Beefy King Reopens

Posted on by Thor

Beefy King (424 N Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL) is a family owned restaurant that has been an Orlando landmark since 1968. They have been serving the best roast beef sandwiches in Orlando for over 50 years. They offering a variety of mouthwatering Roast Beef, Ham, Turkey, Pastrami,
Corned Beef, Bar BQ Beef and Bar BQ Pork all served hot, fresh and made
to order.

The restaurant had to close down after a fire behind the property. The manager of Drunken Monkey, the coffee shop that neighbors Beefy
King, called police officers about a man disturbing customers Tuesday
night. One Drunken Monkey employee told police she also saw someone behind Beefy King holding lighters.

Police arrested a man they say started the fire at 1am Tuesday November 11, 2019 at Beefy King. John Huff, 36, was arrested after police said video from a nearby business showed
him behind the building at around the same time the fire was reported. Huff admitted in an affidavit that he set the fire. Police found him at the Drunken Monkey. He uttered twice that he set the fire as he was being transported in the police vehicle. No one knows why he set the fire.

Beefy King owner Shannon Smith – Woodrow could not understand why someone would want to hurt a small local business. The fire caused an estimated $3000 of damage. Luckily most of the damage was outside along the back wall of the building. Huff was booked into the Orange County Jail early Wednesday and was being held on a $3,500 bond. He was expected to appear in court o the same day.

Beefy King reopened on Wednesday November 20, 2019. Contractors offered to do the repairs and the city of Orlando sped up inspections. Customers were waiting in line before the restaurant even opened. Hundreds of dedicated costumers went to dine there on opening day.

Digital Captives at The Drunken Monkey

Posted on by Thor

I often go to The Drunken Monkey (444 N Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL) after work if I need to kill some time before heading out to an evening event. I enjoy the coffee, hot paninis and the local art on the walls. Patrons are almost always sitting alone staring at their laptops. While they are captives to their computers, I am captive to my sketch pad. My sketching must be more socially acceptable today because people are often busy working while in a crowd. Since everyone around me is so involved looking at computer screens, they never suspect that they are being sketched. I used to use a baseball cap to hide my gaze from suspicious models but now I can stare with immunity. At times I feel I should have been born at the turn of the century but it is easy to blend in while sketching today. Perhaps I have been born at the right time.

I no longer go to Drunken Monkey since they used one of my
sketches without consulting me on their Internet welcome page. I usually
support local businesses but I can’t support theft.

No More Drunken Monkey

Posted on by Thor

I stopped off at the Drunken Monkey, (444 N Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL.) to meet Terry before heading to a party at Matt Rankin‘s house which was right down the street. The party was for Amanda and Matt Simantov who had just been married. Matt explained that the celebration was known as Ma’sshe Kanut. Ma’shhe Kanut is a Jewish Custom where friends wish the Bride and Groom Farewell before they returned home to their Seattle homeland.

A Traditional Ma’sshe Kanut is held at the friend of the bride. Ancient Rabbinic Law mandates a Fire to burn from the beginning of Ma’sshe Kanut (1 hour after sundown) until the last guest takes a hint that everyone wants to go to bed. If this is your first Ma’sshe Kanut, it is customary to bring Kosher Yuengling, Kosher Doritos, or Kosher something everyone will like.

Terry was running a little late, so I figured I had enough time to dash off a quick sketch over a cup of coffee. As always people sat transfixed, staring at computer screens, but who am I to talk. I’m staring at a computer screen right now. Jessica Pauli who is a band promoter was having a meeting at the next table over. All that I overheard is that the venue being discussed had a large comfortable green room. I wonder if I had sketched in that greenroom?

Terry arrived as the last watercolor washes were drying. We walked together down to Matt’s house. Matt was in the backyard nursing the fire pit. It was a cold night so I rotated periodically like a pig on a spit. Chairs circled the fire and soon everyone arrived. Marshmallows were roasted on sticks.  I had a stick with multiple branches but I only roasted one marshmallow. Brian Feldman had come from Washington D.C. to witness the wedding and after this fireside chat, Amanda and Matt would fly off to Washington State.

It was toward the end of the evening when I discovered that there is no such thing as a Ma’ssh Kanut. Matt had made up the word. That didn’t detract from the warmth and fellowship of the fire. I no longer go to Drunken Monkey since they used one of my sketches without consulting me on their Internet welcome page. I usually support local businesses but I can’t support theft.

Authors at the Drunken Monkey

Posted on by Thor

My plan was to sketch an album release party and concert for Everyday Ghosts. I was early so I ordered some food and an iced coffee at The Drunken Monkey (444 North Bumby Avenue  Orlando). There was a group of authors seated at the table in front of me and I couldn’t resist a sketch. Much of the conversation centered around self publishing and how that has changed the scene for authors. There was some discussion about how social media has changed how they promote their work. Each author had something unique to add based on their experiences. I really should have taken notes. I could have learned a thing or two. A woman who looked like a naval officer had dinner alone while reading her iPad. As a matter of fact all the other costomers were staring at computer screens.

When I was finished, I walked across Bumby Avenue towards the Plaza Theater. I was surprised that there wasn’t a crowd at the entrance. Something was wrong. I stood outside the locked, darkened theater and double checked my calendar on my iPhone. Unbelievable! The concert was NEXT week! I was going to be out of town so I would miss the big premiere. Thank goodness I sketched while I ate dinner.

I no longer go to Drunken Monkey since they used one of my
sketches without consulting me on their Internet welcome page. I usually
support local businesses but I can’t support theft.

Drunken Monkey

Posted on by Thor

That clock on the wall must have stopped. I agreed to meet Terry for a Beau Soleil concert at the Plaza Theater. Beau Soleil is a Cajun band and Terry just loves them as do I. I decided not to sketch the concert, so instead I went over to the Drunken Monkey right across the street to eat and sketch. I ordered a hot Portobello mushroom sandwich that was absolutely amazing. To drink, I ordered a mango slushy. A guy seated on a couch in the corner of the room was reading his iPad. Hear no evil and speak no evil wooden monkeys were squatting on a bookcase full of board games. The woman seated at the table in front of me had the intriguing habit of holding her index fingers over her lips when she wasn’t speaking.

A heart made of broken mirror shards was mounted on four colorful panels next to the door. As I sketched, someone approached and said, “You’re that artist!” I didn’t quite know how to respond. It was Banjo Bob. He showed me a painting of an owl on a wood panel he was working on. He had been painting outside, but it had started to drizzle. Banjo works at the Drunken Monkey and he said I could exhibit my sketches there any time. I just might take him up on that offer sometime. Hot soup, hot coffee, warm heart. I always enjoy returning to the Drunken Monkey.

The Beau Soleil concert was amazing. The crowd was older than I expected with plenty of gray hair. When I glance in the mirror however, I realize, I fit right in. Terry and I danced quite a bit. Since I wasn’t sketching, I soaked in the music and drank. After two beers I was dancing like Fred Astaire. Terry suggested we show off our best Cajun dance moves. Another couple had some really smooth moves as well. Between sets, I talked to the woman, Joanne Conero. She and her husband Al teach dancing up in the Villages. She was also a member of the Clearwater environmental group. It was at a Clearwater festival more than 20 years ago. Incredibly small world. When Terry returned with another beer, we were shown a new move which we now have to try out sometime. I miss the Clearwater, a community with a heart and a cause.

I no longer go to Drunken Monkey since they used one of my
sketches without consulting me on their Internet welcome page. I usually
support local businesses but I can’t support theft. This was the sketch stolen.