Folio Weekly 03/30/16 BITE BY BITE: Second Helping by Folio Weekly

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FROM THE EDITOR

ONE

STEP FORWARD …

CONGRESSWOMAN CORRINE BROWN DESERVES our compassion. It’s arguable that some of the shitstorm raining down upon her is of her own making, long coming political fallout from years of scandals, bizarre behavior, questionable ethics and a seemingly unquenchable thirst for power and, possibly, for money. Even so, she deserves compassion and respect befitting the office to which she serves. It’s easy to laugh when the congresswoman inexplicably gives a shout out to the Florida Gators on the congressional floor, or when she goes ballistic at a buffet and starts screaming about conspiracies, threatening to call police on the media and openly begging people to “send money,” arguably the reason she’s in such a tight spot in the first place, for if wasn’t for her involvement in the One Door for Education sham charity, she probably wouldn’t be so frazzled. Before you give in to the giggles, ask yourself why people find it so easy to laugh at Corrine Brown. Then consider the fact that our culture has a history of demonizing, caricaturizing and mocking African-Americans. Sure, Brown is brash and, obviously, she’s a character prone to curious behavior and unique fashion choices. But when she says evil forces are conspiring against her, when she says that politics is far from color-blind, she is not wrong. Think back to last summer when recordings were released of state Rep. Janet Adkins (R-District 11) saying that the key to defeating Brown was cramming her district full of prisons so that the total number of citizens counted for purposes of creating a district likely to elect a minority would effectively be far lower than the actual number of voters. That’s how determined Adkins and her ilk are to get rid of the powerful, enigmatic, AfricanAmerican congresswoman: They’d rather hijack our democracy than let her keep the seat she has held for more than two decades. They’d rather sacrifice every bit of pork her Washington connections ship on down to her district, which overlaps at least some of the North Florida Republican caucus Adkins spoke to that day, than let her go quietly — well, probably not quietly — into retirement at the end of her career. Other than the power she wields, Corrine Brown is actually good for Republicans. Not only is she an easy target for them to mock, by creating a district such as hers that is likely to elect a minority,

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the surrounding districts are drained of Democrats in a way that is sometimes referred to as “bleaching.” Thus her congressional seat makes it more likely that the Ander Crenshaws of the state can handily win elections. It also bears mention that Corrine Brown is wellknown for insisting on such an extreme level of control over Democratic candidates anywhere near her district that she is far, far from universally liked by locals in her own party who perceive, rather accurately, that she hurts as least as many Democrats as she helps, maybe more. So why would any Republican want to take her down? If anyone should want Corrine Brown to lose her seat, it should be the Alvin Browns and the Kimberly Daniels of the region, not the Janet Adkins. And yet both Brown and Daniels stand by her, even now. Corrine Brown might not be the most admirable member of Congress; she certainly doesn’t take the lead on much legislation. And she may not be cut from the same cloth as Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the U.S. Congress. What Corrine Brown is, you see, is a liberal black woman who has held a congressional seat for more than two decades in a state with a Republican-controlled legislature that, through tactical and highly effective gerrymandering, has maintained such a stranglehold on politics (in spite of there currently being over 275,000 more registered Democrats in the state) that the embittered voters finally passed an antigerrymandering amendment to our state’s constitution in 2010 (which Republicans and, if we’re being honest, Corrine Brown, have been fighting ever since). She is also one of the first black women in the history of the United States to be elected to Congress. Before she and several others took office in 1993, only seven African-American women had been elected to Congress. Seven. In 204 years. If she is taken down by this most recent scandal, and it’s starting to seem imminent, she will have earned at least some of the blame for her own ouster. She still doesn’t deserve the kind of underhanded, nasty, abhorrent attacks on her position that Adkins’ recordings revealed. And if she were white, or male, or a Republican, she probably wouldn’t have been treated in such a vile manner in the first place. Claire Goforth claire@folioweekly.com

THIS WEEK // 3.30-4.5.16 // VOL. 28 ISSUE 52 COVER STORY

BITE BY BITE

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT DIRECTORY 2016

[14]

Northeast Florida’s most anticipated and comprehensive dining guide, from Ft. Clinch to Matanzas Bay FRESH FROM THE FARM [ 22 ] The offerings at some farmers markets may not be as local or as fresh as they seem BY GREG PARLIER PICK UP THE BEET ’Tis the dawning of the age of beeturia BY MARK JUDSON

[ 28 ]

PUCKER UP [ 41 ] Sour beers are bursting on the scene in a big way BY MARC WISDOM

FEATURED ARTICLES

THE AWFUL LEGACY

[10]

BY AG GANCARSKI In some ways, it’s STILL 2008

NOT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD

[11]

BY JOSH GORE Riverside residents CRY FOUL over proposed development

BREAKING THE CYCLE [62] OF VIOLENCE WITH JOBS BACKPAGE EDITORIAL BY TONEY SLEIMAN

COLUMNS + CALENDARS FROM THE EDITOR 4 OUR PICKS 6 MAIL/B&B 9 FIGHTIN’ WORDS 10 FILM/MAGIC LANTERNS 45

ARTS MUSIC LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR PETS CROSSWORD

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ALL THAT JAZZ CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT

THU

Grammy Award-winning vocalist Salvant boasts an international following on the strengths of her vocal skills and tasteful repertoire. Whether as a solo artist or as a collaborator with musical titans like Archie Shepp and Jacky Terrasson, the 26-year-old Salvant delivers the goods with a style that touches on jazz, soul, and even classical. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31, The Ritz Theatre & Museum, Downtown, $35, ritzjacksonville.com.

OUR PICKS SUN

URSINE IN LINE

FRI

MADELEINE PECK WAGNER

Northeast Florida artist Madeleine Peck Wagner is known for her deep exploration of both media and ideas. Her latest exhibit, Bear Baiting, is a commentary on last year’s black bear hunt hosted by the state of Florida. The impetus for the drawings, Peck Wagner explains, were “… mostly images of dead bears from the hunt itself.” Wagner hopes her works in the exhibit gives these needlessly slain creatures a memorial; she also hopes the exhibit will open a dialogue about our state’s mismanagement of natural resources. An opening reception is held 4-7 p.m. Sunday, April 3, BREW Five Points, Riverside, brewfivepoints.com.

DIVINE WATER ST. JOHNS RIVERKEEPER TOURS & COUNTRY BOIL The St. Johns Riverkeeper presents three events to highlight and support its ongoing advocacy work to save the St. Johns River. On Friday, April 1, a tour team leaves Green Cove Springs, heads to Doctors Lake, and then Julington Creek Fish Camp for lunch; then the tour heads to Walter Jones Historical Park to hear Dr. Keith Holland discuss the Maple Leaf Steamship, which sunk off Mandarin Point during the Civil War. All this is capped off with a low country boil at Sadler Point Marina. Saturday, April 2, the tour team leaves Sadler Point and meets with boaters at the Ortega River mouth for a flotilla through Downtown, ending at Jacksonville University, where JU scientists hold a roundtable discussion, “Emerging Discoveries in the Lower St. Johns.” st.johnsriverkeeper.org.

LIFE IS JUST A FANTASY COLLECTIVE CON The three-day cornucopia of pop cultural SF, Fantasy, and Comic

delights known as Collective Con includes appearances by Robin Lord Taylor (pictured, the “Penguin” from Gotham), Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Candice Patton (“Iris West,” The Flash), a Race to Mount Olympus 5K and 1K fun run (with Sorbo!), a concert featuring Of Montreal and Tomboi, a screening of Nightmare on Elm St. 2, with an intro and Q&A by star Mark Patton, popular voice actors, comic book artists, Cosplayers, replica props, classic arcade games, costume contests, exhibitors hall, and artists alley. Check out our story about this year’s con on page 46. Friday, April 1-Sunday, April 3; main activities at Jacksonville Expo Center, 510 Fairgrounds Place, Downtown; other events at various venues, $20-$100; for all the details and to score tix, go to collectivecon.com.

BRING IT ON HOME SPRINGING THE BLUES

FRI

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REASONS TO LEAVE THE HOUSE THIS WEEK

Once again, Springing the Blues offers up another year (the 26th!) of superior blues action. This year’s festival lineup includes performances by Toots Lorraine & the Traffic, Sean Chambers Band, Selwyn Birchwood, Victor Wainwright, Kim Reteguiz & Black Cat Bones, Red Dirt Revelators, Corbitt Clampitt Experience, Mr. Sipp, Toronzo Cannon (pictured), Samantha Fish, Cat McWilliams, Parker Urban Band, Conrad Oberg, Diedra the Blues Diva & the Pro Ruff Band, Colin Lake, Jarekus Singleton, The Lee Boys, and Smokestack. Friday, April 1-Sunday, April 3, SeaWalk Pavilion, Jax Beach, free event, VIP tickets $20-$60, springingtheblues.com.

FRI

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THE MAIL COMMON GROUND (AND CAKES)

RE: “We Don’t Win Anymore,” AG Gancarski, March 23 I REALLY LIKE YOUR REPORTING EVEN IF I DON’T always agree. I’ve lived in Jacksonville for a little while, in Florida for most of my life. This state and our city seem to be punching bags, sometimes fairly, other times not. Recently I sat in a San Marco sportsbar; the crowd ranged from a working-class set to businessmen in to see the NCAA tournament opening round. Two 20-something Hispanic men came in, wearing matching T-shirts and holding small cakes. They made their way around the bar asking patrons to buy cakes in support of a local nonprofit benefitting at-risk youth. They entered with maybe 11 cakes and they left with maybe two. Just about every patron bought a cake and those who didn’t definitely heard them out … politely. That little moment in time really hit me. So much of the conversation here has cast it as a place of extreme division. Progressive young intelligentsia vs. backwards old guard. This bums me out. Our city is better than that. It’s diverse and polarized, but little moments of grace and humanity like I witnessed do happen, maybe more than we know. Right now, I’m in a San Marco spot and I’ve watched older white residents shuffle through, a large black family take photos under a gazebo and a young Hispanic family walk through shops, hand in hand. We’ve got a way to go but at this little mile-marker, I’m proud of my city. Nick Smith via email

KICKIN’ IT PLAYSCHOOL

RE: “We Don’t Win Anymore,” AG Gancarski JUST MORE CHILDISH, ARROGANT AND condescending garbage from the kiddies at Folio Weekly who just don’t get it. Marc Kortlander via Facebook

AW, SHUCKS, YOU’RE MAKING US BLUSH

RE: “It’s Not Your Fault, It’s Our Fault,” Claire Goforth; “An Open Letter to All Potential Voters,” David Gile, March 16 I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THE MARCH 16 “From the Editor” article by Claire Goforth, as well as the similarly themed Backpage Editorial by David Gile. They both underscore what is wrong with the voting population in Northeast Florida and elsewhere in the U.S. How else would you explain that Donald Trump, a homophobe, xenophobe, racist, and misogynist, is the Republican frontrunner, while Ted Cruz, who is equally homophobic, as well as a religious zealot (a “Cruzader,” if you will), is in second place? There are several indicators that suggest that the country, especially the younger generations, is becoming less religious and less socially conservative; this includes Northeast Florida. So why is Jacksonville having such a hard time passing an HRO protecting the rights of the LGBT community? I suggest that the reasons underlying these frightening facts are outlined quite succinctly in the aforementioned articles. Folio Weekly Magazine readers should read these articles carefully, and share them with anyone else who might pay attention. Otherwise, the HRO vote might be postponed indefinitely and, after November, we may need to address our next president as Der Führer. Who knows – Emperor Trump might even forbid the publication of alternative weeklies such as Folio Weekly Magazine! So, if this isn’t the future you would like to see, speak up – and vote (even if your candidate isn’t perfect)! Rick Powell, Ph.D. via email

LEND YOUR VOICE If you’d like to respond to something you read in the pages of Folio Weekly Magazine, please send an email (with your name, address, and phone number for verification purposes only) to mail@folioweekly.com, visit us at folioweekly.com, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook (@folioweekly) and join the conversation.

LOCAL COLOR

ERIC GILLYARD

FOLIO WEEKLY MAGAZINE COVER ARTIST MARCH 2016

When it comes to important issues around here, our “Bite by Bite” editions take the cake. As Northeast Florida’s most anticipated dining guide, BXB commands respect. That’s why we enlisted the help of local artist par excellence Eric Gillyard to be our cover artist for both of them (March 23 and 30). Eric’s collage pieces display a distinct, unmistakable style and project an other-worldly essence through the use of found vintage images to create a psychologically driven dreamscape at once familiar and fantastic. His years as a student and 1993 graduate of DASoTA opened a creative doorway; since then, his work has

been featured throughout the 904, notably, in the pages of FWM and other area publications, as well as numerous, well-received art shows.

BRICKBATS + BOUQUETS BOUQUETS TO BRUCE THOMASON Thomason recently received the 2015 Florida Book Award Bronze Medal for popular fiction for his third novel, Perception of Power. Currently working on a fourth, Thomason draws heavily upon more than four decades of experience in local law enforcement and government to craft stories inspired by the tragic, weird and intriguing headlines that grip our region on the regular. BRICKBATS TO THE JAXPORT BOARD As the T-U ’s Ron Littlepage reported, on Feb. 22 the JaxPort board asked only one single question before unanimously voting to assume liability for monitoring and mitigating environment damage caused by the dredging project, potentially exposing Jacksonville to many, many millions of dollars of costs. As if we don’t have enough funding problems. BOUQUETS TO SUN-RAY CINEMA In January, PETA (no, not the one from The Hunger Games) named Riverside’s Sun-Ray the No. 1 vegan-friendly movie theater in the whole country. With vegan fare that includes “Twankies,” double chili cheese dogs, The People’s BBQ Tofu Banh Mi, and – get this – chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, coffee and BEER flavored shakes, it’s no wonder they’re at the top of the list. DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DESERVES A BOUQUET? HOW ABOUT A BRICKBAT? Send submissions to mail@folioweekly.com; 50 word maximum, concerning a person, place, or topic of local interest. MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 9

FOLIO VOICES : FIGHTIN’ WORDS

In some ways, IT’S STILL 2008

THE AWFUL

LEGACY

AT LAST WEEK’S JACKSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL meeting, two interesting things happened. And neither was the invocation by an atheist, which was about as interesting as a hamburger without meat. There was an intense discussion about bridges. In the midst of discussing a bill moved off the Consent Agenda, an extended discussion was held about crumbling bridges around town. The city has a list of bridges needing repair, ranked in terms of priority; Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa noted that the list represents a guideline, and that projects do jump ahead in terms of priority. Bridges of all description are on the list. The thing that struck me was a comment by Councilman Al Ferraro, who runs a landscaping service and has actually done work under these bridges. He said at least one of them literally crumbles, piece by piece, when cars drive over it, debris falling below. What became immediately clear: This city needs a lot of money for bridge rehab. It was also immediately clear that the money ain’t coming. Millage rates are about half what state law allows. And the big local drama is going to be about the pension tax … money to pay off obligations incurred in bygone years and decades, incurred because politicians aren’t willing to pay as they go. It’s easier to defer maintenance than jack up taxes. That’s why we have page after page of listings of jacked-up bridges — along miles and miles of your daily commute. The second interesting discussion point was what seemed to be an anodyne bill authorizing allocations in the Jax Journey. Southside Councilman Scott Wilson spoke up and mentioned that a HUD complex in his district is owned by the same fine folks who own Eureka Garden Apartments. He also stated that the complex has the same issues and could use a cut of that programming money, which is currently earmarked for the 10 lowest-performing ZIP codes in the city. No dice. Bill Gulliford chimed in to say that there’s an area in his district with the same issues. Perhaps the Journey can be and should be expanded beyond its current purview. But where does the money come from? The hope is that the extension of the halfcent sales tax until 2060 will close the gap. The reality is that the city has put these issues off for so long that the real gap, the real infrastructural deficit, simply cannot be calculated. This is true in most mature cities at this point. Promises made in the 20th century can’t be fulfilled in the 21st. Corners were cut and cut until there was nothing left to cut. This has happened all across the nation; Jacksonville 10 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016

is not unique, though we’ve cut more corners than every other major Florida city. And the chickens, thanks to the hen ordinance, will come home to roost. Here and elsewhere. Bill Clinton, stumping for his wife on the prez campaign trail, made note of the national crisis. He mentioned last week that Secretary Clinton would put “the awful legacy of the last eight years behind us and the seven years before that, where we were practicing trickle-down economics with no regulation in Washington …” He, along with Alvin Brown, spoke in similar language in Jacksonville weeks ago. Alvin Brown spoke of the Bill Clinton economic record, of “really putting America back to work,” before introducing Clinton, who delineated the hollowness of the post2008 recovery. “The picture the president painted is accurate, but most people don’t see themselves in it,” Clinton said, referring to President Obama extolling his economic numbers in the SOTU. “We don’t have an economy yet that works for everybody,” Clinton later said, “and even if we did, there are so many barriers.” Why would Hillary Clinton be positioned not just as the alternative to close family friend George W. Bush, but also to the current president? Because Clinton’s team gets it. The country has not actually recovered from the crash of 2008, which really started around the time Katrina hit in 2005. Jacksonville certainly hasn’t. We see it around the city. Republicans, by an almost two-to-one margin, abandoning Marco Rubio for Donald Trump. They, as we discussed here last week, voted that way because they are angry … not at Muslims, not at Obama, but at the fact that the middle class into which they were born is disappearing faster than the hairs on their heads. To placate this so-called silent majority, politicians from Washington to Tallahassee to the St. James Building have given in. The millage rate has been cut so often that Council should be sponsored by X-Acto. Cut so often it doesn’t mean a thing to chop it again. Except that it does mean something. It means your roads are jacked up. It means the kids will linger in geographically inconvenient HUD complexes this summer, doing what children do in those situations. It means that everyone in office now is going to have to explain why Jacksonville’s infrastructure looks like that of the cities up north all those Yankees moved to Nocatee to get away from. AG Gancarski mail@folioweekly.com Twitter/AGGancarski

FOLIO COMMUNITY : NEWS Riverside residents CRY FOUL over proposed development

NOT IN

MY NEIGHBORHOOD IF DEVELOPERS RECEIVE APPROVAL FROM the Jacksonville City Council next month, Riverside residents may soon have another dining option. Some see the proposed development as contradicting the area’s zoning practices, tantamount to an assault on the fabric of their neighborhood; others are thrilled to have another dining option steps away from their doors. The proposed 150-seat restaurant, The Roost, will take over the location of the former Deluxe Laundry & Dry Cleaners in the 2200 block of Oak Street, between Osceola and Copeland streets near Five Points. Developers for the group say they hope to offer a much-needed café to the area. Naysayers, though, call it an encroachment on the residential streets of Riverside. Some Riverside residents are crying foul, saying a restaurant development jeopardizes the community’s unique character. As a result, these people have organized the growing group called Positive Riverside Optimized Urban Development, otherwise known as PROUD. “We are being trampled on,” said Jennifer Wolfe, who lives on Osceola Street, a short walk to the proposed business. “Whatever Anthony Saleeba wants, he gets.” Saleeba is a longtime city developer whose projects include Snap Fitness, adjacent to the unit in question. He owns the Oak Street property, which is being developed by Ted Stein and J.C. Demetree. Attempts by Folio Weekly Magazine to reach Saleeba for comment were not successful. Along with PROUD, the Riverside Avondale Preservation, led by Nancy Powell, strongly objects to the proposed development. “There is a small group that no matter what we did would push back against it,” Stein said. “But that is the great part of Riverside — everyone has an opinion and is proud of it. We have a different vision for the neighborhood.” Both Stein and Demetree live five blocks from the Oak Street location. The PROUD movement contends the restaurant flies in the face of years of zoning work to preserve residential streets in Riverside. “This is checkerboard zoning,” Wolfe said.

At the recommendation of city planners, on March 17, the Planning Commission approved a planned unit development for the project, a change from its previous zoning of residential, office and commercial. At that meeting, more than two dozen neighbors voiced opposition to the zoning change. “This is bullshit,” Wolfe said. “It’s just being shoehorned in.” Wolfe continued, “They didn’t listen to a word we said.” In response to Planning Commission’s action, PROUD has begun circulating a PowerPoint slideshow set to the tune of Chumbawamba’s 1997 hit, “I Get Knocked Down.” It’s the group’s most recent attempt to win residents over to its cause. (https://vimeo. com/159954571) “I’m happy for new development in a [restaurant] hub area. Not a residential neighborhood,” posted San Marco yoga teacher Sarah Suero on the group’s Facebook page. “Not a [restaurant] outside my home with a full bar and live music until the wee hours of the morning. No.” Suero’s comments seemed to reflect the ideology of Wolfe’s movement. “It’s a great project,” Wolfe said. “I am not anti-development, just not here.” Stein, though, said he isn’t planning on putting a nightclub in this historical residential area. The restaurant, he explained, is focused on gourmet food and coffee. Bruschetta salads and Italian beef sandwiches will be a mainstay at The Roost. Pictures provided by Stein show the restaurant will be split into two sections. “The really fun part of this is that even though we are one restaurant, we will be operating almost as two,” Stein said. “One side will be a full-service, big-city-diner-type feel, with the other side feeling like a living room meets a coffee shop.” Stein added that his investment into the property is giving residents a place to congregate, an improvement to the eyesore that the structure has become. Referring to one of a half-dozen complaints, Wolfe accused Stein of using a bait-and-switch method.

Wolfe said Stein proposed the project to the residents as a diner, but now she describes it as a nightclub. “It’s insulting to us that they are lying to our faces,” she said. The project has so far overcome every hurdle. The city’s planning and development department recommended to the Planning Commission limiting the restaurant’s operating hours to 10 p.m. Also, the business would not be allowed to serve alcohol outside. The Planning Commission, though, overturned both stipulations. Jim Love, who sits on the City Council’s Land Use & Zoning Committee, said using a planning unit development in the situation of The Roost is not uncommon. Both Kickbacks on King Street and Mellow Mushroom on St. Johns Avenue needed similar approvals. Love declined to indicate how he plans to vote. The Land Use & Zoning committee will hold a hearing on the matter April 19. The City Council is expected to make an up or down decision on April 26. From there, unhappy parties could file an appeal in circuit court. “Riverside is a lot of mixed-use,” Love said. “I think mixed-use is a great idea if it works.” Love said he has offered to hold a conference for the residents and developers, but that hasn’t panned out. “If neither side is willing to compromise, a meeting really isn’t profitable,” he said. PROUD and RAP members are expected to continue to make their case until the final vote. Both resident groups were strongly opposed to the actions taken by the Planning Commission. Nancy Powell, chair of RAP’s zoning committee, said the group is strongly concerned with allowing the restaurant to sell drinks and food outside. “This alone will have a very adverse impact on the residents’ quality of life,” she said. “Zoning laws are in place for a reason, to provide predictability and stability for property owners, residents and businesses within a neighborhood.” Josh Gore mail@folioweekly.com

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BiTE BiTE

bar service at New York-style place. Specialty pizzas, by 20-inch pie or huge slice, with toppings like sliced truffle mushrooms, little neck clams, grapes, foie gras, eggs or shrimp. Dine in or in the courtyard, with a fountain. • $$ BW TO L D Tue.-Sat.

n e i g h b o r h o o d

r e s t a u r a n t

More so than love, food is the international language. Food isn’t just the fuel that sustains us; it is the glue that binds us together through common experiences that transcend culture, age, experience, even politics. There is little in life so sweet as the warm glow of a good meal shared with good friends. As Oscar Wilde wrote, “After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.” Civilizations throughout the ages have been equally characterized by their laws, arts, languages and cuisine. You really are what you eat. And, just like us, you, fair reader, are characterized by a bottomless hunger for the best dining options that Northeast Florida has to offer. The Folio Weekly Magazine Bite-by-Bite by Neighborhood Restaurant Directory is here to lead you to the crème de la crème (and steaks, shakes, noodles, desserts, seafood, salads, and snacks) to be found in every neighborhood in this glorious, wondrous, occasionally maddening burg we are grateful to call home. Bon appétit!

AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA BEACH, YULEE

29 SOUTH 29 S. Third St., 277-7919, 29southrestaurant.com In Fernandina’s historic downtown, this popular bistro’s Chef Scotty Schwartz serves traditional regional cuisine with a modern twist. • $$ L Tue.-Sat.; D Mon.-Sat.; R Sat. AMELIA ISLAND COFFEE & HOMETOWN GOODS 207 Centre St., 321-2111, ameliaislandcoffee.com Freshroasted coffee, cappuccino, frozen drinks, sandwiches, soups, baked goods, gelato. • $ TO Daily ARTE PIZZA 109 N. Third St., 277-1515, artepizzafernandina.com The wood-fired oven renders specialty pizzas like a traditional Napoli pizzeria, topped with imported cheeses, plum tomatoes and other fresh ingredients. Arté serves authentic Italian dishes like eggplant parmigiana and caprese salad. Outside seating. • $$ TO L Fri.-Sun.; D Wed.-Mon. BARBERITOS SOUTHWESTERN GRILLE & CANTINA 1519 Sadler Rd., 277-2505, barberitos.com 463867 S.R. 200, Ste. 5, Yulee, 321-2240 It’s quick serve, not fast food. Barberitos offers made-to-order fresh Southwestern faves, like burritos, tacos, quesadillas, nachos and salads. The salsa is handcrafted from fresh tomatoes, cilantro, onions and peppers. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily BEACH DINER 2006 S. Eighth St., 310-3750, beachdiner.com Innovative breakfast: Eggs on the Bayou, fish-n-grits; French toast, riders, omelets. Lunch includes salads, burgers, sandwiches, shrimp & crabmeat salad. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily BEECH STREET BAR & GRILL 801 Beech St., 572-1390, beechstreetbarandgrill.com In a restored 1889 home, Chef Charles creates with fresh, local ingredients. Local seafood, handcut Florida steaks, housemade pasta, daily specials, small plates, street food. • $$$-$$$$ FB D Tue.-Sat.; Brunch, D Sun. BRETT’S WATERWAY CAFÉ 1 S. Front St., Ste. 2, 261-2660 On the water at historic Centre Street’s end, it’s Southern hospitality in an upscale atmosphere, featuring daily specials, fresh local seafood and aged beef. • $$$ FB L D Daily BRIGHT MORNINGS BISTRO & CAFE 105 S. Third St., 491-1771, brightmorningscafe.com The café, behind Amelia SanJon Gallery, has breakfast sandwiches, bowls, burgers, business lunches, sandwiches. Indoor/outdoor dining; dog-friendly backyard. • $ TO B R L Thur.-Tue. BURLINGAME RESTAURANT 20 S. Fifth St., 432-7671, burlingamerestaurant.com The menu at the brand-new refined casual dining place changes quarterly, focusing on elegantly prepared dishes (eight apps, eight mains) made of quality seasonal ingredients. Duck confit and grilled pork chops are featured. • $$$ BW D Tue.-Sat. COAST 4750 Amelia Island Pkwy., Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, 277-1100 It’s a fresh new taste of coastal cuisine with a seasonal menu of local seafood, steaks, fresh pasta, and small plates created with great passion. • $$$ FB B, L, D Daily CAFÉ KARIBO 27 N. Third St., 277-5269, cafekaribo.com In a historic building, family-owned café serves worldly taste fare, including made-from-scratch dressings, sauces and desserts, in support of local purveyors and sourcing fresh greens, veggies and seafood. Dine inside or al fresco under an oakshaded patio. Microbrew Karibrew Pub offers beer brewed onsite, imports, full bar. Live music Fri.-Sun. • $$ FB K TO R, Sun.; L Daily, D Tue.-Sun. in season CHEZ LEZAN BAKERY COMPANY 1014 Atlantic Ave., 491-4663, chezlezanbakery.com European-style breads and pastries, including croissants, muffins and pies are baked daily. Most breads are made onsite, without any fat or sugar. • $ TO B R L Daily CIAO ITALIAN BISTRO 302 Centre St., 206-4311, ciaobistro-luca.com Owners Luca and Kim Misciasci offer fine Italian bistro fare in an intimate, friendly place. Traditional items include veal piccata, rigatoni Bolognese and antipasto; house specialties include chicken Ciao and homemade-style meat lasagna. • $ L Fri. & Sat.; D Nightly

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THE CRAB TRAP 31 N. Second St., 261-4749, ameliacrabtrap.com For 30-plus years, family-owned-and-operated Crab Trap has been serving fresh local seafood and steaks. Food and drink specials are featured. • $$ FB L D Daily DAVID’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 802 Ash St., 310-6049, ameliaislanddavids.com The fine-dining place serves steaks and fresh seafood, like rack of lamb and ribeye, and Chilean sea bass, in an upscale atmosphere by an attentive waitstaff. Chef Wesley Cox has created a new lounge menu. Live music two nights a week. • $$$$ FB D Nightly DICK’S WINGS & GRILL 450077 S.R. 200, Callahan, 879-0993 474313 E. S.R. 200, 310-6945 2015 Best of Jax winner See Northside. EIGHT BURGER BAR & SPORTS LOUNGE 4750 Amelia Island Pkwy., The Ritz-Carlton, 277-1100 The contemporary sports lounge features billiard tables and multiple flatscreen TVs along with classic sports-bar fare. Local craft brews are on tap, and an extensive wine list is offered, along with a variety of cocktails. • $ FB L D Daily

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BITE BY BITE 2016 FRESH from the farm

[ 22 ]

The offerings at some farmers markets may not be as local or as fresh as they seem

[ BY GREG PARLIER ]

pick up the BEET [ 28 ]

’Tis the dawning of the age of beeturia

[ BY MARK JUDSON ]

PUCKER up

[ 41 ]

Sour beers are bursting on the scene in a big way [ BY MARC WISDOM ]

chefs prepare food before you. • $$ BW TO D Tue.-Sun. KARIBREW BREW PUB & GRUB 27 Third St. N., 277-5269, cafekaribo.com The island’s first microbrewery is next door to its sister restaurant, Cafe Karibo. Karibrew offers a variety of beers, spirits and pub food. • $$ FB TO R Sun.; L Daily; D Tue.-Sun. LEDDY’S PORCH 22 S. Third St., 491-3322, floridahouseinn.com Florida House Inn’s family-style restaurant, named for the home’s owner after the Civil War. Chef Marshal Sands serves traditional dishes, like fried chicken and fish-n-grits, as well as Cajun rémoulade, plus cornbread and biscuits. Bottomless mimosas, too. • $$ BW R Sat. & Sun.; L Wed.-Fri. LULU’S AT THE THOMPSON HOUSE 11 S. Seventh St., 432-8394, lulusamelia.com Innovative lunch includes po’boys, seafood little plates in a historic house. Dinner is fresh local seafood, Fernandina shrimp. Reservations recommended. • $$$ BW K TO R Sun.; L D Tue.-Sat.

THE PICNIC BASKET 503-A Centre St., 583-0197, thepicnicbasketfernandina. com The small shop focuses on fresh food, like cheeses, confits, charcuteries and wines. • $$ BW B L D Mon.-Sat. PLAE 80 Amelia Village Circle, 277-2132, plaefl.net Bite Club certified At Omni Plantation, the bistro-style spot has an innovative menu (whole fried fish, duck breast), artistic décor, live music. Outdoor dining. • $$$ FB D Nightly POINTE RESTAURANT 98 S. Fletcher Ave., Amelia Island, 277-4851, elizabethpointelodge.com Award-winning B&B Elizabeth Pointe Lodge offers elegant seaside dining, open to the public. Dine indoors or outside. Hot buffet breakfast daily and a full lunch menu. Homestyle soups, specialty sandwiches, desserts, wines and beers. • $$$ BW K B L Daily SALT 4750 Amelia Island Pkwy., Ritz-Carlton, 277-1100 2015 Best of Jax winner Chef de Cuisine Richard Laughlin’s award-winning menu has New American cuisine made with simple elements from the earth and sea, like tuna and watermelon tartare and wagyu ribeye, served in a contemporary coastal setting. The wine list has 500-plus wines. • $$$$ FB D Tue.-Sun. THE SALTY PELICAN BAR & GRILL 12 N. Front St., 277-3811, thesaltypelicanamelia.com 2015 Best of Jax winner See the sunset over the ICW from the second-story outdoor bar. Owners T.J. and Al offer local seafood, Mayport shrimp, fish tacos, po’boys and the original broiled cheese oysters. Live music. • $$ FB K L D Daily THE SAVORY MARKET 474380 E. S.R. 200, 432-8551 Local, organic produce, a wide variety of wild-caught seafood – Mayport shrimp – Wainwright meats, a raw dairy and a deli are featured. The café offers salads, hand-helds, tacos. • $$ TO Mon.-Sat. SLIDERS SEASIDE GRILL 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652, slidersseaside.com The oceanfront restaurant serves award-winning handmade crab cakes, fresh seafood and fried pickles. Outdoor dining, beachfront playground, open-air second floor and balcony. Live music. • $$ FB K L D Daily THE SURF RESTAURANT & BAR 3199 S. Fletcher Ave., 261-5711, thesurfonline.com Oceanview dining is featured at The Surf, inside or out on

ELIZABETH POINTE LODGE 98 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-4851, elizabethpointelodge.com Award-winning B&B. Seaside dining, inside or out. Hot buffet breakfast daily. Homestyle soups, sandwiches, desserts. • $$$ BW B L D Daily GILBERT’S UNDERGROUND KITCHEN 510 S. Eighth St., 310-6374, undergroundkitchen.com Chef Kenny Gilbert (season seven of Top Chef) serves Deep Southern American cuisine. Dine inside or on a patio. • $$ BW K TO L Fri.; D Wed.-Sat. & Mon; R Sun. GREEN TURTLE TAVERN 14 S. Third St., 321-2324, greenturtletavern.com Housed in a historic shotgun shack, this local hangout offers Chicagostyle Vienna beef hot dogs and pub fare, cold beer and a chill atmosphere. Live music. • $ FB L D Daily HALFTIME SPORTS BAR & GRILL 320 S. Eighth St., 321-0303 This spot has sports bar fare like onion rings, spring rolls, burgers, wraps and wings. Plenty of TVs show nearly every sport imaginable. • $ FB L D Daily THE HAPPY TOMATO COURTYARD CAFE & BBQ 7 S. Third St., 321-0707, thehappytomatocafe.com The historic district spot serves fresh deli sandwiches and barbecue – pulled pork, smoked turkey and ribs – in an easy, laid-back atmosphere. Homemade walnut chocolate chunk cookies are a specialty. • $ BW K TO L Mon.-Sat. HANA SUSHI JAPANESE CUISINE 1930 S. 14th St., 277-8838 Hana offers a sushi bar and a full menu, including teriyaki, tempura, hibachi, katsu, udon, bento boxes. • $$ L D Daily HOLA CUBAN CAFE 117 Centre St., 321-0163, holacubancafe.com Tucked behind Palace Saloon and owned by real Cubans; authentic Cuban sandwiches, Cuban coffee. Dine inside or out at umbrella tables. Delivery Downtown Fernandina. • $ TO L D Daily

In addition to great coffees and teas, BREW in 5 Points offers a variety of delightful breakfast and lunch options. MARCHÉ BURETTE 6800 First Coast Hwy., 491-4834, omnihotels.com The oldfashioned gourmet food market and deli, in The Spa & Shops at Omni Plantation, offers a Continental breakfast; lunch features flatbreads. • $$$ BW K TO L D Daily MOON RIVER PIZZA 925 S. 14th St., 321-3400 2015 Best of Jax winner Local artwork hangs on walls and rock music is pumped into the dining room. Northern-style pizzas, available with 20-plus toppings, served by pie or the slice. • $ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat.

JACK & DIANE’S 708 Centre St., 321-1444, jackanddianescafe.com In a renovated 1887 shotgun home, the café serves favorites: jambalaya, French toast, pancakes and mac-n-cheese. The specialty is crepes, in several varieties. There’s a vegan selection, too. Dine indoors or on a porch overlooking historic downtown Fernandina. • $$ BW K TO B L D Daily

MUSTARD SEED CAFÉ 833 TJ Courson Rd., 277-3141, nassaushealthfoods.net With Slow Food First Coast’s Snail of Approval, the casual organic eatery and juice bar, in Nassau Health Foods, has allnatural, organic items, smoothies, veggie juices, coffees and herbal teas. Daily specials. • $$ K TO B L Mon.-Sat.

JADE’S BISTRO 1484 Sadler Rd., 321-2777 Asian/Thai fusion menu ranges from traditional General Tso’s chicken to Thai-style mango prawns. • $$ BW TO L D Daily

PABLO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT 12 N. Second St., 261-0049 In the historic district; authentic Mexican chimichangas, fajitas – and vegetarian dishes. Dine inside or out on the brick patio. • $$ K D Nightly

JOE’S 2ND STREET BISTRO 14 S. Second St., 321-2558, joesbistro.com Joe’s offers upscale New American fine dining with French, Creole, Asian and low country influences. Seating in dining room, out in a large, New Orleans-style courtyard, or up on the porch with an Intracoastal view. • $$ BW L D Wed.-Mon.

PARKWAY GRILLE 5517 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6614, parkwaygrille.net Breakfast and lunch items are made daily with fresh ingredients, Boar’s Head deli meats. • $ TO B L Daily

KABUKI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR 1147 Amelia Plaza, 277-8782, kabukijapanesesteakhouse.com Angus steaks and fresh seafood, MSG-free. Japanese dishes and items from an unlimited sushi bar can be customized to suit any taste, and the teppan art of cooking entertains as

THE PECAN ROLL BAKERY 122 S. Eighth St., 491-9815, thepecanrollbakery.com The neighborhood bakery has sweet and savory pastries, cookies, cakes, breads. All made from scratch. • $ TO B L Wed.-Sun. PI INFINITE COMBINATIONS 19 S. Third St., 432-8535, pi32034.wix.com/piinfinite All

the deck. Steaks, fresh fish, nightly specials, Sunday lobster special. Live music. • $$ BW B Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily TIMOTI’S SEAFOOD SHAK 21 N. Third St., 310-6550, timotis.com The casual seafood place features fresh, local wild-caught shrimp, fish and oysters, wraps, salads, tacos and soup, as well as blackboard specials, supporting local fishermen, farmers and brewers and building a sense of community. Dine indoors or out, where’s a pirate ship playground. And a new Five Points location is open. • $ BW K TO L D Daily TONY’S PIZZA 1425 Sadler Rd., 277-7661, fernandinatonysnewyorkpizza. net Tony’s serves New York-style brick oven pizza, along with dinner selections (like baked ziti and chicken broccoli alfredo). Subs, wings. Free delivery on island. • $ L D Daily T-RAY’S BURGER STATION 202 S. Eighth St., 261-6310, traysburgerstation.com 2015 Best of Jax winner This hidden gem is in an old gas station, but it doesn’t escape the notice of tourists or locals. Family-owned-and-operated for 18 years, T-Ray’s often wins Best Burger on Amelia Island in our Best of Jax reader’s poll, and is known for its blue plate specials. Go for the food, stay for the gossip. • $ BW TO B L Mon.-Sat.

ARLINGTON, REGENCY

BBQ BARN 14025 Mt. Pleasant Rd., 619-0237, bbqbarnjax.com The casual place has Southern-style barbecue pork, brisket, turkey, chicken, chicken wings. • $$ BW K TO L D Tue.-Sun. BONO’S PIT BAR-B-Q 8011 Merrill Rd., Ste. 23, 743-3727 See Northside.

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Enjoy the savory flavor of authentic South American cuisine at LA MANCHA on Amelia Island. BOW LEG’Z 4347 University Blvd. S., 337-1603, bowlegzbbq.com Traditional Southern smoked barbecue with a Caribbean flair, a twist on savory and sweet that blends in harmony, in a family-friendly environment. • $ TO L D Mon.-Sat.

SOUPLANTATION & SWEET TOMATOES 1115 Mary Susan Dr., 722-9889, souplantation.com The 60-foot salad bar has four types of salads, fresh cut vegetables and deli items, pasta salads and a dozen dressings, plus soups, pizza and desserts. • $ TO L D Daily

CAFÉ EXPRESS 1706 Southside Blvd., 724-3997, cafeexpress.us Cozy café has hot and cold sandwiches, breakfast dishes. The homemade potato chips are a specialty. • $ TO B L Mon.-Sat.

THE STEAKHOUSE @ GOLD CLUB 320 Gen. Doolittle Dr., 645-5500, jacksonvillegoldclub. com Lunch/dinner specials, free HH buffets Thur. & Fri. • $$$ FB L D Daily

COTTEN’S BAR-B-QUE 2048 Rogero Rd., 743-1233 Fred Cotten Jr. has offered pit-cooked barbecue, at moderate prices in a casual spot, for more than 25 years. Sauces made in-house from original recipes. • $ K TO L D Mon.-Sat.

TABOULEH MEDITERRANEAN CAFE 7645 Merrill Rd., Ste. 201, 745-6900, taboulehjax.com The seasoned eatery has classic Middle Eastern and Greek faves – kababs, hummus, falafel, gyros, shwarmas, baba ghanou and tabouleh. Full lunch and dinner menu. Vegan specials Wed., Greek specials Fri. • $$ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat.

CRAB CREEK CAFÉ 7404 Atlantic Blvd., 724-8050 A seafood shack with a yacht club attitude, Crab Creek Café offers oysters, gator tail, seafood and pasta in a family-friendly atmosphere. • $ K TO L D Daily DICK’S WINGS & GRILL 9119 Merrill Rd., Ste. 19, 745-9301 2015 Best of Jax winner See Northside. EINSTEIN BROS. BAGELS 2800 University Blvd. N., 256-7539, einsteinbros.com With more than 25 varieties of fresh-baked-in-store bagels, Einstein Bros. has breakfast covered: egg sandwiches, paninis and wraps. Lunch offers healthful cold sandwiches, melts, soups and salads. Coffees, smoothies and sweet treats complete the menu. • $ TO B L Mon.-Fri.

AVONDALE, ORTEGA

ALE PIE HOUSE 3951 St. Johns Ave., 503-8000, alepiehouse.com Pizza your way, subs, paninis, calzone, stromboli, wraps, dinners. Gluten-free, vegan cheese available. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily ARDEN’S KAFE & KATERING 4555 St. Johns Ave., Ste. 3, Ortega, 240-1404, ardenskafe-and-katering.com From gourmet to Cajun, Chef Arden deSaussure can create it, with fresh ingredients, local seafood, veggies, meats. Friday night seafood buffet and hot wing bar. • $$ TO B Sat.; L Sun.-Fri.; D Fri.

FIREHOUSE SUBS 4347 University Blvd. S., Ste. 1, 731-1888 13245 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 9, 220-7140 See Mandarin.

BAGEL LOVE 4114 Herschel St., Ste. 121, 634-7253, bagellovejax.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Comfy locally-owned-andoperated spot offers Northern-style bagels, cream cheeses, sandwiches, wraps, subs and bakery items. Fresh-squeezed lemonade and coffees and teas. Free WiFi. • $ K TO B L Daily

FUJI SUSHI 660 Commerce Center Dr., Ste. 155, 722-9988, fujisushiregency.com A respite from the busy Regencyarea bustle, this casual, modern restaurant serves sushi and sashimi, tempura, soups and entrées. • $$ L D Daily

BISCOTTIS 3556 St. Johns Ave., 387-2060, biscottis.net 2015 Best of Jax winner Biscottis serves everything from innovative pizzas to a large selection of almost-too-pretty-to-eat desserts. • $$$ BW B R L D Daily

GRINDERS AMERICAN DINER 10230 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 8/9, 725-2712, grindersdiner. com For 30 years, Grinders Café has been serving homestyle veggies, burgers, meatloaf, pork chops, seafood and desserts. • $ K TO B L Daily

BRICK RESTAURANT 3585 St. Johns Ave., 387-0606, brickofavondale.com This casual eatery’s exposed-brick façade and interior are modern, but still classic Avondale. Grab a burger and watch a game or get the best lamb chops in town. And the veggie burger? Killer. • $$$ FB L D Daily

THE HOT DOG SPOT & MORE 2771 Monument Rd., Ste. 32, 646-0050, thehotdogspotjax. com In Cobblestone Crossing, Hot Dog Spot serves sausages, all-beef hot dogs, and items like wings, Philly cheesesteaks and burgers, all cooked to order. • $ K TO L Daily LA NOPALERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 8818 Atlantic Blvd., 720-0106 2015 Best of Jax winner See Mandarin. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS 1301 Monument Rd., Ste. 5, 724-5802 See Orange Park. MATT’S ITALIAN CUISINE 2771 Monument Rd., Ste. 8, 646-4411, mattsitalian.com The menu has pizza, seafood, stromboli and veal, cooked-to order. Delivery is available. • $$ BW TO L D Daily MILLER’S ALE HOUSE & RAW BAR 9541 Regency Square Blvd., 720-0551, millersalehouse. com The Ale Houses have generous portions, friendly service. Fresh fish, specialty pastas, fresh oysters, clams. 32 drafts, TVs, pool tables and video games. • $$ FB K L D Daily THE MUDVILLE GRILLE 1301 Monument Rd., Ste. 1, 722-0008 See San Marco. NAPOLI’S PIZZA CUISINE 5629 Arlington Rd., 745-1500 This small, family-owned Italian cuisine and pizzeria placed has been serving authentic fare since 2001. • $$ BW K TO L D Mon.-Sat. NERO’S CAFÉ 3607 University Blvd. N., 743-3141, neroscafe.com Traditional Italian-style food for over 30 years. Along with nightly dinner specials, Nero’s features veal, seafood pasta dishes and New York style pizzas. • $$ FB K TO D Nightly SONNY’S REAL PIT BAR-B-Q 12719 Atlantic Blvd., 220-9499 See Orange Park.

THE CASBAH CAFE 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966, thecasbahcafe.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Middle Eastern, Mediterranean cuisine on the patio or in hookah lounge, where folks sit on ottomans at low tables. Wi-Fi available, belly dancers perform, hookah pipes offered. Live jazz. • $$ BW L D Daily FLORIDA CREAMERY 3566 St. Johns Ave., 619-5386, floridacreamery.net Premium ice cream, waffle cones, milkshakes, sundaes and Nathan’s grilled hot dogs, in Florida-centric décor. Low-fat and sugar-free choices are also offered. • $ K TO L D Daily THE FOX RESTAURANT 3580 St. Johns Ave., 387-2669 Owners Ian and Mary Chase offer fresh diner fare and homemade desserts. Breakfast is served all day, and signature items like burgers, meatloaf and fried green tomatoes. A local landmark for 50-plus years, The Fox is open daily. • $$ BW K L D Daily GREEN MAN GOURMET 3543 St. Johns Ave., 384-0002, greenmangourmet.com This market features organic and natural products, spices, teas and salts, and beer and wine. • $ BW TO Daily HARPOON LOUIE’S 4070 Herschel St., 389-5631, harpoonlouies.net Locallyowned-and-operated, this American pub has been a fixture in the Avondale area for 20-plus years. The menu has half-pound burgers, fish sandwiches and pasta. HH during the week. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily LA NOPALERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 4530 St. Johns Ave., 388-8828 2015 Best of Jax winner See Mandarin. LILLIAN’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL 5393 Roosevelt Blvd., 388-4220, lillianssportsgrill.com

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The family sports bar serves wings, ahi tuna, meatloaf, steaks, pasta, daily specials, burgers and sandwiches. TVs show sports. Daily HH. • $$ FB TO L D Daily MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS 3611 St. Johns Ave., 388-0200 Bite Club certified 2015 Best of Jax winner See Beaches. MOJO NO. 4 URBAN BBQ & WHISKEY BAR 3572 St. Johns Ave., Ste. 1, 381-6670 2015 Best of Jax winner Pulled pork and Carolina-style barbecue along with Delta fried catfish. Avondale’s Mojo also offers shrimp and grits, and specialty cocktails. Local musicians perform weekends. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily THE OLD CUP CAFÉ 3604 St. Johns Ave., Ste. 2, 389-2122 The artisan bakery serves coffees, croissants and muffins in the morning, then cupcakes, pastries and desserts during the day. Whole cakes made-to-order. • $$ TO Tue.-Sat. PINEGROVE MARKET & DELI 1511 Pinegrove Ave., 389-8655, pinegrovemarket.com 2015 Best of Jax winner For 40-plus years, Pinegrove has been serving hearty breakfasts and lunches featuring Cuban sandwiches, burgers, subs, wraps and homemade chicken salad in a family atmosphere. The onsite butcher shop sells USDA choice prime aged beef cut to order. New dinner menu. Craft beers. • $ BW TO B L D Mon.-Sat. PULP 3645 St. Johns Ave., 379-6908 See San Marco. SIMPLY SARA’S 2902 Corinthian Ave., 387-1000, simplysaras.net Down-home cooking, from scratch: eggplant fries, pimento cheese, baked chicken, fruit cobblers, chicken & dumplings, desserts. BYOB. • $$ K TO L D Mon.-Sat., B Sat. SUSHI CAFÉ 4530 St. Johns Ave., 388-8285 See Riverside.

BAYMEADOWS

AL’S PIZZA 8060 Philips Hwy., Ste. 105, 731-4300 2015 Best of Jax winner See Beaches. BELLA VITA RISTORANTE ITALIANO 3825 Baymeadows Rd., 646-1370, bellavitajax.com Authentic Italian cuisine. • $$ FB L D Daily BOWL OF PHO 9902 Old Baymeadows Rd., 646-4455 This spot has a varied menu of Vietnamese and Thai dishes with authentic ingredients, prepared fresh, including egg rolls, grilled pork and chicken, lotus root salad, and salted fish fried rice. Boba is also served. • $$ L D Daily THE COFFEE GRINDER 9834 Old Baymeadows Rd., Deerwood Village, 642-7600 Owner Slavisa Micukic runs the coffee gallery, featuring local artists. Seating indoors and out; a coffee/espresso menu with several frozen mochas and frozen jet teas. Beer served after 7 p.m. DJs Thur., Fri. & Sat. • $ BW L D Daily DEERWOOD DELI & DINER 9934 Old Baymeadows Rd., 641-4877, deerwooddiner. com The menu includes fresh local seafood, Angus steaks, salads, sandwiches and burgers, and there’s flatscreen TVs all over. • $$ BW TO K B L Daily THE 5TH ELEMENT 9485 Baymeadows Rd., 448-8265, my5thelement.com A variety of authentic Indian, South Indian and Indochinese dishes form the menu, along with a large lunch buffet of lamb, goat and chicken dishes, as well as tandoori and biryani items. • $$ BW K L D Daily FIREHOUSE SUBS 8380 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 8, 737-3473 See Mandarin. FIVE F(x) ICE CREAM & WAFFLES 9802 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 6, 928-9559 Ice cream made-to-order. Your choice of milk (whole, soy, almond, lowfat), toppings and flavors, all quick-frozen to fill a taiyaki – Asian waffles in a dozen flavors. At about 170 calories, it’s a no-brainer. • $ K TO B R L Daily FLAVORS ESSENCE OF INDIA 9551 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 10, 733-1525, jaxflavors.com Master chefs create contemporary and traditional dishes, including lamb, fish and prawn entrées. Clay oven kabobs and breads, vegetarian dishes and desserts are also served. A lunch buffet includes vegetarian items. $ BW L D Daily FUJI SUSHI JAPANESE RESTAURANT 10920 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 30, 363-8888 Fuji Sushi offers fresh sushi, steak, chicken, tempura, teriyaki and seafood. • $$ BW K L D Daily GATOR’S DOCKSIDE 8650 Baymeadows Rd., 448-0500 See Westside. INDIA’S RESTAURANT 9802 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 8, 620-0777, indiajax.com 2015 Best of Jax winner India’s has claimed several Best of Jax awards for authentic cuisine, serving a popular lunch buffet. Curry and vegetable dishes, along with lamb, chicken, shrimp and fish tandoori. $$ BW L Mon.-Sat.; D Nightly LA NOPALERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 8206 Philips Hwy., Baymeadows Junction, 732-9433 2015 Best of Jax winner See Mandarin. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS 8616 Baymeadows Rd., 739-2498 See Orange Park. LEMONGRASS 9846 Old Baymeadows Rd., 645-9911, lemongrassjax. com Innovative Thai cuisine in a hip, metropolitan atmosphere. Chef Aphayasane’s creations include crispy

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METRO DINER in San Marco offers modern twists to old world Southern fare. whole fish with pineapple curry reduction. A customer favorite is The Amazing. • $$ TO L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. LOS LOROS MEXICAN RESTAURANT 5210 Baymeadows Rd., 367-8633 Authentic Mexican fare, including fajitas and vegetarian dishes. Margaritas are featured. • $ FB K L D Daily MANDALOUN MEDITERRANEAN LEBANESE CUISINE 9862 Old Baymeadows Rd., 646-1881, mandaloun jacksonville.com Bite Club certified Owner Pierre Barakat offers authentic Lebanese cuisine, like charcoalgrilled lamb kebabs, fattoush, baba ghanouj and falafel. Belly dancing every Fri. and Sat. Monthly dinner parties. Outdoor seating. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily MEDITERRANIA RESTAURANT 3877 Baymeadows, 731-2898, mediterraniarestaurant. com With an Old World atmosphere, the family-owned-andoperated Greek and Italian restaurant, a local favorite for more than 27 years, has fresh seafood, veal chops and rack of lamb. • $$ BW L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. METRO DINER 9802 Baymeadows Rd., 425-9142 2015 Best of Jax winner See San Marco. MINT INDIAN RESTAURANT 8490 Baymeadows Rd., 367-1821, jaxmint.com Mint serves a new style of authentic, traditional Indian cuisine. A daily lunch buffet and HH are offered. • $ L D Daily NATIVE SUN NATURAL FOODS MARKET & DELI 11030 Baymeadows Rd., 260-2791, nativesunjax.com Natural and organic soups, sandwiches, wraps, baked goods, prepared foods, juices, smoothies for vegans, vegetarians and folks with special needs. A juice, smoothie and coffee bar, all-natural, organic beers and wine. Indoor and outdoor seating. • $ BW TO K B L D Daily PATTAYA THAI GRILLE 9551 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 1, 646-9506, ptgrille.com Family-owned Pattaya Thai – Northeast Florida’s original authentic Thai restaurant – offers an extensive menu of traditional Thai, vegetarian and new-Thai, including curries, seafood, noodles and soups. In business since 1990, Pattaya features dishes that are low-sodium and gluten-free, too. A video screen displays the open kitchen, so you can watch your order being prepared. • $$$ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun. STICKY FINGERS 8129 Point Meadows Way, 493-7427, stickyfingers.com Memphis-style smokehouse slow-smokes meats over aged hickory wood. Award-winning ribs, barbecue, rotisseriesmoked chicken. HH weekdays. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily STONEWOOD GRILL TAVERN 3832 Baymeadows Rd., 739-7206, stonewoodgrill.com

The casual, upscale place offers a flavorful dining experience with a classic American menu. The full bar features a large wine list and daily HH. • $$ FB L D Daily SUSHI HOUSE 9810 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 12, 997-0966 A variety of specialty rolls, sushi and sashimi, plus tempura, katsu, teriyaki and hibachi entrées. • $$ BW TO L D Daily TEQUILA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT 10915 Baymeadows, Ste. 101, 363-1365, tequilasjacks onville.com Authentic fare, fresh ingredients. Vegetarian dishes; drink specials. Nonstop HH. • $$ FB L D Daily TIDBITS EXPRESS 8535 Baymeadows Rd., 516-4144, clarastidbits.com This little spot serves the same lunch items as Tidbits. Place your order at a terminal – but there are real people there in case you need assistance. • $ TO L Mon.-Fri. VINO’S PIZZA & GRILL 9910 Old Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 1, 641-7171, vinospizzabaymeadows.com Vino’s has hand-tossed New York-style, thin-crust pizzas, as well as Sicilian-style, thick-crust pizzas. Big salads, baked dishes, subs, stromboli, wings, wraps. • $ K Daily THE WELL WATERING HOLE 3928 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 9, 737-7740, thewell wateringhole.com The bistro features local craft beers, varietal wines by the glass or bottle and champagne cocktails. Meatloaf sandwiches, pulled Peruvian chicken and homestyle vegan black bean burgers, too. HH specials. • $$ BW L D Mon.-Sat. WHISKEY JAX KITCHEN + COCKTAILS 10915 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 135, 634-7208, whiskeyjax. com The popular gastropub offers a variety of craft beers, burgers, handhelds, tacos and of course whiskey. Live music. • $$ FB L D Sat. & Sun.; D Daily. WOODY’S BAR-B-Q 8206 Philips Hwy., Ste. 25, 265-0066 See Southside. ZESTY INDIA 8358 Point Meadows Dr., 329-3676, zestyindia.com The chefs combine Asian methodology with European template to produce layers of flavors for their dishes, like tandoori lamb chops and rosemary tikka. The vegetarian items are cooked separately in vegetable oil. Lunch platters are a favorite. • $ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun.

BEACHES

(All locations are in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted.)

A LA CARTE 331 First Ave. N., 241-2005, alacarte-jax.com Going on 24 years, authentic New England fare like Maine

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lobster rolls, fried Ipswich clams, crab or clam cake sandwich, fried shrimp basket, haddock sandwich, clam chowder, birch beer, blueberry soda. Dine inside or on a deck. Gluten-free options. • $$ TO L Tue.-Sat. AL’S PIZZA 303 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-0002, alspizza.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Folio Weekly readers often vote for Al’s for Best Pizza in our annual Best of Jax readers’ poll. Celebrating more than 20 years and seven locations, Al’s offers a selection of New York-style and gourmet pizzas. Allday HH Mon.-Thur. • $ FB K TO L D Daily ANGIE’S GROM SUBS 204 Third Ave. S., 246-7823 2015 Best of Jax winner Little sister to Angie’s serves fresh subs. • $ BW TO L D Daily ANGIE’S SUBS 1436 Beach Blvd., 246-2519 2015 Best of Jax winner Home of the original baked sub, Angie’s has been serving subs, made with the freshest ingredients, to devoted locals for more than 25 years. One word: Peruvian. Plus huge salads and blue-ribbon iced tea. • $ BW TO L D Daily AZUREA 1 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-7402 In One Ocean Resort, Azurea offers oceanfront dining with a menu influenced by flavors of Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas. Extensive wine list. • $$$$ FB K B L D Daily BEACH DINER 501 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-6500, beachdiner. com The locally owned diner has indoor and outdoor seating and Southern comfort items – fresh seafood, sandwiches, hot lunch specials. Cooked-to-order breakfast all day. • $ K B R L Daily BEACH HUT CAFÉ 1281 Third St. S., 249-3516 Celebrating more than 25 years, Beach Hut Café often wins the Best Breakfast category in our Best of Jax readers poll. The full breakfast menu is served all day (darn good grits), and hot plate specials Mon.Fri. • $ K TO B R L Daily BEACHSIDE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & MARKET 120 Third St. S., 444-8862 A full fresh seafood market, lunch and dinner; seafood baskets, fish tacos, daily fish specials, Philly cheesesteaks. Tables indoors and on the second-floor open-air deck, with a great view of downtown Jax Beach. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily BLUE WATER ISLAND GRILL 205 First St. N., 249-0083 The casual spot has American fare with a Caribbean soul. There’s live music on weekends. • $$ FB K L D Tue.-Sun. BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS 2400 S. Third St., Ste. 201, boldbeancoffee.com 2015 Best of Jax winner See Riverside. BONO’S PIT BAR-B-Q 1307 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 270-2666 1266 Third St. S., 249-8704 See Northside. BUDDHA THAI BISTRO 301 10th Ave. N., 712-4444, buddhathaibistro.com The proprietors of this Thai restaurant are from Thailand, and every dish is made with fresh ingredients from tried-and-true recipes, beautifully presented. • $$ FB TO L D Daily BURRITO GALLERY EXPRESS 1333 Third St. N., 242-8226 2015 Best of Jax winner Burrito Gallery’s kid sister is mostly take-out, featuring the same great chow and fast service. • $ BW TO L D Daily CAMPECHE BAY CANTINA 127 First Ave. N., 249-3322, campechebaycantina.com Campeche has repeatedly won our readers’ poll for Best Mexican, Best Fajitas and Best Margaritas. Chili rellenos, tamales, fajitas, enchiladas, fish tacos, fried ice cream and homemade margaritas. Two daily HH. • $$ FB K D Nightly CANTINA LOUIE 725 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 372-0123 The affordable, fun Mexican cantina specializes in innovative tacos and authentic Mexican street food. • $ FB K L D Daily CASA MARIA 2429 Third St. S., 372-9000, casamariajaxbeach.com This family-owned-and-operated restaurant offers authentic Mexican food, including fajitas and seafood dishes, as well as a variety of hot sauces – ones made in-house. The specialty is tacos de asada. • $ FB K L D Daily CASA MARINA INN & RESTAURANT 691 First St. N., 270-0025, casamarinahotel.com The historic 1924 place is the oldest structure in Jax Beach; dine indoors, on a verandah or oceanfront courtyard. Penthouse Lounge has a martini bar and a terrific view of the Atlantic Ocean. • $$ FB R, Sun.; L Tue.-Fri.; D Nightly CINOTTI’S BAKERY, DELI & BOUTIQUE 1523 Penman Rd., 246-1728, cinottisbakery.com Four generations of Cinottis have served the Beaches since 1964, with cakes, pies, breads and desserts. The deli has chicken salad, corned beef, club sandwiches, made with baked-rightthere bread choices. • $ K TO B R L Tue.-Sat. CRUISERS GRILL 319 23rd Ave. S., 270-0356, cruisersgrill.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Locally owned and operated for more than 15 years – Bobby Handmaker is a pro – this casual restaurant serves half-pound burgers, fish sandwiches, big salads, award-winning cheddar fries and sangria. • $ BW K L D Daily CULHANE’S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE 967 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-9595, culhanesirishpub.com Bite Club certified An upscale Irish pub and restaurant owned and managed by four Irish sisters.

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FIONN MacCOOL’S inside Downtown’s Jacksonville Landing has authentic Irish fare — boxties and scotch eggs, oh my! — in a cozy, waterfront pub. Pair your meal with a cocktail or Irish whiskey for the full effect. Favorites are shepherd’s pie, corned beef. • $$ FB K R Sat. & Sun.; L Fri.-Sun.; D Tue.-Sun. D&LP SUBS 1409 Third St. S., 247-4700, dlpsubs.com The place offers subs, gourmet salads, wings, pizzas with all the toppings, and pasta dinners. • $ K TO L D Daily

HOPTINGER BIER GARDEN & SAUSAGE HOUSE 333 First St. N., 222-0796, hoptinger.com A modern “Baverican” bier garden with 62 taps flowing craft beers, as well as creative liquor libations. The menu features sausage dogs, burgers, handhelds and more somewhat Bavarianinspired gastropub fare. • $$ FB TO L D Daily

DaVINCI’S PIZZA 469 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 241-2001, davincispizzabar.com The customers are loyal to the family-owned-and-operated pizzeria, which uses fresh, quality ingredients for its pies. Free beaches area delivery. • $$ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun.

HOT DOG HUT 1439 Third St. S., 247-3641, hotdoghut.net This spot serves a vast selection of dogs and sausages, and a variety of toppings, as well as hamburgers, beer-battered onion rings and seasoned French fries. • $ BW TO B L Daily

DELICOMB DELICATESSEN & ESPRESSO BAR 102 Sixth Ave. N., 372-4192, delicomb.com The familyowned-and-operated deli makes everything with natural, organic ingredients. Granola, tuna salad, kimchi, wraps, spicy panini melts. Coffees from Strongtree and George Howell Coffee Company. • $ TO B L Tue.-Sun.

ICHIBAN JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 675 Third St. N., 247-4688 Three distinct dining areas: teppan or hibachi tables, where you watch the chef prepare your food; the sushi bar; and Western-style seating with a menu of tempura and teriyaki dishes. Japanese plum wine is served. • $$ FB K L D Daily

EL POTRO 1553 Third St. N., 241-6910, elpotrorestaurant.com Family-friendly and casual, everything’s made-to-order. A friendly place – there’s even a photo of an ICE agent on the wall! Daily specials, buffet at most locations. • $ FB L D Daily

JOSEPH’S PIZZA & ITALIAN RESTAURANT 30 Ocean Blvd., Beaches Town Center, Atlantic Beach, 270-1122, josephsitalian.com For nearly 60 years, Joseph’s has been family-owned-and-operated. In addition to hot pasta dishes, gourmet pizzas and veal entrées, Joseph’s has an extensive beer and wine selection. Open Mon. from Memorial Day to Labor Day at the beach. • $$ BW TO L D Daily

ELEVEN SOUTH 216 11th Ave. S., 241-1112, elevensouth.com New American eclectic cuisine, a mesquite grill, courtyard dining, selection of fine wines. • $$$ FB L Tue.-Fri.; D Daily ENGINE 15 BREWING COMPANY 1500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 217, 249-2337, engine15.com Gastropub fare, soups, flatbreads, specialty sandwiches, BarBe-Cuban and beer dip. Craft beers, too – ask how you can sign up for brew groups. • $ FB K L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly ESPETO BRAZILIAN STEAK HOUSE 1396 Beach Blvd., 388-4884, espetosteakhouse.com The churrascaria (Portuguese for steakhouse) has gauchos who carve the meat onto your plate from serving tables. Beef, pork, lamb, chicken and sausage, a full menu and bar fare, craft cocktails, Brazilian beers. Also serving caipirinha, Brazil’s national drink, with cachaça (sugar cane hard liquor), sugar and fruit, usually lime. Live music. • $$$ FB D Daily EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ 922 Beach Blvd., 249-3001, europeanstreet.com 2015 Best of Jax winner With 130+ imported beers, 20 on tap, E-Street knows its beers and ales. The menu includes a classic Reuben and overstuffed sandwiches. Outside seating at some locations. • $ BW K L D Daily THE FISH COMPANY RESTAURANT 725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 12, Atlantic Beach, 246-0123, thefishcojax.com Bite Club certified Restaurant & oyster bar serves fresh local seafood, Mayport shrimp, oysters, crab, lobster. Patio seating; all-day HH Sun. • $$ FB K L D Daily FLYING IGUANA TAQUERIA & TEQUILA BAR 207 Atlantic Blvd., NB, 853-5680, flyingiguana.com 2015 BOJ winner Fusion of Latin American & Southwestern: tacos, seafood, carnitas, Cuban sandwiches. 100-plus tequilas. Outdoor seating. Live music Thur.-Sun. • $ FB L D Daily GUSTO 1266 Beach Blvd., 372-9925, gustojax.com Classic Old World Roman cuisine means an extensive Italian menu: homestyle pasta, a variety of beef, chicken and fish delicacies, as well as an open pizza-tossing kitchen. Reservations encouraged. Live music. • $$ FB TO D Nightly HAPPY CUP FROZEN YOGURT 299 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 2, A.B., 372-4059, myhappycup. com Self-serve frozen yogurt made with organic ingredients and flavored with real fruit, crowned with favorites from the toppings bar. • $ TO Daily HARMONIOUS MONKS 320 First St. N., 372-0815 See Mandarin.

KAMIYA 86 1286 Third St. S., Jax Beach, 853-6602 This place features new Asian fusion cuisine, sushi – takka don, octopus, red clam, eel – and Thai dishes, like panang curry. Noodle and rice dishes. • $$ FB TO L D Daily LA NOPALERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 1222 Third St. S., 372-4495 2015 BOJ winner See Mandarin. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS 657 Third St. N., 247-9620 See Orange Park. THE LOOP PIZZA GRILL 211 Third St., NBeach, 241-8476, looppizzagrill.com The Loop has been serving made-to-order pizza, wraps, firegrilled items and truly great burgers for more than 30 years. It started here and now there are nine locally, 13 overall. One NB lifeguard we know just lives for the vanilla milkshakes. • $ BW K TO L D Daily THE LOVING CUP HASH HOUSE 610 Third St. S., 422-0664 Locally sourced fare, locally roasted coffee, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, healthful and un-healthful dishes – no GMOs or hormones allowed. • $ K TO B R L Tue.-Sun. LYNCH’S IRISH PUB 514 N. First St., 249-5181, lynchirishpub.com 2015 Best of Jax winner A Beaches landmark, Lynch’s serves a fresh green menu: corned beef & cabbage, shepherd’s pie, fish & chips. All day Irish breakfast, too. There are 50 imported and domestic draft beers on tap, plus beer flights. Live music nightly. • $$ FB L D Daily MARLIN MOON GRILLE 1183 Beach Blvd., 372-4438, marlinmoongrille.com The sportfishing themed restaurant has fresh crab cakes – owner Gary Beach’s from Maryland’s Eastern Shore – and burgers, daily specials, craft beers, Orange Crushes and fresh-cut fries. Lots of TVs to watch all the Maryland teams, too. • $$ FB K TO R Sun.; D Wed.-Mon. MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS 1018 Third St. N., Ste. 2, 241-5600, mellowmushroom.com Bite Club certified 2015 Best of Jax winner Psychedelic spot serves gourmet pizzas, hoagies. Pies range from the Mighty Meaty to vegetarian pizzas like Kosmic Karma. Mellow Mushroom offers 35 beers on tap and a full bar. HH all day, every day. Live music some locations. • $ BW K TO L D Daily METRO DINER 1534 Third St. N., 853-6817 2015 Best of Jax winner See San Marco.

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MEZZA RESTAURANT & BAR 110 First St., Neptune Beach, 249-5573, mezzarestaurantandbar.com This near-the-ocean eatery (in Beaches Town Center) has been around more than 20 years, serving casual bistro fare like gourmet wood-fired pizzas to nightly specials. Dine indoors or out on the patio. Musical HH Tue. and Thur. Valet parking. • $$$ FB K D Mon.-Sat. MOJO KITCHEN BBQ PIT & BLUES BAR 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636, mojobbq.com 2015 Best of Jax winner This Southern blues kitchen offers pulled pork and Carolina-style barbecue along with Delta fried catfish. Live national and local blues acts perform. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily MONKEY’S UNCLE TAVERN 1728 N. Third St., 246-1070, monkeysuncletavern.com Newly relocated and ready to go! For more than 25 years, Monkey’s Uncle has served pub grub, including burgers, sandwiches, seafood and wings. Dine inside or out on the deck. Karaoke Wed., Sat. & Sun. • FB TO L D Daily M SHACK 299 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 241-2599, mshack burgers.com 2015 Best of Jax winner David and Matthew Medure are flippin’ burgers, hot dogs, fries, shakes, more. Dine inside or out – people-watch at Beaches Town Center. On April 28, order a burger at any M Shack location during the second annual Pay It Forward Day campaign: Eat a Burger. Give a Burger. Nourish a Soul. • $$ BW L D Daily NATIVE SUN NATURAL FOODS MARKET & DELI 1585 Third St. N., 458-1390 See Baymeadows. NORTH BEACH BISTRO 725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 6, Atlantic Beach, 372-4105, nbbistro.com Bite Club certified This casual neighborhood eatery serves hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood and a tapas menu. An extensive wine list and HH are offered. Live music. $$$ FB K R Sun.; L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly NORTH BEACH FISH CAMP 100 First St., Neptune Beach, 249-3474, thenorthbeach fishcamp.com Ben and Liza Groshell bring a fish camp vibe to Beaches Town Center; roof-top bar, ocean view. Fresh, creative Southern fare, fresh seafood. • $$ L Wed.Sun.; D Nightly OCEAN 60 RESTAURANT, WINE BAR & MARTINI ROOM 60 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-0060, ocean60.com Continental cuisine, fresh seafood, nightly dinner specials and a seasonal menu in a formal dining room or the more casual Martini Room. Local artists are featured, along with live Latin and blues. • $$$ FB D Mon.-Sat. OCEAN GRILLE & BAR 333 First St. N., Jax Beach, 595-5965, oceangrille.net This spot serves modern American fare, fresh seafood, steaks and wraps. Live music and outdoor oceanfront dining complete the casual upscale experience. • $$ BW K R, Sun.; L D Daily PHILLY’S FINEST CHEESESTEAKS & PIZZA 1527 N. Third St., 241-7188, phillys-finest.com The casual spot has authentic Philly cheesesteaks made with Amoroso’s bread and steaks flown in from Philadelphia. The Ice Bar has a wide selection of beer. • $ BW L D Daily THE PIER CANTINA & SANDBAR 412 N. First St., 246-6454, thepierjax.com The oceanfront restaurant has a Mexican-influenced menu. Downstairs in the Sandbar, there’s live music Tue.-Sun. Dine indoors or on oceanfront patio. HH Mon.-Fri. • $$$ FB L D Daily THE PITA PIT 500 Third St. N., 685-4567 See Fleming Island. POE’S TAVERN 363 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 241-7637, poestavern. com Named for Baltimore’s poet Edgar Allan Poe, the American gastropub has 50-plus beers, gourmet hamburgers, ground in-house, cooked to order, hand-cut French fries, fish tacos, Edgar’s Drunken Chili, daily fish sandwich special. • $$ FB K L D Daily RAGTIME TAVERN & SEAFOOD GRILL 207 Atlantic Blvd., Beaches Town Center, Atlantic Beach, 241-7877, ragtimetavern.com In business for 30 years, the seafood restaurant has scored several awards in our Best of Jax readers poll. Menu items include blackened snapper, sesame tuna and the Ragtime shrimp. There’s a daily HH and live music Wed.-Sun. • $$ FB L D Daily ROYAL PALM VILLAGE WINE & TAPAS 296 Royal Palms Dr., AB, 372-0052, royalpalmwines.com Locally owned and operated, this retail and restaurant spot offers more than 1, 200 bottles of fine wine, 200 bottles of beer and 15 rotating microbrewed draft beers to pair with the chef’s creative tapas. • $$ BW D Mon.-Sat. SAFE HARBOR SEAFOOD 2510 Second Ave. N., 479-3474 4378 Ocean St., Mayport Village, 246-4911, safeharborsea foodmayport.com 2015 Best of Jax winner The Jax Beach place is brand-new; great ICW view. Seafood’s fresh – boats unload at the dock. What Safe Harbor Mayport sells in the market – shrimp, oysters, clams and scallops – they’ll cook to order. Dine inside or on the dock at the confluence of the St. Johns and the ocean. • $$ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun. SALA PHAD THAI 1716 Third St. N., 246-7490 Family-owned-and-operated place offers spring rolls, fried squid, beef with oyster sauce and curried dishes. Vegan-friendly: bean curd delight, noodles, veggies. • $$ TO L D Daily SALT LIFE FOOD SHACK 1018 Third St. N., 372-4456, saltlifefoodshack.com Salt Life offers a wide array of specialty menu items, including the signature tuna poke bowl, fresh rolled sushi, Ensenada tacos

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and local fried shrimp, served in a contemporary open-air space. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily SEACHASERS 831 First St. N., 372-0444, seachasers.com This new restaurant, ideally located, has four dining areas: First Street Bar, Music Room – where there’s live music nightly – Beach Bar, with ocean views, and the elegant Dining Room. These folks embrace the attitude of beach, fine food and fun. Daily HH. Dine inside or on the patio. • $$ FB L D Daily SEAFOOD KITCHEN 31 Royal Palms Dr., Atlantic Beach, 241-8470 Serving for 20-plus years; reasonable meals in a no-frills atmosphere. The emphasis is on fresh local seafood prepared to order, with a variety of dishes served. • $ BW TO L D Daily THE SECRET GARDEN CAFÉ 798 S. Third St., 372-0915, See Southside. THE SHIM SHAM ROOM 333 First St. N., Ste. 150, 372-0781, shimshamroom.com This joint in the entertainment district offers a seasonal menu of “cheap eats”: tasty bar bites like chicken and waffles, badass fries and tacos. Live music. • $$ FB D Nightly SINGLETON’S SEAFOOD SHACK 4728 Ocean St., Mayport Village, 246-4442 Just steps from the ferry, the ramshackle haunt has been serving seafood to locals and Navy men and women since the ’60s. Customer favorites include fried shrimp dinner and blackened or grilled fish. Dine inside or on the enclosed porch right on the St. Johns River – literally. • $ FB K TO L D Daily SLIDERS SEAFOOD GRILLE & OYSTER BAR 218 First St., Neptune Beach, 246-0881, slidersseafoodgrille.com Beach-casual atmosphere for lovers of fresh fish. Customer favorites include fish tacos and gumbo. Dessert features Key lime pie and homemade ice cream sandwiches. • $$ FB K L Sat. & Sun.; D Nightly SNEAKERS SPORTS GRILLE 111 Beach Blvd., 482-1000, sneakerssportsgrille.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Sneakers offers a full bar (with more than 20 beers on tap), TV screens covering entire walls. HH Mon.-Fri. • $ FB K L D Daiy SUN DELI 1011 S. Third St., 270-1040, sundelisubs.com Traditional subs – Reubens, triple-decker, chicken club – and build-your-own from corned beef, salami, pastrami, turkey, liverwurst. Signature subs: Radical Side (tuna salad, egg salad, American cheese, lettuce, tomato) or 9.0 (Philly-style steak, American cheese, bacon, pepperoni, blackened seasoning). • $ TO L Mon.-Sat. SURFING SOMBRERO 221 First St. N., Jax Beach, 834-9377 This place serves a substantial menu of authentic items diners can enjoy gazing at the Atlantic Ocean – like paella. Drink specials. Dine inside or out. • $ FB L D Daily TACOLU BAJA MEXICANA 1712 Beach Blvd., 249-8226, tacolu.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Fresh, Baja-style fare with a focus on fish tacos, tequila (135-plus) and mezcal (20-plus). Faves include bangin’ shrimp, carne asada and carnitas; daily fresh fish selections. • $$ FB K R Sat. & Sun.; L D Tue.-Fri. TAMA’S SUSHI RESTAURANT 106 First St., Beaches Town Ctr., NB, 241-0099, tamasushi. com The casual spot has a full sushi bar, and tempura, teriyaki and katsu dishes. Sake is served. • $ BW D Tue.-Sun. TOMO JAPANESE CUISINE & ART 1253 Penman Rd., 372-4369, tomojapanesejacksonville. com Fresh, authentic, upscale Japanese cuisine – it’s Japanese-owned. Fresh handmade sushi, hibachi grill items and homemade-style dishes. • $$ FB K D Nightly UGLY CUPCAKE MUFFINRY & CAFE 115 Fifth Ave. S., 339-5214, theuglycupcakemuffinry.com Sweet, and savory giant muffins, breakfast and lunch made from organic, locally sourced ingredients are served at this charming place by the sea. Outside seating available. • $$ TO B L Daily V PIZZA 528 First St. N., 853-6633, vpizza.com This new place works the art of traditional pizza Neapolitana, a rare class of artisan pizza from Naples – Italy, silly, not Florida. • $$ FB TO L D Daily THE WINE BAR 320 N. First St., 372-0211, thewinebar.us Casual place has wine, beer, appetizers, cigars. Live music. • $ BW D Nightly ZETA BREWING 131 First Ave. N., 372-0727, zetabrewing.com Tapas and sharing plates, flats, salads, sandwiches, burgers. Late-night upscale urban fusion. • $$ FB L D Daily

DOWNTOWN

(Jacksonville Landing venues are at 2 Independent Drive)

AKEL’S DELICATESSEN 50 N. Laura St., Ste. 125, 665-7324, akelsdeli.com New York-style deli offers fresh-made fare – create from the extensive menu, or order a specialty sandwich: subs (Three Wise Guys, Champ, The Godfather), burgers, gyros, wraps, desserts, vegetarian. Full breakfast menu. • $ TO B L Mon.-Fri. THE AMERICAN GRILL Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 201, 353-7522 Traditional fare; chicken pot pie, burgers, steaks, ribs, pizza, pasta dishes, sandwiches, vegetarian. • $$ FB L D Daily THE ATRIUM CAFÉ 1 Independent Dr., Ste. 110, 634-1811, atriumcafe.net At Independent Square, Atrium Café features hot entrées and traditional sandwiches, including a buffalo chicken sandwich. Dine outside, inside or take it to go. • $ TO B L Mon.-Fri.

ANGIE’S SUBS in Jacksonville Beach is a laid-back lunch spot offering Peruvian-style sandwiches.

BIG PETE’S OLD STYLE PIZZERIA 118 N. Julia St., 356-2680, bigpetes.net Everything from scratch, including pizza, calzones, baked ziti and wraps. Barbecue, too. • $$ TO L D Mon.-Fri. BURRITO GALLERY & BAR 21 E. Adams St., 598-2922 2015 Best of Jax winner Popular Burrito Gallery serves Southwestern cuisine with an emphasis on innovative burritos, including ginger teriyaki tofu and beef barbacoa, as well as wraps and tacos. Local art is displayed, and live music or DJs are on the back deck during Art Walk and other special events. The Gallery’s kid sister Burrito Express is mostly take-out, featuring the same great chow and fast service. $ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. THE CANDY APPLE CAFÉ & COCKTAILS 400 N. Hogan St., 353-9717, thecandyapplecafe.com Hands-on fare inspired by the best in confections, which you can score right next door at Sweet Pete’s. Sandwiches, entrées, salads. • $$ FB K L, Mon.; L D Tue.-Sun. CASA DORA 108 E. Forsyth St., 356-8282, casadoraitalian.com Chef Sam Hamidi has been serving genuine Italian fare to Jacksonville for 40 years with dishes like veal, seafood and gourmet pizza. Homemade salad dressing is a specialty. • $$ BW K L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. CHAMBLIN’S UPTOWN 215 N. Laura St., 674-0870, chamblinbookmine.com Breakfast sandwiches made with fresh Healthy Bagel bagels and croissants, unique lunch wraps, coffees, homemade soups, salads, desserts, weekly specials. Vegan/vegetarian fare, too. • $ BW TO B L Daily CHOMP CHOMP 106 E. Adams St., 762-4667 The spot has eats at moderate prices, most under $10. Chef-inspired street food like pankocrusted chicken, burgers, chinois tacos, bahn mi, barbecue. • $ L Tue.-Fri.; D Thur.-Sat. DE REAL TING CAFÉ 128 W. Adams St., 633-9738 This Caribbean restaurant features jerk or curried chicken, conch fritters and curried goat and oxtail. • $ FB TO L Tue.-Fri.; D Fri. & Sat. FIONN MacCOOL’S IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1547, fionnmacs.com This pub offers casual dining with an uptown Irish atmosphere, serving fish and chips, Guinness lamb stew and black-and-tan brownies. Live music is featured daily. And now there’s a new calendar – we like March.• $$ FB K L D Daily FOLKFOOD 219 N. Hogan St., 333-8392 Southern specialties and coastal cuisine are featured, like fried catfish, Florida citrus kale salad, blackened mahi mahi tacos, meatloaf with curry sauce and a variety of homestyle desserts. It’s all made in-house daily. • $ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. FRED COTTEN’S LANDMARK BBQ 2623 N. Main St., 634-7571 See Arlington. INDOCHINE 21 E. Adams St., Ste. 200, 598-5303, indochinejax.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Thai and Southeast Asian cuisine in the urban core. Signature dishes include chicken Satay, soft shell crab, and mango and sticky rice for dessert. • $$ FB TO L D Mon.-Fri.; D Tue.-Sat. JENKINS QUALITY BARBECUE 830 N. Pearl St., 353-6388, jenkinsqualitybarbecue.com For nearly 60 years, family-owned Jenkins Quality Barbecue has served down-home barbecue. Slather sauce on a whole smoky chicken or a basket of crinkle-cut French fries. Convenient drive-thru. • $ TO L D Daily THE MAGNIFICAT CAFE 231 N. Laura St., 353-3588, themagnificat.net On Hemming Plaza, the French-style café serves French onion soup, quiche Lorraine, sandwiches, fresh fruit salad. Freshly baked breads. Dine indoors or out on the covered patio. • $$ TO B L Mon.-Sat. OLIO MARKET 301 E. Bay St., 356-7100, oliomarket.com Made-fromscratch soups, sandwiches. They even cure their bacon and pickle their pickles. It’s home to the duck grilled cheese, seen on Travel Channel’s Best Sandwich in America. Open late every First Wednesday Art Walk.• $$ BW TO B R L Mon.-Fri.

PHO A NOODLE BAR 117 W. Adams St., 353-0320, indochinejax.com Authentic Vietnamese and Thai dishes: egg rolls, pot stickers. Pho bowls: standard, vegan, pho tom yum, sukiyaki, kelp noodle substitute. Boba, teas, coffee. • $ L Mon.-Fri.; D Wed.-Sat. SWEET PETE’S 400 N. Hogan St., 376-7161, sweetpetescandy.com This all-natural sweet shop offers features candy and other treats made the old-fashioned way: all natural flavors, no artificial anything. Choose from candies and natural products, including several kinds of honey. Candy making classes. • $ TO Daily URBAN GRIND COFFEE COMPANY 45 W. Bay St., Ste. 102, 866-395-3954, 516-7799, urbangrindcoffee.com Urban Grind offers a variety of locally roasted whole bean brewed coffee, espresso drinks, smoothies, fresh pastries and bagels with homemade cream cheeses. Lunch includes chicken salad (best ever) and tuna salads and sandwiches. Free Wi-Fi. • $ B L Mon.-Fri. URBAN GRIND EXPRESS 50 W. Laura St., 516-7799 See above. ZODIAC BAR & GRILL 120 W. Adams St., 354-8283, thezodiacbarandgrill.com Since 2000, Zodiac’s been serving Mediterranean cuisine and American favorites in a casual atmosphere, plus panini and vegetarian dishes. The daily lunch buffet is a downtown favorite. Espressos and hookahs are available. HH Wed.-Sat. Live music Fri. • $ FB L Mon.-Fri.

FLEMING ISLAND

BRICK OVEN PIZZERIA & GASTROPUB 1811 Town Center Blvd., 278-1770, brickovengastropub. com Family-owned-and-operated, this spot offers freshly made brick-oven pizzas, specialty burgers, melts and wraps. Craft beers and gluten-free items. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily FIVE GUYS FAMOUS BURGERS & FRIES 1605 C.R. 220, Ste. 130, 592-4896 2015 Best of Jax winner See Orange Park. GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET 1915 East-West Parkway, 541-0009 2015 Best of Jax winner See Riverside. JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS 1647 C.R. 220, Ste. 102, 264-0022 See San Marco. MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS 1800 Town Center Blvd., 541-1999 Bite Club certified 2015 Best of Jax winner See Beaches. MERCURY MOON GRILL & BAR 2015 C.R. 220, 215-8999 Mercury Moon serves a variety of burgers, wings and signature sandwiches, like Philly cheesesteak, fried fish sandwich and the half-pound Moon burger. Live music. • $ FB D Nightly MOJO SMOKEHOUSE 1810 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 8, 264-0636, mojobbq.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Southern smokehouse offers pulled pork, Carolina-style barbecue and Delta fried catfish. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily MR. CHUBBY’S WINGS 2349 Village Square Pkwy., Ste. 101, 272-9464, mrchubbyswings.com Apps, salads, wraps, burgers and wings, in various quantities: platters, pieces; sauces include barbecue, jerk, blue cheese, smokey garlic, sweet & sour, maple Cajun. Boneless wings. Food & drink specials; live music.• $ FB K TO L D Daily THE PITA PIT 1810 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 5, 579-4930 Breakfast, lunch and dinner all day. All the fresh ingredients are available in a pita or a salad. All-natural smoothies. • $ TO B L D Daily TAPS BAR & GRILL 1605 C.R. 220, Ste. 145, 278-9421, tapspublichouse.com This restaurant offers more than 50 premium domestic and imported beers on tap along with a full bar. The menu features starters, burgers, sandwiches, entrees and a kids’ selection, all prepared to order with fresh ingredients. Lots of TVs for watching sports. • $$ FB K L D Daily WHITEY’S FISH CAMP 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198, whiteysfishcamp.com Authentic fish camp serves gator tail, fresh-water river catfish, traditional meals, daily specials on the banks of Swimming Pen Creek.

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d i r e c t o r y the farm. Farmers markets are the bread and butter to pay your bills.” Lauren Titus, editor of the recently launched food magazine Edible Northeast Florida, says markets play a vital role in supporting farmers and connecting them with their customers. “Markets are the ones providing a meeting place. For farmers that are smaller, it’s harder to sell to bigger stores, so they use the markets to distribute their product. It’s important for markets to support that.” Northeast Florida is seeing a slight uptick in new farms and young farmers, though the overall number of people practicing agriculture is trending down, Delaney says. But Titus and Delaney are hopeful that an increased demand in local food, facilitated by the markets, will lead to an increase in local farmers, which, in turn, will lead to an increase in fresh local produce.

PRODUCER-ONLY HELPS FARMS AND CUSTOMERS

The offerings at some farmers markets may not be as local or as fresh as they seem

FRESH FROM THE FARM ON MARKET DAY, THE AVERAGE FARMER WAKES up at the buttcrack of dawn, packs a month’s worth of his work into a truck, and hauls it to a market. At St. Augustine’s two major farmers markets, they set up next to crafters, preparedfood vendors and produce resellers who offer everything from North Carolina apples to Guatemalan melons. To the average shopper who skipped the lines at Publix in favor of what they might think is the more community-conscious option, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a farmer and a reseller. Some farmers say it’s tough to compete with the produce resellers who haven’t spent months toiling over fields of kale, instead just buying at a terminal market and showing up at a farmers market, capitalizing on the same semiconscious consumers who went out of their way to shop “local.” “We’re there every week, even if the weather is bad, whereas a reseller, if it looks bad, can just decide not to go to a terminal market to buy. We grew our food. We’ve got 100 percent invested in our food. We’ll be there rain or shine,” says Amy Van Scoik, farmer and co-owner of Frog Song Organics in Alachua County, which has a stand every Saturday at Old City Farmers Market at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. She says a little information from the market itself could go a long way to level the playing field. “It would be nice for [vendors] to have signs saying ‘producer’ or ‘reseller.’ Being able to ID that for people is important,” she says. “We advertise pretty heavily that we’re producer only. This is different than a flea market. But some are selling apples and bananas; it’s pretty clear they are resellers.

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Some still have stickers on the fruit. They’re not really trying to hide it,” she says. The typical consumer might not realize that there’s a difference between the two designations. At the Amphitheatre market, Frog Song is one of just a handful of local farms selling produce among more than 100 vendors selling art, crafts, baked goods, clothes, plants, prepared food like tea, empanadas and pickles, and out-of-state produce. On a recent visit to the market, Folio Weekly Magazine counted two local organic farms, including Frog Song and St. Johns County’s KYV Organics, a strawberry farmer from Lawtey, and several resellers — including a vendor selling citrus from multiple farms in Lake County and a produce vendor who sources farms from as far away as Homestead, apples from North Carolina, and tropical fruits from South America. Van Scoik and others familiar with how markets work say it’s disingenuous to sell foreign supermarket-style fruit at a farmers market. “Vendors who grow the food they bring to market have it hard to explain why they don’t have broccoli in July when the guy across the aisle does, because they bought it. It’s almost unfair to the farmers,” says Beaches Green Market Manager Devon Ritch. Van Scoik agrees. “It’s important as a farmer for people to understand why they can’t get a tomato in January. It’s important to know that what you see is going to change week to week. It’s not a grocery store,” she says. For Old City Farmers Market Manager Carey Del Rey, it’s about having produce at market year-round. She says that without the produce resellers, there would be nothing to offer in the summer months, and she couldn’t run her market.

Nico Recore, market manager at the St. Augustine Beach Wednesday Local Farmers/Arts & Crafts Market, has a similar approach, and the resellers at her market are vital to keeping a consistent supply of produce, she says. “There’s only so much produce that Florida can actually come up with,” Del Rey says. “We have to have produce year round. I have to have produce to keep the market alive in the summer. You can do that [switch to produce only] if you want a market for six months. You wouldn’t do it to have a venue year round.” Florida ranks second in the U.S. for value of vegetable production and first in production value of oranges, tomatoes, watermelons, grapefruit, snap beans, cucumbers and squash; and second in a handful of other fruits and vegetables, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. All but 15 percent of that produce leaves the state, says Katie Delaney, Farmer’s Liaison for Jacksonville’s Riverside Arts Market and Fresh Access Bucks Coordinator for Florida Organic Growers. “I’d like to see more of that fresh produce stay in the state,” she says. “Markets can help facilitate that.”

FARMERS RELY ON MARKET INCOME

IN A PROFESSION THAT TYPICALLY DEMANDS 16-hour days or more, many farmers, especially at small-to-medium-size farms, rely heavily on markets to pay their bills. Market prices are much higher than the prices farms must give wholesalers or restaurants. “Farmers markets brings in a good third to half of what we do, profit-wise,” says Van Scoik. “Markets are extremely important to our bottom line. When people don’t come, because of rain, or heavy traffic, it does impact

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM MIGHT SUGGEST THAT increased competition from local produce at one market would negatively impact sales of competing farms. But Van Scoik says that’s not the case. Compared to Old City Farmers Market, where Frog Song is one of only two organic produce farms selling its goods, there’s always at least one vendor selling trucked-in produce, like apples or out-of-season tomatoes, the Gainesville markets they attend are producer-only. That, Van Scoik says, means more educated customers. “Gainesville markets have a lot more producers. What we can expect in Gainesville is a lot more competition, but actually it is better for everybody. Customers are more informed. People care if it’s locally grown; they don’t want resold produce,” she says. At Beaches Green Market in Neptune Beach, the first market in the area to go producer-only, Ritch says customers are focused shoppers who know what they want, and know what is in season, leading to regular sales from returning customers week after week. “We want to support local farmers, which supports the future of the local food system. Plus, the less food has to travel from farm to market to plate, the fresher and more nutritious it is. So much tastier,” Ritch says. Titus says the benefits of a produceronly market are threefold for consumers and the community. First, it educates consumers on what farmers must go through to produce food. “For instance, [last] year we had a very wet late summer and early fall, and area farmers were having trouble getting seeds started. That meant it took longer for plants to develop and there was less produce available,” Titus says. “Customers at [producer-only] markets understand that we can’t just assume the food is going to be there. There are variables we can’t always control to getting food on our tables.” Second, a true farmers-only market illustrates the seasonality of food, she says. “People can understand that in fall, there are no strawberries, because it’s not really the season. But come spring, we’ll see an abundance of strawberries. It’s great for me

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FRESH FROM THE FARM <<< FROM PREVIOUS to have people understand that we should be eating things harvested in the season they should be harvested.” Third, allowing only farmers into the market weeds out faraway trucks that can’t afford to make the long drive from a distant farm, which makes the products that are able to get to the market fresher and supports a truly local economy, and the environment.

local. We’re very transparent about that, and they respond to that.” RAM has also added educational materials to Farmers’ Row, and holds workshops during the market to teach people how they can use unfamiliar vegetables, like rutabaga, in the kitchen. Plus, RAM is one of four markets in Duval County, including Beaches Green Market, that accepts SNAP/EBT. For every SNAP/EBT dollar spent, RAM gives shoppers an extra dollar to spend on produce, meat, eggs and dairy items from local farms. “We know the additional revenue is going directly back to our farms,” Delaney says.

At the Old City Farmers Market in St. Augustine, signs like this one espouse the virtues of becoming a member of a locally-active CSA.

RAM TRANSITIONS

IN ST. AUGUSTINE, MARKET MANAGERS DEL Rey and Recore say they can’t run a market year-round without diverse produce vendors, but Riverside Arts Market just completed its first full year as a producer-only market with its Farmers’ Row. Delaney admits that there was some summer lag in produce. There were days with no produce vendors at all, and attendance initially dipped a little bit, although there’s no way to be sure whether it was because of the change on Farmers’ Row, or for other reasons. “People said we were going to ruin this market. [They would ask], ‘Why are you making such drastic changes?’” Delaney says. Without the large resell vendors there, Delaney admits Farmers’ Row initially looked a little sparse. But she believes that the switch was necessary, not only to support local farmers and provide the freshest produce, but to match Farmers’ Row with best practices of the rest of the market. “By allowing resellers, it goes against the goal of the market in general,” Delaney says. In an effort to eliminate comparisons with flea markets, RAM, like Old City and the St. Augustine Beach pier market, allows only handcrafted arts and crafts items to be sold by the producer. “Why would we not require that of Farmers’ Row?” Delaney asks. After the switch, as RAM shoppers started getting used to the new Farmers’ Row, Delaney says, numbers increased. And once farmers saw RAM was “sticking to its guns,” word spread. “We’ve had a really good response from farmers. They know this is an equitable space for them. This is where they make their money. Customers can really trust the produce here is 24 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016

Delaney is optimistic that numbers will pick up even more in the future. At last count, she says RAM has accepted about 28 regular farms. “It was a big leap of faith for [RAM], and I’m really encouraged with how they’ve done,” Titus says.

ST. AUGUSTINE

IN ST. AUGUSTINE, DEL REY AND RECORE SAY they have no plans to make their markets producer-only. Recore says she’s more focused on the heavy tourist traffic at the beach, and selling arts and crafts that visitors can take home with them. Del Rey says she just wants a vibrant market, and the dependability of the resell produce vendors fills the produce hole, which she sees as a tiny part of her farmers market. She says she thinks she has too many produce vendors already, and, with a waiting list numbering about 182 vendors, it’s unlikely she’ll let any more in anytime soon. Titus says that while a producer-only market is better for farmers and those wanting the freshest produce, maybe there’s a place for markets like Del Rey’s and Recore’s. “I’m just a big believer in farmers markets and having people gain experience in buying things. It may not be any different than buying from the store, but people are hungry for that relationship in the community. Even at [resale] markets, people are interacting, people are interacting with what they’re buying. Hopefully, interest in local food will encourage more farmers to start up in a very difficult profession and support local farmers to continue.” In St. Augustine, those new local farmers will have to compete with the big boys, even at their own market. Greg Parlier mail@folioweekly.com

BY BiTE BiTE restaurant directory

neighborhood

Outdoor Tiki bar and live music Wed.-Sun. Come by boat, motorcycle 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 has a fast, casual concept: Choose a dough, sauces, cheeses, 40-plus toppings and create a pizza pie. Stick it in a hot brick oven for five minutes 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 (at San Pablo), 223-0991 2015 Best of Jax winner See Beaches. BITTER SWEET BAKERY & EATERY 14286 Beach Blvd., Ste. 29, 223-0457 Traditional desserts just like Grandma’s, with a modern twist, are featured here, along with sandwiches wrapped in butcher paper and tied with twine. Ah, the good old days. Plus breakfast items to-go. • $$ TO B L Tue.-Sun. BONO’S PIT BAR-B-Q 3303 San Pablo Rd. S., 223-1391 See Northside. BRUCCI’S PIZZA, PASTA, PANINIS 13500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 36, 223-6913, bruccispizza.com Authentic NY-style pizza, Italian pastas, desserts in a family spot. HH Mon.-Fri. • $ BW K TO L Mon.-Sat.; D Nightly CASTILLO DE MEXICO 12620 Beach Blvd., Ste. 19, 998-7006, castillodemexico.net Castillo de Mexico, in business for more than 16 years, offers an extensive menu served in authentic Mexican décor. Weekday lunch buffet. • $$ FB L D Daily CLIFF’S ROCKIN BAR-N-GRILL 3033 Monument Rd., Ste. 2, 645-5162 Eight-ounce burgers, wings, seafood, homemade pizza, daily specials; weekend handcut 12-ounce New York strip. Weekday HH. Live music. Smoking permitted. • $$ FB TO L D daily COPPER TAP HOUSE 13500 Beach Blvd., 647-6595 Regional craft cuisine and beers, live music Fri. and Sat., brunch Sat. and Sun., trivia, beer flights – Copper Tap has it all. HH daily. • $$ FB K TO D Daily DICK’S WINGS & GRILL 14286 Beach Blvd., Ste. 32, 223-0115 2015 Best of Jax winner See Northside. EL RANCHITO 14333 Beach Blvd., Ste. 22, 992-4607 Latin American cuisine, including dishes from Colombia, Cuba and Mexico. Closed Tuesdays. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily EPIK BURGER 12740 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 105, 374-7326, epikburger.com More than 35 chef-inspired gourmet burgers made from quality grass-fed beef, bison, chicken and tuna plus gluten-free options are available. The go-to burger is the Epikurean (it won 2015’s Burgers & Brew prize), topped with Maytag bleu cheese mousse, blackberry jam, parmesan, Panetta, mushrooms and balsamic mayonnaise. Sides, milkshakes, too.• $ BW K TO L D Mon.-Sat. FIVE GUYS FAMOUS BURGERS & FRIES 3267 Hodges Blvd., Ste. 6, 992-4680 2015 Best of Jax winner See Orange Park. GUMBO YAYA’S 14333 Beach Blvd., Ste. 101, 223-0202, gumboyayas.com New Orleans/Cajun fare features gumbo, po’boys, muffuletta, etouffée, jambalaya, shrimp, oysters, catfish. Daily specials, weekend low country boils. Climate-controlled patio for outdoor dining. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily JIMMY HULA’S 13170 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 63, 220-9001, jimmyhulas.com Beach-themed place serves fish tacos and burgers, craft beers and wines. • $ BW K TO L D Daily LA NOPALERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 14333 Beach Blvd., Ste. 39, 992-1666 2015 Best of Jax winner See Mandarin. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS 10750 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 14, 642-6980 See Orange Park. MAHARLIKA HALL & SPORTS GRILL 14255 Beach Blvd., Ste. E, 992-1112, maharlika. mayumibeats.com The Filipino-American restaurant and market features pancit bami, lumpia, turon strudel and halo halo with ice cream. • $-$$ FB K R L D Daily MAMA MIA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA 12220 Atlantic Blvd., 221-1122, mamammiasjax.com Mama Mia’s offers casual dining, lunchtime specials, veal, seafood, and New York-style and big-crust Sicilian-style pizzas. Free delivery available. • $ BW L D Tue.-Sun. MARKER 32 14549 Beach Blvd., 223-1534, marker32.com Established in 1992, with an ICW view, Marker 32 has an innovative American eclectic menu, with fresh, local seafood. • $$$ FB K D Nightly MR. CHAN ASIAN CUISINE 13947 Beach Blvd., 992-1388, mrchanasiancuisine.com Mr. Chan offers a variety of Pan-Asian fare, chef’s specialties including a classic spicy-cabbage kimchi, as well as traditional dishes. • $$ L, Wed.-Sun.; D Tue.-Sun. MVP’S SPORTS GRILLE 12777 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 5, 221-1090 Wings, burgers in a sporty spot. Free pool, trivia Mon., Texas Hold ’Em Sun. and Tue., Karaoke every Thur., a DJ spins every Wed., Fri.-Sat. Sports on 22 TVs. • $ FB L D Daily MY MOCHI FROZEN YOGURT 13546 Beach Blvd., 821-9880 See St. Johns Town Ctr.

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Nestled in a cozy nook in downtown, DRAKE’S DELI in St. Augustine’s fresh dining experience offers a litany of delicious sandwiches, subs, wraps and more OCEANA DINER 13799 Beach Blvd., Ste. 3, 374-1915 Traditional American diner fare in a family atmosphere. • $ K TO B L Daily ORANGE TREE 13500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 43, 551-3661, orangetreehotdogs. com Serving hot dogs and freshly made personal size pizzas since 1968, this spot also offers Hershey’s ice cream and milkshakes. • $ K TO L D Daily THE POTTERS HOUSE SOUL FOOD BISTRO II 11876 Atlantic Blvd., 394-2801, thesoulfoodbistro.com 2015 Best of Jax winner See Riverside. SID & LINDA’S SEAFOOD MARKET & RESTAURANT 12220 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 109, 503-8276 The fresh seafood market and restaurant lets you pick your actual whole fish, have it cleaned, filleted and cooked to order, to dine in or take out. Housemade sauces are featured. • $$ K TO L D Daily SIENA’S AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE 13170 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 26, 220-9192, sienasjax.com The varied menu offers Italian cuisine including lasagna, calzones and stuffed shells, as well as pizza and wraps. Live music is also presented. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily THE TENT HOOKAH LOUNGE 12041 Beach Blvd., 551-2962, thetenthookahlounge.com Authentic fare features falafel, kibbeh, musabhaha and baklava. Hookahs and flavored tobacco, Arabic coffees, specials and live belly dancing and floor seating, in keeping with that authenticity thing. Open late. • $ BW L D Daily THAI ORCHID 12620 Beach Blvd., Ste. 4, 683-1286, thairestaurantjacksonville.com Authentic Thai cuisine made with fresh ingredients, pad Thai, Thai curry and rice dishes. • $$ BW L Mon.-Sat.; D Nighty TIME OUT SPORTS GRILL 13799 Beach Blvd., 223-6999, timeoutsportsgrill.com The locally-owned-and-operated grill serves hand-tossed pizzas, wings, specialty wraps in a clean, sporty atmosphere. Daily drink specials, HD TVs, pool tables, darts and trivia. A late-night menu is offered. • $$ FB L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly XTREME WINGS 12220 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 108, 220-9464 Family sports grill has TVs airing UFC, NFL MLB and college games, and there’s games and pool tables. There’s food, too: wings (try the Pit Road), burgers, sandwiches and wraps. • $ FB K TO L D Daily

MANDARIN, JULINGTON, ST. JOHNS AKEL’S DELICATESSEN 12926 Gran Bay Pkwy. W., 880-2008 See Downtown.

AL’S PIZZA 11190 San Jose Blvd., 260-4115 2015 Best of Jax winner See Beaches. ATHENS CAFÉ 6271 St. Augustine Rd., 733-1199, athenscafejax.com From the dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) to the baby shoes (stuffed eggplant), Athens has all the favorites, including Greek beers. • $$ BW L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. AW SHUCKS 9743 Old St. Augustine Rd., 240-0368, awshucksjax.com Seafood place has an oyster bar, steaks, seafood, wings. Favorites are ahi tuna, shrimp & grits, oysters Rockefeller, pitas, kabobs. Signature side: sweet potato puffs. • $$ FB K L D Daily BEACH DINER 11362 San Jose Blvd., 683-0079 See Beaches. BLACKSTONE GRILLE 112 Bartram Oaks Walk, Ste. 102, 287-0766, blackstonegrille.com Modern American fusion cuisine, in a trendy bistro-style setting. • $$$ FB L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. BONO’S PIT BAR-B-Q 100 Bartram Oaks Walk, Fruit Cove, 287-7710 12620 Bartram Park Blvd., 652-2989 9820 San Jose Blvd., 268-2666 See Northside. CASA MARIA 14965 Old St. Augustine Rd., 619-8186 See Beaches.

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CHOW DOWN ALLEY 14775 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 3, 880-7900 Familyoperated Chow Down serves breakfast sandwiches, burgers, salads and specialty sandwiches. • $ B L Mon.-Fri. CLARK’S FISH CAMP 12903 Hood Landing Rd., 268-3474, clarksfishcamp.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Known for its array of taxidermed critters, Clark’s features gator and turtle, steak, ribs and daily all-you can-eat catfish dinners. Dine in, out, or in a glassenclosed room. • $$ FB K L D Daily DICK’S WINGS & GRILL 10391 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 1, 880-7087 2015 Best of Jax winner See Northside. DON JUAN’S RESTAURANT 12373 San Jose Blvd., 268-8722, donjuansjax.com Friendly, family-oriented service with a touch of Old Mexico: patio dining. A full bar – with tequila selections – is served, and HH is held Mon.-Fri. • $ FB K L D Daily ENZA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 10601 San Jose Blvd., 268-4458, enzas.net 2015 Best of Jax winner This family-owned restaurant offers casual fine dining, specializing in Italian cuisine, veal and seafood dishes like seafood lasagna, daily specials. • $$$ FB K TO D Tue.-Sun. FIRST COAST DELI & GRILL 6082 St. Augustine Rd., 737-7477 Traditional diner fare like oversized pancakes and bacon, sandwiches, salads and burgers. • $ K TO B L Daily FIVE F(x) ICE CREAM & WAFFLES 10950 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 13, 647-9903 See Baymeadows. FIVE GUYS FAMOUS BURGERS & FRIES 10061 San Jose Blvd., 493-5414 13760 St. Augustine Rd., 402-8036 2015 Best of Jax winner See Orange Park. GIGI’S RESTAURANT 3130 Hartley Rd., 694-4300, gigisbuffet.com 2015 Best of Jax winner In the Ramada, Gigi’s serves a prime rib and crab leg buffet Fri. & Sat., blue-jean brunch on Sun., daily breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner buffets. The Comedy Zone features national comedians. • $$$ FB B R L D Daily HARMONIOUS MONKS 10550 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 30, 880-3040, harmoniousmonks.net American-style steakhouse has a 9-oz. choice Angus center-cut filet with gorgonzola shiitake mushroom cream sauce, 8-oz. gourmet burgers, ribs, wraps and sandwiches. Dennis Klee & the World’s Most Talented Waitstaff every Fri. & Sat. • $$ FB K L D Mon.-Sat. JENK’S PIZZA 2245 C.R. 210 W., Ste. 112, 826-1555, jenkspizza.com Family-owned-and-operated Jenk’s offers subs, New Yorkstyle pizzas, calzones and a variety of Italian dishes. Delivery available. • $ BW K TO L D Daily KANKI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR 11154 San Jose Blvd., 292-2400 See Fleming Island. KAZU JAPANESE RESTAURANT 9965 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 35, 683-9903, kazujapanese restaurant.com Family-friendly place has soups, dumplings, appetizers, bento boxes, sushi, entrées, maki handrolls, sashimi. Up-to-the-minute fresh sushi artfully presented. Spicy Thai basil chicken is specialty. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily LA NOPALERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 11112 San Jose Blvd., 288-0175, lanopalerarest.com 2015 BOJ winner Tamales, fajitas, pork tacos are customer faves. Some Nops have a full bar. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily LARRY’S GIANT SUBS 11365 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 3, 674-2945 See Orange Park. MAMA FU’S ASIAN HOUSE 11105 San Jose Blvd., 260-1727, mamafus.com MSGfree pan-Asian cuisine is made to order in woks with fresh ingredients. Authentic Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Thai dishes are served. Take-out up to 15 minutes before closing. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily MAPLE STREET BISCUIT COMPANY 1627 Race Track Rd., Fruit Cove, 460-2483 See San Marco.

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BY BiTE BiTE r e s t a u r a

’Tis the dawning of the age of beeturia

d i r e c t o r y

PICK UP THE BEET

THE WORLD OF FOOD IS NO STRANGER TO trends and it seems everywhere you go these days, you can find the beet. Not the rhythm to which you tap your foot, but those strange purple — or red or gold or even striped(!) — things dug up from the ground. “I’ve been selling a lot of beets lately,” says Alex Hutchinson, a produce distributor at Jacksonville Farmers’ Market. “People say they put them on sandwiches, burgers, make drinks with them. I’m not a fan but most folks sure are.” Farmers’ markets were once the main outlet for beet-buying. Now you’ll find them on menus at gourmet and fast-casual restaurants alike and outside the local Saturday market. Hotspots like Black Sheep, Moxie and Brick Restaurant use beets in dishes, but it’s not just at high-end establishments where one discovers the versatile new darling of the epicurean set. Tossgreen, a fast-casual place with a menu sporting a healthy spin, offers raw beets as a topping choice. Not feeling up to the exhausting effort of chewing your food? Jamba Juice has got you covered with its Berry UpBEET smoothie, featuring — bam! — beets! They can also be found at juice bars and in specialty drink aisles at your grocery store. The Specialty Food Association, a nonprofit focused on unique foods, gives annual awards for these special products. Beets were found in two finalist products in 2015: beet yogurt and beetroot soup. Neither brought home an award. “I love beets,” said local park ranger Jolie Schlieper. “Just put some salt on them after you steam them and eat it like that, or dice them and toss them on a salad.” Clearly the beet trend is booming. People want beets and businesses have taken notice. But why? “I drink beet juice because it’s healthy,” says Jordan Bebout, a University of North Florida student. Bebout adds she doesn’t eat raw or cooked beets though. “It seems nasty and probably is nasty.” What makes the beet so healthful? Is it that much better for you than other, more flavorful vegetables? “Well, the beet juice is really good for you, so I juice them,” says Heather Shanley, as she picks and chooses for the perfect bushel at Publix. “They make me feel energized, but I guess I don’t know how they’re good for you. I just hear it a lot.” The key to the beet’s healthfulness is also the source of its color, the pigment betalains. 28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016

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They contain both antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties, according to the George Mateljan Foundation, a nonprofit group for healthful food and living. Thanks to these pigments, antioxidants in beets are slightly different from those in other veggies. Early phase research, according to the Foundation, shows beets might be a standout in antioxidant support. Other early research shows the magenta-hued plant’s strength in fighting inflammation, specifically for those with Type II diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, beets can assist your body’s detox process. Phase 2 of detox, when your body mixes good stuff with bad stuff to flush out the bad, is substantially helped by betalains. Maybe the health junkies are onto something. Now we need to know how to select, prepare and consume the perfect beet. There are two parts to the beet plant: its bulb and its leafy greens. The greens are edible, so avoid wilted or browned leaves — though less-than-TV-commercial-perfect greens don’t alter the flavor of the bulb. Look for smooth bulbs, rich in color, that aren’t bruised or wet. Before storing the vegetables, cut the greens off, leaving a couple of inches. Don’t wash them yet, because moisture causes rotting. Beets can be refrigerated up to a few weeks in an airtight bag. Like other leafy greens, beet greens can be refrigerated in a plastic bag for a few days. The cooking method with the most beneficial results is to steaming the beets for 15 minutes, max. Any longer and those superhealthy betalains will degrade. After they’re steamed, you can simply wipe away the skin. Be warned, though: Beets can stain your skin, so wear gloves. If you’re seeking maximum health benefits, eat a beet raw. Beets can be grated over other food for some extra nutrients and color. They can also be juiced with their greens, though many prefer just the bulb. Everyone Folio Weekly Magazine talked to about beets added one little disclaimer: After most folks eat beets, certain things might take on a purplish hue in the *ahem* restroom. Don’t worry, it’s just beeturia — it happens. Every year, new health foods appear on the horizon. Some aren’t as beneficial and some quickly lose popularity, but it’s looking like the heretofore lowly beet can back up its claim to being a true health food. Maybe it’s time to pick up the beet. Mark Judson mail@folioweekly.com

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n e i g h b o r h o o d METRO DINER 12807 San Jose Blvd., 638-6185 2015 Best of Jax winner. Now serving dinner nightly. See San Marco. MIKADO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 10460 Avenues Walk Blvd., Greenland, 260-8860, mikado jax.com Traditional Japanese cuisine for 20-plus years. The big sushi bar seats 25-plus diners. A lunch buffet is offered Mon.-Fri.; 12 hibachi tables. • $$ FB TO L D Daily MIZU SUSHI & GRILL 14965 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 124, 880-0889, mizusushijax.com Master chefs prepare fresh sushi, seafood, steak, vegetables. Indoor or outdoor dining. Live music. • $$ BW K L D Daily MONKEY’S UNCLE TAVERN 10503 San Jose Blvd., 260-1349 See Beaches. NATIVE SUN NATURAL FOODS MARKET & DELI 10000 San Jose Blvd., 260-6950 See Baymeadows. NEWK’S EXPRESS CAFE 11112 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 28, 328-5930 See Southside. OSAKA GRILL SUSHI BUFFET 11701 San Jose Blvd., 886-7778 150+ items at the Chinese and Japanese buffet, including soups, spareribs, a sushi bar, roast duck and ice cream. Kids under 12 dine at a discount. Carry-out from the buffet is available. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily PICASSO’S PIZZERIA 10503 San Jose Blvd., 880-0811, jaxpicassos.com Picasso’s specializes in hand-tossed gourmet pizza along with calzones, homemade New York-style cheesecake and handmade pasta. Fresh local seafood and steaks, too. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily RACK ’EM UP BILLIARDS 4268 Oldfield Crossing Dr., 262-4030 See Arlington. THE RED ELEPHANT PIZZA & GRILL 10131 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 12, 683-3773, redelephant pizza.com The casual, family-friendly eatery serves pizzas, sandwiches, grill specials, burgers, pasta dishes. Gluten-free friendly. • $ FB K L D Daily RENNA’S PIZZA 11111 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 12, 292-2300, rennaspizza.com The casual New York-style pizzeria serves calzones, antipasto, parmigiana, homemade breads. Buy by the slice – they’re humongous – or full pie. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily RITA’S DELI 9446 Philips Hwy., 806-3923 Sandwiches made with Boar’s Head meats, cheeses. • $$ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. ROMA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA 14965 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 101, 880-2000, romasitalian.com More than 100 items, each made with authentic Italian spices and herbs. Specialty dishes include veal, seafood and gourmet pizzas. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily SAN JOSE DELI & GRILL 9545 San Jose Blvd., 880-6091 Family-owned-andoperated with 20-plus years of experience, serving freshly made homestyle fare, made to order. Known for chicken salad, tabouli and steak-n-sacks. • $$ B L Mon.-Sat. SANTIONI’S CUCINA ITALIANA RESTAURANT 11531 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 8, 262-5190, santionisjax.com Bruno and Silvana Santioni have been in the business of Italian dining since 1987. Their menu features rack of lamb and veal saltimbocca with homemade bread. Espresso is available. • $$ BW L D Daily

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ZOËS KITCHEN 13920 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 101, 374-3552 See P.V.

ORANGE PARK, EAGLE HARBOR & MIDDLEBURG

(All venues are in Orange Park unless otherwise noted.)

ARON’S PIZZA 650 Park Ave., 269-1007, aronspizza.com The familyowned place has eggplant dishes, manicotti and New Yorkstyle pizza. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily BONO’S PIT BAR-B-Q 1765 Town Center Blvd., 269-8870 2640 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 211, 282-4288 See Northside. BRUSTER’S REAL ICE CREAM 9590 Applecross Rd., 771-0722 See Intracoastal. BUFFALO WILD WINGS GRILL & BAR 1940 Wells Rd., 215-4969, buffalowildwings.com Along with buffalo-style wings with 14 sauces (ranging from mild to better-be-ready blazin’), BWW serves wraps, burgers and ribs. Sports on big-screen TVs. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily CHEERS PARK AVENUE 1138 Park Ave., 269-4855, cheersparkave.com Not your usual bar food here – it’s a Southern/Cajun mix of quality ingredients, like Boar’s Head, Nathan’s, plus homestyle sauces and soups, hand-battered flounder sandwiches, Cajun BLTs, burgers and wings. • $$ FB TO L D Daily EL PALERMO 2177 Kingsley Ave., 276-7701 The flavor focus is Caribbean and Puerto Rican at family-friendly spot. Authentically crafted dishes served in a clean, no-frills atmosphere. Empanadas, black beans and rice, plantains, flan and cafe con leche are offered. There’s free Wi-Fi, too. • $$ K L D Tue.-Sat. FIVE GUYS FAMOUS BURGERS & FRIES 1910 Wells Rd., Ste. C02D-5, 637-0414 9630 Applecross Rd., Ste. 106, 573-0900, fiveguys.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Five Guys offers burgers made with fresh ground beef and finished from a wide selection of toppings, including fried onions, jalapeños or sautéed mushrooms. Fries, kosher hot dogs and soft drinks round out the menu. • $ TO L D Daily GATORS DOCKSIDE 9680 Argyle Forest Blvd., Ste. 1, 425-6466 See Westside. THE HILLTOP 2030 Wells Rd., Orange Park, 272-5959, hilltop-club.com Dinner in formal, Southern-inflected dining spaces. Specialties are New Orleans shrimp, certified Black Angus prime rib, she-crab soup. Homemade desserts are featured, along with a piano lounge (Tue.-Sat. nights), a large collection of antiques and a garden setting. • $$$ FB D Tue.-Sat. JOEY MOZZARELLA’S 930 Blanding Blvd., Ste. D, 579-4748 At this Italian restaurant, calzones, stromboli and lasagna are customer favorites, and all the pizza pies are available stuffed. BYOB. • $$ K TO L D Daily LA NOPALERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 9734 Crosshill Blvd., Argyle, 908-4250 1571 C.R. 220, Ste. 100, 215-2223 2024 Kingsley Ave., 276-2776 2015 BOJ winner See Mandarin.

SAUCY TACO 450 S.R. 13 N., Ste. 113, 287-8226, saucytaco.com Authentic light Mexican and American influences in each dish. 40 beers on draft. • $$ FB K TO B, Sat.-Sun.; L D Daily

LARRY’S GIANT SUBS 1330 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 165, 276-7370 1545 C.R. 220, 278-2827 700 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 15, 272-3553 1401 S. Orange Ave., Green Cove Springs, 284-7789 With locations all over Northeast Florida, Larry’s Giant Subs piles subs high and serves ’em fast for nearly 30 years. In addition to a wide selection of hot and cold subs, Larry’s features soups and salads. • $ K TO B L D Daily

SONNY’S REAL PIT BAR-B-Q 12485 San Jose Blvd., 288-7928 See Orange Park.

THE LOOP PIZZA GRILL 550 Wells Rd., 269-0756 See Beaches.

SORRENTO ITALIAN RESTAURANT 6943 St. Augustine Rd., 636-9196 Luciano Russo and his family opened Sorrento more than 20 years ago. The menu includes fish Francese and lamb Torinese, and entrées include a salad, bread and a side of spaghetti. • $$$ BW D Tue.-Sun.

METRO DINER 2034 Kingsley Ave., 375-8548 2015 Best of Jax winner. Now serving dinner nightly. See San Marco.

SWEET FROG 10991 San Jose Blvd., 292-0901, sweetfrogyogurt.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Sweet Frog Premium Frozen Yogurt has guilt-free, made-fresh-daily treats in 40+ nonfat flavors, like Maple Bacon Donut, Thin Mint Cookie. The toppings bar has every item you’d want to load up your froyo. • $ TO Daily

OSAKA JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 9651 Crosshill Blvd., 317-0224, osakaoakleaf.com Located in Oakleaf Town Center, Osaka features a sushi bar and hibachi tables. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily

TAPS BAR & GRILL 2220 C.R. 210 W., Ste. 314, 819-1554 See Fleming Island.

PASTA MARKET ITALIAN RESTAURANT & CLAM BAR 1930 Kingsley Ave., 276-9551, pastamarket italianrestaurant.com This family-owned-and-operated restaurant offers gourmet pizzas, veal, chicken, mussels, shrimp, grouper and (of course) pastas: spaghetti, fettuccine, lasagna, ziti, calzones, linguini, tortellini. • $$ BW K D Nightly

VINO’S PIZZA & GRILL 4268 Oldfield Crossing Dr., Greenland, 268-6660 Handtossed New York-style, thin-crust pizzas, Sicilian-style, thick-crust pizzas. Baked dishes, subs, stromboli, wings, wraps. • $ K L D Daily

PREVATT’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL 2620 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 17, Middleburg, 282-1564 This is what a neighborhood sportsbar should be: Familiar fare, all the spirits you’d want and live music every weekend. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily

V PIZZA 12601 San Jose Blvd., 647-9424, vpizza.com See San Marco.

THE ROADHOUSE 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611, roadhouseonline.net Serving sandwiches, wings, burgers and quesadillas for more than 35 years. Six pool tables, dartboards, foosball and TVs (two are big screens). Live rock music Mon., Thur.-Sat. More than 75 imported beers. • $ FB L D Daily

WAKAME JAPANESE & THAI CUISINE 104 Bartram Oaks Walk, 230-6688, wakamejax.com The fine dining place has authentic Japanese, Thai cuisine, a full sushi menu, curries and pad dishes. • $ BW K L D Daily WHOLE FOODS MARKET 10601 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 22, 288-1100, wholefoods market.com Whole Foods has an expansive prepared-food department with 80+ items at a full-service and self-service hot bar, salad bar, soup bar and dessert bar, as well as pizza, sushi and sandwich stations. • $$ BW TO L D Daily

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BY BiTE BiTE r e s t a u r a

SALSAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT 1635 Wells Rd., 579-3579 See Intracoastal. SANTIONI’S LA CUCINA 3535 U.S. 17, 264-1331, santionisitalianrestaurant.com Bruno and Silvana Santioni offeri authentic cuisine, desserts and an extensive wine list. Live music. • $$ BW K D Nightly

d i r e c t o r y SNACSHACK 179 College Dr., Ste. 19, 682-7622, snacshack.menu Bakery and café; sandwiches, coffees, bagels, muffins, breads, cookies, brownies, snacks. • $$ K BW TO B, L & D Daily SONNY’S REAL PIT BAR-B-Q 1976 Kingsley Ave., 272-4606, sonnysbbq.com For more than 30 years, Sonny’s has been a Northeast Florida gem. Beef, pork, chicken, ribs cooked in a wood-fired pit; sides are Vidalia onion rings, corn nuggets, potato salad, barbecue beans, coleslaw. AYCE specials daily. • $ BW K TO L D Daily SOUPLANTATION & SWEET TOMATOES 1625 Wells Rd., 269-6116 See Arlington. SWEET FROG 1581 C.R. 220 E., Ste. 100, 215-1300 2015 Best of Jax winner See Mandarin. TED’S MONTANA GRILL 8635 Blanding Blvd., 771-1964 See St. Johns Town Center. TEXAS ROADHOUSE 550 Blanding Blvd., 213-1000, texasroadhouse.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Steaks and ribs, seafood and chops. The atmosphere’s casual and family-friendly. Daily specials are featured, and there’s a daily HH , ice-cold beer and legendary margaritas. • $ FB L D Daily THAI GARDEN 10 Blanding Blvd., Ste. B, 272-8434 Traditional Thai menu, including pad kraw powh with roasted duck and kaeng kari (yellow curry with potatoes and a choice of meat). Fine wines, imported and domestic beers. • $$ BW L Mon.-Fri.; D Nightly WOODY’S BAR-B-Q 8540 Argyle Forest Blvd., 772-7675 950 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 1, 272-1419 See Southside.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, PALM VALLEY, NE ST. JOHNS

(All restaurants in Ponte Vedra unless otherwise noted.)

619 OCEAN VIEW 619 Ponte Vedra Blvd., 285-6198, sawgrassmarriott.com At the Cabana Beach Club, 619 Ocean View offers dining with a Mediterranean touch, featuring fresh seafood, grilled steaks and weekly specials. Dine on a balcony over looking the Atlantic Ocean. • $$$ FB D Wed.-Sun. ALICE & PETE’S PUB 1003 PGA Tour Blvd., 285-7777, sawgrassmarriott.com Inspired by World Golf Hall of Famers Alice and Pete Dye, architects of the Stadium and Valley golf courses, this pub offers a menu of Northeast Florida flavors along with Alice & Pete’s favorites, like Dominican black bean soup and Pete’s bourbon pecan pie. Outside dining. • $$$ FB L D Daily AL’S PIZZA 635 A1A N., 543-1494 2015 BOJ winner See Beaches. AQUA GRILL 950 Sawgrass Village Dr., 285-3017, aquagrill.net Since 1988, this American-eclectic restaurant has served fresh local seafood, aged prime steaks and vegetarian entrées. Patio seating is available. Reservations accepted. • $$$ FB L D Daily BARBARA JEAN’S 15 S. Roscoe Blvd., Palm Valley, 280-7522, barbarajeans. com Easy Southern dining, including legendary crab cakes, seafood, meatloaf and 15 fresh vegetables. Dine indoors or outside, with a real back-to-nature view of the Intracoastal Waterway. • $$-$$$ FB K B Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily BEACH DINER 880 A1A N., 273-6545 See Beaches. BRUCCI’S PIZZA, PASTA, PANINIS 880 A1A, Ste. 8, 280-7677 See Intracoastal. CAFFE ANDIAMO 500 Sawgrass Village Dr., 280-2299, caffeandiamo-pvb. com The Recupito family’s place has fresh seafood, veal, steak and pizza made in a copper wood-burning oven, plus daily specials. Customer faves include fracosta loco and cappesanti di mare. Dine on outdoor patio or in the upscale surroundings. 75 wines by the glass. • $$$ FB L D Daily DICK’S WINGS & GRILL 100 Marketside Ave., Ste. 301, 829-8134 2015 Best of Jax winner See Northside. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS 830 A1A N., Ste. 6, 273-3993 See Orange Park. LULU’S WATERFRONT GRILLE 301 N. Roscoe Blvd., Palm Valley, 285-0139, luluswater frontgrille.com On the Intracoastal Waterway, Lulu’s can be reached by land or water. Fresh seafood, hand-cut steaks, burgers. Seating is available on the screened waterfront porch. • $$$ FB K TO R Sat.-Sun.; L D daily

MULLIGAN’S PUB 43 PGA Tour Blvd., 285-1506, mulliganspubpontevedra. com The Irish pub, at the Hilton Garden Inn, offers a variety of favorites and Irish dishes. A full bar is served, including Guinness. • $$ FB B L D Daily NAPOLI’S PASTARIA 3787 Palm Valley Rd., 273-0006, napolispastaria.com A variety of traditional Italian dishes including veal, pasta, traditional hand-tossed and specialty pizzas. Delivery available. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily NINETEEN AT TPC SAWGRASS 110 Championship Way, 273-3235, tpc.com In the Tournament Players Club, Nineteen has 230-plus varieties of wines and features freshly prepared American and Continental cuisine, local seafood, served in an inviting interior or al fresco on the verandah. • $$$ FB L D Daily

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PALM VALLEY FISH CAMP 229 N. Roscoe Blvd., 285-3200, palmvalleyfishcamp.com Ben Groshell presents this dining experience on the Intracoastal in Palm Valley, serving dishes made with fresh ingredients, including daily specials. Call in your order and pick it up dockside. • $$$ FB K TO L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly PLAYERS CAFÉ 262 Solana Rd., 273-5595 Owner Mike Furgal runs a familyfriendly, golf themed restaurant, serving fresh grouper sub, Cuban sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks. • $$ B L Daily POPPY’S ITALIANO 832 A1A, Ste. 1, 273-7272, poppysitaliano.net Familyowned-and-operated Poppy’s serves fresh gourmet Italian dishes and familiar favorites. Dine in or outdoors; carry out or drive-through. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily PUSSER’S CARIBBEAN BAR & GRILLE 816 A1A N., Ste. 100, 280-7766, pussersusa.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Bite Club certified Named for the rum, Pussers serves innovative Caribbean cuisine and regional favorites, like Jamaican grilled pork ribs, Trinidad smoked duck, lobster macaroni & cheese dinner. Tropical drinks, including Pussers Painkiller, are popular house remedies. Live entertainment on the Upper Deck. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily RESTAURANT MEDURE 818 A1A N., 543-3797, restaurantmedure.us Chef David Medure creates dishes with a wide range of flavors from around the world. The lounge offers small plates, creative drinks and entertainment, including HH twice daily. Live music is presented nightly. • $$$ FB D Mon.-Sat. RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 814 A1A N., Ste. 103, 285-0014 2015 Best of Jax winner See San Marco. TABLE 1 330 A1A N., Ste. 208, 280-5515, table-1.com Upscale, casual restaurant has a variety of items, from appetizers to entrées, as well as a wine bar featuring an extensive list of wines by the glass. Live music Wed.-Sun.• $$$ FB L D Daily TRASCA & CO EATERY 155 Tourside Dr., Ste. 100, 395-3989, trascaandco.com This one-of-a-kind vintage neighborhood eatery specializes in handcrafted Italian-inspired sandwiches, craft beers and craft coffees. • $$ BW K TO B L D Daily VERNON’S RESTAURANT 1000 PGA Tour Blvd., Sawgrass Marriott, 280-3405 Bite Club certified Named for the developer who helped craft Sawgrass courses, this new restaurant features fresh Florida seafood, hand-cut chops and a stellar wine list. HH 5-7 p.m. daily, live music. • $$$$ FB B Daily; D Nightly WOK N ROLL 3791 Palm Valley Rd., Ste. 203, 543-7666, woknroll pontevedra.com This spot in the Valley serves authentic Chinese cuisine made with fresh ingredients. • $ TO L D Daily ZOËS KITCHEN 240 A1A, Ste. 5, 273-1100, zoeskitchen.com Original recipes, with Greek and Mediterranean influences, include made-to-order sandwiches, grilled feta sandwiches and whole dinners, all available to go. Desserts include homemade ya-yas (a chocolate sheet cake). • $$ K L D Daily

RIVERSIDE, 5 POINTS, WESTSIDE, MURRAY HILL

(Venues are in Riverside unless otherwise noted.)

13 GYPSIES 887 Stockton St., 389-0330, 13gypsies.com 2015 Best of Jax winner The bistro serves authentic Mediterranean peasant cuisine updated for American tastes, specializing in tapas, blackened octopus, risotto of the day and coconut mango curry chicken. • $$ BW L D Tue.-Sat. AL’S PIZZA 1620 Margaret St., Ste. 201, 5 Points, 388-8384 2015 Best of Jax winner See Beaches. BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, blacksheep5points.com Orsay’s sister spot serves New American favorites with a Southern twist, made with locally sourced ingredients. Awesome rooftop bar. • $$$ FB R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS 869 Stockton St., Stes. 1/2, 855-1181, boldbeancoffee. com 2015 Best of Jax winner Bold Bean brings a smallbatch, artisanal approach to sourcing and roasting single origin, direct trade coffees and signature blends, hand-crafted syrups, espressos, craft beers, pastries. • $ BW TO B L Daily BREW FIVE POINTS 1024 Park St., 374-5789, brewfivepoints.com 2015 Best of Jax winner This craft beer and espresso bar in the heart of historic 5 Points offers local craft beers, soft drinks and toast from Community Loaves. • $$ B L Sun. & Mon.; B L D Tue.-Sat. BURRITO GALLERY BROOKLYN 90 Riverside Ave., Ste. 601, 355-4889 2015 Best of Jax winner Brand new place. See Downtown. COOL MOOSE CAFE 2708 Park St., 381-4242, coolmoosecafe.net The New England-style café has a full breakfast menu, classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, brunch all day Sunday. Extensive gourmet coffee menu available. • $$ BW R L D Tue.-Sun. CORNER TACO 818 Post St., 234-8843, facebook.com/cornertaco Madefrom-scratch “semi-swanky street food” – tacos, nachos, salads – is served, with gluten-free and vegetarian options, in a bricks-and-mortar building. • $ BW L D Tue.-Sun. CROSS CREEK 850 S. Lane Ave., 783-9579, crosscreeksteakhouse.com

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Steaks, ribs, burgers, Mayport shrimp, sandwiches, combos and from the pit: brisket, chicken, pork, turkey and burnt ends (our favorite!). • $$ FB L D Daily THE CUMMER CAFÉ 829 Riverside Ave., Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, 356-6857 2015 Best of Jax winner Light lunch, beer, wine, locally roasted coffee, espresso-based beverages, homemade soups, tapas, sandwiches, gourmet desserts, daily specials, brunch. Dine inside or in gardens. • $ BW K L Tue.-Sun. DERBY ON PARK 1068 Park St., 379-3343 New American cuisine, upscale retro air in historic landmark building. Shrimp & grits, lobster bites, 10-oz. gourmet burger. Dine inside or out. • $$-$$$ FB L D Tue.-Sun., R Sat. & Sun. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL 6055 Youngerman Cir., 778-1101 2015 Best of Jax winner See Northside. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ 2753 Park St., 384-9999 2015 BOJ winner See Beaches. THE FRINGE EATERY ON EDGEWOOD 934 Edgewood Ave. S. The steampunk gallery and performance space also serves soups, salads, wraps, coffees and teas. Open mic is held every second and fourth Wed. • $$ TO Tue.-Sun. FUJI SUSHI 9542 Argyle Forest Blvd., Ste. C-18, Westside, 778-1998 The skilled chefs create sushi items vegetarian or regular style. Dinner dishes include rice, soup and salad. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily GATORS DOCKSIDE 6677 103rd St., 777-6135, gatorsdockside.com For 20-plus years, the sports-themed family restaurant has been serving a varied menu of grilled wings, ribs, sandwiches and salads. TVs; Tue. is kids’ night. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Grassroots juice bar uses certified organic fruits and vegetables. The store offers artisanal cheeses, more than 300 craft and imported beers and 50 organic wines, and organic produce and meats, vitamins and herbs. Organic wraps, sides, sandwiches and salads are available to go. • $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FARE 1001 Park St., 508-0342 2015 Best of Jax winner It’s based on the idea of Asian street vendors, peddling their authentic dishes from mobile stalls. A collection of hawker recipes is served under one roof. • $ BW TO L D Daily HOBNOB 220 Riverside Ave., Ste. 110, 513-4272, hobnobwithus.com This new place serves cuisine driven by global inspirations and local intentions, like ahi poke tuna and jumbo lump crab tacos. Dishes are served deconstructed, to encourage interaction and experimentation through collaborative dining. • $$ FB TO L D Brunch Daily HOVAN MEDITERRANEAN GOURMET 2005 Park St., Ste. 1, 381-9394 2015 Best of Jax winner Hovan offers traditional Mediterranean cuisine, including freshly made hummus, baba ghannoush and gyros, served in a setting that attracts indie rockers and businesspeople alike. Patio dining. Hookahs available. $ BW L D Mon.-Sat. IL DESCO 2665 Park St., 290-6711, ildescojax.com Modern, authentic Italian cuisine and handcrafted cocktails are served. • $$-$$$ FB TO K L D Daily JOHNNY’S DELI & GRILLE 474 Riverside Ave., 356-8055 The experienced staff cooks up made-to-order breakfast and lunch fare, including grilled wraps, gyros and grilled chicken salad. • $ TO B L Mon.-Sat. KNEAD BAKESHOP 1173 Edgewood Ave. S., 634-7617 Knead is a locallyowned, family-run shop specializing in made-from-scratch creations – classic pastries, artisan breads, savory pies, specialty sandwiches, soups. • $ TO B L Tue.-Sun.

MOXIE KITCHEN + COCKTAILS in Tinseltown has an innovative menu of delectable haute cusine. PATTAYA THAI GRILLE 1526 King St., 503-4060 See Baymeadows. PRIMI PIATTI 2722 Park St., 389-5545 Northern Italian-style restaurant (the name means first plate in Italian) offers a menu made from fresh ingredients, which includes daily specials, pastas and she-crab soup. • $$$ BW K L D Mon.-Sat. SBRAGA & COMPANY 220 Riverside Ave., Ste. 114, 746-0909, sbragadining.com Chef Kevin Sbraga has a contemporary approach to local influences. Go-to dishes: hog & hominy, fish fry, carrot ceviche. • $$-$$$ FB TO L D Daily SONNY’S REAL PIT BAR-B-Q 4434 Blanding Blvd., Westside, 777-0730 1923 S. Lane Ave., Westside, 786-0081 See Orange Park.

LARRY’S GIANT SUBS 1509 Margaret St., 674-2794 • 5733 Roosevelt Blvd., 446-9500 • 8102 Blanding Blvd., 779-1933 • 7895 Normandy Blvd., 781-7600 See Orange Park.

SOUL FOOD BISTRO 5310 Lenox Ave., Ste. 1, Westside, 394-0860 2015 BOJ winner Owned by Potters House Christian Fellowship, cafeteria-style place has traditional Southern food: fried chicken, greens, mac-n-cheese, cornbread. • $ TO L D Tue.-Sun.

LITTLE JOE’S CAFÉ BY AKEL 245 Riverside Ave., Ste. 195, 791-3336 River view café serves breakfast and lunch in a casual atmosphere. Fresh soups, salads and signature salad dressings round out the New York-style deli experience. • $ TO B L Mon.-Fri.

SOUTHERN ROOTS FILLING STATION 1275 King St., 513-4726, southernrootsjax.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Healthy, light vegan fare made fresh daily with local, organic ingredients. Specials, served on bread, greens or rice, change daily. Sandwiches, coffees, teas. • $ Tue.-Sun.

METRO DINER 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., 999-4600 2015 Best of Jax winner See San Marco.

SUN-RAY CINEMA 1028 Park St., 5 Points, 359-0047, sunraycinema.com 2015 Best of Jax winner First-run, indie and art films are screened at the oldest theater building in Jacksonville. Beer, some drafts from Bold City and Intuition Ale Works, wine, pizza – with names like Godbold, Black Lagoon Supreme, Cowford Pie – hot dogs, hummus, sandwiches, popcorn, nachos and brownies are available. • $$ BW Daily

MOON RIVER PIZZA 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., Murray Hill, 389-4442 2015 Best of Jax winner See Amelia Island. THE MOSSFIRE GRILL 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire.com Just a stone’s throw from 5 Points intersection, Mossfire manages to satisfy indie kids’ and conservative business folk alike. Southwestern dishes like fresh fish tacos, chicken enchiladas. HH Mon.-Sat. in upstairs lounge. Sunday HH all day. • $$ FB K L D Daily ORSAY 3630 Park St., 381-0909, restaurantorsay.com 2015 Best of Jax winner This French/American bistro serves steak frites, mussels and Alsatian pork chops in an elegant setting, with an emphasis on locally grown organic ingredients. • $$$ FB R, Sun.; D Nightly

TASTI D-LITE 1024 Park St., 900-3040 A 4-ounce serving of creamy dairy dessert can be fewer than 70 calories. Offered in a gazillion flavors, in cones, cups, shakes, smoothies. • $ TO Daily TIMOTI’S SEAFOOD SHAK 1043 Park St., 374-8892 Brand new! See Amelia Island. TOM & BETTY’S 4409 Roosevelt Blvd., 387-3311, tomandbettys.com The car-themed menu features big sandwiches, burgers and favorite homestyle entrées like pot roast. Daily HH has $1.75 domestic bottles. Live music Fri.; Karaoke Sat. • $$ FB K TO L D Tue.-Sun. WHITEWAY DELICATESSEN 1237 King St., 389-0355 Extensive sandwich selection, including some you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. • $ TO B L Mon.-Fri. ZOËS KITCHEN 1661 Riverside Ave., 355-9637 See Ponte Vedra.

ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH

(All places are in St. Augustine unless otherwise noted.)

95 CORDOVA 95 Cordova St., 810-6810 In the restored Casa Monica Hotel, this restaurant exudes elegance. The cuisine is a blend of Moroccan, Asian, Mediterranean, Caribbean and European influences. The adjacent Cobalt Lounge features a variety of fine wines. • $$$ FB R Sun.; B L D Daily A1A ALE WORKS 1 King St., 829-2977, a1aaleworks.com This two-story brew pub, overlooking the restored Bridge of Lions, makes six varieties of beer and serves New World cuisine, indoors or out on the balcony. • $$ FB L D Daily

SUSHI CAFÉ 2025 Riverside Ave., Ste. 201, 384-2888, sushicafejax.com A variety of sushi, including Monster Roll and the Jimmy Smith Roll, along with faves like Rock-n-Roll and Dynamite Roll. Sushi Café also offers hibachi, tempura, katsu and teriyaki. Dine indoors or on the patio. • $$ BW L D Daily

ACAPULCO MEXICAN RESTAURANT 12 Avenida Menendez, 808-9933 This sprawling Mexican restaurant overlooks Castillo de San Marcos and serves all of the favorites as well as weekly specials. Beer, including Mexican brands, wine and margaritas are served. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily

SWEET THEORY BAKING COMPANY 1243 King St., 387-1001 2015 Best of Jax winner Small batch, all-natural and organic, allergy-friendly bakery featuring items made with no egg, dairy, soy or peanuts. Gluten-free options, too. • $ TO Tue.-Sat.

AL’S PIZZA 1 St. George St., 824-4383 2015 BOJ winner See Beaches. AMICI 1915B A1A S., St. Augustine Beach, 461-0102 Familyowned-and-operated Italian restaurant, at the intersection

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of S.R. 312 and A1A, has traditional pasta, veal, steak and seafood dishes. Daily HH. • $$ FB K L D Daily ANN O’MALLEY’S DELI & PUB 23 Orange St., 825-4040, annomalleys.com Across from Old City Gates; soups, sandwiches – favorites include Reuben, chicken salad – familiar, friendly service. Dine in or on porch. Irish beers on tap. Open mic, live music. • $ BW K L D Daily ATHENA RESTAURANT 14 Cathedral Place, 823-9076 On St. Augustine’s historic downtown Plaza, Athena has an extensive menu of Greek and American dishes, including moussaka, lamb kabobs and spinach pie. Dine at a booth or table. • $$$ BW TO B L D Daily AUNT KATE’S 612 Euclid Ave., Vilano Beach, 829-1105 This casual spot features an expansive view of the Tolomato River and a menu with a focus on seafood, from oysters Rockefeller to maplerubbed salmon. Burgers, wraps, pasta dishes, steak and ribs are also served. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily AVILES RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 32 Avenida Menendez, 829-2277, avilesrestaurant staugustine.com In Hilton Bayfront Hotel, Aviles’ Chef Chris Proulx offers a progressive European-flavored menu, a madeto-order pasta night, wine dinners, chophouse nights, deluxe breakfast buffet. A champagne brunch on Sunday – two words: bottomless mimosas! • $$$ FB K B L D Daily BARLEY REPUBLIC IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE & RESTAURANT 48 Spanish St., 547-2023, barleyrepublicph.com Irish bar and gastropub has traditional burgers and sandwiches, fish & chips, bangers and mash, craft cuisine. More than 70 beers and wines, 10 on draft daily, craft beers and spirits. Live music. Dine inside, out on the deck. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily BARNACLE BILL’S 14 W. Castillo Dr., 824-3663, barnaclebillsonline.com For 30-plus years, this family restaurant has been serving seafood, oysters, gator tail and steak, along with the popular fried shrimp. Some dishes are infused with their Datl Do It hot sauce products. • $$ FB K TO L D Nightly THE BISTRO at CULINARY OUTFITTERS 9 S. Dixie Hwy., 829-2727, culinaryoutfitters.org Where locals lunch on crab cakes, chicken burritos, hamburgers, wraps, soups, made with fresh ingredients. • $$ BW TO L Mon.-Fri. BISTRO DE LEON 12 Cathedral Place, 810-2100 Jean-Stephane Poinard is a fifth-generation French chef who creates dishes with fresh American produce, herbs, seafood. Bread baked onsite. • $$$ BW K B Sat. & Sun.; L Thur.-Sun.; D Sun.-Tue. BLACKFLY THE RESTAURANT 108 Anastasia Blvd., 201-6300 The place has semi-casual dining with a fly-fishing theme, focusing on a variety of fresh Atlantic seafood, steaks, brick-over pizza and specialty drinks. • $$$ FB K TO D Tue.-Sun. THE BLACK MOLLY BAR & GRILL 504 W. Geoffrey St., Cobblestone Plaza, 547-2723 Fresh, local seafood, steaks and unique pasta dishes in a casual atmosphere. Nonstop HH. • $$ FB K L D Daily BLUE HEN CAFÉ 117 MLK Ave., 217-3777 In Lincolnville; breakfast all day. Local faves include buttermilk chicken biscuits, corned beef has and Datil barbecue shrimp tacos. • $ BW B L Tue.-Sun. BONO’S PIT BAR-B-Q 2420 U.S. 1 S., 794-9424 See Northside. BREWZ N DAWGZ 1974 U.S. 1 S., 429-7149, brewzndawgz.com Guilt-free fare: this places uses only organic, non-GMO ingredients whenever possible. Craft beers – 24 on draft – and gourmet hot dogs … what else is there to say? OK – all the meats are from real farms providing humanely raised grassfed product without antibiotics, hormones or nitrates/nitrites. Also vegan/ vegetarian and gluten-free options. • $ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun. THE BRITISH PUB 213 Anastasia Blvd., 810-5111 Darts and serves ale, beer and wine, as well as traditional meat pies, Cornish pasties and sausage rolls. Varieties of authentic British food and candies are sold at the shop within. • $$ FB D Nightly

CARMELO’S MARKETPLACE & PIZZERIA 146 King St., 494-6658 In addition to New York-style brickoven-baked pizza, Carmelo’s offers freshly baked sub rolls, Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, stromboli and garlic herb wings. Outdoor seating and Wi-Fi. • $$ BW TO L D Daily CATCH 27 40 Charlotte St., 217-3542, catchtwentyseven.com The name stands for locally caught, Florida seafood. The staff believes in cooking everything from scratch with local ingredients. • $$BW K TO L D Daily CELLAR 6 ART GALLERY & WINE BAR 6 Aviles St., 827-9055 Bite Club certified An array of fine wines, Wolfgang Puck coffees, handmade desserts, light bistro-style fare amid local art. • $$ BW Daily

DOS COFFEE & WINE 300 San Marco Ave., 342-2421, dosbar.com Pour-over bar offers espressos, nitro cold brew coffees roasted in-house, craft beers, wines, desserts. Outdoor seating available. Live music. • $$ BW TO B L D Daily THE DUNES CRACKER HOUSE 641 A1A Beach Blvd., 461-5725 Rustic Florida-style spot is popular for drinks, dinner, dancing, daily specials. Jazz Mon.; DJ Wed. & Fri.-Sun. • $$ B L Fri.-Sun.; D Nightly EL POTRO 226 San Marco Ave., 819-0390 See Beaches. FIVE F(x) ICE CREAM & WAFFLES 1000 S. Ponce de Leon Blvd., 429-7668 See Baymeadows. FLAVORS EATERY 125-C King St., 824-4221 A favorite among college students and locals, this casual restaurant serves quesadillas, pizza and smoothies. Local musicians play Thur.-Sat. Indoor and outdoor seating. • $ BW L D Mon.-Sat.

CONCH HOUSE RESTAURANT 57 Comares Ave., 829-8646 Indoor seating as well as Tiki huts built out over Salt Run. Signature dishes include the Cracker combo platter and St. Augustine fried shrimp. Tropical drinks are a specialty. Live music. • $$$ FB K L D Nightly

FLORIDA CRACKER CAFÉ 81 St. George St., 829-0397 A contemporary dining room and outdoor garden dining in St. Augustine’s St. George Street. Customer favorites include blackened scallops, crab cakestuffed shrimp and Florida gator tail. • $$ BW K L D Daily

THE CORAZON CINEMA & CAFE 36 Granada St., 679-5736 Sandwiches, combos, pizza at the cinema house, showing indie and first-run movies. • $$ Daily

THE FLORIDIAN 39 Cordova St., 829-0655 2015 Best of Jax winner Paying homage to Old Florida; updated Southern fare, with fresh, local ingredients from area farms. Vegetarian and gluten-free options, too. Signature items include fried green tomato bruschetta, the blackened fish cornbread stack and the grits with shrimp, fish or tofu. • $$$ BW K TO L D Wed.-Mon.

COQUINA BEACH SURF CLUB 451 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 471-2434 The beachy restaurant’s chefs Tony Philpott and Cole Smalley offer seasonal seafood, select beef entrees, seasonal produce, burgers, creative specials. Casual outdoor dining, extensive wine list. • $$ FB K R Sat.-Sun.; D Nightly

BURRITO WORKS TACO SHOP 114 St. George St., 823-1229, burritoworks.com 671 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 217-7451 Baja-style tacos and burritos, 100 percent vegetarian bean burritos, fish tacos and hormone-free meats, along with homemade guacamole. • $ TO L D Daily

CREEKSIDE DINERY 160 Nix Boatyard Rd., 829-6113 Behind a stretch of U.S. 1, Creekside is an old Florida respite, with an outdoor deck with a fire pit. Overlooking Gonzales Creek, Creekside serves a variety of beef, chicken and seafood dishes, with an emphasis on low-country cooking. Live music. • $$ FB K D Nightly

CAFE ATLANTICO 647 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 471-7332 This white-tablecloth restaurant serves traditional and new Italian dishes in an intimate space. Master Chef Paolo Pece, from Naples, Italy, prepares risotto alla pescatora, with shrimp, scallops and seasonal shellfish served in a parmesan cheese basket. • $$$ BW D Nightly

CRUISERS GRILL 3 St. George St., 824-6993 2015 BOJ winner See Beaches.

CAP’S ON THE WATER 4325 Myrtle St., Vilano Beach, 824-8794 A Vilano Beach mainstay, serving coastal cuisine indoors or on the oakshaded deck. Fresh local shrimp, raw oyster bar) or a stunning sunset. Boat access available. • $$ FB K L Fri.-Sun.; D Nightly

beers and whiskeys are served. Six HDTVs, pool tables and Wii are available. • $$ FB K L D Daily

COLLAGE 60 Hypolita St., 829-0055 Collage offers high-end dining with a global menu. Everything’s made from scratch. A specialty dessert, The Bougainvillea, commemorates the Brazilian tree. Extensive wine list. • $$$$ BW D Nightly

THE BUNNERY BAKERY & CAFE 121 St. George St., 829-6166 In historic district. Homemade almond-chocolate croissants, assorted brownies and cookies, and pastries in addition to serving up full Southern breakfasts, sandwiches and espressos. • $ TO B L Daily

CANDLELIGHT SOUTH 1 Anastasia Blvd., 819-0588 The casual restaurant offers fish tacos, sandwiches, wings, desserts and sangria. Daily specials.• $ BW K TO L D Daily

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PIZZA PALACE in San Marco is more than just great pizza. It’s pizza and traditional Italian fare like lasagna, chicken piccata and more.

DIANE’S NATURAL MARKET 240 S.R. 312, 808-9978, dianesnaturalmarket.com The lunch counter in the health food store has everything madeto-order using organic ingredients. Sandwiches include avocado, peanut butter with honey, falafel, hummus, tofu salad and a veggie burger. Smoothies and fresh juices also available. • $$ TO L Mon.-Sat. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL 965 S.R. 16, Ste. 101, 825-4540 4010 U.S. 1 S., 547-2669 2015 BOJ winner See Northside. DONOVAN’S IRISH PUB 7440 U.S. 1 N., Ste. 108, 829-0000, donovansirishpub.com This spot features a mix of classic Irish entrées and traditional American dinners, as well as appetizers and pub grub. Irish

FRATELLI’S ITALIAN AMERICAN CUISINE 415 Anastasia Blvd., Anastasia Island, 819-1760 The neighborhood place with a cozy atmosphere has ItalianAmerican specialties, meat lasagna, veal parmigiana, almondcrusted salmon and chicken Verona. • $$ BW TO D Mon.-Sat. FUSION POINT 237 San Marco Ave., 823-1444 The theme is Japanese, the menu is fusion, a blend of Far East favorites, vegetarian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Thai. Sushi. • $$ BW TO D Nightly GEORGIE’S DINER 100 Malaga St., 819-9006 Homestyle fare, Greek specialties from owner George Chryssaidis. Outdoor seating available. • $$ BW B L D Daily GYPSY CAB COMPANY 828 Anastasia Blvd., 824-8244 A mainstay for 25 years, Gypsy’s menu changes twice daily. The signature dish is Gypsy chicken; there’s seafood, tofu, duck, veal. Sunday brunch. • $$ FB R Sun.; L D Daily HAZEL’S HOT DOGS 2400 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd., 824-8484 Named for the owners’ Chihuahua, Hazel’s offers a variety of wieners and all the embellishments from its modest digs west of downtown. • $ K TO L D Daily

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HOT SHOT BAKERY & CAFE 8 Granada St., 824-7898, hotshotbakery.com Hot Shot offers freshly baked items, coffees and handcrafted breakfast and lunch sandwiches as well as Datil B. Good sauces and pepper products. • $ TO B L Daily HURRICANE PATTY’S AT OYSTER CREEK 69 Lewis Blvd., 827-1822 At Oyster Creek Marina east of U.S. 1, this spot has a large creekfront deck, lunch specials and all-you-can-eat dinners. Daily HH , and dock space is available for boaters. Live music is presented nightly. • $$ FB L D Daily THE HYPPO 15 Hypolita St., 217-7853 1765 Tree Blvd., Ste. 5, 342-7816 This popular spot offers popsicles of unexpected flavors, created with premium ingredients, as well as coffee pour-overs and cold-brew coffees. Fresh handcrafted sandwiches, salads. The Hypolita site offers popsicles only. • $ TO Daily THE ICE PLANT 110 Riberia St., 829-6553 2015 Best of Jax winner This vintage-inspired place (a former ice plant, obvee) in the historic area. The farm-to-table menu uses locally sourced ingredients; drinks are hand-crafted with house-made bitters and syrups. • $$$ FB D Nightly JACK’S BBQ 691 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 460-8100 This place has lured regulars and locals for more than six decades. A real pit barbecue, tiki bar, large wood deck, stage, a small swimming pool. Live music Thur.-Sat. • $ FB TO L D Daily THE KING’S HEAD BRITISH PUB 6460 U.S. 1 N., 823-9787, kingsheadbritishpub.com Owner Ann Dyke and staff serve British draught beers and cider in 20-ounce Imperial pints in an authentic pub, along with Cornish pasties, and fish and chips. Look for the red double-decker bus in front. • $$ FB K L D Daily LE PAVILLON 45 San Marco Ave., 824-6202 One of the oldest restaurants around, Le Pavillon is family-owned and operated. Gisele Sinatsch recommends rack of lamb and bouillabaisse. Norwegian salmon, duck, Dover sole. • $$ FB D Nightly LITTLE MARGIE’S FA CAFÉ 303 A1A Beach Blvd., 471-2006, littlemargiesfacafe.com “FA” is short for First Access; the beachy café is north of the County Pier, directly across from the first beach access to St. Augustine Beach. The tiny kitchen cranks out daily specials, like jerk fish and mango wrap. • $ BW K L D Tue.-Sun. LULI’S CUPCAKES 82 San Marco Ave., Ste. 2, 824-5280 The cupcakes, baked fresh daily, include Grandma’s Coconut, Fire Engine Red Velvet, What’s Up Doc (carrot cake), Funky Monkey, banana and chocolate chip cake with milk chocolate frosting. Minicupcakes available. • $ TO Mon.-Sat. MANATEE CAFÉ 525 S.R. 16, Ste. 106, 826-0210 Organic, vegetarian/vegan meals. Owner/chef Cheryl Crosley prepares veggie omelets, tofu Reubens, miso and hummus and tabouli. The Health Food Market offers the same ingredients used in the café’s dishes. • $ TO B L Daily MARDI GRAS SPORTS BAR 123 San Marco Ave., 347-3288, mardibar.com This place offers wings, nachos, shrimp, chicken, Phillys, sliders, soft pretzels and more. There’s billiards, trivia, 23 TVs, an outdoor deck and the kitchen’s open till midnight. Live music.• $$ FB TO L D Daily MEEHAN’S IRISH PUB & SEAFOOD HOUSE 20 Avenida Menendez, 810-1923, meehansirishpub.com This pub offers burgers, traditional pub fare, seafood and a raw bar, along with signature dishes including steak O’Shay’s, Dubliner chicken and Irish Benedict. • $$$ FB K Daily MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS 410 Anastasia Blvd., 826-4040 Bite Club certified 2015 Best of Jax winner See Beaches. METRO DINER 1000 S. Ponce de Leon Blvd., 758-3323 2015 Best of Jax winner. Now serving dinner nightly. See San Marco. MOJO OLD CITY BBQ 5 Cordova St., 342-5264, mojobbq.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Whiskey bar offers pulled pork, Carolina-style barbecue, Delta fried catfish. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily MOJO’S TACOS 551 Anastasia Blvd., Anastasia Island, 829-1665 The family-owned spot has double-decker tacos, big, tasty burritos and fresh salads. Cash only. • $ BW TO L D Daily NED’S SOUTHSIDE KITCHEN 2450 U.S. 1 S., 794-2088, nedssouthside.com Mediterranean dishes, tacos, meat loaf, shrimp and grits, vegetarian options. Drive-thru. • $ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. NEW YORK PIZZA COMPANY 163 Palencia Village Dr., 825-4545 All authentic New York-style pizzas are hand-tossed, made with specially spiced tomato sauce, and baked in a stone oven. Other items include cheesy calzones, pasta dishes, hot hero sandwiches and desserts. Delivery available. • $ BW TO L D Daily OASIS RESTAURANT & DECK 4000 A1A and Ocean Trace Rd., 471-3424 Just a block from the ocean. The menu includes burgers and daily specials. 24 draft beers, and a HH Mon.-Fri. Live music, TVs. • $ FB K B L D Daily

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URBAN BEAN COFFEHOUSE CAFÉ in Orange Park has all the coffee and tea you can drink plus an approachable vibe and a menu featuring fresh, local goodies. OLD CITY HOUSE INN & RESTAURANT 115 Cordova St., 826-0184 St. Augustine’s only Historic Inn with a full-service restaurant, bar. Global cuisine influences are evident in everything. • $$$$ FB B L D Mon.-Sat. ONE TWENTY THREE BURGER HOUSE 123 King St., 687-2790 The new spot, opened by the owners of Carmelo’s Pizza down the street, has premium burgers, made with beef sourced from renowned NYC butcher Schweid & Sons. Wood-fired pizzas and an ice cream bar turning out Old World milkshakes, too. Outdoor dining. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily THE ORIGINAL CAFÉ ELEVEN 501 A1A Beach Blvd., 460-9311, originalcafe11.com The former convenience store serves coffee drinks, vegetarian meals and meaty Southern comfort dishes. At night, it features some of the best bands in indie rock. Just a block from the beach, Café Eleven serves breakfast (brunch on weekends). • $ FB B L D Daily PACIFIC ASIAN BISTRO 159 Palencia Village Dr., Ste. 111, 808-1818 Fresh, artfully crafted sushi, sashimi, classic rolls. Best Chef Mas Liu creates sushi – Crazy Girl (shrimp tempura, asparagus, salmon); Mango Tango (salmon, crab, tuna, flying fish egg, mango sauce). Traditional dishes, sake. • $$-$$$ BW L D Daily PANAMA HATTIE’S 361 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 471-2192 Across A1A from the St. Johns County pier, this restaurant serves casual beach fare in a Key West-style atmosphere. Live bands are featured. Dine inside or out on the ocean-view deck upstairs. Bar’s open till 2 a.m. • $ FB L D Daily PIZZALLEY’S 117 St. George St., 825-2627 The eatery has wings, salads and pizza – including free samples to passersby. There’s a Garbage Can pizza: a supreme with everything. Outdoor patio seating. • $$ BW TO L D Daily PIZZALLEY’S CHIANTI ROOM 60 Charlotte St., 825-4100 Sister to the St. George site; serves homemade Italian ristorante fare in a Tuscany setting. Live music is presented Mon.-Fri. • $$ BW TO L D Daily PLANET SARBEZ! 115 Anastasia Blvd., 342-0632, planetsarbez.com Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, craft beers in a funky chill alt atmosphere. Live music. • $$ BW K TO L D Tue.-Sun. THE PRESENT MOMENT CAFÉ 224 W. King St., 827-4499 Serves organic, vegan and vegetarian dishes, pizza, pastas, hummus and milkshakes made without meat, dairy, wheat or an oven. Organic beer and wine. • $$ BW TO B L D Mon.-Sat. PURPLE OLIVE INTERNATIONAL BISTRO 4255 A1A S., Ste. 6, St. Augustine Beach, 461-1250 The family-owned-and-operated restaurant’s dinner menu has local seafood, prime cuts of beef, lamb, pork, vegetarian choices, local produce, and an option to create your own plate. • $$$ BW D Tue.-Sat. RAINTREE RESTAURANT 102 San Marco Ave., 824-7211 In an 1879 Victorian home for more than 33 years, this place specializes in favorites like steak and seafood. HH. Reservations accepted; outdoor patio dining. Live music. • $$$ FB D Nightly RED FROG & McTOAD’S GRUB-N-PUB 5545 A1A S., 814-8430, redfrogandmctoads.com This casual spot offers award-winning chowder, seafood, chicken, pasta and sandwiches. • $$ FB K TO B L D Daily RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT 106 St. George St., 824-1090 200-plus varieties from around the world, and a rotating draft selection. Pair one with a hot or cold deli sandwich. Phone ahead for takeout. The kitchen’s open for late lunch during the week, till 2 a.m. Fri. and Sat. • $$ BW TO L D Daily SALT LIFE FOOD SHACK 321 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 217-3256, saltlifefoodshack.com See Beaches.

SALTWATER COWBOYS 299 Dondanville Rd., St. Augustine Beach, 471-2332 This popular landmark restaurant, which serves tourists and locals in a turn-of-the-century fish camp surrounded by saltwater marshes, is always packed. Local seafood, barbecue, ribs and chicken. • $$ BW D Nightly SANGRIAS TAPAS & PIANO BAR 35 Hypolita St., Ste. 201, 827-1947 The historic building’s balcony overlooks busy St. George Street – it’s an ideal place to spend the afternoon sipping one of seven signature (and individually prepared) sangrias. Spanish-style tapas served. Live music. • $$ BW L D Daily STIR IT UP 18 A St., St. Augustine Beach, 461-4552 Reggae-named fresh sandwiches, wraps, smoothies served by the sea. Burrita Marley (hummus, avocado burrito) or Pita Tosh (turkey, hummus, sprouts). • $ K TO L Daily; D Thur.-Sat. SUMO SUSHI 107 Nature Walk Pkwy., 230-1999 See Riverside. SUNSET GRILLE 421 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 471-5555 This Key West-style restaurant serves fresh local seafood, steaks and sandwiches inside or at open-air counters. Celebrating 20-plus years, Sunset Grille has a new deck. • $$$ FB K TO L D Daily TANK’S SUSHI BISTRO 46 Tuscan Way, Stes. 302 & 303, 940-8799, tankssushibistro.com Japanese cuisine made New York City style. Hibachi fare is also served. And the sushi is authentic Japanese-style. • $$ BW Sake K TO L D Daily THE TASTING ROOM, WINE & TAPAS 25 Cuna St., 810-2400 This upscale contemporary Spanish restaurant fuses innovative tapas with an extensive wine list. Owned by Michael Lugo, The Tasting Room features live music nightly. • $$$ BW L Tue.-Sun., D Nightly TEMPO 16 Cathedral Place, 342-0286 Fusion restaurant specializes in healthful American fare with a Latin flair. Live music. • $$ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun. TERRA & ACQUA 134 Seagrove Main St., 429-9647, terraacquarestaurant.com This pizzeria means casual modern Italian dining. Chef/ owner Simone Parisi creates innovative dishes with authentic ingredients. • $$ FB TO L D Mon.-Sat. THEO’S RESTAURANT 169 King St., 824-5022 On the banks of San Sebastian River. A popular haunt for locals and tourists alike. Favorites include seafood and Greek dishes; the hearty breakfast is popular. • $ B L Daily VILLAGIO ITALIAN GRILLE 500 S. Legacy Trail, 940-8623 Inside The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort, Villagio specializes in farm to fork Italian fare using fresh, local ingredients in each handcrafted dish infused with fresh flavors, local fish and produce grown hydroponically at their farm. Live music. • $$$ FB K TO B L D Daily WILDFLOWER CAFÉ 4320 A1A S., St. Augustine Beach, 471-2691 One block from the beach, the Provençal-style cafe’s signature dishes are Wildflower grouper – sautéed, with blue crab meat and toasted almonds. • $ BW K B L Tue.-Sat. YOGURT MOTION 163 Palencia Village, Ste. 102, 610-2220 This spot offers a healthful, nutritional cool treat in a nondairy frozen yogurt (with no table sugar, lactose, chemicals or preservatives) in a variety of flavors. • $ TO Daily

ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER

BAHAMA BREEZE 10205 River Coast Dr., 646-1031 Bahama Breeze offers Caribbean-inspired cuisine and tropical drinks in an island atmosphere. Menu items include lobster quesadillas, West Indies beef patties and Creole baked goat cheese. • $$$ FB K TO L D Daily BENTO CAFE PAN ASIAN & SUSHI 4860 Big Island Dr., 564-9494 Casual dining at a quick pace is the Bento way, serving sushi and Pan-Asian cuisine, as well as vegan items. Sake; outdoor dining. • $$ BW TO L D Daily BLACKFINN AMERICAN GRILLE 4840 Big Island Dr., 345-3466 With four dining rooms, BlackFinn offers classic American fare: beef, seafood, pasta and flatbread sandwiches. Dine indoors or on the patio. • $$$ FB K R L D Daily BRIO TUSCAN GRILLE 4910 Big Island Dr., 807-9960 This upscale Northern Italian restaurant offers wood-grilled and oven-roasted steaks, chops and seafood. Dine indoors or al fresco on the terrace. Private dining available. • $$$ FB K TO R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily

WASABI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR 10206 River Coast Dr., 997-6528 2015 Best of Jax winner Wasabi serves authentic Japanese cuisine and stages teppanyaki shows. Full sushi menu is served. • $ K L D Daily ZOËS KITCHEN 4624 Town Crossing Dr., Ste. 149, 641-2130 See Ponte Vedra.

genesseafood.com A Jacksonville landmark, Gene’s menu includes gator tail, calamari and Cajun shrimp. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily JENKINS QUALITY BARBECUE 2025 Emerson St., Lakewood, 346-3770 Closed Sundays. See Downtown.

SAN JOSE, LAKEWOOD, UNIVERSITY WEST

MOJO BAR-B-QUE 1607 University Blvd. W., 732-7200, mojobbq.com 2015 Best of Jax winner This funky Southern kitchen offers pulled pork and Carolina-style barbecue along with chicken-fried steak and Delta fried catfish. A full bottled beer selection is available. • $$ FB K TO B L D Daily

DICK’S WINGS & GRILL 1610 University Blvd. W., Lakewood, 448-2110 2015 Best of Jax winner See Northside.

SONNY’S REAL PIT BAR-B-Q 5097 University Blvd. W., 737-4906 See Orange Park.

CRUISERS GRILL 5613 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 1, San Jose, 737-2874 2015 Best of Jax winner See Beaches.

FUSION SUSHI 1550 University Blvd. W., Lakewood, 636-8688 New upscale sushi spot serves a wide variety of fresh sushi, sashimi, hibachi, teriyaki and kiatsu. • $$ K L D Daily GENE’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 1571 University Blvd W., Lakewood, 448-9888,

TIJUANA FLATS 5635 San Jose Blvd., 371-7884 See Baymeadows.

SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK, ST. NICHOLAS

(All venues are in San Marco unless otherwise noted.) ALLURE THAI BISTRO & BAR 1004 Hendricks Ave., 674-0190

New name, new menu but still Thai. Allure serves fresh sushi and authentic Thai cuisine, including ginger-infused salad, classic Pad Thai, all curry dishes, ebi roll, sashimi and daily specials. Craft cocktails. • $$ FB L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. bb’s RESTAURANT & BAR 1019 Hendricks Ave., 306-0100 There’s sophistication to spare, from the ever-changing selection of fine cheeses to the coffee bean carefully placed in each espresso martini. • $$$ FB R L D Mon.-Sat. BEACH DINER 1965 San Marco Blvd., 399-1306 See Beaches. BEACH ROAD CHICKEN DINNERS 4132 Atlantic Blvd., St. Nicholas, 398-7980 Just like Sunday dinner at home – if your family could cook fried chicken, okra, sweet corn nuggets, country-fried steak, gizzards and chicken livers. And creamed peas, gravy, cole slaw, biscuits, fruit cobbler, fries, rice … Beach Road does it all. At the same location since 1939, the multiple awardwinner also offers fish and shrimp. • $ K TO L D Tue.-Sun. BISTRO AIX 1440 San Marco Blvd., 398-1949 Bistro Aix serves French- and Mediterranean-inspired fare in

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN 4712 River City Dr., Ste. 105, 421-0179 This upscale yet casual spot offers innovative Cali-inspired dishes, pizzas, salads and sandwiches. Curbside pickup; free valet service with orders $20 or more. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily CANTINA LAREDO 10282 Bistro Dr., 997-6110 Authentic Mexican dishes are served in a sophisticated atmosphere. The daily fish specials, grilled chicken and steaks are complimented by signature sauces like chipotlewine with portobello mushrooms or sautéed artichoke hearts and roasted red bell peppers. • $$ FB K R L D Daily THE CAPITAL GRILLE 5197 Big Island Dr., 997-9233 The Capital Grille serves dry-aged, hand-carved steaks and fresh seafood, in dishes made from local, seasonal ingredients. An extensive, award-winning wine list has 350 Old and New World wines; 25 wines by the glass. • $$ FB K TO L Mon.-Fri.; D Nightly MAGGIANO’S LITTLE ITALY 10367 Midtown Pkwy., 380-4360, maggianos.com Italian-American cuisine, this upscale restaurant features classic and contemporary dishes – pasta, steaks, seafood, chef’s specials and specialty desserts – made in a scratch kitchen. • $$$ FB K TO L D Daily MIMI’S CAFE 10209 River Coast Dr., 620-0660 Signature quiches, salads, sandwiches, chicken pot pie, beef bourguignon and roasted turkey breast are served in a French cottage-themed spot. • $ FB K TO B L D Daily MITCHELL’S FISH MARKET 5205 Big Island Dr., 645-3474 The ever-changing menu (it’s printed twice daily) has more than 180 fresh items, featuring cedar-roasted Atlantic salmon, kung pao calamari and seared rare salt-and-pepper tuna. • $$$ FB K TO L D Daily MOXIE KITCHEN + COCKTAILS 4972 Big Island Dr., 998-9744 2015 Best of Jax winner Chef Tom Gray’s latest venue features innovative contemporary American cuisine – seafood, steaks, pork, burgers, salads, sides and desserts – using locally sourced ingredients when possible. • $$$ FB K L Mon.-Fri.; D Nightly M SHACK 10281 Midtown Pkwy., 642-5000 2015 BOJ winner See Beaches. OVINTE 10208 Buckhead Branch Dr., 900-7730 2015 Best of Jax winner The comfortable, chic place has tapas and small plate items made with Spanish and Italian flavors, like ceviche fresco, pappardelle bolognese and lobster ravioli. 240-bottle wine list, 75 by the glass; craft spirits. Outdoor dining, and a bocce court, too. • $$ FB R, Sun.; D Nightly P.F. CHANG’S 10281 Midtown Parkway, Ste. 137, 641-3392 The popular chain restaurant has traditional chicken, pork and beef dishes, plus vegetarian plates and gluten-free selections. • $$ FB K L D Daily SEASONS 52 5096 Big Island Dr., 645-5252 This casual, sophisticated fresh grill and wine bar offers a seasonally changing menu and an award-winning international wine list. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily SWEET BY HOLLY 4624 Town Crossing Blvd., Ste. 137, 564-2711 2015 Best of Jax winner Hollis Wilder, a winner on Food Networks Cupcake Wars, offers 30 flavors of cupcakes made from scratch daily, plus 12 flavors of frozen yogurt with 48 toppings. • $ TO Daily TED’S MONTANA GRILL 10281 Midtown Parkway, 998-0010, tedsmontanagrill.com Modern classic comfort food: fine cuts of bison: signature steaks, award-winning gourmet burgers served in a sophisticated atmosphere. Chef-inspired items include crab cakes, cedar-plank salmon, vegetables, desserts. Private label Bison Ridge wines are served. • $$$ FB K TO L D Daily

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an urban-chic atmosphere. The menu changes seasonally, the wine list has 250-plus choices. HH Mon.-Fri. • $$$ FB L D Daily BONO’S PIT BAR-B-Q 4907 Beach Blvd., 398-4248 See Northside. CHART HOUSE 1501 River Place Blvd., Southbank, 398-3353 Located on the Southbank of the St. Johns River since 1982, this upscale waterfront restaurant serves fresh fish, seafood and prime rib. • $$$$ FB K TO D Nightly EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ 1704 San Marco Blvd., 398-9500 2015 Best of Jax winner See Beaches. THE FRENCH PANTRY 6301 Powers Ave., 730-8696 This bakery is a cut above, with freshly made pastries, sandwiches and salads, with a European flair. There’s usually a line out the door, so bring your patience. • $$ L Mon.-Thur. FUJI SUSHI 1950 San Marco Blvd., 399-3305 Right on San Marco Square, Fuji Sushi is under new management with an all-new sushi menu. Sake is served. A sushi lunch is special is offered daily. • $ BW K L D Daily GREEN ERTH BISTRO 1520 Hendricks Ave., 398-9156, green-erth-bistro.com Green Erth serves Cali-inspired fare – vegan and vegetarian – made with natural, organic ingredients, including breakfast items, big salads, soups, paninis, sandwiches, hot dishes and desserts. Organic teas, coffees and juices and Intuition Ale Works brews. • $$ BW L Mon.-Fri.; D Tue.-Sat. THE GROTTO WINE & TAPAS BAR 2012 San Marco Blvd., 398-0726 Serving a varied tapas menu of artisanal cheese plates, empanadas, bruschettas and homestyle cheesecake, this upscale wine bar features a list with more than 60 wines by the glass. • $$$ BW Tue.-Sun. HAMBURGER MARY’S BAR & GRILLE 3333 Beach Blvd., 551-2048, hamburgermarys.com 2015 Best of Jax winner Wings, sammies, nachos, entrées, burgers, fun. • $$ K TO FB L D Daily HAVANA-JAX CAFE/CUBA LIBRE BAR 2578 Atlantic Blvd., St. Nicholas, 399-0609 Bite Club certified The Cuban sandwiches served in this clean, bright café are the real thing: big, thick, flattened. Traditional Cuban fare like black beans and rice, plantains, steaks, seafood, chicken and rice, and roast pork. Spanish wine and Cuban drink specials, mojitos and Cuba libres. HH all day, every day. • $ FB K L D Daily HIGHTIDE BURRITO COMPANY 1538 Hendricks Ave., 683-7396 Locally-owned-and-operated by Alejandro Juarez, this casual Mexican place offers homemade salsas, marinades and tortillas. Beef, pork, fish or cactus are served in burritos, tacos, salads or tortas. • $ FB K L D Daily HON KOREAN RESTAURANT 5161 Beach Blvd., Ste. 5, St. Nicholas, 396-4008 Hon serves home-style Korean, focusing on healthy soups, casseroles, entrées and side dishes, all made with fresh meats, vegetables and seafood. The chef has more than 30 years of experience dishing out authentic Korean meals, using original methods passed down through her family. • $$$ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun. INDOCHINE 1974 San Marco Blvd., 503-7013, indochinejax.com 2015 Best of Jax winner See Downtown. KITCHEN ON SAN MARCO 1402 San Marco Blvd., 396-2344, kitchenonsanmarco.com 2015 Best of Jax winner This popular new gastropub has local and national craft beers, specialty cocktails and a seasonal menu focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and cuisine. Now serving Sunday brunch. $$ FB L D Daily LA NOPALERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 1629 Hendricks Ave., 399-1768 2015 Best of Jax winner See Mandarin. MATTHEW’S 2107 Hendricks Ave., 396-9922 This is Chef Matthew Medure’s flagship place, fine dining in a refined, European-style atmosphere. Matthew’s specializes in artfully presented cuisine, and the lounge offers small plates, an extensive martini and wine list and a HH Mon.-Fri. Reservations recommended. • $$$$ FB D Mon.-Sat. METRO DINER 3302 Hendricks Ave., 398-3701 2015 Best of Jax winner The original upscale diner is located in a historic 1930s-era building amid San Marco’s residential district, and there are several other locations. All serve meatloaf, chicken pot pie and homemade soups. This location is now serving dinner nightly. • $$ B R L Daily MI VERACRUZ MEXICAN RESTAURANT 3109 Spring Park Rd., 396-2626 Authentic Mexican fare is served, for dine in or take out. Margaritas are featured. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily

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THE MUDVILLE GRILLE 3105 Beach Blvd., St. Nicholas Plaza, 398-4326, themudvillegrille.com

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This original St. Nicholas location and its sister restaurants are family-oriented sports spots serving steaks and wings. Trivia is featured every Thur., Karaoke every Fri. and Texas Hold ’Em every Wed. There are big-screen TVs and three satellite dishes for sports fans. The adjacent Music Room features live music every weekend. • $ FB K L D Daily THE OLIVE TREE MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 1705 Hendricks Ave., 396-2250 Mediterranean homestyle healthy plates, including hummus, tabouleh, grape leaves, veggie kibbi, gyros, potato salad, Greek salad and more. • $$ BW L D Mon.-Fri. PIZZA PALACE 1959 San Marco Blvd., 399-8815, pizzapalacejax.com The relaxed, family-owned restaurant serves homestyle cuisine. Local faves include spinach pizza and chicken spinach calzones. Ravioli, lasagna and parmigiana. Outside dining, HD TVs. • $$ BW K TO L D Daily PLAYERS GRILLE 4456 Hendricks Ave., 448-6670 The sports bar serves burgers and wings, teriyaki stir fry and homemade soups. A kids’ game room is open (TV monitored, so parents can watch), and TVs in all booths. Texas Hold ’Em Wed., Thur., Sat. & Sun. • $$ FB K R L D Daily PULP 1962 San Marco Blvd., 396-9222 The juice bar offers fresh juices, frozen yogurt, teas, and coffees made one cup at a time, along with 30 kinds of smoothies. Some are blended with flavored soy milks and organic frozen yogurts and granola. • $ TO B L D Daily RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY 835 Museum Circle, Southbank, 398-2299 Situated on the Southbank Riverwalk overlooking the St. Johns River and popular with the downtown business set, River City offers fresh seafood, steaks and daily chef’s creations. Nosh in the enclosed dining room or out on the marina dining deck. • $$ FB R L D Mon.-Sat. RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 1201 Riverplace Blvd., Southbank, 396-6200, ruthschris.com 2015 Best of Jax winner A consistent Best of Jax winner for Best Steaks, Ruth’s Chris serves Midwestern custom-aged U.S. prime beef, cooked in 1,800-degree broilers. Fresh seafood, live Maine lobster and an extensive selection of wines are also on the menu. Reservations suggested. • $$$$ FB D Nightly SAN MARCO THEATRE 1996 San Marco Blvd., 396-4845 The historic movie house offers pizza, nachos, quesadillas, sandwiches, and beer and wine. The theater shows fi rst-run films. • $ BW D Nightly SOUTHERN CHARM 3566 St. Augustine Rd., 398-9206 Chef Art Jennette runs the show here (the former Checker BBQ), serving up all manner of barbecue, seafood and downhome comfort food. Ask for the Trailer Trash Special, which features a pulled-pork sandwich, 15 of Art’s fried white shrimp, hand-cut fries and fresh fried green tomatoes. • $ K L D Daily TAVERNA 1986 San Marco Blvd., 398-3005 Chef Sam Efron serves authentic Italian made with local produce and meats. Craft beers, craft cocktails. Tapas, smallplate items, Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas, homestyle pastas and entrées are served in a rustic yet upscale interior. • $$$ FB K TO R L D Daily TIDBITS RESTAURANT 1076 Hendricks Ave., 396-0528, tidbitsfood.com For more than 25 years, Clara’s Tidbits has specialized in good food served in a friendly atmosphere, including popular lunch items like chicken salad and unique avocado sandwiches. Delivery available. • $ TO L Mon.-Fri. TOSCANA LITTLE ITALY 4440 Hendricks Ave., 900-1059 The 150-seat restaurant features Tuscan yellow walls, cherry wood tables and chairs, and tile floors. The extensive menu includes traditional Italian dishes. • $$ FB TO L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. VINO’S PIZZA & GRILL 1430 San Marco Blvd., 683-2444 Hand-tossed New York-style, thin-crust pizzas, and Sicilianstyle, thick-crust pizzas. Baked dishes, subs, stromboli, wings and wraps, daily lunch buffet. • $$ K L D Daily V PIZZA 1406 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, 527-1511, vpizza.com V Pizza offers true Neapolitana pizzas with the freshest ingredients. They claim a 55-second cook time – put them to the test.• $$ FB L D Daily WINE CELLAR 1314 Prudential Dr., Southbank, 398-8989 This Jacksonville landmark offers classic Continental and New World cuisine in an Old World setting. Dine outdoors under majestic oaks or indoors in intimate dining rooms. • $$$$ FB L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat.

SOUTHSIDE

AKEL’S DELICATESSEN 7077 Bonneval Rd., 332-8700 See Downtown. ALHAMBRA THEATRE & DINING 12000 Beach Blvd., 641-1212, alhambrajax.com The nation’s longest continuously running dinner theater (now in its 49th year), the renovated Alhambra features cuisine

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Sour beers are bursting on the scene in a big way

PUCKER UP THE POWER OF SOUR IS UNDENIABLE. For centuries, breweries have been making sour beers that range from mildly tart to toe-curling, tooth-enamel-eating sour. Sour beers that go by names like gose (pronounced go-zah), lambic, Berliner Weiss and more are experiencing a surge in popularity rivaled only by the IPA craze of the past few years. And, with the hot, humid summer months coming, you’re sure to see more and more of these thirst-quenching beers on local shelves. Why do we have such a craving for sour things? It all traces back to biology. Sour tastes are generally associated with acids found in relatively few places when it comes to food. Acids in vitamin C are key to holding off a number of deadly conditions — like scurvy — and also help build our immune systems. Somewhere in our evolutionary history, we lost the ability to synthesize vitamin C, so we had to get it from our diets. It’s not just the street cred associated with chowing down on Warheads without flinching; our physiology drives us to seek out acidic foods like citrus. Before yeast was discovered in the late 1800s, most beers were at least a little sour. This was because brewers didn’t know the role of yeast, and beer was usually brewed using open-topped fermentation vessels. Wild yeast “infected” the sugary pre-beer liquid, or wort, and caused the magical process of fermentation to occur. Once the properties of yeast were understood, breweries began to control the amount of sour flavors in their beers. Some breweries, particularly those in Belgium, allowed their wort to “spontaneously ferment” by withholding yeast and allowing natural yeast to inoculate the liquid. From these breweries come such brews as gueuze, an intensely sour beer created from blending one-, two- and three-year-old lambic ales.

Other sour styles, such as German goze, are produced by adding yeast strains that imbue sour flavors to the finished beer. This style is also created by the addition of salt and coriander. Yet another style is Berliner Weiss, a German wheat beer made with lactobacillus bacteria and usually, but not always, served with flavored syrup. Another sour concoction is Flanders Red, named for the area of Belgium where it’s made, as well as for its color and sourness it gets from the red wine barrels in which it’s aged. Sour beers are emerging as a hot trend in craft beer today. You can look forward to more and more sour beer produced by craft brewers in the months and years ahead. Here are some sour beers you can find locally. LACTIC ZEPPELIN Brewed at Aardwolf Brewing Company, it’s a mildly sour Berliner Weiss with a bright citrus flavor. Enjoy this refresher along with the afternoon sea breeze on a hot summer day. KEY LIME BERLINER Green Room Brewing Company’s Berliner Weiss is like a trip to the Keys — you know, for the limes. It’s tart yet refreshing and only on tap as a seasonal brew, so get out to Jax Beach and try it while you can. RODENBACH GRAND CRU Aged for longer than most Flanders red ales, this classic Belgian sour brewed by Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V. is a blend of one-third young beer and two-thirds beer aged in oak for two years. It’s often referred to as the “red wine of beer.” Marc Wisdom marc@folioweekly.com MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 41

BEACH DINER has five locations, all providing a fabulous array of classic breakfast and lunch items prepared and served with their trademark spin. prepared by Executive Chef DeJuan Roy, who coordinates his menus with each stage production. Reservations are suggested. • $$ FB D Tue.-Sun. ALL AMERICAN HOT DOG 10365 Beach Blvd., 641-5794, allamericanhotdog.com This family-owned casual spot has been around since 1967, offering all-beef hot dogs served in toasted buns, dressed up with a variety of homestyle toppings, as well as steak pitas, burgers and subs. • $ K TO B L D Mon.-Sat.

DICK’S WINGS & GRILL 10750 Atlantic Blvd., 619-0954 2015 Best of Jax winner EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ 5500 Beach Blvd., (University & Emerson), 398-1717 2015 Best of Jax winner See Beaches.

BARBERITOS 4320 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., 807-9060 See Amelia Island.

FIVE GUYS FAMOUS BURGERS & FRIES 9039 Southside Blvd., 538-9100 2015 Best of Jax winner See Orange Park.

BAYARD CAFE 12525 Philips Hwy., Ste. 201, Bayard, 551-3026, bayardcafe.tripod.com This casual, family-owned restaurant serves homemade-style breakfast all day, as well as soups, awesome barbecue and daily specials. And the café now offers desserts, lattes and espressos. • $ K TO B L Daily

THE FLAME BROILER 9822 Tapestry Park Circle, Ste. 103, 619-2786 7159 Philips Hwy., 337-0007, flamebroilerusa.com Built on the concept of healthy, inexpensive fast food made with no transfats, MSG, frying, or skin on meat. Fresh veggies, steamed brown or white rice along with grilled beef, chicken and Korean short ribs. • $ K TO L D Mon.-Sat.

BISTRO 41° 3563 Philips Hwy., Ste. 104, 446-9738 Daily specials, burgers, salads, paninis, gyros, fresh homemade soups. • $ TO B L Mon.-Fri.

GREEK STREET CAFÉ 3546 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S., Ste. 106, 503-0620, greekstreetcafe.com Fresh, authentic and modern Greek cuisine made by Greek owners. Gyros, spanakopita, dolmades, falafel, salads, Greek nachos and more. • $$ BW K TO L D Mon.-Sat.

BONO’S PIT BAR-B-Q 10065 Skinner Lake Dr., JTB & Gate Parkway, 998-1997 10645 Philips Hwy., 886-2801 5711 Bowden Rd., 448-5395 See Northside. BRUCCI’S PIZZA, PASTA, PANINIS 7860 Gate Pkwy., 232-8373 See Intracoastal. BUCA DI BEPPO 10334 Southside Blvd., 363-9090 This popular chain gets to the heart of fresh Italian cooking with recipes like lasagna and rosemary potatoes. Dishes are available in three generous portion sizes (half-pound meatballs!) and served family-style in a whimsical, old-Italy setting. Gluten-free dishes. • $$$ FB K TO L D Daily BUFFALO WILD WINGS GRILL & BAR 10300 Southside Blvd., Ste. 2430A, 363-0410 See Orange Park. CHARLIE’S DINER 8929 Philips Hwy., 363-0990 The place is remodeled and has a new diner menu, featuring “country boy” style breakfast and lunch items. The morning side order selection is massive. Lunch includes big salads and specials, still focusing on favorites. • $ B L Mon.-Sat. THE CHATTY CRAB 9041 Southside Blvd., Ste. 138C, 888-0639, chattycrab. com Raw oysters, Nawlins-style Low Country Boil, Po’ Boys and 50-cent wing specials by Chef Dana Pollard. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily THE CORNER BISTRO & WINE BAR 9823 Tapestry Park Circle, Ste. 1, 619-1931 The Corner features casual fine dining, with a menu that blends modern American favorites served with international flair. A full bar is served featuring fine wine, cocktails and martinis. • $ FB L D Daily CRAZY SUSHI 4320 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., Ste. 202, 998-9797 This cozy getaway serves a full sushi bar as well as hibachi, sashimi, katsu, sake and tempura dishes. Favorites are the Dynamite roll, Cold roll and Manhattan roll. • $$ FB L D Daily DAVE & BUSTER’S 7025 Salisbury Rd. S. (I-95 & JTB), 296-1525, daveandbusters.com This 40,000-square-foot restaurant/entertainment complex includes a dining room for a quiet meal away from the games. But what fun is that? D&B’s Million Dollar Midway has the

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latest electronic interactive games and simulators as well as traditional favorites. • $$ FB K L D Daily

HALA CAFE & BAKERY 4323 University Blvd. S., 733-5141 This remodeled Jacksonville institution, serving since 1975, has homemade pita bread, hummus, kibbie, grape leaves, rider sandwiches, kabobs, falafel, tabouli and a daily lunch buffet. • $$ K TO L D Mon.-Sat. III FORKS PRIME STEAKHOUSE 9822 Tapestry Park Cir., Ste. 111, 928-9277, iiiforks.com III Forks offers a contemporary evolution of the classic steakhouse, updated and stylish with a savvy menu featuring USDA prime beef, seafood, distinctive wine and local favorites. More than 1,500 wines are available. Dine indoors or out on the patio. • $$$$ FB K D Mon.-Sat. JC HOMEMADE PASTRIES FILIPINO CUISINE & KARAOKE 12192 Beach Blvd., Ste. 3, 619-4303 Authentic Filipino fare, like halo-halo, smoothies, bobo tea, flan, cheesecake, lumpia, empanada and awesome apps. • $$ BW K TO B L D Tue.-Sun. JOHNNY ANGEL’S 3546 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S., Ste. 120, 997-9850 The diner, near University of North Florida, serves dishes that reflect its 50s-style décor, including Blueberry Hill pancakes, Fats Domino omelet and an Elvis special combo platter, as well as burgers and hand-dipped shakes. Live entertainment, trivia, monthly car shows. • $ BW K TO B L D Daily KYOTO STEAK & SUSHI HOUSE 8221 Southside Blvd., Ste. 16, 645-8788 Experienced sushi chefs, trained in Japan, offer traditional style fare and a full sushi bar in a family atmosphere. Plum wine and sake served. • $$ BW K L D Daily LARRY’S GIANT SUBS 3611 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S., 641-6499 4479 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., 425-4060 See Orange Park. LECI’S ITALIAN CAFE 4076 Belfort Rd., 332-8144 Everything here is made from scratch, with authentic Italian ingredients. Dine indoors or outside. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily LIME LEAF 9822 Tapestry Park Cir., Stes. 108 & 109, 645-8568 Lime Leaf offers definitive Thai cuisine, from fresh papaya salad to pad Thai to seared ahi tuna, as well as crispy duck, all elegantly presented. Desserts include mango sweet rice. Limited delivery is available. • $$ BW L D Mon.-Sat.

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BY BiTE BiTE r e s t a u r a

MAMMA LUCIA 11380 Beach Blvd., 645-0081 Near University of North Florida and owned by real Italians, Mamma Lucia serves definitive Northern Italian cuisine, like risotto, osso buco and the specialty dessert, bomba al cioccolato, cake with ice cream and Amaretto. The pasta and tiramisu are made fresh. Espresso is served. • $$ BW K TO L D Tue.-Sun. MARIANAS GRINDS 11380 Beach Blvd., Ste. 10, 206-612-6596 This new place offers Pacific Islander fare with an emphasis on the chamorro culture. Soups and stews like fitada, beef oxtail and katden pika, plus spicy empanadas, lumpia and fave chicken relaguen. There’s BBQ style ribs and chicken, too. • $$ TO B L D Tue.-Sun. MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS 9734 Deer Lake Court, Ste. 1, 997-1955 Bite Club certified 2015 Best of Jax winner See Beaches. THE MELTING POT 7860 Gate Parkway, Ste. 101, 642-4900 Participatory dining is the thing at The Melting Pot, with a variety of fondues from chocolate to cheese and entrées ranging from filet mignon to ahi tuna. • $$ FB K D Nightly MIKEY’S PIZZA & ITALIAN RESTAURANT 7544 Beach Blvd., 721-7333, mikeys-pizzajax.com Family-owned 35-plus years. Fresh-made-to-order Old New York style thin-crust pizzas, pasta, chicken, seafood; Italian lunch buffet. Delivery within three miles. • $ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. MY DREAMS CUBAN CAFÉ 9938 Beach Blvd., 330-7455 The new place offers Cuban fare like rojas vieja, congri, plantains, tamales, Cuban sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches and more. • $$ B L D Mon.-Sat.

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bowls; fresh ingredients like fruits, vegetables, 100 percent natural chicken breast, sirloin, shrimp, tofu, nuts, cheeses, dressings, sauces, salsas, frozen yogurt. • $$ K L D Daily WORLD OF BEER 9700 Deer Lake Court, Ste. 1, 551-5929, worldofbeer.com Apps and bar food from, well, around the world: German pretzels, hummus, pickle chips, flatbreads. But it’s the beer: craft drafts from Germany, California, Florida (Bold City brews), Ireland, Belgium, Delaware. The bottled selection is vast and varied. Live music Thur.-Sat. • $$ BW L D Daily YOUR PIE 4828 Deer Lake Dr. W., 337-0155 See Fleming Island. YUMMY SUSHI 4372 Southside Blvd., 998-8806 Teriyaki, tempura, hibachi-style dinners to sushi and sashimi, as well as a variety of more than 30 specialty rolls. Lunch roll specials run Mon.-Fri. Sake is served. • $ BW L D Daily

SPRINGFIELD & NORTHSIDE

BOSTON’S RESTAURANT & SPORTSBAR 13070 City Station Dr., 751-7499 Bite Club certified Full-service place serves pizzas, pasta, wings, burgers and steak, till 2 a.m. (lunch has items for less than $7). 30 TVs (major sports packages); live music. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily CASA MARIA 12961 N. Main St., Ste. 104, 757-6411 See Beaches. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL 12400 Yellow Bluff Rd., Ste. 101, 619-9828, dickswing sandgrill.com 2015 Best of Jax winner The NASCARthemed restaurant serves 365 varieties of wings and halfpound burgers, ribs and salads. • $ FB K TO L D Daily EL POTRO 7200 Normandy Blvd., Ste. 12, 378-9822 See Beaches.

OTAKI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 7860 Gate Pkwy., Stes. 119-122, 854-0485 Otaki features a sushi bar, hibachi grill tables and an open kitchen. • $$$ FB K TO L D Daily

HOLA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 1001 N. Main St., 356-3100, holamexicanrestaurant.com Authentic Mexican fare: fajitas, burritos, specials, enchiladas. HH; sangria. • $ BW K TO L D Mon.-Sat.

PISCO’S RESTAURANT 4131 Southside Blvd., Ste. 101, 646-3888 This Peruvian restaurant offers ceviche, jalea, lomo and pollo saltado, arroz con marisco, Inca Cola and Peruvian wines. • $$$ BW K L D Daily

JENKINS QUALITY BARBECUE 5945 New Kings Rd., 765-8515 See Downtown.

SAHARA CAFE & BAR 10771 Beach Blvd., Ste. 110, 338-9049 From tiled floors to the pillowed lounge area, the familyowned-and-operated restaurant exudes Mediterranean style. Flavored hookahs and hot tea are offered in the lounge. Belly dancers perform every weekend. • $$ BW D Nightly

MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS Max Leggett Parkway Bite Club certified 2015 Best of Jax winner See Beaches.

SAKE SUSHI 8206 Philips Hwy., 647-6000 Sushi, hibachi, teriyaki, tempura, katsu, donburi and noodle soups are served. Popular rolls include Fuji Yama, Ocean Blue and Fat Boy. • $$ FB K L D Mon.-Sat. THE SECRET GARDEN CAFÉ 10095 Beach Blvd., Ste. 600, 645-0859, secretgardencafe. net This café serves homestyle breakfast and lunch in a gothic garden setting. Southern comfort menu items include eggs Benedict, Hot Mess, French toast, fried green tomatoes, meatloaf, burgers, and made-from-scratch desserts. Work by local artists is displayed. • $$ BW K TO B L Brunch Daily SEVEN BRIDGES GRILLE & BREWERY 9735 Gate Pkwy. N., 997-1999 This grill and brewery features a variety of made-from-scratch fare, including local seafood, steaks and pizzas. Brewer Aaron Nesbit handcrafts award-winning freshly brewed ales and lagers. Dine indoors or out; use of the pool tables is free until 4 p.m. Live entertainment is featured on Fri., weather permitting. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily SULTAN MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 11757 Beach Blvd., 379-0692 Savory, juicy kabobs, vegetarian hummus wraps, and all manner of healthful Mediterranean fare is available at this family friendly place. • $$ K TO L D Daily TAVERNA YAMAS 9753 Deer Lake Ct., 854-0426, tavernayamas.com Bite Club certified This lively Greek restaurant serves char-broiled kabobs, seafood and traditional Greek wines and desserts, and there are belly dancing shows. A DJ spins Fri. and Sat. A hookah lounge has a full bar and menu. Daily HH, drink specials; kids eat free Mondays. • $$ FB K TO L D Daily TILTED KILT PUB & EATERY 9720 Deer Lake Court, 379-8612, tiltedkilt.com This joint offers 40 big-screen TVs and pub fare – including wings, salmon and shepherd’s pie. And did we mention cute girls in kilts? Open for late night. • $$ FB L D Daily TOMMY’S BRICK OVEN PIZZA 4160 Southside Blvd., Ste. 2, 565-1999, tbopizza.com NY-style thin crust, brick-oven-cooked pizzas – gluten-free – and calzones, sandwiches made to order, with Thumann’s noMSG meats, Grande cheeses. Boylan’s soda. Curbside pick-up. Slices available for lunch. • $$ BW K TO L D Mon.-Sat.

LARRY’S GIANT SUBS 12001 Lem Turner Rd., 764-9999 See Orange Park.

MILLHOUSE STEAKHOUSE 1341 Airport Rd., 741-8722, millhousesteakhouse.com This locally-owned-and-operated steakhouse is a favorite among Northsiders, serving choice steaks from the signature broiler. The menu includes seafood, pasta dishes and Millhouse gorgonzola, plus homemade desserts. Live acoustic music is on Tue. and Fri. • $$$ FB K D Nightly MOLLY BROWNS PUB & GRILL 2467 Faye Rd., 683-5044, mollybrownspubandgrill.com American (traditional), brunch, burgers, diner fare, hot dogs, sandwiches, seafood, Southern and vegetarian dishes, plus fun. • $$ FB TO L D Daily NAGASAKI SUSHI & GRILL 12400 Yellow Bluff Rd., 751-2311 Japanese place has an authentic traditional menu, teriyaki and tempura dishes, hibachi, sushi and satsumi items. Bento boxes and lunch specials are also featured. • $$ L D Daily SANDOLLAR RESTAURANT 9716 Heckscher Dr., 251-2449, sandollarrestaurantjax.com Right on the banks of the St. Johns, Sandollar offers seafood, steaks, chicken and pasta. Dine inside or out on the deck featuring a panoramic view of the river. Seafood buffet every Wed. Live music. • $$ FB R Sun.; L D Daily SAVANNAH BISTRO 14670 Duval Rd., 741-4404 Low Country Southern fare, with Mediterranean and French inspiration, is offered in a relaxing atmosphere at Crowne Plaza Airport. Favorites include crab cakes, New York strip, she crab soup and mahi mahi. • $$$ FB K B L D Daily SONNY’S REAL PIT BAR-B-Q 10840 Harts Rd., 751-4225 See Orange Park. STICKY FINGERS 13150 City Station Dr., 309-7427 See Baymeadows. TAPAS OLD WORLD 1417 N. Main St., 615-4000 Authentic Spanish spot with a European flair; fresh food, homestyle desserts. Live music. • $$ BW K TO L D Mon.-Sat. UPTOWN KITCHEN & BAR 1303 Main St. N., 355-0734, uptownmarketjax.com Bite Club certified Fresh food created with the same élan that rules at Burrito Gallery. Innovative breakfast, lunch and dinner farm-to-table selections and creative daily specials. • $$ BW TO B L Daily

TOSSGREEN 4375 Southside Blvd., Ste. 12, 619-4356 The “fast-casual” place has custom salads, burritos, burrito

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FOLIO A+E : FILM Is it worth $10? OPOSDÍPOTE NAI!

MBFGW AS GOOD A SECOND

TIME AROUND W

Greek boyfriend. Toula also volunteers at the hat a nice, sweet and funny movie My school, helps run her family’s restaurant, and Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is, a deserving is trying to get her father to propose to her sequel to the phenomenally successfully mother (Lainie Kazan) after they learn their ($241 million gross on a $5 million budget) marriage certificate was never signed. Toula’s 2002 breakout hit. real problem, however, is that she’s neglecting For the Portokalos family, whom you grew her marriage, and Ian is noticing. to love in My Big Fat Greek Wedding and will love even more after this film, One of the nice things there is no difference, our about this sequel, which heroine Toula (Nia Vardalos) Vardalos wrote and Kirk MY BIG FAT says, “between hugging and Jones (What to Expect When GREEK WEDDING 2 suffocation.” To wit, the You’re Expecting) directed, ***@ entire family lives within a is that Vardalos knows these Rated PG-13 stone’s throw of each other in characters and the actors a Chicago suburb, blatantly playing them, so while writing, disregarding boundaries, she can cater a joke to an personal space and any sense of privacy actor’s strength. The chemistry and ease among whatsoever. In this family, everything is the cast are also delightful; it’s one thing to everyone’s business. have great material to work with, and another For Toula, this is par for the course. She’s to know how to deliver the joke just right. This still happily married to Ian (John Corbett), bunch knows how to get it just right. but their 17-year-old daughter Paris (Elena For example, Gus believes everything Kampouris) is tired of Grandpa Gus (Michael in life somehow emanated with the Greeks. Constantine) telling her she needs a nice “What about Facebook?” he’s asked.

A WAR FOR THE AGES

LIKE THE TIME MACHINE, H.G. WELLS’ WAR OF THE WORLDS (1897) has spawned two major feature fi lms and one bomb. In 2005, three years after the author’s great-grandson missed the mark entirely with his flashy but inert remake, Steven Spielberg brought his usual energy and imagination (and Tom Cruise) to form a reimagining of the story that preserved more of the original novel’s power and intent. That same year, there was a wretched straightto-video version with C. Thomas Howell that tried to capitalize on the Spielberg project, with predictable results. Unless one is a masochist, it’s best forgotten, like the miserable 1978 TV version of The Time Machine. An Oscar winner for special effects like The Time Machine seven years later, George Pal’s 1953 production of War of the Worlds updates the novel from 1890s Britain to 1950s California. Instead of war machines that look like giant tripods from the novel and Spielberg’s later fi lm, the Martians use flying machines that fi re devastating heat rays. Relying almost entirely on miniatures and creative visuals, the effects still look good today. But f/x is just the icing on the cake. The true core of any good fi lm lies in its screenplay and direction, both of which are often overlooked in evaluating the success of the fi rst film. Director Byron Haskin and British screenwriter Barré Lyndon brought excitement and suspense to their adaptation of the novel without sacrifi cing its author’s probing intelligence. The 1953 film is actually broader in scope and character than the later version. The film’s main

character, Dr. Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry), is a scientist whose expertise is needed to assist the military in its efforts to combat the invaders. Because this is a ’50s film, there’s naturally a sequence involving the atomic bomb – useless against the invaders, but effectively filmed. The supporting cast includes a love interest for Clayton (not in the novel) and a prominent role for a devout churchman (a clever change of a major character in the book). Two memorable scenes detail the first emergence of the Martian death ray and the entrapment of the hero and heroine in an abandoned house, surrounded by the aliens. The film’s treatment of the second sequence is even better than the book’s, and Spielberg wisely used that model for his own adaptation. War of the Worlds and The Time Machine might be producer Pal’s best sci-fi films, but his other contributions to the genre during the ’50s hold up remarkably well – the aforementioned Conquest of Space (with another script by Lyndon), Destination Moon, and When Worlds Collide. Spielberg has openly acknowledged his debt to Pal and other sci-fi film pioneers who inspired and enthralled him in his youth. In fact, a key scene in one of Spielberg’s most popular films (when E.T. puts his hand on Eliot’s shoulder) is a conscious rendition of a similar moment in War of the Worlds, when heroine Sylvia (Ann Robinson) is touched by

“Greeks invented Facebook — we call it the telephone.” It’s a silly, nonsensical statement, but because it’s delivered in such a lovable and wacky (yet to him, serious) way, we laugh because, well, that’s just Gus. You don’t have to see the original to appreciate the zaniness here, but it helps. The Windex jokes will make more sense, as will the quirky personalities of all involved. Best of all, though, is the realization that you missed these people, at least in part because they remind you of your own dysfunctional family. Perhaps My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 didn’t need to exist, but it does, and when you see it, you’ll be glad you did. Here’s a fun fact for you: After the success of the first film, there was a spinoff, My Big Fat Greek Life, that aired on CBS in 2003. It didn’t last long: Toula’s name was changed to Nia, Ian’s name was changed to Thomas (all other names stayed the same), and the show was canceled after seven episodes. Dan Hudak mail@folioweekly.com

MAGIC LANTERNS

a less-than-agreeable alien. Spielberg’s War is considerably darker (literally) than that, jettisoning religious motifs and the efforts of stalwart scientists and soldiers to focus on the efforts of an estranged father (Cruise) to save his two kids (Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin). Screenwriter David Koepp opts for a different kind of initial invasion – one that doesn’t make much sense but certainly looks impressive onscreen. In fact, everything about the production looks great, typical for any Spielberg fi lm. Cruise is predictably good, but 10-year-old Fanning all but steals the movie, another example of the director’s uncanny ability with children. For the film’s final scene, Steven Spielberg brought back Gene Barry and Ann Robinson in a brief but moving cameo as the children’s grandparents, bridging the 50-plus years between the two movies. It’s a classy tribute from one master to another.

Pat McLeod mail@folioweekly.com MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 45

FILM LISTINGS FILM RATINGS GEORGE **** JOHN **@@

RINGO ***@ PAUL *@@@

AREA SCREENINGS

SUN-RAY CINEMA 10 Cloverfield Lane and Batman versus Superman: Dawn of Justice screen. 1028 Park St., 5 Points, 359-0049, sunraycinema.com. Oceana presents Josh Fox, director of the 2011 Oscar-nominated, Emmy-winning documentary Gasland screening his new film, How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can’t Change, 6:30 p.m. April 6; as part of Fox’s tour, Let Go and Love; free admission; oceana.org. Hello, My Name Is Doris starts April 1. THE CORAZON CINEMA & CAFÉ Room and Suffragette screen at 36 Granada St., St. Augustine, 679-5736, corazoncinemaandcafe.com. Seve, The Movie and Sold start April 1. Dirty Dancing screens, noon and 6 p.m. March 31. The Wizard of Oz screens 11:30 a.m. April 2. IMAX THEATER Batman versus Superman: Dawn of Justice, Rocky Mountain Express and National Parks Adventure screen, World Golf Village HoF Theater, St. Johns, 940-4133, worldgolfimax.com.

NOW SHOWING

10 CLOVERFIELD LANE Rated PG-13 This scary sci-fi thriller sequel costars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Bradley Cooper, John Goodman and John Gallagher Jr. BATMAN VERSUS SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE Rated PG-13 This seems to us like the boys in Stand By Me arguing about who would win if Superman fought Mighty Mouse. Ben Affleck plays Batman, Henry Cavill is Superman, Amy Adams is Lois Lane, Jesse Eisenberg plays Lex Luthor and, in a nice twist, Laurence Fishburne is editor Perry White. Costars Diane Lane, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Gal Godot, Charlie Rose, as Charlie Rose, and Neil deGrasse Tyson as … Neil deGrasse Tyson. Genius casting! THE BRONZE Rated R Melissa Rauch (Big Bang Theory) plays Hope – an ex-Olympic medalist of a lower class of athlete than America usually enshrines. She’s more like Tonya Harding – and looks like ONJ as Sandy – and now she must train young Maggie (Haley Lu Richardson), a future gymnastics superstar. Costars Gary Cole, Thomas Middleditch, Cecily Strong, Craig Kilborn, Olga Korbut (!) and Dominique Moceanu. THE DIVERGENT SERIES: ALLEGIANT PART I **@@ Rated PG-13 The dystopian adventures of Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) in a post-apocalyptic future Chicago have been interesting, but this third outing – with the fourth and final installment due next year – is a disappointing downfall from the first two, which skated by on the novelty of a cool female action hero and the appealing metaphor for the struggle against enforced conformity her world offered. As this opens, the people of Chicago were welcome to rejoin the rest of humanity outside the wall that contained them. This is the big decision: Shall they go meet the people who have been experimenting with them, and if so, how can such people ever be trusted? But Factionless leader Evelyn (Naomi Watts), effectively in control of the city and inciting mob hatred against the defeated Erudite Faction, has pushed Chicago to the brink of total civil war, and perhaps those unknown outsiders can help restore peace. So off go Tris, her boyfriend and lieutenant Four (Theo James), and a handful of others, over the wall and through a blasted, inhospitable hellscape to see what – and who – is out there. Costars Jeff Daniels, Octavia Spencer, Maggie Q, Bill Skarsgård and Ashley Judd. — MaryAnn Johanson EDDIE THE EAGLE Rated PG-13 Michael Edwards (Taron Egerton) was a British ski-jumper who beat the odds yet did not do well at the 1988 Winter Olympics. True story! It’s about perseverance, people. Costars Hugh Jackman. EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!! Rated R Collegiate athletics in the 1980s, kinda like Animal House meets Basketball Diaries. Psyche! JK! Nice soundtrack, though. Costars Zoey Deutch, Austin Amelio, Blake Jenner, and Juston Street. GODS OF EGYPT Rated PG-13 Chisled physiques in shiny armor, sweating and rippling … oh … uh, didn’t see you sitting there. Mortals and, apparently, gods fight for the right to rule the empire. Costars Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Gerard Butler and Geoffrey Rush. GOD’S NOT DEAD 2 Rated PG A high school teacher gets in trouble for

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FOLIO A+E : ARTS

discussing Jesus in class. Costars Jesse Metcalfe, Melissa Joan Hart, Robin Givens, Ernie Who-ya-gonna-call? Hudson, David A.R. White and hometown boy Pat Boone. I SAW THE LIGHT Rated R Finally! What looks to be a decent effort to tell the story of country & Western god Hank Williams – so unlike his son and so much more like his grandson – costars Tom Hiddleston as Hank, plus Elizabeth Olsen, Bradley Whitford and Jeff Pope. LONDON HAS FALLEN Rated R There’s a plot to assassinate a slew of world leaders who are in London for the funeral of England’s prime minister. Costars Alon Aboutboul, Waleed Zuaiter and Mehdi Dehbi. MEET THE BLACKS Rated R Chicagoan Carl Black (Mike Epps) packs up the family and moves to Beverly … Hills, that is. No, this is most definitely NOT a hillbilly farce. Costars George Lopez, Zulay Henao, Mike Tyson, Charlie Murphy.

Lord Taylor

The second annual Collective Con BRINGS THE UNIVERSE to town Candice Patton

Kevin Sorbo

MILES AHEAD Rated R Don Cheadle wrote, directed and stars in this biopic of jazz great Miles Davis. Costars Ewan McGregor, Michael Stuhlbarg and Emayatzy Corinealdi. MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN Rated PG It’s the ideal moment to put out a weepy melodrama starring Jennifer Garner, since we’re on her side against that two-timing … sorry; I got carried away by the tragedy of yet another Honey, I Shtupped the Nanny incident. Anyway, this is based on a true story about a little girl with a rare illness being cured after she falls out of a tree. Costars Kylie Rogers, Martin Henderson, Queen Latifah and Courtney Fansler. MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 Rated PG-13 Reviewed in this issue. THE PERFECT MATCH Rated R Young, successful, good-looking man says all he wants is benefits without strings. Then he meets a gorgeous woman who seems to feel the same – but damn if they don’t start wanting a real relationship. Costars Terence Jenkins, Cassie Ventura, Paula Patton and Donald shoulda-been-a-bigger-star Faison. RACE Rated PG-13 The struggle to become the greatest track and field athlete on Earth is profiled in this historical drama about the peerless Jesse Owens (Stephan James), whose accomplishments in the sport catapulted him to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Adolf Hitler ruled that sphere – and hated all non-Aryans. Jesse showed him how a black man could not only compete against Der Fürer’s fair-haired automatons, but beat them decisively, with grace and poise. Costars Jason Sudeikis, Jeremy Irons, William Hurt, David Kross and Carice van Houten. RISEN Rated PG-13 This is the story of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ – from the view of a nonbeliever. Costars Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth and Cliff Curtis. WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT ***@ Rated R The seriocomic film is based on Kim Barker’s book The Taliban Shuffle. Tina Fey plays Barker, a TV newsperson sent to Afghanistan in 2003 to cover Operation Enduring Freedom. In Kabul, she meets journalists Brit Tanya (Margot Robbie) and Iain (Martin Freeman), who’s Scottish. — Dan Hudak THE YOUNG MESSIAH Rated PG-13 Everybody on Earth started out as a kid – Bernie Sanders, Chris Rock, Mother Teresa, Dick Cheney (well, maybe not Cheney) – and Jesus Christ (Adam Greaves-Neal) was no different. His young mother Mary (Sara Lazzaro) and father Joseph (Vincent Walsh) have fled to Egypt to keep their son from evil King Herod. Herod dies, so they go home to Nazareth. On the way, he’s told about his special place on Earth … and beyond. ZOOTOPIA ***G Rated PG The animated movie has memorable furry characters, humor and warmth. Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) is an ambitious bunny who wants to be a big city cop. Her parents (Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake) want her to stay and be a carrot farmer, but Judy dreams of the Zootopia police department. Police Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), a cape buffalo, gives her parking ticket duty, even though there are 14 missing mammals and no other cop has done much with the investigation. Costars Jason Bateman, Nate Torrence, Tommy Chong, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer and Shakira. — DH

JOIN

THE W

COLLECTIVE

“Folks were impressed with the overall alk into Jacksonville Expo Center at set-up of our convention,” said Major. the Fairgrounds between Friday, April “We received a slew of compliments and 1 and Sunday, April 3 and you just congratulations. But, we also received some may find that rare piece of sci-fi memorabilia good words of advice from folks who travel you’ve been waiting to unearth for the last 10 years. You may find that there are more around to conventions all over the world and people than you’d ever imagined, all of whom know how these things run.” share your fanaticism for devilishly handsome According to Major, last year’s visitors actor Kevin Sorbo (he played Hercules on the wanted to see A-list guests and a better TV series of the same name). Who knows? schedule layout so that there weren’t as many You may just find your future spouse … overlapping events. Collective Con’s brain dressed up as Chewbacca. That’s the beauty of trust paid attention and consequently secured Collective Con 2016, a three-day convention such notable guests as Robin Lord Taylor, who that brings together fans, special guests, music plays Oswald Cobblepot, aka “The Penguin” and collectables that span many genres, all on Gotham, and Candice Patton, who stars under one roof in Jacksonville. in The Flash, to join the earlier-mentioned The brain-child of part-owner Christopher TV titan and heartthrob Sorbo. Other wellMajor and his friends, Collective Con is recognized celebs will round out the event, not your average gathering of super-fans. spending plenty of time meeting-and-greeting Wanting to expand beyond and autographing for eager the traditional comic-bookattendees all weekend long. COLLECTIVE CON 2016 Friday, April 1-Sunday, April 3, centric conventions that And why have this Expo Center, Jacksonville Fairgrounds. thrive around the world, collective land upon Tickets and details at collectivecon. these young entrepreneurs Northeast Florida? com; updates on Facebook decided to house anime, “Jacksonville is perfectly horror, sci-fi and video located and diverse enough games alongside the traditional comic book to support a convention like ours. We can vendors in order to widen the reach those draw from the region outside of our city collectible conventions serve. limits and we know that there are plenty of Major’s partners, Mike Yokan and Jason folks who follow the circuit who come to Lewis of Welcome to Rockville fame, pushed Jacksonville and make a vacation out of it,” to include a healthy dose of afterhours Major explained. music to round out the draw and capacity of “Folks around the country enjoy gathering Collective Con 2016. Well-known indie band at conventions like these because they can Of Montreal and local standouts Tomboi close find rare or sold-out collectibles in pristine out the event on Sunday with what’s sure to be condition,” Major added. a collective explosion of sounds. And a plethora of fans look forward to the “There will be something for everyone,” costume contest, which — due to its immense Major shared. “Everyone from the ardent popularity — was moved to Saturday night collector to the casual observer will enjoy prime-time. “People go all out,” Major said, the convention.” ”and that makes it great for everyone.” Coming off a successful 2015 Collective So shake the dust off that Vader cape (OK, Con, which was host to more than 5,000 we know you wear it every week) and get to visitors, Collective Con creators stepped ColCon 2016 in Downtown. up their proverbial game by listening to the Josué A. Cruz feedback of the first year’s attendees. mail@folioweekly.com

ARTS + EVENTS PERFORMANCE

CELTIC NIGHTS: SPIRIT OF FREEDOM This is the story of Irish independence, beginning 100 years ago with the Easter Rising, through music, song, dance and storytelling, 8 p.m. April 6, The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $29-$39, floridatheatre.com LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre presents the madcap musical, about a giant, R&Bsinging plant with a “hunger” for human interaction, 8 p.m. April 1 and 2; 2 p.m. April 3, Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-7177, $10, abettheatre.com. BITS AND PIECES The Vintage Players theater group presents light-hearted skits, scenes and monologues, 6:30 p.m. April 6, Clay County Headquarters Library, 1895 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island, 278-3722, claycounty.gov. OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES The hilarious Off-Broadway comedy revue, praised by none other than Mel Brooks, is staged 7:30 p.m. April 5, Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Terry Theater, 300 Water St., Downtown, 442-2929, $58.50; mature audiences, fscjartistseries.org. DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS FROZEN The family-geared production, based on the Oscar-winning animated film about the wintry world of Arendelle, is staged 7:30 p.m. April 6; 10:30 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. April 7; 3:30 & 7:30 p.m. April 8; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 & 7:30 p.m. April 9; and 10 a.m., 2 & 6 p.m. April 10, Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 Randolph Blvd., Downtown, 630-3900, $20-$135, ticketmaster.com. LOVE AND BETRAYAL The story of positive and negative issues in today’s relationships is staged 7 p.m. April 2, The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $30, floridatheatre.com. SPAMALOT Amelia Musical Playhouse stages a merry musical adaptation of Monty Python & the Holy Grail, 7:30 p.m. April 1 & 2; 2:30 p.m. April 3, 1955 Island Walkway, Fernandina Beach, 277-3455, $20; $15 students, ameliamusicalplayhouse.com. THE WIZ The Tony-winning musical working of The Wizard of Oz in rock, soul, and gospel, runs through April 24. Dinner 6 p.m.; brunch noon; Executive Chef DeJuan Roy presents a themed menu; Alhambra Theatre & Dining, 641-1212, alhambrajax.com.

CLASSICAL, CHOIR & JAZZ

SYMPHONY IN 60: SIBELIUS SYMPHONY NO. 2 The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra performs Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43, 6 p.m. March 31, Times-Union Center’s Jacoby Hall, Downtown, 354-5547, $35 includes a pre-concert Happy Hour 5 p.m. and a postconcert meet-and-greet; jaxsymphony.org. CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT Grammy-winning vocalist Salvant, whose international following is based on her vocal skills and tasteful repertoire, performs 7:30 p.m. March 31, The Ritz Theatre & Museum, 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, 807-2010, $35, ritzjacksonville.com. THE JENSEN SISTERS The 28th annual Great American Jazz Series presents trumpeter Ingrid Jensen and saxophonist Christine Jensen, 7:30 p.m. March 31, University of North Florida’s Robinson Theater, 1 UNF Dr., Southside, 620-2878, $8-$25, unf.edu/coas/music/calendar.aspx. IGOR PETRUSHEVSKI VIOLIN MASTER CLASS Violinist Petrushevski holds a master class, 10 a.m. April 1, UNF’s Recital Hall, 620-2878, unf.edu/coas/music/calendar.aspx. AUDREY CHEN, FLANDREW FLEISENBERG Improvisational musicians Chen (voice, cello) and percussionist Fleisenberg perform, 8 p.m. April 1, UNF Gallery of Art, Founders Hall, 620-2534, $5, neusonics.org. BEETHOVEN AND BARBER Cellist Alban Gerhardt and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra play works by Beethoven, Barber, and Sibelius, 8 p.m. April 1 and 2, T-U Center’s Jacoby Hall, 354-5547, $25-$74, jaxsymphony.org. UNF JAZZ ENSEMBLE IN ST. AUGUSTINE The ensemble plays, 2 p.m. April 3, Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium, 14 Granada St., 797-2800, $30; $5 students, emmaconcerts.com. UNF WIND SYMPHONY & CONCERT BAND Dr. Gordon Brock and Dr. Ann Adams conduct a faculty and student showcase, 7:30 p.m. April 4, UNF’s Lazzara Performance Hall, 620-2878, $10, unf.edu/coas/music/calendar.aspx.

UNF JAZZ COMBO Lynne Arriale coordinates a student jazz performance, 7:30 p.m. April 6, UNF’s Robinson Theater, 620-2878, unf.edu/coas/music/calendar.aspx.

COMEDY

FRED’S ALL-STAR COMEDIANS Northeast Florida comedians Bob Lauver and Ozrick Cooley appear, 7:30 p.m. March 30, The Comedy Zone, 3130 Hartley Rd., Mandarin, 292-4242, $10, comedyzone.com. COMEDY FOR CRITTERS Mad Cowford Improv hosts the fundraiser, 7:45 p.m. April 1, The Hourglass Pub, 345 E. Bay St., Downtown. Bring at least 5 lbs. of kitten and/or puppy food and get in free (10 lbs. of food = 2 admissions). Proceeds benefit Friends of Jacksonville Animals; friendsofjaxanimals.com. MUTZIE Comic Mutzie, doing positive, clean humor, is on 7:30 March 31; 7:30 & 9:45 p.m. April 1 and 2, The Comedy Zone, 292-4242, $12-$18, comedyzone.com.

CALLS & WORKSHOPS

CAMP BROADWAY SEEKS ACTORS The camp accepts applications for actors ages 10-17, for a 40-hour summer camp with singing, dancing and master classes, taught by 10 Broadway performers, choreographers and musicians. The $575 fee includes participation in a June production of Legally Blonde the Musical or How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, (by age group), a headshot and a Camp Broadway T-shirt; details and registration at fscjartistseries.org/education/camp-broadway.

ART WALKS & MARKETS

FIRST WEDNESDAY ART WALK The Downtown walk, held noon-10 p.m. April 6 – themed Spark Walk – has live music venues, hotspots open after 9 p.m. and a Creator Showcase, spanning 15 blocks Downtown. iloveartwalk.com. RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET Local and regional art, local music – Clay High School Show Choir, Dalton Cyr, Savanna Leigh Bassett, and UNF Jazz Ensemble – food artists and a farmers market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 2 under the Fuller Warren Bridge, 715 Riverside Ave., free admission, 3892449, riversideartsmarket.com. FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK Tour of Art Galleries of St. Augustine April 1, with more than 15 galleries, 829-0065.

MUSEUMS

BEACHES MUSEUM & HISTORY PARK 381 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 241-5657, beachesmuseum.org. Lights Up: 50 Years of Players by the Sea is on display. CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS 829 Riverside Ave., 356-6857, cummermuseum.org. Free admission 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 3. Archipenko: A Modern Legacy, 80 works by modern sculptor Alexander Archipenko, displays through April 17. Conservation, Beautification, & a City Plan: Ninah Cummer & the Establishment of Jacksonville Parks displays through Nov. 27. Julien De Casablanca: The Outings Project, through May 1. Rockwell Kent: The Shakespeare Portfolio exhibits through May 15. David Hayes: The Sentinel Series, sculptures of geometrically abstract, organic forms, displays through Oct. 2. MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART JACKSONVILLE 333 N. Laura St., 366-6911, mocajacksonville.unf.edu. Project Atrium: Shinique Smith, Quickening, a fabric-based installation incorporating elements of graffiti, Japanese calligraphy, and collage, displays through June 26. The Other: Nurturing a New Ecology in Printmaking, works by women printmakers, displays through April 10. In Living Color: Andy Warhol & Contemporary Printmaking and Time Zones: James Rosenquist & Printmaking at the Millennium show through May 15. RITZ THEATRE & MUSEUM 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, 807-2010, ritzjacksonville.com. Through Our Eyes 2016: Sensory Perception, works by 18 African-American artists, through Aug. 14.

GALLERIES

233 WEST KING ART GALLERY 233 W. King St., St. Augustine, 217-7470. Sculptor Joe Lemmon’s works display through March.

The Freedom Principle: (Neu)Sonics Music Initiative presents improvisational musicians AUDREY CHEN (voice and cello, pictured) and percussionist FLANDREW FLEISENBERG April 1 at the UNF Gallery of Art, Southside. MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 47

48 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016

ARTS + EVENTS ADELE GRAGE CULTURAL CENTER 716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-5828, coab.us. Works by Heather and Holly Blanton display through March. THE ART CENTER Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 139, 233-9252, tacjacksonville.org. Primal Archetypes displays through May 23. Lora Wood is March’s featured artist. BREW FIVE POINTS 1024 Park St., Riverside, 374-5789, brewfivepoints.com. An opening reception for Madeleine Peck Wagner’s new exhibit, Bear Baiting, a commentary on the state of Florida’s bear hunt, 4-7 p.m. April 3. CoRK ARTS DISTRICT 2689 Rosselle St., Jacksonville, corkartsdistrict.com. I’m Board 6 displays at East Gallery. CRISP-ELLERT ART MUSEUM 48 Sevilla St., St. Augustine, 826-8530, flagler.edu/news-events/crispellert-art-museum. Sunday, paintings by Kristan Kennedy, through April 16. THE CULTURAL CENTER AT PONTE VEDRA BEACH 50 Executive Way, 280-0614, ccpvb.org. Natural Currents, works by John Bunker and Brian Frus, through April 8. CYPRESS VILLAGE 4600 Middleton Park Cir. E., Southside, 677-5112, brookdale.com. Jacksonville Coalition for Visual Arts runs through May 11. FIRST STREET GALLERY 216-B First St., Neptune Beach, 241-6928, firststreetgalleryart.com. Mermaid Magic displays through April 5. GEORGIA NICK GALLERY 11A Aviles St., St. Augustine, 342-2186, georgianickgallery.com. St. Augustine photographer-author Rick McAllister signs copies of his photography book, The Olde South: A Photo Journey Along the Back Roads of the South, 5-9 p.m. April 1. JACKSONVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 741-3546, flyjax.com. Haskell Gallery features The Weirdness & Beauty, by Jeff Whipple; Connector Bridge Cases feature The Spirit of Jacksonville, through March. J. JOHNSON GALLERY 177 Fourth Ave. N., Jax Beach, 435-3200, jjohnsongallery.com. An opening reception for an exhibit of Carlos Betancourt’s recent works is 6-8 p.m. April 1. A suggested $10 donation benefits Friends of Jacksonville Animals. This is the gallery’s final exhibit. KARPELES MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY MUSEUM 101 W. First St., Springfield, 356-2992, rain.org. Evita, letters and journals of Eva Perón, displays through May 1. Susan Schuenke’s Bold and Beautiful is on display through April 30. MONYA ROWE GALLERY 4 Rohde Ave., St. Augustine, 217-0637, monyarowegallery.com. Find Your Way, works by Gianna Commito, Matthew F. Fisher and Jim Gaylord, is on display through May 1. SPLIFF’S GASTROPUB 15 Ocean St., Downtown, 8445000, facebook.com/spliffsgastropub. Jessica Becker’s 3D paintings are on display.

EVENTS

CELEBRITY CHEFS LUNCHEON The 30th anniversary Tasting Luncheon & Silent Auction is held 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. March 31, Osborn Convention Center, 1000 Water St., Downtown, $30; proceeds benefit Salvation Army programs; salvationarmynefl.org. ST. JOHNS RIVERKEEPER TOURS & COUNTRY BOIL The St. Johns Riverkeeper holds three events to highlight and support advocacy work to save the St. Johns River. On April 1, a tour team goes from Green Cove Springs to Doctors Lake, Julington Creek Fish Camp, and Walter Jones Historical Park, where Dr. Keith Holland discusses the Maple Leaf Steamship; followed by a low country boil at Sadler Point Marina. On April 2, the team leaves Sadler Point Marina and meets boaters at the Ortega River mouth for a fl otilla through Downtown, to Jacksonville University, for a roundtable discussion, “Emerging Discoveries in the Lower St. Johns,” is held with JU scientists; st.johnsriverkeeper.org. COLLECTIVE CON The three-day event of pop cultural SF, Fantasy, and Comic delights, appearances by Robin Lord Taylor, Kevin Sorbo, Candice Patton, a Race to Mount Olympus 5K and 1K fun run (with Sorbo), a concert by Of Montreal and Tomboi, Nightmare on Elm St. 2 screening, intro and Q&A with star Mark Patton, voice actors, comic book artists, Cosplayers, replica props, classic arcade games, costume contests, exhibitors hall, and artists alley, is April 1-3; main activities at Jacksonville Expo Center, 510 Fairgrounds Place, Downtown; other events at various venues, $20-$100; details, tix at collectivecon.com. BESTSELLING AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR David Sibley discusses and signs copies of his revised, updated The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, 3 p.m. April 2, The BookMark, 220 First St., Neptune Beach, 2419026, bookmarkbeach.com. SURFING THE BLUES The 13th annual surf contests are 9 a.m. April 2 – Men’s Pro, $75 registration; Women’s Pro and Longboard Pro, $50 – at SeaWalk Pavilion, Jax Beach; floridasurfing.org RUNNING THE BLUES The 25th annual 5K run and 2.5K walk is 9:30 a.m. April 2 on the beach, starting and finishing in front of the Red Cross Lifesaving Station at the east end of Beach Boulevard in Jax Beach; performancemultisports.com LGBT AWARDS The fifth annual show is held 7-9 p.m. (VIP, Meet & Greet 6-7 p.m.) April 2 at WJCT Studios, 100 Festival Park Ave., Downtown. Honorees include Hope McMath, Nadine Smith, Justin Bell and Terry DeJuan Sams. Mama Blue performs; black tie; $40, VIP $50; cityxtramagazine.com. MLK COMMEMORATION A commemoration of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with speaker Dr. J.W. Rigsby and a performance by Department of Corrections & Friends Choir, is 7 p.m. April 4 at Edward Waters College’s Milne Auditorium, 1658 Kings Rd., Northside, 888-898-3191, ewc.edu. ONE SPARK One Spark presents its Creator Showcase noon-10 a.m. April 6 along Laura Street, Downtown. Creator Innovation Day (featured speakers: Mayor Curry, Andrew Rush, Spencer Pitman) April 7 at Hyatt Regency Riverfront; onespark.com.

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FOLIO A+E : MUSIC

COUNTRY WITH

CLASS – AND BLUES, GOSPEL &

BLUEGRASS

Ry Cooder, Sharon White and Ricky Skaggs ELEVATE THE GENRE

50 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016

ew musicians have been lucky enough, prescient enough and doggedly determined enough to call the artistic shots of their careers while sustaining those careers. For Ry Cooder, that’s how he’s done things for five decades. His vision and leadership skills have given the intangible entity called popular music some rather heady shots in the arm when it needed it the most. Cooder, along with another giant of musicianship who does things his own way, Ricky Skaggs, appear at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall this Thursday. Completing the trio is Susan White, of the venerable gospel group The Whites, in an evening of traditional and contemporary country and gospel music, with a bit of blues and bluegrass tossed in for flavor. Adding to the sounds are Joachim Cooder on drums and Mark Fain on bass. Ry Cooder is the kind of musician who’s balanced on the edge of household name status. If an unheralded treasure of American roots music still exists, it’s certainly this award-winning roots guitarist. Though his publicist stated firmly that the interview was not to touch on his rich past career, a quick overview will not detract from his current tour with Skaggs and White. Ry Cooder is a product of the California folk revival of the early 1960s, but his involvement and appreciation runs far deeper than the mainstream forms that were soft-peddled en masse during those turbulent years. “There was this early ’60s bluegrass thing centered around this little West Hollywood club called the Ash Grove,” says Cooder, “It made me want to get my first Gibson Mastertone banjo.” Quickly mastering the form, Cooder moved on to the infinite possibilities of country blues, learning at the feet of everyone from Doc Watson to Mance Lipscomb and scores of other legends who appeared at the club, in the process educating the herd of Californians who, a decade later, would be the superstars of country rock. That kind of success didn’t exactly elude Cooder; he never sought it out. His early band, The Rising Sons, featured a young Taj Mahal; they were the next big thing that never was in the L.A. scene. Cooder became a charter member of the hallowed Wrecking Crew of first-call studio musicians until his creativity was mixed out one too many times at a session.

”Everyone was so slick, polished and right on all the time, and laughing at me for not knowing what a diminished chord was,” he says, “…they also told me I would never work again when I quit Captain Beefheart.” Shaking off popular tastes, as a sideman he navigated a delicate period of The Rolling Stones (recording with them in the space between Brian Jones and Mick Taylor), delved into Hawaiian music, tejano dance hall (he singlehandedly gifted the world with the brilliant accordionist Flaco Jiménez), evoked the tumult that was urban renewal and McCarthyism when the City Fathers of Los Angeles evicted a rich Chicano community in favor of a baseball stadium (“Chavez Ravine”) and unearthed a longforgotten heritage of Cuban dance music in his epic, “Buena Vista Social Club” release and documentary — winning accolades and Grammys in the process. A collaboration between Cooder and bluegrass king Ricky Skaggs seemed logical, if not likely. Both musicians are possessed of virtuosity, each with a different bent. Skaggs is incapable of making a wrong move and if there’s an heir to Bill Monroe’s legacy, Skaggs is the one. The contrast of this tour is one of an ethnic approach to music. Cooder has embraced music from all over the world while Skaggs, as good as he is, has for the most part stayed closer to home.

RY COODER, SHARON WHITE & RICKY SKAGGS

8 p.m. March 31, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, $58.50-$98.50, pvconcerthall.com

Folio Weekly Magazine: It seems an unlikely collaboration. How did it all start? Ry Cooder: “I’ve been going in the [gospel] direction for quite some time. I surf YouTube a lot and I came upon some of this great old-time white gospel music from people like the Happy Goodman Family and The Louvin Brothers and, of course, The Whites. With the Whites being contemporary, it told me that this singing was alive and well. The singing always fascinated me but I was never too open to

this music until I started learning some of the songs. How did you connect with Ricky Skaggs? I knew him only to say hi to him and knew him as a friendly guy, but I really didn’t know a way to approach him about the music. Then an opportunity arose — it was a benefit for Tony Rice [the guitarist who’s been plagued by muscular deterioration issues and has suffered escalating medical expenses and cannot perform] and so I asked Ricky if Joachim [Cooder’s percussionist son] and I could perform and so we were invited. That’s how it began. And the current tour? Well, we actually spent about a year getting used to each other and in that time I got to experience playing with The Whites, Susan, Sheryl and dad Buck White. So it was a way to connect in real time, so to speak. It became apparent to me that this isn’t just me, this was real good and maybe it was time to push it on down the road. Good enough to make it a reality. You’ve been at this for a while — is there a release planned? We’re thinking of a live record. That’s really the only way to capture the feeling, really. We’re carrying around recording gear to record off the soundboard every night. So we’re listening to the shows, trying to pick the best versions, the best grooves. Each time, it seems we hear things that we haven’t done before. The vocal chops here are superlative. What’s your vocal role specifically? It’s four-part gospel singing and I’m mostly doing bass parts. It’s best for me, I get to move around a lot. Anything unusual on the set list? Will it be an all-gospel show? We have a lot to draw from, but there’ll some different things, too; we do some old Jimmy Martin things. Any a cappella? [Laughs big.] Well, we may close with “I’ll be Reunited in Heaven,” but we’ll see. Arvid Smith mail@folioweekly.com

MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 51

FOLIO A+E : MUSIC

I’M

READY Selwyn Birchwood bridges the past, present, and future with his SAVVY, SOULFUL take on the blues

up there and play your heart out and then it’s elwyn Birchwood studied business just what the judges like. You can’t get your in college, earning an MBA from the hopes up. So I was super happy with the result. University of Tampa. Away from class, he The third time was a charm on that one. It was getting schooled in the blues by working helped unlock lots of doors.” with Sonny Rhodes, and learning how to run a The striking Don’t Call No Ambulance band along the way. should open even more doors. Packed full That’s an unusual pedigree for a would-be of smartly crafted songs that draw on the bluesman. But it’s one that’s serving the rising blues tradition, but have fresh power and blues star well. great stylistic range, the record showcases “People would tell me all the time, ‘You’re Birchwood’s white-hot guitar work. But unlike playing music, you don’t need an education,’” many artists’ blues records, the guitar work is Birchwood told Folio Weekly Magazine. “I was, always in service of the song. like, ‘I disagree. I feel I need it even more so “I’ve gotten records from great guitarists because I play music.’ The music business is who I really like live, and after two or three very unsettled — look at how CD sales have songs, my ears get tired,” said Birchwood, changed over the last five to 10 years. And who who also produced the album. “I think a lot of knows whether we can do this for a living and peoples’ ears get tired. The records I enjoy the be halfway comfortable forever? It’s already most and play the most aren’t the fancy, lotshelped me a lot in running my business.” of-notes and changes guitar things. They’re Rhodes, the Texas bluesman who the ones that set a mood and have emotion. musically adopted the young Birchwood, was That’s what I was trying to do with this record all about education for his young protégé — … . Some of the songs on the record don’t both formal and informal, in school and on have any guitar leads at all. They were better the road. suited to saxophone. That’s “The more I look at it and fine with me.” see the way I run my band, The saxophone belongs it’s kind of like I went to the SELWYN BIRCHWOOD March 31, 7 p.m., Beaches to Regi Oliver, who plays school of Sonny Rhodes,” said Museum Chapel, Jax Beach, baritone sax for the most the 30-year-old Birchwood. $20 advance; $25 day of; 6 part in the band’s live shows. “He picked me up when I p.m.; Mojo Kitchen barbecue His presence harks to the was 19. He took me all over dinner, $10 suggested donation, past, when sax was the lead the U.S. and Canada during beachesmuseum.org. April 1, 5 p.m. Friday Blues voice in R&B, and it sets breaks in school — he made Lounge; 7:40 p.m. Friday Main Birchwood’s band apart from sure I went to college. He Stage, Springing the Blues, the standard configuration of showed me everything you’re Jax Beach, free; VIP $20-$60, two guitars, bass and drums going to encounter, bad and springingtheblues.com. blues band. good. It was kind of like an “We’re always trying to get apprenticeship kind of thing. a little different sound, searching for a sound When you have somebody like that take you we can call our own,” Birchwood said. “I try in and teach you, it’s an education you can’t get to feature Regi as much as we can. He’s a great any other way.” musician. He’s a Berklee College of Music Birchwood’s now using that education to his advantage, pushing his Alligator Records graduate and can really play. A lot of people debut, Don’t Call No Ambulance, in clubs compliment us on the sax, which is great.” across the country. As they have been for the last couple of Birchwood got signed to Alligator, the years, Birchwood and his band are traversing respected Chicago-based blues label, after the nation, playing as many shows as he and his band won the 2013 International possible, trying to build a following in oldBlues Challenge. That was Birchwood’s third school blues fashion. try at the competition, which brings a couple “There’s just no easy way to do it,” said hundred acts from around the world to Birchwood. “You have to be ready to work in Memphis each spring. this style of music. I don’t know of anybody “That was going to be the last time,” who gets placed at the top who got an elevator he said. “It’s expensive to do it — not just lift rather than taking the stairs. If you’re not ready to work, this isn’t for you. We love it and getting there and staying, but not playing we’re going to keep working.” shows around home. You should go up there L. Kent Wolgamott wanting to network, advance yourself, and get mail@folioweekly.com exposure. You can’t bank on winning. You go

52 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016

Athens, Georgia psych-rockers OF MONTREAL (pictured) perform with TOMBOI April 3 at Mavericks Live, Downtown.

LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC CONCERTS THIS WEEK

SPADE McQUADE 6 p.m. March 30, Fionn MacCool’s Irish Pub, Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1247. DAN VOLL 6:30 p.m. March 30, Alley Cat Seafood, 316 Centre St., Fernandina Beach, 491-1001. DURAN DURAN 7 p.m. March 30, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A S., 209-0367, 64.50-$94.50. HIGH FUNCTIONING FLESH, BODY of LIGHT, ALGAE GUCK 9 p.m. March 30, Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown, $6. BONERAMA 7 p.m. March 31, 1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean St., Downtown, $15-$20. 3 the BAND 9 p.m. March 31, Flying Iguana, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680. DAVID JACOBS-STRAIN 7:30 p.m. March 31, Mudville Music Room, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., San Marco, 352-7008, $10. RY COODER, SHARON WHITE, RICKY SKAGGS 8 p.m. March 31, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., 209-0399, $58.50-$98.50. Clay County Fair: DENNIS LEE BAND, DEWAYNE SPAW, BRUCE MASSEY & CREATURE 517, CANAAN SMITH, A THOUSAND HORSES, CONFEDERATE RAILROAD, TRAVIS TRITT, STUMP WATER, MICHAEL RAY, SCOTT LONGMAN, COLE TOMLINSON March 31-April 9, Clay County Fairgrounds, 2497 S.R. 16 W., Green Cove, prices vary, claycountyfair.org. JASON MICHAEL CARROLL, MARK WILLS, DARYL WORLEY 6 p.m. April 1, Mavericks Live, The Landing, 356-1110, $25. Springing the Blues: TOOTS LORRAINE & the TRAFFIC, SEAN CHAMBERS BAND, SELWYN BIRCHWOOD, VICTOR WAINWRIGHT, KIM RETEGUIZ & BLACK CAT BONES, RED DIRT REVELATORS, CORBITT CLAMPITT EXPERIENCE, MR. SIPP, SAMANTHA FISH, CAT McWILLIAMS, PARKER URBAN BAND, CONRAD OBERG, DIEDRA BLUES DIVA & PRO RUFF BAND, COLIN LAKE, JAREKUS SINGLETON, The LEE BOYS, SMOKESTACK April 1-3, SeaWalk Pavilion, Jax Beach, free event, VIP tickets $20-$60, springingtheblues.com. Inaugural Fool’s Paradise: LETTUCE & FRIENDS, GRIZ, CHRIS ROBINSON’S SOUL REVUE (George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, Eric Krasno, Nikki Glaspie, Neal Casal, Shady Horns), GOLDFISH, The NTH POWER, VULFPECK April 1 & 2, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, $53.25-$186.38. MILLTOWN ROAD 6 p.m. April 1, Slider’s Seaside Grill, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., Fernandina, 277-6652. CAITLIN MAHONEY 7 p.m. April 1, Blue Jay Listening Room, 412 N. Second St., Jax Beach, 834-1315, $75. AFROMAN 7 p.m. April 1, Crazy Horse Complex, 1100 Beach Blvd., Southside, 246-2650, $12-$20. CAROLINA ROAD 7:30 p.m. April 1, Mudville Music Room, $10. RAY STEVENS 7:30 p.m. April 1, The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $35-$125. ANDY ANDERSON (Fuel), TRAVIS T. WARREN (Blind Melon), JOSH GASTON 8 p.m. April 1, The Birdhouse, 1827 N. Pearl St., Springfield, $15. MAGGIE KOERNER, SPICE & the PO BOYS 8 p.m. April 1, Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, 398-7496, $10 advance; $15 day of. ACE FREHLEY, GEOFF TATE 8 p.m. April 1, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, $44 (SRO). GLASS CAMELS 9 p.m. April 1 & 2, The Roadhouse, 231 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, 264-0611. DON’T CALL ME SHIRLEY 9:30 p.m. April 1, Whiskey Jax, 10915 Baymeadows Rd., Southside, 634-7208.

FAT CACTUS 10 p.m. April 1 & 2, Flying Iguana. CONRAD OBERG 10 p.m. April 1, Mojo Kitchen, 1500 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 247-6636. Riverside Arts Market: CLAY HIGH SCHOOL SHOW CHOIR, DALTON CYR, SAVANNA LEIGH BASSETT, UNF JAZZ ENSEMBLE 3 10:30 a.m. April 2, 715 Riverside Ave., 389-2449. BILLY STRINGS, GRANDPA’S COUGH MEDICINE, JERRY SIBLE 8 p.m. April 2, Jack Rabbits, $8 advance; $10 day of. Stevie Stiletto Memorial & Benefit Show: WHISKEY DOGS, APPALACHIAN DEATH TRAP, SNAKE BLOOD REMEDY, POWERBALL, GRABBAG, LOVE CRIME 8 p.m. April 2, Burro Bar, $5 donation; proceeds benefit Sweet Relief Musicians Fund for musicians fighting cancer and other diseases. TAKE COVER 9:30 p.m. April 2, Whiskey Jax. OF MONTREAL, TOMBOI 7 p.m. April 3, Mavericks Live, $20. AFTON SHOWCASE 8 p.m. April 3, 1904 Music Hall, $11. JOHN MILLER, BAY STREET 9 p.m. April 3, Mojo Kitchen. CHAD VALLEY, BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD 8 p.m. April 4, 1904 Music Hall, $8-$10. DENNY BLUE 7:30 p.m. April 5, Mudville Music Room, $10. SPARK-WALK 6 p.m. April 6, 1904 Music Hall. DAVE RAWLING’S MACHINE, GILLIAN WELCH 8 p.m. April 6, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, $40.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

DAILEY & VINCENT April 7, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall SUNN O))), BIG BRAVE April 7, Sun-Ray Cinema TRAVIS TRITT April 7, Clay County Fair STICK FIGURE April 8, Mavericks Live LIVING COLOUR April 8, Harmonious Monks WILD SHINERS, THIN SKINS, SAND FLEAS April 8, Planet Sarbez REBIRTH BRASS BAND April 8, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall DAWES, HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER April 9, P.V. Concert Hall MICHAEL RAY April 9, Clay County Fair CITIZEN & TURNOVER, SORORITY, MILK TEETH April 10, 1904 Music Hall LERA LYNN, ISRAEL NASH, The RIVERNECKS April 10, St. Augustine Amphitheatre BLACK UHURU April 10, Harmonious Monks The DUSTBOWL REVIVAL April 11, Original Café Eleven AMY HELM April 12, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall PEARL JAM April 13-16, Veterans Memorial Arena Wanee Music Festival: WIDESPREAD PANIC, GREGG ALLMAN, GOV’T MULE, LES BRERS, UMPHREY’S McGEE, BRUCE HORNSBY, STANLEY CLARKE, MELVIN SEALS & JGB, KARL DENSON April 14, 15 & 16 LAS PIÑAS, KENNY & The JETS, The COSMIC GROOVE April 14, Shanghai Nobby’s RITA WILSON April 15, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Oyster Jam Music Festival: GRANDPA’S COUGH MEDICINE, SPLIT TONE, BE EASY, FIREWATER TENT REVIVAL, The RIP CURRENTS, AUSTIN PARK, DIRTY PETES, CHILLULA, The BEN CARTER BAND, EMMA MOSELEY BAND, The UNDER the BUS BLUES BAND, JACKSONVILLE JAZZ HOUR: ANTON LaPLUME BAND, MJ BAKER April 16 & 17, Metropolitan Park The BRONX WANDERERS April 16, The Florida Theatre BARRAGE 8 April 17, The Florida Theatre ESTER RADA April 17, The Ritz Theatre BILLY CURRINGTON, KELSEA BALLERINI April 18, St. Augustine Amphitheatre JESSE COOK April 18, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Generation Axe: STEVE VAI, ZAKK WYLDE, SO THIS IS

SUFFERING, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, NUNO the CONVALESCENCE April 19, Jack Rabbits BETTENCOURT, TOSIN ABASI April 20, The Florida Theatre One Night of Queen: GARY MULLEN & the WORKS April 20, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall A NIGHT with JANIS JOPLIN April 21, The Florida Theatre IRATION April 21, Mavericks Live SKINDRED April 21, Harmonious Monks FOSTER CARE, CRAZY BAG LADY, The MOLD, TIGHT GENES April 21, Rain Dogs BEN FOLDS April 22, The Florida Theatre RASCAL FLATTS, JANA KRAMER April 22, St. Augustine Amphitheatre SLEEPMAKESWAVES, MONUMENTS, ENTHEOS, The CONTORTIONIST April 22, 1904 Music Hall MYSTIKAL, JUVENILE, TRICK DADDY, BUN B, PROJECT PAT, TOO SHORT April 22, Veterans Memorial Arena NOFX April 23, Mavericks Live MATTHEW WEST, SIDEWALK PROPHETS April 23, First Baptist Church CHRIS ISAAK April 24, The Florida Theatre WOLVES at the GATE, HOUSEHOLD, SEARCHING SERENITY, DROWNING ABOVE WATER, DAYSEEKER April 27, Murray Hill Theatre Suwannee River Jam: LYNYRD SKYNYRD, BIG & RICH, CHASE RICE, CLAY WALKER, BIG SMO April 27-30, Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park TOMMY EMMANUEL, The LOWHILLS April 28 & 29, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall JOHN MORELAND April 28, St. Aug. Amp. Backyard Stage OBN IIIs, BROWN PALACE, The MOLD April 29, Shanghai Nobby’s JJ GREY & MOFRO April 29, Mavericks Live ANJELAH JOHNSON, BON QUI QUI, GROUP 1 CREW April 30, The Florida Theatre ALABAMA SHAKES, DYLAN LeBLANC April 30, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Welcome to Rockville: ROB ZOMBIE, ZZ TOP, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, A DAY to REMEMBER, MEGADETH, LAMB of GOD, CYPRESS HILL, SEVENDUST, ANTHRAX, CLUTCH, YELAWOLF, P.O.D., WE CAME as ROMANS, MEMPHIS MAY FIRE, ISSUES, CROWN the EMPIRE, BEAR TOOTH, TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION, AVATAR, From ASHES to NEW, GLORIOUS SONS, WILD THRONE, DISTURBED, SHINEDOWN, 3 DOORS DOWN, BRING ME the HORIZON, SIXX:A.M., COLLECTIVE SOUL, PENNYWISE, BULLET for my VALENTINE, HELLYEAH, ASKING ALEXANDRIA, CANDLEBOX, ESCAPE the FATE, PARKWAY DRIVE, ENTER SHIKARI, MISS MAY I, WILSON, RED SUN RISING, LACEY STURM, MONSTER TRUCK, CANE HILL April 30 & May 1, Metropolitan Park GIPSY KINGS, NICOLAS REYES, TONINO BALIARDO May 1, St. Augustine Amphitheatre LA LUZ, MASSENGER, The GUN HOES May 5, Burro Bar Funk Fest: LL COOL J, NEW EDITION, MASTER P, FLOETRY, DRU HILL, JON B. May 6 & 7, Metropolitan Park JBOOG, COMMON KINGS May 6, Mavericks Live PHIL VASSAR, RUSSELL DICKERSON May 7, Thrasher-Horne BILL BURR May 8, T-U Center The 1975, JAPANESE HOUSE May 10, St. Aug. Amphitheatre FRONT BOTTOMS, BRICK + MORTAR May 11, Mavericks Live ELLIS PAUL May 13, The Original Café Eleven MICHAEL CARBONARO May 13, Times-Union Center RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE May 14, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

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LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC STYX, .38 SPECIAL, The OUTLAWS May 14, St. Aug. Amp. AMY SCHUMER May 15, Veterans Memorial Arena OTEP FEST 2016 May 15, Harmonious Monks DEFTONES, CODE ORANGE May 17, St. Aug. Amphitheatre SHAKEY GRAVES, SON LITTLE May 17, P.Vedra Concert Hall NIGHT RANGER May 19, The Florida Theatre KING & the KILLER May 20, Mavericks Live FOALS May 20, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall SALT-N-PEPA, KID ’N PLAY, ROB BASE, COOLIO, TONE LOC, COLOR ME BADD May 21, St. Augustine Amphitheatre HERE COME the MUMMIES, NOAH GUTHRIE May 26, PVC Hall MODERN ENGLISH May 26, Burro Bar R. KELLY May 26, Veterans Memorial Arena “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC June 11, St. Augustine Amphitheatre MIRANDA LAMBERT, KIP MOORE, BROTHERS OSBORNE June 12, Veterans Memorial Arena CYNDI LAUPER June 12, St. Augustine Amphitheatre DEATH CAB for CUTIE, CHVRCHES, PURE BATHING CULTURE June 14, St. Augustine Amphitheatre CHRIS CORNELL June 17, The Florida Theatre REBELUTION, The GREEN & J BOOG, STICK FIGURE, THROUGH the GREEN June 23, St. Augustine Amphitheatre JUSTIN BIEBER June 29, Veterans Memorial Arena SUBLIME with ROME, TRIBAL SEEDS July 1, St. Aug. Amp. BARENAKED LADIES, ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES in the DARK, HOWARD JONES July 2, St. Augustine Amphitheatre TWENTY ONE PILOTS July 3, St. Augustine Amphitheatre FLAG, WAR on WOMEN, The DIRTY NIL July 8, St. Aug. Amp. SHAWN MENDES July 16, St. Augustine Amphitheatre FLIGHT of the CONCHORDS July 17, St. Aug. Amphitheatre 5 SECONDS of SUMMER July 20, Veterans Memorial Arena TED NUGENT July 20, The Florida Theatre 311, MATISYAHU July 26, St. Augustine Amphitheatre BRING IT! LIVE July 29, The Florida Theatre WALK the MOON, MISTERWIVES Aug. 7, St. Aug. Amp. SLIGHTLY STOOPID, SOJA, FORTUNATE YOUTH Aug. 11, St. Augustine Amphitheatre RAY LAMONTAGNE Aug. 14, St. Augustine Amphitheatre GOO GOO DOLLS, COLLECTIVE SOUL, TRIBE SOCIETY Aug. 31, St. Augustine Amphitheatre BRIAN WILSON, AL JARDINE, BLONDIE CHAPLIN Sept. 10, St. Augustine Amphitheatre IL DIVO Sept. 23, The Florida Theatre SAVION GLOVER Nov. 18, Florida Theatre GARRISON KEILLOR Dec. 11, Florida Theatre

LIVE MUSIC CLUBS

AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA

ALLEY CAT Beer House, 316 Centre St., 491-1001 Dan Voll March 30

LA MANCHA, 2709 Sadler Rd., 261-4646 Miguel Paley jazz show every Fri.-Sun. SLIDERS Seaside Grill, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652 King Eddie & Pili Pili 5 p.m. March 30. Tad Jennings March 31. Milltown Road April 1. Reggae SWAT Team April 2 SURF Restaurant, 3199 S. Fletcher, 261-5711 Yancy Clegg Tue. & Thur. Black Jack Band Fri.

“Now here’s an old chestnut that I rarely perform called… ‘Because I Got High.’” Hip-hop herbal proponent AFROMAN performs April 1 at Crazy Horse Complex, Southside.

AVONDALE, ORTEGA

CASBAH Café, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966 Goliath Flores every Wed. Live jazz every Sun. Live music every Mon. ECLIPSE, 4219 St. Johns Ave. KJ Free 9 p.m. Tue. & Thur. Indie dance 9 p.m. every Wed. ’80s & ’90s dance every Fri.

THE BEACHES (All venues in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted)

BLUE JAY LISTENING ROOM, 412 N. Second St., 834-1315 Caitlin Mahoney 7 p.m. April 1 BLUE WATER ISLAND GRILL, 205 First St. N., 249-0083 The Conch Fritters March 30 BRASS ANCHOR PUB, 2292 Mayport Rd., Atlantic Beach, 249-0301 Joe Oliff March 30 CULHANE’S, 967 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 249-9595 Keith Harkin 7 p.m. April 10. DJ Hal every Sat. Irish music every Sun. FLYING IGUANA, 207 Atlantic, NB, 853-5680 3 the Band 9 p.m. March 31 & April 7. Fat Cactus 10 p.m. April 1 & 2. Darren Corlew April 3 GUSTO’S, 1266 Beach Blvd., 372-9925 Groov every Wed. Monica DaSilva every Thur. Murray Goff Fri. Under the Bus Sat. HARMONIOUS Monks, 320 First St. N., 372-0815 Live music Wed.-Sun. Back from the Brink Mon. HOPTINGER, 333 N. First St., 222-0796 Darkhorse Saloon, Stranger Friend April 2 LYNCH’S, 514 N. First St., 249-5181 The Gootch 10 p.m. April 1. Gimmie Hendrix 10 p.m. April 2. Chillula every Sun. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1018 Third St. N., 241-5600 Bonnie Blue March 31. Joe Moorhead April 6 MEZZA Restaurant & Bar, 110 First St., NB, 249-5573 Ginger every Wed. Mike Shackelford, Steve Shanholtzer every Thur. MOJO KITCHEN, 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636 Conrad Oberg 10 p.m. April 1. John Miller, Bay Street April 3 MONKEY’S UNCLE Tavern, 1728 N. Third St., 246-1070 DJ Wed., Sat. & Sun. Live music every Fri. RAGTIME Tavern, 207 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 241-7877 Big John March 30. Fish Out of Water March 31. Sidewalk 65

April 1 & 2. Smith & Banks April 3 SEACHASERS, 831 First St. N., 372-0444 Savanna Leigh Bassett 6 p.m. March 30 WIPEOUTS GRILL, 1589 Atlantic Blvd., NB, 247-4508 Billy Bowers 7 p.m. March 31 ZETA BREWING, 131 First Ave. N., 372-0727 Radio Love April 3

DOWNTOWN

1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean St. Bonerama 8 p.m. March 31. Corrupted Saint, Primitive Hard Drive, Immune April 1. Weekend Atlas, Conner Hickey & Faze Wave April 2. Afton Showcase April 3. Sir, William LaVant, TPV, Boat Simms, Classick April 3. Blackbird Blackbird, Chad Valley April 4 BURRO BAR, 100 E. Adams St. High Functioning Flesh, Body of Light, Burnt Hair, Algae Guck 9 p.m. March 30. Stevie Stiletto Benefit Show: Whiskey Dogs, Appalachian Death Trap, Snake Blood Remedy, Powerball, Grabbag, Love Crime April 2. Whiskey Dick April 3 DOS GATOS, 123 E. Forsyth St., 354-0666 BlackJack every Wed. DJ Brandon every Thur. DJs spin dance every Fri. DJ NickFresh every Sat. DJ Randall Mon. DJ Hollywood every Tue. FIONN MacCOOL’S, The Landing, 374-1247 Spade McQuade 8 p.m. April 1. Chuck Nash 8 p.m. April 2. Spade McQuade 6 p.m. April 6, 13, 20 & 27. Jimmy Solari April 8 HOURGLASS PUB, 345 E. Bay St., 469-1719 The Corbitt Clampitt Experience April 6 JACKSONVILLE Landing, 353-1188 Eager Beaver Band 8 p.m. April 1. George Aspinall Band noon, Boogie Freaks 8 p.m. April 2. 418 Band 4 p.m. April 3. Bread & Butter 8 p.m. April 8 MARK’S DOWNTOWN, 315 E. Bay St., 355-5099 DJ Dr. Doom 10 p.m. every Fri. DJ Shotgun 10 p.m. every Sat. MAVERICKS LIVE, Jax Landing, 356-1110 Jason Michael Carroll, Mark Wills, Darryl Worley 6 p.m. April 1. Of Montreal, Tomboi 7 p.m. April 3. Joe Buck, DJ Justin every Thur.-Sat. UNDERBELLY, 113 E. Bay St., 699-8186 Beebs & Her Moneymakers, Arkham Nights, Reloaded, Random Encounter 7 p.m. April 2

FLEMING ISLAND

MR. CHUBBY’S WINGS, 11043 Crystal Springs Rd., 355-9464 Chuck Nash 9 p.m. April 1 WHITEY’S Fish Camp, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198 Spanky 9 p.m. April 1. Smooth McFlea 9 p.m. April 2

INTRACOASTAL WEST

CLIFF’S Bar, 3033 Monument Rd., 645-5162 Live music most weekends JERRY’S Grille, 13170 Atlantic Blvd., 220-6766 Lucky Stiff April 1. Party Kartel, Jay Collins April 2

MANDARIN, JULINGTON

DAVE’S Music Bar, 9965 San Jose Blvd., 575-4935 Bonnie & Clyde every Tue. Jon Farmer every Wed. HARMONIOUS MONKS, 10550 Old St. Augustine, 880-3040 Domz April 1. Live music most weekends. Open jam 7 p.m. Mon.

ORANGE PARK, MIDDLEBURG

The HILLTOP, 2030 Wells Rd., 272-5959 John Michael Tue.-Sat. The ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611 Chilly Rhino March 30. Glass Camels 9 p.m. April 1 & 2. Higher Education 8 p.m. April 2

PONTE VEDRA

PUSSER’S, 816 A1A, 280-7766 Live music Wed.-Sat. TABLE 1, 330 A1A, 280-5515 Complicated Animals March 30. Gary Starling March 31. Cody Nix April 1. Robbie Litt April 2

54 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016

LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC Stevie Stiletto third annual Memorial & Benefit Show features performances by WHISKEY DOGS, APPALACHIAN DEATH TRAP (pictured), SNAKE BLOOD REMEDY, POWERBALL, GRABBAG, and LOVE CRIME on April 2, Burro Bar, Downtown; $5 suggested donation benefits the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund to help musicians with cancer and other diseases.

RIVERSIDE, WESTSIDE

ACROSS the STREET, 948 Edgewood S., 683-4182 DJ JStreet every Sun.-Tue. & Fri. Higher Ground Thur. Live music Sat. MURRAY HILL Theatre, 932 Edgewood S., 388-7807 Rooted

SOUTHSIDE, BAYMEADOWS

RIVERSIDE Arts Market, 715 Riverside Ave., 389-2449 Clay H.S. Show Choir, Dalton Cyr, Savanna Leigh Bassett, UNF Jazz Ensemble 3 April 2

MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1800 Town Ctr. Blvd., 541-1999 Barrett Jockers March 31. Lance Neely April 1. DiCarlo Thompson April 2 WHISKEY JAX, 10915 Baymeadows, 634-7208 Don’t Call Me Shirley 9:30 p.m. April 1. Bill Ricci, Take Cover 9:30 p.m. April 2 WORLD OF BEER, 9700 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 1, 551-5929 JAM 9 p.m. April 1. Chillakaya April 2

ST. AUGUSTINE

SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE

March 30. Ethan Parker Band, Aurora, Cindy Bear April 1. Troy Sneed April 2

THE CELLAR UPSTAIRS, 157 King St., 826-1594 Beautiful Bobby Blackmon & the B3 Blues Band April 1. Ain’t Too Proud to Beg April 2. Vinny Jacobs April 3 TRADEWINDS Lounge, 124 Charlotte St., 829-9336 Blistur 9 p.m. April 1 & 2

SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK

JACK RABBITS, 1528 Hendricks Ave., 398-7496 Maggie Koerner, Spice & The Po Boys 8 p.m. April 1. Billy Strings, Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, Jerry Sible 8 p.m. April 2 MUDVILLE Music Room, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., 352-7008 David Jacobs-Strain 7:30 p.m. March 31. Carolina Road April 1. Songwriter Showcase, Denny Blue April 7

The BIRDHOUSE, 1827 N. Pearl St., 634-7523 Sun & Flesh, Liotta March 31. Travis Warren, Josh Gaston April 1 MOLLY BROWN’S Pub, 2467 Faye Rd., 683-5044 Clinton Lane Darnell & Shayne Rammler 8 p.m. April 1 SHANTYTOWN Pub, 22 W. Sixth St., 798-8222 Live music most weekends _______________________________________________ To list your band’s gig, send time, date, location (street address, city), admission price and contact number to print to Daniel A. Brown, email dbrown@folioweekly.com or by mail, 45 W. Bay St., Ste. 103, Jacksonville FL 32202. Events run on a space-available basis. Deadline noon Wed. for next Wednesday’s publication.

MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 55

PET EVENTS P

COMEDY FOR CRITTERS: THE PREQUEL • Mad Cowford Improv hosts this fundraiser, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31 at Green Room Brewing (dog friendly), 228 N. Third St., Jax Beach. Tickets at the door; $10 suggested donation; includes one free beer. Proceeds benefit Friends of Jacksonville Animals; friends ofjaxanimals.com.

COMEDY FOR CRITTERS • Mad Cowford Improv offers another fundraiser, 7:45 p.m. Friday, April 1 at The Hourglass Pub, 345 E. Bay St., Downtown. Bring at least 5 pounds of kitten and/or puppy food and get in free (10 pounds of food equals 2 free admissions, and so on). Proceeds benefit Friends of Jacksonville Animals; friends ofjaxanimals.com.

ADOPTABLES

TIDE

Will You Turn for Me? • I’m a sweet little girl looking for a family all my own. I do like to play with the other dogs here. I’m a beagle mix, and if you don’t know what that implies – well, it means my brain is in my nose. A long night of sniffing sounds good to me. Please come meet me! For adoption information and all my details, visit jaxhumane.org. GOLDENFEST • The 13th annual event, featuring contests, info booths, a silent auction and refreshments, is held 2-4 p.m. Saturday, April 2 at Dogwood Park, 7407 Salisbury Rd., Southside; $15; bring your own lawn chairs. Proceeds benefit the efforts of G.R.E.A.T. Rescue of NE Florida, a Golden Retriever rescue service celebrating its 16th year. For details, call 501-6899, email info@greatrescue. org or go to greatrescue.org. PET CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION, FIRST AID CLASSES • 2-7 p.m. April 3, Salty Paws Healthy Pet Market, 377 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach; 9 a.m.2 p.m. April 30, 8449 Arlington Expwy.; 635-3665, petlifesaverjax.com.

ADOPTABLES

ELLEN

I Won’t Get Your Tongue • Hi, friends! My name is Ellen and even though I don’t have my own TV show, I do enjoy making you laugh. I like to sit next to humans and get a nice backrub. Perhaps we can check out your couch sometime soon? Let’s get acquainted at Jacksonville Humane Society. For adoption information, visit jaxhumane.org. DOGGIE DIPS • Fernandina Beach Parks & Rec sponsors a swimming pool activity for dogs and their owners, 2-3 p.m. Saturday, April 23 at MLK Center, 1200 Elm St., Fernandina Beach. $5 per dog. No dog bullies allowed; two dogs per owner max, and no humans in the pool. Call 310-3350 ext. 1 for details. Proceeds support a free swimming lesson program for humans. To see your pet event here, send event name, time, date, location with complete street address and city, admission price, contact number/website to print, to mdryden@ folioweekly.com – at least two weeks before the event.

56 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016

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How to make the best of things when UNCLE SAM takes a bite Dear Davi, Is my human allowed to claim me as a dependent on his tax return? Yasmin the Yorkie Hi, Yasmin, I’m a dog, not a tax expert, but pet dependent? Forget about it. The IRS takes the view that only human dependents can qualify for personal exemption. However, I did manage to dig up some tax deductions that are legit for some pets. Moving: If your family is uprooting, your moving expenses are deductible. That’s right, the IRS says your costs are covered when relocating to new digs. Even better, you don’t have to itemize deductions to claim moving costs, including those spent on getting you from point A to point B. The catch? Typically the move has to be for work — your human’s work — and the new job must be at least 50 miles away from your former home. Guard Dog: If you are the dog standing behind the “Beware of Dog” sign at your human’s business, you might be a tax break. The IRS allows taxpayers to deduct the cost of care for dogs protecting business property. Keep in mind that these claims carry more weight when the dog looks and plays the part. So even though a Dachshund, like me, has a loud bark, the tax claim is more credible if the guard dog is a German Shepherd, Rottweiler or Doberman Pinscher. The catch? You must actually be guarding something, like a gated property, warehouse or business inventory. Your services, not you, are what’s being deducted. Service Dog: If your human needs your assistance for a medical issue they have, like a visual, hearing, or physical disability, disorder or condition, the costs for your food, medical care, and your training can be a write-off. The catch? Fetching treats for your owner while he chills on the couch doesn’t qualify. By law, service

dogs are trained and licensed, with special documentation. The golden rule is that your human must be able to prove a close tie between his medical condition and the service you provide. Therapy animals can also qualify, but they must be trained or certified as treatment facilitators for the IRS to approve the deduction. Foster Dog: If your family decides to foster a pet for approved charities, they may claim the expenses at tax time. So things like pet food, supplies, and veterinary bills could all be deductible in this case. Even a portion of utilities can be considered expenses, as long as a specific area of the house is used only for the care of that animal and nothing else. The catch? The taxman wants proof that these expenses are directly tied to foster care. Be sure your family keeps the receipts, cancelled checks, and documentation from the organization to make the claim. An approved charity is

one that’s recognized by the IRS as a notfor-profit organization. As with most questions about tax refunds, when it comes to deducting pets and pet expenses, the answer is usually “It depends.” Be sure your pet parents talk to a tax professional before claiming any deductions. Good luck! Davi mail@folioweekly.com _____________________________________ Davi is a lively brown dachshund with a healthy appetite for any kind of adventure. He doesn’t do taxes, but he does love sweet potato treats, playing at the park with friends, and exploring the unknown.

PET TIP: THANKS, OBAMA WHAT, YOU MEAN I CAN’T COUNT MY HVAC AS A DEPENDENT? Off-hours emergency vet visits are kinda like accidentally claiming too many deductions on your taxes. You knew it was going cost you, then – yowza! Hello, sticker shock. But before you dump Fido or Fifi off at the closest pound, there’s hope, fair pet owner. There might not an Affordable Pet Care Act but there are pet health insurance policies available so your bank account won’t suffer as much as you do when your poor, sweet little furball gets hurt or sick. Google that sh*t! MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 57

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

FOLIO WEEKLY MAGAZINE CROSSWORD by DALE RATERMANN. Presented by

PONTE VEDRA

SAN MARCO 2044 SAN MARCO BLVD. 398-9741

THE SHOPPES OF PONTE VEDRA

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AVONDALE 3617 ST. JOHNS AVE. 10300 SOUTHSIDE BLVD. 388-5406 394-1390 AVENUES MALL

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58 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “People only get really interesting when they start to rattle the bars of their cages,” says philosopher Alain de Botton. If that’s true, you must be on the verge of becoming rather interesting. Metaphorically speaking, you’re not just rattling your cage. You’re smacking a tin cup against the bars, trying to saw through them with a plastic knife. APRIL FOOL! I lied. You’re not literally in a prison cell. I got carried away with the metaphor. There’s a grain of truth here, though. You’re getting close to breaking free of some mind-forged manacles. It’s making you more attractive and intriguing. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): If I had to decide what natural phenomenon you most resemble nw, I’d consider comparing you to a warm, restless breeze or a playful dolphin. My first choice? The mushrooms Schizophyllum commune. They’re quite adaptable, able to go dormant when it’s dry and spring to life when it rains. They get around, too, making homes on every continent except Antarctica. The main reason I’d link you with them? They have more than 28,000 different sexes. APRIL FOOL! I exaggerated. It’s true you’re polymorphous, multifaceted and well-rounded, but you may not be capable of expressing 28,000 varieties of anything.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “Whatever it is you’re seeking won’t come in the form you’re expecting,” warns Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. If that’s true, why bother? Why expend all your precious yearning if the net result won’t satisfy your yearning?! That’s why I say: ABANDON YOUR BELOVED PLANS! Save your energy for trivial wishes. That way, you won’t be disappointed when they’re fulfi lled in unanticipated ways. APRIL FOOL! Just messing with you. It’s true that what you want won’t arrive in the form you expect, but the result will be better.

to make a pilgrimage, aren’t you? It might be time to shave your head, sell possessions, and head out on a trek to a holy place to get back in touch with what the hell you’re doing here on this planet. APRIL FOOL! JK about the head-shaving and possessions-dumping. On the other hand, there may be value in embarking on a less melodramatic pilgrimage. You’re ready to seek radical bliss of a higher order and get back in touch with what the hell you’re doing here on this planet.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Are you

to my astrological analysis, you’d benefit profoundly by taking a ride in a jet fighter plane 70,000 feet above Earth. You really need to experience weightlessness as you soar faster than the speed of sound. There’s an organization, MiGFlug (migflug.com), that can give you this healing thrill. (If you can afford $18,000.) APRIL FOOL! You should treat yourself to unprecedented thrills and transcendent adventures, but without being so extravagant.

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ready to fi ght the monster? Do you have the courage, strength, stamina and guile to overcome the ugly beast blocking the path to treasure? If not, turn around and head back to your comfort zone until you’re better prepared. APRIL FOOL! I lied. There is a monster, but it’s not the literal embodiment of a beastly adversary. It’s inside you, an unripe part of you that needs to be taught, tamed and tended. Until you develop a better relationship with it, it’ll just keep testing you. Now’s a good time to develop a better relationship with it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your advice for the near future is from poet Stephen Dunn. “If the Devil sits down,” he says, “offer companionship, tell her you’ve always admired her magnifi cent, false moves.” An excellent plan! Maybe you’ll even be lucky enough to make the acquaintance of many different devils with a wide variety of magnifi cent, false moves. APRIL FOOL! I lied. You should avoid contact with all devils, no matter how enticing they be. Now’s a key time to surround yourself with positive influences. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In 1841, a British medical journal prescribed a remedy for the common cold: “Nail a hat on the wall near the foot of your bed, then retire to that bed, and drink spirits until you see two hats.” My expert astrological analysis reveals this treatment is likely to cure the sniffles, and any other discomforts you suffer, physical, emotional or spiritual. Hope you have a hat, hammer and nails. APRIL FOOL! I lied. That method probably won’t help alleviate what ails you. Here’s a strategy that might: Get rid of anything that’s superfluous, rotten, outdated or burdensome. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): To begin your oracle, I’ll borrow author Ray Bradbury’s words: “May you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days, and out of that love, remake a world.” This optimistic projection has a good chance of coming true for you. Imagine it: daily swoons of delight and rapture from now until 2071. APRIL FOOL! I lied, sorta. It’d be foolish to predict you’ll be giddy with amorous feelings nonstop for the next 54 years and 10 months. On the other hand, I don’t think it’s unrealistic to expect a lot of sweet stuff over the next three weeks.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “I’m tired of being brave,” groaned Anne Sexton in one of her poems. “I’m sick of following my dreams,” moaned comedian Mitch Hedberg, adding, “I’m just going to ask my dreams where they’re going and hook up with them later.” You have every right to unleash grumbles like theirs. APRIL FOOL! That’s only half-correct. It’s true you need and deserve a respite from your earnest struggles. Now is indeed a good time to take a break to recharge your spiritual batteries, but don’t feel sorry for yourself. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In 1991, hikers in the Italian Alps discovered the well-preserved corpse of a Bronze Age hunter. Buried in the frigid terrain, the man who came to be known as Otzi the Iceman had been there for 5,000 years. Soon the museum that claimed his body began receiving inquiries from women who wanted to be impregnated with Otzi’s sperm. This is an apt metaphor for you. Consider the possibility that you might benefi t from being fertilized by an ancient influence. APRIL FOOL! JK! It’s true you can generate good mojo by engaging inspirational infl uences from the past, but don’t be guided by a vulgar metaphor related to Otzi’s sperm.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Eccentric Roman emperor Caligula had a physical resemblance to a goat and was sensitive about it. He made it illegal for anyone to refer to goats in his company. I have a list of words the use of which you should forbid in the next few weeks: “money,” “cash,” “finances,” “loot,” “savings,” and “investments.” Why? It would be distracting, even confusing or embarrassing, to think about these sore subjects right now. APRIL FOOL! Truth is, now’s a perfect time to focus on getting richer quicker.

Rob Brezsny freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 59

NEWS OF THE WEIRD PRESTO! CONGRESS ALMOST WORKS

Love is in the air … just inhale, right? Hah! Let Folio Weekly Magazine help you connect with that surfer hunk you saw at the Young Vegan Professionals meet-up, or the goddess at Target who “accidentally” dropped a jasmine-scented kazoo in your cart.

Go to folioweekly.com/i-saw-u.html and fill out the FREE form correctly (40 words or fewer, dammit) by 5 p.m. Friday – next stop: Bliss! ACCIDENTALLY PUBLIC MAKEOUT You: Adorably nerdy guy, incredible hands. Me: Petite (younger) fashionista, completely enchanted. Madeout like teenagers in Starbucks parking lot before realizing patio full of people could see. I’d do it again without changing a thing! When: March 20. Where: Starbucks. #1602-0330 COME DELIVER PIZZA AGAIN! Me: Male in jeans, navy polo, bumbled over receipt. You: Male, delivered Pizza Hut to my door. I didn’t say much, but would’ve liked to! When: March 12. Where: My condo near The Avenues. #1601-0316 LISTENING PUNK ROCK IN TRUCK You: In blue/black truck, 8 p.m. When I came out, you turned radio up so I’d look; you flashed best grin. Sandy, maybe curly hair, bright eyes, that dang smile! Who ARE you? Gotta know. When: March 7. Where: Welcome Food Mart, St. Augustine. #1600-0316 TIJUANA FLATS DROPPED SODA SHERRY? You: Fletcher lacrosse sweatshirt; dropped soda, came back. Me: Waiting too patiently for table, talking to you while you waited for takeout. (Insert cheesy line here, preferably including queso.) Single? Let’s grab a drink. When: Feb. 23. Where: Hodges Tijuana Flats. #1599-0316 GANESH TATTOOED HOT BLONDE GODDESS With ball cap. Thanks for letting me take pic of adorable Ganesh on your beautiful arm! I was totally intrigued, want to connect over chai sometime. The pic got overwhelming likes on IG! When: Feb. 27. Where: SeaWalk Pavilion Jax Beach. #1598-0309 SCRUBS FROM ST. V @ PUBLIX We checked out at same time; you had St. V lanyard, pinenuts (or similar), yogurt and other things. Handsome! I was too shy to say anything; regret not speaking when I left parking lot. When: Feb. 18. Where: Publix Riverside. #1597-0224 LOVE THY NEIGHBOR Sharp-dressed man getting out of blue car to check mail. Me: Dark hair, blue eyes. Speechless at such a good-looking man in the complex. Your building’s somewhere in the 20s. Let’s do some neighborhood loving?! ;) When: Feb. 16. Where: Green Tree Place Apartments. #1596-0224 MY ANSWER IS YES You: Very shy. Me: Waiting by the phone. Please call again sometime; I really love your voice! I don’t have your number or I’d text you like I used to. That was fun, wasn’t it? When: Feb. 11. Where: Telephone line. #1595-0217 ENAMORADA DE TI... Cada vez que puedo me escapo y regreso a donde tu y yo nos vimos por primera vez. Tu: Alto, distinguido. Yo: Chiquita, ojos grandes. Tu tenias un Polo negro, con tu pelo canoso muy buena combinacion. Espero seguirte viendo para siempre. When: Hoy, manana, siempre. Where: En mis suenos. #1594-0217

RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE You: Looking fine, dressed sharp in sweater vest for Bible study. Me: In church parking lot, to go to Firehouse; did triple-take when I saw you. You make this girl want to go back to church. When: Jan. 27. Where: Southside Baptist Church parking lot. #1591-0217 YOU: THE FIRE First saw you at Fat Kat, September 2003. You: Most beautiful woman I’d ever seen; still most gorgeous woman I know, my heart’s desire. Cannot wait for our lips to reunite! I love you most! Love, M.P. When: 2003. Where: Fat Cat. #1590-0217 PRETTY SMILE SAW U TWICE You: Blonde, pretty smile; 4:30 p.m. Me: Black cowboy hat; cold outside. You smiled at me (think it was me) passing by. Passed again, smiling, caught off-guard. Love to get to know you! When: Jan. 23. Where: Publix@Southside/ Touchton. #1589-0217 HAD ME AT GO ’NOLES! Seminole/Armada games, losing beer pong, Pub subs, laughs, cheek kisses = last “first date” I want. You stole my heart; don’t want it back. The start of something sweet? Say you agree; stay forever! When: Oct. 3, ’15. Where: The Garage/ Baseball Grounds. #1587-0120 WATER AISLE You: Commented on water price; beautiful blond hair, jeans, sweater, very warm and kind. Me: Gray hair, blue eyes, shirt, jeans. We both drink coffee; would love to share a cup with you. When: Jan. 9, morning. Where: Walmart@foursquare/ U.S. 1 & Southside. #1586-0113 CHAMBLINS CHAMPION You had two enormous boxes of books. I held the door open for you. You: Blonde hair, glasses, great smile. Me: Tall, blonde. Would love to discuss literature sometime! When: Dec. 29. Where: Chamblins Uptown. #1585-0106 WELCOME TO ME! You: Tall, dress shirt, tie. I walked by to get your attention; you were on Bible app on phone. Please come back next Sunday, and I will try again. When: Jan. 3. Where: Moe’s @ Avenues. #1584-0106 NEED TLC You: Raven-haired nurse; funky glasses, chatting with co-worker. Me: Curiously smitten; backpack, sling; visiting pre-op over year ago, saw you eating fresh. We have some FB friends in common. Who are you? When: Oct. ’14 & now. Where: St. Vincent’s Subway/FB. #1583-0106 RIDE TOPLESS TOGETHER You: Sexy, dark, handsome, ballcap, BMW convertible. Me: Hot pink, caramel-covered sweetness, MB convertible. Pressed horn, blew a kiss. Like real one in woods? Know where I am. When: Dec. 26. Where: Leaving UNF Nature Trails. #1582-1230 JAX BEACH EARLY A.M. PHOTOS Enjoy sunrise near 34th Ave.; struck up conversation. Asked to take your photos. You: White shorts; got wet as waves caught you. Never gave you my card to send the pix. When: Sept. 28. Where: Jax Beach 34th Ave. S. #1581-1230

PIERCED GIRL WITH DOG You: White SUV, cool shirt, septum piercing, pitbull Scout with heartworm. Me: Guy dressed too warmly for cold morning, with bull mastiff. You tried to talk; I’d been awake 20 minutes. Thinking about missed chance. Let’s meet. When: Feb. 9. Where: Baymeadows Animal Hospital. #1593-0217

TATTOOED REDHEAD, ARCHAEOLOGY BOOKS After clarifying sweater was indeed women’s, you laughed at my remark about you fitting into clothes. Our interaction made my day. Judging from book cover, know carbon dating’s your thing. Coffee dating sometime? When: Dec. 11. Where: UNF Bookstore. #1580-1230

TANGO FOR TWO Dance Shack free lesson night. You: Brunette, cute smile, gray booties. Me: Tall, dark eyes, black V-neck. You wanted to stay and tango; didn’t hear you. My friend told me later! Offer still stand? Lesson’s on me. When: Feb. 5. Where: Dance Shack. #1592-0217

PUT MY FIRE OUT You: Cute fireman, glasses, looking at stuffed dinosaurs. Wish you’d put my burning desire for you out with your big fire hose. Me: Brunette, yoga pants, hoodie. Too shy to introduce myself. Wish I’d said hello. When: Dec. 9. Where: Publix/Kernan/Atlantic. #1579-1216

60 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016

In March, U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, House Rules Committee chairman, introduced a resolution to recognize “magic” as one of America’s “national treasure[s],” backed by a 711-word paean urging all to “support and protect” the storied craft — which needs to be “understood and promulgated,” especially given that, according to Sessions, it “requires only the capacity to dream.” Sessions made no link of magic to resolve other congressional business (such as, for instance, ending the string of 64 consecutive failed votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act).

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?

Residents on London’s swankiest street, Kensington Palace Gardens, stymied in efforts to build upward on their relatively small lots, instead plan elaborate “basements” — extending as far as five stories down, with elevators, swimming pools, gyms, climbing walls, and one even with a “Ferris wheel” for dialing up the resident’s daily choice among his several cars. However, embassies are also on the street and have challenged the construction chaos as offending their sovereignty under international law. Recent restrictions limit the basements to one story deep, but billionaire entrepreneur Jon Hunt’s five stories are grandfathered in — though his “Ferris wheel” looks iffy.

CAN HAS A CLUE?

Mystery fiction has always been a popular genre, but now, readers who prefer crimes solved by cats have several series of brilliant felines from which to choose . As The Wall Street Journal reported in February, the major controversy swirling at “cat fiction” conventions is whether the clever kitties should advance the plot by speaking. “We all talk to our pets,” noted one best-selling author, “and most of us imagine the other side of the dialogue.” Among the sets with more than a million copies are the “Joe Greys,” the “Klepto Cats,” the “Cat Shout for Joy” suite, and the recently concluded, 29-volume run of “Cat Who” books, e.g., “The Cat Who Could Read Backwards.”

NO, REALLY, RELAX

Glasgow, Scotland, company Osdin Shield announced recently it had designed for potential sale (for those relaxing, yet secure evenings) a fashionable yet bulletproof sofa and upholstered chairs sturdy enough to protect

against 9mm handguns, shotguns and AK47s — with special marketing to hotels, embassies and government buildings.

TRUST ME … I’M A T-MAN!

Following a simplistic hack at the Internal Revenue Service that permitted several thousand tax returns to be illegally accessed and refunds commandeered, the agency created an equally porous “fix” — merely copied from failed security elsewhere on its website. According to a March Washington Post item, the fix added one level of security (a personal PIN), but still allowed anyone to change another’s PIN using publicly available information. IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said “only a handful” of taxpayers were victimized by the faulty fix. “Handful” was later defined as “fewer than 200.”

FINALLY GOT A ROUNDTUIT

While America was outraged about the water in Flint, Michigan, the tap water in Crystal City, Texas (100 miles southwest of San Antonio) was suddenly as black and thick “as oil” and “stank,” according to a resident. The city’s water superintendent said the town had decided to clean residue from the system for the first time in “20 to 30 years.”

FOR THE 7,000 TIME, YER TOO GODDAMN LOUD! In March, Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., disclosed that, in 2015, it received 8,670 noise complaints — 6,500 of which were from the same person (thus averaging 18 per day, every day).

DOING MY JOB

Public service personnel were disciplined for violating rules despite perhaps saving a life. In March, a captain and a sergeant at Falmouth Volunteer Fire Department near Fredericksburg, Virginia, were suspended for rushing an infant girl (who was having a seizure) to the hospital in their fire engine despite rules requiring them to wait for an ambulance (which they ascertained was still 10-15 minutes away). The firefighters administered oxygen and delivered the girl safely to the ER 13 minutes after the 911 call, though she’d suffered another seizure in the hospital’s parking lot. Said the grateful father, “My wife and I feel terrible for the fallout ... to these two gentlemen.” Chuck Shepherd weirdnews@earthlink.net

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MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 61

FOLIO VOICES : BACKPAGE EDITORIAL

BREAKING THE

CYCLE OF

VIOLENCE WITH

JOBS JACKSONVILLE’S VIOLENT CRIME RATE IS A serious threat to our quality of life. Our city has a strong community, active volunteers, great businesses and enriching schools. As a Jacksonville native, I am wholeheartedly dedicated to our city’s success. And we must take action now to diminish its violent crime rate. To do this, we need to take ambitious measures. Studies, mentoring and lecturing are not working, and it doesn’t make sense to continue using programs that aren’t effective. I would like to propose a solution that would change the future of Jacksonville and offer a positive alternative for our youth. Keeping kids off the streets isn’t easy. Young people need viable options that will reduce high-risk and violent behaviors. Kids are shooting kids. Jacksonville is the murder capital of Florida. Why haven’t we tried other ways to help our at-risk youth? We all must do our part and contribute to keep our city and youth safe. Having a job is essential to living a productive life. Getting paid and experiencing personal success motivates people. Investing $10 to $15 an hour in our youth would prove more effective and efficient than other efforts have. I challenge our city to reallocate funds from current crime prevention programs into programs that provide vocational skills and mold strong work ethics. Specifically, I urge our city to encourage local employers — my company and our vendors included — to create one-year paid apprenticeship programs for young at-risk adults. Our city and local companies would work together in a public-private partnership to create one-year apprenticeship programs for young adults ages 18-22. This program would provide our youth with exceptional opportunities, valuable learning experiences, on-the-job training and onsite guidance from Jacksonville’s top business leaders. Young adults would be selected and placed with local companies in a variety of industries and in a variety of positions. Placements 62 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016

would be based on individuals’ interests to ensure they learn desired skills that match their career aspirations. The skills would be specific and would directly benefit participants’ needs and help them build their résumés for later employment opportunities. They would meet and build relationships with Jacksonville employers after working for a period of one year. With on-thejob training, young adults would also benefit from steady paychecks for full-time work. Jacksonville employers and our community would mutually benefit as well. The money that we use to fund youth programs could be spent so much more efficiently. This partnership could employ more than 900 at-risk young adults for one year. Let that sink in for a moment … 900 atrisk adults employed. Those 900 individuals would be productive members of our community, too busy to get into trouble, and benefiting from real-life skills and an income that comes from employment. Imagine the positive economic impact that would have for these individuals and their households. Further, consider the positive economic impact that it would have on our community. The effect would reverberate throughout our city for future generations. We know Jacksonville is a tremendous city. Its growing crime rate is a problem that we need to address without delay. Repetitive tactics like lecturing programs are not working. At-risk youth do not want to be told what to do. They want to be shown what to do. This one-year apprenticeship program is a strategy that could change the behaviors of atrisk youth and improve our city’s future. Sometimes you need to get your hands dirty and break a sweat in order for change to take place. Jacksonville leaders need to break the cycle of violent crime and do more than lecture our city’s youth. Toney Sleiman mail@folioweekly.com _____________________________________ Sleiman is a partner in Sleiman Enterprises, a local real estate development company.

MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 63

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