P. 8
THE BRAWL TO SETTLE IT ALL
AG Gancarski previews Tuesday’s elections
P. 39
ON THE ROAD
Photography exhibit offers a fascinating travelogue of 1970s American South
P. 43
BORN TO LIVE THE BLUES
John Mayall brings a halfcentury of blues to NEFL
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MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 3
FROM THE EDITOR
PARTS NOW KNOWN EVEN AMONG THE MANY ILL-ADVISED SCHEMES pitched at this year’s World’s Largest Idea Flea Market, project #22066: Bring Anthony Bourdain to Jacksonville stood out as one of the more frivolous (especially considering its placement within the Social Good category). For the uninitiated, Bourdain is a former chef, bestselling author, and potty-mouthed, irreverent host of a suite of popular food/travel shows — in other words, if he were less successful, he’d fit in well at Folio Weekly. Basically, the people behind Project #22066 believed a Northeast Florida edition of Bourdain’s show Parts Unknown — the most recent season of which rendered Jamaica, Iran, Tanzania, and the Bronx as parts now known — would bring positive publicity to the region’s burgeoning culinary scene. For myriad reasons, the project garnered little support. But it’d be a mistake to dismiss this idea offhand. While we may not be ready for the full-boat of scrutiny and flippancy of the multiEmmy-winning personality, we may find that one of Bourdain’s other shows could be a perfect fit for our city on the rise. We live in a drinking town. This is a wellestablished fact. From the laid-back watering holes of the beaches to the buttoned-up establishments at St. Johns Town Center, the craft breweries of Riverside to the craft distillery in St. Augustine, the urban hole-in-the-wall dives to urban-fancy-ass shrines to spirits, for all its suburban sprawl, no matter where you may stumble in Northeast Florida, you’re likely to be welcomed with an open barstool and a drink. For our twice-annual Drink Issue, Folio Weekly’s writers (our local Bourdains, if you will) canvassed the region, elbowing up to bars from St. Augustine to Amelia Island and Avondale to Atlantic Beach, each and every neighborhood
offering our writers (see: drinkers) its own mix of dives, upscale lounges, happy hour spots and late-night joints. For you, readers, we went there, grabbing the ears of nearly every mixologist in town, and throwing back a few or twelve, so that we could compile the most comprehensive resource telling you where to go and what to drink. What we found was that, among the previously laid foundation of well-established hangouts was an emerging community of cocktail-creatives, brimming with exciting, innovative ideas about how to fashion the old and the new into something entirely unique to Northeast Florida. And, after all our hard work, we’re prepared to throw down the gauntlet. The Layover is/was a Travel Channel vehicle for the previously mentioned Bourdain to spend a limited amount of time at intermediate locales between destinations, often ending up an eating, drinking, cursing, drinking and more drinking whirlwind of controlled chaos; The River City — with its well-established booze culture and emerging craft-cocktail scene — is perfectly suited for such an experience. So here’s a dare, inspired by our thorough research: Tony Bourdain, the next time you’re on your way somewhere “exotic” — whether it be Miami, Puerto Rico, Central America, or Atlanta — we dare you to fly through JAX International (or Northeast Regional Airport in St. Augustine). While you’re here, try to visit as many neighborhoods as your liver can handle. But, be forewarned, you’re likely to end up a little sun-kissed, a lot salty, and overwhelmingly blurry-eyed and slurrytongued after your First Coast stopover. Matthew B. Shaw mshaw@folioweekly.com twitter/matthew_b_shaw
DON’T DRINK & DRIVE. PERIOD. Don’t be an asshole. If you’re going to drink, and you’re a 21st-century human, there is no excuse for getting behind the wheel of an automobile. You can download applications for ride-sharing services (sorry COJ) UBER or LYFT, or if technologically-averse, take out your pen and yellow notepad, turn from the page containing your romanticized luddite babble and copy down some of the following phone numbers and/or websites.
4 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
Checker Cab Jax 345-3333, checkercabofjax.com 9850 Interstate Center Dr., Northside
Executive Cab 680-1014, executivecab.net (taxi) 398-8400 (limo)
Coastal Cab 246-9999, coastalcab-jax.com 922 Eighth Ave. S., Jax Beach
EZ Airport Shuttle 741-3740, ezshuttle.net 573 Bayridge Rd., Arlington
Duval Taxi 391-1616, duval-taxi.com 3633 Lenox Ave., Westside
Floridian Transportation 415-9779, floridiantransportation.com 5811 Atlantic Blvd., Lakewood
Gator City Taxi/Yellow Cab 355-8294, 999-9999, yellowcabflorida.com 5320 Springfield Blvd., Jacksonville Safari Transportation 707-0161, jacksonvillelimocompany.com Westside Taxi Service 729-9518, westsidetaxi.net 438 Aurora Blvd., Orange Park
THIS WEEK // 5.13-5.19.15 // VOL. 29 ISSUE 7 COVER STORY
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Our Neighborhood Guide to the Bars, Pubs, Dives, Lounges, Speakeasies, Watering Holes, Buckets of Blood, Cantinas, Taprooms, Taverns, & Late Night Joints of Northeast Florida.
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THE BRAWL TO SETTLE IT ALL
LET THERE BE LIT
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BY TIM GILMORE Local author SOHRAB HOMI FRACIS discusses universal truths.
BY AG GANCARSKI A preview to Tuesday’s elections
BEERS OF SUMMER
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BY MATTHEW B. SHAW Beer expert KELLY PICKARD on what to pair with Northeast Florida’s ungodly humidity.
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IT IS A MYSTERY TO ME AND A GREAT INSULT to the intelligence of Jacksonville voters that mayoral candidate Lenny Curry and his running mate, Sheriff John Rutherford, insist on blaming the crime rate surge on Mayor Alvin Brown. Last I checked, the sheriff is the constitutional officer charged with law enforcement in Jacksonville and the current crime issues had a genesis well pre-dating the Brown administration. Even if it would be intellectually honest to lay off much of the blame on having too few police offi cers on the mayor and the city council, which it is not, here’s something well worth noting. The sheriff, with his incessant complaining about underfunding by the mayor and the city
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council, has failed to exhaust his administrative remedies. Here’s how that works: Florida Statute 30.49, dealing with budgets, provides a powerful mechanism. Within 30 days from the time the city council passes the final budget for the Office of the Sheriff, he has the right to file an appeal by petition to the state Administrative Commission, stating the grounds for the appeal, including the needs that were not funded or underfunded. The Administrative Commission is composed of the governor and the Florida cabinet, all of whom are on record for adequate funding for fighting crime. Had the sheriff availed himself of this tool and petitioned, the executive office of the governor would be required to set a
Silver Springs
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Eric Smith Former president of Jacksonville City Council If you would like to respond to something that appeared in the pages of Folio Weekly, please send an email (with your name, address and phone number for verification purposes only) to mail@folioweekly.com.
News + Notes from across Northeast Florida
Every week, 97,085 readers look to Folio Weekly for news, commentary and information. Other publications attempt to tell what has happened; Folio Weekly tells Northeast Florida what’s happening now and in the week ahead.
WATER GRAB
budget hearing before the governor and cabinet, sitting as the Administrative Commission. The Commission has the authority to increase, or otherwise modify the sheriff’s budget or approve it. That decision then becomes binding upon the city council and the mayor. In four years, that opportunity was never pursued. It would be interesting to know why.
SLEEPY CREEK LANDS — a 29,000 acre ranch in Northeast Marion County — wants to pump 1.46 million gallons of water a day from the Floridan Aquifer to grow the sustenance for the 9,500 head of grass-fed beef. The cattle will graze on a ranch east of Ocala and near Silver Springs and the Ocklawaha River. Silver Springs, described as Florida’s First Tourist Attraction, is one of the largest natural, first-magnitude springs in the world. Glass-bottomed boats were invented at Silver Springs in the 1870s to wow visitors who gazed into the underwater canyon from which crystal-clear water gushed at a rate of 500 million gallons a day. However, the spring today is not the crystal-clear wonder it once was. Water flow from the spring was down by more than half in 2012 and 2013. Environmentalists say allowing the cattle ranch to pump another 1.46 million gallons a day will only further lessen it. The St. Johns Riverkeeper and the Sierra Club, along with environmentalists Karen Ahlers and Jeri Baldwin filed a legal challenge after the staff of the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) recommended approving the permit. They say that the water permits SJRWMD already issued have pushed the springs to its limit and these new permits would further degrade the springs if pumped to capacity. But an administrative law judge sided with Sleepy Creek, which is owned by Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach. St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman said adding more stress by pumping water from the aquifer near the springs and dumping more pollution into the watershed from the
stormwater runoff of thousands of head of cattle is shortsighted. “Silver Springs is a national landmark, our first tourist destination, and it is already impaired. Why would you approve more damage to be done to it?” she said. “Right now we are using Florida in an extremely unsustainable way. There are limits to the available amount of water, and many of us believe we have already reached it.” The permit and all recommendations and objections will now go before the board of the St. Johns River Water Management District for public meetings and a vote. Susan Cooper Eastman sceastman@folioweekly.com
HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD A PEOPLE MOVER MOVE IF A PEOPLE-MOVER COULD MOVE PEOPLE?
DECISIONS ARE MADE AND LEGACIES CREATED. Currently, Jacksonville denizens aspiring to make the city more than just a passing spot where I-10 meets I-95 are wrestling with a number of short-sighted decisions from yesteryear: consolidation, lack of focus on its Downtown, and an abysmal unified public transportation strategy, among others. At the moment, the Skyway struggles to find a mainstream ridership (unless you’re a three-and-a-half-year-old fascinated with trains). Like many facets to Downtown’s struggling but emerging revitalization, our people-mover sits as another feature “successful in theory,” but lackluster in action. And now the city waits patiently for a newly proposed study financed by JTA, to the tune of $349,000, from international transit engineering firm Lea+Elliott.
“Lea+Elliott is looking into the technical and technological aspects of the Skyway. Right now, we’re at midlife of the vehicles,” says Brad Thoburn, vice president of planning and development for JTA. “Do we overhaul? Do we redo the system? There’s a conversation of extending existing infrastructure or integrate and complement with other technologies. And then we are looking long-term, 20 to 30 years.” Thoburn seems confident that the international transit vehicle and systems information firm (with offices in Hong Kong, Atlanta, and San Francisco, among others) is the right one for the job. “Lea+Elliott are giving us baseline information for a more informed discussion about issues like that. They’re a good firm who knows the industry and the technology options out there.” What should we do with our aging people-mover that goes nowhere, is connected to no real transit options, and doesn’t run on nights and weekends? After twice missing out on federal money to extend the declining Skyway to Riverside, no new initiative has emerged from the office of JTA CEO Nat Ford, so maybe an objective study of the issue isn’t bad form; perspective is always refreshing as long as it’s met with dynamic action. “We are working with DIA in developing a mobility action plan for near-mid improvements that can be accomplished relatively quickly. In addition, Nat Ford is actively talking with stakeholder groups to include a further discussion,” says Thoburn. “Once Lea+Elliott give us the technological and technical information, the process of deciding what happens with the Skyway becomes a community conversation.” We’re not sure if the cost will outweigh the benefits, but we can only hope that the study takes into account a more holistic, inspired vision of Downtown … if one exists. Keith Marks mail@folioweekly.com
WHAT LOWLIFE WOULD JACK THE JAX AMBASSADOR?
A MAN CALLED OUT, “MARK,” and Jacksonville’s Ambassador of Fun turned toward the sound of his name. You may remember Mark Cohee from a previous Sprawl entry about the Jax Water Taxi (“Embark,” April 29). Cohee is a regular water-taxi commuter, enthusiastically announcing to his fellow passengers, “This is the Love Boat, not the Hate Boat!” as they board the vessel. The day after that Sprawl appeared, Cohee was robbed on Julia Street Downtown at around 9 p.m. as he waited to take the JTA Skyway home from his job manning the
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News + Notes from across Northeast Florida
elevators at the Veterans Memorial Arena. A man called his name and then shoved Cohee to the ground. The assailant snatched Cohee’s canvas tote bag and fled. I described Cohee previously as moving like he had cerebral palsy, but when I talked to him on the water taxi, I didn’t have the courage to ask about his disability, so I tried to couch it as a description. But using his phone number from the police report, I called him and got the story. Mark said that he became disabled after suffering a traumatic brain injury in 1985, at 20 years of age. He was driving very drunk, “Ambassador of Fun” Mark Cohee
he said, and caused a terrible car accident. He was in a coma for eight weeks before regaining consciousness. “I’ve got angels,” he explains. He also said he’s the brother of Dick Cohee, who died in 2012, and was city treasurer and deputy director of the Police & Fire Pension Fund. Admittedly, at the outset of our first voyage across the St. Johns, I’d found Cohee’s super-positivity a little irritating, but inspiring by the time he disembarked a few stops later. Now I give him props. In addition to spreading cheer at Jacksonville Suns and Jaguar games, and wherever else he goes, Cohee says he gives talks about the mistakes he’s made in the past. See him and hear his story, he says, and people realize the danger of drinking and driving, or he hopes they do. After the attack at the JTA station, Cohee says, he lay on the ground calling for help, but no one stopped to give him a hand. He says the robber’s take was about 75 cents. And Cohee suffered only some scrapes and scratches. His courage remains intact. “I never surrender,” he says. “I fall down, but I get back up.” All that he asked, and about five times, is that Folio Weekly run the photo I took of him on the water taxi, where he posed coquettishly, with his hand under his chin and a mischievous smile on his face. Susan Cooper Eastman sceastman@folioweekly.com
BRICKBATS & BOUQUETS BOUQUETS TO WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT (WWP) for sticking to its proverbial guns and declining an interview request from Gun Talk Radio (a real thing) host, and nationally syndicated nutbar, Tom Gresham. According to Examiner.com, WWP’s public relations director explained in an email exchange with Gresham that the Jacksonville-based nonprofit’s decision to not “cobrand” with alcohol or firearms companies is a “response to the struggles that many injured service members face with substance abuse and suicide and the roles those items often play in those issues.” BRICKBATS TO WILD THINGS JACKSONVILLE for committing peacock genocide on the Westside. As first reported in The Florida Times Union, the animal removal service was tasked with removing 20 or so of the nearlyflightless birds, but after failing to trap even one peacock, Wild Things owner and operator Chris “Birdie Amin” Tennant decided avian assassination was the next best option. Though local bird rescue nonprofit B.E.A.K.S. offered tranquilizer darts to aid the removal process, Wild Things went ahead and killed an estimated 60 peacocks. BOUQUETS TO NICOLE HOLDERBAUM who entered “Art for Jacksonville’s Youth and Beyond,” intended to provide at least 15 murals for Duval County Public Schools, at One Spark. More than 300 kids each day took part in painting a 12-feet-by-32-feet mural. The children were provided smocks and instructions on how to successfully paint with other children. While the project didn’t win a major prize at One Spark, hats off to Nicole for continuing her work connecting kids with artwork in schools. To support, go to gofundme.com/ muralsforjaxyouth. BRICKBATS TO FIRST CONSERVATIVE BAPTIST CHURCH in Mandarin for its incredibly insensitive – and ludicrous – marquee message this week, informing members of the LGBT community they were going straight to hell if they didn’t change their ways. Dr. Gene Youngblood (whose progeny Geoff, a Republican running for Jacksonville City Council, opposes the HRO) says he’s exercising his right to free speech. We encourage Folio Weekly readers, if they’re so inclined, to do the same by emailing the Reverend at FCBC@conservative.edu.
KNOW SOMEONE WHO DESERVES A BOUQUET? HOW ABOUT A PROVERBIAL BRICKBAT? Send your submissions to mail@folioweekly.com. Submissions should be a maxium of 50 words and directed toward a person, place, or topic of local interest. MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 7
don’t let a slip of paper tell you how to vote
THESE WORDS FROM OUTGOING COUNCILWOMAN DENISE LEE
are in reference to Corrine Brown’s Quick Picks. But in reality, they pertain to more than one piece of paper with endorsements. Everyone, from the Jax Chamber to the Florida Times-Union to the various wacky right-wing groups, issued endorsements. That’s their prerogative, but let’s be real. Each of those parties’ endorsements comes with strings attached. Tacit or explicit support of agendas, in all cases. They all also have institutional impact. The credibility, the gravitas, the imprimatur. The grandiosity. It’s enough to make you cynical. With that in mind, this Election Preview, just like the one I wrote for the first election, lacks endorsements. I wouldn’t presume to be able to anticipate or represent the needs and desires of individual readers of this magazine. What I can do is offer insight into what I’ve seen. I’ve covered these campaigns as closely as anyone has during this cycle. In every contest, from the mayor and the sheriff races to At-Large 8 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
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BRAWL TO SETTLE IT ALL story by AG GANCARSKI original art by SAMUEL SHAW
and District City Council races, I’ve been watching. And here’s what I’ve seen. IN THE MAYORAL RACE between Alvin Brown and Lenny Curry, the narrative has moved quickly. Curry brought in a lot of GOP heavy-hitters to endorse him over the last
few months, including GOP presidential candidates (Rick Perry, Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush) and former Republican mayors (John Delaney and John Peyton). Brown, attempting to gain leverage with No Pary Affiliation (NPA) voters and Bishop Republicans (is that still a thing?), countered
with endorsements from other Republicans, including former candidate Bill Bishop and his fellow Councilmen Stephen Joost and Ray Holt. Now, those endorsements probably come with asterisks. Curry says that Bishop lobbied him so hard for a job that he called his lawyer after the two of them met in early April. Joost supposedly was promised a gig, and Holt reportedly has something at stake as well. That being said, for a mayor who is in a dogfight of a re-election battle, these endorsements represent moral victories, if nothing else. Each candidate spent much of the postfirst-election-period rallying their respective bases. The Curry side has messaged around the published plan, and tried to hit that sweet spot between conservative Republican and Delaney Redux. The mayor, meanwhile, has moved left with increasing alacrity, at least when it comes to rhetoric and presentation, with a more passionate delivery on social justice issues mixed in with quotations from Martin Luther King Jr.
As it is, though, both candidates are playing to their bases, and there are two schools of thought about the ultimate ramifications of this. Team Alvin will tell you that Curry has no draw with Dems and all Brown needs is to shear off a small portion of GOP support. Those Republicans, theoretically, would hve missed Team Brown’s constant recalibration, since the local media (bless their hearts) is too busy with the autofellatio of endorsement pieces to bother covering the evolution of message in this campaign. For most of the media, it is not particularly interesting that Brown’s rhetoric has moved across the spectrum so quickly that the mayor’s gotten dizzy. Maybe they think the words are just empty and, after the re-election, business as usual. Team Curry will tell you that Lenny has overperformed in polls and that their campaign has been positive since before the first election. Folks will scoff at that. The deluge of mailers
the paid imported canvassers, make the difference? Looking at financial reports, the Brown camp seems to have a lot more overhead than the Curry crew. And the Curry fundraising looks stronger. With that overhead, is there real accountability on the Brown side? The quotes from operatives for the loser will be particularly interesting, especially if Curry confounds his haters and pulls this thing out. THE SHERIFF’S RACE between Ken Jefferson and Mike Williams illustrates the old adage that familiarity breeds contempt. Just before early voting began, Jefferson joked at a forum that the two had debated roughly 40 times. The most remarkable thing is, while the messages are pretty much always the same (slight evolutions that only people who are listening closely are really going to catch), the real question with these two guys is the inside baseball.
the local media (bless their hearts) is too busy with the autofellatio of endorsement pieces to bother covering the evolution of message in this campaign. the Together for a Greater Jacksonville PAC sent out during the winter is still fresh in their minds. That may resonate outside the media bubble and the Urban Core, but those who discount the impact of Lee Atwater-style tactics haven’t been too deep on the Westside — where it’s still 1988 and Mike Dukakis is forever popping his head out of the top of the tank. The culture war is still alive and well in Jacksonville. The transplants from elsewhere ask WTF when they look at the failed HRO expansion to LGBTs. The people who start off every conversation with “were you born here?,” “what high school did you go to?,” and “what Superfund site did you play in as a kid?” look at the HRO and see a threat to how things have always been. Alvin Brown ran a solid-enough campaign in 2011, but everyone knows the Hogan operation beat itself when it made too overt a play for the Cracker Right. Curry, a much more moderate person despite the party apparatchik machinations in the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) era, has not made that mistake. Indeed, he has been careful about splitting the difference between the relative liberalism of the Jax Chamber and the hard-right rhetoric of the church crowd. Despite this, there’s a reason that the Brown team felt comfortable airing a “Curry will turn back the clock” ad on black radio. They’re playing to their base’s fears. Will the Get Out the Vote (GOTV) operation, both the local volunteers and
The reality of this race is this: Party label is meaningless. Mike Williams, the Republican endorsed by Rutherford, is on one side, and he does have the full-throated backing of the party regular types. Ken Jefferson, yes, is a Democrat. But a Democrat with a difference. Central to the Jefferson apparatus: Jimmy Holderfield, who has as deep a knowledge of the JSO as anyone. Holderfield and Jefferson are good friends, and Holderfield, you’ll recall, was the FOP candidate, endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police without much debate almost a year before the first election. This creates some interesting paradoxes. Mike Williams, who doesn’t seem to be a reform candidate in most senses, is the guy linking problems with morale among the rank-and-file to the “scandal” that brought Nelson Cuba down. Jefferson, who speaks with great passion and specificity about the drug trade and drug war that have turned areas from Grand Park to Cleveland Arms to the Ceasefire Zone to Eureka Gardens into post-industrialized hellscapes where civil liberties are a casualty of the guerrilla wars between gangs and the overmatched cops, does not go along with the mayor on certain issues. Their crime messaging has not been linked, and Jefferson’s words always come back to a central theme: He’s ready to work with whichever candidate gets elected mayor.
CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>> MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 9
might be shacking up with her husband in m Davie D if that happens.
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BRAWL TO SETTLE IT ALL
<<< FROM PREVIOUS One reason for this ecumenical approach is that Curry is the FOP candidate. Another reason may have to do with some Democrats not being as thrilled with Alvin Brown as the official rhetoric says. Whatever the case, a key difference between Republicans and Democrats on this issue is that there is more message unity between Curry and Williams than there is between Jefferson and Alvin Brown. It’ll be interesting to see which race gets undervoted by Democrats on election night; that will reveal a lot about the cognitive biases of the electorate. For whatever it’s worth, Williams has a serious fundraising lead right now, and as he is within the margin of error in the polls, that shouldn’t abate. THE AT-LARGE GROUP 1 RACE between incumbent Kim Daniels and Republican Anna Brosche is just amazing. We have an incumbent Democratic councilwoman who once said, “You can talk about the Holocaust, but the Jews, they own everything!” Who spent campaign money advertising her book, The Demon Dictionary, in a religious magazine that few actually read. Who has a divorce trial going on right now that reveals what looks to be tax fraud, abuse of non-profit status, flouting of residency requirements, and so,
GROUP 3 has Tommy Hazouri and AT-LARGE A Geoff Youngblood facing off. Youngblood G knows how to piss the old blood off, expertly k ttalking shit about Tommy and riling him up at forum after forum. Youngblood is pretty dadgum far-right. And yet he has grown throughout this campaign, downplaying the social conservative messaging and playing up the fiscal rectitude language. Youngblood hates the HRO, though he manages to avoid the Daniels “it was a very, very bad bill pushed by the biggest meanies in the world, and oh yeah, Jews own everything” diatribes. Hazouri is the strongest advocate of the HRO currently running. Youngblood has never held office. Hazouri has held every office. And yet, Youngblood might win. Hazouri and Brown don’t seem to have any particular use for each other. There are times, apparently, when the two men share a room and the mayor doesn’t acknowledge Hazouri. Tommy doesn’t seem to mind too much. Conversely, Youngblood is a fixture at Curry campaign events, which suggests again that the Republicans believe there are coattails in unity. Just as I hailed Youngblood for playing up the fiscal conservative tropes, his dad’s church goes and puts up a “Homosexuals Repent or Go to Hell” sign. Way to reach out to the swing voters. The question now is: Will the Brown campaign successfully link this hard right messaging to Curry? AT-LARGE GROUP 5 is a binary choice between black conservative Sam Newby and his Democratic opponent, Ju’Coby Pittman. If Newby is close in this, it suggests that the Dems have serious problems with the brand. Newby is a very likable guy, but lacks the administrative experience Pittman has under her belt working with the Clara White Mission. Newby also doesn’t seem to have
daniels hasn’t authored a meaningful pieceoflegislationinfouryears.shehasn’t ledonanyissue.shemissedmorecouncil meetingsthananyoneelse,upuntillast year,whenthatshamofasouthflorida marriage started to finally go south. so much more. She has 13 cars and almost that many homes. And she somehow got money from Shad “Scoreboard” Khan and Lee Ann Rummell, in what can only be read as proof positive that the people who control Jacksonville think that the average IQ of those voting is around 82. And maybe it is. Daniels hasn’t authored a meaningful piece of legislation in four years. She hasn’t led on any issue. She missed more council meetings than anyone else, up until last year, when that sham of a South Florida marriage started to finally go south. Meanwhile, her opponent, Brosche, is a socially moderate CPA, who is briefed on the issues, available for comment in a reasonable manner, and who may be the strongest candidate of anyone running for Council. And yet Daniels may win. That would set her up to run for mayor in 2019. And me? I 10 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
a credible command of the issues; Pittman often speaks in generalities, but drills down with enough specific detail to where you’d be comfortable with her on Council from Day 1. The district races are a mixed bag. THE DISTRICT 1 race between veteran TV reporter Joyce Morgan and Republican Mike Anania doesn’t have a particularly inspiring choice either way you go. Morgan has the polish of a WJXT-TV Morning Show personality and exhibits about as much depth. Anania, meanwhile, is a stolid Republican who can be counted on to stay with the party line on votes. I guess you have to vote if you live in that district, but if you’re Melody Shacter, you may still be wondering where it all went wrong. Morgan probably wins, which will at least help the HRO/anti-discrimination ordinance go through.
“democracy – it’s the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.” – h.l. mencken
DISTRICT 2 has an impassioned Democrat, Lisa King, against a very nice Republican who doesn’t really like to debate, in Al Ferraro. The problem with that? A big part of the job of councilperson is, in fact, debating. Ferraro got the coveted Jack Daniels endorsement after the first election. King then neatly invalidated the weight of that endorsement by saying that Jack Daniels tried to sell her the endorsement first, and Al Ferraro simply was last call. King is a pit-bull and would be a formidable representative for District 2, a Democratic version of Lori Boyer. IN DISTRICT 4, it’s Scott Wilson against Ramon Day. This looks like Wilson’s to lose. Day has been a strong proponent on the HRO; however, some activists most invested in that issue believe that Wilson would be willing to listen to the issues, and were encouraged by comments he made in the League of Women Voters debate. The district breaks Republican, and Wilson’s got the money. DISTRICT 7 pits Reggie Gaffney against George Spencer. There’s some real history here. Gaffney was really close to Corrine Brown, taking consultant money from her PAC as recently as 2014 and, according to one supporter, Reggie saw Corrine as a maternal figure. Well, Gaffney’s an orphan now. Spencer is the Quick Pick. And Gaffney is toast, if a debate last week at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) building is any indication. Spencer shredded Gaffney for his Medicaid overbilling scandal. The room was stacked with his family members, who also piled on. Spencer held up a fake Quick Pick that Gaffney purportedly put out, which incorrectly said he was a Republican. Gaffney got so shook he left
the debate early, but not before praying: “Father, I ask you to remove Satan from this room.” Gaffney is done. DISTRICT 8 has Pat Lockett-Felder taking on Katrina Brown, a proxy war for Denise Lee and Corrine Brown. Katrina comes from a family of barbecue experts; PL-F, meanwhile, is known for having erected an obelisk to herself while in office way back when. Katrina has had some issues. Failure to pay taxes in her family businesses being one of them, which led to Felder stating, “I pay my taxes,” then asking, “why don’t you pay yours?” at a recent forum. Felder clearly senses weakness from the callow Katrina Brown, and Brown doesn’t have a compelling response to Felder’s personal attacks. In Districts 7 or 8, the reality is this: No matter who wins, the people are screwed. The infrastructure is decades old, and when the sun goes down, the gunshots ring out. Sometimes in the distance; sometimes not. No one running has much of a solution. At least there are fish fry events for the next few days. Everyone loves fried fish, right? Overall, in these elections, Jacksonville has a unique opportunity for transformation. Rutherford is moving on. The mayoral race represents what looks much more like a real choice than it did six months ago, when I kept writing about these guys racing each other to the middle. The Council races, well, are a mixed bag. But what was it H.L. Mencken said about democracy? “It’s the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.” That’s guaranteed to happen. AG Gancarski mail@folioweekly.com twitter/AGGancarski MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 11
WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DRINK IN MANY WAYS, THE EXPERIENCE OF DRINKING has as much to do with the setting as it does with the alcohol that’ll be filtered through your liver in the 24 hours that follow. The right ambience can transport you to a Roaring ’20s Speakeasy, a classic supper club of a bygone era, a Caribbean island, a hooligan romp reminiscent of late ’70s CBGB or, at the very least, an alternate universe where people still smoke indoors. In Northeast Florida, as much as immitigable sprawl has driven us apart, it has also allowed each neighborhood to develop its own character. For example, a cocktail in one of the bars surrounding the city’s urban core environment is a substantially different undertaking than one consumed near one of the region’s five beaches. One is Miles Davis, while the other is Jimmy Buffett. One is Donald “Don” Draper, the other is James “Sonny” Crockett. One is Kim Gordon, the other is Alana Blanchard. You get the picture. For this reason (and also because we are known to come down from our snarky, pretentious pedestal if there’s alcohol on offer) FOLIO WEEKLY deployed our talented team of writers, putting boots on the ground in distinctive neighborhoods across Northeast Florida. In the following pages, we’ve endeavored to whet your appetite by presenting a snapshot of each neighborhood’s drinking character. But, as you’re likely to be mobilized by our thirst-inducing call to action, please remember to drink responsibly. WE’VE INCLUDED A LIST OF TAXI SERVICES ON PAGE 4. So be smart, be safe and, most of all, drink up. 12 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
INSIDE DRINK
DOWNTOWN
14
RIVERSIDE + AVONDALE
16
BEACHES
18
SAN MARCO + ST. NICHOLAS
20
SOUTHSIDE
22
ST. AUGUSTINE
24
AMELIA ISLAND + FERNANDINA BEACH 26 ORANGE PARK + FLEMING ISLAND
28
DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD
1904 MUSIC HALL 19 Ocean St. N., 1904musichall.com Extensive beer and wine selections are served. Open 7 p.m. nightly. A cover for live music is charged. $ BURRITO GALLERY & BAR 21 E. Adams St., 598-2922, burritogallery.com Local art hangs on the walls, a full bar is served and the huge burritos are loaded. Live music or DJs are out on the Urban Patio during Art Walk and other events; smoking is allowed there, too. Open Mon.-Sat. Happy hour. $$ BURRO BAR 100 E. Adams St., 353-4686, burrobarjax.com Not a big venue, but one of Downtown’s hippest – you’ll often find up-and-coming indie acts gracing Burro’s small, backroom stage. Up front, there’s a nice selection of craft beers. If you get hungry, Chomp Chomp is right next door. Open 4 p.m.-2 a.m. daily. Smoking is permitted. $ THE CANDY APPLE CAFE & COCKTAILS 400 N. Hogan St., 353-9717, thecandyapplecafe.com The new restaurant, within Sweet Pete’s Candy, offers French cuisine with a Southern influence. Craft cocktails include Rock Candy Old Fashioned (Four Roses Yellow Label, Demerara syrup, Jerry Thomas decanter bitters, Sweet Pete’s black cherry swizzle), The Seminole Club (Bombay gin, fresh OJ, cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, allspice Drambuie, one egg white) and Cowford Punch (Don Q rum, housemade berry brandy, fresh lemon juice, fresh OJ, oleo-saccharum). Happy hour 5-7 p.m. weekdays, with 2-for-1 local beers, specialty HH cocktails and $5 house wine. Live music every ArtWalk Wednesday. $$
and Wed., live music Thur.-Sat. and a DJ every second and third Sat. Happy hour is 4-8 p.m. featuring $1 off all drafts and cocktails. And the staff is garbed in “burlesque wear.” INDOCHINE 21 E. Adams St., Ste. 200, 598-5303, indochinejax.com Thai food, imported beer and boutique wine. Open 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-10 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 5-10 p.m. Sat. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Live music. $$ THE JACKSONVILLE LANDING 2 Independent Dr., 353-1188, jacksonvillelanding. com Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri. and Sat.; noon-5:30 p.m. Sun. Karaoke, live music, food. Multiple bars, multiple happy hours, special events. $$ JULIETTE’S BISTRO & THE J-BAR 245 Water St., 355-6664, 791-4995, omnihotels.com The full-service bar has a wide selection of beer, wine and spirits including local craft beers. The J-Bar serves small plates of bistro-inspired cuisine. $$$ MARK’S DOWNTOWN 315 E. Bay St., 355-5099, marksjax.com The nightclub/ urban dance lounge serves a full bar in a clean, safe environment. Open 4-10 p.m. Mon.; 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Tue.-Fri.; 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Sat. A DJ spins every Fri. and Sat. Happy hour is 4-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri., featuring deeply discounted liquor drinks, wines and beers. $$ MAVERICKS Jax Landing, 2 Independent Dr., 356-1110, mavericksatthelanding.com The live music venue, often featuring national acts, is open 8 p.m. Thur.-Sat., serving specialty drinks and a full bar. $$
DOS GATOS: Across from historic Florida Theatre, Dos Gatos’ handpicked cocktailians serve classic craft cocktails.
CLUB TSI LIVE 333 E. Bay St., 424-3531, clubtsilive.blogspot.com Dance club, full bar served, TV, outdoor seating, smoking is allowed, cover charge, DJ. $ DIVE BAR 331 E. Bay St., 359-9090 The full liquor bar is open 8 p.m.-2 a.m. daily. There’s a DJ, live music, and dancing. $ DOS GATOS 123 E. Forsyth St., 354-0666 Craft cocktails and beers are served. Open 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Fri., 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Sat. and Sun. Karaoke on Mon., trivia on Thur. A DJ spins most nights. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; $3 drafts, $4 premium wells, $5 wine. $$ DUKE’S PLACE 521 W. Forsyth St., 627-5617 Jazz club and lounge serves a full bar. Open 5 p.m.-mid. daily. A DJ or live music on weekends. $ FIONN MACCOOL’S IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 176, 2 Independent Dr., 374-1547, fionnmacs.com This popular pub offers a full bar, Irish drinks and casual dining with an uptown Irish atmosphere. Live music daily. $$ HOURGLASS PUB 345 E. Bay St., 469-1719, hourglasspub.com The progressive craft beer, craft coffee and hookah bar has the ultimate draw for Millennials: a vintage arcade. Open Tue.Sun. for dinner and late-night, Hourglass has Karaoke Sun.
NORTHSTAR PIZZA BAR & SUBSTATION 119 E. Bay St., 860-5451, northstarsubstation.com Brick-oven-baked pizzas, 52 draft beers, wine and liquor are served in a laid-back setting. Improv 8-10 p.m. every weekend, plus pool, darts, videos. Dine indoors or out. Karaoke some Sats. Open 4 pm. Tue.-Sat. Live music Thur. and Sat. DJs, too. Happy hour $1 off all drafts. The beer selection is on continuous rotation. $ SHANTYTOWN 22 W. Sixth St., 798-8222 It’s a small dive that has local live music and dancing, and beer, wine and cider. Smoking is allowed. Happy hour is 4-7 p.m. daily; check for specials. THREE LAYERS COFFEEHOUSE 1602 Walnut St., Springfield, 355-9791, threelayersacoffeehouse.com This coffeehouse offers beer (featuring Bold City Brewery beers) and wine, desserts and pastries, light lunches. Indoors and courtyard dining. Local artists’ works on the walls. Free Wi-Fi. Live music Wed.-Sun. The Cellar is an adjacent wine bar. $$ UNDERBELLY 113 E. Bay St., 699-8186, underbellylive.com A full bar, including local craft brews, is served in The Elbow area. Open 5 p.m.-2 a.m. on event nights. A cover is charged. Karaoke and/or a DJ on occasion. As far as live music goes, the folks here ask that you check Folio Weekly listings and/ or their ad in our pages to see what local or national bands are scheduled. Happy hour; $3 wells, $1 off all drafts. $
DOWNTOWN + SPRINGFIELD CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>>
MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 13
DOWNTOWN + SPRINGFIELD
BLURRED DOWNTOWN VISION DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD <<< FROM PREVIOUS
THE VOLSTEAD 115 W. Adams St., 414-3171, thevolsteadjax.com An extensive small-batch whiskey and Scotch collection and handcrafted classic cocktails are served by experienced mixologists in an intimate, candle-lit Downtown lounge inspired by the spirit of the Roaring ’20s. Open 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Sat., 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Sun. Live music during First Wednesday ArtWalk. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; $3 single well, $5 double well, $5 wine, $2 PBR and Rolling Rock. The changing craft cocktail menu features fresh ingredients and pairings. $$$ ZODIAC BAR & GRILL 120 W. Adams St., 354-8283, thezodiacbarandgrill.com Mediterranean cuisine and American fare in a casual spot, paninis, vegetarian dishes. A full bar is served. Daily lunch buffet. Espressos, hookahs. Happy hour Wed.-Sat. $
RIVERSIDE, AVONDALE, WESTSIDE
(All venues in Riverside unless otherwise noted.) 13 GYPSIES 887 Stockton St., 389-0330, 13gypsies.com The intimate bistro serves beer and wine and authentic Mediterranean cuisine. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. $$ ACROSS THE STREET 948 Edgewood Ave. S., 683-4182 Serving beer, the concert venue is open 1 p.m.-2 a.m. daily. $ ALEWIFE CRAFT BEER BOTTLE SHOP & TASTING ROOM 1035 Park St., 575-4951, alewifebottleshop.com The brick-walled establishment is a haven for beer geeks, offering a boatload of craft bottled and canned ales, beers and lagers by American craft brewers. Open noon Tue.-Sun. Rotating daily specials on draft selections and package sales. There are six rotating taps and a tasting bar, or sip a cold one browsing the shelves. Board games. Beer School classes are occasionally offered. Small corkage fees apply. AL’S PIZZA 1620 Margaret St., Ste. 201, 388-8384 See General Listing. BIRDIES 1044 Park St., 5 Points, 356-4444, birdiesfivepoints.com The art-centric bar boasts a loyal and diverse patronage. A full bar is served 4 p.m.-2 a.m. daily. There are pool tables and TVs; nightly DJs include Mayday, Kev, Cry Havoc, Clayto and Djork, Dialectable Bets and BJoy. The draft and bottle/ can beer selection is extensive. Happy hour is held early and late; all-day specials rotate weekly. BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, blacksheep5points.com Awesome rooftop bar. Hand-crafted cuisine and cocktails are served by a gracious staff. The signature cocktails feature fresh ingredients; extensive wine list. Open daily. Happy hour is 3-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 3-10 p.m. Sun. with discounted wine, beer and specialty cocktails. $$$
HAPPY HOUR ||| THE VOLSTEAD IN MY BUSINESS, I DRINK WITH a lot of people who are in government, both locally and outside Duval County, and when they come to town, this is where I take them. Volstead has been around for more than a year now, and it’s a spacious speakeasy-type lounge, with comfortable chairs throughout, and a wraparound bar that fills up around happy hour with people who live and work in the area, including some of the region’s premier power brokers in media and policy circles. The drinks I get when I go are variations on the classics. Check out the remix of a Tom Collins, The Hoax, which enlivens the tried-and-true standard with the addition of basil and ginger. Also, if you want to wobble out, try a couple of Adams Street Sazeracs, like I did when talking to a source a while back (I may have said some things that were less than politic. Of course, so did he, so we have something on each other).
THE PURISTS WILL KICK MY ASS FOR LUMPING THESE TOGETHER. I might kick my own ass for lumping these together. But the reality is this: Drinking in the Downtown and Springfield areas is a different experience than drinking in Riverside (where the Post/King and Five Points areas are likewise not strictly contiguous but still are close enough to stumble from one to another, though probably not back again in the same night). I’ve seen most of the changes of the last quarter-century. The old folks remember the Milk Bar 25 to 30 years ago Downtown and the Pearl in Springfield — which had a really good initial run before the crowd fell off, then built up with the kinds of people you want to avoid in the urban core, then died for good. In its current state, the bar scene between the Main Street Bridge and Eighth Street has something for almost everyone right now. Let’s talk about a few options at your avail. buzz on with little more than a ten-spot. If you’re a juggalo, they have cold Faygos in a cooler. Like beer? You can get the usual stuff for two or three bucks depending on the day. They have some ciders on tap, and some assorted stuff in bottles. The neighborhood has its share of locals and panhandlers, reinforcing the spot as sort of a frontier outpost of Springfield’s perpetual gentrification. After a couple of drinks, you won’t mind. And there’s a backyard, along with plenty of secluded areas nearby, should you need to have a quiet conversation about something besides alcohol.
THE BLIND RABBIT WHISKEY BAR 901 King St., 337-0146, theblindrabbitwhiskeybar.com 311 Third St. N., Ste. 107, Jax Beach, 595-5915 This new-ish gastropub has an extensive beer selection, including 10 local drafts, and stellar whiskey offerings. Open 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Lunch and dinner are served. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. daily, all day Mon. and Wed.; $2.50 wells, $2.50 drafts, $4 house wines. $$ BLUEFISH RESTAURANT & OYSTER BAR 3551 St. Johns Ave., Avondale, 387-0700 Two large bars with a wide selection of bottle and craft beer, wine, specialty drinks, food. No smoking. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thur., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri. and Sat. No cover. TVs. Happy hour; $5 martinis, $4 wine, $3 wells. $$ BOOT RACK SALOON 4751 Lenox Ave., Westside, 384-7090 A small, comfortable, friendly beer and wine joint. There are pool tables, great music from the jukebox, and smoking is allowed. Open daily from 3 p.m.-2 a.m. $
WESTSIDE + RIVERSIDE + AVONDALE CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>> 14 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
DIVE ||| SHANTYTOWN
THE NAME ON JACKSONVILLE’S quintessential dive bar has a double meaning. First of all, it’s in a ramshackle building that looks like it’s one good storm away from no longer being a building anymore. Second, the name is derived from a song by pre-Marleyreggae singer Desmond Dekker — despite that copy of Legend you wore out in college, Bob didn’t invent the genre. Shantytown is not the place you go on your business expense account; really, if you aren’t paying a nominal cover to see a local act on the cramped stage, you can get in and out, and get a
ENTERTAINMENT ||| TSI
SMART PEOPLE TRY TO DELAY CAREERS and mortgages for as long as possible. Which is where TSI comes in. They don’t have a full liquor license, but you can get a bottle of champagne from the bar, as well as a token assortment of wines and a few beers. TSI is not my first choice for a solitary drink. However, when the drinking happens in conjunction with an event only they would host — like the Crunchay 24 (a full 24 hours of local DJs doing EDM) — the vibe is like nothing else here in Jacksonville, a new school club with an old school sensibility that might be the true
spiritual progeny of the underground spots that came before it.
UPSCALE ||| UPTOWN MARKET
THERE ARE A FEW PLACES IN Northeast Florida that effortlessly combine a gourmet’s menu and culinary touch with an equally sophisticated full bar. With a rotating list of daily specials to eat, and a full bar as well, Uptown (at Third and Main in Springfield) is that clean, well-lit place Springfield pioneers take out-oftown visitors to show them a neighborhood in the full flower of revitalization. What to drink, though? Why not their original cocktails? Whither the piquancy of the Bacardi vehicle, their justly acclaimed Cucumber Mojito? How about the peachy Jax-Hattan? After a few, you will feel like you’re in the Big Apple, or at least halfway there. Or the citrusy Clove Club, a botanical blend made with St. Augustine gin? As opposed to Shantytown, this is definitely a corporate expense account spot, as lunchtime brings out a lot of neckties and cellphones on the table. AG Gancarski mail@folioweekly.com twitter/AGGancarski
MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 15
RIVERSIDE + AVONDALE
GENTRIFICATION: DRINK IT IN HAPPY HOUR ||| DERBY ON PARK POINTED BOLDLY AT THE TRAFFIC circle’s blinking light is the recently refreshed Derby on Park, formerly a greasy spoon of neighborhood note that has been transformed into a nicely-appointed local hangout. The covered patio beckons at happy hour and should stay cool through the summer due to good use of materials, shade, and fans that keep the air moving without being intrusive. Sitting on the patio is comfortable and feels distinctly Floridian, except for in some spaces near the back (which are dark enough to make diners forget they’re drinking spring cocktails in a state famous for sun porches). Overall, Derby on Park offers a remarkably pleasant and locally resonant outdoor experience. The cocktail list could stand the type of local awareness that was put into the spatial design. It leans somewhat heavily on gimmicks and feels a bit unfocused, where it might make more sense to take some inspiration from Hemingway. Happy hour specials are good ($3 wells/domestics, $4 house wines and cocktails), however, and small plates shine. Fried ricotta bruschetta pairs nicely with an Old Fashioned, and gets you out the door for less than $15 after tax and tip if you get in before 7 p.m.
AS THE CHILDREN OF BABY BOOMERS AGE, we’re witnessing a national migration back to urban neighborhoods. The Tenderloin. Bushwick. Oakland. Wynwood. The entire city of Detroit. Once “dangerous,” now desirable. Discussions of the dark sides of gentrification notwithstanding, the nation demands the closeness and community of walkable, historical, and socially-mixed communities. As beltway residents descend upon these neighborhoods, they bring with them a taste for food, drink, music, and art. A tour of Riverside (and Avondale, for that matter) yields a view of this transformation. Stroll south down King DIVE ||| THE SILVER COW ONE OF THE AREA’S NEWEST establishments is The Silver Cow, a small spot at the historic Whiteway Corner. The layout immediately recalls Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill or the Bowery’s bars, though the lack of open air frontage departs from each. Narrow in berth and dim in lumen, the Cow tells you that this is a place for speaking quietly but thoughtfully, or for gathering your friends to straddle the lines between adulthood with a hilariously-large charcuterie presentation (mounted on a whole barrel stave) and recently-departed youth with a game of Cards Against Humanity. It is a sort of Millennial-sophisticate dive — a new generation’s pub serving Mediterranean-inspired tapas that manage to be tasty without assuming a declarative posture, whether ridiculous or classy. That is for you to decide. As far as the drinks go, The Silver Cow has the type of craft beer list we’ve come to expect from independent bars, and the staff seems comfortable making recommendations from that list without taking it too seriously. They seem less comfortable with the wine selection, but prices here don’t demand som-level conversations, so this isn’t really a bad mark, but a recommendation to come with some sense of what you like.
LATE NIGHT ||| RAIN DOGS
IF YOU’RE STILL OUT ON PARK STREET later in the evening, you’ll inevitably hear a 16 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
Street and one passes drab warehouses, a craft brewery, some residential buildings, and, suddenly, a small, dense collection of bars (dense might be stretching it as we’re talking about eight bars in four blocks) that have, for the most part, opened in the past 10 years.
cacophony rise from the middle of the block, as drinkers on Rain Dogs’ and Birdie’s porches compete for most rowdy. But enter Rain Dogs and you’ll be greeted by a surprisingly refreshing experience. This is by no means an upscale bar, but it manages to be a gathering place that never descends into the endearingly smelly grossness that marks most youthful haunts. Recessed frontage plays host to one of the city’s most consistently interesting displays of pop art. The porch gets loud and crowded, but rarely uncomfortable or ridiculous. Rain Dog’s cool floors, clean bathrooms, and calm bartenders inspire crowds to maintain their heads in a way that’s almost indicative of maturity — local musician and bar visionary
Christina Wagner’s touch is obvious here. The back of the establishment also houses a small venue space that recalls a cramped West Village jazz club, where you’ll hear local indie and punk bands for a small cover. Rain Dogs has an extensive beer list — though, with the opening of no less than three craft beer bars and tasting rooms within casting distance, this is less of a value proposition than it might have been five years ago. Still, Rain Dogs is a fun place that has elevated the neighborhood, both in reasons to be in Five Points and in standards for late-night adult environments.
UPSCALE ||| ORSAY
THE MOST REFINED, MOST ADULT drinking experience to be found in the area is just down
the road in Avondale. Of all the spots in the city where one can eat a plate of raw bivalves by hand, none civilizes the experience like Orsay. This is a restaurant with a true bar program. Spirits Director Alex Smith and Bar Manager Adam Adams have assembled a tour de force of libations ranging from bespoke classics like the Vesper to left-field moderns like the Tenenbaum Royale that would feel perfectly at home at Broussard’s or Employees Only. Orsay’s viticean alcohols impress as well. The wine list is remarkable in that it puts in the hands of by-the-glass drinkers boutique wines not often attainable in portions smaller than .750 ml. Glasses of Pride Mountain’s bright and aromatic Viognier can be enjoyed without breaking the bank. Orsay shines in the details. The lighting is modern and extensive without being too bright and, even when the bar packs out, the noise is never intrusive. The path from the social lounge to the formal dining room is through a hallway that recalls a Russian River cellar tunnel much more than the route to the wash closet. Orsay is the dining experience against which all new entries to Riverside’s high-end scene should be comparing themselves. Spencer Pittman mail@folioweekly.com twitter/AlcesBull
RIVERSIDE AVONDALE WESTSIDE <<< FROM PREVIOUS
(All venues in Riverside unless otherwise noted.) BREW FIVE POINTS 1024 Park St., Five Points, 374-5789, brewfivepoints. com The local craft beer, espresso, coffee and wine bar has rotating hand-selected featured drafts and more than 75 canned craft beers. Also serving sodas, tea and a limited menu. Open 7:30 a.m.-mid. Tue.-Sat., 9 a.m.-mid. Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun., 4 p.m.-mid. Mon. Happy hour 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and all day Sunday; $1 off drafts, $4 wines. $$ BRICK RESTAURANT 3585 St. Johns Ave., Avondale, 387-0606, brickofavondale.com This casual Avondale eatery, open daily, serves a full bar. $$$ CARMINE’S PIE HOUSE 2677 Forbes St., 387-1400, carminespiehouse.com Craft beers, microbrews. Open 11 a.m.-10:20 p.m. Mon.Sat., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun. Happy hour 2-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; $1.50 slices and half-price Bold City, Intuition and domestic drafts, half-price house wine; 8 p.m.-close Tue. and Wed., it’s half-price Bold City, Intuition and domestic drafts, half-price house wine. Trivia every Mon. $$ CASBAH CAFE 3628 St. Johns Ave., Avondale, 981-9966, thecasbahcafe.com Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine and beer and wine on the patio or in hookah lounge, where customers sit on ottomans at low tables. Wi-Fi is available, belly dancers perform some nights, and hookah pipes are offered for smoking flavored tobacco. Live jazz on Sun. $$ DERBY ON PARK 1068 Park St., 379-3343 New owners Cheryl and Neil Corrado offer innovative New American cuisine with a Southern flair in the heart of 5 Points. Dine inside or out on the covered patio. The full bar’s skilled mixologists serve signature drinks (Derby Peach & Bacon Bloody Mary), nightly specials. Live music on weekends. Happy hour is 3-7 p.m. daily, featuring $3 wells, $4 craft draft; also 9 p.m.-mid. Fri. and Sat.
HARPOON LOUIE’S 4070 Herschel St., Ste. 8, Avondale, 389-5631 Locally-owned-andoperated, Harp’s serves beer, wine and a full menu. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat. and Sun. Trivia, live music, bingo. $$ INTUITION ALE WORKS 720 King St., 683-7720, intuitionaleworks.com The brewery creates crafts beers and offers a rotating selection of 20 of them in its casual, relaxed taproom, staffed with knowledgeable brewers. Some of the creations are only available in the taproom. Live music, TVs. Open 3-11 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 1-11 p.m. Sat. $ KICKBACKS GASTROPUB, GOOZLEPIPE & GUTTYWORKS 910 King St., 388-9551 Open every day, 20 hours a day 7 a.m.-3 a.m., with a full bar of more than 655 bottled beers and another 84 on tap. An innovative take on standard pub fare is offered. Live music on Sun. Flatscreen TVs. Smoking allowed. Happy hour 2-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; $1 off drafts, $2 off wells. Outdoor seating. The adjoining venue Goozlepipe & Guttyworks features a steampunk décor and new menu. $$ THE LOFT 925 King St., 551-1350, loftjax.com This dance club/bar serves a full bar; no menu. Open 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Fri. TVs, live music and DJs. Karaoke 10 p.m.-close Tue.; all-request Wed. with DJ Robin. Mixed-format video dance party nights with DJs Wes Reed and Josh Kemp Thur.; Josh Kemp on Fri.; Wes Reed on Sat. A keg of PBR is given away between 9:30-10:30 p.m. every Thur. $$ LOLA’S BURRITO JOINT 1522 King St., 738-7181, lolasburritojoint.com More than 50 craft beers, some local, as well as signature margaritas. Sunday brunch has bottomless mimosas. Open 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun. Happy hour 2-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; $1.47 domestic drafts, $2.47 Bold City, Intuition taps, Duke, Killer Whale, I-10, Pale ale; $2.50 wells, half-off margaritas, $2 house wines. $$ MELLOW MUSHROOM 3611 St. Johns Ave., Avondale, 388-0200, mellowmushroom.com Mellow Mushroom has 35 beers on tap – some local crafts – and a full bar and Moscow Mule on draft. Happy hour all day, every day. Live music at some locations Thur.-Sat. Outside dining. Games, TVs. Trivia every Mon. Open 11 a.m.- 2 a.m. daily. Happy hour
ACROSS THE STREET: Come for $3 craft beers, stay for open mic, or local and touring bands playing ska, punk and rock until 2 a.m.
ECLIPSE 4219 St. Johns Ave., Avondale, 387-3582, eclipsejax. com A $5 cover is charged. Karaoke; DJs spin a variety of genres, dancing. Open 9 p.m.-2 a.m. daily. $ EUROPEAN STREET CAFE 2753 Park St., 384-9999 See San Marco. THE GARAGE 2692 Post St., 374-2581, garagejax.com The actual garage dates to 1929; this casual pub offers a full bar, a full menu and patio games – giant Jenga and cornhole. Smoking is allowed. Open 4 p.m.-3 a.m. Mon.-Thur., 3 p.m.-3 a.m. Fri., noon-3 a.m. Sat. and Sun. Trivia 8 p.m. every Tue. Happy hour 4-6:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; $1 off wells and drafts, $4 Pinnacle flavored vodka. $$
Mon.-Fri.; $1 off all drafts, craft cocktails and glasses of wine, $5 select apps. $$ METRO ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX 859 Willowbranch Ave., 388-8719, metrojax.com A full bar is served, smoking allowed. Weekend cover charge. Games, jukebox, TVs, Karaoke Sun.-Wed., weekend DJs. Happy hour is half-off everything. Open 2 p.m.-2 a.m. daily. $$ MOJO NO. 4 URBAN BBQ & WHISKEY BAR 3572 St. Johns Ave., Avondale, 381-6670, mojobbq.com Extensive collection of whiskeys from around the world, massive bottled beer selection. Carolina-style barbecue, shrimp and grits, specialty cocktails. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun.-Thur., till 2 a.m. Fri. and Sat. Happy hour 3-7 p.m.
WESTSIDE + RIVERSIDE + AVONDALE CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>> MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 17
THE BEACHES
YOUR HAPPY PLACE HAPPY HOUR ||| ZETA BREWING COMPANY ZETA BREWING COMPANY (ON THE corner of First Avenue North and Second Street in Jax Beach) has one of the longest happy hours you’ll find in Northeast Florida. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., you can order a $3 house wine or well drink or the featured draft of the day or opt for a $3.50 draft beer — many of which are brewed in-house — from an extensive list of around 30 beers. On a recent visit, I ordered Zeta’s American Garage, an IPA; very hoppy, high in alcohol by volume, and most important, at $3.50, it’s cost-efficient. And when it’s time to soak up some of that alcohol consumed over the course of eight hours of happiness, Zeta serves some solid bar food, including a delicious Srirachi chicken pizza. For the weekend crowd, Zeta plays host to one of the best Sunday Brunch specials at the beach, with $8 bottomless mimosas from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Though Zeta happy hour ends at 7 p.m., you can stop back in for a $3 Fireball shot and other late-night drink specials, starting up at 10 p.m. and running until they shut the place down.
THE BEACHES’ LOCALS KNOW HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF ANY SITUATION. So a Category 2 hurricane is expected to hit the coast. Is it a downer? Maybe. Or maybe it’s the perfect time to catch the storm surf and host a hurricane party. The only real downside to living at the beach is the drive to town, especially if you work anywhere west of San Pablo Road. So, when it’s 4:55 on Friday afternoon, and you’re one of those thousands UPSCALE ||| FLASK & CANNON
who cross the ditch for your day job, there are now two things on your mind: traffic and happy hour.
THE BEACH NOW HOSTS THE NEWEST V Pizza location, which also houses the upscale cocktail lounge Flask & Cannon (on the corner of First Street and Fifth Avenue North). The libations list isn’t too lengthy, yet the drinks are unforgettable. You can order your typical vodka water or draft beer, or make another choice: Try one of their signature drinks. Go with the signature drink. On a recent visit, I spotted a couple drinking out of a pineapple with two straws, decorated with party umbrellas and swinging plastic monkeys; it’s the Santiago & Dunbar. Easily convinced, I order the drink. Watching the bartender make the Santiago & Dunbar (crushed ice, lime, and pineapple, with Abbott’s bitters and rum) — a process that took no less than five minutes — is almost half the fun and worth the wait. Surprisingly, it doesn’t taste like pineapple, but a sort of smoky fruit hybrid. By now, there are almost four more Santiago & Dunbar drinkers at the bar. Might be time to move on.
Flying Iguana takes that desire to its Benihana limits, this elevated taqueria’s drink menu lands right on trend. For starters, the cocktail list, featuring drinks made with fresh fruit and high-quality liquor — like blood orange or watermelon margaritas, or Sangria Rojo — is a nod to the exalted Mexican street food culture that’s grown increasingly popular in the West Coast foodie-cities in which Head Chef Josh Agan sharpened his knife. But it’s the tequila menu, featuring more than 100 variations of the distilled agave spirit, that really makes the Iguana a must-visit beaches watering hole. From the cheap (Cuervo Gold) to the reasonable (1800 Reserva) to the you’re-eitherShad-Khan-or-you’ve-had-too-much-tequila (Don Julio Real Anejo), Flying Iguana’s got the goods to help you get down on the dance floor (literally and figuratively), which is populated nightly and facilitated by local musicians.
TEQUILA ||| FLYING IGUANA
DIVE ||| GINGER’S PLACE: DIVE
REGARDLESS OF WHICH FOOD TREND signifier is used — organic, natural, slow, farm to table, artisanal, local — it’s clear that, as a society, we have an ever-increasing desire to know where our food comes from. And while the table-side guacamole preparation/ demonstration at North Beach Town Center’s 18 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
FAMILY-OWNED THROUGH THREE generations, Ginger’s Place (on Third Street and Third Avenue South in Jax Beach) opened in 1976 and is now operated by Candy Breidert. Ginger’s is known for its cheap drinks. If it’s your first visit, you’re likely to get the head turn from the many loyal regulars when you walk in. You can
order damn near anything: from beer to Jell-O shots or, if you’re daring (and you don’t mind waking up with a headache), the famous Rocket Bomb — grenadine, blue curaçao, Smirnoff Ice and vodka. As you sit happily sipping your Rocket Bomb, you may be visited by a ghost. This is no joke. According to Breidert, the bar is considered haunted by at least one spirit, the original Ginger’s grandmother. “We were even featured on <<Local Haunts>>,” she says. The ghosts let their presence be known, Breidert says, “We’re always picking up dimes on the ground. No one’s even dropping them. Every day, there are more mysterious dimes left behind.” Haunted or not, Ginger’s is a scary good time.
LATE NIGHT ||| LYNCH’S IRISH PUB
LYNCH’S (ON FIRST STREET BETWEEN Fourth and Fifth Avenue North in Jax Beach) is a staple of the Beaches’ downtown nightlife. Like any good Irish pub, Lynch’s has the green. Not green beer, or shamrocks, but thousands of greenbacks plastered to the walls and ceiling. Connor Doherty, an eight-year bartending veteran there, estimates there are $20,000 worth of bills — mostly ones and fives — affixed to Lynch’s many nooks and crannies. “On a weekly basis, we can get up to $300 to add to the collection. We
actually have close to $3,000 in the back waiting to be taped up,” he laughs.
Drink specials, including the daily $2 beer, and live music are what keep the pub packed. Doherty says on a typical Friday night, the bar usually hits capacity by 10:30 p.m. A downside to partying at Lynch’s? You will leave smelling like smoke. An upside to parting at Lynch’s? You may have the opportunity to dance with the infamous Snake Hips — an older woman, most likely unaware of her nickname, always seen bumping around, flailing her arms and dancing the night away at the pub. Unfortunately, I was not graced with her lively presence on my latest visit. Kathryn Schoettler mail@folioweekly.com
RIVERSIDE AVONDALE WESTSIDE <<< FROM PREVIOUS
daily; $6 crafted cocktails, $5 wine, $4 premium liquor, $3 drafts. $$ MOON RIVER PIZZA 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., Murray Hill, 389-4442 See Amelia Island. MOSSFIRE GRILL & LOUNGE 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire.com Southwestern and New American fusion cuisine, massive tequila selection, friendly bartenders. Happy hour 3-7 daily; $3.50 house margaritas, $4 glass house wine, discounted draft beer, well liquor drinks. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. $$ O’BROTHERS IRISH PUB 1521 Margaret St., 854-9300, obrothersirishpub.com The casual joint has a full bar, traditional Irish fare and American favorites. Outdoor patio dining is available, where smoking is allowed. Open noon Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m. Sat. and Sun. Games, TVs; trivia every Thur. Happy hour 3-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 p.m.-close nightly; $1 off domestic and microbrew drafts, $3 wells, $5 wines. $$ PARK PLACE LOUNGE 931 King St., 389-6616 A fun hang for gays and straights alike in the King Street District. Stiff drinks, casual atmosphere, great dancing, and no cover. Also, pool tables and darts. Open noon-2 a.m. $ RAIN DOGS 1045 Park St., 5 Points, 379-4969 Five Points’ living room has eclectic brews and wines, homemade sangria, coffees, teas. Local and national live music and DJs. Community bookshelf, rotating art shows. Open 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Sun.-Fri., noon-mid. Sat. Pinball, classic arcade games, TVs. Karaoke 9:30 p.m. Thur., trivia 7:45 p.m. Mon. Happy hour 4-7 p.m.; $1 off drafts and wine. $ RESTAURANT ORSAY 3630 Park St., 381-0909, restaurantorsay.com The craft
expanding. Open daily. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. daily, with $1 off all drafts, $4 wines. The Annex next door (big-screen TVs, games, chorizo, tacos, burgers) has HH 4-8 p.m. with $3 and $4 drafts, $1 off all bottled and can beers. $$ BW TAPA THAT 820 Lomax St., Five Points, 376-9911, tapathat.com Traditional tapas-style service, using locally and organically grown items as much as possible. Beer and wine are served. Dine outdoors or inside. $$ TOM & BETTY’S RESTAURANT 4409 Roosevelt Blvd., Ortega, 387-3311,tomandbettys. com For 45 years, Tom & Betty’s has been a Northeast Florida institution. Daily happy hour with $1.75 domestic bottles. Live bands every Fri.; Karaoke every Sat. $$ WEST INN LOUNGE 3644 St. Johns Ave., Avondale, 389-1131 This spot has an attached liquor store and heated outdoor patio. A full bar is served; daily specials. A limited food menu is available. Smoking is allowed. Pool tables, a jukebox, TVs. Karaoke every Mon.; live music and/or DJs on Fri. Open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. daily. Happy hour 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; $1 domestic draft, $5 domestic pitchers and shot specials. $
THE BEACHES
(All venues are in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted.)
AL’S PIZZA 303 Atlantic Blvd., Beaches Town Center, Atlantic Beach, 249-0002 635 A1A, Ponte Vedra, 543-1494 See General Listing. AZURÉA 1 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-7402, oneoceanresort.com In One Ocean Resort hotel, Azuréa offers an extensive wine list, a full bar and oceanfront dining. $$$$ BILLY’S BOAT HOUSE GRILL 2321 Beach Blvd., 241-9771, billysboathousegrill.com At Beach Marine with an Intracoastal Waterway vista, Billy’s serves a full bar, fresh local seafood and steaks. Trivia every
FLYING IGUANA: Tex-Mex and craft tequila cocktails blend with an electric nightlife scene to turn up the heat at the Beaches’ popular hotspot.
cocktails get the same attention to detail as the cuisine. Based on a pre-Prohibition tradition, the cocktails feature an extensive whiskey/whisky selection as well as American craft spirits. Open 4-10 p.m. Mon.-Wed., 4-11 p.m. Thur., 4 p.m.-mid. Fri. and Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun. Happy hour is termed Cocktail Hour here, 4-7 p.m., Night Caps 10-11 p.m. Thur., 10 p.m.-mid. Fri. and Sat. $$$ ROGUE BAR 927 King St., Murray Hill, 551-1350, roguejax.com Rogue has the basics: rock ’n’ roll, whiskey and tacos. A full bar is served. Open 5 p.m.-2 a.m. daily. Darts, TVs; trivia 8 p.m. Wed. Photo ops in the bathtub. Buy a set of Mason jar rings; throw them and if you ring a bottle behind the bar, you get a free shot from that bottle. Happy hour 5-7 p.m. daily; one free taco with every purchased drink. $ SILVER COW 1506 King St., 379-6968, silvercowjax.com, annexjax. com Laid-back, cozy, subdued craft beer bar serves a wide selection of craft beers and wines. The full menu is ever-
Mon., oyster and wing specials every Thur. Live music Wed.-Sun. $$ THE BLIND RABBIT WHISKEY BAR 311 Third St. N., Ste. 107, 595-5915 See Riverside. BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS 2400 S. Third St., Ste. 201 See Riverside. BO’S CORAL REEF COCKTAIL LOUNGE 201 Fifth Ave. N., 246-9874 A favorite of the Beachside LGBT community, Bo’s serves a full bar. There’s an outside patio where smoking is allowed. Weekends feature drag shows, for which there’s a cover charge. DJs, jukebox, videos. Happy hour noon-8 p.m. Fri.; $2 drafts, $2.75 wells, $3.75 calls. $$ BRASS ANCHOR PUB 2292 Mayport Rd., Ste. 35, Atlantic Beach, 249-0301 The bar & grill is open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Karaoke Sat. night.
THE BEACHES CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>> MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 19
SAN + ST. SAN MARCO MARCO + ST. NICHOLAS NICHOLAS
DRINKING DRINKING AMONG AMONG SAINTS SAINTS (& (& SINNERS) SINNERS) HAPPY HOUR ||| SIDECAR HAPPY HOUR ||| SIDECAR WE’VE SEEN THIS BEFORE. Edison light
WE’VECheck. SEENExposed-pipe THIS BEFORE. Edison light Dim bulbs? ceiling? Check. bulbs? Check. Exposed-pipe ceiling? Check. lighting, communal tables, reclaimed wood? Dim Check, lighting, communal wood? craft Check, check, and check. Sotables, bring reclaimed on the expensive check, and check. So bring on the expensive craft cocktails, right? cocktails, Not so right? fast. Not so Sidecar,fast. on Hendricks Avenue, may have the look Hendricks Avenue, may have the look of aSidecar, Roaringon’20s prohibition-subverting speakeasy, of a Roaring ’20s prohibition-subverting speakeasy, but it’s no secret they’ve got one of the best happy but it’sthis no side secret oneEach of the best happy hours of they’ve the St. got Johns. afternoon, hours this side of the St. Johns. Each afternoon, Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., Sidecar Monday Friday from 4 to 7Manhattans, p.m., Sidecar offers upthrough $6 classic cocktails (your offers up $6 classic cocktails (your Manhattans, your Old Fashioneds, your Vespers) as the urban your post-work Old Fashioneds, Vespers) as the urban core crowdyour undoes a proverbial top core post-work crowd undoes a proverbial top button, loosens their collective proverbial tie, button, loosens their collective proverbial tie, and waits for the very real traffic surrounding and waits for very real traffic surrounding Downtown to the subside. Downtown to subside. Bartender Robert says he makes more Old Bartender Robert says else he makes more Fashioneds than anything and that anyOld duo Fashioneds than anything else and that any duo who orders an Old Fashioned and a Moscow Mule who orders and aOld Moscow Mule is very likelyantoOld be Fashioned on a first date. Fashioneds is very likely onmain a firstengines date. Old Fashioneds have been onetoofbethe driving the have been one of the main engines driving the and resurgence of craft cocktails across the country, resurgence of craft cocktails across the country, the drink has become not a must-do, but a must- and , but a mustthe drinkforhas become not a must-do do-well any establishment seeking credibility. do-well any establishment seeking Sidecar’sforversion is straightforward andcredibility. simple (the Sidecar’s version is straightforward and simple way it should be), but a little on the sweet side. (the If way it should be), but a little on the sweet side.the If you prefer the taste of rye whiskey over citrus, you prefer the taste of rye whiskey over citrus, the Sidecar’s Sazerac is a good choice. Sidecar’s Sazerac is a good choice.
UPSCALE ||| GRAPE & GRAIN EXCHANGE UPSCALE ||| GRAPE & GRAIN ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT GRAPE EXCHANGE
& Grain (located on ABOUT San Marco ONE OF Exchange THE BEST THINGS GRAPE Boulevard, in the heart of San Square) & Grain Exchange (located on Marco San Marco is that it allows two relatively upscale, Boulevard, in thepatrons heart of San Marco Square) yet down-to-earth experiences in the same place. is that it allows patrons two relatively upscale, The front part of Grape & Grain lit yet down-to-earth experiences in — thewhether same place. up late-afternoon sunshine or the streetlights Thebyfront part of Grape & Grain — whether lit on square — is bright and or open. bar and up the by late-afternoon sunshine the A streetlights several hightops, sharing a bottle of on the square — perfect is brightfor and open. A bar and wine and some charcuterie give several hightops, perfect foramong sharingfriends, a bottle of the a communal feel. among Walk toward the wineplace and some charcuterie friends, give bookshelves in the backfeel. andWalk you’lltoward be metthe with the place a communal abookshelves much darker, much more in the back andintimate you’ll beexperience, met with with velvet curtains, hightops and a much darker, muchcandlelit more intimate experience, another bar,curtains, backed by a masculine darkand wood with velvet candlelit hightops mantle. you choose another Regardless bar, backed of bywhere a masculine dark to wood settle, drink offerings are you exceptional. mantle.the Regardless of where choose to Tripling as aofferings retail shop, & Grain settle, the drink areGrape exceptional. Exchange a well-curated selection Triplingoffers as a retail shop, Grape & Grain of wines. The drink menu consists of classic Exchange offers a well-curated selection cocktails (Manhattan, Oldconsists Fashioned, of wines. The drink menu of classic Hemingway Daiquiri), aOld rotating seasonal cocktails (Manhattan, Fashioned, cocktail, andDaiquiri), a selection of local beers on tap. Hemingway a rotating seasonal Quadrupling an entertainment venue,onthe cocktail, and as a selection of local beers tap. back (darker)asportion of Grape &venue, Grain the (known Quadrupling an entertainment as The(darker) Parlour)portion often hosts local&jazz musicians. back of Grape Grain (known as The Parlour) often hosts local jazz musicians. 20 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
FROM CHICHI BOUTIQUES TO HIGH-END RESTAURANTS, of all of the neighborhoods surFROM CHICHI BOUTIQUES TO HIGH-END RESTAURANTS, of all of the neighborhoods surrounding the city’s urban core, perhaps none has a better reputation amongst those with a predilecrounding the city’s urban core, perhaps none has a better reputation amongst those with a predilection for the finer things than San Marco. And in the past few years, a slew of upscale cocktail joints tion for the finer things than San Marco. And in the past few years, a slew of upscale cocktail joints has moved in to provide reasonably priced libations to both the neighborhood’s proletariat workforce has moved in to provide reasonably priced libations to both the neighborhood’s proletariat workforce as well as its bourgeoisie clientele. as well as its bourgeoisie clientele. San Marco now mixes the best of both drinking worlds, the old and the new. There are dive bars, San Marco now mixes the best of both drinking worlds, the old and the new. There are dive bars, good restaurants, a movie theater, and now some classy watering holes. And it’s one of the most good restaurants, a movie theater, and now some classy watering holes. And it’s one of the most walkable (and easily cab-able) neighborhoods in the city. So whether you are looking for a high-end walkable (and easily cab-able) neighborhoods in the city. So whether you are looking for a high-end Sazerac or a Miller High Life, San Marco is a great place to throw one (or a few) back. Sazerac or a Miller High Life, San Marco is a great place to throw one (or a few) back. at Mudville Grille in St. Nicholas offers patrons a distinctive and sincere musical experience. at Mudville Grille in St. Nicholas offers patrons Local music man Ray Lewis books Americana a distinctive and sincere musical experience. acoustic singer/songwriters play Americana intimate Local music man Ray Lewistobooks shows forsinger/songwriters attentive listeners.toLewis also invites acoustic play intimate touring international Celtic, bluegrass, shows for attentive listeners. Lewis alsojazz, invites and blues bands to play the Listening touring international Celtic, bluegrass,Room. jazz, And Mudville is atosports barListening — with aRoom. liquor and blues bands play the license — so how and/or howa attentive And Mudville is a intimate sports bar — with liquor you plan—tosobehow during the performances depends license intimate and/or how attentive entirely ability to hold your alcohol. you planupon to beyour during the performances depends entirely upon your ability to hold your alcohol.
DIVE ||| SHERWOOD’S LOCATED JUST A STONE’S THROW from the DIVE ||| SHERWOOD’S
LATE NIGHT ||| MUDVILLE LISTENING LATE NIGHTROOM ||| MUDVILLE THOUGH NOT TECHNICALLY IN SAN MARCO LISTENING ROOM (and though the shows don’t necessarily carry THOUGH NOT TECHNICALLY IN SAN MARCO on late into the the necessarily Listening Room (and though the evening), shows don’t carry on late into the evening), the Listening Room
Fuller Warren Bridge on San Marco Avenue LOCATED JUST A STONE’S THROW from and the demarcated byBridge eye-catching Fuller Warren on Sanvintage, Marco catawampus Avenue and signage and by striped awnings,vintage, Sherwood’s demarcated eye-catching catawampus announces social awnings, status inSherwood’s not-so-subtle ways; signage anditsstriped they are a dive bar. This is obvious from at least announces its social status in not-so-subtle ways; they are a dive bar. This is obvious from at least
a football field away. And they are unapologetic it. field away. And they are unapologetic aabout football Theit.interior is Reno-truck-stop-chic about withThe light-faux-wood paneling, perfectly interior is Reno-truck-stop-chic counterbalanced by Michelob with light-faux-wood paneling,chandeliers. perfectly Everything is a deal here. $3 Tall Boys, $1 counterbalanced by Michelob chandeliers. pool, $3 well any good Everything is drinks a deal and, here.like $3 Tall Boys,dive, $1 Sherwood’s to any indulge pool, $3 wellallows drinksvisitors and, like goodindive, many vices: gambling, smoking, drinking, Sherwood’s allows visitors to indulge in Big Buck Hunting (in HD),smoking, and the most sexually many vices: gambling, drinking, Big suggestive skee-ball machine this sidesexually of First Buck Hunting (in HD), and the most Baptist (a score of 400 or better worth a suggestive skee-ball machine this is side of First free beer). Baptist (a score of 400 or better is worth a free beer). Spencer Pittman mail@folioweekly.com Spencer Pittman twitter/AlcesBull mail@folioweekly.com twitter/AlcesBull
ICHIBAN JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 675 N. Third St., 247-4688 A full bar and Japanese plum wine, teppan or hibachi tables, a sushi bar and Western-style seating are served. $$
THE BEACHES
(All venues are in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted.)
<<< FROM PREVIOUS Happy hour 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; $2 drafts; $6 domestic pitchers; $2.50 domestic bottles; $10 buckets of domestic beer. $ CAMPECHE BAY CANTINA 127 First Ave. N., 249-3322 Campeche Bay has won our Best of Jax readers’ poll awards for Best Mexican Restaurant, Best Fajitas and Best Margaritas. Two daily happy hours: 4-7 p.m. and 10 p.m.-close daily. Open 4 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; till 12:30 a.m. Fri. Darts and trivia on Tue. and Thur. $$ CASA MARINA INN & RESTAURANT 691 First St. N., 270-0025, casamarinahotel.com Penthouse Lounge has a martini bar and a great view of the Atlantic Ocean. The 1924 restaurant is the oldest structure in Jax Beach; dine indoors, on the verandah or in oceanfront courtyard. A full bar and craft cocktails are served. $$
joint serves a full bar. A DJ spins, there’s live music some nights, and Karaoke, a jukebox, pool tables. Smoking is allowed. Open 4 p.m.-2 a.m. daily. $ GREEN ROOM BREWING 228 Third St. N., 201-9238, greenroombrewing. com The microbrewery is open 4 p.m.-mid. Tue.-Fri.; noonmid. Sat. and Sun. Happy hour 5-8 p.m. daily. Drink specials, 16 taps, dogs are welcome, bring your own food. $$ HABIBI HOOKAH LOUNGE 304 First St. N., 853-6849 Smoking hookahs is allowed. A full menu is served. Open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. Mon.-Wed. $5 off hookahs. $$ HARMONIOUS MONKS 320 First St. N., 372-0815 See General Listing.
ISLAND GIRL CIGAR BAR 108 First St., Neptune Beach, 372-0943 820 A1A N., Ponte Vedra, 834-2492 See Southside. LEMON BAR 120 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 246-2175 Attached to the Seahorse Oceanfront Inn, Lemon Bar’s patio goes right up to the dunes. Signature frozen cocktails and bar bites are served up poolside, for a cool casual vibe. But there’s no glass allowed, so just cope with the brew in cans and cocktails in plastic. Small price to pay for awesome. $$ LILLIE’S COFFEE BAR 200 First St., Beaches Town Center, Neptune Beach, 249-2922, lilliescoffeebar.com Locally roasted coffee, beer and wine. Dine indoors or out, with patio and courtyard seating. Live music every Fri. and Sat. $$ LYNCH’S IRISH PUB 514 N. First St., 249-5181, lynchirishpub.com More than
50 imported and domestic drafts on tap and a full bar are served at the mainstay for 20 years. Smoking allowed. A full menu is served. Live music nightly. Pool tables, TVs. Trivia Tue. and Thur. Open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Happy hour 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; $1 off all drinks, $2 Pint of the Night. $$ MARLIN MOON GRILLE 1183 Beach Blvd., 372-4438 A full bar, seafood, burgers, daily specials, craft beer, and Orange Crushes are served. $$$ MELLOW MUSHROOM 1018 Third St. N., 246-1500 See Avondale. MEZZA RESTAURANT & BAR 110 First St., Neptune Beach, 249-5573, mezzarestaurantandbar.com This near-the-ocean eatery serves a full bar, casual bistro fare, pizzas and nightly specials. Dine indoors or out on the patio. Musical happy hour Tue. and Thur. Valet parking. $$$ MOJO KITCHEN BBQ PIT 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636 Pulled pork, Carolina-style barbecue, chicken-fried steak and Delta fried catfish. Bottled and local draft beer selection. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-
THE BEACHES CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>>
CULHANE’S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE 967 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-9595, culhanesirishpub.com Upscale Irish pub run by four sisters from County Limerick. A full bar is served. 3 p.m.mid. Tue.-Thur., 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri. and Sat., 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun. Karaoke on Sat., trivia Wed., Thur. and Sun. Live music and/or a DJ on Fri., Sat. and Sun. Happy hour. $$ ENGINE 15 BREWING CO. 1500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 217, 249-2337, engine15.com This popular spot serves 50 taps of craft beers, including selections of Engine 15’s own, as well as gastropub fare. Ask how you can sign up for brew-it-yourself groups. Open 4:30 p.m.-mid. Mon.; 11 a.m.-mid. Tue.-Sun. Trivia on Tue. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. daily; $3.50 pints, $4.50 20-ounce. $ ESPETO BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE 1396 Beach Blvd., 388-4884 Just relocated to the beach. A full bar is served, including Brazilian beers, 12 draft beers with emphasis in local crafted beers, wines and cachaças, the Brazilian rum, and Caipirinhas, a Brazilian drink handcrafted in strawberry, mango, passion fruit, grapes or basil or the traditional with muddled limes. A full menu and a bar food menu are served. Open 4 p.m.-mid. daily. Enclosed smoking patio. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. Sun.Thur., 10 p.m.-close; $4 drafts, $8 Caipirinhas, $5 wells, $4 house wines. $$ EUROPEAN STREET CAFE 992 Beach Blvd., 249-3001 See San Marco. THE FISH COMPANY RESTAURANT 725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 12, Atlantic Beach, 246-0123 This restaurant and oyster bar in North Beach Center serves a full bar, fresh local seafood. Patio seating is available and there’s an all-day happy hour every Sun.; Oyster Night specials every Tue. and Wed. $$ FLASK & CANNON 528 First St. N., 553-2733, flaskandcannon.com The newest place in the JB bar scene is rum-forward beach bar offering well-crafted cocktails – fresh ingredients – and craft beers. V Pizza’s second onsite location features specialty pizzas. Happy hour is held 3-7 p.m. daily, with $1 off drafts, $2 off wines, $4 Moscow Mules and Sailor Jerry rum. Trivia Thur., live music every Tue. and some weekends. FLYING IGUANA TAQUERIA & TEQUILA BAR 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680, flyingiguana.com This spot serves a full bar with an emphasis on craft tequilas – more than 100 are served – and 24 drafts. Live music Thur.-Sun. Open 11 a.m.-mid. Sun.-Thur.; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri. and Sat. The menu’s a fusion of Latin American and Southwestern-influenced fare. Outdoor seating. Happy hour 3-6 p.m. Mon.-Thur., 9 p.m.-close Sun.-Wed.; $2 draft Bud Light and Yuengling, $5 house margarita, $4 Fireball shots, Jose Cuervo Cinge. $ FLY’S TIE IRISH PUB 177 E. Sailfish Drive, Atlantic Beach, 246-4293 A full bar is served in this super-casual joint. Live music Wed.-Sun. Open 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sun. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. daily; $1 off all drinks. Live music on most weekends, Sunday brunch, no cover. $$ FREEBIRD LIVE 200 First St. N., 246-2473, freebirdlive.com Local, regional, national or international bands perform nearly every night at this live music institution. Cover charge. Open show days 8 p.m.-2 a.m. A full bar is served. $$ GINGER’S PLACE 304 Third St. S., 249-8711 Family-owned (haunted) local
MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 21
SOUTHSIDE
LOCAL LISTING!
WHEN THINGS GO SOUTH
SOUTHSIDE
DIVE ||| THE BAYARD ROOSTER
ALOFT TAPESTRY PARK 4812 Deer Lake Dr. W., 998-4448 Pints, pinot noirs, signature drinks, a snack-attack menu, music. Open 5 p.m.-mid. Sun.-Thur., 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri. and Sat. Live music Tue. and Thur. Happy hour; $3 domestic bottles, $4 wells, $5 house wines.
IF YOU’RE LIKE ME AND PREFER a good dive bar above all else, you’ll be right to home (as we say) at The Bayard Rooster, one of Northeast Florida’s oldest and largest biker bars, where the motto is “Rock at the Cock.” You know the place. It’s the one right on U.S. 1/ Philips Highway that has an enormous redwhite-and-yellow rooster perched atop a column of sorts. The Bayard Rooster is owned by Heather Lumpkin and Steve Benaski, two bikers who loved this place so damn much that they pooled their resources and purchased it back in 2009 after a string of different owners couldn’t keep it cock-a-doodle-dooing. Closed on Mondays, but kicking it the rest of the week, The Rooster (as it’s known by locals) has that swampy Southern feel. You can choke on your Pall Malls and get your groove on — the Rooster features live music on a small stage. Still not convinced a visit to The Rooster is mandatory? Then how about taking part in the bar’s “Heathen Happy Hour” on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., when all beer and wine is $1.25 off the regular price. There are also bucket specials and free pool all day Tuesday.($3 wells/domestics, $4 house wines and cocktails), however, and small plates shine. Fried ricotta bruschetta pairs nicely with an Old Fashioned, and gets you out the door for less than $15 after tax and tip if you get in before 7 p.m.
AMSTERDAM HOOKAH LOUNGE 11380 Beach Blvd., Ste. 2, 997-6062 A full bar and full menu are served. Hookah smoking allowed. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Sat.; 5- p.m.-2 a.m. Sun. Happy hour. $$ APPLEBEE’S 5055 J.T. Butler Blvd., 296-6895 See General Listing. BENTO CAFE 9734 Deer Lake Court, Ste. 11, 503-3238, bentocafe sushi.com Asian-inspired crafted cocktails and appetizers, and wines, sake, and beer. Smoking allowed. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Wed., 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Thur., 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Fri., noon-11:30 p.m. Sat., noon-10 p.m. Sun. Trivia Thur. Live music Wed., DJ Fri. Happy hour 3:30-6:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; $2 domestic beers, $3 selected shots, $4 wine, sake, drafts; $5 cocktails. $$ THE CORNER BISTRO & WINE BAR 9823 Tapestry Park Circle, Ste. 1, 619-1931, corner bistrowinebar.com A full bar with fine wine, cocktails, martinis. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; till 1:30 a.m. Fri. and Sat.; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun. Happy hour 3-7 p.m. daily; $5 select martinis, $5 select glass wines, $1 off domestic, import beers, $4 select cocktails. Live music. $ DANCIN DRAGON 9041 Southside Blvd., Ste. 138D, 363-9888, dancin dragon.com Full bar, Asian fusion menu. 11 a.m.-mid. Sun.-Thur., till 2 a.m. Fri. & Sat. Trivia 7 p.m. Thur. Happy hour 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily; $2 Yuengling draft, $1 PBR draft, $2 Bud, Bud Light draft, $2 Fireball shots, $2 Naked Asian shots, $3 Three Olives vodka, $3 appetizers. $$ DAVE & BUSTER’S 7025 Salisbury Rd. S., 296-1525, daveandbusters. com 40,000-sq.-ft. restaurant complex has games, pool tables, sports on TVs, arcade games, video trivia. 11 a.m.-mid. Sun.-Thur.; 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Fri. & Sat. Happy hour 4:30-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10 p.m.-close Sun.-Fri. $$ EUROPEAN STREET CAFE 5500 Beach Blvd., 398-1717 See San Marco. LATITUDE 360 360° GRILLE 10370 Philips Hwy., 365-5555, latitude360.com Inside entertainment complex Latitude 360, 360° Grille serves sportsbar fare and a full bar. Dine inside or on the patio. Live music and DJs Wed.-Sun. Comedians every Fri. and Sat., second-run movies every night. $$ MELLOW MUSHROOM 9734 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 1, 997-1955 35 beers on tap – some local crafts – a full bar and Moscow Mule on draft. Happy hour all day, every day. Live music at some locations Thur.-Sat. Outside dining. Trivia Mon. 11 a.m.2 a.m. daily. Happy hour Mon.-Fri.; $1 off all drafts, craft cocktails and glasses of wine, $5 select apps. $$
ACCORDING TO VISITJACKSONVILLE.COM, it’s “the latest up-and-coming section of Jacksonville and it’s blossomed into a bustling business center.” Whether you agree with that statement or not, there is plenty of drinking to be done north of St. Augustine, west of Ponte Vedra and south of Downtown, aka the Southside. domestic beers, $4 well cocktails, $5 house wines and $8 appetizers, like pulled-pork sliders and a hodgepodge of flatbread combinations.
SAHARA HOOKAH LOUNGE & CAFE 10771 Beach Blvd., 338-9049 Full bar, full menu. Hookah smoking. 4 p.m.-1:30 a.m. daily. Happy hour. $$
LATE NIGHT ||| WHISKEY JAX
FIRST STOP ALONG THE SOUTHSIDE BOOZE trail is Whiskey Jax, located on Baymeadows Road in Point Meadows shopping plaza. First
TAVERNA YAMAS 9753 Deer Lake Ct., 854-0426, tavernayamas.com Greek place has two bars: restaurant side, with two flatscreen TVs; VIP room and hookah lounge, where hookah smoking is allowed. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. DJs every Fri. & Sat. Happy hour 3-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; half-off select beer, wells. $$ WHISKEY JAX 10915 Baymeadows Rd., 634-7208 Gastropub has a focus on whiskey, craft beer. Street fare tacos, burgers, handhelds; weekend brunch. Happy hour 5-7 p.m. Mon.-Thur., 4-7 p.m. Fri. Live music every Wed.-Sun. WORLD OF BEER 9700 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 1, 551-5929, worldofbeer. com Burgers, tavern fare, 50 rotating drafts, 600 beers, craft drafts, wines. Smoking allowed on outside patio; 17 TVs, trivia every Tue. Open noon-mid. daily. Live local music Thur.-Sat. Happy hour till 7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; $1 off select drafts, wine. $$
22 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
HAPPY HOUR ||| BLACKFINN AMERIPUB
WHEN YOU’RE IMBIBING AROUND SOUTHSIDE with only a few bucks in your pocket, head over to BlackFinn Ameripub on Big Island Drive at Markets at Town Center. BlackFinn has locations all over the country – from Chicago to Charlotte – and touts itself as a “lively restaurant and bar that offers the affordable, craveable American food our guests want to eat.” They’ve also got 36 beers on tap, including some by local breweries like Aardwolf and Engine 15, and a killer happy hour going on Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. that features $3
of all, anything with the word “whiskey” has the potential to be amazing and second, this place is a go-to if you like some action with your alcohol. Whiskey Jax has something going on nearly every damn night of the week. There’s Country
Music Night, Monday Night Trivia, Sunday Sessions Blues, Booze & BBQ and an Open Mic Night. Oh, ya, they have drinks, too. Check out their extensive whiskey menu including Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch Bourbon.
UPSCALE ||| SUITE
IF YOUR BILLFOLD’S BULGING and you’re craving a cocktail that’s a bit more upscale, you’d do well to get thee to Suite, also located in St. Johns Town Center. Looking for a bottle of Perrier-Jouet, Grand Brut? Suite’s got it. Want to sip on a Stag’s Leap Merlot? They’ve got that, too. And there’s something called an N-Tini: a drink infused with liquid nitrogen that literally gives off a white gas vapor. For a pretty penny, Suite offers a table service option in the The Club Suite, a VIP area with leather sofas and plaid wool carpeting where you can actually blow through your rent money in one sitting. Choose from an extensive list of flavored vodkas or class it up with a bottle of Crown Royal Kara Pound mail@folioweekly.com
Thur., 11 p.m. Fri. and Sat. Happy hour 3-7 p.m. daily; $6 craft cocktails, $5 wine, $4 premium liquor, $3 drafts. $$
THE BEACHES
(All venues are in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted.)
<<< FROM PREVIOUS MONKEY’S UNCLE TAVERN 1850 S. Third St., 246-1070, monkeysuncletavern.com For more than 25 years, Monkey’s has served a full liquor bar and bar food. Hang inside or on the patio. Karaoke every Tue.-Thur. , Sat. and Sun. Open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Happy hour 2-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri. $ MULLIGAN’S PUB 45 PGA Tour Blvd., Ponte Vedra, 285-1506, mulliganspubpontevedra.com The Irish pub, at Hilton Garden Inn, has a full bar, with Guinness and a ton of favorites and Irish dishes. Open 7 a.m.-mid. daily. Games, jukebox, TVs, Karaoke, and trivia on Tue. Happy hour 3-9 p.m. daily; half-price house wine, domestic draft and wells. $$ NIPPERS BEACH GRILLE 2309 Beach Blvd., 247-3300, nippersbeachgrille.com Chef-driven Southern coastal cuisine and a full bar are served overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. Dine inside or on the tiki deck. Live music nightly. Valet parking. $$ NORTH BEACH BISTRO 725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 6, Atlantic Beach, 372-4105, nbbistro.com The chef-driven kitchen serves an extensive wine list, a full bar, steaks, local seafood and a tapas menu. Happy hour. Live entertainment Tues., Thur.-Sat. $$$ OCEAN 60 RESTAURANT, WINE BAR & MARTINI ROOM 60 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-0060, ocean60.com A full bar, craft cocktails, an extensive wine list, Continental cuisine, fresh seafood, nightly dinner specials and a seasonal menu are served. Happy hour is 5-7:30 p.m. MonSat., featuring half-price martinis and 45 house red or white wine. Local musicians perform Tue. and Thur.-Sat. $$$ PETE’S BAR 117 First St., Neptune Beach, 249-9158 Pete’s, slammin’ since 1933, serves a full bar and cheap draft beer. Smoke to your lungs’ content. Meet your husband/wife/next victim. Pete’s has pool tables, foosball, jukebox. Happy hour daily. We love Pete’s. $ THE PIER CANTINA & SANDBAR 412 First St. N., 246-6454, thepierjax.com In the Sandbar, there’s live music nightly. Dine indoors or on the oceanfront patio. Margaritas and mojitos are featured. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. Open 11:30 a.m.-mid. Mon.-Wed.; 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Thur.-Sat.; 11:30 a.m.-mid. Sun. Full menu. $$$ POE’S TAVERN 363 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 241-7637, poestavern.com Named for Baltimore’s own macabre poet Edgar Allan Poe, the American gastropub has 50-plus beers, a full bar and gourmet hamburgers. $$ PUSSERS BAR & GRILLE 816 A1A N., Ste. 100, Ponte Vedra, 280-7766, pussersusa.com Named for the rum, Pussers serves Caribbean cuisine and regional favorites, tropical drinks, including Pussers Painkiller. Live music on Upper Deck. $$ RAGTIME TAVERN & SEAFOOD GRILL 207 Atlantic Blvd., Beaches Town Center, Atlantic Beach, 241-7877, ragtimetavern.com Three different bars under one roof. Microbrewery with big screen TVs and live music; comfortable, cool, cocktail area and the original bar in the dining room. Beer, wine, and liquor. 11 a.m.-mid. Sun.-Thur. 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. Fri. and Sat. Live music Wed.Sun. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. daily; $1 off beer, $2 off wine, $5 cocktails; food specials. $$ THE RITZ LOUNGE 185 Third Ave. N., 246-2255, theritzlounge.com A full bar is served. Happy hour, pool tables, DJs and dancing are featured. Open 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Fri.; noon-2 a.m. Sat. and Sun. Smoking is allowed. A cover is charged. $$ ROYAL PALM VILLAGE WINE & TAPAS 296 Royal Palms Dr., Atlantic Beach, 372-0052, royalpalmwines.com Locally owned and operated, this 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. Wine tastings and pairings are held during the week. Retail wine sales are available. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri. and Sat. A tapas menu is served. $$
RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 814 A1A, Ste. 103, Ponte Vedra Beach, 285-0014 See San Marco.
SOUTHSIDE LISTING OVERRUN
SALT LIFE FOOD SHACK 1018 Third St. N., 372-4456, saltlifefoodshack. com Salt Life offers a wide array of specialty menu items, and a full bar. $$ THE SHIM SHAM ROOM 333 First St. N., Ste. 150, 372-0781, shimshamroom. com There’s live music of one kind or another most nights. A full bar, tapas and a happy hour are served. Open 4 pm.2 a.m. daily. $$ SLIDERS SEAFOOD GRILLE & OYSTER BAR 218 First St., Beaches Town Center, Neptune Beach, 246-0881, slidersseafoodgrille.com Sliders has a full bar, including sangria, seafood, fish tacos, gumbo. Live music summer weekends. Open 5-9:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.9:30 p.m. Sat. and Sun. Happy Oyster Hour 5-8 p.m. every Thur. Heated enclosed pet-friendly patio dining. $$ TABLE 1 330 A1A N., Ste. 208, Ponte Vedra, 280-5515, table-1. com The upscale, casual restaurant offers a full bar and a wine bar featuring an extensive list of wines by the glass, and appetizers and entrées. $$$ TACOLU BAJA MEXICANA 1712 Beach Blvd., 249-8226, tacolu.com Fresh, Bajastyle fare is offered, with a focus on fish tacos, tequila (more than 135 kinds) and mezcal (20 and counting). $$ THE TAVERN ON 1ST STREET 401 First St. N., 435-4124 A full bar and full menu are served. Open 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Fri.; 1 p.m.-2 a.m. Sat. and Sun. Happy hour daily; $3 rum special. $$ TIDES BEACH BAR & GRILLE 1515 N. First St., 241-2311 This spot in the Hampton Inn Oceanfront offers a full bar and casual, beach-vibed dining inside and out, with an oceanfront vista. $ THE WINE BAR 320 First St. N., 372-0211, thewinebaruncorked.com The casual neighborhood wine bar has a wide variety of wine, beer, appetizers, wine tastings and cigars. Live music Fri.-Sun. Open 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Thur.-Fri.; 4 p.m. 2 a.m. Sat. and Sun. $$ WIPEOUTS GRILL 1585 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 247-4508, wipeoutsgrill.info This casual, beachy sports place serves burgers, wings, fish tacos and plenty of cold beer – wine, too – in a relaxing atmosphere. Live music some nights. $ WORLD OF BEER 311 N. Third St., 372-9698 See General Listing. ZETA BREWING COMPANY 131 First Ave. N., 372-0727, zetajax.com Zeta brews its own beer, lagers and ales, and offers craft cocktails, a full liquor bar and full service restaurant. Martinis and moonshine, too. Sample craft beer flights daily. Open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Live music Thur.-Sun. Happy hour 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; $3.50 beers, $3 house wine, $3 wells. $$
SAN MARCO, ST. NICHOLAS
bb’s RESTAURANT & BAR 1019 Hendricks Ave., 306-0100, bbsrestaurant.com Full bar with hand-crafted cocktails. Happy hour features house infused cocktails, 4-7 p.m. Mon.-Thur. Half-price specialty martinis every Wed. night. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.Thur., 11 a.m.-mid. Fri. and Sat. $$$ BISTRO AIX 1440 San Marco Blvd., 398-1949, bistrox.com The popular craft cocktail bar is a combination of traditional and bohemian-chic. The wine list has more than 250 choices. A full bar is served. Happy hour 3:30-6:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., featuring half-off oysters, $5 house select, $5 Aixoise martini, $1 off glass wines, drafts, cocktails. Live music, fine dining, open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri., 5-11 p.m. Sat., 5-9 p.m. Sun. $$$ CUBA LIBRE AT HAVANA JAX CAFÉ 2578 Atlantic Blvd., St. Nicholas, 399-0609, havanajax. com A full menu of traditional Cuban fare is served. Spanish wine and Cuban drink specials, including mojitos and Cuba libres, are served. Happy hour all day, every day. $ EMPEROR’S GENTLEMAN’S CLUB 4923 University Blvd. W., Lakewood, 739-6966 This
SAN MARCO + ST. NICHOLAS CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>> MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 23
ST. AUGUSTINE
OLD CITY, NEW DRINKING SPOTS UPSCALE ||| ICE PLANT BAR LOCATED ON RIBERIA STREET in downtown St. Augustine’s historic district, Ice Plant Bar has quickly become the place to frequent if you prefer a drink with personality. It takes a bit longer to make and costs a bit more, but it’s totally worth it. Housed in a restored commercial ice plant that began production in the early 20th century, Ice Plant Bar has a seasonal drink menu and some of the hardestworking bartenders in the state of Florida. And in keeping with the building’s original use, the staff makes ice daily from large blocks of slow-frozen filtered water. Our barkeep, Anthony, suggested I try the $12 Barton Fink. It’s a combination of Rittenhouse Rye, cognac, Cardamaro, Giffard Banane du Bresil and bitters. “It’s boozy,” he explained. And it was — but the highlight was the perfectly rounded sphere of ice that Anthony made on the spot, using a five-pound aluminum contraption. Folio Weekly photographer Dennis Ho came along for this Sunday Funday adventure and chose to sip on a Pulp Fiction, a fusion of Novo Fogo Cachaça, kumquat, purple basil, lime and orange flower water served in a rocks glass with pebble ice, all for the tune of $9. Our friend Kattie joined us after she took the tour at the adjacent St. Augustine Distillery, and it was time to move on to our next stop.
I ALWAYS CRACK A SMILE when I see one of those “St. Augustine, Florida: A quaint drinking village with a fishing problem” bumper stickers around town. After all, I know many locals who are proficient at either drinking or fishing or both. Usually both. Since my time as a communications major at Flagler College, I’ve put in a good decade of drinking around St. Augustine. I have not caught one fish. So it’s a good thing the magazine asked me to get drunk rather than cast a line. The Nation’s Oldest City has changed a lot recently — especially in its entertainment, dining and drinking landDIVE ||| ST. GEORGE TAVERN
DAY DRINKING IS NEVER COMPLETE without a stop at a dive bar (there should actually be a T-shirt that says that). So we continued our slovenly Sunday just a few minutes away at St. George Tavern, appropriately located on St. George Street. The Tavern (as it’s called by locals) serves food — sandwiches, apps — but I’ve never eaten there. For me, the Tavern has always been a place to hang between midnight and closing (2 a.m.), just to make sure you’re good and drunk before heading home. And you can smoke inside, a hallmark of any good dive. This was the first time I’d been to the Tavern in broad daylight, and it looks remarkably different. The hipsters were replaced by an older demographic who seemed to have seized their bar spots hours prior. Not surprisingly, this daytime visit helped me see things I’ve never noticed before. Beer and liquor collectibles litter the walls and hang from the ceiling. There’s also a small backroom with standard bar games like naked poker, which our friend Kattie was drawn to like Anna Nicole Smith to an AARP meeting. Our bartender, Amy, was attentive as we asked about the house specialties. She suggested a Bloody Mary made from scratch, which I ordered, and cherry limeade with vodka, which Dennis chose. Kattie peeled herself away from naked poker just long enough to order a whiskey sour. 24 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
scapes. Sure, there are still plenty of smoky dive bars with pool tables and pinball machines, but upscale, craft cocktail establishments are no longer limited to big city life. We’re also the proud home of a winery (San Sebastian Winery), craft distillery (St. Augustine Distillery) and a new brewery (Ancient City Brewery), located just west of I-95 at the old Mile Marker Brewing location. All of the drinks were quite good. Nothing I’d have more than one of, but the tomato juice and vegetable garnish of a Bloody Mary never fails to make me feel healthy.
LATE NIGHT ||| SHANGHAI NOBBY’S THE LAST WATERING HOLE ON MY LIST was a place I’d have to venture to solo. It’s not really the kind of bar to go to on a Sunday afternoon, so a few days later, I headed to Shanghai Nobby’s just over the Bridge of Lions on Anastasia Boulevard, to catch a show with my friend Brian. Nobby’s has live music most nights – a mix of local bands and nationally touring acts. Tonight, Sinners & Saints, a folk-rock outfit from Charlotte, North Carolina, was headlining. I’ll admit, I was already half in the bag by the time I got to Nobby’s, so I probably should’ve sipped on a PBR Tall Boy, but my friend Jacob suggested I try the drink named for him. The Hamilton (that’s his last name) is based on a cocktail known as the Presbyterian. Whisky,
club soda and a splash of ginger ale served on the rocks in a small plastic cup. Perfect. Just don’t have three. This is how I remember the rest of my night at Nobby’s: I ran into a bunch of friends I hadn’t seen for a while. I took a tour of the men’s bathroom. Not sure why. I bought the band shots of whiskey. I took a shot of whiskey. I’m still feeling it today. It’s been three days. The moral of the story is two-fold. Drinking in St. Augustine is fun. A lot of fun. But my brain and body don’t recuperate as quickly as when I was a wee Flagler College student. The next three to four nights will be spent with Netflix rather than a Negroni. Sláinte!
HAPPY HOUR ||| SCARLETT O’HARA’S LOCATED ON HYPOLITA STREET, Scarlett O’Hara’s is the place to go for cheap drinks. Seven days a week, from open to close, Scarlett’s offers $2 domestic drafts, $3 craft drafts, a $3 shot of the month, $3 sangrias, $3 Three Olives flavored vodka (served as you wish). They had us at “shot of the month.” We
ordered a few cheap beers and shots of Milagro Tequila Silver. One of the things I love about Scarlett’s (besides the economical alcohol, of course) is the camaraderie you’ll find at the outdoor, horseshoe-shaped bar. Our bartender, Josh, was hobnobbing with a mix of locals, tourists and college students as the flatscreens played some sort of sports and the oscillating fans cooled us with a nice breeze.s. Kara Pound mail@folioweekly.com
SAN MARCO ST. NICHOLAS <<< FROM PREVIOUS
upscale steakhouse serves a full bar, steaks, burgers, seafood and wings. Open daily. $$ EUROPEAN STREET CAFE 1704 San Marco Blvd., 398-9500, europeanstreet.com More than 130 imported beers, 20 on tap. New York-style sandwich menu. Outside seating at some locations. Open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. $ GRAPE & GRAIN EXCHANGE, THE PARLOUR 2000 San Marco Blvd., 396-4455, grapeandgrainexchange.com The venue offers a full bar as well as Bold City, Intuition, Bold Bean, Steele Wines and Flat Creek Lodge quaffs. Scotch pairings and trunk shows held occasionally. Craft cocktails and visiting “gypsy” bartenders are featured. No smoking, no cover, no food. Open noon-mid. daily. TVs. Trivia on Wed. Live music 9 p.m.-mid. Thur.-Sat. $$ THE GROTTO WINE & TAPAS BAR 2012 San Marco Blvd., 398-0726, grottowine.com The upscale wine bar features more than 60 wines by the glass. Open 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Tue. and Wed.; 11:30 a.m.-mid. Thur.-Sat.; 4-10 p.m. Sun. Happy hour 5-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; $4-$6 small plates, 25 percent off drinks. $$$ HAMBURGER MARY’S BAR & GRILLE 3333 Beach Blvd., Ste. 1, 551-2048, hamburgermarys. com Open-air bar and grille in the St. Nicholas area. Female impersonation shows, burgers. A full bar is served. 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Sun.-Thur., 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Fri. and Sat. TVs; Karaoke Wed. nights. Happy hour $2 well drinks, $2 house wine, $2 domestic drafts. $$ INDOCHINE 1974 San Marco Blvd., 503-7013 See Downtown. JACK RABBITS 1528 Hendricks Ave., 398-7496 A cover is charged at the concert venue, where a full bar and many local craft beers and ales are served. Open 8 p.m.-2 a.m. daily. $ KITCHEN ON SAN MARCO 1402 San Marco Blvd., 396-2344, kitchenonsanmarco. com The new gastropub features a full bar, local and national craft beers, specialty cocktails and a seasonal farm-to-table menu focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and cuisine. Open daily. Sunday brunch. Happy hour is 4-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. $$ MEZZE BAR & GRILL 2016 Hendricks Ave., 683-0693, mezzejax.com Mezze has a full bar, including classic cocktails and fresh basil martinis, 35 beers on tap, including local and craft brews, and Mediterranean cuisine. There’s a hookah patio, where smoking is allowed, duh. Open 5 p.m. daily. Happy hour is 2-for-1 Jack Daniel’s, Fireball, Pinnacle Vodka, house wines and $1 off draft beer. $$ THE MUDVILLE GRILLE 3105 Beach Blvd., St. Nicholas, 398-4326, themudvillegrill.com 1301 Monument Rd., Ste. 1, Arlington, 722-0008 This original St. Nicholas location and its sister restaurants are sports spots serving a full bar, steaks and wings. Trivia every Thur., Karaoke every Fri., Texas Hold ’Em every Wed. Live music in St. Nicholas every weekend. $ MUDVILLE MUSIC ROOM 3104 Atlantic Blvd., St. Nicholas, 352-7008, raylewispresents.com The adjacent Music Room features live music every weekend. $ RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY 835 Museum Cir., Southbank, 398-2299, rivercitybrew. com A full menu and full bar are served on the Southbank Riverwalk on the St. Johns River. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon. and Tue.; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wed. and Thur.; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri. and Sat.; 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; $2.50 draft beers, well drinks, glasses of house wine. $$ RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 1201 Riverplace Blvd., Crowne Plaza, Southbank, 396-6200, ruthschris.com A consistent Best of Jax winner for Best Steaks, Ruth’s Chris serves a full bar and an extensive selection of wines. $$$$ SHERWOOD’S 1105 San Marco Blvd., 398-1142 Yeah, it’s not where you take Great Aunt Agatha for a grasshopper. Open 10 a.m.-2 a.m. daily, Sherwood’s has pool tables, darts, a jukebox and
drink specials. Happy hour is 4:307:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. $3 Tall Boys, $1 pool, $3 well drinks and smoking, Big Buck Hunting (in HD), and skee-ball. SIDECAR 1406 Hendricks Ave., 527-8990, drinksidecar. com An urban beer garden and craft cocktail bar, featuring – obvee – the classic sidecar, house craft cocktails including McLaury’s Daisy (Los Amantes mezcal, Cocchi Rosa, strawberry, lime, egg white) and The Escape Artist (Bonai, Cocchi Blanc, Booker’s Bourbon, lemon bitters, Abbotts bitters). Vodka and gin infusions, and traditional cocktails. Scads of local craft brews and other drafts (Cigar City Cracker, Aardwolf, Intuition), plus Bud Light and PBR. White and red wines by the glass or bottle; Champagnes and sparkling wines by the bottle or glass. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. daily; late night 11 p.m.-1 a.m. Sun.-Thur. Open 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Fri.; noon-2 a.m. Sat. and Sun. $$ TAVERNA 1986 San Marco Blvd., 398-3005, tavernasanmarco. com The curated wine list won a Wine Spectator award. Classic cocktail recipes updated with fresh, inventive ingredients. Locally brewed beers and authentic Italian dishes are served. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thur., till 11 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun. Happy hour is 4-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri., with discounted craft cocktails, glass wines, local beers and bar bites. $$$ WINE CELLAR 1314 Prudential Dr., Southbank, 398-8989, winecellarjax.com This Jacksonville landmark offers classic Continental and New World cuisine in an Old World setting. A full bar is served. Open 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Sat. Dine outside or indoors. Happy hour 4:30-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. $$$$
ST. AUGUSTINE
(All venues in St. Augustine unless otherwise noted.)
95 CORDOVA COBALT LOUNGE 95 Cordova St., 827-1888, casamonica.com In Casa Monica Hotel, the restaurant serves a full bar and an international cuisine. Adjacent Cobalt Lounge features a variety of fine wines. $$$ A1A ALE WORKS 1 King St., 829-2977, a1aaleworks.com Two-story brew pub overlooking the Bridge of Lions makes six varieties of beer and serves New World cuisine, indoors or out on the balcony. Live entertainment Thur., Fri. and Sat. $$ AL’S PIZZA 1 St. George St., 824-4383 See General Listing. ANN O’MALLEY’S DELI & PUB 23 Orange St., 825-4040, annomalleys.com Across from the Old City Gates, Ann O’Malley’s serves Irish beers on tap and a casual menu. Dine indoors or out on the porch. Open mic every Tue., trivia every Thur., live music on weekends. $ AVILÉS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 32 Avenida Menendez, 829-2277, hiltonhistoricstaugustine.net Located in Hilton Bayfront Hotel, Aviles offers a full bar and a progressive Europeanflavored menu, featuring a made-to-order pasta night, wine dinners, chophouse nights and a deluxe breakfast buffet. And a champagne brunch every Sunday — two words: bottomless mimosas! Free valet parking, too. $$$ BARLEY REPUBLIC IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE & RESTAURANT 48 Spanish St., 547-2023, barleyrepublicph.com The Irish bar and pub offers more than 70 beers and wines, including 10 on draft daily. Live music on weekends. Dine indoors or outside on the deck. $$ THE BRITISH PUB 213 Anastasia Blvd., 810-5111 This pub has a full bar, darts and ale, beer and wine, as well as Brit bar fare. $$ CAP’S ON THE WATER 4325 Myrtle St., Vilano Beach, 824-8794, capsonthewater.com The popular mainstay serves a full bar, and coastal cuisine indoors or out on the deck. Boat access. $$ CELLAR 6 ART GALLERY & WINE BAR 6 Aviles St., 827-9055, cellar6staugustine.com International fine wines, Wolfgang Puck coffees, handmade desserts and light bistro fare are served amid local art. Open 4:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Mon.-Thur., 4:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri. and Sat., 4:30 p.m.-mid. Sun. Live music nightly. Lunch and dinner. Happy hour until 7 p.m. daily; $6 house wines,
SAN MARCO + ST. NICHOLAS CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>> MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 25
AMELIA ISLAND + FERNANDINA BEACH LOCAL LISTING! AMELIA, FERNANDINA
ON ISLAND TIME!
(All venues in Fernandina Beach unless otherwise noted.)
HAPPY HOUR ||| DOGSTAR TAVERN
BRETT’S WATERWAY CAFÉ 1 S. Front St., 261-2660 Overlooking the Marina. Serves a full bar and fresh seafood. Open 11:30 a.m. daily. $$$
ALTHOUGH WORK IS A SORT of nebulous term on Island time, Dogstar Tavern is one of the establishments that opens at 4 p.m. and caters to the after-work crowd. I walked in at 4 p.m., sharp. Full liquor, baby. I asked the bartender Shelby to make me a drink. She asked me what kind. I told her to surprise me. She made me something that looked like a Cosmopolitan, with a maraschino cherry and everything. Except it tasted much, much sweeter than any Cosmo I’ve ever had (which is very few). It was good — like a Nehi soda. Lots of what’s on Dogstar’s cocktail menu appeals to the budding drinker, just coming off alcoholic training wheels. There are a lot of bright-colored mixes. Lots of sugar. Lots of hangover aches and pains. It’s tailor-made for happy hour. And from 4-7 p.m. every day, Dogstar’s one of the few places where deals can be had: 2-for-1 Bud Light and Yuengling drafts, 2-for-1 well liquor and 2-for-1 house wines. Shelby told me her family owns the bar. “I’ve been making drinks all my life.” “What was the name of that drink?” I asked, rising from my barstool to make my way to the next bar. “The Hot Rod,” she said.
CIAO ITALIAN BISTRO 302 Centre St., 206-4311, ciaobistro-luca.com Italian bistro fare and an extensive wine list are served in an intimate, friendly atmosphere. Open 5 p.m. Sun.-Thur., 11:30 a.m. Fri. and Sat. $$ DAVID’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 802 Ash St., 310-6049, ameliaislanddavids.com The fine-dining place serves a full bar, steaks, seafood, in an upscale atmosphere. Live music two nights a week. $$$$ DOG STAR TAVERN 10 N. Second St., 277-8010 Full liquor bar, 16 rotating taps, live music five nights week are featured. Open 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.; noon-2 a.m. Tue.-Sun. $ EIGHT BURGER BAR & SPORTS LOUNGE Ritz-Carlton, 4750 Amelia Island Parkway, 277-1100, ritzcarlton.com Contemporary sports lounge has local craft brews on tap, wine list, cocktails, billiard tables, multiple flatscreen TVs and classic sports-bar fare. $$$ GREEN TURTLE TAVERN 14 S. Third St., 321-2324, greenturtletavern.com In a historic shotgun shack, with cold local beer and a chill atmosphere. Live music on weekends. A full bar is served. Noon-1 a.m. daily. Happy hour 6 p.m.-close. $ HALFTIME SPORTS BAR & GRILL 320 S. Eighth St., 321-0303, halftimeameliaisland.com A full bar and sports bar fare. Plenty of TVs show nearly every sport imaginable. Shuffleboard, 2014 Golden Tee, trivia 6:30-8 p.m. Mon. Open 11 a.m. Mon., Wed.-Sat., noon Sun.; closed Tue. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. Mon, Wed.Fri.; $2.50 domestic beer, 75-cent wings. $ HAMMERHEAD BEACH TAVERN 2045 S. Fletcher Ave., 261-7007, hammerhead beachbar.com The neighborhood waterfront bar serves food and a full bar. Open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Pool tables, trivia, DJs. $ KARIBREW PUB 27 N. Third St., 277-5269, cafekaribo.com Next door to its sister restaurant, Cafe Karibo. Karibrew offers a variety of beers, spirits and pub food. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tue.-Sat.; 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday brunch. Happy hour 4-6 p.m. daily; $3 Kronenbourg, Yuengling, Coors Lite, $4 Caribou Cafe red or white wine, $5 mixed drinks, feature martinis, $2 sliders. $$ MOON RIVER PIZZA 925 S. 14th St., 321-3400, moonriverpizza.net Northern style pizzas, by the pie or the slice. Beer and wine. $
AMELIA ISLAND — OR, FOR PURPOSES OF THIS WRITING, Day Drink-
ing Paradise — is the island destination in Northeast Florida, replete with fishing, seafood restaurants, and bars of every variety. Because really, what else is there to do on an island besides drink? From shorts and flops to evening wear, the Island, as the locals call it, has the bars that suit your style. all over the shelves. It doesn’t matter. This is a place to feel relaxed, not a bar where one gets crunk. I make some business calls while I sip my beer which, again, any reference to work places identifies one as an outsider on the Island. Oh well, you do you, brah.
PALACE SALOON 117 Centre St., 491-3332, thepalacesaloon.com Plus Sheffield’s, a craft cocktail bar, and Uncle Charlie’s, a neighborhood hangout. Live music at The Palace every night. Open noon-2 a.m. daily. Happy hour 7-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; $2 craft drafts, $2 craft brews. Smoking. $$
LATE NIGHT ||| HAMMERHEAD BEACH BAR
PLAE 80 Amelia Village Cir., Amelia Island Plantation, 277-2132, plaefl.net In the Spa & Shops, this bistro offers a full bar and an innovative menu and live entertainment Thur.-Sat. Outdoor dining. $$$ SALT The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Parkway, 277-1100, ritzcarlton.com Chef de Cuisine Richard Laughlin’s award-winning menu features New American cuisine. The extensive wine list has more than 500 wines. $$$$ THE SALTY PELICAN BAR & GRILL 12 N. Front St., 277-3811 Second-story outdoor bar, with 17 beers on tap. Owners T.J. and Al offer local seafood, Mayport shrimp. Live music Thur.-Sat. $$ SLIDERS SEASIDE GRILL 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6990 , slidersseaside.com Oceanfront place serves full bar, crab cakes, local seafood, fried pickles. Outdoor dining, beachfront play ground. Open-air second floor, balcony. Music nightly. $$
26 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
most “playful.” Am I a snob if I decide to have not one but two cocktails here? I might as well, because my window is so small — they’re only open from 6-8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 6-9:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
DIVE (kind of) ||| GREEN TURTLE
PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR ITS BOHEMIAN-style wraparound porch, but the Green Turtle Tavern, fair or unfair, is likely to inspire a Jack Johnsonesque soundtrack in your head as you walk up. It’s not a dive, but it has an atmosphere that hints at a locals-only mantra. It’s certainly the surfiest-looking bar and, in my experience, the most laid-back. The bartender’s name is Esmerelda. Tuesday features tacos and $2 Mexican beers all day. The joint’s logo looks vaguely like an Aztec symbol. Is there something else going on here that I missed? No, not really. Esmerelda is from Indiana and loves Florida weather. She grabbed me a beer. It’s a beer kind of place. But there’s liquor and wine
SPEAKING OF GETTING CRUNK, this is the place to do it, especially if you love being served your libations by girls in bikinis. Big-ass beers. Big-ass crowd. Big asses. If there were a University of Fernandina Beach, this is where all the students would go, and they’d go hard all day. Like, 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. nonstop. It wasn’t uncomfortably crowded when I showed up, but there was a high energy level to the place. It’s palpable. The room is gonna get crowded tonight and some drunk drama shit’s gonna go down. I gulped my beer before the beach fun gulped me. This is not a place to stay for just one. Girls serve you in fucking bikinis, man. I look over my shoulder as I walk out. Can you blame me?
UPSCALE ||| PLAE
THIS PLACE IS A RESTAURANT FIRST — a high-class one at that — and the cocktails reflect its target guest. Set in the Amelia Island Plantation Resort, PLAE’s atmosphere is dark and classy. The lighting is ambient upscale and
During my visit, I ordered an Old Fashioned. It’s elegant. So is the Moscow Mule. At this point, I’d begun to feel slightly tipsy and wished I could afford to eat dinner, as it’s well known PLAE has one of the best and most creative menus on the island (or in NEFL, for that matter). I shelled out $32 for the chocolate-dusted duck breast. It was delicious and paired excellently with the red wine. No buyer’s remorse here. Dennis Ho dho@folioweekly.com
MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 27
ORANGE PARK + FLEMING ISLAND LOCAL LISTING!
NOTHIN’ FANCY
ORANGE PARK APPLEBEE’S 8635 Blanding Blvd., 771-0000 See General List. BESTBET JACKSONVILLE 455 Park Ave., 646-0001 See General List. BRICK OVEN PIZZERIA & GASTROPUB 1811 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island, 278-1770, brickovengastropub.com Family-owned-andoperated, this spot offers craft beers, brick-oven pizzas, burgers. Gluten-free items available. $$ THE HILLTOP 2030 Wells Rd., 272-5959, hilltop-club.com The Hilltop serves a full bar, New Orleans shrimp, prime rib and she-crab soup. A piano lounge is presented Tue.-Sat. $$$ MELLOW MUSHROOM 1800 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island, 541-1999 See Southside. MERCURY MOON 2015 C.R. 220, Fleming Island, 215-8999 Live music and/or DJs are featured Mon., Wed., Fri. and Sat. A full bar is served; daily drink specials. Open 3 p.m.-2 a.m. daily, 4-10 p.m. Sun. Smoking apparently allowed. Happy hour. $
HAPPY HOUR ||| PARK AVENUE BISTRO LOUNGE Just south of Doctors Lake, where U.S. 17 winds into Fleming Island as Park Avenue, lies … well … Park Avenue Bistro Lounge, in Westover Station shopping center. Co-owner-slashmixologist Brent Winecoff categorizes his place as being “like Ruth’s Chris with the sleeves rolled up.” The upscale Mediterranean and Italian menu includes a prime rib special Thur.-Sat., but it’s the craft cocktails that keep discerning clientele coming back. They’re discounted for happy hour. Mojitos, martinis, you name it — master bartenders Brent and Andrea serve signature cocktails, like Pineapple-Gin Kir and Pumpkin Smash Martini.
MILLER’S ALE HOUSE & RAW BAR 1756 Wells Rd., Ste. A, 278-4600 See General List. MOJO SMOKEHOUSE 1810 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 8, Fleming Island, 264-0636 Among Fleming Island’s few cocktail bars, Mojo has a selection of bourbons, Scotches and rye whiskeys. The fare is homemade-style barbecue with innovative sides. Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun. and Mon.; till 10 p.m. Tue.-Thur., 11 p.m. Fri. and Sat. Happy
DESPITE ITS REP AS THE LAND OF GAS STATIONS and fast-food drive-thrus, OP and Fleming Island — not technically a real island (send your complaints/proof to mail@folioweekly.com) — does have a few bars and lounges
hour 3-7 p.m. daily; $6 craft cocktails, $5 wine, $4 premium liquor, $3 drafts. $$ THE ROADHOUSE 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611, roadhouseonline.net Six pool tables, dartboards, foosball and TVs (two big screens); live music Mon., Thur.-Sat. and more than 75 imported beers. A full bar is served. Open 4-10
that are not shit-kickin’ honky tonks or converted Pizza Huts. All is not lost in Clay County, just be aware the county cops wait outside bars at 2 a.m., their breathalyzers at the ready. Two words: designated driver.
p.m. Mon.-Wed.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thur.; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri. and Sat.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun. Happy hour 5-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; $10 Miller Lite, Coors Light
are special; bottled and canned beers, as well as drafts, many of them local, mixed drinks and shooters are often discounted. So crawl under your bed, find those damn cowboy boots your honey hid under there, and sashay (in a dignified way) to The Roadhouse.
buckets (5 bottles); $4 Bacardi, Jim Beam, Pinnacle; $5 Blue Chair Bay, Jack Daniel’s, Absolut, Jameson. $ VINO JAVA BREW HOUSE 636 Kingsley Ave., Orange Park, 458-4546
NOT-QUITE-DIVE ||| WHITEY’S FISH CAMP
Intimate coffee shop vibe in a locally owned and operated wine bar, in a historic 1905 house. Specializing in draft wine, craft beer and tapas; organic food items. Open 5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. Live music Fri. and Sat. Happy hour offers local and seasonal craft beer selections. $$ WHITEY’S FISH CAMP 2032 C.R. 220, Fleming Island, 269-4198, whiteysfishcamp.com This authentic fish camp serves a full bar, gator tail and catfi sh. Outdoor Tiki bar and live music Wed.-Sun. Come by boat, motorcycle or car. $
28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
LATE NIGHT ||| THE ROADHOUSE
JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE OP MALL is the fabled establishment The Roadhouse, known for its casual almost-honky-tonk atmosphere. Pool tables, foosball, steel regulation dart boards, NTN trivia, NFL Sunday Ticket, TVs all over the place — it’s where your cousins would live if your aunt couldn’t cook. There are local bands playing every Thursday through Saturday, in a variety of genres so you’re not stuck with 12 different renditions of “I Want to Know What Love Is.” DJ Big Mike spins every Thursday, too. The drink specials actually
THIS IS THE KIND OF PLACE YOU CAN bring your mom or kids — provided you keep an eagle eye on the little darlings, because there’s open water. Mom’s on her own. Whitey’s, situated on a spit of land on Swimming Pen Creek on Fleming Island, serves a menu to warm the cockles of your pea-pickin’ heart: fried seafood baskets (catfish! gator tail!), tacos, po’boys, and combo dinners and platters. Nothin’ fancy, though. The full bar is open every day, and there are pool tables, beer pong and dollar drafts on Mondays. Live local music every Friday and Saturday; DJ Throwback spins every Thursday. Deck music out on the … uh … dock every weekend.
UPSCALE ||| THE HILLTOP CLUB
AT ONE OF THE PRETTIEST SPOTS west of
the Guanas sits The Hilltop, a grand location for special occasions or just to relax and forget about the drive back over the Buckman. The upscale menu features she-crab soup, filet mignon, seafood dishes and a chef’s choice each evening. You can book the whole place for an event — the grounds are as nice as the house. The extensive wine list, scotches and cognacs will raise a few eyebrows — in a good way. Local famed pianist John Michael tickles the ivories every Tuesday. The only downside? No confetti allowed. Marlene Dryden mdryden@folioweekly.com
ST. AUGUSTINE <<< FROM PREVIOUS
$8 signature martinis, $6 sangria, 2-4-1 draft. $$ THE CELLAR UPSTAIRS 157 King St., 826-1594, sansebastianwinery.com Beer and wine are served. Open 4:30 p.m. Fri., 11:30 a.m. Sat. and Sun., serving lunch. Live music. Outdoor dining. $$ THE CONCH HOUSE 57 Comares Ave., 829-8646, conch-house.com Indoor seating and Tiki huts built out over Salt Run Creek. Tropical drinks are a specialty. Live local entertainment, including Reggae Sunday all summer long, on weekends. A full bar is served. Open daily. Happy hour is 4-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri., with $1 off beer, $2 off mixed drinks, $3 off wine. $$ THE CORAZON CINEMA & CAFE 36 Granada St., 679-5736, corazoncinemaandcafe.com Have a glass of beer or wine and a bite to eat or see a movie in the heart of the Ancient City. Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. Occasional live music. DONOVAN’S IRISH PUB 7440 U.S. 1 N., Ste. 108, 829-0000, donovansirishpub. com This neighborhood spot serves a full bar including Irish beers and whiskeys, classic Irish entrées and traditional American dinners, as well as pub grub. Six HDTVs, pool tables and Wii. Open daily. Trivia every Mon., live music every Fri. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. $$ DOS COFFEE & WINE 300 San Marco Ave., 342-2421, dosbar.com Industrial chic coffee and wine bar features handcrafted pour-overs and beans from Covina Roastery. Beer and wine are served. $$ GYPSY CAB COMPANY 828 Anastasia Blvd., Anastasia Island, 824-8244, gypsycab.com A mainstay for a quarter-century, Gypsy’s serves a full bar and a menu that changes twice daily. Gypsy’s is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun. The Corner Bar is open 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Sat., noon-2 a.m. Sun. Games, HDTVs, trivia 8:30 p.m. Tue. with taco specials. Live music 6:30 p.m. Wed. and Thur. Comedy Club 8:30 p.m. Fri. $10, 9 p.m. Sat. $12. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 2-for-1 domestic drafts, house wines, well liquor; 2-for-1 apps 4-7 p.m. Wed. and Thur. $$ HARRY’S SEAFOOD BAR & GRILLE 46 Avenida Menendez, 824-7765, hookedonharrys.com New Orleans-style eatery features a full bar and Cajun, Creole and Southern fare. Daily happy hour. Live music most weekends. $$ HENLEY’S STEAK & SEAFOOD 100 St. George St., Ste. B, 829-6770 In the historic district. A full menu is served; balcony seating is available. A full bar and 100 beers on tap are served. Happy hour is 4-7 p.m. Sun.-Thur., featuring $4 house wines, $4 select drafts, $4 well drinks. Hospitality hour is 10 p.m.-close Sun.-Thur. HURRICANE PATTY’S AT OYSTER CREEK 69 Lewis Blvd., 827-1822, hurricanepattys.net At Oyster Creek Marina east of U.S. 1, this spot has a daily happy hour, large creekfront deck, lunch specials and AYCE dinners. Live music nightly. $$ THE ICE PLANT 110 Riberia St., 829-6553, iceplantbar.com The cocktails are hand-crafted with fresh, house-pressed juices and a wide assortment of house-made bitters, specially developed syrups and craft liquors, three kinds of ice and custom cubes. Open 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. daily; lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner nightly. DJs spin. Happy hour 10:30 p.m.-close nightly; Whiskey Club Wednesdays feature $10 flights 9 p.m.-mid. Farm-to-table menu uses locally sourced ingredients. $$$ J.P. HENLEY’S 10 Marine St., 829-3337 Neighborhood pub with 70 beers on tap, 16 wines, appetizers, sandwiches and salads. Across from the city marina and open daily, J.P.’s has eight HDTVs. Happy hour is 4-7 p.m. Sun.-Thur., with $2 off all pints, $4 house wine, $4 select drafts. KINGFISH GRILL 252 Yacht Club Dr., 824-2111, kingfishgrill.com Casual waterside dining indoors and out on the deck features a full bar and menu. Weekly live entertainment. $$ THE KING’S HEAD BRITISH PUB 6460 U.S. 1 N., 823-9787, kingsheadbritishpub.com Owner Ann Dyke and staff serve British draught beers and
cider in 20-ounce Imperial pints in an authentic pub, plus a full bar and Brit menu. Look for the red double-decker bus out front. $$ MEEHAN’S IRISH PUB & SEAFOOD HOUSE 20 Avenida Menendez, 810-1923, meehansirishpub.com This pub, just south of the old fort, offers traditional pub fare and a full bar. $$$ MILL TOP TAVERN & LISTENING ROOM 19 1/2 St. George St., 829-2329, milltoptavern.com A St. Augustine institution across from Castillo de San Marcos features live music nightly. Dine indoors or under the trees on the two-story porch. Beer and wine are served. Open 11 a.m.-mid. daily. Happy hour 5-7:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. $$ MOJO OLD CITY BBQ 5 Cordova St., 342-5264 This Mojo also carries an extensive collection of international whiskeys. The barbecue, served in a variety of regional styles, is smoked in-house. Concrete bar, wood ceiling. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thur., till 2 a.m. Fri. and Sat. Happy hour 3-7 p.m. daily; $6 craft cocktails, $5 wine, $4 premium liquor, $3 drafts. $$ OASIS RESTAURANT & DECK 4000 A1A & Ocean Trace Rd., St. Augustine Beach, 471-3424, worldfamousoasis.com Burgers and daily specials, 24 draft beers, and a happy hour Mon.-Fri. Live music nightly. $ O.C. WHITE’S SEAFOOD & SPIRITS 118 Avenida Menendez, 824-0808, ocwhitesrestaurant. com A full bar, fresh local seafood, steak and specialties are served. Live music is presented nightly. Outdoor dining on the patio. $$ THE ORIGINAL CAFÉ ELEVEN 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 460-9311, originalcafe11.com The former convenience store serves a full bar, coffee drinks, vegetarian meals and Southern comfort food. Live music nightly. $ PANAMA HATTIE’S 361 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 471-2192, panamahattiesbar.com Across from the St. Johns County pier. Casual beach fare and a full bar are served. Live bands nightly. Dine inside or out on the ocean-view deck upstairs. The full bar’s open till 2 a.m. $ THE REEF 4100 Coastal Hwy., Vilano Beach, 824-8008, thereefstaugustine.com Casual oceanfront restaurant serves a full bar, fresh local seafood, steak and chef specials. Outdoor dining. Daily happy hour. $$$ RENDEZVOUS 106 St. George St., 824-1090 Beer is the specialty at this German-style beer house, with more than 200 varieties from around the world, with a rotating draft selection. The menu features deli-style sandwiches. $$ ST. AUGUSTINE DISTILLERY 112 Riberia St., 825-4962, staugustinedistillery.com Next to the Ice Plant bar, offering handcrafts, small-batch, premium spirits of vodka, gin, bourbon and rum. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. Free tours and tastings are offered daily. ST. GEORGE TAVERN 116 St. George St., 824-4204 This is the kind of joint anyone can go to and feel right at home – if your home has beers on tap, bar food and highback wood booths. The staff and the patrons all seem to know each other and the music isn’t so loud you have to shout. $ SALT LIFE FOOD SHACK 321 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 217-3256 See Beaches. SANGRIAS PIANO BAR 35 Hypolita St., 827-1947 Seven signature (and individually prepared) sangrias and Spanish-style tapas are served. Live music nightly. Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun.Thur.; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri. and Sat. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; $3 wells, sangrias and martini of the day. $$ SCARLETT O’HARA’S 70 Hypolita St., 824-6535, scarlettoharas.net The restaurant, in a historic 1861 house with an outdoor bar and pub interior, offers a full bar and barbecue, seafood, burgers, oysters and appetizers. Live music nightly. $$
ST. SUGUSTINE CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>> MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 29
THE HE TASTING ROOM ROOM, WINE & TAPAS 25 Cuna St., 810-2400, tastetapas.com An extensive wine list is served. Live music nightly. Open 5-10:30 p.m. Mon.Thur.; 5 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Fri. and Sat.; 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun. Happy hour. $$$ TRADEWINDS 124 Charlotte St., 829-9336, tradewindslounge.com A full menu and a full bar are served smack dab in the middle of the historic district. Open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Live music is performed daily. Happy hour is 5-8 p.m. Sat.-Wed. $$
GENERAL LISTINGS
3 LIONS SPORTS PUB & GRILL 2467 Faye Rd., Northside, 647-8625 This friendly pub serves a full bar, apps, hoagies and entrées. Poker some nights, live music Fri. and Sat. $$ AL’S PIZZA 11190 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin, 260-4115 14286 Beach Blvd., Ste. 31, Intracoastal, 223-0991 8060 Philips Hwy., 731-4300 The locally owned and operated place has craft beers and wine, New York-style and gourmet pizzas, Italian baked dishes. All-day happy hour Mon.-Thur.; $1 off draft beer and house wine. Thirsty Thursdays: $1 Yuengling draft, $1 glass of house LaTerre wine. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m., to 11 p.m. on weekends. $ APPLEBEE’S 4507 Town Center Parkway, St. Johns Town Center, 645-3590, applebees.com 843 Lane Ave. S., Westside, 318-5445 13201 Atlantic Blvd., Intracoastal, 220-5823 6251 103rd St., Westside, 772-9020 14560 Old St. Augustine Rd., Mandarin, 262-7605 New handcrafted cocktails, frosty beer. Full bar. Open for lunch and dinner daily. All locations have TVs. Some locations have trivia nights; most have Karaoke Fri. or Sat., or both. Applebee’s in Mandarin offers live music. Happy hour 2-for1 all day every day; half-price apps 9 p.m.-close. $$ BESTBET JACKSONVILLE 201 Monument Rd., Arlington, 646-0001, bestbetjax. com The Aces Up Bars at both bestbet locations feature a full beer, wine, and spirits menu with favorite call and premium brands. No smoking. Full menu, sushi. Open 10 a.m.-4 a.m. No cover. Games, TVs. $$ BLACKFINN AMERIPUB 4840 Big Island Dr., St. Johns Town Center, 345-3466, blackfinnameripub.com The upscale craft beer bar and restaurant serves a full bar and menu. Live music every Fri. and Sat., a DJ every Wed.-Sat. Happy hour is 3-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri., with $3 domestic drafts, $4 wells, $5 house wines, $8 flatbreads and select apps. $$ BOLD CITY GRILL 10605 Deerwood Park Blvd., 564-4772 The casual place features local microbrews on tap with a daily happy hour. The menu includes local seafood, steaks. Flatscreen TVs all over. $$ BROADWAY PIZZERIA & RISTORANTE 10920 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 3, 519-8000 Broadway offers half-off select wines on Wine Down Wednesdays and $1.50 craft beer daily; $2 drafts all day. Open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sun.-Thur.; till 4 a.m. Fri. and Sat. $$ BULL TAVERN 7217 Atlantic Blvd., Arlington, 724-2337 Open daily. Live music, Karaoke, pool tables and drink specials. $ THE CAPITAL GRILLE 5197 Big Island Dr., St. Johns Town Center, 997-9233, thecapitalgrille.com An extensive, award-winning wine list has 350 Old and New World wines; 25 wines by the glass, and a full bar. Steaks, seafood, dishes made from local, seasonal ingredients. $$ CHEERS 11475 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin, 262-4337, cheersjax. com Can’t guarantee that everyone will know your name, but it’s still a friendly place. Happy hour 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tue.-Sat. Open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. $$ CLIFF’S BAR & GRILL 3033 Monument Rd., Ste. 2, Intracoastal, 645-5162 Cliff’s features a full bar, burgers, seafood, pizza and daily specials. Weekday happy hour. There’s entertainment of some kind every night. Smoking is allowed. $$
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SALTY PELICAN: Enjoy drinks like the Pineapple Express and the Strawberry Mint Smash at the Pelican’s riverview bar in Fernandina Beach.
THE COFFEE GRINDER 9834 Old Baymeadows Rd., Baymeadows, 642-7600, thecoffeegrinderjax.com Serving coffee, beer and wine. A DJ spins; local art hangs, live music is played. Open 7 a.m.-mid. Mon.-Thur.; 8 a.m.-1:30 a.m. Fri. and Sat.; 8:30 a.m.-mid. Sun. $$ COPPER TAP HOUSE 13500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 25, Intracoastal, 647-6595, copperjax.com The locally owned and operated place has an emphasis on regional craft beers and cocktails, craft cuisine, and housemade regional sliders. TVs, games, trivia 7:30 p.m. Tue., 8:30 p.m. Thur. Live music 9 p.m. Fri. and Sat. Happy hour 4-7 p.m. daily; $5 specialty drinks, $3 wine. The bar top is covered with 52,000 pennies and Copper serves a big beer flight. Open 4-11 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri., 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Sat.; 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun. $$ CORNER TACO 818 Post St., 240-0412, facebook.com/cornertaco Made-from-scratch “semi-swanky street food” – tacos, nachos and salads – is served. All craft beer $3 a pint all the time. All day happy hour. Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun.Thur., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat. and Sun. $ GERMAN SCHNITZEL HAUS & BIER GARTEN 13475 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 40, Intracoastal, 221-9700, germanschnitzelhausofjacksonville.com Authentic German cuisine and homemade-style desserts and beer – 13 German drafts on tap, full liquor bar. Open 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. Outdoor bier garten with TVs, live music, German oompah band once a month and every Fri. and Sat. during Oktoberfest. Happy hour: half-priced beer, house wine and well liquor. $$ HARMONIOUS MONKS 10550 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 30, Mandarin, 880-3040, harmoniousmonks.net The American-style steakhouse features a full bar and a singing waitstaff every Fri. & Sat. $$ JERRY’S SPORTS GRILLE 13170 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 22, Intracoastal, 220-6766, jerryssportsgrille.com A casual menu and a full bar are served. Breakfast Sat. and Sun., featuring bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys. Trivia every Tue. $ MILLER’S ALE HOUSE & RAW BAR 11112 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 19, Mandarin, 292-0003, millersalehouse.com 9541 Regency Square Blvd. S., Regency, 720-0551 9711 Deer Lake Court, Southside, 565-2882 3238 Hodges Blvd., Intracoastal, 821-5687 The Ale Houses serve a full bar and full menu. There are 32 draft beer varieties, along with lots of TVs, pool tables and video games. $$ MITCHELL’S FISH MARKET 5202 Big Island Dr., St. Johns Town Center, 645-3474, mitchellsfishmarket.com Fresh bar, fresh juices squeezed daily; no bottled juices or mixes. Signature cocktail creations utilize fresh fruit and herbs. Beer, wine and liquor. Open daily 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Happy hour Sun.-Fri., $5 wines, cocktails, appetizers; $3 domestic drafts. $$$ MONKEY’S UNCLE TAVERN 10503 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin, 260-1349 See Beaches.
MOXIE KITCHEN + COCKTAILS 4972 Big Island Dr., St. Johns Town Center, 998-9744, moxiefl.com Chef Tom Gray offers contemporary American cuisine, classic and craft cocktails, housemade shrubs and mixers, fresh herbs and fruits, and custom ice cubes. Open 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sun., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-12:30 a.m. Fri. and Sat. Happy hour 3-7 p.m. Mon.Fri., 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m.; $4 local draught beers, $6 house wines by the glass, $5.50 premium wells, $6-$7 happy hour cocktails. $$$ MVP SPORTS GRILLE 12777 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 5, Intracoastal, 221-1090 MVP’s offers a full bar, wings, burgers in a sporty atmosphere. Free pool and trivia on Mon., Texas Hold ’Em on Sun. and Tue., Karaoke every Thur., a DJ spins every Wed., Fri.-Sat. Sports on 22 TVs. $$
offers a seasonally changing menu and an award-winning international wine list. $$ SEVEN BRIDGES GRILLE & BREWERY 9735 Gate Parkway N., Tinseltown, 997-1999, 7bridgesgrille.com Brewer Aaron Nesbit handcrafts award-winning freshly brewed ales and lagers. Play pool for free until 4 p.m. Live music Fri., weather permitting. Open 11 a.m.-mid. Mon.-Thur.; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri. and Sat.; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun. Happy hour 4-6:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 p.m.-close; food and drink specials; $1 off Seven Bridges beers, $2 off wine by the glass, $5 all ultra-premium cocktails. $$
MY PLACE BAR & GRILL 9550 Baymeadows Rd., 737-5299 A full bar and a bar menu are served. Happy hour daily. Open until 2 a.m.; live music most weekends. $
THE STEAKHOUSE @ GOLD CLUB 320 Gen. Doolittle Dr., Regency, 645-5500, jacksonvillegoldclub.com Daily lunch and dinner specials – $10.95 prime rib Wednesdays, Tequila Thursdays. NFL Sunday Ticket and game day specials. Full bar, full menu. Smoking is allowed. Open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Cover charge after 7 p.m. Games, TVs, DJs nightly. Happy hour 4-7 p.m.; $2.50 wells, $2.50 domestics, $3 imports, $1 off calls and premiums. $$$
OVINTE 10208 Buckhead Branch Dr., St. Johns Town Center, 900-7730, ovinte.com The fine-dining craft cocktail bar and restaurant has a 240-bottle wine list, 75 by the glass, and craft spirits, along with tapas and small plate items made with Spanish and Italian flavors. Outdoor dining, bocce court, live music. Open daily. Happy hour is 2-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat., with $1 off glass wine, cocktails, draft beer, $18 bottles Ruffino Prosecco, $5 off Refrescos. $$
TEQUILAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT 10915 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 101, 363-1365, tequilasjax.com This newish spot has more than 70 spirits at the large bar. A full Mexican menu is served. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thur., till 10:30 p.m. Fri., noon-10:30 p.m. Sat., noon-9:30 p.m. Sun. Live music on Sat., TVs. Happy hour all day every day; 2-for-1 house margaritas – with 100 percent agave tequila – and bottle beers. Daily premium brand drink specials. $$
PREVATT’S SPORTS BAR 2620 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 17, Middleburg, 282-1564, prevattssportsbarandgrill.com This is what a neighborhood sports bar should be: All the spirits you’d want, familiar bar fare and live music every weekend. $$
TILTED KILT PUB & EATERY 9720 Deer Lake Court, Tinseltown, 379-8612, tiltedkilt. com A full bar, 40 big-screen TVs and pub fare – including wings, salmon and shepherd’s pie – are offered. Open late night. $$
THE PUB & CELEBRATION LIQUORS 13947 Beach Blvd., Ste. 101, Intracoastal, 992-1349 The friendly neighborhood spot has TVs running sports, as well as pool tables, darts and indoor golf. A full bar is served daily. Happy hour is 3-7 p.m. daily, featuring reduced prices; hospitality /industry staff get special pricing from mid.-close. The skilled staff is chill, and smoking is allowed. The adjacent liquor store is open daily.
TIME OUT SPORTS GRILL 13799 Beach Blvd., Ste. 5, Intracoastal, 223-6999, timeoutsportsgrill.com This locally owned and operated grill serves a full bar, daily drink specials and a late-night menu. HDTVs, pool tables, darts and trivia. $$
SANDOLLAR RESTAURANT 9716 Heckscher Dr., Northside, 251-2449, sandollarrestaurantjax.com On the banks of the St. Johns, Sandollar offers a full bar, seafood and steaks. Hang inside or out on the deck. Live music. $$ SAUCY TACO 450 S.R. 13 N., Ste. 113, Julington Creek, 287-8226, saucytaco.com Seriously locally owned and operated. Light Mexican with American influenced menu. There are 40 beers on draft, many local. Live music Fri. and Sat. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-mid. Fri., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun. Happy hour 3-7 p.m., 9 p.m.-close; $2 domestic drafts, $1 off wells, $3 margaritas all day every day. $$ SEASONS 52 5096 Big Island Dr., St. Johns Town Center, 645-5252, seasons52.com This casual fresh grill and wine bar
WHISKEY JAX KITCHEN & COCKTAILS 10915 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 135, 634-7208, whiskeyjax.com Upscale yet casual gastropub offers chefinspired cuisine with an emphasis on local. More than 100 whiskeys and 24 beers on tap, full bar. Smoking allowed outside. Live music Mon.-Sat. Open 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m. Sat., 10 a.m. Sun. Happy hour 5-7 p.m.; $3 cocktails, drafts and wine. $$ WILD WING CAFÉ 4555 Southside Blvd., Tinseltown, 998-9464, wildwingcafe.com This hoppin’ Tinseltown spot serves a full bar, 33 flavors of wings ribs and burgers. Live music is performed or a DJ spins three to four nights a week. $$ YOUR PLACE BAR & GRILL 13245 Atlantic Blvd., Intracoastal, 221-9994 Live music is presented nightly. A full bar and bar fare are served. $$
MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 31
Our Picks
Reasons to leave tthe he hhouse ouse tthis his wweek eek THEY GOT THE GOODS
MERCHANDISE
JAZZ HANDS
STANLEY JORDAN
Jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan first burst onto the music scene in the early ’80s, when he became an instant trailblazer on the strengths of his two-handed tapping on the guitar’s fingerboard. The now-55-year-old Jordan has appeared on more than 30 albums, performed in more than 60 countries and is a multiple Grammy Award nominee. 8 p.m. May 15 at The Ritz Theatre & Museum, Downtown, $34-$39, ritzjacksonville.com.
While they’ve sometimes been described as “maudlin” (not unlike the entire Folio Weekly editorial staff), and their sound tips a cap to The Smiths, Tampa-based rockers and 4AD recording artists Merchandise deliver mean hooks with danceable beats that set this bunch apart from their current rocker peers. 8 p.m. May 15 with Memphibians, Burnt Hair, Cold Skin and Cobra Fang, at Burro Bar, Downtown, $10.
HONKY TONK HEROES
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW
Nashville’s Old Crow Medicine Show, offering its own take on old-time folk music since 1998, is a cited influence by Mumford & Sons. Since inception, the musicians have snagged Grammy and AMA awards, were featured on A Prairie Home Companion, and were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. 6 p.m. May 16 with Devil Makes Three, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, $19.75$39.75, staugamphitheatre.com.
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE WILD AMELIA NATURE FESTIVAL
Aren’t you a little tired of staring at your cheese-puff-residue-covered smart phone? C’mon, ya Dingus, put some pants on and go outside! Northeast Florida has some of the most beautiful bucolic settings in the country! The 2015 Wild Amelia Nature Festival features numerous events including guided eco-tours, an EcoExpo featuring nature-based vendors and organizations, a sea turtle release, and kid-geared activities. May 15, 16 and 17 in Fernandina Beach. For a schedule, go to wildamelia.com.
THE RIGHT TRUCK NEW TRUCKS ON THE BLOCK
Rev up your appetites! Jax Truckies hosts its food truck lock party featuring 10 of Northeast Florida’s newest food trucks, including one called “The Butt Hut.” 4-9 p.m. May 16 at The Jacksonville Landing, Downtown, jaxtruckies.org.
GOOD VIBRATIONS
THE BEACH BOYS WITH THE JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The surf meets the symphony when The Beach Boys join forces with The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra for the Starry Nights performance. In the ’60s, The Beach Boys dominated the charts with a whopping 36 Top 40 hits, while helping forge the orchestral pop movement. While the band has suffered some losses (including founding members Dennis and Carl Wilson), Mike Love and Bruce Johnston will be leading the current lineup for a concert that’s sure to satisfy both rock and classical music fans. 8:15 p.m. (gates 6 p.m.) May 16 at Metropolitan Park, Downtown, bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets; food, beer, wine and nonalcoholic drinks available, $29-$114, jaxsymphony.org. 32 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 33
A&E // FILM
COPPING OUT
It has some laughs, but buddy chick-flick drips with sexist exploitation
T
he stench of mediocrity oozed from the Felipe (Vincent Laresca) and his wife Daniella trailer for Hot Pursuit, so it’s no surprise (Vergara) to Dallas to testify in the trial of a the 87-minute film is more of the same: The drug lord (Joaquin Cosio). Soon the marshal jokes are occasionally funny and occasionally and husband are dead, and Cooper and forced, the story is predictable, and the action Daniella are framed for the murders, so they go is at best moderately exciting. As expected, on the run. Slowly. Daniella insists on carrying Sofia Vergara plays a version of her screen her luggage and wearing heels, so “on the walk” persona, while the far more talented Reese is probably more accurate than “on the run.” Witherspoon takes top billing but plays second Chasing them are crooked cops, thugs, fiddle to Vergara’s loony Latina. It’s not a and the entire state of Texas. The buddy bad movie per se, and the good laughs are comedy format is rich with opportunities for well-earned, but if you skip this in laughs, so it’s a bit disappointing theaters and wait until home video, that David Feeney and John HOT PURSUIT you will not regret it for a second. Quaintance’s script repeatedly Witherspoon plays Cooper, a resorts to Daniella’s desire to break **G@ by-the-book San Antonio cop who’s free from Cooper. We know they Rated PG-13 so intense she scares off her dates have to work together to succeed, before dinner is over. Her boss, so any tension between them Captain Emmett (John Carroll Lynch), asks her is a boring waste of time. Also, be warned: to assist Detective Jackson (Richard T. Jones), a Vergara has a number of lines in Spanish, federal marshal, in escorting wanted criminal and subtitles aren’t always provided, so non-
CATHOLIC BLOCK
THE 1970S WERE A GREAT DECADE at the movies for demonic kids and tortured Catholic priests. Setting the bar, The Exorcist opened in 1973; four years on, the bar was lowered considerably with the execrable Exorcist II: The Heretic with Richard Burton in a risible performance as the title priest. Later that year, though, Burton redeemed himself with Equus, for which he received his seventh and last Oscar nomination. In 1978, Burton donned the cassock again in Absolution, playing a priest and teacher at a Catholic boys school, but still faced with demons, only this time not of the supernatural variety. Written by Peter Shaffer (The Wicker Man and Hitchcock’s Frenzy), the story focuses on Father Goddard (Burton) and two mid-teen students, one of whom he unintentionally favors over the other. The former is bright, easygoing, and likable; the latter, more irritating than not in his efforts to win the priest’s approval. Like Shaffer’s other screenplays, including Sleuth, the film has some major plot twists involving murder and the seal of the confessional. (Hitchcock employed the same device in I Confess with Montgomery Clift.) Featuring the film debut of Scottish actor Billy Connolly as a hippie in the wrong place at the wrong time, Absolution has a great plot and script, terrific performances from Burton and the others, and solid direction from Anthony Page. Nonetheless, the film has been ignored, not even released in the U.S. until 1988, four years after Burton’s death. The distribution problems were all related to financial lawsuits, and the film has continued its drift into oblivion. The only versions of Absolution available for viewing over here are utterly abysmal in terms of visual quality. Still, this is a movie worth the effort to watch, particularly for Burton fans. (The quality on YouTube is about as good as it gets.) Absolution 34 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
deserves serious restoration and reappraisal. Reappraisal is also due for Child’s Play, a 1972 Sidney Lumet film that was largely misunderstood at the time and ignored by audiences who were already beginning to queue up for The Exorcist. Recently released on Blu-ray, Lumet’s film (which looks great) should not be confused with the series of horror films (beginning in 1988) starring the homicidal doll Chucky. Like Absolution, this earlier Child’s Play features the sinister goings-on at a Catholic boys high school. Though the institution is governed by priests, the story’s major protagonists are three lay teachers. Malley (James Mason) is an elderly, cranky Latin teacher who’s convinced that Dobbs (Robert Preston), a middle-aged and extremely popular literature teacher, is trying to force him into retirement. The new phys ed instructor (Beau Bridges), a former student of each, tries to mediate.
Spanish speakers may feel as if they’re missing jokes (they are). However, enough laughs do connect to make the film consistently funny, and Witherspoon and Vergara share an affable chemistry that allows their strong characters to work well together. They may be strong women, but director Anne Fletcher (The Proposal) isn’t beyond exploiting Vergara and Witherspoon’s sexuality. Everything Vergara wears is tight to show off her voluptuous figure, and her ample bosom is on full display throughout. Witherspoon starts the movie in a dowdy cop uniform, but soon switches to a cute dress and boots. They also have a makeout scene that’s intentionally awkward, each grabs the other’s backside and Witherspoon straddles Vergara while the widow is driving a bus. It’s intentionally titillating and objectifying — and it’s a contrast to the otherwise empowering story of two women who accomplish their goals on their own, without the extensive help of a man. Admittedly, I wouldn’t be discussing what the characters were wearing or their sexuality if they were being played by men. Nobody cares what dudes wear in a buddy comedy. The reality is this: As empowering as the film may be for women, the filmmakers are clearly using sex appeal as a selling point. Why? Because the only thing more important to Warner Bros. than sending a positive message is making money, and sex sells. We can be grateful that most people aren’t looking for social implications in Hot Pursuit, and nor should they. Anyone paying to see this wants to laugh, and laugh they will. Maybe not as much as they want to, but enough to not feel cheated. Dan Hudak mail@folioweekly.com
MAGIC LANTERNS
Unaccountable acts of outrage, violence, and sacrilege are occurring at the school, cause and culprits unknown. However, the boys (often victims themselves) are less than forthcoming. Is it just Malley’s near-hysterical paranoia or does Evil cloak itself in the most innocuous of disguises? James Mason is simply phenomenal as Malley, a juicy role that reportedly caused Marlon Brando to back out of playing Dobbs, knowing he’d be overshadowed by the seasoned actor. However, Robert Preston (The Music Man) is just as good in a role that is, if anything, more complicated as the film unfolds to its ominous, ambiguous conclusion. Forgotten gems both, Absolution and Child’s Play should be required viewing for veterans (shellshocked and otherwise) of boys’ parochial schools as well as astute film fans in general. Pat McLeod mail@folioweekly.com
A&E // FILM LISTINGS FILM RATINGS ALEXANDER TROCCHI **** ALEXANDER VON SCHLIPPENBACH ***@ ALEXANDER POPE **@@ ALEXANDER HAIG *@@@
SCREENINGS AROUND TOWN FREE MOVIE BY THE BAY Ripley’s St. Augustine Attractions presents The Spanish Main for the Romanza Festivale, from 8:30-10 p.m. on May 13, starring Paul Henreid, Maureen O’Hara and Walter Slezak, at St. Augustine Municipal Marina, 111 Avenida Menendez, 825-1026, romanzafestivale.com. Bring blankets or chairs. SUN-RAY CINEMA Ex Machina and The Avengers: Age of Ultron screen at Sun-Ray Cinema, 1028 Park St., 5 Points, 359-0049, sunraycinema.com. Mad Max: Fury Road starts its run on May 15. THE CORAZON CINEMA & CAFÉ Inherent Vice screens through May 14 at Corazon Cinema, 36 Granada St., St. Augustine, 679-5736, corazoncinema andcafe.com. Mr. Turner shows through May 21. Local Honey starts its run on May 15. Sand Wars screens at 6 p.m. on May 19. Revenge of the Creature from the Black Lagoon starts its run on May 19. WGHF IMAX THEATER The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Galapagos 3D and Humpback Whales 3D screen at World Golf Village Hall of Fame IMAX Theater, 1 World Golf Place, St. Augustine, 940-4133, worldgolfimax.com. Tomorrowland The IMAX Experience starts its run on May 21.
AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON ***@ Rated PG-13 Tony Stark’s villainy is externalized in Ultron, an AI creation he’s been working on for years that he can finally bring to fruition now that the Avengers have reacquired Loki’s wondrous scepter from what’s left of Hydra (as told in the opening sequence); something to do with the extra computing power the scepter offers. Ultron (the voice of James Spader) has some of Tony’s (Robert Downey Jr.) attitudes, but a glitch in its “birth” makes it go a bit cyber-insane; it extrapolates Tony’s notion of world peace to mean “a planet without humans.” Now it’s gotten loose and must be stopped, natch. It’s not so much the twisting of Tony’s attitude that’s the near-villainy here but that Tony was keeping more secrets – and Ultron is a huge one – from those who are supposed to be saving the planet. The other Avengers learn of this after it tries to kill them all. This literally ruins the Avengers’ party. The Hulk, aka Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), goes on a rampage of massive destruction in downtown Johannesburg, stopped only when Iron Man – in Hulk-scaled power armor – steps in. Costars Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner and Paul Bettany. Whew! — MaryAnn Johanson BEFORE I WAKE Rated PG-13 It’s amusing to find out which movie titles Hollywood thinks America won’t understand. In 1989, the Bond flick License Revoked was renamed License to Kill because the studio feared too many filmgoers wouldn’t know what the word “revoked” meant. (Like half of them hadn’t already seen the word “revoked” stamped on their own driver’s permissions.) So it was kind of amazing when last year’s horror thriller Oculus was allowed to keep its name, no matter how many home-schoolers might think an “oculus” is a deep-sea delicacy in several Asian countries. Even better was the news that filmmaker Mike Flanagan’s follow-up – which follows a boy whose dreams become reality – would be Somnia. Way to build the viewer’s word power, huh? Apparently not, because the thing
The college women’s a cappella group The Barden Bellas return for Pitch Perfect 2, currently screening in area theaters.
NOW SHOWING THE AGE OF ADALINE Rated PG-13 In The Age of Adaline, Blake Lively plays a woman who develops a condition that allows her to go through the 20th Century without getting any older, affording her the kinds of adventures only perpetual youth can bestow. The cast includes Harrison Ford, Michiel Huisman, Ellen Burstyn and Kathy Baker. — Steve Schneider
got rechristened Before I Wake before the posters were printed. Come on, America! It’s a simple Christian name popular in Latin American countries. — S.S. THE D TRAIN ***@ Rated R As Dan Landsman, Jack Black exemplifies the self-doubt, insecurity and desperation that can be the hallmarks of encroaching middle-age. Dan, in his late-30s, is the selfappointed leader of his high school’s alumni committee. The 20-year anniversary is coming up and Dan and his old
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A&E// FILM LISTINGS schoolmates aren’t getting many attendance confi rmations from the Class of ’94 for the big bash. He sees a Banana Boat commercial starring former high school BMOC Oliver Lawless (James Marsden) and hatches a plan to lure the apparent Hollywood hero back home for the reunion, to attract the indifferent classmates to the party. Co-directed and co-written by Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel, the film uses the premise of the high school reunion, and Dan’s fixation on securing Oliver as his veritable grail quest, to explore deeper ideas of insecurity and desire. With Kathryn Hahn, Russell Posner and Jeffrey Tambor. — Daniel A. Brown DIOR AND I Not Rated Director Frédéric Tchenga gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion house of designer Christian Dior during the creation of new artistic director Raf Simons’ fi rst haute couture collection. THE DUFF Rated PG-13 Teen melodrama about a girl who learns she’s considered a DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) in her social circle. The narrative of identities remade and bitch-queens dethroned is bound to captivate, especially if you’re too young to have seen Mean Girls. Costars Bella Thorne, Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell and Allison Janney. — S.S. EX MACHINA ***@ Rated R It’s cerebral sci-fi, superbly executed by first-time director Alex Garland. Set in the near future, it expounds on the premise of the possibility of falling in love with artificial intelligence, by providing a voice, face, and partial body to the android, and the results are fascinating. Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) is an ambitious, nerdy computer programmer at a search engine tech company. He’s thrilled when he “wins” the chance to join the owner of the company, Nathan (Oscar Isaac), for a week at Nathan’s research facility/home. Caleb is ostensibly there because Nathan has created a robot he named Ava (Alicia Vikander). Nathan believes Ava is capable of emotions, and Nathan needs Caleb to test her/it. — Dan Hudak FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD Rated PG-13 Remember that bit at the end of This is Spinal Tap in which Derek St. Hubbins says he’s listening to an audiocassette series of great books read by celebrities with the same last name as the author? Well, director Thomas Vinterberg missed his chance to do something even more awesome when he declined to cast Tom Hardy in this latest adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd. How he let that one go I’ll never know, but instead we have to settle for Carey Mulligan as the central romantic fixation in Hardy’s tale of love and courtship on a sheep farm. — S.S. FURIOUS 7 ***@ Rated PG-13 This is 137 minutes of pure, unbridled adrenaline. Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) breaks into federal agent Hobbs’ (Dwayne Johnson) office to get info on Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel). He learns Dom’s “family” is just fine: Brian (Paul Walker) and wife Mia (Jordana Brewster) are settling down with their son, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) is still trying to get her memory back, and Tej (Ludacris) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson) are still clowning around. The story would be simple if it was just about Deckard tracking them down, but this F&F franchise doesn’t do simple. Costars Nathalie Emmanuel, Djimon Hounsou, Kurt Russell and the late Paul Walker’s two real-life brothers, Caleb and Cody, who are body doubles and stand-ins for their brother. — D.H.
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IT FOLLOWS ***@ Rated R Writer-director David Robert Mitchell’s premise is simple yet terrifying. Teenager Jay (Maika Monroe) goes to the movies on her first date with Hugh (Jake Weary). Hugh is spooked by a woman invisible to Jay. On their second date, after car sex, Hugh, in a highly questionable demonstration of pillow talk, covers Jay’s face with a chloroform-soaked rag. When she wakes, Jay is in a warehouse, strapped in a wheelchair, as Hugh nervously explains, “It’s gonna follow you. Somebody gave it to me. And I gave it to you.” “It” arrives – a lumbering, zombie-like nude woman. The combination of inventive camera work, a pulse-pounding soundscape, Mitchell’s recurring motifs and scenes that contrast the ’burbs with the ’hood, helps elevate this above typical horror fare. Most important, Mitchell’s script stays on point. — Daniel A. Brown
LITTLE BOY Rated PG-13 Roma Downey and Mark Burnett are executive producers of this faith-based homily about a California tyke who becomes convinced performing acts of charity will move God to end World War II and bring his dad home. — S.S. THE LONGEST RIDE Rated PG-13 Nicholas Sparks’ big-screen adaptation details a romantic relationship between bull rider Luke (Scott Eastwood, who looks a lot like his daddy Clint, hubba hubba), and Sophia (Britt Robertson), a college student poised to make waves on the NYC art scene. Costars Oona Chaplin, Lolita Davidovich and Melissa Benoist. — S.S. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD ***@ Rated R Reviewed in this issue. MONKEY KINGDOM ***@ Rated G People care about characters, and the more like humans those characters seem, the better. Disneynature label offers a charming, educational and occasionally exasperating story, narrated by Tina Fey, about a troop of toque macaque monkeys living in the forests of Sri Lanka. There’s Maya, the plucky heroine at the bottom of the macaque social hierarchy, dominated by alpha male Raja and a trio of females, the Three Sisters. There’s roguish young male Kumar, who sweeps Maya off her monkey feet before being chased off by Raja. Soon, there’s baby Kip, Maya’s adorable offspring who becomes the focus of her survival instincts. Directors Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield have a talent for getting shots that are even more impressive when you see the behind-the-scenes footage during the credits. By the time Maya gets her almost-happy ending, it’s tempting to roll your eyes at the Disney-ness of it all – but maybe it’s that Disney-ness that kept you watching. — Scott Renshaw PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 Rated PG Paul Blart (Kevin James) is on a Vegas vacation. But we all know, eagle-eyed Paul never relaxes, so he’s compelled to keep the streets of Las Vegas safe. Hilairty ensues. Costars Raini Rodriguez, Eduardo Verástegui and Ana Gasteyer. PITCH PERFECT 2 Rated PG-13 Does it send a bad message that one of the characters in the Pitch Perfect franchise is named “Fat Amy”? Maybe, but it sure frees me up to summarize the whole affair as “Glee for fat people.” This time, our a cappella heroines are swimming in deeper waters as they enter an international singing contest no American team has ever won. — S.S.
HOME Rated PG HBO’s The Normal Heart showed that Jim Parsons can handle a lot more than The Big Bang Theory. So what has he chosen for his all-important transition to mainstream cinema? Lilo and Sheldon! You don’t have to strain too hard to hear a whole mess of Dr. Cooper in his voicing of Oh, an alien who strikes up a friendship with a human girl. A few more play-it-safe moves like this, and I’m going to claim a violation of our Roommate Agreement. — S.S.
ROAR Rated PG The 1981 movie is about the African adventures of Noel Marshall and Tippi Hedren, mom to Melanie Griffith, who’s mom to Dakota Fifty Shades of Grey Johnson. There’s a big ol’ lion a-roar on the promo, so …
HOT PURSUIT **G@ Rated PG-13 Reviewed in this issue.
THE SALT OF THE EARTH Rated PG-13 The documentary features the renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado and his worldwide travels captured on fi lm.
A&E // FILM There’s zilch under the hood plot-wise, but the latest MAD MAX tears up the pavement with high-octane action
TWO-LANE BLACKTOP (OF BLOOD!) S
o this is what a two-hour action scene looks are elaborate and spectacular, particularly one like. in a sandstorm and the numerous ventures Mad Max: Fury Road> is 120 minutes through a canyon. Best of all, the choreography of noise, action, and more noise. It’s an and execution of the sequences is clear and unrelenting assault on the eyes and ears that suspenseful – they aren’t over-edited to the almost feels invasive, as if director George point of incongruity. Miller wants us to experience every boneThe setting is a barren future, so it’s almost crushing moment rather than simply watch it. surreal how the desert is oversaturated to the Boy, is this a helluva ride. point that it’s nearly orange, and at night, it There is no story. We’re talking absolute doesn’t get dark but rather steely blue, which zero in terms of plot. People are reflects the cold and unforgiving on the run and people are trying world in which they live. The MAD MAX: FURY ROAD to catch them. That’s it. The entire costumes (by Jenny Beavan) and ***@ movie is one long chase, with small makeup (by Nadine Prigge) are Rated R breaks to map out strategy before outlandish and gaudy, extreme the next fight starts. It’s episodic, for the sake of shock value rather and almost feels like a video game: After one than practicality. In fact, nothing about Mad level/fight is completed, you move on to the Max needs to be as over-the-top as it is, yet next, more challenging fight. Coincidentally, because it is, we appreciate its energy and effort video game play and Mad Max have the same that much more. core objective: survival. As for the lack of story, let it go. It feels Consider that word for a moment. Survival. like there’s plenty of backstory for all the It’s the most primal of human instincts, and main characters that Miller either forgot is very fitting here. The barbaric savages who or neglected to tell us, perhaps because he inhabit the post-apocalyptic hellhole in which wanted to focus exclusively on the action. the movie is set will stop at nothing to kill one Given that Hardy is signed for three Mad another and claim the few precious valuables (like Max films after this, more details will may be water and ammunition) left on the planet. Our revealed in future installments. morality aligns more with former cop Max (Tom As for now, embrace Mad Max for all the Hardy) and renegade Furiosa (Charlize Theron) well-staged fighting and chaos there, because because they’re escorting a group of innocent girls most of it is exciting. And just when you think away from villain Immortan Joe (Hugh Keaysit’s over, just when you think the last explosion/ Byrne), who looks like Predator if Predator had impalement/roadkill/stabbing/shooting has to make his own outfit. Joe has convinced his happened, you won’t be able to get the movie followers, called “War Boys,” that he’s returned out of your head. The darn musical score by from the dead, so they’re willing to die for him Junkie XL, so repetitive throughout, keeps because they believe they will live again, too. playing in your ear, an incessant earworm Miller, who made the original Mad Max you can’t turn off. Some will consider that a trilogy (1979-’85) and is also credited as a good thing. Others will find it annoying, even co-writer (with Brendan McCarthy and Nick haunting. Regardless, having a thrill ride like Lathouris) here, storyboarded the entire film Mad Max stay with you well after the credits before he had a screenplay, so he knew all roll is a sign Miller did something right. along the emphasis would be on visuals rather Dan Hudak than narrative. As a result, the action scenes mail@folioweekly.com MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 37
A&E// FILM LISTINGS SISTER CODE Rated R The new romcomdram costars Amber Rose, Eva Marcille, Drew Sidora and Marcus T. Paulk. TRUE STORY Rated R What the Venture Brothers once called “a deadly game of cat and also cat,” this reality-based thriller brings a newspaper reporter (Jonah Hill) into the orbit of a murder suspect (James Franco) who stole his identity. Robert Durst has really raised the bar for this sort of thing: We won’t be satisfi ed unless a true-crime tale ends with the accused making a heart-stopping confession and committing hara-kiri with a ballpoint pen right there before our eyes. But look closely at that cast: You just know the big reveal here is gonna be that they’re both Seth Rogen. — S.S. UNFRIENDED Rated R Cyberhorror for millennials – young people in a chat room are the focus of a supernatural entity who logs on as a friend of theirs who is, coincidentally, dead. UTTAMA VILLAIN Not Rated The comedy/drama costars Kamal Haasan, K. Viswanath, K. Balachander, Jayaram, Andrea Jeremiah, Pooja Kumar and Parvathi Menon. In Tamil with English subtitles. THE WATER DIVINER Rated R For his first foray behind the camera, Russell Crowe directs his favorite actor – himself! – in a historical drama about an Australian widower/dad determined to retrieve the bodies of his sons, who have perished in the Battle of Gallipoli. See, if he had just listened to Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, he could’ve prayed real hard, and World War I would have ended the minute it started, with the Allies dropping the Big One on the guy who shot Archduke Ferdinand. Sixteen million lives saved, Crowe settles into perpetual paternal bliss, and years later, there’s one less hotel clerk with a phone-shaped dent in his noggin. Epic win all around. — S.S. WELCOME TO ME Not Rated On her way to becoming one of The Only Ghostbusters
Timothy Spall stars as the eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner, in Mr. Turner, currently screening at The Corazon Cinema & Café in St. Augustine.
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You Should Care About, Kristen Wiig keeps one foot in the waters of indie cred by starring in another honest-togoodness not-rated-by-the-MPAA indie character study. In this one, she plays an emotionally disturbed lottery winner who starts a talk show to broadcast her personal business to the world. Yep, it’s The Oprah Story. Can’t wait to hear how Wiig pulls off the voice. Early Oscar buzz: a Best Supporting nom for Bill Hader, as Steadman. — S.S. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS ***G Not Rated This film takes a recurring idea and drives a stake deep into the heart of ... well, you get the idea. Written and directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, Shadows injects a shot of macabre into the buddy picture scene, focusing on a group of vampires living in a decrepit house on the outskirts of Wellington who’ve allowed a camera crew to document their day-to-day – or rather night-tonight – existence. Costars Jonathan Brugh, Ben Fransham, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer and Rhys Darby. — D.A.B. WHILE WE’RE YOUNG **@@ Rated R Middle-aged married couple Josh (Ben Stiller) and Cornelia (Naomi Watts) are feeling like failures, in their careers and their marriage. They meet aspiring filmmaker Jamie (Adam Driver) and his wife Darby (Amanda Seyfried), who makes ice cream. Jamie and Darby are 25 years old and just as hipster cute as they can be. He wears a fedora, ferchrissakes. But Josh develops a bromance with the guy and it fires him up. The relationship evolves, things change and some people aren’t what they seem. While We’re Young could and should have done more with its subject matter by being sharper and more blunt to social woes. — D.H. WOMAN IN GOLD Rated PG-13 Before they discovered the therapeutic hobby of fl ying passenger planes into mountain ranges, some Germans were actually kinda dicks. For instance, did you know they stole other people’s paintings? Honest to God! They just up and swiped family portraits that weren’t even their property, forcing people like Helen Mirren to spend six decades trying to get the damn things back. All of which leads me to wonder what we’re going to be trying to retrieve from ISIS in 2075: Selfies from a trip to Dave & Buster’s? — S.S.
A&E //ARTS
ON THE ROAD
The latest exhibit at MOCA offers a fascinating photographic travelogue of 1970s’ American South
M
ore than 40 years ago, photographer Raymond Smith went on a road trip that would change his life. Along with a traveling companion and armed with two medium-format, twin-lens cameras, Smith documented much of what he experienced crisscrossing the American South. The results were 750 photographs, of which 52 have been selected for Smith’s current exhibition, In Time We Shall Know Ourselves: Photographs by Raymond Smith, on display at MOCA Jacksonville through Aug. 30. “The photographs are displayed in a linear progression of how Smith wanted us to observe the work,” explains Jaime DeSimone, MOCA’s assistant curator. “It starts with the photo of a Jacksonville security guard and ends with a photo of some tourists framing an American flag as they ride on a ferry on the James River in Virginia.” The exhibition also includes a case displaying Smith’s Twin Lens Rolleiflex camera and a journal he kept during his travels. “I’m always drawn to the storytelling possibilities of photography,” says DeSimone. “Here, Smith’s travel narrative unfolds in a handpicked order, where the small photographs each require time to look and see the image — see the story.” The exhibition opens with the photograph “Security Guard, Jacksonville, Florida,” a 5.25-inch-by-6-inch silver print taken in 1974, showing a uniformed man resembling a young Sean Penn leaning against a brick wall, posing for the camera. “That [photo] hooks us in to observing it and asking questions about who, where and why,” DeSimone says. “It will be a relatable
image and curious one for our community as we learn this guard is one person of a much larger visual story beyond Jacksonville.” Other photographs in the exhibition are of two watermelons placed side-by-side on an old couch in “Roadside Café, Sealy, Texas,” a boy posing with a shoeshine box in “Bourbon
IN TIME WE SHALL KNOW OURSELVES: PHOTOGRAPHS BY RAYMOND SMITH
Artist’s tour 7 p.m. May 14 Patrons’ reception, 6-7 p.m. May 15; Members’ reception 7-9 p.m. May 15; admission is free Museum of Contemporary Art, Downtown, mocajacksonville.org The exhibit displays through Aug. 30 Street, New Orleans” and a grandmother, mother and daughter sitting on wooden chairs in a yard in “Three Generations, near Culpeper, Virginia.” Last year, Smith published a book of the 52 photographs, In Time We Shall Know Ourselves, to coincide with the traveling exhibition which had been originally organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in Alabama. The book also includes three critical essays, Richard H. King’s “Mirror with a Memory,” Alexander Nemerov’s “First and Last: The Sequence of ‘In Time We Shall Know Ourselves,’” and Smith’s own “Retrospect.” “The duotone reproductions in the book are the same size as the vintage original photographs on exhibition,” Smith told Folio Weekly in an email, from his home in New
Raymond Smith, Rural Highway, Southern Georgia, after Rainstorm, 1974. Gelatin silver print, 7” x 7” (top left); Self-Portrait, Motel Room, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1974. Gelatin silver print, 6 3/4” x 7”; New Picture Books, Stoneville, North Carolina, 1974. Gelatin silver print, 7-1/4˝x7-1/2˝ (above).
Haven, Connecticut. “The installation at the museum faithfully follows the sequence of photographs I’ve constructed for the book.” It’s been more than four decades since Smith left the Northeast in a friend’s Volkswagen to travel the American South and chronicle the everyday life of those he encountered, and the work is still as influential today as it was in the mid-1970s. “Smith was photographing shortly after the Civil Rights Movement at a time of an integrated society,” says DeSimone. “While they mirror the country at that time and include portraits of African Americans, the photographs are maybe even more relevant after the current events in Baltimore.” DeSimone explains that it’s Smith’s use of closely cropped figures, architecture and the iconic American flag that helps tell the story of the American way of life. “He continues this tradition by tying the prints to literature, saying each photo is a ‘short story exploding beyond the frame,’” DeSimone says. “With that in mind, each picture is important for what it suggests in our larger world. In essence, the portfolio captures the collective experience of things seen, pictured and remembered.” Kara Pound mail@folioweekly.com MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 39
A&E // ARTS & EVENTS PERFORMANCE
LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE A Classic Theatre presents Nora Ephron’s play, featuring monologues that use a woman’s wardrobe as a time capsule of her life, at 7:30 p.m. on May 13 at Flagler College’s Gamache-Koger Theatre, Ringhaver Student Center, 50 Sevilla St., St. Augustine, $20; $10 students, 829-5807, aclassictheatre.org. FOLIO WEEKLY NIGHT: MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY Folio Weekly hosts a presentation of the play, including a reception with complimentary wine, beer and food from Simply Wine, Zeta Brewing Co. and TLC Hash House, 6:30 p.m. (curtain 7:30 p.m.) May 13 at Players by the Sea, 106 Sixth St. N., Jax Beach, 249-0289, $23; after-party 10 p.m. at Zeta Brewing Co., 131 First Ave. N., Jax Beach, playersbythesea.org. MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY Players by the Sea presents Anne Washburn’s imaginative dark comedy, about a future dystopia where citizens create a community by recreating episodes of The Simpsons, at 8 p.m. on May 14-16 and 21-23 at 106 Sixth St. N., Jax Beach, 249-0289, $23; $20 for seniors, military and students; playersbythesea.org. THE BALLET OF PETER PAN The Saint Augustine Ballet presents a stage adaptation of the story of the boy who refused to grow up, with music from classical works of Bach and Beethoven to Native American drums and Irish jigs, at 2:30 and 7 p.m. May 16 at Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium, 14 Granada St., $25, 855-222-2849, saintaugustineballet.com. THE PRODUCERS Amelia Musical Playhouse presents a stage adaptation of Mel Brooks’ 1968 musical comedy, about a conniving producer and a timid accountant producing a Broadway flop, 7:30 p.m. May 14-16, 21-23 and 28-30, and 2:30 p.m. May 24 at 1955 Island Walkway, Fernandina Beach, $20; $15 students, 277-3455, ameliamusicalplayhouse.com. THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE The musical comedy, about teens in the spelling championship of a lifetime, is staged May 13-June 14. Executive Chef DeJuan Roy’s themed menu is featured; through May 3, at Alhambra Theatre & Dining, 12000 Beach Blvd., Southside, 641-1212, $35-$55, alhambrajax.com. THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre stages a Southern-style comedy about two Catholic sisters in an ongoing war of words with a local evangelist, at 8 p.m. May 15 and 16 and 2 p.m. May 17 at Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-7177, $20; the show runs through May 24, abettheatre.com. THE THREE TELLERS Holding Down the Homefront: World War II in St. Augustine, a series of wartime vignettes, is at noon May 14 at Corazon Cinema & Café, 36 Granada St., St. Augustine, $10; $15 for two, 823-7969, corazoncinemacafe.com. THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) The Jewish Community Alliance stages a humorous play, condensing all of the Bard’s works into one production, 8 p.m. May 16 and 2 p.m. May 17 at 8505 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin, $15 advance May 16, $20 at the door; $8 advance May 17, $10 at the door, 730-2100, jcajax.org.
CLASSICAL, CHOIR & JAZZ
RENAISSANCE CONSORT CONCERT The group plays period piece instruments for music of courts of King Philip II and Queen Elizabeth I, reflecting St. Augustine’s Spanish and English periods, noon May 14 at Memorial Presbyterian Church, 32 Sevilla St., 829-6451, romanzafestivale.com. COURTNEY LEWIS RETURNS! Lewis conducts Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in works by Haydn, Ades, and Bartok 7:30 p.m. May 14 and 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. May 15 at TimesUnion Center for the Performing Arts’ Jacoby Hall, 300 Water St., Downtown, $16-$72, 354-5547, jaxsymphony.org. THE GLAD MELODY GANG The ensemble uses old-world instruments including the garklein and sub-subcontrabass to perform medieval and Renaissance works, at 2 p.m. May 15 at Memorial Presbyterian Church, St. Augustine, 829-6451, romanzafestivale.com ST. AUGUSTINE ORCHESTRA SPRING CONCERT Works by Schubert and Handel are performed, 8 p.m. May 15 at the Lightner Museum, 25 Granada St., $20; $5 for students with ID, free for ages 12 and under, st.augustineorchestra.org. STANLEY JORDAN Legendary jazz guitarist Jordan performs at 8 p.m. May 15 at The Ritz Theatre & Museum, 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, $34-$39, 807-2010, ritzjacksonville.com. THE BARTRAM TRAIL HONOR CHORUS Bartram Trail High School students perform Celtic and Spanish inspired choral music and spirituals at noon May 6 at Memorial Presbyterian Church, St. Augustine, 829-6451. STARRY NIGHTS: THE BEACH BOYS WITH JAX SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Rock legends perform with the orchestra, 8:15 p.m. (gates 6 p.m.) May 16 at Metropolitan Park, 4110 Gator Bowl Blvd., Downtown, $29-$114, bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets; food, beer, wine, nonalcoholic drinks available; 354-5547, jaxsymphony.org. JUBILEE - 450 YEARS OF SONG St. Augustine Community Chorus performs works by Purcell, Mozart, Mendelssohn, 3 p.m. May 17 at Memorial Presbyterian Church, staugustinecommunitychurch.com. FLORIDA CHAMBER MUSIC PROJECT This accomplished string quartet performs works by Shostakovich and Mendelssohn at 3 p.m. May 17 at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., $23, flchambermusic.org. JSYO SPRING FINAL CONCERT The Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra performs at 5 p.m. May 17 at the Times-Union Center’s Jacoby Symphony Hall, $10; $5 for kids, 354-5547, jaxsymphony.org. HAND BELL CHOIR SPRING CONCERT Orange Park United Methodist Church Hand Bell choir performs its spring
40 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
concert at 6:30 p.m. May 18 at Clay County Headquarters Library, 1895 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island, 278-3722, claycountygov.com. BETH NEWDOME FELLOWSHIP ARTISTS Violinists Jecoliah Wang and Leah Latoracca, violist Nina Bledsoe Ray, cellist Elaine Shin, and pianist Cecelia Kao perform at 1 p.m. May 19 at Savannah Grand, 900 Amelia Trace Ct., Fernandina Beach, ameliaislandchambermusicfestival.com.
TUESDAY SERENADE Violinist Ji Won Hwang and cellist Boyan Bonev play 7 p.m. May 19 at Main Library’s Hicks Auditorium, 303 N. Laura St., Downtown, 630-2353, jplmusic.blogspot.com.
COMEDY
RODNEY CARRINGTON Country humorist-musician Carrington appears at 7 p.m. May 14 at the T-U Center’s Moran Theater, $44.75, 633-6110, ticketmaster.com.
LET THERE BE LIT
UNIVERSAL TRUTHS WHAT BETTER METAPHOR for disorientation than an acid trip? Viraf has been in America for two months, and the differences from his home in Bombay might best be described by how he feels about Ali, one of the two deadheads who’ve given him his first hit of acid. “She was America. Young like America, fair and pretty. Different. Unconsciously seductive.” Ironically, the story’s deadheads, part of that hippie Orientalism that sees Indians (whether Indian Indians or American) as the apex of some pseudo-spirituality, worry their bona fide Indian friend might be having a bad trip. “You’re too uptight, man,” Doug says, “Why don’t you just let it happen?” It’s into this double disorientation that SOHRAB HOMI FRACIS throws his readers in “New World, Old World,” an excerpt from his novel Go Home, published in the spring 2015 issue of Crossborder. Two other excerpts, “The Summer of the Strike” and “Caught a Whale,” will appear in the spring issues of Fifth Wednesday and Jacksonvillebased Bridge Eight. The fact that Bridge Eighis sharing Jacksonville’s own Sohrab Homi Fracis, who won the prestigious Iowa Short Fiction Award for his collection Ticket to Minto: Stories of India and America in 2001, with some of the best-known fiction journals in North America says a lot about this town’s growing literary community. I’m having coffee with Sohrab in Five Points, asking him about the back-and-forth between East and West in his writing. The stories in Ticket to Minto alternate between Sohrab’s origins in the Parsi minority in Bombay and the America he found as a graduate student studying civil engineering. “New World, Old World” moves back and forth, too, but less systematically. I mention those lines by Rudyard Kipling, author of “The White Man’s Burden” and imperialist apologist, “East is East and West is West / And never the twain shall meet.” “Of course they meet,” Sohrab says, “Here we are,” indicating our sitting across from each other. “You’re looking at a fusion right here.” His new novel’s title, Go Home, other than quoting an insult hurled at its Indian protagonist in early-1980s-America, just after the Iran hostage crisis, raises the question of what “home” even means. For Sohrab, it’s complicated not only by his being Indian American, but by growing up Parsi in India. “Parsi” actually means “Persian,” and marks Indian Parsis as a small minority who migrated more than a thousand years ago from present-day Iran, where they’re known as Zoroastrians. So Pesi, in Sohrab’s story “Ancient Fire,” learns kinship with flames, since Bombay’s Parsi “fire temples” harbor fires that “had first been kindled more than three thousand years ago in ancient Iran,” though stories like “Flora Fountain” and “Holy Cow” explore with keen social perception and sharp wit the anxieties of the mandate to marry Parsi, since the ancient community has dwindled. Sohrab remembers a former student telling him he was lucky his life was “such complicated material.” “In a way, I came into this world handed some huge ancestral perspectives, because my
community, my tiny, tiny, tiny community, in India, and in the world, has never let go of its past, and that past is right at the core of their identity.” That long tradition raises questions about identity in the contemporary world. “Is that true? Are they right? Is that the core of my identity too by virtue of my having been born into that community?” It’s a prime example of “the accident of birth.” With a raised brow, Sohrab says his student was right. “It’s true. But you pay a price for your material.” Still, fiction, Sohrab says, offers “artistic license.” “I can go where I need to go for the best of the story,” he adds. Story dictates itself to the writer, and material works itself out in Sohrab’s head for years, without his necessarily knowing what it’s doing, until it presents itself as ready for him to write it. “Rabbit’s Foot,” the early piece hardest to publish 20 years ago, has recently re-emerged as one of Sohrab’s most significant stories. It ends with Veer cooking rabbit stew, having grown up vegetarian in India, trying unsuccessfully to tame down the curry for a white American friend. But before he hunts, he’s hunted. When a cop takes him down for hunting rabbits with an air pistol — a new American experience, as his family back home would be horrified — the cop says, “Count yourself lucky,” since he didn’t shoot the immigrant. Tragically, the story now resonates with the recent police shootings of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Walter Scott in Charleston, South Carolina. Veer finds the cop’s logic “similar to that in the condescending, easy assumption of so many Americans (his acceptance of which was required) that he must thank his lucky stars nightly for the good fortune to be in America.” Nevertheless, Sohrab Homi Fracis says he’s as much a Jacksonville writer as he is a Parsi or Indian-American writer. “This is the town where I learned not just to write, but to write well, and to interrogate the idea of home through story.” Tim Gilmore mail@folioweekly.com
A&E // ARTS & EVENTS Comedians Trish Suhr, Karen Mills, and Leanne Morgan bring their Southern-tinged COUNTRY COOL COMEDY TOUR to The Comedy Zone May 14-16.
COUNTRY COOL COMEDY Comedians Trish Suhr, Karen Mills and Leanne Morgan star in a Southern-tinged show at 8 p.m. May 14 and 10 p.m. May 15 and 16 at the Comedy Zone, 3130 Hartley Rd., Mandarin, $18-$22, 292-4242, comedyzone.com. A-TRAIN Funnyman A-Train performs at 8 p.m. (live band at 7 p.m.) May 14 at Comedy Club of Jacksonville, 11000 Beach Blvd., $15-$25, 646-4277, jacksonvillecomedy.com. ALEX ORITZ Oritz, who’s appeared on HBO’s Bad Boyz and Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, is on at 8:04 and 10:10 p.m. May 15 and 16 at Comedy Club of Jacksonville, 11000 Beach Blvd., $8-$25, 646-4277, jacksonvillecomedy.com. JERSEY Comic Jersey, who’s shared the stage with Jeff Dunham and Tracy Morgan, is on at 7:30 and 10 p.m. May 15 and at 7 and 10 p.m. May 16 at Latitude 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., Southside, $15, 365-5555, latitude360.com.
CALLS & WORKSHOPS
PGLAG SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS PFLAG is accepting applications for $2,000 scholarships from out lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students who live in Duval, Nassau, Clay, St. Johns and Clay counties. Deadline is June 1. Applications at pflagjax.org/scholarship. THE 5 & DIME SEEKS ACTORS The 5 & Dime, A Theatre Company auditions for Clybourne Park 3-6 p.m. May 16 and 17 at 648-B E. Union St., Downtown. For more information, go to the5anddime.org. ABET ADULT ACTING WORKSHOPS Dave Alan Thomas teaches techniques May 14, 20, 26, 27 and 28 at Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, $30 per session, floridatheacherthomas@gmail.com. AMELIA COMMUNITY THEATRE AUDITIONS For its production of the musical I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, at 2 p.m. May 16 at 207 Cedar St., Fernandina Beach. For more info, call 261-6749 or go to ameliacommunitytheatre.org. JAX CHILDREN’S CHORUS AUDITIONS May 14, 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 225 E. Duval St., Downtown. For more info, go to jaxchildrenschorus.org/auditions. CALL FOR ARTISTS The Art Center seeks works of nature, landscapes, plein air works and fauna for its Nature Series exhibit. Deadline 2 p.m. May 19; tacjacksonville.org. AMELIA ISLAND MUSEUM SEEKS WWII ITEMS The Museum of History seeks WWII historical items, particularly pieces with some association to Florida, to borrow for its upcoming exhibit Florida in World War II. Items will be on display for several months. 261-7378, ext. 102; email gray@ameliamuseum.org. UNF SUMMER CAMPS The University of North Florida’s Department of Campus Recreation offers two summer camps for ages 5-14. Youth Sports & Fitness Camp, June 8-Aug. 7; EcoCamp, June 8-July 31; unf.edu/recreation/camps. MUSICIANS NEEDED Amelia Musical Playhouse seeks musicians for Songs for a New World and Gypsy. For more info, contact Jill Dillingham at 277-3455 or dilljill@msn.com. TWIN LAKES ACADEMY CAMP TIMBERWOLF 2015 Middle School summer camp is held 7 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Mon.-Fri., June 15-Aug. 7 at 8050 Point Meadows Dr., Baymeadows. A field trip every day, outdoor activities, swimming, water parks, bowling, movies, arts & crafts, sports and more. The cost for a single child is $1,200 for all eight weeks ($150 a week) or $1,150 per child for parents with more than one kid. New this year is Half Camp (four weeks) at $600 per child. Call Ronald Soud, 864-2409 or email soudr@duvalschools.org or Jesse Schuster at schusterj@duvalschools.org for more information. SUMMER ART CAMPS The St. Augustine Art Association offers five sessions starting in June for grades 1-6 and ages 12 and older. For more info, go to staaa.org. HOMESCHOOL THEATER CLASSES Players by the Sea’s Performing Arts Studio holds classes for home-schoolers. Elementary school classes are 1-2 p.m. every Tue. through May 26; middle school 1-2 p.m. every Wed.; high school 1-2 p.m. every Thur. through May 28; $50. For details and to register, call 249-0289 or email gary@playersbythsea.org.
ART WALKS & MARKETS
MOTORCYCLE SWAP MEET Motorcycle stuff, live music and food, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on May 17 at St. Augustine Flea Market, 2495 S.R. 207, 824-4210, staugustinefleamarket.com. COMMUNITY FARMERS & ARTS MARKET Baked goods, preserves, crafts, art, hand-crafted jewelry, 4-7 p.m. every Wed., 4300 St. Johns Ave., Riverside, 607-9935. DOWNTOWN FRIDAY MARKET Arts & crafts, local produce, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Fri. at The Jacksonville Landing, 2 Independent Dr., Downtown, 353-1188. RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET Local and regional art, a free yoga
session 9-10 a.m., local music – Jesse Montoya, Complicated Animals, Savanna Leigh Bassett and Letters to Abigail starting 10:30 a.m. May 16 – food artists and a farmers’ row, 10 a.m.4 p.m. every Sat. under Fuller Warren Bridge, 715 Riverside Ave., free admission, 389-2449, riversideartsmarket.com.
MUSEUMS
AMELIA ISLAND MUSEUM OF HISTORY 233 S. Third St., Fernandina Beach, 261-7378, ameliamuseum.org. Dr. Keith Ashley discusses excavations of Santa Cruz de Guadalquini and Mocama Missions 6 p.m. May 15. AMERICAN BEACH MUSEUM American Beach Community Center, 1600 Julia St., Fernandina, 277-7960, nassaucountyfl. com/facilities. The Sands of Time: An American Beach Story, celebrating MaVynee Betsch, “The Beach Lady,” is on display. BEACHES MUSEUM & HISTORY PARK 381 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 241-5657, beachesmuseum.org. Mora: 25 Years on the First Coast runs through June 30. CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS 829 Riverside Ave., 356-6857, cummer.org. Very Special Arts festival, through May 15. Dolf James’ public art installation Equal Point displays through June 1. Reflections: Artful Perspectives on the St. Johns River, through Oct. 18. All Together: The Sculpture of Chaim Gross, through Oct. 4. British Watercolors through Nov. 29. KARPELES MANUSCRIPT MUSEUM 101 W. First St., Springfield, 356-2992. The Art of Springfield is on display through June 27. MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART JACKSONVILLE 333 N. Laura St., Downtown, 366-6911, mocajacksonville.com. Southern Exposure: Portraits of a Changing Landscape, is on display May 16-Aug. 30. A patrons’ preview for Southern Exposure is held 6-7 p.m.; members’ preview is 7-9 p.m., both on May 15. In Time We Shall Know Ourselves: the Photographs of Raymond Smith, is on display through Aug. 30. Smith leads an artist’s tour 5-9 p.m. May 14. The Art Aviators Exhibition is on display through Aug. 16. Project Atrium: Angela Glajcar is on display through June 28. Phil Parker’s Assemblage/Collage is on display in the UNF Gallery through Aug. 30.
GALLERIES
ADELE GRAGE CULTURAL CENTER 716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-5828. Works by Jessica Williams and Lana Fisher are on display through May. THE ARCHWAY GALLERY & THE ATTIC 363 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-2222. Artwork by Fletcher Middle School students is on display May 18-29. THE ART CENTER II 229 N. Hogan St., Downtown, 355-1757. The exhibit Under the Sea and Beneath the River is on display. BREW FIVE POINTS 1024 Park St., Riverside, 374-5789, brew fivepoints. Collage artist Eric Gillyard’s works through May. BUTTERFIELD GARAGE ART GALLERY 137 King St., St. Augustine, 825-4577. Recent works by the late multimedia artist Katherine Parker is displayed through June 2. CoRK ARTS DISTRICT 2689 Rosselle St., Riverside. Haikus Well-Hung, screenprints by George Cornwell, graphic design by Kedgar Volta, and haiku contributions from Matthew Abercrombie, Daniel N. Austin, Michael Cavendish, John E. Citrone, Barbara Colaciello, Mark Creegan, Jim Draper, Lauren Fincham, Karen Kurycki, Al Letson, Keith Marks, Hiromi Moneyhun, Noli Novak, Tony Rodrigues, Shaun Thurston, Robert Arleigh White, Steve Williams and Larry Wilson, is displayed. CRISP-ELLERT ART MUSEUM 48 Sevilla St., St. Augustine, 826-8530. The opening reception for Juried Alumni Exhibition, works by Brianna Angelakis, Matthew Batty, Brad Brewer, Jeremy Dean, Rachel De Cuba, Amelia Eldridge, Kasha Fay, Dan Florez, Chuck Foster, Morgan Gesell Mudryk, Rebecca Hoadley, Charlotte Holmes Murray, Rachael Horne, Maja Hydbom, Kevin Mahoney, Russell Maycumber, Derek O’Brien, Roberto Oritz, Roberto Albtraum, Aly Rose Schaper, Joe Segal, Theresa Segal, Grace Shipman, Valerie Sloan, Tara Stephens, Ryan Tempro, Zach Thomas and Andrew Wilson, is 5-8 p.m. May 15. The exhibit is on display through June 19. FIRST STREET GALLERY 216-B First St., Neptune Beach, 241-6928. Ginifer Brinkley’s works display through May 25. FLORIDA MINING GALLERY 5300 Shad Rd., 535-7252. Caitlin Hurd’s Daydreams from Brooklyn displays through June 30. PLAYERS BY THE SEA 106 Sixth St. N., Jax Beach, 249-0289, playersbythesea.org. Abstracting the Difference, New Works by Liz Gibson is on display through May 22. RITZ THEATRE & MUSEUM 829 N. Davis St., 632-5555, ritzjacksonville.com. Through Our Eyes 2015: Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey (An Artistic Revolution), works of 20 local African-American artists, is on display through July 28. ROTUNDA GALLERY St. Johns County Admin. Bldg., 500 San
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A&E // MUSIC
BORN TO LIVE THE BLUES
Your bands have always featured heavyweight players. In the ’60s and ’70s, you had everyone from Green and Clapton to Harvey Mandel and Larry Taylor. Your current line-up is equally strong. How do you maintain this level of having really soulful players in your band? It’s just the way things happen. Obviously, I know what I’m looking for when I select musicians. And luckily this has worked out, since people have appreciated the freedom and the improvisation and creativity of it all. You know, all of the write-ups have been quite memorable. The current band is probably the best band I’ve ever had. We’ve been together for over five years and it feels just as fresh as the day we started. The ’60s British blues scene you helped create really pushed the blues further into the spotlight. Why do you think UK musicians were such ferocious blues fans? I think one of the main reasons was that we didn’t have access to it on our own doorstep with the original people. That had a lot to do with it and I think Europeans in general appreciated black American music more than America did. At that time, America was a racially divided country. And the black American culture didn’t really mix with the
1920 THE THIRTIES
While Robert Johnson is invariably considered the “King of the Blues,” Folio Weekly calls bullshit on that. Between 1929 and 1934, Patton cut dozens of sides of the deepest country blues that, nearly a century later, remain supernatural in their brilliance and emotional depth. Praised by everyone from Bob Dylan to Canned Heat, give Patton’s “Poor Me” a listen and you’ll be a convert.
THE FIFTIES
MUDDY WATERS In the early ’50s, Muddy Waters and band plugged in, went electric, and completely changed the direction of blues music. In his heyday, Waters released a stream of tunes (“Hoochie Coochie Man” and “I Just Want to Make Love to You,” to name just two) that have become stone classics. Folio Weekly highly recommends picking up a copy of Robert Gordon’s excellent bio, Can’t Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters.
to consistently keep it fresh and try not to play the same old stuff people have heard a million times.
J.B. Lenoir was directly involved with the I can’t think of any blues songs, other than Civil Rights Movement and the growing maybe something like B.B. King’s “The white audience for blues Thrill is Gone,” that have music surely changed many really crossed over to pop JOHN MAYALL with Americans’ views audiences. Do you think that MICHAEL JORDAN on integration. the blues, at no fault of its 7 p.m. May 13 at Ponte Well, in the early days when own, is almost inherently Vedra Concert Hall, $38, we were playing, America was non-commercial? pvconcerthall.com a racially divided country. Yeah, I think so. It’s never fit You know, “Never the ’twain into what’s in the hit parade shall meet.” But I think music really was one of and I don’t think that it ever will. I don’t think the key things that put an end to it and helped it would fit into all of these currently popular both integration and an appreciation for black TV music shows. (Laughs.) Blues is in its own American music. category. It’s surely not for everyone in this world but you can’t really worry about mass You’ve written about things like Draconian popularity. It’s such a dedicated music that drug laws with “The Laws Must Change,” has real integrity. and “Nature’s Disappearing” addressed your environmental concerns. What are some current day issues you think are relevant to write about? On the current album, the song “World Gone Crazy” really sums it up. (Laughs.) All of these crazy religious wars going on and it just seems to be increasing all the time and that’s very, very sad. There never seems to be an end to people’s prejudices. It’s pretty remarkable and indeed the world is going completely crazy. But music is a Maybe other than B.B. King and Buddy Guy, healing thing and we hope to continue doing you are one of the only living blues players our part in that respect. who has sustained this 50-years-plus career. Contemporary blues songs can still lean on the What do you think has been key to staying on the music scene for this long? 12-bar, I-IV-V form. This helps the music stay recognizable, but as a songwriter, have you You have to always be not standing still. You ever found this form confining? have to keep exploring new avenues, take it seriously and don’t play the same old things all Well, the 12-bar form is the foundation of the of time. Move forward but always maintain the music. But I think if you listen to all of the integrity of the blues. stuff that I’ve done over the years, I’ve tried to make the 12-bar blues more interesting. Daniel A. Brown And make it seem fresh because you’ve got dbrown@folioweekly.com to keep the music contemporary. You try
There never seems to be an end to PEOPLE’S PREJUDICES. It’s pretty remarkable and indeed the world is going COMPLETELY CRAZY. But music is a healing thing and we hope to continue DOING OUR PART in that respect.
Before “Rhiannon,” there was “Rattlesnake Shake.” Led by Peter Green, the original three-guitar Mac attack (1967-’71) – which hotwired blues mojo with acid rock fury – were unrivaled in the late-’60s electric blues scene. Bonus points for Green having a really bad drug trip in Germany, leaving the band, losing his mind, giving away his possessions and wearing long white robes. Now that’s the blues.
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND THE SEVENTIES
white culture. I think the Europeans’ attention to blues music helped spread the word and the way people perceived the music.
THE SIXTIES
FLEETWOOD MAC
Jacksonville’s finest, the ABB wrenched the blues back from their UK peers and evolved the music into a blues/rock/jazz amalgam that remains unparalleled to this day. From Blind Willie McTell to T-Bone Walker, these dudes could play it all. Amazingly, they were still in their early 20s when they were at their peak. Kinda makes the patina fade on your College Senior Cornhole Turney Trophy, dunnit?
CROSSROADS IS RELEASED
THE NINETIES
Folio Weekly: What can you tell us about this new unearthed live album, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Live in 1967? John Mayall: Well, I got ahold of the old tapes that someone had recorded from some of the shows in ’67. It was that short period of time when my band was Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, so it was the start of Fleetwood Mac. [Laughs.] Or it led to Fleetwood Mac.
BLUES-O-METER
CHARLEY PATTON
Elder British statesman JOHN MAYALL brings a half-century of blues to Northeast Florida
This 1986 flick featured blues traveler Ralph Macchio in that classic “down at the crossroads tale” of a young classical musician giving up Andrés Segovia for Skip James. At film’s end, a “Devil Went Down to Georgia” guitar shredfest pits Macchio aka “Lightning Boy” against Satan’s blues representative Steve Vai. Macchio wins, oddly enough – when he busts out some classical riffs. Also, Jamie “Blues Mama” Gertz costars.
PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS
NOW
I
f you are a fan of the past 50 years of electric blues, you can thank John Mayall. In the mid-’60s, the multi-instrumentalist formed the Bluesbreakers band. Combining an encyclopedic knowledge of their blues predecessors with a hard-edged electrified sound, Mayall and his band helped create the potent British blues scene. In the process, the Bluesbreakers became a kind of training ground for some of the greatest blues and rock craftsmen of the 20th century. Eric Clapton, Peter Green, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Mick Taylor, Harvey Mandel and Coco Taylor are just a few of the musicians who spent time in Mayall’s band. Over the course of a staggering 60-plus releases, the now 81-year-old Mayall has always tried to keep his recipes for the blues fresh. Electric guitars, saxophones, flutes and hand-driven percussion have all been given equal measure, and Mayall’s lyrics have touched on ecology as much as juke joint life. Mayall’s latest release, 2014’s A Special Life, features strong performances from Mayall and crew; it’s gotten solid reviews. At his Ponte Vedra Concert Hall gig this week, Mayall is joined by his current line-up of Johnny Athas (guitar), Greg Rzab (bass) and Jay Davenport (drums), an accomplished and seasoned combo that carries on Mayall’s tradition of delivering tough-as-nails takes on both original and traditional blues tunes. Mayall spoke to Folio Weekly from his home in Southern California, talking about attracting killer players, the blues and civil rights, and staying current in the 21st-century.
THE FOLIO WEEKLY TIMELINE &
We are quite thankful that, with the help of modern medicine, the blues has finally been controlled, if not cured. Whether you’re “Rollin’ and Tumblin’,” have the “Mad Man Blues,” or simply nicely hallucinating that “The Sky is Crying,” there’s now a pill that alleviates most of the pesky symptoms that come with the blues. Make an appointment today and ask your doctor if Bluesinex® is right for you.
MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 43
A&E // MUSIC On slowing down and growing up with Nashville’s NATURAL CHILD
ORGANIC COMPOUND
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play the same songs over and over, you start ince 2009, on record and on stage, the to burn out. Nobody wants to hear us still trio Natural Child has represented the playing For the Love of the Game, so we’re pinnacle of boozy, baked garage rock. finally learning to slow down on touring.” But a funny thing has happened to Wes That steadier pace resulted in an asTraylor, Seth Murray, and Zack Martin on yet-unnamed new album, which Murray the way to the top of the prodigious Burger describes as “a real KFC buffet of a record.” Records heap: The three Tennessee natives have morphed their Southern-fried slop into a Look for more of Divine’s keys this time around; Murray calls the New Orleans native crisp, tightly drawn amalgamation of country, a “full-fledged member of the band” and says boogie, and psychedelic rock. he’ll have equal songwriting credit when the Now, when Natural Child plays live, they new material is released later this year. “I let their songs build slowly, avoiding the beer-drenched histrionics for which they were don’t think Benny can ever leave,” Murray laughs. “He’s awesome. He steers us in certain once famous. Sure, the climaxes of standout musical directions that we wouldn’t always go tracks like “Don’t the Time Pass Quickly” and — and they’re always for the “Firewater Liquor” are still sexy as hell, but Martin’s taut NATURAL CHILD with better. Plus, it’s nice to have somebody else that can solo drumming is a lesson in the FAUX FEROCIOUS, besides me.” power of restraint; Taylor’s RIVERNECKS, elastic bass riffs slip and slide So is it Divine’s presence NUTRITIONAL BEAST alone that has transformed in service to the almighty 9 p.m. May 13 at Shanghai groove; and Murray’s Natural Child from a hot Nobby’s, 10 Anastasia Blvd., six-string work strikes the onstage mess that’s always St. Augustine, $10, 547-2188 perfect balance between threatening to run gleefully shred-tastic and sedentary. off the rails into a cohesive On the 2014 album Dancin’ with Wolves, unit that’s more refined and comfortable easing soulful keyboards from Benny Divine and into its slow-building jams? Murray chalks it sultry pedal steel from Luke Schneider added up to a collective evolution: “We’ve got a job further elegant underpinning. Traylor and to do up there, and we love doing it. We’re a Murray still trade off lyrics that specialize lot happier with each other when we’re playing in hazy late nights, bleary-eyed mornings, good music. That’s the number one thing.” and swaggering hook-ups. But the more To those St. Augustine superfans who measured, even subdued nature of Dancin’ fondly (or faintly) remember raging with with Wolves and the band’s subsequent live Natural Child in the past after the band has shows said it all: Natural Child circa 2015 is torn Shanghai Nobby’s a new asshole, don’t a far different band than the one that put a despair: Murray says the band members’ woman’s naked derriere on the cover of their offstage personae haven’t changed at all. 2012 album For the Love of the Game. “We’re still pretty wild. Partying is just what “We’re all grown men now,” Murray tells we do. Plus, we save it up more for tour now.” Folio Weekly. “We’ve been a band for six years, Even though they’re selling out two-night and we’ve been stuck [being portrayed] as stands in New York City, playing top-tier teenagers almost the whole time. But at a summer gatherings like Hangout Music certain point, anybody can be crazy, loud, Festival in Alabama and Wakarusa Music and not very good at their instruments. So Festival in Arkansas, and even plotting an growing up is cool. I’m happy about that. African tour, Murray says Florida is always The most positive way I can put it is we’re a welcome pit stop for Natural Child. “Wes dedicated to continually getting better at and I were born and raised in Nashville, so performing and writing new songs.” we can’t really leave,” he says. “But it’s kind of The onstage side of that equation has been weird here now — very competitive. We go perfected the old-fashioned way: grinding onstage and people just watch our hands, like they’re going to unlock some kind of through more than 200 shows a year in secret. They don’t really get into the show. But American dive bars and European beer halls. then we play St. Augustine or Orlando and “The touring has been insane,” Murray says. people go crazy.” “You can’t really spend 24 hours a day with other people for that long without taking a Nick McGregor breather every now and then. And when you mail@folioweekly.com
44 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
Local soul goddess MAMA BLUE performs with ROB VIBE at St. Augustine’s Plaza de la Constitución on May 15.
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC CONCERTS THIS WEEK
SPADE McQUADE 6 p.m. May 13 at Fionn MacCool’s Irish Pub, Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 176, Downtown, 374-1247. DENNY BLUE 6 p.m. 13 at Paula’s Beachside Grill, 6896 A1A S., Crescent Beach, 471-3463. MATANZAS TAP, JAX ENGLISH SALSA BAND 6 p.m. May 13 at Colonial Quarter, 33 St. George St., St. Augustine, 342-2857. MICHAEL RAY 7 p.m. May 13 at the Jacksonville Landing, 2 Independent Dr., Downtown, 353-1188, free. JOHN MAYALL, MICHAEL JORDAN 7 p.m. May 13 at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., 209-0399, $38. STRUNG OUT, RED CITY RADIO, LA ARMADA, FLAG ON FIRE 7 p.m. May 13 at Freebird Live, 200 N. First St., Jax Beach, 246-2473, $18. NATURAL CHILD, FAUX FEROCIOUS, RIVERNECKS, NUTRITIONAL BEAST 9 p.m. May 13 at Shanghai Nobby’s, 10 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, 825-4959, $10. DENNY BLUE 3 p.m. May 14 at Beaches at Vilano, 254 Vilano Rd., St. Augustine, 829-0589. NEEDTOBREATHE, BEN RECTOR, COLONY HOUSE, DREW HOLCOMB & the NEIGHBORS 5 p.m. May 14 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A S., 209-0367, $25.50$41.50. THE MAINE, REAL FRIENDS, KNUCKLEPUCK, THE TECHNICOLORS 6 p.m. May 14, Freebird Live, $20. CHELSEA GRIN, THE WORD ALIVE, LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES, SKYLAR 6 p.m. May 14 at Underbelly, 113 E. Bay St., Downtown, 353-6067, $18-$22. FERMIN SPANISH GUITAR, CRS BAND 6 p.m. May 14, Colonial Quarter. Throwing Copper Unplugged: ED KOWALCZYK 7 p.m. May 14, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, $32 advance; $37 day of, (SRO). BE EASY 7:30 p.m. May 14 at Latitude 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., Southside, 365-5555. J RODDY WALSTON & the BUSINESS, SLEEPWALKERS, SPEAKING CURSIVE 8 p.m. May 14 at Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, 398-7496, $15. BLUE MUSE9 p.m. May 14 at The Parlour (behind Grape & Grain Exchange), 2000 San Marco Blvd., 396-4455. PIERCE PETTIS 8 p.m. May 14 at Café Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 460-9311, $15. FRAMING HANLEY, HEARTLIST, GET OUT DRIVER, ANOTHER WAY OF LIFE, DEAR ABBEY, SURVIVING SEPTEMBER 6 p.m. May 15 at 1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean St., Downtown, $15 (all ages). 1969 Tour: JOHN FOGERTY 6:30 p.m. May 15, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, $49.50-$99.50. HARD TO HANDLE 7:30 p.m. May 15 at Lillie’s Coffee Bar, 200 First St., Neptune Beach, 249-2922. MERCHANDISE, MEMPHIBIANS, BURNT HAIR, COLD SKIN, COBRA FANG 8 p.m. May 15 at Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown, $10. AIR SUPPLY 8 p.m. May 15 at The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $35-$75. MAMA BLUE, ROB VIBE 8 p.m. May 15 at Plaza de la Constitución, between St. George Street and Cathedral Place, St. Augustine. JA Cash Video Premiere Party: DJ PRISTINE, JP CORWYN, MIKE GANTT, SIMPLE NATURAL, CELLOX5, HAITUS, SOME PEOPLE 8 p.m. May 15, Freebird Live, $10. DR. STONE & the MADMEN, ASKMEIFICARE, CRASHMIR,
SASQUATCH ON MARS 8 p.m. May 15, Jack Rabbits, $5. THE KATZ DOWNSTAIRS 8:30 p.m. May 15, Latitude 360. JIM McKABBA & the AFTER HOURS BAND 9 p.m. May 15, The Parlour. IVY LEAGUE 10 p.m. May 15 & 16 at The Roadhouse, 231 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, 264-0611. Riverside Arts Market: JESSE MONTOYA, COMPLICATED ANIMALS, SAVANNA LEIGH BASSETT, LETTERS TO ABIGAIL 10:30 a.m. May 16 at 715 Riverside Ave., 389-2449. DENNY BLUE 1 p.m. May 16 at Milltop Tavern, 19 St. George St., St. Augustine, 829-2329. CAM 6 p.m. May 16 at Mavericks at The Landing, 2 Independent Dr., Downtown, 356-1110, free. OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW, DEVIL MAKES THREE 6 p.m. May 16, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, $19.75-$39.75. EVICTION, AUTOMATIC FIT 8 p.m. May 16, Freebird Live, $8. BIG DAN & the TERRUHWRIST, T.W.A.N., WEBEUNTITLED 8 p.m. May 16, Jack Rabbits, $8. CAITLIN MAHONEY, JESSE MONTOYA, MERE WOODARD 8 p.m. May 16, Burro Bar. BLONDE AMBITION 8:30 p.m. May 16, Latitude 360. MONDO MIKE & SPICE 9 p.m. May 16, The Parlour. MARTYRS ASYLUM, DEMENTED TRUTH, HELIOS HAND 8 p.m. May 18, Jack Rabbits, $5. JASON STANDER 8 p.m. May 19 at Da Big Kahuna, 528 First St. N., Jax Beach, 595-5613. THE SLACKERS, THE DUPPIES 8 p.m. May 19, Jack Rabbits, $15. MELODIME, J.D. EICHER & the GOOD NIGHTS, GOV CLUB, THE CROWKEEPERS 8 p.m. May 20, Burro Bar. BOB DYLAN TRIBUTE 8 p.m. May 20, Underbelly, $5. DEVON ALLMAN 9 p.m. May 20 at Mojo Kitchen, 1500 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 247-6636, $15. PIERCE FULTON May 20, Mavericks at the Landing, $20.
UPCOMING CONCERTS STEVE EARLE & the DUKES, THE MASTERSONS May 21, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall TOOTS LORRAINE DUO May 21, The Parlour Jax Jazz Fest: SOUL REBELS, TITO PUENTE JR. ORCHESTRA, FELIX PEIKLI & the ROYAL FLUSH QUINTET, ROMAN STREET, KELLYLEE EVANS, SPYRO GYRA, MACEO PARKER, POSTMODERN JUKEBOX, JAZZ ATTACK (Peter White, Richard Elliot, Euge Groove), MICHAEL FRANKS, JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, PEABO BRYSON, ANDY SNITZER, IGNACIO BERROA, NOEL FREIDLINE QUINTET, LISA McCLENDON, ELISHA PARRIS, LINDA COLE & JOSH BOWLUS, ERIC CARTER, JOHN LUMPKIN TRIO May 21-24, Downtown Jacksonville Florida Folk Festival Kickoff: DEL SUGGS May 21, Mudville Music Room CHRIS THOMAS KING May 21, Mojo Kitchen BIANCO DEL RIO May 21, Times-Union Center FANTASIA, JOY DENNIS May 22, The Florida Theatre FENIMORE TRIO May 22, The Parlour JAZZ FEST AFTER DARK May 22-24, Downtown Jacksonville TODD RUNDGREN May 22 & 24, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall MARK WILLIAMS May 22, Lillie’s Coffee Bar Palatka Blue Crab Fest: JEFF COFFEY, AMY DALLEY, HIGHWAY to HELL (AC/DC tribute) May 22-25, Palatka FALL TO JUNE May 23, Beach Blvd Concert Hall CHASE MADDOX May 23, Lillie’s Coffee Bar
AL MANISCALO, FELIX PEIKLI May 23, The Parlour WILLIAM CONTROL, REQUIEM, JUSTIN SYMBOL May 23, Freebird Live COUGAR BARREL, MARK WILLIAMS & BLUE HORSE, DONNA FROST May 23, Riverside Arts Market MAGIC MIKE MALE REVUE May 23, Mavericks at The Landing BOSTON May 24, St. Augustine Amphitheatre MIKE SHACKELFORD Acoustic Night May 24, Bull Park, Atlantic Beach KINGSLAND ROAD May 24, Jack Rabbits SMILER, VIRGIN FLOWER May 24, Shantytown Pub Rock on the River: AWOLNATION, PANIC! AT THE DISCO, ROBERT DELONG, VINYL THEATRE, PALM TREES & POWER LINES, EVERSAY May 25, Jacksonville Landing MELT BANANA May 27, Jack Rabbits FRICTION FARM, CHARLIE ROBERTSON May 28, Mudville Music Room VEIL OF MAYA, REVOCATION, OCEANO, GIFT GIVER, ENTHEOS May 28, Underbelly DEAD WINTER CARPENTERS May 29, Mojo Kitchen DIXIE RODEO May 29, Lillie’s Coffee Bar MIKE SHACKELFORD May 29, Mudville Music Room LAUREL LEE & the ESCAPEES, BARNYARD STOMPERS May 30, Planet Sarbez! JOSH GRACIN May 30, Mavericks UNIQUE SOUND BAND May 30, Lillie’s Coffee Bar AL POINDEXTER & RIVER RISE, CHARLEY SIMMONS, THE WILLIAMSONS, SHANE MYERS May 30, Riverside Arts Market PSYCHEDELIC FURS May 31, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall BRIT FLOYD (Pink Floyd tribute) June 2, The Florida Theatre GBH, TOTAL CHAOS, FFN June 3, Jack Rabbits BIG SMO June 5, Mavericks at The Landing RUSTY SHINE June 6, The Roadhouse GUANTANAMO BAYWATCH, THE DELUSIONAIRES, SANDRATZ, NUTRITIONAL BEAST, MENTAL PATIENTS June 6, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Backstage BBQ KIM WATERS June 6, Ritz Theatre THE BUSINESS June 6, Burro Bar MEREDITH RAE, KATHERINE ARCHER, NAMELESS, UNSOCIALIZED, BROTHER NATURE June 6, Riverside Arts Market ALLEN STONE, BRYNN ELLIOT June 7, Colonial Quarter ANCIENT RIVER June 10, Burro Bar BUCK CHERRY, WITHIN REASON June 10, Mavericks at The Landing The GIPSY KINGS, NICOLAS REYES, TONINO BALIARDO June 11, The Florida Theatre SETH WALKER June 11, Mudville Music Room TYCHO June 11, Freebird Live BOOGIE FREAKS June 12 & 13, The Roadhouse SUPERHEAVEN, DIAMOND YOUTH, ROZWELL KID June 12, Burro Bar HYSTERIA (Def Leppard tribute) June 12, Freebird Live SWAMP RADIO June 12, The Florida Theatre DAVID CROSBY June 13, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall CHRIS THOMAS, TAYLOR ROBERTS, BLUE MUSE, TAMBOR June 13, Riverside Arts Market KEVIN SCHLERETH, MAFDET, CHARLIE SHUCK June 13, Shantytown Pub Florida Country Superfest: ZAC BROWN BAND, KEITH URBAN, BRANTLEY GILBERT, COLE SWINDELL, TYLER FARR, DAVID NAIL, COLT FORD, DANIELLE BRADBERY, SWON BROTHERS June 13 & 14, EverBank Field CHARLI XCX June 15, Freebird Live
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LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC Creedence Clearwater Revival’s JOHN FOGERTY brings his 1969 Tour to the St. Augustine Amphitheatre on May 15.
Blood, Hellfire & Blasphemy: NELDÖRETH, VESTERIAN, THE NOCTAMBULANT, SATURNINE June 15, Burro Bar Happy Together Tour: THE TURTLES, FLO & EDDIE, THE ASSOCIATION, MARK LINDSAY, THE GRASSROOTS, THE COWSILLS, THE BUCKINGHAMS June 16, The Florida Theatre BRONCHO, LE ORCHID June 17, Jack Rabbits BRENT BYRD & the SUITCASE GYPSIES, NIKKI TALLEY, JOSEPH SHUCK June 20, Riverside Arts Market LUKE WARD, BABY BEE, THE STATES June 20, Jack Rabbits THE DREAMING, DIE SO FLUID, DANCING WITH GHOSTS, KILO KAHN, INNER DEMONS June 21, 1904 Music Hall SURFER BLOOD June 25, Jack Rabbits OTTMAR LIEBERT & LUNA NEGRA June 26, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall PIERCE PETTIS June 26, Mudville Music Room NATURAL INSTINCTS June 26 & 27, The Roadhouse STYX June 26, The Florida Theatre FOR KING & COUNTRY June 27, Christ Church Southside MICHAEL RENO HARRELL June 27, Mudville Music Room JULIANNE HOUGH & DEREK HOUGH June 27, St. Augustine Amphitheatre
TOMBOI, THE LITTLE BOOKS, FOUR FAMILIES, HANNAH HARBER June 27, Riverside Arts Market AN EVENING WITH BRYAN ADAMS June 28, St. Augustine Amphitheatre SAY ANYTHING, MODERN BASEBALL, CYMBALS EAT GUITARS, HARD GIRLS July 1, Underbelly DON McLEAN July 2, The Florida Theatre CHILLY RHINO July 3 & 4, The Roadhouse SUDDEN SUSPENSION, BAD LUCK July 5, The Birdhouse Warped Tour: ALIVE LIKE ME, AS IT IS, BABY BABY, ARGENT, BEAUTIFUL BODIES, BEING as an OCEAN, BLACK BOOTS, BLACK VEIL BRIDES, BLESSTHEFALL, BORN CAGES, KOO KOO KANGA ROO, BOYMEETSWORLD, CANDY HEARTS, ESCAPE the FATE, FAMILY FORCE 5, FIT for a KING, HANDGUNS, HANDS LIKE HOUSES, I KILLED the PROM QUEEN, KOSHA DILLZ, LE CASTLE VANIA, LEE COREY OSWALD, M4SONIC, MATCHBOOK ROMANCE, NECK DEEP, NIGHT NIGHT RIOTS, PALISADES, SPLITBREED, The RELAPSE SYMPHONY, TRANSIT, The WONDER YEARS, TROPHY EYES, WHILE SHE SLEEPS, YOUTH in REVOLT July 6, Morocco Shrine Auditorium R5: SOME TIME LAST NIGHT, JACOB WHITESIDES, RYLAND July 7, Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts JAHMEN, SIGNAL FIRE July 8, Freebird Live STEVE FORBERT TRIO July 10, Mudville Music Room BARENAKED LADIES, VIOLENT FEMMES, COLIN HAY July 11, St. Augustine Amphitheatre BETWEEN THE BURIED & ME, ANIMALS AS LEADERS, THE CONTORTIONISTS July 11, Freebird Live WHAT’S EATING GILBERT, ANTHONY RANERI July 12, 1904 Music Hall SHANIA TWAIN July 15, Veterans Memorial Arena AMERICAN IDOL LIVE July 15, The Florida Theatre CHROME HEART July 17 & 18, The Roadhouse SLIGHTLY STOOPID, DIRTY HEADS, STICK FIGURE July 23, St. Augustine Amphitheatre PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE, FIREFALL, ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION July 25, The Florida Theatre UNKNOWN HINSON July 25, Jack Rabbits ROB THOMAS, PLAIN WHITE T’s July 25, St. Augustine Amphitheatre MIKE SHACKELFORD Acoustic Night July 26, Bull Park, Atlantic Beach JAKE MILLER, JASMINE, ALEX ANGELO July 26, Freebird Live FIFTH HARMONY, DEBBY RYAN & the NEVER ENDING, NATALIE LA ROSE, BEA MILLER July 28, The Florida Theatre WHITESNAKE July 31, The Florida Theatre
MY MORNING JACKET, MINI MANSIONS Aug. 1, St. Augustine Amphitheatre COUNTING CROWS, CITIZEN COPE, HOLLIS BROWN Aug. 2, St. Augustine Amphitheatre BHAGAVAN DAS Aug. 7-9, Karpeles Museum SINBAD Aug. 7, The Florida Elvis Anniversary Bash: MIKE ALBERT, SCOT BRUCE & the BIG E BAND Aug. 8, The Florida Theatre CHRISTINA PERRI, COLBIE CAILLAT, RACHEL PLATTEN Aug. 11, The Florida Theatre HippieFest 2015: THE FAMILY STONE, RICK DERRINGER, MITCH RYDER & the DETROIT WHEELS, BADFINGER, JOEY MOLLAND Aug. 13, The Florida Theatre THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW Aug. 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 1904 Music Hall SUBLIME with ROME, REBELUTION, PEPPER, MICKEY AVALON Aug. 16, St. Augustine Amphitheatre “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC Aug. 16, The Florida Theatre LYLE LOVETT & his LARGE BAND Aug. 20, Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts TIM McGRAW, BILLY CURRINGTON, CHASE BRYANT Aug. 20, Veterans Memorial Arena DONOVAN FRANKENREITER Aug. 25, Freebird Live THE OUTLAWS, BLACKHAWK Aug. 28, The Florida Theatre TRIBAL SEEDS, THE EXPANDERS, ARISE ROOTS Aug. 28, Mavericks MIKE SHACKELFORD Acoustic Night Aug. 30, Bull Park, Atlantic Beach RICK SPRINGFIELD, LOVERBOY, THE ROMANTICS Aug. 30, St. Augustine Amphitheatre ALICE COOPER Sept. 1, The Florida Theatre NICKELBACK Sept. 1, Veterans Memorial Arena REO SPEEDWAGON Sept. 24, The Florida Theatre DELBERT McCLINTON Sept. 25, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall BRITTANY SHANE Sept. 25, Mudville Music Room WHOOPI GOLDBERG Sept. 26, The Florida Theatre BILL ENGVALL Oct. 2, Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FEST Oct. 8-15, Fernandina Beach THE VIBRATORS Oct. 11, Jack Rabbits THE WINERY DOGS Oct. 14, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall NOAH GUNDERSEN Oct. 14, Colonial Quarter SUZANNE VEGA Oct. 16, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall DEF LEPPARD, FOREIGNER, NIGHT RANGER Oct. 17, Veterans Memorial Arena LITTLE BIG TOWN Oct. 17, St. Augustine Amphitheatre THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND Oct. 22, The Florida Theatre TAB BENOIT Oct. 22, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall MARK KNOPFLER Oct. 27, St. Augustine Amphitheatre PAUL REISER Nov. 7, The Florida Theatre AMERICA Nov. 13, Thrasher-Horne Center STRAIGHT NO CHASER Nov. 17, The Florida Theatre RONNIE MILSAP Nov. 29, The Florida Theatre BRIAN REGAN Dec. 13, The Florida Theatre A JOHN WATERS CHRISTMAS Dec. 15, The Florida Theatre
LIVE MUSIC CLUBS AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA BEACH
DAVID’S Restaurant & Lounge, 802 Ash St., 310-6049 John Springer every Tue.-Wed. Aaron Bing 6 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. GREEN TURTLE TAVERN, 14 S. Third St., 321-2324 Buck Smith every Thur. Yancy Clegg every Sun. Vinyl Record Nite every Tue. SLIDERS, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652 Live music every Wed.-Sun. SURF RESTAURANT, 3199 S. Fletcher Ave., 261-5711 Live music every Fri. & Sat.
AVONDALE, ORTEGA
CASBAH CAFÉ, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966 Goliath Flores 9 p.m. every Wed. Live jazz every Sun. Live music every Mon. ECLIPSE, 4219 St. Johns Ave. KJ Free 9 p.m. every Tue. & Thur. Indie dance 9 p.m. every Wed. ’80s & ’90s dance at 9 p.m. every Fri. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 3611 St. Johns, 388-0200 Live music every Thur.-Sat.
THE BEACHES
(All venues in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted) BILLY’S BOATHOUSE, 2321 Beach Blvd., 241-9771 Tullamore Road May 15. Conch Fritters May 17. Live music every Wed.-Sun. BRASS ANCHOR PUB, 2292 Mayport Rd., Ste. 35, Atlantic Beach, 249-0301 Joe Oliff May 13 CASA MARINA HOTEL, 691 First St. N., 270-0025 Ryan Crary, Johnny Flood May 14 CULHANE’S, 967 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-9595 DJ Hal every Sat. DA BIG KAHUNA, 528 First St. N., 595-5613 Public Sound Collective, Jason Stander 8 p.m. May 19 ESPETO BRAZILIAN Steakhouse, 1396 Beach Blvd., 3884884 Steve & Carlos 6 p.m. May 14 FLASK & CANNON, 528 First St. N. De Lions of Jah every Wed. FLYING IGUANA, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-
46 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC 5680 Evan Michael & the Well Wishers 10 p.m. May 15. Dirty gringos 10 p.m. May 16. Darren Corlew May 17. Red Beard & Stinky E every Thur. FREEBIRD LIVE, 200 N. First St., 246-2473 Strung Out, Red City Radio, La Armada, Flag on Fire 7 p.m. May 13. The Maine, Real Friends, Knucklepuck, The Technicolors 6 p.m. May 14. JA Cash Video Premiere Party: DJ Pristine, JP Corwyn, Mike Gantt, Simple Natural, Cellox5, Haitus, Some People 8 p.m. May 15. Eviction, Automatik Fit 8 p.m. May 16 HARMONIOUS MONKS, 320 First St. N., 372-0815 Live music 9 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. Dan Evans, Spade McQuade 6 p.m. every Sun. Back From the Brink 9 p.m. every Mon. LILLIE’S COFFEE BAR, 200 First St., Neptune Beach, 2492922 Hard to Handle 7:30 p.m. May 15. Mark Williams 7:30 p.m. May 22 LYNCH’S IRISH PUB, 514 N. First St., 249-5181 Chillakaya 10 p.m. May 15. Kota Mundi 10 p.m. May 16. Dirty Pete Wed. Split Tone Thur. Ryan Crary, Johnny Flood Sun. Be Easy Mon. Ryan Campbell Tue. Live music nightly MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1018 N. Third St., 246-1500 Continuum May 17. Live music every Wed.-Sat. MEZZA Restaurant & Bar, 110 First St., Neptune Beach, 249-5573 Neil Dixon every Tue. Gypsies Ginger every Wed. Mike Shackelford & Steve Shanholtzer every Thur. MOJO KITCHEN, 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636 Devon Allman 9 p.m. May 20. Chris Thomas King 9 p.m. May 21 NORTH BEACH BISTRO, 725 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 372-4105 Maryann Hawkins May 14. Billy Bowers 7:30 p.m. May 15. Neil Dixon May 16. Live music every Fri. & Sat. OCEAN 60, 60 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-0060 Taylor Roberts 7 p.m. May 14 PIER CANTINA, 412 First Ave. N., 246-6454 Live music most weekends RAGTIME TAVERN, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 2417877 Billy Bowers 7 p.m. May 13. Paul Lundgren May 15 SLIDERS SEAFOOD GRILLE, 218 First St., Neptune Beach, 246-0881 Live music 6 p.m. every Thur., 6:30 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. WIPEOUTS GRILL, 1589 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 247-4508 Bill Rice 7 p.m. May 14. Jude Romano 9:30 p.m. May 15 WORLD OF BEER, 311 N. Third St., 372-9698 Matt Collins 8 p.m. May 14. Hoffman’s Voodoo 9 p.m. May 15. Ryan Crary & Johnny Flood 9 p.m. May 16. Live music every Fri. & Sat. ZETA BREWING COMPANY, 131 First Ave. N., 372-0727 Live music every Wed.-Sun.
DOWNTOWN
1904 MUSIC HALL, 19 Ocean St. N. Framing Hanley, Heartlist, Get Out Driver, Another Way of Life, Dear Abbey, Surviving September 6 p.m. May 15. Professor Whiskey May 16. Sami Scott May 20 BURRO BAR, 100 E. Adams St. Merchandise, Memphibians, Burnt Hair, Cold Skin, Cobra Fang 8 p.m. May 15. Caitlin Mahoney, Jesse Montoya, Mere Woodard 8 p.m. May 16. Melodime, JD Eicher & the Good Nights, Gov Club, The Crowkeepers 8 p.m. May 20 DOS GATOS, 123 E. Forsyth St., 354-0666 BlackJack every Wed. DJ Brandon every Thur. DJs spin dance music every Fri. DJ NickFresh every Sat. DJ Randall 9 p.m. every Mon. DJ Hollywood every Tue. FIONN MacCOOL’S, Jax Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1247 Spade McQuade 6-9 p.m. May 13. Ace Winn 8 p.m.-mid. May 15. Chuck Nash 8 p.m.-mid. May 16. Spade McQuade 6-9 p.m. May 20. Live music every Wed.-Sun. JACKSONVILLE LANDING, 2 Independent Dr., 353-1188 WQIK Country Concert Series Kickoff Michael Ray 7 p.m. May 13. Lisa & the Madhatters 8 p.m.-1 a.m. May 14. Radio 80 8 p.m.-1 a.m. May 15. New Trucks on the Block 4-9 p.m. May 16. WQIK Country Concert Series: Craig Wayne Boyd 7 p.m. May 20 MARK’S DOWNTOWN, 315 E. Bay, 355-5099 DJ Roy Luis every Wed. DJ Vinn every Thur. DJ 007 every Fri. Bay Street every Sat. MAVERICKS, Jax Landing, 356-1110
Alt-rock faves THE MAINE (pictured) perform with REAL FRIENDS, KNUCKLEPUCK and THE TECHNICOLORS Freebird Live on May 14 in Jax Beach. Young Bombs 6 p.m. May 13. Cam 6 p.m. May 16. Pierce Fulton 7 p.m. May 20. Joe Buck, DJ Justin every Thur.-Sat. UNDERBELLY, 113 E. Bay St., 699-8186 Chelsea Grin, The Word Alive, Like Moths to Flames, Skylar 6 p.m. May 14. Tori Peeples May 15. Bob Dylan Tribute 8 p.m. May 20. Live music most weekends
FLEMING ISLAND
MERCURY MOON, 2015 Doctors Inlet Rd., 215-8999 Live music most weekends PARK AVENUE BISTRO, 3535 U.S. 17, 375-8154 Lorna Greenwood 6 p.m. May 16 WHITEY’S FISH CAMP, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198 Live music every Fri. & Sat. DJ Throwback 8 p.m. every Thur. Deck music every Fri., Sat. & Sun.
INTRACOASTAL WEST
BULL TAVERN, 7217 Atlantic Blvd., 724-2337 Joe Oliff & Jaxx or Better May 16 CLIFF’S Bar & Grill, 3033 Monument Rd., 645-5162 Robert Brown Jr. & the Confluence May 13. Bill Ricci, Medal Militia May 15. Live music every Fri. & Sat. JERRY’S Sports Grille, 13170 Atlantic Blvd., 220-6766 Don’t Call Me Shirley May 15. Boogie Freaks May 16 YOUR PLACE, 13245 Atlantic, 221-9994 RadioLove May 14
10 p.m. May 15 & 16. Live music 10 p.m. every Wed. DJ Big Mike 10 p.m. every Thur.
PONTE VEDRA
PUSSER’S GRILLE, 816 A1A, 280-7766 Live music every Fri. & Sat. TABLE 1, 330 A1A N., 280-5515 Deron Baker May 13 & 20. Gary Starling May 14. Chicos Lobos May 15. Paxton & Mike May 16
RIVERSIDE, WESTSIDE
ACROSS THE STREET, 948 Edgewood Ave. S., 683-4182 The Offshore, Emma Moseley May 15. Backwater Bible Salesmen open mic 8 p.m. every Mon. DJ Rafiki every Tue. MURRAY HILL THEATRE, 932 Edgewood Ave. S., 388-7807 Corey Kilgannon, Boysin, Ember Anthem, Westside Baptist Jazz Quartet, Anonymous 6:30 p.m. May 15 RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET, 715 Riverside Ave., 389-2449 Jesse Montoya, Complicated Animals, Savannah Leigh Bassett, Letters to Abigail starting 10:30 a.m. May 16
MANDARIN, JULINGTON
DAVE’S MUSIC BAR & GRILL, 9965 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 48, 575-4935 The Daygos May 14. David Pigman, Dialtone May 15. Chris Jobinski May 16. Bonnie & Clyde every Tue. Open jam every Wed. House Band every Thur. FLORIDA TACKLE & GUN CLUB, 9010 San Jose Blvd., 7330541 South Prong Band 8 p.m. May 15 HARMONIOUS MONKS, 10550 Old St. Augustine Rd., 8803040 Open mic: Synergy 8 p.m. every Wed. MONKEY’S UNCLE, 10503 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 15, 2601349 The Remains at 7 p.m. May 13 SAUCY TACO, 450 S.R. 13, 287-8226 Stu Weaver 7 p.m. May 16
ORANGE PARK, MIDDLEBURG
CLUB RETRO, 1241 Blanding Blvd., 579-4731 ’70s & ’80s dance 8 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. DJ Capone every Wed. THE HILLTOP, 2030 Wells, 272-5959 John Michael plays piano every Tue.-Sat. PREVATT’S SPORTS BAR, 2620 Blanding Blvd., 282-1564 Firewater Tent Revival May 15. Natural Instincts May 16. Live music every Sat. DJ Tammy 9 p.m. every Wed. THE ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611 Ivy League
MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 47
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC ST. AUGUSTINE
BARLEY REPUBLIC, 48 Spanish St., 547-2023 Live local music every Thur.-Sun. BEACHES AT VILANO, 254 Vilano Rd., 829-0589 Denny Blue 3 p.m. May 14 CAFE ELEVEN, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 460-9311 Pierce Pettis 8 p.m. May 14 THE CELLAR UPSTAIRS, 157 King St., 826-1594 Evan D 2 p.m., Chillula 7 p.m. May 15. SMG 2 p.m., Ain’t Too Proud to
Beg 7 p.m. May 16. Vinny Jacobs 2 p.m. May 17 THE CORAZON CINEMA & CAFÉ, 36 Granada St., 679-5736 St. Augustine Rug Cutters 8 p.m. May 19 DOS COFFEE & WINE, 300 San Marco Ave., 342-2421 Jazz every Sun. HARRY’S, 46 Avenida Menendez, 824-7765 Rob Peck May 13. Gary Campbell May 14. Deanna Webb May 15. Caleb Joye May 16. Stu Weaver May 18. Ricardo Perez May 19. Billy Bowers 6 p.m. May 20. Local live music nightly
RHYTHMIC CURRENT I FIRST MET JOHN LUMPKIN several years ago, when we both competed in the finals of Guitar Center Drum Off. An imposing character both physically and musically, Lumpkin destroyed us all, combining finesse with ferocious chops. He’s a total badass, on par with today’s most progressive jazz and gospel players. The following year, I again signed up for the Drum Off. As with the previous year, I clawed my way to the local finals. On the judging panel was none other than Mr. Lumpkin. Talk about intimidating. (I was sent through to the regional finals, where I was chewed up and spit out by an equally-impressive gospel drummer. I was told I came in a close second. Not sure I believed them.) At any rate, Lumpkin and I became friends, catching up with each other at locals’ shows, like the time he backed the amazing Esperanza Spalding or the day we double-billed at Jacksonville Jazz Festival. So when I saw he and his band were releasing an album of original music, I had to grab a copy. Then I saw the title. The Devotion. Then I saw the song titles: “The Red Sea,” “Revelation,” “Abide.” Oh no, please, I thought. Not another gospel album. I should explain, my aversion here being two-fold. As an outspoken atheist, I’m squeamish when it comes to all things spiritual. It’s a gut reaction, and I can’t really justify it. It just … is. Couple this with my disdain for formulaic, genre-beholded composition, and I shut down, stop listening, run screaming. And this from a drummer who’s played in a gospel band. Yes, long ago, yours truly was asked to perform at a black church in Orlando, full-on traditional gospel at maximum volume. And I am not afraid to say I loved it. And I was filled with something otherworldly, too. Some might call it the spirit of the Lord; I prefer to think of it as the spirit of music, the spirit of brother- (and sister-) hood, the spirit of giving every ounce of energy to the moment. If that last paragraph wasn’t fi lled with enough contradictions, here’s another: I love John Lumpkin’s new album. Wisely, Lumpkin placed the mind-blowing modern-jazz piece “The Conqueror” first. A synth swell introduces the tune, heralding what might have been a cheeseball fusion number, but instead rolls out into a magnifi cent mid-tempo brass-driven funk. Lumpkin, again wisely, turns the show over to the brass section from the get-go. Alphonso Horne and Jordan Pettay lay down the head of the tune, followed by a brazen trumpet solo by Horne. A sawtoothed synth wades behind it all, giving the piece a mysterious complexion. Then Lumpkin brings it, dueling with Horne about midway through, exhibiting both his mad chops and his ear for improvisation. It’s truly an inspired if too-short moment. Horne’s sax solo follows, supported by Yasushi Nakamura’s upright bass. Then back to a restatement of the head for just a bar or two, before an abrupt close. Second comes the ridiculously grooving
THE KNIFE
mid-tempo swing of “The Red Sea.” Bordering closely on traditional jazz, “The Red Sea” capitalizes on a stellar cast of musicians who execute like seasoned vets, developing ideas, collapsing and refolding them, twisting and turning the themes while pushing each other to play at the height of their abilities. Then comes the third act, a head-spinning Latin-jazz section featuring another Lumpkin solo and an atonal horn battle. It would have been the best tune on the record were it not for … “Revelation,” a deep-pocket shuffle with huge spaces in which the main melody develops. Though the tune could be considered a ballad, Lumpkin and crew slam their way through it. This is not to say it’s all bombast; there are sublime moments, so quiet as to be almost inaudible. But the groove is so thick and delicious, it flows slow and hard, like honey warming over an open flame. And like “Red Sea,” “Revelation” offers a mid-tune surprise, this time in the form of an electric bass loop over which the brass section leisurely wanders. It’s these twists that keep The Devotion refreshing. The title track, a sweet if somewhat rote smooth-jazzer, falls short of my expectations, considering the first half of the album’s heft. And the Milton Felcher-penned number, despite its pointillistic, odd-time riffage, falls squarely into the modern-gospel genre of which I wrote earlier, complete with sermon. But I get it. It’s heartfelt. It’s familiar and therefore comforting. And under it all is Lumpkin’s jaw-dropping drumming, which always gets me stoked. The closing track, an R&B ballad, features the soul-melting vocals of Christie Dashiell and more wonderful horn work by, yes, Horne. It’s a fitting slow-burn closer to an album that immerses itself in traditional music – gospel, jazz, R&B – and at the same time fl ips the script, allowing the musicians to exhibit their hard-earned skills, and giving John Lumpkin a wide-open canvas on which to paint. For a listener like me, this was a game-changer, and kept me listening to sections I might have otherwise skipped.
THE KNIFE
48 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
John E. Citrone theknife@folioweekly.com Find Lumpkin’s The Devotion at amazon.com/ The-Devotion/dp/B00V3YOU7G. Available May 30 on iTunes, CD Baby, Tunecore. JOHN LUMPKIN CD RELEASE 8 p.m. May 15 at Underbelly, 113 E. Bay St., Downtown, underbellylive.com
MILL TOP TAVERN, 19 St. George St., 829-2329 Aaron Esposito May 14. Back from the Brink May 15. Denny Blue 1 p.m., Back from the Brink 9 p.m. May 16. John Winters 1 p.m. May 17 PAULA’S BEACHSIDE GRILL, 6896 A1A S., Crescent Beach, 471-3463 Denny Blue holds open mic jam 6-9 p.m. May 13 SHANGHAI NOBBY’S, 10 Anastasia Blvd., 547-2188 Natural Child, Faux Ferocious, Rivernecks, Nutritional Beast 9 p.m. May 13 TRADEWINDS LOUNGE, 124 Charlotte St., 829-9336 Spanky May 15 & 16. Live music 9 p.m. every Fri. & Sat.
SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK
INDOCHINE, 1974 San Marco Blvd., 503-7013 Dance Radio Underground, Sugar & Cream, Black Hoodie, Bass Therapy Sessions, Allan GIz-Roc Oteyza, TrapNasty, Cry Havoc, every Sat. JACK RABBITS, 1528 Hendricks Ave., 398-7496 J Roddy Walston & the Business, Sleepwalkers, Speaking Cursive 8 p.m. May 14. Dr. Stone & the Madmen, Askmeificare, Crashmir, Sasquatch on Mars 8 p.m. May 15. Big Dan & the Terruhwrist, T.W.A.N., Webeuntitled 8 p.m. May 16. Martyrs Asylum, Demented Truth, Helios Hand May 18. The Slackers, The Duppies 8 p.m. May 19 MUDVILLE MUSIC ROOM, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., 352-7008 Jax Nameless, Cassidy Kinsman May 15. Florida Folk Festival Kickoff Del Suggs 7:30 p.m. May 21 THE PARLOUR, 2000 San Marco Blvd., 396-4455 Blue Muse 9 p.m. May 14. Jim McKabba & the After Hours Band 9 p.m. May 15. Mondo Mike & Spice 9 p.m. May 16. Live music every Thur.-Sat.
SOUTHSIDE, BAYMEADOWS
BAHAMA BREEZE, 10205 River Coast Dr., 646-1031 Tropico Steel Drums May 13 & 14 CORNER BISTRO, 9823 Tapestry Park Cir., 619-1931 Matt Hall every Wed.-Sat. Steve Wheeler every Fri. LATITUDE 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., 365-5555 Be Easy 7:30 p.m. May 14. The Katz Downstairs 8:30 p.m. May 15. Blonde
Blues-rocker DEVON ALLMAN performs at Mojo Kitchen on May 20 in Jax Beach.
Ambition 8:30 p.m. May 16. XHale May 20 MY PLACE BAR & GRILL, 9550 Baymeadows Rd., 737-5299 RadioLove May 15. Fat Cactus every Mon. Live music 9 p.m. every night SUITE, 4880 Big Island Dr., Ste. 1, 493-9305 Tiffany 9 p.m. May 15 WHISKEY JAX, 10915 Baymeadows Rd., 634-7208 Samuel Sanders 9 p.m. May 14. Jen Burns May 15. Tad Jennings May 16. Brady Clampitt May 17. Cassidy Lee May 20. Live music every Wed.-Sun. WILD WING CAFÉ, 4555 Southside Blvd., 998-9464 Chris Brinkley May 13. Open mic May 14. Shotgun Redd May 16. Live music every Fri. & Sat. WORLD OF BEER, 9700 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 1, 551-5929 Live music every Fri. & Sat.
SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE
SANDOLLAR, 9716 Heckscher Dr., 251-2449 Rusted Diamond 4 p.m. May 17 SHANTYTOWN, 22 W. Sixth St., 798-8222 Tough Junkie 8 p.m. May 16 THREE LAYERS COFFEEHOUSE, 1602 Walnut St., 355-9791 RadioLove at 5 p.m., Duffy Trio 8 p.m. May 15. Markeyta Williams May 19. Open mic held every Thur.
Chef Alexander Yim and Pastry Chef Rebecca Reed present sophisticated culinary creations available at Matthew’s Restaurant in San Marco. Photo by Dennis Ho
DINING DIRECTORY AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA BEACH
29 SOUTH EATS, 29 S. Third St., 277-7919, 29south restaurant.com. F In historic downtown, Chef Scotty Schwartz serves traditional regional cuisine with a modern twist. $$ L Tue.-Sat.; D Mon.-Sat.; R Sun. BARBERITOS, 1519 Sadler Rd., 277-2505. 463867 S.R. 200, Ste. 5, Yulee, 321-2240, barberitos.com. F Southwestern fare; burritos, tacos, quesadillas, salsa. $$ BW K TO L D Daily BRETT’S WATERWAY CAFÉ, 1 S. Front St., 261-2660. F Southern hospitality, upscale waterfront spot; daily specials, fresh local seafood, aged beef. $$$ FB K L D Daily CAFÉ KARIBO, 27 N. Third St., 277-5269, cafekaribo.com. F Family-owned spot in historic building. Veggie burgers, seafood, made-from-scratch desserts. Dine in or on oak-shaded patio. Karibrew Pub next door. $$ FB K TO R, Sun.; L D Daily CHEZ LEZAN BAKERY CO., 1014 Atlantic Ave., 491-4663, chezlezanbakery.com. Fresh European-style breads, pastries: croissants, muffins, cakes, pies. $ TO B R L Daily CIAO ITALIAN BISTRO, 302 Centre St., 206-4311, ciao bistro-luca.com. Owners Luka and Kim Misciasci offer fine dining: veal piccata, rigatoni Bolognese, antipasto. Specialties: chicken Ciao, homemade meat lasagna. $ L Fri., Sat.; D Nightly DAVID’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE, 802 Ash St., 310-6049, ameliaislanddavids.com. Fine dining in historic district. Fresh seafood, prime aged meats, rack of lamb. $$$$ FB D Wed.-Mon. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 474313 E. S.R. 200, 491-3469. 450077 S.R. 200, Callahan, 879-0993. BOJ. SEE PONTE VEDRA. ELIZABETH POINTE LODGE, 98 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-4851, elizabethpointelodge.com. F BOJ winner. Award-winning B&B. Seaside dining, inside or out. Hot buffet breakfast daily. Homestyle soups, sandwiches, desserts. $$$ BW B L D Daily JACK & DIANE’S, 708 Centre St., 321-1444, jackanddianes cafe.com. F In renovated 1887 shotgun house. Jambalaya, French toast, mac-n-cheese, vegan/vegetarian items. Dine in or on porch. $$ FB K B L D Daily LULU’S AT THOMPSON HOUSE, 11 S. 7th St., 432-8394, lulusamelia.com. F Po’boys, salads, local seafood, local shrimp. Reservations. $$$ BW K TO R Sun.; L D Tue.-Sat. MARCHÉ BURETTE, 6800 First Coast Hwy., 491-4834, omnihotels.com. Old-fashioned gourmet food market and deli, in the Spa & Shops, Omni Amelia Island Plantation. Continental breakfast; lunch features flatbreads. $$$ BW K TO L D Daily MOON RIVER PIZZA, 925 S. 14th St., 321-3400, moon riverpizza.net. F BOJ winner. Northern-style pizzas, 20+ toppings, by the pie or the slice. $ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. THE MUSTARD SEED CAFÉ, 833 TJ Courson Rd., 277-3141, nassaushealthfoods.net. Casual organic eatery, juice bar, in Nassau Health Foods. All-natural organic items, smoothies, juice, herbal tea. $$ TO B L Mon.-Sat. THE PECAN ROLL BAKERY, 122 S. Eighth St., 491-9815, thepecanrollbakery.com. F The bakery, near the historic district, offers sweet and savory pastries, cookies, cakes, bagels and breads, all made from scratch. $ K TO B L Wed.-Sun. THE PIG BAR-B-Q, 450102 S.R. 200, Callahan, 879-0101, thepigbarbq.com. Bite Club. SEE SOUTHSIDE. PLAE, 80 Amelia Village Cir., 277-2132, plaefl.net. Bite
Club. Bistro-style venue serves whole fried fish, duck breast. Outside. $$$ FB L Tue.-Sat.; D Nightly THE SALTY PELICAN Bar & Grill, 12 N. Front St., 277-3811, thesaltypelicanamelia.com. F BOJ winner. 2nd-story outdoor bar. Owners T.J. and Al offer local seafood, Mayport shrimp, fish tacos, po’boys, cheese oysters. $$ FB K L D Daily SLIDERS SEASIDE Grill, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652, slidersseaside.com. F Oceanfront; handmade crab cakes, fresh seafood, fried pickles. Outdoor dining, open-air 2nd floor, balcony. $$ FB K L D Daily TASTY’S FRESH Burgers & Fries, 710 Centre St., 321-0409, tastysamelia.com. Historic district. Freshest meats, hand-cut fries, homemade sauces, hand-spun shakes. $ BW K L D Daily T-RAY’S BURGER STATION, 202 S. Eighth St., 261-6310. F BOJ winner. In an old gas station; blue plate specials, burgers, biscuits & gravy, shrimp. $ BW TO B L Mon.-Sat. THE VERANDAH, 6800 First Coast Hwy., 321-5050, omni hotels.com. Extensive menu of fresh local seafood and steaks; signature entrée is Fernandina shrimp. Many herbs and spices are from onsite garden. $$$ FB K D Nightly
ARLINGTON, REGENCY
DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 9119 Merrill Rd., 745-9300. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1301 Monument, 724-5802. F SEE ORANGE PARK.
AVONDALE, ORTEGA
FLORIDA CREAMERY, 3566 St. Johns Ave., 619-5386. Premium ice cream, waffle cones, milkshakes, sundaes and Nathan’s grilled hot dogs, served in a Florida-centric décor. Low-fat and sugar-free choices. $ K TO L D Daily THE FOX Restaurant, 3580 St. Johns Ave., 387-2669. F Owners Ian & Mary Chase offer fresh diner fare: burgers, meatloaf, fried green tomatoes, desserts. Breakfast all day. Local landmark for 50+ years. $$ BW K L D Daily HARPOON LOUIE’S, 4070 Herschel St., Ste. 8, 389-5631, harpoonlouies.net. F Locally owned and operated for 20+ years, the American pub serves 1/2-pound burgers, fish sandwiches, pasta. Local beers. $$ FB K TO L D Daily MELLOW MUSHROOM, 3611 St. Johns Ave., 388-0200. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MOJO NO. 4 Urban BBQ & Whiskey Bar, 3572 St. Johns Ave., 381-6670. F BOJ. SEE BEACHES. PINEGROVE Market & Deli, 1511 Pine Grove Ave., 389-8655, pinegrovemarket.com. F BOJ. For 40+ years, burgers, Cuban sandwiches, subs, wraps. Onsite butcher cuts USDA choice
To get your restaurant listed here, just call your account manager or Sam Taylor at 904.260.9770 ext. 111 or staylor@folioweekly.com.
DINING DIRECTORY KEY
Average Entrée Cost $ = Less than $8 $$ = $8-$14 $$$ = $15-$22 $$$$ = $23 & up BW = Beer/Wine FB = Full Bar K = Kids’ Menu TO = Take Out B = Breakfast R = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner Bite Club = Hosted free FW Bite Club tasting. fwbiteclub.com. 2014 Best of Jax winner F = FW distribution spot
prime aged beef. Craft beers. $ BW TO B L D Mon.-Sat. RESTAURANT ORSAY, 3630 Park St., 381-0909, restaurant orsay.com. BOJ winner. French/Southern bistro; emphasis on locally grown organic ingredients. Steak frites, mussels, pork chops. Snail of Approval. $$$ FB K R, Sun.; D Nightly SIMPLY SARA’S, 2902 Corinthian Ave., 387-1000, simply saras.net. F Down-home fare, from scratch: eggplant fries, pimento cheese, baked chicken, fruit cobblers, chicken & dumplings, desserts. BYOB. $$ K TO L D Mon.-Sat., B Sat.
BAYMEADOWS
AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 7825 Baymeadows Way, 733-4040. F SEE DOWNTOWN. AL’S Pizza, 8060 Philips, Ste. 105, 731-4300. F SEE BEACHES. BROADWAY RISTORANTE & PIZZERIA, 10920 Baymeadows Rd. E., 519-8000, broadwayfl.com. F Family-owned-andoperated. Calzones, wings, brick-oven-baked pizza, subs. $$ BW K TO L D Daily INDIA’S RESTAURANT, 9802 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 8, 620-0777, indiajax.com. F BOJ. Authentic Indian cuisine, lunch buffet. A variety of curries, vegetable dishes, lamb, chicken, shrimp, fish tandoori. $$ BW L Mon.-Sat.; D Nightly LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 3928 Baymeadows Rd., 737-7740. 8616 Baymeadows Rd., 739-2498. F SEE ORANGE PARK. NATIVE SUN NATURAL FOODS MARKET & DELI, 11030 Baymeadows Rd., 260-2791. SEE MANDARIN. SAUSAGE PARADISE DELI & BAKERY, 8602 Baymeadows Rd., 571-9817, spjax.com. F This innovative new spot offers a variety of European sausages, homestyle European dinners, smoked barbecue, stuffed cheeseburgers. $$ TO L D Mon.-Sat. THE WELL WATERING HOLE, 3928 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 9, 737-7740, thewellwateringhole.com. New bistro has local craft beers, wines by the glass or bottle, champagne cocktails. Meatloaf sandwiches, pulled Peruvian chicken, homestyle vegan black bean burgers. $$ BW K TO D Tue.-Sat. WHISKEY JAX, 10915 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 135, 634-7208, whiskeyjax.com. New gastropub has craft beers, burgers, handhelds, tacos, whiskey. $$ FB L D Sat. & Sun.; D Daily. ZESTY INDIA, 8358 Point Meadows Dr., 329-3676, zestyindia. com. Asian/European fare; tandoori lamb chops, rosemary tikka. Vegetarian cooked separately. $ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun.
BEACHES
(Locations are in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted.)
AL’S PIZZA, 303 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-0002, alspizza.com. F New York-style, gourmet pizzas, baked dishes. All-day happy hour Mon.-Thur. $ FB K TO L D Daily ANGIE’S SUBS, 1436 Beach Blvd., 246-2519. ANGIE’S GROM, 204 Third Ave. S., 246-7823. F BOJ winner. Subs made with fresh ingredients for more than 25 years. One word: Peruvian. Huge salads, blue-ribbon iced tea. $ BW TO L D Daily BEACHSIDE SEAFOOD Restaurant & Market, 120 Third St. S., 444-8862, beachsideseafood.info. Full fresh seafood market; baskets, fish tacos, daily fish specials, Philly cheesesteaks. Dine indoors. on second-floor open-air deck. $$ BW K TO L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 2400 S. Third St., Ste. 201. F BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. BREEZY Coffee Shop Café, 235 Eighth Ave. S., 241-2211,
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DINING DIRECTORY breezycoffeeshopcafe.com. Casual, family-owned shop serves fresh baked goods, espressos, locally roasted Costa Rican organic or Breezy Bold coffees, vegan/gluten-free options. Sandwiches, salads, local beer, wine, mimosas. Indoors or outside. $ BW K TO B R L Daily BUDDHA THAI BISTRO, 301 10th Ave. N., 712-4444, buddha thaibistro.com. Proprietors are from Thailand; every authentic dish is made with fresh ingredients. $$ FB TO L D Daily CANTINA MAYA Sports Bar & Grille, 1021 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-3227. F Popular spot serves margaritas, Latin food, burgers. Sports on TVs. $$ FB K L D Tue.-Sun. CULHANE’S IRISH PUB, 967 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 249-9595, culhanesirishpub.com. F Bite Club. Upscale pub owned and run by County Limerick sisters. Shepherd’s pie, corned beef; gastropub fare. $$ FB K R Sat. & Sun.; L Fri.-Sun.; D Tue.-Sun. ESPETO BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE, 1396 Beach Blvd., 388-4884, espetosteakhouse.com. Just relocated, serving beef, pork, lamb, chicken, sausage; full menu, bar fare, craft cocktails, Brazilian beers. $$ FB D Daily EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 992 Beach Blvd., 249-3001. F BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. FLYING IGUANA Taqueria & Tequila Bar, 207 Atlantic Blvd., N.B., 853-5680 F Latin American, Southwest tacos, seafood, carnitas, Cubana sandwiches. 100+ tequilas. $ FB L D Daily HARMONIOUS MONKS, 320 First St. N., 372-0815, harmoniousmonks.net. F SEE MANDARIN. LARRY’S, 657 Third St. N., 247-9620. F SEE ORANGE PARK. LILLIE’S Coffee Bar, 200 First St., N.B., 249-2922, lilliescoff eebar.com. F Locally roasted coffee, eggs, bagels, flatbreads, sandwiches, desserts. Dine inside or out, patio, courtyard. $$ BW TO B L D Daily THE LOVING CUP HASH HOUSE, 610 Third St. S., 422-0644. New place has locally sourced fare, locally roasted coffee, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, healthful dishes – no GMOs or hormones allowed. $ K TO B R L Tue.-Sun. MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS, 1018 Third St. N., Ste. 2, 241-5600, mellowmushroom.com. F Bite Club. BOJ. Hoagies, gourmet pizzas: Mighty Meaty, vegetarian, Kosmic Karma. 35 tap beers. Nonstop happy hour. $ FB K TO L D Daily METRO DINER, 1534 Third St. N., 853-6817. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MEZZA RESTAURANT & BAR, 110 First St., N.B., 249-5573,
SURFWICHES Sandwich Shop, 1537 Penman Rd., 241-6996, surfwiches.com. Craft sandwich shop has steaks and hoagies made to order. $ BW TO K L D Daily TACOLU BAJA MEXICANA, 1712 Beach Blvd., 249-8226, tacolu.com. BOJ winner. Fresh, Baja-style fare: fish tacos, tequila (more than 135 kinds) and mezcal. Bangin’ shrimp, carne asada, carnitas, daily fresh fish selections. Made-freshdaily guacamole. $$ FB K R Sat. & Sun.; L D Tue.-Fri.
DOWNTOWN
AKEL’S Delicatessen, 21 W. Church St., 665-7324, akelsdeli.com. F New York-style deli offers freshly made subs (3 Wise Guys, Champ), burgers, gyros, breakfast bowls, ranchero wrap, vegetarian dishes. $ K TO B L Mon.-Fri. THE CANDY APPLE Café & Cocktails, 400 N. Hogan St., 353-9717. Sandwiches, entrées, salads. $$ FB K L, Mon.; L D Tue.-Sun. CASA DORA, 108 E. Forsyth St., 356-8282. F Chef Sam Hamidi has been serving genuine Italian fare for 35+ years: veal, seafood, gourmet pizza. The homemade salad dressing is a specialty. $ BW K L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. CHOMP CHOMP, 106 E. Adams St., 762-4667. F Chefinspired street food: panko-crusted chicken, burgers, chinois tacos, bahn mi and barbecue. $ L Tue.-Sat.; D Thur.-Sat. FIONN MacCOOL’S Irish Pub & Restaurant, Jax Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1547, fionnmacs.com. Casual dining with an uptown Irish atmosphere, serving fish and chips, Guinness lamb stew and black-and-tan brownies. $$ FB K L D Daily OLIO Market, 301 E. Bay St., 356-7100, oliomarket.com. F From-scratch soups, sandwiches. Home to duck grilled cheese, seen on Best Sandwich in America. $$ BW TO B R L Mon.-Fri. SWEET PETE’S, 1922 Pearl St., 376-7161. F All-natural sweet shop has candy made of all natural flavors, no artificial anything. Several kinds of honey. $ TO Daily ZODIAC Bar & Grill, 120 W. Adams St., 354-8283, thezodiac barandgrill.com. Mediterranean cuisine, American fare, paninis, vegetarian dishes. Daily lunch buffet. Espressos, hookahs. Happy hour Wed.-Sat. $ FB L Mon.-Fri.
FLEMING ISLAND
GRASSROOTS Natural Market, 1915 East-West Pkwy., 541-0009. F BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE.
GRILL ME!
CONSTANTINE DEYNEKO
Sausage Paradise Deli & Bakery 8602 Baymeadows Rd., Baymeadows BIRTHPLACE: Ukraine
YEARS IN THE BIZ: 11
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Orsay in Riverside BEST CUISINE STYLE: French and Italian GO-TO INGREDIENTS: Garlic, bacon and fresh herbs. IDEAL MEAL: Knockwurst sausage, stuffed with horseradish cheddar cheese, wrapped with bacon, fried and served with sautéed onions, mushrooms, mayo and currywurst sauce. WILL NOT CROSS MY LIPS: Tofu, balut CULINARY TREAT: Hot Krispy Kreme doughnuts
mezzarestaurantandbar.com. F Near-the-ocean spot, 20+ years. Casual bistro fare: gourmet wood-fired pizzas, nightly specials. Dine inside, on patio. $$$ FB K D Mon.-Sat. MOJO KITCHEN BBQ PIT, 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636, mojobbq.com. F BOJ. Pulled pork, beef, chicken, Carolinastyle barbecue, Delta fried catfish, sides. $$ FB K TO L D Daily M SHACK, 299 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 241-2599, mshack burgers.com. F BOJ winner. David and Matthew Medure flip burgers, hot dogs, fries, shakes. $$ BW L D Daily NORTH BEACH Bistro, 725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 6, A.B., 372-4105, nbbistro.com. F Bite Club. Chef-driven kitchen; hand-cut steaks, fresh local seafood, tapas. Happy Hour. $$$ FB K R Sun.; L D Daily OCEAN 60 Wine Bar, Martini Room, 60 Ocean Blvd., A.B., 247-0060, ocean60.com. BOJ winner. Continental cuisine, fresh seafood, dinner specials, seasonal menu in a formal dining room or casual Martini Room. $$$ FB D Mon.-Sat. POE’S TAVERN, 363 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 241-7637. Gastropub, 50+ beers, gourmet hamburgers, ground in-house, cooked to order; hand-cut French fries, fish tacos, Edgar’s Drunken Chili, daily fish sandwich special. $$ FB K L D Daily RAGTIME Tavern & Seafood Grill, 207 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 241-7877, ragtimetavern.com. F For 30+ years, iconic seafood place has served blackened snapper, sesame tuna, Ragtime shrimp. Daily happy hour. $$ FB L D Daily SALT LIFE FOOD SHACK, 1018 Third St. N., 372-4456, saltlifefoodshack.com. BOJ. Specialty items: signature tuna poke bowl, fresh rolled sushi, Ensenada tacos, local fried shrimp, in modern open-air space. $$ FB K TO L D Daily SLIDERS Seafood Grille & Oyster Bar, 218 First St., N.B., 246-0881, slidersseafoodgrille.com. Popular beach-casual spot. Faves: Fresh fish tacos, gumbo. Key lime pie, ice cream sandwiches. $$ FB K L Sat. & Sun.; D Nightly SNEAKERS Sports Grille, 111 Beach Blvd., 482-1000, sneakerssportsgrille.com. BOJ winner. 20+ beers on tap, TVs, cheerleaders. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. $ FB K L D Daily
50 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
MELLOW MUSHROOM Pizza Bakers, 1800 Town Center Blvd., 541-1999. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MOJO SMOKEHOUSE, 1810 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 8, 264-0636. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. WHITEY’S FISH CAMP, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198, whiteysfish camp.com. F Real fish camp. Gator tail, freshwater catfish, daily specials, on Swimming Pen Creek. Tiki bar. Come by boat, bike or car. $ FB K TO L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly YOUR PIE, 1545 C.R. 220, Ste. 125, 379-9771, yourpie.com. F Owner Mike Sims’ idea: Choose from 3 doughs, 9 sauces, 7 cheeses, 40+ toppings. 5 minutes in a brick oven and ta-da: It’s your pie. Subs, sandwiches, gelato. $$ BW K TO L D Daily
INTRACOASTAL WEST
AL’S Pizza, 14286 Beach Blvd., Ste. 31, 223-0991. F SEE BEACHES.
APPLEBEE’S, 13201 Atlantic Blvd., 220-5823. SEE MANDARIN DICK’S, 14286 Beach Blvd., 223-0115. F BOJ. SEE PONTE VEDRA. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 10750 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 14, 642-6980. F SEE ORANGE PARK. OCEANA DINER, 13799 Beach Blvd., Ste. 3, 374-1915, oceanadiner.com. Traditional American diner fare served in a family atmosphere. $ K TO B L Daily TIME OUT Sports Grill, 13799 Beach Blvd., Ste. 5, 223-6999, timeoutsportsgrill.com. F Locally-owned-and-operated. Hand-tossed pizzas, wings, wraps. Daily drink specials, HDTVs, pool tables. Late-nite menu. $$ FB L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly
JULINGTON CREEK
DICK’S WINGS, 525 S.R. 16, Ste. 101, 825-4540. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. METRO DINER, 12807 San Jose Blvd., 638-6185. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO.
MANDARIN, NW ST. JOHNS
AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 12926 Gran Bay Pkwy. W.,
DINING DIRECTORY 880-2008. F SEE DOWNTOWN. AL’S PIZZA, 11190 San Jose Blvd., 260-4115. F SEE
twist; locally sourced ingredients. Rooftop bar. $$$ FB R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 869 Stockton St., Stes. 1 & 2, 855-1181. BOJ winner. F Small-batch, artisanal coffee roasting. Organic, fair trade. $ BW TO B L Daily BREW FIVE POINTS, 1024 Park St., 714-3402, brewfive points.com. F Local craft beer, espresso, coffee and wine bar. Rotating drafts, 75+ canned craft beers; sodas, tea. Rotating seasonal menu of waffles, pastries, toasts, desserts to pair with specialty coffees, craft beers. $$ BW K B L Daily CORNER TACO, 818 Post St., 240-0412, cornertaco.com. Made-from-scratch “Mexclectic street food,” tacos, nachos, gluten-free, vegetarian options. $ BW L D Daily. DERBY ON PARK, 1068 Park St., 379-3343. New American cuisine, upscale retro atmosphere in historic landmark building. Shrimp & grits, lobster bites, 10-oz. gourmet burger. Dine inside or out. B, Tue.-Fri., weekend brunch. $$$ FB TO L D Tue.-Sun. DICK’S WINGS, 5972 San Juan Ave., 693-9258. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999. BOJ
BEACHES.
APPLEBEE’S, 14560 St. Augustine Rd., 262-7605, apple bees.com. Completely remodeled in the area – new look, new appetizers (half-price after 10 p.m.) Most are open until midnight or later. $$ FB K TO L D Daily ATHENS CAFÉ, 6271 St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 7, 733-1199. F Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), baby shoes (stuffed eggplant). Greek beers. $$ BW L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. BROOKLYN PIZZA, 11406 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 3, 2889211. 13820 St. Augustine Rd., 880-0020. Brooklyn Special. Calzones, white pizza, homestyle lasagna. $$ BW TO L D Daily THE COFFEE BARD, 9735 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 13, 260-0810, thecoffeebard.com. New world coffeehouse has coffees, breakfast, drinks. $$ TO B L D Tue.-Sun. DICK’S WINGS, 10391 Old St. Augustine, 880-7087. F BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. GIGI’S RESTAURANT, 3130 Hartley Rd., 694-4300, jaxra mada.com. In Ramada. Prime rib, crab leg buffet Fri. & Sat., blue-jean brunch Sun., daily buffets. $$$ FB B R L D Daily HARMONIOUS MONKS, 10550 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 30, 880-3040, harmoniousmonks.net. F American steakhouse: Angus steaks, burgers, ribs, wraps. $$ FB K L D Mon.-Sat. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 11365 San Jose Blvd., 674-2945. F SEE ORANGE PARK. NATIVE SUN NATURAL FOODS MARKET & DELI, 10000 San Jose Blvd., 260-6950, nativesunjax.com. F Organic soups, sandwiches, wraps, baked goods, prepared foods. Juice, smoothie and coffee bar. All-natural, organic beers, wines. Indoor, outdoor dining. $ BW TO K B L D Daily THE PIG BAR-B-Q, 14985 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 108, 374-0393, thepigbarbq.com. Bite Club. SEE SOUTHSIDE. WHOLE FOODS MARKET, 10601 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 22, 288-1100, wholefoodsmarket.com. F Expansive preparedfood department with 80+ items, full-service/self-service hot bar, salad bar, soup bar, dessert bar, pizza, sushi, sandwich stations. $$ BW TO L D Daily
winner. 130+ import beers, 20 on tap. NYC-style Reuben, sandwiches. Outside dining at some. $ BW K L D Daily GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET, 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com. BOJ winner. F Juice bar; certified organic fruits, vegetables. 300-plus craft/ imported beers, 50 wines, organic produce, humanely raised meats, deli, raw items, vegan, vitamins, herbs. Organic wraps, sides, sandwiches, salads to go. $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FARE, 1001 Park St., 508-0342, hawkerstreetfare.com. BOJ winner. Authentic dishes from mobile stalls. $ BW TO L D Daily JOHNNY’S DELI & GRILLE, 474 Riverside Ave., 356-8055. F Casual spot offers sandwiches, classic salads, homefries. One word: Reuben. $ TO B L Daily KNEAD BAKESHOP, 1173 Edgewood Ave. S. Locally-owned, family-run; made-from-scratch pastries, artisan breads, pies, specialty sandwiches, soups. $ TO B L Tue.-Sun. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1509 Margaret St., 674-2794. 7895 Normandy Blvd., 781-7600. 8102 Blanding Blvd., 7791933. F SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., 999-4600. F BOJ
BITE-SIZED Local beer expert & Alewife owner Kelly Pickard
ORANGE PARK
SEE PONTE VEDRA.
THE HILLTOP, 2030 Wells Rd., 272-5959, hilltop-club.com. Southern-style fine dining. New Orleans shrimp, certified Black Angus prime rib, she-crab soup, desserts. $$$ FB D Tue.-Sat. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1330 Blanding Blvd., 276-7370. 1545 C.R. 220, 278-2827. 700 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 15, 272-3553. 1401 S. Orange Ave., Green Cove Springs, 2847789, larryssubs.com. F For 30-plus years, they’ve piled ’em high and served ’em fast. Hot/cold subs, soups, salads. $ K TO B L D Daily THE PIG BAR-B-Q, 1330 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 170, 213-9744, thepigbarbq.com. Bite Club. SEE SOUTHSIDE. THE ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611, roadhouseonline.net. F For 35-plus years, Roadhouse has been serving wings, sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas; 75-plus imported beers. A large craft beer selection is also available. $ FB L D Daily SNACSHACK, 179 College Dr., Ste. 19, 682-7622, snacshack.menu. F The new bakery and café offers bagels, muffins, breads, cookies, brownies and snack treats. $$ K BW TO B, L & D Daily
PONTE VEDRA
AL’S PIZZA, 635 A1A N., 543-1494. F SEE BEACHES. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 100 Marketside Ave., 829-8134, dickswingsandgrill.com. F BOJ winner. NASCARthemed; 365 kinds of wings, 1/2-lb. burgers, ribs. $ FB K TO L D Daily LARRY’S SUBS, 830 A1A N., 273-3993. F SEE ORANGE PARK. PUSSER’S BAR & GRILLE, 816 A1A N., Ste. 100, 280-7766, pussersusa.com. F BOJ winner. Bite Club. Caribbean cuisine, regional faves: Jamaican grilled pork ribs, Trinidad smoked duck, lobster macaroni & cheese dinner. Tropical drinks. $$ FB K TO L D Daily RESTAURANT MEDURE, 818 A1A N., 543-3797, restaurant medure.us. Chef David Medure offers global flavors. Small plates, creative drinks, happy hour. $$$ FB D Mon.-Sat.
RIVERSIDE, 5 POINTS, WESTSIDE
13 GYPSIES, 887 Stockton St., 389-0330, 13gypsies. com. BOJ winner. Authentic Mediterranean peasant cuisine updated for American tastes; tapas, blackened octopus, risotto of the day, coconut mango curry chicken. $$ BW L D Tue.-Sat. AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 245 Riverside Ave., 791-3336. F SEE DOWNTOWN.
AL’S PIZZA, 1620 Margaret St., 388-8384. F SEE BEACHES. APPLEBEE’S, 8635 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 201, 771-0000. 6251 103rd St., 772-9020. 843 Lane Ave. S., 378-5445. SEE MANDARIN.
BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, blacksheep5points.com. New American with a Southern
photo by Dennis Ho
ARON’S PIZZA, 650 Park Ave., 269-1007, aronspizza.com. F Family-owned restaurant has eggplant dishes, manicotti, New York-style pizzas. $$ BW K TO L D Daily DICK’S WINGS, 1540 Wells Rd., 269-2122. BOJ winner.
BEERS OF SUMMER
What to pair with Northeast Florida’s ungodly humidity Folio Weekly: What makes a good summer beer? Kelly Pickard: When it comes to enjoying craft beer amidst the oppressive heat and humidity of a Florida summer, I want a beer that’s crisp and refreshing and low enough in alcohol that I can enjoy a few out on the water or grilling out in the backyard. I want a beer that is full-flavored without being heavy on the palate. A “summer” beer doesn’t necessarily need to be a summer seasonal. Pilsner, saison, Berliner Weisse, gose, and a sessionable IPA are all styles that will be in steady rotation for me this summer.
this year? I think we’ll continue to see a rise in the popularity of sour styles. Sours are really a perfect beer for summer. They are generally relatively low in alcohol, bright, refreshing and pair well with a range of summer cuisine.
BITE SIZED
What are some local beers that pair well with warm (see: miserably hot) weather? I really like Veterans United Craft Brewery’s Raging Blonde. This blonde ale hits all the right notes for me – nice malt character with just a slight hop bite to finish crisp and clean. Aardwolf Gose is so refreshing with flavors of lemon, tropical fruit, and good saltiness – it all comes together for a light and crisp gose I could drink all day. And although it’s a special one-off beer brewed for One Spark, I really love Intuition Ale Works’ Kolsch. It has a grainy malt sweetness with a restrained herbal hop flavor that creates a full-flavored, clean-drinking beer. Last summer, it seemed like session ales were all the rage. What can we expect
What are some go-to summer beers from across the country? I’ll stick with breweries and beers readily available to us in Jacksonville: Victory Brewing’s Prima Pils – in my opinion, the most perfectly balanced German pilsner out there. Oskar Blues Brewery’s Pinner Throwback IPA – tons of tropical fruit aroma and flavor nicely balanced with toasted malt character. Clocking in less than 5 percent, it’s totally crushable. Dogfish Head Brewery’s Festina Peche – tart, crisp, refreshing, with a hint of subtle peach. As a Berliner Weisse style introduced back in 2007, it was a little ahead of its time. I’d encourage people who thought they didn’t like this beer to give it another try. Crooked Stave’s Surette – a fantastic saison. Tart, bright, with a touch of mild funk. Stiegl Grapefruit Radler – I jokingly refer to this as the mimosa for beer drinkers. If I get the opportunity to get out on a boat and fi sh at 8 in the morning, this is what I’m drinking. Matthew B. Shaw mshaw@folioweekly.com
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DINING DIRECTORY winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MONROE’S SMOKEHOUSE BAR-B-Q, 4838 Highway Ave., 389-5551, monroessmokehousebbq.com. Wings, pulled pork, brisket, turkey, chicken, ribs. Homestyle sides: beans, baked beans, mac-n-cheese, collards. $$ K TO L Mon.-Sat.; D Fri. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., 389-4442. F BOJ winner. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. MOSSFIRE GRILL, 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire. com. F Southwestern fish tacos, enchiladas. Happy hour Mon.-Sat. upstairs lounge, all day Sun. $$ FB K L D Daily O’BROTHERS IRISH PUB, 1521 Margaret St., 854-9300, obrothersirishpub.com. F Traditional shepherd’s pie with Stilton crust, Guinness mac-n-cheese, fish-n-chips. Patio dining. $$ FB K TO L D Daily THE PIG BAR-B-Q, 5456 Normandy Blvd., 783-1606, thepigbarbq.com. Bite Club. SEE SOUTHSIDE. RAIN DOGS, 1045 Park St., 379-4969. Bar food. $ D SILVER COW, 1506 King St., 379-6968, silvercowjax. com. Laid-back, cozy, subdued spot serves craft beers, wines. The full menu is ever-expanding. $$ BW L D Daily. SILVER COW ANNEX, 1508 King St., 379-6968, annexjax. com. Adjacent to Silver Cow; serves craft beers, wines. Bigscreen TVs, games. Chorizo tacos, burgers. $$ BW D Daily. SOUTHERN ROOTS FILLING STATION, 1275 King St., 513-4726, southernrootsjax.com. Healthy, light vegan fare made fresh daily with local, organic ingredients. Specials, served on bread, local greens or rice, change daily. Coffees, teas. $ Tue.-Sun. SUSHI CAFÉ, 2025 Riverside, Ste. 204, 384-2888, sushicafejacksonville.com. F Sushi variety: Monster Roll, Jimmy Smith Roll; faves Rock-n-Roll, Dynamite Roll. Hibachi, tempura, katsu, teriyaki. Indoor or patio. $$ BW L D Daily
ST. AUGUSTINE, ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH
AL’S PIZZA, 1 St. George St., 824-4383. F SEE BEACHES. APPLEBEE’S, 225 S.R. 312, 825-4099. SEE MANDARIN. AVILES, 32 Avenida Menendez, 829-2277 F Inside the Hilton Inn Bayfront. Progressive European menu; made-toorder pasta night, wine dinners, chophouse nights, breakfast buffet. Sun. champagne brunch, bottomless mimosas. $$$ FB K B L D Daily BARLEY REPUBLIC, 48 Spanish St., 547-2023, barley republicph.com. Old City’s only Irish gastropub in historic area has fish & chips, shepherd’s pie, lambburger, craft beers and spirits. $$ FB K TO L D Daily CANDLELIGHT SOUTH, 1 Anastasia Blvd., 819-0588. Casual spot offers fish tacos, sandwiches, wings, desserts, sangria, daily specials. $ BW K TO L D Daily THE FLORIDIAN, 39 Cordova St., 829-0655, thefloridian staug.com. Updated Southern fare, fresh ingredients. Vegetarian, gluten-free. Fried green tomatobruschetta, grits with shrimp, fish or tofu. $$$ BW K TO L D Wed.-Mon. GYPSY CAB COMPANY, 828 Anastasia Blvd., 824-8244, gypsycab.com. F Local mainstay for more than 25 years. The varied menu changes twice daily. Signature dish: Gypsy chicken. Seafood, tofu, duck, veal. Sun. brunch. $$ FB R Sun.; L D Daily MELLOW MUSHROOM, 410 Anastasia Blvd., 826-4040. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. METRO DINER, 1000 S. Ponce de Leon Blvd., 758-3323. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MOJO OLD CITY BBQ, 5 Cordova, 342-5264. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. SALT LIFE FOOD SHACK, 321 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 217-3256, saltlifefoodshack.com. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. TEMPO, 16 Cathedral Place, 547-0240. The Latin American fusion wine bar and restaurant offers traditional American fare with a Latin flair; sandwiches, too. $$ BW L D Tue.-Sun.
ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER
APPLEBEE’S, 4507 Town Ctr. Pkwy., 645-3590. SEE MANDARIN.
BRIO TUSCAN GRILLE, 4910 Big Island Dr., 807-9960. Upscale Northern Italian fare, wood-grilled and oven-roasted steaks, chops, seafood. Dine indoors or al fresco on the terrace. $$$ FB K TO R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily M SHACK, 10281 Midtown Pkwy., 642-5000, mshack burgers.com. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. OVINTE, 10208 Buckhead Branch Dr., 900-7730, ovinte. com. European-style dining influenced by Italy, Spain and the Mediterranean. Small plates, entrée-size portions, selections from the cheese a charcuterie menu. $$$ BW TO R D Daily
SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK
BASIL THAI & BAR, 1004 Hendricks Ave., 674-0190, basilthaijax.com. F Authentic Thai dishes include Pad Thai, a variety of curries, tempuras, vegetarian dishes, seafood, stir-fry and daily specials. $$ FB L D Mon.-Sat. BISTRO AIX, 1440 San Marco Blvd., 398-1949, bistrox. com. F Mediterranean and French inspired cuisine includes steak frites, oak-fired pizza and a new raw bar with seasonal selections. $$$ FB TO L D Daily DICK’S WINGS, 1610 University Blvd. W., 448-2110. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 1704 San Marco Blvd.,
52 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
398-9500. BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. $ BW K L D Daily FUSION SUSHI, 1550 University Blvd. W., 636-8688, fusionsushijax.com. F Upscale sushi spot serves a variety of fresh sushi, sashimi, hibachi, teriyaki, kiatsu. $$ K L D Daily THE GROTTO WINE & TAPAS BAR, 2012 San Marco Blvd., 398-0726. F Artisanal cheese plates, empanadas, bruschetta, cheesecake. 60+ wines by the glass. $$$ BW Tue.-Sun. HAMBURGER MARY’S BAR & GRILLE, 3333 Beach Blvd., Ste. 1, 551-2048, hamburgermarys.com. F Wings, sammies, nachos, entrées, specialty drinks, burgers. $$ K TO FB L D Daily KITCHEN ON SAN MARCO, 1402 San Marco Blvd., 396-2344, kitchenonsanmarco.com. New gastropub features local and national craft beers, specialty cocktails and a seasonal menu focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and cuisine. Now serving Sunday brunch. $$ FB L D Daily MEZZE BAR & GRILL, 2016 Hendricks Ave., 683-0693, mezzejax.com. Classic cocktails, fresh basil martinis, 35 draft beers, local/craft brews, Mediterranean cuisine. Hookah patio. Happy hour. $$ FB D Daily MATTHEW’S, 2107 Hendricks Ave., 396-9922, matthews restaurant.com. Chef Matthew Medure’s flagship. Fine dining, artfully presented cuisine, small plates, martini/ wine lists. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. Reservations. $$$$ FB D Mon.-Sat. METRO DINER, 3302 Hendricks Ave., 398-3701, metrodiner.com. F BOJ winner. Original upscale diner. Meatloaf, chicken pot pie, soups. $$ B R L Daily MOJO BAR-B-QUE, 1607 University Blvd. W., 732-7200. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. PIZZA PALACE, 1959 San Marco Ave., 399-8815, pizzapalacejax.com. F Family-owned; homestyle faves: spinach pizza, chicken spinach calzones, lasagna. Outside dining. $$ BW K TO L D Daily TAVERNA, 1986 San Marco Ave., 398-3005, taverna sanmarco.com. Chef Sam Efron’s authentic Italian; local produce, meats. Craft beers, handcrafted cocktails. $$$ FB K TO R L D Daily
SOUTHSIDE, TINSELTOWN
360° GRILLE, LATITUDE 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., 365-5555, latitude360.com. F Popular place serves seafood, steaks, burgers, chicken, sandwiches, pizza. Patio, movie theater. $$ FB TO L D Daily AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 7077 Bonneval Rd., 332-8700. F SEE DOWNTOWN.
ALHAMBRA THEATRE & DINING, 12000 Beach Blvd., 641-1212, alhambrajax.com. USA’s longest-running dinner theater; Chef DeJuan Roy’s themed menus. Reservations. $$ FB D Tue.-Sun. APPLEBEE’S, 5055 JTB Blvd., 296-6895. SEE MANDARIN. BARBERITOS, 4320 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., Ste. 106, 807-9060. F SEE AMELIA ISLAND. DANCIN DRAGON, 9041 Southside Blvd., Ste. 138D, 363-9888. BOGO lunches, an Asian fusion menu. $$ FB K L D Daily DICK’S WINGS, 10750 Atlantic Blvd., 619-0954. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. THE DIM SUM ROOM, 9041 Southside Blvd., Ste. 138D, 363-9888, thedimsumroom.com. Shrimp dumplings, beef tripe, sesame ball. Traditional Hong Kong noodles, barbecue. $ FB K L D Daily EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 5500 Beach Blvd., 398-1717. BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 3611 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S., 641-6499. 4479 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., 425-4060. F SEE ORANGE PARK.
MELLOW MUSHROOM, 9734 Deer Lake Ct., 997-1955. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MONROE’S SMOKEHOUSE BAR B-Q, 10771 Beach Blvd., 996-7900, monroessmokehousebbq.com. SEE RIVERSIDE. THE PIG BAR-B-Q, 11925 Beach Blvd., Ste. 5, 619-0321, thepigbarbq.com. Bite Club. This popular fourth-generation barbecue institution has been family-owned for 60+ years. The signature item is mustard-based “pig sauce.” $ BW K TO B, L D Daily TAVERNA YAMAS, 9753 Deer Lake Ct., 854-0426, tavernayamas.com. F Bite Club. Char-broiled kabobs, seafood, wines, desserts. Belly dancing. $$ FB K L D Daily TOMMY’S BRICK OVEN PIZZA, 4160 Southside Blvd., Ste. 2, 565-1999, tbopizza.com. F New York-style thin crust, brick-oven-baked pizzas (gluten-free), calzones, sandwiches. Boylan’s soda. Curbside pick-up. $$ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. THE VISCONDE’S ARGENTINIAN GRILL, 11925 Beach Blvd., Ste. 201, 379-3925. The area’s only Argentinian place. Traditional steaks, varieties of sausages, pasta, sandwiches, empañadas, wines. $$$ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun.
SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE
HOLA MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 1001 N. Main St., 3563100, holamexicanrestaurant.com. F Fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, daily specials. Happy hour; sangria. $ BW K TO L D Mon.-Sat. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 12001 Lem Turner Rd., 764-9999. SEE ORANGE PARK.
THE PIG BAR-B-Q, 9760 Lem Turner Rd., 765-4336, thepigbarbq.com. Bite Club. SEE SOUTHSIDE.
NEWS OF THE WEIRD
RAT RACE California State University Los Angeles researcher Marc Kubasak spent about 2,500 hours (sometimes 12 hours a day) training 40 brain-damaged rats to walk on a treadmill, after sewing little vests to tether the critters, suspended, to a robotic arm. His work paid off, according to the February Popular Science magazine, as doctors in Poland and University College London used his procedures to help a man with a damaged spine. In the middle of the project, Kubasak developed a rodent allergy and was forced to wear a bodysuit with a respirator. WWJ INK? United Kingdom’s Bedfordshire Police were searching in April for a thief who ran off without paying for his Jesus arm tattoo at the RedINC Luton studio (to go with his “Only God Can Judge Me” inking on the other arm.) The shopkeeper believes the man swiped $1,548 from a cash drawer when he was momentarily alone in the studio. POLITICS IN THE 21st CENTURY Former Virginia state Delegate Joseph Morrissey, already scheduled for trial for submitting false documents in one case, was foiled in March qualifying for a state Senate primary because 750 of the 972 voter signatures he submitted were proved bogus. Morrissey was sworn in as delegate in January wearing an ankle monitor as part of his sentence for having sex with an underage girl, but resigned to run for the Senate.
DONATING FOR DOLLARS Healthy people can donate blood, sperm and eggs, and now the nonprofit OpenBiome offers donors $40 for bowel movements — to supply “fecal transplants” for patients with nasty C. difficile bacterial infections. “Healthy” contents are transplanted into the infected gut via endoscope or frozen swallowed capsules so good bacteria drive out antibiotic-resistant bad. Over 2,000 transplant units have been shipped to 185 hospitals so far, and OpenBiome allows daily “donations” so that, with bonuses, a donor could earn $13,000 a year. However, extensive medical questioning and stool-testing is required, and only about 4 percent of potential donors have healthy-enough feces to qualify.
REMEMBRANCE TECHNOLOGY In March, the U.S. patent office approved Google’s application covering robot software that mimics human personalities (voice, mannerisms) using a variety of moods (happiness, fear, surprise) noting that family members might use it to continue to “interact” with a loved one after he has passed. One disquieting possibility might allow a deceased person to be directed to act in ways the person never acted when alive. DEMOCRACY IN ACTION Just west of Ferguson, Missouri, is Kinloch (pop. 299), where newly elected mayor Betty McCray was unable to start work on April 23 because the losing incumbent administration merely locked her out of City Hall (“impeaching” her for “voter fraud” in the April 7 election, despite St. Louis County election officials having already certified her victory). Of McCray’s two predecessors, one was once also locked out of office by police, and the other had to go to court to get his mayoral job back after admitting he’d missed child-support payments.
WALL STREET MIRACLE Two March instances of gleaning insight and using it to buy stock “options” were executed so quickly (1 to 3 seconds each) that experts consulted for a Slate.com analysis said they couldn’t possibly have been made by human securities traders. Their conclusion: A robot so intelligent exists that it can “read” a news wire report, “analyze” it for hints whether to place bets on a company’s future price, and execute the order — before human traders even finish reading the news report. Profits on the seconds-long trades: $2.4 million on one and “between $1 million and $2 million” on the other. DEAD PROFIT A curious woman, inspired by her own mother’s attachment to her unlaundered pillowcases following the death of her dad, has partnered with France’s Universite du Havre to produce a person’s bottled scent by processing old clothing. A September rollout is planned, with the probable retail price of about $600. Chuck Shepherd weirdnews@earthlink.net
MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 53
ASTROLOGY
FOLIO WEEKLY PUZZLER by MERL REAGLE. Presented by
SAN MARCO 2044 SAN MARCO BLVD. 398-9741
PONTE VEDRA
THE SHOPPES OF PONTE VEDRA
330 A1A NORTH 280-1202
Back It Up
SOUTHSIDE
AVONDALE 3617 ST. JOHNS AVE. 10300 SOUTHSIDE BLVD. 388-5406 394-1390 AVENUES MALL
91 92 93 95
Taken star Its cap. is Tirana Stable parents Phaser command heard ACROSS on Squirrel Trek? 1 Mus. key 97 Italian food truck? 5 Toward the tail 101 Drum locations 8 Software prototype 102 Piece of fiction 12 With 110 Down, bettor’s cry 103 Traffic 180 17 Brand that sounds like a 104 What latecomers to stew Winfrey River Cruise 18 Instrument with 3 vowels might find? 19 Last Oldsmobile model 108 America, to a German? 21 Orange type 114 Look ___ word 22 Ballplayer with a 115 “___ huge fan” Nickelodeon adventure 116 Also-ran’s plaint series? 117 Words on a 1963 poster 25 “I thought we had ___” – as if I need to tell you? 26 Inflation need 124 Intro to Bob Thornton 27 IM pioneer 125 Spirited mount 28 Favorite yogurt flavor of 126 Picked up ___ (got sick) undercover cops? 127 Itty-bitty bit 30 Reason for a double 128 Register ring-ups celebration? 129 Retired fliers 36 Big school rm. 130 Talk and talk 37 38 Across, in Baja 131 Mushroom piece 38 Fever-causing metal 39 Restaurant eavesdroppers? DOWN 46 Fear of whales? 1 Tan line cause, perhaps 50 “Gift” with a string 2 Dent or ding 51 Bygone Eur. realm 3 Reminiscer’s word 52 Brewing vessel 4 David’s kingdom 53 Lhasa ___ 5 Prez on a fin 55 Poetic tribute 6 He’s against you 56 From ___ (effective 7 Curtsy in which one’s immediately) head nearly touches the floor 58 Misspoke, e.g. 8 List of choices 59 Loser to RMN in ’68 9 “Turn to Stone” grp. 61 1970 John Wayne western 10 Arctic bird 63 Like Easter eggs 11 “Part of town” 64 Seeks socks or silverware? 12 Coiled, as a coif 70 “___ time and the liver is 13 Managed greasy ...” (spoof lyrics) 14 No longer in love with 71 Nativity inn problem 15 Within reach 72 What forensic science 16 He’s for you offers? 18 “Thanks for reminding 77 Corporate type me!” 81 Richard III’s successor 20 Bruins legend 82 Perrier, to Pierre 23 “Here ___” 83 On-ramp sign 24 “Wham!” 84 Cash-back offer, online 29 Winery buy 85 Pie ingredient 30 Summarily let go 88 Bible vessels 31 Solar system model
May is the only month that spells another word backward. Hence, this puzzle.
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54 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 13-19, 2015
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ARIES (March 21-April 19): The danger of resisting a temptation too strenuously is that the temptation might depart. Prevent that from happening. Without throwing yourself at the mercy of the temptation, see if you can coax it to stick around a while longer. Why? It’s playing a useful role in your life, motivating you to change some things that really do need changing. On the other hand, I’m not sure it should be anything more than a temptation. It might serve you best that way, not as an object of satisfi ed desire. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): My astrological colleagues discourage me from talking to you Bulls about financial matters. “Most Tauruses know 10 times more about the mystery of money than you’ll ever know,” said one. “Their excellent instincts trump any tips you offer.” Another astrologer concurred, noting, “The financial advice you give Tauruses will at best be redundant and at worst simplistic.” A third colleague summed it up: “Offering Tauruses guidance about money is like counseling Scorpios about sex.” So though I’m shy about making recommendations, I’ll say this: The next five weeks are a great time to make plans to GET RICHER QUICKER! GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Endings to be useful must be inconclusive,” wrote sci-fi novelist Samuel R. Delany. I endorse that theory for you in the weeks ahead. Interweave it with this advice from playwright Sam Shepard: “The temptation toward resolution, toward wrapping up the package, seems to me a terrible trap. Why not be more honest with the moment? The most authentic endings are the ones which are already revolving towards another beginning.” In other words, don’t be attached to neat fi nales and splashy climaxes. Consider the possibility that you can simply slip free of a complicated past and head to the future without much fanfare. CANCER (June 21-July 22): In mythic terms, you should be headed for the winner’s circle, inside the pleasure dome. The parade in your honor should follow the award ceremony, and let’s hope you’ll be on the lead float wearing a gold crown, holding a real magic wand while being sung to by a choir of folks you love who love you. If you’re not experiencing some version of these metaphors, find out why. Or better yet, get busy planning a homecoming, graduation party or award ceremony for yourself. From an astrological perspective, you have a mandate to be recognized and appreciated for gifts you offer the world.
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Solution to Foreign Expressions for Dogs (5/6/15) G E M M A
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Spotted Sean’s first Bond girl “Eureka!” Reacts to a threat Cousteau’s milieu Link letters? 7 Down doer “Stay where you are!” Elevator symbol indicating the lobby 91 Having a snack 93 Yucatec speaker 94 Source of rays 96 Monk’s title 98 Small brawl 99 Ford and White 100 Pings and dings 105 Unbar, to the Bard 106 ASCAP rival 107 Desert sight 108 “That’s mine. I called it!” 109 Marlon’s director 110 See 12 Across 111 “Adorns” with Charmin, briefly 112 Grub 113 Goes after, in a way 118 Badminton call 119 Exec’s degree 120 Arctic bird 121 Pixel 122 Beehive State collegian 123 Scenery chewer
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“I’m too tired ___” Sinatra scat syllable Isle of exile Collar Bud’s cousin Spill stopper Dick who co-created SNL with Lorne “Amazing!” Explore deeply Tijuana address? Made fun of, in a way Okra unit Bat wood source Palindromic cry Usual figure Pay extension? Victoria Crosses, e.g. Teen favorite Burst (of wind) As good as possible Start to cure? NYSE watchdog What “colonel” has? Tide rival Arrid rival Night vision? Lord or lady Addis ___ Widebody, e.g. Widebody watchdog, briefly
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WATERLOO, ARCHERY, GALILEO, MAGIC WANDS & LOU REED
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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): British Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley was a brilliant military commander. Renowned for an ability to beat larger armies, he also had great skill at minimizing loss of life among his troops. His most famous triumph was in 1815, when he led the forces that defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo. In the aftermath, the French tyrant lost his power and was exiled. The secret of Wellesley’s success? “Bonaparte’s plans were made in wire,” he said. “Mine were made in string.” In other words, Wellesley’s strategy was more fl exible and adaptable. As circumstances changed, it could be rearranged with greater ease. That’s your approach in the days ahead. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You may not be strong enough to take a shot at a daunting challenge at fi ve levels beyond your previous best effort. But you’re at least ready to try a tricky challenge one level higher than where you’ve been operating. And that, in my opinion, is a more practical use of your courage. It’d be a waste of energy to get wrapped up in grandiose fantasies about impossible perfections. As long as you don’t overreach, you accomplish small miracles.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’re about to experience some prime contenders for The Most Unusual Adventures of 2015. Are you thoroughly prepared? Of course not. There’s no way you can be totally ready to adapt to unpredictable wrinkles and change your mind at a moment’s notice. But that’s just what makes these experiments so fun. That’s why they’ll be effective in building up resilience and willpower. For best results, apply your nighttime thinking to daytime activities, and vice versa. Spend minimal time on responsibilities that don’t teach noble truths about your fellow madmen and madwomen. My big question: How can you tap into the extra power you’ll need during the rite of passage? SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Many modern astronomers are allergic to astrology, but from my perspective there’s no inherent conflict between the two. Four of history’s greatest astronomers were practicing astrologers: Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, Tycho Brahe, and Pierre Gassendi. One of my Scorpio college friends, Martha Maiden, is a first-rate astrologer who got a degree in astronomy and became a top NASA scientist. In the spirit of finding reconciliation between apparent opposites, you are a virtual virtuoso in your ability to reconcile both apparent opposites and actual opposites. Use this aptitude with fl air and daring. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian Matt Stutzman competes in the sport of archery. He’s the world’s record holder for longest accurate shot, having hit a target 230 yards away. What makes his accomplishment so extraordinary is the fact that he was born without arms. He holds each arrow in his mouth and grasps the bow with his right foot and the help of a chest harness. In the spirit of this armless archer, and in accordance with your current astrological omens, initiate an effort to triumph over one of your so-called disadvantages. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Long before Lou Reed recorded the song “Walk on the Wild Side,” Nelson Algren wrote the novel A Walk on the Wild Side. It depicts the luxuriant depravity of New Orleans’ French Quarter in the 1930s. One of Algren’s most enduring bits of spiritual advice: “Never, ever, no matter what else you do in your whole life, never sleep with anyone whose troubles are worse than your own.” What do you think? Even if you don’t regard it as a universal rule you should unfailingly obey, observe it in the weeks ahead. For the sake of mental hygiene, be extra discerning about what infl uences you absorb – not just in bed, but everywhere. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The cosmos has authorized you to be hungrier than usual. You may feel free to respond to your enhanced hunger with an extra aggressive quest to be fed. Therefore: Be voracious! Risk being avid, ardent, and even agog. Fill up with pleasure, praise, peace, perks, and privileges. Anything else you’d like to engorge? If some unenlightened person questions your right to claim the biggest piece, sweetest taste and best fuel, tell them your astrologer gave you ultimate permission. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Is there an interesting ally whose path rarely crosses yours? Do you draw inspiration from a like-minded dynamo who’s not fully available? Has fate kept you and a friend from getting as close as you’d wish? According to my astrological omen-reading, relationships like these may become more substantial in the weeks ahead. The dream of a more robust connection could ripen into an opportunity to collaborate. Be alert and prepared to do what’s necessary to go deeper. Rob Brezsny freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com
HELP WANTED
HELLO, YOUNG LOVERS (aka ISU writers)!
The limit for ISU notices is 40 words ONLY. No messages with more than 40 words will be accepted. Please keep your message short & sweet. Thanks! VOTE FOR ME You: Widespread Panic shirt. You said you may actually vote Republican if Billary gets nomination. Wanted to speak more, but you had to get home to dogs and pet pigeon. Let’s get naughty in voting booth! ;). When: May 7. Where: McDonald’s. #1519-1513
FREEBIRD EXPENDABLES SHOW On 2/25. We talked at very end by merchant stand. Short convo; said you’re finishing teaching degree. You: Very cute brunette, awesome smile. Would like to see you again! When: Feb. 25. Where: Freebird Live. #1508-0304
VILANO PUBLIX; PULLED GROIN MUSCLE! Produce/dairy around 8 a.m. You live St. Augustine, injured groin surfing Puerto Rico. Left, came back; so flustered talking you forgot eggs. You: PT, work, fishing, watch fi ght. Me: to beach. Should’ve given my number! When: May 2. Where: Vilano Beach Publix. #1518-0506
Connection Made! GIRL WITH THE SCAR On face, eye to forehead. ISU at gay bar, long ago; wanted to know you. My heart skipped a beat. You were and still are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen; always cross my mind. When: April 2014. Where: The bar. #1507-0304
MR. MATRIX You: Dorky in a really sexy way. Me: Drew Barrymore look-alike. Stopped at your booth and heard you say you originally came up with the idea for “The Matrix.” You can give me your red or blue pill anytime, stud! When: April 10. Where: One Spark. #1517-0415
NICE TO MEET You: Tall, handsome, broken wrist. Me: Cute, athletic, long sandy hair. Helped me sign out paddleboard; said nice to meet. Maybe you caught my name; don’t know yours. Meet 11 a.m. Feb. 13 at the lake. When: Jan. 31. Where: UNF Lake Oneida. #1506-0211
JUICE BAR BABE You: Incredibly cute girl working juice bar. Braided blonde hair, nose ring. Your favorite is Pineapple Julius. Me: Suave, long-haired Adonis, right arm tattoo, sees you from afar, often there. Let’s meet, talk about more you like. When: April 3. Where: Baymeadows Native Sun. #1516-0408 ENDLESS LOVE You: Handsome, buff, bald man, best smile, driving ivory Cadillac. Me: Short, long hair, blue-eyed girl who works your conversions; my heart melts when I see you. Let’s meet so I can convert you over to a real woman! When: March 4. Where: Baymeadows business. #1515-0408 SMILE’S FOREVER, HOWEVER Bumped into me, Underbelly’s bar, Art Walk. Dark hair, brilliant smile. Taking hygienist work home with you? Talked about smiles, other thing. I’ll make other thing last. You left with friends; didn’t get number. Let’s make smiles! When: April 1. Where: Underbelly. #1514-0408 BEAUTIFUL SOCCER HOOLIGAN You: Blonde, glasses, ripped rolled-up jeans, yellow sweater, Armada scarf, temp cheek tattoo. Me: Dark hair, glasses, full sleeves. You behind me, half-time refreshment line. We smiled in section 141 top. Let’s sit side-by-side. When: March 28. Where: EverBank Field. #1513-0401 HAITIAN GENTLEMAN IN PINK Mr. I make airplanes crank for a living. Ms. Blonde alone on corner reading Folio Weekly ISU impatiently waiting; meanwhile collecting the worst pick-up lines. White boy was smooth; you, however, have my attention. When: March 28. Where: Outside De Real Ting. #1512-0401 BEST ASS I’VE SEEN You: Sweaty, dark hair, petite, beautiful Asian lifting heavy (humping weights? Never seen that workout), engrossed in weights and convos with gym regulars. Sorry, couldn’t stop staring. Let’s train together. Whatever you’re doing is working. When: March 16. Where: LA Fitness Atlantic Beach. #1511-0325
I SAW U
I SAW U Connection Made!
ASIAN GODDESS SNAP FITNESS Me: Purposefully stretching longer, safe creeping distance. You: Gleaming from sweat, holding handstand a respectable amount of time! Took off shoes, socks; caught me watching. Kept gaze. You smiled, continued poses. Left before drool commenced. When: Jan. 20. Where: Snap Fitness. #1505-0204
HOTTIE IN HAMMOCK You: Tall, leggy, brunette, great skin, rocking in hammock at pool. Me: Scotch-loving bald guy who still loves a Fierce Polish Viking. Hoping you’ll rock me tonight like your body rocks in that hammock. When: Jan. 28. Where: Beside the pool. #1504-0128 HOT COFFEE MAN You: tall, dark hair, with Starbucks. Me: tall, yellow shirt. ISU at Starbucks 20 minutes before; again in garage stairs. Held door for me, I smiled, thanked you. Remember me? When: Jan. 22. Baptist Medical Ctr. Garage. #1503-0128 BAYMEADOWS BUSINESS You: Bald white guy, sharp dresser, older white Saturn. Me: Slim white guy. Had my eye on you; said hi; you said Happy Holidays Christmas Eve. Let’s do lunch! When: Dec. 24. Where: Baymeadows mgmnt. co. #1502-0114
PHONE ACTRESSES FROM HOME Must have dedicated land line And great voice. 21+ Up to $18 per hour. Flex HRS./ most Wknds 1-800-403-7772 Lipservice.net (AAN CAN) (6/24/2015) ALL AREAS ROOMMATES.COM. Lonely? Bored? Broke? Find the perfect roommate to complement your personality and lifestyle at Roommates.com! (AAN CAN) (7/22/2015) START YOUR HUMANITARIAN CAREER at One World Center and gain experience through international service work in Africa. Program has costs. Info@OneWorldCenter.org (7/22/2015) MAKE $1000 WEEKLY!! Mailing Brochures From Home. Helping home workers since 2001. Genuine Opportunity. No Experience Required. Start Immediately. www. theworkingcorner.com (AAN CAN) (6/17/2015) AIRLINE CAREERS begin here – Get started by training as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 800-725-1563 (AAN CAN) (5/20/2015) FIELD REPRESENTATIVES National Promotional agency is seeking Field Representatives to conduct promotions within retail and/or nightlife establishments in Jacksonville and surrounding areas. This part time, (day and night time hours) position is ideal for attractive, outgoing men and women who are looking for an interesting, challenging position within the marketing and promotions field that will allow them to make good money and have fun. Position Requirements: - Must have reliable transportation - 20 – 25 hours of availability over 3 – 5 evenings per week. - Clean neat appearance and outgoing personality excellent verbal and people skills - Prior Face-to-Face Promotional Experience preferred - MUST be at least 21 years old with reliable transportation Bilingual in wwSpanish and English is a plus! (5-13-15) HIRING COMMISSION STYLISTS! Locks Myth Salon is expanding! We’re looking for FIVE commission based stylists to join our creative team! Our location and reputation as a leading Jacksonville Salon, offers an excellent opportunity for growth! Come on by with your resume, Tuesday-Friday for more details. 9734 Deer Lake Court, Suite 4 Jacksonville, 32246 (In the heart of Tinseltown on Southside Blvd.) (6-3-15)
www.cash4car.com (AAN CAN) (6/17/2015)
ADOPTION
PREGNANT? THINKING OF ADOPTION? Talk with caring agency specializing in matching Birthmothers with Families Nationwide. LIVING EXPENSES PAID. Call 24/7 Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions. 866-413-6293. Void in Illinois/New Mexico/ Indiana (AAN CAN) (5/20/2015)
FOR SALE
DISH TV Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 mos.) SAVE! Regular Price $34.99 Call Today and Ask About FREE SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 888-992-1957 (AAN CAN) (5/28/2015)
HOUSING WANTED
ALL AREAS - ROOMMATES.COM. Lonely? Bored? Broke? Find the perfect roommate to complement your personality and lifestyle at Roommates.com! (7-22-15)
NOTICES
AUTO INSURANCE STARTING AT $25/ MONTH! Call 855-977-9537 (5.6.13) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Fresh Start Ministries of Jacksonville at 6926 Playpark Trail in the County of Duval in the City of Jacksonville, Florida 32244 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida Dated at Jacksonville, Florida, this 30th day of April 2015. Owner: Anthony Sims.
EDUCATION
AIRBRUSH MAKEUP ARTIST COURSE for Ads . TV . Film . Fashion. HD & Digital 40% OFF TUITION For Limited Time Train & Build Portfolio . One Week Course. Details at: AwardMakeupSchool.com 818-980-2119 (AAN CAN) (5.13.15)
VEHICLES WANTED
CASH FOR CARS: Any Car/Truck. Running or Not! Top Dollar Paid. We Come To You! Call For Instant Offer: 1-888-420-3808
FILL ’ER UP You: Tall, handsome, blue shirt “Refill.” Me: Sexy, orange dress. Looking for headphones; made small talk. Wanted number; you tired from work. Let’s make beautiful music, Mr. Refill. When: Dec. 30. Where: Best Buy. #1501-0107 LOVER @ WALMART? Sunday, 10:45 a.m., S’s register. You: Tan jacket, glasses, nice-looking man, holiday spirit. Me: Blue jeans, jeans jacket, behind you. Should’ve talked more. I looked for you later. When: Dec. 21. Where: Normandy Walmart. #1500-0107
0% IRISH, 100% DRUNK You: Orange sack pack and white sleeveless shirt. Me: White collared shirt and green tie. Didn’t expect to have a dance partner. Will you shake it off with me again? When: March 17. Where: Brix Taphouse. #1510-0325
8-8-14; MEANING OF TIME? Easy answer. Time means nothing, absolutely nothing outside context of you. Hours seem like hours, days like days. Dice don’t match. Cards on my heart’s table come up different. Don’t fret; UNIverse loves us; it’s MASTER of time. When: Aug. 8. Where: Pagan Idol. #1436-1224
LITTLE DRUMMER BOY You: Black, bald, beautiful. Me: Hungry and watching. I was behind you in line while you pretended to play drums like Lars Ulrich. Can I play with your drumstick? When: March 6. Where: Taco Bell @ Hodges. #1509-0311
TELL[ER] ME ABOUT YOU You: Nice, redhead, long braid bank teller, remembered papa’s last name. Me: Young, blonde-bearded, with whitebearded retired officer. Let’s officially meet! When: Dec. 19 FOP Xmas Party. Where: Lodge #530. #1435-1224
MAY 13-19, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 55