they could continue shopping at the Renningers flea market the next day.

I got to the Inn a little early and decided to sketch the building. A women stopped to admire the sketch. She told me that a friend of hers was an artist. Teachers bought the girls work. In time however, the art student sold her soul to the devil and became a graphic designer. The crew parallel parked across the street from me.  They unloaded their haul for the day and made their way to the hotel’s front porch for “Show and Tell.” There were several people smoking cigars, so we all moved to a smaller porch on one of the hotel’s smaller buildings.

Elaine advised me to come up with “Best Of” categories for the best buys of the day. Last year Elaine won my vote by getting four French diorama scenes that were multilayered, adding depth to the scenes.This year Terry won the Sci-Fi Award for her purchase of an unused Star Trek board game. Elaine won the Best Teddy Award for a bust of the president. The Steal of the Day Award went to Jill. Bob’s knockers won my pick for the Best Overall Award. The mini working door knockers were on a tie clip.

We all watched the sun set over Lake Dora and then went out to dinner. We all stayed at the Inn, which is the longest standing working Inn in Florida. The next day as the troops rallied to shop again, I drove back to Orlando.