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2 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
CONTENTS //
FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 • VOLUME 28 • NUMBER 48
MAIL Don’t Ignore the Contradiction
5
Jeffrey Billman writes that he “couldn’t care less” what someone does in the privacy of his home, because it’s not “bothering or endangering anybody” [Editor’s Note, “The Moral Minority,” Feb. 11]. As a libertarian, neither do I, and for the same reason, and it’s for the same reason that I don’t care if someone discriminates on any basis he chooses for employment, housing, etc. It’s a private contract, the actions are private and no one’s person or property is endangered or damaged. It’s odd how so many from the left and right don’t want to intrude into people’s private lives on one basis but see no contradiction in doing it on another. Conservatives rail at intrusions for discrimination and other Big Brother abuses and bemoan our loss of spirituality. I believe it’s immoral to discriminate on any basis and to abuse alcohol, drugs, sex and gambling, but to try to cure them with laws is worse than the disease. Our moral and spiritual leaders should be the ones guiding us on these things. Let them do their jobs. To make them illegal plays into the hands of organized crime, lawyers, politicians and bureaucrats. Roderick T. Beaman
23 EDITOR’S NOTE FIGHTIN’ WORDS GUEST COLUMN COVER STORY
4 5 7 8
OUR PICKS MOVIES MAGIC LANTERNS ARTS
14 16 16 23
16
MUSIC THE KNIFE DINING DIRECTORY BITE-SIZED
27 32 33 35
NEWS OF THE WEIRD 37 37 CROSSWORD ASTROLOGY 38 I SAW U 38
Editor’s response: I might be inclined to agree, except that it very much damages somebody who is denied a house or job because of whom he or she is attracted to.
How Are You Better?
The author writes, “What matters to me is that this asshole is being enriched with my tax dollars” [The Flog, “Meet the Jax Port Task Force’s New $60K Consultant, Who Believes Obama Is More Anti-American than Terrorists,” Jeffrey C. Billman, Feb. 11]. How is that any different than the insane arguments that Barber makes? How is this article not just a partisan smear? Scott Schultz, via Twitter
Entitled to His Views
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EDITORIAL
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[Herbert Barber is] entitled to his views, as long as they don’t interfere with the execution of his position [Cover Story, “Meet the City’s New $60K Port Consultant,” Jeffrey C. Billman, Feb. 18]. Which seems impossible, but there you go. Gary Reich, via Facebook
Liberals’ Worst Nightmare
If you intended to spark an interest with Folio Weekly’s headline about the $60k port consultant, my sparkometer broke when I read it. What you have shown in your article is that Barber is a liberal’s worst nightmare. With two master’s degrees and two doctorates, he obviously spent many years at universities. Yet, he was not influenced by the liberal teachings of academia. Your article also states, “it’s not like Barber was unqualified.” Now because of his beliefs his credibility is being challenged. This is typical liberal response. His beliefs in America’s potential downfall are not extreme at all. I submit that they are very mainstream. The screed you mention is documented in extensive detail in Jonathan Cahn’s masterpiece The Harbinger. It details the parallel of the fall of Israel to the events of 9/11 and beyond. Herein lies the issue. You have to accept at least the Old Testament as fact. [Ed.: I do?] The problem is that liberals do not care about facts; they care only for their agenda. Give the man a chance. From the way I read it, his beliefs will not influence his analysis of a study that is now nearly five years old. John Pierce To respond to something in Folio Weekly, please email us, with your address and phone number for verification, at mail@folioweekly.com.
FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 3
EDITOR’S NOTE
REVERSE ROBIN HOOD
F
inally, someone gets it. Someone, that is, beyond the myriad economists and journalists who have laid bare this scam in cities all over this nation of ours time and time again. Someone actually in office, a chairman of a powerful state legislative committee in fact, with the authority to actually do something about it, to put an end to billionaire sports team owners bullying municipal and state governments to cough up hundreds of millions of public dollars for new stadiums to replace perfectly usable but not sufficiently profitable stadiums, with the implicit — and often explicit — threat that if they don’t, well, there are other cities and states that will. And so it is, for example, that under Florida law, tourism taxes can be used to build palatial playgrounds for millionaire athletes — or, in Jacksonville, the world’s largest scoreboards — but not police to patrol their parking lots or teachers to educate the children who live nearby. State Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes (that’s in Pasco County, by the way), the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, understands how screwed up all this is. “This is a reversed, perverse Robin Hood,” he told the News Service of Florida last week. “We’re going to take from hard-working taxpayers and give it to the rich people. I don’t understand that logic at all. Every economist, every study shows there is not any economic development to these proposals.” The specific issue the Legislature will address this session, which opens March 3, is how to divvy up the $7 million in salestax money lawmakers approved last year for stadium projects. (Corcoran will vote against all of this funding, and good on him for that. Unfortunately, he’ll be in the minority.) There are four competing projects lobbying for these funds: The Daytona International Speedway and Sun Life Stadium in South Florida, which each want $3 million a year for the next 30 years; the city of Orlando, which wants $2 million a year over the next three decades for its underconstruction Major League Soccer stadium; and EverBank Field, which has asked the state for $1 million a year every year for the next three decades, on top of the $43 million the Jaguars procured for the stadium in 2013 from Duval County’s tourism-tax coffers. The Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research ranked the EverBank project second, behind Orlando’s stadium. The Jaguars responded by saying that if they didn’t get their way, they would take their ball and go home. “We won’t go forward” with EverBank’s in-progress $100 million upgrade, Jaguars lobbyist Paul Harden told the News Service. Or maybe they’ll just hit up City Council for another check: “We’ll look for alternative sources, if they’re there. This is a publicly owned building. It’s the city of Jacksonville’s decisions.”
When Is Late Too Late?
By Friday, the draft report was already a week late, and no one in the city seemed to have any idea where it was or when it had come in. Earlier that week I’d been told that Herbert M. Barber, the consultant the city of Jacksonville’s Port Task Force hired to evaluate the economics of deepening the port to 47 feet — and who, as I first reported [The Flog, “Meet The Jax Port Task Force’s New $60K Consultant, Who Believes Obama Is More Anti-American than Terrorists,” Feb. 11], possesses some rather radical right-wing political views — would get 4 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
it in pretty much any day now, but here we were, end of the work week, and nothing. And this got me thinking: Mayor Alvin Brown had already condemned Barber’s commentary and voiced concerns about his credibility. There were even hints that the city may well have pulled out of the contract — as is its right — except for the fact that it would have had to pay for most of it anyway. But Barber had blown, and as of Tuesday morning is still blowing, an unambiguous deadline. (“CONTRACTOR shall provide a draft of the final report no later than February 13, 2015,” the contract states. The final report is due March 2.) At which point would the city take the opportunity to call this a material breach of contract and rid itself of this festering embarrassment (which, after I broke the story, had drawn withering criticism from Times-Union columnists Ron Littlepage and especially Mark Woods, who pointed to passages in Barber’s book that railed against racial integration and intermarriage)? “Generally we do not discuss legal strategy,” communications director David DeCamp told me in an email Friday. “However, the City would have to declare that a breach occurred. So far, that determination has not been made.” The key phrase in that sentence is “so far.” On a related note, if you’re interested in learning more about the pros and cons of dredging the river, the University of North Florida is hosting a town hall at 6 p.m. March 9 at the Adam W. Herbert University Center, Building 43, Room 1058.
Won’t Be Ignored
A couple of years ago, the expansion of a more inclusive human rights ordinance failed by one vote. It failed because of a lack of courage, and it failed because too many of our elected officials cling to prudish, anachronistic values. But it also failed because there wasn’t enough pressure on politicians to do the right thing. “We understand that one of the reasons the HRO failed is that politicians do not believe LGBT [individuals] as a group are politically powerful,” says local attorney Carrington “Rusty” Mead, a longtime champion of Northeast Florida’s LGBT community. “We saw what happened then. We realized that we had to morph ourselves into something that couldn’t be ignored.” That something is the newly formed Northeast Florida LGBT Leadership PAC, of which Mead is president. The group will raise money for candidates who share its values, to bridge “the desert between the haves and the have nots” of the political world, as Mead puts it, and to use that money “to drive the issues forward.” It goes beyond the HRO, although that is a first priority, and the candidates the PAC endorsed at its coming-out party, a press conference Tuesday afternoon on the steps of City Hall — Bill Bishop for mayor; Anna Brosche, John Crescimbini, Tommy Hazouri, Greg Anderson, and Ju’Coby Pittman and Michelle Tappouni for the at-large City Council seats; and Tracie Davis for supervisor of elections, to name the citywide candidates — have all committed to making the expanded HRO a reality. More broadly, though, it’s about empowering diversity, about ensuring that our leaders have to take notice of all members of our community, or else there will be a price to pay. Jeffrey C. Billman twitter/jeffreybillman jbillman@folioweekly.com
FIGHTIN’ WORDS
THE CHURCH AND THE CHAMBER
The battle for control of Jacksonville city government is being fought between two kinds of conservatives
R
aymond Johnson is a name you probably haven’t heard before — unless, perhaps, you’re part of the Christian right. Or unless you’re in the habit of reading Matt Schellenberg’s campaign expenditure reports: The Jacksonville City Councilman paid Johnson’s Grassroots Campaign Management organization $2,000 last month for “political consulting.” Yet Johnson has created a must-read document, the Biblical Concepts Ministries 2015 Duval County Candidates Christian Voter Guide Survey, which aims “to educate Christians in our local churches on where candidates stand on these moral, biblical and cultural issues.” Which moral, biblical and cultural issues? you ask. (All of the below, by the way, are presented exactly as they appear on the survey, typos, punctuation errors, weird capitalization and all.) “Are you a professing Christian?” “When should life be legally protect? At Conception, end 1st or 2nd trimester or at birth.” “Do you support or oppose any kind of anti-discrimination human rights law adding the words ‘sexual orientation, gender identity, or sexual expression’ to current discrimination laws.” “Would you support or oppose the reappointment of current Jacksonville Human Rights Commissioner, UNF Professor Parvez Ahmed (Former national chair of ‘CAIR’, Council on American Islamic Relations, a designated Islamic terrorist organization) to the HRC or any appointment anywhere.“ “Do support or oppose legalization of Marijuana.” Intrigued, I called Johnson last week to ask him about this questionnaire. He told me there was “nothing radical, weird or arrogant about these questions.” They just needed to be asked because, well, “people just aren’t educated — they don’t know much.” Thus, he sent out a “relevant survey — typical Christian voter guide for a normal Christian group.” Our conversation lasted a half-hour. It was, shall we say, edifying. For example, I heard his unique take on homosexuals: “They are mentally and emotionally ill, where they’re sodomizing themselves, and we’re telling them [with the human rights ordinance expansion] that it’s OK.” And I heard his take on Ahmed, a Fulbright scholar appointed to the
Human Rights Commission by then-Mayor John Delaney: “Parvez Ahmed specifically is one of the major moral issues City Council has faced in the last four years, this and the HRO. We have to know where these people stand. Either you’re completely ignorant of national security or you’re not.” There was another rather interesting question that appeared on Johnson’s survey: “Support or oppose the harshest legal restrictions on any kind of (current or new) gambling establishments.” Those who read fundraising reports know that the Jacksonville Kennel Club has supported Lenny Curry’s PAC with alacrity. Asked about this, Johnson hemmed and hawed, clearly not wanting to piss off the Republican establishment favorite. “There are reasons evangelical conservatives oppose gambling, but there are strong economic arguments in favor.” Schellenberg right now is his only paying client, but Johnson does support other candidates, even non-Republicans — for instance, the Rev. Kim Daniels, the Democratic city councilwoman/exorcist Folio Weekly readers know as the author of The Demon Dictionary [“The Devil and Kimberly Daniels,” Feb. 4]. “I am going to vote for Kim Daniels,” Johnson enthusiastically told me. “Bottom line is, I disagree with her on many issues but I can count on her to do the right thing.” Referring to Daniels’ opponent, Anna Brosche, Johnson explained that “it’s a sad day in the Republican Party when we put up candidates without biblical principles.” That might be news to Mrs. Brosche and her myriad establishment endorsers and supporters. I contacted Schellenberg for comment; however, his father had recently passed away, and he was in no state to comment. Having lost my own father, I don’t discount the emotional impact of that loss. That being said, this questionnaire nonetheless raises existential questions. A prominent Northeast Florida Republican told me last summer that there is a war in the local Republican Party between religious extremists and pro-business conservatives — the Church and the Chamber, if you will. We know, also, that some elements in the GOP are comfortable with socially conservative Democrats, even at the expense of Chamber Republicans. The other day, a few of them hosted Mayor Alvin Brown at a luncheon, after which one Tea Party activist posted to Facebook that the event had given her “lots to think about” related to Jacksonville’s forthcoming mayoral contest. (At that luncheon, I was later told, Brown was asked why he didn’t just change parties. No word on his response.) All of this is to say that, as extreme as Johnson’s questionnaire sounds, these issues resonate with at least some part of the electorate. The war for city government domination right now appears to be between the religious right and the Chamber crowd, which is ironically much more moderate on some social issues than are some incumbent Democrats. AG Gancarski twitter/aggancarski mail@folioweekly.com FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 5
GUEST COLUMN
MONEY TALKS
A Jacksonville City Council candidate argues that the endorsement process is not what it seems
U
p until about a year ago, I was just another average voter. I’d never worked on a campaign or run for office, and I assumed, like many people do, that the endorsement process was in place to help educate voters like me on which candidates most closely aligned with my core values. Now that I am running for office, I’m learning more and more each day how that isn’t necessarily the case, and how money influences politics more than most people realize. When I’m out meeting voters, people routinely talk to me about what they refer to as the “good ol’ boys network,” and how politics is just for people who are part of some mysterious group of people already in power who are helping each other stay in charge. They tell me how politics is off-putting and how it discourages people from voting because there is a sense that you have to “play ball” in order to get anywhere. The truth is, when people do step up to try to change that perception and offer a different choice for how things should be done, they’re shot down without ever being considered by many people, specifically for not fitting in with the typical mold of how a politician should look. I came out strongly against how money influences our local politics, and early on swore off taking money for my campaign because I believe that things need to change. People told me I needed money to win, but what I’m finding out now is that candidates really need money to even be taken seriously at all. Most organizations offering endorsements for our local elections have created their own ways of determining if a candidate is a viable choice, and more often than not, that threshold for viability revolves around how much money a candidate has raised. I had always just assumed that if an organization I trusted and respected endorsed a candidate, then that candidate shared the views of the organization. What I’ve found out is that often, that isn’t the case. A lot of otherwise great organizations simply endorse the candidate who has the most money or who raised enough money to satisfy some financial metric they’ve created, so people can essentially be tricked into voting for someone with values they don’t support. There are many groups, unions and organizations whose endorsements have been announced recently who never even interviewed or contacted me or candidates like me who have little or no money in their campaign accounts. The newly formed Young Voters Coalition, a group focused on getting young voters more engaged in politics, in part by “endorsing like-minded City Council candidates,“ has a
minimum threshold of dollars that a candidate needs to raise in order to be considered viable. Even the Sierra Club, which has endorsed candidates who support dredging the St. Johns River, cited a candidate’s “chances of winning” as a major factor in whom they endorse. I bring up these specific organizations not to defame them, but because I think it is important to let the voters know the real reasons organizations endorse candidates. For example, if I saw a candidate at Equality Florida events, marching in the pride parade, coming out as a straight ally, and celebrating wedding ceremonies in Hemming Plaza, but then saw that Equality Florida had endorsed his opponent (an opponent who actually voted against a fully inclusive human rights ordinance when he had the chance), then I’d be confused. I’d wonder what’s going on. Equality Florida’s main goal is to pass an inclusive HRO, and they didn’t even endorse James Eddy, the only openly gay candidate running, because they didn’t consider him “financially viable.” It all seems very counterintuitive, if you ask me. I think these groups are great organizations, with great missions and great people. I just think it’s sad that the system essentially forces them to endorse someone who may not completely represent their mission simply because money is the only way to determine if a candidate is “viable.” I didn’t raise funds for my campaign because I saw it as extremely wasteful and because I don’t want to owe anyone any favors when I get elected, but the system we have in place makes it unnecessarily difficult for regular citizens to run for office, even on a local level. You run because you want to make a difference and then find out that you really do have to buy your way in. Then we all wonder why things are the way they are. I still think people should donate money to these causes instead of to my campaign. Your money will do a lot more good there than buying me 10,000 “Vote for Tetlak” buttons, or an advertisement for a book I wrote, or whatever else candidates waste their money on these days. I just think it’s important for people to know that an endorsement, even from these great organizations, may not mean exactly what you think it does. It truly is up to voters to know for whom they are voting — otherwise we’ll just end up getting stuck with even more of the same. Jason Tetlak mail@folioweekly.com The author is a candidate for Jacksonville City Council, District 14.
FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 7
Shane Williams, a leader of the opposition to the Edwards Creek Preserve, contemplates what the proposed 395-acre development could mean for the area’s natural marshlands.
How one connected developer’s big ambitions in a rural Northeast Jacksonville neighborhood became a microcosm of the city’s relationship with unfettered sprawl BY MATTHEW B. SHAW | PHOTOS BY DENNIS HO 8 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
Whether or not the increased traffic and environmental degradation that years of unmitigated (and sometimes unfinished) development have wrought upon the rural Northeast Jacksonville neighborhood of Oceanway lay solely at Steve Leggett’s feet, the developer certainly bore the brunt of the fallout at a community town hall meeting in early February. And he never saw it coming. Just a week earlier, everything had been business as usual for Leggett’s Signature Land Inc. The company was moving unopposed through the process of preparing a new 790-home planned unit development called Edwards Creek Preserve on 395 acres of marshlands and planted pine off a small, two-lane artery called Boney Road. Leggett
knows this process well. He’s developed in this area before. His consultants had checked all the boxes, done all the studies, crunched all the numbers, and readied the proposal for easy approval by the Jacksonville Planning Commission — the nine-member body responsible for making recommendations to the City Council on all rezoning proposals.
Business as usual. Until it wasn’t. In late January, shortly after an all-toofamiliar, bright-orange “notice of proposal to rezone” sign was posted on Boney Road, a Facebook group calling itself Stop Boney Road Development began serving as a sort of sounding board for the neighborhood angst stirred by the havoc similar projects had wreaked in the past. They’d moved to a rural area, away from zero lot lines and congested roads, on purpose, and they didn’t want to lose their peace and quiet so some developer could make a quick buck. “Zoned Rural means big yards, country Living quiet roads, goats, chickens horses, rabbits, dogs running around in the yard with the kids,” one commenter wrote. Many group members posted pictures of what they called “rural living.” Some posted photo albums of “new home” signs planted in front of unfinished subdivisions. Still others posted pictures of wildlife in the area, asking, “Do you want to see this change?” Even so, the Planning Commission had recommended the proposal, and the group now had just a week before the City Council was scheduled to vote on the rezoning. So they took advantage of a city guideline that allows for a community hearing before such rezonings, and called one. There, at that Feb. 5 town hall, Leggett’s consultants took their shot at assuaging the increasingly vocal opposition’s concerns. It didn’t go well. Several hundred people crammed into a local community center that Monday night. They listened — patiently at times, not so much at others — to Signature Land attorney T.R. Hainline describe Leggett’s plans. They voiced concerns about traffic, about school overcrowding, about the potential harm to a relatively pristine creek system connected to the St. Johns River. They audibly scoffed when Hainline said Signature would pay the city $2 million in mobility fees for the project, money that must be spent to improve roads in the immediate area. (“Two million won’t pave a parking lot,” one resident said.) And they lodged a barrage of insults at Leggett himself, including assertions that his avarice was tarnishing the memory of his father, former city councilman and parkway namesake Max Leggett.
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PAVE PARADISE <<< FROM PREVIOUS
“This development, sir, is the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back,” Oceanway resident and public school teacher Marci McCosh told him. After the meeting, Leggett was redfaced and agitated. He admitted he’d been blindsided. “I’ve already spent over $100,000 to get the facts,” he said. He didn’t understand why they were blaming him for things outside of his control, things beyond the scope of this Williams points out the potential traffic nightmares on a map of the neighborhood (top left). Local residents shrimp in the waters surrounding the proposed development (top right). Much of the acreage surrounding the parcel designated for development has family homes dating back generations (bottom).
10 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
one new development that he’d poured so much effort into. “These are city problems, not Steve Leggett problems.” Perhaps, but they’d just become Steve Leggett problems. n this part of Northeast Florida, narrow creeks and tributaries seem to jut out in every direction like the branches of a black mangrove. Talbot Island State Park, the Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park, and the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve are all within paddling distance. The area’s proximity to protected lands has done much to shelter its beauty, but that charm is also a draw for homebuilders. There’s a long, storied history of unfettered, unrestricted and encouraged suburban sprawl in Jacksonville. It shouldn’t be too hard to forget, oh, say, a decade ago, when cookie-cutter craftsman homes on square, treeless lots, with views of retention ponds and highway-noise-obstructing walls were popping up all over Northeast Florida. A bloated housing market pushed these planned developments onto increasingly rural landscapes, long ignored because of a costly rezoning process.
I
The returns promised by the delusions of the housing bubble led developers to this marshy enclave in North Jacksonville. All the big boys came to town: D.R. Horton, KB Homes, D.D. Ware, Mastercraft. The allure of a larger residential population even brought big retailers like Walmart to the Northside’s $300 million, 425-acre mixed-use project, River City Marketplace. Though some residents appreciated no longer having to drive a half-hour to the closest shopping destination — Regency Square Mall back then — many oldtimers felt Oceanway was not fit for this type of transformation. As the population increased, roads like Alta Drive and schools like New Berlin Elementary, both constructed to serve the area’s sparse population, creaked and buckled under the ever-intensifying pressure. Shane Williams, co-chair of the opposition to the Edwards Creek Preserve project, says that during the boom years, residents who voiced concerns about sprawl were mostly drowned out by those touting the economic benefits of development: jobs, increased property values, Walmart. “I wish I knew what I know now,” he says. Things changed drastically in this part of
Jacksonville in the years before the bust. Now, with that recession in the rearview, he adds, they’ve started ramping up again. “It’s just exploding, and it’s getting out of control.” Williams, though he’s called the Edwards Creek project a “reckless development,” concedes that the community itself appears “well-planned.” Still, he says, “the location, the timing, it’s all just too much.” n 2011, City Councilman Ray Holt, who represents Oceanway, fought side-by-side with residents to deny a rezoning proposal that would have brought a high-density apartment complex to Starrett Road, another small, rural artery. Holt says that during the housing boom, “the neighborhood changed.” Some 30,000 new homes were built in the area. Having come into office in 2007, just before the bust, he wasn’t in a position to do much about that. When the opposition to Leggett’s Edwards Creek development hit the fan, Holt — who collected $500 from Signature Land in both of his City Council campaigns — took up the role of mediator. He wanted to bring the warring sides to the bargaining table. And he had an ideal perch from which to do so: the City Council’s Land Use and Zoning Committee, which he chairs. Holt originally said he would seek a twoweek deferment in order to give the two sides time to smooth over their differences. “It’s clear to me that we need some time for both sides to sit down together,” he told Folio Weekly following the Feb. 5 town hall meeting. Leggett, however, wasn’t so keen on talking. “I’ve got the facts,” he told Folio Weekly after that town hall, “so I’m not really sure what there is to sit down and talk about.” The facts, according to Leggett, are found in his 76-page rezoning proposal, which outlines all the work Signature Land’s team did to comply with the city’s requirements.
I
The proposed development abuts natural preserves, farms, and both fresh and saltwater sources (top two photos). St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman wants a more thorough investigation into the project’s environmental ramifications (above). There are the traffic studies, the ways the project addresses school concurrency guidelines, the findings of the environmental impact study, among other things. In Leggett’s view, the city has established certain obstacles for developers to clear. He cleared them. He did his due diligence — and sunk quite a bit of money into the project along the way. So what’s the problem? Signature isn’t looking for any sort of break from the city, Hainline adds. He points out that even after the Edwards Creek Preserve project is approved, Leggett will still have to comply with elevated environmental standards and will keep more than 40 percent
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RED MOON THEATRE FESTIVAL
Photo by Renee Parenteau
The Ritz Theatre & Museum and Apex Theatre Studio present the premiere of Red Moon Theatre Festival, aiming to use the arts to celebrate diversity and the community of Downtown’s LaVilla District. The three-day event includes a staged reading of Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop featuring Cassandra Freeman (Single Ladies) and David Girard, a production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town starring local stage faves Robert Arleigh White (pictured), Eugene Lindsey and Emily Auwaerter, and a screening of the new documentary Theatre of Rice and Beans, which profiles three prominent Latino theater companies in America, followed by a Q&A with director Tony Mata. Feb. 27-March 1 at the Ritz Theatre & Museum, 829 N. Davis St., Downtown. For details and to score tickets, go to ritzjacksonville.com.
DOWN BY THE SEA
GREAT ATLANTIC FESTIVAL
Now in its 26th year, The Great Atlantic Festival draws a crowd of 45,000-plus on the strengths of its handpicked lineup of primo local music artists, a variety of foods ranging from Persian and Indian offerings to seafood and organic eats, a marketplace featuring curios, arts and crafts, and a scenic, oceanside location. Shane Dwight, The Corbitt Brothers, Mississippi Heat, Grace and Tony, Parker Urban Band, Mama Blue (pictured) and Dirtypete are all scheduled to perform. Noon-10 p.m. Feb. 28 at SeaWalk Pavilion, 11 N. Third St., Jax Beach, jaxbeachfestivals.com.
POGO PARTY
CLUB RETRO GRAND OPENING
Seeking escape from the sometimes-Orwellian vibe of the 21st century, with its apps, tablets and life hacks? Longing to dust off that blindingly colorful lime-green-yellowand-hot-pink sports jacket you wore circa 1985, even though you routinely got your ass kicked for donning such a sartorial monstrosity? Then look no further than the Folio Weekly Grand Opening of Club Retro, featuring a live all-’80s music set by Austin Park (pictured) along with the best in ’70s and ’80s dance music and videos. 8 p.m. Feb. 28, Club Retro, in Silverado Nightclub Megaplex, 1241 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, silveradonightclub.net.
PLAID TO THE BONE FOOD FOR A CAUSE 3 SQUARES
From the advent of craft breweries to gourmet food trucks rolling up everywhere, Northeast Florida is enjoying a veritable gastronomical renaissance. Local foodies can sample a cornucopia of culinary delights and dig some boss tunes at the 3Squares Dining fundraiser. Food and drink offerings from 45 Northeast Florida restaurants, culinary schools, caterers and beverage distributors are featured, along with a raffleauction and live music by Firewater Tent Revival. Better still, all proceeds benefit Feeding Northeast Florida food programs and its ongoing efforts to fight hunger in this area. 6:30-9 p.m. Feb. 26 at Prime Osborn Convention Center, 1000 Water St., Downtown, $70; $100 VIP; 201-4416, 3squaresjax.com, feedingnefla.org. 14 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
THE SCOTTISH GAMES AND FESTIVAL
Break out the kilt and bagpipes and dig out that haggis recipe! The 20th annual Northeast Florida Scottish Highland Games & Festival features traditional Scottish foods, live music by Cleghorn, Mother Grove, Pictus and Ron Davis, bagpipe and drumming competitions, Highland dancing, a Tartan parade, athletic competition including a kilted golf tournament, caber toss, hammer throw, weight for height, sheaf toss and stone throw, sheepdog trials and, our favorite, battle-axe throwing! 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 28 at Clay County Fairgrounds, 2497 S.R. 16 W., Green Cove Springs, $12 advance; $15 day of, neflgames.com.
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A&E // FILM
EVERYTHING’S A BLUR Winner Best BBQ Jax Truckies!
Will Smith’s attempt at a heist thriller is a bust
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emember when Will Smith was box office getting people’s focus and taking what you gold? There was a time — nearly 20 years want while their attention is elsewhere. No ago now — when he couldn’t miss, when doubt this deception is meant to be a metaphor even if his movie was a dud, it still collected for the film as well, thereby prompting writers/ primo box office bucks. Then Hancock (2008) directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa to came out and he hasn’t done pull the old switcheroo on the anything decent since, and given audience in the final moments. FOCUS the mediocrity of Focus, expect the The problem is, the story lacks downward trend to continue. so much actual focus leading up *@@@ Sure, Smith brings his to the finale that when the twist Rated R trademark rascally hip charm comes, we don’t care. We’re not to Nicky, a con artist. And paying attention. gorgeous Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall The flow is disjointed throughout. Nicky Street) bestows beauty on Jess, an aspiring and Jess meet in New York City, and in the grifter Nicky takes under his wing. There’s no film’s only compelling sequence, he shows her debating they’re both easy on the eyes. Nicky the tricks of the trade of picking pockets and calls grifting “a game of focus” that is all about other small-time hoodlum grifts. They then
A RETURN TRIP TO ALPHAVILLE I’VE ALWAYS LOVED 3-D MOVIES and comics, which I discovered as a kid growing up in the ’50s, but I’ve had a hard time convincing friends and even family members to fork over the few extra bucks for the special glasses at the theater. Nearly everyone I know complains the 3-D process is just a gimmick and fad; besides, they argue, the uncomfortable glasses cause headaches and dizziness. So I was especially delighted to see the 3-D process recently endorsed by none other than Jean-Luc Godard, one of the truly seminal filmmakers of the last 50 years. He helped usher in the ’60s with Breathless (both thematically and stylistically revolutionary) and since then, in more than 40 feature films, has quite literally made us watch movies in a different way. Now at 84 years of age, the director has embraced the 3-D process for his latest film, Goodbye to Language, which won the Jury Prize last year at Cannes Film Festival. Heaven only knows when we will be able to see the film here, especially in 3-D, but in the meantime, I returned to one of my favorite Godard films of yesteryear, the 1965 sci-fi/hardboiled detective drama Alphaville. Typical for Godard, Alphaville was anything but typical for its time. Filmed in black-and-white in various locations throughout Paris (which doubles for the Alphaville of the title), the story is set sometime in the future, perhaps in another reality, even though everything (fashions, cars and guns) is vintage 1965. Subtitled A Strange Adventure of Lemmy Caution, the story focuses on a popular character from a series of British novels and films, a tough-guy detective/secret agent sporting the trench coat favored by his American counterparts, including Bogart, in countless ’40s films. Played by craggy-faced American expatriate Eddie Constantine, Lemmy Caution had already appeared in seven films before Alphaville and would do so afterward in several others, always with Constantine in the role. But Alphaville is unique. Arriving in the city from the “Outlands” in his Ford Galaxie (actually a Mustang), Lemmy Caution is looking for Professor von Braun, the creator of the supercomputer Alpha 60, which now controls Alphaville and its citizens. Aided by the professor’s daughter Natasha (played by Godard’s 16 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
work together in New Orleans, highlighted by an encounter with a billionaire gambler (BD Wong) at a football game. This sequence runs far too long, but there’s a great payoff. Afterward, about an hour into the film, the scene shifts three years ahead to Buenos Aires, where Nicky and Jess encounter new characters and a new set of problems. Now Nicky is working for an unnamed racing team owner (Rodrigo Santoro) who’s dating Jess, and the owner’s overprotective bodyguard (Gerald McRaney) is a constant nuisance. With a story line this much all over the place and lacking continuity, it’s a wonder the script received a green light. Not helping matters is the fact that Smith and Robbie have the chemistry of oil and water. Consider: This is a movie about con artists, so an engaged viewer has to presume at least one of them is playing the other. And the filmmakers go out of their way to make us believe this is the case. But Nicky and Jess never look too comfortable together, and their numerous long, tediously written and boring conversations do nothing to make us believe they’re actually kindred spirits. These scenes are flat-out dull and lack intrigue. We don’t feel for a second that they belong together, and because of that, the entire finale falls apart. The main appeal of any con artist story is the guessing game, trying to figure out who’s secretly working with whom before the twistedly twisted ending reveals all. If done right, it all comes together seamlessly, but we never see it coming. Focus, however, is remarkable in that nothing about it is appealing, and the ending feels more forced than clever. Sometimes, when a major movie star is involved in a clunker, you can at least say you understood what drew to him/her to the project — but Will Smith should’ve known better when he read the first page of this script. Dan Hudak mail@folioweekly.com
MAGIC M AGIC L LANTERNS ANTERNS
early muse and former wife Anna Karina), the resourceful Caution fights and shoots his way through labyrinthine office corridors of Alphaville, witnessing first-hand the destruction of individuality and emotion that is the goal of Alpha 60. In addition to the genre influences of American science-fiction and film noir, Godard draws heavily on other disparate forerunners such as Jean Cocteau and George Orwell. Though its characters take themselves very seriously, in essence Alphaville is more playful than anything else, Godard tweaking the conventions of traditional film narrative and genre expectations in scene after scene. Toward the end, for example, he sometimes inverts the black-and-white images into negatives, reminding us that everything we are watching is actually controlled by him. With an uncharacteristically happy ending, Alphaville embraces the reality of human love in place of the sterile indoctrination and suppression of the individual imposed by the new age of the totalitarian machine. Ahead of its time but on a minimal budget, Godard’s film might very well have influenced both visual and thematic elements in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Blade Runner (1982). It’s a safe bet that Stanley Kubrick and Ridley Scott wouldn’t have missed Alphaville. In 1965 (and now), Godard was the kind of filmmaker other filmmakers watched. Pat McLeod mail@folioweekly.com
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A&E // FILM
THE WHITE STUFF I
An inspirational true story finds the wrong focus
White Savior is a lie intended to make white n recent years — particularly in regard to people feel better about themselves, nothing the transformation of New York City’s Times more, and there needn’t be another frame of Square from a locus of iniquity into a touristfilm wasted on pretending this is a worthwhile friendly projection of consumerism’s id — narrative device. people tend to wield the word “Disneyfication” However, if such a movie has to exist, it in a negative context. This is, at times, unfair to could be a lot worse than McFarland, USA is, the Walt Disney Corporation, whose properties in pure craft terms. Director Niki Caro (Whale include some of the finest achievements in Rider, North Country) does a creditable if cinema. At its best, Disney represents a kind merely serviceable job visually; of sanctuary where innocent as much as it may seem like happiness prevails over all, a McFARLAND, USA simply pointing a camera projection of the worlds created in at Costner, Maria Bello or their finest animated films. *G@@ Californian landscapes would The distinction of “animated Rated PG be sufficient, there’s more to films” is deliberate, as its it than that. And, in spite of track record with live action the business the script forces the characters is shakier, and its appropriation — the through, Caro gets solid performances out of literal process of Disneyfication — of true the cast. stories for “inspirational” fictional films is About that script business. There’s the its shakiest sub-genre. In the quest for uplift, manner, recalling Costner’s own Dances With McFarland, USA stumbles rather badly in Wolves, whereby he and his family experience some places, squandering the considerable initial revulsion toward their Hispanic goodwill generated by an appealing cast, neighbors — which is pungent and off-putting somehow ending up both grossly overlong and insufficiently substantial. The true story from which McFarland, USA is drawn is one of the more impressive obscure sporting achievements in recent memory: Starting in 1987, McFarland High School’s cross-country running team won nine out of 14 California state championships. This was in spite of McFarland being one of the poorest towns not only in the state, but enough to nearly derail the whole movie also the nation, and cross-country running before it even properly starts — only to fully being a sport dominated by those who can adopt their customs and be fully forgiven for afford the best equipment and conditioning. their initial transgressions. Even this is less It’s a great story, whose triumphant underdogs awkward than the way the script attempts to conquer not only sport, but also racism — the portray the poverty in McFarland; the brutal team members were all of non-white Hispanic toll of fruit/vegetable/nut picking is limited descent — and classism, and who (mostly) to a couple of members of the cross country lived happily ever after. team missing practice a couple times, and Where the movie makes its fatal error Coach White shown as not able to keep up — though the blame for this error lies not with their pace when he joins them at work in with the filmmakers, but the film industry at an act of solidarity. Most offensively, poverty is large — is by telling this fascinating, rich story portrayed as a frame of mind one can conquer from the perspective of a white man who simply by choice. It’s not as though the Ken Loach version of just happened to be there. Jim White (Kevin this film is anything that would realistically exist Costner) certainly deserves a degree of credit in this world. And, again, it’s not as though this for coaching his runners to such success. But version is without its pleasures, especially the the runners were the ones who won those performances of the runners and their families. titles. And if there’s one thing American But those pleasures are sadly outweighed by cinema is not lacking, it’s stories about the the queasiness imposed by the need to make nobility and spiritual growth of white people, especially when it lights the way for non-white everything cute, unthreatening and neat. The real world, for better or worse, is not Disney. people. If the White Savior were the panacea movies would have audiences believe, no one Danny Bowes on Earth would still need to be saved. The mail@folioweekly.com
If the WHITE SAVIOR were the panacea movies would have you believe, NO ONE ON EARTH would still need to be saved.
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A&E // FILM LISTINGS FILM RATINGS
PINK FLOYD **** PINK PANTHER ***@ PINK PEONIES **@@ PINK EYE *@@@
SCREENINGS AROUND TOWN
RED MOON THEATRE FESTIVAL The Ritz Theatre & Museum and Apex Theatre Studio present the inaugural Red Moon Theatre Festival, celebrating diversity and the LaVilla District. Cassandra Freeman and David Girard stage a reading of Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop, a production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, stars local actors Robert Arleigh White, Eugene Lindsey and Emily Auwaerter and the documentary Theatre of Rice and Beans, about three Latino theater companies in America, is shown, followed by a Q&A with director Tony Mata. Feb. 27-March 1 at the Ritz Theatre & Museum, 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, ritzjacksonville.com. SUN-RAY CINEMA Everything is Terrible! screens their film, Legends, on Feb. 25, featuring an interactive live show. Kingsman: The Secret Service, Birdman and Song of the Sea screen at Sun-Ray Cinema, 1028 Park St., 5 Points, 359-0049, sunraycinema. com. Mr. Turner starts Feb. 27. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? screens Feb. 27. Check website for details. LATITUDE 360 MOVIES The Hobbit, Big Hero 6 and Unbroken screen at Latitude 360’s CineGrille Theater, 10370 Philips Hwy., Southside, 365-5555, latitude360.com/jacksonville-fl. THE CORAZON CINEMA & CAFÉ Nightcrawler and Men, Women & Children screen through Feb. 26 at Corazon Cinema, 36 Granada St., St. Augustine, 679-5736, corazoncinemaandcafe.com. Happy Valley screens through Feb. 26. The Judge and St. Vincent start Feb. 27. WGHF IMAX THEATER Jupiter Ascending, The Seventh Son, Game of Thrones, Hidden Universe, Deep Sea Challenge and Humpback Whales screen at World Golf Village Hall of Fame IMAX Theater, 1 World Golf Place, St. Augustine, 940-4133, worldgolfimax.com.
NOW SHOWING
BLACKHAT *@@@ Rated R Overwritten and underwhelming, Michael Mann’s Blackhat should’ve been a taut cyber thriller of espionage and intrigue. It’s not. It’s a cyber bore full of nonsense, held together with a plot that’s denser than it needs to be. Costars Viola Davis, Chris Hemsworth, Leehom Wang and Wei Tang. — Dan Hudak BLACK OR WHITE *G@@ Rated PG-13 Elliott Anderson (Kevin Costner), a successful attorney who’s been raising his 7-year-old granddaughter, Eloise (Jillian Estell) with his wife, Carol (Jennifer Ehle), since their daughter died during childbirth. As the film opens, Carol has died in a car accident; Elliott’s grief-stricken and drinking. He gets an offer to help take care of the child from Rowena (Octavia Spencer), Eloise’s other grandmother, but Elliott has a grudge against her son, Eloise’s absentee, drug-addict dad, Reggie (André Holland). — Scott Renshaw BLACK SEA ***@ Rated R Robinson (Jude Law) gets fi red from his job as a submarine captain for a salvage company. He’s a never-say-die kinda guy, so he gathers 12 seafarers to search for two tons of gold allegedly left by Nazis in the Black Sea. Director Kevin Macdonald fashions the sub into a character and a metaphor. The deeper it sinks, the more despair seeps into its crew – morale and desperation grow as they reach the deep. This is a subtle touch, but skilled filmmaker Macdonald pulls it off. — D.H. CAKE Rated R Jennifer Aniston is getting a lot of buzz for her portrayal of Claire, a woman with debilitating chronic pain who becomes overly obsessed by another woman from her support group who killed herself. Costars Anna Kendrick, Mamie Gummer, Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy. THE DUFF Rated PG-13 A sequel to The Simpsons? Don’t we all wish. This teen melodrama isn’t a paean to Springfield’s favorite beer, but the story of a girl who learns she’s considered a DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) within her social circle. The narrative of identities remade and bitch-queens dethroned is bound to captivate, especially if you’re too young to have seen Mean Girls, let alone She’s All That. One lucky preview attendee called the movie “a party.” Then again, Duff Man says a lot of things. Costars Bella Thorne, Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell and Allison Janney. — S.S.
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A&E// FILM LISTINGS FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Rated R The movie version of a book that made foosball moms feel dirrrrrty! It has all the prerequisites to be as much of a howlfest as its source material: The director hasn’t had a feature since her first one five years ago. The male lead is best known for TV’s Once Upon a Time. The female lead is the offsping of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. So it’s destined for a swift descent into ignominious obscurity, right? Hate to burst your bubble, sweetheart, but it’s Fandango’s top R-rated advance seller of all time. Ain’t it always, always the way? — S.S. FOCUS *@@@ Rated R Reviewed in this issue. HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2 Rated R One of my favorite moments in the stupid flap over the Ghostbusters reboot was from of a troglodyte poster Ain’t It Cool News, who complained the studio hadn’t just reimagined the new ecto-team as all-female, but had felt compelled to make one of them black as well. Instead of bitching about Leslie Jones, let’s consider how close we might have come to seeing this generation’s Winston Zeddemore played by Craig Robinson, with Seth Rogen, James Franco and Jonah Hill as his pals. Robinson is back, once again proving he can keep beating the same character into the ground with the best of ’em. Rob Corddry, Clark Duke and Adam Scott also return – but there’s no sign of John Cusack, ostensible star of the 2010 original. Make of that what you will. (I’m making a hat.) — S.S. JUPITER ASCENDING **@@ Rated PG-13 This bloated sci-fi cheese, an intergalactic and extravagantly over-the-top saga that simultaneously wows and confounds, was written and directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski. Jupiter
PROJECT ALMANAC Rated PG-13 Friends develop a makeshift time machine. RED ARMY Rated PG If you like your true-sports pictures to have a sharper edge, there’s always this documentary about the rise to dominance of the Russian ice-hockey team during the Cold War. Political analogies are explored, cruel coaching practices are denounced, and co-producer Werner Herzog gets to stand on semi-familiar ground by presenting the tale of a metaphorical bear who’ll rip your head off. (See what I did there?) Scott Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter called the flick “one of the best documentaries that I ever seen.” Two days later, he was disappeared! — S.S. SEVENTH SON Rated PG-13 America finally admits en masse that Jeff Bridges has become an awful actor. Oh, I know you have his face on a T-shirt – along with a slogan claiming that he “abides.” But be honest: When was the last time you found him remotely believable as any character whatsoever – even “Jeff Bridges”? In this one, the scion of the Sea Hunt empire plays an ancient knight searching for an apprentice; apparently, he’s affecting a vocal delivery that’s equal parts Anglo pretension and talking with your mouth full. Porridge time at Hogwarts? Universal should be so lucky. What we’ve got here looks a lot less like Harry Potter and a lot more like Highlander. The second one. — S.S. THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER Rated PG Back in 1998, what did you think you’d be doing in 2015? If you say “Eagerly awaiting the second SpongeBob Squarepants movie,” then this is our week to howl. And if you never stopped loving Guns ’n Roses, then you’ll be tickled pink that “Welcome to the Jungle” is the soundtrack to the promos for this second foray into (and then away from) Bikini Bottom. I don’t have a
“Well, if we’re really lucky we’ll make about this much money.” The hopeful cast of the horror-thriller The Lazarus Effect discuss what really matters in filmmaking.
Jones (Mila Kunis) is a woman destined for great things and true love but, as the movie opens, she’s cleaning toilets. Her life is saved by good guy half-man/half-wolf Caine (Channing Tatum). He’s unfairly ambushed by three space goons and heroically/inexplicably fights his way through the attack. Interplanetary siblings Balem (Eddie Redmayne), Titus (Douglas Booth) and Kalique (Tuppence Middleton) control planets throughout the solar system. Earth belongs to Balem, though Titus covets it. Knowing the rightful heir to Earth is Jupiter (the person, not the planet), Titus sends Caine to protect her from Balem’s henchmen, but they’re captured. Complications ensue. KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE *@@@ Rated R Harry (Colin Firth), codename Galahad, recruits Eggsy (Taron Egerton), a kid from the wrong side of the London tracks, to be a member of the Kingsmen, elite society of gentleman spies and international men of mystery who answer to no government, only to the highest causes of justice, global peace and elegance, in bespoke attire. They all have Knights of the Round Table spy names: Michael Caine, their leader, is Arthur; Jack Davenport is codenamed Lancelot; even their Q, played by Mark Strong, is Merlin. Samuel L. Jackson is Valentine, a villainous yet squeamish tech mogul who’s out to do something bad to the world and must be stopped.
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problem with any of that – got no beef with Le Sponge, and I’m always in the mood for Axl. I’m worried that 2016 is going to bring a Teletubbies movie. With music by Candlebox. — S.S. STILL ALICE ***G Rated PG-13 Open your heart to this sad, beautiful film starring Julianne Moore as Alice, a linguistics teacher at Columbia University, who’s just turned 50. She’s getting forgetful. The diagnosis: Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The reaction: complete shock and terror – it’s rare for someone her age to be afflicted with the debilitating disease. Moore, who’s absolutely phenomenal, goes from energetic and vibrant to flustered and defeated. It’s a heartbreaking transition, progressing quickly for Alice and her family. Co-writers and directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland give ample time to the substantial effect her condition has on her family. This movie punches you in the gut with inevitabilities and life’s unfairness, leaving us with tears in our eyes and the hope that it doesn’t happen to us. — D.H. STRANGE MAGIC Rated PG Not only is George Lucas the film’s executive producer, he gets a story credit. The voice cast includes Alan Cumming, Alfred Molina and Kristin Chenoweth. — S.S.
McFARLAND USA *G@@ Rated PG Reviewed in this issue.
TEMPER Not Rated This action thriller stars N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Kajal Aggarwal and Prakash Raj. In Telugu with no subtitles.
OLD FASHIONED Rated PG-13 Hey, here’s an alternative to Fifty Shades for your Valentine dollar! It’s an old-fashioned (what are the odds?) love story in which a young woman falls for an antique shop owner who’s a “reformed frat boy” – my favorite character description ever. This level-headed, unexploitative, anti-sensationalist Christian picture is a flick in which the chief narrative complication is its hero’s wholesome determination to keep coitus within the bounds of holy matrimony. Wow. — S.S.
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING ***G Rated PG-13 This Stephen Hawking biopic, directed by James Marsh and starring Eddie Redmayne as the brilliant physicist, shows the progression of his motor neuron disease, which ravages his body but leaves his mind intact. The more Stephen’s disease progresses, the better the movie gets, mostly due to Redmayne’s Oscar-worthy performance. Costars Harry Lloyd, Charlie Cox and Maxine Peake. — D.H.
A&E //ARTS
SYKES 101
Versatile comedian Wanda Sykes prepares to drop a few truth-bombs in Downtown Jax
F
ebruary is Black History Month, and it’s no exaggeration to suggest that Wanda Sykes has put together one of the most sparkling résumés in African-American comedy history, if not all of comedy history. Sykes made her bones churning out critically lauded material for HBO’s The Chris Rock Show as part of a writing team that was nominated for four Emmys. She further displayed her comedic chops in a series of memorable cameos in Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and then as a regular in The New Adventures of Old Christine alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She reached the pinnacle of stand-up prestige when she was named the featured entertainer at the 2009 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner — both the first black woman and the first openly LGBT person to achieve that role — a moment that Sykes considers the most remarkable highlight of her illustrious career. Never one to shy away from taking sides on controversial sociopolitical topics, including same-sex marriage rights and dog-chaining legislation, Sykes is known for keeping it real even by the self-indulgent standards of stand-up comedy, as her book Yeah, I Said It and 2009 tour “I’ma Be Me” indicate without an ounce of ambiguity. Sykes’ true gift may be in her ability to have strong opinions on hot-button topics while still remaining almost universally adored — something that fellow comedic firebrands such as Bill Maher and Janeane Garofalo couldn’t accomplish before settling for niche audiences and markets. In anticipation of her first-ever appearance at The Florida Theatre on Feb. 26, Sykes recently humored Folio Weekly with a phone interview covering the quandary of being a black female comic, the recent bewilderment caused by the Duval County Clerk of Courts and the legitimacy of tilapia as a fish.
female comics being perceived with prejudice as not funny by a large contingent of the male audience. Is it even more difficult to be a black female comic? I’ll put it this way, as far as harder, I don’t know. I don’t know what it’s like to be a white female comic, but I will say that I see more opportunities for white female comics. There’s just more roles. I’m fortunate that I do standup and I can create my own parts, create my own shows, so I’m not really dependent on someone else doing it for me. When David Letterman announced his retirement, many people were calling for more diversity in the selection of the next CBS Late Night host. Personally, I was screaming for you to be the one who took over that role — it seemed almost too perfect. Was that something you would’ve considered had it been offered? When you look at the late-night talk show world, it’s all white men. It must be somewhere in the Constitution that they don’t want you to know about. Somewhere buried in the Constitution. They made that law way back then, they knew. “Let’s just say late-night hosts have to be white. Just say that. What is this late-night thing? I don’t know, but let’s just put that in now.”
situation. Is this less to do with a waning interest in current events and simply more to do with where you are in your life right now? Right, that’s just my life right now. I never thought I’d be in the position where I would be taking care of white people [her two children with wife Alex Niedbalski are white]. I just don’t have time to keep up with the news. And when I do keep up with it, do I really want to be with all the bad stuff that’s out there? I’m trying to keep my kids from sticking a fork in the light socket. Family nutrition has become important to you. Do you think we’re in an odd place as humans when we go to places like Whole Foods and are more shocked to see food in its natural state than when we see, for example, a Twinkie? Yeah, and the food is so expensive when it’s organic and they’re doing less to it. So why’s it more expensive? Everybody is so caught up on current events but they don’t know what’s in their own food. Like, what is tilapia? That’s not a fish. No one ever goes fishing and says, “Boy, I caught some nice big tilapia today,” right? Richard David Smith III mail@folioweekly.com
These days, you’re more family-oriented and the comedy has steered a little more toward your unique household
Folio Weekly: Jacksonville was one of three late Florida dates added to your current tour. Be honest — did you add these dates just to pick up some extra comedy material while in the always-hilarious Sunshine State? Wanda Sykes: Yeah, the promoter offered me the dates and I said let’s do it. Don’t you guys disappoint me. [Laughs.] It all happens in Florida. I think you guys just do it on purpose now. I think you make a lot of bad decisions just for the press. Speaking of bad decisions, when gay marriage was finally legal in Florida, our Duval County clerk of courts, Ronnie Fussell, decided to just do away with all courtroom ceremonies, gay and straight. You were vocally outraged back when California passed Prop 8 banning gay marriage. In light of this news, what would you say to our clerk of courts? That’s ridiculous. Um, hmmm, that’s crazy. [Long pause.] I don’t know, I have to think about that one. There’s nothing I can really add to that. It’s just ridiculous. [Let it be noted that Fussell’s tunnel-visioned decision was so idiotic it actually muted Wanda Sykes’ comedic genius.] Having covered the comedy scene for a while, I’ve noticed a genuine frustration among
WANDA SYKES
8 p.m. Feb. 26 at The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, $39-$69, floridatheatre.com FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 23
Kick Out the Jams, Junior! The Nice Music Fest features performances by music students from four local music schools, a karate demonstration, food trucks and giveaways, held from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 28 at Nice Music in Orange Park.
PERFORMANCE
ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD Flagler College’s Theatre Arts Department, with the St. Johns County Center for the Arts at St. Augustine High School, present Tom Stoppard’s Tony-winning play that’s a comically existential behind-the-scenes view of Hamlet, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27 and 28 and 2 p.m. March 1 at Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium, 14 Granada St., $15; $5 students with ID, 826-8600, flagler.universitytickets.com. DANCE PERFORMANCE Episcopal School of Jacksonville presents its dance concert at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 and 28 at the school’s Munnerlyn Theatre, 4455 Atlantic Blvd., Southside, 396-5751, $15; $10 students, esj.org. BEFORE E-MAIL: LETTERS FROM BLACK AMERICA The Readers Theater stages a reading of correspondence from Toni Morrison, Paul and Alice Dunbar, Martin Luther King Jr., Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes and others at 6:30 p.m. Feb 26 at Dallas Graham Branch Library, 2304 Myrtle Ave. N., Springfield, 630-0922, jpl.coj.net. SAVION GLOVER’S STEPZ The new production from the Tony-winning choreographer-dancer Glover is staged at 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $29-$59, floridatheatre.com. THE MOUNTAINTOP The Red Moon Theatre Festival presents Cassandra Freeman (the film Inside Man and VH-1’s Single Ladies) and David Girard in a staged reading of Katori Hall’s fictional depiction of Dr. Martin Luther King’s last night at 8 p.m. Feb. 27 at Ritz Theatre & Museum, 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, 632-5555, $24, ritzjacksonville.com. A LESSON BEFORE DYING Romulus Linney’s adaptation of Ernest Gaines’ novel about racial injustice in the 1940s is staged at 8 p.m. Feb. 26, 27 and 28 at Players By the Sea, 106 Sixth St. N., Jax Beach, 249-0289, $23; $20 seniors, military and students, playersbythesea.org. GREASE Amelia Community Theatre stages the Tony-winning Broadway musical about 1950s high school life and love at 8 p.m. Feb. 25-28 at 207/209 Cedar St., Fernandina Beach, 261-6749, $20; $10 students; ameliacommunitytheatre.org. OUR TOWN The Red Moon Theatre Festival presents a production of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer-winning drama about everyday life in a small town, starring Robert Arleigh White, Eugene Lindsey, Emily Auwaerter and Stephen Ruffin, 8 p.m. Feb. 28 and 3 p.m. March 1 at Ritz Theatre & Museum, 632-5555, $24, ritzjacksonville.com. LES MISERABLES The beloved musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s epic story of 19th-century France is staged at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26, 27 and 28 at Amelia Musical Playhouse, 1955 Island Walkway, Fernandina Beach, 277-3455, $20; $15 students; through March 14, ameliamusicalplayhouse.com. EISENHOWER DANCE: MOTOWN IN MOTION Detroit’s premier dance company, the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, presents this music and dance tribute to Motown Records at 10 a.m. Feb. 27 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts, 283 College Dr., Orange Park, 276-6750, $8-$44, thcenter.org. BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE Lisa Whelchel (The Facts of Life) stars in the Tony-winning comedy about a woman who befriends a blind neighbor. Executive Chef DeJuan Roy’s themed menu is featured; through March 22, at Alhambra Theatre & Dining, 12000 Beach Blvd., Southside, 641-1212, alhambrajax.com.
CLASSICAL, CHOIR & JAZZ
MUSICAL STORYBOOKS Members of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra present this music and storytelling program for pre-K to kindergarten children at 11 a.m. Feb. 28 at Beaches Branch Library, 600 Third St., Neptune Beach, 241-1141, jaxsymphony.org. JACKSONVILLE CHILDREN’S CHORUS The chorus performs its sixth annual concert “Lift Ev’ry Voice & Sing,” dedicated to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., at 3 p.m. Feb. 28 at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, 4001 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, 396-7745, jaxchildrenschorus.org. COVER THE TOWN WITH SOUND Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra members perform at 3 p.m. March 1 at The Temple Congregation Ahavath Chesed, 8727 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin, 733-7078, jaxsymphony.org.
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A&E // ARTS & EVENTS
JOHN THOMAS GROUP DIAL-A-RIDE FUNDRAISER Jazz pianist Thomas leads his combo at 4 p.m. March 1 at Culhane’s Irish Pub, 967 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach. Proceeds benefit Dial-A-Ride’s shuttle and transportation service for seniors; $10 admission includes one beer or cocktail, 249-9595, culhanesirishpub.com. JSYO CONCERT The Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra performs a Festival of Strings concert at 5 p.m. March 1 at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Jacoby Symphony Hall, 300 Water St., Downtown, $5, 354-3578, jaxsymphony.org. PERCUSSION CONCERT IN SAN MARCO Percussionists Steve Merrill and Joel Panian join the San Marco Chamber Music Society in a concert featuring works by Koppel, Debussy, Douglas, Piazzola and Szewczyk at 7 p.m. March 1 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 3976 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, 396-9608, sanmarcochambermusic.org. DASOTA STUDENTS PIANO RECITAL Piano students from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts perform at 7 p.m. March 3 at Main Library’s Hicks Auditorium, 303 N. Laura St., Downtown, 630-2353, jplmusic.blogspot.com. JAX SYMPHONY AT THE LIBRARY JSO members perform at 6 p.m. March 4 at Main Library’s The Lounge at 303, 630-2353, jaxsymphony.org. JAZZ IN PONTE VEDRA The Gary Starling Group (Carol Sheehan, Billy Thornton, Peter Miles), 7:30-10:30 p.m. every Thur., Table 1, 330 A1A N., 280-5515. JAZZ IN RIVERSIDE Trumpeter Ray Callendar, guitarist Taylor Roberts, 9:30 p.m. every Thur., Kickbacks Gastropub, 910 King St., 388-9551. JAZZ IN MANDARIN Boril Ivanov Trio, 7 p.m. every Thur.; pianist David Gum, 7 p.m. every Fri., Tree Steakhouse, 11362 San Jose Blvd., 262-0006. JAZZ IN NEPTUNE BEACH 7:30-9:30 p.m. every Sat., Lillie’s Coffee Bar, 200 First St., 249-2922. JAZZ IN ATLANTIC BEACH Guitarist Taylor Roberts, 7-10 p.m. every Wed., Thurs., Ocean 60, 60 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-0060, ocean60.com. JAZZ IN AVONDALE The Von Barlow Trio & Third Bass, 9 p.m. every Sun., Casbah Café, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966. JAZZ IN ST. AUGUSTINE Nightly, Rhett’s Piano Bar & Brasserie, 66 Hypolita St., 825-0502.
COMEDY
WANDA SYKES Emmy-winning comedian, writer and TV star (The New Adventures of Old Christine, Curb Your Enthusiasm) hits the stage at 8 p.m. Feb. 26 at The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, $39-$69, floridatheatre.com. SCOTT NOVOTNY Novotny, who’s written for SNL and comic strip Strange Brew, performs at 8:04 and 10:10 p.m. Feb. 27 and 28 at Comedy Club of Jacksonville, 11000 Beach Blvd., $8-$15, 646-4277, jacksonvillecomedy.com. MITCH FATEL Fatel, who’s appeared on late night variety shows, is on at 8 p.m. Feb. 26 and 8 and 10 p.m. Feb. 27 and 28 at the Comedy Zone, 3130 Hartley Rd., Mandarin, $15-$20, 292-4242, comedyzone.com. PATRICK GARRITY Funnyman Garrity appears at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Feb. 27 and 7 and 10 p.m. Feb. 28 at Latitude 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., Southside, 365-5555, latitude360.com. ROB HOLLOWAY Holloway, from MAD TV, performs at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at Bonkerz Comedy Club, bestbet, 455 Park Ave., Orange Park, $10 and $35, 646-0001, bestbetjax.com.
CALLS & WORKSHOPS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARDS NOMINATIONS Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission takes nominations for its annual awards recognizing projects and services that promote area historic preservation. Categories: Heritage Education/Publication/Film, Archaeological/Historic Landscape, Residential Rehabilitation, Commercial or Institutional Rehabilitation, Architecturally Compatible New Construction, Preservation Projects & Services by individuals or organizations and Great Save (save a historic building from demolition). Completed nomination forms with required support documents must be submitted by March 2. For forms and details, go to coj.net/preservationawards.
FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 25
A&E // ARTS & EVENTS ABET ACTING WORKSHOP Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre offers Dave Alan Thomas’ workshop, “An Actor Begins: Duet Scenes,” March 1 and 8 at Adele Grage Cultural Center, 249-7177, $70-$80, register at abettheatre.com. COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANTS The Community Foundation of Northeast Florida accepts submissions for Childcare Providers in Duval County grant (deadline Feb. 26), Art Ventures (deadline May 15) and Dr. JoAnn Crisp-Ellert Fund (deadline May 15). For details, go to jaxcf.org. STUDENT POSTER CONTEST Students ages 4-6, 7-8 and 9-12 may submit artwork for the Concert on the Green poster contest, themed “A Celebration of Symphonic in an Outdoor Setting.” Deadline is Feb. 27; concertonthegreen.com. JAX JAZZ FEST SEEKS ARTISTS Jacksonville Jazz Festival calls for artists to submit samples of work and a statement for consideration for its 2015 poster; jaxjazzfest.com. CANDY-MAKING WORKSHOPS Sweet Pete’s offers weekly and monthly candy-making classes for all ages at 400 N. Hogan St., Downtown, 376-7161, sweetpetescandy.com.
ART WALKS & MARKETS
UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT Self-guided tour of galleries, antique stores and shops 5-9 p.m. Feb. 28 in St. Augustine’s San Marco District, 824-3152. FIRST WEDNESDAY ART WALK 5-9 p.m. March 4; features live music venues and hotspots open after 9 p.m., spanning 15 blocks in Downtown Jacksonville. downtownjacksonville.org. COMMUNITY FARMERS & ARTS MARKET Baked goods, preserves, honey, crafts, art, hand-crafted jewelry, 4-7 p.m. every Wed., 4300 St. Johns Ave., Riverside, 607-9935. DOWNTOWN FRIDAY MARKET Arts and crafts, local produce, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Fri. at The Jacksonville Landing, 2 Independent Dr., Downtown, 353-1188. WINTER ARTS MARKET Local and regional art, farmers market 10 a.m.-1 p.m. every Sat. under Fuller Warren Bridge, 715 Riverside Ave., free admission, 389-2449, riversideartsmarket.com.
MUSEUMS
AMELIA ISLAND MUSEUM OF HISTORY 233 S. Third St., Fernandina Beach, 261-7378, ameliamuseum.org. Portraits of American Beach, is currently on display. It Came from the Attic: Collections celebrates the art of collecting. AMERICAN BEACH MUSEUM American Beach Community Center, 1600 Julia St., Fernandina, 277-7960, nassaucountyfl. com/facilities. The Sands of Time: An American Beach Story, celebrating MaVynee Betsch, “The Beach Lady” is on display. CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS 829 Riverside Ave., 356-6857, cummer.org. Reflections: Artful Perspectives on the St. Johns River, through Oct. 18. Rothko to Richter: MarkMaking in Abstract Painting from the Collection of Preston H. Haskell, through April 22. All Together: The Sculpture of Chaim Gross, through Oct. 4. British Watercolors through Nov. 29. KARPELES MANUSCRIPT MUSEUM 101 W. First St., Springfield, 356-2992, rain.org/~karpeles/jaxfrm.html. Leilani Leo’s A Collection of Works: Exhibition in Oils through Feb. 27. LIGHTNER MUSEUM 75 King St., St. Augustine, 824-2874, lightnermuseum.org. Thirty paintings by 19th-century artist Felix F. de Crano are shown through March 1. MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART JACKSONVILLE 333 N. Laura St., Downtown, 366-6911, mocajacksonville.com. The Contemporaries Happy Hour is 5-8 p.m. Feb. 27. WHITE, featuring 11 20th-century and contemporary artists working with the color white, through April 26. Erica Mendoza: Visual Love Letters, through March. Project Atrium: Angela Strassheim, through March 1. John Hee Taek Chae, featured artist in the sixth annual Barbara Ritzman Devereux Visiting Artist Workshop, displays in MOCA’s UNF Gallery through April 26. MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY 1025 Museum Circle, Southbank, 396-6674, themosh.org. Odyssey’s SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure, through March. Skies Over Jacksonville, a live star show, screens 2 p.m. daily in the Planetarium. ST. JOHN’S CATHEDRAL 256 E. Church St., Downtown, 356-5507, jaxcathedral.org. Fabricio Farias’ Grace is on display.
GALLERIES
44 MONROE ART STUDIO & GALLERY 44 Monroe St., Downtown, 881-0209. Look & Sea, works by Dana Hood and Jerri Roszak, through February. ADELE GRAGE CULTURAL CENTER 716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-5828. Painter Randy Rhodes’ Industrial Naturalism, through February. ALEXANDER BREST GALLERY Jacksonville University, 2800 N. University Blvd., Arlington, 256-7371. Omphalos, works by multimedia artist Lauren Frances Evans and photographer Jensen Hande, through March 18. FIEA Game Art, works based on interactive game design, through March 18. ANASTASIA BOOKS 81C King St., St. Augustine, 824-8460. Kenneth Barrett’s Time Frames is on display. ARCHWAY GALLERY & FRAMING 363 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-2222. Vicki Lennon’s works show through February. THE ART CENTER II 229 N. Hogan St., Downtown, 355-1757. Shadows and Light, through March 9. Lauren Humphrey is the featured artist. BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS 869 Stockton St., Ste. 1, Riverside, 855-1181. Sculptures and prints by Rebecca Campbell, through March 29. BUTTERFIELD GARAGE ART GALLERY 137 King St., St. Augustine, 825-4577. Works by painter Tanya Englehard and sculptor Bruce Carr, through March 3. CRISP-ELLERT ART MUSEUM 48 Sevilla St., St. Augustine, 826-8530, flagler.edu/crispellert. Re-Riding History: From the Southern Plains to Matanzas Bay, through February.
26 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
FIRST STREET GALLERY 216-B First St., Neptune Beach, 241-6928. The Mermaid Show is on display through April 1. FLORIDA MINING GALLERY 5300 Shad Rd., Southside, 5357252. Water Appears and Disappears, works by artist Geoff Mitchell, through February. PLUM GALLERY 10 Aviles St., St. Augustine, 825-0069. Works by Gary Borse, Eileen Corse and Rosamond Parrish, through February. RITZ THEATRE & MUSEUM 829 N. Davis St., 632-5555, ritzjacksonville.com. Through Our Eyes 2015: Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey (An Artistic Revolution), works of 20 local African-American artists, is on display through July 28. SHAFFER GALLERY 35 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine, 806-8858. Mary St. Germain’s works display through February. SOUTH GALLERY FSCJ’s South Campus, 11901 Beach Blvd., 646-2023. Duval Senior High Exhibition & Northeast Florida Art Education Association Exhibit is on display through March 11. SOUTHLIGHT GALLERY 201 N. Hogan St., Ste. 100, Downtown, 438-4358, southlightgallery.com. First Wednesday Art Walk is 5-9 p.m. March 4, featuring saxophonist Jarell Harris. Kathy Stark’s Wilderness of Florida Parks, The One Show: artists from Gallery 725 and UNF ArtSpace Dark Matters, featuring interpretations by UNF photo club members, display through March. ST. AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION 22 Marine St., 824-2310, staaa.org. Figures and Faces through March 1. A benefit sale of Julian Courtenay Hunt’s works runs through March, to benefit Alzheimer’s Association and TOUCH St. Augustine Art Garden. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA GALLERY 1 UNF Dr., 620-2534. Art + Design Student Juried Annual Exhibition, through Feb. 27.
EVENTS
MOSH AFTER DARK “Modern Day Pirates,” 6:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at Museum of Science & History, 1025 Museum Circle, Downtown. Capt. Ryan Tillotson, USN, is featured speaker. Adults-only admission $10; $8 MOSH members, 396-6674. 3SQUARES FUNDRAISER Food and drink from 45 Northeast Florida restaurants, culinary schools, caterers and beverage distributors, a raffle-auction and live music by Firewater Tent Revival, 6:30-9 p.m. Feb. 26 at Prime Osborn Convention Center, 1000 Water St., Downtown, $70; proceeds benefit Feeding Northeast Florida programs, 201-4416, 3squaresjax.com. FLOWERING TREE SALE The 28th annual Greenscape flowering tree sale is 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 28 at Metro Square Office Park, 3563 Philips Hwy., Southside. Thousands of trees and shrubs are for sale starting at $10 each. A preview sale is held 3-5 p.m. Feb. 27 for Greenscape members. Arborists and landscape architects are on hand to answer questions. The eighth annual Root Ball is 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at WJCT Studios, 100 Festival Park Ave., Northbank, 398-5757, greenscapeofjacksonville.com. BOOK SIGNING IN NEPTUNE BEACH Author Jonathan Odell signs copies of his book Miss Hazel and the Rosa Parks League at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at The BookMark, 220 First St., Neptune Beach, 241-9026, bookmarkbeach.com. ROMANCE AUTHORS Ancient City Romance Authors present author Elizabeth Sinclair, discussing “The Dreaded Synopsis,” at 1 p.m. Feb. 28 at Generation Next Christian Teen Center, 12650 Gillespie Ave., Jacksonville, ancientcityromanceauthors.com. THE SCOTTISH GAMES & FESTIVAL The 20th annual Northeast Florida Scottish Highland Games & Festival features traditional Scottish foods, live music by Cleghorn, Mother Grove, Pictus and Ron Davis, bagpipe and drumming competitions, Highland dancing, a Tartan parade, athletic competition including a kilted golf tournament, caber toss, hammer throw, weight for height, sheaf toss and stone throw, sheepdog trials and battle-axe throwing, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 28 at Clay County Fairgrounds, 2497 S.R. 16 W., Green Cove Springs, $12 advance; $15 day of, neflgames.com. MUSIC STUDENT FESTIVAL The Nice Music Fest features performances by music students from Nice Music, First Coast School of Music, Orange Park School of Music and Ronan School of Music rocking out and showing their skills, along with a karate demonstration, food trucks and giveaways, from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 28 at Nice Music, 1580 Wells Rd., Orange Park, 264-6119. MOTORCYCLE RIDE & CHILI COOK-OFF The Heart Ride Goes Red (and Healthy Chili Cook-Off) is held at 10 a.m. (registration 8-9:45 a.m.) Feb. 28 at Adamec HarleyDavidson, 8909 Baymeadows Rd., Baymeadows, $25 for riders; $15 for passengers; $10 for ghost riders/chili cookoff. The event is in memory of photographer Paul Figura. Proceeds benefit the American Heart Association. 256-5729, firstcoastgored.heart.org. JACKSONVILLE GIANTS The ABA team is up against the Fayetteville Flight at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 Randolph Blvd., Downtown, $16.45-$138.05, jacksonvillegiants.com. WORLD SWORD SWALLOWER’S DAY Ripley’s Believe It or Not! presents sword swallower Chris Steele at 2 p.m. (and again at 2:28:15 p.m. to coincide with the 2/28/15 date) Feb. 28, 19 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine, 824-1606, ripleys.com/staugustine. AUTHOR CELEBRATION The St. Johns Reads program presents a reading by Les Standiford, author of Last Train to Paradise, at 2 p.m. Feb. 28 at County Administration Bldg., 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, 209-0530, sjcfl.us. A-SUN BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP AT UNF The University of North Florida Ospreys take on a yet-to-be-announced opponent at the single elimination Atlantic Sun Men’s Basketball Championship tournament at 7:30 p.m. March 3 at UNF Arena, 1 UNF Dr., Southside, $15, 620-2473, ospreytickets@unf.edu. AMELIA RIVER CRUISES Tours of Cumberland Island and Beach Creek, Mon.-Sat. from Amelia River Cruises, 1 N. Front St., Fernandina Beach, 261-9972; ameliarivercruises.com. BRIDGE IN A DAY Introductory program covers basics 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at Jacksonville School of Bridge, 3353 Washburn Rd., 859-8381, LBIAD@gmail.com.
A&E // MUSIC
WHAT WE WILL NEVER KNOW ABOUT LEO KOTTKE
piano player from Long Island named Billy Joel, who was unknown at that point, still six months away from commercial paydirt of “Piano Man.” I was always curious to know if they were on tour together or if the billing was just a one-off. (Joel seemed burned out and rude but walked off to a standing ovation.) The laugh-a-minute liner notes to Kottke’s 6 & 12 String Guitar (when he famously compared his singing voice to “geese farts on a muggy day”) mention his boyhood years in Athens, Georgia, where he beat up one Herbie playing a single note is legendary. Only fellow Stipe. Was his victim perhaps a relative of the Minnesotan Garrison Keillor can do him one future R.E.M. frontman, Michael Stipe? Will better in the humor vein, but Keillor works someone at his upcoming concert please let at it. Wry anecdotes and convoluted wisdom him know we need to know? flow naturally from Kottke’s mind. Bob Dylan had wanted Leo Kottke on Leo Kottke came to prominence in the board for his famous “Rolling Thunder dawning of the 1970s with his release 6 & Review,” which revitalized the careers of a 12 String Guitar, an all-instrumental outing few dimming rockers and made new ones for that had everyone taking notice of a new Scarlet Rivera and Ronee Blakley. I can only direction for the steel-stringed guitar. Kottke assume that Kottke had prior obligations, but quickly became headmaster for a new guitar has he ever looked back on style dubbed “American what would have certainly Primitive.” The concept been a major career boost? was simple: Transform LEO KOTTKE And does he have any the steel-string “folk” 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Ponte Vedra regrets? (My guess would guitar into a respected Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., be none!) concert instrument capable $32-$42, pvconcerthall.com In an early interview of holding its own and published in Guitar Player relying on its heritage of Magazine, Leo Kottke fingerpicking, open tunings stated that he might enjoy playing in an actual and slide technique, but with sights set firmly “band,” one like our own hometown-boyson complexity and harmonic maturity taking made-good Lynyrd Skynyrd; was he on the founding-father-guitarist John Fahey’s ideas level with that? Seriously? one better. To wrap things up, I would have liked to At the very top of my list of questions have heard the guitar master’s own words to pose to Kottke was: “Has the American regarding his near-career-ending bout of Primitive ethic come to pass?” (Maybe tendonitis that he experienced at age 47. Did someone can ask him this between songs at he really have to relearn how to play? And was the PV Concert Hall.) it his desire to play “properly” in the classical Next in line were several queries about incidents that were anecdotal but nevertheless tradition that turned it around for him? And at the very least, I would like someone interesting. to casually drop a copy of this column into The first time I saw Kottke perform in concert here in Jacksonville was in 1973 at the his guitar case — any acknowledgment would be terrific, even if the official response comes old Civic Auditorium. A crowd of us living from that phantom publicist who never in Gainesville at the time had headed here for returned my calls. the show, and maybe 200 people showed up. We all loved Kottke, but an added bonus was Arvid Smith seeing his opening act: a young singer and mail@folioweekly.com
Wherein Folio Weekly plays a one-sided game of cat-and-mouse to track down the guitar great
W
riting previews can be fun. Mainly because, if the writer is a fan of the artist, there exists the distinct possibility that the writer may actually come face to face with said artist — at least by email perhaps, if not by illustrious phone interview. So it was with eager anticipation that I accepted the assignment to preview Leo Kottke’s upcoming concert at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall on Feb. 26. My first task was to contact the promoters for artist contact info through the wrangle of publicists or agents to secure an interview; to date, my three requests have gone unanswered. Should be easier than the old days — just go to the website and hit the “contact” link. No such link exists for Leo Kottke (hitting “contact” gets you his merch info). I held off on my last resort, which is that Leo Kottke and I have two mutual friends (not Facebook, mind you, but real friends going back decades.) Reason being was that my degrees of separation are both noted guitarists in their own right and might feel a bit exploited and used by my nosing them up for an email or cell number. So with deadline looming, I will focus on my knowledge of Leo Kottke, observations of his career and the very curiosities I would have liked him to address for this piece. Kottke is far more than a guitarist’s guitarist. He’s more like an artist’s artist or an entertainer’s entertainer. He has inspired and placed the stringed instrument in more hands than anyone save Elvis, and he certainly kept the 12-string guitar in the forefront. I’m puzzled why some network exec hasn’t given Leo his own show, since his ability to bemuse an audience all night long without
FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 27
Local indie-folk favorite WHETHERMAN AN A N (pictured) performs with YANKEE SLICKERS, LES RAQUET, APPALACH ACH CHIA CH HIAN IA DEATH TRAP, SICK TALK and DIALECTABLE BEATS V. INFADE DEER Marc arch ar 4 at 1904 Music Ha H ll,l,, Downtoow ow own wnn. n.
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC CONCERTS THIS WEEK
SPADE McQUADE 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Fionn MacCool’s Irish Pub, Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 176, Downtown, 374-1247. SAMUEL SANDERS 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Pusser’s Bar & Grille, 816 A1A N., Ponte Vedra Beach, 280-7766. DENNY BLUE 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Paula’s Beachside Grill, 6896 A1A S., Crescent Beach, 471-3463. VJ TOS 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at Latitude 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., Southside, 365-5555. KURT LANHAM 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at Ragtime Tavern, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 241-7877. THE EXPENDABLES, BALLYHOO, KATASTRO 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at Freebird Live, 200 N. First St., Jax Beach, 246-2473, $20. TRASH TALK, RATKING, LEE BANNON 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at Underbelly, 113 E. Bay St., Downtown, 699-8186, $15. BOYFRIEND, TOMBOI, HEAVY FLOW 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at 1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean St., Downtown, $5. THE MIDTOWN MEN 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $35-$65. LOVE MONKEY 10 p.m. Feb. 25 at The Roadhouse, 231 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, 264-0611. CHRIS CAGLE, LYNDSEY HIGHLANDER 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at Mavericks at The Landing, 2 Independent Drive, Downtown, 356-1110, $15-$20. AARON KOERNER 6 p.m. Feb. 26, Pusser’s Bar & Grille. LEO KOTTKE 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., 209-0399, $32-$42. CHRISTOPHER DEAN BAND 7 p.m. Feb. 26, Ragtime Tavern. CAM MEEKINS, DENVER, MIKE SB, NATE DAE, CHARLES PRESTON 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, 398-7496, $10. TIM GRIMM 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at Mudville Music Room, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., San Marco, 352-7008, $10. SHPONGLE, PHUTUREPRIMITIVE 8 p.m. Feb. 26, Freebird Live, $17. LOVE NECTAR, ELI MOORE, MC GINGY 8 p.m. Feb. 26, 1904 Music Hall, $7 advance; $9 day of. MICHAEL ALLMAN BAND 8 p.m. Feb. 26, Underbelly, $15. THE DOOBIE BROTHERS, MARSHALL TUCKER BAND 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A S., 209-0367, $39.50-$79.50. Make Money for Moxey Benefit One: BURN SEASON, TOM BENNETT BAND, BREAKING THROUGH, BLEEDING in STEREO, FLAG on FIRE, DIRTY PETE 7 p.m. Feb. 27, Freebird Live, $8. MIKE SHACKELFORD, STEVE STANHOLTZER 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27, Mudville Music Room, $10. FJORD EXPLORER, The MOBROS, WEEKEND ATLAS, MARATHON RUNNER 8 p.m. Feb. 27, 1904 Music Hall, $7 advance; $9 day of. MARK O’QUINN 8 p.m. Feb. 27, Pusser’s Bar & Grille. DARRELL RAE 8 p.m. Feb. 27, Latitude 360. CORBITT BROTHERS, PORCH 40, HERD of WATTS 8 p.m. Feb. 27, Underbelly, $10. BIG SANDY & HIS FLY-RITE BOYS, DIRT FLOOR KRACKERS, DENTON ELKINS 8 p.m. Feb. 27, Jack Rabbits, $15. TAB SPENCER, THE DOG APOLLO, BRUCE B., FINBAR 9 p.m. Feb. 27 at Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown, 677-2977. CLOUD 9 10 p.m. Feb. 27 & 28, Ragtime Tavern. CHILLULA 10 p.m. Feb. 27 at Lynch’s Irish Pub, 541 First St. N.,
Jax Beach, 249-5181. HOME GROWN 10 p.m. Feb. 27 & 28 at The Roadhouse. Scottish Games & Festival: CLEGHORN, MOTHER GROVE, PICTUS, RON DAVIS 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Feb. 28, Clay County Fairgrounds, 2497 S.R. 16 W., Green Cove Springs, neflgames.com. Nice Music Fest (students from Nice Music, First Coast School of Music, Orange Park School of Music, Ronan School of Music) 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 28 at 1580 Wells Rd., Orange Park, 264-6119. Great Atlantic Festival: SHANE DWIGHT, CORBITT BROTHERS, MISSISSIPPI HEAT, GRACE & TONY, PARKER URBAN BAND, MAMA BLUE, DIRTYPETE Noon-10 p.m. Feb. 28 at SeaWalk Pavilion, Jax Beach. DENNY BLUE 5 p.m. Feb. 28 at Milltop Tavern, 19 St. George St., St. Augustine, 829-2329. STICK TO YOUR GUNS, THE AMITY AFFLICTION, BEING AS AN OCEAN, ’68, IN HEARTS WAKE 6 p.m. Feb. 28, Underbelly, $15. Folio Weekly Grand Opening Party with AUSTIN PARK 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at Club Retro, Silverado Nightclub Megaplex, 1241 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, 243-0140. KRIS DELMHORST, LUKE PEACOCK 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, Mudville Music Room, $10. THE BASTARD SUNS 8 p.m. Feb. 28, Jack Rabbits, $8. Fourth Annual DUVAL FESTIVAL & DUVAL STAR AWARDS 8 p.m. Feb. 28, 1904 Music Hall, $10. JOHN POPPER, WHISKEY BENT, BONNIE BLUE 8 p.m. Feb. 28, Freebird Live, $20. DOPELIMATIC 8 p.m. Feb. 28, Pusser’s Bar & Grille. DENDERA BLOODBATH, WOVEN IN, DAGGER BEACH 9 p.m. Feb. 28, Burro Bar. SHANE DWIGHT 10 p.m. Feb. 28 at Mojo Kitchen, 1500 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 247-6636. Music for Meows: GRANDPA’S COUGH MEDICINE, PHILIP PAN, DIXIE RODEO, BLUE VERONICA (Lauren Fincham, Michael Pearson), ROCK HELL VICTORY, JOEL LAND 6 p.m. March 1, Jack Rabbits, $12. MONKEY WRENCH 7 p.m. March 1, Ragtime Tavern. SABALS, ANCESTROS CORD 7 p.m. March 2, Jack Rabbits, $8. K. MICHELLE 7:30 p.m. March 1, Florida Theatre, $45-$62.50. ROBERTA L. JENNINGS CD Release Show 7 p.m. March 3 at Johnny’s, 3009 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd., St. Augustine, 829-8333. BARRIER VILLAINS, GIFT GIVER, TRAITORS, ADALIAH 8 p.m. March 3, 1904 Music Hall, $12. EMILY KOPP, LAURA JANE VINCENT, PHIL BARNES 8 p.m. March 4, Jack Rabbits, $8. WHETHERMAN, YANKEE SLICKERS, LES RAQUET, APPALACHIAN DEATH TRAP, SICK TALK, DIALECTABLE BEATS V. INFADER 5 p.m. March 4, 1904 Music Hall.
UPCOMING CONCERTS
STRINGFEVER March 5, Café Eleven LORETTA LYNN March 5, The Florida Theatre JASON IVEY March 5, Pusser’s Bar & Grille MOPE GROOVES March 5, Shantytown Pub THOMAS WYNN & THE BELIEVERS, FIREWATER TENT REVIVAL, DR. SIRBROTHER March 5, 1904 Music Hall CRAIG MORGAN March 5, Mavericks PAUL WILLIAMS March 6, T-U Center for the Performing Arts
KING EDDIE & PILI PILI March 6, Pusser’s Bar & Grille IVEY LEAGUE March 6 & 7, Roadhouse Aura Music & Arts Festival: MOE, DISCO BISCUITS, PAPADOSIO, The MAIN SQUEEZE, PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG, McLOVINS, GHOST OWL March 6-8, Suwannee Music Park IVEY LEAGUE March 6 & 7, Roadhouse STRANGER March 6 & 7, Lynch’s Irish Pub MEDAL MILITIA, MADHAUS March 7, Freebird Live IMMERSION, DAMNAGED, DOUBLE TAP March 7, 1904 Music Hall NIGHT FEVER (Bee Gees tribute) March 7, Thrasher-Horne Center Great Guitar Gathering: MARTIN TAYLOR, RICHARD SMITH March 7, The Florida Theatre THE 77D’S, CRESCENDO AMELIA BIG BAND, SIDE OF 49 March 7, Riverside Arts Market MARK O’QUINN March 7, Pusser’s Bar & Grille TANNAHILL WEAVERS March 7, Mudville Music Room GENERATIONALS, ROSE QUARTZ March 7, Underbelly SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS, THE WOOLLY BUSHMEN, RIVERNECKS March 8, Colonial Quarter LARRY MANGUM March 8, Beluthahatchee Park KALIN & MYLES March 8, Jack Rabbits BOY HARSHER, CRAZY BAG LADY, BURNT HAIR, SEVERED + SAID March 8, 1904 Music Hall DAN & SHAY, CANAAN SMITH March 8, Freebird Live AVA MENDOZA March 9, rain dogs THREE DOG NIGHT March 10, The Florida Theatre PRETTIOTS March 10, Underbelly THE SAVANTS OF SOUL March 10, Blue Water Oyster Bar GIN BLOSSOMS March 11, Mavericks BADFISH, TROPIDELIC March 11, Freebird Live PARTICLE, S.P.O.R.E., GREENHOUSE LOUNGE March 11, 1904 Music Hall REV. PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND March 11, Jack Rabbits JOURNEY, STEVE MILLER BAND, TOWER OF POWER March 12, Veterans Memorial Arena FULLSET March 12, Mudville Music Room AARON KOERNER March 12, Pusser’s Bar & Grille ERIC LINDELL March 12, Mojo Kitchen LA LUZ, THE SHIVAS, WET NURSE March 13, Colonial Quarter ORI NAFTALY March 13, Mojo Kitchen DOPELIMATIC March 13, Pusser’s Bar & Grille OZONE BABY March 13 & 14, The Roadhouse Celtic Music & Heritage Festival: ALBANNACH, DUBLIN CITY RAMBLERS, RATHKELTAIR, SEARSON, WHISKEY OF THE DAMNED, POOR ANGUS, MAKEM & SPAIN, IRISH ECHOES March 13-15, St. Francis Field, St. Augustine YAMADEO March 13 & 14, Lynch’s Irish Pub Swingtime: THE JIVE ACES, THE TINSELTOWN JITTERBUGS March 13, Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts ELVIS COSTELLO March 14, The Florida Theatre GARRET SPEER March 14, Pusser’s Bar & Grille ELTON JOHN March 14, Veterans Memorial Arena COREY SMITH March 14, Mavericks ANITRA JAY, SIDE TRACK BAND & RACHEL KAMPS, TOM BENNETT BAND March 14, Riverside Arts Market DEON COLE March 14, Ritz Theatre DROWNING POOL, ADRENALINE MOB, FULL DEVIL JACKET, MANNA ZEN, STONE BONE, FALLEN EMPIRE, DEAR ABBEY March 14, Beach Blvd Concert Hall
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LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC JOHN MELLENCAMP March 15, Times-Union Center Natural Life Music Fest: THE HOWLIN’ BROTHERS, MANDOLIN ORANGE, TALL TALL TREES, JUDAH & THE LION, HORSE FEATHERS, THE RUBIES, THE JOHN CARVER BAND, THE WILLOWWACKS March 15, Metropolitan Park MASON JENNINGS March 15, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall TIJUANA HERCULES, LAUREL LEE & the ESCAPEES, JACKIE STRANGER March 15, Shanghai Nobby’s DUBLIN CITY RAMBLERS March 16, Culhane’s Irish Pub BALANCE & COMPOSURE, CIRCA SURVIVE March 17, Underbelly Suwannee Spring Fest: WOOD BROTHERS, SHOVELS AND ROPE, INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS, KELLER WILLIAMS & TRAVELIN’ McCOURYS, BLIND BOYS of ALABAMA, THE LARRY KEEL EXPERIENCE, DONNA the BUFFALO, JOE CRAVEN, JIM LAUDERDALE March 19, Spirit of the Suwannee RICHARD SMITH March 19, Pusser’s Bar & Grille SUICIDE SILENCE, EMMURE, WITHIN THE RUINS, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY March 19, Freebird Live BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO March 19, Colonial Quarter DRYMILL ROAD March 19, Underbelly CYRUS CHESTNUT March 20, Ritz Theatre LOOK, LISTEN, BUY! March 20, 1904 Music Hall RUNAWAY GIN (Phish Tribute) March 20, Freebird Live BILLY BUCHANAN March 20, Pusser’s Bar & Grille ROGER THAT March 20 & 21, Roadhouse THE B-52s March 21, The Florida Theatre EASTON CORBIN March 21, Mavericks MAVIS STAPLES March 21, Ritz Theatre JACKIE EVANCHO March 22, The Florida Theatre RECORD FAIR March 22, St. Augustine Amphitheatre AGNOSTIC FRONT, COLDSIDE March 22, Burro Bar FRNKIERO & the CELLABRATION, HOMELESS GOSPEL CHOIR, MODERN CHEMISTRY March 24, Jack Rabbits GET THE LED OUT March 24, The Florida Theatre ATMOSPHERE March 24, Freebird Live SARAH McLACHLAN March 25, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall CRUSHED OUT, WOOLLY BUSHMEN March 25, Underbelly NICKELBACK March 25, Veterans Memorial Arena THE ORIGINAL WAILERS March 25, Café Eleven TOM PAPA March 26, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall ERIC CHURCH March 26, Veterans Memorial Arena AGAINST GRACE, RAISING CADENCE March 26 Underbelly MANATEES, The MOLD, NUTRITIONAL BEAST March 26, rain dogs THIRD DAY, BRANDON HEATH March 26, St. Augustine Amphitheatre THE AUSTRALIAN BEE GEES March 26, The Florida Theatre SPRAY PAINT, SALYUT 2 March 27, rain dogs WILLIE SUGARCAPPS, SETH WALKER March 27, Colonial Quarter CHROME HEART March 27 & 28, Roadhouse THE TONY G-5, TIM DAVIS March 27, The Florida Theatre
30 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
Slide into Spring Music & Craft Beer Fest: The WAILERS, TRAE
PIERCE & T-STONE BAND, MATISYAHU, RAILROAD EARTH, TURKUAZ, SUPERVILLAINS, THE FRITZ, SPIRITUAL REZ, CORBITT BROTHERS March 28 & 29, Main Beach, Fernandina ONE-EYED DOLL, MANNA ZEN, ERODE, TPM, SUNZ OF SAM March 28, 1904 Music Hall ENTER SHIKARI March 28, Underbelly BILL ORCUTT March 29, Sun-Ray Cinema BRONX WANDERERS March 29, The Florida Theatre BLUES TRAVELER March 29, St. Augustine Amphitheatre COBALT CRANES, NERVOUS TICKS March 29, rain dogs GUNS OUT AT SUNDOWN March 30, Jack Rabbits GARY STARLING JAZZ ORGANIZATION April 1, Mudville Music Room LYNYRD SKYNYRD April 2 & 3, The Florida Theatre 1964: Tribute to The Beatles April 3, St. Augustine Amphitheatre BASEBALL PROJECT, CHUCK PROPHET April 3, Colonial Quarter LOVE MONKEY April 3 & 4, Roadhouse SouthEast Beast Fest: NEW FOUND GLORY, CAPSIZE, COUNTERPARTS, H20, CITIZEN, DEFEATER, TURNSTILE, THIS WILD LIFE, CRIME in STEREO, FIREWORKS, GIDEON, A LOSS for WORDS, The ORPHAN, The POET, ARTIFEX PEREO, BAD LUCK, BOYS NO GOOD, VILLAINS, XERXES, LIFE of AGONY, BIOHAZARD, WISDOM in CHAINS, EARTH CRISIS, The BANNER, ROTTING OUT, TRUE LOVE April 4 & 5, Aqua Nightclub PIECES of DREAM April 4, Ritz Theatre ALLELE, FALL to JUNE, PRIDELESS, SECOND’S AWAY, POOR RICHARDS, TACH, CHAYO NASH, SIMPLE NATURAL, MND April 4, 1904 Music Hall DELLA MAE April 4, Colonial Quarter THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS April 8, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall One Spark After Dark: CANARY IN THE COALMINE, THIS FRONTIER NEEDS HEROES, HA HA TONKA, DJ LIL’ BOY, ON GUARD, EMPIRE THEORY, SUNBEARS!, WILDER SONS, DOMINO EFFECT, SOMEBODY ELSE, GOLD LIGHT, SLEEPWALKERS, KOPECKY FAMILY BAND April 8-10, Jax Chamber Parking Lot JANIS IAN, TOM PAXTON April 9, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Stringbreak Music Fest: STEEP CANYON RANGERS, WILLIE SUGARCAPPS, THE RAGBIRDS, HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, GATORBONE, BRIAN SUTHERLAND BAND, 8 BALL AITKEN, GRANT PEEPLES, GRANDPA’S COUGH MEDICINE, THE LAGERHEADS April 9-12, Sertoma Youth Ranch, Brooksville THE MAVERICKS April 10, The Florida Theatre THE ORCHESTRA April 11, The Florida Theatre KID INK, JEREMIAH, DEJ LOAF April 11, T-U Center DIARRHEA PLANET, LEFT AND RIGHT April 13, rain dogs Wanee Music Fest: WIDESPREAD PANIC, GREGG ALLMAN, GOV’T MULE, EARTH, WIND & FIRE, CHEAP TRICK, JAIMOE’S JASSSZ BAND, BUTCH TRUCKS & FRIENDS, THE WORD (ROBERT RANDOLPH, JOHN MEDESKI, LUTHER DICKINSON, CODY DICKINSON, CHRIS CHEW), HOT TUNA ELECTRIC, JJ GREY & MOFRO, OTEIL & FRIENDS, GALACTIC, ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA, LEFTOVER SALMON, YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND, IVAN NEVILLE’S DUMPSTAPHUNK, RICH ROBINSON & DOYLE BRAMHALL II, RAW OYSTER CULT, DRAGON SMOKE, THE REVIVALISTS, HOME AT LAST, BOBBY LEE ROGERS, PINK TALKING FISH, ERIC LINDELL & COMPANY, ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD, NATURAL CHILD, JACOB JEFFRIES BAND, JUKE April 16-18, Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park FRATELLO April 17 & 18, Roadhouse HERITAGE BLUES ORCHESTRA April 17, Ritz Theatre Springing the Blues: CHUBBY CARRIER & the BAYOU SWAMP BAND, SELWYN BIRCHWOOD, EDDIE SHAW & the WOLF GANG, TINSLEY ELLIS, JOHN NEMETH, SAMANTHA FISH, SHARRIE WILLIAMS, THE LEE BOYS, CEDRIC BURNSIDE, LIGHTNIN’ MALCOLM, KARA GRAINGER, BETTY FOX BAND, BACKTRACK BLUES BAND, HOMEMADE JAMZ BAND, BRADY CLAMPITT, LINDA GRENVILLE, JIM McKABA & AFTER HOURS BAND, PARKERURBAN BAND, WOODY & the PECKERS, BAY STREET, UNCLE JONNY’S BLUES MACHINE April 17-19, SeaWalk Pavilion THE LACS April 18, Mavericks CHAQUIS MALIQ, LEE HUNTER, JOEY KERR, MARY-LOU, SCOTT JONES DANCERS April 18, Riverside Arts Market BOB DYLAN April 18, St. Augustine Amphitheatre THE WHO HITS 50! TOUR, JOAN JETT & The BLACKHEARTS April 19, Veterans Memorial Arena
Country artist CHRIS CAGLE (pictured) performs with LYNDSEY HIGHLANDER on Feb. 26 at Mavericks at The Landing.
CAGE THE ELEPHANT April 19, Mavericks DICK DALE April 21, Jack Rabbits ALAN JACKSON, JON PARDI, BRANDY CLARK April 24, St. Augustine Amphitheatre BHAGAVAN DAS April 24-26, Karpeles Museum HOME FREE A Capella Group April 24, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall RAIN April 24, The Florida Theatre TYLER THE CREATOR April 24, Mavericks ALAN JACKSON, JON PARDI, BRANDY CLARK April 14, St. Augustine Amphitheatre COMFORT ZONE April 24 & 25, Roadhouse LaVILLA SOA JAZZ BAND & CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, MIKE SHACKELFORD, STEVE SHANHOLTZER April 25, Riverside Arts Market Welcome to Rockville: SLIPKNOT, KORN, GODSMACK, SLAYER, MARILYN MANSON, MINISTRY, SLASH, MYLES KENNEDY & the CONSPIRATORS, PAPA ROACH, BREAKING BENJAMIN, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES April 25 & 26, Metro Park THE MOWGLIS, FENCES, HIPPO CAMPUS April 26, Jack Rabbits RONNIE MILSAP April 26, The Florida Theatre The ROBERT CRAY BAND, SHEMEKIA COPELAND April 27, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall CHRIS BOTTI April 30, The Florida Theatre TIGERS JAW, LEMURIA, SOMOS April 30, Underbelly WILCO May 1, St. Augustine Amphitheatre IRATION May 2, Mavericks HOZIER May 5, The Florida Theatre NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL May 7, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall ZZ TOP, JEFF BECK May 9, St. Augustine Amphitheatre JENNY LEWIS May 9, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall LISA LOEB, FLAGSHIP ROMANCE May 10, P.V. Concert Hall JASON ISBELL May 12, The Florida Theatre J. RODDY WALSTON & THE BUSINESS May 14, Jack Rabbits THE MAINE May 14, Freebird Live RODNEY CARRINGTON May 14, T-U Center PIERCE PETTIS May 14, Café Eleven NEEDTOBREATHE, BEN RECTOR, COLONY HOUSE, DREW HOLCOMB & the NEIGHBORS May 14, St. Augustine Amphitheatre ED KOWALCZYK May 15, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall IGGY AZALEA May 18, Veterans Memorial Arena Jax Jazz Festival: SNARKY PUPPY, SOUL REBELS, TITO PUENTE JR. ORCHESTRA, FELIX PEIKLI & the ROYAL FLUSH QUINTET, ROMAN STREET, ELISHA PARRIS, MAMA BLUE May 21-24, Downtown TODD RUNDGREN May 22, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall PSYCHEDELIC FURS May 31, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall WHOLE WHEAT BREAD, ASKMEIFICARE June 5, Roadhouse RUSTY SHINE June 6, Roadhouse BOOGIE FREAKS June 12 & 13, Roadhouse Florida Country Superfest: ZAC BROWN BAND, KEITH URBAN, BRANTLEY GILBERT, COLE SWINDELL, TYLER FARR, DAVID NAIL, COLT FORD, DANIELLE BRADBERY, SWON BROTHERS June 13 & 14, EverBank Field CHARLI XCX June 15, Freebird Live LOVE MONKEY June 19 & 20, Roadhouse SEAWALK MUSIC FEST June 20, SeaWalk Pavilion, Jax Beach NATURAL INSTINCTS June 26 & 27, Roadhouse CHILLY RHINO July 3 & 4, Roadhouse Warped Tour: ALIVE LIKE ME, AS IT IS, BABY BABY, ARGENT, BEAUTIFUL BODIES, BEING AS AN OCEAN, BLACK BOOTS, BLACK VEIL BRIDES, BLESSTHEFALL, BORN CAGES, KOO KOO KANGA ROO, BOYMEETSWORLD, CANDY HEARTS, ESCAPE THE FATE, FAMILY FORCE 5, FIT FOR A KING, HANDGUNS, HANDS LIKE HOUSES, I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN, KOSHA DILLZ, LE CASTLE VANIA, LEE COREY OSWALD, M4SONIC, MATCHBOOK ROMANCE, NECK DEEP, NIGHT NIGHT RIOTS, PALISADES, SPLITBREED, THE RELAPSE SYMPHONY, TRANSIT, THE WONDER YEARS, TROPHY EYES, WHILE SHE SLEEPS, YOUTH IN REVOLT July 6, Morocco Shrine Auditorium BARENAKED LADIES, VIOLENT FEMMES, COLIN HAY July 11, St. Augustine Amphitheatre CHROME HEART July 17 & 18, Roadhouse “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC Aug. 16, The Florida Theatre AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FESTIVAL Oct. 8-15, Fernandina Beach MARK KNOPFLER Oct. 27, St. Augustine Amphitheatre
LIVE MUSIC CLUBS AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA BEACH
DAVID’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE, 802 Ash St., 310-6049 John Springer every Tue.-Wed. Aaron Bing 6 p.m. Fri. & Sat. GREEN TURTLE TAVERN, 14 S. Third St., 321-2324 Buck Smith every Thur. Yancy Clegg Sun. Vinyl Record Nite every Tue. HAMMERHEAD, 2045 S. Fletcher Ave., 491-7783 DJ Refresh 9 p.m. every Sun. PALACE SALOON, 117 Centre. St., 491-3332 Wes Cobb every Wed. Schnockered every Sun. Buck Smith every Tue.
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC The Music for Meows benefit concert features performances by GRANDPA’S COUGH MEDICINE, PHILIP PAN (pictured) DIXIE RODEO, BLUE VERONICA (LAUREN FINCHAM & MICHAEL PEARSON), ROCK HELL VICTORY and JOEL LAND March 1 at Jack Rabbits. Proceeds benefit programs to help feral, stray, abandoned and homeless domestic cats in our community.
AVONDALE, ORTEGA
CASBAH CAFÉ, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966 Goliath Flores 9 p.m. every Wed. Live jazz every Sun. Live music every Mon. ECLIPSE, 4219 St. Johns Ave. KJ Free 9 p.m. Tue. & Thur. Indie dance at 9 p.m. Wed. ’80s & ’90s dance at 9 p.m. Fri. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 3611 St. Johns, 388-0200 Whetherman Feb. 26. Radio Love Feb. 27. Wes Cobb Feb. 28
THE BEACHES
(All venues in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted)
BILLY’S BOATHOUSE, 2321 Beach Blvd., 241-9771 Don Miniard Feb. 26. Jaxx or Better Feb. 27. Mike Ward Feb. 28 BRASS ANCHOR PUB, 2292 Mayport Rd., Ste. 35, Atlantic Beach, 249-0301 Joe Oliff 8 p.m. Feb. 25 CASA MARINA HOTEL, 691 First St. N., 270-0025 Ryan Crary 7 p.m. Feb. 25. Charlie Walker 3 p.m. March 1 CULHANE’S, 967 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 249-9595 DJ Hal every Sat. FLYING IGUANA, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680 Fat Cactus 10 p.m. Feb. 27 & 28 FREEBIRD LIVE, 200 N. First St., 246-2473 The Expendables, Ballyhoo, Katastro 7 p.m. Feb. 25. Shpongle, PhuturePrimitive Feb. 26. Burn Season, Braking Through, Bleeding in Stereo, Flag on Fire, Salem Hollow Feb. 27. John Popper, Whiskey Bent, Bonnie Blue Feb. 28 HARMONIOUS MONKS, 320 First St. N., 372-0815 Live music 9 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. Dan Evans, Spade McQuade 6 p.m. every Sun. Back From the Brink 9 p.m. every Mon. LILLIE’S COFFEE BAR, 200 First St., N.B., 249-2922 Jesse Stockton Band Feb. 27. Jarell Harris Feb. 28 LYNCH’S IRISH PUB, 514 N. First St., 249-5181 Chillula 10 p.m. Feb. 27. Kota Mundi 10 p.m. Feb. 28 MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1018 N. Third St., 246-1500 Alex Benson Feb. 25. Root of All Feb. 26. Ivey West Band Feb. 27 MEZZA RESTAURANT & BAR, 110 First St., N.B., 249-5573 Neil Dixon 6 p.m. every Tue. Gypsies Ginger 6 p.m. every Wed. Mike Shackelford & Steve Shanholtzer 6 p.m. Thur. MOJO KITCHEN, 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636 Shane Dwight 10 p.m. Feb. 28 NORTH BEACH BISTRO, 725 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 372-4105 MaryAnn Hawkins Feb. 28 RAGTIME TAVERN, 207 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 241-7877 Kurt Lanham 7 p.m. Feb. 25. Christopher Dean Band 7 p.m. Feb. 26. Cloud 9 10 p.m. Feb. 27 & 28. Monkey Wrench March 1
880-3040 Open mic: Synergy 8 p.m. every Wed. World’s Most Talented Waitstaff 9 p.m. every Fri. SAUCY TACO, 450 S.R. 13, 287-8226 Stu Weaver 7 p.m. Feb. 28
ORANGE PARK, MIDDLEBURG
CLUB RETRO, SILVERADO, 1241 Blanding Blvd., 579-4731 Folio Weekly Grand Opening: Austin Park 8 p.m. Feb. 28. ’70s & ’80s dance 8 p.m. Fri. & Sat. DJ Capone Wed. THE HILLTOP, 2030 Wells, 272-5959 John Michael Wed.-Sat. PREVATT’S SPORTS BAR, 2620 Blanding Blvd., 282-1564 DJ Tammy 9 p.m. every Wed. THE ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611 Love Monkey 10 p.m. Feb. 25. Home Grown 10 p.m. Feb. 27 & 28. Boogie Freaks 10 p.m. every Wed. DJ Big Mike 10 p.m. every Thur.
PONTE VEDRA
PUSSER’S GRILLE, 816 A1A, 280-7766 Samuel Sanders 6 p.m. Feb. 25. Aaron Koerner 6 p.m. Feb. 26. Mark O’Quinn 8 p.m. Feb. 27. Dopelimatic 8 p.m. Feb. 28 TABLE 1, 330 A1A N., 280-5515 Sea Floor Explosives Feb. 25. Gary Starling Feb. 26. Wes Cobb Feb. 27. Paxton & Mike Feb. 28
RIVERSIDE, WESTSIDE
ACROSS THE STREET, 948 Edgewood Ave. S., 683-4182 Bill
Ricci, Poor Richards Feb. 27. Control This Feb. 28. Backwater Bible Salesman March 2 MURRAY HILL THEATRE, 932 Edgewood Ave. S., 388-7807 I Am the Witness, Neverender, Searching Serenity 7 p.m. Feb. 27. Set It Off, Against the Current, As It Is, Roam 5:30 p.m. March 1 rain dogs, 1045 Park St., Riverside, 379-4969 Minor Influence, The Reachers, F.F.N. 8 p.m. Feb. 28. Brian Zeolla March 2
ST. AUGUSTINE
CAFE ELEVEN, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 460-9311 Stringfever 8 p.m. March 5 THE CELLAR UPSTAIRS, 157 King St., 826-1594 Mojo Roux 7 p.m. Feb. 27. Billy Buchanan 2 p.m., Mojo Roux 7 p.m. Feb. 28. Vinny Jacobs 2 p.m. March 1 HARRY’S, 46 Avenida Menendez, 824-7765 Billy Bowers Feb. 25. Jim Asselta Feb. 27. Henry Murphy Feb. 28 MILL TOP TAVERN, 19-1/2 St. George, 829-2329 Decoy Feb. 27 & 28. Denny Blue Feb. 28 PAULA’S BEACHSIDE GRILL, 6896 A1A S., Crescent Beach, 471-3463 Denny Blue open mic jam 6-9 p.m. Feb. 25 TEMPO, 16 Cathedral Pl., 342-0286 Denny Blue 9 p.m. Feb. 27 TRADEWINDS, 124 Charlotte St., 829-9336 Cotton Mouth 9 p.m. Feb. 27 & 28
DOWNTOWN
1904 MUSIC HALL, 19 Ocean St. N. Tomboi, Boyfriend, Heavy Flow Feb. 25. Love Nectar Feb. 26. Fjord Explorer, The Mobros, Weekend Atlas Feb. 27. Barrier, Villains, Gift Giver, Traitors, Adaliah March 3 THE BIRDHOUSE, 1827 N. Pearl St. Rosedale Feb. 27 BURRO BAR, 100 E. Adams St. Tab Spencer, The Dog Apollo, Bruce B., Finbar 9 p.m. Feb. 27. Dendera Bloodbath, Woven In, Dagger Beach 9 p.m. Feb. 28 DOS GATOS, 123 E. Forsyth St., 354-0666 BlackJack every Wed. DJ Brandon every Thur. Dance music every Fri. DJ NickFresh Sat. DJ Randall 9 p.m. Mon. DJ Hollywood every Tue. DUKE’S PLACE BLUES BAR, 521 W. Forsyth St., 339-5015 Fonix 8 p.m. Feb. 26 FIONN MacCOOL’S, Jax Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1247 Spade McQuade 6 p.m. Feb. 25. Savannah Bassett 8:30 p.m. Feb. 27. Jimmy Solari 8 p.m. Feb. 28. Live music Fri. & Sat. JACKSONVILLE LANDING, 2 Independent Dr., 353-1188 Radio 80 7 p.m. Feb. 28 MARK’S DOWNTOWN, 315 E. Bay, 355-5099 DJ Roy Luis every Wed. DJ Vinn every Thur. DJ 007 Fri. Bay Street Sat. MAVERICKS, Jax Landing, 356-1110 Chris Cagle, Lyndsey Highlander 6 p.m. Feb. 26. Craig Morgan 6 p.m. March 5. Joe Buck, Big Tasty Thur.-Sat. UNDERBELLY, 113 E. Bay St., 699-8186 Trash Talk, Ratking, Lee Bannon Feb. 25. Michael Allman Band Feb. 26. Corbitt Brothers, Porch 40, Herd of Watts Feb. 27. Stick to Your Guns, The Amity Affliction, Being as an Ocean, ’68, In Hearts Wake Feb. 28.
FLEMING ISLAND
WHITEY’S FISH CAMP, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198 Live music Fri. & Sat. DJ Throwback 8 p.m. every Thur. Deck music 5 p.m. every Fri. & Sat., 4:30 p.m. every Sun.
INTRACOASTAL WEST
CLIFF’S BAR & GRILL, 3033 Monument Rd., 645-5162 The Remains March 1. DJ Big Rob Thur., Sun. & Tue. JERRY’S SPORTS GRILLE, 13170 Atlantic Blvd., 220-6766 Upper Limits 8:30 p.m. Feb. 27. RetroKatz Feb. 28 YOUR PLACE, 13245 Atlantic, 221-9994 RadioLove Feb. 26
MANDARIN, JULINGTON
DAVE’S MUSIC BAR & GRILL, 9965 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 48, 575-4935 Dan “Shifty Gears” Raymond Feb. 27 HARMONIOUS MONKS, 10550 Old St. Augustine Rd.,
FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 31
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK
INDOCHINE, 1974 San Marco Blvd., 503-7013 Dance Radio Underground, Sugar & Cream, Black Hoodie, Bass Therapy Sessions, Allan GIz-Roc Oteyza, TrapNasty, Cry Havoc, Sat. JACK RABBITS, 1528 Hendricks Ave., 398-7496 Cam Meekins, Denver, Mike SB, Nate Dae, Charles Preston 7 p.m. Feb. 26. Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, Dirt Floor Krackers, Denton Elkins Feb. 27. The Bastard Suns Feb. 28. Music for Meows: Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, Philip Pan, Dixie Rodeo, Blue Veronica, Rock Hell Victory, Joel Land March 1. Sabals, Ancestros Cord 7 p.m. March 2. Emily Kopp, Laura Jane Vincent, Phil Barnes March 4 MUDVILLE MUSIC ROOM, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., 352-7008 Tim Grimm, CJ Fluharty 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26. Mike Shackelford, Steve Stanholtzer, Denny leRoux, Mack Evans 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27. Kris Delmhorst, Luke Peacock 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28. Songwriters Contest March 3
SOUTHSIDE, BAYMEADOWS
BAHAMA BREEZE, 10205 River Coast Dr., 646-1031 Tropico Steel Drums March 4 CORNER BISTRO, 9823 Tapestry Park Cir., 619-1931 Matt Hall every Wed.-Sat. Steve Wheeler every Fri.
LATITUDE 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., 365-5555 VJ Tos 7 p.m. Feb. 25. VJ Fellin 10:30 p.m. Feb. 26, 11:30 p.m. Feb. 28. Darrell Rae 8 p.m., Boogie Freaks 8:30 p.m., DJ Shotgun 11:30 p.m. Feb. 27. Samuel Sanders 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28. Radio Love 7:30 p.m. March 1. Big Band Jazz March 2 MELLOW MUSHROOM, 9734 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 1, 997-1955 Charlie Walker Feb. 26. Sean Fisher Feb. 27 PURE NIGHTCLUB, 8206 Philips Hwy., discodonniepresents. com Bare 9 p.m. Feb. 25 WHISKEY JAX, 10915 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 135, 634-7208 DiCarlo Thompson Feb. 27 WILD WING CAFÉ, 4555 Southside Blvd., 998-9464 Chris Brinkley Feb. 25. Open mic & jam Feb. 26. A1A North Feb. 27. Fratello Feb. 28 WORLD OF BEER, 9700 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 1, 551-5929 Ryan Crary Feb. 26. Kevin Ski Feb. 28. Live music Fri. & Sat.
SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE
SHANTYTOWN PUB, 22 W. Sixth St., 798-8222 Mope Grooves March 5 THREE LAYERS COFFEEHOUSE, 1602 Walnut St., 355-9791 Doug Vanderlaan & Heather 8 p.m. Feb. 27
SYNTHS AND THE KNIFE SENSIBILITY AFTER DRIVING AROUND with my 8-yearold daughter listening to the recent four-song release from Jacksonville band Ursula, I asked her what she thought. “I liked ‘Hot Water’ the least.” “Got it,” I said. “You didn’t like ‘Hot Water.’” “No,” she clarified. “I liked it, I just liked it least.” Fair enough. And, I have to say, I agree with her. Except the “liking least” part. I actually don’t like that song at all. But we’ll get to that. A quasi-electronic trio featuring guitarist and keyboardist Sam Farmer, his wife, Corina, on vocals and bass, and drummer Brad Daninger, Ursula is an interesting mix of ’80s alternative, ’90s grunge and modern pop. Fans of ’90s rockers Joydrop will really enjoy Ursula’s eponymous debut. Corina Farmer could easily take Tara Slone’s place as lead singer of the Canadian quartet, considering Slone kind of blew her career by trying out for INXS on the reality show Rock Star: INXS. I mean, INXS was marginal at best, and Joydrop, despite its inability to crack the big-time pop market of their day, was a much better band. Many will argue with me on this point. But I digress. Back to Ursula … Album-opener “Seer” is a bit deceiving, as its electronic pulse-groove suggests an EP full of dark synth-rock. Mid-tempo and minor key, “Seer” drones along with Corina laying down some terrific melodies. The song itself doesn’t necessarily thrill, but Corina manages to lift the tune with some inspired vocal twists. In the last third of the song, things really get moving, with big distortion and Daninger throwing down a fat groove. My kid thought that was a nice addition. Me, too. But it’s the second track that really captures the best of what Ursula has to offer. Very Joydrop-py in structure and melody, “Impulse” is a pop song in the best sense – upbeat, sing-along-able, yet far-fromcheeseball. Great layered harmonies, a brief breakdown with chunky muted guitars, and strong backbeat. Yes, you can dance to it. This one reminds me of summer. “Rattled” comes next, another mid-tempo groove with more of Corina’s powerful yet prepossessing vocals. Farmer’s arpeggiated guitar line during the bridge could have appeared on Van Halen’s Fair Warning, which, to me, is a good thing. Farmer is actually a strong guitarist, though he keeps his soloing to a minimum. Smart move for a 32 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
THE KNIFE
song like “Rattled.” (My daughter liked this one best.) And so we come to “Hot Water,” my daughter’s least-favorite and my not-favoriteat-all. In casual conversation just the other day, Sam Farmer said to me, “It’s just a Billy Idol song.” Truer words … I mean it is pretty much “Rebel Yell” mashed up with “Dancing with Myself.” In fact, there is one specific transition that is lifted verbatim from “Rebel Yell,” notes, pattern and all. Now, I don’t have a problem with stealing from other artists, I simply request that you steal from good artists. Here we have a four-song demo, and we use up one-quarter on a Billy Idol clone. Not sure I get it, but I’m sure there are a few ’80s die-hards who will enjoy the nostalgia this one evokes. Good for you. The production is rather spot-on here, care of Stan Martell. Big drums, crunchy guitars and buzzy synths fill the space, giving plenty of room for Corina’s vocals, which is really the reason I keep coming back to this album. The songwriting is solid if somewhat safe, but Corina’s vocals elevate the whole experience. Really good stuff. A quick anecdote before we close: Years ago – many years ago – when I was a drum instructor at a San Marco recording studio, I walked into the studio to see a grubby teenager sleeping on the floor in the corner in his street clothes, looking quite corpse-like. It was Sam Farmer, probably in his Man-Size Rat days, sleeping off what must have been a night of chemically enhanced amusement. (I hypothesize, of course.) He’s taller now, a gainfully employed videographer, and still making music. All good things. The guy is talented, to be sure. I wouldn’t mind hearing a full-length from Ursula in the near future – one that forgoes any sonic references to a sneering, leatherclad pop idol from our collective past. John E. Citrone theknife@folioweekly.com
To purchase a copy of Ursula, visit ursula-band.bandcamp.com/releases.
DINING DIRECTORY AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA BEACH, YULEE
Mariah and Juan Pablo Salvat, of Southern Roots Filling Station, display a few of the eco-friendly, organicallysourced items offered at the new place in Riverside.
29 SOUTH EATS, 29 S. Third St., 277-7919, 29south restaurant.com. F In historic downtown, Chef Scotty Schwartz serves traditional regional cuisine with a modern twist. $$ L Tue.-Sat.; D Mon.-Sat.; R Sun. BARBERITOS, 1519 Sadler Rd., 277-2505. 463867 S.R. 200, Ste. 5, Yulee, 321-2240, barberitos.com. Southwestern fare; burritos, tacos, quesadillas, salsa. $$ BW K TO L D Daily BRETT’S WATERWAY CAFÉ, 1 S. Front St., 261-2660. F Southern hospitality, upscale waterfront spot; daily specials, fresh local seafood, aged beef. $$$ FB K L D Daily CAFÉ KARIBO, 27 N. Third St., 277-5269, cafekaribo.com. F Family-owned spot in a historic building. Veggie burgers, seafood, made-from-scratch desserts. Dine in or on oak-shaded patio. Karibrew Pub next door. $$ FB K TO R, Sun.; L D Daily CHEZ LEZAN BAKERY CO., 1014 Atlantic Ave., 491-4663, chezlezanbakery.com. Fresh European-style breads, pastries: croissants, muffins, cakes, pies. $ TO B R L Daily CIAO ITALIAN BISTRO, 302 Centre St., 206-4311, ciaobistroluca.com. Owners Luka and Kim Misciasci offer fine dining: veal piccata, rigatoni Bolognese, antipasto. Specialties: chicken Ciao, homemade meat lasagna. $ L Fri., Sat.; D Nightly DAVID’S Restaurant & Lounge, 802 Ash St., 310-6049, ameliaislanddavids.com. Historic district fine dining. Fresh seafood, prime aged meats, rack of lamb. $$$$ FB D Wed.-Mon. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 474313 E. S.R. 200, 491-3469. 450077 S.R. 200, Callahan, 879-0993. BOJ winner. SEE
Photo: Dennis Ho
PONTE VEDRA.
ELIZABETH POINTE LODGE, 98 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-4851, elizabethpointelodge.com. BOJ winner. Award-winning B&B. Seaside dining, inside or out. Hot buffet breakfast daily. Homestyle soups, sandwiches, desserts. $$$ BW B L D Daily JACK & DIANE’S, 708 Centre St., 321-1444, jackanddianes cafe.com. F In renovated 1887 shotgun house. Jambalaya, French toast, mac-n-cheese, vegan/vegetarian items. Dine in or on porch. $$ FB K B L D Daily LULU’S at Thompson House, 11 S. 7th St., 432-8394, lulus amelia.com. F Po’boys, salads, local seafood, local shrimp. Reservations. $$$ BW K TO R Sun.; L D Tue.-Sat. MARCHÉ BURETTE, 6800 First Coast Hwy., 491-4834, omnihotels.com. Old-fashioned gourmet food market and deli, in the Spa & Shops, Omni Amelia Island Plantation. Continental breakfast; lunch features flatbreads. $$$ BW K TO L D Daily MOON RIVER PIZZA, 925 S. 14th St., 321-3400, moonriver pizza.net. F BOJ winner. Northern-style pizzas, 20+ toppings, by the pie or the slice. $ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. THE MUSTARD SEED CAFE, 833 TJ Courson Rd., 277-3141, nassaushealthfoods.net. Casual organic eatery, juice bar, in Nassau Health Foods. All-natural organic items, smoothies, juice, herbal tea. $$ TO B L Mon.-Sat. THE PECAN ROLL BAKERY, 122 S. Eighth St., 491-9815, thepecanrollbakery.com. The bakery, near historic district, offers sweet and savory pastries, cookies, cakes, bagels and breads, all made from scratch. $ K TO B L Wed.-Sun. PLAE, 80 Amelia Village Cir., 277-2132, plaefl.net. Bite Club. Bistro-style venue serves whole fried fish, duck breast. Outside. $$$ FB L Tue.-Sat.; D Nightly THE SALTY PELICAN Bar & Grill, 12 N. Front St., 277-3811, thesaltypelicanamelia.com. F BOJ winner. 2nd-story outdoor bar. Owners T.J. and Al offer local seafood, Mayport shrimp, fish tacos, po’boys, cheese oysters. $$ FB K L D Daily SLIDERS SEASIDE GRILL, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652, slidersseaside.com. F Oceanfront; handmade crab cakes, fresh seafood, fried pickles. Outdoor dining, open-air 2nd floor, balcony. $$ FB K L D Daily TASTY’S Fresh Burgers & Fries, 710 Centre St., 321-0409, tastysamelia.com. Historic district. Freshest meats, hand-cut fries, homemade sauces, hand-spun shakes. $ BW K L D Daily T-RAY’S BURGER STATION, 202 S. 8th St., 261-6310. F BOJ. In an old gas station; blue plate specials, burgers, biscuits & gravy, shrimp. $ BW TO B L Mon.-Sat. THE VERANDAH, 6800 First Coast Hwy., 321-5050, omni hotels.com. Extensive menu of fresh local seafood and steaks; signature entrée is Fernandina shrimp. Many herbs and spices are from onsite garden. $$$ FB K D Nightly
ARLINGTON, REGENCY
DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 9119 Merrill Rd., 745-9300. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. LA NOPALERA, 8818 Atlantic, 720-0106. BOJ winner. SEE MANDARIN.
LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1301 Monument, 724-5802. F SEE ORANGE PARK.
THE SHEIK DELI, 9720 Atlantic Blvd., 721-2660. Familyowned-and-operated for 40+ years, with a full breakfast (pitas to country plates) and a lunch menu. $ TO B L D Mon.-Sat.
To get listed, call your account manager or Sam Taylor at 904.260.9770 ext. 111 or staylor@folioweekly.com. DINING DIRECTORY KEY
Average Entrée Cost $ = Less than $8 $$ = $8-$14 $$$ = $15-$22 $$$$ = $23 & up BW = Beer/Wine FB = Full Bar K = Kids’ Menu TO = Take Out B = Breakfast R = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner Bite Club = Hosted free FW Bite Club tasting. To join, go to fwbiteclub.com. 2014 Best of Jax winner F = FW distribution spot
AVONDALE, ORTEGA
BAGEL LOVE, 4114 Herschel St., Ste. 121, 634-7253, bagellovejax.com. BOJ winner. Locally-owned-and-operated. Northern style bagels, sandwiches, wraps, bakery. Freshsqueezed orange juice, lemonade; coffee, tea. $ K TO B L Daily THE CASBAH CAFÉ, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966, the casbahcafe.com. F BOJ winner. Middle Eastern/ Mediterranean fare. Patio, hookah lounge, bellydancers. $$ BW L D Daily CLAUDE’S CHOCOLATE, 3543 St. Johns Ave., 829-5790. F In Green Man Gourmet. SEE PONTE VEDRA. $$ TO FLORIDA CREAMERY, 3566 St. Johns Ave., 619-5386. Premium ice cream, waffle cones, milkshakes, sundaes and Nathan’s grilled hot dogs, served in a Florida-centric décor. Low-fat and sugar-free choices. $ K TO L D Daily THE FOX Restaurant, 3580 St. Johns Ave., 387-2669. F Owners Ian & Mary Chase offer fresh diner fare: burgers, meatloaf, fried green tomatoes, desserts. Breakfast all day. Local landmark for 50+ years. $$ BW K L D Daily HARPOON LOUIE’S, 4070 Herschel St., Ste. 8, 389-5631, harpoonlouies.net. F Locally owned and operated for 20+ years, the American pub serves 1/2-pound burgers, fish sandwiches, pasta. Local beers. $$ FB K TO L D Daily LA NOPALERA, 4530 St. Johns, 388-8828. F SEE MANDARIN. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 3611 St. Johns Ave., 388-0200. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MOJO NO. 4 Urban BBQ & Whiskey Bar, 3572 St. Johns Ave., 381-6670. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. PINEGROVE Market & Deli, 1511 Pine Grove Ave., 389-8655, pinegrovemarket.com. F BOJ winner. 40+ years. Burgers, Cuban sandwiches, subs, wraps. Onsite butcher cuts USDA choice prime aged beef. Craft beers. $ BW TO B L D Mon.-Sat. PULP, 3645 St. Johns Ave., pulpaddiction.com. SEE SAN MARCO. RESTAURANT ORSAY, 3630 Park St., 381-0909, restaurant orsay.com. BOJ winner. French/Southern bistro; emphasis on locally grown organic ingredients. Steak frites, mussels, pork chops. Snail of Approval. $$$ FB K R, Sun.; D Nightly
SIMPLY SARA’S, 2902 Corinthian Ave., 387-1000, simply saras.net. F Down-home fare, from scratch: eggplant fries, pimento cheese, baked chicken, fruit cobblers, chicken & dumplings, desserts. BYOB. $$ K TO L D Mon.-Sat., B Sat.
BAYMEADOWS
AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 7825 Baymeadows Way, 733-4040. F SEE DOWNTOWN. AL’S PIZZA, 8060 Philips Hwy., Ste. 105, 731-4300. F SEE BEACHES.
BROADWAY Ristorante & Pizzeria, 10920 Baymeadows Rd. E., 519-8000, broadwayfl.com. F Family-owned-andoperated. Calzones, wings, brick-oven-baked pizza, subs. $$ BW K TO L D Daily INDIA’S Restaurant, 9802 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 8, 620-0777, indiajax.com. F BOJ winner. Authentic Indian cuisine, lunch buffet. Curries, vegetable dishes, lamb, chicken, shrimp, fish tandoori. $$ BW L Mon.-Sat.; D Nightly LA NOPALERA, 8206 Philips Hwy., 732-9433. F BOJ winner. SEE MANDARIN. LARRY’S SUBS, 3928 Baymeadows Rd., 737-7740. 8616 Baymeadows Rd., 739-2498. F SEE ORANGE PARK. NATIVE SUN Natural Foods Market & Deli, 11030 Baymeadows Rd., 260-2791. SEE MANDARIN. SNEAKERS Sports Grille, 8133 Point Meadows Dr., 519-0509. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. TEQUILAS Mexican Restaurant, 10915 Baymeadows, Ste. 101, 363-1365. Salsa, guacamole, chips, beans, rice and meat dishes made fresh daily. $$ FB L D Mon.-Sat. ZESTY INDIA, 8358 Point Meadows Dr., 329-3676, zesty india.com. Asian/European; tandoori lamb chops, rosemary tikka. Vegetarian cooked separately. $ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun.
BEACHES
(Locations are in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted.)
AL’S PIZZA, 303 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-0002, alspizza.com. F New York-style, gourmet pizzas, baked
FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 33
DINING DIRECTORY dishes. All-day happy hour Mon.-Thur. $ FB K TO L D Daily ANGIE’S SUBS, 1436 Beach Blvd., 246-2519. ANGIE’S GROM, 204 Third Ave. S., 246-7823. BOJ winner. Subs made with fresh ingredients for more than 25 years. One word: Peruvian. Huge salads, blue-ribbon iced tea. $ BW TO L D Daily BOLD BEAN Coffee Roasters, 2400 S. Third St., Ste. 201. BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. BUDDHA THAI BISTRO, 301 10th Ave. N., 712-4444, buddhathaibistro.com. The proprietors are from Thailand; every dish is made with fresh ingredients. $$ FB TO L D Daily BURRITO GALLERY Express, 1333 Third St. N., 242-8226. BOJ winner. SEE DOWNTOWN. CANTINA MAYA Sports Bar & Grille, 1021 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 247-3227. Popular spot serves margaritas, Latin food, burgers. Sports on TVs. $$ FB K L D Tue.-Sun. CASA MARIA, 2429 S. Third St., 372-9000, casamariajax. com. F Family-owned-and-operated place offers authentic Mexican fare: fajitas and seafood dishes, hot sauces made inhouse. The specialty is tacos de asada. $ FB K L D Daily CULHANE’S Irish Pub, 967 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 249-9595, culhanesirishpub.com. Bite Club. Upscale pub/restaurant owned and run by sisters from County Limerick. Shepherd’s pie, corned beef; gastropub fare. $$ FB K R Sat. & Sun.; L Fri.-Sun.; D Tue.-Sun. ESPETO BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE, 1396 Beach Blvd., 388-4884, espetosteakhouse.com. Just relocated, serving beef, pork, lamb, chicken and sausage, and a full menu and bar fare, craft cocktails, Brazilian beers. $$ FB D Daily EUROPEAN STREET, 992 Beach Blvd., 249-3001. BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. FLYING IGUANA Taqueria & Tequila Bar, 207 Atlantic Blvd., N.B., 853-5680 F Latin American, Southwest tacos, seafood, carnitas, Cubana sandwiches. 100+ tequilas. $ FB L D Daily HARMONIOUS MONKS, 320 First St. N., 372-0815, harmoniousmonks.net. F SEE MANDARIN. LA NOPALERA, 1222 Third St. S., 372-4495. F BOJ winner. SEE MANDARIN. LARRY’S SUBS, 657 Third St. N., 247-9620. F SEE O.PARK. LILLIE’S COFFEE BAR, 200 First St., N.B., 249-2922, lilliescoffeebar.com. F Locally roasted coffee, eggs, bagels, flatbreads, sandwiches, desserts. Dine indoors or out, patio and courtyard. $$ BW TO B L D Daily MELLOW MUSHROOM Pizza Bakers, 1018 Third St. N., Ste. 2, 241-5600, mellowmushroom.com. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. Hoagies, gourmet pizzas: Mighty Meaty, vegetarian, Kosmic Karma. 35 tap beers. Nonstop happy hour. $ FB K TO L D Daily METRO DINER, 1534 Third St. N., 853-6817. BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO.
MEZZA Restaurant & Bar, 110 First St., N.B., 249-5573, mezzarestaurantandbar.com. F Near-the-ocean eatery, 20+ years. Casual bistro fare: gourmet wood-fired pizzas, nightly specials. Dine inside or on the patio. Valet parking. $$$ FB K D Mon.-Sat. MOJO KITCHEN BBQ Pit, 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636, mojo bbq.com. F BOJ winner. Pulled pork, Carolina-style barbecue, Delta fried catfish, sides. $$ FB K TO L D Daily M SHACK, 299 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 241-2599, mshack burgers.com. F BOJ winner. David and Matthew Medure flip burgers, hot dogs, fries, shakes. Dine in or out. $$ BW L D Daily NORTH BEACH BISTRO, 725 Atlantic, Ste. 6, A.B., 372-4105, nbbistro.com. Bite Club. Chef-driven kitchen; hand-cut steaks, fresh local seafood, tapas menu. HH. $$$ FB K R Sun.; L D Daily OCEAN 60, Wine Bar, Martini Room, 60 Ocean Blvd., A.B., 247-0060, ocean60.com. BOJ winner. Continental cuisine, fresh seafood, dinner specials and a seasonal menu in a formal dining room or casual Martini Room. $$$ FB D Mon.-Sat. POE’S TAVERN, 363 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 241-7637. American gastropub, 50+ beers, gourmet hamburgers, ground in-house, cooked to order; hand-cut French fries, fish tacos, Edgar’s Drunken Chili, daily fish sandwich special. $$ FB K L D Daily RAGTIME TAVERN & Seafood Grill, 207 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 241-7877, ragtimetavern.com. F For 30+ years, the iconic seafood place has scored many awards in our BOJ readers poll. Blackened snapper, sesame tuna, Ragtime shrimp. Daily happy hour. $$ FB L D Daily SALT LIFE Food Shack, 1018 Third St. N., 372-4456, saltlife foodshack.com. BOJ winner. Specialty items: signature tuna poke bowl, fresh rolled sushi, Ensenada tacos, local fried shrimp, in a modern open-air space. $$ FB K TO L D Daily SLIDERS Seafood Grille & Oyster Bar, 218 First St., N.B., 246-0881, slidersseafoodgrille.com. Beach-casual. Faves: Fresh fish tacos, gumbo. Key lime pie, ice cream sandwiches. $$ FB K L Sat. & Sun.; D Nightly SNEAKERS SPORTS GRILLE, 111 Beach Blvd., 482-1000, sneakerssportsgrille.com. BOJ winner. More than 20 beers on tap, TV screens, cheerleaders serving the food. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. $ FB K L D Daily TACOLU BAJA MEXICANA, 1712 Beach Blvd., 249-8226, tacolu.com. BOJ winner. Fresh, Baja-style fare with a focus on fish tacos, tequila (more than 135 kinds) and mezcal. Bangin’ shrimp, carne asada, carnitas, daily fresh fish selections. Madefresh-daily guacamole. $$ FB K R Sat. & Sun.; L D Tue.-Fri.
DOWNTOWN
AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 21 W. Church St., 665-7324, akelsdeli.com. F New York-style deli offers freshly made subs (3 Wise Guys, Champ), burgers, gyros, breakfast bowls, ranchero wrap, vegetarian dishes. $ K TO B L Mon.-Fri. BURRITO Gallery & Bar, 21 E. Adams, 598-2922, burritogal lery.com. BOJ winner. Southwestern burritos, ginger teriyaki tofu, beef barbacoa, wraps, tacos. $ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. CASA DORA, 108 E. Forsyth St., 356-8282. F Chef Sam Hamidi has been serving genuine Italian fare for 35+
34 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
years: veal, seafood, gourmet pizza. The homemade salad dressing is a specialty. $ BW K L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. CASA MARIA, 12961 N. Main St., Ste. 104, 757-6411. F SEE BEACHES.
CHOMP CHOMP, 106 E. Adams St., 762-4667. F Chefinspired street food: panko-crusted chicken, burgers, chinois tacos, bahn mi and barbecue. $ L Tue.-Sat.; D Thur.-Sat. FIONN MacCOOL’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, The Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1547, fionnmacs.com. Casual dining with an uptown Irish atmosphere, serving fish and chips, Guinness lamb stew and black-and-tan brownies. $$ FB K L D Daily OLIO MARKET, 301 E. Bay St., 356-7100, oliomarket. com. From-scratch soups, sandwiches. Home to duck grilled cheese, seen on Best Sandwich in America. $$ BW TO B R L Mon.-Fri.
FLEMING ISLAND
GRASSROOTS Natural Market, 1915 East-West Pkwy., 541-0009. F BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. LA NOPALERA, 1571 C.R. 220, 215-2223. F BOJ winner. SEE MANDARIN.
GRILL ME!
Ste. 30, 880-3040, harmoniousmonks.net. F American steakhouse: Angus steaks, burgers, ribs, wraps. $$ FB K L D Mon.-Sat. KAZU Japanese Restaurant, 9965 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 35, 683-9903, kazujapaneserestaurant.com. BOJ winner. Wide variety of soups, dumplings, appetizers, salads, bento boxes, sushi, entrées, maki handrolls, sashimi. $$ BW TO L D Daily LA NOPALERA, 11700 San Jose Blvd., 288-0175. F BOJ winner. Tamales, fajitas, pork tacos. $$ FB K TO L D Daily LARRY’S SUBS, 11365 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 3, 674-2945. F SEE ORANGE PARK. NATIVE SUN Natural Foods Market & Deli, 10000 San Jose Blvd., 260-6950, nativesunjax.com. Natural, organic soups, sandwiches, wraps, baked goods, prepared foods, juices, smoothies. Juice, smoothie and coffee bar. All-natural, organic beers, wines. Indoor, outdoor dining. $ BW TO K B L D Daily THE RED ELEPHANT PIZZA & GRILL, 10131 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 12, 683-3773, redelephantpizza.com. F Casual, family-friendly eatery serves steaks, seafood, chicken grill specials. Five topping selections. Salads, sandwiches, pizza. Gluten-free friendly. $ FB K L D Daily
OUR WEEKLY Q&A WITH PEOPLE IN THE FOOD BIZ
NAME: Amber Lake RESTAURANT: The Fox Restaurant, 3580 St. Johns Ave., Avondale BIRTHPLACE: Atlanta
YEARS IN THE BIZ: 9
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Orsay in Riverside BEST CUISINE STYLE: Seafood GO-TO INGREDIENTS: Garlic, steak, aged cheese IDEAL MEAL: Pot pie WILL NOT CROSS MY LIPS: Pickles INSIDER’S SECRET: Putting love in every bite. CELEBRITY SIGHTING: Rudy Giuliani, Cindy McCain CULINARY TREAT: Dreamette’s toasted coconut covered cone.
MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1800 Town Center Blvd., 541-1999. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MOJO SMOKEHOUSE, 1810 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 8, 264-0636. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. WHITEY’S FISH CAMP, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198, whiteys fishcamp.com. F Real fish camp. Gator tail, freshwater catfish, daily specials, on Swimming Pen Creek. Tiki bar. Come by boat, bike or car. $ FB K TO L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly YOUR PIE, 1545 C.R. 220, Ste. 125, 379-9771, yourpie.com. Owner Mike Sims’ concept: Choose from 3 doughs, 9 sauces, 7 cheeses, 40+ toppings. 5 minutes in a brick oven and ta-da: It’s your pie. Subs, sandwiches, gelato. $$ BW K TO L D Daily
INTRACOASTAL WEST
AL’S PIZZA, 14286 Beach Blvd., Ste. 31, 223-0991. F SEE BEACHES.
DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 14286 Beach Blvd., 223-0115. F BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. LA NOPALERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 14333 Beach Blvd., Ste. 39, 992-1666. F BOJ winner. Tamales, fajitas, pork tacos. Some La Nops have a full bar. $$ FB K TO L D Daily LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 10750 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 14, 642-6980. F SEE ORANGE PARK. TIME OUT SPORTS GRILL, 13799 Beach Blvd., Ste. 5, 223-6999, timeoutsportsgrill.com. F Locally-ownedand-operated. Hand-tossed pizzas, wings, wraps. Daily drink specials, HDTVs, pool tables. Late-nite menu. $$ FB L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly
JULINGTON CREEK
DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 525 S.R. 16, Ste. 101, 825-4540. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. METRO DINER, 12807 San Jose Blvd., 638-6185. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO.
MANDARIN
AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 12926 Gran Bay Pkwy. W., 880-2008. F SEE DOWNTOWN. AL’S PIZZA, 11190 San Jose Blvd., 260-4115. F SEE BEACHES. ATHENS CAFÉ, 6271 St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 7, 733-1199. F Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), baby shoes (stuffed eggplant). Greek beers. $$ BW L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. BROOKLYN PIZZA, 11406 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 3, 288-9211. 13820 St. Augustine Rd., 880-0020. Brooklyn Special. Calzones, white pizza, homestyle lasagna. $$ BW TO L D Daily THE COFFEE BARD, 9735 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 13, 260-0810, thecoffeebard.com. New world coffeehouse has coffees, breakfast, drinks. $$ TO B L D Tue.-Sun. DICK’S WINGS, 10391 Old St. Augustine, 880-7087. F BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. GIGI’S RESTAURANT, 3130 Hartley Rd., 694-4300, jaxramada.com. In Ramada. Prime rib, crab leg buffet Fri. & Sat., blue-jean brunch Sun., daily breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. $$$ FB B R L D Daily GILMON’S BAKERY, 11362 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 13, 288-8128, gilmonsbakery.com. Custom cakes, cupcakes, gingerbread men, pies, cookies, coffee, tea. $$ B L Tue.-Sat. HARMONIOUS MONKS, 10550 Old St. Augustine Rd.,
STEAMIN, 9703 San Jose Blvd., 493-2020, eatsteamin. com. Classic diner serves steam burgers, fat dogs and chili, 50+ craft beers. $ FB TO B Sat.-Sun.; L D Daily
ORANGE PARK
ARON’S PIZZA, 650 Park Ave., 269-1007, aronspizza. com. F Family-owned restaurant has eggplant dishes, manicotti, New York-style pizzas. $$ BW K TO L D Daily DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 1540 Wells Rd., 269-2122. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. THE HILLTOP, 2030 Wells Road, 272-5959, hilltop-club.com. Southern-style fine dining. New Orleans shrimp, certified Black Angus prime rib, she-crab soup, desserts. $$$ FB D Tue.-Sat. LA NOPALERA, 9734 Crosshill Blvd., 908-4250. 2024 Kingsley Ave., 276-2776. F BOJ winner. SEE MANDARIN. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1330 Blanding Blvd., 276-7370. 1545 C.R. 220, 278-2827. 700 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 15, 272-3553. 1401 S. Orange Ave., Green Cove, 284-7789, larryssubs. com. F For 30+ years, they pile ’em high and serve ’em fast. Hot/cold subs, soups, salads. $ K TO B L D Daily POMPEII COAL-FIRED PIZZA, 2134 Park Ave., 264-6116. Family-owned-and-operated, offering pizzas and wings made in coal-fired ovens. Espresso, cappuccino. $ BW TO L D Daily THE ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611, roadhouse online.net. F For 35-plus years, Roadhouse has been offering wings, sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas; 75+ imported beers. A large craft beer selection is now seved, too. $ FB L D Daily THE SHEIK, 1994 Kingsley Ave., 276-2677. SEE ARLINGTON.
PONTE VEDRA, NW ST. JOHNS
AL’S PIZZA, 635 A1A N., 543-1494. F SEE BEACHES. CLAUDE’S CHOCOLATE, 145 Hilden Rd., Ste. 122, 829-5790, claudeschocolate.com. Hand-crafted premium Belgian chocolate, fruits, nuts, spices. Cookies, popsicles. $$ TO DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 100 Marketside Ave., 829-8134, dickswingsandgrill.com. F BOJ winner. NASCAR-themed; 365 kinds of wings, 1/2-lb. burgers, ribs. $ FB K TO L D Daily LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 830 A1A N., 273-3993. F SEE O.P. PUSSER’S BAR & GRILLE, 816 A1A N., Ste. 100, 280-7766, pussersusa.com. BOJ winner. Bite Club. Innovative Caribbean cuisine features regional faves: Jamaican grilled pork ribs, Trinidad smoked duck, lobster macaroni & cheese dinner. Tropical drinks. $$ FB K TO L D Daily RESTAURANT MEDURE, 818 A1A N., 543-3797, restaurant medure.us. Chef David Medure offers global flavors. Small plates, creative drinks, happy hour. $$$ FB D Mon.-Sat.
RIVERSIDE, 5 POINTS, WESTSIDE
13 GYPSIES, 887 Stockton St., 389-0330, 13gypsies. com. BOJ winner. Intimate bistro serves authentic Mediterranean peasant cuisine updated for American tastes, specializing in tapas, blackened octopus, risotto of the day, coconut mango curry chicken. $$ BW L D Tue.-Sat. AKEL’S DELI, 245 Riverside Ave., 791-3336. F SEE DOWNTOWN. AL’S PIZZA, 1620 Margaret St., Ste. 201, 388-8384. F SEE BEACHES.
DINING DIRECTORY BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, black sheep5points.com. New American with a Southern twist; locally sourced ingredients. Rooftop bar. $$$ FB R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 869 Stockton St., Stes. 1 & 2, 855-1181. BOJ winner. F Small-batch, artisanal coffee roasting. Organic, fair trade. $ BW TO B L Daily BREW FIVE POINTS, 1024 Park St., 714-3402, brewfive points.com. Local craft beer, espresso, coffee and wine bar. Rotating drafts, 75+ canned craft beers; sodas, tea. Rotating seasonal menu of waffles, pastries, toasts, desserts to pair with specialty coffees, craft beers. $$ BW K B L Daily CORNER TACO, 818 Post St., 240-0412. Made-fromscratch “Mexclectic street food,” tacos, nachos, gluten-free and vegetarian options. $ BW L D Daily. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 5972 San Juan Ave., 693-9258. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. EDGEWOOD BAKERY, 1012 S. Edgewood Ave., 389-8054, edgewoodbakery.com. BOJ winner. 66+ years, full-service bakery. Fresh breakfast, pastries, petit fours, pies, cakes. Espresso, sandwiches, smoothies. $$ K TO B L Tue.-Sat. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999, europeanstreet.com. BOJ winner. 130+ imported beers, 20 on tap. NYC-style classic Reuben, sandwiches. Outside seating at some EStreets. $ BW K L D Daily GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET, 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com. BOJ winner. F Juice bar;
certified organic fruits, vegetables. 500+ craft/import beers, 250 wines, organic produce, humanely raised meats, deli, raw items, vegan, vitamins, herbs. $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FARE, 1001 Park St., 508-0342, hawkerstreetfare.com. BOJ winner. Authentic dishes from mobile stalls. $ BW TO L D Daily JOHNNY’S DELI & GRILLE, 474 Riverside Ave., 356-8055. This casual spot offers sandwiches, classic salads, homefries. One word: Reuben. $ TO B L Daily KNEAD BAKESHOP, 1173 Edgewood Ave. S. Locally-owned, family-run bake shop; made-from-scratch pastries, artisan breads, pies, specialty sandwiches, soups. $ TO B L Tue.-Sun. LARRY’S SUBS, 1509 Margaret, 674-2794. 7895 Normandy, 781-7600. 8102 Blanding, 779-1933. F SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., Ortega, 999-4600. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MONROE’S Smokehouse BAR-B-Q, 4838 Highway Ave., 389-5551, monroessmokehousebbq.com. Wings, pulled pork, brisket, turkey, ribs. Homestyle sides: beans, baked beans, mac-n-cheese, collards. $$ K TO L Mon.-Sat.; D Fri. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., 389-4442. F BOJ winner. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. MOSSFIRE GRILL, 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire. com. F Southwestern fish tacos, enchiladas. Happy hour Mon.-Sat. upstairs lounge, all day Sun. $$ FB K L D Daily O’BROTHERS IRISH PUB, 1521 Margaret St., 854-9300,
Photos by Caron Streibich
BITE-SIZED
BITE SIZED
CASUAL FALAFEL
Springfield’s auto-shop-adjacent Mediterranean spot is mostly fresh, decidedly unpretentious, and solid on its own terms tahini sauce. My side items were traditional IF YOU’RE HUNGRY and cruising Downtown favorites, hummus and tabouli. Both were in search of something different, head fresh and excellent. Also on the platter were straight down Main Street into historic slices of colorful crunchy pickled turnip, Springfield and look for the brightly colored cucumbers and a small bed of iceberg Wafaa & Mike’s Café. (I hear the adjacent lettuce and tomato. The falafel is also auto shop, which shares an owner, is available in wrap form. excellent, too.) Another success was the kibbe – Open Monday through Saturday for lunch croquette-like football-shaped nuggets of and dinner, the Mediterranean (their sign ground meat mixed with minced onions and says “Mid-Eastern”) restaurant has been in bulgur wheat. town for fi ve years. It’s a decidedly casual I didn’t care for the grape leaves, which spot, so don’t come expecting pressed linens were served cold and had an off-putting and silver. But it’s solid for what it is. spice that I couldn’t pinpoint. Skip these. We started with baba ghanoush ($4.99). I wanted to try the It was delightfully smoky Turkish (read: strong) and creamy, topped with WAFAA & MIKE’S CAFE coffee ($1.99), but it a drizzle of olive oil and 1544 N. Main St., Springfield was late in the afternoon paprika, and served with 683-8313 and our waitress politely a basket of pita triangles steered me away, for dipping. The pita was explaining I probably stiff and room temperature, wouldn’t get a good night’s rest. so we asked for fresh, warm pita. Moments A dollar scores you a crisp, sweet square later, we were given a new batch. of happiness – also known as baklava – so Platters seemed to be the way to go. keep dessert on your agenda. Wafaa & Each of the dozen or so platters includes Mike’s does this pastry treat just right. a choice of two side items. I went with the falafel ($10.99), and it was fantastic Caron Streibich – freshly crafted chickpea orbs of delight facebook.com/folioweeklybitesized you can dip in the accompanying nutty biteclub@folioweekly.com FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35
DINING DIRECTORY obrothersirishpub.com. F Traditional shepherd’s pie with Stilton crust, Guinness mac-n-cheese, fish-n-chips. Patio dining. $$ FB K TO L D Daily THE SHEIK, 7361 103rd St., 778-4805. 5172 Normandy Blvd., 786-7641. SEE ARLINGTON. SOUTHERN ROOTS FILLING STATION, 1275 King St., 513-4726, southernrootsjax.com. Healthy, light vegan fare made fresh daily with local, organic ingredients. Specials, served on bread, local greens or rice, change daily. Sandwiches, coffees, teas. $ Tue.-Sun. SUN-RAY CINEMA, 1028 Park St., 359-0049. F Beer (Bold City, Intuition), wine, pizza, hot dogs, hummus, sandwiches, popcorn, nachos, brownies. $$ BW Daily SUSHI CAFÉ, 2025 Riverside Ave., Ste. 204, 384-2888, sushicafejacksonville.com. Sushi variety: Monster Roll, Jimmy Smith Roll; faves Rock-n-Roll, Dynamite Roll. Hibachi, tempura, katsu, teriyaki. Indoor or patio. $$ BW L D Daily
ST. AUGUSTINE
AL’S PIZZA, 1 St. George St., 824-4383. F SEE BEACHES. AVILES, 32 Avenida Menendez, 829-2277 F Hilton Bayfront. Progressive European menu; made-to-order pasta night, wine dinners, chophouse nights, breakfast buffet. Sun. champagne brunch bottomless mimosas. $$$ FB K B L D Daily CARMELO’S Marketplace & Pizzeria, 146 King St., 494-6658, carmelosmarketplace.com. F NY-style gourmet brick-oven-baked pizza, fresh rolls, Boar’s Head meats, cheeses. Outdoor dining, Wi-Fi. $$ BW TO L D Daily CLAUDE’S CHOCOLATE, 6 Granada St., 829-5790. In The Market. Wine and chocolate pairings, soft-serve ice cream, coffee bar, fresh fruit ice pops, cookies. $$ TO THE FLORIDIAN, 39 Cordova St., 829-0655, thefloridian staug.com. Updated Southern fare; fresh ingredients. Vegetarian, gluten-free. Fried green tomato bruschetta, grits with shrimp, fish or tofu. $$$ BW K TO L D Wed.-Mon. GYPSY CAB COMPANY, 828 Anastasia Blvd., 824-8244, gypsycab.com. F A local mainstay for 25+ years. The menu changes twice daily. Signature dish: Gypsy chicken. Seafood, tofu, duck, veal. Sun. brunch. $$ FB R Sun.; L D Daily THE ICE PLANT BAR, 110 Riberia St., 829-6553, iceplant bar.com. Farm-to-table, locally sourced fare, hand-crafted drinks, house-made bitters, syrups. $$$ FB TO D Nightly MELLOW MUSHROOM, 410 Anastasia Blvd., 826-4040. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MOJO OLD CITY BBQ, 5 Cordova, 342-5264. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. PACIFIC ASIAN BISTRO, 159 Palencia Village Dr., Ste. 111, 808-1818, pacificasianbistro.com. F Chef Mas Lui creates 30+ sushi rolls; fresh sea scallops, Hawaiian-style poke tuna salad. Sake. $$-$$$ BW L D Daily SALT LIFE FOOD SHACK, 321 A1A Beach Blvd., 217-3256, saltlifefoodshack.com. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. TEMPO, 16 Cathedral Place, 547-0240. Latin American fusion wine bar and restaurant offers traditional American fare with a Latin flair; sandwiches, too. $$ BW L D Tue.-Sun.
ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER
BENTO CAFE Asian Kitchen & Sushi, 4860 Big Island Dr., Ste. 1, 564-9494, bentocafesushi.com. Pan-Asian, wok stir-fry, fire-grilled, sushi bar. $$ K FB TO L D Daily MOXIE KITCHEN+COCKTAILS, 4972 Big Island Dr., 998-9744, moxiefl.com. BOJ winner. Chef Tom Gray does contemporary American cuisine – seafood, steaks, pork, burgers – locally sourced when possible. $$$ FB K L Mon.-Fri.; D Nightly M SHACK, 10281 Midtown Pkwy., 642-5000, mshack burgers.com. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. OVINTE, 10208 Buckhead Branch Dr., 900-7730, ovinte. com. European-style dining influenced by Italy, Spain, the Mediterranean. Small plates, entrée-sized portions, selections from the cheese a charcuterie menu. $$$ BW TO R D Daily
SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK
ALLURE THAI & SUSHI, 1004 Hendricks Ave., 674-0190, basilthaijax.com. F Authentic dishes: Pad Thai, curries, sashimi, fresh sushi, daily specials. $$ FB L D Mon.-Sat. BISTRO AIX, 1440 San Marco Blvd., 398-1949, bistrox. com. Mediterranean and French inspired cuisine includes steak frites, oak-fired pizza and a new raw bar with seasonal selections. $$$ FB TO L D Daily DICK’S WINGS, 1610 University Blvd. W., 448-2110. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. FUSION SUSHI, 1550 University Blvd. W., 636-8688, fusionsushijax.com. F Upscale sushi spot serves a variety of fresh sushi, sashimi, hibachi, teriyaki, kiatsu. $$ K L D Daily THE GROTTO Wine & Tapas Bar, 2012 San Marco Blvd., 398-0726. F Artisanal cheese plates, empanadas, bruschetta, cheesecake. 60+ wines by the glass. $$$ BW Tue.-Sun. HAMBURGER MARY’S Bar & Grille, 3333 Beach Blvd., Ste. 1, 551-2048, hamburgermarys.com. Wings, sammies, nachos, entrées, specialty drinks, burgers. $$ K TO FB L D Daily LA NOPALERA, 1631 Hendricks, 399-1768. F BOJ winner. SEE MANDARIN. MEZZE BAR & GRILL, 2016 Hendricks Ave., 683-0693, mezzejax.com. Classic cocktails, fresh basil martinis, 35 draft beers, local/craft brews, Mediterranean cuisine. Hookah patio. Happy hour. $$ FB D Daily MATTHEW’S, 2107 Hendricks Ave., 396-9922, matthews restaurant.com. Chef Matthew Medure’s flagship. Fine dining, artfully presented cuisine, small plates, martini/wine lists. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. Reservations. $$$$ FB D Mon.-Sat. METRO DINER, 3302 Hendricks Ave., 398-3701, metrodiner.com. F BOJ winner. Original upscale diner.
36 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
Meatloaf, chicken pot pie, soups. $$ B R L Daily MOJO BAR-B-QUE, 1607 University Blvd. W., 732-7200. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. PIZZA PALACE, 1959 San Marco, 399-8815, pizzapalacejax.com. F Family-owned; homestyle faves: spinach pizza, chicken spinach calzones, lasagna. Outside dining. $$ BW K TO L D Daily PULP, 1962 San Marco Blvd., 396-9222, pulpaddiction. com. The juice bar offers fresh juices, frozen yogurt, teas, coffees, 30 kinds of smoothies. $ TO B L D Daily TAVERNA, 1986 San Marco, 398-3005, tavernasanmarco. com. Chef Sam Efron’s authentic Italian; local produce, meats. Craft beers, handcrafted cocktails. $$$ FB K TO R L D Daily
SOUTHSIDE, TINSELTOWN
360° GRILLE, Latitude 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., 365-5555, latitude360.com. F Popular place serves seafood, steaks, burgers, chicken, sandwiches, pizza. Patio, movie theater. $$ FB TO L D Daily AKEL’S, 7077 Bonneval Rd., 332-8700. F SEE DOWNTOWN. ALHAMBRA THEATRE & Dining, 12000 Beach Blvd., 641-1212, alhambrajax.com. USA’s longest-running dinner theater; Chef DeJuan Roy’s themed menus. Reservations. $$ FB D Tue.-Sun. BARBERITOS, 4320 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., Ste. 106, 807-9060. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. BENTO CAFE Asian Kitchen & Sushi, 9734 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 11, 503-3238. SEE ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER. CASA MARIA, 14965 Old St. Augustine, 619-8186. SEE BEACHES DANCIN DRAGON, 9041 Southside Blvd., Ste. 138D, 363-9888. BOGO lunches and an Asian fusion menu. $$ FB K L D Daily DICK’S WINGS, 10750 Atlantic Blvd., 619-0954. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. THE DIM SUM ROOM, 9041 Southside, Ste. 138D, 363-9888, thedimsumroom.com. Shrimp dumplings, beef tripe, sesame ball. Traditional Hong Kong noodles, barbecue. $ FB K L D Daily EUROPEAN STREET, 5500 Beach Blvd., 398-1717. BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. HZ CAFE, 6426 Bowden Rd., Ste. 206, 527-1078. Healthy concept cafe: juices, smoothies, traditional vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free meals and desserts. $ K TO B L Mon.-Fri. LARRY’S SUBS, 3611 St. Johns Bluff S., 641-6499. 4479 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., 425-4060. F SEE ORANGE PARK. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 9734 Deer Lake Ct., 997-1955. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MONROE’S Smokehouse BAR B-Q, 10771 Beach Blvd., 996-7900, monroessmokehousebbq.com. SEE RIVERSIDE. PAPI CHULO’S, 9726 Touchton Rd., Ste. 105, 329-1763, ilovepapichulos.com. Tinseltown restaurant offers fresh, authentic Mexican street food, top-shelf tequilas, specialty drinks. Kids eat free. $$ K FB L D Daily THE PIG BAR-B-Q, 11925 Beach Blvd., Ste. 5, 619-0321, thepigbarbq.com. Fourth-generation barbecue institution has been family-owned for 60+ years. The signature item is mustard-based “pig sauce.” $ BW K TO B, L D Daily SEVEN BRIDGES Grille & Brewery, 9735 Gate Pkwy., 997-1999, 7bridgesgrille.com. F Local seafood, steaks, pizzas. Brewer Aaron Nesbit handcrafts ales, lagers. $$ FB K TO L D Daily TAVERNA YAMAS, 9753 Deer Lake Ct., 854-0426, tavernayamas.com. F Bite Club. Char-broiled kabobs, seafood, wines, desserts. Belly dancing. $$ FB K L D Daily TOMMY’S Brick Oven Pizza, 4160 Southside, Ste. 2, 565-1999, tbopizza.com. New York-style thin crust, brickoven-baked pizzas (gluten-free), calzones, sandwiches. Boylan’s soda. Curbside pick-up. $$ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. THE VISCONDE’S Argentinian Grill, 11925 Beach Blvd., Ste. 201, 379-3925. The area’s only Argentinian place. Traditional steaks, varieties of sausages, pasta, sandwiches, empañadas, wines. $$$ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun. WORLD OF BEER, 9700 Deer Lake Court, Ste. 1, 551-5929, worldofbeer.com. F Burgers, sliders,flatbreads, German pretzels, hummus, pickle chips. Craft German, Cali, Florida, Irish drafts. Wines. $$ BW L D Daily
SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE
HOLA Mexican Restaurant, 1001 N. Main St., 3563100, holamexicanrestaurant.com. F Fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, daily specials. Happy hour; sangria. $ BW K TO L D Mon.-Sat. LARRY’S SUBS, 12001 Lem Turner Rd., 764-9999. SEE ORANGE PARK.
SAVANNAH BISTRO, 14670 Duval Rd., 741-4404. F Low Country Southern fare, taste of Mediterranean and French. Crowne Plaza Airport. Crab cakes, NY strip, she crab soup, mahi mahi. $$$ FB K B L D Daily THE SHEIK, 2708 N. Main St., 353-8181. SEE ARLINGTON. UPTOWN MARKET, 1303 Main St. N., 355-0734, uptown marketjax.com. Bite Club. Fresh quality fare; farm-totable selections, daily specials. $$ BW TO B L Daily
To get your restaurant listed in our Dining Directory, call your account manager or Sam Taylor at 904.260.9770 ext. 111 or staylor@folioweekly.com.
DINING DIRECTORY KEY Average Entrée Cost $ = Less than $8 $$ = $8-$14 $$$ = $15-$22 $$$$ = $23 & up BW=Beer/Wine FB=Full Bar K=Kids’ Menu TO=Take Out B=Breakfast R=Brunch L=Lunch D=Dinner Bite Club = Hosted free FW Bite Club tasting. To join, go to fwbiteclub.com. 2014 Best of Jax winner F = FW distribution spot
NEWS OF THE WEIRD HOW TO UNCOUPLE A Saratoga Springs, New York, resort has begun accepting totally defeated husbands and wives for a relaxed weekend that includes divorce, bringing to America a concept already successful in six European cities. The Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa charges $5,000 for a couple to check in on a Friday, married, but leave Sunday officially single (complete with all legal niceties and various resort amenities, including separate rooms). WEIRD SCIENCE No organism has it tougher than the male South-East Asian coin spider, according to research reported by New Scientist in January. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s somehow driven to mate with a female up to four times larger whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost as driven to eat the male as to mate. After insemination, the male fights other malesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; efforts to disrupt conception, by becoming a more nimble fighter, achieved, according to Matjaz Kuntner of the Slovenian Academy of the Arts & Sciences, by biting off its own genitals, since that organ comprises about one-tenth the spiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body weight. BECAUSE WE CAN Scientists at the University of California, Irvine (with Australian partners) announced in January that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d figured out how to unboil a henâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s egg. (After boiling, the eggâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proteins become â&#x20AC;&#x153;tangled,â&#x20AC;? but the scientistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; device can untangle them, allowing the egg white to return to its previous state.) Actually, the researchersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; paper promises dramatically reduced costs in several applications, from cancer treatments to food production, where similar, clean untanglings might take â&#x20AC;&#x153;thousandsâ&#x20AC;? of times longer. POLICE REPORT The Knoxville, Tennessee, Police Department reminded motorists (on its Facebook page) that all vehicles need working headlights for night driving. Included was a recent department photo of the car of a Sweetwater, Tennessee,
FOLIO WEEKLY PUZZLER by MERL REAGLE. Presented by
motorist ticketed twice the same night with no headlights â&#x20AC;&#x201D; only flashlights tied to his bumper with bungee cords. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL TRY ANYTHING A forlorn-appearing Annalisa Young, 82, was arrested at a CVS pharmacy in Augusta, Georgia, in February after store security caught her allegedly shoplifting a container of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sexiest Fantasiesâ&#x20AC;? body spray that, according to the packaging, â&#x20AC;&#x153;provides a burst of sensuality ... as addictive and seductive as the woman who wears it,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;sure to drive any man wild.â&#x20AC;? PERSPECTIVE Among the participants at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Davos, Switzerland, gathering of billionaires and important people was property developer Jeff Greene, 60, who owns mansions in New York, Malibu and Palm Springs, and whose Beverly Hills estate is on the market for around $195 million. Greene famously won big by betting against overvalued sub-prime mortgages before the 2008 Great Recession, but, shortly after landing at Davos, he gave Bloomberg Business his take on the symptoms of current economic turmoil (on which heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d capitalized for some of his wealth by exploiting peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire for expensive houses they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifestyle expectations are far too high,â&#x20AC;? Greene explained, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and need to be adjusted so we have less things and a smaller, better existence.â&#x20AC;? COLD UNSOBER After consulting its substantial research base, The Smoking Gun website reported that Steven Andersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arrest in Fargo, North Dakota, in January was only the third time that someone operating a Zamboni had been charged with DUI. Anderson, 27, was arrested while (erratically) resurfacing the ice between periods of a girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; high school hockey game. Chuck Shepherd weirdnews@earthlink.net
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Two-Star Final I made this last year for a Los Angeles crossword tournament. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tad easier than usual, so as a bonus â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and in keeping with its two-star theme â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I added my predictions for Best Actor and Best Actress Oscars. (As I write this, the award show is three days away.) Rearrange the circled letters to spell the last names.
ACROSS
1 Reasons to moan and groan 6 Advice-giving sister 9 El Mistiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s location 13 Advice-giving sister 17 Defeat decisively 18 1950 film noir 19 Burma neighbor 20 Source of Artooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message 21 Dr. Watson portrayer + TVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fall Guy = ? 23 Itsy-bitsy bit 24 Fanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fixation 25 Saucer resident? 26 Comic actor + comic actress = ? 29 Crucial responder 30 Tiny battery 31 Show ___ 32 Actor Jack + a Best Actress Oscar winner =? 37 Not as much 40 Stubborn Seuss character, with â&#x20AC;&#x153;theâ&#x20AC;? 43 Homophone of a synonym for â&#x20AC;&#x153;kinglyâ&#x20AC;? 44 Hoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wear 45 Perfectly 46 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why would ___?â&#x20AC;? 47 Light 49 Comic actor + portrayer of Dr. Strangelove = ? 53 ___ skills 54 Madam Secretary star 55 Gives up the floor
DOWN
1 2 3 4 5
Shoemakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s holemaker Shoot the breeze Hockey great Gordie Jane Austen novel Sheenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Badlands co-star 6 Oliver Twist, e.g.
16 22 27 28 32 33 34 35 36 38 39 41 42 45 46 48 50 51 52 54
Solution to Funny Business (2/18/15) H A S O N
A G O N Y
I B E T
T R O N
F L U B
L E N O
V I S I T
I R E N E
R I F L E
P Y R L E E A S O G Y V E J U N T O M T S O K E W E D A N S E V T S P E T H O R O R I S T V I N E I T Y B D E B A L E A S N Y L R E E I B M W I T S E A N E N T E S T
E D G E O B J
P E D R O
E T A S O O N E E E S E R E D E R L Y S T A P E E R I L F A L L A B L E N T O T C O P Y L F U P O U S E D A C T O K R A G R OW L OWN E N N Y
M R H Y D E
T I N N Y
H O M O P H O N E
D O T U S T C G U S O R P I L O N Y N G G B E A N B O O N T R E E U R S S B I L A C I R E M B T N E S T
O T E R I
D E C A I D D D E L E N E C A A R P T H Y A I U N N G T W A N
G S L A O D B A N L O A WO W A K E R S D D I G U M U M A E A C S S T J S T I A G A M S A P A H A W
A F O R K
57 Some people make a big production out of it 58 Sign of late summer 59 A man from U.N.C.L.E. 60 Cell stuff 61 Pooh pal 64 What Women Want co-star 65 Homerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite bar 66 Marcoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response? 67 Tattoo â&#x20AC;&#x153;canvasâ&#x20AC;? 68 Airport waiter? 69 Distress causer 70 Ed of Modern Family 74 Like people with product lines 77 Ring blow 78 Dick played by Humphrey 79 Rears 80 Infamous alter-ego 82 New York Harborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ___ Island 84 Kin of â&#x20AC;&#x153;me, tooâ&#x20AC;? 86 â&#x20AC;&#x153;It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ___ wellâ&#x20AC;? 87 Daredevilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first name 88 Drop 89 Where idĂŠes are born 91 Victorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cry 92 Hope-Crosby film setting 93 Sound quality 97 Ab ___ (from day one) 98 Kirk, to Michael
Neither follower Daytona 500 org. ___ del Rey, Calif. Gets stuffed Carrot or radish West Point inits. Graftonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aâ&#x20AC;? Overwhelmed, in a way What John Scopes taught: abbr. Southern pronoun Game with circles in squares TVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Barone or actor who played him Abbr. for dumbbells Panama border? Targetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s target, e.g. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That ___ rightâ&#x20AC;? Award talked about on Mad Men Up Piece-of-cake courses â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shrek!â&#x20AC;? author William Is shown on TV Kisses, in letters â&#x20AC;&#x153;Worst firstâ&#x20AC;? treatment system ___-equipped â&#x20AC;&#x153;Have a bite!â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ Heroesâ&#x20AC;? Commencement Bloodsucker Horticulturist Burbank
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
AVONDALE 3617 ST. JOHNS AVE. 10300 SOUTHSIDE BLVD. 388-5406 394-1390 AVENUES MALL
56 Oscar-winning star of The Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Daughter + star of The Wonder Years = ? 59 Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pack of lines 62 Sponsorship 63 Roughs it 68 Actor Peter + star of The Piano = ? 70 Attention-seeking remark 71 Quartet member 72 Exercise units 73 Spirit in a sling 75 Sub station? 76 Brickbatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accompaniment 77 Preservers of preserves 78 Casino co-star + actor James = ? 81 Casserole morsel 83 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hairy manâ&#x20AC;? of Genesis 85 Cumference of the Round Table? 86 The voice of Princess Anna in Frozen + actor Timothy = ? 90 Bourbon Street trumpet legend 94 Shape of some rugs 95 Introduction to physics 96 Actress Lauren + star of West Side Story = ? 99 Ricky, really 100 Auction offering, e.g. 101 Anne in a Bette Davis film 102 Actress Rigg 103 They may line Main Street 104 Desperate Housewives first name 105 Pick-up order? 106 Was kaput
SOUTHSIDE
FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 37
ASTROLOGY
FLAUBERT, YO LA TENGO & SCHWARZENEGGER ARIES (March 21-April 19): To depict what lay beyond the limits of the known world, medieval mapmakers drew pictures of dragons and sea serpents, conveying the sense that these territories were uncharted and maybe risky to explore. There were no actual beasties there, of course. It’s possible you’re facing a comparable situation. The frontier realm you’re wandering through may seem to harbor real dragons, but they’re all imaginary. Don’t entirely let down your guard. Mix craftiness with courage. Beware of your mind playing tricks. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When I close my eyes to seek psychic visions of your near future, I see heroic Biblical scenes. Moses parting the Red Sea. Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dream. Jesus feeding 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish. What’s the meaning of my reveries? This psychic stuff is tricky, and I hesitate to draw defi nitive conclusions. I’d guess you’re ripe to provide a major blessing or perform an unprecedented service for those you care about. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In his cartoon in the New Yorker magazine, Tom Gauld outlined “The Four Undramatic Plot Structures”: 1. “The hero is confronted by an antagonistic force and ignores it until it goes away.” 2. “The protagonist is accused of wrongdoing, but it’s not a big thing and soon gets sorted out.” 3. “The heroine is faced with a problem but it’s really difficult so she gives up.” 4. “A man wants something. Later, he’s not sure. By suppertime he’s forgotten all about it.” In my astrological opinion, you should avoid all four of these. It’s time to take brave, forceful action as you create dramatic plot twists to serve big dreams. CANCER (June 21-July 22): “To be happy is to be able to become aware of oneself without fright,” said heavyweight German philosopher Walter Benjamin, a fellow Cancerian. There’s a good chance you’ll soon be blessed with an extraordinary measure of worry-free self-awareness. And when you’re basking in an expanded self-knowledge infused with self-love and self-appreciation, some chronic fear drops away, and you have at your disposal a useful variety of happiness. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “As you get older, the heart sheds its leaves like a tree,” said French novelist Gustave Flaubert. “You cannot hold out against certain winds. Each day tears away a few more leaves; and then there are the storms that break off several branches at one go. And while nature’s greenery grows back again in the spring, that of the heart never grows back.” Do you agree? I don’t. I say you can live with such resilient innocence, your heart’s leaves grow back after a big wind, becoming evermore lush and hardy as you age. You send down such deep, strong roots and stretch branches toward the sun with such vigor, your heart has access to the replenishment it needs. The weeks ahead prove what I say is true. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “I will not wait to love as best as I can,” says writer Dave Eggers. “We thought we were young and that there would be time to love well sometime in the future. This is a terrible way to think. It is no way to live, to wait to love.” That’s your keynote for the weeks ahead. That’s your wake-up call, a rose-scented note under your pillow and a message scrawled in lipstick on the bathroom mirror. If there’s any part of you that believes love will be better, fuller or more perfect in the future, tell that part to shut up and embrace this tender command: Now’s the time to love with all your heart, soul and mind.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I love the song “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” by Pink Floyd. Other faves are Tool’s “Third Eye” and Yo La Tengo’s “Pass the Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind.” But all of these have a similar problem. They’re more than 10 minutes long. Even before my attention span got shrunk by the Internet, listening to them tested my patience. I have to forcefully induce a state of preternatural relaxation if I want to hear them all the way through. In the days ahead, don’t be like a too-much-of-a-goodthing song. Be willing to edit yourself. Observe concise boundaries. Get to the point quickly. You’ll be rewarded. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Sneaking around isn’t necessary. There’s no useful power to be gained by hiding information or pursuing secret agendas. This isn’t a time when it’s essential to be a master of manipulation who’s 10 steps ahead of everyone. For now, you’re likely to achieve maximum success and enjoy life the most if you’re curious, excitable and transparent. Attain the mindset of a creative, precocious child with loving parents. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In 1953, Edmund Hillary and sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first humans to reach the summit of Mount Everest. It took them seven weeks to climb the 29,029-foot peak. In 1960, Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh sailed to the lowest point on the planet in a bathyscaphe: the Mariana Trench at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. It took them four hours and 47 minutes to go down 36,070 feet. Based on my astrological omen-analysis, the operative metaphor in the weeks ahead should be deep descent, not steep ascent. Time to explore in the depths, not the heights. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The African country of Ivory Coast has two capital cities. Yamoussoukro is the official capital, and Abidjan is the actual capital, where the main governmental action happens. There’s a comparable split in your realm: a case of mixed dominance. Maybe it’s a good thing; maybe it allows for a balance of power between competing interests. Or maybe it’s confusing, causing a split in your attention, which is keeping you from expressing a unified purpose. Now’s a good time to consider how well the division is working; tinker with it if needed. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I’ve gone on three book tours and done my spoken-word show in scores of bookstores. One of my favorite author events was at Avenue C Laundromat in New York City’s East Village. I performed with two other writers as part of the “Dirty Laundry: Loads of Prose” reading series. It was a boisterous event. All us authors were extra loose and goofy, and the audience did a lot of funny, good-nature heckling. The unusual location freed everyone up to have maximum amusement. The weeks ahead are a time when you, too, may thrive doing what you do best in out-of-context situations. If you’re not invited to do so, invite yourself. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): When Arnold Schwarzenegger became California’s governor in 2003, the state had the eighth largest economy in the world, after Italy and just ahead of Brazil. Schwarzenegger had never before held political office. When Cambodian doctor Haing Nor performed in the film The Killing Fields, for which he won an Oscar, he had no training as an actor. He was a novice. Will you try to follow in their footsteps? Is it possible you take on a role for which you have no preparation or seasoning? My divinations say yes. Is it a good idea? That’s a more complex issue. Trust your gut. Rob Brezsny freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com
38 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
HELLO, YOUNG LOVERS (aka ISU writers)! The limit for ISU notices is 40 words ONLY. No messages with more than 40 words will be accepted. Please keep your message short & sweet. Thanks! NICE TO MEET YOU You: Tall, handsome, broken wrist. Me: Cute, athletic, long sandy hair. Helped me sign out paddleboard; said it was nice to meet. Maybe you caught my name; don’t know yours. Meet 11 a.m. Feb. 13 at the lake. When: Jan. 31. Where: UNF Lake Oneida. #1506-0211 ASIAN GODDESS SNAP FITNESS Me: Purposefully stretching longer, in safe creeping distance. You: Gleaming from sweat, holding handstand a respectable amount of time! Took off shoes, socks; caught me watching. Kept gaze. You smiled, continued poses. Left before drool commenced. When: Jan. 20. Where: Snap Fitness. #1505-0204 HOTTIE IN A HAMMOCK You: Tall, leggy, brunette, great skin, rocking in hammock by her pool. Me: Scotch-loving bald guy who still loves a Fierce Polish Viking. Hoping you’ll rock me tonight like your body rocks in that hammock. When: Jan. 28. Where: Beside the pool. #1504-0128 HOT COFFEE MAN You: tall, dark hair, carrying Starbucks. Me: tall, yellow shirt. ISU at Starbucks 20 minutes earlier; again in parking garage stairwell. You held door open for me, I smiled, thanked you. Did you remember me? Let’s get coffee. When: Jan. 22. Baptist Medical Ctr. Garage. #1503-0128 BAYMEADOWS BUSINESS You: Bald white guy, sharp dresser, older white Saturn. Me: Slim white guy. Had my eye on you; said hi when you wished me Happy Holidays on Christmas Eve. Let’s have lunch sometime! When: Dec. 24. Where: Baymeadows management company. #1502-0114 FILL HER UP You: Tall, handsome, blue shirt that said “Refill.” Me: Sexy, in orange dress. Looking for headphones; made small talk. Wanted to request your number, but you looked exhausted from work. Let’s make beautiful music, Mr. Refill. When: Dec. 30. Where: Best Buy. #1501-0107 LOVER FOUND AT WALMART REGISTER? Sunday, 0:45 a.m., S’s register. You: Tan jacket, eyeglasses, nice-looking man, very friendly, holiday spirit. Me: Blue jeans, jeans jacket, right behind you. Should’ve carried conversation further. Looked for you later. When: Dec. 21. Where: Normandy Walmart. #1500-0107 8-8-14; MEANING OF TIME? Easy answer. Time means nothing, absolutely nothing outside context of you. Hours seem like hours, days like days. Dice don’t match. Cards on my heart’s table come up different. Don’t fret; the UNIverse loves us; it’s MASTER of time. When: Aug. 8. Where: Pagan Idol. #1436-1224 TELL[ER] ME ABOUT YOU You: Nice, redheaded, long braid bank teller, remembered my papa’s last name. Me: Young, blonde-bearded, with white-bearded retired police officer. Let’s have coffee sometime; offi cially meet! When: Dec. 19 FOP Christmas Party. Where: FOP Lodge #530. #1435-1224 LOVED THE SHOW... You: Brunette, glasses, stunningly beautiful; upstairs with some guys. Loved watching you put on lipstick; you looked at me, eyes communicated deep hunger. My girlfriend told you I thought you were beautiful. I’d love to talk. Me: Long-sleeved green shirt. You know. When: Dec. 13. Where: OP Kennel Clubhouse. #1434-1224 HOPE WOMAN I SAW READS THIS... You: long, black, curly hair, glasses, tan complexion, beautiful smile!; headed to NY. Me: Non-descript white guy. Not sure if you saw me; thought we locked eyes. Couldn’t keep my eyes off you! Remember? When: Dec. 4. Where: Jax International Airport. #1433-1224 DEM PINSTRIPES THO ... Light glittered off your beautiful bald head. Gave me that look, poured drink. Hands touched as you gave me the glass. Instantly knew you’re my only bartender. Liked big orange you gave me. Personal bartender? When: Dec. 13. Where: Time Out Sportsbar & Grill. #1432-1217
V. AND T. AT TOWN CENTER ISU at Aeropostale and American Eagle where we introduced one another. I didn’t want to ask you for your number in front of my daughter. I’d love to see you again, T. When: Dec. 10. Where: Town Center. #1431-1217 SAMSUNG MAN AT BJ’s We both purchased Samsung Chrome on Sunday. You said I’d like keyboard. I said: hope I can get used to it; wanted to ask are you married? Me: Tall, light-skinned. You: Brown, handsome. If unattached, look me up. When: Dec. 7. Where: BJ’s Atlantic Blvd. #1430-1217 MISSING TOOTH GIRL You: Attractive girl, purple dress, missing a front teeth. Me: Handsome devil, orange tank top. I commented I liked your gap before I realized it was a missing tooth. Let’s hop back, get a fountain drink together? When: Dec. 4. Where: Kangaroo San Pablo. #1429-1210 LIBRARY LOOKER There was nothing spooky about you staring at me, the redhead, on Halloween from Deerwood library check-out line. Tall guy in jeans, what would’ve happened had I held your lengthy stare? Let me know. When: 11:30 a.m. Oct. 31. Where: Southeast Regional Library. #1428-1203 CAN’T GET U OUTTA MY MIND ISU at hospital visit; made my heart pump fast. You: prettiest nurse in white and blue; finest shape, lips, hips, face. If you were mine, I’d hold you in my arms, treat you like a queen. When: Nov. 26. Where: St. Vincent’s Hosp. #1427-1203 LOML – SKY OCEAN GALAXY Handsome professional, great shoulders and electrifying smile wearing a tie. All others hands-off! When: Nov. 23. Where: Southside. #1426-1203 HANDSOME DOG LOVER AT INTUITION You: Handsome man, orange shirt, lots of friends. Me: Short, green-eyed brunette, blue shirt. You asked about my dog, white German shepherd, seemed to like you. Single? Meet at Intuition 11/28, same time? When: Nov. 21. Where: Intuition Ale Works. #1425-1126 YOU DIDN’T LEAVE! We stared across bar, like we knew it was beginning of deepest connection, friendship, and love we’d ever know. Haven’t left... Slainte! kanpai! Drink your Dirty Girl Scout. Here’s to finding each other again. Really like you! When: April 2011. Where: Bomba’s. #1424-1126 CUTIE ON A SUZUKI You: Stylish, curly-haired cutie on Suzuki cafe racer. Me: Raven-haired lass, gray VW Jetta. Sipped coffee at light, turning on Riverside. Looked left, noticed Suzuki. Liked your shoes, style, dirty-blonde locks under helmet. Meet for drink? When: Nov. 12. Where: Riverside Ave. #1423-1119 BEARDED HOTTIE, SILVER FORD You: Behind me on 95N from Baymeadows to I-10 interchange on 11/4 at 3 p.m.; Nassau tag, dark beard, ball cap, amazing smile. Me: Brown SUV. Can’t get you out of my mind. Can we meet? When: Nov. 4, 3 p.m. Where: Baymeadows & I-95. #1422-1112 I SAW U Connection Made!
PULLING FOR ORIOLES You: Cranberry shirt, said to me, “I was pulling for them” referring to my Orioles T-shirt. Me: Orioles T-shirt, I said “Yeah” and kept walking. Wish I would have started a conversation. Let’s talk! When: Oct. 26. Where: Publix on Hodges. #1421-1105 I SAW U Connection Made!
RUNNING SHIRTLESS You: It was around 6:20, you were running through Memorial Park. Caught me checking you out. Me: Wearing the blue shirt. We smiled, I watched you run off – quite a sight. We need to run together. When: Oct. 22. Where: Memorial Park. #1420-1029
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FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 39
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6 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
PAVE PARADISE <<< FROM PREVIOUS
of the 395-acre parcel undeveloped. This isn’t development run amok. Even so, St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman wants a more comprehensive inquiry into the project’s potential environmental ramifications before the City Council signs off. The proposed development’s density as well as its proximity to “an environmentally sensitive area” are “worrying,” Rinaman says. And she notes that with 790 homes, “you’re going to have a ton of fertilizers, pesticides, people washing their cars, all on a curb-and-gutter system that empties into those ponds.” The ponds Rinaman is referring to are the multiple retention ponds in which the development’s storm water will be treated before being deposited into Edwards Creek, which is attached to the St. Johns River through a system of tributaries. Rinaman is concerned that the intensity of the new development, and the amount of runoff it will produce, threatens adjacent environmentally protected lands. At the very least, she says, this needs to be thoroughly and cautiously investigated. “The state of Florida and the city of Jacksonville have put a lot of effort into protecting these lands,” Rinaman says. “There are higher levels of protection around these areas to protect them from degradation. I’m just not sure how you can meet these high standards with the high levels of density they are proposing.” Rinaman also questions the urgency with which Signature and Leggett have tried to “fast-track” their proposal. “If you are confident you can meet these high standards, then what is the rush?” she asks. “Let’s sit down and bring all the interested parties to the table.” Among those interested parties is The Florida Wildlife Federation, which sent a letter to the Planning Commission expressing its concerns about the adjacent Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve. Leggett’s proposed development, the letter says, conflicts with Pumpkin Hill Preserve’s plans to add land to the state’s parks system. In addition, 1,000 Friends of Florida, a nonprofit that advocates for smart growth, weighed in as well, with a letter opposing the development because it has too many new homes. Though many of development’s opponents are advocating on behalf of the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, the Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation — the preserve’s official friends group — has been relatively quiet. Maria D. Mark, executive director of TTPF, says that even if anything about the development were to potentially threaten the preserve, she has two reasons for believing
it would ultimately be protected: One, interestingly enough, is that T.R. Hainline, the lawyer representing Leggett, is a TTPF board member. “T.R. has the insight and passion to see that the preserve is not put in jeopardy,” Mark says. Reason two, Mark says, is Holt’s Feb. 5 promise to defer the proposal in his committee. “It seems like, with the deferment, the proposal will be on the slow track. I think we have time to get things worked out.” For now, she says, “neither the TTPF nor National Parks Service is taking a formal position.” But promises, much like ecosystems, can be fragile. rior to the Feb. 18 Land Use and Zoning Committee meeting, Holt mediated a meeting between opposition rep Williams, Rinaman and Leggett. According to sources, no concessions were made and very little was accomplished — except that Holt withdrew his commitment to defer the proposal when it reaches his committee. When Folio Weekly reached Holt for comment afterward, he said the intent of his promise was to give both sides a chance to sit down and hash things out, and since they’d done that, he wanted to “let the committee decide on deferment.” Holt did admit he felt his committee would be under “significant pressure from the community” to defer action on the proposal. He was right. Following Signature Land’s presentation and then a public comments session in which some 30 Oceanway residents voiced their concerns, the LUZ Committee put off its decision on the rezoning, citing a desire to hear more from the effected groups. The development has been stalled. This was, for Oceanway residents, at least a temporary victory. But perhaps it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to forestall the creep of sprawl into their rural paradise forever, whether it’s Leggett or someone else doing the building. Weeks ago, at that town hall meeting when Oceanway residents drew their proverbial line in the sand, Signature attorney T.R. Hainline pointed to renderings of the proposed Edwards Creek Preserve development and prophesied what might be considered an uncomfortable truth. With developers pounding on their back door — and, for that matter, their front door, too — Hainline asked, “Do you want a master-planned community like this, or do you want something else?” mail@folioweekly.com
P
“The location, the timing, it’s all just too much,” says Williams.
l
FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 13
A&E // MUSIC
RISING SOUNDS Orlando’s Sabals step into the spotlight with a unique electronic-folk sound
N
amed for a subtropical species of palm, Sabals is a four-piece indie rock band from Orlando with a brand-new, label-funded EP and high hopes of playing for the man instead of working for the man. “The easiest answer is that we will become busy enough with Sabals to quit our day jobs,” Beth Bynum (vocals/guitar) says of how the quartet’s future is shaping up. “Beyond that, it’s probably traveling the world.” The official Sabals formation story is a bit foggy. In 2010, Beth met now-husband Dan Bynum when the two were living in Los Angeles. They connected on multiple levels, spending the next few years writing and unfold on its own.” “Blistering,” the debut single from the new recording songs together. EP, was released on Nov. 4 and has received “Dan and I met through a mutual friend international attention from music blogs as when I was playing in a folk-Americana band well as radio play on Seattle’s KEXP. “I wrote called The Branches,” Beth says. “When that [the song] sort of by accident a few years project ended, I pursued a solo project. Dan ago while playing electric guitar at our old has always been an incredible recording practice space in L.A.,” says Beth. “The style is engineer and producer, so, before Sabals, we more punk-influenced than anything, but we really just worked on recording together.” really worked to make it fit our sound.” In 2013, the Bynums relocated to Dan’s A self-described “indie-electronic, femalehomeland of Central Florida. A year later, fronted band with dark and spacey melodies they met Jessica Vacha, a drummer and and very big and a veteran of the present vocals,” Orlando music scene. Sabals took about a In April 2014, the SABALS with ANCESTROS CORD week’s worth of time threesome expanded 7 p.m. March 2 at Jack Rabbits, — spread out over on the already-evident 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $8 a few months — to acoustic stylings of record Premonitions. Beth and Dan and “We had the songs written and worked formed Sabals — recording their debut EP out as a band ahead of time, so tracking was Covered In Red just a few months later. pretty smooth,” says Beth. “We did add some In less than a year, the trio became a extra synth and vocal parts once all of the quartet — adding Trė Hester on bass — and main tracking was done. It was a lot of fun they’ve been developing a signature sound developing ideas with David Plakon, who consisting of acoustic-meets-electronic engineered the record. He has a great ear, and compositions, soundscapes and heartfelt he challenged me vocally in the best way.” storytelling usually reserved for traditional, Sabals staged an official release party at classic singer-songwriters. Will’s Pub in Orlando on Feb. 19; they travel They also just dropped a brand-new EP, up to Jack Rabbits on Monday, March 2 for Premonitions, which was funded by Eye the band’s first-ever Jacksonville show. Four Records and recorded at North Avenue When the four musicians aren’t tooling Studios in DeLand. around North and Central Florida for gigs “The four songs are all so diverse, but I or rehearsing for upcoming engagements, think the underlying elements are congruent they’re grinding away at day jobs (librarian and I love how the record flows,” Beth says. and waitress included) and putting together “People always tell me they get a very spooky, new material. dark sort of ethereal feeling when they listen “We’re writing songs faster than we can to our songs, which is absolutely what I am record them, so I’m sure another release will trying to convey in the songwriting and come out in the fall,” says Beth. “Other than production.” that, we’ll be touring as much as possible. It Beth, the band’s principal songwriter, seems like traveling as a band is such a great writes the lyrics and “skeleton” of each way to experience new and unique places, and song on her acoustic guitar before bringing it’s great to have something we can share with her ideas to the table. “Then we all develop those places when we get there.” the song and soundscapes as a group,” she explains. “Many great songs have come from Kara Pound just jamming on an idea and letting the song mail@folioweekly.com l
28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
DINING DIRECTORY BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, black sheep5points.com. New American with a Southern twist; locally sourced ingredients. Rooftop bar. $$$ FB R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 869 Stockton St., Stes. 1 & 2, 855-1181. BOJ winner. F Small-batch, artisanal coffee roasting. Organic, fair trade. $ BW TO B L Daily BREW FIVE POINTS, 1024 Park St., 714-3402, brewfive points.com. Local craft beer, espresso, coffee and wine bar. Rotating drafts, 75+ canned craft beers; sodas, tea. Rotating seasonal menu of waffles, pastries, toasts, desserts to pair with specialty coffees, craft beers. $$ BW K B L Daily CORNER TACO, 818 Post St., 240-0412. Made-fromscratch “Mexclectic street food,” tacos, nachos, gluten-free and vegetarian options. $ BW L D Daily. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 5972 San Juan Ave., 693-9258. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. EDGEWOOD BAKERY, 1012 S. Edgewood Ave., 389-8054, edgewoodbakery.com. BOJ winner. 66+ years, full-service bakery. Fresh breakfast, pastries, petit fours, pies, cakes. Espresso, sandwiches, smoothies. $$ K TO B L Tue.-Sat. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999, europeanstreet.com. BOJ winner. 130+ imported beers, 20 on tap. NYC-style classic Reuben, sandwiches. Outside seating at some EStreets. $ BW K L D Daily GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET, 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com. BOJ winner. F Juice bar;
certified organic fruits, vegetables. 500+ craft/import beers, 250 wines, organic produce, humanely raised meats, deli, raw items, vegan, vitamins, herbs. $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FARE, 1001 Park St., 508-0342, hawkerstreetfare.com. BOJ winner. Authentic dishes from mobile stalls. $ BW TO L D Daily JOHNNY’S DELI & GRILLE, 474 Riverside Ave., 356-8055. This casual spot offers sandwiches, classic salads, homefries. One word: Reuben. $ TO B L Daily KNEAD BAKESHOP, 1173 Edgewood Ave. S. Locally-owned, family-run bake shop; made-from-scratch pastries, artisan breads, pies, specialty sandwiches, soups. $ TO B L Tue.-Sun. LARRY’S SUBS, 1509 Margaret, 674-2794. 7895 Normandy, 781-7600. 8102 Blanding, 779-1933. F SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., Ortega, 999-4600. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MONROE’S Smokehouse BAR-B-Q, 4838 Highway Ave., 389-5551, monroessmokehousebbq.com. Wings, pulled pork, brisket, turkey, ribs. Homestyle sides: beans, baked beans, mac-n-cheese, collards. $$ K TO L Mon.-Sat.; D Fri. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., 389-4442. F BOJ winner. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. MOSSFIRE GRILL, 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire. com. F Southwestern fish tacos, enchiladas. Happy hour Mon.-Sat. upstairs lounge, all day Sun. $$ FB K L D Daily O’BROTHERS IRISH PUB, 1521 Margaret St., 854-9300,
Photos by Caron Streibich
BITE-SIZED
BITE SIZED
CASUAL FALAFEL
Springfield’s auto-shop-adjacent Mediterranean spot is mostly fresh, decidedly unpretentious, and solid on its own terms tahini sauce. My side items were traditional IF YOU’RE HUNGRY and cruising Downtown favorites, hummus and tabouli. Both were in search of something different, head fresh and excellent. Also on the platter were straight down Main Street into historic slices of colorful crunchy pickled turnip, Springfield and look for the brightly colored cucumbers and a small bed of iceberg Wafaa & Mike’s Café. (I hear the adjacent lettuce and tomato. The falafel is also auto shop, which shares an owner, is available in wrap form. excellent, too.) Another success was the kibbe – Open Monday through Saturday for lunch croquette-like football-shaped nuggets of and dinner, the Mediterranean (their sign ground meat mixed with minced onions and says “Mid-Eastern”) restaurant has been in bulgur wheat. town for fi ve years. It’s a decidedly casual I didn’t care for the grape leaves, which spot, so don’t come expecting pressed linens were served cold and had an off-putting and silver. But it’s solid for what it is. spice that I couldn’t pinpoint. Skip these. We started with baba ghanoush ($4.99). I wanted to try the It was delightfully smoky Turkish (read: strong) and creamy, topped with WAFAA & MIKE’S CAFE coffee ($1.99), but it a drizzle of olive oil and 1544 N. Main St., Springfield was late in the afternoon paprika, and served with 683-8313 and our waitress politely a basket of pita triangles steered me away, for dipping. The pita was explaining I probably stiff and room temperature, wouldn’t get a good night’s rest. so we asked for fresh, warm pita. Moments A dollar scores you a crisp, sweet square later, we were given a new batch. of happiness – also known as baklava – so Platters seemed to be the way to go. keep dessert on your agenda. Wafaa & Each of the dozen or so platters includes Mike’s does this pastry treat just right. a choice of two side items. I went with the falafel ($10.99), and it was fantastic Caron Streibich – freshly crafted chickpea orbs of delight facebook.com/folioweeklybitesized you can dip in the accompanying nutty biteclub@folioweekly.com ●
FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35
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6 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
PAVE PARADISE <<< FROM PREVIOUS
of the 395-acre parcel undeveloped. This isn’t development run amok. Even so, St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman wants a more comprehensive inquiry into the project’s potential environmental ramifications before the City Council signs off. The proposed development’s density as well as its proximity to “an environmentally sensitive area” are “worrying,” Rinaman says. And she notes that with 790 homes, “you’re going to have a ton of fertilizers, pesticides, people washing their cars, all on a curb-and-gutter system that empties into those ponds.” The ponds Rinaman is referring to are the multiple retention ponds in which the development’s storm water will be treated before being deposited into Edwards Creek, which is attached to the St. Johns River through a system of tributaries. Rinaman is concerned that the intensity of the new development, and the amount of runoff it will produce, threatens adjacent environmentally protected lands. At the very least, she says, this needs to be thoroughly and cautiously investigated. “The state of Florida and the city of Jacksonville have put a lot of effort into protecting these lands,” Rinaman says. “There are higher levels of protection around these areas to protect them from degradation. I’m just not sure how you can meet these high standards with the high levels of density they are proposing.” Rinaman also questions the urgency with which Signature and Leggett have tried to “fast-track” their proposal. “If you are confident you can meet these high standards, then what is the rush?” she asks. “Let’s sit down and bring all the interested parties to the table.” Among those interested parties is The Florida Wildlife Federation, which sent a letter to the Planning Commission expressing its concerns about the adjacent Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve. Leggett’s proposed development, the letter says, conflicts with Pumpkin Hill Preserve’s plans to add land to the state’s parks system. In addition, 1,000 Friends of Florida, a nonprofit that advocates for smart growth, weighed in as well, with a letter opposing the development because it has too many new homes. Though many of development’s opponents are advocating on behalf of the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, the Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation — the preserve’s official friends group — has been relatively quiet. Maria D. Mark, executive director of TTPF, says that even if anything about the development were to potentially threaten the preserve, she has two reasons for believing
it would ultimately be protected: One, interestingly enough, is that T.R. Hainline, the lawyer representing Leggett, is a TTPF board member. “T.R. has the insight and passion to see that the preserve is not put in jeopardy,” Mark says. Reason two, Mark says, is Holt’s Feb. 5 promise to defer the proposal in his committee. “It seems like, with the deferment, the proposal will be on the slow track. I think we have time to get things worked out.” For now, she says, “neither the TTPF nor National Parks Service is taking a formal position.” But promises, much like ecosystems, can be fragile. rior to the Feb. 18 Land Use and Zoning Committee meeting, Holt mediated a meeting between opposition rep Williams, Rinaman and Leggett. According to sources, no concessions were made and very little was accomplished — except that Holt withdrew his commitment to defer the proposal when it reaches his committee. When Folio Weekly reached Holt for comment afterward, he said the intent of his promise was to give both sides a chance to sit down and hash things out, and since they’d done that, he wanted to “let the committee decide on deferment.” Holt did admit he felt his committee would be under “significant pressure from the community” to defer action on the proposal. He was right. Following Signature Land’s presentation and then a public comments session in which some 30 Oceanway residents voiced their concerns, the LUZ Committee put off its decision on the rezoning, citing a desire to hear more from the effected groups. The development has been stalled. This was, for Oceanway residents, at least a temporary victory. But perhaps it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to forestall the creep of sprawl into their rural paradise forever, whether it’s Leggett or someone else doing the building. Weeks ago, at that town hall meeting when Oceanway residents drew their proverbial line in the sand, Signature attorney T.R. Hainline pointed to renderings of the proposed Edwards Creek Preserve development and prophesied what might be considered an uncomfortable truth. With developers pounding on their back door — and, for that matter, their front door, too — Hainline asked, “Do you want a master-planned community like this, or do you want something else?” mail@folioweekly.com
P
“The location, the timing, it’s all just too much,” says Williams.
l
l
FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 13
A&E // MUSIC
RISING SOUNDS Orlando’s Sabals step into the spotlight with a unique electronic-folk sound
N
amed for a subtropical species of palm, Sabals is a four-piece indie rock band from Orlando with a brand-new, label-funded EP and high hopes of playing for the man instead of working for the man. “The easiest answer is that we will become busy enough with Sabals to quit our day jobs,” Beth Bynum (vocals/guitar) says of how the quartet’s future is shaping up. “Beyond that, it’s probably traveling the world.” The official Sabals formation story is a bit foggy. In 2010, Beth met now-husband Dan Bynum when the two were living in Los Angeles. They connected on multiple levels, spending the next few years writing and unfold on its own.” “Blistering,” the debut single from the new recording songs together. EP, was released on Nov. 4 and has received “Dan and I met through a mutual friend international attention from music blogs as when I was playing in a folk-Americana band well as radio play on Seattle’s KEXP. “I wrote called The Branches,” Beth says. “When that [the song] sort of by accident a few years project ended, I pursued a solo project. Dan ago while playing electric guitar at our old has always been an incredible recording practice space in L.A.,” says Beth. “The style is engineer and producer, so, before Sabals, we more punk-influenced than anything, but we really just worked on recording together.” really worked to make it fit our sound.” In 2013, the Bynums relocated to Dan’s A self-described “indie-electronic, femalehomeland of Central Florida. A year later, fronted band with dark and spacey melodies they met Jessica Vacha, a drummer and and very big and a veteran of the present vocals,” Orlando music scene. Sabals took about a In April 2014, the SABALS with ANCESTROS CORD week’s worth of time threesome expanded 7 p.m. March 2 at Jack Rabbits, — spread out over on the already-evident 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $8 a few months — to acoustic stylings of record Premonitions. Beth and Dan and “We had the songs written and worked formed Sabals — recording their debut EP out as a band ahead of time, so tracking was Covered In Red just a few months later. pretty smooth,” says Beth. “We did add some In less than a year, the trio became a extra synth and vocal parts once all of the quartet — adding Trė Hester on bass — and main tracking was done. It was a lot of fun they’ve been developing a signature sound developing ideas with David Plakon, who consisting of acoustic-meets-electronic engineered the record. He has a great ear, and compositions, soundscapes and heartfelt he challenged me vocally in the best way.” storytelling usually reserved for traditional, Sabals staged an official release party at classic singer-songwriters. Will’s Pub in Orlando on Feb. 19; they travel They also just dropped a brand-new EP, up to Jack Rabbits on Monday, March 2 for Premonitions, which was funded by Eye the band’s first-ever Jacksonville show. Four Records and recorded at North Avenue When the four musicians aren’t tooling Studios in DeLand. around North and Central Florida for gigs “The four songs are all so diverse, but I or rehearsing for upcoming engagements, think the underlying elements are congruent they’re grinding away at day jobs (librarian and I love how the record flows,” Beth says. and waitress included) and putting together “People always tell me they get a very spooky, new material. dark sort of ethereal feeling when they listen “We’re writing songs faster than we can to our songs, which is absolutely what I am record them, so I’m sure another release will trying to convey in the songwriting and come out in the fall,” says Beth. “Other than production.” that, we’ll be touring as much as possible. It Beth, the band’s principal songwriter, seems like traveling as a band is such a great writes the lyrics and “skeleton” of each way to experience new and unique places, and song on her acoustic guitar before bringing it’s great to have something we can share with her ideas to the table. “Then we all develop those places when we get there.” the song and soundscapes as a group,” she explains. “Many great songs have come from Kara Pound just jamming on an idea and letting the song mail@folioweekly.com l
l
28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
DINING DIRECTORY BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, black sheep5points.com. New American with a Southern twist; locally sourced ingredients. Rooftop bar. $$$ FB R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 869 Stockton St., Stes. 1 & 2, 855-1181. BOJ winner. F Small-batch, artisanal coffee roasting. Organic, fair trade. $ BW TO B L Daily BREW FIVE POINTS, 1024 Park St., 714-3402, brewfive points.com. Local craft beer, espresso, coffee and wine bar. Rotating drafts, 75+ canned craft beers; sodas, tea. Rotating seasonal menu of waffles, pastries, toasts, desserts to pair with specialty coffees, craft beers. $$ BW K B L Daily CORNER TACO, 818 Post St., 240-0412. Made-fromscratch “Mexclectic street food,” tacos, nachos, gluten-free and vegetarian options. $ BW L D Daily. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 5972 San Juan Ave., 693-9258. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. EDGEWOOD BAKERY, 1012 S. Edgewood Ave., 389-8054, edgewoodbakery.com. BOJ winner. 66+ years, full-service bakery. Fresh breakfast, pastries, petit fours, pies, cakes. Espresso, sandwiches, smoothies. $$ K TO B L Tue.-Sat. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999, europeanstreet.com. BOJ winner. 130+ imported beers, 20 on tap. NYC-style classic Reuben, sandwiches. Outside seating at some EStreets. $ BW K L D Daily GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET, 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com. BOJ winner. F Juice bar;
certified organic fruits, vegetables. 500+ craft/import beers, 250 wines, organic produce, humanely raised meats, deli, raw items, vegan, vitamins, herbs. $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FARE, 1001 Park St., 508-0342, hawkerstreetfare.com. BOJ winner. Authentic dishes from mobile stalls. $ BW TO L D Daily JOHNNY’S DELI & GRILLE, 474 Riverside Ave., 356-8055. This casual spot offers sandwiches, classic salads, homefries. One word: Reuben. $ TO B L Daily KNEAD BAKESHOP, 1173 Edgewood Ave. S. Locally-owned, family-run bake shop; made-from-scratch pastries, artisan breads, pies, specialty sandwiches, soups. $ TO B L Tue.-Sun. LARRY’S SUBS, 1509 Margaret, 674-2794. 7895 Normandy, 781-7600. 8102 Blanding, 779-1933. F SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., Ortega, 999-4600. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MONROE’S Smokehouse BAR-B-Q, 4838 Highway Ave., 389-5551, monroessmokehousebbq.com. Wings, pulled pork, brisket, turkey, ribs. Homestyle sides: beans, baked beans, mac-n-cheese, collards. $$ K TO L Mon.-Sat.; D Fri. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., 389-4442. F BOJ winner. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. MOSSFIRE GRILL, 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire. com. F Southwestern fish tacos, enchiladas. Happy hour Mon.-Sat. upstairs lounge, all day Sun. $$ FB K L D Daily O’BROTHERS IRISH PUB, 1521 Margaret St., 854-9300,
Photos by Caron Streibich
BITE-SIZED
BITE SIZED
CASUAL FALAFEL
Springfield’s auto-shop-adjacent Mediterranean spot is mostly fresh, decidedly unpretentious, and solid on its own terms tahini sauce. My side items were traditional IF YOU’RE HUNGRY and cruising Downtown favorites, hummus and tabouli. Both were in search of something different, head fresh and excellent. Also on the platter were straight down Main Street into historic slices of colorful crunchy pickled turnip, Springfield and look for the brightly colored cucumbers and a small bed of iceberg Wafaa & Mike’s Café. (I hear the adjacent lettuce and tomato. The falafel is also auto shop, which shares an owner, is available in wrap form. excellent, too.) Another success was the kibbe – Open Monday through Saturday for lunch croquette-like football-shaped nuggets of and dinner, the Mediterranean (their sign ground meat mixed with minced onions and says “Mid-Eastern”) restaurant has been in bulgur wheat. town for fi ve years. It’s a decidedly casual I didn’t care for the grape leaves, which spot, so don’t come expecting pressed linens were served cold and had an off-putting and silver. But it’s solid for what it is. spice that I couldn’t pinpoint. Skip these. We started with baba ghanoush ($4.99). I wanted to try the It was delightfully smoky Turkish (read: strong) and creamy, topped with WAFAA & MIKE’S CAFE coffee ($1.99), but it a drizzle of olive oil and 1544 N. Main St., Springfield was late in the afternoon paprika, and served with 683-8313 and our waitress politely a basket of pita triangles steered me away, for dipping. The pita was explaining I probably stiff and room temperature, wouldn’t get a good night’s rest. so we asked for fresh, warm pita. Moments A dollar scores you a crisp, sweet square later, we were given a new batch. of happiness – also known as baklava – so Platters seemed to be the way to go. keep dessert on your agenda. Wafaa & Each of the dozen or so platters includes Mike’s does this pastry treat just right. a choice of two side items. I went with the falafel ($10.99), and it was fantastic Caron Streibich – freshly crafted chickpea orbs of delight facebook.com/folioweeklybitesized you can dip in the accompanying nutty biteclub@folioweekly.com l
l
FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35
l
6 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
PAVE PARADISE <<< FROM PREVIOUS
of the 395-acre parcel undeveloped. This isn’t development run amok. Even so, St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman wants a more comprehensive inquiry into the project’s potential environmental ramifications before the City Council signs off. The proposed development’s density as well as its proximity to “an environmentally sensitive area” are “worrying,” Rinaman says. And she notes that with 790 homes, “you’re going to have a ton of fertilizers, pesticides, people washing their cars, all on a curb-and-gutter system that empties into those ponds.” The ponds Rinaman is referring to are the multiple retention ponds in which the development’s storm water will be treated before being deposited into Edwards Creek, which is attached to the St. Johns River through a system of tributaries. Rinaman is concerned that the intensity of the new development, and the amount of runoff it will produce, threatens adjacent environmentally protected lands. At the very least, she says, this needs to be thoroughly and cautiously investigated. “The state of Florida and the city of Jacksonville have put a lot of effort into protecting these lands,” Rinaman says. “There are higher levels of protection around these areas to protect them from degradation. I’m just not sure how you can meet these high standards with the high levels of density they are proposing.” Rinaman also questions the urgency with which Signature and Leggett have tried to “fast-track” their proposal. “If you are confident you can meet these high standards, then what is the rush?” she asks. “Let’s sit down and bring all the interested parties to the table.” Among those interested parties is The Florida Wildlife Federation, which sent a letter to the Planning Commission expressing its concerns about the adjacent Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve. Leggett’s proposed development, the letter says, conflicts with Pumpkin Hill Preserve’s plans to add land to the state’s parks system. In addition, 1,000 Friends of Florida, a nonprofit that advocates for smart growth, weighed in as well, with a letter opposing the development because it has too many new homes. Though many of development’s opponents are advocating on behalf of the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, the Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation — the preserve’s official friends group — has been relatively quiet. Maria D. Mark, executive director of TTPF, says that even if anything about the development were to potentially threaten the preserve, she has two reasons for believing
it would ultimately be protected: One, interestingly enough, is that T.R. Hainline, the lawyer representing Leggett, is a TTPF board member. “T.R. has the insight and passion to see that the preserve is not put in jeopardy,” Mark says. Reason two, Mark says, is Holt’s Feb. 5 promise to defer the proposal in his committee. “It seems like, with the deferment, the proposal will be on the slow track. I think we have time to get things worked out.” For now, she says, “neither the TTPF nor National Parks Service is taking a formal position.” But promises, much like ecosystems, can be fragile. rior to the Feb. 18 Land Use and Zoning Committee meeting, Holt mediated a meeting between opposition rep Williams, Rinaman and Leggett. According to sources, no concessions were made and very little was accomplished — except that Holt withdrew his commitment to defer the proposal when it reaches his committee. When Folio Weekly reached Holt for comment afterward, he said the intent of his promise was to give both sides a chance to sit down and hash things out, and since they’d done that, he wanted to “let the committee decide on deferment.” Holt did admit he felt his committee would be under “significant pressure from the community” to defer action on the proposal. He was right. Following Signature Land’s presentation and then a public comments session in which some 30 Oceanway residents voiced their concerns, the LUZ Committee put off its decision on the rezoning, citing a desire to hear more from the effected groups. The development has been stalled. This was, for Oceanway residents, at least a temporary victory. But perhaps it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to forestall the creep of sprawl into their rural paradise forever, whether it’s Leggett or someone else doing the building. Weeks ago, at that town hall meeting when Oceanway residents drew their proverbial line in the sand, Signature attorney T.R. Hainline pointed to renderings of the proposed Edwards Creek Preserve development and prophesied what might be considered an uncomfortable truth. With developers pounding on their back door — and, for that matter, their front door, too — Hainline asked, “Do you want a master-planned community like this, or do you want something else?” mail@folioweekly.com
P
“The location, the timing, it’s all just too much,” says Williams.
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FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 13
A&E // MUSIC
RISING SOUNDS Orlando’s Sabals step into the spotlight with a unique electronic-folk sound
N
amed for a subtropical species of palm, Sabals is a four-piece indie rock band from Orlando with a brand-new, label-funded EP and high hopes of playing for the man instead of working for the man. “The easiest answer is that we will become busy enough with Sabals to quit our day jobs,” Beth Bynum (vocals/guitar) says of how the quartet’s future is shaping up. “Beyond that, it’s probably traveling the world.” The official Sabals formation story is a bit foggy. In 2010, Beth met now-husband Dan Bynum when the two were living in Los Angeles. They connected on multiple levels, spending the next few years writing and unfold on its own.” “Blistering,” the debut single from the new recording songs together. EP, was released on Nov. 4 and has received “Dan and I met through a mutual friend international attention from music blogs as when I was playing in a folk-Americana band well as radio play on Seattle’s KEXP. “I wrote called The Branches,” Beth says. “When that [the song] sort of by accident a few years project ended, I pursued a solo project. Dan ago while playing electric guitar at our old has always been an incredible recording practice space in L.A.,” says Beth. “The style is engineer and producer, so, before Sabals, we more punk-influenced than anything, but we really just worked on recording together.” really worked to make it fit our sound.” In 2013, the Bynums relocated to Dan’s A self-described “indie-electronic, femalehomeland of Central Florida. A year later, fronted band with dark and spacey melodies they met Jessica Vacha, a drummer and and very big and a veteran of the present vocals,” Orlando music scene. Sabals took about a In April 2014, the SABALS with ANCESTROS CORD week’s worth of time threesome expanded 7 p.m. March 2 at Jack Rabbits, — spread out over on the already-evident 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $8 a few months — to acoustic stylings of record Premonitions. Beth and Dan and “We had the songs written and worked formed Sabals — recording their debut EP out as a band ahead of time, so tracking was Covered In Red just a few months later. pretty smooth,” says Beth. “We did add some In less than a year, the trio became a extra synth and vocal parts once all of the quartet — adding Trė Hester on bass — and main tracking was done. It was a lot of fun they’ve been developing a signature sound developing ideas with David Plakon, who consisting of acoustic-meets-electronic engineered the record. He has a great ear, and compositions, soundscapes and heartfelt he challenged me vocally in the best way.” storytelling usually reserved for traditional, Sabals staged an official release party at classic singer-songwriters. Will’s Pub in Orlando on Feb. 19; they travel They also just dropped a brand-new EP, up to Jack Rabbits on Monday, March 2 for Premonitions, which was funded by Eye the band’s first-ever Jacksonville show. Four Records and recorded at North Avenue When the four musicians aren’t tooling Studios in DeLand. around North and Central Florida for gigs “The four songs are all so diverse, but I or rehearsing for upcoming engagements, think the underlying elements are congruent they’re grinding away at day jobs (librarian and I love how the record flows,” Beth says. and waitress included) and putting together “People always tell me they get a very spooky, new material. dark sort of ethereal feeling when they listen “We’re writing songs faster than we can to our songs, which is absolutely what I am record them, so I’m sure another release will trying to convey in the songwriting and come out in the fall,” says Beth. “Other than production.” that, we’ll be touring as much as possible. It Beth, the band’s principal songwriter, seems like traveling as a band is such a great writes the lyrics and “skeleton” of each way to experience new and unique places, and song on her acoustic guitar before bringing it’s great to have something we can share with her ideas to the table. “Then we all develop those places when we get there.” the song and soundscapes as a group,” she explains. “Many great songs have come from Kara Pound just jamming on an idea and letting the song mail@folioweekly.com l
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28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
DINING DIRECTORY BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, black sheep5points.com. New American with a Southern twist; locally sourced ingredients. Rooftop bar. $$$ FB R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 869 Stockton St., Stes. 1 & 2, 855-1181. BOJ winner. F Small-batch, artisanal coffee roasting. Organic, fair trade. $ BW TO B L Daily BREW FIVE POINTS, 1024 Park St., 714-3402, brewfive points.com. Local craft beer, espresso, coffee and wine bar. Rotating drafts, 75+ canned craft beers; sodas, tea. Rotating seasonal menu of waffles, pastries, toasts, desserts to pair with specialty coffees, craft beers. $$ BW K B L Daily CORNER TACO, 818 Post St., 240-0412. Made-fromscratch “Mexclectic street food,” tacos, nachos, gluten-free and vegetarian options. $ BW L D Daily. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 5972 San Juan Ave., 693-9258. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. EDGEWOOD BAKERY, 1012 S. Edgewood Ave., 389-8054, edgewoodbakery.com. BOJ winner. 66+ years, full-service bakery. Fresh breakfast, pastries, petit fours, pies, cakes. Espresso, sandwiches, smoothies. $$ K TO B L Tue.-Sat. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999, europeanstreet.com. BOJ winner. 130+ imported beers, 20 on tap. NYC-style classic Reuben, sandwiches. Outside seating at some EStreets. $ BW K L D Daily GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET, 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com. BOJ winner. F Juice bar;
certified organic fruits, vegetables. 500+ craft/import beers, 250 wines, organic produce, humanely raised meats, deli, raw items, vegan, vitamins, herbs. $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FARE, 1001 Park St., 508-0342, hawkerstreetfare.com. BOJ winner. Authentic dishes from mobile stalls. $ BW TO L D Daily JOHNNY’S DELI & GRILLE, 474 Riverside Ave., 356-8055. This casual spot offers sandwiches, classic salads, homefries. One word: Reuben. $ TO B L Daily KNEAD BAKESHOP, 1173 Edgewood Ave. S. Locally-owned, family-run bake shop; made-from-scratch pastries, artisan breads, pies, specialty sandwiches, soups. $ TO B L Tue.-Sun. LARRY’S SUBS, 1509 Margaret, 674-2794. 7895 Normandy, 781-7600. 8102 Blanding, 779-1933. F SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., Ortega, 999-4600. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MONROE’S Smokehouse BAR-B-Q, 4838 Highway Ave., 389-5551, monroessmokehousebbq.com. Wings, pulled pork, brisket, turkey, ribs. Homestyle sides: beans, baked beans, mac-n-cheese, collards. $$ K TO L Mon.-Sat.; D Fri. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., 389-4442. F BOJ winner. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. MOSSFIRE GRILL, 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire. com. F Southwestern fish tacos, enchiladas. Happy hour Mon.-Sat. upstairs lounge, all day Sun. $$ FB K L D Daily O’BROTHERS IRISH PUB, 1521 Margaret St., 854-9300,
Photos by Caron Streibich
BITE-SIZED
BITE SIZED
CASUAL FALAFEL
Springfield’s auto-shop-adjacent Mediterranean spot is mostly fresh, decidedly unpretentious, and solid on its own terms tahini sauce. My side items were traditional IF YOU’RE HUNGRY and cruising Downtown favorites, hummus and tabouli. Both were in search of something different, head fresh and excellent. Also on the platter were straight down Main Street into historic slices of colorful crunchy pickled turnip, Springfield and look for the brightly colored cucumbers and a small bed of iceberg Wafaa & Mike’s Café. (I hear the adjacent lettuce and tomato. The falafel is also auto shop, which shares an owner, is available in wrap form. excellent, too.) Another success was the kibbe – Open Monday through Saturday for lunch croquette-like football-shaped nuggets of and dinner, the Mediterranean (their sign ground meat mixed with minced onions and says “Mid-Eastern”) restaurant has been in bulgur wheat. town for fi ve years. It’s a decidedly casual I didn’t care for the grape leaves, which spot, so don’t come expecting pressed linens were served cold and had an off-putting and silver. But it’s solid for what it is. spice that I couldn’t pinpoint. Skip these. We started with baba ghanoush ($4.99). I wanted to try the It was delightfully smoky Turkish (read: strong) and creamy, topped with WAFAA & MIKE’S CAFE coffee ($1.99), but it a drizzle of olive oil and 1544 N. Main St., Springfield was late in the afternoon paprika, and served with 683-8313 and our waitress politely a basket of pita triangles steered me away, for dipping. The pita was explaining I probably stiff and room temperature, wouldn’t get a good night’s rest. so we asked for fresh, warm pita. Moments A dollar scores you a crisp, sweet square later, we were given a new batch. of happiness – also known as baklava – so Platters seemed to be the way to go. keep dessert on your agenda. Wafaa & Each of the dozen or so platters includes Mike’s does this pastry treat just right. a choice of two side items. I went with the falafel ($10.99), and it was fantastic Caron Streibich – freshly crafted chickpea orbs of delight facebook.com/folioweeklybitesized you can dip in the accompanying nutty biteclub@folioweekly.com l
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FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35
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6 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
PAVE PARADISE <<< FROM PREVIOUS
of the 395-acre parcel undeveloped. This isn’t development run amok. Even so, St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman wants a more comprehensive inquiry into the project’s potential environmental ramifications before the City Council signs off. The proposed development’s density as well as its proximity to “an environmentally sensitive area” are “worrying,” Rinaman says. And she notes that with 790 homes, “you’re going to have a ton of fertilizers, pesticides, people washing their cars, all on a curb-and-gutter system that empties into those ponds.” The ponds Rinaman is referring to are the multiple retention ponds in which the development’s storm water will be treated before being deposited into Edwards Creek, which is attached to the St. Johns River through a system of tributaries. Rinaman is concerned that the intensity of the new development, and the amount of runoff it will produce, threatens adjacent environmentally protected lands. At the very least, she says, this needs to be thoroughly and cautiously investigated. “The state of Florida and the city of Jacksonville have put a lot of effort into protecting these lands,” Rinaman says. “There are higher levels of protection around these areas to protect them from degradation. I’m just not sure how you can meet these high standards with the high levels of density they are proposing.” Rinaman also questions the urgency with which Signature and Leggett have tried to “fast-track” their proposal. “If you are confident you can meet these high standards, then what is the rush?” she asks. “Let’s sit down and bring all the interested parties to the table.” Among those interested parties is The Florida Wildlife Federation, which sent a letter to the Planning Commission expressing its concerns about the adjacent Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve. Leggett’s proposed development, the letter says, conflicts with Pumpkin Hill Preserve’s plans to add land to the state’s parks system. In addition, 1,000 Friends of Florida, a nonprofit that advocates for smart growth, weighed in as well, with a letter opposing the development because it has too many new homes. Though many of development’s opponents are advocating on behalf of the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, the Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation — the preserve’s official friends group — has been relatively quiet. Maria D. Mark, executive director of TTPF, says that even if anything about the development were to potentially threaten the preserve, she has two reasons for believing
it would ultimately be protected: One, interestingly enough, is that T.R. Hainline, the lawyer representing Leggett, is a TTPF board member. “T.R. has the insight and passion to see that the preserve is not put in jeopardy,” Mark says. Reason two, Mark says, is Holt’s Feb. 5 promise to defer the proposal in his committee. “It seems like, with the deferment, the proposal will be on the slow track. I think we have time to get things worked out.” For now, she says, “neither the TTPF nor National Parks Service is taking a formal position.” But promises, much like ecosystems, can be fragile. rior to the Feb. 18 Land Use and Zoning Committee meeting, Holt mediated a meeting between opposition rep Williams, Rinaman and Leggett. According to sources, no concessions were made and very little was accomplished — except that Holt withdrew his commitment to defer the proposal when it reaches his committee. When Folio Weekly reached Holt for comment afterward, he said the intent of his promise was to give both sides a chance to sit down and hash things out, and since they’d done that, he wanted to “let the committee decide on deferment.” Holt did admit he felt his committee would be under “significant pressure from the community” to defer action on the proposal. He was right. Following Signature Land’s presentation and then a public comments session in which some 30 Oceanway residents voiced their concerns, the LUZ Committee put off its decision on the rezoning, citing a desire to hear more from the effected groups. The development has been stalled. This was, for Oceanway residents, at least a temporary victory. But perhaps it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to forestall the creep of sprawl into their rural paradise forever, whether it’s Leggett or someone else doing the building. Weeks ago, at that town hall meeting when Oceanway residents drew their proverbial line in the sand, Signature attorney T.R. Hainline pointed to renderings of the proposed Edwards Creek Preserve development and prophesied what might be considered an uncomfortable truth. With developers pounding on their back door — and, for that matter, their front door, too — Hainline asked, “Do you want a master-planned community like this, or do you want something else?” mail@folioweekly.com
P
“The location, the timing, it’s all just too much,” says Williams.
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FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 13
A&E // MUSIC
RISING SOUNDS Orlando’s Sabals step into the spotlight with a unique electronic-folk sound
N
amed for a subtropical species of palm, Sabals is a four-piece indie rock band from Orlando with a brand-new, label-funded EP and high hopes of playing for the man instead of working for the man. “The easiest answer is that we will become busy enough with Sabals to quit our day jobs,” Beth Bynum (vocals/guitar) says of how the quartet’s future is shaping up. “Beyond that, it’s probably traveling the world.” The official Sabals formation story is a bit foggy. In 2010, Beth met now-husband Dan Bynum when the two were living in Los Angeles. They connected on multiple levels, spending the next few years writing and unfold on its own.” “Blistering,” the debut single from the new recording songs together. EP, was released on Nov. 4 and has received “Dan and I met through a mutual friend international attention from music blogs as when I was playing in a folk-Americana band well as radio play on Seattle’s KEXP. “I wrote called The Branches,” Beth says. “When that [the song] sort of by accident a few years project ended, I pursued a solo project. Dan ago while playing electric guitar at our old has always been an incredible recording practice space in L.A.,” says Beth. “The style is engineer and producer, so, before Sabals, we more punk-influenced than anything, but we really just worked on recording together.” really worked to make it fit our sound.” In 2013, the Bynums relocated to Dan’s A self-described “indie-electronic, femalehomeland of Central Florida. A year later, fronted band with dark and spacey melodies they met Jessica Vacha, a drummer and and very big and a veteran of the present vocals,” Orlando music scene. Sabals took about a In April 2014, the SABALS with ANCESTROS CORD week’s worth of time threesome expanded 7 p.m. March 2 at Jack Rabbits, — spread out over on the already-evident 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $8 a few months — to acoustic stylings of record Premonitions. Beth and Dan and “We had the songs written and worked formed Sabals — recording their debut EP out as a band ahead of time, so tracking was Covered In Red just a few months later. pretty smooth,” says Beth. “We did add some In less than a year, the trio became a extra synth and vocal parts once all of the quartet — adding Trė Hester on bass — and main tracking was done. It was a lot of fun they’ve been developing a signature sound developing ideas with David Plakon, who consisting of acoustic-meets-electronic engineered the record. He has a great ear, and compositions, soundscapes and heartfelt he challenged me vocally in the best way.” storytelling usually reserved for traditional, Sabals staged an official release party at classic singer-songwriters. Will’s Pub in Orlando on Feb. 19; they travel They also just dropped a brand-new EP, up to Jack Rabbits on Monday, March 2 for Premonitions, which was funded by Eye the band’s first-ever Jacksonville show. Four Records and recorded at North Avenue When the four musicians aren’t tooling Studios in DeLand. around North and Central Florida for gigs “The four songs are all so diverse, but I or rehearsing for upcoming engagements, think the underlying elements are congruent they’re grinding away at day jobs (librarian and I love how the record flows,” Beth says. and waitress included) and putting together “People always tell me they get a very spooky, new material. dark sort of ethereal feeling when they listen “We’re writing songs faster than we can to our songs, which is absolutely what I am record them, so I’m sure another release will trying to convey in the songwriting and come out in the fall,” says Beth. “Other than production.” that, we’ll be touring as much as possible. It Beth, the band’s principal songwriter, seems like traveling as a band is such a great writes the lyrics and “skeleton” of each way to experience new and unique places, and song on her acoustic guitar before bringing it’s great to have something we can share with her ideas to the table. “Then we all develop those places when we get there.” the song and soundscapes as a group,” she explains. “Many great songs have come from Kara Pound just jamming on an idea and letting the song mail@folioweekly.com l
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28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
DINING DIRECTORY BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, black sheep5points.com. New American with a Southern twist; locally sourced ingredients. Rooftop bar. $$$ FB R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 869 Stockton St., Stes. 1 & 2, 855-1181. BOJ winner. F Small-batch, artisanal coffee roasting. Organic, fair trade. $ BW TO B L Daily BREW FIVE POINTS, 1024 Park St., 714-3402, brewfive points.com. Local craft beer, espresso, coffee and wine bar. Rotating drafts, 75+ canned craft beers; sodas, tea. Rotating seasonal menu of waffles, pastries, toasts, desserts to pair with specialty coffees, craft beers. $$ BW K B L Daily CORNER TACO, 818 Post St., 240-0412. Made-fromscratch “Mexclectic street food,” tacos, nachos, gluten-free and vegetarian options. $ BW L D Daily. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 5972 San Juan Ave., 693-9258. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. EDGEWOOD BAKERY, 1012 S. Edgewood Ave., 389-8054, edgewoodbakery.com. BOJ winner. 66+ years, full-service bakery. Fresh breakfast, pastries, petit fours, pies, cakes. Espresso, sandwiches, smoothies. $$ K TO B L Tue.-Sat. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999, europeanstreet.com. BOJ winner. 130+ imported beers, 20 on tap. NYC-style classic Reuben, sandwiches. Outside seating at some EStreets. $ BW K L D Daily GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET, 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com. BOJ winner. F Juice bar;
certified organic fruits, vegetables. 500+ craft/import beers, 250 wines, organic produce, humanely raised meats, deli, raw items, vegan, vitamins, herbs. $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FARE, 1001 Park St., 508-0342, hawkerstreetfare.com. BOJ winner. Authentic dishes from mobile stalls. $ BW TO L D Daily JOHNNY’S DELI & GRILLE, 474 Riverside Ave., 356-8055. This casual spot offers sandwiches, classic salads, homefries. One word: Reuben. $ TO B L Daily KNEAD BAKESHOP, 1173 Edgewood Ave. S. Locally-owned, family-run bake shop; made-from-scratch pastries, artisan breads, pies, specialty sandwiches, soups. $ TO B L Tue.-Sun. LARRY’S SUBS, 1509 Margaret, 674-2794. 7895 Normandy, 781-7600. 8102 Blanding, 779-1933. F SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., Ortega, 999-4600. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MONROE’S Smokehouse BAR-B-Q, 4838 Highway Ave., 389-5551, monroessmokehousebbq.com. Wings, pulled pork, brisket, turkey, ribs. Homestyle sides: beans, baked beans, mac-n-cheese, collards. $$ K TO L Mon.-Sat.; D Fri. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., 389-4442. F BOJ winner. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. MOSSFIRE GRILL, 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire. com. F Southwestern fish tacos, enchiladas. Happy hour Mon.-Sat. upstairs lounge, all day Sun. $$ FB K L D Daily O’BROTHERS IRISH PUB, 1521 Margaret St., 854-9300,
Photos by Caron Streibich
BITE-SIZED
BITE SIZED
CASUAL FALAFEL
Springfield’s auto-shop-adjacent Mediterranean spot is mostly fresh, decidedly unpretentious, and solid on its own terms tahini sauce. My side items were traditional IF YOU’RE HUNGRY and cruising Downtown favorites, hummus and tabouli. Both were in search of something different, head fresh and excellent. Also on the platter were straight down Main Street into historic slices of colorful crunchy pickled turnip, Springfield and look for the brightly colored cucumbers and a small bed of iceberg Wafaa & Mike’s Café. (I hear the adjacent lettuce and tomato. The falafel is also auto shop, which shares an owner, is available in wrap form. excellent, too.) Another success was the kibbe – Open Monday through Saturday for lunch croquette-like football-shaped nuggets of and dinner, the Mediterranean (their sign ground meat mixed with minced onions and says “Mid-Eastern”) restaurant has been in bulgur wheat. town for fi ve years. It’s a decidedly casual I didn’t care for the grape leaves, which spot, so don’t come expecting pressed linens were served cold and had an off-putting and silver. But it’s solid for what it is. spice that I couldn’t pinpoint. Skip these. We started with baba ghanoush ($4.99). I wanted to try the It was delightfully smoky Turkish (read: strong) and creamy, topped with WAFAA & MIKE’S CAFE coffee ($1.99), but it a drizzle of olive oil and 1544 N. Main St., Springfield was late in the afternoon paprika, and served with 683-8313 and our waitress politely a basket of pita triangles steered me away, for dipping. The pita was explaining I probably stiff and room temperature, wouldn’t get a good night’s rest. so we asked for fresh, warm pita. Moments A dollar scores you a crisp, sweet square later, we were given a new batch. of happiness – also known as baklava – so Platters seemed to be the way to go. keep dessert on your agenda. Wafaa & Each of the dozen or so platters includes Mike’s does this pastry treat just right. a choice of two side items. I went with the falafel ($10.99), and it was fantastic Caron Streibich – freshly crafted chickpea orbs of delight facebook.com/folioweeklybitesized you can dip in the accompanying nutty biteclub@folioweekly.com l
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FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35
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6 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
PAVE PARADISE <<< FROM PREVIOUS
of the 395-acre parcel undeveloped. This isn’t development run amok. Even so, St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman wants a more comprehensive inquiry into the project’s potential environmental ramifications before the City Council signs off. The proposed development’s density as well as its proximity to “an environmentally sensitive area” are “worrying,” Rinaman says. And she notes that with 790 homes, “you’re going to have a ton of fertilizers, pesticides, people washing their cars, all on a curb-and-gutter system that empties into those ponds.” The ponds Rinaman is referring to are the multiple retention ponds in which the development’s storm water will be treated before being deposited into Edwards Creek, which is attached to the St. Johns River through a system of tributaries. Rinaman is concerned that the intensity of the new development, and the amount of runoff it will produce, threatens adjacent environmentally protected lands. At the very least, she says, this needs to be thoroughly and cautiously investigated. “The state of Florida and the city of Jacksonville have put a lot of effort into protecting these lands,” Rinaman says. “There are higher levels of protection around these areas to protect them from degradation. I’m just not sure how you can meet these high standards with the high levels of density they are proposing.” Rinaman also questions the urgency with which Signature and Leggett have tried to “fast-track” their proposal. “If you are confident you can meet these high standards, then what is the rush?” she asks. “Let’s sit down and bring all the interested parties to the table.” Among those interested parties is The Florida Wildlife Federation, which sent a letter to the Planning Commission expressing its concerns about the adjacent Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve. Leggett’s proposed development, the letter says, conflicts with Pumpkin Hill Preserve’s plans to add land to the state’s parks system. In addition, 1,000 Friends of Florida, a nonprofit that advocates for smart growth, weighed in as well, with a letter opposing the development because it has too many new homes. Though many of development’s opponents are advocating on behalf of the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, the Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation — the preserve’s official friends group — has been relatively quiet. Maria D. Mark, executive director of TTPF, says that even if anything about the development were to potentially threaten the preserve, she has two reasons for believing
it would ultimately be protected: One, interestingly enough, is that T.R. Hainline, the lawyer representing Leggett, is a TTPF board member. “T.R. has the insight and passion to see that the preserve is not put in jeopardy,” Mark says. Reason two, Mark says, is Holt’s Feb. 5 promise to defer the proposal in his committee. “It seems like, with the deferment, the proposal will be on the slow track. I think we have time to get things worked out.” For now, she says, “neither the TTPF nor National Parks Service is taking a formal position.” But promises, much like ecosystems, can be fragile. rior to the Feb. 18 Land Use and Zoning Committee meeting, Holt mediated a meeting between opposition rep Williams, Rinaman and Leggett. According to sources, no concessions were made and very little was accomplished — except that Holt withdrew his commitment to defer the proposal when it reaches his committee. When Folio Weekly reached Holt for comment afterward, he said the intent of his promise was to give both sides a chance to sit down and hash things out, and since they’d done that, he wanted to “let the committee decide on deferment.” Holt did admit he felt his committee would be under “significant pressure from the community” to defer action on the proposal. He was right. Following Signature Land’s presentation and then a public comments session in which some 30 Oceanway residents voiced their concerns, the LUZ Committee put off its decision on the rezoning, citing a desire to hear more from the effected groups. The development has been stalled. This was, for Oceanway residents, at least a temporary victory. But perhaps it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to forestall the creep of sprawl into their rural paradise forever, whether it’s Leggett or someone else doing the building. Weeks ago, at that town hall meeting when Oceanway residents drew their proverbial line in the sand, Signature attorney T.R. Hainline pointed to renderings of the proposed Edwards Creek Preserve development and prophesied what might be considered an uncomfortable truth. With developers pounding on their back door — and, for that matter, their front door, too — Hainline asked, “Do you want a master-planned community like this, or do you want something else?” mail@folioweekly.com
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“The location, the timing, it’s all just too much,” says Williams.
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FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 13
A&E // MUSIC
RISING SOUNDS Orlando’s Sabals step into the spotlight with a unique electronic-folk sound
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amed for a subtropical species of palm, Sabals is a four-piece indie rock band from Orlando with a brand-new, label-funded EP and high hopes of playing for the man instead of working for the man. “The easiest answer is that we will become busy enough with Sabals to quit our day jobs,” Beth Bynum (vocals/guitar) says of how the quartet’s future is shaping up. “Beyond that, it’s probably traveling the world.” The official Sabals formation story is a bit foggy. In 2010, Beth met now-husband Dan Bynum when the two were living in Los Angeles. They connected on multiple levels, spending the next few years writing and unfold on its own.” “Blistering,” the debut single from the new recording songs together. EP, was released on Nov. 4 and has received “Dan and I met through a mutual friend international attention from music blogs as when I was playing in a folk-Americana band well as radio play on Seattle’s KEXP. “I wrote called The Branches,” Beth says. “When that [the song] sort of by accident a few years project ended, I pursued a solo project. Dan ago while playing electric guitar at our old has always been an incredible recording practice space in L.A.,” says Beth. “The style is engineer and producer, so, before Sabals, we more punk-influenced than anything, but we really just worked on recording together.” really worked to make it fit our sound.” In 2013, the Bynums relocated to Dan’s A self-described “indie-electronic, femalehomeland of Central Florida. A year later, fronted band with dark and spacey melodies they met Jessica Vacha, a drummer and and very big and a veteran of the present vocals,” Orlando music scene. Sabals took about a In April 2014, the SABALS with ANCESTROS CORD week’s worth of time threesome expanded 7 p.m. March 2 at Jack Rabbits, — spread out over on the already-evident 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $8 a few months — to acoustic stylings of record Premonitions. Beth and Dan and “We had the songs written and worked formed Sabals — recording their debut EP out as a band ahead of time, so tracking was Covered In Red just a few months later. pretty smooth,” says Beth. “We did add some In less than a year, the trio became a extra synth and vocal parts once all of the quartet — adding Trė Hester on bass — and main tracking was done. It was a lot of fun they’ve been developing a signature sound developing ideas with David Plakon, who consisting of acoustic-meets-electronic engineered the record. He has a great ear, and compositions, soundscapes and heartfelt he challenged me vocally in the best way.” storytelling usually reserved for traditional, Sabals staged an official release party at classic singer-songwriters. Will’s Pub in Orlando on Feb. 19; they travel They also just dropped a brand-new EP, up to Jack Rabbits on Monday, March 2 for Premonitions, which was funded by Eye the band’s first-ever Jacksonville show. Four Records and recorded at North Avenue When the four musicians aren’t tooling Studios in DeLand. around North and Central Florida for gigs “The four songs are all so diverse, but I or rehearsing for upcoming engagements, think the underlying elements are congruent they’re grinding away at day jobs (librarian and I love how the record flows,” Beth says. and waitress included) and putting together “People always tell me they get a very spooky, new material. dark sort of ethereal feeling when they listen “We’re writing songs faster than we can to our songs, which is absolutely what I am record them, so I’m sure another release will trying to convey in the songwriting and come out in the fall,” says Beth. “Other than production.” that, we’ll be touring as much as possible. It Beth, the band’s principal songwriter, seems like traveling as a band is such a great writes the lyrics and “skeleton” of each way to experience new and unique places, and song on her acoustic guitar before bringing it’s great to have something we can share with her ideas to the table. “Then we all develop those places when we get there.” the song and soundscapes as a group,” she explains. “Many great songs have come from Kara Pound just jamming on an idea and letting the song mail@folioweekly.com l
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28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
DINING DIRECTORY BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, black sheep5points.com. New American with a Southern twist; locally sourced ingredients. Rooftop bar. $$$ FB R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 869 Stockton St., Stes. 1 & 2, 855-1181. BOJ winner. F Small-batch, artisanal coffee roasting. Organic, fair trade. $ BW TO B L Daily BREW FIVE POINTS, 1024 Park St., 714-3402, brewfive points.com. Local craft beer, espresso, coffee and wine bar. Rotating drafts, 75+ canned craft beers; sodas, tea. Rotating seasonal menu of waffles, pastries, toasts, desserts to pair with specialty coffees, craft beers. $$ BW K B L Daily CORNER TACO, 818 Post St., 240-0412. Made-fromscratch “Mexclectic street food,” tacos, nachos, gluten-free and vegetarian options. $ BW L D Daily. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 5972 San Juan Ave., 693-9258. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. EDGEWOOD BAKERY, 1012 S. Edgewood Ave., 389-8054, edgewoodbakery.com. BOJ winner. 66+ years, full-service bakery. Fresh breakfast, pastries, petit fours, pies, cakes. Espresso, sandwiches, smoothies. $$ K TO B L Tue.-Sat. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999, europeanstreet.com. BOJ winner. 130+ imported beers, 20 on tap. NYC-style classic Reuben, sandwiches. Outside seating at some EStreets. $ BW K L D Daily GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET, 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com. BOJ winner. F Juice bar;
certified organic fruits, vegetables. 500+ craft/import beers, 250 wines, organic produce, humanely raised meats, deli, raw items, vegan, vitamins, herbs. $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FARE, 1001 Park St., 508-0342, hawkerstreetfare.com. BOJ winner. Authentic dishes from mobile stalls. $ BW TO L D Daily JOHNNY’S DELI & GRILLE, 474 Riverside Ave., 356-8055. This casual spot offers sandwiches, classic salads, homefries. One word: Reuben. $ TO B L Daily KNEAD BAKESHOP, 1173 Edgewood Ave. S. Locally-owned, family-run bake shop; made-from-scratch pastries, artisan breads, pies, specialty sandwiches, soups. $ TO B L Tue.-Sun. LARRY’S SUBS, 1509 Margaret, 674-2794. 7895 Normandy, 781-7600. 8102 Blanding, 779-1933. F SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., Ortega, 999-4600. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MONROE’S Smokehouse BAR-B-Q, 4838 Highway Ave., 389-5551, monroessmokehousebbq.com. Wings, pulled pork, brisket, turkey, ribs. Homestyle sides: beans, baked beans, mac-n-cheese, collards. $$ K TO L Mon.-Sat.; D Fri. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., 389-4442. F BOJ winner. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. MOSSFIRE GRILL, 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire. com. F Southwestern fish tacos, enchiladas. Happy hour Mon.-Sat. upstairs lounge, all day Sun. $$ FB K L D Daily O’BROTHERS IRISH PUB, 1521 Margaret St., 854-9300,
Photos by Caron Streibich
BITE-SIZED
BITE SIZED
CASUAL FALAFEL
Springfield’s auto-shop-adjacent Mediterranean spot is mostly fresh, decidedly unpretentious, and solid on its own terms tahini sauce. My side items were traditional IF YOU’RE HUNGRY and cruising Downtown favorites, hummus and tabouli. Both were in search of something different, head fresh and excellent. Also on the platter were straight down Main Street into historic slices of colorful crunchy pickled turnip, Springfield and look for the brightly colored cucumbers and a small bed of iceberg Wafaa & Mike’s Café. (I hear the adjacent lettuce and tomato. The falafel is also auto shop, which shares an owner, is available in wrap form. excellent, too.) Another success was the kibbe – Open Monday through Saturday for lunch croquette-like football-shaped nuggets of and dinner, the Mediterranean (their sign ground meat mixed with minced onions and says “Mid-Eastern”) restaurant has been in bulgur wheat. town for fi ve years. It’s a decidedly casual I didn’t care for the grape leaves, which spot, so don’t come expecting pressed linens were served cold and had an off-putting and silver. But it’s solid for what it is. spice that I couldn’t pinpoint. Skip these. We started with baba ghanoush ($4.99). I wanted to try the It was delightfully smoky Turkish (read: strong) and creamy, topped with WAFAA & MIKE’S CAFE coffee ($1.99), but it a drizzle of olive oil and 1544 N. Main St., Springfield was late in the afternoon paprika, and served with 683-8313 and our waitress politely a basket of pita triangles steered me away, for dipping. The pita was explaining I probably stiff and room temperature, wouldn’t get a good night’s rest. so we asked for fresh, warm pita. Moments A dollar scores you a crisp, sweet square later, we were given a new batch. of happiness – also known as baklava – so Platters seemed to be the way to go. keep dessert on your agenda. Wafaa & Each of the dozen or so platters includes Mike’s does this pastry treat just right. a choice of two side items. I went with the falafel ($10.99), and it was fantastic Caron Streibich – freshly crafted chickpea orbs of delight facebook.com/folioweeklybitesized you can dip in the accompanying nutty biteclub@folioweekly.com l
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FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35
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PAVE PARADISE <<< FROM PREVIOUS
of the 395-acre parcel undeveloped. This isn’t development run amok. Even so, St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman wants a more comprehensive inquiry into the project’s potential environmental ramifications before the City Council signs off. The proposed development’s density as well as its proximity to “an environmentally sensitive area” are “worrying,” Rinaman says. And she notes that with 790 homes, “you’re going to have a ton of fertilizers, pesticides, people washing their cars, all on a curb-and-gutter system that empties into those ponds.” The ponds Rinaman is referring to are the multiple retention ponds in which the development’s storm water will be treated before being deposited into Edwards Creek, which is attached to the St. Johns River through a system of tributaries. Rinaman is concerned that the intensity of the new development, and the amount of runoff it will produce, threatens adjacent environmentally protected lands. At the very least, she says, this needs to be thoroughly and cautiously investigated. “The state of Florida and the city of Jacksonville have put a lot of effort into protecting these lands,” Rinaman says. “There are higher levels of protection around these areas to protect them from degradation. I’m just not sure how you can meet these high standards with the high levels of density they are proposing.” Rinaman also questions the urgency with which Signature and Leggett have tried to “fast-track” their proposal. “If you are confident you can meet these high standards, then what is the rush?” she asks. “Let’s sit down and bring all the interested parties to the table.” Among those interested parties is The Florida Wildlife Federation, which sent a letter to the Planning Commission expressing its concerns about the adjacent Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve. Leggett’s proposed development, the letter says, conflicts with Pumpkin Hill Preserve’s plans to add land to the state’s parks system. In addition, 1,000 Friends of Florida, a nonprofit that advocates for smart growth, weighed in as well, with a letter opposing the development because it has too many new homes. Though many of development’s opponents are advocating on behalf of the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, the Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation — the preserve’s official friends group — has been relatively quiet. Maria D. Mark, executive director of TTPF, says that even if anything about the development were to potentially threaten the preserve, she has two reasons for believing
it would ultimately be protected: One, interestingly enough, is that T.R. Hainline, the lawyer representing Leggett, is a TTPF board member. “T.R. has the insight and passion to see that the preserve is not put in jeopardy,” Mark says. Reason two, Mark says, is Holt’s Feb. 5 promise to defer the proposal in his committee. “It seems like, with the deferment, the proposal will be on the slow track. I think we have time to get things worked out.” For now, she says, “neither the TTPF nor National Parks Service is taking a formal position.” But promises, much like ecosystems, can be fragile. rior to the Feb. 18 Land Use and Zoning Committee meeting, Holt mediated a meeting between opposition rep Williams, Rinaman and Leggett. According to sources, no concessions were made and very little was accomplished — except that Holt withdrew his commitment to defer the proposal when it reaches his committee. When Folio Weekly reached Holt for comment afterward, he said the intent of his promise was to give both sides a chance to sit down and hash things out, and since they’d done that, he wanted to “let the committee decide on deferment.” Holt did admit he felt his committee would be under “significant pressure from the community” to defer action on the proposal. He was right. Following Signature Land’s presentation and then a public comments session in which some 30 Oceanway residents voiced their concerns, the LUZ Committee put off its decision on the rezoning, citing a desire to hear more from the effected groups. The development has been stalled. This was, for Oceanway residents, at least a temporary victory. But perhaps it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to forestall the creep of sprawl into their rural paradise forever, whether it’s Leggett or someone else doing the building. Weeks ago, at that town hall meeting when Oceanway residents drew their proverbial line in the sand, Signature attorney T.R. Hainline pointed to renderings of the proposed Edwards Creek Preserve development and prophesied what might be considered an uncomfortable truth. With developers pounding on their back door — and, for that matter, their front door, too — Hainline asked, “Do you want a master-planned community like this, or do you want something else?” mail@folioweekly.com
P
“The location, the timing, it’s all just too much,” says Williams.
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FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 13
A&E // MUSIC
RISING SOUNDS Orlando’s Sabals step into the spotlight with a unique electronic-folk sound
N
amed for a subtropical species of palm, Sabals is a four-piece indie rock band from Orlando with a brand-new, label-funded EP and high hopes of playing for the man instead of working for the man. “The easiest answer is that we will become busy enough with Sabals to quit our day jobs,” Beth Bynum (vocals/guitar) says of how the quartet’s future is shaping up. “Beyond that, it’s probably traveling the world.” The official Sabals formation story is a bit foggy. In 2010, Beth met now-husband Dan Bynum when the two were living in Los Angeles. They connected on multiple levels, spending the next few years writing and unfold on its own.” “Blistering,” the debut single from the new recording songs together. EP, was released on Nov. 4 and has received “Dan and I met through a mutual friend international attention from music blogs as when I was playing in a folk-Americana band well as radio play on Seattle’s KEXP. “I wrote called The Branches,” Beth says. “When that [the song] sort of by accident a few years project ended, I pursued a solo project. Dan ago while playing electric guitar at our old has always been an incredible recording practice space in L.A.,” says Beth. “The style is engineer and producer, so, before Sabals, we more punk-influenced than anything, but we really just worked on recording together.” really worked to make it fit our sound.” In 2013, the Bynums relocated to Dan’s A self-described “indie-electronic, femalehomeland of Central Florida. A year later, fronted band with dark and spacey melodies they met Jessica Vacha, a drummer and and very big and a veteran of the present vocals,” Orlando music scene. Sabals took about a In April 2014, the SABALS with ANCESTROS CORD week’s worth of time threesome expanded 7 p.m. March 2 at Jack Rabbits, — spread out over on the already-evident 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $8 a few months — to acoustic stylings of record Premonitions. Beth and Dan and “We had the songs written and worked formed Sabals — recording their debut EP out as a band ahead of time, so tracking was Covered In Red just a few months later. pretty smooth,” says Beth. “We did add some In less than a year, the trio became a extra synth and vocal parts once all of the quartet — adding Trė Hester on bass — and main tracking was done. It was a lot of fun they’ve been developing a signature sound developing ideas with David Plakon, who consisting of acoustic-meets-electronic engineered the record. He has a great ear, and compositions, soundscapes and heartfelt he challenged me vocally in the best way.” storytelling usually reserved for traditional, Sabals staged an official release party at classic singer-songwriters. Will’s Pub in Orlando on Feb. 19; they travel They also just dropped a brand-new EP, up to Jack Rabbits on Monday, March 2 for Premonitions, which was funded by Eye the band’s first-ever Jacksonville show. Four Records and recorded at North Avenue When the four musicians aren’t tooling Studios in DeLand. around North and Central Florida for gigs “The four songs are all so diverse, but I or rehearsing for upcoming engagements, think the underlying elements are congruent they’re grinding away at day jobs (librarian and I love how the record flows,” Beth says. and waitress included) and putting together “People always tell me they get a very spooky, new material. dark sort of ethereal feeling when they listen “We’re writing songs faster than we can to our songs, which is absolutely what I am record them, so I’m sure another release will trying to convey in the songwriting and come out in the fall,” says Beth. “Other than production.” that, we’ll be touring as much as possible. It Beth, the band’s principal songwriter, seems like traveling as a band is such a great writes the lyrics and “skeleton” of each way to experience new and unique places, and song on her acoustic guitar before bringing it’s great to have something we can share with her ideas to the table. “Then we all develop those places when we get there.” the song and soundscapes as a group,” she explains. “Many great songs have come from Kara Pound just jamming on an idea and letting the song mail@folioweekly.com l
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28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015
DINING DIRECTORY BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, black sheep5points.com. New American with a Southern twist; locally sourced ingredients. Rooftop bar. $$$ FB R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 869 Stockton St., Stes. 1 & 2, 855-1181. BOJ winner. F Small-batch, artisanal coffee roasting. Organic, fair trade. $ BW TO B L Daily BREW FIVE POINTS, 1024 Park St., 714-3402, brewfive points.com. Local craft beer, espresso, coffee and wine bar. Rotating drafts, 75+ canned craft beers; sodas, tea. Rotating seasonal menu of waffles, pastries, toasts, desserts to pair with specialty coffees, craft beers. $$ BW K B L Daily CORNER TACO, 818 Post St., 240-0412. Made-fromscratch “Mexclectic street food,” tacos, nachos, gluten-free and vegetarian options. $ BW L D Daily. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 5972 San Juan Ave., 693-9258. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. EDGEWOOD BAKERY, 1012 S. Edgewood Ave., 389-8054, edgewoodbakery.com. BOJ winner. 66+ years, full-service bakery. Fresh breakfast, pastries, petit fours, pies, cakes. Espresso, sandwiches, smoothies. $$ K TO B L Tue.-Sat. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999, europeanstreet.com. BOJ winner. 130+ imported beers, 20 on tap. NYC-style classic Reuben, sandwiches. Outside seating at some EStreets. $ BW K L D Daily GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET, 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com. BOJ winner. F Juice bar;
certified organic fruits, vegetables. 500+ craft/import beers, 250 wines, organic produce, humanely raised meats, deli, raw items, vegan, vitamins, herbs. $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FARE, 1001 Park St., 508-0342, hawkerstreetfare.com. BOJ winner. Authentic dishes from mobile stalls. $ BW TO L D Daily JOHNNY’S DELI & GRILLE, 474 Riverside Ave., 356-8055. This casual spot offers sandwiches, classic salads, homefries. One word: Reuben. $ TO B L Daily KNEAD BAKESHOP, 1173 Edgewood Ave. S. Locally-owned, family-run bake shop; made-from-scratch pastries, artisan breads, pies, specialty sandwiches, soups. $ TO B L Tue.-Sun. LARRY’S SUBS, 1509 Margaret, 674-2794. 7895 Normandy, 781-7600. 8102 Blanding, 779-1933. F SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., Ortega, 999-4600. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MONROE’S Smokehouse BAR-B-Q, 4838 Highway Ave., 389-5551, monroessmokehousebbq.com. Wings, pulled pork, brisket, turkey, ribs. Homestyle sides: beans, baked beans, mac-n-cheese, collards. $$ K TO L Mon.-Sat.; D Fri. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., 389-4442. F BOJ winner. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. MOSSFIRE GRILL, 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire. com. F Southwestern fish tacos, enchiladas. Happy hour Mon.-Sat. upstairs lounge, all day Sun. $$ FB K L D Daily O’BROTHERS IRISH PUB, 1521 Margaret St., 854-9300,
Photos by Caron Streibich
BITE-SIZED
BITE SIZED
CASUAL FALAFEL
Springfield’s auto-shop-adjacent Mediterranean spot is mostly fresh, decidedly unpretentious, and solid on its own terms tahini sauce. My side items were traditional IF YOU’RE HUNGRY and cruising Downtown favorites, hummus and tabouli. Both were in search of something different, head fresh and excellent. Also on the platter were straight down Main Street into historic slices of colorful crunchy pickled turnip, Springfield and look for the brightly colored cucumbers and a small bed of iceberg Wafaa & Mike’s Café. (I hear the adjacent lettuce and tomato. The falafel is also auto shop, which shares an owner, is available in wrap form. excellent, too.) Another success was the kibbe – Open Monday through Saturday for lunch croquette-like football-shaped nuggets of and dinner, the Mediterranean (their sign ground meat mixed with minced onions and says “Mid-Eastern”) restaurant has been in bulgur wheat. town for fi ve years. It’s a decidedly casual I didn’t care for the grape leaves, which spot, so don’t come expecting pressed linens were served cold and had an off-putting and silver. But it’s solid for what it is. spice that I couldn’t pinpoint. Skip these. We started with baba ghanoush ($4.99). I wanted to try the It was delightfully smoky Turkish (read: strong) and creamy, topped with WAFAA & MIKE’S CAFE coffee ($1.99), but it a drizzle of olive oil and 1544 N. Main St., Springfield was late in the afternoon paprika, and served with 683-8313 and our waitress politely a basket of pita triangles steered me away, for dipping. The pita was explaining I probably stiff and room temperature, wouldn’t get a good night’s rest. so we asked for fresh, warm pita. Moments A dollar scores you a crisp, sweet square later, we were given a new batch. of happiness – also known as baklava – so Platters seemed to be the way to go. keep dessert on your agenda. Wafaa & Each of the dozen or so platters includes Mike’s does this pastry treat just right. a choice of two side items. I went with the falafel ($10.99), and it was fantastic Caron Streibich – freshly crafted chickpea orbs of delight facebook.com/folioweeklybitesized you can dip in the accompanying nutty biteclub@folioweekly.com l
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FEBRUARY 25-MARCH 3, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35