Horror in the Milk District

Posted on by Thor

I went to a Drink and Draw in the Milk District and parked on a side street. When I left the event I noticed a bright orange glow and decided to change my route home and drive towards the light. On Kilgore between Primrose and Graham I found this lawn littered with graves and a skeletal dragon. Since I had already done a sketch for the night I wanted to get home but I made a mental note to return the next night.

On Hallows Eve I returned and parked a short distance away, not wanting to block the view. I considered sketching from across the street but a neighbor had on a bright light which I considered a distraction. Instead, I sat right on the curb and started to catch as much of the scene as I could. Fairly early in the sketch, I noticed the owner of the home walk out looking at his cell phone. I figured he must have seen me from inside and wanted to see what I was up to.

He later related that his cat had been acting strange and so he wanted to see why. He then noticed birds chirping which was strange since it was nighttime. When he got to the end of his driveway I decided to say hello. He nearly jumped out of his skin, a reaction I hadn’t expected. He hadn’t seen me until I spoke up. He later said that he thought I was seated in a wheel chair. I must have been a ghostly apparition. Then we joked and talked for a while. I told him about my childhood memories of carving hundreds of pumpkins each Halloween for my families annual display.

Most of the figures on his lawn are action motivated. The dragon’s eyes light up and he opens his mouth to hiss. The skeletal cat and skeleton leaning against a gravestone do much the same. Neighbor walked by to check out the display, and Pam Schwartz joined me to check out the display. She chatted to people as I sketched. It was a friendly relaxing neighborhood gathering.

Corporate 5K.

Posted on by Thor

While driving through the Milk District, traffic backed up due to a corporate 5k run. Rather than get inpatient or upset, I decided to park my car on a side street and walk over to watch the racers run up Bumby and turn onto Roseland. Police were at the intersection with a motorcycle to keep the peace. Several racers shouted out to thank them for their public service. As I sketched the sun sank in the west casting ever longer shadows. Runners slowly dwindled until there were only walkers and the final staggerers made their way towards Lake Eola. Such runs happen fairly often and signs warn locals about the road closures.

Hoods Up is an abandoned gas station and auto repair shop. With huge development happening in the Milk District, this corner lot is sure to become something new soon. My guess would be a luxury apartment building. A tiny birdhouse was perched on the stop light pole. It is likely the work of local artist Brendan O’Connor. I’m surprised the police weren’t shimmying up to take it down. It must be against code.

Beemo Performed at Space Bar.

Posted on by Thor

I was sketching at Pints for Pulse, a fundraiser held at Festiva1 Park (2911 Robinson Street, Orlando FL). in the Milk District. The fundraiser had every micro brewery offering samples for a set admission price. Local bands performed on the main stage. I sketched The City Song Players as they performed “Finger on the Pulse” for the first tin in public. After hearing that song, I decided I had to use it as the soundtrack for a three minute short film I assembled using all the sketches I did of all the vigils and fundraisers after the Pulse tragedy. I’ve been documenting Orlando’s attempts to heal. The arts community has bee instrumental in helping the community heal.

Wendy Wallenberg whisked in behind me as I finished up my sketch. She insisted that I needed to sketch a note event in the more urban and hip area of the Milk District. Her Porsche was parked nearby and she offered to drive me. The drive was only three or four blocks, but it was the scariest drive of my life. Wendy is a frantic speed freak of a driver. It felt like we made the whole trip on two wheels after we careened through the first curve. When skidded to a stop in front of the Space Bar. She told me that I needed to sketch an artist that does paintings with his teeth. I wandered among the tents in the parking lot but didn’t notice anyone painting with their teeth. So I went into the Space Bar and watched Beemo performing. The lead guitarist’s parents were there and the watched as I did the sketch. It was a fun, upbeat performance. Then I walked the few blocks back to Festival Park.

Beartoe at Love by Design in the Milk District.

Posted on by Thor

Love by Design held in the Milk District, (2424 E Robinson St, Orlando, FL) was an all-day celebration of The City Beautiful’s talent, diversity and resilience. Local artists and designers will donate original work for sale and auction. Food and entertainment will be provided by local musicians and food trucks. Proceeds will benefit OneOrlando, the fund formed by the mayor’s office to respond to the needs of our community in the wake of the Pulse Tragedy.

Beartoe was the second band to get on stage a fly I arrived. It was a scorcher with the limited audience sitting under a tent in a parking lot. I was devouring a “Thor” from the Swedish Food Truck. A Thor, is basically a hotdog in a wrap surrounded by mashed potatoes and those crunchiest I usually only experience on Thanksgiving on top of green beans. It was a very filling meal washed down by a pear cider. It felt good knowing that proceeds would go to OneOrlando.

 Beartoe has been writing, performing and touring from The Historical
DeLand florida for over 10 years. With a 4 piece outfit they bring soul,
blues, country and folk together in a powerful way. They are very
quickly becoming recognized as a Florida staple. Look for them on the festival circuits and around
Florida. This is an act you don’t want to miss.

Spacebar Tournament Marvel vs. Capcom

Posted on by Thor

On February 19th, I went to the Milk District’s Spacebar,( 2428 E. Robinson Street, Orlando), to sketch an arcade game tournament. The grand prize would be a $25 bar tab.
The event started at 10 p.m.I had never been to Spacebar before. The bar was super crowded when I entered. One wall had vintage arcade games like Ms. Pac Man and pinball machines. The Marvel and Capcom machines I believe were first person fighters although it was hard to see the screens from my vantage point.

Since there were no seats available with a good view, I sat on my artist stool next to the door. The proprietor asked me what I was up to. I explained about the blog since he might have been thinking I was some weird homeless guy who brings his own seat into bars.  I asked for a light fruity beer and he suggested a German beer called Wittekerke. It was good. I sipped it slow as I sketched.

It was hard to tell exactly when the tournament began since there were always people playing. Artist, Chris Tobar stopped by to say hello. He has work scattered all around town in a show he calls “The Adventures of my Dexterous Shadow” and he is having a scavenger hunt where art patrons have to take pictures of each piece to prove they saw it. The winner would get a free print.

The crowd had thinned a bit by the time the tournament began at 10p.m. In the end Paul Andrade won the grand prize. As I was packing up, the proprietor and his lovely bar maid stopped over to see the sketch. He hadn’t expected to see color. When I asked how much I owed for the beer, he said it was on the house. Whoo hooo! We have a winner!

Tasty Tuesday Shut Down by Police

Posted on by Thor

On June 19th, Mark Baratelli, of The Daily City, gave me a tip that a food truck event in the Milk District was being shut down by police. He felt that all the proprietors in the neighborhood were behind the event since it brought in a crowd. Apparently a business in the neighborhood did complain and there were reports that Code Enforcement was there. In Miami, food truck corals draw huge crowds to the trendy gallery district. I immediately drove over to see what was going on. As I approached the Milk District, I noticed a food truck driving away. The event was called Tasty Tuesdays and involved food trucks in a parking lot at the corner of Robinson and Graham. There was a small crowd of 20 to 30 people milling about. Some people were finishing off plates of food. Two police cars were parked in the middle of the road blocking traffic. Officers stood in the road with their arms crossed waiting for the food trucks to pack up and leave. Melissa’s Chicken and Waffles food truck closed up and pulled out of the parking lot as I sketched. A camera man from Fox 35 News started shooting video.

Saigon Sizzle on the left side of my sketch packed away a table and supplies and then backed out of the lot. I asked  the guy who was helping guide the driver why they had to leave. “The police say we are blocking traffic.” he said. “We assumed the organizer had all the right permits, but I guess not.” Slowly the crowd disappeared as the sun set behind the T.G. Lee’s Milk towers. A mosquito kept tickling my left elbow. I rushed to finish the sketch before I lost all my light. The Flattery, a black food truck was parked on the sidewalk and was the last to leave.

The Daily City contacted Commisioner Patti Sheehan and this is what she had to say. “City
staff is working with Tommy to try and get the issues resolved.  There
was a complaint from a nearby business.  I was aware of parking
concerns, and I had spoken to OPD about it, but I was unaware of the
code provision that does not allow sales from the city right-of-way. 
The trucks were warned, but a few decided to pay the fine and continue
selling. I would
rather work this out so that all of the codes are understood and
followed, and the event can continue. I do not think this is a bad omen
for food trucks in general, just a hiccup with a group trying to
promote an event that needs to be a little more familiar with our
rules.” Read the rest here…

Tasty Tuesdays in The Milk District had this to say on Facebook, “One
of the businesses on the street complained one too many times. Worst
case scenario, next week the trucks will be in the Spacebar/Sandwich
Bar, Etoile Boutique/Milk Bar, and Doggy Day Care parking lots. Best
case scenario, we’re back on the street – we will keep you all updated.
Small businesses for the win!”

Yum! Yum!  I drove home and had a hot dog for dinner. I was starving.

Got Milk?

Posted on by Thor

Orlando had dubbed a new neighborhood “The Milk District“. It can be found south of the TB Lee Milk Factory behind the Colonial Plaza. A huge “Milk Shake” party was thrown to christen the new neighborhood. Businesses in the neighborhood include: Vinyl Richies Wiggly World of Records, Drop Shop, Retro Records, Sportstown Billiards, the Bull and the Bush and the Drunken Monkey among others. The “Milk Shake” party was to include DJs, live bands and plenty of food and drinks in a parking lot.

As I approached the neighborhood the sky grew dark, I heard the sound of music, and the rain drops began to fall. I ran for cover about a block away and sat down hoping to wait out the storm. I realized I had a wonderful view of the white factory towers silhouetted against the dark sky, so I got to work. Setting up my chair I noticed that there were 3 bullet holes in the plate glass window above my head. I wonder what that was all about?

Once in a while 20 somethings would run towards the music with coats shielding their heads or people would be running the other way on beer runs. One huge teddy bear of a man with dreadlocks stopped to see what I was up to as I got close to finishing the sketch. He was MC Swam and he had just finished his shift as a DJ. He said I was keeping it real and if I could draw like that I should be making a mint doing t-shirts. I gave him a card and said I am always up for any freelance. When the sketch was done I realized I had what I came for. I didn’t need to see the bands, or watch kids getting drunk, I already had my high for the day.