Folio Vol.36, Issue 19

CONTENTS

LISTINGS

10

12

ART

20

COUNTRY MUSIC

21

CONCERTS

29

PRIDE CELEBRATIONS

30

NIGHTLIFE

FEATURES

14

Fine Lines

Rain Henderson

16

Deborah Roberts Ambar Ramirez

18

Black Cats Carmen Macri

20

Folk is People

Rob Nicholson

26

Bed Bug Guru Carmen Macri

28

Karrissa Wade Rob Nicholson

FOLIO STAFF

TERESA SPENCER general manager

ROB NICHOLSON sales director

RAIN HENDERSON creative director

VINCENT DALESSIO videographer

MOLLY BRITT account executive/contributor

CASEY ALIXANDRA account executive/contributor

SHELTON HULL contributor

32

Haunted and Abandoned Ambar Ramirez

35

Hispanic Heritage Month Molly Britt

36

Weird, Wild Stuff Shelton Hull

38

October Screen Reviews Harry Moore

40

St. Aug Lighthouse Casey Alixandra

44

Bad Boys of Reggae Shelton Hull

AMBAR RAMIREZ multi-media creative

CARMEN MACRI intern

JOHN M. PHILLIPS, ESQ. publisher

KERRY SPECKMAN copy editor

HARRY MOORE contributor

DREW ARNETT illustrator

HOROSCOPES

ARIES

The romantic tides are shifting and it is up to you whether you seize the day. Be on the lookout for the full moon in Aries Oct. 9 as it brings internal and external lustful developments. Be wary though, sweet Aries, this may be an overwhelming time for you. Take control of what you want. You will surprise many with your romantic disposition, including yourself.

TAURUS

Ruled by the planet of love, beauty and money, you do best when taking time for yourself. Consider what a perfectionist you are, now is the time to detach from stressful projects and delve into ones that make you happy. This month will be full of love and peace, specifically Oct. 22 and 25 as long as you make the space for it. Take yourself on a date or go to the spa; just take a break!

GEMINI

Your October horoscope brings the party—and the drama. Are you surprised? Mars retrogrades in Gemini this month; it’s your time to go buck wild. This energy shift might be a bit overstimulating for some so, try to keep a level head. Allow yourself to step back and take a breath during your Mercurial moonwalk. And remember, you’re not always right.

CANCER

As a water sign ruled by the moon, your emotions can take quick control over your actions much like the moon does to the tides. Now is the time to take back control over your life and make your dreams come to fruition. Buy an agenda and get to planning, Cancer! This is also a good time to find joy and comfort within your vulnerability, so if you find yourself on a hot date, don’t let fear guide you.

LEO

Put down the mirror, Leo. There is a very fine line between confidence and cockiness. October will push you to grow mentally and spiritually, but don’t fold under the pressure. Roads may be blocked on your upcoming path so, it’s time to kick it into high gear. Focus less on what you’re good at and more on what needs improvement. You are only as strong as your greatest weakness. Ouch!

VIRGO

Not everything has a logical explanation, Virgo, and that’s OK! Take your hands off the wheel for a second and allow the universe to guide you. Financially, this looks like a good month for you, and you might even find yourself with a new job. But money and physical things aren’t the most important things in life. It will serve you well to focus on building and strengthening relationships as those can last a lifetime.

LIBRA

Love is in the air! You may find yourself putting others before you and even giving your love to those who don’t deserve it. Put on your sunnies and avoid the blinding power of love. Instead, give yourself the tenderness and sentimentality you tend to give to others. Most of all, stop to smell the roses and romanticize your life. This month, you are the main character.

SCORPIO

Show them what you’re made of, Scorpio! You are a wildcard this month. It is time to start focusing more on yourself and less on what people think of you. No sign is better suited for a makeover montage than you. The full moon in Aries is calling on you to prioritize your well-being, that being said, LEAVE AQUARIUS MEN ALONE! When will you learn?

SAGITTARIUS

Let your fiery side shine this month, Sagittarius. You may be finding yourself in a time of big changes. Whether it’s with friends, lovers or your career, change isn’t always bad … but it is always necessary. Stand your ground and take back your power!

CAPRICORN

You need a drink. Or two. You don’t always need to be in control, Capricorn. It is time for you to take a chill pill and sit in the passenger seat for once. Take a minute to strategize your next move; think with your head and not your heart. Pay close attention to your spending habits this month. Retail therapy is not always the answer.

AQUARIUS

As a visionary, you may find those visions coming to life this month may bring your visions to life … as long as you don’t hold yourself back. Be like the air that rules you and let your creativity flow, Aquarius! Once you break down the internal walls you’ve built, it will allow for others and yourself to see your potential. Put on your favorite sweater and get to work on that mood board you’ve been putting off for months.

PISCES

The clarity and closure you yearn for are making their way to you. Cosmic energy is pushing you to own a brand-new perspective this month. Allow yourself to see how much you are cared for. You may have been feeling overshadowed recently, but things are looking up. Something (or someone) is knocking on your door, Pisces. Don’t be afraid to answer.

THEATER/ DANCE

Through Oct. 2

Bright Star Players by The Sea Theatre abetjax.com

Private Lives Theatre Jacksonville theatrejax.com

Through Oct. 30

Big Fish Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine Limelight-theatre.org

Through Nov. 6

Ghost: The Musical Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com

Oct. 1

Lumen Repertory Theatre presents Vincent Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts lumenrep.org

Oct. 2

UNF Shakespeare presents The Mask of Night MOCA Jacksonville mocajacksonville.unf.edu

Oct. 6-9 and 13-16

The Play That Goes Wrong

Amelia Musical Playhouse, Fernan dina Beach ameliamusicalplayhouse.com

Oct. 7-8

Bon Appetit!: Dinner and Opera St. Anastasia Catholic Church–Cele bration Hall, St. Augustine firstcoastopera.com

Oct. 7-9

The Crucible Jacksonville University–Swisher Theater ju.edu/cfa Oct. 9

Peppa Pig’s Adventure! Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Oct. 14-15

D.O.D. Productions presents: The Judge Murray Hill Theatre murrayhilltheatre.com

Oct. 14-23

Florida Ballet Classical Gala Picinich-Byrd Theatre floridaballet.org

Oct. 14-30

Angel Street (aka Gas Light) Orange Park Community Theatre opct.info

Oct. 16

T.O.E: The Art of Poetry: Poems at the Playground Ritz Theatre & Museum ritzjacksonville.com

Oct. 19-23

Measure for Measure

Flagler College–Lewis Auditorium, St. Augustine flagler.edu

Oct. 20

Buddy—The Buddy Holly Story Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Oct. 21-30

Little Shop of Horrors The Island Theater theislandtheater.com

Oct. 22

Josh Gates Live! An Evening of Ghosts, Monsters and Tales of Adventure Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Oct. 28

Murray Hill Theatre presents Swing Dance Night murrayhilltheatre.com

Oct. 27-29

The Rocky Horror Show (2022) Amelia Musical Playhouse, Amelia Island ameliamusicalplayhouse.com

Oct. 29

The Rocky Horror Picture Show with live music by Alchematic Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

A Mind Made Up: The Encore Ritz Theatre & Museum ritzjacksonville.com

TRIVIA, ETC.

MONDAYS

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

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

• Hurricane Grill & Wings–Atlantic Boule vard (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.

• 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 Boule vard, 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.

• Island Wing Company–Southside Boule vard (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.

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

• Whiskey Jax–Baymeadows, 7 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.

SUNDAYS

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

All trivia games are general knowledge unless otherwise noted. Don’t see your favorite trivia spot? Drop us a hint at mail@folioweekly.com with “trivia” in the subject line.

COMEDY

Some shows are age restricted (and with good reason) and may have a dress code and/or drink minimum.

Don’t see your favorite ha-ha hole on the list? Humor us and let us know at stories@folioweekly.com. #callbeforeyouhaul

OCT. 1

Todd Barry

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

Jerry Seinfeld Live

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts | Moran Theater

Pinky Patel (3 p.m.)

Luenell (7:30 and 10 p.m.)

Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

Phatt Katz Comedy Presents TK Kirkland

2111 Restaurant & Comedy Lounge phattkatz.com

OCT. 4

Carlos Mencia

Café Eleven originalcafe11.com

OCT. 5

River City Comedy Showcase Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

Improv Night With First Coast Comedy

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

OCT. 7

Royal Comedy Tour with Bruce Bruce, Sommore, Lavell Crawford and Gary Owen

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com

Phatt Katz Comedy Presents “The Recovering H.O.E. Comedy Tour” with E Johnson, Felicia and Bennie Mac

2111 Restaurant & Comedy Lounge phattkatz.com

Improv Night with First Coast Comedy

Murray Hill Theatre murrayhilltheatre.com

OCT. 7-8

King Bach Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

First Coast Comedy: The Main Event (7:30 p.m.)

The Blue Show: Adults Only (10 p.m.)

First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

OCT. 8

Jen Fulwiler

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

Phatt Katz Comedy Presents Shay Clemons and Nod Ross

2111 Restaurant & Comedy Lounge phattkatz.com

OCT. 9

The Dignified Delinquent Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

OCT. 12

Improv Night with First Coast Comedy

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

OCT. 14-15

Phatt Katz Comedy Presents Tony Tone, Big Kenney & Anthony A.D. Demmer

2111 Restaurant & Comedy Lounge phattkatz.com

First Coast Comedy: The Main Event (7:30 p.m.)

The Blue Show: Adults Only (10 p.m.)

First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

OCT. 14-16

D.L. Hughley Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

“Weird Al” Yankovic Thrasher-Horne Center thcenter.org

OCT. 19

Improv Night with First Coast Comedy

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

OCT. 20

Al Ernst with Fasil Malik

Jackie Night’s Comedy Club, St. Augus tine jackieknightscomedyclub.com

OCT. 20-22

Jaime Lissow Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

OCT. 21-22

Phatt Katz Comedy Presents Chris Thomas and Barbara Carlyle

2111 Restaurant & Comedy Lounge phattkatz.com

First Coast Comedy: The Main Event (7:30 p.m.)

The Blue Show: Adults Only (10 p.m.)

First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

OCT. 25

Nimesh Patel Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

OCT. 26

Doug Stanhope Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

Daniel Howell Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

OCT. 26

Improv Night with First Coast Comedy

Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

OCT. 27-29

Ali Macofsky Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

OCT. 28-29

Phatt Katz Comedy Presents Nick Lewis, Coca Fresh and Jiwan Kapp

2111 Restaurant & Comedy Lounge phattkatz.com

First Coast Comedy: The Main Event (7:30 p.m.)

The Blue Show: Adults Only (10 p.m.) First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

OCT. 30

Rocky Dale Davis Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

ON-GOING

Jax Craft Beer

Tap That Comedy Night, fourth Wednes day of the month jaxcraftbeer.com

The Justice Pub

Bombs Away! Comedy Open Mic, Wednesdays facebook.com/TheJusticePub Raindogs

Hot Potato Comedy Night, Mondays instagram.com/raindogs5points

Veterans United Craft Brewery

Comedy in the Tap Room, third Thursday of the month vubrew.com

The Walrus

Magical Mystery Mic hosted by Daisy Tackett, Wednesdays thewalrusjax.com

This should go without saying, but no eating or drinking around the art. And don’t touch it!

Did we draw a blank on your favorite gallery? Drop us a line at stories@folioweekly.com with “galleries” in the subject line.

The Art Center Gallery

• “Choose a Color, Any Color,” through Oct. 9 tacjacksonvillegallery.org

Beaches Fine Arts Series

• Works by featured artist Dawn Montgomery, Oct. 9, St. Paul’s by the Sea Catholic Church beachesfinearts.org

Butterfield Garage Art Gallery

• Butterfield Garage Invitational featuring works by Koo Hon, Crystal Floyd, Dae Murphy, David Andrews, Liz Canali and more, Oct. 1-30 butterfieldgarage.com

The Corner Gallery at The Jessie

• “Past, Present, Future: Rivers, Threads, Pockets and Bubbles” featuring works by Dustin Harewood, Malcolm Jackson, Toni Smailagić and Jordan Walter, through Nov. 2 movingthemargins.org

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens

• “The Age of Armor: Treasures from the Higgins Armory Collection at the Worcester Art Museum,” Oct. 21 through Jan. 22

• “ Deborah Robert: I’m,” through Dec. 4

• “Revolve: Spotlight on the Permanent Collection,” through Nov. 13

• “Frieseke in Florida: Memories of Jacksonville in the 1880s,” through Jan. 1, 2023

• “Jacksonville’s Norman Studios,” through Jan. 30, 2023

• “Frederic Law Olmsted: Bringing Nature to the City,” a lecture and dinner with Lawrence Cotton,” Oct. 4 cummermuseum.org

Flagler College

• “M. Florine Démosthène: Always in All Ways,” through Oct. 22, Crisp-Ellert Art Museum flagler.edu Gallery 725

• “Burner: A Group Exhibition of International Street Artists” including Banksy, Zero Gradient, Dalek and Pure Evil, through Oct. 12 Gallery725.com

HIllary Whitaker Gallery

• Works by Carmelo Blanding, John Bunker, Hillary Butler, Dennis Campay, Page Jones Davis, Marissa Decinque, Christina Foard, Jennifer JL Jones and others hwhitakergallery.com

Jacksonville Main Library

• "Laurence Walden: From One Extreme to Another,” through Oct. 10, Betty Francis Art Gallery jaxpubliclibrary.org

Jacksonville University

• Annual Student Juried Exhibition, Oct. 20-Nov. 9 Alexander Brest Gallery

• “Martha Underriner: Never Done,” through Oct. 10, Alexander Brest Gallery

• “Neil Daigle Orians: we all have to make concessions,” through Oct. 10, Alexander Brest Gallery

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

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

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum

• “Visions of Literary Fright” featuring works by Renee Spahr, Louis Betancourt and Drew Edward Hunter, through Oct. 29 (costumes encouraged!) karpeles.com

Lightner Museum

• “Bouke de Vries: War and Pieces,” through Dec. 31 lightnermuseum.org

MOCA Jacksonville

• “Express Your UNF Pride,” through Nov. 13

• “Art With a Heart: What Lifts You Up,” through Jan. 8

• “FIFTY: An Alumni Exhibition,” through Feb. 12

• “Shervone Neckles: Bless This House,” through March 5

• “Maud Cotter: What Was Never Ours to Keep,” a Project Atrium exhibition, through Nov. 1

• Black Art Matters Series: Artist Derrick Adams, virtual lecture, Oct. 10 mocajacksonville.unf.edu

Museum of Science and History

• Arts Infusion ImagiNclusion, MOSH Lobby

• Works by Princess Simpson Rashid, MOSH Creation Station themosh.org

NoCo Center

• “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience,” through Nov. 27 vangoghjacksonville.com

Ritz Theatre & Museum

• “Through Our Eyes: Female Led Legacies,” through Jan. 9

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

Stellers Gallery

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

University of North Florida

• Works by UNF Art, Art History and Design Faculty, through Nov. 11, UNF Gallery of Art

• “Forms of Knowing: Cultural Documents Considering Alzheimer's Research,” through Nov. 11, Lufrano Intercultural Gallery unf.edu/gallery

Yellow House

• “Sit in Stand Up,” virtual exhibition

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

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

Ongoing

Art Walk: Oct. 5

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/artwalk

Fernandina Beach Arts Market: Oct. 8 and 22

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: Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29

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: Oct. 7

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. artgalleriesofstaugustine.com

Fine Lines

Words by Rain Henderson

Too often a line is drawn between art that is sometimes considered “low-brow” —illustration—and “high-brow”—fine art. Local designer and illustrator Michael Slayton is working to blur the divide with “Fine Lines,” an exhibit featuring six local visual artists who straddle that rule between illustration and fine art. Slayton has had his hand (and pencil) in all things Jacksonville (you might recognize his giant illustrations lining the walls of the Cummer Museum where he served as the art director). Always working for the greater good of the community, he now designs for Feeding Northeast Florida but has also illustrated for businesses and non-profits like SkatePal, Kathryn’s Wines, Downtown Vision and many more.

For “Fine Lines,” Slayton gathered his “dream team” of illustrators: Aysha Mishkin, Dusty Nomad, Kiara Sánchez, Dani Simmons and Nick Villava, to help showcase the contemporary art of Jacksonville. Though these names may be unrecognizable to folks not embedded in the design community, their work’s roots run deep. Part of Slayton’s goal is to put faces to the art and create a space for connection in a cohort of the art world that sometimes gets overlooked. Design and illustration is a competitive business in Jacksonville, a city saturated with many great creators, “Fine Lines” will pull artists away from their computers (and iPads and canvases) and give them a chance to shine together. The exhibition has been postponed due to the hurrican, stay tuned for updates. The event is free and all featured work will be available for sale.

Deborah Robert’s “I’M’ at the Cummer Museum

Words and photo by Ambar Ramirez

Societal beauty standards, racism, gun violence, and stereotypes are just a few of the topics commented on in Deborah Roberts's “I’m” exhibit. After hard work and determination to tell the stories of those not listened to, Robert’s work has been portrayed and exhibited internationally across the USA and Europe. And now until December 4th, Robert’s “I’m” exhibit can be found at the Cummer Museum right in Jacksonville.

The large subjects on white backgrounds hung on the white walls of the private space make it hard to feel like you are alone. For one thing consistent throughout the collection are the collages of Black boys and girls on plain backgrounds. In fact, the scale of the subjects are purposeful. While some figures take up more room than others, their prominence highlights the title of the exhibit. A reclamation of one's own identity and how they are viewed within society.

“This exhibition is special for a number of reasons,” Cummer Ceo Andrea Barnwell Brownlee said. “‘I’m’ is one those really reflective terms that allows people to really think about themselves in an introspective sort of way and perhaps even put themselves in other’s shoes.”

The most distinct feature of Robert’s work is her use of mixed mediums and collages. Photographs and cut-outs of older faces cover eyes and other facial features of the younger painted subjects. The dichotomy of the older features on young ones, emphasizes the harsh reality of young Black children subjected to having to grow prematurely due to racism and anti-black stereotypes.

“When you invite people into your work and invite them to spend time to think about the perspectives of others, its a really powerful gesture,” Brownlee said. “So in those words as well as the figures, Deborah Roberts really does connect us to a whole lineage of feminist thoughts, American thoughts, of this idea that the singular person as an individual, does matter.”

Along her more common pieces of work, “I’m” also showcases some newer works and techniques. Including text-based pieces,

some of which present the names of Black women underlined in red as if they were misspelled on a word document. On the left wall of the exhibit, titled When They Look Back (1,2, and 3) girls are depicted on black backgrounds, leaving only the faces and gold nail polish noticeable. As written on the exhibit label, the shift from the usual white backgrounds is meant to comment on the “absence of Black girls” in a dark society. As well as conveys the lack of African-American subjects and people within entertainment and art.

On the opposite wall near the tall windows that reveal the Cummer Gardens, is an even newer installment to the exhibit. An interactive art piece that asks visitors to step inside a curtained booth. On one side of the excluded area is a video portraying what may be a look into Robert’s collaging process while a narrator memorializes the names of four hundred Black women who have gone missing. While on the other side, one faces a mirror to see themselves engulfed in all those woman’s names fixed on the walls.

Overall, Robert’s pieces beg viewers to look further than what is portrayed on the canvases. To have a conversation with the artworks and yourself, to find and understand the hidden meaning within distinct symbols. Being the only east coast location to exhibit Robert’s work as well as the museum's sixtieth anniversary, Brownlee expresses the museum's sense of responsibility to ensure that they show the most compelling and dynamic work in honor of Ninah Cummer.

“Now, honestly, more than ever we are focused on Ninah Cummer’s goal,” Brownlee said. “She really, sixty years ago, decided she wanted an institution that was for all of Jacksonville and we take very seriously our responsibility to keep presenting a variety of projects that are going to fulfill her vision.”

In order to get the full experience of the “I’m” exhibit it's important to not only take a look at that collection but as well as all the other collections within the museum. Those all together, are placed purposefully to create a larger context and tell a deeper story.

If a Black Cat Crosses Your Path

Words & photos by Carmen Macri

Whether we intentionally follow them or not, superstitions are all around us. Do not walk under a ladder. If you spill salt, throw it over your left shoulder. Do not step on a crack in the sidewalk. Never open an umbrella inside. Avoid the infamous number 13. And bad luck follows when a black cat crosses your path.

For centuries black cats have gotten a bad rap. In European folklore, black cats have been attached to witchcraft, Satan, bad omens and bad luck. The superstition dates back to the early 13th century. Catholic churches deemed them to be linked to hell.

Pope Gregory IX of Rome issued an official church document, “Vox in Rama” that declared black cats to be incarnations of Satan because of their link to witches and black magic. At the time, if a black cat crossed your path, it was thought that death would soon occur.

Rumor had it that black cats were either witches in disguise or a witch’s “familiar” assisting in the practice of magic (a familiar is said to be a supernatural entity usually found in the shape of a household pet, in this case, a black cat). They serve as witches’ companions, guardians and guides. So, for centuries when people see black cats, they have associated them with witches and witchcraft and often mistreat them because of this.

Personally, I would love having a black magic kitten casting spells in my apartment. Shows like Sabrina The Teenage Witch and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina showcase the actuality of what a familiar is to a witch. Not an evil entity, but a cunning sidekick that can crack some jokes.

In a less common Welsh folklore, if a black cat were to cross your path, it is a sign of good fortune. Sailors would consider having a black cat as their “ship cat” to bring good luck to everyone on board. Their wives even own black cats at home to ensure their husbands’ safety at sea. They were even worshiped in ancient Egypt for their close resemblance to Bastet, the goddess of the home, domesticity, women’s secrets, cats, fertility and childbirth. She just so happened to have the head of a black cat.

Unfortunately, for our furry friends, the good does not outweigh the bad. Black cats are still the least likely to be adopted out of a shelter. Many shelters across the United States claim that some of their longest-staying residents are black cats. Organizations like the Jacksonville Humane Society are aware of the black cat bias and have previously offered adoption specials tailored to those felines with sable fur. October has been deemed Black Cat Awareness Month mainly because people worry about mistreatment during the spooky season. There was a time when shelters would no longer adopt them out during October. Too many people were using them for the holiday glamor to later abandon them (or even worse.)

To be frank, if a black cat crosses your path, the truth is, it’s probably just going somewhere. There are a few things you should do if this occurs: say hello (pet at your own risk), offer them a treat or leave them the hell alone.

Is it an evil omen? Bad luck? Maybe a witch’s familiar running errands? Or is it just a fluffy feline on an adventure?

Born in a Barn

Country music listings

OCT. 7

Zac Brown Band: Out in the Middle Tour Daily’s Place dailysplace.com

OCT. 12

Ray LaMontagne

Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

An Evening With Jim Lauderdale

Blue Jay Listening Room bluejayjax.com

OCT. 13

Chris Stapleton: All American Road Show

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

The Head And The Heart with special guest

Shakey Graves

St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com

OCT. 14

Gov’t Mule & Old Crow Medicine Show

St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com

Scotty McCreery Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

OCT. 15

Trace Adkins St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com

Blue Moon

Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

Ellis Paul Cafe Eleven originalcafe11.com

OCT. 20

Patsy’s Daydream

Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

OCT. 22

J2B2: John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band Thrasher-Horne Center thcenter.org

Gamble Rogers Concert Series: Doyle Dykes with Ruth Wyand

The Waterworks, St. Augustine gamblerogersfest.org

North Florida Folk Day Riverside Arts Market nffolk.com

OCT. 27

Craig Morgan with special guest Ray Fulcher Thrasher-Horne Center thcenter.org

Dewey Via Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

OCT. 28

Luke Bryan: Raised Up Right Tour VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

OCT. 30

JCA Cultural Arts Festival presents Joe Buchanan Jewish Community Alliance jcajax.org/jcafest

Folk is People

Words & interview by Rob Nicholson

The band Folk is People is essentially Stacey Bennett. She is the singer/ songwriter who wears her Appalachian Roots on her sleeve and weaves it through her music. Crisscrossing the country on tours including high-profile festivals like South by Southwest, the Jacksonville transplant has achieved the status as North Florida’s preeminent alt-folk troubadour.

Former Folio music writer Nick McGregor once called Folk Is People’s sound as “catchy and thorny, full of propulsive, breakneck folk songs played with a propulsive buzz, imbued with Bennett’s powerful voice.”

Stacey sat down at the Folio HQ with Rob Nicholson to play a few tunes and to talk about where her head is at in the game.

HERE

CONCERTS

OCT. 1

Astronomar Archetype archetypejax.com

Baba Caiman

Colonial Oak Music Park

thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

Just Tyler, Hartbreak Havvy and Whiteboy Deejay

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

S.P.O.R.E.-TOBERFEST

1904 Music Hall 1904musichall.com

OCT. 2

We the Kingdom

Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Suzanne Santo and Rambler

Kane Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

OCT. 5

Bass Extremes—Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey and Derico Watson Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

Dean Winter & The Heat

Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

The Limit Breakers

1904 Music Hall 1904musichall.com

OCT. 6

The War On Drugs St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com

JP Soars’ Gypsy Blue Revue featuring Anne Harris Cafe Eleven originalcafe11.com

OCT. 7

Zac Brown Band: Out in the Middle Tour Daily’s Place dailysplace.com

Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles

Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

American Blonde with JT Broyles

Cafe Eleven originalcafe11.com

Photo by @supersoniccowboy

Baby Jake

Underbelly underbellyjax.com

Bastardine and Awake for Days

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

Groove Coalition

Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

Strayin Anchors Album Release Party with Gilberto 77, Max Danger and disconap

1904 Music Hall 1904musichall.com

OCT. 8

Tauren Wells

Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Blueraven at 1904 Music Hall

Dauzat St. Marie

Blue Jay Listening Room

Grow-Op Jax: VCTRE and Protial Archetype archetypejax.com

Pablo Ziegler Trio St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church beachesfinearts.org

Vomit Forth, Simulakra, Snuffed on Sight, Trash Panda, Fixed View and Warranted Archetype archetypejax.com

OCT. 10

Premier Productions

Glory Nights Tour Featuring KB Murray Hill Theatre murrayhilltheatre.com

OCT. 12

Ray LaMontagne Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Billy Cobham

Ritz Theatre & Museum ritzjacksonville.com

An Evening With Jim Lauderdale

Blue Jay Listening Room bluejayjax.com

Benise—Spanish Nights

Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Anna Tivel Trio with special guest Lou Hazel Blue Jay Listening Room bluejayjax.com

The Dog Apollo, Sarah Mootz, Ancient Infant, Rose Wilder and So Imposssible Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

Flaw Archetype archetypejax.com

Orlando Mendez Band

Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

OCT. 14

R&B Music Experience featuring Keith Sweat, Monica, Tevin Campbell, 112, Tamar Braxton and Silk VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

Blue Moon

Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

Ellis Paul Cafe Eleven originalcafe11.com

Enuff Z’ Nuff, Pretty Boy Floyd and The Midnight Devils

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

The Marvel Years, Future Joy and Side Trakd Archetype archetypejax.com

Orthodox, Distinguisher, Grieving Room and more Archetype archetypejax.com

Traitors, Aversions Crown, Scumfuck and Worm Shepherd Underbelly underbellyjax.com

OCT. 16

Vista Kicks, Twin Suns and Hail Maries

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

OCT. 9

Acoustic Alchemy

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

Melvins and We Are the Asteroid

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

Of Good Nature and Mishka

1904 Music Hall 1904musichall.com

Kahn and Neek [UK] Archetype archetypejax.com

Sweet Lizzy Project Cafe Eleven originalcafe11.com

OCT. 13

Chris Stapleton: All American Road Show

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

YES: <Close to the Edge> 50th Anniversary Tour

Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

The Head And The Heart with special guest Shakey Graves St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com

Gov’t Mule & Old Crow Medicine Show St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com

Scotty McCreery

Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Bad Dog Mama

Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

Tony Lucca

Blue Jay Listening Room bluejayjax.com

OCT. 15

Trace Adkins St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com

Bob Mould

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

Let’s Ride Brass Band

Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

OCT. 17

Casket Robbery, Summoners’s Circle and guests

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

OCT. 18

Norman Westberg and Brandon Lucas Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

Skip Marley: The Change Tour Underbelly underbellyjax.com

OCT. 19

Kevin Morby with Cassandra Jenkins

Intuition Aleworks intuitionaleworks.com

OCT. 20

Genitorturers and guests

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

Bombargo

1904 Music Hall 1904musichall.com

Patsy’s Daydream

Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

Ultimate RUSH Tribute Underbelly underbellyjax.com

OCT. 21

Greta Van Fleet

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

38 Special Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Steve Vai

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

Ritz Voices Unplugged!

Ritz Theatre & Museum ritzjacksonville.com

Circus

Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

Griffin Williams Trio and The Cosmic Highway

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

Kaliyl w/ Inner Sanctum, Tricord and Riddle Me This

Murray Hill Theatre murrayhilltheatre.com

Shattered Realm, Hold My Own, Off the Tracks Archetype archetypejax.com

Skyview, Parks and Razz, Appalachian Death Trap, & Graves B'Hamala

1904 Music Hall 1904musichall.com

OCT. 22

J2B2: John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band Thrasher-Horne Center thcenter.org

Gamble Rogers Concert Series: Doyle Dykes with Ruth Wyand

The Waterworks, St. Augustine gamblerogersfest.org

An Evening With Jeffrey Martin Blue Jay Listening Room bluejayjax.com

Grave Rave: A Pop Punk Emo Dance Party Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

Smigonaut with Bit Deff and more Archetype archetypejax.com

North Florida Folk Day

Riverside Arts Market nffolk.com

OCT. 23

Pablo Cruise

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

The Callous Daoboys, Little Geronimo, Glit and Kenbosho Archetype archetypejax.com

OCT. 25

Amos Lee Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

OCT. 26

The Sub-Infernal Vigils: Before Archetype archetypejax.com

Davy Knowles Cafe Eleven originalcafe11.com

OCT. 27

Boney Jones Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Craig Morgan with special guest Ray Fulcher Thrasher-Horne Center thcenter.org

Dewey Via

Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

SHREK RAVE Swamp-O-Ween Underbelly underbellyjax.com

OCT. 28

Luke Bryan: Raised Up Right Tour

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone Thrasher-Horne Center thcenter.org

Southern Soul Music Festival

Jacksonville Center for the Per forming Arts jaxevents.com

JD Pinkus plus Bryce Alastair Band and Stillfire Bellows Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

Shammar Allen

Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

OCT. 29

Myriam Hernandez

Jacksonville Center for the Per forming Arts jaxevents.com

Maggie Rose with special guests Annie Dukes and Kam Nix

Intuition Aleworks Intuitionaleworks.com

Myles Brandon EP Release Show with Seagate and The Citrus Trees

Murray Hill Theatre murrayhilltheatre.com

Schism (Tool Tribute) Underbelly underbellyjax.com

OCT. 30

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

JCA Cultural Arts Festival presents Joe Buchanan Jewish Community Alliance jcajax.org/jcafest

Halloweenfest featuring Adam & The Testifiers

Colonial Oak Music Park thecolonialoakmusicpark.com

I Am They

Murray Hill Theatre murrayhilltheatre.com

OCT. 31

The Sub-Infernal Vigils: After Archetype archetypejax.com

Artie Clifton, Music Director Paul Weikle, Conductor

Kimberly Beasley, Vocalist

Year of the Witch

An insight into the modern practices of witchcraft and how they’ve become a trend

Words by Molly Britt

Let’s talk witches. Yup, it’s that time of the year where we all feel a little magical, and I, for one, am loving this modern witchcraft trend I keep coming across. Yes, before you ask, I was a huge fan of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Buffy the Vampire Slayer growing up. This does have a lot to do with my interest, no doubt.

But what I’m finding so interesting is these real-life witches taking time to explain what really goes on when practicing witchcraft, not the stereotypical movie stuff we all know and, regrettably, love.

We all know the stories and have heard the tales, but what is witchcraft really? According to Britannica, witchcraft is a Western movement that is seen by many as a religion, originating prior to the Christian traditions of Europe. Those who practice witchcraft may worship a goddess or various deities while honoring nature and practicing rituals and ceremonial magic. Wicca and witchcraft often follow a spiritual patch in which the individual chooses what and where to practice. They are on their own path of selfdiscovery. Keep in mind, however, this is just one explanation.

Witches originate from all over the world, and practices vary depending on whom you ask.

If you are anything like me, you spend countless hours on TikTok. The algorithm tends to understand my interest in the weird, wild and scary stuff. So do not color me surprised when I realize I have ended up on “witch-tok.” I come across countless women charging crystals, reading tarot cards, performing rituals and creating herbal teas, and I find it fascinating. I mean, growing up, we learn about witches and the Salem witch trials and now all we have to do is search it online and learn all about practicing ourselves. Oh, how the tables have turned.

I get it, talking about history can sometimes drag a bit, but come on, there were actual witch trials burning women at the stake and now we can watch videos of women being powerful and showing off their magic, just being themselves! Feminism mic drop. During the 1300s until the end of the 1600s, thousands of people across Europe were executed after being tried for witchcraft. It was not until the 1690s in Massachusetts when more than 200 people were accused of witchcraft. It took the execution of 20 individuals for the colony to later realize it was a “mistake.” It all started because Christians believed the Devil gave power to certain people. Paranoia and fear spread like disease, and the results of it were the death of many women presumed to be witches. Fortunately, in the 21st century, women no longer fear showing off their power.

The practices you may come across when learning about witchcraft vary. Tarot cards are used to offer guidance. People looking to seek out meaning and interpretation of future events or maybe just looking to explore themselves more can visit psychics or even metaphysical stores near them. Often, witchcraft involves setting intentions. This involves spells and rituals to communicate what you want from the universe. There are many different practices one can learn, and they now have the freedom to explore them.

Looking to understand more about witchcraft? Take a look online or on apps like TikTok, where they explain and practice what they preach (religion pun…ha). So, when someone acknowledges they practice witchcraft, they aren’t talking flying on brooms and luring children into candy covered homes. Maybe 2022 is the year of the witch.

BED BUG GURU BY CARMEN MACRI

No, they’re not experts on the creepy crawlers hiding inside your mattress. (Well, they might be, I don’t know.) They’re just four Florida boys trying to make it bug, I mean big.

Jacksonville is known for birthing some of the biggest names in the music industry: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Limp Bizkit, The Allman Brothers Band, 38 Special, Derek Trucks, Yellowcard and Shine Down to name a few. Bed Bug Guru checks off all the boxes of rising stardom: grungy guitars, angsty lyrics, dark smoky venues and a die-hard following. Taking inspiration from DIIV, Modern Color and Spirit of the Beehive, Bed Bug Guru might be the next big all-American rock band.

There was never a dull moment during their recent concert at Neon Moon. Sweaty fans were jumping and moshing around the tiny venue; singing the lyrics at the top of their lungs. At one point, Jake Knoechel entered the crowd to mosh alongside them, guitar in hand. He never missed a beat. That’s when I found myself wanting to join in on the fun. The energy was unmatched. You would not believe it was only their second show. Ever. The first being in a living room the week prior.

Shane Malone, lead vocals and guitar, grabbed my hand as he led me through Neon Moon’s kitchen (in use at the time, by the way) and into a back alleyway to escape the noise and talk about his band. Before we had a chance for a formal introduction, I bombarded him with the question that had been swimming around in my head all night: Where the hell did the name Bed Bug Guru come from?

“I was in the thrift store shopping around. I saw this work shirt that said Bed Bug Guru. I think it was like a bug exterminator shirt, I don’t know,” Malone said. “I thought it was sick. I actually told Jake that day that we should make a band called Bed Bug Guru.” Shockingly enough, the name fits perfectly.

Malone has played with each member of the band separately for years, but they only recently decided to join forces last July

(after finding a pest exterminator shirt in a Goodwill, of course) He explained why he decided to quit his multi-year-long solo career to pursue something more “him.”

“I got kind of bored of that [solo career] because it was just <so> indie-pop. I was working with this record label in Germany, and it felt very forced. I just felt trapped in that TikTok catchy surf indierock kind of thing. I just wanted to make something a little more different, a little more fresh, and a little more me.”

Their most recent song,“expired,” is the perfect breakthrough track to kick-start their career. With enticing lyrics like “Feeling so tired. Like milk, expired …” I mean, who can’t relate to feeling like spoiled milk? All jokes aside, Bed Bug Guru has that kind of sound that makes you want to scream—in a good way. Leading up to, and immediately after the concert, I have had them on repeat, which is easy because they only have two released songs as of now. They have that type of music that calls for max volume and windows down.

Having only been a band for three months, they have done incredibly well: doing “weekenders” (playing in Jacksonville one night and Gainesville the next), being interviewed for articles, entertaining offers from a New York record label …

“Things have been escalating a little bit faster than we’ve been ready for,” Malone explained, a little hesitant to drop the news since it has not come to fruition yet. “There’s been this label in New York that presses vinyl. They DM’d us saying they’d be interested in doing an album so, if that pans through then we’ll probably do an album sooner rather than later.” Which is great news for the fans. What would you call them? Mites? Pests? Sounds better than Swifties if you ask me. To learn more about the band and upcoming shows, follow them on Instagram @bedbugguru.

Karrissa Wade

Words & interview by Rob Nicholson

Karrissa Wade is the most “booked”, most “Visible” & the “hardest working” drag performer in Northeast Florida. Go ahead and add numerous crowns and accolades for her performances including her comedy shows. Her domain runs as far north as Yulee, Florida and as far south as St. Augustine. She has raised thousands and thousands of dollars for nonprofit organizations. Even while holding down a full time job it is not unusual for Karrissa to work as many as four to five show in any given week.

Karrissa sat down with Folio’s Rob Nicholson to talk about her upcoming show at the Florida Theatre as Hostess for the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the Pride Parade and Festival weekend, as well as shows around the five county area during the month of October.

WATCH INTERVIEW HERE

Pride Celebration Listings

OCT. 1

The River City Pride Parade has been postponed due to Hurricane Ian. Check jaxrcpride.org for the new date.

OCT. 2

River City Pride Festival Riverside Park jaxrcpride.org

OCT. 4

Charity Hambingo benefiting Friends of Jacksonville Animals Hamburger Mary’s hamburgermarys.com/jax

OCT. 7

Friday Night Drag Queen Revue Hamburger Mary’s hamburgermarys.com/jax

OCT. 8

Rocky Horror Brunch Tulua tuluabistro.com

OCT. 9

River City Pride Fundraiser Duuuval House jaxrcpride.org

OCT. 10

Charity Hambingo Hamburger Mary’s hamburgermarys.com/jax

OCT. 13

Fundraiser for UNF LGBTQIA Center Tulua Bistro tuluabistro.com

OCT. 14

Drag Bingo

Hyperion Brewing Co. hyperionbrewing.com

OCT. 15

Drag Bingo and Show Legacy Ale Works legacyaleworks.com

OCT. 16

Drag Bingo

Ann O'Malley's Pub, St. Augustine annomalleys.com

OCT. 17

Charity Hambingo benefiting Papillon Pals Rescue Hamburger Mary’s hamburgermarys.com/jax

OCT. 22 Halloween Show Hyperion Brewing Co. hyperionbrewing.com

OCT. 25

Charity Hambingo benefiting Lotus Flower Project/ Kamala’s Kloset. Hamburger Mary's hamburgermarys.com/jax

OCT. 29

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Movie Screening Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

NIGHTLIFE

ARLINGTON

Cliff’s Bar and Grille

Live music, Friday and Saturday cliffsbarandgrill.com

BEACHES/PONTE VEDRA

Gusto

Live music throughout the week gustojax.com

Lemon Bar & Grille

Live music throughout the week lemonbarjax.com

Lynch’s Irish Pub

Live music all week lynchsirishpub.com

Mango’s Karaoke, Sunday and Wednesday mangosjaxbeach.com

Mavi’s Waterfront Bar & Grill

Live music, Friday–Sunday mavijax.com

Monkey’s Uncle Tavern

DJ, Tuesdays; live music, Thursday, Friday and Sunday; karaoke, Wednesday, Satur day and Sunday monkeysuncletavern.com

Palm Valley Outdoors Bar and Grill

Live music, Friday–Sunday palmvalleyoutdoors.com

The Ritz Lounge

DJs and dancing, Friday–Sunday theritzlounge.com

The Shim Sham Room

Burlesque shows, Wednesday; DJs and dancing, Friday–Sunday shimshamroom.com

Surfer The Bar

DJs and dancing, Friday–Sunday surferthebar.com

DOWNTOWN

Myth Nightclub

Electronic Thursdays, Oct. 6, 27; Thrive Friday: Oct. 7; various DJs, Oct. 1, 2, 8, 9 mythexperience.com

The Volstead

Swing dance night, every third Sunday of the month. thevolsteadjax.com

FLEMING ISLAND

Mr. Chubby’s Wings

Live music, Friday mrchubbyswings.com

Mercury Moon

Live music, Monday and Wednesday facebook.com/Mercury-Moon

Sunset Tiki Bar

Live music Friday–Sunday the-sunset-tiki-bar.business.site

Whitey’s Fish Camp

Live music, Saturday and Sunday whiteysfishcamp.com

MANDARIN

Enza’s Live piano music,Tuesday–Sunday enzas.net

MURRAY HILL

Buchner’s Bierhalle

Live music, Wednesday buchnersbierhalle.com

The Stout Snug

Oct. 1: The Remains; Oct. 7: Last 2 Leave; Oct. 8: Love Monkey; Oct.15: Spade McQuade; Oct. 21: Pink Paisleys; Oct. 22: Whalen Funk; Oct. 28: North of 40; Oct. 29: Blood, Sweat and Whiskey thestoutsnug.com

The Walrus

Daily entertainment Tuesday–Sunday thewalrusjax.com

ORANGE PARK

57 Heaven DJs, Wednesday–Friday facebook.com/57HeavenOP

Big Dawgs Sports Restaurant

Karaoke/live music, Wednesday bigdawgsrestaurant.com

Cheers Park Avenue

Live music, Friday–Sunday cheersparkave.com

The Daq Shack

Karaoke, Wednesday; live music, Sunday thedaqshack904.com

Dee’s Music Bar and Grill

Live music, Friday and Saturday facebook.com/musicbarandgrill

Locals Pub

Karaoke, Tuesday, Wednesday and Satur day; DJs, Friday and Sunday localspub.co

Tom and Betty’s

Live music, Friday and most Saturdays tomandbettys.net

RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE

Birdies

Various DJs throughout the week facebook.com/birdiesfivepoints

Brick Restaurant

Live jazz on weekends brickofavondale.com

Casbah Cafe

Live jazz, Sunday; Belly dancing, Friday and Saturday thecasbahcafe.com

The Garage

Live music, Friday and Saturday; Reggae with DJ Brooks, Sunday garagejax.com

Jazzy’s Restaurant & Lounge

Spoken word poetry and DJ Swagg, Tuesday; live music, Friday and Saturday jazzysrestaurant.net

Keg & Coin

Arcade bar and daily events kegandcoinjax.com

The Loft

Karaoke, Tuesday; DJ Robbie P, Thursday; DJ Brooks, Friday; DJ Robbie P, Saturday loftjax.com

Rain Dogs

Live music throughout the week instagram.com/raindogs5points

River & Post

Oct.1: Pinedas; Oct. 7: Eric Charlton; Oct. 8: Teddy Tran sou and Barrett Thomas; Oct. 14: Eric Charlton; Oct. 15: Katherine Kincaid and Matt Still; Oct. 16: Teddy Transou ; Oct. 21: Ryan Campbell; Oct. 22: Katherine Kincaid and Travis Hardin; Oct. 28: Ryan Campbell; Oct. 29: Eric Charlton riverandpostjax.com

Root Down

Silent disco, Friday–Sunday facebook.com/RootDownJax

SAN MARCO/ST NICHOLAS

Breezy Jazz House

DJ, Wednesday; live jazz, Friday and Saturday breezyjazzhouse.com

Cuba Libre Ultra Lounge

DJs, Thursday; DJ Alekz Vibration, Friday and Saturday cubalibrebar.com

Fore Score Golf Tavern

Live music, Thursday and Saturday forescoregolf.com

The Mudville Grill

First and third Monday: TBA Big Band; second Monday: River City Rhythm Kings themudvillegrill.com

SOUTHSIDE

Culhane’s Karaoke, Saturday culhanesirishpub.com

Jax Craft Beer

Live music, Friday jaxcraftbeer.com

ST. AUGUSTINE

Arnold’s Lounge

Acoustic music, Wednesday; karaoke, Thursday; live music, Friday and Saturday; acoustic open mic night, Sunday arnoldslounge.com

Café Eleven

Oct. 4: Carlos Mencia; Oct. 6: JP Soar’s Gypsy Blue Re vue featuring Anne Harris; Oct.7: American Blonde with JT Broyles; Oct.12: Sweet Lizzy Project; Oct. 15: Ellis Paul; Oct. 26: Davy Knowles originalcafe11.com

Cellar Upstairs Bar at San Sebastian Winery

Oct. 1: Yael & Gabriel and Vegas Gray; Oct. 2: Vinny Jacobs; Oct. 6: Ian Kelly; Oct. 7: Gary Douglas Campbell; Oct. 8: Wes Register and Tony & Friends; Oct. 9: Vinny Jacobs; Oct. 13: Tony Scozzaro; Oct. 14: Caleb Joye and The Committee Band; Oct. 15: Gary Douglas Campbell and The Committee Band; Oct. 16: Vinny Jacobs; Oct. 20: Vinny Jacobs; Oct. 21: Caleb Joye and Yael & Gabri el; Oct. 22: Vibe RW and Tony & Friends; Oct. 23: Vinny Jacobs; Oct. 27: Caleb Joye; Oct. 28: Jolie and Bread & Butter; Oct. 29: TJ Brown and The Vibe; Oct. 30: Vinny Jacobs sansebastianwinery.com

Prohibition Kitchen

Cookin’ in the Kitchen Jazz Jam, Wednesday; Oct. 1: Ginger Beard and Shaun & Kristen; Oct. 3: Sam Pacetti; Oct. 4: Colton McKenna; Oct. 6: American Blonde; Oct. 7: Soulo Lyons, Chris James Band, and Lu Rubino; Oct. 8: Whim and The Raisin Cake Orchestra; Oct. 10: Jim Johnston; Oct. 11: Shaun & Kristen; Oct. 13: Corey on Sax; Oct. 14: The Band Be Easy and Color of Soul; Oct. 15: Paper City Hustlers; Oct. 17: Micah Gilliam; Oct. 18: Colton Mckenna; Oct. 20: Ramona Duo; Oct. 21: Chillula and Papa Gros; Oct. 22: Ramona & the Riot and Musical Chairs; Oct. 24: Jim Johnston; Oct. 25: Shaun & Kristen; Oct. 27: Wes Register; Oct. 28: Honey Hounds, Fat Cac tus, and Ace Winn; Oct. 29: Cover Boy and Luvu Duo; Oct. 31: Ramona pkstaug.com

Tradewinds Lounge

Live music throughout the week tradewindslounge.com

Abandoned and… Haunted?

Words & photos by Ambar Ramirez

Being so close to St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States, as well as one of the most haunted, it would be foolish to think that the hauntings come to halt once one arrives in Jacksonville. With haunted restaurants, bars and hotels, the list of ghost sightings and paranormal activity is extensive in Northeast Florida. But just as extensive is the list of abandoned buildings and houses. Considering the spooky season among us, I began to wonder, were these places left to deteriorate due to their lack of usefulness or for more spinechilling reasons? It’s fair to think that every rundown house you come across was not abandoned because of the horrors that lie within, but it sure is fun to think that way.

Before going any further, I want to note that I am not a verified ghost hunter, nor am I a medium of sorts. But being an empath, I am sensitive to the energies around me. So take my findings with a grain of salt. If you decide to check out these places for yourself, understand that most of these abandoned sites are private and trespassing is illegal. It would be wise to abide unless you want to bring haunting spirits home with you.

to move back to his hometown, where he eventually got into the auto sales business and opened his first Cadillac dealership on Church Street. After running a successful business for a couple of years, the company began its expansion and built a three-story structure (designed by Henry Klutho) in 1910. It served Nolan and his business well until 1943 when Nolan passed away. The building was remodeled in 1948, which is the design we see today when passing the abandoned site. Almost 100 years later, Claude Nolan Cadillac is still in business, though now it’s on Southside Boulevard.

My read: There is always a little something off-putting about abandoned structures, but I felt no presence at all near this building. Other than broken glasses and items left behind, it seems no one (not even Nolan) roams this building

Verdict: Haunted? I don’t think so.

CLAUDE NOLAN CADILLAC BUILDING

The backstory: Sitting on Main Street right next to Confederate Park, is the Claude Nolan Cadillac Building. Claude Nolan was a man of many firsts. The first person to drive to Key West, the first local Floridian to fly an airplane across the state, and the first person to open an automobile dealership in Jacksonville. The year was 1905. Nolan graduated from Vanderbilt University law school and decided

HORACE DREW MANSION

The backstory: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the three-story home, which sits at the corner of West Third and Pearl streets in Springfield, was built in 1909 with hints of a Spanish colonial revival style. The mansion was home to Dr. Rainsford Horace Drew and his family for many years until his death in 1951. Shortly after being occupied by another family in the 1960s, the building was abandoned, allowing nature to take over. By the 1970s, the abandoned structure was nicknamed “The Haunted House,” probably due to being the site of an ugly kidnapping situation as well as the fully preserved human head that was found buried in its backyard. In the mid-’70s, the house was sold and brought back to life. The family who bought the house ran into financial problems, and the house was abandoned again in 2006. In 2015 it was bought by an owner of a construction group, who eventually sold it in 2018. It still sits, untouched, except for a new roof.

My read: The fact that this historic, one-of-a-kind home that overlooks a beautiful park has been abandoned multiple times leads me to think that something sinister may lie within its walls. Upon arriving

at the site, I instantly felt unwelcome. A crow seemed to arrive just as I did, as if warning me not to dwell any longer. Still, curiosity got the best of me and I roamed around the abandoned building only to feel a daunting presence. For Dr. Drew and his family to have lived in the house for so many years, as well as being the only owners not to abandon it, leads me to think he may not want anyone else having the satisfaction of calling that place home.

Verdict: Haunted? Probably.

PUBLIC SCHOOL NUMBER FOUR

Schools are notorious for gossip and rumors being passed around like bubblegum, but the rumors of this abandoned school are much darker. Before becoming the large brick structure we see today, Riverside Grammar School, as it was originally known, was a small wooden schoolhouse built in 1891. Due to an increase in students and fire hazards, the school was rebuilt in 1918 and renamed after former principal Annie Lytle Housh in the 1950s. But the name and school wouldn’t last long as the construction and traffic of I-95 and I-10 would become too noisy for the school to run effectively. By the 1960s the school was closed down. And there it still sits, untouched. There had been a lot of talk on what to do with the space. For a short time after its closure, it was used as a storage facility, but by the ’70s the space became vacant once again. In the 2000s it was listed as a historical landmark and protected by any possible demolition plans. There are plenty of rumors circulating about the abandoned school leading many to believe that the space is haunted. A cannibal principal, a janitor who would take kids down to the boiler room and burn them alive, and even rumors of devil worshippers occupying the space. These rumors have been spread far and wide, so much so that the school is nicknamed “The Devil School.” But alas, they are just rumors, and there is no real evidence of these sinister crimes ever happening. Even as I walked around snapping photos, I could feel no unwelcome presence except for the ‘Keep Out’ signs posted all around the fenced area.

Verdict: Haunted? Probably not.

MONCRIEF ROAD CEMETERIES

Along Moncrief Road are a row of cemeteries. It started with the Memorial Cemetery, established in 1909 by Leo Benedict and sold to the Memorial Cemetery Association in 1911 . The association enlisted the Afro-American Life Insurance Company, founded by Abraham Lincoln Lewis, to operate and maintain the cemetery. By 1936, the Memorial Cemetery Association expanded to acquire Sunset Cemetery and Pinehurst Cemetery while the Lewis family continued to operate the site privately. During the 1920s, the Moncrief area was well known for its part in the Jacksonville entertainment business, but by the ‘60s many businesses were closed. By the late ’80s, the Lewis family sold ownership of the properties to a non-profit memorial corporation after having trouble upkeeping the cemeteries. The non-profit organization also had trouble taking care of the grounds and eventually sold them to the City of Jacksonville to continue the upkeep. To this day, Moncrief is one of the most impoverished areas in Jacksonville, and the cemeteries along its roads are no exception.

My read: When I arrived at the cemeteries, it seemed that there had been some work to try and salvage the land and keep it clear of litter, but the damage done to most of the tombstones makes it seem that the possibility of a remaining a proper burial grounds is too far out of reach. It’s as if a line had been drawn through the middle of the road—on one side, flowers and polished tombstones shining in the light and on the other side, tombstones breathe their last breath as only inches are visible through the overgrown grass. If I were a spirit buried on these grounds, I would definitely haunt the land after being so neglected.

The verdict: Haunted? I would be surprised if they weren’t.

The Largest Minority in America

How we can respectfully celebrate Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month this year

Words by Molly Britt

This year marks the 54th year the U.S. has officially recognized and celebrated Hispanic heritage. President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed the first Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, and 20 years later, President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a 30-day event. Since then, Americans have been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15, and acknowledging the stories, histories and cultures of Hispanic and Latinx individuals, as well as the contributions they have made, not only to America, but to the world. Political powerhouses like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor; art legends such as Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali and Jean-Michel Basquiat; acclaimed writers from Cervantes to Paulo Coelho; athletes, actors and musicians including Roberto Clemente, Laurie Hernandez, Rebecca Lobo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jennifer Lopez, Celia Cruz, Joan Baez and Selena Gomez have brought attention to the Hispanic and the Latinx communities.

While those big names give everyone a reason to celebrate this month, how can those who, respectfully, have no connection to these communities, celebrate? With U.S. Census data showing the Hispanic and Latinx population reaching 62.1 million, we, as a country, should always acknowledge this diversity we are blessed with, and this month is a great time to start.

For starters, recognize Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month isn’t all parades and carne asada, which is delicious, by the way, from amazing local food trucks. There are many ways to recognize the efforts and achievements of Hispanic and Latinx individuals and their contributions. One way is to educate yourself. There is always more we can learn as a community. Understand

how the month came to be—and why—rather than relying on misinformation and stereotypes. There are so many places that provide accurate information: Hispanic and Latinx museums, TED Talks (who doesn’t love a good TED Talk?), Library of Congress, your neighborhood library, documentaries, exhibits, etc..

If you are anything like me and love to read, one great way to understand more about the Hispanic and Latinx communities is by reading books by Latinx and Hispanic authors. One of my favorite books to date is The Cubans: Ordinary Lives In Extraordinary Times. Written by Anthony DePalma, this book explores a group of families and their day-to-day journey under constant crisis and focuses on individuals who live through what most of us cannot imagine.

Throughout the month, wherever you are, events are held in honor of Hispanic and Latinx communities. Attend what you can and support your communities. Can’t attend an event? That’s OK: Influencers and advocates alike educate on their social media platforms, which can be a great way to learn and participate. Making a financial donation to a Hispanic or Latinx nonprofit or volunteering your time are ways to show your support at whatever level is comfortable for you (as they say, every penny helps!). Support local Hispanic- and Latinx-owned businesses. We should all learn and understand each other and in a respectful way. It only takes one step in the right direction to influence another person to do the same. So, go out and celebrate Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month and learn all you can. Just remember, you can always learn more.

Weird Stuff

Wild

Queen Elizabeth II edition

Words by Shelton Hull

The year’s weirdest and wildest news story so far was actually not so weird and wild, after all. It speaks to the perpetual perdu rability of Queen Elizabeth II (April 21, 1926-September 8, 2022) that a 96 year-old woman who’d just beaten covid in February could die in September, and the entire world was shocked, legit. Lucky for us, the queen did all the prep-work, well in advance, allowing her loved the world at large to just sit back, relax, and play their part in the spectacle of her exit, stage-managed to the finest details.

“London Bridge Is Falling Down” was published in 1744, and the iconic nursery rhyme has been discussed more in recent days than at any time since Fergie dropped “London Bridge” in 2006. Why? Because “London Bridge” is the code-name for the elab orate scenario that played out when the queen died. Since we have a little extra space in this month’s online edition of Folio, here’s a special edition of Weird Wild News dedicated to the fi nal boss of Planet Earth, one of the most interesting people who ever lived–or ever died, for that matter.

The queen now rests among approximately 38 of her ancestors, including her husband and her parents, buried in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. Her coffin was built from oak, some 30 years ago. (Knowing her, she probably took a picture with it, which we’ll discover sometime long in the future.) It’s also lined with lead, boosting its weight to nearly 700 pounds. This was not to deter grave-robbery, as we’ve seen with other public figures, most notably Abe Lincoln (crazy story about that), but to deter decomposition.

It may be a sore subject with the royals. She and her namesake, Queen Elizabeth I, were both embalmed, but the former’s body endured the same indignity as William the Conqueror: it literally exploded from built-up gasses. Are there other, similar cases in history? YES.

Her coffin was heavy enough, from all that lead, and then you add another 2.5 pounds of the Imperial State Crown, which sat on top during the entire mourning period. That Windsor drip was already the stuff of legend, but leave to “Lillibet” to flex on you fools one last time.

Built in 1937, it has exactly 3,174 precious stones, including 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, “collected” from around the world. It is

officially priceless, but in “Antiques Roadshow” terms, an auc tion price would start at about $5 billion. It’s (probably) the most expensive of the 142 different items kept at the fittingly named “Jewel House”, including 13 crowns, 6 swords, 13 maces, 16 trum pets, and a spoon. The building is right next to the Tower of Lon don, so you can put all your Lupin III fantasies to rest.

As the “monarch di tutti monarchi”, even the queen was behold en to an intricate array of arcane rules, mostly of her own con struction. For example, every member of the family was weighed before and after Christmas dinner, to see who enjoyed them selves the most. 2) The family was banned from playing “Mo nopoly!”, because it made them too angry, which is something we can all empathize with. Prince Andrew reportedly was the one who made this known, when he refused a gifted copy in 2008. Because, yeah, THAT is where Prince Andrew draws the line–despicable!

Members of the royal family are also not allowed to vote, be cause they’re supposed to be above that–as opposed to here in America, where people don’t vote because they’re just stupid. They’re also not allowed to sign autographs, for fear of forgeries.

Other restrictions are more practical. Direct heirs cannot fly to gether, for obvious reasons. They are also strongly discouraged from eating foods in public that might make them sick, such as rare meat, hot peppers, shellfish and especially tap water. No George Bush in Japan debacles for them, but also no invitation to the Folio Holiday Party, either.

Queen Elizabeth II is dead, but she will live forever in our hearts, and her memory will linger on, partially through a slew of assort ed collectibles, all of which are selling for record prices right now. Our favorites include a 1952 Topps trading card, which sold for $50,000. (It was, interestingly, the same year as the Mickey Mantle card that just recently broke the world record for a trad ing card at auction); various pieces of currency from across her empire, especially the nations that are now independent; and assorted Beanie Babies. Toy companies saluted her on social media, usually with pictures of her in Funko form or Playmobil pastiche. Cynical? Yes, but also sweet and well-intentioned, much like her. God Save the Queen!

October Screen Reviews

Words by Harry Moore

BEST NEW MOVIE: CONFESS, FLETCH

The latest adaptation of Gregory McDonald’s Fletch novel series does an admirable job of bringing the comedic detective series to modern audiences, many years after Chevy Chase’s iteration of the character. Jon Hamm stars as the investigative reporter, Irwin M. “Fletch” Fletcher, hot on the case of searching for his wealthy fiancé’s (Lorenza Izzo) stolen collection of priceless paintings—until he stumbles into a murder investigation where he gets labeled the presumptive prime suspect. Greg Mottola, the director behind Superbad and Adventureland, helms the picture keeping a witty, sardonic tone throughout this enjoyably breezy caper that manages not to overstay its welcome. Hamm is best known for his brooding,

mostly internal performance as Don Draper on the acclaimed television series Mad Men, but at every opportunity he has gotten, mostly in bit parts in various films and TV series, Hamm has always delivered as a comedic performer and here he is finally given the chance to show that quality in a leading role. As Fletch, Hamm is able to fire off a range of pithy one-liners and sarcastic comebacks throughout the many interrogations he takes part in, trading barbs with a cast of familiar faces. While Fletch is under investigation for the murder of a woman found at his Airbnb rental, he is relentlessly pursued by a hapless police duo, played by comedian Roy Wood Jr. and Ayden Mayeri, who both fall for Fletch’s evasive games like they were in a live-action Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny

sketch. As he tracks down the culprit of the art theft, Fletch also encounters a hypochondriac art history professor played by Kyle MacLachlan, a flamboyant Italian countess played by Marcia Gay Harden, and the ditzy neighbor to the scene of the murder played by the always hilarious Annie Mumolo. There is even a highly enjoyable Mad Men reunion, as John Slattery appears to trade insults as Fletch’s former newsroom co-worker. As can be expected, all the seemingly disparate threads come together as the real criminal mastermind is revealed. The tone throughout the film remains casual with witty dialogue and finely-calibrated chemistry carrying the fairly predictable plot that doesn’t reinvent the private investigator subgenre, nor does it strive to. Mottola delivers an enjoyable, frequently funny and entertaining mystery that is anchored by a charming and eccentric performance by Jon Hamm that would be a welcome start to a new series of films following the character. Hamm has gone to great lengths to discuss how hard he fought to get this new adaptation of the Fletch character off the ground and the fruits of his labor haven’t gone to waste, as he may have found a new signature character for the post-Don Draper chapter of his career.

SMALL SCREEN HIGHLIGHT: ATLANTA

For many years, Donald Glover was considered to be something of a prodigious wünderkind; having joined the writing staff of 30 Rock at the age of 23 to being a scene stealer in another beloved sitcom Community, all whilst developing a successful career as rapper Childish Gambino, a moniker he took from the WuTang Clan Name Generator. The expectations for Glover as a creative have been astronomically high since a very young age, and upon the debut of his satirical and surreal series Atlanta, he finally delivered on the lofty promise of his clearly evident talent. The series, once pitched as Twin Peaks with rappers, would go onto widespread critical acclaim, awards recognition and become one of the most influential series in the prestige TV landscape with other shows, such as Reservation Dogs and Ramy, all cribbing from the distinctive tonal balance between heavier issues and humor of Glover’s series, and opened the door for other series lead by auteurs operating both in front and behind the camera such as Barry and Ted Lasso. The creative spearhead of Atlanta doesn’t come from Glover alone. Alongside his brother Stephen the duo created a world that deftly handles a variety of genres and feels grounded in the real-life Atlanta but also allows for off-the-wall visuals and situations to arise ranging from an invisible sports car to a ghoulish former child star inhabiting a mansion reminiscent of a haunted house, as well as an assisted suicide ceremony for someone who may or

may not be Tupac Shakur. While the visual style for the series was created by longtime music video director Hiro Murai, who has since gone on to be one of the most sought-after directors in television today. The series is always beautifully shot and features surprising compositions of visuals that feel completely fresh to the medium. And then there is the leading quartet of the cast, Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, LaKeith Stanfield and Zazie Beetz, each of whom have gone from relative unknowns to constantly in demand performers appearing in some of the biggest films of the past few years—a feat that not even the cast of Friends could unanimously reach. Glover stars as Earn, the put-upon manager for his rapper cousin Alfred (Henry), who has gone from a virtually homeless, Ivy League dropout to a wildly successful talent handler over the course of the series. Beetz, who gave memorable performances in projects like Todd Philips’ Joker and this year’s Brad Pitt vehicle Bullet Train, appears as Earn’s on-again, off-again partner and baby mama, Van. Through the show, Beetz has dug into Van’s character through her anxieties as a young mother, dealing with the directionless trajectory of her life, and being in an emotionally distant and sporadic relationship with Earn; Beetz has developed Van into a fully-fledged, believable character, despite having significantly less screen time (and arguably a more underwritten part) than the rest of the ensemble. As Darius, Stanfield quickly became a fan favorite, floating through scenarios on a cloud of aloofness, dropping idiosyncratic observations and words of wisdom; the part has given Stanfield the chance to show his unique talents as a performer for a mainstream audience and allowed him to secure key roles in films such as Knives Out, Uncut Gems and lead Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You. Then there is Bryan Tyree Henry as Alfred—better known by his stage name, Paper Boi. Henry is nothing short of a revelation in this series, giving a remarkable performance filled with the deep-rooted frustration from feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders simmering beneath the surface until it inevitably boils over. It is a starmaking performance that demonstrates the wealth of talent Henry possesses and has garnered him much deserved acclaim and opportunity for his career going forward. As it airs its fourth and final series, Atlanta is going out on top as a still reverential series that is constantly reinventing itself, featuring a group of almost peerless talents that are sure to dominate Hollywood for years to come. Whatever the Glover brothers and this formidable cast go onto next will surely be worth paying attention to.

St. Augustine Lighthouse

Words by Casey Alixandra

St. Augustine is famous for its rich history and hair-raising ghost stories. While many are believers, some speculate if this ancient city is haunted at all. If there is one place to change doubts to certainty, look toward the St Augustine Lighthouse.

With a number of accidental deaths occurring at the lighthouse, visitors who do have a ghostly encounter aren’t ever sure who they’re seeing or hearing on the grounds. To most, it’s just a guess. But to make an educated guess, one must know the history of the lighthouse.

Before the recognizable lighthouse we see today, there was another dating as far back as 1568. The Spanish built it solely out of sand, shells and other ocean crustaceans.

From the years 1854 to1859, Joseph Andreu was the lighthouse keeper. What ended his watch was an accidental fall from the top of the tower while putting on a fresh coat of paint. His wife, Maria, took his place as lighthouse keeper and became Florida’s first female lighthouse keeper. (She was also the first HispanicAmerican to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard.)

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Many ghost sighters say that one of the figures seen at the lighthouse could be Joseph who leaves cigar smoke in the air if he is near. Even Maria is said to be seen at the top of the tower looking down, searching for her husband’s body.

Another famous ghost story on the grounds involves the Pittee Sisters. During the construction of the new tower in 1873, Hezekiah Pittee was the superintendent of lighthouse construction and was on the property with his family, which included three daughters. The girls often played amongst the workers, and they loved to ride a work cart down the hill that was always stopped by a wooden board by the water. Up and down the hill, the girls would laugh and play with the cart all day.

It was on July 10, 1873, when disaster struck. The sisters, Mary Adelaide (15), Eliza (13), and Carrie (4), and an unidentified African-American girl (10) decided to ride the cart down the hill not knowing the board that stopped the cart was not in place. When the cart met the wood, it flipped and trapped the girls underneath it in the water. The only person who saw the accident was Dan Sessions, a worker at the time, who immediately ran to help. By the time Sessions flipped the heavy cart over, however, only Carrie had survived.

After the tragic accident, Hezekiah went back home to mourn and bury his two daughters. The construction continued and was finished a year later in 1874.

Nobody can truly pinpoint when these hauntings began or who they are encountering. At the lighthouse, everyone’s experience is different. People see figures, smell cigar smoke, hear children’s laughter or hear someone running up the lighthouse.

“I always smell cigar smoke, inside and outside,” said resident Ginger Swartz. “Every time I go there something happens.”

Swartz has always been sensitive to spirits, especially when going down the basement where the cisterns sit. She believes an angry spirit resides in the middle cistern. When on a tour Swartz asked about the spirit, but the worker quickly said, “We don’t talk about him anymore, but he’s still there.”

“I feel him every single time. They [the ghost tour guides] used to talk about him, but I guess he started to act out because he didn’t like it, and he would start pushing people down the stairs,” said Swartz. “If you just stand there you can feel something coming out of there.”

One other visitor with a ghost story is Shelly McCauley. “When I was little, apparently the ‘Hat Man” was my guardian,” she said.

He was spotted on the baby cam, though she never saw him until, that is, the day she visited the lighthouse and brought home a souvenir. When she went home with her new souvenir that night, she saw a tall shadowy figure with a top hat, a long coat and a suitcase in her living room.

“It was like he was moving in. For years I would see him in my room and my house late at night but never felt a menacing presence,” said McCauley.

Never scared or intimidated by Hat Man, McCauley continued to see him until she lost the souvenir. After that, he was never seen again.

“The women in my family have always been mediums and hypnotists, but I was scared of ghosts when I was little, so I did, like, a protection spell with my mom and sister to not see them,” said McCauley. “I hadn’t [seen any] until I visited St. Augustine up until then, and since it’s so historical and filled with spirits I think it may have broke through.”

Haunted or chosen, St. Augustine is a strange world at night. Nobody can deny that at the St. Augustine Lighthouse, there is something special there. Even the workers agree that that place is unsettling.

“Is it haunted by their memories or by apparitions? I think it’s haunted by memories, even though somebody has got a picture of a head leaning over one of the landings,” said Mason Rogers, a former tour guide at the lighthouse.

“People have seen all kinds of things there, but I think it’s a lot more like the end of The Haunted Mansion ride, where a ghost gets in the car with you and haunts you. Like I’m haunted by a ghost before I went to St. Augustine lighthouse and after and while I was there, but it is really creepy,” said Rogers.

Whether you are a believer or not, nobody can deny there is a chill in the air, no matter the season. It is a place that reminds everyone there are people from the other side watching. At the St. Augustine Lighthouse, spirits are walking amongst the living, and you never know who you’ll bump into.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse is full of history, with so many ghost stories to share. To learn more, visit staugustinelighthouse.org. Or plan your own ghost tour! They’re waiting for you.

Jerk and Curry Music Festival

at the

Circular Reasoning Inner Circle makes the Florida loop

Words by Shelton Hull

“Honestly, I really don’t remember the first time we played in Florida,” said Roger Lewis, the leader of Inner Circle, speaking remotely from Miami. “We used to do it a long time ago, come up from Pensacola, go up to Tallahassee, that club down there— it’s still there.” Inner Circle is still here, too, a remarkable feat of longevity in an industry that is completely different than it was when they first started or even just a few years ago. “Brevard County,” interjects his younger brother Ian; his thick patois imparts a level of class and sophistication to those two words, unlike anything such a place deserves.

Their debut single, “Why Can’t I Touch You,” was released in 1970. At least 50 other singles have followed with the most recent track dropping earlier this month. “Riches Wii a Pree” was originally released in January, in collaboration with Teejay, and now the remix is out with a special guest appearance by Snow, the white Canadian whose 1992 hit “Informer” brought reggae to the suburbs, much the same as “Ice Ice Baby” did for rap. But the crossover appeal is nothing new for Inner Circle. In fact, they practically invented it.

The band existed in several different incarnations over the years. They first made their name backing up The Chosen Few before an eight-year run with the late great Jacob Miller. This was when most people outside Jamaica got their first taste of their sound, and their Herculean work ethic, as they released a series of albums in the late 1970s for Capitol and Island.

Inner Circle was easily the second biggest reggae act on Earth (after Bob Marley), but the entire scene was soon to be decimated. Miller died in a car crash in March 1980, causing the band to collapse for several years. The Lewis brothers moved to Miami, which has remained their base of operations ever since, and together they weathered the subsequent storm that ran through the Jamaican music scene. With Marley’s death in May 1981, reggae had lost its two biggest stars within 14 months, but it wasn’t over. Inner Circle was officially rebooted in 1986, and it was this version of the band that achieved their greatest success.

The most famous, of course, is “Bad Boys,” which was initially released as a single in 1987. It didn’t get much traction then, nor upon its first reissue on their “Bad to the Bone” album in 1992. But things changed after the success of “Sweat (A La La La La Long),” that album’s lead single. “Bad Boys” was then reissued as a single with “Sweat” as the B-side, and it was off to the races—and the bank—from there. The TV show Cops had debuted in 1989, as a flagship of the nascent Fox Network, and one of the show’s producers was a fan, so he picked “Bad Boys” as a theme song. The effect was similar to how Sinatra’s “Love and Marriage” became identified with Married With Children

By 1993, the show was firmly entrenched in popular culture, but many of the viewers were only connecting the dots between the show and the band. The split-single (and, indeed, the whole album) was a must-have item, and for many Americans, this is how they learned that reggae went deeper than just Marley. At that point, a whole new generation of artists were on the scene, taking Jamaican music to the masses, most notably Buju Banton, Shaggy and Shabba Ranks, who were all huge in that era.

Inner Circle were thus able to achieve international fame twice, a full 15 years apart, with many of the same personnel, but in totally different ways. Where once they were pioneers of the sound, overshadowed by bigger names, now they were the big name, benefitting from the young talent whose own success was achieved on their shoulders. Inner Circle thus came full circle, and it’s been pretty much smooth sailing ever since.

Given the vast array of singles, studio albums, live albums, compilation albums, greatest hits albums, LPs, EPs, 45s, 78s,

reissues, etc. issued in the US, Europe and Asia, in addition to all the bootlegs and dub plates that never made it outside Jamaica, it is virtually impossible to know exactly how many tracks the members of Inner Circle have recorded in in their roughly 54 years in the business. Not even the founders know because they never cared to count. In those early days of the Jamaican music scene, very few people thought of themselves as architects of a movement that would transform global culture.

Certainly, none of them ever expected to still be alive and playing music in the year 2022, let alone touring the world for adoring crowds, some of whose parents weren’t yet born when the Lewis brothers started the band in 1968. Roger and Ian were only 16 and 14 at the time, and their bandmates were even younger. No one is thinking long-term at that age.

They don’t tour nearly as intensely as they once did because that would be insane. Their gigs are spaced out a bit, more leisurely. At this point, it’s purely a labor of love. Their fans in Florida are lucky to have several chances to see them live over the next few months, including the Florida Jerk Festival in Orlando on October 23 and Art Basel Miami on December 2.

For our purposes today, take special note of Oct. 7, when Inner Circle will headline night one of the Beaches OktoberFest at the Seawalk Pavilion. (Corey Smith headlines night two with more artists to be announced.) “Florida has always been big for reggae,” said Roger, “and always growing.” There will also be a Stein Hoisting Competition, a Bratwurst eating competition and, coolest of all, a beach clean-up session on the Sunday morning after the festival.

One can only speculate, but at their age, and with their level of success, Inner Circle will surely never have to work again. But they will never stop because they never did, and that is exactly why they are still here, making new music, new fans, new friends. If there is ever such a thing as “happily ever after” in the music industry, this is it, Jah knooooow?

WasabiCon is Wasabi Anime‘s convention for fans of cosplay, anime, gaming and pop culture. The events are designed to create an inclusive environment for fans to immerse themselves in the otaku culture and celebrate the energy and creativity that surrounds the fandom and everything “geek.” The two-day convention features celebrity guests, local artists, exhibitors, gaming, panels, contests and much more. Daytime programming and events are designed for all ages with content appropriate for adult attendees scheduled in the evening.

Tom Croom is the mastermind behind WasabiCon and its producing company Green Mustard Entertainment. Folio’s Rob Nicholson chatted with Croom via Zoom to discuss the convention and how it came about in the first place. WasabiCon takes place Oct. 15-16 at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. As of this writing, ticket sales have exceeded 10,000 (up from 7,000 in 2021) but are still available.

For more information, visit wasabicon.com/jax.