2022
2.01
23
Animal Sacrifices & Love Letters
A brief history of Valentine’s Day. Molly Britt
32
Hello Mr. Joe
38
Remembering Bob Marley
A resident of Jacksonville with a small guitar-like instrument and a big passion for performing.
The voice for the impoverished and socially disenfranchised Afro-Jamaican community.
Jay Mafela
Rain Henderson
VOL. 36, ISSUE 3
INSIDE... 7
34
Born In The Barn Rob Nicholson
Neon Moon Vincent Dalessio
9
38
Theater & Dance Listing
10
Sports Listing
11
Remembering Bob Marley Rain Henderson
44 Bond Outside Your Comfort Zone
Sharks Tryouts Quinn Gray
Vincent Dalessio
12
47
Comedy Listing
Online Dating Experiment
13
Kerry Speckman
Hot Breakfast - Tulua Bistro Omar Aftab
Harry Moore Molly Britt
M Y L A G O S M Y W AY
14 Concert Listing
18 Nightlife Listing
20 Art Listing
23 Animal Sacrifices & Love Letter Molly Britt
24
C AV I A R CO L L E C T I O N S
A Love Letter To My Friends Casey Alixandria
28 February Film Reviews Harry Moore
32 Hello Mr. Joe Jay Mafela
JOHN M. PHILLIPS, ESQ. publisher
VINCENT DALESSIO staff writer
MOLLY BRITT contributor
LILY SNOWDEN intern
TERESA SPENCER general manager
KERRY SPECKMAN copy editor
CASEY ALIX contributor
JAY MAFELA intern
ROB NICHOLSON sales director
JOHN LAWLESS audio/video
QUINN GRAY contributor
RAIN HENDERSON creative director
HARRY MOORE contributor
OMAR AFTAB intern
YOU’RE ALREADY HERE. POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS ARE, TOO.
ALL ACCESS PASS
TERESA@FOLIOWEEKLY.COM
The Jacksonville Music Experience from WJCT Public Media is your ticket to the local scene. In addition to WJCT's three local music stations (Classical 24, Anthology, and Electro Lounge), Music Thursdays on Jax PBS, and live events from the WJCT Soundstage, the Jacksonville Music Experience turns your ear on to the beautiful noise.
PLAY IT LOCAL AND PLAY IT LOUD. SIGN UP AT JAXMUSIC.ORG UPCOMING SHOW
JIM BRICKMAN LIVE AT THE WJCT SOUNDSTAGE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4 | 8PM
Singer, Songwriter and famed Pianist Jim Brickman returns to Jacksonville for this intimate WJCT Soundstage performance. Jim has earned six Gold and Platinum albums. He is best known for his solo piano compositions, pop-style instrumentals and vocal collaborations with such artists as Lady Antebellum, Johnny Mathis, Donny Osmond, Martina McBride and Michael W. Smith.
For tickets, visit
JAXMUSIC.ORG/EVENTS This is a partnership of Florida Theatre on the Road and WJCT.
4
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH 11AM - 2PM
JOIN US IN THE PARK ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH DURING LUNCHTIME FOR A SPECIAL CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF THE LATE JORDAN DAVIS. FRIENDS OF JAMES WELDON JOHNSON PARK AND RON DAVIS (JORDAN'S FATHER) WILL BE GATHERING TO WISH JORDAN A HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY AND CELEBRATING HIS MEMORY WITH LIVE MUSIC FROM JOE WATTS AND FREE BIRTHDAY CAKE (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST). THE JORDAN DAVIS FOUNDATION | WALKWITHJORDAN.ORG
5
THE
MAIL Submit your stories to mail@folioweekly.com
6
Born in a Barn Rob Nicholson
Local country and folk music fans are in the right place in 2022 with a concert calendar full of Grammy and CMA winners, Billboard chart-toppers and up-and-comers. With artists like these, it’s the biggest kick off to New Year shoes in recent memory, even before the pandemic. So don’t wait until it’s too late: get your tickets now. P.S. Did you hear Luke Bryan is wrapping up his tour right here in River City on Oct. 28 at Veterans Memorial Arena? Tickets go on sale to the general public Feb. 4 at 10 a.m.
Parker McCollum
Charley Crockett
Feb. 6, 8 p.m.
March 23, 7:30 p.m.
Florida Theatre
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
floridatheatre.com
pvconcerthall.com
Walker Hayes
Brothers Osborne
Feb. 18, 8 p.m.
April 8, 7:30 p.m.
Florida Theatre
Daily’s Place Amphitheatre
floridatheatre.com
jaxevents.com
Asleep at the Wheel
Travis Tritt
March 5, 8 p.m.
May 1, 7 p.m.
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Florida Theatre
pvconcerthall.com
floridatheatre.com
Rodney Crowell
Tim McGraw and Russell Dickerson
March 6, 8 p.m.
May 5, 7 p.m.
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Daily’s Place Amphitheater
pvconcerthall.com
jaxevents.com
Chris Hillman
Did I miss your show? Not to worry, Folio has
March 10, 8 p.m.
a free listing and we encourage you to use
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
it. Just click on https://folioweekly.com/all-
pvconcerthall.com
events/submit-event/ and we’ll publish your event on the Folio Weekly web site. We want
Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group March 15, 8 p.m. Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com Loudon Wainwright III March 18, 8 p.m. Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com
7
to know about your events.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM
FEBRUARY
5
DOGMAN: THE MUSICAL
6
THE TEN TENORS
7
TOTO
9
MASTERS OF ILLUSION
1
FOR SCHOOLS
1
DR. JORDAN B. PETERSON
2
THEO VON
3
RYAN HAMILTON
3
GLADYS KNIGHT
4
DREW & ELLIE HOLCOMB
6
PARKER M C COLLUM
9
CITIZEN COPE
AT THE PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL
10 #IMOMSOHARD 11
12 KOUNTRY WAYNE 15 LYLE LOVETT
AND HIS ACOUSTIC GROUP
19 THE ORCHESTRA: 20 CHRIS BOTTI 24 LAST PODCAST ON
ARETHA FRANKLIN: THE LEFT THE QUEEN OF SOUL 25 THE LORDS OF 12 UNTOLD STORIES 52ND STREET LEGENDS OF THE 14 GILBERTO SANTA BILLY JOEL BAND ROSA 26 PADDINGTON GETS 16 ALTON BROWN LIVE IN A JAM 17 I HAVE A DREAM
APRIL
FOR SCHOOLS
CAPTAIN SANDY
18 WALKER HAYES 19 PAT METHENEY
20 THE BEATLES - LET
IT BE PERFORMED BY
CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE
24 ABBA MANIA 26 CELTIC THUNDER 27 THE PEKING
ACROBATS
28 THE PEKING
ACROBATS FOR SCHOOLS
MARCH 2
PILOBOLUS
4
KEB’ MO’
SURPRISE
27 THE PIANO GUYS 28 DIANA KRALL 29 ONE NIGHT OF
QUEEN
30 STEVEN WRIGHT
MAY 1
TRAVIS TRITT
2
ROSIE REVERE, ENGINEER & FRIENDS
FOR SCHOOLS
3
L.O.L. SURPRISE! LIVE
5
JESSIE JAMES DECKER
6
UNTOLD STORIES
14 JACKSONVILLE
DANCE THEATRE
21 HOLLYWOOD OPENING NIGHT BENEFIT PARTY
1
KENNY G
2
SCOTT BRADLEE’S POSTMODERN JUKEBOX
1
BRIT FLOYD
2
HAPPY TOGETHER
6
JANIS IAN
26 ANJELAH
7
KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND
7
SPYRO GYRA
12 RU PAUL’S DRAG
8
JIM BRICKMAN AT THE WJCT SOUNDSTAGE
16 TED NUGENT
9
DAVID SPADE
22 PURE PRAIRIE
SIDE EYE WITH JAMES
FRANCIES AND JOE DYSON
26 RAINBOW KITTEN
ELO’S GREATEST HITS
AT THE PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL
17
24 THERESA CAPUTO
13 ZACH WILLIAMS
10 TOM PAPA
10 DEON COLE 11 A TRIBUTE TO
GET THE LED OUT
23 NIKKI GLASER
AT THE WJCT SOUNDSTAGE
AT THE WJCT SOUNDSTAGE
JUNE
JOHNSON-REYES
JULY RACE
10 JIMMIE VAUGHN
LEAGUE, FIREFALL AND ORLEANS
12 TODRICK HALL
AUGUST
AT THE WJCT SOUNDSTAGE
16 DEMETRI MARTIN 19 THE POUT-POUT
6
UNTOLD STORIES
FISH
FOR SCHOOLS
21 FORTUNE FEIMSTER
@floridatheatre
904-355-ARTS (2787) | floridatheatre.com 128 East Forsyth Street, Downtown Jacksonville
ACCESSIBILITY: Please inform the ticket office of any special arrangements you may require when purchasing tickets. An assistive listening system for the hearing impaired is available from the House Manager. The wheelchair accessible bathroom is located to the right of the Entry Lobby Bar as you face the bar, to the left of the statue La Vergognosa. The theatre does not have its own parking lot. Disabled permit parking is available on the street.
1.28.22 Folio-Half Page-4.875x13 AD .indd 1
08
1/24/22 1:12 PM
Theatre & Dance Remember, some of the community theaters are opening for the first time after an extended hiatus, so be sure to let the actors and ushers and stagehands (most of whom volunteer their time) you’re happy they’re back. Also: 1. Dates and performers are subject to change. 2. Some venues may have a dress code. 3. Health checks or other entry requirements might be required for entry. And if we’re missing a local community theater group or other entertainment venue, holler at us at stories@folioweekly.com and use “digital events” in the subject line.
THROUGH FEB. 6
FEB. 11–26
FEB. 19
A Walk in the Woods
The Hallelujah Girls
Yohannas Performing Arts Company: The
Theatre Jacksonville
The Main Stage
Journey Finale
Theatrejax.com
ameliacommunitytheatre.org
Ritz Theatre and Museum ritzjacksonville.com
A Shayna Maidel
FEB. 11–27
Limelight Theatre
Promises Promises
FEB. 22-27
Limelight-theatre.org
Orange Park Community Theatre
Cats
opct.info
Times-Union Center
Shawshank Redemption
Fscjartistseries.org
ABET | All Beaches Experimental Theatre
FEB. 12
abettheatre.com
Untold Stories: Out of the Swamp
FEB. 25
Florida Theatre
Swing Dance Night
floridatheatre.com
Murray Hill Theatre
THROUGH FEB. 13 Guys and Dolls
murrayhilltheatre.com
Alhambra Theatre & Dining
FEB. 15
alhambrajax.org
Dancing With the Stars Live 2022
FEB. 26
Times-Union Center
Celtic Thunder Ireland Tour 2022
fscjartistseries.org
Florida Theatre
FEB. 3–14 Dreamgirls
floridatheatre.com
Players by the Sea Theatre
FEB. 17–MARCH 13
playersbythesea.org
The Play That Goes Wrong
FEB. 27
Alhambra Theatre & Dining
The Peking Acrobats
alhambrajax.com
Florida Theatre
FEB. 5 The Life and Music of George Michael
floridatheatre.com
Florida Theatre
FEB. 18–20
floridatheatre.com
Amour
Downtown Dance Series With Bold City Swing
The Picinich-Byrd Theatre
Underbelly
floridaballet.org
crescendoamelia.com
FEB. 9 Rent: 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour Times-Union Center
FEB. 18-20
fscjartistseries.org
The Mystery of Edwin Drood Terry Concert Hall at Jacksonville University
FEB. 10–11
ju.edu
Mom Before Dad… A Young Woman of the Greatest Generation starring Sarah Boone
Motones and Jerseys
Theatre Jacksonville
Times-Union Center
theatrejax.com
cscjartistseries.org
09
SPORTS FEB. 5
FEB. 15
UNF Men’s Basketball vs. Jacksonville
Edward Waters Women’s Basketball vs.
UNF Men’s Basketball vs. Liberty University
University
Savannah State University
UNF Arena
UNF Arena
Adams-Jenkins Complex
unfospreys.com
unfospreys.com
ewutigerpride.com FEB. 16
FEB. 24
FEB. 9
Jacksonville Giants vs. Tampa Bay Fury
JU Women’s Basketball vs. University of
Jacksonville Icemen vs. Orlando Solar Bears
Christ the King Catholic School
North Florida
2/09
jacksonvillegiants.com
Swisher Gymnasium
Veterans Memorial Arena jacksonvilleicemen.com
judolphins.com FEB. 17 Edward Waters Men’s Basketball vs. Morris
FEB. 25
JU Men's Basketball vs. Eastern Kentucky
College
Jacksonville Icemen vs. Florida Everblades
University
Adams-Jenkins Complex
Veterans Memorial Arena
Swisher Gymnasium
ewutigerpride.com
jacksonvilleicemen.com
UNF Women’s Basketball vs. Liberty
FEB. 26
UNF Men’s Basketball vs. Bellarmine
University
Jacksonville Icemen vs. Norfolk Admirals
University
UNF Arena
Veterans Memorial Arena
UNF Arena
unfospreys.com
jacksonvilleicemen.com
judolphins.com
unfospreys.com FEB. 19
Jacksonville Giants vs. Palm Beach
UNF Women’s Basketball vs. Bellarmine
JU Men's Basketball vs. Kennesaw State
Stampede
University
University
UNF Arena
UNF Arena
Swisher Gymnasium
jacksonvillegiants.com
unfospreys.com
judolphins.com
FEB. 12
JU Women’s Basketball vs. Kennesaw State
Jacksonville Icemen vs. Greenville Swamp
University
Rabbits
Swisher Gymnasium
Veterans Memorial Arena
judolphins.com
jacksonvilleicemen.com UNF Men’s Basketball vs. Florida Gulf Coast Jacksonville Giants. vs. Nassau Pride
University (Homecoming)
UNF Arena
UNF Arena
jacksonvillegiants.com
unfospreys.com
Edward Waters Women’s Basketball vs.
UNF Women’s Basketball vs. Florida Gulf
Clark Atlanta University
Coast University (Homecoming)
Adams-Jenkins Complex
UNF Arena
ewutigerpride.com
unfospreys.com
FEB. 12
FEB. 23
JU Men's Basketball vs. Liberty University
Jacksonville Icemen vs. Norfolk Admirals
Swisher Gymnasium
Veterans Memorial Arena
judolphins.com
jacksonvilleicemen.com
JU Women’s Basketball vs. Liberty University Swisher Gymnasium judolphins.com
10
Scouting the Sharks: A Look Into Jacksonville Sharks Open Tryouts Quinn Gray
It’s an overcast Saturday morning. Most people are still in their pajamas,
In other news:
sipping on coffee, enjoying a relaxing day at home. The same cannot be
Legendary Jaguars tackle Tony Boselli is a finalist for the Pro Football
said for those attending the Jacksonville Sharks open tryouts. Players
Hall of Fame this year, making it his sixth time as a finalist. Former Green
from all around the country have come to town, ready to try out for the
Bay Packers safety and Jacksonville native LeRoy Butler is also a finalist
Sharks and attempt to gain a spot on the team.
this year. Unfortunately, former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor, another deserving player, did not make it to the 15-player finalist cut, although he
There are multiple different stations set up: one for offensive and defen-
was a semi-finalist.
sive line, one for defensive backs and linebackers, one for skill positions and one for kickers/punters. The scouts and coaches are off on the side,
Jaguars fans can all hope that this is the year Boselli makes it, as it’s
commenting on the players and things they like or dislike. It’s noticeable
obvious from watching him play that he is more than worthy of making it
how some players are clearly more experienced playing football than oth-
to Canton.
ers, with some flashing their incredible speed or sure hands. As the Jaguars begin the hunt for a new head coach, they have requested To get to know more about the people who tried out and their motivations,
interviews with former NFL coaches and current assistants. Jim Caldwell,
I interviewed one of the hopefuls Rogria Lewis. Lewis is 26 and has been
formerly of the Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts, and Doug Pederson,
playing football since he was 8 years old. He tried out for defensive back
former coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, have scheduled interviews with
and wide receiver. When I asked what motivated him, he said it was the
the team. Both Pederson and Caldwell appeared in Super Bowls as head
love of football that got him out there. He was determined to show off his
coaches with Pederson’s team beating the New England Patriots in Super
skills and prove to the Sharks he was worthy of a spot on the team.
Bowl LII. Caldwell is known for being an outstanding coach for his quarterbacks, and Pederson is known for his unconventional, yet innovative,
Every player has one thing that sets him apart from the rest of the pack,
play calling style.
and for Rogria, it’s his faith. He said he lets God choose his path for life, and he knows football is not his everything.
In addition, the team has requested interviews with former Jags quarterback and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron
No matter the outcome for all the players who tried out for the Sharks,
Leftwich, Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Packers OC Nathaniel
making it to the tryouts in the first place is a real accomplishment. Not
Hackett (who was once an assistant on the Jaguars), Dallas Cowboys OC
many people have the courage and the belief in themselves to put in the
Kellen Moore, Cowboys DC Dan Quinn and Indianapolis Colts DC Matt
effort to showcase their skills in such a setting. Good luck to all the people
Eberflus.
who tried out for the team. Sharks fans hope to see you in the arena soon. Out of all the candidates, my personal choice would be Caldwell, as I feel he would benefit QB Trevor Lawrence the most, but any of the choices so far would be welcome, as anything’s better than Urban Meyer.
11
comedy
FEB. 2
Deon Cole
FEB. 18–20
Theo Von: Return of the Rat Tour
Florida Theatre
Ryan Davis
Florida Theatre
floridatheatre.com
Comedy Zone
floridatheatre.com
comedyzone.com
FEB. 11 FEB. 3
First Coast Comedy Presents: Improv
FEB. 23
Ryan Hamilton
Comedy Night
Led Varela (performing in Spanish)
Florida Theatre
Murray Hill Theatre
Comedy Zone
floridatheatre.com
murrayhilltheatre.com
comedyzone.com
FEB. 3–5
FEB. 11–14
Bob Zany
Ronnie Bullard
Comedy Zone
Comedy Zone
comedyzone.com
comedyzone.com
FEB. 10
FEB. 18
Tom Papa
No Remorse Comedy Tour featuring Mike Epps,
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Tommy Davidson, Jay Pharaoh and Don "DC" Curry
pvconcerthall.com
Veterans Memorial Arena
12
Hot Breakfast
Tulua Bistro Review Words & Photos by Omar Aftab Upon entering Tulua Bistro, a small brunch restaurant on Third Street in Jacksonville Beach, you’re immediately greeted by a theme of blue, white and gray, instantly evoking beach vibes. All around are potted plants, ranging from vines to small palm trees, and several large art pieces of cultural and political icons such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., amongst large, bright and colorful flowers. The spot, through aesthetics alone, tells you exactly how it wants you to feel: it’s a slow, late morning with nowhere to be and nothing to do but enjoy the good company with the help of some good food and drink. On a Sunday morning it was full of people, which is to be expected for a brunch spot. Despite this, service was surprisingly fast with drinks coming in an instant and food for three in around 10 minutes. My brother and sister ordered “strawberry Nutella dream” waffles and a pancake teaser starter, respectively. I ordered the crab cake benedict served with some crisp potatoes which were served in a cute, tiny metal bucket. My hopes were high, especially after seeing the plate, but Tulua Bistro still managed to blow me away with the flavor. The English muffin had a great balance of crunchy exterior and fluffy interior, while the crab cakes had a subtle umami without the odorous fishy flavor, somewhat of a rarity in my experience. The eggs provided both more to chew on and some moisture, further aided by the sauce. The best part was, when nearing the end, the yolks burst and bathed the rest of the dish with flavor, transforming it into something almost new. But the potatoes made the dish. As someone from a Pakistani background , I’ve always had a bone to pick with American-style potatoes. We like our spices, so they’ve always tasted bland and mushy. These potatoes were completely different. Perfectly crispy on the outside, soft but not mushy on the inside, and loaded with salt, pepper and other seasonings that made these some of the best potatoes I’ve had in my life. I did, of course, taste some of my siblings’ food, strictly for journalistic purposes. The waffles were filling, and the Nutella, strawberries and cream made me re-evaluate how I’ve been making waffles my entire life. They also put the maple syrup in a dish on the side to avoid undesirable, yet all-too-common, sogginess. The same goes for the mini-pancakes, which came on little toothpick skewers with strawberries, blueberries, banana and pineapple. I never in my life would have thought pineapple goes with pancakes, but I was proven wrong. I do like pineapple on pizza though, so take this testimonial with a grain of salt. The presentation for both dishes was stunning, making it seem almost a sin to take the first bite. All in all, I definitely recommend this place. A laid-back feel, close to the beach, beautiful interior, great service, and, to top it off, delicious and, more important, Instagram-worthy food.
13
C O N C E R T S
FEB. 1
An Evening With Drew & Ellie
Thelma & The Sleeze with
Winter Wonderland featuring
Ally Venable
Holcomb
special guests Pooll Boi and
Juniper IV, Stillfire Bellows,
Jack Rabbits
Florida Theatre
Annie Dukes
Rambler Kane, Lanier and
jaxlive.com
floridatheatre.com
Archetype
Strayin’ Anchors
archetypejax.com
Archetype
Maul | Writhing Shadows |
Puttin' on The Ritz LIVE!
Wharflurch | Trash Panda |
Ritz Theatre & Museum
FEB. 8
Sound Altar
ritzjacksonville.com
Imagine Dragons
Brass, Organ and Percussion
Veterans Memorial Arena
Times-Union Center
jaxevents.com
jaxsymphony.org
Archetype archetypejax.com
FEB. 4–5
archetypejax.com
The Chris Thomas Band: The FEB. 2
Rat Pack
Hot Off the Press! Jacksonville
Don McClean: 50th
Joslyn & The Sweet
Times-Union Center
University Orchestra Concert
Anniversary of American Pie
Compression
jaxsymphony.org
Terry Concert Hall at JU
Tour
ju.edu
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Underbelly underbellyjax.com
FEB. 5
pvconcerthall.com
Shawn Colvin
FEB. 9
The Hooten Hallers | Danny
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Citizen Cope
FEB. 13
Attack
pvconcerthall.com
Florida Theatre
Dover Quartet
floridatheatre.com
Historic Nassau County Court-
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com FEB. 3
Rigoletto
house
Times-Union Center
FEB. 10
fscjartistseries.com
Prof
Gladys Knight Florida Theatre
Glazed, The Holy Ghost
floridatheatre.com
Tabernacle Choir, Machinist!,
ameliachambermusic.org
Jack Rabbits
FEB. 15
jaxlive.com
Tower of Power Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Lethe, Grieving Room
FEB. 11
FEB. 4
1904 Music Hall
Jazz at the Excelsior: Eric
I Set My Friends on Fire
1904musichall.com
Carter
FEB. 16
Archetype archetypejax.com
Lincolnville Museum and Cultural
José Feliciano
The Kernal, Cheyenne Medders
Center
Ponte Concert Hall
& Jackie Stranger
lincolnvillemuseum.org
pvconcerthall.com
FEB. 10–11
FEB. 17
The Firebird
An Intimate Evening with
FEB. 6
Times-Union Center
Nnenna Freelon
Billy Prine & The Prine Time
jaxsymphony.org
Ritz Theatre & Museum
J.Wail Live Band featuring
Jack Rabbits
Natalie Cressman
jaxlive.com
1904 Music Hall 1904musichall.com
pvconcerthall.com
Steven Malcolm: Long Live The
Band Presents: The Song of
Hype Tour
John Prine Tour
FEB. 11
Murray Hill Theatre
pvconcerthall.com
G. Love & The Juice with
FEB. 17
special guest Jontavius Willis
The Brit Pack
murrayhilltheatre.com
ritzjacksonville.com
Parker McCollum
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Swinger | Third Estate
Florida Theatre
pvconcerthall.com
pvconcerthall.com
Jack Rabbits
floridatheatre.com A Tribute to Aretha Franklin:
FEB. 18
jaxlive.com The Simon & Garfunkel Story
The Queen of Soul featuring
Murphy’s Law
Tommy Shugart Organ Trio |
Times-Union Center
Damien Sneed and special
Archetype
Cluster
fscjartistseries.org
guest Karen Clark Sheard
archetypejax.com
Underbelly underbellyjax.com
Florida Theatre The Queers & Teenage
floridatheatre.com
Bottlerocket
Sickhot | Fortune Child Jack Rabbits
FEB. 4
Jack Rabbits
FEB. 12
Jim Brickman
jaxlive.com
Speak Easy
jaxlive.com
WJCT Soundstage
Jack Rabbits
FEB. 18
floridatheatre.com
jaxlive.com
Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series: Count Basie Orchestra Fort Mose Historic State Park discoverfortmose.com
14
Daym Drops & BadlandsChugs:
Classic Albums Live Perform The
Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series:
Clash of the Food Titans Tour
Beatles’ Let It Be
Tank and the Bangas
Underbelly
Florida Theatre
Live from Fort Mose Historic State
underbellyjax.com
floridatheatre.com
Park discoverfortmose.com
FEB. 18
FEB. 22
Walker Hayes
David Bromberg Quintet with Rob
Mike Pinto
Florida Theatre
Ickes & Trey Hensley
Jack Rabbits
floridatheatre.com
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
jaxlive.com
pvconcerthall.com The Guess Who
FEB. 25–26
Thrasher-Horne Center
FEB. 23
Michael Cavanaugh: The Music of
thcenter.org
Lucinda Williams and Her Band
Elton John & More
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Times-Union Center
pvconcerthall.com
jaxsymphony.org
Murray Hill Theatre
The Wonder Years with Spanish
FEB. 26
murrayhilltheatre.com
Love Songs
Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series:
Underbelly
Trombone Shorty & Orleans
underbellyjax.com
Avenue
Tara Strickland with Andrew Cunningham
FEB. 18–19 Beethoven to Brahms
Live from Fort Mose Historic State
Times-Union Center
Donavon Frankenreiter with
jaxsymphony.org
Christina Holmes
FEB. 19
Park
1904 Music Hall
Mad Zach
1904musichall.com
Archetype
Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series:
archetypejax.com
Amythyst Kiah
FEB. 24
Live from Fort Mose Historic State
ABBA Mania
Jazz at the Excelsior: Longineu
Park
Florida Theatre
Parsons
discoverfortmose.com
floridatheatre.com
Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center
Yohannas Performing Arts
The Electric Light Orchestra
Company: The Journey Finale
Experience
lincolnvillemuseum.org
Ritz Theatre & Museum
Thrasher-Horne Center
ritzjacksonville.com
thcenter.org
Pat Metheny with James Francies
Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series:
It’s almost that time again. Time to kick off your shoes and put on
and Joe Dyson
Gregory Porter
your sunglasses to listen to some local music favorites at Jack-
Florida Theatre
Live from Fort Mose Historic State
sonville Beach’s Seawalk Pavilion. The Community First Seawalk
floridatheatre.com
Park
Music Festival takes place Feb. 26 and 27, and organizers en-
discoverfortmose.com
courage all residents to come and enjoy the weekend with some
Seawalk Music Festival Molly Britt
Cheating Alethia
good music and tasty food.
Jack Rabbits
Badfish: Tribute to Sublime 20-
jaxlive.com
Year Anniversary Tour
The festival features an impressive lineup of 12 bands set to per-
Underbelly Jacksonvillle
form throughout the two-day event. In addition to enjoying the
underbellyjax.com
music, feel free to check out the various vendors set up around
FEB. 20 An Evening With John Pizzarelli
the pavilion. Food vendors will offer some local favorites, while
Trio
FEB. 25
there will also be non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages avail-
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Bob Mould
able. Make sure to check out the various tents for some fun finds.
pvconcerthall.com
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com
While the event is free, there are VIP passes available on their
Joint Operation and guests
website offering premium seating, beverage access without the
Jack Rabbits
Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
long lines, chairs for enjoying the performances, a VIP lounge and
jaxlive.com
Florida Theatre
more. The festival is a family-friendly event loved by the locals for
floridatheatre.com
the last 10 years. Visit communityfirstseawalkmusicfest.com for more information.
15
16
PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES
TOGETHER REPORT HATE CRIMES
THANK YOU! Thank you Jax for voting us Best Veterinary Clinic. Special thanks to our patients, clients, and Folio readers! Truly honored.
4448 Hendricks Ave Suite 1 Jacksonville, FL 32205 904 737 0403 mirimaranimalhospital@yahoo.com
1-800-CALL-FBI tips.fbi.gov 17
NIGHTLIFE
ARLINGTON
Ocean 60 Restaurant
FRUIT COVE
Live music every Wednesday and Friday
Cliff’s Bar and Grill
ocean60.com
Iggy’s Grill and Bar
Live music every Friday and Saturday
Palm Valley Outdoors Bar and Grill
Live music Tuesday–Sunday
cliffsbarandgrill.com
Live music every Friday, Saturday and
iggysgrill.com
Club Heaven
Sunday palmvalleyoutdoors.com
Feb. 3-4: Bobby V Live; Feb. 2-4: DJ Irie;
MANDARIN
Feb. 18-19: Sickick
Ragtime Tavern
clubheavenjax.com
Live music every Wednesday–Saturday
Enza’s
ragtimetavern.com
Live piano every Tuesday–Sunday
BEACHES
enzas.net Surfer [The Bar]
Blue Jay Listening Room
DJs and dancing every Friday, Saturday and
Feb. 10: Sam Taylor and Isaac Smith; Feb 11:
Sunday
rickoLus and The Angel Garcia Quartet; Feb
surferthebar.com
17-18: Moors and Cumber; Feb 24-25: The Blue Jay Sessions
MURRAY HILL The Stout Snug Feb. 4: Mad Hatter Trio; Feb. 5: Pink
DOWNTOWN
bluejayjax.com
Paisleys; Feb. 11: Nevidon; Feb. 12: Spade McQuade; trivia every Thursday; live music
Dos Gatos
every Saturday and Sunday
Brix Taphouse
Karaoke every Monday;
Thestoutsnug.com
Live music every Friday
DJ Hollywood every Thursday; various DJs
jacksonvillebeachbar.com
every Friday; DJ NICKFRESH every Saturday
OCEANWAY
dosgatosjax.com
Coop 303
Copper Top Bar and Restaurant
Live music every Friday and Saturday
James Weldon Johnson Park
Feb. 4: Matt Knowles; Feb. 11: Black Water
coop303.com
Live at Lunch every Monday and Friday,
Salesmen; Feb. 18: Fratello; Feb. 25: High-
11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
way Jones; bingo every Thursday; live music
Fionn MacCool’s
Jazz in the Park with Joe Watts every
every Friday; karaoke every Saturday
Live music every Friday and Saturday
Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
coppertopbarandrestaurant.com
fionnmacs.com
jamesweldonjohnsonpark.com
The Fly’s Tie Irish Pub
The Justice Pub
Live music most weekends
Feb. 25: Caskey and Cameron Airborne;
57 Heaven
facebook.com/Flys-Tie-Irish-Pub
comedy open mic every Wednesday; open
DJ Capone every Wednesday; DJ Jaso
mic every Thursday
every Thursday; DJ Paco every Friday
facebook.com/TheJusticePub
facebook.com/57HeavenOP
Myth Nightclub & Bar
Big Dawgs Sports Restaurant
Gusto
ORANGE PARK
Live music every Wednesday and Friday gustojax.com
Feb. 4 and 11: Thrive Friday; DJs, Drinks and
Live music/karaoke every Wednesday
Hoptinger Bier Garden & Sausage House–
Tacos every Tuesday
bigdawgsrestaurant.com
Jax Beach
mythexperience.com
Trivia every Wednesday hoptinger.com
The Daq Shack FLEMING ISLAND
Karaoke every Wednesday; live music every Sunday
Mango’s
Mr. Chubby’s Wings
Karaoke every Sunday and Wednesday
Live music every Friday
mangojaxbeach.com
mrchubbyswings.com
thedaqshack904.com Dee’s Music Bar Live music every Friday and Saturday
Mavi’s Waterfront Bar & Grill
Sunset Tiki Bar
Live music every Friday, Saturday and
Live music every Friday and Saturday
Sunday
doctorslakemarina.com/tiki
mavijax.com
facebook.com/MusicBarAndGrill Hilltop Club and Restaurant Live music every Tuesday–Friday in the
Whitey’s Fish Camp
lobby
Monkey’s Uncle Tavern
Live music every Monday, Saturday and
hilltop-club.com
Live music every Thursday, Friday and
Sunday
Sunday
wWhiteysfishcamp.com
monkeysuncletavern.com
Mercury Moon Bar and Grill Live music every Monday and Wednesday and most Fridays facebook.com/Mercury-Moon
18
Tom and Betty’s
Cuba Libre Ultra Lounge
The Cellar Upstairs Bar at San Sebastian Winery
Live music every Friday and most Saturdays
DJ Alekz Vibration every Friday and Saturday
Feb. 3: Ian Kelly; Feb. 4: Gary Douglas Campbell
tomandbettys.net
cubalibrebar.com
/ Paper City Hustlers; Feb. 5: Wes Register / The
RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE
Grape and Grain
Scozzaro; Feb. 11: Jolie / Atlantic Alibi; Feb. 12: T
Carpetbaggers; Feb. 6: Vinny Jacobs; Feb. 10: Tony Live music every Wednesday–Friday; DJ every
J Brown / Tony & Friends; Feb. 13: Tony Scozzaro;
Brick Restaurant
Saturday
Feb. 17: Vinny Jacobs; Feb. 18-19: Caleb Joye / The
Live jazz every weekend
grapeandgrainexchange.com
Committee Band; Feb. 20: Vinny Jacobs; Feb. 24:
brickofavondale.com
Stephen Pigman; Feb. 25: Tony Scozzaro / Bread & Locals
Butter; Feb. 26: Rob Peck / Yael & Gabriel; Feb. 27:
Casbah Cafe
Live music most weekends
Vinny Jacobs
Belly dancing every Friday and Saturday; live jazz
facebook.com/localssportsbarsanmarco
sansebastianwinery.com/jazzbar
Mudville Grill Music Room
Meehan’s Irish Pub
TBA Big Band: first and third Monday of the month;
Live music every Thursday–Sunday
Eclipse Bar & Nightclub
River City Rhythm Kings: second Monday of the
meehansirishpub.com
Feb. 12: Julia Gulia; karaoke with DJ Turnikit every
month
Sunday
themudvillegrill.com
every Sunday thecasbahcafe.com
Odd Birds Bar
facebook.com/eclipseriverside
Feb. 3: Sam Pacetti The Parlour
oddbirdsbar.com
The Garage
Live music most weekends
Live music every Friday and Saturday; reggae with
facebook.com/pages/The-Parlour-San-Marco-
Prohibition Kitchen
DJ Brooks every Sunday
Speak-Easy
Feb. 1: Yael Y Gabrielle; Feb. 2: The House Cats;
garagejax.com
Feb. 3: Ramona; Feb. 4: Josh Gilbert / Chillula; Feb. Sidecar
5: AC Power Unit / Paper City Hustlers; Feb. 6: Jim
Hoptinger Bier Garden & Sausage House–5
Trivia every Thursday
and Jane / The Space Heaters; Feb. 7: Micah Gil-
Points
facebook.com/sidecarjax
liam; Feb. 8: Shaun and Kristen; Feb. 9: Josh Ford;
Trivia every Wednesday; live DJs every Thursday– Saturday
Feb. 10: Clairemont Duo; Feb. 11: The Swell / Ginger SOUTHSIDE
Bread Man; Feb. 12: Esh x Schief / Draucker; Feb.
hoptinger.com
13: Courtnie Frazier; Feb 14: Sam Pacetti; Feb. 15: Jax Craft Beer
Bad Dog Mama; Feb. 16: Courtnie Frazier; Feb. 17:
Jazzy’s Restaurant & Lounge
Live music every Friday
The Copper Tones; Feb. 18: 3 the Band / The Nth
Spoken word poetry and DJ Swagg every Tuesday;
jaxcraftbeer.com
Power; Feb. 19: Raisin Cake Orchestra / Traw Pierce
live music every Friday and Saturday jazzysrestaurant.net Lemon Street Brewing
and the T Stones; Feb. 20: Christian Powers / FredVeterans United Craft Brewery
dy For Peace; Feb. 21: Alberto Cebollero; Feb. 22:
Live music every Friday
Shaun and Kristen; Feb. 23: Bumpin Uglies; Feb.
vubrew.com
24: Ramona; Feb. 25: Clairemont Duo / Bold City
Trivia every Thursday lemonstreetbrewing.com The Loft
Classics; Feb. 26: Cover Boy / Josh Gilbert Band; Wicked Barley Brewing Company
Feb. 27: Rachael Akins / Banshee Tree; Feb. 28:
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day Beer Dinner
Jim Johnson
wickedbarley.com
pkstaug.com
ST. AUGUSTINE
Taps Bar and Grill
DJ Robbie P every Thursday; DJ Brooks/DJ Robbie P every Friday and Saturday loftjax.com
Live music every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday Ancient City Brewing Company
Rain Dogs
Live music every Saturday and Sunday
Songwriter Spotlight with Charlie Shuck every
ancientcitybrewing.com
TradeWinds
Wednesday; live music Thursday–Saturday facebook.com/raindogsjax
tapsbarandgrill.com
Live music every night Arnold’s Lounge
tradewindslounge.com
Acoustic music every Wednesday, karaoke every WildCrafters
Thursday, live music every Friday and Saturday;
Live music most weekends
acoustic open mic every Sunday
facebook.com/wildcraftersjax
arnoldslounge.com
SAN MARCO/ST. NICHOLAS
Café Eleven Feb. 6: JerryTerry and dlisok; Feb. 9: Oshima Broth-
Breezy Jazz House
ers; Feb. 11: Susan Werner; Feb. 17: Popa Chubby
DJ every Wednesday; live jazz every Friday and
originalcafe11.com
Saturday breezyjazzhouse.com
19
BUTTERFIELD GARAGE ART GALLERY
STELLERS GALLERY
• Featured artist for February: Emma Greenhill
• Works by Eileen Corse, Jim Draper, Fallon Pepper, C. Ford Riley, Alice Wil-
• Works by Cindy Wilson, Nancy Hamlin-Vogler, Sam Kates, Sydney McKenna,
liams, MacTruque and Jeff Foxwothy (yes, that Jeff Foxworthy)
Jan Miller, Debra Mixon Holliday and Ron Vellucci
stellersgallery.com
butterfieldgarage.com UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA THE CORNER GALLERY AT THE JESSIE
• Pre[Serve] Group Exhibit, Feb. 10-April 15, Lufrano Intercultural Gallery
• Tony Rodrigues: “Flex Deficit,” through Feb. 2
• Works by Jim Draper, Feb. 11–April 15, UNF Gallery of Art
dupontcenter.org
unf.edu/gallery
CRISP-ELLERT ART MUSEUM AT FLAGLER COLLEGE
SOUTHLIGHT GALLERY AT KING MAKER BREWING
• “Jillian Mayer: New Sincerity 2.0,” through Feb. 24
• “Lifefest21: New works by Paul Ladnier, Tony Wood, Belton S. Wall
flagler.edu
southlightgallery.com
CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS
THRASHER-HORNE CENTER | JACK MITCHELL AND LEE ADAMS
• “Imprisoned but Empowered: Cheyenne Warrior Artists at Fort Marion,”
GALLERIES
through Feb. 27
• Orange Park Art Guild Exhibition, opens Feb. 17
• “American Perspectives: Stories From the American Folk Art Museum Collec-
thcenter.org
tion,” Feb. 11-May 22 • Virtual tours, videos and make-at-home projects available on the museum’s
YELLOW HOUSE
website: click on “Explore,” then “Engage”
• “Screams Echo: The Legacy of Lynching”
cummermuseum.org
• “Sit in Stand Up,” virtual exhibition • “Magic, Mirth, and Mortality: Musings on Black Motherhood,” virtual exhibition
FIRST COAST CULTURAL CENTER
yellowhouseart.org
• Juried Member Artist Exhibition, through Feb. 28 firstcoastculturalcenter.org
Ongoing ART WALK: FEB. 2
FLORIDA MINING GALLERY
Downtown Jacksonville lights up the first Wednesday of the month with art by
• “Richard Heipp: Devils and Saints,” through March 25
local artists at hubs in James Weldon Johnson Park, The Jessie and Vagabond
floridamininggallery.com
Flea at VyStar Tower from 5–9 p.m. Visitors can also enjoy live music, food trucks, craft beer, street performers and free admission to MOCA and the com-
GALLERY 725
plimentary rides on JTA’s Skyway.
• “Salvador Dali: The Argillet Collection,” through Feb. 6
dtjax.org/artwalk
gallery725.com RAM: FEB. 5, 12, 19 AND 26 THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM
Artists, artisans and makers display their original paintings, jewelry, photo-
• “Tom Schifanella: Faces of the Alcazar,” through March 7
graphs, prints and other handcrafted items every Saturday—rain or shine—from
• “Picturing a Nation: American Art,” through Sept. 30
10 a.m.–3 p.m. on Riverside Avenue underneath the canopy of the Fuller Warren
lightnermuseum.org
Bridge. riversideartsmarket.com
MOCA JACKSONVILLE • “Techno-Innocence,” through Feb. 13
ST. AUGUSTINE FIRST FRIDAY ARTWALK: FEB. 4
• “Left Side Ride Side,” through March 6
The first Friday of every month (hence the clever name) more than 30 galleries
• “State of the Art 2020: Locate,” through May 1
around the Oldest City open their doors from 5–9 p.m. for visitors to browse
• “Anderson Goncalves: Cultural Polarity,” through May 8
exhibits and interact with artists. A complimentary trolley service provides trans-
• “Chiharu Shitoa: “Letters of Love,” a Project Atrium exhibition, Feb. 4–June 26
portation between downtown venues.
• Works by Jessica Hische, Feb. 18–July 31
artgalleriesofstaugustine.com
mocajacksonville.unf.edu
20
ST. AUGUSTINE E
FRE
BEACH PIER ART & CRAFT SHOW FEBRUARY 19 & 20 MARCH 12 & 13 10A-5P SATURDAY • 10A-4P SUNDAY 350 BEACH BVD A1A
352-344-0657
TNTEVENTSINC.COM
134 W Monroe Street Jacksonville, FL 32202 | www.JamesWeldonJohnsonPark.org
21
Congratulations to Melody, best stylist Jacksonville!
2534 Oak Street Jacksonville, FL 32204 904-356-6856 • info@seekhairpeace.com
Thank you Jacksonville for selecting us as Folio's best salon! We look forward to meeting you! 22
Animal Sacrifices and Love Letters History of Valentine’s Day Molly Britt So you want to celebrate your love on Valentine’s Day. Grab some flowers and chocolates and go to town on some fancy dinner with your significant other. Although, do we really know why this day is surrounded by love? I mean, where did the ideas we celebrate today even come from? Feb. 14—or St. Valentine’s feast day, as it is viewed in the Catholic Church— is recognized as the day to commemorate martyred Saint Valentine, a priest who served the Church during the third century in Rome. What made him so important? While the origin is still widely unknown, one story suggests Emperor Claudius II thought single men were better fit as soldiers and, as result, outlawed marriage for younger men. However, it is said that Valentine defied the emperor and continued to perform marriages in secret before he was discovered and put to death. This is not the only story believed by the Catholic church. Another one suggests Valentine was imprisoned at the time. During his imprisonment, he fell in love with a girl who visited him often. Before he was put to death, he sent a letter to his love and signed it, “From your Valentine.” It is suggested that this is the first “valentine’s greeting” in history, but it is shrouded in uncertainty. Others believe Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February in an effort to “Christianize” the pagan holiday Lupercalia. Lupercalia is a fertility festival dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Faunus, as well as Remus and Romulus, the founders of Rome. On Lupercalia an order of Roman priests, known as the Luperci, would gather and sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. I know, rather gory, but hang in there, it gets even more interesting. Using the goat’s hide dipped in blood, the priests would roam the streets and slap the women and crop fields with it. This tradition was welcomed by the women in an effort to make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, the women would gather their names in an urn where the bachelors in the town would choose a name to become paired with for the year, usually ending in a marriage. The pagan holiday was outlawed in the fifth century after Pope Galasius declared it Valentine’s Day, deeming Lupercalia “un-Christian.” But what about Cupid? Where did anyone get the idea to associate a chubby little baby shooting arrows with a holiday shrouded in beliefs of fertility, love, animal sacrifices and death? That originated from Roman mythology. The Greek god of love, Eros, was believed to have golden arrows used to amplify love and in later years was portrayed as a child. In Roman mythology, Eros was referred to as Cupid. Come the 17th century, Feb. 14 became a common day to exchange tokens of affection and, as the years went on, a day to exchange loving cards. This all turned into what we celebrate today as Valentine’s Day. What was once a day based on faith and various gods, is now the card, candy and flower industries’ biggest day. Whatever you choose to believe this Valentine’s Day, take the time to appreciate your loved ones…goat blood not needed.
23
24
Picture: Jared, Andrew,Casey, Dylan & Nick
A Love Letter To My Friends / Chosen Family Words & Photos Casey Alixandra
For some, friendship is one of the hardest things to obtain. There’s a sense
Since our first theme night, we’ve only gotten more creative. We’ve had
of fragility to it, and many end up drifting apart. But that’s also what makes
Fort Night, a night where we turned the entire house into a fort. Color Party,
friendships so special. It’s a choice. An unadulterated love with the want to
where we made the house into sections of the rainbow and kept our color
experience life together.
costumes a secret 'til the night of. Dance Party, where we made the inside of our house look like a disco ball. It doesn’t matter if we invite five or 13 more
Friends can also be the most influential and important figures a person can
people because we genuinely enjoy our time together.
have. Whether they are there for three years or 10, friends help shape who you are. That’s the beauty of friendship, no matter how short lived, it was
Over time, with the help of my 35mm camera, we now have books and
significant, and the connection was real.
books of candids proving we are living our lives.
However, many people can go through life never experiencing such a
Friendship, of course, isn’t always smiling and laughing. Like all relationships,
connection. Constantly meeting new people and not clicking just right. And
you must have empathy and be open minded. It’s being able to love each
for the longest time, that was me too. I, as well, secretly longed for the
other’s differences, telling each other when we are wrong, and being there
friendships seen in sitcoms.
for each other when life gets hard.
And while I have had friends throughout my life, the relationships were
I believe while growing in a friendship, you are also growing as a person.
never close. But finally, after years of wishing, I now look at my surroundings
Through friendships, you are challenged, you admit your faults, and with
and see that my wish for pure friendship is finally all around me. Like a
that, it humbles you as a person. It takes true empathy and vulnerability to
maze, we all met through people we knew and found our way to each other.
be an honest good friend. Like all other relationships, love too needs to be reciprocated in friendships. Friendship, in the end, is growing together and
In my friend group, we believe life should be enjoyed. We don’t want to live
looking back on what you both conquered together.
for just the weekend or for that one holiday. We want to truly live. Since February is Friendship Month, now is the time to tell your friends what And with our judgment-free imaginations and our wild ideas, we created
they should already know. Whether you tell them every day, it can never be
Fancy Night, a night where we dressed our best and played Monopoly like
said enough.
we owned it. It was a night of constant laughter and dramatization. As for mine… From then on, theme nights became every other month occasions. But
Nick, Casey, Jared, Dylan, and Andrew,
these aren’t events where we pull something from our closets. These are events we prepare for. Everything must be related to the occasion: colored
I love you all so much. We met at different times and different places, so for
lights, themed food and most important, the outfits. We want to believe we
all of us to become friends is truly one of the best things to have happened
are somewhere else for a night.
to me. I love how similar we all are and yet nowhere near the same. I’ve learned from each and every one of you and still do. You all are not only my friends but my chosen family.
25
YOU BELONG IN THE GREEN MARKET PLACE
SUSTAINABILITY COACH
The North Florida Green Chamber makes being green cool and convenient. Our creative tools and innovative programs bring our business community together on green initiatives while connecting you with thoughtfully sourced resources, news and data.
JOIN A COMMUNITY MAKING A DIFFERENCE. Become a North Florida Green Chamber member today!
SOLAR COLLECTIVE
BUYERS’ CLUB
FOLLOW US @NorthFloridaGreenChamber
North Florida Green Chamber
@northfloridagreenchamber GREEN MARKETPLACE
@green_north
ADVOCACY
BE BOLD. GO GREEN. TO LEARN MORE, VISIT NORTHFLORIDAGREENCHAMBER.ORG
26
AT CARDONA DIRECT PRIMARY CARE WE BELIEVE THAT GOING TO A DOCTOR SHOULD BE SIMPLE AND AFFORDABLE
Instead of billing health insurance, our patients pay a monthly fee and are seen as often as they need whenever they need. Our members have access to discounted labs like cholesterol panel for $3.52, and wholes sale meds like a Zpack for $2.45 or cholesterol meds for 6 cents per pill.
Would you like to learn more about Cardona Direct Primary Care or are you happy with your current health care arrangement?
W W W. C A R D O N A D P C . C O M (904) 551-4625 27
PARAMOUNT
FEBRUARY FILM REVIEWS Reviews by Harry Moore
28
Scream
West Side Story
When a new maniac puts on the Ghostface mask and begins terrorizing
In hindsight, it was obviously very foolish to be skeptical of Steven Spiel-
the town of Woodsboro, it is up to the seemingly unkillable trio of Sidney
berg. When it was announced the virtuoso director was tackling the famous
Prescott, Gale Weathers and Dewey Riley (played by franchise veterans
musical, it was met with a widespread sense of doubt and questioning. It
Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette) to team up with a new
had been a while since Spielberg made a film that left a lasting impression
generation of would-be teenage victims in order to uncover the killer and
on the movie-going public, and some doubted whether this new adaptation
put an end to the carnage.
was even necessary, given the 1961 cinematic version won the Academy Award for Best Picture and is widely considered a classic in the musical
It’s been 25 years since the first Scream, directed by the late great director
film genre.
Wes Craven, slashed its way into movie theaters and syphoned together a level of witty self-awareness and old school horror thrills, dissecting the
However, Spielberg managed to vault over the doubt and expectations by
genre to take a look at the hallmarks and proceeding to skewer its clichés.
delivering what may be his most vital film in decades. From the opening moments it is clear that, unlike some of his recent films such as Ready Player
Upon its release, Scream rocked the film industry and almost single hand-
One and The Post, this story is near and dear to the director’s heart and is
edly revived the horror genre, saving it from the glut of endless sequels in
a project that he has been ruminating on for years. The choreography is of
franchises such as Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street. A quarter
the highest order and camera work is so sumptuous, constantly but elegant-
of a century later, Scream has become its own long running franchise with
ly moving around the action that it becomes almost dreamlike. West Side
diminishing returns (the less said about Scream 3 and 4 maybe the better).
Story is one of those shows that has fully seeped into the culture at large,
And now, directing duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, behind 2019’s
where even if you’ve never seen a film or live version of the original 1957
Ready or Not, helm the latest Ghostface installment, which tackles the latest
Broadway show it’s based on, you have undoubtedly heard many of the
trend of reboots currently dominating Hollywood.
songs and will inevitably be humming along to them on the car ride home. The cast is uniformly strong with Ariana DeBose, Rachel Zegler, David Alva-
Like the other Scream films, the latest directly addresses the current issues
rez and Mike Faist all putting in star-making performances. But the weakest
in cinema as its film-literate characters discuss the rules and circumstances
note is, unfortunately, the lead Ansel Elgort as Tony, who isn’t terrible in the
for surviving a modern horror film. The nature of modern reboots is ad-
film by any means, but simply doesn’t live up to the extraordinary perfor-
dressed directly, as legacy franchise characters are brought back to change
mances of the rest of the principal cast.
the guard for a new generation—which is a trend seen in other series from Halloween and Star Wars, to, most recently, Ghostbusters and Spider-Man.
The King’s Man Set in the shadows of World War I, The King’s Man follows the origin of the
As was the case with the fandom around those other reboots, the hardcore
franchise’s eponymous Secret Service. The Kingsman series is thought to
Scream fans will likely get major thrill out of the newest iteration, as the
be a more carefree antidote to the grim and realistic approach to James
franchise’s past is utilized to push the story forward with much care and at-
Bond that pervaded Daniel Craig’s tenure of the character, but this prequel
tention. The new cast of teens is a mixed bag: Melissa Barrera is capable as
seems to have forgotten that mission statement, which, seeing as it uses
the object of the killer’s desire, while Jasmin Savoy Brown makes a strong
one of humanity’s darkest moments as a backdrop, shouldn’t be much of
impression as the group’s resident cinephile. The rest come across as a
a surprise. But director Matthew Vaughn appears to want to have his cake
disposable group of meat bags waiting for Ghostface’s knife.
and eat it too, as he implements both the cartoonish hyper-violence seen in the series’ other films, while also showing the very real devastating de-
Those who are new to the series may be frustrated by the characters’ reg-
struction that the Great War brought upon a generation of people, most of
ular references to other horror films and possibly confused by the discus-
whom were just boys. While the action sequences are mostly fun and well
sions of events from prior films. However, like its predecessors, the film’s
executed, particularly a knife fight set in no man’s land, the film is never able
central mystery surrounding the new identity of Ghostface will likely keep
to reconcile its two halves of camp action and all too real tragedy.
you guessing until the final revelation, and the nail biting climax almost matches Craven’s masterfully tense original. This reboot is one of the better
A question of the film’s necessity could also be begged, as it is unlikely that
ones to come out of this latest wave from Hollywood, giving fans a satisfy-
there are many (if any) audience members who were clamoring to learn
ing new sequel in the franchise.
why the Kingsman agency utilizes Arthurian-inspired codenames or how the agency began at all. Whereas a third modern day installment with Taron Egerton and Colin Firth returning would have likely been met with more enthusiasm, the prequel comes across as a disjointed misfire with an overly convoluted plot and no particularly memorable characters.
29
I WAS TIRED OF LIVING WITH MY FIBROMYALGIA PAIN Fibromyalgia has been difficult to treat and even more difficult to understand, UNTIL NOW! Dr. Turpin provides patients with much needed relief from Fibro symptoms!
If you're suffering from Fibromyalgia, you understand this sentiment all too well. Local Jacksonville resident Kate R. found herself at a turning point when she noticed her diagnosis had started to take a toll on her marriage.
"I was angry all the time because of all the things I couldn't do anymore because of my Fibromyalgia. That anger cycled through depression and affected everyone around me, my husband more than anyone. It made our lives miserable." Fibromyalgia affects the entire body. To make things complicated it affects everyone's body a little differently. To make things even more complicated, those effects can change on a daily basis. Sometimes you're plagued with widespread muscle pain and fatigue, and other days it's a headache and heightened sensitivity to touch.
"I could barely stand to have the light weight of bedsheets touching me, much less a hug from my husband." explains Kate. This is what it's like to suffer from Fibromyalgia. Symptoms make everyday life incredibly difficult. Mundane, daily tasks are nearly impossible. And too often, these symptoms are only made worse because practitioners find it difficult to understand and even more troublesome to treat. It's characterized by widespread pain in muscles and tissues rather than inflammation of the joints.
Then your primary care doctors suggest dietary changes, pain linaments and prescription medications to the point where your life is no longer ruled by Fibromyalgia. It's now ruled by difficult routines and pill regimens that are supposed to aid in avoiding flare ups.
Kate put it this way, "My life was no longer my own." Eventually, Kate did her own research and discovered that acupuncture can improve the quality of life in Fibro patients. Determined to find the best, she discovered Riverplace Acupuncture Integrative Health led by Dr. Jann Turpin. Dr. Turpin has been successfully treating difficult to manage, chronic pain cases for almost 12 years. She uses the time tested science of acupuncture and integrates it with modern medical advancements that encourage healing and recovery. Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that is commonly used to reduce various forms of pain. Acupuncture works by reducing inflammation, stimulating the release of endorphins and offers much needed symptom relief for Fibromyalgia. Then Dr. Turpin skillfully layers other non invasive therapies like ATP Resonance Biotherapy™ and O3 Regenerative Therapy™ for amplified, long-lasting results.
"I feel like a new person. My husband comes with me to my appointments. He spends most of it thanking Dr. Jann for giving him back the woman he married. And for the first time since we moved here, one of my neighbors told me I looked good! It's a miracle she treated my Fibro, I don't know how else to explain it." If you're looking for a doctor and a practice who not only understands your diagnosis but also has a proven solution for chronic pain, look no further than Riverplace Acupuncture Integrative Health (RAIH).
Kate describes RAIH almost as enthusiastically as she does their treatments. "I love it here!"
Voted Folio's Best of Jax 2021, Dr.
Turpin's success stories have been repeatedly featured on social media and can be viewed by finding her on Facebook or Instagram, @RiverplaceAcupuncture! Additional information about Dr. Turpin and her various treatments can be found by visiting RiverplaceAcupuncture.com or by calling (904) 720-8887. Dr. Turpin is now accepting new patients but only for a limited time. To protect her availabiltiy for existing and future patients, only 10 new fibromyalgia patients will be accepted before February 28, 2022 so call (904) 720-8887 now to schedule a consultation.
Visit www.RiverplaceAcupuncture.com to learn more and to take advantage of their NEW PATIENT OFFER! 30
31
32
Hello Mr. Joe
National Ukulele Month Words by Jay Melfa & Photos by Vincent Dalessio For National Ukulele Month, we decided to recognize Mr. Joe, a resident of
his performances is to make kids comfortable while helping them adapt to the
Jacksonville with a small guitar-like instrument and a big passion for performing.
world they are growing up in.
He jumps around, rides on his bike, tells stories to children and makes YouTube videos about all the adventures he goes on.
“I like to tell kids stuff like, ‘If you wanna cough, just act like Dracula and cough into your vampire cape!’” said Gaskin.
Joe Gaskin, better known by his stage name “Mr. Joe,” is a librarian at the Jacksonville Public Library with a master’s in library studies from FSU. The 36 year
When COVID-19 hit and the world had to change how to do things, Gaskin
old started working at Willowbranch Library in Riverside but now travels around
decided to take his usual storytimes down the virtual path and turn them into
town with his stories as part of the library—and his own personal mission.
YouTube videos. He’s recorded trips to the Cummer Museum and Jacksonville Zoo, singing about what he encounters and having a good time with his audience.
Technically, Gaskin doesn’t play a ukulele but rather a guitalele, a sort of guitar-
His adventures were even featured in a “Bright Spot” segment on First Coast
ukulele hybrid, that he discovered in a store window while biking across Croatia.
News in April 2020, where he performed songs about washing hands and how
A guitar player since he was 16 years old, Gaskin found the guitalele easy to hold,
“Heroes Wear Masks!” Now he’s back to doing them live and in person, with
easy to carry and easy for him to learn since it has the same strings as a regular
safety precautions like performing outdoors and social distancing.
guitar. It was love at first strum. Ever since, he has played on it for all of his songs, videos and storytime performances.
When he is not riding around town on his bike or performing, Gaskin writes for children’s picture books. So far, he has collaborated with artists on 10 books.
“I’ve done storytimes without the music and, you know, it takes a little bit to get people invested,” said Gaskin. “But when I start playing? Just like that. Everyone’s
“I wanna make books that help kids explore the world around them and their own
with me and we’re all having a great time.”
emotions,” said Gaskin.
Gaskin does in-person shows for kids of all ages at the library, Jarboe Park and
Gaskin loves to do his shows and hopes he can keep doing them. And every time
South Mandarin every week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and a virtual show via
he finishes his adventure, he closes off with a big message: “Have fun, stay safe,
Zoom on Fridays. Having fun is a top priority but keeping safe. His main goal with
wash your hands and BE KIND!”
33
Schuyler Smith & Zorry Humphries
34
Cool With Everyone New Bar Neon Moon
Words & Photos by Vincent Dalessio There’s a new face in the neighborhood. Since its first soft opening at the beginning of January, Neon Moon has already made quite a name for itself in 5 Points through mostly word of mouth, but it's obvious they already have a bright future ahead of them. This western-chique style bar is the perfect balance of chill and upbeat, bright and dim. The beautiful acoustic ceiling installation alludes to big future plan for live music, pop up shows and other forms of gatherings. Specializing in natural wines, cold draft brews and vegan eats, Neon Moon is curating a space that fits the demographic of Riverside, and brings originality back to 5 Points. When Cafe Karibo, a sister restaurant of Timoti’s Seafood, in the heart of 5 points decided to officially close its doors last August, long term kitchen hand Zorry Humphries, 29, tossed out the idea of the current owners letting him run the space. Zorry had the idea to transform the space into a down home, neighborhood bar, and the owners gave him creative freedom, and partial ownership. “I want more young people to be involved in the business world. In order for the city to grow and evolve you have to let young minds be involved. That's what was dope, like I mean, I'm not super young, but I am young to be a business owner,” explained Zorry. “They took a chance on me but also what they were doing wasn't working, they didn't understand this area of neighborhoods like I know it from living here for so many years. I got real cool with everybody in the community and was like fuck it, i’ll try to do bar. Seems nightlife has taken over this district anyway.” Zorry grew up in Callahan, and is an eclectic combination of every culture he’s a part of. He moved to Jacksonville to pursue skateboarding, and spent nearly a decade in the kitchen at Timoti’s/ Karibo to pay his way to be able to do so. Skateboarding is a special knit community of individuals from varying backgrounds and is the spark for many of the connections Zorry has made in the community. He's looking to make Neon Moon a similar type of eclectic inclusivity. Zorry said it this way, “I've always hung around different groups of people. So for me, like you can be a cowboy. You can be a skateboarder. You can be hardcore, like, thats what skateboarding created for me. It was like a different style of friend group. But I grew up in a small town. We were taught to hang around certain groups. But I was always the one kind of like, I'm cool with the black people. I'm black. I'm cool with thugs. I'm cool with the Redneck dudes and I'm cool with the punk rock kids. So I'm like, Yo, everybody come hang out. I want to show that everybody is kind of similar if you bring them together.”
35
REDISCOVER YOURSELF
THIS YEAR!
SCHEDULE A TOUR TO RECEIVE A
FREE ONE-WEEK MEMBERSHIP
AT THE JCA. Offer expires 02/28/2022
THE JCA WELCOMES PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT OF FUN, HARMONY AND FRIENDSHIP.
YOU ALREADY BELONG, HAVE YOU JOINED US YET?
START YOUR JCA EXPERIENCE TODAY! SCAN HERE OR VISIT BIT.LY/2022PROMO 36
Florida voting laws have changed. People with felony convictions* may be eligible to register to vote! Completion of incarceration, probation, and parole, and payment of all financial obligations in their sentence — means THEY CAN VOTE! Register to vote online at www.Vote411.org Have questions? Need help registering to vote? Call our LWVFL Rights Restoration team at (407)710-5496 or email CanIVote@lwvfl.org People deserve a Second Chance! Your vote can impact someone you love!
*excluding persons with convictions for murder or felony sex offense.
37
Bob Marley wearing Haile Selassie’s ring by Adrian Boot
38
Bob Marley singing “Redemption Song” on the last tour by Peter Simon
Remembering Robert Nesta Marley Rain Henderson
Bob Marley is one of the most well-known names in music history and has been covered by artists of all genres: Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash, Sublime, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Nina Simone and many others. If you don’t know much about Marley, you’re sure to have seen his face printed on shirts at almost any crappy head shop or heard his most popular songs setting the vibe at some tiki-inspired bar you sipped a piña colada at. Sadly, capitalism has exploited Marley and turned him and his music into a vacation theme song and a “yeah, I smoke herb” symbol for the creepy dudes who wear long jorts on any tourist-trap boardwalk. My parents are really into Marley; my sister is named after him. My dad claimed to be Rastafari, which I’m not sure is possible if you’re white and gave up smoking weed at 30, but he did have dreads at one point and believed in the message of fighting against the oppressor. In the very early 2000s, we were on a road trip home from Virgina when a cop pulled us over and requested to search the car because we had a Bob Marley sticker on the back (I don’t think the fact that this sticker was poorly placed on a beat-up white Astro van helped much either). My mother threw a fit; she fought the “baldhead.” Narrowly escaping arrest, we left the scene with a ticket. I was young and confused why a sticker of a great musician would create such a scene, and shit, we were white. Throughout Marley’s career he was the centerpiece for Jamaican politics, though he tried to keep his music his only political message. He united and polarized people, vocalizing about poverty, oppression, violence, peace, love and unity. Marley was a key player in the spread of Rastafarianism, a religion and social movement based on a specific interpretation of The Bible in which Haile Selassie, the emperor of Ethiopia, was considered the second coming of Jesus and Jah incarnate. (When Marley met the son of His Imperial Majesty in the mid-1970s, the prince offered him a ring worn by His Majesty that Marley had seen in his own dreams. It fit perfectly). The religion was based on political consciousness for Africans and focuses on the African diaspora repressed in Western society. Rastas cultivate their consciousness with Jah (I-and-I) by reading The Bible; keeping long, locked hair in its natural state; wearing colors that symbolize blood, herbs, royalty and Africanness (red, green, gold and black); eating a vegetarian diet; and smoking ganja to meditate with Jah. Marley was born Feb. 6, 1945 in Nine Mile, Jamaica to 19-year-old Cedella Marley and Captain Norval Marley, who left shortly after his birth. Mysticism and spirituality were an integral part of Jamaican society. Marley’s grandfather, Omeriah, was an influential mystic in their community, and when Marley was born he recognized something special about him. Omeriah saw a duppy spirit (ghost) attached to the child that would try to kill him his
39
Bob Marley talking to the police before “One Love” Peace Concert, 1978 by Adrian Boot
40
whole life. Marley took this on and cultivated his own mystic place as a young child, reading palms in their neighborhood before being sent to Kingston and further immersing himself in Rastafarianism and reggae. In Kingston, he met Bunny Livingston (aka Bunny Wailer). The two would stay up all night listening to music on the newly popular R&B radio stations. They eventually formed The Wailers with Peter Tosh and became popular and highly successful working with Coxson Dodd to bring Jamaica’s music to the world. Marley became a musical prophet for the people in Jamaica, singing of political situations and Rasta mysticism. By 1976, Marley was the most popular superstar in the Third World. Two years before, Marley had awoken with severe chest pain. The same day, he heard the news Omeriah had passed, which he claimed he already knew. Marley’s duppy spirit remained close throughout his life. There was an assassination attempt at the same place Tosh’s girlfriend died in a car accident after smoking a spliff with the Wailers (and causing Tosh to cut all ties with the Wailers forever). Marley was blackmailed, which resulted in several mysterious deaths. And in 1977, he was diagnosed with melanoma after a suspicious toe injury. Marley knew he would die, thanks to his grandfather’s childhood predictions, and because it is a sin in the Rastafarian faith to remove any piece of the temple (body). Since Marley refused to have his toe amputated, the cancer spread. He died in 1981 at 36, leaving behind a wife, 11 children and a legacy. His final words, spoken to his son Ziggy were “money can’t buy life.” Though his likeness has been ripped off and exploited through-out the world, Marley was the voice for the impoverished and socially disenfranchised Afro-Jamaican community and remains a voice for all oppressed people. If you listen carefully, you will hear.
Bob Marley the evening before he collapsed in 1960 by Steve Berman
41
Would like to thank the people of Jacksonville for voting us
BEST THAI RESTAURANT year after year! We are honored by your continued support.
42
Celebrating 20 Years of Enriching Lives with Literacy ANNUAL FEATURE EVENTS FEBRUARY Award Winning Authors in Schools Program World-renowned authors as well as local and regional authors bring their books and talents to Nassau County schools and students. This year we will deliver over 10,000 books! Signature Annual Gala at the Ritz Carlton A festive, fun evening with New York Times best selling authors. Event features celebrity authors, our renowned live auction, reception, author panel discussion and much more! Author Expo A celebratory free event featuring over 90 authors showcasing, autographing and selling their books. Teen/Tween Scene Hosted at the Author Expo, offering young readers an opportunity to engage with authors in small groups. MARCH Scholarship & Short Story Writing Contests An opportunity for Nassau County Middle and High School Students to earn creative writing awards, scholarships and to be published. APRIL Online Auction Participate in an online auction featuring naming rights for a character in David Baldacci’s next thriller among other exciting items!
WELCOME TO THE BOOK FESTIVAL! The Amelia Island Book Festival engages adults and young people in the joy of reading and writing through a series of public events featuring New York Times best-selling authors, independent publishers, awards programs and workshops. These events attract thousands of people for learning, entertainment, and the excitement of seeing and meeting some of the most remarkable authors of the times! Past speakers include:
Sharon Robinson AIBF Honorary Chair
Lisa Scottoline Steve Berry
John Grisham
OBTAIN EVENT UPDATES ON OUR WEBSITE www.ameliaislandbookfestival.org Three of our signature annual events, which were postponed due to COVID, will resume in 2023. The Annual Gala, Author Expo and Teen/Tween Scene will be held again in February 2023. Tickets for the 2023 Gala will go on sale on our website in October. Check in to see the exceptional line-up of celebrity authors! All other events are being held as scheduled. Register to participate in our Online Auction that will be held in late April. A feature auction item will be the rights to name yourself or anyone you choose to be a character in David Baldacci’s next thriller!
One Book, One Community Event featuring the common reading and shared conversation around one book with the author. JULY Made in the South Event featuring Southern authors, includes author discussion, cocktails and refreshments. SEPTEMBER Children’s Author Party Children’s pirate party featuring a children’s author, book and costumes. OCTOBER Celebrity Author Luncheon Entertaining and informative luncheon with a celebrity key note speaker.
PLEASE JOIN US BY ATTENDING ONE OF OUR EVENTS OR BECOMING A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTOR/SUPPORTER TODAY. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Visit www.ameliaislandbookfestival.org to learn more about
AIBF, view the Festival’s complete schedule of events, donate, sponsor or purchase tickets. You can also scan this QR code with your smartphone.
43
PG-13
It’s 2022 and time we find new ways to spend date night rather than at an expensive restaurant or at the movie theater. Now I'm not saying these are bad date nights, but spicing up your weekly routine will more than likely spice things up in your relationship.
The pandemic has wreaked havoc on every aspect of coming together, both literally and metaphorically. We are now forced to find COVID-safe things to experience with our significant other. Rather than shoving more lackluster stay-in date plans down your throat this season of love, I decided to put together a list of new things you and yours can do together. —Vincent Dalessio
44
There’s nothing that brings couples together more than stepping outside of their comfort zone together. Find a common weakness and work on it together. If you both sh*t your pants, it's not embarrassing: It's bonding <3.
Rock Climbing Conquer your fear of heights together. Check out one of the many climbing gyms around the area like The Edge in San Marco, Beach Rock Gym in Atlantic Beach or Stone in St. Augustine. Skydiving What better way to say “I trust you” than jumping out of a plane and plummeting to the ground together. There are multiple traditional skydiving businesses around the area like Skydive Amelia. If actually falling is too intense, slide by iFLy at St. Johns Town Center, an indoor simulator powered by large fans that mimic the feeling of weightlessness while skydiving. Haunted Walking Tour North Florida is built upon a violent history, and with that comes ghosts. Take a tour through Historic Downtown St. Augustine around the Castillo de San Marcos (aka The Fort), or head north to Amelia Island where otherworldly beings haunt homes and pubs alike. Couples Therapy Arguably the scariest on this whole list, it also comes with the most benefits. Set yourself up for success in the long run and learn how to deal with conflict together. The stigma around couples therapy is that only couples in a bad place need therapy, but laying positive groundwork before it hits the fan will only reduce stress from your relationship. Get Outside Together There are countless studies that show the positive benefits of spending time in nature like stress reduction and increase in dopamine production. Doing so with your significant other can have similar benefits in your relationship. Ride the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail This 14.5-mile paved bike trail is one of Jacksonville's oldest traverses. Traveling through copious amounts of rural forest and historic landmarks like Camp Milton, you and your sweetie will feel like Lance Armstrong as you pedal your way on this out and back. Hike Step away from the concrete jungle and into some of the nature preserves around the area like the tree “boneyard” at Big Talbot Island, the rolling sand dunes of Hanna Park or the “waterfall” along the trails in Bulls Bay Preserve. Dark Spot for Stars Stargazing has been romanticized since the beginning of cinema, and for good reason. There's nothing more relaxing than lying in the moonlight with the love of your life. Unfortunately, Duval development has clogged our view with light pollution which is why finding “dark spots” or areas with minimal light pollution will be sure to whoa your partner. Check out darksitefinder.com for a map of the closest dark spots to you. Most of these areas are off the beaten trail, so be ready for some adventuring.
45
Learning something new with your significant other is a great way to build team working skills and can help with conflict resolution, as well as everyday communication. Check out these ideas for things you can do and learn together. Classes Taking a class together will not only show you how to work together, but it will also teach you a skill or hobby, like cooking, you can carry throughout your lives. Learning to dance can boost intimacy and make you the life of the party at the next wedding you attend or crash. Reading This one is a personal favorite and one you can implement into your daily repertoire. Reading together gives you together-time you can look forward to, broadens topics you discuss and encourages you to slow down together and appreciate being present with your spouse.
Now, for the list you all have been waiting for, the outsidethe-box thinking, different date ideas. Depending on your relationship with your partner, some of these may or may not fly, so tread lightly when planning surprise dates as some of these require consent and for you both to be on the same page. Visit Realtor Open Houses and Pretend to Be Interested (or Actually Be Interested) Exploring homes will open both of your imaginations to future opportunities whether or not you both already live together. Throw on your nicest suit and dress and walk in feeling more important than you actually are, probably. Visit a Swingers Club This is one that requires consent. I imagine this one would end very poorly without prior communication, but if you’re both open minded, this could really spice things up in the bedroom. Go to a Sex Shop Explore each other's fantasies together at one of the many adult novelty shops around the area like Best of Jax winner Sunset Novelties. Crash a Wedding The premise of the movie Wedding Crashers was to crash weddings in order to find fine honeys, but if you already have a honey? Crashing a wedding with your significant other will no doubt spice things up in your relationship and give you an opportunity to meet new people, role play and walk the line of danger. Volunteer By far the most PG on this list, but one that can bring great joy. Find a common cause that you and your partner are passionate about and volunteer. Making an impact in the community will make you feel accomplished together.
46
47
Tinder
Harry Moore Hello, Tinder, my old friend. After taking something of a sabbatical from the dating scene, I began to think that it was about time to get my now-immunized self back out there. As is the case for many people out there these days, the most readily available avenue for that was through an app on my phone. And so, began the inevitable redownloading of Tinder. After adding some more recent images (me on a boat, me in a nice shirt, me and my dogs, me and my boys at Hogwarts, Orlando) and a new bio (“FSU Grad, I don’t own a boat but I do have dogs”), I began swiping. Jacksonville is a big city, and there are a lot of wonderful women in it, but maybe I’m just not a flavor the locals like. I feel like I’m a generous right-swiper—unless you’re clearly a bot, espousing ignorant views or proposing some bizarre fetish requests in your bio, it’s likely you’ll get a green heart. So where are my matches at? Maybe I’d be better off going out and mingling in our new post(ish)-COVID world, rather than relying on Silicon Valley as a wingman. It’s probable we all would.
Facebook Dating
Kerry Speckman
Sometimes I wonder if I’m missing out on something being single, and it’s
While I try not to judge people, my 30-minute window forced me to make
usually right around Valentine’s Day. When it happens, I’ll spend about 30
some snap decisions. Fortunately, most of the men made it easy for me.
minutes on a dating app or website until I have reassured myself beyond a shadow of a doubt I am meant to be alone. And I don’t mean that in a bad way.
Good-bye, guy who started his bio with: “No, I will not get vaccinated—I’d rather swim across a gasoline pond with a torch stuck in my ass!!”
In the past, I’ve browsed Match, Tinder, OK Cupid, eharmony, Bumble and
Toodle-loo, diva who Facetuned all of his photos to the point he no longer
back in the day, AOL, which I accessed via dial-up, thank you very much (Gen
looked human.
X, represent!). I even placed a personal ad in this very publication. As I recall, I sent the form via fax.
Off you go, dude with a complete disregard for punctuation, almost like you don’t even know it exists.
When I found out Facebook started its own dating service, Facebook Dating, I must admit I was intrigued. I mean, Facebook (aka Meta, which I refuse to
Au revoir, poor fella who had not one but five memes about cheaters
refer to it as) knows me better than people I’ve known my entire life. It knows
Ta-ta, gentleman seeking “a woman who stays fit, eats right … and dresses for
the music I like, my political leanings and hobbies, and which Golden Girl I
success” (because it’s not 1988).
would be, according to BuzzFeed. Finding a romantic match for me should be a no-brainer, then, right?
Peace out, dude who looked like a different person in every photo (seriously, he looked like Matt Damon in one, Patton Oswalt in another and Gary Busey
Nope.
in another) and dude who looked like my cousin.
It wasn’t for lack of options. My field of eligibles was diverse in race, educa-
Get lost, creeper who chose this emoji to describe himself:
tion, religion (or lack thereof), hair style, ethnicity, tattoo-to-bare-skin ratio, height, socio-economic group, fishing and/or kayaking experience, and com-
And finally, to the guy who wrote: “Don’t even think about swiping right if
mand of the English language. I can assure you there is no place in this city
you weren’t born a female. Seeking a cerebral woman. If you have to look up
where I’d come face to face, so to speak, with a multilingual film producer, shy
the definition of cerebral just swipe left. thanks.” … a simple f*ck you should
nurse with a pornstache and successful businessman who is “not conceded”
suffice.
within minutes of each other—let alone without having to leave my couch. (Side note: I didn’t even know “action/adventurer” was a job, but if the one I saw shirtless photos of is any indication, it’s an incredible work out for your abs.)
48
Hinge Molly Britt
The dreaded holiday is here. The day everyone makes an extra effort to show their love and affection toward their significant others. The day I choose to sip a nice glass, or bottle, of merlot while watching movies with my single friends, but I’m reaching the age where dates are a must and the pressure is on to find the right person, if there even is one. You know, the dreaded “are you dating anyone?” question your grandparents seem to love asking every time you visit. Well, I know as much as the next person how hard it can be to find someone in this digital age. As a fan of a good meet cute, it’s not often I look toward online dating for some extra help, but the time has come. My friends are aware how much I am constantly deleting and re-downloading dating apps. If I had a penny for every time I told them I’m done with the dating apps, we’d be rich. It is now a weekly occurrence. So with February here, I am taking the plunge once more into the online dating world… with Hinge. I love their commercials where they brag about being the app meant to be deleted: “Even if it kills them,” they say. First of all, I know exactly what red flags us girls are looking for. You know the ones, pictures of men holding a fish, gym pictures in the mirror, the dreaded couple picture where they crossed out their ex. I get it, you want to show off…that is just not the way to do it. Don’t blame the messenger. I will be the first to tell you I am pretty picky with my options. Past dating and relationship fails will do that to a person. I am not ashamed to say I look for specifics in people; how else would we find someone we want to be with? It took a while for me to realize that was nothing to feel bad about. As a single female in her 20s, I know as much as the next girl, rejection can get on people’s nerves. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has had men get upset and continue to bother you while on a night out. It was part of the reason I steered away from dating for a while, but it’s much easier to avoid that when you’re using something like Hinge. Nobody I reject can message me or even knows I didn’t match with them, which is definitely something I appreciate. It’s not just the anonymity I liked, though. I enjoyed the opportunity to know about the strange fears and funniest memories, thanks to Hinge’s profile prompts. It honestly was the reason I matched with half the people I did. I’m the type of person to appreciate the oddities, like a fear of Velcro and the ability to juggle, as some of the profiles mentioned. It leads to interesting conversation. After matching with a few people, I took the chance to message them and see what they’re like. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised this time around. I’m not sure if it was due to Valentine’s Day coming and people wanting to make more of an effort, or just luck, but I wasn’t disappointed with those I matched with in the last two weeks. Now, will I continue my deleting and re-downloading streak? Most likely, yes, only because sometimes I don’t feel the need to be dating and prefer being alone. However, if I were to attempt online dating, I’d know there were some benefits without the classic meet cute.
49
NOW ENROLLING K-8 FOR 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
APPLY ONLINE RCSAIntracoastal.org
STEM Focused and part of “A” Rated RCSA School System by FLDOE.
HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL SYSTEM
EDUCATION
50
WHAT’S HAPPENING JACKSONVILLE? Submit your events
51
We are grateful to be voted Best Pizza by the legion of Folio readers. 1176 Edgewood Ave. South Murray Hill Jacksonville, FL 32205 | 904.389.4442
52
JOIN GUARDIAN AD LITEM FOR OUR ANNUAL
Like March 25 | 6 PM – 10 PM White Hall 400 N Hogan St | Jacksonville, FL 32202
Tasty Bites, Crafted Cocktails, Sweet Treats, Live Auction and Live Music Join Guardian ad Litem as we raise money to support abused, neglected and abandoned children on the First Coast. Help us give a voice to every child in need. $150 Per Person | $85 Young Professionals
Folio Best of Jax Winner
CLICK HERE To Purchase Tickets Today!
Broker: Katrina Leek Veteran Owned & Operated
Change a Child’s Story.
Don’t let your real estate needs spiral out of control The Guardian ad Litem Program serves as the exclusive advocate for abused, neglected and abandoned children in Duval, Clay and Nassau Counties. Guardians are volunteers, or special advocates, whose job is to serve as the voice of the child – a voice that is separate from the child’s family members, foster care providers, attorneys or social workers.
1700 Wells Rd., Ste 24 Orange Park, FL
riverbirchjax.com 904-945-5610
GALFIRSTCOAST.ORG |
53
| (904) 255-8440
54