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MAY 18-24, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 3
THIS WEEK // 5.18-5.24.16 // VOL. 29 ISSUE 7 COVER STORY C
URBAN
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DAWN
On the eve of her departure, DAWN EMERICK opens up about the battle for SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE in Northeast Florida story by JULIE
DELEGAL HO
photos by DENNIS
FEATURED F EATURED ARTICLES
A NEW REALITY
[8]
BY AG GANCARSKI Why the PENSION TAX must pass
WOMAN AND MACHINE [10]
CRACKIN’ WISE
BY HOLLY BOND Don Bradley’s legacy goes RIDING INTO HISTORY
BY DANIEL A. BROWN Jamie Kennedy drops some knowledge on standup, branching out, and transforming his SIGNATURE SNARK toward midcareer TV drama
COLUMNS + CALENDARS FROM THE EDITOR OUR PICKS MAIL/B&B FIGHTIN’ WORDS CITIMAMA / NEWS ARTS
5 6 8 8 10 19
FILM/MAGIC LANTERNS 22 MUSIC 24 LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR 27 DINING DIRECTORY 30 BITE-SIZED 31 PINT-SIZED 32
CHEFFED-UP PETS CWORD / ASTRO WEIRD / I SAW U CLASSIFIEDS BACKPAGE
DISTRIBUTION
Bobby Pendexter / cosmicdistributions@gmail.com PUBLISHER • Sam Taylor staylor@folioweekly.com / 904.860.2465
EDITORIAL
EDITOR • Claire Goforth claire@folioweekly.com / ext. #115 SENIOR EDITOR • Marlene Dryden mdryden@folioweekly.com / #ext. 131 A&E EDITOR • Daniel A. Brown dbrown@folioweekly.com / ext. #128 CARTOONIST • Tom Tomorrow CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rob Brezsny, John E. Citrone, Josue Cruz, Julie Delegal, Susan Cooper Eastman, Marvin Edwards, AG Gancarski, Dan Hudak, Shelton Hull, MaryAnn Johanson, Mary Maguire, Keith Marks, Pat McLeod, Nick McGregor, Greg Parlier, Kara Pound, Dale Ratermann, Matthew B. Shaw, Chuck Shepherd, Brentley Stead, Chef Bill Thompson, Marc Wisdom VIDEOGRAPHERS • Doug Lewis, Ron Perry, Carl Rosen
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4 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 18-24, 2016
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FROM THE EDITOR
GIVING UP WITHOUT A
FIGHT THE LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS utterly dysfunctional. There’s no other plausible reason why the party hasn’t put forth a candidate for either the state attorney’s or public defender’s office. This year, five Republicans are running — three for state attorney, two for public defender — yet the Democrats haven’t managed to shuffle out a single candidate for those offices in eight years (and those were incumbents). It can’t be true that, of the thousands of attorneys who live in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, not a single one is a) a Democrat, b) marginally qualified and c) willing to run; nor can it be true that it would be an exercise in futility for a Democrat to run for either office, particularly considering the FrankenTrump monster scaring Republicans away from the ballot box on the daily and the fact that minorities, those most affected by the injustice in our justice system, are particularly engaged in the outcomes of these elections and more likely to vote for Democrats. What can and must be true is that local Democratic leadership is lazy, ineffective or fraught with infighting — hell, maybe all three. It’s easy to blame the candidates themselves — either the write-ins or those who “encouraged” those individuals to file — for closing the August primary and effectively banning anyone who isn’t a registered Republican from voting in the race for state attorney and public defender. But shouldn’t voters also blame Democrats for failing to dig up one single power-hungry attorney to run against the Republicans? Heck, they probably wouldn’t have to dig at all, just swing a dead rat somewhere near one of the three courthouses in the circuit. Sure, it’s not entirely local Democratic leadership’s fault; after all, Florida is one of many states in which both parties have carved out a whole bunch of nice, safe districts with a battleground or two for good measure, protecting their candidates from making concession speeches on Election Day and, in the process, pissing all over our democracy. They’re playing the same game, but Republicans are a helluva lot better at it. While Republicans have long been able to maintain hyper-focus on a handful of issues — taxes, guns and national security — Democrats, especially local ones, are as splintered on issues as party membership is diverse. Look at the tug-of-war between black and white Democrats
There’s NO REASON WHY a Democrat couldn’t run for state attorney and public defender for proof; it’s hard not to notice that no white Democrat has hustled to support Corrine Brown. While chastened Republicans like Paul Ryan are swallowing the bile in their throats to squeeze out a couple of grunts supporting FrankenTrump, white Democrats can’t even muster a single “innocent until proven guilty” comment for Corrine. It’s no wonder we’ve had 20-and-counting years of Republicans handily maintaining control of the state legislature in spite of the fact that there are close to 300,000 more registered Dems in Florida. For the same reasons, Jacksonville, a city with more than 20,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, is represented by a city council comprising 12 Republicans and seven Democrats. This still doesn’t excuse Democrats from rustling up an honest (enough), experienced (enough), ethical (enough), electable candidate to run for state attorney and/or public defender and go toe-to-toe against the winner of the August Republican primary. There might be 40,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats in the circuit, but it’s not like besties-turned-worsties Angela Corey and Matt Shirk are slam-dunk candidates; rather, both are limping on the ballot, dragging big, nasty ankle weights made of the scandals and questionable ethics that have plagued their terms in office, treasure troves of goodies from which their opposition — even a Democrat — could mine for campaign materials. Unwilling to trust Republicans to choose the state attorney and public defender on behalf of all voters, right now scores of Democrats in Northeast Florida are doing something they thought they would never, ever do: registering Republican. They’re doing it so they have a say in who will occupy two offices of great public importance. Who could blame them? (Never mind that if any one of those people decides to run for office, they’ll have to explain why they’ve flipflopped party affiliations, Ed Austin/Charlie Crist/Hillary Clinton-style.) What these people also should be doing is contacting the local, state and national Democratic Party to ask why it’s handed the offices of State Attorney and Public Defender in the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida over to the opposition without so much as the pretense of a fight. Claire Goforth claire@folioweekly.com MAY 18-24, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 5
EPIC OPUS BEETHOVEN’S SYMPHONY NO. 9
After the failure of his Symphony 8-and-a-Half: I Hate This Damn Piano!, Ludwig van Beethoven knocked one out of the park with his iconic work, Symphony No. 9. A mesmerizing blend of the ruminative and rhapsodic, culminating in the fourth movement’s “Ode to Joy,” the “Ninth” is among the most loved and recognizable pieces of classical music, influencing subsequent composers including Bruckner and Bartók, while also playing a large part in musically fueling the dystopian freakout that is Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film, A Clockwork Orange. Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra performs Symphony No. 9, 8 p.m. Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21; 3 p.m. Sunday, May 22, Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Jacoby Symphony Hall, Downtown, $25-$74, jaxsymphony.org.
OUR PICKS
FRI
20
REASONS TO LEAVE THE HOUSE THIS WEEK
GETCHA MOTOR RUNNIN’ RIDING INTO HISTORY Gear it up! The
17th annual Riding into History is a motorcycle-geared festival featuring the Motorcycle Concours d’Elegance, which includes more than 300 vintage and classic motorcycles, a Grand Marshal’s Historic Lunch Ride, exhibitors, vendors, and live entertainment. Proceeds benefit K9s For Warriors programs that provide service canines to military members suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury as a result of post-9/11 military conflicts. Saturday, May 21, World Golf Village, St. Augustine; schedule and registration info at ridingintohistory.org.
PONY UP FOALS UK indie-rockers Foals are enjoying the alwaysnice (and always-fleeting) band du jour status these days. Some of that hype is warranted, as this Oxfordborn five-piece are quite savvy at delivering moody, math-rock style tunes that combine synth-heavy sonics and thoughtful lyrics – and are danceable ta boot! 8 p.m. Friday, May 20; openers The Dog Apollo, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, $24 advance; $27 day of (SRO), pvconcerthall.com.
SAT
21 FRI
20
SAT
21
ST. PATTIES’ DAY THE GREAT AMERICAN BURGERFEST Maybe you
should wait another week before you start that strict leek-and-prune diet. The Great American Burgerfest has hot burgers, cold beer, live music, 50 arts & crafts vendors, voting for the best burger (including celebrity judges on Sunday), and a kids’ zone. Proceeds benefit Great American Foundation, a nonprofit with programs for veterans and active military, supplies for schools and awards to honor teachers. 4-9 p.m. Friday, May 20; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, May 21; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, May 22, St. Francis Field, St. Augustine, $5 admission (does not include food items); greatamericanburgerfest.com.
FRI
20
BEACHES BACCHANAL DANCIN’ IN THE STREET Slap on that sunscreen! The 30th annual Dancin’ in the Street returns with foods galore, arts and gift vendors, consumer awareness campaigns, live music by The Mosquitos, Mojo Roux, Gov Club (pictured), Cloud 9, Boogie Freaks, Austin Park, Lucky Stiff, BayStreet, Mike Shackelford Band, Hopson Road, The E Show, Kim Reteguiz & Black Cat Bones, The Party Central, Bad Habits, Smokestack, and Parker Urban Band, and a kids’ zone (putt putt golf, Ferris wheel, bungee run, obstacle challenge course, slide, moonwalk, face-painting, and crazy hair station; prices vary) 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at Beaches Town Center, where Atlantic Boulevard meets the ocean, beachestowncenter.com.
6 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 18-24, 2016
MAY 18-24, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 7
THE MAIL
FOLIO VOICES : FIGHTIN’ WORDS
UNDOCUMENTED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
RE: “Two Thousand Feet of Perspective,” by Claire Goforth, April 27 MOST LIBERALS TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL degradation and usually blame developers, utilities, Koch brothers, Trump, Florida governor Scott and most large industries that use copious amounts of natural resources. This gets them lots of love from the media and all the environmental groups as well as celebrities and politicians. I have written letters and discussed with various liberals the impact of uncontrolled and illegal immigration
address open borders, which is what we have. Whenever tough enforcement is mentioned, the liberal community goes nuts. Just mention denying refugees entrance and you will be branded a racist or worse. I have read that the billionaires have paid off the environmental groups and liberal leadership wants them because they will vote Democratic. A projection came out that [stated] if current trends continue, our population will be a billion people by 2150. I will not be alive then, but can you imagine what a polluted and crowded America it will be? Terry Mobley via email
CONFLATION STATION
into the country in the past as well as moving forward. Never will a liberal tie immigration and the impact of adding more than 100 million people to our population which has occurred over the last 25 years to environmental damage, loss of wetlands, suburban sprawl and loss of open spaces. It’s common sense to realize that, without demand, there would not be as much development which would impact so many of the environmental issues we are having. Recently, the Florida Times-Union reported on the Deseret Ranch sold to investors who will build another city the size of Manhattan in a pristine area of Florida and near the headwaters of the St. Johns River. The article mentioned that it would house many immigrants attracted to Orlando. The same newspaper that supports the [St. Johns] Riverkeeper and liberal columnist[s] who are always writing nasty articles about developers and Republicans who support the projects – and yet not one mention of the environmental impact this will have. Can you imagine Interstate 95 after this is built? I cannot take anyone who writes about environmental issues seriously if they will not
RE: “Money, Power, Respect,” by AG Gancarski, April 20 AG GANCARSKI’S RECENT COLUMN PRAISING former members of Congress from the Jacksonville area conflates style with substance. Representatives Charles Bennett, Tillie Fowler and Ander Crenshaw proffered personal probity, but their records are what matter. Bennett, a genuine WWII hero, was a firm supporter of U.S. military engagement in Southeast Asia. Crenshaw, who missed military service during the Vietnam era, voted to invade and occupy Iraq. Fowler was an integral element of the military-industrial complex, which [General, then President Dwight D.] Eisenhower warned against, during and after her terms in Congress. Bennett’s and Crenshaw’s fundamentalist religious views colored their political actions, especially concerning a woman’s right to control her own body. Fowler arguably was better on the issue of women’s rights, but she turned a blind eye to sexual harassment and assaults at the Air Force Academy while she served on its board. Corrine Brown’s venality contrasts with the probity projected by the aforementioned, but she will be remembered above all for voting against the invasion and occupation of Iraq. The records of Bennett, Fowler and Crenshaw will forever be tinctured by the lives and treasure they caused to be lost in a vain pursuit of American Exceptionalism, and all the probity in the world won’t retrieve those losses. Michael Hoffmann via email
LEND YOUR VOICE If you’d like to respond to something you read in the pages of Folio Weekly Magazine, please send an email (with your name, address, and phone number for verification purposes only) to mail@folioweekly.com, visit us at folioweekly.com, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook (@folioweekly) and join the conversation.
BRICKBATS + BOUQUETS BOUQUET TO ANNA DOOLEY In recognition of her commitment to treeplanting and environmental conservation, on April 30, the Arbor Day Foundation gave Dooley, executive director of nonprofit Greenscape of Jacksonville, the Lawrence Enerson Award for her unwavering commitment to environmental issues on the local level. At her initiative, thousands of trees have been planted in Northeast Florida, creating vital habitat for wildlife and shade for us sweaty small folk. BRICKBATS TO ALEXANDER PANTINAKIS In the spirit of disenfranchising voters, Pantinakis, Angela Corey’s campaign manager, helped MEN ONLY Family Law attorney Kenny Leigh file as a write-in candidate in the State Attorney election, closing the August primary to Democrats and Independents. Leigh may be hyper-focused on men’s rights, but he doesn’t seem to give a flip about the rights of minorities and the dreaded liberals. BOUQUET TO SLEIMAN ENTERPRISES Crippled by debts of $10-millionplus, Faithbridge Church was teetering on the cliff of financial ruin. Real estate developer Toney Sleiman was initially looking into the possibility of buying the church property on McCormick Road, but instead decided to put parishioners over profits and save Faithbridge with a $500,000 donation and help restructuring its debt. DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DESERVES A BOUQUET? HOW ABOUT A BRICKBAT? Send submissions to mail@folioweekly.com; 50 word maximum, concerning a person, place, or topic of local interest. 8 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 18-24, 2016
A NEW
REALITY IS THE PENSION TAX IN TROUBLE? At a meeting of Jacksonville City Council last week, pastors from the Northside compared the water from the area off Soutel Drive on U.S. 1 to the water in Flint, Michigan. They talked about buying into the okey-doke by everyone from Hans Tanzler to Alvin Brown. They claimed the mayor told them something like, “If you don’t support this referendum, you can expect jack from us.” Those pastors were fired up and ready to go. They compared the referendum to the PATRIOT Act, saying they were two measures being rubberstamped by a pliant legislative branch. It was a 19-0 vote in favor of the tax. But with asterisks denoting conditional support among some of the 19. Example: Reggie Brown fronted like there was some grand conspiracy to hold the referendum in August before the final ratification of the budget and adoption of the Capital Improvement Plan. Another example: Bill Gulliford told The Beaches Leader last week that the pension tax was “the best of the bad solutions,” which isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. Other pols, like Tommy Hazouri, have reached out to the mayor’s office to coordinate talking points, in part because they’re not sure what the current sales pitch is. The Florida Times-Union also has questions, which is big, because its reporters and editorial page translate the esoterica of City Hall into coffee-break talk. To sell this, the T-U will have to be on board. It’s not a monolith yet. Much can go wrong with the sales pitch over the next three months. But much already has gone wrong in the last decade and a half, which is why Jacksonville is choking on legacy costs. The pension tax is the Heimlich. It might not save us. But it’s all we’ve got. The pension tax, to be clear, represents 1/200 of people’s spending money at most, and is just the extended remix of the Better Jacksonville Plan tax. And the plan, to amortize the unfunded liability of the closed plans and then pay it off with tax intake, is predicated on an assumption that no one holding an elected office can articulate. The assumption is that as people on the pension plans die out, revenue increases, and that’s how the thing gets paid off around 2056. The money works out, because the revenue increases and the obligation decreases over time. And by obligation, I mean people drawing pensions, aka The Liability. There are some folks in Jacksonville who assume people on pensions live forever. To the benefit of budgets, they don’t. There are actuarial tables that project when fire, police, and
Why the PENSION TAX must pass
correctional workers die, based on a number of variables. Don’t think for a second these haven’t been considered on the policy side. The reality of all of this is too dark to be sold in the kind of mailers and happy ads the voters respond to every election cycle. Politicians aren’t going to talk actuarial tables at the fish fry. Another point of reality is that the pension tax and amortization is another bucket to bail out the sinking ship of this city’s municipal finances. Look around you; many neighborhoods look like war zones. Look at the 1950s infrastructure. Look at the sad roads, pavement cracked like a meth head’s teeth. None of that can be fixed, even in the long run, if the pension balloon isn’t deflated with a slow leak. A slow abatement, rather than another 11 years of austerity, is exactly what the amortization will allow. It sucks to pay off the unfunded liability on a 44-year mortgage, but here we are. And we got here our way: with half-assed planning and no oversight. Our public pension plans had no negotiated change in terms, even through two straight recessions and a war pushed America from the 20th century into the Third World. Because everyone lacked political courage. We also kept cutting taxes. And, perhaps coincidentally, we have a $2.7 billion pension liability choking us like a tumor in the windpipe. Absent a millage hike, which anyone currently on Council can push for if they desire, the one way to immediately defray the burden is to amortize the unfunded pension liability and pay it off through a regressive tax from 2030-ish until most people reading this are dead. A few years ago, on many an RV or Cadillac, you’d see a vanity license plate that read, “We’re Spending Our Children’s Inheritance.” In public policy, that was proved true. The pension tax extension and borrowing money that the unborn will pay off is our final monument to the 20th century. There will never be benefits like that again. The real truth is that all of our labor is worth less. Our money is worth less. We are worth less. Our country, aside from multinational corporations, has lost an economic war, via NAFTA, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Quantitative Easing, Too Big to Fail, and other corrective measures that the pundit class and the plutocrats rubberstamped at the expense of the blue-collar middle class. And now here we are, paying in the present and the future, because the local and national bets of the past 25 years didn’t pay off. AG Gancarski mail@folioweekly.com twitter/AGGancarski
MAY 18-24, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 9
FOLIO VOICES : CITIZEN MAMA
EASTSIDE
FOLIO COMMUNITY : NEWS
IS OPEN FOR
BUSINESS
Eastside activist Ariane Randolph with husband Jakumi and daughter Zaziwe
Residents lead REVITALIZATION efforts Albert Street for the press conference, that GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE HIT PAY DIRT she was “busting out at the seams” with when it connected with Ariane Randolph. excitement about plans for JPM. The local organization is spearheading a For Randolph, revitalizing Jacksonville’s community-wide effort to reinvigorate Eastside neighborhood is a family affair. economic activity in the city’s old Eastside The Eastside has been home to Randolph’s neighborhood, where fresh food is scarce and family for at least six decades. Her mother, full-service grocery stores are nonexistent. Deborah Standley, has And Randolph’s mobile lived there all her life. grocery service, the JACKSONVILLE PUBLIC MARKET Randolph’s grandmother Urban Apple Natural has vendor spaces available in its and Standley’s mother, Market, is one of eight villages: Children’s Entrepreneur, Alberta C. Johnson, died the first of several Farmer, Artisan Food, Food Court, Meat & in 1984, but not before businesses to sign on to Seafood, Arts, Vintage & Grocery. Space she passed along family the Jacksonville Public fees are $10-$25 for general vendors; traditions of growing Market (JPM). $50-$125 for food trucks and cookfresh food and cooking it “Access to healthier to-order food vendors. The market will at home. food and access to health be open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. the Saturday She spent much of care go hand-in-hand,” before Jaguars home games: Sept. 10 her childhood at her Randolph says. “One & 24, Oct. 22, Nov. 12, and Dec. 3 & 10. grandmother’s Eastside little change can make A special nighttime market is held 6-10 residence, she told the difference.” p.m. Friday, Dec. 23. Vendor applications Folio Weekly Magazine. The Jacksonville at jacksonvillepublicmarket.com/vendorRandolph and her Public Market is registration or email Market Manager Kurt husband now live in part of Groundwork D’Aurizio at jaxpublicmarket@gmail.com. her grandmother’s Jacksonville’s 10-year house, which they are vision to re-create the renovating; they plan to raise a family there. city’s “Emerald Necklace,” by reconnecting “We cook there now,” Randolph told FWM. Jacksonville’s neglected urban neighborhoods. While the Randolphs’ decision to settle Groundwork program manager Alyssa in Eastside is partially a matter of “coming Bourgoyne says that the Jacksonville Public home,” it’s much, much more. Market still has some vendor spaces available All too often, neglected urban — for crafts and children’s activities, for food neighborhoods are ignored and left to and other items for sale, and “for anything that’s crumble, or they become gentrified, which creative.” The organization welcomes vendors involves outside developers coming in to a and supporters from all corners of Jacksonville, neighborhood, building attractive housing, leaders said at an April 22 press conference. and drawing expensive businesses to the The Eastside-based venture will bring fresh area. As rents and land values increase and food, family programs, live entertainment, properties are bought up, longtime residents master gardener presentations, and other in newly gentrified neighborhoods find activities to residents, the greater Jacksonville themselves priced out of their homes. community, and out-of-town tourists in The Groundwork Jacksonville vision for tandem with Jaguars home games. An open-air, Eastside and JPM, however, is the opposite outdoor marketplace, the Jacksonville Public Market will be located at the corner of A. Philip of gentrification. Randolph Boulevard and Albert Street. “[It] allows residents to frame the initiative,” While the neighborhood sits just a few Janet Owens said at the press conference. blocks away from the bustling commerce of Owens, executive director of Local EverBank Field, it is recognized as a “food Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), credited desert.” The nearest full-service grocery stores Groundwork Jacksonville and several partners are miles away, leaving residents with limited for working with the residents of Eastside on the access to fresh, whole foods. vision and on the market, including Operation Enter Ariane Randolph, owner and creator New Hope, Eastside Community Coalition, of the Urban Apple Natural Market, a mobile, National Groundwork Trust in Washington, D.C., grant writer Dave Roman and Wells Fargo, handicapped-accessible grocery service that which has contributed $30,000 toward JPM so will bring fresh fruits and vegetables to JPM. far. EverBank has also donated to the vision. In addition to purchasing the truck that Randolph believes that the Jacksonville will house the Urban Apple Natural Market, Public Market will be a springboard for more Randolph looks forward to partnering with economic activity in her neighborhood. members of the community to grow fresh food. “We’re raising our kids to be job creators,” “We’re growing food ourselves, teaching Randolph says. “They’re not going to get it others to grow fresh food,” she says. unless they see Mama do it.” Sporting her Urban Apple T-shirt, Julie Delegal Randolph told a crowd of 50 people, gathered mail@folioweekly.com at the corner of Randolph Boulevard and 10 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 18-24, 2016
WOMAN AND
MACHINE
Don Bradley’s 2004 poster
Don Bradley’s legacy goes RIDING INTO HISTORY
otherworldly woman astride, sailing above RIDING INTO HISTORY (RIH), AN ANTIQUE treetops illuminated by the full moon. motorcycle show held at World Golf Village Viewing this image, one has a sense of each spring, marks its 17th year on May 21. intrigue and mystery. At the same time, it The brainchild of founder Billy Aldrich, RIH got its start in 2000 with a group of friends showcases Bradley’s attention to detail when involved in the Atlantic Beach Vintage creating a perfect union of the machine and Motorcycle Club and the BMW of NE Florida the surrealistic beauty of the woman rider. Motorcycle Club for two reasons: to celebrate When Bradley volunteered the use of the their love of vintage motorcycles and to Black Lightning design, Robinson assumed support a good cause. it was a one-time deal. When both attended Aldrich’s wife Jackie’s battle with the 2004 Biker’s Ball at RIH, however, Bradley breast cancer was the inspiration for the approached Robinson to ask a favor. Robinson organization to initially support increasing replied that after the huge success of the poster, awareness of the disease. Bradley was entitled to whatever he wanted. In 2014, it transitioned to supporting The favor? Allow Bradley to provide RIH K9s For Warriors, a Northeast Florida-based with original paintings for the event posters charity that trains and provides service dogs as long as they would have him. Bradley to veterans with physical handicaps and other and his wife Sally had fallen in love with the conditions, such as postannual charity event and its traumatic stress disability. By volunteers and wanted to be RIDING INTO HISTORY staying true to its volunteeran ongoing part of it. “After May 21, World Golf only roots, to date RIH nearly fainting, I quickly Village, St. Augustine, has contributed more than conveyed my approval and ridingintohistory.org. $400,000 to local charities. gratitude,” Robinson said. More info on Don In 2003, when RIH was Bradley produced Bradley’s life and art at artofdonbradley.com. in its infancy, an encounter subsequent art specifically during Daytona’s Bike Week for RIH, each year selecting catapulted the Riding Into a featured bike to align History event into national prominence: That with the show’s theme. The artwork always year’s chairman and event organizer, William included a motorcycle and a woman. Bradley “Bill” Robinson, noticed a T-shirt emblazoned drew on his years as a technical illustrator to with the work of artist and vintage motorcycle produce precise, accurate renditions of the enthusiast Don Bradley. motorcycles; he would allow his imagination Robinson said that he thought Bradley’s to soar to create the exquisite women who T-shirt was the most beautiful and compelling rode astride these masterpieces. motorcycle art he had ever seen. He bought In the 2016 Don Bradley Tribute Calendar, the Vincent Black Lightning shirt; by the time Bradley is quoted as saying: he got home, he knew it would be perfect for The art is just an expression of my strange the British bike theme they’d chosen for the imagination, which I have played with most upcoming RIH. “I just couldn’t take my eyes of my life. I am fascinated by females and off the exquisite design and I knew it would antique motorcycles. The drawings are a way have the same effect on those viewing the of creating and combining the two in a fun poster. A perfect match.” fantasy world. I find that doing a painting, Robinson contacted Bradley to pitch the although two-dimensional, is mentally similar idea. Not knowing much about RIH, Bradley to restoring or taking a long journey on an old was tentative but ultimately agreed. bike, just in a different media. The 2004 poster used an existing On the Art of Don Bradley website piece of artwork featuring Bradley’s 1952 (artofdonbradley.com), American Vincent Black Shadow with a scantily clad, Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Motorcycle
Museum Hall of Famer Ed Youngblood reveals that Bradley spent approximately six months creating each piece. Beginning with painstaking research of each motorcycle chosen for that year’s theme, he would pore over manuals, view old photographs, and ask questions of restorers and owners of these magnificent machines, all for the sake of accuracy and attention to detail. In contrast, the women he depicted were fantastically surreal and frequently topless, though he would obligingly “cover” their breasts with a banner, a scarf or some other object to make them more acceptable for viewing by the general public. The inspiration for these visions came from film, mythological goddesses and Bradley’s fervent imagination. Sadly, Bradley died in March 2015 at the age of 75, with the 2016 poster incomplete. Of his friend’s passing, Robinson said, “Don, our wives and I became close friends over the years … He was a gentleman and professional until the end, both starting a new poster painting he knew he would never complete, and by signing the posters for the current year.” Even though his last piece was unfinished, Robinson wanted to honor Bradley’s legacy by using it. In a touching display, Bradley’s daughter, Roni Bradley Naas, also an artist, offered to complete it. The resulting collaboration is beautifully symbolic of a father’s and daughter’s mutual loves for art and motorcycles. “At first, I hadn’t thought about finishing it, but after he passed, it was a way to hold on to him, a way to keep him close,” Naas said. Naas immediately began mulling over selecting a title that she thought her father would have chosen. “‘After the Sunset’ kept coming into my head, mainly because this piece would be finished after Daddy’s sunset, after his passing. My daddy loved to challenge me and simply just finishing the art wouldn’t have satisfied him,” she said. Naas had many questions as she began work on bringing her father’s final work to its intended outcome. With help from his friends, she was able to identify the bike as a late ’50s model Ducati 125 Formula III, a factory racer. This gave rise to another question: Why build a racer with headlight and taillight assemblies? Through research, Naas determined that at that time in Europe, especially in Italy, many races ran on public roads and would often run into the night, or even begin at night. This information confirmed for Naas that she had chosen the perfect title for the piece. The inspiration for its rider would be known only to Bradley himself. Since its 2000 inception, RIH has become one of America’s prominent motorcycle events. Aldrich credits the folks at the World Golf Village for taking them on, the devoted RIH committee members and Don Bradley’s phenomenal artistic skills that put a “face” on the event and, of course, the spectators and fans of vintage motorcycles, exhibitors, collectors, constructors and all those wonderful machines. This year’s event will be bittersweet for all who knew and loved Don Bradley. Since becoming involved with RIH, he and Sally had become two of its largest supporters and promoters. Every year, he would display his own bikes and work tirelessly to promote the event in his travels and circles. It could be said that Don Bradley has gone Riding Into History, but through his art and memories of him, his legacy remains. “RIH and motorcycling will not be the same for me now that Don has gone, but I wouldn’t have missed his talent, generosity and friendship for the world,” Robinson said. Holly Bond mail@folioweekly.com MAY 18-24, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 11
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Urban
DAWN As she prepares to leave NE Florida, DAWN EMERICK shares insights about some of our community’s most pressing injustices. STORY BY JULIE DELEGAL PHOTOS BY DENNIS HO
Keith Marks
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ocal healthcare guru and Groundwork Jacksonville CEO Dawn Emerick has been lured away to the Pacific Northwest. Emerick will be the next health department director for Clackamas County, a suburb of Portland and part of the PortlandVancouver-Hillsboro metropolitan area. “Oregon as a state is the pacesetter for healthcare policy,” Emerick says, sitting on the front porch steps of her Springfield home. A chance to be on the cutting edge in public health makes the West Coast position an offer she can’t refuse. Prior to leading Groundwork Jacksonville, and prior to her private consulting career, Emerick served six years as president and CEO of the Northeast Florida Health Planning Council. To Emerick, 48, Groundwork was a natural extension of her strong belief that people’s health must be a primary consideration in all policy-making decisions: Health in all policies. But fighting for people and places that otherwise get overlooked is more than just what Emerick does for a living. It’s who she is. Born to an unwed teen mother, raised by her grandparents in a poor neighborhood, then kicked out of her home at the age of 17, Emerick is no stranger to hardship. She’s fought hard to make her way, and remembers what it feels like to be judged, to be put down by others. As a result, Emerick has no patience for prejudice of any kind. Her next step — leaving a state that refuses to expand Medicaid for working citizens — is a nobrainer for her. CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>>
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“Investors hear we’re not interested in GENTRIFICATION, then they think we don’t want economic development. We LOVE economic development.” — DAWN EMERICK
UrbanDAWN <<< FROM PREVIOUS “I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful, for the next phase of my career, to work for a state that is actually setting the pace and leads healthcare in our country?’”
BREAKING NEW GROUND IN JACKSONVILLE
Wednesday, May 25 will be the last day of Emerick’s Groundwork gig, which focuses on local environmental health and equitable economic development. Groundwork leaders hope Groundwork will also hail a transformational new beginning of Jacksonville’s urban renewal efforts. Chairman of Groundwork Jacksonville’s board of directors, James Richardson, says he believes the city is ready to get serious about environmental justice and urban revitalization. “We have for the first time an entity in place that is willing to work with the community, and involve the community in what’s to be done, and actually complete the projects,” Richardson says. Richardson says that Groundwork’s partnership with the EPA not only gives the local organization instant credibility; it enables Jacksonville to leverage private and federal monies that the city has been leaving on the table for decades. Jacksonville can also look to other metro areas as models for success, like Groundwork Hudson Valley, in Yonkers, New York. “I’ve been a resident of this city all of my life,” Richardson says. “I’ve heard people talk about plans — but there’s not been an entity to get it done.” He contends that Groundwork Jacksonville, chartered in 2013 by the national umbrella Groundwork USA, is that entity. And says its first leader, Emerick, has accomplished her mission. “We were very fortunate to have landed Dawn as our first CEO,” Richardson says. “She brought a wealth of what we needed … in
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order to build the infrastructure of a brandnew nonprofit — starting from nothing.”
THE VISION
Groundwork Jacksonville has developed a 10year vision for connecting the city’s neglected, urban neighborhoods through its green spaces. The organization refers to the revitalization project as “Jacksonville’s Emerald Necklace.” One foundation for the Emerald Necklace is the paved rails-to-trails bike path, also known as the S-line. The path runs from Myrtle Avenue, up along Durkeeville and Brentwood, then cuts eastward behind UF Health Jacksonville Hospital in Springfield before heading south again, along the Hogans Creek greenway, toward the shipyards where the creek meets the St. Johns River. The future vision for the S-line includes a northward extension to touch the Gateway Town Center area and the North Shore neighborhood. “It’s not a loop yet,” Emerick says, explaining that the S-line connector is about 65 percent completed. “Here’s our only urban trail — it’s a natural asset that’s been in our community for 10 years and no one knows about it. Why is that?” she asks. Then she answers her own question. “These communities have been excluded from the conversation.” So Emerick started a new conversation about urban development. Last year, 60 residents conferred with landscape architects on a design plan for the S-line, which deliberately includes destination nodes — the Emerald Necklace’s “jewels.” The community-driven design recently resulted in recognition by the AIA Jacksonville, the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects. In April, the group gave Emerick a Community Service Award for turning Groundwork’s vision into a readyto-implement plan. Emerick also led the collaboration with ETM Inc., the civil engineering firm developing the Shipyards, to include the historic Eastside neighborhood in the Necklace’s design.
“We sat down with ETM and reviewed the Shipyard master plan and wholeheartedly believed that we needed to move the Emerald Necklace boundaries to complement all the activity at the shipyards,” she said. The Jacksonville Public Market planned for A. Philip Randolph Boulevard is designed to do just that. JPM, situated near EverBank Field, opens in September, occurring in conjunction with Jaguars’ regular season home games. (See page 10 in this issue.) Revitalizing urban destination points along the S-line will not only attract more residents from within and outside of the neighborhoods to enjoy the outdoors, Emerick says, it will spur economic development. And Groundwork is already engaging neighborhood residents to create and sustain clean, healthy environments, and it’s pulling in participation from young people throughout the area.
EMERICK SETS THE STAGE
“Dawn has good visioning skills,” Richardson says. “She did exactly what we needed a firsttime CEO to do. “We’ve enjoyed and tremendously benefited from Dawn and are sad to see her go,” he continues, adding that Groundwork is poised to keep moving forward after Emerick leaves. “She’s done a lot, and fortunately she’s done it with volunteers on the ground who will stay in place and who’ll keep these efforts going.” Emerick, whose tenure as Groundwork CEO began in February 2015, says she went into the job knowing she’d have to accomplish a lot in a short period of time. “This is what I do, I build things,” Emerick says. “I knew I could get it up to the level to make it more attractive to a higher-level CEO. “It was always a short-term commitment. It was a Bloomingdale mission with a Walmart budget. You get one shot to launch it.” Emerick and Richardson agree that the next CEO will need to continue to engage people on all levels — from neighborhood volunteers to big-money donors. The goal, Richardson says, is to keep making the project compelling to donors. “Fund development will be critical. It takes
Groundwork Jacksonville Board Chairman James Richardson notes Emerick’s results. “She’s done a lot,” Richardson says, “and fortunately she’s done it with volunteers on the ground who will stay in place and who’ll keep these efforts going.” money to do the things we plan to do, and we’re looking at the community to embrace our efforts.” Richardson says that the board will select an interim CEO within weeks, which will buy time for the three-to-four-month-long national search for a permanent replacement.
“RESIDENTS HAVE SO MUCH PRIDE IN THE EASTSIDE.”
Emerick says she has frequently heard a couple of questions from observers and would-be investors: What the hell are you doing? Why are you investing in that neighborhood? “My response is, that’s the reason, what you just said; because people like you have access and wealth and privilege and the ability to navigate and move from your neighborhood if you want to. Mobility. “That’s the reason we’re here. Because everyone else has given up.” She often hears from business people that the neighborhood she’s serving is “not our market.” Or “that’s not where we want our brand.” Or “that’s not our target audience.” Emerick passionately disagrees. “Businesses that are open to taking risks, and open to lifting up neighborhoods, they do it because it’s the right thing to do. They give people the opportunity to demonstrate that they are their market. They are their audience.” “Call us up. We’ll take you on a tour. We’ll show you the opportunities. We’ll show you the spirit of the community. We’ll show you the drive to be entrepreneurs.” Emerick cautions business investors to understand the distinction between gentrification and equitable development. “Investors hear we’re not interested in gentrification, then they think we don’t want economic development. We love economic development. “We want to make sure that folks who have been in this community generation after generation after generation are not pushed out.” While gentrification replaces a community’s cultural heritage with new, upscale coffee shops, gourmet grocery stores, and more expensive real estate, equitable development considers the opinions of the people who already live there. The difference boils down to who gets to define which cultures are more relevant, Emerick says. “There’s so much vibrancy that has been there and is there. Residents have so much pride in the Eastside.”
A CONVERGENCE OF PASSIONS
Emerick has no patience for prejudice against poor people, or for people who live in neglected neighborhoods. She was born the third child of an unwed 19-year-old mother with mental health issues. “My grandparents raised me,” she explains. “My mother was the typical statistic. I should be a statistic. “We were always very poor. I hated it. I never wanted to be poor,” she says. And she caught flak for hating it, too. “Even in my household, there was envy with my aunts and uncles about my having a lot of success — a lot of envy and jealousy. “Prince George’s County was rough,” she says, referring to the county in
Maryland where she was raised, just east of Washington, D.C. “My high school was a predominantly urban school. I had a great high school experience, but not a lot of people went to college. “The president of my senior class ran [for the office] as a joke — and he won. He was the local drug dealer. He was locked up the night before graduation and people bailed him out so he could graduate. “That upbringing is why I’m passionate about poverty. I’m passionate about the stigma placed on people living in poverty. I hate when I hear people living in poverty are freeloaders. “[If they are], then I’m a freeloader,” she says. Emerick was the only person in her immediate family to graduate from college; her aunt, with whom she was raised as a sister, also found a way out of the neighborhood by getting vocational education as a medical assistant. “She was exposed to this medical world and to Christmas parties and other events and she would always take me. I got to see the other side. I got exposure from my sister. She cultivated that.” Emerick also credits her grandparents with keeping her busy in ways that “kept me out of the poverty environment,” which allowed her to interact with affluent kids from the D.C. suburbs in nearby Montgomery County, northwest of her neighborhood. “My grandparents made sure that I was active — I was a pre-elite gymnast — I was training for the Olympics, practicing six days a week. By the very nature of being busy, and being exposed to other families, I got to see what I didn’t have. “I was competing in the same competition as Mary Lou Retton,” she says, recalling gym meets from the early 1980s in West Virginia. “I didn’t know who she was. All I knew was that everybody — after her routine on the floor — the entire arena erupted. Next thing you know, she’s in the Olympics. That’s where I was navigating.” Her navigation was interrupted when, at the age of 17, her grandparents threw her out of the house because they learned Emerick was dating an African-American boy. She moved in with her future in-laws, whom she still calls family, despite her eventual divorce from their son. Emerick credits her then-boyfriend’s mother, Jean Williams, for the encouragement she needed to keep going when her family evicted her. But she was also motivated to prove that her grandfather — whom she knew as “Dad” — was wrong about her. Emerick was determined to show him she could succeed. And she did. Emerick graduated with a degree in physical education, minoring in sports medicine. “I always wanted to be a nurse,” she explained, “but Frostburg State University didn’t have a nursing program.” She married her high school sweetheart during her junior, and his senior, year of college. After graduating from the rural Western Maryland college in 1991, she moved to Jacksonville, where her husband was already working. Their firstborn, Natasha, was three months old. Soon they would have two babies. The family’s future looked bright. Until it didn’t.
“DEMONIZING POOR PEOPLE IS VERY PERSONAL TO ME.”
Emerick was working as a health educator in Duval County when both her husband’s
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UrbanDAWN <<< FROM PREVIOUS fledgling career and the couple’s marriage went south. She was pregnant with her son R.C. at the time. She recalls losing her health benefits along with the marriage before giving birth to R.C., with her best friend, Pam, by her side in the delivery room. “I had no insurance. I was on Medicaid. No one would see me because I was too far along. I finally found a doctor and had one visit before he was born.” To make matters worse, Emerick’s coworkers were harassing her about having bi-racial children. No stranger to racism, Emerick thought it best not to have photos of her children on her desk. But she did wear a locket, with a photo of her daughter inside. One day, a white coworker asked if the locket had a photo in it. After Emerick showed her the picture, the sidelong looks, the coolness, and the gossip ensued. Emerick says her coworker said, “She’s got a chocolate baby in there.” “I’ve got two kids I’ve got to support and I’m being lambasted by racism,” Emerick recalls. “For the longest time, I didn’t bring my kids in [to work with me]. I wouldn’t.” She knows, though, that others have it worse. “My plight is not anywhere like an African-American person’s.” Asked whether she still runs into racism, she quickly answers in the affirmative. “People think it’s safe because I’m white,” Emerick says. “They know me as being with Al and Dylan.” Al Emerick came into her life in 1994. The two later married and had Dylan, now 17. Al and Dylan are white. The difference now, she explains, is that she’s in a better position to challenge racism. “Now I can say, ‘Hey, that’s inappropriate, let me show you a picture of my children.’” Emerick says that the work she does now is a reflection of the challenges she has faced in the past. “Demonizing poor people is very personal to me. “When I was with [Natasha] as a single mother, I had nothing. I was getting food stamps and a daycare subsidy. And I thank God. Here she is, graduating with her master’s degree from Purdue.
“During that time, I took advantage of the tuition assistance and got my master’s degree. I knew education was going to be my way out, and I could support my two babies.” Her love of research and her work with Hubbard House, Jacksonville’s domestic violence shelter, led to a thesis that shed light on the factors that enable abusive men to benefit from interventions. Her penchant for data analysis would ultimately help her succeed in a leadership position with First Coast Service Options, a large, multi-state, medical services management organization. Later, as her career in the nonprofit arena expanded, Emerick would earn a doctorate of education at the University of North Florida. Her six years with the Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida, where she served as president and CEO, thrust her into the public arena as a formidable, successful leader in the community. The childcare subsidy she received all those years ago, she says, is what allowed her to keep working early in her career. “I can’t fathom sometimes when there’s such judgment on people who just need a little help. I thank God for Medicaid. I thank God for the childcare subsidy. What was I going to do?” Emerick says that although poverty is the “centerpiece for dysfunction in neighborhoods,” society would rather not examine it or, many times, not even acknowledge it. “We don’t want to invest in it, we don’t want to talk about it. We put walls on our interstates so we don’t see it.” Or, in the case of Eastside, we build a cloverleaf ramp to a highway — smack dab in the middle of a community. The route to the Jacksonville Public Market press conference in March was blocked by A. Philip Randolph Boulevard’s west end closure, an alternate route around the stadium was also blocked; the streets had been cut into dead-ends when the highway was built. “When I see the spirit of the Eastside, I see how they’ve been left behind, or discarded or judged,” Emerick begins, shaking her head, “there is this symbolism of my personal … ” Emerick stops, wiping her eyes. She catches her breath, and continues. “You just don’t give up. When people judge or tell you you’re not good enough, you keep rising. You keep fighting to be relevant.” Julie Delegal mail@folioweekly.com
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FOLIO A + E
CRACKIN’ WISE Jamie Kennedy drops some knowledge on standup, branching out, and transforming his SIGNATURE SNARK toward midcareer TV drama
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any comedians, much like musicians, seem to move solely in two ways: soaring upward or plunging downward. This may be a somewhat caustic observation, but these same artists are frequently at the mercy of both the gnat-like attention span of the public and the commerce-driven flavors being relentlessly fed to audiences by selfappointed industry tastemakers. But there is a middle ground in this scenario which is, in fact, the norm statistically, not the exception. After accruing a fair amount of attention, their careers recede, public focus turns to the next breed, and either through circumstance or expiration dates mandated by the entertainment biz, they are left to their own devices. Many of these very same creatives are, in some ways, freed up from this career shift. They ignore these impasses, redirecting their ideas and innovations toward projects that are more rewarding to them and, by extension, their audiences. Case in point: Jamie Kennedy. A native of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, Kennedy’s first high-visibility was with 1996’s Scream, as well as starring in its subsequent franchises. In ’02, he moved to the small screen with The Jamie Kennedy Experiment, his aggressive take on the Candid Camera-style format, for which he combined comedy sketches driven by hidden-camera pranks aimed at unsuspecting victims, culminating with the big reveal-tagline, “You’ve Been ‘X’-ed!” Malibu’s Most Wanted (2003) told the tale of rich white boy Bradley “B-Rad” Gluckman (Kennedy), and his attempts to lie, worm, and hustle his way into the hip-hop scene. His documentary Heckler (2007) explored standup comedians’ ongoing (and surely unwanted) relationship with hecklers. Onscreen interviewees were from a wide spectrum of notables, from Maria Bamford and Paul F. Tompkins to George Wallace and Christopher Hitchens. The mainstream reviews were hot-and-cold, but Kennedy gets props for recounting an under-documented phenomenon on screen which includes some hilarious comedianto-heckler retaliations. In recent years, Kennedy has focused on more dramatic roles, including the supernatural series Ghost Whisperer and most recently, NBC’s medical drama, Heartbeat. Kennedy spoke to Folio Weekly Magazine from New Orleans, where he was enjoying some downtime between gigs. We riffed on the shift to drama, dealing with the haters, and moving forward. Folio Weekly Magazine: You’re swinging back through Jacksonville to perform at
The Comedy Zone again. How were your gigs here in the past? Jamie Kennedy: Yeah, man, at the Radisson … uh, no, the Ramada. That’s right; it’s right behind the Whole Foods. [Laughs.] It’s cool, man. That guy runs one of the tightest clubs in the country. It’s in a little hotel but it’s an amazing room, it’s very intimate, and it’s usually packed out. That’s a great crowd, man. Currently, you’re focusing on TV drama, but for years, you were known as this wiseass comedian. When you shifted over to drama, were you concerned your comedic notoriety would work against you and “typecast” you out of that move — that audiences wouldn’t find this believable? Yeah. That’s a very good observation and I think at times that happens. Because I kind of am a “thing,” you know; like “Jamie Kennedy.” As much as I was an actor before, once I did the show [Experiment] and Malibu, I became, like, a “thing.” Even when people would talk to me, “What’s up, ‘Jamie Kennedy’?” Almost like I was everybody’s neighbor. So I don’t know, that’s what I’m kind of struggling with right now, to be honest with you: Am I going to remain “Jamie Kennedy” or morph into different roles? And we’ll see. But I think it was a good opportunity and [Heartbeat]’s a good show. I really just think you need to try and do something bigger than the last thing that you did, and hopefully people will adjust and see you as that. It seems as if, with any type of artist, unless you’re just a delusional narcissist, there’s already this internal voice that says, “You’re a piece of shit. This idea sucks.” Then you get some kind of acclaim and there are people who make a living to tell you in print, “This is shit, you suck.” Does that affect you much? No, man, Heckler was really all about that. But those things definitely affect me. I spent a year from the time I pitched Malibu’s Most Wanted to the time we shot it, to the time it came out … I mean, we spent more than a year writing the script, begging the studio for money, working with marketing, trying to get the jokes in, going to little cities and doing mall appearances; whatever we can so people can see this little thing we created.
FILM Curtis Harrington MUSIC Arvid Smith LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC CALENDAR MUSIC Chuck Ragan
PG. 22 PG. 23 PG. 27 PG. 29
And at the screenings, the people really, really liked it. And the first review was The Boston Globe: “This underwhelming, wannabe piece of … ” [Laughs.] And I was, like, “What?! I just spent a fucking year of my life, you fucking jerk, cretin.” This dude probably never leaves his house. I did an interview once with David Wild from Rolling Stone, and also Bill Carter from The New York Times. Different guys like that have given me nice props. And then I get some dude from WaffleMovies.com shitting all over me. How the fuck did this guy get to the top of my Google SEO? Some people just have to get attention. With standup in particular, if it’s really on and the comedian is just riffing, it seems like there’s a strong chance of losing the crowd. Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth once said something to the effect of, “Beware of any band that’s good every night.” I think that’s totally true with comedy as well. Dude, that’s so awesome and absolutely true. There are times when I have a show, like the other night I did bad, you know? And I bombed. The people were pretty cool about it. I was trying something, and I think it pretty much sucked [Laughs] but the audience seemed to roll with it. I don’t know, does Kevin Durant hit 30 points a night? I sure don’t. But I’d like to think people understand it. With standup, you’re not always getting a “show.” I might be in my head riffing on something new right when I pick up that mic. Daniel A. Brown dbrown@folioweekly.com ____________________________________ For an extended version of this interview, see this article on folioweekly.com.
JAMIE KENNEDY
7:30 p.m. May 19; 7:30 & 9:45 p.m. May 20 & 21, The Comedy Zone, Mandarin, $20-$25, comedyzone.com
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FOLIO A+E : MAGIC LANTERNS
ARCANE
AUTEUR
Dennis Hopper stars in the 1961 dark thriller, Night Tide.
Curtis Harrington left behind a legacy of B-MOVIE BRILLIANCE that remains an apex of inventive, low budget film ethos
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ecently released on Blu-ray in remastered editions are two oddball gems (Night Tide and Queen of Blood) that connoisseurs of independent American films should investigate. They were written and directed by Curtis Harrington in 1961 and 1966, respectively. While most viewers today are probably not too familiar with Curtis Harrington (who died in 2007 at 80), chances are older fans of sciencefiction and fantasy (in particular) have seen one or more of his productions, either on the big screen or on television. And chances are you remember the films, even if you’ve forgotten who made them. Curtis Harrington was that kind of filmmaker. Night Tide was his first feature, filmed on an estimated budget of $25,000, featuring Dennis Hopper in his first starring role as young sailor Johnny Drake, who becomes involved with Mora (her name means “Star of the Sea”), a beautiful woman who may or may not be one of the “sea people.” On leave at a beachside amusement carnival, Johnny first sees Mora (Linda Lawson) in her act as a kind of sideshow mermaid. As they grow closer, the young woman seems ever more mysterious in her attachment to the ocean, which she seems to find frightening and alluring in equal measure. Meanwhile, Johnny begins to hear stories about Mora and her former boyfriends, both of whom met their deaths at sea. Mora’s stepfather, a retired sea captain and the sideshow manager, is less than forthcoming as well. And what about the mysterious older woman, hovering on the edge of it all like some sort of wraith? Making excellent use of black-and-white photography to heighten the film’s moody sense of unreality, Harrington fashions an ambiguous, haunting fable of lost love and alienation. Night Tide isn’t really a horror film, as is often suggested, nor possibly even a fantasy. Like Alfred Hitchcock did at the conclusion of Psycho (when the psychiatrist “explains” Norman Bates’ peculiar fixations), Harrington has one of his characters similarly illuminate Mora’s neuroses. Brilliantly, however, the identity (even existence) of the older shadowy woman
(played by Marjorie Cameron) is left in doubt, Harrington ending the film with the final lines of Edgar Allan Poe’s Annabel Lee, from which he also derived the fi lm’s title. Even Hitchcock was never so deliberately, wonderfully ambiguous. The greatest strengths of Harrington’s feature debut are the writing, editing, and evocative cinematography. The acting is occasionally wooden and spotty, Harrington less experienced with performers at this stage in his career as with concept and vision. For such a low-budget feature, though, it’s definitely a minor quibble. Made five years later, Queen of Blood was Harrington’s third film, his second for Roger Corman. Like its immediate predecessor, Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet, Queen of Blood combines footage cobbled from an early ’60s Soviet sci-fi film (purchased for a pittance by Corman) and incorporated (quite effectively) into an entirely different story by Harrington. In a nutshell (and less than 80 minutes), some American astronauts take off on a rescue mission to Mars where an alien ship has crashed. The only survivor is a green-skinned babe with glowing eyes and a weird hairdo (the prototype of Lisa Marie’s Martian girl in Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks!). On the journey back to Earth, she demonstrates her peculiar appetite, which gives the film its title. The cast is headlined by square-jawed John Saxon, with Judi Meredith as a fellow astronaut and love interest. Basil Rathbone (near the end of his distinguished career) was hired to do some scenes as the project coordinator, and Dennis Hopper (far more relaxed than in Night Tide and ad-libbing well) returns in a strong supporting role. Practically stealing the movie without a word of dialogue is Czech actress Florence Marly as the Alien Queen. The miniscule budget clearly shows, but so does the imagination and artistry of Curtis Harrington. Night Tide is the superior film, but Queen of Blood is still a lot of fun. Neither has ever looked better. Pat McLeod mail@folioweekly.com
FILM LISTINGS
War and Money Monster screen. 1028 Park St., 5 Points, 359-0049, sunraycinema.com.
AREA SCREENINGS
MOONLIGHT MOVIE The dog-hero movie Max screens 9 p.m. May 20, SeaWalk Pavilion, Jax Beach; free. Bring something to sit on. Popcorn, candy, beverage vendor onsite. No alcohol, skateboards, bicycles, glass. 247-6100, jacksonvillebeach.org. SUN-RAY CINEMA Green Room, Captain America: Civil
22 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 18-24, 2016
THE CORAZON CINEMA & CAFÉ Born to Be Blue and Our Last Tango screen at 36 Granada St., St. Augustine, 679-5736, corazoncinemaandcafe.com. On the Waterfront runs noon May 19. City of Gold starts May 20. IMAX THEATER Captain America: Civil War, A Beautiful Planet, Secret Ocean and National Parks Adventure screen, World Golf Village Hall of Fame Theater, St. Johns, 940-4133, worldgolfimax.com.
ARTS + EVENTS PERFORMANCE
THE COMPARABLES The 5 & Dime presents Laura Schellhardt’s play, about high-end real estate agents facing a dilemma: save the company or their careers? 8 p.m. May 20 & 21; 2 p.m. May 22, 700 E. Union St., Ste. 1-J, Downtown, $15 advance; $20 day of, the5anddime.org. ON THE VERGE Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre stages Eric Overmyer’s comedy, about 19th-century women who explore a mysterious land, 8 p.m. May 20 & 21, 2 p.m. May 22, 716 Ocean Blvd., 249-7177, $20, abettheatre.com. DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE! The family-geared production is 2 & 5 p.m. May 22, Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., 355-2787, $20-$50, floridatheatre.com. BLITHE SPIRIT Noel Coward’s musical comedy, about a ghost haunting her former spouse and his new bride, through June 5. Dinner 6 p.m.; brunch 11 a.m. & noon; Executive Chef DeJuan Roy’s themed menu; Alhambra Theatre & Dining, 12000 Beach Blvd., 641-1212, $35-$62, alhambrajax.com.
CLASSICAL, CHOIR & JAZZ
CHRISTINA LAMPREA Friday Musicale presents cellist Lamprea performing Bloch and Britten, 11 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. May 20, 645 Oak St., Riverside, 355-7584, fridaymusicale.com. BEETHOVEN’S SYMPHONY NO. 9 Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra performs Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, 8 p.m. May 20 & 21; 3 p.m. May 22, Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Jacoby Symphony Hall, 300 Water St., Downtown, 354-5547, $25-$74, jaxsymphony.org. NEWDOME FELLOWSHIP ARTISTS The classical quintet performs Rachmaninoff, Borodin and Dvorak, 3 p.m. May 21, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Fernandina, 261-1779, $30 (includes post-concert reception), ameliaislandchamber musicfestival.com. THE CHRIS THOMAS BAND Jazz vocalist Thomas performs with his combo, 7 p.m. May 21, Unity Plaza Amphitheater, 220 Riverside Ave., 220-5830, unityplaza.org. CLASSICAL IN ST. AUGUSTINE The vocal group Cantorae St. Augustine performs Brave Women: 150 Years of Courage, 3 p.m. May 22, St. Augustine Art Association, 22 Marine St., 824-2310, reservations recommended, staaa.org.
COMEDY
FRED’S ALL-STAR COMEDIANS Area comics Donna Williams, Brian Thomas, and others, 7:30 p.m. May 18; Jon Vredenburg, Spike, and others, 7:30 p.m. May 25, The Comedy Zone, 3130 Hartley Rd., 292-4242, $10, comedyzone.com. JAMIE KENNEDY The star of NBC’s Heartbeat, The Jamie Kennedy Experiment, Scream, and Malibu’s Most Wanted appears 7:30 p.m. May 19; 7:30 & 9:45 p.m. May 20 & 21, The Comedy Zone, 292-4242, $20-$25, comedyzone.com. REDBONE Comic View vet, 8:30 p.m. May 19; 8 p.m. May 20; 8 & 10:30 p.m. May 21, The Comedy Club of Jacksonville, 11000 Beach Blvd., 646-4277, $8-$25, jacksonvillecomedy.com.
ART WALKS & MARKETS
JAXSON’S NIGHT MARKET Street food vendors, craft beer, local farmers, artisans & crafters, 5:30-9 p.m. every third Thur., Hemming Park, Downtown, facebook.com/jaxsonsnightmarket. NORTH BEACHES ART WALK Galleries of Atlantic and Neptune beaches, 5-9 p.m. every third Thur., Beaches Town Center, 753-9594, nbaw.org. RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET Local, regional art, music – North Florida Folk Network Day: Morning yoga with Kylie Mae, 9 a.m., Dixie Rodeo, James “Tuck” Tucker, Peyton Waite Trio, New Moon Ramblers – food, farmers market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 21 under Fuller Warren Bridge, 715 Riverside Ave., free admission, 389-2449, riversideartsmarket.com.
MUSEUMS
CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS 829 Riverside Ave., 356-6857, cummermuseum.org. Conservation, Beautification, & a City Plan: Ninah Cummer & the Establishment of Jacksonville Parks, through Nov. 27. David Hayes: The Sentinel Series, sculptures of geometrically abstract, organic forms, through Oct. 2. MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART JACKSONVILLE 333 N. Laura St., 366-6911, mocajacksonville.unf.edu. Third Thursday Tour: Shinique Smith, 7 p.m. May 19. Amer Kobaslija: A Sense of Place through Aug. 14. Project Atrium: Shinique Smith, Quickening, a fabric-based installation incorporating graffiti, Japanese calligraphy, and collage, through June 26. RITZ THEATRE & MUSEUM 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, 8072010, ritzjacksonville.com. Through Our Eyes 2016: Sensory Perception, by 18 African-American artists, through Aug. 14.
GALLERIES
ADELE GRAGE CULTURAL CENTER 716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-7177, coab.us. The opening reception for an exhibit of Arts in the Parks winners is 5-8 p.m. May 19. THE ART CENTER Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 139, 2339252, tacjacksonville.org. Primal Archetypes, through May 23. Kenny Balser is the featured artist. CRISP-ELLERT ART MUSEUM 48 Sevilla St., St. Augustine, 826-8530, flagler.edu/crispellert. Shannon Estlund’s site-specific installation Between Here and There runs through June 24. THE CULTURAL CENTER AT PONTE VEDRA BEACH 50 Executive Way, 280-0614, ccpvb.org. Sharon Booma’s Collection of Impulses runs through May 27. FIRST STREET GALLERY 216-B First St., Neptune Beach, 241-6928, firststreetgalleryart.com. Works by printmaker John Davis exhibit through May 24. KARPELES MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY MUSEUM 101 W. First St., Springfield, 356-2992, rain.org. Kaytee Ester’s Classic Car-Ma displays through July 2. MONROE GALLERIES 40 W. Monroe St., Downtown, 881-0209, monroegalleries.com. Works by Barbie BrayWorkman, Jami Childers, Dana Fawn, Leilani Leo, and Dustin Bradley are featured. MONYA ROWE GALLERY 4 Rohde Ave., St. Augustine, monyarowegallery.com. Natasha Bowdoin’s Animal Print exhibit runs through July 24.
SOUTHLIGHT GALLERY Bank of America Tower, 50 N. Laura St., Ste. 150, Downtown, 438-4358, southlightgallery.com. The exhibit Local Art Rocks displays through May. Michael Dunlap is the featured artist.
EVENTS
FCAP MEETING The First Coast Administrative Professionals Inc. meets 5:30 p.m. for networking/check-in, then presents Michael Clark, who discusses Effective Communication, May 19, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, 3599 University Blvd. S., Southside; RSVP required, call 610-2050, ask for Julie Smith. PFLAG MEETING Amber Paoloemile and Jake Moore discuss Social Justice & Self Care, 7 p.m. May 19 (share & mingle 8-9 p.m.), Christ Church of Peace, 1240 S. McDuff Ave., Westside. Bring foods for JASMYN and donations for Necessities for Living; 737-3329, pflagjax.org. DIANA ABU-JABER BOOK SIGNING Award-winning author Abu-Jaber discusses and signs copies of her book, Life Without a Recipe: A Memoir, 7 p.m. May 19, The BookMark, 220 First St., Neptune Beach, 241-9026, bookmarkbeach.com. NATIONAL BIKE TO WORK DAY The North Florida Bicycle Club marks National Bike to Work Day, encouraging residents to try biking to work, beginning 7 a.m. May 20; ceremonies 8:30 a.m., Hemming Park. For details on starting times and participating locations, go to nfbc.us/bikeworkjax. MIRACLE ON ASHLEY STREET Clara White Mission presents the 22nd annual fundraiser with more than 150 chefs and celebrities (host Richard Nunn) serving lunch to raise funds and awareness for Clara White Mission’s outreach, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. May 20, 613 W. Ashley St., Downtown, 354-4162, $25, theclarawhitemission.org. THE GREAT AMERICAN BURGERFEST This fundraiser features hot burgers, cold beer, live music, 50 arts & crafts vendors, voting for the best burger (including celebrity judges on Sunday), and a kids’ zone. Proceeds benefit Great American Foundation, a nonprofit with programs for veterans and active military, supplies for schools and awards to honor teachers. 4-9 p.m. May 20; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. May 21; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. May 22, St. Francis Field, W. Castillo Dr., St. Augustine, $5 admission (does not include food items); greatamericanburgerfest.com. FINFEST ROLLING ON THE RIVER The Jacksonville Speech & Hearing Center fundraiser is held 7 p.m. May 21, Timuquana Country Club, 4028 Timuquana Rd., Arlington. A silent auction, food and live music by Top Secret Band. Proceeds benefit JSHC programs, 355-3403, shcjax.org. RIDING INTO HISTORY 17th annual motorcycle-geared festival features Motorcycle Concours d’Elegance, with 300plus vintage and classic bikes, a Grand Marshal’s Historic Lunch Ride, exhibitors, and live music. Proceeds benefit K9s For Warriors programs. May 21, World Golf Village, 500 S. Legacy Trail, St. Augustine; ridingintohistory.org. DUFFELS 4 KIDS WALK One-mile Walk is 8:30 a.m. May 21, Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, 370 Zoo Pkwy., Northside, 757-4463, $25; $5 kids. Proceeds supply foster care kids with duffel bags. Register/details at duffels4kids.org. BEACHES LIBRARY 30th ANNIVERSARY Beaches Branch Library marks its 30th celebration (and Folio Weekly Magazine thanks you for all you do!), with a proclamation by Neptune Beach Mayor Harriet Pruette, and Jax City Councilman Bill Gulliford, Beaches Museum & History Park, Jax Beach lifeguards, Sea Turtle Patrol, kids’ arts & crafts, face-painting, 3-D printer demos, door prizes, gift basket raffles, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 21, 600 Third St., Neptune Beach, 241-1141; first 100 guests get a free tote bag, courtesy of Friends of the Beaches Branch Library, jaxpubliclibrary.org. DANCIN’ IN THE STREET The 30th annual street party is 11 a.m.-9 p.m. May 21 at Beaches Town Center, where Atlantic Boulevard meets the ocean. Kids’ zone (putt putt golf, Ferris wheel, obstacle course, slide, moonwalk, crazy hair station; prices vary). Food: Al’s Pizza, Flying Iguana, Noni’s, Ohana Shaved Ice, Mr. Sweet Treats, Joseph’s Pizza, North Beach Bistro, Edith the Peanut Lady, Famous Amos. Art, gift items, consumer awareness campaigns. Bands: The Mosquitos, Mojo Roux, Gov Club, Cloud 9, Boogie Freaks, Austin Park, Lucky Stiff, BayStreet, Mike Shackelford Band, Hopson Road, The E Show, Kim Reteguiz & Black Cat Bones, Party Central, Bad Habits, Smokestack, Parker Urban Band. 2469133, beachestowncenter.com. HISTORIC SPRINGFIELD TOUR OF HOMES The 38th annual Tour showcases seven homes of classic architecture, noon5 p.m. May 21 & 22; $12/day. Details, tix at sparcouncil.org. HISTORIC FIVE POINTS SPRING FEST 10th annual Fest has beer, music, food, arts, and a silent auction, 2 p.m. May 21, Park Street, Riverside; email 5pointsmerchants@gmail.com. ROMANCE AUTHORS Ancient City Romance Authors president Gloria Marlow discusses Don’t Waste Your Breath: Using Your Word Count Wisely, noon May 21, Roundtable Building, 1637 Race Track Rd., Ste. 206, St. Johns; bring a lunch; ancientcityromanceauthors.com. JEWISH HISTORY OF ST. AUGUSTINE To mark Jewish American Heritage Month, Rabbi Merrill Shapiro discusses Jewish History of St. Augustine, 2 p.m. May 22, Main Library, 303 N. Laura St., Downtown, 630-2665, jaxpubliclibrary.org. SUNSET ECO SHRIMPING TOUR Amelia River Cruise’s 2-hour tour is an interactive exploration of St. Mary’s River Basin with a marine biologist, and a hands-on Otter Trawl shrimp netting demo, 6:30 p.m. May 21, 1 N. Front St., Fernandina Beach, $25; register at ameliarivercruises.com. CHINESE TEA CEREMONY To mark Asian Pacific American Month, a celebration and demo of a traditional Chinese tea ceremony is 6 p.m. May 25, University Park Branch Library, 3435 University Blvd. N., 630-1265, jaxpubliclibrary.org. JACKSONVILLE SUNS A homestand against the Montgomery Biscuits wraps up 12:05 p.m. May 18 (Afternoon Delight). Then it’s Pensacola Blue Wahoos, 7:05 p.m. May 19 (Military Appreciation), 20 (Zombie Night) & 23 (Youth Baseball Night), 6:05 p.m. May 21 (Giveaway Sat.) and 3:05 p.m. May 22 (Minion Day), Bragan Field, Baseball Grounds, Downtown, single game tix $5-$18, 358-2846, jaxsuns.com. Next up: Montgomery Biscuits again! _____________________________________________ To list an event, send time, date, location (street address, city), admission price, contact number to print to Daniel A. Brown – email dbrown@folioweekly.com or mail, 45 W. Bay St., Ste. 103, Jacksonville FtL 32202. Items run as space is available. Deadline noon Wed. for next Wed. printing.
MAY 18-24, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 23
FOLIO A+E : MUSIC
FO
<<< FR
Arvid Smith’s debut release is a STELLAR COLLECTION of mystical “World Music” at home in any galaxy
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INFINITY
BLUES W
e’re only months past the Spring Equinox and a local player has released a strong contender for Northeast Florida’s Album of the Year. Is this an actual award? Probably not. And the recipient in question is such a humble player that he’d probably cringe at the very idea of this imaginary prize. Since 1979, multiinstrumentalist Arvid Smith has been both a ubiquitous and anonymous presence on our music scene. Smith is a veteran of playing everything from grimy rock clubs and the Florida Folk Festival to his regular gig providing a soundtrack of Eastern-fueled drones for local yoga studios. Over the decades, just a few of the bands he’s played with include the Great Invisibles, Nerve Meter, Tammerlin (originally, Tory Voodoo), Canary in the Coalmine, and his current project, the New Moon Ramblers. All of these musical aggregates are indicative of the range of instrumentation, versatility, and Smith’s deliberate “open-ness” toward the art of performing music. In addition, Smith has been a longtime music scholar and scribe. In 1976, music imprint Mel Bay published Smith’s book-and-LP set, Contemporary Slide Guitar. Locally, he’s written for now-defunct rags like Vue and GO. Smith is also one of the longest-running writers for Folio Weekly Magazine; his first piece was a 1987 feature on Pili Pili. As a player, Smith is fluent on an arsenal of “wood and wire” instruments, including acoustic and electric guitars, Melobar and lap steel, Dobro, and the Eastern-born instruments sitar, swaramandala, saraswati vina, and tanpura, as well as the Indonesian kapaci. The many elements and skills merge in Smith’s debut release, The Journal of Sir Tarry Boy. Over the span of seven pieces, Smith is
joined by musicians whom he describes as players from the “local World Music, esotericyoga-music scene.” That lineup includes Joe Yorio (reeds and saxophones), John Guinta (handpans), Sandie Lythgoe (flute and percussion), Peter Mosely (double bass), Lisa Myers (percussion,) and Windy Weather (violin). Collectively, the album has a kind of group languid, call-and-response ambience, resulting in a sonic dialogue that is worthy of much repeated listening. The “World Music” that Smith and band conjure is more akin to truly free ’60s spirits like Don Cherry, Sandy Bull, the Sea Ensemble, and NYC drone avatars like La
I see a correlation between what a BLUES PLAYER, in any blues style, does with his instrument and what an INDIAN MUSICIAN does, technique-wise, with the string bending and microtones, etc.
24 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 18-24, 2016
Monte Young and Marian Zazeela, rather than the saccharine-saffron “global” dreck served up by Enya, Yanni, and the other “sampled pygmies-meet-techno”-style drivel that plagues, if not sadly defines, much of the current genre. If there’s a precedent for Smith’s acoustic guitar “otherness,” it’s surely found in the
CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>>
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MAY 18-24, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 25
FOLIO A+E : MUSIC
FOLIO A+E : MUSIC <<< FROM PREVIOUS
Arvid Smith’s debut release is a STELLAR COLLECTION of mystical “World Music” at home in any galaxy
realm of the late, great guitar polymath John Fahey. Smith’s tune “Song of the Summer Squall,” with its eerie mix of acoustic and slide guitar, sitar, tanpura, and double bass, is a fitting evocation, and literal dedication, to Fahey. In the past two decades, Fahey (1939-2001) has been canonized by players like Thurston Moore and Jim O’Rourke, but Smith’s fascination and study of Fahey goes back to the ’60s, and Smith was heavily featured on 1979’s A Tribute to John Fahey (Kicking Mule Records), the first and only album of its kind released during Fahey’s lifetime. Smith agreed to a Folio Weekly Magazine Q&A via email. A transcription of that exchange follows. Folio Weekly Magazine: What’s the story behind the album title, The Journal Of Sir Tarry Boy? Arvid Smith: The release ended up with much more sitar than I imagined it would. It’s been a journey with the instrument and I’m still playing my first one here and there. His name is “Sir Tarry Boy” — the name just came to me one day. Looks like a coded phrase for “sitar,” wouldn’t you say? And to “tarry” is to delay or lay about, and I didn’t pick up the instrument until age 53 … come lately.
INFINITY
BLUES W
e’re only months past the Spring Equinox and a local player has released a strong contender for Northeast Florida’s Album of the Year. Is this an actual award? Probably not. And the recipient in question is such a humble player that he’d probably cringe at the very idea of this imaginary prize. Since 1979, multiinstrumentalist Arvid Smith has been both a ubiquitous and anonymous presence on our music scene. Smith is a veteran of playing everything from grimy rock clubs and the Florida Folk Festival to his regular gig providing a soundtrack of Eastern-fueled drones for local yoga studios. Over the decades, just a few of the bands he’s played with include the Great Invisibles, Nerve Meter, Tammerlin (originally, Tory Voodoo), Canary in the Coalmine, and his current project, the New Moon Ramblers. All of these musical aggregates are indicative of the range of instrumentation, versatility, and Smith’s deliberate “open-ness” toward the art of performing music. In addition, Smith has been a longtime music scholar and scribe. In 1976, music imprint Mel Bay published Smith’s book-and-LP set, Contemporary Slide Guitar. Locally, he’s written for now-defunct rags like Vue and GO. Smith is also one of the longest-running writers for Folio Weekly Magazine; his first piece was a 1987 feature on Pili Pili. As a player, Smith is fluent on an arsenal of “wood and wire” instruments, including acoustic and electric guitars, Melobar and lap steel, Dobro, and the Eastern-born instruments sitar, swaramandala, saraswati vina, and tanpura, as well as the Indonesian kapaci. The many elements and skills merge in Smith’s debut release, The Journal of Sir Tarry Boy. Over the span of seven pieces, Smith is
joined by musicians whom he describes as players from the “local World Music, esotericyoga-music scene.” That lineup includes Joe Yorio (reeds and saxophones), John Guinta (handpans), Sandie Lythgoe (flute and percussion), Peter Mosely (double bass), Lisa Myers (percussion,) and Windy Weather (violin). Collectively, the album has a kind of group languid, call-and-response ambience, resulting in a sonic dialogue that is worthy of much repeated listening. The “World Music” that Smith and band conjure is more akin to truly free ’60s spirits like Don Cherry, Sandy Bull, the Sea Ensemble, and NYC drone avatars like La
I see a correlation between what a BLUES PLAYER, in any blues style, does with his instrument and what an INDIAN MUSICIAN does, technique-wise, with the string bending and microtones, etc.
26 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 18-24, 2016
Monte Young and Marian Zazeela, rather than the saccharine-saffron “global” dreck served up by Enya, Yanni, and the other “sampled pygmies-meet-techno”-style drivel that plagues, if not sadly defines, much of the current genre. If there’s a precedent for Smith’s acoustic guitar “otherness,” it’s surely found in the
CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>>
What kind of effect has playing Eastern instruments and Western, i.e., acoustic and electric guitars had on you? Through both technique and melodic vocabulary, but also in regard to your perceptions as an artist? I don’t play Indian classical music; I have no tuition in it, only some lessons sitting with a friend who is a classically trained Indian singer. He would play harmonium and sing bhajans and filmi songs composed in the raags, and I would learn them and play them back to him on sitar. This was to learn raga properly. On my own, I know some scales, etc., but to learn to capture their essence and develop them properly takes a long time of steady tutelage under a teacher, which I don’t have. To answer your question, I see a correlation between what a blues player, in any blues style, does with his instrument and what an Indian musician does, technique-wise, with the string bending and microtones, etc. Just look at how magnificently they have elevated the violin and slide guitar into their own music. Sitar just comes out that way; it’s made for that approach. Thing is, anything you do on it sounds “Indian,” in the same way that anything on a banjo conjures a barnyard to our ears. Much of the music on the album seems based on motivic ideas, but while the players might revisit these motifs, they sound abandoned altogether and shimmer out into improvisation. Was this a deliberate idea on your part, as the de facto leader? You took the words right out of my mouth. “Summer Squall” was thoroughly composed, as was “Cirrus” — no improvisation on those. Everything else was as you put it. Joe Yorio
is possessed by melodic invention … I am humbled by his talent; Peter Mosely’s, too. I don’t think that, overall, the album has a menacing aspect, but some of the pieces seem to have a darker, arcane quality; particularly in the somber chiming of “A Bell Ringing in an Empty Sky” and “The Rite of the Black Sun.” Music so rarely stands still; those two tracks do stand alone. “Empty Sky” grew out of the wood melding with the strings of a hammered acoustic guitar and swaramandala, and then Windy’s violin gave it shape. “Black Sun” was totally spontaneous, Joe’s clarinet and my sitar, we used the morning raag ‘todi’ as a framework, but with some abstracts that a guru would slap the shit out of us for. John Fahey created a fairly seismic shift in how we listen to, assess, and play acoustic guitar. He was certainly more than mere virtuoso — he was a seeker, memoirist, raconteur, etc. — the whole hit. Earlier in your career, you were featured on the first Fahey tribute album. What is your personal view of Fahey? One has to take time out to absorb John’s music. Yes, you’re right, he did dozens of releases in his life and there’s not a hot lick
not to be found on any of them. What I find intriguing, rather than his devotion and compositional sense, is taking a well-worn, simple folk blues passage from Charley Patton’s “Pony Blues,” and turning it into the majestic/contemplative, “Stomping Tonight on the Pennsylvania/Alabama Border.” Fahey was the original DIY musician, had his own label as early as 1958, so he answered to no one, an American original, iconoclast as surely as Charles Ives or Henry Cowell. Daniel A. Brown dbrown@folioweekly.com _____________________________________ Arvid Smith plays 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 25 and June 1, 15 & 22, Hemming Park, Downtown. Smith also plays 9 p.m. May 27, Element Bistro Bar & Lounge. The New Moon Ramblers play 2:30 p.m. May 21, Riverside Arts Market. To buy The Journal of Sir Tarry Boy, go to cdbaby.com/cd/arvidsmith2.
Avant-guitarist, total progressive-shredder extraordinaire, and man-of-mystery BUCKETHEAD performs May 25, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC CONCERTS THIS WEEK
SPADE McQUADE 6 p.m. May 18, Fionn MacCool’s Irish Pub, Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1247. Music By The Sea: MAGGIE BAUGH BAND Free concert 6-9 p.m. May 18, Pier & Pavilion, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 347-8007, thecivicassociation.org. BORN of OSIRIS, AFTER the BURIAL, UPON a BURNING BODY, ERRA, BAD OMENS 6 p.m. May 18, 1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean St., Downtown, $20. ASTARI NITE, URSULA, RUFFIANS, REBIS in EDEN 8 p.m. May 18, Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, 398-7496, $7 advance; $10 day of. FULL SERVICE, DIRTY OLD DUB 8:30 p.m. May 18, The Original Café Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 460-9311, $7 advance; $10 at the door. DENNY BLUE 6 p.m. May 19, Kingfish Grill, 252 Yacht Club Dr., St. Augustine, 824-2111. MY EPIC, COME WIND, GOODFIRES, SEA of SURRENDER 7 p.m. May 19, Murray Hill Theatre, 932 Edgewood Ave. S., Murray Hill, 388-7807, $8-$12. AGNOSTIC FRONT, COLDSIDE 7:30 p.m. May 19, 1904 Music Hall, $15. NIGHT RANGER 8 p.m. May 19, The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $25-$55. DUMB WAITER, UNCLE MARTY 8 p.m. May 19, Planet Sarbez, 115 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, 342-0632. KANSAS CITY BAND, COSMIC GROOVE 8 p.m. May 19, Shanghai Nobby’s, 10 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, 547-2188. 2 QUART SHYNE 8 p.m. May 19, Prevatt’s Sports Bar & Grill, 2620 Blanding Blvd., Westside, 282-1564. “3” the BAND 9 p.m. May 19, Flying Iguana, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680. LPT 9 p.m. May 19, Rain Dogs, 1045 Park St., 379-4969. KING & the KILLER (Elvis Presley & Jerry Lee Lewis tribute acts) 6 p.m. May 20, Mavericks Live, 2 Independent Dr., The Landing, 356-1110, Downtown, $30. GITLO LEE 6:30 p.m. May 20, Alley Cat Seafood, Beer House & Wine Boutique, 316 Centre St., Fernandina Beach, 491-1001. OLD SALT UNION 8 p.m. May 20, Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown. FOALS, The DOG APOLLO 8 p.m. May 20, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., 209-0399, $24 advance; $27 day of (SRO). GOOD OLD WAR 8 p.m. May 20, Jack Rabbits, $10. Third Annual Fundraiser Concert: TYANNA JONES, LEAH SYKES 8 p.m. May 20, Murray Hill Theatre, $20; $95 VIP 6 p.m., includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, soft drinks, Tyanna Jones items, private meet & greet, silent auction, exclusive pre-show Tyanna Jones performance. LISA & the MAD HATTERS 9:30 p.m. May 20, Whiskey Jax, 10915 Baymeadows Rd., Southside, 634-7208. CHUCK NASH BAND 10 p.m. May 20 & 21, Flying Iguana. TOMMY ILL RHYTHM, MISS V, JORDON WHITSON, TRAVIS BARRETT RUDD 8 p.m. May 20, Planet Sarbez, $5. CLOUD9 VIBES 10 p.m. May 20, The Roadhouse, 231 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, 264-0611. Riverside Arts Market: North Florida Folk Network Day MORNING YOGA with KYLIE MAE (9 a.m.), DIXIE RODEO, JAMES “TUCK” TUCKER, PEYTON WAITE TRIO, NEW MOON RAMBLERS 10:30 a.m. May 21, 715 Riverside, 389-2449. SALT-N-PEPA, KID ’N PLAY, ROB BASE, COOLIO, TONE LOC, COLOR ME BADD 7 p.m. May 21, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A S., 209-0367, $43.50-$73.50. Dancin’ In The Street: The MOSQUITOS, MOJO ROUX, GOV
CLUB, CLOUD 9, BOOGIE FREAKS, AUSTIN PARK, LUCKY STIFF, BAYSTREET, MIKE SHACKELFORD BAND, HOPSON ROAD, The E SHOW, KIM RETEGUIZ & BLACK CAT BONES, The PARTY CENTRAL, BAD HABITS, SMOKESTACK, PARKER URBAN BAND 11 a.m.-9 p.m. May 21, Beaches Town Center, where Atlantic Boulevard meets the ocean, beachestowncenter.com. STRANGE FRIEND 8 p.m. May 21, 1904 Music Hall, $8 advance; $10 day of. AUDIO HIVE, LE ORCHID, SKYVIEW, FAZE WAVE 8 p.m. May 21, Jack Rabbits, $8. DAVIS TURNER 8 p.m. May 21, Slider’s Seaside Grill, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., Fernandina, 277-6652. DYLAN NIRVANA, NO KOMPLY, SUGAWOOD, LOFT BOYS 8 p.m. May 21, Planet Sarbez, $5. AZON BLAZE 9 p.m. May 21, Burro Bar. TAKE COVER 9:30 p.m. May 21, Whiskey Jax. DREKA GATES 10 p.m. May 21, Masquerades Live (Aqua Night Club), 11000 Beach Blvd., Southside, $15-$40, gobigentertainment.net. LOVE MONKEY 10 p.m. May 21, The Roadhouse. Backyard Oyster Roast: CHUCK RAGAN, TIM BARRY, WHISKEY & CO. 5 p.m. May 22, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Backyard Stage, 1340C A1A S., 209-0367, $18 advance; $20 day of, $35 AYCE oysters. Music with a Mission: MELT BEHIND the WHEEL, DAN ALTMAN 7 p.m. May 22, Players By The Sea, 106 Sixth St. N., Jax Beach, 249-0289, $25; proceeds benefit PBTS programs. NEVER I, PATHWAY HOME, The KNOWING WITHIN, ZAFTIGK 8 p.m. May 22, Planet Sarbez, $3. MEGOSH, The THINGS THEY CARRIED, SEARCHING SERENITY 7 p.m. May 23, Jack Rabbits, $8 advance; $10 day of. BRIAN McKNIGHT 7:30 p.m. May 24, The Florida Theatre, $25.50-$49.50. WARD, TURNCOAT, GRIM STATE 8 p.m. May 24, Shanghai Nobby’s. MIGHTY MYSTIC & the HARD ROOTS MOVEMENT 8 p.m. May 24, Jack Rabbits, $8 advance; $10 day of. DAMN THY NAME, ERODE, MOBILE DEATH CAMP, ARMAGEDDON III 8 p.m. May 25, Shanghai Nobby’s. JUNGLE ROT, CULTURE KILLER, DENIED TIL DEATH 8 p.m. May 24, Burro Bar. BUCKETHEAD 8 p.m. May 25, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, $22 advance; $25 day of (SRO).
UPCOMING CONCERTS
MODERN ENGLISH May 26, Burro Bar HERE COME the MUMMIES, NOAH GUTHRIE May 26, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall R. KELLY May 26, Veterans Memorial Arena Jacksonville Jazz Festival: KEM, JOHN BATISTE & STAY HUMAN, SNARKY PUPPY, The McCOY TYNER QUARTET, DR. JOHN, GENERATION NEXT, NICHOLAS COLE, LIN ROUNTREE & LEBRON, The YELLOWJACKETS, DIZZY GILLESPIE AFRO-CUBAN EXPERIENCE, NATHAN EAST, CYRILLE AIMEE, SOMI, CHRISTIAN SCOTT ATUNDE ADJUAH, JAMISON ROSS, KEN FORD, LIZZ WRIGHT, MARK PENDER, DOUGLAS ANDERSON JAZZ BAND, UNF JAZZ ENSEMBLE I, The CHRIS THOMAS BAND, TERRY “DOC” HANDY, JOHN LUMPKIN & the COVENANT, GARY STARLING GROUP, RUSSEL GEORGE, ERIC CARTER & CO., NOEL FREIDLINE QUINTET, LISA KELLY May 26-29, Downtown Jacksonville
Folio Media House Atrium Event Series: GROOVE COALITION, [neu]SONICS MUSIC INITIATIVE STUDENT RECITAL May 27, Folio Media House, Downtown Jazz Fest After Dark: JONATHON SCALES FOURCHESTRA, TRIBAL DISORDER, ULISSES ROCHA, DREW TUCKER & the NEW STANDARD, CONTROL THIS!, SANDY WICKER & the RECOLLECTIONS, RARELUTH, BAND & the BEAT, DOVETONSIL, TROPIC of CANCER, ERIC CARTER & CO., DR. SCIENCE, GROOVE COALITION, D.J. BROOKLYN MIKE, LE ORCHID, [NEU]SONICS MUSIC INITIATIVE STUDENT/ TEACHER RECITAL, JOE WATTS QUARTET, TOUGH JUNKIE, MASTER RADICAL, JUNCO ROYALS, TOM BENNETT, STRANGERWOLF, BLUE MUSE (CHRIS THOMAS, BILLY & BELLA), GENERAL TSO’S FURY, CHIEFORIA, JARROD TYLOR ALLEN, RAISIN CAKE ORCHESTRA, DJ GURU May 27 & 28, Downtown Jacksonville RIVERNECKS, KENNY & the JETS, SUNSHINE STATE, MENTAL BOY May 27, Shanghai Nobby’s MAMA BLUE May 27, Unity Plaza Amphitheater Follow the Sun Fest: SUPERSUCKERS, DRAG the RIVER, SHIP THIEVES, WHISKEY & CO., HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, ONES to BLAME, ANN PRAGG, SINNERS & SAINTS, CARA BETH SATALINO, OUTER SPACES, WAX WINGS, CHASE NEIL & the WISEBLOODS, HARDLUCK SOCIETY, JONATHAN COODY, ROB COE & CO., RIVERNECKS, THIN SKINS, ENDLESS POOLS, ANCHOR FAST, DEVON STUART, KENNY & the JETS, SAND FLEAS May 27, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Backyard Block Party !!!, STEREOLAD May 27, Jack Rabbits CJ RAMONE May 28, Shanghai Nobby’s ELLA ROMAINE, DAVIS LOOSE May 29, Limelight Theatre STATE CHAMPION, FEVER HEAD, SEAFOAM WALLS, SERFIN SERF May 31, Shanghai Nobby’s KEVIN SMITH’S TEEN COMEDY “YOGA HOSERS” PRERELEASE SCREENING & Q&A June 2, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall APPETITE for DESTRUCTION, MEDAL MILITIA June 3, Mavericks Live DETRIMENT, VATICAN, HEAVENS, DIE June 3, Burro Bar SHIRLEY CAESAR, KIERRA SHEARD, JEKALYN CARR June 3, Florida Theatre North Florida Land Trust Fish Fry: FIREWATER TENT REVIVAL, CAIN’T NEVER COULD June 4, Big Talbot Island ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO June 5, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall KIRK FRANKLIN June 5, T-U Center GREAVER, YOUTH LEAGUE June 5, Burro Bar REFUSED June 7, Mavericks Live WEIRD AL YANKOVIC June 11, St. Augustine Amphitheatre TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND, DUMPSTAPHUNK, JASON ISBELL, June 11, Sea Island Avant presents: TIM SPARKS June 12, Karpeles Museum MIRANDA LAMBERT, KIP MOORE, BROTHERS OSBORNE June 12, Veterans Memorial Arena Happy Together Tour: The COWSILLS, The TURTLES, The SPENCER DAVIS GROUP, GARY PUCKETT & the UNION GAP, MARK LINDSAY, CHUCK NEGRON June 12, Florida Theatre CYNDI LAUPER June 12, St. Augustine Amphitheatre DEATH CAB for CUTIE, CHVRCHES, PURE BATHING CULTURE June 14, St. Augustine Amphitheatre LORD HURON June 14, Mavericks Live CHRIS CORNELL June 17, The Florida Theatre MAMA BLUE, UNIVERSAL GREEN June 17, 1904 Music Hall WAR June 17, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall HIVELORDS, SET AND SETTING, YASHIRA, SHADOW HUNTER June 20, Burro Bar
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LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC
American Idol Season 14 finalist, and Jacksonville’s very own TYANNA JONES (pictured) performs with LEAH SYKES May 20 at Murray Hill Theatre’s third annual Fundraiser Concert. CASTLE, HOLLOWLEG, GHOSTWITCH, BLACK STACHE June 21, Burro Bar ZOSO Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience June 23, PVC Hall REBELUTION, The GREEN & J BOOG, STICK FIGURE, THROUGH the GREEN June 23, St. Augustine Amphitheatre RICHIE RAMONE, ELECTRIC WATER, TEENAGE LOBOTOMY, STATUS FAUX June 25, Burro Bar JUSTIN BIEBER June 29, Vets Memorial Arena SUBLIME with ROME, TRIBAL SEEDS July 1, St. Augustine Amphitheatre BARENAKED LADIES, ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES in the DARK, HOWARD JONES July 2, St. Augustine Amphitheatre TWENTY ONE PILOTS July 3, St. Augustine Amphitheatre FLAG, WAR on WOMEN, The DIRTY NIL July 8, St. Augustine Amphitheatre The ROBERT CRAY BAND July 8, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Unity Fest 2016: JEEZY, JACQUEES, PLIES, more July 9, Veterans Memorial Arena BOY GEORGE & CULTURE CLUB, WHO’S BAD, BOW WOW WOW July 9, Morocco Shrine Auditorium 98 DEGREES, O TOWN, DREAM, RYAN CABRERA July 14, St. Augustine Amphitheatre
JASON MICHAEL CARROLL, MARK WILLS, DARYL WORLEY July 14, Mavericks Live SHAWN MENDES July 16, St. Augustine Amphitheatre FLIGHT of the CONCHORDS, ARJ BARKER July 17, St. Augustine Amphitheatre 5 SECONDS of SUMMER July 20, Veterans Memorial Arena TED NUGENT July 20, The Florida Theatre VILLAINFEST 2016 July 22, Mavericks Live Connection Festival: WU-TANG CLAN, CAGE the ELEPHANT, BIG DATA, ST. LUCIA, NEVER SHOUT NEVER, NEW YORK SKA ENSEMBLE, RUN RIVER NORTH, WHOLE WHEAT BREAD, COLOURS, BROTHER HAWK, WATERSEED, COMTROL THIS!, CLOUD9 VIBES, MOYA MOYA, UNIVERSAL GREEN, ASKMEIFICARE, SKYVIEW, FLAG on FIRE July 23, Downtown Jacksonville 311, MATISYAHU July 26, St. Augustine Amphitheatre TODRICK HALL July 26, The Florida Theatre CRAIG MORGAN July 28, The Florida Theatre BRING IT! LIVE July 29, The Florida Theatre LUKE COMBS July 29, Mavericks Live EMMA MOSELEY BAND, KRISTOPHER JAMES, CURT TOWNE BAND July 30, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Backyard Party DAVID BAZAN, MICHAEL NAU Aug. 4, Jack Rabbits The ACACIA STRAIN, OCEANO, KNOCKED LOOSE, CULTURE KILLER, TO the WIND Aug. 6, 1904 Music Hall MAXWELL Aug. 7, T-U Center MISTERWIVES Aug. 7, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Outcry: HILLSONG WORSHIP, KARI JOBE, REND COLLECTIVE, HOUSEFIRES, URBAN RESCUE, CHAD VEACH Aug. 10, Veterans Memorial Arena SLIGHTLY STOOPID, SOJA, FORTUNATE YOUTH Aug. 11, St. Augustine Amphitheatre RAY LaMONTAGNE Aug. 14, St. Augustine Amphitheatre LYLE LOVETT & HIS LARGE BAND Aug. 20, Florida Theatre THE ORCHESTRA – An Evening of ELO’s Greatest Hits (with ELO members & Jacksonville Rock Symphony Orchestra) Aug. 27, The Florida Theatre JILL SCOTT Aug. 28, T-U Center for the Performing Arts GOO GOO DOLLS, COLLECTIVE SOUL, TRIBE SOCIETY Aug. 31, St. Augustine Amphitheatre KENNY G Sept. 1, The Florida Theatre TONY JOE WHITE Sept. 2, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall MELVINS Sept. 8, Jack Rabbits BRIAN WILSON, AL JARDINE, BLONDIE CHAPLIN Sept. 10, St. Augustine Amphitheatre JAKE SHIMABUKURO Sept. 15, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall IL DIVO Sept. 23, The Florida Theatre WIDESPREAD PANIC Sept. 24 & 25, St. Augustine Amphitheatre DONNA the BUFFALO, PETER ROWAN BLUEGRASS BAND, BLUEGROUND UNDERGRASS Oct. 13-16,
Suwannee Music Park NEEDTOBREATHE, MAT KEARNY, PARACHUTE, WELSHLY ARMS Oct. 13, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Live Original Tour: SADIE ROBERTSON, FAMILY FORCE 5, LOVE & the OUTCOME Oct. 14, The Florida Theatre MAGNOLIA FEST Oct. 15, St. Augustine Amphitheatre SCOTT BRADLEE’S POSTMODERN JUKEBOX Oct. 16, The Florida Theatre BONNIE RAITT Oct. 29, St. Augustine Amphitheatre CHRIS YOUNG, CASSADEE POPE Nov. 12, St. Augustine Amphitheatre NEIL deGRASSE TYSON Nov. 14, The Florida Theatre SAVION GLOVER Nov. 18, The Florida Theatre ANIMAL COLLECTIVE Nov. 22, Mavericks Live GARRISON KEILLOR Dec. 11, The Florida Theatre OAK RIDGE BOYS Dec. 13, The Florida Theatre JAY LENO Jan. 14, Thrasher-Horne Center JEANNE ROBERTSON Jan. 21, The Florida Theatre THE BABES Feb. 11, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
LIVE MUSIC CLUBS
AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA
ALLEY CAT Beer House, 316 Centre St., 491-1001 Gitlo Lee 6:30 p.m. May 20. Live music most weekends LA MANCHA, 2709 Sadler Rd., 261-4646 Miguel Paley jazz show 5:30-9 p.m. every Fri.-Sun. Javier Parez every Sun. SLIDERS Seaside Grill, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652 King Eddie & Pili Pili 6 p.m. May 18. Michael Hullett May 19. Brian Earnest, Milltown Road, DJ Dave May 20. Jaime Noel, Michael Hullett, Davis Turner May 21. Down Yonder May 22. Darrell Rae May 23. Sam McDonald May 24 SURF Restaurant, 3199 S. Fletcher, 261-5711 Russell Bryant May 20. Larry & the Backtracks May 22. Yancy Clegg Tue. & Thur. Black Jack Band every Fri.
AVONDALE, ORTEGA
CASBAH Café, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966 Goliath Flores every Wed. Live jazz every Sun. Live music every Mon. ECLIPSE, 4219 St. Johns Ave. KJ Free 9 p.m. Tue. & Thur. Indie dance 9 p.m. every Wed. ’80s & ’90s dance every Fri.
THE BEACHES (All venues in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted)
BRASS ANCHOR PUB, 2292 Mayport Rd., Atlantic Beach, 249-0301 Joe Oliff May 18. Clinton Lane Darnell & Shayne Rammler May 21 THE BRIX, 300 Second St. N., 241-4668 Live music Tue. & Wed. Barrett Jockers every Fri. CULHANE’S IRISH PUB, 967 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 249-9595 DJ Hal every Sat. Irish music every Sun. FLYING IGUANA, 207 Atlantic, Neptune Beach, 853-5680 3 the Band May 19. Chuck Nash Band 10 p.m. May 20 & 21. Darren Corlew May 22. Live music most weekends GUSTO’S, 1266 Beach Blvd., 372-9925 Groov every Wed. Will Hurley & Pops every Thur. Murray Goff every Fri. Under the Bus every Sat. Gene Nordan every Sun. HARMONIOUS Monks, 320 First St. N., 372-0815 Anton LaPlume, Kim Reteguiz & the Black Cat Bones 8 p.m. May 21. Smooth McFlea, Ozone Baby May 21. Live music every Wed.-Sun. LEMON BAR, 120 Atlantic Blvd., NB, 372-0487 Yamadeo 7 p.m. May 21 LYNCH’S, 514 N. First St., 249-5181 Austin Park 10 p.m. May 20. Stank Sauce 10 p.m. May 21. Dirty Pete May 27. Chillula every Sun. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1018 Third St. N., 241-5600 Five O’clock Shadow May 19 & 26. Anton LaPlume May 21 MEZZA Restaurant & Bar, 110 First St., NB, 249-5573 Chilly Rhino May 24. Ginger every Wed. Mike Shackelford, Steve Shanholtzer every Thur. MOJO KITCHEN, 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636 Live music most weekends MONKEY’S UNCLE Tavern, 1728 N. Third St., 246-1070 DJ Wed., Sat. & Sun. Live music every Fri. RAGTIME Tavern, 207 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 241-7877 Billy Bowers May 18. Decoy May 19. Bay Street May 20 & 21. Neil Dixon Duo May 22. Live music every Wed.-Sun. SEACHASERS, 831 First St. N., 372-0444 Andrew Sapin 7 p.m. May 18. Jerico open mic May 23. SLIDERS, 218 First St., NB, 246-0881 Jimmi Mitchell 6 p.m. May 21. Live music every Wed.-Sun.
DOWNTOWN
1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean St. Born of Osiris, After the Burial, Upon a Burning Body, Erra, Bad Omens 6 p.m. May 18. Agnostic Front, Coldside, Rhythm of Fear 7:30 p.m. May 19. Maverick May 20. Strange Friend 8 p.m. May 21. TrumpWilson, Sir, DJ Yung D May 22 BURRO BAR, 100 E. Adams St. Old Salt Union 9 p.m. May 20. Azon Blaze 9 p.m. May 21. Jungle Rot, Culture Killer, Denied Til Death 8 p.m. May 24 DOS GATOS, 123 E. Forsyth St., 354-0666 BlackJack every Wed. DJ Brandon every Thur. DJs spin dance every Fri. DJ NickFresh every Sat. DJ Randall Mon. DJ Hollywood every Tue. FIONN MacCOOL’S, The Landing, 374-1247 Spade McQuade 6 p.m. May 18 & 25. Jimmy Solari 8 p.m. May 20. Cortnie Frazier 8 p.m. May 21 HOURGLASS Pub, 345 E. Bay St., 469-1719 DJs ENS, Halcyon & Timmy Razorblades for Factory Goth May 21. Jam every Fri. JACKSONVILLE Landing, 353-1188 Boogie Freaks 8 p.m. May 20. The Party Cartel 8 p.m. May 21. Caribbean Sundaze: 418 Band 4 p.m. May 22. Days of Summer: Brandy Clark,
28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 18-24, 2016
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC Drake White, Brittney Lawrence 8 p.m. May 26 MARK’S DOWNTOWN, 315 E. Bay St., 355-5099 DJ Dr. Doom 10 p.m. every Fri. DJ Shotgun 10 p.m. every Sat. MAVERICKS LIVE, Jax Landing, 356-1110 C&C Music Factory May 19. King & the Killer (Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis tributes) 6 p.m. May 20. Joe Buck, DJ Justin every Thur.-Sat. MYTH NIGHTCLUB & BAR, 333 E. Bay St., 707-0474 DJ Q45, live music every Wed. EDM every Thur. Eric Rush every Fri. DJ IBay every Sat. Bangarang & Crunchay every Sun.
RAIN DOGS, 1045 Park, 379-4969 LPT 9 p.m. May 19 RIVERSIDE Arts Market, 715 Riverside, 389-2449 North Florida Folk Network Day: Dixie Rodeo, James “Tuck” Tucker, Peyton Waite Trio, New Moon Ramblers May 21
ST. AUGUSTINE
CHEERS, 1138 Park Ave., 269-4855 Ivy League 9:30 p.m. May 20. Cheers Westside Reunion May 21 The HILLTOP, 2030 Wells, 272-5959 John Michael every Tue.-Sat. The ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611 Radio @ Random May 18. DJ Big Mike May 19. Tree House, Cloud9 Vibes 10 p.m. May 20. Love Monkey 10 p.m. May 21. Confluent May 25
CELLAR Upstairs, 157 King St., 826-1594 TJ Brown, Oh No May 20. Billy Buchanan, Ain’t Too Proud to Beg May 21. Vinny Jacobs May 22 KINGFISH Grill, 252 Yacht Club Dr., 824-2111 Denny Blue May 19 MARDI GRAS, 123 San Marco Ave., 823-8806 DJ Rob St. John Wed. Live music every Fri. & Sat. Justin Gurnsey Mon. ORIGINAL CAFÉ ELEVEN, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 460-9311 Full Service, Dirty Old Dub May 18 PLANET SARBEZ, 115 Anastasia Blvd., 342-0632 Dumb Waiter, Uncle Marty 8 p.m. May 19. Dylan Nirvana, No Komply, Sugawood, Loft Boys 8 p.m. May 21. Never I, Pathway Home, The Knowing Within, Zaftigk 8 p.m. May 22 SHANGHAI NOBBY’S, 10 Anastasia Blvd., 547-2188 Kansas City Band, Cosmic Groove 8 p.m. May 19. Ward, Turncoat, Grim State 8 p.m. May 24. Damn Thy Name, Erode, Mobile Death Camp, Armageddon III 8 p.m. May 25 TRADEWINDS Lounge, 124 Charlotte St., 829-9336 Spanky May 20 & 21
PONTE VEDRA
SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK
FLEMING ISLAND
MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1800 Town Ctr. Blvd., 541-1999 Live music most weekends TAPS BAR, 1605 C.R. 220, Ste. 145, 278-9421 Chilly Rhino 8 p.m. May 21 WHITEY’S Fish Camp, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198 Southern Ruckus 9 p.m. May 20
INTRACOASTAL WEST
CLIFF’S Bar, 3033 Monument Rd., 645-5162 James & the Sauce May 18. Lift May 20. Circus May 21 JERRY’S Grille, 13170 Atlantic Blvd., 220-6766 Mr. Natural 7:30 p.m. May 20. Lisa & the Mad Hatters May 21
ORANGE PARK, MIDDLEBURG
PUSSER’S, 816 A1A, 280-7766 DiCarlo Thompson May 21 TABLE 1, 330 A1A, 280-5515 Tier 2 May 18. Gary Starling May 19. Dustin Bradley May 20. Latin All Stars May 21. Deron Baker May 25
RIVERSIDE, WESTSIDE
MURRAY HILL Theatre, 932 Edgewood S., 388-7807 My Epic, Come Wind, Goodfires, Sea of Surrender 7 p.m. May 19. Third Annual Fundraiser Concert: Tyanna Jones, Leah Sykes 8 p.m. May 20 PREVATT’S Sports Bar, 2620 Blanding Blvd., 282-1564 2 Quart Shyne, Clinton Lane Darnell & Shayne Rammler 8 p.m. May 19
CUBA LIBRE Bar, 2578 Atlantic Blvd., 399-0609 JaTarra Muzik 8 p.m. May 20 JACK RABBITS, 1528 Hendricks, 398-7496 Astari Nite, Ursula, Ruffians, Rebis in Eden 8 p.m. May 18. Good Old War 8 p.m. May 20. Audio Hive, Le Orchid, Skyview, Faze Wave 8 p.m. May 21. Megosh, The Things They Carried, Searching Serenity 7 p.m. May 23. Mighty Mystic & The Hard Roots Movement 8 p.m. May 24 MUDVILLE Music Room, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., 352-7008 Barry Greene, James Hogan May 24
SOUTHSIDE, BAYMEADOWS
AQUA/Masquerades Live, 11000 Beach Blvd., 334-2122
RENAISSANCE MAN
Punk rock’s Chuck Ragan keeps REELIN’ IN THE YEARS Ragan says the fl y-fishing business resulted IF THERE’S ONE PERSON WHO QUALIFIES AS from two desires: one, to spend time with his wife, punk rock’s Most Interesting Man in the World, Jill, and the baby boy she gave birth to in 2015; it’s CHUCK RAGAN. For 23 years, he’s fronted and two, to reconnect with the natural settings Gainesville-born hardcore heroes Hot Water Music. that have always inspired him. “Most days, I’m on In the mid-2000s, he pioneered the former-punkerthe river rowing a boat or out on the lake chasing gone-scruffy-folk-acoustic genre, dreaming up smallmouth bass and carp,” he says. “It’s an the round-robin, family-style Revival Tour along inspiring place for me, and I have a strong passion the way. After Hot Water Music went on hiatus in for fly-fishing. I love teaching all ages and all 2006, he started making his living as a carpenter; different walks of life, and I’ve always felt at home in 2012, he wrote a book of hell-raising tour stories on the water. Having a baby boy last year really called The Road Most Traveled. Can’t keep up? The clarified where my priorities should go – and that’s anonymously administered but hilariously deadpan staying as close to home as possible.” @ChuckRaganFacts Twitter account documents Although he doesn’t consider himself a religious every move of this “manliest man in the world.” person, Ragan says nature supplies him with his Today, Ragan’s a licensed fly-fishing guide in his adopted home of Grass Valley, California, a budding hot sauce entrepreneur, and, as of earlier this year, a video game soundtrack writer, bandleader, and producer. Ragan and his band, The Camaraderie, handled every aspect of the music for The Flame in the Flood, a video game that requires frontier-like players to survive by “scrounging for resources, crafting tools, remedying afflictions, evading vicious wildlife, and staying ahead of coming rains.” As Chuck Ragan laughs over the phone with Folio Weekly Magazine, “To me, that sounded like life right there.” But what fuels a 41-year-old who’s already accomplished so much to keep hustling and stay “busy as all hell,” as he puts it? “Just being independent,” he says. “That’s the road I’ve taken for the majority of my life. It’s tough to ever consider punching a clock, although sometimes it does sound great – being an independent Backyard Oyster Roast: contractor of any sort is not that easy. You have CHUCK RAGAN, TIM BARRY, WHISKEY & CO. 5 p.m. May 22, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Backyard to build and maintain your own security. But Stage, $18 advance; $20 day of, $35 AYCE oysters, when you’re making your own schedule and staugamphitheatre.com deciding your own path, to me that’s worth every bit of effort and struggle.”
NYC HC legends AGNOSTIC FRONT (pictured) perform with COLDSIDE May 19, 1904 Music Hall, Downtown.
Dreka Gates 10 p.m. May 21 MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1800 Town Ctr. Blvd., 541-1999 Charlie Walker May 19. DiCarlo Thompson May 20. Wes Cobb May 21 SEVEN BRIDGES, 9735 Gate Pkwy., 997-1999 Chilly Rhino 8 p.m. May 20 UNCLE MADDIO’S, 8221 Southside Blvd., 527-8605 Dixie Rodeo 7 p.m. May 20 WHISKEY JAX, 10915 Baymeadows, 634-7208 Lisa & the Mad Hatters 9:30 p.m. May 20. Bill Ricci 3 p.m., Take Cover 9:30 p.m. May 21. Melissa Smith every Wed. WORLD of BEER, 9700 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 1, 551-5929 Angie Keilhauer May 20. Oskar Blues, Fat Cactus, Firewater Tent Revival, Second Nature May 21
SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE
KNUCKLEHEADS Bar, 850532 U.S. 17, 222-2380 Clinton Lane Darnell & Shayne Rammler May 20 SANDOLLAR, 9716 Heckscher Dr., 251-2449 Live music most weekends
___________________________________________ To list your band’s gig, send time, date, location (street address, city), admission price and contact number to print to Daniel A. Brown, email dbrown@folioweekly.com or by mail, 45 W. Bay St., Ste. 103, Jacksonville FL 32202. Events run on a space-available basis. Deadline noon Wed. for next Wednesday’s publication.
own sense of spirituality. And he admits that, true to its back story, most of The Flame in the Flood soundtrack was begun or fished while camping or fishing. “It’s the place where I can let go and focus,” he says. “The more Scott Sinclair, who did the majority of Hot Water Music’s artwork, talked to me about it, the more it sounded right up my alley: These characters are cruising down the river, finding food, figuring out how to survive, and stay away from the wolves. It felt right and made sense from the get-go, and that allowed me to write while being inspired by Scott’s images. And I got to open the door and invite some friends like Jon Gaunt, Jon Snodgrass, Adam Faucett, Todd Beene, Ryan Williams, David Warsop, and Joey Kneiser to help out, which is always enjoyable.” Aside from his five-date run through Florida this month and a two-week stint opening for Flogging Molly in August, most of Ragan’s summer tour dates are close to home on the West Coast. But he says he still harbors fond memories of his time in the Sunshine State and can’t wait to get back for the Backyard Oyster Roast at St. Augustine Amphitheatre on Sunday, May 22. “The Amphitheatre staff is super-hospitable, and it’s a great-sounding venue,” he says, reminiscing about opening for Old Crow Medicine Show in 2008. “I’m fired up to get back down there. We have a lot of friends in the area, I’m thinking about doing some fishing while we’re there – just hoping to have a great time all around.” But that easygoing demeanor belies Ragan’s insatiable fire. When Folio Weekly Magazine connected with him for this interview, he was busy shepherding a tree trimmer around his property after spending the day with his son. This summer, his South Mouth hot sauce label will launch; he’s already writing new material for both Hot Water Music and his solo act; and he hopes to get the Revival Tour … well, revived … in 2017. “I’ve got a few irons in the fire, to say the least,” he laughs. “But I just keep trying, sometimes struggling, and sometimes racing through to find that balance and hang on to it until the next red light.”
Nick McGregor mail@folioweekly.com MAY 18-24, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 29
FOLIO DINING AMELIA ISLAND FERNANDINA BEACH
BEACH DINER, 2006 S. Eighth St., 310-3750, beachdiner. com. Newest in the popular local chain. Innovative breakfast: Eggs on the Bayou, fish-n-grits; French toast, riders, omelets. Lunch fare: salads, burgers, sandwiches, shrimp & crabmeat salad. $ K TO B L Daily BEECH STREET Bar & Grill, 801 Beech St., 572-1390, beechstreetbarandgrill.com. In an 1889 home, Chef Charles creates with fresh, local ingredients. Local seafood, handcut Florida steaks, housemade pasta, daily specials, small plates, street food. Courtyard. $$$-$$$$ FB D Tu-Sa; Brunch, D Su BRETT’S WATERWAY CAFÉ, 1 S. Front St., 261-2660. F Southern hospitality, upscale waterfront spot; daily specials, fresh local seafood, aged beef. $$$ FB L D Daily BURLINGAME RESTAURANT, 20 S. Fifth St., 432-7671, burlingamerestaurant.com. The menu at the fine dining place changes quarterly, focusing on elegantly prepared dishes (8 apps, 8 mains) made with quality seasonal ingredients. Duck confit, grilled pork chops. $$$ BW D Tu-Sa CAFÉ KARIBO, 27 N. Third St., 277-5269, cafekaribo.com. F Family-owned; historic building. Veggie burgers, seafood, made-from-scratch dressings, sauces, desserts. Dine in or on oak-shaded patio. Karibrew Pub next door. $$ FB K TO R, Su; L Daily, D Tu-Su in season 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 The CRAB TRAP, 31 N. Second St., 261-4749, ameliacrab
The PECAN ROLL BAKERY, 122 S. Eighth St., 491-9815, thepecanrollbakery.com. F Near historic district. Sweet and savory pastries, cookies, cakes, bagels, breads; made from scratch. $ TO B L W-Su The PICNIC BASKET, 503-A Centre St., 277-9779, picnic basketfernandina.com. Small shop focuses on fresh fare, cheeses, confits, charcuteries, wines. $$ BW B L D M-Sa PI INFINITE COMBINATIONS, 19 S. Third St., 432-8535, pi32034.wix.com/piinfinite. All bar service, NYC-style. Specialty pizzas, pie or slice, toppings: truffle mushrooms, little neck clams, eggs, shrimp. Courtyard. $$ BW TO L D W-Su The SALTY PELICAN Bar & Grill, 12 N. Front St., 277-3811, thesaltypelicanamelia.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. 2nd-story outdoor bar. Owners T.J. & Al offer local seafood, fish tacos, Mayport shrimp, po’boys, cheese oysters. $$ FB K L D Daily The SAVORY MARKET, 474380 E. S.R. 200, 432-8551. Local, organic produce, wild-caught seafood – Mayport shrimp – Wainwright meats, raw dairy, deli. Café has salads, hand-helds, tacos. $$ TO M-Sa SLIDERS Seaside Grill, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652, slidersseaside.com. F Oceanfront. Crabcakes, fried pickles, fresh seafood. Open-air 2nd floor, balcony. $$ FB K L D Daily T-RAY’S BURGER STATION, 202 S. Eighth St., 261-6310. F 2015 BOJ winner. Family-owned-and-operated 18+ years. Blue plate specials, burgers, biscuits & gravy, shrimp. $ BW TO B L M-Sa
ARLINGTON, REGENCY
LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1301 Monument Rd., Ste. 5, 724-5802. F SEE ORANGE PARK.
BITE-SIZED The Bearded Pig PINT-SIZED Fruity Craft Beer GRILL ME! Cheers Park Avenue CHEFFED-UP Rice & Jambalaya
P. 31 P. 32 P. 32 P. 33
ptgrille.com. Family-owned 26+ years; serving new Thai, traditional, vegetarian; curries, noodles. Low-sodium, glutenfree, too. Open kitchen display. $$$ BW TO L D Tu-Su The WELL WATERING HOLE, 3928 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 9, 737-7740, thewellwateringhole.com. Local craft beers, wines glass/bottle. Meatloaf sandwich, pulled Peruvian chicken, vegan black bean burgers. HH. $$ BW L M-F; D Tu-Sa ZESTY INDIA, 8358 Point Meadows Dr., 329-3676, zesty india.com. Chefs combine Asian methodology with European template for tandoori lamb chops, rosemary tikka. Vegetarian items cooked separately in vegetable oil. Lunch platters. $ BW TO L D Tu-Su
BEACHES
(Venues are in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted.)
AL’S PIZZA, 303 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-0002, alspizza.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. New York-style gourmet pizzas, baked dishes 28+ years. All-day HH M-Thu. $ FB K TO L D Daily EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 992 Beach Blvd., 249-3001, europeanstreet.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. FLYING IGUANA TAQUERIA & Tequila Bar, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680 F 2015 BOJ winner. Latin American, tacos, seafood, carnitas, Cubana fare. 100+ tequilas. $ FB L D Daily GUSTO, 1266 Beach Blvd., 372-9925, gustojax.com. Classic Old World Roman cuisine, extensive Italian menu: homestyle pasta, beef, chicken, fish delicacies; open pizza-tossing kitchen. Reservations encouraged. $$ FB TO D Nightly HARMONIOUS MONKS, 320 First St. N., 372-0815. American-style steakhouse, filets, gourmet burgers, ribs, wraps, sandwiches. $$ FB K L D M-Sa LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 657 Third St. N., 247-9620. F SEE ORANGE PARK.
MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS, 1018 Third St. N., Ste. 2, 241-5600, mellowmushroom.com. F Bite Club. 2015 BOJ winner. Hoagies, gourmet pizzas: Mighty Meaty, vegetarian, Kosmic Karma. 35 tap beers. Nonstop HH. $ BW K TO L D Daily METRO DINER, 1534 Third St. N., 853-6817. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO.
With locations in Riverside and Baymeadows, the authentic, satisfying flavors offered by Pattaya Thai Grille are never far away. Photo by Dennis Ho trap.com. F 37 years, family-owned-and-operated. Fresh local seafood, steaks, specials. HH. $$ FB L D Daily GILBERT’S Underground Kitchen, 510 S. Eighth St., 310-6374, undergroundkitchen.com. Chef Kenny Gilbert (Top Chef) serves Deep Southern American cuisine. Dine inside or on a patio. $$ BW K TO L F; D W-Sa & M; R Su HOLA CUBAN CAFÉ, 117 Centre St., 321-0163, holacuban cafe.com. F Behind Palace Saloon; owned by real Cubans; authentic sandwiches, coffee. Dine in or out at umbrella tables. $$ FB K TO R, Su; L D Daily HORIZONS, 5472 First Coast Hwy., 321-2430, horizons ameliaisland.com. Fine dining, upscale setting. Gourmet fare, seafood, steaks, lamb, pasta. $$$ FB L D Tu-Sa JACK & DIANE’S, 708 Centre St., 321-1444, jackanddian escafe.com. F 1887 shotgun house. Jambalaya, French toast, mac-n-cheese, crêpes, vegan/vegetarian. Dine in or on a porch. $$ FB K B L D Daily LA MANCHA, 2709 Sadler Rd., 261-4646. Spanish/ Portuguese cuisine with a Brazilian flair. Tapas, seafood, steaks, homemade sangria. Drink specials. AYCE paella Sunday. $$$ FB K TO D Nightly MOON RIVER PIZZA, 925 S. 14th St., 321-3400, moonriver pizza.net. F 2015 BOJ winner. Authentic Northern-style pizzas, 20+ toppings, pie or slice. $ BW TO L D M-Sa The MUSTARD SEED CAFÉ, 833 Courson Rd., 277-3141, nassaushealthfoods.net. Casual organic eatery, juice bar, in Nassau Health Foods. All-natural organic items, smoothies, herbal tea, daily specials. $$ TO B L M-Sa PABLO’S Mexican Restaurant Grill & Cantina, 12 N. Second St., 261-0049. Chicken, carnes, fajitas, burritos, tacos, daily specials, vegetarian. $$ FB K TO L D Daily To list your restaurant, call your account manager or Sam Taylor, 860-2465 • staylor@folioweekly.com
DINING DIRECTORY KEY
AVERAGE ENTRÉE • COST •
$ = Less than $10 $$ = $10- $20 $$$ = $20- $35 $$$$ = $35 & up BW = Beer/Wine FB = Full Bar K = Kids’ Menu TO = Take Out B = Breakfast R = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner Bite Club = Hosted free FW Bite Club event. fwbiteclub.com 2015 Best of Jax winner F = FW distribution spot
30 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 18-24, 2016
AVONDALE, ORTEGA
FLORIDA CREAMERY, 3566 St. Johns Ave., 619-5386. Ice cream, waffle cones, milkshakes, sundaes, Nathan’s grilled hot dogs. Low-fat and sugar-free choices. $ K TO L D Daily HARPOON LOUIE’S, 4070 Herschel St., Ste. 8, 389-5631, harpoonlouies.net. F Locally owned & operated 20+ years. American pub. 1/2-lb. burgers, fish sandwiches, pasta. Local beers, HH. $$ FB K TO L D Daily MELLOW MUSHROOM Pizza Bakers, 3611 St. Johns Ave., 388-0200. F Bite Club. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. PINEGROVE Market & Deli, 1511 PineGrove Ave., 389-8655, pinegrovemarket.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. 40+ years. Burgers, Cubans, subs, wraps. Onsite butcher cuts USDA choice prime aged beef. Craft beers. $ BW TO B L D M-Sa RESTAURANT ORSAY, 3630 Park St., 381-0909, restaur antorsay.com. 2015 BOJ winner. French/Southern bistro; local organic ingredients. Steak frites, mussels, pork chops. Snail of Approval. $$$ FB R, Su; D Nightly SIMPLY SARA’S, 2902 Corinthian Ave., 387-1000, simply saras.net. F Down-home fare from scratch: eggplant fries, pimento cheese, baked chicken, fruit cobblers, chicken & dumplings, desserts. BYOB. $$ K TO L D M-Sa, B Sa
BAYMEADOWS
AL’S PIZZA, 8060 Philips Hwy., Ste. 105, 731-4300. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES.
INDIA’S Restaurant, 9802 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 8, 620-0777, indiajax.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. Authentic cuisine, lunch buffet. Curries, vegetables, lamb, chicken, shrimp, fish tandoori. $$ BW L M-Sa; D Nightly LARRY’S Subs, 3928 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 9, 737-7740. 8616 Baymeadows Rd., 739-2498. F SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 9802 Baymeadows Rd., 425-9142. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO.
MINT INDIAN Restaurant, 8490 Baymeadows Rd., 367-1821, jaxmint.com. A new style of authentic, traditional Indian cuisine. Daily lunch buffet; HH. $ L D Daily NATIVE SUN Natural Foods Market & Deli, 11030 Baymeadows Rd., 260-2791. SEE MANDARIN. PATTAYA THAI Grille, 9551 Baymeadows Rd., 646-9506,
MEZZA Restaurant & Bar, 110 First St., NB, 249-5573, mezzarestaurantandbar.com. F Near-the-ocean 20+ years. Casual bistro fare: gourmet wood-fired pizzas, nightly specials. Dine in, patio. $$$ FB K D M-Sa MOJO KITCHEN BBQ PIT, 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636, mojobbq.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. Pulled pork, beef, chicken, Carolina-style, sides. $$ FB K TO L D Daily M SHACK, 299 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 241-2599, mshack burgers.com. 2015 BOJ winner. David and Matthew Medure flip burgers, hot dogs, fries, shakes, more. Dine inside or out – people-watch at Beaches Town Center. $$ BW L D Daily NATIVE SUN Natural Foods Market & Deli, 1585 Third St. N., 458-1390. SEE BAYMEADOWS. POE’S TAVERN, 363 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 241-7637, poestavern.com. Gastropub, 50+ beers, gourmet burgers, handcut fries, fish tacos, Edgar’s Drunken Chili, daily fish sandwich special. $$ FB K L D Daily RAGTIME TAVERN & SEAFOOD GRILL, 207 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 241-7877, ragtimetavern.com. F 30+ years, iconic seafood place. Blackened snapper, sesame tuna, Ragtime shrimp. Daily HH. $$ FB L D Daily SEACHASERS, 831 First St. N., 372-0444, seachasers. com. New place; four dining areas: First Street Bar, Music Room, Beach Bar, Dining Room. Daily HH. Dine in or on patio. $$ FB L D Daily SLIDERS SEAFOOD GRILLE & OYSTER BAR, 218 First St., NB, 246-0881, slidersseafoodgrille.com. Beach-casual spot. Faves: Fresh fish tacos, gumbo. Key lime pie, ice cream sandwiches. $$ FB K L Sa/Su; D Nightly SNEAKERS SPORTS GRILLE, 111 Beach Blvd., 482-1000, sneakerssportsgrille.com. 2015 BOJ winner. 20+ tap beers, TVs. HH M-F. $ FB K L D Daily UGLY CUPCAKE MUFFINRY & Cafe, 115 Fifth Ave. S., 339-5214, theuglycupcakemuffinry.com. Sweet/ savory giant muffins, made from organic, locally sourced ingredients. Outside seating. $$ TO B L Daily V PIZZA, 528 First St. N., 853-6633, vpizza.com. This new-ish place specializes in the art of traditional pizza Neapolitana, a rare class of artisan pizza from Naples – Italy, silly, not Florida. $$ FB TO L D Daily
DOWNTOWN
AKEL’S DELICATESSSEN, 21 W. Church St., 665-7324, akels deli.com. 50 N. Laura St., Ste. 125, 446-3119. F New Yorkstyle deli has breakfast, fresh made subs, specialty sandwiches, burgers, gyros, wraps, desserts, vegetarian items. $ TO B L M-F The CANDY APPLE CAFÉ & COCKTAILS, 400 N. Hogan St., 353-9717, thecandyapplecafe.com. Chef-driven cuisine, sandwiches, entrées, salads. HH Tu-F $$ FB K D Tu-Sa CASA DORA, 108 E. Forsyth St., 356-8282. F Chef Sam Hamidi serves Italian fare, 40+ years: veal, seafood, gourmet pizza. Homemade salad dressing. $ BW K L M-F; D M-Sa FIONN MacCOOL’S Irish Pub & Restaurant, Jax Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1547, fionnmacs.com. Casual dining, uptown Irish atmosphere; fish & chips, Guinness lamb stew, black-and-tan brownies. $$ FB K L D Daily FOLKFOOD, 219 N. Hogan St., 333-8392 Southern specialties, coastal cuisine like fried catfish, Florida citrus kale salad, blackened mahi mahi tacos, meatloaf with curry sauce, homestyle desserts made in-house daily. $ BW TO L D M-F INDOCHINE, 21 E. Adams St., Ste. 200, 598-5303, indo chinejax.com. 2015 BOJ winner. Thai, Southeast Asian
FOLIO DINING : BITE-SIZED
HOG
photo by Brentley Stead
HEAVEN
Mouthwatering BBQ AT ITS FINEST at The Bearded Pig have four kinds of beans. The mac and cheese THE BEARDED PIG ISN’T JOKING ABOUT THEIR was traditional, but we were all surprised by barbecue. With plentiful platters of meat, fresh the potato salad — it was a mix of fresh green sides and a great outdoor beer garden, it’s beans (no cans here) and potatoes that weren’t going to be the spot to be this summer. overcooked or mushy and held up well to The process is easy: Order first, then grab being seasoned. a table. The dishes arrive lightning-quick; I love pickles, so when I saw that the we spent only a few minutes smelling the platters come with sliced pickles, I zeroed in mouthwatering aromas before our meals came on them immediately. They were so delectable, floating out to us on great big cafeteria trays. I had to ask if they were made in-house. We chose The Bearded Poutine ($8) starter, The answer was no, but then I learned that which includes a humongous pile of French they were from Olive My Pickle, our local fries covered in cheese and crispy meat. I pickle guru, which explained drizzled housemade barbecue their pickley perfection. sauce on top, and it was some THE BEARDED PIG The Bearded Pig personnel kind of heaven. The San Marco SOUTHERN BBQ & said they try to rely on local Platter ($22) is the perfect BEER GARDEN sources as much as possible; choice for two; it’s a quarter1224 Kings Ave., for example, the sausage is pound of chicken and ribs, San Marco, 619-2247, from Azar & Company, a meat along with your choice of two thebeardedpigbbq.com meats and two sides. We went shop here in town. Azar makes with the highly recommended a special blend of beef and brisket and pork. Then we decided to go pork just for The Bearded Pig, and you simply whole hog (sorry, I couldn’t resist) and get the must try it. quarter-pound of sausage ($5) as well. While The Nutella brownie sundae ($4) is the ribs are usually my favorite, I have to say most recommended, and decadent, dessert on brisket and sausage were the winners at The the menu. The sundae is served in a Mason Bearded Pig. The brisket was perfectly cooked, jar, with a giant square of a warm chocolaty delicious and flavorful. The sausage had the brownie and vanilla ice cream, smothered in ideal crispy skin — and when you cut into it, hot fudge. It’s the perfect sweet treat to share you reveal a rich and scrumptious filling. after a big meal. The Bearded Pig makes a special effort In addition to the excellent fare, I love to accommodate vegetarians with The Dace the vibe of The Bearded Pig. The outdoor ($8) sandwich and even goes so far as to make area makes you feel like you’re hanging out sure all the sides are vegetarian — even the barbecuing with friends and, with lots of baked beans. The Dace is a unique concoction: outdoor seating and a set of cornhole boards, macaroni and cheese, slaw, and beans all on it’s friendly to families and large groups. a big bun. The slaw was crispy, with a vinegar Brentley Stead base rather than mayo, and the baked beans bitesized@folioweekly.com MAY 18-24, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 31
DINING DIRECTORY PINT SIZED PINT-SIZED Craft beer TAKES FLIGHT in Northeast Florida
HIP, HIP,
BREWS, YAY!
WE’RE WE W E’R RE SM S SMAC SMACK MAC ACK IN ACK N TTHE HE M HE MIDDLE IDDL ID DLE LE OF OF A AMERICAN MER MER ME Craft Beer Week and the state of local craft beer has never been better. Eight years ago, we had very few craft beer options in Northeast Florida, other than corporate brew restaurants, and bars that focused on quality craft beers were hard to find. Since Bold City Brewing Company opened in 2008, Jacksonville has become a destination for craft beer. The area now boasts 16 breweries or brewpubs, with at least two more opening by the end of the year. Some of our relatively old standards are in the process of expanding. In addition to the growth among breweries, beer-centric restaurants and drinking establishments are popping up with such frequency that beer-lovers in any part of the region can find a quality cold pint close to home. With the rapid growth in the Northeast Florida craft beer scene, we knew you’d want to see what’s happening all around.
PINT-SIZED
BOLD CITY BREWING COMPANY To the right of the forthcoming Cowford Chophouse, there’s a storefront with the Bold City logo covering its windows. This, the future home of the brewery’s Downtown expansion, will house a small, three-barrel brewing system and taproom. This smaller system will allow experimentation that the brewery hasn’t been able to do as much as they’d like. Look for the new space to open later in 2016. INTUITION ALE WORKS When Intuition opened on King Street, owner Ben Davis thought they’d have plenty of growing space. Over the past few years, it’s become clear that a larger facility is needed. After several false starts, Davis found a new home just a Hail Mary pass from EverBank Field, on the corner of Bay Street and A. Philip Randolph Boulevard. It will feature an indoor taproom and a rooftop beer garden, and an expanded brewing space. Look for the new digs to open in late August or early September. WICKED BARLEY BREWING COMPANY Jacksonville’s newest brewpub, Wicked Barley, plans to open at its Baymeadows Road location some time next month. They won’t be able to serve their own brews right away – the licensing process is long and arduous – so they’ll have guest taps until then. AMELIA TAVERN The owners of The Salty Pelican Bar & Grill in Fernandina Beach have just opened Amelia Tavern on Centre Street. It features an airy indoor seating area dominated by a central bar with a huge blackboard wall behind it. Many of the beers served at the tavern are being crafted in a glass-enclosed brewery to the left of the entrance. The owners hope to start serving their own creations in June (pesky licensing again). BOG BREWING COMPANY Two months after opening near St. Augustine’s historic district, Bog Brewing Company already has a neighborhood following and a steady stream of tourist traffic. The exposed-brick and open taproom make it a comfortable place to imbibe beers brewed just feet away. With so many craft beer projects in the works, it’s a fun challenge keeping up to date. One thing is certain: Craft beer is here to stay. Northeast Florida has fully embraced craft beer culture, and the future has never looked brighter – or beer-ier. Marc Wisdom marc@folioweekly.com
32 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 18-24, 2016
cuisine. Signature dishes are chicken Satay, soft shell crab; mango, sticky rice dessert. $$ FB TO L D M-F; D Tu-Sa OLIO MARKET, 301 E. Bay St., 356-7100, oliomarket.com. F From-scratch soups, sandwiches. Duck grilled cheese, seen on Best Sandwich in America. $$ BW TO B R L M-F; D F URBAN GRIND Coffee Company, 45 W. Bay St., Ste. 102, 866-395-3954, 516-7799, urbangrind.coffee. Variety of locally roasted whole bean brewed coffee, espressos, fresh pastries, smoothies, bagels, cream cheeses. Chicken salad (best ever), tuna salad, sandwiches. Free Wi-Fi. $ B L M-F URBAN GRIND Express, 50 W. Laura St., 516-7799. SEE ABOVE. ZODIAC BAR & GRILL, 120 W. Adams St., 354-8283, thezodiacbarandgrill.com. 16+ years. Mediterranean cuisine, American fare, paninis, vegetarian dishes. Daily lunch buffet. Espressos, hookahs. HH W-Sa $ FB L M-F
FLEMING ISLAND
GRASSROOTS Natural Market, 1915 East-West Parkway, 541-0009. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. MELLOW MUSHROOM Pizza Bakers, 1800 Town Ctr. Blvd., 541-1999. F Bite Club. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. TAPS Bar & Grill, 1605 C.R. 220, Ste. 145, 278-9421, tapspublichouse.com. 50+ premium domestic, imported tap beers. Burgers, sandwiches, entrées. $$ FB K L D Daily WHITEY’S FISH CAMP, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198, whiteys fishcamp.com. F Real fish camp. Gator tail, freshwater catfish, daily specials, on Swimming Pen Creek. Tiki bar. Come by boat, bike or car. $ FB K TO L Tu-Su; D Nightly
INTRACOASTAL WEST
AL’S PIZZA, 14286 Beach Blvd., Ste. 31, 223-0991. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES.
LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 10750 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 14, 642-6980. F SEE ORANGE PARK. ORANGE TREE Hot Dogs, 3500 Beach, Ste. 43, 551-3661, orangetreehotdogs.com. Hot dogs, personal size pizzas since ’68. Hershey’s ice cream, milkshakes. $ K TO L D Daily SID & LINDA’S Seafood Market & Restaurant, 12220 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 109, 503-8276. Pick your own whole fresh fish, have it cleaned, filleted, cooked to order. Dine in, take out. Housemade sauces. $$ K TO L D Daily
MANDARIN, NW ST. JOHNS
AKEL’S DELI, 12926 Granbay Pkwy. W., 880-2008. F SEE DOWNTOWN.
AL’S PIZZA, 11190 San Jose Blvd., 260-4115. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES.
ATHENS CAFÉ, 6271 St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 7, 733-1199. F 20+ years. Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), baby shoes (stuffed eggplant). Greek beers. $$ BW L D M-F; D Sa FIRST COAST Deli & Grill, 6082 St. Augustine Rd., 733-7477. Pancakes, bacon, sandwiches, burgers, wings. $ K TO B L Daily LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 11362 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 3, 674-2945. F SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 12807 San Jose Blvd., 638-6185. F 2015 BOJ winner. Now dinner nightly. SEE SAN MARCO. NATIVE SUN Natural Foods Market & Deli, 10000 San Jose Blvd., 260-6950, nativesunjax.com. F Organic soups, baked items, sandwiches, prepared foods. Juice, smoothie,coffee bar. All-natural, organic beers, wines. Indoor, outdoor dining. $ BW TO K B L D Daily TAPS Bar & Grill, 2220 C.R. 210 W., Ste. 314, 819-1554. SEE FLEMING ISLAND.
V PIZZA, 12601 San Jose Blvd., 647-9424. SEE SAN MARCO.
ORANGE PARK
The HILLTOP, 2030 Wells Rd., 272-5959, hilltop-club. com. Southern-style fine dining. New Orleans shrimp, certified Black Angus prime rib, she-crab soup, desserts. Extensive bourbon selection. $$$ FB D Tu-Sa LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1330 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 165, 276-7370. 1545 C.R. 220, 278-2827. 700 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 15, 272-3553. 5733 Roosevelt Blvd., 446-9500. 1401 S. Orange Ave., Green Cove, 284-7789, larryssubs.com. F All over the area, Larry’s piles ’em high, serves ’em fast; 33+ years. Hot & cold subs, soups. Some Larry’s serve breakfast. $ K TO B L D Daily METRO DINER, 2034 Kingsley Ave., 375-8548. F 2015 BOJ winner. Now dinner nightly. SEE SAN MARCO. PASTA MARKET Italian Restaurant & Clam Bar, 1930 Kingsley Ave., 276-9551, pastamarketitalianrestaurant. com. Family-owned-and-operated. Gourmet pizzas, veal, chicken, mussels, shrimp, grouper. Pastas: spaghetti, lasagna, fettuccine, ziti, calzones, linguini, tortellini. $$ BW K D Nightly SNACSHACK, 179 College Dr., Ste. 19, 682-7622, snac shack.menu. F Bakery and café; bagels, muffins, breads, cookies, brownies, snack treats. $$ K BW TO B L D Daily The URBAN BEAN Coffeehouse Café, 2023 Park Ave., 541-4938, theurbanbeancoffeehouse.com. Coffee, espresso, gourmet sandwiches, flatbreads, apps. $$ K TO B L D Daily
PONTE VEDRA BEACH
AL’S Pizza, 635 A1A, 543-1494. F 2015 BOJ. SEE BEACHES. LARRY’S Subs, 830 A1A N., Ste. 6, 273-3993. F SEE O. PARK.
RIVERSIDE, 5 PTS, WESTSIDE
13 GYPSIES, 887 Stockton St., 389-0330, 13gypsies.com. 2015 BOJ winner. Authentic Mediterranean peasant cuisine updated for Americans; tapas, blackened octopus, risotto of the day, coconut mango curry chicken. $$ BW L D Tu-Sa AL’S PIZZA, 1620 Margaret St., Ste. 201, 388-8384. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES.
BLACK SHEEP Restaurant, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, blacksheep5points.com. New American, Southern; local source ingredients. Rooftop bar. $$$ FB R Sa/Su; L D Daily BREW FIVE POINTS, 1024 Park St., 714-3402, brewfive points.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. Local craft beer, espresso, coffee, wine. Rotating drafts, 75+ can craft beers; sodas, tea. Waffles, toasts, desserts, coffees. HH. $$ B L Su/M; B L D Tu-Sa
COOL MOOSE CAFÉ, 2708 Park St., 381-4242, coolmoose cafe.net. New England-style café; full breakfast menu, classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, brunch all day Sunday. Gourmet coffees. $$ BW R L D Tu-Su CORNER TACO, 818 Post St., 240-0412, cornertaco.com. Made-from-scratch “Mexclectic street food,” tacos, nachos, gluten-free, vegetarian options. $ BW L D Tu-Su DERBY on PARK, 1068 Park St., 379-3343. New American cuisine, upscale retro in historic landmark building. Shrimp & grits, lobster bites, 10-oz. gourmet burger. Dine inside or out. $$-$$$ FB B L D Tu-Su, R Sa/Su EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999. 2015 BOJ winner. 130+ import beers, 20 on tap. Sandwiches. Outside dining at some EStreets. $ BW K L D Daily GRASSROOTS Natural Market, 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. Juice bar uses certified organic fruits, vegetables. Artisanal cheeses, more than 300 craft, imported beers, 50 organic wines, and organic produce, meats, vitamins, herbs. Organic wraps, sides, sandwiches. $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS Asian Street Fare, 1001 Park St., 508-0342,
basilthaijax.com. F Authentic Pad Thai, curry, tempura, vegetarian, seafood, stir-fry, specials. HH. $$ FB L D M-Sa BISTRO AIX, 1440 San Marco Blvd., 398-1949, bistrox. com. F Mediterranean/French inspired; steak frites, oak-fired pizza, raw bar, seasonal selections. HH M-F $$$ FB L D Daily EUROPEAN STREET Café, 1704 San Marco Blvd., 398-9500. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. $ BW K L D Daily FUSION SUSHI, 1550 University Blvd. W., 636-8688, fusionsushijax.com. F Upscale sushi spot serves fresh sushi, sashimi, hibachi, teriyaki, kiatsu. $$ K L D Daily INDOCHINE, 1974 San Marco Blvd., 503-7013. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE DOWNTOWN.
KITCHEN on SAN MARCO, 1402 San Marco Blvd., 396-2344, kitchenonsanmarco.com. 2015 BOJ winner. Local, national craft beers, specialty cocktails, seasonal menu, fresh, locally sourced ingredients. $$ FB R Su; L D Daily MARDI GRAS Sports Bar, 123 San Marco Ave., 347-3288, mardibar.com. Wings, nachos, shrimp, chicken, Phillys, sliders, soft pretzels. $$ FB TO L D Daily METRO DINER, 3302 Hendricks Ave., 398-3701, metro diner.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. Original upscale diner.
GRILL ME!
CASON ADEEB
BEACH DINER
2006 S. Eighth St., Fernandina Beach BORN IN: Jacksonville YEARS IN THE BIZ: 24 FAVE RESTAURANT (other than mine): Chama Guacha, Houston FAVE CUISINE STYLE: Southern fusion GO-TO INGREDIENT: When in doubt, butter it out. IDEAL MEAL: Bone-in ribeye, pan-seared in butter and fresh herbs, with twice-baked potato and roasted Brussels sprouts WILL NOT CROSS MY LIPS: Durian (stinky fruit) INSIDER'S SECRET: Always be fair and consistent. CELEB SIGHTING @ BEACH DINER: John Grisham MY CULINARY VICE: Popeye's fried chicken hawkerstreetfare.com. 2015 BOJ winner. Authentic dishes from mobile stalls. $ BW TO L D Daily HOBNOB, 220 Riverside Ave., Ste. 110, 513-4272, hobnobwithus.com. New place serves cuisine driven by global inspirations, local intentions – ahi poke tuna, jumbo lump crab tacos. $$ FB TO L D Brunch Daily IL DESCO, 2665 Park St., 290-6711, ildescojax.com. Modern, authentic Italian cuisine. Handcrafted cocktails. $$-$$$ FB TO K L D Daily JOHNNY’S DELI & GRILLE, 474 Riverside Ave., 356-8055. F Casual; made-to-order sandwiches, wraps, salads, breakfast. $ TO B L M-Sa LARRY’S Subs, 1509 Margaret, 674-2794. 7895 Normandy, 781-7600. 8102 Blanding, 779-1933. F SEE ORANGE PARK. LITTLE JOE’S CAFÉ by Akel, 245 Riverside Ave., Ste. 195, 791-3336. Riverview café serves soups, salads, signature salad dressings. $ TO B L M-F METRO DINER, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., 999-4600. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO.
MOON RIVER PIZZA, 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., 389-4442. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. MOSSFIRE GRILL, 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire.com. F Southwestern fish tacos, chicken enchiladas. HH M-Sa upstairs, all day Su $$ FB K L D Daily M SHACK, 1012 Margaret St., 423-1283. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES.
PATTAYA Thai Grille, 1526 King, 503-4060. SEE BAYMEADOWS. RAIN DOGS, 1045 Park St., 379-4969. 2015 BOJ winner. Bar food. $ D SBRAGA & Company, 220 Riverside Ave., Ste. 114, 746-0909, sbragadining.com. Chef Kevin Sbraga has a contemporary culinary approach to local influences. Go-to dishes: hog & hominy, fish fry, carrot ceviche. $$-$$$ FB TO L D Daily SOUTHERN ROOTS Filling Station, 1275 King St., 513-4726, southernrootsjax.com. 2015 BOJ winner. Healthy, light vegan fare; local, organic ingredients. Specials, on bread, local greens or rice, change daily. Coffees, teas. $ Tu-Su SUSHI CAFÉ, 2025 Riverside, Ste. 204, 384-2888, sushi cafejax.com. F Monster, Rock-n-Roll, Dynamite Roll. Hibachi, tempura, katsu, teriyaki. $$ BW L D Daily TIMOTI’S SEAFOD SHAK, 1043 Park St., 374-8892. Brand new. SEE AMELIA ISLAND.
ST. AUGUSTINE
AL’S PIZZA, 1 St. George St., 824-4383. F 2015 BOJ
winner. SEE BEACHES.
The FLORIDIAN, 72 Spanish St., 829-0655, thefloridian staug.com. 2015 BOJ winner. Updated Southern fare. Vegetarian, gluten-free. Fried green tomato bruschetta; grits with shrimp, fish or tofu. $$$ BW K TO L D W-M GYPSY CAB Company, 828 Anastasia Blvd., 824-8244, gypsycab.com. F Local mainstay 25+ years. Varied menu changes twice daily. Signature dish: Gypsy chicken. Seafood, tofu, duck, veal. $$ FB R Su; L D Daily MELLOW MUSHROOM Pizza Bakers, 410 Anastasia Blvd., 826-4040. F Bite Club. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. METRO DINER, 1000 S. Ponce de Leon Blvd., 758-3323. F 2015 BOJ winner. Now dinner nightly. SEE SAN MARCO. ONE TWENTY THREE Burger House, 123 King St., 687-2790. From Carmelo’s owners. Premium burgers, made with beef from NYC butcher Schweid & Sons. Wood-fired pizzas, ice cream bar, Old World milkshakes. $$ BW K TO L D Daily
SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK
BASIL Thai & Sushi, 1004 Hendricks Ave., 674-0190,
Meatloaf, chicken pot pie, soups. This Metro serves dinner nightly. $$ B R L Daily PIZZA PALACE, 1959 San Marco Blvd., 399-8815, pizza palacejax.com. F Family-owned-&-operated; spinach pizza, chicken spinach calzones, ravioli, lasagna. Dine outside. HH. $$ BW K TO L D Daily TAVERNA, 1986 San Marco Blvd., 398-3005, tavernasan marco.com. Chef Sam Efron’s authentic Italian; local produce, meats, tapas, wod-fired pizza. Craft beers & cocktails. $$$ FB K TO R L D Daily V PIZZA, 1406 Hendricks Ave., 527-1511, vpizza.com. True Neapolitana pizzas with the freshest ingredients. They claim a 55-second cook time – put them to the test. $$ FB L D Daily
SOUTHSIDE, TINSELTOWN
ALHAMBRA Theatre & Dining, 12000 Beach Blvd., 641-1212, alhambrajax.com. USA’s longest-running dinner theater; Chef DeJuan Roy’s themed menus. Reservations. $$ FB D Tu-Su The CHATTY CRAB, 9041 Southside Blvd., Ste. 138C, 888-0639, chattycrab.com. Chef Dana Pollard’s raw oysters, Nawlins-style low country boil, po’ boys, 50¢ wing specials. $$ FB K TO L D Daily EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 5500 Beach Blvd., 398-1717. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE.
GREEK STREET CAFÉ, 3546 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S., Ste. 106, 503-0620, greekstreetcafe.com. Fresh, authentic, modern fare; Greek owners. Gyros, spanakopita, dolmades, falafel, salads, Greek nachos. $$ BW K TO L D M-Sa LARRY’S Subs, 3611 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S., 641-6499. 4479 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., 425-4060. F SEE ORANGE PARK. MARIANAS GRINDS, 11380 Beach Blvd., Ste. 10, 206-612-6596. Pacific Islander fare, emphasizing chamorro culture. Soups, stews, fitada, beef oxtail, katden pika; spicy empanadas, lumpia, chicken relaguen, BBQ-style ribs, chicken. $$ TO B L D Tu-Su MELLOW MUSHROOM, 9734 Deer Lake Ct., 997-1955. F Bite Club. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES.
MOXIE KITCHEN + Cocktails, 4972 Big Island Dr., 998-9744, moxiefl.com. BOJ winner. Chef Tom Gray’s venue has innovative contemporary American cuisine – seafood, steaks, pork, burgers, sides, desserts – using locally sourced ingredients when possible. $$$ FB K L M-F; D Nightly M SHACK, 10281 Midtown Pkwy., 642-5000. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES.
OVINTE, 10208 Buckhead Br. Dr., 900-7730, ovinte.com. 2015 BOJ winner. European-style, influenced by Italy, Spain, Mediterranean. Small plates, entrée-size portions, charcuterie menu. 240-bottle/wines, 75/glass; craft spirits. Dine outdoors. $$ FB R, Su; D Nightly RITA’S DELI, 9446 Philips Hwy., 806-3923. Sandwiches of Boar’s Head meats, cheeses. $$ BW TO L D M-Sa TAVERNA YAMAS, 9753 Deer Lake Ct., 854-0426, taverna yamas.com. F Bite Club. Char-broiled kabobs, seafood, wines, desserts. Daily HH. Bellydancing. $$ FB K TO L D Daily TOMMY’S Brick Oven Pizza, 4160 Southside Blvd., Ste. 2, 565-1999, tbopizza.com. NY-style thin crust, brickoven-cooked pizzas – gluten-free. Calzones, sandwiches, Thumann’s no-MSG meats, Grande cheeses. Boylan’s soda. Curbside pickup. $$ BW K TO L D M-Sa TOSSGREEN, 4375 Southside Blvd., Ste. 12, 619-4356. 4668 Town Crossing Dr., Ste. 105, 686-0234. Custom salads, burrito bowls; fresh fruits, vegetables, 100% natural chicken breast, sirloin, shrimp, tofu, nuts, cheeses, dressings, sauces, salsas, frozen yogurt. $$ K L D Daily
DINING DIRECTORY SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE
HOLA MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 1001 N. Main St., 356-3100, holamexicanrestaurant.com. F Fajitas, burritos, specials, enchiladas. HH; sangria. $ BW K TO L D M-Sa LARRY’S Giant Subs, 12001 Lem Turner Rd., 764-9999. SEE ORANGE PARK.
RICE
DREAMS “SAUTÉ AND SIMMER, THE FLAVOR CAN’T be beat!” Does anyone else remember that jingle? It’s an old one, but for some reason, that little ditty plays in my head whenever I’m cooking rice. Maybe because it describes one technique for making perfect rice, and that’s the crux of today’s culinary rant: Why can’t people in this country cook rice properly? It ain’t that tuff ! Rice is the staple food product of more than half the world’s population, yet few Americans can cook it properly — or care to even try. They serve gummy, mushy rice or, worse, crunchy, undercooked rice, and consider that acceptable. Unbelievably, most chain and corporate restaurants lazily serve a packaged mix that’s insipid, boring and overly salty. It’s sad, because rice offers so many possibilities. Fortunately, rice is once again being grown commercially right here in Jacksonville. A small start-up farm called Congaree and Penn Farm & Mills grows a strain known as Jupiter rice and it’s making quite a splash at farmers markets. I was lucky enough to visit the farm for the May Day farm tour and was thoroughly impressed with the beautiful, productive enterprise. What a great addition to our food community! Of course, the most important aspect of rice is eating. (A few words on Chinese take-out rice: mushy, starchy, tastes like dishwater. Why is it always awful? Just a lack of passion and it’s cheap, I guess.) Among my favorite rice-based cuisines are three from right here in the Southern U.S.: Cajun, Creole and Low Country cuisine. The rice that’s most common in these is converted rice (think Uncle Ben’s). Such rice holds up well to baking and the liquid-torice ratio is much more forgiving. Some of the most beloved, awe-inspiring dishes are called perlou. Perlou rice dishes also include seafood, game, sausages or whatever other delicious items are available. The basic preparation is to sauté and simmer! Sound familiar? Then throw the perlou in the oven and let all the beautiful flavors combine into “the aroma of heaven.”
MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS, 15170 Max Leggett Parkway, 757-8843. F Bite Club. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES.
MOLLY BROWN’S Pub & Grill, 2467 Faye Rd., 683-5044, mollybrownspubandgrill.com. F American (traditional), brunch, burgers, diner fare, hot dogs, sandwiches, seafood, Southern, vegetarian dishes. $$ FB TO L D Daily
CHEFFED-UP The world’s FAVORITE STAPLE doesn’t have to be starchy, gummy or crunchy
I’m so hungry now I’m gonna make my favorite version of a perlou: Jambalaya!
CHEF BILL’S SHRIMP & TASSO JAMBALAYA
Ingredients • 3 tablespoons butter • 1/2 pound tasso, brunoise • (finely diced) • 1/2 pound shrimp, peeled and • diced small • 3/4 cup onion, brunoise • 1/2 cup celery, brunoise • 1/2 cup green pepper, brunoise • 1/2 cup red pepper, brunoise • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced • 2 bay leaves • 2 tablespoons Creole seasoning • 3 ounces white wine • 1/2 cup diced tomatoes • 1 cup tomato sauce • 2 & 1/2 cups shrimp stock • Salt & pepper to taste
CHEFFED-UP
Directions 1. Sweat the onions, add the garlic and 1. sweat for several minutes. 2. Add half the celery and peppers. 1. Cook until they begin to soften. Add 1. the tasso. 3. Add the seasoning and incorporate. 1. Deglaze with the wine, reduce au sec. 4. Add the rice and stir to toast 1. and incorporate. 5. Add the tomatoes, remaining 1. vegetables, tomato sauce, and stock. 1. Stir and add the salt & pepper, and 1. the shrimp. 6. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and 1. cover. Cook in a 350˚F oven until rice 1. is soft and all liquid is absorbed, about 1. 30 minutes. Until we cook again,
Chef Bill cheffedup@folioweekly.com ___________________________________ Contact Chef Bill Thompson, owner of Amelia Island Culinary Academy in Historic Fernandina Beach, with your recipes or questions at cheffedup@folioweekly.com, for inspiration to get you Cheffed Up! MAY 18-24, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 33
PET EVENTS P NASSAU HUMANE SOCIETY DOG PARK • This spacious dog park is adjacent to the NHS shelter, 641 Airport Rd., Fernandina Beach, 491-1511, nassauhumanesociety.com. There’s a boneshaped swimming pool, four bathing stations, a small-dog play area with a waterfall pool, and a training area. The park is open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday (closed Tuesday) and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Proceeds benefit the animals of Nassau Humane Society.
ADOPTABLES
FO
FO
.
GYPSY
LADY SEEKING TRAMP • Hey, good
lookin’! Yeah, I’m talking to YOU. My name is Gypsy and I love travellin’ on my leash to sniff new things in new places. I’m a bit older but considerably wiser. When I look into my crystal ball, I see that my future includes YOU! Let’s get together at Jax Humane Society. For adoption information and details, visit jaxhumane.org.
FIRST COAST NO MORE HOMELESS PETS LOW-COST VETERINARY HOSPITAL FCNMHP’s brand-new, low-cost veterinary hospital at 464 Cassat Ave., Westside, is now open. The new hospital is staffed and ready to take any appointments from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. With 12 exam rooms, a dental lab, surgery suites, intensive care and isolation rooms, a lab, pharmacy, and grooming area, the state-of-the-art veterinary hospital allows FCNMHP to help more families in need of affordable veterinary care. 425-0005 (Norwood location), fcnmhp.org.
ADOPTABLES
RUBY
DON’T WAIT TILL TUESDAY • Greetings!
My name is Ruby and I really am a precious gem. I’m very affectionate and enjoy sleeping in laps. I also love to climb on my cat tower and watch TV. (That’s bird-watching out the window, FYI.) I would love to go home with a great family who will keep me safe and warm, and maybe smuggle a little catnip in every now and then! For more information, visit jaxhumane.org. PROM QUEEN KICKBALL PET RESCUE BENEFIT Kickball warriors in prom attire battle from 8 a.m. until the last team is standing, June 18 at Treaty Park, 1595 Wildwood Dr., St. Augustine. Proceeds benefit SAFE PET RESCUE. safe-pet-rescue-fl. com, crossfitvulcan.com. To list a pet event, send event name, time, date, location (complete street address and city), admission price, contact number/website to print, to mdryden@folioweekly.com – at least two weeks before the event.
34 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MAY 18-24, 2016
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Canine aggression expert Jim Crosby’s advice on INTERACTING SAFELY with man’s best friend Dear Davi, I am not an aggressive dog — I’m actually a friendly dog, but when someone messes with me, I get agitated and feel the urge to snap. Could you please talk to humans about some obvious — and not so obvious — warning signs we give before biting? Charlie the Chihuahua Charlie, Even the cutest, fuzziest, sweetest dog can bite, if provoked. A dog can only stand so much taunting. Most dog bites are preventable, however, if humans know the signs. I shared your concern with canine aggression expert Jim Crosby for some insight. He shared this with me. Davi: My sympathies to your buddy Charlie. When you’re a little dog, the world is a big, scary place. Even to humans, things can be frightening when you don’t understand what’s going on. That’s the problem. Humans don’t always understand the behaviors that make their canine friends uncomfortable. Charlie is uncomfortable when people mess with him then, to top it off, they don’t listen when he tries to tell them how he feels. Like people, dogs don’t like strangers in their faces. Bottom line: Respect a dog’s space. If Charlie decides he wants to get to know someone better, he will approach at his own speed. It’s best to stay calm and let him see you’re not a threat. Always remember, a dog might be scared, not feeling well, or just plain grumpy. It’s not personal; each dog has his own temperament. Try extending a closed hand — like a fist, but no punching — for the dog to sniff. This will allow the pup to get familiar with you. Dogs who are aggressive give more distinct warnings. They may yawn or get
wide-eyed, freeze with their ears pulled back, or show their teeth and raise their hackles to look bigger and fiercer. It’s their way of saying, “Stay away from me. I’m not interested in you right now.” Pay attention to that. If the human still doesn’t get it, a dog might growl or snarl to let everyone know he’s unhappy or uncomfortable. These are the most obvious signs that a dog could snap. That’s probably what’s happening to Charlie. No one’s listening to his warning signs: He wants to be left alone. The upshot is, humans can learn how to interact appropriately with dogs and read the warning signs. Learning the language of dogs is key to avoid being bitten. Jim • Approximately 4.5 million dog bites • occur each year in the United States. • Almost 1 in 5 requires medical • attention, and most victims are children. • Don’t be a victim. Use these safety tips to • stop bites before they happen: • Ask permission: Not every dog reacts the • same way to strangers; find out if the • dog is friendly before petting. • Don’t hug dogs: Dogs don’t hug each • other, and they don’t understand hugs • mean love, so wrapping your arms • around a dog can stress them out and • lead to a bite. • Keep your chin up: Never put your • face down in front of a dog; this can be • threatening and cause a dog to react. Davi mail@folioweekly.com ______________________________________ Jim Crosby is a canine aggression expert. Email him at canineaggression@gmail.com. Davi the dachshund isn’t much for biting, but he is a huge fan of licking, petting and frolicking.
PET TIP: CANINES IN DECLINE AS TIME GOES BY, YOUR BELOVED POOCH MIGHT LOSE MORE THAN THEIR INTEREST IN CHASING TAIL. Older dogs often go blind and deaf, which all but rules out teaching them to fetch beers. However, with a little effort, your pup can navigate the world without a Seeing Eye dog. As Cesar’s Way advises, baby-gate the dangerous areas like pools and steps, invest in a vibration collar for behavioral control, create a trail with carpet runners inside, and keep one space that doesn’t change just for your dog. And tell your loser friends to quit asking Rex to fetch them a Duke’s. MAY 18-24, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35
FREEWILL ASTROLOGY
FOLIO WEEKLY MAGAZINE CROSSWORD by DALE RATERMANN. Presented by
SAN MARCO 2044 San Marco Blvd. 398-9741
PONTE VEDRA
THE SHOPPES OF PONTE VEDRA
330 A1A North 280-1202
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, VLADIMIR NABOKOV, HENRY DAVID THOREAU & JONI MITCHELL
SOUTHSIDE
AVONDALE 3617 St. Johns Ave. 10300 Southside Blvd. 388-5406 394-1390 AVENUES MALL
FOLIO CROSSWORD 1 6 10 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 23 24 27 29 31 33 34 35 36 38 41 44 45
ACROSS
Dog topper Cold-shoulder Kerfuffles Doofus Highly rated Actress Campbell Unusual smithy’s block of a mixedup DAVID NOLAN? FBI guys ___ a kind Less fresh Akron’s favorite son Parseghian Having a whole lot to lose TV series episode seen about a jillion times Frontman for The Silver Bullet Band Popular ’50s haircut Bar opening? Feel like Snapshot, for short Fisherman, or, end of a Strato? Fee for an illusion of a mixed-up RICK SCOTT? Grad work Half a candy In the ballpark
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49 Former local GOP head Brewer 50 ___ Attraction 52 Stay on the subject 53 “Stray Cat ___” 55 Old Yeller had the “___phoby” 57 Migration formation 58 Growing art form 60 Flying solo, say 62 Bridge position 63 Yucky whiskers of a mixed-up GUS BRADLEY? 67 Indolent 68 She was Cheers’ Emmy-winning Carla 69 Map section 70 “Hey!” 71 Memo abbr. 72 Indigent
DOWN
1 Florida Georgia Line org. 2 Feted one 3 Heavy metal time 4 Mine find 5 Like Sharks games 6 ___ Marco 7 Light Boat Parade mo. 5
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Solution to 5.11.16 Puzzle
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40 Tap to the right, usually 41 Jags stats 42 Fertile plots 43 Registers 46 PRNDL pick 47 What kids did up North last winter 48 Miguel’s “Bravo!” 51 What AC/DC was knocked out by 52 Wiped out 54 Not fulfilled 56 Abrade 59 Nimbus 61 Taper off 62 Coxa 64 Meadow 65 Dog talk 66 Hog heaven
8 It's for everyone 9 Middle manager? 10 What a con man always has 11 A mark against 12 Make trite, like, “like” 13 Tallahassee VIP 18 MacDill, initially 22 Environs 23 Cart tower 25 Grand 26 Ship’s hospital 28 Neither’s mate 30 911 responders 32 Eastern Orthodox sacred painting 35 Tower town 37 Stash 39 Fissure
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ARIES (March 21-April 19): “An oar moves a boat by entering what lies outside it,” writes poet Jane Hirshfield. You can’t use the paddle inside the boat! It’s of no value unless you thrust it into the drink and move it around vigorously. That’s an excellent metaphor to keep in mind in the weeks ahead. If you want to reach your next destination, you must have intimate, continual interaction with mysterious depths outside your known world. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The short attention span is now enshrined as the default mode of awareness. “We skim rather than absorb,” says author James Lough. “We read Sappho or Shakespeare the same way we glance over a tweet or a text message, scanning for the gist, impatient to move on.” There’s a problem with that approach, though. “You can’t skim Shakespeare,” says Lough. Make that your epigram to live by in the weeks ahead: You can’t skim Shakespeare. According to my analysis, you’re going to be offered a rich array of Shakespeare-level information and insights. To get the most from these blessings, marinate and ruminate. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “There are situations in life when it is wisdom not to be too wise,” said Friedrich Schiller. The next few days may be one of those times for you. Dodge any tendency you might have to be impressed with your sophisticated intelligence. Be suspicious of egotism masquerading as cleverness. You’re most likely to make good decisions if you insist on honoring your raw instincts. Simple solutions and uncomplicated actions give access to beautiful truths and truthful beauty, especially if you’re anchored in innocent compassion. CANCER (June 21-July 22): To prepare for the weeks ahead, I’ve got three quotes by Bulgarian writer Elias Canetti. These gems, with my commentary, will serve you well if you use them as seeds for ongoing meditations. Seed No. 1: “He would like to start from scratch. Where is scratch?” My addendum: No later than your birthday, you’ll be ready to start from scratch. In the meantime, find out where scratch is, and clear a path. Seed No. 2: “All the things one has forgotten scream for help in dreams.” My addendum: Monitor your dreams closely. They’ll offer clues to what you need to remember. Seed No. 3: “Relearn astonishment, stop grasping for knowledge, lose the habit of the past.” My addendum: Search for the miraculous. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “There are friendships like circuses, waterfalls, libraries,” said writer Vladimir Nabokov. I hope you have at least one of each. If not, go look for some. It’d be great if you could get access to alliances that resemble dancing lessons, colorful sanctuaries, lion whisperers, prayer flags, and the northern lights. You especially need the stimulation synergistic collaborations can give. Your life story’s next chapter requires abundant contact with interesting people with the power to surprise and teach you. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “Perfection is a stick with which to beat the possible,” says author Rebecca Solnit. She’s implying it might be better not to beat the possible, but rather to protect and nurture the possible as a viable option – especially if perfection ultimately proves to have no value other than as a stick. This is always a truth worth honoring, but it’ll be crucial in the next couple of weeks. Cultivate a reverence and devotion to the possible. As messy or maddening as it may be, it’ll also groom your powers as a maker.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): An invigorating challenge is headed your way. To prepare, here’s the wisdom of French author André Gide. “Through loyalty to the past,” he wrote, “our mind refuses to realize that tomorrow’s joy is possible only if today’s joy makes way for it.” This means you’ll probably have to surrender an attachment to a well-honed delight if you want to be available for a bright new delight hovering on the frontier. An educational blessing comes your way if and only if you clear space for it. As Gide concludes, “Each wave owes the beauty of its line only to the withdrawal of the preceding wave.” SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “How prompt we are to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our bodies; how slow to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our souls!” Henry David Thoreau wrote that, and I pass it to you for a special phase of your long-term cycle. During this interlude, your main duty is to FEED YOUR SOUL every way you can imagine. Stuff it with unpredictable beauty and reverent emotions. Cram it with mysterious adventures and rambling treks. Gorge it with intimate unpredictability and fierce devotions on behalf of your most crucial dreams. Warning: You won’t be able to rely solely on the soul food that’s sustained you in the past. Be eager to find new nourishment. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Here’s how every love letter can be summarized,” says Russell Dillon in his poem “PastPerfect-Impersonal”: “What is it you’re unable to surrender and please may I have that?” This may be a helpful riddle in the weeks ahead. You’re entering a phase when you’ll have an enhanced ability to tinker with and refine and even revolutionize intimate relationships. I hope Dillon’s provocation unleashes inquiries to inspire as you imagine how to supercharge togetherness and reinvent how you collaborate. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Fifthcentury Christian theologian St. Jerome wrote “it requires infinite discretion to look for gold in the midst of dirt.” Ancient Roman poet Virgil on one occasion testified he was “searching for gold in dung.” While addressing angels, 19th-century French poet Charles Baudelaire bragged, “From each thing I extracted its quintessence. You gave me your mud, and I made gold out of it.” From what I can tell, you’ve been doing similar work. The climax of your toil should be in the next two weeks. (Thanks to Michael Gilleland for inspiration: tinyurl.com/mudgold.) AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “At this time in my life,” says singer Joni Mitchell, “I’ve confronted a lot of my devils. A lot of them were pretty silly, but they were incredibly real at the time.” According to my astrological omen-reading, you’re due for a similar grace period. It may be humbling, because you’ll be invited to decisively banish worn-out delusions that filled you with needless fear. It may be one that requires strenuous adjustments, since you’ll have to revise some old stories about who you are and how you got here. It will be a sweet grace period, because you’ll be blessed over and over with a visceral sense of liberation. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): More than halfway through her prose poem “A Settlement,” Mary Oliver abruptly stops her meandering meditation on the poignant joys of spring’s soft awakening. Suddenly she’s brave and forceful: “Therefore, dark past, I’m about to do it. I’m about to forgive you for everything.” Now is a great moment to draw inspiration from her. Dare you to say, dare you to mean these words: “Therefore, dark past, I’m about to do it. I’m about to forgive you for everything.”
Rob Brezsny freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com
NEWS OF THE WEIRD GOOGLE SEES THE FUTURE
Google filed a U.S. Patent Office application on April 28 for a vision-improvement device in liquid form that, once inserted (i.e., injected directly into the eyeball), solidifies into a lens replacement for the eye and an instrument that carries its own storage, radio and wireless power supply. The idea, according to inventor Andrew Jason Conrad, is to better focus light onto the retina. The patent process doesn’t assure the device will ever come to fruition, but it might indicate that Google’s parent, Alphabet, is concerned that other inventors may be doing similar work.
JUST CALL ’EM ALL HERCULES
Before new parents ruin their baby daughter’s chances of future success by giving her a “weak” name (such as Polly), they should consult one of several services recommending more powerful ones (such as Elizabeth). A New York City woman offers personalized naming research for fees starting at several hundred dollars, and a Swiss agency whose primary work is helping name product brands now offers parents suggestions on their offspring’s “brand” (for corporate-like fees beginning at around $29,000). Parents in South Korea and India traditionally seek baby-naming recommendations from priests, who review religious text, culture and astrology, in exchange for modest offerings.
NOTHING GLITTERS LIKE EXCESS
Entrepreneur.com reported in April the surprising success of “Ship Your Enemies Glitter,” in which, for about $10, the startup sends an envelope full of glitter that, when opened, scatters, irritating (or enraging) the recipient. The concept was an overnight sensation, but quickly petered out and was seemingly worthless — until a prescient businessman offered $85,000 for its two assets: a valuable list of customers who might buy similar pranks (like a cupcake that’s really horse manure) and an opportunity at additional waves of customers newly discovering the original glitter product. The $85,000 purchaser now reports sales “in the high six figures.”
MOSES ON BOARD
Peter Jensen of Athol, Idaho, filed a lawsuit against the state transportation department in April after his driving privileges were revoked because his car had no license plate. For the inconvenience, he thinks he deserves $5.6 million in damages (gold and silver only) because, for example, there’s nothing about “license plates” in the Ten Commandments.
SHE SAID YES … SORTA
Bingham County, Idaho, Sheriff Craig Rowland told reporters in March the state legislature had no reason to improve the statewide administration of “rape kit” evidence because the majority of local rape accusations are, he’s certain, consensual sex.
WHAT WOULD ATTICUS SAY?
Scout Hodge, 20, angry at his mother, was charged with arson in Austin, Texas, in January for setting fire to her rug. He told police he did it as a “political” statement (unexplained) and to prove he isn’t a “loser.”
CRUSH, NOT CRASH
Sophia Sanchez, 27, was charged with intentionally crashing her car into her boyfriend’s vehicle in April in Riverside, Illinois. According to police, the couple had argued the night before, and Sanchez said she felt she had to disable his car so he’d talk to her.
WILLY TIMMY TOMMY
William Timothy Thomas, 25, was arrested for vandalizing a home in Largo, Florida, in April. He told police he needed to “destroy” stuff because he “listened to too much music and masturbated too much.” Bonus: Three first names! Special police surveillance warranted!
CHIKITY CHINESE CHICKEN
As China’s real-estate construction boom fades, tempers flare, and according to a local government officer in Hebei province, two companies’ officials angling for a contract dueled each other in bulldozers in an incident captured on video. The losing driver was seen running from his toppled machine. Chuck Shepherd weirdnews@earthlink.net
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RED SCOOTER MISFIT Little red scooter. You: Dark, mysterious, flying through Five Points on a little red Honda Spree. Me: Black dress, circle shades. Have my babies. <3. When: Every day. Where: Five Points. #1606-0518 PASSED YOU AT LUNCH Me: Going to lunch, bright teal dress shirt, said hello. You: Walking other way; very pretty young lady, flowery top, blonde hair, said howdy. Exchanged glances; looked back, you were gone. I should have said something. When: May 4. Where: Devry University Concourse Café. #1605-0511 BEAUTIFUL WEST VIRGINIAN You: Tan BBW, three mixed kids, WVU tank top, American flag tattoo on back. Me: Overall cutoffs, American flag tattoo on neck, Gator T-shirt. You offered snuff. Nervous, I refused. Like to dip in you in my single-wide. When: April 8. Where: Collins Road Trailer Park. #1604-0413 MY TRAILER PARK QUEEN Me: Long hair, tats, white shirt, sippin’ a Bud Lite with my pops. You: Prego, kid on each hip, also drinking a Bud Lite, puffin’ a Winston. Let’s get drunk; lemme put another one in the oven. When: April 3. Where: Ramona Flea Market Beer Garden. #1603-0406 ACCIDENTALLY PUBLIC MAKEOUT You: Adorably nerdy guy, incredible hands. Me: Petite (younger) fashionista, completely enchanted. Made-out like teenagers in Starbucks parking lot before realizing patio full of people could see. I’d do it again without changing a thing! When: March 20. Where: Starbucks. #1602-0330 COME DELIVER PIZZA AGAIN! Me: Male in jeans, navy polo, bumbled over receipt. You: Male, delivered Pizza Hut to my door. I didn’t say much, but would’ve liked to! When: March 12. Where: My condo near The Avenues. #1601-0316 LISTENING PUNK ROCK IN TRUCK You: Blue/black truck, 8 p.m. I came out, you turned radio up so I’d look; you flashed best grin. Sandy, maybe curly hair, bright eyes, that dang smile! Who ARE you? Gotta know. When: March 7. Where: Welcome Food Mart, St. Augustine. #1600-0316 TIJUANA FLATS DROPPED SODA SHERRY? You: Fletcher lacrosse sweatshirt; dropped soda, came back. Me: Waiting too patiently for table, talking to you while you waited for takeout. (Insert cheesy line here, preferably including queso.) Single? Let’s grab a drink. When: Feb. 23. Where: Hodges Tijuana Flats. #1599-0316 GANESH TATTOOED HOT BLONDE GODDESS Ball cap. Thanks for letting me take pic of adorable Ganesh on your beautiful arm! I was totally intrigued, want to connect over chai sometime. The pic got overwhelming likes on IG! When: Feb. 27. Where: SeaWalk Pavilion Jax Beach. #1598-0309 SCRUBS FROM ST. V @ PUBLIX We checked out same time. You: St. V lanyard, pine nuts (or similar), yogurt, others. Handsome! Me: Too shy to talk; regret not speaking as I left parking lot. When: Feb. 18. Where: Publix Riverside. #1597-0224 LOVE THY NEIGHBOR Sharp-dressed man getting out of blue car to check mail. Me: Dark hair, blue eyes. Speechless at such a good-looking man in the complex. Your building’s somewhere in the 20s. Let’s do some
neighborhood loving?! ;) When: Feb. 16. Where: Green Tree Place Apartments. #1596-0224 MY ANSWER IS YES You: Very shy. Me: Waiting by the phone. Please call again sometime; I really love your voice! I don’t have your number or I’d text you like I used to. That was fun, wasn’t it? When: Feb. 11. Where: Telephone line. #1595-0217 ENAMORADA DE TI... Cada vez que puedo me escapo y regreso a donde tu y yo nos vimos por primera vez. Tu: Alto, distinguido. Yo: Chiquita, ojos grandes. Tu tenias un Polo negro, con tu pelo canoso muy buena combinacion. Espero seguirte viendo para siempre. When: Hoy, manana, siempre. Where: En mis suenos. #1594-0217 PIERCED GIRL WITH DOG You: White SUV, cool shirt, septum piercing, pitbull Scout with heartworm. Me: Guy dressed too warmly for cold morning, bull mastiff. You tried to talk; I’d been awake 20 minutes. Thinking about missed chance. Let’s meet. When: Feb. 9. Where: Baymeadows Animal Hospital. #1593-0217 TANGO FOR TWO Dance Shack free lesson night. You: Brunette, cute smile, gray booties. Me: Tall, dark eyes, black V-neck. You wanted to stay and tango; didn’t hear you. My friend told me later! Offer still stand? Lesson’s on me. When: Feb. 5. Where: Dance Shack. #1592-0217 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE You: Looking fine, sharp in sweater vest for Bible study. Me: In church parking lot, to go to Firehouse; did triple-take when I saw you. You make this girl want to go back to church. When: Jan. 27. Where: Southside Baptist Church parking lot. #1591-0217 YOU: THE FIRE First saw you at Fat Kat, September 2003. You: Most beautiful woman I’d ever seen; still most gorgeous woman I know, my heart’s desire. Cannot wait for our lips to reunite! I love you most! Love, M.P. When: 2003. Where: Fat Cat. #1590-0217 PRETTY SMILE SAW U TWICE You: Blonde, pretty smile; 4:30 p.m. Me: Black cowboy hat; cold outside. You smiled at me (think it was me) passing by. Passed again, smiling, caught off-guard. Love to know you! When: Jan. 23. Where: Publix@Southside/Touchton. #1589-0217 HAD ME AT GO ’NOLES! Seminole/Armada games, losing beer pong, Pub subs, laughs, cheek kisses = last “first date” I want. You stole my heart; don’t want it back. The start of something sweet? Say you agree; stay forever! When: Oct. 3, ’15. Where: The Garage/ Baseball Grounds. #1587-0120 WATER AISLE You: Commented on water price; beautiful blond hair, jeans, sweater, warm and kind. Me: Gray hair, blue eyes, shirt, jeans. We both drink coffee; would love to share a cup with you. When: Jan. 9, morning. Where: Walmart@foursquare/U.S. 1 & Southside. #1586-0113 CHAMBLINS CHAMPION You had two enormous boxes of books. I held the door open for you. You: Blonde hair, glasses, great smile. Me: Tall, blonde. Would love to discuss literature sometime! When: Dec. 29. Where: Chamblins Uptown. #1585-0106 MAY 18-24, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 37
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FOLIO VOICES : BACKPAGE EDITORIAL
TWO TICKETS TO
CLOWN
TOWN
IT’S OFFICIAL … WELL, ALMOST. ALL WE ARE waiting for now is for some archeologist to dig a French harquebus or some other 500-yearold artifact of European life out of the Georgia clay and we can no longer object when Jacksonville is used as a punch line. What’s the joke, you ask? Take your pick. Which city was once, and probably still would be, the home of the American movie industry had its electorate not chosen a mayor who ran primarily on a promise to get rid of it? Which city has turned its greatest asset, the formerly beatific St. Johns River, into a giant algae bloom? Which major metropolitan area reacted to the Civil Rights Movement by naming as many public schools as it could after Confederate leaders and slaveholders, including KKK founder Nathan Bedford Forrest? Which major American metropolitan area lost its public school accreditation in the 1960s? Which city of around a million people does not have a proper museum? Which city has a “ville” at the end of its name but nothing cool like the Grand Ole Opry? City fathers, residents, and voters have always tried to change our reputation. This is the reason for the Skyway and the Jaguars, but rather than enhance our image, both have made things worse. Until about a year ago, however, any attempt to poke fun at us was rendered moot by a significant historic fact: Fort Caroline. It was the site of the very first European settlement, as well as the site of the first battle between European nations on the North American continent. It was where indigenous peoples and Europeans first attempted cohabitation in what would become the United States. It was the reason the Spanish settled St. Augustine, the country’s oldest continuously occupied city. All this took place well within the city limits of what was to become Jacksonville, Florida, more than a half-century before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Fort
Facing de-legitimacy, one resident suggests Jacksonville embrace its COMEDIC SIDE
Caroline served as Jacksonville’s trump card, our claim to legitimacy, the reason to take our town seriously. There was only one problem with our claim. Despite much searching, no trace of the ancient settlement had ever been found. Not to worry, we were told as school children, the river had been dredged and that changed its shape. Whatever survived of the fort had disappeared into the murky, brackish water of the St. Johns. Besides, we had the replica, which was certainly more aesthetically pleasing than whatever might have survived of the mostly earthen outpost after nearly 500 years of exposure to our subtropical environment. Then a couple years ago, two scientists made an announcement that threatened to return Jacksonville to the laughingstock we have always feared our city to be. Fort Caroline, according to a proper re-reading of the available evidence, is actually located on the banks of the Altamaha River in Georgia. Oh, the humanity! Florida State University alumnus and historian Fletcher Crowe, along with Anita Spring, a professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of Florida, dropped their bombshell at “La Floride Française: Florida, France, and the Francophone World,” on Feb. 21, 2014. Though the theory has its critics, after reviewing the evidence, things don’t look good for the Bold New City of the South. A brief refresher: In 1564, a group of French Huguenots, Protestants, fled across the Atlantic and set up shop on a riverbank on the First Coast. Their plan, or so we were told, was to conduct salvage operations on sunken Spanish galleons laden with precious metals mined from Central and South America, which were often blown ashore during the long Atlantic hurricane season, and to have a base of operations from whence to pirate ships that did not sink. The
Spanish, in turn, dispatched Pedro Menendez de Aviles to intercept the French and destroy Fort Caroline. After landing in what is now St. Augustine, Menendez and his cohorts marched north for two-and-a-half days, supposedly during a hurricane, and attacked the fort in the early morning hours. Most of the French were killed in the battle, some were hung afterwards, and several escaped. The Spanish rebuilt the fort, dubbed it San Mateo, and occupied it until the vengeful French returned over a decade later and massacred the Spanish. Undaunted, the Spanish reoccupied the fort. One of the French escapees was a man by the name of Jacques Lemoyne. His renderings of the fort and his experiences were dismissed, however, because of inaccuracies therein, specifically mountains in the background of several etchings and Indians shown sowing corn in rows, a practice alien to the Indians who inhabited the St. Johns River basin at the time. However, if the fort was located on the Altamaha River, rather than the St. Johns, the pictures match up perfectly with historic and geographic record. Careful reexamination of maps by the aforementioned scholars, stored in Spain’s version of the Library of Congress, further support the notion that Fort Caroline was in Georgia. Descriptions of the Indians, the river, and distances traveled by eyewitnesses, including Menendez himself, also help make more convincing the case that Fort Caroline was in Georgia. Additionally, a passage rediscovered from William Bartram’s late18th century book The Travels of William Bartram has the famed botanist visiting a site along the Altamaha that matches the original description of the fort in the exact location where the new theory places it. Stating that there, on the banks, “are to be seen, the remains of an ancient fort, or fortification,” Bartram adds, “It is supposed to have been the work of the French or Spaniards.” It is still possible that the new theory is wrong. For one thing, Menendez’s famous march would have taken much longer than two-and-a-half days if he set out from St. Augustine. Though archeologists were set to begin a dig at the believed site last March, as of this writing, I have been unable to find any press release or announcement from a periodical stating that remnants of French or Spanish life have been found there. No cannon, no cooking utensils, no copy of “America for Dummies.” So there’s still hope. If it is true that Jacksonville is not home to old Fort Caroline, then only one thing will give us a chance to ever be seen as a first-rate city. The Jaguars will have to bring home the Lombardi Trophy, which looks more and more unlikely with each passing season. There’s one other option, one other way to deal with being a laughingstock, and that is to decide to own it. We could have the sheriff ’s office personnel trade in their cruisers for a fleet of secondhand Yugos from Venezuela and then require the officers ride around in them no fewer than six to a car. The city could outfit the homeless with floppy shoes and those bulbous, red, clip-on noses, turning them from jobless hobos into an army of volunteer ambassadors for the city. I can see it now, a big sign on I-10 east as you enter town, “Welcome to Jacksonville, proud to be America’s punch line.” Eric M. Mongar mail@folioweekly.com _____________________________________ Mongar is a longtime Jacksonville resident.
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