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Top 10 Lawsuits
Publisher/Executive Editor: David Vandygriff publisher@cityxtramagazine.com
-Atty Gordon T. Nicol
Top 25 Jacksonville Restaurants -Jake Russell
Creative Designer: Jason Smith designer@cityxtramagazine.com
Don’t Be a Scrooge -Dr. Harvey Carr
Hero’s Superpowers: Prevent HIV -David Vandygriff -Julian Swanson
Let the People Decide?
-Jacksonville Coalition for Equality
Contributing Writers
JAX Mayor’s HRO Town Hall #2 Classifieds
Sales Department: Carlos Martinez sales@cityxtramagazine.com cityXtra Magazine is published by cityXtra Magazine, LLC. 2941 Plum Street Jacksonville, FL 32205 (904) 410-9592 www.cityxtramagazine.com Like us on Facebook/cityxtramag Twitter/cityxtra
Gay Christmas
-David Vandygriff
Editor In Chief: Harvey Carr editor@cityxtramagazine.com
Laura Riggs, Dr. Harvey Carr, Attorney Gordon Nicol, Meredith O’Malley Johnson, Tina Vaughn, Jake Moore, Tyler Curry Editor HIV Equal Online, Sebastian Fortino, David Vandygriff, Joey Amato Publisher Unite Magazine
night life JACKSONVILLE Boot Rack: 4751 Lenox Blvd. (904) 384-7090 bootrack.com Bo’s Club: 201 5th Ave. N. (Jax Beach) (904) 246-9874 bosclub.com
ORLANDO Parliament House: 410 Orange Blossom Trail (407) 425-7571 parliamenthouse.com ST. PETERSBURG
Club Jax: 1939 Hendricks Ave. (904) 398-7451 clubjax.com
Flamingo Resort: 4601 34th St. S (727) 321-5000 flamingofla.com
Hamburger Mary’s: 3333-1 Beach Blvd. (904) 551-2048 hamburgermarys.com/jax
Sporters Bar: 187 Dr. MLK St. N (9th St.) (727) 821-1920
Incahoots: 711 Edison Ave. (904) 353-6316 Park Place: 931 King St. (904) 389-6616 Metro: 859 Willow Branch Ave. (904) 388-7192 metrojax.com Norm’s Alibi: 2952 Roosevelt (904) 384-0029
TAMPA (Ybor) Bradley’s on 7th: 1510 E 7th Ave (813) 241-2723 Liquid Tampa: 1502 E 7th (813) 248-6104 liquidtampa.com
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Top 10 Lawsuits By Atty Gordon T Nicol
A Minnesota woman is suing the state. She is suing because a state employee driving a state car crashed into her parked car totaling her call. What’s so crazy about the lawsuit? She was the state employee who totaled her own car. She is arguing that she was working for the state when she ran into her car so the state is responsible for totaling her car. A subway passenger is New York City is suing the city for her injuries. Her lawyer is suing because she broke her ankle ‘escaping’ from a gruesome blood splattering movie poster. No the movie poster didn’t fall on her. She just got scared and fell as she was backing away from the poster. The worst part…she has an attorney who filed the lawsuit for her. A Colorado prisoner serving life for murder is suing an N.F.L. Referee. He is suing for 900 million dollars. The basis for the lawsuit? The referee ruled against one of the football players which caused the Dallas Cowboys to lose the game. The prisoner states in his lawsuit that he was ‘hurt’ when his team lost. A Houston Texas police officer was sentenced to a year in jail for a traffic accident. Did he run into another car while on duty? Well no. The officer responded to a 911 call for a traffic accident. Rather than write a ticket to the woman who caused the accident he offered to let her off with a warning if she would suck his toes. The woman said she would rather have the ticket. How about suing your nephew for having too much fun at his birthday party. The 12 year old was celebrating and jumped into his Aunt’s lap. The Aunt lost her balance and fell breaking her arm. She sued her nephew for a hundred thousand dollars saying he should have been better behaved. How about this for stupid criminals? A bank robber in Pittsburgh kept getting caught because of his distinct red beard. Rather than shave off the beard and wear a ski mask...like a regular bank robber...he decided to buy a disguise. He bought a red beard to cover his red beard. So stupid is as stupid does.
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An Illinois woman is suing a funeral home after they lost her mother’s body. What is worse? The funeral home wheeled out a number of other dead bodies to see if any of the bodies might have been her mother. Craving BBQ food but too drunk to drive? Why not pay your ten year old neighbor to drive to the restaurant? The restaurant called the police and the hungry man was charged with child endangerment. Civil War Re-enactment gone bad: A drunken man in Ohio was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment when he shot a fellow reenactor with bullets in the gun. A Texas dental hygienist wrestled an 800 foot alligator into submission in a mall parking lot. She had originally been honored for saving life’s till some government employee thought she should be charged for animal abuse for wrestling the alligator. Fortunately, sanity ruled and the woman was recognized as a hero! The above article is general in nature and should not be relied upon for specific legal advice. Every legal situation is different. Gordon T. Nicol, Attorney at Law www.yourjacksonvillelawyer.com 7545 Centurion Parkway, Suite 108 Jacksonville, FL 32256 Phone: 904-384-4911 Helpdesk@youjacksonvillelawyer.com
Top 25 Jacksonville Restaurants By Jake Russell
13 Gypsies—Situated in the city's Riverside neighborhood, 13 Gypsies offers Spanish tapas like cured chorizo, Moorish pork kabobs and risotto. (www.13gypsies.com) Azucena Corner Deli— Everyone loves a deli so Azucena offers wraps and meals freshly cooked with ingredients from local farmers and a broad selection of wine served in an authentic environment. (www.azucenadelia.com) Azurea—First Coast Inspired cuisine reigns at One Ocean Resort's Azurea restaurant. Winner of multiple awards for fine dining, Azurea has become a staple in...(www.oneoceanresort.com) B.B.'s—Features a casual setting with hardwood floors, bar seating and wood-beam ceilings. Menu items include grilled pizzas, salads and hot sandwiches. (www.bbsrestaurant.com) Biscottis—Outdoor sidewalk dining, boldly colored walls covered in original artwork and display cases filled with baked goods like cakes and pies. (www.biscottis.net)
Burrito Gallery—They offer fresh hand made all natural tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and salads. They also feature an Urb Garden Bar with skyline views and local art on display. (www.burritogallery.com) Carmine’s Pie House—No restaurant list could be complete with a pizza place. Carmines offers the best pizza in Riverside with the freedom for equality. (www.carminespiehouse.com) Eleven South Bistro & Bar— Blink and you might drive right by this local favorite tucked away along the coastline of Jacksonville Beach. Known for its award winning wine list and...(www.elevensouth.com) Hawkers Asian Street Fare— Undeniably Jacksonville’s hottest new restaurant. Hawkers brings small dishes traditionally served the street all from Asia to your table side.,,, (www.eathawkers.com)
Black Sheep—Black Sheep is a local foodie "go to" that stands out just like its name. Housed in an impressive building that jumps out at you from its more homey... (www.blacksheep5points.com)
Indochine—Thai & Southeast Asian Fare with location in Downtown and San Marco. Voted Best Thai Restaurant 3 consecutive years by Folio Magazine. (www.indochinejax.com)
Blue Fish—The crab bisque which is divine with large pieces of crab and an excellent blend of savory flavors or try some fresh oysters. (www.bluefishjax.com)
Maple Street Biscuit Company— One of the most creative restaurants in Jacksonville that takes the southern tradition of biscuits and give you something to sink your teeth into… (www.maplestreetbiscuits.com)
Top 25 Jacksonville Restaurants By Jake Russell (Continued)
Matthew’s Restaurant—After receiving many awards serving as chef in restaurants around the world, and building an internationally renown cooking school, Matthew opened up shop in Jacksonville. (www.matthewsrestaurant.com) with your classic Pho or Pad Thai. (www.phoanoodlebar.com) Mojo Kitchen—Offers up hearty barbecue like North Carolina pulled pork shoulder, chopped brisket sandwiches and smoked sausage. (www.mojobbq.com)
Moxie Kitchen & Cocktails— Owners Chef Tom Gray and Sarah Marie Johnston have built an innovative masterpiece in the heart of Jacksonville that sets a powerful example on how to.. (www.moxiefl.com) Orsay—Orsay is one of the premier fine dining establishments in Jacksonville. This rustic French bistro is passionate about locally sourced ingredients prepared... (www.restaurantsorsay.com) Ovinte—Ovinte is a small plates restaurant with sophisticated style. Designed with casual comfort in mind, Ovinte invites you to grab a drink, share some plates,... (www.ovinte.com) Palm Valley Fish Camp— Come enjoy fresh Southern seafood in quintessential Florida low country. The perfect location on the intercoastal waterway sets the scene for golden sunsets... (www.palmvalleyfishcamp.com) Pho A Noodle Bar—Downtown Jacksonville’s only noodle bar. Enjoy import beer and boutique
wine
Primi Piattie—Exquisite Italian food, tantalizing wines with impeccable service. (www.primipiattijax.com) Safe Harbor Seafood—They are twice as awesome because they also have a fish market inside the restaurant! As a matter of fact, they supply most of the restaurants around town with their seafood! (www.safeharborseafoodmayport.com)
Salt Life Food Shack—The menu showcases seafood samplings like wood-grilled salmon, fried local shrimp and a variety of sushi rolls. (www.saltlifefoodshack.com) TacoLu Baja Mexicana— TacoLu Baja Mexicana (tacolu.com), located 15 miles east of the city center, offers colorful walls, Mexicanthemed knickknacks and little white light strung across the ornately tiled bar. (www.tacolu.com) Taverna—Praised for its fresh ingredients and seasonal menu this locally owned business has quickly risen in popularity. Inspired by the tastes of Italy and Spain,... (www.tavernasanmarco.com)
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Don’t Be A Scrooge By Dr. Harvey Carr
With Christmas just around the corner, it can be easy to fly by Thanksgiving in a flurry of activity, stress or excitement without being changed at all by gratitude … well, unless you count the extra couple of pounds around our middles from overdosing on mashed potatoes, gravy and pumpkin pie. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls in October, which I think is a splendid plan. It offers more time to recover and refocus before Christmas. Often in our fast-paced culture, we try to cram a lot into a short period of time. With Thanksgiving dinner 2015 now in the not-so-distant past, we can use this season to reset our habits and perspectives at home. One Thanksgiving my family came up with a list of 20 little things for which we wanted to be grateful, and it helped give our family a new perspective. Here are three practical ways I try to transform my own attitude in each room of my home: 1. Gratitude in the kitchen. The process of cleaning a house and fixing meals can feel like an endless loop. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the chores, we can refocus our hearts to practice gratitude for the gift of caring for a home. The kitchen has traditionally been considered an area where nurturing takes place, so as we prepare food, clean counters and empty the sink each day, we can be reminded that the joy and tender care we show in taking care of this space God provided will establish an atmosphere of gratefulness, grace and love. Although my mom, a home-economics teacher, taught me to enjoy cooking nice meals, when Jamie moved into the home we share he informed me the kitchen was his and off limits to me. WOW! Is he ever a fantastic cook!! I have yet to taste anything I did not thoroughly enjoy. I have really gained a new spirit of gratitude for what comes out of our kitchen! 2. Thankfulness in the dining room. Is your dining table covered with papers and clutter every day? Establish a daily practice of thankfulness by creating an inviting gathering space. When we treasure our gifts we take care of
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them, so be inspired to see this table as a sacred space to bless your loved ones. Corral all the clutter into a basket and let everyone pick out his or her own stuff to put away. If you have kids, they can help make a centerpiece out of seasonal elements. Arrange candles to set the mood as everyone sits down. It doesn’t have to be perfect; just have fun with it. Take a moment to look at each face around the table and thank God for them. With our hectic schedules, Jamie and I treasure our dinners together. We always eat at the dining table (we seldom clutter it with anything) and enjoy our time of sharing and being together in the peace and love we have in our home. 3. Grace in the living room. Whether you have kids, roommates, dogs, a wife, or a husband, it’s easy to get frustrated by the mess others make in our space. Use this season to practice a new habit of looking for opportunities to show God’s love to people right there in your living room. At the end of the day when everyone is tired and the upkeep of the house is spiraling out of control, take a deep breath and offer grace instead of griping. Say a prayer of gratitude for the mess-makers in your home; you could be alone. We tend to vegetate in the evening with our 2 furbabies, one curled up with Jamie and one curled up with me. Sometimes I end up with both of them in the chair with me. We are blessed to have a Chihuahua and a Boston Terrier who love each other dearly and love us unconditionally. One of our special times each evening is walking them to the park and watching them play and “do their business”. I make a special effort every evening and every morning in my prayers to thank God for our little “family” and ask Him to guide us and help us to grow in love, patience, and gratitude for each other, even praying for attitude changes in the fur-babies.
Hero’s Superpowers: Prevent HIV By David Vandygriff
A new class of heroes is taking a stand against HIV and AIDS by educating others on how to stop the spread of the epidemic. It's part of a superhero-themed campaign, called PrEP Heroes, to spread the word about HIV prevention. It was created by Housing Works, an advocacy organization that works to end AIDS and homelessness, fashion photographer Mike Ruiz and former "Project Runway" design contestant Jack Mackenroth. PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a type of drug that prevents HIV from establishing itself if someone is exposed. The nine models who appear in the campaign use PrEP to prevent HIV, and Mackenroth, who was diagnosed with HIV in 1989, is an advocate for PrEP. "People taking PrEP are protecting the greater community by ending the epidemic with them," Mackenroth said. "We wanted an edgy, bold and attention-grabbing campaign to embody this idea."
destigmatize PrEP and make it more approachable." Each year, about 50,000 people are infected with HIV in the United States, according to the CDC. About 1.2 million are already living with it, and out of those people, 12.8% don't know they are infected. "Don't stigmatize people or their behavior and focus on the fact that we can prevent HIV," said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the assistant commissioner of New York's Bureau of HIV/ AIDS Prevention and Control. "Be honest with yourself and your provider if you're at risk for HIV and have real conversations about sexual health." However, not everyone supports the preventive drug and awareness campaigns around it. Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, is concerned the focus on PrEP could take away from other prevention efforts. Weinstein said he's concerned that patients won't adhere to a daily routine or take measures to prevent other sexually transmitted diseases. Truvada is most effective when it's taken daily, and only prevents HIV.
Andrew Greene, the senior vice president of marketing for Housing Works, said the campaign is working off the New York Department of Health's blueprint to end the AIDS epidemic within the state by 2020. It is the first state in the nation with such a plan. The three-pronged approach includes "expanding HIV testing, helping those with HIV to get treatment and prevent transmission to others and expanding access to PrEP to prevent new infections." Mackenroth is frustrated that the drug has been slow to build popularity. "This is a drug "Many of them hadn't heard of PrEP until they that will prevent a possibly fatal illness, but it saw this," Greene said. "It concerns me that hasn't had an impact domestically or they didn't know about it. I hope this helps to globally," Mackenroth said
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Gay Christmas By Julian Swanson
Being gay isn't easy ... especially around the holidays. We're just days before the big "C" — Christmas. Chanukah has passed and Thanksgiving is a distant memory. Hustle, bustle, parties and keeping-up-appearances is in full swing. Yet, no matter the year, the holiday season brings its own version of joy and folly for many people. Clutched in the grasp of unmarried, living in sin, having children out of wedlock, divorced, separated, or just plain not wanting to be in a relationship, it's no wonder we can go from Hallelujah to Humbug in a nanosecond. Now add a dollop of festive flair, a twist of fabulousness, and "Oh, make sure we have our token gays on the guest list," and you can see why there isn't enough brandy in the eggnog to avert the dreaded "hay holiday blues." By no means is this discriminatory towards our hetero brothers and sisters who bear their own lumps of coal during this season. It's understood; we all get our chestnuts roasted in one way or another with the pressure of the holidays. For that we feel your pain. On the other hand, being LGBT during the holidays does seem to heat up the emotions and melt the "reason for the season."
examples:
Here are just a few
Because of your lifestyle, you are welcome home, but your partner isn't. Yet, your sister's boyfriend is more than welcome home to boink in her great-grandma's feather poster bed. No shortage of party invitations, just a shortage of guests with tact. "Did you bring your wife?" "How many children do you have?" There should be an etiquette book written called "Politically Correct Holiday Party Questions." Nothing makes you lose your appetite at the holiday dinner table like someone saying, "Jacob, when are you and your nice friend Michael going to find some good Christian girls to make babies with?"
And finally, upon arrival at the company holiday party, Sally, the VP's assistant, announces, "Grab Jeff and Patrick. Their really good at making napkin swans!" Stay strong my gay brothers. Merry Christmas.
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JAX Mayor’s HRO Town Hall #2 By David Vandygriff
700 people to an Edward Waters College gym for a discussion that focused on “Religious Freedoms, Thoughts and Beliefs.” The debate among the four-person panel centered on whether adding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to the city’s antidiscrimination laws would apply to the practices of Hours before the town hall meeting, supporters of changing the law said they gained the backing of religious institutions. almost 80 pastors, rabbis and leaders from a “If the law is passed, I believe it would trump our cross-section of religious faiths and traditions in constitutional law of freedom of speech and also Jacksonville. freedom of religion,” said Pastor Ronnie Edwards “A lot of theological issues are complicated,” the of Blessed Hope Missionary Baptist Church. “I Rev. Clare Chance of Avondale United Methodist should be able to hire and fire based on my decisions, not based on what someone thinks out Church said at event organized by the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality. “This one is in the community.” not.” Roger Gannam of the Liberty Counsel, an Orlando-based group that opposes expanding the Curry’s third and final town hall meeting is law, said “activists on the LGBT side” who “make scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 15 at Jacksonville University’s Terry Concert Hall, 2800 University sport of targeting churches” will push to “stop Blvd. N. The topic will be “Understanding the Law churches from being churches.” and Its Effects on Businesses.” “They want to get homosexuality off the sin list,” The city has created a Web page about the Gannam said. “They want to eliminate religious community conversations at http://www.coj.net/ exemptions.” welcome/communityconversations.aspx. The “I believe that we have the intellectual capacity in online site has information about the human rights this city to make it happen in a way that is fair and ordinance and a feature for people to submit equitable for everybody,” said Pastor Torin Dailey comments. of First Baptist Church of Oakland.
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