World Cup at Hollerbach’s

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On June 17th, I went up to Sanford to visit Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Deli to watch the World Cup. Hollerbach’s is a traditional German restaurant with the goal of providing you with a memorable meal and to experience German Gemuetlichkeit, which is a sense of
well-being and happiness that comes from enjoying the company of friends
and family while savoring good food and drink. Claudia Mundlos who runs a blog called Sanford 365 gave me a tip that the restaurant is a popular meeting place to watch World Cup Soccer. Apparently the place goes crazy when the German team is playing. Unfortunately I couldn’t get to Hollerbach’s on the day Germany was playing. 

Brazil was playing Mexico and the game resulted in not a single goal being scored. I’m used to watching basketball where hundreds of points are scores. In comparison, soccer seems slow but I’ve played and know it is damn fun when you are on the field. Hollerbach’s was only mildly full. Most patrons didn’t even notice the game. They focused on good food instead. I ordered some schnitzel and it was an amazing meal washed down with a cold beer.

John Rife and his wife Kamrin were in the crowd. He stopped over to say hello. They were on a date night and they stopped at Hollerbach’s as a rest stop. Such a small world. My work was on display at John’s, East End Market for many months. I just took down the show yesterday. The proprietor of the restaurant recognized my style because an illustration I did for Orlando Life, has been hanging on the wall near the restrooms for several years. The waitress in traditional garb also stopped by several times to check on my progress. I found out that there is one of those drink and paint events at Hollerbach’s once a week. For the price of admission people get a canvas and paint and they are walked through every step of creating a painting. I might return to sketch that someday. Even better are the German musicians who rock the place with German music. Check the restaurant’s calendar and get out to experience Glemuchlichkeit  for yourself.

A Family Night Out at O’ Stromboli Gourmet Italian Eatery

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There was going to be an event at Taps From Scratch a new bar across the street from Stardust Video and Coffee. Right after work, I drove to the Audubon Garden District and since I had time to kill before the event, I had dinner at O’ Stromboli Gourmet Italian Eatery (1803 East Winter Park Road


Orlando,
FL).  The last time I was inside this restaurant, there were zombies at a table eating spaghetti. I still regret that I didn’t sketch that scene. The place looks totally different than I remembered. I think there has been a major renovation.

At the bar, a father and son were seated watching the Andy Griffith Show. The boy who was about the age of Opie, was exploring the restaurant. Staff had given him permission to wander behind the bar and into the kitchen. Dad was enjoying a beer and talking non-stop on his cell phone. Mom stopped in sweaty from an afternoon run. The waitress, all in black would occasionally run up a costumer’s tab on the computer.

I decided to order a lasagna which was quite good. A fly had made his way into the restaurant and I spent much of my time swatting it away. In Germany I remember flies were a constant nuance in restaurants but they are usually less of a problem in America. That insistent bugger certainly detracted from my dining experience. Since I was also sketching my attention became scattered. After I ate there was still quite some time before the Taps from Scratch event. I decided to call it a night. I doubt I’ll ever return to O’Stromboli unless I suspect zombies might be slurping up strands of spaghetti.

Santiago’s Bodega

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I had an hour to kill before getting to The Venue to sketch a rehearsal, so I decided to stop at Santiago’s Bodega (802 Virginia Drive Orlando FL) to try their tapas. Right after the collapse of Disney Feature Animation, Kathy Schoeppner a feature animation artist decided to rent this space as a gallery. For a while this space exhibited the art from some of the most talented artists from the studio. Kathy would suggest a different theme each month and artists would create work inspired by that theme. I was proud to exhibit my work being surrounded by so much talent. Unfortunately an art gallery on Virginia drive wasn’t a profitable business venture at the time, and Kathy had to let the gallery go. She moved to Los Angeles following the talent and money that flooded out of Orlando at the time.

Anyway, back to the Bodega. The art on the walls was less than inspired. A sad theatrical mask painting behind the maîtra d’ station greeted people as the entered. I ordered a beer and some tapas all of which tasted great. I’m not much of a foodie, so I didn’t take note of the delicate tastes. I just wanted a quick munch before heading out to sketch. I can say that I’d gladly go back and this place is within walking distance from the Fringe so I will be doing just that quite soon. The entry area had a few chairs where people could sit while waiting for their significant other, or a table.

The waiter at my table took quite an interest in the sketch and he kept inviting more staff over to take a look. A commotion broke out at the table next to me. A bee had flown through the open entry door and it was buzzing and accosting the women. The braver of the two was swatting the bee with her menu while the other woman screamed and laughed. The bee just wouldn’t die. She finally trapped it in her napkin and handed it to the waiter who had run over to help. She warned him that the bee was still squirming inside the napkin. He walked away with the trapped bee and I choose to believe he set it free.

Howl at the Moon

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Howl at the Moon, 8815 International Dr, Orlando, FL, was bustling on the evening I decided to stop out and sketch. Inside people had obscenely large tropical drinks and the piano was blazing. A large party of people from the Orange County Convention Center were stuffed inside. I sat outside and sketched the crowd of people at the entrance. I found it ironic that a full moon was in the sky right behind the logo of a howling wolf perched on a piano.

Howl at the Moon rocks International Drive! the high-energy dueling pianos and awesome events make the dueling piano bar the coolest spot for Orlando nightlife! From corporate events to happy hour with friends to bachelorette parties,
the party is always at Howl at the Moon.

I keep thinking that I will return someday to sketch inside the piano bar, but I dread driving or International drive and parking around there. My car was towed once from a parking lot on International Drive, so I am very cautious, anytime I park there since I suspect that cars that are presumed to belong to tourists are targeted with the intent to make hundreds of quick bucks by seizing and holding cars hostage.  It is business as usual in Orlando.

Viet Garden

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Whenever I find myself with extra time before going to a theater or other event I often stop at Viet Garden (1237 East Colonial Drive, Orlando FL) for a bite. They serve the most delicious Pad Thai that I have ever tasted. The dish is prepared super quick and it is always super good. There are shrimp and peanut sauce soaked noodles along with light bits of chicken and seed sprouts. Once, I overpaid because the server and woman at the cash register had intercommunicated. The server ran out to the parking lot and caught me before I left. That kind of caring service is rare and it has made me a very loyal customer.

I am almost always alone and I am ushered to a window seat. Since I know what I love, I can usually immediately order. All of the walls in the restaurant are covered with beautiful murals depicting the Vietnamese landscape. Some of the sponge painting of the clouds could be refined, but over all, it is impressive. Mirrors help the room feel larger than it is.

I did this sketch on the evening of my Retrospective exhibit opening at Snap Space in the historic Cameo Theater (1013 East Colonial Drive, Orlando FL). I knew that at the opening I would be pulled in multiple directions with no time to sketch. I kind of regret that this important moment in my career wasn’t documented with a sketch. There are however plenty of photos to be found online. The opening was a whirlwind and it was wonderful to see so many friends and meet new people. A contingent of former Disney animators showed up. I probably hadn’t seen some of them in 10 years. Four original sketches sold almost immediately and that let me relax and enjoy the night. Other pieces kept selling, and when I wasn’t talking to patrons, I was signing books. Most important, I believe my work was introduced to people who hadn’t seen it before.

Jimmy John’s

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Whenever I need to grab a quick bite downtown, I get a sub at Jimmy John’s which is right across the street from City Arts Factory. This is seriously the fastest fast food imaginable and the subs have plenty of veggies like cucumbers. By the time the fountain drink is poured, the sandwich is ready. Between orders, the staff is busy cutting meats and veggies to keep the orders going quickly. All the slices are layered on sheets of wax paper so they can be added to a sandwich in one quick movement.

Outside bicycles are lined up for deliveries. I’m usually here after rush hour on my way to some art event. While doing this sketch, some guy must have assumed I was a manager because I was sketching. He asked where the bathrooms were and I pointed. After he was done, he lingered and mumbled to himself in annoyance. One of the staff told him he would have to order something or get out.

The Boathouse Oyster Bar

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The return trip to Orlando from Louisiana involved a stop over in the pan handle of Florida. Breaking up the drive made the trip much easier. This was the first time I was allowed to drive Terry’s new Porsche. I don’t think it is a good idea for me to have that much power in my hands. I revved the engine loudly on some quaint gulf-port town startling people walking on the sidewalk.

We stopped in Destin and walked along the docks. For lunch we went to The Boathouse Oyster Bar,  288 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL. Locals refer to the place as Destin’s best kept secret. Dollar bills covered the walls. Locals crowded around the bar watching a football playoff game. Terry and I decided to sit outside overlooking the water. Sea gulls swooped down hoping to grab our lunch. I put a sketchbook over my sandwich when I wasn’t eating it so it wouldn’t disappear.

Terry was trying to identify a sea bird and an older couple next to us identified it for her. The bird kept diving down looking to catch fish. Terry wanted to snap a photo with her iPhone but the bird would disappear under water right before she could click the shutter.

Peace River Seafood

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Terry, Pat and myself went to Peace River Seafood, 5337 Duncan Road, Punta Gorda, FL, on the day after Thanksgiving. This small roadside crab shack is a real gem. Outside live crabs were being sold almost off the boat. Inside signed dollar bills littered the walls woven into fishing nets. It was a cold day and we had a tough time finding a table without a draft. I had to move away from the door since a cold wind was blowing off the river. I ordered a fish sandwich and Pat ordered something light.

Terry however couldn’t resist getting a big plate of crabs. The waitress demonstrated a technique of breaking the shells using a carefully placed knife and hammer blow.  The incision had surgical accuracy. Terry however enjoyed simply bashing the shell with the hammer. Every morsel had to be wrestled from it’s shell. Terry is a slow eater anyway but this process slowed her down enough so that I had time to finish my sandwich and do a sketch. If we return, I will definitely get the crabs because Terry absolutely loved hers. In the end she couldn’t even finish what was on her plate. The carnage was everywhere, but she was satiated.

We also visited several antiques stores this day. The strangest thing we saw was a half sized animatronic Santa that sang and wiggled his hips. The Santa creeped Terry out. None of us found anything worth buying. I was on the lookout for vintage fountain pens but didn’t see one.

A Cracker Barrel Thanksgiving

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For Thanksgiving, Terry and I drove to Port Charlotte to visit my sister Pat Boehme. Pat has been on a diet and ultimately lost an incredible amount of weight. I had to take a health assessment for my insurance company and the results came back with big red X’s for each result right before the holidays. My body mass index showed that I am overweight. I need to reduce my waist circumference by two inches. My blood pressure showed that I am prehypertensive which puts me at risk for a heart attack or a stroke. Oddly my total cholesterol is too low, indicating I am malnourished or anemic. Put simply I am a  train wreck waiting to happen.

I asked my sister for advice on how I should change my diet and she gave me tons of pointers. She had a medical condition that actually kept her from exercising, so all the weight she lost was from carefully watching her calorie intake. The rules are pretty simple, less sugar and no breads with tons of vegetables.  Right now however the house is full of leftover food from a New Year’s Day party. That means we have tons of beers, sodas, potato chips, pastries and other assorted junk food. Dieting will have to wait until the fridge is purged.

Rather than cook a large Thanksgiving dinner, we all decided to go out to Cracker Barrel on Thanksgiving day. It is amazing how many people had the same ides. The parking lot was jammed and there was a long wait to get a table. The long front porch of the restaurant is lined with rocking chairs and most were full. Towards the end of the porch, we sat across from these teens sitting in baby sized rocking chairs playing a game of checkers. When we ultimately got to our table, Terry and I took turns playing with a game that was like checkers using golf tees inserted into holes drilled into a triangle shaped piece of wood. With only one tee missing the goal was to try and eliminate all but one tee by jumping over other tees thus eliminating them. I’m convinced the game is impossible to win. Terry and I always had three or more tees left over.

The Thanksgiving dinner had all the fixings and was quite delicious. I had to admire the efficiency with which all the comfort food was served. Pat ordered a light fish dish, keeping to her diet.  I wish I had the ability to turn away from the trimmings. No more stuffing!

Stardust

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I went to Stardust Video and Coffee (1842 Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL) with the plan to sketch Nerd Nite. I arrived right after work and ordered a Crispin’ Glover sandwich and a Coke. I was order number 15. Long tables in this room are made from old doors with an incredibly thick varnish over the surface. The varnish fills in all the doors panel insets. I assumed that the Nerd Night presenters would set up a movie screen in the small staging area framed by red curtains.

The great thing about Stardust is that people come here with laptops and notebooks to work. When you are in a room full of people busy working there is an energy that always motivates me to sketch. Although I might be alone, the activity and energy of the room makes me feel part of a vibrant community. In a digital world, we are all hungry to connect in our own unique way. I sit quietly watching and sketching while extroverts carry on fast animated conversations. The chatty moments as people mingle before an event begins are my most productive time.

I realized half way into the sketch that I was at Stardust on the wrong night. The army of nerds I hoped to sketch never showed. With so many events on my calendar, I sometimes get the date or time wrong. But I don’t care. There is plenty of beauty and drama to be found even in the everyday pace and flow of Stardust, it is what you make it.