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CONTENTS //
MARCH 18-24, 2015 • VOLUME 28 • NUMBER 51
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MAIL THANKS FOR THE SPACE paid to renewal of Arlington in the March 11 edition of Folio Weekly [Backpage Editorial, “How to Redevelop Arlington,” Bruce Fouraker]. A community redevelopment area in Arlington has many benefits to that community and the city overall. This effort has begun after a lot of work by Mayor Alvin Brown, Jacksonville University President Tim Cost, current Council President Clay Yarborough and Councilmember John Crescimbeni. We enjoy the support of various leaders in Arlington, but this initiative began a year ago during what was first called Project Dolphin. They and other representatives including JEA and Jacksonville Transportation Authority, announced on Feb. 11 the start of the initiative as Renew Arlington. In fact, the city already is under way with the process to establish the community redevelopment area, building on existing studies. They are engaged in a comprehensive review of needs and opportunities, such as for housing, commercial retail development, transportation, utilities, public safety, code enforcement, land use and zoning. We expect to complete the process by the end of 2015. For more information, visit the City website at coj.net/renew-jax/renew-arlington.aspx. David DeCamp COJ Director of Communications
8 FIGHTIN’ WORDS CITIZEN MAMA COVER STORY OUR PICKS
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Folio Weekly is published every Wednesday throughout Northeast Florida. It contains opinions of contributing writers that are not necessarily the opinion of this publication. Folio Weekly welcomes both editorial and photographic contributions. Calendar information must be received two weeks in advance of event date. Copyright © Folio Publishing, Inc. 2015. All rights reserved. Advertising rates and information are available on request. An advertiser purchases right of publication only. One free issue copy per person. Additional copies and back issues are $1 each at the office or $4 by U.S. mail, based on availability. First Class mail subscriptions are $48 for 13 weeks, $96 for 26 weeks and $189 for 52 weeks. Please recycle Folio Weekly. Folio Weekly is printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks. 27,000 press run. Audited weekly readership 97,085.
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TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, Quality Education for All business partners, Duval Teachers United, etc.: Wake up before it’s too late and we’ve lost our good teachers, before we have more F-rated schools. Before you invest in a failing plan that’s caused district-wide resentment. Before we’re another stepping stone in another superintendent’s career. I supported the new superintendent. He said what I’d been thinking: too much institutional nepotism, cronyism, same old routine, no progress. What a difference a year makes. What have we accomplished after one year of Vitti’s method of running a school system? Vitti changed everything about how classes were run at elementary level. He changed the hours of required instruction, resource time (which takes away from instruction), how curriculum was organized and delivered to students and how specialists worked. And, sometimes with as little as four months at a job, he changed principals. At the end of this year, many educators (teachers and administrators) were told they weren’t effective enough with all the new changes and were transferred or fired. In just one year. How long has the superintendent had to turn the schools around? The new GRASP program for dyslexic children seems to be a self-serving program for the Vitti family. While the GRASP program is headquartered at R.L. Brown, there will be an overflow section at Hendricks Avenue Elementary, which is where the Vitti kids, said to be in need of assistance for dyslexia, go to school. The reading intervention program is for dyslexic students specifically, and doesn’t address any other needs or any other grades besides K-2. Do you shape an entire school system for one disability? There are so many others that lead to difficulties in school — why just dyslexia? Vitti’s modus operandi: Talk about the program, but there’s no money. “Changing Forrest High to Westside will cost us nothing. Community people will pay.” Nope. Reading and math coaches in all schools.” No, again. “Full time art, music, and P.E. in all schools.” Again, no. How much longer are we going to let Vitti experiment with our schools? Justin Time via folioweekly.com To respond to something in Folio Weekly, please email us, with your address and phone number for verification, at mail@folioweekly.com.
FIGHTIN’ WORDS
CORRINE’S CHEAT SHEET
Are the congresswoman’s Quick Picks inherently corrupt? The candidates she didn’t endorse think so
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ne of the neat things about being Rep. Corrine Brown is that since her congressional district stretches through multiple areas of North and Central Florida, she is uniquely positioned to shape the political discourse in places like Orlando, Gainesville and, of course, Jacksonville. But one way she’s done that over the years, Corrine’s Quick Picks, has come under fire in the run-up to the Jacksonville unitary election. For the uninitiated, Corrine’s Quick Picks is a voter-information document in which the congresswoman provides a mock ballot, with her choices bubbled in. “How you vote is a personal decision but after researching the Candidates, Judges, and Proposed Constitutional Amendments, Corrine Brown wants you to know where she stands,” her landing page explains.
how to vote, doesn’t call Corrine out by name on live microphones. Joseph Willis, running in District 10, released a video on Facebook about how Quick Picks work on the Northside, discussing “Corrine’s Quick Picks … the term they use for the lottery.” “I know a lot of people think that because a politician has a big name, that they do everything on the up-and-up and ethical,” said Willis. But in the case of the Quick Picks, “it’s not like that. You know how people are, sometimes they’re not ethical, cheaters, liars, whatever they may be.” Willis, whose campaign website is whatyoutalkingaboutwillis.com, contends that the Quick Picks are released on the “Northside only,” targeting the “uneducated voter,” and that they’re ideologically enforced by “Corrine
Last week, at a press conference at the Duval County Supervisor of Elections office, Brown defended the Quick Picks in her customary direct manner. “I’ve been doing this for over 20 years,” she said. “People ask me how I’m voting. I’m so excited that it’s a discussion in the community. I’ve printed 50,000 of them. It’s like the dog track: a cheat sheet.” Brown certainly has the right to endorse, just as the Jax Chamber and myriad unions do. However, some City Council candidates who were not selected, such as at-large Group 3 hopeful Mincy Pollock, have pointed to the Quick Picks as an inherently corrupt process. “Growing up in Jacksonville, I’ve always looked up to leaders in the black community, and hoped I would one day be on Corrine’s Quick Picks when the time came,” Pollock says. “When I decided to run, I reached out to a number of leaders in the community, and most of them responded with the question, ‘How much money have you raised?’” There are rumors that the Quick Picks are, in some cases, “pay to play,” though no one is willing to confirm that on the record. There’s still time for that whistle to be blown, however. The most stalwart voice denouncing the Quick Picks, that of outgoing Councilwoman E. Denise Lee, has nothing to fear from Corrine — and there is vast evidence that the two flatout don’t like each other. But even Lee, when decrying the “slips of paper” that tell people
Brown’s team that stands at the entrance of the location and pass out Quick Picks … like they’re part of the voting process or something. It’s deceiving … almost cheating, if you ask me.” Of course, Willis wasn’t Congresswoman Brown’s Quick Pick. That honor went to incumbent Reggie Brown, who recently made news for being the person that fellow incumbent and Quick Pick Demon Hunter Kim Daniels called after a bit of a tiff with another candidate, a former minister at her Spoken Word Ministries, District 7 hopeful Sirretta Williams. Daniels, in the midst of an ugly divorce, is exceedingly fortunate to have a stalwart ally in Councilman Brown, who offers counsel when needed. Perhaps membership in the Quick Picks club has its privileges? It’s absolutely legitimate for Brown to endorse whomever she wants. The real question to me is, why was this process, until the current campaign, virtually unknown outside the Northside of Jacksonville? Perhaps our local political media, so dutiful when it comes to reporting fundraising reports and rewriting press releases, simply decided it wasn’t interested in reporting how electoral politics in a large part of the city is conducted. Wouldn’t be the first time; won’t be the last. AG Gancarski twitter/aggancarski mail@folioweekly.com
MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 5
CITIZEN MAMA
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
Florida Department of Education’s new assessments test had a disastrous rollout. Time for Gov. Scott to act
A
nd you thought the Obamacare website rollout had problems. Computer malfunctions, brand-new curriculum standards and unparalleled stress have characterized the debut of the new Florida Standards Assessments. But could Florida’s testing debacle be alleviated by the stroke of the governor’s pen? Last week, 36 of Florida’s 67 counties — more than half — experienced technical difficulties with the writing portion of the new Florida Standards Assessment, which was administered to eighth, ninth and 10th graders across the state. Log-on attempts failed, computers crashed and unexplained error messages appeared on screens, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times. And it’s only going to get worse in April, when kids in grades 5 through 10 take FSA language arts and math exams online. “I can’t believe this happened on the first day,” says Becki Couch, a current Duval County School Board member and the body’s former chairwoman. “We weren’t even testing all students. We can all say we’re ready, but you really don’t know until you have everyone testing at the same time.” Now we know. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Tenthgraders will have to pass the writing component in order to graduate. It seems that the state’s school personnel saw this coming. More than a dozen superintendents publicly expressed reticence about administering the FSA, and not only because of the failures in the online system. Superintendents were concerned because they didn’t think teachers had time to fully teach the new, Common Core-based Florida Standards to their students. Florida schools used FCAT 2.0 from 2011 through 2014 and, prior to that, FCAT. The FSA’s debut was last Monday, March 9. Advocates have asked lawmakers to “hold children harmless” from the results of this yetunproven instrument, particularly in light of its calamitous debut. Parent-advocate and 50th No More founder Colleen Wood said in a statement
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that the Duval County School Board should fight to extend the same benefit of the doubt to our children that they extended to Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. Board members said they didn’t have enough meaningful data to upon which to gauge Vitti’s performance, but voted to extend his contract anyway. “Did I miss those letters?” Wood asked, referring to the outpouring of community support for the superintendent, but not for students. “Did I miss where the head of the Chamber, Civic Council, and [the Jacksonville Public Education Fund] asked the state of Florida to offer the same reasonable courtesy to our children and hold them harmless from the FSA tests this year?” Florida Department of Education Commissioner Pam Stewart is downplaying the technical difficulties, emphasizing that the writing-test period will go on for two weeks and that there are make-up days built into the schedule. The anti-Common Core crowd isn’t buying it. Wood insists that the FDOE had to know how many students would be testing last Monday. She told First Coast News that with such high stakes surrounding the FSA, the FDOE should be “held accountable.” In the wake of Monday’s enormous onlinetest debacle, Gov. Rick Scott should step in where the legislature and the FDOE have not, as of yet. Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, has the right idea. He proposes a three-year “holdharmless” policy in SB 616. But that could take weeks to hash out in the State Senate. Meanwhile, our students are suffering. The governor has the power to mitigate the damage now being wreaked by overzealous politicians. Declare that the 2015 FSA is a field test only, and stop subjecting most of our 3 million students to the extreme stress being inflicted by adults who clearly don’t know what they’re doing. Julie Delegal mail@folioweekly.com
A version of this column appeared on Context Florida.
MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 7
BY AG GANCARSKI The Candidates* MAYOR
Omega Allen Bill Bishop Alvin Brown Lenny Curry
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS Tracie Davis Mike Hogan
SHERIFF
Tony Cummings Jay Farhat Jimmy Holderfield Ken Jefferson Lonnie McDonald Rob Schoonover Mike Williams
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The 2015 municipal elections are just a few days away now. You, Engaged Citizen, have seen the ads, gotten the surreal mail pieces from shadowy PACs and met the candidates, if you were inclined to do so. You may have even gotten the fake “Corrine’s Quick Picks” from GOP operatives. This campaign has been, by far, the most expensive in Jacksonville and Duval County history, with more than $4 million being sunk into the mayoral race and well over $1 million into the sheriff’s race. Don’t forget the City Council races, where multiple candidates — sometimes more than one in the same race — have raised amounts well beyond $100,000 each. This campaign has been a boon for most media companies — with the exception of WJXT-TV 4, which has been at war with the Lenny Curry PAC Together for a Greater Jacksonville over its use of Channel 4 newscast excerpts in its attack ads against Mayor Alvin Brown. But even THE Local Station is getting paid. The general election is on March 24. The rules are simple: races in which a candidate gets 50 percent plus one vote are won outright. If that doesn’t happen, the race goes to a runoff election on May 19. Without further ado, we proudly present the 2015 Folio Weekly Jacksonville Unitary Election Preview: COVERAGE BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE >>>
The Candidates* CITY COUNCIL (At-Large) GROUP 1 Anna Brosche Rev. Kim Daniels Terry Reed David Taylor GROUP 2 Dave Barron John Cresimbeni Theresa Graham GROUP 3 Tommy Hazouri Mincy Pollock Geoff Youngblood GROUP 4 Greg Anderson Juanita PowellWilliams GROUP 5 Samuel Newby Ju’Coby Pittman Michelle Tappouni
CITY COUNCIL (Districts) (Districts) DISTRICT 1 Mike Anania Eddie Christian Joyce Morgan Melody Shacter DISTRICT 2 Jack Daniels Al Ferraro Lisa King DISTRICT 3 Aaron Bowman James Nealis DISTRICT 4 Ramon Day Fred Engness Ryan Taylor Scott Wilson DISTRICT 5 Lori Boyer
DISTRICT 6 Connie Benham Matt Schellenberg DISTRICT 7 Niki Brunson James Eddy Donald Foy Reggie Gaffney Marc McCullough Wendell Sams George Spencer Sirretta Williams DISTRICT 8 James Breaker Katrina Brown Terry Fields Pat Lockett-Felder Lynn Sherman DISTRICT 9 Garrett Dennis Glorious Johnson
DISTRICT 10 Reggie Brown Celestine Mills Joseph Willis DISTRICT 11 Danny Becton DISTRICT 12 Doyle Carter Abner Davis DISTRICT 13 Bill Gulliford DISTRICT 14 Jim Love Jason Tetlak
MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 9
* Candidates are listed in alphabetical order
<<<FROM PREVIOUS
MAYOR
The Candidates: The mayoral race features four candidates — incumbent Democrat Mayor Alvin Brown; the endorsed Republican, former Republican Party of Florida chair Lenny Curry; the non-endorsed Republican, Councilman Bill Bishop, who has moved away from a conservative voting record on City Council for eight years to make an open play for white liberal support; and no-party candidate Omega Allen, whose expressed purpose in this race is to attack the “good ol’ boys” network, but who will best be remembered for saying “homosexuality is a choice” on public radio. The Skinny: The smart set thought MAB, for much of his first term, would be reelected in a walk. His approval rating hovered at higher than 60 percent, as the mayor maintained a non-partisan governing style and issued about as many controversial statements as Mayor McCheese. He sidestepped civic debates, including the one on 2012-296, which would have extended the human rights ordinance to the LGBT community. People grumbled, especially the white liberals who supported him in the runoff once Audrey Moran was eliminated four years ago, but his polls were fine. Then, a wind of change blew through. Peter Rummell threw his support behind Lenny Curry who, despite low namerecognition, had been laying the groundwork with the donor class for a campaign for months. The field cleared, except for Bishop, who couldn’t be scared off, and who has complicated the race by being a socially liberal, organizationally inclusive Republican. Bishop’s poll numbers have been lackluster; however, his yard signs are as ubiquitous as those of the other candidates. Despite attempts to sully his name by both the Brown and the Curry sides — who often used the exact same memes to make their point (e.g., he supported Herman Cain!) — Bishop has maintained a visibility on par with his rivals. Bishop could very well outperform his polls next Tuesday. Both Brown and Curry have run centerright campaigns. Brown spent more time at a First Coast Tea Party “leaderboard luncheon” than he did at all of the candidate forums 10 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 18-24, 2015
put together. Clearly, the Brown faction has calculated that progressives will have to come home before May. Curry, meanwhile, has conspicuously made plays for African-American support: at closed events, such as his courting of the Jacksonville Brotherhood of Firefighters; and at open events, such as the Supervisor of Elections Candidate Forum at St. Paul A.M.E. Church. Curry has been hit hard for Lee Atwaterstyle mail pieces which more than one person says are classic race-baiting documents; on the other hand, he’s prioritized dialogue with the African-American community, saying at the St. Paul forum that he’d set up an “AfricanAmerican Advisory Council.” When Allen called him out, saying that she didn’t need such an organization, Curry responded, plaintively, “I don’t understand the issues here. I haven’t lived the experience. I’m going to be there to observe, absorb, and solve problems with you.” Of course, Curry was having that exchange with Allen because she was the only other candidate there. Bishop did the pre-forum meet-and-greet, then bounced for a fundraiser in Mandarin. And Mayor Brown was hosting his own event a few miles away. (Just like Jacksonville: 364 nights a year, there’s nothing to do. And then there’s that one night where everything just happens all at once.) There will be a runoff election. Brown and Curry look positioned to split about 80 percent of the vote in the first election, with Bishop (mostly) and Allen (to a much lesser extent) splitting the rest. This creates a situation in which Bill Bishop’s endorsement after March 24 will matter a great deal. But which way will he go?
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
The Candidates: With only two in the race to replace the outgoing Jerry Holland, who has restored the credibility of an operation that became a global laughing-stock during the 2000 presidential election, this will be decided in March. Republican Mike Hogan, who came close to being elected mayor four years ago, takes on Democrat Tracie Davis, whose slogan is “44 elections. 13 years. One candidate,” referring to her time at the SoE office. The Skinny: Davis’ experience in the SoE — coupled with the fact that she’s still working there even as she runs this campaign — hampers her from using the record of career politician Hogan against him. The problem with having served in public office for as long as Hogan has (more than two decades of almost uninterrupted time served, from his terms in City Council and the state legislature to his time as tax collector locally and on the
Public Relations Employment Commission most recently) is that he has a record a mile long. Campaigns have researched him exhaustively and, were Davis a more aggressive candidate, there is information that could be used in attack ads and mailers. But that’s not Tracie Davis’ game. At the recent St. Paul A.M.E. Supervisor of Elections Candidate Forum, Davis and Hogan had an interesting debate. The Republican contrasted his record administering PERC elections (“144 elections in the past three years”) with that of Davis’ — thus, blunting the impact of her claim of having the experience that Hogan lacked. Hogan was also able to point to his time running the tax collector’s office as proof that he can run an office well (he mentioned that 92 percent of his constituents gave his performance an A or B, according to a “report card”) and proof that he would be uniquely able to push Council not to make cuts to the “lean” office budget that the SoE operation currently has. (His quotation: “I’ll go deal with the mayor and the City Council and tell them why they can’t cut the budget.”) Hogan was successful in keeping the budget axe from hitting the tax collector’s office, and his pyrotechnic statements of 2011 regarding bombing abortion clinics are now (mostly) forgotten. This election may come down to two things: Party label and the fact that Hogan is arguably the best retail politician in the city, a backslapping, handshaking machine with a pitch-perfect ear for the colloquial turn of phrase. Davis has put in her time in the trenches of the SoE office. But Robin Lumb and the Duval County GOP likely will push to put Hogan over the hump — a necessary move, given that the SoE run (some say) was a consolation prize, since the Curry machine did everything possible to keep Hogan out of the mayoral scrum (where early polls indicated he would hurt Curry as much as anyone could).
SHERIFF
The Candidates: Duval County voters have seven from which to choose in this free-forall derby to replace John Rutherford. The Democrats: Tony Cummings and Ken Jefferson (who lost by 20 points to Rutherford four years ago). The Republicans: Mike Williams (endorsed by the sheriff ); Jimmy Holderfield (endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police like a boss last summer); and Jay Farhat, Lonnie McDonald and Rob Schoonover. The Skinny: With seven candidates in the race — and six of them with significant campaign war chests — this race has been a
tough one to handicap, as far as figuring out who will get to the inevitable runoff. One school of thought has one Democrat and one Republican emerging. The Democrat most likely to surface, if only on the strength of name recognition, is Jefferson. Cummings advocates for a civilian review board modeled after the one used by the police department in Seattle, and he seems most cognizant of the gap between law enforcement and its subjects. The Republican field looks like it will come down to a choice between Williams and Holderfield. Williams has the most polished presentation: basically, a sheriff ’s race equivalent to Lenny Curry’s run for mayor. Holderfield, however, has raised more money than anyone, and is the best retail politician of the seven — and maybe the best in the city right now. It’s also hard to completely discount Jay Farhat, who has — like Williams and Holderfield — raised a quarter of a million dollars. Unlike the other two, who spend money as quickly as they raise it, he’s spent just half of his war chest (according to the most recent candidate financial reports available at press time) which should help him finish strong. No matter which of the seven candidates prevails, you can expect a reform agenda. Virtually every candidate running has mentioned that the JSO is too top-heavy with administrators and advocates trimming the fat.
AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL
Group 1 has four candidates, but only two of them have any real shot. The incumbent, the Rev. Kim Daniels, is a Democrat who is a lightning rod for many in her party — especially but not limited to the LGBT activists and those who support them. Daniels has an interesting personal history (she was an exorcist who now writes books about demons); though she has raised more than $115,000 for this campaign, her fundraising dropped off once Anna Brosche, a Republican who backs LGBT anti-discrimination legislation, entered the race. This likely will go to a runoff and we hope, for Jacksonville to be less of a national laughingstock, it will go Brosche’s way. Group 2 is more or less a two-person race as well, in this case between incumbent Democrat John Crescembeni and Republican Dave Barron. The incumbent has raised half the funds his opponent has, and the JAX Chamber has now endorsed Barron. This race could be decided this month; if not, expect Barron to be able to raise a chest fund for the runoff that Crescembeni simply will not be able to match.
CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>> MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 11
<<<FROM PREVIOUS Group 3 also features two candidates with hopes of advancing to the runoff, if not winning outright in March. Former mayor Tommy Hazouri looks poised to hit for the cycle as the rare officeholder to serve in the state legislature, on the school board, in the mayor’s office, and (if all goes well for him) on the City Council. The principal candidate standing in his way, Geoff Youngblood, brands heavily around “family values,” the cross, and the flag in his advertising. Mincy Pollock is in this race as a Democratic nuisance candidate. The Hazouri folks wanted him out, but he’ll stay in and draw enough support to force a runoff. Group 4 looks to belong to incumbent Republican Greg Anderson; his one Democratic opponent, attorney Juanita Powell-Williams, hasn’t raised even $10,000, and it seems as if
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Anderson will waltz through the March election without a misstep. Another pro-business conservative the Chamber can roll with. Group 5 offers two plausible candidates: Democrat Ju’Coby Pittman and Republican Michelle Tappouni. The smart money is on Tappouni, a woman with a wealth of business experience and connections, and the coveted Chamber endorsement. Tappouni also backs anti-discrimination legislation, and even said so at the WBOB Stump event, where such a declaration couldn’t help her. She is a pragmatic Republican who manages to be credibly moderate on social issues.
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS
District 1 looks to be a three-way bout among Republican Mike Anania and two Dems, Joyce Morgan of TV-4 fame and Melody Shacter, who has pledged not to accept a salary if elected. Morgan’s case seems to boil down to her local celebrity, and Anania is a central-casting Republican. Shacter seems to be the most thoughtful, yet least charismatic, of the three. District 2 involves a binary contest between Republican Al Ferraro and Democrat Lisa King, each with roughly $100,000 in the bank. Jack Daniels, the third candidate, is somewhat less liquid, with under $3,000 raised at press time. This Republican, however, will get votes on name recognition alone. District 3 features two Republicans: Tea Party favorite James Nealis and Chamber conservative Aaron Bowman. Bowman is winning the money race. District 4 has Republican favorite Scott Wilson, who’s raised more in this race than the 12 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 18-24, 2015
other candidates combined. Democrat Ramon Day, his likely runoff opponent, is a socially liberal Democrat who’s a dead-ringer for Phil Donahue circa 1978. District 5 is a no-brainer — Republican incumbent Lori Boyer is unopposed. District 6 has Republican Matt Schellenberg, who has employed at least one questionable political consultant, waltz to victory against nominal opposition from Connie Benham. District 7 involves a field of Democrats and will certainly go to a runoff; from there, who knows? The ballot includes James Eddy, who hasn’t raised much money yet but who’s been stalwart when it comes to addressing LGBT issues on the campaign trail. Donald Foy, of the local M.A.D D.A.D.S chapter, is also running in this crowded field, as are Reggie Gaffney and George Spencer. And then there’s Sirretta Williams, Democrat, now noted for an alleged dust-up with current Councilwoman Daniels at an early voting polling station. District 8 likewise sees a gaggle of Democrats, including James Breaker, Katrina Brown, Lynn Sherman, Pat Lockett-Felder and Terry Fields. Fields has raised the most money;
}
this almost certainly will go to a runoff as well. Garrett Dennis and Glorious Johnson, two Dems, are battling it out in District 9. Ms. Johnson recently parted ways with her campaign manager, who reportedly was doing extracurricular work for Kim Daniels. Johnson has the fundraising advantage and would fill the “real-talk” spot on the Council left by the departing E. Denise Lee. District 10 belongs to Democrat Reggie Brown, whose opponents have little funding. District 11 has an unopposed candidate in Republican Danny Becton. District 12 belongs to Republican Doyle Carter, running against a moneyless opposition. District 13 is decided for Bill Gulliford, a Republican incumbent whom many wish had run for mayor. Lastly, we present District 14. It’s an interesting case: The Democratic Party abandoned challenger Jason Tetlak after he decided to support Bishop in the mayoral race. Jim Love seems to be the insurance agent for everyone in Northeast Florida, but he tends to vote Avondale rather than Riverside. Love has been taken to task for his non-support of the HRO amendment three years ago. He says he’s evolved on that issue. The Dems, obligingly, are handing the race to him in lieu of Tetlak, who is forced to run a grassroots campaign without the grassroots. And there you have it. You’re registered, right? So go to any Duval County polling station for early voting, open daily through March 22. Or show up on March 24 at your assigned precinct and vote for the candidate of your choice. mail@folioweekly.com
MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 13
Our Picks
Reasons to leave the house this week
WHOLE LOTTA SOUL MAVIS STAPLES
In the late ’60s and early ’70s, Mavis Staples was a key voice in her family band, The Staple Singers. With their gospel-driven hits like “I’ll Take You There” and civil rights anthems “Long Walk to D.C.” and “When Will We Be Paid?,” the band delivered a strong message (“Respect Yourself”) that was more than mere soulful R&B. Through her years as solo artist, Mavis has maintained that high musical level of art and soul set by her father and siblings, working with folks like Bob Dylan, The Band, Ray Charles, Ry Cooder, Nona Hendryx and Dr. John. 8 p.m. March 21 at The Ritz Theatre & Museum, 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, 632-5555, $44-$54.
DASoTA PLAY VIOLET
The 1997 musical Violet, about a young disfigured woman who rides a bus across the country to be healed by a televangelist, is staged by students from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. The DA thespians’ fall performance was so good, they were awarded a slot at the 25th annual Florida State Thespian Festival in Tampa. Proceeds from this week’s benefit production, starring Katie Sacks (pictured) as Violet, will help them go downstate to compete next week. Good luck, kids! You got this! 7:30 p.m. March 23 at DASoTA, 2445 San Diego Rd., San Marco, $20; $15 for students, $40 VIP, da-arts.org.
YO, MAESTRO! JAZZ HANDS
CYRUS CHESTNUT
Acclaimed jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut was born with music in his blood. After spending most of his Baltimore childhood studying at the Peabody Institute, he moved onto Boston’s Berklee College of Music and was playing professionally by his early 20s. Praised for his skills at mixing genres and his ability to maneuver through jazz and even pop, Chestnut has collaborated with the likes of Betty Carter, Jimmy Scott, Bette Midler, Dizzy Gillespie and Isaac Hayes, and has released several critically lauded records. 8 p.m. March 20 at The Ritz Theatre & Museum, Downtown, $34-$39, ritzjacksonville.com.
NEW WAVE LEGENDS THE B-52S
The pride of Athens, Georgia (in your face, R.E.M.!), The B-52s are coming up on 40 years of taking their always-fun, booty-shakin’ synth pop to the masses. The band – featuring founding members Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson and Keith Strickland – is now a pop-culture icon, topping Billboard charts, selling millions of albums and leaving a trail of sweaty audiences, exhausted from dancing their asses off to rockabilly/alt/ postpunk sounds at a high-octane B-52s show. 8 p.m. March 21 at The Florida Theatre, Downtown, $39-$79, floridatheatre.com.
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ITZHAK PERLMAN
Virtuoso violinist Itzhak Perlman first impressed audiences when he was featured at age 13 on The Ed Sullivan Show. In the decades since, Perlman has continued to mesmerize those who embrace all musical genres, with his dazzling skills and sensitivity to classical works. Along the way, the now-69-year-old, who also conducts and sings basso, has received the National Medal of Arts, a Kennedy Center Honor award, several Grammys and won over listeners around the globe with his undeniable music genius. 7:30 p.m. March 24 at Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Moran Theater, Downtown, $42.50$132.50, artistseriesjax.org.
MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 15
A&E // FILM Liam Neeson stars in this so-so father-and-son crime thriller
THE FAMILY THAT KILLS TOGETHER … B at the top of the list. For his entire adult ruce Willis and Harrison Ford have gotta life, Jimmy’s been an assassin for New York be pissed. They were the go-to studs for City mob boss Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris, “older guy” action roles, but now a string another stalwart veteran), whose hot-headed of big-budget busts has stranded their A-list son Danny (Boyd Holbrook) is primed to status in blockbuster movie purgatory. Now take over the family business. the ass-kicking 50-and-older roles Jimmy’s estranged son Michael go to Liam Neeson, who rose to RUN ALL NIGHT (Joel Kinnaman) works as a leading-man stardom with Taken ***@ limo driver and, through a weird in 2008 and, seemingly, hasn’t Rated R coincidence, Michael happens to turned down an action pic since. witness Danny murder someone To his credit, Run All Night is in cold blood. Michael and Danny fight, more drama than combat, but no matter: which culminates with Jimmy killing Danny. There are enough fistfights and shoot-outs to Michael — bless his heart — is one of keep die-hard actioners more than satisfied. those stupidly virtuous people who believes “I’ve done terrible things in my life,” that a police involvement ensures law and Neeson’s Jimmy Conlon says in the opening order. He obviously doesn’t know what genre lines of the film and, boy, he’s got that right. of movie he’s in. Corrupt cops frame him for Murder mostly, but abandoning his family Danny’s murder, which prompts Jimmy to and being a terrible father are right up there
ROGER AND RUSS IN LIFE ITSELF, THE 2014 DOCUMENTARY ABOUT FILM CRITIC ROGER EBERT, his longtime television producer is asked about Ebert’s screenplay for the notorious 1970 Russ Meyer soft-core exploitation film, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. “The most impossible question for me to answer,” she says, “is how on earth did Roger Ebert write ‘Beyond the Valley of the Dolls’? Or be interested in writing such a script? Or be involved with Russ Meyer?” She concludes, “I have no answer.” A former male drinking buddy of Ebert, asked what it was that the film critic loved about Russ Meyer’s movies, hesitates momentarily, pondering his reply, and then replies eloquently: “Boobs.” Yet another female producer puts it this way about Ebert’s involvement with “Dolls”: “The fact that there were large-breasted women involved was probably a plus.” After watching Life Itself, a truly marvelous film on its own, I decided to finally check out “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls,” a movie I’d heard about but had never seen. Slapped with an X-rating on its initial 1970 release, it never got a wide release, especially in the Texas hinterlands of my youth. Conceived as a sequel to the 1967 film Valley of the Dolls, which in turn was based on the dreadful best-selling novel by Jacqueline Susann (the 50 Shades of Grey of its time), Ebert’s script follows a rock trio called the Carrie Nations (three well-endowed girls, all bad actresses) from nobodies to overnight wonders 16 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 18-24, 2015
in Hollywood. The movie features a number of musical sequences, the girls bouncing and lip-synching energetically. Their non-musical interludes include lots of trysts with assorted studs and other big-breasted women, much ingesting of dope (one of the girls actually says, “Hey, don’t Bogart that joint!”), totally spurious dramatic moments, and a climactic bloodbath involving an ex-Nazi, a sword-wielding transvestite and other idiocies. The dialogue features one gem after another, such as this one (mouthed by Edy Williams, who was then Mrs. Russ Meyer): “You’re a groovy boy. I’d like to strap you on sometime.” Or these jewels, both courtesy of the film’s villain (a salacious record producer modeled on Phil Spector): “This is my happening and it freaks me out!” and, even better, “You will drink the black sperm of my vengeance.” Because it’s beyond awful, the film has naturally acquired a cult following. The flagrant T&A, along with the hilarious hairstyles and fashions, absolutely capsulizes the late ’60s,
rescue Michael. Now the two generations of Conlon are on the lam, trying to survive, with all of Shawn’s men after them. Shawn even hires relentless assassin Andrew Price (Common) to finish them off; he’s the kind of guy who has a red target light on his gun to alert everyone in the vicinity that he’s there, so you know he means business. In the background are Michael’s pregnant wife Gabriela (Genesis Rodriguez) and their two daughters, all of whom are now in danger. For as much as the movie tries to depict a gritty and grim reality, director Jaume ColletSerra (Unknown) isn’t afraid of the absurd. Example: Jimmy and Shawn have lengthy sitdown chats even after they’ve declared war on one another, and Jimmy always escapes with ease. (Neeson’s and Harris’ acting skills in these scenes are exceptional, but that small gem gets lost in the inanity of the scenario.) Shawn’s goons are rather inept, so it’s no wonder Jimmy is able to go to Shawn’s central hangout and wreak havoc. He does most of this, by the way, using a six-shooter revolver, because apparently it’s 1874 out in the Old West. Let’s be honest here, though: We left credulity behind when we entered the theater. Neeson’s the hero, so writer Brad Ingelsby’s (Out of the Furnace) plot will no doubt go out of its way to make Jimmy’s life difficult and unrealistic. OK, Run All Night isn’t great — but there’s enough in the camaraderie of Neeson and Harris, and in the well-staged action sequences — particularly a car chase and a frenzied run inside a large apartment complex — to quash the ire of cynics poised to protest the film’s not kicking enough ass. If nothing else, at least it’s not as bad as A Good Day to Die Hard and Cowboys & Aliens. Dan Hudak mail@folioweekly.com
MAGIC LANTERNS
and though the really, really bad actors take themselves very, very seriously, it’s hard to believe that Ebert and Meyer (a good technician even at his worst) did not have their respective tongues firmly in cheek. In a 1980 article in Film Comment, five years after winning a Pulitzer Prize – the first film critic to do so – Ebert described his earlier, only movie as “an essay on our generic expectations. It’s an anthology of stock situations, characters, dialogue, clichés and stereotypes, set to music and manipulated to work as exposition and satire at the same time; it’s cause-and-effect, a wind-up machine to generate emotions, pure movie without message.” I think he’s more succinct and accurate in Life Itself when he describes his co-venture with Russ Meyer as a “delirious adventure.” Of course it was. Beyond the 1960s with lots of big-breasted bimbos in Hollywood – it must have been a helluva kick! Pat McLeod mail@folioweekly.com
FILM RATINGS
SAM SIMON **** PAUL SIMON **@@
CARLY SIMON ***@ SIMPLE SIMON *@@@
SCREENINGS AROUND TOWN
SUN-RAY CINEMA Chappie and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel screen at Sun-Ray Cinema, 1028 Park St., 5 Points, 359-0049, sunraycinema.com. Insurgent and What We Do in the Shadows start March 20. A Movement of Movement: The Essence of Pilates screens 4 p.m. March 22. Check website for details. LATITUDE 360 MOVIES Mocking Jay The Hunger Games and Big Hero 6 screen at Latitude 360’s CineGrille Theater, 10370 Philips Hwy., Southside, 365-5555, latitude360.com/jacksonville-fl. THE CORAZON CINEMA & CAFÉ Foxcatcher and Whiplash screen through March 26 at Corazon Cinema, 36 Granada St., St. Augustine, 679-5736, corazoncinemaandcafe.com. The Sound of Music screens March 20. WGHF IMAX THEATER Cinderella, Hidden Universe, Deep Sea Challenge, Island of Lemurs 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
CHAPPIE Rated R In which Neill Blomkamp, director of District 9 and Elysium, dishes out more of the socially relevant sci-fi. (Hey, remember when that phrase would have been redundant?) This time, the king of futuristic metaphors presents us with the case of Chappie, “the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself.” I think we all know who that’s supposed to represent: Rand Paul! Will Chappie help humanity save itself from robots whose intentions are far less noble? Or will his stance on medical marijuana doom him in the early animatron primaries? You’ll be glued to the edge of your seat, even if Chris Matthews is already sitting in it! — Steve Schneider CINDERELLA **G@ Rated PG Director Kenneth Branagh’s version is an earnest, straightforward retelling of Charles Perrault’s fairytale of the Disney animated classic. The screenplay by Chris Weitz goes heavier on the backstory, introducing the beloved mother (Hayley Atwell) of young Ella (Lily James) before mom’s untimely passing and Ella’s merchant father (Ben Chaplin) remarrying, ultimately leaving poor Ella with a stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and two stepsisters (Holliday Grainger, Sophie McShera) who treat her poorly, as traditional stories about the orphaned scullery maid’s step-family characters are wont to do. It’s a generally bright, cheery interpretation, built around plucky Cinderella’s determination to follow her mother’s deathbed advice to “have courage and be kind.” This variant is about only the humans: about Cinderella and her first meeting in the woods with a fellow who calls himself Kit (Richard Madden) but is in fact the crown prince; about Kit’s trying to convince his father, the king (Derek Jacobi), that he should be allowed to marry for love; about their courtship at the ball, and so on. It’s almost entirely a nice, slow-build romance between two very nice people. — Scott Renshaw CRAZY, BEAUTIFUL YOU Not Rated It’s amazing what a change of scenery can do for the soul. Jackie, a spoiled and petulant Filipina girl, goes with her mother on a medical mission – Mom’s hoping that seeing how others live will change the brat. Jackie meets Kiko (Daniel Padilla) and presto-chango! Problem solved. In Tagalog, Filipino and English. THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT Rated PG-13 ey, whaddaya know? One of these Hunger Games wannabes actually made it all the way to a sequel! In Divergent 2: Detergent, our young heroes have to come to terms with their past while fighting for their lives in what
A&E // FILM LISTINGS remains of Chicago. What desperate measures did their parents take that drew the ire of the totalitarian elite? I’m guessing they failed to vote for Rahm Emanuel in the runoff, because God knows that guy can hold a grudge. — S.S. 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. FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Rated R The movie version of a book that made foosball moms feel dirrrrrty 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 progeny of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. So it’s destined for a swift descent into ignominious obscurity, right? Hate to burst your bubble, sugar, but it’s Fandango’s top R-rated advance seller of all time. — S.S. FOCUS *@@@ Rated R Will Smith brings his trademark rascally hip charm to Nicky, a con artist. Jess (Margot Robbie) is an aspiring grifter Nicky takes under his wing. The story lacks so much actual focus leading up to the finale that when the twist comes, we don’t care. — D.H. THE GUNMAN Rated R The Eddie Ray Routh verdict demonstrated that vast swaths of private citizens now feel qualified to declare what is and isn’t PTSD. Basically, the new operating paradigm seems to be that if you act like you have it, you don’t – a Catch 22 that should make it easier to shrug off those big-ass lapses in VA care. It doesn’t bode well, though, for this film, in which Sean Penn plays an afflicted sniper forced into hiding while trying to reconnect with his ex, who happens to be a fellow sniper. (Snipess? Snipe-a-tron?) Don’t expect any sympathy from the audience, you two: If we find out you ever took a bong swat to manage the pain, you’re on your own. — S.S. HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2 Rated R The versatile Craig Robinson is back, 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. IT FOLLOWS Rated R Ever get the feeling someone is skulking right behind you? Or maybe a few blocks back? Jay (Maika Monroe) has that hinky sensation of something creeping up on her (yeah, Jay is a 19-year-old female. These gender-unspecific names are getting outta control) after she has a “seemingly innocent sexual encounter,” as it was reviewed on IMDB. The horror/ thriller costars nobody you know. JUPITER ASCENDING **@@ Rated PG-13 This bloated sci-fi cheese, an intergalactic and over-the-top saga that simultaneously wows and confounds, was written and directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski. Jupiter 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 all over the solar system. Earth belongs to Balem; Titus wants it. Knowing Earth’s rightful heir is Jupiter (the person, not the
“All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, a loaded gun and I’m fine.” Sean Penn stars in The Gunman. MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 17
A&E // FILM
BITE ME
Winning New Zealand comedy-documentary sinks its fangs into vampire cinema
A&E// FILM LISTINGS planet), Titus sends Caine to protect her from Balem’s goons, but they’re captured. Complications ensue. THE LAZARUS EFFECT Rated PG-13 The horror/thriller costars Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass and Evan Peters. Some medical students devise their own resurrection methods. Not the best way to utilize all that technical doctor-like knowledge stuff. McFARLAND USA *G@@ Rated PG Starting in 1987, McFarland High School’s crosscountry running team won nine out of 14 state championships in California, in spite of McFarland being one of the poorest towns in the nation. It’s a great story, whose triumphant underdogs conquer not only sport, but also racism – the team members were all of non-white Hispanic descent – and classism, and who (mostly) lived happily ever after. Costars Kevin Costner and Maria Bello. — Danny Bowes MR. TURNER Rated R Timothy Spall portrays J.M.W. Turner, a free-thinking painter who lived life on his own terms for nearly 80 years.
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n 1969, Woody Allen released Take the Boy of the Group,” prone to spontaneously Money and Run, which followed the mishaps attacking those around him. Finally, there’s the of hopelessly nerdy criminal Virgil Starkwell. undead pater familias of the cohort, 8,000-yearWhile the film was a bomb at the box office old Petyr (Ben Fransham), a knockoff of and received lukewarm reviews (though, in my Nosferatu; a mute, green-skinned, gnarlymind, is rather underrated), nearly 50 years fanged creature who lives in the cellar. later Allen’s film remains a good example of the The whole crowd is gearing up for The comedic mockumentary, combining “real life” Unholy Masquerade, an annual fête for events and situations with parody. Subsequent vampires, zombies and the like. But before films such as 1978’s Beatles sendup All You they make it to the ball, they will unwittingly Need is Cash and Albert Brooks’ PBS-styled recruit a new vampire in the form of a Real Life (1979) sustained this comedic genre, clueless, blue-collar dunderhead named Nick though both films were resigned to cult status (Cori Gonzalez-Macuer), who creates neveralmost immediately following their releases. ending hassles and jeopardizes their safety. When Rob Reiner gave us his heavy metalAlong the course of the film’s 80 minutes, fueled comedy This is Spinal Tap in 1984, he the group contends with a rival gang of brought the mockumentary back werewolves (led by the Conchords’ to the big screen and elevated the Rhys Darby), vampire hunters, WHAT WE DO IN genre of what is also labeled as clueless police officers and Jackie THE SHADOWS la comedy verité in pop culture. (Jackie van Beek), a wearied, ***G Spinal Tap, which famously disgruntled familiar of Deacon’s Not Rated chronicled the rise and fall (and who pesters him about his semi-rise) of a washed-up UK ongoing promise to finally turn metal act, garnered critical success on the her into a creature of the night. strengths of its improv-rich dialogue, the We see the expected gags regarding vampire deadpan delivery of the actors and their clichés about crosses, silver and sunlight, but constant, ridiculous dilemmas. More recently, Shadows really zips along on the strengths of Christopher Guest, who’d written and starred the seemingly improvised banter that made in Spinal Tap, (Waiting for Guffman, Best in Spinal Tap such a success. The real brilliance Show) and Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Brüno) of the film is played out in the cast members’ also received critical accolades for their use of abilities at riding the third rail between the same format. believability and the absurd. Centuries of Now the New Zealand offering What We experience haven’t made these bloodsuckers Do in the Shadows takes one of the oldest any wiser; they are as dimwitted as they are recurring ideas in folklore and horror — the utterly self-obsessed. The individual interview vampire — and drives a stake deep into the footage with Viago, Vladislav and Deacon heart of ... well, you get the idea. Written and reveals how excited they are to finally tell their directed by Jemaine Clement (of Flight of the stories, which are usually peppered with a good Conchords fame) and Taika Waititi (writerdose of self-aggrandizing. director of New Zealand’s 2010 smash hit, Boy), Make no mistake, the blood flows freely Shadows essentially injects a shot of macabre in Shadows, surging in comical gushers that into the buddy picture scene, focusing on a are a snarky hit toward the gore porn of group of vampires living in a decrepit house on contemporary horror. Early in the film, Clement the outskirts of Wellington who’ve allowed a and Waititi provide us with a greater sense of the camera crew to document their day-to-day — characters’ backstories through clever montages or rather night-to-night — existence. of photos, historical footage, paintings and even woodcuts, which helps give this hapless bunch At the film’s opening, we are greeted by a greater a sense of depth and authenticity, in the 317-year-old Viago (Waititi), the literal turn making them charming and appealing. By Romantic of the group, an instantly likeable, unabashedly sweet, affable 18th-century dandy. the film’s end, the fanged nimrods, with their Transformed into a creature of the night well-defined personalities and centuries-old at the age of 16, the 862-year-old Vladislav egos, turn what could have been a gory sitcom (Clement) spent centuries as a bloodthirsty into an inventive and enjoyable film that takes sadist, deadpanning to the camera, “I tended to a bite out of comedies, documentaries and the torture when I was in a bad place.” Still stuck in ever-trendy vampire flick. a kind of undead puberty, 183-year-old Deacon Daniel A. Brown (Jonathan Brugh) is the self-professed “Bad dbrown@folioweekly.com
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OLD FASHIONED Rated PG-13 Hey, here’s an alternative to Fifty Shades for your 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. RED ARMY Rated PG If you like your true-sports pictures to have a sharper edge, here’s a documentary about the Russian ice-hockey team’s rise to dominance during the Cold War. Political analogies are explored, cruel coaching practices are denounced, and coproducer 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?) — S.S. RUN ALL NIGHT ***@ Rated R Reviewed in this issue. THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL **@@ Rated PG This installment in the tales of the Jaipur, India hotel catering to British seniors feels like a feature-film re-creation of the formula they used for The Love Boat. Costars Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Dev Patel, Tena Desae, Ronald Pickup, Diana Hardcastle, Richard Gere, Penelope Wilton and Maggie Smith – a treasure to be cherished as long as we have the pleasure of her company. Waitasec ... Richard Gere? — Scott Renshaw 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 phenomenal, goes from energetic and vibrant to flustered and defeated. It’s a heartbreaking transition, progressing quickly. Co-writers and directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland give ample time to the 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. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Rated R Who says corporations aren’t people? They’re the star of every movie Vince Vaughn makes. This one is more comedy for the “job creators,” with the principals of an American concern encountering all manner of setbacks while on a professional trip to Europe. That’s keeping your finger on the pulse, Vince: You always wanna make sure your mainstream entertainment is pitched to the makers, not the takers. ’Cause God knows those fast-food workers can never find time to go to the movies in between minimum-wage protests. — S.S. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS ***G Not Rated Reviewed in this issue. THE WRECKING CREW Not Rated When I was learning to play music, there was a column I enjoyed reading in Guitar Player magazine called “Pickin’ on Me.” In it, session great Tommy Tedesco shared tales from his lucrative career as an unsung studio musician, playing it smooth for countless others. I found it positively inspiring to know that I too might one day be able to score similar backup work, should my nearly foolproof plan to attain fame and fortune at the top of the charts hit an unexpected, long-shot snag. Now, however, it’s almost 40 years later, Tedesco’s dead, and there’s a documentary out about the legendary work he and his fellow multitalented musicians did on recording after recording for others who reaped the fame and glory and the big bucks. And if I can fish enough change out of my sofa, I might be able to go see it. — S.S.
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A&E //ARTS
A COLORFUL LIFE
Susanne Schuenke enjoys success with her blend of nature and surrealist narratives
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n Flying Horses, a 40-inch-by-84-inch oil paintings that deal in surreal narratives with and gold leaf on linen piece, aqua, white characterized figures and abstract concepts. and periwinkle-colored racehorses shoot Schuenke’s content ranges from lyricfrom the left side of the canvas. “This painting narrative stories to philosophical themes is about energy, the incredible amount of and socio-political topics; she’s also highly energy set free once restrictions are gone,” disciplined — perhaps the result of a Ponte Vedra Beach artist Susanne Schuenke German upbringing. writes in a description of the work. “Being very good in your art is not Golden Tao, a 55-inch-by-69-inch oil and enough. There’s much more to having gold leaf on linen, depicts an Asian male great talent, your own style, great quality figure who stands on the left side of a golden and unique ideas,” she explains. “Without yin-yang as a girl discipline — crouches on the discipline in your right. Schuenke schedule, in your NEW WORKS BY delves into this technique, how you SUSANNE SCHUENKE piece, saying, prepare everything Opening reception is 5-8 p.m. March 19 at “When we come around the 8075 Gate Parkway W., Ste. 104, next to to the end of a painting — it’s like Gulani Vision Institute, Southside, 616-2821. busy day, the sky fuel in your car. It’s An artist’s tour of the exhibit is at 2 p.m. on darkens; we slow a very important March 21. “3 Stories in 3 Paintings” is at 2 p.m. down and close part of art.” on March 22. The exhibit runs through April 12. our eyes for restful With an For additional exhibit information, sleep, where we exhibition slated go to susanneschuenke.com enter a different to open Thursday, dimension, the March 19 at a world of dreams.” space next door to These are just a few of the worlds afforded the Gulani Vision Institute on the Southside, by the imagination, creativity and techniques Schuenke’s been putting in a lot of hours. The Schuenke has learned over the years. show, which runs through April 12, features 40 Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, Schuenke original oils, a handful of original watercolors was raised by artists. “They were the best and a few giclée prints. teachers I could ever have,” she says of her “You can sing a simple melody with a parents. “I went to art school from the day I drawing. Then you have a watercolor, could hold a pen. At crawling age, I’d get paper which would be like having one instrument and a big, soft, felt marker and I do it since with the richness of the instrument. And then and never think twice about it.” then you have the oil painting, which is And although they encouraged a a symphony,” Schuenke says of her stimulating artistic landscape, Schuenke’s preferred medium. parents insisted that she receive a proper The majority of the artist’s work is done education in case she couldn’t make a living on linen and she utilizes precious metals like selling paintings, so she studied art history at gold and palladium leaf — much like the the University of Cologne in Germany and the Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt. University of London and earned a doctorate “There’s definitely a compelling beauty, from the University of Cologne in 1986. aesthetically, in the shine,” Schuenke says. Schuenke moved to the United States in “But I also use it if I want to stress something 1991 when she married a Jacksonville native in a very specific way. I think it enriches the (they’ve since divorced) and settled in Ponte palate and the possibility enormously.” Vedra Beach. The Germany-born artist is now Armed with the Old Masters techniques, an American citizen, but still speaks with a unique stylizations, rich color compositions fairly thick accent. and a German upbringing based on creativity, “Since I’m on my own, it’s my world,” Schuenke’s shown her work worldwide, from Schuenke says of being able to create her London and Miami to New York and Lebanon. works in her home. “I work and create and “I was never limited in the way that I live in my world. I’m not a type to work in a wanted to express something or experiment, warehouse atmosphere. I really need peace, so I feel free and confident and go on and on,” aesthetic and beauty around me. And I Schuenke explains. “But I’m blessed that the definitely need nature around me otherwise quality of my art is accepted in a way, so I can I’m like a flower without sunshine.” make a living.” The results of being able to work in Kara Pound an environment she controls are colorful mail@folioweekly.com
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A&E //ARTS
OPEN SOURCE
LESLIE ROBISON uses mixed-media to crack the codes of artistic and power systems
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dismantling and reconfiguring these he current exhibit at Crisp-Ellert Art aforementioned concepts. Moth and Con Museum (CEAM) features works that Tent (both oil on canvas) feature light blue are indicative of the skills, diversity and backgrounds with their titular words in black vision of art instructors currently residing text, with red cursive lettering morphing in Northeast Florida. The Department of their meanings. “By transforming the word Art and Design Faculty Exhibition includes ‘moth’ into ‘mother’ into ‘smother’ and works by Luciana Gassett, Diana Lodi, Don Martin, Laura Mongiovi, Patrick Moser, finally into ‘other,’ for example, I am able to Sara Pedigo and Chris Smith and Natalie demonstrate to the viewer how the words Stephenson. Like other area colleges — slip and slide in my own mind and also including Jacksonville University, University reveal something about my state of mind,” of North Florida and Florida State College of explains Robison. “In these paintings, I also Jacksonville – Flagler College’s art and design get to scribble, and scribbling is a part of the department is housed by faculty as skilled at language of art — like Jackson Pollock or generating impressive contemporary art as Cy Twombly for example — but they’re also they are in fulfilling their roles as academics: anti-language. They can fight the authority informing, guiding and encouraging the next of words.” wave of artists toward producing valid and Robison takes aim at semantics and what potent work. could be viewed as masculine expressions of All of the featured artists are worthy power with Snowblind. Balls of yellow yarn of attention, but one notable stand-out is descend the wall on single strings, as the Leslie Robison. word “Snowblind” Adept at using is drawn from LESLIE ROBISON featured in the media ranging these streams FLAGLER COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF from drawing of interlocked and painting fibers. “In this ART & DESIGN FACULTY EXHIBITION Crisp-Ellert Art Museum, to video work piece, the yellow 48 Sevilla St., St. Augustine, and site-specific lines of yarn and flagler.edu/news-events/crisp-ellert-art-museum installations, floss extend from The exhibit runs through April 17. Robison men’s underwear implements these to the floor. I was means to address thinking about the her personal and professional connection potential men possess to write their names to contemporary visual art. “I am interested in the snow,” says Robison, of a work that in breaking down the language, symbols addresses a kind of male bonding, a rite of and actions that define power in various passage in creating “language” out of urine. relationships, especially within the institutions “And I think it symbolizes a slant in language of art and academia,” says Robinson. “I use in general that is ideologically hidden, so the drawing in various media as a performative compound of snow and blind takes on a new means of investigating these structures and meaning.” my own role within them, allowing the work Patriarchal power trips are more directly to be both critical and self-mocking.” attacked in Stream, a mass of phallus-shaped A group of pieces included in the objects, knitted from yarn, that are attached CEAM exhibit utilize text, one way that to the wall and spray downward into white Robison delves into the process of exploring, and yellow tendrils on the gallery floor. I Don’t 22 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 18-24, 2015
Use the Accident, I Deny the Accident (found imagery and graphite on paper), with its blackand-white close-ups of men in underwear, pissing out black streams, also seems to address ideas of “manliness.” Previous works by Robison have employed this same motif of sex/genitalia/ bodily fluids, but these themes, like her investigations into the etymology and plasticity of language, travel deeper than mere shock value. “Much of the reason I use phalluses or allude to the acts of urination or defecation has to do, again, with language. Language is a tool of authority, and power is often expressed in sexual terms — our language is loaded with demeaning words and phrases associated especially with sex. Does it ever occur to anyone that phrases like ‘fuck you’ and ‘we are so screwed,’ for example, favor the holder of the phallus?” Robison’s work is surely strong because she is confident in her concepts and approach, harnessing that same assuredness into how she translates these substantial ideas into finished pieces that draw strength from their very minimal, albeit effective, elements. And her achievements haven’t gone unnoticed. After earning a BA (1989) and BFA (1996) from Washington State University, in 2001, Robison earned an MFA from University of Florida. She has received several fellowships, grants and awards and led workshops and panel discussions throughout the Southeast. Her work has been shown in more than 30 group and solo exhibits. “I don’t think I have any particular strategy,” she says of these accomplishments. “Artists are just compelled to make things and disseminate little bits of visual information.” A longtime arts educator, Robison is currently the Department Chair of Flagler’s Department of Art & Design, where she teaches 11 courses, with a focus on drawing and painting. While walking the creative line of artist/teacher, Robison is aware of a kind of diffusion that occurs, blurring the line between the two vocations. “There’s a direct relationship between my role as a college professor and my studio practice that has to do with being an artist and academic simultaneously,” she explains. “A lot of my work is about this conundrum, since artistic
practice is serious research, but in a campus environment, it isn’t usually perceived as being in the same realm as other types of research — the kind that ends in published books, for example.” In the same way that Robison draws out new insights from merging her mark onto templates of language, symbols and power structures, she ultimately extracts a greater understanding of visual art by sharing her knowledge, and what she continues to learn, with her students. “I think that teaching has made me a much better artist. I am constantly asking my students to do things, to take risks, to experiment, to invest and to conceptualize,” says Robison. “And I cannot ask them to do something that I cannot do myself. I not only have to model those qualities in my own practice, but I also have to dissect them and figure out how to explain them. For example, how do you explain the value of failure? You have to try to fail on your own first. And that seems contradictory to some extent — trying and failing? But what it really is, is freedom; it’s rock-bottom permission. And that’s what makes being an artist who teaches or a teacher who makes art really exciting and rewarding.” Daniel A. Brown dbrown@folioweekly.com
PERFORMANCE
VIOLET Douglas Anderson School of the Arts’ students stage this award-winning musical, about a young disfigured woman who travels by bus to be healed, at 7:30 p.m. March 23 at the school, 2445 San Diego Rd., San Marco, 346-5620, $20; $15 for students, $40 VIP; proceeds offset the expense of taking the show to the Florida State Thespian Festival, da-arts.org. TIM & MYLES THOMPSON Freestyle guitarist Tim Thompson and his son, violinist Myles, perform 7-9:30 p.m. March 19 at Beaches Museum & History Park’s Chapel, 381 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 241-5657, $20 advance, $25 day of, beachesmuseum.org. THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE This dramatization of C.S. Lewis’ fantasy classic, about a group of British children transported to the magical land of Narnia, is staged at 7:30 p.m. March 20 and 21 and 2 p.m. March 22 at Amelia Community Theatre, 207/209 Cedar St., Fernandina Beach, 261-6749, $10, ameliacommunitytheatre.org. [TITLE OF SHOW] This musical, about two writers racing against a deadline to submit original music for a theater festival, is staged at 8 p.m. March 19, 20 and 21 at Players By the Sea, 106 Sixth St. N., Jax Beach, 249-0289, $15, playersbythesea.org. FRIENDS: A DOLLY PARTON & KENNY ROGERS TRIBUTE Richard Hampton and Sandy Vee Anderson star in a musical tribute to the two country legends at 6 p.m. March 25-28, 11 a.m. March 28 and noon March 29. Executive Chef DeJuan Roy’s themed menu is featured; at Alhambra Theatre & Dining, 12000 Beach Blvd., Southside, 641-1212, $64, alhambrajax.com. I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE A reenactment of a 1952 live filming of two I Love Lucy episodes is staged 7:30 p.m. March 18 and 19, 8 p.m. March 20, 2 and 8 p.m. March 21, and 1:30 and 7 p.m. March 22 at Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Moran Theater, 300 Water St., 442-2929, $32.50-$82.50, artistseriesjax.org. BLOOD BROTHERS Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre stages the award-winning musical about twins separated at birth, reunited by fate, and a mother’s secret, 8 p.m. March 20 and 21 and 2 p.m. March 22 at Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-7177, $20; through March 29, abettheatre.com. THE BOYS NEXT DOOR The comedy, about mentally disabled men in a group home, is staged at 7:30 p.m. March 19, 20 and 21 and 2 p.m. March 22 at Limelight Theatre, 11 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine, 825-1164, $15 March 5; all others $25; $23 seniors; $20 students; through March 29, limelight-theatre.org. THE MIRACLE WORKER William Gibson’s drama, about Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan, is at 7:30 p.m. March 19 and 8 p.m. March 20 and 21 at Theatre Jacksonville, 2032 San Marco Blvd., 396-4425, $25; $20 seniors/military; $15 students, theatrejax.com. 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 menu is featured; through March 22, at Alhambra Theatre & Dining, 12000 Beach Blvd., Southside, 641-1212, $35-$55, alhambrajax.com.
CLASSICAL, CHOIR & JAZZ
CYRUS CHESTNUT Acclaimed jazz pianist Chestnut performs 8 p.m. March 20 at The Ritz Theatre & Museum, 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, 807-2010, $34-$39, ritzjacksonville.com. AN EVENING WITH AUDRA McDONALD Tony Awardwinning actress-vocalist McDonald sings pop standards with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. March 21 at the T-U Center’s Jacoby Symphony Hall, $59-$89, 354-3578, jaxsymphony.org. PIANO RECITAL AT FLAGLER Pianist Stanislav Khristenko performs at 2 p.m. March 22 at Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium, 14 Granada St., St. Augustine, $30, 797-2800, emmaconcerts.com. ITZHAK PERLMAN Virtuoso violinist Perlman performs a concert of traditional Jewish and klezmer music, 7:30 p.m. March 24 at Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Moran Theater, 442-2929, $42.50-$132.50, artistseriesjax.org.
A&E // ARTS & EVENTS Library seeks artists for its Teen Anime Art Exhibit, opening April 1. Artwork must be submitted by March 28. For guidelines and entry forms, go to sjcpls.org/content/teenanime-art-exhibit. COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANTS The Community Foundation of Northeast Florida accepts submissions for Art Ventures (deadline May 15) and Dr. JoAnn Crisp-Ellert Fund (deadline May 15). For details, go to jaxcf.org. VERBAL ESSENCE Open mic poetry and musical performances are 7 p.m. every Mon. at the Ritz Theatre & Museum, free, 807-2010, ritzjacksonville.com. FIGURE DRAWING Live model figure drawing is offered 7 p.m. every Tue. at The Art Center II, $5 for members, $10 for non-members, artists bring supplies. ACTEEN STAGE LAB Kids in grades 6-12 learn street style and ambush theater 6:30 p.m. every Wed. at Limelight Theatre, $80 per session, 825-1164, limelight-theatre.org. ACTING & DANCE CLASSES The Performers Academy offers a variety of weekly acting and dance classes for children and adults at 3674 Beach Blvd., Southside, 322-7672, theperformersacademy.com.
ART WALKS & MARKETS
SJCDS GALA & ART AUCTION St. Johns Country Day School presents its fundraiser gala and auction “Best Foot Forward – Footprints to Success” featuring work by local artists, including John Bunker, MacTruque Skinner, Mary Atwood, Carole Bailey White, Amy Sue Pohlman and Joe Segal, 6-11 p.m. March 21 at 3100 Doctors Lake Dr., Orange Park. Cocktails, dinner and silent and live auctions, and a Best Foot Forward shoe contest are featured. Semiformal dress or cocktail attire required; $75; $150 couples; portal11.bidpal.net/Portal/bpe289651/tickets/preview.html. STRATA ART SHOWCASE AT UNDERBELLY STRATA Clothing presents a showcase featuring visual artists and live music, 9 p.m. March 20 at Underbelly, 113 E. Bay St., Downtown, $5; $10 for 18-21, strataclothing.com. AMBROSE SPRING FAIR The 134th annual St. Ambrose Catholic Church Fair, featuring a country store, food, raffle, games for kids, a garage sale, hayrides, antique car show, bake sale, silent auction and live music by The Red River Band, is held noon-4 p.m. March 22 at 6070 Church Rd., Elkton, 692-1366. 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. NORTH BEACHES ART WALK Galleries of Atlantic and Neptune beaches are open 5-9 p.m. March 19 and every third Thur. from Sailfish Drive in Atlantic Beach to Neptune Beach and Town Center, 753-9594, nbaw.org. RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET Local and regional art, a free yoga session 9-10 a.m., local music – LaVilla SOA Dance at 10:30 a.m., Mama Blue at 11:45 a.m. and Clint Fischer at 2:30 p.m. March 21 – food artists and a farmers’ row, 10 a.m.-4 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 on display. Dr. Rosalyn Howard discusses “The African Presence in Spanish Florida: Black Seminoles” at 6 p.m. March 20. 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. BEACHES MUSEUM & HISTORY PARK 413 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 241-5657, beachesmuseum.org. Palmettos, Piers & Pioneers, an exhibit about Palm Valley, is on display through April 5.
COMEDY
JOSH BLUE This comic centers his self-deprecating act around his cerebral palsy. A regular on Mind of Mencia, Blue is on at 8 p.m. March 19 and 8 and 10 p.m. March 20 and 21 at the Comedy Zone, 3130 Hartley Rd., Mandarin, $18$20, 292-4242, comedyzone.com. DWIGHT SLADE Slade, who has appeared on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, is on at 8:04 and 10:04 p.m. March 20 and 21 at Comedy Club of Jacksonville, 11000 Beach Blvd., $9-$16, 646-4277, jacksonvillecomedy.com. KEN MILLER Funnyman Miller appears at 7:30 and 10 p.m. March 20 and 7 and 10 p.m. March 21 at Latitude 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., Southside, 365-5555, latitude360.com. HOT POTATO COMEDY HOUR Local comics, 9 p.m. every Mon. at rain dogs, 1045 Park St., Riverside, free, 379-4969.
CALLS & WORKSHOPS
CHALK WALK WORKSHOP Chalk artist Lee Jones offers a workshop 9 a.m.-noon March 28 at Limelight Theatre, 11 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine. Admission is free; limited space. Register by March 25; staugustinechalkwalk.com. TEEN ANIME ARTISTS EXHIBIT St. Johns County Public
Six-time Tony Award-winning actress and singer AUDRA McDONALD performs with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra on March 21.
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A&E // ARTS & EVENTS 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: Mark-Making 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. Public garden tours are 11 a.m. every Tue. and Thur. KARPELES MANUSCRIPT MUSEUM 101 W. First St., Springfield, 356-2992, rain.org/~karpeles/jaxfrm.html. One Man’s Concerns, an exhibit of Gil Mayers’ mixed-media works, is on display through April 29. An opening reception is 5:30-8 p.m. March 20. MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART JACKSONVILLE 333 N. Laura St., Downtown, 366-6911, mocajacksonville. com. WHITE, featuring 20th-century and contemporary artists working with the color white, through April 26. Erica Mendoza: Visual Love Letters, through March. 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, 2 p.m. daily in the Planetarium. ST. JOHN’S CATHEDRAL 256 E. Church St., Downtown, 356-5507, jaxcathedral.org. Fabricio Farias’ Grace is currently on display.
GALLERIES
THE ART CENTER II 229 N. Hogan St., Downtown, 355-1757. The opening reception for Under the Sea and Beneath the River is 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 19. BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS 869 Stockton St., Riverside, 855-1181. Rebecca Campbell’s sculptures and prints display through March 29. CRISP-ELLERT ART MUSEUM 48 Sevilla St., St. Augustine, 826-8530, flagler.edu/crispellert. The Department of Art and Design Faculty Exhibition is on display through April 17. THE CULTURAL CENTER AT PONTE VEDRA BEACH 50 Executive Way, 280-0614. Selected works by Claire Kendrick and Paul Ladnier display through April 27. Jenna Alexander’s Even Me is on display through April 17.
org. Works by Sarah Crooks Flaire and Charlie Brown are on display through May 28.
EVENTS
ST. JOHNS RIVER CELEBRATION & CLEANUP Volunteers are needed for the 20th annual St. Johns River Celebration, 8 a.m.-noon March 20 at various locations; a volunteer appreciation event is noon-2 p.m. at Riverside Arts Market. For more information or to register, call 630-2479, or go to coj.net (keywords: St. Johns River Celebration or KJB.) ONEJAX PANEL DISCUSSION ON RACE & AUTHORITY UNF President John Delaney moderates “When Race and Authority Come Face to Face,” a panel discussion about the intersection of race and law enforcement, 7 p.m. March 23 at University of North Florida’s Hebert University Center, Bldg. 43, Grand Banquet Hall, 12000 Alumni Dr., Southside, 620-1529, admission is free, registration required, webapps.unf.edu/eticket/raceandauthority. ST. AUGUSTINE RECORD FAIR This event features more than 35 tables loaded with thousands of new and used vinyl records, CDs, music memorabilia, collectibles, turntable supplies, posters, live music and a DJ, kids’ activities and food trucks, from noon-6 p.m. March 22 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A S., 209-0367, staugamphitheatre.com. CAR & TRUCK SHOW Door prizes, drawings and awards are featured; registration 9 a.m., awards ceremony 2 p.m. March 22 at Beach Boulevard Flea Market, 11041 Beach Blvd., Southside; registration $20 per car; proceeds benefit Wildlife Rescue Coalition of NE Florida, 645-5691. ANCIENT CITY RUBY CONFERENCE Hashrocket hosts the third annual conference, featuring more than 200 web developers and tech professionals, speakers, conferences and workshops, March 25-27 at Casa Monica Hotel, 95 Cordova St., St. Augustine, registration $349. For a schedule and to score tickets, go to ancientcityruby.com. CELEBRITY CHEFS FUNDRAISER The Salvation Army of NE Florida’s Women’s Auxiliary presents its 29th annual fundraiser and silent auction 11 a.m.-1 p.m. March 19 at Prime Osborn Convention Center, 1000 Water St., Downtown. Celebrity chefs include Action News anchor Tenikka Hughes, former Jacksonville Suns owner Peter Bragan Jr. and First Coast News meteorologist/anchor Lewis
Players By the Sea stages [TITLE OF SHOW], a musical about two writers racing against deadline to submit original music for a theater festival, on March 19, 20 and 21 in Jax Beach.
FIRST STREET GALLERY 216-B First St., Neptune Beach, 241-6928. The Mermaid Show is on display through April 1. GULANI VISION INSTITUTE 8075 Gate Parkway W., Ste. 104, Southside, 616-2821. The opening reception for an exhibit of works by Susanne Schuenke is 5-8 p.m. March 19. An artist’s tour is 2 p.m. March 21. An opening reception for the exhibit 3 Stories in 3 Paintings is 2 p.m. March 22. The exhibit runs through April 12. J. JOHNSON GALLERY 177 Fourth Ave. N., Jax Beach, 435-3200. There is Only Dance: The Paintings of Yolanda Sánchez is on display through May 15. 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, through July 28. Artists’ market 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Alisha Lewis and Olice Williams offer an art class 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. March 21. SOUTH GALLERY FSCJ’s South Campus, 11901 Beach Blvd., Southside, 646-2023. Heroes of the Underground: A Student Response Project is on display March 25-April 1. An opening reception is 2-5 p.m. March 25. SOUTHLIGHT GALLERY 201 N. Hogan St., Ste. 100, Downtown, 438-4358, southlightgallery.com. Kathy Stark’s Wilderness of Florida Parks, The One Show: artists from Gallery 725 and UNF ArtSpace Dark Matters, interpretations by UNF photo club members, display through March. ST. AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION 22 Marine St., 824-2310, staaa.org. 10th annual All-County High School Art Show, 150 works by high school students, and Cutting Edge Exhibition, works by professional and emerging artists, is on display through March 29. THRASHER-HORNE GALLERIES Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts, 283 College Dr., Orange Park, 276-6750, thcenter.
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Turner. $30 ticket includes food tasting and cookbook; salvationarmynefl.org. CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC Hope at Hand presents its fourth annual classic 1 p.m. March 23 at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club’s Ocean Course, 200 Ponte Vedra Blvd. $200 entry fee includes lunch at noon. Proceeds benefit Hope at Hand’s art therapy programs for the disadvantaged. Registration ends March 20; register at hopeathand.org/4th-annualcharity-golf-classic. FORTRESS OF FREEDOM: THE FOUNDING OF MOSE Historical reenactors recreate the founding of Fort Mose, the first legally sanctioned free African-American settlement in the continental U.S., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 21 at Fort Mose Historic State Park, 15 Fort Mose Trail, St. Augustine, 877-352-4478, floridalivinghistory.org. CHILDREN’S AUTHOR/ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST Writer and activist Patti Wheeler, author of Travels with Gannon & Wyatt adventure series, appears here on March 19, 10-11 a.m. at St. Johns Public Library, 1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd., St. Augustine, 827-6940; noon-1 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 1930 U.S. 1, St. Augustine, 826-0722 and 5-6 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 10280 Midtown Pkwy., St. Johns Town Center, 928-2027. GUIDED KAYAK TOURS St. Johns County Recreation and Parks Dept. offer guided kayak tours 10 a.m. March 20 at Trout Creek Park, 6795 Collier Rd., St. Augustine, $20 for St. Johns County residents; $30 non-residents, (for those with their own kayak); $40 per person to rent a kayak. Seats are limited. 209-0348. FREE TAX HELP Jacksonville Public Libraries offer free tax preparation assistance through April 15. For a complete list of times and locations, go to jaxpubliclibrary.org/lib/ aarp_taxhelp.html.
TRUTH SERUM
A&E // MUSIC
ATMOSPHERE, PROF, deM AtlaS, DJ FUNDO 7 p.m. March 24 at Freebird Live, Jax Beach, $22, freebirdlive.com
Forget the niche descriptions: Minneapolis rap duo ATMOSPHERE spits it raw — and has for 20+ years
H
ip-hop is full of meaningless micro-level subdivisions. “Gangsta” is as dead as Ice Cube’s Jheri curl. “Conscious” can now apply to anyone taking up the “Black Lives Matter” mantle. “Alternative” was bastardized by mass media for rap as well as rock. And if “backpack” ever meant anything, it was lost on hot young New York MC Joey Bada$$, who didn’t even know it was intended as a compliment when Lupe Fiasco described him as such in August. Then there’s “emo,” among the most vague and lazily inaccurate musical descriptions in the English language. Minnesota duo Atmosphere got stuck with that tag around Y2K because they released a few EPs on which lead MC Sean “Slug” Daley rapped obsessively about his ex-girlfriend. But what Slug was really doing was personalizing his hip-hop in a way few rappers had done. It’s borderline criminal how critics overlooked Slug’s fascinating blend of rapidfire intensity and blasé serenity to instead single out his lyrical focus on introspective heartbreak and existential angst. Much more was at play: ruminations on addiction and dependency, poverty and justice, sexuality and conformity. Slug always found a way to bend those subjects through his personal prism. And that doesn’t even scratch the surface of producer Ant’s beats, which are built from sumptuous jazz and soul samples. Or Atmosphere’s entrepreneurial streak, which led the Minneapolis crew, long accustomed to being ignored by the bicoastal hip-hop power structure, to found a label (Rhymesayers Entertainment) in 1995, a festival (Soundset) in 1997 and a record store (Fifth Element) in 1999 — all before any of their albums broke big. Since then, across eight full-lengths, nine EPs, and more than 13 bootlegs, Atmosphere
has become one of the most popular hiphop groups in history. Whether you call ’em underground, alternative, conscious, or (God forbid) emo, there’s no denying their staying power: 1.16 million Facebook likes. 175,000 Twitter followers. And the ability to still drop verses, songs, and records that charm new fans, challenge old diehards, and bedevil critics. “We drew our dotted lines at a time when things were a lot more stark,” Slug tells Folio Weekly in a phone interview. “Chuck D and KRS-One shaped the way I saw the world. But nowadays, rappers can fit into three or four boxes at once. Jay-Z can focus on the good and bad in society. A$AP Rocky can make a statement about the New York police or Mayor Bill de Blasio right next to talking about getting his dick sucked. And we don’t even flinch. Even older rappers like Common or Ice Cube can encompass more than just one narrative and embrace the duality of people.” Although he wouldn’t admit it, Slug himself embodies that duality. After a few albums loaded with dark explorations of his inner psyche, he celebrated on 2005’s You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Independent Charts, and 2008’s When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. 2011’s The Family Sign detailed his domesticated life as a husband and a father, and then 2014’s Southsiders filtered a hardscrabble ode to his Minneapolis roots through a 40-something’s mid-life crisis. And now? “The new rhymes I’m writing feel more possessive, even territorial,” Slug says. “A lot of new rappers are coming to take up the space that us old guys occupy. And sure, I’ll make some room. But I’m also gonna hold my ground — I’ll be damned if you’re gonna
take my little one-room shack. I’m the master of that domain, and instead of proving myself, I’m just asserting myself. It’s not so much me against the world of rap anymore and more me against the world. Like 2Pac — 2Pac is everything!” All jokes aside, Slug certainly relishes the soapbox afforded to someone of his stature. He raves for five full minutes about the six-stop Welcome to Florida tour, which is modeled on the past four years of Welcome to Minnesota jaunts that concentrate on underserved markets: “We thought, fuck man, let’s go somewhere tropical instead of somewhere where it’s below zero degrees. At first it was just a cute idea, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized maybe I need more cute ideas in my life.” He also relishes the upcoming opportunity to dig into Atmosphere’s deep back catalog, and he sounds downright awestruck when discussing the group’s multigenerational fanbase: “I get to play a role in a 16-year-old son and a 46-year-old mom bonding at a show. That’s a special thing, man.” After 30 minutes on the phone with the exuberant 42-year-old MC, it’s hard not to get swept up in such passion. “Regardless of how many people are getting rich off this shit, hip-hop is still the voice of the have-nots,” he says. “And for certain groups of youths, it’s the only voice that still speaks exclusively to them. But I also make no apologies for the fact that I don’t know everything. A lot of shit is outside my control, and I’m OK with that. As an artist, I appreciate the fact that my fans don’t expect me to be extra-cool all the time. I’m allowed to be an idiot, or an inspiration, or just exhausted. No matter who I am at any given moment, I can be that — as long as I’m not an asshole. The only time people get mad is when you treat them like shit.” And I can’t remember the last time I treated somebody like shit.” Nick McGregor mail@folioweekly.com MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 25
SMASH YOUR HEAD ON THE ROOTS ROCK T
A&E // MUSIC
wo things keep Moselle Spiller, 31, and Franklin Hoier, 34, on the road; love and music. The husband and wife duo, originally formed in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick in 2010, are Crushed Out, a surf-inspired country/blues/ rock-and-roll outfit. “We’re an interesting case because we were together for a year-and-a-half before we had any idea Moselle could drum,” Hoier says. “I invited her to sit at a drum kit one time and she could absolutely, effortlessly play a simple boom-chick beat. I showed her the Chuck Berry rock-and-roll beat and she could just do it — literally, the very first time she ever sat at a drum kit.” Playing under the band’s original name Boom Chick, Spiller (vocals/drums/ percussion), who recently graduated from art school and had zero musical experience, and Hoier (vocals/guitar/bass/ organ), an acoustic folksingersongwriter from Southern California, self-released their 2010 EP, Show Pony. label,” says Hoier. “We tour in a Ford E-150 Then they hit the road, bringing highwhere we can sleep in the middle if we need energy live performances to small venues to. It’s pretty compact for a two-person outfit peppered throughout the United States. When and yeah, that’s kind of how we’ve been they returned home to the Northeast, legal touring the past few years.” trouble was brewing. Splitting their time between Brooklyn and “In 2012, at the end of a really intense New Hampshire, Crushed Out has been quasitouring season, we were served a cease-andhomeless for those years of travel. Admittedly, desist from a lawyer that another band had they’re on the road more than at home and trademarked the name without communicating have taken to shacking up with friends and with us at all,” Hoier explains. family rather than paying rent. The other band, an altCRUSHED OUT and This past September, punkabilly trio from Eugene, THE WOOLLY BUSHMEN Spiller and Hoier released Oregon, named Boomchick, 8 p.m. March 25 at Underbelly, their second full-length didn’t appreciate the fact Downtown, $5 album, Teeth, which they that there was another band again recorded in that around named Boom Chick bucolic setting north of New York City. (albeit with a space and extra capitalized letter). This time the rustic studio was stocked with “It was pretty weird and kind of crushing at custom-built guitar effect pedals, tube amps the time. It felt like we were getting a little bit of from the 1960s, tube reverb units and tape momentum going and then that happened. We echo machines. had to completely rebrand the band and it was Hoier engineered and produced the record, a lot of work,” says Hoier. “I think it turned out using a half-inch tape machine and some nifty for the better and I like our new name much vintage microphones. better, now. I think that it’s more imaginative and it has way more meaning.” The result is a nine-song, electrified, folkinfused surf rock disc that Paste Magazine Armed with a new name, Crushed Out, called “forward-thinking, never adhering to which press material calls “both ’20s slang for genre lines and consistently reworking itself busting free from a bad situation and into something new.” Check out the album’s first ’80s slang for the weight of love when you fall tune, “To Sing True of Love.” Teeth is available for someone,” the duo set to work on their in vinyl and CD; Want to Give in CD or cassette first full-length. tape at crushedoutmusic.bandcamp.com. Want to Give was recorded partly at Bunker Studio in Brooklyn and partly at the band’s “We started playing strictly for fun and analog studio in a barn far from a city, in New then it got interesting,” Franklin Hoier says of Hampshire. It was released in November 2012 Crushed Out’s genesis. “Our whole band energy on Crushed Out’s imprint, Cool Clear Water is really, understandably, from that perspective. Records, and earned the couple some touring We’re not some concept or project. It’s not time with groups like Jon Spencer Blues something we even thought of. It’s like we’ve Explosion, Band of Skulls, Shakey Graves and been given this gift that we can play together Social Distortion. and we’re riding on the joy of that discovery.” “Fortunately and unfortunately, we’re a Kara Pound total self-run band and booking agency and mail@folioweekly.com
Neo-blues rockers CRUSHED OUT survive legal battles and the rigors of the road to maintain their swagger
26 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 18-24, 2015
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter SARAH McLACHLAN performs March 25 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre.
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC CONCERTS THIS WEEK
JIG to a MILESTONE 6 p.m. March 18 at Fionn MacCool’s Irish Pub, Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 176, Downtown, 374-1247. DENNY BLUE 6 p.m. March 18 at Paula’s Beachside Grill, 6896 A1A S., Crescent Beach, 471-3463. BILLY BOWERS 7 p.m. March 18 at Ragtime Tavern, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 241-7877. SCOTT VERVILLE 7 p.m. March 18 at Whiskey Jax, 10915 Baymeadows Rd., Southside, 634-7208. THE DELTA SAINTS, TOM BENNETT BAND 8 p.m. March 18 at Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, 398-7496, $8. Suwannee Spring Fest: WOOD BROS, SHOVELS and ROPE, INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS, KELLER WILLIAMS & TRAVELIN’ McCOURYS, BLIND BOYS of ALABAMA, LARRY KEEL, DONNA the BUFFALO, JIM LAUDERDALE March 19-22 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, 3076 95th Dr., Live Oak, 386-364-1683, $150-$175, musicliveshere.com. SUICIDE SILENCE, EMMURE, WITHIN the RUINS, FIT for an AUTOPSY 5:30 p.m. March 19 at Freebird Live, 200 N. First St., Jax Beach, 246-2473, $20. ELIZABETH ROGERS 6 p.m. March 19 at Espeto Brazilian Steak House, 1396 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 388-4884. RICHARD SMITH 6 p.m. March 19 at Pusser’s Bar & Grille, 816 A1A N., Ponte Vedra, 280-7766. JEREMY ROGERS 6 p.m. March 19 at Mellow Mushroom, 410 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, 826-4040. BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO, LONESOME BERT & the SKINNY LIZARD 7 p.m. March 19 at Colonial Quarter, 33 St. George St., St. Augustine, 342-2857, $28. LARRY MANGUM, JIM AVETT 7:30 p.m. March 19 at Mudville Music Room, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., San Marco, 352-7008, $10. BE EASY 7:30 p.m. March 19 at Latitude 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., Southside, 365-5555. The BLACK LIPS, BLACK LINEN 8 p.m. March 19, Jack Rabbits, $15. DRYMILL ROAD 8 p.m. March 19 at Underbelly, 113 E. Bay St., Downtown, 699-8186, $5. FUNK YOU, JOE MARCINEK BAND 8 p.m. March 19, 1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean St., Downtown, $10 advance; $12 day of. DENNY BLUE 6 p.m. March 20 at Spy Global Cuisine & Lounge, 21 Hypolita St., St. Augustine, 819-5637. Look Listen Buy: ASKMEIFICARE, LAVA, ECTOPLASM, SNAKE BLOOD REMEDY, LITTLE GOLD, DJ AL PETE, TWINKI, BLACK CHAIN GANG, SAUCY YODA, LETHAL SKRIPTUREZ, DJ DON McCON, DARK MUSIC TEAM, DEM GODZ, MF GOON, The ANTAGONIST, CHRISTINA WAGNER, ZAC VANN, SHAWN LIGHTFOOT, ETHER CHAMBLES, DORIAN NINS, CHRISTA FATAOU SYLLA & NAN NKAMA Pan-African Drum & Dance Ensemble 7 p.m. March 20, 1904 Music Hall, $10. Big Oak BBQ: TREVOR THOMAS 7 p.m. March 20 at 1440 Dunn Ave., Westside, 545-5313. BILLY BUCHANAN 8 p.m. March 20, Pusser’s Bar & Grille. ESPINOZA PAZ, CONJUNTO ATARDECER, LOS COMPAS DEL TERRE 8 p.m. March 20 at Morocco Shrine Auditorium, 3800 St. Johns Bluff Road S., Southside, 642-5200, $35-$45. KELCY MAE 8 p.m. March 20 at Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown. SOCIAL BLUE, QUINCY MUMFORD, AUTUMN, RADAR vs. WOLF 8 p.m. March 20, Jack Rabbits, $8. RUNAWAY GIN (Phish tribute) 8 p.m. March 20, Freebird Live, $15.
X HALE 8:30 p.m. March 20 & 21, Latitude 360. LOVE CHUNK 10 p.m. March 20 at Lynch’s Irish Pub, 541 First St. N., Jax Beach, 249-5181. BOOGIE FREAKS 10 p.m. March 20 & 21, Ragtime Tavern. ROGER THAT 10 p.m. March 20 & 21 at The Roadhouse, 231 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, 264-0611. LAST 2 LEAVE 10 p.m. March 20 & 21 at Flying Iguana, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680. Riverside Arts Market: LaVILLA SOA DANCE, MAMA BLUE, CLINT FISHER 10:30 a.m. March 21, 715 Riverside Ave., 389-2449. DENNY BLUE 1 p.m. March 21 at Milltop Tavern, 19 St. George St., St. Augustine, 829-2329. EASTON CORBIN, JAMIE DAVIS, JB CROCKETT 6 p.m. March 21 at Mavericks at The Landing, Downtown, 356-1110, $25-$35. JEREMY ROGERS 7 p.m. March 21 at DOS Coffee & Wine, 300 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine, 342-2421. MARK O’QUINN 7 p.m. March 21, Pusser’s Bar & Grille. THE WILLOWWACKS 7:30 p.m. March 21, Mudville Music, $10. The B-52s 8 p.m. March 21 at The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $39-$79. BLACK PUSSY 8 p.m. March 21, Jack Rabbits, $8. ASG, DARKHORSE SALOON 8 p.m. March 21, Freebird Live, $10. MAVIS STAPLES 8 p.m. March 21 at The Ritz Theatre & Museum, 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, 632-5555, $44-$54. BLISTUR 10 p.m. March 21, Lynch’s Irish Pub. AARON KOERNER 3 p.m. March 22, Pusser’s Bar & Grille. RYAN CABRERA, SECONDHAND SERENADE 6 p.m. March 22, Underbelly, $17. NEIL DIXON 7 p.m. March 22, Ragtime Tavern. BLEACHERS, JOYWAVE, NIGHT TERRORS of 1927 7 p.m. March 22, Freebird Live, $TBD. JACKIE EVANCHO 7 p.m. March 22, Florida Theatre, $45-$85. MAMA BLUE 7 p.m. March 22, Whiskey Jax. AGNOSTIC FRONT, COLDSIDE 8 p.m. March 22, Burro Bar, $13-15. FASHAWN, DJ EXILE, EARTH GANG, SUNREAL, WEBEUNTITLED 8 p.m. March 22, Jack Rabbits, $8. XEROME, I_LIKE_DOG_FACE, HAVES&THIRDS, SEVERED+SAID 9 p.m. March 22 at Shantytown Pub, 22 W. Sixth St., Springfield, 798-8222, $5. DTCV, MEMPHIBIANS, DAGGER BEACH, MOTHER SUPERIOR 8 p.m. March 23, Burro Bar, $5-$7. ATMOSPHERE, PROF, DEM ATLAS, DJ FUNDO 7 p.m. March 24, Freebird, $22. BRETT SAXON 7 p.m. March 24, Burro Bar. GET the LED OUT (Led Zeppelin tribute) 8 p.m. March 24, Florida Theatre, $19.50-$39.50. FRNKIERO & the CELLABRATION, HOMELESS GOSPEL CHOIR, MODERN CHEMISTRY 8 p.m. March 24, Jack Rabbits, $15. BRIDGING the MUSIC Local Showcase 6 p.m. March 25, 1904 Music Hall, $10. SARAH McLACHLAN 6 p.m. March 25, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A S., 209-0367, $39.50-$79.50. SMALL FISH 7 p.m. March 25, Ragtime Tavern. DENTON ELKINS 7 p.m. March 25, Whiskey Jax. G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE, MATT COSTA 7 p.m. March 25, Freebird, $27.50. CRUSHED OUT, The WOOLLY BUSHMEN 8 p.m. March 25, Underbelly, $5. The ORIGINAL WAILERS 8 p.m. March 25 at Café Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 460-9311, $15.
UPCOMING CONCERTS
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. Aug. Amphitheatre The AUSTRALIAN BEE GEES March 26, The Florida Theatre NEIL DIXON March 26, Ragtime Tavern STEVE & CARLOS March 26, Espeto Brazilian Steak House TWIN SHADOW, LOLAWOLF March 26, Freebird Live DANKA, SCHOLARS WORD March 26, 1904 Music Hall BILLY BUCHANAN March 26, Pusser’s Bar & Grille NIKKI TALLEY, LEE HUNTER March 27, Mudville Music Room SPRAY PAINT, SALYUT 2 March 27, rain dogs TOMBOI, TWINKI, PROM DATE, WHITE GIRL, MOUTH MOUTH March 27, CoRK Arts District DENNY BLUE March 27, Milltop Tavern 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 ZORA YOUNG, LITTLE MIKE & the TORNADOES, JIM ESSERY March 27, Café Eleven FORTUNATE YOUTH, HIRIE, HIGHDRO, SENSAMOTION March 27, Freebird Live AARON KOERNER March 27, Pusser’s Bar & Grille HOWARD JONES March 27, Mavericks CHUCK NASH BAND March 27 & 28, Flying Iguana 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 OFFSHORE RIOT March 28, Lynch’s Irish Pub SIMPLE NATURAL, MND, LORD SOSA, KENYON March 28, Freebird Judy Nicholson Foundation BATTLE OF THE BANDS March 28, Riverside Arts Market JOHN AUSTILL March 28, Pusser’s Bar & Grille CHRIS HENRY, HARDCORE GRASS March 28, Mudville Music SINGLE MOTHERS March 28, Burro Bar BILL ORCUTT March 29, Sun-Ray Cinema PHIL SWINDLE March 29, Whiskey Jax SMITH & BANKS March 29, Ragtime Tavern BRONX WANDERERS March 29, The Florida Theatre BLUES TRAVELER March 29, St. Augustine Amphitheatre YANKEE SLICKERS, DENTON ELKINS March 29, 1904 Music Hall AARON KOERNER March 29, Pusser’s Bar & Grille COBALT CRANES, NERVOUS TICKS March 29, rain dogs SWAMPCANDY, LOVECHUNK, SEA FLOOR EXPLOSIVES March 31, Café Eleven NO ZODIAC, KNOCKED LOOSE, BABY SNATCHER, CULTURE KILLER, CARRY the WEIGHT, PITY OFFER April 1, Jack Rabbits JASON IVEY April 2, Pusser’s Bar & Grille LYNYRD SKYNYRD April 2 & 3, The Florida Theatre 1964: Tribute to The Beatles April 3, St. Augustine Amphitheatre The HEAVY PETS, DYNOHUNTER, S.P.O.R.E., BELLS and ROBES, ARDENCY April 3, 1904 Music Hall
MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 27
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC ROOT of ALL April 3, Lynch’s Irish Pub MEDAL MILITIA (Metallica tribute), SHOOT to THRILL (AC/DC tribute) April 3, Jack Rabbits BASEBALL PROJECT, CHUCK PROPHET April 3, Colonial Quarter KING EDDIE & PILI PILI April 3, Pusser’s Bar & Grille Rock With Live: A MATTER of HONOR, JUST LIKE GENTLEMEN, A CALL for KYLIE, WITH EYES ALIVE, MX TRACY, ALEXANDER April 3, Freebird Live 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 a DREAM April 4, Ritz Theatre REBECCA DAY, JENN THOMPSON April 4, Pusser’s Bar & Grille 5 POINTS SPRING FEST April 4, Riverside VICTORIA ZARIENGA, JOHN CARVER BAND, UNF JAZZ ENSEMBLE 2 April 4, Riverside Arts Market CAN-DOO Fest: O.A.R., TISHAMINGO, CORBITT BROS April 4, Metropolitan Park ALLELE, FALL to JUNE, PRIDELESS, SECONDS AWAY, CHAYO NASH, SIMPLE NATURAL April 4, 1904 Music Hall OCEANSTONE April 4, Lynch’s Irish Pub CORBITT BROTHERS, COME BACK ALICE, HOLY MISS MOLLY April 4, Freebird Live AARON KOERNER April 5, Pusser’s Bar & Grille Southeast Beast: LIFE of AGONY, BIOHAZARD, LETLIVE, ROTTING OUT, EARTH CRISIS, KIDS LIKE US, ANOTHER MISTAKE, APATHY, The BANNER, CHAINS, CROSS ME, DOWN in IT, ENGRAVED, HEAD CREEPS, OLD WOUNDS, POINT BLANK, RHYTHM of FEAR, SWORN ENEMY, TRUE LOVE, VULGAR DISPLAY, WAR STORY, WISDOM in CHAINS April 4 & 5, Aqua Night Club POTTED POTTER (Harry Potter Fest) April 7-12, T-U Center One Spark Opening Ceremony: MATES OF STATE, ECHOSMITH April 7, Hemming Plaza The STEEP CANYON RANGERS April 8, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall BAREFOOT MOVEMENT April 8, Mudville Music Room 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 SAMUEL SANDERS April 8, Pusser’s Bar & Grille JANIS IAN, TOM PAXTON April 9, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Stringbreak Music Fest: The 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
French-American rock duo DTCV (pronounced “Detective,” pictured) perform with MEMPHIBIANS, DAGGER BEACH and MOTHER SUPERIOR March 23 at Burro Bar, Downtown. St. Augustine Race Week: PRESTON POHL, 418 BAND, OH NO!, I-VIBE April 9-12 CATOE WHITE April 9, Pusser’s Bar & Grille JULIE DURDEN, MEREDITH WOODARD, LAUREN LaPOINTE April 9, Mudville Music Room SICK of SARAH, The LAST YEAR April 9, Jack Rabbits CARAVAN of THIEVES April 10, Café Eleven DOPELIMATIC April 10, Pusser’s Bar & Grille The MAVERICKS April 10, The Florida Theatre Rhythm & Ribs: STEPPIN STONES, RUSTED ROOT, GO GET GONE, EAGER BEAVER, AMY ALYSIA & Soul Operation, IVEY WEST, SISTER HAZEL, The RIVERNECKS, The COMMITTEE, XHALE, BILLY BUCHANAN & Free Avenue April 10-12, Francis Field, St. Augustine The ORCHESTRA April 11, Florida Theatre Oyster Music Jam Festival: SPLIT TONE, BE EASY, J. COLLINS, S.P.O.R.E., BRENT BYRD, CLOUD 9, LAWLESS HEARTS April 11 & 12, Metro Park CINDY BEAR, ROBERT LESTER FOLSOM, UNF JAZZ ENSEMBLE 3 April 11, Riverside Arts Market MARK O’QUINN April 11, Pusser’s Bar J BOOG, INNAVISION, WESTAFA April 11, Jack Rabbits KID INK, JEREMIAH, DEJ LOAF April 11, T-U Center FAZE WAVE April 11, Freebird Live ELO’s GREATEST HITS (ELO Tribute) April 11, Florida Theatre CALIFORNIA & MONTREAL Guitar Trio April 12, Café Eleven DIARRHEA PLANET, LEFT and RIGHT April 13, rain dogs DIANA KRALL April 13, Florida Theatre DIRTY BOURBON, DR. SIRBROTHER April 14, Jack Rabbits AER April 15, Freebird Live DAVID FEHERTY April 15, The Florida Theatre 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 MICHAEL MARTIN BAND, CRAZY DAYSIES April 16, Jack Rabbits FSCJ Interpreter Fundraiser: JULIE DURDEN April 16, Mudville Music Room ROBERT IRVINE April 16, The Florida Theatre GRAVY, FUTURE THIEVES April 17, Jack Rabbits FLYLEAF, FIT for RIVALS, DIAMANTE, FALLING for SCARLET April 17, Freebird Live FRATELLO April 17 & 18, Roadhouse HERITAGE BLUES ORCHESTRA April 17, Ritz Theatre
28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 18-24, 2015
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 A NEW DECREE April 18, Jack Rabbits CHAQUIS MALIQ, LEE HUNTER, JOEY KERR & MARY-LOU, SCOTT JONES DANCERS April 18, Riverside Arts Market The RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS, SKYLIT DRIVE April 18, Beach Blvd Concert Hall CHAQUIS MALIQ, LEE HUNTER, JOEY KERR, MARY-LOU, SCOTT JONES DANCERS April 18, Riverside Arts Market MARY LOU, LEE HUNTER April 18, Mudville Music Room BOB DYLAN April 18, St. Augustine Amphitheatre The WHO, JOAN JETT & the BLACKHEARTS April 19, Veterans Memorial Arena CAGE the ELEPHANT April 19, Mavericks DICK DALE April 21, Jack Rabbits STOKESWOOD, GHOST OWL April 22, Freebird Live TONIGHT ALIVE April 22, 1904 Music Hall NICK DITTMEIER & the SAWDUSTERS April 22, Jack Rabbits TIM BARRY, SAM RUSSO, WEIGHTED HANDS April 23, Jack Rabbits TOMMY TALTON April 23, Mudville Music Room 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 (Beatles Tribute) April 24, The Florida Theatre CHERUB, MYSTERY SKULLS, FORTEBOWIE April 24, Freebird Live TYLER the CREATOR April 24, Mavericks MIKE SHACKELFORD April 24, Mudville Music Room COMFORT ZONE April 24 & 25, Roadhouse JEFFERSON STARSHIP April 25, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Duval Spring Fest: JAH ELECT & the I Quality Band, DEZ NADO, ASKMEIFICARE, BIG BOI MONEYMAKERS, LANKDIZZIM, MR. LOW, B.O.A.T., ANTONIYO GREENWAY, MR. WHITTY, MONI, JOHN CRUIZ, BANGEM, G SLIM April 25, Jack Rabbits RIDE with ME April 25, 1904 Music Hall LaVilla Jazz Band & Chamber Orchestra, Mike Shackelford & Steve Shanholtzer April 25, Riverside Arts Market CHRIS O’LEARY GROUP April 25, Mudville Music Room 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 The ROBERT CRAY BAND, SHEMEKIA COPELAND April 27, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall CHRIS BOTTI April 30, The Florida Theatre MARCHFOURTH MARCHING BAND April 30, Freebird Live GAMBLEFEST KICKOFF April 30, Mudville Music Room WILCO May 1, St. Augustine Amphitheatre WEEKEND ATLAS, LANEY JONES & the SPIRITS May 1, Burro Bar EARL SWEATSHIRT May 1; IRATION May 2, Mavericks HOZIER May 5, The Florida Theatre NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL May 7, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall BRAND NEW, MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA, KEVIN DEVINE May 7, St. Augustine Amphitheatre GHOST of the BLUES May 8, The Florida Theatre 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 MAT KEARNEY, JUDAH & THE LION May 11, P. V. Concert Hall JASON ISBELL, CRAIG FINN May 12, The Florida Theatre STRUNG OUT, RED CITY RADIO, LA ARMADA, FLAG on FIRE May 13, Freebird Live JOHN MAYALL May 13, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall REAL FRIENDS, KNUCKLEPUCK May 14, Freebird 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. Aug. Amphitheatre ED KOWALCZYK May 15, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
STANLEY JORDAN May 15, Ritz Theatre JOHN FOGERTY May 15, St. Aug Amphitheatre OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW, DEVIL MAKES THREE May 16, St. Augustine Amphitheatre IGGY AZALEA May 18, Veterans Memorial Arena DEVON ALLMAN May 20, Mojo Kitchen Jax Jazz Fest: SOUL REBELS, TITO PUENTE JR. ORCHESTRA, FELIX PEIKLI & the ROYAL FLUSH QUINTET, ROMAN STREET, KELLYLEE EVANS, SPYRO GYRA, MACEO PARKER, POSTMODERN JUKEBOX, JAZZ ATTACK (Peter White, Richard Elliot, Euge Groove), MICHAEL FRANKS, JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, PEABO BRYSON, ANDY SNITZER, IGNACIO BERROA, NOEL FREIDLINE QUINTET, LISA McCLENDON, ELISHA PARRIS, LINDA COLE & JOSH BOWLUS, ERIC CARTER, JOHN LUMPKIN TRIO May 21-24, Downtown Florida Folk Festival Kickoff: DEL SUGGS May 21, Mudville Music TODD RUNDGREN May 22 & 24, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Palatka Blue Crab Fest: JEFF COFFEY, AMY DALLEY, HIGHWAY to HELL (AC/DC tribute) May 22-25, Downtown Palatka BOSTON May 24, St. Augustine Amphitheatre FRICTIO FARM, CHARLIE ROBERTSON May 28, Mudville Music PSYCHEDELIC FURS May 31, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall BRIT FLOYD (Pink Floyd Tribute) June 2, The Florida Theatre RUSTY SHINE June 6, Roadhouse KIM WATERS June 6, Ritz Theatre The GIPSY KINGS June 11, The Florida Theatre SETH WALKER June 11, Mudville Music Room 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 Happy Together Tour: The TURTLES, FLO & EDDIE, The ASSOCIATION, MARK LINDSAY, The GRASSROOTS, The COWSILLS, The BUCKINGHAMS June 16, Florida Theatre PIERCE PETTIS June 26, Mudville Music Room NATURAL INSTINCTS June 26 & 27, Roadhouse FOR KING & COUNTRY June 27, Christ Church Southside MICHAEL RENO HARRELL June 27, Mudville Music Room DON McLEAN July 2, The Florida Theatre 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 STEVE FORBERT TRIO July 10, Mudville Music Room BARENAKED LADIES, VIOLENT FEMMES, COLIN HAY July 11, St. Augustine Amphitheatre SHANIA TWAIN July 15, Veterans Memorial Arena CHROME HEART July 17 & 18, Roadhouse MY MORNING JACKET, MINI MANSIONS Aug. 1, St. Aug. Amphi. “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC Aug. 16, The Florida Theatre TIM McGRAW Aug. 20, Veterans Memorial Arena (unconfirmed) NICKELBACK Sept. 1, Veterans Memorial Arena BRITTANY SHANE Sept. 25, Mudville Music Room AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FEST Oct. 8-15, Fernandina Beach The CHARLIE DANIELS BAND Oct. 22, The Florida Theatre MARK KNOPFLER Oct. 27, St. Augustine Amphitheatre RONNIE MILSAP Nov. 29, The Florida Theatre
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC Contemporary Latin music superstar ESPINOZA PAZ (pictured) performs with CONJUNTO ATARDECER and LOS COMPAS DEL TERRE March 20 at Morocco Shrine Auditorium, Southside.
Myridian Rift 5:30 p.m. March 19. Runaway Gin March 20. ASG, Darkhorse Saloon, Dagger Beach March 21. Bleachers, Joywave, Night Terrors of 1927 7 p.m. March 22. Atmosphere, Prof, Dem Atlas, DJ Fundo March 24. G. Love & Special Sauce, Matt Costa March 25. Twin Shadow, Lolawolf March 26 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. LYNCH’S IRISH PUB, 514 N. First St., 249-5181 Love Chunk 10 p.m. March 20. Blistur March 21. Live music nightly MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1018 N. Third St., 246-1500 Three March 18. The Get Right Band March 19 MEZZA Restaurant & Bar, 110 First St., N.B., 249-5573 Neil Dixon every Tue. Gypsies Ginger every Wed. Mike Shackelford & Steve Shanholtzer every Thur.
NORTH BEACH BISTRO, 725 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 372-4105 Dan Evans March 19. Billy Bowers March 20. Neil Dixon March 21 RAGTIME TAVERN, 207 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 241-7877 Billy Bowers 7 p.m. March 18. The Druids March 19. Boogie Freaks March 20 & 21. Neil Dixon March 22. Small Fish March 25 WORLD OF BEER, 311 Third St. N., 372-9698 Mitch Kuhman 8 p.m. March 19
DOWNTOWN
1904 MUSIC HALL, 19 Ocean St. N. Scholars Word March 18 & 26. Offshore, Funk You, Joe Marcinek Band March 19. Snake Blood Remedy, Askmeificare, Lava, Ectoplasm, Little Gold, DJ Al Pete, Twinki, Black Chain Gang, Saucy Yoda, Lethal Skripturez, DJ Don McCon, Dark Music Team, Dem Godz, MF Goon, Antagonist, Christina Wagner, Zac Vann, Shawn
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. SLIDERS, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652 Brett Foster March 21 & 22
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 Tad Jennings March 19
THE BEACHES
(All venues in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted)
BILLY’S BOATHOUSE, 2321 Beach Blvd., 241-9771 Jaxx or Better March 20. Billy Bowers March 21. Reggae SWAT Team March 22 BRASS ANCHOR PUB, 2292 Mayport Rd., Ste. 35, Atlantic Beach, 249-0301 Joe Oliff March 18 & 20 CULHANE’S, 967 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 249-9595 DJ Hal every Sat. ESPETO BRAZILIAN Steakhouse, 1396 Beach Blvd., 388-4884 Elizabeth Rogers 6 p.m. March 19 FLYING IGUANA, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680 Last 2 Leave 10 p.m. March 20 & 21. Darren Corlew March 22 FREEBIRD LIVE, 200 N. First St., 246-2473 Suicide Silence, Emmure, Within the Ruins, Fit for an Autopsy, Silence, The
MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 29
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC Louisiana music king BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO (pictured) performs with LONESOME BERT & THE SKINNY LIZARD March 19 at Colonial Quarter, St. Augustine.
Lightfoot, Ether Chambles, Dorian Nins, Christa Fataou Sylla & Nan Nkama March 20 BURRO BAR, 100 E. Adams St. Kelcy Mae March 20. Agnostic Front, Coldside 8 p.m. March 22. DTCV, Memphibians, Dagger Beach, Mother Superior March 23. Brett Saxon March 24 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. FIONN MacCOOL’S, Jax Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1247 Jig to a Milestone 6 p.m. March 18. Chuck Nash March 19. Brett Foster March 20. Jimmy Solari March 21. Spade McQuade March 25 JACKSONVILLE LANDING, 2 Independent Dr., 353-1188 Radio 80 5 p.m. March 19. Jay Garrett 8 p.m. March 20. Anthony Nova, Joniel the One, Fragmento de Tierra Kaliente, Miguel Angel 5 p.m. March 21. Music Showcase 4 p.m. March 22 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 Easton Corbin, Jamie Davis, JB Crockett 6 p.m. March 21. Joe Buck, DJ Justin Thur.-Sat. UNDERBELLY, 113 E. Bay St., 699-8186 Drymill Road, Your Captain Speaking March 19. Ryan Cabrera, Secondhand Serenade March 22. Crushed Out, Woolly Bushmen March 25. Against Grace, Raising Cadence March 26
FLEMING ISLAND
WHITEY’S FISH CAMP, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198 The Conch Fritters 4 p.m. March 22. Live music Fri. & Sat. DJ Throwback 8 p.m. Thur. Deck music. Fri., Sat. & Sun.
INTRACOASTAL WEST
CLIFF’S Bar & Grill, 3033 Monument Rd., 645-5162 Live music every Fri. & Sat. JERRY’S Sports Grille, 13170 Atlantic Blvd., 220-6766 Don’t Call Me Shirley! March 20. Upper Limits March 21
MANDARIN, JULINGTON
DAVE’S MUSIC BAR & GRILL, 9965 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 48, 575-4935 Mountain Shore March 21. HARMONIOUS MONKS, 10550 Old St. Augustine Rd., 880-3040 Open mic: Synergy 8 p.m. every Wed.
ORANGE PARK, MIDDLEBURG
CLUB RETRO, 1241 Blanding Blvd., 579-4731 ’70s & ’80s dance 8 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. DJ Capone every Wed. THE HILLTOP, 2030 Wells, 272-5959 John Michael Wed.-Sat. THE ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611 Roger That 10 p.m. March 20 & 21. 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. March 18. Richard Smith 6 p.m. March 19. Billy Buchanan 8 p.m. March 20, 6 p.m. March 26. Mark O’Quinn March 21. Aaron Koerner March 22. Samuel Sanders 6 p.m.
30 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 18-24, 2015
March 25 TABLE 1, 330 A1A N., 280-5515 Deron Baker March 18 & 25. Gary Starling March 19. Paxton & Mike March 20. Wes Cobb March 21
RIVERSIDE, WESTSIDE
ACROSS THE STREET, 948 Edgewood Ave. S., 683-4182 Warm Like Winter March 21. Backwater Bible Salesman March 23 MURRAY HILL THEATRE, 932 Edgewood Ave. S., 388-7807 Gloryland Band March 20. I Am the Witness EP release, Just Like Gentlemen, Personalities, Come & Rest, Operator, Searching Serenity March 21 rain dogs, 1045 Park St., 379-4969 Herd of Watts March 20. Manatees, The Mold, Nutritional Beast 9 p.m. March 26 RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET, 715 Riverside Ave., 389-2449 LaVilla SOA Dance, Mama Blue, Clint Fisher 10:30 a.m. March 21
ST. AUGUSTINE
BARLEY REPUBLIC, 48 Spanish St., 547-2023 Live local music every Thur.-Sun. CAFE ELEVEN, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 460-9311 The Original Wailers 8 p.m. March 25 DOS COFFEE & WINE, 300 San Marco Ave., 342-2421 Jeremy Rogers 7 p.m. March 21. Jazz every Sun. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 410 Anastasia Blvd., 826-4040 Jeremy Rogers 6 p.m. March 19 MILL TOP TAVERN, 19 St. George St., 829-2329 Denny Blue 1 p.m. March 21. Go Get Gone 9 p.m. March 20 & 21 PAULA’S BEACHSIDE GRILL, 6896 A1A S., Crescent Beach, 471-3463 Denny Blue open mic jam 6-9 p.m. March 18 SPY LOUNGE, 21 Hypolita St., 819-5637 Denny Blue 6 p.m. March 20 TRADEWINDS LOUNGE, 124 Charlotte St., 829-9336 Spanky March 20 & 21
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, every Sat. JACK RABBITS, 1528 Hendricks Ave., 398-7496 Delta Saints, Tom Bennett Band March 18. The Black Lips, Black Linen March 19. Social Blue, Quincy Mumford, Autumn, Radar vs. Wolf, Marcus Kane March 20. Fashawn, DJ Exile, Earth Gang, Sunreal, Webeuntitled March 22. Frnkiero & The Cellabration, Homeless Gospel Choir, Modern Chemistry March 24 MUDVILLE MUSIC ROOM, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., 352-7008 Larry Mangum, Jim Avett 7:30 p.m. March 19. The WillowWacks 7:30 p.m. March 21. Nikki Talley, Jason Sharp 7:30 p.m. March 27
SOUTHSIDE, BAYMEADOWS
BAHAMA BREEZE, 10205 River Coast Dr., 646-1031 Tropico
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC
Steel Drums March 18 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 Fellin March 18, 19 & 22. Be Easy March 19. Darrell Rae 8 p.m., X-Hale 8:30 p.m. March 20. Brady Clampitt 7 p.m., X-Hale 8:30 p.m., DJ Shotgun March 21. First Street Band March 22 MELLOW MUSHROOM, 9734 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 1, 997-1955 Aaron Koerner March 19. Wes Cobb March 20. Kelli & Ken Maroney March 21 MY PLACE BAR & GRILL, 9550 Baymeadows, 737-5299 Chuck Nash March 24. Fat Cactus Mon. Live music 9 p.m. every night
WHISKEY JAX, 10915 Baymeadows Rd., 634-7208 Scott Verville March 18. Mama Blue March 22. Denton Elkins March 25 WILD WING CAFÉ, 4555 Southside Blvd., 998-9464 Open mic March 19. A1A North March 20. Shotgun Redd March 21 WORLD OF BEER, 9700 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 1, 551-5929 Mitch Kuhman 8 p.m. March 19. Live music Fri. & Sat.
SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE
SHANTYTOWN, 22 W. Sixth St., 798-8222 Xerome, Haves & Thirds, I_Like_Dog_Face, Severed+Said March 22. Barren Womb 8 p.m. March 23
THE KNIFE
DRUM CIRCLE OF DEATH I’M GOING TO SAY IT, and it’s going to upset a lot of people. Maybe more than anything I have put to page in two decades of writing about music. But here it is: Drum circles suck. I will wait for the Rainbow Gathering set to pick their water pipes off the floor and mop up the spilled skanky bong water before continuing. (Waiting … ) All cleaned up? Good. Now I repeat – drum circles suck. Much of what shapes my opinion of these mass percussion rituals is rooted in my lifelong pursuit of the craft of drumming. I received my first drum set when I turned 1, began taking lessons at 5, and began playing professionally at age 15. My passion for the instrument has only deepened over years and years of in-depth study, and it is with some reservation that I issue the above statement, only because I understand the power of the drum. More than any other instrument (and you can argue with me all you want about this; you will lose), the drum lives at the core of our collective being. It represents our primeval attempts at audible communication. It has been used throughout the ages in celebrations, in mourning and in war. It is a metaphor for our heartbeats and a real-world manifestation of the movement of the universe. Even today, most drums are made from organic materials, keeping us connected to the earth from which they come. If all of this sounds a little tree-huggy, that’s about as far as I’ll go in that direction. Because it can’t be denied that drum circles, despite their intention to bring people together, to reach a higher spiritual plane, to spread peace and good will, usually end up a cacophonous mess. Why? Because most people who participate in drum circles are A. not drummers B. high or C. not drummers who are high. Now, I understand the desire to be involved in a drum circle, as it offers a sense of community in an age increasingly divided along political lines and by social networks. There is an overwhelming feeling of belonging when you are pounding a djembe into submission with 30 like-minded pixies. And, as I have experienced when trancing out while playing my own drums, you can indeed reach higher levels of consciousness. So it is through this understanding that I fully endorse your right to put together and participate in drum circles of any size and configuration. Just please don’t ask me to participate. I don’t issue this request unsolicited. Being a drummer, and a fairly visible one, since I sometimes gig four, even five times a week, I have a considerable number of people approach me and ask me to join their drumming “communities,” which inevitably leads to the dreaded Drum Circle of Death. Many years ago, I accepted a few of these invitations, thinking I would be immersed in a
OVERSET
THE KNIFE
collective of fairly knowledgeable drummers with decent time feel and a reasonable amount of self-control. Instead, I was (at one drum circle, at least) asked to join hands in prayer before the circle (kill me, please) and then was thrown into a maelstrom of flailing hippie craziness. They leapt about, like looney forest sprites, randomly striking hand drums and shaking rain sticks. They swayed and chanted. They crescendoed independently, and everyone soloed – the entire time. Some of the drummers thought they were de facto conductors, trying with grand, theatrical gestures to manipulate the throng to do their bidding. Some swooned before their drums, others danced around them. All the while, an amorphous bubble of indistinct, shifting percussion patterns engulfed us. Each bump, bang and bonk ricocheted around the room and deep into my psyche. For an actual drummer to gain a rhythmic foothold in this madness was beyond possibility. For one to engage in the exchange, one must surrender control and succumb to the Bubble, which I guess is the true yogic approach. But I just couldn’t. Every time I tried to surrender, my drummer brain would kick in, and I would try in vain to lock down some semblance of a groove. Logic, counting, time – it was all irrelevant, replaced by Neanderthalic bombast. We sacrificed the One in the name of Oneness. After a few of these experiences, I began turning down drum circle invitations. But soon a diplomatic rebuff became a snickering refusal and, I must admit, my disposition was somewhat unkind, to the point that I couldn’t even observe a drum circle without unpleasant under-my-breath commentary. You could say I was an asshole about it. I have since come to accept what a drum circle is, however, without participating. It is obvious the bliss people derive from such gatherings, and I’d be a total dick not to recognize this. And who could begrudge the inability of a 10-year-old child, or a 47-yearold stoner, to keep a steady beat? Drumming is sheer exultation, regardless of one’s level of experience. It’s alive, epiphanic and soulopening. It should be engaged in by everyone. I’ll just be over here with my headphones on. John E. Citrone theknife@folioweekly.com MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 31
J. Daniel Altman, chef at the new Loving Cup Hash House in South Jax Beach, belts out opera as he delivers dishes free of GMOs and hormones. Photo by Dennis Ho
DINING DIRECTORY AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA BEACH, YULEE
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. $$ FB K TO R, Sun.; L D Daily CHEZ LEZAN BAKERY CO., 1014 Atlantic Ave., 491-4663, chezlezanbakery.com. Fresh European-style breads, pastries: croissants, muffins, cakes, pies. $ TO B R L Daily CIAO ITALIAN BISTRO, 302 Centre St., 206-4311, ciaobistroluca.com. Owners Luka and Kim Misciasci offer fine dining: veal piccata, rigatoni Bolognese, antipasto. Specialties: chicken Ciao, homemade meat lasagna. $ L Fri., Sat.; D Nightly DAVID’S Restaurant & Lounge, 802 Ash St., 310-6049, ameliaislanddavids.com. Historic district fi ne dining. Fresh seafood, prime aged meats, rack of lamb. $$$$ FB D Wed.-Mon. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 474313 E. S.R. 200, 491-3469. 450077 S.R. 200, Callahan, 879-0993. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA.
ELIZABETH POINTE LODGE, 98 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-4851, elizabethpointelodge.com. BOJ winner. Award-winning B&B. Seaside dining, inside or out. Hot buffet breakfast daily. Homestyle soups, sandwiches, desserts. $$$ BW B L D Daily JACK & DIANE’S, 708 Centre St., 321-1444, jackanddianescafe.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. $$$ FB L Tue.-Sat.; D Nightly
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THE SALTY PELICAN Bar & Grill, 12 N. Front St., 277-3811, thesaltypelicanamelia.com. F BOJ winner. 2nd-story outdoor bar. Owners T.J. and Al offer local seafood, Mayport shrimp, fish tacos, po’boys, cheese oysters. $$ 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.
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. $$ K TO L D Mon.-Sat., B Sat.
BAYMEADOWS
LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1301 Monument, 724-5802. F SEE
AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 7825 Baymeadows Way, 733-4040. F SEE DOWNTOWN. AL’S PIZZA, 8060 Philips Hwy., Ste. 105, 731-4300. F
ORANGE PARK.
SEE BEACHES.
SEE MANDARIN.
THE SHEIK DELI, 9720 Atlantic Blvd., 721-2660. Familyowned-and-operated for 40+ years, with a full breakfast (pitas to country plates) and a lunch menu. $ TO B L D Mon.-Sat.
AVONDALE, ORTEGA
BAGEL LOVE, 4114 Herschel St., Ste. 121, 634-7253, bagel lovejax.com. BOJ winner. Locally-owned-and-operated. Northern style bagels, sandwiches, wraps, bakery. Freshsqueezed orange juice, lemonade; coffee, tea. $ K TO B L Daily THE CASBAH CAFÉ, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966, thecas bahcafe.com. F BOJ winner. Middle Eastern/Mediterranean fare. Patio, hookah lounge, bellydancers. $$ 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+
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. $$ FB L D Mon.-Sat. ZESTY INDIA, 8358 Point Meadows Dr., 329-3676, zesty india.com. Asian/European; tandoori lamb chops, rosemary tikka. Vegetarian cooked separately. $ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun.
BEACHES
(Locations are in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted.)
To get listed, call your account manager or Sam Taylor at 904.260.9770 ext. 111 or staylor@folioweekly.com. DINING DIRECTORY KEY
Average Entrée Cost $ = Less than $8 $$ = $8-$14 $$$ = $15-$22 $$$$ = $23 & up BW = Beer/Wine FB = Full Bar K = Kids’ Menu TO = Take Out B = Breakfast R = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner Bite Club = Hosted free FW Bite Club tasting. To join, go to fwbiteclub.com. 2014 Best of Jax winner F = FW distribution spot
AL’S PIZZA, 303 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-0002, alspizza.com. F New York-style, gourmet pizzas, baked dishes. All-day happy hour Mon.-Thur. $ FB K TO L D Daily ANGIE’S SUBS, 1436 Beach Blvd., 246-2519. ANGIE’S GROM, 204 Third Ave. S., 246-7823. BOJ winner. Subs made with fresh ingredients for more than 25 years. One word: Peruvian. Huge salads, blue-ribbon iced tea. $ BW TO L D Daily BOLD BEAN Coffee Roasters, 2400 S. Third St., Ste. 201. BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE.
DINING DIRECTORY
BUDDHA THAI BISTRO, 301 10th Ave. N., 712-4444, buddhathaibistro.com. The proprietors are from Thailand; every dish is made with fresh ingredients. $$ 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. $$ FB K L D Tue.-Sun. CASA MARIA, 2429 S. Third St., 372-9000, casamariajax. com. F Family-owned-and-operated place offers authentic Mexican fare: fajitas and seafood dishes, hot sauces made in-house. The specialty is tacos de asada. $ FB K L D Daily CULHANE’S Irish Pub, 967 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 249-9595, culhanesirishpub.com. Bite Club. Upscale pub/restaurant owned and run by sisters from County Limerick. Shepherd’s pie, corned beef; gastropub fare. $$ 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. $$ FB D Daily EUROPEAN STREET, 992 Beach Blvd., 249-3001. BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. FLYING IGUANA Taqueria & Tequila Bar, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680 F Latin American, Southwest tacos, seafood, carnitas, Cubana sandwiches. 100+ tequilas. $ FB L D Daily HARMONIOUS MONKS, 320 First St. N., 372-0815, harmoniousmonks.net. F SEE MANDARIN. LA NOPALERA, 1222 Third St. S., 372-4495. F BOJ winner. SEE MANDARIN. LARRY’S SUBS, 657 Third St. N., 247-9620. F SEE O.PARK. LILLIE’S COFFEE BAR, 200 First St., N.B., 249-2922, lilliescoffeebar.com. F Locally roasted coffee, eggs, bagels, flatbreads, sandwiches, desserts. Dine indoors or out, patio and courtyard. $$ BW TO B L D Daily MELLOW MUSHROOM Pizza Bakers, 1018 Third St. N., Ste. 2, 241-5600, mellowmushroom.com. F Bite Club.
sandwiches. $$ FB K L Sat. & Sun.; D Nightly SNEAKERS SPORTS GRILLE, 111 Beach Blvd., 482-1000, sneakerssportsgrille.com. BOJ winner. More than 20 beers on tap, TV screens, cheerleaders serving the food. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. $ FB K L D Daily TACOLU BAJA MEXICANA, 1712 Beach Blvd., 249-8226, tacolu.com. BOJ winner. Fresh, Baja-style fare with a focus on fish tacos, tequila (more than 135 kinds) and mezcal. Bangin’ shrimp, carne asada, carnitas, daily fresh fish selections. Made-fresh-daily guacamole. $$ 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, burrito gallery.com. BOJ. 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+ 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.
GRILL ME!
AMY ALEXANDER
The Mossfire Grille 1537 Margaret St., Riverside BIRTHPLACE: Jacksonville
YEARS IN THE BIZ: 12
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Girl & the Goat in Chicago BEST CUISINE STYLE: Seafood GO-TO INGREDIENTS: Fresh local seafood, lots of butter IDEAL MEAL: A dozen oysters and all the crab legs I can eat. WILL NOT CROSS MY LIPS: Bananas. INSIDER’S SECRET: The fresher the better. CELEBRITY SIGHTING: Adam Duritz of Counting Crows CULINARY TREAT: Mossfire cookies!
FLEMING ISLAND
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.
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 SAN MARCO.
SEE MANDARIN.
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. $$$ FB K D Mon.-Sat. MOJO KITCHEN BBQ Pit, 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636, mojobbq.com. F BOJ winner. Pulled pork, Carolina-style barbecue, Delta fried catfish, sides. $$ 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. $$ BW L D Daily NORTH BEACH BISTRO, 725 Atlantic, Ste. 6, A.B., 372-4105, nbbistro.com. Bite Club. Chef-driven kitchen; hand-cut steaks, fresh local seafood, tapas menu. HH. $$$ 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
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-owned-andoperated. Hand-tossed pizzas, wings, wraps. Daily drink specials, HDTVs, pool tables. Late-nite menu. $$ FB L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly
JULINGTON CREEK
DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 525 S.R. 16, Ste. 101, 825-4540. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. METRO DINER, 12807 San Jose Blvd., 638-6185. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO.
MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 33
DINING DIRECTORY MANDARIN
AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 12926 Gran Bay Pkwy. W., 880-2008. F SEE DOWNTOWN. AL’S PIZZA, 11190 San Jose Blvd., 260-4115. F SEE BEACHES. ATHENS CAFÉ, 6271 St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 7, 733-1199. F Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), baby shoes (stuffed eggplant). Greek beers. $$ 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., 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. $$ FB K TO L D Daily LARRY’S SUBS, 11365 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 3, 674-2945. F SEE ORANGE PARK. NATIVE SUN Natural Foods Market & Deli, 10000 San Jose Blvd., 260-6950, nativesunjax.com. Organic soups, sandwiches, wraps, baked goods, prepared foods. Juice, smoothie and coffee bar. All-natural, organic beers, wines. Indoor, outdoor dining. $ BW TO K B L D Daily THE RED ELEPHANT PIZZA & GRILL, 10131 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 12, 683-3773, redelephantpizza.com. F Family-friendly eatery; steaks, seafood, chicken grill specials. Five toppings. Sandwiches, pizza. Gluten-free friendly. $ FB K L D Daily STEAMIN, 9703 San Jose Blvd., 493-2020, eatsteamin. com. Classic diner serves steam burgers, fat dogs and chili, 50+ craft beers. $ FB TO B Sat.-Sun.; L D Daily
ORANGE PARK
ARON’S PIZZA, 650 Park Ave., 269-1007, aronspizza. com. F Family-owned restaurant has eggplant dishes, manicotti, New York-style pizzas. $$ BW K TO L D Daily DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 1540 Wells Rd., 269-2122. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. THE HILLTOP, 2030 Wells Rd., 272-5959, hilltop-club.com. Southern-style fine dining. New Orleans shrimp, certified Black Angus prime rib, she-crab soup, desserts. $$$ FB D Tue.-Sat. LA NOPALERA, 9734 Crosshill Blvd., 908-4250. 2024 Kingsley Ave., 276-2776. F BOJ winner. SEE MANDARIN. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1330 Blanding Blvd., 276-7370. 1545 C.R. 220, 278-2827. 700 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 15, 272-3553. 1401 S. Orange Ave., Green Cove, 284-7789, larryssubs. com. F For 30+ years, they pile ’em high and serve ’em fast. Hot/cold subs, soups, salads. $ K TO B L D Daily POMPEII COAL-FIRED PIZZA, 2134 Park Ave., 264-6116. Family-owned-and-operated, offering pizzas and wings made in coal-fired ovens. Espresso, cappuccino. $ BW TO L D Daily THE ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611, roadhouseonline.net. F For 35-plus years, Roadhouse has been offering wings, sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas; 75+ imported beers. A large craft beer selection is now served, too. $ FB L D Daily THE SHEIK, 1994 Kingsley Ave., 276-2677. SEE ARLINGTON.
PONTE VEDRA, NW ST. JOHNS
AL’S PIZZA, 635 A1A N., 543-1494. F SEE BEACHES. CLAUDE’S CHOCOLATE, 145 Hilden Rd., Ste. 122, 829-5790, claudeschocolate.com. Hand-crafted premium Belgian chocolate, fruits, nuts, spices. Cookies, popsicles. $$ TO DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 100 Marketside Ave., 829-8134, dickswingsandgrill.com. F BOJ winner. NASCARthemed; 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. $$ BW L D Tue.-Sat. AKEL’S DELI, 245 Riverside Ave., 791-3336. F SEE DOWNTOWN.
34 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 18-24, 2015
AL’S PIZZA, 1620 Margaret St., Ste. 201, 388-8384. F SEE BEACHES.
BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, blacksheep5points.com. New American with a Southern twist; locally sourced ingredients. Rooftop bar. $$$ 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. $$ BW K B L Daily CORNER TACO, 818 Post St., 240-0412. Made-from-scratch “Mexclectic street food,” tacos, nachos, gluten-free and vegetarian options. $ BW L D Daily. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 5972 San Juan Ave., 693-9258. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. EDGEWOOD BAKERY, 1012 S. Edgewood Ave., 389-8054, edgewoodbakery.com. BOJ winner. 66+ years, full-service bakery. Fresh breakfast, pastries, petit fours, pies, cakes. Espresso, sandwiches, smoothies. $$ K TO B L Tue.-Sat. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999. BOJ winner. 130+ import beers, 20 on tap. NYC-style Reuben, sandwiches. Outside dining at some. $ 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. Casual spot offers sandwiches, classic salads, homefries. One word: Reuben. $ TO B L Daily KNEAD BAKESHOP, 1173 Edgewood Ave. S. Locally-owned, family-run; 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, obrothersirishpub.com. F Traditional shepherd’s pie with Stilton crust, Guinness mac-n-cheese, fish-n-chips. Patio dining. $$ FB K TO L D Daily THE SHEIK, 7361 103rd St., 778-4805. 5172 Normandy Blvd., 786-7641. SEE ARLINGTON. SOUTHERN ROOTS FILLING STATION, 1275 King St., 5134726, southernrootsjax.com. Healthy, light vegan fare made fresh daily with local, organic ingredients. Specials, served on bread, local greens or rice, change daily. Sandwiches, coffees, teas. $ Tue.-Sun. SUN-RAY CINEMA, 1028 Park St., 359-0049. F Beer (Bold City, Intuition), wine, pizza, hot dogs, hummus, sandwiches, popcorn, nachos, brownies. $$ 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. $$ BW L D Daily
ST. AUGUSTINE
AL’S PIZZA, 1 St. George St., 824-4383. F SEE BEACHES. AVILES, 32 Avenida Menendez, 829-2277 F In Hilton Inn Bayfront. Progressive European menu; made-to-order pasta night, wine dinners, chophouse nights, breakfast buffet. Sun. champagne brunch, bottomless mimosas. $$$ FB K B L D Daily BARLEY REPUBLIC, 48 Spanish St., 547-2023, barleyre publicph.com. Ancient City’s only Irish gastropub in historic area serves fish & chips, shepherd’s pie and lambburger. $$$ FB K TO L D Daily CARMELO’S MARKETPLACE & PIZZERIA, 146 King St., 494-6658, carmelosmarketplace.com. F NY-style gourmet brick-oven-baked pizza, fresh rolls, Boar’s Head meats, cheeses. Outdoor dining, Wi-Fi. $$ 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 Local mainstay 25+ years. Menu changes twice daily. Signature dish is Gypsy chicken. Also serving 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., St. Augustine Beach, 217-3256, saltlifefoodshack.com. BOJ. SEE BEACHES. TEMPO, 16 Cathedral Place, 547-0240. The Latin American fusion wine bar and restaurant offers traditional American fare with a Latin flair; sandwiches, too. $$ BW L D Tue.-Sun.
ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER
BENTO CAFE Asian Kitchen & Sushi, 4860 Big Island Dr., Ste. 1, 564-9494, bentocafesushi.com. Pan-Asian, wok stirfry, fire-grilled, sushi bar. $$ K FB TO L D Daily MOXIE Kitchen+Cocktails, 4972 Big Island Dr., 998-9744, moxiefl.com. BOJ winner. Chef Tom Gray creates contemporary American cuisine: seafood, steak, pork, burgers with locally sourced ingredients. $$$ FB K L Mon.-Fri.; D Nightly M SHACK, 10281 Midtown Pkwy., 642-5000, mshack burgers.com. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. OVINTE, 10208 Buckhead Branch Dr., 900-7730, ovinte. com. European-style dining influenced by Italy, Spain and the Mediterranean. Small plates, entrée-sized portions, selections from the cheese a charcuterie menu. $$$ 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. $$$$ FB D Mon.-Sat. METRO DINER, 3302 Hendricks Ave., 398-3701, metrodiner. com. F BOJ winner. Original upscale diner. Meatloaf, chicken pot pie, soups. $$ 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. $$ FB K L D Daily DICK’S WINGS, 10750 Atlantic Blvd., 619-0954. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. THE DIM SUM ROOM, 9041 Southside, Ste. 138D, 363-9888, thedimsumroom.com. Shrimp dumplings, beef tripe, sesame ball. Traditional Hong Kong noodles, barbecue. $ FB K L D Daily EUROPEAN STREET, 5500 Beach Blvd., 398-1717. BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. HZ CAFE, 6426 Bowden Rd., Ste. 206, 527-1078. Healthy concept cafe: juices, smoothies, traditional vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free meals and desserts. $ K TO B L Mon.-Fri. LARRY’S SUBS, 3611 St. Johns Bluff S., 641-6499. 4479 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., 425-4060. F SEE ORANGE PARK. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 9734 Deer Lake Ct., 997-1955. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MONROE’S Smokehouse BAR B-Q, 10771 Beach Blvd., 996-7900, monroessmokehousebbq.com. SEE RIVERSIDE.
DINING DIRECTORY
PAPI CHULO’S, 9726 Touchton Rd., Ste. 105, 329-1763, ilovepapichulos.com. Tinseltown restaurant offers fresh, authentic Mexican street food, top-shelf tequilas, specialty drinks. Kids eat free. $$ 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. $$ BW L D Daily
SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE
HOLA MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 1001 N. Main St., 356-3100, holamexicanrestaurant.com. F Fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, daily specials. Happy hour; sangria. $ BW K TO L D Mon.-Sat. LARRY’S SUBS, 12001 Lem Turner Rd., 764-9999. SEE ORANGE PARK.
SAVANNAH BISTRO, 14670 Duval Rd., 741-4404. F Low Country Southern fare, taste of Mediterranean and French. Crowne Plaza Airport. Crab cakes, NY strip, she crab soup, mahi mahi. $$$ 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
Photo by Caron Streibich
BITE-SIZED
A CULINARY ADVENTURE AWAITS Salt’s four-course chef’s ‘Adventure Menu’ a must
EVER-CURIOUS, I’VE YEARNED TO TRY the We noshed on warm breads with soft chef’s tasting menu at fi ve-diamond SALT butter, and a compartmentalized serving dish for years. Recently, my wish became a reality of various salts, each one carefully explained. when my handsome fiancée and I got all The second course was solid: cobia with a dressed up, made a reservation and eagerly black garlic mushroom stuffed ravioli, shiitake awaited our culinary fine-dining future. mushrooms, clams, and rainbow Swiss chard As we serenely waltzed through the atop sunchoke purée. Delightfully complex, entrance, we took in a colorful display of salts the fish was flaky and paired perfectly with from around the world. The restaurant has the savory ravioli. large windows, but the sun had already set Up next were the most flavorful, tender veal by dinner time. The interior was dimly lit, and cheeks atop a tower of bean cassoulet, with a buzzed with diners’ chatter. swirl of vibrantly colored carrot ginger purée, The four-course chef’s “adventure” menu spiced walnuts and cranberry jam. I adored this ($225 per person, or $325 paired with wine) dish; it featured several interesting textures, as The Ritz-Carlton calls colors and flavors. it, offered four brilliantly Throughout the SALT at THE RITZ-CARLTON, presented surprises. evening, our server was AMELIA ISLAND The server began by professional, friendly 4750 Amelia Island Parkway, 277-1100 asking if there was and extremely helpful, anything we detested (I making us feel special. answered “maraschino cherries,” because I Chef brought us out a luxurious treat, and Salt couldn’t think of any ingredient I truly hate). favorite, steak and eggs ($55). Served on a The accommodating server shared that useful warm 250-million-year-old Himalayan sea information to the chef. And then we sat back salt block, each tender piece of wagyu beef and let the magic unfold. was placed upon the heated block, cooking it slightly. It was so tender and full of flavor. After an amuse bouche (a one-bite hors Lastly, dessert. Truly a work of art – d’oeuvre) medley of tomato gel, rocchetta dark chocolate mousse macaron, a ball of cheese, pinenut and balsamic topped with strawberry champagne sorbet, lemon poppy micro-arugula, our first course arrived. It was seed cake, apricot sauce and strawberry gelée a beautifully plated tuna tartar with pineapple – it was an impressive ending to a wonderful espuma (an airy mousse-like foam), quail egg evening at Salt. puffed rice, purple radish, baby romanesco, fennel and a sprinkle of micro-cilantro. I wouldn’t Caron Streibich have thought to pair tuna and pineapple but it biteclub@folioweekly.com worked – the chefs are geniuses! facebook.com/folioweeklybitesized
BITE SIZED
MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35
NEWS OF THE WEIRD
AND STOCK UP ON PROZAC Researchers from Cornell University, inspired by the book World War Z, recently computersimulated the spread of a “zombie apocalypse” — and now advise those who are anxietyprone to head for higher ground if infections break out, recommending Glacier National Park in Montana or, even better, Alaska. Using differential equations and “lattice-based” models, the statisticians demonstrated that infections would slow dramatically as fewer people became available to bite (but that, ultimately, we’re all doomed). The state most quickly wiped out? New Jersey.
LEGISLATORS’ WAR ON SCIENCE In February, Nevada Assemblywoman Michele Fiore told a radio audience she’d soon introduce a bill reforming end-of-life procedures for terminally ill cancer patients, such as administering baking soda intravenously to “flush out” the cancer “fungus.” Before her election in 2013, she was CEO of Always There Personal Care of Nevada (which she describes as being “in the healthcare industry”). Fiore blames her accountant for the company’s reported $1 million in IRS tax liens; the accountant is her ex-husband. INTERNAL EXAM In February, Idaho state Representative Vito Barbieri, at a hearing on a proposed bill to ban doctors from prescribing abortion-inducing medications via remote telecommunication, asked expert witness Dr. Julie Madsen about an alternative he had in mind: Couldn’t a woman just swallow a small camera, he asked, and then have doctors “conduct” a remote gynecological exam on her? Dr. Madsen quickly reminded Rep. Barbieri that “swallowed” things do not end up in that part of a woman’s body. FASHION AT PLAY The international sportswear retailer Bjorn Borg (namesake of the Swedish tennis player) created a promotional video game (now also sold separately) that encourages the vanquishing of one’s opponents with love — and “lovingly” stripping them down so they can be outfitted in Bjorn Borg fashions. Said a company official, a player’s mission is “to liberate haters by undressing them with your
36 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 18-24, 2015
love guns and [then to] dress them in Bjorn Borg clothing.” The game also features “teddy bear smoke grenades” and a shirtless man resembling Vladimir Putin astride a bear.
LESSON LEARNED Mark Rothwell made news in Portland, Oregon, in March 2010 when he prevented a bank robbery (and rescued the terrified Chase teller) by jumping the thief, knocking his gun away and holding him until police arrived. He was awarded a coveted Portland police Civilian Medal for Heroism. However, on Feb. 19, 2015, according to an arrest report, Rothwell pulled a gun and robbed the Albina Community Bank in Portland, making off with $15,700. WEED WOES For Arthur Mondella, 57, a successful maraschino cherry supplier in Brooklyn, New York, the inspection by the district attorney’s office in February was to be routine, concerning possible pollution of local waters from discharges of cherry syrup. Mondella was cooperative until the investigator discovered odd shelving “attached” to a wall with magnets, revealing a “secret” room, and then the smell of marijuana — at which point Mondella calmly left the room and shot himself in the head. Ultimately, police found that the 75-yearold company was merely a side business to Mondella’s substantial marijuana-growing operation in the basement. WORK WITH WHAT YOU GOT Morrison Wilson, 58, was convicted of assault in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Magistrates Court in February for using his admittedly “big belly” to “bounce” an aggressive neighbor lady out of his garden in a dispute. The lady was injured as she fell backward. REDNECK LOGIC A 37-year-old man and two female companions were charged in February with stealing tailgates from nine trucks in the Orlando area. Their spree ended when, noticing that a club owner had offered a reward on Facebook for his branded tailgate, the three tried to sell it back to him but botched the transaction. Chuck Shepherd weirdnews@earthlink.net
ASTROLOGY
BEN FRANKLIN, CHRISTIANITY FOR DUMMIES & 30-MINUTE ORGASM ARIES (March 21-April 19): The term “jumped the shark” often refers to a oncegreat TV show that gradually grew stale, then resorted to implausible plot twists in a desperate effort to revive its creative verve. I’m worried you may jump the shark in your own sphere. APRIL FOOL! I lied. I’m not at all worried you’ll do that. It’s true you did go through a stagnant, meandering phase there for a short time. But you got fierce and fertile rather than stuck and contrived. Now you’re on the verge of breaking out in a surge of just-the-right-kind-of-craziness. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): If you happen to be singing lead vocals in an Ozzy Osbourne cover band, and someone in the audience throws what you think is a toy rubber animal on stage, DO NOT bite its head off to entertain the crowd. It most likely won’t be a toy, but an actual critter. APRIL FOOL! It’s not likely you’ll be fronting an Ozzy cover band, but I hope you’ll avoid having to learn a lesson similar to the one Ozzy learned at an 1982 show, when he bit into a real bat thinking it was a toy. Don’t make a mistake like that. What you think is fake may be authentic. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In the spring of 1754, Benjamin Franklin visited friends in Maryland. While riding horses, they spied a small tornado whirling through a meadow. Though Franklin had written about this weather phenomenon, he’d never seen it. With boyish curiosity, he sped toward it. At one point, he caught up to it and lashed it with his whip to see if it would dissipate. That’s the kind of adventure I advise you to seek. APRIL FOOL! I halflied. I don’t really think you should endanger yourself by doing stunts like tornado-chasing. Now is a good time to seek daring exploits to quench your urge to learn. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Novelist L. Frank Baum created the make-believe realm of Oz. Lewis Carroll dreamed up Wonderland and C.S. Lewis invented Narnia. You’re primed to dream up your fantasy land and live there full-time, forever protected from the confusion and malaise of the profane world. Have fun in your imaginary utopia! APRIL FOOL! I halflied. It’s true now is a good time to pay extra attention to cultivating vivid visions of your perfect life. But don’t live there full-time. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “The national anthem of Hell must be the old Frank Sinatra song ‘I Did It My Way,’” declares Richard Wagner, author of Christianity for Dummies. “Selfish pride is Hell’s most common trait,” he adds. “Hell’s inhabitants have a sense of satisfaction that they can at least say ‘they’ve been true to themselves.’” Heed this warning. Tame your lust for self-expression. APRIL FOOL! Just a little joke. The truth is not as simple. It’s important to be able to declare “I did it my way” and “I’ve been true to myself.” For best results, do it in ways that aren’t selfish, insensitive or arrogant. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): No matter what gender you are, it’s an excellent time to get a gig as a stripper. Your instinct for removing clothes in entertaining ways is at a peak. Even if you’ve never been trained, you’ll have an instinctive knack. APRIL FOOL! I lied. I don’t really think you should be a stripper. But do experiment with a more metaphorical version of that art. For instance, you could expose hidden agendas causing distortions and confusion. Or peel away layers of deception and propaganda that hide naked facts and beautiful truth. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Give yourself obsessively to your most intimate relationships. Don’t bother cleaning your house. Call in sick to work. Ignore all your nagging
little errands. Now’s a time for one task only: paying maximum attention to those you care about most. Heal rifts. Work harder to give them what they need. Listen to them with more empathy than ever. APRIL FOOL! Went a bit overboard. It’s true you’re in a phase when big rewards can come from cultivating and enhancing togetherness, but if you want to serve your best relationships, you must take good care of yourself. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): It’s after midnight. You’re half-wasted, cruising around town looking for wicked fun. You stumble upon a warehouse laboratory where zombie bankers and military scientists are creating genetically engineered monsters from the DNA of scorpions, Venus flytraps and Monsanto executives. You try to get everyone in a party mood, but all they want to do is extract your DNA and add it to the monster. APRIL FOOL! That’s all a lie. I doubt you encounter any scenario that extreme. But you’re at risk of falling into weird situations that could compromise your mental hygiene. To minimize the chance, make sure the wicked fun you pursue is healthy and sane. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If you were a ladybug beetle, you might be ready and eager to have sex nine hours straight. If you were a pig, you’d be capable of 30-minute orgasms. If you were a dolphin, you’d seek out erotic encounters not just with other dolphins of both genders, but turtles, seals and sharks, too. Since you’re merely human, though, your urges will be milder and more containable. APRIL FOOL! In truth, I’m not so sure your urges will be milder and more containable. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “The past is not only another country where they do things differently,” says writer Theodore Dalrymple, “but also where one was oneself a different person.” With this as your theme, spend time visiting the Old You in the Old World. Immerse yourself in that person and that place. Get lost. And don’t come back until you’ve relived at least 1,000 memories. APRIL FOOL! I exaggerated. While it is a good time to get reacquainted with old days and ways, don’t get utterly consumed by the past.
FOLIO WEEKLY PUZZLER by MERL REAGLE. Presented by
SAN MARCO 2044 SAN MARCO BLVD. 398-9741
PONTE VEDRA
THE SHOPPES OF PONTE VEDRA
330 A1A NORTH 280-1202
Book Notes
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ACROSS Titanic VIP Fail miserably Hailstones do it Pageant topper Flintstone’s boss “No way” Often-dunked treat Van Gogh locale Place where this group’s music may never appear? 1920s chief justice Does hard-hat work Part of a dog Reed in a pit Lipton rival Put into play CIA forerunner Preserve, in a way Stiff Blues great Smith Good (although possibly ear-ruining) place to hear this group at a concert? Pin’s place Tuscan hill town Schools for Jules Pronto, briefly Flintstone’s wife ___ Helens Grade for a tween Something this group can only dream of? Spanish river “May ___ your order?” Motel machine sign Gandhi opposed it Love-letter hugs Stiff drink With 83 Across, typical comment by the group after a song? Sartre play Fine and dandy Movie, in Variety Mrs. Romney Psycho setting Boo-boo See 69 Across Whale finder
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AVONDALE 3617 ST. JOHNS AVE. 10300 SOUTHSIDE BLVD. 388-5406 394-1390
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DOWN Tinseltown terrier Single-masted boat Bugle tune Bart and Lisa’s bus driver Actor Stephen Future plants Where Lima is Mickey or Mighty Common preservative Ominous sign Wipe away Went home, e.g. Carry-on item Spotted, Tweety-style In ___ straits Refer (to) 6
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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Some of my Aquarian readers have been complaining. They want me to use more celebrity references in my horoscopes. They demand fewer metaphors drawn from literature, art and science, and more metaphors rooted in gossipy events in the tabloids. “Tell me how Kanye West’s recent travails relate to my personal destiny,” wrote one Aquarius. So here’s a sop to you kvetchers: The current planetary omens say it’s in your interest to be more like Taylor Swift, less like Miley Cyrus. Be peppy, shimmery, breezy, not earthy, salty and raucous. APRIL FOOL! In truth, I wouldn’t write about celebrities’ antics if you paid me. Besides, for the time being, Miley Cyrus is a better role model for you than Taylor Swift.
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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Annie Edson Taylor needed money. She was 63 years old, and she didn’t have any savings. She made a plan: to be the first person to tuck inside a barrel and ride over Niagara Falls. (This was in 1901.) She reasoned her stunt would make her wealthy as she toured the country speaking about it. Consider out-of-the-box ideas like hers. It’s a great time to get extra creative in your approach to raising revenue. APRIL FOOL! I half-lied. It’s true now is a good time to be imaginative about your fi nancial life, but don’t try outlandish escapades. Rob Brezsny freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com
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L O O N
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A R T I E O R R D R E I A D L E
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N Y N Y
A K I N
T O A T
G A O L
D E S E O M B
E L A L
O K R A
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63 72 79 85
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O L I O
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119 120
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A L L I
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S L A V
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100 101
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S E R B
M P M A C A L V I L I R E S T R E B E L A R E S A D T S A E E S S A C I V A N A R T A A M B K E E N
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N I N E R S
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O M A N R E B A O N I A T H E A M L F E C C E
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E S S A
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L A P P
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C H A R L I E
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C R F A OW A L M S M I L A A M D I D A N R E L T E U N N I E N S
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P E P A A X O N L I O N T H E O E R D E M Y L E M I S D I S C O N A W I L L E V A L A M B N P R S O I R F E O A A N G F R G H I L I N E A D
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74 N.Y. city where Twain is buried 77 Rude dude 80 Leftovers 82 City near Venice 84 Parts of hearts 85 Bird-related 86 Big Ben sound 87 Band together 88 Ontario tribe 89 Bovine bunch 91 Musburger or Scowcroft 96 “Up and ___!” 97 Sierra Club founder 98 Air gun ammo 99 Smarts 100 Of Mice and Men guy 101 Most freezing 102 Munster portrayer 103 Justice Samuel 106 Some golf events 109 Makes a recording 110 George’s sitar pal 111 One to one, e.g. 112 Kentucky resource 113 Stroll along 114 ___ one’s time (wait) 115 Extremities 116 Burns out of control 117 ___ Choice 119 Adoption option 120 Spanish uncle 122 Jazz grp.? 123 Krazy ___
Solution to The Sides of March (3/11/15)
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Famous parting place Thumbs-up Hangman’s loop Peter Pan dog Reveille no-show Texas resource Scam artist Olympian Jesse Actor Davis Spill the beans Comfort Restful resorts Doubting Thomas Choice fish cut Do follow-ups? Lipton rival Campus NW of L.A. Chopper feature Soy juice brand What to do “if the shoe fits” Big truck maker Wii rival Deanna of the Enterprise Photo session Instruction part Harry Potter’s girlfriend Chanted word Baby kangaroo Alpert’s Tijuana ___ Caramel candy brand Similar Ex-NPR host Liane My Way lyricist Charlotte ___, V.I.
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L I O N A R I A D A N D E S K A T H T A T T E U N R U L S O U P S K N E E L E G O O D E R R N K A P P A E C H O S E A L S N E E M S L A M B L A M B O I L I A D MO S S Y
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AVENUES MALL
Major in astronomy? Electricity pioneer Concerning Sweetheart Bite-size treats Prickly plant What critics of the group are known for? Slackened Connect Beat the house Polite wd. Not to mention Joan of Arc, e.g. It rolls in the aisles Loverboy All thumbs Analgesic target What the group is planning after this weekend? Japanese-American Neck and neck Lip application Extra Brief brawl Salad often Pub pints Girl in “The Gondoliers” With 133, the name of the group whose members appear in the theme answers. They disbanded in 2012 after raising millions for literacy, but they’re reuniting this weekend for one last concert.) See 132
This is about a certain group; 20 Down answers are one letter too long for the allotted spaces. When this happens, enter that extra letter into the vacant square at the base of that column, below the solid-black row.
1 6 10 14 19 20 21 22 23
SOUTHSIDE
133
MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 37
HELP WANTED
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! LITTLE DRUMMER BOY You: Black, bald, and beautiful. Me: Hungry and watching. I was behind you in line while you pretended to play drums like Lars Ulrich. Can I play with your drumstick? When: March 6. Where: Taco Bell @ Hodges. #1509-0311 FREEBIRD EXPENDABLES SHOW On 2/25. We talked at the very end by merchant stand. Had a short conversation; you mentioned you’re finishing up a teaching degree. You: Very cute brunette, awesome smile. Would like a chance to see you again! When: Feb. 25. Where: Freebird Live. #1508-0304 I SAW U Connection Made!
GIRL WITH THE SCAR On her face, eye to forehead. ISU at gay bar, long ago; wanted to know you. My heart skipped a beat. You were and still are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen; always cross my mind. When: April 2014. Where: The bar. #1507-0304 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; officially meet! When: Dec. 19 FOP Christmas Party. Where: FOP Lodge #530. #1435-1224
38 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 18-24, 2015
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 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. & 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
AVON SALES REPRESENTATIVE Want to earn money? Looking for a way to pay your car payment, take your family on vacation or just needing extra cash? Become an Avon Sales Representative today. Just $15 to join. Included is your free website which allows customers to order from you anywhere in the U.S. and $25 worth of Avon products. Every order of $50-$150 earns you 20%. Orders over $150 earn 30%. Start your own business today! Make your own hours. It’s great fun! I will show you how. Call 904-305-8049. (3-18-15) PHONE ACTRESSES FROM HOME Must have dedicated land line and great voice. 21+. Up to $18 per hour. Flex HRS./ most Wknds. 1-800-403-7772. Lipservice.net (AAN CAN) (RTK) MAKE $1000 WEEKLY!! Mailing Brochures From Home. Helping home workers since 2001. Genuine Opportunity. No Experience Required. Start Immediately. www.theworkingcorner.com (AAN CAN) (RTK) START YOUR HUMANITARIAN CAREER! Change the lives of others while creating a sustainable future. 1, 6, 9, 18 month programs available. Apply today! OneWorldCenter.org. 269-591-0518. info@oneworldcenter.org. (RTK) AVIATION Grads work with JetBlue, Boeing, NASA and others – start here with hands-on training for FAA certification. Financial aid if qualified. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance, 800-725-1563. (AAN CAN) (RTK) LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT????? KELLY SERVICES HAS OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR YOU! Vehicle Processors: Inspecting and moving vehicles to the appropriate stations at the customer’s location. Other duties will also require washing vehicles, fueling vehicles, pulling plastic off, inspecting for scratches and installing components onto vehicles. Qualified applicants MUST know how to drive a standard transmission and have an automotive background. You must be open to working a flexible work schedule. This is required! Pay rate is $9.00 per hour. A valid driver license and clean driving record. Pre-employment screenings. Ability to walk long distances, bend, and reach. Assignment hours are 6:30 am-5:30 pm. Must know how to drive a standard transmission. This is a long term temporary assignment. marl175@kellyservices.com (3-18-15) NEW BIZ OPPORTUNITY — but only the adventurous need apply. New Free report reveals the secrets to success in today’s hottest growth industry. www.moneyop.com. (800) 679-1959 (AAN CAN) (3-25-15)
REAL ESTATE
AFFORDABLE ST. JOHNS RIVERFRONT HOME Riverfront home for sale with 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 100foot bulkhead on the river with a 435-foot dock with power and water. Located in Riverdale approx. 18 miles west of St. Augustine. 2nd floor master bedroom with sweeping views of the river, large walk-in closet and private bath. Covered porch facing the river is perfect for rocking chairs! Call Tom Rivers, Realtor for an appointment at 904-347-6986. (3-25-15)
HOUSING WANTED
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VEHICLES WANTED
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VEHICLE FOR SALE OR LEASE
1997 MERCURY SABLE LS Dark green, 54,000 ORIGINAL MILES!! Runs great, loaded, leather, power everything, icecold air!!, recent tune-up, new front brakes & rotors, several dents on the roof, otherwise body in good shape. Owned for 6 years, never let us down. Fantastic commuter car. You will NEVER find a better car for the money. Pace Island (Guard Gated Community, need to call us & give us your name before coming over) Fleming Island, 579-4993. Won’t last long. $2,000 FIRM, cash only. (3-18-15)
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
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FOR SALE
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NOTICES
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the ficticious name of Beautiful Earth at 2533 Chesterbrook Ct. in the County of Duval in the City of Jacksonville, Florida 32224 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahasee, Florida. Dated at Jacksonville, Florida, this 4th day of March 2015. Owner: Rohini Espinosa.
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BACKPAGE EDITORIAL
THE CASE AGAINST CURRY Look at the steak, not the sizzle T
here is a difference between a reputation and a brand. We are built by a reputation — or a lack of one. A reputation takes years and sometimes decades to build and can be destroyed in an instant. Compare that to a brand. A brand is more a product of marketing, salesmanship and ad campaigns. Branding takes money more than time. Sometimes people confuse the two. That is dangerous. Businesses and even cities also have brands. The city of Jacksonville was long ago branded the “Bold New City of the South.” This brand was coined in 1967 when Jacksonville and Duval County consolidated. We see “Bold” in our beer, our restaurants, and the word is even associated with the Jaguars. This brand has also become a reputation. We have an amazing city of almost a million diverse people. Jacksonville has not had a very bold reputation of late. Instead of following the law and welcoming our LGBT brothers and sisters to marry, our clerk of courts shut down the courthouse chapel. Instead of having a discussion about art in public places when a local artist painted on traffic boxes, police arrested him in front of his children and put his mugshot on Facebook. Instead of exhibiting fine art in an art museum, a “boob” causes controversy about whether museum funding should be pulled. Human rights debates, the prosecution of children, bullying and violence problems in Jacksonville have all made recent national news. So now, in 2015, we look to elect a new brand manager and reputation builder for Jacksonville. We need it now as much as ever. Where reputation is earned one brick at a time, these days a brand can be built and spread overnight — especially in politics. For instance, a 30-second attack ad can misconstrue facts and logic and rewrite years of decision-making. To the contrary, a good newspaper article or “feel-good” campaign ad can brand a candidate as wholesome and what Jacksonville needs. Neither tells the whole story. This type of branding should be irrelevant, as it is done by well-paid, biased outsiders who have been vetted by political parties and come in and do what they need to do to win. These outsiders substitute their branding for hard-earned reputation, and we don’t even realize it. With all due respect to Omega Allen, we have three serious candidates for Jacksonville’s next mayor: Lenny Curry, Alvin Brown and Bill Bishop. Mayor Brown is the incumbent. If you
are satisfied with Jacksonville’s brand and reputation, he certainly has held the position and knows the job. He has the Democratic Party behind him and has some ads of his own, but we don’t have to trust the ads, as we have lived through his governance. Bill Bishop has served on the City Council for a long time, including as its president. Before that, he advocated successful referendums including a tree-protection ordinance and a billboard-removal ordinance, and has used his time on a host of boards and committees to address Jacksonville’s financial health, affordable housing and racial inequalities. He has a reputation, and he has helped Jacksonville’s reputation and brand. He doesn’t have the out-of-state political money or campaign hit men, so Bishop’s personal brand isn’t plastered in our conscience. He has run a clean campaign on a shoestring budget.
And then there is Lenny Curry. Originally, I liked what I saw from Curry’s brand managers. He is a feel-good candidate with a beautiful family, and he seems nice. But then I took a deeper look. The only thing that came up was strict Republican rhetoric and cronyism with Ted Cruz, Rick Perry, Rick Scott and those who stand on the far right of the spectrum. He is a politician’s politician. I didn’t see any reputation as someone who has dealt with actual issues in Jacksonville. Instead, he has been circling the state making sure mostly white, male conservatives get elected. I could not find one specific thing Lenny Curry plans to do to make Jacksonville better. When asked, he frequently comments about studying the problem or forming commissions or seeking audits before making a decision. Heck, he’s seeking the highest office in Jacksonville and can’t even get the bridge on his logo right. Those bridges are a big part of Jacksonville, as they are collectively crossed about a million times a day. Team Curry’s negative ads sell fear over function. Apparently, it is solely the current mayor’s fault that the police force is smaller, and a few more officers across Jacksonville’s 800-plus square miles might deter murder and rape. Neither of these crimes is the kind generally deterred by any number of officers, and the budget is more complicated than
that, but fear trumps logic when it comes to political branding. Since I couldn’t find what he stood for on TV or the Internet, I checked Curry’s Twitter account, as that is as close to a “dear diary” as we all have these days. I finally found a Jacksonville issue he was clear about: He really stood for getting Tim Tebow to the Jaguars even after GM Dave Caldwell said no. He also loved taking photos with players and coaches and posting them with or without an actual endorsement. He once claimed that the Democrats were trying to “enslave” his America. He said “Boom” a lot. Voter suppression was compared to drunk driving, in that sometimes the sober are inconvenienced, but the analogy was to get the “drunks” off the road even if a few people can’t vote in any given election. Curry seemed to believe that President Obama has never made a correct decision and is unfit personally and professionally. Overall, he liked to use the words “grace” and “peace,” though his angst for all things nonGOP was really neither graceful nor peaceful. I didn’t see a single opinion on gay marriage, gun violence, bullying, local education reform, the Downtown revitalization plan or anything that resembled a local issue. There’s an old adage about the voting public, that it doesn’t care about the steak as much as its sizzle. The steak is reputation. It is why we choose one restaurant over another. It’s the difference between a five-star meal and fast food. The sizzle may certainly turn heads, but if the steak itself is terrible, it will be sent back no matter how exciting it sounded coming to the table. With politics, it’s the opposite. We only have time and resources to hear the sizzle. Two million dollars have been spent on Lenny Curry’s sizzle, and another million-plus has been spent on Mayor Brown. History shows we too often vote based on sizzle, and if we don’t like the steak, it is too late. We are stuck with it for years. As we prepare to vote, we need to think about steak and sizzle. Which of the candidates has brand and which has reputation? Which is using Jacksonville as a stepping-stone versus the actual prize? I have carved into the steaks as much as possible and reached a decision. Whichever candidate is right for you, I pray you will show up and vote. Our reputation depends on it as a city and its individual citizens. Be Bold. John M. Phillips mail@folioweekly.com
Folio Weekly welcomes Backpage Editorial submissions. Essays should be no more than 1,200 words and on a topic of local interest or concern. You may email your Backpage to mail@folioweekly.com. Opinions expressed on the Backpage are those of the author and do not necessarily refl ect those of the editors or management of Folio Weekly.
MARCH 18-24, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 39