Story Club

Posted on by Thor

“Orlando Story Club at The Abbey, (100 South Eola Drive, Orlando, FL 32801) returned this year giving anyone who wishes to tell a personal story a chance to put their name in a hat, to be selected at random to showcase their story telling for the enrichment of the local community.  The January event theme was “Life’s Lessons” and the benefiting charity was Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida.  This month’s event featured special guest storyteller and host Daniel Pacchioni and a performance by AdLib Theater.

Jack Graham told his life lesson story that involved stories told around a camp fire. People from all walks of life came together and connected on a special moonlit evening. I was convinced his story would hold first place but it eventually was usurped by a woman’s story about her father who drank heavily and her step father who she never truly appreciated until it was too late. Her emotional story awakened a desire to always appreciate those that are important in life. Never take for granted a single moment.

Mark your calendar, the next Story Club is Wednesday March 1st from 7pm to 9pm at the Abbey, 100 Suoth Eola Drive 3100 Orlando Florida. This month’s theme is ” I just had to have it.”

Orlando Story Club – Resolution!

Posted on by Thor

The Downtown Arts District and The Abbey (100 S Eola Dr, Orlando, Florida) presented the first Orlando Story Club event of 2016: Resolution! Admission was $5 at the door.  Producer/Director Robin Cowie, produces the unique and fun series, in which anyone who wishes
to tell a personal story is invited to put their name in a hat, and
selected individuals are chosen at random to showcase their story
telling for the enrichment of the Orlando community.  Judges award
prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.  A guest story teller
headlines every show, which has its own theme, and food, drinks and
laughter are available in abundance.  The January Orlando Story Club theme was
“Resolution,” and the benefiting charity was the Boys and Girls Clubs of
Central Florida, which provide safe places to learn and grow for nearly
14,000 at-risk children in the local community every year.

The word resolution has two great meanings for stories:
1. a firm decision to do or not to do something.
2. the action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter

Cowie formed Orlando Story Club and held the first event in March of 2014 after returning to Orlando from Los Angeles where he participated in a similar story telling group.  “It’s important to talk about the value of sharing your story,” says Cowie, alumni of the University of Central Florida.  “There is a reason why in a hectic, intense, media bombarded world the simple act of standing up and sharing your story is so enjoyable.  Anyone can put their name in a hat to tell a story.  This process is almost therapeutic for both the audience and the tellers.”  He continues, “I believe storytelling has more power to unite and build community than any other activity.  By sharing our raw life experiences with complete strangers we build incredibly strong bonds.  Besides, it’s always a truly hilarious and entertaining experience, and the proceeds benefit great local causes.”

 Banks Helfrich and Tisse Mallon from Living room Theater gave brief performances between storytellers based on audience prompts which were in a pink plastic storage container.  Robin acted as the MC, picking names from a hat and introducing the storytellers. My vote for the funniest Resolution story was told is Mike Calvo. He had a seeing eye dog who sat next to me to watch his masters story. Mike was assisted on the stage and stepped up to the microphone. He told a story a bout go, drinking with several buddies who ended up having to many drinks. There were smart enough to realize that they shouldn’t drive in their condition. Mike however was sober. The only problem was that Mike didn’t have a drivers license and he is blind. Where there is a will there is away, and his friends resolved to teach Mike how to drive. He got behind the wheel and slowly did loops around the parking lot with his friends shouting guidance. A policeman noticed the uncertain driving and he flashed his lights. He asked for Mikes license and registration which wasn’t available. Then he asked Mike to step out of the vehicle. Mike did so and unfurled his fold up tapping cane which snapped to attention. “You have got to be kidding me.” the officer responded. He called for back up just to share the experience because no one would believe him back at the station.

Mark tour Calendar! The next Orlando Story Club is March 2. Doors open at 6pm for food and drink. Show, laughter, and awe starts at 7pm. The March theme is “Body“. Like it or lump it we are all born with our bodies. It seems much of our life is spent just taking care of them. Join us as the Orlando Story Club explores our topsy turvey relationship with them. Every part will be explored! Anyone who wants to tell a story can put their name in the hat. Bring friends!

City Arts Factory

Posted on by Thor

As part of ArtsFest, City Arts Factory opened its doors for free. Actually, I’m pretty sure you can walk into City Arts Factory anytime for free anyway, but they were also offering a chance to register for a chance to win gift pack including tickets for two to SAK Comedy Lab and Jazz Brunch at the Grand Bohemian Hotel. Since I had time in the afternoon before going to Full Sail, I decided to go to City Arts to sketch. Of course the place was empty.

The hallways were lined with “Youthful Expressions” from children from the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida. It was fun to see some of the pieces awarded red, blue and yellow ribbons, just like in a Country Fair. The work was from children in the surrounding four counties. The winners of this exhibit would move on to exhibit in the Regional South Eastern competition. Winners from that would move on to a National exhibit. I still remember the thrill I had as a child when I won a blue ribbon in a county fair in New Jersey. Any one of these kids could one day become great artists if their work is valued. Perhaps one day, I can help inspire these kids.

I decided to sit in the hallway and sketch “Orlando Guitartown” created by Munte Olinger. The large Guitar was inspired by Counting Crows and contributed to the space by Ford Keane and Jennifer Quigley. I remembered that Ford Keane is the owner of the building that houses Avalon Gallery and he is the President and CEO of City Beverages. Jennifer Quigley is Principal of WBQ Engineering. Children’s art consisted of, a bowl of spaghetti, a sea monster, and a series of colorful circles.

I was most intrigued by hand prints in cement in an indentation in the tile floor. These were hand prints of Mayor Buddy Dyer, Ford Keane and Jennifer Quigley. This must have come about when Orlando had lofty ambitions of becoming Hollywood East. A pair of pliers and some nails were placed on the cement and then the hole was filled with a piss yellow resin. The only people that entered the hall were searching for the restrooms in the back. A husband fingered his cell phone as his wife was in the bathroom.