Lil Indies

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Lil Indies (1036 Mills Ave N, Orlando, FL 32803) is right next to Wills Pub. I hosted an Orlando Drink and Draw event (ODD) there and when I arrived, Indies was not open yet. I decided to take the time to do a sketch outside and meet any artists as they arrived. Storm clouds loomed a steely blue grey on the horizon. Mills has a constant flow of traffic, and as I did this sketch, a van pulled up to Wills and a band started unloading their instruments and equipment. The sign outside the club says, “no colors and no weapons” which is a good policy in this day and age. I don’t think they actually check for weapons.

The storm clouds blew my way, and it started to rain just before I was finished. I decided the sketch was done when the first big drops hit the page. Greg Bryla arrived just before the deluge and we went inside together.Lil Indies is decorated like I imagine my grandmothers basement would look like. Kitschy paintings adorn the walls, and vintage couches and chairs are scattered around the entry rooms.

The bar itself is built from various colors of hand stained boards and feels hand made. The signature cocktails can be delicious. I found a table in the corner for the artists and set about drawing the stage area. I believe four of us were drawing that night.

On this evening Tod Caviness was hosting a literary event called Loose Lips. Five writers reflect on the news
with their own words, their own frightening words, and the drinks flowed (some of the best cocktails in town are made at Lil’ Indies), and
the world shall continue on as though uninterrupted. It was a good night of drinking, drawing, listening, laughing and reflecting on where we are headed as a nation.


The next loose Lips will be July 3, 2018 at 8 p.m.again at Lil Indies. The event is 21 and over and will return under the terrifying regime of the Functionally Literate crew.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for Aprtil 28th and 29th

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Saturday April 28, 2018

10 a.m. to 9 p.m. $5 Oktoberfest. German American Society, 381 Orange Ln, Casselberry, FL 32707. The most authentic Oktoberfest in Central Florida. What makes the festival stand out above others is the dedication to
providing authentic and traditional German music, food, beer, and
entertainment. You will find a live band playing German
music in the Fest hall as well as a large outdoor beer garden. The food
menu offers home cooked schnitzels, sauerbraten, goulasch, wursts,
potato salad, potato pancakes and more. These items are prepared and
cooked by German American Society members. The plentiful bars offer genuine Hofbräu beers
imported from Germany as well as wine, German schnapps, and liquors. The
Orlando Trachtenverein provides traditional Bavarian dancing and entertainment on our large dance floors.

Vendor partners provide additional food items,
German/Bavarian clothing and souvenirs, children’s activities such as
bounce house, face painting, and more. The drink ware tent offers a
selection of steins, glassware, and boots you can purchase and take with
you to the beer tents.

Due to the popularity of this event and limited space, presale tickets are offered as a discounted price that will guarantee your
admission. Same day walk-up tickets are also available on a first come,
first serve basis. Parking is available at the
end of Orange lane through a 3rd party for a $5 fee. There are limited
disabled parking only spots on our property. Other business around the
area also offer parking.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. SPRING ART SALE (Just in time for Mother’s Day!) Crealdé Main Campus 600 St. Andrews Blvd
Winter Park, FL 32792. Crealdé artists sell their work.

5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Paint Out Garden Party. Part of the Witer Park Paint Out. Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens, 633 Osceola Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789.  Dress in comfy shoes–it’s a LONG night and it can get very warm in the gallery with so many people (400+)! There is no dress code, but I’d say cabaña chic/garden cocktail attire. Artists will be mingling with guests and engaging folks in conversation about their art. This is their night to shine and showcase your body of work that you worked so hard to produce!

****RIDE THE SHUTTLE

— On site parking is not available, but you can catch the Garden Party Shuttle from

the Sun Trust parking lot a few block away.

There
is NO PARKING permitted on Osceola Court, Henkel Circle or Trismen
Terrace. Visitors parking on these streets are subject to towing per the
parking restriction by the City of Winter Park.

10:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free but get food and or drinks.  Son Flamenco. Ceviche Tapas Orlando, 125 W Church St, Orlando, FL. Hot blooded Flamenco dancing to live acoustic guitar.


Sunday April 29, 2018

Noon to 1 p.m. Donation based. Yoga. Lake Eola park near the Red Gazebo.

2 p.m. to 10 p.m. $20 – $40. Poca’s Hottest 7th Annual Sauce Cook-Off.  Will’s Pub 1042 N Mills Ave, Orlando, Florida 32803. A fun filled family friendly event loaded with great food, killer tunes, and all the sauce you can handle.

SPiTFIRE

The Ludes

The Legendary JC’s

The Goldminers

Beemo

Sideshow Revival

Druid Lord

Tears of a Tyrant

Leisure Chief

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free but get a drink.  Stephan Mikes – Sitarist with Riad Abdulsalam on Tabla. The Imperial at Washburn Imports 1800 N Orange Ave, Orlando, Florida 32804. Stephan Mikes performing his original music on Sitar accompanied
by Riad Abdulsalam on Tabla. Traditional Indian sounds combined with a
bit of rock reggae blues and electronica!

Weekend Top 6 Picks for December 16th and 17th.

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Saturday December 16, 2017

5 PM to 9:30 PM –  Free.  Orlando Zine Fest 2017.  (Will’s Pub, 1042 N Mills Ave, Orlando, Florida 32803).  Orlando’s
local zinesters, artists, and writers–plus some folks from farther
afield–celebrate and support independent publishing and DIY/T with what they think may be the tenth consecutive annual Orlando Zine Fest outside of Will’s Pub/Lil Indie’s in the
ambitiously appellated Dirty Laundry Amphitheatre.

Accessible venue – swap and/or buy!

Bar at lil indies just inside where we’ll be hosting.

Record store pop-ups and screening movies again!

Coffee/tea by Danny
~food trucks – vegan options

REGISTER HERE:
https://goo.gl/CTHSZN
no registration fee.

All are welcome

growing list of participating zines:

Citrus Beat Press/ troykodycunio.com, Event Horizon/Orlando Area SF Society / oasfis.org, Gnome Comics / instagram.com/gnomedraws, Love Your Rebellion / Loveyourrebellion.org
Nickname / nicknamezine.com, Reflections on Gun Control
Street Type Zine / streettype.bigcartel.com/product/gdm, Florida is Loud will be ongoing throughout the weekend and Saturday night at Will’s.

5:30 PM to 7:30 PM –  $10.  Orlando Cringe IX – The Holiday Show! SAK Comedy Lab, (29 S Orange, Orlando, FL 32801.) For the last show of 2017, Cringe is teaming up with SAK Comedy Lab for a very special Cringemas Show! They are bringing back a very special reader from Cringe’s and SAK’s amazing team will be performing improvised scenes completely based on their journals. They also have other surprises, so naughty or nice, it’s going to be a great show!

2 PM to 11:30PM – Free.  Kaleidoscope Open House – Yoga, Music, Drawing, Painting Event. 

Kaleidoscope Venue For The Arts (1991 Corporate Square #1, Longwood, FL). 

Kaleidoscope will be having their first free ‘Open House’ in conjunction with the
Surrealistic Dreams art show on Saturday. The Open House begins at
2:00pm with Free Yoga at 2:00pm and at 6:00pm, Live Model Drawing with
Music begins at 7:30pm, the Art Show is from 7:30pm to 11:30pm and they
may be adding more things to see and do to this event as it draws
closer!

Sunday December 17, 2017

10 AM to 7 PM – Free.  Grandma Party Bazaar 2017! Stardust Video and Coffee (1842 Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL 32803.) It’s the fifteenth Grandma Party Bazaar and you’re invited! Bring your
friends for the best Sunday of the year. Grandma Party
is you and me and all of us making it happen, so you’d better be there
because it just won’t be the same without you. As always, the party will be held in the parking lot of Stardust Video and Coffee starting at 10 a.m. and closing at Sundown. You can get a
taste of what good ol’ Gran has to offer this year by following her on
Facebook and Instagram (@Grandma_Party). Orlando has some seriously
creative artists and makers that were hard to choose from, but she has
picked some of the best of the best to share their craft with you. There will be a raffle,  interactive booths and DJ sets by Nigel John and
Oled Dad and live music from Von Nacht, Tiger Fawn, TV Dinner and MORE!
Of course, lots food and drinks too.

If you are new to the bazaar, be sure to bring your cash (most vendors
take cards too), and finish up your holiday shopping with one of a kind
treasures. While you’re at it, buy yourself a little something too!
Parking can be a challenge on this day, but it’s a good thing they are
located in the great neighborhood of Audubon Park where there are lots
of streets. Other options are carpooling, biking and Uber.

4 PM to 9 PM – Free. Winter Garden Christmas Golf Cart Parade. Bradford Park (220 West Division Street, Winter Garden, FL.)  Are
you ready for the 2017 WG Christmas Golf Cart Parade?! They will begin their 5th annual Golf Cart Parade by gathering at
Bradford Park early to socialize and compare decorations before heading
out to tour Downtown Winter Garden and ending near Walker Field near the
Plant Street Market. They will have prizes for the best decorated golf carts so take this
seriously. All money raised will be graciously donated to the
Edgewood Children’s Ranch as they have done in past. Golf Carts only and all traffic laws still apply.

7 PM to 9 PM – $10 donation Give ME Cheer. Marshall Ellis Theatre (1300 La Quinta Dr #3, Orlando, FL 32809.) Get
in the Christmas spirit and join Give ME Cheer, ME Dance’s first
charity ball benefiting local dance organizations, events and
scholarships. Enjoy performances, food, drink, meet-and-greets, a silent
auction and raffle.

Espolon Cocktail Fights 2017 at Will’s Pub.

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The Espolon Cocktail Fights took place at Will’s Pub (1042 N Mills Ave, Orlando, Florida 32803). Six of Orlando’s best bartenders went head to head with six of Tampa best bartenders  in a no holds bared showdown  for the title of the most creative cocktail. The winner of this evenings competition would go on to compete in New York City in the semi- finals and then possibly move on tho the finals in Mexico.

Competing bartenders each took on the persona of a Mexican wrestler. Million Dollar Dan (Daniel Messina) from Orlando entered the competition as a braggart who threw play money at the howling audience. Perhaps the most flamboyant competitor was El Serpiente (Jacob Ceciro) from Tampa, who claimed he could tame any serpent, but is drink was rather lack luster. Other competitors from Orlando were, Red Feather (Robyn Conen), Quetzal the Great (Felix Fernandez), Finger Guns (Sean Sheenan), and El Lobo Gris (Jeremy Hazmier).

Tampa competitors were bused to the event and I imagine they were already a bit tipsy before they got to Orlando. There was just one female competitor in the line up and she was Foxxy Lady (Linaris Santiago-Wright) who had long red eye lashes, and a feather boa. She won every round to become the champion of Orlando and Tampa.

The hosts did a good job of keeping the energy up in the room. Samples of each drink were available for tasting. Some were spicy hot and the serpents was like poison. Judges sat in front of the stage to sample each concoction. One round had all the competitors each prepare margaritas while one hand is behind their back in a boxing glove. It might have been fun to see the bartenders compete with both hands in boxing gloves. The final rounds had a giant table of ingredients and the competitors had to select their ingredients and prepare a drink while working against the clock.

The Last Speakeasy.

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The Speakeasy was an Orlando institution for decades. Tod Caviness organized the monthly showcase of poets, authors and storytellers who would converge on Will’s Pub (1042 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL3) once a month.A documentary was shot about the speakeasy when the first Will’s Pub shot down. The documentary covered the history of this spoken word event in Orlando. When Will’s Pub re-opened at a new location, the Speakeasy was also resurrected.

July 21st however marked the final evening for The Speakeasy’ The literary scene in Orlando has grown by leaps and bounds. Todd is now a married man with a young son. Whatever the reason might be, The Speakeasy has faded into history. Cardboard Tod Caviness masks were scattered on all the tables. On the all was a sign from the now demolished Coach Dining Room which was part of The Red Fox Lounge where Mark Wayne and Lorna Lamby used to perform their over the top camp and fun lounge act. The Red Fox Lounge was a beloved Winter Park watering hole for 50 years. Mark and Lorna entertained crowds for 23 years but sadly Mark passed away. Their act is rumored to have inspired a Saturday Night Live skit, “The Culp Family Musical Performances,” starring Will Ferrell and Ana
Gasteyer.

Michael Pierre read the most memorable piece on this historic evening. He walked among the tables rather than stand on the stage. His poem described the speakeasy history while lampooning many of the writers who had shared drinks and read over the years. I have sketched at The Speakeasy quite a few times over the years, and I’ve seen creative types drink and do things that are best left to the blurry reaches of unrecorded history. Michael couldn’t see his handwriting in the dark, so Frankie Messina illuminated the pages by following Michael with his his cell phone. Then Frankie covered his face with a Tod mask to add an extra touch of humorous magic to the moment. It was a somewhat sad evening but the best way to face that sadness is with a laugh and more than a few drinks.  

The curtain falls and time marches on but I’m thankful I got to witness just some of the magic and mayhem that each Speakeasy generated. 

Speakeasy: The Crush Edition

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Tod Caviness hosts the Speakeasy every second Tuesday of the month at Will’s Pub (1042 N. Mills Avenue, Orlando, Florida). The theme for February was: The Secret Crush.Tod is engaged to be married to Yow dancer, Christin Marie. When I arrived, Tod and Christin were at the bar. Christin told me a bit about Yow Dances upcoming Fringe show. Apparently this year there will be magic as well as dance. I’m curious to see what that involves.

I decided to sketch Michael Pierre as he read on the stage. He look good in a black jacket and black shirt, which separated him from the rest of the authors in jeans and T shirts. His girlfriend, Amanda Millar got on stage right after him. She reminded me before the show that I had sketched her as she was being converted into a sexy zombie nurse. She read about a crush she had on a collage professor. She outlined the intricate planning that went into her always being at the same place at the same time as the professor. All her plans paid off when the professor gave her his card.

The funniest reading came from “Reverend” Trevor Frasier warned Todd and Christin about the perils of getting married. “Let me outline the good points should you decide to have children…” He stood silent for the longest time until everyone in the room was laughing. He obviously couldn’t think of any good points. He warned that they never again could look at someone of the opposite sex and think, “Damn they look hot!” He also warned that marriage would be the end to any hot sex they might be having now. He had a slide show to go along with his presentation but unfortunately I couldn’t see the screen.

Curtis Meyer read a lust filled poem about a sexy pop star. He just wanted her to write songs about him. It seemed only fair since he had written a sweltering poem about her. I slipped out after my sketch was done. This evening was certainly a fine warm up for Valentines day. I had to take a shower when I got home to get the smell of second hand cigarette smoke off of my skin. The sketch itself is like a scratch and sniff reminder of the evening.

The Corridor Project – Walk on By

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The Corridor Project’s  first show, titled “Walk on By” was spearheaded by Patrick Greene, the events coordinator at Urban ReThink. Over night almost 100 art installations popped up all over Orlando. The largest concentration of artwork appeared along Mills Avenue in the Mills 50 District. I knew that artists were out between 4AM and 7AM installing their work but I wasn’t sure where the pieces were being installed. I set my alarm for 5AM but swatted it off and fell back to sleep. The next day I decided to sketch this sculpture installation by Bethany Mikell outside Wills Pub (1042 N Mills Ave, Orlando). Painted silver, this modern looking couple is covered in metallic nuts and bolts. The piece exudes fashion with a chic industrial flair. Even the chains holding the couple to the site have an industrial fell.

Walk on By functions as a temporary, clandestine art museum with no fixed location. The works are site specific using empty storefronts and public spaces. In the past, Orlando has promoted public art in the form of decorated fiberglass Gibson Guitars and lizards.  These juvenile displays limit artist expression, forcing the work to be decorative. Even the decorated Mills 50 power boxes seem to lack any bold artistic vision. When public art is needed, as in the case of banners to hide the Dr. Phillips Center of the Performing Arts construction site, children’s art is used. If you have ever gotten a ticket in Orlando then you have been blessed to see the children’s art decorating tiles outside the parking ticket payment office. Walk on By has finally allowed local and international artists the ability to openly express themselves in an urban public setting. Finally the art is meant for a mature, enlightened, adult audience. It isn’t watered down for a Disney, white bread, homogenous, world view. This seems like a bold first step towards a city that can take spontaneous chances.

The art isn’t just for high society gallery gawkers. It is for anyone walking or driving by. Keep your eyes open and be prepared to be surprised. Some art performances happened only at 8:30AM on September 5th while other art pieces will remain on site until they decay. So turn off the cell phone and TV and get out to Walk on By. This gallery has no walls.

Wills Pub

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A concert was scheduled Will’s Pub (1042 N Mills Avenue), but at the last minute, Mark Sultan (of King of Kahn and BBQ), the leading act canceled. The $8 cover was dropped to $3 which was enough to entice me out to do a sketch. When I got to the front door I found out the cover had been dropped all together. I was issued an orange wristband. I ordered an Orange Blossom Pilsner and sat at a side table to sketch people as they lined up at the bar. It seemed like so many friends were reuniting. Dollar bills were hung with care behind the bar. Bottled beers glistened inside the coolers.

 After I was done sketching, I immediately packed up to go, because I knew Terry was waiting at home. As I walked out I noticed The Golden Pelicans, were set up and ready to perform on the main stage. This was a prime sketch opportunity, but it was time to be getting home. Tight Genes were going to perform as well later that evening.

Southern Fried Sunday

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Southern Fried Sunday organized by Jessica Pawli was an all day music festival and more with ticket sales going to benefit the Mustard Seed. It was Jessica’s birthday and she celebrated by giving back to the community. The benefit featured 17 musical acts at 3 venues on Mills Avenue. The Mustard Seed is a furniture and clothing bank that helps rebuild lives of individuals and families who have experienced a tragedy, disaster or homelessness. When I arrived at Mills Avenue I decided I wanted to draw Wally’s Mills Avenue Liquors. Women in bikinis were holding signs that read, “Free beer” and some were hula hooping. There was a long line of black Harley Davidson motorcycles parked in front of the bar. I sat down and the second I opened my sketchbook it started to rain. I rushed up the street to Will’s Pub.

I was issued a tan armband. I walked into the dark room with a stage. People were seated all around the edge of the room and there were no empty sects left so I sat on my camping stool up close to the stage. Bartender Brian Hanson was performing. I didn’t know if he had just started or if he was almost finished so I worked quickly. He closed his eyes lost in the music. His deep raspy voice filled the room. Sure enough he had only one song more to sing. When he got off stage he spoke to the woman seated beside me. Her name was Mech Anism. He didn’t think it was one of his better performances.

“Greenland is Melting” from Gainsville Florida was the next group up. Their lively act had everyone clapping and swaying. The guy on the cello bobbed his head up and down violently, his hair a flowing mad mess.The guitarist and banjo player harmonized the lyrics. I was having so much fun sketching to the music. I could have listened to these guys all day.It was over way too fast.

“Kitchy Kittens Burlesque Dancers” wandered through the crowd asking for donations for Mustard Seed. They looked amazing in their 1940’s Pin Up Girl themed costumes. They were on stage for only a minute so I didn’t catch them in a sketch. I couldn’t stay all day. I had time for one more sketch before meeting my wife Terry, Amanda Chadwick and Matt Simantov at the Food Truck Bazaar.