Pre-Pandemic: HoodSTOCK-in tribute to 1969

Posted on by Thor

I went to Nora’s Sugar Shack to witness HoodSTOCK, In tribute to 1969!The event happened mostly behind the Sugar Shakc in partnership with Mills 50 and the Ivanhoe Village Community.

The events over the course of four days were to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original Woodstock. Local creatives were showcased from Orlando through music, art, performance, spoken word, film, dance, and more.

Attendees could obtain special discount offerings on food, drink, services, and products. Also, Hoodstock was opening the conversation about establishing a permanent location for street performers, and buskers to perform in the future.

I went hoping to sketch one of the many musicians but I timed it wrong.  Vendors were just beginning to set up in the parking lot and attendance was light. My assumption is that it might have gotten much more crowded as the evening wore on. I miss these innocent days of documenting local gatherings. Hopefully after vaccines, life will slowly return to normal.

The POTUS has announced that he intends to hold a Woodstock style rally right here in Florida on the same day Joe Biden is inaugurated. Prepare for the super spreader event of the century! They are bound to have mind altering drugs!

Pop Up Gallery at Nora’s Sugar Shack

Posted on by Thor

I went to Nora’s Sugar Shack (636 Virginia Drive Orlando
FL) to sketch the opening of a
Pop up gallery show for photographer Robert “Kap” Kaplinger. This was the debut
of a monthly series of shows at Nora’s. The shows are a collaboration between
Nora Booker and Frankie Messina of Apartment E. These pop up exhibits happen
every second Tuesday of each month.

Nora’s Sugar Shack is a quirky little white clapboard
bungalow with a red door, although the entrance is actually around back. The
place offers wine, beer and cigars. The gallery was in a small room maybe 10 by
15 feet in size. Frankie Messina set up his analog record DJ station at one end
of the room and I sat down beside him for my view of the event. The opening was
well attended. Nora stood behind the bar.

The photos were black and white featuring native Florida flora and fauna.
The crowd got so dense that they spilled out onto the patio which is where a
few puffed on cigars. One guy wore the same hat as Heisenberg in Breaking Bad,
so I ended up sketching him several times. Nora’s has the vibe of an antique
shop with fun nick knacks and vintage lighting. A small table in the corner
had some bottles of wine and some information about the photographer.