The Special Event at the Tin Roof.

Posted on by Thor

Stacey Paul Barabie asked me to help out at a event lunch held at the Tin Roof (8371 International Dr, Orlando, FL). The lunch us for Special Events planner who had gathered at the Orlando Convention Center. My role was to execute a sketch that highlighted key concepts from attendees. The day for them started with a trip on the Orlando Eye which is a brand new huge Ferris Wheel which just went up on International Drive. About ten attendees would get onto a capsule on the eye w a moderator who would as them questions about how them questions about how they feel they could improve the event planning industry. 

I got to the Tin Roof around 10pm.  The band, Sweet Bea and the Boys was busy setting up their sound equipment.It decided to do the sketch digitally and the signal w then transferred to all the flat screen TVs that lined the room. I just had to plug the HDMI cable into my tablet and then I relaxed to draw the stage. I had to wait about an hour before I got on the Eye to sketch one of the meetings. Buses arrived full of conventioneers who then crowded in to a waiting area at the base of the Eye. There they were served champagne an cookies. Albert Einstein from Madam Tussuad’s Wax Museum was also there for photo opportunities. 

Uno’s Pizza

Posted on by Thor

After picking up some artwork at Drip, I went to have some pizza at Uno’s Chicago Grill (8250 International Drive Orlando, FL). I’ve been inside Uno’s before, but only when it was full of zombies. I searched for the cheapest single serving pizza I could find on the menu and it still was about $9. I quickly sketched the interior while I waited for the pizza to arrive. I asked the waiter about all the construction going on across the street on International Drive. A large one block area had been leveled just north of Ripley’s Believe it or Not. Apparently a very large aquarium is being build which would certainly bring in the tourist crowd. 



Over the next two years, more than a 500 million dollars worth of new projects are planned and visitors will be able to view it all from the
425 foot-high Orlando Eye which is scheduled to open in summer 2014.
The $250 redevelopment of the former Mercado site also plans to include
Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, Sea Life Aquarium, 232,850 square feet of
retail, restaurants and entertainment.

 At the heart of the new project is the Orlando Eye, a long-in-the-works
observation wheel inspired by the iconic London Eye found along the
Thames Embankment. A 425-foot tall observation wheel (actually three
feet taller than its London counterpart) will serve as the centerpiece
of the entertainment district, allowing guests to experience a near-30
minute journey into the Orlando air to see the city’s unique skyline. Of course people could see the Orlando skyline a whole lot better if the went downtown, but that is just crazy talk. Who would want to leave International Drive if it has a Ferris Wheel and an aquarium?

Early signers in the food and beverage department have begun to reveal
themselves. Red Robin, Outback Steakhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings and
Carrabba’s Italian Grill are existing Central Florida franchises that
will have new locations within I-Drive Live. Concepts new to the area
include Cooper’s Hawk Winery, Chuy’s Tex-Mex Restaurant, and Seafood
Republic, Orlando restaurateur Bobby Moore’s latest project for the
area.It looks like Uno’s is going to have stiff competition in 2014.