Folio Vol. 37, Issue 14

pg. 22 discovering the soul of soulhood saga

LETTER

Taking a shot on yourself can be scary; it can also be exhilarating, exhausting and sometimes end up in disappointment, but it can also be a catalyst that changes your life forever.

Lin Manuel Miranda famously penned his anthem for “Hamilton” about not throwing away his shot:

“I am not throwing away my shot I am not throwing away my shot Hey yo, I’m just like my country I’m young, scrappy and hungry And I’m not throwing away my shot”

Or maybe you relate more to Lizzo, whose certainly not afraid to shoot her shot (ex. Chris Evans).

“So you can tell your friend, ‘shoot your shot’ when you see ‘em It’s OK, he already in my DM”

In this issue we introduce you to locals who have taken their shot and won big. We hope you find them just as inspiring as we do.

And take the chance; you just might win big, too.

From the Publisher Angela

PGA TOUR VS. LIV GOLF

Two Worlds Collide

Words by Carson Rich

There has been a battle brewing in the world of golf for quite some time now, and it looks as if it might actually end soon, in a way nobody anticipated. The PGA Tour and LIV Golf have come together to create a truce, a merger deal which could permanently change the sport and satisfy each other’s wants in the long run. The details of the merger have not yet been made public as we might expect it to move forward by the end of the year, but both fans and players already have much to say on the topic.

The history behind the rivalry goes back to when LIV Golf arrived in 2021, a professional golf league backed by billions of dollars from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund or Public Investment Fund (PIF). Golf legend Greg Norman who serves as LIV Golf commissioner began recruiting players from the PGA Tour to come play for LIV. At first, everyone was against it, until the incentives came. After a while, some of the PGA’s top contenders joined, such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau. The news of these players joining stirred the pot even more, as they are major influencers in the golf community. More players joined shortly after, including people who were previously working to get their PGA tour card before, who now did not have to because of this new opportunity.

When LIV first started gaining traction, many golfers had a problem with it, as the Saudi league did not follow traditional rules and instead intended to steer away from that. The PGA Tour generally follows a strict code of conduct. They have a specific dress code that does not allow shorts and only polo shirts to be worn. The crowd must be silent when a player is hitting, and the amount that they are paid is based on how well they perform. The PGA has been like this for generations, and people have never really batted an eye at it, until LIV came along.

LIV Golf decided to do the opposite and loosened up a sport known for its rules and order. At LIV Golf events, for example, music is blaring — while players are on the course, and the dress code is considerably loosened. The field of players is smaller, and tournaments are 54 holes, as opposed to 72 in PGA events. This new ideology presents a more exciting and fan-centric atmosphere and brings more entertainment to the game of golf. These are all major changes, but it still is not the part that everyone is mad about.

As stated before, the PGA Tour pays their players based on how well they do through each event. They do this through a “purse” or a pot of money that is typically distributed throughout the top 65 players in decreasing percentages. For example, if a player won a PGA Tour event, he would win the grand prize and considerably more than the other players. If he finished 65th, on the other hand, he would get the lowest percentage of the purse. The players who did not make the cut into the final rounds do not make any money. In fact, it costs them money to play (players pay for their travel, accommodations and other expenses, as well as their caddy’s).

This is where things become divided, as LIV Golf believes in paying their players no matter how they perform. Instead, LIV Golf gives out purses with guaranteed winnings along with bonuses and incentives to ensure their players are getting paid. Many golf purists became disgruntled as they thought

that paying every player challenged the integrity of the sport and took away some of the competitive aspects.

The idea of LIV golfers’ money not being “earned” through trying to be the best is not favorable to many. Some fans think players were switching to LIV just for more change in their pocket. On the other hand, many PGA Tour players were struggling with having a consistent income. Players who do not make many cuts or who stay around the bottom of the leaderboard may have a hard time paying bills because of their performance.

While the details of the merger are still being finalized, many fans and players are anxious about it but also glad something is being worked out in the first place. As PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said, “After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love.”

Not everyone is truly happy about how it happened though. “As a PGA Tour player, I had no idea this was coming, nor did any of the other players that I’ve talked to know, and so we kind of got blindsided by it a bit,” PGA player Ben Griffin was quoted saying the day the news broke about the merger. “I kind of wish we would have gotten some sort of prior knowledge before it came out to the public.”

Not only did PGA players feel disrespected because they had no knowledge of the deal, they were also fired up because of the drama that’s erupted between the two tours. The PGA’s loyalest players stayed with the league, turning down deals from LIV that would have meant large sums of money for them and given them more freedom all because the PGA said they were going for something bigger. Some rumors were saying that the top players were receiving offers for tens to hundreds of millions of dollars, and now that the merger is happening, they think that they might have missed their opportunity and that all of that fighting was a waste on their part.

Not long after the news broke of the deal, the PGA commissioner came out with statements to quiet some of the noise. “This transformational partnership recognizes the immeasurable strength of the PGA TOUR’s history, legacy and pro-competitive model and combines with it the DP World Tour and LIV — including the team golf concept — to create an organization that will benefit golf’s players, commercial and charitable partners, and fans. Going forward, fans can be confident that we will, collectively, deliver on the promise we’ve always made – to promote competition of the best in professional golf and that we are committed to securing and driving the game’s future,” Monahan said.

Aside from the controversial aspect of the merger, things are looking up for both organizations. They now have built trust, and they are not at each other’s necks battling it out in court. This is not a major distraction anymore, and hopefully the two tours will be able to coincide when next year comes around. Together they might add more entertainment for the future, and at least for now, the fight is over.

July is a month of risk-taking for you, Aries. And there may be a surprise guest in this season of your life … maybe someone from your past? Be on the lookout for signs from the universe, whether its angel numbers or literal signs on billboards. The stars are reaching out to you this month as it is a time of transformation.

HOROSCOPES ARIES TAURUS

Feeling inspired, Taurus? When Virgo enters your fifth house of pleasure this month, not only will you dive into yet another creative hobby but things in the bedroom will heat up as well (wink, wink). But don’t get too distracted by the physical aspects of things, for when the new moon in Cancer hits on July 17, you will be forced to look within.

GEMINI

Money, money, money, ain’t it funny? (Cue “Mama Mia” dance scene). When you think you have your finances in order, there always seems to be another bill that piles up. Well, you’re in luck this July because it seems the stars are aligning for long-term success in your financial sector. With the full moon passing in Capricorn on July 3, things will have shifted from stress to bliss.

CANCER

Happy July, Cancer! I hope you’ve had your fun this past month with late nights and trying new makeup trends be cause the time to get serious is slowly (but surely) catch ing up. When Mercury enters Leo and your second house of possessions on July 11, those late night conversations will get trickier and, dare I say, confrontational. But do not fret, little crab: With your thick armor, you can handle any obsta cle that comes your way.

LEO VIRGO

The torch has been passed to you, Leo. Welcome to your month! Lucky for you, the stars are shooting you toward major career success. All that work is about to pay off for you, whether it be a creative project or a business adventure. The odds are in your favor this July.

How has July been treating you so far, Virgo? Well … we hope. Good news for you, it’s only gonna get better! After having successfully filtered out those friendships that no longer serve you, it may feel as though a giant weight has been lifted off your shoulders. Take advantage of this newfound confidence and remember to use your powers for good.

Don’t you just love, love, Libra? How about platonic love? Your friends have been feeling a little neglected, and there is no time like the present to catch up on those unread messages (and actually reply to them). Actually, make sure to clear up your schedule on July 17 when the new moon in Cancer enters your 11th house of friendship. We sense a day filled with music, movie marathons and much catching up to do.

LIBRA SCORPIO

Buckle up, Scorpio! And I quite literally mean “buckle up” because July will be a glorious month to travel far and wide. You are sick and tired of the mundane routine and rut you have found yourself in and desperately crave a break. Maybe July will be the month of your summer romance, “Mama Mia” style.

Your flame burns bright, Sagittarius, but what’s the point if nobody gets burned by your touch (in a good way, of course)? Luckily for you, the time to celebrate your worth is coming in hot. And while you secretly enjoy being praised (don’t lie, we know), knowing your own worth is far more important. Take that as you will.

How many times can the universe tell you to slow down and take a break before you actually listen? It is almost like the stars have been screaming at you to take a chill pill. It’s time to finally cooperate, Capricorn. As they say: let go and let god (or in this case, let the universe). It is time (again) to kick your feet up and relax. Take that PTO you have been saving for months. There is no better time than now.

SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS

Get your agendas out, Aquarius! On July 22 Venus goes into retrograde, making conversations surrounding love and money feel like a dreadful task. But, as you do, ignore your problems and live in bliss. Maybe go on a wellness retreat? God knows you need it.

PISCES

The perpetual doom and gloom is over, Pisces! Thank the stars! July will prove to be a surprisingly gentle and easy month for you. No excitement can be a good thing, as you have come to learn. July opened up with a sweet full moon in Capricorn that seemed to smooth out the rough edges around you. Breathe it in; we know how the stars like to play with you. And enjoy it while it lasts.

Dear Attorneys General:

I am writing to you today on behalf of the Transgender & Diverse Veterans of America Action Group, Inc. (TDVA Action Group) to express my deep disappointment with your letter to Target Corporation objecting to the company’s Pride campaign.

As you know, Pride Month is a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and its contributions to our society. It is also a time to raise awareness of the discrimination and violence that LGBTQ+ people continue to face. Target’s Pride campaign is a positive and inclusive way to mark this important month.

For our transgender veterans and transgender service members residing in your states, Target’s Pride Campaign is and was a welcome relief. It’s not often that we feel welcome and safe anywhere in your states these days, and Target gives us a small but important reprieve from the incessant baseless attacks on our existence.

Your letter is based on the false and harmful claim that Target’s Pride campaign is “potentially harmful to minors.” This claim is not supported by any evidence. In fact, research shows that exposure to positive LGBTQ+ representation can actually be beneficial for children’s mental health and well-being. For example, a study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychology found that children who saw positive LGBTQ+ representation in the media were more likely to have positive attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people and less likely to engage in homophobic bullying.

I urge you to correct the record and to stop spreading misinformation about Target’s Pride campaign. Your attacks on Target are harmful to the LGBTQ+ community and to our transgender veterans and service members. They are also based on false and misleading information.

Sincerely,

Cassandra Williamson

BOUQS & BRICKS BOUQUETS BRICKBATS

Guardian Ad Litem Foundation of NE Florida for supporting area children in need. Since 1991 this organization has been dedicated to helping abused, abandoned, and neglected children who have been removed from their home as they navigate the dependency system. On a daily average approximately 1,200 abandoned, neglected and abused children going through our court system in Duval, Clay and Nassau counties. Programming and funds raised by the foundation are used to benefit children directly in various ways, including providing Normalcy Programming, so that basic necessities like clothing and shoes are available to youth so that they can assimilate and thrive; the Recruitment, Retention and Awareness of Guardian Volunteers, so more child abuse victims can be represented in court; and through The Empowerment Scholarship, which provides additional support to youth seeking to rise above their circumstances by furthering their post-secondary education. GALF has committed to raise a minimum of $100,000 for their mission this year.

Public Housing Crisis in Jacksonville. Approximately 147,000 people are on waitlist for affordable public housing currently according to the Jacksonville Housing Authority. Some say the giant investment company rentals are partially to blame, others blame local government such as our former Mayor Lenny Curry. Stop turning your back on this huge issue, local government officials. Consider placing rent control policies on the giant investment companies and to counter balance perhaps provide some incentives for them to build and invest in affordable housing

Weird Wild Stuff

Words by Shelton Hull

So, how’s your summer going? I don’t care how bad you think it is because as long as you’re not dead, in a coma or currently under indictment for 37 federal counts, you’re still doing better than most of the folks in this month’s installment, which begins not far from here: a rare and elusive breakdown, however brief, of the infamous Thin Blue Line, duly breached on June 6 in Orlando. An Orlando Police Department officer got clocked doing 80 in a 45mile zone by a Seminole County deputy who then pulled him over. Rather, he attempted to, before OPD took him on a brief chase before finally stopping and going full Karen on his colleague, all of which was captured on video. Thankfully, neither of them were Black, so no one was killed.

Another recent police chase somehow managed to be even more adorable, while also vastly more dangerous, because the driver in this case was not a fellow cop, but rather a 10-year-old boy. This happened in Buena Vista — not the one in Florida but in Michigan, just outside of Flint. He then led police on a brief chase before they disabled the vehicle remotely, using OnStar, just like every conspiracy theorist has warned you the government would be able to do someday. This is totally illegal, but you can tell the kid probably had a good reason because he stole a 2017 Buick Encore, which adults don’t even drive willingly. And he did: He was trying to go visit his mom in Detroit. Again, illegal, but if the only way to see your mom is to steal a car, then what choice do you really have? It’s unclear whether the young boy will be prosecuted, but we think a spanking will suffice. No dessert, either!

You may or may not recall that Penn State University went through some terrible scandals a few years ago, too awful to even mention, except to say that a chemical engineering professor at the same school has recently found a way to shame his employer that, while not technically worse than what Jerry Sandusky did, is also maybe still worse — you decide. You see, someone was stealing hand sanitizer from Rothrock State Forest (which is sadly not named after iconic bad bitch Cynthia Rothrock), so the park rangers set up surveillance cameras to catch them, and they failed. But they did catch this dude having sex with his German Shepherd on the trail, on video, multiple times. Now, to his credit, the professor immediately grasped the hopelessness of his situation and begged the rangers for death, explaining that he was doing it to relieve stress, like, we couldn’t have guessed that already. And, before you ask: No, they never caught whoever stole the hand sanitizer. Why are you even still thinking about that? Weirdo!

Speaking of weirdos, let’s talk about monks. They get busy, as you know, and it’s reasonable to expect the occasional shenanigan from folks who cut their hair like that on purpose. A Buddhist monk in Thailand was recently arrested for leading a three-man ring of monks that embezzled 180 million Thai baht from Wat Pa Thammakhiri monastery, in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima. It is unclear what he did with the money, but you can be certain that at least a small portion of the pilfered funds were diverted to purchase some kind of fancy beads.

We’ll close out this installment with a reminder that there’s no place like home, and nothing drives that point home like a prison stint, which is exactly what one Minnesota man is facing after he tried to steal the iconic ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.” The theft actually took place way back in August 2005, when he climbed through a window of the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but the shoes weren’t recovered by the FBI until July 2018, while the federal indictment happened mere weeks ago. Well, he can click his heels together all he wants, but he’s not going anywhere, anytime soon.

SU’S SUMMER BOOKS

“The Hidden story of every person”

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner

“It was a dark and stormy night,” a heavily clichéd story might begin, but our story begins differently because it was dark and stormy on this Friday, but it wasn’t night nor was there a pretense of isolation that this clichéd phrase indicates. In fact, while I was sheltered from the rain by independent bookstore Chamblin’s Uptown, I was anything but alone. I was among books, chronicles, magnum opuses, classics.

These volumes are, at times, vertically stacked, but mostly horizontally to fill the pockets of wood that are their bookshelves. Alphabetical organization even eludes some of these books. Neatly curated doesn’t quite fall in the vocabulary of Chamblin’s; much of the little organization comes from handwritten signs directing visitors to a genre or the existence of the bookshelves themselves. Their jargon probably includes words like “cluttered,” “packed,” “unsettled.”

But I enjoy the cluttered, packed and unsettled because the untidiness makes room for meaty discoveries: on any other day, a book you find could be lodged in another book or relocated to the bottom of the shelf. The book could be shelves away or not on a shelf at all. The book could be traveling — courtesy of Chamblin’s book trading service — taken by a customer hoping to spend their store credit. So know, your book is exceptional and momentous.

Today, my exceptional and momentous find is “The Hidden Story of Every Person & Other Short Stories” by Robert Pantano. I initially pick up (or rather, pull out) this read because it belongs in the short story section, and I want to read a new format. It lies on the bottom of a heavy stack of books and includes the word “hidden.” The book clearly knows the sense of discovery I seek and proudly offers it.

A scan of the cover and binding reveals that these short stories appear as YouTube videos on Pantano’s channel, Pursuit of Wonder, with over 2 million subscribers. A curiosity swells: how can one reconcile an auditory and visual presentation of information with a literary one? I’m sold and so is the book a minute later.

I begin to read in between packing for later travels. The three- to seven-page stories read fast not only because of their length, but also because they are stories, confined within themselves and requiring little memory; the simplicity of the language also makes for a more fluid read. The format of the stories are relatively standardized: introductory information dump, conflict, consideration of conflict and/or resolution, and some ending philosophy. Essentially, these stories are parables.

While the structure and style aren’t monumental — although the sentences hit syntax gold sometimes —I enjoy the premise of the book: It is a digestible piece of philosophy, a genre of literature that is easily understandable for the masses. The stories discuss free will or lack thereof, the meaning of loneliness, a Brave New World-esque technology of the future, the results of too little enlightenment, the human desire for fulfillment and its downsides, a historically tackled reinterpretation of the afterlife, mor(t)ality, etc. Some of my favorite allegories of the bunch were: “The Art of Loneliness,” “Every Person Is One Choice Away From Everything Changing,” “One Thought Can Change You Forever,” “What Happens After Everything Ends” and “The Last Thing You’ll Remember,” all of which have relatively self-explanatory titles. These stories seemed to convey the universal human experience in a short, straightforward format that made their truths authoritative and indisputable. Perhaps, as a somewhat lonely, choice-making thinker who considers the afterlife and other heavily debated qualms, I related.

I finish the book, impressed by its relatability and empathy, but even more impressed by the book’s ability to duplicate while reinterpreting the fables I read and listened to as a child. With its distinct sci-fi and fantasy twist on some of the most global themes, the book offers modern day, adult parables. Essentially, I have read and thought about some topics that I first encountered in my childhood, now in a more nuanced light. Still, the messages remain penetrating and will continue to.

So for its heart, applicability, and universality, I recommend “The Hidden Story of Every Person” to every age group in every context, even every person … at least those who have a bit of time to spare for philosophy on a dark and stormy night or otherwise.

FOLIO WEED SIGNED, SEALED DELIVERED

Words by Shelton Hull

This column has chronicled the exhaustive process of getting adult-use cannabis on our state ballot since its very inception, almost six years ago. That time was defined entirely by futility, as multiple factors (mainly internal among industry leaders) conspired to deny us easy victories in 2018, 2020 and 2022. I personally maintained it was unlikely to happen anytime soon and said so in this space as recently as a few weeks ago. This seriously almost never happens, but I was actually totally wrong in this case, and I’m glad I was.

As of June 10, 909,219 of the required 891,523 signatures have already been collected by Regulate Florida, which is funded mainly by Trulieve, through its Smart & Safe committee, duly endowed to the tune of $38.5 million or $43.18 per vote. Being the biggest dispensary active in Florida, Trulieve is poised to benefit most chiefly from the dramatic market expansion that will result from legalization. Once it makes the ballot for the super election in November 2024, voters will approve Florida to become the 22nd state to fully legalize cannabis in January 2025.

There are, as always, ancillary effects. Just as the cannabis plant itself has been long proved salubrious against a near-infinite array of physical, mental and emotional ails, so too has the petition drive itself proven instantly helpful in healing the malady most presently pressing against the body politic: Gov. Ron DeSantis and his ass-clown adjutant, whose actual acolytes, amazingly, are somehow even worse. Their tentacles reach further than Cthulhu fanfic, but the tip of the spear that is this whole fugazi kulturkampf of theirs has been the asymmetrical war against reproductive choice for millions of Florida women, some of whom might be you.

At this point, it’s hard to tell if all that scorched earth is from their political tactics or just climate change. Relief may be coming in the form of Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF), a Sarasota-based coalition of Floridians who are protecting freedom, namely by way of a proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee abortion rights up to the point of fetal viability — 24 weeks, according to the petition. The current limit of 15 weeks was passed last year, while a regression to six weeks is being argued in the courts anon. That proposal drew the ire of many liberal critics (well, all of them), and even conservatives like Ann Coulter, the Vatican and Donald Trump, as well as inspiring the current action by FPF.

FPF have already collected over 100,000 signatures in the first month since launching their effort on May 8, putting them well ahead of the pace they must maintain to get at least 891,523 between now and February 1. If you’re curious (which of course you are) that’s 3,314 signatures per day. They were hoping to get that many in all of May, but the ferocity of support they drew obliterated even the most optimistic projections, allowing them to raise over $2 million for the effort in just the first 10 days. How, Sway?

With cadres curated from groups like Florida Rising, Women’s Voices of Southeast Florida, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund (as well as all their regional affiliates) and the ACLU of Florida, FPF is kinda like a fourth-wave feminist version of “Voltron” — with much less swordplay and waaay more

pink. Petitions can be signed online or at any of the about 60 physicals FPF have set up around the state for collecting blank petitions and dropping off the signed ones. Progress Florida has taken the lead in training over 2,500 volunteers in petition collection, ably buffing, polishing and shining those boots on the ground.

They certainly do have a bunch of you-know-what to step through, in order to achieve their goals, but they seem to want the smoke. Speaking of which, the achievement of getting adult-use already ready to roll (literally) into 2024 offers them not only a path forward, logistically, but also a lot of quality human resources they can draw upon as they, hopefully, keep building on their current momentum. (Polling data tracks about parallel on both issues, too.)

The target markets for both issues overlap on a nearly 1-to-1 basis, and the rougher edges of DeSantis’ agenda have started rubbing even his fellow Republicans the wrong way. So, odds are in the ladies’ favor, as far as this particular matter goes.

Links for both petitions can be found here: floridiansprotectingfreedom.com/ petition

A Community for the Community

Words and Photos by Carmen Macri

Whether you enjoy running or not (I do not) and live in Jacksonville, you need to know about the Neptune Run Crew.

The beginning was simple. A few strangers-turned-friends met at a local gym and shared a love for running. While training for the New York City Marathon, they realized how much more fun running was when they ran together. Andrew Mogg, founder of Neptune Run Crew (NRC), is a Jacksonville native with a set running route near the beaches. When he met Keri Clarke, co-founder of NRC, she was new to Jacksonville and looking for a group of like-minded individuals. So the two took their common love for running and decided to capitalize on it.

“One day I was just like, ‘Hey, why don’t we, like, make this a thing where we invite our friends to come run with us, and we’ll grab coffee after,’” Mogg explained. “And so we started out with this mindset of just friends, running with friends.”

In December 2020, Mogg, Clarke and NRC’s creative director, Daniel Riano, decided to begin including their friends in their daily runs. Initially, they started with a small gathering of 10 to 12 people, which they found quite impressive. The fact that others were interested in running alongside them left Mogg and Clarke astounded. Let’s fast forward to the present day, and the numbers have skyrocketed. They are now effortlessly attracting up to 150 participants for each run. Yes, you read that correctly—150 people.

Riano took the initiative to promote NCR on Instagram by sharing his captivating photographs of the runners. As we are well aware of the dynamics of social media, when a single photo is posted, it has the potential to be widely shared and quickly gain attention, spreading like wildfire. As their social media presence grew, so did the number of runners, reaching 10 times its original size. Individuals were drawn to be a part of it.

Every Friday morning, at 6:45, the crew gathers at Lemon Bar in Neptune Beach, embarking on their designated route. The run concludes at Southern Grounds, where Mogg, Clarke, Riano and Southern Grounds generously provide coffee for everyone.

“We have everything from elite runners to very, very beginners, you know, that will stop and walk, rollerblade or even come with a bike,” Clarke explained. “The whole thing is about the people. It has nothing to do with your pace. It’s not competitive, by any means. Some people bring their dogs. Some people have their strollers with kids. Honestly, it’s, it’s just so cool.”

Clarke moved to Jacksonville about two years ago and happened to find herself at the same gym as Mogg, who ran every day before hitting the gym. She remembers hearing someone announce, “Here come the runners” and her ears perked up.

“Maybe four or five of them would run before class. So I’m sitting in this gym class alone being like, ‘Bye-bye, guys,’” Clarke said. “I finally introduced myself and asked ‘Can I come with you guys before class?’ And Andrew texted me and then every day since. I don’t think we skipped a day.”

The rest was history. The two began training for and running marathons far and wide, and now, they have gathered a large group of runners for their morning routine. Outside of their Friday runs, one Saturday a month, they embark on a long-haul run for the more experienced runners (anyone is welcome, it is just double the distance). And one Wednesday a month, the group partakes in a “happy hour run” in the evening, ending their route at Pete’s Bar for a quick drink.

The Saturday ranges from 10 miles to 15 miles. Clarke expressed that people can go their own pace for however long they wish to run. There are no rules or guidelines to follow. It’s just friends running with friends. Something Mogg and Clarke are both proud of is that many runners have broken their own personal records while running with NCR.

“It’s funny, people will be like, ‘No, I’m just here for the five.’ And then they stay for the 10 and then they stay for the 15 and just like pushing themselves, which is cool,” Clarke explained.

They have truly fostered a sense of community within the larger community. After its inception in December, NRC recently obtained non-profit status. Mogg expressed that from the very start, their intention has been to find avenues to serve the community and bring people together.

Watching the crew run, I couldn’t help myself but want to join in on the fun, And I hate running.

To keep up with their runs or participate yourself, follow them on Instagram at @neptuneruncrew.

Zarah Y Former Football Player

"It just heals up so much better. To the point I’m more functional now than I have been in years!”

Words by Amiyah Golden and illustrations by Drew Arnett

You don’t have to be a Gen Z-er to know about influencer culture and the waves that it’s making in today’s world.

The power of influence used to strictly belong to celebrities and those with powerful names. Red carpet appearances and the occasional testimonial would send the consumer world into a frenzy to keep up with the latest Hollywood craze.

But times are changing — and fast. With the rise of social media, the ability of the everyday person to garner influence is now attainable. With new technology and algorithms implemented, many people can go viral. That doesn’t diminish the work it takes to keep that relevance. One viral video does not equate to successful longevity. Local influencers Jaiden Ashlea and Kayla Kosuga can attest to this with Ashlea accumulating more than 275,000 followers across Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube with Kosuga having more than 3.5 million.

And Ashlea with 275,000 on her three platforms, the Jacksonville residents and I were able to discuss their successes and their journey to notoriety.

Ashlea shares the inspiration behind wanting to become an influencer: “For as long as I can remember, I have always been a creative person. Fashion inspired me to start a blog as a little girl and from there it turned into YouTube videos and then came the world of influencing! Once I realized that I could make a meaningful impact on people’s lives through sharing parts of my own life, I slowly started to realize it was what I was meant to do.” Although the road hasn’t always been easy due to the lack of support, Ashlea persevered and noted that “…my passion was beyond any doubt that people would send my way.”

Kosuga’s inspiration came from OG YouTubers, such as Bethany Mota, MyLifeasEva and Michelle Phan, all creating content catered to teen girls and young women with videos regarding fashion, makeup and lifestyle. These names sparked some remnants of nostalgia for me because of my positioning in their fan base. I would tune in weekly to watch a new haul or listen to an outrageous storytime. But they were a part of my adolescence and guided me through some rites of passage. “I was always inspired by them, and I wanted to be able to give that feeling to others,” said Kosuga. “I’ve always enjoyed the process of coming up with ideas, filming the videos and even editing them.” I resonated with the feeling Kosuga experienced, as I have tried my hand at starting a YouTube channel but obviously have failed as I am writing this article now.

Ashlea and Kosuga were also big inspirations for teenage me. I remember being excited to sit down and watch their daily vlogs. Both sharing aspects of their lives that allowed me to feel connected with them somehow — even more than the next influencer because of their proximity to me. Seeing the two enjoy life in this city we call home was interesting because it was out of the “norm” here. Other YouTubers I enjoyed resided in Los Angeles, New York and Hawaii. That life didn’t seem achievable in Jacksonville, Florida, but Kosuga and Ashlea proved me wrong.

It wasn’t easy for the two to initially create content here in the city. Jacksonville didn’t have much presence in influencer culture — and still doesn’t compared to other places — but the two surpassed the anxiety and the hurdles.

@Jaiden.Ashlea

@KaylaKosuga

“It was really challenging at first, and I was always nervous vlogging out in public,” Kosuga recounted. “You never see that here in Jacksonville as you do in L.A. Sometimes I would randomly get stopped and get asked what I was doing. I can feel when people are staring at me.”

Although the two are successful here I was curious if they would ever move to a city like L.A.

Kosuga’s desire was to move to L.A. or NYC because as she put it, “There’s not much that goes on in Jacksonville.”

Ashlea admits she felt the pressure to move to be successful. “[I felt that] I had to be in those big-name places to make an impact but that was far from the truth!” She has talked to her husband about moving, and they both agreed that they would love to move to a different city to settle down but not for social media purposes.

While Ashlea and Kosuga are best known for their YouTube channels, they have both pursued business ventures outside of their own personal content creation.

Ashlea recently opened her newest investment, Studio Next Door Jax, a rentable photography studio and event space.

“Studio Next Door stemmed from the fact that as a special needs mom, I am unable to commit to any sort of job outside of our home. Once I realized I couldn’t go back to work, I knew I had to think of something that would not only pay the bills but allow me to do something that I was passionate about — creating,” Ashlea said.

Kosuga’s goals are slightly different with a focus on the fashion world. “..next on my list is launching my own clothing brand, so stay tuned!”

Both influencers are moms, and that plays a pivotal role in how they handle their social media platforms. Ashlea’s son was diagnosed with Spina Bifida at 18 weeks, so that has changed her outlook on what she chooses to share on her platforms. “I find peace in the privacy of enjoying the good days with my family,” Ashlea said.

Kosuga is in the same boat when it comes to her family as well. She is a fulltime, stay-at-home parent so when it comes to her kids she “… always prioritizes [them] before work.” With her life being so online she is very cautious in what she posts.

These girl bosses are great examples of perseverance and determination. Building an online empire is not for the faint of heart; it comes with mean comments, shaming from peers and self-doubt. But these two mommy moguls go to show that it is possible to be successful despite the obstacles.

Follow Kosuga on her various platforms at @KaylaKosuga.

Follow Ashlea on her various platforms at @Jaiden.Ashlea.

Discovering the Soul of SoulHood Saga

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner and photos by Amiyah Golden

The SoulHood Saga officially wrapped this May 27 when the final installment of the six-part series premiered at the Regal Avenues. The saga originally followed the independent filmmaking crew Rick, DJ, Tony and Pat, as they dream cinematically big in a relatively small film arena, Jacksonville. This May, however, the series finished with an epic action film in which a newfound crew — Luke, Lee, Rick and DJ — begin and finish a war against their enemy, Troy Hills. While the Jacksonville-shot film series of technicolor twists and cinematic climaxes has come to an end, a nostalgia for the movie dynamic is just beginning for actors Steven Yahr (Lee Hills), Michael Carter (Troy Hills), Louie “Broadway Louie” Robinson (Rick), Todd Jackson Jr. (TJ), and Solomon Minati (Luke Hills), along with actor-director-writer-cinematographer-editor Carlos “Los2k6” Smith II (DJ).

Cut. Let’s start from the beginning, before the premieres, before there was any wistful yearning to be felt.

Take 2.

An 18-year old Smith first fiddled with a camera by recording his friends. He had no plan to apply his self-taught camera work to his future career. He hoped but didn’t expect to create a big screen feature like the ones he had grown up with. “The funny thing about it [getting into film] was I stumbled upon it by just watching movies and being like, ‘Oh, I want to do that one day,’” Smith said. “Even as a kid, that’s something I wanted to do. It’s not something that I just, you know, planned for. I just tried it and started going from there,” the filmmaker added.

For Smith, “going from there” meant premiering his first full-length film — written, directed and edited by the Renaissance man — just seven years later in 2013. Although “Homeboys,” a dramedy following five close friends, was largely experimental, its premiere at Sun-Ray Cinema sold out: “My first time doing a movie and it sold out, and it was a beautiful response. From that point, that’s what made me realize what I was capable of doing as a filmmaker and the support I had at the time, and it just kept going,” Smith said.

Over the next four years, the new feature film creator would apply his directorial and writing skills and knowledge to his projects including the “Homeboys” sequel titled “Homeboys: Meet the Crew” (2014) and a parody short film based on the film “Friday” titled “21st Friday” (2016).

Come 2017, a new era of Los2k6 had been set in motion … motion picture, that is. Smith began what he thought would be a one-time casting call. Slowly the “SoulHood” family was fashioned: New Jersey native “Broadway Louie” would play film crew member Rick. Solomon Minati would cameo as movie industry rival Luke Hills. Todd Jackson Jr. would also cameo as TJ Carlos Smith II himself who would coincidentally play a film director. Other key players included Steven Alvarez and John Jay Wylie playing film crew members Pat and Tony, respectively.

The presumed standalone film sold out twice in AMC theaters and was well-received, so well-received, in fact, that Smith’s wheels began turning. “It wasn’t even supposed to be a saga. It was supposed to be just one SoulHood movie and move on to the next thing and that was it, but after doing that one, well, that was a life-changing thing for me because that was not only my first time premiering a movie in an AMC theater, but [also] that sold out twice on the first week and just the support. [Everyone] was talking about how they loved the characters so much, and that’s what made me see the potential of continuing what we were doing,” Smith remarked.

Equipped with a successful premiere, his Panasonic GH4 camera, and a desire to recreate some of his childhood favorite sagas like the Fast and Furious (F&F) series, SoulHood’s very own saga (re)started production.

Smith slowly roped in friends and acquaintances, creating his own version of F&F protagonist Dominic Toretto’s crew: Steven Yahr first appeared in the “SoulHood” spinoff short as Luke Hills (2018), joining production coincidentally after being introduced to the crew by his cousin, Minati. Michael Carter auditioned and joined the cast for “SoulHood: Prime” (2020). Writer, artist, performer and activist Ebony Payne-English (Tonya) joined the cast for “SoulHood Saga: Part 1” (2022).

Writing, casting, filming, editing, premiering. Writing, casting, filming, editing, premiering again. And again. The paper to production cycle repeated itself six times over six years. The film crew’s journey only nominally ended in May. Really, the onscreen chemistry continues behind the scenes fortified in part by six years of trials. Between scenes, a reality of hurricanes, a global pandemic, a low budget, rigid cast schedules crowded with multiple full-time jobs, family deaths and a scripted fight leading to a mild concussion for Robinson made for less than cinematic experiences.

For Smith, the off-screen connection that these challenges induced also translated to an on-set chemistry, no special effects needed. “Really what makes it [the “SoulHood Saga”] stand out, what makes it different is the heart behind it. It’s the heart behind these characters,” Smith said. “It’s not only that the characters grew together in the film, but we grew together as a cast and a family as well.”

The camera pans to Smith (affectionately referred to by the cast as “Los”), the architect of this local makeshift family. To many cast members, “SoulHood” means Los.

Yahr’s coincidental encounter with Los uncovered a devotion: “Definitely working on the “SoulHood” project, for sure, kind of catapulted my passion for film or for acting.” Throughout the films, an altruistic Los mentored 48-yearold budding cinematographer Carter despite being 13 years his junior. “He’s basically teaching me to become a filmmaker.” Jackson praised Los’ flexibility: “He’s open-minded and it allows an actual actor or an entertainer to be able to open their mind up and that’s what kind of made me, you know, gravitate toward him and such.” At one point, Los even financially supported Robinson: “When my sister passed, I lost my job. One of the things he did was he gave me a percentage of the first film to make sure that I got some money in my pocket.”

In this mosaic of praise for Los, two details remained consistent: Each cast member’s thankfulness for the copious opportunities Los’ direction led to and their desire to include Los in forthcoming projects.

No matter what angle you view the saga from, Smith remains the center of a family united not only by love of film but also a dedication to showcasing and supporting the efforts of Black filmmakers in Jacksonville. “It takes a lot of courage to even step into the filmmaking light in general. Just to even write a film and make it happen; it’s a lot. It’s a huge process to do a film, and I try to tell a lot of people that,” Smith said, later adding, “A lot of us [local Black filmmakers], we’re real creative people. Sometimes, not everybody has that outlet or the resources or the energy or the time to do it, so the people like us that were able to do it, we’re able to show people what is possible. And when people see what is possible, they want to figure it out and find a way to do just that.”

This local success story’s eagerness to inspire all future Jacksonville filmmakers, actors, and artists has already put the “SoulHood” crew on a national stage. Many of the interviewed actors plan to partake in national projects or those with creators from around the country as extras, actors, and artists.

In fact, although it’s a wrap for the “SoulHood Saga,” this project was hardly the last take for any of the cast members. The cast is set to join and release over a dozen planned projects this year and the next, including more feature and short films, a reimagined Shakespearean classic, an AI-based film, an album and sequels to completed projects. Jackson even plans to grow the reach of his new film company, Let’s Get It Films, inspired by his recent projects. But no spoilers …

For now and perhaps, for the first time for some cast members, let the “SoulHood” crew bask in the light of cameras and reminisce on a long B-roll of “SoulHood Saga” moments. In the meantime, watch “SoulHood Saga II: The Finale: (2023) on Amazon Prime. You can expect action-packed fight scenes choreographed by Kali Kombat duo Solo Minati and Steven Yahr, a hotel scene faceoff and a surprise reappearance.

MEET THE CAST

STEVEN YAHR PLAYING LEE HILLS

Skills: voice overing (at Bonaroo), martial arts, seeing the silver lining, accidentally joining a sixpart movie saga

Credits: “Octagona,” “Section 8,” “SoulHood Saga,” “Luke Hills” and “ Luke & Lee”

How did you get involved in the SoulHood Saga?

“Solo, Solominati, the one that plays Luke Hills, we’ve been friends since high school. We grew up together. He called me up, and I was here. He was like, ‘Hey, I need a ride to this movie shoot.” And it was for the first “SoulHood.” He was like, “We’re halfway done with production, but, he’s like, if you want, you can be an extra.” And I was like, “Well, if I’m going to be waiting on you anyways, I might as well.” And so, we got there. He introduced me to everybody. I could kind of see, with Los and, you know, some of the other guys that do film here, I could see, like, wheels turning. A few months went by and Solo called me up and he said, “Los wants to use you in the sequel for this movie as my brother.” I was, like, “Sure.” Up to that point, If you had asked me then or even before then, “Hey, how would you like to be an actor, I would have said hell no. It was never something I really thought about that I wanted to do. I mean, yeah, it looked like a cool idea, but I’m not a limelight type of guy, at least I don’t feel like I am, but then it just turns out, you know, I was really good at acting.”

How did you see the films progressing with each installment? How did you progress across the films?

“The quality of everybody’s acting increased with each film and even through the films because it’s all pretty much been the same cast. We’ve all become really really tight-knit like a family pretty much. I would compare us to like, you know, Adam Sandler has his little crew of people like

if it’s his movie, you know these select people are going to be in it in some way, shape, or form. That’s kind of how things are with us because we’ve developed these relationships with these other actors, so we know how they act. We vibe off each other pretty well. I think that alone helps catapult the SoulHood Saga.”

MICHAEL ANDRE CARTER PLAYING TROY HILLS

Skills: singing, being a theater kid, winning Best Actor in the “Folio” Best of Readers Poll, being extremely punctual

Credits: “What Goes Around Comes Around,” “I Do I Don’t,” “First Coast Affair,” “Guilty Victim,” “Broad Day,” Single Sh*t (play), “The Color Purple” (play), “Wedlocked “(play), “Sibling Rivalry” (play), “What’s to Be Expected,” “The Lives We Live” (series), “Lotta Lies,” “Badge of Betrayal,” “Sacred The Movie,” “SoulHood Saga” and “ Luke & Lee”

What did you learn in school and how did it contribute to where you are now?

“I always did plays as a young guy. My mother kept me in plays because I sing, so she kept me in entertainment and stuff like that, so I did a lot of plays. I did The Wiz, The Wizard of Oz, Raisin in the Sun, and I did a couple out here. But when I was in the military, I used to sing with the military for a couple of years and I was always on stage performing, doing something that dealt with performing and things like that. And so, when I retired in 2017, a friend of mine […] he had called me to be in a film with Tall Paul Productions. And once I was in that film and I watched myself on the screen, I was like, oh wow, this would be something that I would be interested in and I met Carlos and we went from there.”

When I was watching Part 1 of the finale, I felt the anger in your character and a sense of betrayal. Does your military career fuel a bit of the aggression that we see in Troy and influence your acting?

“Yes, it does. My military career, kind of how I came up in Mississippi and stuff like that, the fighting, the anger, and things like that [influence my acting]. The military just teaches you how to channel that anger into something different. That’s what I’m able to do, so I let the beast out and I am able to channel it and place it somewhere else for positivity.”

LOUIE “BROADWAY LOUIE” ROBINSON PLAYING RICK

Skills: rapper, occasional singer, and overall natural performer, mega-multi-tasker, jokester

Credits: Lotta Lies, Badge of Betrayal, The Policy, How I Got 20, Off-Season, I Do I Don’t, Musicology, SoulHood Saga, Luke & Lee, L.Y.F.E; upcoming: Magick, Transformed, Voices in My Ear, Queen Pin III, Flesh and Greed, Never Too Late

Why Broadway Louie? What does the Broadway mean?

“So, I’m from Paterson, New Jersey. I was born on Broadway Ave., so I was born on Broadway Ave. I had a house that was on Broadway Ave. like right around the corner from my school. I’m walking home one day. I see smoke coming from around the corner. There’s a store right there next to my house, so I’m assuming it’s the store. As I get closer, I realize it’s actually my house, so that was like a family house where a lot of us lived at and in my mind, my life kind of changed from that moment because me and my mother got separated from our family, so we kind of moved on our own from house to house to house and never really settled from that, so Broadway is kind of like to keep me grounded and remember where I came from. And Louie is just my name.”

What are you showing or telling the Black community in Jacksonville with the Saga?

“[We’re] giving our community something else to believe in, not just the actual idea of the film, but the idea of us actually shooting a film in Jacksonville six times and highlighting different landmarks, highlighting the history, highlighting what we go through here, highlighting the poverty, highlighting everything that we’ve gone through, people dealing with families. The thing about it is, yes it’s in Jacksonville, but we go through these issues in every community, so it’s also showing them and relating, like ‘hey, we’re going through the same things you’re going through, we’re just doing it in Jacksonville.’ I think the big message is whatever you experience, you can grow out of it.”

TODD JACKSON JR. PLAYING TJ

Skills: also accidentally joining a 6-part movie saga, having let’s get it energy, fake chopping someone’s hand off

Credits: Off-Season, Tyler Perry’s Sistas (series), Black Aceldama (Series), Queen Pin II, Lotta Lies, My Wife and Me (series), Homeboys: MTC, SoulHood Saga, Luke Hills, Luke & Lee; upcoming: Da Bait, Queen Pin III

What does SoulHood mean to you?

“To me, when I think SoulHood, I instantly think that it’s something that’s going to make me feel good. When I hear the word soul, I immediately think that it’s going to be something that’s, you know, body-touching. Something that’s going to, you know, instantly touch your soul [...] I see where Carlos was going with it. I see it as a pamphlet, as a story. I see SoulHood as a story. It’s not a movie, it’s not a series, it’s a story. Carlos put together a story of, actually, it was ten individuals.”

What did you learn throughout all of these films?

“I learned teamwork, imma say that. Like I played sports all my life. I’ve always been, like, the person that the coach can depend on. Well, acting was something that was new to me and it was new to a lot of guys that were on the set and a lot of females that were on the set. We grew together. We taught each other things. We studied our script together. Some of us got there, like, we’re on the set and we’re literally like, ‘yo, let me see

your phone real quick. Yo, can you text me the script.’ It’s, like, it’s a family and, you know, being with a cast for so long, it makes it easy.”

SOLOMON (SOLO) MINATI PLAYING LUKE HILLS

Skills: martial arts, loves challenges, roping family members into the film industry, accidentally giving away major movie spoilers

Credits: Octagona, Section 8, The Co-Signer, SoulHood Saga, Luke Hills, Luke & Lee

What was your most challenging experience on set?

“As far as challenging, that’s me. I like a challenge. I wouldn’t call anything a challenge. If it’s not a challenge, I can’t grow from it. In martial arts you want to be like that. You want to challenge yourself a little bit more every time in order to get better, so I don’t really see that there was a challenge ever making anything film-wise because I’m over there to have a good time. There’s a lot of other things that you can do to make money or that you can do for fun, but I like to do that, you know.”

What was your most fun experience on set?

“Ooh. The most fun we’ve had on set haha, geez, we’ve had a lot of fun times on set. I had a real good time in Miami. We had such a great time, I don’t know if anyone shared this story, but the van, we parked the van somewhere, just jumped out of the van, and we went to the beach. We’re flying the drone. We’re filming stuff and then we just started hanging out and we went to go back to the van and the van wasn’t there, so we were having a good time because we didn’t look at the tow away zone sign. We didn’t look at anything, we just parked and started having a great time, you know, for hours until the car was towed for hours already. But no, I don’t know if we had a one specific great time. I have a good time with those guys every time and it seems to get better because it’s deeper, especially because we’ve been in six movies together, you know what I mean. That’s literally hundreds of scenes together. We’ve been in a hundred scenes together. [We’ve] been working a lot. We have a lot of shared experiences and a lot of celebrations.”

SUMMER MOVIE ROUND UP

Words by Harry Moore

Summer is the time of year where cineplexes are usually loaded with blockbusters. However, the summer season this year has seen a trail of busts limp their way through theaters in what was supposed to be Hollywood’s triumphant return to full force following the pandemic. Several of the studio tent poles have collapsed under the weight of their lofty budgets and middling receptions from critics and audiences, none more so than Warner Bros. much delayed, and even more maligned, superhero bomb “The Flash.” It was a long road to release for Andrés Muschietti, who also directed the two-part adaptation of Stephen King’s “It,” that ended with a faceplant at the box office and a forgettable shrug of a movie that is derivative of other works in the genre. Like several other recent superhero films, “The Flash” jumps into the multiverse, which allows for the appearance of heroes of films past, like Michael Keaton who returns as Batman — over 30 years after Tim Burton’s depiction of the character. For people of a certain age, Keaton is still regarded as the definitive big screen version of Bruce Wayne, and he’s also the highlight of this film, as he seamlessly slips back into his nervy take on the Dark Knight, but the actor and this celebrated version of the character are deserving of a better curtain call than this overly long slog. Unfortunately, Keaton wasn’t the main focus of this film; it was Ezra Miller.

Much has been made of the accusations of Miller’s disturbing, seemingly criminal behavior off screen, but the focus here is on their performance in the film — which is just as abhorrent. From the moment they’re on screen, Miller gives a grating and, frankly, annoying performance as Barry “The Flash” Allen, making the lead character who is in almost every frame of the film incredibly off-putting and almost impossible to root for. This is a hard obstacle to overcome for even the greatest film, but the nature of the time traveling/ multiverse-centric plot causes “The Flash” to double down on the character with a second, somehow even more irritating, version of Allen becoming, essentially, the co-lead of the film. I have sympathy for Sasha Calle, who should have been enjoying her big break with the debut as Supergirl by bringing a unique presence to the film, but it is likely that this will be the first and last time we see her in the role. “The Flash” represents a nadir of modern event filmmaking, a bloated epic with a reliance on excessive CGI and a greater interest in being a vehicle for cameos of famous characters than in telling a cohesive and engaging story.

On the opposite end of the multiverse spectrum sits Sony Animation’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” one of the few outright box office successes of the summer. The sequel to the 2018 surprise hit continues the adventures of the Brooklyn Spider-Man Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as he travels to different dimensions, encountering a secret society of countless other spider men, women and other beings. “Across the Spider-Verse” is, in my mind, a masterpiece that rubs shoulders with the likes of “The Dark Knight” in the genre and pushes the medium of animation forward. The film seamlessly integrates multiple art styles, utilizing computer animation, handdrawn illustrations, watercolors and many others — sometimes all at once — to bring the various universes to life. “Across the Spider-Verse” isn’t just a visual feast: It fires on all cylinders. The ambitious narrative could have easily spun out of control, but it remains engaging and filled with genuine heart, balancing its out of this world story with the universal theme of seeking belonging. The voice cast is exemplary. Moore has played a big part in turning

Miles Morales into a household name alongside Peter Parker; Hailee Steinfeld shows once again that she should give up trying to be a mediocre pop star and focus on being an excellent actor; Jake Johnson is arguably the best big screen Peter Parker; while series newcomers Daniel Kaluuya and Oscar Isaac steal scenes in their respective parts. It is a decisively modern film, brilliantly scored by hip-hop super producer Metro Boomin who does some of the best work of his career while showing he’s unafraid to revel in and dissect the Spider-Man mythology in a way that shows there are generations of people who have been raised on these stories. Each and every frame of the film is a work of art that belongs in a museum.

Which brings us to “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” the fifth and final outing in the iconic adventure series … Harrison Ford returns for one last ride and gives a reliably charismatic performance for the swansong of his famous character. “Dial of Destiny” marks the first Indy outing not to be directed by Steven Spielberg. And it shows. While James Mangold, who helmed this film, is an exceptionally talented director who has made several great films in his career, his ability to orchestrate action sequences and conjure indelible images pales in comparison to Spielberg — as almost every filmmaker ever does. It is a solid adventure, if a little bit of a rendition of past hits from the series. Nevertheless, it’s a fun movie with a surprisingly moving final scene.

Elsewhere this summer we’ve had Jennifer Lawrence’s R-rated comedy “No Hard Feelings,” which showcases Lawrence as a decent comic lead and underlines her charms as a movie star, even if it is unlikely to usher in a return of broad comedies into the multiplex. Recreating the euphoric pandemonium of seeing a film like “The Hangover,” for example, with a crowd full of people scream laughing feels almost impossible in the current era.

“Transformers: Rise of the Beast” is a decent reboot and far from the worst of the series, and stars Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback are both charming. I also enjoyed the ‘90s East Coast rap soundtrack, even if the needle drops felt about as obvious as a Spotify playlist.

And finally, Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City” is a decent outing for the director that fits comfortably amongst the other works of his filmography.

It remains to be seen if the back half of the summer will save any of Hollywood’s blushes at the box office.

T A R S E A R C H 1

“You got two options. You’re either going to go great or piss your pants. Your choice, buddy. And I didn’t piss myself, so I’m good,” Costa Rican native and Clay County Star Search adult division winner Manuel Torres said. “I guess I kind of won. I don’t know,” the singer added.

Aided by his constant practicing, performance personality and some “relaxing” vices (honey candy and cigarettes), Torres was far from incontinent and even exceeded the greatness that he hoped for; his onstage experience was exciting, surprising even.

Manuel Torres, who began his musical affinity at age 14/15, approached his performance with the desire to provide this “factor of surprise.” When the 24-year-old walked on stage in a suit with his signature sunglasses and started some quirky conversation with the audience, the desired surprise factor was in full effect.

Torres explained his inclination for conversation: “Whenever you get on stage, it’s always going to be awkward if you don’t say something, but if you go up there and you’re like, ‘How y’all doing? You all want some free candy? Cigarettes? You want to get a beer after this?’ You know? That makes people laugh and you can connect with the audience.”

He later reasoned, “Everybody’s all structured as to how they’re supposed to act outside of their houses, in the external world and what I like to do is [say] ‘you can be free’ around me at least, that’s fine, but a lot of people perceive me as weird, but I’d like to say, I’m just ready to go.”

Of course, the singer’s choice of song, Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” contributed equally to the factor of surprise for the Gen-Z-er. Independent of this factor, the singer’s performance of the Sinatra song was heartfelt, smooth, and electric. The self-proclaimed old soul picked this classic for his first gig because he knew the words by heart. “I’m in love with music from the past,” Torres added.

Beyond Sinatra, much of Torres’ favorite music and musical inspirations come from the past: Oasis, The Beatles (together and individually), Jeff Lynne of ELO and Bob Dylan all shape Torres’ own music along with modern bands like Imagine Dragons. Even Torres’ stage name, William Torres, is influenced by Boomer and Gen-X greats like singer William John Paul Gallagher (a.k.a. Liam Gallagher), actor Robin Williams, and musician William Bruce Rose Jr. (a.k.a. Axl Rose).

The history lover has three (very new) singles: “When You’re Leaving Me,” “Summer Rain” and “An Angel That’s Been and Gone” — all born from brief guitar jam sessions which are sent to his producer in Costa Rica and all with his signature rock n’ roll flavor.

With his present and upcoming music, William Torres hopes to financially help his family, who recently moved from Costa Rica to Jacksonville. “I used to say that I didn’t want to be famous ’cause I didn’t really care about it. I still don’t, but I just kind of want to help my family out and push through with bills and having a place to live,” he said.

Making music today remains a motivator for Torres, but the musician also sees a future with his melodies. While Torres hopes his music will top the charts and help him sign with Parlophone Records, he desires a connection with his audience above all else, the same sort of connection Torres established for his Clay County Fair Star Search performance. “My favorite part of the performance is going to be when all the people in the audience know my lyrics, and they’re singing it back to me ’cause that means I made an impact on them. Can you imagine someone memorizing something you write? You’ve done it! That’s it! ... That’s my goal in life. I’d rather die than not make it,” he said.

William Torres may indeed sign with Parlophone Records. “I would make them billionaires, probably,” quipped the self-taught singer-guitarist-harmonica player (“you never know when you’re going to end up in jail and need a harmonica”). He might sell out concerts and financially free his family from work. We don’t know yet.

What we do know: William (Manny) Torres is meant for music. He knows so. “I always tell myself and all the people I meet: This is what I’m here for. I don’t know anything else. I can’t be in an office. I can’t imagine myself as an engineer, so the thing that I was put here to do on earth is write songs and give them to the beautiful people.”

Manny Torres

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner

Find William Torres on Instagram and TikTok at @williamtorresmusic. His music is available on all streaming platforms.

ty love

Words by Carson Rich

Ty Love is a local singer from Callahan who is eager to put his name on the map. Growing up listening to country and alternative music inspired him, and now he is looking to take his talent to the next level. When he was young, his father was friends with a security guard for the Zac Brown Band, which led to him meeting the members of the band and growing his love for music even more. From then on he began taking requests for anything from concerts to funerals. His family members are his biggest fans, and they support him through it all.

Love is always looking for new ways to grab people’s attention. Even during his interview with “Folio,” he pulled out his guitar and started ripping it, playing both old and new country ballads, like “Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan, with his mother standing on the side admiring his powerhouse of a voice. At the Clay County Fair Star Search competition, he performed his own version of “Hurricane’’ by Band of Heathens. He is looking to play at the Suwannee River Jam later this year and, he said, is pretty much open to doing whatever gigs come his way. Ultimately, Love hopes to become big as a singer-songwriter.

Leigha Colson

Words by Matthew Schneider

Leigha Colson, an extremely talented musician and singer, wowed the crowd with her phenomenal performance in the 2023 Star Search contest at the Clay County Fair. Colson was awarded third place in the adult division after singing “Tennessee Whiskey” with her own unique twist. Her goosebump-provoking vocals were accompanied by acoustic guitar, creating a perfect synergy between the two.

When I spoke with Colson, she explained that singing just comes naturally to her. She grew up in a small church where singing was common and played an important role in their lives. Colson is also a well-versed musician who has been playing the guitar since fifth grade. Additionally, she knows how to play the electric guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, clarinet and is currently learning to play the piano.

Colson mentioned that country music had always played a large role in her life. “I grew up listening to country music and that [“Tennessee Whiskey”] was just one song that I hope I can sing to my future husband and give it meaning,” Colson said.

The inspiration behind Colson’s music can be credited to her family and a handful of her favorite music artists, including Melvin Knight, Clark Beckham, Amy Winehouse, Luke Combs and most importantly, her oldest niece Myla and the made-up songs she likes to sing.

Colson stated that she never expected to place in the top three, when going into this contest, because the competition was tough and very talented. “My competition was very hard, more specifically, competing against one of my friends,” she added.

Just like many other performers, Colson confirmed that she gets stage fright from time to time. To manage her nerves on stage, she tries not to think about what she’s doing until her actual performance. If she starts to feel nervous during her performance, she closes her eyes and pictures herself singing in front of a crowd even larger than the one present. By doing so, the actual crowd in front of her seems a lot less intimidating when she opens her eyes again. Once Colson’s nerves begin to settle and her inner musical inclinations grab the reins, she enjoys gazing out at the crowd in front of her and taking in the moment.

Colson said she loves singing and performing, but as of now, it is just a hobby that she enjoys doing in her pastime.

“My dream is to be a pediatric anesthesiologist, and if I can sing my way into that, then I will,” she continued.

Colson is currently working on a few original, unfinished songs that she plans to perfect and release through various music streaming platforms sometime in the future. Follow her for updates on Instagram at @everyone_loves_leelee and @btw_leigha. sings.

Chaz Schroeder AKA Pickle Chaz

Words by Teresa Spencer

At the age of 8, Chaz Schroeder (a.k.a. Pickle Chaz) saw rapper Vanilla Ice in concert at Wild Adventures. And that’s where it all began.

“I thought that was the coolest thing in the world, and I wanted to be just like that. Looking at the crowds cheering, that’s what I wanted,” Schroeder recalled.

In fact, he started his musical journey singing Vanillia Ice’s smash hit “Ice Ice Baby” at karaoke which then evolved to participating in singing competitions. It wasn’t long before he began writing his own songs to perform.

“The love of music is what inspires me. I am inspired by the beats I hear, and I start to write music to go with the beats,” said Schroeder, who added another title to add to his collection as winner of the Clay County Fair Star Search junior division.

As one of the only contestants in the junior division who wrote his own lyrics and music for the competition, Schroeder, now a pre-teen, said his song “Face Your Fears” came out of his own experience (and a

2khloe grace

Words by Carmen Macri

Khloe Grace’s love for singing dates back to her earliest memories. She draws inspiration from the many talented women in the realm of country music. This influence is vividly evident in the song she chose to perform for Clay County Fair’s Star Search contest — “Anyway” by Martina McBride. Grace says she always felt inspired by McBride because of her powerful voice and meaningful lyrics.

“She is such a powerhouse singer,” Grace explained. “[‘Anyway’] inspired me because no matter what people think or what comes your way, you have to believe in yourself. If you have dreams, don’t let anything hold you back. Just do it anyway.”

And while Grace sang a beautiful cover for the competition, she’s also been creating music of her own. She even mentioned having a debut single coming out very soon with more to follow. Considering she’s already opened for several Nashville recording artists, she is well on her way to being a star herself, which is especially impressive since Grace is only 13 years old!

friend’s) being bullied and knowing he had to stand up to the bully and face his own fears. After writing the song, he felt he did just that and even felt empowered as a result, saying he wanted to create a song to inspire others to “not only stand up against bullies but to face any fears you may have.”

Schroeder plans to release his second single “Keep Your Head Up” in the coming months with many more songs to follow. “I love to create and inspire people through my music,” he said, “and one day I hope to be doing world tours.”

He also attributes his early music career successes to the support and love he receives from his parents and grandparents. He truly believes that family is everything, and he is full of gratitude.

You can catch Pickle Chaz at upcoming events in Jacksonville, as well as South Florida, and follow him on Facebook at “Pickle Chaz.”

Not only does she have a mesmerizing voice, but her choice of outfit for the contest perfectly complemented her performing style. Striding onto the stage in a pair of cowboy boots with a beaming smile, she effortlessly embodied the essence of country music.

Grace’s journey didn’t end at the competition either; she will be singing the national anthem for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on July 29 and has auditions for the Suwanee River Jam coming up. There is no doubt in my mind that she’s a shoo-in to land a spot.

Harper Chipoletti

Words by Amiyah Golden

Harper Chipoletti rang out an astounding rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” from the 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz at the Clay County Fair Star Search competition.

Harper grew up constantly singing around the house. Her mom recounts car ride performances with Chipoletti’s rendition of the hit song, “Let it Go” from the movie Frozen. As time went on, she knew she wanted to take her talents beyond the confines of the family car.

We explored Chipoletti’s musical backings and interests. Her favorite genre reigning as pop but also, acknowledging her love for country music. With one of her biggest inspirations, singer Taylor Swift who is a real-life example of being able to bridge between the two respective genres.

Harper has competed in a few other contests but would love to do the Star Search competition again in the future if the opportunity presents itself. She will be participating in the upcoming First Coast Future Stars competition that will be held at Mudville Grille on July 22.

With her aim to become multi-faceted in her talents, Chipoletti excitedly noted that she would be starting theater camp soon. With big hopes of being on Broadway one day, as a lead actress in either Wicked or Aladdin, this will allow the young star to perfect her craft.

Chipoletti currently resides in Middleburg, Florida with a very supportive family.

“We want her to do what makes her happy.” Chipoletti’s mom stated.

I can’t wait to see “One Night Only with Harper Chipoletti” in a marquee on Broadway Street one day. If you want to keep up with the rising star, you can check out her voice coach’s YouTube channel, “missmarieskids1.”

JACKSONVILLE JUMBO SHRIMP

upcoming promotions

TUESDAY, JULY 25 – SUNDAY, JULY 30

Friday, July 28, 7:05PM METAL NIGHT

It’s Metal Night, and we’re handing out black long sleeve t-shirts to the first 500 fans through the gates! Additionally, enjoy Friday Night Lites with $2 12oz. Miller Lites, presented by Miller Lite, and Friday Night Fireworks, presented by Arlington Toyota.

Saturday, July 29, 6:35PM 80’S NIGHT

Try as my might, we couldn’t find a company to produce shrimp scented scratch and sniff stickers. That said, we have not given up on our salute to the 80’s as The Jumbo Shrimp will be traveling back to Castle Gray Skull for a night filled with nostalgia. We’ll also be giving away 80’s t-shirts to the first 2,000 fans through the gates.

Sunday, July 30, 3:05PM STAR WARS NIGHT

The Jumbo Shrimp along with costuming clubs, The 501st Legion - Squad7 and WasabiCon are proud to present Star Wars Night! Come join us at the ballpark and meet your favorite Star Wars characters! Head out to the center field gate where we will host catch on the field until 20 minutes after the gates have opened. Kids can also feel like the pros after each Sunday game by running the bases once the field is clear. Plus, face paint, balloon animals & more, presented by Baptist Health.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 13

TICKETS START AT JUST $5 $5

AFFORDABLE. FAMILY. FUN. AFFORDABLE. FAMILY. FUN.

Meet Jacksonville’s Very Own Beer Pimp

It’s Friday afternoon. You just got off from a long, grueling day at work and have never been so fired up for the weekend. While speed walking to your car, the scalding Florida sun is beating down on the back of your neck, and all you are thinking about is relaxing and enjoying an ice cold beverage at your favorite local restaurant. Luckily for you, the Beer Pimp made his way through your part of town and saved the day.

Carlos Campos, more commonly known as the “Beer Pimp,” is a master draft beer installer, and the owner of Carlos Campos Draft Services LLC (CCDS) in Jacksonville. Campos and his team have designed and installed draft beer systems in many bars and restaurants throughout the Jacksonville area. They also service other establishments around the state of Florida, southern Georgia and North Carolina. Since CCDS’ founding in 2021, Campos and his team have installed more than 125 draft systems. When it comes to dispensing draft beer, meticulously customizing the design and installation of the draft system is key to delivering the best tasting pint.

“Whatever the customer wants, the customer gets. If they want a mermaid tap to fit the theme of their bar or restaurant, that’s what we’ll give them!” Campos said. “Everything is manufactured in Jacksonville.”

I recently had the pleasure of meeting up with the distinguished Beer Pimp to learn more about his company and get the scoop on what being a Beer Pimp really entails. Our interview took place at the new Treylor Park restaurant in downtown St. Augustine. This popular eatery is big on Southern comfort and cold draft beer. Trey Wilder, co-owner of the Treylor Park chain, invited me to the restaurant so I could interview Campos and get a firsthand look at the impressive beer draft system his team was installing.

Words by Matthew Schneider and Photos by Amiyah Golden

Campos, originally from Juarez, Mexico, said that he never intended to be a beer pimp.

“As a child, I wanted to be a lawyer, ‘’ Campos explained. “I was always breaking stuff, but very good at fixing what I broke.”

After college and moving to Jacksonville, he found himself working in the beer industry. Campos reminisced about the origin of his Beer Pimp moniker. Working on a draft installation at Kickbacks Gastropub

in, Campos didn’t let even a worldwide pandemic stop him from growing his business. He looked at the pandemic shutdowns as a unique opportunity to connect with bars and restaurants that had temporarily closed their doors. He began generating more contracts from Florida to the Carolinas where he was hired to remove old beer lines and install new customized ones. When businesses began to reopen once again, his reputation as the Beer Pimp and top-tier customized draft system installer was solidified.

Campos credits his company’s customer service, ingenuity and attention to detail as the primary factors in its success. He also said what makes CCDS different is that his team is “committed to creating everything for the customer, and not for the benefit of my pocket. It’s our passion, creativity, and customer satisfaction that we pride ourselves in … and we really enjoy the ride with our customers.”

To this hard-working beer pimp and master draft installer, his company is more than just a job.

“Money comes and it goes, but my company’s product will be around long after I’m gone. I want to leave a legacy for my kids and grandkids,” Campos shared. “One day they’ll say, ‘Hey, this was my dad’s or my grandfather’s.’ That to me is very important.”

Scan the QR code to watch the full interview with Jacksonville’s very own beer pimp.

in Jacksonville was quite complex. The team, determined to complete the installation with no delays, slept inside the bar for several nights until the job was complete. One day, Campos could not get up off the floor, so he pulled himself up using a trunk transport line. That’s when Steve Flores, owner of Kickbacks, looked at Campos and announced, “You really are the Beer Pimp!” It was then that Campos would become known to the world over as the Beer Pimp.

When COVID-19 came beer-barreling

Taking a Tour Through Jacksonville’s Most Endangered Buildings

You’ve likely driven past them on your way to work, the beach or shopping centers. You may have even entered one of these buildings without realizing that you were stepping into the past, into a structure much older than yourself. But as the years go by, the lesser these buildings become recognizable and the risk of being demolished and completely erased from our history increases.

In May of this year, the Jacksonville Historical Society (JHS) released a list of Jacksonville’s most endangered historic properties. Each year JHS releases this list to educate residents about our city’s history through its endangered buildings. Talk about an oxymoron. But as I sifted through the PowerPoint presentation the organization posted on its website and YouTube, I began to really think about what a loss it would be if these buildings were demolished and their history erased.

Why are these buildings important to the city? What makes these buildings endangered? And what can we do to save them? These are the questions that were burning in the back of my mind when I met with Alan Bliss, CEO of the Jacksonville Historical Society, in one of the only libraries dedicated strictly to Jacksonville and its history, located at the Jacksonville Historical Society headquarters. (I know, I didn’t think I would ever have to use the word “Jacksonville” so much in a sentence either.)

“They [buildings] help tell stories about the past. They help draw people’s attention to the fact that in the 21st century, we, here in Jacksonville, stand on the shoulders of the people who came before us, generations of them, and the events of their lives and the places that they occupy and the buildings that date back, even just 40, 50, 60 years,” Bliss shared. “But it’s not just about the storytelling. It’s not just about reminding people of the past. Every building when it’s built and through its life and then its preservation experience has to make economic and financial sense. It has to be sustainable. And so economic development really depends in part on historic preservation.”

Take Riverside and Avondale, for example. Less than 50 years ago, the historic neighborhoods faced a “wholesale demolition,” Bliss noted. The state had plans of demolishing a path of homes and businesses to create more accessible roads. It was then that Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) was founded. And according to Bliss, it took property after property and property owner after property owner to eventually take an interest in preservation. One by one, these properties that were on the brink of demolition were turned into homes and businesses. And now, the historic district has some of the highest property values compared to anywhere in Duval County.

But while Riverside and Avondale were saved for the better years ago, the same cannot be said for the buildings on the most recent endangered list.

“Not every endangered building is abandoned, and buildings get on to our list for a number of different reasons. Sometimes they are abandoned, and sometimes they’re in an advanced state of neglect,” Bliss explained. “And so finding a sustainable use for an old building is really one of the major challenges. And so it’s going to be hard to find a sustainable new use and adaptive use for the old building. That’s what puts it at risk.”

While I can think of a million ideas of what these endangered buildings could be used for, there are financial and property owner restrictions to be tackled. And so lastly, the answer to the question that I am sure is on all of our minds at this point of the story: What can be done, especially by local residents, to save these buildings?

“I believe that everyone in Jacksonville should belong to the Jacksonville Historical Society,” Bliss said. “More than that, though, I think that it would be helpful that people would let their city council members hear from them about their appreciation for historic education and knowledge about Jacksonville’s past council members and others involved in local government. Believe me, they listen to what their constituents say they care about.”

Following is a list of some of the better known buildings currently considered endangered with some suggestions for possible alternatives.

Mount Olive A.M.E Church (841 Franklin St.)

The structure was first built in 1887, but the small wooden church would soon become too small for the large congregation. Abraham Lincoln Lewis, building committee chairman, selected plans drawn by Richard L. Brown, Jacksonville’s first Black architect. Upon arriving at the site, I was immediately drawn to the large stained glass windows (though some were broken) and the steep staircases that led to the front door. While I can see it being brought back as a church, it would also make a great museum space.

Snyder Memorial Methodist Church (226 N. Laura St.)

This one hit a little too close to home as it is quite literally right next to “Folio” headquarters. Everytime I pass the large stone structure with its detailed stained glass windows, I look for a way in. (Can you blame me?) Built in 19021903, the church is one of the first churches to be rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1901. While the building is owned by the City of Jacksonville, it has remained vacant for the past decade. I personally would love to see this space become a nightclub, but if that’s too unrealistic of an expectation, I’ll settle with it becoming a museum. As long as I get to step foot in it, I’ll be happy.

Victorian Duplexes (316 and 320 Jefferson St.)

The twin two-story duplexes, influenced by the Queen Anne style, were built in 1906. The charming structure with its gable roofs and octagonal cupolas has been owned by the Clara White Mission since 2014. In line with the non-profit’s mission, I feel these structures would make a great space as shelter for the homeless. Or at the very least, they could be used as meeting space for the organization or space for expanding their culinary arts and janitorial services job training courses.

Dr. Horace Drew Mansion (245 W. Third St.)

Built in 1909 by Dr. Horace R. Drew, a physician and grandson to Jacksonville pioneer Columbus Drew, this eclectic and somewhat eerie home in the Springfield Historic District with a lovely view of Klutho Park across the street. While there have been some rumors of hauntings surrounding this residence, the only real threat this mansion holds is its bad condition. There were some attempts at restoration over the decades, but the mansion has been untouched for several years. Now hear me out, this mansion would make a great bed and breakfast. Not just any B&B, but one tailored to guests who love horror films and chasing ghosts.

Words and photos by Ambar Ramirez

Laura Street Trio (corner of Forsyth and Laura streets)

The large three-building structures sit on the corner of Forsyth and Laura Street and are hard to ignore if you work Downtown. Both “high-rises” were designed by Klutho: the Bisbee Building in 1908-1909 and Florida Life Building in 1911. The smallest and oldest structure in the trio, known as “Marble Bank,” was designed by Edwin H. Glidden and built in 1902. The buildings were bought by the City of Jacksonville in 2002. In 2011 the Atkins Group began renovations to include a Courtyard by Marriott and residences. Unfortunately, renovations have come to a halt as the developer seeks more funds from the city to complete the project. Bliss explained, “The city council has a tough vote coming up ahead of it. The property owner of the Laura Street Trio is asking for a major, major direct appropriation from the city to execute that restoration project. It’s unprecedented, and it’s a lot of money. The council is going to have to really sort of examine their sense of how they value a project like that and decide whether the value of that investment of public money will come back to the people of Jacksonville more generally in terms of stimulating the growth of Downtown and Jacksonville’s identity.”

Old

Duval County Armory (851 N. Market St.)

This fortress-like building was constructed in 1916 for the armory of the local National Guard. With a dramatic arched entrance and battlement towers, it’s hard to see the building as anything but what it was initially created for. Nevertheless, in 1973 the building became the City of Jacksonville’s Parks and Recreation Center but was left abandoned for the first time in 2010 when the department moved to the Ed Ball Building. With its many windows and presumably safe structure, I believe this would make for a great residence space. Plus, how cool would you look if you said you lived in an armory?

Genovar’s Hall (644 W. Ashley St.)

Genovar’s Hall was built by Sebastian Genovar in 1895 to house his grocery business and then later a saloon. But being that this structure sits on the intersection of Ashley and Jefferson streets, the space became the heart of nightlife for LaVilla’s Black community during the height of the jazz era. Wynn’s Hotel opened in this building in 1931 and quickly became a favorite lodging place for entertainers like Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie and Ray Charles. Today, the structure, owned by the City of Jacksonville, the bottom of the structure has been completely gutted, leaving little more than a roof and beams. Still, it would be a waste to see a place that was once so vibrant be destroyed. Due to its location and open floor plan, this would make for a great flea market or farmers market. At the very least, it could become a museum that honors its history as a LaVilla landmark.

Annie Lytle Public School (1011 Peninsular Place)

Also known as Public School Number Four, this structure was built in 1917. It originally looked over Riverside Park before I-95 and I-10 were constructed, completely isolating the school and making it too noisy for any further education to take place. The building has been abandoned since the 1970s and has faced many threats of demolition despite it being a historic landmark. The Annie Lytle Preservation Group has put up a brave fight to maintain the school until a viable use can be found for the building. To honor its original use, I think the space should continue to be a place of education but for the arts with additional art studios for local artists to rent out. We do have technology now such as headphones and soundproofing rooms, so we can toss out the idea of it being too noisy out the window.

Sadly, this isn’t even half of the properties listed as endangered by the Jacksonville Historical Society. To view the full list and to get involved, visit jaxhistory.org.

The girlies make their podcast debut

Words by Ambar Ramirez and Carmen Macri

CARMEN: The day has finally come. Ambar and I recorded a podcast.

AMBAR: Not just any podcast, but a local comedy podcast hosted and produced by Bobby Brown with co-host Logan Butler called “Writer’s Block.”

CARMEN: Ha. Fitting.

AMBAR: Being that we are just so hilarious (note the sarcasm), it made perfect sense when Bobby reached out asking us to be featured on the pod. I mean who else do you know that constantly embarrasses themselves publicly?

CARMEN: I cannot express enough how much I hate public speaking. Let alone when there are bright lights on my face and a camera recording. I think I can speak for both of us when I say we had the meat sweats.

AMBAR: Like the type of sweats that I had to look back at the couch to make sure I didn’t leave a stain.

CARMEN: Bobby and Logan made sure to make us as (un)comfortable as possible, giving us a few tips and talking points. But all that went out the window when Bobby pressed record.

AMBAR : At that moment my heart fell out of my butt, and there was no turning back. I also wasn’t aware that we would be wearing headphones to hear ourselves talk among each other. The thing I hate more than public speaking is actually being able to hear myself public speaking.

CARMEN: It definitely threw me off. As I was telling a story it was hard to not trip over my words since it sounded like I had an echo. But, other than that, things went pretty smoothly.

AMBAR: Honestly, once we got past the whole introduction of the podcast, my nerves melted away and I could not stop talking. Who woulda thunk.

CARMEN: We talked about dreaming, ghosts, relationships, things we hate, things we love, you name it. At one point I blacked out and went on a tangent about men owning cats. I am still not sure exactly what I said so we will figure that out together.

AMBAR: I also blacked out for that conversation.

CARMEN: Now that I think about it, I don’t really remember much.

AMBAR: I guess you’ll just have to listen to the podcast?

CARMEN: I guess so! Scan the QR code below to hear what we don’t remember talking about. The podcast can also be found on Spotify and Apple Music!

In Your Own Words

“What does comedy mean to you?”

“Obviously, Lil Duval is the biggest comedian to come out of the city — his impact and the doors he opened for people here to even have a vision of a superstar comedian. When I started, I used to only wear Jaguar jerseys on stage because he used to do it. You can’t just get that type of love and support; It takes a lot of real-life work and grinding to get that love of the people here. I feel like my job now is to keep being the young, funny, hard-working comedian trying to make a name with my standup, podcast, Bobby in the Streets public interviews, all of it. And whenever my day comes to be the comedy superstar symbol for the city, I’ll be ready to carry that torch with pride. As far as having a platform here I didn’t realize people were even paying attention to me until about six months ago. I thought the internet was all bots. When I went to Hollywood Laugh Factory for Chocolate Sundaes and passed my first impression spot, I felt like there were real people starting to show me love. And when I came home, I came home to so much love and support, I was like “Damn, where did everybody come from?” But it made me so happy, man. Of course, I want to be popping and famous online but the real impact is what you can do when a person is in the same space as you: How do they feel? That’s what I feel Jacksonville helps me do. I built most of my early career from real-life and I’m really proud of that. I see people doing skits online and blowing up because of it, and people say, “Bobby, you gotta do this,” but I always knew in real life, on that stage, in the moment, I’m way funnier than what y’all are watching on your phones. Of course, I’d get impatient or sometimes even discouraged just because I would love to be more popping on Instagram/TikTok, but Jacksonville keeps me in reality. In ways, sometimes being a comedian in Jacksonville feels kinda like being a side chick. The main girl is music. This city loves its music and musicians. But on the fourth weekend, they might want to dip out and try something a little different. On those nights, it’s up to us to be good and memorable enough that people wanna come back and tell their friends about it.”

Insta: (@bobbycomedian)

YouTube: (@MaybeBobbyTV)

Scan the QR code to read the full version of this article.

Bobby Brown Jr.

APEX THEATRE STUDIO’S BARD BUS PRESENTS TWELFTH NIGHT

LIVE FROM THE BACKYARD STAGE

JULY 14 & 15

BARENAKED LADIES

“LAST SUMMER ON EARTH 2023”

FIVE FOR FIGHTING & DEL AMITRI

JULY 16

YOUNG THE GIANT MILKY CHANCE

JULY 20

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD

“BIG BIG LOVE TOUR 2023” FORTUNATE YOUTH

JULY 23

GOO GOO DOLLS

“THE BIG NIGHT OUT TOUR”

O.A.R.

JULY 27

JOHN FOGERTY

JULY 28

UNDEROATH & THE GHOST INSIDE WE CAME AS ROMANS BETTER LOVERS

AUGUST 5

DON’T MISS A SHOW! FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AT FACEBOOK.COM/THEAMPSA

COUNTING CROWS

DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL

AUGUST 8

STEPHEN MARLEY

BABYLON BY BUS TOUR SKIP MARLEY

LIVE FROM THE BACKYARD STAGE

AUGUST 11

JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT THE BASEBALL PROJECT

AUGUST 12

JASON MRAZ

“MYSTICAL MAGICAL RHYTHMICAL RADICAL RIDE TOUR” MONICA MARTIN

AUGUST 13

MATISYAHU & G.LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE

“2023 SUMMER TOUR”

CYDEWAYS

LIVE FROM THE BACKYARD STAGE

AUGUST 25

ZACH WILLIAMS

CONSUMED BY FIRE

SEPTEMBER 8

BRETT YOUNG

JAKE SCOTT & GRIFFEN PALMER

SEPTEMBER 21

SING OUT LOUD

YONDER MOUNTAIN

STRING BAND, RAILROAD EARTH, KELLER & THE KEELS

LIVE FROM THE BACKYARD STAGE

SEPTEMBER 23

WHISKEY MYERS

READ SOUTHALL BAND THE WEATHERED SOULS

SEPTEMBER 27 & 28

HARDY

“THE MOCKINGBIRD & THE CROW FALL TOUR”

LAINEY WILSON

DYLAN MARLOWE

OCTOBER 19

BUDDY GUY

“DAMN RIGHT FAREWELL”

CHRISTONE “KINGFISH" INGRAM

OCTOBER 20

SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE

GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS

DAMON FOWLER

OCTOBER 26

CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS

DON’T MISS A SHOW! FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AT FACEBOOK.COM/PVCONCERTHALL

X106.5 PRESENTS ANDREW MCMAHON IN THE WILDERNESS FLOR

JULY 18

A GAMBLE ROGERS FESTIVAL SHOWCASE FEATURING WILLI CARLISLE

AUGUST 5

MOON TAXI THE STEWS

AUGUST 11

DEVON ALLMAN & DONAVON FRANKENREITER

JD SIMO

AUGUST 20

MOLLY HATCHET

SEPTEMBER 8

KT TUNSTALL

SEPTEMBER 17

SOUTHSIDE

JOHNNY & THE ASBURY JUKES

SEPTEMBER 21

BLUE

OCTOBER

OCTOBER 4

CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2 Swedish car driven by Jerry on “Seinfeld”

Solve this puzzle like a regular sudoku, but instead of using numbers, use the letters B-U-R-T-O-N (for Lakesha Burton, Jacksonville’s new Director of Community Initiatives) to fill each row, column and box.

1. AMSICP

2. OHUSPAWT

3. OEHM AEPLT

4. IF TSR EBSA

5. ERAT TB

Dear Dumbs,

Dear Dumbs,

You both are my husband’s and my go-to for anything that has to do with relationships. We listen to the podcast every week and always pick up the “Folio” to see what else you’re up to. My husband and I had a talk the other night, and we both wish we had you there to consult. We’ve been married 11 years and feel as though we spend too much time together. We know from listening to the show that you have a business together and the podcast as well. You obviously spend a lot of time with one another. How does that make you feel, and how do you approach the times when you need your own space?

Millie W. Orange Park

TERRY: OK! We got this, Millie.

SHARI: Yes. We were actually talking about this subject just the other day.

TERRY: Yup, I was being a baby and had to announce to the entire world I needed some time to myself.

SHARI: Baby? More like b**ch.

TERRY: There are many ways to get your point across.

SHARI: And you did. Loud and clear. But the fact is, Millie, you do need your own time in a relationship.

TERRY: In our case it’s very rare. We honestly like being together. That being said, you shouldn’t feel bad for feeling like your world is closing in.

SHARI: I hate to sound cliche, but this is where communication comes in really handy. Sometimes I’ll even announce, “It’s time for an adult talk.”

TERRY: And the announcement works. It takes the sting out of all the words to follow, especially since the subject of spending too much time together can hurt feelings. Your guy probably will only hear that you don’t like him anymore. Guys are weak like that.

SHARI: I don’t think anyone looks forward to hearing that. But if we were there with you, we would highly suggest spending time on your own hobbies.

TERRY: And if you don’t have any hobbies, I seriously suggest going out and getting some.

SHARI: Feeling like you are losing your sense of self is very common in lon ger relationships. You actually need to take the time to nurture yourself.

TERRY : I can’t stress enough how important this is. If it’s not nipped in the bud, it could really snowball into something much bigger and more resentful.

SHARI: Terry is right. If you don’t handle this right, it can really become some thing much bigger!

TERRY: So, Millie, your issue is very common and our advice is fairly straight forward. Let him know it’s time to have an uncomfortable but necessary con versation. Suggest hobbies, spending time with friends, etc. Above all, nei ther of you should take it personal when the other is feeling overwhelmed or slightly smothered.

SHARI: And carving out some space to be alone isn’t that hard. Start by taking walks or going to the gym or store alone. These small breaks throughout the day really add up and you’ll immediately feel better.

To listen to this podcast or more from the Gang of Two, visit gangoftwo.net.

YOU'RE INVITED

Join host and local storyteller, Al Letson, for an evening of performance and conversation with local artists about the indelible connection between their work and the place they live, the South.

WHEN

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

6PM - 8PM

WHERE WJCT Studios

100 Festival Park Avenue

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

FEATURED ARTISTS

Valerie Esguerra, Spoken word artist

Folk is People, Musical artists

Erin Kenrick, Visual artist

Dustin Harewood, Visual artist

Roosevelt Watson III, Visual artist

TICKETS

This event is free, but seating is limited and reservations are required. Reserve your seat today!

VISIT WJCT.ORG/EVENTS

Presented in partnership with Moving the Margins.

RELATED