Serendipity in Mount Dora Florida

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Stella Arbelaez wanted to go to a public space to work. Being around people while writing can spark the creative juices. We drove to Mount Dora to find a place to sit and write and Serendipity fit the bill. It is a local artesian coffee shop and craft beer bar. What made Serendipity so appealing was that they have Karaoke night. We both ordered a cup of coffee and sat to sketch and then write. The room was rather small with 2 couches and three tables against the wall. A Santa doll was at the foot of the area where the DJ would be spinning the tunes. To our right was the bar where people could also sit, although most who crowded in, just stood in this area. The definition of serendipity is, to find something good without looking for it.

This was a challenging situation. I had no idea where singers might stand. I just started sketching the room and hoped for the best. People came and went rather quickly. The center table must have been repopulated three times during the course of my doing the sketch. All the Christmas decorations were already up, consisting of pictures covered in wrapping paper and a long green paper chain. Mount Dora goes hog wild decorating downtown with Christmas lights.

My sketch was completed before the first singer picked up a microphone. The three youngsters on the couch next to us turned out to be talented singers. The fellow with the torn jeans sang a song in a mockingly hilarious way. The music was incredibly loud, so Stella and I both put in ear plugs when we started tapping away on our laptops.

Singers came in waves. There was always some unexpected performance. Only a few singers made me cringe by hitting the wrong notes. One singer knocked over my coffee cup, but it had a cap and was mostly empty. There was no spillage.

It was a fun night and despite the intense volume I got plenty of sketching and writing done. I would gladly go back to Serendipity to experience Karaoke night again. Now that I know the layout and timing, I could go back to get a sketch of some singer at the microphone, and if I’m ambitious, I could put down the sketchbook and belt out a tune myself.

Serendipity 144 W 5th Ave, Mt Dora, FL 32757

Webster Westside Flea Market

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By Thomas Thorspecken

My friend Stella P. Alberaéz Tascón and I went to sketch and shop at the Webster Westside Flea Market. This produce sales area is just a fraction of what can be found at the market. We set up on and near a wooden bench.

Stella’s little grey dog, Boo Boo was a star attracting the attention of so many patrons who were entering the market. He would stretch out the leash to get all the attention and pets. Stella remarked that she heard the faint barking of dogs, but I couldn’t hear a thing.

The stand we were sketching has been at the market for three generations. There were green peppers, cucumbers, green beans and other assorted fresh produce. Some of the sellers had thick southern accents which they played up.

With our sketches complete we began to shop. Stella had a little granny cart which saved us the trouble of carrying so many bags of vegetables. I got some bananas, apples and Stella introduced me to three Colombian fruits, Tamarind, Passion Fruit and Mamey, also known as Zapote. I now have a jar of Tamarind which comes in brown pea shaped pods. The fruit is delicious, being a deep red and having a sharp and sweet taste. Mamey is an amazing sweet snack, being bright yellow inside with soft edible seeds and the passion fruit is bright orange inside and easily scooped up with a spoon. Stella, who was born in Colombia, and came to America when she was 15, explained that you could have a different fruit every day of the year in Colombia and never run short of varieties.

Next to these market stalls there were many young puppies for sale in cages. Some pups looked playful while other looked like they were desperate to escape. Behind all these stalls is a vast array of stalls called the Swaporama, for flea market items. I haven’t explored this area yet. I am imagining it is like Renninger’s in Mount Dora but multiplied by 10. I enjoy shopping at this market where you can get fruit at a fraction of what you would pay at Publix. There is also an area of a cattle auction which I hope to return to and sketch.

50th Annual Mount Dora Art Festival

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On Sunday, I was going to sketch on the set of an independent film, titled Snow Globe, being shot locally. One of the actors got a bad case of the flu, so the shooting schedule was set back several weeks. Suddenly my Sunday was wide open for other sketch opportunities.

A neighbor across the street let me know that Mount Dora was holding its 50th Annual Art Festival all weekend so I decided to go. Parking for this event was going to be a challenge. Many residents opened up their driveways and yards charging $20 a pop to park. I decided to approach Mount Dora from the north and look for parking up there. Several side street had police signage saying parking was suspended temporarily. Side street parking was not an option, so I just kept driving north until a spot opened up. It was quite a hike to the event but I need the exercise. It was a gorgeous day but I was still sporting a hoodie and fleece. I was a sweaty mess by the time I got to Donnelly Park.

I walked one block through the narrow art festival tent valley. An online map showed that if I walked down one aisle ignoring what was on the opposite side of the street and then always turned right, I could see every booth.  I saw just 1 woman wearing a mask. The crowd was way too thick. Seeing every booth stopped being a priority. I cut through a tent to the sidewalks which were getting little use except by artist vendors. I could see glimpses of the art from the sidewalk and nothing drew me in begging for a closer view. Donnelly Park had port-o-potties which I used. I settled on this view since I love that old Donnelly House which is also a Masonic Lodge. Much of the house was hidden by foliage but the corner tower stood tall.

Later this month, I will be having a laser shoved up my corner tower to core out my innards so that I don’t have to pee every half hour. I am glad to say I finished this sketch in one sitting. Once done I immediately ran to the port-o-potties. If the sketch seems rushed of frenetic, that is why. I was told I would have to do exercised before the operation. This is my form of exercise, which is sitting as long as I can to finish a sketch. It is the one form of exercise I love to do.

Art in the Alley, Mount Dora

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Art in the Alley on the historic Roylleau Street in Mount Dora, Florida, is held every 2nd Friday. The alley runs for two blocks between 3rd Street and 5th Street. The alley is one block west of Baker Street and ends at the Donnelly Park, right at the Mount Dora Center for the Arts.

I had forgotten my artist stool, so I sat in a tangle of live Oak roots to sketch the entrance to the alley. All the trees were still lit up with Christmas lights. I took my rag and folded it up to add some cushioning against the hard knobby roots.

Several weeks prior, an artist friend of mine had a portrait on exhibit near here which we visited, and then we went into this Van Gogh themed bus to look at the art of Richard Barrenechea.The entire city was ablaze with Christmas lights and after the bus Stella and I went to the tai restaurant right next to the bus. To me that outdoor seating area reminds me of Van Gogh‘s painting of a provincial outdoor cafe. The Miso Soup warmed my soul and the Pad Thai noodles were sweet and delicious. Overall it was a great night on the town.

Richard had painted an entire house to look like Van Gogh’s Starry Night. On this night, driving into Mount Dora from Lake County, I saw the house for the first time right before entering the historic downtown. Sketching the house would be tricky since a large road runs right in front of it.

As I finished up my sketch, a mom was waiting to get her children across the very busy street. She wasn’t crossing the street to see art, rather she was crossing the street to get ice cream cones for her kids. A beautiful hostess encouraged people to enter the bus. Richard has converted this bus into a mobile art gallery of his work. The pop culture paintings are shiny with thick layers of varnish. I stumbled up the steps of the bus and lost my balance. I used my left hand to catch myself from falling. I asked Richard if I could just get a card and he said, “You are leaning on them.” Sure enough my left hand was right on a pile of cards. I laughed. I wonder how many others had lost their balance getting up those bus steps and stumbled upon the cards. That is some golden marketing right there.

Other than Richard’s bus, I only noticed one other artist with a table set up half way down the first block of the Alley. The central building in Donnlley Park had signs for a Highwayman exhibit. I peaked my head in but there was only a retirement party going on. Weather you are looking for ice cream or Art, downtown Mount Dora is buzzing on a Friday night,

Art in the Alley

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Christmas lights are ablaze in downtown Mount Dora. On every 2nd Friday of the month, Art in the Alley brings art, music, and more to Mount Dora. 

Art and music exhibitors line Royellou Lane, in the heart of downtown Mount Dora, showcasing their original art, handmade goods and acoustic sounds. Downtown galleries have extended hours and are open to the public free of charge.

This is a unique opportunity to experience a vibrant, eclectic mix of emerging and established artists.

Start your stroll at the Mount Dora Center for the Arts Gallery (138 East Fifth Avenue

Mount Dora, FL 32757) to pick up the Art in the Alley map. As you stroll down Royellou Lane have your map punched at each of the gallery stops along the way. Once you have visited all of the galleries, bring your completed punched map to the Gatehouse Gallery at the Lakeside Inn (100 Alexander St, Mt Dora, FL 32757) to be entered into a raffle for a special prize. By the way, the rocking chairs on the front port of the Lakeside Inn are a great place to watch the sunset should you want to make an evening of it.

Each month provides new themes and exhibitors to enjoy, completely free of charge.
So be sure to stop by each month to see what’s new!

The Galleries are open from 6 pm to 8 pm,
and the Sidewalk Artists and Musicians are out till 9 pm. The next Art in the Alley is January 10, 2020. Check out the sunset, some holiday lights and some art.

Renningers is always packed with visual surprises.

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I spent one day on the weekend exploring Renningers with the antiquing crew. In February vendors come from all around the country to set up booths on the grassy hillsides around Mount Dora. As everyone was exploring the indoor booths, I set off on my own to sketch a giant swordfish I had seen earlier in the day. The fish was the focal point for Florida Victorian Architectural Salvage and Antiques from Deland Florida. As I was sketching I noticed a woman with long flowing hair having her picture taken with the giant alligator. I tried to get her in the sketch but she moved on to quickly. Later as she was taking cell phone pictures of the World of Oddities Side show banners, I managed to catch her.

As she and her friend exited the booth they approached me curious about why I would sit in the middle of a huge Flea Market. Donna Lee Gauntlet introduced herself. It turned out that she is an artist herself and she was in Mount Dora on a “Girls Art Weekend”. Donna told me about how sketching every day in her art journal helped her get through a difficult time. In essence art saved her life. Both her parents were artists and she felt like she didn’t live up to their standards as a child first learning art. Later in her life however the habit of sketching every day took hold. Her art studio is called The Dizzy Dandelion Studio. She offers a program called “Just Drawing It Out” which teaches people to connect to their creativity using art journals. She offers prompts that ask the students to draw specific objects together in a scene. Donna is working on a book right now that uses her sketches and copy to share her joy at having discovered an artists lifestyle. Her sketches are vibrant, playful and often full of joy. Donna runs art therapy workshops with retirement home residents. She uses art and laughter as healing tools. That lead me to tell her about my sketching collaboration where I sketched elderly residents as an an author interviewed them.

Later that evening as the sun set, Elaine took us all to Heron Cay bed and breakfast. We weren’t staying here, but Elaine wanted to show us all the highwaymen paintings that were hanging in the old Victorian home. There were indeed paintings everywhere in the gorgeously ornate interior. Paintings lined the stairway, so I followed our crew upstairs. A bedroom door was open at the top of the stairs and I heard Terry inside saying “My husband is an artist too.” I had to poke my head in, and there was Donna lounging on a four poster bed with several of her girl friends sketching in their art journals. They asked to see my sketch from earlier in the day, and for once I wasn’t carrying my art bag. I ran down to the car to get it and then found the front door locked when I tried to get back in. Another guest on the porch eventually let me in. Back upstairs as they flipped through my sketchbook I thought about what a great sketch I could do in this ornate room. The wallpaper had blood red floral patterns and all the furniture was dark ornately carved wood. I wanted to linger (sketch) but downstairs Elaine told Terry that they would leave without me if I didn’t hurry up. Upstairs, we took a couple of photos and then I rushed off to get dinner in Downtown Mount Dora. The moon was so bright that night as it shimmered above Lake Dora.

The annual Renningers antiquing outing.

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Every year, Terry’s friends Elaine Pasekoff and Bob Newlen come to Central Florida for a Renningers Antiques shopping extravaganza. Elaine drove up from Miami and Bob flew in from Washington DC. Bob has a very responsible job at the Library of Congress, but when he gets to Florida he is all fun. When I got home from work, I found Bob asleep on the couch. He must have had an exhausting flight.

Terry was busy preparing dinner for our guests and Elaine kept her company as they caught up. There is always plenty of laughter when this crew gets together. After dinner, Bob went down to Sand Lake Road to stay in a brand new hotel that opened just last year. We dropped him off and peeked at his suite. He was living like a sultan rather than slumming it on our couch or guest bedroom.

Terry, Elaine and Bob drove up to Renningers in Mount Dora the next day. The intended to shop until they dropped all weekend. I had a class to teach, so I had a pass the first day. I drove up that night and we all sat on the porch of the Mount Dora Inn for a show and tell session. Everyone had a pile of loot and I got to play judge deciding what was the most unique, quirky and beautiful in the lot.I would make up a new category if an item called for it. I particularly liked a travel booklet for Cuba from the 1950s. That Elaine had picked up. There was an ad inside for Cuba’s only Jewish Deli.

Terry’s Time Trials.

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Terry bought a very sporty Porsche. There is little reason to have such a fast car unless you want to drive super fast. Since getting the car she has been taking it to time trials to test her limits. The track was way out on the west side of town up near Mount Dora. The “track” was actually a large open parking lot next to a shooting range. As we approached we could hear the constant sound of fire arms being discharged. It added to the sense of reckless danger.

Cones were set up in the lot to outline the many turns on the test track. Everyone walked the track to get a feel for the layout. Since Terry didn’t have a number for her car, she put a single strip of Blue Duck Tape on the door for the number 1. A sophisticated timing system was set up to keep track of each drivers drive time. Only one driver was on the track at a time. Since this was Terry’s first taste of a time trial, an experienced driver went with her to coach her on how to attack the track. Beginning drivers were first on the track.

When Terry got on the track, the announcer joked that she was certainly having a leisurely Sunday drive. Each time she got on the track however, she improved her time. Her best time 54.031 seconds was less than half the time of her first attempt. She made slow and steady progress. One guy lost control and spun off the track. She smartly pushed herself without going past the breaking point. Driving helmets were required. Her car is in my sketch. It is the silver Porsche with the black soft top convertible roof. Apparently if the car were to roll over, there are support braces that would instantly rise up behind the bucket seats to protect the roof from crushing the drivers head.

After the time trials all the drivers gathered for a Subway‘s catered lunch on the picnic tables by the gun range. There were some very serious drivers who clocked some amazing times that day. Between rounds the drivers would have to wait an eternity for their next turn at the track. For that reason Terry isn’t a great fan of the time trial process. She is still looking to improve her time and push her car to it’s limit. For me it was a relaxing weekend sketch opportunity.

Hank Williams comes to life in “Lost Highway”.

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Andy Matchett left me a message to let me know tech rehearsals were in progress for Hank Williams “Lost Highway at the Sonnentag Theatre at the Icehouse in Mount Dora. Andy stars in the show as Hank Williams. The show opened with Hank’s mom sitting in a rocking chair on her porch reminiscing about her son’s childhood. He was a mamma’s boy. Opposite her on stage, a blues man sang a soulful tune. Hank went to this singer and played an early song he wrote about a UPA worker who was disgruntled. Hanks mentor asked, “Did you ever work for the UPA?” “No” said Hank. “Well, why you singing about someone Else’s problems?” “You have to use your own experiences.” Hank took the words to heart and is songs blossomed,

Hanks wife was an interesting character. She recognized his talents and helped promote him. Then she decided she needed to step into the spot light and sing. The trouble is, she was tone deaf. I grimaced when I first heard her and thought, how did they cast such an awful singer? But the actress probably had to rehearse many times to hit those notes.  Hank let her sing beside him and even write a few bad songs. But his talents would drown her out until she would stomp off stage in a huff. His earnings he would hand over to her and he would never see a dime. He loved her dearly but also wanted to kill her at times. The attention she craved, she found in the arms of other men and eventually she left hank.

Hank Williams flame burned bright and he achieved all his success in his 20s. But he turned to drink and even performed drunk sometimes. He had a mean streak when drunk and his band mates just had to put up with it. A truck stop waitress tended her bar for much of the show. She acted as the narrator, explaining Hanks influence on the people of Alabama and the whole country. As Hank performed she would be bobbing her head or sweeping the floors to the sway and beat of his songs. Her love and appreciation of the music was contagious. She dreamed of one day escaping the waitressing and driving off in a fancy car. That dream came true when a drunk Hank Williams entered her cafe. She left with him that night and drove his Cadillac while they howled at the moon. Instead of being a romantic interlude however, he passed out. She stayed with him until morning but that was their only night together.

While being driven between gigs, Hank passed out in the back seat of his car. The driver thought he was sleeping, but he had died at the tender age of 29. There was enough alcohol and drugs in him to pickle the man, but the coroner politely wrote it off as a heart attack. The band released several albums after Hanks death and those sad songs were more popular than ever. It is as if people need a performer’s sadness to feed off of even after death.

Hank Williams “Lost Highway” written by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik Directed by Darlin Barry runs from March 20 to April 12, 2015 at the Sonnentag Theatre in the Icehouse 1101 North Unser Street Mount Dora FL.

Tickets:

$20 All Adults (Fri- Sun)

$18 All Adults (Thursdays)

$17 Groups (15 or more)

$15 (age 18+ with student ID)

$10 (ages 5 – 17)

Showtimes:

Thursdays: 7:30 PM

Showtimes:

Fridays: 8:00 PM
Saturdays: 2:00 PM or 8:00 PM

Sundays:   2:00 PM

Call for Saturday show times

Eric Schlosser spoke about his new book Command and Control at Rollins College.

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Eric Schlosser‘s new book, Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety is about the insanity of keeping a nuclear arsenal. He began research on the book after hearing horror stories from enlisted men who are tasked with maintaining these aging nuclear weapons. Many documents have recently been declasifIed, making research possible. He told a story about a simple maintenance worker in a launch silo who was tightening a bolt and accidentally dropped his wrench. It clamored downward and just missed hitting a device which would have caused the bomb to explode.

The nuclear bombs that exploded in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were apparently very inefficient devices. Only 30% of the uranium was part of the nuclear fission used in the blast. The rest of the uranium was just dissipated by the explosions. Had these bombs been better designed, the devastation of the blast would have been much greater. I didn’t realize that an atomic bomb is designed to explode in the air just before impact. This means that none of the blasts downward percussive force was wasted.

The arms race resulted in countries hoarding as many weapons of mass destruction as possible. There is something known as the Titanic Effect. Basically every machine eventually fails which is why we need to buy new cars or build new planes. No matter how many safe guards there are, a device will fail because of aging outdated components, or human error. If you have ever driven on the roads in Florida then you know that humans can’t be trusted to use machines with safety in mind. A recent airplane crash wasn’t caused by pilot error or the engine failing, instead the crash was caused by the seat back entertainment system failing and causing a fire. An airplane was used to transport a nuclear warhead from one storage facility to another. The plane crashed in the Carolinas and thankfully the bomb didn’t explode. A huge disaster was narrowly averted. Luck only lasts so long.  The bulk of our nuclear arsenal is using outdated technology from the 60’s and 70’s.

When the first nuclear bomb was exploded as a test, the scientist weren’t sure if it might burn away the entire atmosphere leaving a dead planet. Thankfully that didn’t happen but the incessant testing through the years has littered the atmosphere with harmful radiation that will last for centuries. Our need for bigger bombs as security is slowly killing us all. The Russians have created the largest bomb to date, the Tsar Bomba, with a 100 Mega Ton yield. If that puppy were to detonate above Disney World, the air blast radius would go as far north as Mount Dora and as far west as Bithlo. At 5 psi overpressure, most residential buildings
would collapse, injuries would be universal, and fatalities widespread. Of course the radio active fallout would drift further killing many more. Oh, Happy New Year!