Folio Vol.38, Issue 13

FOLIO STAFF:

ANGELA PHILLIPS

TERESA SPENCER

JOHN PHILLIPS

KERRY SPECKMAN Copy Editor/ Writer

AMBAR RAMIREZ Creative Director

CARMEN MACRI Multi-media Creative/ Social Media Manager/ Lead Writer

SHELTON HULL

HARRY

Summer Break & Child Hunger: Free

Sites For Kids & Teens Around

Caribbean Cuisine In

Angelica Santini Hernandez

The Hunt: Finding The Best Hot Dogs In Town

Ambar Ramirez & Carmen Macri

A Culinary Journey Through Diversity & Good Eats: Picks For The Top Restaurants In Northeast Florida Angelica Santini Hernandez

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! SUBMIT MAIL TO TEAM@FOLIOWEEKLY.COM

BOUQS & BRICKS

BOUQUETS BRICKBATS

To area Sea Turtle watch groups. We commend you and your volunteers who are dedicated to helping sea turtles thrive and survive in Northeast Florida. Here are a few we found online in case you want to participate in this great mission. Mickler’s Landing Turtle Patrol, Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch, St. Augustine Beach Sea Turtle Hatching Watch Group. Seatuttle.org, Florida Sea Turtle Watch, Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol, Inc,

TO ALL THE FALSE CLAIMS MADE DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

And the liar liar pants on fire award / FOLIO Brick Bat goes to Donald Trump as his false statements total: Approximately 15 lies compared to Bidens 2.

Note: President Biden did make a few “half true statements” but after fact checking all other statements were true.

*Speaking of liars: Bricks a plenty to cheaters! Cheater = any person who acts dishonestly in order to gain an advantage.

HOROSCOPES

Words by Ambar Ramirez & Carmen Macri

ARIES

July is a good time to focus and reflect on your goals and plans, to focus on the spiritual private aspects of your life. With the Sun in Cancer and Saturn in Pisces, it is the perfect medley for a quiet head space.

TAURUS

You have no problem rolling up your sleeves and doing hard work, Taurus. But you should know that you thrive best when relaxing in serene, nature-filled environments. Summer will soon end, so there is no time like the present to take a much needed break.

GEMINI

With the sun in Cancer and your money zone until July 22, you may have the opportunity to increase your earnings. It is time to create positive habits to help with your finances in the future. No more living paycheck to paycheck — it is time to grow up financially and open that savings account.

CANCER

As the crab of the Zodiac family, you are extremely sensitive to your environment and highly self-protective. In your self-protectiveness, Cancer, you manage everyone’s moods and are often labeled the parent figure in friendships. It’s important to know that you can’t control everyone, let alone everything. This Cancer season will turn your world upside down, whether it’s for the better or the worst is up to you.

LEO

Buckle up, Leo, your July looks to be a rollercoaster for you starting with July 1 when the Sun and Mercury both meet in Cancer which will prove to be emotionally overwhelming. July 10 and 11 Mars enters Virgo and Mercury enters Leo: Welcome to your life’s never-ending contradiction … feeling insecure while being narcissistic.

VIRGO

You’re in for a treat this July, Virgo. This Cancer season is bringing up a lot of emotions for the signs, and you are no exception to this prediction. You will experience a lot of internal healing this month but know that healing isn’t a smooth process. In fact, it might get a bit messy.

We hate to be the bearers of bad news, Libra, but when the stars speak it’s our job to pass along the message. You’ve already had a pretty difficult year with the weight of the South node sitting heavily on your shoulders since July of last year. Unfortunately, the south node in your sign is now joined by Lilith, the ruler of psychological shadow. You’ll find yourself sympathizing with villains and possibly becoming one yourself.

From now until July 22, the Sun and Mercury will remain in your adventurous sector calling you to step out of your comfort zone and embrace new ideas (that may not be your own) and opportunities. This is the month of being the “yes man.”

Libra Scorpio Sagittarius

The stars have bestowed a protective bubble upon you this month, Sagittarius. And good for you! But while you’ll be having a fairly stress-free couple of weeks, some of your friends may not be able to say the same. Have some tissues on hand and a good shoulder to cry on. You’ll be helping your friends through some hard times.

Capricorn

With Venus in Cancer — your relationship sector — July seems to be the perfect time for you to sit down and begin prioritizing the important people in your life. Work and money are not everything. Living a rich life does not always entail how much money you have but the people and experiences you gain.

Aquarius

Let’s just jump to it, Aquarius: This month, Pluto forms a trine with Lilith and goes into retrograde, while your sign ruler Mars passes through conjunction with Uranus and the waning gibbous Moon travels through your sign twice this season. In short, you’re in for a whirlwind of emotions that lean toward the darker side.

Pisces

Finally, a month to embrace laziness with the perfect excuse — the stars wished it so. The Sun and Mercury both orbit in your leisure zone which calls on you to take your time. Put your car on cruise control. There is always enough time to stop and smell the roses.

eat, shop and grow local!

Words & photos by Kara Carter

With summer in full swing, the last thing you want after picking out fresh produce is an inedible piece of fruit like this woman has experienced at her local Walmart after picking up a watermelon that bends? A consumer is less likely to know where their produce comes from and the ethical trade behind their purchase when shopping at big conglomerates like Walmart and Publix. So this summer, why not try to shop food grown locally?

Here are some farms around Jacksonville that you can get fresh, locally grown produce, and most of the time it is more cost effective than your local grocery store.

5 points farm

eat your yard jax

This farm has all the goods from fresh berries to medicinal herbs to entire pomegranate trees. The founder Tim Armstrong grew up on the Westside of Jacksonville and worked in several nurseries within the area. Armstrong has a background in Special Education as well, some of his past students work at the farm too. The farm offers citrus trees starting at $35 and blueberry bushes starting at $10 - two cartons of blueberries will be $10 at Publix, why not buy an entire bush?

This farm is one of the first of its kind in Jacksonville. This is an aeroponic farm that can grow various types of lettuce and other herbs vertically. The farm lets patrons roam the building, looking up close and personal to the towers and even offering 24 hour live streaming to see how the vegetables are harvested and grown. They offer prepackaged salad mixes, dressings and local cheese, all at competitive pricing. They are very transparent about their process and even offer aeroponic towers for sale so you can grow your own vegetables as well.

blu by u

This farm offers a fun, low stress activity for people of all ages to enjoy. The farm specializes in blueberries, which are in season right now! Guests can grab a bucket and start picking blueberries right off the bush. If you get tired of the heat, they even have a country store that offers different concessions and local jam for purchase. Once you’re done with that, you can head over to their petting zoo full of various animals like goats, chickens and donkeys.

congaree and penn

This is the epitome of a farm to table experience. This farm specializes in offering a restaurant experience at the farm with fresh, harvested ingredients on the property. The restaurant features many Southern classics like shrimp and grits, cornbread, and mac and cheese. They also offer venue rentals for special occasions like weddings and photoshoots.

kravey gardens

This is an urban garden located in the Riverside area, specializing in microgreens and leafy greens. You can find them at the Riverside Arts Market, Atlantic Beach Farmers Market and Palm Valley Market. If making decisions in person gives you anxiety, fear not; you can place orders online ahead of time! They are offering $5 kale bunches and $6 arugula greens, very competitive prices for locally grown produce.

6500 Utsey Road, Jacksonville, FL 32219

2033 Post St. Jacksonville, FL 32204

HOT

Summer Is Here!

GIRL SUMMER GUIDE

It’s my last summer as a college student, and I love that for me, but it unfortunately means that I will soon be clocking into a job that gets no mandated breaks … a job where you have to manage your time with PTO (yikes), so it’s imperative that I have a great last summer — a hot girl summer, if you will.

And while, I could gatekeep and soak up all the fun for myself, I’ll share my guide to a great summer (a hot girl summer) and if you’re reading this and you’re extremely confused why I, a Floridian would want to have a summer that’s even hotter than the one we’re currently experiencing, don’t fret as it’s just a phrase.

The phrase “hot girl summer” was coined by rapper Megan thee Stallion and has been used for the past couple summers to declare an epic season for the “hotties.”

Dictionary.com’s meme dictionary defines it as “feeling confident in who you are and having fun and looking good while doing it.”

And Megan thee Stallion defines it as “women — and men — just being unapologetically them.”

The culture defines it in numerous ways but I definitely associate it with having a fun, impenitent summer.

So here’s my guide — morning to night — to having a Hot Girl Summer in Jacksonville (and to make this clear this is for the guy’s too if you wish to indulge.)

I start by playing my song of choice for the day — “Tik Tok” by Kesha has unironically been on repeat (I don’t know what that’s about) — curate a playlist, find an anthem or continue to replay the song you’re obsessed with; whatever is going to put you in the mood to have a great day.

I believe in balance and being a hot girl comes with partying and fun, but it should also emphasize wellness.

I practice my exercise of choice which has been yoga or dance to recenter myself and become in tune with my mind and my body — and to regulate my emotions.

After, I finish my work out of the day, I prepare for one of the best parts: the outfit! Unfortunately, we live under a restaurant heat lamp – so someday’s options are few but I still make sure to wear something that I love.

You should always dress for YOU — what makes you look in the mirror and smile from ear to ear. Being a hot girl (or guy) means being confident in what you wear and whether that is 10-inch heels, jorts or your favorite two-piece set, you’d better rock it. Looking your best attributes to feeling your best and we all need all that this summer. Summer is the best time to experiment with your look or your aesthetic, but you have more flexibility in styling for the most part.

Now it’s matcha time! All hot girls have an unnecessary drink that they spend a crap ton of money on. My poison of choice is an iced matcha usually from Bold Bean but I frequent a bunch of local shops here, and truly once you’ve had locally-sourced coffee you won’t want to go back to mediocre Starbucks coffee (sorry to anyone I’ve just offended).

After my iced matcha latte with honey and vanilla I move on to my next activity since the day’s still young.

I’m an outdoor girl through and through so I usually find myself at the beach (the secluded parts that I must gatekeep) with a book, film camera and my friends. Most days I like to be alone, but I make sure that I cherish the remaining time I have with my friends before post-grad life hits. A speaker to follow the morning vibes is a must as it serves as the soundtrack to the day. My friends often take control as they don’t like my alternative music but that’s ok because we find a happy medium between us all.

After a much need roast in the sun (with sunscreen of course), we make way to the house for a nap.

OK, I know this sounds boring but trust me to keep the night going your body needs rest. Take a quick hour nap … then it’s time to get ready for the night festivities.

My friends and I share the mirror and tiny sink, swapping stories about our last outing or the fear of discovery from feral individuals. We laugh knowing it will just serve as another tale to tell the future delinquents (aka future kids.)

Choice of location is always the hardest task. For me, the beach bars have never failed me, yet with ADHD and anxiety, the allure of bar hopping captures me each time.

But if this isn’t your vibe, I have some other options for you.

My go-to used to be 1904 Music Hall for a good show, but they are a still a great location to frequent as they transformed into Ocean Street Tequila, where they host various events. I also love the Walrus in Murray Hill or 5 Points in general.

I feel my most unapologetic at the beach though where I can dance freely without judgment.

Hot Girl Summers are great with vodka Red Bulls but they’re also great sober. With the right people the freedom to explore yourself, your community and the people around you will also be unrequited.

I finish the night off at Waffle House to get my All-Star Special, where I chat with the staff, always friendly and tired.

My group of friends and I debrief about the night and share a laugh.

DND WHILE I’M AT MY BNB

Words by Carmen Macri

Whether you’re an out-of-towner or enjoying a staycation, there’s nothing worse than booking a picture-perfect Airbnb online, only to arrive and find out the place is more “meh” than marvelous, and the neighborhood isn’t quite the paradise you imagined. And don’t even get me started on hotels with their cookie-cutter rooms and those tiny, forgettable shampoo bottles. It’s like trading one version of home for another but with worse coffee.

If you’re sick of staying in places that feel like you’re still at home—worry not. We’ve got your back. Here’s Folio’s perfectly curated list of the most unique Airbnbs around Northeast Florida. From treehouses that make you feel like a kid again to beachfront bungalows where you can sip your morning coffee with sand between your toes, these gems will make you rethink your go-to accommodations.

Starting strong on home base, here are some perfectly unique Airbnbs to keep in mind when planning a little vacation.

J A CKSONVI L L E, FL

Experience a journey back in time aboard this early 1900s Pullman car, now equipped with modern amenities including WiFi, air conditioning, TV, a kitchen, and an adjacent deck with a grill. Conveniently located within walking distance to the Jaguars stadium and Daily’s Place, this gated railcar community is perfect for weekend tailgates or overnight stays for concertgoers.

Unlike any other Airbnb, this unique experience lets you stay in a railcar right in the railyard. Perfect for Jaguars season to avoid messy traffic or for concert nights, it offers an unforgettable stay.

Experience river life on this cozy 35’ Catamaran Houseboat at the junction of Julington Creek and St. John’s River. Docked at the end of Pier 3, you’ll get unobstructed views and breathtaking sunsets. With all the comforts of home on the water, you’ll have a fully equipped kitchenette, a convertible king daybed, a shower bathroom combo, a furnished patio, and a rooftop sun deck. Plus, bars, restaurants, shops, and groceries are just a short walk from the marina, making it the perfect romantic getaway.

Each bedroom in this spacious three-story townhome is a private suite with a full bathroom, TV, and balcony within walking distance from the beach.

The bottom floor includes a garage with space for one vehicle and a casual area with a TV, pinball machine, and comfy seating. There’s a laundry room, wet bar with a coffee machine, and a twin-bedroom suite that can be converted to a king suite. The backyard features a large patio with seating, a table for four, an outdoor shower, a gas grill, and a grassy area for cornhole.

The second floor has a kitchen with a breakfast bar, a dining table, and a cozy nook. A large screen TV and double doors open to a front-facing patio. There’s also a king suite with a private bath and balcony. The third floor offers a loft living room, fireplace, and TV. It includes a king suite with a private bath and balcony, and a queen suite with a spa tub, private bath, and balcony.

priscilla’s hideaway

For those who love to live an outdoorsy life – Looking for a perfect glamping trip close to home? Look no further than Priscillas Hideaway. Located just over a mile from historic downtown St. Augustine, Priscilla’s Hideaway offers a unique retreat on a private lot with its own entrance and driveway. This retro-style camper is fully equipped with all the modern amenities for a comfortable stay.

Inside, you’ll find a queen-sized bed, a flat-screen TV and WiFi. The cozy sitting area is perfect for meals, while the fully equipped kitchen includes a two-burner gas stove, refrigerator, and microwave. Enjoy cold A/C in the summer and warm central heat during the winter. The full bathroom features a shower with a continuous water supply, a propane hot water heater, and sewer use throughout your stay. Outside you’ll find a charcoal grill, fire pit, lounge area, and picnic bench.

From the same hosts as Priscilla’s Hideaway, let me introduce you to the Piney House. A tiny home nestled in the woods offers a new extreme to glamping. The location is almost exact to Priscilla’s Hideaway and the amenities are the same, though, rather than an RV you are tucked away in a tiny home. The host even recommends renting out both Airbnb’s if you have a larger party!

The Treehouse Over the Courtyard, designated as Small Space Design #1, is powered by 24 solar panels, allowing guests to visit St. Augustine with minimal to no carbon footprint. You’ll have your own dedicated off-street parking spot and are within walking distance from Historic Downtown St. Augustine

The Treehouse features a full-size bed on the second floor, a small indoor shower, and a large bamboo-enclosed heated outdoor shower. The streamlined kitchenette includes a two-burner stovetop, sink, small refrigerator, microwave, and a 5-cup coffee maker, along with dishes, utensils, pots, and pans. An array of snacks, coffee, creamer, and sweeteners are provided for your enjoyment.

The Piney House

The Treehouse over the Courtyard

JACKSONVILLE JUMBO SHRIMP

MONDAY, JULY 1 – WEDNESDAY, JULY 3

Monday, July 1, 7:05PM TULSA WELDING SCHOOL MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT

Join the Jumbo Shrimp and Tulsa Welding School for Military Appreciation Night. Tulsa Welding School is providing free tickets (subject to availability) to all active, retired, veterans and former military members and their dependents. Complimentary ticket may be received in person at the Miller Electric Box Office office in advance or the day of the game, subject to availability.

Tuesday, July 2, 7:05PM THESE GO TO 11!

Most blokes are gonna be playing on 10. You’re on 10 here — all the way up. You’re on 10 on your guitar — where can you go from there? Nowhere. What we do is if we need that extra push over the cliff, we turn it up to 11!

Wednesday, July 3, 6:05PM INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Join the Jumbo Shrimp for our Independence Day Celebration, Featuring one of the biggest post-game fireworks shows of the year! Plus, the first 2,000 fans in the ballpark will be going home with this patriotic hat! Presented by Nimnicht Family of Dealerships.

FRIDAY, JULY 19 – SUNDAY, JULY 21 VS

TICKETS START AT JUST $5 $5

Photo by Daniel Riano

HEALTH & WELLNESS: IS THIS ANOTHER TREND OR ARE WE MATURING?

Words by Taylor Brown

Is it just me or is there a noticeable change occurring to transform lifestyles into healthy-focused eras? I initially prioritized my health and wellbeing, to an extent, a few years ago. At first, I thought I was beginning to miss out on things because I restricted my drinking, started working out, ate healthy(ish) and stayed in more. My Tik Tok algorithm influenced this, and while I thought I was the only one, it seems there has been an impact on everyone. Well, Gen Z and Millennials at least.

There is a global trend towards prioritizing health and wellness, a transformation geared to improving an individual’s state of wellbeing mentally, physically, and socially. A state of wellbeing is a combination of factors said to be linked to happiness, it can be described as someone’s self-perception and life satisfaction.

A happy life has always been a human desire but the ways in achieving it have faded in and out for decades. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, health and wellness has increased in awareness, interests, and even market share. Gen Z is the majority to thank for this as they are making their physical and mental health a priority by using physical activity as an outlet to feel better, while focusing on products and services that will positively impact their lives.

The lifestyle trends correlate with factors that influence our wellbeing, becoming intertwined with one another. Regular exercise, enough sleep, a network of close friends, a nutritional diet, enjoyable hobbies, and a sense of belonging are said to positively impact our wellbeing. These lifestyle factors translate into the global trends which include the running phenomenon, a pickleball craze, an increase in regular supplement intakes, the “sober curious” movement, and now people are beginning to steer away from individual gym memberships to look for group based classes.

As beneficial as these trends are, is that all they are? Is this a fad that will fade out to reincarnate the constant hangovers and unwell mental states? Or is this genuine and here to stay... Wait, are we maturing?

While I deliberated on these posed questions, I realized that this sensation has moved its way into Jacksonville, and has expanded the city’s opportunities and community. I would be a hypocrite to only write about what the city has to offer and not experience a few of these outlets myself. I have taken my health and wellness full rouge to provide you with ample recommendations for leisure pursuits in Jacksonville that can benefit your wellbeing.

Let me begin with saying, I am not a runner, but running is a form of exercise that is gaining traction at a fast pace, no pun intended. It has always been seen as a chore to most, if you did sports or any physical activity, you may remember running to be a consequence for wrong doings. It is now becoming a trend to run and it seems to be working for most, run clubs are popping up globally and expanding quickly.

A notable one in Jacksonville is Neptune Run Crew (NRC) founded in December of 2022. NRC emphasizes on building a community for the community, it uses running as its foundation but focuses on fostering friendships.

They have crafted an impressive online presence with their efforts, executing running events with photographers that portrays running as an enjoyable hobby. They believe in people over paces and welcome all levels of runners.

Various run events are hosted throughout the month to provide an opportunity for everyone to become a part of this community. Once a month there is a Happy Hour Run, offering a one to two mile course that ends at Pete’s, a local bar in Neptune Beach. They host a Friday Crew & Coffee 6:45 AM Run every week that stretches to be a little more than a 5K. For more experienced runners there is a Saturday Long Run twice a month with an 8 mile group run option or a 2 mile loop available.

I attended the Friday morning run and was surprised at my motivation once I entered myself into this community. It never felt exclusive with the large number of participants and welcoming personalities. Running with people made my mindset to the activity less of a chore and more enjoyable, I was never intimidated to stop my pace but also had this feeling to keep pushing myself past my limits.

As much as I enjoyed NRC, not everyone likes to run. If you want an outlet with various forms of exercise to choose from, let me introduce you to Class Pass. Different from a typical gym membership, this fitness & wellness membership provides access to attend spas, salons, and numerous gyms and studios including, pilates, yoga, weight lifting, boxing, ect. By partnering with local businesses this globally accessible membership is contributing support to communities.

ClassPass gives you a chance to try everything, discover new styles of working out, recovery sessions, meet new people, take classes with your friends, and ultimately find what you like and what you don’t like.

I have not been one to attend work out classes specifically because I am scared of failure and embarrassment. So, I can truthfully say I was surprised through my ClassPass experience when I survived my first Tabata class at Drive Fitness and found myself wanting to book again. It was rewarding to accomplish something out of my comfort zone and to be surrounded by supportive individuals. I was motivated to not give up, even when the movements were foreign to me.

A sport that has received a massive surge in popularity is Pickleball, a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and pingpong. It’s fun, easy to learn, and appropriate for all ages and skill levels. The game encourages social interaction and due to its new found popularity, it is easily accessible in Jacksonville with multiple indoor and outdoor courts around the city.

This sport is a great way to interact amongst players, move your body and it doesn’t come off as too intimidating. I enjoyed playing amongst my friends and with my family. It is a great way to exercise while providing a social aspect.

I have offered various outlets to physically move your body but you must take proper care of it to begin or continue these efforts towards a better well being. Enough sleep and proper nutrition are essential to your health physically and mentally. It can boost your energy pre workout and it is key to recovering post workout. Wellness businesses are becoming popular especially in the beverage industry, people are looking for drinks for their nutritional intakes and meal replacements.

A local healthy and nutritional beverage shop that many people have integrated into their weekly routine is The Wave in Jax Beach. Owners, Sean and Kamrin Williams, recently moved to the area from Daytona Beach and are overwhelmed by the community support they have received.

Kamrin expressed, “We have lived in a lot of different cities and have always had a passion for the health and fitness lifestyle. But we’ve never been in a community like Jacksonville. Everyone is so welcoming and uplifting. We could feel it as soon as we opened our shop. There are no clicks, everyone encourages each other to do and be better. It gives us goosebumps just thinking about it, we are so grateful for this community”.

Their drinks offer a variety of additional supplement options to craft the perfect drink based on any wellness preference. My favorite is the Pink Drink which is an energy tea with collagen, 17G of protein, and it is only 100 Calories with 0G of sugar. My body feels balanced and energized after having one of these, ready to take on the day. They also have protein shakes, coffees, workout fuel blends for pre workouts, hydrational focus, and post workouts, as well as boosted teas available. They use nutritional ingredients to make their drinks taste like a treat without the added sugars and calories.

My health and wellness journey thus far has allowed me to dive into these opportunities within the community but I believe my experience is only on the surface of this trend’s potential. I have been inspired by the people in this community who have embodied a health & wellness lifestyle long-term.

I wanted to know how people allowed these trends to become their lifestyles instead of fade out, how has this health prioritization changed their wellbeing and social aspects, and what is the secret to this admirable community? Jacksonville local, Marc Ataiza, has abided by these trends for a year now and is an active member of the health & wellness community.

Marc described his experience and the community to me, “I have always been into physical activity but didn’t give my full effort into it, I had self-doubt and low self-esteem that held me back from my full potential. I chose to really focus on showing up for myself, try things outside of my comfort zone, and incorporate variety into my routines to not become complacent. Finding this community of others who appreciate and prioritize personal growth helped me want to elevate my physical and mental well being as well as my health. There’s this idea that these groups are, for lack of a better word, a cult. But this is not the case, there is no requirement, you don’t have to be the healthiest person there, everyone is supporting each other and creating a welcoming atmosphere.

That is something Jacksonville has and from my experience, other cities are unmatched to.

I honestly can say I have never felt happier, the overall transformation of my health has a rippling effect, and has made a difference in my life for a lifetime. I think these trends are here to stay, once people invest in the aspect of their health it becomes addictive. I believe bettering myself with physical outlets has bettered my mental state, with my busy life, it gives me a moment to be grounded and physically present in where I am.

No matter what community outlet you chose to jump into, don’t let your current physical state limit you from coming, you will find a place. Go out there and figure out what you like to do. I will say from a group aspect, something bonds you when you struggle with other people, we all are here growing and getting better together, it is an accountability aspect to show up for yourself as well as your neighbors”.

I have offered you various health & wellness opportunities in Jacksonville but these are just the start. Finding your niche may take time, luckily there are no rules to this trend, tailor a routine that aligns with your preferences and is easy to begin. It only takes one habit to lead yourself into this newfound lifestyle; finding exercise that brings you joy can motivate you to prioritize your nutritions, get enough sleep, and engage in social scenes amongst the wellness community, allowing you to feel that sense of belonging, and attempt to create that happier mindset you may desire.

This experience has made me realize bettering yourself does not need to be a lonely journey, it can be an opportunity to flourish friendships and become a part of a community. Surrounding yourself with people that provide support, inspiration, and like-minded goals can be a key to breaking the health fade and it becoming a lifestyle. Increasing my efforts to prioritize my health and wellness indeed resulted in a happier self, it has positively impacted my lifestyle balancing my mind, body, and socialization for the better.

So are we maturing? Possibly, which is an obvious answer due to our continuous aging but is this health and wellness sensation something that will fade soon? With the monumental growth in opportunities, wellness organizations, community, and long-term benefits to one’s wellbeing, I think it is just gaining momentum and is here to stay long after this article.

Photo provided by ‘The Wave’s, Kamrin Williams

RYD THE WAVE

“His vision was simple yet profound: to emphasize fun, environmental sustainability, and the joy of sharing waves with friends,” sales and marketing director Taylor Ohntrup shared. “RYD’s innovative approach features a step-bystep system for surfers, ensuring that beginners and experienced surfers alike can enjoy the sport together.”

In the early days, surfing meant seeking out local craftsmen, often tucked away in makeshift garages, who meticulously shaped surfboards and gear by hand. Each board was a unique piece of art, reflecting the individuality of its maker and the close-knit community they fostered. However, this exclusivity also created a barrier for those not skilled in the craft, limiting access to essentials like leashes, covers and traction pads. It was a time when surfers had to fend for themselves, a romantic notion of starting from scratch before catching that perfect wave.

As surfing evolved into a culture rooted in respect for both the ocean and each other, the transition to mass production by larger manufacturers became inevitable. Yet, this shift hasn’t dulled the sport’s essence. Companies like RYD Brand USA are a testament to this evolution, blending innovation with the soul of craftsmanship.

They continue to offer surfers uniquely crafted boards and accessories, ensuring that while the process may have changed, the spirit of individuality and community remains as vibrant as ever.

Founded by Barend in South Africa, RYD is a brand created with the vision of designing surfboard and surf accessories that cater to surfers of all skill levels.

“His vision was simple yet profound: to emphasize fun, environmental sustainability, and the joy of sharing waves with friends,” sales and marketing director Taylor Ohntrup shared. “RYD’s innovative approach features a stepby-step system for surfers, ensuring that beginners and experienced surfers alike can enjoy the sport together.”

Words by Ambar Ramirez & photos submitted by Taylor Ohntrup

RYD’s journey and message has deeply resonated with surfers and enthusiasts globally. The brand has surged forward, expanding its presence to Australia and the UK, and has now made a significant move by appointing surfer and CEO Chip McGraw as the main distributor for North and South America, with headquarters established in St. Augustine.

“The community in St. Augustine has embraced the brand, and RYD is poised to make waves, not just locally, but across the continent,” Ohntrup said. “With a focus on sustainability, innovation and inclusivity, RYD continues to inspire surfers around the world to have fun, save the planet, and share the waves with friends.”

As RYD expands its global footprint, it remains steadfast in its commitment to core values and sustainable manufacturing practices. Amid growing concerns over global warming and the importance of beach clean-ups, RYD prioritizes transparency and sustainability. This is particularly evident in their efforts to reduce plastic usage in their boards, striving to set a new standard where customers can witness firsthand the journey toward eco-friendly surfboards.

“Sustainability is at the core of RYD Brand’s ethos, addressing environmental and ethical considerations through innovative and responsible business practices. Recognizing the growing concern over plastic pollution in the surf industry, we have taken significant steps to minimize the use of plastic in our products,” Ohntrup explained. “Our new traction pads, for instance, are designed to offer our customers a tangible way to engage with our commitment to sustainability. The packaging of our traction pads is specifically designed to be environmentally conscious, allowing buyers to feel and assess the quality and texture of the pads before purchase.”

Not only does RYD offer highly developed products that are surprisingly affordable, but they also have made it a point to be involved in the local and global surfing community. Locally, RYD is known to sponsor a number of groms (young surfers) by helping them grow their skills and pursure their passions. Their commitment to the surfing community is further demonstrated in their sponsoring of local surfing events such as the Herturn Surf Contest, Board Riders, ESA, ESA SAFL, Flagler Surf Series, Grom Tour and many more. And globally, RYD supports surfers from various countries.

“We’ve had countless rewarding and memorable experiences interacting with our customers, each one reinforcing our commitment to the surfing community. One of the most exciting moments for us is coming together globally to support Caio Ibelli, one of our biggest team leaders, whenever he competes,” Ohntrup said. “Watching Caio ride the waves and represent our brand on the world stage is not only thrilling but also a testament to the global reach and unity of our RYD family.”

RYD is truly proving itself to be a big name within the surfing community and is making its way to being surfer’s one-stop-shop for all things surfing.

“St. Augustine feels like home to us, and we see immense potential for growth here. The community’s enthusiasm and the area’s rich surfing culture provide a solid foundation for RYD to spread its wings and continue to thrive,” Ohntrup shared. “Whether through online sales or partnerships with local surf shops, being based in Florida has been a pivotal part of our success, and we wouldn’t want to do it from anywhere else.”

VIRTI

CTEAMONDAYS

• St. Augustine Fish Company & Oyster House, 6 p.m

• V Pizza–Mandarin (music bingo), 6 p.m.

• Amici (music bingo), 7 p.m.

• Donovan’s Irish Pub, St. Augustine, 7 p.m.

• Fast Jax Trivia at 9 Ball Heaven Sports Grill & Billiards, 7 pm

• Mellow Mushroom–Durbin Park, 7 p.m.

• Mellow Mushroom–Fleming Island, 7 p.m.

• Mellow Mushroom–River City/ Northside, 7 p.m.

• Mellow Mushroom–Tinseltown, 7:30 p.m.

• Rain Dogs, 8 p.m.

• Treylor Park (pop culture), 9 p.m.

TUESDAYS

• St. Mary’s Seafood (music bingo) 6 p.m.

• Mr. Chubby’s Wings–Fleming Island (music bingo), 6:30 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–St. Aug, 6:30 p.m.

• V PIzza– St. Augustine, 6:30 p.m.

• The Back 40, 7 p.m.

• Bottlenose Brewing, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–Nocatee, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–San Pablo, 7 p.m.

• Gator’s Dockside–Oakleaf, (music bingo), 7 p.m.

• Harps American Grill, 7 p.m.

• Hurricane Grill & Wings–Atlantic Boulevard, 7 p.m.

• Island Wing Company–Bartram, 7 p.m.

• Jax Craft Beer, 7 p.m.

• Jerry’s Sports Grille, 7 p.m.

• Miller’s Ale House–Deerwood, 7 p.m.

• My Tap Room (pop culture), 7 p.m.

• Players Grille, 7 p.m.

• Southern Grill, 7 p.m.

• Vooswar, 7 p.m.

• Surfside Kitchen, St. Augustine, 7 p.m.

• V Pizza–Fernandina (music bingo), 7 p.m.

• Xtreme Wings Sports Bar and Grille, St. Johns, 7 p.m.

• Culhane’s Irish Pub–Southside, 7:30 p.m.

• Flask & Cannon / V Pizza (pop culture), 7:30 p.m.

• King Maker Brewing (name that tune), 7:30 p.m.

• Lynch’s Irish Pub (music bingo), 7:30 p.m.

• Monkey’s Uncle Tavern, 7:30 p.m.

• Time Out Sports Bar, 7:30 p.m.

• Tepeyolot Cerveceria, 7:30 p.m.

• Casbah Cafe, 8 p.m.

• Sahara Cafe, 8 p.m.

• Shantytown Pub, 8:30 p.m.

• Surfer the Bar (pop culture trivia), 9:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAYS

• Mr. Chubby’s Wings–Ponte Vedra (music bingo), 6:30 p.m.

• V Pizza–Mandarin, 6:30 p.m.

• The Beacon, St. Augustine, 7 p.m.

• Bold City Brewery, 7 p.m.

• Cruisers Grill, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–Nocatee, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–Mandarin, 7 p.m.

• El Jefe, 7 p.m.

• Firefly Bay, 7 p.m.

• Ink Factory Brewing, 7 p.m.

• Island Wing–Bartram (music bingo) 7 p.m.

• Island Wing–Southside, 7 p.m.

• Mellow Mushroom–Avondale, 7 p.m.

• Miller’s Ale House–Hodges, 7 p.m.

• Mellow Mushroom–Jacksonville Beach, 7 p.m.

• Scarlett O’ Hara’s, St. Augustine, 7 p.m.

• Shaughnessy’s Sports Grill, St. Augustine, 7 p.m.

• V Pizza–Fleming Island, 7 p.m.

• V Pizza–Fernandina, 7 p.m.

• V Pizza–Palm Valley, 7 p.m.

• Veterans United Craft Brewery, 7 p.m.

• Burrito Gallery–Town Center (pop culture), 7:30 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–Fleming Island, 7:30 p.m.

• Harps American Grill (pop culture), 7:30 p.m.

• Hoptinger–5 Points, 7:30 p.m.

• Hoptinger–Jacksonville Beach, 7:30 p.m.

• Hurricane Grill–Fleming Island, 7:30 p.m.

• King Maker Brewing, 7:30 p.m.

• Time Out Sports Grill, 7:30 p.m

• Wicked Barley Brewing, 7:30 p.m.

• The Brix Taphouse (pop culture trivia), 8 p.m.

• Hamburger Mary’s (drag bingo, 21+), 8 p.m.

THURSDAYS

• Ann O’Malley’s Irish Pub, 7 p.m.

• Bold City Brewery, 7 p.m.

• Bottlenose Brewing, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–Atlantic Boulevard, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings– Nocatee (name that tune), 7 p.m.

• Justice Pub (music bingo), 7 p.m.

• Island Wing Company–Southside (music bingo), 7 p.m.

• Kava and Company–San Marco (every other Thursday), 7 p.m.

• Miller’s Ale House–Avenues, 7 p.m.

• Mr. Chubby’s Wings–Ponte Vedra, 7 p.m.

• The Stout Snug, 7 p.m.

• V Pizza– Fernandina (what’s that song), 7 p.m.

• Burrito Gallery–Brooklyn (’80s, ’90s & 2000s), 7:30 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings– St. Aug, 7:30 p.m.

• Flask & Cannon / V Pizza, 7:30 p.m.

• V Pizza–San Marco, 7:30 p.m.

• Hoptinger–Jax Beach (music bingo), 8 p.m.

FRIDAYS

• Engine 15 Brewing, 7 p.m.

• MVP’s Sports Grille, 7 p.m.

• Tepeyolot Cerveceria, 7:30 p.m.

• Time Out Sports Grill, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAYS

• Hamburger Mary’s (HamBingo), 2 p.m.

• Vooswar, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–Atlantic Boulevard, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–San Pablo (pop culture), 7p.m.

• Ink Factory Brewing (name that tune), 7 p.m.

• Bottlenose Brewing (name that tune), 7:30 p.m.

FILM REVIEWS

Words by Harry Moore

INSIDE OUT 2

Pixar’s “Inside Out” explored our feelings by taking us inside the mind of a young girl named Riley where we see the personified emotions Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust working together in a control room to guide her through life’s ups and downs. The sequel picks up with Riley approaching her teenage years and adolescence, which sees the arrival of new emotions — Envy, Embarrassment, Ennui and Anxiety — who soon banish Joy and the other emotions to take over the operation and become Riley’s most dominant emotions. The emotions must then journey back to regain control before Riley loses her sense of self.

In recent years, Pixar has found itself in something of an identity crisis. While the studio was disruptively reimagining the m edium of animation, Pixar had also earned a name for itself as a bastion of innovative stories creatively told that enthralled both children and their parents alike. From “Toy Story” to “WALL-E,” Pixar repeatedly told original stories set in unique worlds that managed to connect with a wide audience. But after former studio head John Lasseter hugged his way out of the top job, a few bumps in the road formed ahead of them. Pixar delivered their first creative misses with the forgettable films “Brave” and “The Good Dinosaur,” which was followed by the studio diving headfirst into sequelizing their beloved classics with “Finding Dory,” “Incredibles 2” and “Toy Story 4” coming out in a three-year span to immense box office success. Then COVID pushed their newest releases out of theaters and onto Disney+, impacting Pixar’s brand as the premier animation studio. This was only compounded by rival studios closing the gap like Sony Animation’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” innovating the medium further Pixar had in years and Illumination’s “Minions” becoming the hottest ticket in children’s cinema. Their eventual return to theaters with “Lightyear” and last year’s “Elemental” was also underwhelming with both films being critical duds and financial disappointments, by Pixar’s own lofty standards. It is safe to say that the luster of their early golden era had finally worn off and a new strategy needed to be put in place.

So for their big release this year, Pixar once again looked to their past to revive what could arguably be their last original film to have a lasting widespread cultural impact: 2015’s “Inside Out.” Directed by Pete Docter, who is now the chief creative officer at Pixar, “Inside Out” is the studio’s most cerebral premise, as it stars the personified emotions of a young child; a considerably more heady concept than a lost fish or how bugs live. Even still, “Inside Out” was a big hit, thanks in large part to its inventive premise and a strong cast led by “Parks and Recreation” star Amy Poehler as the bubbly optimist Joy. It also gave parents an easy tool to help explain to their children how their emotions work to dictate their actions. With “Inside Out 2” coming out almost a decade later, the sequel had to mature alongside its audience and Riley, who is going through the early stages of puberty and is at a crossroads between spending time with her old friends and trying to impress the popular, older students at her new school, which sparks the arrival of Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke) and a group of other more complicated emotions. It shouldn’t be surprising that the animation nerds who work at Pixar are intimately familiar with anxiety, as the character of Anxiety is almost portrayed too well, everything from its physical design, personality and Maya Hawke’s vocal performance caused an almost visceral reaction every time it was on screen. The filmmakers cited the Safdie brother’s “Uncut Gems” (the Adam Sandler starring panic attack of a film) as a major influence on their work — and after watching you can absolutely see some of the parallels with anxiety being the predominant response to the film, as we can only watch Riley make relatable, wrong choices as she leaves behind old friends to pursue new ones. It is an effective piece of filmmaking, but as is often the case with recent Pixar films, it feels like it was made more with the parents in mind than the children watching: I struggle to see what someone who hasn’t already gone through adolescence and can look back on it with maturity

would get out of this. Where films like “Monsters, Inc.” and “The Incredibles” managed to balance kid-friendly characters and stories with themes and humor that connect with adults, “Inside Out” always struck me as too heady and introspective to really appeal to kids on the same lev el as those earlier films, though it does elegantly communicate complex ideas in a manner that should be easy to take in for people of all ages. I found “Inside Out 2” to be an effective, if surprisingly stressful viewing experience, but it showed once again that when it comes to telling bold, original stories for a wide audience, Pixar is still in a league of its own.

FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA

After being stolen from her home, a young woman comes of age in a savage, post-apocalyptic wasteland and becomes caught amid two dueling warlords as she attempts to chart her way home. Director George Miller returns to the mad world he created to tell an epic tale about vengeance and power in a lawless land. It has been nine years since Miller and his crew ventured into the Australian outback and gifted the world “Mad Max: Fury Road,” which was universally lauded as an instant classic and is viewed as one of this century’s defining works of cinema. It is almost impossible to be hyperbolic about the excellence of “Fury Road,” it is a film that excels at every level — from the technical side with its audacious editing and cinematography to the sublimely creative costume and production designs to the simple but inventive story and memorable characters, who are brought to life by a perfectly utilized ensemble cast. Tom Hardy took over the eponymous role, but “Fury Road” really belongs to Charlize Theron’s Furiosa, an immediately iconic character who sits amongst the likes of Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley and Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor as one of the great action heroines of cinema. Furiosa will most likely be remembered as Theron’s signature role, it is a truly great piece of character creation that would inspire Miller to journey further into the wasteland and Furiosa’s bloodstained past. For the younger Furiosa, Anya Taylor-Joy stepped into the part and does an admirable job of bringing her own sensibility to the character while remaining indebted to Theron’s work. It is often a thankless task to take on a character who has already been defined by another actor, but Taylor-Joy is a capable enough performer that she disappears into Furiosa and shows a more vulnerable side to the character than the older version we have seen previously. However, much like “Fury Road,” this film is a two-hander between Taylor-Joy’s Furiosa and Dementus, the warlord leader of a biker horde, who is played by Chris Hemsworth, giving an uninhibited career-best performance, leaning into a thick outback twang and filling every scene with an unpredictable energy.

The list of prequels to great movies that manage to surpass, or even match, the original is a short one. It may just be Sergio Leone’s “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” and half of “The Godfather Part II.” Which is to say, telling the backstory of a film as undeniable as “Mad Max: Fury Road” was always going to be a tall order, yet Miller and his team largely meet it. “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” walks its own path as opposed to taking on a losing game of one-upmanship against “Fury Road.” Where that film is a propulsive race to the finish line that can be followed along through its visuals alone, “Furiosa” is much more sweeping and meditative by comparison.

The opening act largely follows Dementus: The film opens with him and his minions kidnapping Furiosa as a child and killing her mother (Charlee Fraser) in a lean and tense sequence that is very different from the bombastic carnage of “Fury Road.” Dementus then leads his followers to The Citadel which is governed by the tyrannical Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), as we saw in “Fury Road,” causing war to break out between Dementus’ gang and Joe’s fanatical war boys, which escalates into a multi-year long conflict, during which Furiosa grows into a skilled warrior. Some sequences feel indebted to or at least reverential to the action in “Fury Road,” but Miller is largely trying to do something a little different in “Furiosa.” Where that film is focused on operatic mayhem and carnage, which can be found in “Furiosa,” the newest film

is a comparatively more grounded offering that is often about surviving and overcoming trauma, that concludes in quiet conversation instead of explosive violence.

The “Mad Max” series has quietly been among the most influential film creations of the last 50 years with its vision of a post-apocalyptic world being used as an aesthetic shorthand for a fallen civilization now governed by chaos. The series’ iconography of desert wastelands, heavy metal-inspired vehicles and flamboyantly dressed cannibal gangs have been referenced and iterated on in many other dystopian works. Still, it has always remained something of a niche interest for moviegoers, even the rapturously received “Fury Road” was just a nominal success at the box office. “Furiosa” is an incredibly ambitious effort in the series; its large scope encompasses a decade-spanning story and a range of characters, allowing Miller to explore his anarchic hellscape at a scale that he had previously been unable to. The film shows us new settings that had only been referenced in “Fury Road” like the fabled Green Place and the accurately named Bullet Farm and Gas Town in all their glory. We also delve deeper into the machinations of The Citadel and Immortan Joe’s leadership methods. “Furiosa” dives headfirst into the greater lore and intricacies of this world in a manner that will delight the hardcore fans but potentially put off more general audiences. But the indulgence in the wasteland is a great benefit to the film at large, giving license to show new regions and hordes that allows for the creative designers to let their imaginations go wild to bring this world to the screen.

“Mad Max: Fury Road” is an irreplicable film that stands alongside the best works in the medium, yet “Furiosa” is a triumphant piece of filmmaking on its own terms and manages to retroactively deepen and improve “Fury Road,” adding greater weight to Furiosa’s journey in that film. George Miller has shown once again why he is amongst the greatest action directors of all time and is second to none when it comes to creating uniquely unforgettable imagery. “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” is a showstopping epic that demands to be witnessed on the biggest screen possible.

THEATER/DANCE

THROUGH JULY 7

“Seussical the Musical” The Island Theater, Fleming Island theislandtheater.com

“Always a Bridesmaid” Limelight Theatre limelight-theatre.org

THROUGH JULY 22

“First Date”

Amelia Community Theatre, Fernandina Beach ameliacommunitytheatre.org

THROUGH AUG. 11

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”

Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com

JULY 4-25

“Ritz Museum After Dark” Ritz Theatre & Museum ritzjacksonville.com

JULY 5

“Doggiewoggiez! Poochiewoochiez!” ft. Everything Is Terrible (aka Sun-Ray’s Last Hurrah) Sun-Ray Cinema sunraycinema.com

JULY 5-20

“Legally Blond”

Amelia Musical Playhouse, Fernandina Beach ameliamusicalplayhouse.com

JULY 11

“Untold Stories: Summer” Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

JULY 12

“Dean Z: The Ultimate Elvis” Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts fscjartistseries.org

JULY 12-13

Roald Dahl’s “Willie Wonka Jr.” Amelia Community Theatre, Fernandina Beach ameliacommunitytheatre.org

JULY 12-21

“Peter Pan” The Island Theater, Fleming Island theislandtheater.com

JULY 12-27

“Slow Burn” Lumen Repertory Theatre www.lumenrep.org

“Urinetown: The Musical” Florida Ballet Theatre the5anddime.org

JULY 12-28

“Tarzan” Players by the Sea playersbythesea.org

JULY 19-AUG.11

“9 to 5: The Musical” Limelight Theatre limelight-theatre.org

JULY 20

“Bad Auditions for Bad Actors” Amelia Community Playhouse, Fernandina Beach ameliacommunitytheatre.org

JULY 26-28

“The Lighting Thief”

The Island Theater, Fleming Island theislandtheater.com

Photo by Cessy Newmon

“THE LIVING ROOM OF JACKSONVILLE”: RESIDENTS RAGE AGAINST SALE OF FIVE POINTS THEATER

Since 2011, the Sun-Ray Cinema has been a landmark spot for what’s widely considered the last of historic movie theaters, bringing in residents from all corners and outskirts of Riverside, providing a feeling of nostalgia for when times were simpler, people were friendlier, and movie concessions were cheaper. Before it was Sun-Ray, it was a conglomerate of entertainment-based businesses going in and out, making its mark in history each step of the way. But by the end of July, after almost a century of operation, the doors to the Five Points Theater on Park Street will be shut for its last time as Sun-Ray Cinema to be transformed yet again, but under completely new owners. Its closure has brought an overwhelming number of Jacksonville residents together, both to mourn and share their beloved memories, but also to voice their criticism and backlash for the decision through outcries of anti-gentrification and desperate clings to pieces of the past. But still, the purchase has been closed and plans for its future are underway.

Words & photos by Mallory Pace

THE PAST

Since 1927, the building has seen its fair share of changes, but its heart always remained true to cinema. It was first opened as the Riverside Theater, designed by Roy Benjamin, architect for downtown’s Florida Theater that opened a month later. It was the first cinema in the state equipped to show films with sound and third nationally, according to the Five Points Jax website. In the following years, the theater was closed, reopened and converted numerous times, but all for the sake of keeping up with the changing entertainment scene. It was reopened in 1949 as the Five Points Theater, holding a title as one of the first in Jacksonville to provide a smoking lounge with pushback seats (score!). Then in 1991, it opened its doors as a nightclub, inviting in the height of live music. Their website states that in 2004, the Planning and Development Department recommended that the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission approve the designation of the Riverside (Five Points) Theater Building as a City Jacksonville Landmark, which it soon was. Finally, in 2011, what we now know as the Sun-Ray Cinema, set up shop and has been operating since.

If you’ve ever been to the theater, you know why this is a big deal for many. Its uniqueness and old-timey feel is unmatched and certainly incomparable to modern day movie theaters. The movie rooms themselves are relatively small and quaint, the screens are by no means IMAX-level, and the chairs are more chairs than they are couch recliners you might find elsewhere. But that’s exactly the beauty of it. The popcorn is served in tin bowls (eco-friendly!) and you’ll find a table of delicious spices to sprinkle on top, making it a unique and custom experience. The beer and wine is priced like actual beer and wine, meanwhile chain movie theaters offer a $15 half-glass for Barefoot wine like it’s the Moulin Rouge or something. Not to mention the delicious assortment that is their food menu, including a wide selection of vegan options, something that not a lot of restaurants, let alone movie theaters offer.

Sun-Ray is more than a movie theater though; in fact, it rarely offers all the same films compared to a Cinemark, but that’s part of its multifacetedness; the film selection is intentional and crafted in a way you can’t find elsewhere. Elias Jeppesen, a Jacksonville resident and small business owner, emphasized the uniqueness that separates Sun-Ray from the rest, in both the film and food areas.

“It’s a dichotomy of either going to the big generic AMC theater or going to [Sun-Ray] to see a litany of a dozen or so movies, any given week, that are unique,” Jeppesen said. “Not only do they have more interesting movies but they have a pretty relaxed theater experience and it’s the only place you can get real food that’s not just theater food.”

Jeppesen owns Tetherball Coffee in the Mandarin area, and even residents from there have expressed equal disappointment to the news. He has two regulars, both of Tetherball Coffee and of the cinema, who are especially saddened by its closure as they grieve the last of screened independent films you could only find at Sun-Ray. Their daily, if not weekly, rotation of movies expands beyond the mainstream (with a few exceptions) by showing diverse films that are sometimes niche, foreign, classic, documentaries, locally produced, independent, you get the idea. Sun-Ray is a hodgepodge of art, a palate expander of sorts, and they do a great job at casting a light on films and producers that might otherwise go unnoticed, giving audiences an acquired taste of film production beyond Hollywood.

THE PRESENT

One thing about Jacksonville residents is they won’t go down without a fight. News of the theater’s closure has been met with nothing short of rage, disappointment, and sadness. When talks of selling the building were only rumors, a “Save Sun-Ray” campaign spearheaded protests on social media, garnering at least 1,500 signatures before it was shut down. According to an article by The Jacksonville Times-Union, the petition’s creator Adam Guillette told them that, “Jacksonville deserves to have at least one historic theater.”

Yet residents in and outside of the Riverside area have actively taken to social media to voice their concern and distaste for any future renovations that do not uphold the theater’s current operations. But they didn’t stop there, SunRay lovers like native Mary Noonan took to City Council meetings to advocate for the beloved building. She said there was a healthy turnout of people there for the theater and despite feeling heard from the council people, Noonan couldn’t help but wonder if it was the right outlet to be taken, considering it was a done decision at that point. Still, it was important to those who spoke for the council to understand what Sun-Ray means to so many and if there was anything that could be done, she explained.

Despite growing up in the beach area, Noonan has fond memories of the theater since she was a child, going hand in hand with her mom to see films in the eccentric area of Five Points. When she returned to Jacksonville after college, one of the major drawing points in deciding where to live was walkability, especially to her favorite theater, so Riverside was a no-brainer. She called the building “the living room of Jacksonville,” as it marks a place where people with shared interests and a love for film can come together. It’s where a room full of people can laugh, cry, or shield their eyes in horror all for the sake of cinematic art. For Noonan herself, it’s the place she grew up going to as a child, it’s where she broke up with her last boyfriend and where she had her second date with her current one. For so many people, it’s obvious that it’s much more than a movie theater, but a place rooted in history and overwhelmed with nostalgia.

“The first feeling was really devastating, because it’s one of my favorite places in Jacksonville and one of the last places here that holds that true character that I feel is representative of the Five Points community,” she said.

Adding on, she expressed a sense of shock that there wasn’t much community involvement in this decision, especially considering its significant history. Noonan works as an urban planner and she explained that in an informed planning process, it’s good practice for a city to consult with its community before going forward with such a big project, but that wasn’t the case here — which is why, she said, we might be seeing such aggression and upheaval in the community because they’re feeling blindsided by the decision.

“The most successful practices for big changes in a community are headed by inclusive conversation and having an open dialogue with the people that you’re going to be affecting,” Noonan said. “A lot of times with these bigger developments and large cash sales, we kind of skip that process, and it leaves a lot of people feeling angry and frustrated.”

Folio recently put up a Facebook post asking users their opinion on the sale of Sun-Ray and the disapprovement was overwhelming. Comments like, “BOYCOTT ANYONE BUT SUN-RAY!” and “Whatever goes in, I hope it fails!” received dozens of likes in support. One user posted a spoof picture of a Spirit Halloween in place of Sun-Ray in response, parodying the future of the building.

Emma Christine, a long-standing Jacksonville resident commented, “First thing I loved about Jax when I moved here 13 years ago. So unique, so sad to lose.” The shared feeling of disappointment for Jacksonville to lose a century-old landmark was evident; one user commented: “Very upset about it. Another staple of the community will be gone. An unfortunate pattern.” Some even said that their choice to live in Five Points was at least somewhat influenced by the proximity to the theater, or that Sun-Ray was the only venue bringing them to the area. Likewise, Noonan even expressed that it made her so sad she thought about leaving Jacksonville entirely.

THE FUTURE

The building was bought for $7 million by Union South Partners, a Southeast developer of adaptive reuse projects, who has said it has plans of a $2 million renovation and upgrade project. An article by News4Jax quoted one of the firm’s founding partners, Jay Weaver, saying “The Five Points Theater building has played an iconic role in helping shape this neighborhood during the past century, and we intend to keep its historic roots as an entertainment and retail complex intact.”

Though the developers intentions may appear innocent, feelings of defeatedness in losing yet another gem unique to our city is equally met with anger. Many residents feel infuriated by big corporations settling into and overtaking places they’re not wanted. Urban Division Jax of Colliers North Florida is a commercial real estate team representing the buyers of Sun-Ray. In a recent Instagram post from their account wrote that: “The Urban Division’s $7 million sale of the 5 Points Theater Building marks a new beginning for the nucleus of one of Jacksonville’s best neighborhoods… This shift along with the recent announcement of Bar Taco opening in the neighborhood will allow us to continue to push this historic shopping district’s narrative.”

There are 466 comments. I won’t get into all of it, you can check it out for yourself, but here’s what caught my eye: One user wrote, “Doesn’t sound like people are too excited about “pushing the 5 Points narrative,” to which Urban Division Jax responded, verbatim: “maybe we go back to the Swat Team closing down 5 Points? It’s time for a change.

People only hear half the story and thats unfortunate.

But thoroughly entertained by everyone’s lack of knowledge on this sale and the buildings future. In the meantime we will continue to feel confident we are on the right side of this one.”

I’m not in the business of trying to debate the ethicality of buying and selling real estate, let alone the actions of Urban Division Jax, but if there’s one conclusion I must come to, it’s that the people are not happy about it. And they’re rightfully so. Losing a piece of Five Points history to an outside commercial developer to do God knows what to it, is reasonably upsetting and frustrating. It also doesn’t help that the company took to an Instagram comment war to attempt to clear their name in an objectively less than professional fashion. Residents want communication, honesty, and maybe even collaboration from the people and corporations coming into their city trying to change it. I can’t help but wonder if this could have gone another way had everyone begun with a bit of transparency.

What exactly will happen to the beloved Sun-Ray Cinema is still being discussed, though rumors on social media of it turning into a parking garage have been debunked due to its 2004 landmark status protecting it from such a project. That’s a win! On another somewhat brighter note, according to Florida Food and Beverage, a Sun-Ray Cinema will be opening in the Ocean Walk Plaza in Daytona Beach by spring break of this year. So there’s that, I guess.

But no matter what happens, it’s important for Jacksonville residents to keep the historical theater alive in their hearts beyond what the future holds. There have been speculations circulating that the building may become a Nashville-based music venue, which we can surely agree that there are worse things than that. Despite the frustration, we should continue supporting our city with whatever may come next (unless it’s an indoor golfing range, then we riot). At the end of the day, Sun-Ray will never be forgotten, evolved maybe, but its spirit and impact will certainly live on. So until its final days, continue supporting the theater as a thanks for all the memories and rich history it’s given Five Points and beyond. On a lasting note, I think it’s fitting for a Jacksonville native like Noonan, who the theater meant so much to, to share: “People and things aren’t really gone until you stop talking about them. It’s okay to be angry, but the best thing we can do is exercise our power as citizens and speak up when we can, even if it might not make a difference.”

COMEDY

JULY 3

Comedians in Drag Doing Comedy

Cafe Eleven originalcafe11.com

JULY 5-6

First Coast Comedy

The Main Event, 7:30 p.m.

Adult Show (21+ only), 10 p.m.

First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

JULY 6-7

DL Hughley

Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

JULY 10

Poker Face Comedy Show

Good Fellas Cigar Lounge goodfellasjax.com

JULY 12-13

Corey Holcomb

Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

First Coast Comedy

The Main Event, 7:30 p.m.

Adult Show (21+ only), 10 p.m.

First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

JULY 13

Don’t Tell Comedy

Railyard District (that’s all we can tell you) donttellcomedy.com

Comedy At the Collective

Cultured Collective Brewing Co., Orange Park facebook.com/culturedcollectivefl

JULY 18

Sebastian Maniscalco

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

JULY 18-20

David Lucas Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

JULY 19-20

First Coast Comedy

The Main Event, 7:30 p.m.

Adult Show (21+ only), 10 p.m.

First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

JULY 22

“Brew Ha-Ha Improv Comedy”

Blue Fire Theatre, Yulee bluefiretheatre.org

JULY 23

Ellen Skrmetti

Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

JULY 26-27

Akaash Singh Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

First Coast Comedy

The Main Event, 7:30 p.m.

Adult Show (21+ only), 10 p.m.

First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

JULY 27

Clean Comedy Series ft. Marcus Crespo and Dan Venti

Murray Hill Theatre murrayhilltheatre.com

Next Stop Comedy

Ancient City Brewing Co, St. Augustine ancientcitybrewing.com

DROP ' N DANCE

“I thought dance was just an after school activity for kids.”

In today’s world people are trying to find different ways to work out without just lifting weights and going on a run. I myself have tried a variety of classes trying to find something I enjoyed as much as when I played sports growing up. I’ve noticed that when some people stop playing high school or college, sports, they do not really know how to work out

Growing up as a dancer, I never really thought about it being a workout, as it was a fun activity after school. But when I got to college I never knew what to do at the gym. I tried every class my college offered, and the only one I truly liked was Zumba. I went to as many classes as possible because it was something I understood and felt good about. This is when one of my friends told me about a local dance studio that was offering adult dance classes! I thought this is perfect: I can go enjoy something I grew up loving but also get a great workout in. I did some research and found that this was a big thing in the jacksonville area and they had their own community that I wanted to be a part of. I was able to fall back in love with the sport of my childhood but did not feel the pressure to be perfect all of the time. I learned it was OK to make a mistake, which is something I had never heard growing up in the world of perfection that is ballet.

After a few months of taking classes every Wednesday night I decided that I really wanted to dance for a team again and why not try for something crazy like the NFL. This is what led me to meeting Jessica Martin (aka JT) a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars dance team The Roar and owner of JT’s Studio. I went with some friends to an NFL prep class, and boy, was I nervous. I started to slip back into the “type A” perfectionist ways of my past before class started worrying about what these amazing dancers would think of this new girl. Fortunately, I was totally wrong.

The community of dancers was so welcoming, and I was able to feel confident in myself.

Martin started her own studio after trying to find dance classes for adults when she was trying out for The Roar. “ I did not grow up in the dance world and trying to find somewhere to learn everything needed to cheer in the NFL was difficult due to limited classes in the area,” she said. After she made the team, however, she knew she was going to open her own studio and vowed to give back to the community the way they helped her.

The styles of dance that are offered at JT’s Studio are heels, pom, stretching and conditioning, and dance fitness. “With having an adult dance studio, you have to remember that not everyone has the same backgrounds and years of experience,” JT stated.

The community is full of warmth and acceptance when you walk through the doors of the studio and whether you have trained professionally for your entire life or this is your first class, you should completely feel the same.

Adult dance classes have become all the rage recently and are becoming a fun way for people to exercise in a new way. This also allows for everyone to just enjoy what they are doing which is hard to find when working out. I think this is why they are becoming so popular in the world today. Allowing people to do something they loved growing up as an adult without the fear of perfection at every second is what makes it so fun for everyone because sometimes you just have to dance it out!

For more information on adult dance classes at JT’s Studio, check them out

Words by Emily Canon

YOUR NEW PODCAST OF THE SUMMER

Podcasting has been around for awhile, but in the past few years, it has grown a lot in popularity. With podcasts being audio focused, it is an easier medium for the average person to access. But with any popular media, it can be super overwhelming trying to find something authentic with everything that is now out there. This is where finding a few podcasts that speak to you is crucial. Podcasts can be listened to on just about any platform, and there are so many different types out there, spanning countless topics.

Words by Emily Cheyne

Wayne McCarty, one of the hosts of the podcast Florida Men on Florida Man (FMOFM), said the appeal of podcasts is that people want to be a part of a conversation. “It allows people to feel like they are in the room, they’re having these conversations with people,” McCarty commented. Most other media is fully scripted, where podcasts rely on the connection between the hosts, guests and listeners.

Each episode of the FMOFM podcast focuses on Florida’s history while telling the crazy yet true stories that come out of the Sunshine State and is hosted by McCarty and Josh Mills. The podcast was created about six years ago when the two wanted to stay in touch after touring together as a band for 15 years. They cover Florida news, headlines and history all while spending time with each other. They are partnered with the state as the “Official Florida Man Podcast” and have become the largest Florida-themed podcast in the world.

As an avid comedy podcast listener, I can always appreciate when I am able to learn and laugh along with it. Florida truly seems like a different culture at times, and this is a way to learn about it in all its glory. The most recent episode I listened to was about the war between Florida field ants and the slave raider ants, very interesting and odd. So, if you need something new to listen to on your commute to work or long summer days at the beach, I highly recommend this podcast. New episodes can be heard every Wednesday.

THE ART CENTER COOPERATIVE

• “Nifty Over Sixty,” through July 12 tacjacksonville.org

BEACHES MUSEUM

• “Exalted Shores: The Work of Clint Burbridge and Tom Schifnella,” through Sept. 29 beachesmuseum.org

BUTTERFIELD GARAGE ART GALLERY butterfieldgarage.com

THE CORNER GALLERY AT THE JESSIE

• “Sarah Crooks: The Long Way(t) Home,” through Aug. 21 movingthemargins.org

CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS

• Jacksonville’s Norman Studios: Movie Posters from the Permanent Collection, through July 7

• Works on Paper from the Cummer Museum’s Collection, through Sept. 30

• “Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri: Mysteries that Remain,” through Jan. 12 cummermuseum.org

FEMART GALLERY

• “A Beautiful Mind,” through Aug. 31 femartgallery.org

FIRST COAST CULTURAL CENTER

• “Jessica Pinsky: Textile Sculptural Creations,” through July 5 firstcoastculturalcenter.org

GALLERY 725 gallery725.com

GOVERNOR’S HOUSE CULTURAL CENTER AND MUSEUM, ST. AUGUSTINE

• “Painting St. Augustine: Selections from the Samuel H. and Roberta T. Vickers Collection,” ongoing

• “Freedom Is Not Free: Ax Handle Saturday,” virtual exhibition staugustine.ufl.edu

HASKELL GALLERY AT JACKSONVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT jaxairportarts.com

HILLARY WHITAKER GALLERY hwhitakergallery.com

JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY

• ”Bill Davis: No Dark in Sight,” virtual exhibition

• “Kristin Skees: Close Knit,” virtual exhibition ju.edu/cfa

THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM

• “75 for 75: Lightner Museum Diamond Anniversary Exhibition,” ongoing

• “Illuminate: Lightner Museum’s Stained Glass Rediscovered,” ongoing

• “St. Augustine Through the Lens of William Henry Jackson,” ongoing lightnermuseum.org

MOCA JACKSONVILLE

• “Fill My Heart With Hope,” July 27-March 23

• “Project Atrium: Frank Stella,” through July 21

• “Elysa Adams: Voices of Moncrief,” through Sept. 8 mocajacksonville.unf.edu

PASTA FINE ART GALLERY

• Works by David Fain, Pam Geiger, Linda F. Hawkins, Tracy Lavely, Ginny LeJeune, Rafael Pasarell, Marlene Zullig and others pastagalleryart.com

RITZ THEATRE & MUSEUM

• “Lift Ev’ry Voice,” permanent collection ritzjacksonville.com

SOUTHLIGHT GALLERY southlightgallery.com

ST. AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION

• Honors Show, through July 7 staaa.org

STELLERS GALLERY

• Works by Eileen Corse, Jim Draper, MacTruque, Fallon Pepper, C. Ford Riley, Alice Williams, Jeff Foxworthy (yes, that Jeff Foxworthy) and more stellersgallery.com

THRASHER-HORNE CENTER GALLERY

• Works by Thomas H. Nagata, Yamel Molerio and John Gerstner, ongoing thcenter.org

TOUCHÉ GALLERY touchegallery.com

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA unf.edu/gallery

THE VAULT AT 330

• Featured artists include Susan Astleford, Margena Burnett, Ellen Dia mond, Ed Hall, Dolf James, Harry McCormick and Denise Murphy thevaultat1930.com

YELLOW HOUSE

• “Sit in Stand Up,” virtual exhibition

• “Still Not About a Hotdog and a Coke,” virtual exhibition

• “Magic, Mirth, and Mortality: Musings on Black Motherhood,” virtual ex hibition yellowhouseart.org

ONGOING

ART WALK: JULY 3, 10, 17, 24 AND 31

Downtown Jacksonville lights up the first Wednesday of the month with art by local artists at hubs in James Weldon Johnson Park, The Jessie and Vag abond Flea at VyStar Tower from 5–9 p.m. Visitors can also enjoy live music, food trucks, street performers, free admission to MOCA and complimentary rides on JTA’s Skyway. dtjax.org

FERNANDINA BEACH ARTS MARKET: JULY 13 AND 27

Amelia Island’s premier arts and crafts market comes alive the second and fourth Saturday of every month from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. fernandinabeachartsmarket.com

RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET: JULY 6, 13, 20 AND 27

Artists, artisans and makers display their original paintings, jewelry, photo graphs, prints and other handcrafted items every Saturday — rain or shine — from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Riverside Avenue underneath the canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge. riversideartsmarket.com

ST. AUGUSTINE FIRST FRIDAY ARTWALK: JULY 6

On the first Friday of every month (hence the clever name), more than 30 galleries around the Oldest City open their doors from 5–9 p.m. for visitors to browse exhibits and interact with artists. A complimentary trolley service provides transportation between downtown venues. staaa.org

VILANO BEACH ARTISAN MARKET: JULY 20

Part beach party, part arts market, this monthly event includes works by local artists and locally-made products, as well as live music. The market takes place on the third Saturday of every month from 4-8 p.m. on A1A and Vilano Road.

facebook.com/vilanobeachofficial

4TH OF JULY EVENTS

THROWBACK BASEBALL GAME: AN AMERICAN CLASSIC

Klutho Park sparcouncil.org

SHIPYARD SOCIAL: 4TH OF JULY

The USS Orleck eventbrite.com

4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION & FIREWORKS DINNER

Refinery Jax Beach eventbrite.com

4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

Margaritaville eventbrite.com

4TH OF JULY ROOFTOP FIESTA AMERICANA

Estrella Cocina eventbrite.com

ELECTRONIC THURSDAYS PRESENTS: 4TH OF JULY

ALL AMERICAN RAVE

Myth Nightclub mythexperience.com

4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION AT SANDBAR JAX

BEACH

Sandbar Jax Beach eventbrite.com

“MAKE AMERICA SAD AGAIN”-- DUVAL IS FOR LOVERS EMO NIGHT

Underbelly underbellyjax.com

JACKSONVILLE’S 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS CELEBRATION

9 p.m.

• Downtown Jacksonville

• Ray Greene Park (park will be closed for the launch)

• The Avenues Mall

• Trinity Baptist Church

• Ed Austin Regional Park

POP MUSIC IS BACK, BABY!

Words by Kara Carter

Charli XCX released her electropop album titled “Brat” on June 7, and since then it has been a brat summer. The simple album cover with the word “brat”and a green background has taken over the internet with people dubbing anything with similar shades of green as “brat.” People have been making their own shirts with the similar shades of green, snapping pictures of green cars, ordering matcha lattes with the inclination of “brat behavior” the lists go on and on.

The album makes the listener feel like they’re being transported to a club with the first song “360.” The song gives the listener the feeling of walking into a club, scoping out the scene and setting the tone for the night. The second song, “Club Classics,” is an upbeat, fast-paced instant classic that gives the listener the feeling of being in a club, and the DJ isn’t playing the right music, so they just want to take over and get people dancing.

The third song, “Sympathy Is a Knife,” combines the lyrical vulnerability of admitting the jealousy that harbors within yourself with an electronic dance beat. The song also digs into self doubt and what it is like to have fleeting thoughts of self destruction all with the juxtaposition of the hyperpop sound.

The album goes through these peaks and valleys of being emotionally vulnerable with ballads like “So I” that uses autotune as a shield to hide the emotions of losing a friend and reminiscing on how life was with them here. The album steers toward what life is like with a close friend who is gone and what they should do now with the things they left behind in the world.

Charli XCX shares very intimate fears, emotions and issues within her life that many can relate to. The song “I Think About It All the Time” tells a story about visiting a friend who just had a baby and seeing how a friend can change but still be the same person. The beauty of parenthood and how they now have the knowledge of something in life that you don’t, because you don’t have a child. The song also gives the feeling of having the thought of a woman’s biological clock in the back of the mind, the clock on a constant tick. The song battles the choice of having time for a career and having a child.

The album ends with the song “365.” It is a remix of the first song “360,” but it is reversed and put on its head. The song carries the same beat but sped up, and the lyrics are more intense, matching the rhythm. It uses the background phrase “bumpin’ that” from “360,” at the forefront and is one of the main lyrics to the song. The song is a perfect outro for the album, summing up the highs and lows from the album and tying it all together.

The album is rated a 95 by MetaCritic with one reviewer describing the album as “distilled and bottled cool that sings with fully realized potential, the release of inhibitions, the kind of confidence that can only be earned through shame, and the sort of hooks that God touches you with.”

There are other artists that are on remixes of the songs from the album like Lorde, Yung Lean, Robyn and Addison Rae with rumored appearances by Caroline Polachek and Shygirl.

“Brat” has influenced other artists like Camilla Cabello and Katy Perry to take a more grungy, “bratty” approach to their music with their aesthetic and sound with both wearing tattered and torn looking garments and messy hair and eyeliner. Both artists have since used similar electronic sounds along with autotune with their new song releases.

Looks like we are on the cusp of a bratty and iconic pop summer.

Goodbye swipes and hello ‘I Saw You’. FOLIO wants to help YOU connect with that stranger you just cant stop thinking about.

1. write a five-word headline so the person can recognize the moment you two shared.

2. Describe the person (ex. “You: Brunette, blue eyes, tattoos”)

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4. Describe the moment.

5. Meet, fall in love, book the wedding venue.

No more than 40 words. Revive your love life with FOLIO’s I Saw You.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT

DIAMOND SPARKLING IN THE RUST

Where: Diamonds in the rust spring market 2024

First noticed you at the entrance, leaning on the fence, later we locked eyes briefly. Me: Black hoodie and black ball cap backwards. You: Sparkling blue eyes and short beige puffy vest. Wish I asked your name

BEAUTIFUL RED HAIR JESSIE CHIK-FIL-A

Where:Chik-Fil-A Avenue Mall Food Court Gorgeous with long red hair, Jessie, you worked at Chik-Fil-A during the holidays and I’m totally smitten. Went back to give you my number and they told me you’d moved on! If you asked me out on a date, my answer would be YES! Here’s hoping you read the Folio Weekly “I Saw You” section!

RED HEAD OF MY DREAMS

Where: Fuji sushi 3 mandarin

You came in with a group of four other ladies, you were wearing a green dress with a denim jacket and had your hair pulled up. I thought you were absolutely stunning as you passed by my table heading to restroom. I was wearing a polo shirt and jeans with white nikes. I hope our paths cross again

BEAUTIFUL BRUNETTE EAGLES FAN

Where: Phillys Finest Jacksonville Beach

You: Green is absolutely your color. Long brown wavy hair, eagles t-shirt, green eyes, long nails and glasses, you were taking pictures for the bar’s media when I first encountered you. You screamed 90% of the time and I was terrified to approach you after I saw you boo a man in a braves hat and others followed suit. I had the feeling you would fight me if I walked over and that’s the moment I crushed hard but you disappeared. Me: Eagles fan, 6’1, beard, dark hair, eagles hoodie and scared of you in an exciting way that if you are remotely single, I would like to change that. I hope you go there for games because I have to meet you officially.

NEW MUSIC RELEASES

Made For You By Amiyah

Golden

Zac Bryan has millions of fans — and rightfully so. The talented singer, musician and storyteller has given us “Something in the Orange,” “Pink Skies” and “I Remember Everything” featuring Kacey Musgraves.

While Bryan is classified as a country artist, something separates him from the traditional sound of the genre. I won’t hold Bryan under the constraints of labeling, but I would argue he’s a modern-day folk artist.

Bryan’s latest album, “The Great American Bar Scene,” will be sharing festivities with Independence Day, giving fans more to celebrate on the Fourth of July.

The speculation surrounding this album has been brewing for some time now, but Carson’s newest project, “More Chaos,” is expected to be released this month.

With a full track list released and features from Destroy Lonely and Lil Uzi Vert, the Opium-signed artist has fans in full swing to memorize his newest album just in time for his upcoming tour.

I’m personally super ecstatic for this release from the Texas natives. Truly a one of one, the group continues to deliver music that will translate throughout time serving up ballads of love, torture and triumph. Lead singer Greg Gonzalez was blessed with the perfect voice to guide pristine melodies into the ears of listeners.

Remi Wolf is criminally underrated with songs such as “Michael” and “Liz” being what initially drew me into her discography.

The California singer has given fans a glimpse of her latest album, “Big Ideas,” with the early release of the single, “Cinderella.” A groovy, alt-pop sound really shines through Wolf.

“THE GREAT AMERICAN BAR SCENE”

ZACH BRYAN

KEN CARSON

“MORE CHAOS”

“Bags” singer Clairo releases her third studio album this July— her first self-released album under her own label, Clairo Records.

The singer released a single from the project, “Sexy to Someone,” prior to the album’s drop date.

Also this month, South Korea’s BTS artist Jimin will be releasing “MUSE.”

K-pop has a massive stan base, and many are amped up for Jimin’s second solo project with features from artists Sophia Carson and LOCO.

The album will be released July 19 KST (Korean Standard Time).

I squealed when I heard Empire of the Sun was releasing music again. For eight years fans have suffered without new music from the band, but their fourth studio album, “Ask That God,” arrives this month. To aid in the thirst for this new album, the group has given fans a single, “Changes.”

Rapper Ice Spice will be releasing her album, Y2K! this summer.

I’ll reserve my personal feelings for the New York artist due to the anomaly of her success.

Online discourse has revealed mixed emotions toward her debut album with the release of singles, “Gimme A Light,” ‘Think U The Shit (Fart)” and “Phat Butt’ — and honestly, rightfully so. I don’t foresee much longevity for Ice Spice especially with the anticipation of the TikTok ban.

CLAIRO

JIMIN “MUSE”

“Y2K!”

EMPIRE OF THE SUN

“ASK THAT GOD”

“Overcompensate” was the first song they released for the album as a single and let me just say that was the perfect comeback. When I heard the song for the first time I felt like I was 13 again, seeing them at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. It was the perfect mix of nostalgia and curiosity with what was yet to come. The song was released with a music video following the “Trench” storyline.

Along with the release of the album, the duo and their team filmed a music video for every song on the album. There are only a few lore-based videos, but this is how they have done their past albums as well. The band has never been afraid to discuss heavy topics in their music. On the album, “Vignette” references struggles with addiction, while “Next Semester” portrays a failed suicide attempt, and “Routines in the Night” discusses insomnia and its effects. I think a lot of their fans can see themselves portrayed in the music, which makes them feel less alone in their struggles.

The only song that doesn’t have a music video at the moment is “Paladin Strait.” During a live stream, the night of the album’s release, Joseph said the video would be released in June. There are speculations that this video will announce a double album but only time will tell.

Twenty One Pilots knows how to keep their fans interested, even after all these years. They’re a band where you can’t predict what they will do next. I look forward to seeing where they will take us and their music.

GRACE SEYMOUR DANCE FLOOR DELIGHT:

Music is multi-faceted, everchanging, riveting, and intertwined with tales.

It is the one thing that will continue to unify people – whether that’s on the dance floor, through shared interest, or happenstance – it collaborates with the intention to emote; in whatever way invoked by the listener or the artist.

Music stripped to its bare bones goes beyond mere accolades and streams. It is backed by a history of ascendency to consolidate divergence. A moment in time where all mankind crowd together under flashing lights to groove with no disapproval for differences.

With universal tensions prevailing, it is always a sigh of relief to witness newfound unity amongst the community that derives from the lucid spinning of records.

And while the landscape on partying has changed with more phone usage than bodies moving, it doesn’t diminish the anticipated resurgence of real caper; The kind that is led by the DJ of the night that has so carefully curated a soundtrack meant to uplift the vibrations that rise high and to keep it flowing until gas exhausts from the patrons on the floor.

With life – for many these days – feeling monotonous and laborious, the need to just let go feels necessary.

We often take for the granted the indispensable need for the additional moving parts of a good music experience – the DJ – an integral piece to the biorhythm.

I get to sit down and talk to a plethora of artists with many shouting out producers and DJs who have aided them in their journey – cognizance of the paucity of DJ voices struck me. Their own individuality and creative processes often left out of the conversation.

As I’ve recently experimented with the craft in my own time, it has shown me the intricacy of the art and the appreciation it requires. It is frequently suspected that it’s comprised of modulated buttons that do the work but for many DJs that’s the furthest from the actual reality. It needs to come with a vast knowledge about catalogs, beats-per-minute (bpm) and the unrequited love for music (and this is just to be a good DJ.)

My latest hyper-fixation of house music has required me to visit Surfer the Bar in Jacksonville Beach to quench my thirst. With resident DJs that I’ve heard on drunken nights at various establishments who tickle my fancy, it didn’t compare to the set I heard from DJ Grace Seymour on a sober Sunday. With my mouth agape, my hands in the air, and my feet shuffling I knew I was in the right place.

Anyone can play the latest songs from Tik Tok that are ingrained in our memories without consent but to pick archival pieces and transform them into your own brainchild, is a skill unmatched – and that is what local DJ Grace Seymour does so well.

There is a science behind DJing and keeping partygoers on the dance floor.

Artistry drips in an IV bag for Seymour as she is filled to the brim with creativity, not only as a DJ but also as a visual artist and photographer. Her unaltered love for music takes the chore out of DJing and allows a purified flow of expression to transfer from her veins to the audience.

From the DJ booth to face-to-face conversation, Grace is the illustration of radiance. With an aura that is unalloyed and a facility that is thrilling, it makes rooting for her successes so facile.

As a female DJ having to carve her way through adversity and a scene that is male dominated, especially in the Jacksonville area, it caused Seymour to work 10 times harder. Her hunger for approbation made the grind worthwhile.

With the California native taking a chance on Jacksonville, it has paid off with the support that has found her and the name she has made for herself.

“I had graduated at the time and was looking for something different,” said Seymour. “Jacksonville happened to be the place.”

Now considered one of her home bases, Seymour has fostered a wonderful community within the beaches and beyond!

Her skills are unmatched and if you haven’t seen her live and in action you’re missing out. Regardless of your preferred genre, I guarantee Seymour will have you dancing until the dogs come home!

To keep up with Grace and support her art, you can follow her via her Instagram below.

IG: @gracieseymour

FROM THE ARCHIVES

ASIAN NIGHT MARKET IN JACKSONVILLE

Words by Kara Carter

You may have seen lively videos of people roaming the streets of Thailand and Vietnam, specifically at night, eating traditional foods and delicacies like skewers, papaya salad and Vietnamese pancakes. Now this experience is coming to Jacksonville!

The Asian Night Market is held the last weekend of each month on at Asian Square Supermarket on the Westside. The market highlights the various Southeast Asian dishes along with music, dancing, karaoke, a bounce house for the kids and refreshments. The food is made by different vendors from different backgrounds, and it is an exploration of Southeast Asian cuisine.

The food highlights countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines. Glenda, one half of the team behind @Tagalongwithuss, a local food and event page on Instagram and TikTok, said some of her favorite food was the bánh xèo, which is like a Vietnamese crepe with various toppings like bean sprouts, shrimp and pork. The cheesy garlic bread was an unexpected highlight at the market, as well. She also said the homemade sugar cane juice was sweet and refreshing and paired well with the other foods.

Summer break & child hunger: free meal sites for kids and teens around Jacksonville

Words by Mallory Pace

It is estimated that around 30 million U.S. children received free or reduced-price lunch in 2022 through the National School Lunch Program, a federally assisted meal program that has helped millions of children receive nutritionally balanced meals at little to no cost since 1946. In 2022, an estimated 60% of all public school students rely on these meals at school, so when summer break comes around, it’s not always a sense of relief. In Florida, around 55% of children rely on free school lunches, but luckily, with the help from organizations like Summer BreakSpot and No Kid Hungry, hundreds of free meal spots scatter Florida and Jacksonville.

Summer BreakSpot is a federally funded program established to fill the summer hunger gap through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program or Seamless Summer Option. Using their meal finder map found on summerbreakspot.org, you’ll find dozens of locations and their hours offering free breakfast and lunch to kids and teens under eighteen. You can also text the word ‘Food’ or ‘Comida’ to 304-304, or call ‘2-1-1’ to find sites near you. The majority of locations include elementary schools and public libraries across Northeast Florida, including schools and community sites across Duval, St. Johns, Clay County and more.

Menus for each meal at each site in Duval County can also be found on duvalschools.nutrislice.com. Beyond the public schools, here’s a brief list of other locations in Duval County offering free meals from June 10 until August 2.

Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-noon

• Pablo Creek Regional Library, 13295 Beach Blvd.

Monday-Friday, noon-1 p.m.

• Dallas Graham Branch Library, 2304 Myrtle Ave. N.

• University Park Branch Library, 3435 University Blvd. N.

Monday-Friday, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

• Bradham and Brooks Branch Library, 1755 Edgewood Ave. W.

• Regency Square Branch Library, 9900 Regency Square Blvd.

Monday-Friday, 1 - 2 p.m.

• Highlands Regional Library, 1826 Dunn Ave.

• Charles Webb Wesconnett Regional Library, 6887 103rd St.

Free meal sites in St. Johns County can be found at stjohns.k12.fl.us or by texting or calling the previously mentioned numbers. In addition to various elementary and middle schools, other community sites open through July 26 include:

• Solomon Calhoun Recreation Center: Breakfast: (8-9 a.m.); Lunch (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)

• Ketterlinus Gym: Breakfast (8-8:30 a.m.); Lunch (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)

• W. E. Harris Community Center: Breakfast (8-8:30 a.m.); Lunch (11:30 a.m.noon)

• Flagler Estates Community Center: Breakfast (8-8:30 a.m.); Lunch (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)

Roughly 1 in 5 Florida children face hunger, according to Feeding America, so these summer meals are incredibly crucial to many families. Nayshma Jones is a program manager for No Kid Hungry Florida, a national campaign run by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit dedicated to solving problems of hunger and poverty in the U.S. and around the world. Before assuming her role with No Kid Hungry, Jones sat on the other side of the table, working as a public school teacher where she saw first-hand the struggles for students accessing basic necessities for success, like food. With the help and partnership of school districts, nutritional leaders, government organizations and other community-based groups, No Kid Hungry works to lessen the hunger gap both during and after school instructional months on a fiscal level by offering grant opportunities and continuous supportive collaborations with districts in need.

“We’re also a resource provider,” Jones said. “We have a center of best practices where school districts can come in, get information for the particular issue they’re facing at their school and try to implement [a solution] to close that gap for student meals.”

On a national level, No Kid Hungry works year-round as a multi-faceted organization that serves to continue large-scale advocacy for child hunger, looking at family economic mobility, developing research surveys, and being an overall resource for communities and other organizations to come together and address this growing issue. One of their recent studies found that 72% of Floridians report finding it more difficult to afford groceries compared to just a year ago, a number that isn’t limited to low-income families — everyone is feeling the painful friction between rising costs and limping incomes. Because more than half of Florida families share fears and realities of food insecurity, especially in the summertime, Jones emphasized the importance of making families aware of the resources around them.

“What really happens is that a lot of people don’t even know that these services exist,” Jones said. “But once they know about and know how to find it, the next part is ‘how do we get there?’”

Having these services available is only the first part to lessening child hunger, accessibility is another key factor that No Kid Hungry has been working to address, including non-congregate rural summer meals, a newly introduced concept that would allow even more accessibility to free summer meals.

Jones explained that it could look like mobile distribution where food trucks are set up in concentrated areas where a significant amount of families have trouble with transportation. It could also mean being able to pick up one or multiple meals at a time to bring home, rather than making children eat at the food site each meal, which are the typical current rules. She also said there is funding coming from the USDA to these rural districts and “as we continue to feed into that and support that work, we’re going to see even bigger innovations in that area.”

“During the summer, kids are excited that schools are closed, but a lot of these students actually depend on schools for their meals. So then the question comes from parents, ‘how am I going to feed my child over the summer months?’” Jones said. “So you have all of these different issues that are compounding together that are making households food insecure. That’s what we’re really seeing here in Florida.”

It’s not just Florida, though — growing food costs are being felt by families across the nation, forcing them to either spend more on food or purchase less nutritional food options. In the same study by No Kid Hungry, 46% of K-12 public school families said they travel to less convenient grocery stores for more affordable food; 45% said they buy less or pass up entirely on more nutritious options like meat, eggs, and other proteins; and 45% reported buying less or no fresh produce. Participants from that study were asked how their lives would be different if they had an unlimited grocery budget and many reported that they would buy much healthier, cleaner and organic foods for their household; cook at home more; or spend more time with their kids and less time worrying about their budget and financial situation.

Child hunger extends beyond the summertime. Policies on a national and local level should continue to be addressed and improved upon to ensure both a better quality of life for families and the success of our children in school and outside of it. Food is energy for the brain, and without proper nutrition, we put our children at risk, and therefore our entire future.

Overall, Jones urges families and readers to know that there are resources and services at their fingertips to utilize and her hope at the end of the day is that someone is made aware of them so their summer can look that much brighter.

F ew ks Cleanup July

5 th with

Let’s Keep the Beach Clean!

Come out and help maintain the beauty and safety of our beaches.

Volunteers are needed to pick up trash and fireworks debris along the shoreline left behind from the previous night’s Independence Day celebrations.

Jacksonville Beach or Mickler’s Landing 7 AM – 9 AM

Scan the QR Code to register for this event.

A Building Community Event open to the public. Bring your neighbors, friends and family to help make a difference together!

Participants must be at least 18 years old or accompanied by an adult. Please bring your own drinking water and wear closed-toed footwear and sun protection.

Christmas in July is a month-long community-wide campaign to raise funds for activities, experiences and toys for Wolfson Children’s patients. Every year, corporations, civic organizations, groups and individuals — like you — help bring some midyear holiday cheer to the kids who need it most.

You can make Christmas in July a little brighter when you visit ChristmasJuly.com and *virtually* fill Santa’s sleigh by making a donation or shopping our Amazon wish list will make a lasting impact on a child visiting Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

Cajun Crab Juice Seafood & Bar Jax cajuncrabjax.com

Cliff’s Bar & Grill cliffsbarandgrill.com

El Fogón de Munchies facebook.com/elfogonMunchiesBoricuas

Fancy Sushi & Grill Japanese Restaurant fancysushiandgrill.com

Fuji Sushi fujisushi-fl.com

ABBQ abbqmeatdrink.com

Anejo anejococinamexicana.com

Angie’s Subs facebook.com/angiessubs

Aqua Grill aquagrill.net

Azurea at One Ocean azurearestaurant.com

Barbara Jean’s on the Water barbarajeansonthewater.com

Caffe Andiamo caffeandiamo.com

Cantina Louie cantinalouie.com

Coop 303 coop303.com

Eleven South elevensouth.com

Engine 15 Brewing Company engine15.com

European Street Cafe europeanstreet.com

The Fish Company Restaurant and Oyster Bar thefishcojax.com

Flying Iguana Taqueria & Tequila Bar flyingiguana.com

The G.O.A.T. Tapas & Bar thegoatjax.com

GROM facebook.com/Grom904

The Good Place Nutrition facebook.com/thegoodplacenutrition

Grinders American Diner grindersamdiner.com

Lauren’s Jazz, Blues & Seafood facebook.com/laurensseafoodbluesjazz

La Palmerita orderlapalmerita.com

Pupuseria El Paraíso pupuseriaelparaisojax.com

Hawkers eathawkers.com

JJ’s Liberty Bistro jjbistro.com/ponte-vedra

Kamiya 86 kamiya86fl.com

Lone Wolf Co. lonewolfjax.com

Marker 32 marker32.com

Mezzaluna mezzalunajax.com

Mojo Kitchen mojobbq.com/mojo-kitchen

Nona Blue Modern Tavern nonablue.com

North Beach Fish Camp thenorthbeachfishcamp.com

Oaxaca Club theoaxacaclub.com

O-Ku o-kusushi.com

Palm Valley Fish Camp palmvalleyfishcamp.com

Poe’s Tavern poestavern.com

Ragtime Tavern ragtimetavern.com

Safe Harbor Seafood Market and Restaurant safeharbor-seafood.com

Rice + Noodles Korean Restaurant riceandnoodles.net

Seven Wonders Restaurant 7wondersbakery.com

Southern Coast Seafood southerncoastseafood.com

Tabouleh Cafe taboulehcafe.com

Thai & Lao Bistro thaiandlaobistro.com

Salt Life Food Shack saltlifefoodshack.com

Salumeria 104 Atlantic Beach salumeria104.com

Singleton’s Seafood Shack singletonsseafood.com

Sliders Oyster Bar slidersoysterbar.com

Southern Grounds southerngrounds.com

TacoLu tacolu.com

Two Dudes Seafood Restaurant twodudesrestaurant.com

Valley Smoke BBQ valleysmoke.com

Vicious Biscuit viciousbiscuit.com

Bellweather bellwetherjax.com

The Bread and Board thebreadandboard.com

The Brick Coffee House brickcoffeehouse.com

Burrito Gallery burritogallery.com

Cowford Chophouse cowfordchophouse.com

Casa Dora Italian Cafe facebook.com/casadorajax

De Real Ting Cafe facebook.com/derealtingcafe

Berndt Ends BBQ facebook.com/berndtendsbbq

Blue Bamboo Canton Bistro bluebamboojacksonville.com

ChopHouse Thirteen chophouse13.com

Enza’s Italian Restaurant enzas.net

ISO ISO Ramen isoisoramen.com

Julington Creek Fish Camp julingtoncreekfishcamp.com

Bold Birds Nashville Hot Chicken boldbirdshotchicken.com

Buchner’s Bierhall buchnersbierhalle.com

The Butt Hutt Smokehouse butthuttjax.com

Chancho King chanchoking.com

The Dreamette dreametteicecream.com

Estrella Cocina estrellajax.com

The Happy Grilled Cheese thehappygrilledchees.wixsite.com/grilledcheese

Indochine indochinejax.com

Juliette’s Bistro at Marriott Jacksonville Downtown marriott.com

Morton’s The Steakhouse mortons.com

Ocean Street Tacos oceanstreettacos.com

Kazu Japanese Restaurant kazujapaneserestaurant.com

Le Petit Paris French Cafe lepetitparisjax.com

Mandola’s Italian Kitchen mandolas.com

Masala Indian Cuisine jaxmasala.com

One Night Taco Stand onenightjax.com

Nudo Vietnam Cuisine nudoinjax.com

El Jefe Tex Mex eljefejax.com

Fired Up Pizza woodfireduppizza.com

La Cena Ristorante No website. Google it!

Maple Street Biscuit Company maplestreetbiscuits.com/murray-hill

Moon River Pizza moonriverpizza.net

On The Fly Sandwiches & Stuff (food truck) ontheflyjax.com

The River Club jaxriverclub.com

Spliff’s Gastropub spliffsgastropub.com

Super Food & Brew superfoodandbrew.com

Sweet Pete’s sweetpetescandy.com

Tavern at the Hyatt Regency hyatt.com

Picasso’s Pizzeria jaxpicassos.wixsite.com/jaxpicassos

Rosy’s Restaurant rosys-restaurant.business.site

Salento Steakhouse salentosteakhouse.com

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe tazikis.com

Umami Japanese Curry & Ramen umamijax.com

Wicked Barley Brewing Company wickedbarley.com

Murray Hillbilly murrayhillbilly.com

Solazo Taqueria solazofl.business.site

The Stout Snug thestoutsnug.com

Vagabond Coffee Co. vagabondcoffee.com

The Walrus thewalrusjax.com

Epik epikeats.com

Fuji Yama fujiyamajax.com

Galaxy Burger galaxyburgersjax.com

Green Papaya Pan Asian Cuisine greenpapayaus.com

Joseph’s Pizza josephspizza.com/northside-full-menu

13 Gypsies 13gypsies.com

904 Tacos facebook.com/904tacosfivepoints

Ale Pie House alepiehousefl.com

Arepa Please arepaplease.com

Bagel Love bagel-love.ueniweb.com

Biggie’s Pizza biggiespizzajax.com

Biscottis biscottis.net

The Blue Fish Restaurant & Oyster Bar bluefishjax.com

Blue Buddha bluebuddhaspecialty.com

Blue Orchid Thai Cuisine blueorchidthai.com

Bold Bean boldbeancoffee.com

Brew Five Points brewfivepoints.co

Carolina Jax carolinajax.com

Carmines Pie House carminespiehouse.com

Cool Moose Cafe coolmoosecafe.net

The Jungle Bowl facebook.com/thejunglebowl

Junior’s Seafood Restaurant juniorsseafoodrestaurant.com/north-jacksonville

Masala Mantra masalamantrajax.com

Nagasaki Japanese Restaurant nagasakisushirestaurant.com

New Berlin Fish House & Oyster Bar newberlinfishhouse.com

Corner Taco cornertaco.com

Cuisine 76 & Bar cuisine76andbar.com

European Street Cafe europeanstreet.com

The Fox Restaurant facebook.com/thefoxrestaurant

The Greenhouse and Bar thegreenhousebar.com

Hawkers eathawkers.com

Homespun Kitchen homespunkitchen.com

Iguana on Park iguanaonpark.com

Josephine josephineavondale.com

Kickbacks Gastropub kickbacksgastropub.com

Kingmaker Brewing kingmakerbrewing.com

MOJO No. 4 Urban BBQ & Whiskey Bar mojobbq.com/mojo-no-4

The Mossfire Grill mossfire.com

Nacho Taco nachotaco.net

Pattaya Thai Grill pattayathaijax.com

Ship 2 Shore Seafood & Steak ship2shoreseafood.com

Sushi Zen Jax sushizenfl.kwickmenu.com

Terry’s Grill facebook.com/terrysgrill

Pizza Cave facebook.com/pizzacave5pts

Restaurant Orsay restaurantorsay.com

River & Post riverandpostjax.com

Sake House sakehousejax.com

Southern Grounds southerngrounds.com

S & R Dim Sum srdimsumjax.com

Sushi Cafe sushicafejax.com

Sweet Theory Baking Company sweettheorybakingco.com

Taqueria Cinco taqueria5points.com

1937 1937sanmarco.com

Bar Molino barmolino.com

bb’s bbsrestaurant.com

The Bearded Pig thebeardedpigbbq.com

Bistro X Restaurant and Lounge bistrox.com

Chart House chart-house.com

European Street Cafe europeanstreet.com

Fla. Juice and Bowl flajuiceandbowl.com

1748 Bakehouse 1748bakehouse.com

Caribbean Sunrise Bakery & Restaurant caribbeansunrisebakery.com

Crispy’s Springfield Gallery facebook.com/CrispysSpringfieldGallery

Flavva flavvajacksonville.com

Island Tropics Restaurant facebook.com/Island-Tropics-Restaurant-Lounge

III Forks 3forks.com/location/jacksonville

4 Rivers Smokehouse 4rsmokehouse.com

Amazing Thai Restaurant amazingthaijax.com

Bazille at Nordstrom nordstrom.com

Blaze Pizza blazepizza.com

Catullo’s Italian catullos.hrpos.heartland.us/menu

Culhane’s Irish Pub culhanesirishpub.com

Flavors of Thai flavors-of-thai.business.site

Fuji Sushi jacksonvillefujisushi.com

The Local thelocaljax.com

Matthew’s Restaurant matthewsrestaurant.com

The Metro Diner metrodiner.com

Oceana oceana.restaurant

The Olive Tree Mediterranean Grille theolivetreemediterraneangrille.com

Peterbrooke peterbrooke.com/pages/san-marco

Tha Soulfood Smagicians facebook.com/thasmagicians

The Dreamette dreametteicecream.com

The District thedistrictspr.com

Hola Mexican Restaurant holajax.com

Indulgence Southern Bistro indulgencesouthernbistro.com

The French Pantry thefrenchpantryfl.com

Fresh Mex & Co. freshmexjax.com

Galaxy Burger galaxyburgersjax.com

Just Jerk justjerkbbq1.com

Marianas Grinds facebook.com/marianasgrinds

Mr. Potato Spread mrpotatospread.com

Midtown Table midtowntable.medurebrothers.com

Pink Salt Restaurant + Wine Bar pinksaltrestaurant.com

Rue Saint-Marc ruesaintmarc.com

Sake House 2 sakehousejax2.com

Southern Grounds southerngrounds.com

Taverna taverna.restaurant

Town Hall townhalljax.com

V Pizza vpizza.com

Social Grounds Coffee Roasters social-grounds-coffee.myshopify.com

Strings Sport Brewery stringssportsbrewery.com

Silkie’s Chicken & Champagne Bar meetatsilkies.com

Uptown Kitchen and Bar uptownkitchenjax.com

Waafa and Mike’s Cafe facebook.com/waafaandmikes

Norikase norikase.com

Prati Italia pratiitalia.com

Purple Roots purplerootsjacksonville.com

Seasons 52 seasons52.com

Sweet Mama’s Southern Homestyle Cooking sweetmamasjacksonville.com

Taste of Thai tasteofthaijax.com

Texas de Brazil texasdebrazil.com

Ahadu Ethiopian Restaurant ahadu-ethiopian-restaurant.business.site

Banana Leaf Asian Bistro facebook.com/bananaleafasianbistro

Cross Creek Steakhouse and Ribs crosscreeksteakhouse.com

Ellianos Coffee ellianos.com

The Juicy Crab thejuicycrabjax.com

La Perla Mexican Restaurant orderlaperlamexicanrestaurant.com

La Catrina Tacos & Tequila Bar lacatrinalovers.com

OP Fish House & Oyster Bar opfishhouse.com

El Palermo Puerto Rican Kitchen palermopuertoricankitchen.com

Whitey’s Fish Camp whiteysfishcamp.com

Holey Moley Bagel Bar NYC facebook.com/HoleyMoleyBagelBar

Vito’s Pizza vitosorangepark.com

El Pegao Restaurant facebook.com/eloegaorestaurant

Corky Bell’s Seafood & Steaks corkybellsseafood.com

1928 Cuban Bistro-Fleming Island 1928cubanistro.com

Black Creek Cafe black-creek-cafe-middleburg.com

Two Sisters and A Deviled Crab 2sistersjax.com

Legacy Restaurant & Bar instagram.com/legacyloungejax

Mackey’s Munchies mackeysmunchies.com

King Kabob eatkingkabob.com

Lewey’s Seafood and Wings leweys-seafood-wings.business.site

Mesa mesajax.com

The Metro Diner metrodiner.com

The Potter’s House Soul Food and Bistro thesoulfoodbistro.com

Puerto Plata Restaurant puertoplatarestaurant.com

Sushi Bear sushibearjax.com

Mr. Potato Spread mrpotatospread.com

Nicole’s on the river facebook.com/p/Nicoles-on-the-River-Cafe-Catering.com

Akaya Grill & Sushi Restaurant akayaonline.com

Ten Zushi tenzushionline.com

Trent’s Seafood jltrents.com

BITE

CELEBRATING CARIBBEAN MONTH: EXPLORING CARIBBEAN

CUISINE IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA

Words by Angelica Santini Hernandez

Caribbean American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich cultural contributions and vibrant culinary traditions of the Caribbean. Jacksonville, Florida, with its diverse population, offers an array of restaurants that showcase the flavors of the Caribbean islands. From spicy jerk chicken to savory curries, these eateries provide a delicious escape to the tropics. Here are some top spots to savor Caribbean cuisine around Jacksonville. 1

1 2

Caribbean Sunrise Bakery & Restaurant

Located on Arlington Road, Caribbean Sunrise Bakery & Restaurant brings the taste of Jamaica to Jacksonville. Known for its authentic Jamaican dishes, this restaurant offers a variety of favorites such as jerk chicken, oxtail and curry goat. The bakery section also features traditional Jamaican patties and sweet treats like rum cake. The cozy atmosphere and friendly service make it a local favorite. My personal favorite being their jerk wings which offer the bold and spicy flavors of Caribbean cuisine. Each wing is meticulously marinated in a robust blend of Jamaican jerk spices, including scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, and thyme, resulting in a tantalizing heat that builds with every bite.

El Palermo

Restaurant El Palermo Puerto Rican Kitchen brings the vibrant flavors of Puerto Rican cuisine to Orange Park, Florida, offering a delicious fusion of traditional dishes and island-inspired flavors. Nestled in a lively corner of the city, El Palermo Puerto Rican Kitchen welcomes diners with its casual yet inviting atmosphere, where tropical vibes and warm hospitality create a welcoming dining experience. The menu boasts a variety of Puerto Rican favorites, such as my personal favorites like pernil (roast pork) seasoned to perfection, mofongo (mashed plantains) served with your choice of savory meats or seafood, and arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas). Each dish is crafted with care, showcasing authentic Puerto Rican ingredients and culinary techniques that capture the essence of the Caribbean. Whether you’re indulging in a classic Puerto Rican dish or discovering a new favorite, El Palermo Puerto Rican Kitchen promises a flavorful journey through the vibrant tastes of Puerto Rico right here in Orange Park, Jacksonville.

2

3

3

Island Spice Grill

5

it’s the closest thing I can find to home. The vibrant atmosphere and warm hospitality make it a favorite spot for both locals and visitors looking to savor the flavors of the Caribbean. Whether you’re craving a comforting bowl of arroz con pollo or exploring new flavors like chicharrón de pollo, La Gran Parada Dominican Restaurant promises a culinary journey that celebrates the rich culinary heritage of the Dominican Republic right in the heart of Jacksonville.

Island Spice Grill, located in Jacksonville, Florida, may not be your typical sit-down restaurant, but it promises an exceptional culinary experience on wheels. This Caribbean food truck stands out not only for its vibrant island flavors but also for its commitment to excellent customer service. Whether you’re in the mood for their amazing handcrafted drinks like their Mango Passion fruit pineapple which is my favorite or their Watermelon lime and Jamaican Rum Punch there are always options to choose from. Now talking about food, my personal favorite has to be their Lobster Mac and Cheese which offers a huge deep fried lobster on top of your mac and cheese making this a truly filling dish. The food truck setting adds a touch of novelty and excitement, making it a must-try for anyone seeking a delicious taste of the Caribbean in Jacksonville.

4

La Gran Parada Dominican Restaurant

In Jacksonville, Florida, one standout Dominican restaurant that captures the essence of Dominican cuisine is La Gran Parada Dominicana Restaurant. La Gran Parada offers an authentic taste of the Dominican Republic with a menu rich in traditional flavors and dishes. My personal favorite has always been their Mangu, which is mashed plantain, fried egg, fried onions, queso fresco frito, and salami frito. It reminds me of my grandma’s dish growing up and

4

5

Flavorikan

Flavorikan is a newly opened restaurant in the Jacksonville area, bringing us the delicious flavors and taste from Puerto Rico. This restaurant started as a food truck and continued to grow into more. The ambiance is warm and inviting, making it a perfect spot for both casual dining and special occasions. If you are from Puerto Rico and want to find a place close to home, this is definitely the place to go to. With a commitment to using fresh, high-quality ingredients, Flavorikan has quickly become a favorite among food enthusiasts in Jacksonville, offering an unforgettable dining experience. My favorite dish has to be their pinchos and chuleta kan kan.

Conclusion

Caribbean restaurants in Jacksonville highlight the rich culinary traditions of the Caribbean islands with a delicious assortment of flavors. Whether you’re craving sweet desserts, savory curries, or fiery jerk chicken, arroz con pollo, or mofongo these restaurants offer a flavor of the tropics in the northern part of Florida. Celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month by exploring these fantastic dining spots and savoring the diverse and vibrant cuisine they offer. As a Latina, I feel incredibly proud to see more Caribbean food establishments thriving in Jacksonville, Florida. It’s heartening to witness our community’s culinary diversity expand, enriching the city with authentic Caribbean flavors and traditions.

It’s officially summertime. And what else screams summertime other than a nice hot glizzy? Maybe wrapped in tinfoil, cooked over a grill or boiled? Even if you claim you dont like hotdogs, you still kind of like hotdogs. It’s un-American to feel otherwise. Every time we unwrap a nice glizzy, I feel like I hear a bald eagle screeching in the background. caw caw

3.5/5

4/5

ORANGE TREE HOTDOG HUT

We would be doing you a disservice if we didn’t first head over to the “Best of Jax” Best Hot Dog winner, Hotdog Hut. Located in Jacksonville Beach, this specialty hot dog restaurant is a staple to the glizzy eating community.

We won’t bore you with all the details but we will say, we ordered a jumbo hot dog that ended up being the size of a regular hot dog – just a bit fatter. And the perfectly seasoned dog distracted us from the dry bun. You truly can’t win ‘em all.

I feel like every daughter has a distinct memory of going to an Orange Tree with her dad growing up, right? No? Just us? Well, that is something you need to unpack with your father. What you should also unpack is all the juiciness that is an Orange Tree hotdog.

Now if you are anything like us, you like your hotdog a little… smushy? I dont know if that’s the right word to use, but if you know, you know. Sometimes it’s nice when the bun feels like it’s been inside of someone’s pocket for a few hours – in a good way. The dog itself was a bit underwhelming, plain and boiled but boy was the bun-to-dog ratio amazing.

The only downside to Orange Tree is they only offer one size of glizzy, and we know that size “doesn’t matter,” but in this case, it does.

DOG: 4/5

BUN: 2/5

BUN TO DOG RATIO: 3/5 OVERALL: 3.5/5

DOG: 3/5

BUN: 4/5

BUN TO DOG RATIO: 5/5

OVERALL: 4/5

4.5/5

ALL AMERICAN HOTDOGS & SANDWICHES

If Stan Smith from “American Dad” were real, he would definitely be a regular at All American Hotdogs & Sandwiches. And honestly, after eating their touched-by-God hotdog, so will we.

We thought Orange tree had the best bun, but after having All American’s classic hotdog, but boy, were we proved wrong. Imagine a piece of Texas Toast, got it? Now imagine that wrapped around a perfectly grilled hotdog. Are you picking up what we are putting down? This is the hotdog that dads strive for every fourth of July.

And for you lazy f***s (us) they have a drive-thru! It’s truly the American dream.

5/5

LAZY DAYS HOTDOG

CART (MUSTARD AND ONIONS ON FB)

We knew this would happen, and we tried to warn you. There is simply no dog better than a Lazy Days hotdog. It is the type of hotdog that you dream about. The type of hotdog where you are already planning your next visit before you’ve taken the last bite. Not to mention – these bad boys are handed over wrapped in tin foil so you know that you are about to experience a true Chicago hotdog.

You’ll find the perfect hotdog on the corner of N Laura St and W Forsyth St. The dog is freshly boiled and steamed, achieving a tender outer layer with a juicy center. The bun is soft and pillowy (smushy, in Carmen’s terms) and the way she dresses the dogs is like no other. The harmony of everything included brings tears to our eyes. Truly.

DOG: 3/5

BUN: 5/5

BUN TO DOG RATIO: 5/5

OVERALL: 4.5/5

DOG: 5/5

BUN: 5/5

BUN TO DOG RATIO: 5/5

OVERALL: 5/5

1

La Catrina Tacos

& Tequila

Bar

A CULINARY JOURNEY

AND GOOD EATS: MY PICKS FOR THE TOP RESTAURANTS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA

Words & photos by Angelica Santini Hernandez

Northeast Florida is a hidden gem on the culinary map of the United States. Over time, our dining options have grown considerably along with our population and diversity to better reflect our vibrant community. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, the restaurant scene offers a delightful lineup of flavors and experiences. Here are some of my top restaurants that I have been able to go-to and enjoy over the years.

Middleburg’s La Catrina Tacos & Tequila Bar offers an authentic Mexican dining experience that is well worth the short drive. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and delicious cuisine, La Catrina features a menu packed with traditional Mexican favorites such as street tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, burritos and more. The extensive tequila and margarita selection adds to the festive vibe, making it a great spot for a fun night out or a festive meal with family and friends. The incredible staff are known for their friendliness and attentiveness, ensuring every guest feels welcomed and well cared for. Don’t miss their signature dishes like the Quesa Birria Tacos, Molcajete and the secret menu Camarones Texanos, which have become local favorites and even my own favorites. lacatrinalovers.com

Tulua Bistro

Tulua Bistro offers a dynamic dining experience with two distinct locations — Jacksonville Beach and Springfield. Both locations are celebrated for their bright, inviting ambiance accented by vibrant murals. This laidback yet lively environment perfectly complements their diverse menu, featuring items like breakfast best sellers like charcuterie boards, croissant sandwiches, and Strawberry Nutella Dream Belgian Waffles, alongside all-day mimosa specials and an impressive fan favorite 64-ounce Bloody Mary. Both locations emphasize from-scratch brunch fare, including popular breakfast charcuterie boards and bottomless mimosas, making Tulua Bistro a perfect spot for brunch enthusiasts and those seeking a vibrant dining atmosphere in Jacksonville . With all their options, it’s hard for me to pick a favorite dish so to make it easy I would say their Chef’s Choice Charcuterie board never fails me. It tends to have their amazing sausage bombs, crab cake benedicts, acai bowl, chicken and waffles, scrambled eggs, and more. tuluabistro.com

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3

Koushinryou

Koushinryou Japanese Curry and Sando offers a unique and inviting dining experience with a focus on Japanese curry dishes and sandos. This cozy spot is known for its friendly service and vibrant atmosphere. The restaurant specializes in a variety of curries, including Katsu Curry and Thai Red Curry Katsu, as well as Japanese sandos like the Chicken Katsu Sando and the Egg Salad Sando. The ambiance is casual and welcoming, perfect for enjoying a hearty meal. Koushinryou is particularly famous for its desserts, especially the Strawberry Ube Cream Sando. In addition to their delicious food, they offer a selection of refreshing drinks to complement your meal. The restaurant is also known for its high-quality customer service and clean, well-maintained environment, making it a favorite among locals and visitors.

koushinryou.com

Indochine

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5 RH Rooftop

Indochine in Downtown Jacksonville brings the vibrant flavors of Southeast Asia to life through its authentic Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. The chic, modern interior provides a stylish backdrop for a flavorful dining experience where dishes like aromatic Pho, beloved for its complex broth and tender meats, and classic Pad Thai, a essential Thai street food combining stir-fried rice noodles with eggs, tofu or shrimp, and a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, take center stage. My personal favorite is their Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup that’s a symphony of savory, fragrant, and comforting flavors. Savor a range of curries, each exhibiting the richness and legacy of Thai food, from the creamy Massaman to the fiery Green. Whether you’re looking to explore the rich spices of Southeast Asia or just want to curl up with a bowl of Pho during a rainy day, Indochine promises to take you on a culinary and cultural voyage that will transport you to traditional Southeast Asian food. indochinejax.com

Located on the third story of RH Jacksonville, an impressive 70,000-square-foot design gallery situated in the St. Johns Town Center, is the luxurious RH Rooftop Restaurant. This sophisticated location offers both indoor and outdoor sitting with beautiful greenery, marble surfaces, and sparkling chandeliers unlike anywhere else in Jacksonville. The restaurant offers classic American fare in addition to a carefully chosen menu of exquisite wines and craft brews. Known for its elegant and refined ambiance, RH Rooftop Restaurant is ideal for special events or a classy eating encounter. A glass-and-steel atrium and outdoor terraces that offer stunning views of the surroundings improve the atmosphere. My absolute favorite is their ribeye steak paired with crispy sweet potato fries and their irresistible specialty sauce: It’s perfection.

rh.com/us/en/jacksonville/restaurant

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7The Bearded Pig

6 V Pizza

V Pizza is celebrated for its authentic Neapolitan-style pizza baked in imported Italian brick ovens, ensuring a crispy crust for its fresh, flavorful toppings. The restaurant is a great place for both informal get-togethers and family celebrations because of its warm and lively ambience. It has multiple locations in Jacksonville, including San Marco, Mandarin and Fleming Island. All of which feature live music, trivia nights and a kind, attentive staff. The menu offers a selection of pizza and wings. The Margherita Classico, which combines fresh basil, bufala mozzarella, and San Marzano tomatoes, is my particular favorite. A large variety of Italian wines and craft beers are available on the drink menu, which elevates the whole eating experience making V Pizza a must try. vpizza.com

Barbecue enthusiasts like my father and I will find their haven at The Bearded Pig in San Marco. This BBQ joint serves up mouthwatering smoked meats and classic Southern sides that make it a true BBQ-lover’s dream. From tender brisket to juicy ribs, every bite is a testament to their expertise in slow-cooked perfection. The laid-back outdoor seating area provides the perfect setting for enjoying a cold beer and a meal with friends and family. This is my go-to spot on a Sunday evening, where I always indulge in their irresistible smoked brisket sandwich piled high with tangy barbecue sauce and served alongside creamy macaroni and cheese. It’s a meal that satisfies both the craving for great barbecue and the desire for a relaxing end to the weekend.

thebeardedpigbbq.com

8Johnny Angel’s Diner

Surrounded by other incredible restaurants in St. Johns, this little secret spot is such a great hidden gem, bringing the 1950s vibes back with its decor, atmosphere and food. Open since 2008, their signature burgers, house chili and milkshakes are must tries. Locally owned and operated, dinners quickly become regulars, especially because of their great customer service.

For this hidden gem, my favorites have to be The Comet Burger and The ThunderBird breakfast sandwich. And don’t forget about their strawberry and cheesecake milkshake to end the trip with a sweet treat.

johnnyangelsdiner.com

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Dockside Seafood Restaurant Jax Beach

Located along the picturesque St. Johns River, the restaurant provides guests with stunning views of the water and passing boats. The interior boasts a casual, nautical theme with maritime décor, wooden furnishings, and large windows that allow natural light to flood the space. Outdoor seating is available on a spacious deck, perfect for enjoying the Florida sunshine and cool river breezes. There’s also a selection of non-seafood options, including steaks, chicken, and vegetarian dishes, ensuring something for every palate. The bar at Dockside Seafood Restaurant serves a wide range of beverages, including craft beers, fine wines, and signature cocktails. Whether you’re looking for a casual lunch, a romantic dinner, or a fun evening with friends, Dockside Seafood Restaurant provides a memorable dining experience with its delicious food, friendly service, and beautiful waterfront setting. Pro tip: I love seafood and always go for the three-way combo.

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Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop and Restaurant

Lastly, for a sweet ending to your culinary adventure, Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop and Restaurant in Downtown is a whimsical delight. This massive candy mansion offers a full dining menu alongside its vast array of handmade candies and chocolates. The playful, colorful decor and the delicious treats make it a perfect spot for families and anyone with a sweet tooth, which is my perfect spot after a big dinner, since I always need a sweet treat. My favorite indulgence at Sweet Pete’s is their signature Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart. This exquisite dessert features a buttery tart shell filled with rich, chocolate ganache infused with hints of sea salt, perfectly balanced with a layer of smooth caramel. sweetpetescandy.com

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ARLINGTON

Cliff’s Bar and Grill cliffsbarandgrill.com

Club Heaven clubheavenjax.com

BEACHES/PONTE VEDRA

Blue Jay Listening Room bluejayjax.com

The Brix Taphouse jacksonvillebeachbar.com

Casa Marina casamarinahotel.com

Culhane’s culhanesirishpub.com

Flask & Cannon facebook.com/flaskandcannon

Fly’s Tie Irish Pub facebook.com/flystieirishpub

Green Room Brewing greenroombrewing.com

Grey Matter Distillery greymatterdistillery.com

Gusto gustojax.com

Hoptinger Bier Garden + Sausage House hoptinger.com

Ink Factory Brewing inkfactorybrewing.com

NIGHTLIFE

Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com

Jax Beach Kava Bar kavajacksonville.com

Jekyll Brewing jekyllbrewing.com

Julep Palm Valley facebook.com/juleppalmvalley

Lemon Bar & Grille lemonbarjax.com

Lynch’s Irish Pub lynchsirishpub.com

Mango’s mangosjaxbeach.com

Mavi’s Waterfront Bar & Grill mavijax.com

Monkey’s Uncle Tavern monkeysuncletavern.com

Palm Valley Outdoors Bar and Grill palmvalleyoutdoors.com

Penthouse Lounge at Casa Marina Hotel casamarinahotel.com

Ragtime Tavern ragtimetavern.com

Refinery Jax Beach refineryjaxbeach.com

Reve Brewing revebrewing.com

The Ritz Lounge theritzlounge.com

The Shim Sham Room shimshamroom.com

Southern Swells Brewing Company southernswells.com

Surfer The Bar surferthebar.com

Voo Swar Restaurant & Lounge instagram.com/vooswar

DOWNTOWN

The Bier Hall at Intuition Ale Works intuitionaleworks.com/bierhall

Bold City Brewery boldcitybrewery.com

De Real Ting Cafe facebook.com/derealtingcafe

Dos Gatos dosgatosjax.com

Element Bistro Bar & Lounge elementjax.com

Hardwicks hardwicksbarjax.com

Intuition Aleworks intuitionaleworks.com

Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com

Justice Pub facebook.com/thejusticepub

The Lark thelarkjax.com

Live Bar facebook.com/livebarclubjax

Manifest Distilling manifestdistilling.com

Ocean Street Tequila instagram.com/oceanstreettacosandtequila

The RL Lounge therlloungejax.com

Ruby Beach Brewing rubybeachbrewing.com

Underbelly underbellyjax.com

The Volstead thevolsteadjax.com

FLEMING ISLAND

Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com/fleming-island

Mercury Moon facebook.com/mercury-moon

Mr. Chubby’s Wings mrchubbyswings.com

Sunset Tiki Bar the-sunset-tiki-bar.business.site

Whitey’s Fish Camp whiteysfishcamp.com

INTRACOASTAL WEST 9 Zero Pour 9zeropour.com

MVP’s Sports Grille facebook.com/mvpssportsgrille

The Spot Hookah Lounge thespothookahloungejax.com

Time Out Sports Grill timeoutsportsgrill.com

MANDARIN/JULINGTON CREEK/ FRUIT COVE

2nd Bay Brewing 2ndbaybrewing.com

Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

Iggy’s Grill and Bar facebook.com/iggysgrill

Kava & Company kavaandcompany.com

Legacy Ale Works legacyaleworks.com

Monkey’s Uncle Tavern facebook.com/monkeysunclemandarin1

Rack’em Up Sports Bar facebook.com/rackemupsportsbar

Time Out Sports Grill timeoutsportsgrill.com

MURRAY HILL Axe Champs axechamps.com

Buchner’s Bierhalle buchnersbierhalle.com

The Boot Rack Saloon boot-rack-saloon.business.site

Fishweir Brewing Company fishweirbrewing.com

The Flamingo theflamingojax.com

Perfect Rack Billiards perfectrackbilliards.com

Silver Cow silvercowjax.com

The Stout Snug thestoutsnug.com

The Walrus thewalrusjax.com

NORTHSIDE Coppertop Bar and Restaurant coppertopbarandrestaurant.com

Four Fathers Distillery fourfathersdistillery.com

OCTOBER

ORANGE PARK/MIDDLEBURG

57 Heaven facebook.com/57heavenop

Big Dawgs Sports Restaurant bigdawgsrestaurant.com

Cheers Park Avenue cheersparkave.com

The Daq Shack thedaqshack904.com

Dee’s Music Bar and Grill facebook.com/musicbarandgrill

The Fresh Spot Lounge thefreshspotlounge.com

LeaderBoard Arcade leaderboardarcade.com

Locals Pub localspub.co

Nakama Anime Bar nakamabar.com

Park Avenue Billiards parkavenuebilliards.com

Pinglehead Brewing Company pinglehead.com

Southern Social Whiskey Bar & Lounge southernsocialbar.com

RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE Birdies facebook.com/birdiesfivepoints

Bold City Brewery boldcitybrewery.com

Brick Restaurant brickofavondale.com

Burlock & Barrel burlockandbarrel.com

Casbah Cafe thecasbahcafe.com

Dart Bar & Games facebook.com/dartbarjax

Eclipse Bar & Nightclub facebook.com/eclipsebarjax

The Garage garagejax.com

The Green House thegreenhousebar.com

Hoptinger Bier Garden + Sausage House hoptinger.com

Incahoots incahootsnightclub.com

Kanine Social Taproom kaninesocial.com

Keg & Coin kegandcoinjax.com

Kingmaker Brewing kingmakerbrewing.com

Lemonstreet Brewing Company lemonstreetbrewing.com

The Loft loftjax.com

Mickie’s Irish Pub facebook.com/mickiesjax

Myrtle Avenue Brewing facebook.com/myrtleavebrewing

Park Place Lounge park-place-lounge.business.site

Rain Dogs instagram.com/raindogs5points

River & Post riverandpostjax.com

Riverside Liquors riversideliquors.biz

Rogue Bar facebook.com/rogue.bar.1

Root Down facebook.com/rootdownjax

Shores Liquor and Bar instagram.com/shoresliquoravondale

Wildcrafters facebook.com/wildcraftersjax

SAN MARCO/ST. NICHOLAS

1937 Spirits & Eatery 1937sanmarco.com

Aardwolf Brewing Company aardwolfbrewing.com

Bar Molino barmolino.com

Breezy Jazz House breezyjazzhouse.com

Cuba Libre Ultra Lounge cubalibrebar.com

Fore Score Golf Tavern forescoregolf.com

The Grape & Grain Exchange grapeandgrainexchange.com

Kava & Company kavaandcompany.com

The Mudville Grill themudvillegrill.com

The Players Grille playersgrille.com

Posting House posting.house

Sidecar instagram.com/sidecarjax

SOUTHSIDE/ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER Austin Karaoke facebook.com/austinkaraoke

Bottlenose Brewing bottlenosebrewing.com

Cataluna Jax catalunajax.com

Culhane’s culhanesirishpub.com

Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com

Jax Craft Beer jaxcraftbeer.com

Medusa Restaurant and Hookah Lounge facebook.com/medusa-loungejacksonville

Secret Tiki Temple secrettikitemple.com

Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery 7bridgesgrille.com

Trio Lounge triohookahlounge.com

Veterans United Craft Brewery vubrew.com

Wicked Barley Brewing Company wickedbarley.com

WXYZ Bar at Aloft Hotel aloftjacksonvilletapestrypark.com

SPRINGFIELD

Crispy’s Springfield Gallery crispysspringfieldgallery.com

The District thedistrictspr.com

Historically Hoppy Brewing Company historicallyhoppy.com

Shantytown Pub facebook.com/shantytownjax

Strings Sports Brewery stringssportsbrewery.com

Stumpy’s Hatchet House stumpyshh.com

ST. AUGUSTINE

Ancient City Brewing ancientcitybrewing.com

Arnold’s Lounge arnoldslounge.com

Beacon Listening Room beaconstaug.com

Cellar Upstairs Bar at San Sebastian Winery sansebastianwinery.com

Dog Rose Brewing dogrosebrewing.com

The Original Café Eleven originalcafe11.com

Prohibition Kitchen pkstaug.com

Tradewinds Lounge tradewindslounge.com

WESTSIDE

Elevation Lounge elevationjax.com

Lillian’s lillianssportsgrill.com

The Phoenix Bar & Bowling facebook.com/thephoenixjax

“Southern Decadence”

Lizi Lively