Urban Flats – Analog Artist Digital World

On Thursday December 19th, I went downtown for Third Thursdays. On the Third Thursday of every month, all the downtown galleries open new exhibits. At the City Arts Factory, artists rent wall space. In the large courtyard between The Rusty Spoon and Urban Flats, Brad Michael Biggs rents out spots where artists can set up a table to sell their wares. Brad is the founder and owner of Art for All Spaces. Parker Sketch, who is a regular of the street sales scene, had a large display of his splashy pop imagery. In the past Parker had his work on display in the Thornton Park neighborhood on Third Thursday.

A young couple had a table full of tiny steam punk party top hats. There was an entire table full of paintings of bright boxy robots. A glass display case full of jewelry had a huge canvas poster behind it of a couple making out. Arts and crafts of all shapes and sizes were on display. When the sketch was finished, I hiked back downstairs and ended up photo bombing a family photo. On the way out, I passed Dresden Kincade‘s handmade jewelry. All her jewelry is handmade using wire and natural minerals. My wife Terry’s favorite color is purple and I saw a lovely Amethyst crystal necklace that she would love. On impulse, I bought it. Dresden wrapped it up along with a card describing the crystal’s powers. If it had the power to bring a moment of happiness it was well worth it.

Mark your calendar, the next Third Thursday is February 20th from 6pm to 9pm or so.

On August 21st I went downtown to go sketch a Yelp Happy Hour. Colleen (Blue) Burns is the Yelp community manager who organizes such events. These get-togethers are a great way to meet fellow Yelpers, those people whose write reviews about restaurants and just about any venue – for friendly conversation, lots of laughs and experience new local hangouts. The event was to take place at Eternal Tap (116 W Church St, Orlando, FL). As I walked down Church Street I couldn’t find and building numbers. I did however notice this large crowd of people gathered outside 55 West. This had to be a crowd of Yelpers.

I got busy sketching from a second story balcony. An afternoon rain shower had just passed and the pavement was still sparkling wet. Drinks were available from under the green tent and loud music pulsed inside the establishment. I got to watch the social exchange as guys moved in to speak to women. The women were dressed to the 9’s but some of the guys felt it was fine to show up in blue jeans. I was in jeans myself but I was separate from the happy hour scene.

A policeman stood vigil at the Church Street circle waiting for drunken mischief. It began to sprinkle and the gathering quickly darted inside. With the sketch done I peeked inside. This was Urban Flats (55 West Church Street Orlando FL) which is a chain restaurant. Lights flashed and the walls vibrated from the deep base in the music. Bars along Church Street were just starting to fill up. Eternal Tap must be further down Church Street, closer to the Amway Center. Pan handlers had moved into their positions for their daily take. Loft 55 Gallery and Boutique (55 West Church Street Suite 114 Orlando FL) was just a few steps away. I had met Ashlie Lawson, partner and director of marketing of this Micro-gallery just a few days before at the Solar Games open house. Mark Your Calendar! Every Wednesday artists gather outside the gallery to paint live and talk about art to passers by. Artists set up about 7pm and then paint late into the night. Hit a happy hour and then hang with some artists.