Joysticks Arcade Lounge and Retro Bar in Downtown Orlando

ODD 26 (Orlando Drink and Draw) was held at Joysticks Arcade Lounge and Retro Bar (69 E Pine St, Orlando, Florida 32801). Orlando Drink and Draw ventures to a new bar or restaurant each month to sample beers and sketch. There is no model fee and no instruction. This is just a chance to get out, meet fellow artists and draw. I’m hoping to sketch in Central Florida’s best and most unique dive bars, so suggestions are always welcome.

Joysticks is a gaming bar with retro video arcade machines as well as a full bar. I like the references to Little Shop of Horrors, Star Wars, Jaws, Ghost Busters and there is a Game of Thrones sword throne that is great for photo opportunities. Retro arcade games are scattered throughout and there are themes nooks for friends to gather. The place is a visual fest for the eyes and working digitally allowed me to push the extreme colored lighting in the sketch. Four or five artists stopped out and we sat at the round tables to sketch this unique space. Joysticks is the self proclaimed most popular arcade bar in Orlando, Florida. They have a wide selection of specialize drinks, craft beers, and retro
arcade games.

The joy of ODD is that I always get to meet several new artists and flip through their sketchbooks. Most people feel the eyes are a window to the soul, but for artists it is their sketchbooks.

Howl at the Moon Fundraiser.

Howl at the Moon raised money for In Harmony Nature Animal Haven. Patrons were invited to dress up their dogs for Yappy Hour at Orlando Brewing, (1301 Atlanta Ave, Orlando, FL 32806). Nature Animal Haven is a sanctuary for wolves, wolf dogs, dogs, cats, parrots, reptiles and pigs. They work to find forever homes for animals ready for adoption.

There were folks at the door to explain the event and accept $10 donations. The donation allowed for money off of draft beers. Pam Schwartz brought Sprout her gentleman of a mutt, He wore a green polka dot bow tie for the occasion. His hair was spiked up into a Mohawk for as long as it lasted. There were plenty of dogs in the house, and my favorite costume was the German Shepard in the foreground dressed in a yellow rain jacket with a red balloon. This is of course reminiscent of the beginning of the Stephen King movie, It, where a little boy chases a paper sail boat down a drain, only to have his arm ripped off by a demonic clown. The dog had all his limbs. Another smaller pooch won the costume contest wearing an inflatable power pack from Ghost Busters. His owner had on a similar power pack. They spent all their time at the bar and I didn’t notice them until the end.

There were wolf dogs and dogs everywhere. Sprout had a great time sniffing and meeting all the dogs, though none of them were particularly interested in playing. Dogs in Orlando are so well behaved. There was a silent auction and none of the items had bids yet, so Pam put starting bids on several items. She didn’t end up winning anything. She ordered us a beer sampler with 5 different beers. I liked the German Blonde beer the best.

Once the  sketch was done, we went outside to try Mighty Weenie which was vending Seattle-style hot dogs. What is different about these dogs is that they have thick cream cheese spread inside the buns along with onions. It was a rather bland tasting hot dog to be honest. It needed something other than white bread and cream cheese for flavor so I mounded on the sauerkraut.