Folio Vol. 37, Issue 9

38

49

Thrift

55

Raising

59

Video Game Review: Hogwarts Legacy

61

Romanza Festivale Celebrates St. Augustine’s Heritage in Arts and Culture Staff

Behind the Cover: “Jenna Alexander Paints the Perfect Summer in ‘Modern Summer’”

Photo submitted by Jenna Alexander and Maddie Cheney

KERRY SPECKMAN Copy Editor/ Writer

I understand the politics of Jax. It is a shitty place for sure and has really been dug into the mud with all the developers money/corruption.

Are you interesting in looking into the horrible state of affairs in Neptune Beach?

Check out the water and sewer deal they are trying to work out for Tribridge residential Atlantic 500.

I wasn’t suppose to know about it. I contacted the COAB engineer and city manager the 1st of the year before anyone else knew about it... and I am been noisy ever since.

Neptune beach is racing to get the agreement signed. WE have no water for this Atlantic 500 or for Shad Khan’s seahorse purchase/development.

I am on it...but need your amazing help. There is A LOT more. It is really a huge story...pulitzer winner potential for those who dare investigate.

Thank YOU Folio. I cried when I read your feature on Tommy Hazouri.. I rolled around in happiness when you exposed Rory Diamond.

Thank you

Pat Hazouri

BOUQS & BRICKS BOUQUETS BRICKBATS

To Farmery Bodega and Bakery. A joint effort between Green Legacy Farm and Mena’s Legacy Kitchen and Catering, this family-owned business at the corner of Main and Third streets in Springfield aims to connect the community with fresh, healthy food from area farmers. Fresh produce, baked goods, prepared meals, smoothies and other healthy items are on the menu with an emphasis on quality, sustainability and local pride.

To Jacksonville’s air quality. According to the 2023 State of the Air report produced by the American Lung Association, Jacksonville is ranked one of the top 25 best cities in the nation for ozone pollution. That and the River City experienced zero unhealth days of high ozone last year. For the full report, visit lung.org.

To homeowners insurance companies. Florida property insurance rates have been skyrocketing over the last few years with increases of up to 60% expected, not to mention the sheer number of existing policies not being renewed or outright canceled. Some blame the price hikes on fraud and frivolous litigations, while others point to the increase in flooding and hurricane-related claims. Regardless, insurance companies don’t appear to be hurting financially nearly as much their insureds, especially the ones they’re abandoning.

HOROSCOPES

May is the perfect month for Aries to show off their impatience and lack of subtlety. Your “go big or go home” attitude will be on full display this month, whether you’re trying to win an argument or impress a potential love interest. Just be careful not to bulldoze over everyone in your path, unless you want to spend the month alone.

Get ready for a cosmic rollercoaster, Libra. The universe is doing some of its own spring cleaning and getting rid of what no longer serves us. While change and letting go of things (or people) may seem scary, just know that room must be made for things (and people) that do serve us. Once mid-May comes along, the fog will dissipate and bring clarity.

SCORPIO

It’s time to stop and smell the roses, Taurus. This month is a time of renewal and growth as we fully embrace the season of spring. The energy this time of year is all about new beginnings, and you will likely feel a strong urge to start fresh in various areas of your life. Take advantage of the longer days to work toward your goals.

ARIES TAURUS

Gemini, get ready to use your gift of gab to impress and annoy everyone around you this month. Your chatty nature will be in full force, whether you’re sharing your latest conspiracy theory or regaling your friends with yet another story about your ex. Remember to keep your audience in mind, though. Not everyone may appreciate your constant need for attention and stimulation. Either way, have fun navigating the ups and downs of being a Gemini – you’re a walking contradiction and that’s what makes you so entertaining!

CANCER

With the weather warming up and the days getting longer, it’s a great time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Consider starting a new exercise routine or exploring a new form of physical activity that excites you. Overall, May is a time of growth and renewal for you, Cancer. Embrace the energy of spring and use it to propel yourself forward toward your goals and dreams. Take care of yourself, nurture your relationships, and pursue your passions with enthusiasm and determination.

Scorpio, prepare to embrace your dark side this month. Your mysterious and brooding nature will be on full display this May, just be careful not to scare away potential friends or love interests with your intense gaze and unnerving silence. Embrace your inner darkness, Scorpio, just make sure to come back to the light occasionally. Otherwise, you might need to invest in a nightlight.

SAGITTARIUS

Hold onto your hat, Sagittarius, because May is going to be a wild ride. This month, you’ll be feeling particularly restless and eager to explore the world. Who needs stability and routine when you can be jetting off to new and exciting destinations every chance you get? So buckle up and don’t forget to come back to reality every once in a while and take care of yourself.

Get ready for a month of being your own personal workhorse with your diligent and hardworking nature, Capricorns. Just be careful not to get too bogged down in the details, or you might miss the bigger picture (like the fact that it’s actually May and not January). Remember to take breaks and enjoy the simple things in life, like smelling the roses or binge-watching Netflix in your pajamas.

CAPRICORN

Get ready for a month of showing off your mane, Leo ... I mean, your mane-ly great personality. Your lion-like confidence will be on full display, whether you’re strutting your stuff at the gym or delivering a powerful presentation at work. Just be careful not to let your ego get too big, or you might need to hire a personal assistant to carry it around for you. Remember to be gracious to those less fabulous than you and don’t forget to share the spotlight occasionally. After all, it’s lonely at the top (or so we’ve heard).

LEO

This month, you’ll be feeling particularly critical of yourself and those around you. But don’t worry, that’s just your natural state of being, right? It’s not like anyone expects you to suddenly become a carefree hippie or anything. But in all seriousness, this is the perfect season to take a much-needed mental break. After all, it’s not like the world will end if you don’t analyze every single detail about everything.

AQUARIUS

This month you’ll be feeling particularly rebellious and defiant, especially when it comes to your career and who needs a boring nine-to-five job or a steady paycheck when you can stick it to the man and embrace your inner anarchist? Who needs financial stability when you can be living on the edge of poverty, am I right? And though you thrive off of living an aloof lifestyle, it would be in your best interest to come up for air every once in a while and experience the joys of the real world.

PISCES

Pisces, get ready to swim in a sea of emotions this month. Your sensitive and intuitive nature will be both your best friend and biggest enemy this May. Just be careful not to get lost in your own ocean of feelings, or you might need a lifeguard to pull you back to reality. So go ahead and let those emotions flow, Pisces, just make sure to keep a box of tissues handy and a sense of humor about it all. After all, laughter is the best medicine, unless you’re allergic to joy.

THE SPECKTATOR

Jags QB Trevor Lawrence was recently spotted at European Street Cafe in Jax Beach and, according to my source, he ate a tuna fish sandwich (no deets on the kind of bread). This coupled with the fact he is 6’6” (as well as my love of “The Office”), inspired me to give him a nickname: Big Tuna. Make it happen, people. #bigtuna16

I didn’t get the press release, but apparently, April was National Kenny Gilbert Month. For starters, the celebrated chef, “Top Chef” star and owner of Silkie’s Chicken & Champagne Bar in Springfield, dropped a gorgeous new cookbook/ memoir called “Southern Cooking • Global Flavors” (shout out to co-writer Nan Kavanaugh and photographer Kristen Penoyer!) to rave reviews from “Garden & Gun,” Salon.com and Oprah, to name a few. He appeared as a celebrity bartender on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” where host Andy Cohen hyped the book. He also competed on an episode of “Alex vs. America” on Food Network (no spoilers) and announced a national book tour. I sure hope someone is working on “Beast in the Kitchen: The Musical.”

A political pundit I am not, but I do own a Magic 8 Ball (which I consult frequently, I might add) and used it to predict the winner of the upcoming mayor’s race. Obviously, it didn’t give a full name, but it did reveal the new mayor’s initials. If you haven’t already (and it’s not too late), VOTE May 16!

Speaking of the Jags, legendary wide receiver and Pride of the Jaguars honoree Jimmy Smith is back on the field as part of Madden 23. And check that rating! (Is there a petition to get J. Smooth in the Hall of Fame yet? If not, I’m starting one.)

Comedians Chris D’Elia, Denny Love, Lou Lou Gonzalez and actor/director David Sul- livan were in town for a show at the Jack- sonville Center for the Performing Arts and recorded their experience as part of D’Elia’s “Tour Report” series on YouTube. Among the highlights are watching them eat street meat in the lobby of the Hyatt at 2 a.m. and playing pickleball at the Southside Tennis Complex in San Marco with equipment they bought at Jax Pickleball Store.

Finally, our sincerest apologies to Jeff Bellamy for the inconvenience caused by crossword in a previous print issue. Because of your eagle eye, Jeff, we have fired the person responsible (or should we say “irresponsible”) for this error. JK. Also, a very belated April Fools’ Day.

SPORTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

“A Beach Day” Photos submitted to Folio’s The Eye by Adam Johnson.

MAY

Sunshine Showdown: UF vs. FSU Baseball

121 Financial Ballpark

MAY 3-7

St. Augustine Food + Wine Festival

World Golf Village, St. Augustine

MAY 6

Combat Night MMA 2023

Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center

Unidos en la Música: A Latin American Festival Francis Field, St. Augustine

Pints & Poses for Pride

Fishweir Brewing Company

Book Signing: James Ponti

The BookMark

Light Up the Night Citywide Prom

Murray Hill Theatre

MAY 7

Jacksonville Armada vs. Southern States FC

Bishop Kenny High School

Jax Filipino Chefs Pop-up Dinner

Abstrakt Filipino Essence

Book Signing: Robby Weber

The BookMark

MAY 8

WWE RAW 2023

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena

“Eat Your Heart Out: St. Augustine’s Fascinating History of Fine Dining”

The Waterworks, St. Augustine

M AY 9-14

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp vs. Norfolk Tides

121 Financial Ballpark

MAY 10-14

St. Augustine History Festival

Various locations, St. Augustine

MAY 12-13

Fort Mose Militia Reenactment

Fort Mose Historic State Park, St. Augustine

MAY 13

DONNA Mother’s Day 5K

Black Knight Corporate Headquarters

Drake’s Raid Historical Reenactment

Oldest House Museum, St. Augustine

MAY 13-14

Historic Springfield Tour of Homes and Gardens

Various locations in Springfield

MAY 14

Mother’s Day Burlesque Brunch

1904 Music Hall

MAY 18-20

Finger Mullet Film Festival

Flagler College, Crisp-Ellert Art Museum, St. Augustine

MAY 19

Glass Rhinestone: A Burlesque Murder Mystery Brick & Beam

MAY 20

Emancipation Celebration Day

James Weldon Johnson Park

Hope Starts Here 5K

Operation New Hope

Jacksonville Armada vs. Pensacola FC

UNF Hodges Stadium

The Florida Theatre Ball

Florida Theatre

JaxParks Monopoly Tournament

Legends Community Center

MAY 21

Import-Evolution

Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center

MAY 23-28

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp vs. Charlotte Knights

121 Financial Ballpark

MAY 26-28

Palatka Blue Crab Festival

Downtown Palatka

MAY 27

Kindness Matters 5K and Fun Run

Jacksonville Beach Lifeguard Station

MAY 29

Memorial Day Concert & Picnic

Memorial Park

Memorial Park Day 5K

Town Hall Park, Orange Park

MONDAYS

• The Brix Taphouse (music bingo), 7 p.m.

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

• Hurricane Grill & Wings–Atlantic Boulevard (music bingo), 7 p.m.

• Hurricane Grill & Wings–Julington Creek (music bingo), 7 p.m.

• Mellow Mushroom–Avondale, 7 p.m.

• Mellow Mushroom–Durbin Pavilion Drive, 7 p.m.

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

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

• Mellow Mushroom–Tinseltown, 7 p.m.

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

• Wall Street, 7 p.m.

• Treylor Park (pop culture trivia), 9 p.m.

TUESDAYS

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

• Dick’s Wings–Nocatee, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–San Pablo, 7 p.m.

• Harps American Grill, 7 p.m.

• Hoptinger–5 Points (music bingo), 7 p.m.

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

• Hurricane Grill & Wings–Julington Creek, 7 p.m.

• Hurricane Grill & Wings–Neptune Beach, 7 p.m.

• Island Wing Company–Southside, 7 p.m.

• Jax Craft Beer, 7 p.m.

• Jerry’s Sports Grille, 7 p.m.

• Raindogs, 7 p.m.

• Sahara Cafe, 7 p.m.

• Southern Grill, 7 p.m.

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

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

• King Maker Brewing (Name That Tune), 7:30 p.m.

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

• Time Out Sports Bar, 7:30 p.m.

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

WEDNESDAYS

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

• V Pizza–Mandarin (pop culture), 6:30 p.m.

• The Beacon, St. Augustine, 7 p.m.

• Cruisers Grill, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–Mandarin, 7 p.m.

• Firefly Bay, 7 p.m.

• Ink Factory Brewing, 7 p.m.

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

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

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

• V Pizza–Fleming Island (pop culture trivia), 7 p.m.

• Veterans United Craft Brewery, 7 p.m.

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

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

• Hoptinger–5 Points, 7:30 p.m.

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

• King Maker Brewing, 7:30 p.m.

• Time Out Sports Grill, 7:30 p.m

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

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

• Hoptinger–Jacksonville Beach, 9 p.m.

THURSDAYS

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

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

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

• Whiskey Jax–Baymeadows, 7 p.m.

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

• Flask & Cannon / V Pizza, 7:30 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–St Augustine, 7:30 p.m.

• Hoptinger–Jax Beach (music bingo), 9 p.m.

SATURDAYS

• Hamburger Mary’s (HamBingo), 2 p.m.

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

• Ink Factory Brewing (Name That Tune), 7 p.m.

• SUNDAYS

• Ann O’Malley’s Irish Pub, 8 p.m. (first and third Sunday)

All games are general knowledge trivia unless otherwise noted.

THEATER / DANCE

THROUGH JUNE 4

“Jersey Boys”

Alhambra Theatre & Dining

THROUGH MAY 7

Four Weddings and an Elvis Theatre Jacksonville

MAY 1

Champions of Magic

Thrasher-Horne Center, Orange Park

MAY 5

“New Jack City: Live on Stage”

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts

Broadway Rave: The Musical Theatre Dance Party

1904 Music Hall

MAY 5-14

A Classic Theatre presents “Mother and Sons”

The Waterworks, St. Augustine

C. S. Lewis on Stage: “Further Up & Further In”

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts

MAY 10

First Coast Opera presents “Bon Appetit” Ancient City Baptist Church, St. Augustine

MAY 12

Story Slam: Head Over Heels BABS’LAB at CoRK

MAY 12-JUNE 4

“Little Miss Sunshine” Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine

MAY 13

Jacksonville Dance Theatre presents “InMotion” Florida Theatre

St. Augustine Ballet presents “Snow White” Flagler College, Lewis Auditorium, St. Augustine FL

MAY 18-28

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame”

The Island Theater, Fleming Island

MAY 20-21

Zoika’s Dance presents “Cinderella”

Flagler College, Lewis Auditorium, St. Augustine

MAY 25-28

“Misery”

Amelia Musical Playhouse, Amelia Island

ONGOING

Fridays and Saturdays

Magician Bill Abbott at the Magic Hideway

Casa Monica Resort & Spa, St. Augustine

Photo by Leigh Ann Esty

PLUS FREE LOCAL PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER!

FILM REVIEW

Ari Aster, the current darling of highbrow horror, has created an audacious and inherently polarizing tragicomic odyssey about the relationship between Jewish men and their mothers. Anxiety is a constant theme in “Beau Is Afraid.” As the title suggests, Joaquin Phoenix’s eponymous Beau is afraid of everyone and everything around him. And why wouldn’t he be? The version of New York he lives in is a chaotic hellscape ridden with roaming gangs, knife- wielding maniacs and venomous spiders. Unfortunately, Beau’s mother unexpectedly dies and he sets off on a perilous journey to her memorial.

Having made a name for himself with his debut “Hereditary,” which be -

came something of an instant classic in horror, and his unsettling follow up “Midsommar,” Aster has primed fans for a challenging and emotionally scathing work. But with its languishingly paced three-hour running time and regular divergence into seemingly inconsequential narrative cul-desacs, “Beau Is Afraid” may be too great of a leap to make for even the most devout Aster fans. As he always is, Phoenix is excellent in the film’s center, navigating the story’s shifting tones and landing the dry comedic beats with ease. Phoenix is rarely out of frame through the duration of the lengthy film, but he is always doing something interesting and engaging. It is yet another showcase for why he is among the best actors working over the last 20-plus years.

Words by Harry Moore

Courtesy of A24 “Beau Is Afraid”

MAY 2

ShakesBeer: A Brewery Tour

Bold City Brewery

MAY 3

ShakesBeer: A Brewery Tour

Intuition Aleworks

MAY 5

John Crist: Emotional Support Tour

Florida Theatre

Phatt Katz of Comedy Show

Lauren’s Seafood Blues and Jazz

Family Comedy Night

All People International Church

The Main Event: One Year Anniversary, 7:30 p.m.

The Blue Show (adults only), 10 p.m.

First Coast Comedy

MAY 5-7

Bruce Bruce

Comedy Zone

Tour

Florida Theatre

MAY 11

Christy B

Jackie Knight’s Comedy Club, St. Augustine

Blue Jay Comedy Night presented by River City Comedy

Blue Jay Listening Room

MAY 11-12

Nate Bargatze: Be Funny Tour

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts

MAY 11-13

Tony Baker

Comedy Zone

MAY 12-13

The Main Event, 7:30 p.m.

The Blue Show (adults only), 10 p.m.

First Coast Comedy

Florida Theatre

MAY 15

Salon of Shame: Live Show

Creative Veins Performing Arts Studio

MAY 16-17

Meredith Masony

Comedy Zone

MAY 18-20

Anthony Rodia Comedy Zone

MAY 19

Joe Gatto: Night of Comedy

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts

MAY 19-20

The Main Event: One Year Anniversary, 7:30 p.m.

The Blue Show (adults only), 10 p.m.

First Coast Comedy

MAY 21

The Jam Showcase

First Coast Comedy

MAY 24

Improv Night

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine

MAY 25

Tommy Torres

Jackie Knight’s Comedy Club, St. Augustine

MAY 26-27

The Main Event: One Year Anniversary, 7:30 p.m.

The Blue Show (adults only), 10 p.m.

First Coast Comedy

MAY 28

Best Stand Up Show

First Coast Comedy

MAY 31

Bad Friends Podcast with Andrew Santino & Bobby Lee

Florida Theatre

Improv Night

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine

COMEDY OPEN MIC NIGHTS

MONDAY

Kava & Company–San Marco

Raindogs

TUESDAY

Birdies

VooSwar

WEDNESDAY

The Walrus

THURSDAY

Kava & Company–Mandarin

THURSDAY (FIRST AND THIRD WEEK OF THE MONTH)

Kingmaker Brewing

ART

THE ART CENTER COOPERATIVE

• “Bold Statements,” through May 27

• Virtual gallery tacjacksonville.org

JENNA ALEXANDER STUDIO

• “Modern Summer,” May 3-TBD jenna-alexander.com

BUTTERFIELD GARAGE ART GALLERY

• “GO WILD!” Community Art Project, May 5-31 butterfieldgarage.com

THE CORNER GALLERY AT THE JESSIE

• Ricder Ricardo: Transitory Permanance, May 13Aug. 2 facebook.com/movingthemargins

CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS

• “Rockwell Kent: The Shakespeare Portfolios,” through May 7

• “Brennan Wojtyla: Cathedral of Labor,” through May 21

• “Reflections: The Art of Well-Being,” through June 18

• “James McBey: Etchings,” through Oct. 29

• “Outside: In,” through Nov. 30

• “Flamboyance! A Topiary Menagerie,” through June 25

• Jacksonville’s Norman Studios, through Jan. 31, 2024 cummermuseum.org

FEMART GALLERY

• “Figure It Out,” May 1-June 24 femartgallery.org

FIRST COAST CULTURAL CENTER firstcoastculturalcenter.org

FLAGLER COLLEGE

• BFA & BA Senior Portfolio Exhibition, May 4, Crisp-Ellert Gallery flagler.edu

GALLERY 725

• The Art of Chad Smith, virtual exhibition gallery725.com

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

• “Painting St. Augustine: Selections from the Samuel H. and Roberta T. Vickers Collection,” through May staugustine.ufl.edu

HASKELL GALLERY AT JACKSONVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT jaxairportarts.com

HILLARY WHITAKER GALLERY

• Spring Show with works by Juniper Briggs, Chelsea Goer, Hannah Lane and Eva Magill-Oliver, through May 31 hwhitakergallery.com

JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY

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

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

THE LIGHTNER MUSEUM

• “Rebecca Lemmon: Leaves & Light,” through May 21

• “Contemporary Chronicles of St. Augustine,” through Sept. 30

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

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

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

MOCA JACKSONVILLE

• ”Bo Bartlett: Earthly Matters” May 26-Sept. 10

• “Don’t Blame It on Zen: The Way of John Cage & Friends,” through May 7

• “Brennan Wojtyla: Cathedral of Labor,” through May 21

• Project Atrium: ”Hiromi Moneyhun: Ghosts,” through Aug. 27

• “Print+: Sameness and Otherness in Contemporary Printmedia,” through Aug. 27

• “Contemporary Cartographies,” through Oct. 15 mocajacksonville.unf.edu

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY

• Arts Infusion ImagiNclusion, MOSH Lobby

• Works by Patricia Madrid, MOSH Creation Station themosh.org

RITZ THEATRE & MUSEUM

• “10 Walls,” May 21-TBD

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

ST. AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION

• “Here & There,” May 5-28

• “Adventures en Plein Air,” May 5-28 staaa.org

STELLERS GALLERY

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

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA

• Senior Exhibition, through May 12, UNF Gallery of Art and Lufrano Intercultural Gallery unf.edu/gallery

THE VAULT AT 330

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

YELLOW HOUSE

• “A Time to Beast: The Art of Traci Mims,” through TBD

• “Sit in Stand Up,” virtual exhibition

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

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

ONGOING

Art Walk: May 3

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

Fernandina Beach Arts Market: May 13 and 27

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

Riverside Arts Market: May 6, 13, 20, 27

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

St. Augustine First Friday Artwalk: May 6

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

Vilano Beach Artisan Market: May 20

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

JENNA ALEXANDER PAINTS THE PERFECT

If you’ve ever been to St. Augustine, you know how easy it is to feel inspired by its rich history, blended architecture and locally-owned businesses, each with their own unique contributions. One such contributor is Jenna Alexander, an artist based in St. Augustine.

AMBAR RAMIREZ: Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up and how does it, I guess, tie into how you started getting into painting and photography?

JENNA ALEXANDER: So I grew up in Kansas City and then I moved over to Pensacola when I was in eighth grade, and I was just always into art. In high school, I always took electives in art, went to art camps on Saturdays. Instead of hang out with friends, I would just hang out in my bedroom and make art. I was one of those. And then my sister came to Flagler and I ended up marrying her friend, so that’s how I eventually ended up in St. Augustine. Then I always was like trying to put my stuff out there, so basically I had shown a couple of pieces during the Art Walk one Friday and months later, the owner [of the gallery] asked me to reopen. She was moving locations, and she asked me to reopen a store with her, and I was like, I mean, sure, I had some money saved up from a Kickstarter project I had done, and I was like, I guess that’ll cover the rent for the year. And if it doesn’t work, I’ll just at least be able to say that I tried. So it started with that and that was 10 years ago … I just moved out to a bigger location here on San Marcos Avenue about two years ago.

AR: Beautiful. It sounds like art has just kind of been a given for you.

JA: Yes, I think I have some natural gifts in that department and not some in other departments. Ha ha. But it’s definitely something that’s been kind of like a safe haven for me, and it’s just nice to, like, meditate. I always feel at peace when I’m creating. I’m very drawn to it. Pun intended.

AR : Oh, I love that. I love punny jokes. And with that, was there ever, like, a specific moment or a piece that you first drew that made you really think that you can make art a career?

JA: Oh, wow. That’s a hard one. I’ve never been asked that before. I would say my Kickstarter project that I got funded for. I taught in Tanzania after college for a year. I taught at an orphanage, and so I had 24 students and they were all adorable Tanzanian kids. And so I did this big old Kickstarter project and painted a bunch of their faces. I think I ended up doing like 12. and they’re 4 x 4 feet, very impressionistic, like tiny little pointillism brushstrokes of color. And I think that gave me a lot of confidence and also kind of jump started me into doing commission work for portraits. And that was back in 2011.

AR: Where do you find inspiration for your pieces?

JA: Oh, just around me, you know. My daily life. Like, one of my series is about oysters, and that’s from a time my husband and I would go and paddleboard to harvest oysters and then cook them and eat them with neighbors. So yeah, just like the life around me. I think this “Modern Summer” has been on my mind for a long time. Wayne Thiebaud is one of my favorite artists. He’s from the ’60s, and he was kind of branching off from pop art and kind of forming his own art genre. He’s very well known for all of his, like, pastry studies, candies and lollipops. But my favorites of his work is the figurative pieces because it’s just like these women sitting in like a mid-century mustard yellow dress, staring into nothing and, like, not even happy or smiling, but I’m so drawn to his figurative work. So I really wanted to capture that. I hired a

bunch of models and captured people in kind of mid-century outfits, doing kind of mundane, in-between-the-moment type things. There’s one of a lady just holding up her glass as if she had just taken a sip of it. It’s kind of trying to give people a feeling of nostalgia during summertime.

AR: Yeah, I love all your pieces, but the “Modern Summer” collection feels really special. It’s really bright, and it’s like a perfect lead-in to like, you know, we’re right there at the brink of summer.

JA: Yeah. Thank you.

AR: Of course. Also, I wanted to talk a bit about your studio where you not only have this space to, obviously, work on your pieces but where you also hold events and classes. I’m curious about what sparked the idea of having not an open studio, per se, but having this space where you could invite others.

JA: Yeah, well, I love having people come to the studio because I think it’s just like a fun place to be. It’s beautiful, there are huge glass garage doors and, like, it’s a very big space. So during the pandemic, I took both my kids out of school and homeschooled them, and there were a couple of other moms that were doing the same, and they asked me to teach their kids art class. I was like, no … yeah, 100%, I’ll do it. Then they loved it, and I was like, this is actually really fun. And around that time, 2021, I was moving into this bigger space, and I was like I think I do wanna host art classes for kids, but I’m never gonna teach adults because they are terrifying and they’re so hard on themselves and like, what if they ask questions I don’t know the answer to, you know, just feeling like imposter syndrome. And then I was like, I should just try a Mother’s Day workshop and see if I like it. And then I loved it. It’s so fun. So now I have five workshops coming out this summer that you can sign up for. I’ll do seasonal workshops and then, of course, I can do a private workshop. It’s fun to teach people something that, to me, comes so naturally. It’s great to get to interact and have people in and out of the studio, and it gets more traffic in the studio, which can mean more sales.

AR: Yeah, and I feel like a lot of the time artists are very private about their process like, you know, the tortured artist. They don’t want to show their work until it’s absolutely finished and stuff. And I feel like you, having this studio space where you can invite others, creates this homey feel.

JA: Yes, that’s what I hope because I remember feeling so intimidated. This is kind of different, but in the surf world, as a female surfer, like, oh, my gosh, you’d be called a poser, and I would never want to go surfing. And now that I’m in my 30s and surf all the time, it feels like that whole culture is kind of opening up a little bit. And I hope artists kind of start to do that too because it can be so intimidating, and it is so vulnerable to create a piece of art and like, what if you don’t know how to do it? Or what if your hand shakes or, you know, you can’t get it right?

AR: Absolutely. I do pottery myself, and I just paid for, like, a membership at a local studio over here in Murray Hill, and I was super nervous. It felt like I was going to my first day of school, but then you kind of just go in there and everybody’s so kind and they’ll help you if you have any questions. So being an artist doesn’t have to be like a lone rider thing. It should be open to others, and nobody has to be perfect at it. Art is not about being perfect.

Do you think being located in Saint Augustine has affected your work and how so?

JA: Yes, I would say in two ways. One, the town of St. Augustine is the most creative and very, very supportive of small businesses. And then living in St. Augustine and how that affects how my artwork actually looks, I would definitely say it’s played a very large role because I didn’t even eat oysters before I moved here. Also we live by the lighthouse, and so we’re super close to the beach and ride bikes all the time; we’re always on the sand. So a lot of it is like native nature that we’re just on the go and I see it in a certain light and I’m like, ooh, I want to paint that, you know? So I would definitely say, all these little moments add up to, like, how my art is.

AR: That sounds beautiful. I think it’s kind of hard to not be inspired by everything around you.

JA: I feel like I’m in a storybook here all the time. Especially around dawn and dusk.

AR: Every time I go to St. Augustine, I feel like I just stepped into another time. Like, I am not in 2023.

JA : It is gorgeous. It really is. And my studio is just north of the fort and then my home is by the lighthouse. So my commute is like the prime beauty.

AR: I’ve tried painting and stuff like that and I really enjoy it, but I found that my passion was with ceramics. It felt right to me. How did you get into painting and photography? What made you go down that route?

JA: That’s a good question. I got my first camera when I was 10. So, like, I always loved taking pictures, and I took a few photography classes in high school and college and like film and all that stuff. So I learned how to work a camera and that was like just kind of basics. And then when it came to painting, I really admired my college professor’s work. It was a kind of almost hyperrealism portraits like a large scale, six-foot face right in front of you. So I think his work really influenced my work. And I work with oil mostly, but I also dabble with, like, chalk pastels, drawing in charcoal, some gouache and a little watercolor. So I really do like switching it up a lot and probably because I have ADHD, but also it just keeps things interesting. But yeah, the “Modern Summer” is all oil on canvas or paper.

AR: And they came out gorgeous. And you were saying you were really inspired by your professor who did hyperrealism work. Would you say you also fall into that type of art style?

JA: Oh, gosh, I don’t know what I am making.

AR: Ha ha! That’s OK, you can make up your own.

JA: I try. I am very tight and rigid in my work. I try to get it to look as best as I can to be accurate, but I’m trying to loosen up and get a little bit more impressionistic and more like, this is a representation of a chair and a shadow. And I think that as I’m aging, I’m less worried about the meticulous details and mastering it because I know I can do that. And it’s more of like how do I want this to make you feel.

AR: Yeah. And that’s really great that you brought up that it’s about what you want your viewers to feel. What do you want your viewers to feel when they view this new collection?

JA: I want them to feel like they’re in a moment. I want them to feel calm. I want them to feel like maybe nostalgia towards their childhood or like the good old days. I just want them to feel kind of inspired.

AR: Absolutely. Yeah, I can definitely see people feeling that way. And what are some things people can look forward to with the opening exhibit?

JA: So yeah, Sunday is the restaurant in the front of the property and my studio’s in the back. So we decided to have the whole show in the restaurant because they kind of double as a gallery for me. So I’m going to hang my paintings in there. We’re gonna have complimentary charcuterie, drinks available for purchase, we are having The Dewars play, twin brothers who are perfect for the “Modern Summer” series. They have this, like, Southern California, mid-century vibe about them. And I think I have like over 25 originals and then some prints and tea towels for sale.

AR: That’s so exciting. People will really be delving into the work with the music and then they’ll be able to have some snacks and drinks while seeing your pieces.

JA: Yes, that’s the plan!

AR: I love it. It’s so exciting. I can’t wait.

JA: I’m excited. I’ve never had a show on a Wednesday, so I’m a little nervous about it, but I think it’ll be fun.

Jenna Alexander’s “Modern Summer” collection perfectly captures everything we love about the season. If you happen to be in St. Augustine on May 3, don’t miss the opening of Alexander’s collection. For those who can’t attend, you can still check out her work on jenna-alexander.com.

UNDISCOVERED PATHS

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner

1

SPANISH POND TRAIL

Begin your environmental adventure with the boardwalk-paved paths of Spanish Pond Trail at Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve. A lush canopy sprinkled with Spanish moss hangs over visitors’ heads preventing harsh sunlight from disturbing walkers or joggers. The pinnacle of the pond experience, however, are the observation decks that overlook the Spanish Pond itself and the tidal marshes. The sounds of ospreys, egrets and storks greet the ear while on the marsh as wildlife hides in every corner of the two-mile round-trip journey.

UNF ECO TRAILS

Located on the University of North Florida’s campus, these trails are tucked away in an almost undiscoverable entryway deep in the campus. Nevertheless, these clandestine trails offer a diverse environmental experience due to the different paths which vary in length and level of experience. Goldenrod Trail, the longest trek, is heavily populated with the trail’s namesake flower, whie the Gopher Tortoise Ridge houses a land-dwelling tortoise population, and the Big Cyprus Trail is lined with cypress trees old and young. Bird watchers, joggers and walkers, UNF students, families, and even picnic enthusiasts frequent every trail engaging in the beauty of the surroundings.

HANNA PARK

This everything-in-one park rests on the edge of Atlantic Beach and uses its positioning to offer a tour-de-force of ecological activities. Surf along Jacksonville’s coast and take advantage of Hanna Park’s freshwater lake for fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Of course, Florida’s famous palm trees are always standing by the water greeting visitors. The park even boasts hiking and mountain biking trails of various lengths, as well as camping sites and cabins for overnight stays in the wilderness. While entrance to Hanna Park costs $5, this amount pays for an entire day’s adventure. Salute the sun as it rises in the park and bid farewell to the adventure as the day comes to a close.

4

JACKSONVILLE-BALDWIN RAIL TRAIL

The Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail emerged as part of the national Rails to Trails program, which converted railroad lines into parks and/or trails. This ecological investment is now a wildlife and plant habitat with hawks, rabbits and other wildlife making their homes in this abundant space. Visitors can walk, hike, jog and bike along paved and unpaved paths spanning 14 miles with benches lining the expanse for tired exercisers. Like other trails mentioned, the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Traill is enveloped by a thriving tree canopy. Yet, sunlight still manages to peek through to glisten on the skin of passersby.

5 6

GARDENS AT TROUT RIVER PLAZA

A botanical exhibit at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, the Gardens at Trout River Plaza, a provides the perfect environmental exploration opportunity for visitors who don’t relish leaf and soil-ridden paths. The plaza displays nature in a museum-esque light, showcasing seasonal flowers spilling over the top of planters stationed above guests’ heads. Trout River Plaza overflows with embellishments of the botanical space: Visitors walk across mosaic tiles of beautiful patterns, and the centerpiece of the garden is a fountain with an anhinga bird statue. This plaza, in all its elegance, is home to weddings and other events.

OGIER GARDENS

As the outdoor season climbs to its climax in these coming spring and summer months, nature too reaches its peak in Jacksonville. Birds flirt and taunt with their spectators, trees warm themselves in hot temperatures, and flowers bloom happily in rays of sunshine. For us at work and home, nature calls and these once-undiscovered, untraversed paths become frequented by outdoors adventurers. Walk, bike, explore and bask in the natural beauty of Jacksonville with these six Jax-centric parks, trails and gardens. 2 3

Lastly, the Ogier Gardens, also located on the University of North Florida’s campus, contribute their beauty to the Jacksonville outdoors scene. Part of UNF’s environmental programming initiative, this hidden organic garden is tended by UNF students, and its products find themselves in the campus food pantry. The land features a diverse array of fruit trees, vegetable beds and crops depending on the season. Ogier Gardens also offers a distinct interactive experience as UNF allows visitors to spend the day volunteering in the garden; usually, visitors may keep the fruits of their labor, literally.

The Psychedelic Furs have been touring since the late 1970s, except for a hiatus in the 1990s. Brothers Tim and Richard Butler have always been at the helm of the band as well as the founders Love Spit Love. Throughout their career, the Furs have continued to develop and progress. They seem to have had the ability to keep their sound fresh, while at the same time familiar and relevant.

I met Tim and Richard back in the early to mid 1990s during my stint as the afternoon drive guy on WCHZ in Augustine, Georgia when were promoting their new project at the time called Love Spit Love. The name was inspired by a live art exhibition protesting recent cuts made to the National Endowment for the Arts. When I was with them, I could clearly see that they are typical of brothers who have worked together for a long time. I also picked up on an artistic connection between them that you don’t always see with other brother-based acts.

Who has not had an experience of hearing the Furs on a dance floor in some night club? Or better yet, on a soundtrack to a movie or television show? Most notably might be “Pretty in Pink” the title to the John Hughes film of the same name, also heard on “Gilmore Girls.” Or “Love My Way” which appears in “Call Me by My Name” and “The Wedding Singer.” More recently, “The Ghost in You” has been featured on “Stranger Things,” as well as the film “This Is

The reviews for the Psychedelic Furs’ eighth — and most recent — album, “Made of Rain,” have been great with songs including “The Boy that invented Rock and Roll,” “Hide the Medicine,” “This Will Never Be Like Love” and “Wrong Train.”

The Psychedelic Furs continue to tour and release new music, and their live shows are as powerful as they ever were. They will be at Florida Theatre May 16 with Evan Dando of The Lemonheads. For more information or tickets, visit floridatheatre.com.

Where I Leave You” starring Jason Bateman, Tina Fey and Jane Fonda.

Words and Interviews by Rob Nicholson

Photo by Mathew Reeves

CONCERTS

THROUGH MAY 14

Romanza Festivale

Various locations, St. Augustine

MAY 2

Blue Jay Jazz Jam

Blue Jay Listening Room

MAY 3

Leonid and Friends: The World’s Greatest Chicago Tribute 2023

Florida Theatre

The Dreaded Laramie, Madison Grace and Giraffrica

Jack Rabbits

Gilberto 77

Underbelly

Leah Marlene

Cafe Eleven

MAY 4

Morgan Wallen: One Night at a Time World Tour

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena

Living Dead Girl, Haxprocess and Haunted

Jack Rabbits

Mike Love with Dub Inc

Underbelly

Rio Grande

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine

Sara Evans

Thrasher-Horne Center

MAY 5

Old Dominion: No Bad Vibes Tour Daily’s Place

Mastodon and Gojira with special guest Lorna Shore

St. Augustine Amphitheatre

Damon Fowler

Cafe Eleven, St. Augustine

Earth Tonez

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine

OSO OSO

1904 Music Hall

The Snozzberries and Wigeon

Jack Rabbits

MAY 5-6

Jacksonville Symphony: “The Wild, Wild West — Classics from the Silver Screen”

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts

MAY 6

Agent Orange

Kona Skatepark Clubhouse

The Aquadolls, Dakar and guests

Jack Rabbits

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe

Underbelly

Inside Jax ft. 4thQuarterQuan, Lunaxcel, Boyband and Sounds by Josh

1904 Music Hall

MAY 7

The Killers

St. Augustine Amphitheatre

The Cream of Clapton

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville presents “Beauty in Being”

Jacksonville Jewish Center

American Brass Quintet

St. Paul’s-by-the-Seat Episcopal Church

Claire Vandiver

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine

Surf Curse

Underbelly

MAY 8

Gipsy Kings ft. Tonino Baliardo

Florida Theatre

Taylor Roberts Blue Jay Residency ft. Paul Tafoya Blue Jay Listening Room

MAY 9

Tom Jones: Stages and Ages Tour

Florida Theatre

Jackyl: 30th Anniversary Tour

Underbelly

Blue Jay Jazz Jam Blue Jay Listening Room

Melissa Etheridge

Thrasher-Horne Center

MAY 10

One Night of Queen Florida Theatre

MAY 11

Dean Winter & The Heat

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine

Ricky Duran

1904 Music Hall

MAY 12

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

St. Augustine Ampthitheatre

Cowboy Bebop

Underbelly

Dopapad with Sauce Pocket

1904 Music Hall

Flagship Romance

Blue Jay Listening Room

Petra Murray Hill Theatre

Power vs. Prog

1904 Music Hall

Tidal Daze, Jenni Reid and Sunriver

Jack Rabbits

MAY 13

Tenacious D St. Augustine Amphiteatre

Appalachian Death Trap

Kona Skatepark Clubhouse

Existing in Exhile Jack Rabbits

The Saltones

Colonial Quarter, St. Augustine

Selwyn Birchwood

Blue Jay Listening Room

MAY 14 Pitbull

St. Augustine Amphitheatre

An Evening with Omari Dillard

Ritz Theatre & Museum

Bad Dog Mama

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine

Falling in Place: Popuh, Lewis ID, Charlie Hustle

1904 Music Hall

First Coast Wind Symphony Mother’s Day Concert

St. John’s Cathedral

MAY 16

Psychedelic Furs

Florida Theatre

Paul Cauthen with special guest Harper O’Neill

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

Blue Jay Jazz Jam

Blue Jay Listening Room

MAY 18

Josh Ford & The Groove Bender

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine

Nattali Rize and Minori

Jack Rabbits

MAY 19

One Good Ring

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine

MAY 19-20

Jacksonville Symphony: Mozart, Brahms & Shepherd

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts

MAY 20

Cody Jinks

Daily’s Place

AS IF! The 90s Fest

Francis Field, St. Augustine

Air Park

Blue Jay Listening Room

Baba Caiman

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine

Black Stache, Poor Richards, Player vs Player & Heat Back

Kona Skatepark Clubhouse

Colourway

Murray Hill Theatre

Haydan Coffman & guests

Jack Rabbits

The Krickets with Michael Lagasse

The Waterworks, St. Augustine

Sexbruise? with Jive Talk

1904 Music Hall

MAY 21

The Floridians with Clean Cut

Jack Rabbits

Shock, Wook Doctor, Samm J, Adapt

1904 Music Hall Patio Stage

MAY 23

Zach Bryan: The Burn, Burn, Burn Tour

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena

Brit Floyd

Florida Theatre

Blue Jay Jazz Jam

Blue Jay Listening Room

MAY 25

Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition

Florida Theatre

Calahoney

Blue Jay Listening Room

Cumberland

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine

Panchiko with Horse Jumper of Love, LSD and Search for God

Underbelly

Jacksonville Jazz Fest ft. Chaka Khan, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, David Sanborn, Samara Joy and Charlie Wilson Riverfront Plaza and Ford at Bay

Leon Majcen

Blue Jay Listening Room

Michal Menert 1904 Music Hall

MAY 26

Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra St. Paul’s-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church

John McEuen and The Circle Band Cafe Eleven

Rick Springfield Thrasher-Horne Center

MAY 27

Jacksonville Symphony: Solo Organ Recital 2023 Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts

Caravel Concert Series ft. Blue Moon Colonial Quarter, St. Augustine

Parks & Raz

Kona Skatepark Clubhouse

Robbin Kapasalis and Vintage 18 Cafe Eleven, St. Augustine

MAY 30

An Evening With Raspberry Pie

Jack Rabbits

Blue Jay Jazz Jam Blue Jay Listening Room

10

20

1 MICHAEL CARBONARO

3 WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY? WITH RYAN STILES, GREG PROOPS, JEFF B. DAVIS & JOEL MURRAY

BENISE - FIESTA! AT THE WJCT SOUNDSTAGE

MAY 5

New Music Releases This Month

By Tysen Romeo

MAY 19

“Just Because”

California singer-songwriter Claire Rosinkranz releases her second studio album, “Just Because.” Her music can be described as a original blend of indie pop and acoustic guitar.

Ed Sheeran releases his sixth studio album, which fans will not be surprised to learn is named after a mathematical symbol. “Minus” is said to be an acoustic album and was produced by Aaron Dessner.

Grandson is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter whose second full length album is titled “I Love You, I’m Trying.” He likes to write alternative hip hop/rock/ rap music about modern-day issues that are not recognized by the media and public.

MAY 12

Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi, whose sound has been described as a mix of pop and soul, releases his second studio album “Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent.”

Fusing jazz, folk and world music, The Dave Matthews Band has an immediately recognizable sound that continues on their 10th studio album, “Walk Around the Moon.”

MAY 26

“My Soft Machine” is the second studio album from British singer-songwriter Arlo Parks and is a deeply personal body of work, describing the album as a narration of her experiences as she navigates her 20s.

“THE ALBUM” will be the sixth studio album from the American pop rock band the Jonas Brothers — and their first album together since 2019. According to the trio, the album was inspired by 1970s pop and Americana.

BORN

Melissa Etheridge is a monster of rock and roll and one of the biggest and best female rock musicians ever. She has won two Grammy Awards and has been nominated for 15. In 2007, she won the Academy Award for Best Original Song with “I Need to Wake Up” from the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.” She has produced 16 studio albums the latest of which is “One Way Out,” a compilation of songs that she wrote in the 80s and 90s that did not make the cut … until now.

Etheridge hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album, “Yes I Am” (1993). The collection featured the hits, “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” a song that brought her a second Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance. In 1995, Etheridge released her highest charting album, “Your Little Secret,” which was distinguished by the hit single, “I Want to Come Over.”

Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy vocals, Ethridge has remained one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters. Earlier in her recording career, she acknowledged her sexual orientation when it was considered less than prudent to do so. In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer, a health battle that, with her typical tenacity, she won. Despite losing her hair from chemotherapy, Etheridge appeared on the 2005 Grammy telecast to sing “Piece of My Heart” in tribute to Janis Joplin. By doing so she gave hope to many women living with the disease.

In 2016 Melissa Etheridge released “Memphis Rock & Soul,” her first album since 2014’s critically lauded “This Is M.E.,” followed by the release of “The Medicine Show” in 2019.

In June 2020, Melissa launched her own live streaming subscription and single ticket concert platform, Etheridge TV, and did over 200 live streams for her fans.

October 2022 saw Melissa’s return to the theater with her one woman show, “My Window — A Journey Through Life.” The critically acclaimed, sold-out run premiered at New World Stages and is expected to move to Broadway this year.

Melissa Etheridge and her full band perform at the Thrasher-Horne Center May 9. For more information or to buy tickets, visit thcenter.org.

IN A BARN

Words and Interviews by Rob Nicholson

Sara Evans began singing at the age of four. She is a multi-platinum, American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, actress and author. She has held the number one spot on Billboard’s country charts and has sold more than six million records and counting.

Raised in Missouri, she began singing alongside her siblings in the aptly named Evans Family Band. In 1991, she and her brother Matt put together their own band and headed to Nashville to start their careers in country music.

Evans’ career soared in the early to mid-2000s with records like “Born to Fly,” “Restless” and “Real Fine Place.” Meanwhile she appeared on TV shows like “Nashville” and “Chrisley Knows Best,” as well as “The Talk,” “Dancing With the Stars” and “The Masked Singer.” She has written and published five books centered around faith-based themes with positive messages and a memoir called “Born to Fly.”

In addition to her work in the entertainment arena, Evans is a spokesperson for the National Eating Disorders Association. While she never experienced an eating disorder herself, she became very outspoken about the subject when a friend of hers developed anorexia, which also heightened her awareness of society’s obsession with body image.

Evans has 10 records under her belt, the latest of which, “Copy That,” is a compilation of hits, including “Come on Eileen,” “My Sharona,” “Don’t Get Me Wrong” and an inspired version Carole King’s “It’s Too Late” that she co-produced with Jarrad K. Her son Avery played guitar and daughter Olivia sings all the harmonies with her. It is a collection of musical styles and songs reflecting her musical interests but completely different from the music she typically records. As she tells me in ou r interview, “For the first time, I felt like I didn’t have to conform to any particular sort of musical style and was basically able to do my own thing not submitting

Evans will be performing approximately 80 shows this year, including one at Thrasher-Horne Center on May 4. For more information and to buy

TAYLOR SWIFT IS THE

Words by Tysen Romeo

Billboard awarded her with Woman of the Decade in 2019. NYU gave her an honorary doctorate of fine arts in 2022. She is also a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman and a director. Long story short, Taylor Swift will go down in history for being one of the most successful artists of the 21st century. She has been a dominant force in the music industry and has grown a huge fan base, known as “Swifties,” who believe she IS the music industry.

Swift has released 10 full-length studio albums and two re-recordings of these albums in the span of 17 years. She has proven herself to be one the most versatile musical artists of all time with her genre-spanning discography.

In 2006, she released her self-titled debut album, making her the first female country artist to write a U.S. platinum-certified album. She then dove into country pop with her next two studio albums, “Fearless” (2008) and “Speak Now” (2010). Swift then experimented with rock and electronic styles on “Red” (2012), which featured “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” her first ever No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2014 she ditched all things country and went full pop/synth-pop. It was a redefining moment in her career that proved that she could evolve from a country artist into a popstar.

THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

In 2016, Swift deviated from her usual pattern of releasing an album every two years and took a break from the public eye. She didn’t make any public appearances or release any music for several months. She decided to take a step back from the spotlight and focus on her mental health, specifically related to controversy with Kayne West and Kim Kardashian, she also wanted to focus on her personal life and writing new music. Swift returned in 2017 with the release of her sixth studio album, “Reputation,” which addressed many of the issues she faced in the previous year. She then went on her Reputation Stadium Tour from 2018. In the U.S., the tour grossed $266.1 million in the box office and broke many records, including becoming the highest-grossing North American concert tour in history.

In 2019, Swift released her seventh studio album, “Lover,” under her new record label, Universal Music Group. After securing a new label, Swift became a sort of trailblazer in the business of music. She spoke out against the acquisition of her master recordings by her old label’s music executive Scooter Braun, which sparked a wider conversation about artists’ ownership of their work. She wanted to buy her masters to her albums, but Braun would not let her purchase them back from him without signing a new contract with him. That’s when Swift decided she was going to re-record her six albums that she recorded with her old label and then release them as her version of the album, known as “Taylor’s Version,” officially making those six albums hers again.

In early 2020, Swift was supposed to tour her “Lover” album, but Lover Fest was unfortunately canceled due to COVID-19. Instead, she burrowed away like we all did and wrote another redefining album, “Folklore.” The album was a surprise release in July 2020 and signified a shift from her previous pop-oriented sound to more stripped-down, folk-inspired instrumentation and storytelling. “Folklore” went on to win a Grammy for Album of the Year and showcased just how versatile of an artist she is. In December 2020, Swift dropped a surprise album called “evermore.” Her fans joke that “evermore” is the forgotten sister of “Folklore,” as she released a documentary concert film on Disney+ for “Folklore” and did some small live performances for the album. Not so with “Evermore.” However, “Evermore” received just as much love from the fans who were just excited by the surprise of “Evermore” as they were with “Folklore.”

In April 2021 Swift released “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” and Red (Taylor’s Version) seven months later. Both albums included “vault songs,” which Swift wrote around the time the album was released but were cut from the final track-list. Along with the release of “Red (Taylor’s Version),” Swift released “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” an extended version of a song on the original “Red” album. She directed a 13-minute short film to accompany the song featuring Sadie Sink, Dylan O’Brien and Swift herself. The short film was met with critical acclaim for her direction and went on to win an MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year and the Grammy Award for Best Music Video.

It was at the July 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, where she won Video of the Year for her short film and announced her 10th studio album “Midnights” would be released October 2022. She wanted to give it as an album inspired by her sleepless nights when anxiety, insecurity and self-criticism kept her up, and in classic Swift style, she decided to drop the “Midnights” deluxe version at 3 a.m. the morning after the album was released. “Midnights” went on to break even more records for Swift, including records she set herself

Which leads us to the Eras Tour. Swift’s sixth headlining concert tour, her first tour since her album “Reputation,” a tour that would have hits from all 10 of her albums, four of those being albums she never properly toured. The day tickets went on sale was what some Swifties called “the great war.” The demand for tickets to the Eras Tour was described as “unprecedented” and “astronomical,” as about 3.5 million people registered for Ticketmaster’s presale program. This caused Ticketmaster’s website to crash when tickets went on presale. Even with the website crashing, over 2.4 million tickets were sold that day, which broke the record for the most concert tickets sold by an artist in a single day. Ticketmaster also sold all the tickets they had available during the presale, which meant there were no tickets available for the public sale. Ticketmaster faced a lot of public criticism and political scrutiny for that whole thing.

The U.S. leg of the Eras Tour kicked off March 17, 2023 Glendale, Arizona, and is set to end August 9, 2023, in Inglewood, California. Swift’s threehour set includes 44 songs, spanning across all her “eras” and albums. In anticipation for Swift’s arrival, local dignitaries have been giving her keys to their cities, and Tampa even made her honorary mayor for a day. The tour is getting spectacular reviews and is projected to gross more than her record-breaking Reputation tour in 2018.

As the legend Billy Joel said, “Taylor Swift is like The Beatles of her generation.” Yes. He said that. He did. Look it up.

Basically, it is undeniable how popular Swift is. She is pop star perfection. She has the talent, the fame, and the beauty. She is already going down in history as one of the music’s most successful performers. Her writing is already being taught in some colleges around the world. She has also done so much for women and women’s rights, whether it was by empowering them through her music and lyrics, representing positive female role models in the music industry, shaping societal expectations and norms, or setting an example as a successful businesswoman. She is what you might call a mastermind.

Whether you are a fan of Taylor Swift’s music or not, don’t you think that it is just pretty amazing that we are living at the same time as her and get to see and listen to history being made? If you are still a hater, you should listen to “mean” from “Speak Now”: It’s about you.

BITE BY BITE

Cliff’s Bar & Grill cliffsbarandgrill.com

La Palmerita orderlapalmerita.com

Rice + Noodles Korean Restaurant riceandnoodles.net

Angie’s Subs facebook.com/angiessubs

Azurea at One Ocean azurearestaurant.com

Barbara Jean’s on the Water barbarajeansonthewater.com

Coop 303 coop303.com

Engine 15 Brewing Company engine15.com

The Fish Company Restaurant and Oyster Bar thefishcojax.com

Flying Iguana Taqueria & Tequila Bar flyingiguana.com

BEACHES

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

Marker 32 marker32.com

Mezzaluna mezzalunajax.com

Bellweather bellwetherjax.com

The Bread and Board thebreadandboard.com

Burrito Gallery burritogallery.com

Cowford Chophouse cowfordchophouse.com

De Real Ting Cafe facebook.com/derealtingcafe

Estrella Cocina estrellajax.com

The Happy Grilled Cheese thehappygrilledchees.wixsite.com/grilledcheese

Seven Wonders Restaurant 7wondersbakery.com

Tabouleh Cafe taboulehcafe.com

Indochine indochinejax.com

North Beach Fish Camp thenorthbeachfishcamp.com

Palm Valley Fish Camp palmvalleyfishcamp.com

Poe’s Tavern poestavern.com

Ragtime Tavern ragtimetavern.com

Safe Harbor Seafood Market and Restaurant safeharbor-seafood.com

Salt Life Food Shack saltlifefoodshack.com

Singleton’s Seafood Shack singletonsseafood.com

TacoLu tacolu.com

Valley Smoke BBQ valleysmoke.com

Juliette’s Bistro at Marriott Jacksonville Downtown marriott.com

Ocean Street Tacos oceanstreettacos.com

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

Sweet Pete’s sweetpetescandy.com

Spliff’s Gastropub spliffsgastropub.com

MANDARIN

Berndt Ends BBQ facebook.com/berndtendsbbq

Blue Bamboo Canton Bistro bluebamboojacksonville.com

ChopHouse Thirteen chophouse13.com

Julington Creek Fish Camp julingtoncreekfishcamp.com

Buchner’s Bierhall buchnersbierhalle.com

MURRAY HILL

The Dreamette dreametteicecream.com

El Jefe Tex Mex eljefejax.com

Fired Up Pizza woodfireduppizza.com

NORTHSIDE

Green Papaya Pan Asian Cuisine greenpapayaus.com

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

Le Petit Paris French Cafe lepetitparisjax.com

Picasso’s Pizzeria jaxpicassos.wixsite.com/jaxpicassos

Umami Japanese Curry & Ramen umamijax.com

Maple Street Biscuit Company maplestreetbiscuits.com/murray-hill

Moon River Pizza moonriverpizza.net

Murray Hillbilly murrayhillbilly.com

Vagabond Coffee Co. vagabondcoffee.com

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

Ship 2 Shore Seafood & Steak ship2shoreseafood.com

RIVERSIDE & AVONDALE

13 Gypsies 13gypsies.com

904 Tacos facebook.com/904tacosfivepoints

Arepa Please arepaplease.com

Black Sheep blacksheep5points.com

Biggie’s Pizza biggiespizzajax.com

Biscottis biscottis.net

Blue Orchid blueorchidthai.com

Bold Bean boldbeancoffee.com

Brew Five Points brewfivepoints.co

Corner Taco cornertaco.com

Iguana on Park iguanaonpark.com

Jazzy’s Restaurant & Lounge jazzysrestaurant.net

Josephine josephineavondale.com

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

The Mossfire Grill mossfire.com

Pizza Cave facebook.com/pizzacave5pts

Restaurant Orsay restaurantorsay.com

Sake House sakehousejax.com

Sushi Cafe sushicafejax.com

Sweet Theory Baking Company sweettheorybakingco.com

Taqueria Cinco taqueria5points.com

SAN MARCO

Bar Molino barmolino.com

bb’s bbsrestaurant.com

The Bearded Pig thebeardedpigbbq.com

Bistro AIX Restaurant and Lounge bistrox.com

European Street Cafe europeanstreet.com

Fuji Sushi jacksonvillefujisushi.com

SPRINGFIELD

1748 Bakehouse 1748bakehouse.com

Crispy’s Springfield Gallery facebook.com/CrispysSpringfieldGallery

Strings Sport Brewery stringssportsbrewery.com

SOUTHSIDE

III Forks 3forks.com/location/jacksonville

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

Culhane’s Irish Pub culhanesirishpub.com

The French Pantry thefrenchpantryfl.com

WESTSIDE

The Juicy Crab thejuicycrabjax.com

The Fox Restaurant facebook.com/thefoxrestaurant

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

The Local thelocaljax.com

Matthew’s Restaurant matthewsrestaurant.com

The Metro Diner metrodiner.com

Peterbrooke peterbrooke.com/pages/san-marco

Taverna taverna.restaurant

Town Hall townhalljax.com

Silkie’s Chicken & Champagne Bar meetatsilkies.com

Waafa and Mike’s Cafe facebook.com/waafaandmikes

Prati Italia pratiitalia.com

Mr. Potato Spread mrpotatospread.com

Taste of Thai tasteofthaijax.com

Sushi Bear sushibearjax.com

Trent’s Seafood jltrents.com

Le Petit Paris

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner

For those Jacksonvillians chasing opportunities to romanticize their everyday life, Le Petit Paris stands waiting (from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., that is). The restaurant, with locations in Mandarin and Atlantic Beach, romanticizes the average customer’s life without all the excess mindfulness that usually accompanies the exercise since the atmosphere has been created for you.

Le Petit Paris capitalizes on its beauty, which blossoms upon entrance: vibrantly colored wicker chairs adorn each table, fresh flowers brighten the already lush atmosphere, small painted or mixed media vignettes of Parisian life decorate the walls, mini chandeliers hang from ceilings, brick walls incorporate a rustic feel into the atmosphere, large windows welcome the sun as it brightens the indoor spaces, and all pastries present themselves on golden trays with handwritten signs. Welcome to a realm overflowing with the finer things in life. Every corner is Instagrammable, every view picturesque.

More than just a visual thrill, the restaurant offers an appetizing experience. The menu, which varies by location, offers a bit of sweet, savory and everything in between for breakfast, brunch and lunch. The authentic Parisian eats include salads, baguette sandwiches, quiches, egg sandwiches, croissant sandwiches, tartine baguettes and an assortment of fresh pastries, the aroma of which is immediately apparent. Distinct French ingredients grace the menu —cheeses like blue cheese, Brie, goat cheese, dijon mustard, and herbs de Provence — as well as delectable French desserts like pain au chocolat, crème brûlée and crepes.

In addition to the wide variety of filling foods, the range of beverages complements the cuisine with flavorful, distinct refreshment. Chalkboards at each location flaunt a rotating, seasonal drink menu. From caffeinated to alcoholic to kid friendly bubblies, Le Petit Paris’ concoctions please eager taste buds.

Equally as noticeable as its savory savvy, is the unique atmosphere of Le Petit Paris, all centered around the guest experience. Almost any time of day, you’ll find bubbly, chatty guests whether enjoy a quick lunch break, an after-work treat, date night or a fun gathering with friends or family making

Le Petit Paris a welcome retreat from the monotony of life. This bright, exciting environment with its chattering customers, in turn, stirs conversation for new customers. The atmosphere is filled with joy.

And because the restaurant relies on a pay-first ordering system, where guests are not reliant on a server and can enjoy the welcoming ambiance as long as they please. This relaxed atmosphere forces guests to slow down and truly enjoy their food, drink and company. The slowed-down Parisian lifestyle, which values artistic allure over sheer productivity, is a welcome respite from the fast-paced American lifestyle.

Le Petit Paris, in this way, encourages the intentional living that customers may lack in their work and school lives: bites slow as molasses, conversation about the trivial or fantastical, connection valued above all. Customers linger in the bright, European environment as they eat slowly, chatting between bites or taking inspiration from the surroundings as they read a book, write or engage in other thoughtful activities.

Le Petit Paris goes against the grain in its appreciation of European life. The postcard-worthy atmosphere emphasizes high-quality food, purposeful eating, meaningful conversation and imagination. The present moment matters at Le Petit Paris especially when it places us on the path of beauty. Every customer deserves a savory journey of delightful sights, smells and tastes, not a brisk encounter. For the intentional consumer, Le Petit Paris welcomes you to a colorful, bright, intentional, soulful dining experience. The Eiffel Tower might as well be nearby because I, certainly, have been transported to Paris.

THRIFT T HISWAY

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GOODWILL

Ah, Goodwill. My tried and true. The ultimate equalizer of thrift shopping. It doesn’t matter which one you stroll into because chances are they’re all cut from the same cloth. From the ’80s and ’90s throwback songs on surround sound to that oh-so-familiar Goodwill aroma, you know you’re in for a consistent experience no matter which storefront you hit up. It is my ultimate go-to. Pro tip: Goodwill usually does a full restock of the store every three days starting Monday. So if you want the best picks, now you know.

BEAM THRIFT

Now, Beam Thrift and I have a complicated love story. If you are looking for fun vintage clothes for cheap, I wouldn’t put Beam at the top of my list. Definitely not tailored for the younger generation. Though, much like any thrift store, if you have the time, you might strike gold. One of my favorite vintage L.L. Bean flannel shirts was scored at Beam. But what I will say is that Beam has the best furniture/decor stock. If you are planning a fun DIY project or need a plethora of picture frames for cheap, Beam is the place to go.

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HOPE’S CLOSET

Now here’s a slightly contentious suggestion: It looks like your typical department store but with a twist — they blast Christian music through the speakers. It’s not as inexpensive as Goodwill or Salvation Army, but it’s definitely more affordable than those overpriced vintage shops. Whenever my luck runs out at Goodwill, I turn to Hope’s Closet. And let me tell you, their kitchen section is unmatched. I’ve been revamping my kitchen decor with thrifted treasures from Hope’s Closet, including vintage glassware and nifty toaster ovens.

HUBBARD HOUSE THRIFT STORE

A guide to Jacksonville’s best thrift stores

Words and photos by Carmen Macri

Now, when I say thrift store, I don’t mean those fancy-schmancy vintage boutiques charging an arm and a leg for second hand threads. No, no, no. I’m talking about the real deal, non-profit thrift shops where I can score a whole new wardrobe for a bargain. We don’t want to offend those posh vintage stores, would we? But let’s face it, where do you think those highfalutin’ establishments get half of their inventory from? Not only is thrifting an eco-friendly and wallet-friendly option to traditional shopping, but it’s also a chance to uncover treasures that have been hidden away, waiting to be given a second life. So step aside, overpriced boutiques — thrifting is where it’s at! Now let’s walk through the best non-profit thrift stores in Jacksonville.

This hidden gem is a treasure trove of pre-loved goodies from vintage clothing to quirky knick-knacks. It’s a thrifty shopper’s paradise that benefits not only their wallet but also the community — all proceeds go to support the Hubbard House domestic violence shelter. And let’s talk about the selection: It’s like stepping into a time capsule with finds that range from retro to modern, and everything in between. On my first visit, I was met face-to-face with vintage Dan Post cowboy boots in near-perfect condition (but, unfortunately, not my size.) So if you’re looking for a shopping experience that’s both rewarding and delightful, make your way to Hubbard House thrift store. Your closet (and your conscience) will thank you.

Don’t get me wrong: Vintage shops are a dream come true. The thrill of the hunt, the unique finds, the retro vibe — it’s all there. But let’s be real: Sometimes the prices can be a bit steep. And when I’m not in the mood to drop 50 bucks on a single item, I turn to the time-tested thrift stores. There’s something satisfying about digging through the racks and uncovering hidden treasures at a fraction of the cost. So while vintage shops have their charm, don’t underestimate the power of a good old-fashioned thrifting adventure.

ARLINGTON

Cliff’s Bar and Grill cliffsbarandgrill.com

BEACHES/PONTE VEDRA

Blue Jay Listening Room bluejayjax.com

The Brix Taphouse jacksonvillebeachbar.com

Culhane’s culhanesirishpub.com

Flask & Cannon facebook.com/flaskandcannon

Green Room Brewing greenroombrewing.com

Grey Matter Distillery greymatterdistillery.com

Gusto gustojax.com

Hoptinger Bier Garden + Sausage House hoptinger.com

Ink Factory Brewing inkfactorybrewing.com

Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com

Julep Palm Valley facebook.com/JulepPalmValley

Lemon Bar & Grille lemonbarjax.com

Lynch’s Irish Pub lynchsirishpub.com

Mango’s mangosjaxbeach.com

Mavi’s Waterfront Bar & Grill mavijax.com

NIGHTLIFE

Monkey’s Uncle Tavern monkeysuncletavern.com

Palm Valley Outdoors Bar and Grill palmvalleyoutdoors.com

Penthouse Lounge at Casa Marina Hotel casamarinahotel.com/penthouse-lounge

Ragtime Tavern ragtimetavern.com

Refinery Jax Beach refineryjaxbeach.com

Reve Brewing revebrewing.com

The Ritz Lounge theritzlounge.com

The Shim Sham Room shimshamroom.com

Southern Swells Brewing Company southernswells.com

Surfer The Bar surferthebar.com

DOWNTOWN 1904 Music Hall 1904musichall.com

The Bier Hall intuitionaleworks.com/bierhall

Bold City Brewery boldcitybrewery.com

Dos Gatos dosgatosjax.com

Element Bistro & Craft Cocktail Lounge elementjax.com

Intuition Aleworks intuitionaleworks.com

Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com

Justice Pub facebook.com/TheJusticePub

Manifest Distillery manifestdistilling.com

Ruby Beach Brewing rubybeachbrewing.com

Underbelly underbellyjax.com

The Volstead thevolsteadjax.com

FLEMING ISLAND Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com/fleming-island

Mercury Moon facebook.com/Mercury-Moon

Mr. Chubby’s Wings mrchubbyswings.com

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

Whitey’s Fish Camp whiteysfishcamp.com

INTRACOASTAL WEST 9 Zero Pour 9zeropour.com

MVP’s Sports Grille facebook.com/mvpssportsgrille

The Spot Hookah Lounge thespothookahloungejax.com

MANDARIN/JULINGTON CREEK/FRUIT COVE 2nd Bay Brewing 2ndbaybrewing.com

Iggy’s Grill and Bar facebook.com/IggysGrill

Kava & Company kavaandcompany.com

Legacy Ale Works legacyaleworks.com

Monkey’s Uncle Tavern facebook.com/MonkeysUncleMandarin1

Rack’em Up Sports Bar facebook.com/rackemupsportsbar

MURRAY HILL

Buchner’s Bierhalle buchnersbierhalle.com

Fishweir Brewing Company fishweirbrewing.com

The Flamingo theflamingojax.com

Perfect Rack Billiards perfectrackbilliards.com

The Stout Snug thestoutsnug.com

The Walrus thewalrusjax.com

NORTHSIDE

Coppertop Bar and Restaurant coppertopbarandrestaurant.com

Four Fathers Distillery fourfathersdistillery.com

ORANGE PARK/MIDDLEBURG

57 Heaven facebook.com/57HeavenOP

Big Dawgs Sports Restaurant bigdawgsrestaurant.com

Cheers Park Avenue cheersparkave.com

The Daq Shack thedaqshack904.com

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

The Fresh Spot Lounge thefreshspotlounge.com

LeaderBoard Arcade leaderboardarcade.com

Locals Pub localspub.co

Nakama Anime Bar nakamabar.com

Park Avenue Billiards parkavenuebilliards.com

Pinglehead Brewing Company pinglehead.com

Southern Social Whiskey Bar & Lounge southernsocialbar.com

RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE Birdies facebook.com/birdiesfivepoints

Bold City Brewery boldcitybrewery.com

Brick Restaurant brickofavondale.com

Burlock & Barrel burlockandbarrel.com

Casbah Cafe thecasbahcafe.com

Dart Bar & Games facebook.com/DartBarJax

Eclipse Bar & Nightclub facebook.com/EclipseBarJax

The Garage garagejax.com

The Green House thegreenhousebar.com

Hoptinger Bier Garden + Sausage House hoptinger.com

Jazzy’s Restaurant & Lounge jazzysrestaurant.net

Kanine Social Taproom kaninesocial.com

Keg & Coin kegandcoinjax.com

Kingmaker Brewing kingmakerbrewing.com

Lemonstreet Brewing Company lemonstreetbrewing.com

100

Park Avenue Jacksonville, Florida 32202

DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD © 2012, The Fred Rogers Company. All

loftjax.com

Myrtle Avenue Brewing facebook.com/MyrtleAveBrewing

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

Rain Dogs instagram.com/raindogs5points

River & Post riverandpostjax.com

Rogue Bar facebook.com/rogue.bar.1

Root Down facebook.com/RootDownJax

Tabula Rasa Brewing tabularasa.beer

Wall Street Lounge facebook.com/TheWallStreetLounge

Wildcrafters facebook.com/wildcraftersjax

SAN MARCO/ST. NICHOLAS Aardwolf Brewing Company aardwolfbrewing.com

Bar Molino barmolino.com

Breezy Jazz House breezyjazzhouse.com

Cuba Libre Ultra Lounge cubalibrebar.com

Fore Score Golf Tavern forescoregolf.com

The Grape & Grain Exchange grapeandgrainexchange.com

Hamburger Mary’s hamburgermarys.com/jax

Kava & Company kavaandcompany.com

The Mudville Grill themudvillegrill.com

The Players Grille playersgrille.com

Posting House posting.house

Sidecar instagram.com/sidecarjax

Tabula Rasa Brewing tabularasa.beer

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

Bottlenose Brewing bottlenosebrewing.com

Culhane’s culhanesirishpub.com

Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com

Jax Craft Beer jaxcraftbeer.com

Secret Tiki Temple secrettikitemple.com

Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery 7bridgesgrille.com

Veterans United Craft Brewery vubrew.com

Wicked Barley Brewing Company wickedbarley.com

WXYZ Bar at Aloft Hotel AloftJacksonvilleTapestryPark.com

SPRINGFIELD Crispy’s Springfield Gallery crispysspringfieldgallery.com

Historically Hoppy Brewing Company historicallyhoppy.com

Hyperion Brewing hyperionbrewing.com

Shantytown Pub facebook.com/shantytownjax

Strings Sports Brewery stringssportsbrewery.com

ST. AUGUSTINE Arnold’s Lounge arnoldslounge.com

Beacon Listening Room beaconstaug.com

Cellar Upstairs Bar at San Sebastian Winery sansebastianwinery.com

The Original Café Eleven originalcafe11.com

Prohibition Kitchen pkstaug.com

Tradewinds Lounge tradewindslounge.com

WESTSIDE Lillian’s lillianssportsgrill.com

The Phoenix Bar & Bowling facebook.com/thephoenixjax

Raising the Bar: Bar Molino

Words and photos by Ambar Ramirez

Fortunately for me and all of Jacksonville, Bar Molino is situated perfectly in the heart of San Marco. With its large glass-paneled wall and outdoor deck, it’s an ideal spot to catch up with friends or family, no matter the weather. It’s also where I had the pleasure of meeting the co-founders of Bar Molino, Alfred Young and Kurt Rogers, who, in my view, are not only raising the bar for restaurant ownership and management but are also redefining what a neighborhood bar can provide.

Becoming a restaurant owner doesn’t happen overnight — let alone, a restaurant with a unique menu and over 2,000 bottles of Spanish wine. Wanting to be a chef from a young age, Rogers took a more realistic approach to achieve that goal. Since he was 15 years old, Rogers has been in hospitality. He’s done it all from washing dishes to answering phones, eventually working his way up to the front of the house. But the true game changer happened once he stepped foot behind the bar.

“I ended up behind the bar one year and fell in love with it. I was like, this is what I want to do with the rest of my life,” Rogers recalled. “This is before the craft cocktail boom and all of that. And then when that started happening, I was like, OK, there’s more to it than just slinging Jack and Cokes.”

Once Rogers got a taste of working behind the bar during “the craft cocktail boom,” doors began to open. And after working as the beverage director at Restaurant Orsay he and his partners opened Sidecar, where he worked for the next nine years. Then, one day, Rogers sat down for coffee with Young.

Young was following a path similar to that of Rogers’ when he entered the hospitality industry at the age of 14. After exploring other avenues in civil service, he eventually went back into hospitality and climbed the corporate ladder where he discovered a company that he could develop and invest in. By the time he sold his corporate shares, Bar Molino was born.

“So we sat down, had some coffee and kind of talked out all these different options and kind of thought about what made sense, and we landed on this space and this concept as our first outing of the restaurant group,” Rogers said. “And then what? Eight months, nine months later? And here we are.”

Bar Molino was built on that idea: a place where friends can get together and enjoy each other’s company without the distraction of TV screens or loud music. Instead, guests can catch up over coffee or a glass of Spanish wine.

“Obviously, when you fall in love with a region’s wine or country’s wine, you’re going to start exploring the food culture,” Rogers shared. “So, you

know, it started off as just a small wine shop. And then through the course of our talking over about kind of what the space needed and what the neighborhood needed, it grew and blossomed into a full-blown restaurant with a wine shop.”

Besides the plentiful wine options, Bar Molino offers a uniquely curated menu with everything from Spanish tapas to Spanish-inspired desserts. And most of all, an unforgettable experience.

“It could have been easy to do anything else, you know, but everybody else is already doing that,” Rogers said. “It’s almost a mantra at this point that I think that we live by is that we would rather try something difficult and new and fall flat on our faces —that would suck —but at least we tried, and we tried to do what we thought was right and new and exciting, [instead of falling] into the role of just being another place out of 100.”

Young and Rogers worked hard at not only creating a notable neighborhood bar that is being recognized all throughout Jacksonville but also creating a staff that makes it feel like once you step through Bar Molino’s doors, you are stepping into a family’s home. In fact, before the restaurant was even open, Young held kitchen training for staff right in his own home.

“We spent a month training everybody. You can’t open something this unique and have the staff not know what they’re talking about,” Young said. “Every one of them is a part of this. It’s absolutely the group pulling together. And I think that’s part of the reason why they’re all still here because it’s not just a job; it’s what they do.”

When it comes to Jacksonville’s perception of what a neighborhood bar is and how we treat hospitality workers, I think we can all agree that Bar Molino is truly raising the bar.

Video Game Review: Hogwarts Legacy

Words by Tysen Romeo

One of the world’s most successful and beloved book series (written by a woman with questionable morals) is getting a video game adaptation. That video game, Hogwarts Legacy, allows players to explore the wizarding world of the Harry Potter like never before.

I haven’t read the books but have seen most of the movies, and honestly, I do not understand most of the hype around the series in general. But I do have a love of video games, so I figured why not play one involving some wizards and magic. While I don’t understand most of the hype around the series in general, I can tell you this game blew me away with its lore and detail and can see this might be the perfect game for Harry Potter fans.

The game follows a fifth-year transfer student, who possesses an ancient type of magic that was once used to create Hogwarts. The student has a hard time getting to Hogwarts on time and is thrown into his sorting ceremony, which is where you choose what house your character belongs to. You then go to classes and explore the lands around Hogwarts, like Hogsmeade, a town next to the school and frequented by students.

The school itself is massive and has lots of secrets to be uncovered. Avid Harry Potter fans who know the layout of the school from the book descriptions and movies are keen to notice that the game is a near replica of everything they’ve read or seen. Even though I didn’t know the school’s layout, it was neat to eventually learn the path from my dorm room to my classes to the dining hall to the library and all around the school.

The game also offers a lot of customization from the way your character looks and your wand to the spells you learn and the potions you craft to your dialogue and how you want your room to look.

Hogwarts Legacy is everything Harry Potter fans ever wanted in a game, except that the most popular sport in the Harry Potter world (and one that fans of the series love), Quidditch, is not in the video version. For those of you who don’t know, quidditch is a sport where a team of wizards and witches ride their brooms and score points with a leather ball in hoops floating in the air, and is so adored by fans that some colleges even have Quidditch teams and play in leagues against other schools. A big missed opportunity.

You can still fly on a broom, though, which is one of the best features the game has to offer. It makes exploring this game’s massive world a lot more enjoyable. While flying is fun in the beginning, the size of the world and the distance between points you travel can get tiring quickly and take away from the immersive feel of the game. Most of the land is bare except for grass and rocks. When you are at the school, you are constantly surrounded by collectibles and non-playable characters, but in the area surrounding

Hogwarts, the world lacks any significance other than the two towns you frequent and the scattered enemy bases.

The story of the game was also a bit of a letdown. The character is a bit emotionless and has all these different options to say during dialogue, but none of your choices have consequences. A spell that is forbidden in the book series or movies (such as one that instantly sends you to prison because it kills people) has no consequences when your character uses it here. Your character also spends the whole game trying to prove he is worthy of his gifts and understands the costs that come with it, yet never fully uses the magical powers he possesses. The story just lacked any emotional or creative punch.

It is impossible for developers to fit every element from the series into one video game, but Hogwarts Legacy lacks some essential components to be as amazing as it could be, especially a sense of cohesiveness. Games don’t have to be perfect to still be fun (and I am not even a big fan of Harry Potter), but I still feel like the developers could have done a little more fan service in this game.

However, that isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy most of what this game had to offer. If you are a Harry Potter fan, get the game. It is not a perfect Harry Potter game, but it is a new way to experience something you love and reconnect to the series in a new way. For gamers who like blowing stuff up and using magic to attack your enemies, I would also tell you to get the game because, well, you can do just that in this game too.

Hogwarts Legacy will be released on all platforms May 5. HBO Max also just greenlit a new Harry Potter TV series separate from the movies, so Harry Potter fans are having quite the year for new content related to the series.

May your dreams of enrolling in Hogwarts come true.

Romanza Festivale Celebrates St. Augustine’s Heritage in Arts and Culture

Words by Folio Staff and photos provided by Romanza

‘Romanza’ in Spanish is a love song. ‘Romanza’ in Italian is a love affair. ‘Romanza” in St. Augustine means celebrating our heritage in arts and culture,” said Kathleen Vande Berg, chair of Romanza Festivale of Music and The Arts.

Celebrating its 18th edition in 2023, the two-week cultural festival kicked off April 28 and runs through May 14 at various locations in St. Augustine including Flagler College, The Waterworks and Francis Field. Daily events run the gamut from plein air art exhibitions and storyelling to wine tastings and opera, featuring dozens of local businesses and culture-based non-profits. Many events are free.

“Cultural organizations and businesses in St. Johns County look forward to Romanza as a showcase of their work,” Vande Berg added. “We are proud to bring the Romanza Festivale of Music and The Arts, once again, to our beautiful city.”

For more information on Romanza Festivale, visit romanzafestivale.com.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR MAY

May 1

• Lincolnville Live! FloArts Students Celebrate Musicals, St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church

May 2

• Lincolnville Live Concert with Two Guitarists: Dotson and Pacetti, St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church

May 3

• Florida Stories told by The Storytelling Troupe, Ximenez-Fatio House Garden

• Lincolnville Live: Community Drumming with Amber Hall, St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church

• Lincolnville Live presents the North Florida Saxophone Quartet, St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church

May 4

• Romanza Kaleidoscope of Dance, Lewis Auditorium, Flagler College

May 5

• Plein Air Paint Out Exhibit, St. Augustine Art Association

• An Afternoon Visit with Author Trish MacEnulty, Voorhees Mission House, St. Cyprians Episcopal Church

• The Tale Tellers presents “Story and Song from Florida’s Past,” St. Augustine Historical Research Library

• Bold City Brass in Concert, Kirk Auditorium, Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind

May 5-7

• A Classic Theatre presents “Mothers and Sons,” The Waterworks

May 6

• Unidos en la Musica: A Latin American Festival, Francis Field

• North Florida Women’s Chorale presents “She’s My Hero,” Ancient City Baptist Church

• EMMA Concert Association presents TAKE3, Lewis Auditorium, Flagler College

May 7

• Akia Uwanda, Flagler College, Lewis Auditorium

May 8

• Duo Beaux Arts, The Waterworks

• Chamber Music Series: The Concert Kiddos, Ancient City Baptist Church

May 9

• The Triti Ensemble, Memorial Presbyterian Church

May 10

• Romanza Cubana with Raquel Rubi, The Waterworks

• St. Augustine Orchestra in Concert, Lightner Museum

• First Coast Opera presents “Bon Appetit!” Ancient City Baptist Church

May 11

• St. Augustine Orchestra in Concert, Lightner Museum

• Mama Blue on the Markland Porch, Markland House Lawn

• Dulcinea: Early Music Consort and Duo Violinists, Memorial Presbyterian Church

May 12

• Malbec Mania, The Gifted Cork

• Chamber Music Series: Trio Rodin, Memorial Presbyterian Church

May 12-14

• A Classic Theatre presents “Mothers and Sons”, The Waterworks

May 13

• St. Augustine Community Chorus presents “Five Centuries of Song,” Ancient City Baptist Church

May 14

• Festivale Finale: St. Paul’s A.M.E. Church 150th Anniversary Celebration, St. Paul’s A.M.E. Church

“Spring” By Rachel Fleischman