International Urban Sketchers Week 2026 - Pop Up Sketch - Venice, Florida
Schedule
Fri May 01 2026 at 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Lord-Higel's Coffee House | Venice, FL
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Join Urban Sketchers Sarasota in Venice to kick off International Urban Sketchers Week with a relaxed morning of drawing on location at historic Lord Higel Coffee House and surrounding area. It’s a great chance to meet other artists and spend a creative morning together sketching.For those interested, we’ll begin with a pre-sketch coffee social at 9:00 AM on the porch of the historic Lord-Higel House, a charming gathering spot right in the heart of Venice.
Meet Urban Sketchers at 10:00 AM under the Oak tree by the Bike Racks for a quick meet and greet and then head out to sketch. From there, you will be able to set up around the Coffee Shop or wander over to John Nolan Park which is encircled by multiple buildings from the 1920's.
Benches are available in the Park, but a stool is recommended to get just the right perspective on Lord Higel House.
Re-group at the Coffee House at 12:00 PM for our throw down to share your work and see what other sketchers have done and take a quick group photo to commemorate the event.
About the Location
The Lord-Higel House is one of the oldest surviving structures in Sarasota County, originally built in 1896 by citrus grower Joseph H. Lord and later home to grove manager George Higel. Saved from demolition and relocated twice before being restored, the house now serves the community as a welcoming coffee house — full of character and great architectural details to sketch.
If you’d like to explore beyond the house, there are wonderful sketching opportunities just a short walk away. John Nolan Park offers shade trees and greenery with views back toward the historic house. Just beyond the park is the Historic Apartment District, where a collection of charming Mediterranean-style apartment buildings from the 1920s Florida land boom provides great architectural subjects and repeating patterns for sketchers.
Parking is available at the Coffee House or Street Parking around John Nolan Park.
If you’re not in the mood for morning coffee, feel free to stay after the sketch for lunch and conversation. The café offers drinks, pastries, sandwiches, and light fare.
Menu: https://www.lordhigelhouse.com/menu
International Urban Sketchers Week (May 1–7) is a global celebration of drawing on location. Sketchers around the world share their cities, towns, and everyday places through their sketchbooks — connecting communities through art and storytelling.
Come for the coffee, the history, and the sketching — and help us capture Sarasota County one page at a time!
#USkWeek2026
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Where is it happening?
Lord-Higel's Coffee House, 409 Granada Ave ,Venice, Florida, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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