Lake Lily – Analog Artist Digital World

On June 10th, The Mother Band performed at Lake Lily as part of the Maitland Food Truck Cafe event. The band was just starting to set up when I arrived. My focus shifted to the long line of food trucks, so I sat down and started to sketch. A TV news crew was there interviewing food truck chefs. That made me suspect that I was on the cusp of a breaking story. Perhaps a food truck was a front for a huge drug trafficking ring. A gun fight could break out, forcing me to sketch from behind the cover of a tree. Perhaps it is mob week on TV and I’m imagining things.

I’ve seen the retro styled Yum Yum truck before at other Food Truck events. The Tree House Truck was new to me. A mom and her daughter ordered a meal and sat at a picnic table to eat. A Korean girl looked over my shoulder inspecting at every line as I put it on the page. The sky was getting grey with storm clouds and thunder rumbled across the lake. It began to rain with a trickle of large wet drops to start. I was under the cover of a tree and the leaves offered shelter for my sketch at first. Then the deluge started and I quickly packed away the sketch and ran for my car. By default, the sketch was done. As I drove home, I realized I was hungry. Why on earth didn’t I order some food. I’d make a terrible “Foodie” since my focus on sketching distracts me from tasting. I also forgot to listen in to how the band sounded in the distance. Strike two for my in depth reporting.

Mark your Calendars! The Maitland Food Truck Cafe is tonight, Wednesday August 21st and August 28th starting at 6pm on the shore of Lake Lily. The event is closed for the month of September and will reopen on the first Wednesday of every month starting in October.

The Food Truck Cafe occurs every Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm at Lake Lily Park in Maitland, located at the intersection of State Road 17-92 and Maitland Avenue in Maitland. Typically anywhere from 5 to 8 different Food Truck concepts will participate. All of Food Trucks are unique, all them are independently owned and managed, and the dishes I tried from Big Wheel were delicious. Current participants include: The Korean BBQ Taco Box, The Crooked Spoon , Big Wheel Provisions , Redeye BBQ , The Treehouse Truck, and The Yum Yum Cupcake Truck.

The parking lot at Lake Lilly park was packed but I lucked into a close spot as someone pulled out. I was there to see Black and White with Beth Black on violin and Jim Bass on keys and guitar. The food trucks were lined up along the waterfront and there were tables set up on the cement boardwalk so people could sit and enjoy their meals. Between the clusters of tables was the performers tent. I know Beth because she volunteers for the Florida Film Festival. They performed a variety of covers. Beth had a sweet singing voice. The parks department had a menacing red lock box set up to accept tips for the performers. Children took delight in the live music sometimes swaying and dancing. As the sun set, the light sparkled on the lily pad encrusted lake. Lines for the food were short and the event was very family friendly.