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Newsletter #215 Is on sale this week.
 

Regular readers of this newsletter understand what the attraction of this little shopping center is. They, like me, continue to make their way back to it's streets as many as 2 to 3 nights every week. It is hard to attribute it to any one thing, if you could narrow it down, it would have to be the people. Not just the merchants or the staff. It is like everyone that makes their way in to this "Old Town" just sort of becomes part of it, immediately. There isn't any sort of orientation, adjustment or anything else needed, You just feel at "Home". I do not think that even Deac realized that this attraction that he conceptualized would have such a soul of it's own. The diversity of people that visit is unbounded, the cultures that meld under the influence of the Rock and Roll music and the nostalgic sightings continue to strip you of all that stress that this modern world has brought to you. The locals and travelers from the United States are transported to a time when things were less complicated. The guests to Central Florida that visit from all over the world enter into a time and place that they have only seen in the movies or read in books.

I know that the merchants and staff live in the today world and they have to work hard to present their wares and this "Old Town" to all that visit but they do it in such a fashion that it is almost transparent however the fruit of their labors are very visible. If you let this place in to your heart, it will be a destination that you will always come back to. I personally have been visiting for more than 20 years. There have been times during the development of it's soul that I didn't. As much as it has changed it is exactly the way it has always been. A place to bring your family and friends, shop it's stores eat in it's restaurants and ride it's rides. A place to take the time to make new friends, not just on a Cruise Night or a special event but any day. Yes, for Linda and I it is a Wednesday or Saturday night that we come out, other members of our Old Town family come out on a Thursday or Friday night. Some are in "Town" every night.

On the "Cruise" nights people bring their "Stars" that are the cars on a Saturday from hundreds of miles away every week. Now on a Wednesday regulars will drive 70 miles or more for the "Rock at the Clock" event that is also our very own "Duke" Davis Memorial Cruise-In, that has been very fortunate to have one of Old Town's newest residents performing his "Tribute to the King" show live on the stage. Dwight Icenhower with the "Blue Suede Review" have been entertaining since July and will be with us for a while to come. This young man and his young lady, Meagan moved to Florida 4 years ago and were also taken in by the Magic that Old Town has and have become part of it. You might even spot them on another day just shopping or enjoying a visit with others on one of the many benches that line the bricks of Deac Hundley Avenue.

Mike & Alice of Marion, Illinois  happened to hear about the "Rock at the Clock" event from a server at a nearby restaurant yesterday and thought they would check it out. We met them about 5:30, just before the rain started to fall. We chatted about the cars that were on display and assured them that "Rain or Shine" this show goes on, heck we all were out here during a topical storm just a while back. They mentioned that they have seen the best Elvis tribute artists all over the US, I told them they are about to see best young entertainer, "We'll see" they commented. The rain came hard and heavy for a while and I could see that they were wondering of it was worth the wait, we assured them that it was. Then just before "Show Time" it stopped. The show would start just a few minutes late for a "Dry Off". The "Blue Suede Review"  started to play and Dwight Icenhower took the stage to a large cheering audience for his "Early Years" set.

During the first break, "Mustang Mike" and I would take the stage and draw for a few prizes, we didn't have a 50/50 because the prime time for selling the tickets it was raining. There wasn't a special scarf drawing so next week Tracy will give 2 away. The "Cruise-A-Matic", wasn't drawn, so next week it remains at $30 and the "Cruiser of the Week" was also not given out tonight due to the rain and the light turn out in the early evening.

Mike and Alice told me during the break that they have now, seen the best "Elvis Tribute" artist and wished they could join our family on a regular basis but they were headed back to Illinois after a brief stay in Daytona Beach. They further added that they will keep up with what we are all up to by visiting this newsletters website.

I guess I started off on a bit of a tangent so now I will get the details of just who was out tonight after all I do report from a Cruise-In. So here is who was out: Bill & Doris in their '79 T-Bird, Gary with his HHR,  Wolfman & Sue had their  Wolf Wagon, Pep & Nancy would have their '91 Mustang Convertible, we had our our '60 Ranchero,  Mustang Mike" had his '64 Greenbrier, Greg  would be in his '85 Camaro. Charlie & Carole in their '02 BMW Mini, Tom & Bunny with a '66 Malibu, Bert & Ernie with their "Elvis Tribute" PT Cruiser,  Dave, Esther,  & Mesha in the ''83 Grand Marquis, "Cigar" Bob was in his daily driver, Pablo & Nilda in the '72 VW, Lynn in her daily driver, Cousin Vinny in his '04 Dodge Dakota, Butch in his '05 Crossfire, Emma in her daily driver, Doug in his '78 El Camino, New cruisers Dan & Rosemary in their 2000 Mustang Convertible “Gold Package”, Visiting Cruisers Ted & Bev in their Pro-Street ’81 Chrysler Imperial stopped by on their way home to Port St Lucie after reading about “Rock at the Clock” in Mike Kelly’s Cruise News. They enjoyed the evening and said they would definitely be back.

Allan, and Scotty were “on duty”. Regular spectators Anna, Jasmine & Glenda
Jim & Lori, Keith were in "Town". Bill & Karen and Arne arrived about 6:30. Dwight and Meagan waited in the “Dressing Room”, rain delayed the final setting up of the equipment but Mike Singer, KJ4GNI, kept everyone entertained from the Blue Room. Linda wants to thank Bert for setting up the 50/50 in her absence last week with the help of Emma and of course Bob.

We would stay for all 3 sets tonight and the later crowd would grow to include several hundred Elvis fans.
 

Thank You to Old Town for inviting us out every week, to the Old Town Merchants association for sponsoring "A Tribute to the King", to Tracy, Old Town's events director that brought us the "Rock at the Clock" event and to Gary & Dave our own TCB guys for giving us the time that they do and to all of the Cruisers that are starting to come out on a Wednesday Nite. Come on out, "Rain or Shine!" Cruisers, if you don't want to bring out the car because of the weather come on out anyway, lets build the audience on our own. Remember good entertainment and good friends makes a great evening in our "Home Town".

As always click on any photo for a larger view.

Steve's Photos
Dwight Icenhower and the Blue Suede Review - All Shook Up - On YouTube
Dwight Icenhower opens his 3rd set at "Rock at the Clock" - On YouTube

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