Rhondak Drive October 24 2008 Boca Grande Aqua Boutique Stum Pass Tiki Bar Florida Funny Bar Signs

DRIVEOctober 24,

2008RhondaK

Sales Calls, Inspiration

Hunting, Tiki Bars and

New Roads RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artisthttp://www.rhondakwrites.com

www.Floridafolkartist.com

http://www.rhondakwrites.com/

http://www.floridafolkartist.com/

DRIVEOctober 24,

2008Sales Call

to Boca Grande, Leave

8:30am, Raining RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist

http://www.rhondakwrites.comwww.Floridafolkartist.com



DRIVEOctober 24,

2008Packed up some new work, old

work and a lot of hopes to do well. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist




DRIVEBoca Grande’s

Really chic, very fascinating Aqua

Boutique. Emily is now selling some of

my work…and apparently has been! Nice surprise. Boca

Grande is FASCINATING. Very quaint and even an affordable daytrip

despite being known as a playground for the really well to do.

RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artisthttp://www.rhondakwrites.com




DRIVEAqua Boutique is selling one of my favorite one of a

kind mermaids…a dreadhead

mermaid with turtle on a really

aged piece of wood. And a rare pastel pink “Live with egrets – not

regrets.” RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist




This is some of my new work. They used to be bar doodles. They didn’t make it into Aqua

Boutique…but they will be in a Brandon,

Florida art show November and December.

Sometimes new work doesn’t find an audience right off and you have to remain persistent

and have faith.The reason people don’t buy them or pass over them for

their store--- you can’t take it personal.

Every sign…every bar doodle..finds its person.

RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist

http://www.rhondakwrite

s.comwww.Floridafolkarti

st.com

DRIVEEmily picked up

some signs to sell in her ecletic, super

cool boutique. I was there too early to

enjoy the neighborhood which included the Boca

Grille Tiki Bar. Looks like my kind of place.

Beer prices were also very friendly. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist



DRIVEA Livejournal.com friend is a native of Boca Grande and told me about this

memorial to a friend of hers that was

down 7th and a small walk down the sea

wall near a beautiful and isolated beach.

At the seawall, magnolias had

washed down the street to the wall.




http://www.rhondakwrites.co

mwww.Floridafolkartist.c

om







DRIVEThis is a Boca

Grande Memorial for Lorn who passed in 1993. It faces the sea. While I was there about 20 –

seriously – 20 dolphins were

playing out in front. I sat there for a while. I left a flower for the girl who told me this

was her friend’s

memorial. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist


DRIVESitting there I

realized I needed to do something for

TiKiMan. As far as I know his family left him the morgue so

that he’s either been a science

experiment or in a pauper’s grave.

He deserves better. I need something to visit and not carry around with me.



DRIVEA beautiful magnolia

draped wall in Boca Grande near the 7th Ave public

beach.RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist


From Boca Grande I turned right on Placida to go TO Placida’s

Fishery Road. There are a lot of galleries there and a great

restaurant. This is Margaret Albritton’s gallery. Whimsical fun.



Margaret Albritton’s gallery has candles, crabs, fantastic fish

paintings and more.I didn’t ask her to sell my work

because her place wasn’t shabby chic, but full of light and

smoothness.

More Here:http://www.margaretalbrittongallery.com/

Placida’s Fishery Road has many places of interest and some

festivals too.



This is the lively charter boat area on Placida’s

Fishery Road. Lot’s of fun, live crabs, mullet…and Old

Florida.RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist


DRIVEThis is Fishery Restaurant in

Placida. It has a fantastic view of

charter boats, and old dock and Lemon

Bay. Maybe even Cape Haze. The

sauces are FANTASTIC. The

Key Lime mustard—amazing. Also, the

interior is fun.RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist


DRIVEFor a mere

$4.95..the Fishery Restaurant’s Conch

Fritters with Key Lime Mustard is

Delicious.Affordable.

With the view…FANTASTIC.



DRIVEThis is the interior of

Placida’s Fishery Restaurant.

For More Info:http://www.sunstate.com/fishery/



Placida’s Cindy’s Fish House. Retail fresh

Florida seafood.



DRIVEThe Master….Hatch’s

gallery in Placida. He, his father and brother do handcrafted wood art.

Amazing nautical collectibles and more.

I asked him to let me know if I could rent a spot there one Sunday. Nice guy. He

said Stump Pass Grille might be interested in

consignment..so I went there next.

http://www.themkt.com/hatch.html



Stump Pass Grille has huge tiki setups by the

bay. NICE.The people who work there are friendly. The

grouper is actually fresh and recommended. The chicken wings—super. They sell the work on a tiki guy in Englewood who calls himself Tiki

Ron. http://www.stumppassgrille.com/



DRIVETiki Ron isn’t

TikiMan’s style. He does sports tikis and also

painted tikis with a minimum of

carving. His work is well regarded

in Englewood and Stump’s is good about supporting

a local artist.RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist


Stump’s Pass Grille. I left some signs there just in case, I might get

a chance to sell there. Nothing ventured…nothing gained.



I used my time at Stump’s to go over some new work I’m trying out this year. I’m not sure where it is taking me. But my

bar doodles have come to life in many places. Not just bars.But in people’s lives.

On days like today, I am thankful. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist


Captain Eddie’s in Nokomis

The restaurants interior features some prints by Sanibel ( I think ) artist Nora Butler. She has an amazing style. Pictures

inside of pictures.

Better examples here:http://www.norabutler.com/



I also did some “free” signs for the Siesta Key Market. They are fun and not the sort of thing I sell. But I

want a chance to get into the Siesta Fiesta. I’ve been turned down because I don’t

have a “display.” As in, I don’t use a white tent.

However, this year I might know the right people.

Sometimes persistence has a distinct curve and detour

to it.

In short…

DRIVE.You have to have it to get

anywhere at all.RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist


Siesta Key Farmer’s Market

is every Sunday. I love the bread

and the soap. It is super dog

friendly. As my sign sez: “Flip

Flop Shop til you drop…have a sunSational

time..”RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist


Friday October 24, I picked up a new store in super chic, super beautiful Boca Grande. I walked to

another person’s friend’s memorial by the sea and had some thoughts about memorials. The absence of

those we love and their remains far away. What gives us peace when we fear they don’t have peace?

I think the 20 dolphins answered that question. I met some great artists, found some new ones, hung out in the rain inside some great tiki bars, found the best key lime mustard EVER…and found a great road trip

I hope becomes another home away from home.



Career

Rhondak Drive October 24 2008 Boca Grande Aqua Boutique Stum Pass Tiki Bar Florida Funny Bar Signs