MEANDERINGS – by Peter Rocchio

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There just aren’t enough days in the week to do it all.  As I said in an earlier ‘Meanderings’, Orlando is coming of age.  The good news is the ever increasing theatre and art options.  The bad news is, with the increase in options is the attendant demand on one’s disposable income. Fortunately, as regards art, the receptions (wine and usually pretty good snacks) are free and the socializing well worth the time.  As for the art, well that depends on your taste and budget.  Did you know that the galleries on Virginia Avenue have receptions every first Tuesday showing the works of local artists?  Central Florida abounds with talented and acclaimed artists whose works should be seen.  Among the more celebrated is our own internationally renowned sculptor Dorothy Gillespie whose pieces can be seen in museums and private collections around the world and in the garden of the Maitland Art Center where from May12th through July 3rd you can also see the extraordinary collection of Dorothy’s jewelry.

Dorothy’s next major gallery showing of her sculpture will be opening May 20th up in Ponte Vedra – Bill and I will make the two plus hour trip up for the opening and will report at a later date.

Another festive art occasion was the Millenia Gallery’s show and party celebrating the one hundredth birthday of Winter Park’s Harold Rotenberg.  They hung one hundred of his expressive and colorful paintings done en situ around the world. ***I would be negligent if I didn’t say “Welcome back” to Mayor Buddy Dyer.  Buddy now has a badge of honor putting him on an ever increasing list of Democratic politicians who have been the object of the GOP’s venom.  They will stop at nothing to gain political power – remember, every effort was made to remove Bill Clinton from office  - they couldn’t defeat him so they sought the law to get him out. Then there was the stolen election –“ keep Al Gore out of the Presidency at all costs” was their mantra.  Then John Kerry, remember him?  A genuine certified military hero who they virtually destroyed by labeling him a liar and a fraud.

Then Mayor Buddy Dyer – how dare a Democrat win an election in Orlando! They sought to undo a valid election by intentionally misconstruing the law and having him indicted. Justice prevailed and for the moment the local GOP has been chastened.  When and on whom will they strike next you might ask? Well, they have started already by mounting a campaign against Hillary Clinton – get her before her road to the nomination becomes a juggernaut.  Watch this one carefully – it will be massive and very ugly. ***Bill and I just returned from Texas where we went to celebrate Bill’s uncle’s 90th birthday.  As we all have learned the hard way, travel these days is a real bitch – all the fun is gone.  Well, we had a first on this trip -  our luggage got stuck somewhere between being unloaded and coming  up the carousel.  Two and a half hours later we were on our way – ugh!

The birthday party was held at the Chandor Gardens in Weatherford (home not only of my Bill but also Mary Martin and her son Larry Hagman).  Douglas Chandor was a celebrated British portraitist, noted for his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II which hangs in Windsor Castle and his portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt which hangs in the White House and who relocated to Texas after marrying a Weatherford girl.  The home and gardens are treasures and the prefect setting for a party. Further on the subject of art – the City of Fort Worth has a ‘Cultural District’ unrivaled anywhere in America. Starting on a hill West of downtown and overlooking the city is the Amon Carter Museum of Western and American Art. Below that on the East side is the Kimball Art Museum – itself an architectural work of art. And  East of that is the Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art – another architectural gem. This new addition to the ‘Cultural District also contains a world class restaurant called the Café Modern  which has a unique ‘open for business’ arrangement - Lunch daily, brunch on Sunday and dinner the first Monday of the month.  Imagine a restaurant open for dinner but one night a month – it has become one of the hardest reservations to come by in town.*** Talking about food,, aren’t we always?) I spent the month of February at the Duke University Fitness Center in Durham, N.C. learning how to change my bad nutritional habits and start some good fitness habits. Well, the latter has worked. For the first time in my life I am a regular at the Y.  Aerobics and strength training three days a week and swimming on the alternate days – how long does it take to become a hunk? The nutrition part of the equation is the most difficult but one can only try.  Portion control – calories in and calories out are among the changes suggested – also drink plenty of water, reduce the intake of sodium in a big way and put your fork down between bites - .in other words, slow down.  I’ve become less focused on pounds and more on waist line (inches) and the numbers – i.e. blood pressure, blood sugar,, cholesterol, etc.  All are looking great. As for the pounds, maybe in time.***Did you catch ‘Inside Deep Throat’ recently at the Enzian?  A film well worth renting.  It isn’t salacious (except for one very worthwhile ): scene) but is a presentation of placing the original film in a time and culture context and it’s impact on American society. Another film of significance is ‘Walk on Water’. An Israeli subtitled film about the obsession of an old Jew in Israeli determined to track down and kill an old Nazi officer who has been in hiding for many years. “Ill get him before God does” he declares.  The film contains a well integrated gay sub-plot which deals with the subject in a very matter-of-fact way  - about time..***Mad Cow’s latest production of ‘Archy & Mehitable’ is good news indeed..

The mere fact that they have mounted this rarely done show pleases me – it is a lovely, witty creative story of the relationship between  a poetry writing cockroach and a fairly trashy cat who lives in Shinbone Alley. If

you’re looking for a pleasant evening out – catch this one at Mad Cow.***I can believe it myself – but I actually voted for ‘An American Idol’ – one vote for Carrie Underwood – this gal can sing and even if Bo wins out – I can’t believe that Carrie wont have a bang-up country music career.***One last note – by the time  you read this we will have attended an evening being called ‘Birthday Drag & Dine’. A buffet dinner and show being held , get this, at the Longwood VFW Post. It should be a totally different evening.  I’ll report in the next ‘Meanderings’.

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