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Just took some watercolors based on my symphony sketches to the 5x5 art show at Northern Arts Council. Sunday March 10 from 6-9 pm Enjoy NAC's latest installments at Cork Wine Bar and Ferguson Brewing Company, then join us for an opening reception of the 5x5 Exhibition at 427 Gallery

It was cold and windy at Gasparilla this year, but it didn't stop the people from coming out to support this long running show in the park next to the Tampa Art Museum.

This was my first time exhibiting at Gasparilla, and, having a new (used) Trimline that we only set up once before, we arrived for early set-up on Thursday afternoon. The committee was (mostly) well organized with timed entries into the art fair with caravans of vehicles following volunteers on Segways into the park. We arrived well ahead of our 1pm set-up time but we spent a good 30-40 minutes driving around looking for the artist sign in area. A few large and well placed signs directing artists to the artist parking lot would have helped. Later, we saw one small sign near the entry to the parking lot, but it was facing the wrong way and we didn't see it. Even with directions given to us by volunteers, we had a very hard time finding the sign-in tent. It was in a parking lot next to the Howard Johnson Hotel, but that hotel didn't have any signage on it from the streets we were driving on. We heard the same complaints from many other artists who were also first-timers at Gasparilla.

Although there was plenty of space for setting up and there didn't seem to be any big rush on Thursday, we were given two hours to unload and get our vehicle out of the park. We could have used more time.

Other than these minor irritants, the show was well organized and well attended. Some perks that we really appreciated were free parking for the week-end, breakfast and a hot lunch both days and really friendly and (mostly) helpful volunteers.

Saturday temps were in the mid 50s with wind gusts. Sunday was cooler and a bit windier. Our sales were poor on Saturday, grossing only $500 but we made up for it on Sunday winding up with around $3100 for the week-end. Our biggest sale came from a lawyer who bought a large canvas print for $800 after the show closed on Sunday afternoon (love those last minute sales).

Packing up and getting out of there proved to be a bit of a challenge, but the committee was well organized and helpful. Our biggest problem was trying to find the circuitous route we were supposed to take to get our car and trailer back into the park. Again, some big signs and arrows would have helped us find the correct path into the park. But, then again, I've always been a bit directionally challenged. My most common method for finding my way is to wander aimlessly until I'm there.

I didn't get into the Vero Beach show next week-end and Howard Alan never got back to me about Jupiter (something about my booth shot being unrepresentative of my set-up???), so we will be hanging out on the beach and visiting friends in Naples until Winter Park, the following week-end. This will be my third Winter Park show (who didn't have any problem with my booth shot), a show I really look forward to. I think its the best show in Florida.

After Winter Park we'll be parking our car and trailer in a friends boatyard in Tampa. We'll fly back to Michigan for a month, then fly back for Mainsail in St. Pete in mid April (another show that didn't have a problem with my booth shot).

Only three Florida shows for me this year, and none of them in South Florida. I did seven Florida shows last year with dismal sales in all the South Florida shows. I feel like Gasparilla has been a good start for this season. Hopefully sales will continue an upward trend.

I sell on the streets of NYC and it gets dark early. I have seen vendors hook lights to regular car batteries.  Car batteries can be dangerous so you need to see if this would be legal in your area.  Also Home Depot sells small rechargeable generators.  You'll have to experiment to see how long they will hold a charge.  You will need several to light a 10x10 booth.  Out door lighting is always a challenge.  Luckily my outdoor market has electric.   Good luck,  Stacey

Hello,

After not getting into Gasparilla thought I'd try this festival out. Really should have stayed home and with my conversations with a few other vendors they thought the same. I know it was a small show and had really great prize money yes that was the draw to get in. If you where lucky enough to get prize money then you might have come out ok I wasn't one of the lucky ones. But I can say that I did well enough to cover my expenses etc., didn't mention this I drove in from Atlanta. Yes like probably most events in Florida this past weekend the cold could have been a small factor but not all. One of the local artist helping in the festival stopped by my booth Sunday and asked how was my show here this weekend and I told not very well. His comment was sir I can you this don't expect it to get any better! So with that said I can't recommend this event I know I won't return but you can only be the true judge to enter this festival. This is only my opinion. I don't even think anyone from the event even stopped by my booth to even say hi. Anyway see if I can post a image with this post and you can see the style of work I creat. Have a great day.

http://www.mikebrownstudio.com/

(I've reviewed this show twice previously, and last year's show, truncated due to weather, was written about extensively.  You can get all that history here.) 

Goofy weather--cool and cloudy Saturday, sprinkles overnight, then mid-50s, clear and breezy Sunday--didn't keep the crowds away from this show at the Mercato Lifestyle Center, an uber-upscale shopping plaza and condo canyon in north Naples.  But for the 100 fine artists at the von Liebig Museum's fourth annual show, this was perplexingly a hit-or-miss affair. 

Unfortunately, I fell into the latter category, barely eking past $1K on the weekend, nearly all of it on Saturday. After the first hour or so that day, customers visited in a steady stream, praising my work to the skies, but when they bought, they bought small.  Two of my key metrics--items per sale and average spend per item--sorely lagged what I've done in less upscale venues this year. 

A few debated which large canvases they were going to buy, asked for pricing, and went off (they said) to see the rest of the show, or to measure the walls.  But even those who returned wound up not pulling the trigger. 

I didn't get the sense there there was any urgency to buy.  Being local, even when I mentioned to the business card bandits that this was my last show in Naples for 10 months, it didn't matter.  "We'll call you," they'd say, as they moved on.  Some of them actually might, of course.  But I can't help but wonder if this is a crowd that is more impressed by the "artists from afar" than the ones working in their own back yard.

This sentiment was shared by several other local artists I spoke with at the show, one of whom sardonically commented that based on the conversations he'd had, "I am thinking I'll need extra staff at my store when I open up on Tuesday morning to handle the crush of people."

Numbers don't lie.  And the truth is that my average gross from Naples shows in 2010 (when I began exhibiting at shows there) was more than TWICE what it's been the last ten months.  And, if I cast the net even closer to home, to the Howard Alan and HotWorks shows I do in Estero, the trend is similar: down by nearly half. 

Did I benefit, in 2010, from being the new kid on the block (which, to show-goers, might be nearly as attractive as being an unfamiliar artist-from-afar?)

It is concerning to me that of my five best-grossing shows from the last 12 months, four are out-of-towners and only three are in Florida:
* Rehoboth Beach, DE (Art League Members' Show)

* Sanibel, FL (Lions Club show)
* Norfolk, VA (Stockley Gardens)

* St. Pete, FL (Mainsail)

*  Jupiter, FL (ArtiGras 2012)

Several possible courses of action present themselves:

1)  As one long-time glass artist suggested to me:  Travel more, and raise my prices to cover the higher expenses.

2)  Keep the local vs. distant show mix as-is, but do different shows within the local area: Swap in Bonita Springs for Naples; Sanibel for Estero; Sullivan Boulderbrook shows for Hotworks, etc., etc.

3)  Do the same shows you have been, but market more heavily to the locals.

4) Move to smaller, lower-priced items.  Embrace the middle class.

5) Screw the middle class. Move to larger, higher-priced items (which I did already, last year.  Not the "screw the middle class" part, but you get my point).

6)  Just ride it out.

7) Start drinking Scotch. Keep going until you come up with either an Option #8 even more palatable than the Scotch, or a new career.

Hmmm. I'll think those over. But in the meantime, there's a show review to finish.  So let's trudge on. . .

This might just not have been my weekend.  A few folks, including the aforementioned long-time glass artist, had  killer shows.  Several of my neighbors, and a reasonably high percentage of others I spoke with during loadout, were happy they came.  They didn't share numbers, but said they were satisfied and would return. 

So draw your own conclusions.

I can say with certainty that the show was well run by show director Marianne Megela and the museum staff and volunteers.  Setup, which started at 3 AM Saturday, was a snap, especially for the well-caffeinated.  Teardown, the same.  There was an artist breakfast, ample booth-sitters, and very good promotion through traditional and social media, as well as to the museum's burgeoning mailing list. 

And the art mix was diverse, the quality uniformly high (though no awards).

Bottom line:  Despite the hit to MY bottom line, for many other artists, Mercato seems to be as decent a show as there is in Naples.  The problem is:  given the trend in the numbers, that isn't the high praise it used to be. 

It was a cold and stormy Saturday (all over Florida) and then it cleared and warmed.  At Las Olas there were mobs of people walking past with their hands in their pockets, but many artists still had solid sales.  Sunday was predicted to be colder and wetter but turned out to be warm and dry.  The aisles were packed with people, to the point where one could barely get through to visit with one's friends.  My Sunday sales were triple those of Saturday, and the show ended up being my usual great Las Olas.  We have been doing shows in Fort Lauderdale for decades, and have a strong following from our mailing-list, but this show always brings a lot of cruise ship day-trippers and a remarkable number of foreign visitors into the mix.  We sold to patrons from all over Europe and Latin America.

The show is very well promoted and run.  Move in begins at 5AM Saturday morning, and runs very smoothly because the Alans employ artists to coordinate the vehicles, and they know what they are doing.  Howard and Debbie are always on-site and accessible.  They offer a fun, stress-free event.

Next we are going to Bonita Springs, for another pleasant and well-produced event.

So: how were Gasparilla, Palm Beach, & Venice?

A Gallery Opportunity in New York City - May 11 - June 16

Hurricane  Sandy  may  have set us back a couple of months, but Wide Open 4 will be opening  May 11 - bigger and better than ever in our newly  rebuilt  gallery.  The show will be running for twice as long, with double the opportunity for attendance and sales.

Ours  is  a  truly unique gallery - a massive Civil War-era warehouse on  the  Red  Hook waterfront in Brooklyn, NY. Its enormous space affords  us  the  opportunity to exhibit really huge work, and we welcome it. We will be using 8,000 square feet for this show, and  look  forward to exhibiting artists' work from all around the country, work  in all sizes, subjects, and media, except film (it's  almost  completely wide open).

The vista of New York Harbor, spanning the Statue of Liberty to the Verrazano Bridge is one of the best in the city. Our 18,000 annual visitors also  enjoy  the  nearby restaurants and bars. With every medium and style  of  artwork  represented, our shows are as spectacular as the setting.

Once again we are fortunate to be joined by a very prestigious juror - Carrie Springer, Senior Curatorial Assistant at the Whitney Museum of  American Art in New York City. $3,100 in prizes will be awarded. She has worked on many exhibitions at the Museum, most recently "Sherrie Levine: MAYHEM." 

The  Brooklyn  Waterfront  Artists Coalition, organized in 1978, has grown to  become  Brooklyn's  largest artist-run organization with over 400 members.  Our  three  annual mega-exhibits and outdoor  sculpture show present a wide variety of contemporary visual arts from the traditional to the experimental cutting edge.

Learn more & apply: wideopenartshow.com/index.html
Questions - Jane Gutterman at juriedshows@bwac.org or call 718 596-2506
 

Hi Folks,

     We don't exhibit at many twilight hour shows in MI summer, but are regulars to at least two that close 9pm, with large crowds continuing past 10pm.  In addition, we make jewelry and after having seen wholesale displays, and a craft booth at Allen Park Street Fair last year, we've tried to find out more about designing multiple "within-canopy" (via clamps) LED light sources to use not only in the late evening, but throughout a given day.  We've looked all over the net but we're not electricians, so the technical jargon throws us a curve ball that we can't hit.

     At Allen Park last year, one of our neighbors had such a scheme.  When we asked about it, they showed us the clamping architecture for the lights and said that if went to Lowe's, we might pay $150 for a "power converter," which they said they charged up after hours (i.e., at their hotel) and provided the LED strips a power source during the day.

     When we search the web, we can find a bunch of well-known name brand "jump starter" / "emergency power supply" within the same product description (e.g., Stanley).  At Amazon, most of the reviews focus on jump starting cars "and jee whiz, I jumped 5 cars in a row before I had to charge," 5 stars.  Product descriptions are sprinkled with amps and milliamps, but nothing with regard to the number of hours of sustained power to a low consumption device, such as LEDs, USBs, etc.  Nor has a web search turned up a design, if we might call it that, to clamp strip LEDs to canopy under-structure, powered by either a "converter," a "jumper," "emergency" power suppy, or a "portable power supply."

     If you're an electrical whiz in this biz and know what we're asking about, could you please help us out?

[And while we're waiting for a response, we're going to call Eminem's agent and see if we can sell the line above for one of his jams.]

June 13-15
Logan, Utah
Historic Logan Tabernacle
Thur. & Fri. 11am-9pm; Sat.: 10am-8pm
Limited to 150 Exhibitors in 18 categories
Deadline: March 8


Summerfest Arts Faire is seeking artists for its 30th Anniversary event, held on the grounds of the Historic Logan Tabernacle in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah.

We are excited to celebrate 30 years of providing a free community festival of high-quality art, music and food.  Summerfest is Northern Utah's premier event for collectors and community members to purchase unique and beautiful art.

Our community loves Summerfest and makes our artists feel like they have come home.  This year, we are expanding our advertising into even more affluent communities in order to attract an even larger art-buying public.  Our average attendance over the past 4 years has been 65,000.

For more information: www.logansummerfest.com/artist-information.php
Application : www.Zapplication.org

Cache Valley is an art destination and we are committed to the artists with NEW larger booth sizes, low fees and excellent artist hospitality:

• Jury/booth: $25/$250 for 12x12 space: larger sizes, electricity and corner booths also available
• Assistance for set-up and take-down
• Boothsitters
• Air-conditioned, artist only Hospitality Suite with inside bathroom

Summerfest is well supported by the local communities, school districts, University and business sponsors.  We are a non-profit corporation intent on elevating our community through exposure to, and acquisition of fine art.  We hope you will join us this year!

Please feel free to email or call with any questions:
Debbie Ditton, debbie@logansummerfest.com, (435)213-3858

Congratulations to Nels Johnson. Your post "Why We Do Art Fairs (besides the money)" was voted best January blog!

Does anyone know how to charge for a logo design?

Please let me know ... I've been asked to design one and to let them know the cost.

Thanks - deborah:)

Any recommendations for a simple art/craft accounting system? Expenses broken down into supplies, services (giclee printing etc), mileage, travel and lodging. Sales. Inventory, etc

Here are a few photos from the Buyers Market in Philadelphia, February 16-18, 2013. There was good merchandising going on, with many of the exhibitors showing their work in a manner so the buyer could imagine how it would look in their gallery or gift store.

Starting with some of my favorites:

1. A large corner booth painted to garner attention and to showcase brightly-colored glass

2. Such a clean and simple booth which really showed off the mosaic work.

3. I liked the way this potter showed a large variety of work and used the vertical space so well.

4. These jewelers were using many recycled elements and their booth was very cool, suited their work well and quite a contrast to the very slick booths that many jewelers had.

5. Clearly a pro in the business, many price points, groupings of objects and the lighting drew you in.

6. I like how this monochromatic booth really showcases the work.

7. This is an example of high contrast to showcase the work.

8. Lots of small pieces, but a great way to display and light to draw those wholesale buyers in closer.

 9. This was a small booth, perhaps 6 x 10, yet each piece was distinct and well lit making you want to come closer.

10. A view down one of the center aisles.

11. Frequent visitors to AFI will recognize this work.

And a few booths that need some work (to my eye). Any suggestions for these exhibitors?

12.

13.

14. ???

People you need to meet:

15. Jeweler Jennifer Merchant

16. Glassblower Andrew Madvin

17. Potters Justin & Melanie McKenney

18. Jeweler Susan Crow

19. Potter Laurie Eskenazi

20. Beaded jeweler Kathy King

21. Buyers Richard and Joanna Rothbard from the American Craftsman Galleries in NYC.

Learn more about the show and watch a video: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/what-i-did-on-my-winter-vacation

Does anyone have any information on this particular show at the end of April? I couldn't find anything in the Art Fair Calender or maybe I missed it. It seems to be a Sunday only show in an area without many art shows but with a large sightseeing population.  I am about 6 hours away and wondering if it is worth the drive?  If you have done this show or have any comments, I would really appreciated your take on it.

2013 is bringing some big changes for us.   We are joining the nomadic, itinerant life!!  We’re selling the house, getting rid of stuff, moving from our 2000 square foot house to a 38 foot RV.  What? Why? Are we crazy?  All those questions from our friends and family so I thought I’d share a bit of our journey, plus answer a few of the messages I’ve been sent by a few of my AFI friends wondering why I haven’t been very active on AFI for the past couple of months.

In late 2011 we made the decision that it was time to downsize, we just weren’t sure what the end result would look like, but we knew it was time to reduce our expenses, house size, time spent on home/yard maintenance and find a new place to live where we could enjoy a little more sunshine than Seattle gives us.  We had the “American Dream”,  a nice house, a big yard, a great view, good neighbors, etc. etc.  However, we were tired of long drives home on Sunday nights, hiring people to take care of our yard when we’re gone for weeks at a time, not enjoying the Mt. Rainier view we paid for when we bought our house because we’re never home in the summer, spending money on mortgage, insurance, utilities, etc. in a home that was unoccupied for portions of the year.    So, once again we decided to not follow “conventional wisdom” and make lifestyles changes that suited us and our goals rather than listening to what everyone thought we should do.

As 2012 progressed and we spent 25% of the year on the road, we made the decision that at least for now, downsizing meant selling the house and becoming full time RVer’s.  I know this is not the lifestyle for everyone, not all art can be made in the RV, but for us with our jewelry, it works.   Life on the road is simpler for us, we won’t spend as much time driving to and from shows, dealing with a yard, house, etc.  We’re empty nesters, we’re not to retirement age yet, we can travel and enjoy life while we’re still young enough to be safe on the roads and maybe, we’ll finally satisfy our wanderlust!! 

This change will also allow us to broaden our geography and find new shows in the future.  So, we’re running away from home, trying to figure out where we might eventually want to live when we grow up!!  In the meantime, I’m hoping to meet a few more of you as we travel further away from the Pacific NW and embark on a grand adventure as we run away from home now that we’re both officially past “middle age”!

See you down the road!!!

December 5-8
Chicago, Illinois
13th Annual One of a Kind Show and Sale
Merchandise Mart

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find more shows looking for artists at www.CallsforArtists.com

Some of you may remember a blog I wrote last May entitled “Dear Promoters: Please Promote”.  It was sparked by my attendance at a Cincinnati-area show that seemed to be a shadow of its former glorious self; the artists were of the same high quality but there weren’t enough shoppers around to appreciate them.  Several of you chimed in, some about this particular show and others about the generally low attendance we see at too many shows these days.

As chance would have it, last week brought an emailed “don’t miss the application deadline” reminder from this very show, which prompted an email exchange between the show staff and me.  Here’s what I learned.

The show organizers say they were aware that their numbers were down, and became more aware when they read our comments on this site.  They agreed that they need to improve in the publicity arena and felt they needed to learn more from the exhibiting artists.  While they had discontinued artist evaluations years ago because no one responded, they decided to try again and sent a survey in August (the show was in late May).  They say they received "many compliments... also valuable input for improvement and we have taken positive steps to address these issues."  One of those issues, BTW, was the load-out process that Robert Wallis alluded to which has now been streamlined.

In terms of publicity, the Wyoming Art Show shared with me their new six-point Publicity Plan, the points being Social Media/Online, Promotional Materials, Signage, Local Promotion, and Advertising.  Well, okay, that's only five points, but there's probably a sixth point lurking in the closet somewhere.  I see the plan calls for promotion on major radio and news sources, an effort to get printed postcards and posters into businesses in the wider Cincinnati area, and an email blast to 18,000 recipients tied to a popular citywide entertainment publication, to name just a few line items.  They've developed a new and well-done e-postcard that will go to the artists for distribution to their customer lists. 

All in all, it looks to me like the show staff is taking their role seriously and doing what they can to kick up the attendance for the 2013 show.  I hope it works -- this really is a nice show in a beautiful tree-lined area with killer art and a ridiculously affordable booth fee.  And, apparently, they have actually listened to and acted upon artists' comments, so it's hard to ask for more than that.

Connie and all posters, thanks again for delivering and using a site that gets noticed by show organizers.  Sometimes good things happen when we whine.

Well, no more Tequila Reports.

Lifestyle change for me has made those "days in the past."  Hereafter, I will still enthrall you with favorite hideaways and drink bargains.

I guess we could call it "Nels' Days of Wines and Roses."  It is only red wine for me, but I can still cut loose with a good tale or two.

So, on the way back from a mediocre Naples National Show, it got me thinking about the Florida Keys, which then got me thinking about my favorite bars in the state.  

Most of them happen to be on, or near, water.  Imagine that!

So here they come with no particular order of importance.  They are all great places to visit, at least in my mind.

NUMBER ONE-- BERNINIS IN YBOR CITY, RIGHT ON SEVENTH AVENUE (the main drag) AND 17TH STREET.

This is an important one, especially if you are in Tampa this week doing Gasparilla Art Festival.

They do any cocktail made with Finlandia Vodka for only $2 from 11am-7pm.  Been that way for three years now--talk about a recession-fighter.  You can have a martini up, dirty, with grapefruit or orange.  You name it with Finlandia, they do it.  It is the best deal going anywhere right now.

Also,any day from 4:30-7pm, all entrees are 50% off.  Filets are $14 instead of $28 (just one example.)

NUMBER TWO--ALSO IN YBOR, THE COLUMBIA RESTAURANT on seventh avenue at 22ND STREET.

Go there to have some Sangria or maybe an after dinner Spanish Brandy like Cardinal Mendoza.

Breathe in the atmosphere.  The original bar is still there, built in 1907.  Check out the old mosaic tiles with paintings and ogle the various stained glass panels.  Check out the Flamenco dancers.  There is a lot to see and do in this place.  Walk to it after doing Berninis.

NUMBER THREE--THE AFTERDECK BAR AT LOUIE'S BACKYARD RESTAURANT, KEY WEST.

We are now in the Florida Keys where many of my favorites are located.

Louies' sits in an old neighborhood right on the Atlantic Ocean in Key West. It was an old sea captains house two stories high.  The afterdeck bar sits behind the restaurant on a large deck over the water.  It has a great L-shaped bar covered with a neat overhang canopy, so even in a passing storm, one can drink and stay dry.

In my humble opinion, on a full moon night, on the Atlantic Coast, there is no place better to tipple one than Louie's.  Breathe in the salt air.  Feel the ocean breezes  caress every pore. Know that life doesn't get much better than this.  Have any drink, try to do it with a friend.  They are not cheap, but they are worth every penny you spend there.  Live like a millionaire for the moment.

NUMBER FOUR--PEPES ELDEST BAR IN KEY WEST, ON CAROLINE AND ELIZABETH STREET (approximately).

The restaurant is in a narrow building with a high shaped roof.  Thru side doors, you will enter a bougainvillea-covered courtyard with another intimate L-shaped bar, with a narrow canopy around.

Pepes is the oldest bar in Key West.  They make one of the best "Top-shelf Margaritas."

They use an old fruit-squeezer and juice one Keylime and one lemon.  They add appropriate Tequila (say, Sauza Tres Generaciones) and top with a circle of Grand Marnier, and salt the rim if you wish.

This is a great place for lunch or breakfast.  I have eaten, and drank here, for 40 years.  It is one of my all-time favorites.

When I first land in Key West, I park my van in the lot across, and trot right into the bar.  Now my Key West adventure starts.  I have began many a photo-shoot, or art show, over the years this way.  None have let me down yet.  It must be Pepe's magic.

NUMBER FIVE--THE GREEN PARROT BAR,ON WHITEHEAD STREET IN KEY WEST (not far from Hemingway's house)

What I am going to say about the Parrot could easily be said about Blue Heaven Bar also ( it is on Petronia and Johnson Street in Key West).  I give the nod to the Green Parrot, because it is cheaper to drink there, and frankly, most people have more fun there.

We are talking about drinking, not eating, (there, I would give Blue Heaven the nod).  The Parrot is one of the most reasonable places to drink at, and it oozes that "End of the Road Charm" that everybody seeks in Key West.

The place rocks with live music, it rolls with a great pool table, and look out for "Flying Darts."

Many a fine conversation has been tuned here over a shot of  "Jack Black"  chased by a cold Corona.

If you can't have fun here, you can't have fun anywhere.  You might as well jump off the Island and start swimming for Cuba.

NUMBER SIX--ROBBIES HUNGRY TARPON BAR, ISLAMORADA

Yep, we are finally leaving Key West and heading up North.

At Robbies, you can buy a handful of cat-pellets and feed hungry tarpon by the hundreds.  The water is just full of the critters.

Afterwards sit back with a nice iced-rum drink in a great old weathered chair, right on the water.  Inhale the whole place, let out a deep sigh.  Now isn't life just precious?  The food isn't too shabby there either.  But I go for the view and the rum.

NUMBER SEVEN--THE JACK LONDON BAR AT WORLDWIDE SPORTSMAN MARINA, ISLAMORADA.

This sits upstairs in the main Wordwide Store.  They did it way before Bass Pro figured it out.

Sit there at this comfortable bar, or sink down deep in one of the leather divans.  Savor an aged rum, or maybe a great anejo tequila.  Sip a fine cognac.  Again, you are going to feel like a millionaire again, for just the price of a drink.  The view over the back bay Gulf is "Killer" here.

Check out all the old pictures of the author, Jack London, here. They have one taken of him in Tahiti back in the 40-ies.  He is standing beside an old tribal chief and behind them, strung up on a huge tripod, is a world-class Marlin that London battled all day, and then successfully reeled in.

There are journals of his there, signed first editions, and a lot of his various reels and rods.  He was a hell of an adventurer and you get to spend some quality time with his heritage.  A sunset at this bar is to "To Die For."

NUMBER EIGHT--THE LORLILIE BAR IN ISLAMORADA, RIGHT ON A1A--LOOK FOR SEQUINED MERMAID.

This famous bar sits right on the water facing a word-class sunset view.  It is always packed for Happy Hour.

Drinks are cheap and hundreds are being downed.  You can rub shoulders with all the old-time fishing guides here--you will know them by their smell.

This is a large place with multiple bars, one can always find a stool or a table.  In the back, by a tiki hut, a live musician always plays.  I think they bring in a "stuffed one" on halloween.

Lou Garofalo and I (Terry Causey's hubby) always have rollicking good time here)  Some mornings we wake up, buried in sand up to our necks , and wonder "How in the Hell did we get here?"

If you only have time for one stop in the keys, especially at sunset, this is the place.  BTW a "Lorlilie" is the Indian's name for a mermaid.  Or so I have been told.

NUMBER NINE--JB'S FISHCAMP RESTAURANT, NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FLORIDA

Well, I have reluctantly, left the Keys for places north, this time on the East Coast.

Of course, I am a little prejudiced about JBs because I lived in NSB back in the 80-ies.

What makes this place so unique and memorable, is the fact that view across from JBs has been that way  forever and it will never change.

It is on the water facing west at almost the end of the road, A1A, before you get to Canaveral Seashore Park.  It faces virgin wetlands and estuaries that can never be developed.  No condos to spoil the view.

Just have a nice cold beer, maybe eat some steamed blue crabs, and chill out.  Time stops here--enjoy the journey, and be thankful that there are still a handful of places like this left in Florida.

I never tire of the view, nor should you.

NUMBER TEN--THE HURRICANE BAR, PASS-A-GRILLE BEACH (ST. PETE BEACH)

WELL, THIS ONE IS IN MY HOME TOWN, I GOTTA INCLUDE IT.

The Hurricane used to be a one-story, almost fortress-like, bar on the beach when I was kid in high school and college.  It sat right across from the Gulf at the very tip of the Pinellas County peninsula.

In the old days, there was an old house that was a bar that sat right across from it, on the water.  But a latter-day hurricane blew it away.

So the Hurricane Bar got smart and rebuilt.  It turned the place into six-story restaurant-bar complex.  The crown is the Roof-Top Bar with 360-degree view of everything.

Again, have cold one, maybe a legendary daiquiri or a frozen rum concoction.

Take in the view, smell the salt air, savor the breezes and know life is good on the water--as long as there aren't any hurricanes brewing.

JEEZ!  I ALREADY HIT 10, AND I HAD AT LEAST 10 MORE IN MIND.

WELL, MY FINGERTIPS ARE FULLY NUMB NOW (I am a hunt and peck typist) SO I GOTTA GO NOW.

HOPE YOU ENJOYED MY VERY FIRST "WINE-O REPORT."  Nels. 

Last night I tried to order a few items from Nile Corp -- some new tray liners and some trays.  When I hit 'submit' nothing happened -- no confirmation -- and then I got a weird page -- saying that the test failed.  I went back to tracking and it had my number but said 'unavailable.'  So I thought that indeed this didn't go through.

Today I called Customer Service.  Apparently they did send a confirmation (I still haven't received it.)  When I stated I didn't receive it, I was told numerous times that it was sent.  Period.  The end.  There was no - let me apologize for the confusion and try to clear it up -- it was 'we sent it' -- rudely and with anger.  I asked for the supervisor and was told she was the manager and she apparently has no one above her -- I guess that gives her the right to be mean to customers.  She told me to check 'junk' - not there.  Again - I was told and told the confirmation sent.

She was so rude I cancelled the order.  I then tried to get into my account to see 'tracking' and it said that I had to fill in information as a new customer.  Done.  Just Done.  I wrote them -- and told them to apologize.  I received a letter back saying we do apologize but ... the letter should have stopped at we do apologize.  The email again said we answered her email (I received an answer AFTER sending off my second email) and we DID send you a confirmation. 

I told them that their total lack of customer service was going to be written about ... it is totally ridiculous in today's world to not listen to people and try to 'fix problems' -- but instead reflect the company in such a negative light.  It is worth paying more by ordering at another company that treats me with respect then to order from a company that is totally out of control in their customer service department.  I did write back -- and told them that I shouldn't have to be the person to tell them to apologize ... and sending my order (under $30) gratis would have gone a long way.  

My opinion -- don't buy from NILE CORP.

September 28 & 29  

Peoria, Illinois

51st Annual Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair
Peoria Riverfront Festival Park 

Peoria Riverfront Gateway Building 
150 Artists 

Deadline: March 14

$10,000 Total Awards

Best of show: $2,500

10 Awards of Excellence of $750 each 

10 Honorable Mentions: Automatic Invite for 2014

Location: Peoria is halfway between Chicago and St. Louis

Friday: Patron Preview Party

Saturday: 9am-5pm

Sunday: 10am-5pm

Rated #68 in the Top 200 Art Fairs by Sunshine Artist Magazine

Ranked nationwide in the top 200 Fairs from Art Fair Sourcebook

• #103 in Fine Art
• #131 in Fine Craft

Whether you're a first-timer...

 “This is the best run, most friendly, well organized show that I have done. The lunches, amenities, and coordination make this event extremely artist-friendly. Plus, the Peoria, IL scenery is beautiful. I will definitely apply for next year’s fair!” – 2012 Fine Art Fair Artist. 

Or back for more...

"I love this show.  It's a whole community thing, not just an elite group of artists.  It's super fun to be around, and we feel appreciated by both the producers and the community at large.  One of the best things about the show is the location." – Sally Bright, Returning Fine Art Fair Artist (2010, 2011, 2012)     

The Fine Art Fair is known for...

• An appreciative buying audience for ALL mediums
• Pre-fair sales at Friday Preview Party and after-fair sales
• Easy set-up and teardown/level and accessible
• Convenient reserved free parking for artists
• Affordable and close accommodations (over 800 hotel rooms within walking distance of the venue)
• Over 450 energetic community volunteers-willing to please and deliver refreshments
• Booth sitters available if you need to grab a snack or take a break
• Overnight security Friday & Saturday
• Complimentary meals all weekend with Saturday art awards reception dinner
• Saturday night complimentary artist awards dinner (with entertainment)
• Opportunity to mix & mingle at the Friday night pre-sale Preview Party
• Artist-only break room and information center
• Beautiful outdoor Riverfront venue
• The company of highly respected, nationally recognized, award-winning artists
• ATM on site for IMMEDIATE CASH PURCHASES!
• Good old-fashioned mid-western hospitality!!

Ask the artists who have exhibited in Peoria.  No one does it better!  We excel in artist amenities from complimentary lunch and breakfast to an Artist Awards and Appreciation dinner.  We work hard to make your experience, in the heart of the Midwest, one you won't forget.  With 35% of our exhibiting artists new each year, we never tire of hearing: "Wow, I never thought I'd do this well or have this much fun in Peoria, IL!"

Visit our Facebook page 

to become a fan and to keep up with the most up to date happening organized by the Peoria Art Guild.

Application available at: http://www.zapplication.org 

For additional information, please call 309-671-1093, visit www.peoriafineartfair.com
or email: events@peoriaartguld.org