The Daily City: Orlando, Floridas arts and culture guide since 2007

Someone built a gay bar in Parramore

2009-07-14T05:03:00.001-07:00

by Mark Baratelli, Parramore Correspondent
TheDailyCity.com

Last night when I looked around the newly-built "Stonewall Bar" white in the heart of Parramore, it struck me that I was in very good company. There was Michael Wanzie, the GodFather of downtown theatre. Doug Baauser, the comedy genius. Billy Manes, longtime voice of the print-larious... and one smart bartender who built a gay bar in Parramore, right down the street from the being-built Orlando Event Center, right near a park, right near everything that is going to be happening in downtown in the next 5 years. Soon, this part of town is gonna be seething with moneyed foot traffic pouring out of the basketball church. People wanting nightlife and fun. People being BEGGED by Plaza Cinema Theatre and City Arts Factory to cross I4. People who need a good stiff gay drink.

This bartender is a genius.

Now when I entered the bar I disliked him before I even met him. I didn't google map the bar before I drove downtown and that was his fault. When I got downtown I stupidly assumed the bar would be somewhere near the old Church Street Station. I mean logically, you'd just ASSUME it would be. It should be in one of those former dance halls or whatever those things were/are/is. So I pre-pay $5 in the meter (which you can do in the lot hidden under the udders of I4) and walk my fat jeans over to Church Street Station and find no Stonewall bar. I am also shouldering a backpack with a VERY expensive laptop bought and paid for with the sweat of my brow "acting" in non-equity stage productions, which is heavy. (both the backpack and the shame). So now I'm not in a gay bar, I am wearing jeans in the sun and I am carrying something heavy. Fart.

I go into Hamburger Marys. The only location of this Gay Chilis franchise I've been in before is Cincinnati. After I kareoke'd my raunchy version there of "Natural Woman" on a tiny wooden stage in the half-bar, half-restaurant "concept" to thunderous Cincinnati applause and one free Cincinnati double, I met a guy who was actually impressed that I was in the ensemble of the third-year non-equity touring company of Oliver (um, and also understudying Fagin thankyadammit) and not bothered by me demanding he try to find my abs beneath my gut which I'd long lost in the great Mark depression of 2004.

The helpful staff at the downtown Orlando Hamburger Marys (and they were nice btw) had heard of the name of the bar, bt didn't know exactly where it was. They had just heard it was down the road. As in, ease on. Yes, down Church Street in the OPPOSITE direction of the Plaza Cinema Theatre and the Downtown Arts District. On the other side of I-4. (scream)

Someone built a gay bar in Parramore?

I cannot wait to see this. I jean it, passing my sweaty crotch by three homeless men (one of whom almost asks me something), a group of kids and a Russian woman asking me if she can help me because I "look lost." She doesn't know that that's my signature facial expression. I get to that apartment building painted all shades of puke and am confused. Where is it? Its not where I want it to be.

I text the friend I am supposed to meet, and explain how deep into the Parramore I am and that I see no signs of Hamburger Mary-like behavior. He says to keep walking. (scream) Fine. Now my sweat has turned to anger.

Then I see a park. Beautiful. Green. Benches. Lake. Trees. And I can see the bar. It exists. Yay! This should make me happy, but it does not.

I swing open the door and for the next ten minutes, pretend that what I am saying is not really happening and who I am is not really who I am. I GO OFF on the bartender, asking him indignantly, why I did not know where this bar was. Who builds a gay bar in Parramore, I harp at him. I kept on riffing on my stupidity until the hand of Michael Wanzie is placed upon my shoulder and I am told to discontinue my unfunny rant because no one finds it funny or charming. I turn around and no one is laughing.

So here I stand, sweat drying, computer bag next to my foot, in a gay bar, in Parramore. Paradigm shifted. I order myself a Cincinnati double and feel up my own gut.

Balfour Beatty chosen as construction manager for DPAC

2009-07-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

Today, the Orlando City Council approved the selection of Balfour Beatty Construction as the construction manager for the pre-construction phase of the Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center. The contract is valued at approximately $1.5 million and will continue through summer 2010. Exceeding the M/WBE requirements set forth in the City of Orlando’s Blueprint Initiative, Balfour Beatty Construction has committed to 26.9 percent participation by minority firms.

Currently, the Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center is finalizing design development documents for review by the City of Orlando. With approval of the design documents, a construction plan for the performing arts center will be developed in alignment with available funding. Groundbreaking is projected for spring 2010.

Steal this idea: Orlando Musum of Art

2009-07-13T11:20:00.001-07:00

big 1stfans meetup!, originally uploaded by Brooklyn Museum.

"On the 4th of July, the (Brooklyn Musuem) 1stfans were escorted up to the roof of the Museum to check out the view from one of the highest points in Brooklyn. And we had ice cream too! Everyone had so much fun, we think this may need to be an annual meetup, so stay tuned!"

Toasting Competiton- Will's Pub

2009-07-13T06:27:00.000-07:00

This might be amazing. July 28th (dunno what time yet, I just got the preliminary info) a "toasting competiton" will be held at Will's Pub hosted by Tod Caviness (Orlando Sentinel, Poetry Vending Machine).

"Its toasting as in "may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead" toasting. Head-to-head elimination format. The host draws random cards to give the two toasters a subject, and they have like 30 seconds to come up with something. Toasts must begin traditionally with a "Here's to ..." or "May ...," and both competitors must take a healthy swig after each toast. Judges pick their favorite, best of three rounds wins the match."

Tod says "It'll be like short attention span slam, only improv. And drunk." And I am gonna be one of the celebrity judges! Woo!

The Daily City Chat #1

2009-07-12T18:17:00.000-07:00

Spending time in Thornton Park talking about Orlando with my friend Dan Ginader. More to come. Trying this out.

TJ Dawe Totem Figures podcast

2009-07-12T05:49:00.000-07:00

Oh wow this will blow Beth Marshall's mind. Fringe superstar TJ Dawe now has a podcast. Its a series of interviews of other people based on the concept of his one-man show "Totem Figures." And if you missed the live performance of that show, you can listen to it for free, in its entirety in audio form on the site.

Free pass to Cinema Art presentation

2009-07-12T05:33:00.000-07:00

Copy and print this web page as a voucher and present at the Plaza Cinema Cafe box office for one general admission pass to any Cinema Art Presentation, Wednesday and Thursday only. Cinema Art presentations include critically-acclaimed films, alternative productions, restored classics and first-run foreign movies.

Mural on Mills

2009-07-12T04:27:00.001-07:00

Someone please make t-shirts from this mural before I do.

SAK Talk-Back

2009-07-12T04:21:00.000-07:00

Monday July 6, 2009, SAK Comedy Lab put on a FREE 2-hour panel/QA about SAK and improv. The house was packed, (which is why I took so many photos of the audience) and I think they had a nice time. We discussed how SAK puts on shows, format vs style, improv as an art form, why SAK does Slice of Lifes, and more.

Cupcakes at Pom Poms

2009-07-12T04:03:00.000-07:00

Pom Poms Teahouse (67 N Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL 32803) has great-looking cupcakes. Did you know they're open 24 hours on the weekend, too? Skip IHOP and Dennys at 4am and head for this teensy weensy awesome place for cupcakes and a meat salad.

SketchCrawl Orlando 2009

2009-07-12T03:11:00.000-07:00

If you missed SketchCrawl Orlando, a 7am-7pm group sketch-a-thon, check out the artists' work here. The event was produced by Thomas Thorspecken. (Sketch by Thomas Thorspecken)

Interview- Lake Eola Farmers Market

2009-07-12T00:41:00.000-07:00

I am going to be out at Lake Eola Farmers Market around noon Sunday July 12, 2009 to record an interview with my friend Dan about Orlando. I always have good talks with Dan off-mic and I thought the farmers market would make for good background noise and setting. Plus you never know who will walk by and may want to join. If you see two dudes sitting and recording together, come introduce yourself and offer to buy us a beer. -Mark

Brice Stephens showing at Dexters

2009-07-12T00:39:00.000-07:00

Chik Fil A dress-like-cow day

2009-07-11T07:41:00.000-07:00

July 10, 2009 | Families at the Chik Fil A I went to on Mills in Winter Park dressed up as cows to get free food as part of a promotion. It was like a mini-event in the store. Very fun.

Dawn Schreiner's nun cat

2009-07-11T06:45:00.001-07:00

silly kitty, originally uploaded by dawnschreiner22.

Today's ScetchCrawl Schedule

2009-07-11T04:51:00.000-07:00

On July 11, 2009, meet at the red Japanese gazebo in Lake Eola Park at 7am to begin SketchCrawl, a whole day of drawing and walking around the city. Join for 20 minutes or the entire day. All skill levels welcome. Anyone can join the group at any time throughout the day. Bring your own drawing supplies (paper, pen, pencil, paint, whatever medium you want). This event is being organized by Thomas Thorspecken.

7am: red gazebo
10am: Panerra Bread
1pm: Urban Think
4pm: Wine Room
7pm: Stardust Lounge
After 7pm: TBD

Nerdapalooza ticket winners announced

2009-07-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

YAAY!! The four winners of the @nerdapalooza ticket drawing are

@scrubclub

@UnitedArts

@anoo

@klinqueen

Send email to mark@thedailycity.com with your full name, first and last, for directions on how to pick up your tickets. Congrats!

MOOM #1

2009-07-10T12:20:00.001-07:00

We're #1!
The very first MOOM took place July 10, 2009 at 8am at Barnies Coffee in Baldwin Park. (Audio meeting notes) It was a fun happy gathering of creative makers and producers listening, sharing and brainstorming.

What is MOOM?
Independent producers of content in any medium meet for an early morning, one-hour, coffee-fueled brainstorm and inspiration thing.

Some proposed ideas:

League of Independent Producers
Some entity that indies and co-dependents can turn to for guidance and assistance. Might also give us a larger voice when acting as a group, say with ad buys, for instance.

The Daily City Fall Indie Arts Preview
30-45 minute live presentation to generate interest in and an awareness of, the projects of the independent producer/maker in Orlando, based on the "Whats Up Downtown?" presentation I saw last week. I will send more info on this once I secure a venue and date.

The Daily City Independent Producers Information Table
I rent a table one Sunday at the Lake Eola Farmers Market (they're only $20), armed with marketing material from various indie artists and groups, and try to drum up interest. If you'd like to participate, send your material to mark@thedailycity.com. Send me pdf files I can easily print out and low-rez jepgs, or links to high-rez jpegs.

Meet Vinny, the Garden Theatre Rat

2009-07-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

SO CUTE | Vinny the Garden Theatre rat discusses the Garden Theatre's Summer Camp program with Shelly Kinsley, the Garden Theatre Education Director, and Caiti Fallon, a Garden Theatre Summer Camp Student.

I guess its all arts events, not just theatre Woops

2009-07-10T04:18:00.001-07:00

The Orlando Sentinel's season preview of the arts will publish Aug. 28 in Calendar.Central Florida groups offering programs in theater, dance, classical and popular music, visual arts, science and history are eligible to have their 2009-10 season schedules published. ...

For each event, include date, time, location, description of the program, admission price and cost of subscription series, if applicable. Submissions must include complete address and phone; e-mail and Web site may be included. Send schedules to calendar@orlandosentinel.com with "Season Preview" in the subject line, or mail to Season Preview, c/o Tod Caviness, Orlando Sentinel, MP-240, 633 N. Orange. Ave., Orlando, FL 32802-2833.

Season info due to Orlando Sentinel by July 17

2009-07-10T03:47:00.000-07:00

The Sentinel is publishing its annual season-preview issue Aug. 28. They need all of your information about your 2009-2010 seasons by Friday July 17. Submit your info by emailing emaupin@orlandosentinel.com.

That's a week before the deadline published in the paper because the person who puts all of this together will be on vacation after July 15 and won't be able to type up your stuff after that. Here's what they need from each and every theater out there in Central Florida:

Name of each play in your season

Author or authors of each play (first and last names, thank you very much)

Opening and closing dates of each play

Place you're performing, including exact street address

Subscription prices, if you sell them

Box office phone number

Website

Submit your info by emailing emaupin@orlandosentinel.com.

Local Food movent having meeting at Ethos

2009-07-09T19:39:00.000-07:00

Ourlando is doing something neat:

The "local food" community, including restaurateurs, growers, producers, educators, policy makers realize farmers are struggling to get their products to the community, restaurants are lacking access to local, organic products and farmland is becoming harder and harder to come by.

To get things rolling in the right direction, all of the above are having a meeting at Ethos Restaurant July 28, 2009. (1235 N Orange Ave, #101, Orlando, FL 32804) During this event we will begin to understand all of our different perspectives and goals with the intent of developing strong groups for collective action.

Is a musical a musical without live musicians?

2009-07-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

Man in England says calling a show a"musical" that has no live musicians is wrong, sues, and wins!

A man called Adrian Bradbury had taken his family to see a professional staging of The Wizard of Oz at the Lowry Theatre in Salford. I know the Lowry well. It’s a superb arts centre and it usually puts on top-class shows. But The Wizard didn’t enchant Mr Bradbury for one simple reason. It had no live band.

All the songs and dance routines were performed to pre-recorded backing tracks. Mr Bradbury felt that if you had paid to see what was billed as a “magical family musical” you were entitled to expect live musicians. So he sued under the Trade Descriptions Act. And, astonishingly, he won. The Lowry argued that “133,000 theatregoers have enjoyed The Wizard of Oz at the Lowry and Mr Bradbury was the only person who expressed any concern with the lack of live music”. But the judge, in effect, said “so what?”. He ruled that Mr Bradbury’s personal expectation of hearing real musicians was genuine and reasonable. So the Lowry must now refund the £134.50 that he spent on tickets.

Food Inc

2009-07-09T14:56:00.001-07:00

The film Food Inc opens Friday July 10, 2009 at Winter Park Village | Tickets | Showtimes: 12:35 2:40 5:00 7:20 9:30 11:40

Leslie Carrara-Rudolph pinch hits in puppet festival

2009-07-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Los Tititeros de Binefar will be unable to open the Orlando International Puppet Festival this Friday, July 10th. Sucks. However, Emmy-nominated Leslie Carrara-Rudolph is here to kick off the festival with a performance/workshop caled "Wake up Your Weird!"

"Leslie Carrara-Rudolph will do a performance workshop with composer/ pianist John deHaas that will give you all the tools you need to "wake up your weird "and spread joy with your own unique talents! With the help of a few puppet friends, music, art, and all out silliness, you are sure to leave this show with a smile on your face, a song in your heart, and a new imaginary friend in your head!"

Leslie Carrara-Rudolph is best known to TV viewers as Johnny and the Sprites' "Ginger", and Sesame Street's "Abby Cadabby." Recently nominated for "Outstanding Performance in a Children's Series" as Abby Cadabby, Leslie is also a member of The Jim Henson Company's "Puppet Up" puppet improv troupe that recently toured Australia.

Wake Up Your Weird
July 10th @2pm & 7pm ($6)
Goldman Theatre @ Orlando Shakespeare Theatre
812 E Rollins St. Orlando, FL
Recommended for ALL AGES
Goldman Theatre @ Orlando Shakespeare Theatre