I had been invited to the Market Colors Product Launch & Benefit Show at the new Redlight Redlight Beer Parlour (2810 Corrine Dr. Orlando). The event was to start at 7:30PM, and since I got off work at 5PM, I had some time to kill. I decided to get a bite to eat at Stardust Video and Coffee (1842 East Winter Park Road Orlando), which was just a block away. I ordered a humus plate and decided to sketch the Leopard Shark filled room. People gradually filled the bar stools as other patrons worked at their laptops. A group of women sat at a table next to mine and one woman discussed her divorce. As she put it, “Getting divorced is like having a car accident everyday for a month.”
When I was done with the sketch and the humus, I walked over to the new Redlight Redlight. The place was obviously still being refurbished since I could see through the front windows exposed wall studs and gypsum board lying around. The front door was locked. I checked my watch and it was a little after the event start time. There were supposed to be performances by Chris Burns, The Silver Fleece, Tigerweather, Civil Parish, and Rubox. This was to be the first time people will be able to see, touch, and buy Market Colors products.
The goal of Market Colors is to empower crafts women from Kenya and Malawi in Africa by having them make very marketable iPad, cell phone and laptop cases. This creative endeavour should help these women raise themselves from the status quo of prostitution and AIDS. Proceeds from the event, were to be reinvested toward supporting the crafts women. Market Colors goal is to raise both awareness and funding to best support them. I jiggled the front door handle again. Oh well, I might have missed a great fundraiser sketch opportunity.