Snazzy, Jazzy Benefactor

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THIS WEEK // 12.5.18-12.11.18 // VOL. 32 ISSUE 36 MAIN FEATURE

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SNAZZY, JAZZY BENEFACTOR Ulysses Owens Jr. pays it forward STORY BY BRENDAN RIVERS PHOTOS BY DEVON SARIAN

COLUMNS + CALENDARS MAIL/B&B

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ARTS

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CROSSWORD

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POLITICS

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SPORTS PICKS

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WEED

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OUR PICKS

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CONCERT VENUES

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I SAW U

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NEWS BITES

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FOOD

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FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

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NEWS

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DINING

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CLASSIFIEDS

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MAIN FEATURE

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COOKING

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BACKPAGE

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MUSIC

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BEER

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FILM

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PETS

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ARTS + EVENTS

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NEWS OF THE WEIRD

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THE MAIL ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

DEAR RESIDENTS OF OUR FINE CITY, It seems Jacksonville or, as we call it the, Bold City of the South, is in a whirlwind of political dealings somewhat resembling Tammany Hall and Old Chicago. Our fine patriarch, one Lenny Curry, seems to have the flair for placing or pushing the right people in places of importance, ensuring a silent controlling hand in our city even if he is not re-elected.

Curry ally Aaron Zahn has been appointed or elected by the board to head JEA. This comes on the heels of a new DIA chief (Curry crony) and new head of the Chamber of Commerce (Curry crony). Shoot, all he’s missing is an interest in First Baptist (our other controlling silent partner). Believe me, it seems that when these two entities speak, things either happen or don’t happen.

In the case of Zahn, I ask why Curry would push for someone who has less experience in running such a company and raises red flags? Easy–to have a say in what goes on behind closed doors. Old-school politics at its finest with this decision–especially when one other candidate worked at one of the largest municipal utilities in the country.

This is what leads me to question our judgment in political elections. We seem to think on a consensus level that someone who has a large business is qualified to run the city (and the country). But I’ve had a conversation with a few businessmen who said that you cannot get that rich without “effing” a few people over on life.

Jacksonville, it’s time to make your voices heard and demand more from our political leaders. If you can’t see the forest for the trees when it becomes so dense that you can’t find your way out of the mess it is, it’s your fault for letting it go that far.

Juan Montgomery via email

LIFESTYLES OF THE BRUTE AND BORING II (CONTINUED FROM NOV. 28)

RE.: “Lifestyles of the Rich and Roarin’,” by Nicole Carroll, Nov. 21 WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT ALL YOUR READERS would be interested in reading about the lifestyle of two hunters? Are they so proud that they lured a hungry

bear into view and took him down with rifles, probably both of them firing to make sure he could not get near them? Are they so proud of their hunting of helpless animals that they would show it on your front page?

I would think there are so many other interesting subjects in our city that would benefit from your front page.

Beatrice Van Sickler via email

EVERYONE’S A CRITIC VI

(CONTINUED FROM NOV. 28)

RE.: “Fractured Fables,” by Dan Hudak, Nov. 21 YOU KNOW, IT’S TRUE. EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION. However, your millennial movie reviewer, Dan Boy, really fell short on his review of the Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Too “art house” for him? What? The vignettes were connected by one theme–death–which comes to us all, regardless. Reviewers such as your writer do as much as anything else to continually and consistently downgrade quality moviegoing. Note to Dan: you failed.

Rebecca Stern Howell via Facebook

EVERYONE’S A CRITIC VI I (CONTINUED FROM NOV. 28)

RE.: “Fractured Fables,” by Dan Hudak, Nov. 21 I NEED TO WATCH IT AGAIN AS I FELL ASLEEP. Patrick Miko via Facebook

THE PENDULUM SWINGS

RE.: “Bluuuueval,” by Georgio Valentino, Nov. 14 FIRST OFF, FOLIO WEEKLY’S A GREAT PUBLICATION and asset to our Community. Re “Bluuuueval,” it was admittedly a modest blue wave in our county.

Not a bad thing, at all. This coming from a lifelong conservative (who often votes across the aisle in select elections). Gillum was a good candidate and he certainly maintains a political future–another good thing. Predicting here that Duval will return to red in 2020. Bit of back and forth again and again ... exactly as our Founding Fathers had designed (?) The Great Human Experiment moves on!!

Greg Kelly via email

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

BRICKBATS + BOUQUETS BOUQUETS TO ANDREW LEON HANNA The Jacksonville native, Duval County Public Schools graduate and current Harvard Law student, won the 2018 Bracken Bower Prize for best business book proposal from an author aged 35 or younger. Hanna’s proposed book, 25 Million Sparks, was inspired by his Egyptian parents and casts immigrants as the hopeful, hard-working people they are, rather than the criminal scapegoats portrayed in conservative media.

BRICKBATS TO KENNETH CRUMPTON JR. The 36-year-old Yulee man was arrested in the early morning hours of Nov. 26. He is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after allegedly stabbing a woman in the head with a fork. Crumpton was irate because the victim had under-cooked his baked potato.

BOUQUETS TO JENNIFER ALBERT The Nassau County School District teacher won this year’s Milken Educator Award. The California-based Milken Family Foundation presented Albert her award at a surprise ceremony in her fifth-grade classroom at Fernandina Beach’s Emma Love Hardee Elementary School on Nov. 29. She’s one of only 16 teachers nationwide to receive the honor this year. The award includes a $25,000 prize and membership to the National Milken Educator Network.

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.

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FOLIO VOICES : POLITICS

TRANSPARENCY MATTERS

But it might not be a WINNING ISSUE in Jacksonville THE TUESDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING WAS A watershed day in Jacksonville City Council history. That’s when some of its most respected politicians killed a reform bill.

The Rules Committee is largely composed of the kinds of people who, if Jacksonville were slightly different, might be in the discussion for mayor. Lori Boyer, Bill Gulliford, Greg Anderson: all former council presidents. John Crescimbeni came close. And Tommy Hazouri actually was mayor a few decades back.

They are, generally speaking, among the most educated and knowledgeable voices on the City Council. If you want to understand policy, they can usually explain it.

And if you want them to kill a bill, well, they just proved they know how to do that, too.

It was yet another shot to the solar plexus of the council’s former president Anna Brosche.

The bill, written after a task force on open government and transparency during Brosche’s presidency earlier this year, includes a number of reforms.

The legislation would require anyone doing more than $1 million worth of business with the city to disclose local political donations over the last five years. It would also require emails and texts between councilors and registered lobbyists to be posted to an online portal as the public record documents they are.

Brosche attempted to water down the bill, striking a requirement to document donorfunded travel by pols. However, that didn’t close the deal.

Anderson said that the council had actually led on ethics issues, instituting an Office of Inspector General and an ethics office. And, to be sure, that’s worked. Out of the class of 19 elected in 2015, only two have been indicted for defrauding the taxpayers.

Gulliford waxed poetic about the council’s “very honorable people,” who apparently can manage a $1.3 trillion budget but somehow can’t figure out how to post texts and emails of taxpayer-funded communications to a public portal so that citizens and media know what their elected representatives are actually doing.

Worth remembering: No one is conscripted to legislate. City Council is still a volunteer army.

They can do what it takes to campaign … but they can’t make their texts or emails— messages sent and received through city accounts and phones—public.

Council President Aaron Bowman described the bill as “intimidation.” But of whom, exactly?

Why should the people who make the laws, who have all the connections they need for their post-political career, be intimidated

by providing the same kind of accounting for their daily tasks as people in retail and delivery jobs?

We’ll never know.

Ahead of the meeting, Rules Chair Hazouri called out Brosche, in the midst of a months-long pre-candidacy for mayor.

“The only thing transparent about this bill is that the sponsor is using it to further their own political agenda,” Hazouri said.

What bill isn’t furthering a sponsor’s political agenda? And why is the idea of disclosure of contacts that could impact city contracts part of a “political agenda”?

Shouldn’t that be everyone’s political agenda?

Brosche’s presidency featured a task force on “open government,” a body that spent some time deliberating on how to give citizens and media a better vantage point on what’s being done to them by their government.

The longer someone has been working as media in this town, the more likely they are to tell you that in the not-too-distant past, there was more transparency.

Still, it remains an open question whether Anna Brosche can get elected mayor. Tough to overcome the city’s political establishment when it’s unified, as it more or less is behind Lenny Curry. A 16-3 council vote downing this bill last week underscored that, as did the unsurprising JEA Board vote to retain Curry ally Aaron Zahn as CEO of the utility last week.

Ironically, given the last year of JEA theater, which included a “paused” debate on whether to prioritize the utility, the chair of the board wondered why people were cynical about the process.

There are a number of positives to having Lenny Curry as mayor. He’s connected to Tallahassee and Washington, though we’ve yet to see a real payoff from the latter despite years of Curry cheerleading the president.

The donor class may grumble about his power moves, but they still stroke the checks. His reelection campaign has been going for a while (really, since July 1, 2015).

However, the counterargument to how Curry does business is that people who don’t have skin in the game often don’t know how decisions are made—hence the constant drumbeat of media distrust. Is that something the majority of people care about, though? Or just the few thousand who live and breathe the fetid air of the St. James Building?

Anna Brosche and/or Garrett Dennis, should they finally file for mayor, will test those questions. One suspects that many reading this won’t like the ultimate answers.

A.G. Gancarski mail@folioweekly.com @aggancarski DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 5

FIDDLE & TWANG

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DRIFTWOOD

Upstate New York is hardly synonymous with Americana, but this hardworking quintet is hoping to change that. Led by childhood friends Dan Forsyth (guitar) and Joe Kollar (banjo/guitar), Driftwood marries old-time folk music with modern indie rock, and they’re making not one but two stops in NEFla, 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, Café Eleven, St. Augustine Beach, originalcafe11.com, $15/$20; 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, 1904 Music Hall, Downtown, 1904musichall.com, $10/$12.

OUR PICKS

THIS WEEK’S BIGGEST & BEST HAPPENINGS

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THU

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METAL CONFERENCE

WVRM FEST 6 Jacksonville’s annual underground

MAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT ST. AUGUSTINE MAKERS FEST

The Ancient City’s annual makers showcase returns for its third edition as more than 40 local and regional makers show their wares. There’s something for everyone here: from one-of-a-kind gifts to artisan food and drink to live music performances to hands-on workshops for young makers in the making. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, staugustinemakersfest.org, $5.

metal festival is back with a vengeance (at least, insofar as all things metal seem to appear with a vengeance). Fort Lauderdale thrashers Remembering Never headline this multi-day, multi-venue blowout, which includes such brilliantly named groups as Cyclopean Blood Temple and Mar-a-Lago. WVRM Fest is organized by genre booking agency Southern Druid in collaboration with hella metal poster artist Searing

Limb and Tampa’s Cigar City Brewing. (Flying creature by Connor Anderson/Searing Limb.)

Thursday, Dec. 6, Rain Dogs; Friday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 8, Nighthawks, $5-$20.

SAIL AWAY

WHITEY’S LIGHTED BOAT PARADE

Whitey’s Fish Camp has been organizing Fleming Island’s famous festive floater for a long time. In fact, this is the 16th annual Lighted Boat Parade, complete with cash raffles and a silent auction. The event raises around $20,000 every year.

Proceeds benefit Safe Animal Shelter. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, Whitey’s Fish Camp, Fleming Island, whiteysfishcamp.com.

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UNACCOMPANIED CHEER

VOCTAVE: AN A CAPPELLA HOLIDAY

Central Florida’s premier a cappella choir brings the holiday spirit to Jacksonville. Best known for their choral interpretations of Disney and Broadway show tunes, the 11 vocalists of Voctave’s latest set showcases Christmas classics like “Carol of the Bells.” 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, Thrasher-Horne Center, thcenter.org, $13-$63.

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NEWS BITES TOP HEADLINES FROM NE FLORIDA NEWSMEDIA

THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION OPACITY IN GOVERNMENT

On Nov. 27, the Jacksonville City Council overwhelmingly voted down a raft of reforms aimed at—gasp!—making the official activities of councilmembers more transparent.

The Florida Times-Union’s Christopher Hong reported that the proposed reforms “would publish emails and text messages lawmakers exchange with lobbyists and force city officials to reveal details about trips they take on the dimes of political committees, which are shrouded under existing disclosure requirements.” The third leg of the reform stool would require “companies seeking to do more than $1 million worth of business with the city to disclose their political giving.”

But it wasn’t to be.

“The bill died in a 16-3 vote,” Hong continued, “a result foreshadowed last week after a council committee criticized it as draconian, burdensome and demeaning to the council’s reputation with the public.”

The reform package was advanced by Councilmember Anna Brosche, who “acknowledged its fate Tuesday before the final vote, saying she wanted ‘the public to know’ her colleagues denied her request for more time to change her proposal and instead moved to ‘kill’ an attempt to bring more transparency to local government.”

The only members to stand with Brosche were Joyce Morgan and Garrett Dennis.

See Folio Weekly’s Politics column (pg. 5) for A.G. Gancarski’s take.

THE JACKSONVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL MEXICAN STANDOFF IN MANDARIN

The Jacksonville Business Journal’s Nov. 30 cover story put readers in the thick of an eightway battle for supermarket share in Mandarin. According to Dahlia Ghabour, the affluent Jacksonville neighborhood is the site of a turf war, fought by corporate grocery chains Publix, Winn-Dixie, Whole Foods, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Earth Fare and Fresh Market, as well as local healthfood pioneer Native Sun Natural Foods Market.

That’s a whole lotta supermarket on one five-mile stretch of San Jose. Why? “For grocers and other retailers,” Ghabour wrote, “the Mandarin market has the key qualities they search for: a dense, growing, high-income population.”

The corporate specialty chains arrived within the past decade, after Whole Foods opened the floodgates in 2008. Native Sun, the sole Jax-owned establishment in the field, came to Mandarin first—way back in 1997. Ghabour quoted CEO and founder Aaron Gottlieb, whose feelings were mixed.

“From a grocer point of view,” he told Ghabour, “it’s an ugly scene. From a community point of view, I’m glad Mandarin is a hot spot for something, but this is a little ridiculous.”

Ghabour also cited Colliers International Northeast Florida Vice President Katy Figg, who— somewhat disingenuously, methinks—said “adaptability” is the key to this competition.

“The challenges plaguing the grocery industry affect each brand,” Ghabour concluded, “no matter the size.”

Still, it’s hard not to see Native Sun as David, up against seven corporate Goliaths.

These adversaries are battle-tested warriors with weapons deadlier and more numerous than mere “adaptability.”

CLAY TODAY GET OUT AND WALK II

Meanwhile, in Clay County, cuts to public transportation proceed apace. We’ve been following Clay Today’s Nick Blank, who has been following the story since the responsible agency—the Council on Aging of Clay County—fired its executive director in October as a result of ongoing financial woes.

In the latest chapter, Blank reported on Nov. 29, the organization’s “transportation woes are much clearer than they were a month ago. Leadership has changed, finances are in the open and the Council’s board has a plan for stability.”

Figures from 2017 showed a loss of $238,912 on regular Flex Lines, but a profit of $13,220 on unscheduled, individual trips servicing disadvantaged riders.

Two options are now proposed: “The first would slash Flex Lines altogether to save more than $250,000, and the second would reduce the number of Flex Lines from five to two. The council recommended reducing the Flex Lines. Changing the routes would require multiple public hearings, but officials said the change would reduce expenses by about $280,000, though it would lower the number of trips and services offered.”

Most of Blank’s sources, including not just sitting but former county commissioners, are lobbying for what is being called Option A. A decision will likely be made in December.

Georgio Valentino mail@folioweekly.com 8 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | DECEMBER 5-11, 2018

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FOLIO NEWS: COMMUNITY

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TEACHERS ARE OFTEN EXPECTED TO SACRIFICE their time and their money for their students.

Everyone knows they stay at work late and pay for classroom necessities out of their own pockets. However, there’s another group of teachers also expected to sacrifice their health: those who teach profoundly developmentally disabled children. Every day, these teachers endure a level of violence that should frighten us all.

Back injuries, broken fingers, shattered wrists, destroyed knees and stab wounds from pencils and scissors—these are all too common occurrences at our center schools as teachers struggle to protect themselves and other students from a handful of children for whom Duval County Public Schools seems to have no answer.

The district has four center schools that educate profoundly disabled students who, for the most part, wouldn’t be able to function in a comprehensive school setting. There’s Oak Hill Academy, which serves students with autism spectrum disorders. There’s Mount Herman Exceptional Student Center, which specializes in working with physically and developmentally disabled children. Alden Road and Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Centers primarily educate developmentally disabled children, though there is some overlap at all the schools. Palm Avenue, for example, has five classes who serve students with autism.

Another thing these schools have in common: classroom violence is on the rise.

Palm Avenue made headlines in September when a student attacked two paraprofessionals. One was stabbed in the head with a pen, and was taken to the hospital. What the news did not tell the public is that the student was back in school before the paraprofessionals were.

Violence at center schools had become so epidemic, the union organized a town hall on Oct. 7 between top district staff and the staff of three of the four center schools (excluding Oak Hill). At the town hall, staff members told story after story of the normalized violence against them, violence they’re supposed to endure.

Worst of all, many teachers reported workers’ comp insurance doesn’t cover the injuries, leaving the victims of violence

OCCUPATIONAL

HAZARDS Under-resourced Duval schools GRAPPLE WITH VIOLENCE from an unexpected quarter

scrambling, spending their own money or having to endure chronic pain. In some cases, insurance adjustors comb through the injured teacher’s medical history for a previous injury; if such a “pre-existing condition” existed, a re-injury would be ineligible for coverage. Any workers’ comp claim would be severely limited.

One former teacher confided that they were forced out of the classroom after an attack.

“The attack did result directly in both a torn knee and a torn hip,” the teacher said, “and I had surgeries for both. Now the pain and remaining instability are no longer covered. I was deemed to have ‘permanent restrictions’ by my doctor and am no longer able to teach.”

“The day of the attack,” the teacher continued, “I was told by an administrator that unfortunately these kinds of things sometimes ‘just happen.’ The implication is that it’s just part of the job to get hurt.”

One huge problem: The district doesn’t have a plan for students who are involuntarily committed under Florida’s Baker Act. And, lo!, the Baker Act seems to be the district’s preferred way of handling aggressive, even violent students—despite the fact that this is not how the 1971 legislation was intended.

When I taught middle school, just three years ago, my class included a student who was “Baker Acted” multiple times—and had been “Baker Acted” multiple times at a previous school. Not one time did the district

reach out to me (or the student, for that matter) to offer any help.

And this was the better-behaved of two students put in my classroom at the end of the first semester. The other routinely assaulted others (including me) and attempted to run away, often causing damage to property.

This student was never once “Baker Acted.”

A district behaviorist finally did investigate, months later. I was told to ignore the violence if I could or clear the room and let the student’s tantrum run its course.

Another problem: Developmentally disabled students are kept in the school system, in the very same classrooms, until age 22. Several years ago, families and caregivers of students in the P.R.I.D.E. program—for students with nominally normal IQs but significant behavioral problems—demanded the district provide continuing education after graduation.

But Duval County Public Schools didn’t want to create a new program, so the P.R.I.D.E. graduates were funneled into Palm Avenue, where the students have significant cognitive disabilities and many cannot protect themselves. The older students were introduced without some of the safeguards that were built into the original P.R.I.D.E. program: onsite mental health therapy and trained intervention teams.

In early 2018, after years of putting staff and students in danger, the district ended this practice. The decision was the result of a serious incident. A teacher was brutally attacked and seriously beaten. As the police removed the offending student, they informed the victim that the same student had previously assaulted two other district employees. This information hadn’t been given to the staff at Palm Avenue.

All disabled students have I.E.P.s, or individualized education plans, and schools are required to have meetings with families to discuss their students’ progress and where they’re heading. The families can ask questions. Perhaps one of the questions they should ask is: “Who is sitting next to my son or daughter, and are they violent?”

Unfortunately, not many families would like the answer.

Chris Guerrieri mail@folioweekly.com

SNAZZY,

JAZZY BENEFACTOR Ulysses Owens Jr. PAYS IT FORWARD

ART IN THE PARK HOLIDAY CONCERT

Featuring DMAB All Stars & Christmas Toy Giveaway Saturday, Dec. 15, DMAB Community Art Center, 2839 W. Beaver St., Westside, 385-4001, dontmissabeat.org

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s a world-renowned jazz musician, Ulysses Owens Jr. spends most of his time in New York, LA or on a tour bus, but the Westside native has strong roots in the River City, and he’s doing everything he can to cultivate that connection so the city can reach its full potential.

After graduating from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Owens got a full ride to The Juilliard School in New York, where he studied jazz. His career began in earnest while he was still attending school.

During his time at Juilliard, Owens toured the world, frequently jamming at cultural centers.

That’s when he began speaking with his family in Jacksonville about an idea that would eventually become Don’t Miss a Beat (DMAB).

Owens graduated in 2006. One of the first things he did afterward was to convene a family meeting. There was some discussion, then the Owenses unanimously agreed they wanted to do something for their community.

story by BRENDAN RIVERS

“We said we would create a program for kids,” Owens said. “They would come to us, they would get educated, but we would use arts as the central focus. And they wouldn’t miss a beat.”

The whole family came together around the DMAB concept, with each member claiming a role in the future nonprofit’s operation.

“My Aunt Esther, who’s the director of the children, she had been a social worker for 30 years,” Owens explained. “And she was, like, ‘Ulysses, I believe in this, too. Here’s the role I can play.’ And my mother, having been in corporate America for many years, she basically said, ‘I’m going to be director of development.’ My sister, who has a finance degree and has run the corporate/financial element of many corporations, she said, ‘all right, I’m going to be the bookkeeper.’ And basically all the family members started showing up, saying, ‘OK, Ulysses. Yes, you are sort of the face of this project and it’s sort of your idea, but it also ties into other things that we want to do in the community.’ And they all brought that to the business.”

Outside of his role as DMAB founder, Owens acts as artistic director.

“My mom, we laugh, she calls me ‘Joseph the dreamer,’ because I’m the one who basically sets the course for the organization,” he said. “Everything those kids do, artistically, from our curriculum, that is all what I’ve designed for them. But then when it comes to the day-to-day,

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that is all my family. I give them the complete credit for the culture they’ve built, in terms of navigating the families and all that stuff.”

About two years ago, DMAB started its Academy of the Arts program in which children are offered free performance art lessons—when they’ve finished their homework. As Owens describes it, DMAB’s newest program, Safety Net, is an extension of the Academy of the Arts. Funded through city grant money, Safety Net kicked off on Friday, Oct. 26.

“It’s just trying to take a lot of the challenges that our kids are having in the day-to-day, and we have created this whole program, and thankfully gotten it funded, and we’re going to target these issues through daily activity for the kids at the center,” Owens said.

“With the Sheriff ’s Department especially, we’ve been doing a lot of work, because we

otherwise—and vice-versa. Some Jacksonville neighborhoods don’t have the facilities or the means to host performers.

“For instance, where we are right now at the Beaver Street community, there is no place where people can see live performing arts within at least 10 miles,” he said. “Like, the closest thing to us is The Florida Theatre, and most of our families cannot afford tickets to see the symphony or to see whatever art is there. And then, some of the other things that are happening in town, they don’t have the money to see that as well.”

Owens admits that his efforts in Jacksonville could be interpreted as selfish in a way, but he truly hopes the work he’s doing makes the city a better and safer place.

“Yes, I love Don’t Miss a Beat and Don’t Miss a Beat is my heart, but I want the city of Jacksonville to continue to support the arts,

Ulysses Owens Jr. doesn’t miss a beat at this Don’t Miss a Beat function.

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want the kids to not fear the police,” he went on to say. “Because with all the stuff that’s happening with police brutality, there’s a huge fear at our community center and in general amongst African-American children and people of the police department. And so we’re really trying to bridge that divide between the Sheriff ’s Department and us.”

Instructors will also work on intervention skills with parents and their children. Areas of concern include cyber-bullying, sexting and online predators.

Another DMAB program that Owens is excited about is Art in the Park, a free 13-concert series Owens himself programs.

Funding for the project, which started this past October and runs through next September, came from PNC Bank’s Arts Alive grant.

Owens describes Art in the Park as his way to get artists into communities to which they would not have access

even beyond DMAB,” Owens said. “Because I feel that Jacksonville is still very divided, culturally as well as politically, and I feel that organizations like Don’t Miss a Beat and even Folio Weekly, I’ve been reading you guys for years, these kinds of organizations have an opportunity to bridge together communities.”

“I think if there’s a way to just encourage people to truly support the arts, and also just get out of their own environment and embrace organizations like ours and others, I think it will continue to heal the city and bring more unity, because clearly we’re having some issues there,” Owens said. “My hope is to really see the city grow and grow in mindset, because I feel like we’re a little antiquated in how we think and how we operate.”

Brendan Rivers mail@folioweekly.com _____________________________________ Rivers previously reported on Don’t Miss a Beat for WJCT.

DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 13

FOLIO A + E

T

rying to fit the band Broncho into a neat musical box is an exercise in futility. Since their debut in 2011 with the raunchy, raucous Can’t Get Past the Lips, this Oklahoma-born quartet has been shape-shifting constantly, avoiding categorization every time it seems easy.

Yes, two singles from the 2014 sophomore album Just Enough to Be Women were featured in TV commercials and on an episode of HBO’s millennial smash Girls. But just when everyone was thinking they could pin the catchy indie-pop tail on Broncho, band members Ryan Lindsey, Nathan Price, Ben King and Penny Pitchlynn slithered away again, producing dense, cinematic rock for 2016’s Double Vanity.

This year, the Broncho boys and girls have blessed us with Bad Behavior, a slinky, beat-driven set that maintains the band’s trademark intrigue, while parting the curtain on the darker side of human frailty.

“The process of making Bad Behavior was pretty much like any record we’ve done,” Ryan Lindsey tells Folio Weekly. “A lot of stuff is up in the air, floating a few feet off the ground until, at the last possible moment, everything settles. And then we turn in the record.”

Laughing, he adds, “It’s always a wild ride, but it’s a bed we’ve made and we know where we gotta sleep. It sure is great to finish a record, though. I can finally sleep again after that.”

That album’s anchor track “Sandman” speaks to Broncho’s restless energy. Riding an insistent bass riff, it pulls from boogie rock, glam pop and psychedelic R&B. The band members toggle among genres at will.

BUCKING BRONCHO Oklahoma rockers are on a WILD RIDE

Live shows are notoriously riotous, but the sense of control exhibited on Bad Behavior–no song runs more than three-and-a-half minutes, for instance–speaks to Broncho’s years on the road and its own particular brand of self-discipline.

“In some sense, this record feels very submissive,” lead singer Lindsey says. “I don’t know why I keep returning to that word, but it feels like we’re keeping things in line in a sense.”

That is applicable to their current tour, as well. The whole thing received an unusual amount of preparation– at least by Broncho’s usual standards. “We actually got together and rehearsed, which made us feel like pros,” Lindsey laughs.

Stringing out an in-depth football metaphor, he adds, “We played the equivalent of a preseason: six songs off the new record at a festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas, followed by eight of the new songs opening for Father John Misty.

Then, at a festival in Mexico City, we played all of ’em. We went through our two-a-days, we’re prepped mentally, and we’re ready for the regular season to start.”

For a band whose debut album came out just seven years ago, Broncho exudes the confidence onstage and off of a veteran outfit. At home in Oklahoma, they’ve served as mentors and boosters, opening their warehouse/recording studio/performance space to rising bands like Planet What and Sports. On the road, they’ve played the same cities and same venues so many times that their presence feels akin to the cool cousin who comes through town every few months.

When asked what the career trajectory for Broncho looks like, Lindsey says human connections are more important than objective measures of success. “The whole thing has seemed like a pretty smooth process,” he says, referencing those aforementioned TV placements–along with arena shows opening for the bands Queens of the Stone Age and Cage the Elephant– as mere stepping stones. “Nothing ever seemed like it happened too fast. Part of that is where we live in Tulsa and the way we grew up in Norman, with a chill pace of life.”

Extending another expert metaphor, Lindsey likens Broncho’s success to a plane that has to circle an airport a few times before landing.

“We’re gonna take another lap and wait for the runway to clear,” he says. “We like spending as much time in the air as we can.” Then, shifting from airplanes to cars, he says, “The idea of things speeding up sounds like a lot of fun, too. That’s the fun part of starting a new record cycle: we can put it sport mode and cruise. I just found out about sport mode–and it really works!”

Nick McGregor mail@folioweekly.com

BRONCHO, YIP DECEIVER, FAZE WAVE • 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, $15, 398-7496, jaxlive.com 14 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | DECEMBER 5-11, 2018

FOLIO A+E : FILM PETER DINKLAGE excels beyond ‘Thrones’

THAT FACE!

THOSE EYES!

E

agerly awaiting the concluding season of Game of Thrones later this year, I decided to catch up on two recent feature films starring Peter Dinklage, the single most honored actor from the HBO series. Nominated seven years in a row for a Best Supporting Actor Emmy, Dinklage won it three times, as well as one Golden Globe.

Clearly a TV fan fave as Tyrion Lannister, Dinklage has also accumulated an impressive list of motion picture credits.

His breakthrough roles before Game of Thrones were in The Station Agent (’03) and Death at a Funeral (’07). Three years later, Dinklage reprised the role in Neil LaBute’s American remake.

Both of his latest features—Rememory (’17) and I Think We’re Alone Now (’18)—put Dinklage in the starring role instead of his usual supporting status. And both efforts have a tinge of science-fiction. The second is better, but both are worthy testaments to the appeal of Dinklage the actor, even if the material isn’t comparable to Game of Thrones.

In Rememory, he plays Sam Bloom, a designer of architectural models wracked by guilt after surviving a horrendous car crash that killed his brother. Learning about a new invention designed by Gordon Dunn (Martin Donovan) that purports to record hidden memories, Sam sees an opportunity to finally learn his brother’s dying words—they’ve been blacked out in his mind, along with other details of the fatal accident.

Upon Gordon’s unusual sudden death, Sam steals the memory machine prototype, taking it upon himself to track down the facts behind the death and possibly recover the details of his own forgotten past as well. The usual suspects include Gordon’s estranged widow (Julia Ormond), the inventor’s recent lover (Evelyne Brochu), and one of the participants (the late Anton Yelchin) in the machine’s trial experiments.

Though the concept of Rememory has lots of potential (like the machine might alter memories, too), the actual script (co-written by director Mark Palansky and Michael Vukadinovich) is riddled with improbabilities and red herrings. Dinklage is reduced to playing a soulful turn, but with that incredibly expressive face, he’s convincing.

Another major plus is British actress and erstwhile beauty Julia Ormond, who starred in four back-to-back major Hollywood films in the mid-’90s (Legends of the Fall, First Knight, Sabrina, Smilla’s Sense of Snow) and merely ebbed away into minor roles and television.

With Dinklage, she provides the necessary emotional ballast to keep Rememory afloat.

An even more intriguing plot concept is at the heart of I Think We’re Alone Now. In the

post-apocalyptic drama’s first act, Dinklage plays Del, lone survivor in a small New England town. Once a librarian, Del now lives in the library, spending his days disposing of dead bodies, meticulously cleaning the houses where they were found, and cataloging their photos alongside his books.

In the film’s second act, we meet Grace (Elle Fanning), a young carefree spirit who enters Del’s town—and his life—as an invasive form of disquiet. By himself, Del tells her at one point, he was less alone than as an outsider (presumably due to his size) among the town’s living citizens. Grace manages to make herself useful, becoming his helpmate in “cleaning” the town and recovering some more substantial meaning to his life.

Then comes the third act—metaphorically out of left field, but actually from across the country. To say the new development is unexpected is an understatement. Yet, because Paul Giamatti and Anglo-French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg are in it, the unlikely scenario is as rewarding as it is perplexing.

Apart from its terrific cast, especially Fanning who continues to delight with her choice of unusual roles, I Think We’re Alone Now relies on Reed Morano’s stunning cinematography for its primary narrative.

No surprise—Morano’s the director. Thus dialogue and script are secondary to visuals.

Except for Peter Dinklage, Rememory might be dismissible. But I Think We’re Alone Now is provocative and interesting enough on its own, despite the unsolved mysteries.

Pat McLeod mail@folioweekly.com

NOW SHOWING UNF MOTH FILMS Bill Cunningham: New York, 7 p.m.

Dec. 6, Museum of Contemporary Art Jax, 333 N. Laura St., Downtown, 366-6911, mocajacksonville.unf.edu.

CORAZON CINEMA & CAFÉ The General, The Old Man & the Gun and The Great Buster run. Mr. Fish: Cartooning from the Deep End and Steamboat Bill Jr. start Dec. 7.

Music documentary Wonder & Curiosity, 7 p.m. Dec. 7, free. Oscar et la Dame Rose, noon Dec. 8. You Belong to Me, a documentary about Ruby McCollum, 7 p.m. Dec. 8; producer Jude Hagin appears; free. 36 Granada St., St. Augustine, 679-5736, corazoncinemaandcafe.com.

WGHF IMAX The Polar Express & Santa–see a movie, meet Mr. Claus, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 8; details website. Great Barrier Reef, America’s Musical Journey and The Polar Express run. Mortal Engines starts Dec. 13. World Golf Hall of Fame, St. Augustine, 940-4133, worldgolfimax.com.

SUN-RAY CINEMA Bohemian Rhapsody and Ralph Breaks the Internet run. Wildlife and Border start Dec. 7. Vox Lux and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Dec. 14. 1028 Park St., 5 Points, 359-0049, sunraycinema.com.

EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS 6 p.m. Dec. 9, Kanine Social, 580 College St., Riverside, 712-6363, 18+, details at kaninesocial.com.

HOME ALONE See Santa and a movie, feed Jacksonville, 2 p.m. Dec. 12, Florida Theatre, Downtown. Admission is canned or nonperishable food item, floridatheatre.com.

DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 15

ARTS + EVENTS

The interactive exhibition HALL OF HEROES is all about the Golden Age of Comics. You’ll see artwork and movie props, and even meet classic characters like Superman, Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk. Until Jan. 6, MOSH Museum of Science & History, Southbank, themosh.org, $12-$15.

PERFORMANCE

WINTER SPECTACULAR The sixth annual event features The Dance Company at Flagler College, 7 p.m. Dec. 8, 2 p.m. Dec. 9, Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium, 14 Granada St., St. Augustine, 471-4946; advance, $15-$25; $20-$30 door, staugustinewinterspectacular.com.

COMMUNITY NUTCRACKER The 27th annual Community Nutcracker, blending music and dance to tell the classic tale of one magic Christmas Eve, is staged 8 p.m.

Dec. 7 and 1 & 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $30-$52.50, floridatheatre.com.

THE GAME’S AFOOT (or HOLMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS) The popularity Sherlock Holmes is enjoying is further elevated with this production, 8 p.m. Dec. 6, 7 & 8 and Dec. 13, 14 & 15, and 2 p.m. Dec. 9, Amelia Community Theatre, 207/209 Cedar St., Fernandina, 261-6749, ameliacommuntytheatre.org, $10-$22.

COCK The play examines sexuality and love, staged 8 p.m. Dec. 7, 8, 14 & 15; and 2 p.m. Dec. 9 & 16, at The 5 & Dime A Theater, 112 E. Adams St., Downtown, the5anddime.org, $22.

DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW A holiday romp by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope & Jamie Wooten, runs 8 p.m.

Dec. 7, 8, 14 & 15; 2 p.m. Dec. 9 & 16 at All Beaches Experimental Theatre, 544 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, eventbrite.com, $24.

OTHER DESERT CITIES Family bonds that bind and choke–what starts as a fun gathering of a loving clan takes a shocking turn. The play runs 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 & 8, Amelia Musical Playhouse, 1955 Island Walkway, ameliamusicalplayhouse.com, $10-$15.

FOXFIRE This play about Appalachian culture opens 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6-8, 13-15 & 20-22; 2 p.m. Dec. 9, 16 & 23, Limelight Theatre, 11 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine, limelight-theatre.org, $15.

TUBA CHRISTMAS In 1995, there were 64 musicians; 188 in 2017. Players of the sousaphone, tuba, baritone and euphonium players perform Christmas music in fourpart harmony at the 24th annual event, 2 p.m. Dec. 8 at The Landing. UNF professor of music Dr. Marc Dickman conducts for the 19th year.

HOME FREE The band’s Country Christmas Tour, 2:30 p.m., Dec. 9, Florida Theatre, floridatheatre.com, $19.50-$249.50.

MASS The effects of a mass shooting at an office party are examined in Adam Groff’s play. Runs 7 p.m. Dec. 13 & 25, 1 p.m. Dec. 15 & 22, MOCAJax, 333 N. Laura St., Downtown, phaseeight.com, $20.

CLASSICAL, JAZZ, CHORALE

CONTINUES ON PAGE 23 >>>

16 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | DECEMBER 5-11, 2018

SOUNDS OF THE SEASON The St. Augustine Orchestra performs its annual concert 8 p.m. Dec. 5, Lightner Museum, 75 King St., $22, 18 & older; $12, 11-17; free for kids under 10, 540-6664, staugustineorchestra.org.

COLIN CARR BACH CELLO SUITE RECITAL Coordinated by Dr. Nick Curry, this recital is presented 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, UNF’s Fine Arts Center, Southside, free, unf.edu.

HOLIDAY POPS The popular annual Jacksonville Symphony event is 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 11 a.m. & 8 p.m.

Dec. 7, 3 p.m. & 8 p.m. Dec. 8, and 3 & 7 p.m. Dec. 9, T-U Center’s Jacoby Hall, Downtown, prices vary, my.jaxsymphony.org.

JU ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY CONCERT Seasonal music, featuring Respighi’s Botticelli Triptych, is performed at the annual concert, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Jacksonville

University’s Terry Concert Hall, 2800 University Blvd. N., Arlington, jutickets.com.

VOCTAVE The a capella group performs 8 p.m. Dec. 7, Thrasher-Horne Center, 283 College Dr., Orange Park, thcenter.secure.force.com.

MAKE WE JOY: SONGS of the SEASON with the JU CHOIRS & BRASS The traditional concert is 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, JU’s Terry Concert Hall, 256-7386, arts.ju.edu. An encore performance is 6 p.m. Dec. 9, All Saints Episcopal Church, 4171 Hendricks Ave., San Marco.

A WINTER’S EVE The Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville performs 3 p.m. Dec. 9, Jacksonville University’s Terry Concert Hall, civicorchestrajax.org. The concert is a benefit for Feeding Northeast Florida; donate a shelfstable food item. Admission is free. A post-concert reception features cookies and apple cider from Community Loaves.

JYSO HOLIDAY CONCERT The annual Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra event, Deanna Tham, principal conductor, is 7 p.m. Dec. 10, T-U Center’s Jacoby Hall, Downtown, $3 & $8, my.jaxsymphony.org.

APPALACHIAN CAROLS North Florida Women’s Chorale and Gainesville Brass Quintet perform, 7 p.m. Dec. 28, Cathedral Basilica, free, womenschorale.org.

BOOKS & POETRY

DONNA LEE OVERLY BOOK SIGNING Overly signs copies of her book, The Zeppelin Bend: Unraveling the Knot of Deception, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Dec. 16, The Book Loft, 214 Centre St., Fernandina, 261-8991, thebookloft.com.

COMEDY

85 SOUTH DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller & Chico Bean appear, 7 p.m. Dec. 6, Times-Union Center’s Terry Theater, Downtown, $93, ticketmaster.com.

FRANK DEL PIZZO Del Pizzo keeps on livin’ the dream. He appears 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 & 6, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 7, and 8 & 9:45 p.m. Dec. 8, The Comedy Zone, 3130 Hartley Rd., Mandarin, 292-4242, comedyzone.com, $15-$18.

JOE TORRY Torry appears 8 p.m. Dec. 7, 8 & 10:30 p.m.

Dec. 8, The Comedy Club of Jacksonville, 11000 Beach Blvd., 646-4277, jacksonvillecomedy.com, $20-$150.

PHAT FRIDAY Jax Grown Folks event, 10 p.m. Dec. 7, The Comedy Club of Jacksonville, 646-4277, jacksonvillecomedy.com, $10-$150. Rated R, folks.

MAGIC MIKE Not really comedy, but the fellas appear 8 p.m. Dec. 12, The Comedy Club of Jacksonville, 646-4277, jacksonvillecomedy.com, $28-$150.

Rated R, ladies, etc.!

ART WALKS, MARKETS

FRONT PORCH CHRISTMAS The Landing event features pics with Santa, cookie decorating, ornament making, a nonperishable food drive, a beer garden, a jam session, food trucks, live music by Party in the Box, 5-9 p.m.

Dec. 5, Jax Landing.

FIRST WEDNESDAY ART WALK The Spirit of Giving is the theme for the Art Walk, 5-9 p.m. Dec. 5, with more than 50 venues, live music, restaurants, galleries, museums, businesses and hotspots (some open after 9 p.m.) spanning 15 blocks Downtown Jacksonville; jacksonvilleartwalk.com.

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK Art Galleries of St. Augustine’s tour is 5-9 p.m. Dec. 7, with more than 26 galleries participating, throughout downtown St. Augustine and Anastasia Island, 829-0065, free admission, artgalleriesofstaugustine.com.

FOLIO A+E : ARTS

I

ABSTRACT & ABSURD

don’t know, I wasn’t running from [pornography] on Wednesday. I was running from the sound of gunfire, semi-automatic gunfire in a high school I’ve taught at for 15 years […] There’s no way to explain what that felt like, to see my students running at me saying ‘Mr. Simpson, they’re effing shooting at me.’ ” Sean Simpson is a science teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. He was at the school on Feb. 14, 2018 and still teaches there.

Simpson’s experience is not singular. Nor is it as simply summarized as saying the teacher is vitriolically anti-gun. He’s actually a gun owner, and he has publicly said that he would support voluntary weapons training for teachers.

Simpson, like many of his fellow Americans, is nuanced and multifaceted, reflecting back to us our own relationship with the Second Amendment. In many ways, it is our perception of our nation’s gun-toting mythos, and our place in that mythos, that most clearly highlights the grandeur and tragedy of these events.

Thus it is a subject ripe for examination, and playwright Adam Groff tackles it in his new play, Mass, produced and directed by Phase Eight Theater Company’s founder and artistic director JaMario Stills. Groff says he was catalyzed by “the rampant mass shootings happening all over the country and the world, but mostly our country. It was just something I couldn’t ignore, and characters have been on my mind.”

The central action of Mass takes place during an office holiday party, where the shooter—a person familiar to many of the characters—enters and, in two and a half minutes, kills 11 people. Without giving anything away here, the narrative arc of the play is created by little vignettes of the surviving coworkers, who are going through workplace-mandated grief counseling sessions. As each character participates in the session, what they’re saying is being acted out by the other characters. So there are many different scenes, though the bulk of the play takes place in a conference room. It’s a bit of an abstract play, a bit of an absurd play, and that’s on purpose.

When asked about this specific approach, the idea of vignettes married to the counseling session happening in real time, Groff replies, “I didn’t want to make a play where people were hiding under furniture in terror while there were gunshots going on […]

I didn’t want to make it about fear. I think what’s happening with the gun culture in this country is scary enough.”

For his part, Stills says of the work, “Adam and I knew going into this we had to be very sensitive about it. It is such a hot topical moment we’re going through in American history. I have to

be able to read it and see this juxtaposition … if it becomes about political value or a position on gun control, we lose the humanity of the story […] A very small percentage of this play focuses on the shooter; it is on the people and their experiences.”

There are moments of dread, beauty and humor, explains Groff, who also admits, “It’s not an easy play to watch, though I tried to not make it a difficult play to watch, but I wanted to get a message across.”

In discussing motivation and slant, the playwright states, “First of all, I’ve never experienced a mass shooting and I don’t know anyone who has … I needed to be careful and respectful, so I went with the angle of coping.

Because I know what it’s like to cope with something incredibly difficult. That said, the play is not anchored in that moment of the shooting. There are two scenes where it sets the stage, so to speak, but then everything after that are the characters and what they’re dealing with, the aftermath. Because I do know the emotional stakes of something really heavy.”

Groff says that when everything was said and done, the multifaceted play took about five weeks for him to write. “While I was writing it, there were three mass shootings in the same week, two of them within 48 hours of each other, and I texted JaMario and said, ‘This makes it harder and easier to produce this play. I think it’s time.’ But unfortunately, it’s always going to be time because I don’t see an end to all of this.”

Considering his own reaction to the work, and the idea that there is no neat summary or solution offered in the play, Stills explains, “We’re producing art. We’re not even trying to give you an answer. We’re bringing a product [with respect to the craft] that will allow you to meditate in a human way.”

Madeleine Peck Wagner mail@folioweekly.com

A holiday play about a MASS SHOOTING

Playwright Adam Groff’s new play is about the epidemic of mass shootings in America.

Photo by Renee Parenteau

MASS • 7 p.m. Dec. 13 & 25; 1 p.m. Dec. 15 & 22, Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, 333 N. Laura St., Downtown, phaseeight.org, $20 DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 17

PICKS

BY DALE RATERMANN

MAIL@FOLIOWEEKLY.COM

PLAY TOGETHER, PRAY TOGETHER

TRINITY BAPTIST EAGLES V. WARREN WILSON OWLS

The Eagles, members of the National Christian College Athletic Association, take on Warren Wilson College of Asheville, North Carolina, in a men’s basketball game. 4 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 8, Trinity Baptist College, 800 Hammond Blvd., tbceagles.com, $5-$7.

SAT

8

SAT

8

FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

SENIOR AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

The Gate Petroleum Championship is considered the top event for amateur senior golfers in NEFla. The area’s top seniors battle it out at the three-day tournament on the scenic Ocean and Lagoon courses at Ponte Vedra Beach. 8 a.m. Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 10-12, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, 200 Ponte Vedra Blvd., pvicmember.com, free.

SWISH(ER) … NOTHING BUT NET

JU DOLPHINS V. MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE KNIGHTS

Go for the men’s basketball game, but take a close look at the iconic Swisher Gym. Built in 1953, it was home to Artis Gilmore’s legendary Final Four squad. It was also the site of an address by President Lyndon B. Johnson and concerts by Dionne Warwick, Billy Joel and K.C. & the Sunshine Band. 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, 2800 University Blvd. N., judolphins.com, $10-$20.w

FRI

7

WHINNYING IS EVERYTHING ALL-BREED HORSE SHOW

If you love horses, this open all-breed show is your event. Watch horses and riders compete in a variety of events in the comfortable, friendly confines of the Jacksonville Equestrian Center.

8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, 13611 Normandy Blvd., jaxequestriancenter.com, free.

SAT

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18 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | DECEMBER 5-11, 2018

PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE WRESTLERS HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING MEET

Some of the area’s top high school wrestlers will compete in the annual Westside Kiwanis Christmas Invitational. Wrestlers square off at Bishop Snyder High School for the two-day event.

6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7; 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, 5001 Samaritan Way, bishopsnyder.org, $5 per session.

FRI

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ARTS + EVENTS RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET Local/regional art, produce, live music–Al Poindexter, Great Dames featuring Debrann, Pine Forest School of the Arts Dec. 8–under Fuller Warren Bridge, free admission, 389-2449, riversideartsmarket.com.

MUSEUMS

BEACHES MUSEUM & HISTORY PARK 381 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 241-5657, beachesmuseum.org. Jeffrey Luque’s Vibrancy & Illumination, through February.

CRISP-ELLERT ART MUSEUM Flagler College, 48 Sevilla St., St. Augustine, 826-8530. Sky Hopinka’s exhibit, Around the Edge of Encircling Lake, through December.

CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS 829 Riverside Ave., 356-6857, cummermuseum.org. Complimentary appetizers, champagne and one-of-a-kind artisan merchandise offered 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 6 & 7. Augusta Savage: Renaissance Woman, up through April.

KARPELES MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY & MUSEUM 101 W. First St., Springfield. #Mylove, Jeffrey Luque’s solo show, exhibits through January, jeffreyluqueart.com.

LIGHTNER MUSEUM 75 King St., St. Augustine, 808-7330, lightnermuseum.org. The Amazing Miniature World of Thomas Rahner, through Jan. 1.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART JACKSONVILLE 333 N. Laura St., 366-6911, mocajacksonville.unf.edu. Gideon Mendel: Drowning World exhibits. Frank Stella Unbound: Literature & Printmaking until Jan. 13.

GALLERIES

ALEXANDER BREST GALLERY Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd., Arlington, ju.edu/cfa. Student Juried Exhibition, through Dec. 5; free.

THE ART CENTER COOPERATIVE TAC Annex, Ste. 113, Jax Landing, 233-9252, tacjacksonville.org. Closing reception for the exhibit Corners, 6 p.m. Dec. 13.

BOLD BEAN SAN MARCO 1905 Hendricks Ave., 853-6545.

Brook Ramsey exhibits figurative oil paintings.

BREW 5 POINTS 1026 Park St., Riverside. Chip Southworth exhibits bridge-based works in Connections.

BUTTERFIELD GARAGE ART GALLERY 137 King St., St. Augustine, 825-4577. The artist for December is Sam Kates; an artist’s talk is 6 p.m. Dec. 7. His works exhibit through the month. Small Treasures, Good Things Come in Small Packages, through December.

CATHEDRAL ARTS PROJECT 207 N. Laura St., Ste. 300, Downtown, capkids.org. Andrew Kozlowski’s 10,000 Years exhibits through December.

CULTURAL CENTER at PONTE VEDRA BEACH 50 Executive Way, 280-0614, ccpvb.org. Jacksonville Coalition for Visual Arts winter show is on exhibit. Artisan Market, with pottery, jewelry, photography and paintings, is open.

CUTTER & CUTTER FINE ART 333 Village Main St., Ste. 640, Ponte Vedra, 395-3759, cutterandcutter. com. The exhibition and sale of The Argillet Collection, featuring various works of Salvador Dalí, displays through Dec. 16.

FLORIDA MINING GALLERY 5300 Shad Rd., Mandarin, 268-4681, floridamininggallery.com. Slamdance Cosmopolis, a collaborative exhibit of works by Matt Allison and Matthew Usinowicz, is on display.

JENNA ALEXANDER STUDIO 73 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine, 850-384-3084, jenna-alexander.com. An opening reception for Alexander’s new works, Stripes and Buns, is 5 p.m. Dec. 6.

MAIN LIBRARY’S MAKERSPACE 303 N. Laura St., Downtown. Ties and Knots, an exhibit of contemporary textile works, is up through Jan. 21.

RAIN DOGS 1045 Park St., 5 Points, 379-4969. Pleas To Meat You, new works by Stephen “Cryface” Bunnell, Tyler

Lewis-Goshen, Brittany Raja, Matt Jaffe and Randall Royal, is up through December.

SOUTHLIGHT GALLERY 1 Independent Dr., Downtown, southlight.com. Nick McNally’s 8 Visions is on exhibit.

THE YELLOW HOUSE 577 King St., Riverside, 419-9180, yellowhouseart.org. Piercing the Veil, Thony Aiuppy’s new, experimental works, are on display.

STUDIO ZSA ZSA LAPREE 233 E. Bay St., Downtown.

Creative Kids Show, through December.

THE VAULT@1930 1930 San Marco Ave., thevaultat1930. com. Local abstract painter Princess Simpson Rashid displays her works in Odyssey of Abstraction. .

EVENTS

LUMINARY NIGHT The 21st annual event features holiday music, lights and Santa, 6-9 p.m. Dec. 5, St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, 81 Lighthouse Ave., St. Augustine, 829-0745, staugustinelighthouse.com. Admission is free; suggested donation of a nonperishable food item.

HOLIDAY ON THE RIVER The annual free concert series continues through Dec. 22 in the Courtyard at The Jacksonville Landing, 2 Independent Dr., Downtown, 353-1188, jacksonvillelanding.com. Live performances by local choirs, school kids and dance groups are performed in front of the 56-foot-tall Christmas tree at midday and in the evening.

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR & SESQUICENTENNIAL KICKOFF The 32nd annual tour, kicking off Historic Springfield’s yearlong Sesquicentennial celebration with activities held throughout the community to honor the 150th anniversary, is 5-9 p.m. Dec. 7 & 8, Springfield, historicspringfield.org.

DICKENS ON CENTRE FESTIVAL Fernandina Beach’s Centre Street turns into a 19th-century Christmas village for the fourth annual festival, Dec. 7, 8 & 9, including horse-drawn carriage rides, period vendors, themed characters, and entertainers, festive lights, holiday décor; free, ameliaisland.com.

EVERYTHING EVERGREEN From broadleaf holly to needleleaf junipers, evergreens have many applications in a Florida landscape. Horticulturist Keith Fuller discusses varieties and uses of evergreens, 10-11 a.m. Dec. 8, Durbin Creek Nursery, 4286 Race Track Rd., St. Johns, durbincreeknursery.com, free. Light refreshments, door prizes.

FIRE FIGHTER CHILI COOKOFF The eighth annual event features chili sampling and family activities, 2-6 p.m.

Dec. 8, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, free admission; sampling tickets available, staugamphitheatre.com.

GAAM HOLIDAY NERD MARKET The specific market is noon-6 p.m. Dec. 9, Aloft at Tapestry Park, 4812 W. Deer Lake Dr., Southside, gaamshow.com.

ST. AUGUSTINE MAKERS FEST The third annual fest has artists, vendors, workshops, craft beers & spirits, food fest, live music and The Vernardos Circus. Kids (0-17) admitted free, $5 adults; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 9, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, staugustinemakersfest.org. proceeds benefit St. Augustine Public Montessori School.

UNF OSPREYS BASKETBALL UNF women’s basketball plays against Florida International University, 7 p.m. Dec. 11, University of North Florida’s Arena, Southside, 620-5429; general admission $5, UNF students free with Osprey 1Card, unf.edu. UNF men’s roundball against Charleston Southern, 5 p.m. Dec. 15. The women go up against Alabama A&M, 2 p.m. Dec. 20. Then it’s Warner University, 2 p.m. Dec. 21.

___________________________________________ To list your event, send time, date, location (street address, city/neighborhood), admission price and a contact phone number to print to Marlene Dryden, mdryden@folioweekly. com or 45 W. Bay St., Ste. 103, Jacksonville FL 32202. Space available policy. Deadline noon Wed. for next Wed. printing.

Misha Collins (left) is among the celebs from the spooky hit TV show appearing at the SUPERNATURAL OFFICIAL CONVENTION, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 7, 8 & 9, Hyatt Regency, 225 E. Coastline Dr., Downtown, $70-$140.

When you go, don’t freak if you see Kim Rhodes, Briana Buckmaster, Adam Fergus, Ruth Connell, David Haydn-Jones or even Jared Padalecki.

Plus comedy (whew!), contests, auctions and live music. Check the sked at creationent.com.

DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 19

BE A READER O

Nominating Ballot at FolioW

NOMINATING starts Wednesday, November 21, 201 VOTING starts Wednesday, December 26, 2018 WINNERS will be announced in the Wednesd

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CAMPAIGN TO WIN With 27 years of voting for the Best of Jax, our readers are eager to now exercise their influence in Folio Weekly’s very first BEST OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. From People and Local Makers, from Wine & Dine to Attractions, the 250 CATEGORIES of the 2019 Best of Saint Augustine will be in THREE PHASES: NOMINATING, VOTING and HALL OF FAME. Download your free campaign kit at FOLIOWEEKLY.COM/CAMPAIGNKIT.HTML For more information contact your account manager or SAM TAYLOR at (904) 860-2465 or Sam@folioweekly.com DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 21

FOLIO A+E : FILM

DOIN’ THE

Local filmmaker CHAD HENDRICKS drops a little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane

BEST

HE CAN I

t’s impossible not to speak in popsong couplets after chatting with Chad Hendricks. The Jacksonville filmmaker is steeped in pop culture. It’s the air he breathes.

His movies are likewise sewn with references to the pop canon. Hell, he even named his latest indie production after a song. And, like the eponymous Billy Paul hit, Hendricks’ Me & Mrs. Jones is about a doomed, adulterous love affair.

In keeping with the musical theme, Hendricks named his chief characters after a John “Cougar” Mellencamp jam. Meet Jack and Diane. The latter is played by Jax actor Julie Ann Dinneweth, while the former is portrayed by none other than Hendricks himself.

Shot and edited over the course of the last three years, the film is finally ready for its close-up. Folio Weekly discussed the process and the product with Hendricks.

Me & Mrs. Jones is something of a milestone for the veteran director. It’s his first time in front of the camera, so he recruited a co-director, Tamika Lee, in addition to coproducer Kathryn McAvoy.

“She was the backbone of it in the beginning,” Hendricks says. “I needed someone to whip me into shape as an actor.”

Though this is his first time acting, it’s not Hendricks’ first rodeo. By his own count, he has directed nine features in 18 years. The first was a collaboration with his cinematographer cousin, Josh Skierski, who had recently graduated from Full Sail University in Central Florida. For his part, Hendricks had just returned from a sojourn in LA, with little to show, apart from a stand-in appearance in an Eminem music video and a turn on the reality television show Blind Date. And a script that he had written.

“Josh said he would shoot and edit if I directed,” Hendricks says, “It was one of those things where I had never finished anything. I had a hard enough time directing my own life! But before long, I was directing

22 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | DECEMBER 5-11, 2018

ME & MRS. JONES RED-CARPET PREMIERE/DVD RELEASE PARTY

6-11 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, Cuba Libre Ultra Lounge, 2578 Atlantic Blvd., meandmrsjonesmovie.com, $10 10 actors. That’s when I caught the bug.”

The result, a raunchy comedy titled 2HEADS1BRAIN (2000), set the tone for what would follow: a string of defiantly lo-fi, defiantly Duval productions created under the aegis Two Crackers and a Lamp Productions.

(Skierski, the second cracker, has since moved on to Atlanta to work at Adult Swim.) Those early works were indebted stylistically to the exploitation films and gonzo comedies of the 1970s and ’80s, but their substance has always been contemporary Jacksonville.

Though the films have matured with their director, Hendricks’ sense of the absurd remains. Me & Mrs. Jones is not a slasher comedy like Kracker Jack’d (’03) or a blaxploitation-style zombie romp like Insane in the Brain (’07), but it does feature a sh*ttalking puppet who embodies Jack’s ego.

And, though Me & Mrs. Jones is a (relatively) adult comedy, its director remains forever a film nerd. He even sought out one of his favorite actors to appear in his latest.

Cult film star Camille Keaton makes an appearance as Jack’s mom. Pulp aficionados will recognize Keaton from Meir Zachi’s

1978 exploitation classic, I Spit on Your Grave, and a host of Italian giallo flicks from the same decade.

“She plays my mom in this one,” Hendricks says, “so she got to take a break from being chased around with knives through the woods!”

The rest of the cast is pure Duval. The actors auditioned at an open call, which was later turned into a web series. Local wrestler Derrick Allen voices Jack’s Ego, and Andy Nance co-stars as Jack’s wise uncle. Folio Weekly’s 2018 Best of Jax readers’ poll voted Jaybier Nino as Best Actor—he makes a cameo appearance, too.

Me & Mrs. Jones naturally boasts a Duval-heavy soundtrack as well. Featured artists include Kip Kolb, Mama Blue and Shane Myers.

“My one addiction has always been music,” says Hendricks, as if it weren’t already obvious.

The plot of Me & Mrs. Jones is a slice of life (at least the life of a neurotic filmmaker).

Neither time nor distance has helped Jack get over his affair with the married Diane so,

in a fit of narcissistic desperation, he travels thousands of miles for closure.

“I lived it 15 years ago, wrote it 10 years ago and started filming it three years ago,” says Hendricks. “It’s based on a true story. I really did travel cross-country to see the girl I loved—and found myself in the process.”

Despite the male crisis at the heart of the story, however, Hendricks suggests that co-director Lee brings balance to the forces at play.

“It’s a chick flick meets a dick pic,” he laughs. “Women aren’t supposed to know we men have feelings, so I guess I’m giving away some secrets.”

Yes, Jack cries a lot. And he eventually learns to ignore his crude, impulsive puppet ego. Finally, at the end of the film, Jack drives off into the sunset with himself. Not by himself but with himself—Hendricks is credited as playing both Jack and Jack’s Self. Carrying him/them away is a Lexus sporting the vanity plate “LOV3YOURS3LF.” Leetspeak to live by.

Hendricks, Lee and co. are set to unveil Me & Mrs. Jones at a red-carpet premiere on Dec. 9. The date was not chosen at random.

Both Hendricks and his father celebrate their birthdays on Dec. 10, and family is important to the director. His uncle, Sam Skierski, appears in the film (as Jack’s birth father); cousins Billy Inman and Harley Cooper Wright also have roles. The sets are strewn with authentic family photos.

Hendricks’ 2019 plans include shopping Me & Mrs. Jones on the festival circuit, though he’s all-too-aware how real independent filmmakers are treated by film fest bigwigs.

“The tough part with that,” he sighs, “is you’re usually just paying someone’s light bill for a good ol’-fashioned ‘thanks but no thanks.’”

Oh, but ain’t that America?

Georgio Valentino mail@folioweekly.com

FOLIO A+E : MUSIC Iris DeMent’s brutally honest Americana still strikes an EMOTIONAL CHORD

LIFT EVERY VOICE T

here’s something disarmingly honest about Iris DeMent. The Arkansas native may have grown up in California, but the South’s gospel-tinged purity permeates every song she’s ever written.

The youngest of 14 children, raised in a Pentecostal household, DeMent says she was “submerged in sound” from birth. Her mother dreamed of becoming a Nashville star before having eight children, while her fiddle-playing father considered music necessary for survival. At 25, after driving through a dead Midwestern town, DeMent wrote her first song. Now, 32 years on, she’s still at it, though on her own fiercely independent terms.

What hasn’t changed, however, is the gut-wrenching warble in DeMent’s voice.

It’s the elegant emotion that’s heard knotted up in timeless hits like “Let the Mystery Be.” Perhaps the best of all her many attributes is the thoughtful way she approaches her role as a singer, a songwriter and an artist.

Folio Weekly: How has your relationship with the craft of songwriting changed over the years?

Iris DeMent: One of these days I need to look up “craft” in the dictionary, but until I do, I can tell you that I’ve never used that word when I think about what I’m doing. That’s partly because some of the earliest things I wrote still hold up today, even though I wrote them [having had] very little experience.

What I can relate to is having listened to a lot of music—from the time I was born, to be honest. I was submerged in sound from the get-go. I didn’t start writing until I was 25, after wanting to write from the time I was 10. Whatever I’ve done is a result of what I’ve absorbed—then finding my own way to reshape that and put it out in the world. That’s why I don’t relate to the word “craft.” Everybody’s got their own way of doing things.

What is your process? Do you write on a daily basis?

I don’t wake up in the morning thinking about writing, though I really admire people who do that, and I’m always considering starting. It’s really smart, no question about it. A lot of great work comes out of that little thing called ‘applying yourself.’ But it’s always been a phased thing for me. My writing history is being submerged in something for five or six months. I’ll get on some kind of wave that will grab ahold of and become consuming. I’ll see that through and then go away for generally quite a while. That’s just how it’s gone for me. I’ve accepted it, even though it used to trouble me a lot.

I would try that daily thing, and I’d get so anxious my heart would start racing. I’d feel the pressure and start hating the whole thing.

At some point, I decided to make peace with my pattern.

IRIS DEMENT WITH PIETA BROWN 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, pvconcerthall.com, $29.50-$39.50 Have you made peace with your role as an artist? In past interviews, you’ve eschewed the term “performer” and said that, instead, you’re performing a service—even offering people a lifeline through your music.

I don’t know that I perceive myself as a lifeline. The music, for me, is and always has been a lifeline. That’s how it was presented to me as a child. It’s my hope when I go out there that I’m offering something along those lines to other people. What it ends up being to them, I don’t know and can’t say.

But if anything, that sense of my purpose has gotten stronger as I’ve gotten older.

At 2017’s Americana Music Association’s Honors & Awards, you received the

American Trailblazer Award. Did that add to your sense of purpose or dilute it?

Boy, this is an area where I’m, like, “Should I be honest?” I don’t expect to ever be offered anything like that again, but I didn’t want to go there. Everybody was kind, and I was honored to be recognized. It feels great to be honored and respected, but it’s a personal thing. It’s so unnatural and uncomfortable for me. At the end of it all, it has that tainting quality about it. It takes the music out of what the music was always about for me, which was a spiritual thing about lifting each other up. Some of the people who lifted me up the most and set me on my path could hardly carry a tune. But they sang from such a deep place that they turned my world upside-down. Those folks are never going to get acknowledged. So [receiving that award] was very against my grain and I wish I hadn’t done it. That’s the end of that.

Your music has always hit me in a particularly personal way. When you say that music is “about lifting each other up,” do you consider the impact it can have on individual listeners?

Sure I do. The first thing I’m looking for is connecting with my own self—what’s in there that matters enough to explore? But no doubt about it: I’m talking to people when I write. My husband amazes me when he says he would write whether anybody else heard it or not.

I’m not so sure. To me, it’s always been about talking to somebody. I need to know they’re out there, that they’ve got an ear, and that they’re listening. I’m writing to communicate. I’m writing to get with somebody else. I’m writing to connect and have a relationship with the other folks I share the world with. That’s what’s going on for me.

Nick McGregor mail@folioweekly.com

DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 23

CONCERTS Restaurant MEDURE, 818 A1A N., 543-3797 Will Hurley Dec. 7. Color of Soul Dec. 8 TAPS Bar & Grill, 2220 C.R. 210, 819-1554 Jay Garrett Dec. 5. Vegas Gray Dec. 7

RIVERSIDE, WESTSIDE

MURRAY HILL Theatre, 932 Edgewood Ave., 388-7807 Christmas with A Cup of Tea Dec. 8 NIGHTHAWKS, 2952 Roosevelt Blvd., 619-9978 DJ Reson, Famalamajam Dec. 5. WVRM Fest 6: Beerwolf, Vacancy, Ether, Horsewhip, Thunderclap, Unearthly Child, Burn to Learn, Gillian Carter, more Dec. 6-8.

Toadface, Dropkick, Flubz, THI3F Dec. 12.

David Ellefson (Megadeath), Rising Up Angry, Split Town Saints, 13 Bloodshot, Higher Ground Dec. 13 RAIN DOGS, 1045 Park St., 379-4969 WVRM Fest: Beerwolf, Horsewhip, Thunderclap, Unearthly Child, Burn to Learn, Gillian Carter Dec. 6-8. Shehehe, Swingers, Mercy Mercy Dec. 8 RIVERSIDE Arts Market, 715 Riverside Ave., 389-2449 Ugly Sweater Bash: Al Poindexter, Great Dames, Debrann, Pine Forest School of the Arts Dec. 8. Ronan School of Music Dec. 8 TOWN Beer Co.,1176 Edgewood, 374-6568 Roger Jaeger Dec. 5

LEFTÖVER CRACK, a NYC six-piece– anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-Facist, etc.– offers anger and musicianship. They’re appearing with NINE TENTHS and veterans NEGATIVE APPROACH, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 8, 1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean St., Downtown, 345-5780, $15 advance.

LIVE MUSIC VENUES

AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA The SALTY PELICAN, 12 N. Front St., 277-3811 Justin Spivey Dec. 5. Robbie Litt Dec. 7. Kevin Ski Dec. 8. Matt Henderson Dec. 9. Robert Barlow Dec. 12 SJ BREWING CO., 463646 S.R. 200, Ste. 13, Yulee, 849-1654 Yancy Clegg Dec. 8 SLIDERS Seaside Grill, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652 Pili Pili Dec. 5. Tad Jennings Dec. 6. Hupp Dec. 7. JCnMike Dec. 9.

Savannah Leigh Bassett Dec. 10. Mark O’Quinn Dec. 11 The SURF, 3199 S. Fletcher, 261-5711 Larry & the Backtracks Dec. 6. King Eddie & Pili Pili Dec. 7. Davis Turner Dec. 15

AVONDALE, ORTEGA

CASBAH Café, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966 Goliath Flores every Wed. Jazz every Sun. Live music every Mon. ECLIPSE Nightclub, 4219 St. Johns Ave., 387-3582 KJ Free every Tue. & Thur. Indie dance every Wed. ’80s & ’90s dance music every Fri.

THE BEACHES

(All venues in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted) BLUE JAY Listening Room, 412 N. Second St., 834-1315 Jackie Stranger, Luke Peacock Dec. 6. Songs from the Road Band Dec. 7. Seth Walker Dec. 8. Chad Jasmine & the Spinning Shapes Dec. 9. Joe Marcinek Band Dec. 11 CULHANE’S Irish Pub, 967 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-9595 Michael Funge every Sun. FLYING IGUANA, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680 Chuck Nash Band Dec. 7 & 8. Samuel Sanders Dec. 9 GREEN ROOM Brewing, 228 Third St. N., 201-9283 Mark O’Quinn Dec. 8. Beach City Dec. 14 GUSTO, 1266 Beach Blvd., 372-9925 Groov every Wed. Michael Smith every Thur. Milton Clapp every Fri. The HARBOR Tavern, 160 Mayport Rd., AB, 246-2555 Rat Town, D.R.I., Deathwish, LA-A, Mindfield Dec. 5 LYNCH’S Irish Pub, 514 N. First St., 249-5181 Split Tone Dec. 6. Chillula Dec. 9. The B Sides Dec. 10. Honey Hounds Dec. 11. Party Cartel Dec.14 MEZZA Restaurant, 110 First St., NB, 249-5573 Gypsies Ginger every Wed. Mike Shackelford, Steve Shanholtzer every Thur. Mezza House Band every Mon. Trevor Tanner every Tue. RAGTIME Tavern, 207 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 241-7877 Neil Dixon Dec. 5. Gypsies Ginger Dec. 6. Austin Park Dec. 7 & 8 SAFE HARBOR, 2510 Second Ave. N., 479-3474 Ace Winn Dec. 9 SURFER the Bar, 200 First St. N., 372-9756 Whiskey Beach Dec. 5 & 12. The Hip Abduction Dec. 12 WHISKEY JAX, 950 Marsh Landing Pkwy., 853-5973 Dalton Ammerman, Michael Bennick Dec. 5. Boogie Freaks Dec. 7.

Bay Street Dec. 8. Vox Dec. 9. Great Dames Dec. 11

DOWNTOWN

24 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | DECEMBER 5-11, 2018

1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean St. N., 345-5760 Every Time I Die, Turnstile, Angel Dust Vein Dec. 5. Zach Deputy, Mike Pinto Dec. 7. Leftover Crack, Negative Approach, Nine Tenths Dec. 8. Driftwood Dec. 9. Third Annual X-Mas Rager: The Groove Orient Dec. 13. Holiday Jamboree: Mzg, John Parkerurban, Brett Bass & Melted Plectrum, Ebony PayneEnglish, Side Hustle, Ben Strok Dec. 14 DAILY’S Place, Northbank, 633-2000 Meachum L. Clarke & True Purpose Dec. 9

ST. AUGUSTINE

DOS GATOS, 123 E. Forsyth St., 354-0666 DJ Brandon every Thur. DJ NickFresh every Sat. DJ Randall every Mon. DJ Hollywood every Tue. The FLORIDA Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., 355-2787 Home Free Dec. 9. Michael W. Smith, Melinda Doolittle Dec. 11.

Miracles Holiday & Hits: Kenny G Dec. 13 The JAX LANDING, 353-1188 Jason Evans Band Dec. 7.

TubaChristmas, Déjà Vu Beach Band Dec. 8. Spanky the Band Dec. 13. Holiday on the River concerts through Dec. 22 MAVERICKS Live, Jax Landing, 356-1110 A Not So Silent Night: Bleeping In Stereo, Breaking Through, Soulswitch, Copper Bones, Sunshine & Bullets, Near Empty, Lowrcase G, Mindslip Dec. 15 MYTH Nightclub, 333 E. Bay St., 707-0474 Geexella, DJ Jilly, Charlie Velours Dec. 8 RITZ Theatre, 829 N. Davis St., 632-5555 Puttin’ on the Ritz Dec. 7. Mandy Harvey Dec. 8 TIMES-UNION Center for the Performing Arts, 300 Water St., 633-6110 85 South, Holiday Pops Dec. 6-9, JSYO Dec. 10. Lauren Daigle, The War & Treaty Dec. 6, Moran Theater VOLSTEAD, 115 W. Adams, 414-3171 The Raisin Cake Orchestra Dec. 5. Snacks Blues Band Dec. 7. DJ No Fame Dec. 8. Blackjack Dec. 10

FLEMING ISLAND, GREEN COVE BOONDOCKS, 2808 Henley Rd., Green Cove Springs, 406-9497 Paul Wane Dec. 5. Random Tandem Dec. 6. Zeb Padgett, Ronny McKinley Dec. 7. Branden Parrish, Dixie Highway Dec. 8. Paul Ivey Dec. 12 CREEK LIFE Food Shack, 2853 Henley Rd., Green Cove Shayne Rammler Dec. 7 WHITEY’S Fish Camp, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198 Chelsea Michelle Dec. 7. Downpine Dec. 8

INTRACOASTAL

CLIFF’S, 3033 Monument Rd., 645-5162 DJ Sharon Dec. 5 & 12. Lift Dec. 7. Party Cartel Dec. 8 JERRY’S Sports Bar & Grille, 13170 Atlantic Blvd., 220-6766 Yowsah Dec. 7

MANDARIN

ENZA’S Italian Restaurant, 10601 San Jose Blvd., 268-4458 Brian Iannucci Dec. 5, 9 & 11 IGGY’S, 104 Bartram Oaks Walk, 209-5209 Eric Alabiso Dec. 5. Vynl Dec. 7. Paul Wane, 7 Street Band Dec. 8. Litt Family, Robbie Litt Dec. 9 SECOND SUNDAY at STETSON’S, Beluthahatchee Park, 1523 S.R. 13, Fruit Cove, 206-8304 Larry Mangum, Mary Beth Campbell, Bear & Robert, Emmitt Carlisle, Gail Carson, Ellen Bukstel Dec. 9

ORANGE PARK, MIDDLEBURG

CHEERS, 1138 Park Ave., 269-4855 DJ Capone Dec. 5. Love Monkey Dec. 7 & 8 DALTON’S Sports Grill, 2620 Blanding Blvd., 282-1564 Scott McGinley Dec. 6. Chris Tyler Band Dec. 7. Craig Hand Dec. 8 The HILLTOP, 2030 Wells Rd., 272-5959 John Michael every Tue.-Sat.

PONTE VEDRA

FIONN MacCOOL’S, 145 Hilden Rd., 217-7021 Ace Winn Dec. 7 PONTE VEDRA Concert Hall, 209-0399 Iris Dement, Pieta Brown Dec. 8. A Peter White Christmas:, Euge Groove, Rick Braun Dec. 11. Steven Wilson Dec. 16

ANCIENT CITY Brewing, 3420 Agricultural Dr., 429-9654 Grant Paxton Band Dec. 8. Shayne Rammler & the Brakemen Dec. 16 ARNOLD’S, 3912 N. Ponce de Leon, 824-8738 Jay Garrett Band Dec. 8 CAFÉ ELEVEN, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., 460-9311 Leigh Nash Dec. 6. Driftwood Dec. 8 COLONIAL OAK Quarter, 21 St. George St., 342-2857 Gamble Rogers Music Festival Holiday Faire Dec. 14 PLANET SARBEZ, 115 Anastasia Blvd., 342-0632 American Opera Dec. 12 PROHIBITION Kitchen, 119 St. George St., 209-5704 Ramona Trio, Sailor Jane Dec. 6. House Cats, Trae Pierce & the T Stones Dec. 7. Kalani Rose, GW Souther Dec. 8. Ryan Campbell Dec. 10. Aslyn & the Naysayers Dec. 11 St. AUGUSTINE Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A S., 209-0367 Makers Fest live music Dec. 9 TRADEWINDS, 124 Charlotte St., 829-9336 Blistur Dec. 7 & 8

SAN MARCO, NORTHBANK

GRAPE & GRAIN Exchange, 2000 San Marco, 396-4455 Al Maniscalco Quartet Dec. 7 JACK RABBITS, 15280 Hendricks Ave., 398-7496 Young Culture, Locals Only, 5 Cent Psychiatrist Dec. 5. Kung Fu Dec. 6. Broncho, Yip Deceiver, Faze Wave Dec. 7. Ballyhoo!, Propaganjah, Universal Green Dec. 8. A Brilliant Lie, Sidekick Dec. 9. Post Animal, Illiterate Light Dec. 10 MUDVILLE Music Room, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., 352-7008 Swamp Cabbage Dec. 7. Caroline Cotter Dec. 8. Ray’s Birthday Dec. 9. River City Rhythm Kings Dec. 10. Pierce Pettis Dec. 12.

Jack Williams Dec. 14

SOUTHSIDE, BAYMEADOWS

MELLOW MUSHROOM, 9734 Deer Lake Ct., 997-1955 Cortnie Frazier Dec. 7 VETERANS UNITED, 8999 Western Way, 253-3326 Shane Myers Dec. 7 WHISKEY JAX, 10915 Baymeadows Rd., 634-7208 Casey Mitchell Dec. 5. DiCarlo Thompson Dec. 6. Fireball Dec. 7.

Monkey Wrench Dec. 8. Melissa Smith, Ivan Pulley open mic every Thur.

SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE

COPPER TOP Bar, 12405 Main St., 551-4088 Skytrain Dec. 7 CROOKED ROOSTER Brewery, 148 S. Sixth St., Macclenny, 653-2337 5 Cent Psychiatrist Dec. 8. DJ Toy every Wed. PALMS Fish Camp, 6359 Heckscher Dr., 240-1672 Michael Ward Dec. 5. Billy Bowers Dec. 7. Eric Alabiso Dec. 9 SHANTYTOWN Pub, 22 W. Sixth, 798-8222 Emotron, Non Grata, Dancing with Ghosts, UTOT, Charlie Velours Dec. 9

UPCOMING CONCERTS

SAMUEL HERB Dec. 15, Blue Jay Listening Room Merry & Bright: JAX TREBLEMAKERS Dec. 15, St. Nicholas Park Christian Church Little Drummer Boy Christmas Tour: FOR KING & COUNTRY, ZACH WILLIAMS, CATIE HURST Dec. 16, Vets Memorial Arena CHRIS ISAAK Dec. 16, The Florida Theatre ROGER McGUINN, CHRIS HILLMAN, MARTY STUART & the FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES Dec. 17, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall ASLEEP at the WHEEL Dec. 18, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall ROCKAPELLA Dec. 19, Florida Theatre H.R. Dec. 19, Surfer the Bar HORTON’S HOLIDAY HAYRIDE, JUNIOR BROWN, The BLASTERS, BIG SANDY Dec. 21, The Florida Theatre EVE to ADAM, SUPER BOB, SUCKER PUNCH, 14 NORTH, JEAN STREET SOUND, The CITRUS TREES, HIGHER GROUND Dec. 22, Nighthawks

CONCERTS ROOSEVELT COLLIER TRIO Dec. 23, Blue Jay Listening Room RIOT TEN Dec. 28, Myth Nightclub PASSAFIRE, EL DUB Dec. 28, Surfer the Bar TERRY FATOR Dec. 28, The Florida Theatre The DONNA SUMMER & BARRY WHITE Experience Dec. 28 & 29, Alhambra Theatre The GRASS IS DEAD Dec. 29, 1904 Music Hall DONNA the BUFFALO, WESTERN CENTURIES Dec. 29, PVC Hall The MAIN SQUEEZE Dec. 31, 1904 Music Hall COLE SWINDELL Dec. 31, Gator Bowl (Vets Memorial Arena) CRACKER, CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN Jan. 6, Jack Rabbits RITA COOLIDGE Jan. 9, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall ROCK of AGES 10th Anniversary Jan. 10, T-U Center, Moran Winter Jam: NEWSBOYS UNITED, DANNY GOKEY, MANDISA, REND COLLECTIVE, LEDGER, NEWSONG, HOLLYN, TY BRASEL, MANIC DRIVE, DAN BREMNES, ADAM AGEE Jan. 11, Vets Mem Arena KARL DENSON & HIS TINY UNIVERSE BAND Jan. 11, PVC Hall Great Underground Tour: COREY SMITH Jan. 11, Mavericks MARCIA BALL & HER BAND Jan. 12, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall FRANKIE VALLI & the FOUR SEASONS Jan. 13, Florida Theatre LAKE STREET DIVE, MIKAELA DAVIS Jan. 15, PV Concert Hall MIKE EPPS, SOMMORE, EARTHQUAKE, MARK CURRY, GEORGE WALLACE Jan. 18, Veterans Memorial Arena DREW CAREY, GREG PROOPS, JEFF B. DAVIS, JOEL MURRAY Jan. 19, The Florida Theatre MUTTS GONE NUTS Jan. 19, FSCJ Wilson Center You & Me Solo Tour: PETE YORN Jan. 22, Jack Rabbits RECKLESS KELLY, NIKKI LANE Jan. 24, PVedra Concert Hall DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, LUCINDA WILLIAMS Jan. 25, Fla. Theatre VOODOO VISIONARY Jan. 25, Jack Rabbits The OUTLAWS Jan. 25, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall OLD 97s, SHOOTER JENNINGS Jan. 26, PVedra Concert Hall SARA EVANS Jan. 27, Florida Theatre 25th Anniversary of God Shuffled His Feet Tour: CRASH TEST DUMMIES Jan. 28, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall PINK MARTINI Jan. 28, Florida Theatre DAVID CURLEY & ANDREW FINN MAGILL Jan. 29, Mudville MARCO BENEVENTO Jan. 30, Jack Rabbits NEKO CASE Jan. 31, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall JOYCE MANOR, JEFF ROSENSTOCK, REMEMBER SPORTS Jan. 31, 1904 Music Hall UNDER the STREETLAMP Feb. 2, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall BETHEL MUSIC Victory Tour Feb. 5. T-U Center, Moran Theater GAELIC STORM Feb. 5, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG Feb. 6, 1904 Music Hall DAVID BROMBERG QUINTET Feb. 6, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall The MAGPIE SALUTE Feb. 7, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall The Sauce Tour, A Celebration of 25 Years: G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE Feb. 8, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall ANDREW McMAHON in the WILDERNESS Feb. 8, Mavericks PATTI LaBELLE Feb. 9, Times-Union Center ALAN DOYLE & GREAT BIG SEA Feb. 10, PVedra Concert Hall G JONES, TSURUDA, CHEE Feb. 10, 1904 Music Hall AL DI MEOLA Feb. 12, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall TAJ MAHAL & HIS TRIO Feb. 13, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND, HANDMADE MOMENTS Feb. 13, 1904 Music Hall KEIKO MATSUI Feb. 14, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall JO KOY Feb. 14, Florida Theatre TOM RUSH, MATT NAKOA Feb. 15, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall MATT & KIM, YUMO Feb. 15, St. Aug Amp Backyard Stage FRED EAGLESMITH, TIG GINN Feb. 16, Mudville Grille DAVE MASON, STEVE CROPPER Feb. 17, PVedra Concert Hall The FLOOZIES, TOO MANY ZOOZ, DREAMERS DELIGHT, The TERMINUS HORNS Feb. 18, 1904 Music Hall LOS LOBOS Feb. 19, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall JAKE SHIMABUKURO Feb. 19, Florida Theatre

An Evening with DAWES Feb. 19, St. Aug Amp Backyard Stage The ZOMBIES Feb. 20, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall MURDER by DEATH, J RODDY WALSTON & the BUSINESS Feb. 20, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Backyard Stage TOBYMAC, JEREMY CAMP, RYAN STEVENSON, AARON CORE, WE ARE MESSENGERS, Feb. 21, Veterans Memorial Arena KASEY CHAMBERS & the FIREFLY DISCIPLES Feb. 21, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Take Me as I Am: CHRISTOPHER CROSS Feb. 27, PVC Hall The EXPENDABLES, BALLYHOO! Feb. 28, St. Aug Amp Backyard Stage 50th Anniversary: ALABAMA March 1, St. Augustine Amp PAM TILLIS, TERRI CLARK, SUZY BOGGUSS March 1, The Florida Theatre STEEL PANTHER, WILSON March 1, Mavericks Live Beyond the Fluffy: GABRIEL IGLESIAS March 3, T-U Center From White to Blue: MORGAN JAMES March 3, PVC Hall STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN March 7, T-U Center, Terry Theater Friends & Heroe: BLAKE SHELTON, TRACE ADKINS, The BELLAMY BROTHERS, JOHN ANDERSON, LAUREN ALAINA March 7, Veterans Memorial Arena The AVETT BROTHERS March 7, St. Augustine Amphitheatre The INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS, ROOSEVELT COLLIER March 8, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall 10,000 MANIACS March 9, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall JEFF TWEEDY, JAMES ELKINGTON March 11, PV Concert Hall David Bowie Alumni: MIKE GARSON, EARL SLICK, GERRY LEONARD, CARMINE ROJAS, BERNARD FOWLER, COREY GLOVER, LEE JOHN March 15, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall ELTON JOHN March 15, Veterans Memorial Arena DAN & SHAY, MORGAN EVANS March 15, St. Augustine Amp TREVOR NOAH March 16, St. Augustine Amphitheatre ROGER McGUINN March 16, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall LITTLE FEAT March 20, Florida Theatre JOAN OSBORNE Sings Bob Dylan March 21, PVC Hall ANGELA INGERSOLL Sings Judy Garland March 22, FSCJ’s Wilson Center KELLER WILLIAMS’ PETTYGRASS, The HILLBENDERS March 28, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Backyard Stage Only Jesus Tour: CASTING CROWNS March 30, Daily’s Place ANITRA JAY April 6, Riverside Arts Market BOZ SCAGGS April 10, Florida Theatre End of the Road: KISS April 12, Veterans Memorial Arena Electric Rodeo Tour: MIDLAND April 12, St. Augustine Amp DAVE ALVIN, JIMMIE DALE GILMORE, The GUILTY ONES April 12, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall KENNY CHESNEY April 13, Daily’s TAB BENOIT April 13, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall EDWIN McCAIN April 17, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall TINSLEY ELLIS April 19, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Global Consciousness Tour: SANTANA April 20, St. Aug Amp The Miss Me More Tour: KELSEA BALLERINI, BRETT YOUNG, BRANDON RATCLIFF April 26, St. Augustine Amphitheatre No Filter Tour: The ROLLING STONES April 24, TIAA Bank Field DREAM THEATER April 27, T-U Center, Moran Theater GRETA VAN FLEET May 9, Daily’s Happy Together Tour: The TURTLES, CHUCK NEGRON, GARY PUCKETT & the UNION GAP, The BUCKINGHAMS, CLASSICS IV, The COWSILLS June 2, Florida Theatre Strings Attached: WEIRD AL YANKOVIC June 9, St. Aug Amp TRAIN, GOO GOO DOLLS, ALLEN STORE July 9, Daily’s Place _________________________________________ To list your band’s gig, send time, date, location (street address, city or neighborhood), admission price and a contact number to Marlene Dryden, email mdryden@folioweekly.com or by mail at 45 W. Bay St., Ste. 103, Jacksonville FL 32202.

Events run on space-available basis. Deadline noon Wed. for next Wed. publication.

This trio, straight outta Athens G-A, labels its music as American Jet Rock. SHEHEHE performs with SWINGERS and MERCY, MERCY, 8 p.m. Dec. 8, Rain Dogs, 1045 Park St., Riverside, 379-4949, $6.

DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 25

FOLIO FOOD

GRILLED CHEESE CONCEPT opens in St. Augustine

ELEVATED COMFORT

Photos by Alex Harris/Tymout Photography

FOOD

26 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | DECEMBER 5-11, 2018

JEFFREY THOMPSON HAD NEVER BEEN TO St. Augustine. The West Palm Beach native—and owner of that city’s Grilled Cheese Gallery—finally made the trek this summer, when he and his fiancée attended a friend’s wedding in the Ancient City. Within months, Thompson was serving up craft grilled cheese sammies out of a brand-new storefront on St. Augustine’s main square, the Plaza de la Constitución.

“I was expecting T-shirts and souvenir shops,” Thompson said as he sat down with Folio Weekly in between orders, “but it was a lot cooler than I thought.

The town’s got lots of local culture. It’s got a college vibe. And there are a lot of people who care about local businesses and community. So, boom. I just started looking for spaces. I hope it’s a good decision. I think it will be.”

Thompson’s West Palm Beach experience gives him hope. He opened the first Grilled Cheese Gallery there in 2015. It was a spin-off of his fine dining restaurant O-BO. Thompson also operates a fine art and antique gallery next door.

But it was GCG that quickly became the main event.

Why? “It’s elevated comfort food,” Thompson explained. “People really get it, and they like it.”

Still, Thompson wouldn’t understand the true beauty of the formula until he saw diners of all ages enjoying his creations together.

“We weren’t smart enough to plan it out,” he laughed, “but what’s interesting about

the concept is how many people it appeals to. Initially, like most fast casual restaurants, you shoot for the millennial crowd. They’re foodies. They buy craft beer. Check. But we also do extremely well with the over-65 demographic. Folks are nostalgic about real grilled cheese and tomato basil soup. We also play Motown at every location. And, because it’s grilled cheese and unicorns, we also do great with kids.”

Yes, he said unicorns. The Grilled Cheese Gallery’s official mascot is the magical horned horse. The stuff of legend, it’s even embroidered on the staff ’s uniforms.

“Most grilled cheese restaurants aren’t that visually appealing,” Thompson explained. “They’ll be done up in brown and orange. I wanted something that would sparkle. I wanted this to be a magical place that doesn’t really make sense but works anyway.”

And work it did. The WPB GCG’s success was such that Thompson expanded with a seasonal Cape Cod location in 2017. St. Augustine is No. 3, opening its doors on the three-year anniversary of the WPB inauguration, Nov. 13. (Oh, and a fourth is also in the works, for Port St. Lucie.)

It’s all in the restaurant’s tagline: “Grilled cheese makes everything magical.”

So. Come for the pink unicorns; stay for the grub. The St. Augustine menu remains true to Thompson’s concept. In fact, chances are you’ll find him behind the line. He’s moved to the Ancient City and vows to remain full-time until his latest restaurant is up and running.

As in WPB and Cape Cod, the St. Augustine GCG offers more than a dozen variants of the classic sandwich, starring cheeses from around the world. You’ve got your classic American, your English Cheddar, your Dutch Gouda, your French Brie, your Swiss Gruyere and more. Other fixings include pulled pork, prosciutto, bacon, steak and even lobster.

Each recipe boasts a cute name.

Thompson confided that the kids’ fav is the Mac Daddy (mac and cheese on grilled white bread), while the most popular allaround is the Country Boy (pulled pork slathered with homemade barbecue sauce, then topped with mac and cheese, then topped with cheddar and Gruyere cheese).

Yes, there are also vegetarian and even vegan options. The vegan Disco features tofu, kimchi, vegan cheese and more.

In addition to grilled cheeses, GCG also offers a variety of soups, salads and poutines. Thompson discovered that the humble poutine can be as customizable as his signature sammies. While the original French Canadian poutine calls for fries, cheese curds and gravy, his magical creations add chicken, short ribs, kale and kimchi.

The original Grilled Cheese Gallery is known as much for its curated craft beer selection as its sandwiches and poutines.

And Thompson, currently waiting for a beer and wine license from the city of St. Augustine, looks forward to tapping the rich variety of regional brews in NEFla in the near future.

Georgio Valentino mail@folioweekly.com

FOLIO DINING Generations of Asian street food recipes inspired the casual yet high-energy HAWKERS restaurants, like this one in 5 Points. A newish Hawkers is open in Neptune Beach, serving the same innovative fare.

Photo by Devon Sarian

AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA

BRETT’S WATERWAY CAFÉ, 1 S. Front St., 261-2660. 2018 Best of Jax finalist. On the water at Centre Street’s end.

Southern hospitality, upscale atmosphere; daily specials, fresh local seafood, aged beef. $$$ FB L D Daily CAFÉ KARIBO, 27 N. Third St., 277-5269, cafekaribo.com.

F Family-owned café in historic building. Worldly fare, made-from-scratch dressings, sauces, desserts, sourcing fresh veggies, seafood. Dine in or al fresco on oak-shaded patio. Microbrew Karibrew Pub brews; imports. $$ FB K TO R, Su; L Daily, D Tu-Su in season THE CRAB TRAP, 31 N. Second St., 261-4749, amelia crabtrap.com. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. For nearly 40 years, family-owned-and-operated. Fresh local seafood, steaks, specials. HH. $$ FB L Sa-M; D Nightly LARRY’S, 474272 S.R. 200, 844-2225. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. SEE ORANGE PARK. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 925 S. 14th St., 321-3400, moonriver pizza.net. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Northern-style pizzas, 20+ toppings, pie/slice. Calzones. $ BW TO L D M-Sa THE MUSTARD SEED CAFÉ, 833 Courson Rd., 277-3141, nassauhealthfoods.net. 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Casual organic eatery, juice bar, in Nassau Health Foods. All-natural organic items, smoothies, juices, herbal teas, coffees, daily specials. $$ K TO B L M-Sa THE POINTE RESTAURANT, 98 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-4851, elizabethpointelodge.com. 2018 Best of Jax finalist. In award-winning Elizabeth Pointe Lodge. Seaside dining; in or out. Hot buffet breakfast daily, full lunch menu. Homestyle soups, specialty sandwiches, desserts. $$$ BW K B L D Daily THE SALTY PELICAN Bar & Grill, 12 N. Front St., 277-3811, thesaltypelicanamelia.com. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/ finalist. 2nd-story outdoor bar. T.J. & Al offer local seafood, fish tacos, Mayport shrimp, po’boys, cheese oysters. $$ FB K L D Daily SLIDERS Seaside Grill, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652, slidersseaside.com. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist.

Oceanfront. Award-winning handmade crabcakes, fried pickles, seafood. Open-air upstairs balcony, playground. $$ FB K L D Daily T-RAY’S BURGER STATION, 202 S. Eighth St., 261-6310, traysburgerstation.com. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist.

Family-owned-and-operated 18+ years. Blue plate specials, burgers, biscuits & gravy, shrimp. $ BW TO B L M-Sa

ARLINGTON, REGENCY

LARRY’S, 1301 Monument Rd., Ste. 5, 724-5802. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. SEE ORANGE PARK.

DINING DIRECTORY KEY

AVERAGE ENTRÉE COST

$ $$

< $10 10-$20

$

$$$ $$$$

20-$35 > $35

$

BW = Beer/Wine

D = Dinner

FB = Full Bar

Bite Club = Hosted

K = Kids’ Menu

Free Folio Weekly

TO = Take Out

Bite Club Event

B = Breakfast

F = Folio Weekly

L = Lunch

Distribution Spot

To list your restaurant, call your account manager or call or text SAM TAYLOR, Folio Weekly publisher, at 904-860-2465 (email: staylor@folioweekly.com).

AVONDALE, ORTEGA

EL JEFE, 947 Edgewood Ave. S., 619-0938, eljefejax.com.

2018 Best of Jax finalist. Tex-Mex à la Chefs Scott Schwartz and José Solome, plus craft margaraitas, combo meals. $$ FB TO K L, D Daily FOOD ADDICTZ GRILL, 1044 Edgewood Ave. S., 240-1987.

F Family-and-veteran-owned place offers home cooking.

Faves: barbecued pulled pork, blackened chicken, Caesar wrap, Portobello mushroom burger. $ K TO B L D Tu-Su LA NOPALERA, 4530 St. Johns Ave., 388-8828. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE INTRACOASTAL. MOJO NO. 4 URBAN BBQ & WHISKEY BAR, 3572 St. Johns Ave., Ste. 1, 381-6670, mojobbq.com. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. Pulled pork, Carolina-style barbecue. Delta fried catfish. $$ FB K TO L D Daily PINEGROVE Market & Deli, 1511 Pinegrove Ave., 389-8655, pinegrovemarket.com. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. 40+ years. Burgers, Cubans, subs, wraps. Onsite butcher, USDA choice prime aged beef. Craft beers. $ BW TO B L D M-Sa RESTAURANT ORSAY, 3630 Park St., 381-0909, restaurantorsay.com. 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist.

French/Southern bistro; local organic ingredients. Steak frites, mussels, pork chops. $$$ FB R, Su; D Nightly SIMPLY SARA’S, 2902 Corinthian Ave., 387-1000, simplysaras.net. F Down-home fare from scratch: eggplant fries, pimento cheese, baked chicken, fruit cobblers, chicken & dumplings, desserts. BYOB. $$ K TO L D Tu-Sa, B Sa SOUTH Kitchen & Spirits, 3638 Park St., 475-2362, south. kitchen. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Southern classics: crispy catfish, smoked gouda grits, family-style fried chicken, burgers, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free. $$ FB K TO L D Daily

BAYMEADOWS

ATHENIAN OWL, 9551 Baymeadows Rd., Stes. 21-23, 503-3008, athenianowljaxfl.com. 2018 Best of Jax winner.

Yiorgos and Marilena Triantafillopoulos respect creative Greek cuisine and their patrons. Vegetarian options. $$ K TO L, D M-F, D Sa AL’S PIZZA, 8060 Philips Hwy., Ste. 105, 731-4300. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE INTRACOASTAL. INDIA’S, 9802 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 8, 620-0777, indiajax.com. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Authentic cuisine, lunch buffet. Curries, vegetables, lamb, chicken, shrimp, fish tandoori. $$ BW L M-Sa; D Nightly LARRY’S, 8616 Baymeadows Rd., 739-2498. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 9802 Baymeadows Rd., 425-9142. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE SAN MARCO. NATIVE SUN Natural Foods Market & Deli, 11030 Baymeadows Rd., 260-2791. 2018 Best of Jax winner/ finalist. SEE MANDARIN. PATTAYA THAI Grille, 9551 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 1, 646-9506, ptgrille.com. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Since 1989. Family-owned. Extensive menu of traditional Thai, vegetarian, new-Thai; curries, seafood, noodles, soups. Lowsodium & gluten-free. $$$ BW TO L D Tu-Sa THE WELL Watering Hole, 3928 Baymeadows Rd., 737-7740, thewellwateringhole.com. 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Local craft beers, glass/bottle wines. Meatloaf sandwich, pulled Peruvian chicken, vegan black bean burgers. Gluten-free pizzas, desserts. HH specials. $$ BW K TO L M-F; D Tu-Sa WHISKEY JAX, 10915 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 135, 634-7208, whiskeyjax.com. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Popular gastropub; craft beers, gourmet burgers, handhelds, signature plates, tacos and whiskey. HH M-F. $$ FB B Sa & Su; L F; D Nightly

BEACHES

(Venues are in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted.)

AL’S PIZZA, 240 Third St., Neptune Beach, 853-6773, alspizza.com. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist.

DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 27

FOLIO DINING Al Mansur has opened good ol’ Al’s, in a new–but nearby– spot. Still awesome. Dine inside or out. $$ BW L D Daily ANGIE’S SUBS, 1436 Beach Blvd., 246-2519. ANGIE’S GROM SUBS, 204 Third Ave. S., 241-3663. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Original baked sub, hot or cold, 30+ years. Grom’s Chef David ramped it up: new breakfast items, brunch, specials. Ed says, “Dude is legit.” Still one word: Peruvian.

New sub: Suthern Comfert–slow-smoked brisket, chicken, mac & cheese, collards, black-eyed peas. Big salads, blueribbon iced tea. Grom Sun. brunch. $ BW K TO L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 2400 S. Third St., Ste. 201, 374-5735. 2018 Best of Jax winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. BREEZY COFFEE Shop WINE Bar, 235 Eighth Ave. S., 241-2211, breezycoffeeshopcafe.com. 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Beachy coffee/wine shop by day; wine bar at night.

Fresh pastries, sandwiches. Salads, hummus. $ BW K TO B L D Daily EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 992 Beach Blvd., 249-3001, europeanstreet.com. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist.

SEE RIVERSIDE.

FLYING IGUANA TAQUERIA & TEQUILA BAR, 207 Atlantic Blvd., NB, 853-5680, flyingiguana.com. 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. Latin American: tacos, seafood, carnitas, Cubana fare. 100+ tequilas. $ FB TO L D Daily GUSTO, 1266 Beach Blvd., 372-9925, gustojax.com. F Classic Old World Roman fare, big Italian menu: homestyle pasta, beef, chicken, fish delicacies; open pizza-tossing kitchen. Reservations encouraged. $$ FB TO L R D Tu-Su HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FARE, 241 Atlantic Blvd., NB, 425-1025. 2018 Best of Jax winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. LARRY’S, 657 Third St. N., 247-9620. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 1534 3rd St. N., 853-6817. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE SAN MARCO. MOJO KITCHEN BBQ PIT & BLUES BAR, 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636. 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE AVONDALE. M SHACK, 299 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 241-2599, mshackburgers. com. 2018 Best of Jax winner. Burgers, hot dogs, fries, shakes. Dine indoors or out. $$ BW L D Daily NATIVE SUN Natural Foods Market & Deli, 1585 N. Third St., 458-1390. 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE MANDARIN. RAGTIME TAVERN SEAFOOD & GRILL, 207 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 241-7877, ragtimetavern.com. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist.

34 years and counting, the iconic seafood place serves

BIG SHOTS!

bean brewed coffees, espressos, lattes, pastries, smoothies, bagels, chicken & tuna salad, sandwiches. $ B L M-F URBAN GRIND Express, 50 W. Laura, 516-7799. F SEE ABOVE. ZODIAC BAR & GRILL, 120 W. Adams St., 354-8283, thezodiacbarandgrill.com. 2018 Best of Jax finalist.

Open 16-plus years. Mediterranean cuisine, American fare, paninis, vegetarian dishes. Lunch buffet. Espressos, hookahs. HH M-F. $ FB L M-F; D W-Sa FLEMING ISLAND GRASSROOTS Natural Market, 1915 East-West Pkwy., 541-0009. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE RIVERSIDE.

LA NOPALERA, 1571 C.R. 220, Ste. 100, 215-2223. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE INTRACOASTAL. MOJO SMOKEHOUSE, 1810 Town Ctr. Blvd., Ste. 8, 264-0636.

F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE AVONDALE. WHITEY’S FISH CAMP, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198, whiteysfishcamp.com. F 2018 Best of Jax winner.

Real fish camp. Gator tail, catfish, daily specials, on Swimming Pen Creek. Tiki bar. Boat, bike or car. $ FB K TO L Tu-Su; D Nightly

INTRACOASTAL WEST

AL’S PIZZA, 14286 Beach Blvd., Ste. 31, 223-0991, alspizza.com. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. It’s the first Al’s in NEFla–yeah, we didn’t know that, either– celebrating 30 years of awesome gourmet pizza, baked dishes. All day HH M-Th. $ FB K TO L D Daily LA NOPALERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 14333 Beach Blvd., 992-1666, lanopalerarest.com. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/ finalist. The popular spots have tamales, fajitas, pork tacos.

Some LaNops have a full bar. $$ FB K TO L D Daily LARRY’S, 10750 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 14, 642-6980. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. SEE ORANGE PARK. TAZIKI’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFÉ, 14035 Beach Blvd., Ste. B, 503-1950. 2018 Best of Jax finalist. SEE MANDARIN.

MANDARIN, NW ST. JOHNS

AL’S PIZZA, 11190 San Jose Blvd., 260-4115. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE INTRACOASTAL. FIRST COAST DELI & GRILL, 6082 St. Augustine, 513-4548.

2018 Best of Jax finalist. Pancakes, sandwiches, burgers and wings. $ K TO B L Daily

JESSIE LANE

The Ice Plant

112 Riberia St. • St. Augustine Born in: Ormond Beach, FL Years in Biz: 5 Favorite Bar: Tradewinds (Charlotte St.) Favorite Cocktail Style: Swizzle Go-to Ingredients: Rhum agricole Hangover Cure: Blue Hen breakfast burrito Will Not Cross My Lips: “I’m not drinking right now” Insider’s Secret: Add ango Celebrity Sighting: John Legend … oh wait Cesar sent him away.

When You Say “The Usual”: Daiquiri on the rocks

blackened snapper, sesame tuna, Ragtime shrimp. Daily HH, brunch Sun. $$ FB L D Daily SUSHI ONE TWO THREE, 311 N. Third St., 372-9718, sushionetwothree.com. In the middle of Jax Beach, this place offers a twist on how we eat sushi: All You Can Eat. Small plate sushi, all made to order. Rooftop parking; eight & under eat free. $$ FB K TO L, D Daily WHISKEY JAX, 950 Marsh Landing Pkwy., 853-5973. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. SEE BAYMEADOWS.

DOWNTOWN

28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | DECEMBER 5-11, 2018

BELLWETHER, 100 N. Laura, 802-7745, bellwetherjax.com.

2018 Best of Jax finalist. Southern classics. Chef/owner Jon Insetta and Chef Kerri Rogers focus on flavors. Rotating local craft beers, regional spirits, cold brew coffee. $$ FB TO L M-F CASA DORA, 108 E. Forsyth St., 356-8282, casadoraitalian. com. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Serving Italian fare, 40+ years: veal, seafood, pizza. Homemade salad dressing. $ BW K L M-F; D M-Sa ELEMENT BISTRO & CRAFT BAR, 333 E. Bay St., 438-5173.

In Myth Nightclub. Locally sourced, organic fare, fresh herbs, spices. HH $$ FB D, Tu-Su OLIO MARKET, 301 E. Bay St., 356-7100, oliomarket.com.

F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Scratch soups, sandwiches.

Duck grilled cheese, as seen on Best Sandwich in America. $$ BW TO B R L M-F; D F & Sa SPLIFF’S GASTROPUB, 15 N. Ocean St., 844-5000, spliffsgastropub.com. 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Music venue has munchie apps, mac & cheese dishes, pockets, gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. HH M-F. $ BW L D M-Sa SUPER FOOD & BREW, 11 E. Forsyth St., 723-1180, superfoodandbrew.com. 2018 Best of Jax finalist.

Gastropub. Fresh, healthy sandwiches, entrée plates. Drink specials. $$ BW TO L, D M-F URBAN GRIND Coffee Company, 45 W. Bay St., Ste. 102, 516-7799, urbangrind.coffee. F Locally roasted whole

GIGI’S RESTAURANT, 3130 Hartley Rd., 694-4300, gigisbuffet.com. 2018 Best of Jax finalist. In Ramada Inn. Prime rib & crab leg buffet F & Sa, blue-jean brunch Su, daily breakfast buffet; lunch & dinner buffets. $$$ FB B R L D Daily JAX DINER, 5065 St. Augustine Rd., 739-7070, jaxdiner.com.

Chef Roderick “Pete” Smith, local culinary expert, uses locally sourced ingredients from area farmers, vendors in American & Southern dishes. Seasonal brunch. $ K TO B L M-F, D F LA NOPALERA, 11700 San Jose Blvd., 288-0175. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE INTRACOASTAL. METRO DINER, 12807 San Jose Blvd., 638-6185. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. Dinner. SEE SAN MARCO. MOJO BAR-B-QUE, 1607 University Blvd. W., 732-7200, mojobbq.com. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist.

SEE AVONDALE.

MOON DOG PIE HOUSE, 115 Bartram Oaks Walk, Ste. 105, 287-3633, moondogpiehouse.com. 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Wings, apps, subs, calzones–and specialty pizza pies. $$ BW TO K L, D Daily NATIVE SUN Natural Foods Market & Deli, 10000 San Jose Blvd., 260-6950, nativesunjax.com. 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. Organic soup, baked items, prepared foods.

Juice, smoothie, coffee bar. All-natural beer/wine. $ BW TO B L D Daily TAZIKI’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFÉ, 11700 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 25, 503-2461, tazikiscafe.com. 2018 Best of Jax finalist.

Health-focused menu includes hand-crafted gyros, feasts, deli, desserts. $$ BW K TO L, D Daily

ORANGE PARK, GREEN COVE

BOONDOCKS GRILL & BAR, 2808 Henley Rd., Green Cove, 406-9497, boondocksrocks.com. Apps, burgers, wings, seafood, steak, weekend specials, craft cocktails. HH $$ FB TO K D M-F; L, D Sa & Su THE HILLTOP, 2030 Wells Rd., 272-5959, hilltop-club.com.

2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. Southern fine dining. New

FOLIO DINING Come for the laughs, stay for the casual fare: wings, nachos, chicken, sliders or shrimp basket, THE COMEDY ZONE has something for everyone, in the Ramada Inn in Mandarin.

Happy Tomato turns that frown UPSIDE-DOWN

FOOD

Photo by Devon Sarian

NO SAD

TOMATO Orleans shrimp, certified Black Angus prime rib, she-crab soup, desserts. Extensive bourbon selection. $$$ FB D Tu-Sa LA NOPALERA, 1930 Kingsley Ave., 276-2776. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE INTRACOASTAL. 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 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Larry’s piles ’em high, serves ’em fast; 36+ years. Hot & cold subs, soups. Some Larry’s serve breakfast. $ K TO B L D Daily METRO DINER, 2034 Kingsley Ave., 375-8548. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. Dinner nightly. SEE SAN MARCO. THE ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611, roadhouseonline.net. F Sandwiches, wings, burgers, quesadillas; 35+ years. 75+ import beers. $ FB L D Daily SPRING PARK COFFEE, 328 Ferris St., Green Cove, 531-9391, springparkcoffee.com. F Fresh-roasted Brass Tacks coffee, handcrafted hot & cold drinks, lattes, cappuccino, macchiato, pastries, breakfast. $ B L D Daily

PONTE VEDRA BEACH

AL’S PIZZA, 635 A1A N., 543-1494. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE INTRACOASTAL. LARRY’S, 830 A1A N., Ste. 6, 273-3993. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. SEE ORANGE PARK. M SHACK NOCATEE, 641 Crosswater Pkwy., 395-3575. F 2018 Best of Jax winner. SEE BEACHES. METRO DINER, 340 Front St., Ste. 700, 513-8422. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE SAN MARCO.

RIVERSIDE, 5 PTS, WESTSIDE

13 GYPSIES, 887 Stockton St., 389-0330, 13gypsies.com.

2018 Best of Jax winner. Authentic Mediterranean cuisine: chorizo, tapas, blackened cod, pork skewers, coconut mango curry chicken. Breads from scratch. $$ BW L D Tu-Sa, R Sa AL’S PIZZA, 1620 Margaret St., Ste. 201, 388-8384. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE INTRACOASTAL. BIG OAK BBQ & CATERING, 1948 Henley Rd., Middleburg, 214-3041. 1440 Dunn Ave., 757-2225, bigoakbbqfl.com.

Family-owned-and-operated. Smoked chicken, pulled pork, ribs, sides, stumps. $$ K TO L D M-Sa BLACK SHEEP, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, blacksheep5points.com. 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist.

New American, Southern; local source ingredients. Specials, rooftop bar. HH. $$$ FB R Sa & Su; L M-F; D Nightly BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 869 Stockton St., 855-1181, boldbeancoffee.com. 2018 Best of Jax winner. Small-batch, artisanal approach to sourcing and roasting single-origin, direct-trade coffees. Signature blends, hand-crafted syrups, espressos, craft beers. $ BW TO B L Daily CRANE RAMEN, 1029 Park St., 253-3282. 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. Ramen done right; vegetarian, vegan items, kimchi, gyoza. Dine in or out. HH. $$ FB K L, D Tu-Su CUMMER CAFÉ (in museum), 829 Riverside, 356-6857, cummer.org. 2018 Best of Jax winner. Light lunch, quick bites, locally roasted coffee, espresso-based drinks, sandwiches, desserts, daily specials. $ BW K L D Tu; L W-Su EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999. 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. 130+ imported beers, 20 on tap.

Sandwiches. Dine outside at some E-Sts. $ BW K L D Daily FOO DOG CURRY TRADERS, 869 Stockton St., 551-0327, foodogjax.com. 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Southeast Asian, Indian inspired fare, all gluten-free, from scratch. Vegan & omnivore. $$ TO L, D Daily GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET, 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/ finalist. Juice bar, certified organic fruits, veggies. Artisanal cheeses, 300 craft, import beers, organic wines, produce, meats, vitamins, wraps, sandwiches. $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS ASIAN Street Fare, 1001 Park St., 508-0342, hawkerstreetfare.com. 2018 Best of Jax winner. Authentic

dishes from mobile stalls: BBQ pork char sui, beef haw fun, Hawkers baos, chow faan, grilled Hawker skewers. $ BW TO L D Daily JOHNNY’S DELI & GRILLE, 474 Riverside Ave., 356-8055.

Made-to-order sandwiches, wraps. $ TO B L M-Sa LARRY’S, 1509 Margaret St., 674-2794. 7895 Normandy Blvd., 781-7600. 8102 Blanding Blvd., 779-1933. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., 999-4600. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE SAN MARCO. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., 389-4442. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. M SHACK, 1012 Margaret St., 423-1283. 2018 Best of Jax winner. SEE BEACHES. SOUTHERN ROOTS Filling Station, 1275 King St., 513-4726, southernrootsjax.com. 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist.

Fresh vegan fare; local, organic ingredients. Specials, on bread, local greens/rice, change daily. Sandwiches, coffees, teas. $ Tu-Su SUN-RAY CINEMA, 1028 Park St., 359-0047, sunraycinema.com. 2018 Best of Jax winner. First-run, indie/art films. Beer, local drafts, wine, pizza–Godbold, Black Lagoon Supreme–hot dogs, sandwiches, popcorn, nachos, brownies. $$ BW Daily SUSHI CAFÉ, 2025 Riverside Ave., Ste. 204, 384-2888, sushicafejax.com. F Monster, Rock-n-Roll, Dynamite Roll.

Hibachi, tempura, katsu, teriyaki. Patio. $$ BW L D Daily

ST. AUGUSTINE

AL’S PIZZA, 1 St. George St., 824-4383. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE INTRACOASTAL. THE CORAZON CINEMA & CAFE, 36 Granada St., 679-5736, corazoncinemaandcafe.com. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist.

Sandwiches, combos, pizza. Indie, first-run movies. $$ Daily DESSERT FIRST BISTRO, 121 Yacht Club Dr., 417-0468, dessertfirstbistro.com. It’s all made from scratch: breakfast, lunch, desserts. Plus coffees, espressos, craft beers, wine, hot teas. $ BW K TO B, L Tu-Su THE FLORIDIAN, 72 Spanish St., 829-0655, thefloridianstaug.com. Updated Southern fare; fresh, local ingredients. Vegetarian, gluten-free options. Signature fried green tomato bruschetta, blackened fish cornbread stack; grits with shrimp, fish or tofu. $$$ BW K TO L D W-M GYPSY CAB Company, 828 Anastasia Blvd., 824-8244, gypsycab.com. F 34+ years. Varied urban cuisine menu changes twice daily. Signature: Gypsy chicken. Seafood, tofu, duck, veal. $$ FB R Su; L D Daily METRO Diner, 1000 S. Ponce de Leon Blvd., 758-3323.

F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. Dinner. SEE SAN MARCO. MOJO OLD CITY BBQ, 5 Cordova St., 342-5264, mojobbq. com. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE AVONDALE. OCEAN AVENUE SPORTS BAR, 123 San Marco Ave., 293-9600, a1abar.com. F Wings, nachos, shrimp, chicken, Phillys, sliders, soft pretzels. $$ FB TO L D Daily PROHIBITION Kitchen, 119 St. George St., 209-5704, prohibitionkitchenstaugustine.com. 2018 Best of Jax finalist.

Gastropub; small plates, craft burgers, sandwiches, live oysters, mains, desserts, handspun shakes. $$$ L D Daily SALT LIFE Food Shack, 321 A1A, 217-3256. F SEE BEACHES. SARBEZ, 115 Anastasia Blvd., 342-0632, planetsarbez.com.

Local music venue has gourmet grilled cheese: Sarbez melt: smoked mozzarella, turkey, bacon, signature sauce, local sourdough. Local craft beers. $ BW L, D Daily WOODPECKER’S Backyard BBQ, 4930 S.R. 13, 531-5670, woodpeckersbbq.weebly.com. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist.

Smoked fresh daily. Brisket, ribs, pork, sausage, turkey: in sandwiches, plates by the pound. 8 sauces, 10 sides. $$ TO L D Tu-Su

SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK

THE BEARDED PIG SOUTHERN BBQ & BEER GARDEN, 1224 Kings Ave., 619-2247, thebeardedpigbbq.com. F

2018 Best of Jax winner. Brisket, pork, chicken, sausage, beef, veggie platters. $$ BW K TO Daily BISTRO AIX, 1440 San Marco Blvd., 398-1949, bistrox.com. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Mediterranean/ French inspired menu changes seasonally. 250+ wines.

Wood-fired oven-baked, grilled specialties: pizza, pasta, risotto, steaks, seafood. Hand-crafted cocktails, specialty drinks. Dine outside. HH M-F. $$$ FB L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 1905 Hendricks Ave. 2018 Best of Jax winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 1704 San Marco Blvd., 398-9500.

F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE RIVERSIDE. FUSION SUSHI, 1550 University Blvd. W., 636-8688, fusionsushijax.com. Upscale; fresh sushi, sashimi, hibachi, teriyaki, katsu, seafood. $$ K L D Daily HAVANA-JAX CAFÉ/CUBA LIBRE BAR, 2578 Atlantic Blvd., 399-0609, havanajax.com. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist.

Bite Club certified. Cuban sandwiches, black beans & rice, plantains, steaks, seafood, roast pork. Spanish wine, drink specials, mojitos, Cuba libres. Nonstop HH. $ FB K L D Daily LA NOPALERA, 1434 Hendricks Ave., 399-1768. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE INTRACOASTAL. METRO DINER, 3302 Hendricks Ave., 398-3701, metrodiner. com. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. Original upscale diner in a 1930s-era building. Meatloaf, chicken pot pie, soups. Some Metros serve dinner. $$ B R L D Daily TAVERNA, 1986 San Marco Blvd., 398-3005, tavernasanmarco.com. 2018 Best of Jax finalist. Chef Sam Efron’s authentic Italian; tapas, wood-fired pizza. Seasonal local produce, meats. Craft beer (some local), award-winning wine. $$$ FB K TO R L D Daily

SOUTHSIDE, TINSELTOWN

ALHAMBRA THEATRE & DINING, 12000 Beach Blvd., 641-1212, alhambrajax.com. 2018 Best of Jax finalist.

Staging productions for 50+ years. Executive Chef DeJuan Roy’s theme menus. Reservations. $$ FB D Tu-Su EL TAINO, 4347 University Blvd., 374-1150. 2018 Best of Jax finalist. A focus on Latin American, Puerto Rican and Caribbean cusine. $$ BW K TO EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 5500 Beach Blvd., 398-1717. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist. SEE RIVERSIDE. LA NOPALERA, 8206 Philips Hwy., 732-9433. 8818 Atlantic, 720-0106. F 2018 Best of Jax winner/finalist.

SEE INTRACOASTAL.

LARRY’S, 3611 St. Johns Bluff S., 641-6499. 4479 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., 425-4060. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. SEE ORANGE PARK. MARIANAS GRINDS, 11380 Beach Blvd., Ste. 10, 206-6126596. F Pacific Islander fare, chamorro culture. Stews, fitada, oxtail, katden pika; empanadas, lumpia, chicken relaguen, BBQ-style ribs, chicken. $$ TO B L D Tu-Su M SHACK, 10281 Midtown Pkwy., 642-5000. F 2018 Best of Jax winner. SEE BEACHES.

SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE

ANDY’S GRILL, 1810 W. Beaver St., 354-2821, jaxfarmersmarket.com. F In Jax Farmers Market. Local, regional, international produce. Breakfast, sandwiches. $ B L D M-Sa COPPER TOP BAR & RESTAURANT, 12405 N. Main, Ste. 7, 551-4088. New spot has American fare: pizza, wings, specials. Local, regional craft beers. $ BW TO L, D Daily LARRY’S, 12001 Lem Turner Rd., 764-9999. F 2018 Best of Jax finalist. SEE ORANGE PARK. TIKI ISLAND TAP HOUSE, 614 Pecan Park Rd., 403-0776.

Casual spot serves hot dogs, burgers, gator tail, gator jerky.

Gator pond! $ BW TO D, F; L, D Sa & Su. UPTOWN KITCHEN & BAR, 1303 Main St. N., 355-0734, uptownmarketjax.com. F Bite Club certified. Fresh fare, innovative menus, farm-to-table selections, daily specials. $$ BW TO B L Daily

HAPPY TOMATO, A HAPPY SPOT IN FERNANDINA Beach, greets you with some smokin’ smoke and a down-to-earth crew.

I don’t know why there are so many just plain cute joints on Amelia Island. For some reason, they all ooze charm and quaint vibes, and there’s usually a calming plant element, too. Happy Tomato’s outdoor back porch is on a wooden deck, with ample seating that extends to a paved pathway. It’s tucked into a building that is home to a few other businesses, but you’ll find it with no problem. Walk with confidence!

A word of warning: This is not a neat-n-tidy place to simply ‘grab a bite.’ In no time, you will be knee-deep in barbecue sauce and go-big-orgo-home-style sandwiches. The intimate cozy restaurant specializes in barbecued meats, delistyle sammies and down-home sides.

When the counter lady told me the spare ribs were huge, that a half-order would definitely satisfy the four at our table, naturally I scoffed. How wrong I was to be disdainful–these are brontosaurus ribs, and as tender and juicy as any I’ve had. Whole rack ($28.95) or half-rack ($14.75), do not dismiss as same-old, same-old. There is a ton (or half-ton) of meat on that plate.

And now … the chicken salad sandwich ($8.50). It’s filled with chunky white meat chicken, walnuts and lots of mayo, nestled on a large lettuce leaf, topped with sliced tomato all in a flaky croissant. Yeah, it’s quite a juicy bite.

Pulled pork is popular at the Happy Tomato, so it was a no-brainer to scoop up a BBQ pork sandwich ($8.99). Again, this isn’t a run-of-the-mill item. Piled high with pulled pork, the sesame seed bun almost can’t stand up to the situation. No big deal, though.

Just take a fork to that tender mountain of meat.

THE HAPPY TOMATO COURTYARD CAFÉ & BBQ 7 S. Third St., Fernandina Beach, 321-0707, thehappytomatocafe.com

There are three barbecue sauce choices: sweet, spicy or mustard. Each of them was great in its own way, depending on what your flavor profile likes best. I was partial to a little bit of sweet and a little bit of spicy mixed.

The sides will stick to your ribs. The potato salad was chunky and not overly reliant on mayo.

The baked beans were sweet and thick. The vinegarbased dressing the pasta salad was a nice change.

(Plus, the curlicue fusilli had pickled veggies in the mix, which is an automatic blue ribbon from me.)

Happy Tomato is well-known for its housemade walnut chocolate chunk cookies. Pick up one for each diner at your table, or grab a couple or dozen for the road.

This is a downhome place, with a great staff and a menu full of good food. And The Happy Tomato can cater with the best of them. Lunch spots don’t get much tastier than this, so get there before the 4:30 p.m. closing time or pick up some à-la-carte barbecue for dinner.

Brentley Stead mail@folioweekly.com

DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 29

FOLIO COOKING

FOLIO BEER

PARTY EATS

IN BELGIË VLOEIT HET KERSTBIER RIJKELIJK

Or, Belgium flows richly with CHRISTMAS BEERS

Ain’t no party like a CHEFFED-UP PARTY IT’S A PARTY, IT’S A PARTY, PARTY, IT’S A PARTY, party weekend … um … I mean month.

December is the party month for most of us young Americans, so bring on the holiday bashes—whether thrown by employers, friends or family—just relax and enjoy, right?

Well, just hold on a second. What if you happen to be hosting one of these seasonal affairs or tasked with supplying a dish for the celebration? That means the pressure’s really on. Remember it’s extremely important to not be lame! Don’t be that guy who runs by Publix after work and nabs one of those “distinctive” party platters. Don’t do it. Instead, put a little thought into what you’d like to serve or eat.

Now’s the time to give all your friends’ palates a break from the usual Taco Bell fare. It’s your chance to show off your hip foodie side.

Last week, I tried to convince y’all of the joys sharing a simple, well-executed yet extremely delicious salmon entrée. That entrée recipe is just one of the many ways in which you can impress even your most discerning guests with the fruits of your skillful cooking techniques. But party fare does not consist of entrées alone. No, sir. Many casual holiday fêtes are centered around the cocktail hour.

Cocktails are rather lonely without their best friend: the noble hors d’oeuvre.

A hors d’oeuvre, by definition, is a one-bite to three-bite hand-held savory dish, served outside of the meal. This makes it different from an appetizer, which is served as part of the meal. In other words, munchies in one hand and a beverage in the other—kinda of like heaven, don’t ya think?

Not to make this difficult, but there are actually three kinds or categories of hors d’oeuvres. The first is the most formal: the Tea Sandwich. This is a small sandwich, easily consumed in two or three bites. It’s constructed of two pieces of untoasted bread slices with a thin, evenly spread filling.

Uniformity is crucial in executing a proper tea sandwich—no room for shoemaker sloppiness here. BTW, I adore tea sandwiches. I can and have eaten these delicate little gems by the

dozen, so make plenty if I’m on the guest list.

The next kind of hors d’oeuvre has the lofty title of canapé. A canapé consists of a toasted bread base for any conceivable topping. An especially elegant version might include sliced, roasted beef tenderloin poised atop a picante horseradish and watercress crème and garnished with a petite wedge of Camembert cheese. YUM! The third kind is simply called hors d’oeuvre. As long as you heed the handheld item edible in one to three bites rule, you can be as creative as Willy Wonka. Here’s a delightful chipotle shrimp salad recipe that goes great atop any toasted bread base you wish. I really like to slum it and use saltines

CHEF BILL’S CHIPOTLE SHRIMP SALAD Ingredients • 1/2 pound shrimp, peeled & deveined • 1 Tbsp. sour cream • 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise • 1/4 cup red pepper, brunoised • 1/4 cup scallions, sliced • 1 tsp. Old Bay seafood seasoning • 1 tsp. shallot, brunoised • 1 Tbsp. lime juice • 1 tsp. lime zest • 1 tsp. cilantro, chopped • 2 tsp. chipotle, minced Directions 1. Poach shrimp in court bouillon. Chill, dice into half-inch pieces.

2. Mix all the other ingredients, then add enough of that to the shrimp to moisten.

3. Adjust seasonings to taste.

4. Enjoy the party!

Until we cook again,

Chef Bill Thompson cheffedup@folioweekly.com ____________________________________

Email Chef Bill Thompson, owner of Fernandina Beach’s Amelia Island Culinary Academy, at cheffedup@folioweekly.com, for inspiration and to get Cheffed-Up!

CHEFFED-UP GROCERS’ COMMUNITY EARTH FARE

11901 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 250, Arlington

GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET 2007 Park St., Riverside

JACKSONVILLE FARMERS MARKET 1810 W. Beaver St., Westside

NATIVE SUN NATURAL FOODS MARKETS

11030 Baymeadows Rd. 10000 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin 1585 N. Third St., Jax Beach

NASSAU HEALTH FOODS

833 T.J. Courson Rd., Fernandina

30 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | DECEMBER 5-11, 2018

PUBLIX MARKETS

1033 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine 2033 Riverside Ave. 4413 Town Ctr. Pkwy., Ste. 100

ROWE’S

1670 Wells Rd., Orange Park 8595 Beach Blvd., Southside

THE SAVORY MARKET

474380 S.R. 200, Fernandina

TERRY’S PRODUCE

Buccaneer Trail, Fernandina

WHOLE FOODS

10601 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin

THERE ARE BEERS BREWED FOR EVERY SEASON, BUT the weeks around the Christmas holiday bring out the best. It seems, however, that each part of the world has its own vision of the perfect Christmas beer. Even within a single continent, there are variations on the theme. Throw in the modern influence of American craft brewers and you have a dizzying array of delicious beers. Over the next few weeks, we’ll take a closer look at the Christmas or solstice beers in four of the most influential beer-producing regions: Belgium, Germany/Austria, Great Britain and the United States.

As a nation, Belgium loves beer. We’re talking the kind of adoration that requires each beer to be poured exclusively into its own, specially produced glassware. And, if Belgians love their beer, they are especially fond of Christmas beers, those brews with a sweeter character and fruit or spices. Belgian brewers have practically cornered the global market on outstanding, memorable beers for the holiday season.

Belgians celebrate not one but two traditional gift-giving days in December. First is Dec. 6: Sinterklaas, or St. Nicholas Day, which is mostly for kids. Then, on Christmas, families gather for rich food and rich beer as gifts are unwrapped.

Among Belgium’s Christmas beers is Scaldis Noël, brewed by Dubuisson. Founded in 1769, the brewery has remained in family hands for hundreds of years. In 1990, current owner Hugues Dubuisson kicked off a new direction for the company. He introduced Scaldis Noël to the lineup and brewed it with candy sugar and caramel malts. This limited-

edition brew is mildly hopped, fruity and boozy at 12 percent ABV. Another beloved Belgian holiday brew is Delirium Noël. An offshoot of Huyghe Brewery’s powerful and popular Delirium line, Noël tips the ABV scales at 10 percent.

Flavors of dark fruits and chocolate greet the taster, invoking the holiday spirit. The brewery began operations in 1654 at the Appelhoek, or Apple Corner, a sort of tavern and general store in the Flemish town of Melle. In 1902, the company took Leon Huyghe’s name. The original Delirium Tremens was released in 1988 and became an instant hit. Later, in 2000, the brewery tweaked the recipe and released Noël.

Finally, from St. Bernardus in Watou comes St. Bernardus Christmas Ale. The brewery was founded in the early 1900s by the Trappist monks of Mont des Cats, just over the border in Godewaersvelde, France.

They established Refuge Notre Dame de St. Bernard, where they started producing cheese.

Another group of monks, followers of St. Sixtus, eventually took over the cheese factory and converted it into a brewery in the 1960s.

The name has since reverted to St. Bernardus, but the brewery is still using the St. Sixtus recipe and yeast strain. St. Bernardus Christmas Ale kicks it up a notch with mint, molasses, marzipan and apricot flavors.

With ABVs exceeding 10 percent, most Belgian Christmas brews have what it takes to keep you warm on a cold Northeast Florida night. And they’ve got the right spices to evoke the spirit of the season.

Marc Wisdom marc@folioweekly.com

PINT-SIZED BREWERS’ COMMUNITY AARDWOLF BREWING COMPANY 1461 Hendricks Ave., San Marco

ENGINE 15 BREWING CO. DOWNTOWN 633 Myrtle Ave. N., Jacksonville

RUBY BEACH BREWING 131 First Ave N., Jax Beach

AMELIA TAVERN RESTAURANT & BREWPUB 318 Centre St., Fernandina Beach

ENGINE 15 BREWING CO. 1500 Beach Blvd., Ste. 217, Jax Beach

RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY 835 Museum Cir., Southbank

ANCIENT CITY BREWING 3420 Agricultural Ctr. Dr., St. Augustine

FISHWEIR BREWING CO. 1183 Edgewood Ave. S., Jacksonville

ANHEUSER-BUSCH 1100 Ellis Rd. N., Northside

GREEN ROOM BREWING, LLC 228 Third St. N., Jax Beach

ATLANTIC BEACH BREWING COMPANY 725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 3, Atlantic Beach

HYPERION BREWING COMPANY 1740 Main St. N., Springfield

BEARDED BUFFALO BREWING COMPANY 1012 King St., Downtown

INTUITION ALE WORKS 929 E. Bay St., Downtown

BOG BREWING COMPANY 218 W. King St., St. Augustine

MAIN & SIX BREWING COMPANY 1636 Main St. N., Northside

BOLD CITY BREWERY 2670 Rosselle St., Ste. 7, Riverside

OLD COAST ALES 300 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine

BOLD CITY DOWNTOWN 109 E. Bay St., Jacksonville

PINGLEHEAD BREWING COMPANY 12 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park

BOTTLENOSE BREWING 9700 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 1, Southside

RAGTIME TAVERN SEAFOOD & GRILL 207 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach

DOG ROSE BREWING CO. 77 Bridge St., St. Augustine

REVE BREWING 1229 Mayport Rd., Atlantic Beach

SEVEN BRIDGES GRILLE & BREWERY 9735 Gate Pkwy., Southside S J BREWING CO. 463646 S.R. 200, Ste. 13, Yulee SOUTHERN SWELLS BREWING CO. 1312 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach TABULA RASA BREWING 2385 Corbett St., Northside VETERANS UNITED CRAFT BREWERY 8999 Western Way, Ste. 104, Southside WICKED BARLEY BREWING COMPANY 4100 Baymeadows Rd.

DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 31

PETS FOLIO LIVING

LOCAL PET EVENTS & ADOPTABLES

DAVI

SIP, SHOP & ADOPT • Pop-ups, craft beers and pics with Santa Paws, as well as Jax Humane Society adoptables, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 8, Kanine Social, 580 College St., Riverside, members free; nonmembers $15 day pass, kaninesocial.com.

Photographer shoots WILDLIFE … with a camera

ADOP AD ADOPTABLES O TA OP ABL BLES ES S

BOWSER

DANCING WITH THE WOLVES EVERY NOW AND THEN I TRACK THE WORK OF A photographer who gets my tail wagging.

That happened recently when I saw an image of two wolves howling at the sky. The person behind the image is wildlife photographer John Ramer and once you see his work, it’s evident he has a knack for capturing wildlife in its most fleeting moments.

INTO THE WILD WITH JOHN RAMER

Davi: Why did you choose wildlife photography in particular?

John: When I was first introduced to wolves in a New Mexico sanctuary, it had a profound impact on me. I wanted to capture the power and beauty that animal has which is often overlooked.

Talk about the most memorable wildlife photo you’ve shot. What made it special?

It was well below zero outside and snowing heavily as I watched a male wolf and his partner begin to settle down for the evening.

I had been outside for far too long watching them and I was chilled to the core. After the black male wolf circled a tree, he came to a stop, staring directly at me, and began to howl. Afterward, he locked eyes with my camera and one of my most iconic images was captured. I wasn’t cold anymore.

What is the main challenge you face as a wildlife photographer?

Learning animals’ unique behavior patterns.

What do you love most about your work?

I love learning the distinct personalities of each species.

What are your top tips for capturing wildlife in its natural habitat?

Patience, lots of patience. Educate yourself

to the animals’ behaviors and environment.

Any close encounters of the furry kind?

The only time I’ve been in danger was when photographing elk in Rocky Mountain National Park. Long story, but don’t end up between two angry males!

Do you have anything exciting on the horizon you can tell us?

I’m currently working on new photo and video content for Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary in Gainesville.

When I look at incredible photos of wildlife, I feel an instant connection with my inner wolf. But what I don’t see is the tremendous effort that was put into capturing that magical moment. There’s only one word to describe the wildlife photographers who risk life and limb to capture these shots: passion. Passion, just like a wild animal, cannot be tamed.

The best wildlife photographers are masters at getting close to the animals they photograph, yet keep their distance and respect nature. Taking steps to make sure no harm is done to the creatures and the environment is important, not only for the animals being photographed but for the photographer’s work, too. When done right, wildlife photography can inspire a love of wildlife and the desire to protect it.

You can support National Wildlife Conservation Day by celebrating the many beautiful and different forms of nature.

Without plants and animals, our lives would not be possible.

Davi mail@folioweekly.com ____________________________________ Davi the Dachshund does a little howling himself now and then.

PET TIP: KEEP YOUR CLAWS TO YOURSELF FEVERED • GOT NICE FURNITURE? OR ANY FURNITURE AT ALL? We do, too. Not terrific Eames pieces, but couches, tables and chairs that are quite serviceable, thenkew. However, we cat-sat our mother’s lovely feline once, and the sly girl (the cat, not Mom) scratched the hell out of our 19th-century William V sofa’s mahogany legs.

How could we have kept that cat from doing what came naturally?

Most cats don’t like the smell of menthol or citrus, so spray those scents on fabrics. Attach cotton balls, soaked in menthol-y muscle rub or a lemony cologne, to non-fabric surfaces.

Cats to claw like a textured surface, so try covering it with something smooth–aluminum foil or packing tape.

The stores are full of all manner of scratching posts.

Pick one. And it should go without saying that declawing is never a solution.

32 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | DECEMBER 5-11, 2018

21ST CENTURY BOY • I’m Bowser. But I’m a nice guy, not like the mean video game dude. I’m sweet and super-friendly. To me, there’s nothing better than hanging with buddies. Wanna be my next best friend? I have a lot to offer! See me at Jax Humane Society, 8464 Beach Blvd., Southside, open daily!

YAPPY HOUR • The annual Yappy Hour Christmas “Paw”ty features an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, free dog photos with Santa Claus (or Claws) for the first 50 people who donate $10 to Friends of Jacksonville Animals, music and vendors, 2-5 p.m.

Dec. 9 at The Jacksonville Landing, 2 Independent Dr., Downtown, 353-1188.

READINGS & REIKI • Doryan Cawyer, Jade Paws Canine Massage, and Constance Frankenberg are on hand at this pet event. Frankenberg holds readings 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9 at Tranquil Waters, 1122 Third St., Ste. 5, Neptune Beach. You may be able to understand what your pet is feeling or communicate with a pet who has passed. For details, information, appointments and fees, call 800-588-3659, constancefrankenberg.com.

ADOP ADOPTABLES O TABLES

CORDELIA

PRINCESS IN TRAINING • Shakespeare’s King Lear had a favorite child–me! In the play, she was kind, beautiful and loyal–and so am I! See me at Jax Humane Society, 8464 Beach Blvd., Southside, and see if we fall in love! We’re open every day, so you have no excuses.

LOVE ME TRUE RESCUE • The new facility provides a home for kittens and cats before they find a forever home. Adoptions are held every Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at 5150 Palm Valley Rd., Ste. 403, Ponte Vedra, lovemetruerescue.com. They’re looking for adult volunteers, too, so do a mitzvah and sign up.

Email lovemetruerescue@gmail.com.

NASSAU COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES ADOPT A PET • There are oodles of dogs and cats waiting for a nice, warm, clean, happy home. Viewing hours are Tue.-Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 86078 License Rd., Fernandina, 530-6150, nassaucountyfl.com.

Downloadable application has details and fees.

NEWS OF THE WEIRD DIFFERENT BEING THE OPERATIVE WORD

Akihiko Kondo, 35, of Tokyo, spent $18,000 on a Nov. 4 wedding ceremony to marry the love of his life, Hatsune Miku—a computergenerated hologram with big eyes and long, turquoise hair. Kondo told Reuters he found Hatsune Miku, who has thousands of fans around the world, singing on the internet.

The wedding ceremony included traditions such as the exchange of rings (hers was placed on the finger of a stuffed doll created in her image) and friends and relatives in attendance, although Kondo’s parents did not attend. “I believe the shape of happiness and love is different for each person,” Kondo said.

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY A Bank of

America ATM in Houston was the scene of a near-riot Nov. 25 when it began dispensing $100 bills instead of $10s, reported Click2Houston. After the first lucky driver posted his score on social media, a crowd showed up and stood in line, with a few fights and arguments breaking out over about two hours, until cops were called and the free money was shut down. Bank of America made a statement the next day that would’ve galled Ebenezer Scrooge: “Customers will be able to keep the money dispensed.” Turns out the blame lay with a vendor who incorrectly loaded $100 bills into the $10 slot. No report of how much money was withdrawn.

WHEE! Richard Robert Langely, 46, of Kansas

City, Missouri, worked part time at Platte Woods Police Department in October when he decided to take part in the department’s drug take-back program. Except, according to court documents, Langely didn’t dispose drugs; he helped himself to pills that were collected in Lake Waukomis. And to make matters worse, the Kansas City Star reported, his own body camera captured evidence enabling prosecutors to charge him with felony theft of a controlled substance. Langely is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 10.

COOL BREEZE Wesley Glenn Bost, 27, of

Birmingham, Alabama, made an impression when he fell through the ceiling of a Waffle

House in Tuscumbia on Nov. 4, not least because he wasn’t wearing pants. Bost apparently went in the bathroom and used his pants to tie the door shut then, said Tuscumbia Detective Sgt. Wes Holland, climbed into the ceiling intending to rob the office. WHNT News said video of the incident shows Bost shoving other restaurant patrons on his way to the door, which was being held shut by people outside, before hitting the door with his shoulder and falling to the floor.

Finally he managed to flee ... without pants ... which held his driver’s license.

OH, SO THAT’S WHY Happens all the time: Vehicle crashes into building, causing damage and sometimes injury, because brakes don’t function or a driver hits the wrong pedal. In the case of Keith Rio Cavalier, 28, though, there’s more to the story. WLOX reported Cavalier drove his ’97 Toyota Tacoma into a glass wall at Harrison County courthouse in Gulfport on Nov. 10 about 6 a.m. The building was empty, so there were no injuries, and Cavalier can be clearly seen on surveillance video climbing out of the truck and leaving the scene. When police caught up to him, Cavalier told them he intentionally struck the building to report drug paraphernalia had been stolen from him. It is no surprise that Cavalier was found to have been driving under the influence and arrested; he was held at the county jail on $25,000 bond.

FAST ON HIS FEET A referee in a Women’s

Super League soccer match in Manchester City, England, was cool at the televised game’s start Oct. 26 when he realized he forgot a coin for the kickoff toss. Thinking quickly, David McNamara had the Manchester City and Reading team captains play “Rock, Paper, Scissors” instead. But the Football Association, soccer’s governing body in England, was not amused, and on Nov. 26, McNamara began a 21-day suspension after accepting a charge of “not acting in the best interests of the game,” according to the BBC. An FA refereeing manager said: “He should have been more prepared. ... It’s very unprofessional.” weirdnewstips@amuniversal.com

DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 33

WEED

DALE RATERMANN’s Folio Weekly Crossword presented by

Ponte Vedra

THE SHOPPES OF PONTE VEDRA

330 A1A North 280-1202

Avondale 3617 St. Johns Ave. 388-5406

FOLIO WEEKLY CROSSWORD 1

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Switch type Gave hints Mont Blanc, e.g.

What The Beatles’ Rita read 15 “I’m here!”

16 Life lines 17 FOX News watchers, mostly?

19 St. Johns River slitherer 20 TPC Sawgrass club 21 Had a sub at Angie’s 22 Perfect at JU 24 Awesome Turner 26 Shore thing 28 WJXX net.

31 Kinda fibbed in a campaign ad?

36 I-95 mishap 38 Iraq War subj.

39 “Follow me!”

40 Small pie 41 Duval County Schools Superintendent Greene 43 Folio Weekly squib 44 “ and out” 45 Kimono sash 46 Old Olds 47 Gotta be at the Capitol on time?

66

51 Dict. entry 52 New Mexico art town 53 Spa sounds 55 Holy scroll 58 Say “When?”

59 Alpo rival 63 Sundial hour 64 Florida’s governorelect ... and an anagram of 17-, 31and 47-Across 68 Fundraising org. for 64-Across 69 Type type 70 Fantasy fiends 71 out a living 72 Ships’ wheels 73 Tilts a bit

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

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Water Street hotel Kind of miss Anne Frank’s father Fournette’s juke To and Share the lights Angler’s bait Western tribe JIA guess Coke water Early man In of

34 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | DECEMBER 5-11, 2018

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13 Members of 68-Across, briefly 18 “Billionth” prefix 23 Number 2, for one 25 It’s like -like 26 Yankees band 27 Food stamp 28 Use, as a tip 29 “Well done!”

30 Proof mark 32 “You’re Still the One” singer 33 UNF profs’ props 34 Board for nails 35 Exorcist’s foe 37 Rock layers 41 Ding-a-ling

42 46 48 49 50 54 55 56 57 58 60 61 62 65 66 67

Marsh bird Fire proof Cheer words Art supporters Fifth Avenue Burn a tad Spare, e.g.

Sty cry Indochine side Ag Commish Putnam Gillette razor Demeanor Bacon sizzle Ida. neighbor Armada goose egg Email pioneer

SOLUTION TO 11.28.18 PUZZLE I T C H

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R E A R

and wants to take their herb vaporizer everywhere. Enjoy your favorite bud strains at a variety of temperatures with this product.” She then pivots to the Volcano Vaporizer, basically the Keurig of Christmas Tree, “a tabletop vaping device that delivers lots of vapor from your cannabis flower. Some local medical marijuana dispensaries also sell their own take on the tabletop vaporizer, as well as compatible ‘dry herb’ cannabis cups for use by medical marijuana patients and specifically for their tabletop devices.“ Sorting through all those options may be asking too much for the average FW reader. I can only assume said reader will be spending most of their time and money for some really fancy ham. In that case, Ellie suggests Cannabox, a company which curates a cannabis collection for the refined stoner. They bring you the new style monthly, straight to your door–or a friend’s door, if you’re shy. This is good for noobs, boobs, rubes, serious stoners or even your elderly friends who think Reefer Madness is a documentary. If you’re shopping for a total beginner, however, here’s an easy one: Pay for their medical marijuana card. It’s easy, if not exactly quick, but the process is way simpler than most people realize. Surprise them with the paperwork, and watch their face as they try to guess what it is–always a fun activity at this time of year. More gift ideas next week, and they will be silly.

Shelton Hull mail@folioweekly.com ___________________________________ Do you have questions about medical marijuana?

Let us answer them for you. Send your inquiries to mail@folioweekly.com.

GIVING THE GIFT

Serving Excellence Since 1928 Member American Gem Society

San Marco 2044 San Marco Blvd.

398-9741

THE HOLIDAY SEASON is here, and no doubt everyone reading this column has already begun planning gift ideas for the people (and animals) in their lives, not to mention fantasy-booking the swag that may come their way in return.

Many of them, and many of you, are probably cannabisseurs, or why else would you still be reading this? The market is booming as we wrap up the second year of medical marijuana in Florida, which means you not only have a lot of options, but a lot of time to shop.

We’ll be doing a couple of these this month, but I wanted to solicit the first batch of suggestions from the lady who knows this subject better than anyone–even me. Ellie K has been running her own YouTube page for almost a year now and, as I noted here on Aug. 29, she’s quickly built a reputation as one of the authoritative voices on cannabis matters in the area. I knew she had plenty of great ideas, and so this week I shall defer to her wisdom. Her list begins with the Yocan UNI, which extends the battery life of “just about any vape cartridge,” which is important for late-night parties, or just watching the president say words on TV. This is a handy gift for experienced patients, who probably have a whole arsenal of implements at their disposal already.

Now, partaking of the plant in its flower form remains illegal, and will stay that way for at least two years (unless DeSantis finds religion, and that religion is Rastafari), so alternative methods abound. Ellie recommends the White Rhino HYLO hand-held dry herb vaporizer. “Perfect for the cannabis lover who enjoys the smooth taste and the effects of herb when vaporized,

N A E E F S T L T A I P T L I Y T T S O N N O D M I O I N A N R E S E

L P S E E T I N E T W A S V E O L D W O A S P R E N A S O N R E P T W O A S S

F L A O C E C R I D M Y T R H O D L I I N T

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OF GREEN SEASONAL TREATS for the weed-lovers in your life

Moon River Pizza

Brett’s Waterway Café

925 S. 14th Street 904-321-3400

Fernandina Harbor Marina at the foot of Centre Street 904-261-2660

Moon River Pizza treats customers like family.

Cooked in a brick oven, the pizza is custom-made by the slice (or, of course, by the pie). Set up like an Atlanta-style pizza joint, Moon River also offers an eclectic selection of wine and beer. Open for lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Dine in or take it with you.

Overlooking Fernandina Harbor Marina, Brett’s offers an upscale atmosphere with outstanding food. The extensive luncheon and dinner menus feature daily specials, fresh Florida seafood, chicken and aged beef. Cocktails, beer and wine.

Casual resort wear. Open at 11:30 a.m. daily.

The Mustard Seed Cafe 833 T.J. Courson Road 904-277-3141

T-Ray’s Burger Station

Inside Nassau Health Foods, The Mustard Seed is Amelia Island’s only organic eatery and juice bar, with an extensive, eclectic menu featuring vegetarian and vegan items. Daily specials include local seafood, free-range chicken and fresh organic produce. Salads, wraps, sandwiches and soups are available – all prepared with our staff’s impeccable style. Popular items are chicken or veggie quesadillas, grilled mahi, or salmon over mixed greens and tuna melt with Swiss cheese and tomato. Open for breakfast and lunch, 8 a.m.3 p.m. Mon.-Sat. nassauhealthfoods.net

202 S. Eighth Street 904-261-6310

T-Ray’s offers a variety of breakfast and lunch items. In addition to an outstanding breakfast menu, you’ll find some of the best burgers you’ve ever put in your mouth. The Burger Station offers a grilled portabello mushroom burger, grilled or fried chicken salad and much more. The spot where locals grab a bite and go! Now serving beer & wine. Open Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Closed Sundays.

The Pointe Restaurant 98 S. Fletcher Avenue 904-277-4851

The Pointe, located at Elizabeth Pointe Lodge, is open to the public daily from 7 a.m.–10 a.m. for breakfast and 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. for lunch.

Sunday brunch is served one Sunday each month from 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Oceanview indoor and outdoor seating is available. Please call the Inn to reserve a table or to enquire further about the restaurant.

Amelia Island is 13 miles of unspoiled beaches, quaint shops, antique treasures and superb dining in a 50-block historic district less than one hour north of Jacksonville DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35

Folio Weekly helps you connect with that dreamboat you saw in the produce aisle or the hot hunk by the lifeguard stand. Go to folioweekly.com/i-saw-u.html, fill out the FREE form correctly (40 words or fewer, dammit) by 5 p.m. THURSDAY for the next Wednesday’s FW. And who knows? Even the losers get lucky sometimes!

Hey ya! Thursday, Dec. 6 is PUT ON YOUR OWN SHOES DAY. (hmmm) Friday, Dec. 7 is Letter-Writing Day. Sunday, Dec. 9? Why, it’s NATIONAL PASTRY DAY! (yum). That SHOE thing–who lets someone else put their shoes on them–much less touch their feet? Sheesh. And yeah, we know Letter-Writing is no longer cool, but your grammy would love a missive from you! Use FW’s handy ISUs to find love!

Your grandmother was actually graded on her penmanship when she was in elementary school. The whole alphabet was written in script (aka longhand) on a continuous poster that went all around the classroom, at the top of the wall. It was called the Palmer Method, kinda like the writing seen here. It was cool … and readable.

Go to folioweekly.com/i-saw-u.html and take these easy steps: One: Write a brief headline so the person recalls the moment you met, like: “ISU trying to find a pen and a piece of paper.”

Two: Describe the person, like, “You: Frowning, near tears in the stationery store.”

Three: Describe yourself, like, “Me: Getting watermarked 16-pound weight paper.”

Four: Describe the moment, like, “I tried to explain paper and ink and stuff, but you resisted. You got a legal pad and a couple Bics.”

Five: Send a 40-WORD message to that special unknown quantity. No names, emails, websites, etc. Find love with our ISUs at folioweekly.com/i-saw-u.html!

AFC EAST HAIL MARY You: Pretty ponytail through your Bills hat; passionate about your team. Me: Mind racing under Jets hat when you appeared. We talked for a minute before you left with friends. Our teams suck, but we wouldn’t. When: Oct. 14.

Where: Hoptinger, Jax Beach. #1713-1107 RED HAIR MONSTER HOOTS You: Dancing; one of the twins fell out your top -) Me: Accordion player, tripped on mic cord, hit my head! Awoke from coma, thought of you! I’ll be at the Pot Sunday, boogie-ready. Be there. When: July 4, 1998. Where: Crab Pot. #1712-1024 I WONDER U Saturday thrift-store shopping. U said u liked my shirt and showed me your ankle tattoo. Very symbolic meeting. Wish we’d talked a little more. Let’s trade bootlegs. Acknowledge me. When: Sept. 22. Where: Betty Griffin Center Thrift Shoppe, St. Augustine. #1711-1003 HARVARD AVE. UBER RIDER You: Tall, attractive student advisor. Me: Drove you from friend’s house. Thanks for $10 tip. I liked our conversations along the way; key things in common. Talk again? If you feel the same, please respond. When: Sept. 8. Where: Riverside. #1710-0919 GOLDEN CORRAL SAN JOSE You: Dining solo, booth behind us, blonde hair/beard, gorgeous blue eyes, blue shirt, jeans, white van. Me: With mom, son; brunette, Jags shirt, black shorts, black car. Let’s meet. Single? Coffee? When: Aug. 18. Where: Golden Corral. #1709-0829

36 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | DECEMBER 5-11, 2018

HAWAIIAN SHIRT, GIN & TONIC Outside bar.

You said my drink looked good. Me: “Only drink worth bootlegging.” You: Sharp, white slacks, heels, blue blouse; late friends. Wish they’d stood you up; we would’ve had fun. Try again?

When: July 18. Where: PV Pussers. #1706-0725 SUN-RAY FRONT LINE You: Cool couple. Man, button-up. Woman, hip glasses, platforms. Us: Tall brunette, floral dress. Man, average height, white button-up. In chaotic Hearts Beat Loud crowd. Bonded over Sun-Ray’s beauty. Dig your vibe; meet again? When: July 8. Where: Sun-Ray Cinema. #1705-0711 FIREHOUSE “O” You: Silver shorts, black hat, orange nails. Me: Camo hat, brown T-shirt.

Wanted to talk; you left. Thought of you rest of day. Make it every day? When: 12:30 p.m. June 21. Where: 5 Points Firehouse Subs. #1704-0627 BLACK 4-DOOR CADILLAC You watched me putting a shot back into the back of my car. You stopped and had your flashers on and I was too shy to stop. I wish I had. When: June 13. Where: Home Depot Lane Ave. #1703-0620

ISU

SANDY TOES & A ROSE Connex Made You: Mocked my princess-wedding dreams, then strode over sand, rose in hand. Young men admired your moxie. Me: Sure you’re a romantic. Hard to surf the pier’s 1-2’ without longboard. Hang yours in my garage? When: May 21. Where: Jax Beach Pier. #1702-0620

PETITE BRUNETTE ON BICYCLE You: Bicycling.

Me: Driving. I stopped, asked for directions. You seemed shy but friendly. Coffee at Bold Bean?

When: Aug. 7. Where: Avondale. #1708-0822

EASTER SUNDAY: THIS IS SILLY You: Serving, tall, tattoos, beautiful eyes; sweeping close by on purpose? Me: Dirty blonde, striped dress, dark lipstick, lunch, parents. Eyes met. Should’ve left my number. Can I sit in your section next time?

When: April 1. Where: Black Sheep. #1701-0606

SOUTHERN GROUNDS BLEND You: Pretty lady, khaki shorts, print top, recommended dark roast coffee. Me: Blue shirt, jean shorts. Single?

Would’ve liked to chat, but with yoga friends.

Namaste! When: July 29. Where: San Marco Southern Grounds. #1707-0808

ROYAL AUSSIE AIR FORCE Dreamboat RAAF sharing vegan chia pudding with pal. Your flight suit hunkiness make me speechless. We shared a table; I blushed a lot, too shy to say hi; I am now! Meet for pudding? When: May 23. Where: Southern Roots Filling Station. #1700-0530

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

ROBERT HEINLEIN, EMINEM, MARY MAGDALENE & P.T. BARNUM ARIES (March 21-April 19): When I write your horoscope, I focus on one or two questions because I don’t have room to cover your life’s every aspect. This theme may seem impractical, but if you take it to heart, it will have practical benefits. It’s from Italian author Umberto Eco: “Perhaps the mission of those who love humanity is to make people laugh at the truth, to make truth laugh, because the only truth lies in learning to free ourselves from insane passion for the truth.” If you laugh at the truth and make the truth laugh in the days ahead, you’ll be guided to do all the right, necessary things.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have a cosmic mandate and poetic license to stir up more fantasies than usual. It’ll be healthy to unleash new thoughts about sexual experiments, novel feelings to explore and people you’d be interested to experience. Please note the cosmic mandate and poetic license don’t necessarily extend to you acting out fantasies. The important thing? Let your imagination run wild. That will catalyze a psychic healing you didn’t know you needed.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In my continuing efforts to help you want what you need and need what you want, I’ve found wise quotations that address your looming opportunities.

One: “What are you willing to give up, in order to become who you really need to be?” — author Elizabeth Gilbert. Two: “Leave the door open for the unknown, the door into the dark. That’s where the most important things come from.” — Rebecca Solnit.

Three: “You enter the extraordinary by way of the ordinary.” — Frederick Buechner. Four: “Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” — Nathaniel Hawthorne.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I’ve tapped author Robert Heinlein for your horoscope.

According to astrological analysis, you should focus on his insights. “Do not confuse ‘duty’ with what other people expect of you,” he wrote. “They are utterly different. Duty is a debt you owe to yourself to fulfill obligations you have assumed voluntarily.

Paying that debt can entail anything from years of patient work to instant willingness to die. Difficult it may be, but the reward is self-respect. But there is no reward for doing what other people expect of you, and to do so is not merely difficult, but impossible.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): What does “beauty” mean to you? What sights, sounds, images, qualities, thoughts and behavior do you regard as beautiful? Whatever your answers are, expand and deepen your definitions in the next few weeks. You’re at a perfect pivot point to invite more gorgeous, lyrical grace into your life, seek more elegance, charm and artistry and cultivate more alluring, delightful magic.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You know those prescription drug label expiration dates?

They don’t mean drugs lose potency past that date. Most are effective for at least 10 years.

Let’s use this as a metaphor for a certain resource or influence in your life that you fear is used up or defunct. It still has a lot to offer, though you’ll have to shift your thinking to make its reserves fully available.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran rapper Eminem is renowned for verbal skill. It may be best shown in his song “Rap God,” in which he delivers 1,560 words in six minutes and four seconds, or 4.28 words a second. In one

stretch, he crams 97 words in 15 seconds, a pace of 6.5 words a second. In the weeks ahead, you’ll be unusually adept at using words, though your forte is potent profundity rather than speed. Make a list of situations in which your enhanced powers of persuasion are most useful.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In May 1883, the newly built Brooklyn Bridge opened for traffic. Spanning the East River to link Manhattan and Brooklyn, it was the world’s longest suspension bridge. Almost immediately, people rumored that it was unstable. There was a growing fear it might even crumble and fall. That’s when charismatic showman P.T. Barnum stepped in. He arranged to march 21 elephants across the bridge. No collapse–so the rumors quickly died. The weeks ahead are when you should be inspired by Barnum. Provide proof to dispel gossipy doubt. Drive away superstitious fear with dramatic gestures. Demonstrate how strong and viable your improvements are.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Robert Louis Stevenson published his gothic novel Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in 1886. It was a bestseller, and was quickly adapted into a theatrical production. In 132 years, there have been more than 100 adaptations of it to film and stage. The funny thing about this influential work?

Stevenson wrote it fast. It took him three feverish days to get the gist of it, and just another six weeks to revise. Some biographers say he was high on drugs, like cocaine, during the initial burst. You could also produce an interesting, robust creation in the weeks ahead–and you won’t need cocaine.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Ffsshh, a Tumblr blogger, wrote guidelines that will be apt and useful to draw on in the weeks ahead.

Study these and adapt them for your healing process.

“Draw stick figures. Sing off-key. Write bad poems.

Sew ugly clothes. Run slowly. Flirt clumsily. Play video games on ‘easy.’ OK? You don’t need to be good at something to enjoy it. Sometimes talent is overrated.

Do things you like doing just because you like doing them. It’s OK to suck.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian athlete Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever. He was also the first to become a billionaire. Growing up, he didn’t foresee the glory that awaited. For example, in high school, he took a home economics class to acquire cooking abilities. Why? He imagined that as an adult, he might have to make his own meals. His ears were so huge and ungainly, he reasoned, no woman would want to be his wife. The bad news? He suffered from a delusion. The good news? Because of that, he learned a useful skill. I see a similar progression for you.

Something you did that was motivated by misguided or irrelevant ideas may yield positive results.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The Bible doesn’t say Mary Magdalene was a prostitute or even a “sinner.” There’s no mention of her sexual proclivities. Delusional ideas about her arose in the Middle Ages, instigated by priests who confused her with other Biblical women. The truth is, the Bible names her as Christ’s key ally, and the crucial witness to his resurrection. Fortunately, several scholars and church leaders have recently been working to correct her reputation. Be motivated and inspired by this transformation as you adjust and polish your image in the next few weeks. Time to get your public and private selves more closely aligned.

Rob Brezsny freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 37

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FOLIO VOICES : BACKPAGE EDITORIAL

NO SHAME IN

SEEKING HELP

HI, I’M KEVIN AND I’M AN ALCOHOLIC. It was a typical Wednesday morning in October at WJCT. I was producing First Coast Connect, keeping track of time for each segment and making sure our guests were in the green room and made comfortable.

But there was one difference. The night before, I had hit the bottle more than usual.

How much gin did I drink that night? I really couldn’t tell you.

What I can tell you is that someone smelled alcohol on my breath that morning.

They contacted our Employee Relations Manager, and I was taken to a local clinic for a breathalyzer test. I rang the bell with a .08.

That was the end of me at WJCT. I used my termination as an excuse to go on a bit of a bender. Don’t ask me what happened in the world that weekend because, again, I don’t know.

The reasons how I got there aren’t as important as what happened afterward.

It was Tuesday afternoon and I was just beginning to recover from my hangover when my dear friends Melissa Ross and Tracy Collins came to my house, stood in my living room and suggested I come with them and check in at Gateway Community Services to finally get treatment for my drinking. I was hesitant, but these two “sisters from another mother” made it quite clear they weren’t leaving until I agreed.

At Gateway, a quick medical check showed me to have extremely—dangerously—high blood pressure and heart rate levels. I was quickly transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Riverside. I was told I could have died.

Three days of treatment later and I was brought back to Gateway to check into the in-house treatment facility. But it was late Friday, too late to check in. Instead, I spent the weekend in the detoxification building.

I spent three days watching people come in right off the streets, in various stages of the drug and alcohol abuse cycle. I thought to

myself, “Is that what I looked like a couple of days ago?” It was an eye-opening experience.

After that, I knew I was going to need help to stop drinking. My in-house became outpatient, and I began going to sessions three times a week, as well as other meetings with fellow alcoholics.

I learned a lot in a short time—mostly, that I still had a lot to learn if I was going to stay sober.

After Day 30 of being clean, I decided to share my story with the world via Facebook and let others know that help is available.

The reaction was surprising and humbling.

Nearly 3,000 views on my Facebook page.

Hundreds of people either reacted to my video or sent me messages of encouragement.

They said I was brave to post such a thing, but if I really was that brave, I would have gotten help long before I did. It wasn’t brave of me to lie to myself and to my friends and family.

Is 30 days a big deal? I’ve met people who have been sober for decades who pray every day for the strength to stay that way.

I got an “A” on one quiz; the final report card is still a long way away.

If you’re reading this and have a similar problem, be it alcohol or opioids, drugs or addictions, all I can tell you is that there is no shame in seeking help.

I don’t know if there is a God or higher being out there, but something inspired Melissa to call Tracy and come to my house unannounced on that Tuesday. If they hadn’t, there is no doubt I would have continued that bender and perhaps they would be writing in this section of Folio Weekly, posting my eulogy and hoping the message would save someone else.

Kevin Meerschaert mail@folioweekly.com _____________________________________ Meerschaert is the multi-award-winning former producer of WJCT-FM’s First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross.

FOLIO WEEKLY welcomes Backpage submissions. They should be 1,200 words or fewer and on a topic of local interest and/or concern. Send submissions to mail@folioweekly.com. Opinions expressed on the Backpage are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Folio Weekly.

DECEMBER 5-11, 2018 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 39