02/20/13

Northeast Florida’s News & Opinion Magazine • Feb. 20-26, 2013 • 124,542 Readers Every Week • Chill, We Got This!

FREE

Rock Me Erik DeCicco leads local actors and musicians in a historic theatrical event P. 10

The ‘Gentle Giant’ at JU P. 7

Live Oscars Chat P. 16

Becoming ‘Billy Elliot’ P. 30

2 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

Inside Volume 26 Number 47

21

18

30

EDITOR’S NOTE Government officials should take better care with taxpayer money. p. 4

“Veer”: Filmed in Jacksonville, it matches skateboarder’s rough landing with a gritty look and feel. Also, take our quiz to win tickets! p. 17

NEWS One student’s quest to be refined rather than defined by Asperger’s syndrome. p. 7

SPORTSTALK Successful female wrestler Madusa takes on torque, power and payback in Monster Jam. p. 18

BUZZ Navy drones in Duval, economy and education, cash for Cummer, a church gets a reprieve, Blue Angels and a Lou Gehrig’s Disease diagnosis. p. 7

MUSIC Dark Star Orchestra honors ultimate jam band Grateful Dead through a cosmic combination of improvisation and academic devotion. p. 21

BOUQUETS & BRICKBATS Hank Coxe and other attorneys for Cristian Fernandez, City Councilmember Matt Schellenberg, and Omar Tovar and the Coach Foundation. p. 8 DEEMABLE TECH Does it matter in which order I unplug my computer? p. 9 THE SPECKTATOR An interview with the mind behind the Twitter parody account @jaxmayorbrown. p. 9 ON THE COVER Erik DeCicco is ready for his close-up in “Amadeus.” p. 10 OUR PICKS Carrie Nation & The Speakeasy, Leo Kottke, “All New People,” “The Lion King” in 3D benefits Catty Shack, David Crowder and Javier Marín. p. 15 MOVIES What will win, and what should, at the Academy Awards. p. 16

Israeli-born, Brooklyn-based duo Hank & Cupcakes channel rock, funk and electro-pop into a brash, visually arresting hodgepodge. p. 22 ARTS Four boys share the demanding, energetic title role in “Billy Elliot the Musical.” p. 30 BITE-SIZED Beach Road Chicken Dinners piles plates high with Southern goodness. p. 36 BACKPAGE What can be done to complete the troubled Berkman Plaza II Condominiums project? p. 47 MAIL p. 5 MOVIE LISTING p. 19 LIVE MUSIC LISTING p. 23 THE EYE p. 28 ARTS LISTING p. 31 HAPPENINGS p. 35 DINING GUIDE p. 37 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY p. 42 I SAW U p. 43 CLASSIFIEDS p. 44 CROSSWORD p. 45 NEWS OF THE WEIRD p. 46 Cover design by Katarina Lubet

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 3

Editor’s Note Whose Money Is It Anyway?

Government officials should take better care with taxpayer money

W

hat this country needs is less government.

That’s the argument most conservatives make. Given what’s been happening with our taxpayer dollars lately, it’s hard not to agree with them.

Several of our local politicians have been using our money to do some questionable things.

State Attorney Angela Corey spent $235,000 to increase her pension and that of senior prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda. Corey told The Florida Times-Union she plans to do the same for 17 more prosecutors, but it’s not clear how much that will cost.

Strangely enough, this is legal: A 2001 state law allows state agencies to upgrade the accrual rate for certain workers. The change allowed workers to increase their benefits for the years before the rate increased from 1.6 percent to 2 percent. Affected employees may pay for their own upgrade, according to the law.

It cost $108,439 for Corey and $126,653 for de la Rionda to upgrade each women’s 14 years of service that was elgible. Both attorneys make $150,076 a year. With the upgrade, which adds about $8,300 a year, their annual pensions will be about $65,000, according to the Times-Union.

Corey said she’s paying for these pension upgrades with savings her office made. Surely, there are more worthwhile things that can be done with that money.

Compare that to $261,000 spent on iPads by Duval County Public Schools in December. You might think iPads are a great learning tool for students. And you’d be right, except that’s not where these tablets were headed. The 350 iPads were bought for principals, assistant principals and district-level administrators.

So we’re thankful that, when Superintendent Nikolai Vitti learned about these plans, he had the devices collected and given to pre-K programs for 4-year-olds to use for math and reading. Vitti has stressed the importance of shifting resources from the district level to the needs of students; this was a good save on a bad initial decision.

Then, there’s former Duval County Clerk of Courts Jim Fuller, who spent $46,000 on his unsuccessful quest to stay in office despite term limits. He said the suit wasn’t just about him but for any clerks who succeed him.

Fuller approved raises for 30 employees as his term came to an end — $214,000 worth.

Fuller had awarded bonuses to those same employees, but the City Council vetoed that.

Fuller authorized $141,000, on his last official day as clerk, for items like blinds, printers and office equipment. New Clerk of Courts Ronnie Fussell canceled the raises and most of those purchases.

Not to be outdone, Steve Wallace, the former president of Florida State College at Jacksonville, wasn’t satisfied with his $1 million golden parachute. He managed to convince the board chair to upgrade his phone and iPad and keep his $797-a-month Chevrolet Tahoe through June. Apparently the rest of the board

4 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

was unaware of this sweetened deal; they had specifically voted against allowing Wallace to keep the SUV. This was after he was forced out because the problems during his tenure kept snowballing — mistakenly awarded Pell grants, automated changes in students’ majors and exorbitant expenses, to name a few. Taxpayers have paid enough for this man and his mishandling of a public institution meant to provide advanced education to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity.

Now, Jacksonville is launching a threemonth trial of a parking app created by Streetline Inc. Sensors are being installed at about 100 parking spaces along Laura Street, allowing motorists to find available spaces with iPhone or Android mobile devices.

The pilot program will have no cost to taxpayers, but if the city wants to continue the program, the cost per parking space would be $15 to $20 a month — $18,000 to $24,000 a year — for those initial spaces. If the city wanted to expand it to the more than 1,600 metered spots downtown, the cost would balloon — $288,000 to $384,000 a year.

Although there is a widespread perception that downtown parking is scarce, the metered spots, plus 40,000 garage and parking lot spots, are plentiful. Complaints usually stem from those who feel they have to park too far away from their destination. But an app that asks people to use their smartphones while driving and encourages more cars in the core instead of taking advantage of mass transit is not a good idea or a good use of tax dollars.

Pension upgrades, iPads, attorney fees for personal gain, SUVs, parking apps — are these the best uses of our money? They’re just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more examples at the local, state and federal levels of government.

But despite Jacksonville’s supposed distaste for tax increases, 64 percent of those polled by University of North Florida in early February would support a small increase in property taxes, if those taxes go toward something they deem worthy: public education.

Now, if we can just ensure that those taxes are well spent.

Anti-government activists point to examples like these as proof that government needs to be downsized, or nearly eliminated if you believe some extremists. However, there are important functions that government addresses that the private sector or individuals cannot, such as representing the people’s interests in court and providing education to all students, no matter their background. There are many more.

Those who make their living working for the government should remember they are entrusted with great power. With that power — and trust — come great responsibility.

Meanwhile, it’s up to the rest of us to hold these people accountable.

Denise M. Reagan dreagan@folioweekly.com twitter.com/denisereagan

Mail

What’s an Assault Weapon?

When talking about gun control, we need to decide what the liberals call an “assault weapon.”

The way I see it, they mean an automatic weapon like the M-16 or AK-47.

These rifles can be set to fire on automatic, which means the operator has to pull the trigger only once and leave it pulled until the clip is empty. They can be set to semi-automatic, which means you have to pull the trigger every time you want it to fire. That’s where the weakness in the gun ban exists. Sen. Diane Feinstein, Hillary Clinton, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Brady Bunch, et al, know that a .25-caliber automatic (a good gun for a woman to carry; it’s small, with little recoil), a .38-caliber revolver and similar pistols will fire every time the trigger is pulled, therefore they are “assault weapons” and need to be confiscated or banned from further sale — and no more ammunition sold for these.

As for accidental shootings at gun shows, a few days training on a shooting range can prevent this. I have been through many classes on how to handle weapons and refresher courses. The first thing they teach you is that every gun is loaded (even if it’s not). Then they teach you to always point a weapon toward the ground, then they let you fire a weapon for a day and teach you the proper way to store it in your home, and proper maintenance. Guns only have two enemies: rust and politicians.

Roy Miller St. Augustine

Two Sides of Education Reform

Frank Denton, editor of The Florida TimesUnion, when suing for teachers Value Added Model scores, half their evaluations, swears they will present both sides of the education reform argument. He says so like there is a moral equivalency between the two camps, like it’s two gentlemen just having a disagreement — nothing could be further from the truth.

One side doesn’t rely on facts or data, preferring to go with their gut or what will profit them and theirs regardless if it’s what’s best for our children. They spread misinformation about the quality of teachers and run around like Chicken Little screaming, “The sky is falling,” except they say teachers are failing our children instead.

There is no moral equivalence between a side that exaggerates cherry-picked stats, supports Jeb Bush’s “Florida miracle” that has been thoroughly debunked, ignores evidence, seeks to inflame people’s passions by saying our public schools are failing, uses catch slogans like “school choice” when what they are actually selling is privatization, and marginalizes teachers, a dedicated, hard-working group that sacrifices so much, and a side that doesn’t do those things.

And to imply there is some moral equivalency between corporate reformers and those fighting for true, evidence-based reform, where teachers are treated like professionals, is insulting.

Is it too much to ask that education reforms be based on evidence and facts and that we slow down and get things right?

Is it too much to ask that schools get the proper resources to do their jobs before we label them failures and seek to close them?

Is it too much to ask that we don’t ignore poverty, which is the No. 1 factor in determining success in our schools? In short, kids who live in it don’t do as well as those who don’t.

Is it too much to ask that we don’t destroy the teaching profession? Low pay, getting rid of pensions, saying experience and ability don’t matter, as well as ratcheting up the demands, is going to drive people from the profession.

Already nearly half of all teachers don’t last five years, and people forget that just a few years ago, we were recruiting in Canada, India and the corporate world because we couldn’t find enough teachers to staff our classrooms.

You want charter schools? Fine, let’s make sure teachers have credentials, aren’t worked to death and receive proper wages as well as make sure the programs are good and the public’s money isn’t used to line the pockets of charter school managers and management boards.

You want vouchers to send kids to private schools? Sure, let’s just make sure those private schools have accountability measurements in place and ESOL and disabled students can use them, too.

You want merit pay? OK, let’s first make sure all teachers have decent wages, and then, if the powers-that-be want to develop a “fair” system to pay some teachers a little more, I don’t think anybody will complain.

There is no moral equivalency between the two sides and to imply there is, is disingenuous at best but, most likely, it makes one complicit with the side that wants to outsource, not improve, our kids’ education and fundamentally change the teaching profession, changing teachers from professionals to the equivalent of fast-food workers.

Chris Guerrieri Jacksonville

Comments on Whether Jacksonville City Council Should Reintroduce an Amendment to the Human Rights Ordinance

The city of Jacksonville is a great city made up of many diverse individuals. For our city to continue to grow and prosper, we must continue to make all individuals feel protected and embraced. By passing such an ordinance, the city takes a giant leap forward for equality and lets all citizens know they are cared about and protected to the best of our city/ county government’s ability. Failure to enact such legislation will only reflect poorly on the elected officials and result in more lost jobs, lost tax revenue and less cultural expansion of this great city. The City Councilmembers cannot allow the 15 percent of this city’s population to hold us back in the style of hatred experienced in Jacksonville during the FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 5

Mail Independent Thinking in Northeast Florida

’60s. One would hope and pray that our mayor would step up, take ownership and champion such legislation for a class of individuals that are underserved and not protected in our city.

We must continue to champion the cause of EQUALITY for all citizens of Jacksonville. cityxtra folioweekly.com

The original 2012-296 was an all-inclusive bill protecting the rights of the LGBTQ; the amendment to that bill did not include gender identity or gender expression. Should the city reintroduce an amendment? Before anyone should agree to this amendment, we would need to see if it’s an all-inclusive amendment. It’s difficult at this stage to know how to answer this question without clarification. The amendment of bill 296 meant that heterosexuals could encounter discrimination if they were gender nonconforming, such as men with effeminate characteristics or expressions, women with male temperaments or who might dress in suits or have male characteristics. The politics This is a copyright protected proof of gender© expression are mainstream and have changed — even among heterosexuals.

The dress reform movement no longer is please call your advertising representative at 260-9770. RUN DATE: 022013 gender-specific, and ceremonial dress might traditionally continue to be a practice at OOF IF POSSIBLE AT 268-3655 weddings and other traditional celebrations, Produced by cs Checked by Sales Rep ENEFIT SUPPORT ASK FOR ACTION but even thesess are morphing into a style unique to the individual. Jacksonville residents must understand that when presumptions are made of another human being, that individual may very well not be a lesbian simply because she wears a suit or tie with her high heels any more than the same can be said of the businessman wearing a pink tie. Jacksonville doesn’t even have communities representative of all cultures. We cannot afford not to include protections for the LGBTQ.

ADVERTISING PROOF

GeekyDutchGirl folioweekly.com

As a member of the LGBT community, I firmly believe that the last time it came up, we got stabbed in the back by some political maneuvering in the background. I also know there were a lot of straight folks in our community who thought the vote would be “a no-brainer” and did not get as personally involved as they should. There will be a lot of them who’ll bring their voices to the table this time, so YES, I believe we should bring it up every new session of the City Council, until they finally decide to join the 21st century and follow the rest of this country in treating us as equal citizens!

CherylMeryl folioweekly.com

9456 Philips Highway, Ste. 11, Jacksonville FL 32256 Phone: 904.260.9770 Fax: 904.260.9773 e-mail: info@folioweekly.com PUBLISHER Sam Taylor • staylor@folioweekly.com • ext. 111

Editorial EDITOR Denise M. Reagan • dreagan@folioweekly.com • ext. 115 A&E EDITOR David Johnson • djohnson@folioweekly.com • ext. 128 PHOTO EDITOR Walter Coker • wcoker@folioweekly.com • ext. 117 COPY EDITOR Marlene Dryden • mdryden@folioweekly.com • ext. 131 STAFF WRITER Ron Word • rword@folioweekly.com • ext. 132 CARTOONISTS Derf, Tom Tomorrow CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rob Brezsny, Dan Brown, John E. Citrone, Hal Crowther, Julie Delegal, Joe Eknaian, Marvin R. Edwards, John Freeman, AG Gancarski, Claire Goforth, John Hoogesteger, Dan Hudak, MaryAnn Johanson, Danny Kelly, Keith Marks, Pat McLeod, Nick McGregor, mikewindy, Kara Pound, Chuck Shepherd, Merl Reagle, P.F. Wilson VIDEOGRAPHER Doug Lewis EDITORIAL INTERNS Jade Douso, Nicholas Garnett, S. Carson Howell, Amanda Long, Bonnie Mulqueen, Melody Taylor PHOTOGRAPHY INTERN Casey Griffin

Design ART DIRECTOR Paul T. Fenn • pfenn@folioweekly.com • ext. 116 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Elaine Damasco • edamasco@folioweekly.com • ext. 118 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Chad Smith • csmith@folioweekly.com • ext. 122 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Katarina Lubet • klubet@folioweekly.com • ext. 118 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Katya Cajas • kcajas@folioweekly.com • ext. 118

Distribution DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Bobby Pendexter • cosmicdistributions@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION TEAM Bob Bueno, Randall Clark, Cynthia Hancock, William Harville, Nigel Ledford, Tina McCarty-Boike, Judy McDonald, Parke Saffer, Jim Tudor

Sales & Marketing ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Sam Taylor • staylor@folioweekly.com • ext. 111 • Arlington, Avondale, St. Johns Town Center SENIOR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE Scott Schau • sschau@folioweekly.com • ext. 124 • Downtown, Riverside, Northside, San Marco ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES C.J. Allen • callen@folioweekly.com • ext. 120 • Southside, Beaches, Ponte Vedra Beach Mary Pennington • mpennington@folioweekly.com • ext. 125 • Intracoastal West, St. Augustine Lee Ann Thornton • lthornton@folioweekly.com • ext. 127 • Mandarin, Orange Park ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE / SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER Ro Espinosa • respinosa@folioweekly.com • ext. 129

Internet WEBSITE/I SAW U COORDINATOR Jessica Stevens • jstevens@folioweekly.com • ext. 110

Business & Administration BUSINESS MANAGER Lynn McClendon • fpiadmin@folioweekly.com • ext. 119 CLASSIFIED AD SALES Jessica Stevens • classifieds@folioweekly.com • ext. 110 VICE PRESIDENT T. Farrar Martin • fmartin@folioweekly.com

Follow us online! folioweekly.com

Facebook

facebook.com/thefolioweekly

What’s the Deal Correction In the Feb. 6 Sportstalk column “Not Simply Going Solo,” it should have stated Jack Tatum’s NFL team as the Oakland Raiders.

If you would like to respond to something that appeared in Folio Weekly, please send a signed letter (no anonymous or pseudonymous mail will be printed) along with address and phone number (for verification purposes only) to themail@folioweekly.com or THE MAIL, Folio Weekly, 9456 Philips Highway, Ste. 11, Jacksonville FL 32256. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.

6 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

folioweeklydeals.com

F-Bomb

folioweekly.com/newsletter.php

Twitter

@folioweekly

Flog

folioweekly.com/flog

Bite Club

fwbiteclub.com

Folio Weekly is published every Wednesday throughout Northeast Florida. It contains opinions of contributing writers that are not necessarily the opinion of this publication. Folio Weekly welcomes both editorial and photographic contributions. Calendar information must be received three weeks in advance of event date. Copyright © Folio Publishing, Inc. 2013. All rights reserved. Advertising rates and information are available on request. An advertiser purchases right of publication only. One free copy per person. Additional copies and back issues are $1 each at the office or $4 by mail, based on availability. First Class mail subscriptions are $48 for 13 weeks, $96 for 26 weeks and $189 for 52 weeks. Please recycle Folio Weekly.

Folio Weekly is printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.

33,000 press run • Audited weekly readership 124,542

News

NewsBuzz

Navy Drones in Duval If Congress funds it, the Navy plans to build one of two command centers for its Triton surveillance drones at Jacksonville Naval Air Station. The MQ-4C Broad Area Maritime Surveillance System would allow pilots and controllers to operate unmanned aircraft over the world’s oceans from the local base. With the budget stalemate in Washington, D.C., the $22 million complex is in limbo. If the project is built, it brings 250 new jobs to the area, said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

It’s the Economy (and Education), Stupid A new University of North Florida poll shows that 37 percent of adult residents believe improving the economy and creating jobs should be Jacksonville’s top priority.

The survey, conducted Feb. 4-12, included surveys with 917 Duval County residents. About 210 UNF political science students collected the data, which also showed 56 percent of Duval County residents are unsatisfied with the quality of public education. Another 55 percent believe increasing the budget will improve the quality of education, and 64 percent support a small property tax increase if the money benefits public education.

Cash for Cummer A $1 million donation from Delores Weaver and $500,000 from Ann and David Hicks will let Jacksonville’s Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens begin its facelift. The museum has raised 98 percent of a $4.5 million goal to redo the Riverside Avenue side and renovate a riverfront garden.

Part of the money is being raised by a “Dedicate a Brick” campaign. For details, go to cummer.org

Church Gets Reprieve Just days before it was scheduled to be sold, a historic St. Augustine church which once hosted Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights era has gotten a sixmonth reprieve from TD Bank. The Rev. Byron Hodges, the church’s pastor, told the St. Augustine Record that St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church wasn’t out of the financial woods, but now there’s time to raise more funding. The church has been a place of worship for 137 years; Dr. King was there June 9, 1964.

Really Blue Angels If Congress doesn’t get its act together and deal with the federal sequester budget cuts, the Navy says the Blue Angels won’t appear at NAS Jax’s air show in October.

If the sequestration goes into effect in March, the Navy said it would save $20 million by cancelling 30 shows, according to The Washington Times. The Blue Angels, now based in Pensacola, started at NAS Jax.

Protein May Help Detect Lou Gehrig’s disease Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida have discovered an abnormal protein that accumulates in the brains of many patients afflicted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease and front temporal dementia. Their findings have uncovered a potentially new therapeutic target and biomarker than would let clinicians to confirm diagnosis of the disease. The study is published in the journal Neuron.

Jacksonville University computer animation student Ian Jordan Chaille (left), a 21-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome, will run the sound board for two one-act plays, “Laundry & Bourbon” and “Lonestar,” at JU’s Swisher Theater. His mother Deborah Jordan, an assistant professor of theater arts at JU, is directing the two plays.

Photos: Maren Tith, Jacksonville University

The ‘Gentle Giant’

One student’s quest to be refined rather than defined by Asperger’s syndrome

I

an Jordan Chaille is a typical student at Jacksonville University. Like most college juniors, Chaille, who will be running the soundboard for the school’s presentations this week and next of “Laundry & Bourbon” and “Lone Star,” two one-act plays written by the late James McLure, thinks a lot about his future after graduation. The 21-year-old computer animation major and film minor dreams of landing a job at Pixar.

When he isn’t in class or studying, he likes playing “Halo” on Xbox 360, listening to heavy metal, hanging out with his friends, watching science fiction and Coen brothers’ movies — he’s a big fan of “The Big Lebowski” — participating in collegiate activities like the Alpha Psi Omega, national theatre honor society, and riding rollercoasters (he holds season tickets to four amusement parks).

And in the summer, he teaches private swim lessons and coaches children ages 4 to 18 on the local Argyle Waves Swim Team.

He also has Asperger’s syndrome.

Like many with Asperger’s, Chaille comes across as quirky, even nerdy, lighting up when he talks about public transportation. Though he has a car and lives 15 minutes from campus, most mornings he boards a 6:40 a.m. bus to get to an 8 a.m. class. Visiting a new city is an exciting opportunity to experience its public transportation system. Rather than evoking abject terror, his first trip on the New York City subway system evoked palpable elation. He even likes — brace yourself — Greyhound buses.

“Even if it’s not the train, it’s the bus, as long as it’s public transit; I adore that,” he said.

Chaille was 3 years old when a teacher suggested that he wasn’t developing on the

same schedule as his peers. His mother, Deborah Jordan, an assistant professor of theater at JU, didn’t waste any time having him tested. She already knew there was something different about her son, who was speaking in complete sentences by the age of 2. “I thought he was a genius,” she said, adding, “I still do.” At 4 years old, Chaille was in a classroom with other children of varying exceptionalities — or areas of functioning significantly different from the established norm — but it wasn’t until he was 6 that he was officially diagnosed with Asperger’s.

“I just happened to be at Nemours; the woman that was shadowing the woman at Hope Haven read his diagnosis and said, ‘He’s Asperger’s,’ ” Jordan said.

Three years might seem like a long time, but many wait much longer for a diagnosis, particularly before this decade brought a greater awareness and access to information

LAUNDRY & BOURBON and LONE STAR 7:30 P.M. FEB. 21-23, 7:30 P.M. MARCH 1 & 2 AND 2:30 P.M. MARCH 3 Swisher Theater, Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd., Arlington Tickets: $10 general admission; $7 seniors & military; $5 students; free to JU students, faculty and staff. 256-7374.

Blocker, co-founder of the local group Adults With Asperger’s (meetup.com/Adults-withAspergers), to be diagnosed. “His initial diagnosis as an infant was cerebral palsy, which is a very generic term that is related to what they thought was brain damage,” his mother, Eileen Blocker, said. “He had hypotonia — low muscle tone — and a few other things, so they just assumed.”

At 17, Matt Blocker, who is now 34, was diagnosed with Asperger’s. “By the time somebody said that, I felt like there were

“If there’s one thing that has broken my heart all the time raising [Chaille] is seeing how little tolerance and patience people have with people with behavioral issues.”

— Jordan Chaille about Asperger’s and other autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The Internet is rife with horror stories about people with Asperger’s being misdiagnosed, medicated and treated for conditions they did not actually have, placed in classroom settings with children with far more serious developmental disorders and, in rare instances, even being institutionalized, for years before finally receiving an accurate diagnosis.

It took almost two decades for Matt

autistic tendencies, but it really didn’t matter for us because he was an adult,” she said.

So what is Asperger’s?

“Asperger’s is a form of an autistic spectrum disorder; it’s on the highfunctioning end of the spectrum. These are kids who typically have normal language abilities but have social skills deficits and some idiosyncratic tendencies,” said Dr. Michael J. De La Hunt, division chief of psychology and psychiatry at Nemours. “They FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 7

News have a hard time relating and empathically understanding how other people think and feel. They tend to be somewhat awkward and quirky. But they also typically, stereotypically maybe, tend to be extremely bright and talented, at least in one specific area of interest.”

ASD encompasses a wide range, including exceptionally gifted individuals who have never required treatment, cognitively delayed individuals with severe sensory sensitivity and little or no language skills, and everything in between. Though there are similarities among those within the spectrum, particularly within each sub-classification, there is no one-size-fits-all set of symptoms, treatments, medications or possibilities.

People on the autism spectrum are, well, people — each as unique as a fingerprint or a strand of DNA. People with Asperger’s often struggle to communicate the depth of their affection to the people in their lives; common stereotypes (which many believe are false) are that Asperger’s permanently inhibits an individual’s capacity for love or socialization.

But Chaille is not defined by these stereotypes. Mercy Carver coaches the swim team with Chaille and has known him since he joined the team at the age of 9. “He’s really helpful, sweet; he likes to help and really does care about everybody,” Carver said.

“If I were to describe [him], it would be my ‘gentle giant,’ ” his mother said. “He’s a very sweet boy; where he got that sweetness, I don’t know; it didn’t come from me.”

Chaille, who is 6 feet, 4 inches tall, says he has fun running the soundboard. “I

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported in 2012 that 1 in 88 children are on the autism spectrum, an increase of 23 percent since 2009 (78 percent since 2007). ASD affects nearly five times as many boys as girls. It’s estimated that one in 54 boys are on the spectrum.

CAUSES Earlier studies that blamed parents (so-called “refrigerator mothers”) and vaccinations for ASD have been largely discredited. A vast majority of scientists and researchers now agree that there is a genetic component to the disorders, and many believe that ASD might be caused by genetic predisposition in conjunction with certain environmental factors.

CDC’S RECOMMENDATIONS The most important thing for parents to do is to act quickly whenever there is a concern about a child’s development: • Talk to your child’s doctor about your concerns.

• Call your local early intervention program or school system for an assessment.

• You do not need a diagnosis to access services for your child.

love interacting with actors, with the stage manager and with the director herself.” His mother is directing the two plays.

There are characteristics that people with Asperger’s often share. “Their chatter tends to be expounding on in-depth topics that are of great interest to them, but not of great interest to the person they’re talking to,“ De La Hunt said. “There’s a certain tone in their voice.

Professorial tone, nerdy, nasal tone, that’s a real tip-off.”

Hans Asperger, for whom the syndrome is named, discovered the condition simultaneously with Leo Kanner in the

1940s. Asperger referred to the children he studied as “little professors.” At the turn of this century, a Wired magazine article of the same title referred to high-functioning autism and Asperger’s as “The Geek Syndrome.” Matt Blocker’s nickname is “Mattipedia” because of his extensive knowledge of numerous topics.

Particularly for someone his age, Chaille has a profoundly mature, thoughtful way of discussing himself and the world.

Both Blocker and Chaille have chosen careers in computers, a relatively common vocational path for high-functioning people on the spectrum.

Another similarity Chaille shares with Blocker and others with Asperger’s: He was bullied in childhood. In 2012, the Interactive Autism Network at Kennedy Krieger Institute released preliminary results of a nationwide survey. The survey found that children with ASD are three times more likely to be bullied (63 percent reported being bullied at some point in their lives; 39 percent within the last month) than siblings who were not on the spectrum. The study also found that

children with Asperger’s are nearly twice as likely to be bullied as other children within the autism spectrum: 61 percent of children with Asperger’s reported they were currently bullied, compared to 28 percent to 37 percent of others on the spectrum.

Being bullied and having emotional rigidity — a frequent symptom — coupled with social difficulties, often cause children within the spectrum to become frustrated, even angry. But De La Hunt pointed out, “Anger is an issue, but not violence. [It] has more to do with low frustration tolerance.”

Eileen Blocker recalled a painful moment when her son was 7 or 8. “On the way to school … he asked me, ‘Am I retarded?’ ” she said.

“If there’s one thing that has broken my heart all the time raising [Chaille] is seeing how little tolerance and patience people have with people with behavioral issues,” Jordan said. “Autism and Asperger’s [are] a disability, just like if you needed a ramp.”

Neither Blocker nor Chaille looks back with much bitterness.

“I didn’t have that many friends back then, but what I’m just happy about in the end is that I still stayed myself,” Chaille said.

Matt Blocker wrote about bullying via email — a method of communication he prefers. “[I’m] not really bitter at all, it’s just another thing that really helped me become the person that I am today.”

Chaille offers some recommendations to help those who don’t understand ASD: Limit children’s exposure to violence and teach them about ASD and other conditions.

Jordan spent much of Chaille’s childhood educating other people about Asperger’s.

“We’re not really like everybody. Look it up, research a little, don’t be clueless and continue to be clueless about it,” he said.

But he doesn’t regret being born with Asperger’s.“There’s no cure for autism, and I’m really glad there isn’t, because if we were all the same, the world wouldn’t be very much fun.”

Claire Goforth themail@folioweekly.com

Bouquets & Brickbats Bouquets to defense attorney Hank Coxe and seven other local attorneys who worked pro bono for helping resolve the Cristian Fernandez case in juvenile court. Fernandez was allowed to plead guilty to manslaughter and aggravated battery as a juvenile. He will remain at the Duval Regional Detention Center until his 19th birthday on Jan. 14, 2018. Upon his release, he’ll be on probation for five years. If he violates that, he’ll face 15 years in a Florida state prison. Fernandez was 12 when he was arrested, charged with the murder of his 2-year-old half-brother. If the case had gone to trial in adult court, the boy could have faced life in prison without parole.

Brickbats to Jacksonville City Councilmember Matt Schellenberg for attempting to get an emergency vote to reduce the size of the city’s Human Rights Commission from 20 seats to 11.

Some viewed Schellenberg’s attempt as a way to prevent the reappointment of commission member Parvez Ahmed, a University of North Florida finance professor, whose first nomination had trigged a controversy because Ahmed is a Muslim. Schellenberg has denied that was the goal, saying a smaller commission would be more efficient. Maybe he should try to reduce the size of the Jacksonville City Council, which has 19 members.

Bouquets of Omar Tovar and the Coach Foundation for donating $50,000 to Communities in Schools of Jacksonville in support of the organization’s literacy program, Duval Reads. In addition, Coach employees are serving as Community in Schools volunteers in 18 Duval County Public Schools. Tovar, Coach’s vice president of global distribution, said encouraging employee philanthropy is a core value of both the accessories company and its foundation.

8 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

News

DEEMABLE TECH

THE SPECKTATOR

Q: Does it matter which order I unplug my computer?

For instance, if I want to move my laptop from the living room to my bedroom, but I want to keep playing Minecraft, should I unplug it from the wall first, or should I unplug the cord from the laptop fi rst?

A: It doesn’t matter that much, because most modern laptops have been designed to perform without problems regardless of how you plug them in or unplug them. However, when you are plugging and unplugging your computer from the wall, there’s a chance you could have an arc of electricity that would cause damage to your computer. It’s rare, but it could happen. If you really want to be safe, first remove the plug from the laptop, then remove the plug from the wall when you unplug your computer, and go in reverse order when you plug it in.

However, if you have a legitimate cause for concern, such as a loose connector or a bad electrical outlet, you should also turn off your laptop first even if it costs you in the game. Obviously, you should also fix the problem!

His Twitter handle is @jaxmayorbrown. His name is Alvin Brown. His profile photo is Mayor Alvin Brown. He posts about budget matters, City Councilmembers and ribbon-cutting ceremonies. He has more than 1,100 die-hard followers and even more fans. But the person behind @jaxmayorbrown is not THE Mayor Alvin Brown. Though his real identity remains a mystery, the fake mayor did agree to an exclusive interview with the Specktator – via email, of course. He addressed a variety of topics, like his recent announcement of a $9 million plan to revitalize Downtown (“In order to reach the next level, we need a vibrant downtown. One that is a destination, not a pass-through.”) and his affinity for referring to himself in the third person (“How else would Mayor Brown refer to Mayor Brown?”) For the rest of the interview, including the fake mayor’s favorite flavor of Slurpee, check out folioweekly.com/specktator.

It’s Electric!

ASK DEEMABLE TECH A QUESTION Ray Hollister and co-host Tom Braun answer technology questions on their podcast (deemable.com).

They also answer questions each week on their blog at folioweekly.com/deemable. Call 888-972-9868 or email them at questions@deemable.com.

A Real Interview with the Fake Mayor

READ THE SPECKTATOR BLOG Kerry Speckman shares her unique perspective and observations on people, places and events around the First Coast and beyond. She’s also the 2012 winner of Jacksonville Dancing With the Stars, so she’s got that going for her. Contact her at thespecktator@aol.com

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 9

Breaking Character

Erik DeCicco is ready for his close-up Story by Dan Brown Photo by Walter Coker

E

rik DeCicco is waiting to hit his mark. Seated among his fellow cast members as they do a read-through of the script for their upcoming performance of “Amadeus,” 29-year-old DeCicco has landed the lead role, portraying the doomed 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Peter Shaffer’s 1979 period drama blends fact and fiction in an imaginative telling of the relationship between Mozart and fellow composer-turned-archrival Antonio Salieri.

In 1984, director Milos Forman’s film version, “Amadeus,” starred Tom Hulce as Mozart and F. Murray Abraham as Salieri. The film swept the Oscars and created a revival of sorts for the music of Mozart (1756-’91), who before his death at age 35, had composed more than 600 works and revolutionized Western music.

“It’s really a fairly dark play,” JSO stage director Sam Fisher said. “And since it is really about Salieri’s exaggerated sense of memory, I’m kind of playing with that idea of making the dark moments really dark and the lighthearted moments incredibly light.”

Right now, the mood is decidedly light.

10 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

The assembled cast and crew range in age from early 20s to early 40s and feature wellknown and lesser-known players from the local community theater scene. Tonight, everyone seems both focused and distracted, thumbing through scripts, jotting down notes and taking swigs of water, coffee and energy drinks. They will be here for at least three hours, and most have already clocked in a full day at their regular jobs.

It's the second Tuesday of the year and this is only the second night of rehearsals, which are being held for now in the main auditorium at The Foundation Academy, the private college prep and arts school located off San Pablo Road. Before the March 2 debut, the cast of eight will have spent two months learning, practicing and fine-tuning Shaffer’s Tony Award-winning play.

The mood is jocular, loose and, from the outside looking in, it appears the actors’ approach to the material owes as much to Monty Python as it does method acting.

Free association and comments, however silly or random, are not only tolerated but seemingly encouraged by Fisher. The process is fascinating to watch: For every five minutes of dialogue, it seems as if an additional 10 are

spent dissecting the minutiae of everything from an actor’s vocal cadence to how a character would feel trying to navigate the stage while wearing the awkwardly formal garb of an Austrian noble.

Sitting in a chair placed squarely in the middle of the action, the dark-haired DeCicco is unshaven and dressed in a black T-shirt, khaki shorts and flip-flops, his informal look just part of the rehearsal's casual vibe on yet another unseasonably warm January night in Northeast Florida. Bill Ratliff, savoring his role of Salieri, is cracking everyone up as he tries on different accents. His character narrates much of the action in “Amadeus,” and Ratliff wants just the right amplification for the mindset of the 18th-century composer.

“You know that ‘Amadeus’ literally means ‘the love of God,’ ” Fisher laughingly points out. “You know Salieri must have just loved that.” As Salieri, Ratliff is at turns foppish, then angry, and finally inhabiting a mood that falls somewhere in between, as his character rails at Mozart’s defiance of both God and king as well as an apparent immunity from the consequences of doing so. “This play needs more swords!” Ratliff suddenly exclaims during his monologue,

ad-libbing in an accent that's one part nobleman and one part late funnyman Phil Hartman of “Saturday Night Live.”

The company laughs. DeCicco looks up from his script, the pages covered in yellow highlighter markings and penciled notes. “Maybe we all just need to take more mercury?” he offers as a deadpan suggestion. Now the whole table is in an uproar, giddy from caffeine and exhaustion, surely the collective joy of doing what they all love. Fisher is grinning from ear to ear as he sits at the head of the table, his curly black hair tucked under his ever-present Miami Dolphins ball cap. “And now on to the next scene!”

Opening Lines

B

orn in Jacksonville, Erik DeCicco grew up on the city’s Northside out by Heckscher Drive, in a comfortably blue-collar home.

His dad, Ralph, worked in construction as a roofing contractor and his mom, Kathie, was a real-estate agent. “I was born years before the Dames Point bridge was even built,” DeCicco explains of a childhood spent in a oncerural area long-since altered by encroaching

development. “And that required much imagination on my part as a kid … go figure.”

DeCicco is sitting on the outdoor patio of a coffee shop on the Southside during lunchtime rush. “I can actually remember being 6 years old and my pops snuck us up to the top of the [Dames Point] bridge to pee off ff of it before it even opened,” he says. “It's onee of my greater life accomplishments!”

Even though neither of his parents was as involved in the performing arts, they took ok their children to a variety of local stage productions. DeCicco’s first recollection on of theater is of the time when he was 5 years old and his dad took him to see “Brigadoon.” doon.” But it was experiencing productions off Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” rstar” (“I can still remember how powerful erful it was wa seeing Judas hang himself onstage”) tage”) and then Meredith Willson’s “The Music ic Man” that th had a profound affect on thee future thespian. th “My dad liked ‘The Music Man,’ so it was an important bond between us. It still is.”

DeCicco student and Cicco was a precocious stud excelled elled academically, but his talents tale weren’t limited mited to his schoolwork. “I was wa always trying rying to entertain, I was always alway the class clown lown — 100 percent.” Part of his inspiration to based on o work the room was admittedly admit one-upmanship. know how to -upmanship. “I really don’t d describee it. I can just remember really being re involved in the process and thinking that the people who are already doing this and think that they’re good — aren’t. And it could be a lot more truthful if I did it.”

When DeCicco wasn’t trying to entertain his teachers and schoolmates, he was heavily involved in the Boy Scouts — until he earned the Eagle Scout rank, the organization’s highest rank. “I tapped out,” he says “and that was part of a whole combination of things that pushed me into acting.”

DeCicco was in junior high school when he first appeared onstage, as part of the school’s production of the musical “Seven scho Brides for Seven Brothers.” “I was in the end of the ninth grade and this really cute girl was w like, ‘Do you want to take drama?’

“I was always trying to entertain, I was always the class clown 100 percent.”

Erik DeCicco

I said ‘yeah!’ ah!’ ” And A the role he landed? “I was asshole ole to tthe left.” While the female infatuation on didn’t did lead anywhere, DeCicco pursued acting roles throughout his adolescence. every week was being spent ence. Soon S takingg voice lessons as he continued to try out his develop developing stage skills. “I was 16 when I really started getting heavily into this, and that sta is actually considered to be kind of late in the act game for actors. So I felt inside that I really need to catch up and hone my craft.”

DeCicco had earlier thought of pursuing another career that would have also demanded strong reading, speaking and improvisational expertise. “I originally wanted to be a lawyer,” DeCicco says, but after investigating the sheer amount of study and voluminous research involved in that other performing art, he had For questions, second thoughts. “I can remember picking upplease a phone book in my senior year and thinking, 'This is why I don’t want be a lawyer!’ ” he says, PROMISE OFhe BENEFIT referring to the vast amount of knowledge would have needed to even approach taking the bar exam. “I realized that there was no spark there for me.” During this same time,

ADVERTISING PRO

This is a copyright protected pr

call your advertising representative at 260-9770. RUN DATE: 010913 SUPPORT

ASK FOR ACTION

Produced by ptf Checked by

Mozart’s wife, Constanze (Kelby Siddons), comforts her husband (DeCicco) in a scene of “Amadeus.”Photo: Casey Griffin

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 11

Sa

Bill Ratliff as Salieri and Erik DeCicco as Mozart rehearse for “Amadeus.” Photo: Casey Griffin

the teenaged actor appeared as Francis Flute in a production of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night's Dream,” an experience that confirmed his decision to follow the increasingly present muse. “I just completely tore it up and stole the show,” he says proudly of his turn as Flute and the famous “play within a play” scene. If DeCicco was ever at a disadvantage at being a self-described “late bloomer,” the following decade played out even more remarkably.

Act One

“A

ll right, let’s dive right in,” Fisher yells over the din of assembled actors. It is now the third week into rehearsals and the actors have moved from the read-through to “blocking,” or plotting out their respective stage cues. The folding plastic table used in the previous weeks of rehearsal is gone, replaced by a few electrical cords and measuring tapes slithering across the floor, marking off boundaries between actor and set and, ultimately, performer and audience.

The actors, seated in various spots along the bleachers in the auditorium, now seem much more comfortable reciting from memory instead of reading from the script. Along with DeCicco and Ratliff, “Amadeus” features local theater stalwarts Evan Gould, T.R. Hainline, Kelby Siddons, Matt Tompkins, Joe Walz and Jerald Wheat. While Ratliff, DeCicco and Siddons (who plays Constanze Weber, Mozart’s love interest, muse and bride-to-be) work out a humorous scene, the rest of the actors check and recheck their smart phones and laptops.

The scene they're working on features Mozart playfully chasing the young maiden Weber in a lascivious and highly adultthemed game of cat-and-mouse, as Salieri becomes an accidental voyeur. “Can we have two boner jokes in one scene?” Ratliff suddenly quips, breaking character and cracking up the entire room.

While the three block the scene, Fisher

12 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

paces back and forth along the top of the bleachers, watching the actors below. When they finish their dialogue, he sprints down to the floor to make a few suggestions and listen to the actors’ feedback. As Fisher talks to Ratliff and Siddons, DeCicco stares at the floor, tilting back and forth on his heels as he listens intently to the director. They take their positions and start again. At first, the change in DeCicco’s performance is almost imperceptible, which makes it all the more impressive as he alters his delivery with slight but effective nuance. Mozart chases Weber out from under a table and, in a matter of seconds, DeCicco becomes a de facto shape-shifter, transforming Mozart from a libertine to a petulant child, a sexual aggressor to a seated interlocutor stretching his legs and then suddenly on bended knee, proposing marriage to the now rightfully transfixed Weber. “Ten minute break!” Fisher yells and someone tries to find a bandage for DeCicco, who's now bleeding after somehow skinning his knee during the scene’s charged courtship.

“When I was in college at JU, I discovered the script,” DeCicco says. “There is a monologue [in the play] that is one of the greatest things I had ever read. Mozart is convincing his royal patrons that he wants to write an opera about real people, not gods or heroes. And he is just pleading with them, putting his heart and soul into every word. It was one of the most ‘real’ things I had ever read. I knew I had to perform those lines someday.”

Intermission

T

here is an intimacy among these actors that is born from a love of craft and the close-knit quality of the Northeast Florida community theater scene. Case in point: Fisher and DeCicco have known each other for more than a decade, having first met in the same intimate and encouraging environment that they're now helping cultivate and sustain.

“I first met Erik when I was in middle school and he was in high school,” explains

the 26-year-old Fisher. “Erik is just fearless and his passion is evident in everything he does. In the last year, we have done a lot together, and this seems like a nice culmination of our relationship.” This production of “Amadeus” is also a direct result of the ongoing rapport within the Jacksonville acting community, a society that boasts engaging seasons from the theater departments of area colleges as well as playhouses represented as far afield as The Limelight Theatre in St. Augustine, Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre (ABET), San Marco’s Theatre Jacksonville, Alhambra Theatre & Dining on the Southside and the Amelia Community Theatre in Fernandina Beach.

It is also history in the making: “Amadeus” is the first-ever collaboration between Jacksonville Beach’s Players by the Sea and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. “We were approached by the symphony, as we tend to attract the finest talent and have an excellent reputation of producing highcaliber shows,” explains PBTS executive director Joe Schwarz. PBTS cast the talent and provided all of the artistic and technical elements such as the original set, costumes and lighting. “When two or more organizations work together, they have the chance to create something bigger than the sum of two separate projects,” says Schwarz.

“The more we share resources, then the greater the impact we have on the cultural fabric of our city.”

Act Two

A

cross the waterway, in downtown Jacksonville, conductor Michael Butterman has been leading the symphony musicians through the melodic counterpart to the play. “The challenges are many,” Butterman says. “First, we will be performing in a concert hall rather than a traditional theater, so we will have to share a stage between the orchestra and actors, adapt exits and entrances, lighting,

set pieces and so on to work with the physical layout that we have.” Second, Butterman and the symphony must somehow encapsulate the major and notable works of one of the world’s greatest composers to enhance the action as it occurs onstage, rather than distract.

Over the course of the two-hour show, Butterman will be conducting the symphony through “roughly 28 musical excerpts” of Mozart’s work, providing a kind of living, breathing soundtrack to the story as it unfolds. “In addition to famous moments from the ‘Requiem,’ which plays such a central role in the drama, audience members will hear the ‘Overture to Don Giovanni,’ the final movement of Mozart's final symphony, the ‘Jupiter Symphony,’ and excerpts from ‘The Marriage of Figaro,’ the ‘Concerto for Flute and Harp,’ the ‘Haffner Symphony,’ ‘Piano Concerto No. 20,’ ‘Violin Concerto No. 3’ and many more.”

“In a play like this — a play about music — the music assumes an especially important role. Sometimes it merely illustrates the various historical events that take place, but more often, the music serves as a kind of emotional subtext, reinforcing one’s sense of how the characters are feeling.”

Curtain Call

A

fter graduating from Stanton Preparatory School in 2001, DeCicco was awarded a full scholarship to Jacksonville University, from which he graduated magna cum laude in 2005, with a 3.9 GPA. He carried a double major: a BFA in performance and a BA in English.

“Originally, I didn’t even want to go to JU, because I was 18 and just generally pissed off at the world.”

His dad then explained to his youngest son how rare it was to get a “full ride” to any school, let alone a private college with a strong theater department. “But, you know, one of the reasons I decided to go JU is that we went to an awards ceremony for all of the high

school seniors, and without my knowledge, JU suddenly showed up and presented me with my scholarship package in front of the entire school. I was really endeared by that.”

A week after graduating at age 21 (“on my dad’s birthday, which was kind of special to me”), DeCicco was offered a full scholarship with an assistantship to the University of Louisville, where part of his education included a “life-changing” experience studying abroad in Reading, England.

“I get there and I’m thinking ‘I’m in England, Shakespeare, I have made it, yes!’ and I get there and the play that we're doing is ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ ” he says. DeCicco received his MFA in acting from Louisville in 2008 and returned to Jacksonville where he became a consistent, versatile and reliable presence in the local theater scene.

“Erik is an incredibly talented actor and vocalist,” says Schwarz, who has worked with DeCicco in productions including the contemporary rock musical “Next To Normal,” Horton Foote’s acclaimed comedy “Dividing the Estate” and even “The Full Monty,” the popular union-laborers-turned-male-strippers

Broadway, the minimum ranges from $539 to $957, depending on the size of the house.

Locally, actors make even less, if they are even paid at all. Community theater is literally a labor of love. Fisher explains that now as a union member, DeCicco will get paid scale for his performance in “Amadeus” — the rest of the cast will be compensated only in experience and, hopefully, standing ovations.

DeCicco says that for now he is happy to be spending his time doing what he calls “half and half ”: Days are spent teaching parttime at JU while nights are spent working, rehearsing and plotting his next goal. This May, he and his girlfriend, fellow actorvocalist Aaron Marshall, are relocating to New York City. DeCicco and Marshall met two years ago and have been inseparable ever since. Marshall is an estimable creative force in her own right (“She is just phenomenal,” DeCicco says) with a résumé and local track record that make her the perfect foil for her romantic and dramatic counterpart; the duo finally appeared together in last year’s “Reefer Madness.” DeCicco and Marshall have more than a dream — they have a strategy. “I have

“Yet the blunt reality is that in theater, no one is getting rich and few are actually getting paid. You’re not getting any money out of acting, so you at least need to get some kind of joy and even therapy out of it.”

Erik DeCicco

musical comedy. DeCicco and the rest of the cast dropped trou and went au naturel during the final, show-stopping number. “There is a passion for his craft and his attention to details that many other actors might overlook, but it never gets past Erik.”

DeCicco’s résumé reads like an overview of classic and contemporary stage works, with a strong emphasis on musical theater. He has appeared in 15 local productions, ranging from standard fare like “A Christmas Carol” and “Little Shop of Horrors” to edgier plays like “Urinetown” and the dark political farce “Assassins.” In just the last year alone, DeCicco was featured in a stage adaptation of “Reefer Madness,” “Phantom” and in a memorable turn as the homeless veteran “Hank” in the original, locally produced John E. Citronepenned musical “Another Sign.” Recently, DeCicco was featured in performances for “Clarinda,” a musical based on the life of Scottish poet Robert Burns, at ABET and in rehearsals for “The Ugly Duckling” upcoming at the Alhambra.

Yet the blunt reality is that in theater, no one is getting rich and few are actually getting paid. “You’re not getting any money out of acting, so you at least need to get some kind of joy and even therapy out of it,” says DeCicco.

Perhaps the most major development in DeCicco’s career is his recent acquisition of an Actors' Equity Association card, which gives him union representation and a possible entry to even more and greater work. According to industry website backpage.com, the current Equity weekly minimum pay for employment in a Broadway production is $1,605; for Off-

been honing my craft and saving money for five years,” says DeCicco. “I don’t owe anyone any money, and I am giving myself a six-month window to just try to land jobs in that city.”

Whether in a musical theater smash delivered on Broadway or an edgy, experimental drama staged on the Lower East Side, DeCicco feels like he is ready. “I have known so many people that went to New York right out of college and just had their ass handed to them,” he says. “I chose to really take the time to focus on learning my craft, learning the art of acting, and also acquiring the skills, credentials that would also allow me, if need be, to teach.”

Most fittingly, DeCicco’s ultimate goal is to one day return to Northeast Florida and do just that: Return the favor and teach the craft that has been passed on to him by previous generations of class-clowns-turned-leadingactors. “I have to act every day. I have to stay in the middle of this.”

Dan Brown themail@folioweekly.com

AMADEUS 8 p.m. March 2, 2 p.m. March 3 Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts' Jacoby Symphony Hall, 300 W. Water St., Downtown Tickets: $20.25-$45 354-5547, jaxsymphony.org

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 13

14 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

Our Picks Reasons to leave the house this week

THEATER ALL NEW PEOPLE

Charlie seeks the ultimate getaway at a friend’s abandoned summer home, then a British realtor, a local firefighter/drug dealer and a call girl arrive and shake up his world – and save him?

– in “All New People.” The 5 & Dime Theatre Company’s Carl Vorwerk (from left), Amanda Morales, Kat McLeod and Daniel Austin perform the play from a script by actor Zach “Scrubs” Braff, featuring dark humor, drama and adult content. 8 p.m. Feb. 22 & 23 and March 1 & 2, and 5 p.m. March 3 at The Pangea Live, 956 Liberty St., Downtown Jacksonville. $15. the5anddime.org Photo: Jen Holdman

VISUAL ARTS JAVIER MARÍN

Travelers through Jacksonville International Airport might have seen Javier Marín’s 14-foottall female head “Hoy es Hoy” (“Today is Today”).

Wrapping up exhibits in Rome and Shanghai, the Mexican artist brings 17 recent works and six equestrian pieces, including “Maqueta Caballo II” (pictured) – a combination of bronze and polyester resin, to our area. Opening reception, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 22; the exhibit runs through April 26 at J. Johnson Gallery, 177 Fourth Ave. N., Jacksonville Beach. Free. 435-3200. jjohnsongallery.com Photo: Courtesy Javier Marín

CHRISTIAN ROCK CROWDER

BENEFIT SCREENING IN 3D THE LION KING

The lion sleeps both at Catty Shack Ranch and Sun-Ray Cinema, in a manner of speaking. See family favorite “The Lion King” before it’s back in the Disney vault! The neighborhood movie theater presents the Disney saga of Simba, Mufasa and the villainous Scar as its first 3D film in a screening for a good cause: proceeds benefit Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, a nonprofit providing safe homes for endangered big cats in Northeast Florida. 1 p.m. Feb. 23 at Sun-Ray Cinema, 1028 Park St., Five Points. $15. cattyshack.org Photo: Walt Disney Pictures

David Crowder, former frontman of The David Crowder*Band, has a new group, Crowder. Got that? The bearded Christian rocker saw his former band’s last album – “Give Us a Rest” – rise to No. 2 on Billboard’s 200. He brings his new outfit, an “eight-piece bluegrassish band,” to Jacksonville; Stetson Adkisson and Cia Cherryholmes open. The It’ll Cure What Ails Ya Tour arrives 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at Murray Hill Theatre, 932 Edgewood Ave. S., Murray Hill. $20-$35. 388-7807. murrayhilltheatre.com Photo: Courtesy Paradigm Agency

ACOUSTIC GUITARIST LEO KOTTKE

“Fingerpicking-good” might not be an original description of acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke, but it’s certainly accurate. The New York Times complimented Kottke’s earthy voice, and wrote “his real musical thrills lie in his fleet fingerpicking and intricate, jazz-derived hopscotching of polyphony and time signatures.”

The Phoenix New Times said Kottke “had a way with others’ songs,” describing his acoustic guitar accompaniment as creating the sound of “a two-stepping country band backing him up.”

The Athens, Ga.-born folk musician arrives 8 p.m. Feb. 24, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., Ponte Vedra Beach. Tickets: $35-$45. 209-0399. pvconcerthall.com

BRASS ’N’ GRASS CARRIE NATION & THE SPEAKEASY

The toe-tapping, five-piece band Carrie Nation & the Speakeasy bills its sound as brass ’n’ grass with a mix of punk and circus music. The band derives its namesake from a Kansas Temperance radical who chopped up bars with a hatchet in the early 20th century. The Wichita Eagle reports the musicians play “at breakneck speed with melodies and chord progressions that call to mind everything from bluegrass to Dixieland standards.” CNS appear 9:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Dog Star Tavern, 10 N. Second St., Fernandina Beach, 277-8010; and, with support from Everymen, Rachel Kate and Antoine Dukes, 8 p.m. Feb. 24 at Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown. Tickets: $8. 353-4686.

Photo: Peter Lee

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 15

Movies ACADEMY AWARDS “Red Carpet Live!” 7 p.m., “85th Academy Awards,” 8:30 p.m. Feb. 24 on ABC

T

he Oscars are boring when they’re predictable and a lot of fun when they’re not.

Most years, it’s a mixed bag of categories for which the winners are easy to pick along with some not even Carnac the Magnificent could see coming, and this year is no different. Of the big six major categories covered here, three are virtual locks, two are a bit shaky and one is anyone’s guess. If nothing else, at least we have host Seth MacFarlane of “Ted” (up for Best Song for his “Everybody Needs a Best Friend”) and “Family Guy” to entertain us.

Naomi Watts is in contention for Best Actress for “The Impossible.” Photo: Summit Entertainment

“Argo” Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

“Silver Linings Playbook” Photo: Weinstein Co.

“Les Miserables” Photo: Universal Pictures

Best Actress

haircut in the film, which is not a reason for her to win, but it does show a gutsiness other Hollywood-types will respect. Other nominees are two-time Oscar-winner Sally Field for “Lincoln,” Helen Hunt for “The Sessions,” Amy Adams for “The Master” and Jacki Weaver for “Silver Linings Playbook.”

Will win: Hathaway. Should win: Hathaway.

Best Picture

“Argo” has won all the major awards, the story makes Hollywood a hero, which Academy voters will love, and I think I still have a lump in my throat from watching the last half hour.

Except for “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Lincoln” (I respected those last two, but didn’t necessarily like them), the other nominees were superb: “Amour” made me cry, which never happens at movies; “Django Unchained” was terrific film art with a strong message; “Les Miserables” had a sweeping emotional resonance that’s difficult to achieve; “Life of Pi” is the most beautiful movie I’ve ever seen; and “Zero Dark Thirty” is a strong drama with a stirring finale.

Will win: “Argo.” Should win: “Argo.”

This category is a bit more up for grabs. Most speculate it’s between favorite Jennifer Lawrence for “Silver Linings Playbook” and Jessica Chastain for “Zero Dark Thirty,” but don’t count out Emmanuelle Riva from “Amour,” a film that tugged at the heartstrings more than any other this year. Also nominated are Quvenzhane Wallis from “Beasts of the Southern Wild” and Naomi Watts, who was phenomenal as a mother wanting to reunite her family after being in a devastating tsunami in “The Impossible.”

Will win: Lawrence. Should win: Watts.

“Amour” Photo: Sony Pictures Classics

Best Director

“Django Unchained” Photo: Universal Pictures

Best Supporting Actor

“Lincoln” Photo: 20th Century Fox

Best Actor

With a win for “Lincoln,” Daniel Day-Lewis will join Katharine Hepburn as the only actors with three lead actor Oscars. And who will be presenting Day-Lewis with the award? The woman largely considered the greatest actress of her generation, Meryl Streep. Even those, like me, who didn’t love “Lincoln” as a movie certainly appreciated Day-Lewis’ incredible, lived-in performance as the 16th president of the United States. In another year, any of the other nominees would be strong contenders to win, as all of the actors in this category were fabulous — Hugh Jackman in “Les Miserables,” Denzel Washington in “Flight,” Joaquin Phoenix in “The Master” and Bradley Cooper in “Silver Linings Playbook.”

Will win: Day-Lewis. Should win: Day-Lewis.

16 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

Tommy Lee Jones (“Lincoln”) is the favorite, but any of the five nominees — all of whom have won in the past — could emerge victorious.

Christoph Waltz proves he was born to speak Quentin Tarantino’s words in his great performance in “Django Unchained,” Robert De Niro actually acted again (for a change) in “Silver Linings Playbook,” Philip Seymour Hoffman was one of the highlights of “The Master,” and Alan Arkin provided perfect comic relief in “Argo.”

That said, Jones’ bombastic grandstanding should be enough to get him his second statue.

Will win: Jones. Should win: Waltz.

Best Supporting Actress

For as much as Day-Lewis is a lock for lead actor, you can count on Anne Hathaway as even more of a lock as best supporting actress for “Les Miserables.” Her performance was, in a word, heartbreaking, and her stunning rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream” gave even the most hardened, unfeeling cynics goosebumps. We also see her get a real, live

Ordinarily the winner of the Director’s Guild of America award is the frontrunner but, inexplicably, the DGA winner for “Argo,” Ben Affleck, isn’t even nominated. Pundits are guessing it will be either Steven Spielberg (“Lincoln”) winning his third Oscar or Ang Lee (“Life of Pi”) his second, but don’t count out Michael Haneke for “Amour,” an emotional, unflinching story that’s a notable highlight of Haneke’s considerable career.

Also nominated are Benh Zeitlin for “Beasts of the Southern Wild” and David O. Russell for “Silver Linings Playbook,” which is the first movie since “Reds” in 1981 to have a nominee in all four acting categories.

Will win: Haneke. Should win: Affleck. I don’t care that he’s not nominated. This award should be his.

Dan Hudak themail@folioweekly.com

LIVE CHAT THE OSCARS WITH US Go to folioweekly.com and join the conversation on our live blog as we snark with the best of them about the fashion, the winners, the losers and the spectacle of it all. You can also tweet about the ceremony using #jaxoscars, and your posts will flow into our live blog.

Movies Jesse Sorensen (Jesse Gay) rebuilds relationships with his Nana, niece and son, but finds time to spark a romance with Paige (Erin Nicole Cline) in director Patrick Barry’s “Veer!” Photo: Blue Llama Studios

Rising from the Pavement

Filmed in Jacksonville, ‘Veer’ matches skateboarder’s rough landing with a gritty look and feel VEER!

**G@ Not Rated • March 1-7, Sun-Ray Cinema

B

urned-out skateboarder Jesse Sorensen (Jesse Gay) loses his sponsorship with DieNasty Skateboards after a decade of living extravagantly and is forced to move back into his old bedroom at his elderly grandmother’s (Ellen Trent) house, broke and without a car.

Jesse discovers that his 17-year-old niece, Samantha (Corsica Wilson), already crashing with Nana, is headed down the same hardpartying path that led him astray. Now Jesse is faced with the responsibility of growing up, keeping his niece out of trouble and becoming a positive role model in his young son’s life in the locally produced film “Veer!”

Directed by Jacksonville native Patrick Barry, “Veer!” is a gritty drama with tender moments throughout. Co-written by Barry and Gay, “Veer!” is adapted from a short film of the same name, based on Gay’s real-life experiences as a skateboarder. Gay is a natural, playing the character in an environment of skaters and seedy bars.

Barry’s effective use of contrast in blackand-white imagery, high-definition color and classic 8mm film during skateboard sequences give the whole thing a documentary feel.

Bryan Carson, who plays Jesse’s son, is funny, honest and comfortable in front of the camera. As Samantha, Wilson delivers another standout emotional performance.

When Jesse sees Samantha donning a blonde wig in a bar and being hit on by one of his peers, he decides to intervene, to prevent her from falling into the same patterns with the people who did him wrong.

Jesse’s secret late-night visits to his son through a bedroom window — to talk and sneak in ice cream — are moving.

Most of his time and effort is spent building strong relationships with his Nana, niece and son, but Jesse also starts a romance with Paige (Erin Nicole Cline), a bartender.

A new addition to Jesse’s old skate team gaining fame in the skating world, Strazz (James Nguyen) is criticized for his “squeaky clean” image that’s atypical of professional skateboarders. His merchandise is sold at big-box retailers, making him a sellout in the minds of certain skaters. Strazz is an obvious foil to Jesse and highlights his unwillingness to conform. Nguyen’s performance comes across as one-dimensional compared to Gay’s. What Strazz lacks in soul Jesse more than makes up for in his efforts to be a better man.

The film’s locales will be nothing new to those familiar with Downtown Jacksonville.

Jesse skates under bridges and bombs a parking

garage with his friends, and the film features a beautiful shot of Jesse skating down the Main Street Bridge. In one of the more touching moments, he skates through the old abandoned library with his son in tow on a scooter.

Scenes were also shot on location at legendary Kona Skatepark, famous for its downhill snake run.

From the hardcore sound of Powerball to the indie-rock sound of Crash the Satellites to the acoustic-driven crooning of Christina Wagner, the soundtrack features acts with Northeast Florida ties and complements the rough aesthetic of the film. Nathan Matthew David composed the original score.

“Veer!” — which has been featured at the Jacksonville Film Festival, Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, Filmshift Festival and St. Augustine Film Festival — won the “Skate or Die Award” at the Pollygrind Underground Film Festival.

Nicholas Garnett themail@folioweekly.com

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO WIN TICKETS 1. Which Tony Hawk video game featured Jacksonville’s Kona Skatepark? a. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 b. Tony Hawk’s Underground c. Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland 2. Who was the first skateboarder to land a 900-degree aerial rotation successfully? a. Sandro Dias b. Tony Hawk c. Stacy Peralta 3. In its early years, skateboarding was known as what? a. Sidewalk surfing b. Flatboarding c. Streetwaving 4. More than half the skateboarders in the United States live in what state? a. Florida b. New York c. California 5. Which body part is most often injured while skateboarding? a. Knee b. Wrist c. Leg

HOW TO WIN • Go to folioweekly.com • Take the quiz by 10 a.m., Feb. 27 • Those with the most correct answers will be entered in a drawing. Five winners each receive two free passes to see “Veer!” at Sun-Ray Cinema. The winners will be announced Feb. 27 on folioweekly.com FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 17

ADVERTISING PROOF This is a copyright protected proof ©

s, please call your advertising representative at 260-9770. RUN DATE: 111312 ROOF IF POSSIBLE AT 268-3655 BENEFIT

SUPPORT

ASK FOR ACTION

Produced by AB Checked by

Sportstalk

Sales Rep ss

After her successful wrestling career, Madusa got behind the wheel as a star driver on the monster truck circuit.

Photo: Courtesy of Monster Jam

Madusa and Monsters

The successful female wrestler takes on torque, power and payback ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MONSTER JAM 7 p.m. Feb. 23; pit party (with photo ops) 1:30-5 p.m.

EverBank Field, 1 EverBank Field Dr., Downtown Tickets: $15-$55 1-888-484-8782, ticketmaster.com

W

©

18 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

e are living in what the fortune cookies call interesting times. North Korea is running nuclear tests, the Pope just “resigned” (presumably with Papal Infallibility intact) and gas prices are surging. Despite the maelstrom of geopolitical uncertainty, we still have our traditions — the things that make us American, as they go in the 21st century. One of those is roaring to Jacksonville yet again: the Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam. This isn’t for everyone. There’s no need for a corporate suite at Monster Jam. It’s highly unlikely that super-agent Drew Rosenhaus and other sports celebrities will attend. There won’t be many stretch limos out front. The monster circuit isn’t about that.

It’s about torque. It’s about big trucks with big tires and big names, crushing or totaling anything in their paths, bringing to life in vehicular-metaphorical fashion the aspirations of both little kids and grown men with Napoleon complexes.

It’s about power. As monster truck driver Scott Buetow told the Chicago Sun-Times, “Monster trucks are about 10 to 11 feet tall and weigh about 10,000 pounds. And there’s about 1,500 horsepower under the hood.”

2012 And all of us need something, somewhere that convinces us, in some capacity, of the individual’s ability to triumph over adversity and absurdity. If we spend our days taking orders, as most of us do, don’t we, on some level, need to see narrative payback, a sort of illustration of the principle of eternal recurrence? And while the monster truck narrative isn’t for everyone — indeed, most folks in my social set shun monster trucks and the Monster Jam — it definitely resonates with its target audiences: kids, parents and the young at heart. Luckily for promoters, there are a lot of numbers in these groups.

Virtually everyone who’s a fan of the sport — and, yes, it is a sport — has a favorite monster truck or driver. I’m no different.

My favorite driver is the “Queen of Carnage” herself: Madusa.

I grew up watching Madusa in a different arena, one with parallels to the monster game in many ways: professional wrestling. In the 1980s, Madusa was a popular fixture on the ESPN telecasts of the American Wrestling Association.

FolioWeekly

Madusa’s shtick back then? She was blonde, angular, beautiful and billed as being from Milan, Italy, to convey a glamour and sophistication that the corn-fed rubes in the front row could only imagine. Her matches?

Passable. They wouldn’t put anyone in mind of Lou Thesz vs. Karl Gotch. Nor were they meant to. Women’s wrestling was essentially “eye-candy,” a special attraction on par with the “midgets” in most promotions. Yet Madusa made it work.

She moved to the WWF and became Vince McMahon’s women’s champion — her second world title. Then, during the height of the “Monday Night Wars,” in which the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling (Ted Turner’s Atlanta-based outfit) battled for market domination with dueling primetime shows (“Raw” and “Nitro,” respectively), Madusa showed up on WCW with the WWF belt. After burying her former boss and company, she dumped the belt in the trash on camera.

Now that’s good TV. And that beats the hell out of any resignation letter I’ve seen.

Women’s wrestling is not a game for the old, and by this time, Madusa was aging.

Still, she had some decent matches and was a quality WCW performer, even though it was almost immediately clear her principle utility to the company was bringing over the prop — the belt — to toss in the garbage.

Many wrestlers don’t have second acts.

Mickey Rourke’s “The Wrestler” was quite accurate in terms of worst-case scenarios that befall wrestlers once they can’t get booked. The best of them learn the carny game well. And Madusa figured it out, going on to excel in two industries as phallocentric as they come.

She had this to say about her fans last month: “You know a lot of them come up, and it just tears your heart when they say, ‘Oh, my gosh, Madusa, I want to be just like you’ when they are coming through the autograph line and the tears start coming and I got to be this macho girl.”

If that isn’t female empowerment, I don’t know what is.

AG Gancarski themail@folioweekly.com twitter.com/aggancarski

READ THE BLOG For more of AG Gancarski’s thoughts on Northeast Florida sports, go to folioweekly.com/sportstalk.

Movies **** ***@ **@@ *@@@

FILM RATINGS

A BEAUTIFUL MIND BEAUTIFUL DAY BEAUTIFUL GIRLS THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

NOW SHOWING

AMOUR **** Rated PG-13 • Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Regal Beach Blvd.

Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) are a married couple in their 80s, both retired music teachers, enjoying life together. Then Anne has a stroke, and everything changes. She’s paralyzed on her right side and needs a wheelchair. We don’t see the stroke or any of the traumatic events that make her progressively worse, an apt decision by writer/director Michael Haneke that allows us to stay away from histrionics and focus on the love and care Georges shows for Anne.

ARGO ***G Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Regal Beach Blvd.

Ben Affleck’s Oscar-nominated film is re-released.

Affleck directs and stars as CIA operative Tony Mendez, acknowledged as the agency’s top agent when it comes to “exfiltration,” the art of extracting people caught in places they cannot escape. “Argo” succeeds because director Affleck focuses on the journey, not the outcome, to create a taut political thriller. Many familiar faces – John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Kyle Chandler, Bryan Cranston, Victor Garber – deliver strong performances in a film that’s really an ensemble effort.

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES ***@ Rated PG-13 • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency, Carmike Amelia Island, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd.

This supernatural love story set in the South is a film adaptation of the first book in the “Caster Chronicles” series. Young Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich) wants to get out of his one-horse town, preferably with his new squeeze Lena (Alice Englert). There are some eerie secrets to reveal first, however. Co-starring Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis and Emmy Rossum.

BROKEN CITY *G@@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park Ex-cop-turned-private-eye Billy Taggart (Mark Wahlberg) is hired by New York City mayor Hostetler (Russell Crowe) to spy on his cheating wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Billy is courting disaster when he realizes he’s involved in a much larger scandal.

BULLET TO THE HEAD **@@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square Aging professional hitman Jimmy Bonomo (Sylvester Stallone) teams up with Washington, D.C., detective Taylor Kwon (Sung Kang) to hunt down the men who ordered the assassinations of a former D.C. cop, as well as Bonomo and his partner. They failed to kill Bonomo, who is dead-set on avenging his partner’s death. Kwon wants to arrest the men at the top of this criminal conspiracy.

DARK SKIES Rated PG-13 • Opens Feb. 22 From the producer of “Insidious,” “Sinister” and the “Paranormal Activity” movies springs another supernatural thriller about a suburban family that witnesses some disturbing stuff that only gets worse. What the heck is out there?

DJANGO UNCHAINED ***G Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Cinemark Tinseltown, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd.

Disturbing and provocative – yet undeniably entertaining – Quentin Tarantino’s award-winning film blends action, comedy and drama with sterling performances by Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz and Kerry Washington. The most violent mainstream movie of the year, the big-screen project liberally uses the “N” word, uttered more than 100 times.

ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH 3D *G@@ Rated PG • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency, Carmike Amelia Island, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Clay Theater, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd.

In this computer-animated adventure, Scorch Supernova (Brendan Fraser) is a space hero astronaut who defends the alien planet Baab against the villainous Gen. Shanker (William Shatner).

A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD **@@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency, Carmike Amelia Island, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd.

In the fifth installment of the “Die Hard” series, badass cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) goes to Moscow because he thinks his son, whom he regards as a slacker, needs his help. Not so – Jack (Jai Courtney) is also a badass – in the CIA! Jack’s trying to stop bad guys from stealing nuclear weapons; the McClanes together are seriously capable badasses. Yippee ki-yay, Mother Russia …

HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS **@@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd.

After getting a taste for blood as children, Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton) have become the ultimate vigilantes, hellbent on retribution. They don’t know they’ve become the hunted – up against an evil far greater than any ol’ witch … their own past.

A HAUNTED HOUSE **G@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency, Hollywood River City In a spoof of the “Paranormal Activity” franchise, “The Devil Inside” and other found-footage flicks, a young couple (Marlon Wayans as Malcolm, Essence Atkins as Kisha) moves into their dream house. Turns out, the house isn’t haunted; Kisha is possessed by a demon, but Malcolm is determined not to let the spirit ruin his relationship or his sex life.

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY **G@ Rated PG-13 • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency, Cinemark Tinseltown, Regal Avenues Set before the events of “The Lord of the Rings,” Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is approached by the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) and goes on an adventure to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. Joining him are 13 dwarves, led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield. On the way, Bilbo meets Gollum and engages with the twisted creature in a game of riddles. Bilbo takes possession of the twisted creature’s “precious,” the golden ring that figures prominently in Frodo’s adventure in the LOTR’s trilogy.

HYDE PARK ON HUDSON **G@ Rated R • Epic Theatre St. Augustine “Hyde Park,” directed by Roger Michell, concerns a narrow slice of history — 1939 and the whole world is watching to

AREA THEATERS AMELIA ISLAND Carmike 7, 1132 S. 14th St., Fernanddina Beach, 261-9867 ARLINGTON & REGENCY AMC Regency 24, 9451 Regency Square Blvd., 264-3888 BAYMEADOWS & MANDARIN Regal Avenues 20, 9525 Philips Highway, 538-3889 BEACHES Regal Beach Blvd. 18, 14051 Beach Blvd., 992-4398 FIVE POINTS Sun-Ray Cinema@5Points, 1028 Park St., 359-0047 GREEN COVE SPRINGS Clay Theatre, 326 Walnut St., 284-9012 NORTHSIDE Hollywood 14, River City Marketplace, 12884

City Center Blvd., 757-9880 ORANGE PARK AMC Orange Park 24, 1910 Wells Road, (888) AMC-4FUN Carmike 12, 1820 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island, 621-0221 SAN MARCO San Marco Theatre, 1996 San Marco Blvd., 396-4845 SOUTHSIDE Cinemark Tinseltown, 4535 Southside Blvd., 998-2122 ST. AUGUSTINE Epic Theatres, 112 Theatre Drive, 797-5757 IMAX Theater, World Golf Village, 940-IMAX Pot Belly’s, 36 Granada St., 829-3101

John Matthews (Dwayne Johnson) goes undercover for the DEA to save his son from prison in “Snitch,” directed by Ric Roman Waugh. Photo: Steve Dietl, Summit Entertainment see what the ascendant Hitler will do next. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Bill Murray) and his wife Eleanor (Olivia Williams) host the King and Queen of England (Samuel West and Olivia Colman) for a weekend at the Roosevelts’ estate, Hyde Park on Hudson, in upstate New York – the first time ever that a reigning English monarch has visited America.

IDENTITY THIEF *G@@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency, Carmike Amelia Island, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd., San Marco Theatre Unlimited funds allow Diana (Melissa McCarthy) to live the good life in Miami, where the queen of retail buys whatever strikes her fancy. There’s only one problem: The ID she’s using to finance this lifestyle reads “Sandy Bigelow Patterson,” an account rep (Jason Bateman) who lives halfway across the U.S. The real Sandy has a week to hunt down the con artist before his life comes crashing down around him.

JACK REACHER ***@ Rated PG-13 • AMC Orange Park A gunman opens fire in a Midwestern city, killing five people.

Within hours, the police follow an evidence trail to a former military sniper and arrest him. Suspect James Barr (Joseph Sikora) doesn’t confess; instead, he asks for homicide detective Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise). It’s a nifty combination of action and humor.

LES MISERABLES ***G Rated PG-13 • Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Regal Avenues This big, lavish Hollywood version of an equally extravagant Broadway musical is phenomenal. Anne Hathaway’s rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” is probably enough to win her a supporting actress Oscar. Sometimes, the best move a director can make is to get out of the way, so kudos to Tom Hooper for letting Hathaway shine.

LIFE OF PI ***G Rated PG • Cinemark Tinseltown, Regal Avenues A family from India hitches a ride on a freighter. Pi Patel, a zookeeper’s son, survives an ocean disaster, then forms a surprising, wondrous connection with a fearsome Bengal tiger – named Richard Parker. Surviving on a 26-foot lifeboat, Pi continues his journey in the magical adventure film directed by Ang Lee and based on the novel by Yann Martel.

LINCOLN ***@ Rated PG-13 • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd.

Daniel Day-Lewis immerses himself in his characters; this is the latest of successful transformations. “Lincoln” focuses on the last four months of the president’s administration as he struggles to end the Civil War and ensure permanent freedom for slaves. The great cast includes Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, James Spader and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

MAMA **G@ Rated PG-13 • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Clay Theater, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd.

After vanishing from a neighborhood, young sisters Victoria and Lilly are found alive in a rickety cabin five years later.

The kids are placed with their Uncle Lucas (Nikolaj CosterWaldau) and girlfriend Annabel (Jessica Chastain). Annabel tries to help them live a normal life, but she feels that an evil presence has followed the girls from the cabin.

PARENTAL GUIDANCE **G@ Rated PG • AMC Regency Square Old-school Artie (Billy Crystal) and his wife Diane (Bette Midler) look after their three grandkids. The family film elicits a little humor from the supposed generational clash, with a few touching moments.

PARKER **@@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency Square, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd.

Professional thief Parker (Jason Statham) has a unique code of ethics. He’s double-crossed by his crew and left for dead.

Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely alliance with a woman on the inside (Jennifer Lopez), he’s out to steal the slag his former colleagues just stole. Wait … what?

QUARTET ***@ Rated PG-13 • Regal Beach Blvd.

In this dramedy, directed by Dustin Hoffman, former theater director Cedric (Michael Gambon) is working on an upcoming gala at Beecham House, a retirement home in England.

Retired musicians Wilfred Bond (Billy Connolly), Reginald Page (Tom Courtenay) and Cecily Robson (Pauline Collins) are surprised when their former singer partner, the diva Jean Horton (Maggie Smith), joins them at Beecham. Reggie takes it particularly hard, as he never got over their failed marriage.

Meanwhile, the benefit concert must go on to keep the retirement home open. Jean wants Reggie’s forgiveness but is refusing to sing again. Riiiight.

SAFE HAVEN G@@@ Rated PG-13 • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency, Carmike Amelia Island, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd.

Based on the novel by best-selling author Nicholas Sparks, this romantic thriller is the story of Katie (Julianne Hough), a mysterious young woman who moves to a small North Carolina town. She gradually builds a relationship with Alex (Josh Duhamel), a widowed store owner with two children, but dark secrets arise to threaten her new life.

SIDE EFFECTS ***@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency, Carmike Amelia Island, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd.

A seemingly upwardly-mobile New York City couple, Emily (Rooney Mara) and Martin (Channing Tatum), are starting to fall apart when Emily’s psychiatrist (Jude Law) prescribes a new drug for her mild anxiety. It’s not the drug itself that works untold wonders – it’s the damn side effects.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK **@@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency, Carmike Amelia Island, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd.

It’s earned eight Oscar nods and already won several other awards. After months in a mental institution, Pat (Bradley Cooper) leaves under dubious circumstances. He was there after flipping over his wife’s adultery, but he means to fix the marriage. Problem is, he isn’t allowed to contact her, and he knows his parents (Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver) are keeping secrets. He meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a reformed slut who claims she’ll get a message to Pat’s wife in exchange for a favor: She wants Pat to take dance lessons with her.

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 19

ADVERTISING PROOF This is a copyright protected proof ©

Movies

ons, please call your advertising representative at 260-9770. RUN DATE: 020613 PROOF IF POSSIBLE AT 260-9773

OF BENEFIT

SUPPORT

ASK FOR ACTION

Produced by ed

Checked by

Sales Rep FM

Sam (Kadan Rockett) begins to suspect something evil lurks in his house in the paranormal thriller “Dark Skies,” directed by Scott Stewart. Photo: The Weinstein Company

SKYFALL **G@ Rated PG-13 • AMC Regency Square, Pot Belly’s “Skyfall” jumps off with a rip-roaring opening gambit. Enjoy it while it lasts – it’s the lone highlight. Bond, an aging, beat-up agent who may no longer be up to the task, is missing and presumed dead after getting shot during a failed mission.

SNITCH Rated PG-13 • Opens Feb. 22 John Matthews’ (Dwayne Johnson) teenaged son, who’s been convicted of a drug-related crime he didn’t commit, faces a 10-year sentence. To save his son from prison, John makes a deal with the DEA to work as an undercover informant and infiltrate a drug cartel. With Benjamin Bratt and Susan Sarandon.

SPECIAL 26 **G@ Not Rated • AMC Regency 24 Based on a true crime, this Bollywood film shows a daring jewelry heist in Mumbai, by a criminal mastermind who’s since become the stuff of legends.

VEER! **G@ Not Rated • Sun-Ray Cinema Reviewed in this issue.

WARM BODIES **G@ Rated PG-13 • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency, Carmike Amelia Island, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd.

After a zombie epidemic, R (a highly unusual zombie) encounters Julie (a human survivor), and rescues her from a zombie attack. Julie sees that R is different from the other zombies, and as the two form a special relationship in their struggle for survival, R becomes increasingly more human, setting off an exciting, romantic and often comical chain of events that begins to transform other zombies – maybe even the whole lifeless world.

WRECK-IT RALPH ***@ Rated PG • Hollywood River City Typecast as a villain, Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) has reason to feel unappreciated. He’s still smarting from 30 years of being dropped off a building into the mud by Fix-It Felix. Ralph just wants to be the hero. Director Rich Moore balances gamer cool and kid-friendly fun.

ZERO DARK THIRTY ***@ Rated R • AMC Orange Park, AMC Regency, Carmike Fleming Island, Cinemark Tinseltown, Epic Theatre St. Augustine, Hollywood River City, Regal Avenues, Regal Beach Blvd.

Overlong at 157 minutes but still an effective drama, director Kathryn Bigelow’s film has struck a chord with American audiences. The focus is on CIA operative Maya (Jessica Chastain), who’s stationed in the Middle East and charged with tracking down the 9/11 mastermind. The execution – pun intended – of the mission, from planning to helicopter ride to finding bin Laden to extraction, is perfectly paced by Bigelow, who certainly knows how to generate suspense in her action.

OTHER FILMS

MOVIES ON THE HOUSE In Claude Berri’s “A Housekeeper” (2002), Jacques’ wife leaves him for another man. He hires Laura to work in a domestic capacity in his Paris apartment. Soon they’re more than maid and master; they hang out even on her days off. Jacques has to choose between a clean house or

20 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

a girlfriend. 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at University of North Florida’s Robinson Theater, 1 UNF Dr., Southside. Free. unf.edu/ moviesonthehouse SUN-RAY CINEMA The Disney classic “The Lion King” screens as a benefit for Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, a nonprofit providing safe homes for endangered big cats, 1 p.m. Feb. 23 at Sun-Ray Cinema, 1028 Park St., Five Points, 359-0047. $15. cattyshack.org “How to Survive a Plague” screens 4 p.m. Feb. 24. The Academy Awards are screened live Feb. 24, with local host Chris Buck providing trivia, entertainment and giveaways during commercial breaks. Free. sunraycinema.com BEST PICTURE SHOWCASE AMC Orange Park and AMC Regency Square offer a showcase of films nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.

“Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln,” “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Zero Dark Thirty” screen 10 a.m. Feb. 23. $40. amctheatres.com POT BELLY’S CINEMA “The Master,” “Searching for Sugar Man,” “Skyfall” and “Rust and Bone” are shown at Pot Belly’s, 36 Granada St., St. Augustine. 829-3101.

WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME IMAX THEATER `”The Last Reef 3D,” `“Flight of the Butterflies,” `”Forces of Nature,” `“Deep Sea 3D,” “Born to Be Wild 3D,” `“Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West” and `“To The Arctic 3D” are screened at World Golf Hall of Fame Village, 1 World Golf Place, St. Augustine. For fees and showtimes, call 940-IMAX. “Oz: The Great and Powerful: An IMAX 3D Experience” opens March 8. worldgolfimax.com

NEW ON DVD & BLU-RAY

ANNA KARENINA Unhappily married Anna (Keira Knightley) cheats on her boring husband (Jude Law) with cavalry officer Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Director Joe Wright’s film opens inside a theater, and the action begins on the theater’s stage.

Subsequent scenes take place backstage, in the rafters, in the balcony — all over the place. The real letdown, sadly, is Taylor-Johnson, who possesses none of the magnetism needed to get us to believe Anna would be drawn to him. The babyfaced, blond-surfer-haired dude has a sorry excuse for a mustache — he barely looks like a man, let alone a lustful object of desire.

ARGO Ben Affleck directs and stars as CIA operative Tony Mendez, acknowledged as the agency’s top agent when it comes to “exfiltration,” the art of extracting those caught in places they cannot escape. “Argo” succeeds because director Affleck focuses on the journey, not the outcome, to create a taut political thriller. Many familiar faces — John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Kyle Chandler, Bryan Cranston, Victor Garber — deliver strong performances in this award-winning ensemble effort.

FUN SIZE A sarcastic high school senior (Victoria Justice of Nickelodeon’s “Victorious”) can’t wait for college and some distance with her dysfunctional family. A night babysitting her little brother on Halloween turns into the expected misadventure. The tween comedy tries to be a kiddie story with some adult raunch on the side, but the sweetness doesn’t really satisfy.

SINISTER Headlined by an Oscar nominee (Ethan Hawke) and featuring two surprising cameos (Vincent D’Onofrio and former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson), the horror flick isn’t entirely unpredictable. However, it’s still creepy and rather effective, thanks to Hawke’s performance and Scott Derrickson’s solid direction.

Music

Dark Star Orchestra has a mission “to recreate that journey” first laid out by the Grateful Dead, says keyboardist Rob Barraco. “There’s no way that we could ever truly recreate a Grateful Dead show in its entirety. It would take a lifetime to orchestrate – and it wouldn’t be any fun. The fun comes from being in the moment.”

Playing in the Band

Dark Star Orchestra honors ultimate jam band the Grateful Dead through a cosmic combination of improvisation and academic devotion DARK STAR ORCHESTRA 8 p.m. Feb. 24 Freebird Live, 200 N. First St., Jacksonville Beach Tickets: $22 246-2473, freebirdlive.com

T

here are cover bands, there are tribute acts — and then there’s Dark Star Orchestra.

A septet with members scattered across the United States, Dark Star Orchestra meticulously recreates past Grateful Dead concerts while imbuing their work with the same free-flowing spontaneity for which the Dead was revered. Since forming in 1997, DSO has played more than 2,150 shows, cataloging its sets with an awe-inspiring attention to detail that jibes well with the minutiae-obsessed Deadhead community.

The band has even enjoyed the supreme honor of having its alumni graduate to performing with founding Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. But as Dark Star Orchestra keyboardist Rob Barraco told Folio Weekly, DSO keeps on truckin’ with its own festival and cruise, its own improvisational ethos and its own cosmic connection with diehard audiences.

Folio Weekly: Dark Star Orchestra started its latest tour in Minnesota, so the band must be pumped to end up in Florida later this month.

Rob Barraco: Big time. I can’t wait. And Jacksonville Beach is such a beautiful place.

Every year, we start our winter tour in the frozen North and wend our way down into the South to end up in Florida. Except this year, it’s a week in Florida and a week in Jamaica [on the Jam in the Sand cruise].

F.W.: Each of the seven Dark Star members lives in different states. How do you all practice?

R.B.: Two of us live in New York, our singer Lisa lives in Pennsylvania, we have two guys out in St. Louis, one guy in Chicago and one guy in Colorado. So we don’t get any practice time; that comes during sound checks and shows. At this point, it’s just not necessary. We know what we have to do, so we meet in a common city, get on a tour bus and away we go.

F.W.: Kind of the way Grateful Dead did it, right?

R.B.: When you saw Grateful Dead back in the day, you knew that on any given night you were going to be taken on a journey. You had no idea what the final destination was going to be, but you knew you were going willingly.

And you had to see it live to understand. Back then, there were no bootlegs to listen to — just the records. So once you started going to shows, you realized they were making shit up every night, which was brilliant!

F.W.: So is that Dark Star Orchestra’s mission?

To make stuff up but within the parameters of a past Dead show?

R.B.: Our mission is to recreate that journey.

We have a blueprint for every show; say we’re going to do a set list from 1972 so, yes, we know the parameters of what that music is supposed to sound like. But from note one, it’s all improvised. There’s no way that we could ever truly recreate a Grateful Dead show in its entirety. It would take a lifetime to orchestrate — and it wouldn’t be any fun. The fun comes from being in the moment, reacting to the conversation your fellow musicians are having

and actually taking ourselves on a journey that has an outcome that’s never written.

F.W.: For the band’s recent New Year’s Eve show, Dark Star Orchestra played a couple of Dead songs for the first time ever. After 2,150 shows, is there still territory left to cover?

R.B.: There are a handful of songs that we haven’t played, and other than some of the latter-day Dead stuff, we’ll eventually get to most of them. For that New Year’s show, [DSO frontman] Jeff [Mattson] called everybody up and suggested we try to do something special. So we learned those two tunes [“Let’s Spend The Night Together” and “Till The Morning Comes”] and boom — it worked. Now they’re a part of our repertoire. When we do elective shows, which we do, on average, every fourth show, we make up our own set list. The band was inspired by learning those new songs, so hopefully we’re going to learn a few more for this tour.

F.W.: So the band still has long-term plans. Do you foresee a day when Dark Star Orchestra will hang up its instruments?

R.B.: Nothing is written down; just like the nightly journey, touring is a journey unto itself. So we don’t have any plans to ever hang it up, unless it’s no longer fun. And we’re not interested in milestones. It’s about getting ourselves off and then having the audience be a part of it. The audience is the X-factor — the energy they give to us, which is recycled from what we’re giving them, hugely affects the outcome of a show.

Nick McGregor themail@folioweekly.com FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 21

Music

Sagit “Cupcakes” Shir (left) and Ariel “Hank” Scherbacovsky intended to “start a band” when they went to New York, Shir says. But they realized no one else could match the intensity of their rehearsal schedule. Photo: Cannon Kinnard

HANK & CUPCAKES with THE DOG APOLLO and OPIATE EYES 8 p.m. Feb. 27 Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco Tickets: $8 398-7496, jaxlive.com

H

ank & Cupcakes, the Israeli-born, Brooklynbased duo of Ariel “Hank” Scherbacovsky and Sagit “Cupcakes” Shir, performs a raw, dance-floor-friendly brand of electro-pop that’s equal parts minimal, over the top, funky and aggressive. Cupcakes stands behind her drum set, kicking out primal rhythms and alternating between a rock ’n’ roll howl and a Madonna-influenced coo.

Meanwhile, Hank combines meticulous bass lines, flourishes of sampled keyboards and a tangle of effects pedals to lend the band’s music a digitized, even disco-like feel. But on stage, Hank & Cupcakes really shine, the romantically and professionally linked couple often performing covered in body paint and possessed with a manic surge of overwhelming energy. Folio Weekly chatted with Cupcakes about the band’s roots in Tel Aviv, Havana and New York, its emphasis on visual artistry and its love of Howard Stern, Johnny Cash and Jacksonville.

Folio Weekly: Growing up in Israel, what were your and Hank’s original musical influences?

Sagit “Cupcakes” Shir: Well, there weren’t really any inspirations. It was this weird temporary arrangement where we started a band because we knew we were leaving Tel Aviv for New York, I knew how to play drums, and because we’re both crazy people who started rehearsing every single day, the sound that emerged was just naturally good.

F.W.: For a duo, you two create quite an auditory ruckus. How do you do it?

S.S.: Hank has like 18 million pedals, and one of those is a sampler, so he records samples on a Moog [keyboard]. But those are the only external things that we have going. Other than that, it’s all just his bass and my drums and vocals. There’s no computer on stage or anything.

F.W.: At any point in Hank & Cupcakes’ existence, did you anticipate adding more people to the band?

S.S.: We had a desire to because we started out old school: “Let’s start a band,” which in our minds meant a guitarist, a drummer, a bassist and maybe a keyboard player. Even when we came to New York, we still thought we might add some more musicians. But the way we work, rehearsing every single day, is so 22 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

intense, and we realized that we wouldn’t find other members willing to put in so much time.

F.W.: So many aspiring bands move to New York and fail. What helped you succeed?

S.S.: Well, it was very inspiring to be here as a 100 percent creative artist. It was very scary, too, but we knew that we were coming to a new beginning, so we knew the scariness was going to happen. We also lived in Cuba before New York, which was pretty difficult. Coming to America felt really easy in comparison.

F.W.: How much thought do you put into the visual aspects of Hank & Cupcakes — the provocative music videos, intoxicating stage presence and bizarre press photos?

S.S.: Honestly, we put as much thought into that as we do into the music. It’s all part of the overall art.

F.W.: You have one EP, “Ain’t No Love,” along with a full-length, “Naked,” out now. Are any new songs in the pipeline?

S.S.: Yes, we actually just got done with a really long rehearsal because we have three songs that we want to be completely ready so we can take them on tour with us.

F.W.: While you’re on tour, do you have interests that you pursue outside of music?

S.S.: Not really. We’re sightseeing every day, as we have to drive four to seven hours from city to city. Eating, I guess? [Laughs.]

F.W.: What kind of music do you listen to on the road?

S.S.: Actually, we listen to Howard Stern 90 percent of the time. Other than that, we like oldies: Johnny Cash, Neil Young. And we’re really into Die Antwoord from South Africa.

F.W.: Do you ever tour back home in Israel?

S.S.: We’ve actually been very well-received in Israel — better than when we lived there. But we just got back from there, and for the first time we didn’t perform on our visit. We just needed some chill-out time before the tour.

F.W.: How about touring in Florida? Have you made it down our way at all yet?

S.S.: Yes, we’ve actually been to Florida on every one of our tours. Coming from New York, this time we’re looking forward to the heat. And we’re also really looking forward to our show in Jacksonville. The first time we played there, only two people were in the audience, and it’s been growing ever since to the point where we love playing at Jack Rabbits.

Nick McGregor themail@folioweekly.com

Live Music FreebirdLive.com

/ TU 4U +BY #FBDI '- r #*3%

CONCERTS THIS WEEK

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22

ALAN PARSONS LIVE PROJECT Contemporary rock from London, 8 p.m. Feb. 20, The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, $26-$41, 355-2787.

JE DOUBLE F, OFFERINGS, PROUD FATHER Hip hop artist from New Jersey, 8 p.m. Feb. 20, Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown, $5, 677-2977.

TOMMY EMMANUEL Acoustic “fingerstyle� guitar player, 8 p.m. Feb. 21, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., Ponte Vedra Beach, $36.50$44.50, 209-0399.

DAVID RUSSELL, JOHN PEYTON Singer-songwriter performs acoustic string music, 8 p.m.

Feb. 21, European Street CafĂŠ, 1704 San Marco Blvd., San Marco, $10, 399-1740.

THOMAS WYNN & THE BELIEVERS Southern rock, 10 p.m. Feb. 21, Mojo Kitchen, 1500 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, $5, 246-1500.

ANTIQUE ANIMALS, FOREIGN TRADE, OPIATE EYES, HOMEMADE Jacksonville indie rock bands, 10 p.m. Feb. 21, 1904 Music Hall, 19 N. Ocean St., Downtown, $10.

TEENAGE BOTTLE ROCKET, THE QUEERS, MASKED INTRUDER Punk rock bands, 8 p.m. Feb. 21, Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $13, 398-7496.

NOTHING BUT WOLVES, DEAD CHANNELS, HURRICANE GUN, PAWN TAKES KING Indie rock, 8 p.m. Feb. 21, Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown, $5, 677-2977.

AARON PARKER Country music, 8 p.m. Feb. 21, The Standard, 200 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, $5, 342-2187.

PETER MULVEY Folksinger-songwriter from Milwaukee, 9 p.m. Feb. 21, Original CafĂŠ Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, $10, 460-9311.

ROLAND DYENS French classical guitarist, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22, The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, $13.50-$23.50, 355-2787.

TRIP LEE, LEAH SMITH Christian hip hop artist, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22, Murray Hill Theatre, 932 Edgewood Ave. S., Murray Hill, $10-$13, 3887807.

THE KINGSTON TRIO, THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL, MELANIE SAFKA ’60s Folk Reunion Festival, 8 p.m. Feb. 22, T-U Center, 300 W. Water St., Downtown, $72-$92, 633-6110.

ERIC LINDELL Roots music, 10 p.m. Feb. 22, Mojo Kitchen, 1500 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, $15, 246-1500.

CARRIE NATION & THE SPEAKEASY Brass ‘n’ grass band from Wichita, 9:30 p.m. Feb. 22, Dog Star Tavern, 10 N. Second St., Fernandina Beach, 277-8010.

COREY SMITH, ADAM EZRA GROUP Country singer-songwriter, 7 p.m. Feb. 22, Mavericks, The Jacksonville Landing, 2 Independent Dr., Downtown, $20, 356-1110.

ALLELE, NERVER Jacksonville hard rockers, 8 p.m. Feb. 22, Freebird Live, 200 N. First St., Jax Beach, $8, 246-2473.

EVERGREEN TERRACE, JUST LIKE GENTLEMAN, VICES, FROM WHAT REMAINS, BLOW IT UP Jacksonville metalcore, 7 p.m. Feb. 22, Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $10, 398-7496.

PROFESSOR KILMURE, WILLIE EVANS JR., THE FUZZ Jacksonville DJ, 8 p.m. Feb. 22, Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown, $5, 353-4686.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

The Best Live Music in St. Augustine!

“Join us for Blues, Rock & Funk�

February 21 Billy Bowers

Feb. 22 & 23 Storm Warning

,JOH 4USFFU t 4U "VHVTUJOF t

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Allele

NERVER / PRIMITIVE HARD DRIVE SATURDAY FEBRUARY 23

LOTUS MOON HOOCH SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24

DARK STAR ORCHESTRA RE-CREATING THE GRATEFUL DEAD WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 27

EVERYTIME I DIE Thomas Wynn & The Believers cook up some Southern rock Feb. 21 at Mojo Kitchen in Jacksonville Beach.

CELTIC CROSSROADS Irish music, 8 p.m. Feb. 23, The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, $35-$40, 355-2787.

PAPERCUTT, HORNIT Glam rock, 9 p.m. Feb. 23, The Standard, 200 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, $8-$10, 342-2187.

LOTUS, MOON HOOCH Electronic jam band, 8 p.m. Feb. 23, Freebird Live, 200 N. First St., Jax Beach, $18, 246-2473.

SILENCE, BLUNT TRAUMA, DECISIONS, I AM THE WITNESS, FROM WHAT REMAINS, DECIDED BY FATE Metal and hardcore bands, 7 p.m. Feb. 23, Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $8, 398-7496.

DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS Nashville folk/Americana group, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23, Murray

Hill Theatre, 932 Edgewood Ave. S., Murray Hill, $10-$12, 388-7807.

WILLIE “BIG TOEâ€? GREEN, LITTLE MIKE & THE TORNADOES Blues artists, 8 p.m. Feb. 23, European Street CafĂŠ, 5500 Beach Blvd., Southside, $15, 399-1740.

KILO-KAHN, DENIED TIL DEATH, RUNNING RAMPANT, RULE NO. 6, ZYNC, ALL THINGS DONE Jacksonville metal bands, 9 p.m. Feb. 23, 1904 Music Hall, 19 N. Ocean St., Downtown, $10.

AFROMAN Funky rap, 7 p.m. Feb. 23, Brewster’s Roc Bar, 845 University Blvd., Arlington, $30, 223-9850.

HONKY SUCKLE Bluegrass, 9:30 p.m. Feb. 23, Dog Star Tavern, 10 N. Second St., Fernandina Beach, 277-8010.

THE ACACIA STRAIN VA N N A / H U N D R E T H / NO BRAGGING RIGHTS THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28

ZOOGMA SIR CHARLES FRIDAY MARCH 1

THE SECRET STATE MONDAY MARCH 4

EXCISION

PAPER DIAMON/VASKI FRIDAY MARCH 8

SLIPPERY WHEN WET BON JOVI TRIBUTE BAND THURSDAY MARCH 14

Mon-

TuesWed-

Men’s Night Out Beer Pong 9pm Free Pool DJ BG ALL U CAN EAT CRABLEGS Texas Hold ’Em STARTS AT 7 P.M. HAPPY HOUR ALL NIGHT KIDS EAT FREE FROM 5 P.M. TO 9 P.M. BUY 10 WINGS GET 10 WINGS FREE 1/2 PRICED APPETIZERS (BAR ONLY) 5 P.M.-CLOSE

Thurs-

DJ BG 1/2 PRICED DRINKS 10 P.M-12. A.M.

Fri-

CUPID’S ALLEY 9:30pm 1/2 PRICE APPS-FRI (BAR ONLY) 4-7PM DECK MUSIC 5 P.M.-9 P.M.

Sat-

SOUTHERN RUKUS 9:30pm DECK MUSIC 5 P.M.-9 P.M.

Sun-

Live Music 4pm-8pm

PINBACK JP INC.

SATURDAY MARCH 16

THE HEAVY PETS, S. P. O. R . E .

WEDNESDAY MARCH 20

NATTY VIBES DANKA/SOUNDRISE MONDAY MARCH 25

MINUS THE BEAR

CIRCA SURVIVE/NOW NOW FRIDAY MARCH 29

TRIBAL SEEDS

STICK FIGURE/THE MAAD T-RAY UPCOMING SHOWS 4-11: Umphrey’s McGee/Break Science 4-12: The Duhks 4-19: Andy Grammer/Parachute 4-25: GWAR/Wilson/Warbeast 5-5:

Donna the Buffalo

5-11: Kort McCumber

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 23

7TH STREET BAND 10 p.m. Feb. 23, Mojo Kitchen, 1500 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 246-1500.

FOREIGN TRADE, THE DEWARS, TANK TOP, TODI STRONGHANDS, BYRON Indie rock, 10 p.m. Feb. 23, Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown, $5, 353-4686.

THE HIT MEN Classic “hit-makers,” 8 p.m. Feb. 24, The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, $30, 355-2787.

CONSIDER THE SOURCE, S.P.O.R.E. Psychedelic jam band, 9 p.m. Feb. 24, 1904 Music Hall, 19 N. Ocean St., Downtown, $10.

BADFISH, THE SHEFFIELD CREW Sublime tribute, 9 p.m. Feb. 24, The Standard, 200 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, $15, 342-2187.

LEO KOTTKE Fingerpicking acoustic guitarist, 8 p.m. Feb. 24, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., Ponte Vedra, $35-$45, 209-0399.

THAT ONE GUY, WOLFF Experimental one-man band, 8 p.m. Feb. 24, Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $10, 398-7496.

DARK STAR ORCHESTRA Grateful Dead tribute, 8 p.m. Feb. 24, Freebird Live, 200 N. First St., Jax Beach, $22, 246-2473.

CARRIE NATION & THE SPEAKEASY, EVERYMEN, RACHEL KATE, ANTOINE DUKES Brass ‘n’ grass band from Wichita, 8 p.m. Feb. 24, Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown, $8, 353-4686.

HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE, ARTILECT, DARKWATER SOCIAL Rockville Rumble 2013, 7 p.m. Feb. 25, Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $10, 398-7496.

BAD RABBITS, AIR DUBAI Hip hop influenced indie bands, 8 p.m. Feb. 26, Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $12, 398-7496.

JESSE COOK Canadian flamenco guitarist, 8 p.m. Feb. 27, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., Ponte Vedra, $33.50-$38.50, 209-0399.

EVERY TIME I DIE, THE ACACIA STRAIN, VANNA, HUNDREDTH, NO BRAGGING RIGHTS Heavy hard-core rock, 6 p.m. Feb. 27, Freebird Live, 200 N. First St., Jax Beach, $15, 246-2473.

24 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

MIDNIGHT SPIN, JASON CONNELLY Indie rock, 9 p.m. Feb. 27, 1904 Music Hall, 19 N. Ocean St., Downtown, $10.

HANK & CUPCAKES, THE DOG APOLLO, OPIATE EYES Indie pop, 8 p.m. Feb. 27, Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $8, 398-7496.

THE AGGROLITES Los Angeles reggae band, 9 p.m. Feb. 27, Original Café Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, $15, 460-9311.

HONKY SUCKLE, MUDTOWN, HOMEMADE Indie rock, 8 p.m. Feb. 27, Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown, $5, 353-4686.

MUSHROOMHEAD, GEMINI SYNDROME Hard rock, 7 p.m. Feb. 27, Brewster’s Roc Bar, 845 University Blvd., Arlington, $12-$26.50, 223-9850.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

ZOOGMA, SIR CHARLES Feb. 28, Freebird Live COPE, THE MANTRAS, HERD OF WATTS Feb. 28, 1904 Music Hall DAVID CROWDER Feb. 28, Murray Hill Theatre SAM PACETTI Feb. 28, European Street Café San Marco WHETHERMAN Feb. 28, Mellow Mushroom Southside UNIVERSAL GREEN, CHOPP, WILLIE EVANS JR. Feb. 28, Underbelly LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III, TAMMERLIN March 1, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall ED ROLAND & THE SWEET TEA PROJECT March 1, The Standard THE NEW DIVIDE March 1, Murray Hill Theatre GRANDPA’S COUGH MEDICINE March 1, Dog Star Tavern HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, THE WHISKEY GENTRY, GHOST LIGHT ROAD, BEAU CRUM March 1, Burro Bar J BOOG, HOT RAIN, GARY DREAD, JAHMEN March 1, Jack Rabbits SWORN IN March 1, Phoenix Taproom BRITNI MCCOLLUM, THE SECRET STATE March 1, Freebird Live HALL & OATES March 1, St. Augustine Amphitheatre KEB’ MO’ March 2, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall GRANT PEEPLES, SARAH MAC March 2, European Street Café Southside

Hardcore rockers Every Time I Die live it up with support from The Acacia Strain, Vanna, Hundredth and No Bragging Rights on Feb. 27 at Freebird Live in Jacksonville Beach.

TATER FAMINE, MEMPHIBIANS March 2, Burro Bar COL. BRUCE HAMPTON March 2, Dog Star Tavern SON OF A BAD MAN, THE DOG APOLLO, SOLID GOLD THUNDER March 2, Jack Rabbits JEANETTE HARRIS March 2, Ritz Theatre GREEN JELLY March 2, Brewster’s Roc Bar WHETHERMAN March 2, Green Room Brewing KALIYL, SONS NOT BEGGARS, CAPTIVE March 2, Murray Hill Theatre BRUCE COCKBURN March 3, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall POLYENSO, AUTHOR March 3, Jack Rabbits BLOWFLY, GOLD PELICANS, TEENAGE LOBOTOMY, DJ DOTS March 3, Nobby’s HE’S MY BROTHER SHE’S MY SISTER, PAPER BIRD, SHAKEY GRAVES, CANARY IN THE COALMINE March 3, Burro Bar BENJAMIN DUNN & THE ANIMAL ORCHESTRA, BLACK CANVAS, FOLSOM KIMBALL March 3, Murray Hill Theatre EXCISION, PAPER DIAMOND, VASKI March 4, Freebird Live ENGLAND IN 1819, JUNGOL March 4, Burro Bar MOD SUN, CISCO ADLER, TAYYIB ALI, PAT BROWN March 4, Jack Rabbits THE LAST BYSON, FOUR FAMILIES, ANTIQUE ANIMALS March 5, Underbelly IRON JAYNE, UNCLE MARTY, THE DEWARS, EARTH HOUSE March 5, The Standard NAUGHTY BY NATURE March 5, Brewster’s Roc Bar DWIGHT YOAKAM March 5, The Florida Theatre ANDY D, MECHANICAL RIVER, TIM HAGGERTY March 5, Burro Bar TRAPT March 6, Brewster’s Roc Bar NERVOUS TICKS, THE MOLD, SMALL HOUSES, PSEUDO KIDS March 6, Burro Bar CURRENT SWELL, WILL ERICKSON March 6, The Standard THE CUSSES, CLOUDEATER March 7, Burro Bar JUDY COLLINS, LEDFOOT March 7, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall LONG MILES March 7, The Standard DREW NELSON March 7, European Street Café San Marco MOUNT MORIAH, CHELSEA SADDLER March 7, Jack Rabbits BEEBS & HER MONEYMAKERS, FUSEBOX FUNK March 7, Original Café Eleven THE CANDY HEARTS, ALLISON WEISS, PENTIMENTO March 7, Phoenix Taproom STELLAR KART, ABANDON, 7EVENTH TIME DOWN March 8, Murray Hill Theatre SISTER HAZEL March 8, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall POLYGONS, THE MOOKS, TOMMY HARRISON GROUP, DIRTY AUTOMATIC March 8, Jack Rabbits PLIES March 8, Brewster’s Roc Bar SLIPPERY WHEN WET (Bon Jovi tribute) March 8, Freebird Live FREDDY’S FINEST March 8 & 9, Dog Star Tavern (HED)P.E. March 9, Brewster’s Roc Bar 1964 (BEATLES TRIBUTE) March 9, The Florida Theatre THE KOPECKY FAMILY, LEAGUES March 9, Underbelly EXTREMELY ROTTEN ALBUM RELEASE March 9, Burro Bar RICKOLUS March 9, Jack Rabbits NATURAL LIFE MUSIC FESTIVAL: MARTIN SEXTON, FIELD REPORT, SWEAR AND SHAKE, SUGAR & THE HI-LOWS, HENRY WAGONS March 10, Metropolitan Park BLACK TAXI, THE HOWLING WIND, THE ROMMELS March 10, Burro Bar PALE FIRE March 11, Burro Bar Rockville Rumble: DOC MOCCASIN March 11, Jack Rabbits KISHI BASHI, ELIZABETH & THE CATAPULT, FOUR FAMILIES March 12, Jack Rabbits ORGY, VAMPIRES EVERYWHERE, DAVEY SUICIDE March 12, Brewster’s Roc Bar VICES March 12, Burro Bar

GET THE LED OUT (Led Zeppelin tribute) March 13, The Florida Theatre CHRIS TOMLIN March 13, Veterans Memorial Arena Rockville Rumble: EFFEN, WAKE THE LIVING, NOCTURNAL STATE OF MIND, PRIDELES March 13, Jack Rabbits WIL MARING, ROBERT BOWLIN March 14, European St. San Marco

PINBACK March 14, Freebird Live AARON CARTER, JENNI REID, PATREL, NIKKI FLOREZ March 14, Jack Rabbits YOUR 33 BLACK ANGELS, THE VELDT March 14, Burro Bar LISA LOEB March 15, The Florida Theatre JUAN SIDDI FLAMENCO THEATRE COMPANY March 15 & 16, St. Augustine Amphitheatre SOUL GRAVY March 15, Dog Star Tavern RUNNING RAMPANT March 15, Jack Rabbits FRANK HANNON, FASTER PUSSYCAT March 15, Brewster’s Roc Bar TAKE ONE CAR, RUSHOLME RUFFIANS March 15, Burro Bar THE FRITZ, LUCKY COSTELLO March 15, 1904 Music Hall CONVALESCE, ME & THE TRINITY, REFUGE, XHONORX, AFTER ME THE FLOOD, SKYBURNER March 15, Murray Hill Theatre MIRANDA LAMBERT, DIERKS BENTLEY, LEE BRICE March 16, Veterans Memorial Arena LOOK RIGHT PENNY, MALAYA March 16, 1904 Music Hall RISING UP ANGRY March 16, Brewster’s Roc Bar YANKEE SLICKERS March 16, Dog Star Tavern AWOLNATION March 16, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall MASTA KILLA March 17, Burro Bar MATCHBOX TWENTY March 17, St. Augustine Amphitheatre JOE BROOKS, CHELSEA SADDLER March 18, Jack Rabbits PERIPHERY March 18, The Standard SLEEPING WITH SIRENS, CONDITIONS, DANGER KIDS, LIONS LIONS March 18, Brewster’s Pit ADRENALINE MOB, NOTHING MORE March 18, Brewster’s Roc Bar STICK TO YOUR GUNS, ROTTING OUT March 18, Phoenix Taproom BACKWOODS PAYBACK, WHISKEY DICK March 18, Burro Bar OTTMAR LIEBERT & LUNA NEGRA March 19, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall PEACH KELLI POP, WET NURSE, QUEEN BEEF, MENTAL BOY March 19, Nobby’s PEACH KELLI POP, PILLOWFIGHT, SUPER SECRET BAND March 19, Nobby’s RADICAL SOMETHING March 19, Jack Rabbits CHELSEA GRIN, ATTILA, BETRAYING THE MARTYRS, BURIED IN VERONA, WITHIN THE RUINS March 19, Brewster’s Roc Bar HONOR SOCIETY March 20, Jack Rabbits AVOLXBLUE, STEREO TELESCOPE, ANDRE March 20, Underbelly RELIGIOUS GIRLS March 20, Burro Bar NATTY VIBES March 20, Freebird Live JAKE SHIMABUKURO March 20, The Florida Theatre CHUNK! NO, CAPTAIN CHUNK!, HANDGUNS, STATE CHAMPS, CITY LIGHTS March 20, Brewster’s Roc Bar PIERCE THE VEIL, MEMPHIS MAY FIRE, LETLIVE, ISSUES March 21, Brewster’s Megaplex KING OF PRUSSIA March 21, Burro Bar CARAVAN OF THIEVES March 21, Original Café Eleven TWENTY ONE PILOTS, NEW POLITICS, FIVE KNIVES March 21, Jack Rabbits ZACH DEPUTY March 21, Dog Star Tavern ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN: GARY MULLEN & THE WORKS March 22, The Florida Theatre JOHNNY MATHIS March 22, T-U Center WATSKY, DUMBFOUNDED March 22, Jack Rabbits

Live Music HOUSE OF HEROES, THIS ARMISTICE, STEALING VANITY March 22, Murray Hill Theatre BANG TANGO, PSYCHOSTICK March 22, Brewster’s SENTROPOLIS March 22, Dog Star Tavern HEY OCEAN! March 22, Phoenix Taproom HAR-DI-HAR March 22, Burro Bar America’s Got Talent Live: ALL STARS March 23, T-U Center THE WONDER YEARS, FIREWORKS, HOSTAGE CALM, MISSER March 23, Brewster’s Roc Bar THE FRITZ March 23, Dog Star Tavern BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE, CITY IN PERIL, SHALLOW ADDICTION March 23, Murray Hill Theatre CHUCK RAGAN, ROCKY VOTOLATO, JENNY OWEN YOUNGS March 23, Jack Rabbits TONY FURTADO March 24, Original CafÊ Eleven EMPEROR X March 24, Burro Bar OTEP March 24, Brewster’s Megaplex MINUS THE BEAR, CIRCA SURVIVE March 25, Freebird Live ERIC CLAPTON March 26, Veterans Memorial Arena LOMA PRIETA, TH MNSTRY March 26, Burro Bar INDIGO GIRLS March 28, The Florida Theatre JERRY FELS & THE JERRY FELS March 28, Burro Bar LINDSAY LOU & THE FLATBELLYS March 28, European Street CafÊ San Marco PAT BENATAR & NEIL GIRALDO, BRYNN MARIE March 29, The Florida Theatre JACKSONVEGAS, WILLIE RANDOLF March 29, Underbelly KITTY PRYDE March 29, Jack Rabbits ADEMA, NERVER March 29, Brewster’s Roc Bar TRIBAL SEEDS, STICK FIGURE, THE MAAD T-RAY March 29, Freebird Live JUSTIN ACOUSTIC REUNION March 30, European Street Southside DR. DAN MATRAZZO & THE LOOTERS March 30, Dog Star Tavern BUBBA SPARXXX, HARD TARGET March 30, Brewster’s Roc Bar VAMPIRATES, SELF EMPLOYED, 1322 March 31, Burro Bar MAROON 5, NEON TREES, OWL CITY April 1, Veterans Memorial Arena JOSIAH LEMING, ONE LOVE, JENNI REID April 1, 1904 Music Hall THE STORY SO FAR, MAN OVERBOARD April 1, Brewster’s Roc Bar HAWK NELSON, THE WRECKING, HYLAND April 2, Murray Hill Theatre YES April 3, The Florida Theatre RITA HOSKING April 4, European Street CafÊ San Marco THE PASSENGER April 5, Burro Bar DEFUNK April 5, Dog Star Tavern LEE LESSACK April 5 & 6, Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts TAMMERLIN ANNIVERSARY CONCERT April 6, European Street CafÊ Southside MANAFEST, TRICIA BROCK, JE’KOB, DAVID DUNN April 6, Murray Hill Theatre CHICAGO April 7, St. Augustine Amphitheatre EL TEN ELEVEN April 7, Original CafÊ Eleven FRAMING HANLEY April 7, Brewster’s Roc Bar SUCH GOLD, REAL FRIENDS, MAJOR LEAGUE April 8, Phoenix Taproom THE VILE IMPURITY, BYLETH April 8, Burro Bar SCHEMATIC, ASKER, RUSHOLME RUFFIANS, COIN April 10, Jack Rabbits HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, RADIOLUCENT, STACEY BENNET April 10, Burro Bar UMPHREY’S McGEE, BREAK SCIENCE April 11, Freebird Live MATT MAHER, CHRIS AUGUST, BELLARIVE April 11, Murray Hill Theatre MURIEL ANDERSON April 11, European St. CafÊ San Marco FOREVER CAME CALLING, HEART TO HEART, TROUBLED

Rapper Afroman, nominated for a Grammy in 2002, performs “Because I Got High� on Feb. 23 at Brewster’s Roc Bar in Arlington.

COAST April 12, Phoenix Taproom CHATHAM COUNTY LINE April 12, Underbelly TAB BENOIT April 13, Mojo Kitchen PANSPERMIA, NISROCH, YAMA, WHISKEY DICK April 13, Burro Bar THE CAVE SINGERS April 13, Original CafÊ Eleven THIRD DAY, COLTON DIXON April 14, St. Augustine Amphitheatre BRAZOS THE RAT, YOU VANDAL April 14, Burro Bar WEIRD AL YANKOVIC April 16, The Florida Theatre THE LACS April 17, Original CafÊ Eleven WANEE MUSIC FESTIVAL: ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, WIDESPREAD PANIC, TEDESCHI-TRUCKS BAND, GOV’T MULE, LEON RUSSELL, MACEO PARKER, DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND April 18-20, Spirit of Suwannee Music Park

TIM GRIMM April 18, European Street CafÊ San Marco DAVID BENOIT, BRIAN CULBERTSON April 19, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall BIG FREEDIA April 19, Jack Rabbits CARRIE UNDERWOOD April 20, Veterans Memorial Arena MARY-LOU, TAMMERLIN April 20, European Street Southside FOURPLAY April 21, The Florida Theatre RED LAMB, DAN SPITZ April 21, Brewster’s Roc Bar THE MOMS April 23, Jack Rabbits DEADSTRING BROTHERS April 23, Burro Bar CHARLES BRADLEY & HIS EXTRAORDINAIRES April 24, Jack Rabbits GWAR, WARBEAST, WILSON April 25, Freebird Live MICHAEL RAY April 25, Original CafÊ Eleven JB SCOTT’S SWINGIN’ ALL-STARS April 25, European Street

Wednesday Will Pearsall Thursday Christopher Dean Band Friday Boogie Freaks Saturday Pop Muzik Sunday The Splinters Atlantic Blvd. at the Ocean "UMBOUJD #FBDI t FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 25

Café San Marco SOILWORK, JEFF LOOMIS, BLACKGUARD, THE BROWNING, WRETCHED April 27, Jack Rabbits GREEN SUNSHINE April 27, Dog Star Tavern ALICE IN CHAINS, LIMP BIZKIT, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, 3 DOORS DOWN, SHINEDOWN, STONE SOUR, THREE DAYS GRACE, PAPA ROACH, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, HALESTORM, BUCKCHERRY April 27 & 28, Metropolitan Park An Evening with JANIS IAN May 1, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall CELTIC WOMAN May 2, T-U Center GAMBLE ROGERS FESTIVAL KICKOFF: LARRY MANGUM, BOB PATTERSON, JIM CARRICK, CHARLIE SIMMONS May 2, European Street Café San Marco STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON, TED NUGENT May 3, St. Augustine Amphitheatre

CLUBS AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA BEACH

CAFE KARIBO, 27 N. Third St., 277-5269 Live music in the courtyard 6 p.m. every Fri. & Sat., 5 p.m. every Sun. DOG STAR TAVERN, 10 N. Second St., 277-8010 Whetherman 9 p.m. Feb. 21. Woody Mullis 5 p.m., Carrie Nation & Speakeasy 8 p.m. Feb. 22. Honky Suckle 9:30 p.m. Feb. 23.

Karl W. Davis Invitational 8 p.m. every Wed. Spade McQuade every Thur. Working Class Stiff w/ real vinyl 8 p.m. every Tue. GENNARO’S ITALIANO SOUTH, 5472 First Coast Hwy., 491-1999 Live jazz 7:30-9:30 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. GREEN TURTLE TAVERN, 14 S. Third St., 321-2324 Dan Voll 7-10 p.m. every Fri. Live music every weekend HAMMERHEAD BEACH BAR, 2045 S. Fletcher Rd., 491-7783 Buck Smith and Jim Barcaro every Thur.

MERMAID BAR, Florida House Inn, 22 S. Third St., 491-3322 Local bands open mic, 7:30-10:30 p.m. every Thur.

O’KANE’S IRISH PUB, 318 Centre St., 261-1000 Dan Voll 7:30 p.m. every Wed. Turner London Band 8:30 p.m. every Thur.-Sat. THE PALACE SALOON, 117 Centre St., 491-3332 Folstone’s Feb. 22. Wes Cobb & Schnockered Feb. 23 & 24. Wes Cobb 9 p.m. every Wed. DJs every Fri. & Sat. Schnockered 9 p.m. every Sun. Buck Smith Project Band 9 p.m. every Tue. PLAE, 80 Amelia Circle, Amelia Island Plantation,

26 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

277-2132 Gary Ross 7-11 p.m. every Thur.-Sat. SLIDERS SEASIDE GRILL, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6990 Live music every night THE SURF, 3199 S. Fletcher Ave., 261-5711 DJ Roc 5 p.m. every Wed. Richard Smith every Fri. Live music Tue.-Sun.

ARLINGTON, REGENCY

AJ’S BAR & GRILLE, 10244 Atlantic Blvd., 805-9060 DJ Sheryl every Thur., Fri. & Sat. DJ Mike every Tue. & Wed. Karaoke every Thur.

BREWSTERS MEGAPLEX/PIT/ROC BAR/THE EDGE, 845 University Blvd. N., 223-9850 Afroman, Trayne, Keylow, Sweet Lu 7 p.m. Feb. 23, Roc Bar. D.R.I., Straight Line Stitch Feb. 24. Mushroomhead, Gemini Syndrome 7 p.m. Feb. 27, Roc Bar. Live music every Wed.-Sat. MVP’S SPORTS GRILLE, 12777 Atlantic Blvd., 221-1090 Live music 9 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. TONINO’S, 7001 Merrill Rd., 743-3848 Alaina Colding 8 p.m. every Thur. W. Harvey Williams every Fri. Dino Saliba every Sat.

AVONDALE, ORTEGA

BRICK RESTAURANT, 3585 St. Johns Ave., 387-0606 Bush Doctors every first Fri. & Sat. Jazz every Fri. & Sat. THE CASBAH CAFE, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966 Goliath Flores every Wed. 3rd Bass every Sun. Live music every Mon. ECLIPSE, 4219 St. Johns Ave., 387-3582 DJ Keith spins Karaoke every Tue. DJ Free spins vintage 9 p.m. every Fri. DJs SuZi-Rok, LowKill & Mowgli spin for Chillwave Madness every Mon. ELEVATED AVONDALE, 3551 St. Johns Ave., 387-0700 Karaoke Dave Thrash Wed. DJ 151 spins Thur. DJ Catharsis first & fourth Sat. Patrick Evan & CoAlition Industry every Sun. MOJO NO. 4, 3572 St. Johns Ave., 381-6670 Ruby Beach 10 p.m. Feb. 22. Live music every Fri. & Sat. TOM & BETTY’S, 4409 Roosevelt Blvd., 387-3311 Live music every Fri. Karaoke every Sat.

BAYMEADOWS

COFFEE GRINDER, 9834 Old Baymeadows Rd., 642-7600 DJ Albert Adkins spins every Fri. DJs Adrian Sky, Alberto Diaz & Chris Zachrich spin every Tue. DJ Michael Stumbaugh

Christian hip hop artist Trip Lee rises to the occasion Feb. 22 at Murray Hill Theatre. spins every Sat. MY PLACE, 9550 Baymeadows Rd., 737-5299 Out of Hand every Mon. Rotating bands every other Tue. & Wed. OASIS GRILL & CHILL, 9551 Baymeadows Rd., 748-9636 DJs Stan, Mike Bend spin every Feel Good Fri.

BEACHES (All clubs & venues in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted) BILLY’S BOATHOUSE GRILL, 2321 Beach Blvd., 241-9771 Kurt Lanham 5:30 p.m. Feb. 21. Pop Muzik 6 p.m. Feb. 22.

Splinters 5:30 p.m. Feb. 23. Billy Bowers 12:30 p.m. Feb. 24.

Live music Wed.-Sun. BRIX TAPHOUSE, 300 N. Second St., 241-4668 DJ IBay every Tue., Fri. & Sat. DJ Ginsu every Wed. DJ Jade every Thur. Charlie Walker every Sun. CULHANE’S IRISH PUB, 967 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-9595 Fish Out of Water 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22. Cloud 9 8 p.m. Feb. 23. Ed Perlman 4 p.m. Feb. 24. John Thomas Group Jazz 6-8 p.m. every Tue. EL POTRO MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 1553 Third St. N., 241-6910 Wilfredo Lopez every Wed. & Sat. ENGINE 15 BREWING COMPANY, 1500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 217, 249-2337 Hoffmann’s Voodoo Feb. 21. Paul Ivey Feb. 28. Live music every Thur.

EVA’S GRILL & BAR, 610 S. Third St., 372-9484 Don Miniard Feb. 22. Steve Scarborough Feb. 23. Live music every Fri. & Sat. FLY’S TIE IRISH PUB, 177 E. Sailfish Dr., Atlantic Beach, 246-4293 Songwriters every Tue. Ryan Campbell every Wed. Wes Cobb Thur. Charlie Walker every Mon. FREEBIRD LIVE, 200 N. First St., 246-2473 Allele, NerVer, Primitive Hard Drive 8 p.m. Feb. 22. Lotus, Moon Hooch 8 p.m. Feb. 23. Dark Star Orchestra (Grateful Dead tribute) 8 p.m. Feb. 24. Every Time I Die, The Acacia Strain, Vanna, Hundredth, No Bragging Rights 6 p.m. Feb. 27. Zoogma, Sir Charles Feb. 28. Live music every weekend GREEN ROOM BREWING, 228 N. Third St., 201-9283 Live music every Fri. & Sat. ISLAND GIRL CIGAR BAR, 108 First St., Neptune Beach, 372-0943 Clayton Bush Feb. 20. Billy Buchanan Feb. 21.

John Austill Feb. 22. Evan Michael Feb. 23. Kevin Ski Feb. 27.

Live music every Wed.-Sat. KC CRAVE, 1161 Beach Blvd., 595-5660 Stan Piper & Friends Feb. 21. Late Nite Transfer Feb. 23. Darren Corlew 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Pierre & Co. 6-8:30 p.m. Feb. 24. Live music every Thur.-Sat. LILLIE’S COFFEE BAR, 200 First St., Neptune Beach, 249-2922 Live music every Fri. & Sat. LYNCH’S IRISH PUB, 514 N. First St., 249-5181 Live music Feb. 22 & 23. Who Rescued Who Feb. 28. Uncommon Legends every Wed. Ryan Campbell every Sun. Mikee Magners & Dirty Pete every Mon. Split Tone 10:30 p.m. every Tue. MAYPORT TAVERN, 2775 Old Mayport Rd., Atlantic Beach, 270-0801 Karaoke every Fri. & Sat. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1018 N. Third St., Ste. 2, 246-1500 Dirty Pete Feb. 20 & 27. Be Easy Feb. 21. Herd of Watts Feb.22. B-Side 35 Feb. 23. Whetherman Feb. 24. Live music every Wed.-Sun. MEZZA LUNA, 110 First St., Neptune Beach, 249-5573 Neil Dixon 6 p.m. every Tue. Gypsies Ginger 6 p.m. every Wed. Mike Shackelford & Rick Johnson 6 p.m. every Thur.

MOJO KITCHEN, 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636 Thomas Wynn & the Believers, Ghost Light Road 10 p.m. Feb 21. Eric Lindell 10 p.m. Feb. 22. 7th Street Band 10 p.m. Feb. 23 MONKEY’S UNCLE TAVERN, 1850 S. Third St., 246-1070 Wes Cobb 10 p.m. every Tue. DJ Austin Williams Karaoke

9 p.m. every Wed., Sat. & Sun. DJ Papa Sugar 9 p.m. every Mon., Thur. & Fri. NIPPERS BEACH GRILLE, 2309 Beach Blvd., 247-3300 Cloud 9 Feb. 20. Les B. Fine Feb. 21, 25 & 26. Darren Corlew Feb. 22. Domenic Feb. 23. Alex Affronti & Braxton Adamson Feb. 24. Reggae on the deck every Thur.

NORTH BEACH BISTRO, 725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 6, Atlantic Beach, 372-4105 Gary Lee Wingard 7 p.m. Feb. 21. Billy Bowers 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23. Live music Thur.-Sat. OCEAN 60, 60 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-0060 Taylor Roberts, Chris Thomas Feb. 22. Katie Fair every Wed. Javier Perez every Thur. Live music every Fri. & Sat. THE PIER CANTINA & SANDBAR, 412 First St. N., 246-6454 Uncommon Legends 10 p.m. Feb. 23 POE’S TAVERN, 363 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 241-7637 Be Easy every Sat. RAGTIME TAVERN, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 241-7877 Will Pearsall Feb. 20. Christopher Dean Band Feb. 21. Boogie Freaks Feb. 22. Pop Muzik 9 p.m. Feb. 23. The Splinters Feb. 24. Live music every Thur.-Sun. THE WINE BAR, 320 N. First St., 372-0211 Open mic w/ Paul Haftel Feb. 20. Whetherman Feb. 22. Kevin Ski Feb. 23

DOWNTOWN

1904 MUSIC HALL, 19 Ocean St., 1904jax.com Antique Animals, Foreign Trade, Opiate Eyes, Homemade 10 p.m.

Feb. 21. Filthy Still Feb. 22. Kilo-Kahn, Denied Til Death, Running Rampant, Primitive Hard Drive, Rule No. 6, Zync, All Things Done 9 p.m. Feb. 23. Consider the Source, S.P.O.R.E. 9 p.m. Feb. 24. Midnight Spin, Jason Connelly 9 p.m. Feb. 27. Open mic every Tue. BURRO BAR, 100 E. Adams St., 677-2977 JE Double F, Offerings, Proud Father 8 p.m. Feb. 20. Nothing But Wolves, Dead Channels, Hurricane Gun, Pawn Takes King 8 p.m.

Feb. 21. Professor Kilmure 8 p.m. Feb. 22. Foreign Trade, The Dewars 10 p.m. Feb. 23. Carrie Nation & the Speakeasy, Everymen, Adult Crush, Rachel Kate 8 p.m. Feb. 24. Honky Suckle, Mudtown 8 p.m. Feb. 27. Live music every Fri. & Sat. DOS GATOS, 123 E. Forsyth, 354-0666 DJ Synsonic spins every Tue. & Fri. DJ NickFresh every Sat. DJ Randall Karaoke every Mon. FIONN MacCOOL’S, Jax Landing, 2 Independent Dr., Ste. 176, 374-1247 Braxton Adamson 5 p.m., Rathkeltair 9 p.m.

Feb. 22. Bad Assets 8 p.m. Feb. 23. Live music Fri. & Sat. JACKSONVILLE LANDING, 2 Independent Dr., 353-1188 Rick Arcusa Band 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Feb. 23 KALA, 331 E. Bay St., 356-6455 DJ Paten Locke spins for Audio Zoo every Wed. MARK’S DOWNTOWN, 315 E. Bay St., 355-5099 DJ Roy Luis spins house, gospel, deep, acid, hip, Latin, tribal, Afrobeat, tech/electronic, disco, rarities 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. every Wed. DJ Vinn spins Top 40 every Thur. DJ 007 spins ultra house & top 40 dance every Fri. DJ Shotgun every Sat. MAVERICKS, The Jacksonville Landing, 2 Independent Dr., 356-1110 Corey Smith and The Adam Ezra Group 8 p.m.

Feb. 22. Bobby Laredo spins every Thur. & Sat. DJs Bryan & Q45 spin every Fri. NORTHSTAR THE PIZZA BAR, 119 E. Bay St., 860-5451 Open mic night every Wed. DJ SwitchGear every Thur.

PHOENIX TAPROOM, 325 W. Forsyth St., 798-8222 Shroud Eater 9 p.m. Feb. 23 UNDERBELLY, 113 E. Bay St., 353-6067 BluesRok 8 p.m. Feb. 22. The Chop 8 p.m. Feb. 23. Old Time Jam 7 p.m. every Tue. Fjord Explorer & Screamin’ Eagle every Ritual ReUnion Thur.

ZODIAC GRILL, 120 W. Adams St., 354-8283 Live music every Fri. & Sat.

Live Music FLEMING ISLAND

MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1800 Town Center Blvd., 541-1999 The Whey Feb. 21. Pierce in Harmony Feb. 22. Slickwater Feb. 23. Live music Wed.-Sat. MERCURY MOON, 2015 C.R. 220, 215-8999 DJ Ty spins every Thur. Buck Smith Project every Mon. Blistur unplugged every Wed. TAPS BAR & GRILL, 1605 C.R. 220, Ste. 145, 278-9421 Live music 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Feb. 22 WHITEY’S FISH CAMP, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198 DJ BG Feb. 21. Live music 9:30 p.m. Feb. 22 & 23. Deck music 5 p.m. every Fri. & Sat., 4 p.m. every Sun.

INTRACOASTAL WEST

BRUCCI’S PIZZA, 13500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 36, 223-6913 Mike Shackelford 6:30 p.m. every Sat. & Mon. CLIFF’S BAR & GRILL, 3033 Monument Rd., 645-5162 Rosco Caine Feb. 22 & 23. Karaoke every Thur. & Sun. Top 40 music every Mon. & Tue. JERRY’S SPORTS GRILLE & STEAKHOUSE, 13170 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 22, 220-6766 Karaoke Dude every Wed. Live music every Fri. & Sat. SALSA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 13500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 46, 992-8402 Live guitar music 6-9 p.m. every Tue. & Sat.

MANDARIN, JULINGTON

AW SHUCKS OYSTER BAR, 9743 Old St. Augustine, 240-0368 Open mic w/ Diamond Dave every Wed. Live music every Sat. CHEERS BAR & GRILL, 11475 San Jose Blvd., 262-4337 Karaoke 9:30 p.m. every Wed. HARMONIOUS MONKS, 10550 Old St. Augustine Rd., 880-3040 Jazz 7-9 pm., Karaoke 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Mon.-Thur.

Dennis Klee & the World’s Most Talented Waitstaff Fri. & Sat. RACK EM UP, 4268 Oldfield Crossing Dr., Ste. 205, 262-4030 Live music, DJs, Karaoke and open mic SUNBURST STUDIOS, 126 San Jose Blvd., 485-0946 PlanetRawk 8 p.m. Feb. 20. Merther Rising 8 p.m. Feb. 21

ORANGE PARK, MIDDLEBURG

BLACK HORSE WINERY, 420 Kingsley Ave., 644-8480 Live music 6-9 p.m. every Fri., 2-6 p.m. every Sat. CHEERS BAR & GRILL, 1580 Wells Rd., 269-4855 Karaoke 9:30 p.m. every Wed. & Sat. THE HILLTOP, 2030 Wells Rd., 272-5959 John Michael every Wed.-Sat. LIVE BAR & LOUNGE, 2223 C.R. 220, 290-1733 Open mic w/ Ernie & Debi Evans 7 p.m. every Tue. POMPEII COAL-FIRED PIZZA, 2134 Park Ave., 264-6116 Live music 7 p.m. Feb. 22 THE ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611 Blistur 9 p.m. Feb. 22 & 23. Live music 9 p.m. every Thur.-Sat.

PALATKA

DOWNTOWN BLUES BAR & GRILLE, 714 St. Johns Ave., (386) 325-5454 Lee Kelly 6 p.m. Feb. 20. Tropical Whiskey 8:30 p.m. Feb. 22. Dwight Martin & the Blue Country Band 8:30 p.m. Feb. 23. Country music every Fri. Acoustic Circle 2 p.m. every Sat. Blues jam 5 p.m. every Sun.

PONTE VEDRA, PALM VALLEY

ISLAND GIRL CIGAR BAR, 820 A1A N., Ste. E-18, 834-2492 Mark O’Quinn Feb. 20. Ron Rodriguez Feb. 21. Matt Collins Feb. 22. Jimmy Solari Feb. 23. Lance Neely Feb. 27. Live music every Wed.-Sat. LULU’S WATERFRONT GRILLE, 301 N. Roscoe Blvd., 285-0139 The Monster Fool 6 p.m. Feb. 23. Mike Shackelford & Rick Johnson 7-10 p.m. every Fri. Tony Novelly 6-10 p.m. every Mon., 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. every Sun. PUSSER’S CARIBBEAN GRILLE, 816 A1A N., Ste. 100, 280-7766 SoundStage on the upper deck every Sun.

SUN DOG BREWING CO., 822 A1A N., Ste. 105, 686-1852 Live music every Wed.-Sat.

RIVERSIDE, WESTSIDE

HAPPY HOURS, 952 Lane Ave. N., 683-0065 Karaoke 4 p.m. every Sun. HJ’S BAR & GRILL, 8540 Argyle Forest Blvd., 317-2783 Karaoke w/ DJ Ron 8:30 p.m. every Tue. & DJ Richie every Fri. Live music every Sat. Open mic 8 p.m. every Wed. INTUITION ALE WORKS, 720 King St., 683-7720 Live music every Taproom Tunesday KICKBACKS, 910 King St., 388-9551 Ray & Taylor 9:30 p.m. every Thur. Robby Shenk every Sun. THE LOFT, 925 King St., loftthursdays.com DJs Wes Reed and Josh Kemp spin for PBR Party every Thur.

METRO/RAINBOW ROOM Piano Bar, 859 Willowbranch Ave., 388-8719 Karaoke Rob spins 10 p.m. Sun.-Wed. DJ Zeke Smith spins 10 p.m. Fri. DJ Michael Murphy spins 10 p.m. Sat. MURRAY HILL THEATRE, 932 Edgewood Ave. S., 388-7807 Trip Lee, Leah Smith 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22. Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Don’t Sigh Daisy, Pam Affronti 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 RASCALS, 3960 Confederate Point Rd., 772-7335 Karaoke 8 p.m. every Thur.

ST. AUGUSTINE

A1A ALE WORKS, 1 King St., 829-2977 Billy Bowers Feb. 21. Storm Warning Feb. 22 & 23. Live music every Thur.-Sat. ANN O’MALLEY’S, 23 Orange St., 825-4040 The Afterwhile 8:30 p.m. Feb. 22. Bret & Kathleen 8:30 p.m. Feb. 23. Open mic w/ Smokin’ Joe 7 p.m. every Tue. CELLAR UPSTAIRS, San Sebastian Winery, 157 King St., 826-1594 Mojo Roux 7-11 p.m. Feb. 22. Kenny & Tony 2 p.m., Mojo Roux 7 p.m. Feb. 23. Vinny Jacobs 2 p.m. Feb. 24 CRUISERS GRILL, 3 St. George St., 824-6993 Live music every Fri. & Sat. Chelsea Saddler every Sun. HARRY’S, 46 Avenida Menendez, 824-7765 Billy Bowers 6-10 p.m. Feb. 27. Live music every Fri. MARDI GRAS SPORTS BAR, 123 San Marco, 823-8806 Open jam nite, house band every Wed. Battle of the DJs w/ Josh Frazetta & Mardi Gras Mike every last Sun. MEEHAN’S IRISH PUB, 20 Avenida Menendez, 810-1923 Live music every Fri. & Sat. MI CASA CAFE, 69 St. George St., 824-9317 Chelsea Saddler noon every Mon., Tue. & Thur. Elizabeth Roth 11 a.m. every Sun. MILL TOP TAVERN & LISTENING ROOM, 19 1/2 St. George St., 829-2329 David Russell & John Peyton 9 p.m. Feb. 22 & 23. Katherine Archer 1 p.m. Feb. 24. Todd & Molly Jones every Wed. Aaron Esposito every Thur. Sam Pacetti 9 p.m. every Mon. Vinny Jacobs 9 p.m. every Tue. MOJO BBQ OLD CITY, 5 Cordova St., 342-5264 Sovereign Vine 10 p.m. Feb. 22. Love Chunk 10 p.m. Feb. 23 PIZZALLEY’S CHIANTI ROOM, 60 Charlotte St., 825-4100 Dennis Fermin Spanish Guitar 3-6 p.m. every Mon. SCARLETT O’HARA’S, 70 Hypolita St., 824-6535 Chase Rideman 9 p.m. Feb. 20. Humanzee 9 p.m. Feb. 21. Jeremy Austin 4 p.m., One Hit Wonder 9 p.m. Feb. 22. Ken McAnlis noon, Two Weeks Notice 9 p.m. Feb. 23. Billy Buchanan 7 p.m. Feb. 24.

Jeremy Austin 8 p.m. Feb. 26. Karaoke 9 p.m. every Mon. THE STANDARD, 200 Anastasia Blvd., 342-2187 Aaron Parker 8 p.m. Feb. 21. Papercutt, Hornit 9 p.m. Feb. 23. Badfish, The Sheffield Crew, DJ Raggamuffin 9 p.m. Feb. 24. Country every Thur. Reggae every Sun. Indie, dance, electro every Tue. TAPS BAR & GRILL, 2220 C.R. 210 W., 819-1554 Live music every Fri. THE TASTING ROOM, 25 Cuna St., 810-2400 Dennis Fermin Spanish Guitar Band 7:30-11:30 p.m. every Sat. Bossa Nova w/ Monica da Silva, Chad Alger 5-8 p.m. every Sun. TRADEWINDS, 124 Charlotte St., 829-9336 Red River Band 8:30 p.m. Feb. 22; 9 p.m. Feb. 23. Mark Hart every Mon.-Wed.

Open mic every Thur. Mark Hart & Jim Carrick 5 p.m. every Fri. Elizabeth Roth 1 p.m., Mark Hart 5 p.m. every Sat. Keith Godwin 1 p.m., Wade 5 p.m. every Sun. Matanzas Band 9 p.m.

Sun.-Thur.

ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH

AMICI ITALIAN RESTAURANT, 1915 A1A S., 461-0102 Piano bar w/ Kenyon Dye 5-9:30 p.m. every Sun. JACK’S BARBECUE, 691 A1A Beach Blvd., 460-8100 Jim Essery 4 p.m. every Sat. Live music every Thur.-Sat. ORIGINAL CAFE ELEVEN, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., 460-9311 Peter Mulvey 9 p.m. Feb. 21. The Aggrolites 9 p.m. Feb. 27

ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER

AROMAS CIGARS & WINE BAR, 4372 Southside Blvd., Ste. 101, 928-0515 Live jazz every Tue. Beer house rock every Wed. Live music Thur. Will Hurley every Fri. Bill Rice every Sat. BAHAMA BREEZE, 10205 River Coast Dr., 646-1031 Live music every Tue.-Sun. BLACKFINN AMERICAN GRILLE, 4840 Big Island Dr., 345-3466 Live music 5 p.m. every Wed., 9 p.m. every Thur.-Sat. JOHNNY ANGELS, 3546 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S., Ste. 120, 997-9850 Harry & Sally 7 p.m. every Wed. Karaoke every Sat. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 9734 Deer Lake Court, Ste. 1, 997-1955 Brian Ernst Feb. 20. Charlie Walker Feb. 21. Be Easy Feb. 22. Paul Haftel 8 p.m. Feb. 23. Bryan Ripper Feb. 27. Live music every Fri. & Sat. Open mic every Sun. SEVEN BRIDGES, 9735 Gate Pkwy. N., 997-1999 Chuck Nash every Thur. Live music 10 p.m. Fri. & Sat. SUITE, 4880 Big Island Dr., 493-9305 Live music 9 p.m.mid. every Thur., 6-9 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. WHISKY RIVER, 4850 Big Island Drive, 645-5571 A DJ spins every Fri. & Sat. WILD WING CAFE, 4555 Southside Blvd., 998-9464 DJ Frazetta Feb. 21. Contraband Feb. 22. The Gootch Feb. 23

SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK

ENDO EXO, 1224 Kings Ave., 396-7733 DJ Manus spins top 40, dance every Sat. Open mic w/ King Ron & T-Roy every Mon. EUROPEAN STREET, 1704 San Marco Blvd., 399-1740 Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys 8 p.m. Feb. 21. Sam Pacetti Feb. 28. Jazz 8 p.m. every second Tue. HAVANA-JAX CUBA LIBRE, 2578 Atlantic Blvd., 399-0609 MVP Band 6-9 p.m., DJs No Fame & Dr. Doom every Wed. Jazz every Thur. American Top 40 every Fri. Salsa every Sat. JACK RABBITS, 1528 Hendricks Ave., 398-7496 Mobile Deathcamp Feb. 20. Teenage Bottle Rocket, The Queers, Masked Intruder 8 p.m. Feb. 21. Evergreen Terrace, Just Like Gentlemen, Vices, From What Remains, Blow It Up 7 p.m.

Feb. 22. Silence, Blunt Trauma, Decisions, I Am the Witness, Decided by Fate 7 p.m. Feb. 23. That One Guy, Wolff 8 p.m.

Feb. 24. Homefield Advantage, Artilect, Darkwater Social 7 p.m. Feb. 25. Bad Rabbits, Air Dubai 8 p.m. Feb. 26. Hank & Cupcakes, The Dog Apollo, Opiate Eyes 8 p.m. Feb. 27 MATTHEW’S, 2107 Hendricks Ave., 396-9922 Patrick Evan & Bert Mingea or Mark O’Quinn every Thur.

PIZZA PALACE, 1959 San Marco Blvd., 399-8815 Jennifer Chase 7:30 p.m. every Sat. SQUARE ONE, 1974 San Marco Blvd., 306-9004 Soul on the Square w/ MVP Band & Special Formula 8 p.m.; DJ Dr. Doom every Mon. DJs Wes Reed & Josh Kemp spin underground dance 9 p.m. every Are Friends Electric Wed. DJ Hal spins Karaoke every Thur. Mitch Kuhman & Friends of Blake every other Fri. DJs Rogue & Mickey Shadow spin every Factory Sat.

SOUTHSIDE

BOMBA’S, 8560 Beach Blvd., 997-2291 Chaos in Disguise 8 p.m. Feb. 22. Open mic w/ The Foxes every Tue., George every Thur. Live music every Fri. DAVE & BUSTER’S, 7025 Salisbury Rd. S., 296-1525 A DJ spins every Fri. EUROPEAN STREET CAFE, 5500 Beach Blvd., 399-1740 Willie “Big Toe” Green, Little Mike & the Tornadoes 8 p.m.

Feb. 23. Live music every Sat. ISLAND GIRL CIGAR BAR, 7860 Gate Pkwy., Ste. 115, 854-6060 Bryan Ripper Feb. 20. Aaron Kyle Feb. 21. Kevin Ski Feb. 22. Lance Neely Feb. 23. Doug McRae Feb. 27. Live music every Thur.-Sat.

SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE

SKYLINE SPORTSBAR, 5611 Norwood Ave., 517-6973 Bigga Rankin, Cool Running DJs every Tue. & 1st Sun. Fusion Band & DJ every Thur. DJ Scar spins every Sun. THREE LAYERS CAFE, 1602 Walnut St., 355-9791 Al Poindexter for open mic 7 p.m. Feb. 21 3 LIONS SPORTS PUB & GRILL, 2467 Faye Rd., 647-8625 Open mic every Thur. Woodie & Wyatt C. every Fri. Live music every Sat. TUCKERS HWY. 17 TAVERN, 850532 U.S. 17, Yulee, 225-9211 Live music every Fri. & Sat.

The Mantras (pictured), Cope and Herd of Watts arrive Feb. 28 at 1904 Music Hall in Downtown Jacksonville.

To be listed here, send the band name, time, date, venue location, street address, city, ticket price, and a contact number we can print, to David Johnson, 9456 Philips Hwy., Ste. 11, Jacksonville FL 32256 or email events@folioweekly.com. Deadline is at 4 p.m.

Wed. before the next Wednesday publication.

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 27

The EYE

1

2

3

5

4

7

First Coast Goes Pink M

6

ore than 10,000 people braved the nearfreezing temperatures Feb. 17 to run and support the 26.2 With Donna, the national marathon to finish breast cancer. The race began at The Players parking lot off ATP Tour Boulevard in Ponte Vedra Beach and looped through Jacksonville, Neptune and Atlantic beaches. Local bands set up along First Street to provide entertainment for runners and spectators. After the race, runners and supporters gathered at Mayo Clinic in the Runner’s Village for food, drinks and music.

Text and photos by Jade Douso

8

1. Andrew Scott, Cheryl Robinson, Jasmine Delossantos, Jarrod Greene 2. Guardians of the Ribbon Jax Chapter president Jaime McPhilomy 3. Kristen Barbour, Savannah Carroll, Abbey Gooden 4. Tammy Jones, Jaime Obando 5. Rory Connolly, Tara Beaver 6. Bonita Golden-Sikes, Doug Tillett 7. Jean Podbielski, Brad Thornton 8. April Walton, Aileen Goldstein

For more photos from this and other events, check out the Pictures & Video link at folioweekly.com.

28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

The EYE

1

ADVERTISING PRO

This is a copyright protected pro

For questions, please call your advertising representative at 2 FAX YOUR PROOF IF POSSIBLE AT 2

RUN DATE PROMISE OF BENEFIT

2

SUPPORT

ASK FOR ACTION Produced by _KC__ Checked by

3

4

5

Clamoring for Clydesdales

A 6

lthough the Jacksonville AnheuserBusch Brewery offers free tours and beer samples every day, it’s the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses that seem to bring people out by the hundreds. Eight of the horses visited the company’s Northside plant Feb. 16 and 17, greeting visitors and pulling a wagon of beer along with two drivers and a Dalmatian. The Clydesdales visit different Anheuser-Busch breweries each year and are known for being featured in Budweiser commercials, including one that aired recently during Super Bowl XLVII. Text and photos by Melody Taylor

7

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Budweiser Clydesdales Eva Paiva Jason Keve, Dawn Harris, Adriann Keve Selena Ellis, Stacy Dahlgren Dave Thompson and Sheila Thompson Hector Ortiz, Joy Bueno Kayla Bowland

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 29

Sale

Arts

Billy (Drew Minard) stands out from the crowd in “Billy Elliot the Musical.” Photo: Amy Boyle

Being Billy

Four boys share the demanding, energetic title role BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26-28, 8 p.m. March 1-2, 2 p.m. March 2, and 1:30 and 7 p.m. March 3 The Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Moran Theater, 300 W. Water St., Downtown Tickets: $37-$77 442-2929, artistseriesjax.org

I

30 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

f you’re older than 20, then you probably remember the British film “Billy Elliot.” Set in northern England, the drama follows 11-year-old Billy, an aspiring dancer, as he takes ballet classes without telling his coalminer father, a man’s man who’s on strike from the coalmine with his fellow union members. Billy’s ballet teacher believes him to be talented enough to study at the prestigious Royal Ballet School in London.

When his father finds out, he’s outraged, thinking his son will be considered a “poof.”

The Golden Globe-nominated film, which is peppered with heartache and feel-good life lessons, has since been adapted for stage as “Billy Elliot the Musical” and now boasts London, Sydney and New York productions.

The North American arm of the musical opened on Broadway in 2008 and is now touring throughout the U.S. “I grew up in the Northeast in the same time as Billy Elliot,” explains Lee Hall, the English playwright who wrote the screenplay for “Billy Elliot,” in a web interview from press material. “One day I just had this image of a little boy in a tutu in one of the mining villages that I knew well from having grown up there. And then the story all came to life.”

Playing the role of Billy Elliot on stage is grueling — especially for a young boy.

Director Stephen Daldry has likened performing the role to “playing Hamlet while running a marathon,” complete with three hours of singing, acting, speaking in a Northern English accent, doing gymnastics and dancing in a variety of styles including tap, hip hop and, of course, ballet.

In fact, playing Billy is so demanding that the U.S. tour has four actors who each

perform twice a week. A relative newcomer to the role is 12-year-old Drew Minard. An Iowa native who got his start dancing at the age of 3, Minard began rehearsals last November — training at “Billy Camp” — and took on the role in December.

“I had seen the show, and then the director of one of my dance competitions recommended me,” Minard says. “I auditioned when I was about 9, and they liked me and said I didn’t need to work on any of my dancing, I just needed to get taller and older. So then after three years of auditioning and being told that I’m too small, finally I found out that I got it. It’s like a dream.”

In total, the play features 45 performers, including Janet Dickinson as ballet teacher Mrs. Wilkinson and Rich Hebert as Billy’s burly dad, and boasts a Tony Award-winning creative team of director Stephen Daldry, choreographer Peter Darling and writer Lee Hall, along with music legend Elton John, whose score was called “show-stopping and electric” in The New York Times.

With all of the hard work and the pressure associated with live theater, Minard and the other young cast members still find time to be kids. “Yesterday was a travel day and we got here

a little bit early,” Minard says of their stint in Richmond, Va. “We got to go swimming with just me and a couple of the other ‘Billys’ and the small boys [extras], and we had a bunch of fun.”

Minard says he plans to pursue anything to do with movies or Broadway. “I just love acting, singing and dancing,” he explains. But for now, he’s happily playing the lead in “Billy Elliot the Musical.” “I’m a lot like Billy in some ways. I do have a lot of support from my family, so that’s kind of different from Billy.

But I did get teased at school and stuff, so that helps with the angry dance.”

“Ballet is something which you need immense physical resources for,” Hall says. “It embodies everything that the ‘macho’ culture of Northern England value — and yet there seems to be this big contradiction of people not understanding how hard and physical and tough you have to be to be a dancer.”

The writer continues, “What’s great about storytelling is, if you find the right story and you tell it in the right way, people can come from all sorts of places and find something of value for them.”

Kara Pound themail@folioweekly.com

Drew Minard, one of four actors who plays the title character in “Billy Elliot the Musical,” stretches during rehearsal in late January at Kansas City Music Hall in Kansas City, Mo. Photo: Courtesy of Artist Series

Arts PERFORMANCE

DRIVING MISS DAISY The drama, starring Michael Learned of “The Waltons” and Lance Nichols of HBO’s “Treme,” is staged for evening and matinee performances through March 28 at Alhambra Theatre & Dining, 12000 Beach Blvd., Southside. $46-$59.

641-1212. alhambrajax.com ALMOST, MAINE The mythical town of Almost, Maine, is the site of nine love tales in this romantic comedy, staged 8 p.m. Feb. 21-23 at Amelia Community Theatre, 207 Cedar St., Fernandina Beach. $20. 261-6749.

ALL NEW PEOPLE The 5 & Dime Theatre Company presents the drama with adult content, written by “Scrubs” actor Zach Braff, 8 p.m.

Feb. 22 and 23 and March 1 and 2, and 5 p.m. March 3 at The Pangea Live, 956 Liberty St., Downtown Jacksonville. $15. the5anddime.org SLEEPING BEAUTY The Russian National Ballet Theatre performs the classic fairy tale 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts, St. Johns River State College, 283 College Dr., Orange Park. $16-$48. 276-6750. thcenter.org MURDER IN THE OLDE CITY This dinner theater whodunit of murder, scandal and love is staged 6 p.m. Feb. 24 at The Raintree Restaurant, 102 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. $39.95. 824-7211.

BILLY ELLIOT The Artist Series presents the Broadway dance hit Feb. 26-March 3 at the T-U Center for the Performing Arts, 300 W. Water St., Downtown. For ticket information, call 632-3373. $37-$77. artistseriesjax.org AMADEUS The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Players by the Sea collaborate on the Tony Award-winning play, 8 p.m.

March 2 and 2 p.m. March 3 at the T-U Center’s Jacoby Symphony Hall, 300 W. Water St., Downtown. $20.25-$45.

354-5547. jaxsymphony.org STAND-UP COMEDY & SPOKEN WORD The comedic and poetic duo known as CoMeTry, Iggy Mwela and Chad Songy, perform 6:30 p.m. March 6 at FSCJ North Campus, 4501 Capper Road, Rm. E235, Northside. Free. For reservations, call 766-6785.

CALLS & WORKSHOPS

THURGOOD MARSHALL & THE LITTLE ROCK NINE LECTURE John Taylor discusses African-American Civil Rights history, noon Feb. 20 at FSCJ North Campus, 4501 Capper Road, Northside. Free. 766-6785.

BOOK SIGNING Children’s author and illustrator Henry Cole discusses and sign copies of his new book, “Unspoken: A Story of the Underground Railroad,” 7 p.m. Feb 20 at The BookMark, 220 First St., Neptune Beach. 241-9026.

PHYSICS OF TIME MOSH Planetarium director Thomas Webber presents “Taking the Time to Talk of Time” 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 222 N. Laura St., Downtown Jacksonville.

366-6911. mocajacksonville.org DANCING IN ARLINGTON Ballroom dance lessons are held 7:30 pm. Feb. 21, $6; bop, shag and swing, 8 p.m. Feb. 22, $10; and country line, 8 p.m. Feb. 23, $10, at Club Savoy, 6354 Arlington Road, Arlington. 745-7725.

FLORIDA HIP HOP DANCE FESTIVAL Sugar and Spice host a hip hop dance festival, Feb. 22-24 at Boleros Cultural Arts Center, 10131 Atlantic Blvd., Arlington.

721-3399. boleros.cc EXCURSIONS INTO THE WILD Artist and environmentalist Jim Draper leads explorations into natural habitats, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 23 at Ringhaver Park, 5198 118th St., Jacksonville. Ages 13 and older. A picnic lunch is provided. $115. 355-0630.

JAX IDOL AUDITIONS Auditions for Season 10 are held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 23 and March 2 at Lillian’s, 5393 Roosevelt Blvd., Jacksonville.

Prepare two 1-minute a cappella pieces. Ages 14 and older.

Free. Prizes include a professional photo shoot, demo CD, paid bookings and $1,000 cash. 388-4220.

STAGE AURORA AUDITIONS Auditions for a cast of 25 for “The Me Nobody Knows,” ranging in age from 7-19 years old, are held 3-5 p.m. Feb. 23 and 24 and March 2 at Stage Aurora Performance Hall, 5188 Norwood Ave., Gateway Town Center. 765-7372.

SPOKEN WORD POETRY Kyla Lacey presents “The Rising Phoenix” spoken word poetry, 11 a.m. Feb. 26 at FSCJ North Campus, 4501 Capper Road, Northside. Free. 766-6785.

ART FUNDAMENTALS: WATERCOLOR Robert Leedy offers techniques for watercolors from a studio still life or reference photo 1:30-4:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, 829 Riverside Ave., Riverside. Ages 13 and older. $170. 355-0630.

CULTURAL SERVICE GRANT INTENT Duval County arts and cultural organizations interested in

The Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra, formed in 1993, is celebrating 20 years of performance with a Major/Minor Concert Feb. 23 at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Jacksonville.

Photo: Courtesy of Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra applying to the 2013-’14 Cultural Service Grant Program must submit a letter of intent to the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville by Feb. 28. 358-3600. Submit the application online at culturalcouncil.org IDEAS AND IMAGES “Ideas and Images: Visiting Scholars and Artists” features New Hampshire-based artist Anna Von Mertens 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at Flagler College’s Crisp-Ellert Art Museum, 48 Sevilla St., St. Augustine. Free. 826-8630. flagler.edu/crispellert RAINES HIGH SCHOOL DOCUMENTARY Emmanuel Washington presents “An African-American Education, A Documentary on Raines High School,” noon Feb. 28 at FSCJ North Campus Auditorium, 4501 Capper Road, Northside. Free. For reservations, call 766-6785.

FIRST COAST PASTEL SOCIETY Artists interested in pastel painting meet 10 a.m. March 2 at Reddi Arts, 1037 Hendricks Ave., Southside. firstcoastpastelsociety.blogspot.com AMELIA ISLAND GARDEN SHOW More than 50 vendors and flowers and plants are featured 9 a.m. March 2 and 3 at Central Park, 1200 Atlantic Ave., Fernandina. $5 both days; $4 Sun. 491-4872.

WOMEN’S HEALTH LUNCHEON Brooks Rehabilitation Women’s Health Services Director Cynthia Neville is the featured speaker 11:30 a.m. March 5 at University Center Banquet Hall, 12000 Alumni Dr., University of North Florida. $50. 620-1240.

CALL TO ARTISTS Artists interested in exhibiting their work at “Art & About: A Neighborhood Art & Music Event” held 10 a.m. April 6 at Orange Park Town Hall Park, 2042 Park Ave., Orange Park, must apply before March 23. 215-8329.

GREEN ART POSTER CONTEST Concert on the Green is calling all student artists for this year’s poster contest. The deadline for submissions is March 1. No entry fee. Apply online at concertonthegreen.com.

PONTE VEDRA ART CLASSES The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach holds workshops in watercolor, acrylic and oils, for artists of all skill levels; most series run through late February or early March. 50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach. 280-0614 ext. 204. ccpvb.org THEATER WORKSHOP Orange Park Community Theatre offers a spring theater workshop for students in grades 2-8. Classes are held 4:30-6:30 p.m. every Mon.-Thur. through April 21, 2900 Moody Ave., Orange Park. opct.org THEATRICAL ARTS Classes in theatrical performance, including song and dance, are held Mon.-Fri. at The Performers Academy, 3674 Beach Blvd., Spring Park. Fees vary. 322-7672. theperformersacademy.com MIXED MEDIA ART CLASSES Energetic art classes are held weekly at Studio 121, 121 W. Forsyth St., Downtown, at a fee of $20 per class or $100 for six weeks. 568-2146. teresemuller.com ART THERAPY CLASSES New art classes are held every Tue. 6-9 p.m. at Diversions, 210 N. Laura St., Downtown. The $30 fee includes supplies.

586-2088, email daniel@diversionsjax.com MURRAY HILL ART CLASSES Six-week art classes for adults and kids are offered at Murray Hill Art Center, 4327 Kerle St., Murray Hill. Adult class fee is $80; $50 for kids. 677-2787. artsjax.org DRAMATIC ARTS AT THE BEACHES Classes and workshops in theatrical performance for all ages and skill levels are held Mon.-Fri. at Players by the Sea, 106 N. Sixth St., Jax Beach. Fees vary. 249-0289.

BELLY DANCING Belly dance with Margarita is offered 4 p.m. every Thur. and 10:30 a.m. every Sat. at Boleros Dance Center, 10131 Atlantic Blvd., Arlington. 721-3399.

JAZZ MUSICIANS The Jazzland Café seeks musicians who play piano, bass or drums, for a new ensemble being formed. For details, email info@jazzlandcafe.com DANCE CLASSES The Dance Shack offers classes for several styles of dance, for all ages and skill levels, every Mon.-Fri., at 3837 Southside Blvd., Southside. 527-8694. thedanceshack.com K.A.R.M.A. CLASS A Kindling Auras & Radiating Musical Awareness group vocal session, focusing on mental clarity, visualization, harmonizing and blending, breath and energy control, is held 6-7 p.m. every Fri. at The Performers Academy, 3674 Beach Blvd., Spring Park. Registration is requested, but not required.

322-7672. elementsofonelove@gmail.com JAX CONTRA DANCE A live band and caller lead folk dancing, at 8 and 11 p.m. every third Fri. of the month at Riverside Avenue Christian Church, 2841 Riverside Ave., Riverside. $7. 396-1997.

ST. AUGUSTINE CHORUS AUDITIONS Auditions for singers for “On Broadway! Act II” are held 6:50-9 p.m. every Tue. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 215 St. George St., St. Augustine. Music distributed during the first few weeks of rehearsals at 6:30 p.m. Membership fee: $25.

808-1904. staugustinecommunitychorus.org

CLASSICAL & JAZZ

COMPOSERFEST The concert features works by Jianjun He, Thomas Harrison and Tony Steve, 7:30 p.m. Feb 20 at Jacksonville University’s Terry Concert Hall, 2800 University Blvd., Arlington. 256-7000.

UNF JAZZ TRIO Guitarist Barry Greene, drummer Danny Gottlieb and bassist Dennis Marks appear 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at University of North Florida’s Robinson Theater, Southside. $20. 620-2878.

CLASSICAL FUSION The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra plays 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the T-U Center, 300 W. Water St., Downtown. $25. 354-5547. jaxsymphony.org SING INTO SPRING VOCAL SHOWCASE The UNF Choral Ensembles and Student Soloists perform 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at UNF Recital Hall, 1 UNF Dr., Southside.

Free. 620-2878.

MAJOR/MINOR CONCERT The Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra ensembles join the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. Feb. 23 at the T-U Center, 300 W. Water St., Downtown. $12. 354-5547. jaxsymphony.org FIRST COAST WIND ENSEMBLE The 20th annual Partner Concert with the Jacksonville Private Schools Honor Band, Robert Sheldon, conductor and composer, is held 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at JU’s Terry Concert Hall, 2800 University Blvd. N., Arlington. Free. fcwe.org MUSIC AT MAIN Jacksonville University Singers perform ancient and contemporary choral works 2:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at Main Library’s Hicks Auditorium, 303 N. Laura St., Downtown. Free.

256-7677.

FACULTY RECITAL Pianist Dr. Erin Bennett plays 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at UNF’s Recital Hall, 1 UNF Dr., Southside. 620-2878.

NATURE AND MUSIC The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra partners with North American Nature Photography Association 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the T-U Center, 300 W. Water St., Downtown. $35.

354-5547. jaxsymphony.org TRIO CLEONICE The pianists key off one another 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

March 1 at Friday Musicale, 645 Oak St., Riverside. Free.

355-7584. fridaymusicale.com

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 31

Arts ART WALK CONCERT Douglas Anderson School of the Arts students perform 7 p.m.

March 6 at Main Library’s Hicks Auditorium, 303 N. Laura St., Downtown. Free. 630-2665.

JAZZ IN ST. AUGUSTINE Live jazz is featured nightly at Rhett’s Piano Bar & Brasserie, 66 Hypolita St., St. Augustine. 825-0502.

JAZZ IN RIVERSIDE Trumpeter Ray Calendar and guitarist Taylor Roberts are featured 9:30 p.m. every Thur. at Kickbacks Gastropub, 910 King St., Riverside. 388-9551.

JAZZ IN MANDARIN Boril Ivanov Trio plays 7 p.m. every Thur. and pianist David Gum plays 7 p.m. every Fri. at Tree Steakhouse, 11362 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin. 262-0006.

DINO SALIBA Tonino’s Trattoria hosts saxophonist Saliba 6 p.m. every Sat. at 7001 Merrill Road, Arlington. 743-3848.

JAZZ IN ARLINGTON Jazzland features live music 6-9 p.m. every Tue. and 8 p.m. every Fri. and Sat. at 1324 University Blvd. N., Arlington.

240-1009. jazzlandcafe.com

ART WALKS & MARKETS

MID-WEEK MARKET Arts and crafts, local produce and live music are featured 3-6 p.m. Feb. 20 and every Wed. at Bull Memorial Park, East Coast Drive and Seventh Street, Atlantic Beach. 247-5800.

NORTH BEACHES ART WALK Galleries of Atlantic and Neptune beaches are open late, 5-9 p.m. Feb. 21 and every third Thur. of the month, at various venues from Sailfish Drive in Atlantic Beach to Neptune Beach and Town Center. For a list of participating galleries, call 249-2222.

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK The tour of Art Galleries of St. Augustine is held March 1 and the first Fri. of every month, with more than 15 galleries participating. 829-0065.

FIRST WEDNESDAY ART WALK An art walk, featuring 30-40 galleries, museums and businesses and spanning 15 blocks, is held March 6 and the first Wed. of every month in Downtown Jacksonville. An events map is available at downtownjacksonville.org/marketing DOWNTOWN FRIDAY MARKET Arts and crafts and local produce are offered 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Fri. at The Jacksonville Landing, 2 Independent Dr., Downtown. 353-1188.

FERNANDINA BEACH MARKETPLACE Fresh baked goods, organic vegetables, jellies and more, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday at N. Seventh St., Fernandina Beach. 557-8229. fernandinabeachmarketplace.com

AMELIA FARMERS MARKET The market offers farm-direct fruits and vegetables 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday at the Shops of Omni Amelia Island Plantation, 6800 First Coast Highway, Amelia Island. ameliafarmersmarket.com NORTH BEACH ARTS MARKET Arts & crafts, produce, community services and kids’ activities are featured 3-7 p.m. every Sat. at North Beach Park, 3721 Coastal Highway A1A, Vilano Beach (where the wooden walkover crosses A1A). 910-8386.

MUSEUMS

AMELIA ISLAND MUSEUM OF HISTORY 233 S. Third St., Fernandina Beach, 261-7378. “Freedom Comes to Fernandina,” a black history exhibit running through March, highlights the achievements of AfricanAmericans. The children’s exhibit, “Discovery Ship,” allows kids to pilot the ship, hoist flags and learn about the history of Fernandina’s harbor.

CAMP BLANDING MUSEUM 5629 S.R. 16 W., Camp Blanding, Starke, 682-3196.

Artwork, weapons, uniforms and other artifacts from the activities of Camp Blanding during World War II are displayed along with outdoor displays of vehicles from WWII, Vietnam and Desert Storm.

CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS 829 Riverside Ave., Riverside, 356-6857. “Feast of Flowers,” Jim Draper’s newest series, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the first European engagement with Florida, continues through April 7. “Cultural Fusion,” an exhibit of archival material about two vital community leaders, Eartha White and Ninah Cummer, continues through April 14. The exhibit “200 Years of Russian Decorative Arts Under the Romanovs” continues through April 27. “La Florida” presents native and Spanish colonial artifacts, celebrating 500 years of Florida art. The exhibit continues through Oct. 6. cummer.org FLAGLER COLLEGE’S CRISP-ELLERT ART MUSEUM 48 Sevilla St., St. Augustine, 826-8530. The exhibit “Planning and Painting in Paradise,” celebrating the 125-year history of Hotel Ponce de Leon, is on display through Feb. 22. The opening reception for “You and Me,” an exhibit of works by New Hampshire-based artist Anna Von Mertens, is held 5-9 p.m. March 1. flagler.edu/crispellert JACKSONVILLE MARITIME HERITAGE CENTER 2 Independent Drive, Ste. 162, Downtown, 355-1101. The museum’s permanent collection includes steamboats, various nautical-themed art, books, documents and artifacts.

JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY’S ALEXANDER BREST MUSEUM & GALLERY “Pulp Fiction,” an exhibit of work by paper artists Denise Bookwalter, Charles Clary and Lauren Clay, has an opening

“Murder in the Olde City,” a dinner theater mystery, is staged Feb. 24 at The Raintree Restaurant in St. Augustine.

32 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

Arts reception 5-7 p.m. Feb. 21. The exhibit is on display through March 13.

KARPELES MANUSCRIPT MUSEUM 101 W. First St., Springfield, 356-2992. “Nursery Rhymes,” an exhibit of original illustrations and manuscripts of classic nursery rhymes, is on display through April 28. The nature photography of Carlos Rodriguez Carreon is shown through Feb. 27. “Divergence!” – an exhibit featuring local artists David Engdahl and Barbara Holmes Fryefield – has an opening reception 5:30-8:30 p.m. March 8 and runs through April 26. The permanent collection includes rare manuscripts.

MANDARIN MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY 11964 Mandarin Road, Mandarin, 268-0784. Exhibits regarding Harriet Beecher Stowe and the Civil War vessel Maple Leaf are on display, as well as various works by Mandarin artists.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART JACKSONVILLE 333 N. Laura St., Downtown, 366-6911. Ian Bogost’s Project Atrium installation continues through March 10.

“Slow: Marking Time in Photography and Film” continues through April 7. “First Coast Portfolio: A Juried Art Educators Exhibition” features art by local educators in the First Coast community through March 31.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY 1025 Museum Circle, Southbank, 396-6674. The exhibit “RACE: Are We So Different?” – a traveling exhibit developed by the American Anthropological Association – tells the story of race through the frameworks of science, history and contemporary experiences. The exhibit is on display through April 28.

RITZ THEATRE & MUSEUM 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, 632-5555. “Through Our Eyes” celebrates 20 years of African-American art with the exhibit “20/20 Perfect Vision,” featuring works of 20 artists, through June 30.

GALLERIES

ANCHOR BOUTIQUE 210 St. George St., St. Augustine, 808-7078. Taxidermist Ryan Hanley exhibits his work, ranging from stuffing alligators to squirrels playing mini-guitars and shooting guns, from 6-9 p.m. March 1. anchorboutique.com ART GUILD OF ORANGE PARK 2054 Plainfield Ave., Orange Park, 278-4750. “Past Presidents” runs through Feb. 28. artguildoforangepark.com THE ART CENTER PREMIERE GALLERY Bank of America Tower, 50 N. Laura St., Downtown, 355-1757. “R.A.C.E. Respecting Anybody’s Cultural Experience,” an exhibit examining diversity in the world, continues through March 7.

AVONDALE ARTWORKS GALLERY 3562 St. Johns Ave., Avondale, 384-8797. Pierre H. Matisse, a descendant of legendary artist Henri Matisse, presents his collection, including his lino cut series as well as “Stars & Stripes Forever,” artwork housed in the George W. Bush Library and Museum, and pieces from past masters, including Henri Matisse. The exhibit continues through Feb. 28. Reservations required. avondaleartworks.com CORK ARTS DISTRICT 2689 Rosselle St., Riverside. “Cut-Paint-Draw,” an art exhibit featuring cut paper by Hiromi Moneyhun and the acrylic paintings of Sharla Valeski, are paired with mixed media drawings by Bruce Musser. The opening reception is held 6-10 p.m. March 9. The exhibition is displayed through March 30.

THE CULTURAL CENTER AT PONTE VEDRA BEACH 50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach, 280-0614. “Cultural Center Curatorial Committee Exhibition,” featuring works from David Engdahl, Sydney McKenna and Jan Miller, is on display Feb. 22-April 6. “Jacksonville Coalition for the Visual Arts” has an opening reception held 6-8 p.m. Feb. 22. The exhibit is displayed through March 22. copvp.org CYPRESS VILLAGE ART LEAGUE 4600 Middleton Park Circle, Southside, 223-6100. The exhibit “WOW,” featuring paintings by Atlanta’s Linda Copeland, continues through April 11.

FIRST STREET GALLERY 216-B First St., Neptune Beach, 241-6928. “Mermaid Magic II,” an exhibit of regional and national artists creating their visions of magical mermaids in painting, photography, clay, glass, metal and jewelry, runs through March 3. firststreetgalleryart.com FLORIDA MINING GALLERY 5300 Shad Road, Southside, 425-2845. Tony Rodrigues is the featured artist through February on the Highway Gallery, a public art project on digital billboards throughout the city. “Manifest: Select Photographs” is on display through March. The featured photographers are Bobby Davidson, Jessica Yatrofsky, Chang Kyun Kim, Allen Frame and Emma Wilcox. The exhibit ranges in process and production while exemplifying the crisp clarity of digital shooting and printing.

GALLERY725 725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 5, Atlantic Beach. “Local Exposure,” an exhibit of photography by local amateurs and professionals, continues through March 10.

This piece is among those in “Altar Life: Altars that Alter,” a multidimensional assemblage project featuring artist Steve Marrazzo, displayed through February at Simple Gestures Gallery in St. Augustine.

THE GALLERY AT HOUSE OF STEREO 8780-100 Perimeter Park Ct., Southside, 642-6677. The gallery features painting, art glass, photography, wood crafts, pottery and sculpture. houseofstereo.com GEORGIA NICK GALLERY 11A Aviles St., St. Augustine, 806-3348. The artistowned studio displays Georgia Nick’s sea and landscape photography, along with local work from oil painters, a mosaic artist, potter, photographer and author. georgianickgallery.com ISLAND ART ASSOCIATION 18 N. Second St., Fernandina Beach, 261-7020. The Nassau County high school students’ art show continues through February. The IAA members’ show “Colorful Island” opens with a reception held 5-8 p.m. March 9 and continues through March. islandart.org J. JOHNSON GALLERY 177 Fourth Ave. N., Jax Beach, 435-3200. A new exhibition of sculptures by Javier Marín opens with a reception held 6-8 p.m. Feb. 22. Marín’s art is classical and contemporary with a blend of Western Europe, Asia, pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican and modern Mexican civilization influences.

The exhibit continues through April 26. jjohnsongallery.com JACK MITCHELL GALLERY Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts, St. Johns River State College, 283 College Dr., Orange Park, 276-6750. An exhibit of Lois Greenfield’s work is on display through April 6. thcenter.org JACKSONVILLE MAIN LIBRARY 303 N. Laura St., Downtown, 630-1947. “North East Florida Scholastic Art Awards” exhibits 62 pieces and eight portfolios with gold key honors, from more than 700 submissions from students in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, St. Johns and Volusia counties, through Feb. 24. artandwriting.org JAXPORT GALLERY 2831 Talleyrand Ave., Jacksonville, 357-3000. Milt Shirley, known as the “Marsh Man,” is the featured artist for February. Shirley is inspired by the salt marshes near his home. jaxport.com LEE ADAMS FLORIDA ARTISTS GALLERY Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts, St. Johns River State College, 283 College Dr., Orange Park, 276-6750. Ellen Diamond’s work is on display through April 6. thcenter.org LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES 4615 Philips Highway, Southside, 730-8235. The photography and mixed-media exhibit, “America: Visions of My New Country,” works by children attending the Summertime Express youth refugee camp, is displayed year-round in the main lobby.

PALENCIA FINE ARTS ACADEMY 701 Market St., Ste. 107A, St. Augustine, 819-1584. The academy, gallery and educational institution, features students’ creative process, as well as exhibits. Stacie Hernandez’s works are on display. palenciafineartsacademy.com P.A.ST.A. GALLERY 214 Charlotte St., St. Augustine, 824-0251. The exhibit “Asian Vignettes” features photographs by John Roppolo from his six weeks spent traveling throughout Cambodia, Myanmar and

Vietnam, through February. pastaartgallery.com PLANTATION ARTISTS GUILD AND GALLERY Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, 94 Village Circle, Amelia Island, 310-6106. Mary O. Smith, featured artist for February, presents her oil and watercolor paintings 7 p.m.

Feb. 20. “March into Spring” continues through March 9.

PLUM GALLERY 9 Aviles St., St. Augustine, 825-0069. The exhibit “Plum Jam(med)” by assemblage artist Barbara J. Cornett, gourd artist Mindy Hawkins, glassblower Thomas Long, nontraditional painter Deedra Ludwig, figurative artist Sara Pedigo and photographer Theresa Segal continues through March 31.

REMBRANDTZ GALLERY 131 King St., St. Augustine, 829-0065. Award-winning art gallery displays Murjani Grace jewelry, original art, glass and pottery. Open late for First Fridays.

SEVENTH STREET GALLERY 14 S. Seventh St., Fernandina Beach, 432-8330. The gallery features two CoRK Arts District artists: painter, photographer and author Joanelle Mulrain and designer and glass artist Helen Cowart. The exhibit is displayed through February.

SIMPLE GESTURES GALLERY 4 E. White St., St. Augustine, 827-9997. Eclectic works by Steve Marrazzo are featured. “Altar Life: Altars that Alter,” a multidimensional assemblage project that offers a sense of place to question, say a prayer, contemplate, gain hope or ask for help, is displayed through February.

SOUTHLIGHT GALLERY 6 E. Bay St., Downtown, 553-6361. Works by 29 local artists in various media are shown. Belton S. Wall’s exhibit “Hearts” runs through March 6 in the One Show Room.

SOUTH GALLERY Wilson Center for the Arts, FSCJ South Campus, 11901 Beach Blvd., Southside, 646-2023. “Urban Core,” an exhibit of art inspired by the sights, sounds and textures of the urban environment, features works in all media from Overstreet Ducasse, Clay Doran, Dustin Harewood, Chance Isbell, Morrison Pierce, Shaun Thurston and Mike Wilson, through March 1.

SPACE:EIGHT GALLERY 228 W. King St., St. Augustine, 829-2838. “Negro Y Blanco,” an exhibit of new work in black-and-white by Anthony Ausgang, is displayed through March 29.

ST. AUGUSTINE VISITOR CENTER 10 S. Castillo Dr., St. Augustine, 825-1000. ”Picasso Art & Arena,” an exhibit showcasing 39 pieces of Pablo Picasso’s work from the Fundación Picasso Museo Casa Natal in Málaga, Spain, is on display through May 11. “Hanging with Picasso” features select works of St. Johns County students hanging alongside Picasso’s work through May 11. artsalivestjohns.com STELLERS GALLERY AT PONTE VEDRA 240 A1A N., Ste. 4, Ponte Vedra Beach, 273-6065. An exhibit featuring the works of abstract painters Michelle Armas, Denise Choppin, Christina Foard and Shawn Meharg, runs through Feb. 28.

STUDIO 121 121 W. Forsyth St., Ste. 100, Downtown, 561-2146. The gallery’s permanent collection features work from members Jim Smith, Mary Atwood, Joyce Gabiou, Terese Muller, Matthew Patterson, Charles Payne, Mary St. Germain and Mark Zimmerman. The collages of Louise Freshman Brown are on display through March.

ST. AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION 22 Marine St., St. Augustine, 824-2310. “Big Red Art Show” is an open-media, open-subject celebration of the color red. From abstract to realism, the works convey a range of moods and meanings with any variation of the color red. The juried show runs through Feb. 24. The gallery’s permanent collection features 16th-century artifacts detailing Sir Francis Drake’s 1586 burning of St. Augustine.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA GALLERY OF ART 1 UNF Dr., Bldg. 2, Rm. 1001, Southside, 620-2534. “An Altering Role: Works by Cat Snapp & The Bump It Mafia,” a celebration of womanhood in printmaking that highlights the importance of camaraderie not just among women, but among artists of all backgrounds, runs through Feb. 21. “Recent Acquisitions: Selections from the Wells Fargo Donation, Part 2” runs through Feb. 21.

WATERWHEEL ART GALLERY 819 S. Eighth St., Fernandina Beach, 261-2535. Photographer Stephan R. Leimberg’s exhibit, “The Amelia Flora and Fauna Series,” runs through Feb. 22. waterwheelartandframing.com WHITE PEONY 216 Charlotte St., St. Augustine, 819-9770. This gallery boutique features a variety of handcrafted jewelry, wearable art and recycled/upcycled items.

For a complete list of galleries, log on to folioweekly.com.

To list your event, send info time, date, location (street address, city), admission price and contact number to print to David Johnson, 9456 Philips Hwy., Ste. 11, Jacksonville FL 32256 or email events@folioweekly.com. The deadline is 4 p.m. Tue., eight days before publication.

Protecting Primates, Preserving the Future For more information: info@endangeredprimate.org endangeredprimate.org

starring Michael learned FroM the waltons

journey with us February 6 - March 17

2013 theatre schedule crazy for you

tony award winning show march 20 – may 5

murder among friends h starring loretta swit h

from m*a*s*h may 8 – June 9

? summer surprise ?

vote for the show you want!

June 12 – august 4

dixie swim club

a hilarious southern comedy august 7 – september 15

george wendt

h “norm” from cheers h in a show he will personally select just for us!

september 18– OctOber 20

south pacific

the classic musical returns OctOber 23 – december 1

christmas carole a holiday tradition december 3 - december 24

Dinner is served tableside with a special menu created for each show

904-641-1212 | alhambrajax.com FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 33

EVENTS

THIRD THURSDAY LECTURE SERIES Dr. Daniel L. Schafer discusses Anna Kingsley and her presence in Mandarin, 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at Mandarin Community Club, 12447 Mandarin Road, Jacksonville.

268-0784.

WHALE OF A SALE The Junior League of Jacksonville host its 22nd annual garage sale from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 23 at Greater Jacksonville Fair & Expo Center, 510 Fairgrounds Place, Jacksonville. Admission is $2; parking is $5. 424-5368. jljacksonville.org SCOTTISH GAMES The 18th annual Scottish Games & Festival is held 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (additional entertainment till 10 p.m.) Feb. 23 at Clay County Fairgrounds, 2497 S.R. 16 W., Green Cove Springs.

More than 100 athletes participate on Saturday, including a team of combat-injured veterans. Hurling, parade of tartans, battle axe throwing, Scottish foods and wares, sheep dog trials, livestock displays, kids’ games, falconry, traditional Scottish music and archery are featured. Tickets are $12; $15 at the gate. The Ceilidh (Scottish musical evening) features Albannach, Rathkeltair and bagpiper Ron Davis.

Proceeds benefit K9s for Warriors. 725-5744. neflgames.com BIKE & BOIL Riders and non-riders register 8:30 a.m. Feb. 23 for a ride and low-country boil; kickstands up at 10:30 a.m. at Adamec Harley Davidson, 8909 Baymeadows Road, Southside.

Sheriff John Rutherford is honorary chair, WJXT’s Richard Nunn emcees. Registration for VIP rider with passenger is $150; rider, $30; passenger, $20. Lunch and afterparty, $10 each. A silent auction and music by Mr. Natural are featured.

Proceeds benefit Angelwood programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities. 288-7259 ext. 19. angelwoodjax.org FLOWERING TREE SALE The 26th annual Greenscape flowering tree sale is held 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 23 at a new location: the intersection of Atlantic Boulevard and Hendricks Avenue, in the heart of San Marco. Thousands of trees and shrubs are for sale at $10 each. Specialty areas for native plants, edibles and ornamental species and a full array of flowers are indicated with banners. A preview sale is held 3-5 p.m. Feb. 22 for Greenscape members; memberships start at $25. Arborists and landscape architects are on hand to answer questions.

398-5757. greenscapeofjacksonville.com FUNDRIASER YARD SALE Anastasia State Park, in conjunction with the Friends of Anastasia, holds a yard sale 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Park Administrative Office, 1340A A1A S., St. Augustine, across from the Amphitheatre. All sorts of great stuff is available. Proceeds benefit the effort for playground restorations and upgrades. 461-2035. friendsofanastasia.org BEST BUDDIES FRIENDSHIP WALK Best Buddies Jacksonville, a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement to create opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, holds this 1.5-mile walk 10 a.m. Feb. 23 at The Jacksonville Landing, Downtown. There is no cost to participate, but fundraising is encouraged. 296-0510 ext. 404. bestbuddiesflorida.org MISS TEEN JACKSONVILLE The 12th annual Miss Jacksonville USA and Miss Jacksonville Teen USA pageants are held 4 p.m. Feb. 23 at FSCJ’s Wilson Center, 11901 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville. For details, call 384-3578. jacksonvillepageants.com CHARITY FESTIVAL Family fun – face-painting, sack and 3-legged races, obstacle courses, prizes, food and bounce house – happens noon-2 p.m. Feb. 24 at Beth El the Beaches Synagogue, 288 N. Roscoe Blvd., Ponte Vedra. Proceeds benefit the charities being supported for Bar/Bat Mitzvah projects. 273-9100. bethelbeaches.org FARM-TO-TABLE DINNER This local-centric event is held 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at Royal Palm Village Wine & Tapas, 296 Royal Palms Dr., Atlantic Beach. A reception and four-course meal, with locally sourced food from the Green Market Vendors, a wine pairing and a silent auction are featured. Tickets are $85. Proceeds benefit outreach programs of Beaches Local Food Network, including Beaches Green Market, Community Garden and Children’s Garden. 372-0052. beacheslocalfoodnetwork.org MING SHIOW HUANG The pianist and Edward Waters College instructor performs as part of the Friends of the Library’s Dr. Gerson Yessin Music Series, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at Ponte Vedra Branch Library, 101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra. Admission is free. 827-6950. sjcpls.org MOSH AFTER DARK University of Florida’s Dr. Faye Harrison discusses “Race in the New Millennium & The Age of Obama,” 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at Museum of Science & History, 1025 Museum Circle, Downtown. Admission is free. 396-6674, ext. 226.

FRONT PORCH SERIES Mandarin Museum & Historical Society presents longtime

© 2013

© 2013

34 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

Happenings Mandarin resident Billy Barwald 2-3 p.m. Feb. 24 at the museum, 11964 Mandarin Road, Mandarin. Barwald discusses his family’s move to Loretto. 268-0784. mandarinmuseum.net COSMIC CONCERTS Laser Spirit 7 p.m., Laser Vinyl 8 p.m., Laser X p.m. and Laser Metallica 10 p.m. Feb. 22 in Bryan-Gooding Planetarium, Museum of Science & History, 1025 Museum Circle, Southbank. Online tickets are $5. Saturday shows are held noon and 5 p.m. 396-7062. moshplanetarium.org FARMERS & ARTS MARKET This market is held 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on the second and fourth Sun. of the month at 2042 Park Ave., Orange Park.

Everything is handmade or homegrown. Live entertainment, kids’ activities and food are featured. 264-2635. townoforangepark.com CHOCOLATE TOUR The tour departs 1:30 p.m. every Sat. through February from Old Town Trolley’s Welcome Center, 27 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. Stops include Aviles Restaurant, Hilton Bayfront, Raintree Restaurant and San Sebastian Winery. Reservations are required; call 829-3800.

ST. JOHNS RIVER FARMERS MARKET Local produce, arts and crafts are offered 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Sat. at Alpine Groves Park, 2060 S.R. 13, Switzerland.

347-8900.

FARMERS MARKET OF SAN MARCO Fresh local and regional produce is offered 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. every Sat. at 1620 Naldo Ave., Swaim Memorial United Methodist Church parking lot, San Marco. Family fun day is the third Sat. 607-9935.

ANCIENT OAKS ARTS & FARMERS MARKET An open-air farmers market, noon-4 p.m. Feb. 24 and every other Sun. at Mandarin Community Club, 12447 Mandarin Road. 607-9935.

POLITICS, BUSINESS, ACTIVISM

SOUTHSIDE BUSINESS MEN’S CLUB Winn-Dixie’s Senior Vice President Robert Devine is the featured speaker 11:30 a.m. Feb. 20 at San Jose Country Club, 7529 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin. Admission is $20 for members, with lunch; $25 for nonmembers, with lunch.

396-5559.

JACKSONVILLE JOURNEY The oversight committee of this crime-fighting initiative meets 4 p.m. Feb. 21 in Eighth Floor Conference Room 851, Ball Building, 214 N. Hogan St., Jacksonville. 630-7306. coj.net PEOPLE’S LAW SCHOOL St. Johns Legal Aid staff hold a free seminar, “Domestic Violence Laws and Resources,” 4 p.m. Feb. 26 at Southeast Branch Library, 6670 U.S. 1 S., St. Augustine. 827-9921.

BOOKS & WRITING

HENRY COLE Children’s author and illustrator Henry Cole talks about and sign copies of his new book, “Unspoken: A Story of the Underground Railroad,” 7 p.m. Feb 20 at The BookMark, 220 First St., Neptune Beach. 241-9026.

RON WHITTINGTON Local author Whittington signs copies of his thrillers, “Second Strike” and “Doppelganged,” 1-3 p.m. Feb. 23 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 10280 Midtown Parkway, St. Johns Town Center. 928-2027. rpwhittington.com WHISTLE TALK Author Maurice J. Robinson discusses his new book “Hidden History of Ponte Vedra Beach,” 5:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at Beaches Museum & History Park, 381 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach. Admission is free for members, $5 for non-members.

241-5657.

THIRD THURSDAY BOOK CLUB The discussion of environmental literature is held 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at Tree Hill Nature Center, 7152 Lone Star Rd., Arlington. Admission is $15 for members; $20 for nonmembers. 724-4646.

BOOK WAREHOUSE SALE Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library hold a book sale from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 23, a $10 bag sale from noon-5 p.m. Feb. 24, 4-7 p.m. Feb. 26 and 28, and 9 a.m. -1 p.m.

March 2 at FJPL Book Warehouse, University Park Library, 3435 University Blvd. N., Jacksonville. Proceeds from FJPL book sales are used to supplement the Library budget.

FJPL is asking shoppers to sign petitions supporting a straw vote on establishing a special tax district for the library. The tax district was the proposal that came out of a special JCCI study to fi nd a way to stabilize library funding.

630-2104. fjpl.org SWAMP STORIES Community Conversations presents musician Steve Shanholtzer 2 p.m. Feb. 23 at Southeast Branch Library, 6670 U.S. 1 S., St. Augustine. Shanholtzer shares his

Bike & Boil III, a motorcycle ride and low-country boil, celebrates Angelwood’s 20-year anniversary with honorary chair Sheriff John Rutherford, Feb. 23 at Adamec Harley-Davidson in Baymeadows. Angelwood, a Jacksonvillebased nonprofit, raises money to provide services to children and adults with developmental disabilities. grandfather’s tales of Volusia and St. Johns counties back in the cracker days. 827-6900. sjcpls.org DR. GARY SMALL New York Times bestselling author and UCLA Longevity Center director Small talks about and sign copies of his new book, “The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program: Keep Your Brain Healthy for the Rest of Your Life,” 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at The BookMark, 220 First St., Neptune Beach. 241-9026.

ST. JOHNS READS This year’s book is “The Yard” by Alex Grecian. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Plants discuss the Victorian language of flowers 2 p.m. Feb. 28 at Ponte Vedra Branch, 101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra. 827-6950. A Genealogy Workshop with genealogist C. Ann Staley is held 2 p.m. Feb. 23 at Bartram Trail Branch, 60 Davis Pond Blvd., Fruit Cove.

How to Become a Crime Scene Investigator is presented 4 p.m. Feb. 27. 827-6960. St. Johns County Sherriff’s Department Officer Angie Hosford demonstrates modern crime-scene evidence collection and analysis, 10 a.m. Feb. 21 at Hastings Branch Library, 6195 S. Main St., Hastings, 827-6970. A Dessert & Book Discussion are held 10:30 a.m.

Feb. 23 at Main Library, 1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd., St. Augustine, 827-6940 and at 3 p.m. Feb. 26 at Ponte Vedra branch. sjcpls.org JAX YOUTH WRITERS Writers younger than 18 and their parents meet 7-8:45 p.m.

Feb. 28 and on every fourth Thur. each month at Southeast Regional Library, 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd., Southside.

742-7359. FloridaYouthWriters.org

COMEDY

TOM ARNOLD Moving past his Roseanne past, Arnold appears 8 and 10 p.m. Feb. 22 and 23 at The Comedy Zone, 3130 Hartley Road (in Ramada Inn), Mandarin. Tickets are $20-$25.

Comedy Zone All Stars 8 p.m. Feb. 20 and 21. 292-4242. comedyzone.com COMEDY CLUB OF JACKSONVILLE Rodney Laney appears 8:34 p.m. Feb. 21, 8:04 p.m. Feb. 22 and 8:04 and 10:18 p.m. Feb. 23 at the new club, 11000 Beach Blvd., Ste. 8, Southside. Tickets range from $6-$25.

646-4277. jacksonvillecomedy.com

NATURE, SPORTS, OUTDOORS

FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY The Jacksonville Chapter of the FNPS, Ixia, gets together 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at Regency Square Library, 9900 Regency Square Blvd., Jacksonville. Environmental Specialist Meghan Knapp discusses “The Rare Plants of Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park, and Other Interesting Information.”

Admission is free. 655-2550. ixia.fnpschapters.org FAMILY SEINING ACTIVITY Pull a seine net through Guana Lake, collecting fish, crabs and more, and learn about the animals’ roles in the habitat, 8:30-10:30 a.m. Feb. 23 at Guana Dam Recreational Area, A1A South, Ponte Vedra. All needed gear is provided. Free with paid entrance. 823-4500. gtmnerr.org JACKSONVILLE GIANTS The local ABA basketball team – they’ve won every game but one (take that, big cat!) – closes out the awesome season with the Fayetteville Flight 5 p.m. Feb. 24 at Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 Randolph Blvd., Jacksonville.

Tickets range from $8-$100. 355-6531, 630-3900. jacksonvillegiants.com

KIDS

HOMESCHOOL HOOPLA Homeschooled kids and their parents socialize during a bring-your-own brown bag library lunch, noon Feb. 27 at

Southeast Branch Library, 6670 U.S. 1 S., St. Augustine. It’s followed by a Test Your Library Skills class at 12:30 p.m., kids learn how to use library resources, from finding books on the shelf to checking out e-Books. Call 827-6900 for more information. sjcpls.org CHARLOTTE’S WEB Theatreworks presents this cherished story of lasting friendship 10 a.m. and noon Feb. 28 at The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Jacksonville. Tickets are $7.50 in advance, $8 at the door. 353-3500, 355-2787.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

WORLD SWORD SWALLOWERS DAY Strong-throated folks and the rest of us mark the sixth annual event at 2 p.m. Feb. 23 at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 19 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. 824-1606. ripleysnewsroom.com/swordswallowersday2013 LGBT WORSHIP SERVICES Services are held 10:30 a.m. every Sun. at First Coast Metropolitan Community Church, 2915 C.R. 214, St. Augustine. 824-2802.

JEWISH ETHICS COURSE The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute offers the course “Living with Integrity: Navigating Everyday Ethical Dilemmas,” conducted by Rabbi Nochum Kurinsky of Chabad @ the Beaches. Sessions are held 7 p.m. Feb. 20 and 27 and March 6 at The Aaron & Blanche Scharf Chabad Center, 521 A1A N., Ponte Vedra. The course challenges students to articulate their opinions, while providing practical Talmudic wisdom to help navigate through life’s ethical challenges. All JLI courses are open to the public; you needn’t be affiliated with any house of worship. 543-9301. myJLI.com OLD TIME JAM Mountain-type folk music is played 7 p.m. every Tue. at Underbelly, 113 E. Bay St., Downtown. Open to players of all skill levels. Admission is free. facebook.com/ JacksonvilleOldTimeJam

CLASSES & GROUPS

FORECLOSURE PREVENTION WORKSHOP The St. Johns Housing Partnership offers this workshop 1 p.m. Feb. 25 at Main Library, 1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd., St. Augustine. 819-1266 for more information. sjcpls.org MEMORY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM Learn simple strategies that focus on cognitive stimulation, education and socialization. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Tue. and Thur. at Christ Episcopal Church, 400 San Juan Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach. 729-9535.

DEBTORS ANONYMOUS 12-Step meetings 7 p.m. every Thur. at Christian Family Chapel, Bldg. D, 10365 Old St. Augustine Rd., Jacksonville.

269-8010.

COMBAT MARTIAL ARTS Six-week martial arts classes for men and women are offered 7-8 p.m. every Tue. and Thur. at 4083 Sunbeam Road, Southside. The fee is $40 a month, which includes access to fitness center. 343-6298.

MARINE VETERANS GROUP The Oldest City Detachment 383 gathers 7 p.m. on first Tue. of the month at Elks Lodge 829, 1420 A1A S., St. Augustine.

461-0139. mclfl383.org VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA The Duval County Chapter No. 1046 gathers 7 p.m. the first Wed. of every month at the Elks Lodge, 1855 West Road, Southside. 419-8821.

To have your events or club meetings listed here, email time, date, location (street address and city), admission price and contact number to print to events@folioweekly.com or click the link in our Happenings section at folioweekly.com.

Deadline is 4 p.m. Wed. for the next Wednesday publication.

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35

ADVERTISING PROOF This is a copyright protected proof ©

Bite

Sized

For questions, please call your advertising representative at 260-9770.

FAX YOUR PROOF IF POSSIBLE AT 268-3655

RUN DATE: 022013 BENEFIT

SUPPORT

ASK FOR ACTION

Produced by _ptf Checked by

Sales Rep _mp

The platter of strategically piled pieces of crispy, golden-brown chicken will excite any fan of fowl.

Photos: Caron Streibich

A Chicken-Fried Institution

St. Nicholas spot piles plates high with Southern goodness BEACH ROAD CHICKEN DINNERS

5

$ .00

OFF

with purchase of $25 or more Not good with other coupons

expires 3/31/13

FW

©

4132 Atlantic Blvd., St. Nicholas 398-7980, beachroadchickendinners.com

F

or the past 74 years, locals have flocked (no pun intended) to this no-frills St. Nicholas hot spot. Comfortably nesting in the same location since 1939, when Atlantic Boulevard was the only road to the beach, Beach Road 2013 Chicken Dinners is truly a Southerner’s dream.

(On the flip side, it is not a vegetarian’s dream.)

We kicked off our feast by devouring bite-sized fried okra and sweet corn nuggets, served with a creamy homemade ranch sauce that had a slight jalapeño kick. The breading was light, and the okra was both fresh and crisp, as if it were picked yesterday. The sweet corn nuggets were piping hot.

How could I resist ordering fried chicken?

Three of my tablemates also opted for it, so I’m not exaggerating when I say a platter of strategically piled pieces of crispy, goldenbrown chicken arrived at our table. The need for multiple napkins aside, the chicken was the perfect trifecta: crisp, juicy and flavorful.

I also managed a bite of country-fried steak and topped it with some of the gravy from the

FolioWeekly

© 2013

Because the portions are so ridiculously large, it’s a smart idea to bring a posse to Beach Road Chicken Dinners.

36 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

READ THE BLOG For more coverage of Northeast Florida’s restaurants, go to folioweekly.com/bite-sized.

mashed potatoes; it too was delicious. If you’re from the South like I am, you’ll certainly appreciate the authenticity. And to make Grandma proud, yes, there are gizzards and chicken livers. But that’s where I draw the line.

Served family-style, the fixins are all-youcan-eat. If you’re scooping out the last heap of mashed potatoes, don’t fret, y’all — just order another bowl. The table quickly became crowded with creamed peas, mini-biscuits (with butter and honey), mashed potatoes, gravy, crinkle-cut crisp French fries, white rice and creamy cole slaw. The biscuits, slaw and mashed potatoes with gravy had the most flavor; the four of us left the creamed peas practically untouched. I longed for mac ’n’ cheese and collard greens, but they were nowhere to be found on the menu.

Eyeing the table next to us, I spotted fruit cobbler. Stuffed to the brim, I knew I couldn’t hold another bite. Judging from our neighbors’ quickly disappearing dish, the cobbler’s a hit.

The low-frills interior was simple and dated with an almost overwhelming presence of yellow paint. Large windows, various dining rooms and open spaces, however, make it feel homey.

Since the portions are so ridiculously large, it’s a smart idea to bring a posse — preferably one with a massive appetite. Someone’s got to help you eat all those sides.

Caron Streibich Folio Weekly’s Bite Club Host biteclub@folioweekly.com

Dining

DINING GUIDE KEY

Average Entrée Cost: $ = Less than $8 $$ = $8-$14 $$$ = $15-$22 $$$$ = $23 & up BW = Beer, Wine FB = Full Bar CM = Children’s Menu TO = Take Out B = Breakfast Br = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner F = Folio Weekly distribution point *Bite Club Certified! = Restaurant hosted a free Folio Weekly Bite Club tasting. Want to join? Go to fwbiteclub.com

AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA BEACH, YULEE

BARBARA JEAN’S RESTAURANT See Ponte Vedra. 960030 Gateway Blvd. 277-3700. $$-$$$ BRETT’S WATERWAY CAFÉ F At the foot of Centre Street, the upscale restaurant overlooks Harbor Marina. Daily specials, fresh Florida seafood and an extensive wine list. FB. L & D, daily. 1 S. Front St. 261-2660. $$$ BRIGHT MORNINGS The small café offers freshly baked goods. B & L daily. 105 S. Third St. 491-1771. $$ CAFÉ KARIBO F Eclectic cuisine, served under the oaks in historic district; sandwiches, chef’s specials. Alfresco dining.

FB. L & D, Tue.-Sat.; L, Sun., Mon. 27 N. Third St. 277-5269. $$ CHEZ LEZAN BAKERY F European-style breads, pastries, croissants, muffins and pies baked daily. 1014 Atlantic Ave. 491-4663. $ DAVID’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE The brand-new fine dining restaurant offers Dover sole, Maine lobster, steaks and seafood, served in an upscale atmosphere by an attentive waitstaff. FB. D, nightly. 802 Ash St. 310-6049. $$$$ FLORIDA HOUSE INN & RESTAURANT Southern-style fare features fried chicken, shrimp ’n’ grits, burgers and salads, served in this 1850s house in the historic district. CM. FB. L, Thur.-Sun. 22 S. Third St. 491-7251. $$ GENNARO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO Southern Italian cuisine: pasta, gourmet ravioli, hand-tossed pizzas. Specialties are margharita pizza, shrimp feast. Bread baked on-site. CM, BW. L & D, daily. 5472 First Coast Hwy., Amelia Island, 491-1999. $$ HALFTIME SPORTS BAR & GRILL Owner Jon Walker F Owners John and Bretta Walker offer sports bar fare including onion rings, spring rolls, burgers, wraps and wings. Plenty of TVs show nearly every sport imaginable. BW. L & D, Wed.-Mon. 320 S. Eighth St. 321-0303. $ HAPPY TOMATO COURTYARD CAFE & BBQ F Favorite items include a pulled pork sandwich, chicken salad and walnut chocolate chunk cookie, served in a casual, laidback atmosphere. BW. CM. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 7 S. Third St. 321-0707. $$ JACK & DIANE’S F The casual cafe offers steak & eggs, pancakes, Cajun scampi, etouffée, curry pizza, vegan black bean cakes, shrimp & grits, and hand-carved steaks. FB. B, L & D, daily. 708 Centre St. 321-1444. $$ KABUKI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR Teppanyaki masters create your meal. 37-item sushi bar. BW. D, Tue.Sun. Amelia Plaza. 277-8782. $$ KELLEY’S COURTYARD CAFE She crab soup, salads, fried green tomatoes, sandwiches and wraps are served indoors or out on the patio. Vegetarian dishes are also offered. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 19 S. Third St. 432-8213. $ LULU’S AT THE THOMPSON HOUSE F Innovative lunch menu offers po’boys, seafood “little plates” served in a historic house. Dinner features fresh local seafood. Nightly specials. BW. L & D, Tue.-Sat., Br. Sun. 11 S. Seventh St. 432-8394. $$ MONTEGO BAY COFFEE CAFE Locally owned and operated, offering specialty coffees, fruit smoothies. Dine in or hit the drive-thru. B & L, Mon.-Sat. 463363 S.R. 200, Yulee.

225-3600. $ MOON RIVER PIZZA F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Northernstyle pizza by the pie or the slice. Choose from more than 20 toppings. Owner-selected wines and a large beer selection.

BW. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 925 S. 14th St. 321-3400. $ THE MUSTARD SEED CAFE Organic eatery and juice bar offers an extensive menu offers vegetarian, vegan items.

Daily specials: local seafood, free-range chicken, fresh organic produce. CM. B & L, Mon.-Sat. 833 TJ Courson Rd. 277-3141. $$

PEPPER’S MEXICAN GRILL & CANTINA F The family restaurant offers authentic Mexican cuisine. BW, CM. L & D, daily. 520 Centre St. 272-2011. $$ PLAE *Bite Club Certified! The cozy venue offers an innovative, PLAEful dining experience. L, Tue.-Sat.; D, nightly.

Omni Amelia Island Plantation Spa & Shops. 277-2132. $$$ SALT, THE GRILL Best of Jax ’12 winner. Elegant dining features a menu offering local seafood and produce, served in a contemporary coastal setting. FB. D, Tue.-Sat. The Ritz-Carlton, 4750 Amelia Island Pkwy., Amelia Island.

491-6746. $$$$ THE SALTY PELICAN BAR & GRILL Chef T.J. Pelletier F The cozy new spot offers waterfront views. Local seafood and produce create signature dishes, like broiled oysters and oyster po’boys.

CM, FB. L & D, daily. 12 N. Front St. 277-3811. $$-$$$ SLIDERS SEASIDE GRILL F Oceanfront dining; local seafood, shrimp, crab cakes, outdoor beachfront tiki & raw bar, covered deck and kids’ playground. CM, FB. L & D, daily.

1998 S. Fletcher Ave. 277-6652. $$ THE SURF F Dine inside or on the large oceanview deck.

Fresh fish, shrimp, steaks and nightly specials. FB. L & D, daily. 3199 S. Fletcher Ave. 261-5711. $$ TASTY’S FRESH BURGERS & FRIES F Tasty’s offers burgers (Angus beef, turkey or veggie) and fries (like cheese fries, sweet potato fries), along with dogs, shakes, floats and soup. L & D, Mon.-Sat. CM, BW. 710 Centre St. 321-0409. $ TIMOTI’S FRY SHAK F The casual seafood place features local wild-caught shrimp, fish and oysters, along with blackboard specials. L & D, daily. CM, BW. 21 N. Third St. 310-6550. $$ T-RAY’S BURGER STATION F Best of Jax 2012 winner.

The favorite local spot serves grilled or blackened fish sandwiches, homemade burgers. BW, TO. B & L, Mon.-Sat. 202 S. Eighth St. 261-6310. $ 29 SOUTH EATS F Part of historic Fernandina Beach’s downtown scene. Award-winning Chef Scotty serves traditional world cuisine with a modern twist. L, Tue.-Sat.; D, Mon.-Sat.; Sun. brunch. 29 S. Third St. 277-7919. $$

ARLINGTON, REGENCY

CLEOTA’S SOUTHERN AMERICAN CUISINE F Locally owned and operated, Cleota’s offers authentic, homestyle Southern cuisine, like fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, shrimp & grits, mac & cheese. Gourmet desserts. L & D, Tue.Sun. TO. 2111 University Blvd. N. 800-2102. $ THE STEAKHOUSE @ GOLD CLUB Chef Gregg Rothang F Best of Jax 2012 winner. The Steakhouse offers daily lunch and dinner specials, wings, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, steaks and seafood; happy hour buffets Thur. and Fri. FB. L & D, daily. 320 Gen. Doolittle Dr. 645-5500. $$ KABUTO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR Steak & shrimp, filet mignon & lobster, shrimp & scallops, a sushi bar, teppanyaki grill and traditional Japanese cuisine. CM, FB. L & D, daily. 10055 Atlantic Blvd. 724-8883. $$$ LA NOPALERA Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Intracoastal.

8818 Atlantic Blvd. 720-0106. $ NERO’S CAFE F Traditional Italian fare, including seafood, veal, beef, chicken and pasta dishes. Weekly specials are lasagna, 2-for-1 pizza and AYCE spaghetti. CM, FB. L, Sun.; D, daily. 3607 University Blvd. N. 743-3141. $$ REGENCY ALE HOUSE & RAW BAR Friendly service in a nautical setting. Fresh fish, oysters, clams, specialty pastas.

BW. L & D, daily. 9541 Regency Sq. Blvd. S. 720-0551. $$ UNIVERSITY DINER F The diner serves familiar breakfast fare and lunch like meatloaf, burgers, sandwiches: wraps, BLTs, clubs, melts. Daily specials. BW. B & L, Sat. & Sun.; B, L & D, Mon.-Fri. 5959 Merrill Rd. 762-3433. $

AVONDALE, ORTEGA

BAGEL LOVE F This spot serves breakfast and lunch sandwiches, wraps, salads, gluten-free baked goods, freshsqueezed orange juice. CM. B & L, daily. 4114 Herschel St., Ste. 121. 634-7253. $ BISCOTTIS F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Mozzarella bruschetta, Avondale pizza, espresso, cappuccino. Daily specials. B, Tue.-Sun.; L & D, daily. 3556 St. Johns Ave. 387-2060. $$$ THE BLUE FISH RESTAURANT & OYSTER BAR F Fresh seafood, steaks and more are served in a casual atmosphere.

Half-portions are available. CM, FB. L & D, daily. 3551 St. Johns Ave., Shoppes of Avondale. 387-0700. $$$ BRICK RESTAURANT F Creative all-American fare like tuna tartare, seaweed salad and Kobe burger. Outside dining. FB. L & D, daily. 3585 St. Johns Ave. 387-0606. $$$ THE CASBAH CAFE F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Authentic Middle Eastern dishes – ryders, a variety of pita choices and wraps – are served in a friendly atmosphere. Hookahs available. BW. L & D, daily. 3628 St. Johns Ave. 981-9966. $$

Eddie and Irene Sweda serve artisan cheese breads, empanadas, arepas,sandwiches, and a variety of desserts and baked items at Tres Leches,on Stockton Street in Riverside. Photo: Walter Coker ESPETO BRAZILIAN STEAK HOUSE F Gauchos carve the meat onto your plate from serving tables. FB. D, Tue.-Sun., closed Mon. 4000 St. Johns Ave., Ste. 40. 388-4884. $$$ THE FOX RESTAURANT F A local landmark 50+ years.

Ian & Mary Chase serve classic diner-style fare, homemade desserts. B & L daily. 3580 St. Johns Ave. 387-2669. $ GREEN MAN GOURMET F Organic and natural products, spices, teas, salts, BW. Open daily. 3543 St. Johns Ave. 384-0002. $ MOJO NO. 4 F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Beaches. 3572 St. Johns Ave. 381-6670. $$ ORSAY Best of Jax 2012 winner. The French/American bistro focuses on craftsmanship and service. FB. D, Mon.-Sat.; Brunch & D, Sun. 3630 Park St. 381-0909. $$$ SAKE HOUSE #5 JAPANESE GRILL & SUSHI BAR New at Shoppes of Avondale. See Riverside. Sake, BW. L & D, daily.

3620 St. Johns Ave. 388-5688. $$ TOM & BETTY’S F A Jacksonville tradition for more than 30 years, Tom & Betty’s serves hefty sandwiches with classic car themes, along with homemade-style dishes. CM, FB. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 4409 Roosevelt Blvd. 387-3311. $$

BAYMEADOWS

AL’S PIZZA F See Beaches. 8060 Philips Hwy. 731-4300. $ ANCIENT CITY SUBS F Locally owned-and-operated

by Andy and Rhonna Rockwell, the St. Augustine-themed sandwich shop serves gourmet subs – toasted, pressed or cold – and salads. CM, TO. Mon.-Sat. 8060 Philips Hwy., Ste. 207 (at Baymeadows). 446-9988. $ BOWL OF PHO The new spot’s varied menu of Vietnamese and Thai dishes has authentic ingredients, prepared fresh, including egg rolls, grilled pork and chicken, lotus root salad, and salted fish fried rice. Boba is also served. L & D, daily.

9902 Old Baymeadows Rd. 646-4455. $$ BROADWAY RISTORANTE & PIZZERIA F Family-owned&-operated NYC-style pizzeria serves hand-tossed, brickoven-baked pizza, traditional Italian dinners, wings, subs.

Delivery. CM, BW. L & D, daily. 10920 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 3. 519-8000. $$ DEERWOOD DELI & DINER F ’50s-style diner serves malts, shakes, Reubens, Cubans, burgers, traditional breakfast items. CM. B & L, daily. 9934 Old Baymeadows Rd. 641-4877. $$ THE FIFTH ELEMENT F Authentic Indian, South Indian and Indochinese dishes made with artistic flair. Lunch buffet includes lamb, goat, chicken, tandoori and biryani items. CM. L & D, daily. 9485 Baymeadows Rd. 448-8265. $$ INDIA’S RESTAURANT F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Extensive menu of entrées, clay-oven grilled Tandoori specialties and chicken tandoor, fish, seafood and korma. L, Mon.-Sat., D, daily. 9802 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 8. 620-0777. $$ LARRY’S GIANT SUBS F Best of Jax winner. All over town, Larry’s piles ’em high and serves ’em fast. Some Larry’s have B & W and/or breakfast. CM. L & D, daily. 3928 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 9, 737-7740; 8616 Baymeadows Rd. 739-2498. $ LEMONGRASS F Upscale Thai cuisine in a metropolitan atmosphere. Chef Aphayasane’s innovative creations include roast duckling and fried snapper. BW. R. L, Mon.-Fri.; D, Mon.-Sat. 9846 Old Baymeadows Rd. 645-9911. $$ MANDALOUN MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE *Bite Club Certified! F The Lebanese restaurant has authentic cuisine: lahm meshwe, kafta khoshkhas and baked filet of red snapper.

CM, FB. L & D, daily. 9862 Old Baymeadows Rd. 646-1881. $$ NATIVE SUN NATURAL FOODS MARKET F Best of Jax

2012 winner. The organic supermarket offers a full deli and a hot bar with fresh soups, quesadillas, rotisserie chicken and vegan sushi, as well as a fresh juice and smoothie bar. 11030 Baymeadows Rd. 260-2791. $ OMAHA STEAKHOUSE *Bite Club Certified! Center-cut beef, seafood, sandwiches served in an English tavern atmosphere. Signature dish is a 16-ounce bone-in ribeye.

Desserts include crème brûlée. FB. L & D, daily. 9300 Baymeadows Rd., Embassy Suites Hotel. 739-6633. $$ ORANGE TREE HOT DOGS Best of Jax 2012. See Intracoastal West. 8380 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 4. 733-0588. $ PATTAYA THAI GRILLE F Traditional Thai and vegetarian items and a 40-plus item vegetarian menu served in a contemporary atmosphere. BW. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 9551 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 1. 646-9506. $$ PIZZA PALACE F See San Marco. 3928 Baymeadows Rd. 527-8649. $$ SNEAKERS SPORTS GRILLE F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Beaches. L & D, daily. 8133 Point Meadows Dr. 519-0509. $$ STICKY FINGERS F Memphis-style rib house specializes in barbecue ribs served several ways. FB. L & D, daily. 8129 Point Meadows Way. 493-7427. $$ THREE F(X) ICE CREAM & WAFFLES Here’s a new concept: Ice cream made-to-order, right before your eyes. Your choice of milk (whole, soy, almond, lowfat), toppings (oodles) and flavors (20+), all quick-frozen to fill a taiyaki – Asian waffles in a dozen flavors. At about 170 calories, it’s a no-brainer.

Fillings available in breakfast and lunch options, too. CM. B, L & Br., daily. 9802 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 6. 928-9559. $ VINO’S PIZZA F See Julington. L & D, daily. 9910 Old Baymeadows Rd. 641-7171. $

BEACHES

(In Jax Beach unless otherwise noted.)

A LA CARTE Authentic New England fare like Maine lobster rolls, fried Ipswich clams, crab or clam cake sandwich, fried shrimp basket, haddock sandwich, clam chowdah, birch beer and blueberry soda. Dine inside or on the deck. TO. L, Fri.-Tue. 331 First Ave. N. 241-2005. $$ AL’S PIZZA F Al’s has been serving hand-tossed gourmet pizzas, calzones, salads and Italian entrees for more than 21 years. Voted Best Pizza by Folio Weekly readers from 1996-2011. BW. L & D, daily. 303 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach. 249-0002. $ ANGIE’S SUBS F Subs are made-to-order fresh. Serious casual. Wicked good iced tea. 1436 Beach Blvd. 246-2519. $ BAGEL WORLD F Best of Jax. Cozy spot has a breakfast special (eggs, ham & cheese) and a variety of cream cheese, coffee, juice. B & L, daily. 2202 S. Third St. 246-9988. $ THE BEACH RESTAURANT F Shrimp, fresh fish, chicken, burgers, burritos, Chicago-style pizza are served at this new oceanfront place. L & D, daily. 320 N. First St. 270-8565. $$ BEACHES WINGS & GRILL F New casual sportsbar serves wings, burgers, sandwiches, wraps. Kids eat free Mon. FB, CM. L & D daily. 311 N. Third St., Ste. 107. 853-5004. $$ BEACHSIDE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & MARKET F Full fresh seafood market has seafood baskets, fish tacos, oyster baskets, Philly cheesesteaks. Dine indoor or out. Beach delivery. CM, BW. L & D, daily. 120 S. Third St. 444-8862. $$ BONGIORNO’S PHILLY STEAK SHOP F South Philly’s Bongiorno clan imports Amoroso rolls for Real Deal cheesesteak, Original Gobbler, clubs, wraps, burgers, dogs. BW, CM. L & D, daily. 2294 Mayport Rd., Atlantic Beach. 246-3278. $$ BONO’S PIT BAR-B-Q F Baby back ribs, fried corn, sweet

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 37

potatoes, barbecue. BW. L & D, daily. 1307 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach. 270-2666. 1266 S. Third St. 249-8704. $ BREEZY COFFEE SHOP CAFE F The spot has fresh, locally roasted Costa Rican organic coffee, espresso, fresh-bakedin-house muffins, breads, scones, cakes. Vegan options available. CM. B, L, Br., daily. 235 Eighth Ave. S. 241-2211. $ BUDDHA THAI BISTRO F This bistro serves an authentic Thai menu offering dishes made with fresh ingredients, using tried-and-true recipes. Curries, kra pow, prix pow and Kalua ribs. FB, TO. L & D, daily. 301 10th Ave. N. 372-9149. $$ BURRITO GALLERY EXPRESS F Best of Jax 2012 winner.

The Gallery’s kid sister is mostly take-out; same great chow, fast service. 1333 N. Third St. 242-8226. $ CAMPECHE BAY CANTINA F Homemade-style Mexican items are fajitas, enchiladas and fried ice cream, plus margaritas. FB. D, nightly. 127 First Ave. N. 249-3322. $$ CASA MARIA F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Springfield.

2429 S. Third St. 372-9000. $ CRUISERS GRILL F Best of Jax 2012 winner, serving burgers, sandwiches, tacos, quesadillas and killer cheese fries. 319 23rd Ave. S. 270-0356. $ CULHANE’S IRISH PUB *Bite Club Certified! Four sisters own and operate the authentic Irish pub, with faves Guinness stew, lamb sliders and fish pie. L, Fri.-Sun.; D, Tue.-Sun.; weekend brunch. FB, CM. 967 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach.

249-9595. $$ DWIGHT’S The Mediterranean-style bistro features fresh local seafood, filet mignon, mixed grill and an extensive wine list. D, Tue.-Sat. 1527 Penman Rd. 241-4496. $$$$ ENGINE 15 BREWING COMPANY F Gastropub fare includes soups, salads, flatbreads and sandwiches, like BarBe-Cuban and beer dip. Innovative craft beers made onsite. Daily specials. CM, BW. L & D, Tue.-Sun.; D, nightly. 1500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 217. 249-2337. $ EUROPEAN STREET CAFE F See San Marco. 992 Beach Blvd. 249-3001. $ EVA’S GRILL & BAR Locally owned eatery Eva’s serves a varied menu of Greek, Italian, French, Cajun/Creole and Old Southern-style cuisine, made from all original, classic recipes. CM. FB. L & D, Tue.-Fri.; D, Sat. 610 S. Third St. 372-9484. $$ THE FISH COMPANY *Bite Club Certified! F Fresh, local seafood is served, including Mayport shrimp, fish baskets and grilled tuna and there’s an oyster bar. L & D, daily. CM, FB. 725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 12, Atlantic Beach. 246-0123. $$ FLY’S TIE IRISH PUB F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Call for hours and menu. D, Thur.-Sat.; L, Sat.; Br., Sun. 177 Sailfish Dr. E., Atlantic Beach. 246-4293. $$ HOT DOG HUT F All-beef hot dogs, sausages, hamburgers, crab cakes, beer-battered onion rings and French fries. Beer.

L, daily. 1439 S. Third St. 247-3641. $ ICHIBAN F Three dining areas: teppan or hibachi tables (watch a chef prepare your food), a sushi bar and Westernstyle seating offering tempura and teriyaki. FB, Japanese plum wine. L & D, daily. 675 N. Third St. 247-4688. $$ KC CRAVE The new restaurant, in the former Giovanni’s building, features New American cuisine – small or sharing plate style. Upscale bar offers handcrafted libations; upstairs tap room. FB. D, Tue.-Sun.; Sun. Br. 1161 Beach Blvd. 595-5660. $$ LYNCH’S IRISH PUB Full-service restaurant offers corned beef & cabbage, Shepherd’s pie, fish-n-chips. 30-plus beers on tap.

FB. L, Sat. & Sun., D, daily. 514 N. First St. 249-5181. $$ MARKER 32 Established in 1992, Marker 32 offers an innovative American eclectic menu, featuring fresh, local seafood served overlooking the ICW. Customer favorites include shrimp & andouille fettuccini, herb-grilled local fish with hoppin’ john and basil pesto rice, broiled oysters and yellow fin tuna poke. FB, CM. D, Mon.-Sat. 14549 Beach Blvd. 223-1534. $$$ MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS *Bite Club Certified! F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Southside. 1080 Third St. N. 241-5600. $ METRO DINER F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See San Marco.

1534 Third St. N. 853-6817. $$ MEZZA LUNA F A Beaches tradition for 20-plus years.

Gourmet wood-fired pizzas to contemporary American cuisine. Inside or patio dining. Extensive wine list. CM, FB. D, Mon.-Sat. 110 First St., Neptune Beach. 249-5573. $$$ MOJO KITCHEN BBQ PIT & BLUES BAR F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Traditional slow-cooked Southern barbecue served in a blues bar, like pulled pork, Texas brisket, slow-cooked ribs.

CM, FB. L & D, daily. 1500 Beach Blvd. 247-6636. $$ MONKEY’S UNCLE TAVERN F For 25-plus years, Monkey’s Uncle has been serving locals and visitors pub grub, burgers, sandwiches, seafood and wings. Dine inside or out on the patio. FB. L & D, daily. 1850 S. Third St. 246-1070. $ NEW SIAM THAI & WINE This new restaurant serves authentic Thai fare, including pad Thai, prog pow and ram Thai delight, along with an extensive wine selection. BW. L, Mon.-Fri.; L & D, daily. 798 S. Third St. 372-4328. $$ NIPPERS BEACH GRILLE Best of Jax 2012 winner. Chef O’s cuisine features local fare and innovative dishes, served in an island atmosphere. Dine inside or out on the waterfront tiki deck. FB, CM. L & D, Wed.-Sun.; D, nightly. 2309 Beach Blvd.

247-3300. $$ NORTH BEACH BISTRO *Bite Club Certified! Casual dining with an elegant touch, like slow-cooked veal osso buco;

38 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

calypso crusted mahi mahi with spiced plantain chips. CM, FB. L & D, daily. 725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 6, Atlantic Beach.

372-4105. $$$ OCEAN 60 Best of Jax 2012 winner. A prix fixe menu is offered. Continental cuisine, with fresh seafood, nightly specials and a changing seasonal menu. Dine in a formal dining room or casual Martini Room. D, Mon.-Sat. 60 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach. 247-0060. $$$ PHILLY’S FINEST F Authentic Philly-style cheesesteaks made with imported Amorosa rolls. Hoagies, wings and pizza ... cold beer, too. FB. L & D, daily. 1527 N. Third St. 241-7188. $$ POE’S TAVERN F American gastropub offers 50-plus beers, craft and area selections. Gourmet burgers, handcut fries, fish tacos, Edgar’s Drunken Chili, daily fish sandwich special. L & D, daily. FB, CM. 363 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach. 241-7637. $$ RAGTIME TAVERN SEAFOOD GRILL F The Beaches landmark serves grilled seafood with a Cajun/Creole accent.

Hand-crafted cold beer. FB. L & D, daily. 207 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach. 241-7877. $$ ROYAL PALM VILLAGE WINE & TAPAS F Locally owned and operated. Creative tapas selections: warm prosciutto dates, balsamic glaze; pork & black bean empanadas, salsa fresco.

200+ wines, 15 rotating draft microbrew beers. D, Mon.-Sat. 296 Royal Palms Dr., Atlantic Beach. 372-0052. $-$$ SALT LIFE FOOD SHACK F Best of Jax 2012 winner.

Specialty menu items include signature tuna poke bowl, fresh rolled sushi, Ensenada tacos, local fried shrimp.

Casual, trendy open-air space. FB, TO, CM. L & D, daily.

1018 N. Third St. 372-4456. $$ SNEAKERS SPORTS GRILLE F Best of Jax 2012 winner.

Burgers, sandwiches, quesadillas, wings, steak, prime rib and surf n turf. L & D, daily. FB. 111 Beach Blvd. 482-1000. $$ SOUP’S ON JACKSONVILLE Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Riverside. 645 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach. 247-0906. $ SUN DELI F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Classic deli fare and a build-your-own menu: corned beef, salami, pastrami, turkey and liverwurst, and signature creations like the Radical Side.

1101 S. Third St. Mon.-Sat. 270-1040. $ TACOLU BAJA MEXICANA F Best of Jax 2012 winner. This innovative casual place has moved down the street to the former Homestead site – but it’s still serving fresh, Baja-style Mexican fare, with a focus on fish tacos and tequila, plus fried cheese, bangin’ shrimp, and tacos: royale, brisket and verde chicken. Valet parking. L & D, Tue.-Sun. 1712 Beach Blvd. 249-8226. $$ THE WINE BAR The casual neighborhood place has a tapasstyle menu, fire-baked flatbreads and a wine selection. Daily.

320 N. First St. 372-0211. $$

DOWNTOWN

(Jacksonville Landing venues are at 2 Independent Drive) BENNY’S STEAK & SEAFOOD Continental cuisine features fresh fish, lobster, crab, chops, Midwestern beef. Signature dishes include chef’s tuna, Benny’s crab cake, rack of lamb.

Dine inside or on the riverview patio. CM, FB. L & D daily. The Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 175. 301-1014. $$$ BURRITO GALLERY & BAR F Best of Jax 2012 winner.

Southwest cuisine, traditional American salads. Burritos and more burritos. Onsite art gallery. FB. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 21 E. Adams St. 598-2922. $ CAFÉ NOLA AT MOCA JAX Located in the Museum of Contemporary Art, Cafe Nola serves shrimp and grits, gourmet sandwiches, fresh fish tacos and homemade desserts. FB. L, Mon.-Fri.; D, Thur. 333 N. Laura St. 366-6911 ext. 231. $$ CASA DORA ITALIAN RESTAURANT F For 36 years, owner Freddy Ghobod and Chef Sam Hamidi have served genuine Italian fare: veal, ribeye steaks, seafood, pizza, sandwiches.

Homemade-style salad dressing is a specialty. BW, CM. L & D, Mon.-Fri.; D, Sat. 108 E. Forsyth St. 356-8282. $$ DE REAL TING CAFE This casual spot serves an authentic Caribbean lunch buffet as well as a variety of favorite dishes inspired by the Islands. Tue.-Fri. FB. L & D, Tue.-Sat. 128 W. Adams St. 633-9738. $$ FIONN MACCOOL’S IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT Best of Jax 2012 winner. Casual dining with an uptown Irish flair. Fish & chips, Guinness beef stew, black-and-tan brownies. FB, CM. L & D, daily. Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 176. 374-1247. $$ INDOCHINE Best of Jax 2012 winner. Serving Thai and Southeast Asian cuisine in the core of downtown. Signature dishes include favorites like chicken Satay, soft shell crab, and mango and sticky rice for dessert. BW, FB, TO. L, Mon.-Fri., D, Tue.-Sat. 21 E. Adams St. 598-5303. $$ JENKINS QUALITY BARBECUE Family-owned-and-operated.

Jenkins offers beef, pork, chicken, homemade desserts.

L & D, daily. 830 N. Pearl St. 353-6388. $ KOJA SUSHI F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Sushi, Japanese, Asian and Korean cuisine. Indoor and outdoor dining and bar.

FB. L & D, daily. The Jacksonville Landing. 350-9911. $$ NORTHSTAR SUBSTATION This place features brick-ovenbaked pizzas, grinders, wings, Philly cheesesteaks, custom sandwiches and fries served in a laid-back setting. FB, 27 beers on draft. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 119 E. Bay St. 860-5451. $ OLIO MARKET F Fresh sandwiches, salads, soups, entrées.

In Churchwell Lofts building, Olio partners eclectic tastes with Old World ambiance in a casual renovated space. L, Mon.Fri.; late Art Walk. 301 E. Bay St. 356-7100. $$ SKYLINE DINING & CONFERENCE CENTER Weekday lunch

includes salad bar, hot meals and a carving station. L, Sun. upon request. FB. 50 N. Laura St., Ste. 3550. 791-9797. $$ TRELLISES HYATT REGENCY American cuisine includes a breakfast buffet, made-to-order omelet station, a la carte items. Signature entrees: grouper salad, Angus burgers, Reubens, French onion grilled cheese, seafood, steaks. CM, FB. B, L & D, daily. 225 East Coast Line Dr. 634-4540. $$$ ZODIAC GRILL F This spot serves busy Downtowners a variety of Mediterranean cuisine choices and American favorites, as well as a popular lunch buffet. FB. L & D, Mon.Fri. 120 W. Adams St. 354-8283. $

FLEMING ISLAND

LA NOPALERA F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Intracoastal.

1571 C.R. 220, Ste. 100. 215-2223. $ MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Southside. 1800 Town Center Pkwy. 541-1999. $ MOJO SMOKEHOUSE F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Beaches. FB. L & D, daily. 1810 Town Ctr. Blvd. 264-0636. $$ TAPS BAR & GRILL F See Julington. CM, FB. L & D, daily.

1605 C.R. 220, Ste. 145. 278-9421. $$ WHITEY’S FISH CAMP F The renowned seafood place, family-owned since 1963, offers AYCE freshwater catfi sh.

Also steaks, pastas. Outdoor waterfront dining. Get there by car, boat or bike. CM, FB. L & D, daily. 2032 C.R. 220.

269-4198. $

INTRACOASTAL WEST

AL’S PIZZA F See Beaches. 14286 Beach Blvd. (at San Pablo Rd.) 223-0991. $ AROY THAI FUSION Owner/Chef Vithoon Khamchareon The new restaurant offers a menu of authentic Thai cuisine, including pad Thai, Thai fried rice and a variety of traditional curry dishes.

Daily happy hour, FB, TO. L & D, daily. 13475 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 40.

374-0161. $$ BRUCCI’S PIZZA, PASTA, PANINIS F Authentic New Yorkstyle pizza, Italian pastas, desserts; family atmosphere. CM, BW. L & D, daily. 13500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 36. 223-6913. $ CASTILLO DE MEXICO F The authentic, extensive menu includes a weekday lunch buffet. FB. L & D, daily. 12620 Beach Blvd., Ste. 19, Kernan Square. 998-7006. $$ CLIFF’S ROCKIN’ BAR-N-GRILL F Cliff’s features 8-ounce burgers, wings, steak, seafood, homemade pizza and daily specials. FB. L & D, daily. Smoking permitted. 3033 Monument Rd., Ste. 2, Cobblestone Plaza. 645-5162. $$ EL RANCHITO F Latin American cuisine includes dishes from Colombia, Cuba and Mexico. BW, CM, TO. L & D, daily.

14333 Beach Blvd., Ste. 22. 992-4607. $$ GOLDEN CORRAL Best of Jax 2012 winner. Buffet features familiar faves. B, L & D, daily. 14035 Beach Blvd. 992-9294. $ GUMBO YAYA’S This locally owned casual restaurant offers New Orleans/Cajun-style fare, including a variety of po’boys, muffuletta, jambalaya, gumbo and beignets. Low country crab and shrimp boil on weekends; prepared items to go, too. CM. BW. L & D, daily. 14333 Beach Blvd., Ste. 101. 223-0202. $$ iPHO This new, family-owned spot offers curry dishes, noodle bowls and rare beef salad. Everything’s homemade-style.

L & D, Thur.-Tue. 13799 Beach Blvd., Ste. 1. 330-0309. $$ ISTANBUL MEDITERRANEAN & ITALIAN CUISINE European cuisine: lamb, beef, chicken dishes, pizza, wraps. BW. L & D, daily. 13170 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 26. 220-9192. $$ JERRY’S SPORTS GRILLE & STEAKHOUSE F The menu includes wings, hamburgers, Ahi tuna and handcut steaks.

CM, FB. Daily. 13170 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 22. 220-6766. $ LA NOPALERA F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Family-ownedand-operated, serving authentic Mexican cuisine, like tamales, fajitas, pork tacos, in a casual family atmosphere.

CM, FB. L & D, daily. 14333 Beach Blvd. 992-1666. $ MAMBO’S CUBAN CAFE & PIZZERIA Popular spot offers a variety of dishes with an authentic Cuban taste: tostones, empanadas, palomilla, pollo al ajillo, lechon asado, zarzuela de Mariscos, plus wraps, pizzas, sandwiches, baked goods.

L & D, daily. 13770 Beach Blvd., Ste. 9. 374-2046. $$ MILANO’S RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA Homemade Italian cuisine, breads, pizzas, calzones and specialty dishes. BW, CM. L & D, daily. 12620 Beach Blvd., Ste. 4. 646-9119. $$ ORANGE TREE HOT DOGS F Best of Jax 2012 winner.

This casual spot has been serving a variety of hot dogs since 1968. Toppings include onion sauce, chili, slaw and sauerkraut. Personal pizzas, fries and drinks, too. CM. L & D, daily. 13500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 3. 551-3661. $ SALSAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT F Authentic, fresh Mexican fare prepared from scratch with fresh ingredients.

Daily specials. Dine indoors or on the large patio outside. FB, CM. L & D, daily. 13500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 46. 992-8402. $$$ SHANE’S RIB SHACK Shane’s serves Southern barbecue: ribs, chopped pork, beef brisket, chicken tenders – all made fresh daily. Sides, too. CM. L & D, daily. 13546 Beach Blvd., Ste. 1. 992-0130. $$ THAI ORCHID Authentic Thai cuisine made with fresh ingredients, including pad Thai, curry dishes and rice dishes.

BW. L & D, daily. 12620 Beach Blvd., Ste. 4. 683-1286. $$

Dining GRILL ME!

A WEEKLY Q&A WITH PEOPLE IN THE FOOD BIZ

NAME: Susie Sysouvanh RESTAURANT: Pho, A Noodle Bar, 117 W. Adams St., Downtown BIRTHPLACE: Laos

YEARS IN THE BIZ: 23

FAVORITE RESTAURANT (other than mine): Indochine FAVORITE COOKING STYLE: Gangnum style FAVORITE INGREDIENTS: Love and spice IDEAL MEAL: Yukgaejang, extra spicy WOULDN’T EAT IF YOU PAID ME: Deep-fried butter; carney food (unless it’s a turkey leg).

INSIDER’S SECRET: Then it won’t be a secret.

CELEBRITY SIGHTING: Samuel L. Jackson CULINARY GUILTY PLEASURE: IHop’s cheesecake pancakes TIME OUT SPORTS GRILL F Wings, gourmet pizza, fresh seafood and specialty wraps. FB. D, Mon.-Fri.; L & D, Sat. & Sun. 13799 Beach Blvd., Ste. 5. 223-6999. $$

JULINGTON, NW ST. JOHNS

BLACKSTONE GRILLE The menu blends flavors from a variety of cultures and influences for modern American fusion cuisine, in a bistro-style setting. FB. L & D, Mon.-Fri., D, Sat.; Sun. Br. 112 Bartram Oaks Walk, Ste. 102. 287-0766. $$$ BRUCCI’S PIZZA F See Intracoastal. 540 S.R. 13, Ste. 10, Fruit Cove. 287-8317. $$ PIZZA PALACE F See San Marco. 116 Bartram Oaks Walk.

230-2171. $ TAPS BAR & GRILL F Taps’ chefs prepare every dish: beef, chicken and shrimp, with the freshest ingredients. Large selection of premium beers on tap. CM, FB. L & D, daily. 2220 C.R. 210 W., St. Johns. 819-1554. $$ VINO’S PIZZA F With four locations, Vino’s makes all their Italian and American dishes with fresh ingredients. L & D, daily. 605 S.R. 13, Ste. 103. 230-6966. $ WAKAME JAPANESE & THAI CUISINE F The fine dining restaurant offers authentic Japanese and Thai cuisine, a full sushi menu, curries and pad dishes. CM, FB. L & D, daily. 104 Bartram Oaks Walk, Ste. 108. 230-6688. $$

MANDARIN

AL’S PIZZA F See Beaches. 11190 San Jose Blvd. 260-4115. $ ANATOLIA GRILL & BAR F This Turkish restaurant serves authentic Italian/Mediterranean cuisine, including flatbreads, calzones, pasta dishes, shishkabobs, seafood, wraps, salads.

Musakka, falafel and lamb shank are house specialties. BW. CM. L & D, daily. 9825 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 1. 329-1336. $$ AW SHUCKS The seafood place offers an oyster bar, steaks, seafood, wings, pasta. Faves: ahi tuna, shrimp & grits, oysters Rockefeller. Sweet potato puffs are the signature side. CM, FB. L & D, daily. 9743 Old St. Augustine Rd. 240-0368. $$ THE BLUE CRAB CRABHOUSE F A Maryland-style crabhouse featuring fresh blue crabs, garlic crabs, and king, snow and Dungeness crab legs. FB, CM. D, Tue.-Sat.; L & D, Sun. 3057 Julington Creek Rd. 260-2722. $$ BRAZILIAN JAX CAFE F Authentic dishes include steaks, sausages, chicken, fish, burgers, hot sandwiches. Traditional feijoada (black beans and pork stew with rice, collards, orange salad, yucca flour with bacon) every Sat. TO. B, L & D, Mon.-Sat. 9825 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 20. 880-3313. $$ BROOKLYN PIZZA F The traditional pizzeria serves New York-style pizza, specialty pies, and subs, strombolis and calzones. BW. L & D, daily. 11406 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 3, 288-9211. 13820 St. Augustine Rd., 880-0020. $ CLARK’S FISH CAMP F Clark’s has steak, ribs, AYCE catfish dinners, 3-pound prime rib. Dine in, out or in a creek-view glass-enclosed room. FB. D, Mon.-Fri.; L & D, Sat. & Sun. 12903 Hood Landing Rd. 268-3474. $$ DON JUAN’S RESTAURANT F Authentic Mexican dishes prepared daily from scratch, served in a casual atmosphere.

FB, CM. L & D, daily. 12373 San Jose Blvd. 268-8722. $$ ENZA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Family-owned, Enza’s offers fine Italian dining, featuring veal and seafood dishes. Daily specials. FB, CM, TO. D, Tue.-Sun. 10601 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin Landing. 268-4458. $$$ GIGI’S RESTAURANT Breakfast buffet daily, lunch buffet weekdays. The Comedy Zone (Best of Jax winner) has an appetizer menu. FB. B, L & D, daily. I-295 & San Jose Blvd.

(Ramada Inn). 268-8080. $$ (Fri. & Sat. buffet, $$$) GOLDEN CORRAL See Intracoastal. 11470 San Jose. 886-9699.

HALA CAFE & BAKERY F See Southside. 9735 Old St. Augustine Rd. 288-8890. $$ HARMONIOUS MONKS F American-style steakhouse features a 9-oz. choice Angus center-cut filet topped with gorgonzola shiitake mushroom cream sauce, 8-oz. gourmet

burgers, fall-off-the-bone ribs, wraps, sandwiches. FB. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 10550 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 30. 880-3040. $$ LEGRAND’S THE STEAK & SEAFOOD PLACE F Locally owned and operated, LeGrand’s offers aged beef cured onsite in the dry aging room and cut in-house, as well as seafood, chicken and a variety of sides. FB, CM. L & D, daily; Br. Sun. 11290 Old St. Augustine Rd. 268-3663. $$$ MAMA FU’S ASIAN HOUSE MSG-free pan-Asian cuisine prepared to order in woks using fresh ingredients. Authentic Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Thai dishes. BW, CM. L & D, daily. 11105 San Jose Blvd. 260-1727. $$ MANDARIN ALE HOUSE 30-plus beers on tap. FB. L & D, daily. 11112 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 19. 292-0003. $$ METRO DINER F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See San Marco.

12807 San Jose Blvd. 638-6185. $$ NATIVE SUN NATURAL FOODS MARKET F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Organic supermarket with full deli and salad bar serving wraps, quesadillas, chopped salads, vegetarian dishes. Fresh juice and smoothie bar. Indoor and outdoor seating. Mon.-Sat. 10000 San Jose Blvd. 260-6950. $ PICASSO’S PIZZERIA F Specializes in hand-tossed gourmet pizza, calzones, homemade New York-style cheesecake and handmade pasta. Fresh local seafood and steaks. BW, CM, TO. L & D daily. 10503 San Jose Blvd. 880-0811. $$ POMPEII COAL-FIRED PIZZA See Orange Park. 9825 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 24, Outback Plaza. 503-2230. $$ RACK ’EM UP SPORTS BAR This cigar & hookah lounge offers bar food and more than 200 beers, imported and domestic. D, nightly. 4268 Oldfield Crossing Dr. 262-4030. $ THE RED ELEPHANT PIZZA & GRILL F Casual, family-friendly eatery has pizzas, sandwiches, grill specials, pasta dishes. FB, CM. L & D, daily. 10131 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 12. 683-3773. $$ TANK’S FAMILY BAR-B-Q F Owned and operated by the Tankersley family, this place offers made-from-scratch Southern-style fare, featuring their own sauces. CM, BW. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 11701 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 23. 351-8265. $$ VINO’S PIZZA F See Julington. L & D, daily. 4268 Oldfield Crossing Dr. 268-6660. $ WHOLE FOODS MARKET F 100+ prepared items at a fullservice and self-service hot bar, soup bar, dessert bar. Madeto-order Italian specialties from a brick oven pizza hearth.

L & D, daily. 10601 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 22. 288-1100. $$

ORANGE PARK

ARON’S PIZZA F The family-owned restaurant offers eggplant dishes, manicotti and New York-style pizza. BW, CM, TO. L & D daily. 650 Park Ave. 269-1007. $$ GATOR’S DOCKSIDE F For 18-plus years, the sportsthemed family place has served wings, ribs, sandwiches. FB. L & D, daily. 9680 Argyle Forest Blvd. 425-6466. $$ GOLDEN CORRAL Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Intracoastal.

582 Blanding Blvd. 272-0755. $ THE HILLTOP CLUB She-crab soup, scallops, prime beef, wagyu beef, chicken Florentine, stuffed grouper. Chef Nick’s salmon is a hit. FB. D, Tue.-Sat. 2030 Wells Rd. 272-5959. $$ JOEY MOZARELLAS The Italian restaurant’s specialty is a 24-slice pizza: 18”x26” of fresh ingredients and sauces made daily. CM, TO. L & D, daily. 930 Blanding Blvd. 579-4748. $$ PASTA MARKET & CLAM BAR Family-owned-and-operated.

Gourmet pizza, veal, chicken, mussels, shrimp, grouper. The pastas: spaghetti, fettuccine, lasagna, calzones, linguini, ravioli, made with fresh ingredients, homemade-style. CM, BW, sangria. 1930 Kingsley Ave. 276-9551. D, nightly. $$ POMPEII COAL-FIRED PIZZA Pizzas are baked in coal-fired ovens. Popular pizzas include Health Choice and Mozzarella.

Coal-fired sandwiches and wings, too. BW. L & D, daily. 2134 Park Ave. 264-6116. $$ THE ROADHOUSE F Burgers, wings, deli sandwiches, popular lunches. FB. L & D, daily. 231 Blanding Blvd. 264-0611. $ THAI GARDEN F Authentic traditional Thai fare, fresh ingredients, in a relaxed atmosphere. Curry dishes, specialty

items: crispy duck, pra-ram, pad Thai, seafood. BW. L, Mon.Fri.; D, Sat. & Sun. 10 Blanding Blvd., Ste. A. 272-8434. $$

PONTE VEDRA, NE ST. JOHNS

AL’S PIZZA F See Beaches. Open daily. 635 A1A. 543-1494. $ AQUA GRILL Upscale cuisine: fresh seafood, Angus steaks, Maine lobster, vegetarian items. Outdoor patio dining. FB. L, Mon.-Sat.; D, nightly. 950 Sawgrass Village Dr. 285-3017. $$$ THE AUGUSTINE GRILLE *Bite Club Certified! Chef Brett Smith’s global cuisine is seasonal and local. Selections include prime steaks, New York strip, lamb and lobster Napoleon. FB, CM. D, nightly. 1000 PGA Tour Blvd., Sawgrass Marriott. 285-7777. $$$ BARBARA JEAN’S RESTAURANT Made-from-scratch, homestyle Southern fare features local seafood – especially crab cakes and she-crab soup. Meat loaf, pot roast, sandwiches and salads, too. L & D, daily. B, L & D, Sat. & Sun. FB, CM. 15 S. Roscoe Blvd. 280-7522. $$-$$$ BRUCCI’S PIZZA F Authentic New York-style pizza, Italian pastas, paninis, desserts. Family atmosphere. CM. L & D, daily. 880 A1A, Ste. 8. 280-7677. $$ CAFFE ANDIAMO Traditional Italian cuisine: fresh seafood, veal, homemade pastas and wood-fired pizza prepared in a copper clad oven. An extensive wine list is offered in a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Dine indoors or out on the terrace.

L & D, daily. 500 Sawgrass Village. 280-2299. $$$ LULU’S WATERFRONT GRILLE F On the Intracoastal Waterway, LuLu’s can be reached by car or by boat. Seafood, steaks and pasta dishes with a sophisticated flair. FB. L & D, daily; Sun. brunch. 301 N. Roscoe Blvd. 285-0139. $$ MULLIGAN’S PUB F The Irish gastropub at Hilton Garden Inn offers a variety of favorites and Irish dishes. FB. D, daily.

45 PGA Tour Blvd. 280-1661. $$ NINETEEN AT TPC SAWGRASS In Sawgrass’ Tournament Players Club, Nineteen features more than 230 wines and freshly prepared American and Continental cuisine, including local seafood, served inside or al fresco on the verandah.

L & D, daily. 110 Championship Way. 273-3235. $$$ PALM VALLEY FISH CAMP This intimate restaurant, owned by the Groshells, is the real deal – local seafood served by a professional crew, right on the Intracoastal Waterway. Popular items are the shrimp & grits, blackened mahi with tasso gravy and bread pudding. BW. CM. L & D, Tue.-Sun.; D, nightly. 299 N. Roscoe Blvd. 285-3200. $$$ PUSSER’S BAR & GRILLE *Bite Club Certified! F Freshly prepared Caribbean cuisine, including red snapper Ponte Vedra Jamaican grilled pork ribs and barbecued salmon tower. Tropical rum drinks include Pusser’s Painkiller. FB. L & D, daily. 816 A1A N., Ste. 100. 280-7766. L, $$; D, $$ RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE Best of Jax 2012 winner. See San Marco. 8141 A1A. 285-0014. $$$$ 619 OCEAN VIEW Dining with a Mediterranean touch; fresh seafood, steaks and nightly specials. FB, CM. D, Wed.-Sun. 619 Ponte Vedra Blvd., Cabana Beach Club. 285-6198. $$$ TABLE 1 The upscale, casual restaurant has a variety of items, from appetizers to entrées to salads, as well as a wine bar featuring an extensive list of wines by the glass. FB. L & D, daily. 330 A1A N. 280-5515. $$$

RIVERSIDE, 5 POINTS, WESTSIDE

AL’S PIZZA F See Beaches. 1620 Margaret St. 388-8384. $ BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT Orsay’s sister restaurant serves new American favorites with a Southern twist, made with locally sourced ingredients. Rooftop bar. FB. L & D, Mon.-Fri.; D, Mon.-Sat. Br., Sun. 1534 Oak St. 380-3091. $$$ BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS Chef Adam Burnett F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Bold Bean offers artisan-crafted, smallbatch roasted specialty coffees from its certified organic roastery and brew bar, including lattes, local pastries, and craft beers. BW. 869 Stockton St., Stes. 1 & 2.

855-1181. $ CARMINE’S PIE HOUSE F The Italian eatery offers pizza by the slice, gourmet pizzas, appetizers, classic Italian dishes (calzone, stromboli, subs, panini) and microbrews served in a casual atmosphere. BW, CM, TO. 2677 Forbes St. 387-1400. $$ COOL MOOSE F Classic sandwiches, eclectic wraps and desserts. An extensive gourmet coffee menu with Green Mountain coffees and frozen coffee drinks. B & L, daily. Sun. Br. 2708 Park St. 381-4242. $ COZY TEA CAFE It’s moved down a few spots, and is again serving weekend Indian dinners, along with weekday lunches. 1023 Park St. 329-3964. $$ DERBY ON PARK New owners, new space and new menu.

Dine indoors or out. L & D, Tue.-Sat.; Br. Sun. 1068 Park St. 379-3343. $$ EDGEWOOD BAKERY F Best of Jax 2012 winner. For nearly 65 years, the espresso and pastry café has served fresh breakfast pastries, petit fours and pies, sandwiches, smoothies and soups. B & L, Mon.-Sat. 1012 S. Edgewood

Ave., Murray Hill. 389-8054. $ EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ F See San Marco. 2753 Park St. 384-9999. $ GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET Deli Supervisor Nicole Gurgiolo F Organic and natural market with juice & smoothie bar. Wide selection of organic produce, gourmet cheeses, humanely raised meats.

Grab-and-go sandwiches, wraps, salads and sides. Craft beers, organic wines. B, L & D, Mon.-Sat. 2007 Park St. 384-4474. $ HOVAN MEDITERRANEAN GOURMET F Dine inside or on the patio. Mediterranean entrées include lamb, and beef gyros. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 2005-1 Park St. 381-9394. $ JOHNNY’S DELI & GRILL F A Riverside tradition, serving 60+ fresh deli and grill items, including hot sandwiches.

L, Mon.-Fri. 474 Riverside Ave. 356-8055. $ KICKBACKS GASTROPUB F Best of Jax 2012 winner. This neighborhood spot serves favorites 20 hours a day, every day.

655+ bottled beers, 84 on tap. CM. 910 King St. 388-9551. $$ MONROE’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ Smoked meats include wings, pulled pork, brisket, turkey and ribs. Homemade-style sides include green beans, baked beans, red cole slaw, collards. BW, CM. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 4838 Highway Ave., 389-5551. $$ MOON RIVER PIZZA F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Amelia Island. 1176 Edgewood Ave. S. 389-4442. $ MOSSFIRE GRILL F Southwestern menu with ahi tuna tacos, goat cheese enchiladas, gouda quesadillas. Dine inside or on the patio. FB. L & D, daily. 1537 Margaret St. 355-4434. $$ MY MOCHI FROZEN YOGURT See St. Johns Town Center.

1661 Riverside Ave., Ste. 128. 900-1955. $ O’BROTHERS IRISH PUB F Innovative Irish fare and traditional faves are offered, like lambburger with Stilton crust, Guinness mac & cheese, Shepherd’s pie and fish-nchips – plus 18 beers on tap. L, daily except Mon.; D, daily.

CM, FB. 1521 Margaret St. 854-9300. $$ PELE’S WOOD FIRE At this innovative restaurant, Chef Micah Windham uses a wood-fired oven to create traditional, authentic Italian fare with a modern (Hawaiian!) twist. CM, FB, TO. L & D, daily; Br., weekend. 2665 Park St. 232-8545. $$ PERARD’S PIZZA & ITALIAN CUISINE Traditional Italian fare with fresh sauces and dough made from scratch daily. Large selection of gourmet pizza toppings. CM, BW. L & D, daily.

11043 Crystal Springs Rd., Ste. 2. 378-8131. $ PERFECT RACK BILLIARDS Burgers, steak, sandwiches, wings. Family-friendly, non-smoking. BW, CM. L & D, daily.

1186 Edgewood Ave. S., Murray Hill. 738-7645. $ SAKE HOUSE #1 JAPANESE GRILL & SUSHI BAR F Japanese grill and sushi bar features sushi, sashimi, katsu, tempura, hibachi and specialty rolls. CM, BW, sake. L & D, daily. 824 Lomax St. 301-1188. $$ THE SALTY FIG This brand-new Southern gastropub offers New American Southern fare, including shrimp & grits and bourbon fig glazed quail, made with locally sourced produce, meats, seafood. An extensive beer selection includes 10 local drafts. FB. L & D, daily. 901 King St. 337-0146. $$-$$$ SOUP’S ON JACKSONVILLE F Best of Jax 2012 winner.

This casual place offers good-for-you soups, sandwiches and salads without the usual fat and salt – hot and cold gourmet seafood and meat dishes, vegetarian, vegan dishes. Take-out fresh/frozen soups. L & D, daily. 1526 King St. 387-9394. $ SUMO SUSHI F Authentic Japanese fare, traditional to entrees and sushi rolls, spicy sashimi salad, tobiko (flying fish roe), Rainbow roll (tuna, salmon, yellowtail, California roll). BW, CM. L & D, daily. 2726 Park St. 388-8838. $$ SUSHI CAFÉ F A variety of sushi, including popular Monster Roll and Jimmy Smith Roll, along with faves like Rock-n-Roll and Dynamite Roll. Sushi Café also offers hibachi, tempura, katsu and teriyaki. BW. Dine indoors or on the patio. L & D, daily. 2025 Riverside Ave. Publix Plaza.

384-2888. $$ TAPA THAT A modern spin on traditional tapas-style service, with local/organic items. Specialties include duck confit spring rolls and Cuban rice & beans cake. CM, BW. L & D, Tue.-Sat. 820 Lomax St. 376-9911. $$ 13 GYPSIES Best of Jax 2012 winner. The intimate bistro serves authentic Mediterranean peasant cuisine, specializing in tapas, blackened octopus, risotto of the day and coconut mango curry chicken. BW. L & D, Tue.-Sat. 887 Stockton St. 389-0330. $$ TWO DOORS DOWN F Traditional faves: hotcakes, omelets, burgers, pork chops, liver & onions, fried chicken, sides and desserts. CM, TO. B & L, Mon.-Fri. 436 Park St. 598-0032. $ TRES LECHES Owner/Chef Irene Mattos-Sweda F The bakery and café offers quiches, arepas, empanadas, cachitos, eggplant lasagna, omelets, sandwiches, as well as specialty desserts, including cakes, pies, tarts and coffee cakes, served in a casual atmosphere. B, L & D, Mon.-Sat. 869 Stockton St., Ste. 6. 551-4375. $$

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 39

ST. AUGUSTINE

THE BLUE HERON INN

Located in the heart of the historic district, The Blue Heron Inn is a beautifully restored three-story 1904 home offering six elegantly decorated and spacious guest rooms. Enjoy a delicious gourmet breakfast on the front wrap-around porch or curl up in a rocker with your favorite book. Relax in the pool in the private, landscaped backyard, and enjoy daily complimentary “Adult Time Out” with afternoon refreshments. Fresh flowers, spa robes and gourmet coffees enhance your stay. Guests also enjoy complimentary fresh baked cookies, bicycles, beach chairs, and Wi-Fi. Romance, Girls’ Getaway, Honeymoon packages available.

102 South 7th Street • (904) 445-9034 www.ameliaislandblueheroninn.com

THE ADDISON ON AMELIA ISLAND The Addison is a disinctive historic property in the heart of Fernandina. The original 1870s antebellum house features sunny en-suite rooms, the majority overlooking a private fountain courtyard. Many have spacious whirlpools and several feature individual private porches. This intimate retreat caters to your every need, whether it be a gourmet breakfast, an individually prepared picnic or afternoon refreshment, or the simple luxury of allowing you to sit back, relax, and watch the world go by slowly on your own porch.

614 Ash Street • (904) 277-1604 www.addisononamelia.com

THE FAIRBANKS HOUSE

Elegant 1885 Italianate villa. Luxury-class inn with upscale amenities. Large rooms, suites, private cottages, Jacuzzis, fireplaces. Gourmet breakfast, evening social hour. Romance Packages, Girls’ Getaway. Smoke-free!

227 South 7th Street • (904) 277-0500 www.fairbankshouse.com

THE ELIZABETH POINTE LODGE AMELIA ISLAND The Pointe is situated on the beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Focusing upon individualized attention with a staff that wants to exceed your expectations, The Pointe offers a complimentary full breakfast, Wi-Fi, beach equipment, a morning newspaper and parking.

Room service and concierge assistance are available 24 hours. And it’s only a short bike ride to the historic seaport of Fernandina. Custom packages available.

98 South Fletcher Avenue • (800) 772-3359 info@elizabethpointelodge.com

AMELIA ISLAND WILLIAMS HOUSE

Beautiful antebellum Inn with spacious guest rooms boasting the modern amenities guests love while safekeeping the Old World charm. Romantic working fireplaces, antiques from around the world, private baths, whirlpool tubs, spa robes and fresh flowers are a few of the luxuries you may expect. Enjoy our beautifully landscaped gardens, fountains and our sweeping verandahs. Feast on a delicious gourmet breakfast each morning and and sip wine ‘neath 500-year-old oak trees.

All your worries will drift away.

103 S. 9th Street • (904) 277-2328 www.williamshouse.com

Amelia Island is 13 miles of unspoiled beaches, quaint shops, antique treasures and superb dining in a 50-block historic district less than one hour north of Jacksonville.

40 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

A1A ALE WORKS F The Ancient City’s only brew pub taps seven hand-crafted ales and lagers. A1A specializes in innovative New World cuisine. FB. L & D, daily. 1 King St. 829-2977. $$ AL’S PIZZA F New location offering a balcony view overlooking Matanzas Bay. See Beaches. BW. L & D, daily.

1 St. George St. 824-4383. $ ANN O’MALLEY’S F Fresh handmade sandwiches, soups, salads and perfectly poured Guinness. Favorites include Reubens and chicken salad. CM, BW, Irish beers on tap.

L & D, daily. 23 Orange St. 825-4040. $$ BARLEY REPUBLIC IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE Irish bar and pub in historic district has burgers, sandwiches, shepherd’s pie, bangers & mash. BW. L & D, daily. 48 Spanish St. 547-2023. $$ BARNACLE BILL’S F For 30-plus years, this family restaurant has served seafood, oysters, gator tail, steak and fried shrimp. FB, CM, TO. L & D daily; 14 Castillo Drive.

824-3663. $$ THE BLACK MOLLY BAR & GRILL Fresh, local seafood, steaks and pasta dishes are served in a casual atmosphere.

FB, CM. L & D daily. 504 Geoffrey St., Cobblestone Plaza.

547-2723. $$ BORRILLO’S PIZZA & SUBS F Specialty pizzas are Borrillo’s Supreme (extra cheese, pepperoni, sausage), white and vegetarian pizzas. Subs and pasta dinners. L & D, daily. 88 San Marco Ave. 829-1133. $ CARMELO’S MARKETPLACE F Authentic New York style brick-oven-baked pizza, fresh baked sub rolls, Boars Head meats & cheeses, salads, calzones, strombolis and sliced pizza specials. BW. L & D, daily. 146 King St. 494-6658. $$ CELLAR 6 ART GALLERY & WINE BAR *Bite Club Certified! Wolfgang Puck coffees, handmade desserts, light bistro-style fare amid local art. BW. Mon.-Sat. 6 Aviles St. 827-9055. $$ CREEKSIDE DINERY Beef, chicken and seafood, with an emphasis on low-country cooking. Outdoor deck with a fire pit. FB. D, nightly. 160 Nix Boatyard Rd. 829-6113. $$ CRUISERS GRILL F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Beaches. 3 St. George St. 824-6993. $ THE FLORIDIAN The downtown restaurant serves innovative Southern fare, made with local farmers’ local food. Signature items: fried green tomato bruschetta, ’N’grits with shrimp, fish or tofu. L & D, Wed.-Mon. 39 Cordova St. 829-0655. $$ HARRY’S SEAFOOD BAR & GRILLE F In a historic, two-story house, the New Orleans-style eatery has fresh seafood, steaks, jambalaya, etouffée and shrimp. FB. L & D, daily. 46 Avenida Menendez. 824-7765. $$ HOT SHOT BAKERY & CAFE F Freshly baked items, coffees and hand-crafted breakfast and lunch sandwiches; Datil B. Good hot sauces and pepper products. B & L, daily.

8 Granada St. 824-7898. $ KINGS HEAD BRITISH PUB F Authentic Brit pub serves fish & chips, Cornish pastie and steak & kidney pie. Tap beers are Guinness, Newcastle and Bass. BW. L & D, Wed.Sun. 6460 U.S. 1 (4 miles N. of Airport.) 823-9787. $$ THE MANATEE CAFÉ F Serving healthful cuisine using organically grown fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes. B & L, daily. 525 S.R. 16, Ste. 106, Westgate Plaza. 826-0210. $ MEEHAN’S IRISH PUB & SEAFOOD HOUSE F This pub, just south of the old fort, offers burgers, traditional pub fare, seafood and a raw bar, along with signature dishes including steak O’Shay’s, Dubliner chicken and Irish Benedict. CM. FB. L & D, Mon.-Fri.; Br. & D, Sat. & Sun. 20 Avenida Menendez. 810-1923. $$$ MILL TOP TAVERN F A St. Aug institution housed in an 1884 building, serving nachos, soups, sandwiches and daily specials. Dine inside or on open-air decks. At the big mill wheel. FB. L & D, daily. 19 1/2 St. George St. 829-2329. $$ MOJO OLD CITY BBQ F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Beaches. FB. L & D, daily. 5 Cordova St. 342-5264. $$ MOJO’S TACOS F This cozy, casual spot serves doubledecker tacos, burritos and salads; they’re known for fresh mahi and shrimp tacos. Beer. L & D, daily. 551 Anastasia Blvd. 829-1665. $ PACIFIC ASIAN BISTRO F Best of Jax 2012 winner.

Fresh, artfully crafted sushi, sashimi and classic rolls. Best Chef Mas Liu creates authentic sushi – Crazy Girl (shrimp tempura, asparagus, salmon); Mango Tango (salmon, crab, tuna, flying fish egg, mango sauce). Traditional dishes, too.

Sake, BW. L & D, daily. 159 Palencia Village Dr., Ste. 111.

808-1818. $$-$$$ PIZZALLEY’S PIZZERIA F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Fresh, prepared onsite, gourmet pizza is offered by the pie or the slice at this restaurant in the historic district. Hot subs, wings and salads, too. L & D, daily. BW. 117 St. George St. 825-2627. $$ THE PRESENT MOMENT CAFÉ F Best of Jax 2012 winner.

The cozy café serves organic, vegan and vegetarian dishes, pizza, pastas, hummus and milkshakes – all prepared without meat, dairy, wheat or an oven. Organic BW. TO. B, L & D, Mon.-Sat. 224 W. King St. 827-4499. $ RAINTREE In a Victorian home, Raintree offers fare with contemporary and traditional international influences.

Extensive wine list. FB. D, daily. 102 San Marco Ave. 824-7211. $$$

SARA’S CREPE CAFE Crêpes, both traditional European style and with innovative twists, are served along with Belgian waffles in the historic district. Dine indoors or out in the open-air courtyard. B, L & D, daily. 100 St. George St. 810-5800. $$ SPY GLOBAL CUISINE & LOUNGE In the historic district, Spy features James Bond-themed sushi and Mediterranean-influenced global cuisine on the seasonal menu, including fresh – never frozen – Hawaiian seafood.

Dine indoors or out on the patio. Upstairs lounge, too. Great selection of chilled sakes. BW, CM. D, nightly. 21 Hypolita St. 819-5637. $$$ THE TASTING ROOM, WINE & TAPAS Owned by Michael Lugo, the upscale contemporary Spanish restaurant fuses innovative tapas with an extensive wine list. L, Wed.-Sun.; D, nightly. 25 Cuna St. 810-2400. $$ YOGURT MOTION This brand-new spot offers a healthful, nutritional cool treat in a non-dairy frozen yogurt (with no table sugar, lactose, chemicals or preservatives) in a variety of flavors. Open daily. 163 Palencia Village, Ste. 102.

610-2220. $

ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH

AMICI ITALIAN RESTAURANT F A family-owned-andoperated Italian restaurant offers traditional pasta, veal, steak and seafood dishes. CM, FB. L & D, daily. 1915B A1A S. 461-0102. $$ CAFÉ ATLANTICO Traditional and new Italian dishes served in an intimate space. Master Chef Paolo Pece prepares risotto alla pescatora, with shrimp, scallops and seasonal shellfish, in a parmesan cheese basket. BW. D, nightly. 647 A1A Beach Blvd. 471-7332. $$$ CAP’S ON THE WATER F The Vilano Beach mainstay offers coastal cuisine – tapas platters, cioppino, fresh local shrimp, raw oyster bar – indoors or on an oak-shaded deck. Boat access. FB. L, Fri.-Sun., D, nightly. 4325 Myrtle St., Vilano Beach. 824-8794. $$ GYPSY CAB COMPANY F International menu features large portions, reasonable prices. FB. L & D, daily. 828 Anastasia Blvd. 824-8244. $$ MANGO MANGO’S BEACHSIDE BAR & GRILL Caribbean kitchen has comfort food with a tropical twist: coconut shrimp and fried plantains. BW, CM. Outdoor dining. 700 A1A Beach Blvd., (A Street access). 461-1077. $$ OASIS RESTAURANT & DECK F Just a block from the ocean, with a tropical atmosphere and open-air deck.

Steamed oysters, crab legs, burgers. CM, FB. B, L & D, daily.

4000 A1A & Ocean Trace Rd. 471-3424. $ ORIGINAL CAFÉ ELEVEN F Serving eclectic cuisine like feta spinach egg croissant, apple turkey sandwich, pear-berry salad. Daily chef creations. BW. B, L & D, daily. 501 A1A Beach Blvd. 460-9311. B, $; L & D, $$ PURPLE OLIVE INTERNATIONAL BISTRO F Family-ownedand-operated, offering specials, fresh artisan breads. Soups, salad dressings and desserts made from scratch. BW. D, Tue.-Sat. 4255 A1A S., Ste. 6. 461-1250. $$ THE REEF RESTAURANT F Casual oceanfront place with a view from every table. Fresh local seafood, steak, pasta dishes, daily chef specials. Outdoor dining. FB, CM, TO. L & D daily. 4100 Coastal Hwy. A1A, Vilano Beach. 824-8008. $$ SOUTH BEACH GRILL Located off A1A, the two-story beachy destination offers casual oceanfront dining and fresh local seafood. Dine indoors or out on a beachfront deck. FB. B, L & D daily. 45 Cubbedge Road, Crescent Beach. 471-8700. $ SUNSET GRILLE Seafood-heavy menu, consistent Great Chowder Debate winner. Specialties are baby back ribs, lobster ravioli, coconut shrimp, datil pepper wings. CM, FB. L & D, daily. 421 A1A Beach Blvd. 471-5555. $$$

ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER

BAHAMA BREEZE ISLAND GRILLE Fresh seafood, chicken, flame-grilled steaks and hand-crafted tropical drinks made with flavorful ingredients inspired by the Caribbean. CM, FB. L & D, daily. 10205 River Coast Dr. 646-1031. $$$ BLACKFINN AMERICAN GRILLE With four dining rooms, BlackFinn offers classic American fare: beef, seafood, pasta, chicken, flatbread sandwiches. Dine indoors or on the patio.

CM, FB. L & D, daily. 4840 Big Island Dr. 345-3466. $$$ FIVE GUYS BURGERS & FRIES Best of Jax 2012 winner.

Burgers made with fresh ground beef; wide topping selection, including fried onions, jalapeños or sautéed mushrooms.

Fries, kosher hot dogs and soft drinks, too. L & D, daily. 4413 Town Center Pkwy., Ste. 401. 996-6900. $ LIBRETTO’S PIZZERIA & ITALIAN KITCHEN F Authentic NYC pizzeria serves Big Apple crust, cheese and sauce, and third-generation family-style Italian classics, fresh-from-theoven calzones, and desserts in a casual, comfy setting. L & D, daily. 4880 Big Island Dr., Ste. 1. 402-8888. $$ MITCHELL’S FISH MARKET A changing menu of more than 180 items includes cedar-roasted Atlantic salmon and seared salt-and-pepper tuna. FB, CM. L & D, daily. 5205 Big Island Dr., St. Johns Town Ctr. 645-3474. $$$ MY MOCHI FROZEN YOGURT Non-fat, low-calorie, cholesterol-free frozen yogurt is served in flavors that change weekly. Toppings include a variety of fruit and nuts. 4860 Big Island Dr. 807-9292. $

Dining

Pizza master Kristoph Brumley displays a fresh-from-the-brick-oven Veggie Supreme and a pepperoni pie at Carmelo’s Marketplace, on King Street in St. Augustine. Photo: Walter Coker P.F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO Best of Jax 2012 winner.

Traditional chicken, duck, pork, beef and lamb dishes, plus vegetarian plates and gluten-free selections. CM, FB. L & D, daily. 10281 Midtown Parkway, Ste. 137. 641-3392. $$ RENNA’S PIZZA F Renna’s serves New York-style pizza, calzones, subs and lasagna made from authentic Italian recipes. Delivery, CM, BW. 4624 Town Crossing Dr., Ste. 125, St. Johns Town Center. 565-1299. rennaspizza.com $$ SAKE HOUSE #3 JAPANESE GRILL & SUSHI BAR F New location. See Riverside. 10281 Midtown Parkway, Ste. 119.

996-2288. $$ WASABI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR Authentic cuisine, teppanyaki shows and a full sushi menu. CM. L & D, daily. 10206 River Coast Dr. 997-6528. $$ WHISKY RIVER F Best of Jax 2012 winner. At St. Johns Town Center’s Plaza, Whisky River features wings, pizza, wraps, sandwiches and burgers served in a lively car racingthemed atmosphere (Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s the owner). FB. CM. L & D, daily. 4850 Big Island Drive. 645-5571. $$

SAN JOSE

ATHENS CAFÉ F Serving authentic Greek cuisine: lamb, seafood, veal and pasta dishes. BW. L & D, daily. 6271 St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 7. 733-1199. $$ CRUISERS GRILL F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Beaches.

5613 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 1. 737-2874. $ DICK’S WINGS F NASCAR-themed family style sports place serves wings, buffalo tenders, burgers and chicken sandwiches. CM. BW. L & D, daily. 1610 University Blvd. W. 448-2110. dickswingsandgrill.com $ MOJO BAR-B-QUE F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Pulled pork, brisket and North Carolina-style barbecue. TO, BW. L & D, daily. 1607 University Blvd. W. 732-7200. $$

SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK

BASIL THAI & SUSHI F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Authentic Thai cuisine at Basil Thai includes pad Thai, a variety of curry dishes and sushi, served in a relaxing atmosphere. L & D, Mon.-Sat. BW. 1004 Hendricks Ave. 674-0190. $$ bb’s F A bistro menu is served in an upscale atmosphere, featuring almond-crusted calamari, tuna tartare and wild mushroom pizza. FB. L & D, Mon.-Fri.; Br. & D, Sat. 1019 Hendricks Ave. 306-0100. $$$ BISTRO AIX F The varied menu features French, Mediterranean-inspired fare, award-winning wines, woodfired pizzas, house-made pastas, steaks, seafood. Dine indoors or out. FB. L, Mon.-Fri.; D, nightly. 1440 San Marco Blvd. 398-1949. $$$ CHECKER BBQ & SEAFOOD F Chef Art Jennette serves barbecue, seafood and comfort food, including pulled-pork, fried white shrimp and fried green tomatoes. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 3566 St. Augustine Rd. 398-9206. $ EUROPEAN STREET F Big sandwiches, soups, desserts and more than 100 bottled and on-tap beers. BW. L & D, daily.

1704 San Marco Blvd. 398-9500. $ THE GROTTO Best of Jax 2012 winner. Wine by the glass. The

innovative tapas-style menu at The Grotto offers a cheese plate, empanadas bruschetta and chocolate fondue. BW. 2012 San Marco Blvd. 398-0726. $$ HAVANA-JAX CAFÉ/CUBA LIBRE BAR LOUNGE *Bite Club Certified! F Authentic Latin American fine dining: picadillo, ropa vieja, churrasco tenderloin steak, Cuban sandwiches.

L & D, Mon.-Sat. CM, FB. 2578 Atlantic Blvd. 399-0609. $ MATTHEW’S Chef’s tasting menu or seasonal à la carte menu featuring an eclectic mix of Mediterranean ingredients.

Dress is business casual, jackets optional. FB. D, Mon.-Sat. 2107 Hendricks Ave. 396-9922. $$$$ METRO DINER F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Historic 1930s diner offers award-winning breakfast and lunch. Fresh seafood and Southern cooking. Bring your own wine. B & L, daily. 3302 Hendricks Ave. 398-3701. $$ THE OLIVE TREE MEDITERRANEAN GRILLE F Homestyle healthy plates: hummus, tebouleh, grape leaves, gyros, potato salad, kibbeh, spinach pie and Greek salad, along with daily specials. L & D, Mon.-Fri. 1705 Hendricks Ave. 396-2250. $$ PIZZA PALACE Dino F All of the Pizza Palace locations feature a variety of homemade dishes made from Mama’s awardwinning recipes, including spinach pizza and chicken-spinach calzones.

BW. L & D, daily. 1959 San Marco Blvd. 399-8815. $$ PULP The juice bar has fresh juices, frozen yogurt, teas and coffees; 30 smoothies, with flavored soy milks, organic frozen yogurt and granola. Daily. 1962 San Marco Blvd. 396-9222. $ RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE Best of Jax 2012 winner.

Ruth’s serves Midwestern prime beef, fresh seafood, in an upscale atmosphere. FB. D, daily. 1201 Riverplace Blvd.

396-6200. $$$$ SAKE HOUSE #2 JAPANESE GRILL & SUSHI BAR F See Riverside. 1478 Riverplace Blvd. 306-2188. $$ SAN MARCO DELI F Independently owned & operated classic diner serves grilled fish, turkey burgers. Vegetarian options. Mon.-Sat. 1965 San Marco Blvd. 399-1306. $ TAVERNA Tapas, small-plate items, Neapolitan-style woodfired pizzas and entrées are served in a rustic yet upscale interior. BW, TO. L & D, Tue.-Sat. 1986 San Marco Blvd.

398-3005. $$$ VINO’S PIZZA F See Julington. This location offers a lunch buffet. L & D, daily. 1430 San Marco Blvd. 683-2444. $

SOUTHSIDE

AROMAS BEER HOUSE Faves include ahi tuna with a sweet soy sauce reduction, backyard burger, triple-meat French dip.

FB. L & D, daily. 4372 Southside Blvd. 928-0515. $$ BISTRO 41° F Casual dining – fresh, homemade breakfast and lunch dishes in a relaxing atmosphere. TO. B & L, Mon.Fri. 3563 Philips Hwy., Ste. 104. 446-9738. $ BLUE BAMBOO Contemporary Asian-inspired cuisine includes rice-flour calamari, seared Ahi tuna, pad Thai. Street

eats: barbecue duck, wonton crisps. BW. L, Mon.-Fri.; D, Mon.-Sat. 3820 Southside Blvd. 646-1478. $$ BUCA DI BEPPO Italian dishes are served family-style in an eclectic, vintage setting. Half-pound meatballs are a specialty.

CM, FB. L & D, daily. 10334 Southside Blvd. 363-9090. $$$ CORNER BISTRO & WINE BAR F Casual fine dining.

The menu blends modern American favorites served with international flair. FB. L & D, Tue.-Sun. 9823 Tapestry Park Circle, Ste. 1. 619-1931. $$$ EUROPEAN STREET F See San Marco. 5500 Beach Blvd.

398-1717. $ FIVE GUYS BURGERS & FRIES Best of Jax 2012 winner. See St. Johns Town Ctr. 9039 Southside Blvd. 538-9100. $ THE FLAME BROILER F Serving food with no transfat, MSG, frying, or skin on meat. Fresh veggies, brown or white rice, with grilled beef, chicken, Korean short ribs. CM, TO. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 9822 Tapestry Park Circle, Ste. 103. 619-2786.

7159 Philips Hwy., Ste. 104. 337-0007. $ GREEK ISLES CAFE Authentic Greek, American and Italian fare, including gyros, spinach pie and Greek meatballs.

Homemade breads, desserts. House specialties are eggs benedict and baklava. BW, CM., TO. B, L & D, Mon.-Sat. 7860 Gate Parkway, Ste. 116. 564-2290. $ HALA CAFE & BAKERY F Since 1975 serving house-baked pita bread, kabobs, falafel and daily lunch buffet. TO, BW. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 4323 University Blvd. S. 733-5141. $$ JENKINS QUALITY BARBECUE See Downtown. 2025 Emerson St. 346-3770. $ JOHNNY ANGELS F The menu reflects its ’50s-style décor, including Blueberry Hill pancakes, Fats Domino omelet, Elvis special combo platter. Shakes, malts. B, L & D, daily. 3546 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S., Ste. 120. 997-9850. $ LA NOPALERA F Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Intracoastal.

8206 Philips Hwy. 732-9433. $ LIME LEAF F Authentic Thai cuisine: fresh papaya salad, pad Thai, mango sweet rice. BW. L, Mon.-Fri.; D, Mon.-Sat. 9822 Tapestry Park Cir., Stes. 108 & 109. 645-8568. $$ MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS *Bite Club Certified! F Best of Jax 2012 winner. Tossed spring water dough, lean meats, veggies, vegetarian choices for specialty pizzas, hoagies, calzones. FB. L & D, daily. 9734 Deer Lake Ct. 997-1955. $ MONROE’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ See Riverside. 10771 Beach Blvd. 996-7900. $$ OTAKI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE F Family-owned with an open sushi bar, hibachi grill tables and an open kitchen. Dine indoor or out. FB, CM, TO. L, Mon.-Fri.; D, nightly. 7860 Gate Parkway, Stes. 119-122. 854-0485. $$$ SAKE SUSHI F Serving sushi, hibachi, teriyaki, tempura, katsu and soups. Popular rolls include Fuji Yama, Ocean Blue, Fat Boy. FB, CM. L & D, daily. 8206 Philips Hwy., Ste. 31. 647-6000. $$ SEVEN BRIDGES GRILLE & BREWERY F Innovative menu of fresh local grilled seafood, sesame tuna, grouper Oscar, chicken, steak and pizza. Microbrewed ales and lagers. FB. L & D, daily. 9735 Gate Pkwy. N., Tinseltown. 997-1999. $$ SOUTHSIDE ALE HOUSE F Steaks, seafood, sandwiches.

CM, FB. L & D, daily. 9711 Deer Lake Court. 565-2882. $$ SPECKLED HEN TAVERN & GRILLE F This gastropub serves Southern-style fare; dishes pair with international wines and beers, including a selection of craft , IPA brews. FB. L & D, daily. 9475 Philips Hwy., Ste. 16. 538-0811. $$ 360° GRILL F Latitude 30’s 360° Grill serves familiar favorites, including seafood, steaks, sandwiches, burgers, chicken, pasta and pizza. Dine inside or on the patio. FB. L & D, daily. 10370 Philips Hwy. 365-5555. $$ TASTE FOOD STUDIO TASTE specializes in high-end, higher quality, scratch-made fare, creating upscale dishes with a TASTEfully new twist on global cuisine and American favorites. FB, CM. L & D, daily. 9726 Touchton Rd. 415-2992. $$$ TAVERNA YAMAS Best of Jax 2012 winner. *Bite Club

Certified! The Greek restaurant serves char-broiled kabobs, seafood and traditional Greek wines and desserts. FB. L & D daily. 9753 Deer Lake Court. 854-0426. $$ TOMMY’S BRICK OVEN PIZZA F Premium New York-style pizza from a brick-oven – the area’s original gluten-free pizzeria. Calzones, soups, salads; Thumann’s no-MSG meats, Grande cheeses, Boylan soda. BW. L & D, Mon.-Sat. 4160 Southside Blvd., Ste. 2. 565-1999. $$ TOSSGREEN F The new “fast-casual” restaurant has custom salads, burritos or burrito bowls with fresh ingredients: fruits, vegetables, 100% natural chicken breast, sirloin, shrimp, tofu, nuts, cheeses, dressings, sauces, salsas. Popular items include Sunshine Shrimp and Chopped Royale. Frozen yogurt, too. CM. L & D, daily. 4375 Southside Blvd., Ste. 12. 619-4356. $ URBAN ORGANICS Local organic co-op has seasonal fresh organic produce. Mon.-Sat. 5325 Fairmont St. 398-8012. $ WATAMI ASIAN FUSION F AYCE sushi, as well as teppanyaki grill items. Rolls include the Jaguar, dynamite, lobster and soft-shell crab. FB, CM. L & D, daily. 9041 Southside Blvd., Ste. 138C. 363-9888. $$ WILD WING CAFÉ F 33 flavors of wings, as well as soups, sandwiches, wraps, ribs, platters and burgers. FB. 4555 Southside Blvd. 998-9464. $$ YUMMY SUSHI F Serving teriyaki, tempura, hibachi-style dinners, sushi and sashimi. Sushi lunch roll special. BW, sake.

L & D, daily. 4372 Southside Blvd. 998-8806. $$

SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE

BOSTON’S RESTAURANT & SPORTSBAR *Bite Club Certified! F A full menu of sportsbar faves is served; pizzas till 2 a.m. Dine inside or on the patio. FB, TO. L & D, daily. 13070 City Station Dr., River City Marketplace.

751-7499. $$ CASA MARIA F Best of Jax 2012 winner. The family-owned restaurant serves authentic Mexican fare, including fajitas and seafood. The specialty is tacos de azada. CM, FB. L & D, daily. 12961 N. Main St., Ste. 104. 757-6411. $$ FIVE GUYS BURGERS & FRIES Best of Jax 2012 winner. See St. Johns Town Ctr. 13249 City Square Dr., 751-9711. $ GOLDEN CORRAL Best of Jax 2012 winner. See Intracoastal.

7043 Normandy Blvd. 378-3688. $ JENKINS QUALITY BARBECUE See Downtown. 5945 New Kings Rd. 765-8515. $ JOSEPH’S PIZZA & ITALIAN RESTAURANT F Gourmet pizzas, pastas. Authentic Italian entrees. BW. L & D, daily.

7316 N. Main St. 765-0335. $$ MILLHOUSE STEAKHOUSE F Locally-owned-and-operated steakhouse with choice steaks from the signature broiler, and seafood, pasta, Millhouse gorgonzola, homemade desserts.

CM, FB. D, nightly. 1341 Airport Rd. 741-8722. $$ ORANGE TREE HOT DOGS Best of Jax 2012. See Intracoastal West. 840 Nautica Dr., River City Marketplace, Ste. 125.

751-6006. $ SALSARITA’S FRESH CANTINA F Southwest cuisine made from scratch; family atmosphere. CM, BW. L & D, daily. 840 Nautica Dr., Ste. 131, River City Marketplace. 696-4001. $ THE SAVANNAH BISTRO F The varied menu features Mediterranean and French-inspired Low Country fare including crab cakes, New York strip steak, she crab soup and mahi mahi. CM, FB. B, L & D, daily. 14670 Duval Rd. Crowne Plaza Airport. 741-4404. $-$$$ THREE LAYERS CAFE F This cozy place serves lunch, bagels, desserts. Adjacent Cellar serves fine wines. Inside and courtyard dining. BW. B, L & D, daily. 1602 Walnut St., Springfield. 355-9791. $ UPTOWN MARKET *Bite Club Certified! F At corner of Third & Main, serving fresh fare made with the same élan that rules Burrito Gallery. Innovative breakfast, lunch and deli selections. BW, TO. 1303 Main St. N. 355-0734. $$

WINE TASTINGS ANJO LIQUORS 5 p.m. every Thur. 9928 Old Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 1, 646-2656 AROMAS CIGAR & WINE BAR Call for schedule.

4372 Southside Blvd., 928-0515 BLACK HORSE WINERY 3-7 p.m. Mon.-Thur., 2-10 p.m. Fri. & Sat., 2-6 p.m. Sun. 420 Kingsley Ave., Orange Park, 644-8480 BLUE BAMBOO 5:30 p.m. every first Thur. 3820 Southside Blvd., 646-1478 THE GIFTED CORK Daily. 64 Hypolita St., St. Augustine, 810-1083 THE GROTTO 6 p.m. every Thur. 2012 San Marco Blvd., 398-0726 MONKEY’S UNCLE LIQUORS 5 p.m. every Fri. 1850 S. Third St., Jax Beach, 246-1070 OCEAN 60 6 p.m. every Mon. 60 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-0060 RIVERSIDE LIQUORS 5 p.m. every Fri. 1035 Park St., Five Points, 356-4517 ROYAL PALM VILLAGE WINES & TAPAS 5 p.m. every Mon., Wed. & Fri. 296 Royal Palms Drive, Atlantic Beach, 372-0052

THE TASTING ROOM 6 p.m. every first Tue. 25 Cuna St., St. Augustine, 810-2400 TASTE OF WINE Daily. 363 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 9, Atlantic Beach, 246-5080 TIM’S WINE MARKET 5-7 p.m. every Fri., noon-5 every Sat. 278 Solana Rd., Ponte Vedra, 686-1741 128 Seagrove Main St., St. Augustine Beach, 461-0060 III FORKS PRIME STEAKHOUSE 5-7 p.m. every Winedown Wed. 9822 Tapestry Circle, Ste. 111, SJTC, 928-9277 TOTAL WINE & MORE Noon-6 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. 4413 Town Center Pkwy., Ste. 300, 998-1740 WINE WAREHOUSE 4 p.m. every Fri. 665 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 246-6450 4434 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, 448-6782 W90+ 5 p.m. every Thur. 1112 Third St. S., Jax Beach, 413-0027 1 p.m. every Sat. 9210 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 4, Mandarin, 503-2348 5 p.m. every Fri. 3548 St. Johns Ave., Avondale, 413-0025

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 41

Advertising proof this is a copyright protected proof ©

s, please call your advertising representative at 260-9770. rUn dAte: 052912 OOF IF POSSIBLE AT 268-3655

benefit

sUpport

Ask for Action

Produced by ed

Checked by

Sales Rep

FreeWill Astrology

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the course of her world travels, writer Jane Brunette has seen many wonderful things — and a lot of trash. The most beautiful litter, she says, is in Bali. She loves the “woven palm leaf offerings, colorful cloth left from a ceremony and flowers that dry into exquisite wrinkles of color.” Even shiny candy wrappers strewn on the roadside are fun to behold. Your assignment? Adopt a perceptual filter like Brunette’s. Is there any stuff others see as worthless or outworn that you may find useful, interesting or even charming? I mean metaphorically as well as literally.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The Old Testament tells the story of Methuselah, who supposedly died when he was 969 years old. Some Kabbalistic commentators suggest he didn’t literally walk the earth for almost 10 centuries, but that he was quite skilled in the arts of living. His experiences were profoundly rich. He packed 969 years’ worth of meaningful adventures into a normal life span. I buy that interpretation, and I’m using it as I assess your future. According to my astrological omen analysis, you have Methuselah’s talent in the weeks ahead.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In the weeks ahead, I expect your life to verge on being epic and majestic. There’s a better than even chance you’ll do something heroic. You may finally activate a dormant potential, tune in to a future power spot or learn what you’ve never been able to grasp. If you capitalize gracefully on the kaleidoscopic kismet flowing your way, you make a discovery to fuel you for the rest of your long life. In mythical terms, you create a new Grail or tame a troublesome dragon — or both.

©

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Jackalopes resemble jackrabbits, but they have antlers like deer and tails like pheasants. They love whiskey, only have sex during storms, and can mimic most sounds, even the human voice. The female’s milk has curative properties. However, the jackalope doesn’t really exist. It’s a legendary beast, like mermaids and unicorns. Yet Wyoming lawmakers are going to honor it. They’ve begun the process of making it the state’s official mythical creature. It’s time to choose your official mythical creature. The evocative presence of this fantastic fantasy will inspire your imagination to work more freely and playfully; 2012 just what you need. What’ll it be? Dragon? Sphinx?

Phoenix? A list: tinyurl.com/MythicCritters

FolioWeekly

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The temptation to hide what you’re feeling could be strong now.

You may wonder if you should protect yourself and others from unruly truth. According to my analysis, you’ll be most brilliant and effective if you’re cheerfully honest. That strategy provides genuine healing, too — even if its initial effects are unsettling. It’s not enough to communicate easy secrets with polite courage; tap into the deepest sources you know and unveil the whole story with buoyantly bold elegance.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The word “chain” may refer to something that confines or restricts, but it can also mean a series of people linked together due to common interests and their desire to create strength through unity. One of those two definitions plays an important role in your life in the weeks ahead. Proceed with an intention to emphasize the second meaning, to minimize and maybe even eliminate the first.

42 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Swedes used to drive cars on the left-hand side of the road, but a growing body of research revealed it’d be better if everyone drove on the right-hand side. So on Sept.

3, 1967, the law changed. Everyone switched. All nonessential traffic was halted for hours to accommodate the adjustments. The results? Lots of them grumbled about having to alter routine behavior, but the transition was smooth. In fact, the accident rate went down. You benefit from a comparable ritual sometime soon. Which tradition or habit could use a fundamental revision?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): When a woman’s pregnant, her womb stretches dramatically, getting bigger to accommodate the growing fetus. You’ll undergo a metaphorically similar process in the weeks ahead. A new creation gestates, and you expand as it ripens. How? You’ll have to get smarter and more sensitive to give the care it needs. And you’ll have to increase your capacity for love. Don’t worry; you won’t have to do it all at once. “Little by little” is the key.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Do you floss your teeth while you’re meditating? Textmessage and shave or put on makeup as you drive? Do you simultaneously eat a meal, pay bills, watch TV and exercise? If so, you’re trying to move too fast and do too much. Even in normal times, that’s no good. Next week, it should be taboo. You need to slowwww wayyy dowwn. You’ve got … to compel yourself … to do … one thing … at a time. Not just because your mental, physical and spiritual health depend on it. Crucial realizations about your future are on the verge of popping into your awareness, but they pop only if you’re immersed in a calm, unhurried state.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): To make your part of the world a better place, stress-loving workaholics may need to collaborate with slow-moving underachievers. Serious business is best negotiated in places like bowling alleys or parking lots.

Consider seeking curious synergies and unexpected alliances. It’s an odd grace period. Don’t assume you already know how to captivate the imaginations of people whose influence you want. Be willing to have rare thoughts and feelings.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Gawker.com came up with colorful ways to describe actress Zooey Deschanel. In a weird coincidence, their pithy phrases for her seem to fit the moods and experiences you’ll soon have. You’re scheduled to have a Zooey-according-to-Gawker.com kind of week. Some themes: 1. Novelty ukulele tune. 2. Overemphatic stage wink. 3. Sentient glitter cloud. 4. Over-iced Funfetti cupcake. 5. Melted-bead craft project. 6. Animated Hipstamatic photograph. 7. Bambi’s rabbit friend. 8. Satchel of fairy dust.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You’ve heard the thundering exhortation, “Know thyself!” Its origin is ancient. More than 2,400 years ago, it was inscribed on the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece. As important as it is to obey, there’s an equally crucial corollary: “Be thyself!” Do you agree? Is there any experience more painful than not being who you really are? Any behavior more damaging to long-term happiness than trying to be someone other than who you really are? If there’s even the slightest gap, it’s time to close it. Cosmic forces align if you push hard to further identify your authentic self, then take aggressive steps see its full bloom.

Rob Brezsny freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

YOGI-BICYCLIST, BE MY VALENTINE? Early Valentine’s Day morning (like before 8 a.m. early), you rode your bicyle on Southside Blvd. confidently through rain, guarding your gaze under a big straw hat. Glasses, scruff intrigued; yoga mat strapped to the back caught my eye.

Me: Casual Jeep driver I doubt you noticed. Let’s take yoga class; get limber together. When: Feb. 14. Where: Southside

by JTB. #1191-0220 PURPLE PANTS You: Purple pantsed goddess with the gift of gab and a love of whiskey. Me: Too shy guy who loves BBQ. How come you never called? Would love to pull some pork together sometime. When: Dec. 2012. Where: Mojo No. 4. #1191-0220 BURRITO EATING BOY You: Red shirt, half-sleeve, tall, handsome. Me: Long red hair, reading. We made eye contact while you waited in line. I instantly regretted leaving without saying anything.

Single? I wish I’d invited you to sit with me. Maybe I’ll see you again? Same time, same Chipotle! When: Feb. 12. 6:30 p.m. Where: Chipotle, Town Center. #1190-0220 MY CARMELIZED LATIN GODDESS ISU reading I Saw U. You said hello; I knew right then and there you are the one. I want to take you back to my studio apartment and share a romantic evening of World of Warcraft, while sipping cold bubbly Zimas and playing with my 12 cats. You complete me. When: Feb. 11. Where: Metro under JOI building. #1189-0220 TALL DARK AND GORGEOUS IN WALMART Me: Curvy brunette; grey pants/black shirt. You: Tall, dark, gorgeous; jeans, green T-shirt. We locked eyes by the paints; I realized you were behind me at checkout! I said a prayer that you’d catch up outside, but you disappeared!

You took my breath away with chocolate skin tone, manly presence. Be my Valentine? When: Jan. 28. Where: Walmart @ Beach/Hodges. #1188-0213.

MONARCH OF THE SEAS We were on a Bahamas cruise together on the Monarch of the Seas, Jan. 14-18. We talked at Windjammer Café, met again on a Nassau street. You were with traveling companion. I wanted to know you better; there wasn’t time/ opportunity! ISU with cool tattoos at the pool! I’m from Arlington, VA; like to connect. When: Jan. 14-18. Where: Monarch of the Seas cruise. #1187-0213 HEY K I saw you dancing alone like you meant it. Your red hair was so beautiful. You looked at me a few times, my heart felt alive. I was the dark-haired gentleman drinking a New Castle. Let’s do this again. Every Thursday. When: Jan. 30.

Where: Birdies. #1186-0213

in rush hour. You obviously live dangerously. Bike ride sometime? When: Jan. 22. Where: Philips Hwy. #1182-0130 SECURITY CHECK-IN Long, dark hair, blue jeans, many bags. Beautiful face and smile. Think French speaking. Would love to talk.

Disappointed I didn’t see you again. When: Jan. 13. Where: Geneva Airport. #1181-0130 BEAUTY HIDDEN IN THE FOLDS Saw you in the VIP section at Pure and walked up to you when we first locked eyes. I thought you were beautiful.

Long-haired brunette dancing with her friends wearing a black dress. I asked you if you were with anyone twice and you told me no. When: Jan. 11. Where: Pure Night Club. #1179-0116 RED LIPS HOTTIE IN THE HARLEY SHIRT Hey girl, I saw you from afar eating that taco and disgusting beer; couldn’t help but wonder who you were. I’ve seen you around town. Maybe I’ll see you at the Terror, H2O show. I love Harley Davidson. When: Jan. 2. Where: Burrito Gallery Downtown. #1179-0116 STARBUCKS, LEATHER JACKET, BEAUTIFUL This is more of a saw you once, then had coffee. You: Wearing awesome black leather jacket, boots that could’ve laced up to your knee, and your hair down. I walked by once, forgot why I was there or who I was meeting. I introduced myself; we spent two hours walking and talking.

Will you see me again? When: Jan. 7. Where: Starbucks @ Casa Monica. #1178-0116 D.R. 4 EVER 2008 I saw you in your snap on truck. You are the love of my life.

When: January, 2013. Where: Southside. #1177-0116 MOONWALKING BY THE RIVER You: Beautiful blue-eyed blond dressed up like the Thriller video walking down by the river on Christmas day. Me: ’Stophee Davis’ trying to keep up with you and missing your angry mornings. Maybe you’ll let me be your breakfast king one last time? Omelets are waiting. When: Dec. 25. Where: San Marco. #1175-0109 CUTE CHEF You: Cute, short-haired, Spanish man with tattoo down one arm. Me: Leggy, long dark brown hair, with an hourglass body. I’ve jogged by your restaurant every afternoon and seen you a few times and wanted to tell you that though you are taken, you are SEXY. When: Oct. 2012. Where: Soups On @ Riverside. #1175-0109 GORGEOUS @ LSJH You: Stunning beautiful sandy blonde hair, lost trying to find

the cafeteria for orientation. Me: Guy that helped you find your way and got you the packet of papers. Would love you to get lost again, in my arms? When: May 2012. Where: Lakeside Junior High. #1174-0109 YESTERDAY’S Open mic night on Thursday. You: Playing your guitar and singing the sweetest songs. Can’t get your voice out of my head! Me: Baby-faced nerd in the corner with too many pitchers deep to compliment you. You can serenade me any Thursday! When: Dec. 27. Where: Yesterday’s. #1173-0109 LIQUID COFFEE COURAGE I come in to your job for the joe, but stay hoping to catch your name. You: Bearded blue-eyed babe with a pony tail.

Me: Red-haired honey latte drinker, with a friend who chatted with you about squash soap. I wish I was bolder, but I’m a shy bean. When: Dec. 29. Where: Bold Bean. #1172-0109 SUN IS SHINING DOWN Looked across to see those beautiful eyes wishing for a new day to see those again as they once were. You are the one and will always be. How many more days can you hold out? Let’s see those eyes again. When: Dec. 24. Where: Jerry’s. #1171-0109 GOOD LOOKIN’ AND BBQ COOKIN’ You: White coat, black sling backs, and a killer smile looking stylish while you ordered a 90% unsweet/10% sweet tea. Ha. Me: Tall, curly and funny, with an extra jacket. We shared a laugh over a crazy bag lady. Maybe we can meet again for a 90/10? When: Dec. 14. Where: Bono’s @ Town Center. #1170-0109 PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE & FOLIO WEEKLY We sat at the same table and you said you were cold. I let you borrow my jacket and you warmed up. We ended up doing a crossword puzzle together and had a really good time. Maybe do some more sometime? When: Dec. 28.

Where: Starbucks @ Southside & Atlantic. #1169-0109 CAUGHT MY EYE AT NEW TOWN CENTER LOOP You: Tall, dark haired, thirty-something guy dining alone on Christmas Eve. Me: Meeting a friend for dinner. We exchanged glances, but nothing more. You’ve got me wondering. When: Dec. 23. Where: The Loop @ Town Center. #1159-0102 I ASKED IF YOUR CAT WAS YOUR DRIVER We were filling up; I saw a cute orange cat behind the wheel. You: Long blond hair, really cute smile. We wished each other a Merry Christmas before you left. Can’t get you off my mind. I’d like to see you again in 2013. When: Dec. 23. Where: Gate Gas Station. #1158-0102

BLUE SMURF! You: Wearing a suit, with piercing, twinkling blue eyes. Me: Coral dress with my twin. I couldn’t tell you if I loved you the first moment I saw you, or if it was the second, third or fourth. But I remember the first moment I saw you walking toward me and realized the world seemed to vanish when I was with you. When: April 20. Where: Cummer Museum. #1168-1225 DAN DEACON CONCERT @ UNDERBELLY You: Comfortably dressed, short brunette. Me: Relatively tall, wearing a beanie and a gray shirt with cats on it. Made eye contact often during Grand Buffet; came close to being human tunnel buddies. Too out of my mind to introduce myself; seemed you were, too. Coffee when we’re back down to earth? When: Dec. 9. Where: Underbelly. #1167-1218 RETURNED MONEY I actually didn’t see you. When I returned from grocery shopping, you put a note in my window: “Found this by your door – guess it’s yours. Merry Christmas. :)” Inside was $40 that dropped from my pocket. Just when I thought there were no decent people left in the world, you restored my faith in humanity. Thank you. When: Dec. 8. Where: Publix @ Beach & San Pablo. #1165-1218 NY GIANT DECORATED CAR You: In a black car with 2 NY Giant decals on back window, front NY plate, NY head rest. Me: In white Hyundai Tiburon with NY front license plate cover, NY decal behind driver window. We exchanged grins of approval. Had to get to work; missed my chance. Maybe we can catch a G-men game. When: Dec. 5. Where: I-95. #1165-1211 COOL WHITE JEEP DRIVER Parked side by side at Marsh Landing Publix, did some groceries, met at the checkout lane. You were next to me again, and left at the same time. Your pants look adorable on you and I noticed you didn’t have a ring. Want to meet?

Can’t wait :) When: Dec. 2. Where: Publix @ Marsh Landing. #1164-1211 YOU GAVE ME DANCE LESSONS Me: Blonde, tall and boots. You: Plaid shirt and boots and doing the electric slide. We chit-chatted and you taught me some dance steps. How about a private lesson??? When: Dec. 1. Where: Crazy Horse. #1163-1211 OWL EYES ON YOU You: Brunette working at Target. Me: Redhead in black glasses asking about Barnies coffee. Wish I would have had the courage to kiss you on the spot; maybe we will share a cup one morning. When: Nov. 27. Where: Target @ Beach & Hodges. #1162-1211

YOU DON’T CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY ISU at Roosevelt Publix shopping with a little girl. I overheard you tell her you didn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. It made me a little sad. If you’re upset, I wish you wouldn’t be. You’re a pretty lady; you seem like a nice mom, too. I just wanted you to know that. When: Jan. 23. Where: Publix @ Roosevelt. #1383-0206 BLONDE STUD AT MARY’S You: Teal T-shirt and white sunglasses; hot chick with a birthday party crowd. Me: Sitting in the corner behind you with my girls. I was too shy to interrupt but maybe grab a drink and show at Mary’s soon?? When: Jan. 26. Where: Hamburger Mary’s. #1384-0206 SEXY MALE WITH A BROKEN WING ISU leaving weekly physical therapy appointment. You: Taller, grayish hair, driving a truck. Black sling on right arm/shoulder. I watch you come and go through my office window. Single? Love to meet for coffee or happy hour one day. Me: 30-ish, petite brunette, shapely. Admiring you from afar... When: Jan. 21, 23. Where: 5 Star Therapy. #1385-0206 RIDING YOUR MTB ON PHILIPS HWY. I was stuck in traffic and we kept passing each other, me in an SUV and you on a sweet hardtail Specialized mountain bike. I like your daring in riding down Philips Highway

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 43

FOR SALE

SPORTING GOODS 5’10” Channel Island Surfboard $350, Call Brian, (555)555-5555

EMPLOYMENT

GENERAL EMPLOYMENT

HELP WANTED!!! MAKE $1,000 A WEEK Mailing brochures from home! FREE Supplies! Helping Home Workers since 2001! Genuine Opportunity! No Experience required. Start Immediately! www.mailing-usa.com (AAN CAN) $$$HELP WANTED$$$ EXTRA INCOME! Assembling CD cases from Home! No Experience Necessary!

Call our Live Operators Now! 1-800-405-7619 EXT. 2450. http://www.easywork-greatpay.com (AAN CAN) PAID IN ADVANCE! MAKE UP TO $1000 A WEEK Mailing brochures from home! Helping Home Workers since 2001! Genuine Opportunity! No Experience required. Start Immediately! www.mailing-station.com (AAN CAN)

RESTAURANTS/BARS/HOTELS ZODIAC GRILL IS CURRENTLY TAKING APPLICATIONS For part-time servers and cashiers. If interested apply in person at The Zodiac Grill, 120 W. Adams St., from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Mon-Fri. No phone calls please!

TAVERNA YAMAS AND YAMAS HOOKAH ARE NOW HIRING Experienced Servers and Bartenders. Must apply in person at Taverna Yamas, 9753 Deer Lake Court, Jacksonville, FL 32246 between the hours of 2 pm and 4 pm. No emails or phone calls please.

SALES/RETAIL

PART-TIME POSITION AVAILABLE We are looking for an organized, self-motivated, customer service based and detail oriented sales associate with retail experience and an innate interest in fashion. This candidate must be able to multi-task and deliver great customer service with excellent communication skills, verbal and written. Our retail/consignment shop is located near downtown Jacksonville. Please email your resume with work experience, availability and references to Melinda at customerservice@thesnob.biz.

STORE MANAGER POSITION AVAILABLE With growing natural foods market in Fernandina Beach for high energy, experienced candidate. Competitive base salary, bonus potential and benefits. Send resume and references to naturalfoodsstoremanager@gmail.com

44 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

EDUCATION

CAREER TRAINING

BE A U.S. MERCHANT MARINER Work on ships. No exp. necessary. Travel - room & board. $4,000 to $6,000 entry level monthly. For more info go to www.BeaMerchantMarine.com SEARCHING FOR A CAREER IN THE MEDICAL FIELD? Train as a MEDICAL ASSISTANT! Call Now! 800.761.7504 Kaplan College Jacksonville Campus Information about programs at www.go.kcjacksonville.com WANT TO HELP PEOPLE? Start training for a career today in NURSING! Call Now! 800.761.7504 Kaplan College Jacksonville Campus Information about programs at www.go.kcjacksonville.com

RENTALS

FURNISHED APARTMENTS

DOWNTOWN Efficiencies and rooms fully furnished. All utilities included: lights, water, gas. $100-$150/weekly + deposit. Call from 7:30 to 7:30 at (904) 866-1850.

OFFICE/COMMERCIAL

FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD COWORKING COFFEE SHOP IN JACKSONVILLE. NOW OPEN. Grab a spacious desk with a comfortable, ergonomic chair while enjoying free gourmet coffee and WiFi/Cat 6 Internet for as low as $10/day!

Go to Office Coffee Shop, 2932 University Blvd. W., #1, Jax, FL 32217. (Across the street from Publix, next door to Subway.) For more info, go to OfficeCoffeeShop.biz or call (904) 527-8383.

UPSCALE OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE OR PURCHASE Excellent location just off the corner of Belfort Road & Gate Parkway West. St. Vincent’s Southside Hospital Labor &

Delivery Unit within walking distance. Approx. 5,500 sq. ft., interior decorated office space designed for physician office use. 904-281-9887.

OFFICE SUITES MONTH TO MONTH $299 Free Utilities, Internet, 24/7 access, Conference Room, Kitchen. High profile and secure location (Blanding @ I-295) For more information and availability, 904-651-4444, Neal.

ROOMMATES

ALL AREAS - ROOMMATES.COM Browse hundreds of online listings with photos and maps.

Find your roommate with a click of the mouse! Visit: http:// www.Roommates.com. (AAN CAN)

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE MANUFACTURED HOMES

PALM HARBOR FACTORY LIQUIDATION SALE 3 Stock models must go $39k off select 2012 models John Lyons 800-622-2832 | ext. 210

SERVICE DIRECTORY LEGAL

HAVE YOU LOST YOUR RIGHT TO OWN FIREARMS? Call Anthony Blackburn, Attorney At Law, 904-887-0013.

4812 San Juan Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32210.

FOR SALE

AUTOS/MOTORCYCLES

CASH FOR CARS Any Car/Truck. Running or Not! Top Dollar Paid. We Come To You! Call For Instant Offer: 1-888-4203808. www.cash4car.com (AAN CAN)

GARAGE/YARD SALES

A GRANADA ESTATE YARD SALE SAN JOSE AREA Ladies dream sale FRI.-SAT. 2/22-23 8:30a.m.-3:30p.m.

4040 Alcazar Ave. (904) 625-4041. Women’s upscale designer clothing: St. Johns, Escada, Gucci, Balenciaga, Neiman Marcus, Ellen Tracy! Jewelry: Swarovski collection.

Accessories, shoes, handbags, hats. Perfumes, cosmetics: La Prairie, Estee Lauder, Chanel, Lancôme, Clinique and more!!!

ADULT SINGLES SCENE CHAT LINES

WHERE 2 GUYS MEET Browse Ads & Reply FREE! 904-721-9999 Use FREE Code 7913, 18+.

MEET GAY & BI WOMEN Listen to Ads & Reply FREE! 904-721-9999 Use Code 7914, 18+.

HOT LOCAL SINGLES Send Messages FREE! 904-721-7000 Use FREE Code 7915, 18+.

FIND FRIENDS & MORE Browse & Respond FREE! 904-721-7000 FREE CODE 7916, 18+.

Florida’s Finest Jeweler SAN MARCO 2044 SAN MARCO BLVD. 398-9741

PONTE VEDRA

SOUTHSIDE

330 A1A NORTH 280-1202

10300 SOUTHSIDE BLVD. 394-1390

THE SHOPPES OF PONTE VEDRA

AVENUES MALL

Sorry, Wrong Letter 82 Quit 1 7 13 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 29 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 47 49 52 57 59 60 61 64 65 68 69 70 72 73 74 75 80

ACROSS Bread, milk or eggs Hash-prep needs Hognose snakes Birthplace of Sammy Davis Jr. Napoli’s nation It may be hard to keep Option for first-time offenders?

Creator of Earthquake McGoon Pundit Colmes Symbolic hugs Knee-ankle connector What’s behind the shortage of substitute chocolate?

Getting-in guess, briefly Roy of country music Fashion monogram Buccaneer’s assent Life, in Lille Soon, in sonnets “___ old for this!”

Late-night fridge visits Fast train to NYC What the punch bowl always says before going to sleep?

Bird with a harsh cry Charity golf event, often Gulped bar drinks Sights in a bank?

Dumbstruck state Speaker’s “gift” Acting ensemble Plastic choice “___ kleine Nachtmusik” “Open sesame” sayer Suitable Brain membrane, the ___ mater Weaseled out of watching “The Nutcracker”?

Kagan of the Supreme Court 1

2

3

4

83 Mint’s target 84 Where Fran Drescher learned to act?

89 Tricky billiards shot 90 Corrected, as a football clock 91 Turkey day: abbr.

92 Change one’s story?

94 Dart board wood 95 Tokyo, before 1868 98 Table scrap 99 Squelched 101 Worthy of weeping 104 Parking sign for lastminute gift buyers?

109 Big name in foil 110 Uplifting topic?

111 Marketing intro 112 Cameron blockbuster 115 Java joint with twice the wake-up power?

122 Untimely end 123 Actress Wright of Hitchcock’s “Shadow of a Doubt” and Coppola’s “The Rainmaker” 124 Pleasant wind 125 Bring to light 126 Freed of wrinkles 127 Gave the raspberries DOWN 1 Retired, mustachioed film critic 2 Skier McKinney 3 Georgia Dome, e.g.

4 Work at 5 Fender of guitar fame 6 Green egg hatchling 7 Bit of inside info 8 Go at ___ (jog) 9 ___ chi 10 Urban rumblers 11 Hope-Crosby destination 12 Pole star?

13 “When I was young ...”

14 Not accidental 15 1983 Mr. T comedy 16 Mound stat

5

6

7

19 23

25

26

29

30

39

40

51 53 54 55 56 58 62 63 65 66 67 71

31

10

52

12

27 33

61

53

34

13

54

75 81

104

95 105

96

97

36

37

38

66

67

56

76

77

72

78

79

82

83 88 92

98 106

109

65

71

91

94

18

48

64

87

90

17

60

70

86

16

43 47

55

63

74

15

35

59

80

14

28

46

69

73

108 112 113 114 116 117 118 119 120 121

42

62

68

102 103 105 106 107

21

32

58

85

11

41

51

101

Sound sheepish? ___ window Comes to pass Scarcity Roams (about) Getting ready for battle Benz add-on Music genre, ___ rock Peach or pear, e.g.

Be the boss of The wife in “Babe” Call to a mate Hairy Asian giant Actor Cheadle Court order “Double Fantasy” artist Elaborate meal On ___ (commensurate) Historic 1894 film, “Fred Ott’s ___” Attorney Gloria Salon selections Betting odds, e.g.

Organ pipe et al.

Eligible for “The Biggest Loser” Bewhiskered frolicker Fruit drink ending Irritate Roadie’s burden Opposite of ’neath Back again Squishy lowland Transitive vb. follower Refinery input Cross-reference word

Solution to Cross Your Heart

45

57

84

50

72 74 76 77 78 79 80 81 84 85 86 87 88 93 96 97 99 100

24

44 50

9

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 44 45 46 48 49

Workout unit Longtime Indy sponsor Back of the neck Lost Frisbee’s place Nest egg letters Godzilla’s creator, Tomoyuki ___ Writer Umberto Like Masses, often Book on a pew Regard, in Rouen Drain woe Santana’s “___ Ways” Hill hire Capone pursuer Elite roster Fan’s fixation Cries of surprise Attack ___ Org. that recommends adoption Like Jack Benny’s persona Mach of number fame Chooses Mountain nymph Bigger-breadbox contents?

Depressing level Wishes one had Sultry singer Krall Joaquin’s “Walk the Line” co-star Oscar parties, often Acts as a lookout, say Come clean?

As above, in footnotes

20

22

49

8

17 18 22 23 28 30

AVONDALE 3617 ST. JOHNS AVE. 388-5406

99

89 93

100

101 102 103

107

108

110

111

112 113 114

115 116 117 118

119 120 121

122

123

124

125

126

127

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 45

News of the Weird

New of the Weird

Cutthroat Kids

An estimated 3.2 million kids, ages 5-12, take mixed-martial arts classes, training to give beatdowns à la the adults’ Ultimate Fighting Championships, according to a Jan. ESPN magazine item on swaggering, Mohawked Derek “Crazy” Rayfield, 11, and meek, doll-clutching Regina “The Black Widow” Awana, 7. Kids younger than 12 fight each other regardless of gender; blows above the collarbone are prohibited, as are attacks on the groin, kidneys and back. “Crazy” was described doing forearm chest smashes on a foe before a referee intervened; The Black Widow won her match in less than a minute via arm-bar submission. Two types of parental involvement have emerged: fear of their kid being hurt or encouragement to be meaner.

Breaking Bad and Fast!

Tyrone Harris, 26, reported for his first shift at Dunkin’ Donuts in Morristown, N.J., in January and got his name tag. Seven minutes later, according to police, he was out the door with $2,100 from his supervisor’s desk. Seems the supervisor opened his drawer too far when getting the name tag, letting Harris see the cash.

Caste-offs

In a January plea to India’s Supreme Court, an association of the country’s caste councils begged for more sympathy for men who commit “honor killings” of “wayward” females. The councils deny encouraging such killings, but emphasize that fathers or brothers who murder a daughter or sister are usually “law-abiding, educated and respectable people” protecting their reputations after a female has had a “forbidden” relationship — especially a female who intends to marry within her sub-caste, which the councils believe leads to deformed babies.

Hellish Helicopter Parents

Aubrey Ireland, 21, a dean’s-list senior at University of Cincinnati’s prestigious college of music, went to court in December to protect herself from two stalkers — her mother and father, who, she said, were paranoiacally meddling in her life. David and Julie Ireland put tracking devices on Aubrey’s computer and phone and showed up unannounced on campus (600 miles from home), telling officials Aubrey was promiscuous and mentally imbalanced. A Common Pleas Court judge ordered the parents to keep their distance.

Medium-tech Warfare

The mostly rag-tag Syrian rebel army fighting the Assad regime unveiled its first armored vehicle in December. The amalgamated Sham II is made up of an old diesel car with cameras afixed for navigation, a machine gun mounted on a turret with a driver looking at one flatscreen TV and a gunner another, aiming the machine gun via a Sony PlayStation controller.

ESPN Enters Drone War

Drone aircraft video transmissions topped 300,000 hours last year (compared to 4,800 in 2001). In December, anticipating input growth, Air Force officials admitted seeking advice from a private-sector company experienced in handling massive amounts of video: ESPN.

Even a Dog Can Drive It

Dog trainer Mark Vette showcased his work in New Zealand in December: dogs driving a Cooper Mini on a closed course. Using knobs 46 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013

fitted to the dogs’ reach, Vette taught mixedbreed rescue dogs Monty and Porter 10 actions, including handling the starter, steering wheel, gearshift, brakes and gas pedals, and then put them behind the wheel on live TV. Monty drove the straightaway flawlessly, but Porter, assigned to steer around a bend, ran off the road.

Stress Relief for Students

In November, students at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, ordered three therapy dogs and set up a room for “super stressed” final-exam studiers. Typically, the dogs are lent to hospital patients and senior citizens. In December, Cornell University staff installed a patch of grass inside Olin Library (trucked in from the Adirondack mountains) because, said an employee, the sight of it has a “cognitive relaxing effect.”

Oil Can Crook

Jorge Sanchez, 35, was arrested in Burbank, Calif., in February after walking into a Costco store, brazenly stuffing 24 quart cans of motor oil under his clothing (some affixed with bungee cords), and heading for the exit. A security guard noticed him, but Sanchez fled and actually outran the guard (though some of his cargo came loose). Still carrying 15 cans, he made it eight blocks before police overtook him. Sanchez said he services cars part-time and that motor oil prices were just too high.

Fibbing for Firearms

The issue of “background checks” for gun purchases occupies center stage in the current gun-regulation debate, even though, ironically, current federal law on such checks is apparently half-heartedly enforced. In the latest data available (from 2010), nearly 80,000 Americans were denied the right to purchase guns because their applications contained false information (even though applicants swear, under penalty of law, that all information is true). However, in January, The New York Times reported that of the nearly 80,000 applicants, only 44 were prosecuted for lying; federal officials said the practice, well-known among applicants with shaky backgrounds, is known as “lie and try.”

Brainwaves from Bieber

Lawrence Adamczyk, 49, was arrested in Riverside, Ill., in January after reports that he was loitering at Riverside Brookfield High School during a swim meet. Police said he was quite talkative in custody, admitting he was at the school to leer at boys (after being tipped off via “brainwave” messages from the singer Justin Bieber) and that moments before police arrived, he’d been engaged in a solo sex act. Amazingly, police found out that Adamczyk wasn’t on any sex offenders’ registry even though he’d been arrested (with at least one conviction) for similar incidents in 2005, 2009 and 2011, and was on parole at the time of the Riverside arrest.

Stanley Cup Congeniality

Sophie Laboissonniere pleaded guilty in January to participating in the 2011 street riot in Vancouver, British Columbia, as part of a crowd that broke into a drugstore following the hometown Canucks’ loss in the Stanley Cup finals. Months before the riot, in the Miss Coastal Vancouver beauty pageant, she’d been voted Miss Congeniality.

Chuck Shepherd weirdnews@earthlink.net

Backpage Editorial

The empty skeleton of the Berkman Plaza II Condominiums waits for a resolution. Photo: Mary T. Fouraker

Downtown Eyesore

What can be done to complete this troubled condominium project?

O

n Dec. 5, 2007, a man, who was a husband and father, was killed in a garage collapse.

The debris has long since been cleared, and the remainder of the garage has been torn down.

Once the issues with the garage were settled, the real estate market had gone south. There was no demand for condominiums. Now, an empty skeleton sits against the Jacksonville skyline.

Such are the issues with the Berkman Plaza II Condominiums at 500 E. Bay St. Currently, there’s an uncompleted tower instead of half a major Downtown housing complex. What can be done to complete this project and fill this vacant property?

According to a June 2012 Florida TimesUnion article, 91 percent of 651 downtown residential units are occupied and 89 percent of 890 condos are sold. At the end of 2011, 3,266 people were living downtown. The 2012 numbers are still being compiled at this time, though Downtown Vision expects no significant change.

Donald Harris, Downtown Investment Authority chairman, said downtown residential properties are currently at 110 percent occupancy and now’s the time to move forward to complete Berkman. He said the unfinished building is an eyesore and all the surrounding properties consider it a nuisance as it stands now. He said the city should move forward with all possible housing projects on the table to populate downtown as rapidly as possible.

A friend at The Peninsula Condos said only two units were available in the 37-story building as of Feb. 12. Downtown housing is certainly becoming popular. The unfinished Berkman property is supposed to add 206 units, yet it sits empty.

After the litigation involving the garage collapse was resolved, the developer apparently

was unable to complete the development. This may have been due to the housing collapse of 2007-’08. This may also be due to an unwillingness of the parties involved to work together on a solution.

The main lien holder, according to a jacksonville.com May 2011 story, is Wells Fargo Bank, which is owed $14.6 million. The bank won a breach of contract lawsuit against developer David Berkman, who had moved $23 million in liquid assets, including $15 million to back the loan from the collateral account, to a new corporation titled BTA Fund LLC. Another lien holder mentioned in the article is Chote Construction, which is owed $12 million. An arbitration panel has said that $10 million can be applied as a lien on the property. In addition, another jacksonville.com story lists $2.1 million in requested liens from subcontractors. This brings the total losses to just under $27 million.

The article also states that the city of

As the lead lien holder, Wells Fargo should offer the other parties 50 cents on the dollar to buy out their portion of the liens and then be willing to take up to a 50 percent loss on its part of the lien. If the property is sold at auction, all of the parties including Wells Fargo will be lucky to receive a few pennies on the dollar.

If Wells Fargo agrees to this deal, the total losses it suffered on the loan and from paying a 50 percent settlement on the other lienholders’ equity would be almost $21 million. This doesn’t have to be a loss for the bank. There’s an option that banks do not usually follow that should completely mitigate the loss. First, let’s look at the property status.

The condominiums are just short of being topped out. A new garage would need to be built to provide parking. If 2.2 spaces are provided per unit, that’s 454 spaces needed.

This assumes an average of one visitor for each 10 units during a given segment in time. The garage is the only major amenity needed.

Taking control of the distressed property and turning it around would be a way for Wells Fargo to show its commitment to support downtown redevelopment, plus mitigate its losses and the losses of the other Berkman II lien-holders.

Jacksonville provided $9.3 million in incentive money to the project. It must be remembered that city incentives are not the same as handing the developer a check. The incentives are usually tax breaks amortized over a period of 10-30 years, depending on the incentive package. The exception was The Shipyards (but that’s another story). The city should not “lose” $9.3 million due to Berkman II’s problems.

Berkman I has tennis courts, a swimming pool and a marina. All of these amenities are within a couple hundred feet of Berkman II. It would be redundant to spend a few million dollars to build a second set of amenities.

This would reduce the costs of completing the condo. These costs are actually fairly reasonable.

They should probably complete the development of the site. The bank could hire a

commercial real estate developer for $2 million or less to manage the project, and bring in an architectural or engineering firm for about $2 million to $3 million more. Emporis lists the estimated construction costs as $36 million (according to the BLS inflation calculator, that would be just over $41 million in 2012). The project is about 30 percent complete, making completion cost about $29 million to $30 million.

Wells Fargo could prove itself to be a good community partner and hire a consultant for a few hundred thousand dollars to determine the exact cost of completing the project. They could also ask fellow lienholder Chote to provide the estimate. Even if project completion means a slight loss, the lienholders are better off than taking pennies on the dollar at auction or waiting until after The Shipyards is developed to sell at a better price.

Using the current listings for Berkman I, the average price is $266,000 per unit.

The recovered amount should be about $55 million. Parking spaces could be sold for about $6 million. This assumes two spaces for $30,000 ($15,000 each). The condos would need to pay about 7 percent in sales costs and 2 percent in closing costs, lowering the total to just under $56 million. Wells Fargo would assume $21 million in losses and $34 million in costs for a total of $55 million and a net gain of $1 million after the units are sold. The loss from selling at auction for Wells Fargo would likely be at least $11 million.

The other possible incentive for new residents is that Wells Fargo could offer the mortgage below market rates. The LIBOR rates are still in the .25 percent range, give or take five basis points. The bank could offer mortgages at 3 percent and still make a profit. Offering low-interest mortgages on the building would encourage buyers who would otherwise be reluctant.

Taking control of the distressed property and turning it around would be a way for Wells Fargo to show its commitment to support downtown redevelopment, plus mitigate its losses and the losses of other Berkman II lienholders. There’s plenty of bargain-rate riverfront property available on The Shipyards site bordering Berkman II. The creditors would be lucky to get a quarter of their losses at auction.

Arranging a settlement and then completing the project is the only solution that makes sense. Otherwise, we’ll end up with an extension of vacant property for another 600 feet to the west.

Another winner of the project completion is every taxpayer in Jacksonville. This property is valued at $3.5 million, the building at $206,000, according to the Duval County Property Appraiser’s Office. This would generate about $38,000 per year in taxes. If it were completed and sold as condos and parking spaces, the taxes would be $569,515 per year before incentives. The tax collection, minus homestead exemptions and incentives over 20 years, would be about $2.1 million, versus $760,000.

Bruce A. Fouraker

Fouraker previously worked for a law firm specializing in municipal finance and has worked in banking for the past 20 years.

Folio Weekly welcomes Backpage Editorial submissions. Essays should be at least 1,200 words and on a topic of local interest or concern. Email your Backpage to themail@folioweekly.com or snail mail it to Denise M. Reagan, Editor, Folio Weekly, 9456 Philips Highway, Ste. 11, Jacksonville FL 32256. Opinions expressed on the Backpage are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or management of Folio Weekly.

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2013 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 47

A GOOD RECOVERY IS NO ACCIDENT! DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T GET HURT TWICE! Â&#x2021; &$5 $&&,'(176 Â&#x2021; '2* %,7( Â&#x2021; :521*)8/ '($7+ Â&#x2021; 758&. $&&,'(176 Â&#x2021; 6/,3 )$// Â&#x2021; 0(',&$/ 0$/35$&7,&( Â&#x2021; %2$7,1* $&&,'(176 Â&#x2021; 3(5621$/ ,1-85< â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Mariya Zarakhovich, Esq. & Donald N. Metcalf, Esq. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

,) <28 $5( +857

CALL US NOW: 904-356-3131

76 S. Laura Street, STE. 520, Jacksonville, Florida 32202 | w w w . eastc oastlaw gr oup . c om The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based soley upon advertisement. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience.